Peoples Daily Newspaper, Tuesday 25, June, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 11 No. 27

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Two feared killed as train derails in Kaduna >>5

. . . putting the people first

Nigeria begins production of HIV/AIDS drugs >>3

Sha’aban 17, 1434 AH

N150

Police arms missing in Ekiti — Reps >>2

Borno Emirate lost 11 district heads to insurgency — Shehu

Fresh Wase attacks claim village head, others

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri and Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

T

he Shehu of Borno and Chairman of the Borno state Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai El-Kanemi, said yesterday that the Emirate had lost 11 of its district heads in the lingering Boko Haram insurgency.

El-Kanemi disclosed this when the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Dialogue with Boko Haram insurgents and Minister for Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, led other members of the committee to pay a courtesy call on the monarch.

According to the monarch, the slain tradtional rulers were killed differently and at their respective domains by suspected insurgents.

He said that since the reemergence of the insurgency, state had lost its slogan as a home of peace, with socio-economic activities virtually crippled.

The royal father suggested that members of the committee should visit Bama and Baga towns to access the level of socio-economic decay.

The traditional ruler called on the Federal Governnent to adopt concrete measures to see to the amicable resolution of the crisis so Contd. on Page 2

A Lagos bound train from Kano, derailed after it collided with a truck at Kakau village in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state. See the story on Page 5

Amaechi convenes maiden E meeting of govs forum

By Lawrence Olaoye

Jang’s faction claims credit for resolving FAAC crisis

lected Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has called for the maiden meeting of the body in Abuja tomorrow.

About 19 governors who voted for the Rivers state governor at the

NGF election held on May 24th are expected to attend the meeting.

Amaechi emerged the NGF chairman after defeating his Plateau state governor, Jonah Jang, with 19 to 16 votes at the keenly contested election.

The victory recorded by the Rivers state governor did not Contd. on Page 2

Why Nigeria didn’t appeal Bakassi judgment — Jonathan >>3

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

News CONTENTS News

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

Stockwatch

23

S/Report

24-25

Defence

26-27

Agric

28-29

Feature

30

Reps raise alarm over missing 57,500 Police live ammunition

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he House of Representatives committee on public account yesterday raised alarm over the missing 57,000 live ammunition from Nigerian Police Force Ekiti division and the levity in which the authority dealt with the issue with the dismissal of just two police officers.

The chairman of the committee, Hon Solomon Adeola, who expressed apprehension at the loss of the ammunition and the danger it poses to the society also disclosed that the lawmakers were not satisfied

with the explanations made by the Police authorities.

The Nigeria police appeared before the committee over 134 queries from the report of the Auditor General of the federation office in the last six years and the committee expected the NPF to provide answers to the queries one after the other.

Other items missing included according to reports before he committee include 1 No AK 47 rifle No BD359073 with 20rounds of live ammunition and 1 No AK 47 No BA 405835 The report also revealed that

the losses had not been reported officially in line with the financial regulation chapter 26 and that Treasury Form 146 had not been completed as required. The case has been taken up with the Permanent Secretary, Police Affairs Ministry and his reaction is being awaited The report revealed that over 57,500 ammunitions were missing in Ekiti State and the representative of the Inspector General of Police explained that on investigation the police got to know that two officers sold the ammunications to the member of the public and consequently they were dealt with

and later dismissed.

The committee after listening to the head of administration in the NPF headquarters, Deputy Inspector General Suleiman Bakir, assured Nigerians that the revelations were shocking but the committee would ensure that who ever is found culpable after the investigation among the Nigerian police would be brought to book, since it was obvious that the two officers were not the only police involved in such deal.

The chairman also expressed concern over the attitude of the IG to the invitations of the committee asking those that came, “Where is the IG? All the queries were directed to the IG.” Adeola said, “Loss of ammunitions were being treated with levity by the police authority and the Committee frowned at this development.

Currency counterfeiting: Sanusi decries high incidence in West Africa

By Aisha Bolaji

T

he Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has decried the high incidence of currency counterfeiting in the West African sub-region.

He spoke yesterday in Abuja, during a one-week regional workshop on “Banknotes and Currency Management and

Forecasting in Central Banks”, organized by the West African Institute For Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM).

Represented at the occasion by Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Mrs. Sarah Alade, he said there was the need for effective collaboration between central banks and other international agencies involved in the fight against currency counterfeiting.

He said if the trend remained unchecked, it could undermine the integrity of the domestic economy and creates economic distortions thus, rendering the tools of economic management ineffective and therefore urged for the closing of ranks among financial stakeholders in order to stem the tide.

“In order to overcome this malady, appropriate enlightenment

on the evil of counterfeiting needs to be provided to the people while adequate anti-counterfeiting laws should be enacted to check perpetrators“, Sanusi proffered.

On the clamour for lower denomination notes, Sanusi said the growing network recorded by Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) encouraged higher denomination notes.

Borno Emirate lost 11 district heads to insurgency — Shehu Abuja transport policy and its financial implications on workers, Page 4

Int’l

31-34

Strange World 35 Digest

36

Politics

37-38

Newsxtra

39-40

Sports

41-46

Leisure

47

Columnist

48

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Contd. from Front Page that normalcy could be restored.

He equally urged the Federal Government to consider Borno indigenes in appointments at the federal level as according to him, the state has eminent and qualified citizens that will contribute to the development of the nation.

He said the state has only one Minister of State and a Federal Permanent Secretary, pointing out that though there are many federal establishments in the state, they are all headed by non indigenes.

He noted that there was urgent need for the government to correct the ‘anomalies’ so that all sections of the country could feel a sense of belonging.

The monarch also called on the Federal Government to revert to the old system of local government administration where traditional rulers are actively involved in governance so that strangers in communities will be properly documented.

In his remarks, Chairman of the committee, Kabiru Turaki, said

they were in the state to interact with government, traditional and religious leader, victims, security operatives and other stakeholders on how best to resolve the Boko Haram insurgency amicably.

The chairman further told the monarch that the committee is charged with the responsibility of engaging the insurgents in peaceful resolution of the crisis and possible ways of amnesty and disarmament, among others.

He noted that the current security challenges is not a northern affair but that of the country at large even as he added that anything that affects one part of the country affects the whole nation stressing further that President Goodluck Jonathan has taken the issue of dialogue with all sincerity In a related development, no fewer than four persons were reported to have been killed as renewed crises reoccurred in villages in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Our reporter gathered from a close source who confided in him

that people susected to be of Tarok tribe from Langtang lunched attack on the village of Taka lafiya, and killed a village head and one elderly blind man, last Friday.

The source gave the name of the deceased village head as Malam Usman Aliyu who was 80 years old, and his blind friend as Malam Barau Washman. It further stated that almost all the people of the village have fled to a neighbouring settlement of Lamba for refuge.

According to him, half of the village was burnt down by the attackers.

Another reliable source who pleaded anonymity told our reporter on telephone that on Monday morning, a mob of about six thousand Taroks besieged the village of Kumbur in an attempt at invade Wase, but were repelled, stressing that the attackers regrouped and launched another attack from Zango village but were also repelled by the Wase youths and the STF (Special Task Force) personnel.

He said the attackers intercepted a car and killed one person on

the way to Yola from Wase, while another one lost his life after sustaining gun shots when he was about to be taken to Bauchi for treatment.

The source said four other people sustained injuries from the attack adding that there are about five thousand, internally displaced persons taking refuge in Wase, having their villages burnt by the attackers.

When contacted on telephone, the Wase Management Committee Chairman, Hon.Mohammed Zakari, confirmed the incident, and said he will give detailed information of the incident in due course.

The Information and Media officer of the Special Task force (STF), on security, Captain Salisu Mustapha, confirmed the attacks and the killings that occurred on Friday.

Salisu said he has not received the news of the killing yesterday, but confirmed that Wase was attacked, which he believed could be a reprisal attacks from both communities.

Amaechi convenes maiden meeting of govs forum Contd. from Front Page go down well with Jang and his supporters who are being speculated to be having the backing of the Presidency, and they resolved to pull out to form another faction.

Top on the agenda of the Amaechi’s NGF tomorrow, it was gathered, is the current crisis over the monthly allocations to states and local governments of the federation.

Meanwhile, the Jonah Jang faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum yesterday claimed the credit for the resolution of the crisis emanating from the monthly allocation for the states and local government in the federation by the Federation Accomts Allocation

Committee (FAAC) recently.

The Jang faction in a statement signed by its Director General, Osaro Onaiwu, said Jang made a non combative presentation of the position of the governors over the FAAC crisis which resulted in the empaneling of Governor Isa Yuguda’s committee saddled with the responsibilities of resolving he matter amicably.

He said “as you can see, from the context of putting records straight, the above singular accomplishment of the Nigeria Governors Forum under the leadership of Governor David Jang is an eloquent reference point to the original aims and objectives of the Nigeria Governors Forum which is to foster improved

relationship and partnership with the Federal Government for the common good of members, and by extension the people of Nigeria; and to serve as a platform for peer review and sharing of best practices amongst its members providing innovative solutions to help the governors solve today’s most pressing challenges in their states.

He continued: “Gov Jang is committed to ensuring that the Forum is not used as an organ of open defiance and opposition to the policies of the federal government.

But instead, one that will work in synergy with all tiers of government for the common good of our nation.

This new approach is already yielding

positive results, as evidenced by the amicable settlement of the federation and excess crude accounts sharing imbroglio that has lingered for too long.

“The current NGF Chairman Governor Jang employed every bit of tact, good communication and seminal experience to present the position of his colleagues to the President. It was his matured manner of approach that convinced Mr. President to set up the presidential committee which led to the amiable settlement of the issues and the immediate release of the funds, and an end to the matter that has long caused friction between the two tiers of government,” he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 3

News

President Goodluck Jonathan (2nd right), with other Heads of State and Government, during the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) Summit On Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea, yesterday in Yaoundé, Cameroun.

Photo: NAN

Why Nigeria didn’t appeal Bakassi judgment – Jonathan

By Abbas AminuBamalli

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday that Nigeria did not appeal the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon through the 2002 ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) because the Federal Government was desirous of protecting its citizens living there.

Speaking last Sunday in Yaounde, Cameroon, when he met with the Nigerian community, Jonathan noted that there was palpable tension between the two countries at that time.

Jonathan who was in Cameroon for the summit of Heads of States and Governments of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC), which kicked off yesterday, with a focus on maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea, noted that the apex government also held back on appealing because it had no concrete evidence to back up its case.

According to Jonathan, “you all know what happened in Bakassi, there is no need to go back on why

we couldn’t appeal. We had no new evidence within the period of time that was given that will make a difference in the judgment,” he said.

“Nigerians living in Cameroon should live a good and decent life.

“The forces of animosity are gradually dying down and the relationship is improving.”

He assured the citizens that his administration was doing its best to improve the welfare of all and sundry, indicating he would intimate his host, President Paul Biya about their complaints of high cost of residence permits, high cost

Judge sends Lagos Speaker, Ikuforiji, to prison

J

ustice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has refused granting bail to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, on self recognition.

Instead, he slammed a N1

billion bail on him. The judge ordered Mr. Ikuforiji to meet the bail condition within 48 hours or be held in prison pending the determination of the corruption case against him.

Ikuforiji was re-arraigned for

alleged money laundering offence, alongside his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi, after the former Judge, Okechukwu Okeke, retired from the bench.

Mr. Okeke had granted the Speaker bail on self recognition.

Alleged forgery: FG slams 11-count charge against two Leadership journalists

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

T

h e federal government yesterday filled a fresh charge against two Leadership journalists, Mr Tony Amokeodo (the Group News Editor) and Mr. Chibuzor Ukaibe (Political Correspondent).

The federal government which withdrew an alleged forgery charge against the two Leadership journalists about two months ago made a U-turn and re-filed the case before an Abuja High Court in Kubwa.

The lead counsel to the federal government, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), had on Friday filed an 11–count charge of alleged forgery of presidential directive against Amokeodo, Ukaibe and Leadership Group Ltd before Justice U. A Musale.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court in Abuja had on May 2, 2013, struck out the forgery

case, following the withdrawal of a-six count charge by Awomolo.

The development was sequel to the notice of preliminary objection filed by the lawyer to the Leadership journalists, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), who argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the charge.

But in a new twist, the federal government had approached an Abuja High Court through an exparte application on Friday, May 19, 2013, seeking the leave of the court to prefer a charge against the journalists.

After listening to the argument by a lawyer from Awomolo’s chambers, Mrs F. Folorunso, Justice Musale granted the request of the government.

The judge consequently adjourned the case till Thursday, June 27, 2013 for the arraignment of the two Leadership journalists.

Count one of ther 11-count charge

states: “That you Tony Agboola Amokeodo, Chuibuzor Ukaibe, Leadership Group Ltd, all of 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Utako, Abuja, on or about the 3rd day of April, 2013 at Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory, under the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: forged a document titled ‘Presidential Directive’ having on it the Seal of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria published on the front page of Leadership Newspaper of 3rd day of April, 2013, intended by you to be understood to be the seal of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the intent of the document purported it to be the directive of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

of tuition fees for students among others.

He also urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to ignore negative reports that tend to exaggerate the problems back home.

On voting by Nigerians in the Diaspora, Jonathan said, “I advocated for it but before we can have it the constitution will have to be amended. I cannot use executive fiat to do it I would have but we have to follow the constitution.

“We have a very vibrant diaspora and should be heard. You should send your petition to National

Assembly so that they will know is not only Mr. President that is interested in it”.

Nigeria High Commissioner to Cameroon, Hadiza Mustapha, in her opening remarks said the Nigerian community “is the best community any Ambassador could ask for.

“They are hardworking, patriotic, law-abiding and have good working relations with the Mission”, adding that “so far we have no reason to doubt the commitment of our host government to address the issues” of harassment on Nigerian citizens

by Cameroonian gendarmes.

Minister receives c’ttee report on system collapse …assures of full implementation

By Etuka Sunday

M

inister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo, yesterday received the report of the technical investigative committee inaugurated to look into the constant system collapses across the federation, assuring of full implementation of the recommendations.

The committee which was given two weeks to complete its assignments was also given the mandate to determine the immediate and remote causes of the system collapses, review all the system collapses that had occurred from January to date, review the performance and effectiveness of the grid’s protection system in the period under review and recommend measures to further strengthen the protection mechanism.

Receiving the report from the Chairman of the Committee, the Minister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo praised the level of professionalism exhibited by the committee to have submitted the report by the stipulated time frame of two weeks, saying that its recommendations would be fully

implemented.

The Minister however expressed dissatisfaction over the destructive activities of vandals which led to the massive drop of power by 1,598MW causing load shedding across the country therefore appealed for stop saying it’s inimical to the development of the nation.

Nebo said that the power sector is passing through difficult times, “some of the problems are manmade while others are natural” therefore appealed for calm from the public.

He also assured Nigerians of constant power supply as contained in the power roadmap of the Federal Government.

Addressing newsmen after the presentation, Chairman of the Panel, Fatai Olapade, said all the recommendations would be made public in a later date, saying that some of the problems are not government related.

He gave the example of “Transmission Company of Nigeria, that for the past seventeen years it has not been employing people, most of operators are old, some of them are inexperience therefore should be trained as part of capacity building”.

The Page 4 Report

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Abuja transport policy and its financial implications on workers

By Etuka Sunday

B

arely three weeks since the implementation of Abuja transport policy by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the leadership of the Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, the policy has not only brought physical torture on the commuters who are struggling daily to improve the economy of the nation but has also impoverished them.

For the low income earners, the policy would ever remain an ill-conceived one since they were not well captured. In fact, from the operation they believe the policy was introduced to punish them.

The administration on June 3, introduced a new transport policy banning commuter buses popularly called “Araba” from entering the Abuja city centre. Some of the commuters said that the policy had increased the burden of the masses rather than alleviating their sufferings.

Aside the fact that the departure of the buses often made commuters to report late to work, new report has emerged that workers are paying twice more than what they used to pay when the policy was not introduced.

To be guided by records, it all started as a speculation but which turned out be a reality. In December 2012, it was speculated that the Federal Capital Territory Authority, (FCTA) under the control of Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Abdukadir Mohammed, has concluded plans to put in place a new transport policy for the nation’s capital city.

Just like the announcement of the removal of fuel subsidy, in January 2013, the almighty plan of the new Abuja transport policy was announced by the FCT Minister-a development that caused the workers so many pains as they trekked for several miles to work places.

Obviously, the policy entails a restriction of operations of minibuses, commonly called ‘Araba’, to certain routes and the high-capacity ones to other routes.

By mid -Ja nuary throu gh February, the order was fully enforced. The mini-buses were disallowed entry into Abuja, while the ones operating from within were debauched. And as expected, it was met with stiff opposition from the public therefore was halted to allow for more consultations and possibly palliatives to cushion the effect.

After a so called consultation with the “relevant stakeholders”, June 3 was approved as the commencement date for the restriction. Some of the reasons they advanced was that, “The policy is to move people en-masse, reduce waste of time in the traffic and improve the economy.”

New SURE-P taxi commissioned by Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, recently in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

Minister of FCT, Sen Bala Mohammed According to the original plan, traffic accidents, enhance security the FCT new Transportation Policy and ensure traffic sanity on the was planned to curb congestion, major roads and interchanges in persistent gridlocks, chaos, reduce Abuja.

“

For the low income earners, the policy would ever remain an illconceived one since they were not well captured. In fact, from the operation they believe the policy was introduced to punish them.

The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Information Management Systems, Hajiya Jamilah Tangaza made this disclosure, while addressing journalists during a World Press Conference at the Headquarters of the FCT Administration at Area 11, Garki I District, Abuja to explain the rationale behind the new policy.

Hajiya Tangaza reiterated that this is the time for us as a nation to take major decisions on whether we want to sanitize the system and make it work to propel Abuja to be one of the best 20 cities in the World by 2020 or continue with this chaotic situation.

She called for discipline amongst all the motoring public; stressing that whatever encumbrance being experienced in this subsector today is mainly caused by indiscipline, lack of commitment and unwillingness to change.

The SSA explained that no category of transportation mode in Abuja was banned by the new Transportation Policy; noting that the measure entails a restriction of operations of mini-buses (popularly known as Araba) to certain routes and the high-capacity ones to other routes in the City.

She further called for cooperation and understanding from the several transport unions as well as the motoring public because the policy has been carefully planned to allow all transportation modes dwell on their areas of jurisdiction.

Hajiya Tangaza emphasized that the policy has taken good care of all the modes of transportation including the high capacity buses, mini-buses (Araba) as well as the taxis; insisting that none will suffer but will only be restricted to the area of their operations.

She enjoined the Mini bus operators to desist from harassing

or attacking high-capacity bus operators and users in their bid to prevent operations of highcapacity buses; lamenting that such behaviour constitutes a criminal offence and offenders will no doubt face the full wrath of the law.

Before then, the Minister of FCT, Bala Mohammed, had promised that the new policy would ease transportation and movement in and out of Nigeria’s capital city, but since June 3 when it took effect, the impact on social and economic life, including schooling and civil service work, has been adversely affected.

Speaking through his senior special assistant on political matters and National Assembly, Usman Jibril Wowo, the minister promised that that “will make people move from the satellite towns to the city with ease and at a cheaper rate as the highest fare is N150 for people from Gwagwalada, Kuje and Zuba and as low as N50 for movements within the business district.”

However, hardship, pains, agony, long faces and curses are now the fallouts of the new transport policy recently introduced in Abuja by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, (FCTA).

Most of the workers who bared their minds on the policy said it was planned without taking cognisantce of the financial implications of it.

Some said it was planned without the poor ones in mind.

Narrating his ordeal, Shaibu Ahmed said the policy is devilish and not for the good of the people.

According to him, he used to pay N100 to work from Masaka to Sky Memorial but that it has changed, as he is now paying N200 and more after the close of work.

He therefore appealed to government to send buses down to Masaka to reduce the amount workers are paying every day to work.

Mrs Okoh said She collects N15,000 every month as a cleaner working in Wuse II from New Nyanya, lamenting that the money now goes into transport and nothing left again to take care of her family.

She therefore appealed that the policy be reversed or alternative made to reduce excess spending.

Few others who spoke on this matter were concerned about their take home pay after the huge expenses of transportation.

They painted the picture of those receiving salaries of 5000 with the new policy and concluded that the policy is only for the rich.

In as much as the task of ensuring a good transport policy in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is commendable, it must be fully implemented with the poor ones in mind especially in the area of finance so as not to cause them an earthly hell.

PEOPLES DAILY,TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 5

News

Two feared killed as train derails in Kaduna From Mohammed Ibrahim & Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

T

wo people were feared killed and several others seriously injured when a kano-Lagos bound passenger train rammed into a waste disposal truck at Kakau village in Chikun local government area of Kaduna state causing the train

to derail.

An eyewitness, Malam Suleiman Nasir, said the waste disposal tank stopped abruptly on the rail track after developing a fault.

The train coming at the usual speed was said to have rammed into the truck, an action which caused five coaches to be detached from it.

The Kaduna state Police Command spokesperson, DSP Aminu Lawan, confirmed the incident and but that they were yet to get detailed reports concerning the casualty figure.

According to him, “men of the Kaduna Police Command are on ground and there is clamminess in the area as rescue operation is in progress.”

Reacting when he visited the scene of the incident, Governor Ramallan Yero called on the people to be careful while crossing rail lines as train services have been restored in the area.

He said, “we have already called the Federal Railway Corporation and they have blocked the rail line.

“No train will pass through this way until the line is repaired and you know this is a Federal Government property, so we will liaise with them to see that the road rail line is fixed.”

Yero also visited the three victims of the accident receiving treatment for various degrees of injuries at the St. Gerald’s Catholic Hospital.

Nigeria to begin production of HIV, AIDS drugs, says Minister

By A’isha Biola Raji

N

igeria is to begin mass production of HIV and AIDS drugs for use by member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchu Chukwu, has said.

For Nigeria to overcome the burden of neglected tropical diseases which include malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, there is need for development of indigenous pharmaceutical capacity.

Chukwu said this at the Africa-Korea partnership workshop on neglected tropical diseases on Monday, in Abuja.

He said Nigeria was given the approval by ECOWAS based on the decision taken by the West African Health Organization.

The Minister who did not give details of the proposal, however, called on the Republic of Korea to exploit the opportunity to invest in the country. ``For our Korea counterparts, please come and invest, invest, you will not regret it, the laws are there to protect you if you invest, and that is the collaboration we want to have with you. ``The country is large, but beyond this country, the ECOWAS ministers of health have taken a stand under the West African health organisation that for the whole of the ECOWAS sub-region that Nigeria should be the country that should be producing the drugs for HIV. ``The market is beyond what you have in Nigeria, you are talking of a population of almost 300 million people and that will also extend to the rest of Africa. ``West Africa has the bulk of the population in Africa, and so I want you to seize the opportunity of this new development’’ Chukwu said Nigeria government would intensify its collaboration with the Korea government to ensure better understanding in the area of research and development.

He said the high level burden of neglected diseases in Africa required the development of indigenous pharmaceutical and health innovation capacity to address the issues.

Borno state governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima (middle), in a group photograph with members, Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of security challenges in north- east, yesterday in Maiduguri.

Rivers PDP crisis: Call First Lady to order, Junaid tells Jonathan F From Edwin Olofu, kano

ormer Chairman of the People Salvation Party (PSP), Dr. Junaid Mohammed, has urged President Good Luck Jonathan to call his wife Patience to order over her alleged role in the ensuing crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers state.

In a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Kano, Junaid warned that the crisis in the PDP in Rivers if not address portends a great danger to the nascent democracy, accusing the first lady as the brain behind the crisis because of her interest.

Junaid minority leader in the

second Republic member of the House of Representatives added that the action of the first lady is a blatant abused of the constitution, noting that the Nigerian constitution didn’t recognize the wife of President and she has no role to play and therefore to stop usurping the powers of the Governor of Rivers state Rotimi Amaechi.

According to the statement, “the attention of all democrats, patriots and lovers of peace and harmonious co-existence among Nigerians, must be drawn to recent developments in PDP at the national level, and which are now snowballing into a full blown governmental and security crises in Rivers State.

“Rivers is coming to the limelight because of the irresponsible, unconstitutional and bizarre, illiterate actions, of the so called first lady Mrs. Patience Jonathan, who hails from the island village of Okrika in Rivers State and who sees not only Okrika but the whole of Rivers States, as her personal domain to exploit, abuse and destabilize as she sees fit because her husband Jonathan happens to be the president.”

“It is worth noting that the Nigerian constitution makes no provision whatsoever for the post of first lady, the constitution does not mention that position, and confers no rights, privileges and or

responsibilities on spouses of our president or heads of governments.

“It is therefore illegal and completely ultra vires the constitution for any citizen, president or his spouse to usurp executive powers, and go about throwing their weight, as if they were legally recognized holders of such offices according to the law.

“As at the time of writing, the commissioner of police in Rivers, his command structure and other security services are at the command of Patience Jonathan, and by her and presidential orders, most security facilities due to the governor, the speaker and others so entitled, have been withdrawn.”

FG lying on state of the economy- ACN

T

he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has challenged the Federal government to be honest with Nigerians on the state of the nation’s economy, saying all indications are that things are not as rosy as painted by the government.

In a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said coming clean on the state of the economy will enable the government to carry the people along in whatever measures it may take to avoid the collapse of the economy. ‘’On Feb. 24th, 2013, we issued a statement in which we alerted the nation to ‘an impending collapse of the Nigerian economy, unless

the federal government cuts the astronomical cost of running a bloated government and takes urgent measures to diversify the economy and shore up the production of oil, which remains the mainstay of the country’s economy’.

“Though the federal government quickly denied the economy was in danger, it is now clear that it (government) was being economical with the truth. The clearest indication yet of this choreographed deceit are the contradictory statements credited to the Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in recent times. ‘’According to published report, on June 10th in Abuja, the minister

said at a ministerial briefing that the fundamentals of the economy were strong and that the economy was buoyant beyond danger. However, a day later, the same minister was quoted as saying, at a closed-door session of the Federal Government Economic Implementation Team, that the Nigerian economy is shaky despite the official fundamentals and that drastic steps are needed to save it from collapse.

“She was further quoted as saying that there was an urgent need for ‘stringent budgetary measures’ to arrest the downward slide; that crude oil production now hovers around 1.3 million barrels per day (far lower than

that it was at the height of the protracted militancy in the Niger Delta); and that crude oil theft, which costs Nigeria US$6 billion annually, is now severely hurting the economy,’’ the party said ACN said while it had no reason to doubt that the reality of the gloomy situation facing the country’s economy has now dawned on the government, it is still worried that those in authority are speaking from both sides of their mouths, publicly giving the impression that all is well while privately preparing to unleash belt tightening measures on the same hapless citizens who have borne the brunt of their poor governance.

PAGE 6

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

News PDP commends Jonathan over NEC

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has commended the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the members of the National Executive Committee for the successful outcome of the 61st National Executive Committee meeting of the party which held last week.

The National Working Committee (NWC) which met yesterday in Abuja also said “ the maturity and sincerity with which the President and other leaders of the party handled the leadership challenges facing the PDP has once more indicated that the party is ever capable of solving its problems contrary to the doomsday prophecies of the opposition .”

“We have said repeatedly that

many voices but one resolution in the aftermath of wide consultation is the hallmark of democracy. In PDP, we disagree, we hold individual opinion but we agree and resolve our differences and the party as well as the polity better for it.”

“The founding fathers of our great party have built the PDP as a melting pot. They enthroned the PDP as a platform where all Nigerians irrespective of creed, race

or political persuasion would find expression. Thus, we have remained the strongest centripetal pull on the unity of the nation and so shall it continue,” the PDP statement said.

“We therefore commend the President, the Vice President, members of board of Trustees, leaders of the National Assembly, PDP state Governors and other leaders of our great party at various levels for their sensitivity to this

sacred responsibility incumbent on our mandate as the custodian of Nigeria’s democracy.” The statement further commended the resilience of millions of members of the Party and assured that the leadership will continue to work assiduously to ensure that the transformation programme of the PDP-led Federal Government is faithfully implemented to better the lots of all Nigerians.

Firm produces fertilizer to boost oil palm production

From Mohammed Ibrahim, Kaduna

A

n indigenous fertilizer company, Crystalizer Nigeria Limited, has produced Kieserite fertilizer with the chemical content of 27.22 per cent and mgo/47 per cent SiO2 to assist farmers in Oil Palm growing areas of the country to achieve optimum yield.

