Thur 24 Apr 2014

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,901

www.ngrguardiannews.com

N150

Outrage trails Nyako’s letter to northern govs

From Madu Onuorah, Mohammed Abubakar (Abuja), Kelvin Ebiri, Gregory Austin Nwakunor, Anote Ajeluoruo (Port Harcourt), Iyabo Lawal (Ibadan), Tunji Omofoye (Osogbo), Njadvara Musa (Maiduguri), Joseph Wantu (Makurdi), Msugh Ityokura (Lafia) and Emmanuel Ande (Yola) RITICISM of Adamawa C State Governor, Murtala Nyako, continued yesterday

over his letter to northern governors and others, this time from the Minister of In-

• Jonathan lauds Buhari’s stance on terrorism • Maku, Marwa berate Adamawa helmsman • Soyinka, Tinubu, others condemn B’Haram formation, Labaran Maku and a former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Brig.-

Gen. Buba Marwa.

While Maku described the letter as anti-Nigeria and ca-

pable of inciting the people against the Federal Government, Marwa said the letter ought not to have been written by a former military officer of Nyako’s calibre.

Also, appeals have been made to Boko Haram insur-

gents to release the girls they abducted from Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, even as Ministry of Defence says security officials have arrested some terrorists disguised as herdsmen in Wukari, Taraba State.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

ABU records breakthrough in refining petrol –Page 2

Astronomers confirm first ‘habitable’ Earth-sized planet - Page 31

Local plant validated for sickle cell, alcohol toxicity treatment - Page 33

Alaafin writes Jonathan on Nyanya bombing, general insecurity - Page 65 Some of the armed terrorists disguised as herdsmen who were arrested by Joint Task Force officers in Wukari, Taraba State… yesterday.

National Conference committee insists on federation From Terhemba Daka and Karls Tsokar, Abuja N a unanimous decision, the Istructuring Committee on Political Reand Forms of Government at the ongoing National Conference yester-

• Empowers states to create councils • Northern delegates oppose regionalism, back state creation • Again, conferees disagree on resource control day resolved that Nigeria would remain a federation with the existing 36 states structure as the federating units.

With this resolution, the committee said local councils

will no longer be a third tier of government but would be a creation of a state.

Similarly, the committee agreed that any group of states may also create zonal commission to promote eco-

nomic development, good government, equity, peace and security in accordance with the 1999 Constitution.

In a related development, emotions rose high again yesterday at the second day sit-

ting of the Committee on Power Devolution when the delegates canvassed divergent positions on the controversial issues of resource control and derivation principle.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications, Akpandem James, yesterday clarified reports that journalists were barred from covering committee proCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Thursday, April 24, 2014

ABU records breakthrough in refining petrol CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Dr. Oluwole Oluleye, commended Ahmed for his high sense of commitment to actualising the research goals for which the university was endowed. He described the outcome as fundamental to the sourcing of local raw materials like kaolin in producing Zeolite Catalyst, with the economic implication of reducing the huge capital flight on the importation of the raw materials for use in local refineries.

He added that in 2011, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) refineries imported Zeolite Catalyst worth 12 million dollars, saying: “The application of novel techniques in Zeolite Catalyst production will not only offer huge opportunities for entrepreneurial development of sustainable refinery and petrochemical products but would also create job opportunities for Nigerians. PTDF has keen interest on enhancing refinery and petrochemical operations in Nigeria as seen by the various research programmes we are funding.”

Also, Ahmed explained that the characterisation tests conducted abroad on the locally-

produced Zeolite Catalyst using Kaoline obtained from Kankara in Katsina State indicate a 75 per cent viability in outperforming the commercial catalyst currently being used by NNPC refineries.

Speaking on the feat with The Guardian yesterday, Ahmed said that the catalyst needed by refineries in the country was developed from local clay and would make the cost of producing petroleum products from crude oil more cheaper and faster.

Ahmed, who is a former Head of Department of Chemical Engineering at ABU, explained that presently, the nation’s refineries have to source for catalyst overseas for the production of petroleum products at a high cost in foreign exchange.

He further remarked: “We have now developed a catalyst locally. Catalyst is what we use in refining crude or raw petroleum.

“If you do a straight run of raw petroleum, you will get a small fraction of gasoline. The entire demand of gasoline worldwide is expensive. The catalyst was got from clay and pure chemicals. I am actually working as the PTDF chair at ABU. So, we have been able to develop this catalyst from our

own local clay in Nigeria.”

He added: “When we tested our own catalyst with the imported one being used by the Kaduna Refinery, ours outperformed the foreign one.

We presently buy some of the materials from abroad but if

we are now producing it in the country, our foreign exchange would be saved and more people will be employed. And from the local catalyst, we will be able to produce other chemicals, all from clay. So, it is going to be

an expansion for chemical production. And this will have positive impact on other sectors of the economy.”

Reacting on the development, an industry source said: “I think this discovery of using local raw material for

refining purpose has vindicated both the Petroleum Minister and President Goodluck Jonathan that empowering Nigerians to take active role in the hydrocarbon industry is the surest way of getting Nigerian economy out of the woods.

Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State (left); former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and Project Director, Port Harcourt World Book Capital 2014, Koko Kalango, during the world book capital in Port Harcourt… yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Soyinka, Suswam want abducted school girls freed CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The government also described allegations credited to Umar as amounting to double standard, insisting that the Acting Governor had in the same story accused Nyako of politicising insecurity.

A statement signed by Nasarawa State Director of

Press, Illiyasu Yakubu and made available to The Guardian, wondered why a misleading story of that nature should come from a personality of the acting governor who at this point of crises should think inward in bringing about peace in his domain rather than apportioning unnecessary blames on Nasarawa State people who are suffering the same attack.

Also, Nobel Laureate, Prof.

Wole Soyinka, the Borno State Chapter of Women’s Rights Association (WORA), as well as wife of Benue State governor, Mrs. Yemisi Suswam, have called for the unconditional release of the school girls.

Soyinka, who spoke while delivering a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the World Book Capital 2014 in Port Harcourt yesterday,

stressed that though there might be hundreds of soldiers deployed to forests in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states, the predicament of the abducted girls who are wandering through dangerous forest at this moment should spur the Federal Government to take the battle to the Boko Haram sect and rescue the abducted girls who now face the ultimate horror that confronts the country.

He wondered why Nigerian government which deployed its soldiers to Mali to battle extremist groups whose agenda is to eradicate the community of learning, tolerance and peaceful cohabitation, cannot do same to the Boko Haram which has declared a fatwa on enlightenment in the country.

Mrs. Suswam, who expressed grief over continued non-release of the girls while fielding questions from journalists in Makurdi, said the development has kept every body in the mourning and sorrowful mood.

“As it is, nobody is happy; no mother or father is happy at a time like this when innocent girls are abducted.

We are pleading with them not to injure these girls but leave them in peace and release them to go back to their parents,” Mrs. Suswam maintained.

“We should continue to appeal and pray so that the girls will be released alive to their parents, else, there will be no peace.”

Maku, while answering questions from State House correspondents after yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, lamented the suffering commuters on Nyanya-Masaka along Keffi Road are passing through since the government had not found an alternative to the gruelling check- point

mounted at the Kugbo end of the road by the military.

Canvassing Nigerians’ support and understanding with the security agencies as they fight very hard to contain the growing insecurity in the country, the minister lamented that the efforts of the security agencies were being hampered by comments being made by highly-placed Nigerians aimed at dampening their morale.

He went further: “To hear the kind of things being said by the governor of Adamawa State at this period is very unfortunate. Nyako is the former Chief of Naval Staff, and as someone that has worn uniform before to publicly incite the people against the security forces of this country is the height of irresponsibility. And I believe that for someone like that who is old enough to appreciate the kind of crisis this country is going through, we expect that there should be greater understanding, politics aside.”

Marwa, who was visibly angry while addressing journalists yesterday in Yola on the recent letter of Nyako to northern governors, said that the governor’s action was not only a calculated mischief and local blackmail, but an insult on Nigerians that voted President Goodluck Jonathan into office.

“Few days ago, Nyako fired a letter to the northern governors alleging that President Goodluck Jonathan and his government were the ones behind the current insurgency in the North and were indeed waging a war of genocide against northerners.

“I must first state very clear that Nyako’s letter does not represent the opinion of Adamawa people. Nyako’s statement apart from its incoherence was to say the least, disgraceful, shameful, embar-

rassing to the military constituency and most unbecoming of a retired Admiral, former service chief, and executive governor.”

Marwa, who said that the current security challenges in the North and other parts of the country demand for total support of all tiers of government and individuals to tackle the ugly situation, pointed out that Nyako’s recent statement was to incite northerners against the Jonathan’s government for his selfish interest.

“The current circumstances and security challenges in Nigeria call for non-partisan approach towards finding a lasting solution.

Blame game is not the way to go. We must all lock ourselves together and be united in confronting the challenges in front of us”, he said.

The former Lagos military administrator said Nyako is not only setting bad examples before the young military officers, but that he is abusing the prestige attached to the office of the President which belongs to Nigerians and not Jonathan.

“I, therefore, say Nyako enough is enough, stop all this nonsense and shut-up”, he stated.

On the 2015 general elections, Marwa who decamped recently from All Progressives Congress (APC) to the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on the allegations that Nyako turned the party into his private estate, insisted that PDP will capture Adamawa without any stress.

He advised the governor to start writing his handover note, instead of letters to northern governors, pointing out that time is not on his side again.

In what was a positive step

towards checking insurgency, the Joint Information Centre, Counter-Terrorism Campaign, Defence Headquarters say a group of terrorists operating under the guise of herdsmen were killed and many arrested when they attacked a military check-point at Gindin Dorowa, a suburb of Wukari in Taraba State. A statement signed by the Director Defence Information/Co-ordinator, Chris Olukolade, a Major General, says members of the group were sighted in the course of air surveillance and later trailed to their camp where they engaged the troops in a battle.

“The terrorists were clad in the usual pattern of dress of their counterparts operating in Borno and Yobe states”, the statement said.

It continued: “One of the apprehended armed men confessed that he had been fighting for the terrorist group in Borno State and was recently brought to Wukari area in furtherance of their mission.

Assorted arms and ammunition were recovered from them.

Meanwhile, the curfew imposed on Wukari and its environs is expected to be relaxed as normalcy returns to the town.

Troops have maintained patrol of the area while a houseto-house search for arms is ongoing.

In another development, troops on patrol of the Lake Chad Islands have made some arrests, among them a boat operator who ferries terrorists across the Lake Chad while another confessed to being a supplier of hard drugs to terrorist groups in the area.

In the meantime, the search for the abducted students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, is also being intensified”, the statement concluded.

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Thursday, April 24, 2014

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4 | NEWS Thursday, April 24, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

UNN to begin kidney transplant

FEC okays $152.12m loan for Staple Crop Processing Zone

From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu

From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja

LANS have been concluded P to commence kidney transplant at the College of Medicine, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), before the end of the year.

The arrangement is part of plans by the institution’s alumni association to reposition the college using its best brains and contacts to end medical tourism by Nigerians.

Announcing this yesterday in Enugu, the National President of the UNN College of Medicine Alumni Association (UNNCOMA), Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo said that with adequate facilities and funding, the college could effectively handle about 1000 heart surgeries yearly.

Nwodo said that UNNCOMA has commenced moves to build a N6 billion ultra-modern College of Medicine at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) permanent site in Ituku Ozalla, Enugu State, which was not provided for during the movement to the permanent site.

According to him, the alumni were desirous of ensuring that their alma mater remained the first in medical practice in Africa, and check the nation’s loss of resources to medical treatment abroad.

HE Federal Executive CounT cil (FEC) yesterday boosted government’s drive for agricultural transformation by approving a loan of $152.12 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the nation’s Staple Crop Processing Zone (SCPZ).

Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina said the loan would be used to develop rice, sorghum and cassava for commercial production and

also support private sector processing and value addition.

The approval follows a joint memo submitted by the ministers of Agriculture and Finance at yesterday’s FEC meeting, which was presided

by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, Adesina described the latest development as a global affirmation of government’s efforts at re-focusing agriculture as a business ven-

ture rather than as a mere passing development.

He said the Federal Government would expend the funds under SCPZ identifying areas of high production, “to which we are putting the enabling environment to attract private sector food processing companies to process and add value to our commodities.”

SCPZ, he said, is a product of joint consultation and partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture, other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and collabo-

ration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and other development partners.

According to him, the Federal Government had developed master plan for 14 SCPZs across the country, which will cover a whole range of commodities like rice, cassava, cotton, sorghum, aquaculture and livestock, among others.

The loan, which is repayable in 22 years, with 1.75 per cent interest, would also be used for agro-processing development, value addition, market

CAN holds fasting, prayer tomorrow against insurgencies From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja HE Christian Association of T Nigeria (CAN) has declared tomorrow as a day of fasting and prayer for peace, unity and progress of the country.

It urged Christians to particularly use the day to pray against Boko Haram, and for God to expose them and their sponsors. In a statement in Abuja yesterday, CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor decried the spate of bombings and general insecurity in the nation, stressing that only supplication to God can salvage Nigeria.

He also asked Nigerians to pray for quick recovery for victims of Nyanya bomb blast, who are still in the hospital, as well as for the release of the remaining abducted girls by their abductors.

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right); former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Hamed Tinubu, Pro. Chancellor, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Prof. Walo Omole and Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, during the investiture of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as 4th Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, at the 11th convocation ceremony in Ogbomosho... yesterday.

Rotary kicks off nationwide health programme

By Isaac Taiwo COUNTRYWIDE health A programme, “Rotary Family Health Days,” being staged simultaneously across the country for health status awareness and treatment, has been flagged off by the Rotary International District 9110, which comprises Lagos and Ogun states.

Ahead of the commencement of the programme today, the District Governor, Oluwagbemiga Olowu told

the media yesterday at Ikeja that the scheme targets 200,000 beneficiaries, with 100,000 in Lagos alone.

According to him, no fewer than 70 sites have been prepared in Lagos for counseling on critical issues on HIV/AIDS and other health services - free of charge. The three-day programme running from today till Saturday will kick off at Rotary Club of Lagos, Palmgrove Estate, at 11.00a.m.

Chairman of the Planning Committee and Assistant Gov-

ernor, Niyi Adesanya said that Rotarians for Family Health and Aids Prevention (RHFA) is a rotary action group of Rotary International aimed at providing succor to children afflicted with HIV and AIDS and their relatives, who might suffer as a result of their status.”

He listed the health services to be rendered to include HIV testing and counseling, eye cataract test and treatment, polio immunisation, malaria screening and treatment, cer-

Fayemi cautions against imposition of gov on Ekiti From Muyiwa Adeyemi (Head, South West Bureau), Ado Ekiti

• State pays wage arrears to council workers • AP promises better life for indigenes

OVERNOR Kayode Fayemi G of Ekiti State has advised opposition political parties

the state and the leadership of its chapter of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Workers (NULGE).

President of the state’s NULGE, Comrade Bunmi Ajimoko, yesterday described government’s gesture as a display of the good intention towards its workforce. He expressed hope that government would stick to the agreement with the union, while NULGE continues to support efforts at enhancing the wellbeing of workers, which he said remained paramount it.

Also, Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Chief Ranti Adebisi said the gesture was in spite of the meager and dwindling resources accruing to the state from the federation account.

He commended the leadership of the workers’ union for

hoping to win the June 21 governorship election in the state through imposition by the Presidency to seek other legitimate means because the people are determined to ensure that their votes count.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, while addressing the crowd at Ipoti-Ekiti during his campaign tour of Ijero Local Council, urged voters in the state to reject intimidation by external forces and their local collaborators but be resolute on election day to choose their next governor.

Meanwhile, the state government has begun the payment of arrears of the new in minimum wage to council workers. The payment was based on the agreement between

its understanding and contribution, while urging the workers to reciprocate government’s gesture by being devoted to their duties.

However, candidate of the Accord Party (AP) in the state’s coming governorship election, Kole Ajayi, yesterday promised that his government would focus principally on welfare and massive industrialisation of the state if elected into state.

Speaking at Efon Alaye, Ajayi lamented the low number of industries in the state, assuring that his government would establish an industry in each of the 16 local councils of the state by tapping into the state’s numerous agricultural produce.

He would also establish skill acquisition centres in all councils to compliment the industrialisation programme.

According to him, an AP gov-

ernment will ensure that all unemployed youth are gainfully engaged through sustainable employment opportunities and enabling environment for economic growth and capacity building.

Nevertheless, Fayemi stated, “nobody can impose governor on Ekiti people. It is not Abuja that will impose governor on Ekiti people, Ekitis are known for resisting external control and our forbears chased away the Ajeles in the days of old.

Nobody can intimidate you and whoever that tries it will have himself to blame.”

Scores of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, led by Mr. Michael Esan defected to the APC at the rally, as Esan claimed that they were attracted by Fayemi’s good works like road construction, payment of monthly stipends to old people, renovation of public schools and appointment of indigenes to key positions.

vical and breast cancer (at designated sites), diabetes and blood pressure testing, among others.

“In the first six years of its existence, Rotarians for Fighting AIDS (RFFA), as it was then known, gave care and support to over 5,000 children orphaned because of the effects of HIV by paying their school fees, giving school support, nutrition and regular psychosocial support,” Adesanya noted.

“We set out to reach 40,000 citizens of Lagos and Ogun states. We eventually provided services to about 38,000 people with intention to address the millennium development goal No.6 and part of Rotary International areas of focus, like maternal and child health and disease prevention and control.”

He disclosed that following the success of the programme in District 9110 in 2012 and 2013 and with the approval of the RFGA board of directors, the RFHA leadership in Nigeria introduced the programme to the two other districts - 9125 (South-West and Northern states) and 9140 (South-East and South-South).

The Chairman, Association of General Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, Dr. Adeyeye Arigbagbowo, who spoke on “Why Me” yesterday at the launch of the programme, said it was important for all members of the family to know their health status and avoid any act that could negatively affect any member of the family, because once a family member is sick, other members are sick.

information system for farmers in the areas, as well as, expanding access to financial service and crops insurance.

“There are 27 local councils that are covered under the investment and it has been developed in close partnership with all state governors and community involvement,” he said. “120,000 jobs will be created by the development of the staple crops, which will include, 36,000 women and 200,000 youths to participate in the initiative.

“It will allow us to add 20 million metric tons of production of rice, cassava and sorghum into the domestic food supply.

There will be 17 water control structure, 1300 irrigation canals, and 1300 kilometre of all weather roads to be rehabilitated.

Also, “1007 tube wells will be constructed and in total, 68,000 hectares of rice, cassava and sorghum will be put under commercial production.”

Seven states - Anambra, Enugu, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Niger and Sokoto - are covered in the pilot scheme and, according to Adesina, “the facility would support infrastructure development, production facility, irrigation infrastructure, social infrastructure in particular, rural roads, portable water, sanitation and healthcare.

“Mr. President has set a strategy that we will run agriculture as a business which is a major shift from how agriculture had been run. We no longer just focus on production but as well storage, warehousing, processing, value addition, marketing, logistics and trade.”

NEMA alerts Abuja residents on changing weather From Joke Falaju, Abuja S the rains gradually reA turn, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has urged residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja to brace up for the challenges poised by climate change, warning those living in flood plains to relocate or face the consequence.

Making the call yesterday in Abuja, NEMA Zonal Co-ordinator, Abuja Operations Office, Mr. Ishaya Chonoko noted that though the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) predicted a normal rainfall pattern across the country, residents should take precautions against flooding.

Chonoko, who addressed a workshop on comprehensive disaster management, also urged residents to clear the waterways and avoid dumping refuse in water channels.

He stressed the agency’s readiness to combat flood or any other form of disaster in the country, noting that the workshop was meant to build on existing capacities of various stakeholders in disaster mitigation, preparedness and response across jurisdictions, sectors and disciplines to make them proactive.

According to him, “comprehensive disaster management involves the establishment of strategies, adoption of models and building of framework, with the aim to reduce exposure to hazards, prevent, respond and mitigate the impact of disaster in our communities.”

Thursday, April 24, 2014 | 5

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News Group opposes planned RMAFC, FRC merger From Anthony Otaru, Abuja civil society organisation, A Center for Social Justice, yesterday described the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, (RMAFC) as an assemblage of populated politicians who are neither technocrats nor professionals and therefore should not be merged with Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC).

The Lead Co-ordinator of the group, Mr. Eze Onyekpere, stated that the commission, as presently constituted, cannot cope with the additional responsibility of fiscal responsibility functions of the FRC. The opposition to the planned merger came on the heels of the Federal Government white paper on the need to merge the FRC and RMAFC as recommended by the Oransanye report just released.

RMAFC’s core mandate is to monitor accruals to and disbursements of revenue from the Federation Account; review, from time to time, the revenue allocation formula and principles in operation to ensure conformity with changing realities; and determine the remuneration of political office holders. The only part of its mandate that seems rather remotely near fiscal prudence is that of the mandate to advise the federal and state governments on fiscal efficiency and methods by which their revenues could be increased.

According to Onyekpere, “this part of the mandate of RMAFC cannot in any way compensate for the detailed principles of fiscal responsibility and the need for an agency with a clearly streamlined mandate to enforce same. Fiscal responsibility should not be sacrificed on the altar of expediency.”

NCC reviews Copyright Act From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja HE Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has begun review of the Copyright Act to bring it in line with international standards of copyright protection in various treaties to which Nigeria is signatory.

Director General of the commission, Mr. Afam Ezekude, who disclosed this at an event to commemorate the 2014 World Book and Copyright Day, said the review would ensure that challenges of contemporary technologies are well taken care of.

Ezekude noted that the evolution of digital technology and electronic networks like the Internet has made possible instantaneous transmission of creative content globally with limited control by the author.

He observed that the commission had in the last three years confiscated about 5,757,522 assorted pirated works worth about N7 billion and arrested 371 suspects.

T

District Governor, Rotary International, District 9110 (Lagos and Ogun States), Olugbemiga Olowu (left); District Secretary, Bola Oyebade; Chairman, Organising Committee, Asst. District Governor, Niyi Adesanya and Dr. Omowunmi Bakare at the media briefing to flag off Rotary Family Health Days today at Rotary Club of Lagos, Palmgrove Estate Secretariat, organised by Rotarians for Family Health and Aids Prevention …yesterday.

PHOTO: ISAAC TAIWO

Boko Haram scare triggers traffic gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan road

By Chukwuma Muanya and Odita Sunday HERE was palpable fear T and apprehension in some parts of Lagos and Ogun states yesterday following rumour that members of the Boko Haram sect may have been hiding in bushes along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway waiting to invade Lagos with their bombs.

The panic led to a bush search by a combined team of security agencies comprising the police, military personnel and officers of the Department of State Service (DSS). The joint team, in the early hours of yesterday combed bushes in Ogere area of the LagosIbadan expressway in search of the suspected terrorists.

The bush combing was sequel to a message that was

with the urgency it deserves.

We do not see any information as rumour. We urge members of the public to avail security personnel with useful information. The Nigerian Army has beefed up security across the country after the recent Abuja bomb blast.

“You can see the presence of our men all over the state.

This is a result of the directive issued by the Nigerian Army Authority to all Divisions.”

Addressing newsmen in his office yesterday on the alleged threat, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Umar Manko, who also dismissed the information as mere rumour, explained that the incident involved some hoodlums who attempted to attack a truck which spilled its wheat content along the

Lagos-Ibadan express road.

According to him, there was a truck carrying wheat that fell on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway spilling its content in the middle of the road and some hoodlums attempted to attack the truck with a view to stealing its content.

“It was these hoodlums that were sighted by villagers who thought that they were suspected members of Boko Haram who had come to attack them. The rumour spread from that particular village.

“When we got the information, we sent our men to protect our own Area of Primary Responsibility (APR) which is Lagos State. I tell you with due sense of responsibility that there is no iota of truth in the information. I urged members of the public to go about their businesses without any fear,” the police chief said.

ered in September 2012.

MERS emerged in the Middle East in 2012 and is from the same family as the Severely Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus, which killed around 800 people worldwide after first appearing in China in 2002.

MERS can cause coughing, fever and pneumonia.

Although the worldwide number of MERS infections is fairly small, the more than 40 per cent death rate among confirmed cases and the spread of the virus beyond the Middle East is keeping scientists and public health officials on alert.

The jump in Saudi cases is of particular concern as the country is expected to see a large influx of pilgrims from around the world in July during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, followed in early October by the arrival of millions of

people to perform the annual Haj in Mecca and Medina.

The WHO, in a statement yesterday, said: “The Ministry of Health of Guinea set up Hotline 115 when it announced the country’s Ebola outbreak on March 21.

Its main goal is to respond to people’s concerns and to be able to quickly refer suspect cases to the isolation ward at Donka Hospital in Conakry for further investigation. It currently receives between 200 and 300 calls per day.

“Some of the people who call the hotline are in panic and false rumours make it difficult to calm them down”, says Dr Saran Tata Camara, one of the doctors who takes the calls. “But if we tell them that it is not easy to contract Ebola and that they can protect themselves if they respect some rules, they often understand.”

•‘It was mere rumour,’ say security agents sent via social network platform by anonymous persons alleging that about 20 policemen were shot dead by suspected members of the insurgent group on the road.

Nigeria Police helicopters were also deployed for aerial search for terrorists as the joint security team arrived the area as early as 7 a.m. while the information spread like wild fire.

The rumour led to mounting of a roadblock at the Berger end of the LagosIbadan Expressway. The vehicle checks caused traffic gridlock that extended to Sagamu for people coming from Oyo, Ogun, Ondo and other states who spent hours on the road.

A few hours after the search, top security officials in Lagos dismissed the alert and

termed it ‘mere rumour’.

They urged members of the public to go about their businesses without any fear of possible attack from suspected members of the Boko Haram.

Assistant Director (Public Relations) in charge of 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Omale Ochaguba told The Guardian on telephone that army authorities do not act on rumours. He urged members of the public with any useful information to confide in the army.

Ochaguba, who said the soldiers in 81 Division have tightened security along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, added that the mass deployment was done soon after the Abuja bomb blast.

“We treat every information

WHO, others dismiss Ebola cure claims From Chukwuma Muanya (Lagos) and Emeka Anuforo (Abuja) HE World Health T Organisation (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the Ministry of Health of Guinea yesterday dismissed claims that eating raw onions once a day for three days, drinking coffee, eating mangoes, and a daily intake of condensed milk can prevent Ebola infection.

Meanwhile, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has said Nigeria’s quest to become free from the polio scourge by next year could be affected negatively if the government at state and local levels get distracted by the upcoming national elections scheduled for early next year.

Similarly, President Goodluck Jonathan has

• Saudi sacks health minister over MERS • ‘How 2015 may affect anti-polio crusade’ charged states and local governments with Polio threats to work with the Federal Government to eradicate the scourge by end of this year.

There are reports, for example, of SMS messages circulating in Guinea that a medical researcher in Senegal has found a cure for Ebola hot chocolate, Nescafe, and raw onions taken once a day for three days.

There is also an erroneous report that workers with the medical charity Medecins sans Frontières (MSF) are responsible for bringing the virus to the country.

With so many Ebola deaths to date, fear has allowed the spread of rumours and misinformation.

Also, the Saudi Health Minister was yesterday sacked without explanation, as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus death toll hits 81 with 11 new cases.

According to a report in the BBC, Abdullah al-Rabiah was dismissed just days after visiting hospitals in Jeddah to calm a public hit by panic over the spread of the respiratory virus.

Saudi has registered the largest number of people infected with MERS. The ministry said it had registered 261 cases of infection across the kingdom. The WHO said it has been informed of 243 laboratoryconfirmed cases worldwide, including 93 deaths since the virus was first discov-

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

6 | NEWS Thursday, April 24, 2014

Lawmakers seek govt’s take-over of security in Taraba From Charles Akpeji, Jalingo FTER heated debate and deliberation, lawmakers of the Taraba State House of Assembly yesterday agreed on the need for the Federal Government to take over the security situation in the state, especially as the state government has become incapable of protecting lives and properties.

