Peoples Daily Newspaper, Tuesday 09, July, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 11 No. 37

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Ramadan begins tomorrow >>3

. . . putting the people first

Sha’aban 30, 1434 AH

Alpha Konare heads AU panel on Egypt >>3

N150

Britain outlaws Boko Haram >>3

Yari makes U-turn, wants state police

By Umar Muhammad Puma, Abuja & Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

G

overnor Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara state yesterday backtracked from the resolution of the northern governors to oppose the creation of state police, saying its adoption is the only way out of the seeming obstinate security challenges across some states of the Federation.

The governor’s latest position also shows he may backpedal on his earlier resolve to distribute firearms to members of some vigilante groups in Zamfara state to help curtain the incessant killings of innocent citizens of the state by armed bandits.

Governor Yari’s resolve to arm the vigilantes in the fight against the bandits had generated widespread reactions, with most Nigerians warning on the dangers inherent in releasing firearms to vigilantes, who they say could be ‘political vanguards’ of the governor.

The Zamfara governor’s pronouncement on the state police in a state radio programme yesterday, came just as the House of Representatives insisted that it would not consider the introduction of state police in its constitution

Nigerians oppose it, say Reps ‘Govs import arms for 2015 polls’ L-R: Kano State Governor, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso receiving the Best Education Governor award conferred on him by Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) from the President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, during the 82nd Founders Ceremony and 3rd Annual Rev. Isreal Oludotun Ransome-Kuti Memorial Lecture, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin ImoOwo

Contd. on Page 2

Yobe killings: JNI J calls for probe

From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

Amnesty Int’l seeks protection for students

ama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) yesterday urged the Federal Government to immediately institute a probe into the killing of students at Government Secondary School (GSS) Mamudo, few kilometers away from Potiskum, Yobe state, even as it described the killers as devilish criminals.

This is just as Amnesty International has called on the government to act in order to

prevent attacks on schools to protect children’s lives and their right to education.

The JNI in a statement issued by its Secretary-General, Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, yesterday in Kaduna, said the sporadic gun shots that ensued after setting the school ablaze were very worrisome and called for practical investigation to forestall future occurrence.

The Islamic body also urged the Federal Government to restore the use of GSM in Contd. on Page 2

New Revenue Formula: Joint states, LGs account to go >>6

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

News CONTENTS News

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

Stockwatch

23

Defence

26-27

Agric

28-29

Jonathan’s visit to consolidate traditional ties between China and Nigeria, says Envoy, Pages 24-25

Int’l

31-34

Strange World 35 Digest

36

Politics

37-38

Newsxtra

39-40

Sports

41-46

Leisure

47

Columnist

48

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Yari makes U-turn, wants state police Contd. from Front Page amendment efforts because majority of Nigerians are opposed to the proposal.

Related to the arms issue, however, the Director General of the National Task Force on Illegal Importation of Light Weapons and Small Arms, Osita Okereke, yesterday raised an alarm that some governors use their private jets to import arms and ammunitions into the country, in apparent plans to cause mayhem during the conduct of the 2015 general elections.

Despite the suggestion by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar last year that the nation could consider the introduction of state police in view of the security challenges facing the nation, the northern governors under the aegis of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) kicked against the suggestion.

Speaking to newsmen on why the governors kicked against state police recently, Kano state governor, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, said they rejected the proposal because it carries with it inherent dangers that could jeopardize the corporate existence of the country.

The northern governors raised the fears that state governors could misuse the state police for personal, sectional, political or allied interests that could be detrimental to peace and stability of the country.

But the Zamfara state governor yesterday in a phone-in programme aired by the state radio argued that the only way to improve measures in curtailing the prevailing security challenges in the state is by having a police force that would be under his control.

According to him, the federally controlled Police is incapable of measuring up to the security challenges despite the huge amount of money invested in them by his administration in the state.

He maintained that time has come for the state governors to

revisit the issue of state Police in order to have absolute control on the security situation in their respective states as the federal Police was apparently incapable of taming the crime wave across the country.

“Having hundred percent control of security, it would actually help in no small measure to curb all criminal activities in the state and the country at large”, Yari said.

He further lamented the recent killings of over 60 people in Kizara Village, adding that were he to be in absolute control of the police in his state, he would have sacked the state Commissioner of Police immediately.

“I can tell you that the issue of Kizara Village, if I’m hundred percent in-charge of security, the Police Commissioner would have not told me that over forty people were killed; it would even be better for him to pack his belongings before my return to state,” Yari said.

Worried by incessant attacks on innocent citizens by unknown gunmen and killings by suspected armed robbers in the state, Governor Yari had recently procured arms and ammunition for distribution to accredited vigilante groups to protect the people.

But the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, who incidentally is a native of Zamfara state, reminded the governor of an existing ban on issuance of fresh licenses for procurement of firearms. While supporting the use of vigilante group and other local measures to checkmate criminal activities, Abubakar maintained that such must be done in collaboration with the Police authorities.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who is also the Chairman of the House’ ad-hoc committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Rep. Emeka Ihedioha, (PDP Imo), has given reasons why state police and other

proposals could not scale through in the report of his committee.

In his remarks at a meeting with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on the review of the 1999Constitution in Abuja yesterday, Ihedioha explained that the report was as reflection of the views of the generality of Nigerians who contributed during the public sessions organized by the House in November last year.

According to him, the contentious state police, single tenure and immunity for the vice president, governors and deputy governors was the outcome of the input of the Nigerian people.

He stressed that the process adopted by his committee in arriving at its report was all-inclusive, thorough and painstaking. “The work of the Committee was designed in such a manner that it relied on the input of Nigerians to arrive at its decisions.

“The recommendations of the Committee are not the personal views of members of the Committee or the leadership of the House.

They are the collective views of Nigerians,” he stressed.

The Deputy Speaker said the submission of his committee on those and every other issue on the constitution review is a clear reflection of the views and position of the broad generality of Nigerians as reflected and documented in the results of the Peoples Public Sessions conducted by the House of Representatives.

“The House Ad-Hoc Committee on Constitution Review conducted a painstaking consultative process with major stakeholders as jointorganizers. These Stakeholders include the NLC, TUC, NUJ, NUT, CSO’s, NULGE, NCWS, Youth and Students organizations, NBA etc.

The results of the peoples’ public sessions were collated publicly with all the stakeholders present.

The results have been presented and published for people to dispute

and correct. In the absence of any convincing reason to the contrary, we stand by these results.”

In the meantime, Mr. Okereke, why explaining the reasons behind the increasing resort by state governors to buying or leasing private jets, declared that the state chief executives use such jets to build up arms ahead of the coming elections in 2015.

The Director-General made the allegation while speaking on Channels Television breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily yesterday.

“They (governors) take private jets abroad, purchase arms and land in their states; no security man has right to search or search him because it is a governor’s item.

You cannot stop, you cannot search them,” he said.

Responding to the request made by the Zamfara state governor to arm the vigilante members against incessant incursions by gunmen into his state, Okereke said no one except members of armed is entitled to carry arms in Nigeria unless properly lincensed by the Nigeria Police.

He disclosed “There are many governors with so many arms in this country that the numbers of arms they are having is ‘uncountable.

There are so many of them in various states. These governors have brought in arms that are uncountable.

He traced huge amount of arms available in the country to governors who arm hoodlums with the guns. “There are millions of arms in Nigeria” he said, adding that they (Governors) are already arming ahead of 2015 general elections.

He appealed that the government should provide the task force on Illegal Importation of Light Weapons and Small Arms, with Police, Army and budgeted funds because “we have informants all over the place and we need to

Yobe killings: JNI calls for probe Contd. from Front Page the states affected by emergency rule to facilitate security alert in a situation where insecurity has wrecked unprecedented havoc against innocent citizens.

The statement reads in part that: “With the State of Emergency currently in place at Yobe State and the visible security checkpoints at every nook and cranny of the state, it is hardly believable that such a dastardly act could still occur and the JNI is seriously perturbed by it.

“The questions therefore are these: how did the perpetrators gain access to the school? Who were they? Why were they not prevented or arrested? What was the motive behind such heinous act? Indeed there is much more than meets the eyes!

“We call on governments at all levels to do everything possible as a matter of urgency to stop these evil acts of terror now and restore the use of GSM in the affected states to facilitate security alert in

a situation where insecurity has wrecked unprecedented havoc against innocent citizens.

“We commiserate with the families of the victims of that evil act and condole with the parents and guardians who lost their wards in the misfortune. We pray the Almighty Allah, to grant the deceased forgiveness and mercy, while those that sustained injuries quick recovery, Amin.

“As the sacred month of Ramadan approaches, we call on all Muslims to utilize the period in praying fervently for the restoration of peace and security in Nigeria bearing in mind that without Nigeria there will be no Nigerians,” he said.

Prevent attacks on schools, Amnesty International Responding to the weekend attack on the secondary school in Yobe, Amnesty International yesterday urged the government to always provide adequate security

in schools across the country to prevent reoccurrence of the incidence.

Although secondary schools have been ordered to close in Yobe state owing to the attack, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Africa, Lucy Freeman, said: “The protection of children’s lives is paramount, and the Nigerian government has a duty to ensure that the country’s educational sector is not further threatened by the killing and intimidation of students and teachers and the destruction of school buildings.

“Such attacks violate the right to life and undermine the right to education for thousands of children in northern Nigeria. They must stop immediately. The Nigerian authorities must investigate these attacks and bring those responsible to justice in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty,” she added.

Freeman said information received by Amnesty International

indicated dozens of children who fled into the bush after Saturday’s attack are still unaccounted for.

She added that the destruction and damage of school infrastructure and facilities grossly reduces the availability of and access to education for many children in northern Nigeria where sectarian violence reins.

“When education institutions are targeted or attacked, the damage and resultant consequences can be major and far-reaching. Access to basic education in a country where education is mostly seen as a privilege, requires that proper structures and services are in place and that students can access adequate books and materials,” said Freeman.

According to her, the Nigerian government is obliged under the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child to which Nigeria is a state party to “take measures to encourage regular attendance at schools.”

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 3

News British govt bans Boko Haram

B

ritain’s government is banning Nigerian insurgent group Boko Haram, a move that makes membership of or support for the organization a criminal offense.

Britain’s Home Office said in a statement Monday that Boko Haram would be added to its list of outlawed organizations, a roster of foreign and domestic terror groups that includes al-Qaida and the Irish Republican Army. The move is subject to parliamentary approval.

Boko Haram, a radical Muslim group whose name means “Western education is sacrilege,” has been blamed for a spate of brutal attacks across Nigeria, including one on Saturday which left at least 30 people dead when a dormitory was set ablaze while the students slept.

L-R: President, Rockefeller Foundation, Juddie Rudden, President Goodluck Jonathan, Prime Minister of Togo, Ahoomey Zunu and Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, during a conference on realising potential of African agriculture organized by Rockefeller Foundation, yesterday at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

Ramadan starts tomorrow From Mahmoud Muhammad, Sokoto, with agency reports

Unethical conduct: Four AIGs, 17 T CPs, DCPs, others to face trial

By Lambert Tyem

P

olice Authorities yesterday in Abuja disclosed that about four Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), 17 Commissioners of Police (CPs) and others are facing administrative trials over unprofessional conducts.

Chairman of Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) and Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in

charge Finance and Administration, Suleiman Fakai, at a briefing disclosed that the committee since inception from January 2012 till date sat over 3,000 cases concerning erring officers and have dismissed a Commissioner of Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police and other officers of the ranks of Superintendents of Police.

According to FDC Chairman, “we have a total of 195 of officers appearing before us for various cases

of indiscipline.

“We have four AIGs here to face us, 17 CPs, two DCPs, six ACPs and the remaining from CSPs to ASPs,’’ he said.

Fakai, who is the chairman of the FDC, said that in the last one year, one CP, one, ACP, one CSP, two SPs and eight CSPs had been dismissed for serious misconduct.

According to him, two CSPs, one SP and 13 ASPS were compulsorily

retired during the period for misconduct.

He also said that one DCP, three CSPs, seven SP, one DSP and 10 ASPs had their ranks reduced for various acts of indiscipline during the period.

Fakai disclosed that the current police administration inherited over 3,000 cases of indiscipline at its inception in January, 2012 adding however, that they had been reduced to the barest minimum

First Bank signs fraud prevention agreement with Clydestone

By Abdulwahab Isa

I

n its bid to ensure safety of customer deposits and security in Internet banking, First Bank of Nigeria Plc has signed a G-secure Authentication Platform

agreement with Clydestone Nigeria Limited to drive second level authentication on ‘Card-NotPresent’ transactions.

This initiative is in line with global practices and also compliant with the mandate

of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that all banks should ensure integration of payer authentication is guaranteed on a 3-D secure platform.

According to First Bank’s spokesperson, Mrs. Folake Ani-

Mumuney, the agreement has further improved the bank’s fraud prevention platform with robust security protocols and enables customers enjoy secure, convenient and reliable on-line shopping.

he Sultanate Council said yesterday that the holy month of Ramadan begins on Wednesday which will signal the start of fast for the month.

The Council explained that the moon for the new month of Ramadan was not sighted anywhere in Nigeria yesterday.

Also yesterday, the Saudi Arabia authorities announced in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency that the the month of Ramadan starts on Wednesday.

Egyptian Grand Mufti Shawqi Ibrahim Abdel-Karim announced that Ramadan would also start on Wednesday in Egypt.

The beginning of the month depends on the first sighting of the crescent moon, according to astronomers in every Islamic country.

As the Islamic lunar year is 354 or 355 days long, Ramadan starts approximately 10 days earlier in each Gregorian year.

Muslims observe Ramadan by fasting from dawn to dusk every day. The month culminates in Eid al-Fitr, the feast of breaking the fast. (NAN)

Egypt: Alpha Konare heads AU Gunmen kill soldier, kidnap Israeli in Benin panel on transition

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

Y

et to be identified gunmen at the early hours of yesterday reportedly shot and killed a soldier on guard duty at SETRACO Construction Company Limited and abducted an Israeli national.

The gunmen who were said to have shot at a close range, also shot and wounded another soldier on guard duty. While the third soldier was said to have escaped with bullet wounds.

The incident occurred at Lucky Way Junction/Upper Mission road extension by Aduwawa quarters in Ikpoba Okha local government area.

The kidnap victim whose identity could not be established as at press time, is said to be a staff of SETRACO. Spokesman of Edo state Police Command, DSP Moses Eguavoen, who confirmed the report, said investigation had already commenced and assured the public of safety, adding that efforts are on to apprehend the culprits. ‘’One soldier was allegedly shot, but I cannot confirm if he was dead.

“The other one escaped. The police have commenced covert investigation to unravel those behind the act.

“We assure the public safety of lives and [property’...The Police are everywhere’’, he said.

By Abdulkadir Isa

T

he African Union (AU) has constituted a high-level panel to help mediate in the political impasse in Egypt.

In a statement issued by the body, it said the panel is expected “to facilitate the resolution of the crisis and the building of consensus on the way forward among the Egyptian stakeholders”.

This decision came as response to the earlier commitment by the chairperson of the union, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to support “the aspirations of the Egyptian people as expressed during the January-February 2011 Revolution”.

It also stated that, “The panel is mandated to interact with ruling authorities and other Egyptian stakeholders to establish a constructive political dialogue aimed at national reconciliation, as well as to contribute to their efforts as they work towards a transition that would lead to an early return to constitutional order”.

The 384TH meeting of the Peace and Security Council (PSC), held on 5 July had welcomed the initiatives of the chairperson and requested that preparations for the dispatch of the delegation to Egypt be accelerated.

The panel consists of former president of the republic of Mali and for former chairperson of the AU Commission, Alpha Oumar Konare

as the chairperson of the panel; former president of the republic of Botswana, Festus Gontebanye Mogae and former Prime Minister of the republic of Djibouti Dileta Mohamed Dileta.

Likewise, The AU is said to be making arrangements for the early convening, of the International Consultative Forum (ICF-Egypt) whose establishment was decides by the PSC meeting. The IFC is expected to bring Egypt and the relevant bilateral partners including League of Arab States and the United Nations to coordinate action of a transition leading to lasting peace.

Meanwhile, the chairperson reiterates her call to all Egyptian stakeholders to exercise utmost restraint, eschew violence and refrain from acts likely to heighten tension in the country.

PAGE 4

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

News

FG, Boko Haram faction sign ceasefire deal

T

he Federal Government announced yesterday that it had signed of ceasefire deal with the Jama’atu Ahlul Sunnah Lidda’awati wal Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram.

The Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki announced the ceasefire agreement on Radio France International Hausa services monitored yesterday in Abuja.

A Boko Haram commander,

Imam Muhammad Marwana, was reported yesterday as confirming that a deal had been reached between the sect and the government representatives.

Although the faction led by Imam Abubakar Shekau had not reacted to this development, it is apparent that Marwana is speaking for a faction which the Shekau side had dissociated itself from many months ago.

No details of the agreement has been made public yet, but, the minister, who is the chairman of amnesty committee for Boko Haram set up by President Jonathan, hinted of serious success in his committee’s assignment.

The agreement is coming on the heels of the commencement of the Islamic Holy month of Ramadan tomorrow, Wednesday, throughout the world.

Drugs: 300 Nigerians jailed in China

N

igeria’s Ambassador to China, Ambassador Aminu Bashir Wali, said yesterday that about 300 of the more than 400 Nigerians in Chinese prisons were being held for drug related offences.

Wali spoke to journalists in Beijing ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan’s state visit to

that country today.

Wali noted that in many cases the identity of those jailed only become known after they must have been sentenced.

“Once they have been discovered as being Nigerians, the lot now falls on the Nigerian Embassy to begin to seek ways of assisting them, Wali said.

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

our failings, our vulnerabilities and our families for determination before a human arbiter underlines the need for the exercise of the highest standard of professionalism, in fulfillment of this noble role”, she said.

The CJN charged justice Kekere-Ekun to be dedicated and discharge her duties without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, adding that: “As ministers in the temple of justice and as custodians of the sacred position on earth, next to the Almighty God -the perfect judge, we must do justice to the satisfaction of not just the parties but the public as well”.

Justice Mukhtar congratulated Justice KekereEkun for her elevation to the bench of the Supreme Court as she has been found worthy and with exceptional qualities to attain the noble feat.

In her remark, justice Kekere-Ekun thanked God for the elevation and promised to discharge her responsibility in the fear of God Almighty.

CJN swears-in Kekere-Ekun as Supreme Court justice

T

Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa (6th-left) with members of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, on Sunday in Yola. Photo: NAN

PDP, APGA condemn Yobe killings

By Lawrence Olaoye & Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as effrontery to God and the height of wickedness the weekend killing of some students and a teacher in Mamudo, Yobe state by unknown gunmen.

The party in a statement by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Tony Caesar Okeke, described the incident as monstrous and horrible.

“The PDP received the news of the killing of 28 students and a teacher at Government Secondary

School Mamudo in Yobe State with shock.

“The gruesome killing of these innocent ones is indeed monstrous, horrible and the height of wickedness only fit for the devil.” the statement said.

On its part, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) called on the security agencies to urgently unravel those behind the killing of the students and a teacher at the Government Secondary School, Mamudo, Yobe State by Boko Haram members on Saturday.

In a statement yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to the party’s Chairman, Francis Ede,

APGA expressed shock over the attack, describing it as heinous and diabolic.

“APGA strongly condemns this diabolic attack and murder of innocent children in their boarding school. It is sadism of the worst order”, the statement read.

While urging the Federal Government to provide adequate security to the people of Yobe state and other states affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, APGA consoled with the families of those who lost their loved ones to the terrorists, noting that it is dastardly, cowardly and abominable.

PenCom: NJC refutes media report

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

T

he National Judicial Council (NJC) yesterday said it had not defaulted in submission of the nominal roll of its staff to the National Pension Commission (PENCOM).

The Acting Director of Information of the council, Mr. Soji Oye stated this while reacting to a story published in yesterday’s edition of Peoples Daily newspaper where-in it was alleged that NJC is missing among the names of MDAs contained in the Recurrent General Warrant Schedule list forwarded monthly to the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) for Pension deduction by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF).

A statement by the spokesperson of the council said:

“The attention of the NJC has been drawn to a story titled, “300 MDAS fingered in Pension Scam”, in the Peoples Daily of Monday, 8th July, 2013 where only the National Judicial Council was singled out as the only one whose name is conspicuously missing among the names of the MDAs contained in the Recurrent General Warrant Schedule list forwarded monthly to the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) for Pension deduction by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation(AGF).

“It further stated that checks at PENCOM show that the Council is not included in the Recurrent General Warrant Schedule prepared monthly by the AGF which contains lists of all treasury funded MDAs whose pension deduction are prepared

and sent to PENCOM. “For the purpose of clarity, unlike other Ministries/ Parastatals and Agencies under the Executive Arm, whose Pension elements from their allocation is deducted at source and remitted to the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) through the Pension Unit, the Judiciary in line with Section 81 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (As amended) draws its allocation from first line charge where 100% of its allocation is released to it”, the statement added.

Mr Oye said, it is the duty of the NJC to deduct 7.5% from the employees’ salaries and 7.5% from the employer and remit to the Pension Fund Administrators’ through their respective Pension Fund Custodians.

he number of female justices on the bench of the Supreme Court yesterday increased to five, following the swearing-in of Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo KekereEkun as one of the justices of the apex court by the Chief Judge of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar.

The CJN, at a brief ceremony, charged the newly sworn-in justice to strive hard in the discharge of her duties in accordance with the oath of office she has subscribed to.

Justice Mukhtar also told the newly sworn-in justice of the apex court to have the fear of God in her heart and to also follow the dictate of her conscience in carrying out the functions of the office of justice of the Supreme Court.

“The legal profession and, indeed, the judiciary is a noble calling. in truth, the nobility is more exemplified in the personality of a judge, for in reality, the idea of submitting

Nigerian Embassy lauds Shettima over transparent dealings in China From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

T

he Nigerian Embassy in Beijin, China was full of praises for Governor Kashim Shettima over his open negotiations with Chinese manufacturers with the full participation of the Embassy at all levels discussions, agreements entered between the Chinese and state government.

The Deputy Chief of mission at the Nigerian Embassy in China, Ambassador Sola Onadipe made the commendation when Governor Shettima led his delegation to the Embassy office at San Li Tun in Beijin as he rounded up his visit.

The Ambassador noted that he had seen so much passion and focus on the part of the Governor whom he described as visionary and highly determined to transform Borno State. Mr Onadipe also said that he was very much impressed with the manner in which Governor Shettima operated transparently throughout visit to factories, negotiations and agreements which were all done with the embassy

represented in all the meetings. He said he was optimistic that Borno would regain peace and become developed as being pursued by the state government.

In his reaction, Shettima thanked the Embassy for its warm reception and releasing one of its senior counselors to join the delegation and be part of discussions and agreements.

Shettima noted that he has since made it an unwritten law to involve Nigerian embassies in dealings with any host country. He said the embassies are established to protect Nigerian citizens, governments and institutions in dealing with countries abroad.

Before he departed China, Shettima delegated some members of his team follow up on his initial discussions with Gounzhou Automobile Company in Goundong province to assess and conclude discussions on importation of ultra modern buses in a bid to revolutionis the transportation system in the state.

Governor and his delegation have returned to Nigeria yesterday.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 5

News

How we ended four decades of corruption in fertiliser distribution, by Jonathan

By Stanley Onyekwere

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has said his administration within 90 days ended four decades of corruption in the fertiliser procurement and distribution.

He said, in order to reach farmers effectively with improved seeds and fertilisers, his administration developed an Electronic Wallet Scheme which allows farmers to receive electronic vouchers to redeem subsidized seeds and fertilizers from private sector seed and fertilizer companies and dealers.

Speaking yesterday at the ongoing Rockefeller Foundation Summit on, “Realizing the Potential of African Agriculture,” in Abuja, the President described farmers, majority of who are smallholder

women as being at the heart of the nation’s transformation of the agricultural sector as a center piece of the economic transformation agenda of his government.

According to him, “we developed the Electronic Wallet Scheme, which allows our farmers to receive electronic vouchers to redeem subsidized seeds and fertilizers from private sector seed and fertilizer companies and dealers.

“I am pleased to note that Nigeria is the first country to develop such a scheme in Africa.

“Over 1.5 million farmers received their seeds and fertilizers via mobile phones in the first year.

“We ended four decades of corruption in the fertilizer sector, within 90 days of this government, and restored dignity back to Nigerian farmers.

“Our plan is to reach 10 million farmers, and impact 50 million persons, in the next two years, through the Electronic Wallet System.

“So far, over 1.5 million farmers received their seeds and fertilizers via mobile phones in the first year; and our plan is to reach 10 million farmers, and impact 50 million persons, in the next two years, through the Electronic Wallet System.

“Nigeria is known for oil but today, many countries around the world have found oil.

“The recent discovery of Shale oil and gas means that we can no longer depend solely on oil to drive the economy; but with abundant land and water resources, and an abundant vibrant labor force, Nigeria has all it takes to use agriculture as its new frontier for

growth.

“To fully unlock the power of agriculture, farmers need affordable finance to invest in seeds, fertilizers and mechanized equipment. Small scale traders of farm inputs need credit to stock up on farm inputs.

“Agribusinesses need affordable long term finance to grow their businesses.”

Jonathan, who pointed out that in Africa, unless agricultureis transformed,the continent economies cannot grow, as millions of her people depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, noted the Foundation’s vision in supporting African agriculture, to help Africa feed itself, is noteworthy.

He therefore hailed the foundation’s commitment to its vision of building human capacity,

institutions, and innovations for transforming the world.

Also the President urged participants at the summit to develop innovative technologies and financing approaches that will increase access to finance for farmers and unlock the power of agriculture as a business, for millions of farmers across Africa.

Africa should not be managing poverty with agriculture.

“As this Summit on Realizing the Potential of African Agriculture, with emphasis on Catalytic Innovations for Growth gets into top gear, I am confident that agricultural development in our continent is going to receive unprecedented boost.”

The two-day summit is part of the activities to celebrate the Foundation’s centenary sinceits establishment 100 years ago.

Senate threatens Prisons Service

By Tobias Lengnam Dapam

T

Wife of Niger state governor, Hajiya Jummai Babangida Aliyu (middle) presenting a cash donation to a widow of one of the slain police officers in Alakyo. (Right) is the wife of Nasarawa state governor, Hajiya Salamatu Al-Makura, yesterday in Lafia.

Photo: NAN

Kano Arms cache: Court to rule on bail application July 11

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

A

Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday fixed July 11, 2013 to rule on the bail application by the three Nigerian-Lebanese men arraigned for their alleged involvement in the importation of firearms and ammunition for terrorist activities in the country.

Mustapha Fawaz (49), Abdullahi Thahini (48) and Tahal Roda (51), owners of Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park in Abuja, were arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Ademola on a six-count, bordering on terrorism related acts.

The three men were, in counts one and two charged with belonging to Hezbollah military wing and knowingly agreed to

receive training in preparation to engage in the commission of a terrorist act.

In count three, Fawaz and Fuazi Fawaz (now at large), owners of Amigo Supermarket, Abuja, were accused of “knowingly permitted a meeting connected with an act of terrorism” to be held in the premises of the supermarket.

In count four, Thahini was accused of, “being the coordinator of Hezbollah in Nigeria,” was charged with involving himself, “in an arrangement to facilitate the acquisition of terrorist funds by removal out of jurisdiction, the sum of $61,000.”

Fawaz, Thahini, Roda and Fauzi (now at large) were, in count five, accused of withholding information that would have assisted in the

arrest of another terrorist suspect from law enforcement agencies.

