Peoples Daily Newspaper, Thursday 14, March, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 10 No. 54

Thursday, March 14, 2013

. . . putting the people first

Jimadal Ula 3, 1434 AH

N150

Passengers groan as unions ground Aero From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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Unveiled: The new Pope has been unveiled as Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio (middle), the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, who takes the name Pope Francis I. See story on Page 8

No apology over Alamieyeseigha pardon - Jonathan Ex-gov not discussed at Council - Nyako President encouraging corruption - Keyamo

By Abdulrahman Abduraheem, with agency reports

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s the controversy over the presidential pardon granted former Bayelsa State governor, Diepreiye Alamieyeseigha and other VIP exconvicts continues to rage, President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that he owes nobody any apology for his action.

The president was apparently

responding to the public uproar that greeted Tuesday’s announcement of a presidential pardon for Jonathan’s former boss, Alamieyeseigha who was convicted over charges of money laundering while he was Bayelsa State’s Governor between 1999 to 2003.

And while Adamawa State governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako, has revealed that the issue of granting pardon to any former

6 gunmen, soldier killed in Sokoto clash >> PAGE 6

governor never featured at Tuesday’s Council of State meeting, senior lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo said the president was encouraging corruption by granting pardon to convicted corrupt leaders Jonathan, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Doyin Okupe, on Channels TV breakfast show, Sunrise, monitored by Premium Times, said he has no apology for his

We’re not ghosts, says Boko Haram faction >> PAGE 3

action.

“That is an action that has been taken by the National Council of States and I have no apology for that.” Mr. Jonathan said. “We must begin to respect and honour our institutions. I don’t need to defend the action that has been taken.”

When reminded that the action had created the impression that the government was not Contd on Page 2

erminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos was a rowdy sight yesterday with more than 200 passengers stranded as the protesting airline’s unions grounded all Aero Contractors flights, demanding improved welfare package.

The unions, comprising Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) described as unacceptable what they called the antics and executive tantrums of the management of Aero Contractors towards the welfare of its workers.

The unions described as impracticable a court injunction from the National Industrial Court restraining the workers from embarking on strike on March 13, 2013, arguing that no court can force the workers to work when the workplace is not conducive and unhealthy.

Dejected passengers pleaded with both parties to resolve their differences in the interest of the industry.

Management of Aero Contractors had reportedly commenced serial attacks on the unions by writing a petition to the Commissioner of Police, Airport Contd on Page 2

PD INDEX 13th March, 2013

CBN RATES $ £ EURO CFA RIYAL

SELLING 155.75 236.02 203.08 0.3078 41.52

PARALLEL RATES EURO £ RIYAL $

Court dismisses appeal, orders FG to pay Odi N37.6bn >> PAGE 2

BUYING 154.75 234.50 201.78 0.2878 41.26 BUYING 208 254.50 42 157

SELLING 210 257.50 43 158

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

CONTENTS News

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

23

S/Report

24-25

Earth

26-27

Update

28-29

Gunmen kill seven prison officials in Warri G

unmen reportedly invaded Warri yesterday killing seven officials of the Nigeria Prisons Service.

Eyewitness accounts said that the gunmen struck at about 9 a.m. when they attacked vehicles conveying some prison inmates to court, at the Okere roundabout in the city.

Sources said that four of the prisons officials were killed on the spot when the gunmen suddenly opened fire on their

vehicle. Three other officials were said to be lying critically hurt in an undisclosed hospital in the area following gunshot wounds they received during their gun battle with the attackers.

The armed gang were said to have operated with two vehicles which they parked at the everbusy roundabout, unknown to the prison officials.

The Okere Roundabout, which is normally busy with

human and vehicular traffic, is situated about 200 meters from the Warri Prison in the heart of the oil-rich city of Warri, the administrative headquarters of Warri South local government area of Delta state.

The Warri Area Commander, Mr. Hussaini Rabiu, said that a police report showed that two prison wardens and a court-bound suspect were killed instantly when the gunmen launched the attack.

According to Mr. Rabiu, three other prison officials who were shot were being treated in an undisclosed hospital. He further stated that three of the prison inmates who fled with the attackers after the encounter had been re-arrested by the police and handed over to the Prisons Department in Warri.

Reports said that that the sporadic shooting during the attack created panic as residents and passersby ran for cover.

National Assembly ratifies State of Nation Address Bill “We hope the President will assent to the Bill because it is very important for the President to address the country and render an account of his stewardship to the nation.”

Judge dismisses appeal, orders FG to pay Odi residents N37.6bn

J

ustice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt yesterday rejected the stay of execution sought by the Federal Government over her February ruling.

The judge in February ruled

that the government pays residents of Odi Community N37.6 billion for the invasion by Nigerian soldiers in 1999 under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The government deployed the soldiers

when it claimed six security operatives were killed by residents of the community.

Several Odi residents were killed and property destroyed by the soldiers.

The judge in her ruling then described the action of the government and soldiers as “genocidal.”

The Federal Government had filed an application for a stay of execution of the judgment pending the determination of the government’s appeal at the Court of Appeal. Counsels to the Ogoni opposed the application.

Mr. Akanbi dismissed the application and asked the federal government to make the payment.

No apology over Alamieyeseigha pardon - Jonathan Controversy rages over pardon for Jonathan’s ex-boss, Page 4

Feature Int’l

30 31-34

Strange World 35 Digest

36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-45

Leisure

47

Columnist

48

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU The Peoples Daily wants to hear from you with any news and pictures you think we should publish.

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

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

Contd from Page 1 serious about the war against corruption, Mr. Jonathan said, “It is not all decisions parents take that are palatable for their kids.

But with time they will realize that their parents are right.”

He said pardoning Mr. Alamieyeseigha was in order as the former Bayelsa governor had suffered enough.

“A man was deposed. He was hounded, tried and jail. What is wrong with giving pardon to a remorseful sinner?

“How come granting pardon to him has become an aberration?

Is it because he is from Bayelsa? Is it because he is from South-South?

Is it because he is connected to Mr. President?”

According to THE WILL, an online news portal, Nyako while speaking in Hausa to a few State House correspondents after the council of state on Tuesday denied that the council deliberated on pardoning Alamieyeseigha.

“No such issue was discussed. I didn’t see the name of any governor,” he was quoted as saying.

“But we considered the issue of state pardon for people who committed certain offences. We observed that in cases of manslaughter, pardon for such should be handled by state governors if they are committed in such states.

“If it is the case of armed robbery, the Council may decide to grant pardon or the matter could be referred to the President for his consideration.

“We did not discuss pardon for any governor,” the governor was quoted.

Nyako further said the advisory council discussed the Boko Haram insurgency and the security of lives of property in northern Nigerian.

He said: “Security was top of the agenda. Foreigners and people of the country are in a state of fear.

The manner in which violence is

on the rise is worrisome. For no just cause people are shot at random and killed.

“This is a great issue that is disturbing.

“It is of important that everybody -- the federal government, state government, security operatives, Islamic scholars, the clergy and traditional rulers -- work in unison to stem the tide of terrorism,” adding that amnesty for the Boko Haram was not discussed since it remains a highly divisive matter.

Meanwhile, a fiery lawyer Festus Keyamo has condemned the state pardon by President Goodluck Jonathan to Alamieyeseigha and convicted Ex-Banker Shettima Bulama, according to Sahara Reporters.

In a press statement, Keyamo described the pardon, purportedly on the advice of the Council of State, as typifying the height of insensitivity of the Jonathan government to the feelings of Nigerians about the war

against corruption.

“It is shocking, confusing and disheartening that at a time when the general mood of the country indicates that the war against corruption is insincere, slow and a sham, the President deems it fit to even rubbish the very little work that has been done by the anti-corruption agencies in securing the conviction of these individuals,” he said. “It is also disturbing that at a time when Nigeria is still ranking very low in the Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International the President has further damaged the image of the country by this singular act.”

He said the pardon teaches no bitter lesson to thieving and corrupt public officers, but encourages corruption at the highest and the lowest levels of public office and the decision itself is corruption per excellence.”

“I condemn it; I condemn it and I condemn it,” he said.

Passengers groan as unions ground Aero Contd from Page 1 Command, entitled: “Threat to lives and breach of Security” in which the Managing Director, Mr. Obaro Ibru, alleged that the unions leaders were terrorists and were planning to bomb aircrafts and unleash violence on the travelers.

A statement from the aggrieved workers accused management of favoritism in fixing and payment of salaries.

According to them, ‘‘how can dedicated and experienced workers like you continue to work and baboons begin to chop our sweat and money as T.A is doing

now, while Temitope Fagbemi worked in Air Nigeria on N500,000 monthly only for her to be recruited in Aero Contractors on N1.8 million per month.

“Her salary rose to N2.4 million per month with a brand new Prado Jeep purchased by management in her name at N9.7 million and yet the Managing Director, Mr. Obaru Ibru, is claiming that the company is going through hard times,’’ it alleged.

They further accused the airline of planning to outsource all the departments of the airline just like it has done to some of its

drivers to Remloyd Tour and Car Hire Services, emphasizing that as these abnormalities continues the welfare and good working condition of the staffs were at stake.

Passengers at the MMA2 embarked on a protest to the headquarters of Aero Contractors where they threatened to institute a court action.

A statement from the airline’s Public Relations Consultant said that: ‘‘Aero Management wishes to apologize for the inconvenience suffered by our highly esteemed customers due to an abrupt industrial action by our staff

which has led to grounding of all our scheduled operations.

“We are engaging with the unions to find a quick and amicable resolution. Further details will be given in due course.

“The management is on a reorganization drive to ensure a more efficient, dependable, reliable and safe workforce which the unions are resisting and unwilling to sit and talk.

“It is a known strategy of unions to use blackmail to achieve undesired goals and this should be rebuffed in line with the law. Aero has cancelled all flights pending resolution of crisis with unions.”

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 3

NASS endorses State of the Nation Address Bill

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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uring its plenary session yesterday, the Senate unanimously passed the House of Representatives concurrence on the State of the Nation Address Bill, which will make it mandatory for a sitting Nigerian President along with the Vice President and head of the nation’s Judiciary, to address a joint session of the National Assembly in July of every year.

The State of the Nation address is expected to dwell on national security, the economy, foreign policy and social justice,

among other issues.

However, according to the Bill, if the President fails to appear for the address, a resolution supported by 2/3 majority votes of members of each arm of the National Assembly will compel the President to deliver the address.

The Bill also provides that the two houses of the National Assembly shall debate the issues raised in the address within 14 legislative days following its presentation.

The development was sequel to the consideration and adoption of the eight clauses in the report of the Senate Committee on

Federal Character and InterGovernmental Affairs, presented

by Senator Dahiru Kuta (Niger, PDP).

Presenting the report, Kuta said that the essence of the Bill was to make the President accountable to the Nigerian people as represented by the National Assembly.

He noted that under the Act, the President must never for whatever reasons, delegate the responsibility to anybody or aide.

In his remarks, Senate President David Mark expressed hope that the Bill will be assented to by the Executive, recalling that

it was introduced in the sixth National Assembly, specifically the 2008 in the Senate and 2009 in the House of Representatives but failed to get presidential assent before the conclusion of that session.

“We hope the President will assent to the Bill because it is very important for the President to address the country and render an account of his stewardship to the nation.

“This address is different from the budget address. This address will make the ordinary Nigerian know the progress of the country,” Mark said.

VAPP Bill: Supporters want quick passage

By A’isha Biola Raji

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nthusiasts have called for rapid passage ofViolence Against Person’s Prohibition (VAPP) bill, in which Violence Against Women (VAW) is also embedded.

This call was made yesterday in Abuja at Raising Her Voice (RHV), end of project celebration, under the umbrella of Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA).

According to Hajiya Saudatu Mahdi, project director, the bill, though about to undergo third reading in the House of Representatives, needs to be pushed for final passage and eventually, to the senate.

“We need to push it to the senate; we should work towards total eradication of violence on women.

“The project has been one of WRAPA’s most successful in ensuring women’s voice are heard,” she said.

In a goodwill message, Mr. Tunde Ojie, country director, Oxfam Associate said women have continued to be marginalized.

He said RHV project which was launched in 2008 in several African countries including Nigeria was to push for domestication of VAPP bill.

Also speaking at the event, IPAS country director, Dr. Ejike Oji called on the need to give women freedom especially in taking decisions concerning their reproductive health.

He described WRAPA as driving force and an organization pushing to get a lot of issues concerning women resolved.

L-R: Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Sonni Yusuf, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, Nigeria's ConsulGeneral, Mr. Okey Emuchey, during the 7th Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) symposium, yesterday in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo: NAN

APC registration: INEC lied, says ACN From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of telling bald lies and engaging in fabrication by claiming that a political party called African People’s Congress had applied to the commission for registration.

A statement by the ACN National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in Abuja yesterday contended that no party with the acronym of APC had applied to INEC to be registered.

According ting to him, the ‘African People’s Congress’ is a phantom political party sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in order to hijack an acronym adopted by a coalition of political parties that recently declared their merger in order to unseat the PDP in the 2015 general elections.

The statement asserted that the so-called African People’s Congress had merely written a letter of intent, adding that INEC had not even discussed the letter much less taking any decision on it.

The statement said, “the statement credited to Mr. Idowu is therefore reckless and provocative and clearly betrays INEC as truly having merged with the PDP to frustrate the merger of the progressives under the banner of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC).

“One wonders who the spokesman is speaking for and what interests he represents. He should therefore be called to order before he sets the country ablaze.”

The ACN said it was aware that the applicants in question had not even paid any administrative fees and therefore INEC could not have commenced processing their application because there is no application before INEC as they have only written a letter of intent.

We’re not ghosts, says Boko Haram faction From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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Boko Haram factional sect led by Abu Muhammad Ibn Abdul-Aaziz, yesterday asserted that the group does not comprise of ghosts as claimed by President Goodluck Jonathan when he visted Yobe and Borno states last week.

The sect in a statement signed by Ibn Abdulazeez and issued to

newsmen last night said that, “let me say with due respect to Mr. President, we are not ghosts, we have sat with the officials Borno state government and the delegation of Northern Governors Forum (NGF) Committee on Peace and Reconciliation, led by Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Muktar (rtd).”

According to the statement, the group is willing to sit with Federal Government’s representatives at any given time, to reach an accord

on how best to find a lasting solution to the persistent security challenges confronting the north.

The statement also dismissed the recent video footage posted on the internet in which the spiritual leader of the sect, Mohammed Shekau, denied that it reached a ceasefire agreement with Borno state government.

Abdul-Aziz called on the general public and all members of the sect to disregard the video clip arguing

that the person who made statement was actually not the spiritual leader.

He insisted that the footage was tactically posted by the opponents of the on-going peace process between the sect and Borno state government.

The statement further insisted that the peace initiative is still on course and that the sect will continue to mobilize more of its members to lay down their arms.

Despite strike call off, activities low at Lagos High Court

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ctivities at the Federal High Court, Lagos are yet to fully return in spite of the resumption of duties by judicial workers. The workers under the aegis of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) suspended a nationwide strike on Tuesday

night.

They embarked on the strike on Monday over non implementation of the Consolidated Judicial Salary Structure, by the Federal Government.

The strike was suspended

following a meeting of some labour leaders and the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu.

NAN reports that courtrooms were still empty as only few workers resumed at the Federal High Court.

The Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Mr Bello Okandeji, on Wednesday said that many judicial workers might not be aware of the suspension of the strike in time.

Okandeji expressed the hope

that all the union members would resume work on today.

A court clerk, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that he was not happy at the suspension because the union’s demand might be swept under the carpet. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Controversy rages over pardon for Jonathan’s ex-boss

By Sonde Abbah

D

id President Goodluck Jonathan unilaterally grant state pardon to his erstwhile boss, Diepreiye Alamieyesegha? Was the whole exercise, which encompassed state pardons for a number of high profile ex-convicts, orchestrated principally to benefit the man Jonathan had succeeded as governor of Bayelsa state prior to his (Jonathan’s) emergence first as Vice President, then as president?

These were among the pertinent posers agitating the minds of not a few Nigerians across the land, since news broke last Tuesday that the Jonathan administration had granted state pardon to a number of prominent personalities who had been convicted at various times over the years.

Among those reportedly granted state pardon were the late Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua; Gen. Oladipo Diya; Maj. Gen. Bello Magaji, and Mohammed Lima Biya.

Others were Shettima Bulama, Major Segun Fadipe, and Lt. Gen. Abdulkareem Adisa.

As reported by this paper yesterday, an online news medium, Premium Times, had broken news of the controversy-enmeshed pardons. “The Council of States headed by President Goodluck Jonathan, Tuesday afternoon, granted state pardon to his former boss and ex-Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreiye Alamieyeisegha, the online medium stated.

It continued; “The former governor, who was convicted for embezzling state funds while he was Bayelsa state governor, was pardoned alongside another convict and former head of the Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama.

“Mr. Bulama, like Mr. Alamieyeisegha was investigated and later prosecuted for corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. “Sources at the meeting say the Council meeting, attended by three former

Diepreiye Alamieyesegha heads of states and some state governors also granted state pardon to some of those convicted for coup plotting by the Sani Abacha administration.”

Interestingly, PREMIUM TIMES had earlier in the day reported exclusively that the President would at the Council meeting present a memo requesting that the former governor and some

others be granted state pardon. But did the President actually presented the said memo to the Council? And did the Council discuss that matter at all?

Curiously, Aso Rock did not bother to issue any statement on this weighty issue. This is even as none of the former leaders, governors, deputy

“

governors or ministers that attended the Council of State meeting at the State House briefed the media on the outcome.

However, a news alert by the government-owned News Agency of Nigeria would subsequently confirm the story. According to the alert, “FG grants state pardon to DSP Alamieyeseigha, Oladipo

Bearing in mind that shameless deception and countless others that have hallmarked Jonathan’s administration over the years, many Nigerians say that they are not surprised that this same government is now being less than honest with them over this otherwise simple matter of granting State Pardon.

Diya, late Gens. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and Abdul Kareem Adisa, Maj. Belo Magaji, Muhammed Lima Biu, ex-Gov. Shettima Bulama.”

Curiously, the same NAN issued a contradictory alert later in the night.The second alert urges readers to “Kindly disregard earlier SMS on state pardon for Alamieyeseigha and six others. Thanks.”

NAN’S conflicting signals underscores the level of seeming confusion even at the highest level of government. Nobody seems to know the true situation.

It was not until the Adamawa state governor, Murtala Nyako, was quoted as saying that they did not discuss the matter at the Council of State meeting, that the Federal Government decided to react at long last.

Jonathan’s lieutenant, Doyin Okupe, reacted that his principal didn’t give a damn about the controversial state pardon.

The whole thing has raised critical questions about the way this administration has been piloting Nigeria’s ship of state. Shenanigans seem to be the rule rather than the exception. Consider, for example, the official double-speak that held sway when the First lady, Patience Jonathan went for treatment abroad recently.

Aso Rock bamboozled Nigerians with all manner of cock and bull stories. Okupe and Co. swore to high heavens that Jonathan’s wife was never sick what more go for treatment. The rest, as they say, is now history. Barely two months later, the same First Lady now confirmed with her own mouth that she was not only sick but died for about one week.

Bearing in mind that shameless deception and countless others that have hallmarked Jonathan’s administration over the years, many Nigerians say that they are not surprised that this same government is now being less than honest with them over this otherwise simple matter of granting State Pardon.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 5

Minister urges private sector participation in electricity efforts

By Etuka Sunday

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L-R: Minister of Women Affairs, HajiyaZainab Maina, Minister of State for Works, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda, Minister of Works Mike Onolememen, and Minister of Youth Development, Barrister Inuwa Abdulkadir, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

PDP begins reconciliatory tours, yet to discuss Jonathan’s state pardon

By Lawrence Olaoye

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday disclosed that it would begin its tour of the nation’s six geopolitical zones with a view to reconciling all its aggrieved members and bring them back into the party in accordance with its National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s 3Rs program.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, while briefing newsmen yesterday equally said that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) has yet to discuss the recent state pardon given to the former Bayelsa state governor, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha and others.

Responding to the allegations

…says it has no hands in APC registration saga made by the opposition that the PDP was behind the registration of the APC acronym with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Metuh said such accusation was most unfair and ridiculous.

He said the party had no hand in the registration of APC, wondering why the opposition would be carried away by morbid propaganda neglecting something as basic as registering the merger’s adopted name and logo with the electoral umpire.

The PDP spokesman said, “it is unfair and unjust to accuse the opponent of your inadequacies and failings. As a party, we are focused on our own programs. We

are not concerned about activities in the opposition.”

Metuh said the merger (All Progressives Congress) was not focused on governance but rather preoccupied itself with the task of wrestling power from the PDP for the sake of it and not to offer good governance.

Equally commenting on the poor attendance at the PDP Governors’ Forum, Metuh said most of the governors were out of the country and therefore sent their deputies. According to him, the Forum was set up by the party in response to the yearnings of the governors who wanted to use the platform to improve the lots of the party. He said the PDP

governors are united and are all in support of the formation of the forum.

Explaining the party’s reconciliatory tours, Metuh said the exercise would start tomorrow with the South West in Ibadan and would move to Enugu, the South East venue on Saturday. Port Harcourt will be hosting the NWC for South-south as Bauchi will be the venue for the North East; Makurdi for the North Central and Kaduna for the North West geo political zone.

The grand finale, which coincides with the first year anniversary of the NWC, would come up in Abuja on the 24th of the month.

FG to concession FESTAC Phase II, targets N25bn revenue

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

he Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved the development of phase two of FESTAC town in Lagos under a public-private partnership arrangement that will yield a total sum of N25.7 billion.

The other outcome of the FEC meeting was the presentation of the 2012 performance report by the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, while briefing State House correspondents after the meeting said his Housing counterparts, Amal Pepple proposed to develop the remaining 1126 hectares of land acquired for FESTAC in 1977 and this was accepted by the Council.

According to him, while over 2000 hectares were acquired by the Federal Government for the Phase I of FESTAC town, only a portion was developed and the remaining was abandoned as a result of lack of fund, a situation which prompted the ministry to

move to develop the phase II through the PPP arrangement.

Maku stated that Council approved that the remaining portion of land should be developed after reclamation is done by the New FESTAC Property Development Company (NFPDC) in order to fast track the project, which is “a way of developing the economy without dipping hands into government purse.”

Pepple who explained that the concession of the project, granted to four companies will span over a 30-year period with three years

moratorium, added that the sum of N150 million will also accrue to the apex government as ground rent annually once it takes-off.

The minister, who gave another benefit of the project as the provision of jobs to Nigerians, also pointed out that 7,000 plots are to be carved out of the land and equipped infrastructure facilities such as police stations, schools, shopping malls and others.

On the encroachment on the area envisaged for future development, she said government is aware of the

situation but is yet to know the extent of such, pledging that “when the developers move in the extent of the encroachment will be determined.”

She also attributed the dilapidation of FESTAC 1 to the refusal of its occupiers to pay the mandatory maintenance fee as stipulated in their letter of offer.

She said the ministry discovered this after holding a stakeholders meeting.

She emphasized that another meeting is being proposed to iron out this issue.

VAPP bill: Supporters want quick passage

By A’ishaBiolaRaji

S

takeholders have called for rapid passage ofViolence Against Person’s Prohibition (VAPP) bill, in which Violence Against Women (VAW) is also embedded.

This call was made yesterday in Abuja at Raising Her Voice (RHV), end of project celebration, under the umbrella of Women’s Rights

Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA).

According to Hajiya Saudatu Mahdi, project director, the bill, though about to undergo third reading in the House of Representatives, needs to be pushed for final passage and eventually, to the senate.

“We need to push it to the senate; we should work towards total eradication of violence on women.

“The project has been one of WRAPA’s most successful in ensuring women’s voice are heard,” she said.

In a goodwill message, Mr. Tunde Ojie, country director, Oxfam Associate said women have continued to be marginalized.

He said RHV project which was launched in 2008 in several African countries including Nigeria was to push for domestication of VAPP bill.

inister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo, urged the private sector to key into the on-going privatization of the electricity power sector.

Nebo state this yesterday when he received a Trade delegation from the United States, led by Mimi Alemayehou, Vice President, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC).

According to the Minister, opportunities abound for investment in the power sector even as he assured the delegation of an enabling environment for all genuine investors in line with the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

He said that the investment potentials were not only in power generation but also in transmission, renewable energy, solar and rural electrification.

Nebo said, “without electricity power, our children born in the rural areas will be marginalized for life as they will not have access to electricity and other modern technologies.”

Lagos needs N26bn to fight Ocean surge From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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agos state Governor, Babatunde Fashola, says government will require about N26 billion in the next three years to tackle the perennial ocean surge as well for protecting the state’s shoreline against over shooting its boundary.

Fashola spoke yesterday at the opening ceremony of the Fifth Climate Change Summit held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Sharing his experiences about the Kuramo ocean surge last year, he said the state government was taken unawares by the surge as there was no budget towards mitigating the effects and consequences in the 2012 fiscal budget of the government.

According to him, “in the implementation of last year’s budget, we did not conceive that the uncompleted part of the Eko Atlantic City would be overrun by the ocean.

“The Kuramo surge late last year came and took away walls of properties from the end of Ahmadu Bello Way right down to Alpha Beach.

“We did not budget for that, we did not see it coming but in the last quarter of the year, we called all the departments together that everybody must contribute some capital votes so that we can start an urgent protection of all of the properties on the road, right down to Alpha Beach.”

He said the efforts of the state government has seen about N6 billion committed to the protection of the shoreline so far, lamenting that the government is yet to receive any assistance from any quarters.

PAGE 6

By Agaju Madugba, with Agency reports

F

ollowing a joint UK Border Agency, Border Force and Sussex Police investigation, a man from north London was on Monday jailed 14 years for complicity in the trafficking of two Nigerian teenagers.

Odosa Usiobaifo, 35, of Keats Close, Scotland Green Road, Enfield, was found guilty of conspiring to traffic for the purposes of sexual exploitation following a four-week trial at Isleworth Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to conspiring to facilitate illegal immigration earlier on in the trial.

The jury heard how the girls who were aged 14 and 15 at the time, were stopped by Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport separately on 17 September and 23 November 2011 using false passports showing they were adults.

They had arrived on flights from Lagos and were attempting to transit

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Nigerian jailed in UK for trafficking in female teenagers to Paris. During interviews with the Serious Organized Crime Agency's Vulnerable Persons Team, it became clear that the pair were being trafficked to mainland Europe, via London, for the purposes of sexual exploitation.

They were placed in local authority care but on 6 April 2012 were reported missing to Sussex Police by their respective foster careers.

Investigations revealed that contact had been made with the girls and Usiobaifo had collected them from a pre-arranged meeting point before they were given false passports and tickets and placed on a flight to Spain.

One of the girls was refused entry

to Spain and returned to the UK. She remains in the care of the UK authorities. The other passed through Spanish border controls and is still missing.

Usiobaifo was arrested at his flat in Enfield on 3 September 2012 alongside his partner Katie Igha, 25.

On Thursday 7 March a jury found Usiobaifo guilty of all charges but acquitted Igha of trafficking.

They failed to reach a verdict on a charge of conspiring to facilitate against Igha.

Senior investigating officer Jonathan Bush, from the UK Border Agency's Criminal and Financial Investigation team, said, "we believe our investigation has disrupted a

significant organized crime group suspected of being involved in the trafficking of young women into Europe through London.

"The ordeal these girls went through was horrific and tragically one of them remains missing.

"Working with Border Force, the police and SOCA we are determined to do all we can to stop the abhorrent crime of trafficking." Chief Inspector Jo Banks, who led the Sussex Police investigation into the girls' disappearance, said that. "This was a joint investigation with the UK Border Agency that led to the identification of Usiobaifo and after a complex investigation showed his involvement in an

organized crime group with the aim of trafficking young women for sexual exploitation.

"The two girls went through a turbulent ordeal, clearly aware of what was intended for them and under the control of the traffickers.

We will continue to search for the girl who remains missing." A joint UK Border Agency and Border Force investigation, codenamed Operation Hudson, has involved law enforcement agencies in Britain and abroad.

"It is targeting a number of organized crime groups suspected of trafficking young women, via London, for the purposes of sexual exploitation."

Six insurgents, soldier killed in Sokoto gun duel L-R: New Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Alhaji Umar Farouk,receiving hand-over reports from outgoing Permanent Secretary,Ministry, Dr. GodknowsIgali, during the handing over ceremony,yesterday in Abuja.

By Mahmoud Muhammad, Sokoto

S

uspected members of the Boko Haram militant group reportedly engaged men of the Nigerian Army in a gun battle in Sokoto yesterday in the process of which six members of the sect were killed, along with a soldier.

Security sources hinted that based on an intelligence report, the soldiers invaded a suspected terrorist enclave at Bado quarters, few kilometers from Sokoto town during which the insurgents were said to have fired at the security men.

The attack and sporadic shootings from both sides threw Sokoto into a state of panic as traders and other businesses closed shops as residents fled for safety.

Some residents who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the suspect terrorists rented the Bado apartment a few days earlier, designed to be used as launch pad for attacks, allegedly for the refusal of President Goodluck Jonathan to grant amnesty to members of Boko Haram, as suggested by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa'ad.

Sokoto appears to have lost its innocence and rendering the state's slogan of the most peaceful state irrelevant following the recent invasion of the area by insurgents.

The Nigerian Army confirmed killing four gun wielding persons, three men and a woman, in a joint military and police operation.

The Commander, 1 Brigade, Mohammed Tasi'u, said at a press briefing that, "the hideout used by the gunmen, located along Line A, Alu Estate in Bado area of Sokoto, was also demolished immediately after the operation." He said that several arms and ammunition, money and vehicles were among items recovered from the hideout while some arrests had been made.

Sources said that the victims had engaged the security operatives in a gun battle from about 12 midnight to 9 a.m.

Photo: Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Senate yesterday expressed its resolve to take appropriate steps towards reducing the high cost of accommodation in Abuja, regretting that there is no law regulating the limit to what the landlords can collect from tenants.

Speaking at a one-day public hearing on the Bill seeking to repeal and re-enact Recovery of Premises Act of 1990, by the Joint Senate Committees on FCT and

By Joy Baba

C

hief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, has warned Naval officers and men that the authorities would not hesitate to flush them out if they fail to deliver on President Goodluck Jonathan's mandate to eradicate illegality from the water ways.

Ezeoba handed down the warning yesterday while signing performance contract with principal staff officers of

Senate moves against FCT landlords Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, the President of the Senate, David Mark, represented by the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Abdul Ningi, further noted that in FCT, the landlords call the shots.

He said that this anomaly compelled the Senate to take actions aimed at protecting the common man in the city, most of who he said, sleep under the bridge, shanties,

and gutters, owing to high accommodation in the city.

According to Mark, "the rents charged by landlords in the FCT are so high that it is often far beyond the reach of average income earners.

"Statistics have shown that over 17 million housing units are required to bridge the gap of housing deficit in the city." In his remarks, the Chairman of the committee, Smart Adeyemi, noted that

the high rate of accommodation in the FCT has adversely affected the standard of living of the residents, regretting that the government at all levels have continued to pay lip service to the provision of houses for the people.

In addition, he recalled that the Federal Mortgage Bank was set up in 1970s to tackle this problem but it yielded very insignificant result.

the Nigerian Navy, at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja.

According to him, the Nigerian Navy has established zero tolerance to ineptitude and complicity and any officer found to have engaged in any acts of indiscipline in the discharge of his duties with will be sanctioned and dealt with according to the law.

"Anybody ready to do this

job should follow laid down rules or quietly ship-out, It is a clarion call for all of us to live up to our responsibility" he added.

The Naval Chief further urged the officer to improve on their human intelligence skills to ensure moving ahead the delivery on the mandate.

"The people who are engaged in this theft are not ghost, they are human beings and they

live in our communities. "So, we must improve on our human intelligence and make sure that we move forward to achieve this mandate.

"It is either you deliver or you ship out," Ezeoba said, urging them however to collaborate with other security agencies including the Army, Air Force, Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Naval chief warns on water ways

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 7

Kaduna wants boundary dispute with Kano resolved K

aduna State government yesterday urged the National Boundary Commission to resolve its land ownership dispute with the Kano State government.

Gov. Mukhtar Yero made the call yesterday in Kaduna when the directors-general of NEMA, NOA, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, and the National Boundary Commission, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House.

The visit was to intimate the governor on a three-day workshop on “Peace Building and Conflict Management for Sustainable Development in

Nigeria’’ which began in Kaduna yesterday.

Yero said the resolution of the land controversy in the border towns of Kubau Local Government Area of Kaduna State, and some parts of Kano State had become necessary to end the conflict once and for all.

He appealed to the Federal Government to dredge the River Kaduna to prevent flood and improve water supply for domestic, irrigation and other uses.

He said that the state government through its Ministry of Works and Environment had taken proactive measures to

prevent flood disasters in the state.

Yero said that the ministry was mandated to sensitise the public on the need for clearing waterways and drainages, avoid residing in flood-prone areas and adhere strictly to warning by the agencies involved in environmental issues.

