Peoples Daily Newspaper, Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Subsidy probe: Federal Govt moves to thwart SNG protests

Vol. 8 No. 23

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Jimadal Akhir 3, 1433 AH

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CBN Gov. sued for plagiarism >> >> PAGE 2

Insecurity: African tourism ministers reject Abuja for confab

By Josephine Ella

Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) cadets displaying helicopter rappelling during the counter terrorism and counter insurgency training, yesterday in Jaji, Kaduna state Photo: NAN

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frican ministers of tourism, who are expected this month in Abuja for their annual conference, have in a letter forwarded to the Federal Government(FG), threatened to boycott the Contd on Page 2

INSIDE

Shell oil spill 60 times worse than admitted – Amnesty >> PAGE 3

Senate summons FMBN declares profit Nigeria spends N1.3tr PHCN, FAAN over after 20 years on importation of rice, power outage in Abuja sugar, fish, others airport >> PAGE 4 >> PAGE 5 >> PAGE 6 WWW.PEOPLESDAILY-ONLINE.COM

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

CONTENTS News

2-11

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-17

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

23

S/Report

24

Newsxtra

27

Defence

28

CBN governor sued over plagiarism

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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he Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has been dragged before a Federal High Court in Abuja by a Nigerian Professor based in the United States of America, Prof. Victor Dike over alleged plagiarism.

The plaintiff, an Adjunct Professor at the School of Engineering and Technology, National University, Sacremento, California, USA in the suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/937/ 2011 prayed the court to order the CBN boss to pay him N10 million as compensation for the breach of his copyrights in the articles copied by Sanusi without proper citation, reference or acknowledgement.

The University Don, who wants the court to declare that Sanusi plagiarised his work, also prayed the court to order Sanusi to pay him special damages of N5 million, which include the cost of the legal action, cost of travelling from the USA to Nigeria and hotel accommodation.

The plaintiff had, in a statement of claims filed by his

lawyer, Mr. E.U. Chinedum, said that Sanusi breached his copyrights at two public lectures he delivered at the 8th Convocation Ceremony of Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo State, on November 26, 2010, titled, “Growth Prospects for the Nigerian Economy” and at a Convocation Square, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi on December 10, 2010, titled, “Global Financial Meltdown and The Reforms in Nigerian Banking Sector”.

The plaintiff, who is also the Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Centre for Social Justice and Human Development in California, USA, said that Sanusi copied verbatim from his articles without reference to him as the original author.

The plaintiff averred that Sanusi copied from pages 98, 99 and 100 of his work titled, “Review of the challenges facing the Nigerian economy: Is national development possible without technological capability” and in another of his work titled, “Governance and Nigeria’s weak institutions: Is the 2010 project

achievable?”

He stated the copied lines as follows: “the challenges facing the economy is ineffective institutions and dilapidated infrastructure (bad roads, erratic power supply, limited access to potable water and basic healthcare, and ineffective regulatory agencies, etc). The plethora of reforms and policies are ineffective due to institutional failure (Hoff, 2003)”.

The above is just a few sentences from one of the publications in which Sanusi is alleged to have plagiarised.

The plaintiff also alleged that for another paper titled, “Global Financial Meltdown and the Reforms in the Nigerian Banking Sector” he presented at a lecture he delivered at the Convocation Square, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi , Sanusi copied verbatim articles originally written and published by him without acknowledging him as the author of the works from where he (Sanusi) sourced the materials that made up his lecture.

He said that at six different occasions the apex bank governor copied his materials without

acknowledging him as the original author of the works and asked the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining Sanusi from citing his papers as his(Sanusi’s).

He asked the court to direct Sanusi to retract the papers from the public by removing them from the CBN website.

The plaintiff also asked the court to order the CBN boss to make a publication in a national daily denouncing the authorship of the articles that constitute the component of the two lectures presented in Edo and Bauchi states.

When the case came up yesterday, the court sitting before Justice Adamu Bello granted the exparte application, where-in the plaintiff asked for the leave of the court to serve court processes on Sanusi by a substituted means and to deem such services as good service in law.

The court, in granting the application, ordered that the court bailiff should paste the court’s processes on the notice board of the CBN and adjourned the case till May 31, 2012 for mention.

Reps query Science and Tech Minister over alleged N661million fraud

By Lawrence Olaoye

Government won’t act on subsidy probe report – Yuguda, Page 5

International 31-34 Strange World 35 Digest

36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-47

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

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he House of Representa tives yesterday queried the Minister of Science and Technology, Ita Okon BasseyEwa, over his inability to explain the expenditure of the total sum of N661 million in the 2011 fiscal year.

While the House Committee on Science and Tech. has raised questions over the use of the total sum of N557 million budgeted for the hosting of the In-

ternational Junior Science Olympiad between 2009 and 2010, its counterpart in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House has queried the ministry over the use of N104 million for the branding and repositioning the agency and its affiliated parastatals.

The audit query raised by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation currently before the PAC revealed that the ministry preferred to warehouse its capital projects’ funds in the

accounts of its agencies instead of saving same in its accounts.

Although some of the audit queries against the ministry have been subsisting for the past seven years, the Committee Chairman, Rep Solomon Adeola, said the ministry had failed to appear before the committee to defend the budgetary infractions.

According to him, “The Minister appeared before the committee in November last year, but explanations offered in de-

fense was not tenable. They were summoned today but the Permanent Secretary failed to appear on the excuse that he was still studying the situation.”

Similarly, the PAC Committee has mandated the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation to carry out an extensive audit into the accounts of the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in all its financial activities in the last six years.

Insecurity:African tourism ministers reject Abuja for confab Contd from Page 1 event unless the conference, slated to hold in Abuja, is moved to Lagos.

Peoples Daily learnt that the resolution of the African ministers was not unconnected with recent security threats from the dreaded Boko Haram sect, which has carried out series of coordinated bomb attacks in many states in the northern part of the country and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Apparently disturbed by the latest warning by the United States Embassy in Nigeria last week that the Boko Haram group has perfected plans to carry out a massive attack on Abuja, the ministers, not ready to take chances, rejected the choice of Abuja as the venue of the conference.

The United States had in the warning to the FG, cited major

hotels and public institutions patronised by foreigners as the likely places of attacks.

Nigeria had hosted the conference of African ministers of tourism in 2005 and the Federal Ministry of Tourism has again secured the hosting right for Nigeria for the forthcoming conference, which however, is currently being threatened by the security challenges facing the nation.

The Director General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Alhaji Munzali Dantata, who disclosed the decision of the African ministers yesterday in Abuja while signing an agreement with the FCT administration on the production of a tourism guide for the FCT, lamented that Nigeria, and Abuja in particularly, was losing out on international conferences due

to security challenges.

He asserted that although the proposed tourism guide would help Abuja promote its tourism potentials, the dicey security situation in the country has kept foreign and international organizations away from Nigeria.

In his words: “This is an example of Nigeria and particularly Abuja losing out on international conference.

Foreign countries and international organisations at this point in time want to stay away from Nigeria but if even they must come to Nigeria they would rather host their conference down in the South, for example in Lagos.

“This is among the challenges since Abuja is being promoted as the conference city.

With its conference tourism, Abuja has the most potentials and that is being threatened by

the recent security challenges that are facing the city”.

Speaking on how the recent spate of bombings and attacks by the Boko Haram has affected tourism business in the country, the DG NIHOTOUR said: “The Ministry of Tourism had indeed secured the hosting right of the meeting of African Ministers of Tourism which would have seen about 46 or 50 African ministers converge in Abuja. The last time such conference took place here was five years ago and most of the Ministers are already indicating they are not coming because of the security challenge.

“Ministers are saying if they must come to Nigeria let them come to Lagos. Abuja, being located in the northern part of the country is certainly losing.

I’m sure there are other international conferences that are being challenged”.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

YES-O cadets protest nonpayment of allowance From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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he cadets of the Youth Empowerment Scheme of Oyo state (YES-O), yesterday staged a peaceful protest over the non-payment of their monthly allowance for the second time in two months.

The cadets lamented to journalists at the Agodi government secretariat where the protest was held, that there had been replacement of their names with the names of those who never participated in the induction training held in February.

The cadets alleged that the state government, which was supposed to pay them four months allowance arrears of N10,000 each, pleaded with them for understanding and agreed to pay from last month instead of backdating the payment to December last year when they engaged by government.

“Those deployed to the Environmental and Solid Waste cadet; on getting to the bank where the one month allowance was said to have been paid, their names were replaced with those who did not participate in the scheme”, they stated.

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Boko Haram scares people away from church in Kogi From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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ormal church services last Sunday were disrupted in Ankpa, Kogi state, following rumours of Boko Haram attack which made the rounds in the ancient city for over a week.

Police patrol vans, State Security Service operatives were seen moving round the town and around churches to forestall any attack as Christians who summoned courage to enter the church prayed fervently against the planned attack.

One of the parishioners in Ankpa, Mr. Philip Mohammed told our correspondent yesterday that people became agitated over the rumour of the attack as witnessed, adding that during the Friday prayers, the usual number of worshipers at the

central mosque in Ankpa reduced.

He noted that the increased number of security operatives drafted to the area further heightened the tension as people believed that the rumour was real.

Kano earmarks N19bn on terminus From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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n its effort to decongest the city of Kano, the state government has earmarked N19 billion to established two major international terminus in the outskirts of the metropolis.

The Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Muhammad Nadu Yahaya, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen in his office, also stated that one of the terminus, which would be located at Dawanau, Katsina road, which is the northern part of the city, would cost N12 billion while that of the southern part, located at Km 21 Zaria, would cost N7 billion.

He further stated that the terminus, when established, would reduce both pollution and the presence of heavy vehicles in Kano city, as well as make the road less busy for other road users.

He also disclosed that the government had concluded all necessary arrangement to dualise some federal roads in the state with street lights, at the cost of N10 billion, which would include Gwarzo-BUK road, Zaria roads and Hadejia road.

L-R: Kaduna state Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Mohammed Usman, Director-General, National Teachers Institute (NTI), Dr. Aminu Ladan Sharehu, Minister of State for Education, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, Secretary to the Kaduna state Government, Alhaji Samaila Lawal Yakawada, and representative of Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ibrahim Aminu, during the official commissioning of the model computer laboratories of the NTI Model Primary School, yesterday in Kaduna.

Shell oil spill 60 times worse CP Bauchi advocates partnership with journalists than admitted – Amnesty From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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auchi state Police Command has stressed the need for good working relationship between the police and journalists in the state.

The Commissioner Police, Mr. Muhammed Ladan, stated this when he paid a visit to the Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Bauchi, saying that both are partners in the task of ensuring security of lives and properties of the people.

The commissioner stated that the onerous task of effectively policing the state required the cooperation of all stakeholders, including journalists, with the rank and file of the police.

According to him, “I visited the press centre to interact with

members of the fourth estate of the realm operating in the state, I believe in team work and collective responsibility. This informed my view that both the police and journalists have to work together for the betterment of the Nigerian society.

He charged journalists to always clarify their stories before publishing, adding that his doors are open for journalists.

In his remarks, the NUJ chairman, Bauchi state council, Malam Dahiru Garba, noted that the commissioner's visit was historic as he was the first police boss in the state to visit the press centre.

He therefore, called on the police commissioner to advise policemen in the state to always allow journalists to carry out their legitimate duties at public functions.

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n oil spill in Nigeria for which Royal Dutch Shell is being sued for tens of millions of dollars in a London court was at least 60 times worse than it announced, a report by Amnesty International said yesterday, citing research it commissioned.

A Shell spokeswoman said it was not appropriate to comment on the estimate while the spill was still the subject of litigation, adding that efforts to clean up had been hampered by insecurity in the Bodo area of the Niger Delta and by oil theft that had caused even more oil to be spilt since.

A group of 11,000 Nigerians launched a suit against Royal Dutch Shell at the London High Court last month for two oil spills in 2008/9 that they say destroyed

their livelihoods.

SPDC, a Shell-run joint venture between the state oil firm, which holds 55 percent, Shell, with 30 percent, EPNL, with 10 percent and Agip, with 5 percent, admits responsibility for two spills that devastated the Bodo fishing communities in the Niger Delta, a labyrinth of creeks and swaps.

The Amnesty accusation is based on footage of one of the oil leaks sent to Washington Statebased research company Accufacts, which examined the flow rate from the film and found it to be between one and three barrels a minute.

Amnesty extrapolated that the total oil spilled "over the 72 day period is between 103,000 barrels and 311,000 barrels." (Reuters)

30 Hisbah guards injured in clash with hoodlums in Kano From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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en of the Kano state Hisbah guards yesterday clashed with some hoodlums at Tomato Market, located at Konar Gafan area of Garum Malam local government, leaving no fewer than 30 injured.

An eyewitness account said the Hisbah men from Kano command had raided the market renowned for heavy patronage by prostitutes, capturing 123 of them.

Offended by the action of the Sharia guards, the hoodlums in their large numbers launched a

counter offensive, in a bid to set the captured prostitutes free.

The account further stated that in the ensuing melee, no fewer than 43 suspected prostitutes regained their freedom, leaving 30 Hisbah guards critically injured.

The account also had it that the breach of peace caused

temporary hiccup to free flow of traffic along Kano-Zaria federal highway, as commuters travelling on the road were halted.

Confirming the incident, the Public Relation Officer of the Board, Musa Tanko Muhammad, said that three members of the guard sustained multiple fractures,

while one person had his jaw dislocated.

“We conducted a successful operation and ran into an ambush.

As we were coming out of the flash point, dozens of miscreant attacked us with dangerous weapons, but we fought back, as we have over 96 suspected harlots in our custody.”

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

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13 perish in Katsina auto crash From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

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o fewer than 13 persons were reported dead and 43 others injured in a ghastly auto crash in Kwanar Gwanti in Mai'adua local government area of Katsina state.

Our correspondent gathered that the accident occured around 7:30p.m Sunday when a trailer with registration number XA 139 BRE, which took off from the weekly Mai'adua market, lost control and ran into the bush.

An eye witness told our correspondent that the driver, who was on high speed, lost control

while negotiating a sharp bend and hit a nearby tree.

It was further gathered that 13 of the 50 passengers in the trailer died instantly while the remaining passengers who sustained injuries in the accident were rushed to Mashi General Hospital. Those with critical injuries were rushed to Federal Medical Centre, Katsina.

The Daura Unit commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Alhaji Abdullahi Galadima blamed the accident on overspeeding and advised passengers to check the excesses of reckless drivers.

Robbers raid LG election petition tribunal From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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ome unidentified persons, at the weekend, broke into the offices of the Lagos state Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, carting away valuables.

Information has it that the robbers went away with the tribunal’s computers, laptops and a flatscreen television among others.

The incident was only discovered on Monday morning when members of the tribunal assembled to adjudicate on election petition listed for the day.

Already, the matter has been reported at the Lion Building Police station and is still being investigated.

Meanwhile, all the security

men who were on duty as at the time of the incident have been arrested and are being interrogated at the lion building Police station.

When Peoples Daily visited the venue of the tribunal sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, many of the petitioners and respondents were seen standing in groups discussing the event.

Confirming the incident, the registrar of the tribunal, Mr. Gani Bakare said the thieves came into the office of the chairman of the Tribunal through the rear window.

According to him, the bandits smashed the door that linked the court to the chairman’s office and ransacked the whole office but all the files containing vital documents as well as exhibits submitted to the tribunal were intact as the burglars could not reach where they were kept.

Police nabs two men for beheading woman From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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he Oyo state Police Command yesterday paraded two suspects for allegedly beheading a lady, Mrs. Sekinat Emiola, cut off her wrists and dumped her lifeless body on a road leading to a cemetery.

The Commissioner of Police, Tambari Yabo Muhammad, who revealed the crime, said information got to the command from Oke Aremo community on Friday of a corpse dumped inside a bag near a cemetery.

Police investigation led to the arrest of a 42-year-old man, Mr. Asimiyu Ayantayo, a traditional drummer and a 40-years-old man, Mr. Femi Isiaka, a

vulcanizer on Sunday evening.

The police boss explained that Ayantayo was actually the friend of the deceased woman who was a mother of four children married to a husband. She was reported to have visited Ayantayo on Thursday and both had sex before he eventually beheaded and cut off her two wrists with a matchet.

Tambari revealed further that the drummer buried the head and the two hands inside his room while the lifeless body was dumped near the cemetery.

Ayantayo, the police said, asked Femi Isiaka to get him a big bag with which he packed the remains and dumped it outside.

Police gathered that both

collaborated to drain the woman’s blood inside a bowl after which both took an oath.

Fielding question from newsmen, Ayantayo said, the woman died in the course of sexual intercourse and was confused on what to do. He noted that, the woman had thunderbolt on her and because of his spiritual powers, the curse bounced back on her and she died.

Isiaka said, he was shocked and had to scream when he saw the lifeless woman without head and wrists adding that Ayantayo threatened to kill him if he failed to cooperate.

The police however assured that the suspects would be charged for murder.

Court frowns at EFCC’s harassment of SAN, client in court premises From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, presided over by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, yesterday, berated operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for harassing Chief Robert Clarke (SAN) within the court premises while trying to arrest his client, Funmi Ademosun after court proceedings last Monday.

Justice Onigbanjo held that it was wrong for anyone to be harassed within the court premises on whatever grounds, adding that “any misbehaviour there, is liable to contempt of court.

“I firmly believe that it is wrong and it has become my issue, I will not just let it go like that. An issue should be made out of it to prevent future occurrence.

“An application should be made to the court and the court will rule on it as the law provides,” Justice Onigbanjo concluded.

At the continuation of trial instituted against the Former Managing Director of Bank PHB (now Keystone bank), Francis Atuche and Funmi Ademosun by the EFCC over allegations of financial impropriety, Chief Clarke reported to the court that he was constructively imprisoned and detained by operatives of the EFCC within the court premises.

“I want to bring to your lordship’s attention what happened last week. As I left, EFCC operatives swooped on my car in an attempt to arrest my client... but they had no warrant to back the arrest.

Responding, counsel to the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) stated that what happened was not in the courtroom, adding that though he was not there, he learnt that the defendant, Funmi Ademosun had been invited severally by the antigraft commission to answer questions on about 27 petitions from some operators of Bureau De Change which he failed to honour.

L-R: National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, and National Secretary of PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, during the constitution of Federal Government boards of parastatals and agencies, at the State House, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Board appointments will be on merit, says FG

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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ice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has assured that technical competence will be a major factor in deciding members of boards of parastatals and agencies of the Federal Government in the present dispensation.

Sambo gave the assurance yesterday while presenting the distribution of allotment packages to stakeholders at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

Present at the allotment meeting were the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekeweremadu representing the National Assembly, all PDP state governors and the party’s national vice chairmen.

According to the Vice President, the criteria used in nominating board members include technical competence, proven personal attributes, patriotism and team spirit.

He urged the stakeholders to reflect geo-political and statewide spread while making their nominations.

Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state while speaking with newsmen after the event, expressed satisfaction with President Jonathan’s resolve to give room for transparency and involvement of all party stakeholders in the appointment of board members.

“What happened here today is something that has never happened before. At least I started democracy with this particular dispensation since 1999 to date and this is the first time that we have boards of parastatals constituted in a transparent manner, such that nobody will question it.

Blackout at Abuja airport: Senate summons PHCN, FAAN, others

By Richard Ihediwa

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he Senate Committee on Aviation has summoned the Managing Director of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Hussein Labo as well as the Director General of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. George Uriesi to

explain the circumstances leading to the last Saturday’s power outage at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Also summoned to appear before the committee today on the matter are top officials of the National Independent Power Project (NIPP).

Passengers aboard the British

Airways and other airlines were forced to stay in the planes for over an hour after they landed following a total blackout at the main terminal building of the airport which paralysed all activities at the airport.

Members of the Senator Hope Uzodinmma led Senate Committee on Aviation who were

at the airport yesterday to ascertain the actual cause of the problem, described the recurring blackouts at the airports as unacceptable and subsequently summoned the officials to appear before it today.

The committee’s decision came after officials at the airport told members that the problem

resulted from a faulty PHCN connection system and the collapse of the three standby generators at the airport.

Speaking, chairman of the Committee, Senator Uzodinmma said the Senate is deeply worried over the situation adding that the committee has resolved to ensure that such does not occur again.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

Marketer denies receiving $22 m oil subsidy

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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Benin-based petroleum marketer and Chief Executive of Business Ventures Limited, Prince Clement Kennedy Okoeguale has said that he was on a wheel chair in the United States of America when his firm purportedly received the sum of $22million as oil subsidy from the Federal Government to import petroleum products in 2010.

It could be recalled that the company called Business Ventures Nigeria Limited topped the list of Nigerian oil firms which benefitted to the tune of $22million to import petroleum products in 2010 but never did, according to the House of Representatives probe panel

report.

Okoeguale told newsmen in Benin City, the Edo state capital, that he became aware recently that there was a company with a similar name to his (BUVEL), through his bankers, adding that it was that firm that probably got the oil subsidy largesse.

"I do not know about any foreign exchange to import petroleum products...my hands are clean and I do not involve myself in any dirty deals".

He added that his firm, which began operations in 1975 had never been involved in any Forex deal and was not invited by the House Committee on oil subsidy while the probe was on because the lawmakers knew that his firm was clean as his company did not apply for subsidy.

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Fleeing robbers in gun battle with another gang From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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are-devil robbers who snatched a Catholic priest's car at gun point in Awo, Ankpa local government area of Kogi state, were wounded by another group of robbers near Ogobia in Otukpo local government, Benue state.

The nine robbers were said to have entered the Reverend Father's house around 12:30am, Saturday and brought out their guns on the

altar boys to lead them to the Reverend Father.

Sources further hinted that luck ran out of the boys between Awo in Ankpa local government where they snatched the car, and Ogobia-gboju in Benue state where another group of armed bandits attempted to snatch their loot resulting in a gun battle.

Our correspondent was told by the priest, Father Cornelius Adegbe, that about four of the robbers were caught at the point they were trying to treat the wounds sustained during

the gun duel by curious watchers who reported to the police at Ogobia.

Before now, travelers along Ankpa-Awo-Otukpo-Makurdi road have been subjected to all manner of inhumanity by hoodlums leading to property loss and sometimes loss of life.

It was gathered from police spokesperson in Kogi, ASP Ajayi Okasanmi that inter-state negotiation was going on between Kogi and Benue to ensure that the case is given speedy trial.

FMBN declares profit after 20 years

By Isa Abdulwahab

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or the first time in the last 20years of its operations, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has recorded a profit of N188, 082,845.00 in the first quarter of 2012.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, FMBN, Mr. Gimba Ya'u Kumo, disclosed this in Abuja yesterday.

Kumo attributed the feat to the reform strategy implemented by the new FMBN management.

The Bank's 2012 first quarter figures show a profit of N188, 082,845.00 as against a deficit of N256, 414,699.00 in the 2011 fiscal year. Before now, the Bank as well had deficits of N4,419,624,000.00 in 2010; N8,897,871,000.00 in 2009; N6,559,844,000.00 in 2008 and N5,974,371,000.00 in 2007.

Kumo remarked that the FMBN-administered National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme has been making gradual impact on Nigerians as the scheme has funded the building of more than 61,193 housing units in the six geopolitical zones of the federation.

He added that the FMBN introduced the Informal Sector Cooperative Housing Scheme in December last year to ensure that the NHF scheme accommodates more Nigerians irrespective of their economic status. This FMBN Informal Sector Scheme is intended to integrate informal sector participants like farmers, market traders, mechanics, okada (motorcycle) riders, etc into the NHF scheme using the cooperative societies they belong to as a means of mobilising them and making affordable housing loans available to them.

Former bank cashier, one other remanded for robbery From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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former cashier with FIN Bank, Lafia branch, Aliyu Gimbiya Ndayako and his accomplice, Usman Bagudu, were yesterday ordered to be remanded in prison custody by the judge of a magistrate court in Lafia, Nassarawa state, after being accused of a three-count charge of armed robbery, criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.

The judge, Patrick Epu, after hearing the first information report presented by police officer in charge of the case, ordered for the duo to be remanded while he fixed the 24th of May for the next hearing.

Ndayako and Bagudu were being accused of robbing and shooting to death an engineer with the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, Nicholas Shinyi, on the 1st of July 2011, around the College of Agriculture in Lafia, with the

suspects making away with his Toyota corolla car with registration number, EV 429 ABJ, alongside a blackberry phone.

The suspects were said to have dumped the late engineer's body, together with his girl friend who incidentally was left untouched, in the bush just ahead of the NNPC mega station along Jos road, before the girl was able to raise a larm.

L-R: Past President, Rotary International and Chairman elect, Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees, Mr. Wilfrid Wilkinson, decorating President Goodluck Jonathan, as the polio eradication champion, during the Rotary International delegates' visit to the President at the State House, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Government won’t act on subsidy probe report-Yuguda

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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overnor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi state yesterday argued that the report of the Farouk Lawan led House Committee on fuel subsidy regime contained mere allegations that are not sufficient for government action.

Speaking with State House Correspondents shortly after the meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors at the Presidential Villa, Yuguda explained that there was need for

available facts to be put to test before further actions.

He noted that the report was a product of an investigation that was carried out and from which a lot of discoveries were made, stressing that the report had not been put to test.

"Let's not pass judgement right away.

The House of Representatives report is just like when you make allegations, the allegations must be put to test and to series of cross examinations to ascertain the facts about the report.

"So we take this one as a report for now until the facts are clear but for us to swallow everything hook line and sinker will not be fair to those being accused. So there should be fair hearing, both sides must be heard," he added.

Yuguda further said, "If you recall, I was the chairman of the committee that first unearthed this issue of fraud in fuel subsidy.

So I think it doesn't mean we would conclude that there is no transparency in the way and manner government does businesses�.

Bomb scare: As explosion rocks Abuja power station

By Lambert Tyem

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omb scare gripped residents of Abuja yesterday evening following a loud bang which rocked the Katampe power transmission sub-station located in the Katampe District.

The incident, which happened at about 7:00pm at the station located along Kubwa-Suleja expressway near the popular tipper garage,

panicked residents and passersby especially commuters.

An eyewitness who spoke with reporters said that "we heard loud bang on some of the transformers as well as a thick smoke billowing up from them pointing at the direction of the sub-station.

The sound was deafening and sent panic across areas close to the station.

The panic was not

unconnected with the recent security alert by the United States government that terrorists were planning to attack the FCT. Another eyewitness and commercial driver who identified himself as Uche, said: "Particles from the station hit my bus.

"Everybody was so frightened that we were initially confused and feared it was a bomb attack," he stated.

Curious passersby were sighted around the facility with some cars parked around the arena as at the time of the incident.

It was gathered that the facility was a 330/132KV transmission substation being managed by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) as the implementing agency for the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP).

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

Nigeria imports N1.3 tr fish, rice, wheat, sugar annually-FG

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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he Federal Government has described the N1 trillion purportedly spent yearly on importation of rice, fish, wheat and sugar as sad, insisting that the 7. 8 percent latest economic growth index is not enough to create jobs for the teeming unemployed Nigerians.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who said this yesterday, gave the breakdown as rice N364 billion, wheat N365 billion, sugar N217 billion.

In his address on Edo state Agribusiness 2012 whose theme is

'Transforming Agriculture in Edo State', held in Benin City yesterday, the minister did not disclose the amount President Goodluck Jonathan has spent on beef and other imported consumables.

Adesina, who lamented the decay of oil palm production over four decades ago when Malaysia collected palm oil seedlings from Nigeria institute for oil palm Research, NIFOR, Edo State, said: "today, Malaysia makes 18 billion dollars from palm oil annually, while, Nigeria palm oil has grounded to zero".

The minister announced plans by the Federal Government to

create 3.5 million jobs and save N2.2 billion from rice importation to cushion the effect of 5 million metric tonnes currently consumed yearly in the country.

According to him, "11 percent of Nigerians have access to fertilisers in the country. What we have done is for farmers to build their own supply chain. The era of crowding out private partnership is gone".

He disclosed that 18 integrated cassava processing plants would be created in Nigeria, out of which one would be created in Edo state. One of the plants, he said, was capable of producing 240 million metric tonnes cassava per day and announced the increase in hybrid cocoa pods to 584,

000.

Besides that, according to him, the Federal Government decided to set up market co-operatives to replace former marketing Boards.

Also speaking, Edo state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, decried the failure of past policies on agriculture dating back to the era of former General Olusegun Obasanjo's Green Revolution and prescribed the prohibition of waivers to importers of agricultural produce to encourage local production.

Oshiomhole identified policy consistency and stability as the way forward so that government talks would not be seen as empty rhetoric.

Smuggling: FG to equip Customs with radar aircraft

By Abdulwahab Isa

D

etermined to seal all sources of revenue leakages, the Federal Government has pledged to equip Nigeria Customs Service with a hi-tech radar aircraft capable of patrolling the nations' borders to freeze the activities of smugglers.

The aircraft, government said would equip the Customs in dealing with smugglings whether on creeks, lagoons and borders.

Minister of state for finance, Dr. Yerima Lawal Ngama representing Coordinating Minister for the economy/finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala gave the commitment on behalf of government yesterday while declaring open, a conference on single window organized by Nigeria Customs Service in conjunction with Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other stakeholders. The event held at Customs command and Staff college, Gwagwalada in the Federal Capital Territory.

Ngama said while laws are made by government to ease movement of goods and services, there are people hell bent on circumventing the laws, hence government must fashion out a clever way to deal with such people.

"The system is made for those who are law abiding and therefore, you must have another system to catch those who are not law abiding,� he added.

UI students protest water scarcity, power outage.

L-R: Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii, representative of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Danladi Sankara and Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Bunmi Olaopa, during a stakeholders forum on Pharmacovigilance, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

NAFDAC urges consumers to report adverse drug reaction

By A'isha Biola Raji

T

he National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called on consumers especially the elites in the society to give detailed report of any case of Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) to concerned authorities.

The Director General of

NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii made this known yesterday in Abuja at the meeting of P h a r m a c o v i g i l a n c e Stakeholders Forum organised by the agency in collaboration with National Malaria Control Programme.

Orhii in his keynote address urged health care professionals to ask patients questions to know if they had experienced

ADR or not so as to make them pharmacovigilant. "We want consumers to be actively involved," he said.

He further stressed that the abundance of drugs brought to fore the need to be cautious of dangers associated with ADR. "Every medicinal product no matter how good its quality and how skilful the clinician, poses a safety challenge", he

Bongos urges Nigerians to embrace peace From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

N

igerian music legend, Bongos Ikwue has stressed that unity of the country is a collective responsibility of all Nigerians irrespective of sociocultural and political inclinations.

Bongos, who made the assertion in Otukpo when he hosted some prominent broadcast journalists drawn from radio stations across the country to a critique of his new musical works titled 'Wulu Wulu',

'Hold On and Love of My Life', urged Nigerians to shun issues that have tendencies to divide them as a people but rally round each other to uphold the unity of the country.

Commenting on the concept of the new albums, he said they were meant to propagate the unity and oneness of Nigeria that is nonnegotiable.

"It is not a mistake that you are made to come from different parts of the country. We must first come to terms with the realisation of who we

are. And coming to terms with who you are, makes you come to terms with the fact that you are a Nigerian and that you are going to die a Nigerian. And you don't have any other choice but to make the most of what this wonderful country offers you.

"When are we going to open our eyes to the fact that we owe the nation a responsibility to contribute positively to the attainment of our collective desire as a nation of sustainable growth and development".

warned.

He said there was need to improve on data collation between the centre and marketing authorisation holders, some public health programmes, and private, tertiary, secondary and primary health institutions across the country. "Data collation on pharmacovigilance in U.S and Europe is different, hence the need to be careful in gathering data.

In her presentation, the Pharmaceutical Advisor, World Health Organisation Dr. Ogori Taylor, said there was need to ensure safe production of medicines, adequate reporting is needed.

Therefore, all aspects of media should be engaged in ADR reportage. She said, "until recently, only authorized people involved were allowed to report ADR hence the difficulty in collation of data."

From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

S

tudents of the University of Ibadan yesterday shut down academic and business activities to protest power outage, water scarcity and other infrastructural facilities that enhance smooth learning.

The irate students stormed the main entrance of the institution along Sango-UI-Ojo expressway chanting war songs, blocking free flow of motorists in and out of the University and other roads causing heavy traffic jam.