The three, their two companies and the fleeing Fawaz were, in count six, accused of “directly rendering support to a terrorist group” by allegedly providing their premises in Abuja and Kano for terrorist activities.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Their lawyer, Robert Clarke (SAN) prayed the court to grant the accused persons bail on health ground, adding that one of the accused persons is suffering from a heart disease that can lead to heart failure if not granted bail.

Clarke further told the court that the Lebanon Ambassador to Nigeria is willing to stand as a surety for the accused persons.

he Senate Committee on Interior, has called on the Nigeria Prisons Service to do everything possible to end what it described as incessant jail breaks the country to avoid being decentralised.

The committee’s Chairman, Senator Bagudu Atiku, disclosed yesterday during the committee oversight function to the NPS national headquarters, expressing worry that the issue of jail breaks in the country was becoming too many that it requires the Service to urgently think of how to end to it.

He said that if Nigerians mounted pressure on the National Assembly, the Senate might consider the decentralisation of the Service as was done to Police.

While commiserating with the management over the death of some of its staff, Bagudu told the management to always open up to the Senate on their challenges.

The committee said they were visiting the Service to know it position on a proposal that Nigeria Prison Service should be removed from exclusive list and taken to concurrent list.

Reacting, the Comptroller General, Zakari Ibrahim, said that his agency had discovered that they could not tackle the issue of jail breaks alone, and they have resulted to collaboration between other agencies for sharing of information.

Boko Haram amnesty: We are making progress, says Turaki From Umar Dankano, Yola.

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hairman of the Presidential Amnesty Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, said in Yola yesterday that the insurgency issue in the North-east would soon become history.

He said his committee should not be accused of not putting enough efforts to curtail the insurgency based on the recent killing of 42 students of a secondary school in Yobe state, describing the Yobe killings as isolated.

“I leave Nigerians to judge our performance. As far as we are concerned, the most important

thing that matters to us is that we are making desirable progress,” Turaki said while on an assessment tour of the security situation in Adamawa state.

He said that the committee had made tremendous achievements in curtailing the rate of insurgency in the troubled states through meeting with the relevant stakeholders and preaching the gospel of peace to the insurgents which made many of them to soft-pedal on their hard stance.

He called on Nigerians to exercise patience with the committee which he said was working tirelessly to ensure that normalcy returns to the troubled states.

PAGE 6

News

New revenue formula: Joint states, LGs account to go

By Abdulwahab Isa

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arring any last minute change effected, the new revenue formula due for presentation this December will seek for abolition of the states, joint local government account.

However, to be enshrined in the new formula which its promoter, the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) says will be fair, just and equitable, is the separation of office of the Accountant General of the Federation from Accountant General of the Federal Government.

Executive Chairman of the Commission, Elias Mbam, gave an overview of the expected new revenue formula yesterday in Abuja at an interactive session with senior journalists.

Stressing the neutrality of his commission as unbiased umpire, he assured the process will be transparent, open adding that, the commission will be “neutral and impartial.”

Mbam said that top officers of the commission were dispatched last week to commence sensitization visits to all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory ahead of the zonal public hearing scheduled to hold later this month.

He added that the objective of the sensitization visit to the states was for the commission to brief the stakeholders at the states and local government levels and the general public on the review exercise and to implore them to actively participate in the process.

Explaining some underground work so far done by the Commission before embarking on the exercise, he said “ in line with the process , the Commission has carried out extensive studies in some fiscal matters relating to revenue sharing formula including : literature reviews on revenue allocation from pre- independence to date; compilation and analysis of budgeting and expenditure profiles of the Federal , states and local governments in Nigeria 2007-2010; factors and proxies for the harmonization revenue allocation formula in Nigeria; study on assignment of weights to constitutional functions in the second schedule of the 199 constitution among others”.

While seeking cooperation of the media in ensuring success of the assignment, revenue C o m m ission boss said the commission has also scheduled courtesy visits to some eminent personalities of the country to seek their cooperation and inputs.

The new revenue formula was originally scheduled to be ready March this year before the deadline was shifted to December, a month the Commission says the document would be transmitted to the President for onward presentation to the National Assembly.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

Niger stops Hajj sponsorship of pilgrims

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iger state Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, yesterday in Minna disclosed that government will no longer sponsor Muslims on Holy pilgrimage to Mecca.

He spoke at the flag off of sale of grains to members of the public and directed that allocation of seats to intending pilgrims for this year’s Hajj should be 90 per cent for first timers.

Aliyu warned that local governments should also stop allocation of complimentary seats to traditional rulers and top government officials.

He directed that as a result of the limited number of seats

available to each local government area following the reduction in the number of seats to the country due to renovation works going on in the Holy land, balloting for all intending pilgrims should be adopted for fairness and equity.

“We have taken a decision that 90 per cent of seats should be for first timers, the customs and immigrations people have been directed to screen the passports of all intending pilgrims very well to know those that have travelled before”.

The Governor also warned against bribing officials to circumvent the law maintaining that any local government found to have bribed to get more seats will

have the number of seats allocated to it withdrawn.

He said government decided to commence the sale of grains to coincide with the Ramadan season in order to allow the poor of the society to have access to the food items during the Holy month.

Aliyu said that government will now make the sale of grains a quarterly affair as it has been found that during the exercise prices of food items usually drop in the open market.

He said 10,000 tonnes of assorted grains bought at over N25 million will be sold to the public at drastically reduced rates and directed that a 25kg of rice should

be sold for N3500 as against N5000, 100 kg of maize will sell for N5600 the same quantity of beans will sell for N14, 000 and Millet 100kg will be sold at N7000 and Guinea corn will sell for N6300.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Matane, in an address disclosed that government had since 2007 till date spent over N732m on the procurement of 84,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains.

He said that the agricultural transformation plan of the state government is firmly on course to ensure that the agricultural sector remains the major contributor to development of the state.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Habiba Lawan, Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina, Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, and Permanent Secretary, Policies and Strategy Services, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Folasade Yemi Esan, during an advocacy visit to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Civilian JTF: Women join group as prices of knives, cutlasses rise in Borno From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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ollowing the massive involvement of armswielding youth in the hunt for suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri, prices of daggers, swords, cutlasses and knives among others have risen.

Our correspondent who went round Maiduguri metropolis yesterday observed that hawkers of the weapons are now making a brisk businesses due to high demand owing to the patronage by members of the vigilante group popularly known as “civilian JTF.” Peoples Daily recalled that prior to the emergence of the vigilante group, it was impossible to see anyone hawking daggers and other

dangerous weapons in the streets.

However the situation has now changed as several middle -aged men were being seen everywhere, peddling the dangerous objects.

One of the hawkers who was seen along Damboa road and spoke to our correspondent after intense persuation, but declined identification said is now making high profit and recording rapid sales following the high demand of his objects.

He said the sales had risen by about 80 per cent even as some customers have even booked for their own arms and made advance payment.

“The prices of such objects have risen due to massive demand as a sword hitherto sold at between N250 to N300

is now sale at N600.

A cutlass which used to sell at N500 has also gone up to N800, while a standard knife which sold for N200 is now N350” he said.

Similarly at the Monday market, blacksmiths were also seen busy making varieties of knives and swords.

Meanwhile, a number of women have also joined the vanguard of youth volunteer group hunting for the suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

Young girls and middleaged women were reportedly recruited into the group to search female passers-by, motorists and passengers.

This may not be unconnected with the reported cases of suspected members of the Boko Haram sect using

women to hide and smuggle arms inside their veils.

At the major roads and streets young girls and women aged between 20 and 30 were seen carrying swords, daggers, knives and sticks, conducting stop-and- search on motorists and passers-by with their male counterparts.

Some of the female volunteers said they resolved joining the group as parts of their contributions in the restoration of peace and security in the state.

“We joined the civilian JTF in order to be searching females, a woman can search any other woman anywhere and nobody can raise eyebrows,” a 20- year-old lady gave her name as Ya Gana who seen along Galadima road said.

PAGE 8

Photos Splash

L-R: Representative of IG, DIG Suleiman Fakai; DIG ‘C’ Department, Mr. Emmanuel Udeoji and DIG ‘D’ Department, Mr. Peter Gana, at a news conference on the activities of the Force since IG Abubakar’s assumption of duty, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

Minister of Education, Prof. Ruquayyatu Rufai (left), receiving the symbolic key of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S., for advancing educational development in Nigeria, from Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, at a meeting of Vice Chancellors, yesterday in Abuja. Middle is the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Macjohn Nwaobiala.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

L-R: CBN Deputy Governor (Operations), Mr. Tunde Lemo, Chief Executive Officer, EFInA, Modupe Ladipo, CBN Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Salah Goss of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF); and Chairman, EFInA Board, Olayemi Cardoso, at the launch of the GIS results for Nigeria by the CBN and the BMGF, yesterday in Lagos.

Sympathisers watch helplessly at the scene of an accident on Bukuru road, yesterday in Jos. Photo: NAN

L-R: Assistant Representative, United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), Mr. Osaretin Adonri, representative of the Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Festus Uzor, and member, House of Representatives Committee on Population, Hon. Charles Odedo, during a Press Conference on the 2013 World Population Day, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 9

News

FG to sanction universities over unqualified graduates for NYSC scheme

By Maryam Garba Hassan

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orried by the embarrassment caused by institutions that mobilize unqualified students and part- time students for the National Youth Service and the delay recorded in the process of releasing degree results by universities, the

federal government said it will henceforth take stiffer penalty against universities and higher institutions that indulge in such acts.

The federal government gave the warning yesterday in Abuja at this year’s first meeting of Vice- Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and the Minister

of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i.

In her remarks, the minister said, the warning became necessary because the NYSC is exclusively for graduates from recognized Universities and accredited programmes.

“Universities as a matter of expediency should ensure that

degree results are released in time to ensure the early moblisation of qualified students for the exercise”, she said.

Prof.

Ruqayyatu further called on Universities to liaise with relevant government agencies to strengthen their internal security networks to address the upsurge of in-security and other

social vises on campuses.

On the 2010 white paper of the visitation panel report on federal Universities that was released to all universities for implementation, the minister said monitoring teams will soon visit the Universities to ensure the implementation of the recommendations.

Unity Bank moves to pacify ex-BON staff

By Abdulwahab Isa and Etuka Sunday

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Female ‘civilian JTF’ with her male colleague, During stop and search operation along Galadima road, yesterday in Maiduguri.

Photo: Mustapha Kwaru

Alleged $1.69m fraud: Ajudua wants trial judge changed From Matthew Irinoye, Lagos

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Lagos based lawyer, Fred Ajudua, who was alleged of defrauding two Dutch businessmen of $1.69 million yesterday filed an application to disqualify Justice Olubunmi Oyewole of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja from hearing the matter.

Ajudua was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Charles Orie, for allegedly defrauding two Dutch businessmen, Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen, of US$1.69 million.

The trial judge, Justice Oyewole had, in a ruling on Ajudua’s bail application ordered a dayto-day trial for the defendants, following his alleged default of previous bail condition granted him after his arraignment in 2003.

While the court resumed for the commencement of the trial yesterday, Adujua’s counsel, Allens Agbaka, asked for an adjournment pending the decision of the Lagos state Chief Judge, Ayodele Philips on the defendant’s petition seeking the transfer of the trial to another judge.

In a motion on notice dated July 4 and brought pursuant to section 36 of the Constitution and Section 56(1) and (2) (A)&(B) of the High Courts’ Laws of Lagos state, Agbaka sought an order to disqualify the judge from the matter in the interest of justice.

Agbaka premised his application on the ground that the judge’s remark during his ruling on June 25, in which he allegedly accused his client of tampering with the prosecu-

tion’s witness, is prejudicial to the fair hearing in the trial.

According to the motion supported by a six - paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Bridget Akhagbe, the defence claimed that the trial judge, in making those remarks have given cause to a reasonable fear and apprehension that the first defendant (Mr. Ajudua) has been found guilty even before the conclusion of the trial.

Ajudua’s lawyer also stated that the mere mention of the judge’s name in a previous petition written by a retired Major-General Ishaya Bamaiyi, to EFCC has a ripple effect on the trial of his client.

In the petition, Bamaiyi alleged that Ajudua fraudulently obtained millions of Dollars from him while they were together in Kirikiri Prisons.

nity Bank Plc said yesterday that it will do everything within its powers to resolve a lingering dispute over unpaid entitlements of disengaged staff of Bank of the North, who had picketed its offices in some parts of the country.

Hundreds of ex-staff of defunct Bank of the North Nig Ltd yesterday picketed some Unity Bank plc branches nationwide over what they claimed as unsettled 50% outstanding of their gratuities and pensions.

At the Abuja Corporate Headquarters of the Unity Bank, a detachment of the protesting former staff of Bank of the North barricaded the entrance of the bank’s premises in early working hours of yesterday.

Speaking with newsmen, Comrade Babayola Mohammed Isa, an ex – staff of Bank of the North, and the former President of the bank’s chapter of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) accused the management of Unity Bank of willfully reneging on the aspect of agreement that centers on paying former staff of Bank of the North, as espoused in the merger and acquisition exercise in 2006.

He said: “There was a merger of banks far back in 2004, and our bank, Bank of the North, was amongst the merged banks to form what is presently called Unity Bank. Bank of the North had the highest percentage of the money being utilised by Unity Bank.

“The thing is that we, the exstaff of the Bank of the North, left the banking job by virtue of disengagement, not that for any problem; the law says the contract is either way - either management say your services are no longer required or you say you want to withdraw your service; So they decided to withdraw our services. But the law of the land says if you want to withdraw somebody’s services, you have to pay all his entitlements”, he added.

Reacting to the incident, the bank said: “We confirm that several former Bank of the North staff on Monday morning picketed some Unity Bank branches to demand for an alleged 50% balance severance entitlements.

“Unity Bank has consistently maintained that agreement reached with the disengaged workers during the merger in 2006 was that their liabilities will be paid by the owners of the defunct Bank of the North, which are the governments of the nineteen northern states and not Unity Bank Plc”, the bank said in a statement signed by its head of corporate communications, Aliyu Ma’aji.

It added that: “As a responsible corporate citizen, Unity Bank will continue to engage with all parties, including the regulatory agencies, with a view to finding an amicable resolution to the issue within the legal framework governing the banking industry while advising people with any grievances to also chose dialogue rather than actions that could be detrimental to mutually acceptable resolutions”.

Kwankwaso launches keep drainages clean campaign From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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o ensure a healthy and flood free-environment, governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state has launched a massive drainage clearing campaign across the state.

Launching the campaign tagged, “Keep Kano drainages clean”, at Gwangwazo quarters in Kano municipality, the governor said the move is a deliberate attempt to prevent floods that often claim many lives and destroys properties yearly in different parts of the state.

Governor Kwankwaso, who maintained that good drainage systems can prevent flooding, lamented that in Kano, many people have formed the bad habit of

turning drainages into refuse disposal pits. This attitude, he said, must be changed for good.

The governor emphasized the importance of community involvement in this crusade, assuring that government will equip self-help groups with modern working materials to facilitate their involvement in environmental sanitation.

He urged people in the state, especially those living within Kano city to desist from erecting structures on water ways to avoid clogging of water ways and its attendant environmental consequences, adding that for people to remain healthy, it is important that they maintain personal and environmental hygiene.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 10

News

Alakio killings: Northern govs wives donate to widows

From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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owing the path of their husbands, wives of the 19 northern states governors, have donated a token sum of N2 million to the families of the slain security operatives who lost their lives in Alakio, Nasarawa state.

Wife of Benue state Governor, Mrs. Dooshima Suswam, made an additional donation of 100 bags of rice.

Hajiya Jummai Aliyu, wife of the Niger state governor, who represented the governors’ wives, made the donation at a function which held at the Police Officers, Mess, in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital yesterday.

In condoling the families and relations of the slain officers, Hajiya Jummai prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed, urging their families to remain prayerful, as according to her, what happened in Nasarawa was not peculiar to the state.

“We should take solace in the fact that your husbands and children died on active service and this could happen to anyone of us.

“We feel your pains and that is why we are here to identify with you”, she said.

Similarly, Hajiya Salamatu Almakura, wife of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura, on behalf of the wives of all the political appointees in the state, announced a donation of N1 million and various of food stuffs, including hundreds bags of rice and palm oil.

Making the donation also at the Police Officer, Mess, the Nasarawa First Lady, condemned the Alakio massacre as, inhuman and barbaric, lamenting that, “nobody has the right to take anybody’s life except God, the giver of life.”

L-R: President, Customary Court of Appeal, FCT, Justice Moses Bello; Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, and Administrator, National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Umaru Eri, at the opening ceremony of the National Workshop for Customary Courts of Appeal, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

WHO re-affirms commitment to polio eradication From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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epresentative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Nigeria, Dr. Rui Vez, has declared that eradication of polio in Nigeria is priority.

Speaking shortly after monitoring the implementation

of the IPDs and a local theater organised by Journalists Against Polio (JAP) in collaboration with UNICEF held at Kurmin Mashi in Kaduna South local government area at the weekend, Vez said that, “WHO is ready and determined to eradicate polio in Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan.”He regretted that Nigeria is the only country in the

African continent that has threat of polio noting that the WHO has taken pragmatic steps to ensure its eradication.

He described the polio vaccine as safe and effective even as He expressed satisfaction with level of turn out during the IPDs He commended the traditional rulers, and local government

officials, JAP and other stakeholders for their concerted effort towards the tackling the polio menace.

Also speaking at the programme, Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Agency, Dr. Sufyan M. Babale, said Kaduna state was moving towards stopping polio transmission by the end of 2013.

Minister inaugurates Kano MSME Water scarcity hits Dutse From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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he Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, has flagged off the National Enterprise Development Plan (NEDEP), and formally inaugurated the Kano state council on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Sector, (MSMEs) in Kano.

The NEDEP programme, according to the minister, is geared towards creating an additional 350.000 direct and indirect new jobs between now and 2015 in Kano state alone.

The Kano MSME council which is the first to be inaugurated in the country will be used as the driving mechanism for all enterprise development programmes across the country.

The council will report to the National Council on MSME, which will soon be inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The council on MSMEs, which has its membership drawn from SMEDAN, ITF, BOI, NASSI, NASME, KACCIMA, various private organisations and NGO’s, will also ensure the creation of an enabling environment to facilitate the development of MSME clusters,

infrastructure upgrade, access to finance, and MSME capacity building.

Aganga commended the Kano state government for taking the initiative in composing the MSME council.

According to the minister, “this goes to show the commitment and determination of the Kano state government to empower its people” He particularly lauded Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for creating 250,000 entrepreneurs, of which 80 per cent are women.

Aganga said the programme was in line with the ministry’s commitment to create jobs, generate wealth and enhance economic growth.

Aganga explained that, “the major critical inhibiting factors for MSMEs were access to finance, markets, lack of adequate infrastructure, lack of skills and business development and entrepreneurship training, as a result my ministry has developed NEDEP as new, strategic and revolutionary way of delivering enterprise development in Nigeria aimed at revitalizing MSME sectors.”

In his address, the SMEDAN Director General, Alhaji Bature

Umar Masari, explained that NEDEP is being implemented under three pillars, technical, vocational skills acquisition and entrepreneurship training and access to finance, adding that the entrepreneurship training component of NEDEP is being anchored under the programme ‘One Local Government, One Product (OLOP).

Masari recalled that the pilot project of OLOP programme was conducted in Kano and Niger state from September 2010 to July 2011 and in the cause of its implementation, baseline survey and value chain analysis was carried out and business development services were delivered to approximately 50 selected enterprises that manufacture six products in Kano and Niger states respectively.

He said; “the agency has conducted sensitization programmes, needs assessment and selected products based on competitive advantages in all the 44 government areas of the Kano state, and the products identified include leather products, groundnut oil, rice, sugar cane, date palm and soya beans and tomato which will be developed and processed in the various local governments areas for sales to the end users’’

after deportation of illegal immigrants From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

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cute water scarcity has hit parts of Dutse metropolis, the Jigawa state capital, following the arrest and deportation of alleged illegal immigrants in the state.

Peoples Daily investigation showed that the recent arrest of dissidents from Niger republic residing in Jigawa by the Nigeria Immigration Service has affected the livelihood of the people.

The negative impact of the arrests of the illegal immigrants who are predominantly operating as water vendors plunged residents of Takur, Moble base, Yalwawa and Bokoto areas into serious scarcity of water.

A resident of Mobile Base Quarters, Madam Lizzy said she has been depending on water vendors who supply her with the commodity but since the arrests she could not buy water and has been depending on ‘pure water’ satchets for her chores.

Another resident of Takur, Malam Sambo Isa, said though the arrests of the Nigeriens was a

good development, it was done indiscriminately that even legal residents were affected.

He said water vendors and some food sellers were bundled out of the country during the operation a situation that has forced some of them to start cooking their meals by themselves.

Another local government seriously affected by the water scarcity is Babura that directly borders with the Niger Republic.

One Usman, a resident of Babura disclosed to our reporter that although there was a minor clash between the Immigration officers and the youths from the area when they attempted to arrest some of the youths in the area.

He said the officers had to retreat and seek the support of the council chairman that showed them those that were not from the area.

He said the deportation of the Nigeriens have caused serious water scarcity as 95 per cent of water vendors are from Niger Republic.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

I

f you find yourself with a little extra cash, where will it help you the most?

These 5 questions can help you make the right decision.

If you’re lucky enough to have some “extra” money in the form of a recent raise, unexpected gift or freelance earnings, you might be wondering how to spend it.

Should you put it toward paying off debt, save it or splurge?

The savings-versus-debt debate is a common one, so let’s take a closer look at which option makes the most sense.

Here’s a five-step guide to making the smartest money moves: • Do you already have an emergency savings account?

We all need an emergency fund, even if we still have debt to pay off. That’s because emergencies can happen at any time. At a time when credit is tight, we can’t necessarily count on loans to be there when we need them, so we need a stash of cash for these types of emergencies.

Even if money is tight, putting a portion of your paycheck aside for a rainy day should be a top priority, even more important than paying off debt.

•How much is your debt costing you?

Many people don’t make this simple calculation, but it

Money Tip:

Ways to save money Book your own ‘package’ holiday online The popularity of High Street travel agents is waning as more and more people warm to the benefits of researching and putting together their own holidays on the internet.

If your holiday consists of flights, accommodation, transfers and possibly car hire, then take this test. Order a brochure from a leading holiday company and work out the price of your holiday including all the complicated supplements. Now go online and, starting with the flights, try to put the same package together.

Beat the ticket touts Ticket touts earn their living by getting hold of tickets that are ‘otherwise unavailable’. Well, here’s the news: they are available to everyone when they first go on sale. You just need to know when they go on sale.

Simply sign up to for the free ticket alert newsletters from the main agents to ensure that you’re first in the queue.

Stop trying to keep up with the Joneses Trying to keep up appearances is little more than a costly illness.

Remember, you cannot judge someone by what they have because you don’t know how they got it. Chances are they’re in more debt than you are.

Quote “Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” - Lou Holtz: American football coach

PAGE 11

Money Sense

Should you save or pay off debt?

shows just how costly debt is. To do the math for your own, make a list of all your loans - auto loans, mortgage, and anything else you owe on. Next to each amount, write down the interest rate. Multiply the two numbers

-- that’s how much each loan is costing you per year. Keep that number in mind as we move on to the next step.

• How much would your savings earn?

If you do save this cash

infusion, where would you put it? In a bank account that’s earning a certain return? Or into a money market fund, which might pay you more? Pull out your notepad again and write down the total amount of cash in

Must-have insurance plans

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any people adopt a “penny wise, pound foolish” mentality when it comes to buying insurance. When trying to lower expenses, some will drop or reduce needed coverage, gambling that they won’t become seriously ill, suffer a car accident or fall victim to a fire or other catastrophe.

But all it takes is one serious uncovered (or under-covered) incident to potentially wipe you out financially.

Here are insurance policies no household should be without: Medical. This is the most critical – and unfortunately, the most expensive – coverage you need. When comparing plans, consider: Are your doctors in their provider networks? If not, can you afford out-of-network

charges – or are you willing to find new doctors?

Are your medications covered under the plan’s drug formularies?

Do they restrict specialized services you might need like maternity, mental health or weight reduction treatments?

If you choose catastrophic coverage to lower premiums, can you afford the high deductible in case of an accident or major illness?

Homeowner/renter. Faulty plumbing, theft and homeaccident lawsuits are only a few catastrophes that could leave you without possessions or homeless.

A few tips: “Actual cash value” coverage repairs or replaces belongings, minus the deductible and depreciation, whereas “replacement cost” coverage

replaces items in today’s dollars.

Depreciation can significantly lower values, so replacement coverage is probably worth the extra expense.

Jewelry, art, computers and luxury items usually require additional coverage.

Review coverage periodically to adjust for inflation, home improvements, new possessions, change in marital/family status, etc.

The market is competitive, so compare your rate with other insurance carriers. Get “apples to apples” quotes since policies may have varying provisions.

Vehicle. You probably can’t even get a driver’s license without demonstrating proof of insurance.

Consider these coverage options: “Liability” pays if you cause an accident that injures others or damages their car or property.

question, then multiply it by the rate of return you could get on the money. Now, take a moment to compare your findings from steps two and three. Would paying off a chunk of your debt save you more money than you could earn by saving the cash? If so, then you’re better off getting rid of the debt. That’s a valuable piece of information that will help you make the final decision.

4: What are your expected earnings in the near future?

If you expect to receive an additional windfall in the near future, in the form of a freelance check, or any other income boost, you have a little more flexibility. If you’ll have more money to work with soon, perhaps you can pay off debt as well as save.

5: What are your financial goals? If you have big plans that require a lot of cash, such as starting a small business, buying a house or any other, you probably want to pad your savings account so it contains more than just an emergency fund. Of course, paying off debt can also be helpful, because then you can embark on these new financial adventures without the added weight of old loans.

But you still need cash to make those big goals happen.

“Uninsured motorist” pays for damage caused to you or your car by an uninsured motorist.

“Collision” pays for damage to your car resulting from a collision and “comprehensive” pays for damage caused by things like theft, vandalism and fire.

However, they only pay up to the actual cash value (ACV) minus deductibles. Because the ACV for older cars is low, repairs often cost more than the car is worth.

Common ways to lower premiums include: Raising deductibles; discounts for good drivers, exceeding age 55 or installing security systems; comparison shopping; and buying homeowner and car insurance from the same carrier.

Life insurance. If you’re single with no dependents, you may get by with minimal or no life insurance. But if your family depends on your income, experts recommend buying coverage worth at least five to 10 times annual pay. Other considerations: Many employers offer life insurance, but if you’re young and healthy you may be able to get a better deal on your own.

After your kids are grown you may be able to lower your coverage; although carefully consider your spouse’s retirement needs.

You probably don’t need life insurance on your children, but you might want spousal coverage if you depend on each other’s income.

If your divorce settlement includes alimony and/or child support, buy life insurance on the person paying it, naming the receiving ex-spouse as beneficiary.

Don’t gamble your future financial stability by passing on vital insurance coverage – the odds aren’t in your favor.

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

EDITORIAL

resident Goodluck Jonathan seems to have led the way of late in our leaders’ quest for international recognition for tasks supposedly done for the Nigerian people. These suspect and often dubious recognitions that come in the form of awards and commendations would not ordinarily raise any eyebrows if they were as a result of tangible achievements. Nothing can be more paradoxical than this situation whereby our leaders scramble for the awards and commendations from international bodies while the majority of Nigerians wallow in poverty.

The president recently received an award from the Food and Agriculture Organisation - an organ of the United Nations - for his supposed efforts at improving food security in his country. Not a few Nigerians were quick to notice the comical fact that FAO chose none other than the agriculture minister, Adesina Akinwumi , who himself was formerly of the agency, to present the award to the president. We fail to see the need for such an award when even by the minister’s admission, some 13 million Nigerians face starvation.