Disclosing this to newsmen in Kaduna at the weekend, Chairman/ Managing Director of the firm, Brig.

General Dantsoho Mohammed (Rtd) said, the brand called booster to oil palm production is produced from organic material of magnesium, calcium, silica and nitrogen and has undergone many years of intensive research by the Institute of Agriculture Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

According to him, the Institute tested the product on all crops with emphasis on tree crops and has been vastly used by farmers in oil palm growing areas of the country.

He said the components of the products are locally sourced and can last up to 100 years or more to the benefit of tree crop producers in the country.

The Chairman called on the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to give the product a trial to find out the effectiveness of the crops for possible recommendation to large scale tree crop producers in the country.

He said that the benefit of the Kieserite fertilizer on tree crops include increased yield by up to 300 percent and more compared to other NPK type, application is only once from planting to harvest.

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo (2nd right), receiving a report from Chairman, Power System Collapses Committee, Engineer Fatai Olapade (left), yesterday in Abuja. With them are Minister of State for Power, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi (2nd left), and Permanent Secretary, Minister of Power, Dr. Godknows Igali (right).

NYSC: FG bars foreign graduates without minimum requirement from service

By Maryam Garba Hassan

F

oreign graduates who wish to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) must have the minimum entry requirements into Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions.

Minister of Education, Prof.

Ruqayyatu Rufa’i made this known yesterday in Abuja when she received the Director General of

NYSC, Brig. Gen. Nnamdi OkoreAffia who led a delegation to her office to seek clarifications on mobilisation for foreign graduates.

Ruqayyatu said irrespective of bridge programmes that foreign students may engage in prior to seeking admission abroad, they must also earn the minimum admission requirements for entry into Nigerian tertiary institutions which includes English Language

and Mathematics.

“Let me make one thing very clear on the issue of studying abroad, I know that no government will put a stop to people that are interested in going out to study abroad and in fact we even have scholarships in terms of bilateral agreements that we have with other countries.

“There are things that people need to know before sending their wards abroad, the basic

entry requirements for Nigerian universities or institutions are critical.

“The basic entry requirement is a necessity for a Nigerian child to be recognised in Nigeria even after his graduation from any other university abroad”, she said.

Speaking earlier, Okore-Affia, said the team visited the minister to seek clarifications on the issue that had been of serious concern to the Corps.

Kano arms cache: Court reserves judgment on Lebanese suspects

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

A

Federal High Court, Abuja sitting before Justice Adeniyi Ademola yesterday reserved judgment in the suit filed by the three Lebanese being held over their alleged involvement in the importation of firearms and ammunition for terrorism activities in the country.

Abdullahi Thaini, Mustapha Fawaz and Tahal Rouda are being held by the State Security Service (SSS) over the recent discovery of a cache of firearms and

ammunition in a house in Kano state.

The Lebanese had filed an application for the enforcement of their fundamental rights, challenging their arrest and continued detention by the SSS. In the suit, which has the SSS, Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as defendants, the suspects also faulted the closure of the business premises by security agents.

They are equally demanding a public apology from the

defendants, to be published in three national dailies and N50 billion compensation.

When the matter came up yesterday, the suspects’ lawyer, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN) replied on point of law to the argument by state’s attorney, Clifford Osagie, to the effect that the SSS observed due process in the suspects’ arrest and continued detention.

Clarke faulted Osagie’s argument on the ground that the warrants for detention, on which basis his clients were being detained, were obtained

from incompetent courts.

He argued that the Magistrate’s court, from which the warrants were obtained, have no jurisdiction over the crime of terrorism, for which his clients were arrested.

He urged the court to discountenance the defendants’ argument that the applicants’ alleged offences bordered on national security.

Clarke further urged the court to declare his client’s detention as illegal and award substantial damages against the defendants.

Although, Ademola did not

give a specific date for the court’s judgment, he assured that the judgment would be delivered on or before next week Friday.

There were indications yesterday that the fourth suspect, Kossay Noudin may be granted bail on or before Wednesday.

Clarke and Osagie told the court during yesterday’s hearing that parties were “talking” with a view to arrive at an amicable resolution of the case involving him.

Ademola directed parties to return on Wednesday for report of settlement.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Jigawa bans street begging From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

A

t the approach of the holy month of Ramadan, the Jigawa State Government has announced the ban of street begging across the state.

Stating this yesterday at the disbursement of Zakka at the Dutse Emir’s palace, the Dutse council chairman, Alhaji Abdulaziz Dankofa, said a circular to that effect has been released from the office of the Secretary to the State Government.

Alhaji Dankofa declared that it is embarrassing to see young people begging for alms at designated points like fuel stations and food joints.

The Chairman said the state government has observed with dismay that most of those committing the act are coming from outside the state, adding that, “we would no longer condone the attitude”.

He warned those perpetuating the act to “desist or face the wrath of the law”.

According to him, some have made it a form of business, roaming from office to office, lodging complaints to office holders who in the end are forced to part with some money.

The Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammadu Nuhu Sunusi, said Zakka worth N149, 582, 593.00 million naira has been collected and would be shared to 21,622 needy persons.

PAGE 7

News

Groom, grandmother, two others perish in Edo auto crash From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

A

bridegroom, and his aged grand mother alongside two relatives reportedly perished in an auto crash involving a Toyota Sienna car and an articulated vehicle last weekend on the Benin-Auchi Highway, by Iruekpen, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

The groom, alongside his

grand-mother, uncle and uncle’s wife were said to be travelling to Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State for the wedding introduction when their vehicle had a head-on collision with a truck conveying sand dust, belonging to Setraco Construction Company.

Peoples Daily reports that two of the bodies were still trapped under the truck, while corpses

of the other two had been taken away to the morgue.

The Toyota Siena was damaged beyond repair, as the engine of the vehicle and its body fell in different directions.

Head of Operations, Iruekpen Unit Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. John Omokandugba, said the accident was caused by dangerous over taking on the part of the

Siena car.

He confirmed that four persons including two men and two women who were occupants of the Toyota Siena, with registration number USL 111 AE, died in the accident.

Omokandugba disclosed that the truck had loaded sand dust from Auchi, and was heading to Elele, in Rivers State when the accident occurred.

$1.69m fraud: Ajudua to know fate today

From Matthew Irinoye, Lagos

A

Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, will this morning give ruling on an application filed by alleged high profile fraudster, Fred Ajudua, who was remanded in prison custody by the court on June 11, 2013.

Ajudua is asking the court to quash the charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) During resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, Ajudua through his counsel, Alex Agba,

asked the court to quash the charges against him, adding that each case should be treated based on its own peculiarity.

In a Motion on Notice dated June 7, 2013, which is supported by a 16-paragraph affidavit, Agba argued that since the complainant has withdrawn the case and filed an affidavit before the court to this purpose, the court should quash the charge.

According to him, further hearing in the matter will be a waste of time as the witness that is supposed to testify had trav-

elled down to Nigeria to indicate his unwillingness to continue with the matter.

In opposing the application however, EFCC counsel, Mr. Wemimo Ogunde (SAN), stated that it is not known to law for a victim to come to court to file an affidavit of discontinuance on which the defence will predicate its application for charges to be quashed.

Ogunde stated that in a case that is part heard and other witnesses had testified, a court cannot quash charges without analys-

ing what other witnesses had said.

This, he added, cannot be done as it is speculative and according to him, the court cannot speculate until the prosecution concludes its case and the defence files a no case submission or before the trial started.

Earlier, Ajudua’s counsel had moved an application that the court should restore the bail granted his client on December 15, 2005, with the same condition but an additional surety, or grant a fresh bail with conditions the court deems fit while trial lasts.

Police rescue 75-year-old woman kidnapped in Anambra

T

he Anambra Police Command on Monday confirmed the rescue of a 75-year-old woman, simply identified as Mrs. Edeh, kidnapped by a four-man gang at Ihiala Local Government Area.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka that the victim was kidnapped on Monday morning at about 8 a.m.

Chukwuemeka said that the woman was rescued after a 30 minute gun duel with the hoodlums.

The spokesman said the hoodlums, who abducted Edeh in a Mercedez Benz 190 car at Umunamehi in Ihiala, shot sporadically in the air to scare away people.

He said that the shooting attracted the attention of passers-by, who alerted the police.

Chukwuemeka said that policemen who were drafted to the scene, chased the suspects to the nearby community of Uli where they challenged the police to a gun duel.

“The duel resulted in the arrest of one of the abductors while the other three escaped by jumping into the bush and abandoning their victim in the car. The suspect, a 25-year-old man was arrested and is now assisting the police in its investigations,” he said.

An eyewitness told NAN that when the suspect was taken to the police station at Uli, the police had to restrain youths from the area who attempted to lynch him.

L-R: Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, in a handshake with senior professorial fellow, centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Prof. David Molyneux, WHO team leader on guinea worm eradication, Dr. Gautam Biswas, and WHO/Afro, Burkinafaso, Dr. Maiga Alhousseyni, during the minister’s meeting with international and national evaluators on guinea worm eradication, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

2013 Hajj: Balloting to produce Adamawa intending pilgrims - Secretary

I

ntending pilgrims from Adamawa to this year’s pilgrimage will emerge through a raffle draw, Alhaji Salisu Danjuma, the Executive Secretary of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board has said.

Danjuma made this known to newsmen in Yola on Monday.

He said the policy was adopted following the reduction in the number of seats allocated to states by the National Hajj Commission

of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Danjuma said that after the reduction in the number of seats, the state now has 1,828 slots compared to 2,285 seats last year.

He explained that before the raffle draw, the board would first of all remove the names of those who had performed hajj before. ``After removing the names of those who have performed Hajj before, we will consider the rest based on the principle of ``first-

come first-served’’. ``After that, we will look at those who are regular in attending our enlightenment programmes on hajj. If the number is still above the seats allocated to the state, we will then conduct a raffle draw,” Danjuma said.

The secretary urged intending pilgrims to accept their fate as an act of God, pointing out that the slash, which is global, was sequel to a directive by the Saudi Arabia

authorities.

The Saudi government had attributed the cut in the number of pilgrims to the ongoing massive construction work at the Holy Mosque in Makkah.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that following the global reduction in the number of pilgrims allocated to each country, 76,000 Nigerians are now to perform this year‘s hajj as against 95,000 last year. (NAN)

PAGE 8

Photos Splash

L-R: District Head of Yola, Alhaji Sa’adu Bawuro, Galadima of Sarkin Matasa, Adamawa Emirate Council, Alhaji Abdullahi Bakari, and Hajiya Hauwa Abba, during the presentation of cheques for empowerment of women groups in the emirate, yesterday in Yola.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

L-R: Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, presenting Public Service Career award to former Head of Service, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali, during 2013 Civil Service Dinner and Award Night, on Sunday at State House, in Abuja.

Executive Director/CEO, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Muhammad (2nd left), presenting a gift to retired Photographer of NPHCDA, Mr. Samuel Ayegboyin (2nd right), during send-off ceremony for Mr. Samuel, recently in Abuja. With them are Director, Planning Research and Statistics of NPHCDA, Dr. Abdullahi Mohammed (right), Director, Community Health Services, Dr. Emmanuel Odu (left), and other member of staff.

L-R: National Director, Nigerian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES), Mr Bala Usman, Chairman, NIFES Local Organising Committee Witness 2013 Missions Conference, Mr. Attai Uwodi and Chairman, NIFES Zonal Council, Abuja, Mr. Ifeanyi Anago, during the media briefing on NIFES Witness 2013 Missions Conference, yesterday in Abuja.

Intending pilgrims from Adamawa state, at a sensitisation lecture, yesterday in Yola.

Photo: Joe Oroye, Mahmud Isa , Justin Imo-Owo & NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 9

News

NTI trains 413 science teachers

T

he National Teacher’s Institute (NTI), on Monday said it had trained over 413 teachers across the federation on simpler methods of teaching mathematics and science subjects.

The Director-General of the institute, Dr Aminu Sharehu said this in Kaduna at the commencement of training of teachers from Enugu State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was being conducted under the Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) programme of the institute.

Sharehu, represented by the Director of Academic Planning and Research, Dr. Kolawole Adeola, stressed the need for capacity building for teachers in line with global challenges.

He explained that this would assist in achieving technological enhancement and improve the quality of education in the country.

According to him, capacity building for teachers should be made mandatory, as it would be beneficial to the teachers, students and the nation at large.

He said those trained were expected to re-train other teachers in their various states.

“We do a follow up to find out what happened to those teachers we have trained and we don’t even do it alone; in every geopolitical zone we have a consultant, who is a professor in teacher education. In addition, we also have quality assurance experts; they go round to actually find out on the activities of those we have trained”.

“We also have independent assessors, these are categories of people that we have to ensure that the quality of what we have and what we asked them to do, is what they are doing,’’ he said.

Sharehu said that the training had so far improved the interest and performance of students on science and mathematics subjects.

“By our follow-up, what we have discovered is that the method that they have been taught, they now use this method and is now making the pupils understand the subjects better,” the director general added.

(NAN)

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Habiba M. Lawal, Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina, and Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma, during a press conference on the commemoration of 2013 International Widows Day celebration, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Farmers advised to access intervention fund From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

S

mall and Medium scale farmers in Kaduna state have been advised to access and embrace the intervention contribution of the State Agriculture Development Program (KADP).

The Project Coordinator of the program, Alhaji Dalhat Mohammed Mustapha, gave this advice during an advocacy visit to the palace of SA Gbagi, Dr. Dajuma Barde in kujama.

The Coordinator lamented that despite efforts for farmers

in the state to enjoy a prosperous yield, with the programmes’ focus on ensuring assistance for increased production and good sales of produce, the farmers are not interested in accessing the intervention fund availed

by Commercial Agriculture Development Program (CADP).

“It seems that they (farmers) are scared of something or they are just not aware of how much they can actually get from the intervention despite our talking to the farmers as well as enlightening them about the project; he said.

Alhaji Mustapha revealed that they have “recorded between 40 to 50 percent of achievement of their expected objectives which is aimed at enhancing productivity and commercialization of the agriculture sector. We have educated many farmers on storage, processing, packaging and marketing.”

He disclosed that Kaduna state has been given three value chains which are of rice, dairy and fruit trees production; but about 90 percent of the farmers are maize producers because

the crop is something that can be planted, harvested within a short span and the yield could be seen too; while dairy and fruit trees span over years.

In his remark, the SA Gbagi, expressed pleasure at having the CADP team in his palace and observed that the project has grown tremendously and prayed God for more assistance.

He said about 70 percent of his subjects are farmers and if enlightened would help them more to benefit tremendously from their occupation.

Poor governance root of insurgency - Shettima From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri overnor Kashim Shettima of Borno state yesterday identified the long years of neglect of the core needs of the citizenry by the three tiers of government as the root of youth restiveness which later attracted them into insurgency.

Governor Shettima made the assertion while receiving members of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Situation in the North, who paid him a courtesy call at the Government House in Maiduguri.

Governor Kashim noted that the political trend in the country had only focused on the acquisition of power before elections and an unhealthy competition to amass wealth after assuming office.

He lamented that the period between pre-election and postelection, which should have been used to work for the masses, was instead wasted on plans to subdue political opponents to win the next election and sustain the wealth amassed.

Quoting an article on the prediction of bleak future of the country’s oil industry, the gover-

ing to commemorate this year’s International Day of Widows, sponsored by MTN Foundation with the theme: “Widows Rights are Human Rights’ which is the first time it was celebrated in Nigeria.

She said that as a result of the recent security challenges, coupled with the effect of HIV/AIDS, and aggravated by inter-tribal crises, the population of widows is steadily increasing in the country.

“Widows in some parts of the

country still undergo dehumanizing treatment. Widowhood practices in Nigeria are generally traumatic for women and this is a great challenge that requires the intervention of government to save them from unwholesome harmful traditional practices which translate to various aspects of discrimination against women generally in spite of the growing popularity of the legal principle that “women’s rights are human rights”, she said.

Hajiya Zainab explained that

G

nor urged the three tiers of government to wake up from their slumber and address the vital needs of the citizenry to avert a possible social catastrophe.

Shettima said his administration had seen the challenges posed by such neglect, and that they were now poised to repositioning the state through the promotion of agriculture, education, and healthcare delivery.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the committee, who is also the Minister for Special Duties, Kabir Tanimu Turaki, said they were in the state in furtherance of their tour of the north to in-

teract with stakeholders in a bid to explore a comprehensive way of resolving the crisis.

Turaki added that the committee would meet with Borno elders, the custodians of the traditional institutions, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), trade unions, and other stakeholders in the state to have a credible insight into the situation.

The chairman gave an assurance that the recommendations of the committee would solely depend on the input they would receive from all the relevant stakeholders during interractive sessions.

Widows Day: Minister laments lack of statistics

By Maryam Garba Hassan

M

inister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, has said that little is known about the challenges widows who are an integral part of every society face as they are seldom captured in statistics, unnoticed by researchers and often neglected by laws and development strategies, making their situation invisible.

The minister made this known yesterday in Abuja at a press brief-

the objectives of the commemoration of the Day are, to provide an opportunity to give special recognition to the plight of widows and their children in order to restore their human rights and alleviate poverty through empowerment, create awareness on the need to integrate them into the larger society and to provide a forum for networking and collaboration of relevant stakeholders for the advancement of widows in the society.

While encouraging Nigerians to collectively spare a thought for Nigerian widows to improve their well -being, the minister said the improvement of their situation will largely depend on how Nigerians respond to their plight.

She called on the lawmakers at federal and state levels to legislate against all oppressive, injurious and degrading widowhood practices that continue to place women at the lower rung of social and economic ladder.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 10

News Briefs

NOA seeks support for peace project

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he National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on all Nigerians, corporate and international entities to throw their weights behind the Agency’s Peace Project for sustainable peace in the country.

A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary of the Agency, Paul Odenyi, said the NOA Director General, Mr. Mike Omeri, made the call during the NOA Peace Project Essential Forum 3 in Abuja.

It said Omeri described the project as a holistic, non-forceful approach, using behavioral change communication in all local governments in Nigeria, towards stemming the tide of insecurity in the country to complement military interventions.

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

NGO provides free ICT training for students

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n order to improve the Information Communication Technology capacity of students of various schools in Kaduna a nongovernmental organization, Sufter International limited has organised free training in Communication Technology for students selected from 17 schools in Kaduna State.

The coordinator of the project, Mr Yusuf Zakari, while speaking to the media said the project is part of their contribution towards complimenting government’s efforts in the education sector in Kaduna state.

According to him, the NGO in 2012 trained 60 children from selected schools in computer knowledge and website design after which the best students were given laptops provided

by Unistar Services Limited, as part of their own contributions.

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

SIM card registration: subscribers bemoan demand for money

M

obile telephone subscribers on Monday in Abuja decried the demand for payment before registering SIM cards at some registration centres.

Some subscribers made the complaints in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Mrs Sarah Odey, a civil servant, told NAN that she was asked to pay the sum of N100 before she could register her SIM card of one of the major service providers in the country.

Odey said that the agent registering for the network provider at Nyanya Plaza in Nyanya, FCT insisted that she must pay before her SIM could be registered. ``I was asked to pay N100 by the agent registering for the network at Nyanya Plaza before he could register me. And when I refused to pay, he asked me to leave the queue and the man next to me paid and was registered”.

Odey called on the National Communications Commission (NCC) to investigate this act of fraud and arrest the culprit.

Nigerian Polytechnic students protesting over the nationwide strike by their lecturers yesterday in Lagos. PHOTO: NAN

Four death row inmates hanged in Benin From Osaigboro Iguobaro,Benin

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our death row inmates have been reportedly hanged in Benin, the Edo state capital.

The convicts were hanged in the evening yesterday, according to prison sources.

Local and international organizations including Amnesty International had appealed to Governor Adams Oshiomhole not to sign the death warrants of the convicts.

Amnesty International

had earlier yesterday urged Nigerian authorities must spare the lives of the five death row inmates.

The Federal High Court in Benin-City yesterday rejected a lawsuit filed by Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) against three execution warrants signed by the Governor of Edo State in October 2012.

“Two other death row inmates whose execution warrants were reportedly

signed by the Governor in May 2013are also at imminent risk of execution.

“It is unclear when the authorities at the state’s Benin Prison plan to carry out the killings, but two executioners were reportedly called in on Monday morning and security around the prison is tight.

“Today’s court decision is a major setback for justice and human rights in Nigeria.

“The Nigerian authorities must immediately halt the

Governor Yero reforms civil service From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

K

aduna State Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, has expressed commitment to reforming the Civil Service in the state for better service delivery.

Speaking yesterday at a dinner and award night

marking the end of the 2013 Civil Service Week, Governor Yero said his administration would henceforth pay closer attention to repositioning the Civil Service to meet contemporary challenges of implementing policies and programmes of the State Government.

According to him, the there

is the need to always work in synergy to improve the overall service delivery to the people.

Yero charged civil servants in the State to put in their best as the present administration will soon commence a periodic performance appraisal for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies and by extension all staff in the state.

effects of the 2012 flood disaster is still being managed by the state government which he added had given adequate assistance to the victims.

Dr. Nwaka stated that about 14 local government areas were affected by the flood, adding that in these areas, farmlands, schools, health facilities, residential and business premises

were destroyed including the high number of deaths recorded.

He explained that the tragedy of 2012 compelled the state government to begin preparations ahead of the NIMET prediction in case it occurs this year (2013) and emphasized that as part of preparations to mitigate the severity of the flood, the state government had begun

execution of these five men and allow them to appeal their cases in the courts,” said Lucy Freeman, deputy director for Africa at Amnesty International.

According to Amnesty International’s Death Sentences and Executions 2012 report, Nigeria has not carried out any known executions since 2006 but sentenced 56 people to death last year.

Approximately 1000 people are reportedly on death row in the country.

He expressed worry over the poor attitude of some Civil Servants and urged them to sit up in line with the ongoing reforms in the Service.

“I have a cause to be worried with a number of civil servants whose performance is far below expectation. For such civil servants, I call on you to work hard for us to positively reform the service for the benefit of the common man,” he said.

2012 flood: Delta identifies 850,000 victims From Prince Edward, Asaba

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he Delta State Government says it has identified no fewer than 850,000 victims of the 2012 flood disaster.

The State Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Tony Nwaka, who confirmed this to journalists in Asaba, said the devastating

sensitization programmes to educate people, especially those in flood-prone areas, on flood related issues.

“The training of the officers on flood and disaster management through NIMET is finalized and would kick-start in no distant time. More trainers will be engaged for the exercise”, he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

S

ince the dawn of the new millenium, X Boxes, PSPs, Ipods, ipads and smart phones have topped gift lists all over the world causing financial headaches for many parents.

Children want the latest toys or gadgets and smart phones. Now one is not saying that such gifts are not appropriate but take a little time this children’s day to explore ways of giving your children gifts that keep giving.

To invest in a child’s economic well-being is one of the most fulfilling actions a parent can take. When it comes to saving, children have a huge advantage over adults; the earliest gifts have time to grow and they can benefit from the magic of compound returns.

Parents, grandparents, godparents, aunts and uncles, often think about setting aside some money, or starting a regular savings plan for young children. This can be left undisturbed for several years so that when they are older there is some money available to give them a good start in life. It’s also a good idea to encourage children to save for themselves at an early age. Teaching them to save regularly helps instil the savings habit, and the principles of sound money management that can last a lifetime.

The traditional naming ceremony, for many families presents a good opportunity to jumpstart the saving scheme for a child, so try not to squander all the loose change that you receive! Children often receive token cash gifts during family visits or for birthdays; if they take just a small portion of this and add it to

Money Tip:

Ways to save money Spending beyond your limits is dangerous But if you do, you’ve got plenty of company.Governmentfiguresshowthat many households with total income of N50,000orlessarespendingmorethan they bring in. This doesn’t make you an automaticcandidateforbankruptcy-but it’s definitely a sign you need to make some serious spending cuts.

Beware of luxuries dressed up as necessities If your income doesn’t cover your costs, then some of your spending is probably for luxuries - even if you’ve been considering them to be filling a real need.

Tithe yourself Aim to spend no more than 90% of your income. That way, you’ll have the other 10% left to save for your bigpicture items.

Quote Keeping score of old scores and scars, getting even and oneupping, always make you less than you are. - Malcolm Forbes

PAGE 11

Money Sense

Saving for your children

their savings it will be a good place to start.

Several savings and investment schemes have sprung up specifically developed with children in mind.

Savings Accounts are ideal for the smaller cash gifts that are a child’s first savings. Many of these accounts offer interesting features aimed at children of ages ranging from birth to say 18 years, sometimes using marketing gimmicks to attract them.

It is important to fully understand the features in the account that you choose so that they meet with your own requirements.

Because children aren’t expected to have vast amounts of money to save, most savings accounts can

be opened with small amounts, sometimes as little as N1,000. To help encourage them to save, children’s accounts tend to attract higher interest rates than standard savings accounts.

Some children’s savings accounts have restrictions as to the frequency or amount of withdrawals. If this amount is exceeded there could be a dramatic drop in the interest paid.

Some accounts provide instant access, whilst others may require notice to be given to make withdrawals. Many accounts come with an ATM card which is particularly useful for older children, as their ability to physically withdraw money themselves when they “need” it, makes for a very vivid

lesson in money management.

The stock market is generally regarded as the best option for saving for the long-term; in the shorter term it can be volatile. If your plan is to put money away for your child for a long time, say, five to ten years, then it is well worth considering investing in a stock market mutual fund. These pooled investments give access to a wide range of shares so spread the risk. Although children cannot hold mutual funds in their own name until they reach the age of 18, an adult can set up the fund and add the child’s name to the account holder name.

The adult can then sign on behalf of the child until they come of age.

Lets imagine a parent invested a

sum of N100,000 in a stock market mutual fund on behalf of a child at their birth on 27th May 2003.

Lets also imagine they had the knowledge, foresight and ability to continue to invest the same sum of N100,000 on their birthday each year. On 22 May 2013, just before the child’s 10th birthday, the investment totalling N1,000,000 was worth about N2,036,000.00.

Even though this example doesn’t take inflation or exchange rate risk into account, it does graphically portray the importance of compound returns over the long term and what a wonderful gift this could have been.

Children begin to understand the concept of money from as young as three or four years old as they realise they can exchange it for “nice” things.

Sadly, they get very little personal financial instruction in school and most do not learn significant lessons until they are adults and only as a direct result of their own real life successes and failures. Before you know it, bad habits can develop that can last a lifetime.

An American study showed that where financial education covering subjects like budgeting and credit was introduced, after just three months, 45% of those who took part started saving or saving more. Research showed that this would translate to a significant increase in financial stability in that group between the ages of 35 and 49.

Most parents don’t deal with their children’s money management issues until the children are adults. By then, any problems can be both costly and emotionally charged as parents resent having to constantly bail their teenagers and young adults

Stock investing isn’t a game, no matter how it looks

B

uying and selling of stocks looks like a game, but it isn’t because some money is involved. For every one who buys, that means someone sold. Each in the deal is feeling to have struck a good one, but

the long term decides who carries the day.

In this game of money therefore, one must understand the trend and play with caution. It is not a band wagon thing, as those who have lost will have their ugly

side of the tale.

Year after year, major financial sites like scare readers with advice “sell, sell, sell.” After a while, they go ahead again saying something is going to be good for a quarter …“buy, buy, buy!”

The inference is that anything urging long term ownership of stocks is generally absent and now one wonders why. Navigating the markets isn’t hard, the longer term the moving average a stock remains above, the stronger the support levels will be.

Frank Robert, a financial analyst recent said: “The problem with the consensus of many in the markets is that they feel the influence or temptation to pile all of their money into whatever stock is performing the best for the day rather than spreading their liquidity to various stocks that have upside potential.”

“I usually like to reference the moral of the story of the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady does win the race. As great as it may seem to be tempted to go all in to a stock that’s performing well, it is better to catch a stock on a pullback if it holds support above shorter term moving averages. It alleviates overall risk while at the same time spreading the likelihood of sustaining collective gains over a long period of time,” he said.

According to Ross Poldark, an investor, “There are two games in town: equities and foreign exchange. The equities game is that as long as the market remains too big to fail, the politicians won’t allow it to. I will only go down if everyone else is in the boat with me.”

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

EDITORIAL

nspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar has unwittingly planted himself on the horns of a dilemma. It will be interesting how he plans to walk out of that quagmire. On June 12, incidentally the 20th anniversary of the annulled 1993 presidential poll, he called his field officers in the states to Abuja where he told them to arrest any politician actively campaigning ahead of the 2015 elections.