Earlier, the NEMA DirectorGeneral who led the delegation, Alhaji Sani Sidi, said the threeday workshop was “ aimed to improve on early warning indicators, prevent, minimise and mitigate the impacts of conflicts and build bridges of understanding and peaceful co-

existence between different sociocultural groups’’.

Sidi added that peaceful coexistence remains the panacea for sustainable development, and urged leaders to implement innovative measures in managing conflicts, risk reduction and environmental hazards.

On his part, Dr Mohammed Ahmed, Director-General of the National Boundary Commission, attributed the cause of boundary disputes to modernity, resource consciousness and pluralism.

He called for the use of dialogue in resolving boundary disputes and challenges. (NAN)

Bauchi to airlift pilgrims from local airport From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

he Bauchi State Government has declared plans to airlift all intending pilgrims from the state this year from the Bauchi International Airport still under construction.

The State Commissioner of Information, Engineer Mohammed Damina made this known while answering questions from newsmen in Bauchi yesterday.

According to him, the state government was committed to the completion of the project, with the 70% down payment made to the contractor.

Damina said, work on the airport has reached advanced stage as contractors handling the project had completed runways and terminals while the government had purchased the necessary equipment to be installed in the airport.

Communities petition Kwara Assembly over immigrants From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

C L-R: Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, and Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amal Pepple, jointly briefing journalists on housing problem, prison condition, and amnesty granted some Nigerians, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja yesterday.

Photo: Joe Oroye

FG, Ezekwesili face off: HURIWA scolds ICPC over aide

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule

H

uman Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has reprimanded Nigeria’s Independent Corrupt Practices and allied offences Commission (ICPC) over the manner in which it handled the case involving an Abuja –based journalist, Tom Chiahemen, who was said to be a media consultant to the former education minister, Oby Ezekwesili.

The group frowned over how the commission had allowed itself to be used by the federal government in its face off with erstwhile education minister by harassing Chiahemen over his professional business interest while working with Ezekwesili during her stint as education minister.

HURIWA called on ICPC “to stop being used for political witch-hunt of perceived political opponents of the current administration such as Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili but rather should tackle the unprecedented cases

of corruption that pervade the Federal ministries and the 36 states of the federation including Abuja.”

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the National Coordinator of the group, Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National media Affairs Director Zainab Yusuf.

The group challenged the ICPC to rather go “after corrupt civil servants who are currently

engaged in the bonanza of looting public fund meant for building of infrastructure and procurement of other essential services, Nigerian Railways and the erratic Electricity power supply situation in Nigeria”.

“The recent incessant question without the presence of the legal counsel of the Abuja – based journalist Mr. Tom Chiahemen by the ICPC over

pure business transactions done by a privately registered company superintended by Mr. Chiahemen with the federal education ministry under Mrs. Ezekwesili, is a clear subterfuge by the anti-graft body to send some ominous signals to the prime target Mrs. Ezekwesili who recently attacked President Jonathan over allegations of financial indiscretion,” the group stated.

newsmen yesterday in Bauchi stated that, “henceforth, operators of motorcycles in the state have been banned from carrying passengers between 6pm and 6am until further notice.”

The statement observed that, “most of the reported criminal activities that occurred in Bauchi metropolis and other parts of the state were committed by persons riding on

motorcycles”.

“This observation has prompted persistent calls from some concerned citizens of the state for the outright banning of the use of motorcycles especially in Bauchi metropolis”,its stated.

However, it stressed, the state government resisted the option of outright banning of the use of motorcycles because of those who earn their living from them.

Bauchi bans ‘Okada’ from carrying passengers 6pm-6am

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

D

isturbed by the rate of crime in the state which in some instances had led to loss of lives, the Bauchi state Government has placed a restriction order on the operation of motorcycles in the state.

A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ishola Michael Adeyemi and made available to

ommunities under the auspices of United Communities Farmers Association in Asa local government area of Kwara State, have forwarded a petition to the State House of Assembly over alleged invasion of their territories by illegal immigrants.

In the petition entitled “save our communities from invasion by illegal immigrants” which was presented on the floor of the House by the member representing Oke-Ero constituency, Dr. Abraham Ashoolu at a plenary, alleged that the suspected immigrants were Boro who have been behind alleged rape cases reported in the area.

They alleged that the unwanted visitors have caused damage to their farmlands, water and other valuables.

“The immigrants also caused damage to our various economic trees which serve as means of livelihood for us apart from raping our wives in the farms”.

The petitioners urged the House of Assembly and other relevant agencies to come to their aid by solving the problem.

The Deputy Speaker, Professor Gana Yissa who presided over the plenary directed the House committees on Agriculture and Water Resources to investigate the matter and report back to the Houseon April 9, 2013.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 8

White smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel chimney signifying the emergence of a new Pope.

Argentina’s Francis I is new Pope

By Abdulkadri Isa with agency report orge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected in a surprise choice to be the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church yesterday, and said he would take the name Francis I. Pope Francis, 76, appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica just over an hour after white smoke poured from a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel to signal he had been chosen to lead the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.

The choice of Bergoglio was announced by French cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran with the Latin words "Annuntiovobisgaudium magnum. HabemusPapam" ("I announce to you a great joy.

We have a pope" Francis becomes the 266th pontiff in the Church's 2,000year history at a time of great crisis and difficulty. Although a conservative he is seen as a reformer and was not among the small group of frontrunners identified before the election.

He also went against one of the main assumptions before the election, that the new pope would be relatively young.

He is the oldest of most of the possible candidates and was barely mentioned in feverish speculation about the top contenders before the conclave.

He is the first Jesuit to become pope.

The decision by 115 cardinal electors sequestered in a secret conclave in the Sistine Chapel came sooner than many experts expected because there were several frontrunners before the vote to replace Pope Benedict, who

J

Pope Francis I resigned in February.

The cardinals faced a thorny task in finding a leader capable of overcoming crises caused by priestly child abuse and a leak of secret papal documents that uncovered corruption and rivalry inside the Church government or Curia.

The wave of problems is thought to have contributed to Benedict's decision to become the first pontiff in 600 years

to abdicate.

The papal election resembles how decisions were made in Europe some 700 years ago, before elected monarchies were replaced by hereditary monarchies, according to Bruce Bueno De Mesquita, professor of politics at New York University who uses a computer model based on game theory to predict the outcome of elections.

Though it is more a product

of tradition than design, it has turned into an efficient system for consolidating the power of the pope and the Church's other elites, De Mesquita said.

Just as in the corporate world or autocratic governments, the small number of electors who are deciding on the leader of the Catholic Church can expect specific rewards - promotions, assignments and other perks for their loyalty, Bueno De Mesquita said.

The idea is that the smaller the number of electors, the greater the relative advantage of siding with the winner.

Cardinals used to sign their names to ballots, but stopped doing so "due to an old history of intrigues and tensions when people used to fear the most serious reprisals for their choices", Michael Bruter, who teaches political science at the London School of Economics, said.

Even so, factions make their views known during informal discussions between votes.

Because the proceedings are secret, researchers know little about what exactly motivates cardinals to switch their votes, but RomainLachat, a political scientist at PompeuFabra University in Barcelona, says the formation of coalitions, where electors slowly rally around a man who may only be their second or third choice, is inevitable.

Thousands of people sheltering from heavy rain under a sea of umbrellas had occupied the square all day to await the decision and the crowd swelled as soon as the white smoke emerged.

They cheered wildly and raced towards the basilica as the smoke billowed from a

narrow makeshift chimney and St Peter's bells rang.

The excited crowd cheered even more loudly when Francis appeared, the first pontiff to take that name.

"Viva il Papa (pope)" they chanted.

"I wasn't expecting it, but I'm absolutely delighted. It's a very unique moment. There is a great sense of unity here. It's great they have come to a decision about who will lead the Church," said John Mcginley, a Scottish priest from Glasgow who traveled to see the conclave.

"It's a great moment in history, something I can tell my mum," said David Brasch, 30, from BrisbaneAustralia.

"He's got to get the child abuse under control, I don't know how they're going to do that. He's got to unite 1.2 billion people."

Bands from the Italian armed forces and the Vatican's own Swiss guard army paraded in front of the basilica before the new pope appeared.

The secret conclave began on Tuesday night with a first ballot and four ballots were held on Wednesday. Francis obtained the required two thirds majority in the fifth ballot.

Following a split ballot when they were first shut away amid the chapel's Renaissance splendor on Tuesday evening, the cardinal electors held a first full day of deliberations on Wednesday. Black smoke rose after the morning session to signal no decision.

The previous four popes were all elected within two or three days.

Seven ballots have been required on average over the last nine conclaves. Benedict was clear frontrunner in 2005 and elected after only four ballots.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 9

Jonathan recalls Hajia Kangiwa from suspension

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

P

resident Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has recalled of the Federal Commissioner, National Refugees Commission, Hajia Hadiza Sani Kangiwa, from suspension.

According to a statement signed by the spokesman to the

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sam Nwaobasi, the decision took immediate effect.

“Accordingly, Hajia Hadiza Kangiwa is expected to immediately return to her duty post as Federal Commissioner for Refugees at the National Refugees Commission.” the statement said.

. . . assures on security of lives, investments

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Abuja assured the international community that his administration will continue to do everything possible to enhance the security of lives and investments in Nigeria.

Speaking at an audience with a 45-member trade delegation from the United States of America, President Jonathan reaffirmed that the Federal Government was working very hard to overcome Nigeria’s current security challenges, saying that an intensive effort was underway to curb terrorism and other criminal acts such as kidnapping and hostage-taking.

The President also assured the delegation which was led by the President and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa, Mr. Steve Hayes and the Executive Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Ms. Mimi Alemayehou that his Administration would continue to empower the private sector to serve as the main drivers of the federal government’s agenda for national economic growth and development.

He told company executives on the delegation with interests in aviation, power, food processing, ICT, construction, housing, textiles, infrastructure and finance that they could be

very confident of the safety of their present and future investments in Nigeria as the country already had one of the most liberal legal regimes for the movement of capital and profits.

“You all know Nigeria’s potentials. With its very huge market and the conducive investment climate we are working hard to foster, it is a country where your companies can do very fruitful business and I assure you of the full encouragement and support of the Federal Government for your investments,” the President told the delegation.

Co-leader of the delegation, Mr. Hayes thanked President Jonathan for his efforts to promote greater trade and economic cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.

He assured the Nigerian leader that the Corporate Council on Africa and its members fully recognized Nigeria’s immense economic potentials and would do their best to support his agenda for national transformation.

Ms. Alemayehou told the President that the delegation had had very fruitful interactions with members of the Federal Executive Council including the Ministers of Works, Housing, Transport, Agriculture and Communications Technology.

Three men docked for murder in Borno From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

T

hree men yesterday appeared before a Maiduguri high court in Borno state, for allegedly conspiring to kill a farmer.

The suspects, Haruna Goni Usman, Jabo Mallam Kansulum and Saleh Mallam Ali were arraigned before Justice Wakil Gana for the murder of one Bulama Jolti in his farm in Bama local government area of the state.

When the case was mentioned yesterday, the accused persons, who all hail from Zinda village conspired among themselves to allegedly, beat the deceased before stabbing him to death on the spot.

They were alleged to had committed the offence in October, 2012.

The trio were arraigned on two-count charge of conspiracy, murder and culpable homicide

punishable with death under sections 97(1) and 221(b) of the penal code law of Borno State.

When the charges were read to the suspects, they pleaded guilty.

However, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kaka Lawan Garbai, who personally appeared in court, entered non guilty plea on behalf of the accused.

This, according to him was imperative as the offences they are being charged, attracts capital punishment that require witnesses to testify, before a judgement is passed on them.

Counsel the accused persons, Barrister Peter Bwala from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, did not object to this.

Consequently, the judge adjourned the case to March 21 for continuation of hearing and remanded the accused men in prison custody.

L-R: Chief Whip, House of Representatives and Chairman, Ad-Hoc Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Hon. Ishaka Mohammed Bawa, in a handshake with Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, during the inauguration of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), yesterday at the National Assembly, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Power: Minister inaugurates supervisory board for TCN

By Etuka Sunday

F

ollowing the three-year management contract for Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) offered to Canadian Manitoba Hydro International (MHI), the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo yesterday inaugurated a Supervisory Board for TCN as a step for achieving better electricity transmission service to Nigerians.

The Board which was inaugurated at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Power, was mandated to oversee the management contractor and report to the Minister of Power on policy matters as it relates its assignment.

Performing the inauguration ceremony, Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for

his unrelenting effort in delivering his promise to Nigerians especially the speedy approval given for the constitution of Supervisory Board for TCN. He added that his administration recognised the need to make TCN more efficient, commercially viable and comparable to global transmission companies especially his privatisation initiatives that brought private sector expertise into the operations of TCN. He praised the effort of the Minister of State for power, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim and expressed confidence that with the calibre of members of the Board, it would deliver on the enormous challenges of overseeing the operations of MHI to ensure that it delivers on the objectives of government.

“MHI is expected to revamp TCN in order to achieve technical and financial adequacy in addition to providing stable transmission of power without system failure. It is also expected that TCN will become a commercially viable and market-driven company that is capable of evacuating the maximum capacity of energy generated for distribution,” he said.

Chairman of the Board, Engr.

Hamman Tukur said Nigerians want efficient and reliable electricity, assuring that resources would be well directed by the Board to ensure a transmission far above the present megawatt.

According to him, Nigeria needs about 100,000 megawatt of electricity in the country and it has the resources to achieve that”, he concluded.

Minister assures Gombe Corps members of better welfare packages From David Hassan, Gombe

B

atch “A” Youth Corps members serving in different parts of the country have been assured of the full implementation of their welfare packages by the Ministry of Youth Development.

The Minister, Inuwa Abdulkadir who gave the assurance in Gombe yesterday during a familiarization visit to the NYSC permanent orientation camp at Mallam Sidi, Gombe state, said the visit was to ensure

the full implementation of the corps members’ welfare packages.

He also assured them that the Gombe state government under the Dankwambo administration was a peaceful state that has sound youth development programmes as he urged them to tap from such laudable programmes of the governor.

According to him, the scheme in its 40 years, has credibly achieved its objectives, saying that no agency in the country has done what NYSC has done for the country in the

last 40 years.

He said “the scheme has provided an opportunity for our teeming youths to see the country beyond their home of origins positively” adding that the efforts of the initiators of the scheme must be commended.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Gombe state NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Teryima Manasseh Igyuse assured the minister that the National Youth Policy of the ministry was being assiduously implemented in Gombe state.

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

CBN gov laments increasing poverty, unemployment From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

G

overnor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has decried deteriorating socioeconomic indices in Nigeria, saying that the unemployment rate shot up to 23 per cent in 2012 as against 8.2 per cent in 1999.

Moreover, according to Sanusi, the poverty level has continued to rise, along with low school enrolment, reduced life expectancy and mortality rate in the country.

Sanusi spoke on Monday at the commissioning of Entrepreneur Development Center (EDC) for north central zone in Makurdi

yesterday.

He explained that the EDC initiative commenced in 2008 with pilot projects in Onitsha, Anambra state, Kano and Lagos states and that over 41,441 persons have been trained with over 98, 000 new jobs.

According to him, the project is a platform for state governments

as well as the private sector to assist the youth indentify and engage in productive ventures.

He said that N20 billion credit had been earmarked for the program with 60 per cent of the money allocated to women.

“The scheme will provide jobs and wealth creation as well as youth restiveness,” Sanusi said.

Kano mass wedding: Textile traders donate N4m From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

K

antin Kwari Textile Market Traders Association in Kano has donated the sum of N4 million to the state Hisbah Commission for the upcoming mass wedding of widows and divorcees.

About 1,000 suitors are expected to be wedded at the programme, sponsored by the Kano state government.

Government had in 2012, conducted two sessions of the wedding involving 350 couples.

One hundred marriages were contracted during the first ceremony while another batch of 250 couples got their certificates at the second mass wedding.

The Director-General of the commission, Malam Abba Sufi, described the donation as timely.

According to him, “preparing for simultaneous wedding of 1,000 couples is not easy. It needs a lot of time and attention and that is why it has been delayed.

T

he Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Dikko Abdullahi, says the service generated N850 billion in 2012.

“We will continue to sustain the tempo of high revenue generation,” he assured on Tuesday the Senate Committee on Finance paid an oversight visit to the customs service.

According to Abdullahi, N90 billion of the fund was generated through revenue leakages arising from underpayment, as he explained that, “under

R-L: Jigawa state Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, in a handshake with Chairman, Crystal Sugar Company, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Abacha, during the latter's visit to the governor to discuss on the Hadejia Sugar Mill Company, on Tuesday at the Government House, in Dutse.

Destination Inspection (DI) Service Providers, our collections are usually boosted by underpayment recovered from review of their Risk Assessment Reports (RARs).”

He said that in 2011, total revenue collected was N779 billion, as, “this represents 10 per cent of our total collection for that year. We can then imagine the situation if Customs were to be fully in charge.”

He noted that the NCS was ready to discharge its full statutory responsibilities adding that the Service has invested massively on human capital development and Information and Communication

(ICT) revolution to bring about eCustoms operation from manifest to cargo exit.

He listed other achievements by the service to include, recruitment of over 7000 young graduates, some of them with IT background, to bridge existing generation gap in the Service.

“The development of a new application system known as the Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) to replace the Risk Assessment Report (RAR) currently issued by Service Providers.

“The launch of a new interactive portal, known as the Nigeria Trade Hub, that provides

online information and guidance about import and exports to the international business community.”

Earlier in his speech, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, said that the National Assembly was set to accelerate the passage of the Customs Excise Management Act (CEMA).

According to Makarfi, the Bill when passed will address the funding challenges being experienced by the Service at the moment, noting that the 48 objections raised against the Bill have been resolved through dialogue.

“Nigeria’s cocoa export has equally grown over the years by an average of 40 per cent annually and a cumulative of 280 per cent from $215 million in 2006 to $822.8 million from the export of cocoa and cocoa products last year.

“Nigeria is the world’s fourth largest producer and exporter of cocoa and over 90 per cent of the cocoa produced is exported, our

domestic consumption of this strategic commodity is barely three per cent.

“Given this scenario, not only is increased local consumption encouraged, the pursuance of value addition in our export drive has also become the ultimate goal of substantially reducing the export of raw cocoa and ensuring stable and improved income for our farmers.”

…And $900m from cocoa export - Minister From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

M

inister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Agaqnga has said that Nigeria realized about $900 million from the export of cocoa and cocoa products in 2012.

He stated this during the national sensitization workshop on Sanitary Standards Capacity Building in Africa.

By Umar Muhammad Puma

W

orried by the high rate of accidents along the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Airport road Abuja, the House of Representatives on Tuesday mandate its committee on Health to take urgent steps to ensure that a general hospital is approved and established in the area.

The motion was sponsored by Hon. Yusuf Manu Swa (PDP Gombe state) who argued that government hospitals in Abuja city are far from Airport road thereby denying essential health services to the people in that area.

According to him, “the absence of a general hospital in Lugbe or any other settlement along Airport road has resulted in the death of many innocent people because of the distance to the city where government hospitals are located.

“Data from the Federal Road Safety Commission shows that between January to December 2012, the number of accidents recorded is over 1000 along that road, out of which commercial vehicles recorded 199, private vehicles 459 while government vehicles were 11.

Kano plans metropolitan railway transport

Customs generated N850bn in 2012, says DG

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Reps urge FG to establish hospital along FHA, Lugbe

In an address presented on his behalf by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olakunle Sogboola, the Minister described cocoa as the second largest foreign exchange earner after crude oil and that it generates over two million jobs along its value chain.

According to him, “the global market for cocoa is very huge, growing at an average of three per cent per annum.

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

K

ano state Governor, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, says government has begun moves to establish a railway line in Kano metropolis.

Speaking at an interactive session with reporters on Tuesday at the Government House, Kwankwaso explained that the idea of a metropolitan railway emanated from his recent visit to the United Arab Emirate (UAE).

He said, “our administration is devising means to establish metropolitan railway transportation in order to ease movement for the teeming population in the metropolis, thereby boarding a large number of people at the same time and at a cheaper fare in line with modern transportation system.”

The Governor also noted that he seized the opportunity of the visit to discuss extensively with stakeholders in Dubai on the possibility of generating electricity from Tiga and Challawa-Goje.

According to him, “even if the state government will go to the extent of borrowing to finance the projects, it will do so in order to enhance the transportation in Kano.”

The governor hinted that the government has discussed with the upper echelon of the royal families in Dubai for the establishment of multi cooperative society between Dubai and Kano state.

PAGE 11

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Your knowledge will never be irrelevant ‌turn it to a business I f there's one thing that many people are learning right now, it's that you can't really rely on someone else for job security.

Even though the recession has technically been over for a few years, job growth is still slow, and not everyone feels safe in their jobs.

Instead of relying on someone else to ensure that you have the income you need, consider developing income diversity. One way to do this is to start a business.

Think about what you know.

There are a number of ways that you can turn what you know into a business. You don't need your side business to replace your day job immediately, or ever; some just keep their businesses as side ventures to build up their emergency fund or investments.

No matter what your main goal is, capitalizing on what you know can be a good way to boost your income and prepare for the future.

Here are three ways to turn your knowledge into a business: Start a blog on your topic of expertise If you have particular

knowledge about an area, you can start a web site or blog on that subject. One of the great things about starting a web site or blog is that the barriers to entry are relatively low.

It doesn't cost very much, and technology has made it easy for almost anyone to get started.

Consider a blog where you share your knowledge to help others. You can use ads to earn money, or join affiliate programs.

As you work to build your base, and as your web site grows in popularity, you can begin to profit from the knowledge you share on your blog or web site.

Offer your services as a consultant Another option is to offer your services as a consultant. My husband, who is knowledgeable about survey design and statistics, has been paid as a consultant in both of those areas.

If you're well-versed in a soughtafter topic, others might pay you to provide insight.

Consultants can make pretty good money. You can also offer your services by teaching seminars. I know a financial

planner who is paid to teach corporate workers about retirement benefits. Whether you turn your green thumb into a garden consulting business, or advise local businesses on how to run a successful social media campaign, it's possible for you to earn money as a consultant.

Teach what you know You can also teach what you know for a fee. If you're good at standardized tests, or know a lot about a specific subject area, you can hire yourself out as a tutor. I taught piano lessons for a while as a teenager, which was great because I earned money on my own schedule. From knitting to computer literacy to dancing to the best fishing spots in the area, it's possible for you to teach others what you know, and get paid for it.

Most of us know something of interest, and many of us can even be considered experts in a particular area. Think about how you can use your knowledge to earn a little extra money. You might be surprised at what others are willing to pay for.

Microsoft inventor, Bill Gates, successfully used his knowledge to invent life-long international business.

Manage, streamline your income and expenses for better future

W

hen it comes to personal finance, you essentially have two major areas of focus, your income and your expenses. On the income side, you're dependent on a number of external factors such as the economy, your employer, your tax rate, your industry, etc.

These external factors can sometimes work against you, making it difficult to make strides in increasing your income in order to improve your financial condition.

On the other hand, your expenses or your spending in most cases are completely under your control. Since you control your spending, you can definitely make strides in this area so that you can increase your savings. Here are tips to help you manage your expenses.

Your savings rate Sure, there are scenarios where you can't control every aspect of your expenses. For instance, maybe you have

Quote There is no royal, flowerstrewn path to success.

And if there is, I have not found it. For, if I have accomplished anything in life, it is because I have been willing to work hard. — C.J. Walker

medical needs that are beyond your control and eat into your income each month. With that said, the majority of your expenses such as housing, food, entertainment, all are automatically adjustable and under your control.

This is a very important aspect of personal finance to understand clearly. The point is that you can improve your financial life, whether it is by paying off your debtor, boosting your savings or by improving on this area that you have complete control over. The only question

is how far you're willing to take it and whether or not you're willing to exercise a significant level of control over your expenses.

Control your housing expenses First biggest expense is your housing. Most people spend entirely too much on housing, because most people are living beyond their means when it comes to the home they live in and real estate is very emotional and you can easily get caught up in the idea of living in a certain home despite the large expenses it represents. Remember, housing is an expense nothing more. As such, we want try to keep it low,

just like any other expense. Take strides today to get yourself in a better position with your residence. If you need to sell a house at a loss, I say do it. Get your monthly housing expense under control.

Transportation expenses Next on the list are your car or transportation expenses. It's crazy that so many of us have large auto payments. It's time to quit or caring about what we drive and get a car that is reliable and nothing more. Sell your expensive car, pay cash for the next one, and do what you can to keep it moving. This is an area of people's lives that far too often results in significant amounts of money lost.

Food and entertainment When it comes to food and entertainment, this is all about lifestyle.

How often do you eat at a restaurant each week? Do you eat out for lunch at work on a regular basis? It's time to start controlling how much you spend on eating out. When it comes to groceries, get more efficient at planning meals and buy only the necessary items for those planned meals.

With regards to entertainment, this is pure discretionary spending. Cut all of it

out of your monthly budgets if you're up for it.

These three areas will jumpstart the control process of your expenses. You can get into other areas such as clothing, dry cleaning, and so on. But master these three large categories; it will make a significant impact on your financial life. Remember, you may not be able to control everything about your income due to a lack of available opportunities but you can definitely control your spending.

Biz Tip: No one will give you money

T

here, I said it. No one will invest in you. If you need large sums of capital to launch your venture, go back to the drawing board. Find a starting point instead of an end point.

Scale down pricey plans and grandiose expenditures. Simplify the idea until it's manageable as an early stage venture. Find ways to prove your business model on a shoestring budget.

Demonstrate your worth before seeking investment. If your concept is successful, your chances of raising capital from investors will dramatically improve.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

T

Murder of Kwara Commissioner of Police

he Kwara state Police Commissioner, Mr. Chinwike Asadu, was killed in his private Enugu house, on Saturday, March 2. He was reported to have dropped off a lawyer friend who visited him and was on his way back to his house when he was felled by gunmen's bullets.

Survivors of the attack, the late CP's orderly, Aloha Olaniyi, and another policeman from the city's Abakpa police division, Oliver Omeh, who were injured, said the gunmen, numbering about four, attacked them and killed the CP. They said a man in police uniform was among the four gunmen.

The Enugu state Police Command, which is handling the investigation into the incident, has arrested some suspects in connection with the killing.

However, the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Tonye Ebitibituwa, who said his command was yet to unravel the real motive of the killing of his Kwara colleague, added that the police would reveal neither the number of those arrested nor their identities in order not to jeopardise the ongoing investigation.

The killing has provoked widespread condemnations. The House of Representatives has called on the Inspector General of

Police to conduct a thorough probe into the incident in order to fish out the killers and unravel their motives. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in a statement by National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, expressed shock

“

As the Commissioner of Police in Kwara, the ordinary and highly placed citizens of the state looked up to him for protection. Unfortunately, the physician could not heal himself and sadness over the killing, saying the murder of Asadu reinforced the belief in certain quarters that Nigeria is fast becoming a failed state. "If such a high ranking security officer can be so cheaply gunned down, then no one is safe," the statement warned.

Police authorities in Abuja announced that the commissioner's killers have "murdered sleep" and

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would not find rest. The widow of the murdered police chief, Oby, has responded by saying she has left everything to God. The Peoples Daily shares the grief of the heartbroken widow and her cynicism too. We have heard again and again such reassurances from the police especially after such high profile crimes take place. Sadly, these promises of being on top of the situation never yield any fruits. They are promises made to be broken. Even the cold blooded murder in his bedroom of the nation's Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Chief Bola Ige, who enjoyed 24 hours police protection, has remained unresolved, ten years after.

Police Commissioner Asadu gave a substantial part of his life to the service of his chosen profession, policing. It is sad that he was killed by hoodlums, one of them wearing a police uniform. Have criminals infiltrated the police or are police uniforms so commonplace that every Dick, Tom and Harry could just pick them up and use them to commit murder?

As the Commissioner of Police in Kwara, the ordinary and highly placed citizens of the state looked up to him for protection. Unfortunately, the physician could not heal himself.

Needles to say, Nigeria cannot continue like this.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

By Theophilus Ilevbare

T

he pesky ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan to seek a second term in office was given the green light by an Abuja High Court ruling. Though he has remained coy - a loud silence to me - on his ambition to seek reelection, his body language, actions and inactions have suggested he is set to run for a second term. He seem to be fully persuaded for 2015 by the trappings of Aso Rock, the lure of power, fame, a horde of sycophants and hangers-on whose only interest is another four years of the continuous milking of the cash cow Nigeria.

We all can recall, on the first of January 2013 residents in Abuja woke up to behold the posters of Jonathan in their neighbourhood, the strongest indication of the new year that he will contest in 2015 at a time Nigerians were trying to grapple with the stale air of his administration. It was no mistake that the same posters resurfaced in Abuja, less than 24 hours after the election of Tony Anenih as the BoT chairman of the PDP. No one will believe the tale that Mr. Jonathan will not contest the forthcoming election.

The recent repositioning of the PDP field marshals and foot soldiers in the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the PDP Governors Forum, carved out of the NGF, are strong indications that the ground is being prepared in the forth coming elections. The unanimous victory of Tony Anenih to double as the chairman of the money spinning NPA and BoT of the

PAGE 13

Run, Jonathan run in 2015 PDP on one hand and Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state, loyal servant of the PDP as the chairman of the newly formed PDP Governors Forum, on the other hand is a loud political statement in itself. The formation of the PDP-NGF was in a bid to whittle down the influence of the chairman of the NGF, and Governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi. The PDP wing of the NGF was apparently formed to promote the interest of Jonathan's second term ambition within the ranks of the PDP governors. With the PDP machinery in motion, and more billions needed to keep it steamrolled, we should expect more frivolous white elephant projects in the coming months.

Unsurprisingly, a diffident President Jonathan in 2011 has shown lately, with his deft political alignment that he knows his way around his party and he is capable of playing politics dirty. Advertently, his rumoured ambition has been amplified in decibels from the ruling party. The chairman Bamanga Tukur has been effusive about it, declaring he is free to contest the election on the platform of the party. With the appointment of the PDP election machineries to key government agencies, fictitious multi-billion naira projects awarded and those on the cards, deliberate non-implementation of budgets, the party is sure to be armed with a war chest for 2015.

For incumbent President Jonathan to renege on a gentleman's arrangement,

written or verbal, he entered with his PDP cohort from the north raises integrity and credibility questions. The fact that Mr. Jonathan has not denied the existence of an agreement, speaks volumes.

Needless to add, I am not a proponent of zoning. Overtime, zoning has become insidious and the aftermath disastrous for our fledgling democracy. The likes of Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu should realise that zoning as a political philosophy is as of today, pernicious and inconsistent with the changing political landscape and must be jettisoned. For second term seekers, performance in office, character, proven track record and merit should be subject to competitive forces that will throw up a competent winner at the polls.

The office of the president or any other elective public office is nobody's birth right, everyone has the right to contest. The way to eliminate mediocrity from leadership positions is to create a

level playing ground for all aspirants where the worst prepared and least capable candidate is weeded out by the most competent aspirant.

The jostling for 2015 is uncalled for. It has overheated the polity, breeding unnecessary tension. The NGF has been polarised along party and regional lines, the PDP is a house divided against itself, the National Assembly is crossed with the executive. In the months to come in Jonathan's administration, all hope is virtually lost on his ability to deliver on whatever remains of the dividend of democracy that was promised.

Nigerians and, particularly the opposition, must be vigilant and not get carried away by the perpetually contrived internal crisis in the PDP. Make no mistake about it, they aren't fighting just yet, ignore the Nollywood movie playing out between the presidency and the NGF. Sooner rather than later,

“

For incumbent President Jonathan to renege on a gentleman's arrangement, written or verbal, he entered with his PDP cohort from the north raises integrity and credibility questions. The fact that Mr. Jonathan has not denied the existence of an agreement, speaks volumes

Jonathan will have dinner with the governors like he did with Obasanjo.

With the benefit of hindsight, it is practically impossible to stop a Nigerian political office holder from running for a second term.

It is futile dissuading Jonathan from contesting. Cast your mind on Obasanjo's second term debacle in 2003 for a better understanding of the scenario playing out this time around.

For a president who was quoted as saying one term is enough to make meaningful impact on the lives of the people, it is not so difficult to see why even his kinsmen are opposed to his second coming. Convincing the rest Nigerians to vote him again will be an uphill task, even those who said they voted for Jonathan rather than PDP in 2011 will have a rethink.

Opposition parties should rather start mapping out strategies on how to defeat him at the polls.

In the light of his poor performance, unfulfilled promises, the slow pace of his administration, his preposterous fight against corruption and the growing apathy of Nigerians against the PDP for their failure to bring the country out of the wood since 1999, it makes Mr. Jonathan an easy candidate to beat in a free, fair and credible election. The opposition and those opposed to his candidature need not lose sleep, but close ranks to sensitise and strategise on how to oust him through the ballot.

Taofeek Ramat wrote in from Lagos.

North doesn't control Nigeria's oil blocks (II)

By Toyin Akinosho

T

he author just doesn't care to verify his claims. True, Indimi's Oriental Resources holds the three assets.