The figure may seem small in a nation of over 160 million but the fact is that with our enormous

resources, no Nigerian should ever go hungry.

The Niger state governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, also recently received what was described as the Global Empowerment Award from an institute in Houston, Texas, that not many may have heard of. Although the criteria for arriving at the choice of the governor were not clearly spelt

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P

Our leaders’ penchant for awards

However, we praise the courage of Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima, for refusing to join the ‘madding crowd’ of recipients of dubious awards out, the organisers said he was the first governor in the world to be so honoured for his efforts at reducing unemployment among the youth and women. The FCT minister, Bala Mohammed, last month made the list when he received a UN award for public service delivery.

Like many Nigerians we are at pains trying to figure out the areas of public service delivery in Abuja that have stood the minister out for the award. Surely, the fiasco that the ban

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on green buses has become could not have stood him in good stead for such a prestigious award. The Millennium Development Goals Office also recently celebrated a commendation from the United Kingdom in the media even when it has become abundantly clear that Nigeria will not meet any of the MDGs come 2015.

We are disgusted at the way our leaders crave these awards and the manner they expend state resources on travels abroad to receive them.

Monies spent on these trips can be more useful here at home if spent wisely. Without a doubt, awards are good if they are bestowed after a measurable goal is achieved.

In our case, it seems our leaders only scamper for these awards to hide their glaring shortcomings and inept performance. As 2015 approaches, one can hazard a guess that our sensibilities will continue to be assailed by announcements of these dubious and meaningless awards.

However, we praise the courage of Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima, for refusing to join the ‘madding crowd’ of recipients of dubious awards. And we hope Nigerians will be the wiser to judge leaders who put themselves up for re-election based on real achievements on the ground.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 13

Opinion For once, blame Nigerian youth

By Bayo Oluwasanmi

N

igeria of today is a country that devours its youth. It is a country that terrorizes its youth. It is country that is hostile and antagonistic to its youth. It is a country that offers no hope, no life, no dream, and no future. It is a dead country full of dead youth. On the high road of history on which each country must sooner or later travel, Nigeria has taken a lead in ignoble purposes. Nigeria is a classic example of a society where the youth dreamed but for which they no longer dared hope.

The future of humanity and the fate of our culture as a nation are at stake. During my visit to Nigeria last July, I was not able to enjoy moments of deep joy. Nowhere resembled the Nigeria that I grew up as a youth. There was no deep feeling for humanity. No immediate surge of brotherly love.

My heart swelled and tears came into my eyes. The youths I saw were depressed and despondent, sad, confused, and lost in transit as it were, not knowing where they were coming from and where they were headed. Their eyes were unclear full of no confidence and hope. This expression of illuminated unhappiness I saw on their faces tells me the Nigerian youth is headed for extinction. At once, a mental picture of Nigeria invaded my thought space: a crude and wicked nation, civilized yet uncivilized, literary yet illiterate, tasteless wealth stood out against a vast darkness.

The entire environment for the Nigerian youth remained hazy to me. It completely shut out any hope

of redemption of our youth. Nigeria has become very inhospitable, unwelcome, and dangerous to its teeming homeless, lifeless, and dispossessed youth. Like any other group in Nigeria, our youth suffers not just from human condition in general but from very specific social arrangements and government policies. Implied from the foregoing is the incontrovertible truth that the situation of Nigerian youth is one that calls for political activity on the part of the victims – the youths.

For once let’s blame the youth for self inflicted apathy, cultivated timidity, paranoid fear, and criminal complacency for their situation. Today’s Nigerian youth are known for their almost traditional despair. For them to create a better life, they must shake off the restrained spirit of compromise and conformity.

They should shred the garment of stealth and silence. It is within the capacity of Nigerian youth to alter the political arrangements

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and government policies that work against them.

Nigerian youth have become less politicized. They are not ready to commit themselves to political action either out of compassion or solidarity with their suffering.

They seek to avoid the infliction of pain. They are painstakingly miserly in calculating the human costs of their political engagement with their oppressors. These costs – real or imagined – are afflicted by overpowering anguish of cowardice, timidity, and shame.

Nigerian youth should be reminded that they have the right to end their suffering by confronting the government. They must be prepared to accept the price of suffering that will have to be paid in overthrowing the status quo. They must be resolved to unleash the raw energy of youth in organizing not agonizing, in demanding what is legitimately due to them, in challenging and fighting the oppressive political system that is ruining their lives.

I believe it is romantic illusion to expect President Obama or whoever for that matter to enact a Marshall Plan, so to say, that will bail the Nigerian youth out of their abbreviated life. Their salvation lies in their own hands. The ruling class doesn’t care what happens to them.

After all their children are not among the suffering legion, they are stowed away in comfortable palaces scattered around the world.

History of resistance, protests, agitation, and rebellion against injustice, neglect, and tyranny continue to unfold every now and then before the very eyes of Nigerian youth. Such events are not meant for consumption as TV entertainment but as a model for other victims to learn and replicate for their own benefit.

Unfortunately, our youth remained undisturbed and unaffected.

Cataclysmic events of history produced beneficent change – change of ideas, values, and consciousness. The Nigerian youth should not be afraid of

Our youth should understand that the only language understood by those who are responsible for their stunted, empty, and broken life is confrontation not cooperation.

There is strength in numbers. The numbers are on their side.

Let the youth take to the streets. Set fire of protest on the local governments, state governments and finally the federal government with prolonged and sustained determination that would bare fruits. They should take the fight to the governors and demand their share of the so called security vote.

ARPD and national interest

By Abdullah Musa

D

oes the Nigerian situation need any introduction? I guess not. Even if you are living in the Far East, you must be tired of reading or listening to news on Africa’s most populous black nation. It is a conglomeration of nations whose citizens kill each other at will; where one citizen risks life by crossing into enemy territory.

Come 2015, these warring nations that make up Nigeria will (erroneously) have a national election; pretending as if they have only one nation. We all know they have three major regional groupings: Arewa Consultative Forum, Afenifere, and Ohanaeze.

These groups are established to cater for the specific interest of the dominant tribe within them. Arewa Research and Development Project is therefore an NGO typically Nigerian. At its just concluded conference, it was decided that power must return to the North.

Through a Northern regional election? Of course not! It will be through the charade of national elections.

Should one fault ARDP for championing the cause of Arewa that forms part of its name? We should not be that unjust. They are simply being Nigerians. Nigeria is a prison whose inmates find each other intolerable. But because they have been in the prison for so

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long, getting outside it is a taboo, a no-go area when solutions yo our existential problems are being discussed. But for how long would this madness go on? Well, for as long as this set of political actors and its progeny last.

Can the Northern political actors wrest control of PDP from Dr. Goodluck Jonathan? Let us say it is possible. Then a Northern, Muslim presidential candidate will

emerge. Where they fail, they may want to put all their eggs in one basket, by championing APC. Then you have a repeat performance of 2011, where you pit a Northerner against a Southerner, a Muslim against Christian: a perfect, disastrous Nigerian recipe that would surely send many to their graves.

The victor, (whoever it may be) would then gloat in victory:

Can the Northern political actors wrest control of PDP from Dr. Goodluck Jonathan? Let us say it is possible.

Then a Northern, Muslim presidential candidate will emerge. Where they fail, they may want to put all their eggs in one basket, by championing APC. Then you have a repeat performance of 2011, where you pit a Northerner against a Southerner, a Muslim against Christian: a perfect, disastrous Nigerian recipe that would surely send many to their graves.

police beating, arrest, or being killed if need be to free them from poverty, meaningless, wasted, and unfulfilled life. We should remind our youth that history is one endless massacre stretching back to the dawn of mankind.

Wherever we are in history, we stand on a mountain of corpses – and, however terrible the thought, we are the beneficiaries of all this carnage.

Our youth should understand that the only language understood by those who are responsible for their stunted, empty, and broken life is confrontation not cooperation. There is strength in numbers. The numbers are on their side. Let the youth take to the streets. Set fire of protest on the local governments, state governments and finally the federal government with prolonged and sustained determination that would bare fruits. They should take the fight to the governors and demand their share of the so called security vote. Take the legislators and the president hostage and demand a job creation bill. Demand for share of the legislator’s monthly compensation package of N29 million. Disrupt and paralyze services from Lagos to Bayelsa, from Abuja to Kontagora, from Akure to Minna and let the tsunami of civil disobedience sink the whole country – simultaneously.

The youth should push ahead impatiently for necessary changes and reforms. They must move from resistance to aggression, from revolt to revolution. Every protest or resistance or uprising has some notion of redemptive suffering.

Some must die if Nigerian youth is to be liberated in a new order.

BayoOluwasanmi via byolu@aol.com of his region over the other’s of his religion over that of the other! How maniacal! How diabolical! Call it what you may, but Nigerians go to universities and pass out, even become PhD holders in order to run this idiotic political system.

From practical point of view, ( but in Nigeria being practical equates with being a lunatic) how does it profit Tinubu a Southerner, to lead a party (APC) that seeks to return power to the North? What is in it for him? My view is that the only way you may return power to the North as a regional birthright is through zoning arrangement.

An arrangement that in 1999 gave Nigerians the ‘choice’ between two Yoruba presidential candidates, and all Christian. But in our satanic wisdom we say with utmost vehemence, that zoning is out! out! out! a la Sulaiman Takuma of NPN memory. So? So we wait, not with apprehension, not with trepidation, not with resignation, but with glee, at our impending doom.

Comforting being an imbecile, is it not?

Abdullah Musa via kigongabas@gmail.com

PAGE 14

Letters & Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

Climate change is hidden force behind militancy in Nigeria

By Jim Sanders

R

ecent protests in Turkey and Brazil are being lionized in the financial press as products of rising prosperity in “developing” countries, where economic growth grates against stagnant institutions. Yet simultaneously another powerful force is also engendering violent social unrest and revealing institutional deficiencies: climate change.

Ohio State University professor Geoffrey Parker argues in his new book, Global Crisis: War, Climate Change and Catastrophe in the Seventeenth Century, that “the experience of the seventeenth century shows that long-term turbulence and unreliability of the weather inevitably produces calamitous outcomes for humanity.” Civil unrest, conflict, disease, government collapse, and commercial disruption are among the dire consequences.

For Parker, a close study of the past, of how governments and people coped with climatic catastrophe in previous centuries, can yield valuable lessons for dealing with such disasters today.

But “denial … the commonest human reaction to environmental catastrophe,” is an obstacle.

“The worsening droughts, desiccation, and desertification in equatorial Africa over the past forty years have caused massive migrations, famines,

“

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and wars that resemble those of the midseventeenth century; yet the rest of the world does virtually nothing,” Mr. Parker wrote in an article five years ago. We want to believe that climate change is not happening yet, or at least not to us, he says.

But in Africa, its effects are

. According to a 1990 paper by Ahmadu Bello University professor Sabo Bako, members of the Maitatsine sect, active in northern Nigeria in the 1980s and described as the “forerunner” of Islamist militant group Boko Haram, included victims of ecological disasters that left them in “a chaotic state of absolute poverty and social dislocation in search of food, water, shelter, jobs, and means of livelihood.”

undeniable and likely to dwarf those of “booming” middle classes.

According to a 1990 paper by Ahmadu Bello University professor Sabo Bako, members of the Maitatsine sect, active in northern Nigeria in the 1980s and described as the “forerunner” of Islamist militant group Boko Haram, included victims of ecological disasters that left them in “a chaotic state of absolute poverty and social dislocation in search of food, water, shelter, jobs, and means of livelihood.” Climatic factors are cited in analyses of Boko Haram’s emergence and, in the view of one Nigerian security official, religious violence in the country is strongly correlated with environmental stress.

Terrorism and jihadist ideology dominate analysis of groups such as Boko Haram. But Parker suggests a different approach: rewind the tape of history as a means of bringing to light 350 year old coping strategies that could help manage what looks to be the world’s crisis around climate change. Such strategies are needed in Africa today.

Jim is an American bloggerwith the Christian Science Monitor

2015: Why ordinary people now count

By Jaye Gaskia

M

y biggest worry is that while we seem to be in agreement that the existing social order needs to be radically and urgently transformed; that the current system is incapable of making this happen or bringing succour to the mass of impoverished citizens; and that the major gladiator parties of the system lack internal democracy; my biggest worry is that after agreeing on all of these we are then told our only option is to ‘play politics within the parameters of the current bourgeois order’ and to therefore ‘enter’ or join one of the gladiator parties, the APC, as a way of playing this politics.

How can we hope to influence a party that we have admitted lacks internal democracy? I mean influence it in a qualitatively different direction? The PDP we all seem to be in agreement is a no go area and is not a platform we should engage with; yet is it possible that we might be able to make an APC government, under a Buhari/ Fashola presidency to begin to take steps to institute that genuine national dialogue process that we agree is so sorely needed?

I think that the basic reason for the existence of this contradiction, for the self limitation of our choices within this seemingly undesirable confine is the exclusion of the mass of our long suffering peoples, in their tens of millions from the equation; their exclusion as a factor, not to speak of being the decisive factor, in this political contestation.

We are living through a period of global crisis, which has spawned at one and the same time global political, economic,

financial, environmental and social crises. The response of subordinate classes and exploited and impoverished millions who are being made to bear the brunt of this untoward hardships have been a global resistance, that has equally spawned the mass strike movement across Europe, the Arab Spring, including the inauguration of its new phase with the recent turmoil in Egypt, the global occupy movement, the recent Turkish and Brazilian Uprisings, and yes, our own January Uprising, and the many mini uprisings that we have had since then.

We are moving towards and preparing for a general election in 2015 within this global and national context. This is what potentially makes 2015 different from 2011, or even June 12 1993. We have an opportunity; with a younger generation recently radicalized and politicized by the most life changing occurrence and process of this century: the January Uprising and the Global resistance movement.

This is the setting and context that makes the people, ordinary citizens matter most, and matter more than any single politician or party, and more than at any other time in recent history or memory.

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We can transform the nature of electoral contestation towards and in 2015, by ensuring that we make issues and not individuals, party programs and not just parties the decisive discourse. We must shift from discussing personalities to raising issues and making our issues the priority items on the national agenda.

And we can change the voting dynamics by launching a concerted effort to ensure that youth and women, and in particular those radicalized by and since the January Uprising to register and get on the voters register; and subsequently to come out to vote and defend their votes in the general elections.

But we must also complement these with ensuring that they do have a real choice; we can do this by ensuring that we build an alternative radical, and revolutionary mass political party, from the experience and convergence of all the ongoing party building efforts outside of the major gladiator parties of the system.

We used to say that a major lesson of the first phase of the Egyptian revolution in 2011 is the absence of a strong coordinating political platform with structures spread across the country, of the

youth and women and workers groups that essentially made that revolution. That weakness made the Brotherhood, the historic opposition party to become the default beneficiary of the revolution. Nevertheless, the youth, women and workers, chose to continue to wage their struggle and deepen the process. They fought the military and forced it to hand power to the Islamist president; and they continued to fight the Islamist president.

By the time of the November 2012 uprising during which they resisted the assumption of autocratic powers by the Morsi presidency, they had begun to establish a nationwide structure and platform to coordinate their revolution which they proclaimed as a permanent revolution until all their demands are met, encapsulated in the slogan ‘Our Revolution Continues’. By the time of the latest uprising, they had established the Tamrod [Rebel] movement organisational structure; autonomous of the Brotherhood [read PDP], the merging opposition National Salvation Front (NSF) [read APC]; and also of the military; a movement which enabled them

We can achieve similar results here, if we devote our energies to building autonomously of the PDP and the APC. We might not be strong enough to take power in 2015, but we can certainly build a platform strong enough to represent a serious threat to both the PDP and APC, and thus act as the sorely needed check to keep them both in line, and ensure that our issues remain a priority on the national political agenda.

to collect in real time, not online 22 million signatures to Recall the president/force his resignation; and as well enabled them to bring tens of millions unto the street, even more than during the 2011 uprising, across the country.

This situation has enabled them to isolate the Brotherhood, and to ensure that there is a viable alternative to the NSF of the political elites of Egypt.

We can achieve similar results here, if we devote our energies to building autonomously of the PDP and the APC. We might not be strong enough to take power in 2015, but we can certainly build a platform strong enough to represent a serious threat to both the PDP and APC, and thus act as the sorely needed check to keep them both in line, and ensure that our issues remain a priority on the national political agenda.

My urgent appeal to youths radicalized by the January Uprising, and to active citizens tired of the treasury looting directionless leadership of the political elites, and wary of the parties of the ruling political elites; is to take our destinies into our own hands, build our own political platform and challenge these charlatans, in progressthief and conservathief gabs for political power, and therefore the right and mandate to shape the future of this country by altering its present course. By the way, it is our present and our future, as well as our country; let us take it back!

Follow on Twitter: @jayegaskia& @ protesttopower; Engage on Facebook: JayeGaskia& Take Back Nigeria

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 15

Comment

Kongi as conscience of the nation

By OseOyamendan

T

he Nigerian ship is adrift.

You would have to be on a different planet not to know that. You read it in the newspapers.

You watch it on television and you hear it on the radio. If you drive around the country, it plays in front of you like a terribly directed movie.

As in every situation like this, there are always tales of sightings of the messiah. Problem is Nigeria is not a state that encourages the rise of messiahs. Messiahs often come with lean pockets and bags of hope.

In Nigeria’s moneyed class, that is considered a threat and they treat those kinds of figures like a political fly that must be swiped off viciously and quickly.

Since the dawn of this republic, one man has been constant. You cannot call him a messiah because he may shoot you one of those glares that can melt a glacier.

Messiahs are often associated with one faith and he is rumored to be on the extreme of another faith.

I often wonder about the fetish fascination of a section of the media and political class about former Head of State MuhammaduBuhari.

When they talk about the man, you think he is Moses coming down the mountain. I have just stumbled

upon a publication called Osun Defender. I wasn’t going to read it because I thought they were the laughable rumored religious corps that RaufAregbesola has raised to defend his multi-religious state from the nosey-pokey Christians and traditionalists. But, an article

by Professor Wole Soyinka made me click on the link.

Love him, hate him or even be jealous of him, one thing you can’t do is discount Professor Wole Soyinka. He’s as old school as you can be in modern Nigeria – a man who still thinks and cares about Nigeria not the weight of his bank

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account or how much he can compromise himself so he can have a sponsored vacation abroad or a government contract. He comes from that old school that believes if you develop your brain you shall be truly free. It was the school that took Nigeria to Independence, saw the young nation bristle with talent and took it to the cusp of greatness before the military decided they will ruin Nigeria for Nigerians.

Soyinka, in an article titled the “The Crimes of Buhari”, pulled the veil from the eyes of Nigerians, reminding them of the true colors of the saint from the dark alley. A

Today’s opposition is sometimes a joke. Without some shining lights in the rank of the opposition, you would think Nigeria is a bad reality show. If the opposition would truly look within and select candidates worthy of the country’s leadership, Nigerians can begin to look forward to a better country because the ruling party will be forced to do better or risk fading away.

man so incorruptible he facilitated the corruption overseen by his aide-de-camp. A leader so focused on discipline he practically held Nigeria hostage. A future saint so bent on transparent leadership he sent journalists to prison for reporting the truth. A man so bent on dispensing justice he had a citizen killed for a retroactive law.

A reformer so determined to wipe Nigeria’s sins clean he carted off sections of the political class to jail, watching as they succumbed to one illness after the other while the patriarch of the administration was cooling his heels in a cozy mansion in Ikoyi and the chieftains of the party that rolled Nigeria to ruin were allowed to stroll into exile.

Sometimes, it’s wrong to blame a man for his sins in the past. Every man deserves a second chance.

Every Nigerian deserves a shot at the presidency.

Societies do better when there is a strong opposition. Every society needs a counter force that holds a torch out to the men trampling around the corridors of power.

Nigeria’s best years were arguably after independence when the government in the center and the opposition in the region competed to bring the best to their regions.

Today’s opposition is

sometimes a joke. Without some shining lights in the rank of the opposition, you would think Nigeria is a bad reality show. If the opposition would truly look within and select candidates worthy of the country’s leadership, Nigerians can begin to look forward to a better country because the ruling party will be forced to do better or risk fading away. But, the opposition keeps missing the opportunity to show they’re different or better than the ruling party. In the run to the last election, the opposition screamed at the rape of federal legislators, men who go to Abuja to become multi-millionaires and billionaires simply by collecting their allowances and salaries.

It was a classic Political Science 101. The opposition rises to the top by showing they are different.

They blew it! Once in Abuja, they pocketed every allowance and more. They became part if the rot.

Putting up Buhari as the face of the opposition and the alternative to Jonathan is like the opposition advertising its seriousness. Painting him as a saint is like insulting the memory of Nigerians. Thank God for men like Soyinka, one of the last conscience of the nation, who are bold enough to roll back the layers so the country can smell the stench.

OseOyamendan is a Nigerian film maker based in the United States. You can reach him on twitter via @ iam_ose

What is ‘progressive’ about APC and ‘democratic’ about PDP?

By Henry Eguridu

Y

es, there is a seemingly new opposition party set up to wrest power out of the grasp of the ruling party.

But it’s always tempting to draw broad conclusions, to spot themes and trends as people salivate or bellyache about this development (positive or negative).

But sometimes you can rush to judgment. For a start, the Peoples Democratic Party has been anything but a democratic side and there have been several attempts at toppling it from its perch. So the confederation and fraternity of opposition parties sounds like a welcome development to the behemoth. And for those besotted with the idea that the flagellation of the All Progressives Congress will bring to a swift end the years of the PDP, it can also be said that rumors of its demise are decidedly premature.

We have had all sorts of political parties in this country with many of them bordering on the most ridiculous of names coupled with the eccentricity of its founders or the dourness of its candidates. Here is a roll call of some of the unknown quantitiesMasses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), All Peoples Liberation Party (APLP), African Renaissance Party (ARP). Then the so called big boys- People’s Democratic Party, Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive Change, All Progressives Grand Alliance.

And if their names are usually a misnomer, then the symbolisms they carry are downright laughable with some using umbrellas,

brooms, coins et al.

Who can forget the comical display of then AC when Obasanjo visited Lagos state for a rally? The very next day Bola Tinubu and his acolytes went about sweeping him off Lagos with their brooms, signifying that the PDP would never capture Lagos!. Laughable as it was, it was a symptom of the inconsistencies that abide in all of them.

But at no point in our shared history have we had a national party that has been cohesive to draw national appeal. They have all been mostly regional or ethnic parties championed by barons whose view is at best myopic, right from the First Republic down to the current dispensation. Such parties have had to practice or create an over arching strategy of entering unholy alliances which have created strange bed fellows as characters and personalities who were sworn enemies and held divergent views either came together in a marriage of convenience or perhaps moment

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of necessity.

But these arrangements have never been altruistic, but are contraptions which are not just a means to an end- the capture of political power, tools used to achieve the interest of a small clique of persons who acting in tandem with local and foreign actors mostly rent seeking gladiators who perpetuate the shackles of control over the population. But they first position themselves as fighting in the best interest of the man on the street.

And so they go about punting and railing against the perceived order of things, but their selfish interests is always the hidden core.

We have seen this played over again. The PDP rose out of the ashes of the G38 group- group of political leaders, eighteen of them originally and later thirty-four who decided to challenge Abacha and his brinkmanship. The death of Abacha became a living room for the political lot. It was akin to a heavy weight lifted from our

collective shoulders, it afforded them to once more freely express themselves. So as groups began to strategize on how to get power, the G34 easily became the nucleus and rallying point of the associations that formed what is today, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In forming this behemoth Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Second Republic Governor of Kano State said “we decided that we are going to form a party that is so big and so popular that everybody will join”.

What a tragedy Peopled by big egos and strong personalities, it was able to attract a huge following not necessarily of Nigerians but of personalities using their networks to advance their personal interests.

With such nebulous statements the party was formed. We have since gone on to see its undemocratic behaviours. Obasanjo at the height of his powers openly and systematically disregarded the basic norms of internal democracy.

Imposition was his classical weapon to control the party

What really differentiates the APC from the PDP? The culture of imposition runs in both. What differentiates Tony Anenih from Bola Ahmed Tinubu? Both men are perennial fixers and undertakers. What differentiates Tom Ikimi from David Mark?

The cultivation of “yes” men is a stock in trade of both parties which in itself is alien to democratic tenets. Party members are ostracized or haunted out of the party for expressing genuine dissent when the actions of their own leaders are out of steps with the aspirations of electorate and party members.

coupled with his crass disregard for the judicial system.

The PDP has struggled with this ghost ever since and Nigerians are disillusioned. The APC’s entrance, however, tells you more about the frenzy of dissonance than about the real issues of national development. With the quality of characters coalescing to form this opposition party, we see similarities with the ruling party. It might not be so exact, but it’s the oddest of the lot. Conservatives and liberals, progressives and neo-conservatives, supporters of one of the most cruel dictatorships, serial looters and godfathers, military men and bureaucrats. It’s a potpourri of the foulest combination yet. Using the PDP as a template, we see men angling for power, positioning for selfish interests and producing nebulous statements.

What really differentiates the APC from the PDP? The culture of imposition runs in both. What differentiates Tony Anenih from Bola Ahmed Tinubu? Both men are perennial fixers and undertakers.

What differentiates Tom Ikimi from David Mark? The cultivation of “yes” men is a stock in trade of both parties which in itself is alien to democratic tenets.

Party members are ostracized or haunted out of the party for expressing genuine dissent when the actions of their own leaders are out of steps with the aspirations of electorate and party members.

The coalescing parties have often killed dissent and frustrated independent-minded party members who dared to challenge the god-fathers.

Engaged Henry Eguridu

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 17

Metro

New transport policy: VIO impounds over 15,000 motorcycles, 100 buses

By Stanley Onyekwere

N

o fewer than 15,000 commercial motorcycles otherwise known as “Okada” have been impounded by the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) of the FCTA Road Traffic Service Secretariat since the ban of their operation in the city centres.

Also, following the recent reintroduction of the new transport policy in FCT, over a total 100 unpainted taxis and buses have been impounded by the VIO, which is the enforcement arm of the FCTA transport secretariat.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the FCT Road Traffic Service Secretariat, Mr. K. K. Iloduba Jnr, who made the disclosure as a guest on Abuja Hot FM current affairs program, ‘Peoples parliament’ monitored by Peoples Daily, last week, stressed that since the ban was placed on Okada riders , they have never release anyone of them in their custody.

On the why the gradual returning of the Okada riders into the city centres, he pointed out that the only challenge they have on that area is the fact that okada business is a very lucrative. “If you were to purchase a motorcycle today, and put it into commercial use, in a space of one or two months you have made that money two times over”.

“We have had incidences where we impounded motorcycle from a Nigerian, and then when we go out again a week after or two later, we will still see such a person with another new bike; so we have to sit them down and interrogate them; and it was through them that we got to know that it is a lucrative business.

“So they just keep taking risk with the understanding that if I were to purchase a motor bike at the cost of N30, 000 to N40, 000 and use it for commercial purpose in a space of month or two, I will be able to double the total amount. If it turns out as good as expected, then the risk is worth it.

“We have a special task force unit, for that assignment, and they move about with armed policemen and soldiers, and as I speak to you yesterday we impounded about fifty motorcycles: and we impound commercial motorcycles on a daily basis “Since the ban was placed on Okada, we have never release anyone

of them in our custody; and so far we have over fifteen thousand motor bikes in our custody; and it doesn’t matter who you are as long because once a motorcycle is impounded in the city centre, enforcement is total, and you don’t get it back”, He said.