The angry students lamented how the university authority neglected some problems confronting students on campus saying that since the beginning of the first semester, there was no water in the halls, nor electricity supply in the university premises.

But in a swift reaction, the University management described the students protest as accumulated anger known to the leadership of the students union.

Speaking through the Director of Public Communication, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo, it maintained that the management was interested in students' comfort and determined to provide conducive environment for them.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

PAGE 7

Fuel subsidy fraud: Police moves to stop SNG protest From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos rmed policemen at the early hours of yesterday took over the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in an apparent bid to forestall protest allegedly being planned by the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) and other civil society groups against the recently discovered N1.070 trillion fuel subsidy fraud.

Pastor Tunde Bakare, leader of the SNG, said that the Federal

A

Government had been served with the notice of a mass protest if it failed to prosecute all the culprits of the subsidy fraud, in addition to making refunds, within a specified time.

He said that the civil society group have started digesting the report and that another ‘Occupy Nigeria’ protest was imminent if government failed to prosecute the culprits.

The civil society group, Bakare said, met last Saturday

to discuss strategy for the mass protest and that “by Wednesday, we would come out with our findings.

“But right now, we are back to the trenches”.

However, residents and business concerns woke up early in the morning yesterday to discover that armed policemen have again occupied the park.

Users of the bus terminal who spoke on condition of anonymity said the armed policemen must

have arrived in the middle of the night to occupy the park before it is taken over by the civil society groups.

One police armoured tank was stationed near the park along the service lane of the expressway, facing Maryland, with policemen in full combat gear.

Two patrol pick up vans, stationed on the other side of the park, along the road leading to the waste disposal site, were also filled with armed policemen.

However, those passing by were allowed free movement as nobody was subjected to any form of search as they did in the previous protest.

Neither was any of the vehicle passing the area subjected to any search.

Zamfara sensitisation meeting on education postponed

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he Zamfara state stakeholders sensitisation meeting on the state of primary education has been postponed.

This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the chairperson, organising committee, Bar. Suwaiba I. Barau, on behalf of the chairman, Zamfara State Universal Basic Education (ZSUBEB), Hon. Murtala A. Jangebe.

It disclosed that the one-day meeting which was scheduled to take place today at the conference hall of J.B Yakubu Secretariat, would no longer take place, adding that a later date will be communicated.

L-R: Director-General, National Agency for Control of Aids (NACA), Professor John Idoko, National Coordinator HIV/AIDS, Ministry of Health, Dr. Evelyn Ngige and Director, Community Health Services National Primary Health Care Development Agency, (NPHCDA), Dr. Nnenna Ihebuzor, during the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV Scale up Meeting, yesterday, in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Benue confab warns monarchs to shun partisan politics From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

T

raditional rulers in Benue state have been warned to steer clear of partisan politics and concentrate on their role as peace builders.

This warning formed part of a communique issued at the end of first Tiv national conference that ended at the weekend in Makurdi.

The communiqué which was read by a former Chief Judge of the state Justice Terna Puusu and made available to Peoples Daily, regretted that the involvement of traditional rulers in partisan politics has remained the bane of unity amongst the Tiv people and admonished them to desist in their own interest.

It also condemned the incessant attacks by Fulani

herdsmen on Tiv people, and tasked the state House of Assembly to urgently enact a legislation that would address the situation.

The conference which decried the lack of recognition of the Tiv who are the fourth largest ethnic group in national affairs, called for the creation of three states in Tivland.

It condemned what it termed the recent lopsided recruitment

exercises in the Customs, Police, Civil Defense, Immigration and the Navy among other paramilitary organisations.

The conference also advocated for the revival of the Mzough-UTiv, a socio-cultural organisation to strengthen unity and peace among the people, the introduction of Tiv language in school curriculum at all levels, among others.

Church will focus on preaching peace, says Kano Vicar-General

T

he Vicar-General of the Catholic Diocese of Kano, Rev. Fr. Peter Ebidero, said the Catholic Church will focus on preaching peace and the virtue of living in peace.

Ebidero who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano

yesterday, said in spite of the current wave of violence in the country, the church was determined to ensure that Nigerians reverted to the era of peaceful coexistence and brotherliness.

“With the resurgence of so much violence in our land,

especially in the northern part, one thing that the church is trying to work on now is how to get people again to start living the way they were living before we got to where we are.

“That is brotherly living; living in charity; doing what the holy books of both religions say. The

church is trying to ask people now to go back to what their faiths tell them and stop politicising religion, stop politicising the way we live with one another.’’

He advised political leaders in the country to lead by example and to allow God to guide and direct them in taking decisions. (NAN)

FMC Abeokuta staff team up against doctors From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta

V

arious unions of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), IdiAba, Abeokuta, have concluded arrangements to embark on a solidarity strike with striking nurses of the hospital over what they described as the stubbornness of an erring doctor to answer query issued to him over his

nonchalant attitude towards patients.

It would be recalled that Dr. BH Shoile’s attitude caught the attention of the Chief Nursing Officer, Mrs. Iyabo Adesina who cautioned him but the doctor regarded the nurse’s advice as a slight and verbally assaulted the nursing officer.

The doctor’s alleged misbehaviour was reported to the management, hence, a query

was issued to him, which he bluntly refused to answer.

For that, the nursing association of the hospital mobilised against the doctor’s unruly action and in protest embarked on an industrial action which is a week old now.

The ugly development took another dimension yesterday, as other staffers of the hospital under various unions held a meeting which was on going as at the time

of filing this report, intended to join the nurses in a solidarity strike,.

When our correspondent visited the hospital, he discovered that some patients have already been moved out by their relatives.

The Public Relations Officer of the hospital Segun Orisajo when contacted said he has no official comment on the incident, explaining that he was still on leave.

Experts express worry over Nigeria’s rising debt profile

S

ome financial experts have advised the Federal Government to stem the rising debt profile of the country.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Lagos yesterday that the development of infrastructure would suffer if the rising debts were not checked.

They agreed that the N559 billion earmarked for debt servicing in the 2012 budget could have been directed at the development of infrastructure.

They said that the persistent increase in both domestic and external debt stocks was not healthy for the economy.

It would be recalled that Minister of Finance, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-lweala, had on April 16 in Abuja, said that Nigerian external debt stood at 5.9 billion dollars while the domestic debt was N6 trillion.

Mr. Titus Okunronmu, a former director in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said that the continuous rise in the debt profile was due to high level of corruption in the country.

He said that government needed to tackle the lapses in the areas of contract awards, with specific focus on over-invoicing.

Okunronmu alleged that some contractors would collect funds for projects without carrying out the contracts thereby impacting negatively on the Nigeria’s debt profile.

Okunrounmu advised the Federal Government to set up a task force to enforce transparency in the award of contracts. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

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Some participants during the National Public Private Partnership(PPP) awareness & sensitisation programme, at the state house auditorium, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: NAN

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L-R: Head, Department of Public Health, Dr. Mansur Kabir, and Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, after their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, at the State House, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye R-L: Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed and his look a like, Professor Hamman Tukur of Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, during the Minister’s visit, on Sunday to Yola.

Photo: NAN

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Students of University of Ibadan protesting over the non availability of water and electricity in the university, on Monday in Ibadan.

Photo: NAN

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

Kebbi appeals to PHCN for pre-paid meters From Ahmed Idris, Brinin Kebbi

K

ebbi state government has made a passionate appeal to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to commence the installation of the new prepaid meter in the state.

This appeal was made by the deputy governor, Alhaji Ibrahim K. Aliyu when the PHCN Business Manager in charge of Kebbi state paid him a courtesy visit in his

office.

Earlier, the Business Manager, Umar Aliyu Jabo, said they were in the Government House to notify the Kebbi government on the reason for load shedding across the state and the predicament faced by PHCN, saying that some of the transformers in the state are out dated and they’ll need replacement so as to have a smooth and constant power supply.

Insecurity: Abba Gana c’ttee inaugurated

By Augustine Aminu

L-R: Past President, Rotary International Chairman elect/Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees , Mr. Wilfrid Wilkinson, Director General , Nigeria Governors' Forum , Mr. Asishana Okauru and Executive Director/ Chief Executive Officer, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Muhammad, during a breakfast meeting on Rotary Polio Plus, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Ministry decries illegal mining in Sokoto From Sadeeq Aliyu, Sokoto

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he North-west zonal coordinator in charge of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Engineer Bassey Ebong, has said that the bulk of gypsum being mined in Sokoto state was done illegally.

Engineer Ebong, who spoke to newsmen in Sokoto during a zonal meeting of the ministry’s said most of the gypsum used by Cement Factory in Sokoto was mined illegally by unlicensed miners who for long have been doing the business under cover.

He said the ministry had been

doing its best to arrest the illegal miners but their prosecution depends on the police, “because when we arrest them we hand them over to the police but they seem to be wiser than us and they always find their ways back to the mining fits”.

He also said the ministry of mines was equally constrained in stopping illegal mining because people who acquired mining titles are not utilizing the areas and that has given illegal miners the opportunity to excavate the minerals to sell.

Areas where illegal mining activities thrive are Wurno and Gada local governments, which

have large deposits of gypsum; and Bodinga and Dange/Shuni local governments where phosphate is mined.

The zonal coordinator cautioned against lead poisoning in the course of artisanal mining to avoid what happened in Zamfara state two years ago where over 400 children died of mining dust.

The state commissioner for solid minerals, Malam Dahiru Maishanu pledged that his ministry would put an end to illegal mining in the state and charged the artisanal miners to register and obtain license before embarking on mining activities.

I

n line with the Federal Government’s attempt in ensuring a peaceful and united co-existence among Nigerians, a National Council for Peace and Unity (NCPU), has been inaugurated.

Speaking during the inauguration, chairman of the council, Engr. Abba Gana, promised Nigerians that his committee will raise a national action plan for peace which shall be presented to President Jonathan in no distant future and urged Nigerians to cooperate with the council.

In his remark, the special adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Alh. Ahmed Gulak, who witnessed the inauguration, charged Nigerians to always expose mischievous elements living among them. He enjoined Nigerians to support government in containing insecurity in Nigeria.

Also speaking at the inauguration, the chairman of the organising committee, Prof.

Bernard Onuegu, reeled out the

terms of reference of the council which include: to develop a national action plan for peace in Nigeria; to provide recommendations and advise the Nigerian government and the public on ways and means to combat the rising spate of violence, terrorism, communal and electoral clashes, etc; to evolve and promote institutional framework for dialogue as a tool in upholding national peace and harmony; to identify, aggregate and define roles of stakeholders in maintaining sustainable peace in Nigeria; to do all such other things as may be considered incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above goal and objectives.

The council which has former FCT Minister, Engr. Muhammed Abba Gana as chairman, and Chief Perry Opara as executive secretary also has representatives of the Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Prisons, FRSC, NUJ, Prof. Bernard Onuegbu, Prof. Abdulsalami, Navy Capt. J.J Abu, Hon. Nweke, Etsu of Kwali, Barr. Timothy Parlong, Garba Abdullahi Kurf, Alh. Sanusi Baban Tokko among others as members.

Taraba rounds off low key Nwonyo festival From Yusha’u Alhassan, Jalingo his year’s Nwonyo fishing and cultural festival in Taraba state was low key.

Governor Danbaba Suntai, who spoke at the occasion, said government had decided to celebrate it in that manner because tourism in the state has not put anything in place.

He said no single kobo had been realised by the board as revenue to complement development effort of the state government.

T

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

B

auchi state government has been commended for setting up community radio stations across the state.

The national president of National Council of Local Government Information Officers of Nigeria (NACOLGION) Abdullahi Adoke, made the commendation in Bauchi when he paid a courtesy visit to the state secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

According to him, the community radio across the state came at the right time when the

The governor asked the tourism board to map out ways of generating funds that would sustain the festival in future.

Governor Suntai challenged the people to change their mentality towards developing the state instead of comparing the festival with others such as Argungu or Calabar Carnival.

He thanked traditional rulers and stakeholders for attending the event.

In his welcome address, the

chairman Taraba State Tourism Development Board S’ad Abubakar, lauded the contribution of the custodians of the Nwonyo Lake for preserving the riches of the festival through the provision of adequate surveillance.

Sa’ad Abubakar said due to the popularity of the festival, it would be very difficult not have the festival in a year.

The biggest (fish) catch for the year by Hudu Yakubu, weighed 250kg and attracted

NACOLGION applauds Bauchi over community radio world has become a global place, saying the citizens of the state will be globally aware and this will also promote multicultural understanding and awareness amongst the people in the state.

He said the national officers of the council were in Bauchi for the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting which the Bauchi Council of NACOLGION had agreed to host.

In his remarks, the state chairman of the NUJ Bauchi Council, Comrade Dahiru Garba, described the role of National Council of Local Government Information Officers of Nigeria (NACOLGION) as pivotal as far as rural journalism is concerned and so they have the requisite requirement to be streamlined into the NUJ.

the star prize of a Toyota Hillux while the second and third positions were won by Shehu Umar and Likita Aboshi which attracted motor cycles

each.

Prizes were also given to others in the swimming competition for both male and female as well as racing.

By Mohammed Kandi

Etisalat ensures all its operation are based on cordiality and legalised premise.

“We make sure we carry out not only technical assessment of any location we intend to erect our mast but establish genial relationship with those residing there as well as district heads and their members,” he stressed.

According to him, “I am not saying your information is false but I think you should investigate further because some people can claim to be Etisalat staff whereas they are not”. He further reiterated that the company it maintained warm relationship with all individuals and corporate partners, adding that such is important to the survival of business.

Etisalat refutes alleged clash with Apo residents

T

elecom service provider Etisalat yesterday disproved allegations that the company was involved in a confrontation with residents of Apo Resettlement Community in Abuja over attempts to illegally erect a mast within residential areas in the community.

Investigation by our reporter in Apo, revealed that there was neither an illegitimate erection of any telecom mast or clash involving staff of the company and residents of the community said no persons were found on the said location.

Also, a staff of the company who spoke to ou reporter and declined identification, said such a situation couldn’t arise as

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

Boko Haram not fighting Christians or Southerners – Yakowa From Lawal Sadiq Sanusi, Kaduna

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overnor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa of Kaduna state has pointed out that the Boko Haram sect that has claimed responsibility for series of bomb attacks in the country was not fighting Christians or southerners

living in the northern part of Nigeria.

He said though the sect claimed to be fighting a religious cause, its killings cut across the divides, with the North suffering most in terms of loss of human and material resources.

Governor Yakowa stated this when he led a delegation from

Kaduna on a peace building mission to Asaba, sponsored by an NGO, Love to The World Initiative, with a view to bridging the differences between the northern and southern parts of the country.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Religious Affairs (Christian Matters), Reverend Joseph Hayab, Yakowa said

Nigerians must take the Boko Haram insurgence as a national problem, rather than an exclusive problem of the North.

According to him, “the Boko Haram challenge facing the North is not an exclusive problem and responsibility of the region alone, but a problem of the whole country and we must come together and fight it.”

Also speaking at the occasion themed; 'Celebrating Ties that Bind', Delta state Commissioner of Information, Barrister Chike Ogeah, represented by the Director of Orientation, Willy Sowho, said putting the north and south together as one Nigeria was for a purpose by the Supreme Being, therefore Delta state government has no option but to continue to ensure peaceful co-existence between indigenes and the northerners living in the state.

Plateau farmers in court over land dispute

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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Travellers purchasing fresh fruits along Makurdi-Wukari road, on Sunday at Tyanwane in Benue state.

Photo: NAN

Ex-ambassador condemns poor governance in North From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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former Nigeria’s ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, Professor Salihu Suleiman, has expressed displeasure over poor governance at all levels especially among the 19 northern states of the country.

He stated this in a lecture delivered at a forum organised by the Ilorin solidarity club titled “Ilorin and northern Nigeria:

Assessment of growth and stagnation- 1945- 2012”. The club has the former chief judge of the state, Justice Saka Yusuf as its president.

He noted that the northern states were working against their past leaders such as the late premier of the defunct Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto who he said served the people, “selflessly and responsibly”.

The professor of Fine Arts, who

noted that the late Sardauna of Sokoto established many industrial and economic giants such as Northern Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) and many social welfare institutions, added that, “he died without even a decent house for his family”.

The scholar stressed the need for the present leaders to change their attitude if they wanted to make their marks and also provide

employment for their teeming unemployed people.

While noting that dishonesty and lack of integrity in public offices have become virtues rather than vices, professor Suleiman posited that, “a constitutional review of governments in all the northern states is imperative.”

He called for the resuscitation of public works departments in the region while less reliance should be placed on contract jobs.

Former SGF charges journalists Zamfara constitutes c’ttee to address decline in education not to abuse FOI From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

he former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Aminu Saleh, has charged journalists not to abuse the freedom of information Act. Alhaji Saleh stated this during the 2012 award night ceremony organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi state council held at Zaranda Hotel.

According to him, journalists should use the FOI bill by replacing objectivity and accuracy with sensational reports that can easily harm the society.

He said the Nigerian press had been generally free for most part

of the country’s history but noted with concern that such freedom was sometimes abused by some journalists.

“They should play a lead role in educating the masses and drawing attention to lapses and violations. If people are left free to behave as they like outside the norms, others will not respect it at all, as a result standards will be thrown overboard”, he said.

In his remark, the state chairman of NUJ, Comrade Dahiru Garba, commended the state government for improving the funding of state owned media outfits from the monthly N350,000 in 2007 to N2m, and for completing the construction of the NUJ secretariat.

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orried by the declining state of education in Zamfara, the state government has constituted a committee to look into the condition of primary education in the state.

Hajia Suwaiba Barau, Publicity Secretary of the Committee, disclosed this on Sunday in Gusau in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

She said the committee had invited all former governors from the state, members of the national and state assemblies from the state and other stakeholders to brainstorm on how to revamp the sector.

“The committee has invited all past governors of the state, top

government officials, serving and retired to attend a one day sensitisation meeting up on Tuesday this week.”

“The meeting will brain storm on the best ways to handle the education sector with a view to setting the best standards for future generations”.

Barau said the committee had verified the conditions of primary education in the state and would soon present an interim report to stakeholders in the sector.

She said that after the presentation of the report, the committee would seek the advice of the stakeholders on how to address and resolve the numerous challenges confronting education in the state. (NAN)

wo farmers in Yelwa, Shendam local government area of Plateau state, Ahmed Maidawa and Hashimu Abdulmumini have asked the High Court of Plateau state in Jos to declare as illegal the cultivation of their farm land, located opposite Tumbi Village, along YelwaShendam road by one James Yohana and five others.

Joined as defendants in the suit filed by their counsel, M. Lawal Ishaq along with James Yohana are, Nantum Danburi, Ayuba Tumbi, Pastor Ngobakji, Garba Angas Tumbi and Garba Angas Yelwa.

The plaintiffs, in the suit they filed jointly in 2010 want the court to make an order directing the defendants to vacate their land and from further trespassing on the land in future.

In a statement of claims in support of the suit, the plaintiffs averred that they are descendants of Madakin Baka Yelwa, Shendam local government area and are members of the families of the original owners of the land.

They also pointed out that they were once paid compensation for excavation of sand used from the land for road construction work by NEPA for the use of certain portion of the land.

A witness statement on oath deposed to by one of the witnesses of the plaintiffs, Ahmed Maidawa, a grandson to late Zakari Mai Anguwa noted that the said land belongs to them, having inherited it from their fathers, who held same many years ago unchallenged by any other person.

“On 4/8/2004, the 2nd plaintiff’s father, Abdulmumini was killed when he went to inspect the land in dispute, the defendants and some other people started saying that they have taken over their land as the plaintiffs are not indigenes”, another witness, Abdu Usman stated.

In a statement of defence, the defendants said the plaintiffs are not descendants of Madakin Baka Yelwa.

“The defendants will, at the trial be contending that, the plaintiff’s claim are vexatious and unmeritorious and same be dismissed with cost”, the statement stated.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

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EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

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Stop the racketeering in Hajj seats

ajj is the 5th pillar of Islam, a religious duty that is made obligatory on every sane and healthy Muslim (male or female), who possesses the financial resources to make the trip to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, where hundreds of thousands of pilgrims converge on the city for a week or more to perform a series of religious rituals. These include circumambulating the Kaaba (the most sacred site in Islam),running back and forth between hills of Al-Safa and Marwah, and standing on the plains of Mount Arafat. And because it is a sort of obligatory duty most Muslims across the world toil, some for almost their lifetimes, trying to save enough to fulfill God's command to them.

Over the years, however, performance of this all important religious duty has been made extremely difficult for intending pilgrims in Nigeria-both first and old timers. Unlike their counterparts in most parts of the world, including countries like Indonesia and Malaysia where more than 90% of the people are Muslims and whose early preparations are widely reported to be hassle-free, the intending pilgrims here in Nigeria yearly have to contend with series of sharp practices by officials, mostly at the state Pilgrims Welfare Boards, who collude with some racketeers to hoard the Hajj seats, create artificial scarcity, and ultimately sell off the slots at inflated rates. Indeed, the persistent fraud in the conduct of the officials entrusted with ensuring amity in the

sale and distribution of the Hajj seats has made commotion become an integral part of the annual process of allocating the seats and selecting those to make the trip from Nigeria.

The situation, as recent media reports reveal, has worsened this year with near fatal incidents in the struggle to obtain the seats by intending pilgrims across the states, especially in northern

“

It is indeed sad that we have allowed the corruption that has afflicted other spheres of our life to permeate such a religious duty Nigeria. For instance, a crisis engulfed the Gombe state Pilgrims Welfare Board late last month, over allegations that officials were selling the Hajj seats "through the back door". Two people reportedly fainted in the scuffle that ensued as a result of poor handling of the sale process at the Board's headquarters.

In Nasarawa state, the Pilgrims Board initially directed intending pilgrims to make payments into a certain bank

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account and at the last minute asked them to withdraw their money and come forward to make direct payments to its officials. Now, most of the intending pilgrims are in a state of confusion especially as speculations were rife that all the seats allocated to the state have been sold. Also, following widespread complaints from its citizens the Zamfara state Pilgrims Welfare Agency, had to warn its staff recently against favouritism in the bid to secure Hajj seats, while threatening to deal "ruthlessly" with officials caught in the act.

It is indeed sad that we have allowed the corruption that has afflicted other spheres of our life to permeate such a religious duty that should ordinarily be made hassle free for every intending pilgrim who fulfils the necessary requirements to make it. We feel it is incumbent on the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), who is incidentally the permanent Amirul Hajj, to wade into this matter, by engaging all relevant stakeholders to stop forthwith the racketeering and sanitise the process of issuing Hajj seats across all states of the country. We wish to, on this note, commend the Katsina state Pilgrims Welfare Board over this year’s exercise which is a step towards instituting an acceptable process of distributing the seats allocated to it devoid of rancour and acrimony, and also recommend same to related agencies handling Hajj matters in other states.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

By Toyin Akinoso

R

oss Alabo-George’s essay titled Poverty And Deprivation: Why The North Is Poor, a recent contribution to the debate on the National Question, is an instant hit.

It has circulated so many times on the internet that it has arrived my personal email inbox, from different, unrelated sources, at least five times in the last one month.

The piece is structured in two parts. First it poses the hard questions to the Northern Leadership: what have you even done with the largesse you have received from the central purse, which you have superintended for a longer period in our history, than any other regional bloc?

Second, it looks at some of the economic spoils that Northerners with access to power have supposedly grabbed to themselves and specifically lists oil and gas assets owned by Northern elites. It is this part of the essay that I fault.

It is not just full of inaccuracies in most of the cases it cites, its premise and conclusions are also flawed.

Overall, Alabo-George’s article plays up so well the sentiments that a good number of Nigerians, especially middle class types excluded from the spoils of the petroleum subsidy, and allied deliverables, nurse about the kind of leadership we have suffered since independence.

But it has gone around so far and keeps being forwarded so rampantly, largely because it plays to the ethnic schism; the suspicions that each of us harbours, in our different silos, about “the other”.

It’s largely a response to the disingenuous claim by Sanusi

PAGE 13

Poverty and deprivation: Where the story falters Lamido Sanusi, the Central Bank Governor, that the Boko Haram insurgency is a response to the 13% derivation allocated to the oil producing states from the federation account. “There is clearly a direct link between the very uneven nature of distribution of resources and the rising level of violence”, Sanusi told The Financial Times of London.

Alabo-George’s piece is compelling when he contrasts what non oil-producing Southern states have been able to do with their supposedly meager allowances with what their Northern counterparts have done with their own allocations. “Ekiti State has about the same revenue as Yobe and Gombe”, he contends, “but only 17 students passed WAEC and NECO in Gombe state last year, while Ekiti State is known for its high literacy level”. I find two beautiful quotable quotes in the article: (1) “Borno State has a bigger budget than that of Cross River, a Niger Delta State. While the leaders of Cross River over the last decade have transformed it into the nation’s leading tourist destination, those of Borno have transformed it into a Somalia”. (2) “Gombe State has a bigger budget than Enugu and Anambra, why has MASSOB not bombed anyone”?

But once Alabo- George ventures beyond the political economic analysis and starts to list who owns what oil and gas assets, his article is a litany of

inaccuracies and lies. He gets it totally wrong. He writes about the estate of the late Mai Deribe, the Bornu State born businessman, supposedly owning a huge oil field; Rilwanu Lukman having controlling shares in Afren; Atiku Abubakar being the stupendously rich beneficiary of the profits of Intels, the logistics company; Aminu Dantata’s Express Petroleum. He ties Amni Petroleum to only Sani Bello.

Oil acreage ownership in Nigeria does not have ethnic colouration.

What’s more important, sustaining production from oil and gas assets, whether or not awarded by the state, is determined by how much of a businessman you are. When Jibril Aminu handed out oil prospecting blocks, in the first comprehensive effort “to encourage indigenous participation” in 1991, he gave blocks to companies owned by Folawiyo, Abiola, Adenuga, Udoji, Ibru, Igbinedion,(all Southerners) as much as he gave to enterprises set up by people like Saleh Jumbo and Mai Deribe. Between 1991 and 1993, we suddenly had over 25 companies, that were Nigerian E&P companies and they took themselves so seriously that they set up an association they christened “Nigerian Association of Indigenous Petroleum Exploration Companies”. But what did these people do with the acreages? They were mostly clueless about how to progress

things. Out of that class of awardees, only Mike Adenuga created what you could really call an E&P company. He is the only one producing oil today, from his own block.

It’s bad enough that Nigerian indigenous private acreage holders don’t produce, as a collective, up to 150,000Barrels per day, or 7% of the national daily production, so why are we fighting ourselves?

And I am less keen on how much you’re getting as rent from the asset you are holding, than the capacity you are building as manager of a Nigerian oil company who is awarded the asset, in trust for the rest of us.

I am for an ongoing, earnest debate on the National Question.

But false information misleads all of us into false conclusions, which reduce the complexity of the solutions we ought to be proffering.

The author cites a number of hydrocarbon acreages belonging to Northern elites, but ignores the fact that holding an acreage is one thing; getting value out of it is another.

That so many people believe the poorly researched article, and so instantly forward it that it becomes one of the most travelled essays on the National Question, is testimony to poor knowledge of how the oil industry works.

The first field the author mentions is Obe field, which, he rightly claims, is held by Cavendish Petroleum, a company

set up by Alhaji Mai Deribe. AlaboGeorge lied by saying that the Obe field, the main hydrocarbon pool in OML 110, contains 500Million barrels of oil reserves.

The Obe field does not have a proven 20 Million barrels. I am not sure it has 10Million barrels. It is not producing as I write. The Obe field has not produced for five years, since 2007, when Tranfigura, the last technical partner engaged by Cavendish, walked out.

I don’t know what discipline Mr Alabo-George belongs to, but this point I am about to make is well known to every junior petroleum geologist with three year experience in the crummiest E&P company: If a field holds 500Million barrels of oil, proven, in shallow water Nigeria, it won’t lie fallow. Investors would rush it.

In countries where you don’t have the complications that the NNPC brings to the table here, fields that haven’t proven much more than 500Million barrels are “rushed” through to development. Ghana’s Jubilee field didn’t prove a billion barrels before the country’s authorities approved a field development plan. Apart from Nigeria, Angola, Libya, Algeria, Ghana (now, since 2008) and perhaps Equatorial Guinea, no African country has a billion barrels in proven reserves. A 500Million barrel is half of that.

Contd. on page 15

Igbos play the victim role to control those in power in their world (I)

By Ozodi Thomas Osuji, Ph.D

I

gbos are truly a funny breed of human beings. They go out of their way to attack folks.

Those they attack, in self-defense counter attack them. They then turn around and say: pity us for we are victims unfairly attacked by so and so; we are innocent persons deliberately hurt by other people (some of them rationalize others’ hatred of them by saying: they hate us because we are the most successful human beings on earth; they envy us).

They seek the pity of those they attacked who now attack them and seek the sympathy of the world.

At the unconscious level people know that they deserve to be attacked and in fact asked to be attacked for they must want to be attacked to attack other people. Thus, people ignore their victim play. Nobody pays them any attention.

In Nigeria they present themselves as supermen. Other Nigerians ignore them for they know that they are clowns pretending to be superior persons.

For some reason they do not get it; they do not see that they are seen as clowns; they keep asking to be seen as superior persons.

Look at their relationship with me. They attack me. For a while I ignore them and when I am offended enough I come out charging at them. They keep attacking me knowing that I am not the type that gives up. If I choose to I would forgive them but if not I would keep telling them that they are insane.

Through my efforts other Nigerians now see them as deluded (which most of them are). Yet they do not get it; they do not see what I have done to the perception of them as a group.

They keep picking a fight with a man with the ultimate skills to damage them.

I have skills that few Africans have: deep understanding of human psychology and behavior.

I can declare psychological war on you and reduce you to what you are: an animal struggling to seem like you have worth (I know that a bullet into a pompous ass’s head

and he is rotten meat; thus, ultimately, human beings are mere painted sepulchers; they have no existentially intrinsic worth; they have the imaginary social worth they give to themselves and pretend to have).

When I look at a human being I do so with realistic eyes; that is, I know what he is in truth a pile of photons, electrons, protons, neutrons, atoms, molecules strung together to live only God knows why he lives; I know that people are composed of matter and like all material compositions must decompose, rot and decay and smell worse than feces. In effect, I look through people’s social songs and dances and see them as the nothing they are.

I know that human worth is pretended worth and not existential. If I choose to I will respect you but if I choose to I reduce you to the nothing you are and treat you as such. I am not fooled by folk’s masks of importance.

Given this realistic perspective on people I relate to

them in exactly the manner I choose to. I choose to be nice to people but that does not mean that I am not skeptical and cynical. I was a twenty year old sophomore when I read Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampt (and His Table Talks by Trevor Roper and Joseph Goebbels propaganda on behalf of Nazism) and instinctively accepted his perception of people as cattle to be used by what Nietzsche called those with will to power (see Thus Spake Zarathustra). I could use people if I had will to power for I have no illusions about who they are. The average person is closer to animals in intelligence and actually can contribute nothing to science and technology so if I choose I can rationalize using him as an instrument to accomplish my goals and objectives and discard him as garbage. Simply stated, I have uncanny understanding of people and can put that knowledge to dangerous ends if I so choose to.

So why do Igbos pick a fight with a man who looks through their sham worth and can reduce them to cattle and treat them as

such? They are not smart, that is why, Yesterday, I woke up and felt like writing an article on the role of administrative law in getting people to abide by rules. This is an area I have written books and articles on and have practical experience in. But some Igbo clowns would not learn but instead come out trying to say rubbish in lieu of criticism. Since they do not know what they are talking about I generally ignore them. When it comes to intellectual matters I respond only to those who know what they are talking about, not fools making noise so that they feel like they exist.

What I want to know is why do these folks attack folks and when counter attacked they then play the victim role and try to seek sympathy with victim status. Why cannot they stop attacking folks so that folks do not attack them so that they do not have to play the victim role?

Dr. Ozodi Thomas Osuji, from Imo state, obtained his PhD from UCLA. ozodiosuji@gmail.com

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

Capital Market: Is Oteh really qualified?

By Bashir Ibrahim Hassan

I

t appears that some capital market operators are attributing the near total collapse of the Nigerian Capital Market to the appointment of Ms. Arunma Oteh, whom they allege does not possess even the minimum qualification to be the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in the first instance, pursuant to the provisions of the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007.