OML 115 is not producing as I write. No one has certified that there's a producible field in the acreage. Ebok is being produced, on Oriental Resources' behalf, by Afren, a UK listed company. Last year, the field delivered an average of 8,000 barrels of Oil per Day (BOPD), according to Afren's website. You can google it. Okwok, as I write, is still in development. Translation: it has produced not a drop of oil.

Aminu Dantata's Express Petroleum holds the Oil Mining Lease 108, with technical partners Shebah Petroleum, which bought out Conoco, the original technical partners.

Fine. The Ukpokiti field, the main asset on the acreage, produced for quite a while; and should have made the Dantatas quite rich, over a period of more than seven years. The field died out at some point and is being revived as I write.

"North East Petroleum is owned by another Fulani businessman from the Northeast, Alhaji Saleh Mohammed Jambo", Alabo-George testifies.

"The license was awarded to him

by General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida". Another truth: North East Petroleum has NEVER produced a single drop of oil since that award in the early 90s. There, simply, hasn't been a discovery worth the while for operator TOTAL. I agree that Theophilus Danjuma, also a northerner, is entitled to contest for the award of the man who made the most fortune, at a sitting, on oil acreage in Nigeria. AlaboGeorge's article, in his rush to conclusions, even understates the significance by claiming that Danjuma's company, South Atlantic Petroleum Limited (SAPETRO), made $1 billion from the deal. The truth is that China National Overseas Offshore Company (CNOOC), signed a definitive agreement with SAPETRO to acquire a 45% working interest in OML 130 for $2.268 billion cash.

I don't know how much the broker of the deal took, but I am yet to confirm if the Nigerian government earned any withholding tax from that transaction. In spite of what he has earned "upfront", Danjuma's SAPETRO gets 25,600 barrels of oil per day for its 15% of OML 130 from the Akpo field, which

is delivering 175,000BOPD. But if you complain about northerner Danjuma, what about the Alakijas, a Yoruba couple whose company, Famfa Oil, is "entitled", every day, to 25,000BOPD from Chevron operated Agbami Field, located in deepwater OML 127? These two companies are two of the four largest producing Nigerian companies today. The other two are Adenuga's Conoil (25,000BOPD) and Seplat Petroleum (37,000BOPD, operated, 16,000BOPD equity).

Only one of those four companies is northern owned.

And it is outright falsehood that "80 per cent of crude oil and gas produced by indigenous companies is controlled by the North-East". But, as I said again: which technical and managerial capacity are we building on the back of the rent collected from these leases. It's the real job.

The last example I will touch is the case of Rilwanu Lukman, who Alabo-Gorge cites as having controlling shares in Afren, the UK listed company. Lukman was there on the ground floor of the construction of Afren, around 2004, no doubt, but the key founders of Afren are Ethelbert

Cooper, the Liberian businessman and Osman Shahenshah, who is the current Chief Executive.

What people like Lukman and Egbert Imomoh, the other Nigerian on the company's board in the founding days, did, is the kind of thing I urge Nigerians in their positions to do: Use your knowledge to access and create value, not to grab and destroy value. Cooper and Shanenshah knew that Lukman (then out of office both from OPEC and as Nigerian special adviser), and Imomoh (then recently retired as Deputy Managing Director of Shell Nigeria) knew the Nigerian oil industry deeply and could access oil and gas fields that were lying fallow.

Shanenshah, coming from a financial services background, knew how to raise funds: the most important thing in oilfield exploration and development.

Indeed, the first piece of news by which most people knew of the existence of Afren was that the IMF had agreed to give a 5 million dollar loan to this company, which was only just about starting. It pays to have Lukman on your board.

Yet, in spite of Lukman's influence in the Nigerian polity,

Afren had never accessed Nigerian acreages via government awards. Afren, cash in hand, running a technically proficient company, approaches Nigerian indigenous owners of assets-like Ndimi's Oriental Resources, Amni and several marginal field holders, and signs agreements with them to be technical partners.

After Afren has recovered its investment via cost oil, Afren and the company continue to share the proceeds from the field 50:50 for the life of the field.

Afren uses Nigerian technical capacity to a large degree and it trains a lot of people. But it can do more.

Afren has never benefitted from bid round or governmentsanctioned discretionary awards, so why would anyone link Lukman's involvement in Afren to a list that has a number of northerners supposedly benefitting from government largesse? That is part of the trouble I have with AlaboGeorge's essay.

Concluded Toyin Akinosho, a petroleum geologist and one-time community newspaper editor, is now publisher of African Oil+Gas Report

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 14

National Assembly Clerk on technical education

By Ibrahim Biu

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he date for the conferment of the fellowship award came suddenly. It took many people by surprise.

However, those who are close to Alhaji Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa, the Clerk of the National Assembly, certainly were not surprised about the honour done to him by the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa in Nasarawa state, three weekends ago. As the star award recipient, he was expected to deliver the guest speaker's lecture. And he chose to speak on "The role of the Legislature in the development of technical education in Nigeria". It was a masterly delivery.

Maikasuwa emphasized the importance of technological education as the engine room of economic development, urging that the federal, state and local governments as well as the private sector collaborate on this very crucial factor of growth, particularly as regards youth empowerment. He said any nation that develops its technological base has succeeded in empowering the youth who he described as the vanguard of

By Emmanuel Ado

A

ccording to Napoleon Hill "if you can't do great things, do small things in a great way". I am not sure Hill had the likes of Stella Oduah ,the Minister of Aviation, or Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos state, another great achiever in mind, when he wrote this.

Oduah obviously does not believe in doing small things and making them look great, rather she does great things and makes them look small. For her and the team she leads, there is so much to do and so little time. Just as ensuring that gains made are consolidated. For instance, what is the need of a new airport, if it cannot be maintained? It is a commendable to see some serious thinking taking place in the ministry of aviation.

In my view, the princess of Akili -Ozizor, is more a disciple of the great civil rights activist , Jesse Jackson who said "if my mind can conceive it, my heart can believe it, I know I can achieve it". Only Oduah will be doing 11 airports and all at the same time and before the paint will dry on Abuja airport ,has already got approval for five new terminals at Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu airports, and cargo terminals and still has her sights set on the remaining 11 airports like Akure, Ibadan, Ilorin etc. Her goal is to "remodel" all the nation's 22 airports, built more than 30 years ago. What she calls "psychological lift to our psyche as a people".

The ministry of aviation is thankfully not all about constructing or rebuilding ,as much as there is the need (decayed infrastructure),but also about making the sky safe, about ensuring that passengers get value , that they are not short changed. The mission of the ministry to build a safe, secured and efficient aviation industry focused on making Nigeria a hub that meets international

that the development.

National Several Assembly, as a high profile resource personalities in Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text appropriation the audience body, has a big described the messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written role to play in lecture as "food contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 promoting the for thought" words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and nation's and a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed technological recommended to: advancement. it as source "The legislature material in is in a better tertiary The Editor, position to institutions of Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, influence the learning.

35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. development of Among the Email: opinion@peoplesdaily-online.com technical dignitaries SMS: 07037756364 education, and were Alhaji also facilitate Ahmadu the attainment Tanko,

by Nigeria of international 2007, Maikasuwa did his best Mbanganin Nasarawa and the technological recognition," he possible not to disappoint his Speaker, Nasarawa state House said. audience. He showed he was on of Assembly, Musa Ahmed The clerk averred that the top of the subject of the lecture.

Mohammed, Baraden relative technological First, he traced the trajectory of Nasarawa. backwardness of Nigeria and the the nation's decline in technical The clerk did justice to the unacceptable state of technical education. He identified the topic as he painstakingly education in the country have constraints hindering its analyzed the why and how been a source of concern to the development, noting that the technical education , if legislature since its inception in outcome of accreditation of effectively harnessed, could lead 1999. However, he assured that courses in our technological to the desired socio-economic "the National Assembly is institutions has continued to be a development of the nation apart constitutionally tasked with the source of worry in our national from empowering the responsibility of making laws for march toward technological beneficiaries. good government in the advancement.

As the third recipient of the country."

Maikasuwa was convinced award since it was introduced in

WRITE TO US

Aviation under Oduah standards and best practices is a testimony to this fact. We cannot forget in a hurry , her principled fight with the British Airways, over the disparity in airfare between Abuja and London and Accra to London ,which in fact was a subtle plan to subjugate Nigeria to Ghana ,by luring Nigerians to travel out through Ghana or the fight over the naked N2,500 exploitation of passengers introduced unilaterally by airlines.

Also worthy of note, she is not doing things in a vacuum; things are well thought out. After several failed attempts, Nigeria finally has a national policy on civil aviation that is in tandem with the Yamoussoukro Declaration of 1988.A document that was further reaffirmed in 1994. Critical in that policy, is making the sky safe and comfort and protection of air passengers.

In this regard, the duty waivers for aircraft and spare parts which she seriously fought for is most commendable. With this in place, the airlines have no reason "managing" parts. Already the gains are being felt as some old airlines are strongly coming back into the market and the competition is becoming stiff, all to the advantage of the passengers, especially on the Kaduna - Lagos route that is now N15,000. The car hire operator that took me into town, confirmed to me that he now works every day, unlike in the past when it is every other day.

The Abuja- Lagos route will soon hopefully peg at below N25,000, from the present N35,000 ,as the airlines pass on the benefits of some of her initiatives onto the passengers.

In the last one and half years, I have frequently traversed Nigeria, journeying through many of its airports , which these have been rebuilt,

expanded, remodelled or are being refurbished . Public officers deserve commendation when they deliver and condemnation when they are unable to perform the simplest of tasks. To many people the transformation of the Benin Airport is a near miracle.

It is like a dream and this is what leadership is all about - making impacts. Just like another achiever - the great comrade governor , Aliyu Adams Oshiomhole is doing. We have seen roads like the airport road , that one never knew could be tarred ,not only being tarred, but dualized ,erosion problems being tackled ,illegal buildings destroyed and traffic on the notorious Lagos - Benin road a thing of the past ,like what Fashola did at Oshodi.

What I found amazing is that though appointed largely based on proven competence(built her company SPG from scratch into a multi -billion company, with interest in oil and gas, agriculture and logistics )she was still considered "a nobody", with the more charitable critics , acknowledging her appointment to her role in mobilizing support for Mr. President, the less charitable to her beauty .Whatever the reason(there will always be a reason),she could have become a big burden to Mr. President by being "an eloquent failure", by not delivering and counting on her relationship in making the president, to remain in office . Stella Oduah must be commended, for making it clear that the" favour/reward" ended with Mr. President appointing her a minister. The respect she has today, she has earned for herself by over delivering and history will be kind to her for serving with such great credit.

Mr. President also deserves praise for appointing a beautiful ,brilliant ,competent and

determined woman, (she left the comfort of the NNPC to set up SPG), as minister in charge of aviation, after all aviation is about beauty and brain. His decision to empower many women ,to place huge responsibility on them is not a mistake ,having followed with keen interest the waves women are making today world over. It goes to show deep thinking , faith and trust that women can deliver, if given the chance.

Thank you for giving Stella Oduah, the support to accomplish all that she has done and the many more she is cooking.

And this brings us to the critical issue - the lack of respect for our hardworking women. No doubt, man has since creation been the dominant sex, but this is changing fast. In the United Kingdom, the succession laws have been changed ,such that women have right to the throne.

In the debate leading to the change, the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said, "the current law was based on the supposed superiority of men'' stressing "they belong to a bygone era". In Japan, where there is difficulty in producing male children, similar thinking is ongoing to change the rules. In South Korea where women who "failed" to produce male heirs were turned into domestic servants things have changed drastically and dramatically. By 1990, the laws were revised so that divorced women could have custody of the children and inherit property. Today in South Korea the preference of male child over the female child is over. Thus, it is not by mistake that South Korea has elected a woman as its president. And post genocide Rwanda became the first country with majority of women in parliament, as part of

One of the major areas where the National Assembly can impact on the development of technical education in Nigeria, he said, was the appropriation of resources to key economic sectors. "There is no denying the fact that education is very poorly funded in Nigeria, which is yet to comply with the UNESCO recommendation of 26% of annual budget should be spent on education."

It is no wonder that Maikasuwa is passionate about the status of technological education in this country, having experienced firsthand how many nyouths can be empowered through it to be self supportive and employers of labour in their own right.

He believes not just in giving handouts and alms, but in giving for the sustained and long-term improvement of, and positive change in the lives of people. He is the initiator of several skills acquisition and development projects in Keffi and other parts of Nasarawa state, as well as patron of several poverty reduction and economic empowerment groups in other parts of the country.

Ibrahim Biu contributed this material from Abuja. the healing process.

In 2006, the Organization for Economic Co-operation& Development ,devised the Gender, Institutions , and Development Database, which measured the economic and political power of women in 162 countries. With few exceptions ,the greater the power of women, the greater the country's economic success. This largely explains the push by Aid agencies for political quotas for women.

The Ngozi Okonji Iweala's, Evelyn Oputa's, the Oduah's are by their performance pointing the way forward. A woman president from the look of things is possible in my lifetime.

In "Enlightened Power: How Women Are Transforming the Practice Of Leadership", David Gergen wrote,"women are knocking on the door at the very moment when their talents are especially well matched with the requirements of the day".

Men must come to terms with the fact that it is no longer about physical strength, but now all about reason. The "post heroic'' or "transformational '' leader is more like a good coach who channels his charisma to motivate others to be hard working and creative. The era of a commander and controller in chief is past.

The challenge for the minister is not to rest on her oars.

She owes us the duty to deliver on the Aerotroplis project , a concept that will generate employment ,the five new terminals at Lagos ,Kano, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Abuja, Airports, the cargo terminals, the new multi-level car park at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport ,and working with Fashola of Lagos State to clear the road leading into Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria of the eyesorefirst impression matters.

Emmanuel Ado was external media consultant to late Governor Patrick Yakowa

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 15

Why do we need to allocate oil blocks?

By Anthony Kila

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he title of this piece could have well been: Northern control of oil blocks: daddy not our brothers cornered our meat. Elsewhere a title of such would be unfamiliar if not completely surreal to an average citizen for it is not common for people in modern countries to use family terms when talking about politico-economic relations of a country. That, however, is not the case in Nigeria where we have developed a modern state in which those in charge of public affairs are by virtue of their offices considered and regarded as fathers and mothers rather than mere servants and representatives of the country, or at most accountable leaders.

There are times when one struggles to keep a straight face when confronted with the spectacle of fathers of families thumping the chests over their potbellies as someone else's boys and proclaiming allegiance to their public father, in his presence of course. Amusing scenes apart, one of the dangerous consequences of this mode of conceiving power is that those that get into office are then easily tempted and allowed to

By Taofeek Ramat

A

group of concerned citizens launched the KickOut Siddon Look, running to about a month now, but the membership of the FaceBook group has only reached 337 and barely 841 likes. In the past we have had many songs released by countless number of artists, which ought to help our collective angers to simmer, in order to channel our efforts towards liberating ourselves, but all these have amounted to nothing. So saddening and depressing for patriots!

Including those who have escaped the sweltering realities of life in Nigeria! There are also many more countless efforts, fora, listserv, discussion forums and of course the dialectical processes which have been going for as long as I can remember - the news stand parliaments, the tête-à-tête which can also be a college of group of Nigerians soaked in passionate discussions about the disgusting conditions of their homeland.

Why are all these not helping to instigate the motion for change and truly better life for Nigerians?

As the 2015 elections draw nigh and the plots of the drama thicken, my concerns get heightened. If the patriots are going to save Nigeria and Nigerians, a lot more needs to be done and differently. Please do not rest on your oars because the oppositions are merging. That would not go far. In fact, such can be a perfect recipe for a return to the status quo. We have been there before. Remember at the

exercise power in an arbitrary way up to the point of abusing their roles and positions.

It is in line with this dangerously absurd mode of conceiving power that I suggest we examine the bombshell recently dropped by Senator Ita Enang that 83 percent of oil blocs in the country are owned by northerners. We should, however, hasten to note that the main problem and the ultimate responsibility of such lopsided distribution are not of our northern brothers, but of those that ruled the country.

Before then, we all, northerners in primis, however, have a duty to understand the deep sense of grievance that this kind of information can provoke in those that come from the oil producing areas and those from other parts of the country that feel shortchanged by this askew distribution. Understanding these grievances needs just a bit of common sense, goodwill or empathy. Those who readily discard these grievances are either in bad faith or lack these basic elements.

Still harmed with our common sense, goodwill and empathy, it is easy to understand that any Nigerian that knows

what an oil bloc kis will want one, understandably not every Nigerian can get one. The question then is: In a country of millions, who gets the limited oil blocks that all want? The answers to this question from those that have ruled the country are already in front of us.

If those in charge of public affairs in Nigeria were filled with enough republican ethos and devotion to merit the status of leaders or had enough care to deserve the title of fathers or godfathers, they would have before answering such a question added more questions and factored in some considerations crucial to the wellbeing of the people and country on whose behalf they profess to rule and manage power. They would have asked themselves why do we need to allocate oil blocks?

What do we, as a country, want from this oil? How do we do this allocation in a way that reflects its nature of being a commonwealth? The same people that fill their mouths with the importance of a united Nigeria and introduced the concept of federal character should have remembered and considered that this is a country of different cultures, nations and

ethnic groups. They should have remembered that their main duties as rulers are to ensure security, justice and to aid development.

It is obvious our leaders have clearly neither asked themselves these questions nor considered these crucial elements. They have instead resorted to allocating what they should be managing for all to themselves and their friends. To compound matters, the country and the people they rule have little or nothing to show for it. Children are starving and their parents are obese.

The worst offenders in this case are those that had state power and then proceeded to help themselves with what they should be managing and regulating for the common good.

Regardless of how common this malpractice is and how many people engage in it, we must say shame on them. Regardless of their performance in office or their method of gaining entry into office, once in power, every dullard, every lackey in Nigeria is guaranteed a place in history textbooks. They are given one of the highest salaries in the world and offered lifelong deference and opportunities in the country, but

no, that is not enough. They want economic in addition to political power.

With their greedy and corrupt actions, these people are not only guilty of abusing power, they are also responsible for the desire of many to go into politics to loot rather than serve.

They are killing diversity of ideas and aspirations, elements necessary for a dynamic and prosperous country. It is because of the way they manage power that we have a weak middle class have fewer professionals proud of their skills and confident that with their ability and hard work they can make it in Nigeria without connections or godfather.

We shall be deceiving and destroying ourselves if we limit this to a North vs. South matter.

What have they done for the North in whose name they loot?

Everywhere in the country people are feeling the same pains.

It is a matter of leadership and accountability not geography or ethnicity. Today it is oil, tomorrow it may be contracts, electricity or nominations. These rulers called fathers are the ones cornering our meat.

Anthony Kila’s professional profile is on LinkedIn

Are Nigerians ready for salvation? birth of democracy in 1999, true patriots who fought the despots went back to sleep, and the few who came into power have progressive and patriotic credentials that are contestable. It was the passiveness and going back to the sleep of those who fought for the new democracy that gave us demagogues parading themselves as democrats; the supposed progressive who perpetuated more destruction continuing in the styles of the destroyers. And we ought to be wary of those supposed progressives who savour the vanity and grandstanding of those in the other camp - people with blood oath commitment to ensure Nigerians remain poor amidst oceans of human and material resources, even the best of climate.

And we ought to, by every means possible change tactics.

If you are not bothered, I am.

And the more reason why we

should be worried is - countries that have made the leap into better living condition for their people did not take 15 years learning the ropes, chanting nascent democracy. If you are in doubt make a call to Brazil or Finland. Unlike the countries which pick over half of their population out of poverty within such a period, Nigerian leaders have taken fifteen years to waste our commonwealths on frivolities and megalomaniac projects.

And they get as many fooled because these hypes of accomplishment get good sound bites in the media. A true transformation and development is the one that takes millions out of poverty, ensure improved social wellbeing for all, not increasing unemployment, death and despair.

As we match towards 2015, it is time to change tactics. We cannot give up on Nigeria. The

“

singers, actors, and artists who came out to protest in January 2012 ought to have gone back to their drawing boards, and by now we should have been premiering movies, documentaries and commentaries that Nigerians would come out to watch and go back home sombre and reflective of their desperate lives and living conditions, not the many helping to perpetuate 'suffering and smiling'.

And one more worry, that man who recruited some group of artists to lend their voice to perpetuating the oppression of their people, endorsing a clueless presidential candidate has started implementing the same template again. Did you not hear he had dinner with them last week? Just one the strategies he deployed the other time, which he is reapplying again towards 2015. And you know the vested interests know that GEJ is not competent, nor

As we match towards 2015, it is time to change tactics. We cannot give up on Nigeria. The singers, actors, and artists who came out to protest in January 2012 ought to have gone back to their drawing boards, and by now we should have been premiering movies, documentaries and commentaries that Nigerians would come out to watch and go back home sombre and reflective of their desperate lives and living conditions, not the many helping to perpetuate 'suffering and smiling'

committed to deliver to millions of suffering Nigerians genuine transformation - an improved life and socioeconomic wellbeing. This too is just part of the plan and bargain.

If we are going to save Nigeria and Nigerians, we all should be already in the trenches by now. We should take over the social media space tearing the docile and complacent youth from the useless and meaningless application of the social media that is sating them ready to commit the blunder of voting for the clueless guy again. We should have taken over the radio and television stations and ensure those songs tailored to waking people up from the passivity and nonchalance towards politics and governance, become a daily dose for entertainment, morning, noon and at night fall. We should have taken over the churches and mosques as well as the football viewing centres and ensure that our people watch movies and documentary that will wake them up. Instead of the prayer and evangelical crusades, we should be showing all across the country movies and documentary such as 'Fueling Poverty'.

It is not too late to start and there are countless strategies we can collectively and individually deploy in this all important task of saving Nigeria.

Taofeek Ramat is on www.Twitter.com

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Ona of Abaji, other traditional chief charged to step up polio sensitisation

By Josephine Ella Ejeh

T

One of the 15 vehicles involved in a multiple accident, on Tuesday at Karu, in Abuja, being towed out of a drain at the scene.

Photo: NAN

Police confirm 3 dead in a multiple accident at Karu, FCT

By Stanley Onyekwere with agency reports

T

he police have confirmed that three persons died in a multiple accident at Karu in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Tuesday evening.

The FCT Police Command spokesperson , DSP Atine Daniel, who confirmed the story to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that six people sustained various degrees of injuries.

Daniel, who said 10 vehicles

were involved in the accident, explained that a lorry conveying sand lost control at Karu Bridge and collided with others.

The multiple crashes near Karu Bridge along the Abuja-Keffi expressway triggered off by an unidentified tipper, which rammed into several moving vehicles on Tuesday evening, disrupting the ever busy route as all the vehicles were all at a standstill and also left the passengers stranded at strategic bus-stops within the Federal

Capital Territory (FCT).

Eyewitness account that the incident which damaged at least about six cars had happened between 4-5pm when a tipper lost control, ramming into moving vehicles on the lane of the ever busy road leading to Nasarawa state from the nation’s capital.

According to the account, the probable cause of the accident could be attributed to break failure as the driver battle fruitlessly to regain control of the faulty tipper before it rammed into other vehicles.

When Peoples Daily reporter visited the area, it was observed that the wreckage of the vehicles involved in the accident had been cleared off the road paving way for an easy free flow of traffic in the area.

However, it was gathered that transporters who heard of the incident decided to take their vehicles off the road and wait for the situation to improve a bit before plying the road even as few that dire operating only stop and make U-turn at AYA junction.

FCT polls: NOA task politicians, community leaders, others to shun violence

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri has called on all political parties aspiring for various posts in the upcoming FCT election coming up on March 16th, 2013, traditional rulers in all the communities in the council to shun any form of violence.

The DG made this known yesterday during a One-day interactive form with stakeholders on the 2013 FCT Area Council election, with theme: “Do the right thing ,promote free and fair electoral process” in Bwari Area Council, FCT. Omeri urged all the politicians, traditional rulers and others to take an example of building a political culture in general adding that whoever wins should look at the others equally and provide infrastructures and basic amenities for them.

In his words: “If we lose a follow human being in an election, we are

losing a generation. We need to keep the people alive for the benefits of our society, so I expect that all the political parties will set an example in the FCT. “You all should emphasized to follower that the election should be free, fair and violent free election, that is the only way we can achieve the progress that we desire, all of us

are either neighbors or we go to the same markets, churches or mosques, our only difference is that we are in different political parties aspiring to be leaders of the environment, but once politics is over we will go back to the same church, mosques and market place”.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Bwari Area Council, Hon Peter

Yohanna assured all electorates to go and vote freely for the candidates of the choice adding that Bwari belongs to everybody.

He said whoever emerges as the winner of the Chairmanship election in Bwari , he will be ready to ready work with him for the benefits of the people in the council.

NURTW urges FCTA to dismantle illegal parks

T

he National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has told the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to remove illegal parks in the FCT to ensure sanity and security in the city.

Chairman of the NURTW, Alhaji Musa Abaji of Branch 3 of the NURTW Taxi Long Journey Division at the Utako Central Motor Park in the FCT, made the call in Abuja on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the existence of illegal

parks had been encouraging criminal activities in the FCT and also posing serious danger to travellers patronising the parks.

“These illegal parks exist in every nook and cranny in the FCT thereby promoting many vices.

“People should use designated parks while embarking on short or long journeys so as to know who is responsible in case of any problem,’’ Abaji said.

He said that the illegal parks could be found at Mabushi Round About, Gudu Junction, Area I, Garki

and the satellite towns.

Abaji noted that travellers always complained of being shortchanged after patronising drivers operating at the illegal parks.

“Such complaints cannot be handled because the parks are undesignated and the vehicles cannot be traced,’’ he said.

He called on the government to ban drivers from loading vehicles on road sides, noting that such a measure would go a long way in improving the security situation in the country. (NAN)

he Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Baba Yunusa and other traditional chiefs in Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) have been charged to step up mobilisation and sensitisation against polio virus in their domains.

The Executive Secretary of the Primary Health Care Board in the FCT, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, gave the charge on Tuesday, when he led members of the polio taskforce and other stakeholders on a sensitisation tour in the palace of the Ona to wrap up the four-day Immunisation Plus Days commenced last Saturday in Abuja.

He admitted that lack of enlightenment was the major problem hampering the fight against polio virus in the territory.

“Therefore, we have to step up our mobilisation and sensitisation so that we can reach all the interiors of the FCT,” he said.

He explained that polio is transmitted through oral-faecal route, that is when a child does not wash his hands after defecating and makes contact with his mouth with same hand.

Dr Mohammed regretted that northerners have continued to reject polio vaccination while the southerners have accepted the vaccine, calling on Islamic leaders, traditional rulers and the emir to put in more efforts in educating their followers and subjects about the infection.

Responding, the Ona of Abaji pledged his support towards eradicating polio virus from the council and Nigeria as a whole.

The Ona pointed out that many people are still ignorant about the disease and except they know what polio is all about, the causes and implication, there can be no head way in the fight.

Alhaji Yunusa, who also identified religion as one of the factors hindering polio immunisation, advised the FCT administration to invite religious leaders, educate them so they can in turn educate their followers against the disease.

In his remark, the Chairman of Abaji, Alhaji Mohammed Musa Yahaya said the council had released the logistic supports to ensure that the just concluded fourday exercise was carried out successfully.

He pledged further support for subsequent exercises, apologizing for the hiccup encountered in the council during January exercise.

The chairman promised that such will never occur again as the council will ensure that funds area released promptly as at when due.

The Executive Secretary was accompanied on the tour by representatives of The World Health Organisation (WHO), Rotary Club and members of the FCT polio taskforce.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 17

Director seeks fathers’ support to end immunisation rejection T T

Group calls for democratisation of FCT administration

he Director of Public Health, Federal Capital T e r r i t o r y Administration (FCTA), Dr Folashade Momoh has called for support from fathers as head of homes, to end immunisation rejection in the territory.

Momoh made the call in Gwagwalada, headquarters of the Gwagwalada Area Council, during a visit to monitor the ongoing immunisation by FCTA task team.

She identified ignorance, belief system and lack of cooperation from heads of households as causes of rejection of routine immunisation.

“The men, who are the heads of homes, really have a very big role to play because when their wives take the children out for vaccination, they consider it as disobedience to their instruction.

“So, I think we really need to engage the men to give their wives the permission to release their children to the immunisation team,” Momoh

FCT NIS trains 40 immigration officers on prevention of HIV/AIDS

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in partnership with NACA recently organized a training workshop for 40 immigration officers from 20 border posts on the prevention of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Disclosing this to Peoples Daily, the Assistant Comptroller with Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr. Audu Ishaya, who is also the project manager in charge of HIV/AIDS Action Committee, said the workshop drew the participants from the seventeen states across the border posts.

He pointed out that the workshop was organized for the men of Nigeria Immigration Service to enlighten them on the need to avoid multiple sex when at the border posts.

He said that the leadership of Nigeria Immigration Service would continue to organize the workshop for the immigration officers on HIV/AIDS prevention in order to keep them safe while at work.

Ishaya, however, advised them to shun any act capable of endangering their lives at the border posts.

said.

Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, the Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Healthcare Board, said the visit was to ensure that the challenges of rejection of immunisation were addressed He said the visit had yielded the expected results as some residents, who had in the past three years rejected

immunisation, had been convinced by the team to accept it.

Mohammed said the routine exercise became necessary following the discovery of some polio cases in the FCT, adding that the fight against the deadly disease could only be won with the support of care givers.

Alhaji Usman Yahaya, the

Young men ride behind a lorry, yesterday in Zuba, Abuja.

Secretary, Gwagwalada Area Council, pledged the council’s commitment to ensure that the necessary logistics were provided to ensure smooth immunisation.

Yahaya attributed the successes recorded so far to the use of political office holders to ensure that residents were enlightened on the need to get their children immunised.

(NAN)

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Residents commend AEPB, FCT for sanitising Wuse market environment

R

esidents of Abuja metropolis have commended the FCT authority and Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) for the facelift given to the Wuse market environment.

The residents, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, noted that the Wuse market area had become an eyesore before the intervention of the authorities.

However, some of them complained about the distance they had to trek to the market from the point of alighting from the various commercial vehicles.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Mr Umar Faruk, a resident, said that the action by the FCT authority of stopping vehicles from dropping passengers at the Wuse Bus Stop, had reduced human and vehicular traffic in the area.

Faruk, who expressed

satisfaction with the current situation, decried the previous situation where some unpatriotic people were using the bus-stops as ublic conveniences, especially at night.

“The action by the FCT authority has drastically reduced the menace of open urination and defecation by passersby and petty traders who were using the bus stops as their toilet.’’

He further observed that it had stopped the indiscriminate disposal of empty water sachets, which was almost turning Wuse environment into a refuse dump site.

Also commenting, Mr Martin Ike, said the action had also stopped the evening market on Herbert Macaulay Highway.

Ike, therefore, urged the FCT administration to create a motor park for the motorists operating along Herbert Macaulay Highway, adding that the same scenario might recur at the current bus stop,

if urgent steps were not taken to prevent it.

Ike noted that the widespread indiscriminate disposal of empty water sachets and cellophane bags along major roads and streets in the metropolis could be attributed to the lack of waste bins.

He urged the FCT authority and AEPB to organise a seminar for commercial motor drivers on the need to use waste bins in their vehicles.

“Commercial bus drivers should have waste bins in their buses for passengers’ use.’’

In her comments, Mrs Victoria Ita, observed that the Wuse market environment and the Herbert Macaulay Highway had improved significantly.

“The terrain has become very clean and convenient for passersby and the residents,’’ Ita said.

NAN reports that petty trading is growing around the First Bank premises along the highway, where motorists now drop passengers. (NAN)

he General Secretary, Alliance for Credible Elections (ACE), an NGO, Mr Emma Ezeazu, has called for the democratisation of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for rapid growth and development.

Ezeazu at a conference on democratising governance in the FCT in Abuja stressed the need for reforms to strengthen area council’s autonomy.

“The way and manner in which FCTA is being run is not in line with democratic procedure, as critical decision concerning the natives of the area are taken without consultation.

“For instance, the issue of land acquisition, in many cases, the FCT original inhabitants were not properly consulted nor compensated,” he said.

Ezeazu decried the level of infrastructure decay in the satellite towns, and said that 60 per cent of the satellite communities drank water from stream.

He called on the National Assembly to make provision for elected governor to administer FCT in the unfolding constitution review instead of a mayoral status for FCT. He urged the FCT minister to allocate N10 billion annually for water supply in the territory, and said that “this will reduce the level of disease within and outside the metropolis”.

Ezeazu also suggested that 30 per cent of the FCT annual budget should be allocated to infrastructure development of the satellite towns.

He said that the territory was witnessing a growing population, which required more infrastructure that would support the growing inhabitants.

“FCT population is growing very large daily, therefore, the system of administration in the territory should be restructure in order to meet with the contemporary demand of time,” he said.

The general secretary advocated additional two Senator and six House of Representatives seats for the FCT to enable people have more voice in the parliament.

“FCT deserves two more senators and six House of Representatives in order to ensure equity, equality, and fair play,” he said.

Earlier, Alhaji Musa Gwoza, Deputy Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), canvassed for creation of more area councils and FCT House Assembly to focus on FCT development.

