Binder1

19.08.14

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

TUESday

No. 2,241

NIGERIA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL NEWSPAPER

N150

Leadership Newspapers

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Oil Subsidy Fraud: EFCC Recovers N5bn

By Ejike Ejike, Abuja and Olugbenga Soyele, Lagos

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has so far recovered about N5billion from persons and organisations

Says 13 firms, individuals under prosecution

indicted in the fuel subsidy scam.

The agency’s head, media and

publicity, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, made this disclosure during a

town hall meeting on fuel subsidy organised by Africa Network of Economic and Environment Justice, ANEEJ, in collaboration

Niger: Don’t Be Intimidated By Military, Umaru Tells Electorate > Page 9

with Justice for All, J4A, in Abuja.

According to Uwujaren, the EFCC is currently prosecuting 13 different oil subsidy cases, while investigations are on to bring other ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Adamawa Governorship: Ribadu, Hong, Tukur Obtain PDP Forms > Page 4

Suspected Suicide Bomber Arrested At Lagos Airport 5

12 killed in Nasarawa, Borno communities

The suspected suicide bomber (left), after his arrest near Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday.

Chibok Diary DAY 127

BBOG Group Protests Amidst Tight > Page 2 Security In Asokoro, Abuja

2

chibok diary 127

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

DAY

Chibok Tweets Chibok tweets @Mubarakmuhd529 124 daex ago,ovar 200 galx wre kdnappd 4rm goin 2 skul!D government hs nt rscued 1 child!HELP #BringBackOurGirls @gbengasesan You can’t find what you’re not looking for. Ìwákùwá là nwá nkan tó sonù.

To #BringBackOurGirls, the task has to be a defining priority. @BBOG_Nigeria Day 125: We don't have our girls back. Please #BringBackOurGirls\ @rescueourgirls 125 days since Moda Baba was taken from #Chibok.

Will she ever come home? Never forget. #BringBackOurGirls @rescueourgirls 125 days since the #ChibokGirls were kidnapped. We ask all of you, continue to rally. We will not be silenced. @Abu_Aaid Will you raise your voice for #OurGirls kidnapped since 14th April?

125 days after...still kidnapped! #BringBackOurGirls #StopBokoHaram @BBOG_Nigeria Day 120: Its now 4 harrowing months for parents and families of over 200 chibok girls that were abducted by #bokoharam #BringBackOurGirls @etinmagbe Our hearts are crying and aching with pain! Is there anyone listening?? #BringBackOurGirls #BringBackOurGirls @rescueourgirls 121 days since Tabitha Thomas was taken from #Chibok.

Will she ever come home? Never forget. #BringBackOurGirls Compiled by Iroka Ugochukwu

Members of #BringBackOurGirls during a peaceful protest at power line junction Asokoro Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

BBOG Group Protests In Asokoro Amidst Tight Security

By Chika Mefor and Ejike Ejike, Abuja The BringBackOurGirls Group has taken its campaign to yet another part of Abuja.

Amidst tight security, the group was at the Asokoro junction yesterday, in continuance of its campaign for the safe return of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram sect on April 14 this year.

The group, which carried placards bearing inscriptions such as ‘Our Chibok girls are crying for help’, ‘What if the Chibok girls were your daughters?’ and ‘Where is our humanity, our love and our conscience?

If you keep quiet, it might be your turn’, took advantage of the traffic at the junction to distribute fliers and pamphlets to motorists and passersby.

The street protest was organised to remind Nigerians that the girls have now been in the hands of their abductors for 126 days and of what they must be going through.

Apart from the distribution of fliers and pamphlets, the group appealed for greater public empathy using a public address system.

“It happened to the Chibok girls, it might happen to us too. Let no man say that it won’t happen to him or her, because it might. The girls have stayed for 126 days with their abductors and nothing has been done to bring them back. As you do a lot of things with your daughters, remember that the Chibok girls have been denied that privilege. The parents of the Chibok girls are being denied this right too and they cry endlessly for their daughters.

“Terrorist attack to one is terrorist attack to all. Injustice to one is injustice to all.

No one should keep quiet about this terror. We need to be united against the terrorists and come out and make demands

for the Chibok girls and their safe return,” it said.

The group also added that it

would not relent in its campaign until the girls were brought back alive.

Mobile Dependence/Addiction: A Growing Trend Too Addicted To Technology?

20%

56%

of smartphone users logon to facebook before they even get out of bed.

admit to not exercising or skip exercises due to technology.

59%

34x

of smart-phone users admit to feeling disoriented, distraught or lonely without their smartphones for a week

the average number of times an average smart-phone user check his/her phone.

Get More Done

98% REPORT THEY MULTI-TASK EVERYDAY DUE TO THE HELP OF TECHNOLOGY

75%

75%

USER THEIR MOBILE DEVICES WHILE ON THE TOILET

GET MORE THAN 6 HOURS OF SLEEP PER NIGHT DUE TO PRODUCTIVITY

3

our stand Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Investigate This Bribe Allegation

S

ince Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was returned elected as governor of Osun State for a second term, penultimate Saturday, the APC and the Department of State Services (DSS) have been exchanging words. While the party alleged that its members were hounded, brutalised and caged, the DSS alleged that the party offered its operatives N14 million during the governorship election that was adjudged free and fair by observers. Deputy director (public relations) of the DSS Ms Marylin Ogar first made the bribery allegation last Tuesday while featuring on a Channels television programme. She pointedly identified an unnamed APC chieftain as the bribe giver. She also expressed sadness over the way some people had been twisting events surrounding the election with a view to “misinforming the public”.

It is sad that the DSS is concealing the identity of a common criminal on the pretext that it is adopting a “carrot and stick” approach in dealing with this very dangerous malaise, social malady and political albatross. Ogar told Nigeri-

ans that, prior to the election, the director (of DSS) that was coordinating election activities in Osun was invited by one APC member to come and collect N4 million for self and N10million for the operatives.

She contended that it was an offer which was rejected, since the Service takes care of logistics and other needs when operatives are sent for operations.

But this exceptional officer ought to be recognised for his/ her incorruptibility. We consider the allegation from the spokesperson of the DSS too weighty, grave and serious. It deserves further scrutiny. The National Assembly should take it up and ensure that we put a face to this common crimi-

Editor Sadiq Abdullateef Deputy Editor Kazeem Akintunde Editorial Board Safiya M. Adamu, Chairman Christian Ochiama, Deputy Chairman Standards Aniebo Nwamu, Director ’Lara Olugbemi, Assistant Director

nal. We do not want to believe that Ms Ogar was being partisan, frivolous or playing to the gallery. An agency like the DSS thrives on truth and professionalism. DSS must come clean on this and eschew being partisan in any form in our political engineering.

The road to 2015 is such that, if we sweep this case under the carpet, subsequent ones would be treated as total fallacy and calumnious statements from an agency that has been on top of successful “sting operations”. The minimum that is expected is for Ogar and her agency to name, prosecute and procure a conviction from a court of competent jurisdiction against the alleged bribe giver to redeem itself from name-calling. The reputation of the agency to independently carry out its task is at stake. It is also the only way it can wash itself off the accusations of acting as an enforcement arm of the ruling party. Institutions of state like the DSS must show character and responsibility as we approach 2015 by not only maintaining loyalty to the state but also exhibiting a high standard of integrity and professionalism in tandem with global best practices.

Founder Sam Nda-Isaiah Chairman Hajiya Ireti Kingibe Group Managing Director Azubuike Ishiekwene Group Executive Directors Michael Okpere Dr Kazeem Durodoye Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser Abdulhaleem Amin Divisional Directors Abdulmumin Balogun Ademola Oladosu Iyobosa Uwugiaren Salisu Alhassan Bichi General Managers Aminu Abubakar Sule Zipporah D. Tanko Joy Adekanye

Leadership Holdings

Managing Director Abraham Nda-Isaiah Executive Director Nnamdi Samuel New York Office Mohammed Bello Shehu London Office Dr Bello Salihu Johannesburg Office Abiodun Oguntuase Business Manager Bilkisu Mohammed Rimi

LEADERSHIP is a national paper symbolically embedded in the nation’s capital.

We shall stand up for good governance. We shall defend the interest of Nigerian people even against their rulers, and we shall raise our pen at all times in defence of what is right. These are the values by which we intend to be assessed.

We shall never, ever for any reason forget the noble reason of our coming into being: For God and country!

4 news extra

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Group News Editor: Tony Amokeodo 3% Of Voters Have Collected PVCs In Abuja – Jega The chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, yesterday disclosed that 13 per cent of voters have so far collected their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) in Abuja as at Sunday afternoon.

The INEC chairman stated this yesterday in Abuja, after he declared open a three-day train the trainers workshop on “The role and responsibilities of political party agents on election day”.

Reacting to the outcome of the PVC distribution, Jega said, “As of yesterday afternoon, we have only about 13% of registered voters in FCT who have collected their cards. So we felt there is a legitimate ground for the extension.

“You know there was a heavy downpour in Abuja on Friday and to a large extent, it affected the deployment and distribution of the permanent voters cards in Abuja. It also affected the turnout of voters.”

He however noted that the extension of the exercise would be avoided in future due to cost implication.

By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja.

Ex-Chairman Nigerian National Order Of Merit, Idachaba Dies At 70 The former chairman of the Governing Board, Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM), Professor Idachaba is dead.

Idachaba who won several national and international awards, including most recently the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) in Humanities for the year 2011 died in the United States of America at the age of 70.

From 2013 till his death, he served as the chairman of the Governing Board, Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM).

His first son, Ileanwa Idachaba who announced the death of the scholar in Ibadan in a statement yesterday, said “The Idachaba family is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Professor Francis Sulemanu Idachaba”.

According to him, Professor Idachaba passed away peacefully at 5:30 pm on Friday, August 15, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois, USA after a prolonged illness.”

He was born in Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria on 4th December, 1943. He obtained his BSc Economics, from University of Ibadan in 1967; MA, Economics, from University of Chicago in 1969 and PhD, Agric Economics, from Michigan State University in 1972.

By Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan

Niger State governor, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, presenting a birthday card to former military president, Gen Ibrahim Babangida on his 73rd birthday.

With them is the deputy governor ,Hon Ahmed Musa Ibeto, in minna yesterday.

Adamawa Guber: Ribadu, Idi Hong, Auwalu Tukur, Others Pick PDP Forms

By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja

Former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, yesterday picked the governorship forms of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) just as he distanced himself from being imposed as Adamawa State governor by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Ribadu who picked the expression of interest and nomination forms through an aide, Alhaji Hamidu Mahmoud, at the PDP national secretariat, also disclosed that he had applied to the PDP national leadership to waive section 50 of its constitution to allow him contest the party’s primary election.

Mahmoud who said he has the mandate to speak on behalf of Ribadu said,“We are not aware that the president wants to impose Ribadu as governor of Adamawa State. It was some PDP chieftains who called on Ribadu to come and contest for the governorship of Adamawa.

So, the question of the presi-

dent wanting Ribadu does not arise in this case.”

He however allayed the fears of his supporters that the controversial waiver could impede his chances ahead of the contest saying the “PDP constitution did not insert the waiver clause in anticipation that Ribadu will join the party, having joined the race, he is expected to enjoy the waiver”.

Besides, Ribadu, other aspirants who have picked form include, former minister of health, Aliyu Idi Hong and acting governor, Umar Fintiri.

Others are former executive secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Ahmed Modibbo, former presidential political aide, Ahmed Gulak, Ambassador Buba Marwa and Hon. Auwalu Tukur.

The PDP by-election schedule for Adamawa State indicates that the sale of expression and nomination forms is between 15 and 19 of August. Return of form; 2025th, Screening is on 28, while screening appeal will hold on

August 30.

The party added that ward congress and ward congress appeal is September 1 and 3, while state congress and election appeal is 6 and 8 respectively. INEC has fixed the byelection for October 11.

Ribadu Is No Threat- IdiHong Former minister of Health, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong and a gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State yesterday said the entry of the former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), chairman, Nuhu Ribadu into the PDP is not a threat, saying he has never thought of Ribadu as a sole candidate of PDP. Speaking with newsmen shortly after he picked his nomination form to contest the party primary, Hong said “The party has the prerogative of giving waiver to whoever it wishes but the idea of him becoming a sole candidate is not founded, it is not true”.

He said “As a democrat, it is

about expression of interest, it is about politics, it is about the will of the people, so I am not afraid of anything,” Hong added.

He however expressed optimism that the national chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu has insisted on internal democracy. “He has insisted that nomination will take place, so we have noted, we have absolute confidence in this party,” he added.

Meanwhile, son of former national chairman of PDP and gubernatorial aspirant, Auwalu Tukur, who also picked his form yesterday, declared that although he is the son of the PDP immediate past national chairman, he has made his mark in politics and should be reckoned with.

“It is natural for me to ride on his back because he is my father but people should also look at my history as a politician. I am a politician by right.

“I rise and fall in my own right, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur`s time has come and gone and this is my own time.

10 Persons Die In Enugu Auto Crash

By Nnamdi Mbawike, Enugu

No fewer than 10 persons have died in a ghastly motor accident that occurred yesterday around Obolloafor.

A source disclosed that the accident occurred when a mass transit company vehicle with registration number AKL 323 XA coming from Enugu had a head on collision with another bus with registration Number NNE 605 XA which was coming from Markudi.

A release made available to LEADERSHIP which confirmed the ugly development stated that the accident claimed no fewer than 10 lives.

According to him, the two vehicle were engulfed by fire shortly after they had a head on collision, adding that the identities of the victims were yet to be ascertained.

“An auto crash that occurred on 18/8/14 involving a mass transit company vehicle with registration number AKL 323 XA coming from

Enugu with another bus with registration Number NNE 605 XA coming from Markudi axis had claimed no fewer than 10 lives.It was gathered that the vehicles had a face to face collision around Opi/Ehalumona Obolloafor road which caused explosion leading to the vehicles being engulfed by fire.

Meanwhile identities of the victims are yet to be established”, he stated.

He also disclosed that two people who attended a burial ceremony

at Ehalumona in Nsukka last Saturday died after falling into a well filled with water.

He stated that the deceased fell into the well after disagreeing over a yet to be ascertained issue.

“Two people in a burial ceremony at Ehalumona of Nsukka axis of Enugu State met their untimely death on saturday 16/8/14 during a burial ceremony thereby making the burial ceremony to turn sour as they got themselves drown in a nearby well.

NEWS 5

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

LIVING BE BE 100100 LIVINGTOTO

One health tip daily May the Life Force Be with You

Qi, or life force, determines your energy level and optimum function. Thinking, working, and playing all require and consume qi from your body.

Traditional Chinese culture understands the need for

energy replenishment. Plants and herbs such as lotus seed, china root, longan fruit, pearl barley, ginseng, and forx nut have long been successfully used to strengthen digestion and boost qi.

Oil Subsidy Fraud: EFCC Recovers N5bn FROM COVER

indicted persons or companies to justice. “Investigation and prosecution of fuel subsidy cases have not been too easy for us but we are resolute in our determination to ensure that we push all those cases to logical conclusion,” he said.

Underlining the importance the commission places on transparency and corruption issues in the oil sector, Uwujaren said the EFCC presently has a full-fledged section charged with investigation of oil subsidy matters and other extractive industries issues.

He thanked the organisers of the programme for their initiative, saying “as a commission, we welcome any initiative that draws public attention to the monumental fraud that we have in the oil subsidy regime”.

David Ugolor, director, ANEEJ, said the purpose of the town hall meeting was to review how the anti-corruption agencies and the judiciary have fared so far in the investigation and prosecution of indicted persons and companies in the fuel subsidy regime and to also agree on measures needed to be taken to put pressure on the federal government to do more in bringing indicted persons and or companies to justice.

According to Ugolor, “it is widespread that payments of oil subsidy to oil marketers were inflated and several marketers got paid for doing nothing and expenses charged to subsidy account”. He emphasised the need to amend the EFCC Act to create “special courts” for prosecution of corruption cases.

Otsemaye Newton, J4A, called for more synergy among the anti-corruption agencies and

the civil society organisations in investigating and prosecuting oil subsidy and other economic and financial crimes cases.

Some of the individuals, firms being prosecuted by EFCC The EFCC has filed 11 cases before Lagos High Court and the Federal High Court in Lagos where it is prosecuting many individuals and firms before four judges.

Some of those being prosecuted by the EFCC for fuel subsidy support fund scam include Mahmud Tukur, son of the former PDP Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who is being prosecuted for alleged N1.8billion fuel subsidy fraud.

Others are Ochonogor Alex, Abdullahi Alao, son of the late prominent businessman, Alhaji Abdullazeez Arisekola -Alao, who is being prosecuted for N1.2 billion fuel subsidy.

The suspects also include Oluwaseun Ogunbambo, Mamman, son of a former PDP Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, and Christian Taylor, who are facing N4.4billion fraud.

Others are Chinyere Anike Nweze, Ogundipe Olaniyan, Olarenwaju Olalusi, Opeyemi Ajuyah, Samuel Owa, Oassisi Wajutom, Rowaye Jubril, Walter Wagbatsoma, Adaoha UgoNdagi, Fakuade Baba Femi and Ezekiel Ejike. EFFC is prosecuting Wagbatsoma over his alleged involvement in N414million fraud.

Some of the firms being prosecuted include Stone Bridge Oil Ltd, Vibrant Ventures Ltd, Majope Investment Ltd, Axenergy Ltd, Geacan Energy Limited, Petroleum Brokers Limited.

Others are Eterna Oil and Gas Plc, Brila Energy Ltd and Ontario Oil and Gas.

Suspected Suicide Bomber Arrested At Lagos Airport

By Nkem Osuagwu, Lagos; Donatus Nadi, Lafia and Abdulkareem Haruna, Maiduguri

A suspected Boko Haram bomber was yesterday arrested while trying to detonate what was perceived as an explosive at the Centrex Unit of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Sources said the suspect was able to gain access into the NAMA facility because he was physically challenged. He was, however, apprehended by security officials of the airspace agency who had witnessed his unusual movement as he was trying to press an object which they suspected could be an explosive. The airport police command was promptly alerted and the suspect handed over to the police, who took him to Beesam Police Station, Airport Command, where he was interrogated.

Efforts to get a confirmation from the Beesam Police Station did not yield result as the policemen on duty refused to talk to journalists who had besieged the office. The commissioner of police, Airport Command, Mr Waheed Salahu, said that it would be premature to talk with the media on the issue.

A source close to the command confirmed the story. The source who could not talk to the media on the issue said that the suspect was arrested around noon yesterday and had been taken to the Beesam Police Station.

The source could not confirm if the suspect was a member of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, but confirmed that explosive devices were on the suspect at the time of his arrest.

In a statement made available to journalists later in the day, NAMA said it was untrue that a suspected suicide bomber was arrested at one of the agency’s facilities at the airport.

Supo Atobatela, spokesman for NAMA, said: “The basic truth, however, is that the said suspect was on the ground making phone calls along the Airport Road close to CENTREX, an annex office of NAMA, when the agency’s security personnel accosted him.

“His incoherent explanation exposed him to the security personnel who later found on him some devices suspected to be explosives. He was subsequently handed over to the Airport Police Command for further investigation.”

He said the managing director of NAMA, Engineer Ibrahim Abdulsalam, in a reaction commended the security operatives for their vigilance and prompt arrest of the suspect.

5 killed in Fulani/Eggon clash in Nasarawa A clash between Fulani cattle

Defence minister Mohammed Gusau

breeders and Eggon farmers has left four people dead, many injured and several houses destroyed in Ambaka area of Wamba local government area of Nasarawa State.

A survivor (names withheld) told LEADERSHIP that the Fulani attacked and killed an Eggon farmer on his farm for daring to challenge a Fulani man who invaded his farm with cows that were destroying and eating up his crops. He said the Fulani, numbering about three, used their machetes to inflict serious wounds on him, which led to his death.

On hearing the news, however, Eggon youths mobilized and attacked a Fulani community killing two in the process. On their way back ,however, the Fulani youths also ambushed the Eggon youths, equally killing two.

Investigations revealed that when the Eggon youths returned to the Fulani settlements on Sunday morning, reportedly to seek vengeance, the Fulani had fled their homes, leaving the community at the mercy of the Eggon youths who set homes and other business premises ablaze.

Speaking on the incident, the chairman of Wamba local government area, Hon. Musa Wayo, said the matter was promptly reported to the police who took proactive steps to ensure that the violence did no escalate.

Hon. Wayo who pleaded with both parties to sheathe their swords for peace to reign called on his subjects to stop rumourmongering that serves to instil fear and escalate tension.

When contacted, the police public relations officer (PPRO), Ismaila Numa, said so far the police had recovered four corpses which had been deposited at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital.

Numan also said the police had ensured the return of normalcy to the area, adding that those who fled their homes had started to return.

7 killed in Borno border communities, as Boko Haram chased aged residents, women from Gwoza Gunmen believed to be Boko ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

6 NEWS

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Ebola: 4 More Patients Now Disease Free, Discharge

By Winifred Ogbebo and Victor Okeke, Abdullahi Umar, Abuja with agency report; Abiodun Oluwarotimi, New York, and DONATUS NADI, Lafia; George Okojie, Arounke Olayiwola, Matthew Dike, Lagos

The minister of health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, yesterday announced that four additional confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease had been managed successfully. The victims, he said, were now disease-free and discharged yesterday.

He said that the discharged patients who were primary contacts to the index case, Patrick Sawyerr, include two male doctors and one female nurse.

A statement by Chukwu’s special assistant on media and communication, Dan Nwomeh, stated that “the three participated in the treatment of the index case while the fourth person was a female patient at the time the index case was on admission. This brings to five the total number of patients diagnosed with Ebola virus disease who have now been discharged from hospital”.

No enough Zmapp for Nigeria – US The hope of Nigeria getting the experimental drug, ZMapp, has dimmed, as the US government has announced that there are not enough quantities for the country now.

Speaking to newsmen yesterday on the experimental drug when he paid a courtesy call on the health minister, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, the United States ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, said: “Those are exactly what you said – experimental. And we’ll see down the road what is possible. But there are not huge quantities now.

“And we think the focus now needs to be on exactly what you are doing, the isolation ward, screening and especially important that now your government is doing a very good job on this contact tracing.”

The U.S government also lauded the Nigerian government’s efforts in curbing the spread of Ebola virus disease in the country.

“Your government is doing a good job on contact tracing. I noticed when I flew back here on Thursday night into the country, before I left the plane I filled in the

questionnaire.

“I was very impressed because I had to put in my seat number, which is a very good idea, so that if you have to trace the guy who was sitting next to me you will know where I am.

“I have been very impressed by this thing, so I encourage the government of Nigeria to keep at it, which I know they will,’’ he said.

The ambassador praised the work done at the emergency operation centre and the isolation centre, saying he understood that they were working hard.

Entwistle said the two countries had a broad partnership to keep collaborating, cooperating and working hard to make the world a better place.

Responding, Prof. Chukwu said the ambassador’s visit was an opportunity to share ideas and information on Ebola. ``He is the spokesperson for the United States government here in Nigeria, and so he came to me as the chief public health officer of the country to exchange views with me,’’ he said.

Chuwku said Entwistle also visited to know if there was any new development that recently cropped up on the Ebola disease.

The minister also said that the Nano Silver drug which was made available to the Emergency Operations Centre in Lagos on Aug. 14 did not meet basic research requirements. ‘’The experimental drug, Nano Silver, did not meet the requirements of the National Health Research Ethics Code.”

Accordingly, the approval was withheld by the National Health Research Ethics Committee.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has made it known that Ebola outbreak will continue for some time in the affected parts of West Africa except Nigeria.

In its latest report which was released recently in Geneva, the United Nations health agency added that no new cases had been detected in Nigeria following the importation of a case in an air traveller last month.

A statement by the directorgeneral of WHO, Dr Margaret Chan, who regularly meets with ambassadors from United Nations missions based in the Swiss city to identify the most urgent needs within countries and match

support in the fight against Ebola.

Some people in Sierra Leone still have not accepted that Ebola is real. While many survivors fear stigma, some are now coming forward and telling their brave stories, wrote UNICEF consultant Jo Dunlup.

WHO said it is mapping the outbreak in great detail to pinpoint areas of ongoing transmission and locate treatment facilities and supplies.

CDC is equipping the hardesthit countries with computer hardware and software that will soon allow real-time reporting of cases and analysis of trends, according to the UN agency’s update.

Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu

them with rapid international support, the report said extensive contact tracing and monitoring, implemented with support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), had kept the number of additional cases small.

WHO is coordinating a massive scaling up of the international response, marshalling support from individual countries, disease control agencies, agencies within the United Nations system and others.

The most recent statistics compiled by WHO show that the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa continues to escalate, with 1975 cases and 1069 deaths reported from Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

According to WHO, staff at the outbreak sites see evidence that the numbers of reported cases and deaths vastly underestimate the magnitude of the outbreak.

On the humanitarian side, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) is delivering food to the more than one million people locked down in the quarantine zones, where the borders of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone intersect, and several countries have agreed to support the provision of priority food staples for this population.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in a blog post from Sierra Leone on the joys of survivors of the deadly disease, says that Ebola survivors can play a valuable role in dispelling myths and in gaining community

WHO tasks ‘exit screenings’ for travellers The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised West African countries affected by the Ebola outbreak to give “exit screenings” to any person wishing to leave places such as Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

The UN health agency gave the advice through its website, saying the affected countries are requested to conduct the screenings for anyone travelling from international airports, seaports and major land crossings for unexplained febrile illness consistent with the Ebola infection.

“Anyone found to have symptoms consistent with Ebola should not be allowed to travel unless for the purposes of a medical evacuation,” the agency said, adding that “non-affected countries need to strengthen the capacity to detect and immediately contain new cases, while avoiding measures that will create unnecessary interference with international travel or trade”.

The advisory comes a day after the news that at least 17 patients believed to be suffering from Ebola have fled a quarantine clinic in Liberia.

The patients are understood to have fled the clinic after protesters broke in and looted the building, stealing blood-stained bedding among other items, which officials say poses a serious infection risk.

WHO said it does not recommend any ban on international travel, international travel, or the screening of passengers who have not travelled

from affected countries.

The agency stressed that the risk of a person becoming infected with the virus on a visit to an affected and developing the disease after returning is very low, however, “even if the visit includes travel to areas in which the cases have been reported”.

‘Nasarawa is Ebola-free, ready for any eventuality’ Nasarawa State commissioner for health Dr Emmanuel Akaabe has, in reaction to a media report, declared that no case of Ebola virus has been recorded in the state, adding that the state government has made adequate preparations to ensure that any reported case is promptly contained and taken care of.

Dr Akaabe, who stated this during a press conference in Lafia, yesterday, said a 50-bed camp has been designated in Lafia and another in Keffi local government areas, adding that government has made funds available for other logistics and sensitization campaigns.

He noted that the state has, in conjunction with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, trained health personnel across the 13 local government areas of the state and plans have also been concluded for the training of a rapid response team and laboratory technicians in readiness for the scourge.

In its bid to ensure that sensitization gets to the grass roots, the state government is also organizing a one-day workshop for traditional rulers in the state; leaflets and posters would be provided and translated into various local languages to ensure that the people in the rural areas are better enlightened.

Woman smashes man’s head for hugging her A woman who was afraid of contracting the deadly Ebola virus yesterday smashed a beer bottle on a man’s head for hugging her in Ajah area of Lagos State.

The woman identified as Bunmi was said to have been angry when her friend, Ademola Ojikutu, held her from behind without her consent.

Her elder sister, Yemi, told LEADERSHIP that her sister ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Suspected Suicide Bomber Arrested At Lagos Airport FROM PAGE 5

Haram terrorists at the weekend attacked border communities in Marte local government area, killing a number of residents and setting ablaze homes, security officials said.

According to information sourced from security officials in Maiduguri, the attackers stormed the villages of Kaje, Alabanya and Aala. Officials

of the Nigeria vigilante group, Adamson Tar and Muhammed Gava, told LEADERSHIP that scores of persons were killed during the attack on the villages.

“We’ve just received information that scores of persons have been killed by Boko Haram terrorists in Marte local government area. They burnt about five villages during the attack,” said the vigilante officials.

An official of the State Security

Service in Maiduguri, who didn’t want to be named, confirmed the incident, saying that seven people died during the attack.

“The incident occurred on Sunday, 17th of Augustm at about 8:30am. The gunmen invaded the villages of Kaje, Allabanya and Aala all under Marte local government,” said the security operative.

Meanwhile, some residents of Gwoza, especially women and the

aged who could not flee during the invasion of the town by Boko Haram terrorists, have been chased out of their homes by the insurgents.

Amina Abubakar, a displaced resident of Gwoza who is currently at a refugee camp in Madagali town of Adamawa State, said she was worried about her aged mother who had received a bullet injury and might not be able to make it out of

the troubled town.

“We have just received information from those that were fleeing from Gwoza that the Boko Haram insurgents were forcefully asking them to leave, or else they shoot them,” said Amina, a 36-yearold woman. “They said the terrorists were saying that everyone must leave, whether aged or women, that they want to have a battle with the soldiers.”

NEWS 7

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Doctors Strike: Mark Wades Into FG, NMA Impasse

By Jonathan Nda-Isaiah, Winifred Ogbebo and Victor Okeke, Abuja

Senate president David Mark on Sunday night met with the leadership of the striking Nigeria Medical Association(NMA) during which he pleaded with them to end the industrial action in the interest of the citizens.

Senator Mark noted that the out break of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) now a national emergency is enough reason for them to suspend the strike and rise up to the challenge of saving their country men and women.

In a statement issued by his chief Press Secretary Paul Mumeh, He said Government is not insensitive to their demands but the situation at the moment called for patriotism on their part in the interest of the people.

NLC asks FG to recall sacked resident doctors The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the suspension of Residency Training Programme and the termination of Residency Training Appointment of doctors in federal tertiary hospitals, describing the move as ill-advised and therefore should be reversed

and the doctors recalled.

NLC president Comrade Abdulwahed Omar made the call in a signed statement yesterday.

The NLC said, ‘The recent mass dismissal of resident medical doctors in federal hospitals across the country by the federal government is ill-advised, and therefore should be re-considered and reserved given prevailing health challenges.’

The NLC advised that ‘what the country needs urgently is recruitment of more health professionals, well equipped public hospitals, and a well organised health system capable of responding

to health concerns of our growing population and not sacking of any category of health personnel.’

Senator Mark however promised to table their grievances before the President Goodluck Jonathan - led executive arm of government in order to find solutions to them.

The President of NMA Dr. Kayode Obembe who led members of executive to the meeting, listed their grievances to include but not limited to improved hazard allowance for medical and Heath workers, about 10 months unpaid areas as well as appointment of Surgeon- General of the federation .

Above all, Dr. Obembe is asking

for the immediate reversal of the Federal Government’s sacking of over 16,000 resident Doctors as a basis for further negotiation with them.

Obembe maintained that Doctors are not insensitive to the current Heath challenges on account of the outbreak of EVD but “We are demanding that government should do the needful to improve health care services in the country.”

The NMA meeting with the Senate President reconvenes on Tuesday (today) when both parties would report progress on the way out of the logjam.

data stolen by China’s cyber attackers A big US hospital group, Community Health Systems Inc, says cyber criminals from China hacked its patients’ database that led to loss of personal data belonging to 4.5 million patients in April and June.

The stolen information included patients’ names, addresses, birth dates, telephone numbers and social security numbers of people who were referred for, or received services from, doctors affiliated with the hospital group in the last five years, it said in a regulatory filing on yesterday.

Community Health Systems spokeswoman Tomi Galin said the company believes the attack originated from China because federal law enforcement and forensics experts with FireEye Inc unit Mandiant had told it that “the methods and techniques” employed by the hackers were consistent with a particular group of hackers operating in China.

Galin did not identify the group by name or say if it was believed to be linked to the Chinese government.

In May, a U.S. grand jury indicted five Chinese military officers on charges that they hacked into U.S. companies for sensitive manufacturing secrets, the toughest action taken by Washington to address cyber spying to date. China has denied the charges.

Community Health Systems said in the regulatory filing investigators have told it that the Chinese group believed to be behind the attack typically seeks valuable intellectual property, such as medical device and equipment development data, rather than the personal information stolen from the hospital group.

Galin told Reuters that the suspects had not that kind of information. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) spokesman Joshua Campbell confirmed that the agency was investigating the case, but declined to give details.

The company’s filing said that the stolen data did not include credit card numbers, medical or clinical information, though the types of personal information stolen were still covered by the U.S. government’s Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The FBI had warned healthcare providers in April that their cybersecurity systems were lax compared with other sectors, making them vulnerable to hackers looking for details that could be used to access bank accounts or obtain prescriptions.

Community Health, which has 206 hospitals in 29 states in the United States, said it has removed the malware from its systems and completed other remediation steps. It is now notifying patients and regulatory agencies as required by law.

N13billion in its coffers”.

The statement continued that, “It bemuses the mind that Sokoto State, known for prudence, accountability and good governance, would in the spate of seven years under the Wamakko administration, be reduced to a debtor state unable to provide services to its people.

This, in spite of the huge amount of funds collected by the state government from the federation account from 2007 to date”.

The party also flayed members

of the Sokoto State House of Assembly for not been cautious in approving the loan request as representatives of the good people of Sokoto State.

The Sokoto PDP said, “They should have put the best interests of their people at heart in dealing with the request submitted to them by Governor Wamakko.

The way and manner the House rushed into granting the approval to the governor for the loan leaves much to be desired on the part of the honourable members of the House of Assembly”.