Much fuss has been made of the issue of qualification that it has become imperative to revisit the criteria for the appoint ment of the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, by some concerned individuals, in the best interest of the entire capital market, the general public and the nation’s economy.

Oteh might have some correctional administrative lapses

By Salihu Moh. Lukman

I

n the process, the role of our General is receiving critical considerations. It is my hope that our General is monitoring the debate and evaluating both critiques and admirers with the objective of providing leadership to our political struggles as a nation desirous for change. One issue that has featured in virtually all the responses is your (Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s) role during the last elections.

Many respondents have cited the failure of the General in the last elections and the victory of Jonathan Goodluck as the result of the failure of the opposition parties to unite.

In particular, the failed alliance between the ACN and CPC was also cited. Hardly any mention of ACN is made without reference to your person and your perceived role.

Like you very much know there are all sorts of stories and insinuations about a possible conspiracy theory based on the poor results of the ACN and the good results of PDP in the South West during the 2011 presidential elections. As a member of ACN who is privileged to know the true account, I can dismiss all these allegations. Unfortunately, that will not change the mindset of many people who hold that opinion largely because reasons and logic are not important. I am sure, in the same manner my letter to Gen. Buhari has evoked emotions and sentiments, this letter to you is also bound to receive the same response. In the end, it is my hope that every response contributes to a new pathway for our democracy and our nation.

I therefore find it necessary to also address you in the same manner I addressed our General.

In sending you this letter I am conscious of the fact that unlike our General, I have access to you and could reach you and privately share with you my point of view.

Effective as this may be, it will not do justice to the process, given that I could have actually accessed our General through close associates

in the course of discharging her follows; its equivalent with not less than duties as the leader of the SEC. A person shall not be qualified 15 years cognate experience in Even these, are just allegations, for appointment to the Board of the capital market operations. unproven beyond every Commission unless he is a fit and In attempting to interpret the reasonable doubt.

But, proper person and; above piece of legislation we shall challenging her appointment as (a) in the case of the adopt its natural and ordinary non suitable person and Chairman or Director – meaning, as the precise words unqualified, as used are clear being done a n d ignorantly or unambiguous mischievously by and admits of some stakeholders no absurdity Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text in capital market in its literal messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written operations is interpretation. contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 baseless.

T h e words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and For instance, academic a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed the overriding qualification to: consideration for of Ms the appointment A r u n m a The Editor, of the Director Oteh as Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, General of the p r o u d l y Securities and presented by 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja.

E x c h a n g e her is as Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com Commission is intimidating SMS: 07037756364 encapsulated in as it is the provisions of envious and Section 3 (2) (a) of the Investments General of the Commission, he is it will be foolhardy to belabor the and Securities Act 2007 as a holder of a university degree or issue. Consequently this discuss

WRITE TO US

falls squarely on the proper interpretation of the phrase; “with not less than 15 years cognate experience in capital market operations” .

The operative word Cognate no doubt qualifies the required experience that is requisite in capital market operations.

Cognate is defined by the Century Chambers 21st Dictionary, Revised edition thus; “descended from or related to a common ancestor; said of words or languages: derived from the same original form; related; akin; Something that is related to something else”.

Cognate experience would thus conveniently be referred to as a similar experience and in the instant case an experience related to capital market operations or related fields of endeavour.

Accordingly experience garnered in the financial services sector will suffice for this purpose. It is Contd. on page 15

Open letter to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 2015 agenda (II) and share with him my views without going public. This approach would have denied the public the opportunity to engage the issues in the way they are being engaged now. Besides, there is no guarantee that the view of an inconsequential Salihu would carry any weight to influence the disposition of Gen. Buhari or your very self. Since I made my views open to Gen. Buhari through the public, it therefore demands that I remain consistent with respect to issues around your role as we move towards 2015.

In addition, I am conscious of the fact that I am a member of the ACN and could use structures of the party and my relationship with other leaders of the party to push my point of view. To do so may require longer time by which time some political mileages would have been lost. In writing this letter, I am aware of all the risks but one need to take them with the hope that the public debate around the roles of our leaders and how that will influence their actions in shaping the roadmap towards 2015, will eventually justify what could be termed as my overzealous approach.

Like I indicated in my letter to Gen. Buhari, I am a Nigerian citizen from the North, born in Zaria, and, to add, some 49 years ago. I was privileged to witness the Second Republic first hand. In fact, I was a Polling Clerk during the 1979 elections. I can say with confidence that I witnessed the vibrancy and dynamism of that period. One of the things that have stuck in my mind was the debate around the Progressive Peoples Alliance and the possibility of forming the Progressive Peoples Party with the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), Great Nigeria Peoples

Party (GNPP) and the Alh. Balarabe Musa and Alh. Abubakar Rimi faction of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

It is still very fresh in my mind how that debate had progressed to the point of public speculations around possible combinations of the then serving State Governors as presidential flag bearers of the alliance and the expected party (PPP).

A major speculation was how the alliance and the birth of the new party would result in the leaders of the parties taking a backseat in the 1983 elections.

Some of the permutations include combination of UPN/NPP and PRP/GNPP Governors as Presidential candidate and running mate. Notable among the Governors were Chief Lateef Jakande of Lagos State and Chief Bola Ige of Oyo State, for the UPN. The NPP had Chief Jim Nwobodo of Anambra State, Late Chief Sam Mbakwe of old Imo State and Chief Solomon Lar of old Plateau State.

The PRP had Alh. Balarabe Musa, then impeached Governor of old Kaduna State and Alh. Abubakar Rimi of old Kano State. The GNPP had Alh. Mohammadu Goni of old Borno State and Late Alh. Abubakar Barde of old Gongola State.

Unfortunately, neither the alliance nor the merger worked out before the 1983 elections. The result of that election and the purported National Party of Nigeria (NPN) landslide victory is now history. One of the reasons for the failure of the alliance and the merger that could be deduced might be the inability to persuade late Chief Obafemi Awolowo of the UPN, late Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe of the NPP and late Alh. Waziri Ibrahim of the GNPP to appreciate the need for the alliance as a

necessary condition for the electoral victory of the opposition and to that extent envisioned a different role for them apart from contesting for the presidential election.

I go down this memory lane, to strengthen my argument that Gen. Buhari should not contest the 2015 elections, not just for the reasons I canvassed in my letter to the General but also to avoid the repeat of history as was the case in 1983 and very recently too in 2003, 2007 and 2011.

However, I think in addition, one needs to also bring to the fore other factors that would make a potential alliance/merger of opposition parties in Nigeria possible. One of such factors is your (Asiwaju Bola Tinubu) critical role as clearly evident in the responses of Nigerians to my open letter to Gen. Buhari.

There is no way we can discuss any possible role for Gen. Buhari without considering your role.

This is because you are today no doubt recognized as the most influential leader of ACN and the political brain box of South West politics. Unlike Gen. Buhari however, you are a product of democratic struggles and you are not as privileged as the General in ruling the country. However, like Gen. Buhari whose influence is more in the Northern parts of the country, your influence and authority is greater in the South West. The fact that you were part of the leadership of the prodemocracy struggles and campaigned against military dictatorship between 1993 and 1998, it can be argued that you and Gen. Buhari share the commonality of commanding battalions and regiments of the Nigerian peoples army. In the case of Gen. Buhari he led the

battalion and regiment of the Nigerian army for the unity of the country. What differentiate the two battles was simply that you together with other patriotic Nigerians organized an unconventional peoples’ resistance and led a successful nationalist civil struggle, Gen. Buhari was part of the Commanders of the regular armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that successfully fought for the unity of Nigeria.

Today, history, experience and our political reality has bestowed on the two of you the political leadership of the opposition in Nigeria. Your ascendancy as one of the leaders of the opposition is the result of your steadfastness and dodged political maneuvering. You emerged irrespective of PDP offensive and electoral fraud.

Among all the Alliance for Democracy (AD) Governors in the South West between 1999 - 2003, you are the only one that succeeded in completing two terms of four years each as provided in our constitution.

Between 2003 and 2007, you were the only AD Governor in the South West. By 2007, you were able to provide leadership to people of the other 5 states in the South West to start the process of reclaiming the region from the shackles of PDP. Although, the PDP, as expected, fraudulently attempted to cling onto these states, 3 states of the South West were reclaimed legally from electoral tribunals. These were Ondo, Ekiti and Osun. In addition, with your support, Edo State was also liberated from the rule of PDP. Lukman writes from Suite 301, Zeto Court No. 3, Oshogbo Close Area 11, Garki, Abuja

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

PAGE 15

Poverty and deprivation: Where the story falters Contd. from page 13 Mr Alabo-George says that Obe has the capacity to produce about 120,000 barrels of crude oil daily from its OBE 4 and OBE 5 wells.

What sort of numeracy is this?

Or is he dreaming these figures?

How can a field with less than twenty million barrels “have the capacity” to produce 120,000 barrels per day? What’s capacity?

Alabo George’s second example of a wealthy northerner swimming in oil money is Mohammed Indimi, “a Fulani and close friend of General Ibrahim Babangida”. He says “Oriental Energy Resources Limited runs three oil blocks: OML 115, the Okwok field and the Ebok field. OML 115 and Okwok are OML PSC, while Ebok is an OML JV. All of them good yielding offshore oil blocks”.

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 8,000Barrels 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 nary 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.

“NorthEast Petroleum is owned by another Fulani businessman from the North East,

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 an oil acreage in Nigeria. Alabo-George’s article, in his rush to conclusions, even understates the significance, by claiming that Danjuma’s company, South Atlantic Petroleum Limited(SAPETRO), made $1Billion 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 25,600Barrels 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’d touch, before the concluding commentary, for space purposes, is the case of Rilwan 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 5Million 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 a bid round or a governmentsanctioned discretionary awards, so why would anyone link Lukman’s involvement in Afren in a list that has a number of Northerners supposedly benefitting from government largesse? That is part of the trouble I have with Alabo-George’s essay.

I wouldn’t compare Lukman’s relationship with Afren to the benefits that Atiku Abubakar derives from being a part owner of Intels, the logistics company which takes advantage of the free trade zone in Onne, near Port Harcourt.

This particular example helps us to locate “the Nigerian tendency”, beyond “the Northern tendency”, in this discussion.

Because, really, we are just all the same.

A foreign company comes to Nigeria to set up for business.

Because of the difficulties we invent as barriers to entry, this company requires the services of some big Nigerian men, preferably those who have worked for government, for access. What Atiku Abubakar has done with Intels has parallels in other sectors of the economy and is comparable with what Yoruba chieftains, Ijaw leaders, Igbo High Chiefs, Idoma overlords, etc, etc, have done with many other

companies operating here. That’s how people became key shareholders of companies like Julius Berger. As I write, the key sentiment underlining the complaints against the tolling on the Lekki Expressway is that “most of the money will go to Tinubu’s pocket”. That’s the word on the street.

Brokerage is not a bad thing on its own, but what we need to stress is a level playing field, rule of law, security of tenor and equity and fairness as much as possible, for all.

If I really want to be mischievous, I’d focus on the recent deal in which Shell and Agip have had to pay in excess of one billion dollars to Dan Etete, an Ijaw, for stakes in Oil Prospecting Lease OPL 245. And I would ask “Is that necessarily right”? Should the president, an Ijaw man, have waded in to ask Shell and Agip to move the deal forward? But that’s a story for another day.

In my book, people from everywhere have taken advantage of the unstructured way we have dispensed with oil and gas acreages.

Naming names about which Northerner got what size of the pie is less useful than a focus on how government is insisting on open and transparent bidding, but more importantly, on Nigerian technical knowhow and management. You can’t hand over an acreage and walk away. You have to monitor what the holder is doing. How he is ensuring employment. If we can’t, with all the treasure, build five private E&P companies that have the internal competencies that Shell has and can go out and buy and operate assets the way that UBA and GTB and Ecobank venture into Ghana and The Gambia, then we have wasted all of the 56 years we have spent since the hoorah at Oloibiri.

Akinosho, a petroleum geologist, is publisher of Africa Oil+Gas Report

Capital Market: Is Oteh really qualified?

Contd. from page 14 pertinent to note that Capital Market is a sub sector of the financial sector.

It will be needful therefore to understand the functions of the African Development Bank (ADB), the immediate past employer of M/s Arunma Oteh vis –a-vis her portfolio at the ADB to properly appreciate her suitability or otherwise for her office as the DG of SEC. The African Development Bank has as the main trust of its functions the following; (i) It makes loans and equity investments for the economic and social advancement of the regional member countries, which includes Nigeria. (ii) It provides technical assistance for the preparation and execution of development projects and programmes. (iii) It promotes investments of public and private capital for development purposes. (iv) It assists in coordinating

development policies and plans in regional member countries.

Ms Arunma Oteh served as Group Treasurer and Director, Treasury Department (ADB) and thereafter, Vice President Corporate Services. As Treasurer she oversaw the activities of the Treasury Department including managing a US$8.5 billion liability portfolio, a US$7.5 billion swap portfolio and a multicurrency income fixed asset portfolios totaling US$10.7 billion for the Bank Group. She was also responsible for providing financial technical support in the origination of transactions and development of financial products for the group’s clients.

Ms Arunma Oteh no doubt has a very rich background at executive level in the Financial Services Sector and particularly in portfolio investments which obviously prepared her adequately for the demands of the office of the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Though it is conceded that she was neither a stockbroker nor a staff of a securities exchange, capital trade point or a self regulatory organization, her office at the ADB, undoubtedly imbues her with the requisite experience needed to properly function and lead a capital market institution such as the SEC. Moreover the intentions of the legislature could not have been that a candidate for the office of the DG. of SEC must have a practical capital market experience as is being suggested by the interpretation given to the ISA 2007 by the stakeholders, otherwise the choice of the word cognate by the law makers would have been unnecessary.

Consequently the requirement of the word cognate experience is satisfied if a candidate has a background in the financial services sector as in the case of Ms. Oteh.

Moreover if the narrow interpretation as canvassed by the stakeholders is to be given any

credence, scarcely will any Commissioner or even the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, be eligible for the office of the Chairman or the DG. The so called Capital Market Stakeholders must therefore disqualify all other contestants for the Director General’s post if they are sincere and transparent. In effect they are saying that only actual capital market operators (their constituency) are qualified to be DG. SEC. Ms. Arunma Oteh was subjected to the necessary due process prior to the confirmation of her appointment by the National Assembly, the drafters of the Investments and Securities Act 2007 and I dare say that they were duly guided by their intentions behind the said legislation.

The stance of the stakeholders with its attendant negative impact on investor’s confidence is highly unnecessary in an already fragile and sick market as ours.

This is the time more than ever that we need to protect our capital market. It will be recalled that from a market capitalization of N13 trillion in 2008 with 212 listed companies, the market has shrunk to a market capitalization of N6.54 trillion of 201 listed equities.

Market stakeholders are therefore urged to shield their sword and desist from further destabilizing the market with their unqualified and misleading interpretation of the law and their unguarded utterances.

The time now calls for cooperation with the Ad-Hoc House Committee on Capital Market towards finding lasting solutions to actual causes of the collapse of our capital market. It is time for all interested parties to put in place measures that will restore robust investors’ confidence in the market.

Bashir Ibrahim Hassan wrote this peace from Abuja and can be reached on bash7474@gmail.com.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

FCTA partners institute to boost tourism

By Josephine Ella

T

he Nigerian Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) are partnering to produce a master plan for tourism development in the territory.

Mr Munzali Dantata, the Director-General of NIHOTOUR, made the disclosure after signing an agreement with the FCT Minister of State on the FCT’s Master Plan.

Dantata said the primary goal of the FCT master plan project was to enhance the role of Abuja as a conference tourism destination and to optimise the economic benefits of tourism throughout the territory.

He said that the project would actualise the vision of the Nigerian Tourism Development Master Plan to position Abuja to compete favourably with other African countries.

Dantata said the master plan would transform the FCT into a tourist city such as Addis Ababa, Cairo, Durban, London, New York and Singapore,

explaining that the objective of the project was to provide the master plan as a guide to FCTA officials, tourism stakeholders and residents.

“Also the master plan will transform Abuja into an international tourism destination in a predictable and coordinated manner.

“It is the intention of the institute to facilitate the expansion and harmonisation of key tourist attractions and position Abuja as a brand and a major tourism destination. ’’ Dantata said that the tourism master plan for Abuja was not out of place as it

represented the planning approach for strategy formulation, development and articulation of a physical plan and implementation.

“Tourism master plan represents a planning approach which includes defining goals, aims and objectives, research, strategy formulation and development to articulate a physical plan and implementation.

“Such planning are generally undertaken, funded and led by the public sector or international agencies. “ He said that the FCT needed to formulate its own tourism

policy, just as each state and region in the country had their peculiar potential that needed to be addressed to complement the National Policy on Tourism.

Dantata said that a tour of the whole territory would be conducted by NIHOTOUR’s experts to identify tourism centres, festivals and events.

Responding, the FCT Minister for State, Ms Olajumoke Akinjide, commended the achievement of NIHOTUOR toward the actualisation of the tourism master plan.

Akinjide said that certain areas such as conference

tourism, eco-tourism, sports tourism, medical tourism, among others would be looked into for the betterment of the people of the FCT. “When we decided to have tourism master plan, there was no contest with it because with NIHOTOUR our safeguard is assured.

“The quality of our tourist centres is granted since we are going to get the best out of them.

“The minister said that the tourism master plan would promote employment generation and increase the Gross Domestic Product and the wealth of the people.

Man, 23, sentenced to 2 months in jail for cheating

A

23-year-old commercial bus driver, Anthony Sabon, of Kado Village in the FCT, on Monday bagged two months jail term for criminal breach of trust and cheating.

He was, however, given an option to pay five thousand naira fine.

Sabon was brought to an Abuja Magistrates’ Court charged with criminal breach of trust and cheating by Police Prosecutor Cpl. Simon Emmanuel, who told the court that one Mr Okey Ezeala lodged a complaint against the accused at the Life Camp Police Station on April 16.

Emmanuel said that Sabon on Jan. 8, converted Ezeala’s N12, 000 to his personal use.

“The money was given to him by the complainant to build one room apartment for him at the Kado Village, Abuja.

Emmanuel said that the offence contravened section 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

The accused, however, pleaded guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Sadiya Mayana then sentenced him to two months in prison with an option of N5, 000.

Mayana also said that the accused should pay a compensation of N12, 000 to the complainant on or before May 15. (NAN)

Child labour at Karmo.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Man bags 1 year in jail for misappropriation of N24.7m

A

n Abuja High Court yesterday sentenced an IT Consultant, Dennis Peters, to one year imprisonment with an option of N1 million fine.

The EFCC arraigned Peters on Jan. 11, 2007 on a onecount criminal charge of dishonesty and criminal misappropriation of N24.7 million.

Peters was accused of cheating his business partner, Pastor Olufemi Olunuga, of the sum after agreeing to go into the business of providing Broadband Data Base for Internet connection.

According to the anti-graft agency, the offence is contrary to

Sections 97 and 315 of the Penal Code of the Federal Capital Territory 2007.

Delivering judgment, Justice Abubakar Umar held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Umar said that from the evidence before the court, the EFCC had been able to prove that Peters illegally took the money.

“In the statement the accused made to the EFCC, he admitted that he only took N18 million to pursue a contract somewhere else.

“This is an admittance of guilt that he dishonestly took the money without the permission of his partner.

“Generally, in criminal cases, the prosecution bears the burden of proof and is required to prove their version of events.

“This means that the evidence presented by the prosecution must be proven to the extent that there could be no reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty.

“The prosecution has also succeeded in proving all the elements of the offence beyond reasonable doubt.”

The counsel to the accused, Mr. Fidelis Nwodo, urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

Nwodo told the court that the accused was a first time offender and had no past criminal records.

Umar, after listening to plea for leniency, held that while the court agreed that it was his first offence, the law must take its course.

He then sentenced him to one year imprisonment with an option of one million naira fine.

“This is to serve as a deterrent to dishonest people, who have been entrusted with money to be careful and trustworthy.”

He also said that the court took notice of the accused person’s antecedents before passing the sentence.

Umar said that throughout the five years which the trial lasted, Peters never failed to appear in court after he was granted bail.

(NAN)

Man to spend 12 months in jail for house breaking

A

n Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court on Monday sentenced one Sanusi Salihu, 23, to 12 months imprisonment for house breaking and theft.

The Police prosecutor, Cpl Emmanuel Adukwu, told

the court that Salihu was reported by one Idris Awal of Gishiri village, Abuja on April 10 for breaking into his house and stealing some items.

He said the accused stole two laptops and one play station computer game.

The prosecutor said that the items were recovered from the accused by the police, adding that the offence contravened Section 353 and 288 of the Penal Code law.

In her ruling, Senior Magistrate Hannah Akobi

sentenced the accused to six months imprisonment and N1,000 fine for house breaking.

She also sentenced him to another six months for theft, adding that the two jail terms would run concurrently.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

PAGE 17

Taking joy ride in a tricycle along Apo resettlement village, yesterday, in Abuja.

A vaulcaniser working on a motor cycle tyre

Wheel barrow pushers hawking mango at Durmi, yesterday, in Abuja.

A painter on duty at Aco Estate

Waiting for kerosine at AP filling station, Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye and Mahmud Isa

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

Controversy as FCTA moves to convert green area to cemetery

By Josephine Ella

A

move by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to convert a green area in Gwarimpa estate to a cemetery is generating controversy between the FCTA and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA)

Peoples Daily learnt.

Confirming this during a meeting with the management of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FHA, Architect Terver Gemade said that his office received a letter of the

conversion of a garden in the estate to cemetery which according to him was rejected.

Gemade, also accused the FCT administration of converting other green areas in the estate into other uses insisting “there are areas we have demolished and were again allocated by the FCTA”.

The FHA boss however

said that a joint committee between FHA and AEPB on c o n t r o v e r s i a l environmental issues would look into the problem of the cemetery and other issues.

He added that resettlement of four villages in the estate, which has led to many illegal markets also become a serious

environmental issue.

He advised AEPB to provide waste bins to residents of the estate as the earlier bins supplied have been exhausted, resulting in residents dumping refuse indiscriminately.

Speaking at the meeting, Director of AEPB, Isa Shuaibu who lamented several environmental issues giving his board sleepless nights, said that AEPB could no longer fold its arms at the alarming rate of environmental abuse in the

estate.

He said that his board recently observed that a private developer has fenced a conservation area.

The AEPB boss revealed that about 98 per cent of house owners in the estate have not been paying their waste bill.

This he said, the board would take strict disciplinary measures against environmental offenders in the estate, soliciting for the cooperation of FHA in tackling the problem.

Students resume academic activities in Uniabuja

S

tudents of the University of Abuja on Monday resumed academic activities after a prolonged Easter holiday following students’ protest against the suspension of some faculties in the university.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the resumption in Gwagwalada reports that students were seen either receiving or waiting for lectures in their various halls.

Some of the students who spoke to NAN called for amicable resolution of dispute between the institution’s chapter of the

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Vice Chancellor, Prof.

James Adelabu.

A 300-level Business Administration Student, who pleaded anonymity, said the threat by ASUU to embark on strike over grievances with the Vice Chancellor would be against the interest of the students.

He, therefore, called on ASUU to embrace peace and resort to the use of other means rather than strike to address the dispute.

In a related development, a 400-level Public Administration student who also pleaded anonymity, commended the university management for its efforts in

resolving the crisis on the campus.

She called for commitment on the part of the Federal Government and the university management to ensure that the suspended faculties were accredited within the six months period

given by the Vice Chancellor.

“It is not really good for a student to have spent about seven years for a five year course only to be told that the faculty has been suspended.

“The promise by the Vice Chancellor to ensure accreditation of the faculties

within six months is a step in the right direction and to achieve this, there must be some level of commitment.’’

The students, therefore, called for good working relationship between ASUU and the Vice chancellor to enhance development in the

university.

NAN recalls that the Federal Government, on April 3, announced the suspension of faculties of Medicine, Engineering and Veterinary Medicine, which sparked off protest among the students. (NAN)

4 docked for alleged criminal force, assault

F

our friends David Kure, 28, Ya’u Sulieman, 20, Awalu Umar, 20, and Adam Usman, 27, on Monday appeared before an Abuja Magistrates’ Court on a four-count charge of joint act, inciting disturbance, criminal force

and assault.

Police Prosecutor Sgt. Mohammed Saliu told the court that one Agiye Gabriel of Kuchi Bina Village, Gwarimpa Estate in Abuja, reported the matter at the Gwarinpa Police Station on April 18.

Saliu said the accused

broke into the complainant’s house, assaulted him and made away with N49, 000 and two cell phones valued at N29,000 He said the offences were contrary to sections 79, 144, 327 and 266 of the Penal Code.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor asked for an adjournment in view of the plea, and Magistrate Habiba Bello fixed May 3 for the next hearing. (NAN)

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

Email: amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk

FAAC allocation for the month of March 2012 S/N

BENEFICIARIES

SUB-TOTAL (N)

1

FG (52.68%) States (26.72%) L/govt Councils (20.72%) Derivation (13% of Mineral revenue-oil/gas) Value Added Tax (VAT) & Transfers

Naira falls vs dollar, outlook stable

T

he naira weakened marginally against the U.S dollar on the interbank market yesterday in a thin trade, as market dollar liquidity was sufficient to counter dollar demand from importers, traders said.

The naira closed at 157.30 to the dollar on the interbank market on Monday, compared with 157.25 to the dollar on Friday.

Traders said the market remained liquid enough from the dollar sales by the stateowned NNPC, easing pressure on the local currency.

A poll of 10 analysts by Reuters yesterday showed the Naira should hold steady in the short term, buoyed by higher oil prices and a tight monetary policy, but gains could be hampered by rising inflation in

the second half of the year.

Dealers said the market was fairly stable because of dollar liquidity in the system from last week's NNPC (state-owned energy company) dollar sales, which quenched moderate demand from importers.

The naira rose to a six week high last week on dollar liquidity flow from the NNPC and some other energy companies.

The NNPC sold about $800 million in two tranches to some lenders, while units of Chevron sold $65 million and Royal Dutch Shell sold an unspecified amount.(Reuters)

INSIDE

- Pg 20

Total maintains safety perimeter on gas leak site

Mob: 08033644990

Adoption of Basel II/III accord to foster better risk mgt - CBN From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

613.7 billion

PAGE 19

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has given assurance that Basel II/ III capital accord initiatives would foster better risk management and corporate governance in banks as well as improve regulatory supervision and industry transparency.

The Deputy Governor Financial System Stability of the CBN, Dr Kingsley Moghalu, who stated this in Lagos noted that although there is noticeable improvement in risk management practices across the banks, particularly following the CBN intervention in 2009, risk management practice in the financial service industry is still at a rudimentary stage due to a lot of challenges.

The Risk Management Association of Nigeria (RIMAN)

said that the move was part of the measures to ensure that better risk management were adopted in the nation's banks.

Moghalu, who stated that that the implementation of the Basel II and III capital accords will take effect from December this year adding that a lot of risk managers have not gotten professional training in the risk management, especially at the senior level.

He said that most of the available risks experts appear to be concentrated in certain banks, and yet those in those institutions with risk experience may not be fully involved in major strategic decisions.

He said that the apex regulator is making plans to conduct another round of assessment on commercial banks before the end of this year as part of a Financial Sector Assessment programme

(FSAP) under a technical assistance programme facility by the international monetary Fund (IMF).

In his paper tagged: "Risk Ability; the Importance of Risk Management Knowledge and infrastructure for the financial Service Industry", he said that the apex regulator has strengthened the supervision of off-shore Nigerian banks, stressing that currently the CBN is having cross boarder supervisory co-operation and coordination with other jurisdiction where Nigerian banks have presence.

Highlighting some of the CBN initiatives to promote risk management in the nation's banks, he said that the apex regulator planned to set up a forum of Chief Risk Officers (CROs) of banks to provide a platform to periodically discuss risk issues in individual banks and the industry at large.

Flight schedule AIR NIGERIA (MONDAY - SUNDAY) LOS-A BJ: 07.15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.30, 17.00, 17.20, 18.30 ABJ-LOS: 07.00, 09.30, 10.30, 11.15, 16.15, 19.15, 19.35 ABJ-KANO: 18.40 KANO-ABJ: 08.35 ABJ -SOK (MON): 09.35 ABJ-SOK (FRI): 10.10 ABJ-SOK (WED/SUN): 11.20 SOK-ABJ (MON): 11.35 SOK-ABJ (FRI): 12.00 SOK-ABJ (WED/SUN): 13.20

AEROCONTRACTORS (MON - SUN) LOS-ABJ: 06.50, 13.30, 19.45 LOS-ABJ (SUN): 12.30 LOS-ABJ (SAT): 16.45 ABU-L OS: 07.30, 13.00, 14.00, 19.00 ABU-LOS (SUN): 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 ABU-LOS (SAT): 18.30

DANA AIRLINES (MON - SUN) LOS-ABJ: 07.02, 08.10, 12.06, 15.30, 17.10 ABJ-LOS: 07.20, 09.36, 13.05, 14.40 ABJ-LOS (SAT/SUN): 13.05, 18.00 LOS-KANO : 08.10 KANO-LOS: 11.25 KANO -ABUJA: 11.25 ABUJA-KANO : 10.08

IRS AIRLINES

EXCHANGE RATES

CBN CFA • £ RIYAL $

LOS -ABJ: 9.45, 11.45, 2.45

BUYING 0.2897 204.2236 249.3487 41.2634 154.75

SELLING 0.3097 205.5433 250.96 41.53 155.75

PARALLEL RATES

ABJ-LOS: 11.30, 3.45, 4.45 LOS-KANO: 6.15 LOS-KANO (SAT/SUN): 16.30 KANO-LOS: 07.30 KANO-LOS (SUN/SUN): 10.30

20th Apr, 2012

• £ RIYAL $

BUYING 210 254 40 158

SELLING 212 256 42 159

L-R: Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Managing Director of IMF, Christine Lagarde, CBN Governor, Malam Lamido Sanusi and Anambra state Governor, Mr. Peter Obi in Washington DC, United States of America.

Management Tip of the Day

I

End a mentoring relationship before it dies

t's easy for a mentoring relationship to outlive its worth. You get into a groove, you enjoy the stimulating conversations, and you're learning. But sometimes you have to move on to move up.

Set goals and assess whether you have achieved them. Once you have, it might be time to find a new mentor to help you with your next set of challenges.

Thank your mentor for all his help and ask permission to

use his as a reference when you're scouting for the next one.

Keep in touch with your past mentors even after the relationships officially end.

Source: Harvard Business Review

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

PAGE 20

Petroleum association to showcase Nigeria’s potential at offshore confab

COMPANY NEWS KPMG restates strategy to invest in opportunities

K

PMG has restated that there would be an added drive towards reinforcing its strategy to always invest in the biggest opportunities globally and regionally, while also adapting its organisation to better serve its clients.

Union Bank makes case for groundnut production

T

he Executive Director, Corporate, Investment Banking, and Treasury of Union Bank of Nigeria PLC, Philip Ikeazor has called for the collaboration of Nigerian farmers and International Crop Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in the use of watershed irrigation technique in the production of groundnuts for export.

GT Bank bags place to work award

G

uaranty Trust Assurance Plc has won the third place over-all award at the first ever Great Place To Work Awards Ceremony to be held in Africa. At the event, which held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos recently, GTAssurance came third place behind Guinness Nigeria Plc and First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

State of economy affecting value of property —Expert

A

n estate surveyor and valuer and principal consultant of Ibukun Efuntayo & Co, Mr Emmnauel Efuntayo, has said that the state of the local economy of any nation will have a toll on the performance of its property investments.

Insurance industry targets N1.2trn premium

T

he Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, has given no room for anyone to doubt the ability of Nigeria insurance industry to underwrite premium of N1.2 trillion at the end of 2012 financial year.

By Muhammad Nasir

T

analysed and air quality controls are conducted across the area on a daily basis, adding that except for a specific well that has been fully secured, the analyses did not reveal any presence of hydrocarbons or toxic component.

He maintained that equipment has been installed to recover the gas above ground to limit its subsurface flow, and that a drilling rig is being brought in to drill a relief well and a second rig has been ordered and no significant evolution of the phenomenon has been observed. However, he said a safety perimeter is maintained and that communities are actively involved in the surveillance of the affected area.