In a motion co-sponsored by seven members from the zone, they expressed sadness that in spite of the resources available to the state, the executive arm of the government had failed to react decisively to prevent the wanton killings in the areas.

The motion, which was tabled as a matter of urgent public importance was cosponsored by the Speaker, Josiah Sabo Kente, former Speaker, Haruna Istifanus Gbana, Mark Useni, Daniel Ishaya Gani, Daniel Tsokwa, Mohammed Abdulkarim and Yohanna Iratsi Adaki.

Moved by Useni and immediately seconded by Abdulkarim, the motion, which was unanimously welcomed by the entire members in the hallowed chamber, frowned at the weakness of the state government towards preventing the ongoing killings and destruction of properties.

Part of the motion, which was read by Useni observed that killings and wanton destruction of properties in some parts of the state “has persisted for sometimes and is increasing thereby causing untold hardship to the people of the affected areas.”

To this effect, the motion di-

A

• Call for resuscitation of vigilance groups rected the executive arm of the government to request “the immediate takeover of the security situation in the affected areas by the Federal Government to safeguard lives and properties.”

More to that, the lawmakers resolved that there is the need for the executive to direct “the appropriate agency of government to resuscitate all vigilante groups in the state so that they will assist security agencies in intelligence gathering and other security networking,” they opined their need can no longer be over-emphasised.

Reading the motion on the floor of the House, Useni, who was visibly disturbed, said “the

motion I read was with a heavy heart because of the ongoing event in southern Taraba and some parts of the state.”

“The situation,” according to him, “is a very bad one. Attackers have invaded our lands and the people of our communities have become mere preys in their hands.” The communities, he added, “are being visited by the attackers on daily basis.”

Noting that attacks in the state have continued unabated Useni revealed, “even before I came in to this chamber, calls came in from Takum Local Council Area of attacks being visited on the people.”

Stressing that most of the at-

tacks are being carried out in the “hinterlands.”

Stressing the need for the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency roll out the warring implements to the state, the members, who received massive sympathies from their colleagues from other constituencies of the state believed that the state government is not pro-active.

“We are of the view that the Federal Government must come in because its appears that lip service is being paid by the executive arm” noting that the “approach that has being given to the crisis by the state executive is lip service.”

In their various contribu-

tions, they believed that had the state embarked on pro-active measures like other state governments, the crisis would have been a thing of the past stressing that the attackers have continue to troop into the state en-mass.

Citing Section 13 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) Gbana tenaciously hold that both the executive and the legislative arms have failed in their constitutional responsibilities of protecting the lives and properties of the people.

Should the leadership of the state continue to drag its feet in providing security for the people, “every single soul that died because of our in ability to act, the blood of that soul,” according to the former speaker, “will be on us.”

Traffic gridlick caused by security checkpoint at the Nyanya/Karu axis of Keffi-Abuja road, Kugbo…yesterday

NIMC gets global certification, to release new ID cards T

scribed as having over 100 years of experience on global best practice.

General Manager, Training of BSI in charge of Middle East and Africa, Shahs Barhom presenting the certification to NIMC management, said, “today I have the great pleasure to announce that NIMC has been satisfied to be world well-known standard for information security, ISO/IEC 27001. I offer my sincere congratulations to every member of staff for being part of this.

“Congratulations for becoming the first national au-

thority in Nigeria to achieve this world class certification.

This certification is a visible demonstration that NIMC is competent, leading to increased stakeholders and customers’ confidence in its operations.”

Director General of NIMC, Chris Onyemenan, who received the certification from the British Standard Institute, described ISO/IEC27001 as one amongst a family of standards, which has to do with the security and protection of information.

He said the certification was

the last hurdle, as the Commission was now ready for roll out of the new National Identity Cards. We are ready.”

He spoke further on the significance of the certification.

“What you are seeing today is an attempt to see that we are doing the right thing based in global best practices. That is what the BSI certification is all about.

“This certification is saying that the National Identity Management Commission has out in place an information security management system, control access proce-

dures, processes, and policies that meet best global practice.

On whether the card could be used for election 2015, he said, “what we are giving is a system that enables you to assert your identity. That can be put to any issue. Whatever institutional use apart from identity affirmation that you would then need to do will be worked out between us and the institution that wants to use it. But what we guarantee is a single version of truth concerning the identity of individuals and we can defend that.”

How to end communal crises, by Ndoma-Egba From Anietie Akpan, Calabar ENATE Leader, Victor Smassive Ndoma-Egba has called for development of the rural areas to stem incessant communal conflicts in rural areas.

The senator, who said during a tour of his constituency projects in Cross River Senatorial District, noted that this is one of the few ways to take development to the people and improve their life.

Ndoma-Egba decried the low development of the rural areas saying some of the of the projects facilitated by him

courts across Lagos State and in the nation, the Lagos State government revealed yesterday.

State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos, Ade Ipaye made this known at a ministerial press briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja.

Ipaye disclosed that the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) is handling 708 cases in various Superior Courts of record, saying this figure included the 42 and four cases, which were currently being prosecuted at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court respectively.

“In addition to these, we are prosecuting 242 cases at the Magistrate Courts. All together, the DPP is engaged in the prosecution of 950 criminal cases. In the past one year, judgments were delivered in 76 cases in various matters the ministry was prosecuting both at the High Court and the Court of Appeal,” he said.

CHIEFTAIN of the ruling A Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State and former representa-

th

HE National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) yesterday crossed a major hurdle in its roll out plan, as it formally received global certification that stamped its system as secured and protected.

At a ceremony in Abuja, the British Standard Institute (BSI) issued NIMC the ISO/IEC27001, which is said to be the first time a Nigerian institution would be receiving such certification.

BSI, which performed the audit around ISO/IEC27001, is de-

O fewer than 950 crimiN nal cases are currently under prosecution in various

From Niyi Bello, Akure

HE Trustees of the Christian T Laity Association of Nigeria will hold the 34 yearly Na-

From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja

By Kamal Tayo Oropo and Yetunde Ayobami Ojo

Ondo LP chief alleges threat to life

National prayer breakfast holds tomorrow tional Prayer Breakfast tomorrow at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, by 7.00 a.m.

Lagos prosecuting 950 criminal cases, says attorney general

were being funded by the Federal Government and this will go a long way in helping the people.

Some of the projects include, water, roads, erosion control, hospital and others.

“I think that one of the best ways to resolve this issue (communal clashes) is to take development to those communities and its people believing that when they begin to see substantial development and improvements, their lives will have more meaning. They will be less prone to wasting lives that can be enjoyed. Push more

development to the rural areas hoping that such will engender peace,” the Senate leader said.

He also stated why he is bringing development projects to his constituents noting that, “when we intervene in water it is essentially to address the water needs of the people and also to address their health concerns because a healthy community is a productive community.

That is one of the reasons why we I have intervened massively in health. We have also improved the education sector; we have a lot of inter-

ventions in schools. We also have environmental projects.

According to Ndoma-Egba, “my constituency is prone to environmental hazards, especially flooding, erosions and you will see quite a number of projects trying to control the menace of erosions.

Most of them are constituency projects; they are funded by the Federal Government’s budget, but facilitated by me. They are quite many.

“I have intervened in the health sector; the Specialist Hospital in Ikom is under construction, as well as, the

Enugu-Abakaliki-Ikom Road and I think that there is quite a lot of excitement by beneficiaries of these interventions,” he said.

The senator also stated that it is necessary to redefine empowerment and political representation to add value to peoples’ lives.

“Representation is not only about giving people a voice but also about adding value to their lives, improvements of their welfare and livelihood. Through these we are trying to change the paradigm of representation.”

tive of the state on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Benson Enikuomehin has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, alleging threat to his life and requesting for police protection.

In the petition dated April 17 and received at the Force Headquarters, Abuja last Tuesday, Enikuomehin, a lawyer, said he had received several threats from many sources and had had to relocate to an unknown location while he has also moved his immediate family from his Akure home to a safe place.

The politician, who is from the oil-producing Ilaje Local Council, stated in the petition that the threat on his life were obviously as a result of his criticism of the state government’s handling of the billions of naira that accrued to the state from the statutory 13 per cent Oil Derivation Fund, which he put at N48 billion in the last five years.

Confab secretariat accepts Agbakoba’s rejection of allowance

By Bertram Nwannekanma HE National Conference secT retariat has accepted Dr. Olisa Agbakoba’s rejection of any form of remuneration and financial benefits as a delegate.

In a letter dated April 8, 2014, and addressed to Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN, a copy of which was made available to The Guardian yesterday, Conference Secretary, Dr. Valerie -Janettee Azinge, informed Agbakoba, a former president of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) that his decision ‘not to accept any form of remuneration/financial benefits as a delegate to the National Conference has been noted and will be treated accordingly.’

She further extended the compliments of the chairman of the conference to the rights activist, as well as, advised him to fill the delegates, registration form to enable the secretariat have his detailed information for record purposes.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, April 24, 2014 NEWS 7

Jonathan charges Nigerians on security

Anambra sets up new Tenders’ Board, cleric urges investment in education

From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City RESIDENT Goodluck P Jonathan yesterday charged Nigerians to take security chal-

From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka NAMBRA State has constiA tuted a new Tenders’ Board in a bid to enhance accountability in governance and general affairs of the state.

Disclosing this to newsmen during the weekly State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting held yesterday in Awka, the Commissioner for Information and Tourism, Chief Tony Onyima, explained that members include the Commissioner for Finance as chairman and the Senior Special Assistant in-charge of Project Monitoring as secretary.

Other members of the Tenders Board, he said, are the Commissioners for Education, Budget and Economic Planning and Works.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship, Most Rev. Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor, yesterday told Anambra indigenes at home and abroad that an investment in Peter University, Achina, Aguata Council Area, would not only provide education opportunity to students but also attract development to the area.

Ex-minister joins Ebonyi senatorial race From Nnamdi Akpa, Abakaliki NE-TIME Minister of State O for Power and Steel, Chief Goddy Ogbaga, yesterday declared his intention to contest for Ebonyi-North Senatorial zone in 2015 general elections on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Addressing journalists in Abakaliki, the former minister, under General Sani Abacha regime, said he was qualified to occupy the seat, adding that the zoning formula of the party favours him.

Ogbaga, who hails from Mbeke Ishieke, Ebonyi, argued that he is favoured by the rotation of the senatorial position, which had gone round the other three council areas.

He stressed that at the moment, Ebonyi Local Council is one of areas in the zone that has not occupied the position.

Audit Leader, Deloitte Nigeria, Augustine Nkwume (left); Technology Media and Telecommunications (TMT) leader, Deloitte Nigeria, Anthony Olukoju; TMT Advisory Leader, Deloitte Africa, Sharoda Rapeti; Transitional Leader, Deloitte Nigeria, Tawanda Gambo and Global Director, Deloitte Research TMT, Paul Lee, at Deloitte’s 2014 Technology Media and Telecommunications (TMT) predictions seminar in Lagos… yesterday

Legal framework will salvage confab, says Nwabueze From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia HAIRMAN of Igbo Leaders C of Thought and elder statesman, Prof.

Ben Nwabueze, has said the national conference can still be salvaged if President Goodluck Jonathan establishes a legal framework to enable the decisions reached at the end of the dialogue to be binding.

This view was expressed in a 170-page document prepared by Igbo Leaders of Thought, detailing Igbo position on the conference presented to Abia State Governor and Chairman of South-East Governors’ Forum, Theodore Orji, in Umuahia, yesterday.

Prof. Nwabueze told journalists at the Government House after his delegation that included Senator Anyim Ude and Dr. Emeka Iluno met privately with the gover-

nor that his visiting team of the Igbo leaders of thought came first and foremost to congratulate Orji for his election as chairman of SouthEast Governors’ Forum.

He said they congratulated Orji “because I think what he has done in Abia as governor convinces us that he is going to do the same thing for the South-East and that is to say for Ndigbo. So, we feel happy; we feel elated that this has come to him and we felt that we must come and congratu-

late him formally for his election.”

Asked about his seemingly pessimistic stance on the national conference, he said: “I led the agitation for a national conference because I was convinced that a national conference was what we needed to transform our country into a new, better and united nation and I sincerely believe this.

“But the type of national conference that can do this is the one mentioned in a number

The conference can still be salvaged “that is what I am working on now, to get something to be done to salvage the conference. I am still in contact, in liaison with the President on this, and I proposed that he should submit to the National Assembly (NASS) even at this stage, an executive bill in terms of the national conference and referendum bill.

PDP crisis deepens in Akwa Ibom • Abia group drums support for Jonathan, others From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh (Abuja), Gordi Udeajah (Aba), Inemesit Akpan-Nsoh and Ayoyinka Olagoke (Uyo) ITING allegations, which C include lack of respect for protocols, Akwa Ibom State Executive Committee of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to caution his Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, against causing disaffection among party members in the state.

This was contained in a communiqué read by the state chairman of the party, Obong Paul Ekpo, to journalists at the State Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo. The meeting, attended by the state Governor, Godswill Akpabio and his Deputy, Lady Valerie Ebe, state officers of the party, Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Senator Ita Enang, who led some National Assembly members, all

lenges in parts of the country as a collective fight, even as he said they were threats to the nation.

Jonathan, however, said he was confident that terrorism would eventually become a thing of the past.

Represented at the inauguration of a group, Grassroots Youth Initiative (GYI), in Benin City, Edo State capital, by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Student Affairs, Jude Imagwe, the President said Nigerians must jettison ethnic, religious and cultural ties in the fight against terrorism.

“One issue that concerns Mr. President is how Nigeria will rise again, taking its place among leagues of nation. Nigeria must continue to move on the path of peace, unity and progress. Every Nigerian must set aside politics and religion and be united with the present government to fight those who do not wish our nation well.

Nigeria will surely rise again.”

the 31 council chairmen of the state with their vice, chairmen of the party and others, condemned the recent visit of Gulak to the state for the commissioning of the SouthSouth zonal office of Goodluck Support Group (GSG) without recourse to known protocols in the state.

“The meeting condemned the ignoble and contemptuous role of Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, who visited the state recently; threw all known protocols overboard in purporting to inaugurate a sectional and unknown support group in favour of our dear President without bothering to pay any courtesy to the state leadership of the party.

“The meeting advised Mr. President to caution his aides who are bent on causing disaffection in various states of the federation purporting to act on behalf of the Villa and further advised Gulak to sort out PDP problems in

Adamawa State, deliver Adamawa to the President before rushing to safe territories like South-South Nigeria where President Jonathan requires no campaign.”

However, the other faction has petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan and the party’s National Chairman, Ahmad Adamu Muazu, over alleged discrimination that Governor Akpabio had taken some unilateral decisions regarding the running of PDP in the state without inputs from other relevant stakeholders.

Top PDP elders in Akwa Ibom, who signed the petition, include Otuekong Sunny Jackson, party elder and former legislator, Senator Alloysius Etuk; Ambassador Assam Assam (SAN), Chris Ekpenyong, former deputy governor, Obong Rita Akpan; erstwhile Minister and Peter Linus Umoh, former Speaker Akwa Ibom Assembly.

Others include Chief Nelson Effiong, former Speaker; Bernard Udoh, former lawmaker; Ekperikpe Ekpo, erstwhile lawmaker; Tony Esu,

erstwhile lawmaker; Uwem Udoma, former Deputy Speaker; Chief Soni Udom, former lawmaker and Uwem Ekanem, erstwhile House Leader; Emmanuel Obot, former Reps, among others.

In Abia State, a group called Divine Mandate (DM), has emerged in Abia State, which declared its plan to canvass support that will ensure the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, election of Governor Theodore Orji as next senator for Abia-Central, the election of the second term serving Abia Central Senator, Chief Nkechi Justina Nwaogu, as the next state governor, as well as the total victory of the ruling PDP in next year’s elections.

Speaking at the DM formal inauguration at the Central Primary School, Abayi Umuocham Aba Field yesterday, the state Coordinator, Chief Jones Chigbundu, said: “Divine Mandate’ connotes the mindset of Abians who have noted the quality leadership and love the trio had and have for Abia State and indeed Nigeria”.

of write-ups. Now, the most important thing is that there has to be a national conference that has some legal basis, some legal framework.

“It has to be a national conference that has the competence to take binding, legally binding decisions; decisions that will bind you, bind me, bind everybody else in the country, especially the competence to adopt a constitution for this country, a constitution that will be the supreme law. That is what a constitution is, the supreme law of the land. That is the kind of conference that we had envisaged.”

According to the renowned constitutional lawyer and elder statesman, he did not think that all is lost, saying that the conference can still be salvaged “that is what I am working on now, to get something to be done to salvage the conference. I am still in contact, in liaison with the President on this, and I proposed that he should submit to the National Assembly (NASS) even at this stage, an executive bill in terms of the national conference and referendum bill.

“The bill has been prepared and submitted to him many months ago. It is left to him to submit it to the National Assembly. If he does that, it

requires some courage to do this because of the opposition in the NASS. But I am thinking that Mr. President will have the courage to do this and he would have exonerated himself in the eyes of the Nigerian people”.

The statesman said that after the bill is submitted to the NASS, it would be left to the Nigerian people to mobilise, to get to the NASS and pass it into law.

On the question about how a new constitution can be made now, he explained that Section 9 of the constitution provides the procedure for altering the constitution.

“I wrote a paper sometime ago last year and submitted to the President and I put the papers in the pigeon-hole of every member of the NASS. “In that paper, I said that this matter is simple, you are talking about Section 9, the procedure is provided in Section 9, rigorous procedure, the NASS, and 2/3 of state Houses of Assembly, you go through all.

“Nobody ever thought that there is a way you can get round all this. The 1999 Constitution that we are talking about is a schedule to Decree 24 of 1999. All you have to do is to repeal that Decree and the schedule containing the constitution will disappear”.

8 | NEWS Thursday, April 24, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

PHOTONEWS

Head, IT, Samsung Electronics West Africa Limited, Folasade Oyelayo (left); founder, Centre for Value in Leadership (CVL)/ technology enthusiast, Pat Utomi; Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa Limited, Bravo Kim and Managing Director, Coscharis Technologies, Mukoro Emomine, at the launch of Samsung wireless printers in Lagos.

Representative of the Lagos State Commissioner for Sports, Director, Finance and Administration, Lagos State Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Buraimoh Bashir (left); Chief Marketing Officer, MTN, Larry Annets and General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Kolawole Oyeyemi, at the press conference on MTN Football Scholar Season 4 at Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos.

Retail Manager, House of Tara, Rhema Akabuogu (left); CEO House of Tara, Tara Fela-Durotoye and Brand Manager, House of Tara, Temi Akingbe, during the press conference on House of Tara retail strategy and leveraging its chain of stores as a tool for distribution channel management for other brands.

The Smooth and Utuama families cutting a cake to celebrate the dedication/baptism of Jeremy Smooth.

Marketing Manager, Non- Alcoholic Drinks, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Sampson Oloche (left); winners at the vending machine, Toheeb Jenyo and Muiz Dauda and the Senior Brand Manager, Maltina, Wole Adedeji presenting gifts during the Lagos Carnival sponsored by Maltina.

PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

Disengaged workers of defunct Rivers State Oil Palm Plantation (Risonpalm) Limited protesting the non-payment of their outstanding pensions and gratuity in Port Harcourt.

Supervising Minister of Aviation, Dr. Samuel Ortom (left) with the Rector, Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Capt. Samuel Caulcrick (second left), during the inspection of Kaduna International Airport control tower.

District Governor, District 404BÂ Nigeria, Gbolagade Adebisi (left); Region Chairperson, Region 11, Lion, Dr. Adesoye Ademola Ayodele; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Ekiti State, Femi Ajayi and Chairperson, Hellen KellerDay Committee, Dr. Ayodele Majekodunmi, during the commissioning of a health post at the State Secretariat, Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, April 24, 2014 | 9

WorldReport Australia, Malaysia vow to keep searching to unravel plane mystery USTRALIA and Malaysia A vowed yesterday to keep searching for a missing

Relatives of passengers on board capsized South Korean ferry Sewol look at a board with the names of victims that have been identified at Jindo harbour…yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

Radicalized Islam a growing threat, says Blair HE West should set aside its T differences with Russia and China to focus on the growing threat from radical Islam, Tony Blair said yesterday, in a speech that included a call to support Egypt’s military government against its Muslim Brotherhood opponents.

The former British prime minister said that tackling “a radicalized and politicized view of Islam” should be at the top of the global political agenda.

He said many in the West seemed “curiously resistant” to face up to a force that “is undermining the possibility of peaceful co-existence in an era of globalization.”

Blair, Britain’s prime minister between 1997 and 2007, is now Middle East envoy for the Quartet of the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and Russia.

In a speech in London, he said that “whatever our other differences, we should be prepared to reach out and cooperate with the East, and in particular Russia and China,” to combat Islamic extremism.

Blair’s political legacy in Britain is tarnished by his decision to lead the country into the divisive invasion of

Iraq in 2003.

Blair acknowledged the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan had undermined Western willingness to intervene in the Middle East. But he called for the West to engage with the

region, saying “we have to stop treating each country on the basis of whatever seems to make for the easiest life for us at any one time.”

Blair argued that “on the fate of Egypt hangs the future of

Bomb kills police general in Egypt POLICE brigadier general Video footage posted on newsA was killed when a bomb paper websites showed the exploded under his car yester- front of the car destroyed. It day, security officials said, in the fifth such targeted attack in Egypt’s capital within a week.

The blast in the upscale western suburb of October 6 killed Ahmed Zaki, a commander of Egypt’s central security forces who have spearheaded a crackdown on supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

Militants have launched scores of attacks mainly targeting security forces since the military deposed Morsi last July after massive protests calling for his resignation.

The general was fatally wounded as he headed for work, security officials said, adding that two conscripts were wounded in the attack.

was painted light green, not the usual dark blue of police vehicles.

Police officers are increasingly having their cars repainted to avoid being easily identified by militants and targeted.

Zaki was the third senior police officer to be killed in Cairo since the start of the year.

Three other police have been killed in four more attacks over the past week.

Prime minister, Ibrahim Mahlab and interior minister, Mohamed Ibrahim attended his funeral later on Wednesday.

In the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, meanwhile, a police lieutenant was killed in a gunfight with wanted “terrorist elements”, security officials said.

China urges renewed peace effort in S’Sudan after massacre HINA yesterday urged C renewed peace efforts in South Sudan after the United Nations said rebels slaughtered hundreds of civilians when they seized the South Sudan oil hub of Bentiu.

“We strongly condemn this and urge all sides in South Sudan, including the opposition and the authorities, to keep pushing political dialogue to resolve the relevant issues and achieve reconciliation, peace and development at the earliest date,” foreign ministry spokesman, Qin Gang told a daily briefing.

China has played an unusually active diplomatic role in South Sudan and is the biggest investor in its oil industry.

Bentiu is capital of South Sudan’s oil-producing Unity

state. Oil firms in South Sudan, a country roughly the size of France, include China National Petroleum Corp, India’s ONGC Videsh and Malaysia’s Petronas.

“China has energy interests in South Sudan, so we hope even more that this country can maintain peace and stability,” Qin added.

“We also ask that the South Sudanese authorities provide protection to China’s reasonable rights in South Sudan and the safety of Chinese nationals,” he said.

China’s special envoy to Africa, Zhong Jianhua, told Reuters in February that China’s efforts to help resolve the conflict in South Sudan marked a “new chapter” in its foreign policy that would seek to engage more in Africa’s security.

The White House on Tuesday called the massacre an abomination and urged an end to the cycle of violence there.

The United Nations said rebels hunted down men, women and children who had sought refuge in a hospital, mosque and Catholic church.

Rebel troops overran Bentiu last week. Rebel spokesman, Lul Ruai Koang denied responsibility for the slaughter, blaming government forces for the killings.

More than 1 million people have fled from their homes since December when fighting erupted in the world’s youngest country between troops backing President Salva Kiir and soldiers loyal to his sacked vice president, Riek Machar.

the region.”

He defended the coup that overthrew the elected Muslim Brotherhood government of Mohammed Morsi last year, saying “the Muslim Brotherhood government was not simply a bad government. It was systematically taking over the traditions and institutions of the country.”

He said the protest that led to Morsi’s ouster “was not an ordinary protest. It was the absolutely necessary rescue of a nation. We should support the new government and help.”

Malaysian plane despite no sign of wreckage after almost seven weeks, and as bad weather again grounded aircraft and an undersea drone neared the end of its first full mission.

But Australian authorities said unidentified material washed up on the coast of Western Australia was being investigated for possible links to missing Malaysian Airlines Flight 370.

Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott had earlier acknowledged that the search strategy could change if seabed scans taken by the United State Navy drone failed to turn up a trace of the plane, which vanished on March 8 with 239 people on board.

“We may well re-think the search but we will not rest until we have done everything we can to solve this mystery,” he said.

“The only way we can get to the bottom of this is to keep searching the probable impact zone until we find something or until we have searched it as thoroughly as human ingenuity allows at this time.”

The Bluefin-21 drone, a key component in the search after the detection of audio signals or “pings” believed to be from the plane’s black box flight recorder, is due to end its first full mission in the southern Indian Ocean within days.

The finding of unspecified material on the southern tip of Western Australia was the first report of suspected debris in weeks and the first since the detection of what were believed to be signals on April 4.

Australian police have secured the material, found 10 km (six miles) east of the town of Augusta, the Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) overseeing the search said in a statement.

Rome braces for pilgrim crowds at pope saints ceremony OME is getting ready for R hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and dozens of foreign delegations visiting the Vatican on Sunday for an historic event, the double canonisation of popes John Paul II and John XXIII. Italy’s interior ministry said it is expecting 19 heads of state, 24 heads of government and 800,000 pilgrims.

“It will be an event of global

significance,” Rome mayor, Ignazio Marino said in the runup to the ceremony that will confer sainthood on the two late pontiffs.

Monsignor Liberio Andreatta, head of the Vatican agency for pilgrims, on Wednesday said: “This is an event that Rome has never seen in its history — the canonisation of two popes in the presence of two living popes”.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

10 | Thursday, April 24, 2014

Politics THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE DEBATE

An open letter: In defence of the national delegates

A cross-section of confab delegates in plenary OST honourable, most M respected and most envied National Conference delegates, I am rising stoutly in your defence, not because you cannot defend yourselves but because you are too busy looking at how to solve the problem called NIGERIA — a problem created before any of you was born.

You would notice that unlike most letters, I did not start with “My dear…” Odd, isn’t it? Not really! My problem is that I would rather play safe for, how do I refer to you — Chief? Most Eminent?

Your Excellency?

Your Highness — royal and not so royal?

In a country where we place much premium on prefixes, it is better to play safe. You can imagine how angry a governor, who was once a senator, will be if he is not addressed as His Excellency Senator Governor!

I notice that I have not seen many advertisements on the pages of newspapers congratulation you on your deserved elevation to the status of “MNC” — Member of National Conference. I apologise for this lapse on behalf of “your people.”

At least, you would have started defining with whom you can share the paltry sum of N12 million, which you are being offered.

We were aware of the different changes in the dates of the official inauguration — due to no fault of yours. We were aware of the preparations for the conference. We were aware of names being added, deleted or replaced as reported in the newspapers.

Again, you were not at fault.

But when eventually the conference took off, people

were expecting you to speak boldly and publicly about the shoddy manner the preparations were handled. Why should you rock the boat?

Why should you say publicly that the idea of the conference was not contrived two days before March 10, 2014?

Why would you say that such preparation was part of the national problem when we talk first and think later?

Why would you say that and open your country to ridicule, especially to those who were the architects and their co-conspirators of the problem in 1914? Why should you draw their attention to a problem of organisation, which they may not be aware of since most them don’t even have access to the social media?

We should rejoice with you that your accreditation might have been a bit rowdy — just a bit! At least, it was handled better than those homicidal recruitment exercises we read about a few days after your accreditation.

