Peoples Daily Newspaper, Tuesday 02, April, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 10 No. 67

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

. . . putting the people first

Nigerian female scientist wins $100,000 UNESCO award >> 5

Jimadal Ula 22, 1434 AH

N150

Kogi flood victims reject N3,000 compensation >> 10

2015

Constitution’ll decide my fate - Jonathan

By Agaju Madugba

I

n a veiled reference to the wave of criticisms over his alleged plan to contest the 2015 presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said that he does not intend to stay in office forever.

Jonathan described as unnecessary, the current bickering over tenure duration of the various elective positions as, according to him, the Constitution has clearly defined the maximum period anybody can hold an office.

“Even if the Constitution does not state the maximum term, no individual can stay in office for life,” Jonathan said yesterday during the dedication of the All Saints’ Anglican Church, built by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, for his community, Mpu, in Aninnri local government area of Enugu state.

According to him, “today, we have a Constitution that defines the maximum tenure that any individual can stay in office.

“And even if the Constitution Contd on Page 2

Fun seekers at Kuramo Beach during the Easter, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

Gunmen kill 19 in Kaduna, scores flee homes

By Lambert Tyem, Abuja & Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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nidentified gunmen at the weekend attacked Attakar community of Mafang and Zilang village in Kaura local government area of

Bomb scare in Abuja Kaduna state, killing a total of 19 persons with about 10 others sustaining various degrees of injuries.

The attackers were said to

have invaded the two communities at about 3am on Sunday, fired indiscriminately at the people and set some of the houses ablaze.

And in Abuja, suspected bomb explosion yesterday rocked the satellite town of Karu in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) shattering the glass windows of major shopping complexes in the area.

Reports indicate that most of

the villagers in the Kaduna attacks, including the village heads, have taken refuge at Amisi and Fadan Attakar primary schools.

An eyewitness, Mathew Bulus, said the gunmen who were dressed Contd on Page 2

40m Nigerians hypertensive, says Professor of Medicine >> 10

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

CONTENTS News

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

Stockwatch

23

S/Report

24-25

Defence

26-27

Agric

28-29

Policy instability: Bane of Jonathan's government, Page 4

Feature Int’l

30 31-34

Strange World 35 Digest

36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-45

Leisure

47

Columnist

48

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You can send your news and pictures to: letters@peoplesdaily-online.com pictures@peoplesdaily-online.com contact@peoplesdaily-online.com

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Gunmen kill 3 policemen in Kano From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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nidentified gunmen on Easter monday night ambushed a police patrol vehicle in Yankaba killing three policemen.

Eyewitness account said the policemen on a routine patrol were ambushed by gunmen close Yankaba market around 8.45pm and opened fire on them.

The account added that the

policemen returned fire and there was heavy exchange of gunfire that sent residents scampering for safety.

It further stated that three bodies of the policemen were lying on the ground after the exchange of gunfire.

Effort to reach the kano state police commissioner Musa Abdulsalam Daura to confirm the incident was unsuccessful as he was not picking his phone.

Mohammed Abubakar, Inspector-General of Police

Constitution’ll decide my fate - Jonathan Contd from Page 1 does not define that, no leader will stay there for life.

“I think collectively, we should think more about our own country, think more about leaving behind a society that our children will be happy with.

“I believe no leader can do everything for the society but think about some key things and do those ones but try and do those ones very well.

“What I promise Nigerians is that with your support, we will succeed.

“We have our challenges, no doubt about that but we are committed that we will make these little changes that will make a difference in our lives.”

President Jonathan, also corroborated the position of the Primate: “I want to concur with what His Grace (Primate of Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh) said that if we leave Nigeria and go elsewhere, you may have different passports that can take you to many

countries without even visas, they will still regard you as a Nigerian. You cannot fit in properly until you come home.

“So, let us join hands and build a nation that we, our children and children yet unborn will be happy.

“Just like the Primate said, political leaders are transient, they come and go.

“As a leader, you always pray that as you go, you leave good footprints behind.”

In his sermon, the Primate of the Anglican Communion who performed the dedication ceremony congratulated Ekewremadu for being chosen by God to build the church.

“Of all you have ever done in your life, this is the best,” Okoh said, adding that, “you have applied your money to do something that brings glory to God.” The Primate called on other wealthy individuals who can afford to build a church to emulate Ekweremadu, as, according to

him, “we want to encourage you to spend money to the glory of God.” Okoh lamented the socioeconomic and security situation in the country, and blamed it on “human manipulations.”

“It is a shame that we have not been able to harness this powerful resource to the benefit of our country.

“It means somebody is not sincere and we must all work hard to deliver our country together.

“We should have a new resolution to go out and transform our society. It is wisdom therefore to build this place (Nigeria) and this government in power should be a transition to the new order.”

He later offered special prayers for Jonathan, saying, that, “he came to this position through your grace, may he not be disgraced out.

“There may be people who are not happy with him, may you protect him from their powers.

“Give him the grace as the

man who transformed this country. May he not go home empty handed, may our destiny as a nation be fulfilled.”

In his remarks, Ekweremadu noted that as a young man growing up, “I saw homelessness and promised to build a church if God makes me successful.”

Senate President David Mark took the first lesson from Exodus 12:14 to 36 while wife of donor, Lady Nwanneka Ekweremadu, read the second lesson from Colossians 3:1 to 11.

Present at the ceremony were also Deputy Speaker of the Housebof Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, governors Theodre Orji of Abia and Peter Obi of Anambra, Ministers of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah; Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri.

Some of the others are Senators Ayogu Eze, Tunde Ogbeha, Prof Dora Akunyili, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr, Mr. Osita Chidoka.

Gunmen kill 20 in Kaduna, scores flee home Contd from Page 1 in black attire, dislodged over 80 households who fled to neihgbouring communities.

“Some people are now staying in Amisi primary school Fadan Attakar, some are in Forest communities, Fadan Attakar and Mifi villages looking for food and shelter, he said.

The Kaura local government Chairman, Kumai Badu, alleged that some Fulani herdsmen launched the attack on the villages.

According to him, “the attacks also led to the burning of virtually all houses and food items in the two villages.

“At least, 19 people have been killed while 10 others were seriously injured in Mafang and Zilang villages.

“Over 200 victims of the attack are presently taking refuge at Mifi and Fadan Attakar villages while relief materials are being provided by the local government to ease their sufferings.”

Kaduna state Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Adenaike, who confirmed the incident said that, “you journalists need to go and

climb the hills there and appreciate what the police and soldiers are doing there.

“They have been combing the area for the past three days now and in fact, they are staying there permanently now, going up and down the hills.

“No arrest has been made yet.

The criminals came, did what they did and climbed the hills because the area is a hilly place.

We are trying our best to arrest the offenders.”

Also reacting to the incident, the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) said Governor Muhktar Ramalan Yero should take responsibility for the attack, for allegedly ignoring earlier warnings from the people.

According to the SOKAPU President, Dr. Ephraim Goje, “my people will hold Governor Muhktar Ramalan Yero responsible for closing his eyes to this security threat.

“We are concerned about the migration of the Fulani people from other states to southern Kaduna villages.

“The governor should send them back because they cannot

create trouble somewhere and run to southern Kaduna for refuge.

“In as much as we respect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria about the freedom of choice of where to stay but our concern is that, the Fulanis are people who have created trouble somewhere and are running to southern Kaduna for refuge.

“We are concerned because of the recurrent attacks on our villages by this same group of people.

“These are people who have been dislodged from Plateau and others states and are coming to foment trouble on our land.”

At the time of filling this report last night, there was no confirmation if there were casualties in the Abuja incident but eyewitnesses said that windows of the popular Karu Shopping Plaza which also houses Mr. Biggs eatery and another nearby plaza were shattered by the explosion.

FCT Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Ogunbayode, while confirming the explosion said that it was caused by a faulty gas

cylinder kept behind the Mr. Biggs section of the plaza.

Speaking through the PRO, DSP Altine Daniel, Ogunbayode noted that, “I have just spoken to the DPO Karu and he said it was a gas cylinder which exploded behind Mr. Biggs in the plaza, nobody was injured and nobody was killed.”

But an eye-witnesses who spoke on condition of anonymity said the explosion came from the top floor of the Plaza and shattered most of the windows on the top floor of the complex.

Some staff of Mr. Biggs also said that they had noticed some suspicious movements around the complex on Easter Sunday and were surprised that the explosion went off on Easter Monday.

They could not confirm what actually caused the explosion.

The explosion was said to have caused pandemonium around the vicinity of the two complexes as holiday makers who thronged the complexes to have some fun scampered for safety.

Police officers drafted from the Karu Police Division were said to have arrived the scene and cordoned off the area.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 3

Don’t be deterred, Civil Defence boss urges men

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he Corps Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ade Abolurin, has urged personnel of the agency not to be discouraged in their drive to fight vandalism in the country.

He made the appeal yesterday following last week’s incident in Lagos in which two officials were brutally murdered and several others were injured.

After four pipeline vandals were caught by men of the NSCDC siphoning fuel, eyewitnesses and the NSCDC spokesman said the officers were ambushed and killed by police officers who seemed to be cooperating with the vandals.

One wounded officer also said that the vandals made several phone calls to police officers before they opened fire on an NSCDC

patrol van. The police later forced Olanrenju Gbedeogun, an officer of the NSCDC, to sign a bogus confession implicating the corps in the incident.

In his nationwide address to NSCDC personnel, Dr. Abolurin underlined the corps’ readiness to combat the activities of vandals and other forms of crimes, urging his officers not to be deterred by any form of intimidation and oppression.

He drew their attention to the mandate of the NSCDC as well as the oath of allegiance and dedication taken by officers to serve their motherland, adding that they should shun temptations of corruption and compromise.

Also yesterday, the FCT Command of the Corps, in collaboration with the Jiwa Chiefdom, arrested two suspects,

Babano Bala and Babangida Ibrahim, of Jiwa village.

The two persons were caught in the early hours of Monday morning vandalizing the feeder transformer located within Jiwa town. Items recovered from them included 18 Jerrycans of 30 liters filled with mercury oil; 10 empty jerrycans; and a Volvo car, A6ER cooler truck with registration number Kogi XC 182 IK. The suspects were taken to the Upper Area Court Jiwa for prosecution.

According to the FCT Commandant of the Corps, Aminu Abdullahi Kofar Soro, his men will ensure that in line with the directive of the Commandant General, every activity of vandals within FCT are nipped in the bud.

He warned all criminalminded persons and vandals, in their own interest, to stop or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law when caught.

Insecurity: Group urges FG to adopt new strategy

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onscience Nigeria, an NGO, has urged the Federal Government to adopt new strategy to tackle the lingering security challenges in the country.

Mr Tosin Adeyanju, the Executive Director of the organisation, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Adeyanju stressed the need for adequate enlightenment on security education, re-training and equipping of security personnel with modern gadgets, to secure the lives and property of the people.

“This will enable the various security institutions to check-mate security challenges facing the country through intelligence gathering.”

According to him, insufficient training, indiscipline and “pervasive”' corruption are some of the constraints hindering

L-T: Minister of State gor Foreign Affairs 1, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, Bishop, Diocese of Awgu/Aninri, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Ugwu, Primate of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, The Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, President Goodluck Jonathan, and Senate President David Mark, during the dedication of All Saints’ Anglican Church, yesterday in Mpu, Enugu state.

performance among the security agencies, especially the Police.

He further claimed weak intelligence network and rivalry among security agencies as one of the major factors militating against effective security of lives and property in the country.

Adeyanju said that the intelligence community must strive to earn public confidence, stressing that that was the most enduring strategy in gathering information on impending threats to security of the people.

He noted that the nation’s porous and unmanned international borders had contributed to hindering government's efforts at ensuring the security of its citizens.

“Weak intelligence network in gathering timely information, lack of collaboration among security agencies and porous borders, among other factors, contribute to current persistent insecurity in Nigeria,” Adeyanju said.

He called on the security agents to avoid the temptation of applying excessive force while discharging their duties.

“For instance, use of force on suspects must be within the legal limit and in accordance with the provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”

He also called on the Federal Government to re-evaluate the preparedness of the entire security agencies in meeting the challenges of terrorism.

“It is imperative for the Federal government to re-train the entire security apparatus to ensure effectiveness and efficacy in tackling the lingering security situation in Nigeria.”

Adeyanju noted that rather than thinking of developmental issues that would improve the socio-economic well-being of the people, many politicians were busy forming additional fora that could mar the country's democracy.

He, therefore, urged governors to embark on programmes and policies that had direct bearing on the lives of the people. (NAN)

PDP accuses ACN of mismanaging its share of SURE-P funds

By Lawrence Olaoye

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday accused the states under the control of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) of frittering their share of the Subsidy Reinvestment Program (SURE-P) funds instead of distributing same to the people.

Apparently responding to the allegation that President Goodluck Jonathan and his PDP government have diverted the fund to his 2015 Presidential campaign, the party in a statement signed by its National

Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, challenged the ACN to show Nigerians what programmes they have in their states for their shares of the funds.

According to Metuh, the allegation that the PDP has diverted SURE-P funds to Jonathan’s campaign was part of a grand plot by the opposition to stir up animosity among the people and ensure that they do not benefit from government programmes.

The party said the leaders of the ACN, "who are used to siphoning public funds” are

clearly frustrated that the PDP SURE-P initiative is yielding results and that Nigerians across the board are benefitting from it.

Metuh said, “the attention of the leadership of the PDP has been drawn to malicious and baseless media reports by the opposition ACN that the Subsidy ReInvestment Programme fund is being shared to PDP members.

“To say the least, we found it nauseating that the opposition would want to play politics with everything including a programme meant for the benefit of all Nigerians. We are

aware that this is part of a grand plot by the ACN to stir up animosity among peace loving Nigerians and prevent them from benefitting from the programme.

“The SURE-P initiative is a programme of the PDP-led Federal Government for the benefit all Nigerians.

“PDP members are Nigerians and we will be happy if they are patronised instead of the money going to the pocket of an individual as obtainable in the camp of the ACN where funds meant for the people are diverted

to the pocket of a godfather.

“We challenge the opposition to come out and tell Nigerians what programmes they have in their respective states for their shares of the fuel subsidy fund.

“It is clear that by every indication they have none as the funds would have since been diverted to the pocket of their godfather.

“The leaders of the opposition parties are used to frittering away funds meant for the people.

“They are not happy that Nigerians are benefitting from the SURE-P and are hell bent on using any means to discredit the programme and deny the people the benefits.”

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

Policy instability: Bane of Jonathan's government

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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breath of fresh air was promised Nigerians at the height of President Goodluck Jonathan's campaign in 2011, which made Nigerians to expect absolute transformation in many sectors.

In addition, shortly after he was sworn in by the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloysius Katsina Alu, the President in a similar declaration promised Nigerians that his policy thrust would be centred on transformation.

While many were caught in the uphoria that preceeded this gimick, analysts were quick to see the shortsightedness of the government which seems to have bitten more than it could chew.

Political observers contend that since the trend internationally has been to select some critical sectors for transformation, Jonathan should have followed suit rather than seeking to change every aspect of the nation's life in one full swoop.

As already observed not much appreciable progress was made by the government in the 'transformation agenda yet it is making constant reference to it. At the moment, the administration has become famous for its policy inconsistency, particularly in key sectors that can put the country on the path of economic development.

Specifically, there were both national and international commendation for the President when he stated that there would be no hiding place for the corrupt in the country.

He also promised that his government would not intervene in the operations of the corruption-fighting agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

However, the unceremonious manner with which Farida Waziri, the erstwhile daring Chairman of EFCC, was removed indicated that the President was merely paying lip service to the anti-

President Goodluck Jonathan graft war, apparently following in the footsteps of his predecessors.

Reports indicate that Farida Waziri was removed for daring to prosecute some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ex-governors who were in the good books of President Jonathan, after the 2011 general election.

After Waziri was sacked, the officer incharge of operations in EFCC during the Nuhu Ribadu era, Ibrahim Lamorde, was made the substantive boss of EFCC. He was said to have been chosen for the EFCC job based on his alleged preparedness to do any hatchet job for the President. If beats ones imagination why, for instance, the former chairman of the Presidential Tax Team on Pension Reform, Abdulrasheed Maina, who is still battling with the Senate over his failure to appear before it and give explanations in respect of the looted pensions funds could not be prosecnted by the EFCC. Curiously, both the ICPC and EFCC have remained silent over this glaring corruption .Even the warrant of arrest on Maina, which was

issued by the Senate, was reportedly ignored by the Inspector General of police.

This later forced the Senate to draw a battle line with President Jonathan.

Aside from corruption, unemployment is another challenge holding the country down, a monster which the President had promised to tackle. Many strategies have reportedly been designed to tackle this problem by the President's economic team headed by Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Part of this strategy was the YouWiN programme, which was aimed at empowering young Nigerians who will in

turn create jobs for fellow youths. So far, this project has been abandoned. After more than six months after YouWiN was inaugurated by Jonathan, no one can give account of its success or otherwise.

In addition, part of the reasons proferred by President Jonathan to justify the removal of subsidy in 2011 was that the funds realised therefrom will be invested in job creation.

However, from the account of last year's budget defence by the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P), the various senate committees that hosted the SURE-P Board, including Senate Committees on Public Accounts, Petroleum Downstream and Petroleum Upstream, accused the Board and President Jonathan of merely dishing out money to privileged beneficiaries rather than investing the funds to progressively create wealth and jobs for Nigerians.

During the questions and answer session between the SURE-P Board and the Senate committees, it was discovered that contrary to the rationale given by the President to support subsidy removal, the SURE-P has become an avenue through which federal government pays a monthly salary of between N10,000 and N15,000 monthly to select youths, rather than industrialisation for job creation which was the original proposal.

This was equally condemned by the Senate committees which described the whole process as merely giving fish to the youths rather than teaching them how to catch fish. The lawmakers

“

And it is worth pointing out that a government that does not have a clear idea of what policy to pursue, in addition to a clear cut strategy to get the work done, is like a blind person who only places his or her fate in the hands of providence. The time calls for serious commitment and sacrifice by the leadership to change the usual laxity that characterises governance, if Nigeria is to make a head way in the comity of nations.

argued that the intention of SURE-P is already defeated, since it has nothing different to offer aside what was on ground already.

Recently, the President told Nigerians to expect increase in the fuel pump price, due to his intention to remove subsidy completely.

This was also contested by the organised labour union, which threatened to go on strike.

The threat of industrial action by the labour union is largely owing to the glaring failure and policy change of the federal government, which does not show consistency and capacity to implement the policies as initiated.

Undoubtedly, agriculture is one veritable sector that can effectively address the challenge of unemployment.

Therefore, one would have expected a deliberate increase in budget to the agricultural sector, but contrary to this, the budgetary allocation for agriculture was far below what obtains internationally.

Experts have pointed out that an annual budget of less than N100 billion for a sector that is expected to feed and employ over 160 million population and over 110 million Nigerians, is a far cry from what should be. The argument is that this sector is capital intensive, and therefore requires a transformational budget; this President Jonathan has neglected, despite his transformation agenda.

These are the few of the areas where the present administration has derailed in policy thrust and implementation. Other areas include setting up federal universities when there is no funds for the schools to operate.

And it is worth pointing out that a government that does not have a clear idea of what policy to pursue, in addition to a clear cut strategy to get the work done, is like a blind person who only places his or her fate in the hands of providence. The time calls for serious commitment and sacrifice by the leadership to change the usual laxity that characterises governance, if Nigeria is to make a head way in the comity of nations.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 5

Nigerian wins $100,000 UNESCO Science award

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Nigerian female scientist has bagged a prize of $100,000, as one of the winners of the 2013 L’OréalUNESCO Awards in Physical Sciences.

Professor Francisca Okeke, the first female Head of Department, University of Nigeria Nsukka bagged the 2013 Laureate award for her significant contributions, “to the understanding of daily variations of the ion currents in the upper atmosphere which may further our understanding of climate change.”

UNESCO says Professor Okeke has made the study of

Kwara group raises N6m for primary schools renovation

the ionosphere her lifetime work. The ionosphere lies between 50km and 1000kms above the earth surface. “A very thick layer of charged particles, the ionosphere produces changes in the magnetic field on earth’s surface that affect the planet in a host of ways. Her research could lead to a better understanding of climate change and help pinpoint sources of dramatic phenomena like tsunamis and earthquakes”, a summary of her research published by UNESCO read.

The awards were announced last year October, but the award ceremony took place at the weekend in Paris.

She was the only recipient in that category from Africa and the Arab nations and the third Nigerian Laureate since

the UNESCO-L’Oreal partnership was established in 1998. Professor Okeke got a prize of $100,000.

Four others also got awards in the Laureate category with each representing Europe, Latin America, North America and the Asia Pacific regions.

UK Scientist Professor Pratibha Gai of York University won the 2013 European Laureate award. She was recognised for”ingeniously modifying her electron microscope so that she was able to observe chemical reactions occurring at surface atoms of catalysts which will help scientists in their development of new medicines or new energy sources.

The second Nigerian award recipient, Dr Eucharia Nwaichi, an environmental

bio-chemist from the University of Port Harcourt joined 15 other young scientists in the “International Fellows’’category.

Okeke told the Western Europe Correspondent of NAN that she would continue to encourage women to participate in the development of science and technology in the country.

She noted that cultural challenges were impeding on women’s participation in global innovations, stressing that”even though it is seen as a male dominated field, people like us inspire others’’.

Similarly, Nwaichi, who was recognised for her research on “scientific solution to environmental pollution’’, stressed the need for increased motivation to support women in the field.

By Zainab Yahaya Kandi

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oncerned about the deplorable conditions of some primary schools in Ilorin Emirate of Kwara state, members of a nongovernmental organisation, Third Estate Group, has raised N6 million to rehabilitate some of the schools in the area.

According to a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Yushau Abdulhameed Agaka, the contribution was made at the group’s Annual General Meeting where new executive members were also elected to lead the association for the next two years.

Speaking on the motives of the fund, the newly elected Chairman of the forum, Dr. Yusuf Lawal, said that, “children will absorb and comprehend what they are taught better when they learn in conducive and pupilfriendly environment.”

He said the group believed that individuals and groups could support government and communities by contributing to developmental efforts that can improve the living conditions of the people.

Those elected at the meeting also included Malam Ahmed Bolaji Nagode 1st Vice Chairman, Dr. Ibrahim Gambari 2nd Vice Chairman, Dr. Isiaka A. Yahaya, Secretary General, Mr. Shehu Aladire, Treasurer and Malam Yushau Abdulhameed Agaka, Publicity Secretary.

Third Estate group is in the forefront of benchmarking the performances of the state and local governments’ administrations to ensure they continue to serve the public interest.

Some of the Third-Estate initiatives include scholarships to indigent students, partnership in the FGN/MDG construction of ICT skilled acquisition centre and town hall for the empowerment of youths, and donation to worthy causes.

Amb Mariam Katagum, Nigeria’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, said candidates who met the criteria were selected by a jury based on their submitted projects.

“Two important elements are respecting the deadline and also making their submission through the Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO, because that gives it authenticity.

“For us as delegates, as soon as we knew we had possible candidates from Nigeria, we ensured that due process was followed.

“There is no interference as you can see, an international jury determined the outcome,’’ she said, adding that the recipients had broken the frontiers in the field of science.

According to her, they have become role models for girls, for us as a country, we need to encourage more girls to go into science.

“We can only do that by providing the environment, access to quality education and making sure that the facilities that will make them interested in science subjects are in place,’’she stressed.

The international jury which selected the 2013 awardees was led by Nobel Prize winner, Mr Ahmed Zewail. (NAN)

Kwankwaso tasks MDAs on funds From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

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R-L: Nasarawa state Governor, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, presenting a souvenir to the Emir of Nasarawa, Alhaji Hassan Ahmad II, during a visit by the members of Nasarawa Emirate to the governor, yesterday at Presidential Lodge, in Lafia.

I am not sick again, says First Lady

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gainst the backdrop of speculations in the media regarding her health, First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan yesterday said she was healthy.

A statement by her media spokesman, Ayo Osinlu, said the First Lady who recently returned to Nigeria after spending several weeks in a German hospital travelled to Asia and Europe to attend to a couple of official and personal engagements.

According to the statement, “our attention has been attracted by some curiosity in a cross section of the public and particularly the media about the movement of Her Excellency, the First Lady, Dame (Dr.) Patience Goodluck Jonathan.

“For the avoidance of doubts and ambiguities, we wish to state that the First Lady travelled to Dubai after which she proceeded to Paris, France, to participate in the 1st Green Women Conference

which took place in Paris on March 17, 2013 where she received the 2013 Global Women Leaders’ Award for Peace.

She thereafter proceeded to Italy from where she went to Germany to see her mother, Mama Sisi, who is currently receiving medical attention.”

According to the statement, the First Lady is spending sometime overseeing the management of her mother’s condition.

“She is also using the opportunity to spend quality time with her holidaying children before they return to school, as they are with her to see their grandmother.

“It is unfortunate that again, some media houses have allowed themselves to be used by dedicated mischief makers against the basic tenet of professional journalism, which regards truth as sacred.

“It is notable that Her

Excellency has a history of visiting the hospital in Germany even before she became the First Lady thus making her medical trips routine.

“It is also instructive to state that medical experts have recommended that every human being should undergo medical check up every six months, even if not suffering ill health.

“Therefore, hospital visitations of our leaders should not become leading media issues or attract disrespectful comments just as the current circumstances of former President Mandela and other African leaders in similar situations and even those who died, have not attracted negative comments from their people.”

The statement noted that the First Lady is expected back in Nigeria next week.

ano state government has urged its Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to remit the exact amount of revenue they generate to government coffers.

Speaking during a meeting with heads of the MDAs at the Government House, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, dropped the hint while meeting with Heads of Parastatals and said that, in order to ensure prudent management of resources, the state government has stopped the payment of over head costs to government agencies which has made government to save billions of Naira for capital projects.”

He called on civil servants to cooperate with the government to ensure productivity in service.

Meanwhile, Kano State Deputy Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has urged contractors handling the construction of 5- kilometre roads in the state to ensure speedy completion of the projects.

Ganduje made the plea while inspecting five-kilometre roads at Rano and Bunkure local government areas.

“The on-going construction of the five-kilometre roads is in line with government’s promise during the electioneering campaigns,” he said.

PAGE 6

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

Cow gives birth to quadruplet calves in Jigawa

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five-year-old cow has given birth to quadruplets in a mysterious circumstance in Dutse, Jigawa state, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The delivery of the quadruplets came barely 12 months after the same cow gave birth to twin calves.

The delivery, which is extraordinary in the gestation circle of cattle, occurred some few days ago at Disina village in Dutse local government area of the state.

The development had called for celebration among the inhabitants of Disina settlement who viewed the quadruplets as a sign of good omen to the community.

Hundreds of people were seen trooping to the village to see the quadruplets.

Ardo Saleh, a herdsman and owner of the cattle, said there was no record of a cow giving birth to more than two calves in the community.

Saleh who expressed joy over the development said the delivery of quadruplets by his cow was a blessing from God. "This is extraordinary because a cow normally delivers one calf after nine months pregnancy, but it is amazing for a cow to have quadruplets at one delivery.

"One out of the four calves died few hours later but the remaining three are in good condition.

"It is not a taboo but I see it as a gift from God," Saleh said, adding that he had organised a reception as a show of appreciation to welcome the quadruplets into his family.

He explained that there were no signs of serious complication during the cow's gestation period, a situation which stimulated safe delivery of the quadruplets, without medical assistance.

Also commenting, Dr Rabiu Miko, the Director, Department of Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, described the situation as unprecedented in the history of livestock production in the state.

According to him, in veterinary medical parlance, studies have established that a cow delivers once in a year.

Miko attributed the delivery of the quadruplets to genetic traits of the cow in view of its previous record of giving birth to twins.

"This is not common in veterinary field but it could be related to the genetic history of the cow," he said, adding that the department would study the situation.

The director said that the department would also provide routine veterinary medication and advice to improve the health condition of the calves. (NAN)

Ever busy Ahmadu Bello Way with less traffic during the Easter Monday celebration, yesterday in Abuja. Photo; Justin imo-Owo

Court strikes out BiCourtney suit against FAAN From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he Federal High Court on Thursday in Lagos dismissed an application filed

by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, seeking to restrain the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and its agents from taking possession of a four-star hotel and conference centre at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.

The suit was filed as a result of FAAN's termination of the leases on the two projects, due to alleged breaches committed by Bi-Courtney in the agreements.

According to a statement from FAAN, "Bi-Courtney made that application without notifying FAAN, in its traditional style of getting court injunctions behind the Authority, in virtually all the cases involving the two organizations."

FAAN had earlier announced the termination of two leases granted BiCourtney Aviation Services for the

development and management of a four-star hotel and conference centre at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, due to breaches committed by BiCourtney in the execution of the two projects.

The termination notice which

the agency was given , according to FAAN, was in accordance with the terms of agreement for the two leases.

It noted further that termination of the leases meant that the premises in respect of the two projects had reverted automatically to FAAN.

Farmers' registration: Zamfara women allege "In the whole of Zamfara state, gender discrimination it was only in Tsafe local

W

omen farmers under the auspices of Amalgamation of Zamfara Women in Agriculture (ZAWIAG) have alleged gender discrimination in the ongoing national farmers'registration.

ZAWIAG Coordinator, Hajiya Kulu Garba, made the claim while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau on Monday, shortly after an awareness forum.

The awareness programme was organised by Hoe-Farmers Ltd,

an agro-allied consulting firm, to sensitise grassroots women farmers across Zamfara State.

The programme was designed to encourage women to actively participate in the Federal Government's Agricultural Transformation programmes.

Garba said that out of a projected population of 800,000 women farmers, less than two per cent of the 110 registered women agricultural cooperative societies under the umbrella of ZAWIAG were captured.

Italian oil firm suspends operations in Bayelsa over theft

A

n Italian oil firm, Eni, on Monday shut down its activities in the swampy oil fields located in Bayelsa over theft.

The firm, in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa on Monday, attributed the frequent spills to oil theft by vandals and said that it had decided to shut down operations to prevent further damages to the environment.

Eni which operates in Nigeria as Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), said it authorised the suspension of operations on March 22 and subsequently declared force majeure on its oil output from the

The statement signed by FAAN's spokesman, Mr Yakubu Dati said, "BiCourtney's application that was dismissed was a desperate move by the company to frustrate efforts by FAAN to recover the said demised premises."

facility on March 23.

Force majeure is a legal notice that absolves an oil firm of liabilities for failure to meet supply obligations to crude buyers due to circumstances beyond the firm's control "Eni confirms that during the night between 21 and 22 March, the company has declared force majeureand ordered the closure of its onshore activities in the Swamp Area, located in Bayelsa state in Nigeria.

"The decision was made due to the intensified bunkering, consisting in the sabotage of pipelines and the theft of crude oil, which has

recently reached unsustainable levels regarding both personal safety and damage to the environment.

"Sustainability is for Eni a priority in Nigeria as in all the countries in which it operates,"the statement said.

According to the statement, the firm produced about 40,000 barrels of crude oil equivalent daily from the shut facilities.

It expressed regret that about 7,000 barrels of its daily crude production was lost to oil thieves in Bayelsa, a development the firm described as unsustainable and compelled it to shut down. (NAN)

government that 50 women farmers were captured despite the large turnout of women in all registration centres."

She expressed concern that many women would be left out as the registration was slated to wind up next week.

"Unless the government intervenes to provide special concessions, women farmers would be left out of the agricultural transformation programme and its benefits will elude Zamfara women."'

She also noted that out of 147 enumerators conducting the registration in the state, only four were women.

Hajiya Amina Ladan, the leader of As-sabr women rice farmers, Dodondajin Wanke in Gusau local government, while supporting the marginalisation claims, said she had mobilised 80 women for the registration in Wanke ward but none was captured.

"I and about 80 rural women farmers queued up for three consecutive days to enable us register but none of us was captured,"' she said.