According to the statement, surface water flows

are being monitored daily by aerial and pedestrian surveys.

Ebereonwu said the company’s CEO, Mr. Christophede Margerie, had met with the leaders and representatives of the Egi community in Port Harcourt on April 17 to express the company’s regrets on the incident.

Margerie express Total’s commitment towards addressing the OML 58 situation in full cooperation and transparency.

He said Total E&P Nigeria’s teams have continued to maintain regular contact with the nearby communities on containment measures, which have already been deployed and that the teams are working with the communities, government agencies and regulators in order to address the situation.

he Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) will showcase the potentials in the Nigerian oil and gas industry to the international community at this year’s Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) holding in Houston Texas in the United States of America.

The conference, which was tagged to commence on the 30th of April through the first week of May 2012, will witness about raised 2,000 delegates from Nigeria. The OTC is the premier gathering of professionals and opinion leaders in the global Oil and Gas industry and provides excellent opportunity for positive portrayal and promotion of the great potentials of Nigeria and the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

It was noted that the conference will provide a unique platform for close interaction between leading International and Nigerian Oil Service Companies (IOCs), Industry Executives, government policy makers and political leaders, to share their ideas on the Nigerian oil industry in a relaxed and conducive atmosphere. There would also be a joint technical workshop by PETAN/ANPPA/ Nigerian Content Development and Management Board.

The Petroleum Technology Association of (PETAN) is an association of Nigerian Technical Oilfield service companies in the upstream and downstream sectors of the Oil industry.

industry.”

He therefore stressed the need to advance an efficient oil and gas services centre which gives additional supply chain and logistics benefits, adding that the forum would provide useful opportunities for all stakeholders to form a partnership conducive for international business.

The minister further said the zone “was established as a tax free centre for processing, manufacturing and assemblage of goods that encourages acquisition of skills, create jobs, transfer of technology, local content participation, enhanced foreign exchange earnings and backward integration to the host country.”

Ortom then pointed out that the forum like the inaugurated one would give all stakeholders

useful opportunities to positively engage themselves for better understanding of one another within the framework of the public-private sector partnership, and evolve strategies for creating conducive international business environment.

He reiterated the commitment of the federal government to consolidate on the success achieved so far and poised to support the promotion of Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority as a national gateway for the oil and gas industry in the subsaharan region.

The minister therefore charged the committee to work assiduously to sustain the success recorded during the first forum organized last year by attracting more local and foreign

investment into the sector.

Ortom also urged the committee to organise a threeday trade and investment forum on oil and gas, moblise suitable stakeholders, local and foreign and moblise resource persons for the occasion.

Ortom advised the committee to submit reports and relevant memos to the ministry to enhance the success of the forum.

Responding, the chairman of the committee, who is also the Director of Trade in the ministry, Mr. David Adejuwon, promised that the committee would justify the confidence reposed in it by actualising its mandate.

The 23-member committee, which also has an Assistant Director, Trade Promotion in the ministry, Mr. Ahmed Ahmed as its secretary, was given one month to submit its report.

L-R : Nortex Business Link Nestle Company Plc Abuja , Mr. Ejike Nnoli , winner of the brand new Hyundai 2012 , Mrs. Elizabeth Agunloye , Regional Sales Manager Nestle Abuja, Mrs. Adeola Remi John , and Field Sales Manager Minna, Mr. Yemi Odutayo , during the Nestle New year Shoppers Combo Promotion Draws, at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Total maintains safety perimeter on gas leak site

By Muhammad Nasir

T

he management of Total Exploration and Production (Total E&P), has set up a safety perimeter at the Ibewa gas production site in Ogba, Egbema and Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers state.

This was disclosed to newsmen by the Manager, External Communication of the company, Mr. Charles Ebereonwu on Friday in Port Harcourt, who said that tests on water wells and air quality in the area had been done.

He said that a technical incident occurred at the site, which was in an uninhabited area near the onshore Obite gas production facilities on the oil mining lease 58 in the state. He added that as a preventive measure, domestic water wells are being

FG inaugurates technical committee on oil and gas investment

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

he Federal Government at the weekend inaugurated the Technical Committee for the Organisation of 2012 Trade and Investment Forum on Oil and Gas, with a charge to project the potentialities of Onne Free Zone in Rivers state.

Inaugurating the committee in Abuja, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr Samuel Ortom, explained that the forum was meant to foster the local content programme of the Federal Government.

Ortom also informed: “It is important to note that Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone is structured and designed to address specific needs and requirements to the advantage of various types of corporate bodies in the oil and gas

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

PAGE 21

Brent crude steady under $119 over supply worries

By Aminu Imam

B

rent crude oil was under 119 dollars a barrel yesterday, as supply worries from tightening Western sanctions on Iran and stabilising factory activity in China countered lingering concerns over the euro zone debt crisis.

Iran’s crude exports have slipped to 2.1 million barrels per day (bpd), compared with an average of 2.3 million bpd in the

last Iranian year that ended on March 19, Iranian oil officials said.

Brent crude rose 4 cents to 118.80 dollars a barrel , while U.S. crude was 15 cents lower at 103.73 dollars.

“On the supply side, Iran continues to be a risk which we can’t ignore at all,” said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at Australia-based CMC Markets.

“It seems quite unlikely that we will be seeing any swift

resolution to the standoff between the West and Tehran over their nuclear program.”

Tightening sanctions on Iran over the Islamic Republic’s disputed nuclear programme helped send Brent prices above 128 dollars a barrel in March, the highest since 2008.

The European Union is also planning an embargo on Iranian oil imports from July 1.

While a review is possible in the next two months, there is no

economic reason now to change plans for the ban, a senior EU official said on Friday.

At a Group of 20 finance ministers’ meeting in the United States last week, officials issued a communiqué.

The communiqué outlined an agreement between the group and emerging nations to closely watch oil prices and carry out “additional actions” as needed as well as welcome the commitments by producing countries to ensure adequate supply.

China’s factories stabilised in April with output inching higher, although it was still not enough for a private sector

survey to flag a return to an expansionary cycle.

The HSBC Flash Purchasing Managers Index, the earliest indicator of China’s industrial activity, recovered slightly to 49.1 in April from a final reading of 48.3 in March.

But the index still remained below the level that signifies contracting economic activity for the sixth month running.

“They (Chinese government) could adjust interest rates, reserve rations for banks ...the Chinese government has many tools it can draw on to boost the economy,” said Tony Nunan, a Tokyo-based risk manager at Mitsubishi Corp said. (Reuters/NAN)

Nigerian, 24, to address world energy forum in US

By Muhammad Nasir 24-year-old graduate from Zamfara state, Muhammad Usman, is set to present a paper at the 2012 session of the World Renewable Energy Forum (WREF), scheduled to hold from May 13 to 17, in Denver, Colorado, United States.

Usman, a Graduate of Economics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 2010, and Programme Officer at the Gusaubased Centre for Energy and Environment in Zamfara state is to present on the topic: “Rural Solar Electrification-Renewable Energy Potential and Distribution for Development in Nigeria”.

According to a statement posted at the WREF’s website, the presentation will focus on the abundance of solar energy in Nigeria and its usage in local areas, especially remote corners of the country, noting that in Nigeria, solar energy is one of the most promising of the renewable energy sources, in view of its apparent limitless potentialities.

The conference will be

A

L-R: Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko, Chief Executive Officer, ThistlePraxis Consulting, Ini Onuk, Lagos state Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Gbolahan Lawal, and Director, Etisalat CSR Centre, Lagos Business School, Professor Chris Ogbechi, during Etisalat Sustainable Conversation Breakfast meeting, recently in Lagos.

NNPC staff cooperative budgets N11bn

By Muhammad Nasir

T

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Staff Co-operative Multipurpose Society Limited (SCMSL), Lagos said it has budgeted N11.029 billion for its 2012 financial activities against N5.403 billion in 2011.

This was disclosed to newsmen by its president, Ojeyemi Adeleke at the weekend during the society’s annual general meeting in Lagos, that activities of the cooperative would be driven by expected N4.2 billion remittances from the NNPC’s subsidiaries, N3 billion loans from banks and N1.5 billion deposits for housing while income from inter-city buses is expected to rise to N300 million and sale of Abuja house at N100 million.

Adeleke maintained that 2012 will be a better year compared to 2011. However, he laments that the irregular remittances of the society may frustrate their aspiration.

Adding that the major sources of anticipated improvements in their outlook are timely remittance from all subsidiaries, on-line real-time business transactions, improvements in

overall corporate governance as well as better business policy effectiveness.

He noted that the impact of the global market crisis would have impacted negatively on the society but for the fact that it was built on a strong and enduring foundation, sound corporate governance, integrity and intellectual capacity.

“It is noteworthy that our society was able to navigate the challenging year by converting the various challenges to opportunities. In 2011, we were able to increase our membership with 320 while we also recorded closure of 36 accounts due to retirement from service and other exigencies,” he enthused.

Also speaking was the Assistant Secretary of the society, Wole Olarinre, who urged serving and retired members of NNPC’s subsidiaries and those of the corporate office to join the co-operative for the purpose of achieving their desired goals.

Olarinre, who noted that the society have a lot of plans for members this year, such as assisting them to acquire land for agricultural activities. He also notes that in 2011 dividend,

about N250 million as against N135 in 2010 has been earmarked for payment and as from this week, members’ accounts will be credited.

presented by the American Solar Energy Society, World Renewable Energy Network, International Solar Energy Society, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory, sponsored by UNESCO and Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory.

The statement also reveals that Nigeria receives 5.08 x 1012 kilowatt-hours of energy per day from the sun, and if solar energy appliances with just 5% efficiency are used to cover only 1% of the country’s surface area, then 2.54 x 106 megawatthours of energy can be obtained from solar energy. This amount of electrical energy is equivalent to 4.66 million barrels of oil per day.

Other speakers to attend the conference include Dan Arvizu, Director, National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Cary Kennedy, Deputy Mayor, City and County of Denver; Edward Mazria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Architecture 2030; Dennis Dimick, Executive, Environment Editor, National Geographic; among other energy and environment experts.

Dutch Firm invests N2.3bn to upgrade Lilypond Terminal - Director

A

Dutch container concessionaire, AP MollerMaersk (APMM) Group yesterday announced an investment of $15 million (N2.3 billion) towards upgrading its facilities at the Lilypond Terminal, an Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Ijora, Lagos.

The Cluster Director, APM Terminal Inland Container Services, Central Africa, Mrs. Bola Bamidele made the announcement in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos.

Bamidele explained that operations at the terminal, being operated by the Dutch firm with headquarters in Netherland, peaked in 2011 with a cargo throughput of 47,000 containers.

Throughput is a term

denoting volumes of containers in maritime cargo handling.

“Lilypond had zero throughputs, when we took over the facility, five years ago.

“In 2010, cargo throughput was 23,000 containers but this doubled to 47,000 containers in 2011 and we expect more growth this year,’’ she said.

Bamidele said the company also planned to spend additional $5 million (N750 million) this year, to further upgrade the terminal and the administrative building.

She said the company had also invested on safety, people, equipment, information technology and better infrastructure.

“The cargo dwell time in the industry has reduced significantly since the port

concession, thereby reducing customer costs, when compared to the pre-concession era.

“We are here to serve all shipping companies and our aim is to help in decongesting both Apapa and Tin-can Island ports,’’ Bamidele said.

The director said the company enjoyed cordial working relationship with all stakeholders, including the customs, the police, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), customs agents and the public.

She said that Lilypond Terminal had provided 250 jobs to Nigerians, including contractors.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that prior to 2007, the terminal had the problem of severe flooding, which kept business activities there at a low ebb. (NAN)

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

Playing safe on social media websites L ike the saying goes, it is with the good, you get the bad, and with every friend you add or follow on social media websites, you have the inconvenient responsibility to decide whether they are a friend or foe, or worse, spammer.

However, social media is risky security-wise, and a story in Inc. shows that the vast majority of small business owners find it the biggest threat to information technology security.

The article stated: If you are the type that is popular among the social media websites, you are likely to be at the higher risk of being spammed.

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, Pinterest, Google+, YouTube, Hi5, and so on. All these have their respective ways of protecting your account from spammer and hacker or can I even call the hijackers?

Whichever name you call it,

make sure you play safe!

One of the reasons social media has increasing security

requests or messages, we tend to believe they are safe.

So, what are some of the security threats in social media sites?

Adding someone you don't

issues is the t r u s t factor. The people we are dealing with a r e our friends, our colleagues, our favorite sports teams, magazines. When we get friend

know A few weeks ago, I received a request from a stranger who wrote that, because we had a similar interest, we should be friends. I hit the ignore button, which was a good thing. It was part of a phishing scheme. Others did hit the friend button and have had computerissues as a result.

You don't have to add or follow everyone requesting f o r friendship or followership. In fact, a good internet rule of thumb is to only f r i e n d those you a r e actually friends with.

Even if a spammer fools you by looking like a real person with an empty account, you leave yourself open to a page full of spam the next time you log in.

Clicking on links you are not sure of One of the great things about

ICT ESSENCE

with Bello Abdul’Azeez +234 805 113 0075 abdulazeez@ictessence.com www.ictessence.com a site like Twitter is the sharing of information you might not see elsewhere. The downside is the tiny URLs that hide the true link to Web sites. If you aren't sure, ask or better still IGNORE! The major security issue with Twitter is the fact that the typical Tweet will contain a short URL, or basically an anonymous link to anywhere on the internet. The appeal to short URLs is they take fewer characters than spelling out the actual link's destination.

Allowing hijackers unknowingly into accounts.

Hackers are finding holes in the software and are taking over individual accounts to spread malware from "trusted" sources and scam consumers into sending personal information.

Third-party applications.

Hackers are able to retrieve passwords and other personal information through Facebook games. Fake Facebook toolbars are taking users to a spoofed site that steals passwords.

As social media continue to

Bank workers vow to paralyse commercial activities in Ekpoma

B

ank workers in Ekpoma in the Esan-West Local Government Area of Edo state have vowed to paralyse commercial activities in the area, due to incessant armed robbery attacks.

T h e workers threatened total shutdown of all banking activities, including Automated Teller Machine (ATM) services in the area if the incessant attacks were not checked.

The Chairman of the Ekpoma Branch of the Bankers Forum, Mr. Raphael Ibodeme made the announcement while speaking with newsmen in Ekpoma at the weekend after a meeting of the forum.

Ibodeme said that banks which had been shut in the area for over a month would remain closed until there was reasonable assurance of security in the area.

Ibodeme said the meeting was held, following incessant bank robberies and the problem of insecurity in the area, noting that the latest robbery incident last month had led banks in the area to close shop.

A communiqué released after the meeting, said that banks in Ekpoma observed that inadequate security in the town was largely responsible for

the incessant bank robberies.

The meeting lamented the significant reduction in the number of Joint Task Force (JTF) operatives drafted to the area notwithstanding the monthly dues being paid by the banks for this purpose.

The forum also decried nonutilisation of the N500, 000 paid to the police and the Edo state government by the banks to effect repair of Armoured Personnel Carriers to be

stationed in Ekpoma to combat bank robbery.

It will be recalled that there have been three robbery incidents, involving four banks in Ekpoma within the past one year.

NAN reports that apart from the millions of naira stolen in the robbery operations, several lives were also lost during the incidents.

Meanwhile, the Ekpoma

Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Amos Apadoja has condemned the action taken by the banks.

He said that the action taken by the bankers was regrettable, especially now that concerted efforts were being made by security agents in the area to combat crimes.

“I am surprised at their action because it was for this reason that the state’s Commissioner of Police came to Ekpoma last week,” he said. (NAN)

MFBs to adjust to International Financial Reporting Standard

O

perators in the MicroFinance Bankingsubsector have indicated their readiness to adjust their financial statements to International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) as directed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The operators made this known in separate interviews with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of a workshop organised by the National Association of MicroFinance Banks (NAMB), Lagos chapter in Lagos.

The CBN Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had directed banks and all formal corporate organisations to work toward adopting full IFRS by the end of 2012.

The CBN also directed the full adoption of IFRS by microfinance

banks by the same date 2012.

The Managing Partner of James Okpudo Akpaiso Chartered Accountants and Company, Mr James Akpaiso, who was a facilitator at the training, urged the operators fast track the process of conversion.

He said that the essence of the training was to enlighten the operators on what IFRS was all about.

“According to CBN guidelines for Micro-inance Banks on IFRS, the banks are expected to comply by 2014,” he said.

He said operators should discard the rumour that IFRS would not be necessary for Microfinance Banks (MFBs).

“MFBs need it also because they are operating within the shores of Nigeria.’’

Also commenting, Mr Dotun Adewumi, the Head of Financial Control and Administration, Infinity Microfinance Bank, Lagos, said the preparation of financial statements in line with IFRS, would reduce financial malpractice.

“IFRS will expose financial malpractices because it will guide against the repetition of fictitious assets.

“IFRS will expose any expenses incurred during the financial year and this must be written off; it can never be carried to next financial year.’’

The Executive Secretary of NAMB, Lagos Chapter, Mr. Bright Ididia said that as part of the willingness by the operators to adopt IFRS, banks had started training some of their customers to do same.(NAN)

mash into everyday culture, like e-mail, hackers will continue to exploit lapses and holes. It is important to maintain updated security software; a very good antivirus is highly encouraged and must have internet security features.

The process of reporting spammed or hijacked account varies depending on the particular social media website where you were spammed. In the end, most sites place a temporary lockdown on the offending user or account and pending the time the account owner makes a complaint or request for re-opening their account so other users of the site won't fall victim to the same scam.

Lastly, it is important to maintain control of your own identity on the social media websites. The deeper and more fully fleshed-out your presence is on a trusted services, the easier it is for your friends to find you, and the harder it is for anyone to impersonate you.

Nestle shoppers promo: Customers rewarded

By Muhammad Nasir

N

estle Nigeria Limited has put smiles into the faces of their loyal customers at the weekend, with the presentation of various gift items in the 2012 shopper’s combo promo.

The promo, which was held at Garki market, Abuja had prizes such as 10 air conditioners, 10 gas cookers, 10 refrigerators,10 LCD TVs, 10 Home Theatres and a star prize of Hyundai 2012 saloon car as part of its corporate social responsibilities.

Making the presentation, the branch Manager, NorthWest of the company, Mr. Oloidi Olusegun said the aim of the promo was to appreciate their customers for their loyalty and patronage of their product, adding that ”the promo is another way of showing our customers all over Nigeria our appreciation”.

The star prize of Hyundai car was won by Mrs. Elizabeth Agunloye from Karu market.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

PAGE 24

Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate is the Minister of state for Health. Last week, he hosted a group of Editors of Peoples Daily in his office in Abuja where he posited, among other issues, that the vision of the ministry in the current dispensation was to articulate the Save a Million Lives Campaign. He talked on ways being employed to achieve this goal and why medical tourism is no longer a big deal among nations of the world

W

e want to identify with you as a young man of our generation just as we in ‘Peoples Daily’ are a young organization. We must commend what you are doing and making our generation very proud. Sir, what is the status of the health bill The bill sought to address the lack of clarity of growth within the health sector and to address the need to invest in the sub sector of primary health care. It sought to address the structural issues we are having in our health sector. The primary health care does not have a champion that is solely responsible for it, so that if states do not invest in it, there are no consequences.

So we have been trying to create a primary health development fund. The bill took about 8years in development and legislation and it changed several times along the way. So as for the final product, it would be an understatement to say there was no consensus in terms of stakeholders. While some stakeholders in the health sector were very much in support of the bill and urging the President to sign it into law, some others started raising observations that were earlier addressed but because of the nature of the dialogue, and the duration of the legislative process, issues were unresolved.

The last legislature actually passed it, but these issues became topical and I believe that at the moment what is being done is to see how those issues that arose after its passage are dealt with before the bill finally become law because it will be inappropriate to take something known to be defective and allowing it pass.

So there is a conscious effort presently by the ministry of health as one of the groups that looked at the bill recently and try to address some of these concerns. However, on the

primary health care aspect, I believe whatever comes out will still reaffirm the importance of primary health care in the sub sector. The bill is not dead.

It means the bill has to be re-introduced to this present crop of legislators since it was not signed into law by the president? When will it be signed?

It is not the point for me to give you a time frame. The important point is to have the right bill that will address the challenges of the Nigerian people. Looking at it closely, you will discover that the issue we have in our health sector is that the most basic issues were left to our local government and it has affected us negatively over the years.

Primary health care is not functioning effectively, the human resources are not there, the basic equipment is not there, and drugs supplied are insufficient. However, in some states they are doing well.

This is what is called allocative efficiency.

So we see everything going to the general or teaching hospitals because nobody wants to go to the primary health care facility, we are beginning to reverse that by making additional investment at the federal level and we are hoping the states will follow suit. That is more important than a piece of legislation, but that piece of legislation is coming and I do not want you to expect me to give you a date since it is not under my direct control.

Any conscious effort to prevent or mitigate against recurring diseases like lassa fever, meningitis etc?

First, let me state that there is a need to know that since human beings are constantly interacting with their environment, there are bound to be outbreaks of diseases.

Even in ancient times, they use to have plagues, but over time we have become better. This is because we are always looking for measures to combat

PAGE 25

Medical tourism is not restricted to Nigeria, says Dr. Ali Pate infections, but recently we know that many bacteria diseases that kill our people, some we have vaccines for.

Those we have vaccines against, we try to intensify efforts to immunize the populace, so the on-going vaccine summit is a means to raise awareness on the issue of vaccination as a way of tackling vaccine preventable diseases like tuberculosis, hepatics B, polio, measles etc.

In 2008 the population of Nigerians immunized before the age of 2 were 23% according to demographic survey, by 2011 the survey showed that it had gone up to 56% meaning one in two of our children has been fully immunized. This is not adequate because it means that half of our children are still vulnerable before the age of 2 and many die before the age of 5.

For measles which is 99% effective, we have not been able to scale beyond 70% for our children to be fully protected by measles. So we have periodic out breaks of measles. In some areas in the country you have occasional cases that crop up. We know that every year there is outbreak of spinal meningitis diseases. We then decided not to be reactive but to be more proactive, we started monitoring our surveillance to those diseases when they crop up before they become severe, so we can respond to them, this has reduced the spread. Like Lassa fever, when we noticed it, we raised alarm and tackled it; we propositioned drugs to take care of those that were affected. Meningitis in 2009, by May we had 55,000 cases of cerebral meningitis in this country, Last year, 2011, we had less than a thousand cases confirmed in this country. This year as we speak, there is no local government that has any confirmed case of the disease; nobody is talking about outbreak of meningitis even as we approach the tail end of the hot season. The reason is because from 2009 we had massive vaccination for people. As for measles we took a proactive step at the end of 2010 because we anticipated outbreak of the disease in 2011, we held a stakeholders meeting and we wrote to all the states and by January, February 2011, before the elections, despite all the constraints, we made sure we had a measles campaign that

covered the entire country.

We immunized millions of children and the measles outbreak for 2011 was stalled.

Any parent whose child has measles should be asked why he/she did not get that child to be fully immunized against the disease. Like in the case of Polio, we went round campaigning. The federal government has paid for vaccines and these vaccines are still coming into the country. As for cholera, you cannot have a preventive vaccine in a large country like ours since you do not know when and where the outbreak will come from. There are things like sanitation and hygiene that are keys, they are beyond what we can control, people should not think that the ministry of health will come and help them live a decent lifestyle. If you live in a gutter, it is not government’s responsibility but personal responsibility.

However the federal ministry of health has already arranged for stock of chlorine for sterilizing water supply and also made contingent provision for intravenous fluids when and if there is an outbreak. We have stepped up our surveillance system to pick up these cases when they occur.

Will security challenges in the country not hamper your set deadline for the elimination of Polio in the country?

We are still doing our best.

I was in Bornu and Yobe recently and despite the difficult circumstances, I was pleased to see the state governors in the two states doing very well. In Maiduguri metropolis, I saw them pushing the immunization programme despite the security challenges. The immunization programme is about saving lives of children, preventing them from getting paralyzed for life. Our target like Mr. President announced when he inaugurated the task force, is that by the end of his administration, Polio should be kicked out of Nigeria. But as the presidential task force, we set for ourselves, that by the end of 2012, the 22 states that are polio free should remain that way while the other states that there are cases of Polio, by the end of the second half of 2012, they should stop transmitting the infection and if we can accomplish that, Nigeria would have been well on its

way to eradicating Polio. We have to be realistic however; we will do our best while hoping other stakeholders will also join hands with us.

Contracting Polio is not something to be proud of because the reverse is the case.

From what I have seen in some states like Kano, Kebbi, Bornu and Yobe, I believe that we really have a good chance. We are having good results from Sokoto and zamfara where we had the most recent cases and we are leaving for these two states tomorrow to get the programme right there.

Security challenges are not as serious in the other states mentioned earlier, the truth remains that if states do what they are suppose to do, we will see results.

In Kano since the state governor and his deputy led in the immunization exercise we have seen improvement there. By mid last year Kebbi was a serious case but in the last 7 months the state has remained without a reported case of the virus.

There were resistance against vaccination especially in Kano in the past, do you still have such cases?

Absolutely not. We saw in 2009 how the former governor, mallam Ibrahim Shekarau immunized his child, compare this to 2004 when he led the fight against vaccination. He declared during that vaccination in 2009 that the past was now history since they have now understood better. As public officials, our first duty is to protect public interest and if we know that there is anything contrary to the public interest or safety, we should be the first to raise the alarm. There are really no issues because Nigerians that embark on the Hajj pilgrimage are immunized at the border of Saudi Arabia. There are many countries that have gotten rid of Polio. Polio is not a symbol of status but on the contrary.

27 states had Polio in 2008 but in the last one year only 8 states have Polio meaning that many states have improved their coverage.

What is the ministry doing to check quacks in the health sector?

We are trying to improve the health sector regulatory capacity. There are aspects of the sectors for professionals like the Medical and dental council are doing their best to

Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate stressing a point during the interview improve their regulatory capacity to make sure that professionals are licensed and to ensure there is continued medical education and where professionals are found to be acting outside their practice, there should be adequate laws and remedies applied to protect public interest.

The establishment of hospitals is in the jurisdiction of the states and I believe various states are trying to improve on their surveillance in terms of activities of private practitioners and that should continue since we are far from where we say we are. Health is

a very interesting sector since there is asymmetry of information; the client and the provider. In the health sector you cannot really say the quality of what you are buying from the provider because he knows more than you do. That case of asymmetrical information makes a case for stronger government regulation. We will continue to do our best in terms of the regulation of the health sector.

Buying drugs off the shelf, what is being done?

The regulator of that aspect is NAFDAC and they

have been doing very well especially in terms of removing counterfeit drugs and the source of the supply of such fake drugs are tackled and also bringing in new technologies to check veracity, improve awareness. There is also a much wider issue of society, when people fly to India thinking they are getting good medical attention, believe it, some of such medication they cannot be sure of because they go to these countries as a status symbol.

They choose to do that because they do not have confidence in their own country. People choose to go into private

arrangement and when these arrangements go sour, they expect government to protect them. There is also the aspect of personal responsibility. The issue of fake drugs is criminal because anybody bringing such drugs, do not have value for human lives.

Self medication has to do with personal preference and education, awareness about the value and having proper consultation. Many people wake up and feel a little unwell, they conclude they have malaria and go to the chemist for malaria drugs, even those that are supposed to know like

educated people. Maybe they are not fully aware of the implication of what they are doing. We are speaking about that and expect you in the media to speak about it. People should be diagnosed before medication. A lot of our people in the rural areas do not even have access to all of this. It is those of us that are educated that are fond of prescribing drugs for ourselves wrongly.

What is being done on the issue of infant/maternal mortality rate and midwife welfare scheme?

On infant mortality, we have an unprecedented situation whereby the federal government is stepping in, in a big way which will improve on the situation. As part of moves, resources have been provided for the maternal and child healthcare.

New vaccines have been purchased for pneumonia which has never happened. Beyond that, there is a plan been developed for implementation, it includes scaling up additional human resources for community health workers who are trained to help mothers to be delivered of their babies safely and also be able to administer some basic remedies in the communities or facilities where they are located. So in a major way, the federal government is investing in this direction.

Our vision is that we are articulating the save a million lives campaign. We are trying to save a million lives and the best way to do that is to scale up immunization, to provide skill attendants for pregnant women and advise them to go for ante natal care during pregnancy, to ensure that women are educated about the value of breast feeding, treatment of viral diseases, antibiotics for pneumonia, preventive measures and treatment of malaria.

With regards to midwifery scheme especially and Zamfara as a case study, I have seen many women in our rural areas. There are young women in these rural communities that are serving their country in very difficult circumstances saving lives. They are out in the front line and helping mothers to be delivered of their babies safely. Recently the agency implementing the scheme has approved for the improvement of the allowances for these midwives by almost 20% and this in my view is welcome but it would

be missing the point, to ask only the federal government what it is doing because at the end of it all, federal government intervened because we cannot stand by and see mothers and children dying. States and local governments are closer to these communities. There is no reason why a local government should not have a more attachment in making sure that those problems are solved in those areas. There are some states doing more than they are suppose to do through the payment of complementary allowances for the midwives.

Some local governments have given these midwives accommodation while some communities have actually welcomed them into their midst. Some states actually take them for granted and we are urging them to rectify that because we are keeping tab on those doing well and those not doing well.

Can we put a stop to medical pilgrimage in the country?

Medical tourism is a global phenomenon. In 2008, there were almost 100,000 people that travelled from one country to another for medical tourism. It is a multibillion dollar industry, in fact, some countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, have shifted their demand for medical care liberally, focusing on Asian countries like Thailand, Singapore where you can get cardiac bye-pass for a fraction of the cost you will pay in the Northern hemisphere and for the same quality. Some states are positioning themselves to take advantage of this medical tourism as a way of boosting their economy. It is a global phenomenon unfortunately in Nigeria, we got carried into that wave and we spend almost a billion dollars on medical tourism. Most of these trips in my view are things that could have been done to reduce or minimize the expenses for the things we go for. Some cases are incentive oriented, like somebody paying for your trip. Some are as a result of symbol status; that is, since it is not done in Nigeria, therefore, it is better.

There is also a confidence issue in terms of our health system.

We know we have difficulties, as many of our facilities leave much to be desired, but we have been trying to work on the improvement of health care facilities in our tertiary facilities, teaching hospitals.

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

Subsidy probe: Culprits must not go unpunished – Committee (III) 16. The Chairman of the Board of PPPRA from 2009 - 2011, and the entire Members of the board during the period are hereby reprimanded and their decision which opened the floodgate for the Bazaar is condemned in the strongest terms.

17. It is hereby recommended that Mr President should reorganize the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to make it more effective in carrying out the much needed reforms in the oil and gas sector.

18. Given the large and complex nature of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Committee recommends that two ministers should be appointed to take charge of the upstream and downstream.

19. The current template being used by PPPRA in computing and paying PSF is full of in-built prices for wastages and inefficiencies (eg.

Lightering exercise, demurrage) that could be plugged to save the Nation’s scarce resources. We therefore recommend the revision of the template.

20. Henceforth the PPPRA margin of error on the payment Template for ascertaining allowable volumes on imported products should not be more than +/-5% as against the current +/-10% 21. The PPPRA should provide the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA advance copies of allocation and vessel arrival notification documents to enable the Navy monitor, track and interdict vessels seeking to avoid Naval certification.

22. The Executive Secretary of PPPRA 2009 - February, 2011 should be investigated and punished for the official recklessness he exhibited in the implementation of the Board decision to reverse the qualification for participation in the scheme. The allocation/ approvals to import products given to thirty-five (35) Companies before their formal registration with PPPRA testify to this. Companies that lack the required competence and expertise to import petroleum products and even those who did not meet up with the agreed standards were also awarded large chunks of the allocation, an act that culminated in huge loss of resources to the nation. Many Companies under his watch who had neither depots nor throughput agreement were allowed to

Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke participate in the Scheme contrary to the revised eligibility guidelines.

23. The practice whereby PPPRA as a regulator in the petroleum downstream sector being supervised by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources whose Minister is the Chairman of the Board of NNPC (a major importer/participant in the PSF scheme) negates the principles of checks and balances and international best practices. The Committee therefore recommends that the regulatory capacity of PPPRA be strengthened and the National Assembly should commence the process of amending the Act to make the Agency autonomous.