What could have happened if there was a stampede at your inauguration is better imagined. One thing is sure — no head will roll. How can heads roll when people don’t

‘

even use the heads to start with?

It would have been very interesting to see how the families of those who could have perished during such stampede would have been told to nominate new people to the conference.

People are complaining that a few hardworking delegates among you were asking for your personal aides to be accredited as if such demand was not legitimate.

Please, ignore such complaints. Ascribe them to what my wife would call petty jealousy. Who do they expect will carry your briefcases, your iPads, your telephone sets (there are currently over five network carriers), and not to talk of booting your computers, reading your mails and writing your speeches? Do they expect you to drive yourselves?

Then there is the minor issue of your remunerations.

N12 million for real serious work for three months?

Nigerians will always complain. We should be grateful that at least we know how much you are being paid to proffer solutions to the 1914 problem. N12 million to address a 100-year-old prob-

lem?

Taking this paltry sum is a major sacrifice and other lesser humans not in your conference had better start to appreciate that. Do they know how much senators and other lawmakers take home? Do they have a right to know?

We understand some delegates are turning down this remuneration. Here, I would advise that you tread carefully. People are waiting to see the output of both the “takers” and the “rejecters.”

Some people are even insinuating that some delegates may be paid at one or more levels! What these people may not know is that this double payment — if it exists — is what you plan to use to pay your aides because considering your great responsibilities and plans, N12 million in three months or a mere N1 (one) million a week is just peanut.

The same Nigeria will expect you to answer the following questions: • Why do we sing the praises of lawbreakers?

• Why is Nigeria worse than what she was in 1960?

• Why are we having more mosque and church lovers

How come that treasury looters would rather buy houses in Ghana or Dubai and without batting an eyelid and without reflecting on the fact they are actually contributing to the problem of “no power, no water” in their own Nigeria — the same amenities they enjoyed while growing up

‘

By Femi Oyewole

but getting less religious?

• When and why did the “what is in it for me” syndrome become entrenched in all of us?

• Why would ministers not take responsibility for obvious lapses during their watch?

• Why would convicted criminals be pardoned and the country would be given no reasonable explanation?

• Why would criminals, who should be hanging their heads in shame, be backslapping each other on national television?

• Why would merit be sacrificed on the altar of some bogus federal character?

• What would have happened if Stephen Keshi was ordered to pick his boys based on federal character in South Africa last year at the Nations Cup final?

• Where is the quality in the education, as we currently have it before we start talking of being competitive internationally?

• What happened to the education system, which existed when children of ministers and farmers shared seats in the same classes?

• Why is it that the same Nigeria, where medical students from, for example, University of Ibadan had the option of doing elective courses in hospitals in the United Kingdom up till the 70s, can no longer produce graduates who would earn the same respect and recognition 40 years after — is that progress?

• How come that the first country to have a dialysis machine in West Africa now has its leaders going to India to do urine test?

• Why would India become a

centre for medical tourism with our own doctors doing the active recruitment when we could elevate our medical services to such a level and situate such centres in places like Yankara Games Reserve, Ikogosi Warm Springs or Obudu Ranch?

• How come that treasury looters would rather buy houses in Ghana or Dubai and without batting an eyelid and without reflecting on the fact they are actually contributing to the problem of “no power, no water” in their own Nigeria — the same amenities they enjoyed while growing up?

• What happened to the healthy rivalry between the old Regions — race for education, television, industry and so on — where did we go wrong and how do we address this?

• Are these delegates talking about the NIGERIA agenda or their individual, parochial and selfish agenda?

Despite the fact that you worked for about two days and took a week break, I will continue to defend you and I know you will like me as your advocate — pro bono — to provide updates for the cynics.

At the end, they would ask me — Mr. Advocate — how have your people addressed these problems?

Please, help me to be able to look at them straight in the face and say to them, “I told you that these guys are good.” Do not allow them to say, “Didn’t we tell you that nothing good will come out of all this.”

I will keep you posted!

• Oyewole, a retired Civil Servant, lives in Lagos.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, April 24, 2014

11

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Thursday, April 24, 2014 www.ngrguardiannews.com

Cocktail of

colour and costume at Lagos Carnival Tope Templer Olaiya, Assistant Lagos City Editor AGOS Island was overrun with vibrant colour and glitter as over 60,000 Lagosians celebrated the annual Lagos carnival on Easter Monday. Campos Square, Falomo, Awolowo Road, Race Course and the environs of Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) were shutdown as the carnival processions travelled from one end of the island to the other to the admiration of cheering crowd.

For the fifth year running, a capacity crowd of excited Lagosians and foreign tourists thronged the TBS to behold glamour and splendid displays.

Guests from all walks of life watched with excitement as the different groups and floats representing different areas and groups participated in a colourful carnival procession amidst cheers and applause.

The state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who was joined by his wife, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola and deputy governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, while addressing the gathering reiterated the need for peaceful co-existence and urged everyone to remain vigilant and be their brothers’ keeper.

He explained that there is a need for everyone to be peaceful and to respect each other’s choice, adding that it is only when there is peace that this kind of carnival can take place in the state. “Let me congratulate all of you for this season of Easter, a season of sacrifice and triumph. I urge you that as you go from here, you must expect that we will triumph over all our challenges. At this year’s 2014 Carnival called LASGIDI. It has been a whole week of fun from Badagry to the Waterways in the Regatta and many other activities at the Freedom Park,” he said.

The Lagos Carnival, which is a beautiful recreation of the age-long tradition of Brazilian Lagos as pioneered by Brazilian returnees, Emancipados, was given added impetus through a colourful display of music, dance and procession by various groups.

The various contingents of the participants had earlier gone in a procession through different routes like Bourdillon Road, Giwa Barracks, Falomo Roundabout, Awolowo Road, King George V Road, Igbosere Road, Campos Square, Catholic Mission Street and Tafawa Balewa Square in a road show.

At the climax of the eight-day carnival, the Federal Government called for the inclusion of more local content in such carnivals in the country. The Minister for Tourism, Mr. Edem Duke made the call at the square.

Duke said this would further boost the nation’s economy and expose the rich culture of the country to the world, saying, “it will embellish the carnival. We don’t want people to criticize us for maintaining the Caribbean style of carnival or festival alone.

“We must enhance the local content through the carnival. From Badagry, Epe, Ikorodu and others, there must be some indigenous or local content in the carnival. To develop this, we need to have a carnival institute.

With the institute, Nigerians can be certified as professional costume designers for carnivals. With such certificate, one can go to anywhere in the world to design costumes for carnivals and festivals.”

Tourists at the carnival commended the richness of the cultural heritage exhibited by participants. They said the carnival was of high standard and could compete with similar carnivals globally. Michael Duncan, a tourist from the United States said Nigeria is blessed with diverse beautiful cultures. Alhassan Aziz, a tourist from the United Arab Emirate, said the carnival had become a yearly ritual for him and his family.

L

PHOTOS: CHARLES OKOLO

Lagos Carnival participants on parade at Tafawa Balewa Square... on Monday.

My life in danger, says lawyer who challenged tolling on Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge IVIL rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has C raised the alarm that there had been an assas- • Lagos govt denies allegation sination attempt on his life. In a press release, in Lagos, he stated that armed men stormed his house in Lekki, attempting to assassinate him but for the intervention of the police, he would have been dead.

The statement reads: “On Monday, April 14, 2014, at about 3am, armed men stormed my house at Ebun Olu Adegbouruwa Lane, Itedo, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. They were about eight of them, well armed with short guns. They scaled through my fence and tied my security man and my driver at my gatehouse.

“From where I hid myself I heard them asking the security man if the compound belonged to Adegboruwa and whether I had a mobile police guard, lived alone or with tenants, and whether my neighbours had policemen on patrol?

“They then started to demolish my window burglaries and scaled upstairs to my terrace to break into my living room upstairs, by which time I had already called for help from neighbours and the police. They also tried to gain entrance into my kitchen downstairs but without success.

“They thereafter descended on my security man and driver, beat them up mercilessly and attempted forcefully to remove my burglary with the heavy instruments they brought. It was at this point that the police arrived but they (police) could not gain entrance into my com-

pound because my security man had been tied.

“I saw the armed men from where I was upstairs. They looked serious and determined, possibly not the usual armed robbers after material things.

“I do believe that this was an assassination attempt upon my life by the enemies of the people of the masses of Nigeria and in particular the good people of Lagos State in the Lekki-Ajah axis.

A neighbor also confirmed that he saw a car dropping off armed men around my fence at about 2am.

Pointing accusing finger at the state government, Adegboruwa stated further: “Nigerians will recall that on March 27, 2014, the Federal High Court, Lagos, delivered judgment in my case with Lagos State to the extent that collection of toll fee on the Lekki Ikoyi bridge is illegal. It was just yesterday, Monday April 14, 2014, that I argued against the request by Lagos State to stay the execution of the said judgment. Thus, the invasion of my house by suspected assassins is just a case of the witch cried in the night and the child died in the daytime.”

The activist lawyer added: “I believe that those who have vested interests in the continued collection of the illegal toll fee from the bridge are at the bottom of this assassination attempt, as a way

of discouraging me or stopping my legitimate struggle against illegality, oppression and all the undemocratic tendencies of our governments.”

But in a swift reaction, the Lagos State Government has denied attempting to assassinate Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa.

To demonstrate his innocence about the allegation, the government has written to the Lagos Commissioner for Police, Umar Manko, to investigate the claims by Adegboruwa that it planned to assassinate him because of the case he won against it at the Federal High Court.

In the letter to the Commissioner of Police, dated 15 April 2014 written by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, the government stated that there was the need for the police to investigate the alleged assassination and make the findings public.

The letter reads in part: “It is a fact that Mr. Adegboruwa is a litigant in a case involving the state government. The case is currently pending before both the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court. The state government, as a consistent champion of rule of law and good governance, considers it preposterous that a legal practitioner of Mr. Adegboruwa’s standing would level such a grievous and unsubstantiated allegation against the Lagos State Government without providing a shred of evidence to support his claim.”

The letter continued: “The safety and security of every member of the society was of great concern to the government and therefore there was no

way it (the government) could mastermind the alleged attempted assassination of Adegboruwa.

“Having regard to the seriousness of the allegation of Mr. Adegboruwa, I hereby respectfully request your offices to please investigate the allegation for the purpose of establishing veracity of same and apprehension of the alleged assailants. It will be appreciated if you would prioritise this investigation and make report of your findings public as early as practicable. A copy of this letter is being endorsed to the Director of the State Security Service and the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for their information

Adegboruwa

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, April 24, 2014 13

Ejigbo commissions fire service Mushin partners Ohanaeze station, other projects Ndigbo on peace in markets Tope Templer Olaiya HILE a heavy downpour prevented many picnickers from catching Easter fun on Sunday, hundreds of residents in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) defied the rain as the council chairman, Kehinde Bamigbetan, handed over a fire service station as well as road and school projects to the community in commemoration of his 2,000 days in office.

The council boss was joined by former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dele Alake, and other top officials of the council.

The projects commissioned include a fire service Station located at the council secretariat, Rainbow Avenue Road, Double Star Road, Kayode Powerline Road, Jubril Olabisi Street, water reticulation project and a primary school at Ailegun, named after Dele Alake.

Despite the heavy downpour, the team moved from one project to another to official-

W

ly hand over the facilities.

Speaking at the handover of the Fire Station, Bamigbetan said it was necessitated by the presence of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in the area. He said the station, financed by taxpayers’ money from residents in the council, would serve as first responders to fire-related incidents in Ejigbo.

He added that the fire station has also provided jobs for 20 youths in the council, who are expected to serve as personnel. Bamigbetan, who noted that the fire station was the first to be built in the council, thanked the Lagos State Fire Service for the technical support it provided while the project was under construction.

Alake, who was elated for the school that was named after him, pledged a donation of N500,000 for the establishment of an e-library in the school.

Bamigbetan said the school was named after Alake because of the dogged role he played during the struggle for the creation of the LCDAs, noting that he put his journalistic skills to use to defend the creation of the councils.

Former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dele Alake (second right) cutting the tape to commission the Dele Alake Public Primary School, Ailegun while the council chairman, Kehinde Bamigbetan (second left) looks on.

HAIRMAN of Mushin Local Government, Olatunde Adepitan, has expressed his readiness to work with the umbrella body of Igbos in order to maintain peace in the Ladipo auto spareparts market located in Mushin. He made this known when the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo of Lagos, Chief Fabian Onwuhalu, paid him a courtesy visit.

“I am happy and delighted to see that a body that can bring about peaceful co existence between government and traders has been established.

With the Ohanaeze Lagos, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo can better handle the perennial problems and misunderstandings between Mushin Local Government and some traders within the market,” he said.

Onwuhalu appealed to the chairman to use his office to ensure that Ladipo escape constant market closure. He charged Igbos living in Mushin to respect constituted authorities and avoid internal bickering capable of bringing division among them.

In a related development, president of Unity Market Leaders and Traders Association, Comrade Daniel Nwafor, has charged all market leaders in the state to be united and speak with one voice if traders in Lagos are to confront constant marginalization by government.

Nwafor, who is the president of Ladipo Market Warehouse Owners and Managers Association and former President-General of Ladipo market, said traders are not doing well polit-

C

ically beyond the market sphere because they don’t have a united front.

“Our aim of calling for the amalgamation of all market leaders is not politics though we cannot do without politics. I hold the belief that traders are more political than any other group in Nigeria. In the trading community, you must be an astute politician to be a market leader.

“Recently, we found out that the trading community is not doing very well in the national politics. I have never seen a governor, senator or even council chairman that was once a trader; yet you will see undergraduates with little years of experience becoming councilors and local government chairmen.

This is why this group is coming up to fight for the emancipation of traders,” he said.

Nwafor, who operates four warehouses at Ladipo market, including Conference Warehouse, bemoaned the incessant closure of the market by government without due con-

sultation with market leaders.

“It is sad that we are usually not consulted when decisions that affects us are taken. The governor or local government chairman can wake up tomorrow and shut the market without consulting its leaders on the excuse that the market is dirty. The question government should answer is what facilities have been put in place to keep the market clean. There is no single public toilet or bathroom in Ladipo,” he added.

The Onanaeze Ndigbo of Mushin, Eze John Nwosu, called on the council chairman to appoint an igbo man as a liaison officer. “We have a large percentage of Igbos trading at Itire, Idi-Oro, Ladipo, Daleko and other parts of Mushin. We need government’s protection to survive in our business. It is very lawful and normal to pay taxes on our business provided they are within the law of the land.”

Adepitan

Nwafor

Fear as another black spot House frowns at levy of former councillors emerges at Magboro bus stop LAGOS ASSEMBLY DIARY

By Wole Oyebade Lagos State House of Assembly has described as “illegal and criminal” a mandatory levy placed on former councilors in the state, as a pre-condition for collection of accumulated dues recently approved by the House.

Contrary to claims in some quarters, the House said such levy, by an association of former councilors, was never at anytime approved by the House or brought to its knowledge.

Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji said the act was wrong and condemnable, citing that the House had approved remittance of their dues without condition.

The House, therefore, ordered immediate refund of the collected sums, closure of requisite Bank Account and an apology from the association that had implicated the House in such illegality.

It would be recalled that the Lagos Assembly had in January 2014 directed that backlog of salary arrears, tenure allowances and severance package of office holders in Local Government/Local Council Develop-

ment Areas (LGA/LCDAs) of the state be paid.

The former office holders are chairmen and councilors that had served in various 57 LGA/LCDAs from 1999-2002, 2004- 2007 and 2008-2011.

News, however, broke last week that an association of affected former officials, that had initially brought the matter to the House, was collecting a mandatory sum from their colleagues on behalf of the Lagos Assembly.

The House Committee Chairman on Local Government Administration and Chieftaincy Affairs, Moshood Oshun, denied involvement of the House or any of its lawmakers in the levies, adding that the House had invited all parties concern for full investigation.

Chief Whip of the House, Dr Rasak Balogun, in his fact-finding report to the House, observed that the association was collecting the sum of N10,000 from each councilor, as cost of expenses incurred in the struggle over payment of backlog of salary arrears, tenure allowances and severance package, which lasted for about three years.

Balogun told the House that no mat-

ter how good their intension might sound; it proved to be “criminal” upon analysis.

He observed that theirs was an association that was not recognised by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC); yet it contracted collection of the mandatory sum to a third party, known to a few members of the association.

He added that without involving Lagos Assembly, no one would have contributed the sum, which made it “deceitful and criminal.”

Balogun said further that it was never mentioned to the House, in the three years, that the association incurred any expenses. Based on these, the committee ruled that the sum of over N400,000 must be refunded to the contributors, coupled with immediate closure of the account and a letter of apology to the House.

Funmilayo Tejuoso, representing Mushin I Constituency, said the ploy was an attempt to soil the good reputation of the House, and must be condemned.

HERE is an emerging black spot on T the Ibadan Expressway that is bubbling now with the sale and smoking of Marijuana. It is a dense palm grove area inside the canal at Magboro Busstop, directly opposite the WEMCO Factory.

Dwellers in the place said many fearsome looking people come to the place to buy, smoke marijuana and hold meeting there discussing in hush tones.

It was reliably gathered that worried citizens in the area have complained severally to Ibafor Police station but no action has so far been taken to flush out the undesirable elements from the rendezvous.

Close to the place is a very busy Magboro Bus stop where residents in Magboro and the various communities in the area drop or board buses to and from Lagos and other places.

The bus stop is said to be very busy all day long even up to very late in the night.

Pa Adekunle Ladapo whose house is located near the solitary palm grove said the place will soon become a comfortable hideout for criminals who will find the adjacent lonely

under the bride in the place very conducive to carry out criminal activities in the night if nothing is done now to dispel those turning the place to a den of criminals.

When The Guardian visited the place, countless numbers of area boys were seen under the dense raffia palms wrapping and smoking something which odour pervades the entire area. The mechanic and artisans in the area were indifferent to the clandestine meeting and smoking going on there. One of the artisans, when asked what they have done to stop the unwholesome development, retorted: “What do you expect us to do? Are we in a position to tell the people there to stop what they are doing when they only come here to charge their brains and then go out there to hustle for a living either decently or otherwise? You want them to kill us? The joint is their charging place for action.

Efforts to reach Ibafor Police station to react to the issue proved negative as one of the policemen referred The Guardian to Abeokuta to meet the Ogun State Police command to speak on the issue.

TheGuardian

14 | Thursday, April 24, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience Nurtured by Truth

FOUNDER: ALEX U. IBRU (1945 – 2011) Conscience is an open wound; only truth can heal it. Uthman dan Fodio 1754-1816

Editorial The economy and the GDP rebasing HE figures of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, which were released by the government, may not be incorrect. What is absolutely incorrect is the celebration of same figures as some achievement in the face of Nigerians’ gnawing poverty. Those figures may not be a lie, but another set of figures, which shows that majority of Nigerians still live below the poverty line, is a better truth.

Africa, the last resource continent, is said to be growing at the rate of about five to seven per cent amidst civil conflicts, crushing unemployment and the consequent spiraling poverty rate. Nigeria recently upped the stakes in the game of illusion of prosperity when it made public its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rebasing exercise, which put her as the largest economy ahead of South Africa and ranked her as the 26th largest economy in the world. Using 2012 as base year, the GDP went up to $509 billion ahead of South Africa whose GDP was put at $354 billion by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) figure.

This rebasing is welcome, though with question marks. The last time the GDP was rebased was in 1990, nearly a quarter of a century ago. The national economy has been largely run without facts except by diktats of the international financial agencies, a reality that has reified the opaqueness of economic transaction without transparency. At least, the new estimate of the scope of the economy, the by-product of a joint exercise by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning, the Chief Statistician of the Federation and the International Financial Institutions (IFIs), would assist the minders of the economy with new tools and variables for effective planning and also gives investors a bird’s eye view of the opportunities within the Nigerian economy. It is however, nominal and by no means a guarantee for inflow foreign direct investment, which in most cases is motivated by opportunities for maximum profit and is largely speculative.

The rebased GDP is being touted by government officials as some wealth or windfall and offering a competitive edge over other economies in the continent, especially South Africa and puts the country at par with Poland and Belgium and ahead of Austria and Iran. However, with general elections only a few months away, it appears politically propitious and belies the reality of the national economy. Its relevance, as some have argued, is only in number. Other variables count in a real GDP; namely, foreign exchange, consumer price index, retail and wholesale price index, rate of employment and the level of actual productive activities occurring in the economy. The World Bank Chief Economist for Africa region, Francisco Ferreira, who said that the key issues were the improvement in living standards and the productivity that generated it, underscores this point. This is also a pointer to the dismal facts of an economy rated recently as one of the poorest countries in the world and with a derelict infrastructure, which has encouraged a stream of divestment from the economy in the last two decades.

Also, the point must be made that it is erroneous to compare the Nigerian economy with South Africa’s in terms of competitive edge. It is perhaps borne out of a misplaced euphoria. South Africa’s GDP per capita of $7,352 is by far higher than Nigeria’s $1,555 irrespective of population difference and above all, South Africa has better infrastructure than Nigeria. Indeed, the way government acts in this part, calls into question its intention and makes the people cynical. Precedents in policy and actions do not provide a basis for optimism. It is indeed baffling that common routine gathering of data and their aggregation is being celebrated. Ideally this ought to be a normal work-a-day activity of a functioning bureaucracy.

At a glance, the growth that occurred is curious. The rebasing did not capture all of the informal sector and other small businesses. There is increase in the service sector largely due to the expanding telephony service and its ancillary and the turnover shows a reap-off of consumers and low quality service in return. This of course is occurring in a pre-industrial setting.

The dip in the contribution of the agricultural sector to the GDP at 24 per cent despite value added in some areas of the sector is a cause for worry as it is indicative of a continuing reliance on food importation. Curious though is the government’s reading of the new GDP as an opportunity to raise taxes in the country with over 70 per cent of the population living on less than $2 per day.

To reiterate the points in the foregoing, the rebasing is a good omen, but not a concrete solution to the contradictions of the economy. There is no doubt that Nigeria is potentially rich. The agenda that should come out of the rebasing exercise is how to maximise those potentials. The figures do not in any way speak to the plight of Nigerians and do not advance new ways to improve their living standard. To truly grow the economy, this country needs power and the productive base of the economy needs to be expanded to generate employment for the citizenry. The leakages within the economy as a result of corruption must be curbed to free resources for national development. The largest economy in Africa should, at least, be able to give jobs to its own people and should have better infrastructure.

T

LETTER

Re: Dilemma of oath taking IR: The Administration of Schurches oath in one of Anglican in Maitama, Abuja prompted The Guardian on Sunday to visit some churches in the Anglican Communion to seek for clarifications on the issue. The Guardian of Sunday, March 10, 2014 refers. However it has to be pointed out that oath taking is an ancient practice, and it is worldwide and because it is potent, covering many activities some of which were highlighted in the commentaries in the publication.

Those who contributed to the discourse quoted the same passages in the Holy Bible and these do not call for repeat word for word – Matthew 5:33-37 and James 5:12 refer. Interestingly, no reference was made to one significant oath that was taken as recorded in Genesis 31:44-53 with emphasis on verses 52 and 53. “This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness...the God...judge betwixt us....” Invoking God’s name sealed the covenant and this is worthy of note in that both Christians and Muslims do so with Bible and Quran respectively.

One lesson derivable from the foregoing exercise is that all creations of God (both animate and inanimate) are connected to a

One lesson derivable from the foregoing exercise is that all creations of God (both animate and inanimate) are connected to a central intelligence. This is akin to what is prevalent in Yoruba traditional settings when it comes to swearing with any of the four elements of nature (earth, air, fire, and water), which could be made use of in oath taking.

In Matthew 5 quoted above, verses 34 and 35 are very instructive. (“... Swear not by heaven; for it is God’s throne.

Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool....’’) Jesus who had the understanding of dire consequences resulting from those works of God gave that serious warning. central intelligence. This is akin to what is prevalent in Yoruba traditional settings when it comes to swearing with any of the four elements of nature (earth, air, fire, and water), which could be made use of in oath taking. In Matthew 5 quoted above, verses 34 and 35 are very instructive. (“... Swear not by heaven; for it is God’s throne. Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool....’’) Jesus who had the understanding of dire consequences resulting from those works of God gave that serious warning.

In religious circles (particularly among Christians and Muslims) oath taking is usually conducted with Bible or Qur’an depending on one’s religion and at the end of each pronouncement God’s name is invoked so “help me God” The two Holy Books frown

at breaking oaths and for that reason gave stern warnings. “Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain” —Exod. 20:7. On the other hand, the Holy Qur’an 48:10 says; “He that breaks his oath breaks it at his own peril”. The two Holy Books are divinely empowered and (therefore) have “ears” to convey such activities to the Omnipotent who gives life to everything —- 1 Tim. 6:13.

Despite those stern warnings, government functionaries on whom oaths are administered attach little or no importance to the repercussions. They are unwittingly inviting the wrath of God on themselves and (by extension) on Nigeria as a result of spill over effect of their recalcitrance.

• Kolawole Akinwande Lagos.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, April 24, 2014

15

Opinion Where do we go from here?

By Cornelius Omonokhua N Monday April 14, 2014, many people got O up from bed very early in the morning, prayed, had breakfast and prepared for work.

They wanted to begin their various business of the day. They did not want to go late to work so they were at the Nyanya Park early enough to catch a bus to their different places of work.

Some drove in their private cars without a clue that they would never again see their offices and places of work. They would have been beaming with hope, one could imagine! Perhaps they expected good news for the day. The day before was Palm Sunday, so they would have joyfully joined the procession to commence the holy week. They would have made serious plans for the Easter celebrations after celebrating the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday singing, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven” (Matthew 21, 9)! Poor innocent souls, they did not know that after the Palm Sunday of 13th April 2014, they would not sing that song on earth again. They did not know that while they were singing “Hossana”, some criminals had concluded the plans to send them to the life beyond akin to that of those who shouted, “crucify him, away with him” in the trial of Jesus of Nazareth. They celebrated the Good Friday on a Monday with their blood!

I watched these Palm Sunday events from different churches on the television. At intervals the media also reported the words of encouragements from the Sultan of Sokoto and the Vice President of Nigeria. The Sultan confidently told Nigerians that those who said that there was an attempt to Islamise Nigeria are enemies of Nigeria. The Vice President announced that the criminals who were using re-

ligion to terrorise Nigeria and Nigerians would soon be brought to book. I wonder how they would be feeling now about the ugly incident of the Monday, April 14, 2014 tragedy. Now that the killers have moved to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, with different planks marked, “Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5” discovered at the scene of the bomb blast in Nyanya, what next will the elders, statesmen and women do?

Women came out to protest against those who planted and detonated the bombs. The tears of these women like drizzling rain could not be stopped, not even with the visit of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Who will borrow Nigerians more tears to replenish the tear glands that have been exhausted with weeping over the death of these innocent Nigerians. Each time there is explosion, we hear, “we are on top of the situation”! When shall we get down “from the top of the situation” to put a final stop to the scourge and carnage of these terrorists? Where do we go from here? The arrival of the terrorist in Abuja, the Federal Capital is a clear indication that no one is sure of the next day anywhere in Nigeria.

If something is stolen in a room where five people are living, each person in that room remains a suspect until the real thief is found. Until the day Nigerians will know who these terrorists and their sponsors are, accusing fingers will continue to point at different persons and institutions. Until we know the real terrorists, the argument that Boko Haram has killed more Muslims, Christians, Pagans or atheists would remain a verbose gibberish. One of the commentators on the Nyanya bomb blast of Monday April 14, 2014 in AIT and NTA said: “It has become normal to see figures of dead people in the front pages of our newspapers during terrorist attacks, no body talks about the personalities anymore.” The identity of the innocent human beings who are being killed in the name

of a “god” of terrorists matters no more. This blood sucking “god” must be very wicked.