Also supporting the claims, Alhaji Abdulkadir Nasir, the Chairman of Hoe-farmers, said that statistics made available to their firm, showed that no single woman was captured in in Mayana ward of Gusau local government. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 7

KEBBI STATE OF NIGERIA KEBBI STATE PUBLIC SECTOR GOVERNANCE REFORM AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IDA FINANCING 4667-NG STATE STEERING COMMITTEE MINISTRY OF FINANCE GWADANGWAJI SECRETARIAT BIRNIN KEBBI

Request For Proposal (Rfp) For A Consultant To Prepare Draft Procurement Regulations, Training Needs Assessment And Standard Bidding Documents Background 1. The Federal Government of Nigeria has received a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) towards the implementation of the state Governance and Capacity Building [SGCBP11]Project in selected states. Kebbi state is a beneficiary of this credit and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consultancy services to benchmark the Procurement of Construction, Goods and Services (Guidelines) Law No. 5 of 2008 as well mainstream through a civil service sector wide approach (SWAP) implementation action of the procurement processes through issuance of bidding documents etc.

2. The broad objective of the project is to improve transparency, accountability and quality in the public finance and procurement systems with a view to strengthen governance in participating states. Specifically it seeks to ensure good governance by way of promoting accountability and transparency in the utilization of public financial and human resources.

Progress towards the achievement of these objectives will be measured by a) Adoption of more transparent and modern economic and financial management system and processes that are less prone to corruption and b) Implementation of restructuring plans in pilot Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) of government of Kebbi State and initiation of reforms in other MDAs. COMPONENTS: The implementation of the Project in Kebbi State is designed around two main areas: I. Public financial Management reforms and II. Public procurement reforms PUBLIC PROCCUREMENT REFORMS III. Institutional and legal frameworks similar to that at the Federal level aimed at achieving (i) increased value for money in the use of public resources (i.e. establishing due process in public procurement of goods, works and consulting services; (ii) broader participation of the private sector and transparency in the procurement process. The component will significantly enhance the achievement of the project development objective by establishing a well functioning procurement system which will provide information to support the process of budget development and execution and will benefit from the public financial management system with regard to timely appropriations and availability of funds to support the award and payments of contracts.

IV. Activities under this sub-component will include among others – V. (i) The preparation and adoption of procurement reform strategy and implementation of procurement law by the Kebbi State Government.

VI. i) Preparation of procurement regulations and procurement manual for the State Procurement Law and wide dissemination including in local languages; VII. (iii) Preparation and use of the state standard bidding documents for contract awards using open competition; VIII. (iv) Establishment of an effective, efficient and transparent independent complaints mechanism within the State Procurement System; and establishment of a reliable and regularly updated procurement databank in the state procurement agency.

IX. (v) Provide technical assistance for the setting-up of a functional State Public Procurement Agency (SPPA) including strengthening their capacity for post procurement reviews and value for money audits; X. (vi) Undertake training needs assessment and financing of the training of the SPPA and MDAs staff; XI. (vii) Procurement awareness and capacity building of Non-Government actors to help build demand for good procurement behaviour from public officials, non-state actors need to understand better the important role of procurement in the fight against corruption and also build their capacity to understand procurement processes and practice good procurement themselves. The specific actions will include: XII. Vigorous state-wide campaigns on role of good public procurement system in the fight against corruption. This will include seminars, conferences, printing and circulation of the new laws and regulations and preparation of Procurement Journals.

XIII. ¡Demand-driven technical assistance to oversight and watchdog institutions and civil society groups to develop, build and strengthen their capacity to monitor procurement.

XIV. Implementation: In each State, the Due Process/Public Procurement Agency will have primary responsibility for the implementation of the subcomponent.

OBJECTIVES The public procurement initiative will support reform of procurement policies and processes, in parallel with institutional strengthening of the key public management and procurement

agencies. The component will help; i. Modernized financial management and accountability arrangement; ii. Streamline and modernized public sector procurement procedures.

SCOPE OF WORK Specifically, the consultant will be required to perform the following tasks: i. Drafting of procurement regulations and discussion with key stakeholders for revision; ii. Preparation of implementing regulations for the new procurement law iii. Wide spread of dissemination of the new procurement law and regulations; the consultant is expected to organize training and sensitization workshop and seminars including state and local government officials and civil society groups on the new procurement law and regulations and the importance of efficient procurement for the effectiveness of public spending in giving value for money iv. Establishment of reliable and regularly updated procurement data base; v. Procurement training and capacity building in the public sector including strengthened oversight capacity and public enlightenment and Preparation of state standard bidding document.

SCOPE OF WORK: SKILLS REQUIREMENTS Team leader: i. Advance degree in economics, law, public administration, management, sociology or any of the social sciences; ii. Experience in governance and institutional reforms strategies; iii. 10 years post qualification experience in reform programmes; Other key staff: i. The team should compose of legal expert with not less than 8 years post qualification experience and implementation of reform programmes; ii. A social scientist/ public administrator with experience in reform programmes iii. Knowledge of world bank funded programmes would be an added advantage DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT The assignment shall last for period of ninety days (90) DELIVERABLES i. Inception report within two (2) weeks from the date of contract signing; an of assignment; ii. Interim report within four (4) weeks after receipt of inception report; iii. Draft final report within the next three (3) weeks; iv. Final report within four (4) weeks from the date of submission of draft report.

REPORTING SCHEDULE The Consultant shall report to the Chairman, State Steering Committee on the project.

SELECTION METHOD Quality-Cost Based Selection (QCBS) COST ESTIMATE 300,000 USD (or less) PAYMENT SCHEDULE (i) 20% of the contract sum upon receipt of an inception report; (ii) 40% upon receipt of draft report and (iii) 40% upon receipt of final report Interested consulting firms are to submit proposals addressed to: Chairman, State Steering Committee, Public Sector Governance Reform & Development Project, Ministry of Finance, Gwadangwaji Secretariat, BIRNIN KEBBI. KEBBI STATE. The proposal should reach the office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance on or before the 30th April 2013.

RESERVATIONS, REJECTION OF RESPONSE The Government of Kebbi State reserves the right to reject any proposal submitted in response to this advertisement without assigning any reasons thereto.

Alhaji Umar F. Bako Permanent Secretary Finance, for and on behalf of Chairman, Kebbi State Steering Committee, Public Sector Governance Reform & Development Project.

Birnin Kebbi.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 8

L-R: Gombe state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, congratulating Dr. Muhammad Usman shortly after his inauguration as the Chairman, Committee on Divorcee (Zawarawa), recently in Gombe.

L-R: Ekiti state Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwahed Omar; Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaiye, and his wife, Olori Yemisi Ajakaiye; after the conferment of Otunba Atayeshe on the NLC president by the Oluyin, at the weekend in IyinEkiti.

L-R: Sokoto state governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko; Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo; Secretary General, Muslim World League, Makkah –Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abdullahi Bin Abdul-Muhsin Al-Turki; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar; and Speaker , House of Representatives , Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, during the International Conference on Islam and the Fundamentals of Peaceful co-existence in Nigeria, recently in Sokoto.

Osun state indigenes and non-indigenes boarding the free train transport organised by the state government, marking Easter celebration, at the Ibadan Terminus, on a return journey to Lagos after the festival, yesterday in Ibadan.

R-L: Chairman, Project Committee, Dominion Chapel International, Abuja, Mr. Emmanuel Oluwadanusa; Presiding Bishop of the church, Bishop John Praise; and Coordinator Ushering Section of the church, Elder Sam Akpabio, during the church’s Service to mark Easter Sunday, on Sunday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 9

Katsina Federal University matriculates 500 From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

F

ederal University, Dutsinma, Katsina state, has awarded scholarships to 28 students of the institution for their outstanding academic performance.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof.

James Ayatse, disclosed this

…Awards 28 scholarships

during the matriculation ceremony of 500 new students of the institution.

According to him, nine out of the beneficiaries were also placed on the Vice Chancellor’s Honours list for 2012/2013, explaining

that the award was aimed at encouraging academic excellence in the university.

Ayatse who described Information Technology as the back bone of universities noted that learning, research and

operations in the institution are designed to be IT-driven.

He warned that the university will not condone any form of cultism, examination malpractice and academic misconduct and advised

students to shun acts that could distract their academic progress.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Katsina state Commissioner of Education, Prof. Aminu Kado Kurfi, reiterated the commitment of government and people of the state in moving the university forward.

L-R: Plateau state governor, Mr David Jonah Jang; his wife, Mrs Ngo Talatu Jang; the groom, Timothy Jamberlang; the bride Maryann; wife of Niger state governor, Hajiya Jummai Babangida Aliyu; and Niger state governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu; during the holy matrimony of ADC to the Niger state governor, DSP Timothy Jamberlang, at the ECWA Headquarters International Conference Center, at the weekend, in Jos, Plateau state.

Boko Haram: Journalist flees Nigeria

A

Nigerian journalist, Ahmed Salkida, has fled the country, to the United Arab Emirates.

According to Salkida, he has been under increasing pressure from security agents and Boko Haram insurgents.

He explained in a statement that, “now, I can report that I am in Dubai.

“I am trying to get employment visa as this is crucial so that I can sustain my stay here and contribute ultimately to today’s journalism.

“After years of seeking ways and alternatives to working professionally and remaining with my family in Nigeria, I am afraid to report that I came recently to the conclusion that I have to flee.

“After my most recent expose on the scandal going in respect of purported ceasefire negotiated between government and Boko Haram, the danger to my life has escalated to new heights.

“I have had to go underground for several weeks leading to my final decision to flee Nigeria.

“Security agents and many victims of Boko Haram seem frequently upset by the things I write in the media which made me to scale down my professional visibility.

“More worrying, I have turned down Boko Haram’s several requests for me to publish exclusive interviews and materials for them.”

P

resident of Nigeria Union of J o u r n a l i s t s (NUJ), Mohammed Garba, has been elected President, Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) at the end of its third congress last Sunday in Casablanca, Morocco.

Garba replaces Omar Faruk Osman Nur, who served as FAJ President for the past six years.

The Congress in accordance with Article 9.4 and 9.5 of the FAJ Constitution, had elected a nine-member steering committee which later elected Garba as the new President.

In the same vein, Maria Louisa Carvalho of the Angolan Journalists Union was elected Vice President while Stanis Nkundiye of the National Syndicate of Media Professionals in the Democratic Republic of Congo retains his position as the Treasurer of FAJ.

Mohamed Garba is FAJ President Other members of the Steering Committee include Ibrahima Khalilloulah Ndiaye (Senegal), Alexandre Niyungeko (Burundi) Muheldin Ahmed Titawi (Sudan) Credo Tetteh (Togo) and the former Vice President of the Federation, Foster Dongozi, from the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) and Mouhamed Bchir Chakakou (Tunisia).

Three reserve members to the Steering Committee were also are Edouard Adzotsa (Congo Brazzaville), Collin Haba (Rwanda) and Rolland Affail Monney (Ghana).

In his inaugural speech, Garba, said that the primary concern of the new committee would be to unite the affiliate unions in the continent

and strengthen them to defend the rights and welfare of members.

“We will endeavour to confront the major challenges before us and we will always do the best we can to promote respect of the rights of journalists and to promote quality journalism in Africa,” he said.

He paid tribute to Nur who he said demonstrated a lot of determination for the past six years to ensure that FAJ meets its objectives.

Garba also thanked the Moroccan Union of Journalists for hosting the Congress and the IFJ President, Jim Boumelha, for his unflinching support to the unions in the continent and his commitment to ensure

safety and protection of journalists in Africa and the world at large.

He assured the IFJ President that he will continue to work with the IFJ in the most effective manner and will make its doors continuously open to all the regional associations in the continent.

Over the years, FAJ has received recognition and support from its parent organization, the International Federation of Journalists and claims the position of legitimate voice of journalists and journalism in Africa.

Delegates asked the new leadership to rebrand its image in order to maintain a highlevel profile with partners and the trade union movements.

Oil spillage: Groups train rural communities From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

N

on-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) and Community-based Organisations (CBO’s) in Edo state have said they were set to embark on the training of rural communities in the Niger Delta area against the background of worsening impact of oil spillage on livelihoods, water bodies, aquatic and human lives.

In a communiqué yesterday at the end of one-day workshop by Environmental Rights Action (ERA), participants noted that the proposed training would strengthen as well as assist prompt reportage of oil spills in the affected areas.

Participants at the programme were drawn from Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states.

According to the communiqué, “‘Agencies such as NOSDRA and NESREA should be

engaged to ensure greater effectiveness in the discharge of their responsibilities by mobilising a critical mass of stakeholders.

Earlier, ERA Executive Director, Dr. Godwin Ojo, had urged the National Assembly to reconsider its stand on the ongoing debate of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), compelling oil communities to take responsibility whenever there is oil spill or sabotage.

According to him, “communities should not be made to suffer whenever there is sabotage because that will amount to criminalisation of host communities.”

He lamented that out of three cases before International Court of Justice (ICJ), Hague in Netherland, judgments are yet to be given arising from alleged sabotage counsels to Shell petroleum which has raised grave concerns.

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

Ihedioha, NSCDC boss, others for magazine launch in Germany

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

D

Yan-Dawa cultural group performing during the 2013 Vih-Mah-yah unity and development cultural festival, on Sunday in Boi Bogoro local government area of Bauchi state. Photo: NAN

40m Nigerians hypertensive, says Uni Ilorin don From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

A

professor of Medicine at the University of Ilorin, Ibraheem Katibi, says about 40 million Nigerians are hypertensive.

According to him, there may be a reduction in the figure if government imposes heavy taxation on alcohol and

cigarettes.

Katibi who spoke at a lecture titled "The choice is yours but the burden is ours" in Ilorin at the weekend, also noted that hypertension and associated illnesses such as diabetics and respiratory diseases, among others, affect an individual's lifespan.

He also advocated policy

regulation on the quantity of salt in common staple food items, stressing that there should be regulation on the importation of highly salted food items such as bacon, baked beans, corned beef, among others.

He described regular physical exercise as one of the ways of checking hypertension

and related diseases.

"It is generally recommended to spend 35 to 40 minutes alternate days or most days of the week on exercise which can be as simple as brisk walking, jogging or playing one game or the other," he said.

Katibi urged smokers to quit, warning that passive smoking is equally harmful to health.

Kogi flood victims reject N3,000 compensation

V

ictims of the 2012 flood disaster in Kogi have rejected the offer of N3,000 compensation from the state government, describing the gesture as inadequate.

Some of the victims told newsmen in Lokoja yesterday that the N3, 000 offered to them by the government was far below the losses they suffered individually during the disaster.

The flood which affected nine local government areas of the state, destroyed more than 500 houses and rendered about 15,00 residents homeless.

Some of the victims said that they were paid N3,000 compensation on Thursday by a team of government officials at LGEA Primary School at Gadumo, Lokoja.

Among the victims were Mr. Zacheus Momorebe, Mr. James Oguche, Mr. Suleiman Ogidi and Mr. Olaitan Ayorinde, who claimed to be landlords.

They said that their houses located on Ganaja Road and the old Polytechnic quarters were completely submerged by the flood.

The victims said that the amount could not in any way ameliorate the losses they suffered.

They alleged lack of

transparency in the sharing of the money given victims by the Federal Government, organisations and individuals.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the state government recently released N139 million to the nine affected local government areas.

The local governments received sums ranging from N10 million to N20 million to be

disbursed to victims.

Reacting to the complaints, the state’s Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Abdulrhaman Wuya, said that the money paid to the victims should not be regarded as compensation but assistance.

He said that considering the method used to allocate the N139 million to the affected areas and in the bid to spread the assistance, the amount each person would

receive would be in the range of N3,000.

"More post-flood measures that will benefit all of them are on the way. They should remain calm and bear with the government,'' he said.

Wuya also appealed to people living along river banks and waterways to relocate to avoid the experience of the last year during which many lives and property were lost. (NAN)

Zamfara registers women farmers' cooperative societies

A

gro-Allied consultants, Hoe-farmers Ltd, has facilitated the formation and registration of women groups in Zamfara into 110 women farmers' cooperative societies for coordinated agricultural activities, the Chairman, Malam Abdulkadir Nasir, said.

Nasir told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Gusau that the cooperatives would enable women farmers to derive maximum benefits from the Federal Government's agricultural transformation agenda (ATA).

He said 330 more women groups were being converted into farmers' cooperative societies in an effort to meet a target of 600

women farmers' cooperatives in the state.

He said that the firm in collaboration with the Zamfara Government had formed Amalgamated Women in Agriculture to coordinate women farmers.

"Each of the 110 women cooperatives has a minimum of 25 members and had opened bank accounts through which they made some deposits to enable them to access agricultural facilities for enhanced agricultural activities.

"These women are the genuine grassroots farmers but lack awareness and government support to facilitate their agricultural activities.

"We are facilitating their

awareness free as a corporate social responsibility to give back to the people of the state something out of what we are getting from the state government as business partners," he said.

Nasir said that the objective of organising the women farmers into cooperatives was to mobilise them to obtain loans and other agricultural support from Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL).

"In order to derive sufficient benefit from NIRSAL. We will convince the state government to shore up the deposit of each of the registered women cooperatives because the more the deposit, the higher the amount that can be loaned,'' he said. (NAN)

eputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Prof. Viola Onwuliri, are among the dignitaries expected at the launch of a magazine, "Disciples of Democracy Today," in Frankfurt, Germany, on April 25.

Also billed to attend the programme, according to a statement from the organizers, are the Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Olu Abolurin, the Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulrahman Kawu, Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, Hon. Usman Bello Kumo, among others.

According to the statement signed by the magazine's Editorin-Chief, Tony Nwaru, "the publication is a monthly parliamentary news magazine published by the Natos Affair Group, to showcase African Parliaments to the world.

"There will be feature presentations from Trade Union IHK Bielefeld, Germany, the German Foreign Building Contractors Association, KFW Development Bank of Germany and the BMZ Development Ministry of Germany.

"We shall also use the platform of this premiere to provide a networking session for government agencies and key Nigerian companies, to showcase enormous opportunities that are available in Nigeria for German/ European investors," said the statement.

Kano upgrades Pfizer Hospital From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

K

ano state government says it is set to convert the Dawakin Kudu Pfizer Hospital to North West University Teaching Hospital.

According to Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, government has already set aside the sum of $30 million for the conversion of the facility.

Kwankwaso spoke when he when he received a delegation from Tanta University, Egypt, led by the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University Kano, Prof.

Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, at the Government House.

According to him, "our administration has earmarked the sum of $30m for conversion of the gigantic Dawakin Kudu Pfizer facility to befitting Northwest University Teaching Hospital.

"The state government will continue to partner with Tanta University, to improve and create courses to be offered by the Kano state owned university."

Vice Chancellor, Tanta University, Prof. Abdulhakeem Ali, explained that they were in Kano to discuss areas of cooperation between Bayero University and the state owned university.

PAGE 11

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

Guide to buying a used car to avoid being irrational

O

ne night about a month ago, I was telling my friend about the brainfrying frustration I was experiencing trying to buy a used car off of Craigslist. "I feel like I can spend infinite time on this," I told her, "And there are infinite options."

"Everyone I know who has tried to buy a used car on Craigslist has gone absolutely crazy," she said. That response was like getting bird poop in your eye and then being told it's happened to other people - it's nice to know you're not alone, but it really doesn't help the situation.

It was a good reminder of how stressful buying a used car is, though, especially when you're buying from an individual though a classified site likes

Money Tip: Small businesses need mobile

W

ith increasing numbers of consumers using mobile devices to make their holiday purchases, smartphones and tablet computers may be elbowing aside elves as Santa's helpers this year, experts predict. But small businesses remain woefully unprepared to attract and engage these holiday shoppers, several new studies show.

They've yet to climb aboard the mobile bandwagon.

Last year, consumers spent more than $20.7 billion shopping using mobile devices, according to a report from Javelin Strategy and Research.

That figure is sure to swell this year, experts said.

But the vast majority of smalland medium-size businesses (SMBs) still do not have mobile-optimized sites to take advantage of this on-the-fly spending spree, a study by SMB DigitalScape shows.

That lack of preparedness can drive customers away. Another study commissioned by Google found that three-quarters of visitors to a mobile-friendly site will return, but 79% of people who find a site difficult to use on their mobile devices will give up and look for another site.

Quote "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. Thoughts are things! And powerful things at that, when mixed with definiteness of purpose, and burning desire, can be translated into riches."

- Napoleon Hill

Craigslist like I was. I spent a LOT of hours researching vehicles, goings for test drives, and heading to check out cars only to be told they just sold to someone else. I learned a lot in the process, and I did finally find a car - one that was in good condition and in my price range.

No matter what you do, buying a used car is going to be stressful - nobody wants to throw thousands of dollars away on a lemon. I can't tell you that you won't be stressed out, but here's some information I wish I had known up front that will hopefully make your car-buying process easier.

A few things to consider first First of all, the suggestions in this article pertain primarily to buying a car from an individual or a dealer that does not provide certified pre-owned vehicles. My budget was low for a car, I know, but I wanted to avoid car payments at all costs. This meant that certified pre-owned vehicles were out of my price

range.

Two of the primary things to check on when you're buying a used car have to do with the title, and you should find out about these before you even look at the car. First of all, make sure that the seller has the physical title, and that the title is in his or her name. If you hand over payment for a car, and that car turns out to have a lien on it (i.e., money is still owed to the bank for the car loan), you might not end up owning the car you just bought.

Also check whether or not the title is a salvage title. A salvage title means that at some point, an insurance company deemed the car in question beyond salvageable. While sometimes salvage titles pertain to theft and the car itself is fine, it often means that the car was in an accident. Even if the car was rebuilt, the car's structure is usually left weaker after this type of an event and is generally less safe.

Narrow your options

One of the biggest problems I had with buying my car was getting overwhelmed by choice.

My main criteria were that I wanted the car to "run well for at least two years." But that left a huge number of vehicles for me to choose from. I felt that with my price range, I needed to take what I could get. But with some urging from my boyfriend, I further refined my criteria. I wanted a short car, because I only have street parking, and I wanted it to have less than 100,000 miles on it. I also wanted to buy a car from someone who was moving or changing cars for a good reason (such as getting a bigger car for an expanding family), because I figured that'd net vehicles in better condition. While part of me felt like I might be missing out on a great deal by focusing my search like this, it did make things easier.

Make space in your budget Remember that the cost of the car itself isn't the only cost. There

might be an increase in your insurance, DMV fees, or unexpected mechanic costs.

Include funds for these costs in your car-buying budget.

Do your research I did a LOT of research into the cars I looked at. Here are the big four sites that I used.

Kelley Blue Book The Kelley Blue Book is the standard for finding what used cars are worth. Plug in the information on a car you're thinking of buying, and it will tell you how much suggested selling price of the car is. The site will even provide different price levels based on the car's condition.

Edmunds - Edmunds provides car reviews and gives suggestions on whether or not a particular used car is generally a good buy.

If it isn't, they'll generally give suggestions on similar cars to look at. They didn't have information on a couple of cars I was interested, but in general, it was a very helpful site.

MSN Autos - The MSN Autos site has what I found to be one of the most valuable resources in my car search - reliability charts that show what problems different makes of cars usually have and the cost to fix them. For example, the 2002 VW Cabrio has moderate engine problems, but the repairs are all relatively inexpensive.

Carfax - Once you have a car you like, enter the vehicle identification number (VIN - it's at the base of the windshield), and Carfax will give you a report on the history of that car. It steered me away from an otherwise great-seeming car that turned out to fail the California emissions test five times in a row, and it showed me that the car I did eventually buy had no serious problems.

What you need to know about account balance enquiries

W

hen viewing your bank account online or probably through ATM machine, you might have noticed two balances related to your account, "account balance" and "available balance." Although they sound similar, they are different and need to be understood to avoid unnecessary overdraft fees.

An account balance, also known as the "current balance" or "ledger balance" is the actual balance on the account at the beginning of the business day.

This is the same balance which is printed on your bank statements.

It's also the balance used to calculate interest payments on interest-bearing accounts. You could think of this as the "official" balance which is used by the bank.

It does not update as quickly as the "available balance."

The available balance is much more up-to-date than the account balance. The amount of money in the available balance is immediately available for withdrawal or other uses. Any activity, that is deposit or withdrawal, during the day will be reflected by the available

balance, but not necessarily in the account balance. For instance, if you send a check from your online bill pay system for N50,000, your available balance will decrease byN50,000, but your account balance will not decrease until that check is deposited by the payee's bank. Alternatively, if you receive a deposit of N50,000, your available balance may increase by N50,000, but the account balance will lag behind since banks sometimes put a "hold" on deposits to verify sufficient funds.

The difference between account balance and available balance is important to understand in order to avoid unnecessary overdraft fees. Banks may charge large penalty fees to customers who draw against unavailable funds. When you are checking your bank account to ensure sufficient funds before writing a check, always base your decision off the available balance.

Keep in mind that the balances may be exactly the same. This situation happens when there has been no activity for a couple of days and all deposits have had time to settle.

If your account balance and available balance are not shown on your online banking system, most banks have a toll-free telephone number for customers to check their account's balances.

Banks typically have automated systems, that is, ATM machine which can provide a variety of information about your account, including available balance and account balance.

Share your Money Tip: do you have a business/money idea, and you want to share it with our dear readers? Then, send it to: ikabirsule@gmail.com or (text it to 08091904890)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

Firm presidential action called for

I

n a January 4, 2013 editorial "Police/Civil Defence Corps rivalry…," we did say that the sour relations between the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had a sad history. And we warned that in that history, "a tinderbox had been created and it was only a matter of time before a major confrontation would erupt".

We pegged that editorial on a December 18, 2012 daylight fight between policemen and civil defence corps personnel in Abuja, the federal capital. The skirmish was sparked by an attempt by the corps' officers to control the chaotic traffic at the popular Berger Junction which lawless commuter motorists had converted to an unofficial park where they dropped off their passengers and picked up new ones. Clearly, the police saw that as interference and manhandled the corps officials - a complaint that has become commonplace. It was near bedlam. Luckily, no life was lost. In that editorial we warned of more violent confrontations if the Presidency did not move fast to end this unhealthy rivalry between two sister security agencies, funded from the tax payer's money.

Our worst fears came true last week in Lagos where a clash between the two agencies left two senior corps officials dead, and five others with gunshot wounds. There were two contradictory versions of what happened that day.

Apparently, the two agencies had received the same distress call from the NNPC that its pipeline through the Mosimi area of Lagos was being

attacked by vandals. According to the NSCDC, its men got there first, made some arrests and were on their way back to base when they were attacked at a police checkpoint by persons in police uniform. Two officers were felled and five wounded. Its suspicion was that the uniformed men must have been alerted by some of the pipeline vandals who had managed to escape arrest.

On their part, the police claimed that their men, four in number, were challenged by 14 armed NSCDC men at

“

it is unbelievable that the only fatalities in the confrontation occurred on the side of the NSCDC, meaning that the latter couldn't have taken the fight to the police the NNPC facility. An inspector and leader of the team was arrested, handcuffed, his legs chained, and his pistol and walkie-talkie seized. The other three policemen, according to police spokeswoman Ngozi C. Braide, were also brutalized. She said those officers were later rescued by reinforcements from the Lagos Police Command.

Several things do not seem right in the police account, besides the submission by the NNPC that it sent out the distress call. But it did not say it was only sent to the police. Moreover, it is unbelievable

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that the only fatalities in the confrontation occurred on the side of the NSCDC, meaning that the latter couldn't have taken the fight to the police. Again, at a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, the next day, senior police officers from Abuja headquarters agreed that the force was holding one NSCDC officer in its Lagos cell. Further, if Inspector Sunday Gabriel's walkie-talkie was seized by the corps' officers, how could they have sent for reinforcements as claimed by the police authorities?

There is more to the story than the police are telling. We consider it a pity that President Jonathan could only ask the police authorities to release the NSCDC official they are holding, as sources close to the meeting said. No wonder, Deputy Force Public Relations Officer Frank Mba was triumphant when he was confronted by anxious journalists as he emerged from the meeting. "The President has been properly briefed on the matter and I think with time you will get to hear the exact facts of the case", he said.

With time? When will that time come? After a massacre? The time to act is now, and the action required is presidential dressing down of the police and an order to IGP Mohammed Abubakar to ask his men to get down to the serious business of securing the lives of Nigerians and their property something which they are not now doing well. Protecting pipelines, we understand, is the constitutional responsibility of the NSCDC. We don't see why the police should spill blood over this least of the nation's security worries now.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 13

Remaking Nigeria's moral compass

By Leonard Karshima Shilgba

L

ast week, General Yakubu Gowon, the coordinator of "Nigeria Prays" and former military Head of State of Nigeria, visited our university and made some moral claims. On the unfortunate Nigerian civil war, the general said, "Nigeria's integrity was threatened by the action of some rebels. I had no choice than to use the constitutional powers conferred on me as the Head of State and my oath of office to always defend the integrity and unity of the country at all times." I was not yet born when Gowon chose to exercise his "constitutional powers." But I should ask, who gave General Gowon those constitutional powers? I would like him to educate me. Only three questions were permitted for Gowon at his visit and talk.

Was it moral for the military to forcefully take over from an elected government, and then for Gowon's military goons to stage a revenge coup and say, "We are back"? Our students and youths need to sift the bran from the flour and appreciate their country's history and unlearn her fooleries, hypocrisies and selfdestructive proclivities. This is the same journey of discovery that I have been engaged in for the past years.

May I ask which “constitution" Gowon referred to, and what powers that "constitution" had conferred on a

By Ifeanyi Uddin

W

hat is the purpose of government? Given the intensity of the arguments on all sides of this question, I suppose that discussion around it has been with us for as long as the institutions, which collectively bear that name, have been.

Whichever side of the argument you look at this question from, governments are naturally conservative institutions.

Oftentimes, this is immediately obvious only through their criminal justice work. Laws and statutes are especially lethargic instruments of governance.

Designed to keep societies in their familiar haunts, and their citizens on the "straight and narrow" they have always changed at a glacial (if magisterial) pace. In addition, you find governments straining bone and sinew to ensure adherence to these laws.

Look closely, however, beneath the integuments of any economy, and this penchant for conserving is present everywhere. Fiscal activity, going forward, is referenced on the outcome of the last budget cycle. Talking heads see expansionary themes only because the "proposed budget" is an increase of X% over the "previous one". Monetary policy types mull over data on yesterday's activities, declare some of these data "forward looking", and strive to keep the economy (and those indexes that

military invader like General Gowon?

Recently, the Council of State approved the pardon of some Nigerian ex-convicts. One of those was a former governor who less than 10 years ago was convicted for stealing public funds. Before that, he had jumped bail in the UK and sneaked into Nigeria disguised as a woman. When he got back to his state at that time, a huge crowd received him as some sort of hero. I wondered then and wrote that something was definitely wrong with the moral compass of Nigerians.

Alamieyeseigha was convicted, released, and allowed to walk about freely in Nigeria. He lost no legally acquired property. Yet, General Gowon, in defending the recent pardon granted Alamieyeseigha, said last week on the campus of the American University of Nigeria that the Council of State (to which he belongs) "took the decision based on the grounds that Alamieyeseigha had finished serving the punishment for the offence he had committed and that he was remorseful. What punishment? What are we doing to our children; what moral lessons are we teaching them? It is my firm belief, as I have learned in the Bible that all things are lawful, but all things are not helpful or edifying. A great nation goes beyond the compass measure of legality and seeks a substantial measure on

the scale of morality.

Human life is being devalued in Nigeria, and amnesia has set in among the people. Haven't we forgotten about the grotesque murders in Okijia forest that were exposed in 2004? Some leaders in Nigeria, including Ohaneze leaders, who made it an ethnic issue, defended such murders at that time. What has become of those who were arrested in connection with that?

The national conscience has been so calloused that we hardly balk at reports of murders of even dozens of people, not to talk of "just" a single individual. The Attorney-General of the nation could treat with a cavalier attitude the murder of a Nigerian taken seriously by the victim's governor because we have become morally lost in the wilderness of wild living. It is not in the character of Nigerian leaders to respond with decisive resolve to hunt down murderers of the people. Our children or students could be burnt alive by a mob (For instance, University of Port Harcourt students were likewise killed last year) and you hear no whimper from the president. The heart of Nigeria is inhuman. Civilization of a nation is measured by how it treats the weak and victims of societal brutality.