He further maintained that the clampdown is on, and we will continue hunting them down until the ban is fully enforced and we actually phased out the use of motorcycles for commercial purposes in the FCT. While responding to the implementation of the new FCTA transport policy, banning the operation of mini-buses within the

city centres; and the tricks some operators employ to ensure that they remain in business, he said that they are clamping down on them and impounding their vehicles.

Iloduba said: “How we handle such cases is that when you are arrested with such vehicle, then we will put you through the mobile courts that sit every Wednesday and Friday, where your fate will be determined by our mobile court judge.

“Although many of them claimed that they inter-state operators, but when we see a bus that engages in inter-state

transportation business, we know; as they normally have their driver’s manifest where they have the names and the phone numbers of all the passengers but often time when we stop these people and the driver’s excuse is to tell us that he is running interstate.

“But the passengers, may after ten minutes or thereabout start stepping down from the bus, asking for their balance from the driver or the conductor; and before you know it the driver will start opening up saying; ‘I’m sorry but I have to survive”, he explained.

Also, he said the development is

part of the reasons for the seeming increased in number of vehicles on some major roads.

Explaining further, he said: “Our duty is to ensure that we enforce transport policy of the FCTA and make sure that the motoring public complies with it, so we will keep clamping down on defaulters until they learn, respect and respond to the new policy.

“But we must also understand one thing about enforcement is that there is hardly anyone enforcement that can achieve 100% result, as enforcement is basically to stem the tide.”

NDLEA arrests 189 suspects, seizes 11,135kg of illicit drugs in FCT

T

A young girl selling groundnut to buyers at Apo, recently.

Photo: Emmanuel Eko

he FCT Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Monday said it arrested 189 suspects and seized 11,135.49 kilogrammes of illicit drugs between January and June 2013.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Agency, Mr Peter Adegbe.

It also stated that the agency seized 11,134 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, 1.34 kilogrammes of Psychoactive Substances and 17.7 grammes of Cocaine within the same period.

Particularly, it stated that the agency arrested 58 suspects and seized 70 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa in the Orange Market, Mararaba, Nasarawa State.

The statement also stated that during the same period, the command counselled a total of 82 drug-dependant persons and secured the conviction of 44 persons before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The statement added that the agency has returned N605,270; $1,100 (about N160,000); and 100 British Pounds (about N26,200), being various monies seized from the drug pedlars in the six months under review.

The statement quoted the FCT Commander, Mr Dennis Obiefule, as re-affirming the commitment of the agency toward a drug-free society.

In the statement, Obiefule urged FCT residents to continue to provide useful information on illicit drug dealers. (NAN)

Ramadan: Group’s president donates classrooms to Jiwa community

A

s the 2013 Ramadan approaches, National President, Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, Hajiya Rakiya Gambo, has donated a block of six classrooms to Jiwa community in the FCT. Making the donation yesterday in Abuja, Gambo said the classrooms would boost Islamic education in the community and encourage women and children to follow the dictates of Almighty Allah.

She stressed that the classrooms were meant for both Islamic and formal education, and advised that they be used to enhance literacy in the area. ``I give glory to the Almighty Allah for giving me the opportunity to do this. I also want to thank the Emir of Jiwa community for giving me his backing to complete this project. ``I pray that what the women will learn from here will be of benefit to them and their

children,’’ she said.

The Chief Imam of AlHabibiyyah Mosque, Fuad Adeyemi, while appreciating the donation, emphasised that the true essence of wealth was to positively affect the lives of others.

He said that the group, in collaboration with some individuals, had established food banks in different parts of the country. ``There will be food iftar (breaking of fast) and sahur (food

before commencement of each day’s fasting). ``Al-Habibiya has branches in Minna, Lokoja and Kaduna as well as the U.S.; we are ready to do everything we can for the less privileged. ``We are also going to disburse Zakat (alms) of not less than N4.5 million to the less privileged by the Grace of Allah,’’ he said.

The Emir of Jiwa, Alhaji Musa Idris, expressed delight at the donation, and thanked the group

for the generous gift. ``Without education, we are nothing. She has given the school for women and children a place to sit in to learn. ``It is the women that teach our children; they therefore need to learn to be able to teach,’’ he said.

The emir, who also donated a pickup van to the Al-Habibiya food bank, urged Muslims to pray for peace in the country and to be good to one another. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 16

PTA chairman tasks private school operators on infrastructure

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he chairman of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Nigeria/Ghana International College in Kuje Area Council, FCT, Mallam Hassan Muhammad Liman has appealed to the operators of the private schools to deem it necessary to put enough structures in place before going into the school business.

He noted this when the Management of Nigeria/Ghana International College in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has graduated a total number of twenty students in this year’s academic session.

Liman also called on the government of the day not to give permission or license to any proprietor who has no structure to establish the private schools in the country.

He pleaded with the government to provide adequate

infrastructural facilities in the public schools for the betterment of the pupils/students to boost academic excellence.

Liman commended the leadership of the college for providing an enabling environment for both teachers and students in the institution.

An address, the principal of the college, Mr. Ben Kwamu, explained that since Nigeria/ Ghana International College was established in September, 2006, the provision of infrastructural facilities had been the priority attention of the leadership of the school.

He said that efforts would be intensified by the school’s management to enhance teaching and learning in order to pave way for academic excellence at the college.

He further pointed out that the management of the school has engaged consultants who

have been training the teachers in various facets of teaching as well as school administration, added that many strategies had been put in place to boost the morale of the teachers and students in their performance.

On the social activities, the principal said that the leadership of the school has friendly relationship with the neighbouring schools in Kuje in the area of games, debates and quiz competitions.

Kwamu, assured that plans were in top gear to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the school management and the authorities of FAAK (For All Advanced Knowledge) University of College, Ghana, said that the signing of the MOU would take place in Ghana during the school long vacation.

Presenting a paper entitled “Entrepreneurship Education for National Security and Social Advancement, the Assistant

A butcher doing what he knows best at Dakwa market in the FCT.

Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7 in Abuja, AIG Suleiman Abba, called on the leadership of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to introduce entrepreneurship education to develop and equip Nigerian students as well as youths with the necessary skills in order to be self-employed instead of job seekers in the labour market.

His words: “In line with global trend in entrepreneurial development, our educational infrastructure and school syllabus should be upgraded and critically reviewed and made to emphasise entrepreneurship education in order to curtail the production of “White collar graduates from our universities”.

While speaking on the national security, the Inspector-General of police, urged the government to safeguard the lives of people and their properties so as to guarantee job opportunities for Nigerians.

Photo: Adeola Tukuru

Garki market to get electronic gate soon

By Adeola Tukuru

A

buja Markets Management Limited (AMML) is set to unveil an Automated Parking and Access Control in Garki Model Market, next month.

The Managing Director of AMML, Alhaji Abubakar Usman Faruk revealed this while inspecting road expansion project in the market, in preparation for the take off of the gate automation.

According to Faruk, the introduction of this technology was aimed at tapping from the various values derivable from it and also to migrate the Abuja shopping Facilities to the world class standard of parking management.

He explained that the automated parking system is expected to improve security through its data collection features that include: under carriage scanner that scans all vehicle and alerts security of

dangerous items, capturing of the plate numbers and capturing of the images of those driving into the market.

In his words: “It will also automatically control access to allow for exit only on presentation of the vehicle parking ticket apart from monitoring of vehicles that park for prolonged period”, he added.

Outside the security significance of the automation, other values expected to be delivered from

this technology, according to the AMML MD, will reduce traffic and turnaround time resulting delay in the existing manual approach, elimination of scuffles between patrons of the market and toll collectors as person to person contact will be reduced to the barest minimum.

“It will also lower parking charges and enhance accountability by eliminating human error”, he further explained.

Principal seeks hostel expansion

By Adeola Tukuru

P

rincipal, Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Dukpa, Mrs Halima Suleiman, has called for support to expand students’ hostel in the school to cushion the effects of increased students’ enrolment.

Suleiman stated this in Dukpa, near Gwagwalada on the occasion of second graduation, Speech and Prize giving Day of the school.

She said the call for hostel expansion, additional classroom blocks were to avoid overstretching of the existing ones following increased students enrolment in the school. ``The school urgently needs Dining Hall, Kitchen, additional staff quarters to ensure proper monitoring of students as well as a befitting football pitch and other sporting activities.

“At inception in 2009 the school had 250 students with 13 staff and as I speak to you today, we can boast of 640 students with 46 teaching and 18 non-teaching staff,” she said.

The principal pledged the commitment of the school management to ensure that students from the school were rated high in terms of performance in external examinations.

She commended the immediate past administration of Gwagwalada Area Council and the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of the school for their support in the provision of boreholes and toilet facilities respectively in the school.

Suleiman who called on the graduating students to remain focused and dedicated to their future endeavors had cautioned them against any act that would undermine their integrity in the society.

In his remark, Assistant Director, Appointment, Promotion and Discipline with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Mr Tafida Adamu, commended the graduating students for their steadfastness in the course of the studies.

Adamu, who was the chairman of the occasion, cautioned the students against harmful practices that could endanger their future, particularly drug abuse, prostitution and bad companies.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 18

Metro

INSIDE FCT COURTS

Men arraigned for stealing machine worth N450, 000

Indian hemp seller docked for assaulting police officer T A suspected to be an Indian hemp seller, Isreal Abraham, was arraigned before an Abuja Senior Magistrates Court for allegedly resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.

Abraham, 21, of Dape Village, Abuja, is standing trial on a threecount charge of constituting public nuisance, assault and resisting arrest before Senior Magistrate Abdullahi Illelah.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Friday Obaje, told the court that a team of police detectives led by one Cpl. Kingsley Francis reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station in Abuja on June 16.

Obaje told the court that the detectives while on official duty to raid Dape Village, they found the accused person at a criminal hide out where he was selling suspected Indian hemp to other

criminals.

The prosecutor said that the accused resisted arrest and allegedly assaulted the detectives, resulting to the firing of gun shots into the air to aid the arrest.

He said that five thousand naira and a gold chain belonging to one of the detectives was stolen in the process of the rampage.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence levelled

against him.

The magistrate granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 and two reasonable sureties in like sum.

IIIelah ordered that the sureties must have means of livelihood and must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

He adjourned the case to July 10, 2013 for further hearing.

(NAN)

he police yesterday arraigned two men before an Abuja Senior Magistrates Court for stealing a concrete machine, valued at N450, 000.

The accused, Hassan Yahaya, 50, and Abubakar Dogo, 37, of no fixed addresses, were alleged to have committed the offence on June 17.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Salihu Mohammed, told the court that Samuel Enatikn of Man Global Estate Gwarinpa, Abuja, reported the case at the Life Camp Division Police Station on June 18.

Mohammed alleged that on June 17, the accused and two others now at large, entered the complainant’s block industry at Gwarinpa and stole the machine valued N450,000.

He said that during police investigation, the machine was found in the possession of the accused, and that the offence contravened Section 288 of the Penal code.

If convicted the accused are liable to one year in prison or a fine or both.

The duo pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge of theft before Senior Magistrate Abdullahi Illelah, who granted them bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two reasonable and reliable sureties each in like sum.

He ordered that the sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court in a traceable home address, and adjourned hearing in the case to July 12, 2013. (NAN)

Two men charged for theft, get bail

A

Students of Al-Noor Islamic Centre, Gwarinpa, performing the recitation of the Holy Qur’an, during the 4th Qur’an graduation ceremony, at the National Mosque, recently in Abuja.

Man jailed for stealing blackberry phone

T

he Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court in Abuja on Tuesday sentenced one Babangida Bello, 22, of Banex Plaza, Wuse 2, to one month imprisonment for stealing a Blackberry phone, valued at N9,500.

The Senior Magistrate, Mrs Nafisat Ibrahim, sentenced Bello after he pleaded guilty to the offence.

Ibrahim, however, gave him an option to pay a fine of three thousand naira.

She said that the punishment was to serve as a lesson to Bello and a deterrent to others.

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Monday Akor, told the court that on June 29, at about 10.10 p.m., one Chinedu Nweke of Mararaba, Nassarawa State, reported the convict at the

Maitama Police Station.

He said that on that day at about 9.17 p.m., the convict went to Nweke’s shop at Bannex Plaza, pretending that he wanted to buy a phone.

Akor said that the convict instead of buying the phone, stole a China-made Blackberry phone, valued at N9,500 and handed it over to one Musa, who was now at large.

Akor said that Bello was charged with the offences of joint act and theft which were contrary to Section 79 and punishable under Section 287 of the Penal Code.

NAN reports that Bello had begged the court for leniency, with a promise not to commit such crime again.

Bello, said that he was a first time offender. (NAN)

Court remands widow for being in possession of fake dollars

A

n Abuja Senior Magistrates Court on Tuesday convicted a widow, Adenike Agboola, 32, a resident of Ebute Meta,Lagos for being in possession of counterfeit dollars.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs Simisola Adeniyi, in her ruling, however, ordered that the convict be remanded in prison custody till July

…I did not know the notes were not genuine, says accused 8, for sentencing.

Adeniyi also ordered that the exhibit in the case be brought to court on that date.

The Prosecutor, Mr Abdullahi Adamu, had told the court that one Emmanuel Yunusa, a cashier at Diamond Bank in Wuse Zone 4, reported the matter to the police.

Adamu said that on June 27, the convict presented fake 5,000 U.S. dollars to Yunusa to convert them to local currency.

He said that Yunusa used detecting machine at the bank and discovered that the notes were fake and alerted security.

The convict, who pleaded guilty

to the charge begged for mercy. `` I am a widow; the notes were given to me by my brother in-law, Adebowale Ajibade, who asked me to start up a business with the money. ``I came to Abuja to buy Guinea brocade which I intended to resale, I did not know the notes were not genuine.(NAN)

n Abuja Grade 2 Area Court, sitting in Kado yesterday granted bail to one Samson Samuel and Abdullahi Ibrahim both standing trial for alleged theft.

Samuel, 30, and Ibrahim, 28, both of no fixed address, are standing trial on a one-count charge of stealing.

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Insp. Christopher Roko, told the court that a police team, attached to the B `OP’s Command, Abuja, arrested the accused persons and handed them over to the Utako Police Division on June 24.

Roko told the court that the accused persons formed common intention to steal and to disturb public peace around Kristal Lounge area.

He said that during police investigation, they could not give proper account of themselves in the area.

The police prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 287 of the Penal Code.

The offence carries a term which may extend to five years or be fined or both.

The Presiding Judge, Alhaji Ahmed Ado, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N20, 000 each with one reliable surety each in like sum.

The judge adjourned the case to Aug. 19, 2013 for further hearing.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 19

INSIDE

Financial Inclusion: CBN partners Gates Foundation on financial inclusion strategy

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is to partner with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) for the effective implementation of the Nigerian National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS).

The governor of the CBN, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, made this known yesterday in Abuja, at the launch of the Geospatail Mapping System, to track the effective implementation of the NFIS in Nigeria.

The NFIS was launched in October, 2012, and has an overall target of reducing the number of adults excluded from access to financial services from 46.3 per cent in 2010 to 20 per

cent in 2020.

The Geospatail Mapping is a tool, which can be used by policy makers to collect, collate and analyse data.

Sanusi said: ``The CBN is very pleased to be partnering with the Gates foundation and looks forward to the next phase of the project. ``It is imperative that going forward, a determination is made of additional information that may be relevant to our inclusion and regulation efforts that are not already accounted for in this round’’.

He expressed the hope that the partnership with the foundation would go a long way in realising the set targets and

achieve success. ``The potential uses of a tool like this are limitless and the CBN is excited to be partnering with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on this project. ``It will act as a catalyst in the realisation of the targets outlined in our National Financial Inclusion Strategy,’’ he said.

According to him, financial inclusion efforts rely largely on data based evidence which is why tracking the progress of our National Financial Inclusion Strategy needs to be data driven.

He said that the tool, as developed by BMGF, would go a long way in providing the

R-L: Senior Manager, Banking Examination Department of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr. Bashir Yakubu presenting research publications to the President, National Association of Banking and Finance Students, University of Abuja Chapter, Ime Okon Asuquo during an excursion visit to the Corporation by members of the association.

necessary support for gathering, monitoring and analysing data, while implementing the strategy.

Sanusi said that the interactive mapping tool, which had been developed would also provide consumers of financial services in the area with the ability to find financial access points within a five kilometre radius of any point on the map. ``This proximity-based approach reflects geographic distribution of financial access points creating an ease of access to live information of the services provided by the access points. ``It is also important to note that the statistics provided from this mapping will enable Nigeria measure certain indicators and compare them across several countries providing for country by country comparison on progress of our inclusion efforts.

Sanusi commended the foundation for making a commitment to support the CBN to actualise set-out targets in the strategy.

He said that Gates identified certain areas for collaboration with the CBN-based on their assessment of Nigeria’s needs with respect to Financial Inclusion, as well as the capacity of their partners.

These areas, he said include Geo-Spatial Mapping, capacity building initiatives for the Shared Services Office, which drives the Shared Services initiatives, including the Cashless Nigeria Policy.

Others are Capacity building Support for the Financial Inclusion Secretariat that would drive the implementation of the NFIS. The governor said that the visual display of data would make it easy to see and measure evolution over time and mark progress towards channels and products NFIS. (NAN)

FG’s revenue drops I to N806bn – CBN

FG inaugurates c’ttee on coal- topower devt.

- Pg 20

Etisalat warns customers to register SIM cards as deadline looms - Pg 21 CBN

Exchange Rates

as at 8th July, 2013 Selling Buying

$

154.76

155.76

€

236.30

237.82

£

200.61

201.91

41.26

41.53

Riyal

Parallel Rates Buying

Selling

$

157.50

158.40

€

250

253.00

£

206.00

210.00

Riyal

43.00

45.00

MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY Deliver negative feedback with care

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

he total amount of revenue generated by the Federal Government declined by 14.7 percent, to N805.91 billion in April this year, a report has shown.

The report, according to a statement on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s monthly economic report obtained on its website,

shows that although the amount was below the provisional monthly budget estimate, it exceeded the receipt in the preceding month by two percent.

The gross federally-collected revenue also fell by 10.7 percent and this is as a result of the drop in non-oil revenue during the review period.

Oil receipts, which was 77.1

percent of the total revenue was below the provisional monthly budget estimate by 3.7 percent, but exceeded the level in the preceding month by 4.3 percent.

This decline is relative to the monthly budget estimate reflected, largely, the low receipts from corporate tax, customs and excise duties and independent revenue of the Federal Government.

t’s a manager’s job to occasionally make an employee aware of his faults or failures. But if you’re not careful, it can do more harm than good. People generally respond more strongly to criticism than praise, so before you tell someone what she did wrong, take these precautions: Weigh the tradeoffs. You’re providing helpful information, but you also run the risk of putting your employee in a bad mood. If a mistake is so inconsequential that the corrective value is low, it

might make sense for you to keep the feedback to yourself.

Keep your tone collaborative. Make it clear that your employee still has your support and respect.

Help her get in the right mindset. Start by saying, “Let me provide you with some feedback.” Preparing the employee emotionally for what you’re about to say may help her not get defensive.

Source: Business Review

Harvard

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 20

Economy Company News

First Bank of Nigeria Plc

F

irst Bank of Nigeria Plc, through its mobile payment solution, FirstMonie has partnered with the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) on its polio health scheme to ensure that its monetary donations get to recipients despite their locations.

Speaking on the partnership, head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, FirstBank, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney said, the FirstMonie platform, which facilitates the entry of the unbanked and underbanked population into the financial system, offers an excellent medium for UNICEF to disburse funds securely to beneficiaries across the nation.

The partnership will see FirstMonie, the mobile money payment solution of FirstBank, support the UNICEF Health Scheme Initiative through its payment disbursement as well as their consultants across the nation.

FG inaugurates c’ttee on coal- to-power devt. …Targets 4,000MWs

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Federal Government of Nigeria at the weekend inaugurated a committee to develop a framework for coal to power, saying that the utilization of coal for power would fetch Nigeria an excess of 4,000mega watts (MWs) of electricity.

The eight man committee is chaired by the ministry’s director of power, Engr. Sanusi Garba.

According to the Minister of Power Chinedu Nebo, the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development is already conducting exploration activities in the Nigerian coal belt to identify and quantity the feasibility and viability of all the

coal sills in the country.

Nebo said “Nigeria is blessed with an abundant array of deposit of coal spread in 13 states of the Federation. Significant and commercial quantity is evident in the belt spanning Enugu, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Gombe states.

Nigeria’s proven coal reserve is about 639million tonnes and inferred reserves are in the region of 2.75 billion tonnes.

“This shows you how important it is that a good work of exploration to quantify these coal sills is done. Federal Ministry of Power and Federal

Ministry of Steel are working together to ensure that not only is coal mined from our coal deposits but that our coal is also converted to power. When that is done, it is most likely that this coal belt when utilized can give us in excess of additional 4,000 MWs of electricity.”

The minister also noted that Nigerian generation mix currently consists of 70% thermal plants and 30% hydropower.

He put the world average generation mix as coal contributes 41%, gas 21%, hydro 16%, nuclear 13% and oil 5%.

WAPCo to resume gas supply to Ghana, others in November …Shell opens shut pipeline

Abbey building Society Plc

W

T

he gross earnings of Abbey building Society Plc has increased by 18.28 percent to N2.12 billion in 2012 from N1.79 billion recorded in 2011.

The net interest income grew by 22.90 percent from N1.06 billion in 2011 to N1.30 billion in 2012 as shareholders fund increased by 3.13 percent from N7 billion in 2011 to N7.22 billion in 2012.

This was disclosed at the company’s 21st annual general meeting recently held in Lagos.

Ifeanyi Ochonogor, Chairman Board of Directors, Abbey building Society Plc explained that the company however is constrained not to pay dividend to the shareholders.

Fortis Mobile

F

ortis Mobile Money has entered into a partnership with a leading integrated transport and Logistics Company - ABC Transport Plc. to deploy mobile money for tickets payments and processing.

With the flag-off of the scheme, road travellers can book and pay for their bus tickets using the Fortis Mobile Money platform from their mobile phones.

Speaking at the flag-off of the scheme, Group Head, E-Business for Fortis Mobile Money, Stanley Jacobs revealed that the deployment of this scheme brings aboard the much needed convenience for road travellers as passengers can simply make bookings and pay instantly for all ABC routes using their mobile phones.

In his analysis of contribution of coal to power, Nebo said in South Africa coal contributes 93% of the country’s power. He noted that China generates 79% of its power from coal while 87% Poland power is also from coal.

He added that Australia, USA generates 78% and 45% of their electricity respectively from power.

The committee, according to him, is to “review the status and adequacy of available studies and project documents relating to the establishment of coal-fired power plants.

“Examine the impediments and challenges to the development of coal-fired power plants in the country and make recommendations towards facilitating investment in coal to power generation.”

People queuing in the rain to register their blocked SIMs, yesterday in Port Harcourt.

‘Chevron spends N480bn yearly on Nigerian operations’

C

hevron Nigeria Limited spends more than $3 billion (N480 billion) yearly in its operations and had invested $4 billion (N640 billion) in the economy through contracts for goods and services, employment and regulatory fees.

The company made this disclosure in its 2012 Corporate Responsibility Report at the weekend.

The report highlights how in the past year, the company has contributed to the social and economic development of Nigeria, through effective partnerships with various stakeholders.

General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Deji Haastrup, noted that the report shows the company’s achievements in key areas including, stakeholders’ engagement and social investments; health, safety and

environment; human resource development; and Nigerian content development.

“It also highlights the philosophy that guides Chevron Nigeria’s long-term social investments in Nigeria and shows how ‘The Chevron Way’ guides its behavior. “We take pride in our accomplishments, and are happy to communicate the values that make us who we are and why communities where we operate welcome us,” Haastrup said.

According to the report, more than 18,500 people benefitted from the company’s River Boat Clinic programme in 2012; while 3,924 students studying medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, medical laboratory sciences and nursing joined the Agbami Medical and Engineering Professionals Scholarship programme in 2012.

It stated: “As at end of 2012, the Nigerian Content value of

the Escravos Gas-to-Liquids (EGTL) project approached 40 per cent of project spend. This is approximately $4 billion invested in the regional economy through contracts for goods and services, employment and regulatory fees.

In addition, projects worth more than $22.3 million were executed by the Regional Development Committees under the Global Memorandum of Understanding”.

It noted that the company, through the EGTL project has contributed to the growth of many Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Delta state, especially those in the agricultural sector.

Many businesses have benefitted directly or indirectly from the huge demands for fish and poultry products consumed by thousands of people working on the EGTL site every day”, it added.

est African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo) has concluded plans to Nigeria flow gas from Nigeria to West Africa countries by the end of November.

As at February this year, WAPCo recorded a loss of more than $2.4 billion (N384 billion) within four months from vandalised subregional pipeline, which disrupted electricity supply in Ghana since August last year.

Besides, Shell said at the weekend that it has resumed production after repairing a sabotaged supply pipeline in the Niger Delta.

The company shut down the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP) on June 19 following an explosion and fire in an area where oil theft had occurred, resulting in a cut of 150,000 barrels of oil per day.

WAPCo’s gas pipeline was breached in August, truncating supplies to Ghana’s power plants, with the company then uncertain when it would resume flow of gas from Nigeria to neigbouring African countries.

The pipeline suffered a setback in October when it experienced a fatal accident during the recommissioning of the Takoradi Regulating and Metering Station in Ghana.

Speaking to journalists on the energy situation in Accra, Chief Executive, Volta River Authority (VRA), Kweku Awotwi, said the damage on the pipeline had been fixed and the company was pumping out the sea water.

Awotwi said the energy generation situation had improved over the last two months with Akosombo running at full capacity, while three out of the four units of Akuse were also running.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 21

Ict

Etisalat warns customers on SIM cards as deadline looms

By Chris Alu

T

elecoms operator, Etisalat has warned customers to register their SIM cards before the July 16 deadline for the fourth phase of the “My Number? My Identity?” campaign.

The campaign was launched by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) last year to protect subscribers from

…Fourth phase of registration campaign ends July 16 misuse or confidentiality infringement.

Users who receive an SMS notification will need to register their SIM cards on time or risk having their lines discontinued or suspended, the telecoms provider said in a press statement.

Customers are required to produce a valid identification document along with an identity

proof to complete the registration process at Etisalat point of sale counters.

Etisalat introduced online and third party registrations last month in order to expedite the registration process and increase the number of registrations. The telecoms service provider also announced extended working hours at their business centers during

Ramadan.

The announcements came after the third phase of the campaign ended with irate customers who were stuck in long queues at Etisalat kiosks across the country.

However as the fourth phase comes to a close, the chief sales officer at Etisalat, Ayman Eldessouky said that customers are beginning to realise the importance

to miss out on smartphone experiences, like staying connected to social media and accessing the Internet. As our most affordable 3G devices yet, the Nokia 207and Nokia 208 offer a perfect balance of performance, features and quality,” said Timo Toikkanen, executive vice president, Mobile Phones, Nokia.

The Nokia 207 and Nokia 208 are ideal for use on-the-go,

with a familiar, alphanumeric keypad for speedy texts and messaging, and Mail for Exchange for staying on top of work email and calendar appointments.

The Transfer app, available today in the Nokia Store, allows people to sync contacts directly from their smartphone* and transforms the Nokia 207 and Nokia 208 into secondary or companion devices, perfect for travel.

The Nokia 208 Dual SIM has the added benefit of Nokia’s Easy Swap technology, allowing people to change SIM cards without turning off the device, to take advantage of more favorable tariffs.