I remember what my uncle used to say to us when we were growing up. “Should any of you turn a criminal, he should stop using the family name! It is better you die than to spoil the good name of our family!” Later in life, that the church excommunicates heretics who would not return to the true teaching of the church would make sense to me. People are really tired of the definition of the religious identity of these terrorists. A Muslim told me a few days ago that he was in a place with a group of people; he discovered all of a sudden that every body left him. Perhaps they were afraid of him because he wore a long beard. He continued: “I am just thinking that the Muslim community should really take action against these terrorists before they spoil the name of Islam. It is time for us to have a retrospect and see if we can identify where and when we got it wrong.” He was troubled and wondered why the terrorists claimed to be Muslims who are fighting a jihad whereas what they are doing is far from the teaching of Islam. He left very sad but with a kind of optimism that there is a lot the good and orthodox Muslims can do to save the name of Islam from “these bad Muslims”.

The attack on holy places at holy seasons appears to be a stock in trade for the terrorists.

The holy week is a period when all the Christians pray to God. Jesus Christ reveals God as love, merciful and full of compassion. The holy week is a period Christians celebrate the God of Mercy. What makes the holy week sacred?

The holy week is sacred because the victory over death is celebrated on Easter Sunday. The passion of the Redeemer is re-enacted. Jesus was scourged, crowned with thorns, bore the weight of the heavy cross, crucified and died on the cross on Good Friday. Jesus is risen in-

deed, alleluia! This is our faith, the faith of every Christian. Without the resurrection, there is no Christianity. May the fact that death is the lot of all and eternal life for those who have faith in God be a consolation to all who mourn their loved ones in this Holy season. “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5, 4).

Consoling another who is bereaved is easy but when we are bereaved, the pain of the cross becomes obvious. However, we should remember that the cross is not an end in itself. Every cross that is accepted in faith leads to glory even though the cross does not make sense to some people. St. Paul told the Corinthians, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are on the road to salvation it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1, 18).

In 1979, Pope John Paul II published a book, (Carol Wotyla, Sign of Contradiction, Seabury Press, 1979) to show the mystery Jesus Christ who died to save us. The cross looks like a contradiction but it is the way that leads to true peace. The life and message of Jesus Christ shows the power of God that is demonstrated in the resurrection (Romans 1, 20). Jesus came that we might have abundant life (John 10, 10). He raised Lazarus (John11, 1-43) and the widow of Nain’s son (Luke 7, 11-16) to show that he has the answer to every life situation. Do these reflections mean that we should continue to be slaughtered on a daily basis? Where do we go from here? The point for Christians in this Holy Week is that we should not allow these enemies of human life to prevent us from celebrating the resurrection. Let nothing separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8, 36).

Fr. Omonokhua is the director of Mission and Dialogue of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja and Consultor of the Commission for Religious Relations with Muslims (C.R.R.M), Vatican City

Akwa Ibom power shift: Facts versus fiction

By Anwana Amba OVERNOR Godswill Obot Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom State is a G victim of all manner of castigations especially since his pronouncement of power shift and zoning of the state’s governorship seat to Eket Senatorial District in the next political dispensation, for the sake of equity, justice and fairness. Governor Akpabio is not the only governor to embark on such exercise with pronouncements as the Governors of Enugu, Cross River, Rivers and Abia states have adopted a similar approach in ensuring equity. However, in the case of Akpabio, the decision has been part of his life pattern of “live and let’s live” along with his tenacity for equity and fairness. During the elections of the year 2007, when he clinched the People’s Democratic Party’s gubernatorial ticket for the state, he engendered a process that transferred the already won Primary (PDP) ticket of Ikot-Ekpene Senatorial District from a majority Annang indigene to a minority Ibibio citizen in the spirit of equity, justice, fairness and even power distribution. Can we truly find fault in him based on such a principle?

The governor is not being criticised for non-performance or incompetence. His transformation of the state in regards to development of infrastructures, human capacity and acceleration of indices of progress bear testimony to this. His only sin is his stand on power shift. But Governor Akpabio is merely adopting a position as the leader of the party in the state on an issue based on his conviction.

Is it true that Eket Senatorial District is the only district in Akwa-Ibom State that has not produced a governor since the creation of the state in 1987? Is it true that Uyo Senatorial District was the first to take a shot at the governorship seat from 1999 to 2007; and by 2015, Ikot-Ekpene Senatorial District would have completed its two terms of eight years (2007-2015)?

Is it true that prominent citizens of Uyo Senatorial District participated, spoke and contributed in discussions and then collectively endorsed the principle of power zoning as a way of peaceful co-existence within the state?

Is it also true that in order to sustain and embrace the same power zoning principle, Governor Obong Victor Attah on Thursday, April 13, 2006 at Ikot-Ekpene council hall at the swearing ceremony of Chapter and ward chairmen of PDP, announced, “Ikot-Ekpene Senatorial District will produce the next governor, after which Eket Senatorial District will take its turn” And then concluded with, “I will support you to get what you want.” Is it true that the PDP for which Governor Akpabio is its leader in Akwa-Ibom State expresses and embraces unam-

biguously in its constitution the doctrine of power sharing and rotation?

With such facts adjudged before us, can we justly continue to persecute Governor Akpabio? Is he not pursuing and engendering a just cause as well as charting an existing political programme, profile and a precedence instituted by the political class, leaders and elders of the state? The issue of zoning has always been at the heart of Akwa-Ibom political calculus, whether it is written or unwritten. Then who are these culprits? Progress cannot happen if we keep on with an attitude of condemnation and inundated criticisms in like manners that would throw the state into more confusion and further depress it.

To turn a blind eye to the aspirations of the citizens of Eket Senatorial District in the present political calculus of Akwa-Ibom State on the altar of a seeming political majority as it were is to risk tilting the State’s fiscal productivity, fortune and sustenance fulcrum towards a negative potential; a process that could move the State financial indices from a positive integral to a negative integral swiftly. The district remains the largest out of the three districts of the state with 127 political wards in 12 LGA; a demographic strength that has supported and ensured the emergence of governors from the other two districts.

Again, it is the resource base of the state responsible for oiling the smooth running of the administration of these governors.

Furthermore, in the 2011 election, the district gave the PDP and Governor Akpabio 269,710 votes as against the contending Uyo district that turned in 170,453 votes. Should such a fundamental and viable district be denied its slot of governorship position even while the other two districts have served their duly completed tenures of two terms? We can attempt this at our peril.

It is clearly stated in the PDP’s constitution in Article 7 subsection 2c: “In pursuance of the principles of equity, justice and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices and it shall be enforced by the appropriate executive committee at all levels.’’

The above section is amplified by paragraph 2(c) of the preamble to the said constitution, which provides: “To create sociopolitical conditions conducive to natural peace and unity by ensuring fair and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities to conform with the principles of power shift and power sharing by rotating key political offices amongst the diverse people of our country and devolving powers equitably between the federal, states and local governments in the spirit of federation.”

The above expressed portion of the party’s constitution has not gone unchallenged by stake holders of the PDP, to the point

of litigation. A court case that readily comes to focus in this regard is that of Suit No FCT/HC/CV/2425/2010: Sanni Aminu Dutsinma vs. People’s Democratic Party. Re: Rotation and Zoning of Party and Public Elective Offices. This section came for interpretation before his lordship Hon. Justice L.H. Gumi, OFR, and the then Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. In his judgement delivered on the 1st day of December 2010. The learned chief judge held: “PDP, as a party has since conceived and agreed to the principle that the party shall zone key offices between the various groups of political interest. I do not think that the provision of Article 7.2(c) is capable of any other interpretation. The provision is clear and unambiguous and it will be unwise to attribute any other meaning to it other than what the framers of the constitution sought to achieve in the interest of equity, and justice and to reflect, the adverse nature of the Nigerian society.”

Besides this interpretation, the learned judge again declared: “The provision of Article 7.2(c) of the 1st Defendant’s constitution 2009 as amended recognises the principle of zoning and rotation of party and public elective offices. The said article is subsisting and binding, on the party, its organs and members… ’’ Governor Akpabio is right to adopt his present stand on power shift. It is left for good party members to comply with this decision for peace to prevail and avoid future litigations. Critics from other regions of the state are also advised to find reason in this mature decision that promotes peaceful co-existence.

Let’s put an end to the unjustifiable and unnecessary argument on zoning/rotation of power and accept the just, wise and fair directive of Governor Akpabio, the leader of PDP in Akwa-Ibom State and the custodian of the mandate.

The trouble of Akwa-Ibom State as presently expressed in the face of the approaching 2015 elections and its political milieu, can be attributed to the problem of the ‘majority’ in the power equation and calculus of the state as affecting its position of dominance; a problem currently perverting the entire political landscape of Nigeria and which is not alien to the country’s political history. It is a problem identifiable even at micro-political entities like the delineated wards. Yours truly is a known victim; as I come from a political enclave that has been denied participation in power affairs of the LGA because of bearing the yoke of minority. The ‘majority’ fails to understand that the position is a divine happenstance that calls for magnanimity and not exploitation. Harmony will reign when we adopt the simple dictum of ‘live and let’s live’.

• Amba wrote via anwaamba@yahoo.com

16

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Opinion ‘Naijiria’ now! Centenary idea for confab

By Agwu Okali S the long-awaited National Conference conA tinues its critical deliberations in Abuja, it is important that the weight of expectations surrounding its work does not overwhelm it. The National Conference idea, as we know, is not a newborn: a succession of political and opinion leaders had been calling for it for quite some time (Think NADECO, The Patriots, and others).

When a political initiative has been this long-desired (and denied), this long-advocated (and resisted), the natural tendency, when it does finally materialise, is for people to heap upon it an almost unrealistic weight of expectations, looking to it, in effect, for a solution to all the vexing problems confronting the polity – be it internal terrorism and insecurity, the form and basis of federation, role and representation of ethnic nationalities, resource allocation, grand corruption, and more!

Now, while it obviously would be wonderful – and we must all pray for such - if this longawaited National Dialogue could peacefully (perhaps even by consensus) deliver on such big-time national challenges as these, it is nevertheless important to recognise that there are other areas in which the work of the National Conference can contribute significantly to the advancement of the national interest and to the national transformation drive. This is to say that there may be other issues before the conference which, though viewed as of “lesser importance” in this grand scheme of internal political jostling, may nevertheless impact hugely on the national interest in other ways, as, for example, on the country’s self-image and international standing. One such matter, which is currently before the conference is the proposal to change the way our country’s name is spelled (that is, written) from “NIGERIA” to “NAIJIRIA”. As outlined in my article in The Guardian (November 11, 12 and 13, 2013), there are at least three major benefits that would accrue to the nation from this simple change – a change, which it should be emphasized, does not alter the existing pronunciation of our name.

First and foremost, the change will Africanise our name, giving us a national identity free from its colonial antecedent. “Naijiria” is how our name would be written if it were an African word (that is, written in an African language): African words are written phonetically the way they are pronounced, and vice versa. “Nigeria”, on the other hand, reflecting the idiosyncrasies of the

English Language, requires one to pronounce it as if it was not an African word. The change would, therefore, represent an important affirmation of political and psychological independence and self-confidence by a nation that is “proudly African” and is at the forefront of continental leadership! The change, secondly, would dissociate our country’s name, both phonetically and visually, from the racially derogatory term “Nigger”, a problem that arises now by reason of the fact that our name is pronounced in many languages (that is, Germanic and, indeed African) as “Neeggeria” (Nigger area?) and coded by FIFA as “NGA”. No such risk lies with “Naijiria”. The third advantage of the change, not to be underestimated, is to avoid the all-too-common confusion all over the world between “Nigerian” and “Nigerien” (that is, belonging to the country Niger).

Currently, Nigerians, being better known, take all the blame for transgressions committed in third countries by members of both populations!

It is extremely gratifying to note, in this context, that the “Naijiria” idea, ever since it was put forward, has elicited generally positive responses from people, with some emphasizing one and others the other of the reasons cited above, but all agreeing that the current spelling of “Nigeria” is a problem, if not indeed a liability. At the same time, however, one must recognise a genuine issue that has been raised by some of these respondents relating to the timing of the proposal.

They wonder if this is the right time to embark on such an exercise when there are undoubtedly far more serious problems confronting the country than that of “change of name”, as they put it. These observations are, of course, completely correct and well taken. There are indeed, as noted above, these major problems confronting the nation, most of which, as we know, are before the National Conference – but this fact, as we shall see, does not in any way make the “Naijiria” proposal ill-timed or untimely? Far from it!

First, let us agree that the problem that is being targeted by the “Naijiria” proposal, though, perhaps, not as serious or pressing as the “big” ones noted above, is nevertheless an important one in its own right and deserving of attention. If so, what we are faced with, then, is not really a choice between one set of problems and the other, but rather the question whether the effort to implement this particular proposal does in any way detract from or hurt the prospects for dealing with the aforementioned bigger issues. The answer to this, with all due respect, is no, as there is no con-

flict or incompatibility between the “Naijiria” campaign and any efforts at solving those other problems; just as a failure to adopt or implement the “Naijiria” proposal would in no way affect, let alone better, the prospects for resolution of these other problems. If anything, a proposal such as this, which is, in principle, non-contentious and clearly for the good of the country as a whole, and which, above all, is seen to neither favour nor hurt any particular group or section, can play an important unifying role in the work of the conference. Agreement on it may be just the catalyst the conference needs to create both the momentum and the necessary goodwill among delegates to facilitate negotiations on the more difficult issues. The fact, too, that it is a proposal that is easily implemented as a straight forward legislative/constitutional measure, with no financial implications to speak of, means that it can proceed right along with any other process that may be going on, including the process of dealing with those other bigger issues on ground. In short, then, to suggest that the “Naijiria” proposal should be ignored because there are other more serious problems facing the country is rather like saying that a man’s toothache or common cold should be left untreated just because the man is also suffering from the far more serious ailment of kidney disease!

There is another way to look at this timing issue.

As already pointed out, the occasion of the one hundredth anniversary of the formal launching of the “Nigeria” name provides a natural and fitting point for a changeover to our own African identity of “Naijiria”. As a matter of fact, it is, in some sense, the last good chance that we have to do this. Measures such as this, which are both symbolic and a political declaration is typically best proclaimed on landmark political occasions: in our case, at Independence (1960), on becoming a Republic (1963) or at the fiftieth anniversary of either event (2010 or 2013). We did not do it on those occasions. If, again, we do not do it at the 100th anniversary of “Nigeria”, we may indeed be missing the last symbolically appropriate occasion to do so – leaving posterity to wonder, perhaps during the second centenary anniversary, how come it never even occurred to us to make this change!

Now, as for the suggestion by some that the “Naijiria” proposal be shelved until we know the outcome of the ongoing National Conference, this, of course, is a non-starter because, under the conference’s ground rules, nothing can happen at

the conference that would make it no longer necessary or appropriate to speak of the entity “Nigeria” (and hence of “Naijiria”)!

There is one other important clarification to make, for the benefit particularly of our social and intellectual elite, who may sometimes turn their back on a solution to a problem that appears “too simple”, mistakenly associating it, perhaps, with intellectual laziness, or worse. Thus, there may well be some people who, on first encountering the “Naijiria” term, immediately categorise it as a kind of “vulgarisation” of the “Nigeria” name to create what, in the Nigerian parlance, would be called an easy “local” word with its attendant stigma! The inclination, in particular, might be to link it with the “Naija” word of popular culture, which the elite have, rightly or wrongly, continued to shun. Without getting sidetracked over the issue of “intellectual snobbery”, let it suffice to say that there is, in fact, no connection whatsoever between the “Naijiria” terminology and the “Naija” word, other than, perhaps, sharing the same (correct) phonetic system of spelling. More specifically, the “Naijiria” formulation, as fully evident from the article cited above, is simply a phonetic (and quintessentially African) rendition of the word “Nigeria” - shorn of the problematic “i” and “g” idiosyncrasies of the English Language, in due exercise of assertive African intellectualism! At any rate, being more phonetically sound, and hence simpler to apprehend, than the word it replaces, the “Naijiria” term is actually an improvement intellectually on its predecessor. As our learned scientists and mathematicians will surely attest, simplicity is quite often the hallmark of superior intellectual effort. Albert Einstein’s special theory of relativity, for instance, one of the more profound of human ideas, is best-known for its “simple” e=mc2 equation!

The bottom line, therefore, is that there is nothing whatsoever about the “Naijiria” term that should make anyone feel intellectually diminished in using it, and the Nigerian intellectual class, in particular, is exhorted to lead the way in embracing and disseminating the term. A country of Nigeria’s stature simply should not continue to endure ignominy or be held hostage by some quirks of the English Language!

Let us therefore make “Naijiria” the change this centenary year!

Dr. Okali, a former United Nations assistant secretarygeneral, is founder-chairman of The Okali Seminal Ideas Foundation For Africa (OSIFA)

The revenue generation model to adopt

By Segun Ojobaro AST December, a sobering news item was published by an LtheAbuja-based newspaper to the effect that out of the 36 states of federation, only Lagos has the capability to pay workers’ salaries without the monthly allocation from the Federation Account. It implies that 35 states are totally dependent entities.

Using information on the wage bills of states and comparing them with their internally generated revenue figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, and the Joint Tax Board, JTB, that month, the newspaper showed that in 2010 and 2011, only seven states had IGR in two-digit billions. Lagos was the exception, posting a three-digit figure. The others had single digits.

Though a little improvement was noticeable in 2012, with 12 states posting double-digit figures in billions, it was still only Lagos that occupied the three-digit zone. This reveals the decrepit capacity of the states at income generation and provides some proof that most of them would be gravely distressed without monthly federal subventions.

States have adopted the less than prudent method of taking short-term bank loans to pay wages whenever there are delays in the monthly disbursements by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), a development experts attribute to a dearth of creative revenue-generation ideas among governors, who appeared to be suffering heavy allocation dependence.

This is what Lagos cannot be accused of. Through the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, the administrative arm of the Lagos Board of Internal Revenue, an impressive revenue generation model has been established and has insulated the state from the shocks delivered by lateness in the disbursement and leanness of subventions.

How did Lagos achieve this? In eight years, the LIRS, under its Chief Executive, Babatunde Fowler, has grown the internally generated revenue of the state from N6 billion monthly in 2006 to over N20 billion monthly.

At the dawn of the current democratic dispensation in 1999, Lagos generated N600 million monthly as IGR. Six years after, under the Bola Tinubu administration, it rose progressively until it reached N3.6billion monthly, a 500 per cent jump. That success

pushed the administration into doing more. This it did by ripping up the tax administration structure in the state and designing a modern, efficient and effective alternative.

The agency was helped by a piece of legislation that the government had conceived and sent to the state legislature the same year. The bill, which aimed to make the Board of Internal Revenue an autonomous and self-accounting agency, was passed into law in 2006, making it the first agency of its kind in the country to attain that status. But having legislation in place and having the will to get it to work are not exactly the same. Another challenge was the entrenched tradition of tax avoidance, partly caused by loss of faith in government. In 2006 when the reform kicked in, LIRS began by removing many obstacles to voluntary tax compliance by setting up mini-tax offices in markets around the state. The tax offices put many participants in the hidden economy into the tax net. Currently, there are about 40 of such across the state.

Two years later, more players in the hidden economy were captured through the introduction of the Self Assessment Filing System for individuals. This gave individuals outside the Pay As You Earn loop the chance to pay based on the income. Payment became more convenient because it could be made at any of the 1, 200 branches of banks designated for collection or at the LIRS taxes stations. Taxpayers could also receive their receipts within 72 hours of payment. The collecting banks and tax stations are electronically linked to databases that issue electronic receipts to tax payers.

The LIRS also introduced personal electronic tax clearance cards (e-TCC). These took care of the opacity that had been a feature of tax collection in the past, as the process was made more open to tax payers, who got access to their records via the Internet.

Along with these measures ran a spirited assault on tax avoidance, especially through the education of residents of the benefits that tax compliance could have on the provision of amenities as well as other indices of development. The boldest element of this was the LIRS publicity campaign, which uses prominent Lagos residents for testimonial adverts communicating the need to pay tax and the benefits derivable.

Among the taxes collected by LIRS are personal income tax, capital gains tax, stamp duty and business registration fees.

Between 2008 and 2012, the average monthly IGR of the state leapt from N18.9 billion to N29.9billion. Currently, Lagos State IGR accounts for over 65 per cent of government revenue, making the state less dependent on proceeds from the Federation Account.

A look at the figures would reveal that the state recorded N185.9 billion in 2010, which rose to N202.76 billion in 2011 and increased further to N219.2 billion in 2012.

Of the N219.2 billion in 2012, Lagos earned the highest revenue of N172.44 billion from through PAYE. The sum of N4.36 billion came from road taxes, N1.89 billion from direct assessment of companies in the state, while N40.513 billion came from other revenue sources.

About N120.25 billion was realised from PAYE in 2011, N7.97 billion from direct assessment, and N74.54 billion from other sources, while N104.681 billion came from PAYE in 2010, N7.51 billion from direct sources, and N73.704 billion from other sources.

Next to Lagos was oil-rich Rivers State, which earned about N49.59 billion in 2010; N57.19 billion in 2011 and N66.28 billion in 2012.

The state earned N55.1 billion through PAYE in 2012, N485.9 million through road taxes, N22.075 million through direct tax assessment and N10.668 million through other revenue sources.

Delta State recorded N106.4 billion within the three years under review, earning N26.1 billion in 2010, N34.75 billion in 2011 and N45.57 billion on 2012. PAYE fetched Delta State over N42.565 billion in 2012. Also, N244.195million was realised from road taxes, N123.4million from direct assessment, while N2 .635billion came from other sources.

Delta State, unsurprisingly, is one of the states seeking to replicate the LIRS model. Its Delta Beyond Oil initiative is conceived to reduce dependence on oil revenue by, among other things, raising internal revenue generation. For this, a team from the state has visited the LIRS to study its model.

Other states that are have substantially adopted LIRS’ methods include Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Bayelsa and Kano. Other states wishing to free themselves from the shackles of dependence on federal revenue, and thus boost their development, must adopt and modify the Lagos model.

• Ojobaro, a public affairs analyst, lives in Lagos

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com 17

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Focus Mobile number porting, 365 days on ADEYEMI ADEPETUN examines the events that shaped the Mobile Number Porting (MNP) process, and its effects in the last 365 days.

N April 22, 2013, Nigeria became the 64th O nation in the world to introduce Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in its telecommunications sector, after countries like Singapore, United Kingdom (UK), Netherlands, Spain among others.

According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), one major target of introducing MNP was to engender good competition in the sector, expected to translate into innovations, such an improvement in quality of service. It was also expected to provide an opportunity for a customer to have a choice.

The scheme’s take-off has suffered several postponements since 2006 when it was first planned. The NCC first shifted the date from June to September, then to December in 2012, before settling for April 2013 on the grounds that it had to conclude the harmonization of subscribers’ data, collected during the Subscribers Identification Module (SIM) card registration exercise.

Before the eventual launch of the scheme in Lagos, there were accusations of delay from both the regulator and the operators, on the grounds that some players were tactically delaying the process from taking off.

The NCC was however applauded for ensuring that the scheme eventually materialised. But one year into the exercise, certain lapses are still being observed.

Between telecoms industry and MNP scheme MNP is a process that allows a network’s subscriber to switch from one network to another, if he or she is dissatisfied with the services of an existing service provider, without having to change his/her SIM number.

Indeed, the journey has been long and hazardous for telephone users in Nigeria. Right from the day of the moribund Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) to the present crop of service providers, it has been one challenge or the other. Subscribers in Nigeria are daily faced with hidden charges, limited voice coverage, call hangings and dropped calls among others. But to beat the challenges, subscribers simply purchased multiple handsets for various networks, with some even having close to four.

Interestingly, today, Nigeria’s telecommunications sector is believed to be worth over $25 billion and still growing at a yearly rate of 30 per cent. President Goodluck Jonathan affirmed at the last International Telecommunications Union (ITU) conference, in Bangkok, Thailand, that the sector currently contributes about 8.53 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

According to NCC’s statistics, Nigeria has close to 130 million active subscribers, while about 155 million lines were connected as at February, from a meager of 400, 000 lines in 2000. Nigeria, according to the World Bank, currently has about 170 million lines and a teledensity of over 90 per cent.

Indeed, the last 13 years of the telecommunications revolution have been tremendous, but one thing keeps soiling the transformation – poor quality of service.

MNP in history While Nigeria began the scheme last year, the first country in the world to introduce MNP was Singapore in 1997, followed by the UK, Hong Kong and then the Netherlands in 1999.

Between 2000 and 2004, a number of other countries in Europe, including Spain, Switzerland, Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Ireland, France, Finland, Luxembourg, Austria and even the United States of America (U.S) had joined the train.

In Africa, South Africa commenced MNP in 2006, while Kenya officially launched its own in April 2011. Interestingly, Nigeria’s West African neighbour, Ghana, launched MNP on July 7, 2011.

Operators’ losses and gains through MNP With the hope that the scheme would pave the way for improved quality of service, Nigerians were at first, excited about porting, and within 48 hours of its introduction, over 4,000 subscribers exchanged operators, while retaining their numbers.

Looking at the about 130 million active subscribers Nigeria currently has, it was expected that the process would have enabled millions

Juwah

Johnson

Ikpoki

of subscribers to exchange operators. But the question on the minds of subscribers was…to which network?

Today, only about 80, 000 Nigerians appeared to have ported in and out of a particular network, from May 2013 to February 2014, according to statistics from the NCC. Indeed, the statistics showed that MTN Nigeria recorded 36,819 cases of subscribers porting out of the network, followed by Airtel, Globacom and Etisalat with 22,595, 12,357 and 8,653 cases respectively.

Within the stated period, MTN, which is the largest telecommunications firm in the country, and currently controls 47 per cent market share with about 57. 2 million subscribers, recorded monthly out-porting figures of 3,409, 2,719, 3,142, 3,925, 4,266, 4,453, 4,491, 3,052, 3,667 and 3,695.

For the same period, Airtel, which recently overtook Globacoms as the second largest telecommunications firm in Nigeria, had monthly out-porting figures of 1,190, 1,315, 1,327, 5,826, 6,520, 1,447, 1,004, 1,199, 1,429 and 1,338.

Globacom also recorded monthly out-porting figures of 1,646, 1,122, 1,367, 1,354, 1,267, 1,204, 1,206, 973, 978 and 1,240 for the period.

Etisalat, which is about five years in the Nigerian market, with about 18 million subscribers, had the lowest number of subscribers leaving its network, with a monthly figure of 768, 646, 917, 934, 1,019, 1,001, 1,129, 626, 806 and 807 for the period.

Further analysis showed that Etisalat accounted for 10.8 per cent of outgoing porters; Globacom 15.4 per cent; Airtel, 28.1 per cent and MTN about 45.8 per cent.

Some of the subscribers who spoke with The Guardian, complained of the technicalities involved in the process, while others said they were being frustrated.

According to Barrister Jude Ikenga, “the process is good, but the technicality of staying on a network for 90 days before I can switch over to another network if I need to is a problem, coupled with the fact that I will lose my credit, no matter the amount when I switch. I think NCC should look into this going forward.”

A journalist, Sulaiman Salau, who couldn’t port after several attempts, narrated his experience: “I am an Airtel subscriber and I decided to port to MTN. I went to an MTN outlet in Matori about three times but nothing happened. They promised that after 48 hours, after taking the necessary details from me, I would have switched, but up till this moment nothing has happened, almost six months now. I think the challenge was from Airtel. The operators were frustrating one another. Today, I have been forced to use three SIMs.” For a vulcaniser at Ilupeju, who simply gave his name as Jamiu, “I am not aware of anything called number portability. I use a Nokia (phone) with two SIMs and I use MTN and Glo (sims) with it.

According to the president, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers of Nigeria (NATCOMS), Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, MNP is currently not adequately utilized by subscribers, and has been slow on the uptake.