Ebola: 4 More Patients Now Disease Free, Discharge FROM PAGE 6

was afraid of contracting Ebola and had since refused to shake anybody including her (Yemi).

Yemi said she was discussing with her sister, Bunmi, at Ilaje area when Ojikutu held her from behind.

Yemi said her sister was enraged and, out of anger, picked a bottle from a nearby beer parlour and smashed it on his head.

She said blood gushed out from his head and people had to rush him to a nearby hospital in the area.

She said she was not happy about what her sister did but the man was also wrong to hold her from behind when she was not his lover.

3 fresh cases in Kaduna, Lagos; officials beef up capacity Fresh facts emerged yesterday that three new suspected cases of the deadly ebola virus disease have been discovered in Kaduna and Lagos states.

Four more patients who had been undergoing treatment for the disease at the Lagos treatment centre, were discharged after they had been certified free of the disease.

Briefing journalists at the Infectious Disease Hospital located in Yaba area of Lagos, the Lagos State commissioner for health, Dr Jide Idris, said they have 12 confirmed cases

which included the index and all the other cases that had tested positive.

The commissioner said, “As at yesterday, we have three new suspected cases. And one of them is a blood sample from Kaduna State while the two others are from Lagos, and they are primary contact. One reason for this was that they do not have the laboratory to test for the virus.

“What we have now is that there are four people dead, including the index (Mr Patrick Sawyer).

We have eight in the isolation ward before the Saturday when we released the doctor. And this doctor was released after testing negative and going through the World Health Organization and Centre for Disease Control procedures for discharge.”

Idris added, “We have four more patients that are ready for discharge, and they have gone through the same protocol -the protocol is that before we release anyone or certified him or her negative, he or she has to be symptoms-free for over three days. Also, we had to test their blood and the result proved negative of the virus.

“They will be released today (yesterday) after they have completed their counselling exercise being conducted by our psychosocial team. But they will come periodically for checkups, though they are okay.”

He revealed that the other three patients were still being

monitored at the isolation centre, saying once they got better they would be released.

On the suspected nurse that ran to Enugu State, Idris said, “The lady who ran to Enugu is still under isolation and she has tested positive to the virus.”

Asked the treatment given to the patients, he said, “There is no specific treatment for Ebola virus disease, EVD. We treat the patients based on the presentation. For instance, if the patients show symptoms of diarrhoea, he or she has to be treated with electrolyte and others. If the person shows signs of pains, he will be given drugs on pains. We have enough drugs to take care of them.

“If they require intensive care, we will do that. This is part of the equipment that has been brought in. They will be provided with such.”

He explained that medical personnel had increased, saying: “At the moment, we have gotten more medical personnel to care for the patients. We have eight doctors and nine nurses and some health workers who have gone through the training.

“We have also been joined by infectious disease experts from Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). All these people have gone through the training, though the number is not enough; we need more.”

US hospital says patients’

Sokoto PDP faults Gov Wamakko over N3.6bn loan Abdullahi Umar, Abuja

The Sokoto State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Magatakarda of allegedly securing a bank loan of N3.6billion to finance elections in 2015 while hiding under the guise of financing capital projects.

In a statement signed by the chairman of the Sokoto State PDP, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma and made available to LEADERSHIP last night, the party queried

the propriety of the governor’s acquisition of such a huge loan with barely nine months to the end of his tenure.

According to Milgoma, the governor, by securing the loan, “seeks to leave not only hundreds of uncompleted projects all over the state but also to leave such huge debt behind for his successor”.

He added that “the PDP is aware of the financial difficulties the administration is facing due to lack of prudence in its handling of the state’s finances”, and that

the real motives for seeking the loan is “to raise funds to finance its 2015 election expenses but they are trying to hide under the cover of funding capital projects”.

Milgoma further advised the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government in the state to borrow a leaf from former governor of the state, Attahiru Bafarawa’s administration “which not only executed numerous people oriented projects across the length and breadth of Sokoto State, but also left behind for the successor administration, over

8 news extra

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Impeachment Panel: Nasarawa Assembly Petitions NJC Over CJ’s Conduct The Nasarawa State House of Assembly, at a resumed sitting yesterday, resolved to petition the chief judge (CJ) of the state, Justice Suleiman Dikko, to the National Judicial Council (NJU) over perceived irregularities in the composition of a probe panel to investigate allegations of financial misappropriation and breach of constitution levelled against Governor Umaru Tanko AlMakura.

Moving a motion to this effect at their first plenary after recess, the majority leader of the House, Hon. Godiya Akwashiki (PDP-Nasarawa Eggon West) said the step became necessary owing to what he termed the CJ’s deliberate breach of constitution by smuggling names of partisan politicians and a public officeholder into the membership of the probe panel, in breach of Section 188(5) of the 1999 constitution.

He craved the indulgence of the members to “write the National Judicial Council within 24 hours to investigate the chief judge in order to avoid the breakdown of law and order in the state.”

In his submission on the matter, Hon. Francis Orogu, representing Keana constituency, said “the CJ has abused his oath of office and derailed in the discharge of his duties by conniving with the executive to thwart the path of justice.”

Reacting on the resolution by Assembly, a legal practitioner and former state chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Barr. Mohammed Jabiru, said the NJC was not a court of law and so lacked the powers to punish the CJ who only carried out his duties as dictated by the constitution.

Barr. Jabiru maintained that the constitution was clear about the powers of the CJ in such matters as it clearly gave him the freehand to choose whoever he considers “in his opinion” to have the requisite moral standing to be so appointed.

“After inaugurating the panel, the powers of the CJ stops and any other misgivings have to be carried out by a court of competent jurisdiction,” he said.

In a counter reaction however, a legal counsel of the Assembly, Barr.

John Matthew said the NJC was established in order to insulate the judiciary from the whims and caprices of the executive …Suspends APC Member The lawmaker for Awe North in the Nasarawa State Assembly, Hon. Tanko Tunga (APC), has been suspended from taking part in any legislative function for a period of six months. He is also to be paid only half of his salaries within the same period.

Moving a motion to this effect, the House Committee Chairman on Information and Security, Hon. Mohammed Baba Ibaku (PDP-Udege/Loko) recounted that on July 23, 2014, Hon. Tunga tried to snatch the mace, which is the symbol of authority of the House.

By Donatus Nadi, Lafia

L-R: District head of Mairuwa, Alhaji Sani Idris; District head of Funtua, Alhaji Sambo Idris; minister of transport, Sen Idris Umar; chairman, Nigerian Shippers Council, Lt-Gen Salihu Ibrahim; chairman, Equatorial Marine Oil and Gas, Alhaji Umaru Muttallab, and Katsina State Governor Shehu Shema, at the turning of sod for Funtua freight station/dry port in Katsina, yesterday.

PHOTO BY NAN.

Poor WAEC Results: Additional 200,000 Teachers Needed – AUN President, Experts Says every child should have a learning tablet

By Kuni Tyessi, Abuja, Taiwo Ogunmola Omilani, Lagos and Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan

In reaction to the recent mass failure of candidates in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), in which 70% were said to have failed, the president, American University of Nigeria (AUN), Prof Margee Ensign has said that rather than apportion blames, the root of the problem should be tackled.

Prof Ensign noted that the deficiency of teachers, especially in core subjects, must be properly addressed, as research and statistics had proved that the number of teachers the country had at present cannot address the is-

sue of mass failure.

Ensign, who made this call yesterday in Abuja, stated that Nigeria, as a fast growing country, must invest in the training of teachers as, already, there is a population explosion which has led to 11 million out-of-school children, plus inadequate classrooms and infrastructure.

She said the training of teachers must be done consistently as “200,000 additional teachers are needed this year and, by next year, an additional 500,000 will be needed to curb the menace of mass failure and the 11 million out- of-school children must be sent to school and not traditional schools.”

“A country cannot move forward without education for girls and women as this will reduce child mortality, as the number of children that families can

have will come naturally, the women will be able to generate their own income.”

Similarly, she advised that for maximum improvement which can be achieved in two years time, “every child should be provided with a tablet for learning” and that this should not be seen as luxury but a thing of necessity.

Why Students Fail WAEC – Expert A renowned educationist, Dr. Irene Osemeka, also lent her voice to the ongoing debate, saying there has been a steady decline in the quality of Nigerian students as a result of their connection to Information Communication Technology (ICT).

She said, “Of course the poor quality of our students manifest in many ways. The commonest

is the poor grammatical expression in the use of tenses.”

Educationist Laments Mass Failure Another educationist, Dr Ibrahim Saka Ominiwe, has lamented the poor results of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), warning that the trend will be worse unless government does the right thing to salvage the sector.

Ominiwe who is the president, Education Legacy College, while speaking at the 9th graduation ceremony in Ibadan yesterday, said it was unfortunate that government had not deemed it fit to appointment capable hands to manage the sector, which he considered as the bedrock of the nation’s growth and development.

Nda-Isaiah Salutes IBB At 73

By Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja and Abu Nmodu, Minna

A prresidential aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) and founder of LEADERSHIP group, Sam NdaIsaiah, has joined other eminent Nigerians to felicitate with former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), on the occasion of his 73rd birthday anniversary.

In a press statement signed by the director on media and publicity, Sam4Nigeria Campaign Organisation, Macauley Hunohashi, Nda-Isaiah described the celebrant, popularly known as IBB, as a distinguished and detribalised citizen who keeps making Nigeria proud through

the promising reforms he introduced as military head of state.

The statement stated further that Nda-Isaiah, who is also the Kakaki Nupe, was proud to be associated with IBB who he said, was an erudite leader and revered not only within Nigeria but across the world.

“While wishing the astute leader many more years of positive impact to the development of Nigeria and the African continent, we pray the Almighty to grant you good health, uncommon blessings and abundant wisdom,” he said.

In another development, Mr Nda-Isaiah gave the assurance that with the contribution of Nigeria media, the nation’s democracy will grow and get bet-

ter as years pass by.

Mr. Nda-Isaiah who was represented by Hajiya Mariya Ibrahim Baba during the 3rd Press Week Annual Lecture of Mass Communication Students Association (MACOSA) at IBB University, Lapai, Niger State, noted that the Nigeria media had suffered a lot of mistreatment but had remained steadfast in the battle for the return to democracy.

He stated that the struggle of the Nigerian media for press freedom was not for the sake of the press but for the growth of democracy.

According to Mr. Nda-Isaiah, the major threat to governmental system is suppression of ideas which invariably leads to

incredible pressure on the community and the polity itself.

“In Nigeria today, we can confidently admit that the only significant achievement of our current democracy is the freedom of the press.

“This cannot, however, be achieved without the positive contribution of Nigerian media: it often shapes the democratic system to act in tandem with the desire of the populace”, he said.

He, however , noted the nation’s democracy was challenged by insecurity, insurgency, abduction, armed robbery and inherit corruption of many dimension affecting every segment of the society despite huge resources been expended against these impediments.

News north-central 9

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Niger East By-election: Don’t Be Intimidated By Military, David Umaru Tells Electorate

By Abu Nmodu, Minna

ing election is unnecessary and wrong”, he pointed out while The senatorial candidate of maintaining that the military the All Progressives Congress were supposed to defend na(APC) in the Niger East senato- tional boundaries and soverrial by-election, Barrister David eignty and not to be used for Umaru has said that the elec- election purposes. torate should not be intimidatThe senatorial candidate ed by the use of military during therefore urged the electorthe election even as he faulted ate not to contravene any of the planned use of military for the laws before, during and afthe election. ter the election and not to be Umaru stated this while cowed by heavy security men. speaking at Tafa local governHe told his supporters that Some prospective voters checking for their names on the INEC list before collecting their permanent voter’s card in ment when he went on cam- he would adopt all inclusive Kubwa village, yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO. paign tour of the area over the approach to make sure that he weekend. add value to the agricultural, He bemoaned the situation health, and educational develwhereby the military is used opments of Niger East if electas a means of intimidating the ed as senator. electorate to swing the tide of He stated that youths develthe election against him which opment would always be the By Abu Nmodu, Minna, cy Exercise on Mass Casualty terrorists is to kill and inflict he said negates true democracy. nucleus of his developmental Handling at Scene of Bomb Ex- injury on as many people as “The plan of the ruling party agenda; adding that, it is dis- The director general of National plosion in Nigeria”. possible”, the DG said. in the state to involve military heartening to see active youths Emergency Management AgenHe stated that incessant casAccording to him, the aim of cy (NEMA), Alhaji Muhammad es of bomb explosions in Ni- synergising during such casuto manipulate the forthcom- roaming about the street.

Sani Sidi has emphasised the geria have become a matter of alty is borne out of the need to need for coordination among concern to all and as such all mitigate the impact of such atstakeholders in response agen- stakeholders involved in disas- tack and respond adequately. cies to reduce losses during ter management must adopt He stated that NEMA has bomb explosions. multi-casualty handling at the put in place various frameSani Sidi represented by scene of bomb blasts. works for effective disaster Students Urge zonal coordinator NEMA Min“Mass casualty is one of the management in the country; Doctors’ Commissioner na, Lugard Slaku Bijimi, stated major features at the scene of saying that the agency has put Strike: In order to give room for this yesterday while speaking bomb explosions in the coun- in place national disaster reTo Resolve at a workshop on “Multi Agen- try. It is clear that the aim of sponse plan. other ruling houses to the NMA Seeks Teachers’ throne of Attah Igala, goverNigerians’ Crisis nor of Kogi State, Idris Wada, Intervention has constituted a seven-man committee to look into the The National AsThe Nigerian procedures for ascension to sociation of Kogi Medical Associthe throne.

State Students has ation (NMA) has Setting up the committee urged the stateBy Abu Nmodu, Minna, gy (FUT), Minna at the inaugu- cal content participation. called on emiaccording to Idris Wada has commissioner of ration of entrepreneurship de“The skills gap audit and sevnent Nigerians become imperative in order to education to reNigeria is set to train 8,000 pro- velopment training programme eral reports since 2011 have to prevail on the ensure peaceful means of as- solve the crisis fessional welders in a bid to re- for trainee welders. identified fabrication as the federal governplaguing educacension to the Attah throne. duce the number of expatriates Speaking at the training and area with the highest potential ment to reverse “It is the responsibili- tion in the state. dominating the oil and gas sec- certificate programme organ- for Nigerian content developits sack order on The umbrelty of government to ensure tor of the country’s economy in ised by the PTDF at the FUT, ment. Yet, it was one in which the striking resla body of the stu- the next five years. healthy selection and apMinna, the executive secre- the least capacity development ident doctors in pointment of Attah Igala dents of Kogi oriThe training being piloted tary said the skills gap audit has been recorded over time. the country. among the four ruling hous- gin in conjunction by the Petroleum Technology in 2011 revealed that fabricaThe report also identified reSuch interes of the stool in the order of with National As- Development Fund (PTDF) is tion is another area that is hav- quirements for about 8,000 vention the sociation of Nirotation,” he said. aimed at reducing capital flight ing the highest potential for the skilled welders needed to hanNMA said was gerian Students He regretted the crisis that necessary to have appealed to from the nation’s economy as a country’s local content develop- dle the ongoing or planned projrocked the selection of the result of engaging such expatri- ment . ects in the Nigerian oil and gas save the health the commissionnew Attah Igala after the deates in Nigeria.

He observed that not much industry,” Ajayi declared er of education, sector from colmise of the immediate late Dr Agnes Okhai The executive secretary of was achieved in that field thereConsequently he disclosed lapse.

Attah Igala, Alhaji Aliyu ObaPTDF, Mr. Femi Ajayi, gave the by necessitating the introduc- that 1,700 youths have been to resolve the criThe Kwara je and vowed that effort must sis plaguing priindications yesterday at the tion of the training going on in trained by PTDF to qualify as State chapter of be made to avert similar thing mary education in Federal University of Technolo- the university to provide for lo- international welders.

NMA in a comin the future. the state or face munique signed “I’m committed to ensuring peaceful protest. by its chairfair system of rotation among The nationman, Dr Abubathe four ruling houses of the al president of kar Ayinla and Attah Igala Stool”, Wada fur- the body, ComBY ACHOR ABIMAJE,Jos of ebola victims and victims of fection do not travel outside secretary,Dr Dele ther assured. rade Chris Audam, bomb blasts, saying these are their domain of residence.

Tajudeen, rewho disclosed this Plateau State chapter of Nigeri- efforts to uplift the sanctity of He charged the commitReacting on the recent sack spectively, at the an Medical Association (NMA) human lives by the caring doc- of doctors in the state, Bupwhile addressing tee members to be fair and end of an emerhas inaugurated a committee to tors. transparent in their findings journalists in Lowatda said, “ The attention of gency meeteducate the people of the state koja, yesterday, and gave them three weeks to He said the committee would the NMA in the state has been ing in llorin yesexpressed shock on the dreaded ebola disease. complete the assignment. collaborate with the state govdrawn to the circular on the alterday said the that primary eduNMA chairman in the state, ernment to prevent the diseas- leged presidential directive susThe committee has Chief sacking of docDr. Pokop Wushipa Bupwatda, es from spreading in the state. pending residency training proJohn Egwemi, the Onu Uje cation is suffering tors was not the from neglect. while speaking during the inauand Eje Ibaji as chairman.

He advised government to gramme in the county. best option. guration said that doctors have ensure that all persons under “We condemn in totallity this

By Abdullahi

By Sam Egwu, been sympathetic to the plight alleged presidential directive. surveillance For ebola virus inBy Sam Egwu, Lokoja Olesin, Ilorin Lokoja

Insecurity: We Must Adopt Common Front To Manage Bomb Explosions –DG NEMA

short news

Wada Constitutes C’ttee For Attah Igala Stool

short news

PDTF Trains 8,000 Professional Welders To Replace Expatriates

NMA Inaugurates Ebola Virus C’ttee In Plateau

10

stories of the Tuesday, August 19, 2014

...NEWS WITH A HUMAN FACE

NABBED: Delta Police Nab 163 Suspected Criminals In 6 Months

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

The Delta Police Command have arrested 163 suspected suspected criminals in the last six months.

Out of the 163, a total of 47 suspects have been arraigned.

DSP Celestina Kalu, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, who confirmed the arrest of the suspects, said the suspects were arrested at the different locations across the state.

While disclosing that the police were doing a great work in the state, DSP Kalu explained that efforts of the police to combat crimes across the state have recorded huge successes, especially in the arrest of all kinds of criminals in the combined efforts of the Joint Taskforce (JTF).

She attributed the successes to the quick responses of the police and useful information from well meaning Deltans in most cases to police officials, including distress calls.

It was reliably gathered that many of the suspects upon interrogation confessed to the crime, saying that they were introduced to the crime(s) by “evil friends”.

Speaking further, DSP Kalu said 63 of the suspects are members of different cult groups that robbed unsuspecting members of the public at gunpoint.

THEFT: Policeman Charged For Stealing

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

The police in Agbor, Delta State, have arraigned a dismissed policeman, Abel Okoro, at the Magistrate court in the area for alleged stealing and impersonation.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Joseph Luke, told the court that the accused person committed the crime in March 2014, adding that he introduced himself as a policeman attached to the Agbor Police Divisional Station after he allegedly stole a bag containing some money during stop-and-search.

He said the accused, upon interrogation after his arrest, confessed to the crime but denied stealing a bag from the car he conducted a search on.

He said that the accused was charged with impersonation and theft which contravened Sections 134 and 122 of the Criminal Code of Delta State.

He said that the accused carried out the act after he was dismissed from the police force for litany of fraudulent activities and other related acts unbecoming of a policeman.

Butchers at Gwagwalada abattoir in Abuja, yesterday PHOTO BY OGOH JOSEPH

WITCHCRAFT: Father Sets 11-year-old Son Ablaze In A/Ibom

By Bernard Tolani Dada, Uyo Justice may be on the way for an 11-year-old boy, Master Nmeyene Christopher Eyo, a pupil of Qua Ibo Church Primary School, Ikot Ekpri Atan Akpan in Nsit Ibium local government area of Akwa Ibom, who allegedly escaped death in the hand of his father, Mr Christopher Amos Essie, and Prophetess Amos Jonson, of the Light of God’s Grace Church Okon Eket..

Nmeyene’s father was said to have conspired with his wife to kill the boy by setting him ablaze, purporting to be delivering him from witchcraft.

Narrating his ordeal, the victim, Master Nmeyene explained that his problems with his parents started when he woke up one morning and told his maternal grandmother how he saw himself in the midst of people who gave him biscuits to eat, and she alerted his father who immediately came to the conclusion that the boy was a member of the witchcraft world and should therefore be dealt with before he wreaks

havoc on the entire family.

He said that his parents meted several punishments on him in their quest to exorcize him of witchcraft spirit before his mother, Prophetess Amos, took him to the church, poured kerosene on him and set him ablaze.

He explained that he would have died instantly but for the timely intervention of his younger brother, Samuel Christopher, who quickly raised the alarm that attracted the people of the area, who subsequently called the police.

Commenting on the dastardly act, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Glory Emmanuel Edet, lamented the treatment meted out to the innocent boy, warning parents to desist from stigmatizing their children as witches and wizards.

Children, according to her, are precious gift from God, adding that they should be cared for, shown love and affection and guided until adulthood.

TABOO: Teenager Uses Charm To Sleep With Mother

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

A desperate teenager identified as Martins Okolo, in Otulu community, Delta State is currently in trouble after allegedly using a love potion to charm and sleep with his mother.

Martins, reports said, was given the love charm by a native doctor, who instructed him to “test” it so as to ascertain its efficacy.

Sources said the boy, 18-year-old had been entangled in sex relationships with his peer groups in the past, which led to his being beaten by elders of the community.

Our informed sources said the love charm was put in the meal of the mother unknown to her, which made the woman

begin to act in a strange manner at night when the boy’s father was fast asleep.

However, the woman went to the boy’s room, a local built house in the community, and allegedly started caressing him.

Martins was alleged to have taken advantage of his ‘possessed’ mother but the noise attracted his father in the room, who rushed into the room to behold the abomination going on in the room.

Speaking to our correspondent, the father of teenager who did not want his name in the print said the incident occurred on Saturday night and that elders of the community had banished his son from the community, after he confessed that he charmed the mother to make love to her.

HOMOSEXUALITY: Senator Attributes Cause To Church’s Permissiveness

By Lanre Arotimi, Calabar

Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, has traced the current spate of homosexuality and other social vices plaguing the world to the church’s permissiveness to immoral acts.

He spoke during an interview on Sunday shortly after the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria 21st general assembly session held in Calabar, Cross River State.

Enang, who believes the church has a critical role to play in the election of political leaders world over, said whenever the Church renege in it’s responsibility, evil men are bound to dictate the tune in the society.

He said: “am sure the church should be worried today that people are encouraging homosexuality and other vices just because you (the Church) allow certain men to get into positions of authority”.

“They now say whatever you can do, the Church in some cases is bound to follow and they call it civil right”, he added.

Consequently, the Senator representing Uyo (North East) Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State, called on the Church in Nigeria to take active part in the forthcoming elections in order to elect trustworthy leaders into positions of authority.

While stressing the need for the church to mobilize her members towards an effective participation in the 2015 general elections, he noted that gone are the days when the electorates would sit back and grumble over bad leadership.

According to Enang, “the church has to be not only a part but a great part of the mobilization institutions. The church should be able to tell people when to come out and vote.

“The church should tell people to observe the rules of elections, that electoral practice is not only for the infidel people of the world.”

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STORIES OF THE DAY 11

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Photo News

Baby Factory: Female Doctor, Police Shift Battle To IGP

BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Harcourt

A Port Harcourt-based female medical doctor, Mrs. Chinyere Precious, has petitioned the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, seeking proper investigation into her arrest and detention by men of the Elelenwo Police Division in Rivers State.

Precious, who is the proprietor of God’s Gift Clinic and Maternity, Elelenwo, Port Harcourt, is also asking Abba to look into the damage done to her property when policemen from the Elelenwo invaded her hospital and residence last year.

Dr Precious was arrested, paraded and tried last year over allegations of operating a baby factory, but was later discharged and acquitted by a Port Har-

court Chief Magistrate Court, for want of evidence after the police withdrew the charges against her for want of evidence.

The withdrawal of the charges against her came after the policemen who invaded her home late last year was arrested and tried by the police authorities and disciplined for their action which was found to be unlawful.

The petition to Abba, which was written on behalf of Precious by her counsel, Emeka Alo, reads in part, “The culprits conspired and without any justification, invaded our client’s hospital and dwelling house at Elelenwo, Port Harcourt and with explosives, and not one of police instruments, maliciously damaged both the components of the hospital building and the dwelling house of our client for no justification reason.

L-R: Managing director, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr Adeseyi Sijuwade; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu; Comrade Peter Esele, and chairman, Sure-P, Gen Martin Luther Agwai, at the official flag-off of the Sure-P-sponsored training of technicians for the maintenance of Lagos-Kano railway line in Lagos, yesterday.

Photo By Nan

CRIME: Suspect Remanded For Invading Commissioner’s Shop

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

A welder, Ayegbeso Samuel, 25, has been remanded, for allegedly,vinvading a shop belonging to the Kwara State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Alh. Aliyu Wahab Opakunle.

The suspect was arraigned before a magistrate’s court in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on a-two count charge of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, contrary to sections 97 of the penal code law, 6B and 1(2) of robbery and firearms (Special Provision) Act cap R11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The Police First Information Report (FIR) said the commissioner had reported at the SARS office, that some suspected four armed

robbers operating on motorcycle with gun, invaded his shop located at Offa Garage, Ilorin, and dispossessed him of five handsets valued at N60, 000 and cash sum of N200, 000.

Consequently, the police report divulged that another two-man gang suspected to be armed robbers came to Opakunle’s shop “again with the same Honda motorcycle that was used to rob him on July 29, 2014”.

The FIR added that the commissioner raised the alarm when another suspected robber invaded the shop, a development, which attracted the neighbours, who came to the rescue and arrested one Ayegbeso Samuel with a gun that was discovered to be toy, while the second suspect escaped.

L-R: Dr. Wiebe Boer, CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, presenting a N1billion cheque for the Victim Support Fund to the vice-chair, Mr. Fola Adeola, in fulfillment of the foundation’s pledge to the Fund.

Boko Haram: 7 Killed, Others Flee Community

By Abdulkareem Haruna, Maiduguri

Gunmen believed to be Boko Haram terrorists at the weekend attacked the border communities of Marte local government, killing a number of residents and setting ablaze homes, security officials said.

According to information sourced from security officials in Maiduguri, the attackers stormed the villages of Kaje, Alabanya and Aala villages all under Marte local government area of Borno state.

Officials of the Nigeria Vigilante group,

Adamson Tar and Muhammed Gava told Leadership that scores of persons were killed during the attack on the villages.

“We’ve just received information that scores of persons have been killed by Boko Haram terrorists in Marte local government area. They burnt about five villages during the attack”, said the Vigilante officials.

An official of the state security service in Maiduguri (Sunday Yeshim), who doesn’t want to be named in this report, confirmed the incident saying that seven persons died during the attack.

L-R: Country manager, Core Group, Apple’s Representative in Africa, Mr Sachin Verma; head, GloWorld, Mrs Titi Ebinisi, and head, Glo Zone, Mr Babatunde Alimi, at a press conference to announce the commencement of sale of iPhone 5s, ipads and iPad Mini at all Glo outlets in Nigeria in Lagos.

Robbery: Gunmen Storm Bar In Benin By: Patrick Ochoga, Benin City

Armed robbers stormed a drinking joint around Trade Fair complex in Benin City, Edo State last Sunday night and robbed fun seekers of their mobile phones, jewelleries and cash.

The gunmen, numbering about six, were said to have stormed the bar in an Audi car at about 10: 30pm and ordered all the customers at gun point to submit their personal effects.

The operation was said to have lasted for about 5minutes.

The gunmen were said to have also carted away expensive brandy and whiskeys from

the joint.

The bar, which usually enjoys large patronage became a shadow of itself as customers and passers-by flee. The dare-devil robbers were said to have fired shots into the air to get away from he scene.

Residents around the vicinity were forced to remain indoors for several hours before the arrival of a Hilux van of anti-robbery squad from the state Police Command headquarters.

Meanwhile, residents of the area have called for increased patrol by men of the state police as the area is becoming notorious for incidents of robbery and rape.

L-R: Representative of the minister of education, Mrs Edith Ekpunobi; permanent secretary, ministry of education, Dr. MacJohn Nwabiala; former minister of education, Dr. Jerry Agada, and executive secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Professor Junaid Mohammed, during the public presentation of the book, entitled “My Teacher My Hero”, in Abuja. PHOTO BY OGOH JOSEPH

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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

business news

IFC, MasterCard To Expand Mobile Money In Africa

By Friday Atufe, Lagos

The International Finance Corporation (the private sector arm of the World Bank) is partnering with MasterCard Foundation on a $37.4 million joint initiative to expand microfinance and advance mobile financial services in subSaharan Africa.

The partnership is also

supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Development Bank of Austria, the Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG (OeEB), and collaborates with knowledge partners such as the World Bank and the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP).

In a bid to flag off the initiative in the sub-continent,

the IFC yesterday, announced an advisory services agreement valued at $1 million with Airtel Zambia to increase access to mobile financial services in the Zambian market in order to strengthen financial inclusion.

Financial inclusion is an important tool in promoting inclusive economic growth that can have significant impact on livelihoods.

Nigeria Railway To Create 6,000 Jobs – Labour Minister

By Samson Echenim, Lagos

The minister of labour and productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, yesterday, said the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) is expected to directly engage additional 6,000 workers when the Eastern Railway Line, now under rehabilitation, would be ready for service.

Wogu said this when he joined the chairman, NRC Board and former chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday to performed the opening ceremony of the Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) project for 1,605 Nigerian youths who will be engaged at the end of the training as technicians for the maintenance of the Lagos-Kano railway line.

The minister, who noted that the training was core to ensuring sustainability of the rail transport system, said the transformation in the railway sector had long been expected.

“Just recently, we received two diesel multi-purpose units and six air conditioned coaches. By 2015, the railway will be experiencing a

total boom and over 6,000 jobs will be created when the Eastern Rail is ready,” he said.

Tukur said the training which would cut across the various departments of the corporation is expected to equip the youths with operational, track maintenance, electrical, technical and signalling skills as well as skills to manage the trains’ mechanical apparatus and telecoms equipment on the rail routes.

Sponsored by the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) under the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, the railway TVET project will lead to automatic employment for the beneficiaries who would be engaged at Grade Level Four by the railway corporation.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the beneficiaries will apply their newly acquired skills to improve the fortunes of the corporation.

The NRC Board will continue to support its management in training programmes to support the ongoing railway rehabilitation and modernisation programme,” Tukur said.

Internet Data, Mobile Money Boost MTN Nigeria Revenue

By Chima Akwaja, Lagos

MTN Nigeria is smiling to the bank following a massive growth in its internet data and mobile money which contributed 16 per cent to the N413.259 billion recorded from January to June 2014.

This has forced the operator to invest more in network infrastructure as voice revenue continue to decline impacted heavily by regulatory pressures and very competitive market.

According to the financial results of MTN Nigeria from January to June 2014, data revenue increased by 16 per cent underpinned by the success of value-added services (VAS) as volumes on its digital platforms grew strongly.

At end-June 2014, the MTN Play platform had in excess 33 million subscribers having consistently recorded

over 10 million downloads daily. MTN Nigeria delivered pleasing results with revenue of N413.259 billion (Rand 27.099 billion) and maintained its market share by growing its subscriber base by three per cent, bringing total number of subscribers to 58.4 million.

Increased regulatory pressures, changes to the subscribers identity module (SIM) registration platform and the ban on the sale of SIM cards for the month of March affected the company’s performance during the period.

The president and chief executive officer, MTN Group, Sifiso Dabengwa, said, “The Nigerian operation will focus on meeting the significant market demand for financial services and mobile content with an expected positive impact on data revenue.”

Follow these reports on leadership.ng/business

L-R: Group executive, Technology & Services, FirstBank, Mr Akin Fanimokun; deputy governor, Economic Policy, CBN, Dr Sarah Alade; CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele and vice president, Africa, Western Union Company, Ms Aida Diarra during the official launch of Western Union Outbound Services at the FirstBank building, Coomasie House, Abuja.

Jonathan Flags Off Disbursement Of N220bn SMEs Fund

BY NSE ANTHONY-UKO, Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan will today officially flag off the disbursement of the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) launched last year by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

With the official flag off, it is expected that full disbursement of the fund launched last October would take off in earnest.

The Governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, who made this known yesterday, in Abuja, said that in addition to the disbursement of the funds to entrepreneurs across the country through Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs), the CBN has instituted an Entrepreneurship Clinic where aspiring young entrepreneurs will be trained, mentored and provided with required tool kits to start and grow their businesses.

Speaking during the 8th MSME Conference and Entrepreneurial Awards which commenced yesterday, Emefiele said that 60 enterprising graduates have been specifically

invited to the programme to be trained and mentored on how to identify business opportunities and source finance.

“All the young entrepreneurs participating at the session will be monitored with respect to the progress and achievements recorded before the next conference.”

The CBN boss also called for the private sector to collaborate with the apex bank in a bid to improve access to finance to the SMEs in view of the limited amount of funds it has committed to this venture.

Emefiele noted that relative to both global and sub-Sahara African growth trajectories, Nigeria has achieved remarkable economic growth and development in recent years as a result of the resilience of our people, the innovativeness of our enterprises, and the programmes of our governments at all levels.