Lavish spending of monies that do not belong to Nigerian leaders is not news in this country. But is this right? Well, Nigerians would agree it is

immoral until they are made some financial offer from the same illegal funds. We encourage our leaders to steal.

We put pressure on them to learn bad ways and become selfindulgent. Let me ask a question.

If I decide to run for a public office and you are qualified to vote for me, would you not expect me to sell some of my properties and even steal or take loans to fund my campaign (which, in Nigeria, includes cash gifts to traditional leaders, customized politicians, youth leaders, and the common people) before you would cast a vote for me? If that is the case, after my "victory" would it be morally right for the same Nigerians that took money and gifts from me in exchange for votes to expect "good governance" from me? Let us reason together.

Nigerians who expect, demand, and collect gifts from candidates for public offices have lost any moral right to good governance.

Good people are always blessed with good leaders; and there are good leaders that may be burdened with bad people.

There is a problem with Nigerians. We have monetized our values. Almost every relationship in Nigeria is moneydenominated. Many Christian leaders and Islamic clerics have higher regard for members that are heavy donors. Nigerian women expect wads of money from their boyfriends and fiancĂŠs, not minding the source.

Traditional leaders have lost their voice for justice because obscene gifts corrupt wise words.

State houses have become pilgrimage sites for thousands of Nigerians who hardly allow public officials to concentrate on the task of governance. Relatives expect of public officials more than their legitimate incomes can support. Children can hardly go on errands without expecting monetary compensation. When shall we start arresting people and confiscating from them properties they have acquired far beyond their proper income?

However, presidents and governors who steal cannot do this. We have destroyed our nation. But how do we start the re-building process?

We must encourage reading. We must build and equip public libraries across Nigeria. Reading competitions should be encouraged, and we must improve the minds of our people through strategic reading. Nations of readers are great. When you travel with Nigerians they chatter about inanities; when you do same with Japanese, their faces are buried in books. A country where authors hardly live on writing alone because the people would rather buy the latest fashions than books is a dying society Leonard Karshima Shilgba is reachable on shilgba@yahoo.com

Of governments and the people they have come to associate with its "steady state" growth requirements) ticking. Are we allowed then, to rephrase the old liberal argument against "big government" in the timeless words of The Economist's mission statement?

No. But only because we have had governments whose uncommon approach to the existential challenges within their jurisdictions have contributed to their respective societies' remarkable progress.

And as with Abraham's biblical condition for the redemption of Sodom, the acts of these "righteous" governments lend considerable moment to the act of throwing both baby and bath water away. For the most part, though, the exercise of the dark arts that fall under the rubric "government" are typical of the Nigerian experience since independence in 1960: "an unworthy, timid ignorance" that has seriously (fatally, even) obstructed "our progress".

In the teeth of clear evidence of the resourcefulness of our people (in the face of extreme adversity), successive Nigerian governments insist on inserting themselves into the economic equation at considerable cost, and with no real gain to show for it. The failures of the 1970s import-substitution policies notwithstanding, government

continues (especially today) to defend "domestic industries" at great cost to the economy. The output of these industries ensure huge welfare losses for the citizenry, as we are expected to pay higher prices for these than other people pay in other countries for goods of (arguably) higher quality. On the other hand, whatever is gained from higher-than-normal tariff and non-tariff barriers to import the materials used in these protected sectors of the economy is given away to the primary movers of enterprises there via a cat's cradle of waivers and exemptions. Aside this privileged elite, the coffers of the ruling party is the only other net gainer from government's inverted

logic.

Yet, we are living in much changed circumstances. Power increasingly belongs to the people, in more ways than that timeworn phrase ever intended.

Some day (and very soon, too) all the information that lent government its uniqueness in the past will be available to a lot more people at the click of a virtual button (if tablet use is any indicator) than was ever the case. Moreover, through this same process, a scary democratisation of the process for the real-time production and consumption of what in the old praxis we once referred to as "material and spiritual" values is underway. This process begs two questions. The first concerns itself

“

This process begs two questions. The first concerns itself with defining government and its purpose, looking ahead. With the power of information available to so many people at the same time, government loses its net aggregator role. What remains of it then?

with defining government and its purpose, looking ahead. With the power of information available to so many people at the same time, government loses its net aggregator role. What remains of it then? This leads to the second question. Under threat from rapid change, most entities revert to familiar processes and practices. Were our government to do this, how serious will the resulting clash be?

Interestingly, one of the more important functions of government threatened by this process is the diplomatic one.

Significantly, the diplomatic corps retains its strongest claim to legitimacy in the current environment only in the extent that it helps to prevent governments from engaging in fisticuffs. Does this say anything about the future of government?

Methinks that very soon, all that government will have going for it is its monopoly of the means of violence. Even "values" it may no longer be able to allocate, for both the production of these and there consumption will have moved beyond its ken. Is the future therefore of governments ensuring only that all manner of violence are kept to the minimum, while keeping well away from everyone's backyard?

Ifeanyi Uddin is reachable on www.facebook.com

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 14

The first now shall be last

By Austin Aneke

T

hey are known as developed, industrialized, civilized countries, mostly found in the northern hemisphere. These are the images and statuses that inform their gluttony, waste, extravagance, greed, pride, arrogance, consummation, and power.

However, it also seems these are the pictures of nations that have actually lived up their tomorrow, today; depleted their resources; in debt; and borrowing morefrom ECB, IMF, and China, to satisfy their gluttony. It is being revealed now that life is not as rosy as being painted, for these nations.

The United Sates is in debt to the tune of about 16 trillion dollars; and United Kingdomone trillion pounds and counting; the list is almost endless. The latest EU serviced country to be in trouble is Cyprus, following Italy, Greece, Portugal, Ireland, and Spain and so on.

So, what is really happening in the Northern hemisphere?

Why are these nations, referred to as developed, in huge trouble? Is it because of the rise of China and India; the end of colonialism, and progressive coming to an end of neo-colonialism; and the decryption of western

and retechnological creating secrets by technological some manuscripts emerging Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text but stealing markets, messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written existing ones. leading to a contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 Technological new world words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and awareness economic a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed and/or order? to: consciousness Colonialism are growing in guaranteed The Editor, these exploitation Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, countries and and 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. this is expropriation Email: opinion@peoplesdaily-online.com creating a of resources SMS: 07037756364 deep hole in from other the coffers of countries into western treasuries, as the the northern hemisphere. But and India to name a few are leading the decryption of emerging markets become it has now literally ended, western technological secrets. producers and not mere creating a bit shortage in the They are not only creating consumers of processed goods largesse they bring. China from nations in the northern hemisphere. In essence there seems to be a re-order of technological balance that is virtually creating internal imbalance, instability, deficit, debt, in old industrialized nations. They are now losing raw cash, money, influence, power and becoming dependent on the rising powers.

The only continent that has not lived up to expectation from the southern hemisphere is Africa. The continent's leaders are still stealing the children's bread and funds meant for scientific research, and depositing them in the northern hemisphere. They

WRITE TO US

“

It is now clear in the northern hemisphere that the life in abundance people there are used to is not sustainable. It is also becoming obvious that power is shifting and will further shift, as new nations rise and learn to do their own things and not dependent on old powers. If people of the North do not start cutting their clothes according to their cloth, no one will do it for them

are not reflecting on why they remain the beautiful bride exploited during colonialism, expropriated during neo colonialism and presently being used by China. While Africa is not being detected in the technological radar of the world, they are very visible in the corruption index. The next major revolution waiting to happen is an African scientific and industrial revolution. This will further shake the very foundations of western arrogance, power and greed.

This is because it will create more dents in the treasuries of western nations as present multi nationals exploiting Africa, repatriate lesser profits back home.

It is now clear in the northern hemisphere that the life in abundance people there are used to is not sustainable.

It is also becoming obvious that power is shifting and will further shift, as new nations rise and learn to do their own things and not dependent on old powers. If people of the North do not start cutting their clothes according to their cloth, no one will do it for them. The only thing is that the present CUTS, cutting across the northern hemisphere may last longer as old powers seek upgraded adaptation to the new order.

Consequently, the developed may become underdeveloped after all.

Austin Aneke is the author of Technology and Corruption

Is Nigeria an emergency ward patient?

By Dino Melaye

I

t is pathetic that Nigeria is not only sick but equally suffers from a dreadful continental abnormality. The powers of the president to grant pardon in the constitution should be taken away because it has been grossly abused by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Mr. President lacks capacity,intellectual mobility, courage and dexterity to move us forward.

The granting of pardon to Alams by President Jonathan signifies his endorsement, romance, marriage and love for corruption.

Stealing under President Jonathan has grown from the stealing of millions to billions and now trillions. This government is behaving as if they have no legacy intentions. Nigeria is now like a car being driven by a drunken driver.The worst in the recent national pardon granted by our president is the pardon granted major

Magaji, a man who committed sodomy. A man who slept with four men and lost his case both at the court of appeal and Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court in its judgement against Magaji described the man's act as brazen bizarre and barbaric.

That is the man our president granted national pardon.

Our country is now in the emergency ward. The amount of tax payers money

wasted on the prosecution of criminals through the anti graft agencies is now wasted.

What history and lessons for the future generation? Will these satanic pardons, for instance, vacate the international warrant on Alams? I dare him to travel to U.K and flash Jona's pardon at Heathrow. No single politically exposed person has been successfully prosecuted and jailed under Jonathan.

“

Today all the high profile cases of corruption are buried and forgotten, examples are Halibouton, Siemens, National I.D card, Malabu Oil deal, subsidy fraud, etc. But we shall not keep quiet till the day of reckoning comes.

The battle to salvage Nigeria is the battle of no retreat, no surrender.

Radical and bloodless revolution is inevitable in Nigeria. We must all come

The battle to salvage Nigeria is the battle of no retreat, no surrender. Radical and bloodless revolution is inevitable in Nigeria. We must all come out of our cocoon and do something before something do us. The minister of petroleum has been indicted by four reports yet she is still elegantly attired and fashioned every Wednesday in diamonds attending the federal executive council meetings under the watchful eyes of an unperturbed President

out of our cocoon and do something before something do us. The minister of petroleum has been indicted by four reports yet she is still elegantly attired and fashioned every Wednesday in diamonds attending the federal executive council meetings under the watchful eyes of an unperturbed President.

There is the case of Faruk Lawal, Imoukode, Ribadu and NEITI reports unaddressed. Orubebe and co's international jet setting lifestyle is being subsidized by the masses. We cannot continue like this.

Government protecting criminals like Maina against the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Every Nigerian must decide to either walk in the light of creative altruism or we perish in the darkness of relative selfishness. Above all we shall overcome.

Dino Melaye is Executive secretary, Anti Corruption Network, Abuja.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

By Theophilus Ilevbare

I

t is as reckless as it is feckless for Governor Godswill Akpabio to fritter away with zing the patrimony of Akwa Ibom state on his political associates, friends and sycophants to massage an over bloated political ego. It is the height of profligacy. The latest gaffe of the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum has seen him enmeshed in yet another round of controversy. He confessed on camera that he manipulated the election result of the 2007 PDP senatorial primary election in the state by single-handedly replacing the winner with his candidate. The video has since gone viral on the internet. This is coming on the heels of the recent wave of criticism that has greeted his financial recklessness, making more headlines than his role as chief servant of the people of Akwa Ibom state. Just when folks were torn in two minds if the spendthrift governor was doling out private or state money, at a press conference recently, he erased any doubt as he owned up that his father Christmas donations have been from government coffers.

"Anything connected with my donation is captured within the law of the State." Struggling to sound convincing, he continued: "The budget is the law and there have been provisions that allow for grants for donations and for hospitality as enshrined in the budget."

As the custodian of the state treasury, one begins to wonder what constitute donations for hospitality to Mr Akpabio. Is it hospitality to splash N230m of state funds as donation on behalf of the PDP Governors' Forum, for the erection of an Anglican

By Ose Oyamendan

I

n the days leading to the World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Kenya, there was a huge Twitter war driven by the Kenyans on the game.

The ire of the Kenyans was goaded by reported maltreatment of their Harambee Stars in Lagos. True to type in Nigerian officialdom, the NFF decided to busy themselves with something else, perhaps frrying goats and cows to chew the grass at Calabar stadium rather than reply the complains of the Kenyans in good time. So, here I was, a Nigerian in a huge Kenyan office. They were talking more smack than a sailor on a midnight pass from a pirate ship. I did what a dumb Nigerian sports fanatic would do, I offered to buy an office of dozens of Kenyans lunch if the Kenyans did the impossible and beat Nigeria.

I made the cardinal mistake a client makes when he meets a prostitute who blows his mind. I fell in love. It was easy too.

Nigeria are the champions of Africa. Kenya are not even good enough to be called the doormat of African football. I was sure it was going to be a massacre. But, I forgot one cardinal point - this was Nigerian football and

PAGE 15

Time to clip Akpabio's wings Church in Otuoke, the home town of President Jonathan? For him to be subsequently berated by other PDP governors who said they were not carried along before the donation was made is a pointer to where the millions were drawn.

That provisions were made in the law for donations and hospitality should not be an excuse for such jamboree. The constitution certainly does not empower the governor to frivol the commonwealth of Akwa Ibom state at will.

What better use should such grants be put if roads in Akwa Ibom, like the Eket-Ibeno road leading to the venue of Tuface Idibia and Annie Macaulay's traditional wedding ceremony, was in deplorable condition. The governor had to apologise to guests at the event that when next they come visiting the road would have been rehabilitated. It is noteworthy, that youths of Eket sometime ago protested that the road be reconstructed. The rudderless governor scandalized many, when he gifted the couple with Two Toyota Prado SUVs, though the state government later issued a statement, claiming it was one. To underscore his infamy, he made a pledge to bankroll an all expenses paid trip for 20 delegates from the state who wished to attend the nuptial of the Idibia's in far away Dubai.

To Akpabio's defence was his Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umana, spewing inanities like his spendthrift Boss; "Looking carefully at the surrounding events in perspective, Mrs. Annie Idibia,

nee Macaulay, is a daughter of Akwa Ibom State and the gift of a Prado SUV from her governor is only a gesture of love and goodwill. Her resolve to stand by her husband on this journey right from his days of youthful beginnings to stardom even in the face of challenges was commendable and a true attribute of the Akwa Ibom women."

From Umana's perspective, governor Akpabio might now have to donate a Prado Jeep to every Akwa Ibom daughter who decides to put up with the escapades of her boyfriend or fiancĂŠe to justify Annie's gift.

Publicity Secretary, Oscar Onwudiwe of the South-South Professionals of Nigeria (SESSPN) rightly queried the rationale of the Commisionner when he said "Will such largesse be extended to every newly-wed couple in the state and will that pass as the mean test for judicious management of limited resources?" He further warned that "The frugal management of state resources are indispensable values necessary for the actualisation of our development plan, so we appeal to the state governors not to trifle with these essential requirements."

The PDP will have us believe that the chairman of it's Governors' Forum is being magnanimous, which they believe is a virtue. Truly, this is the kind of virtue that has existed at all levels of the party typified in the present Nigeria with all the symptoms of a failed state. At every event Akpabio is present, he sees a window for frivolous

gifting. Last year the profligate governor, gave a cash gift of N10m for a return leg win against Mali by the national Under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, in an African Under-17 Championship qualifier in Calabar. Just for a win.

Nollywood were not left out behind as Mr Akpabio instituted a N50 million endowment fund to honour exceptional actors and actresses in the industry.

The reckless wastefulness by Akwa Ibom state spender-in-chief took a ridiculous twist at the South-South PDP reconciliation meeting in Port Harcourt where he embarrassed six state chairmen of the party with N6m for Mr Biggs (Lunch), after describing them as "hungry."

"My brother (Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan) said you people (PDP South-South members) are hungry, to take care of your hunger, I'm donating the sum of N1m each to the South-South secretariat of PDP and I would want each of the chairmen to come and collect the sum at the end of my speech so that members could use that to buy (lunch) at Mr. Biggs!" Governor Akpabio said, descending from the absurd to the jejune. It was a bovine display of financial rascality. Expectedly, Uduaghan, Amaechi and other PDP chieftains walked out on him while he was still speaking.

Recently, he took delivery of two exotic bullet-proof sprinter luxury vans from US-based Texas Armoring Corporation (TAC), customized to his specifications, at about N300

We don't have a history Nigerian sports. We don't have a history. In Nigerian sports, proper preparations are almost always an after thought. The officials always pray and hope God can be hoodwinked into taken the side of the green white green. If I was thinking well, I would have betted on the Kenyans to do the impossible and I may be a few quid richer today. I would have started by asking where the game was taking place. Calabar? Who plays a national game in Calabar? You look at the venue and you know it's advantage Kenya.

Nigeria is one of the very few countries in the world who move their national teams around like a circus. A certain national stadium ensures that your players know every blade of grass of the pitch, they know how the wind blows and how the ball bounces. When you rotate from city to city like a battered cruise ship in search of thrill you throw the advantage to the opposition. I remember in the good old days when the Eagles used to play in Lagos.

Game day was like a carnival, the days leading to it

was like the preparation for a ground assault. Foreign teams would drive through the traffic to the stadium where tens of thousands of fans are working themselves into a frenzy. I remember looking at the faces of the foreign players those days and there was always a mixture of fear and awe. Nigeria often won games before the players

got onto the field those days.

That was the game before the game, the psychological warfare before the physical battle. But, Nigerian football administrators who are used to working in the business of the moment instead of specializing in a profession decided it's better to take out the begging jar and go from state to state.

“

Of course, Nigerian football has history.

But, the administrators often have no clue of what history means. They are journeymen and women trying to make a quick buck before the bell rings on their tenure. They see luck and they scream to the high heavens that it was hard work.

They run into turbulence of inefficiency and they find a coach to hang, And, when that doesn't work, they hang the players.

million. Why should he feel so insecure among his kinsmen, contrasting a reputation he projects with numerous ads on TV and papers showcasing his "excellent performance" in office, claiming Akwa Ibomites love him to pieces. The PDP Governors Forum Chairman has since joined the elite league of private jet flying governors with his top of the range $45 million Bombardier Global Jet. His much publicised achievement is light weight with its monthly allocation, which is more than four times what some other states get from the federation account. This is aside internally generated revenue. In spite of this, Salaries of civil servants in the state are often owed. Same goes for pensioners. The state has one of the country's highest rate of unemployment, the reason its indigenes are scattered across the country settling for menial jobs.

Key sectors of the economy are below par with what is obtainable in states without the oil revenue Akwa Ibom attracts.

Governor Akpabio must retrace his steps. It calls for serious concern from those connected to the state. It becomes more worrisome when the state House of Assembly looks the other way.

The EFCC can't come within touching distance of the governor either so long as he continues to harp President Jonathan's 2015 ambition from the roof top. The onus is now on the people of the state to call governor Akpabio to order. theophilus@ilevbare.com; blog: http://ilevbare.com; Twitter: @tilevbare Of course, Nigerian football has history. But, the administrators often have no clue of what history means.

They are journeymen and women trying to make a quick buck before the bell rings on their tenure. They see luck and they scream to the high heavens that it was hard work. They run into turbulence of inefficiency and they find a coach to hang, And, when that doesn't work, they hang the players.

Pray, someone tell me, would a country abandon its best venue for a road show? The National stadium looks like a circus ground with its overgrown weeds and tribes of rats and cockroaches having meetings in the once hallowed stands. Minister after minster make pronouncement on fixing the stadium. Sometimes, it seems they actually mean it until someone I remember that song a lot this week when I missed feeding a whole Kenyan office by the straps of a last minute Eagles' go. How did I allow my big mouth to almost dig a bigger hole in my pocket?

It was simple. Misplaced patriotism.

Ose Oyamendan is a Hollywood-based Nigerian filmmaker. You can follow him on his new twitter page at @iam_ose.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

Easter: Abuja gardens record huge patronage

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Parents and their children celebrating Easter Monday at Wonderland, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

FCT area council revenue allocation rises by N281m

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory recorded an increase of N281,174, 986.71 (13.4 per cent) revenue allocation for the month of February 2013.

The area councils – Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali – received revenue allocation of N2,380, 208,667.17 from the Federation Account for February compared with the sum of N2,099,033,680.46 received for January 2013.

The acting Permanent Secretary, FCT, Alhaji Nuhu Ahmed, who disclosed this during the monthly FCT Area Councils Joint Account Allocation Committee meeting, attributed the increment to the improved inflow from Value Added Tax (VAT) and the

arrears of January Budget augmentation.

Ahmed, who represented the Chairperson of the FCT Area Councils Joint Account Allocation Committee and FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, disclosed that N1.041 billion was received for the five per cent VAT in February as against N1.007 billion in the preceding month.

He gave the breakdown of the allocations from the Federation Account as: N731.26 million from Statutory Revenue Allocation, N56.77 million from Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) and N23.10 million being refund by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Other allocations from the Federation Account were: N250.35 million being arrears

of January 2013 Budget Augmentation and N277.09 million being differential between budget and actual.

Of the N2.38 billion revenue allocation, Ahmed stated that the JAAC transferred N894.43 million to the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) for payment of the primary school teachers’ salaries in the area councils; N95.04 million to FCT Area Councils Pension Board (ACPB) being 15 per cent pension fund as statutorily required, and N23.80 million to FCT Area Councils Service Commission being one per cent training fund, also statutorily required According to him, the net revenue allocation of N1.366 billion was distributed to the six Area Councils, with Abuja Municipal Area Council receiving the lion’s share of N319.58 million, as against the

sum of N242.75 received in January 2013.

The FCT Area Councils Joint Account Allocation Committee also distributed N233.77 million to Gwagwalada Area Council, N218.94 million to Bwari Area Council, N205.91 million to Kuje Area Council, N194.79 million to Kwali Area Council and N193.92 million to Abaji Area Council.

Gwagwalada, Bwari, Kuje, Kwali and Abaji got net revenue allocations of N190.38 million, N198.28 million, N167.92 million, N155.29 million and N157.94 million, respectively.

On SURE-P funds, Abuja Municipal got highest allocation of N16.77 million, followed by Bwari (N9.28 million), Gwagwalada (N8.50 million), Kwali (N7.79 million), Kuje (N7.45 million) and Abaji (N6.96 million).

ecreation gardens in the Abuja metropolis recorded higher patronage this year than during the 2012 Easter celebrations, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A cross-section of garden owners stated in separate interviews with NAN on Sunday in Abuja that residents were not as bothered about the security issues in the country as they were in 2012.

A garden owner in Apo, Mrs Ngozi Uwoh, said that she made lots of sale during this Easter, the proceed of which almost doubled that of 2012.

Mr Basil Okonkwo, a customer, said that he did not go out of his house last Easter because of the security situation in the country.

“I locked my family and I up in the house last year; in fact, we did not go to church.

“The bombing issue was so fresh then that one had to be careful.

“But now, we thank God that the situation is no longer as bad as it was and we can come out to gardens to celebrate with our family and friends.’’

Mrs Daniella Ebube, another garden owner, said that she did not bother to open her shop last Easter because of her experience during the Christmas celebration of 2011.

She said that patronage was very low and as such, she did not open during the Easter of 2012.

Ebube explained that this year’s Easter was different, adding that she had not made so much profit in the last five years.

She urged the Federal Government to address the security threats in the country, especially during festive periods, so that people would be able to celebrate.

Mr Bitrus Adams, a garden Manager, said that the Easter celebration was peaceful and promising.

“I am hopeful for better patronage before the end of the celebrations.’’ (NAN)

Land Swap: FCT minister promises to carry along affected indigenes

By Adeola Tukuru

F

CT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed has assured that affected original inhabitants in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) living within the areas earmarked for the land swap policy would be carried along in the implementation of the programme.

He stated that they would

not be abandoned to the elements as their wellbeing would be adequately captured.

Bala further advised them not to allow themselves to be used as tool by those scheming to politicize the policy which is intended to accelerate infrastructure and housing development in the FCT. Speaking during a meeting with relevant officials in his office, the Minister stated that

the land swap system was adopted as a way of fasttracking development to keep pace with the ever increasing population of FCT. He described Abuja as the fastest growing city in Africa stressing that there would be a demographic disaster unless a revolutionary measure like the land swap system was taken to provide decent and affordable housing for the

residents including the original inhabitants.

Senator Bala Mohammed directed that more interactive sessions be held with the affected persons to reassure them of the huge benefits derivable from the land swap policy adding that the model was pro-people.

He stated that FCT is a place for all Nigerians hence the need to fast-track the opening of

more districts to accommodate millions of people relocating to the territory to the territory from other parts of the country, particularly the areas facing security challenges.

The Minister pleaded for the understanding of all Nigerians while his administration takes measures continue with the provision of amenities and facilities to stem the mounting on existing ones.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 17

Easter: Igbo community leader in Abuja advises Christians on good conduct

By Usman Shuaibu

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President, Talent Groom Foundation, Mrs. Nelly Egbo, and President, Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Mrs. Jummai Ahmadu, celebrating with children of St. Maryland Orphanage Home Gwagwalada, during the Easter Reach out Celebration, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

NGO celebrates Easter for orphans in Gwagwalada

By Josephine Ella Ejeh

A

s part of its efforts towards improving the well being of the less privilege in the society, Helpline Foundation for the Needy, a non-governmental organization based in Abuja in collaboration with Talent Group Foundation, yesterday extended their hands of charity to St. Mary’s Home for Orphans and Destitute in Gwagwalada of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The President of the Foundation, Mrs. Jumai Ahmadu said while presenting the items to the beneficiaries of the Home that the gesture was part of efforts to commemorate the Easter celebration and to demonstrate love for the less privilege in the society.

She noted that the Easter celebration is an occasion to demonstrate what she described as unparallel to fellow human as exemplified in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, especially for the needy in the society.

“If Christians all over the world celebrate Easter to mark the death and resurrection of Christ, then there is no better day to demonstrate love to our fellow human than Easter because Christ die for our sins so that we live in abundant,” she stressed.

The NGO boss affirmed that Helpline Foundation will continue in its reach-out programmes for orphans and widows in the society, pointing out that this year Easter celebration with orphans in Gwagwalada is one of the series of events lined for the needy in the society.

In her lecture titled “character development”, Mrs. Ahmadu explained that character development is a very crucial issue

in the lives of everybody.

While calling on the children of the Home to build good character, she said “our character informs us, defines who we are before our audience and determines how far we can go in life. God almighty who is the creator of everyone here has interest in developing our character when he said in Matthew 5 vs. that blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called the children of God. This means that when you make

peace among yourselves and whenever you are you shall be called the children of God. Whenever we find ourselves in life, what so ever the circumstances let us be determined to build a good character”.

This was as she enjoined the children to imbibe qualities such as honesty, respect for elderly in the society, self control, hard work and diligence in resources.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Holy Family Sister’s of the

Needy, the Co-coordinator of the Home, Rev. Sister Josephine Nnwaogugu expressed gratitude to Helpline Foundation for showing love and care to the needy in the society, even as she called on other spirited Nigerians to emulate this kind gesture.

High point of the occasion was the cutting of birthday cake of Master Paschal Chinemerem Okereke who marked his one year birthday with orphans of the Home.

he leader of Igbo residents in Idu- Gbagyi- Karmo ,a suburb in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC),FCT, Dr. Okey Sokoto Ukatah, has advised Christians irrespective of their denominations to be good ambassadors of their religion and be of good character wherever they found themselves.

He also urged the Christians to emulate the life style of Jesus Christ in the interest of peace to reign in the society.

Ukatah, who gave the advice in an interview with Peoples Daily during the Easter celebration in Abuja, explaining that the Easter was being celebrated every year by the Christians all over the world to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,.

He further called on the Christians to devote their time in worship God all the times and urged them to live in peace with other religious faithful.

He then appeal to the pastors to preach the salvation of God to their followers always as was being contained in the Bible, instead of exploiting their church members financially to acquire wealth.

Eze called on the Igbo traditional rulers to administer their subjects with the fear of God, while advising the elected politicians to provide the gains of democracy for the electorates that voted them in power, explained that the electorates would hold them accountable in the Day of Judgment if they failed to meet up with their demands.

Easter celebration: commuters decry hike in transport fare

C

ommuters at the Jabi Motor Park in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed dissatisfaction over the increase in transport fare.

One of the commuters ,Mr Ayodeji Dele,attributed the hike to the pending rumour on the removal of subsidy by the Federal Government.

Dele said that the rumour had made many transporters to jack-up their fares, before a new price regime would ensure.

According to him, we have been paying N2,500 for buses from Abuja to Akure, but now there is a five hundred naira increase making it N3,000.

Another commuter, Mr Isa

Tukur, said the cost of travelling to Lokoja before the Easter was N600 for a bus, but now it is N1,000.

He attributed the increase to a delay in getting to Lokoja caused by the traffic jam along GwagwaladaAbaji express way.

When contacted, Mr Danjuma Yabo, an official of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW)

Children having fun during Easter Monday celebration yesterday at Millennium Park, in Abuja.

Jabi branch, said that the hike was caused by the delay the transporters faced on the Abuja-Lokoja high way.

Yabo regretted the manner in which both passengers and transporters had been put to stress due to the bad roads.

According to him, it took some eight hours to get to Lokoja from Abuja. (NAN)

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

PAGE 18

FCTA, NGO offer training to biomedical engineers, technicians

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Federal Capital T e r r i t o r y Administration (FCTA) in collaboration a non-profit organisation in the United States of America, Medshare, is providing free training for biomedical engineers and technicians.

A statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the Special Assistant (Media & Publicity) to the Minister of State for FCT, Oluyinka Akintunde, said the training was being funded courtesy of a grant obtained from generous partners in the United States by Medshare.

Akintunde disclosed that the choice of the FCT as recipient of the grant was facilitated by the Honourable Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide.

He added that the Health and Human Services Secretariat in the FCT would host the training of over 50 participants from various states of the Federation from 2 and April to 5th April 2013.

He quoted the FCT Minister of State, Akinjide, as saying that the Administration was committed to ensuring a sustainable quality and affordable healthcare delivery system in the Federal Capital City, Area Councils and Satellite Towns.

"This training is coming at a time when the FCT administration is focused on a health transformation agenda poised at ensuring a sustainable quality and affordable healthcare delivery system comparable to those of developed cities around the world.

"It is anticipated that this specialized training in the repair, servicing and maintenance of biomedical equipment will go a long way in allowing the FCTA achieve these laudable objectives," Akinjide stated.

Medshare, a registered as a non-profit organisation in the USA, works in the Health sector to bridge the gap between demand and surplus through the collection of surplus medical equipment and supplies from manufacturers, distributors and hospitals, and the redistribution to qualified healthcare facilities in developing countries.

Since its inception in 1998, Medshare has donated over $93million worth of medical supplies and equipment in more than 700 forty-foot containers to hospitals and clinics in the economically developing world.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

Abuja residents want FG to recycle used plastic containers T

he Federal Government has been urged to recycle used cellophane and plastics containers to generate wealth for the populace, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Some Abuja residents, who spoke with NAN on Sunday, said that used containers could be recycled from waste-to-wealth.

A resident, Mr Musa Johnson, noted that recycling would encourage investors to invest in

the country with a view to creating jobs for the unemployed persons.

Johnson posited that if Nigeria took this step, it would speed up its development drive and enable it to compete with countries like Brazil.

He, however, appealed to the Federal Government to ban the production and use of cellophane bags, noting that it had no recycle value.

Johnson said that cellophane

bags are not biodegradable.

NAN reports that biodegradable materials are something that decay naturally without any scientific treatment.

Johnson observed that cellophane were not good for both the environment and the soil.

Another resident, Mrs Grace Adejoh, said that Nigeria was not utilising its waste, stressing that the only state that was recycling its waste products is Lagos.