MNP process The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah on April 22, 2013 said the conditions attached to porting, like the compulsory 90 days window that the subscriber must observe before he or she is free to reverse the initial porting or even port to another network, and the compulsory physical presence of the subscriber for identification purposes, among others, were burrowed from other countries where MNP is successful. He however said as porting develops and the system matures, some of the conditions would be gradually removed.

He said: “We have also tried to make porting easy for subscribers, by making it a law that subscribers must port if they are willing to do so, even if they are owing the initial operator.

The operator knows its customers up to their home addresses and has every detail of the customer, such that the operator can always reach the customer any time any day for debt collection, if such customer is owing the network.”

In a recent interview, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat, Mattew Willsher, who lauded the scheme, said MNP has recorded slow growth in Nigeria. Although MNP, according to him, has engendered greater competition in the industry, more awareness still needs to be created on the benefits for the industry.

For the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, MTN Nigeria, Funmilayo Onajide, MNP is common in many mature markets and its introduction in Nigeria can be seen as an indicator of giant strides being recorded by the local ICT/telecoms industry.

“In Nigeria, quality of service issues, which affect every operator, are as a result of various infrastructural and environmental challenges.

MNP cannot rectify these challenges,” she stated.

Subscribers’ claim that the scheme’s technicalities were limiting its growth in the country was corroborated by the immediate past president of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, Chris Uwaje. He said: “The problem is that the masses are too ignorant to understand how it works. Moreover, the porting process is cumbersome and awareness is limited.”

Uwaje was also of the view that the communications sector is disconnected from the IT sector of the industry, which seems to multiply the challenges.

According to the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), MNP is working and has come to stay.

ATCON’s president, LanreAjayi opined that Nigerians were already taking advantage of the scheme. But he acknowledged that the num-

ber of people porting were arguably far below expectation. “But that will not remove the fact that the scheme has successfully taken off in Nigeria,” he affirmed, adding, “while I believe the scheme will and is engendering competition, I never believed that it will solve the problem of poor network service. It may address some other service issues, like customer service, but not poor quality of network service.”

A former president of ATCON, Titi Omo-Ettu, simply said, “unfortunately, I have no experience of it. The subject did not attract my attention beyond the early stages of discussion on its theory. I am aware it was launched with fanfare though and surprised to be reminded that it is already 12 months since I last heard of it.”

NCC defends initiative On March 18, 2013, the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, in an interview with The Guardian in Lagos said the MNP will not solve quality of service issues, but would engender competition that will boost the industry.

NCC’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Reuben Muoka, who said MNP has been successful in Nigeria, also described it as an intervention intended to give consumers choices.

Muoka also dismissed the insinuation that the scheme did not have the envisaged impact, insisting: “people are porting and that it has engendered competition in the sector.”

Besides, he explained that the competition “can also be seen in advert creativity by the operators,” adding that when it was launched, MNP was seen as part of what could help mitigate the impact of poor services.

“Number Portability is one of the solutions to ginger up the operators to improve their quality. The process of number porting is all encompassing,” he stated.

Going forward To move the scheme forward, Willsher and Ogunbanjo urged the NCC to create more awareness through advertisements. The NATCOMS boss advised NCC to do generic advertisement that would spur the needed changes to drive the scheme.

According to Ajayi, “when people carry phones from multiple service providers and are not happy with one of the service providers, why would they bother to port when they can easily abandon the phone connected to the operator they are not happy with and simply use their other phones? In countries where people do not have the culture of carrying multiple phones or multiple SIMs, number portability works better.”

The ATCON boss also called for more sensitization.

However, Muoka said the NCC was not convinced about the need to review the existing framework of the MNP scheme, stressing that the current guidelines were agreed on by all the stakeholders including the regulator, operators, MNP clearing house and others.

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TheMetroSection Another feather to Zuriel’s cap • Child prodigy named World’s Most Powerful 11-year-old • Unveiled as Hertz brand ambassador

Head Business Development/Customer relations, Hertz/C&I Fleet management, Thelma Adams (left), , Zuriel Oduwole and Country Manager, Hertz, Ayodele Babatunde, at the event IGERIAN-AMERICAN 11-year-old won- she was ever giving out, an indication der girl, Zuriel Oduwole, who was of how much she admired the young listed in New Africa Magazine last Delady’s accomplishments. cember as one of Africa’s 100 Most InfluIn a related development, famous car ential People of 2013, has been named renting company – Hertz, a subsidiary World’s Most Powerful 11-year-old of C&I Leasing Plc., has officially unby United States & Singapore Business veiled Zuriel as its brand ambassador in Insider.

Nigeria for projecting the company’s A statement by Mr. Ademola Oduwole, activities.

Zuriel’s father read: “We are no longer At the unveiling ceremony in Lagos, just embarrassed. We are simply Hertz’s Country Manager, Babatunde numbed by the release that came out Ayodele, said the company decided to an hour and half ago in New York and partner with Zuriel Oduwole’s pet projSingapore. We got called about half an ect – Dream Up, Speak Up and Stand Up, hour ago that of the annual ranking of because of the ways it is impacting posithe most powerful people at each age tively among millions of young chilbetween 0 - 100 in the world, Zuriel is dren in Africa, who have given up on named the most powerful 11-year-old.” their dreams of becoming successful in Zuriel last week held her maiden First future due to African challenges.

Lady’s Colloquy on Girls’ Education at Ayodele explained that Hertz would the newly opened Eko Signature Hotel be Zuriel’s official car company in Nigein Lagos. Among her invited guest ria anytime she is in the country for her speakers were the wife of Lagos State pet project. governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, the According to him, the company was First Lady of Tanzania, Salma Kikwete excited and fortunate to have this and the wife of Osun State governor, “wonder girl” as its brand ambassador Sherifat Aregbesola. and who has become the face of hope In recognition of her incredible and for many African children, as she has highly remarkable accomplishments been using her non-governmental orand unparalleled achievements at the ganization to meet African leaders and age of 11, she was invited to visit the eminent people in the world on why State Department by the Assistant Secre- they must pay huge attention to tary of State for African Affairs - AmbasAfrican children development now, sador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. since they are the leaders of tomorOn Tuesday, Zuriel honoured the invirow. tation on her way from the First Lady’s Delivering her speech at the cereevent she hosted in Lagos. She was welmony, young Oduwole said that she comed by the Deputy Director for Pubwas excited to be Hertz’s brand ambaslic Affairs - Naomi Fellows, who sador in Nigeria, even as she challenged commended her efforts in keeping the more corporate organizations to supissues of Girl Education in Africa on the port her pet project, adding that her front burner. She was later received by aim is to liberate African children out of the Assistant Secretary of State for poverty or suffering and give them African Affairs, Ambassador Thomashope for the future.

Greenfield, who was thrilled to meet Oduwole, an 11-year old Nigerian Amerthe young lady in person for the first ican-based child, said that what motitime. vated her to embark on the foundation She was full of praise for Zuriel, and was not only that she was fortunate to suggested she should visit Rwanda and be born in Los Angeles, U.S.A, but Burundi to use her platform to help African blood runs through her veins with the healing process of those two and she was touched to see lots of conflict- bruised countries, who were in- young children being forced into slavvolved in a deadly genocide encounter ery and early marriage.

20 years ago.

She pointed out that it was time “to Thomas-Greenfield then mentioned to speak up, stand up and defend the Zuriel that she might want to consider a rights of the African child,” stressing career in the State Department since that the responsibility lies with African she once headed its Human Resources leaders who have, for several years, neg(HR) Department, though she believed lected the youths.

Zuriel was already far ahead in her acAccording to her, she has been at the complishments than most new envanguard of this foundation since she trants into the foreign service, was six years old and the project had especially since she had on her own met taken her to many African countries and interviewed more than a dozen cur- where she has been engaging with rent world leaders, and also interviewed African business leaders and their leadone-in-six African heads of government. ers to do more to raise the hope of Zuriel was then presented with an auAfrican children. tographed picture of the Secretary, Oduwole, however, said that her which she confessed was the first one dream is to become the President of America at the age of 19, and by then, she would have accomplished her goal.

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Zuriel...looking into the future

Briefs Pa Ugbechie, 92, for burial April 25 A Gabriel Iwebunor UgP bechie of Isho village, Ubulu-Uku, Aniocha South Local Council of Delta State, who died on January 26, at the age of 92, will be buried on Friday, April 25, 2014 in his compound.

He was a benevolent community leader, philanthropist and devout Christian.

He is survived by an aged wife, 16 children, numerous grandchildren and great grand-children among whom is Mr, Ken Ugbechie, Editor-in-Chief of Political Economist magazine and former editor of Daily Times and Post Express newspapers.

A statement issued by his first son, Mr. Christian Ugbechie, on behalf of the family said a Christian wake cum service of songs would hold in Pa Ugbechie’s compound on Thursday April 24 and a thanksgiving service on Sunday, April 27 at Christ Anglican Church, Isho, Ubulu-Uku.

Ugbechie

Church begins programme REEDOM Power Deliverance Fthree-day Ministry yesterday began its yearly programme.

It will continue today at 5.00p.m and on Friday with Wonder Night from 10.00pm. till dawn. The theme is: “And suddenly-Acts 16:25-26”. It will hold at Divine Intervention Street, behind Valued Street Grace Academy, opposite Deeper Life’s Camp, OgunrunOri Town, Pakuro-Mowe, in Obafemi/Owode Local Council of Ogun State.

Chief is Apostle Igwe Emmanuel.

Herbert Odoji, 87, for burial May 8 R. Herbert Okuefuna M Odoji of Umuchigbo Village in Umudioka, Anambra State, has died at the age of 87 .

A Christian wake holds on Wednesday, May 7, while on Thursday, May 8, is lie-in-state at his residence at 9.00 a.m.

Funeral service follows at St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Umudioka, at 11 a.m. to be followed by interment.

Outing service holds on Sunday at St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Umudioka, at 9.00.

He is survived by wife, children, among whom is Mrs. Beatrice Nnabuife, grand-children and other relations.

Odoji

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21 | Thursday, April 24, 2014

Business experts seek focus on Diaspora resources

By Oghogho Obayuwana, Foreign Affairs Editor IGeRIA may have to tap N into the rich human capacity reserves in the Diaspora, to further bolster its economy.

This was the consensus among experts, who spoke in Abuja at the recently concluded international conference

on “The Diaspora: The Challenges, Opportunities and Strategies for effective National Absorption” organised by the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA).

According to the International Office for Migration (IOM), about 20,000 African professionals (mostly Nigerians) emigrate

to the United States (US) and europe every year. A 2013 World Bank report has since disclosed that not less than $60 billion came into Africa as remittance with Nigeria alone receiving over $21 billion the previous year.

In his lead presentation, Nigeria’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Professor

Ibrahim Gambari submitted that Nigeria should recognise that Diasporas represent one of the contemporary global forces shaping the directions and trends of this century, “which makes it very important to partner and join forces with the Diaspora in the development efforts.”

He stressed that “advantage should be taken of the huge

First Secretary (Consular) and Head of Lagos Office, High Commission of India, Mrs. Rani Malick (left);President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Remi Bello; Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ajjanpur Rangalah Ghanashyam; and Vice President, Lagos Chamber, Varkey Verghese, after a meeting of the High Commissioner with the chamber’s council members in Lagos, yesterday.

Delta commits N16b to pension scheme elTA State Government D has committed N16 billion to the state’s contributory pension scheme for its workers since 2007.

Governor. emmanuel Uduaghan said this in Asaba while swearing in the Chairmen and Secretaries of the State Bureau for Pension and that of local Government Pension Bureau.

Uduaghan said that the state government was one of the few states in the Federation that joined the new pension scheme in 2007.

Under the pension scheme, government and worker contribute 7.5 per cent of the workers monthly salary to the pension fund from which the retirees draw as monthly pension after service.

Uduaghan explained that initially, the state government was contributing 16 per cent of its workers’ monthly salaries to the fund, instead of the stipulated 7.5 per cent.

He said that the government thereafter reduced its contribution to 10 per cent.

“I have directed the

Accountant-General of the state and Head of Service to look into this and ensure that we are not contributing too much or too little to the fund,” he said.

The Governor said further that the state government had been spending N800 million monthly on pensions, out of which N500 million was arrears under the old pension scheme and N300 million for the new one.

“We have already gone a long way in clearing this backlog and I think we have few

months to finish.

“I must commend these officials who have held fort for us since we started this new scheme.

“Pension fund has been characterised by controversies of missing funds and misappropriation; but since we started, we have not had such experience,” he said.

The Governor said the administration was working out ways to correct anomalies noted in the differences paid pensioners who retired from CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

World Bank approves $250m facility for Nigeria’s water project

By Bukky Olajide He World Bank has T approved a credit of $250 million from the International Development Association (IDA) to help the Nigerian Government continue its efforts to increase access to water supply services and to improve the financial and management viability of existing water utilities.

According to the report made available to The Guardian, the funds will target the poor, urban population living in the state capitals and their surroundings, and will benefit some two million people.

The funds will help rehabilitate and build the water deliv-

ery infrastructure and institutional systems needed to expand access to water supply services for people in selected cities in Bauchi, ekiti, and Rivers States. A portion of the project is performance based and will include incentives for improving the performance of the water supply institutions in the three states.

“Today’s project builds on past experience which has shown that building water infrastructure without strengthening the capacity of the institutions responsible for managing water supply to the targeted areas does not lead to sustainable results”, said World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly.

In her words: “We therefore hope that the new strategy which puts more emphasis on this integrated approach will contribute to l improve the health and economic well-being of the country’s poorest and more vulnerable particularly women and girls who spend a lot of time fetching water.

A second project component will provide technical and financial assistance to state governments and water utilities in Kano, Gombe, Benue, Jigawa, Ondo, Abia, Bayelsa, Anambra, and Plateau states to help prepare them for large water supply investments that could be financed in the future.

The Government’s Federal Ministry of Water Resources,

tasked with providing sustainable access to safe and sufficient water to all Nigerians, will also benefit from strengthened capacity to monitor and benchmark the water sector’s performance and accordingly, increased accountability from the States for their performance.

“Women and children in Nigeria spend hours each day carrying water for their family’s use,” said Miguel VargasRamiìrez, World Bank Task Team leader for this Project.

“By improving water service delivery, this project will help open up time for the poor to pursue education and income-generating activities, and provide them with a better chance to boost themselves out of poverty.”

presence of African Diaspora that resides in such powerful political centres such as london, Paris, New York, and Washington DC, and some other major cities across the world where global policy decisions are made.”

Arguing that Nigeria’s Diaspora of over 25 million can be considered her 37th State, he said “in this way, our 37th State, otherwise known as Nigeria’s Diaspora, would remain a powerful social-cultural force, as well as an economic and political enclave in this century.

By happenstance, the Abuja conference is taking place at a time when the World Bank had just released its latest report on “Migration and Development” in Washington DC at its 2014 Spring meeting.

In the report, the Bank predicts a 7.8 per cent growth in remittances to developing economies in 2014, with Nigeria as the largest recipient of same in sub-Saharan Africa at $21 billion in 2013.

Gambari keyed into this stressing that “even more significant is that the expected increase in such flows to developing countries this year would be maintained in the next few years” Other experts, who made presentations at the forum included the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria Shri Ghanashyam, professor emeritus Augustine esogbue; Professor Bolaji Aluko; Ambassador Vincent Aomori Chief Bimbo Roberts Folayan and Dr. Peter Mozie, President, All Nigeria Nationals in Diaspora (ANNID), among

others.

Agreeing with former DTCA Director General Dr. silent Bassi on inclusiveness and the need to effectively engage the Diaspora in Nigeria’s national transformation drive and the provision of an enduring security architecture, Gambari, who was also a former under-Secretary General at the UN charged the DTCA to “work for the removal of the major obstacles that hinder the full engagement in development.”

He added: “African governments must, as a matter of urgency, address the issue of poor infrastructure that would challenge the Africa Diaspora’s readiness to contribute to the Africa development. Some other considerations would be the transfer costs, bureaucratic burden, procedures, dual citizenship, investment projects, security for business transactions, and portability of rights, such as voting rights for them.

“Partnership with Africa Diaspora should include private sector, civil society, academia, public enterprises and other development stakeholders, in promoting institutional change.”

According to him, additional strategies for Diaspora leveraging “should include efforts by various African governments to assess the Diaspora’s development potential, collecting data on Diasporas, overcoming competition among Diaspora groups both socially and professionally, and building partCONTINUED ON PAGE 22

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Sterling Bank’s gross earnings up by 24%

By Bukky Olajide HE gross earnings of T Sterling Bank Plc rose by 24.1 per cent for the first quarter ended March 31, 2014, released yesterday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Profit before tax also grew by 17.2 per cent while profit after tax also increased by 15.4 per cent.

The report indicated that gross earnings rose to N24.6 billion in first quarter 2014 as against N19.84 billion recorded in the corresponding peri-

od of 2013. Profit before tax rose from N3.02 billion to N3.54 billion while profit after tax increased from N2.72 billion to N3.14 billion.

Net interest income rose by 58 per cent due to 31 per cent growth in interest income relative to a modest increase of eight per cent in interest expense. This resulted in a 35 per cent growth in operating income to N16.2 billion.

The annualized return on average equity was 20 per cent in line with the bank’s medium term strategic objectives.

Commenting on the results, Managing Director of the bank, Yemi Adeola, said the first quarter was a positive start for the bank and a reflection of the bank’s improving efficiency and robust credit risk management.

According to him, in spite of a marginal decline in deposit to N540 billion, the bank recorded a 30 basis points reduction in cost of funds to 5.6 per cent; reflecting management’s focus on balance sheet efficiency.

He noted that loans and

advances grew to N337 billion, while asset quality remained strong with a non-performing loan ratio of 1.8 per cent.

“Over the next few quarters, we will continue the upgrade of our physical infrastructure and rollout of conventional and alternative channels in order to deepen market penetration of our products and grow retail deposit market share. “ Loan growth will remain steady and disciplined with the overall target for the year set at 25 per cent,” Adeola said.

State commits N16b to pension CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 the state service and those under the local governments.

“I want to commend Delta pensioners who have been very patient with us and assure them that we will con-

tinue to be serious with issues partaining to them,” he added.

He commended the officials sworn in for good performance during their first tenure and urged them to remain committed to their duties.

Mrs Christiana Siakpere and Mrs Patience Ikomi were sworn in as chairmen for the state and local government pension bureaus respectively.

Chuks Aguonye was sworn in as Secretary of the state Pension bureau while Patrick

Okoh takes charge as secretary of the local government pension bureau.

Siakpere, on behalf of others, thanked the governor for reappointing them and pledged not to fail the state in their duties.

Publisher, African Leadership Magazine, Dr. Ken Giami (left) welcoming Governor of Maryland of United States, Martin O’Malley to the African public service forum organised by the African Leadership Magazine in Washington DC, United States.

Experts seek focus on Diaspora resources CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 nerships with host countries.

There should also be strong and effective communication among various government agencies, community representatives and corporate actors” Stressing that the intention of the Nigerian authorities to plan a Diaspora Bond aimed at mobilising savings and thus boost financing for development would be a positive step, he noted that the African Diaspora “should be prepared to make necessary sacrifices. While recognising that some may be willing to return to the continent, some others may find it hard to abandon their investments in their residing countries, and some others may never think of returning. In effect, the DTCA should encourage African governments to aggressively and creatively push for the African Diaspora to make their contri-

butions in whatever form to Africa’s development” The African Union (AU) had declared in 2005 that the Diaspora is the sixth region of the continent... Professor Gambari noted yesterday in his conclusive remarks, that as a step in this direction, “the Nigeria House of representative Committee on the Diaspora represents a tacit Federal Government’s recognition of the Diaspora compo-

nent of the Nigerian equation.

The establishment of a Nigerian Diaspora Commission would be another step to promote greater opportunities for Diaspora involvement in political, economic and corporate governance of this country” He added: “We need to examine what roles, collectively and individually, we can play drawing from our experiences and lessons learnt from

foreign lands, to foster unity in our respective communities and home country. Let us appreciate that (and here again, I quote) “the only place that any of us exists is at the centre of our own consciousness. But we can continually expand that centre outward to include all around us” including in our Diaspora. This is the mindset Nigeria needs now as we face the multiplicity of our national challenges.”

Minister to commission new power plant in Anambra HE Minister of Power, Prof.

T Chinedu Nebo, will, on Saturday, April 26, commission a new Power Cable Plant at Cutix Plc (Power Cable Plant), 17, Osita Onyejianya Street, Umuanuka, Otolo Nnewi at 12 noon. The event is being organised by the management and staff of Cutix Plc. A statement co-signed by the

Founder (Chief Host), Dr. Gilbert Ajulu Uzodike, cofounder, Ambassador Odi Nwosu, Chairman, David Ifezulike and Chief Executive Oficer Cutix Plc, Mr. Ifeanyi Uzodike indicated that reception would hold at Conv-Aj Events Centre, 1, Metu Uzodike Street, Okpuno, Otolo Nnewi after the commissioning by

the Minister.

The Chief Executive officer, who is also the President of the Cable Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, noted that the event also marks a turning point for cable manufacturing and the fight against imported substandard cables in Nigeria.

Udoma to review Nigerian market at US forum HAIrMAN of UAC of C Nigeria Plc, Udo Udoma, will review the country’s political risk at the Nigeria Development and Finance Forum (NDFF) conference, which will hold May 29-31 in New York.

This comes just as the United States Department of Commerce (USDOC) says it will lead American business executive and investors to the fifth edition the conference.

A statement by the lead

organiser, Financial Nigeria International Limited, said the conference is crucial for both Nigeria and the United States, considering the economic relationship that has existed between the two countries.

It stated that USDOC, is the latest institutional partner with the organisers, would lead US business delegation, which will seize the opportunity to examine opportunities in agriculture, power, hospitality and small and

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Appointments Disconnect between business schools and workplace

By Toyin Olasinde OSt business schools have M spent the past decade making their programs global in scope, which tends to mean sending students to foreign lands for immersion programs. the model they’re using, however, creates leaders that are dangerously out of touch with the context in which they’re running businesses. that’s because international field trips and contact with global chief executive officers cannot alone give students an understanding of the social and political issues unique to every market. the past year put forth an historic turning point for the global economy: Emerging nations are expected to have contributed more to the world’s gross domestic product (in purchasing power parity terms) than developed nations did, according to iMF estimates.

As emerging economies boomed, burgeoning middle classes in many of these countries were expected to flock to newly built stores. instead, they often took to the streets in protest: For instance • More than a million marched in São Paulo against rising bus fares and money being spent on preparations for the World Cup even as Gezi Park in istanbul exploded in revolt against plans to build a new shopping

mall.

• in New Delhi, voters took to the streets and rallied around a grass roots political movement that promised access to such basics as electricity, water, and corruption-free governance over broad promises from established politicians to focus on economic growth and foreign investment.

As the much-vaunted emerging-market growth slowed to a crawl, global business leaders groomed by Business schools weren’t prepared.

Business schools have failed to teach an understanding of the forces that cause such unrest: the political framework, legislative environment, security issues and historical considerations that are specific to each country, as well as the widening gap between rich and poor that plagues many economies.

Consider, for example, three common tenets that underpin business education. By simply applying lessons from the past year, business schools could better prepare future generations for international commerce.

One of the first things we drill into business students is the importance of focus. Business strategy is about making choices—where to play and how to win; marketing is about targeting the most attractive market segments; finance involves allocating scarce resources to projects with the highest return on

investment, and so on. that worked fine from 2000 to 2012, when emerging markets grew by nearly 6 percent a year on average, while the U.S. grew at an average of 2 percent. But growth in emerging economies was concentrated in certain sectors. in some countries the focus was on natural resources extraction, infrastructure development focused on selective urban areas, or consumer products and electronics targeted at the emerging middle class—all benefiting a lucky few. With better access to information and more people jammed into cities, where the poor and excluded live cheek-by-jowl with the newly rich, this economic divide proved explo-

sive. in 2013, protests erupted not only in such troubled cities as Cairo or kiev but also in places like istanbul and São Paulo that were celebrating dizzyingly speedy rises. the lesson: Strike a balance between attractive markets and those segments that would normally be excluded in accordance with traditional metrics. Consider, for example, identifying innovative ways of offering credit and other financial services to the un-banked populace in areas beyond the largest cities, or providing computing technologies to children in rural schools. these markets would appear unattractive at first glance— or even second glance. Yet

they are segments that will be important to serve because they represent prime opportunities for future growth. As incomes rise, their profitability will improve as well.

And take some classes on political risk. Understand how local social and political unrest could disrupt even the most meticulous business plans.

A further staple of most (if not all) business schools is some variant of Michael Porter’s Five Forces model, whereby the attractiveness of a market should be guided by a search for superior bargaining power. translation: Attractive markets are the ones with an overabundance of local competition eager to keep labour

and product costs low.

What happens when that strategy contributes to a horrible disaster a world away? the Rana Plaza building collapse that killed over 1,300 Bangladeshi workers in 2013 exposed the danger of relying blindly on this concept. the Bangladesh-based suppliers to the major garment brands and retailers of the world had very little negotiating power, which has made that productive market attractive.

Unfortunately, this approach creates incentives to run factories with unsafe and inhumane conditions. Worst of all, Rana Plaza was not an isolated incident.

Fayemi promises to create more jobs From Muyiwa Adeyemi (Head South West Bureau Ado Ekiti) kiti State Governor, Dr. E kayode Fayemi, has promised to create more jobs for the citizens of the state if he is re-elected in the June 21 gubernatorial poll. the governor who made the pledge on tuesday when his campaign train hit ilejemeje Local Government Area said creation of more jobs is paramount in his administration’s agenda if he succeeds in securing second term.

Speaking in iludun, Fayemi noted that his administration has created lots of jobs since he mounted the saddle in October 2010, adding that there is need to create more jobs for the youths in the state. to this end, the governor said his administration has reached out to more investors to establish industries and other businesses in the state to absorb more unemployed people in the state. “i have discussed with many investors who are willing and ready to establish businesses in Ekiti and we have assured them of many incentives to attract investors”, Fayemi said.

the governor had earlier at Eda-Oniyo alluded to his administration’s resolve to create more jobs for the citizens of the state.

According to him, the entire people of the state have seen the roads, schools, palaces, town halls, electricity and other public infrastructures but job creation and economic empowerment of citizens will receive adequate attention during his second term.

His words: “this government is concerned about creation of more jobs for our people.

We will employ more civil servants, teachers and other jobs that will make our people contribute positively to our economy.

“We are going to deploy more resources to job creation and economic empowerment if we are re-elected by our people. “i want you to vote for a party that cares for you and you must stay with this government that has positively touched your lives and utilized the available resources to take care of you”.

He said the entire ilejemeje Local Government Area has been transformed by his administration through execution of various projects, which have made life easier for the people.

Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrations ICSA UK President, David Venus (left), ICSA UK Chairman, Admissions Committee, Angela Squire, ICSAN Vice President, Dr. Nat Ofo; ICSA UK Chief Executive, Simon Osborne, and ICSAN Registrar/CEO, Mr. Dele Togunde. During the signing of MoU between ICSA UK and ICSAN recently in London.

Stop playing politics with insecurity, says PENGASSAN

By Toyin Olasinde iL workers in the country O have called on the ruling party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and All Peoples Congress (APC) as well as Northern leaders to stop playing politics with the issue of insecurity that is plaguing the country and putting Nigeria co-existence in jeopardy. they also advised security agencies in the country to change their tactics and strategies in combating the heinous criminal carnage being carried out by the Boko Haram insurgents.

According to the workers under the auspices of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), it is only through the concerned efforts of all Nigerians irre-

spective of their political lineage that can end attacks by the Boko Haram sect.

Speaking in Lagos on the bombing of the Nyanya Motor Park in Abuja and the abduction of school girls writing WAEC in Chibok, Borno State, last week, PENGASSAN President, Comrade Babatunde Ogun, said with the alarming rate at which the terrorists strikes in the country, there is no need for any party or individual playing blaming game.