Gwoza added that NASS should be allowed to focus on issues of national interest instead of making law and performing oversight function for the territory.

He said that some wards in Abuja Municipal Area Councils (AMAC) were bigger than some local government area in many states of the federation.

Gwoza called for collective contribution of all Nigerians to make FCT administration and governance meet with best international practise. (NAN)

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

UniAbuja: ASUU wants white paper for visitation panel reports released

By Usman Shuaibu

F

ollowing the special visitation team set up by the government at the University of Abuja in 2012 to ascertain the lingering problems affecting the university, the president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Nasir Isa Fage, has called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, release the white paper of the visitation panel reports and implement the recommendation.

He also said that if the white paper of the visitation panel reports was released by the government, it would pave way for the smooth running of the university.

Fage, who made the call in an interview with newsmen during a public lecture to mark the 25 th anniversary of the University of Abuja which was organized by

the ASUU of the university of Abuja branch, said that the university had been neglected in the area of provision of i n f r a s t r u c t u r a l development.

He pointed out that the leadership of ASUU would continue to work hard to see that the University of Abuja competes with other sister universities in terms of academic excellence.

The ASUU president, however, accused the u n i v e r s i t y administrators of diverting public money to enrich themselves.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of ASUU of the university of Abuja branch, Dr. Clement Chup said that his leadership would continue to work towards the progress of the university at all the times.

Chup lambasted the administration of the University of Abuja for being confrontational towards the activities of

ASUU during the public lecture, saying that the union would continue to be peaceful at the university.

Presenting a paper entitled “Twenty five years of Education at the University of Abuja: A c h i e v e m e n t s , Challenges and Prospects”, the guest lecturer at the occasion, Prof. Festus Iyayi in the Faculty of Management Sciences from the University of Benin, urged the leadership of ASUU of the University of Abuja branch to continue to fight for the right things on how to move the university forward.

The guest lecturer called on the vice – chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. James Sunday .A. Adelabu to deem it necessary to take everybody along for the overall development of the university, this, according to him, “University of Abuja was established as a community of reason”.

L-R: Representative of Senator Philip Aduda, Hon. Dabara Audu, presenting bags of fertiliser to the Distribution Channel Coordinator of Abaji Local Government Area, Mr. Adamu Mohammed, during the official flags-off of freefertiliser distribution to FCT farmers, by Senator Aduda, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

FCT minister appoints ex-perm sec on Land Swamp Initiative

By Adeola Tukuru

F

CT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed has announced the appointment of the immediate past Permanent Secretary of FCT, Engr. Anthony Zikora Ozodinobi as Goodwill Ambassador of the Federal Capital Territory saying his wise counsel was still needed especially in the implementation of the land swap system and other forms of public-private partnership in infrastructure provision.

The Minister disclosed this during a farewell dinner night in honour of the former Permanent Secretary of FCT. According to the Minister, Engr. Ozodinobi’s new appointment was made in recognition of his immense experience in public administration and would attract no remuneration. The Minister stated that the former Permanent Secretary, who retired from civil service upon attainment

of an age of 60 on Wednesday 6th March, 2013 is now a member of “the reserved army” of the FCT Administration. He added that Ozodinobi “represents the values of hard work, loyalty, sacrifice and excellence”.

“If you give him an assignment, you can go to sleep because he will deliver excellently. His mastery of some of the key policies of our Administration such as the land swap and public-private partnership systems made him to stand out brilliantly.

He was not just a permanent secretary but a brother. Ours was a partnership in our quest to build one of the top 20 capital cities in the world by the year 2020,” the Minister emphasized.

The FCT Minister of State, Chief Olajumoke Akinjide described the former Permanent Secretary as “very dynamic and friendly” stressing that he demonstrated quick understanding of policy matters. She said that

Ozodinobi was too talented, versatile and needed in FCT to retire at this stage.

Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr. Nicholas Damachi, described the former FCT Permanent Secretary as “highly meticulous”. He said the civil service would miss his rich knowledge and experience.

Engr. Ozodinobi in his response expressed his gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan for the opportunity given him to serve especially in the FCT. He also thanked the FCT Minister for his passion for the unity and economic well being of Nigeria.

The high point of the ceremony was the cutting of Ozodinobi’s 60th birthday cake by the retired Permanent Secretary assisted by the FCT Minister, his wife, Aisha, the Minister of State and the celebrant’s wife Mrs. Grace Ozodinobi.

AEPB loses over N100m in revenue to illegal sewage connections, says official

T

he Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) said on Tuesday that it had lost over N100 million in revenue due to illegal sewage connections by residents of the FCT. Mr Joe Ukairo, the Head of information and Outreach Programme of the board, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Ukairo said that the board had discovered about 300 properties in the FCT involved in the sharp

practice.

He said that the baseline data collection process would soon be completed after which the board would serve the culprits with abatement notice.

He added that the abatement notice would compel the culprits to pay connection fee or face legal action.

The culprits, he said, would be asked to report to the AEPB and pay the statutory connection fee before they would get connected “under our strict supervision”.

If they default, the board would institute legal action against them, Ukairo said.

Ukairo explained the illegal connection of sewage lines to the water drains was causing the city to stink.

“Storm water drains are different from sewage lines and the configuration is purely ‘sewer to sewer’ and any illegal connection can be bringing out odour.

“These storm water drains are meant to flush aerial water to the sewage plant which has a different function with that of the sewage lines.’’ (NAN)

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

Mob: 08033644990

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 22

Royal Exchange guns for first top insurance company

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms Amma Pepple (left), speaking during the Nigeria and United States Infrastructure Trade Mission Interactive Session, on Tuesday in Abuja. With her is Director of International Business Development, Mr. Paul Sullivan (right).

Photo: NAN

Electricity unions threaten to boycott committee on severance package

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wo unions in the electricity sector have threatened to boycott a committee that will be set up by the Ministry of Power on the payment of their severance benefits.

The unions are the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC).

The Minister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo, on Tuesday announced that a committee would be inaugurated for the payment of the severance benefits.Mr Joe Ajaero, NUEE’s General Secretary, in his reaction told newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos that the workers might boycott the committee.

Ajaero said that the committee was not the same as the one set up by the Federal Government.

He said that the ministry was setting up staff identification and verification committee as against government technical and implementation committee which had started the process to ensure accurate computation of workers.

He said that the union received a letter from the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), which disclosed that only N 45 billion was available to pay workers’ entitlements and that the remaining would be paid when money was available.

“With the information reaching the leadership of the inhouse unions in PHCN, the inauguration of the committee today, March 12, 2013, may be boycotted by the workers” Ajaero said.

SSAEAC’s President, Mr. Bede Opara said that the Technical

By Chris Alu with agency report

a 5% stakeholder in the entity has filed court cases as well as sought damages, after opposing sale of the Nigerian business.

The total market of telecom subscribers in Nigeria is around 36 million, and Airtel has around six million subscribers, in the market. Airtel has around 23 million subscribers in Nigeria with around 20% market share.

Bharti Airtel raises stake in Nigeria unit to 79 percent

I

ndia’s top mobile phone operator, Bharti Airtel Ltd said yesterday it had acquired an additional 13.36 percent stake in Nigerian unit, Airtel Networks Ltd, from existing shareholders to raise its total holding to 79.06 percent.

This stake has been acquired from “certain existing shareholders”, the company said in a communication to the stock exchanges. The financial details of this acquisition have not been mentioned.

With the latest stake purchase, the subsidiary Bharti Airtel now owns around 79% stake in Airtel Networks, Nigeria. This would consolidate Airtel’s position over its Nigerian assets.

Airtel’s ownership of the Nigerian entity was entangled in legal battles. Econet Wireless

Committee, comprising Alexander Forbes, BPE, PHCN and the inhouse unions, should be allowed to continue with their responsibility.

Opara said that the salary scale used in computing gratuity

as at June 2012 was not PHCN’s salary scale as agreed with technical and negotiation team under the leadership of the Secretary to Government of the Federation.

Top FHA executives in alleged N60 m property scandal

By Aminu Imam

A

company (name withheld) was recently allegedly duped by top officials of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to the tune of N 60 million.

According to the spokesman, Engr. Bruno Irhebhude, the deal was to secure duplexes located in Kadopinko, Gwarimpa district, from the FHA for official residence of some senior staff of the company. However, the deal turned sour when after the company paid the N60 million to the management of FHA, the

money suddenly developed wings as none of the property was allocated to the company.

At the centre of the alleged transaction were top officials of the Executive Services and the Homes departments respectively, who directed the management of the company to pay the money into a particular account in one of the big banks.

It was gathered that when the company decided to take the matter officially, a top management staff of one of the department, in a bid to cover

I

up the mess quickly issued his personal cheque of the said amount to the company but on presentation to the bank, it was discovered that there was no money in the account. It was a dud cheque.

According to Mr. Bruno, “It was a connivance between the top officials of FHA to defraud our company and we will not take it lie-low until we get justice”.

All efforts to reach out to the indicted officials of FHA proved abortive as they were either in a management meeting or refuse to pick their calls.

NCS will meet 48-hours cargo clearance target at ports

T

he Assistant ComptrollerGeneral, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Dr. David Agbaje, yesterday said the service would meet the 48-hours cargo clearance target at the ports.

Agbaje, who is also the Zonal

Coordinator, zone C, gave the assurance while receiving Mr. Clinton Bambridge, the Managing Director, SGS, in Port Harcourt.SGS is one of the service providers appointed by the Federal Government to ensure 48-hour Cargo clearance

Management Tip of the Day Make the most of your downtime

t’s hard to carve out time to relax in a 24/7 world. But just as it’s healthy to focus at work — ignoring Facebook and personal email — you must occasionally leave work behind.

Here’s how: Clearly schedule your time. Treat downtime like a work meeting: Schedule it. Book

He said that the souvenir entitlement was also omitted in computation of total entitlements as agreed with Hassan Sumonu’s committee, in compliance with the 2010 condition of service. (NAN)

evenings off, one to two days a week free of work, and week-long chunks of vacation every year on your calendar, and stick to them.

Shut off your devices. Leave your laptop at the office when you can. Carry a phone for work and one for personal use — leave the work phone in your bag when you

come home or in the safe at your hotel when you’re on vacation.

Create routines. Signal to your mind that it’s time to start work, leave work, or engage with family by using rituals to transition from one kind of activity to the next.

Source: Harvard Business Review

target at the nation’s Ports.

Agbaje said that when fully implemented the measure would facilitate trade in all the ports in the country. He commended the company for installing modern scanning machines and Gantry scanners at the ports to meet the 48-hour cargo clearance target.

The zonal coordinator also highlighted some issues raised by Clearing Agents at a stakeholders meeting in Port Harcourt. The issues include delay in the issuance of Risk Assessment Report and problems of uplifting the values of commodities.

In his speech, Bambridge commended the management of NCS led by the ComptrollerGeneral, Abdullahi Dikko, on its transformation agenda. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 20

Ayodele Samuel <gtms06@yahoo.com> 0806 372 7788

COMPANY NEWS Akintola Williams Deloitte

A

kintola Williams Deloitte, a company which provides services in Audit, Consulting, Financial Advisory, Risk Management, IFRS and Tax Services, has once again been named leader in: “Information Security Consulting Services, for Q1 ‘13" by the Forester Wave web analytics firm.

A statement, which carried out a survey on industry leading companies noted: “Deloitte continues to be a leader with exceptional client feedback.”

The statement from the company further explained that in a highly competitive digital environment, it is vital for marketers to measure performance, optimise marketing efforts and improve customer experiences.

FSDH

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ith just six days before the National Bureau of Statistics release the February inflation figure for the country, FSDH Research, a department of the FSDH Merchant Bank says the inflation rate (year-onyear) for February 2013 would rise to 9.3 percent.

According to a statement from the FSDH, the rise from 9.0 per cent in January to 9.3 per cent was due to the increase in some food items and household materials.

It added that ‘For inflation to fall below 9% in February, the CCPI must increase by at most 19 basis points monthon-month, which in our opinion is unlikely,” FSDH said in a note on Monday’.

Coca-Cola

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oca-Cola Nigeria, as part of a landmark $100 million agreement signed on Monday between the Coca-Cola Company and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, will provide financing to women micro-distributors in the company’s value chain.

The agreement, signed in Atlanta, USA, between both global giants, provides for a three-year joint initiative to provide access to finance for women entrepreneurs in developing markets across Eurasia and Africa.

Nigeria has been allocated $22 million (about N3.5 billion) from this grant. In Nigeria, Coca-Cola and IFC are working with Access Bank to provide financing to women micro-distributors (MDCs), in close collaboration with Coca-Cola’s bottling partner, the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC).

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he profile of Nigeria’s cocoa export business sustained its rising trend last year, as the nation earned $900 million (N142 billion), against $882.9 million realised in the previous year, from the commodity’s trade in the global market.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga gave the export figures of cocoa during a one-day national workshop on capacity building in Abuja, at the weekend.

However, the rising cases of rice smuggling into the country may have compromised the nation’s quest for self sufficiency in the commodity’s production, as N32 billion revenue was lost to the activities of smugglers last year.

The minister said beside the fact that cocoa was the second largest foreign exchange earner after crude oil, the industry generates over two million jobs directly and indirectly along its value-chain.

He noted that as the market for cocoa increases at an average of three per cent a year while the nation’s export of the commodity has equally been growing at an average of 40 percent yearly and a cumulative of 280 percent, which represents $215m in 2006 to $822.8m in 2010.

Aganga said given the fact that the local consumption of cocoa is barely three percent, while the bulk of what is produced is exported, it is imperative for the country, not only to increase its yield but most importantly ensure its acceptance in the international market, and by total compliance to the international standard, by minimising the harmful effect of pesticide residues in the crop, which is far

Nigeria realised N142bn from cocoa export in 2012 becoming a health issue around the globe.

The Minister, who was represented by the Director, Industrial Development, Olakunle Sogbola, reiterated that besides encouraging Nigerians to increase their consumption of the product, effort is geared towards adding value to export drive, in order to reduce the export of raw cocoa and ensure stable and improved income for farmers.

He added that concerns had been raised on safety of cocoa and its products consumed, especially in developed countries with regards to the use of agrochemicals in the production, storage and processing of cocoa.

This, he said, informed the need for all stakeholders in the sector to ensure that cocoa produced in Nigeria is safe for consumption anywhere in the world.

In his contribution, the Executive Director of

international Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) Dr. Jean Marc Anga represented by Mr. Abubakar Yunusa said that the cocoa and chocolate industry was faced with many challenges as users of cocoa products are continuously coming up with more demands on issues such as quality of the beans, traceability and integrity of the beans along the supply, food safety and social ethics.

L-R: Chairman, NDIC Board of Directors, Amb. Hassan Adamu, Wakilin Adamawa, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice Ibrahim N. Auta and MD/CE NDIC, Alh. Umaru Ibrahim discussing a point at the NDIC Sensitization Seminar for Judges in Abuja.

Nigeria loses N90bn to tax evasion in automobile industry, says Bismarck Rewane

D

espite claims of surpassing revenue target by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria is said to have lost a whopping N90 billion ($550million) in revenue from tax evasion to the grey market operators in the automobile industry over the last four years, the Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC), Mr Bismarck Rewane has said.

Describing the loss as mindboggling, Rewane, a renowned financial analyst, in a report released by his company , said the loss was equivalent to 4.5 per cent of the total exports of Kenya or four per cent of the total exports of Ghana. “This amount could fund the construction of one petroleum refinery or a modern power station with 1000 Mega Watts capacity.

He explained the grey market as situation in which goods are imported inappropriately into a market without the manufacturer’s consent, thereby shortchanging the authorized

dealers.

The authorities of the NCS had said it has surpassed the projected revenue over the same period due to some stringent measures put in place to check leakages of revenue.

The Comptroller-General, Abdullahi Inde Dikko had attributed the feat to the stringent measures he put in place to closely-monitor revenue performance and block leakages.

These measures he said include the creation of a System-Audit Unit in Headquarters to monitor duty payment in all Ports, the automation of the entire Customs Clearance Procedure which allows for faster and smoother clearance and the improved quality of Customs Workforce that is better-trained and motivated.

However, Rewane said the revenue loss was too staggering when viewed on a leveraged basis of one is to three (1:3), saying it can finance the rehabilitation of two seaports and two modern airports, with an income per capita of $1500

and infrastructure gap of $200 billion.

The FDC Chief Executive Officer rued over the monumental loss of government revenue arising from the grey market which he said affects government revenue from both direct and indirect taxes. According to him, while direct tax loss comes from the reduced sales and profit in the legitimate automobile industry, indirect tax loss comes from the custom duties and excises.

“The bulk of the loss comes from the indirect taxes based on FDC’s survey. Recent data from the CBN shows that a fall in customs and excise duties was one of the reasons the Federal Government non-oil receipts declined by 30.3% to N589.98bn in the last quarter of 2012.

“From our investigations, the continuous decline in government customs receipts can be due to either. A reduction in national import, or to increased importation through the grey market leading to

avoidance of duty payment by grey market operators and corruption at the ports.

“Data collected from the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and through independent survey of the automobile industry shows that grey import is striving and almost at par with official import volumes. Loss to government from grey import is N85.2bn between 2008 and 2011.”

Rewane said in some cases, automobiles that are destined for land-locked nations such as Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad and trans-shipped through the ports find their way to the Nigerian market and custom duty payment is avoided in the process.

He said the FDC Lagos urban inflation rose by 1.39 per cent to 12.77 per cent in February from 11.38 per cent in January.

He said the increase was mainly attributable to a rise in the prices of a few items with higher weights in the index.

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

Using social media to drive your business â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Omojuwa experience

By Hauwa Anaja

T

he advent of information c o m m u n i c a t i o n technology (ICT) has been overwhelming. Not only has communication become easy, information t has become easily accessible, and knowledge sharing couldn't have been better.

Indeed the world of ICT appears rosy, especially with the creation of social or new media, which is a platform being adopted not just by youths to air their views, but by many Nigerians.

Apart from the billions the founders of platforms like Facebook, Google, Yahoo, Twitter and so on are bagging daily, the social media is gradually becoming a business platform for individuals who use them.

Welcome to the world of Japheth Omojuwa, a blogger, a social media consultant and an entrepreneur whose business revolves round the niche he has carved for himself on the cyber space.

"My kind of business is about my name really, which I use in articles, blogs, public presentation, in supporting and promoting other peoples cause, adding my opinion and voice and contribution to socio economic and political development in Nigeria, am a social media consultant, and a budding oil and gas consultant," he narrates.

He is the owner of the popular omojuwa.com website, and is known for his articles on socio-economic and political issues.

What's profitable about writing online? You may ask, Omojuwa explains the business of selling a name or product online.

"Social media is a tool of amplification; so what I use the social media to do is to amplify everything that I'm about. It is a force in itself, but there are other things I do that are not social media-based but it is like my microphone; it is what brings loudness to the other businesses I do which include consulting, advertising and marketing.

Drawing an example from his explanation, if one has more than fifty thousand Twitter followers, and there's a show a company is hosting in Abuja and they need to reach out to people to attend, they may not necessarily have the funds to pay for a TV or radio or newspaper advert, or even if they do, they want to reach a massive heterogeneous audience beyond the scope of TV and Radio, fast and consistently, so, a popular blogger or Twitter user gets paid to post on their accounts on Facebook

Japheth Omojuwa or Twitter, information about the event and the over fifty thousand followers or friends would be aware of the event and that's affordable publicity at the go.

This thus implies that the social media, as a medium of communication, can serve entrepreneurs and can make you an instant entrepreneur.

But, how can entrepreneurs use the social media to make profit? Omojuwa explains.

"Social media is a media of engagement and relationships, so before you start talking about money, you have to think about

building a relationship on-line and it is determined by the messages you put out on-line.

So, if the message you put out is irresponsible, you attract your kind of people.

'It is social; so, when you build relationships, it is now easier to use the platform to sell or promote what you do; like you sell bangles, bags, cars, or you are a good private teacher," he adds.

However the question is, how do you build this relationship?

"For me, I started four years ago with my blog, omojuwa.com; I joined

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Facebook in 2007, and built a relationship there, by talking to my friends, putting out Facebook notes, building a reputation on-line, posting my opinion on-line, hold in on politics, and the rest is being written as we speak.

According to Omojuwa, it is not just enough to want to make money on-line, you have to commit to it like any other business, noting however that making money shouldn't be a primary goal, because the social media is primarily a window to enhance businesses.

"There are different ways to make money through the Internet; for instance, to make money directly from blogging is through adverts, Google access, and other advertisement platforms; but what it means is that you have to have a very popular website.

"If not that, then you have to have a blog/ website that helps to push what you are selling, so that it can help you sell faster. So your site or blog is now more or less a shop window where you display your products.

"Let's assume I sell electronic products, so I have a blog where I write about electronics, say: what to do to your phone or television when it's faulty, or how you should take care of your electronics, you know; blog around these issues and at the same time use that strategy to sell what you're selling, so there are many ways; it's not just essentially by making money directly from your blog.

In his words, achieving this, demands a lot of energy "But like I always say, people that go strictly with the intention of making money from the platform eventually leave frustrated, because except you come in with a lot of capital to push your brand or business on advertisements on Facebook, on Google and

"Social media is a tool of amplification; so what I use the social media to do is to amplify everything that I'm about. It is a force in itself, but there are other things I do that are not social media-based but it is like my microphone; it is what brings loudness to the other businesses I do

others, it's a slow and sapping project, something that you have to put a lot of energy in and it eventually grows over the years.

"It took me time to start making money from my blog, so it takes a lot of time; but you have to love it, you have to enjoy writing about what you do or sell as an entrepreneur, to build a relationship with potential customers or client you would meet on the social media; because if you don't love it, you cannot survive it because it can be intense, energy sapping.

Meanwhile, critics of the social media and traditional media experts lament that the new media is stealing their show, how true is this?

Omojuwa says, "One day, this thing we call new media will become old. What we call old media now were at a point new.TV, Radio, was at a point new, in fact, town-crying was at a point new; But now, they are all relatively old media.

"What we have to understand is that new media is a tool that is not competing with the traditional media. It is there to add a lot more value and reach to what they were, so it's supposed to be a complement not competition.

So, if I have a newspaper for example, my responsibility is to build a new media platform for my newspaper so that I can reach more people," he notes.

"My responsibility is not to close my newspaper and go online, it's to align those things, the new and the old to achieve my aim of reaching out to people; because at the end of the day, it's about reaching out to people, it's about bridging gaps, it's about informing, educating, entertaining, selling, it's about building relationships, so the bottom line is about aligning these different platforms together to achieve your goal.

"Of course, new media is affecting old media, because a lot of people prefer the convenience of new media; you don't have to leave your house to buy the newspapers anymore, it's just there on your phone or iPad to read immediately, so you have a responsibility as an entrepreneur, publisher or journalist to understand exactly how it works to enable you key into it for the good of your business, because there's an increasing awareness and usage of the social media and it is becoming the fastest way to sell or market your business or yourself," he says.

It's time to snap the chance while it lasts and get your product or service right to the bedroom of your customer using the social media. What do you have to lose?

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 22

Nigeria has 112m potential micro-insurance customers

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

he nation’s regulator of the risk-bearing industry, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), has said that there are at least 112 million potential micro-insurance customers in Nigeria, adding that it has begun the process of fine-tuning a policy framework for micro-insurance services designed to cater for the low income earners and vulnerable poor of the rural areas.

Commissioner for Insurance and CEO of NAICOM, Fola Daniel, said micro-insurance was specifically designed for the protection of lowincome earners against specific perils in exchange for regular premium payments proportionate to the likelihood and cost of the risk involved.

Giving further perspective on the evolvement of microinsurance, he said the Commission, in its continuing drive to deepen the Nigerian insurance market, collaborated with a German Firm, GIZ/ MFW4A and some other

agencies, to conduct a nation-wide diagnostic study on the potentials of micro-insurance in Nigeria.

“One of our goals was to generate at the end of the exercise, a document that will enable us take evidence based decision on the issue of micro-insurance in

Nigeria and also serve as public resource in its own right”, he stated.

According to him, when farmers are insured against a bad harvest (resulting from drought), they will be in a better position to grow crops which give high yields in good years, and bad yields

in year of drought, adding that without such cover, they will be inclined to do the opposite.

“Since they have to safeguard a minimal level of income for themselves and their families, crops will be grown which are more drought resistant, but which have a much

lower yield in good weather conditions,” he added.

On the current drive in most parts of the world towards micro-insurance, the NAICOM boss said it was as a result of the increasing level of poverty worldwide and the need by world leaders to do something to assuage the

sufferings of the poor.

He said the need for the world leaders to address these issues brought about the current drive to micro-insurance. It is more or less a social business that caters not so much for profit but towards the well being of the masses, he added.

Samsung partners Mitsumi for product distribution across Africa

By Chris Alu ne of the leading electronic products in the world, Samsung Electronics has signed a partnership agreement with one of Africa’s largest IT distributorship company, Mitsumi as an official distributor of all Samsung IT products, across subSaharan Africa.

The director of IT Solutions and B2B Samsung Electronics Africa, Thierry Boulanger stated this yesterday in Abuja.

According to him, “The partnership agreement is a first of its kind and will speak for itself to African consumers.

This agreement will not only enable us to expend our logistical footprint, but will

O

also leverage on an established African distributor and support network. Through this partnership agreement, Mitsumi will deliver the full suite of Samsung IT consumer and business solutions to the African market.

The Managing Director of Mitsumi company, Mitesh Shah said, “As one of the leading African distributors, we understand the broader African continent and hold a viable expertise, having been in operation for 17 years across 19 African countries. We intricately understand how to costeffectively support the technology needs of end users of all sizes, including small- and medium-sized businesses, large

enterprises, educational institutions, government agencies, and consumers and certainly see this partnership with Samsung as an opportunity to continue our growth across the From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

R

oyal Exchange Insurance Plc., one of leading insurance companies in the country, said it has put in place modalities that will boost the activities of the company such that will position it to be the first top insurance company in Nigeria by the year 2015.

The 92 year old company said it is leveraging on the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM)s Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) and its other developmental strategies to ensure actualization of its dream of being the first in terms of income generation, capitalization, service delivery as well as moving the industry forward.

The Group Executive Director, Royal Exchange Insurance Plc., Mr Auwalu

continent.

“We have a pan-Africa distribution vision and strategy that will take IT distribution to the next level and with Mitsumi’s strong track record, solid financial standing and

pool of African best practices, this is a strategic business partnership for us that we trust will go far in servicing the growing need for IT solutions across Africa,” he stated.

Royal Exchange guns for first top insurance company Mushair, while speaking during the National Association of Insurance Correspondents CEO’s forum yesterday in Lagos, noted that in view of the company’s decision for further elevation, it has brought into the firm tough management staff, deployed electronic payment system as well as modern ICT facilities.

According to him, the company has been in the business of selling compulsory insurance through the use of its scratch cards, adding that the firm has employed the activities of two thousand agents nationwide to ensure speedy marketing of its products.

Other areas the company is working on include the total rebranding of the entire

arms of the company’s business and introduction of health, micro-insurance and other consumerfriendly insurance products and services.

The company according to Mushair, is fine-tuning products that would assist people to secure loans from banks, health products that take care of people’s health as well as takaful and other travel insurances.

Highlighting some of achievements recorded by the company in the recent past, Mushair stated that the Royal Exchange championed the settlement of N 4 billion claims paid during Nigeria Bottling Company fire incident, adding that the company has underwritten business to the tune of N 6.2 billion this year.

Revenue Commission tasks states in Delta region to invest in gas infrastructure

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

he Chairman, R e v e n u e Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission(RMAFC) Engr. Elias Mbam has counselled state governments from Niger Delta region to invest in gas Infrastructure to harness the full potential of Nigeria’s natural gas resources.

Mbam made the suggestion on Tuesday, at an interactive session with executive directors of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), who made a presentation on investment opportunities in the gas sector to Members of the Commission.

A statement by the Commission’s spokesperson Ibrahim Mohammed q u o t e d M b a m observing that given the

huge natural gas endowment in the Niger Delta, state governments in the region could exploit their comparative advantage in domestic gas production by forging closer economic ties in jointly investing in the provision of gas infrastructure for enhanced revenue generation.

He said the country’s huge population, the p o w e r a n d manufacturing sectors as well as the export market in the West African region provide ready market for Nigeria’s gas products.

The chairman further explained that strengthening the entire gas value-chain has the potential to transform the Nigerian economy through increased incomegeneration, job creation and improved livelihoods.

In his presentation

earlier, leader of the delegation, who is the NNPC Group Executive Director(GED), Gas and Power, Dr. David Ige, unveiled the NNPC Gas Master-Plan policy intervention across the entire value-chain of production, processing and marketing.

To this end, Dr. Ige stressed that NNPC is desirous of developing a multi-billion dollar gasbased Industrial Park fashioned after the Xenel (Saudi) Petrochemical Plant, Nagarjuna (Indian) Fertiliser Plant and the NNPC/Chevron central processing facility estimated at $15-20 billion anticipated investment outlay, with additional investments in infrastructure and utilities to be provided by an SPV constituted from willing investors and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

PEOSPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Report as at Wednesday, March 13, 2013

PAGE 23

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

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Jonathan’s spat with Borno elders over amnesty, troop withdrawal From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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hen President Goodluck Jonathan resolved to make his first visit to Borno and Yobe states since the beginning of the Boko Haram insurgency close to three years now, residents and other stakeholders of the two states received the development with joy and high expectations.

They hopped that the visit will pave the way for new dimension for the restoration of peace, which had not known there due to the security challenges. The president’s visit came a month after his vice; Mohammed Namadi Sambo visited Borno state.

Prior to the visits by the duo, there had been series of outcry and condemnation against the Federal Government by the government and people of the state. It also happened a week after nine governor of the All Progressive Congress, (APC), defied all security challenges and held their third meeting in Maiduguri the capital city.

After the meeting, the governors risked possible insecurity and walked through some streets of the metropolis, even as they entered into market and school, exchanging pleasantries with people.

Pundits argued that the President had only planned the visit to attract cheap popularity and serve as a response to the growing criticisms for his failure to come to the state, even as opposition governors did same.

However, when the issue of Jonathan’s visit came up, the anxiety of the residents was high as they expected that he would either grant an amnesty to the Boko Haram insurgents as widely agitated for by prominent personalities and elders in the North, including the Sultan of Sokoto. There was also an expectation that in case the President did not offer amnesty, he will instead announce an effective marshal plan that will translate into composition of a high-powered committee that will reach out to the militants for a dialogue so as to find a lasting solution to the persistent bloodshed and destruction of property occasioned by the violent campaigns launched by the insurgents.

But on his first day of visit to Damaturu, Yobe state capital, the president rejected calls that amnesty be granted to the members of the Boko haram sect, saying that government will only do so when insurgents come out in the open and indicate their readiness to embrace peace as well lay down their arms.

According to him, “you cannot declare amnesty for a ghost; the Boko Haram remains a ghost.

The issue of amnesty for the Niger Delta is different, if you call them then you will see them, they are people you know.

“But no one has come openly to say he is Boko Haram, you cannot discuss the issue of amnesty with Boko Haram now, you must first know who we are discussing with.

“Dialogue with Boko Haram will only be possible if members come out of their hiding. “We need to know who we are going to have dialogue with or whom we are granting amnesty.

Amnesty has components.”There are sins to be forgiven as they will not be prosecuted for their atrocities and there are trainings to be arranged to rehabilitate them and so on. So, you cannot do all these to those you do not know.”

After leaving Damaturu, the President went to Maiduguri and also made similar comments at the palace of the Shehu of Borno and Chairman of the state Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Abubar Garbai El-Kanemi. He recalled that when he was the Governor of Bayelsa state, he led some of the Niger Delta militants to the Aso Presidential Villa and met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo for peace talks, saying such approach should have been adopted in the case of Boko Haram insurgents “These people are faceless, with no location or identity. I am appealing to whoever has contacts with the insurgents to summon courage and link the Federal Government with them so that we can persuade them to embrace peace and that and they will be offered an amnesty.” Jonathan, however assured that the Federal Government was determined to partner with the state government to find a lasting solution to the security challenges and provide job opportunities to the people,

adding that, “we hold Borno dearly in our hearts, not only because of its historical significance but because of its strategic importance to national development.” In his remarks, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Garbai El-Kanemi, urged Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the insecurity, saying Boko Haram members who declared a ceasefire should be engaged in a sincere dialogue. “Your Excellency there is urgent need for the government to engage the insurgents in a sincere dialogue to restore peace considering the numerous sons and daughters of the state who distinguished themselves nationally and internationally,” the monarch said.

However, Borno state Governor, Kashim Shettima, while receiving the Jonathan on a courtesy call at the Government, in Maiduguri, insisted that there is no potion to dialogue in an effort to tackle the insurgency, saying “we can dialogue with ghost to save Nigeria”. Governor Shettima also appealed to President Jonathan not to treat the issue of dialogue with levity in the protracted Boko Haram crisis, saying only dialogue can solve the insecurity problem facing the state except the country wants to engage in endless war of attrition.