“In the last seven years, our economy expanded by an average of seven per cent, while sub-Sahara Africa’s real gross domestic product (GDP) growth averaged 5.2 per cent. In the first quarter of 2014, Nigeria’s real GDP grew by 6.2 per cent, mainly

driven by an 8.2 per cent growth in the non-oil sector,” Emefiele said.

He, however, stressed that sustaining the developmental strides with a balanced and inclusive economic growth will depend largely on the provision of affordable and efficient financial services to the MSMEs, particularly the micro entrepreneurs who account for more than 90 per cent of the MSMEs in Nigeria.

“It is imperative that this segment of the financial system be strengthened in order to forestall the inevitable adverse socio-economic consequences of financial exclusion.

“The linkage between finance and economic development has been well documented.

Access to finance has a significant multiplier effect on the economy because of its catalytic effect on job creation and poverty reduction. It is in realisation of this fact that the CBN launched the N220 billion MSME Development Fund to provide financial resources to the entrepreneurs across the country through Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs).”

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

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16 NEWS/BUSINESS

NSE Opens On Bearish Note OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

Transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) opened on Monday on a bearish trend as the Nigerian Stock Exchange All-Share Index (ASI) dropped marginally by 0.02 per cent due to profit taking by investors.

The All-Share Index, which opened at 41,380.05 dropped by 0.02 per cent or 9.43 basis points to close at 41,370.62. Similarly, the market capitalisation lost N4 billion or 0.03 per cent to close at N13.660 trillion from the N13.664 trillion achieved on Friday.

Analysis of the laggards’ chart indicated that National Salt Company of Nigeria led by N3.53 to close at N68.11 per share.

It was followed by Guinness with a loss of N1.55 to close at N187.45, while UAC Property, Oando and Fortis Microfinance declined by 30 kobo each to close at N16.20, N26.39 and N5.70 per share respectively.

On the other hand, Forte Oil topped the gainers’ table by N7.90 to

close at N233.90 per share.

Nigerian Breweries gained N1.80 to close at N173.10, while Ashaka Cement improved by 70 kobo to close at N34.70 per share.

CCNN gained 67 kobo to close at N15, and Stanbic IBTC advanced by 55 kobo to close at N29.70 per share.

Also, the volume of shares traded dropped by 63.10 per cent with a total of 177.832 million shares worth N2.12 billion. This is against the 481.655 million shares valued N2.64 billion transacted in 4,368 deals on Friday.

Zenith Bank emerged the most active stock as investors exchanged 16.14 million shares worth N388.95 million. Transcorp followed with 14.16 million valued N79.31 million, while Fidelity Bank traded 13.01 million shares worth N26.34 million.

Access Bank sold 13.03 million shares worth N126.36 million, and Custodian and Allied accounted for 10.68 million shares valued N42.51 million.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

‘Nigeria Has Received $1bn For Water Sector Reform’

By Kingsley Alu, Abuja

The Federal Government of Nigeria yesterday said it has received since 2004, the sum of about $1billion in grants and loans from the World Bank, African Development Bank, French Development Agency, Islamic Development Bank, European Union and USAID for the implementation of its water sector reform programme across 12 states of the federation.

The disclosure was made at the ongoing 3rd Workshop on Performance Assessment, Benchmarking and Governance Issues of Water Agencies in Nigeria being organised by the federal ministry of water resources

in collaboration with the Water and Sanitation Programme (WSP) of the World Bank.

Minister of water resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, represented by a director in the office of the permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr Daniel Daudu, also said that following the success so far recorded in the implementation of the programme, the government of Nigeria would up-scale the programme to cover water supply and irrigation development in 12 additional states and two River Basin Development Authorities(RBDA) with additional facilities of about $1billion to be

further sourced from the country’s development partners when the ongoing processes matured.

While pledging federal government’s commitment at ensuring the achievement of the programme objectives through regular monitoring and evaluation, Ochekpe further urged state governments currently on the programme to exhibit more proactiveness by formulating and implementing necessary action plans that would enhance the achievement of sustainable water service delivery to the citizens of their respective states.

Food, Other Items Push Inflation To 8.3 % In July

BY NSE ANTHONY-UKO, Abuja

Nigeria’s Composite Price Index (CPI), which measures the average change in price level or inflation rate rose marginally by 8.3 per cent (year-onyear) in July, up by 0.1 percentage points from the 8.2 per cent recorded in the preceding month.

The National Statistical News published yesterday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Abuja, attributed the faster pace of price

increases in the headline index being witnessed for the fifth consecutive month year-on-year this year, to an increase in all divisions that contribute to the index, particularly the Food and Core sub indices.

The Bureau reported that food prices, which have been on upward swing since February, edged higher to 9.9 per cent, up from 9.8 per cent in June due to higher prices of bread and cereals, meats, and fish groups, noting however that the pace of the

increase was weighed upon by slower increases in the dairy, sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery, coffee, tea and cocoa groups.

The Bureau stated: “In July 2014, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which measures inflation, edged higher from the previous month. Prices rose by 8.3 per cent (year-on-year), up by 0.1 percentage points from 8.2 per cent recorded in June. This is the fifth consecutive month of year-on-year increases in the Headline index.”

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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR MALA KACHALLA

MEMORIAL GROUP

1941 - 2007

No 16, Shehuri round about, before Shehu's palace, Maiduguri, Borno State.

E-mail: mala.april2007@mala.com

Mala beyond naira and kobo

Exposing the contradictions of Mr INUWA BWALA,

A former brother and JUDAS

From 2003 to 2010, former Special Assistant on media to late Mala Kachallah and later Commissioner for Information in Borno State, Mr Inuwa Bwala (publisher of National Trail Newspaper) wrote at least one thousand articles, spoke on TV and on radio at numerous times, exposing the many atrocities of former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff as the Nigerian public will come to read in weeks to come when we refresh their memories with some of these factual narration of former Inuwa Bwala.

...2007, when Inuwa Bwala still had a voice "Borno State citizens felt scandalized by the report of a whooping One Billion Naira so-called Sallah gift dolled out by the Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff to political thugs. People took exception to the use of religion as a cover for pure political patronage.

I was a witness to the disbursement of the money in my area and can attest to the fact in the allegation" - Inuwa Bwala in an article titled "Still on Sheriff's N1bn Gifts”, ThisDay, March 29, 2007

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severance to Mala Kachalla's deputy in 2012 and there was no way Mala's family could be paid because the law didn't provide for it. SAS made the law so in order to deny Mala even in death.

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OUR PROBLEM as a concerned group of Late MALA KACHALLA'S political godsons of which Inuwa Bwala is supposedly like us, is the manner in which Bwala has betrayed Mala's good memory ostensibly for naira and kobo. Bwala was Special Assistant on Media to Mala Kachalla. He was one of the principal bene�ciaries of Mala as his chief defender and image maker. Inuwa Bwala was raised, nurtured and cleaned up by Mala. Inuwa Bwala was so powerful under Mala so much that we wonder how Inuwa today joined the man that frustrated Mala, our's and Inuwa's benefactor, till died in 2007.

… And NOW, WITH A VOICE SOLD he same Inuwa Bwala is now contradicting himself, authoring all manner of lies both in his tissue paper called National Trail and granting interviews on Newspapers with integrity, absorbing Sheriff of some of the atrocities, the same Inuwa Bwala accused Sheriff of committing back then. What a contradiction!

THE JUDAS AMONG US... n the build up to the 2003 elections, Ali Modu Sheriff led an evil plot against then Governor Mala Kachalla.

Sheriff unleashed all manner of evils against Mala even when Mala was the best man (as some people say) during the wedding between Sheriff's father and Sheriff's mother years back. Mala was to everyone's knowledge, a bosom friend to the biological father of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

Such an important tie which is a taboo to thwart in northern tradition was never a consideration to Sheriff. To him, the end always and most always, justi�ed the means.

He sponsored youths recruited, trained, paid and converted into violent political thugs code named ECOMOG. These youths tried to make Borno ungovernable for Mala Kachalla. Sheriff worked with various unions that nearly shut down Borno under innocent Mala Kachalla's nose. Hospitals were regularly closed down due to baseless and politically motivated strikes.

Sheriff planted all manner of evil that at the end, forced Mala Kachalla out of the All Peoples Party. Mala defected to the Alliance for Democracy as a Governor ahead of the 2003 elections. Through all machinations, SAS as Sheriff was called pushed Mala out of power in the 2003 Governorship. Mala moved to PDP before he later died on April 18, 2007. As we all know, there was no reconciliation between Mala and SAS till death. Mala died trying to work with PDP leaders in Borno to unseat SAS in 2007 elections when SAS was seeking re-election. Mala was never an admirer of SAS' style of crude governance that left at its end, the violence and mass murders we now have in Borno State.

SAS as his countenance always showed, hated Mala with a passion even in death. In 2008, SAS initiated a law that allows payment of severance package to democratically elected Governors and their Deputies who served from 1999 to date. SAS knew Mala Kachalla had died as the time he initiated that and out of hate, SAS deliberately made sure there was no clause that made survivors of dead bene�ciaries get the severance of their bread winner who labored for the State. He knew that Mala was a Governor from 1999 to 2003 and his surviving family was naturally entitled to such severance since the essence of the law was to support families of Governors and Deputies that served Borno. Typical of him and due to so much hate, SAS schemed out Mala's family out of the severance. Even for Mala's deputy that is still alive, SAS didn't pay him the severance till he (SAS) left office in 2011. In obedience to law and compassion, it was incumbent Governor Kashim Shettima that paid the

INUWA BWALA THINKS HE CAN DECIEVE EVERYONE, ALL THE TIME… ince the death of Mala Kachalla in 2007, Inuwa Bwala promised and was writing memorial tributes every year to celebrate our benefactor. He wrote each year. However, in April 2011, Inuwa Bwala refused to write any tribute to Mala.

S

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DOES THE READER KNOW WHY? nuwa Bwala sacri�ced the memory of Mala Kachalla that year for whatever he was going to bene�t from SAS because SAS had appointed him Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture in 2011 in order to silence him against his series of media attacks on him and his evil policies. With all his claim of being bold, fearless and loyal to Mala Kachalla, Inuwa Bwala couldn't afford to identify with his late benefactor in 2011 by penning his regular tributes to our kind godfather of blessed memory. Inuwa Bwala just couldn't afford to offend SAS. To him, Mala was deceased and belonged to the dustbin of history. It was billionaire SAS that mattered.

SAS was next to God. Inuwa Bwala knew how much SAS hated Mala Kachalla even in death and how he frustrated him; Inuwa Bwala knew he would remind SAS of Mala's memory if he wrote his tribute or even a sentence that year, despite promising all of us as the chief image maker that he would annually remember our boss that was very kind to him and all of us when he was alive just to keep his name �ying. Inuwa Bwala betrayed Mala Kachalla in death just to please wealthy and powerful SAS, the same SAS that humiliated Mala and the same Mala that Inuwa worked with to resist the claws of SAS. What an interesting world! Inuwa Bwala betrayed what was remaining for us.

Such monumental betrayal is what constitutes the character of Inuwa Bwala.

Bwala admitted in his resumed, post SAS era tribute in 2012, even as Commissioner of Information under incumbent Kashim Shettima. Bwala said in 2012 that since the death of Mala, the only year he (Bwala) failed to write tribute to Mala, was in 2011. Ofcourse, he gave no reason for not celebrating his late boss, thinking everyone

had fallen for his pretenses.

We are pained by the betrayal of Mala by Inuwa Bwala. We note with disgust that of all of us that were very close to late Mala Kachalla, Inuwa Bwala is today the only one that is, shamelessly telling lies about the sudden virtues of SAS. Bwala is for cash and wants to become a member of the House of Representatives under the PDP, representing Hawul,Askira/Uba Federal Constituency of Borno State and he needs wealthy SAS to fund his campaigns and muscle out ticket for him, he knows he has no character that can win primaries for him since he has serially lost primaries in previous attempts to go the assembly. Readers should forget all his pretenses about saying he chose to remain loyal to SAS and was sacked from the incumbent Government because he rejected material offers from anyone to work against Sheriff.

Inuwa Bwala is good at telling lies, he can do just anything with proper oiling.

By the way, we read him saying some people are spending funds and working hard to link SAS with Boko Haram. We think he is not helping SAS by his tissues of lies because it was Inuwa's new party and our's, the PDP in Borno State that chronically told the world in November, 2011 that SAS was behind Boko Haram violence. Any interested reader should Google "How Boko Haram began

by Borno PDP". The stuff is there. Google cannot be bribed to wipe it. No one needs to spend money and waste energy to link SAS with Boko Haram; SAS himself and history has long taken care of that. Inuwa thinks he can change history overnight with lies to clean up SAS to make it easy for SAS to use all means for him ahead of his aspiration for House of Representatives. What Inuwa Bwala doesn't know is that SAS is also like him. He is also not reliable as Bwala will come to �nd out. They are using themselves and both will count their losses at the end of their games.

God has a way of working. Imagine, today it is almighty SAS that has been pushed out of the party he said he owned. Mala will celebrate this in his grave. We are happy that history is about repeating it's self. Governor Mohammed Goni defected from GNPP to UPN in 1983 and lost re-election and like Mala Kachalla also defected from APP to AD and lost the 2003 elections, we have good reasons to believe Allah will pay SAS in his own coin in 2015 when he shall be put to shame in the PDP he has also defected into. In Borno State, we have a history that those who defect in contention for the Governorship seat either for themselves or on behalf of others, loose the elections.

Our God that is a witness to how Inuwa Bwala is dinning and wining with Mala's enemy, will never allow Bwala and his new found wealthy benefactor to have peace of mind- now and forever.

We the bereaved have spoken and so shall it be insha Allah!

May the gentle soul of Mala Kachalla rest in peace! Amen!

Being an arrear of 2011 tribute to the memory of Mala Kachallah in place of the one Inuwa Bwala refused to write just to please SAS.

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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

PUBLIC NOTICE REVISED CATEGORIZATION MATRIX FOR MARINE VESSEL VENDORS IN THE NIGERIAN OIL & GAS INDUSTRY

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he Marine Vessels and Vendor Categorization Scheme was put in place by the Board in 2011 to structure the utilization of indigenous owned marine vessels in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry and achieve the short term targets of the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources for 60% indigenous ownership of marine vessels operating in the oil and gas industry by 2015.

The implementation model has achieved substantial results, driving percentage of indigenous owned marine vessels utilized in the industry from about 15% to over 50% today. This translates to over $3bn per annum revenue retention in- country.

Having implemented the current model for over 3 years, it is imperative to progress to the next phase of maximizing local value capture by promoting ship building in Nigeria, in order to enhance skills, develop technology and generate employment.

This strategic initiative is underpinned by evidence deduced from our participation in visits to shipyards abroad where Nigerian indigenous companies have placed orders for new build vessels. These vessels are high end and designed to meet the performance specifications of the industry. One major finding from these visits is the common practice where vessel hulls are fabricated in one shipyard while fit out of topsides is

carried out in another yard, including some fitout of topsides done in Nigeria.

Based on these findings and the existence of yards in Nigeria with capacity for aspects of ship building and maintenance, the Board has determined that a good starting point is to promote fit out of topsides of hulls in Nigerian shipyards.

In the light of the forgoing, the general public is hereby notified that NCDMB has revised the marine vessel and vendor categorization strategy to take effect from 1st October 2014.

The revised categorization matrix will give priority to in-country marine vessel construction and provide better opportunities for vessels that have been part fitted out or constructed in Nigeria for opportunities in tenders.

The general public, especially Operators and marine service providers are to note and comply with the following: 1. Vessels that are wholly built in Nigeria and vessels wholly owned by Nigerians will be given first consideration in all contracts in the oil and gas industry.

2. Vessels which have 50% and above fitted out or constructed in Nigeria (by tonnage or spend) will be given next consideration.

3. Vessels which have below 50% fitted out or constructed in Nigeria (by tonnage or spend) will be given consideration after exhausting capacities of 1 and 2 above.

4. These categories will be given higher priority than ownership of vessels fully imported from abroad.

5. Vessel construction yards are required to upload their vessel construction capabilities in NOGICJQS (http://portal.nogicjqs.com) portal not later than 30th September 2014 6. The NCDMB is compiling a demand profile for new built vessels from operators and major contractors. To ensure that your company is properly captured in the new matrix, Marine service providers intending to build new vessels are required to upload the plan in NOGICJQS and demonstrate that Nigerian yards will be engaged for the vessel build, not later than 30th September 2014.

SIGNED Executive Secretary NCDMB

20 BUSINESS/CUSTOMS

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Ethics: WCO Makes Input Into Draft Brazzaville Declaration A “Draft Brazzaville Declaration on Integrity and Ethics in African Customs Administrations” and a report of “Final Conclusions and Recommendations” have been derived from a three-day seminar with inputs from the World Customs Organisation (WCO).

The documents which is expected to be submitted to the 6th Ordinary Meeting of the African Union (AU) Sub-Committee of Directors General of Customs for consideration in September this year, are the products of African Union Seminar on Integrity and Ethics in Customs, held in Kigali, Rwanda, recently.

At the invitation of the African Union Commission, the WCO participated in the seminar which is the first AU seminar on integrity and ethics in customs, a statement on the organisations official website said.

The objective of the seminar was to take stock of integrity and ethics programmes in AU member states customs administrations and to critically examine implementation challenges.

The event provided a forum for the exchange of integrity best practices among member states to enable formulation of a continental strategy to address the issues.

In attendance at the event were participants that included representatives of 14 AU customs administrations as well as Regional Economic Communities and International Organisations.

Prior to the seminar, the WCO said it had collaborated with the AU Commission to conduct a survey on the integrity situation of AU member states customs administrations.

Consequently, the organisation informed the forum of the outcome of the survey and also shared some global perspectives on best practices in integrity and ethics. Meanwhile, as part of its support to member customs administrations, the organisation has kick-started a mission to engage the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to pursue its reform and modernisation programme based on the WCO capacity building approach.

The development was at the instance of the commissioner, Customs Division, Mr Wallace Akondor, to enable the GRA customs modernisation programme derive full benefits of the WCO capacity building programmes. Senior and middle level managers from mainly the Customs Division of GRA have been engaged by the WCO mission in fruitful dialogues and presentations which promotes the capacity building approach as well as the tools and standards developed and used by the WCO to support customs reform.

Significantly, the key challenges and shortfalls of the last customs reform cycle under the GRA Strategic Plan 2012-2014 were identified and discussed with the participants with a view to address the way forward. The opportunity also was used to assess the senior-middle management participants’ engagement with WCO issues and programmes according to a statement by the organisation. It was agreed, eventually, as an outcome of the mission, that the WCO would further assist GRA Customs Division to elaborate a conceived strategic reform plan for 2015-2018, in line with WCO policies

customs focus

By JULIET ALOHAN

and standards.

The WCO has been at the fore of providing support to member administrations undergoing a modernisation programme.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in this regard benefited from tremendous support from the WCO, an opportunity that was judiciously utilised. The secretarygeneral of the WCO, Kunio Dikko Mikuriya, has at various fora expressed his satisfaction with the NCS modernisation and openly commended the management of the service led by the comptroller-general, Abdullahi Dikko.

Similarly, the organisation also held a leadership and management development workshop for the Lesotho Revenue Authority in Lesotho, recently. The event, which was organised in partnership with the Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA), took place at the historical grounds of King Moshoeshoe’s residence, the Thaba-Bosiu Cultural Village. The overall objective of the two-week interactive workshop was to strengthen senior management capacities to lead and drive reforms

within LRA’s customs modernisation agenda.

The workshop which brought together a diverse group of senior managers from LRA’s customs, domestic tax and corporate services divisions also discussed current and future challenges of the LRA. Issues related to a wide range of topics such as how to deploy a leadership attitude in managing change, visioning, strategic management, negotiations, people management and strategic and personal communications were top on the discussions, while establishing new foundations for stronger teamwork and cooperation between senior managers of the different divisions of the LRA. For many of the

participants, the workshop turned out to be not only insightful and practical on organisational level, but a real first step towards a positive change in their individual leadership and management approaches, especially in the areas of self-awareness, personal leadership and influencing others. The leadership and management development workshop was a follow up on the top management retreat with the executive committee of the LRA, which help one month earlier.

It is expected that the two events together would inspired senior management of the LRA to drive their modernisation process more strategically on one hand, and to more and better empower their staff on the other hand.

The event which was funded with the support of the World Bank’s Trade Facilitation Facility and the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, is in line with the WCO’s clamour for the modernisation of African customs administrations for the economic and security benefit of the region.

In a related development, the WCO has announced the commencement of 1st Pilot Session of the Virtual Customs Orientation Academy (VCOA). This ground breaking initiative complements the WCO learning and development opportunities offered to the Customs officers worldwide.The VCOA which entails a four core modules comprising of videos, live discussions and multimedia courses, aim at providing new Customs inductees with an understanding of the role of the WCO and its impact on the Customs community.

Customs FOU Zone ‘A’ Seizes N108m Worth Of Goods In One Month

By Samson Echenim, Lagos

A total of 336 seizures of assorted offending goods and items valued at N107.5 million with payable duty of about N43 million and a duty paid value (DPV) of N150.5 million were between July 13 and August 9, 2014, made by the men of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ Ikeja of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Briefing journalists at the

command’s Ikeja headquarters recently, the newly appointed acting controller of the FOU, Mr Usman Adamu Turaki, said his men also arrested 19 suspects in connection with the smuggling of the goods.

Adamu was made acting controller of the unit on July 15, 2014. He said shortly after he took over as comptroller of the FOU Zone A, one of the spectacular seizures was made by a patrol team led by assistant

comptroller, Ejigbunu Kehinde, who while acting on a tip off, intercepted two trucks laden with 1,200 50 kilogrammes (kg) of rice with a DPV of N10.2 million along the LagosAbeokuta Expressway having been concealed as cement products.

Also intercepted by the customs operatives are eight high value brand new cars, including a Lexus GX460 jeep, Maybach city sedan, three Ross Royce, whose

payable duties could be as high as N15 million each, according to the comptroller. A total of 50 high net worth cars and jeeps currently lay cool at the units’ seizure ground in Ikeja.

He said, “The smugglers cleared some of these high value vehicles as low value cars as Nissan Primera, or used older models of Toyota Camry and paid peanuts, whereas one of them is worth about N15 million in duty.

These are all new vehicles.

“If anyone knows he does not have the duty amount to pay, why does he get involved in the business? If you are not ready to comply with the federal government fiscal policies, there is no need to get involved in the business. When a smuggled good is seized, it is as good as being lost by the importer. When you pay duty, the government benefits and you sell your good at a profit. Smuggling does not help anyone.”

E-Business/BUSINESS 21

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

E-business REPORTS

Glo Begins Sale Of Apple Devices With Internet Connection A typical telecommunication base with alternative power supply generators and solar panels

Etisalat Builds $300m National Backbone As Subscribers Hit 19.5m Stories by Chima Akwaja, Lagos

Nigeria’s fastest growing mobile operator, Etisalat, has completed the construction of a $300 million national fibre optic backbone network which connects all metro fibre rings the company has been establishing in major cities across Nigeria in order to provide high-speed voice, data and video streaming without buffering on its broadband network.

Etisalat Nigeria’s chief executive officer, Matthew Wilshere, who confirmed the development with technology journalists at the weekend, noted that the operator, which commenced commercial service in October 2008, has grown its subscriber base by 20 per cent, up from 15.3 million in 2013 to 19.5 million as at August 2014.

The fourth mobile network, which controls 15 per cent of the mobile telecommunications market share in Nigeria only behind MTN, Airtel and Globacom, said it is encouraged by the growth being recorded by the network in just six years of operation which has made it to invest in expanding the capacity of the network.

Wilshere said Etisalat Nigeria which prides itself

as leader in technology innovation and customer experience, has really established itself as a major player in the market and is very encouraged by the growth it is seeing. “With all these new customers putting increasing demands and pressure on our network, we are not standing still. We are investing and expanding capacity so that we can remain leader in their minds for customer experience and innovation,” he said.

Adding his voice, the director of network engineering at Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Temi Ogunbambi, said the company will continue to invest heavily to increase the size of the network in order to cope with the number of users and traffic generated on the network. He stated that Etisalat Nigeria has achieved 7,000 base transceiver stations (BTS); 4,500 sites such as mobile station controllers (MSCs) which controls other BTS and is on target to reach 5,000 sites

by December 2014.

He added that Etisalat is investing to provide power generators and backup batteries, noting it is probably the only operator that has achieved 99 per site uptime according to key performance indicators (KPIs) from Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)

The entire capacity that we have and it is still growing is about 10 Gigabyte per second which is phenomenal investment connecting subscribers around the world through international submarine cables like MainOne Cable Company

“It is quite a challenging task and difficult operating environment to be able to achieve what we have done. Up until 2009 when I joined, the entire capacity for international connection was equivalent to about 200 megabyte per second. Today, the entire capacity that we have and it is still growing is about 10 gigabyte per second which is phenomenal investment connecting subscribers around the world through international submarine cables like MainOne Cable Company.

Ogunbambi stated that Etisalat has invested in 2100 base 2G and 3G base transceiver stations (BTSs) and they are adding more BTS capacity. In number states we’ve built extensive metro fibre networks connecting many of its base stations with fibre to give superior user experience.

A fortnight ago, Etisalat Nigeria announced it would sell 2,136 of its towers to IHS Holding Limited (“IHS”) as part of a broader strategy to drive improvements in the quality of its network performance and to accelerate roll out of 2G & 3G coverage and new services to its customers. The transaction, the first by a major GSM operator in Nigeria, is expected to be closed later this year.

Kitskoo Offers Banks, IT Firms Roadmap On Cloud Technologies A leading cloud services ICT company in Nigeria, Kitskoo Cloud Services, in partnership with VCE and Microsoft has offered an opportunity for business leaders across the country to adopt the use of private cloud for the growth of their organisations.

The chief executive officer of Kitskoo, Mr Tunde Fafunwa, in a video conference with the media from Washington DC,

United States of America (USA), said the company not only encouraging businesses and their leaders in Nigeria to embrace private cloud; it is equally challenging decision makers and business owners to leverage the numerous benefits of cloud technologies.

Ahead of a oneday seminar on why businesses should

embrace the cloud in 2014 holding August 28, 2104, in Lagos, Fafunwa noted that one of the major challenges confronting business executives is the quest to effectively grow the business using the best possible approach at the lowest cost. While the public cloud approach may be an appealing option, the need for control over an organization’s mission critical data makes the

private cloud more desirable to many.

Adding a different perspective, the executive director of Kitskoo, Mr Monu Ogbe, noted that while the public cloud as it is today offers more in terms of service delivery for business owners, the adoption of a private cloud by an organisation helps it address the twin issue of security and availability.

Nigerians will now be able to get genuine Apple devices from the nationwide outlets of Globacom, following an agreement between the operator and Apple’s authorised distributor for Africa, Core Group.

Top officials of Globacom and Core Group formally announce the partnership at media briefing in Lagos last Thursday.

The head of GloWorld, Mrs Titi Ebinisi, said the partnership will enable lovers of premium quality Apple products to enjoy Globacom’s super-fast internet service, Glo Bolt.

“The strategic partnership removes the burden of worrying about how to get authentic Apple devices, and then worrying about how to activate its full functionalities through the purchase of a subscriber identity module (SIM) and internet connection. Our customers have been relieved of all these worries,” she said.

She disclosed that with the partnership, “anyone can walk into our signature retail shops, GloWorld, our accredited dealer outlets and Glo Zones in the country to get genuine Apple devices bundled with one year of data powered by Glo Bolt.”

She added that the Apple line of devices available at the Glo outlets include iPhone 5s, iPad mini and iPad air, all of which come with Apple’s super sharp retina display.

She urged telephone users in Nigeria to buy genuine Apple products from Glo outlets across Nigeria to enjoy the premium quality, reliability and speed of Globacom’s robust 3G plus network as well as exciting data bundles. Also speaking at the press conference, country manager, Core Group Africa, Mr Sachin Verma, congratulated Globacom for the partnership, saying his company would ensure that customers get quality Apple products at the right prices.

22 aviation/BUSINESS

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

aviation REPORTS

SAHCOL Pays Courtesy Visit To Chidoka

Some member airlines of the IATA who will be present at the forthcoming symposium in Abu Dhabi.

IATA’s Symposium To Promote Financial Health For Airlines Stories by Nkem osuagwu, Lagos

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced the first World Financial Symposium (WFS) for the airline industry, which will be held in Abu Dhabi on 17-18 September 2014. More than 600 financial executives and specialists are expected to attend the event, which is hosted by Etihad Airways.

Experts in revenue accounting, treasury, risk management, fraud prevention and other areas will exchange ideas to identify successful strategies for improved airline financial health.

“Aviation has a global economic impact of $2.4 trillion and transports 35 percent of goods traded by value—around $6.8 trillion this year. And consumers spend percent of

global GDP on air transport.

But there is a mismatch between the value that the industry contributes to global economies and the rewards that it generates for those who risk their capital to finance the industry. This year we anticipate that the average return on invested capital will reach 5.4 per cent. This is an improvement over prior years and reflects successful consolidation and restructuring.

But investor returns are around $15 billion less than would be expected for an industry such as commercial air transport,” said IATA’s director general and CEO, Tony Tyler. “The World Financial Symposium provides an excellent opportunity to bring together experts from inside and outside aviation to analyze the financial challenges that we confront as an industry.”

Under the theme “Supporting Sustained Financial Health,”

Experts in revenue accounting, treasury, risk management, fraud prevention and other areas will exchange ideas to identify successful strategies for improved airline financial health.

the WFS will feature a keynote address by chairman and CEO of Seabury Group, John Luth.

Mr Luth also will participate in the leadership panel with other top industry financial experts, including: CEO, Aer Lingus Group, Christoph Mueller; president and CEO, Etihad Airways, James Hogan and senior partner and co-head of Developed Markets Strategy, Lansdowne Partners, Peter Davies.

Another highlight is the Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Summit, which is open to senior financial executives from airlines, business partners and key suppliers.

Other topics to be discussed at WFS include: transforming revenue accounting; managing risk in a changing world; payment methods and fraud prevention, and building a world-class treasury.

NCAA Commends British Airways On Leadership Initiative Aware of the increasing needs to promote the Nigeria aviation sector, the director-general, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Engr.

Benedict Adeyileka, has charged corporate organizations in the airline industry to put in place programmes that would enhance the development of the aviation sector in the country.

He said this when the winners of the British Airways’ Leaders of Tomorrow programme paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Lagos.

He said such a programme could play an important part in bringing new expertise and international best practice to the Nigerian aviation sector.

The programme gave six students of the Nigeria Aviation College of Technology an opportunity to gain valuable first-hand insight into the operations of a modern international airline during a two-week internship in Lagos and London.

Adeleyileka commended the airline for choosing the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, as its partner in the programme.

“We must commend British Airways for this laudable initiative. This is a development programme for the youth in the aviation industry and has proved that British Airways is not only concerned about its commercial operations in Nigeria but also giving

back to the country in a big way,” he said.

He urged other corporate organizations in aviation to emulate the airline by making meaningful contributions to the industry.

British Airways country commercial manager, West Africa, Mr. Kola Olayinka said initiatives such as Leaders of Tomorrow would contribute in some small way to the Nigerian aviation sector reaching its potential.

“As the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria needs a strong aviation sector.

Leaders of Tomorrow programme is our contribution to this and we expect big things from the winners in the coming years.”

The management of Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited( SAHCOL), has paid a courtesy visit to minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, in his office, at the Ministry of Aviation in Abuja.

The meeting discussed matters of mutual interest, including efforts by SAHCOL to develop the aviation industry in Nigeria since its privatization in 2009.

The managing-director of SAHCOL, Oluropo Owolabi commended President Jonathan for appointing Osita Chidoka, taking cognizance of his successes in his last assignment, as the corps marshall/chief executive of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

While thanking the managing director of SAHCOL and his entourage for the visit, Chidoka promised to make aviation in Nigeria better than he met it. SAHCOL said it has successfully established a strong market presence in the domestic and international airline ground handling industry, with expertise in providing passenger, ramp and cargo/warehousing services.

Ethiopia Airlines Announces Codeshare With United Ethiopian Airlines has announced a codeshare agreement with United Airlines, effective August 30th, 2014.

Ethiopian, the largest airline in Africa, currently flies to 83 international destinations across five continents.

The new codeshare agreement between the two Star Alliance-member airlines covers the Addis Ababa–Washington, DC trunk route, as well as other points in the US and Africa.

With this new agreement, travellers between the US and Africa will be able to enjoy unmatched and seamless connectivity options, thanks to United’s extensive network in the US and Ethiopian’s unparalleled coverage of east, central, southern and western African destinations.

Ethiopian Airlines chief executive Tewolde Gebremariam, commented: “We are very delighted to start codeshare flights with fellow Star Alliance member United Airlines.”

Skyjet Becomes Gulfstream’s Sales Representative In Central Africa Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation has expanded its sales capabilities by naming SkyJet Aviation Services Ltd as its commercial sales representative in West and Central Africa.

SkyJet’s territory includes Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar. “Business aviation is growing in this part of Africa, especially in Nigeria, and shows no signs of slowing down,” said Scott Neal, senior vice president, Worldwide Sales and Marketing, Gulfstream. SkyJet is a company with a strong and positive name in the aviation sector and will be an invaluable resource as the need for business jets continues to increase.”