Ogun said, “With the situation on ground particularly the attacks on innocent Nigerians in the last few weeks, we can see that instead for the terrorist activities to be abating, it seems to be on the increase. this is in spite of the assurance given to Nigerians by

the Chief of Army Staff when he assumed office.

“We will rather advised that instead of blaming any party or those in government, as we see in the last week, when the opposition party, the APC blamed the PDP for the attacks; and the PDP in return blamed the APC for fanning the ember of terrorism in the country, there should be concerted efforts by all Nigerians to combat the war against terrorism in Nigeria. “the opposition party should put forward strategies that they know can be used to combat the insurgency, while the government should be open to suggestions and advices that can end terrorism in Nigeria.”

He said that the governors should remember that they are chief security officers of

their state and therefore should collaborate with the Federal Government to proffer solutions to the insurgency attacks in the country.

On his own, the National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Seyi Gambo, said that it is important that the security agencies and the Federal Government review their strategy for combating terrorism in the country, adding that the current strategy seems inadequate and ineffective.

He said that security agencies, especially the Department State Security Service and intelligence units of the Police, Army, Air force and Defence headquarters should put in extra efforts in intelligence gathering to end terrorism in the country.

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APPOINTMeNTS Thursday, April 24, 2014

ICSA, ICSAN sign MoU to promote, regulate chartered secretaries He Institute T Secretaries Administrators

of Chartered and of Nigeria (ICSAN) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with its parent body, ICSA London, on the promotion and regulation of chartered secretaries.

The MoU, signed recently in London, confirmed the close relationship between the two professional bodies and their common interest in promoting and regulating chartered secretaries in their espective territories.

Vice President of ICSAN) Dr Nat Ofo, and (Registrar/CeO of ICSAN) Mr Solomon Oyedele Togunde, signed the agreement with President of ICSA for the UK, Republic of Ireland and Associated Territories (UKRIAT) and ICSA Chief executive Simon Osborne at ICSA’s Corporate Governance Conference in London.

The MoU, according to Togunde, was designed to clarify the treatment by ICSA of Nigerian members and students who have completed ICSA’s international qualifying scheme and professional programmes.

Togunde said the MoU also set out a proposal for ICSAN and ICSA to work together to develop and establish an ongoing process for accrediting Nigerian students qualifying under ICSAN’s professional examinations for ICSA membership.

He also said Nigerian students who, from November 2011 onwards, have completed ICSAN’s professional qualifying

scheme programme, would be eligible to be awarded ICSA graduate status upon completion of two ICSA specified modulesCompany secretarial Practice and Chartered Secretaries Case Study.

Similarly, all ICSA students completing ICSA’s Chartered Secretary Qualifying Scheme (CSQS) as from November 2011 onwards, will be eligible for ICSAN mem-

bership upon completion of two ICSAN specified modulesCorporate Law and Corporate secretary ship.

In addition, special arrangements are in place to award ICSA fellowship or associate ship to Nigerian Fellows and Associates holding current ICSAN membership.

Commenting on the impor-

tance of the MoU at the signing ceremony, Simon Osborne said: “I am delighted that our two professional bodies are collaborating to ensure that cross-border recognition is given to the importance of the high governance standards that both ICSA and ICSAN uphold. Whether people are seeking to become chartered secretaries in the UK,

Republic of Ireland and Associated Territories or in Nigeria, our qualifications say that they have reached a level of professional achievement that is second to none.”

Dr Nat Ofo added: “The signing of the MoU is a significant milestone in the annals of both organisations for several reasons. In the first place, it under-

scores and strengthens the bond existing between both organisations. Secondly, it gives our students and prospective students wider options. Thirdly, it enhances the professional relevance of our members and affords them a genuine crossborder practice possibility. The MoU will occasion a true win-win situation.”

UK Government proposes crackdown on rogue directors to reduce fraud year for offences including my about £100,000 by preHe United Kingdom govT theft of company money or venting abuse. ernment is considering fraudulent trading. Once dis- The government also plans to plans to ban people convicted of crimes outside the UK from becoming company directors here as part of efforts to prevent the appointment of “rogue directors”.

People with a UK criminal record are already prevented from being company directors but business secretary, Vince Cable, has sought the same rules to apply to overseas lawbreakers.

Cable said the behaviour of this rogue minority causes a great deal of harm. Cases where directors have used their position to commit crime included scams such as ‘cooking the books’ to give the false appearance of good financial health or swindling trusting investors out of life savings by selling them nonexistent property.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Bis) said the proposals,

Cameron which were expected to be tabled during this Parliament, would mean stronger deterrents and more robust sanc-

qualified, which can last up to 15 years, anyone who breaches this by taking on another director post can face a prison sentence of up to two years.

Cable said that the majority of directors “run their businesses in the right way” but added that innocent people had “suffered unnecessary losses as a result of rogue behaviour”.

He said: “These measures will protect the British economy and our reputation as a good and fair place to do business by banning directors who have already been convicted of offences overseas from running British companies.

“Rogue directors can cause a huge amount of harm in terms of large financial losses, unnecessary redundancies and lifetions for people deemed unfit long investments going down to hold such a position. the drain.”

As many as 1,200 company Bis said that every director disdirectors are disqualified each qualified saves the UK econo-

introduce a public register of company owners and directors, which would mean publicising the names of anyone with an interest in more than 25 per cent of a company’s shares or voting rights.

The aim is to rebuild public trust in businesses and prevent tax evasion and money laundering.

Cable said: “For consumers, investors and the wider public to really trust a company they need to know who is really in charge.

“This is why I’m making sure we take tough action tackling the darker side of capitalism and the smoke and mirrors which have existed for too long.

“No longer will UK companies be able to use complex structures and trails of paperwork to hide information and keep the public in the dark.”

Thursday, April 24, 2014 APPOINTMENT 29

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Stakeholders seek framework for MDGs implementation From Lawrence Njoku (Enugu) TAKEHOlDERS in the SGoals Millennium Development (MDGs) have called for a legal framework establishing data generation and m a n a g e m e n t units for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of MDGs project in the various ministries, agencies and depart-

ments of government in the south east zone.

They also asked the various governments in the zone to develop the political will to implement the framework, funding as well as ensure adequate training for staff of the units, as a way of generating reliable data towards achieving the MDGs by 2015.

At a workshop in Enugu to

review efforts of the five state governments in the south east towards achieving the MDGs organized by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), participants say much more needs to be done to done in the zone make the dream a reality.

Three entrepreneurs emerge at Sterling Bank’s Meet the Executive’ project

By Ujunwa Atueyi ISTURBED by the dearth of D vibrant Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) in the country, Sterling Bank Plc, has initiated ‘Meet the Executive’ project, as a way of engaging aspiring entrepreneurs and rebasing the value of SMEs. The decision of the bank was based on the fact that the national economic development prospects in any country is hinged on the entrepreneurial energy of vibrant SMEs as most big business concerns grew from small scale enterprises to become big icons.

The presentation of business plans by the top 18 contestants who participated in the project, marked the turning point for the three participants who came tops in the competition.

For the three winners, the journey had been long, challenging, but rewarding, as they were recently presented with grants to pursue their business interests.

For Gbemisola Esho, who came first, N2million prize grant was given to her; Rufai Oluyemi received N1.5million for clinching second position; while Daniel Momma who came third got N1million.

Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Shina Atilola, who spoke on behalf of the Managing Director of the Bank, Mr. Yemi Adeola, disclosed that over 1000 entries were received by the Bank for different business plans across the country. “To ensure that only the best business plans were selected, a team of seasoned consultants were engaged by the bank to carefully scrutinize proposals received from members of the public. The 50 best entries were selected from the pool; based on originality of the plans, their viability and provision of detailed information such as the required capital, cash flow and revenue projections”.

Sponsors of the 50 proposed business plans selected, he explained were engaged in a training programme at the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) to further enrich their knowledge in the management of small businesses and writing of business plans.

“Upon completion of the training, participants were given the opportunity to finetune their business plans and present same to the Bank. Out of these, the best 18 plans were selected for formal presentation by their owners to the Executive Management of Sterling Bank”.

However, the presentation of cheques to the winners by Atilola signified the end of phase one of the project and gave hope not only to the recipients but other new and aspiring entrepreneurs.

The second phase of the proj-

ect, he stated will include the allocation of mentors, investor engagement and visible business development.

The Bank shall work to ensure that disbursed funds are utilized effectively and for the stated purpose.

“The decision to invest in new

business initiatives and nurture them to become viable SMEs was borne out of the need to facilitate real growth in the economy as small businesses remain the catalyst for real economic development anywhere in the world,” Atilola added.

Presenting his assessment of the Monitoring and Evaluation system and capabilities of ministries and parastatals in Imo State ahead of the MDGs, a DFID Consultant, Dr Daniel Ugwu, said that though there are eighteen Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state, only nine are directly involved in MDGs activities.

He listed the nine ministries to include Ministry of Plannin & Economic Development, Education, Petroleum &Environment, Youth & Sports, Health, Bureau of Statistics, Agriculture &Natural Resources, Women Affairs & Social Development as well as the MDGs Programme Support Unit.

Ugwu indicated that only thirty three percent of the sampled MDAs use varieties of computer software for

their data management, adding that sixty seven percent do not make use of computer software even as the available ones have become obsolete.

He stated that though results of the survey indicate great potential for the institutionalization and development of the monitoring and evaluation system within the government of the state based on available structures and political will, among others, some challenges needed to be urgently addressed to make the system work effectively.

These include poor coordination of data management, non-release of fund from budget, limited qualified staff and lack of working materials, lack of training and motivation of personnel as well as lack of logistics or utility vehicles for monitor-

ing of MDGs projects.

He recommended recruitment of qualified staff, capacity training for the identified staff as well as supporting legal frame work for effective operation and visibility of the units.

Presenting his assessment of the MDGs project in Ebonyi state, another Consultant, Dr Eddy Ndibuagu, said 12 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), including Education, Youths and Sports, Basic Education Board, Cabinet office and Agriculture are participating in the project.

Others are Environment, Planning Commission, Public Utilities, Chief of Staff Office, Economic Empowerment and Poverty Reduction, Health and MDGs office.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

30 APPOINTMeNT Thursday, April 24, 2014

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RUFIN facilitates credit for 46,000 rural dwellers O fewer than 46,000 rural N dwellers across the country have benefited from loans to develop their farms as well as grow their small businesses, according to the Rural Finance Institution Building Programme (RUFIN).

The Country Programme Manager of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Ms Toda Atsuko, said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

NAN reports that RUFIN is an International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-assisted programme being implemented over a seven-year period in 12 states across the six geopolitical zones, with two from each zone.

The programme specifically

targets marginalised groups such as women, young people and those with physical disabilities.

Its objective is to strengthen micro-finance institutions and establish linkages between them and formal financial institutions.

It also lays the foundation for the long-term development of a sustainable rural financial system that will eventually become operational throughout the country.

The programme seeks to ensure that poor rural people gain access to financial services and can invest in improving productivity in agriculture and small businesses.

Atsuko said that the programme had facilitated the formation of over 5,500 groups, with about 46,000 borrowers and even more

savers. ``RUFIN success is in the outreach, making sure that more people are financially included.’’

She identified counterpart funding and low commitment level of the government as one of the major challenges militating against the programme’s progress.

However, she said that IFAD was doing everything possible to ensure that RUFIN continues to record progress by facilitating the mobilisation of funds to be made available to rural dwellers.

The IFAD country programme manager, however, stressed the need to educate the people in rural areas on the importance of banking and saving schemes to the development of agro and commercial businesses.

Stakeholders seek framework for MDGs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29 He stated that there was reasonable number of statistical officers, good perception of monitoring and evaluation across the MDAs among others, none funding from the state and inadequate capacity for existing units could mar the project.

According to him, there was none existence of State Bureau of Statistics, insufficient vehicles for monitoring as well as poor budgetary provisions, adding that only two million was budgeted for MDGs activities in the state this year.

Ndibuagu recommended advocacy visit to the State House of Assembly leadership with the aim of fast-tracking the enactment of the State Bureau of Statistics law, advocacy visit to the State Planning Commission with the aim of securing adequate funding for monitoring and evaluation activities and research as well as recruitment and training of officers of the project in the state. He also called for the implementation of the countdown strategy.

In Abia State, Dr Arinze Onyinye, who presented

report of her assessment said inadequate funding, lack of operational vehicles, unavailability of databanks, lack of functional MIS, insufficient computers and competent manpower were seriously affecting the programme.

She suggested advocacy for budgetary provisions and releases while encouraging the MDAs to look for alternative sources of funds, a d d i n g that some MDAs yet to join the project should be encouraged to do so.

eADeRS of 141 newly regisLRMGtered trade unions of the Trade unions get orientation factories along with leaders of over 80 trade union federation in Bangladesh received a day long orientation on issues such as collective bargaining and freedom of association on Tuesday in Dhaka.

Presidents and General Secretaries of over 140 newly registered trade unions in the RMG sector attended the orientation programme along with a number of senior leaders from RMG trade union federations. The programme was aimed at sensitizing the trade union leaders on the issues of freedom of association, collective bargaining and related issues in the context of Bangladesh and the existing labour law.

“The changes in registration process and the change in the Labour Law in 2013 created an opportunity for more and more trade unions in the ready-made garment factories to be formed,” said Mr. Md. Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Honourable State Minister, Ministry of Labour and employment, who attended the event as the chief guest.“The Government of Bangladesh encourage the workers of the garment factories to come forward and take this opportunity for positive and sustainable change in the sector,” added the minister.

Mr. Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo, Deputy Director General for Field Operations and Partnerships, ILO, who arrived in Dhaka today also attended the inaugural session of the orientation prog r a m m e .

“Registration of over 140 trade unions in the RMG sector in the last 15 months is a staggering growth compared to registration figures for the preceding years. The forma-

on freedom of association tion and registration of new trade unions is a sign of a new era of collective bargaining and freedom of association in Bangladesh which can act as a catalyst for change in other industries,” said the ILO Deputy Director-General.

Chaired by Mr Mikail Shipar, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and employment a number of senior trade union leaders attended the inaugural session. “It is very important that the trade union leaders know

about the rights of the workers and also the procedure for collective bargaining, we welcome this initiative, which will have long-term impact” said Mr.Mikail Shipar.

The programme was jointly organized by the National Coordination Committee for Workers’ education (NCCWe), IndustriALL Bangladesh Council (IBC), Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Red Star identifies human capital as catalyst to industrial growth

By Toyin Olasinde eD Star express, has identified innovation and continual improvement of human capital as key success factors in overall industrial growth in the new economic order At a three-day business summit The which focused on team building, information dissemination, training as well as business planning for the new financial year the Managing Director of Red Star express Plc, Bichi Sule expressed optimism that the exercise was a worthwhile investment by the organization to further fortify her workforce for the challenges ahead. “every organization is made strong or otherwise by the quality of its people and Red Star considers its people as her biggest asset. The summit is the biggest gathering of our people locally and the forum has, over the years, been instrumental in helping to pump new energy into our team through well planned sessions fully coordinated by experts and seasoned facilitators”

R

He said, Red Star did an indepth review of their past performance and benchmarked it against world class and global best practices, with the goal of consistently exceeding customers’ expectations and taking the logistics business to new frontiers. According to him Strategies for team optimization as well as performing at peak performance were analyzed at the Summit with an opportunity for the participants from the different branches and states across the country to meet, share ideas and plan for the future in a relaxed and highly inspiring environment.

Mrs. Nkechi Anazodo a participant said, “It has been a life changing and motivating three day experience. I have gained so much and I believe I am ready to conquer new grounds both in my organizational and personal goals. I hope to also pass the learning from the summit to my other colleagues so that we can all be motivated to succeed together.”

Thursday, April 24, 2014 | 31

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ScienceGuardian Astronomers confirm first ‘habitable’ Earth-sized planet

The diagram compares the planets of the inner solar system to Kepler-186, a five-planet system about 500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. The five planets of Kepler-186 orbit a star classified as a M1 dwarf, measuring half the size and mass of the sun. The Kepler-186 system is home to Kepler-186f, the first validated Earth-size planet orbiting a distant star in the habitable zone—a range of distances from a star where liquid water might pool on the surface of an orbiting planet. The discovery of Kepler-186f confirms that Earth-size planets exist in the habitable zone of other stars and signals a significant step closer to finding a world similar to Earth.

Kepler-186f is less than ten percent larger than Earth in size, but its mass and composition are not known. Kepler-186f orbits its star once every 130-days and receives one-third the heat energy that Earth does from the sun, placing it near the outer edge of the habitable zone. The inner four companion planets all measure less than fifty percent the size of Earth. Kepler-186b, Kepler-186c, Kepler-186d, and Kepler-186e, orbit every three, seven, 13, and 22 days, respectively, making them very hot and inhospitable for life as we know it. The Kepler space telescope, which simultaneously and continuously measured the brightness of more than 150,000 stars, is NASA’s first mission capable of detecting Earth-size planets around stars like our sun. Kepler does not directly image the planets it detects. The space telescope infers their existence by the amount of starlight blocked when the orbiting planet passes in front of a distant star from the vantage point of the observer. The artistic concept of Kepler186f is the result of scientists and artists collaborating to help imagine the appearance of these distant Credit: NASA Ames/SETI Institute/JPL-CalTech HE first Earth-sized exo- can do is eliminate essentially the host star and confirmed detects that as a variation in planet orbiting within the all other possibilities so that that there were no other stel- the star’s total light output habitable zone of another star the validity of these planets is lar size objects orbiting within and evidence for planets. So has been confirmed by obser- really the only viable option.” this radius from the star. far more than 3,800 possible vations with both the W. M. With such a small host star, Augmenting this, the Keck AO planets have been detected by Keck Observatory and the the team employed a tech- observations probed a larger this technique with Kepler.

The Gemini data utilized the Gemini Observatory. nique that eliminated the pos- region around the star but to The initial discovery, made sibility that either a back- fainter limits. According to Differential Speckle Survey Instrument (DSSI) on the by the NASA’s Kepler Space ground star or a stellar com- Quintana, “These Earth-sized planets Gemini North telescope. DSSI Telescope, is one of a handful panion could be mimicking of smaller planets found by what Kepler detected. To do are extremely hard to detect is a visiting instrument develKepler and verified using this, the team obtained and confirm, and now that oped by a team led by Howell large ground-based tele- extremely high spatial resolu- we’ve found one, we want to who adds, “DSSI on Gemini scopes. It also confirms that tion observations from the search for more. Gemini and Rocks! With this combination, Earth-sized planets do exist in eight-meter Gemini North tel- Keck will no doubt play a large we can probe down into this the habitable zone of other escope on Mauna Kea in role in these endeavors.” star system to a distance of The host star, Kepler-186, is about four times that between stars.

Hawai`i using a technique “What makes this finding called speckle imaging, as well an M1-type dwarf star relative- Earth and the Sun. It’s simply particularly compelling is as adaptive optics (AO) obser- ly close to our solar system, at remarkable that we can look that this Earth-sized planet, vations from the ten-meter about 500 light years and is in inside other solar systems.” one of five orbiting this star, Keck II telescope, Gemini’s the constellation of Cygnus. DSSI works on a principle that which is cooler than the Sun, neighbor on Mauna Kea. The star is very dim, being over utilizes multiple short exporesides in a temperate region Together, these data allowed half a million times fainter sures of an object to capture where water could exist in liq- the team to rule out sources than the faintest stars we can and remove the noise introuid form,” says Elisa Quintana close enough to the star’s line- see with the naked eye. Five duced by atmospheric turbuof the SETI Institute and NASA of-sight to confound the small planets have been found lence producing images with detail.

Ames Research Center who Kepler evidence, and conclude orbiting this star, four of extreme Observations with the W.M. led the paper published in the that Kepler’s detected signal which are in very short-period current issue of the journal has to be from a small planet orbits and are very hot. Keck Observatory used the The planet designated Natural Guide Star Adaptive Science. The region in which transiting its host star. this planet orbits its star is “The Keck and Gemini data Kepler-186f, however, is earth- Optics system with the NIRC2 called the habitable zone, as it are two key pieces of this puz- sized and orbits within the camera on the Keck II teleis thought that life would zle,” says Quintana. “Without star’s habitable zone. The scope. NIRC2 (the Nearmost likely form on planets these complementary obser- Kepler evidence for this plane- Infrared Camera, second genwith liquid water. vations we wouldn’t have tary system comes from the eration) works in combinaSteve Howell, Kepler’s been able to confirm this detection of planetary tran- tion with the Keck II adaptive Project Scientist and a co- Earth-sized planet.” sits. These transits can be optics system to obtain very author on the paper, adds that The Gemini “speckle” data thought of as tiny eclipses of sharp images at near-infrared neither Kepler (nor any tele- directly imaged the system to the host star by a planet (or wavelengths, achieving spascope) is currently able to within about 400 million planets) as seen from Earth. tial resolutions comparable to directly spot an exoplanet of miles (about 4 AU, approxi- When such planets block part or better than those achieved this size and proximity to its mately equal to the orbit of of the star’s light, its total by the Hubble Space host star. “However, what we Jupiter in our solar system) of brightness diminishes. Kepler

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Vitamin B3 might have been made in space, delivered to Earth by meteorites NCIENt Earth might have A had an extraterrestrial supply of vitamin B3 delivered by carbon-rich meteorites, according to a new analysis by NASA-funded researchers. The result supports a theory that the origin of life may have been assisted by a supply of key molecules created in space and brought to Earth by comet and meteor impacts.

“It is always difficult to put a value on the connection between meteorites and the origin of life; for example, earlier work has shown that vitamin B3 could have been produced non-biologically on ancient Earth, but it’s possible that an added source of vitamin B3 could have been helpful,” said Karen Smith of Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pa. “Vitamin B3, also called nicotinic acid or niacin, is a precursor to NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), which is essential to metabolism and likely very ancient in origin.” Smith is lead author of a paper on this research, along with co-authors from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., now available online in the journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta.

This is not the first time vitamin B3 has been found in meteorites. In 2001 a team led

by Sandra Pizzarello of Arizona State University, in Tempe discovered it along with related molecules called pyridine carboxylic acids in the Tagish Lake meteorite.

In the new work at Goddard’s Astrobiology Analytical Laboratory, Smith and her team analyzed samples from eight different carbon-rich meteorites, called “CM-2 type carbonaceous chondrites” and found vitamin B3 at levels ranging from about 30 to 600 parts-per-billion. They also found other pyridine carboxylic acids at similar concentrations and, for the first time, found pyridine dicarboxylic acids.

“We discovered a pattern — less vitamin B3 (and other pyridine carboxylic acids) was found in meteorites that came from asteroids that were more altered by liquid water. One possibility may be that these molecules were destroyed during the prolonged contact with liquid water,” said Smith. “We also performed preliminary laboratory experiments simulating conditions in interstellar space and showed that the synthesis of vitamin B3 and other pyridine carboxylic acids might be possible on ice grains.”

Scientists think the solar system formed when a dense cloud of gas, dust, and ice grains collapsed under its own gravity. Clumps of dust and ice aggregated into comets and asteroids, some of which collided together to form moon-sized objects or planetesimals, and some of those eventually merged to become planets.

Space is filled with radia-

tion from nearby stars as well as from violent events in deep space like exploding stars and black holes devouring matter. This radiation could have powered chemical reactions in the cloud (nebula) that formed the solar system, and some of those reactions may have produced biologically important molecules like vitamin B3.

Asteroids and comets are considered more or less pristine remnants from our solar system’s formation, and many meteorites are prized samples from asteroids that happen to be conveniently delivered to Earth. However, some asteroids are less pristine than others.

Asteroids can be altered shortly after they form by chemical reactions in liquid water. As they grow, asteroids incorporate radioactive material present in the solar system nebula. If enough radioactive material accumulates in an asteroid, the heat produced as it decays will be sufficient to melt ice inside the asteroid. Researchers can determine how much an asteroid was altered by water by examining chemical and mineralogical signatures of water alteration in meteorites from those asteroids.

When asteroids collide with meteoroids or other asteroids, pieces break off and some of them eventually make their way to Earth as meteorites. Although meteorites are valued samples from asteroids, they are rarely recovered immediately after they fall to Earth. This leaves them vulnerable to contamination from terrestrial chemistry and life.

The team doubts the vitamin B3 and other molecules found in their meteorites came from terrestrial life for two reasons. First, the vitamin B3 was found along with its structural isomers — related molecules that have the same chemical formula but whose atoms are attached in a different order. These other molecules aren’t used by life.

Non-biological chemistry tends to produce a wide variety of molecules — basically everything permitted by the materials and conditions present — but life makes only the molecules it needs. If contamination from terrestrial life was the source of the vitamin B3 in the meteorites, then only the vitamin should have been found, not the other, related molecules.

Second, the amount of vitamin B3 found was related to how much the parent asteroids had been altered by water. This correlation with conditions on the asteroids would be unlikely if the vitamin came from contamination on Earth.

The team plans to conduct additional interstellar chemistry experiments under more realistic conditions to better understand how vitamin B3 can form on ice grains in space. “We used pyridinecarbon dioxide ice in the initial experiment,” said Smith.

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32 | SCIENCEGUARDIAN Thursday, April 24, 2014

‘Nigeria capable of hosting proposed African Centre for Disease Control, Medicines Agency’ Nigeria and indeed the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, was again celebrated at the just concluded first ever African Ministers of Health meeting organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Luanda, Angola, for its contribution towards the establishment of proposed African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC) and African Medicines Agency (AMA) as well as being the first Minister of Health since late Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti to head African Union (AU) conference of Health Ministers. Chukwu in this interview with journalists said the country is a pole position to become the hub for ACDC and AMA because it has the best disease surveillance system in Africa, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), and has functional CDC and National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Chukwu also said the country has attained 82 per cent immunization coverage and is working hard towards developing vaccines for Ebola virus disease, Dengue fever, Lassa fever; among other issues. CHUKWUMA MUANYA was there. Excerpts: HAT is your position on W the whole concept of African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC)?

Well, you know the whole idea is towards greater integration in Africa because see our problems are the same. In any case many of these countries in Africa were recently created, less than 100 years. So in every facets of life we move towards greater and greater integration. Now the first time this matter was raised came during the meeting which Mr. President convened which was the Abuja Plus 12 Summit in July last year.

So at the Executive Board meeting, which you know is the meeting that precedes every African Union (AU) Summit, the AU executive meeting is the meeting of ministers of foreign affairs.

But as it happened just before the meeting proper, the Minister of Foreign Affairs handed over to me because he had other engagements.

Actually Nigeria was the first to offer to host the ACDC followed by Ethiopia and since then we have been working towards it. At the last AU Summit, which I was opportune to attend with Mr.

President it was inconclusive even though Ethiopia brought it up.

The decision is that we should still do more consultation and I believe what we are saying here is still part of that consultation. Many countries outside Africa are willing to support that initiative including the United States of America (USA) and even agencies including the World Health Organization (WHO).

The whole idea is to have a strengthened CDC that can indeed help to ensure diagnosis of public health diseases such that when we have outbreaks like we have in West Africa, Ebola that will be the Centre that will take the lead in investigating and treating cases. Now, it coincides with what Nigeria has also started doing. Some of you will recall that in 2010 Nigeria hosted something that has never being done before, which is a country calling its own neighbours to discuss disease control.

The WHO also acknowledged that was the first time in the world that a single country will have to call its neighbours to discuss disease control. Mr. President on that occasion was represented by

Chukwu Mr. Vice President and during that occasion because of what I had said as Minister of Health and what United States CDC had said.

Mr. Vice President speaking on behalf of Mr. President directed the Minister of

Health to begin serious work on establishing the Nigeria CDC. As you know the White Paper has been published on Oronsaye Committee Committees recommendations and the White Paper says that Nigeria must establish a Nigeria CDC as an entity, the federal ministry of health supervises which will be of course. Something is happening and that was why speaking earlier today I requested that Nigeria is indeed offering again to be one of the hubs for Africa CDC. We also want to know the position of Nigeria to the proposal for the establishment of African Medicines Agency (AMA)?