24. The PPPRA should, within two weeks of the adoption of this Report, conduct a performance assessment of ALL Companies involved in the PSF scheme and publish such reports.

25. The Committee is firm in its view that if any petroleum product is deserving of subsidy, HHK should enjoy a pride of place.

It therefore recommends the immediate reinstatement of subsidy for Kerosene not later than second quarter, 2012 at pump price of N50 per Litre.

“

It is hereby recommended that Mr President should reorganize the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to make it more effective in carrying out the much needed reforms in the oil and gas sector

26.

The Committee recommends that the sum of NGN557.70Billion should be provided for as Subsidy in the 2012 Appropriation Act, while the sum of N249.006B should be provided as subsidy for HHK (Kerosene).

Evidently, 445,000 bpd allocation to NNPC is sufficient to provide the nation with 40 MLPD PMS, 10 MLPD HHK, 8.97 MLPD AGO, 0.62 MLPD LPG and 2.31

Chairman, IPMAN, Mr. Victor Etefia Etim Ekpimah MLPD of FO at the current NNPC refining capacity of 53%. It is only AGO that daily consumption in full could not be achieved. Since AGO has been deregulated, other marketers can make up for the 3.03 MLPD shortfalls.

27.

The Committee recommends that FIRS should follow up on the companies listed earlier to pay their taxes with due penalties in line with the provisions of the Companies

Income Tax Act. 28. The PSF Guidelines should be revised to make Tax compliance a mandatory prequalification requirement for all participants under the Scheme.

29. Marketers who obtained FOREX but did not import petroleum products should be referred to the relevant AntiCorruption Agencies with a view to verifying what they used the FOREX for:

THOSE WHO OBTAINED FOREX BUT DID NOT IMPORT PETROLEUM PRODUCTS S/N NAMES OF MARKETERS 2010 2011 $ $ 1 BUSINESS VENTURES NIG LTD 22,927,339.96 2 EAST HORIZON GAS CO. LTD 20,735,910.81 3 EMADEB ENERGY 6,606,094.30 4 POKAT NIG. LTD. 3,147,956.19 5 SYNOPSIS ENTERPRISES LTD 51,449,977.47 6 ZENON PET & GAS LTD. 232,975,385.13 7 CARNIVAL ENERGY OIL LTD 51,089.57 8 CROWNLINES 4,756,274.94 2,131,166.32 9 ICE ENERGY PETROLEUM TRADING LTD _ 10 INDEX PETROLEUM AFRICA 6,438,849.64 11 RONADOIL&GASW/A 4,813,272.00 12 SERENE GREENFIELD LTD 4,813,360.75 13 SUPREME & MITCHELLES 16,947,000.00 14 TRIDAX ENERGY LTD 15,900,000.00 15 ZAMSON GLOBAL RES. 8,916,750.00 TOTAL 337,842,663.86 64,767,763.22 30. The following Companies that participated in the Scheme and refused to appear before the Committee and never submitted the required documents as was repeatedly announced during the hearing are to refund the various sums against their names. It is believed that these companies deliberately refused to appear because they had something to hide.

The relevant Anti- Corruption Agencies should ensure full recovery:

S/N 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

18.

NAME OF COMPANY Mut-Hass Petroleum Ltd Nepal Oil and Gas Service Oilbath Nigeria Techno Oil Ltd Somerset Energy Services Stonebridge Oil Limited Mobil Oil Nigeria AX Energy Limited CAH Resources Association Limited Crust Energy Limited Fresh Synergy Limited Ibafon Oil Limited Lottoj Oil and Gas Limited Oakfield Synergy Network Limited Petro Trade Energy Limited Prudent Energy & Service Limited Rocky Energy Limited TOTAL

AMOUNT N 1,102,084,041.30 2,353,911,979.10 1,019,644,138.97 1,036,514,387.08 3,015,221,487.94 1,784,158,258.14 14,934,371,661.76 1,471,969,643.31 1,052,466,415.28 1,192,651,581.76 1,417,029,059.70 4,687,730,540.46 1,427,429,910.95 988,920,219.15 1,471,027,874.73 1,360,898,638.10 1,620,110,167.58 41,936,140,005.31

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

PAGE 27

Doctors remove four extra limbs from onein-a-million baby who was born with six legs

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baby boy born with six legs has had a successful operation to remove his four extra limbs, doctors said yesterday.

The youngster from Karachi in Pakistan was believed to have had a parasitic twin, which had not developed properly in the womb, resulting in the extra legs.

A team of five doctors had fought to save the boy’s life at the National Institute of Child Health in Karachi.

The head of the NICH, Jamal Raza, said the abnormal birth was the result of a genetic disease which would affect only one in a million or more babies.

‘It was strange that apparently an abnormal baby with six legs was as normal as other children,’ he said.

Before surgeons could operate they said they had to work out which of the limbs belonged to the boy and which to his twin.

Doctors examined MRI, blood tests and CT scan reports before deciding to perform the surgery.

The operation lasted eight-hours and was performed in stages.

The baby had been in an intensive care unit ward since he was born last week to the wife of an X-ray technician.

Imran Shaikh, the baby’s father who lives in Sukkur, said he was grateful his son was treated.

‘We are a poor family. I am thankful to the government and doctors for helping us successful operating my baby,’ he said.

Shaikh and his wife of four years live in Sukkur, around 280 miles north of where his son is being cared for. His wife is

Doctors examined MRI, blood tests, and CT scans before deciding to operate on the boy. reported to be recovering well from the birth and in a good state of health.

His wife - who is also his cousin - has been unable to travel because she had a caesarean section delivery.

He said they were planning on naming their son Umar Farooq.

The Sindh provincial health department said they were examining if he needed any further treatment to live a normal life.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Critical: Doctors in Pakistan are fighting to save the life of the baby boy who was born last week with six legs because of a rare genetic condition

Dr Jamal Raza (right) along with Imran Sheikh reveal the operation was a success

Aid: Since the father of the baby made his public plea for help, the Sindh Governor has come forward and directed officials concerned to make sure the child receives all the medical care he needs.

Medical marvel: Since Shaikh made his public plea for help, the Sindh Governor has come forward and directed officials concerned to make sure the child receives all the medical care he needs.

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

BY EMMANUEL IRIOGBE emmacopi@yahoo.com 08026125552

That Air Force misdemeanor in Port Harcourt

I

t was reported over the weekend that a Nigerian Air Force helicopter on routine patrol in Port Harcourt, Friday “mistakenly” fired a rocket into a building. The building still under construction in the Woji District, is believed to be unoccupied at the time the missile landed on it and there were no casualties from the damage, Air Vice Marshal Abba Zannah, Commander of the air base in the city was reported to have told reporters.

This represents a very sad commentary to our military that have issues bothering on competence hanging as an albatross over its neck these past weeks.

Coming on the heels of the query purportedly issued the Nigerian government over its troops cowardly surrender of weapons and UN vehicles to rebel troops in Darfur, South Sudan, and their inaability to win the war with the Boko Haram sect at the domestic front, despite face saving talks to the contrary by the top echelon of the military, this can be described as not the best of times for our dear military.

Though, the Port Harcourt debacle was said not to have claimed any life, seeing the weapon dropped in an unoccupied building, the explanations given by the Air Force on why such a national disgrace should occur in the first instance remains untenable.

The air force account differs slightly from that of a Port Harcourt resident who gave a firsthand account of the incidence; According to a land lord, Chioma who was still shivering from the tension created by the explosion while talking to the journalists said he heard the deafening sound at about 730 am.

Adding that what he saw when he rushed out was a thick cloud of smoke all over the building. He said on further inspection, he noticed that the explosive device first landed on a Primera saloon car with registration number DX 879 KRD Lagos packed at a side in his compound before making a hole on his two rooms upstairs.

The land lord said he was grateful to God almighty that nobody

sustained injury or died in the ugly development.

According to the Air Force base commander who spoke after the unfortunate incidence; “We have commenced investigation into the incident to ascertain what made the rocket drop from the helicopter,” The issue of investigation into the matter as stated by the commander many believe forecloses any truth coming out of the matter. This is judging by history in the country where issues meant to be swept under the carpet are referred to panels for investigations. Such cases they claim die natural deaths and even when such constituted panels that are funded by government turn in their reports, their findings are never put to use but confined to the dust bins of history.

There are still unresolved cases of air force crafts crashes resulting in deaths of personnel trained to the highest level with task payers’ money which occurred between October and December 2011.

All we hear after such incidences are reassuring speeches from the top brass of the air force that investigation would be carried out. Sadly such issues end there.

The questions on most lips are legion; what could have made the missile to drop off the chopper, what if there were innocent citizens on the ground and many, with Nigerians not trusting government functionaries when issues concerning comments are concerned, what if there were actually casualties from the missile drop and the air force are covering their tracks to avoid national outrage?.

The truth remains that we never get to the truth of such disasters while no personnel has ever been punished after these numerous crashes. Yet they are quick to point to human errors as cause of these air disasters.

After all, humans are responsible for human errors and not robots or machines.

The truth must be told that the Nigerian Air Force should put its arts together and its house in order and stop embarrassing itself and the nation with these unexplainable crashes and missile drops.

FG pledges improved welfare, capacity for military

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resident Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday in Kaduna, promised to improve the welfare and professional capacity of the Armed Forces for them to meet global standards.

“It is my desire to transform the Armed Forces to a standard obtained in any similar institutions in the advanced world in terms of welfare, equipment, training and professionalism,” he stated.

The President made the promise during the graduation ceremony of Nigerian Navy cadets under the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Direct Short Service Course 20.

Represented by the Vice President, Mr Namadi Sambo, Jonathan said the Federal Government would support

the Navy, which recently acquired a new vessel to evolve more programmes to attend high premium.

He, however, advised the Navy to cooperate with other maritime institutions for effective service delivery and to achieve the nation’s security and socio-economic objectives.

Jonathan commended the NDA for training a specialised set of cadets to build a career in the Navy, urging them to maintain the standard.

The President also commended parents for encouraging their wards to enrol in the academy to serve their country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 85 officers, including 18 females, were

commissioned into the Navy cadet of the NDA Direct Short Service programme.

The cadets, now Navy Lieutenants, were recruited into the force after graduating from various institutions of higher learning and had undergone a nine-month training at the academy.

The Vice President had earlier reviewed a parade and various military displays by the graduands before they were commissioned into the Navy.

The Minister of State for Defence, Mrs Olusola Obada, Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Olusheyi Petinrin, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim were among dignitaries who witnessed the event. (NAN)

Soldiers on patrol on a deserted street.

NDA to graduate 18 female Navy cadets

E

ighteen female officers will be among the 85 Nigerian Navy cadets expected to graduate under the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) direct short service course.

The spokesman for the Academy, Lt. Col. Abubakar Edun,

told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Friday that the cadets, under course 20, would pass out on Saturday, April 21.

The cadets, who are graduates of various institutions of higher learning, had undergone a nine-

month training at the Academy.

They will be commissioned into the force as Nigerian Navy Lieutenants.

Edun said that Vice President Namadi Sambo was expected to supervise the passing out parade.

(NAN)

Terrorism: Pentagon creates clandestine service

T

he Pentagon is planning to up its spying operations against high-priority targets such as Iran under an intelligence reorganization approved last week

by Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, a senior defense official said Monday.

The newly created Defense Clandestine Service would work closely with the CIA to expand

espionage operations overseas at a time when the missions of the agency and the military increasingly converge.

The defense official said the plan was developed in response to a classified study completed last year by the director of national intelligence that concluded that the military’s espionage efforts needed to be more focused on

major targets outside war zones.

The new service will seek to “make sure officers are in the right locations to pursue those requirements,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss what he described as a “realignment” of the military’s human espionage efforts. (with agency report)

Again, North korea threatens South

N An Air Force helicopter

orth Korea issued an ominous new threat yesterday in its campaign against South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, vowing to carry out a special military attack that would reduce parts of Seoul to ash “in three or four minutes ... by unprecedented peculiar means and methods of our own style.”

The North’s state-run news agency said the “targets are the Lee Myung-bak group of traitors, the arch criminals, and the group of ratlike elements including conservative media destroying the mainstay of the fair public opinion.”

The statement, attributed to a “special operation action group” of the Korean People’s Army,

provided no additional details about how the attack might be carried out. But analysts said the statement differed from Pyongyang’s usual calls for sacred war and fiery revenge — background noise on the peninsula — because it laid out the scenario of a specific, targeted military strike. (with agency report)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

PAGE 29

Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire to Bauchi Farmers delighted with adopt same policy on cocoa prospects of Kafin Zaki dam

C

ote d’Ivoire, world’s largest exporter of cocoa and Ghana, second largest exporter, recently in Abidjan agreed to adopt same policy direction in the production and exportation of the commodity.

The Ivorian Minister of Agriculture, Mamadou Coulibaly, said the agreement, which would involve other West African countries, was reached after a prolonged meeting on modalities in Cote d’Ivoire, from April 12, 2012.

Coulibaly said that a high level delegation from the cocoa sector in Ghana and the government had meetings with stakeholders in the cocoa and coffee sector in Cote d’Ivoire on the policy formulation.

The Director General of the Council of Cocoa and Coffee in Cote d’Ivoire, Toure-Liste Massandje, said the meeting with the Ghanaian delegation was largely on the production, marketing and financing of the commodity.

(NAN)

Africa received $1.3bn for agriculture in 2011 — World Bank

T

he World Bank disbursed 1.3 billion dollars to support the financing of various agricultural programmes in Africa in 2011, a report on African Brief has stated.

The report, released at the ongoing spring meeting of the World Bank and the Intentional Monetary fund (IMF) in Washington D.C., said the funding was in line with response to the rising global food price.

“In response to the rising food prices worldwide, the bank scaled up its development financing for Agriculture programme across Africa, providing 1.3 billion dollars in 2011.

“The bank’s work is closely aligned with the comprehensive African Agriculture development programme, an Africa-owed and Africa led initiative, for increasing productivity in Agriculture,” the report stated.

It further revealed that the bank had till date committed 2 billion dollars for the fight against HIV and AIDs in Africa.

The report said that the fund for Africa helped to increase the global funding for the HIV and AIDS to rise from 1.6 billion dollars in 2001 to more than 16 billion dollars in 2010.

“To date, the bank has committed 772.8 million dollars to 22 projects across 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

It also stated that, the booster programme have contributed to significant progress in Benin, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Zambia,”.

The report noted that the bank had also doubled its investment in regional integration from 2.1 billion dollars in 2008 to 4.2 billion dollars in July 2011, adding that, “It will rise to 5.7 billion by July 2012,” the report added. (NAN)

F

armers in Filin Shagari in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of Bauchi State have expresses enchantment at the prospects of the proposed Kafin Zaki Dam in their locality by the Federal and State governments.

The residents, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kafin Zaki, said they were already enjoying the benefit of the all year round availability of water which has resulted to the bumper harvest in grains and vegetables in the area.

The Village Head of Filin Shagari, Malam Adamu Tungal, told NAN in Hausa that huge commercial activities in agricultural produce had been going on in the area for the past 20 years, when the idea of the dam was first muted by the administration of former President Shehu Shagari.

He said that businessmen and farmers from within and outside the state besieged the village on a daily basis to either trade or participates in agricultural activities because of the produce and the fertile land.

NAN reports that the Kafin Zaki Dam project is part of the Federal Government policy initiative to promote and encourage irrigation and farming among the rural communities to boost food production in the country.

The dam has encountered some controversies on the contractual agreement between the Federal Government and the contractor, which led to the termination of the project from the initial contractors and it’s handing over to Julius Berger Plc. NAN recalls that recently, Yobe and Borno States had kicked against

the development of the dam, claiming that the dam’s operation was a treat to their source of livelihood.

This informed the decision of the Federal Government to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study to ascertain the veracity of the claim.

On its own, the Bauchi State Government hired an acclaimed environmentalist to conduct an independent EIA study. The expert has since submitted the report to Governor Isa Yuguda.

Meanwhile, the governor has said that his administration was interested in expanding the scope of the dam to include electricity generation to the state and neighbouring areas as well the exploitation of its eco-tourism potential. (NAN)

FCTA urges youth to embrace Fadama III project

T

he Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mrs Olvadi Madayi, recently urged youths in the territory to embrace the Fadama III project.

Madayi made the call in Gwagwalada when she led a delegation of Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat top officials on an inspection tour of a Fadama III sub-project.

She noted the increased participation of youths in the project would reduce unemployment while urging the youths to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the project “rather than roaming the streets in search of white-collar jobs.”

The secretary, however, expressed satisfaction with the level of women participation in the project, adding that the Fadama III project was targeted at alleviating poverty at the grassroots, especially among vulnerable groups.

Madayi pledged to channel the challenges of access road facing most of the communities visited, especially the Gbanfa community in Yenche ward of Kuje Area Council to the appropriate authority.

“Our discovery during the tour is that there are no access roads

linking some communities where Fadama III sub-projects are sited,” she said.

“So, there is the need for us to do something about it and we will make sure we take it up with the appropriate authorities so as to ease the transportation of agricultural produce to the market,” she added.

Meanwhile, some of the Fadama Community Association (FCA) chairmen, who spoke to newsmen during the tour, commended the FCT Fadama Coordination Office for its commitment in mobilising rural communities for the project.

The Chairman of Gbanfa FCA, Mr Daudu Danjuma, who spoke on behalf of the Fadama Users Group (FUG) in the community, said the coming of Fadama III project to the area had impacted positively on the lives of residents.

“Before the coming of Fadama to this community, we were really cut off because we were not benefiting anything from the government,” Danjuma sressed.

Some of the Fadama Community Associations visited during the tour included Gbanfa, Rubochi and Chibiri in Kuje Area Council, as well as Naharati and Kekeshi in Abaji Area Council.

(NAN)

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state and Chief Audu Ogbeh, assessing part of wheat harvested by farmers in Marte LGA of the state under a CBDA programme in partnership with Borno state government.

FG working hard to make agriculture attractive – Jonathan

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has said the Federal Government was working hard to make agriculture attractive and profitable to encourage young educated Nigerians to the sector.

Jonathan announced this when he received Ms Joanna Hewitt, a Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Australia, at the State House, Abuja.

“We need to achieve selfsufficiency in food production, and one sure way is to make it attractive and profitable for the young graduates to want to participate in farming. Nigeria has the land and favourable climate to be able to

produce food for export,” he said.

The President welcomed Australia mining companies’ interest in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector and the promise of assistance in the development of the country’s agriculture.

He also expressed appreciation to the Australian government for the warm reception accorded the Nigerian delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October 2011.

Earlier, Hewitt had said that her country was interested in current opportunities to contribute to the development of Nigeria through

investments in the mining and agricultural sectors.

She commended Jonathan for Nigeria’s firm leadership and commitment to the sustenance of constitutional leadership and democracy in the West African subregion.

It was learnt that the President also received a delegation from the ECOWAS Chairman, President Allasane Quattara of Cote d’Ivoire, at a different audience at the State House.

The delegation, which was led

by Mr Adama Bictogo, briefed Jonathan on the crisis in Mali.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

PAGE 30

Former judge urges youths to embrace farming to boost food production

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former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mamman Nasir has advised youths to embrace agriculture to enhance food production.

Nasir gave the advice in Malumfashi, in Katsina state, at the weekend during the launching of the sale of government subsidised grains.

He urged all tiers of government to increase their commitment to agriculture and to pursue empowerment programmes with all sense of responsibility.

Nasir, who is Galadiman Katsina and District Head of Malumfashi, urged the youth to return to their family farms and till the land to grow more food for local consumption and export.

In his address, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the local government, Alhaji Mansur Rabi-uBanki, said bags of grains had been distributed to all the political wards of the area.

He said the grains would be sold at half the market prices to the public and explained that a measure (mudu) of maize would cost N80.

Rabi-u-Banki called on the people of the area to live in peace and support PDP to win the

forthcoming local government elections.

He said the sale of grains was meant to complement the state government’s initiative aimed at reducing hardship among the people.

Rabi-u-Banki also assured that the sale of subsidised fertiliser and other farming inputs would soon start in the area.

Meanwhile, he said his administration had erected 350 electricity poles and other electrical equipment to restore electricit Rabiu-Banki y supply to some communities.

The chairman also said that the council had rehabilitated 70 damaged boreholes and constructed 22 new ones to enhance water supply in the area.

He said the council had designed youth empowerment schemes, including the disbursement of interest-free loans to 200 youths for the operation of business ventures.

The chairman said the council would engage health technology graduates and holders of National Certificate in Education and deploy them to hospitals and schools.

(NAN)

Train more breeders for stable crops, expert advises FG

A

farmer, Mr Babatunde Obilana has urged the Federal Government to train more breeders for the 13 staple crops to enhance their production and food security in the country.

The 13 staple crops, he said were cassava, vegetables, yam, maize, cocoyam, cowpeas, beans and sweet potatoes, millet, plantain, banana, rice and sorghum.

Obilana, who is the team leader for Sorghum Transformation Value Chain in the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, made the call in Abuja recently.

He said the danger of farmers planting seeds that were not from breeders was that the quality and integrity of such seeds would not be maintained, while the yield would be poor, adding that “it is only qualified breeders that can produce seeds of the purest level of 99.9 per cent”.

“The certified seed will be done effectively and efficiently by the private seeds sector,” Obilana said.

He said the Seed Policy Enhancement in African Region (SPEAR) project had provided technical assistance and resources to breeders.

Obilana said that the project would enable systematic production of breeder foundation seeds with inbuilt reward to the developers of the seeds.

He explained that SPEAR project had assisted and had been a resource avenue to the breeders, foundation producers and the seeds sector.

“The project has also introduced seeds breeders to the licensing policy which has not been in use in Nigeria before,” he said.

The licensing policy is the agreement between the research institute that gave out the seeds

(licensor) and the company that received the seed (licensee).

Oblinana, who explained that the licensing would validate a lot of things which had not been validated before, noted that ‘’ there will be a more streamlined and organised marketing of produced seeds.”

He expressed regret that the major challenges facing the breeding industry was the lack of graduates of agriculture.

“Graduates of Agriculture are professionals and they should be treated as one because without them we won’t have the improved seed, which have food and nutrition security,” he said.

“Graduates do not want to venture into breeding because they see it as a non-money making venture, they should be made to know that as a breeder you can also earn good living.” he said. (NAN)

Ekiti backs FG’s withdrawal from fertiliser business

T

he Ekiti state Government recently threw its weight behind the Federal Government’s resolve to back out from procurement and distribution of fertiliser to farmers in the country.

The state government’s resolve was, however, not without some preconditions, even as it said that any alternative arrangement by the Federal government for the procurement of fertiliser must take care of problems often associated with middle-men as obtained in previous years.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources for the state, Mr Babajide Arowosafe, told journalists the “Growth Enhancement Support Service”, introduced recently by Federal Government was a welcomed development as long as it was achievable.

He said that both the State Government and the 16 Local Governments Councils in the state had been collaborating on how to make the best use of the opportunity by embarking on a sensitisation programme to draw the attention of rural dwellers to the scheme.

The commissioner disclosed that as at this month, a good number of farmers had joined one cooperative body or the other to facilitate access to the Federal Government’s agricultural loans and incentives.

He said that the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi had found out that mechanised agriculture was the only tool for transforming Ekiti into an industrialised society.

“The industrialised countries like America, Britain and China had testified that economic heights achieved by them started with agricultural revolution called

mechanised farming,” Arowosafe stated.

He stressed that it was in recognition of this that prompted the State Government to present an eight-point agenda where agriculture was regarded as the pillar for change, remarking that the goal of including agriculture in the agenda was to regain Ekiti’s lost position as a world leader in cocoa production.

“The projection of the state is that at least 50 per cent of internally-generated revenue will come from the agriculture sector and training of 20,000 youths in mechanised farming by the year 2014 among others,’’ he stated.

The commissioner noted that at present, the State Government had acquired a total of 27 new tractors in addition to maintaining 13 existing ones.

“However for sustainable food production, it is estimated that at least 100,000 hectares of land would be cultivated at the end of the day, he said.

On his part, the General Manager of the state’s Agricultural Development Programme, Mr Yinka Adeyemi, described land tenure system as a major problem that government had to contend with.

“It usually takes time to convince the families through the monarchs on the need to compulsorily acquire land resources for agriculture purposes,” he said.

A spokesman for the 16 Local Government Chairmen in the State, Chief Sunday Ibitoye, who is also the Chairman of Ado Local Government Area, stated that the Local Government Councils were ready to support any Federal Government initiative to boost agriculture. (NAN)

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development signs an agreement with the West African Cotton Company in a move that promises to revive Nigeria’s cotton production leadership in Africa.

Africa can feed itself, says Global agriculture experts

By Mohammed Kandi

T

wo of the world’s leading experts on food security and rural development have, during a recent panel discussion outlining the practical solutions necessary for Africa to feed its growing population, asserted that “Africa can feed itself”.

In a statement issued to journalist in Nairobi, Kenya, Professor of International Development at Imperial College London, Sir Gordon Conway, and Dr. Namanga Ngongi, former President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), issued an African point of view on the continent’s food security challenge as donor governments prepare to evaluate progress on billions of dollars committed to global food security and sustainable development.

“Global leaders and African governments must act,” said AGRA’s Dr. Ngongi, adding that “we must continue to put pressure on them to develop policies and technology that support smallholder farmers.”

The discussion reviewed recommendations from the recently released report by the Montpellier Panel entitled, “Growth with Resilience: Opportunities in African Agriculture,” which recommended that governments and the private sector must take to ensure long-term food security across the continent, cooperate to reduce food price volatility, drive private investments and build corridor projects to boost productivity of smallholder farmers· “Work with NGOs to ensure greater crop yields, combat land

and water degradation and build climate-smart agriculture· Partner with NGOs and civil society to scale up nutrition, focus on rural women and youth and build diverse livelihoods,” the statement advised.

The panel focused on leveraging successes across the African continent and the importance of forming new partnerships to ensure smallholder farmers overcome hunger and poverty and help feed Africa’s expanding population.

Managing Director of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Africa Office, Dr. James Nyoro said: “It is a fact that agricultural productivity has gone up in a number of countries,” adding that “What we need to do is identify those bright areas and follow their lead and replicate those efforts across the continent.”

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

PAGE 31

State crime and street crime: Two sides of one coin? (I) ANALYSIS

By Philip Rizkki

T

he revolutionary process that erupted in Egypt on January 25, 2011, is an uprising against crime. This crime was structural and legalised - made legal by the political leadership of Egypt and their friends and business partners that practice it.

Various criminal forces - the police, the secret police, the state security - exist in large part to protect these criminals' interests, with authority to enforce the ruling classes' "law" without judicial liability. These forces were the first line of defence of the ruling system and this is why, in the first days of revolution, the population targeted them and broke the chains of their control.

I will argue that unless these conditions that allowed for organised structural crime do not change, street-level crime will only increase. With the government structure lacking the basic measures to provide for the widest portion of the Egyptian public, it comes as no surprise that many of those whom the rulers exploit and neglect are taking back what they think is theirs.

Furthermore, I will argue that, with the current criminal economic changes taking place, the poor have the right to crime, unless we put an end to the ongoing trend of structural theft.

Street crime Since the January 25 revolution, the country has witnessed a rise in crime on its streets. I will not go into the details of any particular street crime.

These stories I mention are not unique and surely can be expanded upon by every reader in Egypt. Rather, it is the discourse about the crime that I want, briefly, to engage with.

On a recent trip to Suez, my taxi driver looked me up and down before offering to give me a ride. He said that he wouldn't give "just anyone" a ride, because he knew several other drivers who were robbed of their cars at knife or gunpoint by their customers in outlying areas.

He pointed at one street we passed and said: "I would never go down there."

A supermarket in the busy Munira neighbourhood, bordering downtown Cairo, reduced their working hours from 24 hours a day to 16.

Massive metal gates have been installed after somebody in a car tried to rob a shop one night even though it had security personnel.

On the morning of March 6, one of my friends found his car propped up on red bricks, without wheels.

Criminal acts by the state created the environment for revolution In a village on the outskirts of the Delta city of Tanta, armed men robbed families in broad daylight, and two children were kidnapped. Unlike many similar cases in urban centres, where ransoms were demanded, nothing was ever heard from the kidnappers.

According to rumours, the children's organs were sold on the black market.

The villagers believe that these crimes were permitted by the security forces - whose presence has been scarce since January 25, as they wait for their moment to return to the old order of things.

There are two intertwined reasons for the rise in street crime: the thirst for revenge, and the dire desperation of an underclass given permission by the ruling military junta to impregnate the population with a sense of fear, and a desire for the familiar "law and order" - with or without its old flaws.

While Egyptians have begun to take over the streets from the police force that terrorised them for years, the criminals behind the gun no longer wear uniforms. But a more important difference is that these crimes have made a geographical shift: they are

no longer strictly prioritising Egypt's underclass for street crime; the rich are actually a much more lucrative target and this is why the discourse of crime has expanded to the extent that it has.

Stories such as these are never ending. Some are exaggerated, some are rumours, but they all point to a changing reality on the streets of Egypt. "Everyday conversations have both an expressive and productive feature," writes Teresa Caldeira in City of Walls: Crime, Segregation, and Citizenship in Sao Paulo.

In this anthropological study of crime, Caldeira explains that crime becomes targeted as the source for social regression. In Cairo, this might be expressed in statements such as albalad rayha feen bas? ["Where is this country heading?"] or albalad bazet ["The country is ruined"], in reference to rising street crime.

"The talk of crime itself and the fear provoked by it has the power to reformulate the view of our world," Caldeira argues, thereby creating a simplistic understanding that too easily

“

covers over deeper underlying reasons for events around us.

State crime State crimes are different in that they are invisible, though certain people feel their effects much more intensely. They pose much greater threats to our way of living. They are not attached with the same sensual experience or immediate threat that comes with street crime. We don't feel the blade against our skin, only the dull pain of hunger in our stomachs. Furthermore, state crimes are so easily explained away by "experts" or grand narratives of state, history or religion.

The Alexandria neighbourhood of Muharram Bek boasts a police station renowned for the widespread use of torture within its walls. In December 2009, the police locked up a family and tortured them, as their 18-year-old son - Ibrahim Abdel Aziz - "interfered" in local business.

Ibrahim sold satellite TV subscriptions, and had been incarcerated without charge for a year, allegedly due to jobrelated problems. Upon his release, he learned that the two streets of his neighbourhood which he used to administer had

The Alexandria neighbourhood of Muharram Bek boasts a police station renowned for the widespread use of torture within its walls. In December 2009, the police locked up a family and tortured them, as their 18-year-old son - Ibrahim Abdel Aziz - "interfered" in local business.

been given to his competitor. The youth was determined to take back his old territory, and began cutting his old customers' cables, seeking a way to threaten his competitor.

The police went with orders to arrest Ibrahim, and when they didn't find him at home, arrested his parents and sister instead.

They were tortured and held at the police station for 35 days, before a court deemed them innocent and released them.

The criminal police wanted to send their message - no-one disrupts their interests, legal or illegal - and it was a message heard loud and clear.

When workers at the Starch and Glucose Factory in Torah started a sit-in in 2008, demanding better pay, the administration reported the case to the state security officer assigned to the factory. He sent his state criminals to threaten the protesting workers and then incarcerated and tortured two of them in a nearby prison. The workers went back to work immediately, their demands unmet.

"We used to be imprisoned in our bodies, but today I am free to speak, I am not imprisoned from the inside or outside," Abdullah, one of the workers who participated in the occupation of the same factory in February 2011, told me in an interview.

Both in 2008 and 2011, the workers protested against government officials' criminal form of privatisation.

Privatisation is not in and of itself criminal, but when you place a large quantity of valuable land, factories and institutions at the disposal of a few government members to auction off, the tendency - globally - has been to attain the maximum amount of personal gain.

A conservative estimate of theft comes from a think-tank the Egyptian Centre for Economic Studies - that advised on much of the privatisation process. Now, it estimates that "the assets that Egyptian officials sold off since 1991 have netted only about $10 billion, $90 billion less than their estimated value".

A court case is still pending as to how a Kuwaiti investor managed to purchase two factories belonging to the Starch and Glucose Company at a price absurdly below market. When the Kuwaiti investor decided to downsize, with the aim of using the factory land along the Southern Nile bank for other purposes, Mahmoud Ateya - who worked at the factory for 27 years - was forced to quit, along with 700 others. "Either I left or they were going to reduce my pay, or fabricate criminal charges against me," Ateya told me. "So we are thrown out on the streets."