He said: “Mr. President Sir, I deliberately delayed the most important issue that should occupy the minds of all of us here, that is the much discussed issue of peace negotiations especially with the recent offer of ceasefire made by some members in the leadership of the Jama’atu Ahlil Sunnah Lidda’awati wal Jihad, Boko Haram in common parlance.

“As a people and government of the state most affected by this insurgency, we most passionately welcome this development because the peace process must start from one step. Getting just a person can lead to getting hundreds and more. Our focus must be on the way forward and not to be stiff or go down to distraction. It is our duty to unearth the ghosts that we seek to negotiate with.”

The governor also said the Federal Government should immediately engage all stakeholders and initiate the process of articulating a

President Goodluck Jonathan comprehensive blueprint for addressing the scourge of poverty and deprivation in Nigeria.

“I specifically enjoin the Federal Government to come up with a marshal plan for the North East geo political zone in the same way it did for the Niger Delta to tackle the twin menace of poverty and insecurity. Integral part of that marshal plan should be the recharging of the dwindling Lake Chad, the water resources which has the potential of positively transforming the lives of more than 30 million people spread on the shores of the region,’’ Shettima said.

The governor lamented that the insecurity problem has overstretched the limited resources of the state, adding that the insecurity problem which was occasioned by the insurgency of the Boko Haram sect is the worst in the history of the state and called on the Federal Government to assist the state government in the fight against poverty and ignorance.

After the courtesy visit, the presidential entourage and other stakeholders moved to the

multi-purpose hall within the Government House, for town hall meeting. The event later witnessed hot arguments between embers of the Borno Elders and Leaders of Thought on one hand and President Jonathan over security issues, bordering amnesty and withdrawal of military from the streets of Maiduguri over alleged atrocities meted out against innocent civilians. The first person who reiterated the call was Professor Muhammad Nur Alkali, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, who was also at a one time the Director General of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru. Professor Alkali described the manner in which the Joint Task Force (JTF) operatives were harassing residents of Maiduguri as unacceptable, pointing out that the damages done by security operatives far outweighed the positive services they rendered.

He said virtually all the people in Borno State had lost someone in the crisis.

He said: “To be frank, the sectarian conflict since the time your government ordered the

Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Kyari Garbai Ibn El-Knaemi

Governor Kashim Shettima

first fire shot in order to nip in the bud, a potentially dangerous situation has brought great deal of hardship to the peoples in their homes, in the streets, in the markets and on the farmlands.”Everyone do his or her best to absolve the shock, bear the pains and tolerate the excessive crossfire. There is hardly anyone in this meeting who has not lost a close relation, family member or very close friend. “This town is full of orphans, fathers and mothers who lost their children. Many youths are in detention while some had been incapacitated.”

of damage done is enormous.

The Governor of Borno state Alhaji Kashim Shettima has continued to appeal for calm and tolerance, because as he says, ‘hard times never last for forever’. Borno has seen so many disasters in the last 1,000 years, both natural and manmade, but we have always come out of these situations stronger, confident and resilient. We shall come out of this too and bounce back to peace, harmony and stability.

The former NIPPS boss said there is no better time to grant amnesty to the Boko Haram than now. “Mr. President, even if it is one person who came forward to call for peace, he should be received with open arms and reintegrated into the wider society. The journey of a thousand mile begins with the first step. “There is no doubt that there is general suspicion and fear and these fears are genuine especially even in a situation where people go to claim for dead bodies of their relatives are considered suspects and detained without any hope of trial.

“There is nationwide call for amnesty or better still pardon

In this crossfire, more innocent people had died; the nature of the operation is frightening.

When the militants kill one security officer, a whole ward is put on fire and dead bodies have to litter the streets. We lack information on statistics of innocent people who had died or kept in detention or how many of the militants were actually killed, arrested and detained. Markets are closed, shops destroyed; roadblocks in all major and minor roads.

“Mr. President Sir, we urge you to personally investigate this issue, because the extent

“

Mr. President, sometimes we wonder whether you are running a military government, a democracy or something called diarchy. We can hardly put our finger on what type of government you are running, Mr. President. We hope the labours of our heroes past shall not be in vain

to be granted to the militants in such a way it was granted to the militants of the Niger Delta.

If I may recall, Mr. President, you have called for the militants (in the Niger Delta) into the open as a condition for the amnesty to be offered to them which is appropriate.

“But the situation of this sectarian conflict is different from what obtains in the Niger Delta, because many of them were operating in the open there and well known to the security forces and the government. The nature of the two conflicts is different.

“Here, you are dealing with people who believe they are fighting on the basis of some ideology not just religious or political, but fundamentally social and the desire to bring about social changes in their ways of life and the society.

Even then, if one may recollect, in the Niger Delta, late President Umaru Yar’adua granted them pardon before they thought about ceasefire.

After his contribution, members of the Borno Elders Forum (BELT), who were expected to present a position paper to the president, declined

to do so, saying Alkali has spoken their minds.

Alhaji Baba Basharu, Chairman, Borno State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) equally agreed with Alkali and called for the reduction of bunkers on the streets of Maiduguri and environs. So also Barrister M.T. Monguno, a member of the House of Representatives who spoke at the event on behalf of the Borno Caucus. He also said the group has adopted the position of Alkali.

Also contributing on the matter, an elder statesman and first Nigeria’s ingenious Minister of Petroleum, Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, yesterday added his voice to calls for dialogue with the Boko Haram sect to end violence in the northern part of the country, saying President Goodluck Jonathan should consider the request because he was also a product of dialogue.”To be frank, Mr. President, but for dialogue, you wouldn’t have become the President of this country today.

Our founding fathers who got together and begged the British government to hand over the reins of government had to sit together and forget their differences and agreed that if given, we will live together in harmony, we will respect each other,” he said.

Monguno, noted for his fearless assessment of national issues, expressed reservations with the way Nigeria is being administered.

“Mr. President, sometimes we wonder whether you are running a military government, a democracy or something called diarchy. We can hardly put our finger on what type of government you are running, Mr. President. We hope the labours of our heroes past shall not be in vain,” he said.

The elder statesman pointed out that for Nigeria to stabilize and develop, all the constituents of the country must be treated equitably and everybody must be made to feel among so that no part will feel agitated or short-changed.

“Mr. President, I should advise you to relate more with the governments of northern Nigeria...I have a feeling that there is something like misunderstanding between you Mr. President who has the

responsibility of running the entire country and the governors of 19 northern states.

We have told them too to always be together,” he said.

Reacting to the barrage of requests for amnesty and concerns over the alleged abuse by the JTF personnel, Jonathan, who was visibly angry with the position of the elders, said the elders were just playing to the gallery and warned that if the people of Borno State would not condemn the acts, the country would continue to suffer under the terror of Boko Haram He said there was no way he could grant amnesty to faceless people who are not ready to lay down their arms.

He said calls for the withdrawal of the JTF would give room to militants to take over parts of the country. He, however, said if the Borno Elders will sign an indemnity in that respect, he would do their bidding, but will hold them responsible if any civilian is killed by the Boko Haram.

President Jonathan said his vision for Nigeria was to focus on activities that will impact on the lives of the people around.

“And when I have the opportunity to serve at the centre, that has remain my vision,” he said.

According to him, ”on security, I will sincerely plead with my people in Borno State that this is not the time to play to the gallery, whether you are a politician or not. This is not the time to play to the gallery.

“The state chairman of the PDP spoke, the House of Representatives member spoke and the Professor from the University of Maiduguri spoke.

But to be frank, I am not comfortable with the way he (Professor Alkali spoke).

“The conclusion is that there are too many bunkers in Maiduguri and in Borno State, but why should the bunkers come? Who wants to send bunkers to Borno State? That there are too many (APCs) Armored Personnel Carriers in Borno State, who wants to send APCs to Borno State? Some people are saying the JTF should go! For God’s sake, who wants to be spending money on the allowances of soldiers? If the circumstances that brought the soldiers are no longer there, all of them would leave on that very day.

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

EMERGENCY UPDATE

Climate change and challenges of a ‘Climate-Proof Nigeria’

By Idris Abubakar Mohammed

T

homas Friedman, in his classic, ‘The World is Flat’ examined the influences shaping business and competition in technology-fuelled global environment, sounded a wakeup call on governments, businesses and individuals to stay ahead of the trends to remain competitive.

In the same vein, to ensure the sustainable development of Nigeria and conserve our precious natural resources, we must climate proof our country.

The phenomena of climate change occasioned by anthropogenic activities of unprecedented urbanization, consumerism and throw away culture of the western world has come to be the greatest challenge to human existence on the planet, earth.

Global warming arising from the emission of carbon and several other noxious gases which destroys the ozone layer that shields the earth from the ultraviolent radiation, over several years of human civilization has become the world’s Frankenstein monster.

The damage inflicted on this natural shield from the early years of European industrial revolution to date has resulted to unpredictable weather conditions, droughts, desertification and rapid environmental degradation. The world has increasingly become a more dangerous and difficult place to live in. Unprecedented floods and the attendant humanitarian challenges as experienced in Nigeria in 2012 are expected to become widespread in the near future.

As a prove to climate variability and paradoxically, the arid states of the Sahel region, prone to desertification and crop failure are being devastated by floods as witnessed in northern Nigeria in the last decade.

In response to this depressing scenario, the international community under the auspices of the United Nations has made several efforts at reducing carbon emission by the industrialized world, protecting the natural ecosystem and promoting adaptation strategies that can allow for human existence even under the most challenging conditions. These efforts began with the earth summit of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1991 and the subsequent, Kyoto and post Kyoto protocols on carbon emission reduction. While these efforts have resulted in significant carbon emission reduction, rapid industrialization in china and India coupled with the refusal of the USA to make serious commitment on emission reduction has translated to the near failure of this laudable global cooperation to save the people of the world against annihilating themselves.

According to Wikipedia- 2013

L-R: Representative of the Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Eugene Ezeh, NEMA zonal coordinator (South-West), Mr. Iyiola Akande, and 1st Vice-President of Red Cross, Mr. Timothy Oladele, during the presentation of dignity kits donated by UNFPA to NEMA and the Nigerian Red Cross Society, recently in Lagos.

Photo: NAN records on global carbon emission, while the pollution of the USA constitutes 4.5 percent of global population, it contributes 18.27 of world atmospheric pollution.

China on the other hand, with a 19% world population, accounts for 23.5% of global carbon emission. Unfortunately, the poor and less developed countries of Africa that suffer most from climate change vicissitudes, are the ones that have the least capacity for adaptation. This is taking into consideration that a ton of carbon emitted into the atmosphere in the USA or China does the same damage to the poor farmer in a remote village in Africa.

Scientists and climate change specialists are alerting us that we have limited time to start making serious attempts to mitigate the effects of climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that by 2100, the global temperature is set to climb significantly, by between 1.80c at the lowest end and 40c at the highest end. Sea levels are expected to rise by the end of this century by between 11 and 17 inches, threatening small island states. Africa is expected to be particularly hard-hit by climate change, with temperature rise of 0.20c per decade to 0.30c per decade. Warming will be more intense among the semi-arid margins of the Sahara and in central-southern Africa.

Like the maxim goes; no one can do it all, but everyone can contribute to the general good. Let us commence climate change adaptation programme from the restoration of our natural vegetation and the development of planted forests. Plants absorb carbon dioxide through a complex process of photosynthesis (the manufacturing of food from sunlight) and in the same process oxygen gas, without which

animals including humans cannot survive. Through this natural process, natural vegetation especially, the heavily forested ecosystems of Africa and Latin America serve as the carbon sinks of the world, thus aiding in the atmospheric carbon capture and sequestration. According to Wangari Mathai, the internationally acclaimed Kenyan Environmental Activist and Nobel Price Lauret “Scientists call the Congo Basin’s forest the world’s second lung after the Amazon, because of the sheer volume of carbon dioxide it absorbs and the oxygen it exhales.” One dares to say that that “second lung” might only perform its function with the help of its most important valve, the West African rain forest. Keeping our forest ecosystems healthy and using the resources they contain in both sustainable and equitable manner must be of concern to the African continent. Without Africa’s natural forests, the continent will end up being one huge desert.

Across Nigeria natural forest is continually being depleted due rapid population growth and the intensification and expansion of agriculture, pastoralism, infrastructural development and unrestricted logging. Rapid deforestation has been exacerbated by climate variability including global warming and the attendant biodiversity loss and the depletion of genetic pool especially in the northernmost Sahel states of Nigeria.

Paradoxically, deforestation and forest degradation accounts for nearly 20% of global green house gas emission, which the forests will absorb if carefully managed according to UNEP, 2013. The good news is that trees, unlike annual crops do not require fertilizer, beyond the first few months they require little

irrigation and can easily grow on barren and marginal lands.

It has become necessary for individuals, institutions and governments at all levels in Nigeria to get actively engaged in the management of natural vegetation and the development of planted forests. The present indifference and lack of concern on the ecosystem is inadmissible.

It always baffles one on a passive observation to realize that people that have lived several years in their personal houses, in both our urban and rural centers could not plant trees in their compounds to enjoy a clement micro-climate and add to the esthetic value of the property. The annual tree planting campaigns by government in the past despite being criticized of being a mere annual ritual has archived modest success of regenerating plant cover in several communities across Nigeria. It has become essential for governments especially at the local level to reinvent the novel idea of establishing plant nurseries and providing tree seedlings to people at the onset of the rains to transplant and nurture them.

The Federal Ministry of Environment must make concerted efforts towards working with its international stakeholders to make the Sahara Green Wall project in Nigeria a reality. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) must include the promotion of planted forests especially in the Sahel and the riparian states of Nigeria in its advocacy for disaster risk reduction while interfacing with its critical stakeholders, especially the state governments.

It is on record that NEMA has is facing increased humanitarian challenge occasioned by landuse conflict between sedentary farmers and pastoralist in several states of Nigeria. Such competition over access to dwindling land and riparian resources has lead loss of

lives and the dislocation of the socioeconomic fabric of several communities in the recent past.

Improvement in vegetation has proved to checkmate erosion, reduce the levels of flooding, improve the natural food web and rejuvenate the micro-climate. It will be a great idea, if the Federal Ministry of Environment is to work towards the promotion of the management of natural forests and the development of plantations for carbon trading among individuals, the public and private sector. This will allow for access by Nigeria to the huge carbon market which has hitherto eluded African countries despite their owning vast extent of vegetation stock that constitutes a significant component of the global carbon sink.

There is the urgent need for Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) to collaborate with the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) and promote the production of ethanol from Nigeria’s abundant energy crops including sugar cane, cassava and sweet sorghum to discourage the burning of wood. The NNPC must transform and see itself not only as an oil company, but an energy company. This brings to mind, the pioneering spirit of the British Petroleum and its ground breaking research and development in alternative energy which lead to the commercial production of photovoltaic cells popularly referred to as solar panels, which now contribute a significant percentage to the global energy mix. Such collaboration in Nigeria will create a link between the agricultural and the energy sector, empower peasant farmers and safeguard rural energy security. It will also reduce the felling of trees for firewood, as ethanol in addition to being used to power automobiles, can equally be deployed for cooking, heating and lighting, thus replacing kerosene, another win-win scenario.

Protecting the environment which in turn guarantees our sustenance and wellbeing in the planet, earth is everyone’s business. This has become necessary as our ecosystems become increasingly fragile due to unrestricted over exploitation of both its tock and flow resources.

Climate change and its entire attendant vicissitudes are a reality, we must all work together to mitigate its negative impacts through the frugal and sustainable use of our God given land resources. Let’s go green and together protect the environment before an irreversible damage is unleashed on it by our reckless consumerism.

Mohammed is a staff of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Maitama, Abuja. He can be reached via: N i g e r i a k a zura12003@yahoo.com

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

EMERGENCY UPDATE

NEMA records 80 disaster signals in one year N

By Mohammed Kandi

igerian Mission Control Center (NMCC), a satellite base technology at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) received a total of 80 distress alert signals in the past one year, a stakeholder’s consultative meeting has said.

A consultative forum on coordination of satellite aided search and rescue services in Nigeria disclosed in Lagos that the alert signals are mostly from maritime, aviation and land users.

Director-General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, according to a statement issued by the agency’s head of public relations, Yushau Shuaib, yesterday in Abuja, explained that the detection and location of an aircraft crash or maritime distress was of paramount

importance to the search and rescue teams.

Sani- Sidi, who said it, was necessary to identify the accurate location of the distress and significantly reduce search and rescue cost and exposure of the rescue force to hazardous conditions, adding that “the meeting is convened to iron out the issues and challenges which could be used to optimise coordination between the various agencies.”

Represented by the Director, Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Charles Otegbade, Sani-Sidi said that the agency acquired satellite search and rescue technology to facilitate the speedy location of distress alerts even in remote locations.

“While the mission control center represents the eyes, your organizations represent the arms and leg of this effort to

reduce the loss of human lives during emergencies” he said.

In his remarks, the head of NMCC, Navy Captain B. Iyalla, told stakeholder that some of the issues troubling NEMA were incessant false alert which some were unknown and several reported incidents which were also undetected.

He said the mission was able to rescue a Vessel with 26 persons on-board registered in Nigeria involved in a fire incident at Escrvos.

Other issues discussed at the meeting include the high false alert rate; roles of various stakeholders in following up alert; reliability of the existing beacon data base; extant regulations on beacon acquisition, registration and coding in Nigeria and reported cases of accidents where beacons do not trigger.

L-R: the Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammad SaniSidi, South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Choi Jong Hyun inspecting 20 rice milling machines donated by the Korean government to the Federal Government in Abuja, recently

Agency trains journalists on disaster reporting

T

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said recently that it would train journalists on how best to report disasters in the country.

North East Zonal Coordinator of the agency, Alhaji Abubakar Kanar, disclosed this in a statement issued in Yola.

Kanar said that NEMA would organise a one-day sensitisation workshop on the role of media in disaster management and control for journalists in the region.

The statement explained that the workshop was designed to sharpen the techniques of media practitioners from the zone on the role of the media in proper

reporting of the agency’s activities and emergencies.

“It is in view of the aforementioned that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is organizing workshops for critical stakeholders and media practitioners at the Zonal level on the role of the media in reporting emergencies and sensitisation for checkmating the re-occurrences of flood related disasters,” Kanar said.

The coordinator noted that the recent flood disasters that claimed several lives and property, and displaced many communities needed appropriate management.

According to him, the essence of disaster management was to protect people’s lives, properties and the environment in general.

“The key to attaining success is the involvement of all jurisdictions, sectors, disciplines and resources in an organised and coordinated manner.

“The media is viewed as a critical stakeholder in information dissemination; before, during and after emergencies,” he said.

Kanar added that more than 50 different media organisations are expected to receive the training. The workshop would hold on March 13, in Yola, Adamawa. (NAN)

YOUTHS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

By Abubakar Jimoh abujimoh01@yahoo.com

Mitigating the impacts of water pollution

I

n recent times, water pollution has emerged a national issue and possibly one of the dreadful environmental challenges facing Nigeria as many rivers and streams have become contaminated mostly by natural and man-induced activities.

Water pollution involves contamination of streams, lakes, underground water, bays, or oceans by substances harmful to living things.

The fact remains that all living organisms largely depend on water for their livelihood and survival. Some live in it, while others drink it.

Also the survival of man, animals and plants depend on water that is moderately pure and they cannot subsist if their water is loaded with toxic chemicals or harmful bacteria.

Water has always been a vital resource for human beings.

However, the power conferred by fossil fuels and modern technology, people have rerouted rivers, pumped up deep groundwater, and by so doing polluted the earth's water supply as never before.

As Nigeria grows socioeconomically, it has suffered from series of water pollution; most especially in the NigerDelta area of the country where land and water surfaces have been contaminated with Crude Oil activities by the Oil and Gas industries sited in the region.

The oil spills and burn off of petroleum and natural gas industries as well as clearance of vegetation have seriously damaged the land, vegetation, and most waterways in the region. This phenomenon has resulted to a number of health damages, and thousands of death since the discovery of crude oil in 1950s.

A study carried out by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) discovered that several activities have accounted for water pollution in the country.

Among these are petroleum products which get into water mainly by means of accidental spills from ships, tanker trucks, pipelines, and leaky underground storage tanks, pipeline thefts; composed chemical substances used to kill unwanted animals and plants on farms or in suburban yards; unethical disposal of agroindustrial hazardous wastes; excessive organic matter like fertilizers and other nutrients used to promote plant growth on farms and in gardens that find their way into water; floodwater from croplands, strip mines, and roads; improper dumping of debris.

In a bid to combat problems

of water pollution across the country, Youths Against Disaster Initiative (YADI)has called for the immediate review and full implementation of various Nigerian Environmental Use Regulation.

Environmental Protection Agencies should be technically and administratively strategized with mandate to sets standards for land use, environmental utilities, and industrial activities in the country.

Recalled in 1988, Nigerian government established the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) to address problems of desertification, oil pollution, and land degradation, but the FEPA recorded little or no success. Whereas, in 1995 the weaken and fragmented Environmental Agency witnessed further inept performance after the execution of a famous writer, late Ken Saro-Wiwaand other nine Ogbonis following their publicdemonstrations against environmental degradations in the Niger-Delta.

Effective public e n l i g h t e n m e n t programmemust be put in place against dumping of contaminant by individuals and industries. This will require the collaborative efforts of both public and private individuals to discourage people from dumping contaminants like used engine oil, down grates which may pollute nearby waterways.

Also, householders and farmers are urged to be careful in their use of garden pesticides and fertilizers to avoid contaminated runoff and eutrophication. Excessive use of fertilizer by famers and agroindustries must be discouraged in the country.

YADI confirmed that Cadmium in fertilizer derived from sewage sludge can be absorbed by crops. If these crops are eaten by humans in sufficient amounts, the metal can cause diarrhea and, over time, liver and kidney damage.

Lead can as well get into water from lead pipes and solder in older water systems. Through such circumstance, children exposed to lead in water can suffer mental retardation.

Moreover, ethical afforestation practices are expected of farmers. These include environmental protection using traditional techniques such as planting of different crops in a single field at once to cover the ground more evenly, thereby reducing erosion and increasing soil fertility; planting and maintaining farmland trees and hedgerows, also to reduce erosion.

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Flood: FG intensifies environmental advocacy campaign

By Mohammed Kandi

F

ollowing the recent forecast by Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) that Nigerians should expect heavy rainfall and floods in 2013, the Minister of Environment, Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia, said her ministry has stepped up environmental education and advocacy campaign across the country.

Mailafia, who disclosed this recently while addressing the management staff of ministry in Abuja, however, warned against complacency and directed that the tempo of activities relating to erosion, flood and environmental sanitation be stepped up to avert another flood-related disasters in the country.

The minister called for immediate implementation of the resolutions of the various stakeholders meetings and recommendations of committees that were set up after the 2012 floods.

She also directed that educational jingles, which had already been produced in English, pidgin and the three widely used Nigerian languages, be broadcast on national, regional and state television and radio stations “to reach the broadest spectrum of the populace with appropriate messages.

“The jingles are on the issues of flooding, desertification, sanitation, erosion and land degradation and will run for one quarter, to be followed by documentaries in the second quarter of the year,” Mailafia explained.

“Programmes are billed to run on the 36 NTA stations in the country, Channels Television, NTA Network and select zonal and state radio stations across the country,” she added.

According to her, the outdoor billboards would be displayed in strategic places across the country to reinforce the messages in the electronic media, adding that there would be more proactive programmes to keep the nation on top of environmental challenges.

Mailafia, who informed that it was the first time the national environmental education and advocacy campaign, was being pursued in the country, saying the initiative was to give effect to the vision and passion of the President for a national green environment movement involving all persons and groups in the country.

Gully erosion that is gradually eating up valuable land in Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra state, as highlighted by this photograph.

Bwari residents bemoan recurring filth-dump in water ways

By Gladys Kenneth

R

esidents of Dawaki community, a suburb in Bwari Area Council in FCT, have lamented over indiscriminate refuse dumps into an abandoned water system by a construction firm to lay water pipe from Usman Dam to the area.

They are also calling for the urgent intervention of the Federal Government to provide a permanent solution to the environment which emits hazardous odour from the unattended filths that has constituted great danger to residents.

A resident of the community, Miss Esther Udju, said several complaints have been laid before the village chief, the Etsu Joshua Zachariah, who had in the past made efforts to get rid of the refuse from that particular site for the good health of the residents.

“Reacting to the complaints of his people, Etsu Joshua called on some workers to pack the dirt and clear the site to make the environment conducive for living and reduce the rate of diseases that could be contacted from such dirt in the community,” she explained.

Udju observed that within three years, the filth has been parked severally but said “the job is not done completely as part of the dirt is left.”

Apparently, mixed reactions trailed the notorious refuse dump site as some residents of the community opined that the refuse should remain so they can have a place to dispose their dirt, but others opposed and said it should be cleared to avoid more harm than there already are.

Some residents however stressed the need for awareness on environmental sanitation saying most people living in the area have little or no idea of the

dangers and threats involved in residing in a dirty environment.

In their thinking, the government and other regulatory bodies responsible for the task of cleaning the grime are not doing enough towards the sanitary condition of the area.

According to one Ebenezer Francis, who is a resident of the area, “the filth has been here as far back as 2009, when Bwari Area Council awarded a contract to a private construction firm to lay water pipe from Usman Dam in Bwari to Dawaki community; this was done during the rainy season.”

“The constructors failed to cover the pipes properly so when the rains came, it washed off the surface clay that was used in covering the pipe thereby exposing the pipe and causing a leakage that led to erosion.

People living around this area seized that opportunity to use the rushing water to dispose of dirt,” he said.

“As this continued, the dirt did not flow with the water at a certain point because the hole dug by the erosion got blocked.

The erosion is attributed to the improper job done by the

contractors,” Francis informed.

He added: “After messages were sent to the government through the chancellor of Dutse/ Dawaki without response and the situation got out of our control, some youths took it upon themselves to fix the menace because the dirt littered around the environs, they decided to work there and put up a notice board, informing the residents not to dump refuse there again.

Residents still went to the site to dump refuse at night while others were asleep. This, coupled with lack of equipment to work with, discouraged the youths from further work.”

“It got to a point in time where dirt was heaped in front of people’s compounds as the site was cleared and there was no alternative for the residents. I recall that there was an outbreak of malaria in June, 2011 whereby some had to be taken to a nearby pharmacy for immediate treatment to avoid further mishap,” he disclosed.

Francis therefore commended the effort of the council for its attempt to control the situation and urged residents to device ways of addressing the issue as it affects their health, adding that

“health is wealth and to avoid contacting infections through the dirt surrounding them is entirely their sole responsibility.

He said: “The only solution is for the hole to be properly covered as it will make the place worthliving once again. This can be done with the help of the government.”

“If this measure is taken, I do not think anyone in his right frame of mind will dump refuse by the roadside. I do not see why the people around here will refuse to help themselves when help is being offered to them,” he said, adding that “we are appealing to the government to do something about this situation.

Drastic measures need to be taken before things get out of control; this is not a sight to behold.”

Peoples Daily learnt that the environment has been affected by erosive action, which has eaten deeply into the ground, thereby widening the ditch.

Asides the erosion, the waste, which is yet to have a permanent site, remained a great threat to the health and well-being of residents.

Expert advocates multi-dimensional approach against flooding

T

he construction of more dams with proper management of excess water from source will help to mitigate the effects of flooding in the country, Prof. Jimoh Onemayin has said.

Onemayin, a professor of hydrology and water resources at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recently.

He said that building a dam was a way of reducing flood attenuation which was reducing the peak value of flooding.

The Professor, however, said that there was no single solution to solving flood disaster, noting that a dam would only reduce the peak value.

Onemayin urged the Federal Government to explore other areas of mitigating flooding such as dredging, flood forecast, reservoirs operation and channel modelling as well as investing in research.

According to him, the government needs to fund research institutions to be able to come up with appropriate research findings to mitigate the impact of flooding.

“We need to do more research,

we need to do flood forecasting, reservoirs operation and channel modelling.

“For example, the on-going channelling of the River Niger (dredging) requires adequate research during and after the process.

“There should be research on these issues and the outcome of the research will be able to guide the government on appropriate steps to take.

“We cannot stop flooding but we can mitigate the effect of flooding through all these processes,’’ he said. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 27

The dangerous methods of waste collection W ENVIR ONMENT ENVIRONMENT aste management is the collection, transport, processing, recycling or disposal of waste materials. The term usually relates to materials produced by human activity, and is generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health, the environment or aesthetics.

Waste management is also carried out to recover resources from it, and can involve solid, liquid, gaseous or radioactive substances, with different methods and fields of expertise for each.

Waste management practices differ for developed and developing nations, for urban and rural areas, and for residential and industrial, producers. Management for nonhazardous residential and institutional waste in metropolitan areas is usually the responsibility of government authorities, while management for non-hazardous commercial and industrial waste is usually the responsibility of the generator. Solid Waste Disposal, disposal of normally solid or semisolid materials, resulting from human and animal activities that are useless, unwanted, or hazardous. Solid wastes typically may be classified as follows: Garbage: decomposable wastes from food Rubbish: non decomposable wastes, either combustible (such as paper, wood, and cloth) or noncombustible (such as metal, glass, and ceramics).

Ashes: residues of the combustion of solid fuels Large wastes: demolition and construction debris and trees

WATCH

By Ambrose Inusa Sule, mnes globenviron@yahoo.com 0703-441-4410 (sms only) Dead animals Sewage-treatment solids: material retained on sewage-

uses, and the area available.

Solid waste disposal in our urban areas has gone from the

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

It is evident that the waste collectors engaged in this operation have not been properly educated on health and environmental issues relating to their work treatment screens, settled solids, and biomass sludge.

Industrial wastes: such materials as chemicals, paints, and sand Mining wastes: Slag heaps and coal refuse piles Agricultural wastes: farm animal manure and crop residues.

Waste management methods vary widely between areas for many reasons, including type of waste material, nearby land

Overflowing garbage bins at the Coimbatore Collectorate

exclusive reserve of the government to the involvement of private participants.

With the privatization in the country, and the involvement of the private sector in waste collection and disposal, a number of private enterprises have sprung up, and now operate as waste disposal companies. Of a major concern is their method of operation, especially in terms of collection and transportation

of the waste. A cursory look at the operations of the waste collectors shows that the individuals engaged in this business do not understand the hazards involved or do not mind endangering their health and maybe their lives too.

Even a layman does not need any lectures to peruse the inherent dangers in the way the waste collectors do their work.

The practice of packing refuse manually, with shovels and basket, brings the collector in direct contact with the waste which is comprised of putrefying matter, medical and hazardous waste all in one unsorted heap.

Since none of our wastes are sorted at source or at any other place at all, and the major component being putrescible matter, the situation here is that refuse lying in the heaps by the road side for days has attained a considerable level of decomposition by bacteria at the time of collection. Quite a lot of times, lea hates are noticed dripping from the heaps on to the road, laden with pathogens and dangerous chemicals. Such areas are usually a source of discomfort to road users. How then could someone feel at ease â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;huggingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; these wastes in the process of collecting and transporting them?

Let us now look at the specific flaws in the operations of the waste collectors. It can easily be observed that our waste collectors do not have adequate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) such as helmets, coveralls, hand gloves, respirators, and safety boots. In cases where these (PPE) are provided, the problem

of having the correct type and usage still persists. The outcome of this is the common sight of waste workers wearing pieces of disposable soiled rags for a coverall.

Another issue is the work equipment. The volume of waste to be disposed and the lack of storage facility (waste bins) for the wastes is another sticky problem for the waste collectors.

Often times they are seen packing these wastes onto open Lorries with just shovels and tattered baskets. In the process, they end up scattering the refuse around the adjoining areas, not to mention their own bodies.

Now the use of open vans and carts to carry waste has been banned in Europe since the 1940s, yet this is what is used to convey refuse here, with the workers perched on top of the refuse itself. Not minding the odour, flies, and vermin, this method is being employed by our waste collectors today, scattering the waste along the road as they go, and risking a fatal drop from the top of the lorry.

It is evident that the waste collectors engaged in this operation have not been properly educated on health and environmental issues relating to their work. However, the responsibility still lies with government to regulate what the private waste collections agents are doing. And on this note should not engage agents without the proper equipment for work. It is also a mystery that up till now the Federal Road Safety Commission has not deemed it necessary to take any action regarding this issue. One may be tempted to ask why the operators of the waste collection agencies prefer to carry out their business in such shabby and unsustainable manner, but that will be a subject for discussion in coming issues.

Sanitary landfill is the cheapest satisfactory means of disposal, but only if suitable land is within economic range of the source of the wastes; typically, collection and transportation account for 75 percent of the total cost of solid waste management. In a modern landfill, refuse is spread in thin layers, each of which is compacted by bulldozer before the next is spread. When about 3 m (about 10 ft) of refuse has been laid down, it is covered by a thin layer of clean earth, which also is compacted.

Pollution of surface and groundwater is minimized by lining and contouring the fill, compacting and planting the cover, selecting proper soil, diverting upland drainage, and placing wastes in sites not subject to flooding or high groundwater levels. Gases are generated in landfills through anaerobic decomposition of organic solid waste. If a significant amount of methane is present, it may be explosive; proper venting eliminates this problem.