Of course again we are in the lead for that. Not many countries have been able to establish a similar body like the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). I have always said that before the Nigeria CDC there were two institutions all over the world they look for in Nigeria. One of course is NAFDAC and the second is Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

These two establishments have not easily being replicated in other countries but other countries are now seeing the use of these two establishments. So Nigeria is solidly behind this establishment of a common body that can regulate drugs within Africa. You will recall also that at the WHO it was Nigeria that championed a resolution, even though it took us three years, the resolution was passed by the World Health Assembly (WHA) calling for stricter control of regulation of drugs around the world.

Let us take you back to Ebola virus; while you were making your presentation you said that there is need for concerted effort by African countries to curtail the spread. What exactly do we need as African countries to defeat Ebola virus disease?

What we need is what we have always said since 2010 when

we called that meeting on cross boarder infection control. Infection does not care for passport of visa, disease just moves across borders. So it is not something a single country can contain and that was why what happened recently, an outbreak that started in Guinea before you know it, it has spread to three other countries.

Now you are talking about Liberia, Sierra Leone and Mali.

Other countries are contiguous to them, so even Nigeria is under threat. So the kind of control you need must be a joint effort because you have joint border issues. In fairness to the Ministers of Health from Africa, so much has been done to be honest for instance the establishment of African Public Health Response Fund, that is important to have a common pool of funds so that when a country has a problem it can actually apply for such funding within Africa, and now we are talking about the African CDC. Assuming the African Ministers of Health accepts your proposal for the establishment of the CDC and AMA in Nigeria, will you say we have the wherewithal to run that?

Yes we have. On the continent of African Nigeria presently have the best disease surveillance system according to the WHO. Of course we still have a lot of work to do but there is no doubt now that our system is firm on ground. Even the Governors have told me that they are so impressed with the way we respond to their cry for help at any time. We know we still have a lot do, to make it what it should be. But certainly according to WHO, we have the best in Africa.

Are we vying for this?

Of course, I told you we were the first to make the offer in Abuja, the first time the matter was presented to the executive committee of the AUC, and Nigeria made the first offer then followed by Ethiopia.

Talking about Universal

Health Coverage (UHC), what is Nigeria’s position?

The President convened a Summit and we have taken declarations, so we are taking the declarations one after the other. You know the executive alone cannot do much of it, it will require the National Assembly but when the speaker of the House of Representative visited the National Hospital. I was there when he came in, and after he spoke to the media. One of the points he made was that very soon they would also pass the National Health Bill (NHB).

That is part of UHC even in the concept of what recently happened in Nigeria. In that NHB that was passed by the Senate there is going to be a regular sum provided for this kind of incidence. Once you have any emergency such as this, it does not matter; there is already a pool of funds from which Government will pay.

You made a statement that health workers should attend emergency patients with gunshots wounds with or without Police Report, how do you intend to achieve and enforce this?

That is a position we took, first you need the law. Now the NHB says clearly that no health worker can refuse medical emergency. Once it becomes as Act it means that I as a doctor, if I did that I will be guilty and can actually be convicted.

But you need also to ensure that the health practitioners, the healthcare providers are not put at a disadvantage.

That is why in that same Bill money has been provided for so that if you are healthcare providers as soon as you are treating them you fill the necessary forms so that you will be able to make claims for your money. That is how it works.

You were today celebrated at the floor of the First African Ministers of Health Meeting here in Luanda, Angola, as the first Nigeria Health Minister for over 15 years to head such a forum. What is the forum all about and what has it been able to advance?

Today were going to have the third meeting of the sixth conference. From what the secretariat tells me, Nigeria has been the most active chairmanship because within one year we have had three meetings. The second meeting, the last one, was in Abuja on the margins of Abuja Plus 12. It is very important, some of the decisions of the AU Summit by Heads of Governments are actually moved from our meetings as recommendation and they will now approve it.

Even the idea of having this unified meeting was first a decision taken by us under my chairmanship, then we sent it to the AU Summit, the Presidents endorsed it. It was from there they wrote to the WHO and said lets have this meeting and eventually the CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

Thursday, April 24, 2014

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NaturalHealth IGERIAN researchers have N validated a local plant, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, to be useful in the management of alcohol-related complications by scavenging radicals produced during ethanol metabolism and accelerating ethanol clearance to reduce blood ethanol levels.

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius is a perennial shrub of the Family Euphorbiaceae commonly found in the tropics. It is commonly eaten as vegetable in soup condiment in South Western Nigeria where it is called Iyana Ipaja. It is called Ogwu obala (blood tonic), by the Ibos of South East Nigeria; and Chaya (hospital is too far) in Delta State.

According to a recent study published in Journal of Natural Sciences Research by researchers Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, oral administration of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius leaf extract increased blood ethanol clearance rate in a dose dependent manner.

The study is titled “Effect of The Dry Aqueous Leaf Extract Of Cnidoscolus Aconitifolius On Blood Alcohol Clearance In Rabbits.”

According to another study published in African Journal of Biotechnology, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius has ameliorative effects of on anaemia and osmotic fragility induced by protein energy malnutrition.

Protein energy malnutrition has been associated with anaemia and changes in osmotic fragility, deformability and lifespan of erythrocytes, which is a common feature in sickle cell anaemia.

The researchers induced protein-energy malnutrition in weanling male Wister rats by feeding them low protein diet for three weeks, which was associated with significantly reduced haematological indices: packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), platelet counts and mean corpuscular count (MCV). It was also associated with increased erythrocyte osmotic fragility at 0.5 to 0.7 per cent NaCl (Sodium Chloride)/saline concentration.

According to the researchers, upon introduction of recovery diets containing 20 per cent soya protein or 20 per cent C. aconitifolius in place of soya protein or 10 per cent soya proteins with 10 per cent C. aconitifolius or commercial rat feed for four weeks, the recovery diet containing 10 per cent soya and 10 per cent C. aconitifolius caused the most significant increase in platelet count, WBC, MCV, MCH and MCHC when compared with all the other treated groups and the malnourished group.

The group fed with 20 per cent C. aconitifolius in place of 20 per cent soya protein also caused the most significant elevation in RBC, PCV and Hb compared with the malnourished group.

The researchers wrote: “The effects of diet containing 20 per cent soya protein and commercial feed on PCV, Hb, platelet and all other haematological indices were not significantly different from each other. On osmotic fragility, the recovery diet containing a mixture of 10 per cent C. aconiti-

Local plant validated for sickle cell, alcohol toxicity treatment

High-fat diet increases breast cancer risk IGH total and saturated H fat intake were associated with greater risk of estrogen receptor- and progesterone receptor-positive (ER+PR+) breast cancer (BC), and human epidermal growth factor 2 receptor-negative (HER2-) disease, according to a new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Published data from epidemiological and case-control studies on the association between high fat intake and BC risk have been conflicting, which may be attributable to difficulties obtaining accurate information on fat intake and because of limited heterogeneity of intake within a specific geographic area from which the study cohorts live.

Furthermore, BC is now classified clinically into subtypes by ER, PR, and HER2 expression status and each subtype has its own prognosis and set of risk factors, which may also contribute to the inconsistencies in the published reports on this relationship.

‘Why antibacterial soap is pointless’ NTIBACTERIAL soap is A pointless because most people do not use it correctly,

*Cnidoscolus aconitifolius... commonly called Iyana Ipaja in Yoruba and Ogwu obala (blood tonic) in Ibo

A local plant commonly called Iyana Ipaja in Yoruba and Ogwu obala (blood tonic) in Ibo has been validated to be effective in the treatment of sickle anaemia and alcohol-related diseases by increasing the life span of red blood cells and clearance of blood alcohol in dose dependent manner, among others. CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes. folius and 10 per cent soya protein produced the highest reduction of osmotic fragility, followed closely by the diet containing 20 per cent C. aconitifolius which produced greater effects than the feed containing only soya meal as the protein source or commercial rat feed which produced the lowest reduction in osmotic fragility.

“From the results of this study, it can be deduced that C. aconitifoliushas haematopoetic property and by reducing osmotic fragility in protein energy malnutrition, it can increase the life span of erythrocytes.”

Until now, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius has been demonstrated to contain phenols, saponins, cardiac glycosides and Phlobatannin. High fiber content and antibacterial activities of this plant have been reported. Apart from the antibacterial activities, the ameliorative effect of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius on anaemia and increased erythrocyte osmotic fragility induced by protein energy malnutrition (PEM) has been reported while its anti-diabetic property has also been elucidated.

The plant has been reportedly used in the management of diabetes, obesity, kidney stones, hemorrhoids, acne,

and eye problems. Cnidoscolus aconitifolius shoots and leaves have been taken as a laxative, diuretic, circulation stimulant; to improve digestion, stimulate lactation, while the aqueous leaf extract has also been recommended as a female contraceptive.

Meanwhile, ethanol is not only a pharmacological substance, but one of the few nutrients that are profoundly toxic. Thus, excessive ethanol ingestion disturbs the metabolism of most nutrients and tissues in the body. Excessive ethanol consumption has been reported to initiate a wide range of enormous problems that culminate in the death of alcohol addicts.

Although there are no accurate data to describe the frequency of such deaths in Nigeria, speculations indicates a high percentage. The alterations in cytosolic and mitochondrial NAD+/NADH ratios initiate the metabolic disturbances associated with alcohol consumption. These metabolic changes in turn elicit series of cascade–like biochemical events that culminate in the diverse health problems common among alcoholics.

In spite of the health risk associated with heavy alcohol consumption, alcohol abuse and addiction have continued to grow posing serious prob-

lems to many societies.

Therefore, the search for antiintoxicating substances capable of ameliorating the associated metabolic disturbances and reversing the effects of alcohol in the body would be of interest in Africa, particularly in the Delta regions of Nigeria where alcohol consumption is known to be very high.

According the Delta State University researchers, it is on this note that the treatment value of some supportive agents that could enhance the elimination of alcohol from bloodstream was investigated.

Available evidence suggests that the use of amantadine, naloxone, benzodiazepine receptor inverse agonist, Ro 154513, and gelatin - containing 50 mg methylene blue have not yielded beneficial results in humans. Oral fructose has been demonstrated to enhance the metabolic clearance of ingested alcohol, but its use has remained a contentious issue. “It is on this note that the treatment value of some supportive agents that could enhance the elimination of alcohol from bloodstream was investigated,” the researchers said.

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius has been claimed traditionally to possess medicinal properties such as strengthening of fin-

ger nails and darkening of gray hair, treating alcoholism, insomnia, gout, scorpion sting, brain and vision improvement.

Interestingly, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius has been acclaimed to have anti-intoxicating property in folk medicine of Nigeria but this claim have not been substantiated with scientific data. “Hence, this present research therefore attempts to investigate the effect of the aqueous leaf extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius on blood alcohol,” the researchers said.

The Delta State University researchers wrote: “The stimulatory effect of aqueous leaf extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius on ethanol clearance (disappearance) rate has been a traditional way in the handling of ethanol intoxication in some part of Nigeria. But pieces of scientific evidences to substantiate this achieved claims has not yet being documented.

“Previous studies have shown the use of certain compounds such as fructose to stimulate the disappearance rate of ethanol, but this has recorded little success in the management of alcoholism.

The peak blood alcohol level (pBAL) was reduced from 0.121

CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

a researcher has claimed.

The increasingly popular product has little or no benefit for most people because they do not wash their hands for long enough.

Dr. Rolf Halden, from the Center for Environmental Security, at Arizona State University, United States, says the soaps are beneficial in hospitals where people know how to use them, but that they are pointless in the home.

He said that to kill bacteria people need to wash their hands with antibacterial soap for 20 to 30 seconds, but that most people only do so for an average of six seconds.

As a result, he says antibacterial soaps will be no more effective than other soaps, Live Science reports.

Halden adds that miicrobes can also adapt to antibacterial ingredients in the soaps, meaning they become resistant to them.

He believes this could even increase their resistance to antibiotics which could make it more difficult for doctors to treat infections.

Halden has also warned that there is some evidence to suggest the chemicals in antibacterial soaps can affect our hormone levels.

During the last 20 years, the number of products containing triclosan and triclocarban – antimicrobial chemicals – has soared.

Halden says the soaps are effective in hospitals where staff know they have to wash their hands for between 20 and 30 seconds to kill bacteria effectively.

As a result, some three-quarters of people in the U.S. now have the substances in their urine.

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SCIENCE HEALTH Thursday, April 24, 2014

Nigerian delegates, led by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, at the just concluded first ever African Ministers of Health meeting organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Luanda, Angola PHOTO: CHUKWUMA MUANYA

CHAN adopts advocacy tool to advance quality health care

By Chukwuma Muanya ETERMINEDto reach out to D the three tiers of government in the quest to provide

quality health care to the public at subsidised cost, the Christian Health Association of Nigeria (CHAN) has devised advocacy tool kits for its member organisations.

Director of Advocacy and Information Management System of CHAN, Mr. David Omorebokhae, told journalists in Abuja during a National Advocacy Committee meeting to that advocacy is the act of pleading for or supporting something, most commonly a cause, idea or movement.

Omorebokhae said the Christian based Non Governmental Organisation is also collaborating with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). “Given the fact that Nigeria has no extant legislation that recognises and supports agencies that provide between 30 to 70 per cent of health care to the citizenry, it has become necessary for providers to devise ways to optimise their services,” he said.

Omorebokhae added: “This is particularly so for the faithbased providers which are not strictly run to maximise profit. Despite their non-profit

profile, the faith-based health care centres are saddled with enormous overheads ranging from salaries of workers to consumables as well as basic infrastructure within their areas of operation.”

The two-day meeting took place at Pope John Paul Center, Wuse 2, Abuja.

Omorebokhae said the meeting essentially was to review National advocacy programme/activities and to plan for the next one year.

Participants were drawn from the Mission institutions and various State Advocacy Committees and from the Media.

In the course of the pro-

gramme, members discussed extensively on partnership, and this was followed by a high level meeting /discussion with representatives of NPHCDA were they worked on an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for future collaboration in the spirit of Public Private Partnership (PPP).

In addition, as a faith based organistion and strong voice in furtherance of the spirit of partnership, CHAN also met with National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Federation of Muslim Women of Nigeria (FOMWAN) to forge a partnership to engage to the National Assembly and other government parastatals and MDAs. Omorebokhae further stated: “This organisation has been doing that since the strategy was launched in 2003 and it has paid off for several of its member institutions in some states.

“It is taking action to help people say what they want, secure their rights, represent their interests and obtain services needed. Advocacy is supporting any cause with the utmost compassion. You may be an advocate for the humane treatment. Some state governments have responded to our pleas, so also donor organisations in our desire to reach the most vulnerable in the society with quality health care.”

Omorebokhae stated that partnership is at the core of CHAN’s recent strategy session in Abuja to avail stakeholders of the importance of advocacy in reaching the desired goal.

During the meeting, a team of the NPHCDA led by the Director of Community Health Services, Dr. Emmanuel Odu, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CHAN and NPHCDA aimed at promoting directly or indirectly, the health and economic well-being of people through primary health care programmes and contributing to the advancement of the people of Nigeria.

Odu said the intention is to foster closer cooperation between the two organisations in Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) services, midwifery services, vaccines, immunization programmes, among others.

Also, representations of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria joined the meeting so as to put hands together as an inter-faith advocacy group to the National Assembly. They also discussed issues of effective engagement with the Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in order to receive more support in the health care delivery project.

Secretary General of CHAN, Dr. Daniel Gobgan, said that the body was also exploring the opportunity of a similar MoU with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) so as to enable vulnerable Nigerians enroll into the scheme. The highlights of the event was the presentation of the various delegates from the zones and states on how they had used the instrument of advocacy to drive health care within the member institutions in their areas of operation.

Gobgan reiterated the contribution of the church-sponsored health facilities in the provision of health care to the poor and vulnerable segment of the Nigerian society. He said the institutions were legacies established by missionaries while propagating the gospel and healing ministry of Jesus Christ.

Gobgan said: “Today, like yesteryears, the contribution of member-institutions (MIs) to the health of Nigerians is notable. To that extent, about four out of every ten Nigerians assess health services from our over 450 MIs with over 4000 health posts scattered across Nigeria. This makes CHAN a strong ally to the government in the health service delivery system.

“Since maternal and infant mortality is very high in this part of the world, there is still much to be done. He said current figures would have been worse but for the memberinstitutions’ efforts at complementing government’s care centres.

“We are here to seek for ways to improve the resources

that flow into the church health sector to further ensure that CHAN plays a pivotal role in the actualisation of Universal Health Coverage as provided for in the recently passed Health Bill. I, therefore join several other Nigerians to call on Mr. President to not only assent the bill, but to also see to it that CHAN and its MIs are assigned definite roles with clear targets in contributing to the actualisation of these provisions.”

Gobgan commended the leadership of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and that of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for their partnership with them. He stressed that when the collaborations are concretised, it would contribute to enhancing the health of Nigerians in a significant quantum. He added that his body has been a willing partner with government in the health care delivery project, but it appears their gestures had not been reciprocated.

Gobgan listed the challenges impeding the effectiveness of CHAN as the lack of policy legislation supporting the contributions of faithbased health institutions to health care delivery in Nigeria, absence of subventions and sundry support, among others from the government at the centre.

He further explained: “Health is on the concurrent list of responsibilities of government according to the constitution, therefore, all tiers of government have responsibilities. It is estimated that almost 45 per cent of services are rendered by the private sector most of these being mission service sites at both primary and secondary levels.

“Clearly, 40 to 70 per cent of functional health care delivery system in Nigeria is provided by the private sector, made up mostly of faithbased organisations (FBOs) health facilities. It is therefore a social and security imperative for government to work with FBOs to make policy and legislation that recognise and provide regular support to their engagement in health care delivery in Nigeria.”

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Thursday, APRIL 24, 2014 SCIENCE & HEALTH

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Imperative of good nutrition to national health, economic devt President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), Prof. Ngozi Nnam aligns with the position that improving a nation’s health indices requires adequate attention from stakeholders and policy makers in creating necessary nutrition awareness and implementing policies. In an interaction with reporters, she justified this position as well as other ways to aid a healthy and economic well being of Nigerians. WOLE OYEBADE was there. Excerpts.

S nutritionist, what are A your major concerns today?

We have nutrition statistics that are not looking good.

Almost two in every five Nigerians have stunted growth (37 per cent), three out of 10 are underweight (29 per cent), and two in every 10 are wasting.

Our major concern is having nutrition issues on the front burner, ensuring that awareness gets to the grassroots, as part of efforts to improve nutrition status of all Nigerians. As a country, we are yet to realize that nutrition is the bedrock of national development. Quality personnel is the greatest asset necessary for development.

For an individual to develop well, he or she must be in a state of good nutrition status.

It is only people that feed well, combine their food well and are in a state of good nutrition status that can maximize their potential in life and be able to make significant contribution to the development of the nation. That makes nutrition very important to

individual and national development.

It must be known that what contribute to normal development of an individual are nutrients that they eat in foods. It is not just eating that is the issue, but what is eaten as food that translates into good health that helps them contribute to development.

At what stage of life is nutrition most significant to a child’s development?

From conception of a baby, nutrition content of the mother starts taking effect, and if it is compromised, wellbeing of the baby is at risk.

Individual must be in good nutrition status always, starting from the mother prior to conception and during the period of gestation when 70 per cent of the brain develops.

As the baby comes to life, the brain fully develops within the first two years of life, which also mean that the mother and the baby must have good nutrition base.

Where the mother has deficiencies, it is transferred to the baby, which explains why some children are not intelli-

Nnnam gent.

That is why we place premium on exclusive breastfeeding for the first six-month of life, to ensure the baby gets all the nutrients that are relevant for brain development. After six month, the infant must get adequate complementary foods that are rich in all necessary micronutrients.

Iron, iodine, protein and folic acid are all important for normal brain development. The brain controls everything we do in life. The important thing about brain develop-

ment is that it is irreversible. It is either individual have their brains well formed from the beginning or not. That is why we are emphasizing that nutrition is closely linked to development. Studies have shown that babies born to mothers with iodine deficiencies have Intelligence Quotient that is reduced by about 13.5 points relative to other individuals with good brain development.

This is also directly linked to Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). If Nigeria ade-

quately provides the right nutrition for mothers, prior to conception and during period of gestation, their children will be in the state of adequate nutrition, which will control health formation.

People who eat fruits rich in vitamin A would have very good sight coupled with the fact that it is also a very good antioxidant for immunity that fights infections. That is why the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, partnering with Unilever, has taken the lead in ensuring that nutrition knowledge gets to the populace.

We have observed that the lack of nutrition is the major reason why individuals are malnourished. A situation where many of our children are stunted (four out of 10), that means the child is already too short for his or her age, because of nutrient deficiencies while growing up. By the time a child is stunted, many developing parts of the body will be compromised.

About 37 per cent of Nigerian children are stunted and we are gradually becoming a stunted nation. That is our major concern.

How do you marry high incidence of malnutrition and poverty rate in the country?

Poverty is not the cause of malnutrition in Nigeria, because most of the people that are poor, so to say, have in their environment foods that could put them in good nutritional stead. The prob-

‘Nigeria ready to contain possible Ebola virus outbreak, host proposed ACDC, AMA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32 WHO agreed. So it has been effective as a way of actualizing those resolutions.

April 25 is World Malaria Day. As we celebrate there is overwhelming report that the malaria parasite has become resistant even to the drug of choice, Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT).

Many Nigerians are reporting treatment failures for malaria.

What are you doing about this?

Yes! Mind you that even in Nigeria not everybody has bought in, when I say everybody I mean the care providers, the doctors and others. Not everybody has bought into the idea that our National Health Policy says the first choice for treating malaria is ACT. Some people are still prescribing Chloroquine as first choice. So we still have a lot of work to do but it is catching on. The issue of drug resistant, you remember that some years ago the WHO made it as the theme of its World Health Day when we decided to talk about resistance to antimicrobials.

Now the organisms are not sleeping, they are fighting back. So the parasite for malaria is fighting back. The Plasmodium, they are all fighting back. What we thought we should do is that before they fully reorganize their own brigade to do the major war, which we are not even sure we will win, lets continue the surprise attack on them, that was why we have taken a decision that we want to eliminate malaria from Nigeria.

Unfortunately there are so many distractions in our polity because right now before the National Economic Council (NEC) where the Governors sit along with federal government.

Mr. President has directed that we should also strength-

en larviciding as part of the overall strategy for fighting malaria. So we are hoping that quickly NEC will approve of that which will be a major victory for all Nigerians because it means that the states and the federal government will be working together towards doing larviciding along with the use of nets and other strategies. But even the insecticides that have been used in impregnating the mosquito nets, you find out that the malaria parasite, Plasmodium, is also developing resistance. So we have a battle to do but the earlier we proceed, the better for us.

The World Immunization Week is here. What is the level of immunization coverage in the country? What are you doing about the global shortage in vaccines?

There was a time we had vaccines stock out but that has been resolved. Right now for routine immunization the federal government has committed funds that will take us up to the first quarter of next year. We are hoping we can push further because we don’t want the elections to affect whatever we are doing. If we can add a little more to make sure we have funds and have guarantees that the whole of 2015 will also be covered. But right now we have covered up to January 2015.

We are working harder to go further than that. We are doing a survey to actually know the true position in terms of our immunization coverage. But administrative data for now suggest that we have 82 per cent coverage.

That is administrative data but we are embarking on a direct survey to know the actual.

The issue of vaccine shortage is still a problem globally especially in the northern parts of the country. What are you doing to address this?

We were already beginning

to celebrate that since the beginning of the year we have had only one case of Wild Polio Virus (WPV). But we have a big surprise right now because the second case is coming from somewhere that has been polio free for years that is Bayelsa.

We are wondering how come Bayelsa is getting a case now. It is very worrisome but we are investigating and that is why we delayed the second National Immunization Day in Bayelsa. We are resuming now because we wanted to conclude our investigation. We need to trace the source because the Local Government where it happened, Ekeremor is a fishing kind of community and there are movements. We do not even know whether it came from outside Nigeria, which is a possibility because some of the countries that share the Gulf of Guinea with us have been having reversals of late. They have been having cases of polio.

It is also possible that they must have moved from there.

These things must also be typed in the laboratory to know the source. You can imagine the concern for the Minister of Health at a place that for years that has been polio free is now reporting the second case this year, which is a big challenge for everyone.

However, the case has not been confirmed.

So we are using this opportunity to again go back. We are working, we are making a lot of consultations, the traditional leaders are working hard, the religious leaders are working with us, everybody, our partners, WHO, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Rotary International, everybody is concerned. So for Nigerians I will say clearly immunization is way.

We count ourselves lucky

whenever we have a disease that is vaccine preventable, that is the only way we can prevent it, that is the only way we can ensure the survival of our children, that is the only way we can even ensure the total well being because we can drive down the cost of living because if you are spending all your money just taking your children to the hospital your salary can never be enough. I am appealing to Nigerians, all the stakeholders, and the media to ensure that we continue to work together so that we make sure that our immunization coverage is up to 100 per cent.

You said earlier that we do not have a vaccine for Ebola Virus Disease, Dengue fever and others. What is happening?

Yes there is a lot of work. But mind you to develop a vaccine is very expensive but work is ongoing whether is for Ebola, whether it is for Lassa fever, whether it is for Dengue work is ongoing. Yes as of today we do not have a vaccine.

The only haemorrhagic fever that has a vaccine is Yellow fever and you know right now Nigeria has resumed campaign to ensure that everybody in Nigeria is immunized apart from the routine immunization, that one is ongoing.

Viral haemorrhagic fever is a general term for a severe illness, sometimes associated with bleeding, that may be caused by a number of viruses.

But right now we have started campaign but the only thing that is hindering us is the availability of vaccine because right now there is shortage of vaccine round the world. Vaccines are being allocated to countries so it is placing a lot of burden but we have started a mass campaign against Yellow Fever.

God forbid. But if we have an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria today, are

we prepared to contain it?

Yes! We are ready. We are ready. That was why we are able to handle a case that people thought was Ebola but turned out to be Dengue. We are ready. We are ready.

What are you taking away from this meeting?

We think one of the outcomes of this meeting will be the sharing of information on Universal Health Coverage and countries learning from each other and the Ministers resolving once again that is the way to go because the Universal Health Coverage covers everything.

lem is not poverty but lack of nutrition knowledge. That is the major cause of malnutrition.

By nutrition knowledge, I mean knowing what to eat, when to eat it and how to combine foods that are locally available and around us to be in the state of good nutrition.

We have been told that foods contain some nutrients, but the problem is combining them according to needs of our body.

That village woman you think is poor is in fact rich in terms of quality food that will ensure adequate nutrition.

They have a lot fruits and vegetables around them. You see them in villages decomposing, but they are things that we need in the components of our food to be in the state of good nutrition status.

We need to really educate our people on what food they need to include in their menu.

When they harvest vegetables and fruits, they don’t have to sell all of them. Adequate diet also does not have to mean expensive food. What is needed is judicious combination of foods that are available.

Right diet should have fruits and vegetables, which are major sources of vitamins and minerals; cassava, cocoa yam among other roots are there to supply carbohydrate; fat and oil are in groundnuts, soya beans, and margarine are all there and not expensive. Protein sources like beans, fish, eggs and so on. All of these are around us and people must endeavour to eat them. If people are well informed, they can make wellinformed choice and feed their family with nutritionally adequate diet within the limit

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38 | NATURAL HEALTH Thursday, April 24, 2014

Herbal remedy for alcohol toxicity, others CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 per cent to 0.112 per cent on administration of 0.5g/kg body weight Cnidoscolus aconitifolius extract and from 0.156 per cent to 0.127 per cent on administration of 1g/kg extract.