Culled from Aljazeera.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

PAGE 32

UN set to renew Western Sahara force despite criticism Algeria ruling party mutiny reflects race for power

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he party at the heart of power since Algeria's independence from France is convulsed by an internal revolt that may be an early skirmish in the battle to succeed 75year-old President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Less than a month before the National Liberation Front, known by its French initials FLN, competes in a parliamentary election, an influential faction within the party has tried to oust Secretary-General Abdelaziz Belkhadem.

Belkhadem is a close ally of Bouteflika and is viewed by many as a potential successor, despite opposition to this from other powerful forces within Algeria's ruling elite.

"I wonder if the crisis inside the FLN is not linked to the next presidential election, and that the target is Belkhadem as a potential candidate," political analyst and writer Abed Charef told Reuters.

The FLN was the movement which fought French colonial rule and, after independence in 1962, it ruled in a one-party system, coming to be known as "the state within the state".

With echoes of the Soviet Communist Party, the constitution for years contained an article requiring any senior official to be an FLN member.

Though the FLN lost some of its status 20 years ago when Algeria adopted a multi-party system, even now it is seen as the "party of power".

Bouteflika is honorary chairman of the FLN and most government ministers are members.

But in the past few weeks, a fight for control that at times verged on farce has eclipsed the FLN's august traditions.

The United Nations Security Council meets at the United Nations in New York to discuss the ongoing violence in Syria April 21, 2012.

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he U.N. Security Council has reached a deal on a draft resolution to renew the mandate of the peacekeeping force in the disputed territory of Western Sahara this week, envoys said, but the Polisario Front independence movement and South Africa are disappointed.

The renewal of the mandate of the peacekeeping force, known as

MINURSO, marks an annual battle in the council between Morocco, backed by France, and African nations supporting Polisario.

The African countries have repeatedly called for U.N. peacekeepers to be given the task of monitoring alleged human rights abuses.

Morocco and France, its former

EU urges Sudan, South Sudan to talk, not fight

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he European Union called on the governments of Sudan and South Sudan yesterday to cease attacks on each other's territory and return to talks on clarifying their border, after Sudanese warplanes carried out air strikes on South Sudan.

"The EU urges both to return to the existing negotiating process under the auspices of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel and renew their efforts in good faith to reach agreement through peaceful dialogue," the EU Council said.

The Council represents EU members' governments. Their foreign ministers issued the statement at a meeting in Luxembourg.

Earlier on Monday, Sudanese warplanes carried out air strikes on newly independent South Sudan, killing three people near a southern oil town, residents and military officials said.

Sudan denied responsibility.

On Sunday, Sudan and South Sudan accused each other of launching fresh attacks on their territories and showed no sign of bowing to global pressure to return to the negotiating table.

Tensions have mounted since South Sudan declared independence from Sudan in July 2011, under a peace settlement that ended decades of civil war between the two sides.

South Sudan seized the disputed oil-producing territory of

...No negotiations with southern foe-Bashir

S

udanese President Omar alBashir vowed yesterday not to negotiate with South Sudan after it occupied the oilproducing Heglig region.

"We will not negotiate with the

Algeria"s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika attends the opening ceremony of the judiciary year at the supreme court in Algiers, October 29, 2008.

colonial master, have resisted the idea that the peacekeepers should report on rights abuses in Western Sahara, a sparsely populated tract of desert that has phosphates, fisheries and, potentially, oil and gas.

Former British diplomat Carne Ross, who heads the Independent Diplomat, a group that advises Polisario, wrote in the Guardian

newspaper last week that Western Sahara is the "forgotten first source of the Arab Spring." He was referring to the Moroccan authorities' deadly crackdown on protests there by the Saharawi population in late 2010.

While the Security Council has never formally assigned the peacekeepers the role of human rights monitoring, Morocco has faced pressure to allow language on human rights in the resolutions on Western Sahara. Rabat insists the territory should come under its sovereignty, but the Polisario contends it is a sovereign state.

The latest draft calls on both sides to respect human rights and welcomes Morocco's decision to set up a national council on rights and grant access to the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council.

Previous resolutions had made only a vague reference to the "human dimension" of the conflict.

The Polisario, which represents the Saharawi people, waged a guerrilla war against Moroccan forces until the United Nations brokered a ceasefire in 1991 with the understanding that a referendum would be held on the fate of the territory.

The referendum was never held and attempts to reach a lasting deal have floundered.

South's government, because they don't understand anything but the language of the gun and ammunition," he told Sudanese troops at a barracks near the oilfield along the contested border.

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, July 1, 2011

Heglig earlier in April, raising fears of a return to all-out war. But it announced it had withdrawn

on Friday, after sharp criticism from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Sudan and South Sudan have been drawing closer to a full-scale war in recent months

Militia clashes kill one in southern Libya: officials

C

lashes between two Libyan militias in the country's southernmost desert killed one person and injured 13 yesterday, officials said, underlining the unrest and ethnic tensions still raging eight months after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

Fighting first erupted on Saturday after the Libya's Shield militia, an Arab force from the northern coastal city of Benghazi, travelled south to the mostly non-Arab area near Libya's southern borders with Chad and Sudan to reinforce the army.

An army spokesman, who asked not to be named, told Reuters violence broke out in the city of al Kufra after the area's non-Arab Tibu tribe found

one of its members dead in the street and blamed the army.

There was a pause in the violence on Sunday but fighting broke out again in the centre of Kufra yesterday, said local officials.

Hussein Shakai, from the Tibu tribe and head of the Kufra community centre, told Reuters Libya's Shield fighters attacked Tibu neighbourhoods with rockets, leaving at least six houses burned to the ground. The Tibu then retaliated, he said.

Abdel Bari Idris, head of the Supreme Security Committee of Kufra, said that the army was not involved in the fighting and had retreated from the area.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

PAGE 33

Hollande floors Sarkozy, wins first round in French election

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ocialist challenger Francois Hollande has narrowly won the first round of France's presidential election, setting himself up for a May 6 runoff with incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy.

Hollande beat the conservative Sarkozy in Sunday's 10-candidate first round by 28.6 per cent to 27.1 per cent, the interior ministry said, with 99 per cent of votes counted.

Marine Le Pen's National Front came third with 18 per cent, the highest result so far for the far-right party.

Le Pen's surprisingly strong showing could now throw open opinion poll projections that had given Hollande a 10-point lead in the runoff.

Speaking to his supporters, Hollande said he would refocus Europe's crisis response on growth and jobs if he won the presidency.

"My final duty, and I know I'm being watched from beyond our borders, is to put Europe back on the path of growth and employment," he said.

Sarkozy, in his address, challenged Hollande to three televised debates ahead of the runoff, the results of which will decide France's president for the next five years.

Le Pen, 43, daughter of former paratrooper and National Front founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, said: "The battle of France has only just begun."

She declared that her wave of support was "shaking the system" of mainstream consensus politics.

"We are now the only real

opposition," Le Pen said.

Her breakthrough mirrored advances by anti-establishment Eurosceptical populists from Amsterdam and Vienna to Helsinki and Athens, as anger over austerity, unemployment

and bailout fatigue deepen due to the eurozone's grinding debt crisis.

Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon came fourth with 12 per cent, while centrist Francois Bayrou garnered nine per cent.

A handful of outsiders rounded out the field.

Voting began on Saturday in France's oversees territories, which are mainly islands dotted around the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Francois Hollande, Socialist Party candidate for the 2012 French presidential election, holds his ballot.

D

utch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his cabinet have offered their resignation to Queen Beatrix after the collapse of a parliamentary partnership with a far-right party.

"It has just been announced officially that the prime minister went to meet with the Queen... to give news of his and his cabinet's resignation," said Al Jazeera's Jonah Hull, reporting from the Hague.

The Dutch government information service confirmed on Monday that Rutte had met with Queen Beatrix and she had accepted his resignation, asking him to tend to pressing matters of state with a caretaker government for the time being.

The resignation has been widely expected since the weekend when Rutte acknowledged that his government's rift with antiIslam politician Geert Wilders' Freedom Party would likely lead to early elections, otherwise due in May 2015.

Turkey says Israel not welcome at NATO summit

T

‌ Sarkozy courts far right after initial loss

F

rench President Nicolas Sarkozy appealed directly to far right voters on Monday with pledges to get tough on immigration and security, after a record showing in a first round election by the National Front made them potential kingmakers.

Polls show centre-right leader Sarkozy on course to become the first French president to lose a bid for re-election in more than 30 years, trailing Socialist challenger Francois Hollande ahead of a May 6 run-off.

Hollande pipped Sarkozy in Sunday's 10-candidate first round by 28.6 percent to 27.2 percent, but National Front leader Marine Le Pen stole the show, surging to 17.9 percent, the biggest tally a far-right candidate has ever managed.

Her performance mirrored advances across the continent by anti-establishment Eurosceptical populists from Amsterdam and Vienna to Helsinki and Athens as the euro zone's grinding debt crisis deepens anger over government spending cuts and unemployment.

"National Front voters must be respected," Sarkozy told reporters as he left his campaign

Dutch PM resigns after failed austerity talks

Mark Rutte informed the Dutch queen of his plans for resignation yesterday

Workers work on the cruise liner Mavi Marmara which is under maintenance in a shipyard in Istanbul May 30, 2011.

urkey has refused to allow Israel to take part in a NATO summit next month because the Jewish state has not apologised for the 2010 killing of Turkish activists in a raid on a ship taking aid to Palestinians, a Turkish official said yesterday.

Relations between the regional powers deteriorated sharply after Israeli commandos raided the Mavi Marmara aid vessel in May 2010 to enforce a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip and killed nine Turks in clashes with activists.

Last September, Turkey expelled Israel's envoy and froze military cooperation after a U.N. report on the raid failed to prompt an apology from Israel.

"We did not give our consent on that issue," a Turkish official told Reuters when asked if Turkey was blocking Israel's participation in a NATO summit in Chicago on May 20-21.

He said Turkey was still seeking an official apology and compensation for the victims of the Mavi Marmara raid.

"NATO is an alliance and even though Israel is not a member its attendance means ... positive dialogue with NATO and all its members and without sorting this issue out we deem it not appropriate for Israel to be around," the official said.

Turkish media reported that some NATO members had sought Israel's participation in the summit as part of the alliance's partnership cooperation programme, designed to strengthen relations with nonmember countries.

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

Suu Kyi’s party ‘boycotts’ assembly over oath

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ung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's pro-democracy leader, and newly elected MPs from her National League for Democracy (NLD) party have refused to attend the opening session of parliament over a dispute regarding the wording of the parliamentary oath.

Suu Kyi and other members of her party refused to travel to the capital Naypyidaw to enter parliament yesterday.

The NLD wants the phrasing in the politicians' oath changed from "safeguard the constitution" to "respect the constitution".

Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay, reporting from Naypyidaw, said: "The National League of Democracy is not calling it a boycott, although it is really exactly that.

"They have not turned up to the parliamentary sessions today. They have not even made the trip from the former capital Yangon to Naypyidaw.

"We have had one session already of the Upper House and there was no sign of NLD. The issue of the boycott was not even on the official agenda of the Upper House."

The NLD has petitioned the constitutional court to change the oath, and Suu Kyi has written to Thein Sein, Myanmar's president, asking him to reword the vow of allegiance.

Suu Kyi, who spent much of the past two decades locked up by the country's military leaders, campaigned in byelections on a pledge to amend the country's constitution, which was drawn up the country's former government.

Her party won 43 out of 45 seats in the historic by-elections that gave the Nobel Laureate her first seat in parliament.

Sein said on Monday duirng a fiveday visit to Japan that he had no plans to change the oath.

The president told reporters in Tokyo he would like to "welcome" Suu Kyi to parliament, but that it was up to her whether or not she took up the seat.

Analysts say the Myanmar president needs the opposition in the parliament, dominated by the militarybacked party, to get international legitimacy.

Myanmar's military rulers ceded power to a quasi-civilian government after a November 2010 election marred

by opposition complaints of rigging, and won by a party set up by the military.

The new government headed

by Sein has released hundreds of political prisoners and introduced a wave of reforms including loosening media controls, allowing trade unions and protests, talks with ethnic minority rebels and sweeping economic changes.

Bridget Welsh, associate professor at Singapore Management University, told Al

Jazeera: "The international community may see this exactly for what this is, and that seems rather petty. It's about a word and not necessarily on principles.

"Most of the international community recognises that there are much more serious problems facing the country, poverty, development and so forth.

"This could lead to backlash in the international community.

Also it could lead to a backlash domestically, because I think it will be very hard to translate it to

ordinary people who voted for her, they may feel a sense of betrayal.

"Finally, of course, this could jeopardise the trust relationship that's been moving the process forward."

The oath is in an appendix to the constitution, and it is unclear whether it can be changed without the approval of 75 per cent of parliament.

The constitution automatically allocates 25 per cent of the parliamentary seats to unelected representatives of the military, and Suu Kyi's party maintains that is undemocratic.

…EU suspends sanctions on Myanmar

E

uropean Union nations have rewarded Myanmar for its "remarkable" reforms by suspending most sanctions, a move opening the way to a potential trade and investment bonanza for Europe.

EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg yeaterday approved a one-year suspension of sanctions against almost 500 individuals and more than 800 firms, but keep an arms embargo in place.

"The situation in the Myanmar is "looking much better" after the "remarkable progress" culminating in opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's election to parliament on April 1," a senior EU diplomat who asked not to be identified, said.

But a decision to suspend rather than remove restrictive measures aims to "send a signal that we are continuing to watch", he added.

"It is not set in stone that this [reform] trajectory will continue".

"We will now enter into an active collaboration with Myanmar, to assist the reform process and to contribute to economic, political and social development."

In a first sign of discord, Suu Kyi's party announced on Sunday it would postpone its

parliamentary debut in a dispute over the swearing-in oath.

Despite the gathering pace of reforms by Myanmar's military leaders, EU nations were split over doing away with sanctions, with countries such as Germany favouring a swift lifting while Britain remained keen to maintain leverage in a nation still dominated by the army.

In an about-turn following the April 1 vote, however, David Cameron, the British prime minister, and Nobel laureate Suu Kyi urged a suspension of measures dating back to 1996 and reinforced several times since.

In all, 491 individuals stand targeted by an EU travel ban and asset freeze, though the bloc last February eased its stand by lifting a visa ban on 87 top Myanmar officials, including President Thein Sein.

On the economic front, the EU imposed a ban on doing business in Myanmar, barring investment and banning imports of the country's lucrative timber, metals and gems.

As businessmen queue up to return, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton this week said she would travel to Myanmar on April 28-30 and had invited the southeast Asian state's foreign minister to Brussels.

Newly appointed military representatives of the parliament took the oath yesterday

Egypt terminates gas deal with Israel

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he head of the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company has said it has terminated its contract to ship gas to Israel because of violations of contractual obligations, a decision Israel said overshadowed the peace agreement between the two countries.

Mohamed Shoeb, the gas company's top official, said Sunday's decision was not political. "This has nothing to do with anything outside of the commercial relations,'' Shoeb said.

He said Israel had not paid for its gas in four months. Yigal Palmor, Israeli foreign ministry spokesman, denied the claim of not paying.

natural gas for 40 per cent of its supplies to produce electricity, the chairman of a government holding firm said on Sunday.

The Israeli side said the decision was "unlawful and in bad faith", accusing the Egyptian side of failing to supply the gas quantities it is owed. The dispute is under international arbitration.

Israel insists it is paying a fair price for the gas.

After the many disruptions to the supply of gas over the past year, Israeli ministers have urged the speedy exploitation of recently discovered gas fields off the country's northern coast.

Israeli officials believe that exploitation of two major natural gas fields could compensate for the loss of Egyptian gas.

The Egyptian company EGAS confirmed on Sunday the termination of the 20-year-old contract, under which Egypt supplied 40 percent of Israel's natural gas.

EGAS Chairman Mohamed Shoeib said the decision was not political, telling Egypt's Hayat TV that "EGAS ended the deal because the other party didn't fulfil its commitments".

Egypt was the first of two Arab countries to sign a peace treaty with Israel, in 1979, followed by Jordan in 1994.

Ties have been strained since President Hosni Mubarak, an advocate of the peace deal, was

toppled by a popular revolt last year.

Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz voiced alarm on Sunday about the economic as well as diplomatic repercussions of the decision to end the contract.

The supply pipeline running through the lawless Sinai peninsula has been damaged repeatedly by saboteurs in the past year, causing extensive supply disruptions, and Israel had warned residents to expect electricity outages this summer.

Steinitz also said the Egyptian cancellation had set "a dangerous precedent which casts a shadow on the peace agreements and the peaceful atmosphere between Egypt and Israel".

… Gas cutoff a business dispute, says Israel

I

President Thein Sein has surprised observers with a series of reforms since taking office in 2011

The 2005 Egypt-Israel gas deal has come under strident criticism from leaders of the popular uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak, the longtime Egyptian president, last year.

Critics charge that Israel got bargain prices, and Mubarak cronies skimmed millions of dollars off the proceeds.

The sale of gas to Israel, which signed a peace treaty with Egypt in 1979, has always been controversial in the Arab world's most populous country. It was the largest trade deal between the two former foes.

Egyptian militants have blown up the gas pipeline to Israel 14 times since the uprising.

Israel relies on Egyptian

srael, aiming to avoid further damage to its troubled ties with Cairo, said yesterday it saw the Egyptian termination of a deal to supply Israel with natural gas as part of a business rather than a diplomatic dispute.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israeli radio stations the cancellation of the deal was "not a good sign," but added "We want to understand this as a trade dispute. I think that to turn a business dispute into a diplomatic dispute would be a mistake."

"Israel is interested in maintaining the peace treaty and we think this is also a supreme interest of Egypt," he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

PAGE 35

Caviar speed eating contestants battle for world championship crown

Winner Alexander Valov devours a bowl of caviar (Picture: Reuters/ Maxim Shemetov)

Contestants battle for the crown (Picture: Andrey Smirnov/AFP/Getty)

winner has been crowned in the world's first caviar speed eating world championships in Russia and possibly the poshest too.

Alexander Valov picked up the crown after devouring half

compete at random.

Black caviar is a highly sought after delicacy in Russia, mainly being sold on the black market for thousands of pounds.

Organisers reportedly spent

A

a kilogram of black cavier in just one minute and 26 seconds.

Hundreds of guests, many dressed in suits, attended the event at The Apartment Restaurant in Moscow where 12 contestants were picked to

ÂŁ43,000 on the event, with each portion scoffed by contestants worth an estimated ÂŁ3,000.

The 49-year-old picked up a small cash prize for his sterling effort and, although he may

not feel like it straight away, some more of the posh nosh to take home.

Those in attendance were also allowed to try the gourmet 'fish eggs' once the event had finished.

Sealy season? Fun-loving seal poses for photographs on Norfolk beach

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hat's what you call the seal of approval as a sniggering seal stretches out on a Norfolk beach as it poses for a series of snaps.

This flippery customer appeared to give photographer Sean Driscoll permission to take its portrait as it lolled on the sands at Horsey beach in Norfolk.

The giggling marine m ammal seemed to find something so funny at one point it doubled up as it lazed on the huge expanse of sand.

It was also spotted crossing its legs and appeared to wave to beach walkers as it was being snapped.

One witness said: 'Something has amused this seal, as it looks as though he is having a good laugh.'

But, after soaking up the limelight, the marine mammal soon became less keen on the attention and covered its face with its paws before heading back to the North Sea. The area is one of Britain's best places to spot seals between April and October with two species - common and grey - living in colonies.

We haven't quite decided if the Norfolk smiler out-cutes the pair of smooching seals snapped at Gold Harbour, South Georgia, recently.

Not to mention the legendary group of sea otters that were p i c t u r e d c h i l l i n g out on their backs in the sea off the coast of Moss Landing, California, last year.

Life's a beach for this happy seal (Picture: Caters)

Dog interrupts live news bulletin with impromptu TV appearance

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esidents sitting down to watch the news in Toronto received a surprise when a small dog interrupted a live bulletin with an impromptu TV appearance.

As newsreader Leslie Roberts began to introduce a news story, Storm the weather dog popped his head up from beneath the table - much to everyone's surprise.

After finishing off the news item with the minimum of fuss, the unruffled news anchor said: 'People may have noticed a few minutes ago I was reading the news when a dog suddenly popped

up.'

He then referred the audience to the dog's owner, weather man Anthony Farnell, who helped explain the surprise appearance.

'He was supposed to actually stay underneath the desk, but he did pop up out of the blue,' said the meteorologist.

'You are not seeing things.

You are not hallucinating at home.'

Storm, a cross between a poodle and a golden retriever, has been an online hit since making his appearance as the show's copresenter, with the clip going viral across the internet.

Five minutes of fame: Storm makes an impromptu appearance (Picture: Twitvid)

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

Blindness cure step closer after scientists replace lost light-sensitive cells in back of the eye

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treatment that has helped mice see in the dark could one day restore sight to the blind.

British doctors used injections of healthy cells to repair the damaged eyes of rodents.

The results were dramatic, with small numbers of cells restoring vision up to half of normal levels.

The work is at an early stage but if successful hundreds of thousands of Britons could benefit, such as those with age-related macular degeneration – one of the most common forms of blindness.

University College London researchers took healthy rods – tiny structures in the back of the eye essential for seeing in dim light – from young mice and injected them into the eyes of adult mice whose rods didn’t work.

After four to six weeks, the new rods appeared to be working almost normally and had formed the connections needed to transmit information to the brain.

When the treated mice were put in a dimly-lit pool, they headed straight for the exit.

Untreated mice swam in circles, proving the treated ones could see the way out, the journal Nature reports.

Lead researcher Professor

Robin Ali said: ‘Patients who have lost all vision tell me that what they’d really appreciate is a treatment that gives them the ability to see light, to be able to navigate to see the door.’

The British and American scientists say much more work is needed before the technique can be attempted on human patients.

The first clinical trials might be five or 10 years away.

But the researchers wrote in the journal Nature: ‘The results presented here demonstrate for the first time that transplanted rod-photoreceptor precursors can integrate into a dysfunctional adult retina, and, by directly connecting with the host retinal circuitry, truly improve vision.’

The undeveloped precursor cells used in the study were taken from week-old mice. Up to 32,000 of the cells were integrated into the retinas of recipient animals.

Tests showed that visual responses in the brains of the mice were enhanced after the procedure.

To see how the transplants affected behaviour, mice were placed in a dimly lit Y-shaped water maze in which one of two routes led to escape. This required swimming towards a visual cue, a grating pattern.

After treatment, four of nine

The normal mouse swims towards the light in the test at Moorfields Eye Hospital night-blind mice completed the task in 70 per cent of trials.

Untreated mice, and those given “sham” treatments, performed no better than by chance.

Cell integration in animals that performed best tended to be clustered, rather than spread widely across the retina. This suggested that besides the number of cells, the closeness of the cells to one another might be important.

Professor Phil Luthert, director of the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, said: ‘This is a landmark paper and the techniques used here are part of a pretty big push in regenerative medicine.

‘It was only a few years ago that we wouldn’t have thought repairing adult systems in this way would be possible - it was assumed to be a bridge too far, but with retinas at least, it seems

entirely feasible.

‘It is still going to be another five or ten years at least before we think about doing anything with patients, though we are now making significant progress along the way.

‘What is truly remarkable about this field is how well transplanted cells seem to be accepted by the retina where they move into the right place and effectively wire themselves up.

‘The next challenges faced by scientists in this area concern how many cells can be got into the retina, how well they can be made to connect and then to see just how effectively they will work.

‘We also do not know how longterm any effects will be, whilst we have good reason to believe that any procedures would be long-lasting, at this stage we are only speculating.’

The research offers new hope for patients with diseases such as the genetic disorder retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The disease destroys retinal cells, especially the rods, leading to progressive loss of vision.

Around 25,000 people in the UK are affected by the disorder.

David Head, chief executive at the retinitis pigmentosa charity RP Fighting Blindness, which part-funded the research, said: ‘This is fantastic progress and exciting for patients faced with sight loss as a result of retinitis pigmentosa.

‘To read that cells appeared to be functioning almost as well as normal rod-photoreceptor cells and had formed the connections needed to transmit visual information to the brain is truly amazing. This is a great step forward.’

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Positive outlook keeps heart healthy, scientists say

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The mice who had a transplant of photo receptors were able to follow the light (above). The untreated mice swam in circles (below)

Mice

hey found that the most optimistic people are up to 50 per cent less likely to suffer a coronary or a stroke.

Earlier medical studies have shown that negative states such as depression, anger, anxiety and hostility can be detrimental to cardiovascular health.

Positive psychological wellbeing appears to help the heart, according to recent research But in the first and largest systematic review on the topic, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found that positive psychological wellbeing appears to help the heart.

Lead author Julia Boehm said: ‘The absence of the negative is not the same thing as the presence of the positive. We found that factors such as optimism, life satisfaction, and happiness are associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease regardless of such factors as a person’s age, socio-economic status, smoking status or body weight.

‘For example, the most

optimistic individuals had an approximately 50 per cent reduced risk of experiencing an initial cardiovascular event compared to their less optimistic peers.’

In a review of more than 200 studies in two major scientific databases, Doctor Boehm and senior author Laura Kubzansky found that psychological assets

such as optimism and positive emotion afford protection against cardiovascular disease.

These factors also seem to slow the progression of disease.

Doctor Boehm and Professor Kubzansky also investigated the association between psychological factors and the biological markers and actions that influence the health of the heart.

Positive psychological wellbeing appears to help the heart, according to recent research

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

PAGE 37

Northerners are at home in Asaba in times of crisis INTERVIEW Can you tell our us about yourself? am Honourable Bawa Abdullahi, former member of Asaba South Local Government and member of the Arewa Traders Association of Delta state.

How long have you being in Delta state?

I was born and brought up here in Delta state; that is 45 years ago.

But my father is indigene of Kaduna state.

How did you secure the chance of becoming a Councillor in Asaba, a SouthSouth state, being a Hausa man from the North?

I have always been participating in active politics here in Delta state, since the period of National Party of Nigeria (NPN), since the time of my father; he was also a very active member of the party alongside the late Chief Dennis Osadebe.

Though we were very young that time, but they carried us along in whatever they were doing. So, growing up, we continued in that direction. We became members of the party and anytime there are party activities, we do participate. Whenever there is election, I used to partake actively, especially in the area where the Arewa community are in their majority. So, because of recognition of my participation and efforts in the party, I stood for election in my area and being that, Arewa sons and daughters are many in my ward I won successfully here in Asaba, Delta state capital.

Away from politics, how would describe your stay in Asaba, compared to an Asaba man living in Kaduna?

Honesty, going by the report

I

Hournarable Bawa Abdullahi, was a former councilor in Oshimile South Local Government Area of Delta state. He was born and bred there but affirmed in an encounter with our reporter, Lawal Sadiq Sanusi, who was in Asaba on Peace Building Mission organised by an NGO, Love to the World Initiative, that there was no discrimination against the Northerners by their Southern counterparts, and that any time there was crisis in the East, the Northerners find solace in Asaba which is just a stone-throw from Onitsha in Anambra state. we hear on daily basis, I will say my stay here in Asaba is more comfortable and peaceful. I don’t think an Asaba man living in Kaduna has the kind of comfortability I have here in Asaba. We interact freely with the people here, I speak their language fluently, we attend cabinet meeting with the traditional ruler of Asaba here. So, I will say, we don’t have problem whatsoever Have you ever received any threat from the people of Delta state to leave their land?

There has never been such threat; we have been living successfully. Whenever there is crisis, the state government and the people themselves give us protection. Even when there is crisis in the North and there is fear of reprisal attacks in the Southern part of the country, both government and the people of Delta will rise and say, there will be no retaliation in Delta state.

That means there has not been any crisis where a Northern is killed in Delta state?

There is nothing like that, the

little crisis we have had was between Fulani cattle rearers and farmers. Even that one did not happen in Asaba, it happened in the villages. When there was misunderstanding between Fulani and farmers and Fulani cattle rearers went and killed a farmer, the youths in the town rose and wanted to start reprisal in Asaba town, saying that, wherever they see any Hausa-Fulani man, they will also kill him, but the state government quickly waded in and stopped the crises and since then, we did not have any crisis in the state be it religious or tribal.

About three or four months ago, we had the report of bomb blast in a mosque in Sapelle, Delta State. What was the situation like, how did you react to it?

Yes, we went to Sapelle, the Arewa community leaders residing in Asaba which the Sarkin Hausawa is the Chairman and Arewa Traditional Rulers Council, Delta state, to which I am also member went to Sapelle and we saw everything, it was not

Hon. Bawa Abdullahi actually bomb, because it only destroyed a small part of the ceiling of the mosque. There was a man inside the mosque when they threw the explosive into the mosque and it exploded in his presence. So, we took the man to Ogara Hospital, from there to Benin Teaching Hospital, he just sustained little injury, but papers carried that it was a bomb blast; if it was bomb blast, the mosque would have been shattered down. Maybe it was just some kind of explosive materials put together, just to scare people and cause confusion.

We went into the mosque and it was not shattered as reported. It cracked the ceiling. Even the man that was injured was discharged not too long after then and the state government paid his hospital bills.

Also, the last they threw knockout into an Islamic School at Sapelle, we went there again and discovered that it was a knockout and nobody was injured. But on the contrary, we read on paper that it

was a reprisal of the Boko Haram attacks in the North, but I can tell you that there was nothing like reprisal attack in Delta state.

So, what is your call to your Northern brothers?

My appeal is that they should live in peace with other people as one Nigerians, because Delta state that we are staying here is very peaceful; when people run from Anambra, Imo Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and come to Delta State, they feel as if they are already in the North. The state government gave accommodation; even those that were injured in the crisis at Onitsha were all treated in Delta state free.

How many are you the Northerners in Asaba?

Only in Asaba, we Northerners are almost 10,000 and we have Northern in their large numbers in other towns of Delta like, Sapelle, Agbor, Warri and Uyeli

PDP: Group tasks Tukur over flawed congresses

By Lawrence Olaoye

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group, PDP Renaissance Forum, has urged Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the party's National Chairman to revisit the outstanding issue of flawed congresses in nine states in line with the directives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. INEC in a letter dated March 5, 2012 which was signed by its Secretary, Abdullahi Kaugama and addressed to the National Chairman of PDP, said the Ward congresses in Taraba, Sokoto, Adamawa, Plateau, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Lagos, Anambra and Katisna were not held in line with

laid down guidelines for the congresses at the Ward government and insisted that other congresses should be postponed pending when fresh Ward congresses are conducted.

Reacting to the delay in conduct of fresh primaries in the affected states, the Coordinator of the PDP Renaissance Forum, Barrister Timi Williams said the group is concerned about imminent mass defection appears that is looming in some state chapters by aggrieved members of the party.

According to him, some of the party members who were shortchanged by the fraudulent conduct of the Ward congresses are running out of patience over when

the national leadership of the party will summon the political will to conduct fresh Ward congresses.

"Tukur told Nigerians that it is a new dawn and a new day in PDP, he should summon the political will to do the right thing before opposition parties capitalize on the rift in the party to lure our members out of the party.

"As it is we are seeing mass defections in Edo and some South West states and this trend might extend to the nine states unless the new leadership of the party delivers on their promise that internal democracy will be entrenched once again in the PDP. "We are aware that initially

we had flawed congresses in 11 states but Nasarrawa and Lagos states complied with the directives to conduct fresh congresses but unfortunately in the remaining states where we have governors elected on the platform of the PDP the governors have frustrated any attempt to conduct fresh congresses.

"Tukur must show that he has the capacity to confront these governors who hijacked the congresses in the nine states and order for fresh congresses and how he handle this matter that his predecessor lacked the courage to address will go a long way in giving Nigerians picture of what to expect under his leadership"

He also reminded Tukur of the assurance given by President Goosluck Jonathan during the 58 National Executive Committee meeting last December that the national leadership of the party will not accept the outcome of any hijacked congresses and imposition of candidates.

Last week the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh told newsmen during an interactive session that the new National Working Committee, NWC, has not looked into the INEC letter on the flawed congresses in nine states and outstanding petitions arising from aggrieved PDP members from the affected states.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

Forum tasks Nigerian Women in Diaspora on 30% Affirmative Action

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L-R: Speaker of Gambian National Assembly, Hon. Abdoulie Bojang, with Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on inter-parliamentary relationhip between Nigeria and the Gambia, over the weekend in Banjul.