Adejoh urged the FCT to take

Environmental sanitation workers clearing waste at Karu-Jikwoye road in Nyanya, recently.

a cue from Lagos State.

Mr Henry Daches, another resident, said that recycling of waste would shore up the nation’s economy.

Daches observed that most of the refuse were usually burnt, which he said, was not good for the soil, adding that the flames were also hazardous to humans.

He said that the waste products could be used in making T-shirts, bags, handkerchiefs, among other things. (NAN)

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

NBA Suleja swears-in new officials

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Suleja Local Government Area in Niger State has been sworn-in the new executives to pilot the affairs of the association in the area.

Speaking to newsmen at the occasion, the Niger State Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, Barrister Abdullahi Bawa Wuse urged the new officials of NBA Suleja branch to come together to move the

association to a greater height.

He appealed to the executives to deem it necessary to take the Junior lawyers along in the helm of things, as according to him, lawyers must work as one family to impact on the lives of the young ones in the society.

The commissioner used the occasion to call on government to give the necessary support to the judiciary to enable it perform its responsibilities effectively, saying that his administration had done a lot of things in the

delivery of criminal justice in the state.

Also speaking, the President of Nigeria Bar Association, Mr. Okey Wali (SAN) who was represented by Mr. Augustine Alegeh, advised the leadership of NBA Suleja branch to remain focused and committed to the law profession He urged the officials to carry the members along for the overall development of the association Wali said that his leadership would continue to fight quack

lawyers in the country for the betterment of the society.

On his part, the new chairman of NBA Suleja branch, Barrister Mohamed Tanko Zakari, said that his administration would give priority attention to the capacity building of his members to enhance productivity.

He assured the members that his administration would join hands with security agencies to arrest the corrupt practices affecting the institutions as well as judiciary sector at this present time.

Principal demands for sporting facilities in Kwali

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he principal of Government Secondary School (GSS) Yangoji in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mrs. Hafsat H. Suleiman, has appealed the management of the FCT Secondary Education Board (SEB) to provide the sporting facilities to enable the students to excel in the sports competition.

She also called on the leadership of the FCT SEB to complete the perimeter fencing of the school as

well as to repair the dilapidated infrastructures.

Suleiman, who made this appeal in a three- page address presented during the just concluded 7th annual inter-house sports competition, also urged the private individuals and cooperate organizations to donate relevant textbooks to the school library for the benefit of the students.

She further asked the SEB to build an administrative block and provide furniture for the staff/ students to put an end to the challenges faced by the institution.

“We need more teachers and more computers for ICT training of our students in the school”, she requested.

The Yangoji GSS principal, however, begged the FCT Education Secretariat and the power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to connect the school to national grid to boost electricity supply in the institution.

In his response, the Vice – principal Administration, Mallam Maiyaki K. U. Mohammed, called on the FCT Education secretariat to convert Yangoji secondary

school to a full fledged coeducational boarding school in order to ginger the students from far and near to have access to their studies all the times.

He also urged the FCT SEB to integrate culture into inter-house sports competition so as to impact the cultural heritage of our forefathers on the students.

While community on the academic performances of the students, Mohammed noted that in 2012 SSCE/WAEC the students had made 70% pass as required by the universities admission.

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

Mob: 08033644990

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 20

FG targets 2bn cubic feet of gas for power by 2015

34 mineral resources registered in 500 locations in 2012 Minister

T Some officials of Olive Micro-finance Bank explaining some points to customers and visitors on the new package targeted at farmers.

Photo: NAN

MFB targets new brands for customers

T

he Managing Director, Olive Micro-finance Bank, Mr Eniola Agbesoyin, has urged customers to expect an improved “Olive Agric Account product’’ in the market soon.

Agbesoyin told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, at the weekend, that the bank was rebranding the product to offer better services to the people.

He assured customers that

the product would be relaunched, adding that the new package was targeted at farmers belonging to associations.

The managing director said the bank had concluded arrangement with the Lagos State Catfish Association and the United Vegetable Farmers, Ikorodu, for the pilot scheme.

Agbesoyin said the product would enable farmers, through

their associations, access microcredit from the bank and paid overtime.

He said that repayment period would be delayed till harvest period to ease repayment tension on the farmers.

“The improved Olive Agric Account product is aimed at bringing farmers together through their associations and access microcredit from the

bank.

“What they need is little money to improve on their farming and made payment overtime, especially during the harvest period.

“We are rebranding the product and our focus is farmers, especially those involved in different kinds of farming.

“Indeed, we intend to encourage them through the new package,” he said. (NAN)

By Chris Alu etired postal service workers have accused their union leaders of sabotaging payment of their seven years accrued pension arrears amounting about N1.7 billion.

Speaking recently in Abuja, the members of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) pensioners body accused their union leaders of sabotage, saying that the leaders were deliberating frustrating efforts of theFederal Government in paying them their accrued monies.

Yomi Akindutire, a spokesman of the pensioners told our correspondent in Abuja, that the union leaders at the national level were not carrying them along in the negotiation with the government.

He accused people appointed to negotiate on their behalf of non-challant altitude, thereby inhibiting progress towards accelerating their payment.

“The problem we are facing now is not even the management, it is not from the Federal Government but within our members themselves who are using this medium to sabotage the President and the post master Generals effort of paying NIPOST pensioners”, he stated.

“We believe that we would

have started receiving our money if our leaders are proactive. We have been in Abuja to hold a meeting with the National President of Pensioners, to discuss the issue and find solution to it,” said Akindutire.

It could be recalled that the

Postmaster-General of the Federation, Mori Baba, had said on Jan. 27 that the Federal Government would soon settle the N1.7 billion pension arrears.Baba said that NIPOST management and the Federal Government had reached an

agreement to pay the pension arrears.

Hundreds of NIPOST pensioners had on Jan. 8 staged a nationwide protest over their unpaid pension arrears between 2005 and 2012.

Postal pensioners accuse union of sabotage

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Nigeria targets N160bn trade with Pakistan

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule

N

igeria would enhance two-way trade with Pakistan to $1 billion (N160 bn by the end of 2013, by enhancing interaction between the business communities of both the countries.

High Commissioner of Nigeria to Pakistan, Dauda Danladi Mni at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) attached great importance to boost economic

interaction with the government of Pakistan, particularly the business community.

He said in order to boost foreign investment, Nigerian government created free zone in its territories to favour foreign investments as no custom duty applicable within the free zone.

Dauda said trade with Nigeria was also quite beneficial for Pakistan, as Nigeria could serve as a window of business opportunity to the whole of West Africa.

He said great opportunities were being explored by the Nigerian High Commission in the area of agricultural machinery like tractors, pharmaceuticals and export of garments including electro-medical apparatus to Nigeria from Pakistan.

Nigeria offers great investment opportunities to Pakistan in a number of areas including oil and gas, minerals and mining, agriculture and livestock, poultry and fisheries.

Management Tip of the Day

Reframe a tough interview question

Y

ou’ve probably been asked this perennial, annoying question: “Where do you see yourself in five years?” Your interviewer will often use it to get at several pieces of information at once. So before responding, try to determine what they really want to know.

Look for subtext in other

questions they’ve asked or in comments they’ve made. For instance, has the hiring manager mentioned that you’d be replacing someone who left the company after just six months?

Maybe he wants to find out how long you’ll stick around, since the cost of turnover is so high. Or did he raise the question right after

asking you to describe your ideal job? Perhaps he’s trying to get at whether the position is a good match for you and how long you’ll enjoy doing it.

After you’ve replied, follow up with something like, “Did that answer your question?”

Source: Harvard Business Review

he Minister of Mines and Solid Minerals Development, Musa Sada has said that the Federal Government registered 34 mineral resources in 500 locations in the country in 2012.

The minister made this known recently, said the registration of the mineral resources was part of the reform agenda of the Federal Government to attract investors into the sector.

He added that one of the challenges of the sector had been the non-availability of the right information for investors in the mining sector to enable them to take the right investment decisions.

“The acquisition, storage and dissemination of the data is one of the major responsibilities of the ministry.

“During the year 2012, quite a lot of activities have been done and it is within that same year that we were able to conclude the aero-magnetic data acquisition for the country.

“Nigeria turned out to be about the only country in Africa that has 100 per cent coverage.

“This is what led us to register the mineral occurrences in the country, which in the last count was about 34 and the locations we were able to register is about 500.

“We find out that there is no local government area in the country that has no mineral resource which can be exploited for the benefit of the people in terms of getting revenue, eliminating poverty and generating jobs,’’ Sada said.

Sada said the ministry had also succeeded in separating the mineral types into various grouping, which included industrial minerals, metals and stones, among others.

The minister noted that the ministry was able to track the mineral resources by licensing them and making necessary follow-up to ensure that when they were exploited, appropriate royalties would be collected.

He said that the ministry had also made follow up to ensure that beyond the royalties, investors paid taxes to government.

He noted that over N2 billion was realised as royalties, while over N6 billion was realised in taxes in 2012.

The economic orientation of the sector, he said, made every state that made contribution to the income to demand for 13 per cent derivation.(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS

Oando

O

ando Energy Resources Inc. said it had signed binding documentation with Oando Plc, to indirectly acquire, from Oando, equity interests in Oando Qua Ibo Limited (OQI), a Nigerian company established to hold a 40 percent participating interest in the Qua Ibo Marginal Field within Oil Mining Lease (OML 13) located onshore Nigeria.

The acquisition is expected to close on or about April 12, 2013, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, the company said.

Oando currently holds 94.6 percent of the issued and outstanding common shares of OER.

Nutricima

D

airy and beverage maker, Nutricima Limited is offering students in Lagos State the opportunity to taste the nourishing values of two of its products, Nunu and Bliss in a school-wide campaign featuring about 6,000 children in 10 nursery and primary schools.

Ten pupils will win N10, 000 each through an essay competition among the schools.Officials of Nutricima Limited kicked off the initiative recently with visits to schools in the Ikeja Local Government area.

Schools visited include Chrisland International at Opebi, St. Leo’s Catholic School, Gophawood School, Omoleye Children’s School and Salvation International School.

Others include Hallmark School, Agidingbi, Tunwase School and Future Kids.During the visits, officials share information on nutrition as well as hand product samples of Bliss Choco and NunuChoca Malt to the pupils.

Samsung

S

outh Korean tech giant Samsung unveiled the successor of the Samsung Galaxy S3 - Galaxy S4 and wowed many critics and reviewers.

The Galaxy S4, will head to US mobile carrier T-Mobile on May 1st with a friendly price tag of $99.

The S4 will run on the latest version of Google’s Android operating system (4.2.2 Jelly Bean) and be powered by Samsung’s new Exynos 5 Octa processor.

Atlantic Energy’s moves to transform Nigerian oil and gas industry

A

tlantic Energy, one of the leading indigenous oil and gas companies in strategic alliance with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has been very resolute in its commitment to help transform the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.

For those who are not part of the oil and gas industy’s transformation, business or been up to date with the activities in this industry, such may not be noticeable.

Recently, at the 2013 Nigerian oil and gas conference and exhibition in Abuja, the commitment of Atlantic Energy was reaffirmed.

Atlantic Energy was a platinum sponsor at the 13th Nigerian Oil and Gas conference, one of the Africa’s largest oil and gas conference held in Abuja that witnessed the gathering of over 1000 national and international senior level delegates from the Up-stream, Mid-stream and Down-stream sectors of the oil and gas industry.

Representatives, including the Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, H.E. Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), represented by the Group Managing Director, Engr.

Andrew Yakubu and Group Executive Director, Exploration & Production, Abiye Membere; International and Indigenous Oil Companies (IOCs), Service Companies; Nigerian and

Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is one among several other industries in Nigeria that need collaboration to work effectively. At the recent Oil and Gas Conference in Abuja, the contribution of Atlantic Energy to the transformation of Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria was showcased, writes Etuka Sunday.

Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke international banks amongst others.

The Co-Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Energy, Mr. Scott Aitken chaired the panel discussion on the topic: “Focus on Independents – How are Indigenous Companies Transforming the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry?”

Key points that were discussed included: Creating an enabling environment to encourage Nigerian companies to enter and expand operations; What are the fiscal and regulatory incentives that

indigenous companies require?

How can indigenous companies access the technical know-how and financing to further their operations?, and ‘The divestment process from IOCs to indigenous companies: Successes and pitfalls?’.

Mr. Aitken noted that while IOCs are responsible for over 90% of production in Nigeria, there are hundreds of undeveloped onshore discoveries, therefore, there is a need for more indigenous companies like Atlantic Energy to join in taking the Nigerian oil and gas

industry forward.

He also noted that recently, the Nigerian government tasked the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), an operator (and fully-owned subsidiary of the NNPC) who are in a strategic alliance with Atlantic Energy to develop a number of NPDC’s assets to drastically increase its production of crude oil and natural gas.

NPDC has 130,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) of current production with a target of reaching 250,000 bopd by 2015 and significantly increasing the supply of domestic gas to the country to enable an increase in power generation and support local manufacturing industries. Atlantic Energy through its Strategic Alliance with NPDC, will assist NPDC attain this target.

Additionally, he stated that a significant portion of the Nigeria’s marketed natural gas is processed into LNG and this natural gas only constituted 4% of the country’s energy consumption as at 2010; however, the power sector privatization is driving an increased demand for gas, with an installed capacity of 7,000 MW and a target capacity of 16,000 MW by the end of 2013.

FG targets 2bn cubic feet of gas for power by 2015

By Etuka Sunday

I

n its efforts to improve power generation in the country, the Federal Government has announced plans to boost its power generation with 2 billion cubic feet of gas per day by the year 2015.

The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, disclosed this at the Off-shore West Africa Oil and Gas conference in Accra, Ghana.

He also disclosed that the country’s oil and gas production

had been on the decline due to crude oil theft and severe flooding in the Niger Delta.

Yakubu, who was represented by the Group General Manager of Corporate Audit, Isa Inuwa, said future growth in power generation would continue to be gas-based as the nation aspires to attain a 40,000 megawatts (MW) generation capacity by 2020.

However, he said the NNPC was more concerned about boosting the country’s crude oil and gas production capacity.

He said: “Government’s focus on gas development and

ensuring its availability for power generation is based on the firm belief that the spin-off effects of a reliable power supply would provide a solid base for industrialisation, leading to the provision of employment opportunity and attracting the much needed investment in the country.

“Government plans to build a Central Processing Facility (CPF) in Rivers State from which would come wet gas from wells, which would be processed into dry gas and natural gas”.

He said this involved the setting up of a world-class

OPEC March output drops to a 16-month low

T

he Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) crude production slipped to a 16-month low in March as output in Nigeria dropped to the least in over three years, a Bloomberg survey showed.

Output in the 12-member OPEC declined 70,000 barrels, or 0.2 percent, to an average 30.554 million barrels a day this month from a revised 30.624 million in February, the survey of oil companies, producers and

analysts showed.

Last month’s total was lowered by 75,000 barrels a day.

Nigeria’s production decreased 270,000 barrels to 1.81 million barrels a day in March, the lowest level since September 2009, the survey showed. Output is often disrupted by robbery and unrest in the Niger River delta, the country’s main oil-producing region.

Eni SpA stopped oil operations in the Bayelsa state swamp area in Nigeria because crude theft and

sabotage reached “unsustainable” peaks of 60 percent of the company’s output, Eni said on March 26 in a statement. The closure will reduce supplies to the Brass River Export terminal, it said.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc ended a two-week force majeure on March 19 for crude exports from its Bonny oil terminal after repairs were completed following a leak on its Nembe Creek pipeline, a company spokesman said on March 22. (Bloomberg)

Group Managing Director, NNPC, Andrew Yakubu petrochemical plant with the capacity to produce 1.3 million tonnes of polyethylene and 400,000 tonnes of polyethylene yearly.

The NNPC boss stated that government was envisaging that from this plant, myriad secondary industries would be developed.

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

Samsung unveils Galaxy Note 8.0 Stories from Chris Alu

S

amsung Electronics has made another debut in the market, with the launch of a new tablet called Galaxy 8.0, which the company says will add value to its numerous consumers.

The tablet, Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 is a compact device offering convenient, multitasking capabilities and sophisticated S-Pen features for the busy, modern and creative person.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Brovo Kim, Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, described the latest product as a slim and compact on-the-go work and play companion, which brings powerful performance and

functionality support to its customers.

He said that” Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet has the power and advanced technology to evolve the tablet experience and ensure consumers achieve efficient multi-tasking functions.

Using an intelligent S-Pen, you can now enjoy the ease of a traditional pen and paper with the latest in Samsung notebook technological innovation, creating a sophisticated mobile experience that will enhance life on the go”, Kim said.

Also speaking, Mr. Olumide Ojo, Head of Sales, Hand Held Products at Samsung Electronics West Africa said the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 is packed with features to engage, entertainment and excite.

According to him,the Galaxy Note 8.0 will supports users’ with practical everyday needs.

“Reading Mode transforms the Galaxy Note 8.0 into an e-Book reader, providing optimal reading conditions to help ensure consumers can curl up and enjoy a good book”.

Adding that creative multitasking with the Galaxy Note 8.0 is effortless due to its innovative Dual View feature, two multi-window options that seamlessly allow consumers to facilitate multi-screen usage.

“The Dual View’s split screen accommodates optimal operation of different apps, such as launching the S Note on the web browser screen and allowing content to be resized, dragged and dropped as required,” he stated.

Glo to overhaul its network for QOS

T

elecommunications giant, Globacom has commenced a massive network expansion and technical network upgrade project that will significantly enhance the quality of customer experience on the network.

The Group Chief Operating Officer, Mohamed Jameel said that as part of the 10th anniversary celebration, Glo is investing heavily to up-scale the network to the latest technology in global telecommunications.

Jameel explained that the massive expansion project which has already started, involves network upgrade and overhaul of infrastructure across the country as well as expansion and densification projects that will, on completion within the next one year, enable the network to cater for its existing and potential subscribers.

“This will make Globacom the number one network in terms of investment,” said Jameel.

The project includes building of new switches, increasing of mobile switching centres to ease congestion and construction of additional 4,000 km of optic fibre cable

which will complement the existing fibre optic facility which is the most extensive fibre coverage of Nigeria.

Glo has state-of-the-art IP/ MPLS and TDM technologies (30 gigabyte capacity) to meet requirements of enterprise customers, video, voice and data services.

The TDM network is being upgraded to a fully integrated Generalised Multi-protocol Label Switching (GMPLS).

Part of the upgrade also includes the installation new base stations and densification of existing ones, setting up of three new mini call centers across the country to take care of vast increase in subscriber figures and upgrade of the radio access network which will ensure that data customers enjoy unparalleled speed and reliability.

“We are building a brand new network based on latest technology and adequate capacity to cater for our growing subscriber base.

“The project will include the optimization of the existing Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) both 2G and 3G for High Speed data transmission, full integration of our backbone infrastructure with the Glo 1 international

submarine cable and upgrade of the high capacity IP-based radio access network which will ensure that our data customers enjoy unparalleled speed and reliability.

“We are also deepening network reception across the country as we accelerate the pace of planned rollout of base stations.

Virtually every Nigerian community will benefit from the network upgrade.

“All major cities and medium-size cities will have 3G coverage to ensure that the quality of high speed internet service and data transfers will be similar to what you will find anywhere in Europe or America,” Jameel added.

“This is in line with our commitment to provide our customers world-class information, communication and technology (ICT) services through constant deployment of latest technologies.

“We will stay committed to our corporate promise at inception that Globacom would build a robust ICT network infrastructure that is comparable with the best in the world, and would consistently deliver value to its esteemed customers”, he stated.

iPad Mini 2 release date pegged to Q2 – Reports

R

eports are claiming that iPad Mini 2 will arrive this fall. This is fuelled by reports that Apple cut down its iPad Mini shipments in preparation for the release of iPad Mini 2 release date.

The latest news comes from DigiTimes, which compiled tips from industry sources in the Apple supply chain. This report claims Apple is reducing shipments of the iPad mini in the second quarter of 2013.

The decrease may be as high as 20% on month during April, the sources noted, and may continue to slightly decrease throughout the quarter to bring total shipments of the iPad mini

to as low as 10 million units during the quarter.

The iPad mini shipment cut information reportedly come from multiple sources in the supply chain, and point to Apple making adjustments for the next iPad mini, a device that many are calling the iPad mini 2. The shipment reduction is also reportedly due to increased competition in the 7-inch tablet sector.

According to reports, iPad Mini 2 will feature a screen with a resolution of 2048 x 1536. This is almost four times the resolution of the present iPad Mini and is equal to the fourth generation iPad which was

released along with the iPad Mini last year. AU Optronics has been rumoured to be making displays for the iPad Mini 2.

Other specs include a more powerful dual core A7 processor and a 7.9 inch screen. It will also feature a 10-hour battery life, a FaceTime HD camera, and an iSight camera with 1080 pixels HD video recording. Apple is also trying to reduce the thickness of the iPad Mini 2 by using the Sharp’s IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide) technology in its screens.

However, the Cupertinobased company remained tightlipped on the rumours and on its plans for this year.

Apple ipad mini

... expands care services in Nigeria

S

amsung Electronics West Africa has stepped up its market expansion drive in Nigeria, with the opening of a new, full-fledged service centre at Ojuelegba Road, Yaba, Lagos.

Samsung’s Smart Care Service Centre will provide consumers with instant access to service, repairs and enquiries on Samsung’s full range of audiovisual, mobile and computing devices in a standalone location.

The customer service centre is the latest in the series of Samsung’s roll out of new, modern service centres all over Nigeria and brings the total number of the company’s customer service outlets in the country to 33, with 13 centres in Lagos alone.

Speaking at the launch of the service centre recently, Mr. Brovo Kim, Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa reiterated the company’s commitment to providing its customers with sound, convenient and impeccable after-sales service infrastructure.

The centre is manned by

highly-trained engineers and also holds genuine Samsung spare parts for a range of Samsung mobile handsets, television sets, microwave ovens, air conditioning units and refrigerators, among other appliances.

In addition to conducting immediate face-to-face repair work, the centre also boasts a product display area for customers to view and experience the latest range of products in Samsung’s stableAlso speaking, Mr. Raymond Olatokun, Samsung Electronics’ West Africa’s Service Manager, said, ”Since our customers are our first and foremost concern, we are always looking for the best ways to serve them wherever they are.

“With that in mind, we have inaugurated our 33rd Smart Care Service Centre in Nigeria, demonstrating our commitment to widen our service coverage in the country and also ensure customer satisfaction. We look forward to the opening of more centres in the country in the near future,” he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 22

Investment challenges facing Africa’s mining industry F

ifty-three years ago this week, the then UK Prime Minister Harold Macmillan delivered his famous "wind of change" speech in Cape Town.

On 3 February 1960, he spoke of the political change that was blowing through the continent as African countries lined up to claim their independence from Europe's colonial powers.

This week, aside from the strong south-westerly winds that blast through Cape Town at this time of the year, there was another wind of change blowing through the Investing in African Mining Indaba.

Many of the 7,500 delegates at the annual conference in Cape Town felt that the investment wind was no longer blowing south to South Africa's mining industry, but had changed and was now blowing north and west - seeking out opportunities in the rest of the continent.

The reason is simple. Many investors are still nervous about last year's strikes at many of South Africa's mines and the devastating effect they had on production.

'Stability is key' Some analysts see better opportunities elsewhere and investors are looking at Ghana, Guinea, Mali and even Ethiopia.

"If you look at where the majors seem to be doing their business, many of them are withdrawing from South Africa," says Charles Bond of the law firm Gowlings.

"There are good deals to be had in South Africa but there's a lot of other opportunity around the other African jurisdictions.

"A lot of those countries are welcoming in investors with open arms. They're trying to make their mining codes more easy, more accessible - whereas South Africa, because of the political uncertainty here, it's been more difficult to promote their mining investment."

As belt-tightening happens in the investor countries, many countries in Africa are finding themselves competing for a shrinking pot of investment money.

African governments know that investors will balance risk and reward, and that stability is key. Keen to point this out, Gabon's exhibition stand at the Indaba had a large poster with "a safe and friendly country" emblazoned across it.

'Yesterday is history' One way countries are stressing how investor-friendly they are is to quash any talk of nationalisation, which during the recent boom in commodities surfaced in

The real challenge for many African countries is not mining, but reaching their export markets certain places.

South Africa's Mining Indaba attracts delegates from more than 100 countriesSusan Shabangu, South Africa's Minister of Mining, spent some time last year reiterating her government's policy that there would be no nationalisation of

the mines, despite the calls from the likes of the former ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema.

Other countries are adamant nationalisation is not even a consideration.Yamfwa Mukanga, Zambia's Minister of Mines, Energy and Water

“

One estimate, by Standard Bank, says Africa will need $50bn (£31bn) of infrastructure investment over the next 10 years, if its resources are to be exploited effectively.

Development, scoffed at the very notion when I asked him about it as a possibility.

Mike Allen Hammah, Ghana's outgoing Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, told me a renationalisation of his country's mines would be against the constitution."We won't go back," he said.

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is the present. For us, having learnt from history, there's no way we are going to go back to nationalising mining companies."

Infrastructure investment But other African countries do face a challenge that South Africa doesn't infrastructure.It is all very well having enormous mineral deposits, but if they cannot be exported, no-one benefits.

Deloitte's South Africa mining leader, Tony Zoghby, says: "Africa, in terms of infrastructure, is relatively undeveloped."Although the resources are there, actually getting them out of the ground and getting them from where they're mined to the ports is the big challenge."

One estimate, by Standard Bank, says Africa will need $50bn (£31bn) of

infrastructure investment over the next 10 years, if its resources are to be exploited effectively.

'Challenging time' Knowing that the rule of law is being abided by all sides is important for investors too.That's another reason why they were so spooked by last year's wildcat strikes in South Africa.

Peter Major, mining analyst at Cadiz Corporate Solutions, says: "If you have average deposits you'd better have way, way above enforcement of law and you want regulations enforced on both sides."

Mining companies have to comply but so do governments and the unions."

Mungo Soggot, at Risk Analysis, says that all the major mining firms have either "quite significantly reduced their exposure" to South Africa or are thinking about it."

But it would be premature to say that the era of big mining is over in South Africa. It's an immensely challenging time," he says.

So, the consensus might not be one of doom, but perhaps South Africa should be looking at its golden years in its rearview mirror. (Source: BBC)

PEOSPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APIRL 2, 2013

Report as at Thursday, March 28, 2013

PAGE 23

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

ALSCON: Again, more controversy dogs ailing alminium smelting giant Bassey Udo

T

he privatization of the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State may well be one of Nigeria’s longest attempt to privatise a public asset by the Federal Government. But, it is a transaction mired in controversy and steeped in executive intrigues and corruption. Here are some 14 facts Nigerians should know about ALSCON and its privatization by the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE and the National Council on Privatization, NCP. The $3.2billion (N480 billion) plant, incorporated in 1989, was closed mid-1999 after it was bogged down by operational problems including capital, barely five years after it began operation.

It was one of six public enterprises in the steel and aluminum sector slated for partial privatization in year 2000 by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

The process to privatize ALSCON began in 2001. After five postponements, involving six prospective investors, namely Glencore of Switzerland; BHP/Bilton of Australia; RUSAL (Bratsk) Aluminum of Russia; ALCOA Incorporated of America; Ferrostaal AG of Germany and ALCAN of Canada, RUSAL was the only company left to bid for the plant. But, after Obasanjo went to the U.S. to personally invite Nigerians in the Diaspora to show interest in his administration’s privatization programme, BFIGroup, the NigerianAmerican consortium headed

by Rueben Jaja, a Nigerian later joined.

Though RUSAL initially indicated interest to bid for ALSCON, Dayson Holdings Limited of Cayman Island, a shadowy incorporation existing under the Commonwealth Trust Limited, a private blind Trust incorporated in Tortola, British Virgins Island, with alleged links to some powerful Nigerian elites and political office holders, including former President Oluegun Obasanjo, actually signed the

share purchase agreement, SPA, with BPE to acquire ALSCON. During the commercial bids opening ceremony on June 14, 2004, BFIG emerged the winner and was declared the preferred bidder with an offer of $410million (N62 billion), after RUSAL was disqualified by the National Council of Privatisation, NCP, for submitting a conditional bid in violation of both the bid guidelines and the irrevocable understandings and agreements on rules for the bid reached by all parties at a prebid technical conference organized by BPE on May 20, 2004.

The origin of the crisis that has delayed the completion of ALSCON privatization exercise has been the June 17, 2004 letter by BPE, which unilaterally altered the agreed payment schedule for the initial 10 per cent of the bid price from “15 working days after the signing of the share purchase agreement”, as stated in the May 20, 2004 MoU, to “15 days of the receipt of the letter of notification as bid winner.” Several requests

by BFIG for a meeting to clarify these discrepancies in the letter were ignored by BPE, which went ahead to cancel BFIG’s win on July 9, 2004 without signing the SPA on allegation that the preferred bidder was unable to pay for the initial bid price before the deadline. BFIG went to court to enforce its contractual rights.

President Obasanjo later directed BPE and NCP to recall RUSAL and open discussions with them on how to sell ALSCON on “willing-seller willing-buyer basis”. At the end of negotiations, ALSCON was sold to RUSAL for $250million (N37.5 million), with huge waivers and concessions for Imo River dredging and gas supplies, after all legal titles, licenses, permits, land ownerships, and 16 per cent of ALSCON’s equity were lodged in a London escrow.

On February 3, 2006, Dayson Holdings Limited, rather than RUSAL, signed the SPA with BPE and NCP, for RUSAL to take-over full

control of ALSCON. The plant was re-commissioned by RUSAL management on February 22, 2008.

Prior to the bid, ALSCON’s total asset base as at December 2004 was N127.14billion and N126.4billion in 2005. At take-over by RUSAL in 2006, total asset base of ALSCON was valued at N129.9billion, or $1.03billion, according to the financial statement prepared

by PriceWaterHouseCoopers Limited and filed at the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC. Within a year of taking over, RUSAL devalued ALSCON’s total asset base by about 77 per cent to N30.98billion, or

restoring its right to acquire ALSCON. For eight months, BPE refused to abide by the order of the Supreme Court to invite BFIG and conclude the negotiations that begun in 2004 and establish a mutually agreed SPA for execution.

On January 29, 2013, BPE issued another controversial letter to BFIG, entitled: “Offer to Purchase 77.5% shares of the aluminum shelter company of Nigeria, ALSCON”, which was rejected by BFIG as illegal, as it offered to sell the shares of a non-existent company. The offer letter was also accompanied by an ‘illegal’ 16page SPA, dated May 20,

“

They (RUSAL) have no reason to suspend production and vacate the plant until BFIG executes the agreement (share purchase agreement to acquire the plant) by making the payment of the initial 10 per cent of the offer it made for the plant $261million, by December 2007, representing a loss of about N99billion. RUSAL further devalued ALSCON to N25.19 billion ($169 million) in 2008; N19.35 billion ($128million) in 2009; N14.85 billion ($96 million) in 2010; and N14.5 billion ($91 million) in 2011; representing a cumulative loss of N115.15billion ($939million) in four years of take-over.

After eight years of legal battle, the Supreme Court upturned an Appeal Court ruling by upholding that BFIG had a subsisting contract that was binding on BPE. The Supreme Court in a unanimous judgment on July 6, 2012 reversed the sale of ALSCON, sacked RUSAL and ordered the reinstatement BFIG as the authentic winner of the June 2004 bid,

2004, for execution by BFIG. Requests by BFIG to BPE seeking clarifications on the “invitation to acquire the aluminum shelter”, instead of Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria for which it was declared the preferred bidder, were ignored.

Frustrated, BFIG executed the 58-page SPA that was duly transmitted by BPE to BFIG on October 8, 2012 for review and approval. The agreement jointly negotiated by all parties in 2004, was offered to RUSAL to execute on February 3, 2006 after its negotiation with BPE and NCP. It covered a list of 17 key items, including financial statements, post-acquisition plan, liabilities, facilities, and gas sales and purchase agreements.