As a private charter airline and aircraft maintenance provider, it was incorporated in 2006. SkyJet’s owner and chief executive officer, Alhaji Kashim Bukar Shettima, and director of aircraft sales, Bruce Fullerton, will work closely with Gulfstream’s Pete Buresh, regional vice president, Africa, and Trevor Esling, regional senior vice president, International Sales.

science Tuesday, August 19, 2014

23

2,000

we are going to distribute 2,000 CFLs in Uke community. This means we will give five CFLs to 400 houses, that is 200 each for lower and upper Uke

F E AT U R E S N E W S R E P O R T S I N T E R V I E W

The permanent secretary of the Science and Technology Ministry, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita (middle) flanked by a cross-section of participants at the theoretical and practical training course for stakeholders on plant tissue culture in Abuja

Genetic Engineering: NABDA Develops Stakeholders’ Capacity

By Nkechi Isaac, Abuja

Tissue culture had been identified as a pre-requisite for the application of genetic engineering for the improvement of crops

The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) has commenced a two-week theoretical and practical training course for stakeholders on plant tissue culture, a tool for the genetic engineering of plants in Abuja.

At the opening session of the workshop, the director-general of the agency, Prof. Lucy Ogbadu, said tissue culture had been identified as a pre-requisite for the application of genetic engineering for the improvement of crops.

He contended that equipping scientists with the knowledge and skills to carry out research in this area would go a long way to contribute to food security in member states as capacity would have been built to apply biotechnology in the improvement of cash crops and indigenous crop species with challenges that had been difficult to address using conventional methods.

The NABDA boss said the training workshop would equip Nigerian participants with the knowledge and capacity for the proper application of

biotechnology when the biosafety bill before the seventh National Assembly (NASS) was eventually passed to law.

She said: “You may be aware of the enormous resources and efforts of the agency that have been deployed to getting the biosafety bill passed into law. This course provides an opportunity, especially for the Nigerian participants to domesticate Genetically Modified (GM) technology and garner trust in the Nigerian system to manage all matters related to its adoption and practice. The gains and contribution of the technology to food security and environmental friendly agricultural practices are well documented.”

She harped on the speedy passage of the biosafety bill, noting that the delay of having a proper framework for the regulation of biotechnology application in Nigeria might make Nigerian farmers susceptible to unwholesome practices by taking the laws into their hands.

“During the opening ceremony, we were given a run-down of countries that failed to pass the

bill and the farmers took laws into their hands by smuggling these seeds into the country because they know the benefits of these seeds. That means that you’ll have uncontrolled handling of seeds and some of them may not be the desired ones you’ll want your framers to make use of. This is one of the disadvantages of delay in the passage of the bill.

“Secondly, our scientists would not be able to practice freely like their counterparts in other developed countries and thirdly even for those who are sceptical about GM products, if there is no control, anybody can practice anything without law or regulation to govern the practice of biotechnology,” she added.

Earlier in her address, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Winifred OyoIta, said that plant biotechnology was gaining wide applications in the improvement of crops worldwide.

She stressed that it was the aspiration of the Nigerian government that the knowledge

and skills that would be acquired by the participants at the training would find good application and impact towards the development of various participating countries.

In his remarks, a guest speaker at the training workshop, Prof. Ivan Ingelbrecht, of Ghent University, Belgium, said plant tissue culture was a new technological innovation, emphasizing the need for Nigerians to build its capacities to domesticate this new technology.

“It is very important that countries like Nigeria develops own capacities. This is about a new technology that is being introduced in many countries across the world but it’s an innovation in agriculture and it is very sophisticated. So, that means that a lot of the products are still being made outside.

“This is a way of empowering local institutions so they can make up their own independent opinion on if they want to use it, how and when they want to use it because it is an important step rather than trying to adopt what has been produced outside, which may not fit your local conditions or

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24 SCIENCE/news

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Genetic Engineering: NABDA Develops Stakeholders’ Capacity 23

needs. So, it’s important that you have your own capacities and the objective of this particular course is to help build those capacities in the lab,” he said.

In his goodwill message, the Italian ambassador to Nigeria,

Technology Firm Creates Online Business Hub For SMEs

By Nkechi Isaac, Abuja

A technology firm, Zebra Technologies Limited, has created an online business hub to boost activities of small and medium Sscale enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria.

Speaking at the unveiling of the portal, www.askme.ng, the chairman of the company, Mr. Austine Okonkwo, said that the goal of the site was to create a long-term shareholder value by enhancing its position as a leading local search service for businesses and other general information.

Okonkwo explained that the product, www.askme.ng, was designed to provide practical help on relevant challenges, namely unlimited publicity, faced by SMEs in different regions of the country.

He said, “the company’s philosophy focuses on the end user experience through feedback, innovation, teamwork and integrity”.

According to him, “with the aid of practical case studies and real life illustrations, askme.ng will help provide comprehensive update information on all the B2B and B2C products within the economy.”

He noted that askme.ng was designed to make online presence/ adverts very affordable to growing SMEs in Nigeria.

Earlier in his remarks, the manager of the company, Mr. Chuka Ikeamaka, said that askme. ng was an avenue for SMEs to grow in Nigeria.

He further said askme.ng was already playing a critical role in enhancing the growth of SMEs in the country.

While acknowledging the online awareness level for businesses in the country, he maintained that the simplicity of the platform and its features offerred a more credible means for businesses to harness the patronage of the millions of internet users in Nigeria.

developed countries could partner the emerging countries to build their capacity in biotechnology, food safety, crop strengthening and the likes.

“You may be aware that the international centre was

Dr. Fulvio Rustico, represented by the deputy head of mission, Dr. Nicolas Bazani, said the Italian government, which hosts the International centre for members and affiliated states, aimed to provide a forum where the more

established to enhance and strengthen the capacity of member states in biotechnology through collaborative efforts and the exchange of knowledge, information and technology,” he added.

Nigerian Electricity Coy Wins 2014 Africa Utility Award

Top 3 HeadlineS ➊Nigerian Electricity Coy Wins 2014 Africa Utility Award ➋ Senator Donates Computers To All Boarding Schools In Kebbi

➌ Technology Firm

Creates Online Business Hub For SMEs

Senator Donates Computers To All Boarding Schools In Kebbi

by Yahya Sarki, Kebbi

Senator Atiku Bagudu, representing Kebbi central senatorial district has donated ten computer sets to each of the boarding secondary schools in Kebbi State and Royal Leads Acadamy, a private school in Birnin Kebbi.

He made the donation at the Royal Leads Academy annual speech prize giving day and development appeal fund held at the Presidential Lodge, Brinin Kebbi at the weekend.

The senator, who is the chairman, senate committee on interior, was the chief launcher on the occasion. He donated N3m to the Royal Leads Academy as well as ten sets of computers to enhance computer education.

L-R: The group marketing and communications director of Genesis Electricity Limited, Desiree Mc Nabb and Sir Rick St. John after receiving the AUW Award in Cape Town, South Africa

By Nkechi Isaac, Abuja

A Nigerian electricity generation company, Genesis Electricity Ltd (GEL), has emerged as the best African power utility company.

According to an independent panel of judges at the Africa Utility Week Awards in Cape Town, South Africa, the company beat three other African power companies, Copperbelt Energy Corporation, Kenya Electricity Transmission Company and ZESCO Limited of Zambia, to clinche the award.

The panelists said the finalists were nominated based on their ability to excel in any one or more of the following fields: service delivery, project rollout, technology roll-out, revenue pro-

CREI Advises Managers Of Higher Institutions On Infrastructure

By Nnamdi Mbawike, Enugu

The Centre For Reform Education Initiative (CREI), a non-governmental organisation, has advised managers of institutions of higher learning in the country to always take issue of infrastructure and research very

tection measures, loss reduction, grid integration and new energy sources.

A statement by the communication advisor of the company, Ms Desiree Mc Nabb, said Genesis was recognised for its multiple projects deployment in a few countries in Africa over the past nine years and particularly for the development of the 84mw off-grid gas-fired power plant at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) owned by the Port Harcourt Refinery Complex (PHRC) in partnership with General Electric and Engro Corporation: the PHRC being largest refinery in Sub-Sahara Africa, at 210,000 barrels/day of crude oil processing capacity.

The statement reads in part, “It is estimated that almost 50 per cent of Nigeria’s gasoline, diesel oil, kerosene and other refined products’ requirements can be met by the PHRC when operating at full capacity, and thus significantly reducing the huge petroleum products importation bills currently being incurred by the Nigerian economy.

“Reliable, qualitative and competitive power supply to the PHRC has been one of the critical factors affecting efficient operations of the refinery, leading to loss in substantial revenues that would have been earned from sale of refined products from the

seriously.

In a statement signed by its executive director, Hon. Chinwe Ugwu and made available to newsmen yesterday, CREI said it was fully committed to promoting lofty educational programmes, good governance, as well as supporting all tiers of government in addressing the numerous challenges of human capital development in the country.

It applauded the Vvice chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, (MOUAU), Abia State, Prof. Hillary Edoga, for transforming the institution into a

10

blocks building of a 10 blocks of student hostels

refinery, and the resultant greater loss continuously incurred as a result of the prohibitive huge petroleum products importation bills hammering Nigerian economy.”

According to the statement, “the positive multiplier effect on the Nigerian economy when Port Harcourt refinery is operating at its full capacity engendered through the provision

by Genesis and partners of qualitative, reliable and competitively priced power supply to the refinery is simply enormous, including but not limited to substantial reduction of billions of dollars’ worth of petroleum importation bills, job creation for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour, excess power supply to the local distribution network, potential increased value of naira and improvements in the country’s balance of trade due to huge reduction in petroleum products importation bills.

Commenting on the award, the chief executive officer of the company, Mr. Akinwole Omoboriowo II said, “we at Genesis are elated, and indeed humbled by so great an honour to be recognized with an award of such magnitude.”

He congratulated the Federal Government of Nigeria for creating and fostering a vibrant enabling environment for the power sector in Nigeria. world class citadel of learning with massive state of the art infrastructures.

“CREI wants to use this medium to also call on other managers of the nation’s institutions of higher learning to always take issue of infrastructure and research very seriously as obtained in MOUAU. “It is quite amazing that Professor Edoga, was able to utilise the internal generated revenue, IGR of the university and some intervention funds to take the institution to the next level, including building of a 10 blocks of student hostels,” it added.

Why We Honoured RMRDC Boss – Scorecard International

By Nkechi Isaac, Abuja

An independent African youth’s civil society organisation, Scorecard International has presented an award to the directorgeneral of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Dr. Hussaini Ibrahim for his contribution to the development of natural resources in Nigeria.

Presenting the Pan-African Imperial Peace Award to the RMRDC boss, the assistant global coordinator of the organization, Ambassador Solomon Adodo, said the honour was also in recognition of Ibrahim’s outstanding contribution to

Hussaini

peace, unity and development in Nigeria and Africa at large.

Adodo, who said the activities of the organization were akin to what Transparency International was doing on a global level, said the RMRDC boss was chosen after a rigorous debate and selection process, for his transformative leadership and outstanding achievements.

He said, “we presented him with this award for his outstanding achievements and pioneering works in less than a year that he took the saddle of the RMRDC. He explained the youth came together, not just to honour Ibrahim but equally to adopt him as a role model, a mentor and

a guiding light to the next generation of African leaders.

Receiving the award on behalf of the RMRDC helmsman, the deputy director in charge of special duties in the council, Alhaji Usman Hassan, described the honour as a wake-up call.

“We appreciate what you have done and we will continue to cooperate and collaborate with you towards the development of African resources. RMRDC is the nucleus of research, development, coordination, participation in Nigeria. We will not rest in our oars to make sure we attain better heights in the development of Nigeria’s raw materials,” he stated.

NEWS /SCIENCE 25

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

science

titbits

Compiled by Nkechi Isaac

➏ ➐

➋ ➌➊ ➎

➋

➊ Copper Foam: Making Carbon Dioxide Useful Catalyst made from a foamy form of copper has vastly different electrochemical properties from catalysts made with smooth copper in reactions involving carbon dioxide, a new study shows. The research, by scientists in Brown University’s Center for the Capture and Conversion of CO2, suggests that copper foams could provide a new way of converting excess CO2 into useful industrial chemicals.

➋ 3-D Shapes Created from Simple Sketches

➍

❹ Molecular Engineers

Record An Electron’s Quantum Behavior

University of Chicago-led team of researchers has developed a technique to record the quantum mechanical behavior of an individual electron contained within a nanoscale defect in diamond.

Their technique uses ultrafast pulses of laser light, both to control the defect’s entire quantum state and observe how that single electron state changes over time. The work appears in this week’s online Science Express and will be published in print later this month in Science.

Top 3 Headlines ➊ Molecular En-

gineers Record An Electron’s Quantum Behavior

➋ Copper Foam: Making Carbon Dioxide Useful ➌ 3-D Shapes

Created from Simple Sketches

New graphics system that can easily produce complex 3-D shapes from simple professional sketches will be unveiled by University of British Columbia computer scientists at the SIGGRAPH 2014 Conference in Vancouver, Canada this week.

The technology has the potential to dramatically simplify how designers and artists develop new product ideas.

Converting an idea into a 3-D model using current commercial tools can be a complicated and painstaking process. UBC researchers developed

True2Form, a software algorithm inspired by the work of professional designers, effectively communicating ideas through simple drawings.

“In line-drawings, designers and artists use descriptive curves and informative viewpoints to convey the full shape of an object,” says Alla Sheffer, a professor in UBC’s Dept. of Computer Science. “Our system mimics the results of human threedimensional shape inference to lift a sketch curve network into 3-D, while preserving fidelity to the original sketch.”

➌ New Test Reveals Purity Of

Graphene: Scientists Use Terahertz Waves To Spot Contaminants

Graphene may be tough, but those who handle it had better be tender. The environment surrounding the atom-thick carbon material can influence its electronic performance, according to researchers at Rice and Osaka universities who have come up with a simple way to spot contaminants.

Because it’s so easy to accidently introduce impurities into graphene, labs led by physicists Junichiro Kono of Rice and Masayoshi Tonouchi of Osaka’s Institute of Laser Engineering discovered a way to detect and identify out-of-place molecules on its surface through terahertz spectroscopy.

➏ Meteorite Shows Violent Solar System History

Curtin University planetary scientists have shed some light on the bombardment history of our solar system by studying a unique volcanic meteorite recovered in Western Australia.

Captured on camera seven years ago falling on the WA side of the Nullarbor Plain, the Bunburra Rockhole Meterorite has unique characteristics that suggest it came from a large asteroid that has never before been identified.

Associate Professor Fred Jourdan, along with colleagues Professor Phil Bland and Dr Gretchen Benedix from Curtin’s Department of Applied Geology, believe the meteorite is evidence that a series of collisions of asteroids occurred more than 3.4 billion years ago.

Chip-based platform

➎ Chip-based

Platform To Measure Single Molecules

Researchers at UC Santa Cruz have developed a new approach for studying single molecules and nanoparticles by combining electrical and optical measurements on an integrated chipbased platform. In a paper published July 9 in Nano Letters, the researchers reported using the device to distinguish viruses from similarly-sized nanopar-

ticles with 100 percent fidelity.

Combining electrical and optical measurements on a single chip provides more information than either technique alone, said corresponding author Holger Schmidt, the Kapany Professor of Optoelectronics in the Baskin School of Engineering and director of the W. M. Keck Center for Nanoscale Optofluidics at UC

Santa Cruz. Graduate student Shuo Liu is first author of the paper.

The new chip builds on previous work by Schmidt’s lab and his collaborators at Brigham Young University to develop optofluidic chip technology for optical analysis of single molecules as they pass through a tiny fluid-filled channel on the chip.

26 SCIENCE/feature

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Sustainable Energy As Panacea For Grassroots Development

By Nkechi Isaac, Abuja

short BIO OF Prof. Eli Jidere Bala

Bala is the directorgeneral/chief executive officer of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN).

He obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Applied Energy from Cranfield Institute of Technology, United Kingdom in 1984.

Expanding access to modern energy services is a critical element that will bring about socio-economic development in Nigeria, especially for communities in the rural areas. Most rural communities in the country are characterized by limited access to these modern energy services with majority of the population heavily relying on the traditional energy sources (for example local kerosene lamps and palm oil lamps for lighting) and other fossil fuel for their primary energy sources. Moreover, modern and efficient appliances to meet the most basic energy needs are out of reach of the people in these areas.

Many inhabitants or rural communities in Nigeria depend on kerosene, candle and petrol powered generators as primary source of energy for lighting and other services.

Due to the emission of obnoxious gases from these unsustainable energy sources, rural dwellers are exposed to respiratory ailments resulting from the continuous inhaling of these gases. Many are also vulnerable to domestic fire outbreak which may lead to loss of lives and properties. Furthermore, the inability to access modern energy services has adverse impact on the health and water supply systems in these rural communities.

Speaking at a training programme on sustainable energy in Roguwa community in Nasarawa State, the national programme coordinator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Environmental Facility (GEF), Mr. Etiosa Uyigue, said the use of sustainable energy products had the potential to increase the standard of living of the rural poor, cut greenhouse gas emissions, increase income into agricultural rural communities, thereby boosting the development of the rural areas and stimulate the general growth of the Nigerian economy.

The national coordinator said that the UNDP was passionate about developing the rural com-

Kenya Airways Nears Telecom Business Launch Kenya Airways (KQ) is poised to expand its business portfolio to incorporate a telecom business as it prepares to launch its mobile phone service. This will boost connectivity for its passengers looking for affordable roaming service.

“We are optimistic that our guest will soon start enjoying a service that will give them an affordable call rate in Kenya or roaming within the network,” Kenya Airways Boss, Titus Naikuni said.

–VENTURES AFRICA

munities through the promotion of sustainable energy hence the drive to sensitise communities on the benefits of embracing the project for grassroots development.

According to him, three communities selected for the pilot scheme for expanding access to sustainable energy are upper Uke community, lower Uke community and Roguwa community all in Karu local government area of Nasarawa State.

He said the project being implemented by the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) and the UNDP GEF in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) had the main objectives of increasing community access to sustainable energy sources; reducing carbon dioxide emission from unsustainable energy sources; increasing the access to clean and portable water and health care facilities in the benefiting communities.

Other goals of the project, he said, included building the capacity of benefiting communities to be able to install and maintain solar off-grid facility and creating awareness on the potentials of sustainable energy in meeting national development and environmental sustainability.

Listing activities specifically targeted at sustainable energy generation in the benefitting communities, Uyigue said the UNDP and its implementation partners would replace energy consuming incandescent light bulbs for a more energy conserving, Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) in the communities.

He said, “we are going to distribute 2,000 CFLs in Uke community.

This means we will give five CFLs to 400 houses, that is 200 each for lower and upper Uke. During our familiarisation tour in upper Uke, we noticed that they use lanterns in their community health care centre. So, we’ll give them solar systems to power their lightening and generator to preserve the vaccines and drugs, while we intend to give solar systems for the generation of light in one of the schools in lower Uke.”

The national programme coordinator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Environmental Facility (GEF), Mr. Etiosa Uyigue educating Roguwa residents on the difference between Compact Fluorescent Lamps and Light Emitting Diodes during a training programme on sustainable energy in the community

Speaking on the projects for Roguwa, Uyigue who noted that the community is completely off the national grid, said the community would be provided with solar systems to power its borehole which is currently being powered through unsustainable means, a generating set.

He further said that they will install 150 Light Emitting Diodes (LED’s) in the community.

He said they also intended to install a central PV system with micro off-grid facility to serve benefitting households, adding the workshop was to train residents of Roguwa community to maintain and sustain the projects that would be sited there. He urged the people to guard it jealously as it is their project.

Earlier in his address, the director-general of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, represented by the team leader of climate and environment programme of the agency, Dr. Akindeji Falaki, said the programme to be carried out in full partnership with the residents was aimed at developing the community.

“We’re not here to help the community but to work together for the development of the community,” he said. He urged the residents to secure the installations,

use them well and spread the message of sustainable energy to surrounding communities.

In her address, the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Lawrencia Mallam, represented by the GEF coordinator in the ministry, Mr. Kusimo David, said that energy efficiency was vital for the attainment of Vision 20:2020, describing sustainable energy ias the key to rural development.

Kusimo urged the residents to establish cooperative societies to access funds for the economic and sustainable development of the community.

He said “it is the wish of the federal government that stakeholders can come together to develop communities and provide facilities for proper development.”

In his response, the Sarkin Roguwa, Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed applauded the project and promised that the community would take it as one of its own.

Mohammed said, “we have never had any programme like this in the community before. We have numerous challenges in this community but we are very appreciative of the fact that the organizers selected Roguwa to be part of the pilot phase of this project.

We promise to safeguard and sustain this project with our lives.”

Samsung Unveils First Solar Powered Internet School In Ghana

Ebola: Isoun Urges Scientific Approach Trending Science Stories ➊ New Device Al-

lows Brain to Bypass Spinal Cord, Move Paralyzed Limbs ➋ Molecular Engineers Record an Electron’s Quantum Behavior ➌ Carbon Dioxide ‘Sponge’ Created: Clean Energy

➍ IVF Success

Reduced by Vitamin D Deficiency?Science

Daily

By Nkechi Isaac, Abuja

As the number of Ebola victims continues to grow in Nigeria, the former Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner Isoun, has advocated a scientific approach in dealing with the epidemic.

Isoun who commended government’s role so far in confronting the disease in a reaction to the scourge urged the scientific community to mobilise and assist the nation to find solution to the spread of the virus.

He said, “Ebola is a viral infectious disease though new to West Africa but had been experienced in East Africa in the past. The important thing for us to do here is give out proper information on the disease.”

The renowned professor and Nigeria’s longest minister of science and technology stressed the need for Nigeria to invest in highly sophisticated molecular biology laboratory, saying that Ebola and other diseases that emanate from animals would continue to threaten Africans because of the existing game forests.

The use of sustainable energy products had the potential to increase the standard of living of the rural poor, cut greenhouse gas emissions, increase income into agricultural rural communities, thereby boosting the development

Top 3 ICT Solution Providers In Nigeria

➊ ➋ ➌

Business Connexion Resourcery

Galaxy Backbone

40ft The Solar-powered school is a 40ft shipping container equipped with desks, Samsung Laptops, a multipurpose Samsung printer, internet access, Wi-Fi cameras, rubber fold-away solar panels

Ghana’s first Solar Powered Internet School (SPIS) has been launched in a junior high school in local Dago community. This will foster ICT integration in the country’s educational sector.

The SPIS initiative is powered by the Samsung, the government of Ghana and the Korean Education and Research Information Service (KERIS). It offers teachers and students in rural areas – with little or no access to decent electricity – better access to the internet, boosting opportunities for extensive research.

The Solar-powered school is a 40ft shipping container equipped with desks, Samsung Laptops, a multi-purpose Samsung printer, internet access, Wi-Fi cameras, rubber fold-away solar panels that can last up to 9 hours and a 50-inch electronic board that permits cross-group collaboration between and among teachers and students across geographical boundaries.

–VENTURES AFRICA

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

27

28

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Congratulations T

he Board, Management and Staff of Lubell Nigeria Limited wish to congratulate the Board, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Management and Staff of Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL) on the commissioning of the Green Acres Estate, Apo - Abuja, the ground breaking ceremony of the Ultra Modern Executive Office Suites at Garki and the 12,000 sqm Guzape Shopping Mall by the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory today.

Senator Abdulkadir Bala Muhammad (Kauran Bauchi) Honourable Minister, Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

We are delighted to be associated with you as building contractors towards the actualization of this magnificient structural edifice.

Dr. Musa Ahmed Musa

Group Managing Director/CEO, Abuja Investments Company Limited (ACIL)

Green Acres Estate, Apo - Abuja at a glance Signed: Management RC 192217

LUBELL NIGERIA LTD. Main Yard: Plot 505 Idu Industrial Estate, Idu - Abuja.

Tel: 0803329979, 07030129797, 08159894003.

E-mail: lubellnig@gmail.com, lubellnig@yahoo.com Website: www.lubellnig.com

MISSION STATEMENT “To build with technique, to construct with Devotion�

VISION STATEMENT Our vision is to engage in detailed creative innovations with the engagement of indigenous and expatriate professionals working with acceptable international standards, in the procurement and delivery of projects that competes favorably internationally.

fct watch

29

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

$411 m

The sum of $411 million has so far been spent on the Abuja Light Rail project-FCTA

ABAJI AMAC BWARI GWAGWALADA KUJE KWALI

Abaji Garba Urges Residents To Participate In Voters Registration Following the observation that most residents of Abaji area council did not collect their voter’s card, because they did not register during the first phase of the exercise, the council chairman, Hon. Yahaya Garba, has urged residents to utilize the opportunity of the voters r egistration scheduled to commence on August 20, 2014, so they will be eligible to participate in the 2015 general election.

—By Igho Oyoyo

AMAC Jiba Commends INEC Over Permanent Voter’s Card Distribution The chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Micah Jiba, has commended the voter’s card distribution exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying that it has shown that INEC was ready to conduct a free, fair and credible election in 2015.

—By Igho Oyoyo

Bwari Yohanna Reiterates Committed To Staff Welfare

The chairman of Kwali Area Council, Ibrahim Daniel collecting his Permanent Voters Card in Kwali. By Chika Mefor

Intrigues Of Permanent Voter’s Card Collection And Fresh Registration

By Chika Mefor

There is a popular saying that politics is a dirty game especially in a developing nation like Nigeria. it is therefore not surprising that people, who see themselves as sane and pious citizens will want to steer clear of politics and anything that leads up to that.

For such category of people voting is perceived as a waste of time because they feel their votes will not count.

Some other school of thoughts are, however, of the opinion that Nigerians are becoming more and more enlightened of their role in the selection process of a leader that will, directly or indirectly, affect their lives through governance.

To this group of people voting is a right and moral obligation, a veritable instrument that helps citizens to actively participate in the process of choosing the most suitable candidate to pilot the affairs of the nation at all levels of government.

This involves choosing candidates who will listen to the masses and ensure that all the deliverables of government is directly felt by these people.

The people elected into power are given the opportunity to make

vital decisions over issues that relate to the lives of the masses.

These issues includes provision of basic infrastructures like health care facilities, stable power supply, accessible roads, education, jobs creation, etc.

Elected candidates have the power to formulate educational policies which are instrumental in shaping the future of children, and hence, the future of the nation itself. So, when one refuses to exercise his or her voting right to elect the right people into power, it is a way of letting anybody, whether qualified or not, to take the reins of leadership and make decisions for the masses.

Many citizens are myopic of the fact that voting equips the masses with the power of punishing a nonperforming government by voting them out of office or rewarding a performing one by keeping them in power through their votes.

As 2015 election draws near, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commenced the second phase of the distribution of the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) in 11 states as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja from 15 to 19 August, 2014. According to the electoral body, the Continuous Voter’s Registration (CVR) is

expected o follow immediately in the 11 states beginning from 20 to 25 August, 2014.

Prior to the exercise, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the FCT, Dr Godwin Akwanga, called on residents of the territory and those who registered in the capital city to collect their cards to enable them exercise their voting rights in the upcoming 2015 elections Akwanga also enjoined those who have just attained the age of 18 and above and those who failed to take part in the registration exercise to avail themselves of the CVR exercise opportunity and register for the issuance of the permanent one.

He also advised those who relocated from other states to the FCT and those who have moved from one area council within the FCT to transfer their polling unit by writing an application to the REC through the electoral officer in their new area.

The three-day collection of the PVC which ended today was the second phase of the continuous voter registration exercise after the 2011, while the third phase is for those who did not register before or have attained the voting eligibility age of 18 years.

The preparedness of FCT

The chairman of Bwari area council, Hon Peter Yohanna, has reiterated his commitment to welfare of staff in the council, noting that a contented staff would be more productive in the council.

Speaking in a recent interview, Yohanna noted that staff is the engine room of development.

—By Chika Mefor

Gwagwalada Council Boss Pledges Support For Farmers The chairman of Gwagwalada area council, Abubakar Jibrin-Giri, has reiterated his support for farmers in the council, adding that farmers should not be neglected as they play a vital role in the development of the economy of any nation.

—By Chika Mefor

Kuje Residents Commend INEC Over PVC Collection Extension Residents of Kuje area council have commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for extending the collection of the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) by two days, saying the electoral body was sensitive to the plight of residents who failed to meet up with the August 17 deadline for genuine reasons.

—By Igho Oyoyo

Kwali LG Boss Sensitises Residents On Voter’s Registration Exercise

30

The chairman of Kwali area council, Ibrahim Daniel, has called on residents, who failed to take part in the 2011 voter’s registration exercise, to come out and register in the Continuous Voter’s Registration (CVR) billed to run from 20 to 25 August, 2014, in 11 states as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

—By Chika Mefor

30 FCT watch/NEWS

2015 Elections: ExLG Boss Commends INEC Preparation

By Igho Oyoyo

The immediate past chairman of Abaji area council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Yahaya Muhammad, has commended the level of preparations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) towards the 2015 general elections.

Muhammad, who is aspiring to represent Abuja South Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, gave the commendation while collecting his permanent voter’s card in Abaji.

He called on his teeming supporters to come out en masse to collect their voters cards, saying it was the only means of voting the right candidates into power.

Yahaya who donated sanitizers to INEC staff as part of his contribution to the exercise, said it will go a long way in reducing the risk of Ebola virus infection to the staff, even as he urged his supporters to consciously take care of themselves by sanitizing their immediate, and also desist from consuming meat from unknown sources.

He also commend the incumbent council chairman, Alhaji Yahaya Garba for providing logistics for the success of the exercise.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Ebola Scare: Kwali Sensitises Residents On Clean Hygiene

By Chika Mefor

Kwali area council has begun a sensitisation campaign to educate residents on the importance of a sanitized, hygienic environment as key in the prevention of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Speaking in an interview with LEADERSHIP, the chairman of the council, Ibrahim Daniel, said that the council has taken preventive

measures by educating the people on the importance of a hygienic environment, as well as, avoiding unnecessary body contact.

He added that the council has also taken the sensitization campaign to traditional rulers and village heads for onward transmission to their subjects in the rural areas.

“Ebola has been described as a world emergency. We find it im-

portant to sensitise our people by letting them know about the disease. We are fully aware that the federal government is doing everything possible to contain the disease from spreading in Nigeria.

“Experts in the health sector have said that hygiene is a paramount in preventing the spread of the virus. We have taken preventive measures by educating our people to keep a hygienic environ-

ment and avoid unnecessary contact. We have passed this message to traditional rulers who in turn will tell their subjects,” he said.

Daniel also added that sensitization would also be taken to a higher level as the council will partner with medical personnel who will go to the rural areas and educate them about the disease and the importance and hygienic and healthy living.

Customers selecting second-hand shoes at Gosa Market along Airport Road, yesterday. PHOTO BY OGOH JOSEPH

AMAC Inaugurates Committee On Ebola

By Igho Oyoyo

Even though the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is yet to record any Ebola Virus Disease case, the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has inaugurated a technical committee to forestall and tackle possible outbreak.

The committee was set up sequel to the directive by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, to the area council chairmen to set up committee to ensure that the dreaded Eb-

ola Virus Disease (EVD) does not spread to the nation’s capital.

Speaking to journalists, the chairman of the council, Hon. Micah Jiba, said that the council had already mapped out strategies to curb any possible outbreak, even before the ministerial directive, noting that the council has to be proactive because it was situated in the heart of the city.

Jiba who commended the media for the level of awareness it created, also enjoined journalists to sustain the tempo until a possi-

ble cure for the virus was found.

The council boss also commended both the federal government and FCT Administration for taking proactive steps to address the scourge, even as he called on religious and traditional leaders to assist the government to spread the awareness campaign aimed at curbing the spread of the disease.

Jiba said, “as a matter of fact, I have to commend the media for the awareness it created on the disease. As I speak to you, I have a publication of one of the nation-

al dailies on the virus. Through the media, we have come to know that routine cleaning and disinfection of animal house with sodium hypochlorite (bleach) or other detergents is effective in inactivating the virus.

“Restricting or banning the movement of animals from infected farms to other areas can reduce the spread of the disease, and segregation of infected animals with close supervision of burial or incineration of their carcasses. This type of awareness can go a long

way to prevent an outbreak in the city.”

He further called on residents to protect themselves and other residents by reporting any suspected case of Ebola virus to the appropriate authorities for further actions.

Jiba said that the supervising councillor in charge of health and other senior primary health workers are members of the committee, adding that the committee will collaborate with other relevant bodies to achieve a positive result.

Intrigues Of Permanent Voter’s Card Collection And Fresh Registration 29

residents to take full responsibility of their voting rights came to fore, at the weekend, as they trooped out in droves in various districts of the city to collect their PVC. Sensitising residents of Kwali area council on the need to participate in the exercise, chairman of the council, Ibrahim Daniel, said that the PVC was a ticket for residents to vote candidates of their choice into power, and urged them to utilise the golden opportunity provided

by INEC to collect their cards.

He said, “I want to urge everybody that is living in the council to come out and collect their permanent voters’ card. They should know that the voters’ card is a ticket for them to vote any candidate of their choice into power. If they have registered earlier, they should go to their polling units to collect their card within the duration of the exercise.’’

The chairman who monitored the exercise at various wards, also urged those who failed to take

I want to urge everybody that is living in the council to come out and collect their permanent voters’ card

part in the second phase of the voter registration exercise, to avail themselves of the opportunity

by INEC and do so within the duration of the CVR. “For those, who for one reason or the other, were unable to register years back, they should go to their various ward centres from 20 to 25 August to register. INEC will be there to attend to them,’’ he added.

He further said that the council has put various machineries in place to ensure the success of both

exercises, saying the council and INEC had embarked on massive awareness campaign to sensitise the people on the importance of the exercises.

According to him, “we have also called on traditional rulers to go back and inform their people to come out and participate in the exercises. Kwali people should know that their card is their voice.