Ebira group carpets Wada, says he’s foot dragging From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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he Ebira Peoples' Vanguard, (EPV), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has carpeted the state governor, Captain Idris Wada, for his foot dragging on the appointment of the Secretary to the state government, (SSG), after almost 100 days in office as an act of injustice against the people of Central Senatorial district of the state.

In a statement signed by the President and Secretary of the group, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Ado-Sadiq and Tijani Ramat Momoh respectively, which was made available to the press

on Sunday, the group accused the governor of his negation of the gentle man agreement reached by Kogi stake holders to cede the SSG to the central zone of the state, "We want to Advice governor Idris Wada to show appreciation to the zone (Kogi central) that made him to win the election. If he can not compensate the zone with extra positions, he should show appreciation by giving us our rights" they counseled According to the statement, the agreement was that while the Eastern flank should produced the governor the other two zones, west and central were to produce the deputy governor

and the SSG respectively.

The group regretted that while the other two zones have taken their slots, the SSG which is for central has not been appointed, lamenting that it was unbelievable for a governor not able to appoint key officers even after 10 weeks in office calling him to brace up to the challenges of governance.

While stressing that all the governors elected within the same period and even after him have since constituted their cabinets, the group regretted that Wada has yet to submit names of his cabinet to the state Assembly.

They accused the immediate past governor, Alhaji Ibrahim

Idris, of dictating the pace in Kogi affairs, referring to him as the de facto governor of the state.

The group further accused former governor Idris of trying to impose the former SSG Alhaji Musa Amodu on Wada to continue in his former position according to the release as the reason for the delay saying the group is determined to resist him.

The statement read in parts "we want to advise Wada to start the real duty of governance and get out of his cocoon , this snail pace, unfocused movement and lack of independence will lead the state to nowhere.

Era of bloodshed and hooliganism over in Oyo - ACN From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Oyo state chapter, has said that one of its most significant achievements was eradicating the gangsterism and bloodshed that characterized the era of Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala as governor of Oyo state.

The party made this known in a release signed by its Publicity Secretary, Hon Dauda Kolawole.

According to the ACN, it would be difficult to articulate all that the state lost in terms of its image and estimation of the world during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government in the state.

"Someday, we would have a chronicler of history to articulate all that the good people of Oyo state

lost to the hooded gangsters who invaded our state with the PDP veil on their faces. We became synonymous with thuggery and hooliganism. If you told anyone you were from Oyo state, the next thing that your name conjured was Tokyo, Auxiliary or Eleweomo.

Thugs decided our destiny; they were council chairmen and could be found in the executive council. These were the people who ruled us until God sent us a saviour," the ACN said.

Reacting to the claim from the PDP Publicity Secretary in the state that its party-led government, in its four year rule, implemented peopleoriented programmes, the ACN enjoined the PDP to bury its face in shame.

"We have said it time and

time again that these people just sought to drag us to their level during their tenure in office. How could anyone name Adeoyo Hospital, Mapo Hall, LAUTECH, as achievements of a government? Ask doctors in Adeoyo what legacy the PDP left in the hospital. Our government has just taken an inventory of the rot and is about to totally change the face of healthcare in Oyo for good. In the interim, over 350,000 people have been attended to through our mobile healthcare called Free Health Mission," the party said.

Alleging that LAUTECH was a product of illiterate architecture, the ACN said that the committee set up by the immediate past government to assess LAUTECH, headed by a former governor of the state who

is also a member of the PDP, gave a damning report of the hospital.

"By the time they left government, aside its horrible architecture, there was no drop of water or electricity at the hospital that was used to siphon over N24 billion of our people's money. Even if UCH is to be rebuilt today, it won't cost that much. Shortly after they left office, the buildings of the hospital started collapsing. There was no single equipment inside the hospital. Only God knows the extent of our impoverishment by the construction of that mishospital," the ACN alleged.

The ACN said that in its one year in office, it had shown to the whole world that quality roads and infrastructure and the welfare of the people could be at the epicenter of governance.

here is an urgent need for Nigerian women to maximise the full benefits of the 30 per cent United Nations (UN) affirmative action on women, a UKbased group has said.

Ms Jenny Okafor, President of Nigerian Women in Diaspora Leadership Forum (NWIDLF), made the remarks at the “2012 Every Woman Leadership Forum’’ organised by the forum in London on Saturday.

“If we can work together and find a voice for ourselves, ensuring that at all times we support the best of our women that are serving our country, more women will make themselves available for political offices, ’’ she said.

Okaforhowever expressed concern that, in spite of the many skilled, passionate and talented Nigerian women in the UK, majority of high-profile Diaspora appointments have not been extended to them.

“This type of selection has farreaching effects on the future of the Diaspora woman in the UK and every Nigerian woman who has any leadership aspirations,’’ she said.

The NWIDLF president also urged the women in Diaspora to share and transfer skills with one another, as well as experiences, expertise and professional ethics gained for the betterment of the society.

Also, Ms Solape Epega, President of Pinc Foundation, a UK-based breast cancer awareness organisation, gave women the task of fighting their battles themselves.

“Thirty per cent affirmative action cannot be fully attained, if all you do is sit here in the UK and talk negatively about those contributing their quota to the development of the country.

“Do not expect that you will sit here and expect government to invite you to take up leadership positions just like that. “ No! You must show that you merit it by first volunteering your skills, services and expertise. After all, you people are doing that here in the UK,’’ she said.

The activist suggested that until women stand up and support each other and stop tearing each other apart, affirmative action might become a mirage.

Epegawho also advised women to boost their self-confidence by acquiring education and skills urged those in positions of authority to serve as mentors and role models to aspiring women and young girls.

Also, Mr Adedamola Aminu, Chairman of Association of BritishNigerian Councillors, commended the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, for her passion and support for women empowerment.

He noted that Jonathan’s contribution to uplifting the status of women in governance and politics was worth emulating, urging women to be their best friends.

Aminu however noted that as impressive as the attainment of having some women in governance had been, there were still constraints confronting women in attaining their goals in the society.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

PAGE 39

Yakowa wants Coalition decries politicization of fuel subsidy probe report leaders to find By Augustine Aminu prosecution of those culpable in was the main brain behind the pockets at the expense of the monumental corruption motion, cannot be answering political connections and solution to he Coalition of Civil Society that has parvaded the oil sector. questions from the police when affiliations.

Organisations for Comrade Ibrahim Alih, criminals who have “We the people are alarmed transparency in National President of the group, demonstrated to be enemies of that the federal government crises in governance has decried speaking on behalf of other civil the common man are roaming has not necessarily seen it politicization of the fuel subsidy society organizations told the streets as free citizens while deemed necessary to prosecute Nigeria report by the Federal newsmen that the recent genuine countrymen are made the brain behind this

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K

aduna state Gov. Patrick Yakowa has called on the political leaders in Nigeria to find a lasting solution to the various crises in the country.

Yakowa, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday, said the efforts should be channelled through consultation and dialogue.

He also urged the leaders to fashion out strategies that would ensure the realisation of the aims and objectives of the vision 20:20:20.

“We must not be tired of talking to ourselves until we are able to resolve all the crises and issues that are of great concern to every sector of the country.”

He expressed optimism that amicable resolution to the nation’s crises would provide Nigerians a sense of direction and enhance efforts at transforming the economy of the country for the better.

Yakowa reminded Nigerians that “violence is a precursor for war, peace is better than war and life is better than death.”

“Our watch word must be peace”. For peace to be meaningful, it must cease to be a mere slogan and remain the cornerstone of the country’s developmental efforts to better the lot of the people.”

“Our actions must be consistent with the peace we preach, we must work together in genuine partnership to positively impact on the lives of our people and ensure everlasting peace.”

Yakowa said that time had come for Nigeria to move away from being a mono economy nation to a diverse economic entity because it had the potential to attain such greatness.

“Nigeria presently is known for oil and gas, but there is more than that in the country. It has enormous potential in power, agriculture, solid minerals and human resources.

“This is what we are working toward and this can be achieved every with peace.”

Government.

The group, at a press conference held yesterday at Abuja, condemned the perceived attempt by the government to go after the initiators of the probe and not the

invitation of Senator Bukola Saraki by the police was a negative signal that government and its agencies have decided to go after the patriots and not the thieves.

This is because Saraki, who

to pay for their sins on daily basis.

He said it was unethical, evil and wicked for government not to retrieve taxpayers money fraudulently converted from the treasury into private

Chairman of Edo state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih (3rd right), presenting the party's governorship candidate, Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) (3rd left), to hundreds of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) members who decamped to the PDP, at the weekend in Benin.

monumental stealing and abuse of public funds in the oil sector but to go after innocent Nigerians whose only roles were to open eyes to the massive stealing going on in the oil sector, if feelings from the public domain is anything to go by; it therefore means that the nation is heading for doom.

“We wish to unequivocally condemn in clear terms the politicization of the House Committee Report as being speculated in so many quarters to completely muscle the parliament into a mere appointment confirmation committee that a vital organ of government as highly uncivilized, criminally minded and evil against the spirit of democracy. This signal being sent by the Federal Government and its agencies is a clear demonstration that the war against corruption is going no were. It is high time we pursue interest for our collective good instead of political vendetta which has completely robbed the nation of true statesmanship like the frank posture of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki and his fearless colleagues in both chambers of the National Assembly,” the statement also added.

Review Electoral Act, Alliance for credible elections pleads A lliance for Credible Elections (ACE) yesterday called for the review of the 2010 Electoral Act to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

Mr Asuzu Echezona, the Deputy General Secretary, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said the present Electoral Act could not reflect transparent

elections, saying that some aspect of the Act hindered democratic processes.

According to him, there are many contradictions in the law that requires urgent review to make it effective and publicfriendly.

“The legal frame work must be thoroughly addressed to provide a platform for transparent electoral process; this and other issues must be tackled

to give INEC and, indeed, Nigerians to have credible elections,’’ he said.

According to him, present Electoral Act excludes INEC completely from the process of selection and screening of candidates which can lead to inefficiency.

He expressed concern for the lack of internal democracy in some parties, which, he noted, randomly picked candidates who

were not democratically nominated.

He also urged INEC to rise up to its responsibility, ensure that all eligible voters cast their vote on the day of election and urged the leadership of political parties to practise better democratic values.

Echezona added that parties should design an agenda on how to move the country forward with a view to spreading the dividends of democracy to the grass roots.

Politicians advocate for regional federalism in constitution review

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ome politicians yesterday in Lagos urged the National Assembly to make the proposed constitutional amendment reflect regional federalism.

They spoke following the disclosure by the Deputy Senate President, Sen.Ike Ekweremadu on Wednesday that another set of the constitutional amendments would be ready by July 2013.

Ekweremadu, who is also Chairman of the Senate Constitution Review Committee, had said that the body would complete its assignment

by July 2013 and work with the House of Representatives to ensure a smooth constitutional amendment.

In an interview with the News

Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Lagos State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr Godfrey Lemchi, urged the Senate to ensure the issue of regional federalism was reflected. “ Since we cannot have the sovereign national conference and the government is not favourably disposed to it, let there be something from the legislature to give Nigerians that commitment that something is happening.

“If the Senate is doing anything, they must ensure that the issue of regional federalism in this country must surely be made to reflect in that constitution because this is the bottom line of our problems,’’ he said.

According to him, 60 per cent of the nation’s problems will be taken care of once there is regional federalism with the adoption of its practise and principles.

Lemchi advised the Senate to make the review a comprehensive one, saying that the way things were happening in Nigeria showed that the country was facing serious challenges.

The National Chairman of the Progressive Action Congress (PAC), Chief Charles Nwodo, also told NAN that the issue of regional federalism should be made to reflect in the amendment.

“We expect that there should be regional government at this

particular time because we believe that the nation has reached a level that the states and local governments are not meeting the purpose for which they are created.

“We believe that this is the time for regional houses of assembly to appear and take position because if there is regionalism as it was in the 1960s , corruption will minimise,’’ he said.

Nwodo advised the Senate to ensure that it carried everyone along to make it democratic.

“We do not want a situation whereby after amending, we end up amending again; that is not the best for the nation in view of the waste in resources, both human and material,

it will involve,’’ he said.

In his contribution, the Deputy National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Alhaji Musa Umar, advised the Senate to ensure that the amendments were in line with the wishes of the people. “ The amendments should be what Nigerians agreed upon. It should not be done like the last amendments where the legislators dominated by the ruling party, did their thing.

“Constitution should be a set of agreed rule by the people to govern the people.

“We hope Nigerians would make it their business to give positive contributions at the amendment hearings,’’ he said.

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

I will return to PDP if…, says Tallen

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he former Deputy Governor of Plateau, Dame Pauline Tallen, yesterday expressed her readiness to return to PDP, if the present National Executive Council of the party could guarantee internal democracy.

She gave the condition in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Tallen in Abuja.

Tallen, who contested governorship election in Plateau on the platform of Labour Party (LP) in 2011 described PDP as her party, adding that she treasured the party.

“If the right thing is in stock, I will return, don’t forget I am a founding member of PDP. “I was in the board of trustee, everybody knows, but I will not return until the internal democracy is restored,’’ she said.

The former deputy governor added that she would not object if NEC made effort to reconcile her with the party.

Tallen said she left PDP because a lot of injustice had been done to her, during the party primary election in Plateau and several other party members.

He added that “if this is not corrected, the party stands to lose many of its members”.

The injustice has come and gone saying, “as I am talking now I have forgiven all that wronged me, my battle is that of God and I am willing for reconciliation.

“If they come I cannot refuse, neither can I walk out of Nigeria because Nigeria is my home and PDP is my party.

She said she left PDP with a majority of other members to form the Labour Party in the state, because “the party was enmeshed in deep political crises. “ Tallen traced the origin of the crisis mostly to the total absence of internal democracy within the party since 2007.

“There were hues and cries over the non conduct of free, credible and fair congresses within the party in the state.

She said that attempts by the national secretariat of the party to find amicable solutions to the political issues proved abortive “so I decided to leave with my people”.

Tallen said there was need for true reconciliation of the aggrieved party members with fairness and justice to ensure everlasting peace and unity in PDP. She expressed confidence in the new executive under the leadership of Alhaji Bamangar Tukur and described Tukur “as a man of honour and proven integrity”.

He called on the new executive to embark on the reconciliation of aggrieved members of the party in the true spirit of democracy.

“The new national executive council needs our prayers for God to give it the courage and strong heart to do that which is right and restore the party to its lost glory,” she said.

L-R: Jigawa state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mahmud Gumel, Bauchi state Governor, Malam Isa Yuguda,Taraba state Governor, Mr Danfulani Suntai, Benue state Governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, Akwa Ibom state Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio and Kogi state Governor, Captain Idris Wada, during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state governors meeting, at the State House, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

2015 elections: Politicians urge INEC to sack corrupt officials

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oliticians yesterday said that for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct successful general elections in 2015, it should disengage some of its officials found to be corrupt.

They made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

The politicians alleged that rigging during elections were aided by some officials of the commission.

INEC Chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, last week in Paris promised staff members of the Nigerian Embassy in Paris,

France, that the 2015 general elections would be the “best ever conducted” by the commission.

He said that the Commission would spare no effort to make the general elections the most acceptable by Nigerians.

Mr Damian Ogbonna, National Chairman, Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), advised Jega to remove identified corrupt staff members of the commission.

“The most important thing in terms of conducting the most credible election is fundamentally for INEC to find a way to remove officers that

were found to be involved in corrupt practices,’’ Ogbonna said.

He alleged that it was sharp practices among the commission staff that had continued to create and aid riggings in elections.

He also suggested that the commission should use electronic voting in conducting the 2015 elections.

“I know a lot of money was budgeted for electronic voting under former INEC boss, Prof.

Maurice Iwu, and till now, the system has not been used.

“Now, Jega has almost three years to get those things done,”

Ogbonna noted.

Also speaking, Mr Sam Onimisi, National Publicity Secretary, Democratic People’s Alliance (DPA), advised the commission to ensure that necessary structures are on ground before 2015.

Onimisi explained that Nigerians have lost confidence in the electoral commission.

“In all honesty, Nigerians believe that INEC should be reformed. The commission is abhorred of new or creative ideas.

“So, between now and 2015, INEC should ensure that those structures are in place and not only read on papers,’’ he said.

Don’t scrap EFCC, Babatope urges FG

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hief Ebenezer Babatope, a member of PDP Board of Trustees, has urged the Federal Government not to scrap the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) as recommended by the Oronsanye Committee.

Babatope, who said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Ikenne, Ogun, on Monday, said that rather than scrapping the commission, it should be restructured to effectively fight corruption. “ I don’t agree with Oronsanye committee that recommended the scrapping of the EFCC. I quiet disagree vehemently the way EFCC is handling matters but all the same we don’t need to scrap the commission. “ Scrapping EFCC to me is arrant nonsense. Rather, we should restructure it because the fear of EFCC and ICPC is the beginning of wisdom of many people who are in

public office.

“Let sit down and restructure the organisation in a way that when they are doing their duty, they will not destroy the means of leadership and authority in the country“.

Babatope, a former transport minister , while commending the Federal Government’s effort to reduce the size of ministries, parastatals and agencies with overlapping functions, emphasised the need to sustain

the EFCC in such a way that they would ensure a corrupt free or a near corrupt free nation.

“It is a good idea. If the Federal Government thinks that so many parastatals are doing jobs that overlap and decides that we should have a number that will be able to work well for the country in the economic front.

“While I hate the way and manner the EFCC do parade former leaders of this country, as if

they are common criminals, I don’t think scrapping of the commission is the best option.

“The commission should be restructured in such a way in the line of duties.

“They will not destroy the means of leadership and authority, because Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo once said that any nation that destroyed its own means of leadership and authority, would destroy itself.”

CPC keen to give true democratic governance, says scribe

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buja, April 21, 2012 (NAN) The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) is determined to give true meaning to democratic governance in Nigeria by ensuring equity and justice, a chieftain of the party has said.

Mr Rotimi Fashakin, National Publicity Secretary of the party made the

statement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.

“We shall remain committed to the task of building a political mass movement in order to establish real democratic values in Nigeria,” Fashakin said, adding that the party would continue to maintain its standard and would not relent

in ensuring party discipline.

According to him, the party has expelled Alhaji Barau Ningi in Bauchi State, due to his defiance to the authority of the party in the state.

He pointed out that one of the policies of the CPC was to bring hope to the common man in Nigeria through persistent justice in the country.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

PAGE 41

Oyekale is Five-A-Side coach, as team resumes camp tomorrow

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he Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed Oladunni Oyekale as Head Coach of the Five-A-Side national football team, Futsal Eagles.

Similarly, the football federation has concluded arrangements for the team to

start camping in Lagos tomorrow in preparation for a FIFA Futsal World Cup qualifying match against Gabon early next month.

Oyekale, a former Flying Eagles player, confirmed yesterday that, “Yes, we are inviting players to camp as from Wednesday. We are

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By Patrick Andrew

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Aminu Maigari, President NFF the date of 8th - 12th May for the WIAWA Coaching Course that will see 20 Coaches of Nigeria Premier League clubs and 10 National Team Coaches come together for a refresher programme in Abuja.

Kablan also yesterday proposed that an administrative course that will involve 20 administrators of Nigeria Premier League clubs and 10 officials from the Nigeria Football Federation be held in Abuja between 2nd - 7th July, 2012.

Massive talent hunt underway for Eagles

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uper Eagles’ assistant coach, Dan Amokachi has revealed that not less than four Eagles coaches watch league matches every other week.

The essence is to discover hidden talents who can feature for the senior national team.

Super Eagles’ manager, Stephen Keshi will go down in history as one of the few Nigerian managers who builds his team around the domestic players.

do the nation proud”.

Confederation of African Football has picked Tunisian referees to take charge of the qualifier against Gabon in Lagos on May 6.

The Centre Referee is Chamssedine Lamti, with his compatriots Mohamed Abdi as 1st

Assistant Referee, Thameur Salem as 2nd Assistant Referee and Salim Moez Ben as TK. The Match Commissioner is Jose Lobato from Guinea Bissau.

The second leg will take place in Libreville two weeks later with Cameroonian officials in charge.

18th NSF: Only 12 states have indicated interest to participate, says MOC

Yuguda allocates 13 hectares of land for FIFA project he Government of Bauchi State has allocated 13 hectares of land to the proposed National Technical Centre in Bauchi State one of the three FIFA Goal Projects that the world soccer ruling organ recently approved for Nigeria.

This was disclosed yesterday by the president of the NFF, Alhaji Aminu Maigari who expressed delight over the development and assured the construction of the centre would soon start in earnest.

The project will form part of the three-arm FIFA Goal Project 2 for which the NFF already has provisional approval, working hand-in-hand with the FIFA Development Officer for West Africa, Mr. Sampon Kablan.

The other National Technical Centres are billed for Lagos and Anambra States.

In a related development, the FIFA Development Officer, Mr. Sampon Kablan has approved

going to rely heavily on players from the Ultimate Five-A-Side Football Competition that has been going on for a few years now, for us to prosecute the World Cup qualifier. I have been following the competition myself and I believe we have players good enough to

Amokachi told SuperSport.com that every weekend all the assistants are always out in search of players who can add value to the national team on the home front.

“We are 150 million people and we have over 10 million of that population interested in football.

“So we are working to ensure that we get the best from the scouts that are usually all over the places when NPL games are being played,” he said.

arely seven months to the 18th National Sports Festival tagged “Eko 2012”, only 12 states representing one third of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have officially indicated interest to participate in the fiesta.

The Secretary of the competition’s Main Organising Committee (MOC), Mallam Abba Yola, disclosed this in a released issued yesterday. The release captured progress so far but regretted that the hosts were far from being on top of the situation in terms of facilities readiness.

Mallam Abba, the Special Assistant to the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Chief Patrick Ekeji, listed Akwa Ibom, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ondo, Rivers and Kogi as states which have declared their intentions to compete for honours at the festival.

“The MOC is however confident that the rest states of the federation will in due course indicate their interest in participating in the festival,” he said.

The MOC secretary also disclosed that only 14 states had so far registered the sports they intended to participate in at the festival. These are Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Imo, Delta, Ebonyi, Gombe, FCT, Rivers, Kogi, Kwara, Ondo, Benue, Katsina and Bauchi,” he said.

The released, which was issued after the maiden Joint Technical Meeting for the festival, which was held on Saturday, April 21 in Lagos, deliberated on a wide range of issues in respect of the competition.

“The meeting had a detailed technical assessment and inspection of the proposed venues and facilities

for the festival on Friday, April 20. “ T h i s assessment and inspection was done by t h e SecretariesGeneral and Technical Directors of the concerned national sports federations as well as the s t a t e s ’ Directors of Sports,” he Chief Patrick Ekeji, DG, NSC said.

The MOC secretary disclosed that the meeting also had a presentation from the MOC Medical Sub-Committee on the Medical Guidelines for the National Sports Festivals.

“Apart from this, we were given an update by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) on preparations for the festival. We made observations and comments on the inspection of venues and facilities, and urged Lagos to speed up renovation and repair works to ensure that the relevant venues and facilities are ready on schedule,” he said.

Mallam Abba disclosed that the meeting also ratified the events for the five Optional Sports for Eko 2012 and approved the setting up of a Technical Study Group to monitor officials that would officiate at the festival.

Falcons to drop 10 more players

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uper Falcons coach Kadiri Ikhana will this week axe 10 more players ahead of an African Women’s Championship qualifier against Zimbabwe.

“By this weekend, we will reduce the team to just 26 players. Presently we have 36 in camp and by the first week of next month, we would be seeing a semblance of what our new Super Falcons would look like,” Ikhana revealed.

Ikhana further revealed that he does not expect more than two foreign-based players to make his final cut for the AWC qualifier.

“I expect my foreign-based

invitees to arrive camp two weeks to our game. At least this would give me time to test and see these players,” he said.

“Even at that, I do not expect to call more than four foreignbased players and not more than two would make the final cut at any particular time because I’m not ready to have any foreignbased player on the bench.

“So they must be ready not just to perform but be better than what I presently have.”

The Falcons are the defending African champions even though they failed to qualify for the 2011 All Africa Games as well as the 2012 Olympics in London.

Agnes Osazuwa, Nigerian athletes who is a product of the National Sports Festival

PAGE 42

Green okays Obafemi Awolowo Stadium for international matches

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he chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical sub-committee, Christopher Green, has okayed the use of Obafemi Awolowo Stadium for international matches because of its natural grass and functional facilities.

Green,who was part of the NFF inspection team to the venue praised the quality of facilities and said it was capable of hosting international tournaments and noted that the facilities would compare favourably with those in other parts of the world.

“The stadium needed little work to be done on it, which could be completed in few weeks without much energy or resources. Our findings from national coaches revealed that most of the players, especially the foreign-based, prefer to play on the natural grass,” Green said.

He rated the stadium higher than the National Stadium, Lagos, because of the poor state of the facilities at the latter following a long period of neglect.

“Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, formerly Liberty Stadium, was the first in the country; old, but still enjoys a high level of maintenance than others which were constructed after it,” Green said.

He described Ibadan as a favourable place for the hosting of sports events because of its high ratings in terms of the people’s passion for sports and the peaceful environment. “ I am very sure that by the time we bring a match to Ibadan, the stadium will be filled. It is a reflection of the support the people of the city have always accorded the Oluyole warriors (Shooting Stars Sports Club),” Green said.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

Rising Eagles goalkeeper,Agbim, turns down Warri Wolves’ offer Stars shock

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ome-based Super Eagles goalkeeper and skipper, Chigozie Agbim, has turned an offer by the CAF Confederation Cup campaigners Warri Wolves to have the team’s captain’s arm band in recognition of his leadership qualities.

Former Kaduna United chief sweat merchant and now coach of the Warri-based Nigeria Premier League club, Maurice Cooreman, was said to have named Agbim the club’s new skipper because Agbim plays similar role for the Eagles under the watch of Coach Stephen Keshi.

However, it was learnt that rather accept the offer Agbim turned down the chance to lead Wolves in the weekend’s 0-0 draw at home with Heartland, insisted that the present skipper, Goodluck Onamado, be retained as the rightful owner of the

Captain’s arm band.

“Agbim rejected the captaincy, saying he is not comfortable with it. Cooreman considered the player for the new role because he is already

Chigozie Agbim, Warri Wolves’ goalkeeper

captain of the home-based Eagles,” said Wolves spokesman Timi Ebikagboro.

“As a result, Goodluck Onamado remains the captain of the team and he led us out against Heartland.”

Wolves, who are scheduled to host South Africa’s Black Leopards in a CAF Confederation Cup Round of 16 match, are one of three Nigerian clubs gunning for continental glory. The others are Sunshin Stars for the CAF Champions League and Heartland who are in the race for Confederation Cup. Dolphins crashed out to Cotonsport of Cameroon in the elite clubs campaign.

Ebikagboro said they have videos of the South African team and enough information on the team who stand between them and a place in the moneyspinning group phase of the competition.

Kwankwanso offers Kano Pillars for sale P

erhaps following the full steps of the management and sponsors of Rangers International of Enugu, who are considering going to the stock market to raise funds for the club, the sponsors of the current leaders of the Nigeria Premier League log, Kano state government is said to have invited private companies and individuals to invest in Kano pillars.

The latest inkling follows the remarkable followership that these clubs enjoy and the considering the huge capital intensive of running them in the face of other demands from sundry socioeconomic sectors, the state governments are mulling going public as alternative avenues for securing needed resources to bankroll the clubs.

Kano State Commissioner for Sports, Mallam Umar Faruk, disclosed yesterday that the government has already opened discussions with some companies in respect of creating investment opportunities in the club.

Also, the government has invited private citizens with

the means and passion for the game to express interest in coowning the club. Faruk said

Gov. Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso

Papa Idris, Pillars’ defender

interested persons and organisations would have the liberty of joint sponsorship with the state government or out rightly assume the ownership structure of the club, if they so desire.

Like all but one of the 20 clubs in the NPL, Pillars are wholly owned by the state government, which is believed to spend as much as N300 million annually to keep Pillars afloat.

Pillars, who lead the NPL after 20 rounds of matches and won the championship four years ago, do not have any major private sponsors. Their home games at the 20,000capacity Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano are often sold out.

The Enugu State Government have already announced that another popular NPL side Enugu Rangers will seek for funding from the Nigeria stock market soon.

Before the duo though Enyimba FC at the height of its continental successes had mulled going public through divestment of interests, but it never materialised as the Abia State government has continued spoon feed the club.

win over Enyimba delights coach

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oach of Rising Stars, Sunday Erelesusi has said their heartwarming 1-0 win against Enyimba will see them off the hook.

Forward Alaba Fadoju’s strike in the 60th minute secured full points for the Akure-based side but did nothing to change their position in the bottom four.

However, Erelesusi said that the morale boosting win against the former African champions is a notice of what to expect in the last lap of the season.

“The hard-earned victory is a good omen of more good things to come in our next matches.

I’ll say the battle for survival has just started and I’m sure we’ll record more stunning wins that will see us escape relegation.

“We’ve vowed to maintain our place in the Premier League and that is the direction we are heading in the last term of the season,” he said.

Both NPL sides succeeded in taking three points from each other and Erelesusi said revenge never crossed his mind throughout the game.

“The result was a mere coincidence, I never thought of revenge. We prepared and went into the game with the sole aim to win regardless of the goal margin. I think it’s sheer coincidence that we lost 0-1 at Aba and we achieved the same score line in the reverse fixture at Ado-Ekiti.

“Enyimba played very well, the game was tough and the result could have gone either way. We’re not bothered about the score line but to pick points both home and away. Surely, three, four steady wins will brighten our position on the log,” he said.

The Saturday win at the Kayode Oluyemi Stadium, Ado-Ekiti takes the Akurebased side points haul to 21 from a possible 60.

‘Akwa United will grab continental ticket’, says Ekoh

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n official of Uyo-based Akwa United FC, Mr Uwem Ekoh, yesterday tipped the team for a continental ticket at the end of the 2011/ 2012 professional league season, following its impressive run of form in the Nigeria Premier

League (NPL).

Ekoh, Akwa United’s Press Officer, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo that the club did well in the first round of the competition and started the second round on a good note with a draw against Rangers

International of Enugu.

“So far, so good. The boys have played very well in the first round. Let me assure all Akwa Ibomites that we will grab a continental ticket by the end of this season.

“If we can finish fourth in week

20 and we will be at home on Wednesday, week 21 to play Lobi Stars of Makurdi, we are going to use the home match to our advantage.

Ekoh blamed the team’s 1-1 draw with Rangers International FC, Enugu on Sunday in Uyo on

the problem in the midfield of Akwa United in the first half.

“The team had a problem with their midfield in the first half. However, they were able to pick up in the second half, although they were unable to score a winning goal.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

PAGE 43

mie s e u g a e L s n io UEFA Champ helsea in C , a n lo e c r a B l: fina al battle for surviv

and k Andrew pionship

By Patric lubs Chammpions, could C d rl o W ha nt if they fending c the curre arcelona, mpions League de cuperating Chelsea at least a UEFA Ch ted today by the re al and then score o a be elimin Didier Drogba’s g Nou tonight. would be p cel m n a a C c e to th d t mpetition power of a co ls faile b a u o g cl Frank Lampard elite plied fire two un-re tion from Europe’s g to the superior esy 2-1 loss rt Elimina succumbin on Saturday cou b it te r ri v a ls d low after a fresh b rivals Real Madri m e th a t p u t th e ir ft. their arch e d L a L ig a a t h o with four games lehad his mind rs in a re v e ts clear at the top rcelona obviously in g o u t C e s c a seven poin ss against Real, B g a m b le d b y le a v arting lineup In the lo a y ’s c la s h a s h e dro out of his st ian Tello.

Pe to d rist fi x e d o n lexis Sanchez and B-team winger C asted one of A ld s, o ut w a b ra e e is -y m Fabreg ored 0 2 ro es of p led on anchez sc and gamb Tello showed flash ild effort, while S The pacy chances with a w ch. th e st ff the ben o n s tr a te Barca’s be ly after coming o o r tu n it y to d e m A r s e n a l •4 0 p immediate s h a d s c a n t o p th a t B a r c a p a id minutes left.