The IGP’s action came on the heels of a warning by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s to politicians interested in elective office not to jump the gun by going on the hustings now. A statement by its spokesman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, a fortnight ago, noted that some politicians were violating the amended Electoral Act 2010 which says public campaigning must not come before 90 days to the day of voting and should stop 24 days to polling day.

A week later, President Goodluck Jonathan, while addressing the 61st National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, “advised” those party faithful openly campaigning for his re-election to stop forthwith.

The President, it is recalled, early in the year was mired in a controversy when his campaign posters overnight appeared on Abuja’s street on New Year day proclaiming there was” no vacancy” in Aso Rock Presidential Villa. The posters raised the nation’s political temperature a few notches, with the opposition shouting wolf and alleging a plot to rig the 2015 elections.

INEC’s silence in the matter and the failure of security agencies to stop the initial campaigners provided a perfect excuse for others to throw their hats into the political arena. Now the election ombudsman believes is the time to act.

And so does the IGP. The latter in the Abuja meeting with state commissioners of police specifically charged them to arrest anybody campaigning through posters or “whatever guise” in the states they control. “We’re discharging a constitutional responsibility as an agency of government and we shall do

“

I

2015: Rein First Lady back

And Dame Patience typifies this tendency. Can the IGP move against her? We all wait to see that”, he told journalists he spoke with at the end of the security meeting.

Almost immediately, the IGP was presented with a real test of his resolve.

For 10 days, the wife of the President, First Lady Dame Patience, was in the Rivers state capital, Port Harcourt, where she set up court. It was Obio Akpor local government area, of all places, that she chose to tour. Her choice of the state and LGA to visit was significant in two ways. One, the governor of Rivers, Chief Rotimi

OUR MISSION “To be the market place of ideas and the leading player in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the truth, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards while delivering value to our stakeholders”

Amaechi, is generally seen as President Jonathan’s sworn political enemy and the man who will stand between him and re-election in 2015; and two, Obio Akpor is where Amaechi is having an internal challenge to his authority. The First Lady’s speeches were as promotional of her husband as much as they were a damnation of the governor.

Presidential adviser on political matters, Dr. Ahmed Gulak, reacting to the opposition’s call for the First Lady to be questioned for openly campaigning for her husband in violation of the electoral law, said she was not in Rivers to campaign but to “mobilize support” for the president to deliver on his transformation agenda.

He went on to reel out the President’s “achievements” in the first two years of his presidency. “The President is revamping the railway; he is tackling insecurity; he is tackling power problem; he is constructing roads and bridges. In all these, he needs the support of the citizens to succeed. He cannot do it alone”, he said. If the man is doing all that, does he need anybody, least of all his wife, to sell or drum support for him?

The opposition has challenged INEC and the police to take action against the First Lady for promoting impunity. We agree with the majority of Nigerians who accuse the Jonathan presidency of perpetrating a “culture of impunity” in this country more than any administration before it. And Dame Patience typifies this tendency.

Can the IGP move against her? We all wait to see.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 13

Opinion Ewuga, Eggon and Nasarawa

By Danladi Agrobe

S

enator Solomon Ewuga is in the eye of the storm. The activities of Ombatse, an Eggon spiritual group, have put him on the spot. Ewuga is the tribe’s acclaimed political leader.

He has come to be synonymous with the tribe and as his profile rises, so are those of other leaders and would- be champions of the ethnic group dim. He assumes to be revered even more than the tribe’s traditional ruler, the Aren Eggon. And so he became the main benefactor of political patronages accruing to the area.

He was National Auditor of UNCP, Deputy Governor and Minister of the Federal Republic and now a senator. To him, the tribe has become a means to an end so he has to consolidate his hold on it by enhancing his power as its undisputed chief.

His latest sin is that as the tribe’s main leader, he has not come out to openly denounce the atrocities of Ombatse, and when he elects to comment on them, he takes sides with the group. His actions and utterances have drawn condemnation and even suspicion from all corners, especially among the ethnic groups, who fall victims

of these terrorists. His action has led to the conclusion that the growing speculation that Ombatse is but a political tool aimed at realizing the tribe’s quest to govern the state is true. Such a conclusion draws is based on the cry of marginalization from the scheme of things in Nasarawa state by the Eggon Cultural Development Association (ECDA). The conclusion also draws support from the fact that the Senator has sought to govern the state since 1999 through various platforms. He had romanced with virtually all major political parties in the race but his effort has so far comes to naught.

He either would lose at the primaries or the main elections.

And in all those instances when the realization dawned on him and his loyalists there was always the recourse to violence. Even the palace of Aren Eggon was not spared when the Senator lost to Aliyu Akwe Doma in 2007. The traditional ruler’s sin was that he must have supported the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in that election against Ewuga’s All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) because Dr James Agbazo, his son, was in PDP. In 1999, he contested the gubernatorial primaries in PDP and lost, but was made the running

mate and then Deputy Governor only to leave after three months in office. After being made a minister of state in the FCT, he left in 2011 spending only eleven months.

Again in 2007, he contested and lost the PDP gubernatorial primaries. In 2007, he defected to the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), contesting and losing the guber polls. But, in 2010, Ewuga decided to rejoin the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), contesting this time in the senatorial election but losing in the primaries. He quickly joined the emerging Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) for the senatorial election and claimed the mandate through a court verdict.

Another sign that lends credence to the impression that the Ombatse is a political weapon is the timing of its emergence. Literally translated, Ombatse means “time has come”. Its birth was only known after the 2011 elections with a façade to cleanse the society of its many ills. Suddenly, the Eggons felt that their salvation does not lie in Christianity and Islam and therefore jettisoned same for the god of their ‘fore fathers’.

Membership of the new religion is “restricted strictly to full-blooded Eggon sons” as defended by ECDA,

while also alienating the women from their fold, even as they accept converts like any religion.

The group became bolder by the day forcing converts into its fold and visiting terror on the citizens.

Disturbed by the development, the state House of Assembly had to threaten the state governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-makura with impeachment over the increasing violence, while frustratingly accusing him of befriending the arsonists as security agents have failed to arrest their growing criminality.

Ethnic groups whose members were victims of the violence, also in futility, accused the Governor of associating with the arsonists.

The crisis affected the relationship between the senator and the governor, with many inferring that the two leaders are at daggers drawn over 2015. The actions and utterances of the senator over the killing of security operatives by the militias on May 7, 2013 further exposed his feared link with them.

Instead of condemning Ombatse, he was more concerned with how his people are being marginalized, why 100 security men were sent to arrest one old man and how Al-makura is bent on breaking his promise of running for just a

term. Even if the senator feels that his people are being marginalized, will that justifie the murder of security operatives and the carnage repeatedly visited on the people of the state by Ombatse?

The action of Ewuga is condemnable. Former governor of the state, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, had opened up to newsmen few days after the Alakyo carnage, saying “these cultists and or ethnic militia are playing the script of their tribal political lords.” And one of the leaders of the state rightly pointed out recently: “You don’t swim with your canoe to power in the sea of peoples’ blood”. The mindless bloodletting cannot help the senator and even Eggon’s cause in future elections in the state. Because of his insatiable lust for power, he had to drag the tribe that made him through this ignoble path of dishonor. Across the state, the Eggons are being distanced from by their friends, and neighbours; co-workers are now keeping some distance from their colleagues of Eggon origin, while within the law enforcement agencies, the stigmatization is even worse.

Agrobe wrote in from Toto, Nasarawa state

Abuja’s occupation force comes to Rivers

By Ibrahim Modibbo

F

or ten days, the first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan constituted herself into a ‘government’ in Port Harcourt. , Rivers state. She personified the symbol of authority with impunity and took over the city, using the police as a willing tool to ground all social, political and economic activities in the Garden city. The police under Mbu Joseph Mbu came in handy to oppress the teeming populace and terrorize the government by barricading all important roads within the metropolis. Dark goggled and stern looking policemen took over, hence crippling bureaucracy and art of governance. The road that even leads to the Government House was blocked. Rising slightly above the limitations of her intellect, Mrs Jonathan, in what observers see as self serving and myopic worldview, decided to jump into the political space, using misappropriated and misguided powers to over run a democratically elected government in Rivers state. Never in the history of modern democracy have we seen such a brazen and highly reckless display of bankruptcy of ideas and native naivety by powers that neither secured its mandate from the people nor it’s entrenchment in our written laws.

Even in times of disaster, no first Lady had ever left the comfort of her husband’s exotic bed for such a long period to form a parallel government in a state considered to be vassal, except Dame Patience Jonathan. I think it is a needless and highly avoidable tragedy that must be condemned by all democrats of Conscience. The politics of 2015 must be a contest of

ideas and not of personalities and what happened in Garden city last week fell flat below the poverty line and International best practices, as it has the capacity to gradually and systematically disintegrate the collective will and core values of modern democracy.

Though with a mandate to positively respond to emerging and developing security threats in Rivers state, the police under Commissioner Mbu is suffering from gross operational deficiencies, arising from blatant incompetence, high level of sycophancy and acute shortage of vision and mission to accomplish its set objectives in the state. Instead of tacking the problem security through strategic thinking and motivational approach to modern policing by way of vibrant capacity building, viable manpower development and people oriented institutional

“

strengthening, the man is busy submitting himself as an arm of Aso Rock in a battle considered by many to have been lost. Having led the jackboot “kill and go” mobile police that was serially accused of institutional corruption and lawlessness, the police commissioner did not perform below expectations of many who knew his antecedence. The man is known for lawlessness that entrenches impunity and apparent disregard to constituted authority.

Sadly, Mr Mbu is currently playing to the gallery by creating theatrical effects that tragically turn into unfold a comedy of errors and appalling missteps.

Any politician of conscience, and by extension Mr President, would be embarrassed by the exploits of Mbu who embarks on dramatic struggle for social and political recognition. His problems

The Rivers state police are like a house that has fallen. Mbu has become an interested party and extremely partisan. He is dangerous to our nascent democracy and a bad influence to a police force that is expected to be people oriented. If it is not a well designed script acted by Mbu to destabilize democracy and subvert the will of the people, then the Mike Okiro led police service commission should show the man the exit door.

in Rivers state is as profound as it is injurious to the tenets of democracy, bearing in mind that the man uses professional tyranny to subvert the constitution and pervade decency in all his dealings with Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.

The Rivers state police are like a house that has fallen.

Mbu has become an interested party and extremely partisan.

He is dangerous to our nascent democracy and a bad influence to a police force that is expected to be people oriented. If it is not a well designed script acted by Mbu to destabilize democracy and subvert the will of the people, then the Mike Okiro led police service commission should show the man the exit door.

Mbu, whom my sources describe as an aspiring InspectorGeneral of police desperately using contacts to appeal to Jonathan to take over from the present IG ahead of 2015 general elections, is crying more than the bereaved. His reckless and unjustifiable anger against Governor Amaechi stems from the fact that the newly elected National Chairman of Nigeria Governors forum whose powers is inspired by the popular mandate of his colleagues does not recognize him(Mbu) as a recurring decimal in the political equation of Rivers state.

The Police Commissioner is angry to a point of frustration that Gov Amaechi does not consult him in governing the state and the Governor is seen as most vocal against some federal government policies that defied logic. These include the mis(management) of the Excess crude account, sovereign wealth fund, offshore/onshore

dichotomy, and other fiscal matters that resulted in litigation between the states and federal government.

To confront the government and challenge a constituted authority, Mbu deployed the police to occupy the heart and soul of democracy, the state Assembly complex after a kangaroo PDP Exco that failed to win election but got itself imposed by an Abuja High court decided to suspend 27 lawmakers of the state Assembly. The police was said to have led protesters to both the state Secretariat and Obio/ Akpor local government secretariat where some political thugs and social miscreants overwhelmed authorities and dispensed reign of terror. It took the special intervention of God through the House of Representatives to direct the Inspector- General of police, Mohammed Abubakar to order the withdrawal of the police.

Having lost sight of the bigger picture of what democracy and human right entails, it also took a special order from a Port Harcourt High court to restrain the Commissioner of Police from arresting the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Tony Okocha , and the Speaker of the state Assembly Otelemaba Dan Amachree.

As the activities of Mbu gradually move from the sublime to the ridiculous, where mediocrity and iniquity rules, the postulations as to whether he would remain part of the equation to save the current situation obviously begs the question. He is behaving like the bull in a China shop.

Ibrahim Modibbo is reachable on ibrahimmod1960@yahoo. co.uk

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Letters & Opinion My mother, her life, her legacy

By Bola Ahmed Tinubu

M

y mother (Maa’mi), Hajiya Abibatu Mogaji, has passed on. But it is so obvious from the outpouring of emotions across Nigeria and beyond that Mama lives. God blessed her with 96 plus years on earth. But she was not great because of her longevity. For, it is not how long one lives but how well. Mama used every minute of her sojourn on earth wisely and well. My mother lived a long, fruitful life that benefited all who were fortunate enough to come into contact with her. Everywhere she went and everything she touched, she left better than she found them.

She added and never subtracted.

She made and never destroyed. Her light consistently shone and the darkness could never comprehend nor extinguish it. God gave women a tremendous creative force and that force lived in my mother until her last day.

But she is not only my mother.

She is my Hero. To Africa, she is Mama Africa. Nigeria shared her with the world. I recall in 1988 when we had a delegation for the “Free Mandela” campaign in South Africa. She was there front and centre with Sam Nujoma, the first President of Namibia.

Most of you know her as the Iyaloja of Lagos or the President

General of the so not for selfish Association of reasons or private Nigerian Market gain. She did Women and so for a higher Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, Men. She is purpose: To lead more. She was her constituency text messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written Iya-Gbo-Gbo to a better place. contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters (Mother of My mother’s life - 150 words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your All), Iya Oba of demonstrated name and a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be Lagos, Iya Oba that character, addressed to: of Ikirun and integrity, loyalty, Iya Oba of many commitment and other towns too fidelity to lofty The Editor, numerous to principles are the Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, list. She received loftiest values in 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. numerous life. You always Email: opinion@peoplesdailyng.com citations, awards knew at every and recognition point in time SMS: 08134607052 from mosques what Mama stood and churches for. in the former days were dominated across the land.

Some may say she was popular by foreign hands. She helped As a validation of her depth of and respected because she was mould and organized the people knowledge and stewardship, the President General of Market of the markets into a potent force Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Women’s Association. I say she was for justice and social progress, not awarded her honorary Doctorate President General because she was just for their own interests but for degree (Honoris Causa). She was a popular, honest and respected. She the good of the weak, poor and powerful, progressive public figure never demanded or craved respect downcast. in her own right. When it was and honour. She earned it.

She did not matriculate in the fashionable and accepted to ridicule From the depth of my heart, I halls of some renowned university. and look down on market women thank the teeming market men and She never had to. A student of the and men, she was their staunch women who closed the markets wisdom of our great traditional and proud advocate for they were as an act intended to honour my culture, she inherently knew things and are an important part of our mother on her passing. I am the the universities taught. She also society, culture and economy. only son who can apologize to knew many important things such She stood by them as they stood the committed market men and institutions can never teach. She by her. She was instrumental in women and those members of was a philosopher, pragmatist and a the public inconvenienced by the shaping policies and practices to captain who knew how to navigate assure more Nigerians benefited market closings. Their act of love our complex system but she did from commerce and trade which and solidarity during this time

WRITE TO US

of remembrance for my mother will not go unrewarded. That is the tradition for them to honour their hero. For all the good she did as a public figure, what you witnessed was but a fraction of this remarkable woman. You see, I had the unique privilege and honour to be her son. As a mother is where she truly shined.

She did not just provide food, she nourished us. She did not just manage the house and help give us a roof over our head, she gave us a loving home. She did not just instruct us on what to do, she took the time to teach and sculpt us and to let us drink from her deep reservoir of wisdom and experience. She set me on my path.

Whenever times got tough, she held up a lantern that I may see my way forward and she encouraged me as only a loving mother can do for a son. Without her guidance and tutelage, I could not have done what I have been able to accomplish. Yes, my mother is gone for her soul has been taken to a better place. However, the spirit by which she lived and instructed others continues to live in the hearts of the people she touched. In her honour, I ask that we redouble our efforts to continue to improve Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Edo, Ondo and Nigeria so that they become what she dreamed they would be.

Bola Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos state, wrote this tribute in honour of his mother who died on June 15 at 96.

Akwa Ibom 2015, Umana and mass hysteria

By Ini-Abasi Mboho

T

he election to determine who will succeed Chief Godswill Akpabio as the governor of Akwa Ibom state may be two years away but it has generated considerable interest among Akwa Ibom people at home and in the Diaspora. The concern of people, even non-Akwa Ibomites on who will succeed Governor Akpabio is not misplaced. Since Chief Akpabio took office in 2007, he has raised the profile of the state through unprecedented performance. Indeed, the tenure of his administration has witnessed a renaissance of sort in infrastructural development. The traffic of people and organizations who visit the state for seminars, retreats, conferences and private holidays attest to the state of infrastructure in the state.

Placing the state on such a high pedestal also means that the stakes are high and naturally the position would attract a lot of interest.

One of the key actors in the administration of Chief Akpabio whose name has consistently featured as aspiring to lead the state in 2015 is the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Umana Okon Umana, who is often referred to as the “Engine Room” of the administration. A product of the Columbia University Graduate School of Business and London Business School, Mr Umana who also has a degree in Economics

and a Master of Business Administration in International Finance, parades intimidating credentials that has set him apart as a leader who can make a difference in governance.

But it is not only in academic that the he has distinguished himself. A former Director of Budget in the state, who also served as the Commissioner of Finance in the previous administration, Umana’s knowledge of the state and issues of development through past and current engagement has been described as ‘amazing.’

The technocrat, who has been a recurrent decimal and a constant fixture of power equation in the state, combines an astounding intellectual capacity with practical experience in governance.

“

It need be stated that Umana has not yet thrown his hat into the ring. In some interviews that the media has tried to get his word if he would run for the governorship of Akwa Ibom State in 2015, the man had maintained that the present administration which he is a part should not be distracted with issues of the 2015 gubernatorial election which is two years away but often adds that it would not be out of place for him to consider taking a shot at the governorship of the state, since he has met the constitutional requirement, and that at the appropriate time he would make his decision known. Be this as it may, Umana’s perceived ambition has featured prominently in political discourses in the state. Internet bloggers in yahoo

mail groups and the social media who are fanatically promoting his vision have met those who are also zealously opposed to his ambition. As a fact, those against his aspiration have gone some steps further to create emergency internet websites whose objective seems to be nothing else except to stop Mr Umana by every means possible, especially foul.

The modus operandi of the “Stop-Umana-at-allcost”campaigners is using the unconventional media, through propaganda, lies and outright fabrications, splash as much mud as possible on the Secretary to the State Government and impugn on his integrity, thereby turning him into hated figure. They churn out salacious stories that would make

It need be stated that Umana has not yet thrown his hat into the ring. In some interviews that the media has tried to get his word if he would run for the governorship of Akwa Ibom State in 2015, the man had maintained that the present administration which he is a part should not be distracted with issues of the 2015 gubernatorial election which is two years away but often adds that it would not be out of place for him to consider taking a shot at the governorship of the state, since he has met the constitutional requirement, and that at the appropriate time he would make his decision known.

WikiLeaks, the international online watchdog which publishes stories about government malfeasances, turn green with envy. Interestingly, the more the cock-and-bull stories and hate commentaries are churned out in the internet, the more groups at home are falling over themselves to identify with the UOU 2015 password, as they have coined it. In all these, the SSG has maintained stoic silence as if he is saying, “I will not be distracted by name-calling and blackmail.”

By now, Umana may have learnt the bitter lesson that in Nigerian politics, falsehood and blackmail are potent weapons of the opponents and they have put them to good use in Akwa Ibom politics. It is expected that in the months to come the attack on the SSG to shoot down his aspiration will increase in intensity as the sponsors of this blackmail, knowing that they have failed to achieve their intention, would become more desperate.

The reasons for the Umana hate campaign are as diverse as there are political interests in the state. While some claim that he has been around for too long and in the process become too powerful and therefore should give way to other people, others assert that their hatred for Umana is because he has been too supportive and loyal to the Governor Akpabio.

Ini-Abasi Mboho, a Journalist and public affairs analyst, wrote in from Uyo,

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

By Mohata Alata

T

he fundamental ills in the character of Nigerian politics are often ignored or sidestepped by journalists and commentators in a rush to sensationalize. This is a blot that diminishes the reputation of those that should be bringing the trouble with Nigeria to public attention. But more troubling, perhaps, is the fact that on the rare occasions when they try to face the issues, they indulge in hysteria. In so doing, they confuse the issues.

Such assessments offer little insight into the kernel of the problems and the solutions to them. Inadvertently, they offer a disturbing insight into the shallowness that gnaws at the sense of wellbeing of those who are supposed to be giving form to public opinion.

A good example is the street level interpretation that has followed Chief Timipre Sylva’s presence at the recent wedding of the daughter of former Rivers state governor, Dr. Peter Odili.

The misinterpretation centred on the usual courtesies of greeting and having a handshake, which Sylva exchanged with President Goodluck Jonathan, alongside other dignitaries. It is the basic level of decency that you expect from a man of Sylva’s standing on such an occasion. But that simple gesture of courtesy to the president has been given

By Ifeanyi Uddin

T

he newspapers last week, were full of plaints by a senior minister (at the centre). The main charge?

Apparently, successive attempts by the federal government to set up a “rainy day fund” have been up-ended by the state governors.

Worse, they were responsible for the rapid draw-down of the balance previously salted away in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and the piffling sums we eventually managed to start up the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) with. This, of course, is a woeful turn of events. Every one of us, at least, in our private capacity, is reconciled to the incongruity of eating all that we kill. Something, however little, is required to be kept away, in the event that our best laid plans for tomorrow go awry. Hunger, maybe, but not immediately. Even the most subsistence of farmers recognise the need to set aside some of the current harvest in order that s/he might have seedlings for the next planting cycle.

At the national level, our most recent history justifies recourse to savings at just about every level of government. There is the bit of any savings (today) that will just be a natural response to the privations of the lean years — every time, since the 1970s that the global price of crude oil (our

PAGE 15

Comment

Much ado about a handshake diverse interpretations by fifth columnists. Why are some persons working relentlessly to ‘fix and finish’ Sylva politically becoming so desperate that a mere handshake with Jonathan has been orchestrated beyond belief? In other reports, Sylva was alleged to have breached protocol to have a handshake with Jonathan. Nothing in the handshake or the events that preceded it suggested either breach of protocol or capitulation.

Sylva was duly invited to the wedding ceremony by Odili, a family friend and neighbour.

He neither crashed into the event nor expected to meet the president there. Besides, Sylva and Jonathan were not the only

“

dignitaries at the event that exchanged a handshake. The President’s wife, Dame Patience, also shook hands with Governor Rotimi Amaechi at that wedding ceremony, despite their perceived frosty relationship.

Interestingly, President Jonathan came to the wedding that day with his full complement of security aides and they could not have allowed the kind of breach that is being peddled around Sylva’s presence there.

The other side of the coin is that those who are imputing motives to Sylva’s handshake with the president will be the first people to condemn the former governor if he had snubbed the president at the wedding. Not only would it have been disrespectful to the

host who invited Sylva, it would have meant that Sylva takes the injustice done to him personal.

On the contrary, the exclusion of Sylva from the 2012 Bayelsa governorship election by the PDP mandarins and his current ordeal in the hands of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) puts a serious question mark on the integrity of our democracy, our country and our institutions.

Sylva is a victim of tyranny.

What he deserves is justice – not chastisement or even pity.

Interestingly, even aides of the President acknowledge the kind of political wickedness that Sylva suffered when he was unfairly excluded from the governorship race. As Special Adviser to the

Sylva is a victim of tyranny. What he deserves is justice – not chastisement or even pity. Interestingly, even aides of the President acknowledge the kind of political wickedness that Sylva suffered when he was unfairly excluded from the governorship race. As Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, rightly put it recently, “Can there be a greater tyranny than the tyranny of removing governors via undemocratic means and barring legally entitled persons from contesting elections?”

The seeds of impunity main export) has fallen so much that we were unable to meet the obligations of governance on an on-going basis. There is also the economic argument for saving by government. By spending less than it earns, or what is the same thing, increasing national savings, government drives up several economic levers: the quantum of domestic funds available for lending, and investment. It also reduces both the domestic cost of lending and

“

net public debt. The economy is healthier, in essence. More so where domestic impediments to entrepreneurship are limited.

On balance, it is good to save.

What then could the governors’ gravamen be against such a self-evidently beneficial course?

Supposedly, the senior minister claimed, our state governors “allege” that all deductions from the federation account into the rainy day funds (especially the ECA) are illegal. The way the

minister put it, this conduct is downright despicable. The more I thought about the minister’s complaint, the more I am persuaded that this is where the nub of the argument over the nature of our government is. There is common agreement that the primary nature of our constitution, its main flaw if you will, is its focus on sharing.

It basically provides that all accretions to the federation account should be shared

I am not therefore sure that what we confront is a question of the governors “alleging” that deductions from the federation account into the “rainy day funds” are illegal. I think, instead, that once government is allowed to decide on which laws to abide by, and which to thumb its nose at, we confront the thin end of a giant wedge whose stockier end bears the rubric “impunity” in bright red letters.

President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, rightly put it recently, “Can there be a greater tyranny than the tyranny of removing governors via undemocratic means and barring legally entitled persons from contesting elections?”

But such was the cruel fate that Sylva suffered. And despite his decision to keep a low profile since his unjust removal from office, he has continued to face sundry harassments from state agents. The EFCC has been groping for evidence against him in a prosecution obviously targeted at the destruction of his political career and programmed to arrive at a predetermined judgement.

In the absence of any sustainable case against Sylva, the commission has seemed to settle for a media feast purposed to drag his name in the mud, as part of a larger plot to affect his politics. Impunities like these represent an ill abhorrent to civilized humanity. They are not things to be celebrated by any sane person. They should be condemned and not glamorized under any guise.

Dr. Mabota Alata is a Governance and Development expert based in Abuja (amabota@ymail.com) amongst the constituent parts of the nation. We may disagree with this provision. We may even be right that the route to economic success goes through the savings that we make from any extra the country earns. But until we arrange to remedy the flaws in our constitution, it is the law.

I am not therefore sure that what we confront is a question of the governors “alleging” that deductions from the federation account into the “rainy day funds” are illegal. I think, instead, that once government is allowed to decide on which laws to abide by, and which to thumb its nose at, we confront the thin end of a giant wedge whose stockier end bears the rubric “impunity” in bright red letters.

The moral equivalent of each of us being allowed to decide which of government’s many laws and rules to obey. To illustrate, I think the law banning private glasses on cars, for example, is particularly daft. But I will on account of this being the rule of the land refrain from buying a car with private glasses on it. A sufficiently concerned number of us citizens could then arrange to have a private members bill go to the national assembly for the repeal of this obnoxious statute.

Until then it would be illegal not to obey.

Ifeanyi Uddin’s professional profile is on LinkedIn

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

PAGE 17

Metro

We are ready to work for rural dwellers – council boss INTERVIEW What are your plans for the people of the council? y plan for the people of Gwagwalada Area Council is to embark on people oriented projects.

Because my people are seriously ready to see what I can do for them. And realizing that the only thing I can do for my people is to focus on the provision of social amenities in the council. My administration will complete ongoing projects as well as initiate my own projects, in order to bring rapid development in the council.

The ongoing projects we have on ground include roads, town halls and dispensaries among others. So we will focus on the developmental projects such as construction of roads at the grassroots level especially IbwaRafin Zurfi Roads and Dukwa.

Very soon, precisely next week, the contractors will go to the site to clear Ibwa road, as we are ready to work for the people of the area council.

Do you have any plan to provide scholarship for the less privileged students in the area?

Yes. We have already set up a nine - man committee to look into the issue of scholarship and very soon we will start to award the scholarship to the students. We know we cannot satisfy the entire students in the Council; but we have agreed to award the scholarship to most of the indigenes in the tertiary Institutions. This year alone, we want to assist the indigent students. We will start with Insha Allah, and as such by next month we will award scholarship to some students in the area. I am waiting for the committee to bring their report. When they bring the report and it is good one, then, the scholarship will start immediately.

M

Hon. Abubakar Jibrin Giri, is the chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council. In this interview with Usman Shuaibu, the chairman speaks on how his administration intends to complete on-going projects as well as initiate people-oriented projects in the area, in order to bring rapid development to the council, with focus on enhancing living standards of rural dwellers. Excerpts: What are your packages for farmers in Gwagwalada?