The executed SPA was returned by BFIG to BPE on

February 13, 2013 with a proviso for it to sign the appropriate columns and return same within five working days, indicating its designated bank’s details for the transfer of the initial 10 per cent purchase price for ALSCON as directed by the Supreme Court.

On March 19, BPE revoked its January 29, 2013 offer to BFIG despite the obvious discrepancies in its letter and SPA, claiming that BFIG was unable to pay the agreed 10 per cent of the offer price within the deadline for the execution of the SPA. The privatization of ALSCON has survived three administrations, spanning more than 11 years, including the administrations of Mr. Obasanjo, late Umaru Yar’Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan. It also involved five DirectorsGeneral of BPE – Julius Bala, Irene Chigbue, Christopher Anyanwu, Bola Onagoruwa, and Benjamin Dikki. By the time ALSCON is finally sold, the legal battle would have been won and lost in several courts in the U.S., London and Nigeria, to the detriment of over 2,000 highly skilled Nigerians, and over 20,000

other secondary smelters nationwide, that would benefit from job opportunities in the company.

In related development, it has been reported that more than eight months after the Nigerian Supreme Court ordered the annulment of the sale of Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON, to UC RUSAL, the latter on Friday announced its decision to suspend production on the plant.

The Russian firm, which took over the plant in 2006 from the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, was sacked on July 6, 2012, after the Supreme Court declared that the smelter company be handed over to BFIGroup, the Nigerian-American consortium that was declared winner of the bid held in 2004.

Since the Supreme Court handed down the order, UC RUSAL have been occupying the plant located in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, in breach of the Supreme Court’s order as it continued to insist on ownership of the plant.

In defiance of the order, the company approached the International Arbitration Court, IAC, in London urging it to restrain the Nigerian Government from

Minister of Mines and Steel, Mr. Musa Mohammed Sada

The controversy-riddled facility implementing the judgment of the Supreme Court.

But on Friday, its Director of Public Relations, Albert Dyabin, said in a statement that its management had decided to “suspend production” citing operational challenges, including lack of reliable power and gas supplies, pending the outcome of the

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Iweala-Nkonjo

appeal it filed at IAC against the Supreme Court judgment.

“Aluminium production at the plant is deeply lossmaking, which renders it impossible to fully utilise the existing capacities,” Mr. Dyabin said.

“Today, despite all measures undertaken by the company, ALSCON does not have a reliable and continuous

gas supply.

“The on-going situation around the illegal attempts to challenge RUSAL’s rights of ownership to the plant and the recent decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to cancel the sale of ALSCON shares to RUSAL impede long-term investment in the smelter.

“Consequently, RUSAL will suspend production till

DG, BPE, Bolanle onagoruwa

further notice and will resume as soon as the legal uncertainty has been resolved and the continuous power supply has been secured.”

BFIG, which had indicated its desire to be joined with the Federal Government in the IAC suit, last February, announced that it had dragged UC RUSAL before a Federal High Court, Abuja claiming N2.8 billion damages over the bid for the plant.

The consortium said, in its statement of claim, that it wants compensatory damages from UC RUSAL for “tortuous interference” in its contractual relations with BPE; conspiracy to defraud; unfair competition; and interference in prospective business advantage in the acquisition of ALSCON. It listed other defendants to include all companies under the umbrella group, United Company, UC, RUSAL, consisting JSC Russian Aluminium (RUSAL); JSC Bratsk Aluminium Plant; RUSAL America; Dayson Holdings Limited, a Shell Corporation subsidiary under the Commonwealth Trust Limited; a private Trust in Tortola British Islands, and 20 others.

Hearing in the case, to be presided over by Justice Jude

Okeke, is scheduled for March 25.

BPE Spokesman, Chukwuma Nwoko, refused to pick his call when PREMIUM TIMES called. He did not also respond to the text message sent to his phone. However, a BPE official told PREMIUM TIMES in confidence that the privatisation agency is not aware of the decision by RUSAL to suspend production on the plant, saying they have no reason to do so.

“They (RUSAL) have no reason to suspend production and vacate the plant until BFIG executes the agreement (share purchase agreement to acquire the plant) by making the payment of the initial 10 per cent of the offer it made for the plant,” the official said.

The official, who said he had no authority to speak on the issue, till BPE is fully briefed by Russian company, said what he gathered was that the company was only forced to reduce the number of production pots it has been firing following a technical fault in its power transformer. He gave no further details, as the legal tussle between UC RUSAL and BFIGroup continues.

Courtesy: Times

Premium

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 26

Army commences annual shooting exercise

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igerian Army has commenced its annual range classification shooting exercise for officers and soldiers in weapon handling and other military skills.

This exercise, according to the Army, is aimed at improving the proficiency and professional competence of its personnel and re-evaluating officers and soldiers on their mastery of weapons in line with the Nigerian army headquarters’ vision of maintaining a professional force.

The exercise which is scheduled to last for two months, is taking place at the Nigerian Air Force Base shooting range, Mando Kaduna, North West Nigeria.

Briefing journalists on the

importance of the exercise, the general officer commanding One Division, Nigerian army, Major General Abdul Wahab said the training would equip the officers and men as marksmen with the aim of reducing casualties among the civilian populace in the fight against terrorism and other security challenges.

Weapons such as AK47, FN, pistols and general purpose machine guns are to be used for the exercise which included static 200 meters, 100 meters firing at targets and movement exercise.

It is expected that the officers and men undergoing the training will come out better equipped to fight the current terrorism and insurgency in the country.

Some of the officers at the shooting exercise in Mando, Kaduna

Allegation of brutality by PHCN untrue- NAF

N

igerian Air Force (NAF) has dismissed the story published by some media alleging brutality of some staff of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) at the Ibadan Zone by some of its officers, even as it disclosed an on-going investigation.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI) Air Commodore Yusuf Anas.

According to the statement released in Abuja recently, “While we uphold the right of the aggrieved to seek redress, we are however compelled to state that the issue had earlier been reported to the authorities of the NAF and investigation going on to get to the root of the matter.

“It was reported that “organised labour was threatening to shut down electricity supply in the South West and across the country by April 2 over alleged brutality and physical torture of workers of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) at the Ibadan

Zone by men of Nigeria Air Force”.

The statement further said that preliminary investigation by the NAF has shown that no brutality was meted out to any PHCN staff in the area, noting that NAF has laid down procedures for handling such matters and it will not be fair and appropriate to jump the gun or preempt the outcome of the investigation.

“Undeniably, our personnel are trained and known to exhibit the highest standard of discipline while going about their duties” the statement also said.

Anas in the statement also said the “NAF Unit at IpetuIjesa remains committed to render quick response service in the Operation Swift Response Squad (SAS) it is involved to assist Nigeria Police and when called upon by the IEDC/PHCN in the safeguard of its personnel and facilities as part of its aid to civil authority.

“While we would like to take responsibility for the actions of our personnel, we are

aware that as a rule of natural justice, they are also entitled to fair hearing.

NAF wishes to once again assure the authorities of the IEDC, PHCN and indeed the entire nation that the NAF is duly investigating the issue

and will sanction any of its personnel found to fall short of the standards expected of them”.

“It is necessary to state that the NAF wishes to be spared attempts by some negative individuals or groups working

with PHCN in Ibadan Zonal office who have an axe to grind using the media to disrupt the ongoing Federal Government’s efforts at revitalizing the power sector through independent power project in the area.”

Insecurity: Army launches information processing system Stories by Joy Baba

I

n its transformation drive focused on ensuring the security of lives and properties of Nigerian, Nigerian Army has launched an information processing system.

This is a system that allows the public report incidents for prompt action by the Nigerian Army.

The Chief of Transformation and Innovation Centre , Maj Gen Ibrahim Sani made this known in Abuja yesterday while addressing journalist on the new innovation.

According to Sani "After careful study of the situation, an indigenous system that is

expected to provide such information through partnership with the general public is the Nigerian Army Information Processing System (NAIPS)."

Sani said the medium of reporting will be through sending emails or SMS (text messages) to certain email addresses and numbers and the Army will be there within 15 minutes of getting the alert.

The medium through which the incidents could be reported include; emails, nigerianarmytips@yahoo.com, nigerianarmytips@gmail.com andnigerianarmytips@hotmail.com.

While 081 600 30 300, 0705 3333 123 and 0818 1555 888

are numbers for SMS. He further said that to report any incident, the individual should first describe the action spot for example, a bank, prison office or school. This should be followed by the address of the incident location, Local Government and state.

Sani also said the person reporting should estimate the number of actors with the type of equipment they are carrying or using like explosives, weapons dressing of the actors and cars adding that the type of car, it's make, color, plate number and any additional information that will make them identify the car with ease should be properly stated.

Air Force set to tackle oil bunkerers

T

he Chief of Air Staff, (CAS), Air Marshal Alexander Badeh has said that the Nigerian Air Force has helicopter gunship positioned in the Niger Delta creeks to help combat oil bunkering.

Badeh stated in Benin City during his maiden visit to the 81 Air Maritime Group.

The CAS who noted that the Nigerian Air Force was working on a synergy with the Joint Task Force (JTF) to help combat oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region expressed dissatisfaction at the slow pace of construction of the hanger which is meant to house Air Force fleets coming to the 81 Air Maritime Group.

He, however, commended members of the Nigerian Air Force Officers Wives Association (NAFOWA) Benin Chapter for

being industrious and holding forth the home front while their husbands are on national assignmen.

He further proceeded to commission a block of single officers quarters and another block of Junior NonCommissioned Officer’s quarters.

The CAS who had earlier inspected a guard of honour mounted by men of the Air Force was taken on a guided tour of facilities at the Airforce base by Air Commodore Jalingo Atiku with officers of the unit.

Badeh also met with members of the Nigerian Air Force Officers Wives Association (NAFOWA), Nigerian Air Force Wives Association (AWA), youths as well as staff/ pupils of the Air Force primary school.

L-R: Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade and Deputy Director, Defence Information, Group Captain Adebayo Makun addressing journalists recently at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

Photo: Joy Baba

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 27

JTF impounds vessel, fishing trawler, crew for alleged oil theft T

he Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta has, in its ‘Operation Pulo Shield’, arrested a sea going vessel with 12 crew members along the Akassa Water Ways in Bayelsa.

In a statement in Yenagoa on Saturday, Lt Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Media Coordinator of Operation Pulo Shield, said the vessel was arrested during its anti-oil theft and pipeline vandalism operations.

Nwachukwu said that the operation took place between March 19 and 29.

He further said that the arrested vessel, MV Buyus, with fake clearance documents, was secured at the Nigerian Navy Dock Yard in Brass Local Government of Bayelsa.

The suspects, according to the statement, have been handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agencies for further investigation and subsequent prosecution.

It added that a fishing trawler christened Bolajoko with

five crew members on board was also impounded by troops of the JTF at the NPA Jetty, Bonny in Rivers.

Nwachukwu in the statement also said that the fishing trawler was impounded, while trans-loading suspected stolen crude into large plastic tanks and drums with the aid of water pumping machines.

He said that the suspects were currently undergoing preliminary investigations at the JTF Sector 2 Headquarters in Port Harcourt.

“Arrested alongside the vessel were 55 assorted boats conveying stolen petroleum product, along Otumara and Araton general area of Warri South Local Government Area of Delta.

“Five camps where stolen crude oil was being refined illegally were discovered during the operation, and destroyed in Akassa, Sangana, Igbematoru and Ogbia creeks of Bayelsa.

“Also, 59 assorted open

boats, 451 drums, 12 illegal oil refinery camps, 88 plastic tanks, six outboard engines and 18 pumping machines were seized.

“They were seized along Elume in Warri North, Escravos , Saghara Creeks in Warri South and Benneth Island in Delta,” Mr. Nwachukwu said.

He also said that the land patrol squads of the JTF had also intercepted four tanker trucks conveying suspected stolen petroleum products along Enugu–Port Harcourt Express Road.

The drivers and tanker trucks were arrested when they failed to produce documents

certifying them for lifting of the product. They have been handed over to the Imo Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for prosecution.

JTF, in the statement however, urged oil firms operating in the Niger Delta region to collaborate and evacuate the reservoirs used by the oil thieves to deter the oil thieves from returning to the illicit trade.

“This call was necessitated, following the finding that most of the illegal oil refinery camps discovered during the operation had earlier been scuttled by JTF troops.

“But were later resuscitated

as the reservoirs were not evacuated from the crime scene,” it said.

Shell Petroleum Development Company, Nigeria’s largest crude producer, had threatened to shut its Nembe Trunk line because of rising incidents of oil theft through its pipeline network in Bayelsa.

Mutiu Sumonu, the Managing Director of Shell, on March 4, urged the JTF to step up its activities to reduce oil theft, currently standing at about 60,000 barrels daily. The JTF said it has reduced the figure to about 23,000 barrels a day. (NAN)

JTF’s activities have reduced oil theft in Niger Delta- Army Chief

T

he Defence Headquarters has said efforts by JTF have led to a reduction of daily oil theft noting that crude oil theft from Shell’s facilities in the Niger-Delta had dropped from 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 23,000.

The Chief of Training and Operations, Major General Lawrence Ngubane announced this in Bile, Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers during a tour to some operational bases of the Joint Task Force (JTF).

Mr. Ngubane, who held a closed-door meeting with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), said the decline was due to the JTF’s renewed strategy and commitment to the fight against illegal oil bunkering.

“The level of oil theft has come down drastically; SPDC informed me that oil theft has reduced from 60,000 bpd to 23, 000 bpd,” he said.

Shell declined to confirm the figure by the Army chief. Its spokesman, Tony Okonedo, said he is “unaware of that meeting and cannot comment on it.”

He also declined to give the current daily loss of crude to oil thieves by Shell.

The Army Chief also said the government’s desire is to go below the 23,000 figure.

“The Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs are doing everything possible to ensure

that oil theft is reduced to the barest minimum in the interest of the country,” he said.

Mr. Ngubane said the soldiers were contributing their quota to the progress of the nation’s economy through their commitment in eliminating illegal oil bunkering in the area.

According to him, if Nigerians must get quality social services such as healthcare, electricity, roads and education, soldiers must protect pipelines from vandals and not involve themselves in corruption.

He said any soldier found involved in corrupt practice would be sanctioned in accordance with the Army Code of Conduct.

“Nigerian Army is known and respected globally for its professionalism and as such, would strive to sustain our positive rating,” he said.

Mr. Ngubane said more gunboats, kit and other equipment would be provided to intensify the fight against illegal oil bunkering and sundry crimes in the region.

The SPDC had on March 4, claimed that the company was losing about 60,000 barrels of crude oil to criminals daily.

It threatened to shut down its operations in some parts of Rivers and Bayelsa if efforts were not made by security agencies to combat the illegal activities.

(NAN)

L-R: Chief of Transformation and Innovation Centre, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Sani and Director, Military Intelligence, Brig. Gen. Wiwa Letam addressing journalists at the Directorate of Military Intelligent, Abuja

Chief of Defence Intelligent, Maj. Gen. Sanni Audu presenting certificate to a graduant of Advance Defence Intelligence Officer’s Course (7/2013) recently at Defence Intelligent College, Abuja.

Photos: Joy Baba

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 29

FG assures of enough rice through local production

By Dr. Oyeleye Olukayode

T

he federal government has assured Nigerians that we are on the path of meeting our national requirement for rice through local production. This is coming on the heels of insinuation by some faceless Nigerians that there is a shortage of paddy and that this might affect rice supply.

We consider such insinuation as needless scare-mongering, distracting and efforts to hoodwink the federal government by desperate business interests who have long basked in the degeneration of Nigeria into a mere trading economy over the decades.

We urge Nigerians not to take such fears seriously as the efforts of government towards selfsufficiency in rice production are yielding fruits even faster than earlier envisaged.

Reports from on-going activities in rice production across the country have shown that the notion that there is no paddy in thecountry is grossly misleading.

This is a ploy by rice importers to justify waivers for importation, a situation which has the tendency to pull Nigeria back from achieving its goal, of producing all the rice needed locally, under the Transformation Agenda of the federal government.

Findings from the field have reinforced our optimism. Going by the results we are getting, we are positive that, by 2013, we would have produced enough paddy, about 3.23 million MT, to give over two million MT of milled rice. That means we would have achieved our goal, which is to replace 2.1 million MT we import, in just two years. The rice transformation action plan has set a goal of gradual substitution of imported rice with locally produced, high quality, long grain parboiled rice, reaching 100 per cent substitution by 2015.

To make this achievable, the federal government, for the first time ever, has embarked on support for dry season rice production in the north, an initiative that is receiving unprecedented response from the farmers, who are rushing to rice production, as a result. In Kogi, for instance, the state government, adopting the federal government's intervention, is engaging 3,000 youth in rice production.

The build-up to achieving the set target was not left to happenstance as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, within the context of Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), in mid 2011, took bold steps by ending government procurement and distribution of fertilisers and seeds, replacing it

A cross section of trainees carrying out DNA extraction during the Media Fellowship Training organised

by Biosciences for Farming in Africa (B4FA) in Abuja recently.

Photo: Julia Vitullo-Martin with private sector direct supply to farmers.

On rice, several meetings with input providers led to agreements reached to produce 15,000 MT of high-yielding seeds of Faro 44 and Faro 52 and large quantities of fertiliser. Government arranged soft loan facilities in commercial banks to facilitate the initiative.

SEEDAN, the umbrella body of commercial seed producers, and fertilizer companies secured loans and embarked on massive production of improved seed and fertiliser for 2012 cropping season.

By April 2012, 11,800 MT of Faro 44 and Faro 52, and small quantities of upland ricevarieties, were produced for distribution free to farmers who had almost lost the culture of the use of improved seed to enhance yield.

Fertiliser blending plants and importers provided large quantities of fertilisers far beyond the demand of Nigerian farmers and for the first time fertilisers were available in all the local government areas of Nigeria for farmers to buy. Fertiliser companies sold 15 billion Naira worth of fertilisers directly to farmers, instead onto government, as was the case before Adesina's radical fertiliser sector reforms. Seed companies sold 1.5 billion Naira of seeds directly to farmers.

The 11,800 MT of seed planted 236,000 hectares of low land rice and some hectares of upland rice in Ogun, Ekiti and Southern Kaduna states. At an average yield of 2.5 MT per hectare, 590,000 MT of paddy was produced in 2012,

under ATA. It was estimated that another200,000 hectares of rice was planted under different ecologies by subsistent farmers at low level technology. This in turn would give additional 400,000 MT at 2.0 ton per hectare.

Before the launching of rice transformation agenda, not up to three integrated mills were operating at the same time in Nigeria. But by December 2012, due to the massive drive of the Minister of Agriculture and rice policy reforms and sensitisation efforts, 15 integrated mills were operating at the same time under private sector arrangement and by the third quarter of 2013, up to 25 such mills are expected to bein operation across the rice growing ecologies in Nigeria.

The milling capacity of these mills has been estimated at over 850,000 MT per annum, while there is a plan to add 40 mills by the government, to be completely privatised. By December 2014, the total milling capacity of all the integrated mills will be over 2.0 million MT per annum. They will be producing high quality rice comparable with the highest grade of imported rice.

To augment paddy production, the initiative on dry season paddy production, initiated by the minister of agriculture, Dr. Adesina, emerged as a national policy on food security in response to the rapidly increasing number of high quality rice mills which are putting pressure on paddy supply.

Dubbed "double up rice production", the goalis to produce rice in both main and dry seasons

to meet national rice paddy needs.

According to Adesina, who works with relentless passion as an agriculture evangelist, "every suitable land for rice will be cultivated across Nigeria. We will not allow unscrupulous rice importers to derail Mr. President's policy for self sufficiency in rice.

We will feed ourselves and do so with pride".

In its first season, starting in November 2012, farmers in ten leading rice-producing states of Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Niger and Kogi were empowered to go into dry season paddy production. Each received free 50 kg of seeds, two bags of 15-15-15 NPK and one bag of Urea. Clusters were also assistedwith water pumps to bring water to the fields.

Apart from Katsina, which is yet to submit reports on the number of farmers and the estimated tonnage of paddy production, all the nine other states together have recorded a total of 147,520 participating farmers, expected to have risen to 170,000 by the end of March, and a total of 590,680 MT paddy, with the highest farmers population of 45,688 farmer and highest output of 182,752 MT coming from Kebbi.

The farmers' response is massive. The northwest zone is leading the drive for rice production in the dry season, with 45,688 ha with expected production of 182,952 metric tons of rice. Jigawa is second, with 41,209 ha with expected production of 164,836 MT rice.

Fund agricultural research, plant breeding...

Con’t from page 28 hand technologies that are needed to do this kind of research but I know NAFDAC and the others on a positive note, they work with a number of other institutions like universities in Nigeria and also co-societies and others and maybe those institutions have better technologies which can be used to develop some of these crops like cowpea. I know cowpeas are being done at Zaria, I'm sure they have the facilities to be able to do this and therefore that partnership is needed but another thing Nigeria need to do is

to consolidate, stop having so many institutions doing the same thing and therefore, the little money that we have is spread through unnecessary things and at the end of it all, it will not have impact.

What do you think is the essence of bringing together journalists and scientists to brainstorm on biotechnology, GM promotion?

I am personally a journalist by trade and I know the power that we have, the power of the pen, the power of the camera that we have and then the power of the media outlets like the newspapers, the ra-

dio, the television and even the internet that we use to project information. I would encourage fellow journalists that please use your power to explain to the people about the technology, understand ityourself as a journalist by reading deeply into the issues.

Understanding what the gene is, you have learnt a lot, you have been trained to be able now to write more effectively and pass on correct information that is sciencebased, to the population so that they can understand these technologies and you will be able to explore the needs and the concerns that sur-

round these technologies and staple its development in Africa, because the rest of the world is movingforward, they are moving forward with these technologies and they are benefitting hugely.

India, Pakistan and China are now becoming the largest cotton producers because they are simply adopting the biotech cotton and we can do it. We have 60% of arable land in Africa, what we need to do is to come up with the best and good technology and also have good policies and regulations to be able to use this land to feed ourselves and feed the world.

Third isZanfara state with, 24,644 ha and expected rice production of 98,576 MT. Others include Kano with 13,000 ha with expected production of 51,000 MT, and Sokoto with 1,125 ha and expected production of 4,500 MT. Northeast is led by Gombe, with 9,666 ha and expected production of 38,664 MT, Bauchi with 4374 ha and expected production of 17,496 MT. Kogi state leads North Central with 734 ha and expected production of 2936 MT, and Niger State, with 734 ha and expected production of 2936 MT. By 30th March, a total of 170,000 farmers would have received seeds to plant one hectare each, translating into 170,000 ha of rice.

Average yield of cereal crops, especially rice is higher in the dry season and is expected to be 4mt of paddy per hectare. This dry season scheme will generate 680,000 MT of paddy between now and June 2013, enough to keep 20 integrated mills running till the main season of 2013 crop harvest.

Total paddy production in 2012 is estimated at 1,670,000 MT. With 31,000 MT of improved seed now ready for distribution to farmers, to plant 620,000 hectares of land for 2013 wet and dry season rice cultivation, at an average yield of 3.5 MT per hectare, about 2,170,000 MT of paddy is expected, which, considered in isolation, is close to narrowing the perennial supply gap. Expanding the 2013/2014 dry season paddy production scheme to other agro-ecological zones and putting at least another space of 300,000 hectares into production, we will produce additional 1,200,000 MT of paddy.This will raise the estimated paddy production for both dry and wet seasons in 2013 to 3.37 million metric tons.

Arrangements for collection, marketing and sale of rice are bringing encouraging responses.

USAID MARKETS has been involved in rice development project in Nigeria for some years and its experience will be useful under the government's intervention on rice. In its collaboration with USAID MARKETS, the federal ministry of agriculture is working to set up paddy-buying arrangement in various rice-growing ecologies.

This will facilitate purchase of paddy from small holders and sale to large mills to enhance their performance.

A member of the National Assembly, Hon. Munir Baba Dan, deputy chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, who has been monitoring things on the ground in the north, was full of praises for the minister of agriculture. "This is the first time ever the federal government will support dry season agriculture. We have never seen anything like this before. The dry season rice production in the north is massive and there will be bumper paddy harvest," the lawmaker observed.

According to him, "this minister has radically changed the face of agriculture. The results are not on paper; they are visible for all to see.

Farmers are coming out in large numbers in response to his policy initiatives. I have no doubt that, with the approach of the federal government working so closely with states and local governments, Nigeria will soon become self sufficient in rice."

Oyeleye is of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 28

Fund agricultural research, plant breeding, develop hybrid seeds for farmers -OFAB Coordinator Mr Daniel Otunge, is of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and Coordinator of the Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in Africa. In this interview with Mohammed Kandi, he believes Nigeria in particular and, Africa at large, are lagging behind in adopting best technologies that would transform the agricultural sectors on the continent.

He also expresses concern on high rate counterfeit seeds that are gradually taking over the African markets. Excerpts:

T

here is lots of emphasis on Biotechnology-driven agriculture around the world these days, what is the significance of developing seeds into hybrid and why should the farmer accept this system rather than of his own "traditional" method?

I think it's important to produce hybrid seeds and market them to farmers because we have realized that that the Open Pollinated Variety (OPV), have a lot of challenges in terms of the diseases that attack them and the pest that attack them that they are susceptible to and therefore, you find that the yields are very low, that is why the breeders are saying let's come up with a hybrid seeds which have better yielding technology and if farmers can adopt these in large numbers then they will be able to harvest more from their farms than they are currently doing, depending on their open pollinated variety or farmer saved grain, because this grains as you keep growing them, their potency goes down and the more you grow them and save and plant and save, they will keep on reducing in terms of their vigour that enable them to yield more. Therefore, hybrid seeds are better because they are better developed technology that can ensure that when you plant it, you get better yields, you get maximum yields especially, when you actually combine that with proper agronomy in terms of fertilizers, if there is good rain, if you weed in time and all that, and then you will get the best.

Considering the appreciable growth in the global agriculture in developed societies world over, what would you say are challenges facing the agricultural sectors in Nigeria and in Africa?

The agriculture sectors in Nigeria in particular and Africa in general is faced by many challenges. One of them is low production, the breeding of what is called the breeders seed, the fast seed that comes from the breeder or the institution that breeds them, we get very few of them and secondly, there is very limited funding to breeders to be able to produce more seeds, and then thirdly, we have very few companies in Nigeria, local companies that are able to multiply the breeder or the foundation seed into Certified Quality Seed and market them to farmers.

The other thing is that there is very limited investment in the seedling sectors by the government and that means many farmers are not aware of this high quality seed that are there. The other thing is that most of the seeds that are being planted by farmers are actually farmer-saved seed and

not the hybrid seed and that distorts the market and therefore, most seed companies are unwilling to invest in the Nigerian market.

Another thing that you may have is that the poly seeds that are available in Nigeria and the implementation of those poly seeds are questionable. You need the government to be more serious in terms of the implementation of the poly seeds and also the protection of the breeder's right so that you encourage more scientists to be able tobreed better seeds for our farmers.

Do you think there are counterfeit seeds in circulation in Nigeria and Africa and how does the farmer identify one?

Actually, that's what I wanted to came up with. One of the major challenges is the importation of low quality or bad seed into Nigerian market because regulation is weak and may be, they are also not following the national standards and principles that are there and therefore you find a lot of faking of seeds because farmers are looking for quality seeds and therefore, scrupulous people are taking advantage and going to take grains and then they colour them, package and then sell them to farmers as seeds and yet they are not and when farmers plant that, it turns out they are not producing anything.

The only way farmers can know whether these seeds are good seeds ornot is if the seed companies themselves are strong enough to come upwith good and well protected packaging that are given by the government and of course the international standard that are put on the labels, that are difficult to copy, that's when the farmers can beable to determine.

Apart from that, there needs to be in place serious policy by the regulatory authorities, government authorities so that they can create the market once while we check which seeds are not of good quality and remove them out of the market and prosecute the people who stock them- both the seeds and its suppliers that will be able to determine.

Who should be held responsible should counterfeit seeds flood the market?

The Government Regulatory Agency in charge of Seed certification should be the one at the feet of sanitary measure, they are the ones supposed to be responsible for seed if it is being marketed. And then the other thing is that, the seed company itself, if their labels, for example, Premium Seed, if their label is being used in the market to sell fake seeds. They should be able to detect this and then remove it from the market

or appeal to the authorities to remove it by doing their own survey, that is what other countries are doing and in a country like Malawi for example, the seed company will be held responsible if its packages are constantly the ones that are being faked. They should make sure they are the ones that monitor the market and if they see that their labels are being faked, and then they see what to do and by working with the authorities to make sure that the people that are doing this are identified because it's a really bad thing.

Do you think there should be proper regulation for African breeders and what is the implication of not having any in place?

Regulations are needed especially in intellectual property; it is needed to protect the rights of breeders so that you can have more people entitled to breed.

Then you can also have encouraged investment in the seed business in the country because if the seed companies realize that their intellectual property they invest in are not protected, then it means they would not be able to control the market because anybody else can get in the market, reproduce their seed and sell it.

Do you think that biotechnology can enhance the development hybrid seed especially in cutting down the longevity of the period of development?

Yes, it can be done. Biotechnology, especially the GM technology, is genetically modified engineering that can actually reduce the numberof year seed gets to develop because it is a shortcut whereby you pick on a particular gene you want, you specifically pick on it and insert it into the crop you want to enhance its productivity or protectagainst insect. As opposed to the method of convention where you just do the crossbreeding and do what is called backcrossing, until you get whatever you want and all the genes in it, that backcrossing takes a very long time and you are not even sure whether you are going to get the exactly the trait that you need.

Biotechnology has been able to shut them down and you now protect the crop from the insect,

from pests and many others. What we really needto discuss asides Africa, even as Nigeria, the length of time it takesto access the potential risks involved in biotech crops, it's what is making the technology take a long time but it can be reduced because some of these have been done in other countries, for example, BurkinaFaso. If Nigeria wanted to research on BT (Biotechnology) cotton, they do not have to repeat the whole thing yet Burkina Faso which is next door has done it. Ghana is just going to do exactly what I'm saying,instead of going to test the BT cotton in the land, they are going directly to what is called multi-location testing in farmers seed, which will take them two years instead of five years that Burkina took to do the testing of the technology and more so it would take them ayear or two and maybe by 2014 or 2015, the farmers in Ghana will begrowing breeding cotton.

What strategies should stakeholders adopt to ensure availability of quality seeds to the farmers?

The strategies, first and foremost, I think are to make available seed the companies as they want. The seed companies are developed in capacity so that they can take out the breeders and scan them into foundations and multiply them and have them certified and market them to farmers and you can use various marketing strategies. One of themis to organise which is what is done in many countries, organize farmers in farming schools so that these farmers can be trained and awareness is created among them of the

“

India, Pakistan and China are now becoming the largest cotton producers because they are simply adopting the biotech cotton and we can do it. We have 60% of arable land in Africa, what we need to do is to come up with the best and good technology and also have good policies and regulations to be able to use this land to feed ourselves and feed the world.

existence of our availability or better yielding seed facilities that they can adopt.

The other thing is that government can also put in subsidies and create facilities that farmers can access and be able to buy the seeds and plant them and another thing that can be done is to put more money into agricultural research so that breeders have money to do research to develop better hybrid seed for farmers.

From all that you saw, would you say that Nigerian biotechnology and research organizations match international standard?

I think I was not really very impressed because when we visited the two institutions, most of them did not have electricity and workers at one of the organisatons are also on strike and that means there are certain issues that need to be addressed in terms of the labour issues but when it comes to the issue of electricity, it is really unfortunate that you can visit a high-hand lab like in NABDA forexample, and find out that there is no electricity and therefore the research that was going on is somehow suspended unless there is another place where they do this because what I know is thatelectricity should be supplied permanently for some of this seeds that are at development stage to grow optimally and protect them from many other things.