Consistent with devices across the Nokia Mobile Phones portfolio, the Nokia 208 and Nokia 207 offer faster and more affordable mobile Internet experiences. Support for 3G coupled with the data compression available with Nokia Xpress Browser help people enjoy rich mobile experiences at lower cost.

These experiences include top social apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter, alongside video streaming through YouTube and Vuclip.

For even greater versatility,

of protecting their information and urged subscribers to ensure early registration of their SIM cards to enjoy uninterrupted service.

NCC has given a timeframe of 18 months for all the mobile phone users in the country to complete registration of their SIM cards. The campaign has been divided into six stages to ensure successful completion of all the SIM card registration.

Nokia unveils classic mobile phones

T

he manufactures of mobile phones Nokia, has launched three new, highperforming handsets in the market.

The phones are Nokia 207, Nokia 208 and Nokia 208 which has Dual SIM combine with the Nokia’s signature bold colors and 3.5G-capable Internet speeds.

In addition the phone has

social apps, smarter imaging with productivity features such as Internet-sharing and Mail for Exchange support make these phones some of the most versatile at their price point; perfect for people balancing work and play.

“The Nokia 207 and Nokia 208 are designed for people who like a classic phone and traditional keypad but don’t want

UN award to 1.Gov.net is timely – MD, Galaxy Backbone

T

he Managing director of Galaxy Backbone, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe has said that the award giving to the company by the United Nations for 1.GOV. net initiative is timely describing it as a step in the right direction for the progress of the company and Nigeria, through it efforts in deploying information technology infrastructures for service delivery to Nigerians.

The managing director explained that the relentless efforts of the company in carrying out campaigns on the use of ICT in various sectors of the economy earned the prestigious United Nations award by the company.

According to him ,the award came from the most unexpected quarter, it was a very good feeling standing before world leaders

to collect this prestigious award, we are humbled by it, though we never work for awards, here we are being declared the best.”

He however urged other promoters of Nigerian initiatives to explore windows offered by the United Nations Organisation and similar organisations, explaining that Nigerian music for example is preferred abroad

now to even western music.

Mr. Ban Ki-moon, secretary general of the United Nations, represented by Wu Hongbo, under-secretary-general for Economic and Social Affairs, said, “The winners demonstrated the basic ingredients for excellence: commitment and accountability, hard work and innovation, talent and technological know-

how.”

Winners of the awards are chosen in the following areas: prevention of corruption; improving service delivery; promoting innovative mechanisms for citizen participation in policy-making; advancing knowledge management in government; and promoting gender responsive service delivery.

NetApp announces new Director for Africa

N

etApp announced yesterday that Mark Ridley has been appointed as new regional director for Africa. An experienced sales leader with over 15 years of experience in IT, Ridley will be responsible for all NetApp business in Africa including offices in South Africa, Kenya, and Nige-

ria.

His role covers development and execution of sales and marketing strategies, enhancing the channel ecosystem and expanding the NetApp customer base in this region. He reports to NetApp’s newly appointed Director MEEEA for the Middle East, Eastern Europe and

Africa, Konstantin Ebert.

Ridley’s appointment demonstrates NetApp’s commitment to its African growth strategy and affirms that NetApp will continue to develop and prosper in these markets, extracting maximum impact from the expected high domestic growth.

people can also use the Nokia 208 and Nokia 207 as a portable modem, simply by connecting the device to their laptop via a USB cable for Internet sharing anywhere, anytime.

The smart camera features of the Nokia 208 make taking pictures more enjoyable, with voice-guided self-portrait, sequential shot and panorama mode, giving people more playful imaging options.

The Nokia 207 and Nokia 208 deliver outstanding battery life – up to 33 days of standby time for the Nokia 207 and Nokia 208, and up to 20 days of standby time for the Nokia 208 Dual SIM – helping people stay connected for longer period.

Daura heads NITDA

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has witnessed a change in leadership on Friday, 6thJune 2013, as the erstwhile Director-General, Professor Cleopas Officer Angaye passed over the baton to the Director, Software and Outsourcing Department, Dr Ashiru Sani Daura.

It will be recalled that Professor Angaye joined the agency as Director of Software in 2004 and rose to the position of the Director General in 2005 following the demise of Professor G.K. Ajayi.

He served in that capacity for eight years and has attained the mandatory retirement status.

The erudite Professor of Software Technology will be remembered for his passion and commitment to the development of Information Technology in Nigeria.

The new Acting Director General, Dr. Ashiru Sani Daura, was born on December 12th 1956 and hails from Maiadua Local Government Area of Katsina state. He joined the Agency as a Director, zonal coordination in 2005 and rose to become Director, Technical Services which later evolved to become the Infrastructure and Capacity Development (ICD) department from 2005 to 2008.

In 2009, he assumed the mantle of Director, Software Development and Technical Research and Outsourcing which became the Software and Outsourcing department in 2011, a portfolio he held until his present appointment as Acting DG of the agency.

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

Economy

BRT commences e-ticketing in Lagos today From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

T

he Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), regulator of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), has announced that the use of e-ticketing payment to board BRT buses in the state will commence today, as part of ongoing re-structuring of BRT’s operations and management aimed at enhancing effectiveness.

LAMATA’s Managing

Director, Dayo Mobereola, who disclosed this over the weekend said the measure was part of a holistic plan to return BRT operations to its efficient and effective state as planned when it was launched in 2008.

Dr Mobereola said the Lagos state government is aware of challenges faced by commuters using the BRT, explaining that steps were currently being taken to ensure the restoration of efficient and effective service delivery on the system and

increase its capacity.

According to him, the e-ticketing payment was a solution through a payment card named ‘Lagos Connect,’ and it would offer commuters several options, such as, “with the e-payment system, Lagos Connect, commuters in Lagos will pay as low as N20 per trip instead of N70.”

“They would not need to struggle for change or lose their money, and the system is safe and convenient” he added.

SON destroys N2bn worth of sub-standard goods From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

…Reads Riot Act to importers

A

in the act.

Indeed, about 15 trucks of sub-standard items were impounded and marked for destruction. Some of the items destroyed include, tyres, electric cables, cigarettes, household consumables and some general electronic goods.

“The action being taken today is a reflection of the agency’s resolution to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards sub-standard goods in the Nigerian market. SON will no longer tolerate the dumping of goods in the country by importers. The impounded items were seized from the borders and sea ports.

“We decided to destroy these goods to ensure that the products do not get back into the market. This part of the economic waste some importers embark upon. For instance, the cables were intercepted at the ports. They have low resistance to pressure and cause fire outbreaks. This is what the SON

s part of efforts to rid the market of substandard goods as well as discourage importers from dumping same in the country, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), at the weekend, destroyed seized sub-standard goods valued at N2 billion.

The Head, Inspectorate and Enforcement Unit, SON, Engr.

Bebe Obaye, while speaking at the site of destruction in Sagamu at the weekend, said the move was part of the Federal Government’s zero tolerance campaign, which began in 2011 and was targeted at eliminating and discouraging the importation of sub-standard products into the country.

Obaye said a lot of seizures had been made in recent time, adding that the organisation resorted to destroying the impounded sub-standard products in order to ensure that the products do not find a way back to the market and also to discourage importers involved

has been campaigning against in recent time”, he added.

Obaye then urged Nigerians to patronise made-in Nigeria goods noting that the agency was promoting a new National Quality Policy, through the National Accreditation system, which will help to put Nigeria on the same pedestal with the rest of the world and enhance the quality and global acceptability of locally made products.

Director-General, SON, Dr. Joseph Ikemefuna Odumodu

NSE partners 12 vendors on market data distribution From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

A

s part of a transformation strategy geared towards making its data distribution market more accessible to international investors, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has signed 12 market data vendors to create a joint index, while mandating all market data distributors to sign an agreement with the Exchange.

Market data include data generated from the NSE on dayto-day basis, which includes the price list of the listed securities, the volume, value and generated figure emanating from the exchange.

Speaking at the NSE data market interactive forum in Lagos, NSE Chief Executive Officer, Oscar Onyema, said the exchange decided to make it mandatory for the distributors of the market data to sign an MOU in line with the resolution of the exchange.

He stated that what the exchange is trying to do is “to provide structure and standardise the redistribution of data so that investors that want to use the data will know exactly what they are getting, when they are going to get it and the quality of what they are getting.

Onyema explained that,”The NSE provides free access of data to the website. As long as you are not distributing, you can

access it without paying any fee.

Anyone who wants to distribute it must sign an agreement with us and a license fee paid. This is to allow you use the data the way you want.” $25, 000 and N1.2 million (7,407) per annum will be charged respectively for international and local vendors seeking to redistribute market date real-time, while electronic media will be mandated to pay $4, 500 per year for real-time data and $3000 for delayed data.

Onyema said that so far, the bourse has spent $10 million to replace its current trading engine (Horizon) which would be put in place before the end of the fourth quarter of the year.

A BRT lane for buses in Lagos

BPP boss tasks procurement officers on conduct

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

he Director-General of Bureau of Public Procurement ( BPP) Engr.

Emeka Eze has tasked officials in charge of procurement in public agencies to demonstrate exemplary conduct, both in attitude and character.

He also pledged to work with relevant government agencies to ensure that the nation has one of the best procurement processes the world.

Engr. Ezeh made these remarks recently, when he received the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Mike Omeri in his office in Abuja.

He said that for procurement process to be better, officials of government and the private sector have to have a change of altitude and character and do what they have been contracted to do.

“It is not the institution that is corrupt, it is the human beings. When you change the character or attitude of people, ones will start working better.

People do not live by laid down tenets and that is why we have problems.

“Our job, as an agency, will be a lot easier if people are able to carry out duties for which they are engaged. We have to learn to manage resources on behalf of the people”, Ezeh said.

The DG urged Nigerians who are dissatisfied with any procurement exercise to forward their complaints to BPP and assured that such issues would’ve looked into and resolved.

“The law says agencies of government should advertise when they have vacancies and then competent people can apply. The law also says before you qualify, you must let the people know the requirements.

It is setting the marking scheme before you per-qualify.

“We know some agencies

are going against this, in their bid to favour some people more than others. But if they are caught, they would be dealt with according to the provisions of the law” he said.

He said being a DG or a Chairman does not give any Nigerian the right to circumvent the law and warned that if caught, they could go to jail for up to 10 years, adding that the present administration wants a situation where when anyone loses in a process, he would be convinced that he lost fairly.

Ezeh announced that the BPP would be working with NOA to sensitise Nigerians on what procurement process is all about and what is required of them.

Speaking earlier, Omeri said the Transformation Agenda of the present administration can only succeed if Nigerians deploy the right attitude, as the problems the nation faces today is because people do not want to do the right thing.

He said, “Many of us know the right thing, but we forget to deploy it; and that’s why we are enlightening people, especially the grassroots, on the principles of public procurement as lack of it will put pressure on the system. We are taking public procurement to the communities, to enlighten the people so that our nation can be better”.

Director-General, BPP, Engr.

Emeka Eze

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 23

Stock Watch

Report as at Monday, July 8, 2013

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Interview

Jonathan’s visit to consolidate traditional ties between China and Nigeria, says Envoy P

resident Jonathan is on a state visit to China.

What does this mean to the two countries?

What achievements would be made during this visit?

At the invitation of the Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Jonathan is to pay his first state visit to China July 9th-12th. It has been 5 years since a Nigerian President visited China, and it will be the first time for our top leaders to meet after the new Chinese president assumed office.

During his stay in China, the two parties will exchange views on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern, consider new channels and approaches to boost ChinaNigeria cooperation in political, economic, cultural and other fields, and sign a few documents on cooperation. I believe President Jonathan’s visit will further consolidate the traditional friendship between the two countries, enhance strategic mutual trust, expand pragmatic bilateral cooperation, and promote China-ECOWAS and China-Africa relations.

What is the current status of relations between Nigeria and China?

Over the past 42 years, China and Nigeria have been moving ever closer. Our two countries have been forging ever closer economic ties.

Nigeria is now the third largest trade partner of China in Africa. In 2012, the trade volume between the two countries reached USD 10.57 billion, and by the end of last year, China’s nonfinancial direct investment in Nigeria accumulated to USD 8.7 billion.In the financial sector, the Central Bank of Nigeria is the very first in Africa to include the Chinese currency RMB in its foreign exchange reserves, with a view to building strategic and mutually beneficial relationship with key Chinese financial institutions.Our cooperation in science and technology has made Nigeria the first African country that boasts a satellite navigation capacity.

In 2011, the China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) launched Nigerian Communications Satellite 1R, which has thereafter met Nigeria’s requirements in communications, broadcast,

On the eve of President GoodluckJonathan’s visit to China, the first in five years by any Nigerian leader, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Deng Boqinganswers wide ranging questions from reporters, including Peoples Daily’s special correspondent, Charles Onunaiju. Excerpts: navigation and broadband access and also provided services for Africa, Europe and Asian.People-to-people communication and cultural exchanges are an integral part of our bilateral relations.

Both countries enjoy ancient civilizations and splendid cultures, and we could often find similarities in our value systems and world views.

However, we still want to know more about each other. In the just concluded African Arts and Crafts Expo, the Chinese delegation showcased exquisite Chinese handicrafts, most of which are acknowledged as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage; Two Confucius Cenres have been founded in Nigeria, namely in Lagos University and NnamdiAzikiwe University.

Besides, a “Nigerian Culture Week” in China last year impressed quite many Chinese people.

What is your view on the influx of fake or inferior Chinese products into Nigeria?

China has been hailed as a “World factory” with its products reaching every corner of the earth. The world famous brands like IBM PC, VOLVO, have become Chinese brands.Behind the success of Chinese manufacturing and the popularity of madein-China products lies the great importance that China has attached to the quality of the products. As a matter of fact, quality has always been regarded as the lifeblood of the Made-in-China brand.

The way that China became a “World factory” has been a process to improve the quality of its products. Nevertheless, a Chinese saying goes “In a big forest there is every kind of bird.” Among the huge volume of Chinese products, and besides the ones manufactured for the high end market, there also exist fair quality products targeted for the medium and low end market as well as disqualified ones manufactured by a small number of lawless

businessmen. The fair and low quality products sneak through different channels into the international market where Africa has become the most vulnerable destination.

Why Africa, instead of Europe or the United States? In my mind, there are the following reasons.

Firstly, African people, due to limited consumption level and capability, prefer cheap products which encourage some African businessmen to import low end and low price products from China.Secondly, many African importers, when making orders from Chinese manufacturers, always press for a lower price, which leaves little room of profit for the manufacturers and thus low guarantee of quality for the products.

Thirdly, relevant authorities of African countries, where smuggling and gray customs clearance are quite common, have not conducted effective supervision against the low quality products. What is also worth mentioning is that some of the inferior products in Africa though labeled “made in China”, are actually not Chinese products, but have been mistakenly categorized into the low quality made-inChina products. Although inferior products only take a minimum proportion of the total volume of Chinese exports, they have a very adverse effect not only on the interest of the consumers, but also the image of madein-China products.

To curtail the spread of inferior products, the Chinese government has set up monitoring and complaint platforms, conducted special controlprogrammes, urged enterprises to assume responsibility for quality and safety of their products, enriched the quality and safety standard system, and worked to speed up the perfection of the quality inspection and supervision system. It has attached particular importance to

the quality of products for export, and taken measures to do a comprehensive quality inspection of those goods to prevent outflow of substandard products.

Besides that, the Chinese government is actively seeking the cooperation of African countries in strengthening the quality of Chinese products exported to Africa. Take Nigeria as an example. The governments of our two countries are currently working together and negotiating the establishment of a mechanism for quality supervision. In March 2011, the Chinese embassy in Nigeria, together with the National Association of Nigerian Traders, co-hosted the seminar on China-Nigeria Trade Promotion to exchange ideas on how to raise the quality of Chinese products in Nigeria and push forward the sustained development of bilateral trade relations.

Is China encouraging its companies to employ more locals?

The Chinese government always encourages Chinese companies going abroad to localize their teams and shoulder due social responsibility. And indeed, most Chinese companies in Nigeria have been aware of the importance of localization ever since they came here, and accordingly they have been trying to integrate the local people into their projects. So far Chinese companies in Nigeria have employed over 100,000 Nigerians, and a lot of Nigerian employees have been acknowledged for their contributions to Chinese companies here in Nigeria.

Let me give an example.

Once I was invited to a prizeawarding ceremony held

by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Limited in honor of its employees who have been working in the company for over 10 years. What impressed me most is that, among the 10

H.E. Mr. Deng Boqing, Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to Nigeria employees getting the award, 5 of them are Nigerian natives and by the time they had already been part of the management of the company.

Localization is one of the secrets of CCECC’s success here in Nigeria.

Will China relax its visa rules for businessmen?

The relationship between two countries is based on the communication between their peoples. This is why the Chinese Embassy has been taking a lot of measures

and trying our best to satisfy the increasing visa demand of Nigerian people.During the rush seasons like before Canton Trade Fair is to be held, the consular section sometimes even opens at the weekend and holiday.

Besides, more visa officers will be on duty and often they have to work overtime to manage the everincreasing workload. There are also special application procedures for delegations to facilitate the process. For Nigerians who have been to

China before and have kept a good record, we are prone to grant them multipleentry visa. However, all the relevant work should be based on the policy of visa application. And what I want to point out is that the visa application policies of our two countries are reciprocal.

As there are people complaining of the strict procedure of visa application, there are Nigerian friends commending it for creating a favorable environment for their trip to China

because nowadays Nigerians visiting China are mostly well educated, presenting a positive image of Nigeria.

Western media has not presented a fair image of China to Africans.

How will China work to clarify its image and intentions to Africans themselves?

I am very glad that our Nigerian media friends have noticed this, and I think in this regard Nigeria also suffers the same fate.

Before I came to Nigeria, little of the information I got about Nigeria from Western Media are positive, which made me feel sort of disappointed. However, after I came here, I saw a totally different picture. Nigeria is making progress at her own pace; most parts of Nigeria enjoy peace; and Nigerian people are very friendly. This reminds me of a Nigerian saying, that is, “truth is like oil. No matter how much water you pour on it, it floats.” I come to Nigeria, and I see a real Nigeria. I think with the communications and visits going on between our two countries, more and more Nigerian people will get to know a real China. And I encourage our Nigerian media friends who have been to China to write real China stories, so that more and more Nigerian people will understand China and Chinese people in the right way. In addition, Startimes, a Chinese company here in Nigeria, has included CCTVNews among the channels from which our Nigerian friends can get a lot of firsthand information about China.

What kind of help is China offering to Nigeria in order to address the country’s insurgency?

China and Nigeria have a lot in common. Both our cultures attach much importance to “forgiveness, tolerance and resilience.”

Nigerian government has already taken various means, including dialogue, to tackle

the current situation of insurgency. I believe the Nigerian government and people will work out its way to solve the problem.

During the years, China has engaged in promoting infrastructure building here and increased direct investment in Nigeria, creating jobs for Nigerian people and boosting the economic development of Nigeria. In a sense, all these contributions help stabilize the Nigerian society.

China is now the second largest economy in the world. In which way will China’s development influence the world?

Ever since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, especially over the past 3 decades, China has been witnessing great changes and making notable achievements.

In the most recent 10 years, China’s economic aggregate rose fourfold, increasing from 4.4% to about 10% of the world economic aggregate.

Meanwhile, per capita GDP of China grew from $1,135 to $6,100, Chinese people’s living standard and social welfare system remarkably enhanced.

China’s development has

made great contributions to world economy. According to the study of Goldman Sachs, in the past decade, China has accumulatively contributed more than 20% to world economy. China’s success can be ascribed to many factors. But personally, I think the most important reason is that China found her own path of development, established her own social institutions, and proposed her own developmental theories, which have ever since been up to further improvement to meet new challenges.Although Chinahas made rapid progress over the years and our country has become the second largest economy in the world, we are always aware that as the most populous country in the world, China remains a developing country, facing all kinds of challenges in our development. We are going to keep on exploring ways of reform and development. Our interaction and integration with the rest of world will be further strengthened.

Meanwhile, China will try her best to stay on the right track of development. As a big country with a huge population of over 1.3 billion, if China maintains her progress and stability,

“

To curtail the spread of inferior products, the Chinese government has set up monitoring and complaint platforms, conducted special controlprogrammes, urged enterprises to assume responsibility for quality and safety of their products, enriched the quality and safety standard system, and worked to speed up the perfection of the quality inspection and supervision system. It has attached particular importance to the quality of products for export, and taken measures to do a comprehensive quality inspection of those goods to prevent outflow of substandard products.

Besides that, the Chinese government is actively seeking the cooperation of African countries in strengthening the quality of Chinese products exported to Africa

it can be good news enough to the rest of world. China is to get actively involved in mutual-beneficial cooperation with other countries. Against the backdrop of globalization and ever-increasing interdependence among countries, more often than not human beings are faced with challenges which could only be tackled with joint efforts of different countries.

China is always in the position to collaborate with others to promote world peace and prosperity.

Recently, Chinese President Xi proposed the notion of “Chinese Dream.”

How is this” related to Africa, and Nigeria in particular?

First of all, what is the “Chinese Dream”? It is the dream of generations of Chinese people, representing the common wishes of all Chinese. As early as over 2000 years ago, the Chinese sage, Confucius, proposed the ideal of setting up a harmonious society free from obsession with self-interest and harsh conflicts, which constitutes an influential part of Chinese civilization. However, in spite of her rich culture, China experienced almost a hundred years of humiliation in recent history. Ever since then, the revival of the Chinese nation has become the dream of Chinese people.Last year, President Xi explained the Chinese Dream this way: a prosperous and strong China, a revived Chinese nation, and a contented life for the Chinese people.To realize the Chinese Dream, the Communist Party of China has drawn up a very clear roadmap, including two main goals. The first is to double both GDP and per capita income by 2020 on the basis of the 2010 level. The second goal is to turn China into a rich, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious country by the middle of this century. Now the over 1.3 billion Chinese people are working hard to realize the Chinese dream.

The over one billion African people including our fellow Nigerians are committed to the African dream of gaining strength from unity and achieving development and rejuvenation.

The two Dreams are highly interconnected. By joining our hands together, our dreams are destined to come true.

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

Defence

Officers’ wives offer relief, succour for poor, needy

By Joy Baba

N

igerian Army recently celebrated 150 years of its existence. As part of activities to mark the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2013, the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) engaged in some activities to support their husbands.

Some of the activities include; medical outreach, commissioning of NAOWA Nursery and primary School in Kurudu, visiting orphanage homes and reaching out to widows of deceased officers and men who died in active service.

Over 500 people excluding prison inmates benefited from the medical outreach organised by the NAOWA as part of activities to mark the 2013 Army Day Celebration in Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The services include; free eye check up, HIV/AIDs, blood pressure, and sugar tests among others.

The beneficiaries also received free malaria and fever treatment, alongside counselling.

Wife of the Chief of Army Staff, Mrs. Gift Ihejirika while flagging-off the exercise said the area was chosen to complement government and non-governmental healthcare programmes already in place in the community.

“I assure you that the Nigerian Army takes this medical outreach programme with all sense of seriousness. The team is made up of consultants and health experts in all fields,”she stated.

Ihejirika who enjoined the residents to use the opportunity provided by the programme to attend to their health challenges, also noted that the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) has the mission to care for the less-privileged, especially women and youth including the physically challenged while also fostering healthy living through advocacy and awareness campaigns.

“I urge all the people of Gwagwalada community to use this opportunity and achieve maximum health benefits,” she advocated.

Chairman, Medical Sub-committee, Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL), Brigadiar General Etido Ekpo explained that over 1000 worm expellers for children and drugs for respiratory infection were distributed while those that require eye glasses were also issued.

One of the beneficiaries, Binusa Muhammad, expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Army for the programme.

In another occasion the chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen Azubuike Ihejirika during the commissioning of the Nursery and Primary School built by NAOWA in Kurudu lamented the fallen standard of education in Nigeria noting that it has a lot to do with the current security challenges the nation is facing.

Ihejirika, who was the special guest of honour at the occasion said there was need to go back to our educational root from nursery school to University level and ensure that stricter measures are

L-R: Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Azubuike Iherijika, cutting the tape (2nd right) assisted by his wife during the commissioning of NAOWA Nursey and Primary school in Kurudu recently. enforced adding that there should be more focus on those charged with the responsibility of running schools.

According the Army Chief” those who cut corners while in school will also cut corners when they get to position of authority.

“We have had several occasion where we interviewed supposedly graduates of Geography who do not know the map of Nigeria and the position of Lagos, hence we have togo back to the roots”.

President, Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), Mrs Gift Ihejirika donating food items to the coordinator, ANAWIM home for the poorest of the poor orphanage, Gwagwalada, Rev Sister Rose Oresola Selo –Ojeme as part of activities to mark the 2013 Army Day celebration.

Photos: Joy Baba

He urged parents to take more interest in the education of their wards as moulding of the future leaders of this great nation is an issue that has to start from the home.

Earlier in her address, the President of NAOWA and wife of the COAS, Mrs Nnenna Ihejirika said it was in a bid to reach to larger society that NAOWA took the bold step to look at the plights of widows, orphans and youths in the society pursuing with all vigor the girl child education in the barracks.

She further advice parents to encourage their children to go to school for future socio economic and human capital development because according to her “education is far better than silver and gold” NAOWA also donated equipment and food to hospitals, orphanage homes and widows of deceased officers.

University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada, ANAWIM Home for the Poorest of the Poor and the Guards Brigade Medical Centre were among those that benefitted from the donation.

National President of NAOWA, Mrs Nnenna Ihejirika, said the donation aside being part of activities to mark the Army Day Celebration 2013, was aim at alleviating sufferings of the less privileged.

She said the association also reached out to the widows of deceased officers to let them know they have them in mind despite their husbands are no more in service as the nation will never forget the service they rendered while alive.

“We feel it will not be fair if we did not show love to those in need,

we have come out to give a small token.

“Although it is not big, but it will help to lessen the burden of those who cannot afford the items,’’ she said.

Ihejirika thanked those who ensured that the less privileged were recognised in the society adding that NAOWA would always do its best whenever the need arose and will ensure they reach out to them more frequent henceforth.

The Chief Medical Director of the teaching hospital, Dr. Peter Alabi thanked the association for the donation and promised to make good use of the items.

At the ANAWIM Orphanage Home, Mrs Ihejirika said thanked the general coordinator , Rev Sister Rose Oresola Selo –Ojeme for taking in these children and taking care of them like they were her own biological kids.

She urged her to keep up the good work and promised to reach out to them again very soon.

Sister Ojeme in her response, thanked the association for the kind gesture.

According to her, “As mothers, you know what it is to have children without parents. I thank you for these things you have brought to us’’, she said.

The Commanding Officer, Guard Brigade Medical Centre, Lt.-Col. Paul Egbo, received the equipment donated.

He thanked NAOWA for the gesture and promised that the equipment would be judiciously used for the purpose intended.

Items donated included wheel chairs, baby cot, bed sheets, drugs, scanning machines, tissue papers, rice, yams, noodles, buckets, cooking oil, clothing materials, amongst others.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

Defence PAGE 27

Boko Haram: Elders urge Army to review telecom ban

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igeria’s military authorities ban on telephone services in the states where emergency rule is in force has given birth to an unintended consequence: preventing the people from alerting the security men about security breaches.

An elder statesman in Yobe state, where a massacre of 42 people, many of them students of the Government Secondary School, Mamudo took place early Saturday, has called on the authorities to review the ban.

The review, he said, has become necessary to enable the people “to provide the security with relevant and timely information.’’

“The attack on the secondary school in Damaturu three weeks ago would have been averted if there were telephone services to communicate with the JTF because, the residents noticed suspicious movements some hours before the attack,” he said Hassan Yusuf also urged the Federal Government to equip the Joint Task Force (JTF) with so-

phisticated gadgets and weapons to effectively combat terrorism.