The issue of farmers, I can tell you that the supervisory councilor for Agriculture as well as Head of department of Agriculture have tabled a proposal for what we can do for the farmers in the area.

We are ready to provide AgroChemicals and chemicals for the farmers across the ten wards.

But the issue of distributions of fertilizers to farmers in the FCT was no longer handled by the area councils. It is purely the affairs of the Federal Government for now.

As you might have noticed, there a lot of dilapidated schools in Gwagwalada; what is your administration doing to address the situation?

Well, the H.O.D works and his staff are going round in Gwagwalada and its environs to ascertain the level of dilapidation of Primary Schools in the area. So, we have in

Hon. Abubakar Jibrin Giri, Chairman Gwagwalada Area Council. mind to rehabilitate some of our primary schools, so as to encourage the pupils in their

“

We will focus on the developmental projects such as construction of roads at the grassroots level especially Ibwa-Rafin Zurfi Roads and Dukwa.

Very soon, precisely next week, the contractors will go to the site to clear Ibwa road, as we are ready to work for the people of the area council

studies.

Talking about the Youth, who voted for you massively during the election, what can you do for them?

The issue of our youth is to empower them by giving them some jobs to do so that they wouldn’t come to us (leaders) to beg for hand-outs. Therefore, we are deem it necessary to empower our youth with necessary economic skills and strategies, to help eradicate poverty among them. Because we know if the youth have something to do, then they will take care of themselves and their families.

How do you intend to boost the revenue

generation of the council from possible internal resource base?

The revenue of the area council is left in the hand of consultants for so long now, but they have been disengaged this year. We are trying to bring them back to continue to generate the revenue for the council. I want the staff of the area council to support the present administration, so that we will record developmental strides in the council. And my administration we join hands together with everyone to achieve success. So I would continue appealing to the staff and other political office holders to work together with me so that everything will move smoothly in the council.

There is this feeling in some quarters that Zuba is left behind in terms of social amenities, what is your reaction to this?

The issue of social amenities in Zuba is not left behind because my Vice-Chairman and myself are from Zuba Zone. So, we are going to tackle the issue of social amenities in Zuba. I want to tell you that some projects initiated six years ago have been included in the budget of this year. so, we will not forget Zuba in the area of infrastructural development.

Also I would advice residents of the Council to keep peace among them. They should be very kind to their neighbours; and they should follow the rules and regulations of the land. If there is no peace, there will be no development. So, they should endeavour to maintain peace always.

Dermatologist warns against sharing of shoes

D

r Olanrewaju Falodun, a dermatologist with the National Hospital, Abuja, has warned people against sharing of shoes, to prevent infections such as athlete’s foot.

Falodun, who gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, yesterday said that athlete’s foot also called ring worm of the foot was a fungi infection that affected the foot.

He said that the infection could affect one or both feet, the toes, the soles and upper surface of the foot, adding that the foot

became scaly, looked thicker and discharged water.

According to him, when you put your feet in shoes for a long time, the damp nature or moisture is what stimulates the growth of the fungus that causes athletes foot.

Falodun said that people who had the habit of sharing shoes, especially people who worked in factories and medical theaters, were at greater risk of getting infected.

He said that direct contact with shoes of an infected person, damp socks and tight shoes

also increased the risk of being infected.

“It is called athlete’s foot because I think it was first seen in some set of athletes. When you put your feet in shoes for a long time, that damp nature, the moisture is actually something that stimulates the growth of the fungus that causes athletes foot.

“What are the things that cause athletes foot? People that share shoes. Plastic shoes are said to even be at a greater risk for some reason, that is to say that people that work in factories where you have to remove your

own personal shoes and wear some factory shoe. ‘’People that work in medical theatres, people who do not have personalised boots or maybe sports people that share soccer boots and you have direct contact of your skin with the shoes itself.

“Don’t share socks , don’t share shoes as much as you can, and even if you must wear a shoe like a theater shoe or factory shoe, make sure you have your own socks that can protect and after you have done that, you should wash your socks and dry it very well.’’

“When shoes are tight you sweat a lot in between the toes and they becomes moist.’’

Falodun said that sharing the same rugs, towels and bathtub with an infected person also increased the chances of getting infected.

The dermatologist, however, noted that not every scaly and itchy rash on the feet was athlete’s foot, saying that it could be an allergy or dermatitis.

He said that athlete’s foot was hard to treat, hence the need to go to the hospital immediately the symptoms were noticed.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 16

CPC arrests drugs hawkers in motor parks

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Consumer Protection Council (CPC) yesterday said it has apprehended drug hawkers for selling controlled drugs in Abuja markets, motor parks and make-shift shops in uncompleted buildings.

The Council, in a statement, disclosed that its investigation revealed that controlled drugs such as Tramadol are freely being hawked in the markets and motor parks across the country, contrary to relevant regulations on the sale of such drugs.

According to the Council, Tramadol, like drugs of its kind, can influence the mood and behavior of people and are restricted to be sold strictly by doctor’s prescriptions; a situation that the Council’s investigation said is grossly violated.

It acknowledged the previous intervention of the sector regulator, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in ensuring proper sale of such drugs, noting that the current reality has shown that renewed efforts need to taken to address the menace.

It also pointed out that the Pharmacy Laws in Nigeria do not permit the sale of such ethical drugs without doctor’s prescription.

CPC disclosed that it had already communicated its discovery to NAFDAC and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) and that it will send a list of pharmacy stores, which it discovered to be selling Tramadol without doctor’s prescription to the PCN for possible disciplinary action, as well as Patent Medicines Stores operating illegally and selling drugs not covered by their schedule.

Meanwhile, drugs from the apprehended suspects have been confiscated, while the suspects are being interrogated as to the source of their supply.

While cautioning pharmacies to desist from selling ethical drugs to consumers without prescription, the Council advised consumers not to patronize pharmacies for such controlled drugs without doctors’ prescription and to shun medicine hawkers because they are possible sources of fake and substandard medicines.

Islamic scholar builds mosque for JIBWIS

By Usman Shuaibu

A

n Islamic scholar and Sarkin Malamai, Abuja, Dr. Mohammed Mohammed Alkwandawi, has donated a mosque he built to the leadership of Izalatil Bid’ah Wa’I qamatisSunnah (JIBWIS) in the FCT. Speaking during the opening ceremony of the mosque in Dei-Dei, Alkwandawi, said that the building of the mosque was to enable the JIBWIS propagate the religion of Islam in the area.

While urging Muslims to be committed to the tenets of Islam wherever they may found themselves, also called on them to live in peace with their Christian brothers irrespective of their religious differences.

He therefore appealed to both Muslims leaders and pastors, to always preach peace among their followers.

Also he urged political leaders to provide the dividends of democracy for the electorates, who voted them in power as, according to him, both Quaran and Bible encourages privileged fateful to cater for the less privileged ones in the society.

Cleric charges Christians on self-discipline L-R: Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, Chairman, 2013 FCT Amirul Hajj Committee, General Abdullahi Bagudu Mamman (rtd), and a member of the committee, Alhaji Atiku Kuraula, during the inauguration of the 2013 FCT Amirul Hajj Committee, at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

FCT gets eye centre

By Stanley Onyekwere

F

CT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed has said his administration has established a world class eye centre in Kubwa district hospital, in line with the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

He said it had so far established radiological centers in Kubwa and Gwarinpa district hospitals as well as upgrading existing ones in Asokoro, Wuse and Maitama Districts Hospitals by procuring/installation of CT Scan Manogram Fluoroscopy Digital X-Ray high end ultra sound (USS) with cardiac activity.

The minister, who made this disclosure at the 2013 Ministerial Platform, also revealed that the administration has constructed and equipped with State-of-theArt equipment two modern threebedded intensive care units at Wuse and Asokoro district hospitals respectively.

According to a statement signed by the chief press secretary to the Minister, Muhammad Hazat Sule, presently the FCTA is constructing 60-bed cottage hospitals at Gwagwalada and Karshi, all have reached 53 and 30 percent

completion stages respectively.

Mohammed further revealed that his Administration has also constructed and equipped 5-Bedded Emergency Pediatric Units at Wuse and Maitama district Hospitals respectively.

According to him, the FCT Administration during the same period upgraded Call Rooms at the Wuse District Hospital and established additional seven bedded Dialysis centers at Wuse as well as Asokoro hospitals.

Fertilizers distribution: Farmers get two weeks grace

T

he distribution of fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the FCT under the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme of the Federal government has been extended by two weeks, FCT Federal Director of Agriculture, Dr Charles Momo, has disclosed.

Momo, who made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on yesterday, said that the extension would encourage more farmers to redeem farm inputs.

According to him, the turnout of

farmers at some redemption centres out of the 23 in the territory had been impressive.

“The distribution of fertilisers and seeds to farmers is going on well but we want more farmers to come out for this exercise, which initially, was meant to last for six weeks, because it started on May 13.

“The extension will also cover up for some of the hitches experienced when we started’, he explained.

Also he said agro-dealers at the centres should not wait until they exhausted inputs at the redemption

centres before asking for another supply.

The director therefore called on farmers in the FCT to come out and participate in the exercise.

Reports say under the initiative, farmers access inputs through an electronic distribution channel known as the e-wallet; and the conditions of the e-wallet scheme stipulates that a farmer registered under the scheme, pays 50 per cent of the cost of farm inputs, while the federal and state governments pay 25 % each. (NAN)

T

he Parish Priest of SS Peter and Paul, Nyanya, Rev. Fr Donatus Apan, has advised Christian fateful to exhibit self-discipline and obey God’s instructions.

The priest who gave the advice during the celebration of mass at the church, also stressed that people should cultivate the habit of being prayerful while encountering some difficulties, rather than engaging in diabolical things.

“To live a godly life, people must have self-discipline; they should also believe in the word of God; and by so doing, they should, however, be prepared for challenges that will come with it.

“The life of a Christian must be moulded on the precepts of Christ who lived what he taught and who demands not our admiration but our living a similar life,’’ he said.

Apan reiterated that Christ had laid down certain conditions which his faithful followers must necessarily follow.

He asked: “In a world that is materialistic and irreligious; where money, comfort and convenience as well as self glorification are the order of the day, can self denial prevail?

“One has to deny oneself, which means making place for others, while one has to be free of egoism and be prepared to face difficulties”, he said.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

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Metro

Motor spare parts dealer docked over tyre theft

INSIDE FCT COURTS

Driver jailed 6 months for stealing employer’s N.6m O A

n FCT Senior Magistrates’ court has sentenced a 35-year-old driver, Ubale Mohammed, to six months in prison, without an option of fine, by for stealing his employer’s 4,300 dollars (about N688, 000) The Senior Magistrate, Malam Aminu Abdullahi, passed the judgment after the convict pleaded guilty to the charge, and the prosecutor asked the court for a summary trial.

“In view of the convict’s admission and based on the application by the prosecutor, I have tried you summarily under

Section 157 (1) of the criminal procedure code and found you guilty as charged.

“It is rather unfortunate that the convict was employed by a foreigner with a reasonable monthly salary of N32,000, but decided to hurt him by stealing this huge amount of money from him; what impression are you portraying to the outside world with this criminal act of yours?

“Though the convict claims that he has never done this before, he has failed to show the court why he should not be convicted.

“To serve as a deterrent to others, the convict is hereby sentenced to 6 months in prison and ordered to pay the sum of 4,300 dollars as compensation to the victim.

“This judgment is under section 78 of the Penal Code and Section 365 of the Criminal Procedure Code,’’ he explained.

The magistrate further stated that convict would risk a fresh sentence if he failed to pay the said compensation.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Mohammed Garba, had told the court that the convict

took the said money from the complainant’s bag where it was kept in his room without his consent.

Garba said the offence contravened the provision of section 289 of the Penal Code.

The convict, who pleaded guilty to the charge, also told the court that he hid the money at the back of his employer’s house.

He said that he took the police to the spot to search for it after his arrest and ``was surprised to find that the money was not there.” (NAN)

ne Emmanuel Iheanacho 23, a vehicle spare parts dealer, was arraigned yesterday by the police for allegedly stealing a spare tyre belonging to one Nwakpa Amaechi, of No. 95, Oduduwa Street, Kubwa.

ASP Peter Odeh, the police prosecutor, told the court that the case was reported at the Kubwa Police Area Command by Nwakpa Amaechi of No. 95, Oduduwa Street, Kubwa, Abuja, on May 23.

According to Odeh, the accused, criminally trespassed into Amaechi’s residence and stole a spare tyre on May 23.

“The complainant went to the accused’s shop in Zuba on May 25, to purchase a rim only to find his own rim in the shop”, Odeh said.

He said the accused sold the complainant’s rim to him, adding that the offences contravened the provisions of sections 312 and 288 of the Penal Code.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and theft preferred against him.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs Elizabeth Jones-Wonnu, however granted the accused bail in the sum of N150, 000 with two sureties in like sum, and adjourned the case to June 26 for hearing.

Businessman arraigned for receiving stolen property

A

Fruits sellers at Federal Secretariat, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Hawker in court over assault on AEPB official

A

street hawker, Tanimu Bashir was arraigned yesterday by the police, in an Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court for allegedly assaulting a staff of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).

Bashir, of Garki village, was arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his

lawful duty and hurting an official of the AEPB, one Mr Anzaku Francis.

Mr. Simon Emmanuel the prosecutor told the court that Francis reported the matter to the Life Camp divisional Police station, on June 15.

According to Emmanuel, the environmental officer had arrested Bashir while on official

duty at 5.00pm, around the Life Camp junction, Abuja.

He said that the accused, and two others, now at-large, resisted arrest and allegedly stoned Francis, resulting in a deep cut on his head.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 267 and 247 of the Penal Code, respectively.

The accused however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge, and applied for his bail.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr. Zubairu Mohammed, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 and one reasonable surety in like sum.

Mohammed then, adjourned the matter to June 28, for further hearing. (NAN)

Banker, three others docked for causing traffic obstruction

P

olice yesterday arraigned a banker and three other men before an Abuja Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly causing traffic obstruction along the Umaru Musa Yar’adua Way, in Lugbe.

The accused persons are a banker, Umoren Namke, 37, and a businessman, Paul Friday, 32.

Others are a taxi driver, Sule

Ibrahim, 32, and one Hamisu Nadatu, 36.

The Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Musa Abdul, told the court that the men were arrested by a team of police men led by the Divisional Police Officer of Lugbe Police Station, Mr Rabiu Sabiu.

Abdul said the offence contravened the provisions of

Section 548 of the Road Traffic Act, respectively.

However, Namke and Friday denied the allegation, while Ibrahim and and Hamisu pleaded guilty.

Senior Magistrate Chinyere Nwecheonwu, sentenced Ibrahim and Hamisu to one month imprisonment each with an option of two thousand naira fine each.

She also ordered that the police should release their cars after payment of the fine.

Nwecheonwu granted bail to Namke and Friday in the sum of N50, 000 each with sureties who should reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

She adjourned the case to July 9.

(NAN)

28-year-old businessman, Abdul Mohammed, of Jabi, yesterday appeared in a Wuse Zone 2, Senior Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, for allegedly receiving stolen property.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Monday Akor, told the court that, on June 21, at about 2 a.m, one Insp. Orlando Magnus, attached to the Maitama police station, Abuja arrested the accused person.

Akor said that Magnus and his team arrested the accused while they were on surveillance patrol on Missouri street, Maitama.

According to him, the accused was in possession of one hundred litres of diesel oil which was the property of Alhaji Idris Umar, of no 14, Missouri st., Maitama, Abuja.

Akor told the court that, during police investigation, the accused admitted that it was Sunday Barus, a security guard attached to same address that sold the diesel to him.

The accused, however, denied the allegation in court.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr. Chukwuemeka Ubani, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N50, 000, with a reasonable surety in like sum who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

Ubani, thereby, adjourned the case to July 8 for hearing. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 19

INSIDE

PHCN resettlement c’ttee happy over workers cooperation - Pg 20

FG plans 50% reduction on broadband subscription cost - Pg 21

L-R: President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Dangote Group, Kunle Alake, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, during Dagote’s visit to the governor, recently at the State House, in Lagos.

Power generation drops by 1,598 MWs - TCN

By Etuka Sunday

P

ower generation in the country at the weekend dropped by 1,598 megawatts, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said.

The company explained that the massive load-shedding being experienced nationwide was caused by vandalism of two major gas pipelines supplying gas to eight power generating stations.

The affected stations are Egbin/AES, Olorunsogo, Omotoso, Geregu NIPP, Afam IV and VI as well as River State Independent Power Station, resulting in drastic reduction of power supply.

In a statement signed by the company’s General Manager (Public Affairs), TCN, Mr. Dave Ifabiyi said that one of the vandalised gas pipelines was taking supply from the Okoloma gas plant, while the other was taking from Escravos.

Ifabiyi said, “With the disruption of gas supply through the lines, the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) is unable to move gas to Afam IV and Afam VI as well as the Independent Power Plant in Rivers state, resulting in generation loss of 593MW.

“Also, the second vandalised gas pipeline from Escravos to Warri caused a cutback of 1,005MW in power generation from Egbin/AES power generating station, Olorunsogo, Omotosho and Geregu NIPP power generating plants.”

According to the statement, with the loss of 1,598MW, the total power generation as of 2pm on Sunday was 2,290MW. With this low level generation, the company said the operation and control of the power system was a major challenge.

Apart from gas supply shortage, the

frequent collapse of the generation and transmission systems.

PHCN statistics showed that the last time the country generated 4,500MW of electricity was on December 23, 2012. This means that all the power generation plants in the country have not generated up to 4,000MW since January 2013 due to consistent system collapse.

TCN said due to the critical importance of these pipelines to power generation, NGC is said to be seriously working to isolate the vandalised portions of the pipelines in order to effect repairs, with the hope that gas supply can be restored to the affected power

PHCN statistics showed that the last time the country generated 4,500MW of electricity was on December 23, 2012. This means that all the power generation plants in the country have not generated up to 4,000MW since January 2013 due to consistent system collapse. generating worsening power supply situation in the country had in recent times been blamed on

stations soonest.

The company said it deeply regretted inconveniences the attendant load shedding was

causing Nigerians nationwide.

The Minister of Power Professor Chinedu Nebo has also assured that power supply will soon be restored to places affected by the drop in generation arising from the vandalisation of two gas pipelines, adding all necessary expertise has been mobilized to restore supply to affected parts of the country.

He further appealed for the understanding of people whose homes and businesses are affected by the current shortage in supply, adding that everything possible is being done to rectify the situation speedily.

CBN

Exchange Rates

as at 24th June, 2013 Selling Buying

$

154.75

155.75

€

232.81

239.35

£

204.33

205.65

41.26

41.52

Riyal

Parallel Rates Buying

Selling

$

157.50

158.40

€

250

253.00

£

206.00

210.00

Riyal

43.00

45.00

MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY

3 ways to get a promotion

I

f you’ve been at your company for a few years and hope to move up to the next level, here are three things you can do to increase your chances: Take initiative.

Producing results in your job is just table stakes. Go beyond the confines of your current role and find ways to improve your group’s performance. Take on problems that no one else is solving.

Choose your battles wisely. Display a sense of professional maturity by

choosing battles that can be won. Not every inefficiency is worth tackling. Only take on problems that increase customer satisfaction, revenue, or productivity.

Show you can manage people. This can be hard if it’s not one of your official responsibilities. If so, try to showcase your interpersonal and people management skills when working with groups.

Source: Harvard Business Review

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 20

Energy Company News

Techno

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ecno Mobile, a leading mobile phone brand in Nigerian market, has introduced its new Android Smartphone called Tecno Phantom A into the Nigerian mobile market.

According to the firm, the designed for users with higher demand from Smartphones, Tecno Phantom A is user friendly with Big Screen, Elegant Slim business style and it is now available at all Tecno authorised retailers across Nigeria.

According to the Deputy General Manager, Tecno, Chidi Okonwo, at the launch said that Phantom A is a dual SIM Smartphone which has five inch HD touch screen, runs on Android 4.1 jelly Bean with dual core processor.

AIICO Insurance Plc

A

IICO Insurance Plc is offering discounted rate to members of the public on its travel insurance policy this summer season. This is in line with the company’s determination to ensure that Nigerians are adequately protected whenever they travel outside the country.

The policy called AIICO Travel insurance, is designed to give cover to the policyholders should the need arise for emergency medical expenses, repatriation and evacuation during international trips.

According to the company’s Managing Director, David Sobanjo, AIICO aims at ensuring that Nigerians are not left to suffer unduly while away either for business or vacation in any of the overseas countries.

Union Bank Plc

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hareholders of Union Bank Plc have demanded improved performance from the board and staff of the bank, even as the board promised to address all the problems confronting the bank.

At the 44thAnnual General Meeting of the bank held in Calabar, Cross River State, the shareholders, though, commended the bank’s return to profitability after loss posted in the previous year.

The shareholders also commended the Central Bank of Nigeria’s appointed management for stabilizing the bank.

NNPC to tackle environmental degradation Stories by Etuka Sunday with agency report

I

n a bid to prevent e n v i r o n m e n t a l degradation, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), has tasked its staff to imbibe selfconsciousness and spirit of preservation and friendliness toward the environment.

The corporation, under leadership of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison Madueke and the Group Managing Director, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, in commemoration of the World Environment Day, sensitised its staff on the importance of preserving the environment.

Manager, NNPC Lagos Zone office, Mr. James Adebola, who spoke to newsmen in Lagos, said the corporation, on a yearly basis, observes the World Environment Day in order to educate its members on the need to protect and save the environment.

“As you are aware, every June 5 is World Environmental Day and NNPC, year in-year out, has always been observing it in order to sensitize our members on the need for them to be aware to protect, save the environment and ensure that it is not abused,” Adebola said, adding that the corporation will always strive at keeping good environmental standards and preserve the environment as much as it can.

NNPC, GMD, Andrew Yakubu

NIMASA detains 3 LNG tankers in levy dispute

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long-standing dispute over levies between Nigeria LNG and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) flared up at the weekend when NIMASA detained three LNG tankers, NLNG said in a statement.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the company said NIMASA issued ship-detention orders against three tankers-LNG Enugu, LNG Oyo and LNG Imo--preventing them from entering or leaving NLNG’s

loading bay.

The action came after two NIMASA boats with 15 naval officers on board ordered one NLNG vessel and one chartered tanker to remain at NLNG’s loading bay, and another NLNG tanker to remain in the Bonny Channel on Friday, NLNG added.

“The potential implications of this current action by NIMASA on NLNG operations are enormous,” NLNG said, adding that it would negatively impact

its customers, its reputation and Nigeria, to which it contributes 4% of the country’s GDP. The action by NIMASA is the latest in a dispute between the two entities that has previously disrupted the company’s operations.

Nigeria LNG said NIMASA blockaded the Bonny Channel in early May, temporarily preventing LNG tankers from accessing the company’s loading bay on Bonny Island. The company said it subsequently

paid NIMASA $20 million in deference to the Nigerian government and has taken the matter to court.

NLNG said NIMASA’s actions went against a June 18 injunction by the federal high court in Lagos. NIMASA did not respond to request for comment.

NLNG is jointly owned by Nigerian National Petroleum Corp., Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Total SA -1.03% and Eni SpA -0.32%.

Pipeline explosion: Shell reviews Niger Delta projects

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hell Petroleum Development Co. of Nigeria Ltd. (SPDC), operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp.

(NNPC)/SPDC joint venture (SPDC JV), has reported that the group has taken final investment decisions for the Trans Niger Pipeline loop-line (TNPL) and the Gbaran-Ubie Phase-2 projects; Both are in Nigeria’s eastern Niger Delta.

Total capital investment of the two bundles of projects is $3.9 billion, SPDC said.

Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) carries 180,000 b/d of crude oil to the Bonny Export Terminal

and is part of the gas liquids evacuation infrastructure “critical for continued domestic power generation (Afam VI power plant) and LNG exports,” SPDC said.

On June 19, SPDC JV had shut the TNP system following an explosion and fire at a crude theft point on the 28-in. section of the facility at Bodo West in Ogoniland.

Before the incident, SPDC had shut down the 28-in. TNP to remove crude theft connections; it then closed the 24-in. TNP, as a precautionary response to the fire, effectively shutting in the entire TNP system and deferring

some 150,000 b/d of oil.

“This is another sad reminder of the tragic consequences of crude oil theft,” said Mutiu Sunmonu, SPDC managing director and country chair, Shell Cos. in Nigeria. “Unknown persons continued to reconnect illegal bunkering hoses at BodoWest even as our pipeline team were removing crude theft points.

It was therefore not surprising that the fire occurred from the continuing illegal bunkering even as a previous crude oil theft point was being repaired by the team,” he said.

Shell said the 24-inch TNP

will be reopened when it is safe to do so, while the 28-inch TNP will remain shut-in until the fire has been extinguished and investigation and damage assessment completed.

Separately, Shell’s wholly owned unit SPDC reported the initiation of what it is calling a “strategic review” of the interests that it holds in selected onshore leases in the SPDC JV. SPDC JV partners are NNPC 55%, SPDC 30%, Total E&P Nigeria Ltd. 10%, and Nigerian Agip Oil Co. Ltd. 5%.

Since 2010, SPDC has sold its interest in eight OMLs for a total of $1.8 billion.

PHCN resettlement c’ttee happy over workers cooperation

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he Implementation Committee for the Settlement of Entitlements of workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has taken a last few steps towards the payment of the workers’ benefits, expressing satisfaction with the level of cooperation so far enjoyed from the workers.

The Committee, which is headed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Ambassador Dr. Godknows Igali has validated and cleared more than 43,400 (forty three thousand) workers, in readiness for payment of their benefits.

This equates to nearly 93 percent of the workforce in the

electricity sector.

The Committee says it is still working on the records of the remaining staff to clarify various issues arising from their records.

Personnel whose records have passed the biometrics test have also been issued Benefit Statements showing their expected terminal benefits; they are to make necessary corrections and return the statements to the Committee within one week.

A statement by the SA Media and Communication to HMP, Kande Daniel, said in order to enable the workers to understand the process of computation better, Committee members have been on a

sensitisation tour in the different geographical zones.

Members say the sensitisation tour has been useful, producing perfect feedbacks, as well as a high degree of accuracy and acceptability wherever they have gone to.

On receipt of the signed-off papers from workers across the country, the Committee is to begin warehousing the documents, and subsequent process of forwarding same to the Accountant-General of the Federation for payment.

The Committee for the Settlement of the Benefits of PHCN workers was set up by the Federal Government, and its membership includes

representatives of the Unions in the electricity industry, as well as Federal Government representatives, prominent among them, the Minister of Labour, the AccountantGeneral and Auditor-General of the Federation.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power Ambassador (Dr.) Godknows Igali is the Chairman of the Committee.

The Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo had recently said that plans were on to pay the electricity workers’ entitlements beginning June 17, subject to completion of all necessary documentation, as well as receipt of Benefit Statements from the workers.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Stories from Chris Alu

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he Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, has said that the Federal Government plans 50 percent reduction in the cost of broadband subscription by year 2015.

The minister stated this at the stakeholder’s forum in Lagos. According to her telecommunication revolution in the country has impacted positively on the lives of the people. but the high rate of broadband subscription is telling on both the people and the service itself, which is on yearly basis.

She explained that the cost of broadband subscription on 3GB in 2011 was N93,000, however, the amount came down to N72, 000, barely a year the Ministry was established. The minister also said that the rate is currently N36,000 but that the Ministry is targeting N36, 000 by 2015.

Johnson noted that the country

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Ict

FG plans 50% reduction on broadband subscription has witnessed tremendous growth on access to ICTs services, as statistics show that the tele-density in Nigeria, with regards to fixed lines grew by 0.5 per cent in 2011 and expected to reach 10 per cent in 2015.

According to her, the plan of the Federal Government to reduce the cost of broadband depicts that mobile subscription tele-density of the country would hit 98 per cent in the next two years, while mobile phone coverage of the rural areas of 40 per cent as at present will reach 60 per cent by then.

The Minister however decried that “whilst the number of mobile (GSM) subscription is increasing, fixed lines subscription has re-

mained stagnant”.

“Connectivity is concentrated in urban, commercial areas, with an approximate number of 40 percent of rural areas without mobile coverage and the challenges in the operating environment are constituting a limiting factor on further expansion of telecom networks and quality of service’ she stated.

Mrs. Johnson also said that Government is apt on increasing the spread and scope of communication infrastructure across Nigeria, and priorities roll-out to un-served and under –served communities.