Secondly, that means they need to be more investments in this areas because even the labs that we visited, some of them are still remittal actually, then maybe ten, twenty years behind because there are new technologies that breeders use currently in both the agriculture lab and the bio scientist lab that Nigeria needs to invest in and maybe put in a place like NAFDAC, advanced technology lab. That means also more training in terms of human resources, more buildings of infrastructure in terms of equipping the labs and having the high-

Con’t on page 29

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2012

Gov. Jang’s persistent calls for state police

By Ephraims Sheyin

M

arch 13, 2013 was the 69th birthday of Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau but he was reluctant to honour the activities lined up for the celebration at his country home in Du and in Jos, the state capital.

In his comment on the cultural shows, a public lecture, the prayer sessions and a cocktail party lined up in his honour, Jang bluntly said: ``I don't believe in these things; I see them as unnecessary and avenues for unnecessary expenditure. ``I believe people should contribute their quota to the development of their environment and the nation without making much noise about it.''

However, a major theme of the governor's birthday celebration related to the proposal for the creation of state police, an idea which Jang has been drumming support for on several occasions.

In his remark at the occasion, Jang reiterated his call for the establishment of the state police, as part efforts to resolve the protracted crises bedevilling Plateau State.

The recent call for a state police force was stimulated by the public lecture delivered during Jang's birthday celebration by Sen. Gyang Pwajok, the former Chief of Staff to the governor who replaced the late Sen. Gyang Dantong in the Senate.

Observers note that the lecture on ``Policing in a federal state: Whither Nigeria'' appears apt and well-chosen, as it once again brought to the fore the governor's contention on the desirability of the state police as the only panacea for the myriad security challenges facing the state.

Pwajok outlined the statutory role of the police in keeping domestic peace and countering any internal insurgency.

Assessing the equipment of the Nigeria Police Force and the financial allocations to it over the years, the senator concluded that Nigeria had failed to prepare the police force to effectively police the nation.

In his comment, Jang reiterated his call for the creation of state police, succinctly justifying the need for it in a large country like Nigeria. ``We are not asking for state police because we do not believe in the current police force but we have observed that a federal police officer can be posted to anywhere. ``When you recruit someone from the riverine areas of Bayelsa, for instance, and post him to Shendam or the hilly areas of Riyom, where does he start? ``If you go to UK, you will never see UK police; it is either metropolitan police or county police. ``That makes it easy for the officers there to chase and trace criminals because they know practically all the nook and crannies of their areas. ``Here, gunmen attack communities and run into the hills, while most of our security personnel are not familiar with such terrain. ``You could then imagine what happens if you post a Plateau man to the waterlogged areas of Bayelsa or River states, where does he start?'' he

Gov. Jonah Jang

quipped.

However, the governor rejected some misconceptions that he wanted a state police force for ulterior motives. ``I don't have any reason to hate anybody because God created human beings in His own likeness and I think some cynics merely use all kinds of arguments to stop Nigeria from growing into a developed nation. ``We must learn to work with the truth; we must teach our children what is right and we must develop genuine love for one another irrespective of factors such as ethnicity, religion and political difference,'' he said.

Jang rejected the notion in some quarters that his campaign for the creation of state police was provoked by his machination to fuel the crisis in the state. ``With all due respect, nothing could be more bizarre and ridiculous; will any leader for that matter support violence? ``Which leader, no matter how sadistic, will be happy to have his

domain turned into a theatre of war where infants, women and the very elderly are being murdered in their sleep?'' he asked.

Jang emphasised that his calls for a state police were purely based on the peculiarities of Plateau State, stressing that states that were not ready for state police should not be forced to toe the line and establish it.

Besides, the governor argued that it was wrong to address a state governor as the chief security officer of the state when he had no control over the commissioner of police in state whatsoever.

Supporting the governor's viewpoint, Prof. Isawa Elaigwu, the President of Institute of Good Governance and Social Research, said: ``Currently, the Plateau State Government funds all the security outfits in the state as it is in other states; so, it can conveniently fund a state police.''

Nevertheless, Mr Hamisu Alli-Jos, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of

“

We must learn to work with the truth; we must teach our children what is right and we must develop genuine love for one another irrespective of factors such as ethnicity, religion and political difference

Police, has a contrary view.

He argued that the best approach to address the situation was to allow state governors to supervise the commissioners of police in their domains since the governors were statutorily referred to as the chief security officers of their states.

Apart from the debate on the desirability of the state police or otherwise, the governor, however, used the occasion to debunk some allegations regarding his style of leadership.

Reacting to an allegation that he never took to advice, Jang challenged the proponents of such allegations, saying: ``Let any of such people tell us the day he came to see me and was not allowed to see me to listen to his advice. ``Instead of putting heads together to help Plateau, such people prefer to vilify me and my government on the pages of newspapers. ``The truth is that while we try to be prudent with our resources, some people are not comfortable with that,'' he added.

At the event, journalists sought some clarifications on varying issues, including an allegation that the governor was always too firm on decisions, irrespective of the public feelings about the issues involved.

Some critics have also cited the government's ``no work; no pay'' policy as a development that had consistently pitted the government against its workers, often resulting in industrial disputes.

Responding to such allegations, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Abraham Yiljap, said that the governor was often misunderstood. ``Gov. Jang is a very principled administrator; his love for Plateau knows no bounds; he prefers to be with his people in all situations and feel their pulse at all times. ``He has designed a mentoring programme for all his appointees so as to ensure a smooth succession, long after his exit from office,'' he said.

Nevertheless, Yiljap opined that the governor should open a more direct channel of relationship with more stakeholders. ``I think Gov. Jang will be better understood if he drives personally to see journalists, civil society organisations, associations, politicians and even the ordinary farmer and market woman. He should interact with them at a more informal level ``That way, people shall see his other side and, perhaps, judge him more positively and correctly,'' he said.

Sharing similar sentiments, Mr Timothy Golu, the Chief Whip of the Plateau State House of Assembly, commended the governor for mentoring the youth, as part of efforts to prepare them for future leadership positions.

Golu stressed that the governor's approach was purposeful and good for the state's development, as new ideas would evolve to enhance the growth, stability and peace of the state.

The critics' dissents notwithstanding, public analysts insist that as the people celebrate Jang's birthday, they should strive to emulate his leadership virtues, while making concerted efforts to resolve the various crises affecting the state.

Source: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 31

Reducing unemployment: Lessons from Germany ANALYSIS

By Dean Baker

M

any of the pundits are once again celebrating the pick-up of the US economy. Unfortunately this upturn, like prior ones, seems to exist more in their heads than in the data. The big bright spot being highlighted is the 200,000 monthly rate of job creation since October. This only sounds like good news for those who don't remember that we created 240,000 jobs a month in the same five months last year.

While the economy is not about to slip into recession, there is little reason to think we will see a marked upturn from last year's 1.7 percent growth rate. In fact, with the end of the payroll tax cut pulling money out of people's pockets and the sequester leading to layoffs and further cutbacks, we are at least as likely to see the economy slowing as picking up steam.

This is bad news for tens of millions of people who are unemployed, underemployed, or have dropped out of the workforce altogether. There is little prospect that the economy will grow enough to substantially improve their employment prospects any time soon. Nor is there much hope for any policy shift that will provide a boost to the rate of growth. This is why it is a good time to look to Germany.

The unemployment rate in Germany is 5.4 percent, more than two full percentage points below its pre-recession level.

By contrast, even with the recent decline to 7.7 percent, the unemployment rate in the US is still more than three full percentage points above its prerecession level.

The difference in labour market performance is even more striking if we look at the employment to population ratio (EPOP), which measures the percent of the population that is employed. Before the recession the EPOP for people between age 16 and 64 was roughly 5 percentage points higher in the US than in Germany. In 2012, the EPOP for this age group in Germany was more than 5 percentage points higher than in the US, making a total shift in Germany's favour of more than 10 percentage points.

If you think this difference is explained by a booming German economy then you haven't looked at the data.

Growth since the beginning of the downturn has been almost identical in the two countries.

The unemployment rate in the US is still more than three full percentage points above its pre-recession level [AP] From 2007 to 2012 Germany's economy grew a bit more than 3.0 percent. The US economy grew a hair less than 3.0 percent. The difference can't come close to explaining the gap in labour market outcomes.

It is true that the US has a more rapidly growing workingage population than Germany and therefore needs more growth to keep its unemployment rate stable.

However, this gap would still only explain a small portion of the difference in labour market outcomes.

The secret to Germany's better outcomes is that the country has an explicit policy of pushing employers toward shortening work hours rather than laying-off workers. A key part of this picture is the short work programme which is an alternative to unemployment insurance. With traditional

unemployment insurance, when a worker gets laid off the government pays roughly half of the worker's wages.

Under work sharing, if firms cut back a worker's hours by 20 percent, the government makes up roughly half of the lost wages (10 percent of the total wage in this case). That leaves the worker putting in 20 percent fewer hours and getting 10 percent less pay. This is likely a much better alternative to being unemployed.

In addition to its formal short-work programme, Germany also has a system of hour banks where workers put in extra hours during good times. During a downturn they can draw on these hours to maintain their pay even if they are putting in fewer hours.

There are also many agreements between unions and management to reduce work

“

hours to address a drop in demand. These can be more easily negotiated in a country like Germany, where the unionisation rate is more than twice that of the US. This institutional structure makes it much easier for Germany to deal with a reduction in labour demand by cutting work hours rather than laying people off. Of course, even before the downturn Germany had a much shorter average work year than in the US. Under the law workers are guaranteed more than four weeks of paid vacation every year in addition to 10 statutory holidays, paid family leave and paid sick days.

As a result, the average work year in Germany is almost 20 percent less than in the US. As a matter of simple arithmetic, if everyone in the US worked 20 percent fewer hours we would need 25 percent more workers to

Twenty five states have short work programmes as part of their unemployment insurance systems, including several large ones like California and New York.

provide the same amount of labour.

While the picture is more complicated in the real world, there is no escaping the logic that more workers and more hours per worker are alternative ways to meet a growing demand for labour. There are good reasons for preferring the more worker route to the longer hour route.

It is worth noting that the Congress and the Obama administration did try to encourage work sharing when they passed a provision of the bill extending the payroll tax cut which has the federal government picking up the cost of state short work programmes.

Twenty five states have short work programmes as part of their unemployment insurance systems, including several large ones like California and New York.

Unfortunately, the take-up rate continues to be very low.

Apparently governors and legislators would rather make cutbacks in areas like education or raise taxes than try to encourage businesses to switch from layoffs to shortwork so that they can take advantage of free money from the federal government.

A little prodding from the public may go a long way in this area.

Source: AlJazeera

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

Sudan's Bashir orders political prisoners released

S Mali troops hunt for rebels after Timbuktu clash

M

alian troops searched house-to-house in Timbuktu on Monday morning following hours of fighting with Islamist rebels who had infiltrated the northern desert town.

Residents said calm had returned by late Sunday after heavy clashes and airstrikes by French fighter jets backing the Malian troops forced them to shelter indoors.

The fighting reflected the difficulty of securing Mali after a French intervention in January that pushed the rebels out of their northern strongholds.

"Things are quiet this morning. The markets are open, traffic is on the streets, and people are out of their houses," Timbuktu resident GarbaMaiga said by telephone.

Malian military sources said soldiers were sweeping parts of the town to ensure there were no remaining rebel fighters.

At least one Malian soldier was killed in the clashes, along with more than 20 insurgents, according to a government statement on Sunday night.

Residents said at least five civilians were killed in the crossfire.

An army spokesman said that groups of rebels had entered the town after setting off a suicide car bomb at a checkpoint, diverting the military's attention.

Paris is keen to reduce its current 4,000-strong troop presence to 1,000 by the end of the year as it hands over its mission to a regional African force.

udan's President Omar alBashir has said all political prisoners in the country are to be released.

In a speech at the opening of parliament, Mr Bashir also said the government was committed to a "national dialogue" with all groups.

It was not immediately clear how many prisoners would be released under the announcement.

The move comes as tensions ease in Sudan amid improving relations with neighbouring South Sudan.

Mr Bashir said Sudan had now "guaranteed the atmosphere for freedoms and the safeguarding of the freedom of expression of individuals and groups".

"Today, we announce a decision to free all the political prisoners and renew our commitment to all political powers about dialogue," he said, without giving further details.

The government would

continue to communicate with "all political and social powers without excluding anyone, including those who are armed, for a national dialogue which will bring a solution to all the issues," he said.

Mr Bashir's announcement was welcomed by Human Rights Watch (HRW), which said it hoped it would lead to an end to

arbitrary detentions and torture under Sudan's strict national security laws.

"There is a chronic pattern of human rights abuse in Sudan," said HRW's Sudan researcher Jehanne Henry.

She said the organisation heard of cases every month where "people perceived to have political opinions not in keeping with those

of the government" were detained.

But analysts said it was unclear how the government would define political prisoners, and whether the release would include rebel fighters and government officials currently on trial for plotting a coup.

Sudan has been facing a heightened security situation since South Sudan became independent in 2011.

Tension between the new neighbours has been strained, with rebellions breaking out on either side of the border and a dispute over oil which escalated to the brink of war in April.

However, in September the leaders of both nations signed a deal, mediated by the African Union, to resume oil sales and set up a demilitarised buffer zone.

Last month, Mr Bashir, who came to power in a coup in 1989, said he would step down at the next election in 2015 because Sudan needed "fresh blood".

Tripoli, government officials say.

Mohamed al-Ghattous is believed to have been seized on

Sunday in the Ghot al-Roman district as he was driving from his hometown of Misrata.

His car was found abandoned and the authorities have launched a search.

Also on Sunday, Mr Zeidan warned that members of his government had received death threats.

He told a routine news briefing they were working under "very difficult conditions" since coming to power four months ago.

A cabinet source, speaking anonymously, told AFP news agency Mr Ghattous "was without doubt taken at a fake checkpoint".

It is thought the kidnappers could have been posing as security personnel.

"Nobody knows where he is.

They left his car behind, probably they thought it could be traced," a government source told the Associated Press.

The BBC's RanaJawad in Tripoli says there has been a sharp increase in security threats against the cabinet since the government announced it was taking steps to disarm and disband the militias.

Last week, the prime minister's building was briefly surrounded by an armed group demanding his resignation, and on Sunday, the justice ministry was similarly surrounded for several hours.

The government is still struggling to consolidate its powers over the many militias which formed after the war that toppled Col Muammar Gaddafi.

But out correspondent says there is a widespread view amongst Libyans that their government has become seriously locked in a power struggle with militias trying to keep their influence on the streets of Libya.

President Omar al-Bashir

Libya PM’s aide ‘kidnapped’

Libya's Prime Minister Ali Zeidan

A

top aide to Libya's Prime Minister Ali Zeidan has been kidnapped on the outskirts of the capital,

DR Congo: M23 rejects UN force

T

he main rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, M23, has rejected the UN's decision to deploy a special attack force to the area.

M23 political leader Bertrand Bisimwa said the UN had chosen the "war option", rather than promoting dialogue to end the conflict in eastern DRC. The M23 briefly captured the regional capital, Goma, last year, with little resistance from UN peacekeepers.

Various armed groups have wreaked havoc in eastern DR Congo for two decades.

The M23-led rebellion flared up a year ago and has forced some 800,000 people from their homes.

Last week, the UN Security

Council approved plans to send an Intervention Brigade of about 2,000 troops to DR Congo in July to "carry out targeted offensive operations" to "neutralise" armed groups in eastern DR Congo.

The UN currently has about 20,000 troops in DR Congo, but they were widely criticised for failing to prevent the M23 from capturing Goma last November.

The M23 later pulled out of the city, following pressure from neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda.

In his first reaction to the resolution, Mr Bisimwa said that "from now on, peacekeeping forces will wage war on groups of citizens who are demanding good governance in our country".

Instead of encouraging the M23 and the government to resolve the conflict through talks being brokered by the Ugandan government, the UN had "unfortunately chosen to wage war against one of the partners for peace", Mr Bisimwa added.

Last week, the DR Congo government welcomed the UN's decision to deploy the new force.

Its main mission should be to secure the border with Rwanda and Uganda, the government said.

The government and the UN have repeatedly accused the two countries of backing the M23 an allegation they deny.

Last week, a key figure in the M23, BoscoNtaganda, was charged at the International Criminal Court with war crimes

The UN force is expected to held clampdown rebel groups. and crimes against humanity for alleged atrocities committed in 2002 and 2003.

He had surrendered to the US embassy in Kigali, following

heavy fighting within the M23.

Gen Ntaganda's faction lost control of the group to Mr Bisimwa and M23 military chief SultaniMakenga.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

Asia and Middle East

I

ndia's Supreme Court has rejected a plea by Novartis to patent an updated version of its cancer drug, Glivec.

The Swiss drugmaker had been denied a patent by Indian authorities on the grounds that the new version was only slightly different from the

PAGE 33

India rejects patent plea for cancer drug old.

The decision means generic drugmakers can continue to sell copies of the drug at a lower price in India, one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical markets.

Novartis said the decision "discourages future innovation in India".

"This ruling is a setback for patients that will hinder medical

progress for diseases without effective treatment options," said RanjitShahani, vice-chairman and managing director of Novartis India.

Glivec, which is used to treat chronic myeloid leukaemia and other cancers, costs about $2,600 (ÂŁ1,710) a month.

The generic equivalent is currently available in India for just $175.

There were concerns that, if granted, a patent could threaten access to cheap generic versions of life-saving drugs in poorer countries.

"This will go a long way in providing affordable medicine for the poor," said Anand Grover, a lawyer representing Cancer Patients Aid Association, adding that he was "ecstatic with the ruling".

Novartis applied for a patent in

2006 for its new version of the drug, arguing that it was easier to absorb and therefore qualified for a fresh patent.

However, the Indian patent authority rejected the application based on a law aimed at preventing companies from getting fresh patents by making only minor changes to existing drugs, a practice known as "evergreening".

Burma sees return of private newspapers

P

Many poorer people rely on India's generic drug industry.

rivate daily newspapers are being sold in Burma for the first time in almost 50 years, as a state monopoly ends.

Sixteen papers have so far been granted licences, although only four were ready to publish on Monday.

This is another important milestone on Burma's journey away from authoritarian rule, the BBC's Jonathan Head reports from the commercial capital, Rangoon.

Until recently, reporters in Burma faced some of the harshest restrictions in the world.

Private dailies in Burmese, English and other languages, which had been commonplace in the former British colony, were

Tibet mine landslide: Rescue workers recover more bodies

A

Publisher U Win Htay looks at the front page of his new daily, Standard Time.

Rescue workers have made recoveries with the assistance of dogs.

t least 36 bodies have been recovered from a landslide in Tibet, state media report, after dozens of miners were buried on Friday.

Thousands of workers continued to dig over the weekend for those thought to be buried under tonnes of mud, rock and other debris.

The disaster area is 4,600m (15,000ft) above sea level, 70km (45 miles) east from the Tibetan capital, Lhasa.

Some rescuers had to be treated for altitude sickness, an official said.

The landslide took place at 06:00 local time on Friday (22:00 GMT on Thursday), burying 83 miners.

Rescuers were only able to find the first body 36 hours after the disaster. Most of the others were recovered on Sunday.

One worker told China National Radio that they would continue to search "as long as there was a 1% chance" of finding bodies.

As well as altitude, the teams are also battling freezing weather and the risk of further landslides.

"There are cracks on the mountaintop and secondary disasters are possible," Jiang Yi, a police officer, was quoted by staterun news agency Xinhua as saying on Sunday.

The miners were working for a gold mine subsidiary of the stateowned China National Gold Group, the country's largest gold producer.

Most of the workers were ethnic Han Chinese from Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces, with two reported to be ethnic Tibetans.

forced to close under military rule in 1964.

Subsequently, journalists were frequently subjected to surveillance and phone-tapping, and were often tortured or imprisoned. Newspapers that broke the rules were shut down.

But media controls have been relaxed as part of a programme of reforms launched by the government of President TheinSein that took office in 2011.

Last August, the government informed journalists they would no longer have to submit their work routinely to state censors before publication.

It announced in December that private dailies would be allowed to publish from 1 April.

Some initial print runs will be a modest few thousand, while the papers assess demand, our correspondent reports.

"I foresee several hurdles along the way," KhinMaung Lay, the 81-year-old editor of Golden Fresh Land, told the Associated Press.

"However, I am ready to run the paper in the spirit of freedom and professionalism taught by my peers during the good old days."

South Korea vows fast response to North; U.S. deploys stealth jets

S

outh Korea will strike back quickly if the North stages any attack on its territory, the new president in Seoul warned on Monday, as tensions ratcheted higher on the Korean peninsula amid shrill rhetoric from Pyongyang and the U.S. deployment of radar-evading fighter planes.

North Korea says the region is on the brink of a nuclear war in the wake ofUnited Nations sanctions imposed for its February nuclear test and a series of joint U.S. and South Korean military drills that have included a rare U.S. show of aerial power.

North Korea said on Saturday it was entering a "state of war" with South Korea in response to what it termed the "hostile" military drills being staged in the South. But there have been no signs of unusual activity in the North's military to suggest an imminent aggression, a South Korean defense ministry official said last week.

"If there is any provocation against South Korea and its people, there should be a strong response in initial combat without any political considerations," President Park Geun-hye told the defense minister and senior officials at a meeting on Monday.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 34

Europe and Americas Cyprus: Moscow will not bail out Russian savers

T

he Russian government says it will not compensate Russian savers who have lost money in the Cyprus banking crisis.

Russians are believed to have billions of euros in Cypriot accounts and deposits above 100,000 euros (ÂŁ84,300; $128,200) in the two biggest banks could be reduced by as much as 60%.

Such losses would be "a great shame", First Deputy PM Igor Shuvalov said, "but the Russian government won't take any action in that situation".

Cyprus now restricts cash withdrawals.

A 10bn-euro bailout from the EU and IMF - required to keep the debt-laden Cypriot economy afloat - will only be granted if Cyprus itself raises 5.8bn euros, most of which looks likely to come from depositors with more than 100,000 euros in Bank of Cyprus and Laiki (Popular Bank).

Laiki, the second largest bank, is being wound up and folded into Bank of Cyprus, the biggest bank.

Speaking on the Russian state TV channel Rossiya 1, Mr Shuvalov said Russian money in Cyprus included some that had been taxed and some that had not.

He said the Russian government would still look at cases where there were "serious losses, involving companies in which the Russian state is a shareholder". That review would take place in Russia, and "for this it would certainly not be necessary to help the Republic of Cyprus", he said.

Many of the large-scale foreign investors in Cyprus are Russian and in many cases they have taken advantage of the island's status as an offshore tax haven. Some politicians have accused Cyprus of acting as a hub for Russian moneylaundering - an allegation rejected

by Cypriot officials.

After years of large-scale capital flight from Russia there is now a Kremlin drive to repatriate Russian money. The government has introduced tighter monitoring of foreign bank accounts held by Russian state employees.

Bank of Cyprus depositors with more than 100,000 euros could lose up to 60% of their savings as part of the bailout, officials say.

The central bank says 37.5% of holdings over 100,000 euros will become shares.

Up to 22.5% will go into a fund attracting no interest and may be subject to further write-offs.

The other 40% will attract interest - but this will not be paid unless the bank performs well.

The fear is that once the unprecedented capital controls which are in place for an indefinite time - are lifted, the wealthiest will rush to move their deposits abroad, the BBC's Mark Lowen reports from Nicosia.

British government defends welfare cuts

B

ritain's government defended a raft of new welfare spending cuts, a key plank of efforts to rein in spending as the economy flounders, after church leaders attacked the changes as unjust.

Finance minister George Osborne and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith on Monday labelled opponents of their plan as "shrill", and insisted it would lead to a fairer benefits system and encourage more Britons to work.

"Of course, if you listened to the

shrill voices of the Left you'd think that every change to the welfare system, and any attempt to save money, marks the beginning of the end of the world," Osborne and Duncan Smith wrote in an article published in Britain's Telegraph newspaper.

"We are just restoring the original principles of the welfare state: that those who can work must work, and a life on benefits must not be more attractive than working," they added.

The welfare cuts, which are

going into effect this month, are part of government efforts to reduce state spending to tackle a big budget deficit, a plan Osborne says is necessary to retain the confidence of international money markets and keep Britain's borrowing costs low.

However, Britain's economy has suffered two bouts of recession since the plan was introduced with the election of the Conservative-led government in 2010, and growth remains weak - the economy is expected to expand by just 0.6 percent this year.

Finance minister George Osborne defended welfare spending cuts labelling opponents as "shrill".

The Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist and United Reformed Churches, and the Church of Scotland on Sunday attacked the cuts as being unfair to the poor, echoing comments by Anglican leader Justin Welby last month.

The churches said they rejected Conservative attempts to frame the debate on welfare as aspirational "strivers" versus work-shy "skivers", a narrative that is gaining traction in Britain according to some opinion polls.

"A narrative that blames the poor for poverty leads to measures (welfare cuts) such as were announced today," said Methodist Church public policy adviser, Paul Morrison.

"The majority of people in poverty in the United Kingdom today are working," he added.

The new welfare measures include increasing benefit payments by just one percent for the next three years, well below the rate of inflation of 2.8 percent, a move Osborne and Duncan Smith said would save taxpayers $3bn a year.

Also included are a welfare benefits cap, a reduction in benefits towards paying council tax, and, controversially, a measure dubbed a "bedroom tax" by Britain's media.

The government sees the plan, in which welfare payments are reduced to households deemed to have more rooms than they require, as the abolition of a "bedroom subsidy".

Foreign tourist raped on Rio de Janeiro minibus

A

foreign tourist has been raped and robbed on a minibus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian police say.

Two men have been arrested.

They attacked the couple, who had boarded the minibus in the Copacabana area of the city, police say.

The couple's identities and nationalities have not been disclosed.

Curbing violence is a major priority for the authorities in Rio, which is hosting the football World Cup next year and the 2016 Olympics in 2016.

Police say two suspects have been arrested: Jonathan Foudakis de Souza, 20, the bus

driver, and Wallace Aparecido de Souza Silva, 22.

The suspects told other passengers to get off the bus, and drove it to the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, police said.

The woman was raped repeatedly as the minibus crossed the long bridge over the Guanabara Bay in Rio. Her boyfriend was handcuffed and badly beaten.

The couple was dumped in the nearby city of Itaborai, after being forced to use their credit cards for shopping and to withdraw money from cash machines, the police report says.

The two alleged culprits were arrested hours after the attack.

Police are looking for a third

man. He was contacted by mobile phone, boarded the bus outside Rio and also raped the woman, police say.

Robberies are a common

occurrence on buses in Rio de Janeiro and other big Brazilian cities, but the violence and audacity of this attack has shocked local media.

Police is complete-search of the Copacabana area.

Indigenous Colombians free soldiers

A

The three soldiers were surrounded by members of the Nasa indigenous group.

group of indigenous Colombians has let go three soldiers it had been holding for 24 hours.

Members of the Nasa tribe surrounded the soldiers, whom they suspect of shooting dead one of their leaders.

The Nasa agreed to free them after the army promised to thoroughly investigate the death of Alvaro Chocue.

The soldiers said Mr Chocue was shot in crossfire between them and left-wing rebels, but the Nasa suspect he was killed at an army checkpoint.

Members of the Nasa indigenous guard formed a circle around the three soldiers in the town of Caldono, in south-western Colombia, where

they held them for a night and a day.

There has been tension between the Nasa and the military since last July, when the indigenous group demanded that all armed men leave their land, be they left-wing rebels, right-wing paramilitaries, police or army.

After the army refused to leave, the indigenous guard dragged a group of soldiers from their post on Cerro Berlin mountain, prompting the deployment of riot police.

Cauca province is a rebel stronghold and the army says its presence there is key.

But the indigenous group says army checkpoints are a magnet for rebel attacks, heightening the chance of the Nasa being caught in crossfire.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 35

Japanese dude needs your help to travel the world and take photos of beautiful women

K

ei Akatsu is a Japanese student who wants to travel the world and take photos of beautiful women for his Beauties World Map project. But he needs your help to do it.

Traveling isn't cheap, so he's turned to an online crowd funding service to fulfill his dream.

The Tokyo University of Science student spent half a year in Vancouver taking photos of cute girls from all over the world and putting together a collection for his Beauties World Map website.

He actually managed to meet an impressive number of women, and organized their photos on his site according to their places of origin, age and height. But it was only the beginning of his great photographic experience. Kei Akatsu now wants to travel the world and capture feminine beauty on camera for everyone see. Sadly, he lacks the funds to journey across North and South America, so he turned to Crowdfire, a Japanese online crowd funding service similar to Kickstarter, for help. To attract sponsors, Kei mapped out the entire project and even posted a promotional video and sample photos.

According to RocketNews24, the young photographer estimated he would need a little over $11,000 to fulfill his dream and create his Beauties World map, so it must have been pretty disappointing to raise a measly $793. And to think he even offered special bonuses like: We will send you a produced ebook photo album, We will post your name and/or URL on our website as an official sponsor, We will also post a banner of your choice under "official sponsors", your name and URL will also be place in our ebook as an official sponsor,we will send you a postcard with a picture of a beauty, we will create a composite image of you with one of the beauties to use as a standby image.

But it just wasn't enough.

He did however manage to get an impressive 300,000 views on YouTube, so that's got to be of some consolation.

And even if he hasn't yet realized his dream, it seems Kei is still shooting pretty girls in his native country and posting photos on his site. But, if you want to help some guy see the world and meet beautiful women, I'm sure he wouldn't mind a small donation.

Easter bunny pulled over for driving motorcycle without helmet

The album

"Ruff" accident: dog drives car into pedestrian, truck

A

motocyclist in full Easter bunny costume was pulled over Saturday on a Southern California freeway in a traffic stop that was caught on the California Highway Patrol officer's camera.

The bunny -- driving a red motorcycle with a sidecar -- was pulled over on the westbound 8 Freeway. Instead of a helmet as required by law, the man was wearing a bunny costume head -as required by the charity event to which he was traveling.

The CHP officer radioed: "I'm stopping the Easter Bunny.''

The bunny received a warning after the officer explained the safety issues of not wearing a helmet, according to the CHP.

A dog (not the one shown in this file image) was fingered as the driver of a car that injured a pedestrian.

A

The motorcyclist was given a warning after the officer made it clear -- a bunny head is no substitute for a crash helmet

canine-operated Dodge hit a Pennsylvania pedestrian on Tuesday, according to local police.

After being left unattended in a running vehicle, the dog pushed on the gear, propelling

the car toward a stationary truck, The Associated Press reported. In an attempt to stop the accident, the pedestrian got caught between the two vehicles.

He fell to the ground and was

knocked unconscious, police said.

The unidentified man later regained consciousness after being taken to York Hospital by the West York Ambulance for injury treatment, according to the York Daily Record.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

Bacteria find ‘key to treating obesity without surgery’ W

eight loss after gastric band surgery may be partly caused by changes to microorganisms that live in the gut, say US researchers.

A study in mice has shown that surgery causes different types of bacteria to colonise the gut.

Transferring samples of those bacteria into healthy mice caused them to rapidly lose weight without surgery.

But the Harvard University researchers said they could not yet explain the mechanism behind their results.

There are differences in the bacteria in the stomachs and intestines of obese people compared with those who are of a normal weight.

And in people who have had gastric bypass operations to help them lose weight, the types of microbes that are found in the gut change.

In the latest study, researchers compared three groups of obese mice on a high-calorie diet.

One group was given a gastric bypass One was given a sham operation, and the highcalorie diet continued One was given the same

Certain microbes in the gut could have an impact on metabolism, thereby influencing weight loss fake operation but then fed a low-calorie diet to promote weight loss A week later the mice who had undergone the real obesity surgery had different bacteria in their guts, with an increase in types usually seen in lean individuals and a drop in types associated with obesity.

Three weeks after surgery

they had lost about 30% of their bodyweight, the researchers reported in Science Translational Medicine.

There was little change in micro-organisms present in the mice who had had sham operations, even though the group on the low-calorie diet lost just as much weight as the mice who had had the bypass

surgery.

Researchers then transferred samples from the guts of the three groups of mice into other germ-free mice.

Those who received bacteria from the bypass mice, lost a significant amount of weight in two weeks but the others saw no change.