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Ensuring hitch-free farmers’ registration for GES scheme

By Akinwunmi Kole-Dawodu

A

griculturists have been calling for the compilation and documentation of reliable information on farmers, agricultural inputs and agricultural activities in Nigeria so as to engender the transformation of the country’s agriculture sector.

They argue that failure to provide adequate, relevant and up-to-date information about farmers and farming activities across the country has resulted in poor agricultural yields in spite of the government’s financial commitment to the sector.

The experts also note the farmers’ complaints that resources earmarked for them hardly get to them because of the absence of a database on farmers.

However, the stakeholders’ expectations were met in November 2011 when the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development inaugurated the National Farmers’ Database.

The project is designed to make agricultural financing and inputs support more efficient by ensuring that the target groups, which are the farmers, have access to adequate inputs to promote food production.

On the project’s platform, the Federal Government introduced the roll-out programme — the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme — in May 2012 and the scheme is aimed at subsidising the cost of major agricultural inputs.

With the GES scheme, it then becomes imperative for farmers to register before having access to the inputs.

Through the exercise, the farmers’ data are expected to be captured and stored in the central databank of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

As laudable as the initiative appears to be, observers have, nonetheless, been advising the stakeholders to ensure a hitchfree execution of the farmers’ registration.

They argue that a pragmatic approach is required to ensure the effective registration of farmers in all the country’s 774 local government areas.

They also cite a media report which alleged that registration forms for the exercise, which ought to be free, were sold openly to farmers during the first phase of the exercise.

However, the Minister of

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina

Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, gave an assurance at a recent workshop in Abuja that the exercise would be properly monitored.

He underscored the need for Nigeria to a have a full database on its estimated 14 million farmers, adding that only genuine farmers would have access to subsidised seeds and fertilisers under the GES scheme.

Adesina noted that the Federal Government introduced “mark-reading forms’’, commonly used for national examinations, for the exercise.

He said that the forms would enable the information supplied by the farmers to be quickly scanned and sent to the ministry’s databank.

“With the form, information can be quickly processed and sent directly to the ministry’s database; the idea is to have the information of real farmers in a single file folder.

“We intend to deliver our farmers completely from the hands of shylocks; this battle of farmers’ deliverance started in 2012 when we developed the GES scheme.

“Under the GES scheme, farmers received 50 per cent subsidy for fertilisers and 100 per cent subsidy for improved seeds, which will reach them directly.

“Farmers also received subsidised seeds and fertiliser vouchers on their mobile phones or ‘e-wallets’, which they use just like cash to buy seeds and fertilisers directly from the agro-chemical merchants,’’ he

“

But with this farmers’ registration exercise, we can actually tell you which farmers received what inputs, when they did; how much they paid and how much the government paid.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Bukar Tijjani

said.

Adesina noted that the idea was to have full biometric information on the farmers so as to reach them directly with subsidised agricultural inputs, thereby cutting off the exploitation of middlemen and corrupt bureaucrats.

As part of plans toward the 2013 farming season, a workshop was organised to sensitise all stakeholders to the specific roles they are expected to play in the exercise.

Mrs Ibukun Odusote, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the workshop would also help in generating accurate and up-to-date data for the implementation of the scheme Represented by Mr Joseph Nyanger, the ministry’s Director of Livestock, Odusote noted that one of the problems indentified during the first phase of the exercise was wrong data entry, which would be addressed by the ministry.

Mr Mustafa Raji, the coordinator of the exercise in Adamawa, also expressed concerns about some of the challenges facing exercise.

He said that the exercise was suspended in the state because of the non-payment of the entitlements of the desk officers.

“We were unable to pay desk officers conducting the exercise in local government areas across the state due to paucity of funds,’’ he added.

Raji stressed that this development could threaten the national agricultural transformation programme and hinder the success of farming

activities in his area.

In his remarks, Mr Charles Momo, the FCT Director of Agriculture, observed that the indirect targeting of farmers had somewhat encouraged the diversion of funds.

He noted that the system had loopholes which allowed the diversion of subsidised fertilisers, seeds and tractors meant for farmers to the open market where they were illegally sold at exorbitant prices.

He noted that billions of naira was spent annually on efforts to reach farmers with agricultural inputs, adding, however, that the level of the farmers’ utilisation of improved seeds and fertilisers was still very low.

“But with this farmers’ registration exercise, we can actually tell you which farmers received what inputs, when they did; how much they paid and how much the government paid.

“Within 120 days of the inauguration of GES scheme, more than 1.2 million farmers successfully redeemed their seeds and fertilisers, using the e-wallet system,’’ he noted.

However, Alhaji Ikra Inuwa, a farmer, said that the farmers’ registration for the GES scheme was good and purposeful, saying that it had been able to ensure that agricultural inputs, meant for farmers, got to them directly.

All the same, the workshop’s participants unanimously agreed that the effective registration of farmers for the GES scheme was a dependent variable in efforts to ensure the fulfilment of the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda.

Source: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 31

Tunisia: Still a democratic bellwether ANALYSIS

T

unisia's democratisation process is back on track even if it does not mean the end of polarisation or Islamistsecularist tension.

It is Nahda's compromise and return to constructive bargainpolitics, more than the new government line-up to steer the ship until the next election, that bodes well for re-launching the country's democratic process. Some work has been done; and much more remains to be realised.

In particular, two agendas currently working in tandem must be stressed: a revamped process with a Neo-Nahda, resolidifying itself as a permanent political pole in Tunisia's politics; and relaunching democratic transition by putting constitution-framing, institutionbuilding (Elections Committee), elections, and urgently turning attention to the economy to tackle rising unemployment and serious current account deficit.

The void left by Prime Minister HamadiJebali's departure has shaken Tunisia's political elite into a scramble for answers and solutions to the deadly impasse engulfing the birthplace of the Arab Spring.

Primarily, the crisis has served as a wake-up call for the Islamist Nahda party. Whatever happens from this moment on, Nahda will never be the same again. In its search for a solution to the impasse, the seeds of a new Nahda are being sown.

Talking to friends within the party reveals the level of both the tendency to remain unitary whilst diffuse, coherent but diverse, and disciplined and centralised but without undermining pluralist rules of engagement.

The party's 130-member Consultative Council has met numerous times to discuss how to move forward, and keep the rankand-file on side and its views represented. And right now moving forward means the following:Safeguarding Nahda's unity, Preparing the party for the next elections, Committing to troika multilateralism in managing the current political crisis and undertaking duties of a "caretaker" government with full responsibility, Making Nahda a permanent factor in the equation of Tunisia's democratic transition. A healthy and strong Nahda, the reasoning goes, in a political landscape noted for weak parties, enhances the chances of democratic transition and Work to quell political unrest and tension through compromise.

However, Nahda has not reached this new thinking without massive revision, primarily of its mistakes and blunders - something yet to be undertaken by its competitors, including Nida Tunis.

In particular, Nahda is paying less attention to short-term gains and has its eyes set on the democratic process as a whole. The new government line-up reveals the adoption of bargain-politics and compromise - which I shall return to below.

This brand of crisis management was displayed by Nahda in

When cracks appeared, MoncefMarzouki even went as far as criticising Nahda, publicly revealing "his own fear of monopoly of power by Ghannouchi's Islamists" [AP] January before Jebali's resignation.

In fact, on January 25, Nahda's Consultative Council backed a motion by the outgoing prime minister for a cabinet reshuffle to expand the coalition and, amongst other things, to give up key ministries, including the Foreign Ministry, which Nahda's troika partners insistently demanded.

The discussion then involved many and was not at all against openness to key leaders now-turned "morbid" foes, such as NejibChebbi.

The reasoning was correct and Nahda knew it was bargaining from a position of strength. It is still the only political party with a permanent constituency. The party's fixed power base will not in any future elections, at least in the foreseeable future, be affected by its under-performance in government.

Nahda would still receive comfortably - and it will - 40 per cent of the public vote, depending of course on what kind of Election Law is devised for the next poll. Nida Tunis, by contrast, may not be more than a passing political fad - which for many Tunisians might be identified as the equivalent of Egypt's folool - remnants of Bin Ali's Democratic Constitutional Rally.

At best, Nida Tunis would collect 20 to 25 per cent of the vote - and many give it half of that proportion.

Regardless, the process is still ongoing and there are several months before such a poll is held. It is

early day to dismiss Nida Tunis so easily.

Nahda's troika partners the enfeebled Republican Congress Party - CPR - (MoncefMarzouki and co) and Mustafa bin Ja'far'sEttakatol which are looking at 12 to 15 per cent of the vote each.

In theory, the troika could be replicated after the general elections to be held when the constitution is passed. In practice, new dynamics will emerge and Nahda is bound to lose at least one of the partners, depending on whom it endorses as president, Marzouki or bin Ja'far - or field its own candidate if its share of the popular vote is high in the next elections.

That would not, in the long run, be a bad outcome for Tunisian democratisation as it may force an Ettakatol-CPR coalition with a measurable share of the popular vote, enough to act as a countervailing force to keep Nahda in check. However, this is unlikely as the ambition to be president will push the two parties and leaders apart before, potentially, pulling them together in the direction of partnership.

It is a win-win outcome, even if the array of figures featuring in this government may at face value inspire little confidence. Some are chosen for being "technocrats"; others are there as part of the carving of the cake of government posts.

However, the parties and coalitions

“

The discussion then involved many and was not at all against openness to key leaders now-turned “morbid” foes, such as NejibChebbi.

that have been left out - especially Nida Tunis who are unacceptable to the constituencies of both Nahda and the CPR - will continue to sling mud at Ali Larayedh's government.

I think Nida Tunis, amongst others, are underestimating how much damage they are sustaining for being too "black-and-white", rejecting all things "Nahda", "Salafist" or "Islamist". Nahda, through compromise, has retracted from this type of "cheap" politics.

The new government line-up is proof of the good will and compromise invested into the process of selecting various people and matching them to relevant portfolios - on top of the partisan trade-offs as in all political bargains.

Nahda's strategy shows political skill - for the first time - and a great deal of revision of past directions.

The opposition has generally aimed to undermine the troika as one route of isolating Nahda and shaking its confidence. To an extent, the last few months were a huge "test" for the solidity of the governing coalition. Cracks appeared, and Marzouki even went as far as criticising Nahda, publicly revealing his own fear of monopoly of power by Ghannouchi's Islamists. Through the new government line-up Nahda pulled the rug from underneath the opposition, making concessions which were not feasible several months ago.

The concessions: Nahda gives up three key cabinet posts in the new ministry. The Foreign Ministry now goes to a career diplomat (Othman Jerandi). The opposition zealously used RafikAbdessalem, Ghannouchi's son-in-law and Jerandi's predecessor, as an axe to grind. Ghannouchi has cleverly risen to the occasion and probably righted a political "blunder", which cost him quite dearly in terms of judgment.

The Interior Ministry, which is a kind of poisoned chalice, symbolic of "control", has drawn all kinds of criticism by the opposition against Larayedh's handling of protests, the Salafists and the US Embassy fiasco

in September 2012, which could have been worse in terms of fatalities and damage to American-Tunisian relations.

Nahda now passes on the poisoned chalice to others.

Reason?Nahda is capitalising, and already preparing for, excellent results in the next elections. It has given up this ministry in order to avoid accusations of rigging the next polls.

The same, to an extent, applies to the Justice Ministry. Distribution of these ministries to partners has produced a win-win effect, and restoring trust in the Islamist party as a key player but not one motivated by the lurks and perks of office.

Even amongst its own members of government Nahda has tried to share the cake widely, creating internal "competition" for portfolios still retained. Jebali, the outgoing PM, and Mohamed bin Salem, Minister for Agriculture, were Larayedh's competitors.

Jebali, of course, would have none of it. Abdellatif Al-Mekki, considered one of the most competent Nahda ministers in charge of Health, and Moncef Ben Salem, in charge of Higher Education, are kept for satisfaction with performance.

There were also individuals who made concessions to ease the Islamist party into the democratic transition phase. LotfiZitoun gave up his post as adviser. Like many others, he is of the view that now it is a "phase of going back to the basics of politics: returning to the people for endorsement of the democratic transition through rising to the challenges of the constitution, then new parliament, and only after that Tunisians will get the first government of the people".

Another friend from the political class concurs: "Nothing beats the prize of giving Tunisia a democracy to properly thank the people for the gift of revolution."

There have been gains in Tunisia. Through disagreements, controversies and blunders, the new phase, once the government is fully endorsed and up and running, will usher a new realism - a wake-up call - to all that what counts right now is not how the parties fare out through mutual exclusion and black-andwhite reasoning. Rather, it is the ethical toolkit of civic commitment to the service of Tunisia and its quest for a democratic order.

The new political elites must shift emphasis from pursuit of power-grabbing and short-term gain to long-term quest for democratisation and economic reconstruction - with stress on good governance and Millennium Development Goals, so far ignored despite absence of a political vision.

That is an end and a cause in itself and right now Nahda has made the first move in the right direction via compromise; it is compromise and the art of bargain-politics that its foes must grasp from the exercise of the past several weeks… when Tunisia momentarily stopped to presage how the Arab Spring can let freedoms bloom… and democratic identities blossom.

Source: AlJazeera

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Tunisia vendor dies after self-immolation A

Tunisian cigarette vendor who set himself ablaze in a busy street of the capital Tunis a day earlier has died under hospital care, a medical official has said.

Adel Khadri, 27, died on Wednesday as a result of severe burns, ImedToiuibi, the director of the Ben Arous Burns Centre, told the AFP news agency.

"This is a young man who sells cigarettes because of unemployment," Khadri shouted before immolating himself on HabibBourguibaavenue.

Security forces and bystanders tried to extinguish the flames before the man was rushed to hospital, witnesses said.

Officials said Khadri hails from an extremely poor family in Jendouba in northwestern Tunisia.

KhaledTarrouche, interior ministry spokesman, attributed Khadri's desperate action to his economic situation.

"He is unemployed and came to Tunis a few months ago. He was very fragile, psychologically broken, and that is why he set

U.N. peacekeeper shot and in South Sudan

A

himself on fire."

Street vendors took to the streets after Khadri's death to express their dissatisfaction with the government.

In December 2010, street

vendor Bouazizi died of his injuries after setting himself alight on December 17, 2010 in the town of SidiBouzid after a policewoman confiscated his fruit cart.

Bouazizi's fate sparked protests that ended with the overthrow of autocratic President Zine alAbidine Ben Ali and inspired rebellions elsewhere in the Middle East.

figures have been charged with treason for allegedly trying to prevent Joyce Banda succeeding

him.

Former Foreign Minister Peter Mutharika asked the military to take over after his brother's death, an official report said last week.

He is accused of seeking to block Vice-President Banda taking over, as required by the constitution.

Those charged have not entered pleas.

Since becoming president, Ms Banda has reversed several policies.

She has devalued the currency - one of several moves demanded

by Western donors who fell out with Mr Mutharika.

The news of the arrests on Monday sparked trouble, with hundreds of protesters clashing with riot police.

Several current and former ministers were among the 12 people charged.

Former presidential legal adviser Allan Ntata was charged in absentia, as he is believed to be in the UK. The BBC's Raphael Tenthani in Blantyre says that two of those charged, including government minister GoodallGondwe, were not in the magistrate's court to hear the charges as they are in hospital after collapsing in police cells.

Because treason is a capital offence, the case will be moved to the High Court, where the accused will be asked to enter pleas on Thursday, our reporter says.

There was a heavy police presence outside court, where

United Nations peacekeeper has been shot and wounded by unknown gunmen in South Sudan, the international organization said on Wednesday, in the country's first such incident.

The shooting took place on Tuesday while the peacekeeper was on patrol in the remote Jonglei state in the east of the country, which broke away from Sudan in mid-2011.

"UNMISS (the U.N. mission in South Sudan) confirms that a U.N. peacekeeper was wounded yesterday when an unidentified armed group fired on an UNMISS patrol," said KouiderZerrouk, a spokesman for the mission.

Jonglei, a remote and undeveloped area the size of England, has been torn apart by inter-ethnic massacres triggered by cattle raids and abductions in recent years.

More than 1,600 people have been killed in violence in the state since independence, according to the United Nations.

The injured peacekeeper was evacuated to the capital Juba for medical treatment and his situation is stable, Zerrouk said.

South Sudan's young government is attempting to assert control over vast swathes of land bristling with guns from the civil war.

Earlier this month, South Sudan's army began a counterinsurgency offensive in Jonglei State against rebels loyal to David YauYau, an aspiring local politician and former theology student who took up arms three years ago.

something like this to be a useful diagnostic test. We want to put it in the hands of someone who might be able to use it," he said.

"70% (accuracy) isn't really good enough, we want to be above 80% and we're not quite there yet," he added.

"The technology is out there.

We want to use materials that are affordable and easy to procure."

Dr Bogoch and his team, which included experts from Massachusetts General Hospital and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, said the only reason he used an Apple iPhone was because it was his own

handset.

"You need the ball lens to help with the magnification - but any

mobile phone with a decent camera and a zoom function will be sufficient," he explained.

Vendors took to the streets in an anti-government protest after Khadri's death was announced.

Malawians charged with treason

T

he brother of former Malawi leader BinguwaMutharika and 11 other high-profile

President Joyce Banda

Tanzanians use phone to look for worms S cientists used an iPhone 4S to diagnose intestinal worm infections in schoolchildren in rural Tanzania.

They attached an $8 (ÂŁ5) ball lens to the handset camera lens, and used a cheap torch and double-sided tape to create an improvised microscope.

Pictures were then taken of stool samples placed on lab slides, wrapped in cellophane and taped to the phone.

They were studied for the presence of eggs, the main symptom of the parasites.

When the results were double-checked with a

laboratory light microscope, the device had managed to pick up 70% of the samples with infections present - and 90% of the heavier infections.

The study has been published this week in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Researcher Dr Isaac Bogoch, who specialises in internal medicine and infectious diseases at Toronto General Hospital, told the BBC he had read about smartphone microscopes being trialled in a laboratory and decided to "recreate it in a real world setting".

"Ultimately we'd like

The improvised microscope

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Asia and Middle East

A

t least two fighters have opened fire on a paramilitary camp on the Indian side of the disputed region of Kashmir, killing five Indian personnel and wounding five others, police have said.

PAGE 33

Kashmir: Indian troops killed in attack The assailants were killed in a gunfight that ensued on Wednesday at the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) base just outside the restive city of Srinagar, under curfew for much of the last few weeks following protests.

Jammu and Kashmir state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said three civilians

were also wounded in what he called a "suicide attack".

"A division of the CRPF was deployed at a camp here and children were playing cricket in the field when two militants fired grenades and attacked our division," Abdul Gani Mir, inspector general of police, told the Reuters news agency.

"We have lost five of our CRPF personnel who gunned down the two militants."

Police said it was not immediately clear if more than two assailants were involved in the attack, which began when the gunmen alighted from a car outside the camp, walked to its entrance and shot a sentry dead before firing indiscriminately into the base.

Militants often attacked security bases in Kashmir during the 1990s, when there

was a full-blown insurgency against Indian rule in a region over which India and Pakistan fought two of their three wars.

But there have been very few in recent years.

Tensions have been running high in Srinagar since last month, when India hanged a Kashmiri man for an attack on the country's parliament in 2001. The authorities have sought to crush clashes between protesters and police by imposing curfews in the city.

Suicide bomber attacks Afghan sports fans

A

suicide bomber has killed at least seven people in an attack on spectators at a buzkashi sports event in north-east Afghanistan.

The brother and father of the speaker of the Afghan parliament are said to be among the dead in Imam Sahib district, Kunduz province.

Hundreds of people were watching and the death toll may rise further.

Buzkashi is played on horseback and is similar to polo, but uses the headless carcass of a goat instead of a ball.

The governor of Kunduz province, Mohammad Anwar Jigdalak, said Abdul QayumEbrahimi had been killed in the attack along with his father.

He had been the local chief of police and brother to Abdul RaoufEbrahimi, the speaker in the Afghan House of Representatives.

It is not clear if they had been the targets of the attack, however.

Armed forces of India deployed to check further attack.

China colliery blast kills 21 miners

A

blast at a colliery in China has killed 21 miners and left four more missing, state med i a say.

The accident happened at a pit in Guizhou province on Tuesday night, Xinhua news agency said.

Fifty-eight workers escaped what it called an "outburst of coal and gas".

Rescue teams were looking for the remaining four.

A search was also ongoing for 18 miners missing after a mud flow at a site in

Buzkashi is a popular spectator sport.

Heilongjiang on Monday, Xinhua said.

The group were working about 500 metres underground when mud and rocks poured into the shaft, state media said.

China's mines are among the deadliest in the world, with numerous accidents each year.

The central government has worked to improve safety standards, but these laws are often ignored at local level in a country heavily reliant on coal.

Syrian refugee numbers to Jordan spike

I

ndia's prime minister has said "there will be consequences" unless Italy returns two marines charged with the murder of two fishermen in Kerala.

In unusually strong language, Manmohan Singh said that Italy's refusal to send back the marines was "unacceptable".

Rome's decision has come as a huge embarrassment for the Indian government and opposition parties have been demanding their immediate return.

On Tuesday, India summoned the Italian ambassador in Delhi to lodge

a protest.

Italy for its part has asked India to set up a meeting of diplomats in order to reach "an amicable solution".

The marines are accused of shooting the fishermen dead in February 2012. They said they mistook them for pirates.

India's Supreme Court allowed MassimilianLatorre and Salvatore Girone to go home to vote in last month's Italian elections.

The marines were ordered to return within four weeks.

But on Monday, Italy informed India that the marines would not be coming

back, leading to a diplomatic row between the two countries.

"Our government has already made it clear that these actions of the government of Italy are not acceptable," Mr Singh told the parliament on Wednesday morning.

"They violate every rule of diplomatic discourse and call into question solemn commitments given by an accredited representative of a government.

"This can not, by any standards, be in the interests of any bilateral relationship that has to function on the

basis of trust," he said.

The prime minister warned that if "they do not keep their word, there will be consequences for our relations with Italy".

Italy argues that because the case is now the subject of international maritime law, it had been decided that the pair would not return to India "on the expiration of the permission granted to them".

Rome says that it wants its nationals to be tried in Italy, saying the incident took place in international waters and that the Indians do not have jurisdiction in the case.

Manmohan Singh

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 34

Europe and Americas PKK frees Turkish hostages in peace bid

K

urdish rebels in Turkey have released eight hostages after their jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan called for a prisoner exchange.

The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) freed the eight soldiers and civil servants on Wednesday as part of a peace process with the Turkish government that it hopes will lead to a ceasefire by August. The hostages were freed in Iraq and they were back in Turkey on Wednesday afternoon.

According to reports, Ocalan began secret talks with Turkey to end the 29-year conflict in October.

Omar Al Saleh, reporting from Antakya in Turkey, said the deal to release the hostages was considered a gesture of goodwill in a proposal made

by Ocalan.

"Now this takes us to the more important step we could see by next week, this is according to Ocalan, we could see calling for the PKK to announce a ceasefire," Al Saleh said.

The hostages met their families in Zakho, northern Iraq, and then entered Turkey from the border at Habur.

Al Saleh said Ocalan's plan was for a ceasefire to begin in the next few months, up to the middle of August.

"Then the PKK will call on its fighters to leave the Turkish territory and withdraw and then lay down their weapons," Al Saleh said.

Turkey has yet to announce what it has offered in return, but there has been speculation that it will make some changes to the Turkish constitution.

These include recognition of the existence of the ethnic Kurds, which is one of the main demands by Kurds in Turkey.

The hostages have been named as ZihniKoc, Abdullah Sopceler, Kemal Ekinci, Nadir Ozgen, KenanErenoglu, ResatCacan, RamazanBasaran, HadiGizli.

The number of hostages held by the PKK have been disputed. Turkish media has reported numbers that vary from 10 to 20.

They had been kidnapped in various dates in Diyarbakir, Van, Mus, Bingol and Sirnak provinces in eastern and southeastern Turkey.

The release was expected to take place on Tuesday but was delayed because of "technical reasons", according to the BDP.

PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan

President Obama upbraids China over cyber attacks

P

resident Barack Obama has said in a TV interview that the US is engaging in "tough talk" with China about its alleged cyber attacks on America.

Mr Obama told ABC News some, but not all, hacking originating from China was state sponsored, although he played down congressional talk of a cyber war.

He spoke a day after US intelligence chiefs said cyber attacks had replaced terrorism as the main security threat.

China denies such hacking and says it is the victim of such attacks.

Mr Obama was asked in the interview with ABC News, broadcast on Wednesday, about

claims from US lawmakers that the scale of attacks on American firms and infrastructure amounted to a cyber "war" with China.

"You know, there's a big difference between them engaging in cyber espionage or cyber attacks and obviously a hot war," the president said.

"What is absolutely true is that we have seen a steady ramping up of cyber security threats.

Some are state sponsored. Some are just sponsored by criminals.

"We've made it very clear to China and some other state actors that, you know, we expect them to follow international norms and abide by international rules.

"And we'll have some pretty tough talk with them. We already have."

China has long been suspected of a role in cyber attacks, prompting Pentagon warnings that America must guard against a "digital Pearl Harbor". A US congressional report last year named China as "the most threatening actor in cyberspace".

The issue has become a growing bone of contention between Washington and Beijing.

On Tuesday, US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told a Senate committee that cyber attacks and cyber espionage had supplanted terrorism as the top security threat facing the country.

A day earlier in New York, US National Security Advisor Tom Donilon called on Beijing to take steps to stop cyber crime.

Last month, a report from US security firm Mandiant said a unit of China's People's Liberation Army had mounted data raids on the computer systems of more than 140 mostly US-based organisations.

US state department officials have said hacking comes up "in virtually every meeting we have with Chinese officials".

In January, the New York Times said it had been subject to cyber attacks from China, following the newspaper's report on the wealth of outgoing Premier Wen Jiabao's family.

UK halts new Brazil visa rules P

lans to impose visa restrictions on Brazilian tourists have been put on hold

by Home Secretary Theresa May. Like US, Canadian or Australian citizens, Brazilians can visit the UK for up to six months without a visa.

The home secretary was considering introducing restrictions amid concerns about illegal immigration from Brazil.

But Mrs May has shelved the plan following protests about its impact on efforts to boost business links with the country.

Brazil is fifth in the top 10 of illegal immigrant nationalities in the UK, according to Home Office figures for 2011, and is the only country on the list for which short-term visitors do not need a visa.

But the government is attempting to develop closer trading links with Brazil - seen as an emerging economic powerhouse.

A government spokesperson said: "Brazil is an important partner for the UK and we are investing greatly in our diplomatic and economic ties.

"We have no current plans to impose a visa regime on Brazil."

Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed the decision to keep visafree access for Brazilian tourists at Prime Minister's Questions, after a Lib

Dem MP, John Thurso, warned imposing restrictions could harm the tourist trade.

Mr Cameron told MPs: "The N a t i o n a l Security Council met recently to consider some of these border issues and it has decided not to put these visas on to Brazilian nationals.

"We want to work with the Brazilians to enhance border security."

Home Secretary Theresa May (M) escorted by Metropolitan Police officers.

He also hinted that Chinese tourists could face less stringent checks in future, telling MPs the government was "looking at a number of steps to make sure we attract tourists from the fastest growing economies, including China and elsewhere."

Brazil is the only one of the four so-called fast-growing BRIC nations which also includes Russia, India and

China - to have no visa restrictions for short visits to the UK. The Home Office said this was a "long standing" agreement - but stressed Brazilian nationals entering the UK for other purposes, such as work or study, must ensure that they have the appropriate visa.

Conservative MP Robert Halfon, chairman of the all-party group on Brazil, welcomed the government's

decision.

"I am delighted it is not going to happen because Brazil is one of the most important nations on earth and we have to build as close relations with them as possible."

Such a move would have "given out a signal to Brazilian business" that the UK was closed for business and would have been a "retrograde" step, he added.

US archdiocese settles sex abuse claims The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Cardinal Roger Mahony and a former priest have agreed to pay a total of nearly $10m to settle four child sex abuse cases brought against them.

Lawyers for the victims announced the settlement on Tuesday, while Cardinal Roger Mahony took part in the Conclave to choose a new pope in Rome.

Mahony, who retired in 2011, was accused of helping a confessed paedophile priest evade law enforcement and later placed him back in the ministry.

None of the parties admitted wrongdoing, according to Vince Finaldi, the plaintiff's lawyer.

But Finaldi said the settlement, together with the recent release

Cardinal Roger Mahony

of internal church records documenting the role of

Mahony and others in covering up child sexual abuse by the clergy, comes "as close to an admission of guilt as you're going to get from the archdiocese".

The archdiocese's lawyer confirmed a settlement of $9.99m was reached, adding that the archidiocese has maintained that he was responsible for the conduct of the paedophile priest named in the case.

The Los Angeles archdiocese, which serves four million Catholics, reached a $660m civil settlement in 2007 with more than 500 victims of child molestation.

Mahony at that time called the abuse "a terrible sin and crime".

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 35

World’s bounciest chair is made from 65,000 rubber I

t might look like just a colorful art piece, but Justin Moeller's rubber band chair is functional piece of furniture able to sustain a grown man's weight. The young industrial designer created the unique in 2011, by hand, from over 65,000 rubber bands.

Justin Moeller was in his final year at the Appalachian State University, in Boone, North Carolina, when a friends suggested he move past the traditional "rubber band ball" idea and use the office supply to make something truly unique - a chair. She noticed the strength and quality of the bands Justin was already experimenting with, and though an office chair would push the idea of what a rubber band is meant to do. Inspired by this suggestion, Moeller traveled to stationary shops in four different towns, buying up their entire stock of rubber bands each time, and even made some return trips once the shops restocked. He spent over $200 on the 65,000 stretchy bands and worked on building and perfecting his one-of-a-kind chair for 336 hours. "It almost looks like a fun toy that has been enlarged to a human scale where the user is sitting in a giant toy," the designer says about his three feet-tall creation. "But though it may look like it is all for fun it also happens to be very comfortable. The back is made from rubber bands weaved within themselves to create a springy sitting area that softly

Bon Appetit!

London public toilet gets converted into a gourmet snack bar

I

holds the user."

Despite its light and springy feel, the rubber band chair weighs a hefty 16 kilograms, partly due to the 12-inch steel rods Justin had to use in order to give the chair a shape. But he insists it was designed to look and feel like it's 100% made of rubber bands. It stretches when you sit on it and bounces if knocked over. It's this illusion that won him the $3,000 first prize in the Appalachian State University's 6th Annual Chair Design Competition.

It's been almost three years now

since Justin Moeller unveiled the world's bounciest chair, but he says it still looks and feels brand new. "It has been moved around to multiple shows and I have been using it for the last couple months as my computer chair and it still looks as good as new," he writes on his site.

"It looks as if the frame under the rubber bands is helping to keep them fresh but I don't expect it to last forever." That's because some of his other rubber-band creations have begun to dry-up after around four years, so it's hard to say for how long the chair will be safe to sit on.

f you enjoy eating in the bathroom, you have to check out the Attendant Cafe, in London.

Formerly a 19th century public restroom, the underground venue has recently been converted into a gourmet sandwich shop, but retains many of its original decors, including the urinals…

Rising property prices in London are becoming a big problem for wouldbe homeowners and businesses looking for commercial spaces. But for the few people who can see beyond the smelly history of the city's abandoned public toilets, converting them into quirky restaurants and bars is proving to be a very cost-effective alternative.

One such bold entrepreneur is Peter Tomlinson, who invested most of his savings into turning a 19th century men's restroom on Foley Street into the Attendant snack bar. Don't worry, it smells a lot better than it sounds, but patrons looking to enjoy a gourmet sandwich and a hot cup of coffee in this place might be a bit put off by some of the decor elements. For example, the old porcelain urinals have been re-purposed as table tops, so you're basically enjoying your meals in the exact same place where Londoners used to…well, I wouldn't want to spoil your appetite.

Truth be told, the old lavatory was cleaned quite thoroughly.

"Everything has been jet washed and the soil stacks have been concreted and capped. It smells beautiful down here now," Tomlinson told the BBC. But even after investing a whopping £100,000 ($150,000) into the conversion, the place still looks a lot like an old public toilet, and eating at a urinal wouldn't exactly stimulate my appetite, regardless of how tasty the Attendant's sandwiches are. And I bet the food really is tasty, considering it's prepared by a chef from Michelinstarred restaurant Pollen Street Social.

The Victorian-style cast iron exterior of The Attendant definitely does a great job of attracting attention, but it's really the interior of the place that's a big surprise. Opened just last week, this offbeat eatery has the potential of becoming one of London's most unique tourist attractions.

New face of the attendant Café.

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Why women sob more when they’re young - and some men can’t cry at all irritation, stinging or burning.

Water-deficient tears can be good cry is meant to be triggered by an infection cathartic - barely a week or growth in the lacrimal goes by when a celebrity gland. isn't shedding a tear, such as Adele Another cause is at last year's Grammy awards.

Sjogren's syndrome, an But tears can sting and even autoimmune condition scar the skin. that affects secreting Some struggle to produce tears glands throughout the at all, leading to eye infections and body, including eyes, ulcers.