She said that the Ministry would continue to build on its mandate

anchored on speeding up the building out of communications infrastructure, so that all of Nigeria has access to good quality telecom services and high-speed internet and ensure that Nigerians have affordable and reliable access to devices and have the capacity to use them “so that all Nigerians can share in the benefits of ICTs”.

She told the stakeholders that Government would not relent on providing a predictable and stable environment that would supports the development of the ICT sector, with particular attention to issues on Right of Way (RoW), multiple taxation, protection of telecomm infrastructure and return on invest-

Google Nigeria to provide balloon-powered Internet access

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oogle Nigeria has announced the first step toward a new, experimental method of providing Internet access to rural, remote and undeserved areas through the balloon-powered Internet access, aimed at galvanizing fast and affordable Internet connectivity.

According to its Public Relations Manager, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, the ‘Project Loon’, as it is called, is an

experimental technology that uses balloons, carried by the wind at altitudes twice as high as commercial planes, to beam Internet access to the ground and providing connection speeds similar to today’s 3G networks or faster.

He explained that “indications shows that for every 10 percent gain in Internet penetration, a country’s GDP growth rate increases by 1.4

percent. But for 2 out of every 3 people on earth, more than 4.8 billion people, a fast, affordable Internet connection is still out of reach.

“There are many terrestrial challenges to Internet connectivity - jungles, archipelagos and mountains.

In addition, the cost of an Internet connection is more than a month of income in most of the countries in the southern hemisphere.

Google acknowledges that it still has a long way to go with it’s Project Loon “moonshot”, but the company is looking forward to seeing if it is possible to make the balloon-powered Internet into a reliable resource in areas that don’t have sufficient Internet access today, and a valuable tool to help people regain communication quickly following natural disasters.

L-R: Sheik Mohammed Zayyad, Islamic Financial institute of South Africa; Prof. Monzer Kahf, member of Qatar Foundation and Jaiz ACE; Usman Hassan, Acting Managing Director, Jaiz Bank; and Momodou M Joof, Managing Director/CEO, Takaful Gambia Limited, during a meeting yesterday in Abuja.

NCC boss laments multiple landing of submarine cables

T

he Executive Vice-Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah has lamented the multiple landing of submarine cables in Lagos, saying that there was the need to expand its landing to other parts of the country.

The EVC stated this at the stakeholders meeting of Information and Communications Technology, organised by the Ministry of Communication Technology at the

weekend in Lagos.

According to him, extending the landing points of submarine cables to other parts of the country would ensure the desired level of broadband penetration needed in the country.

Juwah explained that there should be a developed strategies based on the peculiarities of the different geographical areas to enable the deployment of broadband infrastructure.

The stakeholders meeting, with the theme: “Connected For GrowthMoving from Planning to Execution”, Juwah said “there is the need to have a co-ordinated strategy toward the provision of a broadband infrastructure ecosystem in the country”.

The NCC boss also said that, , to boost broadband penetration, over 30,000km length of intercity fibre had been laid already, but however said that the high volume of the 30,000km capacity was under-uti-

lised due to the concentration of the fibre in one place.

He added that one of the rationale for a national broadband strategy is to expand access to more localities.

According to him, the Commission was working to engender competition and innovation among service providers, by ensuring an open non-discriminatory access to broadband infrastructure for the operators.

ment.

She also said the Federal Government will encourage service providers to increase the number of telecommunications base stations in the country from the present 27,000 to 60,000, to meet the national target of five-fold increase in broadband penetration by 2018.

Glo beckons customers with New Data Centre

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lobacom has set up a stateof-the-art Internet Data Centre in Lagos, with an extension plan to set up another one in Abuja.

The new Internet Data centre, which is already in operation, offers premium data-based services including co-location services, disaster recovery and dedicated hosting to interested clients all over Nigeria.

Speaking on the project in Lagos, Globacom’s Chief Technical Officer (Information Systems), Mr. Cesar Camara, said that various Nigerian organizations that currently host their websites and servers in the United Kingdom, United States of America and other countries due to unpredictable power supply, insecurity and other challenges can now have a viable local alternative in the Globacom Internet Data Centre.

“I am glad to inform you that Globacom has become one of the top players in the Managed Services Industry across Nigeria & West Africa. We are leveraging on our existing telecoms infrastructure, reliable power supply network, experienced manpower and years of experience garnered in building state-of-the-art technologies for our existing voice and data telephony services,” Camara stated.

The Data Centres, including the forthcoming Tier-3 and Tier-4 categories, which provide the highest level of failure-proof, redundant, secure and safe environment, fault tolerance, compartmentalization and continuous cooling, are highly valued by most organizations because all mission-critical and realtime applications today depend on server uptime.

“This makes our high capacity Data Centre highly sought after by all categories of businesses, including Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), Financial Institutions, Oil and Gas, Educationists, Hospitals and telecoms service providers,” he said.

He, explained that “Glo’s data centre has achieved 99.977% uptime for all our servers and systems because they are housed in a safe, fireproof and secure environment built to international standards with 24hour power supply, internet connectivity, data backup capacity and redundancy for all equipment.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Biz Feature

Online retail begins to click in Nigeria S ilicon Valley? Not even close.

This emerging world Internet company, called Jumia, is now located in Nigeria and the founders of the business here say there is no better place to pursue their strategy.

Nigeria, Africa’s biggest market of 160 million people, has seen Internet access expand rapidly in recent years, opening opportunities for companies to exploit.

While major obstacles remain here for any business, from deeply rooted corruption to a lack of electricity and widespread fraud, both online and elsewhere, the potential is enormous.

On-line retailers like Jumia, which is present in a handful of other African countries, are seeking to unlock the possibilities, developing plans that cater specifically to the local market.

“I doubt there are many markets in the world with 160 million people, a growing middle class and nothing in terms of organised retail,” said Tunde Kehinde, a 29-year-old Nigerian and Harvard graduate who co-founded what would become the Nigerian branch of Jumia.

“And so for us, that’s the vision that Jumia has: to help build organised retail here in the largest country in Africa.”

In one year of operation, Jumia Nigeria has grown from around 10 employees to 450. It now offers 50,000 products, including clothes, phones, electronics and even cigars, and says the site receives 100,000 visitors each day.

A number of other sites are pursuing similar strategies in Nigeria, including Dealdey.com and Konga.com. According to recent figures, they have good reason to do so.

Thanks in large part to the widespread use of mobile phones, Internet access grew to 46 million people in 2011 compared to 11 million in 2008, according to figures from the Freedom House NGO. Euromonitor International research firm says online sales in

A worker at Internet company scans a product in Lagos.

Nigeria nearly doubled over the course of a year, from 1.7 billion naira ($10.5 million, 8 million euros) in 2011 to 3 billion naira in 2012.

Jumia Nigeria has not yet made a profit, but its co-founders believe it is only a matter of time. The company was created with capital from German firm, Rocket Internet and telecom firm, Millicom.

Kehinde and his Harvard classmate Raphael Afaedor, a 36-year-old Ghanaian, had earlier worked to launch two on-line retail sites in Nigeria and felt they were the perfect people for the job.

Rocket Internet, an aggressive investor in start-ups which says it has created 15,000 jobs in more than 40 countries, has also launched Jumia in Morocco,

“

Jumia Nigeria has not yet made a profit, but its co-founders believe it is only a matter of time.

The company was created with capital from German firm, Rocket Internet and telecom firm, Millicom.

Egypt and Kenya. In South Africa, it goes by the name Zando.

It is also planning launches in various French-speaking west African nations.

“In Africa, you have a situation where there are very few options for quality e-commerce sites” coupled with the fact that traditional retail such as supermarkets and malls are underrepresented in many countries, said Jeremy Hodara, CEO of Rocket Internet for France and Africa.

Nigeria offers “enormous” opportunity, said Hodara, but “the execution is very complex.”

The costs of doing business here add up quickly. Despite its status as Africa’s biggest oil producer, the country does not generate nearly enough power for its population, forcing companies to employ large and expensive generators.

Real estate prices in upscale areas can be prohibitively expensive, with the oil-driven economy throwing many things off balance. Most people in the country still live on less than $1 per day.

Fraud and corruption continue to be a major concern, and anyone who has ever received an email from a “Nigerian prince” would certainly think twice about buying something online here.

But Jumia has sought to address concerns such as those, particularly through cash-ondelivery, which allows customers to physically inspect their purchases before handing over any money.

Payments can also be made by

card if customers choose to do so.

The company promises deliveries, even to the most remote areas of Nigeria, in a maximum of five days. It delivers through a combination of its own couriers and an arrangement it has with DHL. Recently, in the upscale Lekki district in Lagos, the economic capital of some 15 million people, Dera Meka was excited to receive her first Jumia delivery -- a pair of shoes ordered on-line and paid for in cash.

She said shopping online allowed for more choice, but perhaps most importantly, she could avoid the epic traffic jams that all Lagos residents dread. “It’s very convenient for me to order online,” she said.

“Normally I order from abroad, but not to be delivered here. I

would deliver it at somebody’s (home who lives in that country) and they would bring it back ... but since it is already here, it’s much easier to order straight, directly.”

The site naturally targeted the most affluent at first, but is now seeking to expand into other areas.

It has hired a squad of around 100 salespeople who go door-to-door with digital tablets to introduce the service to potential customers.

At Graceland, where Kehinde and Afaedor dress casually and work amidst an expansive open space with their employees, the co-founders are working out plans to move to a new, larger headquarters in another part of town.

“And my biggest worry is actually when we are going to outgrow that space,” said Afaedor.

Source: (AFP

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

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Stock Watch

Report as at Monday, June 24, 2013

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

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Special Report

How Al –Ummah foundation puts smile on faces of FCT Muslim orphans

By Maryam Garba Hassan

W

ith the rise in the number of orphans in Nigeria, particularly with the current insurgence in some parts of the country, a situation that has orphaned tens of hundreds of Nigerian children, the challenge of catering for them has become increasingly daunting, even as the significance of lending a helping hand to them is stated severally in the holy Qur’an.

To address this issue and to give this class of children a reason to smile and a sense of belonging in the society, Al-Ummah Orphans Foundation, a nongovernmental organisation, established in 2009 to cater for and support the children, is setting the pace in that direction.

Recently, the foundation

which was established through the Forum of FCT Imams, held an open house in Abuja to introduce its activities meant to create awareness about the plight of orpans in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), discuss their needs, the challenges that the foundation is confronted with and discuss the way forward.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of Al-Ummah’s Executive Board, Engr.

Mohammed Sani Baba, while making a presentation on the foundation, stated how the Qur’an repeatedly emphasises on the obligation of taking care of orphans and those in need in chapter 2:67, 2:147, and 4:36.

He said the essence of establishing the foundation is to improve the lives of orphans, facilitate the establishment of orphanages in all area councils of the FCT

in accordance with Islamic ethics, and promote Islam by impacting its knowledge in the children.

Sani further explained that the reason the foundation organised the open house was to remind the Muslim Ummah of their collective responsibility to orphans and to celebrate the resilience of the children, who are mostly very young, to understand their present predicament.

He said presently there are 3,191 orphans in the custody of the foundation who are accommodated in temporary residence where they were identified and registered before they are taken into the custody of the foundation.

On the challenges facing the foundation, he said out of the 3,191 orphans it has registered at present, the foundation could only

properly cater for 93 of them and has enrolled them for the 2012/2013 school session.

According to him, N12million is spent annually on the needs of the 93 children while the amount for the care of the 3,191 orphans is estimated at N456million annually.

Sani further said that raising funds to take care of the children, creating awareness and getting a land to build a facility to shelter the children the cost of which has been estimated at N2.5billion has been a major challenge despite the founders’ and members’ efforts to address the issue.

He, however, expressed optimism about the realisation of the facility as a permanent shelter for the orphans because of the interest, he said, some individuals have indicated in building classrooms for

them as their contribution to Islam and the welfare of the children.

Alhaji Mai Aliyu Muhammed, Chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees, said for now the foundation is only covering the FCT, but said that it was willing to expand once it has been able to secure land for the building of the permanent site, the absence of which, he said, has continued to militate against the expansion of the orphanage home for the Muslim children since inception.

He said the foundation has been able to provide the children with sound education, shelter, and the right upbringing.

Speakers at the event emphasised that the country’s orphans population needs urgent attention and they reminded

L-R: Chairman of the Executive Board, Al-Ummah Orphans Foundation, Engr. Sani Baba, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Al-Ummah Orphans Foundation, Alhaji Mai Aliyu, Imam of Uthman bin Affan Mosque, Sheikh Abduljalil Dabo, Representative of the Special Adviser to the CBN Governon on Non- interest Banking Malam Idris Usman , and Executive Secretary, National Mosque Abuja, Alhaji Ibrahim Jega, during the open House of Al-Ummah Orphans Foundation, recently in Abuja. every Muslim that they have a role to play in ensuring that orphans are catered for; they called on well- meaning Nigerians to get involved in this humanitarian project.

In the last ten years or so, the Muslim community in the FCT has witnessed a rise in the interest individuals, groups and associations have developed in caring for needy children and making efforts to address problems associated with the growing number of orphans in the country.

One unique aspect of the Al-Ummah Foundation’s

work is that it also caters for widows and mothers of some of the children in the orphanage who wish to stay with their children and encourage them to learn a trade in order to earn a living.

In a paper tittle “Caring for Orphans from the Islamic Perspective”, delivered by the National President of the Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Hajiya Maryam Idris Othman, said whatever services a person renders for the welfare of humankind, it is considered

worship and regarded as righteous deeds and that orphans and the need to lend a helping hand to them are some of the subjects of the earliest verses of the Qur’an.

“Orphans welfare is a recurring theme in the Qur’an verses which encourages good treatment of them thus creating responsibility of

every individual within the Muslim Ummah to ensure that orphans in all parts of the world are taken care of”, she emphasized.

According to her, orphans have a special place in the religion of Islam and share an affinity with the Prophet Muhammad who lost both parents at a young age.

In her good will message, Deputy Director Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS), Hajiya Jamila Tangaza, said the issue of orphans becomes more rampant and disturbing as the children are left at the mercy of a struggling society.

She commended the foundation for its selfless

effort towards fulfilling the needs of the children and by bringing the Muslim ummah together to address the problem of the children and proffer solutions them.

She pledged to ensure that the foundation secure a plot of land for the building of a befitting permanent site for the orphans.

“

Women participants, during the event.

Orphans welfare is a recurring theme in the Qur’an verses which encourages good treatment of them thus creating responsibility of every individual within the Muslim Ummah to ensure that orphans in all parts of the world are taken care of

Some of the orphans from the foundation.

Photos Mahmud Isa

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Defence Stories by Joy Baba

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n its drive to transform members of personnel for more effective delivery on president Goodluck Jonathan transformation agenda, Nigerian Navy has organised a 5-day special transformational leadership course in Abuja with the theme “Training the Trainer”.

In his opening remark, Director of Transformation, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Godwin Anyankpele said the Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba himself, being a transformer approved and sponsored the activities for the next 5 days.

Anyankpele said in the last 2-3 years when the Nigerian Navy keyed into the National Transformation Plan of Mr President, efforts have been ongoing to build capacity for the Naval Transformers because ‘I believe you cannot give what you do not have’.

Navy holds leadership course According to the Director, “in addition to the Nigerian Navy Transformation Plan 2011-2020, the Chief of the Naval Staff on assumption of office introduced the CNS Strategic Guidance 01 in order to give direction to his administration.

“Consequently, the NN Transformation Plan has been integrated with the CNS Strategic Guidance 01 as the issues are interwoven.

“These were streamlined into – Short Term Quick Impact of Projects/Deliverables and Mid Term Projects with methodology emplaced for their implementations”.

Anyankpele further said all the Naval officers are drivers of these projects in the Transformation cell hence the essence of this programme to train and empower

every one physically and mentally to deliver the objectives as laid down in the Nigerian Navy Transformation Plan/ CNS Strategic Guidance 01 noting that this training is aimed at changing the Transformation Agents.

“You are all therefore aware of the activities on the burner and how we have been able to implement most of the Quick Impact Projects such that some of the Medium Term Projects not completed and being moved back to form Short Term Projects in the proposed CNS Strategic Guidance 02 expected in the Last Quarter of 2013”.

“Transformation involves deep change, one that comes from the inside. We must therefore be ready to leave our comfort zones, be-

come creative, innovative and in the process “Build the Bridge while you walk on it” he also said.

The Transformation Chief further urged the officers to remove fear and approach issues with an open mind, adding that they should not take impossible for an answer as well as learn to do things in a different way as the Chief of the Naval Staff would often say – “Think Outside the Box”.

He said “you are here to train and become a catalyst that will

bring about changes in the NN. “Also, remember that you are leaders in your various capacities and the function of a leader is to produce more leaders and not followers.

“This comment is important for anyone who wants to effectively lead change”.

He also charged them to take the training very seriously as they will go to their Commands to spread the news and become Change Agents from next week.

‘How JTF, youth rescued kidnapped French national’

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ouths of Amatu community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have aided operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) code named Operation Pulo Shield in rescuing a 28 years French national, Benjamin Élan, working on board a chemical vessel, from the den of kidnappers. Élan, the Chief Officer of the ship alongside 15 other crew members of the chemical tanker, Adour were kidnapped on June 13, 2013 some 30 nautical miles off Lome, Togo.

Presenting the rescued Chief Officer of the ship, Benjamin Élan, to newsmen and officials of the Bayelsa State government led by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Markson Fefegha, in Yenagoa, The Commander of the JTF, Major General Bata Debiro, said he was rescued at Amatu 1 in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking with news men on his experience in the hands of the kidnappers, Élan said his abductors were not violent but that he was kept in hiding for six days and was fed with only bread and water.

According to him “The Navy officers negotiated the release of other crew members but due to fear and poor visibility, the pirates held unto me to ensure that they escaped.”

He further said as a worker aboard MT Adour he was taken as a shield by the pirates after a team of operatives of the Nigerian Navy and French Marines stormed the hijacked ship.

In his remarks, the Bayelsa state Commissioner for Information, Fefegha, lauded efforts of officers of the Joint Task force for their proactive moves to stamp out criminality and theft along the waterways and creeks of Bayelsa State.

Oil theft: Soldiers arrest 13 suspects

T Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Azubuike Iherijika presenting a plaque to the Chief of Army Transformation and Innovation, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Sani at a seminar organised by Transformation and Innovation Unit of Nigerian Army recently in Abuja.

Photo: Joy Baba

Combined passing out parade of Depot Nigerian Army 69 regular recruit intakes and Nigerian Navy trainee batch 22 recently in Zaria.

he Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta area, codenamed ``Operation Pulo Shield’’, on Sunday announced that it had arrested 13 suspects in a recent operation.

A statement by the JTF in Yenagoa said that the arrests were made in several locations in Delta, Edo and Rivers.

The statement signed by JTF’s spokesman, Lt.-Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said that three of the suspects were running three illegal oil refineries in Opumani Gbekebor, Rivers, Beneth Island of Warri South Local Government Area of Delta and Agbede forest in Edo. The statement said that they were arrested during an anti-illegal oil bunkering operation with 4 metal tanks, 236 drums and 13 pumping machines at the illegal oil refinery sites. ``Five dugout pits, used by the oil theft suspects to store stolen crude oil at the illegal distillation camps, were also sealed up by the troops. ``The three suspects, who were arrested in the operation, are helping in preliminary investigations at the Headquarters 3 Battalion before they will be handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agency. ``During the operation, the troops also intercepted 27 open boats used by oil thieves to convey

illegally distilled products along Chanomi West in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta state,’’ it said.

The statement said that Lt.Col. Caius Baushe, the Commanding Officer who led the operation, urged Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to conduct an impact assessment survey of the pipeline.

It stated that the level of excavation and the damage done to the pipeline could not be ascertained due to high tide that covered the entire area.

It said that some items, including an open boat containing pipehacking equipment, were seized from the suspects during the operation.

The statement also said that troops of 146 Battalion of Sector 2 of the JTF arrested eight persons in connection with the recent fire outbreak at an SPDC pipeline in Bodo West of Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers.

It said that the troops sighted fire in the area at about 1.30 am on Wednesday and mobilised to the scene where they found the eight suspects in two tug boats.

Nwachukwu in the statement said that during interrogation, they claimed to be employees of Steve Integrated Technical Service and Sege Marine hired by SPDC to fix broken pipelines in Bodo. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Defence PAGE 27

Emergency: DHQ assessment team returns to Abuja –Olukolade

T

he Defence Headquarters Assessment Team to Yobe and Borno has returned to Abuja to submit its findings to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Adm. Ola Ibrahim.

Brig.-Gen Chris Olukolade, the Director of Defence Information told the News Agency of

Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview that the team visited the operational areas to assess the situation.

The operations followed the declaration of a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa

by President goodluck Jonathan on May 14.

Olukolade, who was part of the eight-man assessment team, said it paid particular attention to the large number of captured insurgents.

“The team will report its findings to the Chief of Defence Staff, who will take necessary action on how to sort out the level of in-

volvement of the insurgents.

“The CDS will look at the level of involvement of the insurgents, with a view to advising the Federal Government on the necessary legal and security procedure in managing the situation.’’

(NAN)

L-R: Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim, Minister of State for Defence, Erule Olusola Obada, UN Special Representative for West Africa, Mr Said Djinnit, during latter’s visit to the minister recently in Abuja

T

he Chief of Naval Staff, (CNS) Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, has said that inadequate funds to produce charts and publications were threatening safe navigation in Nigerian Waters.

Ezeoba said this in Lagos in a message to the 2013 World Hydrographic Day celebration with the theme “Hydrography – Underpinning the Blue Economy’’.

The Chief of Naval Staff was represented by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) the Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ibok Ibas.

“Considering the huge financial requirements involved in hydrographic operations and the enormity of surveying Nigeria’s vast maritime domain, it is difficult, if not impossible, to fund hydrography from the Nigerian Navy budgetary allocation,’’ he said.

He also said that every human activity conducted in, on, or under the sea depended on knowing the depth and the nature of the sea floor.

The Naval Chief further said that it also involved identifying any hazard that might exist and

STF arrests cattle rustlers

From Ado Abubakar Musa Jos he Special Task Force (STF) maintaining peace in Plateau State yesterday said the command was doing everything possible to check the activities of cattle rustlers in the state especially within the southern Plateau axis.

The STF Media and Information Officer, Captain Salisu Mustapha who gave the assurance in Jos said “they have been making arrests of some of these cattle rustlers which they usually hand over to the Nigerian Police state CID for prosecution.

“In fact, on the 5th of May 2013, we arrested four suspected cattle rustlers who made away with 200 cows at Pingari village of Langtang northMustapha also said”.

Captain Mustapha gave the accused names as: Gagare Nimyel, Nanret Malum Nimel Ponfa and Isiyaku Vantau noting that they have been arraigned before the Jos Federal High court and were sentenced to three years imprisonment on the 21st of June 2013.

According to him “all the suspects confessed to selling the cows to one Mr. Jinkur and Nanmwa who are presently at large but efforts are still on to apprehend them.”

The Information officer urged aggrieved herders to be patient and not take laws into their hands stressing that “we have in the past recovered a lot of cows within the axis and we will continue to go after the thieves, I implore the cow owners to be calm and patient, we don’t want them taking laws into their hands but if they have any information on the where about of the cows, they should not suppress it.”

T

Inadequate funding hampering efficiency of Navy- Ezeoba understanding the tides and the currents. He said obtaining and disseminating this hydrographic knowledge is the role of the world hydrographic surveyors and nautical cartographers.

“Their work is the most fundamental of all enablers required to develop and sustain the blue economy.

“Presently, the Nigerian Navy is in the process of developing Nigeria’s hydrographic capability in line with the IHO’S 3- Phase Hydrographic Capacity Building Strategy,’’ he said.

The naval chief said the Nigerian Navy had attained phase one of the Development Strategy which was the ability to collect and disseminate maritime safety information. He said that this would be in collaboration with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

“The NN is currently on course in achieving the Phase 2 and 3 of the Capacity Building Strategy which involves the creation of surveying capacity and the ability to produce nautical charts respectively,” he said.

Ezeoba said that the Navy was in the process of acquiring a hydrographic vessel from the U.S. He said the Navy had been upgrading the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic School (NNHS) to an IHO Certified Centre of Excellence for Hydrographic Studies.

“The slow pace in the development of hydrography in Nigeria is largely attributed to the government’s will and poor funding.

“Over the years, the activities of the NNHO have been solely funded by the NN as the national surveying and charting authority.

“It is also gratifying to note that the essence of this celebration is to give suitable publicity to global contributions of hydrography to all economic activities,’’ he said.

He said the economic activities were associated with the oceans, seas, harbours, ports and the coastal zones.

“As we celebrate the 2013 World Hydrographic Day, we should bear in mind the enormous responsibilities before us which include deeper cooperation to synergise and fast track the development of hydrography in Nigeria,’’ Ezeoba said.

Rear Admiral Abdullahi Inusa, a hydrographer of the Navy and President of Nigerian Hydrographic Society, said the purpose of charting a body of water was for the safety of navigation.

“However, the increasing need for exploration and exploitation of natural resources, tourism and awareness of marine environmental issues, among others, have led to increased demand for hydrographic information,” he said.

“The benefits of a modern up-to-date hydrographic data as in the case of the Irish Seabed Mapping Programme are exploited by over seven categories of stakeholders as well as over 100 research initiatives.

“In Nigeria, major beneficiaries of hydrographic services are the Ministries of Defence, Transport, Agriculture, Petroleum, Tourism, Finance, Foreign Affairs and Commerce as their activities are supported by the products of a hydrographic service.” (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 28

Agriculture

Nigeria can achieve food security via biotechnology- council

T

he National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) said that Nigeria could achieve food security by adopting modern biotechnology techniques of food production.

Mr Kehinde Adelugba, the Director of Seed Information and Capacity Building at the council, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that modern biotechnology techniques were the modification of living organisms beyond normal breeding barriers to enhance specific traits of the organisms for human service and consumption.

The techniques, he said, consisted of various modification processes that could result in high yielding cropping, flood-tolerance, drought and insect resistant crops to cater for the growing population of the country.

“One of the challenges of food production in the country is problems of insects, weeds and other things that affect crop production.

“Most of the time, we always talk in terms of high yield of the crop, but there are some problems that may affect how a particular crop or a variety can maximise its benefits.

“For example, if a particular variety is high yielding but if that variety is affected by insects, that insect can bring down the productivity of that particular variety.

“So, one of the things that modern biotechnology does is to address specific challenges for a particular crop.

“So the benefits are there because Nigeria now we have a lot of challenge with our food production even if you have a high yielding crop, the land is not there because as the population grows, the area that is available for crop production reduces.

R-L: Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, with a participant at the round table discussion in Abuja.

“It is even not so economical for you to put so much land into production when you can, with few land, achieve greater production.

“That’s one of the benefits of modern biotechnology in order to address certain challenges.`` He spoke on the efficiency of modern biotechnology by citing improved cowpea (beans) production, which he said, had been aided by addressing ‘maruca’, an insect

which caused severe damage to beans in other countries.

“Cowpea (beans) is one of the crops that can supply protein for the country, but one of the major challenges of cowpea production is insects, called maruca.

“That maruca is responsible for bringing about more than 50 per cent of the reduction in yield of cowpea and this particular problem has not been addressed.

“But modern biotechnology

has now made it possible to look at a particular gene to put into any cowpea variety that is good in order to address this problem of insect affecting it.

“That is one of the benefits of modern biotechnology because it tries to solve a particular challenge to any issue of crop production.

“But the fear of many people is that this particular crop is being modified so there are some things that

may cause problems in the future because you are trying to alter what that particular crop is all about.

“That is why the fears are there but what other countries have done we need to learn.

“We need to learn to be able to grow; our population is growing and we need to feed ourselves so biotechnology is one of the ways in which we can increase crop production.”

Edo farmers expect bumper harvest, thank IFAD

F

armers in Edo have expressed gratitude to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), for providing them with capacity building skills, and hoped for bumper harvest this farming season.

The farmers stated this on Friday during the IFAD/FGN/ NDDC monitoring teams’ field visit to two farm sites in Oria/Illushi and Okhuesan communities in Esan SouthEast Local Government Area of Edo. Mr Monday Nana, the Chairman of the farmers,

under the aegis of CommunityBased Natural Resources Management Programme (CBNRMP) in Oria/Illushi community, was the group’s spokesman.

Nana said that the acquired skills since 2008 had become profitable to the farmers especially in the areas of quality of farm inputs and method of application of the planting skills.