It is not yet clear how the microbes influence weight

'DNA' of all true Christians. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you Love one another (Jn 13:35) Jesus did not cajole, exhort, plead, lull, or seek to entice Christians to Love. He gives an order, a command to be obeyed.

This means that without Love, we cannot call ourselves Christians.

This is my command; Love one another as I have loved you (Jn 15:12). Jesus did not only speak of Love, He lived and died for Love.

This is at the heart of what we are celebrating at this period. As Christians, we are called to participate in the reconstruction of the world. Jesus Himself has offered us a template and that is His own life. It has to remain the mirror, the prism through which we must see life in its entirety.

Even if a Christian lives alone among a billion people of another faith, the light entrusted to him or her is never put off by fear or intolerance. It must shine amidst joy, sorrow or persecution.

To return to the theme of amnesty, as I have noted, we have sadly turned it into a political football and have drained it of its moral content. No matter the crimes committed by members of Boko Haram, those of them who are Nigerians have not lost their

membership of our community.The processes of how an amnesty can be achieved are complex and they are a science of sorts. No one receives amnesty for nothing without surrendering something in return, that is, renouncing their moral perfidy. A sense of remorse, an assurance that one will get a hearing, that a prodigal son might even be considered for the role of a servant by a benevolent father, all these are conditions that we must create as we search for the lost sheep. The return of the prodigal son would have been of no use had his father not been waiting and when he decided to return, he sough a much lower role for himself (Lk 15:11-32).

If Christians were just a group of people who merely defend themselves, then we are not better than a tribal union. If we turn Christianity into a religion that merely defends itself, then we are living in a prison and can never grow. St Thomas Aquinas assures us that were we to withhold this precious gift of the Love of God from anyone on grounds of their status, faith, gender, for any reason whatsoever, we would not be worthy of the name, Christian.

Clearly, this message, then as now, is a revolution, it is senseless, and people who preach this kind of

message do not deserve a hearing.

Indeed, there is no reason why they should not be flogged, in prison or even killed. That is what we have just re-enacted as evidence that the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom Many Christians have been tempted to use their persecution by Boko Haram, the destruction of our churches and the brutal murders of our fellow citizens as a justification for rejection of amnesty. But every true believer must understand that these sufferings, these trials are not outside the mind of God and His plans for our faith. The challenge is for us to remain faithful and steadfast so as not to be swayed by the dictates and exigencies of the moment.

Persecution has been the hallmark of Christianity.

International data suggests that from the death of Christ till date, some 70 million Christians have given their lives for Christ. Indeed, before the persecution of Christians in China after 1949, there were only 1.2million Christians in China. When persecution of Christians became a state policy, Christians bore the lashes and today, there are almost 100 million Christians in China. This is why the Psalmist tells us to remember that: Even if the earth

loss, but one theory is that they have an impact on metabolism.

"We need to learn a good deal more about the mechanism by which a microbial population changed by gastric bypass exerts its effects," said study author Dr Lee Kaplan, an associate professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

"The ability to achieve even some of these effects without surgery would give us an entirely new way to treat the critical problem of obesity, one that could help patients unable or unwilling to have surgery."

Co-author Peter Turnbaugh added: "It may not be that we will have a magic pill that will work for everyone who's slightly overweight.

"But if we can, at a minimum, provide some alternative to gastric bypass surgery that produces similar effects, it would be a major advance."

Prof David Haslam, from the National Obesity Forum, said: "We know the effects of bariatric surgery are not just mechanical and we don't know the full reasons why it works so well, especially in the resolution of diabetes.

"There is more to it than meets the eye."

Source: BBCNews.com

From amnesty to repentance Contd. from Back Page Without Love, there can be no reconciliation and without reconciliation, life is both nasty, brutish and a broken shell. The redemptive power of Jesus Christ has offered us a completely new way of seeing life from the view of God rather than the circumstances around us. In the process of this reconciliation, God does not keep record of our sins as Isaiah has reminded us. St Paul again reminds us: All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18-9).

Every Christian, no matter the position is an apostle of Reconciliation.

This Love is characterized by sacrifice and gratuitousness. It is not hinged on what the other does, it does not count the cost and that is why St. Paul calls Love the greatest gift (1 Cor 13). It is amazing that this Love, when it attains perfection, drives out bitterness and fear (1 Jn 1:18). This Love is the hallmark, the badge, the identity card and indeed, the

trembles and mountains should fall into the sea, our faith will not be shaken (Ps 46:2) Prophet Habakkuk said that even if the stall of the pastoralists stands empty of cattle and all their crops vanish, he will trust in the Lord (Hab 3:17).

After all, through the mouth of the Prophet Isaiah God says: My word will not return to me empty without accomplishing that for which it was sent (Isaiah 55:11).

To reject amnesty is to place oneself at the same level as these miscreants. Their destruction on our nation is not near the devastation of apartheid in South Africa. Yet, under President Mandela, Archbishop Tutu had to offer amnesty to leap frog the reconciliation process.

To paraphrase the Yoruba adage, the hand that gives amnesty is on top of the hand that receives. An offer of amnesty is not the same as a declaration of amnesty. An offer of amnesty brings the penitent to the table as a first step. Amnesty is a process not a destination. The offer of amnesty will not solve all our problems, but it will bring us closer to a new dawn. May the spirit of the risen Christ guide us and restore wholeness to our dear country.

Matthew Kukah is the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 37

CNPP tackles Tambuwal over Anambra seat

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, has expressed outrage over the refusal of the leadership of the House of Representatives to swear in the winner of the Anambra East Federal Constituency of Anambra State, Tony Nwoye.

In a statement yesterday, the CNPP spokesman, Osita Okechukwu, said by refusing to swear in Mr. Nwoye, the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, has disappointed Nigerian youth who look up to him as an exemplary leader.

A Federal High Court had, in July last year, ordered the Independent National Electoral

Commission, INEC, to swear in Mr. Nwoye, a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, having been declared winner of 2011 election in the Anambra East Federal Constituency of Anambra State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The court held that Chriscarto Ameke, who had earlier been sworn in as the winner of the seat, never participated in the election.

Consequent upon the judgement of the court, INEC issued Mr. Nwoye a Certificate of Return on July 16, 2012 while the National Assembly's Director of Legal Services advised Mr. Tambuwal to swear

him in on March 4, 2013.

Similarly, a four-member panel set up by the House leadership headed by the Chief Whip recommended that Mr. Nwoye be sworn-in while the Court of Appeal Enugu Judicial Division, holding at Enugu, on 28 March 2013, dismissed the appeal filled by Mr. Ameke for lack of merit.

"We are outraged that Rt. Hon Tambuwal, whom a lot of Nigerian youths look up to as an exemplary character out of the rot in the system, has regrettably shown that he is more or less the same culture of impunity stuff," the CNPP said.

"Otherwise, how come the highly rated Rt. Hon. Tambuwal, against his oath of

office and at variance with the Code of Conduct descended into the arena, clinging on none existing Court Order, thereby blatantly subverting the laws of the land by refusing to swearin Comrade Tony Nwoye in the face of glaring evidences."

CNPP said with the judgement of the Court of Appeal, Mr. Tambuwal has no reason to delay the swearing-in of Mr. Nwoye, adding that the Speaker's rising profile could be tainted if he fails to do so.

"In sum, we challenge Rt. Hon Aminu Tambuwal to swear-in Tony Nwoye forthwith; lest his rising profile will be tainted by unholy alliance with known antidemocrats," the opposition group stated.

L-R: Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Osita Chidoka, Benue state Governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, and the state Deputy Governor, Chief Steve Lawani, during an advocacy visit by the corps marshal to the state recently.

Amodu-Awkunanaw community gets new traditional ruler after six years

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astor Emeka Abugu, Enugu State Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters, has urged traditional rulers in the state to avoid any act capable of bringing disunity and insecurity in their communities.

Abugu said this on Sunday at Amodu-Okowo Awkunanaw during the installation of Igwe Okechukwu Ogbuka, Udoha 11 of Amodu as the traditional ruler of Amodu –Okowo Awkunanaw, Nkanu West LGA. He noted that as custodians of the people’s culture, traditional rulers should

always foster peace, unity and progress among their subjects to promote sustainable development.

In his welcome address the President –General of the community, Mr Ndidi Edeh, said the emergence of Igwe Ogbuka followed the conduct of a peaceful, transparent, free and fair election in December, 2012.

He requested the new royal father to remain steadfast and always uphold the 2009 Constitution of the community.

Edeh called on AmoduOkowo indigenes to unite in giving their support to the Igwe whom they hoped would in-

turn protect their rights, privileges, pursue and obtain all that was due to them as well as up-hold their customs.

“Let us therefore instal our leader with good conscience, ignore the pressures and misconceptions both within and outside which is capable of destabilising the peace and unity that have continued to be our most cherished virtue,’’ he said.

Responding, the traditional ruler, Igwe Okechukwu Ogbuka, thanked his people for finding him worthy to serve, promising that he would justify the confidence reposed in him.

He called for their cooperation, constructive criticism and suggestions as he charged them ‘to always think home’ so that together they would re-position the lost glory of their community.

Highlights of the occasion were the administration of oath of office, crowning and the presentation of ‘Ofo Amodu Okowo’ by the eldest man of the community to the royal father.

Traditional dances, masquerades, gun-salutes, presentation of gifts among which was a brand new 406 Peugeot car by an indigene of the community to Igwe Ogbuka. (NAN)

Lawmaker lends support for Special Agric. Fund

A

member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Mohammed Monguno, has called for the establishment of a special fund for the development of agriculture in Nigeria.

Monguno ( ANPP-Borno), who is the Chairman, House committee on Agriculture, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Abuja yesterday.

“There should be a specific fund meant for the development of agriculture, just like the fund for the development of the mineral sub-sector,” he said.

Monguno said that agriculture was the backbone of the Nigerian economy and accounted for 70 per cent of employment and 47 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product.

The legislator said there was a need for a fund to be channelled through the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) for the revival of the agriculture sector.

According to him, if the fund is channelled through BOA and well managed, it will go a long way in reviving the sector.

“Statutorily, it is the responsibility of BOA to disburse the fund to farmers.

“I am very much in support of the establishment of a fund specifically meant for the development of agriculture but it should be channelled through the body mandated to manage it,” he said.

Monguno said that there must be effective oversight by the National Assembly committees and other relevant agencies over the fund to ensure that it was properly disbursed to farmers.

Monguno said that Nigeria was lagging behind in the allocation of fund to the agriculture sector.

He expressed regret that only 1.6 per cent of the county’s national budget was allocated to the agriculture sector as against 10 per cent agreed by African leaders.

NAN recalls that in 2003, leaders of governments in Africa agreed in Maputo to commit 10 per cent of their budget to the agricultural sector.

Currently, a bill for the establishment of a national agriculture fund is at the National Assembly. ( NAN)

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

Lagos plots tenure elongation Obasanjo brokers for LG Chairmen, Councilors peace

By Lawrence Olaoye with agency reports

I

ndications emerged yesterday that the Lagos state government is secretly planning the extension of the tenure of the local government chairmen and councilors in the state.

The document is a draft bill put together by members of the Local Government Areas (LGAs) and waiting to be passed into law by the state House of Assembly A scrutiny of the draft bill suggests that members of the LGA in Lagos state are collectively plotting to prolong their tenure of office. A subtle clause in the bill suggests that members can stay on in their positions and serve a fresh term with effect from whenever the law is passed.

The contentious clause, believed to have been unanimously smuggled in by the members with the collaboration of the governor reads: "Not withstanding the provisions of Sections 12(1) and 27(3), Councilors and Chairmen of Local Government and Local Council Development Areas that were sworn in prior to the commencement of this Law may hold office for the term prescribed by this Law".

This translates as an automatic extension of the tenures of the over 300 councilors and their chairmen and reeks of a dubious and concerted effort to tweak the law to enable them stay in power longer.

Nigeria's federal system of governance makes room for

the Local Government Areas.

These LGAs are administered

by Local Government Councils consisting of a chairman who is the Chief Executive and other elected Councilors.

The existing legislation stipulates that these members have a 3year term of office but the new bill with the clause would see members starting a fresh 3 year term from the date the bill is passed.

Interestingly, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola

who is supposed to superintend over the election process seems to show no interest whatsoever in fulfilling his legitimate obligation and rather seems to endorse the promulgation of the suspicious bill.

Perhaps even more befuddling is the fact that Fashola's Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which controls Lagos State seems to be trying hard to push this bill despite strongly opposing similar

moves by the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) to extend the presidential tenure from 4 years to 7 years.

It will be recalled that the government of Goodluck Jonathan drew a bill in 2011 proposing that the presidential and gubernatorial tenure be revised citing the rising cases of violence and tension across the country during elections as the reason. The ACN however rallied together to stiffly oppose this proposal.

R-L: Adamawa state Governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako, presenting Souvenir to Former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Sali, during a Civic Reception in honour of the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, recently in Yola.

Photo: NAN

Ex-Senator urges FG to pay compensation to Sankera community

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former senator, Daniel Saroh, has called on the Federal Government to pay t N41 billion compensation to the people of Sankera in Benue over a 2001 military attack.

A Federal High Court in Enugu had awarded the compensation over the invasion of the community by the Nigerian Army in 2001 during which lives and property were lost.

Mr. Saroh said in a telephone interview in Abuja yesterday that

the compensation was necessary to enable the people re-start their lives.

Mr. Saroh, a former Senator for Benue North -East, identified the official residence of the Chairman, Ukim Local Government Area, and the council secretariat, as some of the property destroyed during the invasion.

He said since the victims went to court and won their case, government was duty bound to pay them damages.

"At the time of the crisis, some people went to court to demand compensation and they won the case in 2007, up till today nothing has been paid to anybody.

"The victims are saying that the amount is too small for them, what I am trying to say is that the Federal Government owes the people certain level of compensation because a lot of people have been killed.

"The invasion caused so much damage to the people in terms of

economic, social, environmental as well as psychological trauma," he said.

Saroh, a former Governorship Candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, in Benue also recalled that students of the community could not write their examinations at the time because of the invasion.

He, however, advised the people of the community to put the trauma of the invasion behind them and move on with life. (NAN)

Kano Blast: Igbo Union disowns statements of ‘self-acclaimed leader’

T

he Igbo Community Association (ICA) in Kano State has dissociated itself from statements of Chief Tobias Idika on the recent bomb blast at a Luxury bus motor park in Sabon Gari, Kano.

This is contained in a statement signed by the President-General of the association, Chief Chi Nwogu, issued in Kano on Friday.

It stated that Idika is “just a selfacclaimed President of Ohaneze

Contiuned from page 37

Ndigbo in the state and therefore does not represent the interest of the Igbos in Kano.” ‘’We want to state emphatically here that he (Idika) is not an Igbo leader and does not represent the interest of the Igbos in Kano.’’

According to the statement, Idika’s inflammable statements and publications are capable of inciting the Igbos against their host government, with which it

had sustainable cordial relationship. ‘’His reckless statements had sent inciting signals to our kith and kin at home and in Diaspora because of his misrepresentation of facts about the attack.’’ ‘’We want to use this opportunity to say that the incident was not targeted at any particular ethnic group as the casualties cut across all tribes of Nigeria.’’

The union, however, appealed

to both the Federal and Kano State Governments to compensate the families of the deceased and injured victims as well as owners of the burnt buses. ‘’We also wish to reiterate our earlier call on the Federal Government to extend financial assistance to Kano State Government, to enable it sustain the gains so far achieved in fighting insecurity in the state.’’

(NAN)

among Ogun PDP factions

M

embers of the various PDP factions in Ogun yesterday held a closed-door reconciliatory meeting at the hilltop residence of former Olusegun Obasanjo, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Obasanjo was also the immediate past Chairman of the party's Board of Trustees (BOT).

NAN reports that those who attended the four-hour meeting were Chief Segun Oni, a former PDP National Vice-Chairman, South-West, Sen Jubril Martins Kuye, a former Minister of State for Finance and Chief Sarafa Ishola, a former Minister for Mines and Steel Development. Some of the party chieftains who addressed newsmen described the meeting as fruitful.

Kuye told newsmen that the development was part of the moves to reposition the party ahead of the 2015 General Elections.

He said that the intraparty crises had caused a lot of setbacks to the party in the state, adding that it was necessary for elders of the party to come together and "mend broken fences", to move the party forward.

He hinged the choice of Obasanjo's residence on the fact that ``the former President is an embodiment of peace and a rallying point of the party both in the South-West and at the national level.''

Kuye said that series of such meetings would be held at regular intervals to ensure that the party was united and focused ahead of the 2015 General Elections.

Also speaking, Ishola expressed optimism that the initiative would bring to an end the crisis which had polarised the party and denied it of victory at the 2011 gubernatorial elections in the state.

He called on other aggrieved members of the party to return saying: "There is no end to reconciliation. All channels of communications would be kept open."

The former minister gave the assurance that the party remained a formidable family and members were ready to sacrifice personal interests for the overall good of the party. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 39

Rep enjoins Nigerians to embrace peace, unity

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member of the House of Representatives, Mr Olayemi Busari, yesterday enjoined Nigerians to embrace peace and unity for the country’s advancement.

Busari, a member of the Accord Party, representing Egbeda/ OnaAra Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the house, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan that Nigerians should be united.

Nigerians, irrespective of their religious backgrounds, he said should be united and it would be easier to overcome the problem of insecurity facing the country.

The legislator advised citizens to use the Easter celebration to preach unity.

He said that the sacrifice made

by Jesus Christ was to save the world and bring hope to the hopeless.

Busari enjoined Nigerians to emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ which were anchored on forgiveness and willingness.

He urged everyone to join hands to pray for peace, progress and unity of the country. (NAN)

Oyo State not bound to domesticate the FOI Act – Commissioner

T

he Oyo State Government said yesterday that it was not bound to domesticate the Freedom of Information Act. Mr Ojo Adebayo, the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan that the state’s decision on the Act was guided by the position of the law and not by the selfish interest of the government.

“It is not about the government, but of the law and the law says that both the federal and state government can concurrently legislate on it.

“Being an item on the concurrent list, both of us are free to either legislate on it or not.

“However, while the federal government had legislated and now we have the Act, Oyo State has not done that.

“The law is, therefore, made for the federal government and its agencies all over the country and it is not applicable to us in Oyo State.

The Attorney-General added that the state government may, however, voluntarily elect to domesticate the Act. “Although we are not an appendage of the federal government, we may legislate on it if we feel otherwise,” he said.

The Act contains “the right of any person to access or request information whether or not contained in any written form which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institutions, however, described.”

(NAN)

Contiuned from page 37

L-R: Jigawa state Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido and Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, during the board's visit to the governor, recently at Government House, in Dutse.

Photo: NAN

Lawmaker wants FG to handover Ikorodu-Epe road to LASG A

federal lawmaker from Lagos State, Mr Lanre Odubote, has urged the Federal Government to handover the Ikorodu-Epe Road to the state government to facilitate its rehabilitation.

Odubote, ACN-Epe, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos.

According to Odubote, the handover will enable the state government to extend the ongoing expansion of the KetuIkorodu Expressway to Epe. ``We are appealing to the Federal Government to handover the Ikorodu-Epe road, now in a deplorable state, to the

Lagos State Government so that the state can include the road in its road rehabilitation projects. ``We are already talking to Gov. Babatunde Fashola to extend the eight-lane KetuIkorodu expressway with light rail to Epe; this will aid the movement of people and farm produce from the area.''

He recalled that in March, 2012, the House of Representatives passed a resolution which urged the Federal Ministry of Works to rehabilitate the Ikorodu-EpeIjebu-Ode Road and link the area with the Shagamu-Ore Expressway.

Odubote explained that the thrust of the resolution was to decongest the Lagos-Shagamu Expressway.

The lawmaker noted, however, that up till now nothing had been done on the road, adding that no contract had been awarded for its rehabilitation.

He observed that, ``The redesigning of the Ketu-Ikorodu road to accommodate the light rail project of the state government will help to decongest Lagos metropolis. ``People can live in Epe and other communities in the area and work in Lagos without stress and without paying exorbitant

rent.''

Odubote, a former journalist, also pointed out that the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the road would boost the economic and tourism potential of Epe and the state. ``Epe as a coastal town is a big tourist destination; it is endowed with beautiful beaches and aquatic splendour. ``It is one of the biggest fish markets in the South-West zone and as the food basket of the state, we need motorable roads and effective transportation system in the area. ``This will enable the farmers to take their produce and fish to markets in the cities within and outside the state.'' (NAN)

Ikuforiji urges Christians to pray for their enemies

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deyemi Ikuforiji, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, recently called on Christians to pray for their enemies no matter the level of provocation.

Ikuforiji said this in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Rotimi Adebayo, in Lagos.

He congratulated the Christians for the successful completion of the 40-day Lenten season, which has now culminated in the celebration of Easter— the remembrance of

Jesus Christ’s resurrection.

“On this joyous occasion of the celebration of Easter, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, heartily rejoice with all Nigerian Christians.

“Having successfully endured the mandatory 40-day long Lenten season, I congratulate all Nigerian Christians for their endurance throughout the period.

“It is also a thing of joy for us here that it is now time for another Easter celebration.”

The lawmaker charged Christians to continue to pray for their enemies, the country and the leaders, in line with Biblical injunctions.

He said that Christians must continue to show love to all, so that Nigerians could witness a divine turnaround of the nation’s misfortunes.

Ikuforiji also urged all Christians to be hopeful as they continued to pray for the nation.

“We should keep looking ahead for a Nigeria that will

flow with milk and honey again, like the Biblical Canaan.

“On no occasion should any Nigerian Christian regard others who do not share his faith as foes, but as brothers and sisters.

“And it is mandatory for all Christians to keep forgiving their enemies in the interest of the nation.’’

The lawmaker advised the Christians to continue to live in peace and harmony with one another, in the interest of the nation. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 40

ACN chieftain urges members in Edo to reconcile ahead of April 20 polls

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Yobe state Governor, Malam Ibrahim Gaidam (2nd right), Borno state Governor Kashim Shettima (middle), Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim (right), Yobe state Deputy Governor, Enginerr Abubakar D. Ali (3rd left), and other dignitaries after the wedding of two of Governor Gaidam's sons, at the weekend in Damaturu.

I am the next governor of Ekiti state, says Fayose A

head of 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State, former governor Ayo Fayose of PDP has vowed to recapture power and become the next governor in the state.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan, the embattled Fayose said “there is no agenda in 2014, I am the next governor in Ekiti state’’.

Sounding spiritual and philosophical, Fayose said he left office through the State House of Assembly on Oct. 15, 2006 and Mr Segun Oni also left on Oct. 15, 2010 while the

incumbent Gov. Kayode Fayemi was sworn in on Oct. 16, 2010.

“So the issues are very clear. The historic importance are very clear, my exit marks the end of every government in Ekiti State.

Fayose said automatically, Fayemi would leave office on Oct. 15, 2014 and a new government by him would start on Oct. 16, 2014, “exactly eight years, after I left office’’.

“Apart from that, I am working. People love me and people want me. I am endearing myself more to them. I don’t like to make too much noise,

May God help all of us’’, he prayed.

On the reconciliatory meetings going on in the PDP, Fayose said it was a welcome development as “ It shows that PDP is moving forward’’. “ We should all come together and do more, if we do more, we will get more. PDP will take over power in the South-West’’, he said.

“Forever, there will be internal problems, it will never end, that is the hallmark of politics, that is why we call it politics, it is a game of interest and intrigues.’’

Fayose said PDP as a large

party should expect a lot of intrigues and interest but expressed the hope hope that at the end of it all, members would come together. “ When you see a party fighting , and not ready to decamp, you should be afraid of them, because when they come together, it is a crisis for the opponents they are fighting.

“We should forget about the crisis, crisis is normal and we should expect more. That does not take away that they are in PDP and want PDP to win.’’

(NAN)

Fashola urges residents to preserve peace, state‘s hospitality

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overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Sunday urged residents in the state to be vigilant and report activities of anyone who threatened their peace.

The governor made the call at the fourth edition of the Lagos Boat Regatta held in Victoria Island, Lagos.

He said the relative peace the state had enjoyed over the years should not be taken for granted, enjoined residents to always demonstrate the state‘s tradition of hospitality to visitors.

He wished the residents a happy Easter celebration, and urged them to be tolerant and ensure peaceful co-existence.

“Let me restate that our state is home to all of Africans.

Its capacity to be home to all is because of our resolve to respect cultural differences, religious differences and the laws of the land.

“We are accommodating but vigilant on those who threaten our peace or abuse our hospitality,’’ he said.

On the regatta, the governor said the event was

expanded to make it more family-friendly.

“For us in Lagos, it is not just a fun event but a tradition of our ancestors and how they survived on the waterways. It means a lot to us.

“The waterways are our means of transport and we will not allow anyone to threaten them as they are also our source of sea foods,’’ he said.

Earlier, Mr Olusegun Jawando, the Chairman of the Regatta Planning Committee, said the event was an opportunity for residents and

tourists to enjoy the beauty of the lagoon.

“The Lagos regatta is a private-sector initiative powered by Lagos State Government as part of the Black Heritage Week event,’’ he added.

“It was born out of the desire of the government to draw attention to the state’s waterways.’’

Representatives of the different coastal communities in the state created great spectacle as they paddled their colourful, well-decorated boats across the Lagoon. (NAN)

alik Afegbua, a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), has urged party members to settle their grievances before the April 20 council polls in Edo state.

Afegbua who made the call recently at Oghomere village near Fuga during the inauguration of Etsako Central campaign train for the forthcoming council elections.

He said reconciliation became imperative because “every vote is important and all aggrieved members must come to a roundtable for discussion with a view of resolving all lingering issues, if any’’.

Afegbua who is the party’s Edo North leader and Board of Trustees member said the election, like any other election, was important to the party.

“We cannot afford to lose any vote. In this regard, I am calling on all candidates to extend their hands of fellowship to aspirants who lost out in the primaries,’’ he said.

The ACN chieftain said the party had painstakingly chosen candidates that would ensure its victory at the polls.

According to him, the candidates are not only to ensure victory but also expected to compliment the development strides of the governor of the state.

“All the candidates must ensure development is spread round the nooks and crannies of the state.

“We have warned that no candidate must deliberately concentrate efforts at developing his immediate community to the detriment of other areas in the council,’’ he said.

Also speaking at the occasion, the immediate past Chairman of Etsako Central Local Government Area, Mr Suleiman Bagudu, assured that ACN would emerge victorious in the council polls.

“The assurance for the party’s victory is because the foundation for its success has been laid.

“Excluding state projects, as the immediate past chairman of the council I can say we did a lot that will make the people not to be able to look the other way,’’ he said.

The ACN candidate in the area, Mr Emmanuel Momoh, also highlighted the importance of the occasion.

He said the party deliberately inaugurated the event in the village to stress the importance of people at the grass roots to the political development of the state.

“It is a way of telling the people that we are ready to work for them whereever they may be.

It is also a signal that we will take development to the grass roots when we come on board,’’ Momoh said.(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 41

First Deepwater, First Bank lead women’s basketball league Nigeria to he defending champions of Group A and B respectively with and Coal City Queens of Enugu Delta Queens emerged sixth host 2014 the Zenith Bank Women’s 14 points each. are seventh and eight position after three wins.

Basketball League, LagosFirst Deepwater led Group A respectively.

New comer, Oluyole Babes of based First Deepwater and city which had Sunshine Queens of In Group B, last year’s Ibadan finished seventh with Africa Squash rivals, First Bank, topped their Akure who had 12 points from runners-up and former eight points after one win, while groups at the end of the Phase five wins, while new entrant, champions, First Bank is on top Nigeria Immigration Service of Championships One of the competition.

GT-2000 of Kaduna came third with 14 points ahead of Dolphins Kano placed eight with seven

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The nine-day competition, which dunked off at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Abuja National Stadium on March 23 with 16 teams including 10 regular teams, six new entrants, ended on Easter Sunday.

After all the matches played during Phase One, First Deepwater and First Bank led

with 12 points also.

Nigeria Customs of Lagos placed fourth after four wins to get 11 points, while FCT Angels trailed them in the fifth position also with 11 points.

AHIP Queens of Kano occupy the sixth position with 9 points from two wins, while new entrants, Taraba Hurricanes

of Lagos who have 13 points from six wins.

Plateau Rocks of Jos and new entrant, IGP Queens of Lagos placed third and fourth respectively with 11 points each from four wins.

Another new entrant, Benue Princess, placed fifth with 10 points from three wins while

points.

Phase one, which ended on March 31, will be followed by Phase Two scheduled for May 2 to 16 in Asaba.

The final phase, which is the Final Eight Play-offs to determine the league champions, will hold in Lagos from June 7 to 16.

will be recognised as a scoring event at the next sports festival because it was at the last festivval tagged ``Eko 2012’’ in Lagos, as a demonstration sport.

“What had happened then that made it not to be fully competed for was that there was a mix-up in the zonal eliminations and the results came in a little bit late. But the sport has been doing well locally, nationally and internationally and this will be an encouragement for it and its stakeholders to do more,’’ he said.

Igbinosa recalled that Nigeria featured in the game at the 10th All-Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique held in 2011 where both the male and female teams came fifth and eighth

respectively.

“Now, the sport should be given the necessary support because we want it to do better than it has done so far,’’ he said.

Igbinosa disclosed that the NSC Director-General, Dr Patrick Ekeji, has assured that the commission would do whatever it would take to promote the game at the grassroots and national level.

“Due to the success the sport has recorded over the time, we are committed to promoting it because of its potential. We will be doing this for two purposes because beach volleyball is both a recreational and competitive sport.

The assurance was given at the second edition of the Samsung Electronics Male and

Female Beach Volleyball Championships was held from March 29 to March 31 in Abuja.

The Ondo State and Delta State teams won the male and female top titles respectively.

Beach Volleyball to debut at 19th NSF

By Patrick Andrew

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he National Sports Commission (NSC) has given assurances that beach volleyball would be included on the list of the core sports for the 19th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Calabar, Cross River State.

NSC’s Assistant Director of Elite Athletes Development (EAD), Dr Emmanuel Igbinosa, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja serious consideration has been given to its inclusion because of the successes the game has made since inception.

“We discovered that it is an area that Nigeria can do well as we are doing in beach football.

And I am assuring you that it

Chief Patrick Ekeji, DG NSC

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he Squash Federation of Africa (SFA) has selected Nigeria to host the 2014 edition of Africa Squash Championships, the President, Nigeria Squash Federation (NSF), Femi Ajagbe, has said.

Ajagbe said yesterday in Lagos that Nigeria had accepted the offer and would do all it could to make the competition successful.

Ajagbe, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the decision was taken at Windhoek, Namibia where the All Africa Junior Squash Championships ended on Sunday.

This is the first time Nigeria have been selected to host the championships from May 4 to May 9, 2014.

“We are ready to shoulder the responsibility; we will ensure that we put all the necessary things in place to have a successful competition.

“We won’t wait till 2014 to start preparation; we will put things in motion when we return from Namibia,’’ he said on telephone from Windhoek.

“The federation will solicit for support from the government and the private sponsors and we are optimistic that they will come to our aid; our collective effort will make it a success.’’

Team Nigeria came fifth at the All Africa Junior Championships attended by 12 countries. Ajagbe was reelected the Vice-President of SFA.

Benitez says top four a priority as Chelsea draw City in FA Cup semifinal

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Chelsea players celebrating after Demba Ba scored against Man United in yesterday’s FA Cup match

helsea interim manager, Rafael Benitez, has insisted the Blues will finish among the top four teams in the English Premier League and thus earned a place in the UEFA Champions League.

Chelsea, who were the defending champions of the Champions League have had horrid times this season culminating in their becoming the first champions that failed to qualify from the group stage.

But Benitez, who was delighted with the team’s win over Man United in yesterday’s FA Cup quarterfinal clash courtesy Demba Ba’s goal early in the second half, believes Chelsea have the depth to do so.

“The priority for us is to finish in the top four but in a top side you have to keep in every competition and try to win it.