“It is practically impossible to manually search all the vehicles traveling on Nigeria’s highways.

“The JTF cannot effectively search cars and other long vehicles with tonnes of haulage traveling across the country without sophisticated gadgets including detectors,’’ he said.

The elder statesman regretted that the security operatives and people traveling across the state were losing several hours to

stop and search operations which were not properly done due to limited working equipment.

He commended the security operatives for improving army and civilian relationship in the state since the declaration of emergency by Federal Government.

“Initially, the relation was suspicious between the security and the civilian populace but the army later developed a relationship based on trust and confidence which encouraged the peo-

ple to provide the security with useful information,’’ he added.

Hassan charged the authorities to expose those sponsoring insurgency in the country .

“A lot of people have been arrested but Nigerians have not been told of the brains behind sponsorship of these groups and, I think everything should be laid on the table for everyone to see those involved in insurgency.’’

Hassan Yusuf was interviewed by the News Agency of Nigeria.

Boko Haram attacks curtailed in Yobe, says JTF Commander

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President Goodluck Jonathan Presenting the Chief of Army Staff’s Commendation Award to Major General Nnaemeka Maduegbunam during the 2013 Nigerian Army Day celebration held at the Eagle Square Abuja on Saturday.

Photo Joe Oroye.

Illegal bunkering: JTF impounds 28 vessels, badges

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he Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta at the weekend said that it had impounded 17 metal badges, 10 vessels and a tug boat laden with crude oil in Rivers.

The JTF Commander, Maj.Gen. Bata Debiro, said this after an assessment tour of JTF’s operational bases in Bonny, Rivers.

Debiro said that the arrests were made only in its ``Subsector Five” areas, which covered Andoni, Bonny and Gokana local government areas in Rivers, between April 2012 and July 2013.

He claimed that some of the vessels and badges were laden with stolen crude oil and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) when they were apprehended.

Debiro said that eight out of the 17 seized metal badges had been destroyed, while others were

still undergoing investigations.

The JTF commander, however, did not disclose the number of arrests made during the time under review.

He said that his visit was aimed at carrying out a surveillance of the JTF’s operational areas and ascertaining the readiness of the JTF troops to fight against oil theft and related crimes.

Debiro, however, said that the JTF operations in the region would improve appreciably if the task force was provided with modern equipment which could be used to track pipelines and illegal bunkering activities. ``Multinational oil companies can assist us with provision of modern technologies and equipment to complement the efforts of our troops who were deployed to protect oil pipelines

installations. ``The equipment will enhance our operations because it will alert us about pipelines that are being vandalised in real time and, therefore, guarantee the quick response of our troops to the scene. ``The provision of the equipment will further improve our policing of pipelines and could ultimately lead to the end of pipeline vandalism in the country,” he said.

Debiro, however, rejected allegations that some JTF personnel were involved in illegal oil bunkering activities in the Niger Delta.

He said that the JTF’s personnel were constantly monitored, adding that they were also aware of the zero-tolerance policy of the Army toward corrupt practices.

He stressed that any mem-

ber of the task force, who was involved in corrupt practices, would be severely dealt with, in accordance with the Army’s code of conduct.

Debiro, nonetheless, said that the JTF had recorded several successes in its operations, pledging that it would not relent in efforts to apprehend and prosecute individuals and groups that were involved in oil theft and related crimes.

Debiro called on community leaders and the public to provide the JTF with timely information which could lead to the arrest of oil thieves and pipeline vandals.

He solicited continued media collaboration with the JTF, saying that this would aid the fulfilment of the campaign against oil theft and allied criminal activities in the Niger Delta region. (NAN)

he Commander of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in Yobe, Col. Ibrahim Ali, on Sunday said that activities of Boko Haram insurgents had been curtailed, following the declaration of state of emergency in the state.

Ali told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu that attacks by the insurgents, especially in the volatile areas of Damaturu and Potiskum had reduced, after security forces pushed the insurgents out of their enclaves. ``We have not had any major encounter except on June 16 when they attacked a school in Damaturu. We have pushed them out of town.’’

The commander said that the JTF had discovered, particularly in Potiskum, that armed robbers had seized the opportunity to rob people under the guise of insurgency.

Ali said the situation in Yobe had remained ``relatively stable’’, noting that the JTF was doing everything possible to contain the situation permanently.

He said that the task force had been having a good working relationship with members of the public, whom he said, had continued to provide vital information on the insurgents.

Ali urged the populace to continue to cooperate with security agents, saying that the JTF was aware of the inconveniences and challenges the public was facing because of the declaration of state of emergency in the state.

On allegations of long detention of suspects, the commander said that the JTF was being meticulous to ensure that only those found to have participated in criminal activities were held.

He said that suspects were made to go through careful and meticulous documentation and interrogation by a special team, made up of personnel from the police, SSS, army and the NAtional Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Ali said that all suspects were being treated well, adding: ``they eat the same food being served to my soldiers.’’

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 28

Agriculture As stakeholders laud Akinwumi’s new scheme...

By Mohammed Kandi

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orried by the incessant incidents of fertiliser racketeering and other related hoax upsetting the development of the agricultural sector in the country, the National Assembly and other relevant stakeholders have ostensibly passed a vote of confidence on the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme.

Like other agricultural valuechains, the GES, which is a novel system introduced by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), aims at checkmating some ills associated with national agricultural development particularly, on fertiliser disbursement to poor farmers.

Recently, at a its public hearing on the need to urgently device a feasible system of fertilizer distribution to farmers in Nigeria, the House of Representatives , Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, farmer organisations and experts had separately eulogised the Minister, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, for consistently utilizing his professional clout by reeling out copious ‘agri-business’ programmes that has provided a focus towards Nigeria’s quest to achieve food security.

The committee members, who spoke discretely, commended the Minister for his contributions in ensuring that Nigeria met MDGI and urged him to relentlessly work towards achieving MDG4 before 2015. For stakeholders from various states of the Federation, farmer associations and individuals, the had testimonies of success stories on how the scheme had eradicated the corruption in fertilizer distribution and enhanced transparency and orderly distribution of agricultural

An high-yield Sorghum farm due to fertilizer application seedlings and seeds to farmers at the grassroots which has eluded farmers for quite a long period.

While declaring the event open, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, represented by Leo Ogor, said the National Assembly was critical to the attainment of the yearning and as the pirations of the people. He said hearing is aimed at “eliciting the various positions of the Nigerian people to come up with effective legislative actions that will impact positively on the lives of the Nigerian people”.

The Chairman, House committee on agriculture, Mohammed Tahir Monguno observed that there was a consensus of opinions in support of the bill on GES and called for immediate endorsement of the scheme by the National Assembly.

Ahmed Baba Kaita, a lawmaker

Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina

“

Federal Government has saved more than N25 billion since the introduction of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme for farmers in 2012,” saying “a total of 4.2 million farmers were registered in 2012 under the scheme and additional five million farmers were being targeted this year representing Katsina State, who described the minister as “Mr. GES” advised that the minister must sustain the GES and ensure it grows stronger.

Reposing his confidence in Akinwunmi’s ‘widely’ accepted programme, Kaita called on the minister to avoid bringing politics and sentiments into the GES intervention, in ordes to immortalize, the scheme for decades.

In his own remarks, Hon. Mukhtar Mohammed Ciroma from Kano State pointed out that no farmer in Nigeria can take a loan at 20 per cent and succeed, but cautioned on the need for the government to ensure strict adherence to the content of the system.

Hon. Chris Emeka Azubuogu, representing Anambra state, said he was in his state to gather “firsthand information” on the GES and found “a great improvement the GES system in Anambra.”

He therefore assured that, in the National Assembly, “we will make a strong input in food quality, safety and standards.” According to him, “The implication of food production goes from inputs. We

have to critically look at these for the export market and local consumption. Farming is going to be a serious business. We are going to make inputs into this. We are working hard to do that.”

In a slight twist from the crux of the hearing, Hussain Ibrahim, a legislator representing Zamfara state, noted that “soil is of critical importance and soil testing should be given a priority.

While justifying his support for the initiative, Hon. Ismail Hussain from Kogi state, disclosed that he moved the motion for innovative fertiliser distribution in the National Assembly.

Taking the gist a bit far during the hearing, Hon. Akeem Ayedun from Kwara state said that: “as far as this public hearing is concerned today, everybody seems to be saying GES is good.

But, we would like to see a bill to ensure sustainability such that successors to the present minister will continue it.”

But, Hon. Abdullahi Riko Mohammed, from Niger state, advised that the system should be well designed, to avoid multiple registrations of the farmer.

On the contribution of some critical stakeholders towards the GES, Michael Adeyemi, Deputy Director in Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said already, the apex bank was working through the intervention fund of the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending, (NIRSAL), programme to ensure the successful disbursement of the N450 billion in agricultural sector.

Also speaking, Thomas Etuh, Chairman of TAK agro, observed that, before GES, five people shared one bag of fertiliser, but said “one person gets two bags under GES; GES is working.”

Olafare Richard, vice president, Seed Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN), noted that, up to 2012, “we could not sell up to 2,000 metric tons of improved seeds.

According to him, before GES

started, eight seed companies sold 1,575 MT of maize, 1,900 MT of rice and none of sorghum. But, during the first year of GES, the companies together sold 6,300 MT of maize, 11,000 MT of rice and 500 MT of sorghum.” It was at this time the farmers began to know “the difference between grain and seed. There is room for GES to improve. We don’t believe there is an alternative to GES.” Responding on an array of issues raised at the event, Dr. Adesina, noted that “a draft bill will be developed for seeds, to ensure quality control, just as is the case of a bill for fertiliser, which the president will soon submit to the National Assembly.”

The minister noted that the ministry has taken a decision on mechanisation, “doing 3.5 billion naira with the Bank of Agriculture.

In that project, 40 centres with tractors are being created this year.

He added that large scale farmers are important to the agricultural transformation agenda.

“For our large-scale farmers, we are working with the CBN for an affordable interest rate of single digit on loans,” he explained.

Dr. Adesina also informed that “work is going on in the area of soil testing, in collaboration with the Columbia University in New York, to develop a soil testing kit that can give results within 30 minutes.”

The minister, acknowledged the need for sustainability of the GES drive toward food production in the country, disclosed that ECOWAS has opened up a regional trade for fertiliser, in which Nigeria could take over the market.

On fears expressed towards Genetically Modified foods (GM), the minister said that “Nigeria must not be a laggard in biotechnology. Biotechnology is not the same as genetically modified organisms and we are protechnology,” adding that “we just have to do things right.”

He recalled that “Federal Government has saved more than N25 billion since the introduction of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme for farmers in 2012,” saying “a total of 4.2 million farmers were registered in 2012 under the scheme and additional five million farmers were being targeted this year.”

At a different forum, Adesina has said that the GES programme was a cost-sharing scheme between the farmers and the government. According to him, N15 billion was spent on the programme in 2012, out of which farmers contributed N7.5 billion, state governments N3.75 billion and the Federal Government N5 billion.

Although the farmers and agro-dealers who were directly involved in the distribution of the inputs identified wide range ‘bottlenecks’—lateness in arrival of inputs, payment by government and a few ecological problems affecting smooth delivery of inputs, the ministry said the fertiliser companies sold N15 billion worth of the commodity directly to farmers and N1.5 billion worth of seeds last year.

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

Agriculture

Researchers want GM foods scrutinized

By Mohammed Kandi

F

ollowing the global controversies over the acceptance of Genetically Modified (GM) foods, researchers at the National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, Niger state, unanimously approved the consumption of GM foods

considering its myriad benefits, but cautioned that the food must be properly tested.

They made the disclosure recently during the visit of some journa-lists of Bio-sciences for Agriculture in Africa (B4FA) to the institute.

According to the researchers, “there is nothing wrong with using technological

advancement to achieve bumper harvest via high quality seeds that could facilitate the attainment of food security on the continent and self- sufficiency in the country’s food production.”

The Institute’s Acting Executive Director, Dr. Mark Ukwangwu, who informed that the NCRI was mandated to develop varieties of breeder

and foundation seeds, however disclosed that the institute had released about 62 varieties of rice since its establishment.

He said the institute was not only working on varieties of rice, sugarcane, castor, acha, soy beans, and beni seed, but also providing extension services to the entire zone for which it is expected to cover as research

Africa rises in food security rankings

By Mohammed agency report

Kandi,

with

T

he annual DuPontcommissioned Index, which usually prompts immediate action after being released, has indicated in its current analysis of about in 107 countries that, showing a slight twist from the usual, saying the highly-industrialised countries have declined while some developing nations are making sudden progress on the ranking.

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) issued findings from the annual Global Food Security

Index, a first-of-its-kind ranking tool to comprehensively measure food security and monitor the on-going impact of agriculture investments, collaborations and policies around the world.

Commissioned by DuPont, the 2013 Index expands on the 25 previously identified food security indicators to determine how two new factors, political corruption and urbanisation, affect access to safe, nutritious and affordable food.

Also, the 2013 Index includes Singapore and Ireland in the 107-country comparison, designed to track progress,

foster collaboration and create real-world solutions to help feed the 9 billion people on Earth.

DuPont’s Pioneer President Paul Schickler informed that “Addressing food security is fruitless without measurement tools and global benchmarks, together with a continued commitment, but most important: Action”.

“Since we commissioned the first Global Food Security Index last year, governments, NGOs and academics have used the Index as a roadmap to identify critical food security issues and make better informed

decisions, develop collaborative partnerships and create effective local policies to address countryspecific needs,” he explained.

Using the 2012 Index findings as a guide, DuPont formed a joint-partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Ethiopian Government to help smallholder farmers access better seeds and increase productivity.

This year, the sub-Saharan African nation jumped several spots on the Index as a result of this new program and other advances such as farmers’ improved access to financing.

Borno bans fertiliser sale in markets

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he Borno state Government has announced a ban on the sale of fertiliser in markets across the state, to check the diversion of the commodity by officials.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Mustapha Zanna, announced the ban recently at a ceremony to launch sale of fertilisers for this year’s cropping season in Biu, headquarters of Biu Local Government Area.

Zanna explained that the goal of the ban was to ensure that government’s fertilisers were not diverted to the black market.

He said that government had directed law enforcement agents to ensure strict compliance with the order.

“Government will no longer tolerate diversion of fertiliser to the black market as the practice had prevented genuine farmers from getting the commodity. Security agents should arrest anybody found selling fertiliser in the black market as it is a crime.’’

He said that government had devised a new system of fertiliser distribution to ensure that the commodities were received by farmersat the grassroots.

“Under the new distribution system, each ward in every Local Government Area will be allocated a certain number of fertiliser bags.

“We are going to adhere strictly to this system to ensure that fertilisers are not diverted at the distribution points.’’

He said that government had procured about one billion naira worth of fertilisers for distribution to farmers at 50 per cent subsidy.

“We have procured 10,000 metric tonnes of fertilisers for distribution to farmers for the

Thousands of fertilizer bags ready for disbursement via a new system called e-wallet farming season; This is in addition to the remaining stock from last year’s season.’’

He said that a 50 kg bag of NPK fertiliser would be sold at N2,500 while a 50 kg bag of Urea fertiliser would go for N2,400.

Zanna directed officials of the state’s ministries of agriculture and local government affairs to monitor the distribution of the commodity to farmers.

Also speaking, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Alhaji Usman Zanna, said that government had procured improved seed varieties and chemicals worth N37 million for distribution to farmers for free.

“Highly improved seed varieties and agro-chemicals worth N37 million have been procured for distribution to farmers for free,’’ Zanna said.(NAN)

organisation.

Also speaking, plant breeder at the Institute, Dr. Maji Alhassan Twako said the Institute would soon produce drought-tolerant, salt-tolerant and nitrogen-useefficiency GM variety of rice. He said that the variety of rice could be tested in a marine area and would yield bountifully without additional inputs like fertiliser.

Dr. Twako, who informed that the rice varieties had been tested in Ghana and Uganda, explained that “most GM crops did not need pesticides and herbicides because most of them were modified to have resistance to certain diseases and infections.”

2013 engineering confab targets food production

By Miriam Humbe

T

he 2013 engineering conference and annual general meeting of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, (NSE), slated for later in the year will focus on the theme, “Strategies for transforming of the agriculture and water resources sectors of the Nigerian economy”.

NSE President, Engr. Mustafa Shehu said this yesterday in Abuja, at the second quarterly dinner for 2013 and conferment of the Distinguished Fellowship of Nigerian Society of Engineers on some 39 members of the engineering profession.

“We have targeted this theme because of the fact that no nation can be adjudged to be great except it can meet the food requirements of its people”, he said.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO of the United Nations, according to him, have identified causes of food losses in Sub-Saharan Africa which is up to 50 percent of the amount of food produced as poor harvesting, poor storage and lack of infrastructure and inadequate marketing system.

He said the conference will gather experts to brainstorm on these issues so as to advise government and the public on ways to move the agricultural sector forward.

Ghana hosts 6th Africa agriculture science week

By Mohammed Kandi

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he 2013 Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW), which is one of the most important platforms where all stakeholders in Africa’s agricultural development converge every three years, comes up next week in Accra, Ghana.

At every AASW meeting, representatives of FARA’s constituent, including African and non-African institutions involved in African agricultural research and development such as the Sub-Regional Organizations (SROs) (ASARECA, CORAF/WECARD, CCARDESA and NASRO),

Farmers’ and Pastoralists’ Organisations, the Agricultural Research Institutions, Agricultural Educational Institution including universities, come together to brainstorm progress and lessons learnt since the previous Agriculture Science Week.

Others are NonGovernmental Organizations (NGOs) working in agriculture, policy-makers and private enterprises that comprise the national agricultural research systems (NARS), non-African advanced research institutions (ARIs), the International Agricultural Research Centers

(IARCs), international NGOs, policy makers, private sector, Ministries of Agriculture, Education, Science and Technology, national and regional parliamentary sub-committees on agriculture and Africa’s development partners.

One of the objectives of the week is to determine the African regional agenda for the next three years; mark progress towards achievement of the CAADP vision; and to hold the business meeting for the purpose of ratifying various issues related to the program, governance of FARA and the leadership of the FARA and Secretariat.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 31

International

External forces behind disunity in Africa, says Rwanda envoy R INTERVIEW

wanda is said to be staging a twofold celebration. What are you celebrating?

Thank you very much for coming to our double celebration. Tonight we are celebrating two major events in Rwanda, the first is our independence which we attained in 1962 and secondly, the date also marks the day the army of Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) defeated the genocidal forces and captured Kigali. It is our 51st birthday and the 19th year since the Kigali retake.

In Rwanda, we add the 50th anniversary of the African Union (AU) to this and we are pushing the panAfrican body to unite, to integrate, be independent and have our own dignity.

So like Rwanda, 51 years ago, what we had was not a complete independence, It was conservation because many Rwandans then were killed, some took refuge elsewhere and the whole system or leadership changed because we had a monarchical system before the king was dethroned and even those close to the king were killed. So you can imagine what sort of independence that was. From that time to 1994, it was always problems of area, ethnic and regional discrimination.

In 1990, when Africans started asking for more freedom, Rwandans were not left behind and so, some opposition parties were registered.

But Rwandan refugees who were outside the country were claiming that they want to be repatriated and the government then refused so they obliged to come by force and that’s when on October 1st 1990, the RPF attacked Rwanda from the north and after four years, they defeated the regime and launched frightening campaigns which led to acts of genocide.

So July 4th is the day the RPF entered Kigali which signifies the long journey of transformation, redirection of our country economically, socioculturally. What we have now is a new Rwanda, where a Rwandan feels proud and have the dignity of being Rwandanand we think that Africans should also be proud of being Africans.

When African nationalists founded the Africa Union, they had dreams and visions that most of them could not achieve owing to some internal and external problems as you know from the 50s and 60s, Africa really didn’t decide for itself, decisions were made from outside.

But now that Africa now has leaders that can change the continent, African countries should start doing business among themselves, though it is a pity that the issue of free movement is still hanging in the balance as people with ordinary passports face many complications to get visa to visit other African countries, it ought not to be so.

Africans must wake up to these challenges and that is why

July 4th, Rwanda hosted friends to what it tagged a double celebration, and the High Commissioner to Nigeria, Joseph Habineza spoke to journalists on African renaissance and what needs to be done to secure a better partnership for the entire continent. Abdulkadir Isa was there. Excerpts problems and within the region we can help them because they constitute our Regional Security Complex.

The rebels in DRC are said to be Rwandans. Are they?

It is a long story. They are not Rwandans. This all is attributed to the division of Africa like a cake without considering the inhabitants’ background. Rwanda was a big country and when the Europeans divided it, they didn’t consider Rwandan speaking people. Now we have Rwandans in Uganda, west of Tanzania and east of Congo, now they are not considered as Rwandans unlike the way it used to be before the colonial masters, just the way we have Yoruba’s in Benin republic and sierra Leone.

Ambassador Joseph Habineza Rwanda from January first declared that any African with a passport gets visa on arrival.

African countries should adopt that, W hat is the challenge?

You said when Rwanda got independence, it wasn’t in full. Now can you Rwanda and the entire African continent is independent?

Not yet. But we are on the track and this will be depending on how we leaders implement what we are saying. Africa has presented enough speeches, visions, policies etc. but we have had enough. What of the action?

Like I said we want to promote the integration of Africa by saying “visa on arrival”. Many leaders talk of free movement not considering the hindering policies.

For example, the Rwandan airline has halted the Nigerian route because the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) has not been signed which is a simple thing. The problem is in the people and their leaders.

What do you think is responsible for the non-signing of the BASA with Nigeria?

What do you need to sign? It is simple. If one has time to say

something, why don’t he sign? We Africans don’t know what we are doing. How can you invite people to your country when accessibility is difficult? What we all need is implementation.

The AU just celebrated its 50th anniversary. What is your evaluation of the continental body?

The evaluation is that it has done nothing. As I said, good policies are there, good speeches are there but implementation is lacking. A look at the European Union shows how far others have gone because a Swede doesn’t need visa to go to France or does French need visa to go to Belgium? No at all.But this is not applicable to Africa.

Look at the trend, others come here to Nigeria, Rwanda and move about freely without paying but when Africans go there, they don’t reciprocate instead you are asked to pay thousands of pounds despite the fact that you are taking your money there.

The West, America to be precise has accused your

“

country of funding rebels in DR Congo and even threatened to stop aid. What is your reaction to this?

First of all, to sponsor rebels in another country is what I don’t understand. These rebels are controlling a rich region and if you know the army of DRC very well, you will know that to get ammunitions is not difficult for them. We don’t sponsor any rebel group and what we do is protect our border, stopping them from entering our country which they know they can’t.

So those countries that are saying we are sponsoring the rebels should assess the kind of arms the rebels use, verily I know of no African country that manufactures ammunition. This means these weapons are coming from somewhere not from Africa.

They have been trying to bring problems that are not existent. Look at the Boko Haram case, Nigeria has not accused any country of sponsoring the insurgents, Nigeria is responsible and they know they will solve their internal problems. DRC should do the same. If DRC is dysfunctional, it is not the problem of Rwanda.

They should solve their own

Not yet. But we are on the track and this will be depending on how we leaders implement what we are saying.

Africa has presented enough speeches, visions, policies etc.

Recently the president of Egypt was ousted by the military. What is your response to that?

We as Africans have not really understood what we are doing because I think a year ago the same Egyptians were the ones who voted him there and now they want him out. The army has no business in leadership; the military era of coming to power was long ago because African democracy was still fragile. Presently the problem of all African countries still remains leadership and our mind-set. As long as we don’t respect rules, take regulations and respect democracy, we will always be at the mercy of foreign powers because a critical look shows that there are some forces behind which don’t want Africa to be united. Africa has everything it needs to be independent, but unfortunately some African countries are more comfortable with foreign ideas as against their neighbours.

Still on the Egypt crisis, what do you advice the African Union to avoid a contagion effect?

The problem we have is that AU is still political- just theory, good speeches. We should start having an army of the AU so that we can handle military situations ourselves.

Africans should have intervened in Mali first before the French came in and so is the International Criminal Court (ICC) which is used to hunt only Africans. Africans should have their own ICC and operate internally, things will better.

Another problem still bewildering us is that either we don’t do what we say or we don’t say what we do.

The international media portrays Africans as negative always, so it is left for Africans to portray the good things happening here. Africa has a long way to go and we need to stem and start saying we are proud of being Africans, we have our dignity and we should stand for ourselves. We can.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

International

Morsi supporters massacred in Egypt Mandela spends a month in hospital

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Morsi supporters demonstrate in Cairo

A

deadly shooting at the site of a sit-in by Muslim Brotherhood supporters in Cairo, demanding the reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Morsi, has left dozens of people dead.

The Egyptian health ministry said at least 42 people had been killed and more than 300 injured the incident early on Monday morning.

Mohamed Ibrahim ElBeltagy, a Brotherhood MP, described the incident as a “massacre” during dawn prayers, after police had stormed the site.

About 500 people were also reportedly injured.

A doctor said that “the majority of injured had gunshot wounds to the head”.

The Brotherhood said the dead and the injured have been taken to a makeshift hospital in Nasr City, a neighbourhood in the Egyptian capital.

Gehad Haddad, a spokesman for Muslim Brotherhood, said that at around 3.30 in the morning, army and police forces started firing at sit-in protesters

in front of the Republican Guard headquarters in Cairo.

“We have people hit in the head, we have bullets that exploded as they entered the body, cluttering organs and body parts” he said.

“Every police force in the world understands how to disperse a sit-in. This is just a criminal activity targeting protesters.”

But the military said a “terrorist group” had tried to storm the Republican Guard facility, where Morsi is reportedly being held. It also said that two officer had also been killed.

Brotherhood’s Haddad said there were two things “the bloodbath” was trying to do.

“First is that we leave streets and forego the objective of bringing democracy in Egypt after 60 sixty years of military tyranny or they think that our blood is cheaper than any other’s blood in Egypt and no one would care,” he said.

“We are sticking to our ground, we will not be brought into a cycle of violence, we know

how deadly that would be. Even if that means we will have to become the punching bag of the rest of society and our blood will flow for the rest of Egyptians to wake up and the rest of the world to understand that we are adamants of bringing democracy to our country.”

Dozens have died and more than 1,000 people have been injured in street clashes between supporters and opponents of Morsi in the aftermath of the military coup last Wednesday.

Also on Monday, Egypt closed down the Cairo headquarters of the Brotherhood, saying weapons were found inside it.

The latest violence further raised political tensions, even as the country’s interim leadership struggled to find a consensus on who should be the prime minister.

The SalafistNour Party announced it was suspending its participation from talks over new government in protest against Monday’s fatal shootings.

Earlier reports said interim president Adly

Mansour was leaning towards appointing centre-left lawyer ZiadBahaaEldin as prime minister, after members of the Nour Party expressed concern at an earlier suggestion that the job could go to Nobel Laureate Mohamed ElBaradei.

The Brotherhood has said it would have no part in the military-backed political process.

The army has denied it staged a coup, saying instead it was merely enforcing the will of the people after mass protests on June 30 calling for Morsi’s resignation.

The pro-Morsi camp is refusing to budge until its leader is restored - an unlikely outcome.

On the other side of the political divide, hundreds of thousands of Morsi’s opponents poured into Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the cradle of the popular uprising to oust him.

On Sunday night, a carnival atmosphere took hold, and a troupe of folk musicians played darabukka drums and mizmar flutes as others danced and let off fireworks.

Zimbabwe’s opposition parties form coalition to challenge Mugabe

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Tsvangirai

imbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s party has formed a coalition with two other opposition parties in a bid to bolster their chances to challenge President Robert Mugabe and his party in the upcoming general election, local media reported Monday.

Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) established the partnership with MavamboKusile Dawn (MKD) led by SimbaMakoni, a former ally of Mugabe, and Zanu-Ndonga, which was

represented by its chairperson ReketaiSemwayo.

Zimbabweans will go to polls on July 31 to elect one president, more than 200 law makers and nearly 2,000 local government councilors.

Among the five candidates registered for the presidential election, incumbent President Robert Mugabe and Tsvangirai are considered the serious contenders for the post. Both politicians have just launched their campaigns and unveiled manifestos.

outh Africa’s ailing antiapartheid hero and former President Nelson Mandela has spent a month in a local hospital amid concerns on his condition.

There was no official update on his condition since the government described it as “critical but stable” last Thursday.

The government has also denied media reports that Mandela was in a vegetative state.

The 94-year-old is receiving treatment since June 8 for a recurring lung infection, in his fourth stay in hospital in six months.

Mandela was South Africa’s first black president before he stepped down in 1999 after serving a fiveyear term. He is globally hailed for promoting peace with his former oppressors and fostering racial reconciliation.

Somali President’s plane ‘catches fire’

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plane carrying the Somali president has been forced to make an emergency landing in Mogadishu after one of its engines reportedly caught fire.

AspokesmanforPresidentHassan Sheikh Mohamud said it was not clear why the engine stopped working.

The president was not hurt but firefighters scrambled to put out the flames, local reports say.

MrMohamud was chosen as president last year in a UN-backed move to end decades of conflict.

Mohamed Mwalimu says the plane’s tyres were damaged in the incident.

The president was flying to the South Sudan capital, Juba, when it was forced to turn round.

One of the first reports of the incident came from a Twitter feed run by the al-Shabab militant group but it did not say it had attacked the plane.

African Union and Somali forces backing MrMohamud have driven alShabab from the country’s main cities inthepastyearbuttheal-Qaeda-linked group still stages occasional attacks.

President Mohamud

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 33

International

Syrian opposition expects weapons A

Asia & Middle East Australian PM unveils plan to reform party leadership

Ahmed Jarba

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he new head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition said he expected advanced weapons supplied by Saudi Arabia to reach rebel fighters soon, strengthening their currently weak military position.

Ahmad Jarba, who has close links toSaudiArabia,saidthattheopposition would not go to a proposed peace conference in Geneva sponsored by the United States and Russia unless its military fortunes improve.

“Geneva in these circumstances is not possible. If we are going to go to Geneva we have to be strong on the ground, unlike the situation now, which is weak,” Jarba said on Sunday after returning from the northern Syrian province of Idlib, where he met commanders of rebel brigades.

Asked if shoulder-fired weapons that could blunt President Bashar alAssad’s massive advantage in armor and air power would reach the rebels

after Saudi Arabia took a lead role in supporting the opposition in recent weeks, Jarba said: “We are pushing in this direction.”

“I think the situation is better than before. I think these weapons will arrive in Syria soon,” he said.

“My priority is to secure two-tier support for the Syrian people: military and humanitarian. We are working on getting advanced and medium-range weapons to the Free Syrian army and

the liberated areas,” he added.

Jarba offered Assad’s forces a truce for the duration of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins on Tuesday,tostopfightinginthebesieged city of Homs, where Sunni Muslim rebels face a ferocious ground and air onslaught by Hezbollah-backed troops and militias loyal to Assad. There has beennoindicationthatthegovernment is ready to accept such a truce.

Homs, 140 km (90 miles) north of Damascus, is situated at a strategic crossinglinkingthe capital with army bases in coastal regions controlled

by Assad’s Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam that has dominated majority Sunni Syria since the 1960s. Assad’s forces have been seeking to establish an axis linking the capital to the Alawite coast.

The city also links Damascus and the coast with Hezbollah strongholds in neighboring Lebanon.

“We are staring at a real humanitarian disaster in Homs.

Assad, whose military machine was on the verge of defeat, has been propped up by Iran and its Hezbollah proxy,” Jarba said.

The coalition’s meeting over the weekend resulted in an overhaul of its leadership and a power shift in favor of aSaudi-backedwing,whichdefeatedin a series of elections a faction effectively headed by Mustafa al-Sabbagh, a businessmanwhoisQatar’spointman.

Dozens dead in India hotel collapse

A

t least 12 people are feared to have died after a two-storey hotel collapsed in the southern Indian city of Secunderabad on Monday.

“Twelve people were killed and 18 injured when the City Light Hotel collapsed early this morning, the building owner’s

son was among those killed.” private TV channel NDTV said.

Police said more people were feared trapped in the debris of the hotel.

Rescue workers were searching through tonnes of rubble, as family members of the hotel workers waited at the site for news. Three people

are still trapped under debris, according to NDTV. One local official said there were several old buildings in the area and that owners had been notified about their safety condition, but the 80-yearold hotel wasn’t among these.

This was because the building looked fine from outside, the

many more children benefit from release.”

According to the statement 34 of those freed were under 18 while the remaining eight were young people who had been recruited as children.

Myanmar released 42 children in September 2012 and a further 24 in February following an agreement with the UN. There are no conclusive figures on how many children are currently serving in Myanmar’s large military, but the UN children’s fund UNICEF has said the army has released over 520 children since 2006.

Ashok Nigam

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Commissioner Krishna Babu told NDTV. Several buildings have collapsed in India in recent months, many of them apartment blocks in the financial capital Mumbai, including one in April that killed 74 people.

Myanmar frees child soldiers from army

M

yanmar has released 42 children and young people from its armed forces, encouraging increased efforts to reduce the use of child soldiers, the UN has said.

The former militaryrun nation, long accused of violating human rights, has decreased - but not completely halted - the number of children recruited to the army.

Ashok Nigam, the UN’s resident coordinator in Myanmar said, “We are very happy for the 42 children and their families today but we must accelerate efforts so that

ustralian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who is also leader of the ruling Labor Party, on Monday unveiled his proposal to reform party leader election system.

Under the proposed election system, future leaders will be elected in a ballot in which party members have 50 percent of the votes and the caucus the other 50 percent.

Rudd said he had called for a special caucus meeting on July 22 to discuss the federal election and party rule changes.

“This is the most significant reform to the Australian Labor Party in recent history,” he said.

Rudd said any candidate for the leadership will need the initial backing of 20 percent of caucus members.

Among the rule changes, a leader who takes the party to the election and wins “remains as leader of the party and the government for the duration of that term”, he said.

Rudd himself was toppled as Labor leader in 2010 before reseizing the leadership from Julia Gillard late last month.

Under the proposed changes, 75 percent of Labor MPs would be required to sign a petition to bring on a leadership challenge to an incumbent prime minister.

At the moment the backing of 30 percent of the smaller caucus group is required, with no involvement by party members.

Rudd said he believed the reform will be welcome by all party members and the change would improve the quality of government and certainty of leadership.

“I believe it will encourage people to re-engage in the political process and bring back those supporters who have been disillusioned,” he said.

Analysts said Rudd’s timing is unusual with an election date already scheduled on September 14.

“He clearly believes the image of the Labor Party is one of the impediments to Labor being reelected,” Australian Associated Press quoted Emeritus Professor John Warhurst from the School of Politics and International Relations at the Australian National University as saying.

He said a leader wouldn’t raise reorganization and reform of their own party so close to an election unless they thought the public cared, and Rudd is portraying himself as “a reforming leader almost running against (his) own party”.

Rudd

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

International

Snowden reveals NSA partnership with German intelligence T he U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) worked closely with the German intelligence service, whistleblower Edward Snowden told German magazine Der Spiegel in a recent interview.

He alleged that German intelligence knew more about NSA activities in the country than previously known.

Snowden said NSA was “in bed together with the Germans” as well as most other western states, adding that NSA’s “foreign affairs’

directorate” was responsible for partnerships with other countries.

The interview, published on Sunday, was carried out before he fled to Hong Kong in May. Germany’s foreign intelligence service (BND) confirmed a partnership with the NSA in providing “analysis tools” for the BND’s monitoring of foreign data in Germany.

Snowden said government decision-makers were protected by these cooperation programs

which are organized in a way so that authorities in other countries can “insulate their political leaders from the backlash” if it becomes public “how grievously they’re violating global privacy.”

A recent report by Der Spiegel, citing classified documents disclosed by fugitive Snowden, said Washington was monitoring phone calls and Internet data connections in Germany as well as spying on the headquarters of the European Union and its offices in Washington and the

United Nations in New York.

The report sparked widespread outcry in privacy-sensitive Germany.

The German government has said that Berlin felt surprised and “alienated” by media reports of coldwar-style U.S. spying on European nations. “We are no longer in the Cold War,” a government spokesman said.

U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed last Wednesday to hold a high-level bilateral meeting over U.S. surveillance programs.

Europe and Americas Brazil wants answers on US surveillance

No survivors in Alaska plane crash B T

Patriota

en people were killed when a floatplane crashed and burst into flames at an Alaska airport, US officials said.

No survivors were found, according to the Soldotna Police Department. National Transportation Safety Board investigator Clint Johnson said there were nine passengers and one pilot onboard.

The plane was a de Havilland DHC3 Otter, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration.

The plane, operated by a local air-taxi company, crashed at the airport of the Alaska Kenai Peninsula town

Firemen at the scene of the crash

of Soldotna.

The crash happened at

about 11:20am local time but it was initially unclear whether

the plane was departing or landing at the time, the FAA said.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate, officials said.

As of Monday, victims’ names were not released on. Police said they were still trying to identify the victims and locate family members.

The air-taxi company, Rediske Air, provides sightseeing charters and air-taxi services, according to a profile with the Better Business Bureau.

The mountainous Kenai Peninsula, south of Anchorage, is a popular destination for tourists, fishermen and hikers.

Greece close to getting latest bailout funds

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nternational lenders have paved the way for Greece to gain the latest payment of bailout money.

The European Commission, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund said they had completed their fact checking mission.

They said the economic outlook was in line with their projections but that it remained uncertain.

Eurozone finance ministers will now decide whether to release new funds worth 6.3bn euros ($8.1bn; £5.4bn).

Talks have centred around 4,000 civil service jobs that are due to be cut.

The country has an unemployment rate of 27% and public unrest has lead to political instability, and four different Greek governments in as many years.

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras

On Sunday, public anger led to the Mayor of Athens being attacked after a meeting to discuss the job cuts.

GiorgosKaminis was briefly admitted to hospital but was not seriously injured.

His office said he was “shocked but not badly hurt”.

Meanwhile, on Monday thousands of civil servants in Athens were due to strike in protest at the next round of

cuts.

The union that represents the workers, the ADEDY, has called a four-hour strike from noon.

Greece has been dependent on loans from the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank, since May 2010 and must pay off 6.6bn euros of debt by midAugust.

One area of reform that has not been agreed upon by the bailout bodies is the Greek government’s plan to cut VAT for restaurants and bars from 23% to 13%, which it hopes will boost income from tourists - a major source of income for the country.

The IMF, EU and ECB are not convinced this is a good plan.

To win the bailout - the country’s second - Greece pledged to eliminate the 4,000 state jobs by the end of the year.

It must also redeploy 25,000 civil servants, including some 2,000 teachers, and 3,500 local police are to be incorporated in the national forces. All these measures have been met with fierce opposition in Greece.

The Greek coalition government c a m e c l o s e t o collapsing recently following the shutdown of state broadcaster ERT.

razil’s foreign minister has said his government is worried by a report that the United States has collected data on millions of telephone and email conversations in his country and promised to push for international protection of internet privacy.

Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota on Sunday expressed “deep concern at the report that electronic and telephone communications of Brazilian citizens are being the object of espionage by organs of American intelligence.

“The Brazilian government has asked for clarifications” through the US Embassy in Brazil and Brazil’s embassy in Washington, he said.

Patriota also said Brazil will ask the UN for measures “to impede abuses and protect the privacy’’ of internet users, laying down rules for governments.

The O Globo newspaper reported that information released by NSA leaker Edward Snowden shows that the number of telephone and email messages logged by the US National Security Agency in January alone was not far behind the 2.3 million reportedly collected in the United States.

The spokesman for the US embassy in Brazil’s capital, Dean Chaves, said earlier that any response to the O Globo report would be issued in Washington.

There was no immediate response from the office of the US national intelligence director’s office, but in response to earlier reports of covert monitoring in Europe, the office said it would respond to concerns of specific nations through diplomatic channels.

However, “as a matter of policy, we have made clear that the United States gathers foreign intelligence of the type gathered by all nations,” last month’s statement said, without providing further details.

The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff warned Sunday that Snowden’s overall disclosures have undermined US relationships with other countries and affected what he calls “the importance of trust”.

O Globo’s article said that “Brazil, with extensive digitalised public and private networks operated by large telecommunications and internet companies, appears to stand out on maps of the US agency as a priority target for telephony and data traffic, alongside nations such as China, Russia and Pakistan.”

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 35

Strange World

Blind couple to marry after guide dogs become ‘an item’ A

blind couple have told how they found love and got engaged - after their guide dogs became an item.

Claire Johnson, 50, first fell for Mark Gaffey, 52, when her dog Venice became friendly with fellow guide dog Rodd at Guide Dog Training classes.

The two dogs - both aged three - became inseparable and soon their owners, who are both registered blind, followed suit.

After an 11-month whirlwind romance, the couple, from Stokeon-Trent, got engaged and are due to get married next March - with their dogs acting as ringbearers.

Gaffey, who has been blind since birth, first met Claire when she took her dog Venice to a twoweek Guide Dog Training course in Shrewsbury last March.

He said: “During the training our two dogs, Rodd and Venice, seemed to know something we didn’t.

“They were always playing together and nuzzling up together.

“The trainers said that they were the love and romance of the course, and they brought us

Claire Johnson and Mark Gaffey from Hanford, Stoke-On-Trent, who found love whilst on a guide dog training course Photo: Newsteam

together.

“We could have easily missed one another by a week because it was a residential course and we

just happened to be put on the same one.

“It’s ironic we met there because we discovered that we

Human breast milk popular with Chinese adults

A

ccording to multiple Chinese media reports, wealthy and busy adults have found a new way to combat health issues caused by stress and strain – drinking human breast milk. They hire wet nurses who regularly provide the nutritious drink.

While many parents in China are struggling to find safe powdered milk for their babies, following a scandal over poisoned formula, rich and powerful adults from cities like Shenzen and Guangdong are paying big bucks for fresh breast milk to keep in shape. The demand is apparently so great that companies are promoting and expanding their breast milk supply business from babies to adults. “Clients can choose to consume breast milk directly through breastfeeding … but they can always drink it from a breast pump if they feel uncomfortable,” Lin Jun, a manager of Xinxinyu Household Service Company told Chinese newspaper Southern Metropolis Daily. “Quite a few of our clients hire in-house wet nurses to ensure a supply of fresh breast milk on a daily base,” Lin said, adding that “wet nurses rarely raise objections as long as the price is right.” Apparently, most of those who indulge in drinking fresh breast milk are successful adults with high incomes and high-pressure jobs looking for a highly nutritious miracle cure to their health problems.

In some parts of China breast milk is traditionally considered the best and most easily digestible form of nutrition for people who are ill, and a lot of adults with money to burn are taking this to heart. A restaurant

in Changsha who offered a whole menu called “Human Milk Dinner” was ordered to scrap it when furious locals complained it was treating human being like cows. The Xinxinyu Household Service Company, in the city of Guangdong, was allegedly one of the companies selling breast milk to adults who could afford it. Wet nurses who provided the milk could earn up to 16,000 yuan ($2,600) a month, with healthy and attractive ones earning even more than that. A spokesperson of the company denied the allegations, claiming they were just malicious gossip aimed at driving the company outofbusiness,butXinxinyu’smultiple online advertisement stating that the company’s wet nurses can provide services to adults in poor health show otherwise. Xinxinyu Household Service Company has been ordered to suspend its operations and had its

business licence revoked, regulators in Shenzen told AFP. “Consuming human breast milk is quite popular among my social circle … spending 10,000 to 20,000 yuan hiring a wet nurse is not uncommon at all,” an anonymous client told the Southern Metropolis Daily, adding that “only a few people would suck breast milk directly from a wet nurses’ nipples.” He admitted to paying 15,000 yuan to a wet urse and having her stay at his house for a whole month for easy access to the breast milk.

Medical experts say the nutritional value of human breast milk for adults is ridiculously overstated. Wang Xingguo, from the Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, claims it can actually do more harmthangoodasitcontainsmorelactose than an adult can digest and often causes diarrhea. People can get the nutrients they require from cow’s milk.

Source: nbcbayarea.com

Busy adults use breast milk to “combat” health issues caused by stress and strain

only lived a mile-and-a-half away from each other but had never met. We were purely in the right place at the right time.

“I have never believed in fate, but it does seem like it was meant to be.

The couple’s love-story was featured in the ITV show ‘Me and My Guide Dog’, broadcast on Wednesday night.

Claire, who lost her sight due to diabetes when she was 24, told how she made the first move when she invited Mark for coffee at the end of the two-week residential course.

She said: “We connected straight away. I remember Mark texting me saying ‘If you’d let me I could make your world a lot happier’.

“It was a lovely surprise when he proposed the first time on Valentines’ Day, but I got proposed to four times that day because he kept going down on one knee.

“I suppose I can never say I will forget the day I got engaged.

And it wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for our dogs.

“Rodd and Venice sleep in the same bed and are as much a couple as me and Mark.

“They will be walking us down the aisle and be ring bearers. This wedding is down to them.”

Florida woman arrested for battery after kissing officer on the nose

Peggy Hill

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Florida woman was arrested for battery of an officer after kissing him on the nose against his will, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said.

Peggy Hill, 62, was arrested on Saturday when authorities were called to her house for a disturbance, according to a sheriff’s office arrest report.

When deputies arrived, they spoke to a neighbor who said he had an ongoing dispute with Hill, the report said. He also said she took a piece of fencing from his property.

Hill invited the officers on her property and denied taking the piece of fencing. She said something was laying up against her fence, so she removed it.

Authorities said she was tampering with the neighbor and

that is a felony because of the pending case against her for livestock theft, which she allegedly stole from her neighbor.

When officers were speaking to her, she approached one and kissed him on the nose against his will, the report said. He wiped off the saliva and attempted to arrest her, the report said.

Hill was arrested for battery of an officer and when en route to the jail, she fell and hit her head. Officers took her to the hospital and she was cleared, the report said.

After being arrested, Hill told authorities she had about three glasses of wine before they arrived.

She also said the thought just popped into her head to kiss the officer on the nose, so she did, the report said.

Hill is still in jail with a $5,000 bond, according to online jail records.

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

Digest Children who stay with their grandparents are likely to be fatter

By Sophie Borland

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randparents who babysit the children may be inadvertently making them fat, according to research.

It found that toddlers frequently looked after by their grandparents are a fifth more likely to be overweight or obese.

Experts say grandparents tend to be less energetic and are also more inclined to treat children with biscuits and cakes.

Researchers from Finland looked at 9,000 families in the UK over a two year period with at least one child between nine months and

Experts say grandparents tend to be less energetic and are also more inclined to treat children with biscuits and cakes

Research: Children who were mainly looked after by their grandparents were 22 per cent more likely to be overweight or obese than those who stayed with their parents or were babysat by friends or neighbours

three years old.

The study - published in the journal Evolutionary Psychology compared the children’s weights, childcare arrangements and family backgrounds.

They found that children who were mainly looked after by their grandparents were 22 per cent more likely to be overweight or obese than those who stayed with their parents or were babysat by friends or neighbours.

Dr Antti Tanskanen, from the University of Helsinki, said traditionally grandparents - and particularly grandmothers - would boost children’s survival chances by giving them more food.

He said their natural instinct is to perform the same role now

- and they may be inadvertently overfeeding children.

‘Results show that children who were cared for mainly by their grandmothers between the ages of nine months and three years were more likely overweight at age three than children who were cared for by their parents.’ He said.

‘A significant way that grandmothers may have increased their grandchildren’s survival rates in pre-modern and traditional populations was to improve grandchildren’s nutritional status.’

‘The grandmaternal support that improved children’s nutrition status may have significantly decreased child mortality.

‘However, grandmaternal support in modern societies may

detrimentally affect children because it may increase the likelihood of a child becoming

overweight.’

The researchers found that 22.9 per cent of children looked after by their parents were overweight or obese compared to 26.2 per cent of those who stayed with the grandparents.

Dr Aric Sigman, a psychologist and lecturer in health and education, said grandparents may be less aware about the nutritional content of food.

He also pointed out that the trend for delaying starting a family meant grandparents now tended to be older and frailer compared to previous generations.

‘Their nutritional understanding is from a different era so their simple understanding of what makes children fat is not as developed as later generations.

‘People who are older have less energy and are less mobile so they simply can’t be as active with their grandchildren as previous grandparents.’

The latest NHS figures show that a third of children are overweight or obese when they leave primary school aged 11.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Survival: Grandparents’ natural instinct is to help boost children’s chances of survival - and as such they may be inadvertently overfeeding children

Coughing for three weeks? You need a cancer check

By Sophie Borland

P

atients with a cough lasting more than three weeks will be urged to see their doctor under a lung cancer campaign being launched today.

Fewer than one in seven of the 38,000 new cases every year are diagnosed early enough for effective treatment by surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Health officials say that, while the survival rates for other forms of cancer have dramatically improved over the past 30 years, they have remained almost static for lung cancer.

On average patients will live for just five months after diagnosis compared with nearly ten years for cancers affecting the bowel and breast. This makes it by far the deadliest form of the disease in England – with a death toll of 28,000 lives a year.

There are a total of 38,000 new cases every year but only 15 per cent of adults are diagnosed at the ‘early-stage’ when it can be effectively treated by

surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

NHS officials say that while the survival rates for other forms of cancer have dramatically improved over the past 30 years, they have remained almost static for lung cancer.

On average patients will live for just five months after diagnosis compared to nearly ten years for cancers affecting the Bad sign: Persistent coughing is one of the symptoms of early stage lunch cancer

bowel and breast.

Experts say one reason patients are diagnosed so late is that they are unaware of the symptoms which include a persistent cough, chest pain, breathlessness and weight loss.

Under a new campaign launched today, patients are being urged to see their GP if they have had a cough for

more than three weeks.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: ‘More people die from lung cancer than any other cancer in England, but many people don’t know the signs and symptoms that could save their lives.

‘The message from this campaign is clear - if you have a persistent cough, go and see your doctor. The earlier lung cancer is diagnosed, the more likely that treatment will be successful.

The £1.8 million campaign is part of a Government drive to improve early cancer diagnosis in the hope of saving an extra 5,000 lives a year by 2015.

From six weeks starting until midAugust, adverts will appear on the TV, radio and in newspapers and magazines highlighting the early warning signs of lung cancer.

Professor Kevin Fenton, Director of Health and Wellbeing at Public Health England said: ‘These figures show that more needs to be done to raise awareness of the signs of lung cancer and ultimately save more lives.

‘Only by increasing awareness of

potential symptoms, and encouraging people to visit their doctor sooner rather than later, will we see the number of early diagnoses, and people surviving the disease, start to rise.’

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

High risk: Lung cancer patients live on average five months after diagnosis

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 37

NADECO, Afenifere, others want Abiola’s death probed Form Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

N

ational Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and Pan Yoruba group, Afenifere yesterday led other prominent Nigerians to demand a judicial commission of inquiry into activities leading to the death of the acclaimedz winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola.

Speaking during the 15th year remembrance of MKO Abiola in Lagos yesterday, NADECO Chairman, Real Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, urged the Federal Government to immediately set up Judicial Commission of Enquiry to unravel the circumstance surrounding the death of Chief MKO Abiola.

Kanu in his address said that it is saddened that 15 years after the death of Abiola, Nigeria is still worse than it was before Abiola showed interest in running for the June 12 presidency.

“We are now in a country where nobody is happy about what is happening in the country today. Nobody is happy with the way things are in the country. We need to restructure the country to have Nigeria of our dream. We must all stand up and insist on restructuring of the country,” Kanu admonished.

Spokesman to Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said Nigerians must insist on knowing what happened between Abiola and the international communities before his death.

Also Former Minister for Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode said the commission should ask the last Military Head of State and Sunsan Rice exactly what happen on 7th July 1998.

The Convener of Save Nigeria Group (SNG), Pastor Tunde Bakare said MKO Abiola died because of his passion for positive change in Nigeria; because of his love for the masses. He said those who killed Abiola will one day give account of how he was killed.

L-R: Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Zakari Mohammed with member of the Committee, Hon. Lanre Odubote, during the press briefing, at the National Assembly, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Southern Kaduna youths endorse APC From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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outhern Kaduna youths yesterday endorsed the yet to be registered All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2015 elections in the state.

The youths under the aegis of Southern Kaduna APC Youth Forum also called on the entire state to embrace the party for the rapid social economic progress.

Briefing newsmen in Lagos yesterday, General Secretary

of the Forum, Mr. Nuhu Kadu Sunday, said the new party is the only option for the people to salvage the region from selfish politicians. He also solicited supports for APC leaders in the area.

“It’s still fresh in our memory, the tremendous progress witnessed during Senator Caleb was representing of the southern Kadauna people in the lower and upper chamber of the National Assembly. He attracted

T

he Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in Sokoto state has shifted the bye-election to fill the vacant position of Gada west constituency at the State House of Assembly to July 13 from July 6.

It will be recalled that the lawmaker was killed by gunmen a month ago and snatch his

He noted that gone are the day when people vote blindly without assessing the past. “It should be clear to PDP and its promoters in Southern Kaduna that they have no electoral value in our area, because new APC leaders have won people’s heart by their past records. Kadu, however adviced Nigerians and Kaduna people to decamp emmass to the emerging APC so that the entire country could be saved from total collapse.

Youths urge NASS to reduce age qualification for elective offices

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he Youth Alliance on Constitution and Electoral Reform (YACORE) has called on the National Assembly to reduce the age qualification for contesting elective offices in the on-going constitution amendment.

The National Coordinator of the Alliance, Mr Itodo Samson made the call at a news conference yesterday in Abuja.

Samson said it was necessary for the National Assembly to give special attention to youth issue in the review process,

Sokoto Assembly by-election now July 13 From Mahmoud Muhammad, Sokoto

a lot of Federal projects to the area including scholarships and youth empowerment. Today, they are leading us to APC but the like of Senator Isaiah Balat, a minister, Senator and now Senior Special Adviser to the vice President, yet he could not attract any meaningful development to our area. Yet he claimed PDP is in charge. We won’t follow any party or selfish politician that lacks the interest of Southern Kaduna at heart.”

Peugeot 406. However, Hon: Murtala Wauru is representing Gada constituency in the State House of Assembly in Sokoto.

Alhaji Muhammad Musa, the Head of Public Affairs of the commission in the state disclosed this in a statement made available to Newsmen in Sokoto over the weekend.

According to the statement, the shift in the date was to allow

the political parties to comply with section 87, sub-section 1 of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended.

The section, the statement added, mandated the political parties to conduct primary elections before fielding any candidates for an election.

Fourteen political parties had complied with the directive and conducted primary elections on Sunday, June 30, 2013.

especially, the inclusion of a youth definition clause in the constitution. `` We urge the National Assembly to give priority to youth issue in the on-going constitution review process by including our demands in their report,’’ he said.

He called on the state lawmakers to recognise the need to get rid of any proposed amendment by National Assembly that was contrary to the will and aspirations of Nigerians. ``We want to restate that the outcome of the constitution review process should reflect the demands and aspirations of all Nigerians irrespective of age, gender, tribe, religion or disability,’’ Samson said.