The farmers, who said that the union was established in 2006, stated that the farmers were presently cultivating 25 hectares of rice farmland at Orion/Illushi on a farm land

leased from the community.

The 25 hectares of rice farmland is being cultivated by 25 farmers comprising 13 female and 12 male farmers, who planted the Faro variety of rice.

They explained that the application of the acquired planting method was far easier than the old way of farming, which encouraged wastefulness of farming input.

Nana, however, appealed for the release of more fund to ease some of the difficulties being experienced by the farmers.

At Okhuesan, the Chairman of the Yam Farmers Union,

Mr Emhonyua John, said that ``before now, we were engaged in small time farming which yield was very little. ``But with the new farming skill, our harvests have tripled and the farming system seems easier than our old system of farming. ``We presently have 19 members which include 15 men and four women. ``We realised that we were spending so much to cultivate our farm lands but got very little until IFAD came to rescue us with the new technique,’’ he said.

He, however, pleaded for

more assistance in the area of funds, provision of processing machine and means of transportation of their harvest from the farms.

Earlier, at an interactive session, the IFAD state project Coordinator, Mr Peter Aikhuomobhogbe, said that the agency had so far released N1.08 million of the budgeted N4 million for the 2013 planting season.

Aikhuomobhogbe said that the fund was being released in trenches while the state office of IFAD supervised the farmers in the use of the fund.

(NAN)

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Agriculture

Adamawa farmers to receive 11, 000 tonnes of seeds

T

he Federal Government is to distribute 11, 347 tonnes of maize, rice and sorghum seeds to farmers in Adamawa for the 2013 farming season.

Dr Walia Hamman, state Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the seeds would be distribution to only

farmers that registered under the Growth Enhancement Services scheme. ``Federal and state governments under the agricultural transformation agenda have concluded arrangement to send a total of 11, 347 tonnes of assorted maize, rice and sorghum seeds to farmers in Adamawa.” Hamman said.

According to the director, 493 tonnes of seeds will go to maize farmers, 854 tonnes to rice farmers and 10,000 tonnes to farmers cultivating sorghum.

He said a total of twenty thousand farmers registered under the phase one of the scheme would benefit, adding that others would have to wait until next year.

The director said arrangement

had been made to contact farmers directly instead of through their cell phones, due to the shut down of telephone services in the state. ``Since Adamawa has been affected by communication shutdown, the farmers would be traced through their local governments and wards to collect their the inputs.’’ (NAN)

Researchers train seed specialists

R

esearchers from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) have trained seed producers in the country.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Communications Officer of the IITA, Mr Godwin Atser, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.

It said that the producers were trained on how to produce and market improved crop varieties in the country.

According to the statement the training is part of efforts to boost farmers’ yields through availability and use of quality seeds, and is funded by the Alliance Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

The aim of AGRA is to ensure that smallholders have what they need to succeed such as good seeds and healthy soils, access to markets, information, financing, storage and transport.

It is also to boost farmers’ yields through availability and use of quality seeds.

According to the statement, AGRA’s plan is to develop the critical human resources that will catalyse the production of improved seeds, and at the same time make the seeds available and affordable to farmers.

It stated that participants were also trained on improved production techniques and best environment for cultivation of maize, soya beans and cassava planting materials.

The statement said the training would upgrade the knowledge of participants on latest skills of producing and marketing quality seeds.

According to the statement, they are also trained and encouraged on production of open-pollinated and hybrid maize seeds, soya bean seeds and cassava stem cuttings.

It said that, Dr Baffour Asafo-Adje, a Consultant with the institute, noted that seed production was a serious business that needed proper planning to make quality seeds available to farmers.

Also, Mr Joshua Olonilua, Director Quality Control National Agricultural Seeds Council, said all forms of test were carried out on seeds

before they were certified to ensure they were of good quality.

The statement said participants were taken through practical training in pollination techniques in maize.

Other areas covered by the training are how to identify off-types in seed fields and uses of global positioning systems (GPS) equipment in agriculture, especially in surveys and mapping.

It said the workshop also provided a platform for the participants to share knowledge and experiences in the seed industry.

The participants include nine people from seven seed companies and seven National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members from the IITA Youth Entrepreneurship Programme.

(NAN)

The China factor in global rice market

By Sam Mohanty

T

he Wall Street Journal on 21 May 2013 reported that the rice sold in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, originating from nearby Hunan Province, had been contaminated with cadmium.

According to the report, the authorities found 0.21 to 0.4 milligram of cadmium per kilogram of rice in half of the 18 samples tested in the past 3 months relative to the permissible level of 0.2 mg of cadmium per kilogram. This news comes at a time when there is an excess supply of rice in the global market. This must be music to the Thai government, which is desperately looking for buyers to offload some of its bulging mortgage stocks.

China has been a savior for the market in the past year with 2.3 million tons of imports and it has continued that role so far this year.

It is very likely China will hold the top spot in 2013 with 3 million tons of rice imports. However, some now speculate that Chinese rice imports may go even higher because of the cadmium scare and this should provide much-needed support for rice prices. But, if China sources most of these additional imports from Thailand through G-to-G deals, then the overall impact on global rice prices may be significantly muted. However, the continuation of imports through private traders will definitely give a boost to global rice prices.

It is still intriguing to many as to why China is importing so much rice since there is no apparent shortfall in domestic production in the past few years and the carryover stocks (according to FAO and USDA) seem to suggest that these stocks have been steadily

A Chinese rice farmer in Hunan province rising since 2007. A plausible explanation, shared by many, could be that the large price spread between domestic and international rice prices is making it attractive for Chinese traders to import cheap foreign rice. Another reason could be that Chinese consumers

are increasingly diversifying their food consumption, thus creating demand for different types of rice such as sticky rice from Vietnam, Jasmine rice from Thailand, and long-grain rice from Pakistan. But, whatever the reason might be, it is amply clear that the Chinese

government is allowing imported rice to enter the country and is rebuilding domestic stockpiles through a government purchase program.

This raises another important question: Will China go back to its traditional insignificant role in the

Kano farmers demand early fertiliser distribution

F

armers in Kano State have called on the state government to ensure early distribution of fertilisers and other inputs.

Some of the farmers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Rimin Gado Local Government Area of the state that the call was necessary in view of the late arrival of rainfall in most parts of the state.

NAN reports that farming activities in most parts of the state have started in earnest after two heavy rains this week.

According to them, the call is also essential to enable them to purchase the commodity in good time. ‘’The state government is yet to start the distribution and sale of the commodity across the state.

One of the farmers, Ibrahim Shua’ibu, said: ‘’There is urgent need for the government to distribute the commodity as early as possible to enable farmersto access the commodity before it is too late.’’

The farmers also urged the government to make the commodity available in all nooks and crannies of the state so that local farmers could obtain the commodity.

They also called on the government to take appropriate steps to check diversion and illegal activities of middlemen. (NAN)

global rice market (low imports and exports) and remain self-sufficient or will it continue with the recent trend and evolve as a dominant importer in the coming years?

It is difficult to predict what China will do in the future.

However, the Chinese government is trying to expand rice production to keep up with demand, but the rapidly rising costs of production and pressure on rice area from other competing crops are likely to keep imported rice a lot cheaper than producing rice domestically.

Unless the Chinese government is strongly determined to achieve rice self-sufficiency through trade measures, it is reasonable to assume that Chinese imports will continue in the near term to midterm.

If China remains in the global rice market as a dominant player for the long haul, then it becomes essential that a consistent and accurate set of supply and use data be available for the market. Two major sources of supply and use data (USDA and FAO) differ significantly in their estimates of Chinese data.

For example, as shown in Figure 1, FAO projects Chinese rice stocks to be more than 50% greater than those of USDA in 2012-13 (94.2 million tons vs 46.2 million tons).

In the past three years, the FAO estimates indicate more than a 20-million-ton rise in Chinese stocks compared with only 6 million tons in the case of USDA. Similarly, there is more than a 10-million-ton difference in domestic consumption between USDA and FAO estimates for China.

All these disparities in supply and use data didn’t matter much as long as China was mostly selfsufficient and didn’t trade much.

But, accuracy and timely availability of this information will be essential for proper functioning of the market once China becomes a dominant player in the global rice market.

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Feature

Addressing Nigeria’s security challenges

By Hussaina Yakubu

B

y most accounts, the Boko Haram insurgency constitutes a serious threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty, akin to the situation during the 30-month Nigerian Civil War. Political analysts contend that even though Nigeria had faced serious security challenges in the past, including the Niger Delta militancy and the kidnappings in some parts of the country, none could be compared to the Boko Haram insurgency, which once assumed alarming dimensions.

As part of efforts to tackle the security challenge, the Federal Government called for dialogue and offered amnesty to members of the Boko Haram sect, while declaring a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states in order to safeguard the people’s lives and property.

While some concerned citizens commend the government for the measures so far taken to contain the insurgency, they, nonetheless, advise that every action of the government ought to be based on the national interest.

Alhaji Balarabe Musa, a former governor of Kaduna State, said that the security challenge should be tackled dispassionately, devoid of sectional or personal inclination Musa, who is also the National Chairman of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), urged political office holders to adopt strategies that would be consonant with the overall public interest in dealing with problems. ``During our time, public interest was primary and self-interest was secondary; and we registered some progress in security concerns; some of which are still visible. ``Let us, therefore, have a system based on public interest first before considering enlightened self-interest,’’ he said.

Musa reiterated that public interest must always override personal interest in matters of governance, adding that the adoption of such approach would enable Nigeria to move forward in the right direction.

Prof. Daniel Saror, a former ViceChancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said that more fundamental steps must be taken in efforts to effectively tackle the security challenges facing the country.

He particularly underscored the need to tackle the menace of corruption in the country decisively, adding that tangible efforts should be made to eliminate corruption.

Saror said that the government should also look at ways of arousing national consciousness and patriotism among the citizens, stressing that such efforts would earn the government the citizens’ goodwill and trust. ``The Nigerian populace has to have some measure of confidence that the government is able and willing to act to ensure the security of lives and property because it is the primary responsibility of government to ensure the security and safety of the citizens,’’ he said.

Saror, who voiced support for the declaration of state of emergency in the three northern states, however, said that there were systematic violations of human rights and judicial killings across the country which remained unresolved. ``These acts of impunity by certain individuals, who were never found and prosecuted, has given room for more persons to take government for granted and do whatever they like. ``Of course, the security issues are multi-dimensional; some are local in content and some appear to have foreign

Boko Haram group

Niger Delta Militants influence. Whatever it is, the government needs to do more to contain the security challenges,’’ he said.

Saror emphasised that the government should convince Nigerians that it had the capacity to tackle the current security challenges facing the country.

He, nonetheless, bemoaned the high level of corruption in the country, unemployment and poor salaries paid to workers, including security operatives.

He urged the government to improve the workers’ conditions of service, while creating employment opportunities and reorganising the security agencies for effective service delivery.

Nevertheless, Saror appealed to Nigerians to respect and support security agencies with the necessary information that would enable them to carry out their functions effectively. ``If all of us assume the role or duty to be each other’s policeman, we would go a

long way in efforts to stop the shedding of the blood of innocent Nigerians,’’ he said.

However, Alhaji Ganiyu Galadima, the National Secretary of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), said that serious measures should be taken to address the current security challenges facing the country.

He, however, stressed that the fact that several people who had committed crimes were not adequately punished tended to promote criminal tendencies in the society. ``If the people who commit crimes are not made to pay dearly for their crimes, the issue of insecurity will continue to escalate in the country. ``Until the issue of criminality is addressed head-on, insecurity will continue to pose problems in this country,’’ he added.

Besides, Galadima noted that there was low level of cooperation between the security agencies and the public, adding that the development was not healthy. ``In advanced democracies, government

and the police track criminals with the cooperation of the civil society. ``Today, Nigerians no longer respect security agencies. Imagine the killings in Nasarawa State; the policemen lost their lives because the people no longer respect members of the security services. ``Amnesty has been offered to Boko Haram; amnesty was also offered to militants in the South-South and they were compensated as if criminality is an accepted way of drawing government’s attention to the people,’’ he said.

All the same, the general consensus of opinion is that the current security challenges facing Nigeria could be overcome if adequate measures are put in place to improve the citizens’ living standards, including the creation of employment opportunities.

The security agencies should also cultivate friendly relations with the people so as to widen the scope of collaboration in security matters, some observers said.

Source: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 31

International

The Palestinians’ last option: A struggle for equal rights ANALYSIS

By Ghada Karmi

O

nce upon a time, Palestine was the Arab world’s unifying cause. Justice for the Palestinians was considered a basic pre-requisite for regional stability and peace, and it was an idea that had global resonance. Today, the picture is different and the Palestinian cause has been falling off the political agenda ever since the onset of the Arab Spring, the Syrian conflict, and Israel’s success in placing Iran’s nuclear programme at the centre stage.

This month, a study by the Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies confirms this slide. A survey of over 20,000 respondents in 14 Arab countries revealed a widespread engagement, not with Palestine, but with the Arab revolutions and their future, with Syria and the need for democratic systems of government. Only a third cited Israel as the greatest regional threat, about the same percentage as Iran amongst those living in Iraq and the Gulf.

This change comes on top of a gradual loss of Palestinian unity due to the fragmentation of Palestinian society into those under occupation, divided between the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem, those in Israel, those in refugee camps and the rest in exile. The result has been increasingly to replace the national cause with local causes. For example, in November 2012 and again last week demonstrations against economic hardship erupted in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Authority has a $4.2 billion debt and a World Bank report in March found an economic slowdown, with low exports and long term unemployment; Gaza is isolated and besieged and survives largely on a tunnel smuggling economy. In such circumstances it is hardly surprising that people’s top priority should be how to feed their families, and Palestinian communities elsewhere will have likewise developed their own local priorities.

Palestinians will need to act urgently if their cause is not to be finally buried. The fact that the West is still engaged in trying to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not a cause for optimism. It does not signify a revival of the Palestine cause’s centrality, but a push for an end to the conflict on terms most favourable to Israel. The US and Europe, with the recent addition of China, have been urging a renewal of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, has visited the region half a dozen times in this endeavour, and has pledged $4 billion in aid to encourage the PA. In April, an Arab delegation was in Washington to present a revised Arab Peace Plan which

Palestinians must dissolve the PA and demand the same rights as Israeli citizens, writes Ghada Karmi [Getty] offered Israel a land swap with the Palestinians, hoping to draw it into peace talks. More recently Sweden, with the same aim, decided to punish the Palestinians for failing to negotiate with Israel by possibly reducing their aid by 200 million kronor ($30 million).

What these parties are pushing for is the two-state solution which has dominated the political discourse for decades and has never, even partially, been realised.

Nevertheless, the international consensus still holds that this solution is the only way forward.

Yet a glance at the map will show that no such solution is possible.

Currently, the West Bank and East Jerusalem house some 500,000 Jewish settlers living in more than 130 settlements dispersed throughout these areas. In Jerusalem, many settler groups have infiltrated the Old City and the Arab neighbourhoods still left unoccupied by Israel. Another thousand settler homes are planned for June. Gaza, an essential part of any future Palestinian state, is besieged and cut off from the West Bank, and is governed by a Hamas government split off from the Fatah-dominated PA in the West Bank and likely to

remain so.

Since the reality on the ground precludes a two-state solution as envisaged in the Arab peace plan - a Palestinian state on the 1967 territories with East Jerusalem as its capital - what is the basis for the continued push towards this solution?

It can only be that a variation that suits Israel better is the real plan. This would allow for Israel to keep Area C, 62 percentof the West Bank, as repeatedly advocated by Israel’s trade minister, Naftalie Bennett, leaving a Palestinian “state” of West Bank enclaves separated by Israeli-held territory, to which Gaza might possibly be connected.

Since these West Bank enclaves could not be viable on their own, their economic and social ties and their access to the outside world would be with Jordan. Gaza’s extension would be towards Egypt, as Israel has always wanted, and Jerusalem would remain under Israel’s total control.

Many reports have quoted such ideas, vigorously repudiated by Jordan and Egypt. But one must assume that the US is pushing for a way to appease Israel and yet offer the Palestinians something, hoping thereby to wrap up the Palestine issue for good. No other

“

land permutation is possible if Israeli settlements remain and no pressure is applied to make Israel remove them.

The fear many Palestinian have is that their leadership, currently unelected and unrepresentative, and they suspect only wishes to stay in power whatever the cost to the national cause, might agree to a version of such a plan whatever their patriotic utterances. In such circumstances, Palestinians must realise that time is not on their side and doing nothing in the face of these plots is not an option for them.

The present situation could not be better for Israel and its allies: a docile Palestinian leadership which creates an illusion of equivalence between occupier and occupied, relieving Israel of its legal responsibilities as an occupying power; an endless peace process that gives cover for Israel’s colonisation; international inaction; and a fragmented Palestinian people unable to resist. They are the big losers in this arrangement, and they must be the ones to bring it down. What should they do?

Israel/Palestine is today one state.

But it is an apartheid state which discriminates against non-Jews in favour of Jews. The Palestinian task

What these parties are pushing for is the two-state solution which has dominated the political discourse for decades and has never, even partially, been realised.

now is to fight against this apartheid and mount a struggle, not for an impossible Palestinian state, but for equal rights under Israeli rule.

They would need to dismantle the Palestinian Authority, which is now a liability that only camouflages the true situation, and then confront Israel, their actual ruler, directly. As stateless people under military occupation, they must demand equal civil and political rights with Israeli citizens, and apply for Israeli citizenship if necessary. That puts the onus on Israel to respond: either to ignore the five million Palestinians it rules, or vacate their land, or grant them equal rights.

Israel will reject all of these, but whatever it does will be against its own interests. And Palestinians at one stroke will have broken up Israel’s hegemonic hold on the political discourse and changed the rules of the lethal game being played against them.

This strategy will not be popular amongst Palestinians, nor will they want to become second-class Israeli citizens. But are their lives now under occupation any better? And is there another option given the present conditions? I would argue that by adopting this plan, they will lose nothing but their illusions, and at this serious juncture in Palestinian history, it may be the only way to avert the annihilation of their cause. It will be a hard road, but the one chance to build a democratic state that replaces apartheid Israel and eventually enables the refugees to return to their ancestral homeland.

Source: Aljazeera

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 32

International AFISMA troops retake Kidal

By Abdulkadir Isa

T

he African-led Forces Mission in Mali (AFISMA) has retaken the town of Kidal.

AFISMA made its first entry into the town at 1500hr Saturday and were saidtohavebeenreceivedwitharousing welcome from the locals.

In a telephone conversation with Peoples Daily, General UsmanShehu Abdulkadir the force commandant of the mission confirmed that two battalionshad since entered the only rebel held area which serves as their capital.

Gen. Abdulkadir also confirmed that there was no form of resistance

from the warring factions an indication that the ceasefire agreement was in effect.

“This is a major milestone for us towards peace and we hope the move will be sustained”, the commanderreiterated.

AFISMAisexpectedtofullysaturate thetownanddisarmallarmedgroupsin

preparation for the upcoming elections slated for July 27th.

So far over 1 million Malians who fled the region as a result of the insurgency have returned as the presence of AFISMA as well UNled MUNITSMA to start July has negotiated peace pact for the West African nation.

Minister expresses regret over unrecorded anti-apartheid struggle

By Abdulkadir Isa and Hassan Haruna Ginsau

S

T

he Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru has expressed regret over the lack of documentation of the role of Nigeria in the fight against anti-apartheid in South Africa.

He made this observation at the Ministerial platform commemorating the Mid-term anniversary of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration on Monday, where he presented the key milestones achieved by his Ministry in the last two years.

Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru said “we regret not to have recorded the role we played in the anti-apartheid regime in South Africa. We really regret this”.

He lamented the lack of proper documentation of historic and momentous international achievements Nigeria has been involved in, this he said would have been a many reference point.

It is based on these feelings that the minister launched the ministry’s first annual report since its establishment in 1960. The report was aimed to document the achievements of the MFA over the last year.

The minister also pointed out that there were over 9,000 Nigerian prisoners all over the world, most of who are on death

Olugbenga Ashiru presents the mid-term report of his ministry at the ministerial platform in Abuja yesterday.

row.

Hence he said the ministry was concluding prisoner transfer agreements with a number of countries which would see the prisoners carrying out the remainder of their’ sentences on Nigerian soil.

The minister also highlighted the achievements made in the areas of bi- national relations with countries such as United States of America, Germany, China, Mexico, Japan, amongst others.

In particular he shed light

on projects such as the $250 million manufacturing plant in Calabar, the factory under construction in Ogun State by Proctor and Gamble, with both projects expected to create over 3500 jobs.

Also on the ministers scorecard was Nigeria’s pivotal role in dealing with issues concerning the African continent.

He pointed out Nigeria’s intervention in the post-election crisis of Cote d’Ivoire, the successfully directed negotiations which brought

the architect of the 1994 transition to multi-racial democracy after three centuries of white domination.

However, his latest hospitalization - his fourth in six months - has reinforced a realization that the father of the post-apartheid “Rainbow Nation” will not be around for ever.

President Jacob Zuma, who visited Mandela late on Sunday with African National Congress (ANC) Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, reflected the national mood when he told a news conference that Mandela remained critical.

“All of us in the country must accept that Madiba is now old. As he ages, his health will trouble him,” Zuma said, declining to give specific details about Mandela’s medical condition or other information from his hospital visit.

“Given the hour, he was already asleep. We saw him, looked at him and then we had a bit of a discussion with the doctors and his wife,” Zuma said. “I don’t think I’m a position to

give further details. I’m not a doctor.”

U.S. President Barack Obama is due to visit South Africa this week as part of a three-country Africa tour but Zuma said Mandela’s worsening state of health should not affect the trip.

“Nothing is going to stop the visit because Madiba is sick,” Zuma said.

Mandela’s daughter Makaziwe said the family was taking each day as it came and enjoying as much time as possible with a man who, to them, is simply a father, grandfather or greatgrandfather.

“He is at peace with himself,” she told CNN. “He has given so much to the world. I believe he is at peace.”

Mandela’s deterioration this weekend, two weeks after being admitted in a serious but stable condition with a lung infection, has caused a perceptible switch in mood from prayers for recovery to preparations for a fond farewell.

“If it’s his time to go, he can go.

I wish God can look after him,” said nurse Petunia Mafuyeka, as she

about peace in Guinea Bissau, and Nigeria’s strong troop presence in Mali.

He stressed that the milestones and achievements in the last two years were a “collective effort” of the leadership and staff of the Ministry.

He also thanked the President, vice president, and the Senate and house committees on foreign affairs for their “guidance and support”, pledging that the ministry would continue in the pursuance of “projecting Nigeria in a positive light.”

South Africans gloomy over ‘critical’ Mandela

President Zuma

S

outh Africans adopted a mood of sombre resignation on Monday to the inevitability of saying goodbye to former president Nelson Mandela after the 94-year-old antiapartheid leader’s condition in hospital deteriorated to critical.

Madiba, as he is affectionately known, is revered among most of South Africa’s 53 million people as

Somalia pleads with British government on Barclays account restriction

headed to work in Johannesburg.

“We will miss him very much. He fought for us to give us freedom. We will remember him every day. When he goes I will cry.”

There was some concern among the public about doctors trying to prolong the life of South Africa’s first black president, one of the 20th Century’s most influential figures.

“I’m worried that they’re keeping him alive. I feel they should let him go,” said Doris Lekalakala, a claims manager. “The man is old. Let nature take its course. He must just rest.”

Since stepping down in 1999 after one term as president, Mandela has stayed out of active politics in a country with the continent’s biggest and most important economy. His passing is expected to have little political impact.

His last public appearance was waving to fans from the back of a golf cart before the final of the soccer World Cup in Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium in July 2010.

omali money transfer businesses asked the British government to stop Barclays bank from closing their accounts in Britain, a move Somali officials and bankers said threatens remittances.

DiasporaremittancesareSomalia’s biggest foreign currency earner and many of its 10 million people rely on the $1.2 billion or so sent to the nation every year.

A Somali official said on Monday cutting that “lifeline” could hurt fragile efforts to stabilise a nation battling an Islamist insurgency. Somalia analysts said it could encourage the use of illegal and untraceable routes if other channels were blocked.

Barclays said in a statement it was stopping offering banking services to some Somali transfer firms due to fears funds might end up in the hands of “terrorists” in a nation that is slowly emerging from two decades of civil conflict.

“It is recognised that some money service businesses don’t have the proper checks in place to spot criminal activityandcouldthereforeunwittingly be facilitating money laundering and terrorist financing,” it said without naming the firms.

Somali Central Bank Governor Abdusalam Omer told Reuters in Nairobi that Somalis in Britain sent an estimated $500 million a year in remittances, a vital stream of funds now threatened.

“It’s a lifeline. Probably one quarter of Somalia’s GDP is from remittances,” he said. “There are about 2 million people who receive some support from the diaspora and that goes into buying food, shelter, medicine, schooling.”

In Mogadishu, where commercial bankingdisappearedintheearly1990s after the fall of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, firms such as Dahabshiil fill the gap offering money transfer services used by Somalis and international agencies sending cash.

Dahabshiil, one of Somalia’s best known firms with agents in Britain and offices in Dubai and other African states, said it had been told its Barclays account would be closed.

Dahabshiil Chief Executive AbdirashidDuale told Reuters that stoppingremittances“sendsthewrong signal about the recovery that the country needs.” He called for the U.S. and British authorities to step in to help reverse the decision.

More than 100 Somalia-focused researchers and aid workers on Monday also signed a letter urging Britain to work with Barclays to find a way to work with Dahabshiil and other firms.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 33

International

Pakistan’s PM plans to try Musharraf for treason

P

akistan’s new government has said it plans to put former military ruler Pervez Musharraf on trial for treason.

“He will have to answer for his guilt before the court,” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told parliament.

Mr Musharraf, who returned to Pakistan from self-imposed exile earlier this year, is currently under house arrest.

He is fighting a series of charges relating to his time in power, which began with him ousting Nawaz Sharif in a 1999

military coup.

His spokesperson described the proposed move as “reckless and ill-conceived”.

In Pakistan, treason carries with it a penalty of life imprisonment - or death.

The military will be watching

Former Pakistan military ruler Pervez Musharraf

developments closely. If the trial goes ahead, it will be the first time an army chief will have been in the dock for violating the constitution in Pakistan, which has a history of military coups, the BBC’s M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad reports.

The charge being considered against Mr Musharraf dates back to November 2007 when he suspended the constitution and imposed emergency rule.

“Musharraf violated the constitution twice,” Mr Sharif told MPs. “He overthrew an elected government in 1999 and put everything into jeopardy. He sacked judges and imprisoned them.”

Mr Sharif was reading from a statement that the attorney general submitted to the Supreme Court on Monday, in which the government set out its intention to try the former dictator for treason. Only the state can bring such a charge.

The court had already been hearing petitions from lawyers demanding that the former general be tried for placing senior judges under house arrest.

Japan’s ruling bloc sweeps Tokyo vote

J

apanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling party has swept a weekend Tokyo election and has regained the majority in the assembly, a sign it’s on track for a hefty win in a July national vote.

All of the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) 59 candidates won seats in the 127-member Tokyo assembly to regain the top spot.

It was the party’s biggest victory in the metropolis since 2001, when it was buoyed by the popularity of charismatic leader Junichiro Koizumi.

“We have received a good evaluation of our handling of the government over the past six

months,” Abe, who campaigned heavily for the local vote, told reporters.

“We would like to do our very best so people can feel that the economy is recovering as soon as possible.”

Politicians and pundits had been eyeing the outcome of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election for clues on how well Abe’s LDP and its junior partner, the New Komeito will fare in a July 21 election for parliament’s upper house.

All of the New Komeito’s 23 candidates also won, though with fewer votes than four years ago.

In the latest sign of its faltering

fortunes, the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan slid to 15 seats, fewer than the Japan Communist Party’s 17 seats.

Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto’s right-leaning Japan Restoration Party won just two seats, reflecting his waning popularity after remarks that seemed to justify Japan’s wartime military brothels.

That could spell trouble for any LDP hopes of allying with Hashimoto to push constitutional reform, although another small conservative party, the Your Party, won seven seats.

Voter turnout, however, was a near record low at 43.50 percent.

Calculations by the Tokyo Shimbun daily showed the LDP won 46.5 percent of the seats with 15 percent of all eligible votes.

S

“We will head to Geneva not to hand over power to the other side, we will go to Geneva in order to set up a real partnership and a broad national unity government,” Muallem told a news conference in

Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem

Damascus on Monday.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s backer Russia and Western countries who support the opposition have agreed to push the process to encourage the Syrian regime and the opposition to sit down at the negotiation table for talks in Geneva.