And some suffer causing inflammation. uncontrollable weeping every Sjogren's affects time they eat.

400,000 people in the UK, Here, Cara Lee explores tears 90 per cent of them and what they mean for our women - the reason is not health… clear.

The condition that stops 'If you don't produce women crying enough tears the natural The salty fluid we know as cleaning system for your tears is a mixture of water, oil and eyes is missing, which can mucus. result in infections, The water is produced by the corneal ulcers, impaired lacrimal gland in the corner of the vision and scratches on the eye while the oil comes from the cornea,' says Professor 30-40 tiny meibomian glands in Bernard Chang of the the eyelids - its role is to cover the Royal College of water and prevent it evaporating Ophthalmologists. too quickly.

Sjogren's syndrome The mucus is made by patients are usually conjunctival goblet cells on the treated with prescriptionsurface of the eye, and helps bind only anti-inflammatory the water to the eye. eye drops containing This balance of the three steroids. components is delicate and if we Tears in the kitchen lack the right amount of one or are a good sign more, it can lead to 'unstable tear It's not a popular task film', says Geoffrey Rose, a but crying as you chop onions consultant ophthalmologist at means your eyes are healthy.

Moorfields Eye Hospital, London. There are three different types of One common problem is dry tears. eye, caused when there is too little 'Basal' tears are the film of tears water, oil or mucus in the tear that cover the eye to keep it moist. film.

'Reflex' tears are produced in As many as 50 per cent of us response to irritants. And suffer from dry eyes at some point 'emotional' tears materialise in says HarminderDua, professor of response to feelings. ophthalmology at Queen's The tears produced by cutting Medical Centre in Nottingham. onions are reflex tears - onions Symptoms include redness, release a gas, which then reacts with the water in our eyes.

Other irritants include bright lights and a foreign object in the eye.

And if you suffer from dry eyes but still cry when chopping onions, it means 'your long-term outcome is good', says Professor Dua. The loss of this reflex mechanism usually suggests the lacrimal gland has failed, because water forms the bulk of our reflex and emotional tears.

All our tears are controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which regulates body processes including heartbeat and digestion.

T h e parasympathetic side of the nervous system is triggered by emotion, says Professor Chang, Too many tears can be a symptom of dry eyes causing contractions

By Cara Lee

A

'This causes irritation to the Another cause of excess tears is poor drainage, usually due to eyes, like swimming in seawater,' the lacrimal punctum says Professor Chang.

'When tears run off, they will (the tiny holes in the corner of the eye) being irritate the skin in the same way.'

Are you blinking too little? too small or if there's a The air from car heating and narrowing or blockage of the drainage system air conditioning (and on inside the nose, caused by aeroplanes) can dry out eyes. And infection, inflammation, whenever we concentrate, we facial injury or tumours. blink less, making the tears Watery eyes can also evaporate more quickly and the be caused by drooping eyes drier.

An Italian researcher has eyelids, which becomes more common with age, calculated that we blink 17 times although an injury or a minute on average, but when Bell's palsy can also affect we read or concentrate intently this reduces to an average of 4.5 the eyelid.

'As a result the times.

The most common type of windscreen wiper effect of the eyelids doesn't dry eye is evaporative, when function properly and the there isn't enough oil in the tears can't drain into the tears. It can be caused by holes and go inside our blepharitis, inflamed or blocked nose,' says Professor meibomian glands.

Chang.

Regularly using a warm Why crying leaves compress can help unblock you bunged up glands. Medical treatments Emotional tears also include oral antibiotics or drugs have a physical effect, to boost gland production. often resulting in a Another option is artificial blocked nose and puffy, tear drops - these replace the red eyes. components of tears.

Tearful: Adele at This is partly because Many contain preservatives the Grammys tears drain into the nose, that can cause irritation. where they trigger But preservative-free mucus production, says products are available. If these We tend to cry most through Professor Chang. don't work, another option is to 'When we cry, blood supply to have silicone plugs fitted into despair, adds Professor Ad Vingerhoets, a leading researcher the eye increases, which can the lacrimal punctum, stopping create a mild swelling, causing tears draining from the eye as in this field.

As well as soothing and helping red eyes. quickly.

This goes quickly unless you us relax, Professor Vingerhoets And blame the menopause says tears help us tell others that pop a blood vessel by crying and again rubbing your eye at the same we need help.

The menopause can be a Humans are the only animals time.' turning point in women's tear When tears sting and cause production. to produce emotional tears. People cry more if they have been scars The glands don't produce tears In extreme cases of dry eyes, as effectively when hormone brought up in a home where crying is more common, adds tears can sting the skin, levels change, and the menopause sometimes even scarring the is one of those times, says Professor Professor Vingerhoets.

Testosterone seems to inhibit cheeks.

Chang.

This is because the lack of water crying, which may explain why It is mainly linked to losing in the tear film means the salt in oestrogen but it isn't known why. women weep more than men.

'We see this in gender-change the fluid is disproportionately operations. Patients report an high.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk increase or decrease in crying.'

Can't stop blubbing when you eat?

Some people cry when they eat - known medically as Bogorad's syndrome, or more commonly crocodile tears (crocodiles produce tears while eating prey).

This is linked to facial nerve weakness and can affect those who've had Bell's palsy - where there's temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles in one side of the face.

New abnormal nerves grow back and are connected to the lacrimal glands, so each time they are stimulated - when muscles in the face move - the glands are triggered to produce tears.

Watery eyes? Blame blocked drains Too many tears can be a symptom of dry eyes.

'If you don't produce enough basal tears, the eyes feel dry so they compensate by triggering the tear gland to make reflex tears, causing a watery eye,' says Testosterone seems to inhibit crying, which may explain why women Professor Chang. weep more than men within the lacrimal gland - the theory is that this helps us relax.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Reps to investigate police harassment of senator

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he House of Representatives yesterday mandate its committee on Police Affairs to investigate the alleged police harassment, intimidation and abridging of citizen’s right of the former Zamfara governor, and the Senate Deputy Minority, Sen. Sani Yerima, over alleged “inciting’’ comments on a live radio programme run by Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Kaduna.

The motion was brought before the House by Rep. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau (ANPP) Zamfara, under the matter of urgent national importance. He said the Senator was arrested in a commando style at the premises of the FRCN Kaduna by the Nigerian Police, and was detained and questioned for over 3 hours.

According to him, the Yerima’s comment was in an answer to a question of registeration of APC, whereupon he answered that a peaceful mass protest would be made if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refuses to register the party after all necessary requirements must have been met.

“When did an intention to call for a peaceful protest become inciting in a democratic dispensation, whereas the peaceful assembly and association is enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”

According to him, section 39 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which says “every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinion and to receive and import ideas and information without interference” has been violated by this police arrest.

He expressed concerns that if a serving Senator could be treated in this fashion, then many nationals would have become victims. The motion was referred to the House committee on Police Affairs for further legislative inputs with a mandate to report back to the House within two weeks.

PAGE 37

Atiku calls for genuine electoral reform for internal democracy From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

F

ormer Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar yesterday advocated for genuine electoral reform to guarantee internal democracy in the nation’s political parties.

Atiku lamented that internal democracy is lacking and badly managed by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The former Vice President said this at the University of Ibadan Department of Political Science in a lecture he delivered to mark the 50 th

anniversary of the department titled “Thoughts on Internal Democracy in Nigerian Political Parties: Challenges and Strategies”.

According to him, only when the party is democratic can it protect the rights and privileges of the minority of its members whose views at any point in time could not prevail.

While noting that the ruling party PDP and other parties in Nigeria lack internal democracy, Atiku lamented that parties in Nigeria continue deterioration in internal party democracy and

the rise of the dictatorship of the executive power-wielders, and other godfathers The former VP listed the adoption of consensus candidate, imposition of candidate in place of elections, structure of party ownership and funding of parties by godfathers as the bane of internal democracy.

Atiku then called for electoral reforms where the appointment of Chairman of INEC and Commissioners will not be under the control of the President; where there would be a ban on President and

governors from using state resources to do electioneering campaigns.

The PDP chieftain further advocated ban on anyone whose electoral victory is being challenged from being sworn in until the case is settled in court. He then called for a strong and principled opposition advocating for a two-party system.

In his welcome address, Professor Osisioma Nwolise who heads the Department of Political Science called for urgent Political reforms in the country.

L-R: Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Zakari Mohammed,and Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Hon. AbdulmuminJibril, during the inauguration of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), during the inauguration of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB),yesterday at the National Assembly, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Ajimobi re-registers, harps on unity in ACN From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

O

yo state governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi yesterday participated in the ongoing re-registration exercise for members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, harping on unity among members of the party in the state.

The governor registered at his Ward 12, Odo-Ona in

Ibadan South-West Local Government Area, amidst encomium from party faithful who were also participating in the exercise.

Governor Ajimobi, while addressing party members shortly after the exercise, appealed to members of the party in the state to remain united, stressing that the strength of the party lied in the unity.

He also stressed the

importance of the ward which he said had always recorded highest number of votes in the council area, urging feuding party members, therefore, to resolve their differences amicably in order to sustain the feat recorded by the party during past elections.

The governor, who assured members of even distribution of democracy dividends, explained that the first 16 months of his administration

was devoted to project execution and provision of infrastructure for the benefit of the people.

Aside ensuring an all-round transformation of the state, he said that the second phase would also focus on political restructuring and reorganization during which all aggrieved members would be reconciled and the party repositioned for more successes in future elections.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Imo deputy House Committee on Diaspora to partner NUC on database he House of all over the world so that they undertaking by the commission. support Nigerian students governor R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s could be celebrated.

She commended the studying overseas as they were Committee on Diaspora is “It is a shame that we do not commission on the appointment great assets to the development of wants EFCC to to collaborate with the National have a database of Nigerians in of the three vice-chancellors from the nation.

Universities Commission (NUC) the Diaspora,” she said. the Diaspora.

The secretary said that it was investigate on comprehensive database of According to her, one of the Earlier, Okojie bemoaned the important to adequately educate Nigerian academics in the challenges confronting Nigerians absence of a full database of Nigerian Nigerian students going abroad to N458m diaspora. in the Diaspora is the problem of a academics in the Diaspora. study on their field of studies and He said that the three vice- life generally in their host contract scam Its Chairman, Rep. Abike database.

T

T

he embattled Deputy Governor of Imo, Mr Jude Agbaso, has asked the EFCC to investigate the N458 million contract scam allegation against him.

Agbaso also challenged the state government to engage the services of forensic experts to unravel the movement of the said money and the people connected to it.

The deputy governor made the call at a news conference yesterday in his country home in Emekuku near Owerri.

“We are no longer living in a dark era but in the era of information technology.

Forensic experts should be involved to get to the root of this matter,” he said.

He alleged that Gov. Rochas Okorocha approved the payment for the said N1.03 billion contract from which the bribe allegation emanated.

Agbaso also said that as the then commissioner for works, the ministry was not involved in the award of the contract, and that the contract sum did not pass through it.

He described the scandal as a move by his detractors to tarnish his image and that of his family, which is aimed at preventing him from serving his people.

Earlier, the elder brother of the deputy governor, Mr Martin Agbaso, attributed the bribe saga to the handiwork of some overzealous politicians and enemies of progress.

He said it was untrue that his brother asked for and collected any “kick-back” for the award of the contract and therefore unfair for the assembly to initiate an impeachment process against his brother.

“If the governor gave the contract, approved the payment through the accountant-general of the state; which the deputy governor did not make, why would the contractor give the deputy governor a kick back.

“My younger brother did not collect one naira from any person; we are hard working people; all we are asking for is the truth and I will pursue this matter to the end.

“By the time the score cards are out we will know who should actually be impeached,” he said.

The former APGA gubernatorial candidate in 2007 also said that it was not true that he had approached the House of Representatives over the matter, describing it as propaganda.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Imo House of Assembly recently commenced an impeachment process against the deputy governor. (NAN)

Dabiri-Erewa (ACN-Lagos) gave this indication during a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, yesterday in Abuja.

Dabiri-Erewa said that there was a need to have a complete data on all Nigerian academics

She said that the issue of Nigerians in Diaspora voting in elections in the country would be treated when there was a database.

The legislator, however, called for more funding for the programme currently being

chancellors appointed for the newly established universities were Nigerians from the Diaspora.

Okojie said that the commission was ready to partner with the committee on Diaspora to enhance Diaspora activities.

He said that there was need to

countries.

Okojie said that some years back, the commission had office in India and some other countries.

He urged the committee to sustain its efforts in strengthening Diaspora activities in the country.

(NAN)

L-R: Hon. Hassan Sali, and Chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Uzor Azubuike, during the investigative hearing on the exclusion of Akwa Íbom ex-militants from the Federal Government Amnesty Programme, on Tuesday in Uyo. Photo: NAN

ANPP berates PDP, INEC over APC

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has berated the ruling People's Democratic Party, (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over the conyroversies surrounding the registration of the merger All Progressive congress (APC).

The party accused INEC of manipulating facts by claiming that the African People's Congress has applied to the Commission for registration.

"The current scheme by INEC to register a phantom party, the so-called African Peoples Congress (APC), in order to have a clash of acronyms with the All Progressives Congress (APC) is redolent of unpatriotic craftiness, an ill wind that blows nobody any good".

In statement issued by the party's National Publicity Secretary, Emma Eneakwu, ANPP said the recent development has vindicated General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) who said that the PDP has merged with

the INEC. The statement added that "There are a couples of incontrovertible reasons to show the unreasonableness of INEC in this matter. Firstly, INEC is a public institution whose paramount obligation is to serve the interest of the generality of Nigerians and not any government in power; thus, any body language from the electoral umpire to depict the contrary is tantamount to deserting the people in favour of a group of vested interests."

"The APC on February 6, 2013, publicly and officially announced its birth; days later, on February 28, a lawyer hastily filed a letter of intent, seeking for approval to register African Peoples Congress, having carried out a search on the proposed name to the effect that no other political party registered bears same.''

"So, if the INEC arrogates importance and priority to this terse letter from a vague group over a pronounced political coalition, one does not need to dig far to smell a rat.

"Secondly, why would Mr

Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to the Commission's Chairman, contradict himself in the media? Two days ago it was reported that he urged opposition parties in the APC to consider a new name and abbreviation to facilitate the registration of their group as a political party. Then the next day he denied ever saying that APC should look for a new name".

He went ahead to state that if it (APC) meets the requirements of the law, the INEC has no choice but to register it. It is not INEC's decision; the law says you must meet conditions 1,2,3,4 and once you do so, whether INEC likes your face or not, you must be registered.''

"The pertinent question is, does INEC love the face of the phantom African Peoples Congress so much that it has already accepted the group as a political party even without its fulfilling the required law, rules and regulations; to the extent that INEC desperately tries using the party as an excuse to truncate the opposition merger".

Thirdly, is it not puzzling that this same INEC which is currently, and aggressively, implementing a policy of deregistering non-

performing political parties, is falling over itself to register a new party which has no iota of evidence to show that it can function as an association, not to talk of as a fullfledged political party. Which one is more sustainable, the APC of proven politicians with a teeming national membership or a phantom APC with no single member or known offices"? "our party is worried because Professor Attahiru Jega, in trying to please the ruling PDP, is heading towards bringing ridicule to his renowned intellectual pedigree, and in so doing, bringing our dear country to ridicule in the comity of nations" " INEC is not a political association, neither a private venture; it is a body supposed to stand for the interest of the people at all times. We cannot afford to have emotions whipped up arbitrarily while making our polity more volatile than it is at present. All over the world, a general climate of discontent is a catalyst for revolution, and INEC is currently fanning this embers", ANPP warned.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 39

Pwajok donates buses to constituents From Musa Pam, Jos

S

L-R: Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District, Senator Gyang Pwajok, Chairman, PDP Plateau chapter, Dr Haruna Dabin, and the Senator's wife, Mrs. Bridget Pwajok, during the inauguration of Senator Pwajok constituency office, on Tuesday in Jos. Photo: NAN

Reps want FG to establish hospital along FHA, Lugbe Abuja

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he House of Representatives yesterday urged the government to build a general hospital along Federal Housing Authority (FHA) estate as a result of high rate of accidents on the Abuja Airport Road.

The motion was sponsored

by Rep. Yusuf Manu Swa (PDP

Gombe state), argued that government needed to locate hospital close to the people.

He said “The absence of general hospital in Lugbe, or any other settlement along airport road has resulted to the death of many innocent people because of the distance to the city where government hospitals are located”.

According to him, the data obtainable from the Federal

Road Safety Commission (FRSC) revealed that just within a year, between January to December 2012, the number of accidents recorded is over 1000 on that road, out of which commercial vehicle recorded 199, private vehicles 459 and government vehicles 11.

He warned that until measurable steps are taken, the rate of accidents and other

health related cases will be on the increase, as most of the maternity cases arise in the late hours of the night where vehicles are not readily available making it difficult for pregnant women to be transported for immediate treatment.

The motion was unanimously adopted by the House, and referred to the Committee on Health for further legislative inputs.

Communities petition Kwara Assembly over immigrants invasion From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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ommunities under the auspices of United Communities Farmers Association in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara state have petitioned the state Assembly over an alleged invasion of their territories by immigrants.

In the petition entitled

“save our communities from invasion by illegal immigrants” which was presented on the floor of the House by a member representing OkeEro constituency, Dr. Abraham Ashoolu, the communities alleged that the suspected immigrants were behind alleged rape cases reported in the area.

They also alleged that the

unwanted visitors have caused damages to their farmlands, water and other valuables.

“The immigrants also caused damages to our various economic trees which serve as means of livelihood f or us apart from raping our wives in the farms,” the farmers alleged.

The petitioners urged the Assembly and other relevant

agencies to come to their aid by solving the problem which they claimed is depriving them from pursuing their economic activities.

The Deputy Speaker, Professor Gana Yissa, who presided over the plenary directed the House committees on Agriculture and Water Resources to investigate the matter and report back to the House.

Speaker commends NOA for promoting ethics, values

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he Speaker of Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Mr Samuel Ikon, on Tuesday commended the National Orientation Agency (NOA) for promoting ethical values among Nigerians.

Ikon made the commendation in Uyo while declaring open a oneday ``Roundtable on Ethics First; Doing the Right Thing'' workshop organised for the staff of the House in collaboration with NOA in the state.

He stressed that the ``Fresh Air agenda'' of the government would

succeed and sustained if the people would imbibe the philosophy of ``doing the right thing at the right time" in the country.

He called on the citizens to allow their cherished values to propel them to good governance, guided by the rule of law with legitimate power to regulate the administrative machinery of the government.

Ikon, who was represented by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Ethical Reorientation, Mr Effefiong Antigha, regretted that some Nigerian

youths had involved themselves in politics of hatred, armed robbery, cultism, fornications and disrespect to constituted authorities. ``If we must remain great, ethics must be given prominence by inculcating in ourselves the positive values and principles that are universally accepted in politics and economic practice for all other things to be added unto us as a nation,'' he said.

He advised NOA officials to continue to raise public awareness on the nation's core ethics and

values.

Earlier in his address, the state NOA director, Mr Aniefiok Esetang, said that his agency decided to collaborate with the House in mounting the workshop in appreciation for ``the good works so far done by the Assembly members''.

Esetang explained that the objectives of the workshop were not only to ``discover and develop'', but to share and sustain the core values that would ensure that Nigeria achieved its full potential.

About 50 participants took part in the workshop. (NAN)

enator Gyang Nyam Pwajok, representing Plateau North Senatorial Zone in the National Assembly, yesterday in Jos, the Plateau state capital donated eight buses to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s offices in his constituency including another donated to students of the Political Science Department of the University of Jos. The lawmaker also opened his Constituency Office at the Dogon Karfi area of Jos with a charge on his political opponents to give him the time and freedom he needs to implement his campaign promises instead of contesting his election and dragging him with court cases.

In his words ”Some people want us to have no time to do our work; they keep going to court against us,” Pwajok said, expressing optimism, however, that the cases would soon come to an end.

Pwajok is currently on appeal against a court judgment that declared null and void his election in October last year as Senator replacing Gyang Dantong who died during the funeral of persons killed in Riyom and Barkin Ladi local government councils of the state last June .

Speaking about the new constituency office which earlier served as his campaign headquarters in the countdown to the Plateau North Senatorial byelection of October 6, 2012, Pwajok said the office is for his constituents to reach out to him on a continuous basis.

“It is for all of you to come round and let us know your mind on issues of concern to you,” he told the crowd that gathered to be part of the ceremony.

The Senator added, “We have officers to run the office and to attend to you when I’m not around.”

Speaking earlier the Plateau State Chairman Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Haruna Dabi who cut the tape to declare the constituency office open said the office is the main link between the electorate and the lawmaker.

“This office is part of the evidence that the Senator is keeping faith with you,” Dabi told the people, adding “The senator or his representative will always be here to attend to you.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Zamfara Gov’s wife urges women to enroll in medical schools

L-R: Gombe state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, and Niger state Governor, Dr Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, during their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday at the State House, in Abuja.

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Photo: Joe Oroye

PIB: Tambuwal inaugurates Committee, tasks members on transparency

By Mohammed Umar-Puma

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peaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterday inaugurated the House Adhoc Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, and charged the members to uphold the virtues of diligence, transparency and patriotism in the discharge of their duties.

Tambuwal who described the assignment of the Committee as critical, sensitive and demanding, said that the PIB is the most important piece of legislation that the parliament could make to move the oil industry from its present state to a higher level where it would be pivotal to revolutionizing the nation's

economy.

He said due to the relative importance of the Bill to the nation, there was high level of interest as well as expectations on the PIB from various interest groups within and the international community, stressing the intense need for circumspection.

He also urged members of the Committee to avoid anything that would make them lose their integrity and the whole essence of the Bill as it was obvious that diverse temptations emanating from varied interests would come to them from all walks of life.

"I should also caution that with the demanding nature of the task before you and high stake interest and expectations lies the glittering but slippery line of

integrity test. When you encounter it, do not take a second look; do not slow down; do not stop but rather flee because it is outside the scope of your mandate. May the Almighty God grant you the wisdom and strength to come out of this assignment with greater honour and integrity than you now possess," Tambuwal said.

He further reminded them that their mandate as a Committee was to facilitate delivery to the people of Nigeria and the global oil industry a legislation that could tackle the multi-faceted hiccups that had encumbered the Nigerian oil industry in order to make it attractive for local and foreign investors.

Earlier, in his address the

Chairman of the Adhoc Committee and Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Ishaka Bawa, assured that they would do their best to justify the confidence reposed in them by giving Nigeria a legislation that would turn around the oil sector and the entire economy.

To achieve this, Bawa further promised that the Committee would promote national interest above individual, sectional, or primordial interests in the course of carrying out this onerous task.

He said that the Committee had drawn up a comprehensive work plan to provide direction and focus for the members, revealing that part of that blue-print was the members' retreat scheduled to take place in Lagos between March 18 and 20,

INEC ready for FCT Area Council elections

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he FCT Abuja Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Mr Godwin Kwanga, said yesterday that the commission was ready to conduct elections for the six area councils on March 16.

Kwanga gave the assurance at the stakeholder’s forum on the 2013 council election with political parties in Abuja.

“We can report that all the necessary materials to ensure the conduct of the elections have been received and duly deposited in the respective area council offices of the commission,” he said.

He said the commission had a responsibility to produce a transparent, free, fair and credible elections that would be acceptable by the electorate.

The commissioner solicited for the support and cooperation of all stakeholders to achieve the

desired result.

Kwanga commended the conduct of the 13 political parties participating in the elections and urged them to maintain a cordial working relationship with the commission.

“The 13 political parties contesting the 2013 area council elections have indeed behaved themselves very well.

“However, this stakeholders’ forum will enable us do a final briefing in order to maintain the cordial relationship.

“We have released the 2013 FCT Register of Voters to the political parties in order to ensure transparency in the process,” he said.

Also speaking, the INEC National Commissioner, Mrs Thelma Iremiren, said the forum would enable the commission exchange views

with political parties on how to clear grey areas.

Iremiren said that adequate security arrangement had been put in place to ensure a conducive and safe environment for the elections.

“We will not condone any act of violence or indiscipline. We shall not shy away from invoking the provisions of the Electoral Act, if the need arises.

“We will not hesitate to cancel any result where we suspect that there has been foul play,” she warned.

Iremiren also appealed to the political parties, candidates and polling agents to desist from any form of violence or untoward practices.

She said that accreditation would commence at 8 a.m. and end by noon, noting that those who are on the queue before noon would be accredited.

Iremiren added that voting would commence by 12.30 p.m. and would close as soon as the last person on the queue cast his or her vote.

“Only those who are on the queue at 12.30 p.m. and have been counted will be allowed to vote,” Iremiren said.

Also Speaking, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr Olufemi Ogunbayode, restated the commitment of the police to provide adequate security before, during and after the elections.

Ogunbayode cautioned that: “No vehicle will be allowed to cross FCT during election, except those on essential duties.

“Let it be clear to everybody that police will be ruthless in accordance with the law to anybody found causing trouble.’’ (NAN)

ife of Zamfara Governor, Hajiya Asmau Abdulazeez, has urged women to enrol into medical schools such as schools of midwifery and nursing to enable them render services to the people.

Abdulazeez made the call yesterday during the International Women’s Day celebration at the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gusau.

She said women were everywhere, in villages and cities looking for medical practitioners to help them deliver their babies, treat them and their children.

“Women should try and send their children to schools where they will learn how to render medical services and be useful to themselves and the society.

“It is very important to have midwives and nurses in every neighbourhood who will teach the people on how to live a healthy life and also treat them when they fall sick,’’ she said.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Bilikisu Bungudu, said women, all over the world, celebrated women’s day with rallies, speeches and other activities, but Zamfara would be different.

Bungudu said Zamfara would celebrate the day with activities that would be of utmost benefit to womenfolk in the state.

“Islam is the best protector of women and has given dignity to women.

“It has provided for all their social needs and as such, women had excelled in education, economy and many other facets of human endeavour but are lagging behind in the health sector.

“That is why this celebration has been dedicated to see that girls are encouraged to take to the medical profession so that every village and community can benefit from their services,’’ she said.

The commissioner said the high mortality rate associated with deliveries was caused mainly by lack of qualified medical personnel that would manage the health institutions.

“Most of the problems associated with pregnancy and delivery, especially the infant mortality rates, are associated with lack of qualified midwives in our communities.

“This is the reason why the principal, school of midwifery is here in our midst to tell us how we will go about solving this problem,’’ she said.

The Principal, School of Midwifery, Gusau, Hajiya InnoUmar Ruwan-Dorawa, said midwives were not only helping in the delivery of babies but also taking care of sick people.

Ruwan-Dorawa, who was represented by Hajiya Amina Ahmad, said “part of the responsibility of a midwife is to take care of children and be observant in the neighbourhood to ensure that children are well-brought up by their parents. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 41

Go to EFCC, Dauda dares accusers on alleged fraud in HFN

By Patrick Andrew

Y

usuf Dauda, the president of the dissolved board of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) has dared those alleging massive fraud in his management of the books of the federation to lodge their complaints to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) rather than make frivolous allegations on the pages of newspapers.

Yusuf, who was reacting to allegation that he generated N54.466m during the African Handball Championship held in October 2011, yet the federation remains heavily indebted to several corporate organisations

that had assisted in the success of the championship.

Specifically, the federation is said to be owing the hotel N11m out of the N30m that was meant to settle lodgements and feeding of athletes and officials during the fiesta.

Further, the accusers said that the full amount meant to cover the lodgements and other logistics were provided by the National Sports Commission (NSC) adding that the federation had no reason to run into debts in that and subsequent tournaments.

“I have no skeleton in my cupboard. My simply reaction to this is that those who feel they have questions on the management of available

resources have every right to raise issues.

“In fact, they should write to the EFCC to come in and have a critical look at our books. The records of what we generated, received and spent are there for all to see,” he adding that if they were eventually not satisfied with the findings of the anti-craft commission, they were entitle to take their case to the court of law.

“There are the courts of law.

Let them take the matter to the law court rather than tarnishing peoples’ reputation.

I sure them that we shall meet in court,” he thundered stressing that he was not interested in demolishing the house he helped built.

“I am not interested in messing up handball like what has been done to football. I have no fancy for unnecessary exchange of words over nonessentials. It is a shame that at the moment we are working hard to woo partnerships for the game, these elements are blowing ill-wing and generating bad blood for the game,” he said noting that it could only be the work of those with self interest.

Peoples Daily Sports recalls that the federation had come under spotlight since the NSC dissolved the board and urged those interested in getting into the board to express interest.

The elections into the various boards of the sports federations are scheduled for next

Yusuf Dauda month. Yusuf challenged for another board Jacob.

is being the post by member Mark

Keshi says no regret over new players NFF mourns tephen Keshi, has declared that he has no regret over the calls year, and so many people objected and raised questions about that. handed to Babatude Michael and John Ogu and other freshers But today, that boy has continued to prove his call-up to the team POC Achebe into the provisional squad for this month's FIFA World Cup was justified. So I'll say we shouldn't be hasty in judging these boys

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qualifying against Kenya.

Questions have been raised in some quarters over the calls to Michael and Ogu, who play for Ukraine's Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih and Academica de Coimbra in Portugal respectively.

But Keshi feels his countrymen "shouldn't be hasty in judging" Michael and Ogu. He also used the instance of Lazio's Ogenyi Onazi being called up for the first time to the Super Eagles as an instance when the composition of his squad was called into question.

"I remembered when I called up Onazi for the Liberian game last

(Michael and Ogu) yet. And again, they are just in the provisional squad for the game (against Kenya)," Keshi explained.

Keshi named a provisional squad of 15 overseas players and left out the like of Joseph Yobo, Ikechukwu Uche and Emmanuel Emenike.

He also continued to snub the like of Taye Taiwo, Kalu Uche and Peter Odemwingie among others.

Nigeria's Super Eagles will play hosts to the Harambee Stars of Kenya in Calabar on March 23.

Home based Super Eagles at a media parley, PHOTO: NAN yesterday in Abuja.

I couldn’t defend Eagles list before nonexistent technical committee, says Keshi

By Albert Akota

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uper Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi says he could not defend the 24man list of domestic league players, he called up for the 2014 World Cup qualifier, before the NFF technical subcommittee because the committee had been dissolved.

Reacting to criticisms from

some officials of the football federation on the matter, Keshi says that much as he would have wanted to defend the list before the committee, it was impossible to do so since the body is not in existence.

Also, Keshi says that he opted to forward the list to the NFF to forestal any accusation that he delayed the release of the list of players needed for preparation for the March 23 World Cup

qualifier against the Harambeer Stars of Kentya at the UJ Esuene Stadium Calabar.

“The federation doesn’t have a technical committee because it had been dissolved.

I submitted my list of playersboth local and foreign- to ensure that they take a look at them. I didn;t want any excuse.

“The list was been given to the NFF and subsequently

made public. We did not want anybody to talk about delay in releasing the list because late submission and failure to do so as at when due.

“I feel the invited players will respond quickly and be ready to again do the country proud.

Our target now is victory over Kenya and qualification for Brazil 2014 World Cup. We want to put smile on the faces of Nigerians,” he said.

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he Nigeria Football Federation yesterday mourned the passing of three-time Secretary General of then Nigeria Football Association, Mr. Philips Achebe, better known as P. O. C. Achebe.

NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu said: “We received news of Mr. Achebe’s death while we were in Morocco for the CAF General Assembly. He was a great administrator who did so much for the game of football in our country.”

The late P. O. C. Achebe was Secretary General of Nigeria Football Association between 1971 and 1973, and also between 1975 and 1976, and finally between 1991 and 1992.

The astute administrator was said to have left for the United States of America about 15 years ago, where he died of prostate cancer-related illness on Saturday, March 9, at the age of 86.

“We sincerely mourn his passing and Nigeria football will miss him. He is in the same hallowed club as the likes of late Patrick Okpomo, late Oyo Orok Oyo and Tunji Fagbemi.

To have served three terms as Secretary Nigeria meant they were really at the top of the tree of their generation.

“Our hearts go out to late P. O. C. Achebe’s family. We pray that God Almighty will give them the fortitude to bear the loss.”

Peoples Daily Sports that Keshi had openly accused some members of the Chris Green-led committee of high handedness and undue interference in his coaching job and demonstrated his displeasure by going public with his resignation barely 24 hours after leading the Eagles to clinch the AFCON trophy.

Before matters got to the climax, Keshi had seethed over impossition of players by the leadership of the committee.

The inclusion of Danny Shity and insistence on Obafemi Martins and Osaze Odemwingie were alleged the handiwork of the committee, though Keshi refused to budge.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Azeez urges players to develop ping pong skills Singh refuses to O provide blood, air samples

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ijender Singh has refused to provide blood and hair samples needed to establish whether he used drugs linked to a police investigation.

Heroin worth more than $25 million has been confiscated from what is believed to be an international network. Vijender won an Olympic Games bronze medal in Beijing in 2008.

“As per the procedure, in the presence of two private witnesses, he was asked for his consent for giving his blood and hair samples required for forensic examination for investigation purpose, which he refused,” senior Punjab officer Hardyal Singh Mann said in a statement on Monday.

There is no police case against the boxer, but a forensic examination could have established whether he used drugs.