The security personnel are also on ground to help maintain law and order throughout the duration of the exercise.’’

NEWS /FCT watch 31

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

‘$411m So Far Spent On Abuja Light Rail Project’

By Catherine Agbo

12

Then Lot 1A takes off from here to Kubwa, it terminates at Bazango station and we have 12 stations

The sum of $411 million has so far been spent on the Abuja Light Rail project, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) director of Transportation and Light Rail Project Implementation Unit, Engineer Kashim Ali has said.

According to him, of the said amount, $249 million has been spent from the $500 million Chinese EXIM Bank loan which the federal took while $162 million has been spent by the federal government.

The director who disclosed this when the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Subsidy Re-investment Project (SURE-P) General (Rtd) Marthin Luther Agwai led other committee members on a tour of the project, said work on the project which has attained

52.7 per cent commenced in 2009 but was stalled due to paucity of fund.

“What we have here is what we call Lot 1A and 3 of the Abuja mass transit system. The system has six lots covering a total length of about 300 kilometers.

What we are doing now is 45.245kilometer. The Lot 3 takes off from the Central Business District around where you have the NNPC Mega station, that’s the Metro Station and runs all the way through Idu here to airport.

“Then Lot 1A takes off from here to Kubwa, it terminates at Bazango station and we have 12 stations. It would have a speed of 100 kilometers per hour. We have a loan of 500million US dollar from the China Exim Bank and the balance is being paid by federal government of Nigeria. When it started, for almost three years there was no

funding but now funding has been assured under this arrangement that we have. For the EXIM Bank loan we have spent about $249 million and for Nigeria we have spent $162 million. It will be completed by December 2015” he explained.

Also speaking during the tour, Agwai disclosed that the federal government has earmarked N10 billion for the project out of the N268.37 billon 2014 SURE-P budget which would be released to the contractor handling the project, and assured that because of this and other efforts, the December 2015 completion date of Athe project would be met.

The committee chairman expressed hope that the project when completed would make mass transit system in Abuja a success.

The hand of an Ebola Virus patient

Residents Kick Against Kuje Ebola Isolation Centre

By Igho Oyoyo

Residents in Kuje area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have rejected the move by the FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed, to establish an Ebola Screening Centre in the council.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, the chief of Paseli community, Mr. Usman Yusuf, said the designation of the centre in Kuje was not in the best interest of the people, urging the minister to site the isolation centre in a bush where it would not constitute a health threat to residents.

“The decision by the FCTA to establish Ebola Treatment Centre in Kuje General Hospital is

unfair, because it is in the center of the council. This is a disease that everybody is running away from, why should the minister insist that such center should be established in Kuje?.

“Kuje has a vast land and there are interior bushes in Kuje where the minister can decide to site the centre. The fund is available to construct structures for such isolation centre’s and I do not see any reason why the minister should insist that the center should be in Kuje,” he queried.

Yusuf remarked that huge amount of money has been budgeted by the federal government to set up isolation centre’s across the country, saying

that part of the money should be used to construct an isolation centre in an isolated area of the council and not at the general hospital; setting up an isolation centre in a crowded part of the town is unfair.

He said, “this arrangement is unfair. The FCTA should look for an interior bush where nobody lives and set up such centre, except they want to kill the whole inhabitants of Kuje. Why do they normally push negative projects to Kuje, like the maximum prison, school of handicap, and school for the deaf and dump, and now it is Ebola treatment centre.”

The youth leader of Kuje, Mr

Zaka Sunday, said bringing the Ebola Treatment Centre to Kuje was not a problem. He, however, said that designating it in the middle of the town was not in the interest the people, reiterating that the centre should be located at the outskirts of the town, where the risk of contacting the deadly disease will be minimal.

“It is a policy from the federal government to site a centre across the country for intervention if there is any outbreak.

So, we can’t say no, but our appeal to the FG is that the centre should not be sited in Kuje General Hospital where people are crowded.

PVC: ACE Scribe Expresses Satisfaction Over Voters Turnout The secretary-general of Alliance for Credible Election (ACE), Comrade Emma Ezeazu, has expressed satisfaction with the turnout of voters at the ongoing distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) across polling units in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Ezeazu who monitored the exercise at Garki, Asokoro and Apo, all within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), applauded the efforts of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for extending the exercise which he said would enable registered voters obtain their cards.

“A lot of cards have not been collected but we are satisfied with the extent of mobilization carried out by the APC through the mass media, using four Nigerian languages (Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Gbagyi), on the need for people to collect their cards.

Ezeazu, a member of APC, added, “In addition to the mass media, the AMAC APC designated eight branded vehicles with loudspeakers round the six area councils of the FCT; they also sent bulk messages to 25, 000 APC members informing them to collect their cards, so we will continue to create awareness as the registration exercise begins.

While noting that the party carried out similar exercise in Bwari area council, he applauded the efforts of the APC in sensitising voters, describing it as a major milestone recorded in the history of FCT politics.

According to him, “APC is leading by example by taking this responsibility which will generate a lot of participation in the political system from the public. People were satisfied with our participation and were glad that we are a shining example.

In his remarks, the APC chairman of Garki ward, Mr Salihu Jibril, said though the distribution of PVC started late in areas like A.Y.A, Kobi and Kuruduma on Friday, he noted that INEC responded by deploying ad-hoc staff to the polling units after their complaints.

By Chika Okeke

Did You Know That The FCTA has proposed to establish an Ebola Treatment Centre in Kuje General Hospital.

❂❂❂

Kuje area council is one of the most populated town in Abuja.

❂❂❂

Kuje has a vast land and there are interior bushes yet to be utilised in the area.

❂❂❂

A maximum prison is situated in Kuje.

32 FCT watch/feature

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Residents of Kuyizhi sourcing for water.

By Igho Oyoyo

Kuyizhi: Community Longing For TheDividends Of Democracy

By Igho Oyoyo

Kuyizhi, a community in Kuje area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), can be described as a quiet and blissful community, devoid of the hustle and bustle that characterizes other settlements around it.

The first impression of the community on a first time visitor would be that of a community that is truly blessed with the dividends of democracy because of the presence of some developmental structures that symbolise government’s presence.

A closer look at these developmental structures like the Primary Health Care Centre, the schools and other basic infrastructures would, however, reveal that most of the facilities are mere structures, without the basic amenities to meet the pressing needs of the people.

LEADERSHIP investigations revealed that most of the structures in Kuyizhi community are mere edifice with little or no value to the people. A visit to the health centre revealed the dearth of qualified health personnel to attend to the health challenges of the people, forcing residents to travel to Kuje town for proper medical attention.

LEADERSHIP observed that the indigenes could not hid their feelings of disappointment in the previous leadership of the council for neglecting the community for a long time, saying that a community like Kuyizhi, which was part of Kuje area council should have been part of the communities enjoying the true dividends of democracy in the council.

In a chat with LEADERSHIP, a community leader, Tanko Ayuba, decried the poor state of roads, lack of electricity and portable

water. He lamented the absence of a functional borehole, adding that residents have resorted to sourcing for water in an unhygienic stream within the community for domestic uses.

Ayuba appealed to the council boss, Hon. Shaban Tete, to assist the community by providing them with portable water, saying that constructing more than one borehole in strategic locations in the community will go a long way in meeting the needs of the people.

“Another challenge we’re facing in the community, apart from water, is the issue of a central market. As big as this community is, we do not have a central market; our women have to travel to Kuje town to shop. We are appealing to the council chairman to come to our aide and construct a market for us so that our women would not have to travel for kilometers

to Kuje town to shop,” he added.

Another resident, Mrs Agnes Danladi, noted that women in the community are going through hard times because of the absence of a central market.

She said, “since there is no market in the community, it is difficult most times for the women to get what they want from small residential shops, so they have no option than to keep going to Kuje market.

“The problem of market has been a pressing challenge for the community for a very long time because most of us do not have the means to always go as far as Kuje market to shop, which is why we are seeking for the council’s assistance. There is a place called market square in this community, but since there are no structures there it was gradually converted to residential area. We are begging the chairman to help us with a suit-

able market to ease our suffering.”

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, another resident, Bala Usman, noted that the only primary health care centre in the community lacks the requisite personnel to manage it.

According to him, “there is only one auxiliary nurse in the centre, with limited bed for patients. The government should see the health of the people of Kuyizhi community as important by sending a doctor and more health personnel to man the health centre, as well as, provide more patient beds in case of multiple health emergencies.

“The truth is that when anybody enters this community for the first time, it will appear as if we are enjoying because the entire place is calm and the people are peaceful but that is not the case because what makes live enjoyable are not in place in this community.”

Corn Business, Stressful but Profitable- Omenyi

By Chika Mefor

Top 5 Govt Hospitals in fct ➊ Maitama ➋ Asokoro ➌ Wuse ➍ Gwarimpa ➎ Gwagwalada

Amara Omenyi is an 18-year-old lady who helps out her mother in the business of roasting and selling corn in Dutse, Bwari area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

A native of Ebonyi State, Amara who lives with her parents and siblings told LEADERSHIP that she arrives at her business spot in the morning every day at Powerline, Dutse, saying she has become used to the business.

The ever smiling young business girl takes the business serious, as she tells everyone that cares to listen that the business was a start-

Omenyi

ing point to other businesses she intends to handle, adding that no matter how small a business was the way one handles it determines how one will handle bigger businesses.

Amara, who had just finished her secondary school, hopes to further her education in one of the universities in the country, adding that she’ll continue to help her family by assisting her mother in the family business while she waits for admission into the university.

According to her, “After my Secondary School education, I decided to help out my mother by joining her in the corn roasting business

rather than be idle at home.”

She said that the corn roasting business was stressful but profitable, adding that she makes between N2, 000 to N3, 000 a day depending on how good business was in a day.

“We buy the corn from the markets. Sometimes, we go to farms to get them. It is always very stressful. But we have to make sure we get soft corn that people will buy.

“I sell a lot of corn during the weekend. That is when people come out to buy because they are at home. I believe the area I am staying is a strategic area which is a plus for the business,” she added.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

zonal watch

33

ANAMBRA IMO ABIA EBONYI ENUGU

Okorocha, Ihedioha’s Supporters Clash At Mbaise New Yam Festival

BY STANLEY UZOARU, Owerri

This year’s new yam festival organised by the people of Mbaise in Imo State, which took place at the weekend in Ahiazu Mbaise was literally turned into a battle field following a violent clash between supporters of the state governor, Rochas

Anayo Okorocha, and that of the deputy speaker, House of Representatives. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.

It was not clear what caused the fight, nevertheless not a few attributed it to the contest for power between the two politicians ahead of the 2015 general elections.

The minister of state for foreign affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, who attended the event, blamed Governor Okorocha for not controlling his security aides, who according to her displayed raw power during the clash that nearly, disrupted the event.

Governor Okorocha allegedly stormed out of the venue of the

event immediately after the fight abated, an action described by Prof. Onwuliri as disrespectful to the Mbaise ethnic group.

She said, “From the conduct of the governor, it was obvious that he was not interested in the festival, but just came there to create confusion and derail the event.

“Since Okorocha assumed office in 2011, he has never attended the Iri ji Mbaise (new yam festival), until this one that precedes the 2015 general elections. This is not the ground for venting personal animosity.

“He (governor) even left before the actual ceremony began. He just brought trouble to the event.

800 Benefit From Sure-P Skills Acquisition Programme In Abia

BY MATTHIAS NWOGU, Umuahia

Heads FROM the ZONE

➔ Former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, resigns his appointment as leader and chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), citing personal and family reasons. ➔ The deputy governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, last week collapsed while testifying before the panel trying him over allegations of gross misconduct levelled against him by the Enugu State House of Assembly.

A cross section of participants at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, one day sensitisation of stakeholders on the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards, PVC, held on Wednesday at the Women Development Centre, Awka.

FG Offers Cash Incentive To Pregnant Women

BY MIKE UBANI, Enugu

The executive director and chief executive officer, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado J. G. Muhammad, has appealed to pregnant women in Enugu State to take advantage of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme, which is an aspect of the Subsidy Reinvestment and

Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), to register and deliver their babies at designated health centres in the state.

In an address read on his behalf by Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Nwosu, South-East zonal coordinator, (NPHCDA), during the inaugural meeting of the Enugu State CCT Steering Committee, Dr. Muhammad said the maternal and child health component of SURE-P, would contribute to

the reduction of maternal and child morbidity and mortality in the country, as well as increase maternal access to health services.

The project director, SURE-P-MCH project, Dr. Ugo Okoli, explained that the CCT programme is focused on pregnant women and children under five years, adding that the programme is aimed at increasing the use of facilities and services provided under the SURE-P MCH project.

Apathy Mars Distribution Of Permanent Voter Cards In Ebonyi

BY OBINNA OGBONNAYA, Abakaliki

The distribution of Permanent Voter Card(PVC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ebonyi State witnessed low turnout in most local government areas of the state, following what the people described as inefficiency on the part of the commission’s officials.

However, many people turned

out to collect their permanent voter cards in Ezza South, Afikpo North, Abakaliki, Ikwo and Afikpo South local government areas of the state, following the restriction of movement and other strategies put in place by the council chairmen and stakeholders to ensure full participation in the exercise.

In Ezza South LGA, the council chairman, Hon Laz Ogbe, and the member representing Ikwo/

Ezza South federal constituency, Hon Tobias Okwuru, provided vehicles to convey many potential voters to their polling centres to enable them participate in the exercise.

The people who could not provide their PVCs in the area were barred from opening their shops at Eke-Onueke Market.

Our correspondent observed that it was peacefully conducted in some polling units.

No fewer than 400 persons at the weekend graduated from the SURE-P skills acquisition programme in Abia State. The programme which was undertaken in collaboration with Hannay May Foundation, the pet project of the wife of the Abia State governor, Chief Mrs. Mercy Odochi Orji, brings the number of beneficiaries of the programme to 800.

The graduates who were given equipment and start–up capital had 75 persons trained in catering and events management, 29 in computer operation, 47 in fashion designing, 44 in hair dressing/ beauty therapy; two in GSM repairs/ unlocking, 33 in interior decorating, 25 in photography/ video recording, while 28 others were trained in fishing/ poultry.

Mrs. Orji said the skills acquisition as well as the provision of equipment to the graduates underscored the passion which the administration of Governor Theodore Orji has in empowering Abians, particularly in the area of skills acquisition through the Abia State Skills Acquisition/ SURE-P. She said that the governor believes not only in youth empowerment, but in also making men and women self-reliant.

According to her the various skills acquired by the beneficiaries would contribute immensely in the socio-economic development of Abia State, which she described as part of the objectives of the skills acquisition programme of the administration of Governor Orji.

She said, “I now appeal to you to make judicious use of this opportunity and utilise the equipment and start-up capital to fulfil your dreams, make wealth and create job opportunities”.

She recalled that the state government through its youth transformation policy has distributed over 3,200 vehicles for commercial transportation, even as it recently doled out N2million each to 13 unemployed graduates across the state to start their own business enterprises.

Speaking at the event, Governor Orji said that over 800 persons have been trained in the state’s Skills Acquisition Centre.

Equipment provided for Abia State SURE-P skills acquisition graduates

34 zonal watch (South-East)

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

news behind the news

Enugu Impeachment: What Does The Panel Want?

BY MIKE UBANI, Enugu

panel also decided to continue sitting without recourse to appeals by the deputy governor’s counsels that the matter be stood down for five days to enable their client regain his failing health

It was a dreadful event which could have resulted to death. After testifying for close to three hours on August 13, 2014, before the impeachment panel investigating the allegations leveled against him by the Enugu State House of Assembly, the embattled state deputy governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, collapsed, and was immediately rushed by his aides and wife, Nneka, to a medical facility close to Onoh Quarters at the Government Reserved Area (GRA) Enugu.

But the medical director, after initial investigation, invited Dr. B. C. Anusiuba, a consultant cardiologist, attached to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku-ozala, to attend to the ailing second citizen of the state.

A medical certificate issued by Dr. Anusiuba, showed that the deputy governor was suffering from high blood pressure, and needed to be given sometime to receive medication, as well as take a rest.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the deputy governor had previously collapsed when he went to Nsukka, to perform an official engagement. But the issue was kept away from journalists and the public.

Addressing journalists outside the court room, one of the counsels to the deputy governor, Ogochukwu Onyekwuluje confirmed that Onyebuchi was rushed to the hospital after he slumped in the course of testifying before the seven-man impeachment panel headed by Barrister Oraekeyi Uche Franklin.

He said the deputy governor might have slumped due to fatigue, given the fact that he had two weeks before he appeared before the panel been engrossed with the business of putting his defence together.

And following the incident, the proceedings were stood down till 2 pm same day.

Curiously, the panel allegedly on resumption insisted that the proceedings would continue that fateful day despite a medical report authored by Dr. Anusiuba, to the effect that the deputy governor was suffering from high blood pressure, and therefore needed some medication and rest.

The panel also decided to continue sitting without recourse to appeals by the deputy governor’s counsels that the matter be stood down for five days to enable their client regain his failing health.

Nevertheless, the panel agreed before the close of last week that

Onyebuchi

the deputy governor must be examined by a medical doctor working in a state-owned hospital, to determine the authenticity of the medical report issued by Dr. Anosiuba.

The largest state-owned medical facility is the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, located in the state capital. Not a few wonder if the state teaching hospital, has more qualified medical doctors and facilities than the UNTH, to have prompted the panel or counsel to the House to doubt as it were, a medical report issued by Dr. Anusiuba.

Nevertheless, it was gathered that the counsel to the House argued that Dr. Anusiuba issued the medical certificate in his private capacity and not under the auspices the UNTH. Most especially, the panel’s mantra since it started sitting over two weeks ago has been that “time is of essence”. This is despite the constitutional provision that an impeachment panel has three weeks to conclude its work.

So what does the panel want?

Most residents of Enugu who spoke on condition of anonymity are of the opinion that the panel might have made up its mind to sack the deputy governor.

The panel had earlier barred journalists from covering its proceedings, citing unfair and inaccurate reporting by a section of the media.

At its inauguration by the state chief judge, Justice Innocent A. Umezulike, Oraekeiyi had

said that the panel would not be bogged down by technicalities usually introduced by lawyers in regular courts. “…I want to also point out, for the benefit of the people that will appear before us that this panel is not a court of law. It is a fact-finding panel of enquiry or investigation, and as such we shall not allow technicalities to be a clog in the wheel of our proceedings”, said the panel chairman.

But following the arguments and interrogations by counsels to both the House and the deputy governor, the panel is gradually inching towards becoming a court of law, and it seems the panelists are uncomfortable with the situation on the ground.

Though the panel had earlier barred journalists from covering its proceedings, the proceedings have miraculously found their ways to some media houses in the country, a development that has become worrisome to both the panel and counsel representing the House.

Nduka Ikeyi, counsel to the House, has condemned what he described as inappropriate reporting of the proceedings of the panel by some sections of the media.

Speaking to reporters in Enugu, Mr. Ikeyi noted that some of the news reports on the proceedings had been “ most inaccurate and full of conjectures”, adding that there also appears to be a deliberate effort to exclude reportage of evidence considered damaging to the deputy governor’s defence.

According to him, none of the re-

ports had so far reflected the evidence given by witnesses to the House of Assembly, nor did they reflect evidence elicited under crossexamination from the deputy governor’s witnesses.

Regarding the inaccuracy of the reports, Ikeyi said it was for example, completely untrue, as reported in some newspapers that the panel continued proceedings after the deputy governor slumped on Wednesday, while being led in evidence by his counsel, Mr. Peter Eze. He said that, contrary to the report, the panel rose immediately the deputy governor was rushed out of the court room, and later invited counsel on both sides to discuss how to deal with the situation.

It was then agreed that the panel should resume by 2pm to receive a report on the doctor’s evaluation of the deputy governor’s condition.

He said, “When the panel resumed sitting at the 2pm, Chief Chris Aghanwa, lead counsel to the deputy governor tendered a report, which showed that the deputy governor had postural hypotension.

Counsel to the deputy governor, however, asked that the matter be adjourned to Monday 18 August.

“The panel, however, preferred to deal with the matter one day at a time; and directed the parties to return the following day (Thursday) to receive further update on the state of health of the deputy governor.

“On Thursday (14 August), counsel to the deputy governor reported that he was not yet in a condition to continue his testimony and once again applied for the matter to be adjourned to Monday 18 August and further stated that the deputy governor would be his last witness, meaning that he would no longer require the evidence of the government officials whom he had earlier caused to be summoned.”

Mr. Ikeyi added that he responded that he did not object to the application for adjournment, but requested that since the deputy governor was a public officer in the Enugu State government, that the panel should obtain the opinion of a specialist cardiologist from a medical facility operated by the state government.

He said that he did not in any way doubt the competence or objectivity of Dr. Anusiuba, who had seen the deputy governor immediately after the unfortunate incident, but added that Dr. Anusiuba, who works at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), however saw the deputy governor as his private patient and not as a patient of the UNTH.

issues 35

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Re: Agenda For Ibrahim Babangida

By Mahmud Abdullahi

It is with fertile but shallow mind, typical of mercenaries and hatchet men, that one guest columnist Abu Najakku delved into issues he knew nothing about, about our former Military President General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in his write up “Agenda for Ibrahim Babangida” published Tuesday 12th August 2014 in page 50 of daily trust.

One will wonder if people of peripheral minds still hold an opinion of such about General Babangida who as we all know many love and some love to hate, he was accused of many things ignorantly but his generosity and love for humanitarian ventures have never being put to question.

Yes! people with shallow mind may subject his humanistic side to question only if they wanted him to use it as a tool for publicity stunt, but sorry to disappoint such people the General as a Moslem believe that when you give is between you and Allah SWT as enjoined in the hadith that “when the right hand gives the left hand should not know”.

The truth is that if the writer made a deep inquiry into General Babangida Affairs after leaving office, there was never a public forum Babangida has donated money for a course and announced it publicly.

As he never announce his donations publicly so also he does not come out publicly to list the names of who he has helped and the humanitarian assistant he has rendered in the service to humanity and Allah SWT Suffice to state it clear that General Babangida does not owe people like Abu Najakku any obligation to make public what he does for humanitarian and charity purposes; General Babngida

undoubtedly has contributed his quota in the course of education, health and other services to humanity and is not for him to list it for public adoration but for Allah Swt. IBB family members are known to have assisted and still assisting people with health challenges and are in need of scholarship to pursue educational programme both at home and abroad but their modest Islamic back ground will not make them to make it a tool for public attraction, Najakku has delve into issues that will subject him to suspicion; especially issues of the security of a former Nigeria leader like General Babangida at a time of several security challenges in Nigeria.

May be the writer was expecting Battalions of soldiers in the house of IBB before he knows that the General is secured; and later make case out of it . Whichever way the General decided on his security should not be for public consumption moreover only Allah swt can guarantee absolute protection and security.

The question one will ask; is how was Najakku able to know the security network in the house , and must he see or know who is a security man or personnel in the house by seeing them wading guns? The writer must have some ulterior motive to have delved into sensitive issues like the security of the Former President.

Abu Najakku mentioned that General Babngida “He is now an ordinary citizen” yes! That is expected of a modest statesman; to say that he has no air conditioning in his living room is as mischievous as it is disrespectful.

It is with the mischievous mind of the writer that he made jest of the health challenges of the General which is the product of his

service to the nation and keeping Nigeria one. The Nigeria that people like the writer are enjoying today ,having selective amnesia about the sacrifice made to keep it intact , was done by statesmen like General Babangida.

It is very unfortunate that the writer can refer to the time of a modest statesman as “tawdry time” because there was no air conditioning, who on earth will believe this but we can see the irrationality in the thoughts of Najakku, because you will not ordinarily expect someone in “Tawdry time” to contribute to humanitarian service.

Common sense would have made it clear to the writer that no tawdry time can deny a man of tremendous goodwill like IBB an air conditioner in his living room.

In the same vein the writer has failed while referring to what IBB said in 2011, the writer in another of his contradictions rightly mentioned that he knows that General Babangida never engage in such public show with either his superiors or Junior officers, whereas it is an over assumption mischievously placed to obviously deliver a hatchet job that he said IBB mentioned some of his regret and Obasanjo called him a fool.

One wonder and just continue to wonder on what basis can somebody like Najakku pityi a former Nigerian leader; IBB has no moral burden that he has not gallantly stood to defend while in office and outside office.

He is the most lampooned Nigeria leader both in office and outside office, yet he owe up to the responsibilities of his service to this great country where it was necessary and still remained calm to always avail himself for advice for the good of the nation.

So not until Babangida donates

Babangida

to Turai Yardua cancer centre that he will be remembered for something, Najakku should not Talk about the late wife of the General, Hajiya Maryam Babangida May Alah grants her aljana fidursi to woo donor to Turai Yardua centre.

Allah SWT gives health and grant health to whom he so desire and is not in the wisdom of any man to toy with the loss of another person to drive home unnecessary points that is lacking in common sense and knowledge.

About the transition programme of the Former Nigeria Leader, if the writer is led by deep intuition and researched into all political programmmes in Nigeria , he will know that it is an open secret that most of the programmes of IBB remained a reference point up till today.

For instance IBB institutionalized two party system and the politics then remained most virile in the history of Nigeria and it has always being described as the best for Nigeria, we need not to go far , the political development in Nigeria today is heading towards the two party system that IBB put in place for Nigeria several years a go.

This exemplified that what

Wamakko As An Uncommon Welfarist BySAHABI GARBA

From the dawn of his emergence as the Governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamakko has remained a symbol of welfarism, he represents what democracy entails; service to the people to improve their overall living standards.

He remarkably marries execution of physical infrastructure with empowering the people.

In the last 7 years, Sokoto State has seen a lot of developmental projects spread all over the 23 local government areas in all aspects of human endevour.

Most of these projects are groundbreaking as this is the first time the state witness them. Take the State University for instance, the various massive youth empowerment programme, the state IPP, the modern abbatoir, the fish and vegetable market; the list is indeed endless. The

substance of all these projects is to empower the people economically and socially as an end towards improving their lives.

Civil Servants have never had it so good that during the Wamakko era, a minimum wage that stands out beautifully in the whole of the north-west axis of Nigeria even as many States are still grappling with the wage problem.

A ground-breaking series of loans involving 1000 brand-new cars, 30,000 motor-cycles, car refurbishing and 2000 units of houses were graciously given to the civil servants. One unique quality of these loans was that, they were hugely subsidized

by Aliyu Wamakko as an ample testimony of welfarist posture.

Teachers in the payroll of the Sokoto State Government never had it so robust in terms of prompt attention and welfare.

The TSS (Teachers Salary Scale)

was generously approved for them in consonance with the N8,000 minimum wage. As I write this, some state governments are still at loggarheads with their teachers over issues relating to salaries and other welfare packages.

Brand-new Toyota Hilux vehicles were allocated to the 232 Local Education Authorities in addition to numerous motorcycles; all these were aimed at reinvigorating the LGEA’s for improved welfare, supervision and service delivery.

Training and re-training programme is another strategy employed by governor Wamakko to improve intellectual capacity and career mobility of teachers in the state. This involves sponsoring teachers in large numbers for further studies in Universities and Colleges outside Nigeria.

Recently, the Sokoto State

government sent out one batch 121 teachers for post graduate studies in Education at the Islamic University Uganda.

Apart from its welfarist touch, this singular feat is another beautiful legacy to be queathed by the Wamakko administration.

Another record-breaking feat

by Governor Wamakko is the soft loan of N200m granted to 2300 Primary and Junior Secondary School Teachers in the first batch which is a revolving one.

The uniqueness of this loan is that, this is the first of its kind and the size of the money involved and its revolving nature.

As it is a revolving loan, it follows that as soon as deductions started, another batch of teachers would then benefit. This goes on until all teachers get the facility to improve their lives. It should be understood that, its interest-free nature makes it as good as gratis.

ever policy or programme IBB put in place during his 8 years Military presidency it was people – oriented and with a vision of what is desirable for tomorrow Nigeria not to serve the purpose and desire of platonic minds who never see beyond the immediate.

It is laughable that Najakku deemed it fit to present an agenda for a 73 years old elder statesman who should be resting after meritorious service to the nation; however for the benefit of putting the record straight IBB has always availed himself to everybody.

A visit to his house will prove that he is accessible to both the low and mighty, an indication that he still avail himself to the service to humanity and the people of Nigeria not until he embarks on cosmetic humanitarian service by announcing donations to centres like Turai Yar’ adua cancer centre that he will be remember for something.

The fact that IBB led this great nation for 8 years with innovative and ground breaking programmes and policies as well as fought a civil war to keep Nigeria one; are enough out of his many services to the nation which he could be remembered for.

My brief interface with a beneficiary-teacher confirmed to me that the teachers are overwhelmed with joy as this is the first time that a government is carrying them along.

This loan of N200m has gone extra miles to confirm that Governor Wamakko is an uncommon welfarist as suggested by a particular primary school teacher who took home N100,000 as his own package.

To whom much is given much is often expected, teachers in sokoto state have really come under onegrace of the state government as it remains on its toes in attending to their welfare needs. It is therefore morally binding on themto reciprocate this noble gesture by discharging their duties with utmost diligence.

— Garba wrote in from Sokoto Democratic Front No. 35 Sultan Abubakar Road, Sokoto.

36 ISSUES

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Nasarawa Lawmakers Treading The Path To Anarchy By abubakar garba

The 7-man panel constituted by the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Suleiman Umaru Dikko, to investigate the 16-count allegations of gross misconduct levelled against Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura by 20 members of the state House of Assembly has since wound up after clearing the governor of all the charges laid against him. Chairman of the panel, Yusuf Shehu Usman, while clearing Al-Makura of all the allegations said the panel did not find any proof of each and every of the 16-count allegations levelled against the governor.

“Having considered and dismissed the misconduct and breach of the 1999 constitution alleged by the Nasarawa State House of Assembly and having found no merit in each allegation, the panel finally therefore, dismissed the allegations’’ Usman declared.

With this declaration by the 7-man panel, it was to be expected that the impeachment proceedings embarked upon by the Nasarawa lawmakers had ended, having so far exhausted all the constitutional provisions for resolving the matter.

It therefore came as a surprise that the lawmakers rejected the pronouncement of the panel, saying they will ignore its judgment and still go ahead with the impeachment process. According to the House Committee chairman on Information, Mohammed Baba Ibaku, “the panel has breached Section 188 (5) of the Constitution and is therefore illegal.” Ibaku told journalists in Lafia that the lawmakers did not know whether

Al-Makura

there was any sitting of the panel on Tuesday, August 5 or not, saying that, “as far as we are concerned, there is no 7-man panel that is investigating Governor Al-Makura, because we had earlier asked the state chief judge to disband the panel.

“We sent our legal team to appear before the panel and we instructed them to simply tell the chairman of the panel, Yusuf Usman, that we (the lawmakers) only appeared through our legal team to register our protest against the composition of the panel because the members of the panel are political office holders. We will go ahead with our moves to impeach Governor AlMakura”, Ibaku boasted.

While the 1999 Constitution

guarantees the legislature the rights to carry out oversight functions, with Section 128 mandating the state House of Assembly to direct or cause to direct an inquiry or investigations into the disbursement or administering of funds appropriated by the House among other such functions, from where the 20 lawmakers said they drew the power to commence the impeachment process, it then amounts to an affront on the same Constitution for the same lawmakers to chose to negate the provision of the Constitution when the outcome is not favourable to them.

It is clear for all to see that by their failure to appear before the 7-man panel to lead in evidence in

order to ascertain all the allegations against Al-Makura, the lawmakers merely confirmed the belief among most people of Nasarawa State that there was no substance to their argument, that the 20 lawmakers merely embarked on a misadventure carried away by what earlier transpired in Adamawa State, relying on misguided information of alleged discontent amongst the populace over Al-Makura’s style of administration.

For the lawmakers to rely on the powers vested on the assembly by the Constitution to seek to impeach the governor only for them to denounce the same constitutional provision after the panel cleared the governor of any complicity, is more like an open invitation to anarchy, which people of the state would doggedly resist.

The whole episode smacks of a game plan hatched by desperate politicians seeking to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, with the lawmakers being prodded by their sponsors in Abuja, to the point that they are willing to turn the Constitution upside down just to satisfy their illegal quest.

On the alleged breach of Section 188 by the investigative panel constituted by the state chief judge, it appears the lawmakers were merely clutching at straws to try to sustain their botched attempt to impeach Governor Al-Makura.

Section 188 (5) categorically states that the chief judge of the state shall at the request of the Speaker of the House, appoint a panel of seven persons who in his opinion are of unquestionable

integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political party, to investigate the allegations as provided.

Even a layman knows that on the character of the membership of the panel, the emphasis is on the opinion of the chief judge on who he thinks is fit to be a member and not for the House of Assembly to decide. Besides, legal experts are of the view that after setting up the panel, even the CJ lacks the power to disband the panel as being ignorantly demanded by the lawmakers. Since then, concerned citizens have continued to condemn the actions of members of the Nasarawa House of Assembly on their insistence to go ahead with the impeachment proceedings against Al-Makura even after the governor was cleared.

Commenting on the matter, renowned Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), said the leadership of the Nasarawa House of Assembly lacks the power to reject the report of the panel which exonerated Governor Al-Makura of alleged criminal offences. According to a statement released to newsmen on Tuesday, 5 August, 2014 in Lagos, Falana noted that the statement credited to the lawmakers in Nasarawa State that they would reject the panel’s report and go ahead with their impeachment move, was borne out of ignorance.