He said that the on-going electoral reform process should pay attention to how electoral

laws would enhance participation and politics of inclusive.

According to Samson, there is general consensus that the legal framework, policies and guidelines for election management in Nigeria must be reviewed to guarantee credible elections in 2015.

He said, ``There is no better expression of democracy than for all citizens to be able to participate and express themselves on how they want to be governed. ``Where legal framework and laws inhibit the participation of any person, it is pertinent that such laws be amended to safeguard citizen’s participation.’’

YACORE is a national youth civil society coalition comprising youth organisations working on democratic governance, elections and human rights.

(NAN)

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

Politics

Lawyers PDP govt not fighting corruption, says Senate Deputy Minority Leader oppose From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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enate Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Habu Ibrahim, (CPC, Katsina Central), has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan of completely jettisoning the fight against corruption.

Ibrahim stated this at the weekend, in Marmara, Nasarawa local government area of Nasarawa state, on the occasion of the joining of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), by Alhaji Imran Usman Jibrin, son of the late Group Captain Usman

Jibrin.

Taking a swipe at the purported fight against corruption by the Federal Government, the Senate Deputy Minority Leader noted that there is no tangible fight against corruption from the President downwards but instead, “the issue of corruption has not abated but rather it has increased.”

Citing recent profiling of the country as a corrupt nation by the Transparency International, Ibrahim lamented that there is no fight at all against corruption, with Nigeria now rated as being more corrupt than even Zimbwabwe.

“Go to Abuja old airport,

private jets have taken over the place, when Nigerians are wallowing in poverty. Obviously, corruption has increased and we have a government that has the belief they can only win elections by using money”, he stated.

The Senator accused the PDP led government of stealing public money for the purpose of campaigns, explaining that huge sums of money meant for mineral development, ecological funds, etc, are being diverted to finance unviable projects, depriving the states of much needed funds to exploit mineral deposits that can provide employment for many.

“The corruption in this country

is very high, that is why President Obama avoided coming here because no one in his right sense would like to associate with such level of decadence”, the lawmaker lamented.

He described the joining of the CPC by Imran as a “big catch”, noting that the young man chose to join the party having realized that the policies of the CPC tallied with the attributes his late father inculcated in him, that of discipline, probity and accountability.

Alhaji Imran Usman Jibrin is a nephew to Sen. Walid Jibrin, the BoT secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

L-R: Deputy governor of Niger State, Hon. Ahmed Musa Ibeto, the Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and the Chairman Edati Local Government, Hon. Isa Kantigi, during the commissioning of Workers Village, Housing Estate for the local government staff, recently in Enagi, Edati local government area of the state.

Oil theft: Lawmaker canvasses control of oil, mineral resources by states

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member of the Houseof Representatives, Lanre Odubote, (ACN-Epe), yesterday in Lagos said that states should be allowed to explore their mineral and oil resources and contribute sizeable percentage of their earnings to the Federation Account.

Odubote, a former journalist, spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) against the backdrop of ongoing massive crude oil theft and pillaging in the Niger Delta. ``States should be allowed to explore their oil and other resources, sell them and contribute to the nation’s revenue earnings. ``This way, they will be able to police such resources against theft by

unscrupulous elements and stop the wave of criminality that is going on. ``Oil theft is a curse, not a blessing to our country. This maritime criminality is now worse than the piracy on Somalian waters. It must stop. Fiscal federalism is the solution,” he said.

NAN reports that the House of Representatives had on July 3 inaugurated a 14-member committee, chaired by Mr Bahir Adamu, to investigate the people and institutions behind oil theft in the delta.

The Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had disclosed that illegal oil theft in the delta could be as high as 400,000 barrels per day, resulting in a 17 per cent fall in official

sales of crude in the international market.

Also, the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) says Nigeria loses $1.68 billion annually to crude oil theft, with 90 per cent of its pipelines in the region ruptured by the suspected oil thieves.

Odubote, a former Chief Press Secretary to Lagos State Speaker, suggested that the 1999 constitution should be amended to allow for fiscal federalism in the country.

He expressed the hope that fiscal federalism would further deepen the nation’s democracy and encourage resourcefulness among states.

According to him, oil exploration in the area had been associated with

unprecedented criminality, posing a serious threat to national security.

He added: ``If states are empowered by law to control their resources, it will bring out the best out of this country.

Odubote recalled that the late President Umaru Yar’ Adua had in 2008 called for help from the international community in the fight against what he called blood oil, in addition to President Goodluck Jonathan’s spirited effort, but to no avail.

He urged politicians and wellmeaning Nigerians to give the issue of resource control the needed support, in a bid to give the country a new lease of life. (NAN)

Edo legislature wants new consultant for Passenger Welfare Scheme

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he Edo State House of Assembly has called on Gov. Adams Oshiomhole to appoint a new consultant to manage the State Passenger Welfare Scheme.

This is contained in a resolution

of the House in Benin yesterday.

The resolution was sequel to the consideration of the Report of the Standing Committee on Transport of the House on the performance of the scheme.

Mrs Elizath Ativie, the Chairman

of the committee said the scheme was near collapse and not serving the purpose for which it was established.

Ativie said that the committee recommended that the state Ministry of Transport should as a matter of

urgency terminate the agreement it reached with the consultant adding that the agreement was illegal.

The Speaker, Uyigue Igbe, directed that clean copies be sent to the governor for his immediate action. (NAN)

scrapping of SIECs

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ome lawyers yesterday said they were opposed to scrapping the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) in the planned amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

The lawyers gave their views in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

They said making the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) solely responsible for the conduct of all elections was a breach of the principle of true federalism.

Mr Onyekachi Ubani, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch, urged the National Assembly to drop the idea. ``It negates the principle of proper federalism. If you say local governments are under states, the states should be responsible for conducting elections into council positions,” Ubani said.

He said that most elections conducted by some state electoral commissions in the past had not lived to the expectations of many Nigerians due to lack of fairness and credibility.

Ubani said: ``The electoral fraud at that level is very high but scrapping SIECs will not solve the problem. ``What we should do is to build strong institutions which would ensure that our elections are free and fair.”

Also, Mr Jiti Ogunye said scrapping the state electoral bodies would entrench a unitary system of government in Nigeria. ``It will not strengthen our democracy in anyway. It is an erroneous impression that INEC will conduct better elections for local government areas. ``I will advise that we should sit down and have a sovereign national conference where such issues will be discussed and agreed upon’’, Ogunye said.

A former Chairman of NBA, Ikeja branch, Mr Adebamigbe Omole, said making INEC the sole body in charge of elections would lead to more abuses.

Omole said: ``This will only give the Federal Government more powers to trample on the rights of states like they are doing with the police. ``Look at what is happening to Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers.

That is why some governors are clamouring for state police.’’

On his part, a human rights activist, Mr Bamidele Aturu, said Nigerians should be vigilant and defend their votes at all elections. ``Scrapping SIECs definitely negates the principle of true federalism. ``However, most of the SIECs have been engaging in selection and not election. ``So, that is why the lawmakers are concerned; but scrapping them will not solve the problem of election rigging,” Aturu added. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

PAGE 39

News Extra

Niger engages 500 sanitary attendants

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ot less than five hundred persons in Niger state have so far been recruited as sanitary attendants and deployed to Chanchaga, Bida, Suleja and Kontagora local government areas of the State under the Niger State Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Program (NISURE-P).

The NISURE-P Director General, Mallam Hassan Nuhu, disclosed this yesterday at the graduation ceremony held at the Niger State Environmental Protection Agency, Minna.

He further revealed that NISURE-P has earmarked the sum of N105M for the recruitment of Sanitary Attendants.

Nuhu stated that 20 supervisors who will monitor the programme have also been recruited in order to make the programme a successful one.

According to him, the amount budgeted would cover payment of allowances, kits, procurement of monitoring vehicles and other logistics, stressing that the programme is designed to take more youth out of unemployment in the State.

He also expressed optimism that the measure would no doubt reduce the outbreak of any epidemic in the state and then warned the participants to leave above board by discharging their responsibilities diligently, adding that anybody caught indulging in any act capable of jeopardizing the programme would face the full wrath of the law.

He called on the people to always imbibe the culture of environmental sanitation in order to stem the tide of cholera, malaria infection and other communicable diseases in the State.

He noted that, “the present administration under the leadership of Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu is not resting on its oars towards poverty reduction in the state through the creation of employment opportunities.”

He said that NISURE-P will expand its scope to other sectors.

The Director General however charged the sanitary attendants to leave above board by conducting themselves according to rules and regulations guiding civil service.

Nigerian Union of Teachers, Edo Chapter, protesting over non-payment of Teachers Enhancement Allowance (TEA), yesterday in Benin

Lagos-Ibadan expressway reconstruction: S/west governors did not shun Jonathan, says ACN From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has described as fallacious the laim by the PDP that the party’s governors in the South-west shunned last week’s flag-off of the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway by President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also said only the governors of Lagos, Oyo and

Ogun were invited to the ceremony.

The statement said while Governor Ibikunle Amosun attended the flag-off, the governors of Lagos and Oyo sent their deputies to represent them because both of them were out of the country at the time.

“How then could anyone who believes in the truth, and nothing but the truth, infer in a public statement that the Governors shunned the ceremony because of politics? How difficult is it for a self-respecting party spokesman to check the veracity of the information

at his disposal before feeding such to the public?

“Is it possible that a spokesman for a ruling party does not know that Deputy Governors can stand in for their principals even at statutory meetings like the National Council of State and the National Economic Council? Or does the PDP now believe that peddling outright lies is the way to go to give its flagging image a rebound?’’ ACN queried.

The party said the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Tony Okeke, has

undoubtedly embarrassed his party and its leadership with the level of ignorance and amateurism he has so far exhibited on the job.

“Mr. Okeke should realise that in his frenzied attempt to impress his masters and hold on to the job, he is actually embarrassing them, and that this may get him out of the job faster than he had imagined.

“He should know that the first thing he has to learn as a party spokesman is to check his facts before pushing out any statement.

Striking teachers, Edo stakeholders meeting deadlocked From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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town hall meeting to shelve the strike action embarked upon

by National Union of Teachers (NUT) in Edo yesterday ended in a stalemate, following failure by the parties to reach consensus on the implementation on the disputed 27.5 per cent teachers salary allowance (TSA).

The Commissioner for Basic Education, Patrick Aguinede, accused the leadership of the union of “tossing” government offer to negotiate with the teachers with disdain.

He said that the NUT should call off the strike before dialogue would

commence.

Aguinede argued that the Governo, Adams Oshiomhole is disposed to making commitment by putting teachers salaries on first line charge.

He said government was not averse to welfare of the striking teachers, explaining that Orhionmwon, Esan Central, Ovia North East and Oredo local government councils had raised objections that they were not economically viable enough to cope with outrageous monthly bills for teachers salaries. ‘’As far as the leadership of the NUT is not here, the Chairman who called the meeting is not here.

“The secretary is not around. To me, I do not know how these people can take decision on their behalf,” he said.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lucky James, accused leadership of the union of not telling the primary school teachers the truth.

He said the reasons advanced by the striking teachers are germane but that the 27.5 per cent TSA should not be put on a straight jacket considering interest of the public school pupils who have been compelled to sit at home since June 1 2013 when the nationwide strike begun.

First Vice Chairman of NUT,

Comrade John Aiyobahan, said absence of the Chairman and the Secretary of the union raised by the Basic commissioner should not be the basis for the parties to throw caution and decency to the winds.

Leaders of the civil society organisations in the state who convened the meeting, Reverend David Ugolor, Executive Director of African network for Economic and Environmental Justice (ANEEJ) and the Coordinator of Gani Fawehimini Movement for Good Governance and Social Change pleaded with the teachers to attend the meeting to sheath their sword by considering the available options for dialogue.

Ramadan: Northern govs charge Muslims to pray for Nigeria

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he Northern States Governors Forum (NGSF) has called on Muslims to use the holy month of Ramadan to pray to Almighty Allah for the quick resolution of the security challenges currently confronting the nation.

Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu

Babangida Aliyu, made the call yesterday in a Ramadan message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo.

Aliyu enjoined Muslims to conduct themselves very well during the holy month in order to maximize the spiritual and physical benefits inherent in the

month.

He identified good intention, prayers and firmness of purpose in the pursuit of good deeds as conditions for reaping the benefits of the holy month.

The statement reminded Muslims that Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and

urged the faithfuls to accord it all the necessary attention by being proactive in decisions and actions that will ensure their full participation in the fast.

It also called on preachers to guard their utterances during the fasting period. It urged them to concentrate on the true teachings

of Islam rather than engage in mutual recrimination as was the case in the past.

“Muslim scholars should instead educate their audience of what is expected of Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan to earn Allah’s blessings,” the statement said.

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

News Extra

Kwara CPC against naming varsity after late Saraki From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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he Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Kwara state has opposed the renaming of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, to Dr. Olusola Saraki University(SOSU).

The party in a memorandum presented to the House of Assembly yesterday, its Chairman, Alhaji Suleiman Buhari, said the party’s position was based on principles and not on political party affiliations.

According to him, “our party is against the Bill for a law renaming the Kwara State University as presented to the House by Mr. Abdulfatai Ahmed, the Executive Governor of Kwara state.

“But for the purpose of full disclosure, our objection to this proposal is not borne out of any political expediency or sheer antagonism but purely on the merit of it and in line with international best practices.

“We think that there is more to a name than just an appellation or a means of identification.

“The name is already an international identity and what with the commendable effort of the university’s Vice Chancellor in the area of globalization of KWASU. “We make bold to say that there is hardly any state owned university in Nigeria today that has as many foreign intellectuals impacting knowledge to students as the Kwara State University.

“The university has international relationships partnership and collaboration programmes with the Cornell University.

“With the proposed renaming of the university, the identity will inevitably change.

“International partners are likely to continuously seek clarification and reassurance that Sola Saraki University, Malete, is the same Kwara State University.

“This has serious implications for the certificates issued by the university and its teeming alumni who carry the university’s certificates and degrees.

“It will also have serious implications for current students whose certificates may bear the new name, Sola Saraki University, especially if they wish to go abroad for further studies, as many foreign institutions would ordinarily think the Sola Saraki University, is a new university.

“Thus, such students may suffer for actions that they had no hand in making.

“The argument here is that as an identity tag, names should not be changed arbitrarily as there may be denial of access to certain privileges and opportunities.

“International travelers who have passports bearing different names can attest to this and serious transition problems would arise following the change of name of the university.

“It will take a long time for people to grapple with the new name and that way, a great damage would have been done to a flourishing institution and thousands of its past, present and future students.”

Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Ambassador Nuhu Audu Bajoga, administering polio vaccine to a child, recently in Zaria.

Ramadan: Police beef up security in Sokoto as NSCDC harps on vigilance From Mahmoud Muhammad, Sokoto

T

he Sokoto state Police Command said yesterday that it had beefed up security throughout the area towards a hitchfree Ramadan fast.

The Command’s spokesman, ASP El Mustapha Sani, who disclosed this to newsmen in his office also noted that the police isolated certain black spots for special attention to checkmate the activities criminals.

He explained that security checkpoints mounted by the police were informed by the state of general insecurity in the country even as he assured that the peace recorded in the state would be maintained.

Acording to him, “the presence of the police at the blackspot areas in the state is part of strategic surveillance against any circumstances that may arise.”

Sani described the relationship between the state and police as very cordial and urged all stakeholders to

report any suspicious issues to the police.

Meanwhile, the Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has charged security operatives to be more vigilant during and after the Ramadan.

The Kwara Commandant of the Corps, Mr. Gana Yerima, gave the charge while addressing a stakeholders meeting held with representatives of security outfits and private guards companies in Ilorin on Monday.

Yerima, who said perpetrators of

evil acts normally use the Ramadan to foment crisis, called for collaboration among security operatives to fight crime.

“As we commence the 2013 Ramadan fast, the NSCDC solicits the cooperation of security operatives and the people in the provision of useful information,’’ Yerima said.

He advised owners of private security outfits to be alive to their responsibilities and improve on the welfare of their personnel to boost their morale.

‘Why we didn’t join ASUU strike’ From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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hairman of the University of Ilorin chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof.

Abdulwahab Egbewole, has explained the decision of his members not to participate in the on-going strike by the national body.

“We would not join national strike, instead, we advocate a roundtable dialogue in resolving the matter amicably,” Egbewole told reporters in Ilorin.

“As far as Unilorin ASUU is

concerned, we are not part of the strike and it has been our standing resolution that strikes do not resolve issues.

“Strikes escalate issues, strikes put pressure on the students, parents and they promote economic waste.

“At the end of the day, the dispute leading to the strike will eventually be resolved at a roundtable.

“So, why don’t we do whatever it takes to sit down and resolve the issues?”

He added that the strategies adopted by the union in the ‘70s and ‘80s are no longer viable options to

resolving problems in 2013.

According to him, “I agree completely that the government is culpable but there are so many means to kill a bird and we felt that as academics, we must endeavour to think outside of the box.

“The issue of earned allowances was part of the 2009 agreement and I see from their own showing and I read in the papers that the Chairman of the University of Lagos ASUU said 90 per cent of the provisions of that agreement had been fulfilled.

“I believe all academic staff members deserve the earned

allowances.”

“The explanation that government will not listen unless we go on strike appears logical but I still insist that in spite of the seeming logicality of that position, this is not in tune with best practices in the world.

“I only wish that the leadership of ASUU at the national level appreciates the point we are making that there is need for them to open a dialogue.

“They had for 10 years foreclosed relationship with the University of Ilorin and we have more than 1000 academic staff members.”

Katsina tops list of teenage pregnancy cases

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

N

ational Population Commission (NPC), yesterday revealed that Katsina state, has the highest recorded number of teenage pregnancy and motherhood, with 65 per cent, while Edo state recorded the least, with 2.7 per cent.

The NPC Chairman, Eze F.

Odimegwu, said this yesterday during a press briefing to commemorate the World Population Day, which comes tomorrow.

Represented by the Chairman Technical Management Team of the Commission, Festus Uzo, Odimegwu said that, “pregnancy is the biggest killer of teenage girls world-wide. It is imperative to know

that pregnancy is responsible for 50,000 deaths in the country.”

The chairman further said that most of the victims of adolescent pregnancy were mostly low income earners.

“Cases of adolescent mostly occur in the poorest regions of the world.

“This figure rises to over one in three girls. Almost all adolescent

births, about 95 per cent, occur in low and middle income countries.”

Also speaking, a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Population, Charles Odido, urged parents to discourage the act so as to give their children a better future.

Odido, frowned that most of the victims were all within school age.

PAGE 47

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

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Some Interesting Facts

cientists voiced concern in 2012 about how radiation may be affecting humans after a recent finding of mutant butterflies in Japan with abnormal legs, eyes, wings and other mutations were discovered. The mutations were caused by radiation from the Fukushima nuclear accident which was triggered by a major tsunami in March 2011. The tsunami was a direct effect of an earthquake.

•Humans and giraffes both have seven vertebrae bones in the neck. It’s not unusual for a mammal to have 7 vertebra bones in the neck but it’s interesting that the long neck of a full grown giraffe has the same amount.

•The active ingredient in most toothpastes is called sodium fluoride. Sodium fluoride can be lethal, young children using regular toothpaste with this ingredient should be monitored. Even swallowing small amounts can cause stomach problems or worse.

•Over 3 million people globally every month search for something online with the words interesting facts in it according to the most popular search engine.

•There are no land snakes in New Zealand. It’s part of New Zealand’s bio security to keep all snakes out and if a person is aware of a snake, by law it must be reported.

•New Zealand is free of heartworm disease and rabies.

7. Buttermilk does not contain any butter.

•Did you know Disneyland does not sell chewing gum? Walt Disney did not want guests inconvenienced by stepping on gum purchased in the park.

• Each year Disneyland uses over 5,000 gallons of paint to maintain the clean appearance of the park.

• George Washington died on December 14, 1799.

• Giraffes can go without water longer than a camel.

That’s wild!

• The person reading this is intelligent, interesting and unique. Flattery is alright as long as we don’t inhale!

Leisure

• January 30, 1933 was the day the words Hi yo silver! Away! were first heard as the lone ranger debuts on radio channel WXYZ of Detroit.

• Many people who read the word yawn or yawning begin to feel the urge to yawn.

• The 2nd president of the United States (John Adams) and 3rd president of the United States (Thomas Jefferson) both died within just a few hours apart of each other on the same exact day of July 4th 1826. They are the only two presidents to die on the same day of the same year.

It’s true!

• When the Titanic

departed from port it was documented to have carried approximately 1000 loaves of bread, 86,000 pounds of meat, 40,000 eggs and 36,000 apples to feed the passengers and crew on the 7 day voyage. Now those are some interesting facts!

• Dogs can have a fatal reaction to eating chocolate.

Chocolate contains a bitter alkaloid called Theobromine also known as Xantheose and that’s the active ingredient that’s bad for the dog. If you’ve read all the interesting facts to this point you’re awesome!

• For a butterfly to fly it must have a body temperature of no less than 86 degrees fahrenheit or 30 degrees celsius.

Say what?

SUDODKU

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Hitching a ride: A Filipino mother carries her children as they cross a river on the first day of a new school year.

Dailymail.co.uk

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013

SPORTS LATEST

Newcastle striker charge with rape

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ritish police say former Newcastle striker Nile Ranger has been charged with rape.

The 22-year-old Englishman, who has been a free agent since leaving Newcastle in March, will appear at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on Aug. 21.

Northumbria Police launched an investigation after Nile was accused of rape in the early hours of Jan. 23 at a hotel in the Newcastle area.

Ronaldo wants to retire at Real Madrid, says Perez

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ristiano Ronaldo wants to play out the rest of his career at Real Madrid, club president Florentino Perez said in an interview yesterday.

The Portugal forward and former World Player of the Year has a contract with the Spanish giants until 2015 but media speculation has linked the 28-year-old with a possible move away from the Bernabeu.

Real have presented two new signings as they start to rebuild under new coach Carlo Ancelotti, with playmaker Isco and defender Dani Carvajal brought in from Malaga and Bayer Leverkusen respectively.

The nine-time European champions have been linked with a possible bid for Wales and Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale, but Perez played down the speculation.

While Real are reportedly close to landing Real Sociedad midfielder Asier Illarramendi, the future of Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain remains uncertain.

The 25-year-old said he wanted to leave the Bernabeu at the end of last season and he has been linked with interest from Arsenal.

Real return to start preseason training on July 15 and play their first warm up match away to Bournemouth, six days later.

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QUOTABLE QUOTE We must all go back to our religions and know what they have to say about corruption. God hates corruption.

— Most Revd. Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Anglican Bishop of Kaduna Diocese

Obama: Creating a private sector development model L

ast week was the first time, in my memory, that a U.S. president came to Africa with investment at the top of his agenda and prioritised meeting with the continent’s business leaders, who are the true drivers of development. President Obama should be congratulated for his vision, and for providing the clearest proof yet that the rules of engagement with Africa are genuinely changing The age of aid is ending. The type of aid that will help Africa most, and should receive the highest priority, is aid for business.

I believe that the African private sector has the power to transform the continent through long-term capital investments, creating both economic prosperity and social wealth. I call this development approach “Africapitalism,” and without a doubt, it holds the most promise for the sustainable development of Africa. So it was refreshing to see African businesses at the table, financing and investing as partners, and making sure that Africa asserts its proper role in this opportunity.

I can already feel the impact of Obama’s new dialogue with Africa. In interviews I had with international media covering his trip, aid and corruption were not the focus, thankfully. Journalists addressed topics like “capital,” “investment,” and “trade.”

The impact of this shift will be immense.

Power is the single biggest obstacle to Africa’s development, and as such, it is the most catalytic and strategic investment anyone can make in Africa. That is why President Obama’s focus is so timely—and so necessary.

Doubling our generating capacity will double Africa’s GDP, and move us toward sustainable, domestically led growth. Given its economic importance, the power sector also presents an attractive investment opportunity for long-term investors: there is little competition, and so the return, when it comes, will be high. It will be similar to returns that early investors in African telecommunications realised before the sector became saturated and highly competitive.

As an investor I believe in doing well and doing good.

Investing in the power sector meets both criteria. That is why Heirs Holdings has committed US$2.5 billion in investment that will expand our recently acquired Nigerian power plant at Ughelli,

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GUEST COLUMNIST Tony O. Elumelu

U.S. President Barack Obama as well as develop new brown and green-field projects across Africa.

But filling Africa’s energy gap requires long-term investment and a huge capital outlay: it will cost US$1billion just to acquire the Ughelli plant and bring it up to its full installed capacity of 1000 megawatts. Given Africa’s huge capital requirements for the power sector, an initiative like Power Africa is essential for bringing together international investors and financial institutions to support Africa’s changing power paradigm.

Nigeria was one of only seven countries included in the program—countries at the forefront of power reform in Africa. The world-class privatization process personally driven by President Goodluck Jonathan demonstrates that Nigeria deserves that place. And it means that Nigeria’s power sector will have access to preferential terms and an unprecedented focus by funders looking to deliver on their public commitments under the Power Africa initiative. Power Africa also offers a model for the 47 African countries that did not make the initial pilot list. The continent will not close its energy gap unless more African leaders urgently reform their policies and encourage this kind of private sector-led investment.

As an entrepreneur, I know

that attracting capital is not and has never been the problem. I have always believed that if the policies and environment are right, investment will flow into Africa.

Investors need to know that the rule of law and the protection of property rights are assured—this is one of capital’s most important requirements. That is why I urge global leaders like President Obama to impress upon more African leaders that investmentled development requires more investor-friendly policies. I see a willingness in African leaders to seize these opportunities, but they need support and in some cases direction. The vision may be clear, but they may not know how to get there.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame is another positive role model for the continent—a progressive African leader who evinces both vision and commitment.

Rwanda now ranks higher than any other sub-Saharan African country on global competitiveness, and ranks third in Africa overall. President Kagame and his team have created the sort of enabling environment that investors can only dream about elsewhere in Africa. For this reason, Heirs Holdings, Berggruen Holdings and 50 Ventures, chose Rwanda as the home for our East Africa Commodity Exchange (EAX), which will launch on July

15th.

The EAX will bring liquidity, transparency, and pricing power to farmers, while reducing lending risk to banks. The impact will be to create social wealth in local communities, and support development in the region.

Like investments in the power sector, the EAX demonstrates Africapitalism in action: highlighting the huge development role of the African private sector.

When I met with President Kagame last year, he immediately understood the significance of a commodity exchange for the East African Region, and he pushed hard to make it happen. The Rwandan government delivered on all its promises, which enabled our investor group to deliver on our promises: the right investment team, partnering with a supportive government, will improve the lives of farmers across the region.

By following these models—of Power Africa and the EAX—we can transform the entire African economy, starting with the power sector. One day, the 70% of Africans who don’t currently have access to consistent affordable power, will take it for granted that they can flick a switch and transform their homes, offices and schools. And they will remember Obama’s visit. Because with private sector involvement now guaranteed, that day will soon become a reality.

In Tanzania I shook hands with an Africapitalist, who also happened to be the most powerful man in the world. It was a hugely significant event for me, a life-long African investor, and I believe Obama’s visit was a significant event for Africa. It will refocus the world’s attention on investment in Africa. It is already changing perceptions and mobilizing international investors.

It will even change the view of many African investors, who will realize that we must lead the way.

Because if we come forward and show confidence in our continent by directing our savings into longterm investments in Africa, others will follow. This is one of the pillars of Africapitalism: Africans for Africa.

Obama’s visit was a milestone, one long hoped for, and one with lasting impact. It confirms that the age of aid is ending. It is now time for the private sector to lead.

Tony O. Elumelu is founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation and Chairman of Heirs Holdings Limited.

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