Police questioned Vijender, the only Indian to have won an Olympic boxing medal, after his sparring partner, Ram Singh, claimed they had used heroin bought from the people arrested in the drugs haul.

Ram has been expelled from the National Institute of Sports in the city of Patiala.

Vijender is also a police officer in the neighbouring state of Haryana.

The three-time Olympian has dismissed Ram’s claims of drugs use and has reportedly offered to be tested by the National Anti-Doping Agency, which is affiliated to the World Anti-Doping Agency.

However, the NADA is not expected to test Vijender since it tests athletes for heroin only during competitions.

Sports minister Jitender Singh said action would be taken against Vijender if he is found guilty of drug use.

“Punjab police are investigation the matter,” Singh told reporters. “When somebody is implicated, we will definitely take action.”

Vijender Singh

gunlade Azeez, a Lagos State Table Tennis Association (LSTTA) player, has urged fellow pingpongers to seek ways of improving their skills and not wait for their respective associations to assist them do so.

Azeez gave this advice in Lagos at the Knock-Up Hall, National Stadium, Lagos while stressing that such horning of their skills

would keep abreast with their peers.

“Any player that really wants to excel in table tennis should not wait until a training programme is drawn up; rather he/her should devote time to regular training.

“Such will help the players to do better whenever they are invited to camp for any competition, because they have made the game a part of their

lifestyle,’’ he said.

According to him, most training programmes are made known, only when a competition is imminent; which he said was not the best way to groom players.

He also appealed to ping-pong enthusiasts and ex-players, to donate equipment like: rubber, ball, training kits, canvass shoes, towel and bags for the use of players.

“We will appreciate donations from the general public because some budding talents that have the zeal to train cannot afford the vital items, so such endowment will come in handy.

“They should be made available at our training venues such as the Knock-Up Hall, Union Bank training hall and other halls which players have access to for training,’’ he added.

Judo scribe tasks NJF on credible election

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lakitan De Souza, the Technical Director, Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF), said on Wednesday that the forthcoming elections into the various sports federations, particularly the NJF, should be on merit.

De Souza said in Lagos that preference should, however, be given to individuals with the zeal to run judo in the country.

“This is the time to face reality, without being sentimental by ensuring that only individuals with integrity are elected to turn things around in the sport. Judo can only be revived when the right

people are given the opportunity to contribute to its development,” he said. De Souza stressed that the incoming board should also aim at improving the standards of the game in the country.

“The incoming board should implement viable development programmes aimed at popularising the sport at the grassroots,’’ he added.

According to him, contestants to positions on the NJF Board should be knowledgeable individuals who are determined to contribute to its development.

IAAF retrieves gold medal from banned Chukwuemeka, awards Okoro

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he International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) has awarded the Shot Put gold medal retrieved from banned Vivian Chukwuemeka to her compatriot, Chinwe Okoro.

Chukwuemeka had at the 18th Senior Africa Athletics Championships in Porto Novo, Republic of Benin, won the medal with a throw of 18.86m. But she was banned and stripped of the gold medal after she tested positive to a banned substance.

The Technical Director, Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, said the IAAF in a letter dated Jan. 31, 2013, to the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), stripped Chukwuemeka of the gold medal.

The letter reads: “Considering the IAAF notification to CAA, dated Jan. 31, 2013, informing the CAA about the sanction which was pronounced on the Nigerian athlete, Vivian Chukwuemeka, for positive doping test.

“Considering that June 21, 2012 the date on which the sanction started is previous to the 18th Senior African Championships of Porto Vivian Chukwuemeka Novo in which Vivian Chukwuemeka took part, she is stripped of the gold medal’’.

Nesiama said the AFN was ordered to recover the gold medal won

by Chukwuemeka and hand it over to Okoro, who was second with a throw of 16.21m.

He said that with the development, the new classification of medals were gold for Chinwe Okoro, while Omotayo Talabi another Nigerian, now holds the silver medal.

He said that the CAA asked the AFN to give back the bronze medal to the CAA, to be awarded to Dongmo Auriole, a Cameroonian athlete.

The record of 18.48m won by Chukwuemeka at the Walnut Games on April 19, 2003, however, still remains the African record for women’s shot put.

Nesiama told a news agency that the withdrawal of the gold medal from Chukwuemeka had not affected the country’s position as the best in Africa since it was awarded to another Nigerian that had won silver.

“To me, it has not really affected our position as the champions of Africa. We lost Chukwuemeka’s medal, but it is still okay because we did not lose as the gold and silver medal are still in the country,’’ he said.

Nesiama appealed to athletes to always shun performance enhancing drugs and consult medical personnel before their intake of any food or medication.

The development is coming on the heels of the International Olympic Committee (IOC’s) return of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games 4x400m relay gold medal to Nigeria last week.

The medal was won by the quartet of the late Sunday Bada, Enefiok Udobong, Jude Monye and Clement Chukwu.

Chinwe Okoro

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Altintop’s delight as Galatasaray reaches quarter-final

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alatasaray midfielder Hamit Altintop said the Turkish league leaders are delighted to be in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2001 after knocking Schalke 04 out.

Galatasaray reached the quarter-finals as a last-minute goal from substitute forward Umut Bulut sealed a 3-2 win at Schalke on Tuesday, giving them a 4-3 win on aggregate.

Schalke failed in their bid to join Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals, while Galatasaray star Altintop, who was born in Gelsenkirchen, grabbed the visitors’ opening goal with a superb shot.

Midfielder Roman Neustaedter had given Schalke an early lead, but goals by Altintop, then striker Burak Yilmaz, who has scored eight Champions League goals this campaign, put Galatasaray 2-1 up at the break.

Brazil midfielder Michel Bastos levelled for Schalke in the second-half, before Bulut settled matters much to the Turks’ delight when he rounded Schalke goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand in the 95th minute to finish off a counter-attack.

Having drawn the first leg 1-1 in Istanbul three weeks ago, Altintop said belief was the key for the return leg in Gelsenkirchen.

“We knew it was not a bad result from the first leg

and personally I believed we could reach the quarter-finals,” he said.

“We played very well in the first half this evening, in the second Schalke tried to put pressure on us and created a few important chances to score.

Eventually, we got what we needed. I hope we get a good draw on Friday.

“We showed we deserve to be in the quarter-finals, but it was a close game and both teams had their chances. Perhaps we had a bit of luck at the end, but I’ll take that. We responded well to fight back after conceding the early goal.”

After his team suffered their first defeat in six games, Schalke coach Jens Keller was at a loss to explain the defeat.

“I have no explanation

for this first half, we have played like we had done a couple of weeks ago, without the necessary aggressiveness, everyone put in maybe 10 per cent less than what was needed,” he said.

With Schalke fourth in the Bundesliga, midfielder Julian Draxler said their season is now about finishing in the top four to make sure they are involved in next season’s Champions League.

Hamit Altintop

Chelsea Manchester United replay date confirmed

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Juan Mata

he FA Cup quarter-final replay between Chelsea and Manchester United will take place at 12.30pm at Stamford Bridge on Monday April 1, the FA has finally confirmed.

The two sides drew the initial game 2-2 at Old Trafford last Sunday, but the Blues’ hectic schedule has greatly disrupted their season as well as plans to arrange the restaged game.

With the FA Cup clash taking place on the Monday, Chelsea’s Premier League game at Southampton - which had been due to take place on Sunday March 31 - will now be moved forward a day, kicking off at 3pm on the

Tottenham, Chelsea eye Europa quarters T

Gareth Bale

Saturday. United will take on Sunderland in the league on March 30, as planned.

United have also announced that their league match with West Ham United, which had been due to be played March 9, has been scheduled for Wednesday April 17 at 7.45pm.

Meanwhile, FA Cup semi-finalists Wigan Athletic have announced two rescheduled Premier League games as a result of the club’s progress in the cup.

Wigan will face Manchester City at Etihad Stadium on the evening of Wednesday April 17 and will play Swansea City on Tuesday May 5 at 7.45pm.

ottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have their hearts set on higher things than the UEFA Europa League next season as both target UEFA Champions League qualification via top four finishers in the English Premier League.

But both London sides will nevertheless be seeking to book quarter-final berths on Thursday - even if Chelsea will have to do things the hard way after a first leg defeat at Steaua Bucharest.

Rafael Benitez’s men lost 1-0 in Romania but, having recovered from two goals down at Old Trafford to earn an FA Cup replay at the weekend, they will be hoping for a similar comeback at Stamford Bridge.

That would keep alive Benitez’s ambition of putting at least one trophy on the sideboard before leaving in the summer after a difficult time of it as interim coach. Spurs, on the other hand, appear bound for the last eight after whipping a pale Inter Milan side 3-0 at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham coach Andre Villas-Boas knows only too well how poisoned is the Chelsea chalice having supped from it himself, only to be fired midway through last season.

But the Portuguese has clearly learned from the experience by bouncing back on the other side of London.

Under his guidance, Spurs, who were denied a place in the Champions League last May by dint of his successor Roberto Di Matteo winning the tournament, have managed to date to keep the Blues at arm’s length and currently stand third, two points ahead and seven ahead of North London rivals Arsenal.

Villas-Boas has called on his side to forget the Liverpool loss, which ended a 12-match unbeaten run.

Although Wales star Gareth Bale is suspended for the return to Inter’s San Siro, where he hit a hat-trick in the Champions League group phase two years ago, Villas-Boas says European glory is there for the taking.

“We have a wonderful opportunity to continue in the Europa League,” he said. “Our rewards can be with the Europa League trophy and Champions League qualification - that is our main ambition.”

Lifting the trophy would see Chelsea complete the set of European Cup, the now defunct Cup Winners’ Cup and also UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League, a triple achieved to date only by Bayern Munich, Ajax and Juventus.

AC Milan win banishes Barcelona doubt –Villa

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avid Villa believes the historic comeback win in the Champions League against AC Milan has banished any doubts about Barcelona’s recent form.

Striker Villa, 31, scored as his side became the first in the competition to overturn a 2-0 first leg away loss.

That setback in Italy was followed by back-to-back defeats by Real Madrid but Villa said: “When you go through that, the bad days are forgotten.

Barca had started the season in record-breaking form under manager Tito Vilanova before his absence due to cancer treatment coincided with a run of results in which they went 13 games without a clean sheet, were knocked out of the Spanish cup by rivals Real and lost to Jose Mourinho’s outfit in the league.

The criticism that had been directed at them under the control of standin coach Jordi Roura was answered in a stunning round-of-16 second-leg display which began when Lionel Messi scored the first of his outstanding double in only the fifth minute.

This was later added to with two expertly crafted second-half strikes from Villa and rampaging leftback Jordi Alba.

The scale of Barca’s victory has seen them reinstated as leading contenders for the Champions League but Roura attempted to calm expectations.

Although disappointed to go out after his team’s exploits at home, AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri was circumspect in his evaluation of the tie after he had been left with an inexperienced squad following the summer exits of leading players such as Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

David Villa

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

800m star Rudisha signs up for Doha - Samsung Diamond League

D

oha 2013, the first meeting in the calendar, has added London 2012 Olympic Games 800m gold medalist and World record holder David Rudisha to its dream lineup on 10 May, the organisers announced on Sunday (10).

The Kenyan will start

David Rushida

his 2013 campaign in Doha and is no stranger to Qatar’s athletics fans. This will be his sixth visit there, each time to run the 800m.

He first traveled to Doha in 2007 as a junior, and finished sixth in 1:45.55.

In 2008, he registered his maiden victory with 1:44.36. The following

year he was fourth, in 1:44.78, but bounced straight back with two impressive wins in 2010 and 2012, clocking 1:43.00 (the current meeting record) and 1:43.10, respectively.

“It’s always nice to return in Doha. I have great memories from the Qatar Sports Club track, where I have won three times so far. The spectators are always enthusiastic and push the athletes to their limits,” said Rudisha, who also struck gold at the 2011 IAAF World Championships.

“David Rudisha’s addition to the 2013 roster justifies our ambition to perpetually improve the Doha athletics meeting level and to showcase the on-site spectators and to the millions fans who will watch through their TV screens, a meeting to remember,” said the IAAF Vice President and QAAF Chairman Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad at an official press conference held today in Doha, at Association’s brand new headquarters in Al Bidda tower.

Unstoppable Messi breaks 83 year-old record

“Many more Olympic and World Champions will soon sign up and boost the image of Doha 2013, the first Samsung Diamond League of a long awaited season,” he added.

Nobody, in the modern era of Athletics, was expecting from a middle/ long distant runner to break the world record at a major championship, particularly without the assistance of the pacemakers.

David Rudisha defied the odds and not only easily won the Olympic 800m final in London, but he also lowered his own world record by 0.10 seconds to 1:40.91.

For his London heroics, the 2010 World Athlete of the Year was honoured by the IAAF with the Male 2012 Performance of the Year at the IAAF Centenary celebrations in Barcelona last November.

“I do not run many races over the season and so it is important that every race is a quality race. I have beaten Kipketer’s former world record (1:41.11) three times now and one day I hope to break the

L

ionel Messi seems indeed unstoppable after scoring his 16th brace in Tuesday’s historic UEFA Champions League crushing of AC Milan at the Camp Nou. He had opened score sheet barely five minutes into the game and scured the brace five minutes to the end of the first half to even score with Milan which come into the game with 2-0 advantage.

It was his 58th Champions League goal, putting him two clear of former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy in second place on the scoring chart behind Raul, another former Real forward, who leads on 71.

Earlier in the weekend, Messi scored his 17th successive La Liga game, breaking a world record which had stood since the 1930s.

He currently leads the pack of Champions League marks’ men all time record and it could further extend the record going by Barca’s qualification for the last eight finals in the continental fiesta.

The 25-year-old came off the bench to register his 40th league goal of the season for Barca in the 88th minute of their 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna.

The world player of the year chipped in for his 27th goal in 17 matches.

Barca said Messi had beaten Pole Teodor Pewterek’s 1937-38 record of scoring in 16 straight games for Ruch Chorzow.

Messi’s 40 goals in La Liga means he has scored more league goals than 16 of the 20 teams in the division “The Argentine player’s tally represents a new record in the history of football, something no other player has achieved before,” the Spanish club said on their website.

There was no immediate confirmation of Barcelona’s claim by world governing body FIFA. Messi has now scored 52 goals in all competitions this season, including five in the Champions League.

In December, Messi broke another record - that of the most goals in a calendar year - when he surpassed Gerd Mueller’s 1972 tally of 85.

Barcelona never needed to be at their fluid best to see off Deportivo. Alexis Sanchez gave them the lead just before half-time before Messi, who came on in the 59th minute, sealed victory two minutes from time.

Barcelona’s 12th win in 13 home league games extended their lead to 14 points over Atletico Madrid, who later defeated Real Sociedad on Sunday to reduce the gap.

Lionel Messi

1:40 barrier. It’s not impossible but it is a very difficult task to accomplish” added Rudisha, who has run two laps of the track in under 1:42 on seven occasions, a unique feat in the history of the event.

“I have to stay focused and keep on training hard, because the level of the 800m competition is continuously rising. Many new athletes from my country, Kenya and other African nations have emerged and are rapidly lowering their records.

“I am sure the organisers will set up a competitive race. It is the first race of the season but that I am confident that I can produce a strong performance” promised the Kenyan.

2013 Samsung Diamond League Calendar Doha, QAT – 10 May Shanghai, CHN – 18 May New York, USA – 25 May Eugene, USA – 1 Jun Rome, ITA – 6 Jun Oslo, NOR – 13 Jun Birmingham, GBR – 30 Jun Lausanne, SUI – 4 Jul Paris, FRA – 6 Jul Monaco, MON – 19 Jul London, GBR – 27 Jul Stockholm, SWE – 22 Aug Zürich, SUI – 29 Aug Brussels, BEL – 6 Sep

Emordi says Rangers win to boost Champions League quest

E

nugu Rangers’ manager, Okey Emordi has said his side’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) opening victory against oriental foes, Enyimba is a morale booster for their continental challenge at Vital’O of Burundi in Bujumbura.

Bitrus Dada’s 26th minute goal proved decisive to give the Coal City side the maximum points at the start of the 2012/13 NPFL season at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Saturday.

Emordi, who admitted his wards’ opponents, Enyimba did not disappoint however was happy to escape the Aba-based side’s tough scare with a win.

“I’m happy we grabbed the three points.

Everything didn’t work out as planned, there is still work to be done.

“Enyimba are good side, I’ve my deep respect for them. They fought hard for the equaliser but it fell flat, but they remain a tough side.

“The victory is a morale booster to our Caf Champions League match at the Vital’O of Burundi next weekend.

“We’ll take the season’s opening victory against Enyimba to Vital’O in Bujumbura and ensure we record another emphatic win,” said the former Enyimba manager to supersport.com.

Rangers secured passage to the first round of Africa’s elite club competition courtesy of a walk-over against Sporting Do Principe of Sao Tome & Principe in the preliminary round in Enugu.

The Flying Antelopes will travel to Bujumbura, Burundi on the weekend of March 15, 16 and 17 to confront Vital’O while the reverse fixture holds in Enugu, Nigeria in two weeks.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 45

2

3

1

P I C T O R I A L 1] Barcelona's players hailed a memorable atmosphere inside the Camp Nou after their stirring 4-0 Champions League last16 second leg win over AC Milan.

2] Overwhelming favourite Sprinter Sacre delights Cheltenham with a stunning 19-length victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

3] The FA Cup replay between Chelsea and Man Utd will take place at 12.30pm at Stamford Bridge on Monday April 1.

4] China's Beijing Guoan saw off J.League title-holders Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-1 to break an eight-match winless run in the AFC Champions League, while Kashiwa Reysol overcame Central Coast Mariners 3-1.

5] Jose Mourinho has discussed Real Madrid's mission to win the UEFA Champions League and insisted he puts the club's interests ahead of his personal ones.

4

6] Promoter and manager Frank Warren confirms Dereck Chisora has been issued with a new licence.

6

5

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T

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Kebbi FA Chairman seeks support to develop sports

he Chairman, Kebbi FA, Alhaji Abubakar Ladan, has appealed to corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to support the state government in its bid to develop sports.

Ladan made the appeal during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Birnin Kebbi.

He, however, stressed that the state government could not fund the project all by itself, but

would welcome the participation of the private sector in the initiative.

“With the support of corporate bodies and public-spirited individuals, the abundant talents in the state will be effectively harnessed to enhance the profile of the state.

“The hidden abilities of our youths will need the right

medium to display what they can do in order to curb idleness and unemployment amongst them,’’ he said.

The FA chairman tasked sports administrators to encourage corporate sponsorship of sports by organising competitions among schools and the local government areas.

“The commitment and

nugu Rangers and Kano Pillars have demanded for the release of their players from the Eagles camp ahead of Champions League ties.

Rangers have formally written to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the release their three players in Super Eagles camp for the trip to Vital’O of Burundi, according to Rangers media officer Foster Chime.

“We need the services of our players in Eagles for the Champions League game on

Saturday in Bujumbura, Burundi. We have applied for the release of our players in the Eagles, Sunday Mba, Chigozie Agbim and Emeka Eze. We are expecting response from the NFF as we are to travel to Burundi on Wednesday,” Chime said.

In the same vein, Kano Pillars have recalled the quartet of Gabriel Reuben, Gambo Mohammed, Umar Zango and Papa Idris from Super Eagles camp ahead of their CAF Champions League clash against AC Leopard in Kano on Saturday

afternoon.

“We have a very important match on Saturday in the CAF Champions League against Leopard. We need all our best players for the match. We have therefore called back our players in the Eagles camp for the game,” coach Mohammed Babaganaru said adding that they were expected last night.

Pillars will host CAF Confederation Cup holders AC Leopard of Congo Brazzaville on Saturday at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

Rangers, Pillars recall Agbim, Reuben, others from Eagles Camp E

seriousness of sports administrators will attract groups and individuals to fund competitions that will provide youths avenues to exhibit their skills,” Ladan added. CRS govt urges fans to Eagles in World Cup qualifier The Cross River State Government has appealed to soccer fans to turn out in large numbers to cheer the Super Eagles when they take on the Harambee Stars of Kenya in their World Cup qualifying match.

The match is scheduled for March 23 at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

Mr Patrick Ugbe, the Cross River Commissioner for Youth and Sports, made the appeal on Tuesday in an interview With the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar, ahead of the match.

The commissioner said a large crowd would be important for the match because the Eagles would also showcase the Africa Cup of Nations that it brought back from South Africa in February.

“We want the supporters, Eagles fans and residents of Calabar, to prepare to come out

Lobi’s ‘big guns’ rejoin team tomorrow

S

Ezekiel Bassey

Gambo Mohammed

Chigozie Agbim

to support the team the African Champions.

“They should not forget that the team is also bringing the trophy they won at the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa to Calabar.

“The trophy will be displayed at the stadium on match day, so they should come out en masse to be a part of the AFCON experience by witnessing the trophy in Calabar He said that the government was doing everything within its powers to ensure a successful hosting of the World Cup qualifier.

“We are preparing; we are doing the normal thing to ensure that the stadium is ready for the team. At the last friendly between the Golden Eaglets and the Diamond Zebras of Botswana, we used the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar to test run the facilities.

“We think we are ready to host the Super Eagles/Harambee Stars match on March 23.

Everybody was impressed, The stadium is lush green; it is part of our culture to ensure that we maintain it regularly,’’ Ugbe said.

uper Eagles duo of Ezekiel Bassey and Anthony Okpotu will join their colleagues at Lobi Stars tomorrow ahead of Sunday’s 2013 Caf Confederation Cup match against Mozambican side, Liga Muçulmana de Maputo.

Both players reported at the Abuja camp of the Super Eagles with others from the domestic league after the opening week of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

“The match is slated for Sunday in Bauchi and we expect Bassey and Okpotu to join us from the Eagles camp. After the match, both players will return to the Super Eagles camp.

“We did our best to return to Africa and we’re preparing well for Sunday’s match,” Dominic Iorfa said while speaking about the team’s readiness.

Fondly called LDMM, the Maputo club were founded in 1990 and have won two league titles in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, the team lost in the preliminary round of the Caf Champions League and reached the first round in 2012.

It is their first time in the Caf Confederation Cup after winning the 2012 Taça de Moçambique (Mozambican Cup) On the other hand, Lobi Stars return to the continent after their last Caf Confederation Cup campaign in 2006.

Youth athletics: Awareness reason for high turnout, says AFN technical

C

ommodore Nesiama Omatseye, Technical Director, Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) yesterday applauded the high number of countries wishing to participate in the maiden Africa Youth Athletics Championships.

The championships, scheduled to be hosted by Nigeria in Warri, Delta State, would hold from March 27 to March 30.

No fewer than 431 athletes, 34 coaches and 55 officials had given indication of their participation in the competition.

Omatseye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the huge turnout could be attributed to the awareness on the importance of developing sports from the grassroots.

“Actually, it goes to show that there is a consciousness in Africa

toward the development of athletics from the cadet level to the elite, just as it obtains in other climes.

“And the organisers (the African Athletics Confederation) was able to create the needed publicity for countries to become interested in the competition,” he said.

The technical director said that he believed that apart from the championships’ target of developing athletes from the cadet level, it is also intended to foster unity in the continent.

According to him, the 80-man contingent to represent the country may be reduced because some of the events like pivot for men and walking race, did not have entries.

HFN satisfied with turnout at U-12, U-15 tourneys Musa Hamza, Technical Director, Handball Federation of

Nigeria (HFN), has expressed delight at the turnout of teams and clubs at the ongoing U-12 and U-15 championships in Kogi State.

The News Agency of Nigeria

Solomon Ogba, President AFN

(NAN) reports that the championships, which began on Sunday in Isanlu, Yagba-East Local Government Area, are to identify talents at the grassroots.

Hamza said that no fewer than 32 teams from 14 states were currently taking part in the annual competition, adding: “I am pleased with the attendance at the competition.

“And I strongly believe that the purpose of this championships will be achieved because teams are in high spirit to compete, while players are also ready to demonstrate their skills’’.

The HFN official said the participating states are: Anambra, Abia, Ondo, Kwara, Osun, Edo, Kogi, Sokoto, Lagos, Benue, Yobe, Niger, Kano and Bornu, noting that most states came with clubs too.

According to him, a total of 500 players, representing the teams, underwent screening to ascertain their genuine ages, according to the age categories of the championships.

He disclosed that out of the 500 players screened, only 357 qualified to compete.

“The initiative is to discover young talents and to have authentic information about them so that we can monitor their progress as they advance in the sport,’’ Hamza said.

Hamza, also a member of Africa Handball Confederation (CAHB) Arbitration Tribunal, said that HFN would not tolerate any form of indiscipline in its competitions, especially at the grassroots.

He said that the championships, which also attracted lots of spectators, would end on March 17.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

PAGE 47

Some Interesting Facts

Say what?

•Plant life began on the Earth's landforms about 430 million years ago. The first plants were likely single-celled organisms distantly related to algae.

•The first reptiles began life 300 million years ago, and modern mammals appeared roughly 75 million years ago.

•Apes originated on Earth about 35 million years ago, and the first apelike men appeared about 10 million years ago.

The modern human species of Homo sapien has existed on the earth for only 100,000 years.

•Scientists believe that Earth will exist for another 7.5 billion years before the sun becomes a red giant star and, in all probability, destroys the planet. Earth may cease to support life forms far before that date, however, due to increased energy output from the sun over time.

•Living organisms are divided into two basic domains: prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Eukaryotes, to which humans belong, have a cellular structure with a nucleus and membrane-bound genetic information, while the cells of prokaryotes do not contain a nucleus.

•Today, all identified living organisms are scientifically named and categorized according to Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus's taxonomy. In his 1758 publication, SystemaNaturae, Linnaeus divided and classified different living organisms with a ranking scale: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species •Scientists estimate that anywhere from five million to 100 million unique species of plants and animals currently live on Earth. However, only about two million of these species have been identified •Insect species account for 950,000 of the two million identified species on Earth •There are nearly 300,000 different species of plants currently living on Earth •Mammals make up just 5,416 of the two million identified species on Earth •The theory of evolution, which explains how living things change over time through natural selection, was first publicized by Charles Darwin in 1859. Many scientists now point to this natural phenomenon as the reason behind Earth's great biodiversity.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

SUDOKU

Last edition’s solution

Ordeal: Cen washes her hair every four days. She is forced to stand over a bucket to wash the entire length, in Guigang, China.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

2013 will be my best year - Ronaldo

C

ristiano Ronaldo says that 2013 could be shaping up to be the best year of his career.

The Real Madrid attacker has scored 19 goals in 16 games since the turn of the year breathtaking scoring pace even for him.

Speaking to a new television advert for Portuguese bank Banco Espirito Santo, he admitted that things were going well at the moment and he was full of confidence.

"This could be my best year, things are going well for me," Ronaldo said. "I am more confident at the moment. This year has started really well.

The Portugal captain, who turned 28 last month, once again stressed that team trophies were now more important to him than personal achievements.

"On a personal level things are going well for me," Ronaldo said. "But I only think of helping the team to win the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. We know the league is very difficult at this point, but we must keep fighting until the end."

Recent wins over Barcelona in the Copa Del Rey semi-finals and La Liga, and last week's elimination of his former club Manchester United from the Champions League, have brought surging confidence in Madrid that this season could finally bring the club's long awaited tenth European Cup. Although everyone at Madrid was currently full of confidence, it was still a bit early to make predictions like that, Ronaldo said.

"It is still difficult to say we are going to win la Decima," he said. "We know there is still a lot to fight for, but the team is in a good moment. We have won two games against Barcelona, and also beaten Manchester United. So we are confident and buzzing. Now we must keep our feet on the ground.

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QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE I think the government just wants this [Boko Haram insurgency] to continue because it is profitable for the security agencies to have a huge budget, most of which is stolen.

— Nasir el-Rufai on President Jonathan’s labelling of Boko Haram as a set of ‘ghosts’

Pardon me, isn't this condoning criminality?

A

nd the President pardoned!

On the latest list of those granted state pardon is a name that has generated expected furore from the concerned publicDSP Alamieyeseigha, the former governor of Bayelsa state. There is nothing new about such gestures from the presidency. We are aware of how the destiny of the nation was changed when a certain Otta farmer was granted such a privilege in 1999. How he blew the golden opportunity after returning to power is a topic for another day.

So a president has the executive fiat to take such actions, but should such a privilege be abused and under what circumstances was Alamieyeseigha's pardon granted?

By some legal interpretation, unless a pardon expressly states that it is issued because of a determination that the recipient of the pardon was innocent, a pardon does not imply innocence.

However, it is generally assumed that acceptance of a pardon is an implicit acknowledgment of guilt, for one cannot be pardoned unless one has committed a crime.

So, as I am thinking about the crime of Alamieyeseigha, I am also listening to Fela Kuti's 'Argument' as the line "you be thief" reverberates around my immediate space. When the news first broke, I said to myself, it seems the special gas being inhaled at the Villa has been tuned up a notch, or how does anyone rationalise this grandiose exculpation- more precisely, a Paddy-Paddy Pardon, by the Commander-in-Chief, for a convicted 'drag queen'- a common thief that managed to evade incarceration in UK dressed as a woman. Evidently, this special pardon wasn't granted because Alamieyeseigha was a 'Prisoner of Conscience'. No! No! No! Rather, it was granted because his former subordinate in Bayelsa state is now sitting deceptively in Aso Rock. Is it not ludicrous James Ibori is languishing in a UK prison and Alamieyeseigha is getting a special treat! I guess some (criminals) are more equal than others.

I wonder what explanation the usual Jonathan apologists and sycophants would conjure for this executive absurdity, Reuben Abati especially. In a The Guardian article titled "Alami Should Go: It's Over", Abati wrote: "By running away from England under the cover of the night, away from the British

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GUEST COLUMNIST M. B. O Owolowo m.b.o.owolowo@gmail.com, Twitter: @Owoism

President Jonathan judiciary which was probing him on charges of money laundering, by taking evasive action from the law and communicating with his feet, Alamieyeseigha, a man who until now was known and addressed as His Excellency, has shown himself to be a dishonourable fellow, unfit to rule, unfit to sit among men and women of honour and integrity, unfit to preach to the people that he leads about ideals and values...

"All told, by conducting himself after the fashion of a common felon, Alamieyeseigha has brought

the people of Bayelsa state and all Ijaws to great ridicule. If he was so supremely sure of his innocence in the matter, he should have stayed back in London to prove his innocence. If he had won victory through due process, he would have been a great hero and his points about conspiracy and the President of Nigeria not liking his face would have deserved more than a closer attention. But to jump bail, subvert the judicial process, only to show up in Yenagoa like a thief in the night, and then turn himself into a major means of measuring the moral fibre of the Nigerian society..." (25/11/05) The current views of Abati on the subject would be intriguing, now that he is cavorting with 'Alami's' peers at the Villa. It is rather ironic the words 'honour' and 'integrity' were used as antonyms for debasing the criminal acts perpetrated by Alami, considering the latest 'honour' was granted by a person both Alami and now Abati are close to- a classic case of "honour amongst...", I suppose.

I wonder what type of 'ideals' and 'values' they think they are encouraging, and what type of insolence such a crass executive

“

Evidently, this special pardon wasn't granted because Alamieyeseigha was a 'Prisoner of Conscience'. No! No! No! Rather, it was granted because his former subordinate in Bayelsa state is now sitting deceptively in Aso Rock. Is it not ludicrous James Ibori is languishing in a UK prison and Alamieyeseigha is getting a special treat! I guess some (criminals) are more equal than others

action emphasizes to the populace?

The succinct message being trumpeted by this 'pardon' simply meanscrime pays.

This perpetuates criminality in the polity, meaning as long as your people are in power, you have nothing to worry about- Carry Go! Such an executive decision entrenches lawlessness, promotes 'above the law' mentality and consolidates the achieving goals by any means necessary ethos. How can any of these men who evade justice preach to thieves caught on the streets to mend their evil ways, when they have stolen public funds on a grand scale- affecting the lives and futures of millions?

In reality, such oddities are actually in order; after all, someone who should be tried for the misappropriation of billions of dollars emerged as the chairman of one of our most lucrative government agencies. The same set of bandits that openly celebrated the prison release of one of their own in the South-west with splendour; someone convicted based on his ignominious tenure at the NPA coincidentally- his special state pardon is probably in the offing.

A government wasting tax payers funds to dig up dirt and investigate the tenure of a former minister who challenged them with hard facts on the depletion of our reserves- a debate they are yet to respond to. So from these perspectives, this pardon is in order.

All I am expecting are the drums of support and commendation from his local community defending the indefensible and using the usual witch-hunt melody to deafen any form of criticism. It wouldn't surprise me the least, if this pardoned criminal ends up in the senate for immunity purposes- a legislative pushing a bill to shield themselves from prosecution, shows just how daring the ruling class are.

I wonder how much more of this brashness the citizenry need rubbed in their faces like feces before actually revolting- start demanding probity, transparency and equity from the recalcitrant ruling class.

As we expect more of such 'power shows' and absurdities, let's hope a permanent damage isn't done to the country by the power drunk at the helm of affairs.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 805 727 9862. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141