“It is a reckless invitation to anarchy. The impunity of the Assembly must be halted without any further delay,” the statement read.

– Garba wrote in from Lafia, Nasarawa State

Power Sector: A Case For The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Authority Bill

BY UCHE ANEKE

There has been deliberate distortion of facts and figures in the last few weeks in some Nigerian media about the public hearing on the bill for the establishment of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services (NEMSA) organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Power on Wednesday, 16th July 2014. Indeed it is a planned media distortion aimed at misinforming the Nigerian public and discrediting a bill that is not only popular in the Power sector but enjoys the support of overwhelming majority of stakeholders.

The establishment of NEMSA will afford the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) the opportunity to develop its technological capacity in the area of enforcement of technical and safety standards, inspection, testing and certification responsibilities instead of depending mainly and continuously on foreign technology and expertise by outsourcing these responsibilities to them. This is to ensure that the right technical specifications, standards and quality

of materials and equipment used in the production/generation and delivery of electricity supply to consumers are in place.

Also, it is to ensure that the power systems and networks put in place have been properly planned, designed and executed before use and guarantee robust networks/ power systems capable of delivering safe, reliable and regular power supply to the consumers nationwide. Furthermore, it will enhance efficiency and guarantee safety of lives and property in the NESI. Declaring the public hearing open, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal stated that post privatisation era in the power sector has shown the urgent need for a technical and professional agency of government that can rise up to the challenge of bridging this obvious gaps and perform the enforcement of technical and safety standards in NESI. In his words, “in this regard, we cannot afford to leave the enforcement of technical standards, inspection, testing and certification of all electrical

installations, equipment and materials in the industry without effective enforcement regime.”

Similarly, Senator Phillip Aduda, chairman Senate Committee on Power while concurring with the Speaker, said the Senate was in support of the bill so that safe and reliable electricity could be delivered to Nigerians. The man who was in charge of the proceedings of the public hearing in his capacity as the chairman House Committee on Power, Hon Patrick Ikhariale, posited that the bill was to give legal backing to an agency that would be involved in ensuring the enforcement of technical and safety standards and regulation in

The establishment of NEMSA will afford the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) the opportunity to develop its technological capacity in the area of enforcement of technical and safety standards

adherence to best practices in the power sector.

There is no doubt that the issue of technical gaps in the enforcement of technical and safety standards, inspection, testing and certification in the NESI has been of serious concern to policy makers in the power sector especially after privatisation and hand over to new owners.

T he Niger ia E lectr icity Regulatory Commission (NERC) which unarguably is the industry regulator, has in the last 10 years only concentrated its efforts at ensuring that economic/ commercial regulation is right for the consumers, licensees and other stakeholders.

Enforcement of technical standards/ regulations, inspections, testing and certification functions have always been performed/ executed

by Electrical Inspectorate Services (EIS) department of the Federal Ministry of Power, now Electricity Management Services Limited (EMSL) with seasoned, well trained professionals to effectively deal with the issue of enforcement.

As at today, the skill and expertise to deal with the enforcement

functions in the power sector exist only in the Electrical Inspectorate Services (EIS) department of the Federal Ministry of Power who had performed these functions in the past 50 years before transferring same to the Electricity Management Services Limited (EMSL) along with all the existing capacity including the 16 zonal offices located across the country.

With the inauguration of the management team of the Electricity Management Services Limited (EMSL) on the 10th of September, 2013 on the approval of President Goodluck Jonathan, the minister of Power in recognition of the need to have an independent body outside the ministry for timely response to the needs of the privatised industry and for efficiency, and in exercise of his powers under section 33 of the ESPR Act 2005 duly transferred the mandate for the enforcement of technical and safety standards, inspection, testing and certification functions, from the EISD department of the Federal Ministry of Power to EMSL. – Aneke contributed this piece from Abuja

politics today Tuesday, August 19, 2014

REPORTS ANALYSES REVIEWS INTERVIEWS

We got too political at a point.

Some of us did try, but we assumed foolishly that it was possible to insulate the House from the crisis of PDP and we made efforts to allow the gladiators sort themselves and come to reasonable conclusion because I can remember I told some of our colleagues that none of us were part of the equation that brought the crisis; our interests were not considered. It wasn’t about Nigeria, it was about ambition so you feel comfortable when you think what you desire is been satisfied. We tried but we failed and sincerely we lost our cohesion. I must say that the House at the initial stage was united, we took issues as it were. Yes, some persons may be benefiting from those things because no matter the position you take, some people will benefit from it, but if you are convinced, you take a decision based on the information at your disposal but we lost it a bit a year plus ago.

Would you say the House has gone beyond that point now? Have you returned to track?

We can’t return. Let’s not deceive ourselves because we must be sincere with ourselves.

The political thermometer is heating up so we can’t return to it. To me, it is the 8th Assembly that will do whatever has not been done, it is politics and politics now.

Yusuf

PDP Crisis Divided House Of Reps – Yusuf We got too political at a point. Some of us did try, but we assumed foolishly that it was possible to insulate the House from the crisis of PDP

Hon Tajudeen Yusuf represents Kabba/ Bunu /Ijumu federal constituency of Kogi State in the House of Representatives. In this interview with select journalists, he speaks on the effect of PDP crisis on the House, Kogi politics and other issues. Adesuwa Tsan was there for LEADERSHIP. As the 7th Assembly of the House of Representatives winds down, how would you assess the last 3 years?

The last 3 years of the present House, in comparison to the previous House by privilege of records I’ve seen since I wasn’t in the 6th Assembly, if we are going to zero in on bills and motions, this House has done

credibly well, better than the past assembly. It is natural that the glory of latter should be greater than the former, there should be improvement.

I think reasonably, we have not failed in that direction and looking at the happenings in the polity, I think we have responded positively. When there was need for us to be

heard, we were heard, when there was need for us to be a bit docile, we were docile. We might not have achieved all the set goals we set out to achieve, but reasonably the House has fared well in the last 3 years.

What are the things you think the House should have done differently?

Nigerians are worried that when you come back from your recess you will be more pre-occupied with re-election process and probably abandon legislative work

I don’t think we will abandon our legislative work but I will not lie to you that there won’t be politics. Nigerians too should expect those who want to seek office to play politics.

However, do we now do that at the expense of national interest? Do we reduce national issues to politics? That is where some of us will stand and say no! However, some persons might not be on the floor as they used to be, you can’t take that away from them because the constituents will not understand that you have to Donald Ojogo, Group Politics Editor ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 38

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38 POLITICS TODAY

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

PDP Crisis Divided House Of Reps – Yusuf ➔ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37

be regular on floor. To them, if you want our votes, we need to see you. It took me some time to balance my activities in the House and get to my people as well because I hate missing sessions, even committee meetings I want to be there.

We have not yet matured politically to that level that if you are sending someone to represent you, you should allow the person to do the job but I believe with time we will get there. For example, I don’t like switching off my phone but believe me, if I am in the chamber and my phone is on and someone calls like two to three times, the next thing the person will assume is that he is now a member of the House of Representatives and he can’t pick calls again, forgetting that at that particular time I have an assignment I’ve sworn to carry out. I am using myself as an example of what everybody is going through.

Yes, when we return there is definitely going to be politics, let’s not deceive ourselves because even right now, politics is going on. My colleagues are in their constituencies because those who want to run against you are already on the field and unfortunately, it is natural that those who are outside will have bigger advantage. People tend to believe that whoever is here has a bag load of money, we still see politics as go and chop your own and let me chop my own.

You are the vice chairman of the House committee on Information Communication Technology, ICT. What can you say about the 2014 budget implementation?

Though a lot of us complained about the slow pace initially,the governor has proven that he knows what he is doing

It is not different from what it used to be. Some of us have advocated for the amendment of the Procurement Act because it is a bit cumbersome.

It takes you minimum of 6 months to go through the process of procurement if you really want to go by the law, it was made that way to check certain excesses but we all know that it is not about the law, it is about the individual.

It is not how effective the law is, it is the commitment of the actors to observe the rules. In as much as it was meant to serve certain good interests, it delays a lot of things. You will be surprised to know that most procurement process will be done between now and December, that is a really big issue.

Yusuf Would you say the present governor of Kogi State, Governor Idris Wada is providing good governance to your people?

I must be sincere with you, I am really impressed. In assessing him, if you look at him relative to state A or B, you may not have the full picture.

I am a Kogi man and I have the privilege of knowing what is in Kogi State. I know states that have monthly allocation of about N16 to N19 billion, Kogi State has an average of N3.5 billion monthly allocation with salary payment of about N2.7 billion. Though a lot of us complained about the slow pace initially,the governor has proven that he knows what he is doing. Maybe because of his profession as a pilot, he understands that you don’t take off without proper preparation.

He has been able to source some funds and I am quite impressed with some of the things he did. He went to the stock exchange, entered into an agreement with the stock exchange that whatever project he wants to do, the contractor will liaise with the stock exchange and they will pay him directly, thereby cutting cost.

The Kogi House in Abuja here, I am very sure that building

wouldn’t have cost anything less than twice the amount if it were to be other states. N2.4 billion for a ten story building, why? Because those who are providing the fund are paying directly to the contractor and they are managing the building for like ten years to recoup their money! So he has realised the limitation and has sat down, put on his thinking cap and come up with ingenuity on how best to transform the state to an enviable level and I can tell you that he is moving in the right direction, I am fully impressed and I will support him.

Still on Kogi State, the opposition, APC, seems to be making in-road to reclaim Kogi State come 2015. Do you feel threatened?

In-road? They are losing grounds every day. Believe me, the former governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu said publicly here that it is not about politics, he confessed that this government is doing very well. He publicly admitted that in the history of Kogi State, we have never had a governor that carries everybody along like the present government. You know one thing about opposition,

they only function in the media, they are not on ground.

To the best of my knowledge, Kogi State is solidly a PDP state and we are consolidating every day.

Come 2015, what should your constituents expect from you?

What should they expect from me? I expect them to revalidate my mandate. They can assess me within the last three years that I have been here. When I was coming here I did promise them what they should expect from me, the last time I checked, I printed out my manifesto and from my checks, what was remaining is my promise on primary health and by the grace of God, before the end of the seventh session, I will deliver on my promise to my constituents.

By October and November, I am working with an NGO and we have signed an agreement.

60 doctors will be coming into town to do major surgical operations in my constituency for two weeks. I am not in the executive, I am a legislator, I made pledges in certain areas and to the glory of God I have delivered. I am not God; because some of my constituents call me ‘he says it and does it’, but like I said I am not God.

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reps diary Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Tambuwal And His 2015 Puzzle

As the 2015 date for the general elections draw closer, structures are being built on to make political ambitions a reality. Just last week, Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal again met with former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as part of the game plan for 2015. Adesuwa Tsan writes on this and other related issues.

Tambuwal

I

What is now clear, however, is that the consultation is part of the ultimate plan towards 2015, a part of his mobilisation and consultation efforts for the 2015 presidential or governorship election

t is no longer news that Nigerians are waiting and watching anxiously for the next political move of the speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, either out of curiosity, opposition or as part of efforts to rally support for him.

There have been several calls for him to publicly declare his intentions and put an end to the suspense but the speaker yesterday proved that the waiting game is yet to be over when he said in Sokoto, his home state, that he is still holding consultations and will make his plans known at a later date.

Speaking on whether to contest for presidency of Nigeria or the governorship of his state come 2015, he said, “I am still consulting my primary constituency on these crucial matters which affect me, Sokoto State and Nigeria generally. I will come back and engage my people. All politics is local and I will make my final stand on these topical issues known to Nigerians at the most appropriate time”.

But the case against Tambuwal, depending on who is talking, is not

only about his closeted ambition but also about his alleged comfort in the arms of the opposition, APC. But again, he has reiterated his loyalty and commitment as a member of the PDP while hinting that if it is the wishes of the people who elected him, that is, his constituents, to have him defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), he would gladly oblige and if the other way, he would stay put in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A few weeks back, posters of the speaker and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, appeared on the streets of Abuja declaring their presidential and vice presidential ambitions respectively. Curiously, the posters had the logo of APC when it is a known fact that Ihedioha is vying for the number one seat in Imo State under the platform of the PDP. A press statement signed by the speaker’s special adviser on media, Imam Imam, did not debunk the ambition but expressed worry over the timing of the posters which he stated breaches Nigeria’s electoral laws.

While thanking those responsible for placing the posters for con-

sidering him fit for that high office, he said, “While we thank them for deeming the Hon Speaker fit for future elective office in the country, let it be known that since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not given the go-ahead for those interested in elective positions to start mobilisation, it is inappropriate for any person or group to print campaign posters and have them placed in strategic locations in any part of the country.

“Laws of the federation are meant to be obeyed by all persons irrespective of their societal status. As a law abiding citizen, the honourable speaker will make known the direction of his political future and intention at the appropriate time”.

That meeting with Obasanjo For the second time this year, Tambuwal met with former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, in Abeokuta, Ogun State. This meeting last Tuesday evening is sequel to an earlier February meeting which was also shrouded in secrecy.

What is now clear, however, is that the consultation is part of the ultimate plan towards 2015, a part of his mobilisation and consultation efforts for the 2015 presidential or governorship election.

Imam Imam, special adviser to the speaker on Media and Public Affairs said while speaking on the visit, “You know Baba is a father to all in the country. The meeting was a consultation. It is about rubbing minds on how to move the country forward and make Nigeria better.”

Asked whether it had any connection to the rumoured presidential ambition of the speaker, Imam said the meeting was a closed-door one and that he therefore could not comment on that aspect.

He nevertheless said a decision would be reached soon regarding the speaker’s ambition.

Tambuwal had, in February, met with Obasanjo in his residence in Abeokuta in company of the deputy minority leader of the House, Hon. Kawu Samaila; Hon. Muraina Ajibola from Oyo State, and Hon. Shehu Shagari who is from the same Sokoto State as the speaker.

Also during the February visit, Tambuwal sang his undying love for the PDP, saying he remained part and parcel of the party.

The speaker has been said to be involved in “anti-party” activities due to his open criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration as well as “fraternisation” with members of the opposition.

If Tambuwal defects now...

His defection will present a complex scenario in the House as PDP

currently has the majority of members and has the highest ranking members in the body of principal officers. If Tambuwal defects, the whole leadership structure will be reshuffled as a new speaker will emerge from the PDP while he steps down to minority status.

Tambuwal enjoys respect and support of his colleagues but has been riding high especially because of support from the South-West flank of APC, which played a key role in his election as speaker in 2011 and has stood solidly behind him during threats of impeachment.

INEC must consolidate on success recorded so far...

Speaking shortly after collecting his permanent voter card ( PVC) in Tambuwal local government yesterday, Speaker Tambuwal urged Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the process of collecting Voters Permanent Card (PVC) is thoroughly done as a credible voters register is sacrosanct to having credible elections come 2015.

While hailing INEC for taking the right step towards achieving credible election, he added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should strive towards showing its true independence in action and not just in paper.

“I feel happy as a patriotic citizen of Nigeria by collecting my card today and all Nigerians must diligently exercise their civic duties. INEC deserves commendation, as it is not easy to manage the electoral process in a country where there is the dearth of adequate power supply and ICT infrastructure.

“It is an improvement on the past exercises and INEC should actually exert its independence in action and not only on paper.

The National Assembly has also put the commission on a first line charge to make it truly financially independent,” he stated afterwards.

Confab Report will be scrutinised by NASS...

The final report of the just concluded National Conference will be subjected to due legislative process, according to speaker of the House of Representatives.

While stressing that Nigeria deserves better leadership and the lawmakers will support any step to strengthen democracy in the country, Tambuwal admonished the citizenry to strive harder towards sustaining the hard-earned democracy.

“Nigeria deserves better leadership and the nation’s leaders, as well as other Nigerians, must work to defend the hard-earned democracy in the country,” he noted.

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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

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The best among Nigeria’s politicians; the best among those who aspire for political and elective office; the most popular candidates; the traiblazers; Nigeria ‘s most presentable candidates and those who have the vision and sense of mission to lead.

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42 news north-East, north-west

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Flood: Dakingari Blames Bayan Kara Residents For Residing In Flood-prone Areas

2015: I’m Under Pressure To Contest Kano Governorship – Late Gen Muhammed’s Son

By Abubakar Salihi, Kano

Alhaji Abba Murtala Mohammed, a.k.a. Risqua, son of the late former head of state, General Murtala Muhammed, has revealed that he is under intense pressure from political groups, friends and citizens of Kano to contest the state governorship election in 2015.

Already, he has commenced consultations with his immediate family members and political associates, on the persistent pressure on him by some concerned youths in the state to offer himself for the race to occupy the seat of power in Kano.

In an interview in Kano yesterday on whether or not he would accept the challenge, Risqua said that based

on the experience he had so far acquired from both the public and private sectors of the economy, he possessed the wherewithal to replicate the impressive performance of his late father, General Muhammed.

He added, “If I eventually accept the challenge at the end of the day, my focus would be on how to improve the quality of life of Kano

State indigenes and residents, as well as transform Kano to a better state.’’

Besides, Risqua promised that he will be transparently committed to transforming Kano to an enviable status, just like his late father contributed immensely to the promotion of the unity and development of Nigeria.

Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Secretary to the State Government, (SSG) Sahabi Gada, and Head of Service, Umaru Bature, at the official inauguration of LG caretaker committee chairmen at the Trade Fair Complex, yesterday.

PHOTO BY ANKELI EMMANUEL

short news Adamawa: Idi Hong Joins Guber Race A large crowd thronged the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wadata House, Yola, yesterday, when former minister of foreign affairs, Dr Aliyu Idi Hong, went to the house to buy his gubernatorial ticket.

With this, Hong has stated his intent to run for the governor’s seat, which was left vacant, following the impeachment of the former governor, Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako. Hong joins a host of other interested individuals: Mohammed Marwa, Awwal Bamanga Tukur, Nuhu Ribadu and a host of others who have indicated their interest.

By Onukogu Kanayo Jubal,

Adamawa By-election: PDP Stakeholders In 21 LGs Endorse Ribadu

By Mohammed Ismail, Yola

The gubernatorial ambition of the former boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, received a boost yesterday in Yola as a group of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders across the 21 local governments of the state endorsed his gubernatorial aspiration.

During the event which was convened by Concerned Youths for Good Governance in Adamawa at the Conference Hall of Muna Hotel in Yola, various stakeholders extolled Rib-

adu for his incorruptible stance which according to them was responsible for their endorsement.

The leader of the youth group, Alhaji Isa Ibrahim Toungo said his group’s clamour for Ribadu’s candidature was an honest and patriotic effort to entrench good governance in the state following the decay embedded in the state as a result of poor leadership.

He added that over the years, Ribadu has earned a reputation of being a fearless, dedicated and patriotic citizen who did well in all his areas of calling,

adding that they can vouch for his credibility anytime.

In his speech, the representative of Ribadu and former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct APP, Alhaji Adamu Modibbo thanked the people for their unflinching support to Ribadu’s aspiration, adding that when elected, Ribadu will reinvent the state and restore its lost glory.

He said that with the support of the people, Ribadu’s candidature will become a reality, adding that a vote for Ribadu is a vote for peace, tranquility and progress.

2015: Many PDP Members In Sokoto May Join APC Before Election – Sarkin Gobir

By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto

A descendant of Sultan Mohammadu Tambari and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abdullahi Sarkin Gobir Adiya, yesterday in Sokoto warned that unless the PDP urgently puts its house in order, it will witness mass defection of its members to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sarkin Gobir, who was a member of the committee set up by former

President Olusegun Obasanjo that met in Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, to work out modalities for the election of the present Sokoto governor, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko in 2007, said the party was in dire need of redemption from the grip of Bafarawa and his cohorts.

While warning that the self-centered nature of former governor Attahiru Bafarawa, who is now not just a member of the PDP in the state as he has also hijacked the party struc-

ture without recourse to the principle of equity, might spell doom for the party should such anomaly continue unabated before 2015 elections.

“I respect Bafarawa but I don’t understand certain things about him.

You cannot say only you can do everything. I started quarrelling with many people who left him. I am not even talking with some of them, but I have come to realise that his interest is final,” he said.

short news Christian Voice Initiative Inaugurated In Zamfara Worried by the religious tension which often hinders peaceful coexistence among the two major religions in the country, a peace mission known as ‘Christian Voice Initiative and Awareness of Nigeria’ was formed by a coalition of various Christian sects to address the situation.

Addressing the press over the weekend on the mission of the organisation, its Zamfara State coordinator, Hon Joels Terks Abavet, disclosed that the vision is to create a sustainable and free Christian society in Zamfara State.

By Abba Abubakar Kabara

Following last Saturday’s torrential rain which led to flooding in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State capital, and other towns of the state, rendering many people homeless, Governor Saidu Dakingari has said that the residents of Bayan Kara area in Birnin Kebbi should blame nobody but themselves for their woes for residing in a flood prone area.

The governor apportioned the blame weekend at Government House, Birnin Kebbi while receiving the 25-member committee headed by the Wazirin Gwandu, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar, set up to assess the extent of destruction and property lost as well as those affected by the floods.

Dakingari said that he has no sympathy for the Bayan Kara community for not heeding the advice and warning not to construct houses in the area because the place is prone to flooding.

The governor, who cut short his trip from Abuja on Saturday night, also advised the citizens not to build houses on waterways and to change their habit of dumping refuse inside drainages.

By Yahya Sarki, Kebbi

Boko Haram: Minister Of Power Visits IDPs In Borno, Gombe The minister of state for power, Barrister Muhammed Wakil, yesterday visited the camps where the people of Borno State that were internally displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency are being camped in parts of Borno and Adamawa states.

The minister, who is a native of the sacked town of Damboa, Borno State, said he was visiting the camps as an indigene of Borno and a representative of the first lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan.

The minister who visited several camps delivered messages of hope from both President Goodluck Jonathan and the first lady to hundreds of internally displaced persons from Damboa, Gworza, Bama among others.

Accompanied by heavily armed security operatives, the minister was at the palace of the Emir of Biu, Mai Umar Aliyu who commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the federal government for coming to the aid of the displaced people, even as the monarch confirmed receiving all the relief materials sent down by Abuja for the displaced persons.

By Abdulkareem Haruna, Maiduguri

news Lagos 43

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Lagos Eko Project Raises Fresh Hope For Academic Excellence At a time the country is lamenting the falling standard of education following the recording of 70 per cent failure by candidates in West African Senior Secondary Examination (WASSCE), Lagos State government is leveraging on its Eko Secondary School Project to record steady progress in its academic activities.

The Lagos Eko Secondary School Education Project (LESEP) now credited with surge in academic improvement in Lagos State is a partnership between the Lagos State government and the World Bank.

The education policy inaugurated by the administration of Babatunde Fashola in 2009 project has aided the training of 12,000 teachers in leadership and core subjects such as English, Math and Science while students in targeted schools have remarkably showed an improvement in learning.

Overtime, the project’s success has restored confidence in the public school system.

From inception, the primary objective of the Lagos Eko Secondary Education Project is to improve the quality of public secondary schools.

I’ll Shake Nigeria After 2015 Elections – Oba Of Lagos ByOLUGBENGA SOYELE, Lagos

The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu, yesterday said he will shake the country after the 2015 general elections with some revelations on the involvement of some Yoruba Obas in corrupt dealings during Abacha’s regime.

The first class monarch, who was speaking as a special guest at a public presentation of the book, “Corruption and Human Rights Law in Africa” by Kola Olaniyan also said he is in possession of some incriminating information

as a former commissioner of police in charge of criminal investigation.

Oba Akiolu further stated, “The monarch that made the statement that I lifted oil during the Abacha regime will be shocked when I make certain revelations after the 2015 elections.

“I think he should cover his face in shame because as at that time he alleged that I lifted oil, I was still serving in the Nigerian Police and I wonder how I would have such time to be involved in the lifting of oil”.

The monarch also urged all

Nigerians to forget the past, face the future with hope and strive to make the nation better.

According to him, for the country to overcome the Ebola Virus, insurgency and corruption challenges ravaging it, there is need for collective efforts by all and sundry.

The traditional ruler also insisted that no single person should be blamed for Nigeria’s woes because the development of the country requires collective effort to solve.

He said, “The problem is not caused by one person. Everyone

must be close to the Almighty and see how to make things better.

“All hands must be on deck to assist the government to bring it to the end.

We should forget the past and face the future by contributing to the future of the nation”.

Earlier in his opening remark, Lagos-based Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, who also chaired the occassion, said because of the massive corruption in the continent, the fundamental human rights of the people had been severely infringed upon.

short news S/African High Commission, Multhchoice Engage 20 UNILAG Students

By George Okojie, Lagos

2015: Lagos Lawmaker Cautions Politicians Against Fake Promises A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hakeem Masha, who represents Lagos Island II, has advised his colleagues to be mindful of the promises made to people during campaign.

The lawmaker made this remark while speaking at an interactive weekly programme organised by the Lagos State House of Assembly correspondents tagged: “Time out with the Press,” at Alausa, Ikeja.

According to him, “We have to be mindful of what we tell the people. The people should be informed that it is not our duty to do some of these things. Once, I get to my constituency area, I come down from the vehicle and walk, we have had issues, where people say we don’t walk on the streets again and that we drive past and roll up our glasses”.

Masha, who is a first term member in the House explained that politicians say attractive things while seeking for re-election which they don’t fulfill.

“When it comes to politics, I try as much as possible not to promise to do what is not possible and what is not the duty of a legislator”, he added.

Meanwhile, the lawmaker described the Osun governorship election as a wake up call for politicians.

By Taiwo Ogunmola Omilani, Lagos

Textile traders whose goods were seized at Iddo terminal of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) by custom officials during their complaint at the NRC office, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY GBENGA OLAJOBI

LASU To Refund N840m To Students Over Fees Slash

By GEORGE OKOJIE , Lagos

The authorities of Lagos State University, (LASU) said they are making arrangements to refund over N840 million to students who had paid the new fees before it was slashed by the state government.

The vice chancellor of the university, Professor John Obafunwa, who disclosed this while speaking with newsmen said the state government decided to refund the money to the students who have paid the fees before it was reversed.

He said ,“We have already calculated the excess paid by the students. Don’t

forget that even before the reversal, a lot of them had already paid for this session.

We have calculated over N840 million.

“It will only be for this session. The reversal does not mean LASU will go back to where it used to be and the problems of the past. You cannot go beyond the available infrastructure. You cannot take more than what you can’t admit. I don’t see any disadvantage in the reduction of the fees.”

The VC explained that the reversal of the fees was not completely a decision of the university’s management.

Obafunwa added, “Don’t forget there is still the governing council and government is equally being involved. It is

a joint decision. Be that as it may, it is a welcome decision in a way, depending on who is looking at it or commenting.”

According to him, the reversal of the fees would have both good and bad sides noting that the reversal did not mean there would be a reduction in the expenditure of the school.

He said ,“There are always good and bad sides of everything. You reduce the school fees, but that does not mean a reduction in the expenditure of the school.

It will still remain the same. Whether you like it or not, someone will have to pick up the bills.

“We thank the Lagos State government and House of Assembly.

South African High Commission in partnership with Multi-choice Nigeria has engaged 20 final year students of University of Lagos (Unilag) in an empowerment programme.

The programme tagged, “Take A Girl Child to Work” initiative organised by South African High Commission held at MultiChoice Head Office, Tiamiyu Savage, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Timothy Okwu who is the spokesperson of Multichoice explained that the programme was organised to encourage female students from the university, saying they want to educate them on what they need to know after school.

By Taiwo Ogunmola Omilani, Lagos

Doctors Protest Sack Of Colleagues In Lagos by george okojie, and AROUNKE OLAYIWOLA Lagos

Members of the Lagos State chapter, Nigeria Medical Association(NMA) yesterday at the Teaching Hospital, Idi- Araba staged a protest over the sacking of 16,000 resident doctors in the country by the federal government.

The doctors who came out in their large numbers wearing

white lab coats, brandished placards with inscriptions such as “Sack of 16,000 resident doctors, Death Sentence for Nigerians!,” “Sack Boko Haram not Doctors,” “Sack Chukwu not Doctors!” “No to Casualisation of Doctor.”

Fielding questions with newsmen in LUTH , the state chairman of the association, Dr. Tope Ojo, said the sack of resident doctors in all federal teaching hospitals in the country would lead to

imminent collapse of the nation’s health sector.

According to him, the NMA will not resume any negotiations with the federal government until the sacking is reversed unconditionally.

He said, “The immediate reversal of the sack of all the 16,000 resident doctors is the minimal demand for us to resume talks with the federal government.

“It is not acceptable to us and

we will do all we can to defend our profession.They did it to ASUU, they signed several agreement with ASUU and did not fulfill it. They say they have met 90 per cent of our demands, it is not true. We will not relent until we have put things in place in our hospitals.”

Ojo emphasised that resident doctors are specialist doctors in training in teaching hospitals in the country.

44 news south-South south-East Help Fix Our Federal Roads, C/River Group Urges FG A non-governmental organisation, Project Greater Cross River, has demanded the urgent intervention of both the Cross River State and federal governments in the deplorable state of federal roads in the state.

The demand was made on Sunday during the group’s inauguration of its excutive committee members in Calabar.

According to its coordinator, Mr Donald Udo, the appeal became imperative due to the importance of road transportation to the state’s economy.

He said: “We call on those who have access to the authorities in the Ministry of Works to look into the federal roads situation in Cross River State and please help fix them”.

Udo, who said a good road infrastructure, energy and vibrant policing system are the driving force of any modern economy, noted that the most viable means of transportation in this part of the world is road.

By Lanre Arotimi, Calabar

FG’s Mechanised Cassava Farming Takes Off In Delta Delta State governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has harped on the need for effective collaboration of communities with government to ensure maximum benefits of projects sited in their areas.

Speaking at the weekend during an inspection of the cassava mechanised farming project at Abraka, Ethiope East local government area of the state, the governor said that the project undertaken by the federal government in collaboration with the Delta State government would boost food security and create jobs for the people.

He said the project was an indication that the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan was on course, stressing that direct employment and the subsequent multiplier effect of empowering the people were unimaginable.

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

Delta: Teachers’ Council Licenses 1,217 FCE Graduates The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has inducted and licensed 1,217 graduates of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba since 2011, the provost of the college, Dr Nwanze Ignatius Ezoem has said.

He stated that those inducted are recognised as qualified teachers who can practice the teaching profession anywhere in the world.

He further said the federal government is irrevocably committed to the professionalisation of teaching in Nigeria, adding that the college has been in the forefront of implementing teacher education policy.

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

UniBen VC Returns Hale, Hearty Amid Rumoured Incapacitation

By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City

Contrary to suggestions in some quarters that the vice chancellor of the University of Benin may have become incapacitated due to ill health, Professor Osayuki Oshodin was in the university environment yesterday to the jubilation of management staff and other members of the university community.

There had been calls that he should be replaced with an acting vice chancellor to complete the remaining months of his tenure which ends in November this year.

However, dressed in a grey shirt and jacket on black trousers, Oshodin presided over the meeting of Appointment and Promotion Board of the university where management staff were all seen singing songs of praise to God for his return after he was flown abroad for medical attention in May. Addressing a press conference, members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Non-Academic Staff Union of

Universities (NASU) described the call for the vice chancellor’s removal as selfish and driven by greed, saying it “smacks of mischief for anybody to claim that the tension created by the absence of the vice chancellor has slowed down activities within the university”.

Chairman of SSANU, Comrade John Alile, who spoke in company of the acting chairman of NASU, Comrade Joel Idonije, and NASU chairman, Comrade Sunday Momoh, said even in the absence of Oshodin, the school had completed its first semester and had al-

ready resumed for the second semester, students were mobilised for NYSC, while the 11th Edition of Nigerian Universities Staff Sports Association Games was successfully hosted among others.

He said, “It is sad to note how the pursuit of selfish interest could drive some persons to the point of losing sight of the uniqueness of the university system whose operations are largely guided by the rule of law. We advise those calling for the appointment of an acting vice chancellor to check the statutes for their own good.”

short news Ijaw Group Moves Against Marginalisation The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) in the oil rich Niger Delta region declared over the weekend that never again will the area be relegated to the background in socio-economic and political issues affecting the country.

President of the IYC, Comrade Udengs Oradiri stated this at the inauguration of the Western zone of the council, made L-R: Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin; Chief of Army Staff, up of Edo, Delta Lt-Gen Kenneth Minimah and Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, at the security council meeting at and Ondo states, as the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN. well as members of the newly elected executive of the zone, held at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre,

By Osa Okhomina, Yenagoa governor, Hon Seriake Dickson is national coordinator, Hon NyBenin, Edo State disloyal and part of a plot to as- enye Kuro Mathias, the group capital.

A group, the Grassroots Connect sassinate him. called on security agencies to inComrade for Restoration (GrassCore), yesThe group described the accu- vestigate the ex-militant leader Udengs expressed terday slammed a former mem- sation levelled against the state for alleged perjury. the council’s ber of the Upper Chamber of the governor, Hon Seriake Dickson “How can a man like that claim determination to Movement for the Emancipation as irresponsible and another cal- that a sitting governor, Hon Sebuild a strong and of the Niger Delta (MEND), Paul culated attempt to create a bad riake Dickson is disloyal to the viable platform that Eris, popularly known as Gener- relationship between the gover- president? He is being used by would guarantee al Ogunboss, over his open let- nor and the president. some politicians to throw the sound education. ter to the president, Dr Goodluck In a statement issued yester- state into a state of insecurity,” Jonathan, alleging that the state day in Yenagoa and signed by its the group said.