Negotiations have not been carried out yet as a result of different positions of the two sides on the nature of the talks.

Damascus declared in May that they would attend the planned talks.

Moualem also said if the proposed talks in Geneva went ahead, there should be a ceasefire and authorities in Damascus were ready to discuss mechanisms for monitoring it.

“Those who aided or abetted holding the constitution in abeyance will also be brought to justice,” Attorney General Munir Malik said.

He asked for a month to prepare the charges but the court told him to report back on Thursday. The government says it will consult other parties on its plan.

Mr Musharraf’s office released a statement saying that the former president had served his country with “selfless devotion and perseverance”.

“The Nawaz Sharif government is demonstrating recklessness in its intention to pursue unwarranted treason charges against former President Musharraf,” it added.

The former military ruler arrived in Pakistan earlier this year in high spirits saying he wanted to lead his party into May’s elections.

But he was disqualified from standing and ultimately placed under house arrest at his villa in Islamabad.

He is accused of failing to provide enough security for murdered former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007 when she returned to Pakistan to stand for election and detaining senior judges in 2007 He has been granted bail in both of these cases.

Qatari emir to transfer power to son

T Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

Syria: Peace talks not for transferring power, says minister

yria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem has said that his country will attend the planned peace talks in the Swiss city of Geneva but ruled out power handover.

Asia & Middle East

He called on Syria’s neighbours to stop arming rebels battling to overthrow Assad and said a decision by Western and Arab countries on Saturday to arm those rebels would prolong the crisis and deepen the bloodshed.

Moualem also said that rebel fighters had little prospect of matching the power of the army despite Western and Arab pledges to send them weapons.

“If they expect or fantasize that they can create a balance of power, I think they will need to wait years for that to happen,” he said.

At a meeting in Qatar on Saturday, ministers from 11 nations in the “Friends of Syria” group agreed “to provide urgently all the necessary material and equipment to the opposition on the ground”.

he Qatari emir has confirmed to members of the ruling family that he will step down and transfer power to his heir apparent.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani met royals and prominent members of Qatari society on Monday, and announced plans for a transition to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Sheikh Hamad has been in power since 1995, during which Qatar has evolved into an important player on the regional and international political scenes.

Abdullah al-Athbah, the managing editor of Al Arab newspaper, earlier told Al Jazeera that he did not expect to see a change in policy after the succession.

“The heir apparent has been very close to his father and Sheikh Jassim,” he said, referring to the prime minister.

“I don’t think there will be a big change in policy, foreign or domestic.”

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, 33, is the second son of the emir and SheikhaMozah bint Nasser.

Sheikh Hamad is due to address the nation on Tuesday.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 34

International Berlusconi sentenced to 7 years in sex scandal

S

ilvio Berlusconi has been sentenced to 7 years and barred from office.

Monday’sverdictcouldhave majorpoliticalrepercussions,andcloses a two-year trial which has captivated attention on billionaire Berlusconi’s alleged “bungabunga” sex parties in his private villa outside Milan while he was premier in 2010.

Berlusconi, 76, was accused of paying for sex with Karima ElMahroug, a former nightclub dancer alsoknownas“RubytheHeartstealer”, when she was under 18, and of abuse of office to get her released from police custody on a separate occasion.

He denies all wrongdoing and says he is being persecuted by leftist prosecutors.

Berlusconi says the alleged sex parties in a basement room of his home were elegant dinners where the female guests performed “burlesque” shows.

Neither Berlusconi nor ElMahrougwere expected in the court in Milan for the verdict.

No sentence will be enforced until theappealsprocesshasbeenexhausted -alengthyprocesswhichcantakeyears in Italy’s famously complex justice system.

The sentence is bound to weaken

Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s left-right coalition government which depends on Berlusconi’s support for its survival.

Several members of Berlusconi’s People of Freedom party have urged him to withdraw his support, and he may be more tempted to do so if he decides his backing for Letta is giving him no legal protection.

Both Berlusconi and El-Mahroug deny having sex together, but IldaBoccassini, prosecutor, insisted in May that Berlusconi “had sex with her and knew she was a minor”.

Boccassini said El-Mahroug was Berlusconi’s “favourite” and had not admittedtheirrelationshiponlybecause she had received as much as $5.8m.

El-Mahroug was “part of a prostitution system set up for the personal sexual satisfaction of the defendant”, she said.

In May 2010, Berlusconi, then Italy’s prime minister, called a Milan police station to instruct officials to release El Mahroug, who was being held on suspicion of stealing a bracelet.

Edward Snowden

U Italy’s former Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi is accused of paying for sex with a minor.

EU ministers clash over reviving Turkish membership

E

uropean Union ministers clashed over whether to revive membership talks with Turkey on Monday with several countries joining Germany in arguing it would send the wrong signal to reward Ankara after a crackdown on protests.

The objections of Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and others make it likely that the EU will cancel or postpone talks scheduled for Wednesday, raising new doubts about whether it will ever be admitted to the European club.

The EU had planned to breathe new life into Turkey’s EU ambitions

on Wednesday by opening a new chapter, or policy area, in its EU membership talks - the first opened since 2010.

But Germany is blocking the plan over Turkey’s handling of antigovernment protests that swept cities after police used teargas and water cannon to disperse a demonstration against redevelopment of an Istanbul square. Two weeks of clashes with police have left four people dead and some 7,500 injured.

Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger signaled strong support for Germany’s stance when he arrived for an EU foreign

ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg on Monday.

“We are waiting for signals from Ankara that they are really going to give people in Turkey their rights. They have to think about the behavior of their police ... There has to be some movement from Turkey before we start negotiations on a new chapter,” he said.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and Turkish counterpart AhmetDavutoglu discussed the issue in Qatar at the weekend and held more talks by phone on Monday.

“We are in constant touch. Our

position is very clear and we are making our views very clear to everyone,” a Turkish official said.

Westerwelle also said Germany was in negotiations with Turkey and in talks with its European partners.

“On the one side we cannot ignore what happened in the last few weeks. On the other side we have to be aware of our responsibility in our long-term relationship with Turkey,” he said.

Turkey and Germany became embroiled in a diplomatic row last week after Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was appalled by Turkey’s crackdown on protesters.

Albania polls: opposition in early lead

A

lbania’s opposition Socialist Party has taken the lead in early counting after a tense national election watched closely

by Western allies worried over democracy in the NATO country.

Both the Socialists and the ruling Democratic Party claimed victory within minutes of polls closing late on Sunday, raising the spectre of a disputed result in the Adriatic nation.

The Central Election Commission was initially silent, and only a trickle of results had come in by Monday morning. But the trend pointed to victory for the Socialist-led coalition of Tirana’s former mayor, Edi Rama.

With about 10 percent of the vote counted in most regions, the Socialist-led coalition was ahead in the capital, Tirana, and the large

Europe and Americas Edward Snowden ‘likely to have left Russia’

Counting underway in Albania’s election.

regions of Fier, Berat, Elbasan, Korce, Vlore and Gjirokaster.

Sunday’s vote will elect a new 140-member assembly.

Victory for Rama would deny Prime Minister SaliBerisha, Albania’s dominant figure since the fall of communist rule in 1991, an

unprecedented third four-year term.

At 68, defeat could spell the end of his political career.

Berisha brought the country into NATO and onto the first rung of EU membership but is criticised by opponents for undermining democracy and allowing corruption and organised crime to flourish.

Rama says he will reboot Albania’s stalled bid to join the European Union and transplant his success in reviving the capital to the rest of the rundown country.

He has talked of introducing a progressive tax rate and easing the burden on small businesses.

Since 1991, the impoverished country of 2.8 million people has never held an election deemed fully free and fair, and failure again would further set back its ambitions to join the European Union.

S whistleblower Edward Snowden “has most likely already left Russia”, Russian news agency Interfax has quoted a source familiar with the matter as saying.

“He could have left by a different plane,” the source was quoted as saying, pointing out that Snowden might be on a aircraft other than the Moscow-Havana flight of 10:05GMT that he was widely expected to take earlier on Monday.

Ecuador earlier said it had received a request for political asylum from Snowden, the fugitive US intelligence contractor, adding that the application is still being “analysed” with no decisions taken yet.

He was expected to fly to Ecuador via Cuba provided he got a positive reply to his asylum request.

Meanwhile, the White House asked the Russian government to “look at all options available” to send Snowden back to the US to face espionage charges. The call has not received a positive reponse.

“It does appear that Americans missed a bit of a trick. Because if they had put Edward Snowden on the Interpol wanted list, then the Russians would have no options but to arrest him,” Peter Sharp said, reporting from Moscow.

Snowden, who has revealed secret documents on US internet and phone surveillance activities, flew from Hong Kong to Moscow on Sunday and was reported to have met the Ecuadorean ambassador in the Russian capital after applying for asylum.

Regarding Snowden’s asylum request, Ecuador’s foreign minister Ricardo Patino said: “We will make a decision... we are analysing it.”

“It [the request] has to do with freedom of expression and the security of citizens around the world.

We always act by principle not in our own interest. There are some governments who act more on their own interests, we do not,” he added during an official visit to Vietnam.

Earlier, Patino wrote on Twitter that Snowden had applied for asylum.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 35

Strange World Man tried to open airplane mid-flight, says he’s bipolar

A

n Alaska Airlines passenger accused of trying to open an emergency exit during a flight from Anchorage to Portland told investigators he has been diagnosed as bipolar and had not been taking his medicine.

Alexander Michael Herrera’s statement was included in a criminal complaint released Tuesday, just before he made his first court appearance on a charge of attempted destruction of an aircraft. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Herrera, 23, of Rio Rico, Ariz., did not enter a plea. His arraignment was scheduled for June 26.

Herrera told Port of Portland police officers after Monday’s arrest that he was ill, possibly schizophrenic, and had been hearing voices for four days. He said it had been more than a year since he took his medication for bipolar disorder.

His comments to police mesh with an interview his father gave to a Tucson television station Monday in which he said his son was bipolar and didn’t take his medicine.

The younger Herrera told police he remembered boarding the flight, but did not remember anything that happened in the air. Passengers seated near Herrera on Flight 132 would likely say the opposite.

The complaint, based on the recollections of passengers, crew and police, states Herrera had a

Alexander Michael

window seat in the emergency exit row. He started a calm and polite conversation with Robin Struempler, a woman seated next to him.

Herrera claimed he was psychic and asked the woman for her astrological sign.

He then asked: “What if I came to your home and pounded your kids?”

The burly, long-haired Herrera then turned his attention to the

emergency exit, asking: “What would you do if I open the exit door?”

As the plane began its descent to Portland International Airport, Herrera allegedly told passenger Jake Struempler: “Let’s see how this plays out.”

Herrera, according to witnesses, left his seat and tried to open the door using all his weight – 220 pounds, according to jail information.

Struempler punched Herrera to

get him to release the door. Other passengers helped wrestle Herrera to the ground and tie him with restraints. “Why are you doing this?”

Herrera yelled. “Why are you trying to hurt me?”

At Tuesday’s court appearance, Herrera appeared in a forest green, anti-suicide smock, and responded to federal Judge Janice Stewart in a clear voice.

Stewart ordered Herrera to remain in jail for now because he’s a

danger to the community and, with no ties to Oregon, a flight risk.

Herrera’s public defender Ruben Iniguez asked for a detention hearing next week. Stewart agreed, but a date has not been set.

Iniguez declined comment on specifics of the case.

It’s not clear why Herrera was flying to Portland. His father, Bill Herrera, told the television station that his son recently got a job in Anchorage.

Stolen newborn sold on Facebook Dog takes on admin role

A

man in India sold his grandchild on Facebook for 70,000 rupees (US$1,278). After his daughter Noor gave birth to his grandson, Feroze Khan, with the help of some hospital staff, he took the baby and was able to give him to his buyer, Amir Kumar.

After seeing pictures of Feroze’s grandson via Facebook, Kumar agreed to pay for the baby.

Police learned about the incident after Noor filed

complaints that her father sold her son. They immediately launched an investigation and were able to trace the baby in Delhi.

Ludhiana’s Commissioner of Police, Ishwar Singh, said, “We acted upon the complaint of the mother, who alleged that her child was stolen from the nursing home in Ludhiana.

After investigations, we found the grandfather of the child had struck a deal with a man

in Delhi and had roped-in the nursing staff to smuggle the baby out of the nursing home.

We have arrested four people including the grandfather. We have also booked the buyer from Delhi.”

The reason for all this was that Mr. Khan was planning on another arranged marriage for his daughter. He had hoped that his daughter would get an abortion, but the hospital staff did not agree.

Venezuelans use smartphone app to find toilet paper

Thousands of desperate Venezuelans have downloaded a smartphone app which helps them find toilet paper. Photo: ALAMY

T

oilet roll has been in short supply in the South American country in recent months,

with economists blaming price controls imposed by the government.

The new programme,

launched last week, uses crowdsourcing technology to enable users to let each other know which supermarkets still have stocks of the tissue.

Called Abasteceme – “Supply Me” in English – the free Android app has already been downloaded more than 12,000 times.

Creator Jose Augusto Montiel said most downloads have been made by residents from the capital Caracas.

He said: “Lots of things are in short supply, but what people are most worried about is finding toilet paper.

People never knew how much they needed it until it started running out.”

Nicolas Maduro, who became Venezuelan president earlier this year, claims anti-government forces are deliberately buying up basics like toilet paper to destabilise the country.

at Cumbrian quarry

Misty

A

dog has surprised customers after becoming a member of the admin team at a Cumbrian quarry.

Misty the Border collie has taught herself how to fetch and carry delivery forms and credit cards to help out on the front desk.

Customers and fellow-employees at Burlington Stone are now greeted by the pet at the dispatch window, where she takes the weighbridge ticket in her mouthandfindsanofficeadministrator to process the form.

The nine-year-old dog can also returns credit and debit cards without damagingthemwithherteeth,although occasionally they require cleaning.

Owner Elaine Prickett, who has worked at the quarry in Kirkby-inFurness for 35 years, said that the workersbelievethattheycouldnotcope without her help.

The dog was never taught to collect the paperwork, but had picked it up

simply from watching how the women in the office worked, she claimed.

“I brought her in here as a pup and everybody fell in love with her and I’m not allowed to come to work without her,” she said.

“From about five-years-old she started copying us and mimicking us and she’s now nine, so she’s been doing it for a fair while. I don’t think we could do without her.”

Customer Lex Ward, who is using the quarry’s slate to makeover his garden, said that he has no issues being served by the dog, adding: “She lovely.

She doesn’t argue and I was delighted to see her when I came here for the first time.”

Misty is credited with unusually high levels of intelligence by her owner.

“She’s just got this ability to learn,” MrsPrickett said. “She’s got an interest in things and has done the role of a sheepdog and a cowdog before. She’s just generally intelligent.”

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Digest

Breast milk is key if you want a brainy baby

By Emma Innes

B

reast milk boosts brain development in babies by up to 30 per cent, according to a new study.

Children exclusively fed breast milk for at least three months have up to 30 per cent extra growth in the key parts of the brain which control language, emotion, and understanding, say scientists.

The study of under-fours showed children who have breast milk as part of their diet have a clear advantage when it comes to brain development.

Research carried out at Brown University, in the U.S., found that by the time the babies had reached their second birthday a discernible difference could be seen in their brain structure.

Dr Sean Deoni, an engineering professor and lead author, said: ‘We’re finding the difference [in white matter growth] is in the order of 20 to 30 per cent,

comparing the breastfed and the non-breastfed kids.’

Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain scans were taken of the babies who had been fed a diet of breast milk in the earliest stages of their development, and of those who had been fed formula milk.

The scans showed that babies fed breast milk alone had the fastest growth in myelinated white matter - tissue packed full of long nerve fibres that link different parts of the brain that are used for learning.

The babies who were weaned on a diet of formula were found to have the least white matter.

Dr Deoni’s team carried out the study to see how early the changes in brain development took place.

‘We show that they’re there almost right off the bat,’ he said.

Researchers looked at the brains of 133 babies who were born on time and came from similar families.

By comparing the myelin in older and younger children they

were able to calculate how breast milk influenced the development of white matter.

The researchers backed up the results of the scans with a set of basic cognitive tests that showed language performance, visual reception and motor control were all better in the breastfed children.

The team found that the longer the babies were fed with breast milk

the more developed their brains were, especially in the areas of the brain associated with movement and coordination.

While the Brown study published in the journal NeuroImage is not the first to link breastfeeding with improved development in the young, Dr Deoni claimed it is the first time MRI scans have been used to

compare the brains in breastfed and non-breastfed children.

Dr Deoni said: ‘I think it’s astounding that you could have that much difference so early. I think I would argue that combined with all the other evidence, it seems like breastfeeding is absolutely beneficial.’

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

A quarter of heart attack survivors develop post-traumatic stress disorder

By Suzannah Hills

N

early one in four patients who suffer a stroke or heart attack go on to experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a study has found.

Previously thought of as a condition which only affected soldiers or victims of traumatic events such as assualt, the research shows PTSD is much more far reaching.

The findings suggest that nearly 300,000 survivors of strokes or heart attacks will develop symptoms of PTSD as a result of their health scare every year in the U.S. alone.

The research, carried out by Columbia University Medical Center, also found suffering from PTSD also doubles a patient’s chance of future heart attack and of death within three years.

Donald Edmondson, assistant professor of behavioral medicine at CUMC, said: ‘PTSD is common among heart attack survivors and it contributes

to a doubled risk of a future cardiac event or of dying within one to three years.

‘Our current results show that PTSD in stroke and TIA [heart attack] survivors may increase their risk for recurrent stroke and other cardiovascular events.

A quarter of patients who’ve had a heart attack or stroke will suffer from PTSD within a year

‘Given that each event is lifethreatening and that strokes/TIAs add hundreds of millions of dollars to annual health expenditures, these findings are important to both the long-term survival and health costs of these patient populations.’

PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by exposure to a traumatic event. Common symptoms include nightmares, avoidance of reminders of the event, and elevated heart rate and blood pressure. Chronic PTSD is when these symptoms persist for three months or longer.

Researchers at CUMC believe this study, on 1,138 stroke or heart attack survivors, is the first time research has been carried out into PTSD caused by strokes or heart attacks.

AccordingtodatafromtheAmerican StrokeAssociation,nearly795,000suffer aneworrecurrentstrokeintheU.S.every year with a further 500,000 suffering a heart attack.

The study shows that around 23 per

Findings: PTSD has previously been primarily associated with soldiers or victims of traumatic events but new research by Columbia University Medical Centre has highlighted that many victims of stroke go on to suffer the disorder cent of sufferers will go on to develop PTSD symptoms within a year of their stroke or heart attack, with one in nine

suffering chronic PTSD more than a year on.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY| TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 41

Emenike, Onazi, Moses absence ruined Eagles Confed Cup plans, says Keshi

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uper Eagles gaffer, Stephen Keshi, says that absence of AFCON Golden Boot winner Emmanuel Emenike and the duo of Victor Moses and Onazi Ogenyi among others were the major reason for the team’s less than impressive performance at the FIFA Confederation Cup. The trio were victims of injuries and were thus not available for selection at the fiesta in which the Eagles showed some flashes of brilliance but were generally clay footed in front of goal.

Their absence, Keshi says was a big blow because they have the pedigree, gut, and experience to take on defences and wreck havoc and insisted that their opponents could not have been fortunate to escape unhurt in some of the chances their inexperienced colleagues failed to bury.

“I can’t imagine that my top striker, Emmanuel Emenike, will miss some of the goals that we missed. Victor Moses would have ruined any team here and even Ogenyi Onazi was sorely missed.

Of course, we have several other players that should have been here but could not make it due to injury problems; players like United States- based Bright Dike, Kalu Uche, among others,” Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, quoted Keshi in a release.

Further, Keshi notes that the players he had in camp have prospects and assures that they would take the world storm by the time returns to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup. “We want to come back here next year and make an impact.

This is a dress rehearsal and I can assure Nigerians that the Super Eagles will be among the top teams when the Brazil 2014 World Cup starts”, he said adding that Nigerians should forgive the players’ poor outing at the Confederation Cup. Also, Keshi reveals that he has fresh options for the national team when the team resumes for the final World Cup qualifier match against Malawi in September.

On his next move, Keshi says he is ready to qualify Nigeria for the first time for the African Nations championships meant for players playing in the local leagues of countries in Africa (CHAN).

Nigeria’s Kenneth Omeruo (R) and goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama (L) vie for the ball with Jordi Alba (C) of Spain, during the FIFA’s Confed Cup

Super Eagles not yet ready for world championship – Peters Stories by Patrick Andrew

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ames Peters, Assistant National Technical Director, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), believes the Super Eagles are far from being the team the football federation intends to present to the world in 2014.

Though he said the Eagles are worthy continental champions, Peters insisted that both the technical crew and the technical de-

partment of the NFF are working at creating a team that will brim with talents in all departments, and thus ready to take on the best teams in the world.

"Presently, we can say that we have a team for African competitions but not for world championships. I can tell you that we are working hard to realise that goal.

"The Eagles may have impressed in Brazil at the FIFA Confederation Cup which is a dress

rehearsal of the 2014 World Cup. We want to qualify and then bring a collection of talents, chisel and make them ready to face the world at championships," he said.

Speaking further on the team's performance in Brazil, Peter adduced lack of organisation and tactical discipline as the bane of the team.

"The team was not organised tactically, the players played to impress and work harder for the team. Well, you can't blame them for now because we are still evolving and by the time we get there those minor errors that in the end contributed to the general poor performance will be eliminated or reduced maximally," he said.

Though many have blamed the

lack of cutting edge of their game, the former cadet coach and Assistant Super Eagles coach said the team's greatest headache lies in the defence. He buttressed his assertion by explaining what led to the three goals they conceded against Spain. " To start with, the three goals they conceded against Spain was the fault of the defenders. The first for example was due to overlapping by all the four of them inside the box, especially when the recovery rate of some is suspect.

"Godfrey Oboabona’s bad positioning and bad marking led to the second and the third was a preplanned free kick from the Spaniards when they saw the leak in our defence,’’ he said.

Mikel laments, says Eagles were too wasteful

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Emenike

uper Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi, has lamented the team’s poor marksmanship at the Confederations Cup and attributed this as reason for crashing out of the championship.

Mikel, who was outstanding in the three matches the team played, said the team created enough chances for the strikers to convert but regretted the poor marksmanship robbed of these opportunities and came back to haunt them.

“We came out to defeat the Spanish side and I think we may have even had the better possession against the World Champi-

ons, but we simply did not take our chances and they took theirs, so we paid for our mistakes and are now heading out of the championship,” he said ruefully.

Meanwhile, the Eagles are expected to arrive in Lagos from South Africa today. The team departed Fortaleza for Sao Paolo en rout Lagos.

However, some of the foreign-based players are not returning with the team, instead would head straight to bases for pre-season tours or sign new deals and change locations.

The European season begins in August.

PEOPLES DAILY| TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

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Sports

National Stadium Abuja gets new manager

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ulius Berger Nigeria PLC will maintain the National Stadium Abuja for a period of six months, starting from September this year. However, this will be after the completion of the ongoing rehabilitation work at the facility.

This was disclosed yesterday by the Special Assistant on Media to the Sports Minister, Mr Julius Ogunro, but was silent on how much the National Sports Commission is expending on the rehabilitation of the facility.

According to him, the six-month supervision period would be in conjunction with the commission and it would take effect after a proper hand-over of the facility

by Julius Berger.

Peoples Daily Sports recalls that the construction firm had built the facilities which actual cost has remained a matter of speculation since 2003 when it was completed and used for the COJA Games- the 8 All Africa Games.

Elaborating on the nature of management that would be expected from the firm, Ogunro said that the commission would require them to supervise and maintain the facility in phases and added

that the first of such would take effect from September.

That means, according to him that the current rehabilitation work would be completed and the facility handed over to the commission latest by end of August.

“We have an arrangement with the contractors, Julius Berger, that after the stadium is handed back to the NSC, we will have a partnership in terms of maintenance. The partnership will last for six months, till sometime in 2014,’’ Ogunro was later quoted to have said by a news agency.

Further, he said that the commission had sealed plans for regular maintenance of the stadium at the end of the six months period stressing that this would forestall a repeat of the decay that it almost became.

“The main issue we had before was that the power cable that supplied light to the stadium got bad and because of that, we could not get water to wet the pitch. As a result, the grass on the football pitch got dried up and weeds started growing on it. ``Now, we have a standby manual tanker to ensure that the pitch is well watered for the grass to be alive. The contrac-

tors have also trained some of our staff on the maintenance of the lawns after handover,’’ Ogunro said.

He added that the Minister had directed the NSC Director of Stadia and Facilities, as well as the stadium manager, to come up with a schedule of activities for the maintenance of the facility.

In respect of other facilities, Ogunro said efforts were being made to put them to use, noting that the minister’s relocation from the federal secretariat to the stadium was to keep the place busy. ``The minister has relocated to the stadium and because we are here, there is life in the stadium; everybody is doing what they should. If matches are played every week or biweekly, then the stadium will be active and you will also see the need to maintain it. ``If you recall, we made use of the velodrome just recently; the minister had directed that it should be used for the launch of the`` Rhythm and Play’’ sports programme. So, this is what we want to do with other facilities,’’ Ogunro added.

He urged individuals and groups that wished to use the place for sporting ac-

tivities to come forward and make applications.

Bolaji Abdullahi, Sports Minister

Enyeama's Confederations Cup perform ance tickles Dosu

A

former Super Eagles’ goalkeeper, Joseph Dosu, has described the team’s current first choice goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, as an invaluable asset, who had remained consistent.

Dosu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that, in spite of the goals Enyeama conceded in the ongoing Confederations Cup in Brazil, he still remained the best.

The Super Eagles on Sunday got drubbed 3-0 by World Champions, Spain, in a Group B encounter at Fortaleza and thus exited the tournament, but Enyeama was outstanding with one-on-one saves.

Enyeama’s efforts could not save the Eagles from the rampaging Spaniards, who brought their brilliance to bear on the African champions.

“You can’t take anything away from Enyeama; yesterday, he saved us from conceding more goals. He found himself in a one-on-one situation with the Spaniards on several occasions.

“He has been consistent for the past 10 years; he has been doing very well; our reserve goalkeepers are also no pushovers.

Dosu said that grooming a worthy successor to Enyeama should not be rushed. “ It will happen soon; Agbim is a work in progress. Enyeama didn’t become the number one choice overnight; he paid his dues. Austin Ejide and Agbim will also have their own opportunities to showcase their talents,’’ he said.

Vincent Enyeama, was in top shape at the FIFA Confederations Cup

No further punishment for suspended squash players – NSF boss

A

damu Erena, President, Nigeria Squash Federation (NSF), has cleared the air over the status of some squash players who were recently suspended by the immediate-past president of the federation.

Erena confirmed in Lagos yesterday that the players had already served the suspension levied on them by the Femi Ajagbe-led NSF board.

He added that the previous board had initially banned the players for two years, but his administration reduced the ban to two months, plus a letter of apology from the players.

It would be recalled that some players had boycotted the final match of the David Mark championships, which held from April 21 to April 25 in Abuja, over prize money.

The affected players were Sodiq Taiwo, Bodam Jonathan, Dasbak Longdi and Yalmy Kallil.

“Initially, they were banned for two years, but when we had our meeting, we resolved that they should be suspended for two months, from the date of the competition, which they have complied with.

“They have written an apology letter, so they are free to play in any tournament, I

don’t know where some media organisations got their information from.

“I was wrongly quoted, they are no longer banned, I just want to set the records straight,’’ Erena said.

The president urged the players to focus on their training and prepare for the maiden edition of the ``Winner Takes All Squash Tournament’’, slated for Minna from July 2 to July 6.

“I just want to implore these players and all squash players as a whole, to focus on the Minna tournament,. We are expecting a highly competitive championships,’’ the president added.

PEOPLES DAILY| TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 43

Sports

Inte r national Transf e r Gomez staying at Bayern

Chelsea fight to keep Luiz as PSG plots bid

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aurent Blanc will consider making an offer for Chelsea defender David Luiz when he becomes the new coach at Paris Saint-Germain.

Luiz, 26, is being lined up to replace former Chelsea defender Alex, 31, who is keen to return to Brazil.

He confirmed meanwhile that he suffered a broken nose during Brazil’s Confederations Cup match against Mexico on Wednes-

day night and he will need surgery.