The race for the top four will be up until the end of the season but we are in the top four with a game in hand, we are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the Europa League quarter-finals, so it is a great season so far,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have booked a clash with Man City in the semi-finals of the FA Cup following yesterday’s win.

United had thrown away a 2-0 lead allowing Chelsea to level up and forced yesterday’s replay.

The Blues are just one match away from their fifth FA Cup final in seven seasons. They lifted the trophy in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

Chelsea are now unbeaten in 29 FA Cup games (excluding penalty shootouts). It is the longest ever run without defeat by a single side.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

Coach says irregular competitions bane of traditional sports

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he Lagos State Abula Coach, Muritala Babalola, has expressed regrets that the nation’s abundant talents

in traditional sports are wasting due to lack of competitions. Babalola decried irregular competitions stressing

that it has grossly affected the growth of traditional sports in the country.

According to him, the game comprising Kokawa

(wrestling), Dambe (boxing), Langa, Ayo and Abula, failed to grow in the country because government has failed to

Dambe fighters in action

AYAC: Gold medalist urges parents to support wards’ interest in sports

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eborah Adewale, two gold medalists at the maiden Africa Youths Athletics Championships which ended on Sunday in Warri, Delta, has appealed to parents to support their children in sports.

Adewale won the gold in 100m event at 11.87secs and another in

the 200m event at 24.14 secs. Adewale said that later that parents should not choose career for their children, rather, they should support them in their chosen career.

“Parents should not deter their children and wards from their chosen career especially sports, it may be dangerous and prove negative.

“When I started athletics, my dad did not support me but now he even prays for me. Now, my dad even advises me to prove myself wherever I go or whatever I ventured into.

“Parents should not choose career for their wards, they should encourage them to go for the best in their chosen

career especially sports.’’

The sprinter said determination and focus had brought her far, saying her talent alone was not enough.

“These days talent alone is not enough; you need to be determined and focused, otherwise you can miss it.”

Adewale said with her mettle in the championship, she was determined to graduate into the senior level and represent the country in international meets.

Electronic Distance Measurement devices has come to stay, says Nesiama

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he Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) over the weekend said that it would continue to use the Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM)

Chief Solomon Ogba, AFN president

devices in the Golden Leagues and other competitions as well as train its officials on its usage.

Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, AFN Technical Director, said this at the end of the maiden Africa Youth Athletics Championships (AYAC) in Warri, Delta.

Nesiama said the continuous use of the devices made scoring easy for officials at the championships and that its continuous use would improve officials’ knowledge.

According to him, Information Technology keeps changing and so the federation will continue to train its officials with the

devices for competitions, especially the golden leagues.

“We will continue to train our officials because further training gives them an edge in the act.

“The operators of the timing device and the EDM have been adequately trained for the championships.

“But I urge the officials that after the competition, they should continue training themselves by reading and communicating with the manufacturers.

Because if the officials stop training with the EDM devices, knowledge earlier acquired will be lost.

“One advantage we

have is that we have the golden leagues where the EDM will be constantly used to further improve their skills,” he said.

In the Heptathlon boys final, Handyk Rihan of Egypt was first with 4,604 points, Jor Obhinban of Nigeria, second with 4,463 points while Salima Elmovtaraji of Morocco was third with 4,028 points.

In the Octathlon Cadet boys final, Ramadanmoh Moustafa of Egypt scored first with 5,360 points, Samuel Aladeyusi of Nigeria, second with 4,820 points and Stevenson Francois of Mauritius, third with 4,566 points.

show interest.

Babalola said that government’s lack of interest in the game had resulted in corporate bodies and spirited individuals to develop apathy to sponsor the game.

He noted that having talents alone would not improve the sport, and stressed the need for regular competitions to sustain its popularity and growth.

“The lack of opportunities for players to play on a regular basis is one of the biggest challenges facing the growth of traditional sports in the country.

“In order to improve the game in the country, we will need to organise competitions on a regular basis for the players as well as the fans,” he said.

He then urged the three tiers of government to

show interest in the development of the game in the country, saying that government’s apathy to the game was its greatest problem.

“If government shows little interest, the game will grow through sponsorship and players will have better opportunities to play regularly and improve their skills for i n t e r n a t i o n a l competitions.

“Funding from the private sector to hold competitions will go a long way at providing players with the required prospects to play, thereby improving their skills,’’ he said.

The coach, however, expressed optimism in the future of the game in the country, saying that it had overtime gained national recognition and acceptance by the people.

Powell undergoes scan today, pulls out of Australian race

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amaican former 100m world recordholder Asafa Powell will have a scan today to determine the extent of his hamstring injury.

Following the injury, Powell has withdrawn from Australia’s Stawell Gift race, according to organisers, who said yesterday that the former world champion is a doubt for the event.

Powell was due to race in yesterday’s semifinals but informed organisers he was experiencing tightness in his hamstring and would not line up in Australia’s oldest and richest short-distance foot race.

The Jamaican sprint superstar developed soreness in the hamstring during the warm-up on Saturday although he chose to compete and finished third in his heat

Asafa Powell

in 12.32 seconds off the scratch mark.

That time was good enough to qualify for the semifinals, along with fastest qualifier and 2011 winner Mitchell Williams-Swain (12.08) and two-time Gift champion Josh Ross.

Powell was competing for the first time since damaging his groin in the 100m final at last year’s London Olympics.

The 30-year-old, who held the 100m world record for almost three years from June 2005 to May 2008, has seen his status as the fastest man in the world eclipsed by his younger rival and close friend Usain Bolt.

The 120-metre Stawell Gift has been held annually since 1878 except for four years during the Second World War, and carries a $41 600 first prize.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 43

Ferguson laments ‘unbelievable’ Cech save

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anchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was left to rue a breathtaking save from Petr Cech after his side fell 1-0 to Chelsea in their FA Cup

quarter-final replay yesterday.

Trailing 1-0 to Demba Ba’s magnificent volley early in the second half, United looked poised to equalise in the 61st

minute, only for Cech to produce a stunning stop to repel Javier Hernandez’s close-range header.

It was to prove the closest the visitors came

to forcing extra time, with substitute Robin van Persie lifting a pair of late chances over the crossbar.

Defeat leaves United with only the Premier

League title race to focus on, and having already established a 15-point lead over Manchester City, there seems little potential for drama in the season’s closing

weeks. Ferguson had spoken of his eagerness to see United triumph in the FA Cup for the first time since 2004, and he was unusually critical of his players after the game.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Hernandez and left back Jordi Alba returning from injury.

Despite resting some starters, Bayern Munich thrashed Hamburger SV 9-2 -the most lopsided Bundesliga win in 13 years - to place one hand on the domestic trophy on Saturday. But Italian leader Juventus is certain to provide a sterner test.

“Juventus is going to be a very different story, they are a different caliber,” said Bayern midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who described the visiting side as “one of the best teams in Europe.”

With the German title effectively decided, manager Jupp Heynckes opted to rest several players against Hamburg, with Thomas Mueller, Franck Ribery and Mario Mandzukic all on the bench.

While four-time winner Bayern lost last year’s final at home to Chelsea and also finished runnerup in 2010, Juventus is in the quarterfinals for the first time since it was relegated to Serie B due to the 2006 match-fixing scandal.

“We are going to play in Munich with joy and without fear,” Juventus coach Antonio Conte said.

“We are facing a strong Bayern side, but continue to embrace this dream.

“This double challenge will show us who we are in Europe and at what point we are at in respect to the big clubs in European football. In Italy we realised that we are on the right track and now we want to measure ourselves against Europe, too.”

Madrid welcomes Galatasaray with its focus on winning an elusive 10th European Cup.

Madrid coach Jose Mourinho will be pitted against two of his former players in striker Didier Drogba and midfielder Wesley Sneijder, both of whom were recent veteran reinforcements for the Turkish team.

The game will feature the competitions’ two top scorers, with Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Galatasaray’s Burak Yilmaz both having scored eight goals so far. Messi is next with seven.

Dortmund may have disappointed in the German league this season, but it won its group ahead of Madrid, leaving Manchester City out of the knockout rounds.

Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini is looking to repeat his feat of leading Villarreal to the semifinals in its first appearance in Europe’s top-tier tournament in 2006.

Barcelona visit PSG, Bayern host Juve in today’s UCL battle

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Ronaldo

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga set to emulate 2000 feat

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eal Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga will look to set themselves up for a place in the Champions League semifinals with impressive performances in their quarterfinal first legs this week.

The last time the Spanish had three sides in the last four was in the 1999/2000 season.

Barcelona travel to Paris Saint Germain, whose limited defensive style of play may appeal to the offensive-minded Catalan outfit.

With both Real and Malaga hosting the first legs against Galatasaray and Borussia Dortmund respectively they will want to take solid leads to Turkey and Germany the following week.

Barcelona will be boosted by the return of ailing coach Tito Vilanova to the dugout for the first time since undergoing two months of treatment for cancer in New York.

They will also make the trip to Paris with full-back Jordi Alba and playmaker Xavi Hernandez, although there are doubts over the fitness of both with Alba having missed Spain’s midweek 1-0 2014 World Cup qualifier win over France.

However, they are reported to have recovered from their respective hamstring problems and leaves Barcelona only without injured defensive duo Carles Puyol and Adriano.

Ashley Cole

Cahill, Cole face two weeks out

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helsea boss Rafael Benitez has confirmed he will be without both Gary Cahill and Ashley Cole through injury for crucial upcoming games.

Cole limped off in the first half of the 1-0 FA Cup win over Manchester United after pulling up when chasing for the ball with Danny Welbeck.

And Cahill, who was forced out of the England squad for the World Cup qualifiers last month, was not in the Chelsea squad for the 2-1 defeat at Southampton or the win over United.

It means Cahill and Cole will miss both legs of the Europa League quarter-final with Rubin Kazan as well as the Premier League home game with Sunderland.

Both seem major doubts for the FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City on April 14.

he Champions L e a g u e quarterfinals get under way today with Barcelona visiting Paris Saint-Germain in a meeting between Europe’s most dominant team of recent years and its latest challenger.

After signing star players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Beckham, PSG is anxious for a major victory that would justify its engorged payroll and catapult the French team into the upper echelon of the continent’s elite.

Standing in its way is Lionel Messi and Barcelona, which is seeking to add to its three Champions League titles in the past seven years.

Also in the last eight today, Bayern Munich hosts Juventus in a clash of former champions.

Tomorrow, nine-time winner Real Madrid hosts Galatasaray while Borussia Dortmund visits newcomer Malaga.

PSG’s Qatari owners have so far seen little return on their massive investment of ?260 million ($339 million) on players during the past two seasons, with the squad still yet to gel as a unit under coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Barcelona, on the other hand, has long established itself as the model to follow thanks to its attractive passing game and reliance on homegrown talent that has brought every major title in recent years.

PSG’ 23-match unbeaten run at home in European competitions will be tested by Messi, who has scored in a record 19 straight Spanish league games and netted a double to lead Barcelona to an historic comeback win over AC Milan in the last 16.

Coach Tito Vilanova plans to make his return to Barcelona’s touchline at the Parc des Princes after a 10-week stay in a New York hospital to receive treatment after having a throat tumor removed in December. The Catalan club will also be boosted by playmaker Xavi

Lione Messi

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

Kenya’s Chepwogen, Jepkemei and Biwott impress at African Youth Champs

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frica’s top athletes between the ages of 15 and 17 from more than 30 countries went through their paces at the first African Youth Championships in the Nigerian city of Warri, which ended on Sunday.

A number of the medallists, especially those in the middle and long distance events can have ambitions of climbing the podium again at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine, this summer.

The Kenyan pair of Mercy Chepwogen and Daisy Jepkemoi have already won gold medals at the IAAF World Junior Championships last summer, in the 3000m and 3000m Steeplechase respectively, and on the evidence presented in Warri it will be difficult to stop them adding World

Mercy Chepwogen youth crowns to their collection.

On the opening afternoon of the four-day Championships on Thursday, Chebwogen held off her team mate to take the gold in 9:17.52

FIFA warn S/Africa govt against interfering in match-fixing scandals

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IFA have written to the South African Government to warn it against carrying out a judicial inquiry into the recent football matchfixing scandals in the country.

FIFA said the matter should rather be handled by the country’s football association.

Several of South Africa’s warm-ups before they hosted the 2010 World Cup were found to have been fixed, which led to the brief suspension of senior South African Football Association (SAFA) officials, including its president Kirsten Nematandani.

South Africa’s Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) recommended a judicial commission of inquiry but FIFA warned them of possible consequences should the government be seen to be intervening in football matters.

South Africa’s sports minister Fikile Mbalula told local media he would travel to FIFA headquarters in Zurich next week to discuss the issue with the world football’s governing body.

“SASCOC have made a recommendation to us that we must go ahead with a judicial commission of inquiry into the matter,” Mbalula said.

“Match-fixing is about fraud, corruption and mismanagement. There is a rule of law in South Africa.

Where there are suspicions, they must be investigated.

SAFA must understand that you can’t be a referee and player at the same time,” he said.

SAFA vice president Danny Jordaan told Reuters his organisation had already asked police to investigate the matter.

Nematandani and four other top officials were briefly suspended following the handing over in December by FIFA to SAFA of a 500-page investigation into the activities of Wilson Raj Perumal and his Football 4U organisation.

But within a month their suspension was lifted on procedural grounds.

FIFA found the results of pre-World Cup warm-up matches against Thailand, Bulgaria, Colombia and Guatemala in the weeks leading up the 2010 finals were fixed.

Allegations of match-fixing were first revealed in the South African press in July 2011 but SAFA did not immediately act, only raising the issue once FIFA had incorporated the country into a wider investigation into Perumal’s activities.

Daisy Jepkemoi with Jepkemei having to settle for second with 9.17.69 while Ethiopia’s Aldema Teter Mihrat clocked 9:19.41 for the bronze medal.

Two days later it was Jepkemei’s turn to triumph as she led a Kenyan one-two in the girls’ 2000m Steeplechase. She ran a personal best of 6.24:52 to

move up to 10th on the girl’s all-time list for the event.

“I was tired after having run the 3000m on Thursday,” said Kepkemei.

“Now I will go back home a build more endurance running up hills. At the World Youth Championships, my aim is to improve my time,” she

added, suggesting that there is plenty more in the tank and even the World youth best of 6:11.83, held

by Ethiopia’s Korahubsh Itaa since 2009, could be under threat.

Kepkemei’s compatriot Stella Ruto, a bronze medallist in Barcelona behind Kepkemei last summer, was second

6.30:64.

Kenyan boys also impressed on the track, especially Robert Biwott who won the 1500m on Friday in 3:41.96 and then returned to action in the Warri Township Stadium on Sunday to take the 800m title in 1:47.01. “”This was a fantastic (1500m) race. I started off cautiously to size up the field. With two laps to go I made my move. I was comfortable throughout the race,” said Biwott, after his first victory.

Kenya’s Edwin Koskei Meli won a physical 2000m Steeplechase final in 5:42.18, just edging out Ethiopia’s Kahsay Meresa Hailu by 0.02.

However, at least Ethiopia could claim the honours in the girls’ 800m as Aliyi Zeyituna won in 2.05:05 with her team mate Olti Durets Edau second in 2.06:04.

Nigeria topped the table with 13 gold medals, with Egypt second with eight victories, and a good number of the host’s wins came in the sprints.

Oduduru fulfills sprint doubles D

Divine Oduduru

ivine Oduduru won the 200m race at the African Youth Athletics Championship to complete his dominance of the sprint and fulifieed the promised he made after winning his first continental medal on Friday.

He had dominated the boys’ 100m as he powered to glory in 10.62, then took the 200m in 21.56 while his team mate Deborah Adewale also did a 100m and 200m double with winning times of 11.87 and 24.13.

Ethiopia provided a surprise silver medal in this event for fans more used to seeing their athletes do well over longer distances when Atsibeha Amanuel Abebe clocked 10.86. Oduduru had lamented his poor time in the 100m and promised to added the 200m gold to his collection and did that in grand style.

Nigeria also had success in the field with triple jumper Fabian Ime Edoki improving his personal best by exactly half-a-metre to win with 15.18m.

Gambia’s Tijani Keita won the boys’ 400m in 47.41 while one of the most popular winners was Morocco’s Siba Rhizilane, who was clapped by an enthusiastic audience every time she jumped and equaled her personal best of 1.80m to take the gold medal by 15cm.

Egyptian throwers provided most of their country’s moments in the spotlight.

Mostafa Mohamed Esraa Mohamed improved her best by 42cm to 61.52m and won by more than five metres.

In the boy’s Shot Put, Egypt’s Hamza Mohamed Magdi Mohamed won with 20.17m, a distance that makes him a potential medal contender in Dontesk, with his fellow Egyptian Salem Elghoba Sherif Adel Ahmed taking the silver with 19.57m.

The honour of being the very first winner in the Championships history went to Egypt’s Amira Khaled Mohammed who took the girl’s discus with 42.40m on Thursday.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 45

1

2

PICTORIAL 1] Leading athletes such as Usain Bolt will be exempt from paying income tax at the London Anniversary Games and Commonwealth Games.

2] Bayern MunichJuventus, Malaga-Borussia Dortmund, Paris SaintGermain-Barcelona and Real Madrid-Galatasaray on the menu, FIFA previews the quarter-final, first-leg action in the UEFA Champions League.

3] FIFA delivers you a football-related photo you won't be able to resist paying a second glance to. This week's shows one of the most powerful men in the world, US president, Barrack Obama bouncing the ball on his head!

3

4] Demba Ba's goal was enough for Chelsea to edge out a below-par Man United in a closelyfought FA Cup quarterfinal replay and book a semi-final with Man City.

5] Liberty Counsel wins the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse at odds of 50-1 for trainer Dot Love and jockey Ben Dalton.

5

4

PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

Para-Soccer coach appeals to coys Sony Open: It’s to sponsor regular competitions brutal, toughest F game in Masters Series, says Murray

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ndy Murray says the final of the Song Open in Miami between him and David Ferrer was the brutal and the toughest matches he had played in the Masters Series.

The Brit won the final to clinch his second title after the US Open title and had also won the Olympic gold medal. He rallied from a set down to win 2-6 6-4 7-6.

“It was a brutal, brutal match. Both of us were kind of on our last legs. “It was a good job it wasn’t a best-of-five-set match, because I don’t know how the last few sets would have ended up.

“It was one of the toughest matches I have had to play in a Masters Series, for sure,” Murray who moved to No 2 in the world, above Roger Federer, in yesterday’s latest ATP world rankings An exhausted Murray credited his mental strength and physical freshness for his tie-break victory over Ferrer stressing it was a gruelling two hour, 45 minute battle.

The match, played at mid-day in South Florida heat and humidity, became a war of attrition with neither player near their peak in terms of shot-making but both doggedly sticking at the task.

“I showed good mental strength to get through that match, because it easily could have slipped away from me,” said Murray.

“We didn’t play necessarily our best tennis. I was up a lot and couldn’t close the match out. Matches like these ones are tough, because, you know, the humidity here is brutal,” he added.

Murray is acknowledged as one of the sport’s true fitness fanatics, spending his off-season in Miami working out but he said his physical condition at the end of the contest owed more to his scheduling.

emi Awofemi, the Lagos State Paralympics Association Para-Soccer Head Coach, on Monday appealed to corporate organisations to sponsor regular competitions to promote the sport in the country.

Para-Soccer is Six-A-Side football game played by physically challenged players with their hands, while seating on skateboards.

Awofemi said in Lagos that lack of competitions was one of the factors militating against the development of the sport.

He said that government alone could not fund sports development, adding that corporate organisations could promote sports, especially for disabled athletes, as part of their corporate social responsibility.

Awofemi said that disabled athletes performed well in sports but engaged in alms begging and other vices due to lack support.

“Most of the physically challenged athletes are talented and perform well in sports but lack of competitions is

responsible for their going back to the streets,’’ he said.

The coach said that ParaSoccer players relied solely on Promasidor Nigeria Ltd,, maker of Cowbell milk sponsored annual championship, after which some of them went back to the streets.

Awofemi said that the recent indefinite postponement of the 6th

Promasidor tournament which usually holds during the Easter period had demoralised the ParaSoccer players.

“If corporate organisations can sponsor more competitions for them, it will help channel their energies to sports which will in turn promote Para-Soccer in the country,’’ he added.

Bolaji Abdullahi, Sports Minister

Teams Ondo, Delta win 2nd Samsung Beach Volleyball tourney

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ndo state and Delta Male and Female Volleyball teams on Sunday won the second edition of the Samsung Electronics Male and Female Beach Volleyball Championship respectively. In the male category, Team Ondo defeated Delta state 21-13, 21-12 to record a 2-0 win over their opponents and clinch first position in the championship.

Team Delta defeated Nigeria Immigration 22-20, 11-21 and 15-12 to win 2-1 in the finals of the female category of the three day championship that kicked off on March 29 with 12 out of the 20 expected teams.

The Nigeria Immigration Service won in third place in the male category after defeating Bayelsa 20 while in the female category, Bayelsa defeated Delta state University 2-0 to win the third place.

The first place teams in both categories went home with N150,000 and a 32 inch LED television for each player.

The runners up in both categories got N120,000 with a refrigerator for each player, while the third place teams got N100,000 with a microwave oven for each player, while the fourth place teams in each category got N30,000 with a DVD player for each player.

Okoye set for American football move

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Andy Murray with Sony Open trophy

ritain’s top discus thrower, Lawrence Okoye, is set to embark on a career in American football after attracting the interest of some leading NFL teams.

The 21-year-old, who stands at 6ft 6in and weighs 21st, finished 12th in the Olympic discus final in London last summer. A former junior rugby union player, Okoye only took up discus in 2010.

“Just wanted to confirm that I have decided that I want to play American Football in the NFL,” he tweeted.

Okoye attended a recent trial in Atlanta, Georgia during a break from warm-weather discus training, and has a second trial next weekend in Dallas.

If the expected move to the NFL goes ahead, he will miss the 2013 athletics season, including the World Championships in Moscow in August.

‘From my mid-teenage years, everyone kept telling me to give American football a go, and I thought about applying for an American college scholarship when I was 16,” he told the Mail on Sunday .

“I’ve always been a huge NFL

fan for as long as I can remember and whenever I’ve arrived in the States the customs officers always ask me who I play for. I want to give this my best shot.

It’s a rare life opportunity.”

Okoye also said that the clubs who are keen to secure his services see him as a defensive end where his size and strength would be an advantage, but with the college drafts not taking place until the end of April, he will not be signing any professional deal until then.

However, he still has

Lawrence Okoye

ambitions to continue his discus career, which saw him win gold at the 2011 European Under-23 Championships.

“I do not intend to quit athletics completely,” he said. “The best age to be a discus thrower is your late twenties to around the 30mark. In the Olympic final, that was the average age, even though I was 20.

“I fully intend to return to throwing the discus when my hopeful football career ends, which could well be around the same time.”

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 47

Some Interesting Facts •On average a business document is copied 19 times.

•The largest employer in the world is the Indian railway system in India, employing over 1.6 million people.

•Warner Chappel Music owns the copyright to the song "Happy Birthday." They make over $1 million in royalties every year from the commercial use of the song.

•All babies are colour-blind when they are born.

•Children grow faster in the springtime than any other season during the year.

•Each nostril of a human being registers smells in a different way. Smells that are made from the right nostril are more pleasant than the left. However, smells can be detected more accurately when made by the left nostril.

•Humans are born with 350 bones in their body, however when a person reaches adulthood they only have 206 bones. This occurs because many of them join together to make a single bone.

•May babies are on average 200 grams heavier than babies born in other months.

•Leonardo da Vinci was dyslexic, and he often wrote backwards.

•Nazi leader Adolf Hitler had only one testicle.

•Queen Lydia Liliuokalani was the last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian Islands. She was also the only Queen the United States ever had.

•Rolling Stones band member Bill Wyman married a 19 year-old model Mandy Smith in 1988. At the same time Wyman's son was engaged to Mandy Smith's mother. If his son had married Smith's mother, Wyman would have been the step grandfather to his own wife.

•There are 158 verses in the Greek National Anthem.

•There are about 6,800 languages in the world.

•There was no punctuation until the 15th century.

•Children laugh about 400 times a day, while adults laugh on average only 15 times a day.

SUDOKU

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PHOTO OF THE DAY

Last edition’s solution

Zimbi the lion cub peers into Braxton West-Smith's cereal bowl as they have breakfast with Pesaus West in their Source: Dailymail.co.uk mobile home. The young trio are part of the family-run Stardust Circus in Australia.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

Chelsea knocks Manchester United out of FA Cup

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emba Ba's winner ended Manchester United's quest for the domestic Double and secured holders Chelsea an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley.

Ba's athletic finish early in the second half leaves United concentrating on winning the Premier League title - with a 20th title all but secured as they currently hold a 15-point advantage.

Chelsea's interim manager Rafael Benitez, meanwhile, was able to celebrate victory over old adversary Sir Alex Ferguson and remains in contention to win the FA Cup and Europa League.

The Blues are just one match away from their fifth FA Cup final in seven seasons. They lifted the trophy in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

Chelsea are now unbeaten in 29 FA Cup games (excluding penalty shootouts). It is the longest ever run without defeat by a single side.

United were without Wayne Rooney because of a groin injury sustained on England duty and lacked some of their usual menace but it still took a save of the highest class from Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech to keep out Javier Hernandez's header as they pressed for an equaliser.

United goalkeeper David De Gea saved with his feet from Ba and Chelsea counterpart Cech did the same to deal with Hernandez's swerving effort from 25 yards.

Van Persie was already waiting to come on and arrived seconds later for the subdued Tom Cleverley. He was soon joined by Ryan Giggs for Nani.

It was Chelsea, however, who had the next big opportunity as Eden Hazard ran through on goal following Michael Carrick's mistake. The Belgian only had De Gea to beat but pulled his finish inches wide.

Van Persie's big chance arrived from Patrice Evra's cross three minutes from time but the striker's usually sure touch deserted him and he hit a poor finish over the top.

United could not muster another clear opening and it is Chelsea who take their place at Wembley on 14 April.

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QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE When we talk about punishment of these subsidy looters we mean those who took the larger chunk of the N1.3 tn oil subsidy money.

They have to be punished to show Nigeria is a serious nation. — Abdulwaheed Omar, NLC president

From amnesty to repentance O

ur own dear nation, Nigeria, permanently mired in controversy and threatening to drown in the morally polluted waters of corruption, continues to spin around in one spot. Of recent, the dominant theme in national discussion has been the theme of amnesty for members of Boko Haram. Although, we have focused on amnesty as politics, I will like to look at the issues of amnesty and how it is a challenge to us as Christians.

Sadly, for a society with a very poor record of robust intellectual engagement and debate over crucial issues of national importance, it is little wonder that the debate over the theme of amnesty has thrown up the shades of extremism and fundamentalism that foreclose meaningful debate and discussions in Nigeria.

Naturally, the demagogues have continued to apply extremist language, arguing more from the stomach than the head and thus generating more heat than light.

Rather than look at the issues of amnesty in the light of the past, present and future of the nation, we have focused more on how they fit the survivalist instincts of the president and his ruling party. As usual, selfish interests overtake national interests and survival.

Sadly, as it is with Nigeria, the truth gets lost in the cracks of deceit, lies, and prejudice.

Despite the ubiquity of chapels, chaplaincies, prayer warriors, prayer vigils, pilgrimages and all the paraphernalia of spirituality in our nation, it is doubtful that this show of religiosity has had any commensurate and measurable impact on the quality of our lives.

Seduced by power, and given the fact that religion has now become big business and a basis for survival, political and economic wolves have donned the sheep's clothing of religion.

Clearly, the debate about the word 'amnesty', found its way from Greek through Latin to public use in the 16h century. The focus of its usage has tended to be more in the political realm especially in relation to ending belligerence by rebels and combatants or political prisoners or other forms of criminality. Thus, at the heart of the discussion about amnesty is the need to weigh public interest, the commonwealth, balancing the larger gains and benefits for the common good versus the irritation, instability, anger, physical or psychological injury incurred by the belligerent elements who may have caused pain and injury to the larger society.

We are concerned here with the moral dimension of amnesty as a true test or measure of the

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GUEST COLUMNIST Matthew Hassan Kukah

President Jonathan depth of our faith and whether its consideration and application override mere political posturing.

Here, the challenge is how our faith squares or impacts on our decisions.

On the political or spiritual sphere, the question is, are we Christians who are politicians, or are we politicians who are Christians?

Where we stand here has substantial impact on the decisions we make. If we are politicians who just happen to be Christians, then it means that when certain Christian principles are challenged in the course of our public life, we temporarily suspend our faith and give reign to the political expediency of the moment.

For example, a politician or an electoral officer knows it is morally wrong to steal an election or manipulate the results of an election. However, for reasons of political loyalty, or having accepted a bribe, he/she decides to rationalize this perversion of a moral obligation on the altar of political or economic benefit 'this is the only chance for our man to get into power, or this is the only chance for me to pay my children's fees or build my own house!'. Here, this is a politician who is accidentally himself a Christian.

On the other hand, a person who weighs the convictions of his faith and decides to act according to his conscience, stand by the truth and say, 'No'. He is a Christian who happens to be a politician.

Thus, is our discussion about amnesty motivated by our political convictions or our convictions as Christians who know the mind of Christ? If, as we say, amnesty is about forgetting, forgiving as a means of reconciliation and healing, what did Jesus have to say about these to Christians? Here,

contrary to what the political choristers are saying, it is not about what a President has to say or what all these will do to his political survival. It is about what choices a Christian should make considering the mind of Christ and not his Party's manifesto.

I believe that the President ventured into this debate too early without enough homework and allowing the systems to exhaust the options. In other words, after weighing the pros and cons, it would have been important to ask, what would Christ enjoin me to do in these circumstances to prodigal children? This would require prayers and deep reflections. Here, the Bible and not the PDP's manifesto should be a guide and indeed, deep moral convictions would lead to truth. The truth would set a leader free and whether his people are Christians or even unbelievers, truth is eternal. Thus, even if this presents a leader with a temporary political set back, the end, founded on truth, will justify him/her.

It will be a terrible mistake to think that the moral convictions of a leader should have no bearing on public policy. A leader should approach public policy with the sense of his conviction as long as these are in keeping with the ground rules of engagement, namely the constitution and his conscience. It is hardly ever the case that these convictions can be in serious conflict with the spirit of a democratic constitution, except perhaps in their application.

Therefore, on the issue of amnesty, a Christian should be guided by the words of the prophet Isaiah who speaks about the invitational, unfathomable and boundless nature of God's forgiveness when he says: Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool (Isaiah 1: 18). The Psalmist enjoins us: The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast Love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast Love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he

remove our transgressions from us (Ps 103: 8-12. If we understand that it is God who first forgives us, then we must leave the doors of forgiveness forever open, seeing the sinner with the beckoning eyes of one who is lost and whose return is a restoration for the larger society.

It is significant that when His apostles begged Him to teach them how to pray, Jesus presented forgiveness as a basic condition for genuine prayer as we see in the 'Lord's Prayer'. Jesus tied our search for forgiveness from God to the commitment to forgiveness on our part. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you (Mt 6:14). Anxious to be on the side of God, Peter asked Jesus how many times must one be sinned against before revenge is accepted. He even proposed seven times as a proposal. But Jesus let him know that even keeping records was an exercise in futility (Matt 18:21).

In His own words, Jesus said: But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift (Matt 5: 22-4). Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Eph 4: 31-2) For the Christian, we are enjoined to note that the greater the forgiveness, the greater the Love. Jesus said: He who is forgiven little, Loves little (Lk 7: 47-8).

Whereas many religions acknowledge Love as an attribute of God, Christianity actually does not see Love merely as an attribute. It is God Himself that is Love (1 Jn 4:8). Indeed, this Love is the fashion statement of every Christian because St Paul enjoins Christians thus: Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and be Loved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on Love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony (Col 3: 12-14) Contd. on Page 36

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