By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City

Group Slams Ex-MEND Leader Over Letter To Jonathan

2015: Journalists Threaten Boycott Over Insecurity In Bayelsa Creeks

By Osa Okhomina, Yenagoa

Journalists in Bayelsa State have threatened to boycott the 2015 general elections over rising cases of killing, kidnapping and attacks by sea pirates along the waterways and creeks of the state.

According to the journalists drawn from 12 chapels of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), unless the rising cases of insecuri-

ty along the waterways are eradicated, their members will not cover the 2015 general elections.

The state chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Tarinyo Akono, while receiving the chairman and members of the Security Stakeholders Interactive Forum, Bayelsa State in Yenagoa yesterday.

The Security Stakeholders Interactive Forum organises a security week annually to address in-

ter-agency issues aimed at building synergy among the armed forces and paramilitary formations operating in the state.

Akono described maritime security as a major challenge in the state especially as many of the communities are located in the riverine areas and are accessible by water.

He noted that it is becoming increasingly difficult for traders to go about their business of buying and

selling due to the activities of sea pirates and kidnappers.

The NUJ chairman stressed that unless security agencies checked the menace posed by sea pirates and kidnappers along the waterways, journalists will not cover the 2015 general elections, even as he urged the security agencies to review the burning of barges laden with crude oil due to their destructive effects on the environment.

news NATIONAL 45

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Ebola: Ministry Conducts Survey In FCT The Ministry of Environment has begun Ebola-related survey in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

This was made known by the minister of environment, Mrs. Laurentia Laraba Mallam in Abuja, yesterday. She stated that the survey which is to determine the distribution of animals within the FCT is necessary in the light of the fact that the disease could be contracted from animals.

“We have started a survey of their distribution in Abuja where we have found a substantial population in Wuse area, the Three Arms Zone and some areas of Maitama District and Kubwa. We have equally commenced similar survey in other states and towns in order that we may implement a comprehensive exercise. We are also in touch with the various states of the federation”.

By Blessing Ukemena, Abuja

Zoning Of Political Offices Breeds Mediocrity – Rep Minority whip of the House of Representatives, Hon Samson Osagie, has said that democracy does not discriminate against the constitutional rights of citizens to contest any elective office.

Osagie said those who are championing zoning as criteria for public offices should be ashamed as doing so amounts to sacrificing merit and experience on the altar of mediocrity which can only produce morons.

He was reacting to insinuations that he should not be in contention for the Edo South senatorial district come 2015, as the Old Uhunmwonde/ Orhionmwon zone of the Old Benin division where he hails from has produced two senators in quick succession.

By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City

New HoS Charges Civil Servants On Creative Ideas The newly appointed Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Danladi Kifasi has charged civil servants in Nigeria to evolve more creative ideas and innovations, in order to make themselves relevant to the government and Nigerians.

Kifasi, who gave this charge while taking over the leadership of the civil service from Alhaji Bukar Aji in Abuja, said civil servants must vigorously pursue ongoing reform efforts to restore public trust in the public service as a professional, efficient and accountable institution.

By Igho Oyoyo, Abuja

‘State-owned Varsities Will Crumble Without TETFUND’s Support’

By Kareem Haruna, Maiduguri

The executive secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro, has said that most stateowned tertiary institutions across Nigeria are thriving today because of the support given to them by his organisation, observing that they would collapse should that support be withdrawn.

Underlying the crucial role the multi-billion naira powered apex

education interventionist organ has been playing in the lives of public tertiary institutions in the past years, Professor Bogoro said Nigerians need to appreciate the inroads achieved by TETFUND, so far, in the development of the post secondary education in the country.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP during an interview recently, the renowned professor of Animal Science and popular figure in the tertiary education revolution in

Nigeria said questioning the justification of funds being spent by TETFUND may be considered unfair given the number of years the tertiary education sector had suffered neglect.

Professor Bogoro said, “Does any one honestly imagine that if you had underfunded public tertiary institutions for two to three decades, that you can solve the problems in two, three years? The answer is no. I think if we understand that impos-

sibility then one would agree that those complaining that much is not achieved despite the huge sums being spent by TETFUND, are not being fair to the government of the day”.

“It is on record that the government of the day has not only been providing funding through the TETFUND as interventionists agency, but has even opened additional windows, as it were after the ASUU agreement.”

short news Group Urges Government To Invest In Youths The Nigerian Mandate Group has called on the government to invest more in the youth of the country adding that if properly harnessed, they can contribute in no small measures to the nation’s economic, social and political development.

The group who R-L: Minister of health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, with the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle, during the latter’s visit to made this call during a courtesy the minister’s office in Abuja, yesterday. visit to the minister of Youths Development, Mr Boni Haruna, recently stated

By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja Speaking with journalists at “Once we can be able to differenthat the most the commencement of a three day tiate this type of expenditure and active segment Registered political parties, under ‘’Training of Trainers’’ workshop tie it down to electoral processes, of the nation’s the aegis of Inter Party Advisory for political parties in Abuja, the it gives the room for a balanced sitpopulation was Council (IPAC) yesterday called on IPAC chairman however urged the uation. made up of the the National Assembly to reverse National Assembly to reconsider “But when one political party youths, noting the law which stops the Indepen- their request and make INEC re- has an enormous opportunity that the future dent National Electoral Commis- store the funding of the activities to use states’ resources and secuof the country sion (INEC) from funding politi- of the political parties. rity for personal use it will create depends on how cal parties. ”That is the reason why political the room for other political parties much the governSpeaking through its chairman, parties under the Inter Party Advi- to be used.

Dr. Yunusa Tanko, IPAC, insisted sory Council [IPAC] have been askment invests in ‘’We are requesting and insisting that funding of the activities of po- ing for public funding. This public seriously, that the National Assemthe youth. litical parties would create a level funding must not necessarily go to bly through INEC, should look at playing ground for political parties the political parties as it were, but the issue of political party funding.

By Chika Mefor, to perform their responsibilities ef- go to the technical areas of elec- After all, we are only 26 political Abuja fectively. tioneering. parties in Nigeria.

Political Parties Urge NASS To Intervene Over Funding By INEC

Kwankwaso’s Deputy Reveals Ambition To Succeed His Boss

By Abubakar Salihi, Kano

Kano State deputy governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, yesterday in Kano revealed his ambition to succeed his boss, Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso saying, “I’m interested in the race, but I have not declared my intention to run for the governorship race in 2015.”

Dr. Ganduje, during an interactive session with the Correspondent Chapel of Kano State

chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said: “If I say I am contesting, it is no news; but if I say I am not contesting, that is the news,” adding that he would be willing to wait until the Kwankwasiyya political movement of the Kano All Progressives Congress (APC) meet and take a decision on the matter.

The deputy governor who also agreed that the caucus of the Kwankwasiyya movement would

have the final say over his ambition, stressed that, “Ours is a party that has just been put in place and it is a merger party. So, I will urge you to wait until the time when there will be news or no news. I am interested, but I have not declared, we are still consulting.”

Dr. Ganduje also spoke on the defection of former presidential flag-bearer of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN),

Malam Nuhu Ribadu from APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing it as unfortunate, “for any politician to leave the fold of the progressives at this point in time.”

According to him, the exit of Nuhu Ribadu from APC created no vacuum.

“I am comfortable with APC. Yes, we lost Nuhu Ribadu, but the PDP has lost hundreds of Ribadus to us in APC,” he said.

46 news south-west Insurgency: Olubolade Seeks Support For FG Former minister of police affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd), has called on all Nigerians to support the federal government in the fight against insurgency in the country.

He also urged the outgoing governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi to work with the governor-elect, Mr Ayodele Fayose even after the expiration of his tenure in the interest of the state.

Olubolade who made the call while speaking with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti yesterday said security should be seen as the business of all and not the sole responsibility of the government.

He disclosed that he had donated multi-million naira landed property in his Ipoti Ekiti country home to the military for the successful take-off of the military formation in the state.

He said the gesture was not only a way of appreciating the military for making him who he is today but to also contribute to the reinforcement of the security of the state against any form of insurgency.

He said, “The task of security is for all citizens. The police and military and other security agencies cannot do it alone. I donated my personal house, farmland and convinced my kinsmen to add more lands for the military base to take off, so that our people can sleep with their two eyes closed”.

By Alo Abiola, Ado-Ekiti

Voter Registration: Oyo PDP Raises N90m For Mobilisation The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oyo State chapter, yesterday raised N90million for the voter registration exercise to ensure that eligible voters across the 351 wards in the state are adequately sensitised and mobilised to participate in the exercise slated for tomorrow.

The party’s elders at a meeting in Ibadan yesterday, said the PDP was prepared to participate fully in the exercise.

The former deputy national chairman (South) of the party, Yekini Adeojo said the party is determined to give other political parties including the ruling All Progressives Congress a run for their money at the February 2015 election.

Adeojo spoke with journalists at the end of the meeting during which he disclosed that about N90million would be needed to adequately ensure that PDP is not caught unawares in the on-going exercise, stressing that the amount has already been raised at yesterday’s meeting.

Donors at the elders’ meeting, according to him, were himself, former Governor Adebayo Alao- Akala, Lekan Balogun, Femi Babalola, Teslim Folarin, deputy Senate chief whip, Hosea Agboola, member, House of Representatives, Muraina Ajibola, Ayo Adeseun, Seyi Makinde and about 50 others.

By Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Faleti’s Family Blames Death Rumour On Bloggers

By Olaolu Oladipo, Lagos

Family of popular poet, playwright and actor, Chief Adebayo Faleti, has blamed his rumoured death on social media bloggers whom it accused of trying to profit from his misfortune.

This is just as the family of the Oyo-born thespian has resolved to sue any of such platforms found spreading the rumour.

One of the children of Faleti, Adejare, who spoke to LEADERSHIP in a telephone chat said the rumour came to the family

as a surprise, having called his father earlier yesterday, adding “The information is false. When I called him, he sounded well.”

Speaking further on the development, Adejare said, “I just spoke to him this morning and he was sick,” adding “The news is coming from some bloggers who want to direct traffic to their sites. You know the more people visit their sites, the more they make money. I wonder where they got the information from.”

While stating that the family decided to keep the news from the octogenarian, he added that

the news has thrown both his family and associates into panic as series of calls have been put through to the family by loved ones to confirm the veracity of the news.

On his immediate reaction to the news, Adejare said it was disheartening, adding that the family may not rule out legal action against errant blogs.

“We are still consulting with our media people on this development but what I can tell you is that we will take legal action against any blogger caught disseminating this falsehood,” he said.

L-R: The senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Babajide Omoworare; Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Olayiwola Adedeji; senior special assistant to the Osun State governor on Community Forum, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye; Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdul-Rashid Olabomi, and the Oloyan of Oyan, Oba Kilani Adekeye, during Oyintiloye’s birthday celebration at Aregbesola’s campaign office, Ibokun, on Saturday.

short news Ondo Targets Wealth Creation Ondo State government has promised to consolidate its achievements by initiating more policies and programmes that would drive the economic prospect, trade and investment of the state to create wealth for the people.

The state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko gave the assurance at the groundbreaking ceremony of a Shopping Mall (Shoprite) and Car park, in Akure, the state capital.

Dr Mimiko said his administration, through its urban renewal initiatives, has attracted various business ideas and investors that would create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths of the state.

According to him, the shopping mall project would not only drive the economy of the state but also empower the people.

By Tope Fayehun, Akure

Osun Set To Hunt For Youths With Talents In Culture

By JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo

As a means of tackling unemployment among youths in Osun State, the state government will at this year’s Osun Osogbo festival fish out youths with talents in culture and encourage them to use raw materials in their environment to launch themselves into economic prosperity.

The chairman, Osun Tourism Board, Engr. Abimbola Daniyan who dropped this hint yesterday while addressing newsmen on

activities lined up for the 2014 Osun Osogbo Festival noted that the Osun government is poised to use tourism as a tool to fight unemployment and poverty.

He disclosed that Oluminrin Waterfall, Erin Ijesa, having played host to no fewer than 40,000 tourists this year alone, is the most popular tourism site in the country.

According to him, the seven-step Oluminrin Falls now plays host to 7,000 tourists every month, adding that govern-

ment is developing the site on a daily basis.

Daniyan said as part of efforts to harness the tourism potential of Osun State, the State Tourism Board has implemented Osun Tourism Master Plan (OTMP) in the last one year, adding that the board is already negotiating with some private investors with a view to handing over Oluminrin Waterfall, Erin Ijesa and Ayikunugba Falls, Oke Ila to them for further development.

Among major events in this

Oyo Doctors Protest FG’s Sack

By Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan

Members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday protested the federal government’s decision to sack 16,000 resident doctors across the country.

Members of the state branch of NMA led by their chairman, Dr Muideen Olatunji, were on a peaceful protest against the sack of the doctors to the state gover-

nor to register their rejection of the sack.

Addressing the protesting doctors, Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi appealed to the federal government to enter into further negotiations with the NMA with a view to resolving the current impasse over the sack of 16,000 resident doctors.

Ajimobi said that rather than resorting to punitive measure, the

federal government should continue to dialogue with the doctors in order to reach a compromise on their requests in the interest of Nigerians.

He said that the sack of the resident doctors would further aggravate the already deplorable health condition of Nigerians and also lead to increase in the death rate.

Responding, Dr Olatunji said members of the association con-

year’s programme of Osun festival are: Oodua Fashion and Beauty Fair, a programme designed to familiarise youths with some basic aspects of Yoruba culture, film show that would be centred on Yoruba culture among others.

On the growing concern about the barring of foreign tourists at this year’s edition of the festival over the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease, he said proper measures have been taken by government to ensure that the dreaded disease is prevented during the festival.

demned in totality the alleged sack of the resident doctors in the country.

Presenting a letter of protest to Governor Ajimobi for onward transmission to the federal government, the state NMA chairman said that government at all levels should improve the nation’s health facilities and redouble their efforts towards improving the welfare of doctors.

news NATIONAL 47

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Imo Monarchs Condemn Politicians For Insulting Okorocha At Festival The traditional rulers of Mbaise in Imo State yesterday condemned the action of some politicians at the weekend during the new yam festival, known as Iriji, held at the Chioma Ajunwa stadium, Ahiazu, for ridiculing the office of the state governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha.

The monarchs, composed of all the traditional rulers in Mbaise, apologised on behalf of the people of the area, and promised to deal with the situation in there own way.

Addressing journalists in his palace, the deputy chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Owerri zone, Eze Chidume Okoro, warned politicians against playing politics with the culture of the Mbaise people, noting that the embarrassment meted to the governor was an embarrassment to the entire people.

By Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

Sylva Commands Nationwide Respect – Bayelsa APC The Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has described the state’s former governor and APC leader, Chief Timipre Sylva, who turned 50 last weekend, as a leader with national appeal.

The chapter’s publicity secretary, Fortune Panebi, made this known yesterday in a statement in which he said the chapter stood solidly behind the former governor on his 50th birthday.

He said that the national acceptance of the former governor was evident in the calibre of personalities that graced the birthday lecture in Abuja, delivered by Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola.

“At 50, we know that the political journey of our leader is just starting. You have shown over these years that the game of politics can be played without rancour.

The outpour of goodwill by Bayelsans from all walks of life during his 50th birthday shows that he is still the leader in our state,” he said.

By Chika Otuchikere, Abuja

‘Adamawa’s Enemies Behind Ribadu’s Defection To PDP’

By Ekele Peter Agbo, Abuja and Mohammed Ismail, Yola

Enemies of Adamawa State who do not want the growth and development of the state are behind the defection of the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a chieftain of the party has alleged.

The PDP chieftain in the state, who pleaded anonymity, told

LEADERSHIP in Abuja yesterday that although Nuhu Ribadu had the right to contest the Adamawa State governorship election, there should be justice and fairness through credible party primary.

“Nuhu Ribadu has the right to join whatever political party he so chooses, but when there are things to be done, they should be done in fairness and justice. I don’t think that the imposition of candidate will be possible with the

present enlightened electorate in the state. Imposition of candidate will cause disunity among members and party rancour.

He further noted that “Adamawa State is greater than anyone; hence tenets of democracy should be adhered to in choosing or electing who governs the state.”

Adamawa PDP Lauds Fintiri’s Aspiration The Adamawa State chapter

of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday lent its support to the aspiration of the state’s acting governor, Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri, to contest the governorship ticket of the state.

While receiving the acting governor, the state chairman of the party, Chief Joel Madaki, alleged that fake membership cards of the party were being circulated by desperate politicians who wanted to gain advantage over other contestants through dubious means.

short news Resist External Influence, Yero Tells State Assembly Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero yesterday urged the state’s lawmakers to resist external influence in the conduct of their constitutional functions.

Speaking yesterday when he received a delegation of the Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, who paid him a courtesy visit, Yero said ,“if we continue the way we are doVice President Namadi Sambo flanked by Kebbi State Governor Saidu Dakingari (second left) and the special adviser on MDGs to the ing now, we cannot president, Mrs Precious Gbeneol, with the UN Under-Secretary on the MDGs, Aminat Ibrahim (left), and others during the Presidential achieve much.

According to Summit on MDGs at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, yesterday. him, there is need for lawmakers to spend longer terms in the legislature in

By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City Security and Civil Defence Corps sels seized in the course of trackorder to acquire the (NSCDC), Prof. Ade Abolurin, at ing these characters, whether at sea needed experience.

Edo State governor Adams Osh- the Government House in Benin. or around the riverine areas or in “For me, the miniomhole has called on the federHe said, “We are very worried the creek, they try to preserve the imum time required al government to take drastic ac- about the scale, not only of oil theft exhibit for legal purposes. In the for a legislator to tion against pipeline vandals and but the seeming ease with which course of these, one thing leads to even understand the oil thieves to serve as deterrent to pipelines are vandalised by all kinds another. work is eight years. others.

“Either they are able to manipof criminals, leading to huge losses.

It is then that you The governor expressed worry “What they steal is nothing to ulate the system and you have incan understand the at the vandals’ activities during a compare to the net loss arising terventions from some quarters work and be able to courtesy visit to him by theb Joint from those activities. Many com- and you are asked to let the people impact positively,” Task Force (JTF) on protection of munities and many villages have go or that they succeed in turning he said. oil & gas pipelines, led by the Com- been ruined, including my village. round to again recover what is takBy Midat Joseph, mandant-General of the Nigeria “I am told that a lot of the ves- en from them.”

Kaduna

Oshiomhole Wants Tough Action Against Oil Thieves, Vandals

48

labour matters Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Afolayan

TOP LABOUR UNIONS IN NIGERIA

1. Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Umbrella body of local government workers in the country 2. National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Registered as the umbrella body of road transport workers in the country 3. Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) Registered as association of Non-academic staff of Nigerian university

Addressing The Plights Of Pensioners Over the years, pensioners across the country have lamented unfair treatment in the hands of both the federal and state governments.

However, there seems to be no end in sight to travails of the nation’s pensioners under the so called Pay-As-Go old pension Scheme wholly funded by the various tiers of government in the country. Michael OChe writes.

W

hile respite has come to thousands of retired workers covered under the New Pension Scheme which came into effect with the 2004 Pensions Reform Act, as regulated by the Pension Commission (PenCom), their older counterparts who retired earlier from service continue to suffer deprivation and untold hardship as government defaults in funding pensions or pays late and irregularly.

Some of the pensioners under the old pension scheme lamented they still earn below N10, 000.

Yet, the government owes them a backlog of arrears.

Often, there are gory reports

of the nation’s aged retirees waiting in vain after many years of retirement to be paid their retirement benefits and pension and dying in suffering and sorrow without accessing them.

Despite several promises to ameliorate their sufferings, succor seems to be very far, thus forcing the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) the umbrella body of pensioners in the country to warn: “Between now and election, we want our outstanding arrears to be paid so that our people will not die. We are also saying, those governors that want pensioners to die, we will not support them.”

To address the pensioners’ plights, the federal government in 2013 established the Pension

Transitional Arrangement Department (PTAD) to take over the management of Civil Service Pension Department, the Police Pension Office and the Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Office (CIPPO) handling the old pension scheme in Nigeria.

Considering the problem of mismanagement bedeviling the old pension scheme, pensioners were happy that the establishment of PTAD will address some lingering issues in the administration of pension in the public service.

The pensioners see PTAD as a welcome development, but NUP national president, comrade Abel Afolayan recently told journalists in Abuja that the ministry of finance and the budget office must ensure the release of funds to the Pension Transition Arrangement Department (PTAD) to enable them pay the pensioners.

The establishment of PTAD is in line with Section 30(2a) of the Pension Reform Act 2004.

The union also backed the PTAD, describing it as a child of necessity.

Afolayan reiterated the union’s determination to work with the new pension authority and pledged its unalloyed support to it in a bid to ameliorate the living condition of the pensioners.

He however urged “the management of PTAD to step up efforts in the payment of some outstanding arrears of pension s of various categories and the payment of new enrollees for payment as well as payment of pension and death gratuities to the deserving pensioners in order to convince the apprehensive pensioners of its action plan as well as prove its critics and skeptics wrong of its programmmes and activities.”

Over the years, officials entrusted with management of pension funds unconscionably mismanage the funds meant to provide succor to the aged pensioners after retirement.

Pensioners still remember will sadness the Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina-led Pension Reforms Task Team (PRTT) which was accused of mismanaging N195bn pension fund.

Sack Of Doctors: NLC, TUC Call For Truce

By Michael oche, Abuja

Kaigama

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that the recent mass dismissal of resident medical doctors in federal hospitals across the country by the Federal Government is ill-advised, and therefore should be re-considered and reversed given prevailing health challenges.

The union in a statement by its

president, Abdulwahed Omar said what the country needs urgently is recruitment of more health professionals, well equipped public hospitals, and a well-organised health system capable of responding to the health concerns of our growing population and not sacking of any category of health personnel.

He stated that, “We believe the federal government was misadvised and also misled by this action. It is

The NUP has also called for a holistic revalidation exercise in order to address the plight of all pensioners, including those who were left out in the previous inconclusive verifications and revalidation exercises.

NUP complaints over the years include the unacceptable neglect of the welfare of state pensioners by many state governments, nonpayment of gratuity and death benefits, non-compliance with the constitutional provisions of sections 173(3) and 210(3) by the federal and state governments on the five-yearly pension increase, omission of names of genuine pensioners from the pension payroll and replacing them with ghost pensioners Social commentators say the actions of the government towards the senior citizens is degrading and does not show any form of respect.

The pensioners apparently fed up with and frustrated by governments’ inaction over their plight last July staged a protest to the National Assembly Abuja, over the non-payment of the 54.3 percent pension increment approved for them by the Federal Government since 2010.

“We have to express our disappointment about the failed promise of the government to capture the implementation and arrears of 33 percent (53.4 percent) increase in the 2014 budget of the Federal Government” the pensioners stated.

Indeed, as the pensioners stated, the constitution stipulates that government should review pension every five years or anytime workers’ wages are reviewed, whichever is earlier. However, the government over time has failed to proactively leverage on the benevolent spirit of the constitutional provision to increase the pensioners’ stipends when the minimum wage was last reviewed.

“How does the government want the aged and ageing senior citizens to survive in the harsh economy when inflation has rendered their earnings useless and consigned them to penury?” a social commentator, Uchenna Okechukwu queried.

clearly unwarranted to sack doctors just as we are collectively faced with the challenge of the Ebola Virus.

“While workers, and indeed all Nigerians, are at great risk and require adequate protection, those in the medical sector should particularly be sufficiently equipped and given incentives to guarantee their safety and boost morale. No country can afford, specifically at these trying times, to neglect

Over the years, officials entrusted with management of pension funds unconscionably mismanage the funds meant to provide succor to the aged pensioners after retirement

its health sector, including the personnel that work there,” he stated.

Also the Trade Union Congress (TUC) urged the federal government to reverse its decision of sacking the striking doctors and call them back to the negotiation table.

TUC president, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, said in a statement that the nation cannot afford any calamity such as the sack move

49

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

world

news ➍

➏

➎ ➐ ➋➊ ➌

➊ Unidentified Planes ‘Bomb’ Libyan Capital Tripoli

Unidentified war planes may have carried out overnight air strikes on the Libyan capital Tripoli, according to local media.

Residents reported seeing jets fly over the city and hearing explosions.

The government said it did not have any “convincing indications to establish which side was behind this.”

Dozens Dead In Refugee Attack

Many people died when rockets and mortars hit vehicles moving refugees from the Luhansk area of eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian military says.

Ukraine has blamed pro-Russian

rebels but they have denied carrying out the attack, near the village of Novosvitlivka.

A rebel news outlet reported a heavy exchange of artillery fire in the area.

➏ Battle Rages For Control Of Mosul Dam

Fierce fighting is raging around the Mosul dam, Iraq’s largest, as Kurdish Peshmerga troops and Iraqi forces try to recapture it from Islamic State fighters who seized it just over a week ago.

The advance of the government troops has been helped by US military airstrikes which hit at least 15 targets, according to the US Central Command.

Thousands of supporters of Yemen’s Houthi movement have flooded Sanaa in a public display of strength the day after their leader publicly called for the government to be dissolved.

The group’s decision to protest in the capital on Monday has raised concerns of a potential outbreak of violence between Shia Houthis and the government or its Sunni political rivals, the Islah party.

➎ Ukraine Says

➋ Imran Khan’s MPs

Set To Resign Pakistan Assembly Seats

Imran khan’s opposition party in pakistan says it has decided to resign all its seats in the national assembly.

A senior member of party said they were trying to force Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) party has 34 of the national assembly’s 342 seats, making it the second biggest opposition group.

➌ Peace Talks Continue ➍ Iran ‘Starts In Gaza As Truce Deadline Looms

Implementing’ IAEA Measures

Israelis and Palestinians are trying to agree a long-term deal on Gaza’s future and end weeks of deadly fighting before a five-day ceasefire expires.

On Sunday, Israel’s prime minister said any agreement had to meet its security needs and warned Hamas that it faced “harsh strikes” if rocket fire resumed.

Iran has begun implementing nuclear transparency measures ahead of an August 25 deadline agreed with the UN’s nuclear watchdog.

“The implementation of five [IAEA nuclear] measures have started,” IAEA director-general Yukiya Amano said at Vienna airport on his return from Tehran.

➐ Yemen Capital Hit

By Anti-government Rallies

50 WORLD NEWS EU Compensates Fruit, Vegetable Growers Hit By Russian Ban

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

neighbour Lithuania is especially hard hit by the Russian import ban.

EU and US sanctions are targeting top Russian officials and key economic sectors, such as energy and finance, as Western leaders accuse the Kremlin of destabilising eastern Ukraine by supporting the pro-Russian Dr Michael Baden demonstrating where Michael Brown was shot. photo separatists there.

The first round of Western by BBC sanctions came after Russia annexed Crimea in March.

Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday he did Th’e European Commission the scheme. not think the Russian ban would has announced emergency EU Russia has banned many push up food prices, but he added: to conduct their own post-mortem. funding of 125m euros (£100m; food imports, angry at EU-US “I hope these measures won’t last By Rahaman Aiman, with agency report.

They have also called for the ar$170m) for fruit and vegetable sanctions over Ukraine. very long”. rest and prosecution of Darren growers hit by Russia’s ban on Germany’s Chancellor Angela The embargo would encourage The US state of Missouri has deWilson, the officer who killed Mr most imported Western food.

Merkel insisted on Monday competition, giving Russian ployed National Guard troops along Brown.

The funding is compensation that the EU sanctions must stay farmers more market access, he with state patrol to the town of FerThe officer has already been susfor fresh produce which will in place “in order to show how argued. He criticised “a situation guson as protests escalate over popended with pay since the shooting. not be sold. Instead it will be serious we are” on the Ukraine where all the apples, for example, lice shooting of unarmed black teenEarlier, the Ferguson police said distributed free to schools, crisis. come from Poland or some other ager, Michael brown. they were under attack by protesthospitals and other institutions.

She was speaking in Latvia, products - say fish is an example Violence could escalate after au- ers and had no other alternative but Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, an EU member state with a large - all from Norway”. topsy, carried out by a doctor hired —BBC by the Brown family, revealed that to respond. grapes and pears are included in ethnic Russian minority. Its Baltic Captain Ron Johnson says Prothe teenager was shot multiple testers had shot at officers and times, twice in the head. thrown petrol bombs before the Dr Michael Baden was hired by 5-hour midnight curfew. The curMichael Brown’s family to perform a few was declared on Saturday as second autopsy because they did not the peaceful protest escalated into US stocks advanced yesterday, with the Dow Industrials convoy of buses with rocket fire near the eastern city of trust St Louis County police officials violence. up roughly one per cent, as the threat of an escalation of Luhansk, but the separatists denied responsibility. tensions in Ukraine appeared to wane and the latest flurry of Mergers and acquisitions continued to flourish and provide merger action supported equities. a lift to equities.

Russia said all issues related to its humanitarian convoy Discount retailer Dollar General Corp (DG.N) offered to buy to Ukraine had been resolved but said no progress has been Family Dollar Stores Inc (FDO.N) for $8.95 billion, trumping made toward a ceasefire or political solution to the fighting an offer by Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR.O). Family Dollar shares in the east of the country after talks between Russia, Gergained 5.1 percent to $79.91 while Dollar General jumped 9.8

By EZRA IJIOMA, Abuja hamed Morsi, who was removed many, France and Ukraine on Sunday. percent to $63.07 as the two best performers on the S&P 500. from office by the military after However, the region remained unsettled as Ukraine The S&P retail index .SPXRT climbed 1 percent.

Egypt has described as ‘negative mass street protests against him.

—Reuters accused pro-Russian rebels on Monday of hitting a refugee and ‘biased’ the Human Rights The camps were raided after iniWatch (HRW) report that detailed tiatives to end the six-week prothe deaths in the violent protests tests failed. that rocked the country in August HRW has in its 195-page report 2013. accused Egypt’s police and army In a statement by Egypt’s State of “systematically and deliberateInformation Service, it said that it ly” killing “largely unarmed prois not surprised at the content of testers on political grounds.” The HRW’s report as the organisation HRW report said that at least has shown “persistent lack of ob- 817 protesters were killed while jectivity towards Egypt.”

Egyptian government said only On Thursday, August 14, last 627 persons died. Egypt said adyear, Egyptian security forces raid- equate notice was given for the ed two camps of protesters in Cai- protesters to leave the camps afro, one at al-Nahda Square and a ter both local and international larger one at Rabaa al-Adawiya negotiations failed and the evacSquare. The two sites had been uation was done with the ‘greatest occupied by about 85, 000 sup- restraints’ and according to interporters of ousted President Mo- national standards.

Ferguson Protest: National Guard Deployed As New Autopsy Stirs Anger

Wall St. Rises As Ukraine Worry Recedes, Supports

Egypt Condemns HRW report on Rabaa Sit-in Dispersals

Appointment Jonathan Appoints Prof.

Oshita New IPCR DG

By Ugochukwu Iroka, Abuja

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has appointed Professor Oshita Osang Oshita as the new Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) for a four-year tenure.

Professor Oshita, who replaces Dr. Joseph H.P. Golwa is an expert in governance, Peace and Conflict Studies and has consulted for organizations like ECOWAS, USAID, UNESCO and UNICEF.

According to a statement signed by the Public Affairs office of the IPCR yesterday, Professor Oshita was, at the time of his appointment, a Study Group Coordinator and Directing staff at the institute for Security Studies ISS. The new IPCR Director-General was educated at the University of Calabar and holds a Doctorate Degree in the Philosophy of Social Science. He also has a Master’s Degree in Peace and Conflict studies from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom.

Analysis 51

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

S/Africa’s Latest Drug Cocktail Ruining Lives

I

t is just after noon and three youngsters walk towards a petrol station outside downtown Johannesburg in Gauteng, the country’s richest and most populous province.

Unphased by the icy winter chill in the air, they do not look older than 16.

One - a young woman - eagerly scavenges through a bin looking for food. The other two follow closely behind, chatting as they nibble on a packet of chips.

To most they would merely appear to be street beggars.

But there is more to them.

They are drug addicts, hooked on South Africa’s latest drug cocktail: nyaope. And their untamed addiction has forced them to abandon their homes.

Nyaope is heroin sprinkled over marijuana, rolled into a cigarette.

In most instances, the heroin is cut with an anti-retroviral medication used to treat HIV. “That thing brings us here. In Soweto you can’t hustle. It’s too expensive. You can’t hustle it like here. Here we get money quickly to buy,” says Lucky Tsobane, 22.

Toll on addicts In South Africa’s underdeveloped urban areas, known as townships, the drug retails for R30 ($30). In the city centre, where Nigerians dominate the drug trade and distribute the toxic concoction, it is only R20 ($2).

Although Tsobane naturally has a dark complexion, the skin on his arms and legs has turned unnaturally black and is nearly crocodile-textured from a combination of smoking nyaope and not bathing regularly.

The drug cocktail, Tsobane explains, helps him relax. If he has not smoked, he is anxious and restless.

When he wakes up in the morning, the craving for the drug leaves him with unbearable stomach cramps. He has no appetite until after he has had a hit. And should he drink water or smoke cigarettes before the hit, he will get sick.

“Other people vomit. Or their stomachs run. You have to smoke it to function normally,” Tsobane says.

His two friends - Moeketsi Shiba, 23, and Matsepo Ndliso, 22 - admit that they have had three hits already that day. Their high will last for about an hour. Or two.

Now that their craving is satisfied, their next mission is to head to the closest traffic intersection where they will beg for money - something that has become a day job for them. They could stand there until 10pm, depending on how generous motorists are.

A teenage boy smoking.