He was forced into an emergency kit change after heading his skipper Thiago Silva in the first half while trying to clear a free-kick.

Luiz was left holding his nose as blood poured out, looking very groggy as struggling to keep his eyes open and he will need a mask for the rest of the Confederations Cup.

B

Chelsea defender David Luiz

Chelsea ready to spend £10m on Zouma

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Kurt Zouma

helsea remains keen on St Etienne defender Kurt Zouma, who is being considered as a cheaper alternative to Porto’s Eliaquim Man-

gala.

The 18-year-old France Under 20 international, who was an unused substitute against Ghana as the age group World Cup got underway on Friday, is powerfully built and stands at 6ft 2in tall, leading to comparisons with Marcel Desailly.

His club believes they can get around £10million for the player, with a host of clubs from across Europe, including Atletico Madrid keen.

Chelsea is boosted by the fact his agent has suggested Zouma would prefer a move to England.

Sunderland ready to sell Cattermole

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underland is willing to sell Lee Cattermole, with manager Paolo Di Canio having decided that the captain is surplus to requirements.

The Black Cats will listen to offers for the midfielder, a £6 million signing from Wigan four years ago.

Promoted Cardiff and Hull have been linked with the 25-year-old, who was limited to 14 appearances last season by injury and suspension.

Di Canio is believed to place a high premium on fitness, and Cattermole has suffered a series of injury problems during his four years on Wearside.

The Italian was also unhappy with his players’ poor disciplinary record in his brief time in charge and, while Cattermole was sidelined then, he has picked up five red cards in 87 games for Sunderland.

Di Canio has begun to reshape his squad by recruiting Swiss midfielder Cabral and French defenders Valentin Roberge and Modibo Diakite.

Gomez joined the Bavarians in 2009 with his current deal running out in 2016.

Mario Gomez

Swansea yet to receive Williams bid

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wansea chairman Huw Jenkins insists no clubs have contacted him about the availability of Captain Ashley Williams, who has been tipped to leave the Liberty Stadium this summer.

Williams, 28, is believed to be a transfer target for Arsenal and Liverpool after two impressive seasons at the heart of the Swans defence in the Premier League.

But Jenkins says he has received no offers as yet for the Wales international, who skippered the club to Capital One Cup glory in February.

“There have been all sorts of stories in the press about what is happening with Ash but I have never heard anything from any-

one.” Williams has been at Swansea since arriving from Stockport County in 2008.

Ashley Williams

Arshavin seal Zenit return

F Lee Cattermole

Arsenal set to complete Higuain deal

T

ayern Munich striker Mario Gomez is to stay at the club for the time being but officials at the Champions League winners hinted yesterday his future with them could be in doubt.

Gomez, 27, a former Bundesliga top scorer, lost his starting spot to Mario Mandzukic last season as Bayern won the domestic league and cup double as well as the Champions League.

“He will be training with the team as normal from Wednesday onwards (pre-season start), Rummenigge said, with new Bayern coach Pep Guardiola sitting next to him.

he Gunners are ready to pay a club-record gentina in 2006 and has racked up 48 goals in 80 £22million for the Argentine, who is also games in the last three seasons alone.

Boss Arsene Wenger wants Higuain to reignite wanted by Juventus.

Jorge Higuain played down suggestions that his front line in the role that made Thierry Henry a personal terms reported to be £150,000 a week club legend and fill the void left by Robin van Persie last season. have been agreed, but said a deal is close.

He insisted: “Nothing has yet been signed but I assure you the negotiations between the clubs are at an advanced stage.

“We won’t agree a contract before the clubs reach a transfer deal. I’m sure Arsenal made a big offer, and Juventus.”

Arsenal’s current transfer record is the £15m they paid Russia’s Zenit St Petersburg for Andrey Arshavin in 2009.

Higuain, 25, is renowned for his pace and strength and has been tipped to torment Premier League defences.

The hitman joined Real from River Plate in Ar- Jorge Higuain

ormer Russian captain Andrei Arshavin has sealed his return to Zenit Saint Petersburg, the club that launched his career, after a fallow half decade at Arsenal.

Arshavin’s move back to Zenit was announced yesterday after he won the backing of the club’s owner, the gas giant Gazprom.

“We have to remember that Arshavin is a product of Zenit.

And I think it right that a product of Zenit finishes his career at his native club,” Gazprom chief executive Alexei Miller was quoted as saying.

Miller implied that Arshavin, 32, had himself approached Zenit to ask that they take him back and the club had agreed to his approach.

Arshavin, who was briefly loaned to Zenit by the London side during the second half of the 2011/12 season, was released by the English Premier League side this close season.

The player was one of the stars of Zenit’s 2008 Uefa Cupwinning side and Russia’s Euro

2008 campaign then moved to north London but never fulfilled his potential despite a promising start.

Zenit are looking to reinforce their midfield after the departure of Russian star Igor Denisov, who last week joined Makhachkala big spenders Anzhi.

Andrei Arshavin

PEOPLES DAILY| TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 44

Sports

Kurfi lauds Keshi, wants improved attack

By Patrick Andrew

S

uper Eagles’ lose to World and European champions, Spain, was far from being a disgrace, but just part of the learning curves the players must be subjected to and be toughened ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

This was the view of Chairman of Future Africa Football Academy (FATA) and member of the board of the Nigeria Tennie Federation (NTF), Alhaji Aminu Balele Kurfi, who lauded Stephen Keshi for nurturing hitherto rejected domestic league players to become stars.

“Keshi should be commended for his gut and determination

to chisel the raw talents in the domestic league. He patiently combed the domestic league to fish them out and unlike his predecessors who merely used them as training materials identified their talents and nurture to the level they are now being exposed at international championships.

“That’s the mark of a nobleminded coach who is willing to work for the country with the future in mind. Some think they should not have been taken to the FIFA Confederation Cup. “These pessimists held the same view prior to the Nations Cup finals in South Africa, but Keshi stood firm and resisted all urgings for him to drop them. But who were the heroes? Do you im-

agine what experience the likes of Godfrey Oboabona Azubuike Egwuekwe, Gambo Mohammed?” he queried noting what Keshi has done would have riple effect subsequently.

He expressed delight with performance of the players stressing that they put up a good fighting spirit but were simply undone by their lack of precision in front of goal.

“The major problem was not ball possession. They had that, created chances and even at some point dominated Spain but lack of resourcefullness in front of the goal. The attackers were wasteful.

“We have a good team, and the coaches need to do some work in the defence, and also inject into

the team sharp shooters for us to have a world-class team.

“The players did their best and could have won the match if the many begging opportunities they had were converted. But that is football. I think the coaches will go back and work on the two departments so that we will come out clean in the World Cup qualifiers,” he said.

According to him, had Nigeria been with the likes of Emmanuel Emenike, Victor Moses and Ogenyi Onazi the story would have been different.

“We miss Emenike, Moses and Onazi. These players are vital and their absence was felt,” he said.

However, he expressed the

confidence that Nigeria would qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

marathon squad, Kirui was definitely a show-in to defend his crown due to his exemplary duty for his nation.

"It is very disappointing but that is sport. There is still the 2015 World Championships and the 2016 Olympics to look forward to but I was so eager to become the first man to win three world titles," the crestfallen Kirui said from his Iten training base, Kirui said.

"This ankle has refused to heal the way I planned and there is no need of going to war when you are not ready," the affable runner added.

The withdraws of Kirui and Kipsang leaves Boston and New York marathons course record holder, Geoffrey Mutai and 2009 Worlds silver winner, Emmanuel Mutai as the rank favourites to spearhead Kenya's assault in Moscow.

On Saturday, Mutai who also struggled with injury at the Lon-

don Marathon announced his return to top form by winning the Kenyan 10,000m title with a blistering 27:55.30 performance in punishing altitude in Nairobi.

"I'm looking forward to make the Kenyan team as a marathoner for the first time. It felt great to win a race that had such high pace and feel no reaction to the injury.

"If I'm not selected in the marathon team, I will return to the Trials to compete the 10,000m race since I want to be remembered for what I did for my country," the World Marathon Major winner widely regarded as the best athlete on the planet over the distance proclaimed following his victory.

Mutai won bronze for his nation at the 2010 Africa Championships in 10,000m before finishing fifth at the Punta Umbria World Cross the following year competing in the 12km men senior race.

Aminu Babale Kurfi, Chairman FATA

Kenya’s Kirui won’t defend world title in Moscow

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enya's world marathon champion, Abel Kirui, will not defend his title in Moscow in August following an ankle injury suffered during training that saw him miss the London Marathon in April.

Confirming the development over the weekend, Athletics Kenya (AK) president, Isaiah Kiplagat added the withdrawal of Olympics bronze medal winner, Wilson Kipsang, from the global showpiece as he focuses on breaking the world record in Berlin in September had compelled them to bring forward the naming of the Kenyan marathon torch bearers in Russia.

"It is true, Abel will not defend his title and Kipsang has pulled out to focus on other things. We intended to name the marathon team after the Trials since they have been training but that is no longer necessary," Kiplagat said.

"The Executive Committee is meeting on Monday and afterwards, we will release the marathon team for Moscow," Kiplagat added.

Kirui, 31, become the first Kenyan to be crowned a double world marathon champion when he successfully defended the title he first won in Berlin 2009 in Daegu, South Korea two years ago.

Last year, he was beaten to the Olympics gold medal by Uganda's surprise package, Stephen Kiprotich, and despite the fact AK shortlisted 10 for Moscow in the men's Kirui, during the 2012 Olympic Games in London

FIFA U-20: Korea deny Portugal quarterfinal berth

K

orea Republic came from behind twice through Ryu Seungwoo and Kim Hyun, cancelling out goals from Aladje and Bruma to hold the group leaders in an entreprsing game.

The result means Group B remain wide open going into the final batch of FIFA Under-20 World Cup first round games.

Portugal flew out of the traps, with Aladje securing his second goal of the tournament on three minutes, with the 1.88m-tall striker out-jumping the South Korean defence to head home from a corner.

Much like in their first outing, he and Bruma were proving to be a potent threat from the European side, with the pair both set pulses racing in the Korean Republic defence, before a neat exchange between the pair drew a save from Lee Changgeun.

The final ten minutes of the half were almost upon the sides before the team from Asia really threatened, with a duo of their own in Ryu Seungwoo and Kim Hyun causing Portugal problems, with the latter drawing a save from Jose Sa.

PEOPLES DAILY| TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 45

Sports

P-i-c-t-o-r-i-a-l 1. Andy Murray will resume his quest for a first Wimbledon title today when the 127th championships get under way 2. England and Wales take part in the first all-northern hemisphere final of the IRB Junior World Championship on Sunday in Vannes, North West France.

3. Sergio Ramos leads the Castrol Index following the group stage, while Fred, Jordi Alba and Mario Balotelli are his closest challengers in a top ten exclusive to players from the four semi-finalists.

4. Celtic will face Northern Irish side Cliftonville in the Champions League second qualifying round stage.

5. Olympic champion Nicola Adams is to make her first competitive appearance since claiming gold at London 2012.

2

4

1

3

5

PEOPLES DAILY| TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PAGE 46

Sports Kenya earn ‘wild card’ to U-23 Volleyball World Championships

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enya's good run in the senior and junior women's volleyball competitions has earned it a surprise invitation to the under-23 FIVB Championships scheduled for November in Mexico.

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) first Vice Chairman Charles Nyaberi said over the weekend the world volleyball governing body, FIVB, has accorded Kenya the special "wild card" slot on account of its consistent performance in women's conventional and beach game in spite of having not participated in the qualifiers.

"Kenya made a special appeal to both the African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) and FIVB for Kenya's inclusion and this request was granted," Nyaberi said.

Following this development, Nyaberi unveiled the 20-woman provisional squad to go into training in preparation for this prestigious championship.

Notable inclusions in the squad are Naomie Too and Gaudencia Makokha who have just returned from Poland where they did service for Kenya in the under-23 FIVB World Beach Volleyball Championships.

Kenya has participated at the FIVB Women's World Cup seven times as well as in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games in Sydney and Athens respectively.

On the continental scene, the Kenyan women have won seven Africa Championships title.

During the 1990's, the Kenya women's volleyball team was quite dominant on the continental scene, where it won the title four times (1991, 1993, 1995 and 1999) in the biennially held tournament.

In 1987, during the 4th All Africa Games in Nairobi, Kenya reached the finals, against public expectations where they lost to Egypt in the finals and settled for silver.

So when Kenya reached the volleyball final of the 1991 All Africa Games, they were expected to fall again to hosts Egypt who were playing before a fanatical home ground support.

However, the determined Kenyans shocked everyone by winning the gold medal, thus the year marking the watershed of Kenyan women volleyball.

The inaugural 2013 FIVB Volleyball Under-23 World Championships Open will be hosted by two countries; Brazil will host the men's event and Mexico the women's.

The introduction of a new tournament as part of FIVB's volleyball calendar will provide another opportunity for age-group players to participate in an international tournament with the goal of reducing the gap between agegroup and senior level volleyball.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CREATIVE MEDIA CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. JONAH AKUFAI 2. OLUCHUKWU IHEAKANDU 3. LAMARIS GWANI 4. PATRICK OLABIYI MATEMILOLA 5. BARR. KELVIN YOHANNA NDRIYIZA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO USE THE MEDIA FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPMENT ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: USMAN ANDUWI DIBAL (ESQ)

PUBLIC ANNOUCEMENT This is to inform the general Public that the Kubwa General hospital will emback on burial of unknown and abundounded corpses deposited at the hospital.

The list of unknown and abandoned corpses in the mortuary unit Kubwa General Hospital Abuja:

FIFA U-20: Umar brace as Flying Eagles crush Cuba

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Nigeria now have three points from minu Umar scored a brace and summer move to an unnamed Euroskipper Abduljeleel Ajagun pean club, scored his third of the tour- two games after their opening game added his second of the tourna- nament via a flying header in the 67th loss to Portugal in Group B of the championship in Turkey. ment to inspire the Flying Eagles to an minute.

The Flying Eagles will confront Kayode then continued to prod the impressive 3-0 bashing of debutants Cuba in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup backline of the Cubans with his drib- South Korea in their last game of bling runs but his finish as usual con- Group B at the Ali Sami Yen Arena in in Turkey.

Istanbul on Thursday.

The win was huge and morale tinually let him down.

Results On 87 minutes, Kayode ghosted boosting to the junior Eagles who France 1 USA 1 had lost their opening game to Portu- into the Cuban goal area and was upSpain 1 Ghana 0 gal and needed to the two remaining ended by Abel Martinez but Ajagun Portugal 2 Korea Rep. 2 games to harbour any hope of advanc- stepped up and blew the chance to Nigeria 3 Cuba 0 ing to the knockout stage of the cadet score his fourth goal of the tournament. fiesta.

Nigeria started well and their captain, Ajagun, was exemplary as he almost opened score in the 17th minute when lobbed the ball over Cuban keeper, Sandy Sanchez but missed target.

Two minutes later, Umar smashed home Nigeria’s first goal of the contest at the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri.

Dolphins midfielder, Ajagun, picked out the pacy Olarenwaju Kayode who squared into the path of Umar to tap away.

With seven minutes to the half hour mark, Umar scored his second and that of Nigeria.

The Cuban defence failed to clear their lines and Umar stylishly flicked the ball in to give John Obuh’s men a twogoal lead.

Michael Olaitan also had a crack at goal as his 25-yard effort crashed against the upright with Sanchez wellbeaten.

Nigeria continued to boss the game with Kayode, Umar, Chidi Osuchukwu, Olaitan and Ajagun inching close to a third goal. But it was Ajagun Nigeria’s Brown Ideye (L) vies for the ball with Pedro (R) of Spain, during the FIFA’s who got among the goals.

The petite Dolphins man, Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 match, held at Castelao Stadium, in Fortaleza, who has been linked to a Brazil. (Xinhua/Guillermo Arias)

PUBLIC NOTICE

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

CHRIST PAVILION INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY

The general public is hereby notify of the loss of the following original documents.

UMANEK EMEN UMAKA Blk 68 Flat 2 Area 1 Section 1, Allocation of Open Space in Utako Ultra Modern International Market.

Space No Stb 181 Stationaries. Space No Stb 170, Vicke Omorubi Cosmestics Area 3 Off Fototek No Stb. 336 Stationeries Micheal, Blk 70 Plot 2 Area 2 Garki Abuja All belonging to ALHAJI MOHAMMED KABIRU ZUBAIRU is declared missing.

All efforts made to trace the said documents proved abortive, if found contact the nearest Police Station.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO.1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OMOVBUDE EHIZOJIE SAMUEL 2.MRS. OMOVBUDE UGOCHUKWU DORIS 3.ALAKA FESTUS UGOCHUKWU AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST 2.TO PREACH THE MESSAGE OF HOPE, HEALINGS AND RESTORATION TO HUMANITY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION,PLOT 420,TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA,ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR.MERCY AKOJI 07035880652

Members of the general public are here by requested to visit the hospital mortuary for possible identification and collection. Burial will be carried out two weeks from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: MANAGEMENT

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS WASIYYAT ADAMU UMAR, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. WASIYYAT OMAKU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. DOMA LGA AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS HARISU MUSA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ABDULLAHI HARISU MUSA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NASARAWA HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO TAKE NOTE.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Some Interesting Facts

U

nited Arab Emirates is the only country where death rate 2.11/1000 (deaths/1,000 population) is lowest (2009 est.) in the world.

Coniferous forest belt supplies most of the world’s requirement of newsprint.

The saltiest sea in the world is the Red Sea with 41 parts of salt per 1,000 parts of water.

The eruption of Tambora volcano is the world’s deadliest Volcano in Indonesia in 1815 is estimated to have killed 90,000 people.

The Nile River in Africa is the longest river (6,825 kilometers) of the earth.

Shanghai, China is the largest city by population (13.3 million) in the world.

The Sahara Desert in northern Africa is more than 23 times the size of southern California’s Mojave Desert.

The White Sea, in Russia, has the lowest temperature, only -2 degrees centigrade.

Most earthquakes are triggered less than 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the surface of the Earth.

Australia, (7,617.930 sq km) is widely considered part of a continental landmass, not officially an island. But without doubt it is the largest island on the planet, and when combined with Oceania, the smallest continent on Earth.

PAGE 47

Leisure The Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii is the largest volcanoon on Earth. It rises more than 50,000 feet (9.5 miles or 15.2 kilometers) above its base, which sits under the surface of the sea.

The Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf are connected by the Hormuz Strait.

The dormant volcano Mauna Kea (on the Big Island of Hawaii) could be considered the tallest mountain in the world. If you measure it from its base in the Hawaiian Trough (3,300 fathoms deep) to its summit of 13,796 feet, it reaches a height of 33,476 feet.

Some of the oldest mountains in the world are the Highlands in Scotland

. They are estimated to be about 400 million years old.

Birth Rate of Hong Kong is the lowest (7.29/1000) & Niger is highest (50.73/1000).

The Sarawak Chamber in Malaysia is the largest cave in the world is 2300 feet (701 meters) long, 1300 feet (400 meters) wide, and more than 230 feet (70 meters) high.

Northern Mariana Islands is only the country where death rate (2.29/1000) is lowest in the world.

The top three countries have the greatest number of historically active volcanoes are Indonesia, Japan, and the United States in descending order of activity.

Mount Everest 8850 meter (29035 ft) Nepal/China is the

tallest mountain.

The world’s largest island is Greenland, it covers 840,000 square miles (2,176,000 square kilometers).

English is the second most spoken language (Native speakers 512 million) & the first is Chinese Mandarin (more then 1 billion speakers).

Caspian Sea, AsiaEurope is the major lake (371,000 sq km) in the world.

Tremendous erosion at the base of Niagara Falls (USA) undermines the shale cliffs and as a result the falls have receded approximately 7 miles over the last 10,000 years.

Say what?

SUDODKU

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Crackpot high-wire artist Nik Wallenda completed a quarter-mile tightrope walk near the Grand Canyon 1,500 feet up without a harness above Little Colorado River Gorge on the Navajo Nation near the Grand Canyon.

Source: TheSun.co.uk

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

QUOTABLE QUOTE I am Nigeria’s Speaker, nor speaker for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

— Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker, House of Representatives, reacting to an allegation of anti-party activity

SPORTS NGF: Suswam’s lies and distortions (I) LATEST

Hosting 2014 World Cup will make life in Brazil worse, says Romario

B

razil legend Romario has said he is unsure if hosting the 2014 World Cup is a good thing for the country after the mass anti-government protests have dominated headlines during the Confederations Cup. Romario won 70 caps for his country between 1987 and 2005, scoring 55 goals, and now works as a politician.

But writing in his blog for the Guardian, the former striker revealed he supported the street protests.

‘I never thought the World Cup would solve all of our problems, but now my fear is that this mega event will only deepen the problems we already have,’ he said.

‘These protests will strengthen our democratic culture. It is the voice from the streets, for one that will lead to the strengthening of our judiciary.

‘And it couldn’t come at a more timely moment: with the legislation currently weak, corruption is rife – and those who steal from the public are let off the hook.’

An estimated one million people have been involved in protests in cities across the country, initially over rising transport fares but quickly developing into rallies against other issues, including government corruption and also the amount of public money spent on the World Cup - which Brazil are hosting for the first time since 1950.

The demonstrations have disrupted the ongoing Confederations Cup, which sees Brazil face Uruguay in the semifinal after topping Group A.

Romario

ADVERT: BUSINESS: NEWS: LAGOS:

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And being chairman of NGF is no big deal. We never had any election, there has never been any chairman of NGF who has been elected. The governor of Rivers state was never elected, he was selected. We just sat down and said look, this is the person who will be our chairman, and so the desperation which he exhibited in the election was the problem with most of us.

I was a member of the constitution drafting committee with Governor B. Fashola (SAN) as chairman. And we were given terms of reference that the chairmanship should stay two years in the south, two years in the north. And the deputy chairman must be from the opposition parties. Somewhere along the line, someone went round and changed what we did in the constitution and went and registered it and said that we signed. Normally, when we go to meetings all of us sign so they said we signed for the registration of the constitution and I said we will never accept this, and that has been one of our fundamental problems, somebody will go and change the constitution for selfish reasons.

T

hese two long quotes are from an interview given

by Governor Suswam of Benue State and published in this newspaper on Tuesday, June 18th, 2013. Suswam, as the reader must know, belongs in the Jang minority faction of the now divided Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

What he said in the first quote is largely true. From the first chairman, former governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, to the fifth and incumbent one, none was elected.

The governors, in their wisdom and for whatever reasons, have always preferred to choose their first among equals by some form of selection, not election.

This preference for selection over election seemed to have worked well for the NGF. Until this major crisis in which it has now become enmeshed, there were hardly any serious disagreements, and certainly no major crisis within the NGF in all the years from its inception in the year 2000. And if there were, these were so well managed internally that they didn’t become public. Even when in March 2005, many of the governors, largely for reasons relating to the then raging Oasanjo versus Atiku quarrel, felt uncomfortable with then Gov. AbdullahiAdamu’s leadership, the man simply stepped aside and Gov. Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom State was selected as a replacement.

But that was then. Those were the days of Presidents Obasanjo and, later, Yar’adua, who both knew their way with the powerful governors and had real grip on their party. Then, you didn’t have a president who caught cold

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FOR THE MASSES

By Rufa’i Ibrahim ruf585@hotmail.com whenever and wherever a governor coughed, and you didn’t have people like Chief Edwin Clark, who have the president’s ear, always profiling the governors as the president’s enemies and the NGF itself as an evil that should be exorcised from the polity. Then, too, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had enough measure of control to keep its many governors in one tent and check any rebellious tendencies.

Not any more. Now there are different actors on the scene, and different dynamics at play. A lot of water has passed under the bridge.

And, in a way, the NGF itself has long lost its in innocence.

But perhaps the most important change, and which has a lot of bearing on what follows below in this piece, is that the NGF, for about one decade after its inception, during which it chose its leaders by consensus, operated without a constitution. But now it has one, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in 2009.

Given this backdrop, it is either naive or foolish, or both, of Suswam to say, as he did in his interview, that, “...being chairman of NGF is no big deal.” How can it be “no big deal” when for weeks or months before the election, and for months now after it, the issues of its conduct and outcome have somehow drowned and crowded out of the arena of public debate almost all other issues? And, clearly, Suswam has made himself his own first doubter of his claim that being NGF chair is no big deal by his own conduct and utterances before and since the April 24 election: talking about the issue every time and everywhere, giving press interviews, issuing rejoinders, joining and making himself effectively the spokesman of the Jang gang, and throwing decorum aside to call his colleagues irresponsible and betrayers. Do we take it that it is in Suswam’s character to publicly insult colleagues, and other people, and to feel betrayed over things that are no big deal?

And if really the NGF chairmanship is no big deal, why is the writ of the President Jonathan, to whom Suswam shows - or should we say, feigns - so much loyalty, so obvious in every aspect and step of the crisis? And just why was the presidency so quick to intervene in the crisis and accord recognition to the Jang gang, after claiming it had no interest in the outcome of the

election?

But let us now move to the second quote above, almost the entire contents of which, I dare say, are largely lies and self-serving distortions. We take the issues one by one.

First, the claim by Suswam that he was a member of constitution drafting committee, chaired by Gov. Fashola of Lagos, which, as required to, recommended that NGF chairmanship should stay two years in the North and two years in the South. Suswam says the committee’s recommendations were changed by someone who went and registered a different draft and claimed that it had been signed by the governors.

In this, Suswam has raised a very weighty issue. For, he is making an allegation of fraud against one or more of his colleagues. Who was it, or who were they that fraudulently changed the draft, and registered an authorized one? And when was this done? The NGF has only 36 members and if such a fraud was ever committed, it shouldn’t be difficult to know who did it.

But the much more fundamental questions for Suswam are: just which constitution committee is he talking about? Where is the committee’s original, unchanged draft? Can he make this public for us to see?

The governors are certainly no angels. And there are not a few Nigerians who believe that you can’t put anything past the governors, who, more rightly than wrongly, perhaps, are now the favourite whipping boys of a public that believes they (governors) haven’t been doing much to change things for the better in the country.

I have no reason, or brief, to defend the governors. They are quite capable of doing so themselves. But in this matter of the NGF and its constitution, I know enough to be able to distinguish lies from truth, and fiction and distortions from facts. And I believe, therefore, that I owe a duty not to let the largely gullible members of the public get deceived by the lies and distortions now being bandied about by those with positions and weighty voices.

I know enough precisely because I was the one who, as a lawyer, was given the brief to draft the NGF constitution and to register it as an incorporated trustee under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA). The brief was given in 2002, by the Executive Director and head of administration at the

NGF at the time, Mallam Aminu Ibrahim. It took from that time till February, 2009 for the brief to be fully executed. The long delay was largely because there was opposition from both the presidency and the Corporate Affair Commission itself which felt that governors, as public officers who come and go, are not real people to be incorporated as trustees. There was a lot of goings and comings and interventions by highly placed people before, at last, in February 2002, the CAC approved the incorporation and issued a certificate.

Quite contrary to what Suswam now claims, there was never a formal committee of the NGF that was set up and that drafted a constitution with provision for rotation of the body’s chairmanship between North and South. What I clearly remember happened was that the NGF passed the draft I made to some of the governors, including Fashola, to go through and suggest amendments where necessary. I remember very well too, that Fashola suggested a few amendments, which were effected.

I remember too that the CAC itself got me to delete and insert one or two things in order to comply fully with the CAMA provisions governing the registration.

But for these few changes, the NGF constitution which I drafted, a fifteen-page document that spells out most of the things in detail, is exactly what has been registered and approved and what is now in the custody of both the CAC and the NGF. This can be easily checked with both the CAC and NGF, or with me.

I know too that the draft I made was taken round the states by the NGF staff for the governors to sign. And I know too for sure that the people who signed the draft constitution on behalf of their colleagues were, then Gov Saraki of Kwara State, who was the NGF chairman, and signed as such, and then Gov Namadi Sambo, who signed as secretary.

Clearly then, if there has been any other unauthorised or fake draft constitution, it was never registered with the CAC, it is not what is in the records and custody of the NGF and the latter cannot, therefore, be bound by it.

But what is even much more important here is that in the approved and registered constitution, there is nothing like rotation or appointing leaders by selection or consensus. What the constitution provides for, in very clear and unambiguous language, is for the governors to ELECT one from among themselves to be the chairman. The constitution, the relevant sections of which will be quoted extensively below, provides for no alternative at all to election. It provides that regard be given to federal character, but there is nothing in it about rotation, selection, endorsement or consensus.

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