Didier Drogba F a b r e g a d e y e fo r g o a l llo with only 10 h Jose c a o n c e a l T a y d e it R replace ence, c r e a ti v ared r when he dge experi that appe million fo the Stamford Bri essful game plan a used in last And like executed a succ rmer club Chelse fo ,, g Mourinho elled on the one hisBridge. d e fe n d in d o rd m fo e e s s io n , r a tt a c k s m b s s ta to o S p t a g te t le in a n te week’s firs g B a r c a to d o m n le a s h s w if t c o u ice or two of A ll o w in n d lo o k in g to u also needed a sl ns League a ey pio r e s o lu te lyr both sides, but th of Year and Cham r fo e y d ates. d Pla and worke his teamm m Barca wart Worl luck to th Lionel Messi and d up pressure fro e it r top score had bravely soak dic attacks when ially ec ora sp e sp h to Chelsea c n n u o nt to la ey held only contem, a tactic that th aking. and his e re b th d ccessfully in the k c su a b s’ suite u ’s a b b Drog d the s more following D’ Matteo ‘packe efence plot perhap forages for Roberto at the massive d wart Barcelona’s th pe d likely to re nza to attempt to atteo opte a enal, D’ M they had second st rs A e th h t draw wit ed quite well bu made goals. ay’s tame s In Saturd the bus and it workcursion which wa in g in ll to pack te r . gba Chelsea. ities fo opportun the absence of Dro be a big blow to e Camp ld y obvious b unavailability cou t he would miss th p a in is h e S tha an’s The Ivori it’s most unlikely g e a n c e a g a in s t th n r, e e v v s e e w o th H eat . re a could rep years ago y as he b N o u p a rt had stopped three at Camp Nou and club that ey pulled a draw te of their mind. ost certainly Then, th nding on the sta o Torres will alm g his stint rin epe and the feat d a is missing, Fern he tormented du seven goals Gerard Pique If Drogb ck against a club ng striker netted d doubles re a ri o tt fi a sc is e e m ic th tw rm lead . The Barca and r loss of fo o Madrid at Atletic iga matches against ered a spectacula through the ff y in 10 La L Camp but has su Liverpool midwa u at the No ing to London from ith eetings w since mov 1 season. last six m likely keep to its s it in n 2010-1 unbeate am will essi from Chelsea is and the English te t to stop Lionel M p , a m n e lo tt an a Barce tactics in r goal on defensive g the match. de anothe ampions ce n co t o n influencinnows that it must making its third Ch al will k su of Barcelona ground if it hopes ep Guardiola as u kes room P a e . m m t rs o a a h e th y s it r formation bly, Barca nal in fou League fi mpact but mobile ach. Understanda el Messi, n o ro c io p a L ve ap chez, adopt ant offensi fury of Alexis San halled defence. in m o d r e fo rs deploy th Terry ma ld Chelsea want to may likely gas on the John r wou o de n Cesc Fabregas se re b lo a pions to ri ord to Cesc F cannot aff e defending cham erculean a n lo e rc a th H B even round for t means a conceed g ack to glory. Tha se, this one battle b lo r ir . Win o ody nose. on the n the card blo battle is o r will not escape the winne

B Pep Guardiola

Roberto D’ Matteo

Leonel Messi

John Terry

Do YOU KNOW

•Defeat for Barcelona would see it lose its third game in a row for the first time since early 2003, when it suffered at the hands of Valencia, Celta Vigo and Atletico Madrid.

•Should Pep Guardiola’s side fail to qualify for the Champions League final, its only real chance for a major trophy at the end of this season would be in the Copa del Rey, when it faces Athletic Bilbao in the final.

•Barcelona frontman Lionel Messi is currently sitting on an incredible 63 goal so far this season, although he has failed to find the net in his last two fixtures.

•The Nou Camp side has yet to be defeated in its seven meetings in Spain, although the last three have finished as draws.

•Chelsea has only suffered defeat in one of its last 14 fixtures, with that loss coming at the hands of Manchester City.

•The Stamford Bridge side is currently on the outside looking in when it comes to Champions League qualification through the Premier League, sitting in sixth place, four points behind Newcastle.

•The old guard remain the goalscoring key for Chelsea, as Frank Lampard currently leads the way with 16 goals this season, while Didier Drogba has 11.

Blues boss Roberto Di Matteo will be hoping to exercise the memories of the last time he visited the Nou Camp as a Chelsea player, when his side suffered a 5-1 defeat as it crashed out of the Champions League at the quarterfinal stage.

Mikel insists pressure on Barca

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helsea ace MikelMikel Obi has said Barcelona and not Chelsea will be the team under pressure when both teams clash in tonight’s Champions League semi-final.

Chelsea won the first leg match by the odd goal and Mikel has said that they are very relaxed going into the return clash at Camp Nou tonight.

The Chelsea midfielder again admitted it will be another tough match between the two clubs, but Chelsea hold the advantage.

“We are going into the game at Camp Nou with one thing on our mind - that is

to secure the UEFA Champions League final ticket. It is going to be a tough game for both sides but we are at advantage going into the game with a goal from first leg.

“They will be under pressure to win and not us, and the draw with Arsenal was a good test for us ahead of the clash. The last time we went there, we did not lose, so the same thing will happen in this game. We are ready for the battle,” Mikel said.

Chelsea have not lost in their last three visits to Barcelona with the last being a barren draw in the 2009 UEFA Champions League semi-final.

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

Adidas U-15 tourney: Nigeria, Argentina, Spain, five others to trade tackles

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he Mexican Football Federation, (FMF) has confirmed that the Eight-Nation Adidas U15 Football Tournament (Mexico 2012), will go as scheduled. In a letter to the Nigeria Football Federation, the FMF said the tournament will

commence on June 18 th and end on June 24th.

The competitions, which aims at bringing eight high-quality adidas teams from all Confederations, will feature Nigeria, Spain, Argentina, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark and host Mexico.

Tsatsa breaks Loskop Marathon record

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imbabwean athlete, Tabitha Tsatsa, stole the show at the 2012 Forever Resorts Loskop Marathon on Saturday when she broke the eight year old record of the 50km race, to pocket the R100 000 record incentive offered by the race sponsors.

Tsatsa’s crossed the finish in a time of 3:14.37 for the 50km race from Middelburg to the Forever Resorts Loskopdam. The previous record was set by Paulina Phaho in 2004 in a time of 3:17.31.

“I came back to South Africa to run the Two Oceans but that never materialised so I decided to run this race and I am pleased I did. I enjoy this race and today was good for me,” said Tsatsa. Second place went to another Zimbabwean, Lizih Chokore who said she could not catch the flying Tsatsa, who was determined to win the extra R100 000 on offer at today’s race. Third place went to yet another Zimbabwean runner, Muchaneta Gwata, cousin of Chokore. Gwata is not new to the Forever Resorts Loskop Marathon, she won the race in 2008 in a time of 3:31:37.

The winner of the Forever Resorts Loskop Marathon from Rustenburg, Phillip Molefe, finished in a time of 2:46:07, missing the elusive Men’s record of 2:44:03 set by Josiah Thugwane in 2005, by two minutes and two seconds.

Molefe looked very comfortable as he started the last climb around the 45km mark, to beat second placed Phahlale Mohloli by one minute. Mohloli finished in2:47:07.

The 35 year old athlete from Rustenburg has not won a big race before and is looking forward to talking to his coach, Dave Adams to have him run the Comrades Marathon.

“I hope with this win, my coach will allow me to run Comrades,” said the winner. Third place went to Joseph Mphuthi, who at one stage of the 50km race was in the lead but did not hold it for very long as the lead changed hands many times of the distance. Mphuthi finished in 2:50:37.

Zola Budd-Pieterse, former world cross country champion, was out doing her training run in preparation for her first ever Comrades. Pieterse took the Veteran Ladies title in a time of 3:40:02.

The Forever Resorts Wild Challenge, a half marathon run through the Loskop Dam Nature Reserve attracted the highest number of entries in the race’s six year history. The 1 300 runners tackled the challenging route in perfect conditions as the sun rose over the Loskop Dam. The Forever Resorts Wild Challenge was won by Elmore Sibanda in a time of 1:10:58 and the first lady to cross the half marathon’s finish line was Melanie van Rooyen of Richards Bay (1:26:21).

The teams will be divided into two groups of four teams each for the round robin matches with the best two teams in each group advancing to the semi finals, while the winners of the semi- finals will play the final on June 24th.

Group phase games are

scheduled for June 18, 19, and 20th, while teams will observe a rest day on 21st.

Semi final matches will be played on 22nd.

Only players born on January 1st, 1997 or after are eligible to participate in the tournament. Teams are expected to take care of

their air transportation to and from Mexico City.

Once in Mexico City, the organizers will be responsible for the accommodation, local transportation and logistics of delegation of up to 25 persons, for the duration of the tournament.

The Nigeria U-15 team is currently in camp in Abuja, in its first phase of camping which will last for 10 days, under the watchful eyes of Coach Danladi Nasidi. The second and final phase of camping is expected to come up in the month of May.

4,700 Olympic medals on display at London show

Gold medalists Roger Federer (3rd l) and Stanislas Wawrinka (4th l)

By Patrick Andrew with agency report

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he history of the 4, 700 Olympic medals that will be won by athletes at the 2012 London Olympic Games has been captured in graphic details and put on display at the British Museum.

The exhibition, which started yesterday in London, vividly captures the journey of the medals from the mines in the United States and Mongolia to when they would decorate the necks of the world’s most elite athletes.

Conspicuous on display are four gold medals designed for the London 2012 Games and the organisers say that the exhibition captures the details history of all the gold, silver and bronze medals using shavings, ancient medallions, and original moulds.

Interestingly, the gold medals for this summer’s Games will be the largest and most valuable ever to be handed out. Each weighs 400 grams - roughly the same as a can of baked beans - and measuring 88 mm in

diameter, the 1st place medal is also the most expensive yet. But it is only made up of 1.2 percent gold.

It would be recalled that nationwide search for designers was launched three years ago, and a panel eventually whittled the names down to goldsmiths, David Watkins who designed the Olympic medal, and Lin Cheung, who is the brains behind the Paralympic medal.

While the design on the front is dictated by tradition Nike, the Greek goddess of Victory, has adorned medals since the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam - the back offers a blank canvas.

Weaving the river Thames through the design, Watkins brings the medal up to date with a mixture of Greek mythology and images of London, achieving a lushly intricate feat of metal molding. But it wasn’t always plain sailing.

At the Royal Mint, last minute technical problems with the gold stamps meant that the image of Nike varies ever so slightly from its predecessor at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

NRA to prosecute, clubs, hooligans, for attacks on referees

By Ikechukwu Okafor-Adi

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Tabitha Tsatsa

he Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) has disclosed that henceforth, it would prosecute clubs whose fans were in the habit of beating up referees at match venues.

The National Secretary of the association, Moruf Oluwa, who stated this while briefing journalists in Abuja, also pointed out that the association had tolerated enough insults and humiliation of it members from hooligans,

adding it was now ready to act to protect their interest.

Further, he said the association opted to act now because most of these hooligans were not conversant with the rules of game and as such lacks the capacity to judge the referees when they apply the rules during matches.

“The whistle men will no longer be used as scapegoats for club’s failure in the Nigeria premier league, Nigeria national league and nationwide league”, he stated.

Oluwa also added that

lack of adequate security for referees at match venues has been a major challenge to the association and added that the body was working on modality that would be used to address the situation.

Against this background, he admonished clubs’ managers to train their players well ahead of the league matches rather than depend on extraneous forces to achieve their set annual targets. He also appealed to fans to shun violence at match venues.

Musa Amadu, NFF scribe

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

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PAGE 46

ITTF African Junior tourney: Nigeria’s absence worries umpire

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ohn Peters, one of the country’s International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) umpires, has rued the absence of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation’s (NTTF) at the just concluded African Junior Championship.

The championship, which held from April 9 to April 14 in Algiers, Algeria, was staged to select Africa’s representative to the forthcoming ITTF World Junior Championship, which comes up later in the year.

Peters said yesterday in Lagos that the event would have afforded the players the opportunity to update their technique and be acquainted with the goings-on at the international circuits.

He said the process would have augmented the country’s preparations for the 2012 London Olympic Games, scheduled to hold from July 27 to August 9. Peters described the competition as highly competitive, saying that the 12 countries that participated in the competition put up a good show.

“Nigeria’s absence at the championship was quite unfortunate, because it would have been a good opportunity for the players to sharpen their competitive edge. It would have also served as a platform to prepare our players for the London Olympics,”Peters said.

The umpire said that Egypt emerged as the best participating country in the championship through their prolific medals haul. He advised the handlers of the country’s table tennis team to be mindful of the Egyptian team at the Olympics, adding that they would be a handful for any opposition they come across.

Kaduna Utd coach blames defeat on loss of concentration

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oach Saleh Lato of Kaduna United has blamed the team’s 1-2 defeat to Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) on the loss of concentration by the players.

Lato, who praised the team’s spirit , Kaduna United said they failed to secure a point in the game the team had suffered lapse in concentration in the early stages of the match.

“The first 10 minutes of every game is the concentration time and we lost it,” the coach said, adding that his team committed too many defensive errors. Lato blamed the players’ loss of concentration on the overwhelming support from the 3SC fans, which he said was intimidating.

“There was no deliberate intimidation but the overwhelming moral support given to 3SC by the fans on their home ground affected my players,” the coach said.

Lato described the match as ‘excellent’ and devoid of rancour, adding that the officiating was also fairly perfect. Mr Jubril Arowolo, the Public Relations Officer of 3SC, said the team was improving gradually, compared to its poor start to the season.

Arowolo told sports journalists after the match that the club would soon unveil some newly signed players, such as Philip Asuquo, Daniel Enahim and four others.

AdeshinaThomas and Babalola Ibrahim scored for 3SC in the 49th and 79th minutes, while the visitors’ only goal was scored in the 85th minute by Hassan Abubakar.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

Nadal, Murray, others anxious over clay colour changes

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fter the Monte Carlo Masters ended with the predictable Rafa Nadal triumph, the world’s top tennis players are set to face something entirely different when they head to Madrid to play on blue clay for the first time.

Nadal, who ended a seven-match losing streak to Novak Djokovic to clinch a record eighth consecutive Monte Carlo crown on Sunday, was concerned about the change of surface colour midway through the six-week European clay-court season.

The May 6-13 Madrid Masters is followed by the Rome Masters the following week before the French Open starts on May 27.

“You have back-to-back Madrid and Rome,” said Nadal, who lost both finals to Djokovic last year.

“Madrid is the only tournament you are playing with high altitude, and then now you are putting a different colour of clay. There can’t be too much difference between Madrid and Rome.”

While the change to blue could make sense from a marketing perspective (blue is the colour of the Madrid event’s main sponsor, Mutua) and organisers say it also makes the ball easier to see for spectators, Nadal said the tournament’s history was what

makes it stand out.

“This tournament is big because the history is there,” said the Spaniard. “Best players in history played in this court.”

World No 4 Andy Murray, who won the Madrid tournament in 2008, was unsure how the clay colour change would pan out.

“The timing of it is what makes it difficult for the players,” he added. “I’ve never played on a blue claycourt before. I have no idea how the surface will play. So that will be a new experience.”

The Scot also said that the blue clay “makes the tournament unique and a bit different (which) is good for the tour”.

Djokovic, who is aiming for a fourth consecutive grand slam victory at RolandGarros, said changes were needed to improve the tour and to have more attractive venues but thought the players were not listened to when it came to major makeovers.

“As far as I know, most of the top players I talked to, nobody agreed. I never played on blue clay. Rafa didn’t. Roger (Federer) didn’t. If you don’t have the top players agreeing on that, it doesn’t make sense for me really,” Djokovic said.

“It’s going to be interesting to step on the blue clay obviously. I’m not blaming them ...

But definitely there is a certain rule within the ATP that the president is able to make

Rafael Nadal decisions by himself without having players agree to that.

“That rule has to be changed because it’s not fair,” said the Serb, adding that he had heard mixed reports about the bounce on the clay from players who had tested it.

NFF ma y bar lea gue pla yers may league play from Golden Ea glets Eaglets

By Albert Akotra

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he Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) has resolved to bar all domestic and foreign league players from the cadet camp of the U-17, the Golden Eaglets, in a bid to ameliorate incidences of age cheats.

Federation’s secretary general, Barrister Musa Amadu, who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, said the football house would no longer tolerate invitation of premier and other league players to the cadet team by coaches because they fear that such players may not be within the age bracket.

According to him, the Glasshouse would henceforth direct the Golden Eaglets coaches to select under 17 players from soccer academies which he assured were to be found in direct parts of the country.

“We are working hard to ensure the members of the Golden Eaglets are selected from footbal academies that are located all over the country. Our intention is to ensure only authentic U-17 players are in the squad.

We doubt if real U-17 players can play in the domestic league, so if any player that has played in the league for years is invited then we would have every reason to believe that such cannot be under 17.

“The country has many football academies where some players were discovered in the past, players who were not age cheats. Even though coaches prefer to invite players from domestic Nigeria leagues, the football house will not allow that and we will soon put an end.

“You can see in Spain national team, most of the players were picked from football

academies; players such as the likes of Farbegas, Alonso, Xavi, Inesta, Casilas and others. I am convinced Nigeria cannot be in exception to that great philosophy,” he said.

Further, Amadu explained that the reason FIFA introduced the age grade championship was primarily to enable the transition of talented players from one age group up to the senior national teams level.

Peoples Daily Sports recalls that Flying Eagles chief coach, John Obuh, had said that it would be difficult to do away with age cheat unless the NFF desist from its win-at-all-cost mentality. Obuh said the syndrome puts lots of pressure on national coaches and forced them to resort to all sorts of means to meet the expectation of the NFF, often to the detriment of grassroots talents development.

Egypt’s soccer cup competition canceled

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gypt’s interim government has canceled the national cup competition, ending all soccer in the country this season.

The Egyptian Football Association says that the Ministry of Interior won’t allow scheduled Egyptian Cup games to be played from April 30 to May 30 because of security concerns.

The EFA says the ministry also wants court proceedings in connection with the deadly Port Said stadium riot to be completed before soccer resumes.

League games were called off last month after 74 people were killed in fan clashes at a game in the Mediterranean city on Feb. 1.

Around 75 suspects are on trial over the violence. The case was postponed until next month after disturbances in court last week.

Stanley Okoro of Nigeria battles with bitolo Oyongo of Cameroon

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

PAGE 47

Oladunjoye 18th NSF: Lagos targets tasks youths medal hauls in swimming on sports T

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ale Oladunjoye, a Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports Development to Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, has advised the youths to be more committed to sports.

Oladunjoye, who disclosed that the Lagos State Government was planning to engage the youths through sports, said the government would introduce a policy that would facilitate the discovery of grassroots talents.

“Sports is to encourage young players, and give them a sense of belonging; in essence, making them responsible citizens. The Government would scout for up-and-coming sports talents at the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF), scheduled for Nov. 27 to Dec. 9 in Lagos ,” he said.

Further, he said such talents would be groomed to become professionals in their chosen sports and thus make a living through sports.

“We want to take advantage as the host state to engage Lagos youths and athletes to take whatever sports they participate in, to the next level,” Oladunjoye said and pleaded with the media to help boost interest in sports other than football to further popularize them.

“Take for instance Fives, most people don’t know about its rules and the rudiments of the game. If all media houses take it upon themselves to popularise the sport, it will help,” Oladunjoye said.

He said Fives would not be part of the medal-winning sports at the festival because it was not popular.

“No, I don’t think so for now, because apart from Lagos, the sport is only popular in the northern part of the country.’’

he Lagos State Government says it is working hard to win most of the swimming medals at the forthcoming 18th National Sports Festival tagged “Eko 2012”, which is scheduled to hold from November 27 to December 9, this year.

Mr Enitan Oshodi, the state Commissioner for Sports and Youths Development, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ikeja on Friday that the state had been preparing its swimmers for the festival and expressed optimism that the athletes would perform “brilliantly well”. “We are preparing our swimmers hard. We know we need to expose these swimmers in competitions to do well at the festival and that is part of what we have been doing.

“We have organised so many competitions for them and we still have so many others lined up before the commencement of the festival.

“Being an aquatic state, we are harnessing all our resources and swimming talents to ensure that we perform extremely well at the swimming events of the festival.”

The commissioner said that the state decided to host the festival not only to win laurels, but also to use it as a platform to build talents and further promote sports development.

He said that the state was also stepping up preparation athletes in the other sports to ensure that the state excelled.

Oshodi also said the state government was working “aggressively” to put all facilities in good shape for the successful hosting of the festival.

He said the government had received assurances from the Minister of Sports, Mr Bolaji Abdullahi, that the National Stadium, Surulere, would be ready before the commencement of the festival.

“There is a lot of work to be done at the

Babatunde Fasola, Gov. Lagos state stadium before the festival.

“We have received assurances from the minister of his support and we hope the state will be in shape before the festival.“ “The National Stadium is one of the venues we are going to use for the festival.

We will host some events at its indoor halls and some of its other facilities,” he said.

NIPOGA: LASPOTECH wins Ede 2012 Games

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he 17th edition of the NIPOGA Games ended in Ede, Osun over the weekend with the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) emerging over all winners 18 gold, 17 silver and 25 bronze medals.

The result was an improvement on their performance at the 16 th edition where they finished third.

But winners of the 16 th edition, The Polytechnic Ibadan, could not repeat the feat as they finished second behind LASPOTECH with16 gold, eight silver and eight bronze medals.

The host institution, Polytechnic, Ede occupied the third position with 14 gold, 12 silver and 28 bronze medals.

Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) got eight gold, 10 silver and

18 bronze medals to place fourth on the medal table, while the hosts, the Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti were in fifth on the medal log with seven gold, 11 silver and 19 bronze medals.

The male football competition’s final match, played during the games’ closing ceremony, was won by the host polytechnic which defeated Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia 4-2 on penalties.

LASPOTECH’s female football team also stunned Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa 2-0 to claim the gold medal.

In the match, Odufuwa Olabisi who came in as a substitute scored the two goals for LASPOTECH in the 52nd and 69 th minutes of play The Rector of the host institution, Dr Joseph Oke, commended all the

participating schools’ athletes and officials for their peaceful conduct during the period. He also described “Ede 2012” as very successful.

Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, who was represented at the closing ceremony by his Special Adviser on Sports and Youth Development, Mr Biyi Odunlade, called on youths to stay away from social vices.

He urged Nigerian youths to indulge in activities that would add value to their lives and promote peace and national integration.

NAN reports that 43 polytechnics and Colleges of Technology across the country participated in the one-week event, with only 33 of them winning medals.

The next edition of the NIPOGA Games will be hosted by the Federal Polytechnic, Bida in 2014.

World/Nations Cups qualifiers: NFF inspects facilities at Owerri, Ibadan, Calabar stadia

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National Stadium, Abuja

U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar

ollowing uncertainty over the use of Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, officials the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have turned attention to other venues for the June 3 2014 World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Namibia.

Accordingly, the officials have inspected facilities at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri and the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

Should the security doubts continues, one of these would be the alternative venue for the match.

Doubt over the Ahmadu Bello Stadium became necessary following spate of deadly bomb attack which left over 40 people dead in Kaduna. The development forced the NFF to response to agitation from sundry quarters which consider the designated venue unsafe to stage a 2014 World Cup qualifier.

A top official has said that the NFF was shopping for a standard stadium with natural grass pitch to stage this match as the Abuja National Stadium pitch is in disrepair and may not be ready for the game even if repair works were to commence now.

“We are looking at a suitable stadium which has a grass pitch because the players will not play on an artificial pitch,” the official informed a wire service.

Officials have since inspected the Dan

Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan as well as the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar as possible replacement for the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

The Esuene Stadium in Calabar hosted a 2012 Nations Cup qualifier against Madagascar in September 2010.

The venue that is eventually picked will also most likely play host to a 2013 Nations Cup qualifier against Rwanda on June 17. Rwanda held the Super Eagles to a 0-0 draw in the first leg played in Kigali in February.

Chris Green

QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE Wise men talk because the y they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something — Plato

TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012

SPORTS And now, our own Guantanamo Bay LA TEST LATEST F FOR THE European lawmakers take swipe at Blatter

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IFA President Sepp Blatter was criticised by a European lawmakers' advisory group yesterday for his handling of a kickbacks scandal involving milliondollar payments from World Cup marketing deals to two FIFA officials.

A Council of Europe sports panel published Swiss prosecutor Thomas Hildbrand's testimony that the ISL agency paid one official at least 12.74 million Swiss francs and another 1.5 million Swiss francs in the 1990s.

Detailing Blatter's employment with FIFA since 1975, the report stated it was "difficult to imagine that Mr. Blatter would not have known about this," even if he did not directly take any money.

"I believe it is extraordinary that (Blatter) did nothing to make public all the information which FIFA had or has, and took no steps whether internally or via the courts to enable FIFA to obtain reparation," wrote report author Francois Rochebloine, a French national assembly member.

Blatter came under further fire yesterday from Rochebloine's panel, which last month published an initial report on sports governance that attacked FIFA. Its findings will be debated Wednesday when parliamentarians from 47 Council of Europe member states meet in Strasbourg, France.

Lawmakers were urged to call on FIFA to publish immediately a Swiss court document identifying officials who took kickbacks, and investigate how Blatter was reelected last June after rival candidate Mohamed bin Hammam was implicated in a bribery scandal.

FIFA President, Sepp Blatter

ADVERT: BUSINESS: NEWS: LAGOS:

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or some weeks now, the Jonathan administration has been flashing across the country, and the rest of the world, what, to many, appear to be contradictory signals, regarding especially the vexed issue of Boko Haram.

President Jonathan, the Commander-in-Chief, has been boasting that the sect will soon be reined in, that, in fact, by the middle of this year we will be singing its dirge.

His commanders and security chiefs have declared, and have worked themselves into the mood of a total war against the sect that they believe will completely route it out, very soon.

The defence minister, Dr. Haliru Bello, tells us that the midyear date given by his boss is impracticable.

And now, we hear, from media reports, that the government has just established a Guantanamo Bay- like secret detention centre in Lagos, where captured leaders of the Boko Haram sect will be held for interrogation.

What does one make of all this?

Is this a reflection of muddled thinking or confusion at the top?

Is what we are seeing and hearing a sign of a change in strategy, or more of the same, in the war against the sect? Or is this Jonathan's way of distracting the nation with the horrific threat of Boko Haram so that he can have a free hand to execute his agenda?

But let's back up a little here and start from the beginning.

Last week, a story flashed across the globe by Associated Press (AP), and widely reported in our own press last Friday, said Nigeria has now opened its own Guantanamo Bay detention centre, located somewhere in Lagos. This secret detention centre will, according to the report, serve as the central place where all captured chieftains of the Boko Haram will be housed and interrogated by a combined team of the intelligence and security personnel.

AP cited as its main source an unnamed top security official who, it said, explained that the establishment of the centre was informed by the need to harmonise the efforts of the disparate and sometimes feuding security agencies in the fight against the sect. The official was quoted to have said that it was the National Security Advisor, Gen. Andrew Azazi, who gave the orders for the establishment of the centre, and that, already, arrangements are being made to transport suspects there.

The report said neither the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Epkeyong Ita, nor the agency's spokeswoman, Marilyn Ogar, denied or confirmed the existence of the secret prison, but that the latter was quick to challenge anybody with information about

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By Rufa’i Ibrahim ruf585@hotmail.com

the prison to go to court. ''Whatever we do, we're running a democratic system that respects the rule of law," she said.

In effect, the two officials are, by their refusal to either confirm or deny the existence of the secret prison, confirming that it does exist. And by daring us to go to court to challenge its establishment, they are telling us, in addition, that the government is on firm legal grounds in establishing the prison.

But is it? Well, certainly the government has the law on its side in establishing prisons around the country. And it would be good if the government were to build more modern poisons across the country with all the standard facilities to help decongest existing prisons and improve the living standards of the inmates.

But we are talking here about the establishment of a secret prison, in Nigeria, under a democracy. And this immediately brings to mind the United States' secret detention camp located on its Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay in Southeastern Cuba, which achieved notoriety as a place where hundreds of prisoners, almost all of them muslim militants, were held without charge, without access to legal representation and subjected to torture, for indefinite periods.

Implicit in the very idea of "'secret," as the word applies to prison, is the suggestion that it will be run, and its inmates treated, in ways that will not be considered acceptable and cannot stand up to scrutiny in a democratic dispensation.

In our case here in Nigeria, the word comes with all the hints, and even intimations, of dungeons and solitary cells, extreme forms of torture, indefinite detention without charge or trial, denial of legal redress, dehumanization and humiliation of the inmates and, at the end, for many of the detainees, enforced disappearance or summary execution.

This is precisely why the development has engendered worry and fuelled concerns within and outside Nigeria. We are talking about the establishment of a secret prison in a country that has acquired a reputation as the land of impunity, a country where politics and political power are not yet tethered to law, and a country with one of the world's records for

extrajudicial executions by the security forces.

The official quoted by AP cited the lack of synergy among the country's security agencies as the problem the establishment of one central secret facility is intended to address. There can be no denying the fact that lack of synergy among, and even turf wars between the different security agencies have constituted a very serious problem, and are at the root of the inability or failure of these agencies to confront the security challenges in the country with the required degree of resolve and efficiency. Each agency wants to outshine the others, each wants a bigger share of the huge security budget that comes to about N2 billion a day and each wants to be the one that gets more of the president's attention.

In this case, we must wonder and ask the question why the idea of achieving synergy and harmonising the efforts of the various agencies hasn't occurred to the authorities and the Azazis before now. This is a simple, even obvious idea, not rocket science.

Perhaps then, the establishment of the secret prison was prompted less by the need for synergy than by the sudden realisation by the authorities that things are not as they originally thought them to be, that the war against Boko Haram will be a longdrawn one in which victory will not as easy or as certain as they had given themselves to believe it would be.

But it can hardly be said that the secret prison idea is not consistent with the government's perspective of the Boko Haram challenge as essentially a security matter which can be solved militarily and its generally oppressive and repressive conduct in the way and manner it has been handling the issue and prosecuting the war.

It is particularly instructive that apart from the boasts and threats to finish off the sect, and the timeline given for doing this, this secret prison thing is only new idea, if it can be called this, that has come from the authorities in about two years.

And the secret prison is not part of a package that includes well thought out and well articulated programmes of intervention or economic empowerment through

which the socio-economic problems of poverty, illiteracy and hopelessness that define the regions where Boko Haram is most active can be addressed.

Obviously, Jonathan and his men are not in the least impressed by all the arguments and counsel by well meaning Nigerians and world leaders that a lasting solution requires that the problem be seen in its social context and the problem of poverty, especially, be addressed.

Even more obviously, the dialogue option has now almost been foreclosed. The president wants to stick to his preferred option of throwing more guns and men at the problem, so that the killing will go on in a war that neither side can win, and in a country which is already a killing field.

Criminal gangs kill. Rival cult groups kill. People kill for ritual purposes. Kidnappers kill their captives. Worse of all the police and other security and armed routinely kill those in their custody and even innocent people going about their businesses. By some estimates the police alone kill about 2,500 people yearly.

Add to this number the hundreds that the JTF men operating in some of the Northern states kill in a month. Between January and December last year in Maiduguri, for instance, the JTF there deposited 635 brought-indead (BID) bodies to Maiduguri University Teaching Hospital alone. It is not known yet how many the JTF have killed this year.

The choice of Lagos as the location of the secret prison is in keeping with the thinking and militaristic approach of the authorities. And it is very instructive. Lagos is a big commercial centre, a city with the highest concentration of media organs and civil rights activists.

But it is also a place where the general public will at best be indifferent to whatever treatment is meted out to Boko Haram members, a place where the rights activists will at best look the other way and also a place where the media will endorse and even urge for more blood.

In Borno right now, there is worry and concern is climbing about the presence of what people believe to be mass graves where the JTF buries those it kills. In Lagos there will be no such problem. The JTF will have an easy job. The dead bodies will just be thrown into the lagoon or ocean, like Bin Laden’s dead body. Simple.

No questions asked.

It may be that the President and his men know what the rest of us don’t. But time will soon tell if the choices and decisions they have made as a response to the security challenges facing us are what will lead to lasting peace in the country.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos, Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 803 606 3308. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com ISSN: 2141– 6141