In their early 20s, their addiction has only brought them a tough life. Their hands tell a story: hardened, wrinkled, dry, ashy, darkened with dirty fingernails, and burnt fingertips from smoking the rolled cigarette to its bitter end.

“We steal. We are doing crazy things. Everything we steal is because we want to smoke,” says Shiba, 23.

They have endless tales sleeping in an alley between two buildings sardined with other street dwellers; hiding their stash of drugs in their anuses to prevent police and criminals from finding it.

No way out Tsobane - like Shiba and Ndliso - started off smoking marijuana.

One day he saw his friend smoking the drug cocktail and joined in.

That was four years ago. It has since become a downhill journey.

“If you were to see where I’m from and you look at the way I look now, it’s a different picture,” Tsobane says.

His mother, who has just expanded their house in the township, where she lives with his stepfather and sister, has nearly given up trying to get him to come home. Instead, she visits him on the street and occasionally brings him food and clothing.

Shiba has two siblings - an older sister and a younger brother and two children. “My father is dead but my mother is alive,” says Shiba, who left school just two years short of completion. “I smoked it for maybe eight months and then I started to get arrested.

That’s why I left school.

“I want to stop smoking and I want to start working for my kids. I used to wash cars in the neighbourhood. I’m prepared to

do anything for work.”

Although he has not stolen from his family, Ndliso admits that she has. Tears well up in her eyes as she explains how she stole her mother’s money and mobile phone to feed her habit. “I’m too scared to go home,” she says.

After four years on the street, Ndliso has contracted HIV, prostituting herself for just R15 ($1.40) - not even enough to feel the full effect of the drug. She discovered this after seeking treatment for tuberculosis, which she also contracted on the streets.

She now has the added burden of having to hide her medication, which often gets stolen.

Her poor health however, does not prevent her from smoking.

“This thing we are tired of smoking; it’s just that we don’t get help. I want to go school but I can’t. I smoke nyaope everyday,” says Shiba.

Sandra Pretorius, a director at the South African National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (SANCA), explains that Tsobane, Shiba, and Ndliso are suffering from the highly addictive heroin in the nyaope mix. All it takes is smoking it two or three times to become an addict.

“This makes it very difficult to treat. The physical withdrawals include severe intestinal spasms, shakes, sweats, headaches, vomiting, and diarrhoea. This needs withdrawal medication, not just group rehab,” says Pretorius.

The drug of choice Use of nyaope has increased dramatically since 2007, says Pretorius. Ten years ago, a traditional heroin user in South Africa was white, between the ages of 19 and 24, and unemployed or studying.

But Nyaope has changed the

status quo.

“There has been a big [uptick in users] among black youngsters,” says Pretorius. This could be attributed to the fact that the drug is very cheap and therefore attainable for disadvantaged youth caught in socio-economic circumstances that push them to drugs.

In its most recent profile of clients in treatment, a SANCA report reveals that while the use of most substances of abuse has remained largely unchanged, “the mixed combination of marijuana with heroin is escalating”.

According to the SANCA report, there is an emerging trend of clients using more than one substance. Heroin and opiates are listed as the third most frequently abused substance among its clients. And with 40 percent of their clients, marijuana was their primary substances of abuse, which the report describes as a “drastic increase of nine percent from last year”.

Andrew Stoller, from the South African advocacy group AntiDrug Alliance, says he has seen firsthand that clinics, especially in South Africa’s disadvantaged communities, are ill-equipped to deal with heroin addiction, particularly because heroin was not previously a drug of choice in those areas.

Outdated policies aside, there are the problems of inadequate funding and government facilities.

Having previously worked in the rehabilitation industry, Stoller has changed direction and now focuses on awareness campaigns. Ultimately, his aim is to stop the likes of Shiba, Tsobane, and Ndliso before they even take their first hit.

—Al Jazeera

52

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Lobi Against Nasarawa Was A Derby – Danladi Chairman of Nasarawa United football club of Lafia, Isaac Danladi believes his team had to tread cautiously against Lobi Stars away at Katsina Ala since the clash was a derby. He said anytime both teams meet it was always tough, so his boys had to approach the game with caution in order not to get punished. Barrister Danladi

was reacting to the game in which his team lost 0-1 five minutes to the end of the game via penalty in the Week 24 encounter. He said the reason his team was not too adventurous in search of goals with shots on target was because sometimes the best form of attack was defence which was the case in the game against Lobi.

“Consider that Nasarawa vs Lobi is always a crunch local derby that anytime both teams meet they slug it out real hard. You could see that it was not an easy game for both sides especially the home team and saw how they had to fight hard to win through a penalty at the dying minutes of the game”.

Win Over Nasarawa Not Easy – Lobi’s Bunde

Yerna Ikpeen of Lobi Stars FC of Markudi contesting the ball with Brendan Ogbu of Heartland FC of Owerri

Lobi stars had to labour for 85 minutes to break the deadlock and get a goal via penalty to record a much needed win and three points against neighbours Nasarawa United on match-day 24 at the Emmanuel Atongo stadium in Katsina Ala on Sunday.

Scorer of the goal, Moses Bunde who described his conversion of the spot kick to give his team the maximum point as very crucial for the Benue team revealed after the encounter that overpowering the Solid Miners was very difficult for them.

Bunde had to brace himself to convert the kick after the referee pointed to the spot following a clearance at Nasarawa’s 18 yard box since according to him

wasting it would have been disastrous for his side eager to pick the maximum points. He described Nasarawa as a good and tactical side. “We tried our best and dedicate the victory to God. It was not easy for us. Nasarawa is a very good and tactical team.”

Bunde said the victory calmed a lot of nerves after coming from a 1-3 loss away to Gombe United with another loss at home unthinkable. “We were a bit under pressure because we were playing at home after losing to Gombe United 1-3. We thank God for the three points.”

But Lobi managed only few chances at goal despite dominating possession, the match winner said thay played

according to instruction.

“We played according to the instructions of the coach. We were also fatigued because we travelled a long distance from Gombe where we lost and played under pressure. We panicked because we did not want to lose at home after the Gombe loss so were under pressure to perform and score. “ He said the encounter was particularly not easy considering that it was a derby but had upper hand because Lobi was transformed in the second stanza. “Our team in this second stanza is better than the one that prosecuted the first round. We are more organized than in the first round.

NFF: Umeh Group Surrender To Maigari Might

By Salifu Usman, Abuja

At our ages, we can’t fight each other because when two Elephants are fighting, it is the grass that suffers and we don’t want football to suffer

The Mike Umeh-led faction of the Nigeria Football Federation yesterday bowed to the powers of returnee NFF president Aminu Maigari who took over reign as president of the federation. The executive committee resolved to sheath their sword and work with the reinstated president of the NFF after Maigari stormed the Glass House like a minister yesterday in large convoy with tough looking security officials.

Minister of Sports and Chairman National Sports Commission (NSC), Tammy Danagogo on Friday graciously cleared Maigari to reclaim

his position as head of football’s administration in the country following a letter from the world soccer ruling body, FIFA. Upon that Maigari arrived at the Glass House at exactly 11:45 am in a convoy of heavily armed security personnel from the Department of State Security (DSS) and Nigerian Police to reclaim his seat. It was mild drama when he initially met stiff resistance from the Umehled faction, who insisted that his impeachment from the board still stands. Both shared the office of the president temporarily for about three hours before they resolved their grouses in a private meeting.

Umeh who later addressed the press

2014 World Cup Superstars: Eden Hazard (Belgium) Name: Eden Hazard Date of Birth: 7th January, 1991 Place of Birth: La Louviere Club: Chelsea World Cups: 1 Appearance: 5 Goal: 1

Hazard

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has had a profound influence on many a player’s career. Carvalho, Terry, Drogba and others have all flowered from great talents into great footballers under Jose’s ‘velvet glove’ treatment. When in November last year, Eden Hazard forgot his passport after a trip to France and was late back to training, he was summarily dropped from a Champions League game. As Mourinho told packed press conference: “He’s a kid. Kids make mistakes and fathers have to be clever in

the way they educate their sons.

He didn’t play. He wanted to play.

He was sad because he didn’t play:’ Since then a new Hazard has slowly erne lesson learned, having added determination and work rate to his undoubted guile and technique. And the new Hazard looks every’ world class footballer.

Gifted with two great feet, the young Hazard made his professional debut for French side Lille at the tender age of 16.

He won many awards the French League including Young Player of Year twice and was voted the league’s Player Year in 2010-11, the season in which Lille cup and league double. This Belgian side dazzles none more so then Hazard.

withdrew his earlier statement that the impeachment of Maigari as NFF president still stands, saying the board will hold a meeting today to resolve all the issues affecting football. “Whatever I am saying now supersede what I said earlier. I have discussed with Maigari and we have resolved to work together and to move Nigeria football forward.

“At our ages, we can’t fight each other because when two Elephants are fighting, it is the grass that suffers and we don’t want football to suffer,” he said.

But a member of the Umeh group told LEADERSHIP Sports that they are not happy at the turn of event insisted that the minister goofed.

Maigari

Glo Renews Sponsorship Of Live Broadcast Of EPL Matches Globacom has fueled the passion of Nigerians for the English Premier League as it renewed its sponsorship of live broadcast of EPL matches on Supersports for the 2014/2015 league season.

The 2014/2015 English Premier League season kicked off on Saturday. The telecommunications company in a statement released in Lagos said with its sponsorship of live broadcast of EPL matches, football fans are assured of top quality EPL matches on Supersport channels. The Globacom sponsorship of live broadcast of EPL matches on frontline pay TV, DSTV started from the 2013/2014 League season. The sponsorship package includes EPL live matches, EPL match reviews, EPL Preview, Premier

League World and exposure of Globacom’s brand messages during the broadcast. The company restated its commitment to total development of the round leather game in Nigeria. “The sponsorship of the EPL is designed to sustain the value Globacom gives to millions of its subscribers. We want football lovers to continue to enjoy the best of English league as the premier league kicked-off formally last weekend, ‘’ stated the telecoms giant.

Globacom is the sole sponsor of the annual Glo-Caf Awards which celebrates the best of African football.

Yesterday’s EPL Result Burnley

1 - 3 Chelsea

Follow these reports on leadership.ng/sports

sports 53

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Women League Boss Congratulates Falconets

Uchechi Sunday of Nigeria celebrates her team’s fourth goal during the match between Nigeria and New Zealand

Falconets Coach Replies Critics Falconets coach Peter Dedevbo has replied critics who have branded him a failure. He said his critics have termed him as a coach who cannot go beyond the second round, but yesterday morning Asisat Oshoala and Uchechi Sunday grabbed a brace for the Falconets to edge over their opponents New Zealand to book a quarter final slot.

The Peter Dedevbo side opened scores 31 second into kick. “I have been christened a failure, a coach

who never goes beyond quarter finals and many more. My critics said I cannot exceed quarter finals citing my outing with the Flamingoes, it has not been easy but I thank God. Today, I have proven them wrong that is why at full time I felt down and rolled on the pitch. Today is a memorable day.”

The coach said he is proud of the girls who he disclosed played according to instructions. “The idea was to start fast and get

a goal as a strategy to demoralise our opponents.

That early goal from Asisat did just that. Before they could regain control another goal came getting more confused.”

Speaking ahead his teams’ semi finals clash against Korea, Dedevbo said he is looking forward to beating the Koreans. My team has played against the Koreans twice in 2010, and 2012 U-17 tournaments in which Nigeria lost, but this time around it will be a

different ball game”.

Asisat Oshoala who won the most valuable player for the second time praised her team mates for her success. “I must commend my coach for giving me the opportunity to play up front. That gave me the chance to showcase my skills. The match is the beginning of our road to victory”.

Nigeria with a total of 9 goals in four matches will take on Korea in the semi finals on tomorrow.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League Mrs. Dilichukwu Onyedinma has congratulated the National U-20 Women team (Falconets) for their superlative performance in the on-going FIFA U-20 World Cup holding in Canada where the team has qualified for the Semi-finals of the championship.

The Women League boss who spoke in Abuja yesterday said that the results posted so far by the Falconets has shown that Women football in the country has come of age. Quoting her words, the NFF Board member said “I am full of joy for the performance of the girls in the championship. I want to commend them for their doggedness and their ability to remain focus at every point in time.

They never allowed any distraction whatsoever to affect them, instead they have decided to make a statement with

their quality of football, scoring the fastest goals in the tournament ever, and dismissing their opponents without stress. This has shown that they are a force to reckon with the tournament”.

Mrs. Onyedinma therefore, charged the team not to rest on their oars until they win the trophy for the country “we have played in the finals four years ago, and played upto the semi finals in the last edition, I think that this is an opportunity for the girls to write their names in gold, by winning the trophy not only for Nigeria, but for the Africa continent”.

She insisted that the Nigeria Women Football League would continue to remain a pool for various Nigeria Women National teams. Nigeria U-20 women team thrashed New Zealand 4-1 to book a semi final spot at thebongoing FIFA U -20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014.

United’s Lack Of Depth Exposed Manchester United’s momentum-sapping defeat by Swansea City on the Premier League’s opening weekend suggested that new manager Louis van Gaal will not be able to revive the club’s fortunes overnight.

United approached the game encouraged by a pre-season campaign in which they won five and drew one of their six matches, notably beating Real Madrid and Liverpool, but at Old Trafford on Saturday, the old failings returned.

Despite enjoying 60 percent of possession, there was no cutting edge to United’s play, and both Ki Sung-yueng and Gylfi Sigurdsson were afforded acres of space when they scored the goals that gave Swansea a 2-1 win.

“We have built up a lot of confidence,” Van Gaal said afterwards. “It will be smashed because of this.”

The 2013-14 campaign was a long succession of unwelcome milestones for Van Gaal’s predecessor, David Moyes, and the Dutchman was quick to add one of his own:

United’s first opening-day home defeat in Premier League history.

It moved former Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman, now a television pundit, to declare Van Gaal’s team “the worst Manchester United side I’ve seen for 20 years”.

In mitigation, Van Gaal could point to an injury glut that deprived him of the services of Jonny Evans, Michael Carrick, Antonio Valencia, Danny Welbeck, Robin van Persie and new signing Luke Shaw.

With untried youngsters Tyler Blackett and Jesse Lingard in the line-up, United looked uncertain in Van Gaal’s favoured 3-4-1-2 formation and at halftime the manager abandoned it, reverting to a 4-2-3-1 shape.

But although United equalised through new captain Wayne Rooney, Sigurdsson soon restored Swansea’s lead and the hosts’ attempts to find a second equaliser were incoherent.

Juan Mata was largely anonymous, despite

the fact that United’s new system is designed partly to give the Spanish playmaker optimal conditions in which to work.

And with Marouane Fellaini – gangling symbol of Moyes’s failures – thrown on to chase high balls into the Swansea box, the final stages of the game resembled the darkest days of the previous campaign.

“You can see during the game the United players were thinking about where they had to be,” said former Netherlands international Ruud Gullit to BBC “When he (Van Gaal) played 3-5-2 for the Netherlands it was necessity because we had bad defenders. If you were a Swansea player, would you have been afraid of that line-up?”

Having lost stalwarts Ryan Giggs, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra since last season and signed only Shaw and Ander Herrera, there is a pressing need for new blood that United have only two weeks to address.

Wayne Rooney (10) and his United teammates dejected after losing to Swansea City on Saturday at Old Trafford

They have been linked with Argentina defender Marcos Rojo and Roma’s Moroccan centre-back Mehdi Benatia, while British newspaper reports on Monday claimed a £100 million ($167.3 million, 125 million euros) package was being prepared to lure Angel di Maria to Old Trafford from Real Madrid.

After seeing Moyes and incoming executive vicepresident Ed Woodward miss out on a string of

high-profile targets a year ago, United’s fans will observe the final fortnight of the transfer window with bated breath.

United’s ability to strengthen their squad could go a long way towards determining the shape of their season, but Rooney is convinced that in Van Gaal, at least, they have the right man to take the club forward.

“This is a really bad result for us, but we will

learn, especially with the manager we have got,” said the England striker.

“He is strong and he wants 100 percent every game. We know last season was a disaster. It wasn’t good enough and we were ready for the start of this season.

“Maybe after a good pre-season we were a bit over-confident. But we just have to look at the bad points and cut them out. If we do that we will win games.”

54 sports

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

GB Win European Championships With 12 Gold

Rwanda national team

AFCON Disqualification: We Are Devastated – Rwanda Coach Rwanda’s head coach Stephen Constantine has expressed grief after the Amavubi were disqualified from the Africa Cup of Nations group stage qualifiers by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Constantine who took charge of the Amavubi in May on a two-year contract revealed that he is shocked by Caf’s decision to ban Rwanda from the continental competition.

“I am absolutely devastated by this decision from Caf especially as Libya also complained and the case was ruled in our favour what has changed? To be honest it is a shocking decision from Caf,” explained a shocked Constantine.

Rwanda has been penalized for fielding a player with two identities in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Amavubi striker Dady Birori who

scored a hat-trick for Rwanda against Libya is also known as Tady Agiti Etekiama at his club AS Vita where he plies his trade.

The 3-0 aggregate score against Libya eliminated the latter to set up a date against Congo Brazzaville. Rwanda lost 2-0 in Pointe Noir after which the Congolese Football Federation (Fecofoot) contested Birori’s eligibility.

Amavubi won 2-0 in Kigali to force a penalty shootout that the hosts won 4-3 to book a place in Group A in the last round of qualification to the continental showpiece that will be hosted in Morocco.

Congo Brazzaville replaces Rwanda in Group A that consists the reigning champions Nigeria, South Africa and Sudan.

British athletes produced a remarkable last-day performance to top the medal table for only the third time in European Championships history with a recordbreaking 12 gold medals.

In a breathless two hours in Zurich’s Letzigrund Stadium, victories for Mo Farah, Greg Rutherford, the men’s 400m relay quartet and both sprint relay teams meant Britain finished with three more golds than they have ever previously managed.

Never before has a GB team won more than nine golds or 19 medals in total, but they will leave Zurich with an overall tally of 23 after an afternoon of unparalleled success. “What a way to round off what have been a scintillating Championships - and one of the features has been these great young sprinters that Britain has.” Farah became the most successful non-relay athlete, male or female, in the championships’ long history as he added the 5,000m title to the 10,000m title he won on Wednesday, before Olympic champion Rutherford added the European crown to his collection a fortnight after winning Commonwealth gold. But it was the performance of the women’s 4x100m quartet that was arguably the pick, a team with an average age of 21 being led home

by 18-year-old Desiree Henry to smash a national record that had stood for 34 years.

In a glorious six days for British track athletes, the performance of the young sprinters has been outstanding, with five individual medals and now two relay golds.

Newly crowned 200m champion Adam Gemili anchored the men’s team as they held off Germany and France, the first time a British men’s quartet have successfully got the baton round in six major championships. And individual gold medallist Martyn Rooney led home the 400m quartet of Conrad Williams, Matt Hudson-Smith and Michael Bingham with a brilliant anchor leg of 43.9 seconds. The team’s winning time of two minutes 58.79 was the thirdfastest in championship history and the fastest time by a British squad in 16 years.

Farah’s win, perhaps the most predictable of the day, means he now has five European golds - more than compatriots Steve Backley and Colin Jackson or continental legends Fanny Blankers-Koen and Valeriy Borzov. In a race where only Hayle Ibrahimov dared to take him on, and fellow Briton Andy Vernon claimed bronze, Farah’s last lap of 52.23 blew the field away to give him a second European distance double to go with his two golds in a single Olympics and World Championships.

Pellegrini Wary Of Man City Collapse Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini remains wary of avoiding another “disaster” this season after winning a Premier League title, despite the comfortable nature of Sunday’s opening 2-0 victory at Newcastle United.

Three years ago, City claimed their first top-flight title in 44 years under Italian Roberto Mancini but were off the pace during their defence the following season, finishing well behind local rivals Manchester United in second spot.

Last season brought another league crown to the Etihad Stadium in Pellegrini’s first campaign at the club, and he said they Pellegrini could not afford to rest on their laurels if Fernando, a 15 million euros ($20.08 they hoped to avoid another letdown. million) arrival from Porto, was confi“This team won the title two years ago and dent on his midfield debut and with Elithe next season was a disaster, it wasn’t a aquim Mangala, Bacary Sagna, Willy Causeful year for anyone,” the Chilean told ballero and Frank Lampard not featuring, the BBC. Pellegrini was confident he had the squad “Last season, Manchester United had a depth to claim repeat Premier League tidisaster (finished seventh) after winning tles for the first time. the title.

“It’s very difficult to compare each year.

“It’s important from the beginning that Maybe last year a lot of people doubted we we understand we won the title last season could win the title because it was my first and need to win again this year.” season here in the Premier League,” PelCity were not at their thrilling best at St legrini said.

James’ Park, with some players not up to full “Today, we have one year more workfitness and Newcastle showing some steel ing with the players and we have a strong that was missing for much of last season. squad.

However, their attacking riches proved “You have five or six teams that can the difference, Yaya Toure and Edin Dze- win the title, so we need the same attiko combining to set up David Silva before tude, the hunger with which we have starthalftime and Sergio Aguero adding a sec- ed the season and the same humility in ond late on. every game.

Mo Farah

Manchester United Eye Di Maria Following their false start to the new season, Manchester United are reportedly preparing to make a massive splash in the transfer market.

The Red Devils are apparently lining up a £50m bid for Real Madrid winger Angel di Maria, who has fallen down the midfield pecking order since the arrival of James Rodriguez from Monaco.

According to the Daily Mail, United have put together a deal worth £100m in total, including a five-year contract for the 26-year-old Argentine.

Paris Saint-Germain had been leading the race for Di Maria, but pulled out citing the costs of securing the player as their reason for the decision.

Di Maria

sports 55

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

We’ve Resolved Our Differences – Inyama

Nadal

Nadal Out Of US Open Due To Wrist Injury Defending champion Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the US Open with an injury to his right wrist. The world number two suffered the injury in training on 29 July, and missed two warm-up tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati.

The 28-year-old had hoped to recover before 25 August, when the US Open gets under way at Flushing Meadows.

“I am very sorry to announce I won’t be able to play at this year’s US Open,” he wrote on

his Facebook page. “I am sure you understand that it is a very tough moment for me since it is a tournament I love and where I have great memories from fans, the night matches, so many things.

“Not much more I can do right now, other than accept the situation and, as always in my case, work hard in order to be able to compete at the highest level once I am back.” Nadal has not competed since he was beaten by Australian teen-

Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation Nedia and publiicity Committee, Emeka Inyama has resolved their differences. Aminu Maigari returned to the NFF Secretariat yesterday and pledged to work together with the entire Nigeria football family ahead of the coming elections into the NFF Executive Committee. “There is no victor and no vanquished.

We must all come together in the interest of the Nigeria game. We are all adults and we must have differences, but I am happy that those differences are now in the past and we are now of the same accord,” Maigari said as he settled into his chair.

Maigari was on Thursday last week restored to office by world football –governing body, FIFA, after weeks of uncertainty at the Glass House, during which his Executive Committee said they had impeached him on sundry allegations.

On Friday, Honourable Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports

Commission, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, asked Maigari to go back to office, and the 58 – year old former school teacher arrived at the NFF Secretariat sometime before noon on Monday.

He met Mike Umeh, Hon. Shehu Adamu and Mr. Ayodeji Tinubu, some of his Board members, in the office, and after hours of deliberation, Inyama, disclosed that the Board had come together once more and that the interest of Nigeria football had prevailed.

“We are one big family, as we have always been.

There were disagreements and misunderstanding for a number of weeks, but FIFA has cleared the air and the Government has weighed in on the side of FIFA. In the interest of the Nigeria game, we have all resolved to bury our differences and rather work towards evolving a roadmap for the coming elections. There will be a meeting of the Executive Committee on Tuesday, 19th August,” Inyama said.

ager Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round at Wimbledon on 1 July.

He announced late last month that he would not be defending either his Rogers Cup title in Toronto or his Western & Southern Open crown in Cincinnati. Both tournaments are key hard-court warm-ups for the US Open, at which Nadal hoped to chase a 15th career Grand Slam title. The Spaniard beat Serbia’s Novak Djokovic 6-2 3-6 6-4 6-1 to win last year’s title at Flushing Meadows.

Telecom Games: Etisalat In Football Finals, Federer Wins Cincinnati Title Dominate Athletics Federer

Defending champions, Etisalat Nigeria reached the finals of the 2014 Nigeria Telecommunications Games with goals from Andrew Enebeli and David Ore which saw off a spirited challenge for the top spot from Airtel.

Enebeli opened scoring from the spot on 34 minutes and Ore doubled the lead nine minutes later to seal victory. The Cup holders still have a match in hand but would now concentrate on ensuring they finished the qualifying rounds unbeaten.

The 0809ja side went on to dominate the Athletic events concluded on Sunday at the University of Lagos Sports Complex grabbing all three medals in the 100m men and women while MTN took the gold medal in the women 200m events.

Footballer, Ore David showed

he is an all-round sportsman when he put on his spikes to sprint to the men 100m gold with a time of 11.82 seconds. It was a 1-2-3 for Etisalat as Daniel Kingsley and Solomom Ajala finished in second and third place posting times of 11.84 and 12,21 seconds.

Ajala added a gold to his 100m bronze when he coasted in front of the pack to breast the tape at 24.38 seconds in the men 200m which also recorded another Etisalat clean sweep. Ore David and Ogunjinu Bodunde were in second and third place.

Blessing Madu retained her place as the sprints queen, winning the 100 and 200m events for MTN as she did in 2013.

Toyin Agbebi took the 100m silver for LM Ericsson while Oyedokun Oluwabusayo of Etisalat came in third place for bronze.

It was Deja vu in the next event as Madu was again trailed by the duo of Agbebi and Oluwabusayo in the women 200m finals as she completed the sprints double.

The finals of table tennis, tennis, chess and scrabble will be completed on Sunday, August 24 while the football finals and closing ceremony comes up on Sunday, August 31.

The Managing Director of LM Ericsson, Kamal Abass took part in VIP-only Scrabble event to mark the opening ceremony of the Scrabble competition – he was matched up in the Novelty event by Abiodun Oladipupo – Regional Business Executive at Sterling Bank and Dayo Obisesan – Manager at Mainstreet Bank. Day 2 of the Indoor Games and Athletics continues at the next weekend.

Follow these reports on leadership.ng/sports “I had to try to back up a World number three Roger Federer won his sixth Cincinnati tough week from last week, I title with a hard-fought three- didn’t think it was possible,” sets victory over David Ferrer at he said. “I was considering not the Western & Southern Open. playing.” But in practise I felt The 33-year-old Swiss won 6-3 like I was recovering quickly so 1-6 6-2 and has now beaten the I gave it to a go. I played with 32-year-old Spaniard in all 16 of less pressure.”

Federer first broke his their matches. But he was made to work by Ferrer, who was close opponent eight games into the to handing him his first love set match and saved four break since the 2008 French Open points on his own serve to take final. “I’ve played some good the set 6-3.

World number six Ferrer tennis here over the years, so it’s really nice to come back and struggled to hold serve in the first game of the second set win it again,” Federer said.

“The whole tournament was saving five break points - but really good for me.” It was the then stunned the Swiss with a former world number one’s triple break to take the set 6-1. first Masters title since 2012, The third set went with serve when he also won in Cincinnati. until Federer broke in the fourth However, Federer admitted that game to regain momentum at he had considered not playing in 3-1 up and the 17-time Grand the event after losing in the final Slam champion took control in Toronto against Jo-Wilfried from there on in to claim his 80th career title.

Tsonga a week earlier.

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19.08.14 www.leadership.ng

Comrade Timi Frank

Tuesday Column:

T

How do you hope to manage 170 million Nigerians if you cannot manage 16,000 workers in one sector?

he recent sack of 16,000 resident doctors by President Goodluck Jonathan came as a rude shock to most Nigerians and the international community, even as the deadly Ebola virus disease (EVD) remains a challenge. The sack was contained in a directive by Mr Jonathan to the Federal Ministry of Health to suspend all residency training programmes for Nigerian doctors. Resident doctors are doctors being trained to become specialists/consultants in different fields of medicine. During their four to five years’ training to become consultants, they work in different government hospitals and make up about 90 per cent of doctors in teaching hospitals.

The sack came at an inauspicious time when the president is supposed to give priority to reversing the current challenge of dearth of doctors in the country which has led to a scandalously poor doctor-patient ratio of 1 to 6,400 in Nigeria as against the World Health Organization’s standard of 1 to 600. Cuba has a ratio of 1 doctor to 125 people, according to experts. The 2011 Mo Ibrahim African Governance Index rating had ranked the Nigerian health service 51 out of 53 countries in Africa. Aside the EVD outbreak, the sack came despite a WHO report which revealed that 59,000 Nigerian women die annually from pregnancy and child birth; only 39 per cent of births are delivered by skilled health professionals and the risk of a woman dying from child birth is 1 in 18 in Nigeria, compared to 1 in 61 for all developing countries and 1 in 800 in developed countries.

The problem of inadequate doctors in Nigerian hospitals is a direct function of poor human resources planning and structures, unsatisfactory working conditions, poor remuneration, and scarce professional development opportunities, according to the ex-national president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Osahon Enabulele, who described the current “presidential order” to sack the doctors as “most un-statesmanly, unsustainable and ill-advised approach towards the resolution of the challenges in the health sector”.

I agree with him. The NMA to which

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Again, Jonathan Fails To Learn From History

the resident doctors are affiliated has been on strike since July 1. One of the demands of the group is that the federal government through the Ministry of Health should formalize and implement the report of the inter-agency committee on residency training. The NMA also asked the FG to release a uniform template on the appointment of resident doctors and a funding framework for residency training established while overseas clinical attachment be fully restored and properly funded.

Even though the doctors may not have acted in the best tradition of medical personnel and national interest in the face of the EVD outbreak because of their strike action, it is not still enough for the government to strike them down. They are doctors and there is no way the present administration can convince Nigerians that it will recruit 16,000 doctors overnight to take their place. It is probably based on this realization that the president of NARD, Jubril Abdullahi, has pooh-poohed the presidential directive to sack his members.

Abdullahi also accused the president of acting the script of the Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU).

The current sack of 16,000 doctors will no doubt worsen brain drain in our health sector. It is an open secret that most Nigerian doctors are presently plying their trade in the United States, Britain, South Africa and other neighbouring African countries where medical personnel are treated better. Instead of strengthening health workers’ motivation, the government is busy sacking the few good hands still managing to cope with the unbearable service conditions in our health sector. The action is nothing but a colossal rip-off of the nation and a rape on the collective intelligence of the ordinary Nigerian which must be condemned and rejected by all. It is a panic measure which has exposed the underbelly of frustration on the part of the Jonathan’s administration over its inability to manage 16,000 doctors.

How do you hope to manage 170 million Nigerians if you cannot manage 16,000 workers in one sector?

Needless to say, the present microwave action of the FG again portrays an administration on auto-pilot. No

08070888888 (text only)

institutional memory. No systems.

No finesse. Doctors are not a band of “okada” riders. They are not “mairuwa”. They are not “maiguard”. They are certainly not wheelbarrow pushers that one can dismiss with a wave of the hand. These are professional health practitioners undergoing further residency training to qualify as consultants. Even if you get parttime doctors who are of “good behaviour” to replace them, head or tail the nation loses. The people whose taxes are being spent to sustain the resident doctors will lose. The health of the nation will worsen. What manner of administrators are these?

This is a government that is not bothered about the health condition of its people because they have unrestricted access to vast national resources to seek medical attention in developed climes. A government not bothered about the education of its people. A government not bothered about power situation in the country.

A government not bothered about the unemployed graduates. Where else on earth would a government after privatizing its power sector turn around to provide “soft loans” to the new private owners to run their businesses as recently disclosed by Vice President Namadi Sambo? It is akin to selling your used car for N200, 000 only to give out N100,000 out of the sum to the buyer as “soft loan” to service and put the car in workable condition. Who are the owners of the electricity distribution companies (Discos) and generation companies (Gencos) if not those acting as fronts for former and present rulers of this country? This is foolishness elevated to the art of governance. This is taking the people for granted.

There is a story about two top military men who did not only sack doctors but ordered that their personal effects be thrown out of government quarters. But when one of them was sick of diarrhoea, it was the same doctors who they so ill-treated that attended to him at the intensive care unit of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital before he regrettably kicked the bucket.

Private hospitals are booming -bleeding the people through exorbitant medical bills in the name of treat-

timifrank@leadership.ng

ment. It is on record that the NMA even mooted the idea of returning to work when the EVD broke out but for the lack of consensus among its rank and file. They felt concerned. Ebola, even if a dreadful disease, is not a death sentence on Nigeria. Government ought to have given the research institutes being kept at the nation’s expense the marching orders to find a cure for the EVD instead of allowing false doctors and prophets to prescribe salt-water bath as a cure-all for Ebola to its citizens. Nigerians are also being asked to consume bitter kola in quantum. What a shame!

What is the minister of health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, doing? He failed to learn from the example of the minister of education, Ibrahim Shekarau. Polytechnics and colleges of education lecturers were on strike for a year before Shekarau was appointed education minister. He spoke to the lecturers in the language they understood and, pronto, they suspended the strike. Why can’t government engage in fruitful negotiations or keep to agreements reached?

This is nothing but a panic measure by an unprepared government. This reactionary tendency is no doubt a carryover from the military era that favours jackboots rather than painstaking negotiations and dialogue with workers.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” penned George Santayana.

GHANA MUST GO Insurgency: Only APC members are criticising Jonathan — Mbadinuju

Is this man not supposed to be in jail?

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