“The higher the peak BAL, the more intoxicated an individual is, and this bears no relationship to behavioral disorder. From this study, it appears that the extract might be implicated in the reduced peak BAL. The intoxication time (i.e. time to zero BAL) was reduced on co-administration of ethanol with 0.5 g/kg of the aqueous extract by 7 per cent (from 146 minutes to 137 minutes), which was reduced further upon 1 g/kg extract administration by 25 per cent (from160 minutes to 128 minutes).

“This therefore implies that the lesser the time the faster the ethanol clearance rate and hence increase metabolism.

The most likely reason for this reduced intoxication time might be the ability of the extract at doses of 0.5 g/kg and 1 g/kg, to enhance alcohol clearance from the system, hence increasing alcohol metabolism in the subject.

However, in the presence of the extract, remarkable changes were observed in the kinetics of ethanol metabolism.

“From this investigation, the blood ethanol disappearance rate, 60, (the gradient of the descending limb) and ethanol elimination rate, BEER, upon administration of 0.5 g/kg extract were found to be 0.088 per cent/hour and 241.10 mg/kg/hour respectively, while for 1 g/kg dose extract was 0.090 per cent/h and 268.10 mg/kg/h. The administration of 1 g/kg showed a faster disappearance rate compared with the ethanol treatment alone.

“The mechanism by which the aqueous extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius accelerates alcohol metabolism is uncertain, it is suggested that the extract might have delayed gastric emptying and hence reduces alcohol absorption.

This allows increased first-pass metabolism, which decreases alcohol bioavailability.

“In the presence of the aqueous extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, remarkable changes were observed in the kinetics of ethanol metabolism. From this investigation, the blood ethanol disappearance rate, 60, and the ethanol elimination rate, BEER, obtained on administration of the aqueous extract at doses of 0.5 g/kg and 1 g/kg with ethanol revealed a faster disappearance rate. Although, the mechanism by which Cnidoscolus aconitifolius accelerates alcohol metabolism is uncertain and hence needs further investigations, this current research further supports the traditional claim of using the aqueous Cnidoscolus aconitifolius extract on ethanol as an amethystic agent.”

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius leaf extract has also been shown to protect against hepatic damage induced by chronic ethanol administration.

The study published in Alcohol and Alcoholism focused on the possible protective effect of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius leaf extract (CA) against hepatic damage induced by

chronic ethanol administration in rats.

Male Wistar rats were distributed into seven groups of six rats each. The first group was the control, second group received 20 per cent ethanolonly (7.9 g/kg), third and fourth groups were pre-treated with CA (100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively) before treatment with ethanol. The fifth and sixth groups received CA and kolaviron (KV; 200 mg/kg), respectively, while the seventh group received KV and ethanol. KV served as the reference antioxidant.

The results of the study showed that ethanol-treated rats had significantly elevated serum and liver post-mitochondrial malondialdehyde, an index of lipid peroxidation.

They wrote: “Ethanol toxicity lowered the antioxidant defense indices, such as reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Specifically, the activities of hepatic SOD and CAT decreased by 48 and 51 per cent, respectively, while the level of GSH decreased by 56 per cent.

“In addition, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and lowdensity lipoproteins-cholesterol levels were significantly elevated in ethanol-treated rats. Also, significant elevation in serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, and glutamyl transferase activities were observed in ethanoltreated rats.

“Supplementation with CA significantly decreased the activities of liver marker enzymes, stabilized the lipid profiles and restored the antioxidants status of ethanoltreated rats. The activities of CA were comparable with KV in the ethanol-treated rats.

This observation was supported by histopathological examination of liver slides.

“These findings suggest the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of CA leaf extract, which offered protection against ethanol-induced toxicity.”

The result of another study published in American Journal of PharmTech Research, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius suggested the comparative richness of the leaves in fibre, high nitrogen free extract (carbohydrate) and essential minerals.

They concluded: “Properly prepared leaves are therefore recommended for daily consumption in order to supplement the recommended daily intake of nutrients and minerals and hence prevent nutritional and electrolyte deficiency disorders.”

The study is titled “Nutritional and Electrolyte Values of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Chaya) leaves consumed in Niger Delta, Nigeria.”

The researchers from Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State; University of Port Harcourt; University of Cape Town, South Africa; Imo State University Owerri, Imo State; and University of Uyo, AkwaIbom State, evaluated the nutritive and electrolyte values of edible plants currently essential for human nutrition and safety.

The work assessed the proximate and mineral composition of the leaves of Chaya plant (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius) consumed in Niger Delta Nigeria for medicinal

and nutritional purposes.

The study showed “that the dried leaves of the plant contain 47.03 ±1.02 per cent of nitrogen free extract; 33.04± 3.14 per cent of crude fibre; 7.03±0.23 per cent of crude fat; 4.03±0.67 per cent of crude protein, while moisture and ash made up 6.10±1.10 per cent and 3.04±0.32 per cent, respectively.

“A gram of the dried leaves yielded (in mg) 10±1.2, 20±1.6, 0.01±0.1, 100±5.3, 85±4.32, 18±2.1 and 50±2.3 of Iron, Phosphorus, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese and Calcium, respectively. The energy yield of the leaves was 258±4.5kcal/100 mg.

“These results suggested the comparative richness of the leaves in fibre, high nitrogen free extract (carbohydrate) and essential minerals.

Properly prepared leaves are therefore recommended for daily consumption in order to supplement the recommended daily intake of nutrients and minerals and hence prevent nutritional and electrolyte deficiency disorders.”

Also, another study published in African Health Sciences has demonstrated the ameliorative effects of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius on alloxan toxicity in Wistar rats.

Diabetes has been associated with several complications occasioned by oxidative stress.

Thus, in treatment of the condition, these complications must also be taken into consideration. This study evaluates the effect of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius complications of diabetes induced by alloxan, on haematology and sperm morphometry using the Wistar rats.

Diabetes was induced in 25 rats using alloxan. The diabetic rats were then divided into five groups B–F consisting of five rats per group. Groups C–E were administered with 100mg/kg, 500mg/kg and 1000mg/kg of ethanolic leaves extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, respectively, for four weeks post treatment with alloxan, while group F received Chlorpropamide (Diabenes®, Pfizer). The diabetic rats in group B were not treated while group A served as the non diabetic control.

The researchers wrote: “Following treatment with alloxan, there was anaemia, thrombocytopenia and leucopenia, while the sperm count, motility and live/dead ratio were significantly reduced. Sperm morphological abnormalities and erythrocyte osmotic fragility also increased significantly.

Following treatment of alloxan treated-rats with the extract, there were significant increases in the PCV, RBC, Hb, WBC, MCV and the platelet values. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility, sperm count, motility and live/dead ratio also improved significantly.”

They concluded: “Cnidoscolus aconitifolius extract was found to ameliorate the effects of alloxan induced diabetes on the haematology but not on the abnormal sperm morphometry in rats.”

*Emeribe

MLSCN unfolds fresh plans to combat quackery From: Emeka Anuforo, Abuja HE Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria T (MLSCN) says it is collaborating with relevant stakeholders to ensure the training of over 10,000 laboratory practitioners.

This, the Council says, is part of renewed efforts to churn out well-qualified laboratory practitioners.

Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Prof Anthony Emeribe, said in an interview with The Guardian in Abuja that the fresh effort too ensure professional was part of a five year strategic plan of action which the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria wishes to implement between now and the year 2018.

Speaking on the main plans in the area of human capacity, he stressed: “We have 19 universities accredited by Council. We also have over 40 colleges of health technology.

The 19 universities train medical lab scientists. The over 40 colleges of health technology train medical lab technicians and medical lab assistants.

“Our Council oversees the quality of the training.

Council also gives approval for their carrying capacity.

Our plan is that over the next 10 years, we should have added 10, 000 to the stock of what we have now, taking into cognizance the carrying capacity in every university and the various colleges of health technology.”

He frowned at the level of quackery in the medical laboratory practice, and said every effort would be put in to ensure that the issue is combated head- on.

His words: “MLSCN recognizes the enormous responsibilities it is saddled with in the enabling act. Council appreciates that planning is a critical component of good governance and management. Planning ensures that an organization remains relevant and responsive to the needs of its stakeholders and the society and contributes to organizational stability and growth. This provides a basis for monitoring progress,

assessing results and impact which facilitates new programme development.

“Our strategic planning will enable Council as an organization to look into the future in an orderly and systematic way in line with its shared vision.

From a governance perspective, it enables our board to also set policies and goals to guide the organization and provides a clear focus to the management and members of staff for programme implementation, systematic plan for resource and organizational development.”

Stressing the place of the strategic plan, he went on: “Setting annual programme objectives and programmefocused work plan will enable Council to achieve its expected results. Funders and stakeholders require strategic plan, which will provide basis for setting priorities to support Council’s work and assessment progress.

Furthermore, it will provide an avenue for our board, management and staff to effectively define needs and marshal internal and external resources to meet them.”

Akpabio decries low uptake of mosquito treated nets From Inemesit Akpan-Nsoh Uyo KWA IBOM State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, has A expressed disappointment over the nonchalant attitude of people of the state on the usage of over 1.5 million Mosquito Treated Net distributed in the year in 2013.

He noted this Tuesday, at the launch of Night watch Campaign by Malaria No More at Ibom Le-Meridian Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo. Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ememabasi Bassey, Governor Akpabio lamented that, of the 1.5million nets distributed, less than 40 percent of the 80 percent house coverage recorded during that period, actually made use of the nets.

Therefore, as part of activities to mark the 2014 World Malaria day, the governor said government has concluded arrangement to distribute another set of 2.5 million Long Lasting Insecticidal Mosquito Treated Nets to members of the public.

He stressed that, the preventive measure was necessitated by the number of death recorded annually in Africa and especially Nigeria due to malaria, pleading that, Nigerians should accord prevention of malaria the needed commitment and priority.

Recounting the socio-eco-

nomic impact of Malaria on Nigerians, the Governor attributed 60percent of school absenteeism in children, over 40percent of absenteeism of workforce to malaria attacks.

Adding that, over N80 billion is expended annually for treatment and prevention of malaria in Nigeria.

“Akwa Ibom State Government sees malaria and it related problems as that which needs to be prioritised.

The emphasis must shift from controlling to elimination. As a state, we have achieved significantly in the area of control through provision of ATC drugs for free distribution through our health facilities, we have also provided tools for rapid diagnostic test even in our primary health facilities and i want to encourage everyone to make use of these provisions as well as sleep under treated nets”, he said.

Also speaking, the Country Director of Malaria No More, Dayo Oluwale said the national Night Watch campaign seeks to galvanize appropriate public attention and action on malaria prevention and treatment.

“Night watch aims to improve public awareness and behaviour around malaria prevention by focusing awareness for use of long lasting treated bed nets and other treatment.”

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Thursday, April 24, 2014 SCIENCE & HEALTH 43

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‘Nigeria needs N13.44 trillion to achieve universal health coverage by 2020’ Dr. Femi Thomas is the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Thomas in this interview with journalists at the just concluded first African Ministers of Health meeting in Luanda, Angola said Nigeria needs N1.92 trillion yearly to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2020; the scheme has been able to enroll, in the last quarter, 700,000 new enrollees, compared to 600,000 enrollees it was able to enroll from November 2011 to 2013; among other issues.

IGERIA’s Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, has proposed 2020 target for member countries to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). In fact, the Minister assured the meeting that the country will meet the target. As the chief executive of the body charged with the responsibility, how do you intend to achieve it considering the fact that as at today less than 15 million Nigerians are on the scheme and you need to put more than 145 million more on the programme by 2020?

For us as a nation the Minister has spoken and that is the agreement within the ministry. Like I told him, 2020 is realiseable for Nigeria but might not be realizable for other countries especially those who have not started. In our case we have started and we have gotten all the political commitment that we need and the structuring that we need is also concluded, the UHC Fund has been established.

Now we have adopted the Accenture Report that went through review of processes within the NHIS. They have submitted their report and we are already implementing. I think the strategy is right. Now our procurement process is on and as soon as we procure all the things we need, we are able to deploy. Even at that from the little effort we are able to put on it is getting clear that people are beginning to trust NHIS programmes because we have seen renewed interest in our programmes through more enrollments. In the last quarter we have been able to enroll more than what we did in the last three years, which is a major leap. So we are really on course.

Put in figures, what are you saying?

Well from November 2011 to November 2013 we were able to enroll about 600,000 fresh enrollees but in the last four months or thereabout we have been able enroll more than 700,000, which is more than what was done three years before this new administration.

Put in figures, what numbers of Nigerians do we need to have access to basic health care and how much do we need in terms of naira and kobo to achieve UHC by 2020?

The truth is this, for UHC in Nigeria we need N1.92 trillion per year. But I keep saying this is not coming from government alone. Federal government has been very passionate about this thing. You will realize that since 2005 the federal government has been paying for its workers and uptill now the workers have not started contributing. Now we are looking at the informal sector of the population and that is where the population is. The formal sector in Nigeria is just about 30 per cent while the informal sector is about 70 per cent.

So we are developing our foray into the informal sector and that is where the work is.

Really the bulk of this money

N

will come from states, Local Government Authorities (LGAs) individuals, organized private sector and people who have interest through Community based Health Insurance (CBHIS) and the like. So we have so many programmes that are coming up.

Right now we are also discussing with the Mobile Network Operators (MNO). I am sure you must have been reading a few things about our relationship with MTN. We are going to get to other organizations later. We are coming up with a programme, which we are developing now and rolling out is going to be very soon. We also believe that through this platform we are targeting a minimum of 10 to 20 million Nigerians, we will unfold this within the next few weeks and these are things we have to do to bring up the numbers.

So you will see at the end of the day this money we are talking about, it is not as if everything is going to come from government, there will be innovative financing, there will be support from organization, there will be adoption tree. Adoption tree such that somebody living abroad can decide to pay for his family in Nigeria. Somebody can decide to donate to cover some people within the country.

In numbers, how many million Nigerians are you targeting to reach by 2020?

By 2020, when you say universal it means the total population as that time will be covered. That is the meaning and what that means is that everybody will have unlimited access to basic package which will cover at least 80 per cent of the disease burden, that is the whole essence. It does not mean 100 per cent coverage for all diseases.

You said your achievement in the last quarter is because the NHIS is now doing the right thing. Please can you tell us some of the right things?

Well the right thing for example is that if some people are supposed to go to some places to do certain things like advocacy, educating people or gathering data or something, you make sure they go at the right time. If there is any group that has to move out to do a bit of marketing and advocacy you allow them to go and releasing them at the right time. If there are training needs, meet their training

Thomas needs and then the fact is that the staff is highly motivated now.

For example, this year we introduced what is called NHIS plus to members of staff such that the major diseases affecting staff are now being taken care of by the organization. Then you see a situation where their training needs are being met both internal and external. Again, we are reviewing their conditions of service, our accommodation problem is being solved, we have furniture, we have office equipment in all the states of the federation now unlike before when they were operating from seven zonal offices.

We are now operating from 38 administrative offices in the country and two offices at the headquarters and seven zonal offices so we have something like 47 offices nationwide. So that has also improved our penetration.

What diseases are presently covered by the NHIS? Before this time we have been covering basic diseases like malaria, diarrhoea, hyper-

tension, diabetes even we were doing a bit of dialysis, the first six dialysis, for people who have renal failure. In addition to this basic package even preventive dental care and all those things have been on for some time. But in addition to all these, this year as part of centenary celebration we are taking care of major diseases like heart diseases, cancers of various types, orthopaedic diseases, neurologic diseases and the like.

As I am talking to you now some patients are being prepared for open-heart surgery.

There are two patients going to University College Hospital Ibadan. Now we have just gotten a patient for University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH) as well. So are going to take care of them, we are going to pay for their open-heart operations. These are things that were not covered before.

So enrollees who have been faithful with the organization over the years can then enjoy all these things this year.

What are you doing to address some of the complaints of the

The truth is this, for UHC in Nigeria we need N1.92 trillion per year.

But I keep saying this is not coming from government alone. Federal government has been very passionate about this thing. You will realize that since 2005 the federal government has been paying for its workers and uptill now the workers have not started contributing... By 2020, when you say universal it means the total population as that time will be covered. That is the meaning and what that means is that everybody will have unlimited access to basic package which will cover at least 80 per cent of the disease burden, that is the whole essence. It does not mean 100 per cent coverage for all diseases.

enrollees? Some say healthcare providers do not pay attention to them, others complain of drugs and issue of capitation?

You see there are bound to be complains all the time and we are there to solve problems.

What have now is that we have email access, we have telephone access, then people can write, there is improved monitoring by Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs), we also monitor the HMOs. What we do now is that the moment there is complain there must be a response from the NHIS within 24 hours. Even if the response is to say ‘we have received your complaint and it is receiving attention.’

That is the first thing, the next thing is to ensure that the complaint is addressed. So that enforcement unit has been upgraded to a division. So it is now enforcement division and they now have all the powers to do all they need because they are now supported to do all that. Then the HMOs are now put on their toes to monitor the facilities and ensure that payment is made at the right time.

There was this alarm that we got a few weeks ago about the fact that HMOs were owing facilities to a tune of N1 billion.

We have since investigated and we have found that to be untrue and so it means that what we have on ground is even in single digits in terms of millions. So we are sure that most HMOs are now paying regularly and those who do not we will not hesitate to apply the rules where necessary.

The truth is that those who were owing before had also paid up. In all now the exercise showed that all the total indebtedness is even in single digit million which is quite small

compared to the billions we release to them on monthly basis. So HMOs are paying better, so complains about that are limited now.

How about the attempt to make the scheme mandatory?

The Act of the NHIS is being reviewed. It is now in the National Assembly, what we are saying is that health insurance should be mandatory.

When we say mandatory, we mean mandatory in service, not really mandatory in payment. What it means is that those who are working will have to pay but those who cannot afford it must be covered also. That is the whole essence of making it mandatory, it is not as if everybody whether you have money or not must pay.

What we are saying is that all those who are employed must pay, those who are not employed must be covered as well, that is the whole essence of the mandatory we are talking about.

On the issue of N1 billion alleged debt, which was contradicted after investigation.

What does that really show?

Well it shows that what we got initially was a false alarm and we also noticed that the HMOs have risen up to their responsibility to the extent that they now pay more regularly because we pay them quarterly, upfront. So there is no justification for anybody to hold money and not pay it to the facilities. So I think that is a positive development and we are happy about that.

However, there are still minor cases of HMOs not paying at the right time. We have also addressed that.

Based on economic realities, a capitation of N750 is quite small to cover the treatment cost for services provided for per patient per month by these healthcare providers? Is there any attempt to review the amount?

There is no attempt to review it. Let us understand some of the basic principles of health insurance. What we are talking about is risk pooling. If a facility has 1,000 enrollees and you pay N750 monthly for each of the enrollees that means each month the facility is paid N750,000. Maybe out of these 1,000 people it is only about 20 or 50 that will be ill within that month and you are not going to spend this N750,000 on these people.

Maybe at the end of the day you spend N500, that means you still have N250,000 somewhere. That does not mean that next month you might not see one case that might require up to N500,000.

So the whole essence is that more people are paying and few people will need service and so the overall effect is that there is risk pooling and the larger the pool the greater the ability to withstand this risk.

So instead of increasing the capitation, what we are trying to do is to increase enrollee figure. So if you have more enrollees, you will have better risk pooling and then the package will be better. It is not about increasing capitation.

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SCIENCE HEALTH Thursday, April 24, 2014

Water as best medicine From: Iyabo Lawal and Kehinde Olatunji, Ibadan GAIN, experts have stressed the medical A importance of water as the best medicine in the world, capable of preventing and curing many diseases in human bodies.

The recommendation on the water therapy, coupled with regulated eating habit, were the submissions of academic, nutritionist and religious experts, who brainstormed on the secrets behind ageing and longevity, on Wednesday, at the Civic Centre, Idi Ape, Ibadan, Oyo state capital.

The symposium entitled: “Ageing and Longevity”, was part of the week-long programmes organised by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), marking the 100th birthday celebration of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade.

The symposium moderated by former Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Prof Oladipo Akinkugbe, had the following people as paper presenters: Professor Lekan Oyedeji, Mr Tunde Ajobo, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, Professor Oloyede Abdulrahman, the Chief Imam of the University of Ibadan (UI), and a traditionalist, Chief Ifasola Ifamapawa, the Aboke Ile Ibadan.

Present were the national President of the CCII, Chief Bayo Oyero, Chief Are Oyebola, Oloye Lekan Alabi and Chief Waheed Ekun who is the Special Assistant on Youth and Sport to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, among many others.

Also in attendance were invited secondary school

*Drinking water

students from Ikolaba Grammar School, Ikolaba High School, and Islamic High school, Basorun.

In his submission, Prof Oyedeji said: “Water is the best medicine in the world.

Every 17kg body weight needs one litre of water. Drinking sufficient water is capable of preventing malaria because it takes seven days for the mosquito bite to give malaria, after which hatching continues. The water will render the egg useless”.

The don also stressed the usefulness of water, saying that “blood is thick and so needs water to dilute it to enable it flow freely. There may not be life in the veins and other parts of the body if the blood is not diluted”.

Oyedeji also noted that as the heart pumps blood into the various parts of the body, if the blood is not diluted, it will be difficult for the heart to pump it if it is left thick. If it is diluted, the heart will not have too much work to do.

“It will not allow high blood pressure and diabetes will be far from one’s body”, the expert said, recalling the case of a woman who had 300 per cent sugar level in her blood, but when told to drink sufficient water for six weeks, the diabetes ailment dropped to 120. “Water does not remove good things from the body but flushes out bad things from the body”, he stressed.

Speaking against the background of perceived secrets behind the longevity of the Olubadan, whose centenary birthday is being celebrated, the professor suggested the following as ingredients of long life: “do not attempt to hate people; forgive and forget and never hold back anything which people have done against you. Eat vegeta-

bles, fruits and do not eat more than 10 morsels of food. Soup, vegetable is the best because carbohydrate is not too good”, he said.

Oyedeji also told the audience, which comprised predominantly old people and pensioners, that overweight and too much of fat in the body is inimical to health. He therefore counseled that carbohydrate food should be avoided for three months to reduce weight.

His words, “Do not drink water when eating. Drink water thirty minutes before food so that you would not need water when eating, enzyme that processes food does not like water to effectively function. Drink water two and a half hours after food. Before you brush in the morning, drink water because 75 per cent of human body is water, and so we need to maintain it so that we can fulfill the plan of God for us”, Oyedeji stressed.

Examining the concept of longevity from the Christian religious point of view, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, the presiding pastor of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries quoted from the Book of Psalms 34:12, saying that issue of ageing was between God and Man. “It is only God that gives life and longevity”.

The cleric disclosed that when he visited and prayed for the monarch in his palace, “At a point, I had an inspiration that his reign is going to be surprisingly long contrary to many people’s thought”.

Drawing from the Bible, the Bishop recommended that longevity was possible “If you speak good word about yourself and others; Keep your lips away from

guile, deception.

“Depart from evil and do good always because according to the Bible, the wicked die before their time; do good always, help the poor, develop your communities, assist the underprivileged and your days will be lengthened like that of Kabiyesi”, Bishop Oke sermonized.

From the Islamic perspective, Professor Abdulrahman of the University of Ibadan was of the position that longevity was a God-ordained prophesy. “Living long is what only God knows about. The knowledge of it is reserved to God Almighty, the Creator”.

To the Chief Imam of the UI, all the recommendations by the doctors and dietitians were not fool proof of longevity, as according to him, “Death even comes from what we love to eat or do. Death could even come through traveling in form of accident. There are incidents of air crash, tsunami and road crash.

Mr. Ajobo in his presentation said “ageing continuous process from conception to death. It is determined socially, physically and mentally. Inhaling of smoke can accelerate ageing. Sensitivity may reduce, and inability to chew food may set in.

Ajobo decried a situation where many people tend towards carbonated food, saying it is dangerous. In the alternative, he suggested walnuts, groundnuts and other nuts which he said are good for the body.

He suggested that government should promote healthy living by investing in food production and other supplements.

Management of diabetes mellitus medicine to successfully any disease, the cause IofNtreat the disease must be established. I have been able to show to a large extent that the cause(s) of diabetes mellitus are two fold.

Firstly, diabetes can be caused by dehydration through the inhibiting action of Prostaglandin E (PgE) on the beta cells of the pancreas blocking the production of insulin. The function of insulin is to drive glucose into the cells when the level is higher than normal in the circulation. Not only that, potassium and water accompany the glucose into the cells.

In a state of dehydration, this water entering into the cells deplete the already low level of free water in circulation. To prevent this from happening, PgE inhibits the release of insulin and redirects water to the pancreas.

Apart from insulin production, the pancreas, produces a bicarbonate buffer solution which neutralizes the acidic stomach contents when released into the duodenum (first part of the small intestine connected to the stomach).

Secondly, diabetes can be caused by insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is a condition that is characterised by hyperglycaemia, hypertension, low HDL (good) cholesterol and high LDL (bad) cholesterol. Others are high triglycerides, increased incidences of blood clots, increased rate of inflammation of the arteries and development of central obesity (weight gain mainly around the lower abdomen, giving an apple appearance. Insulin resistance occurs in response to hyperinsulinaemia, a condition that is common among those that consume a high glycaemic diet frequently. This is a high glucose diet that causes a glucose and insulin surge whenever it is eaten. \ After a long time of bombardment of the cells by insulin the cells begin to resist it and not responding appropriately. More and more insulin get released in a bid to force the high glucose in circulation into the cells. This continues to happen until such a time that the beta cells of the pancreas begin to get exhausted and fail in production of insulin.

At this time, the blood level of glucose rises uncontrollably.

Research has also shown that diabetics are deficient in antioxidants such as chromium and vitamin E. Magnesium which enhances the function of insulin may also be deficient in diabetics.

In the management of diabetes, the following points

should be borne in mind: 1. Hyperglycaemia is a sign of diabetes which has an underlying cause.

2. The focus of treatment should be the cause and in this case, dehydration, insulin resistance and antioxidant deficiency.

3. The complications of diabetes, such as artheroclerosis which can lead to heart disease and stroke, retinopathy (blindness), nephropathy (kidney failure) neuropathy and foot disease that can lead to amputation of a limb can be potentially fatal and early detection and proper treatment of diabetes can reduce mortality.

Water The first thing to do, is to ensure adequate hydration of the body by drinking sufficient water daily. Three to four litres of alkaline water daily is highly recommended. With proper hydration of the body there will be no need for PgE secretion which inhibits release of insulin.

Diet It is very important to get the diet right so as to prevent insulin resistance. The diet has to be changed from the high carbohydrate to the raw vegetables and fruits diet and other sources of good fats and proteins. Essentially, the aim is to change the energy source of the cells to fats and proteins from carbohydrates. Doing this reduces the demand of the cells for insulin, which has become seriously depleted anyway!

Sources of good proteins and fats are vegetables and vegetable oils such as olive oil, flaxseed oil, avocadoes, beans, soy, Brazil nuts, wallnuts etc. The good fats that diabetics should be eating can also be found in cold water fresh fish such as tuna, salmon, macherel and titus.

These fats known as the free fatty acids, omega 3 and 6, actually help to reduce the cholesterol in circulation.

Carbohydrates for the diabetic can be gotten from fresh whole fruits and vegetables.

These carbohydrates being complex, have to be broken down in the intestines before they are absorbed, thereby releasing them slowly into the circulation; this prevents the glucose and insulin surge that can cause insulin resistance on the long term. These vegetables and fruits not only contain carbohydrates, fats and proteins, they also contain a lot fiber which helps to regulate the absorption of glucose and further prevent the glucose surge.

In the concluding part of this article next week Thursday, we shall be looking at the types of food diabetics should avoid and other management methods.

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Thursday, April 24, 2014

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Education Noose tightens on examination cheats, accomplices The tempo of activities geared towards stemming the menacing tide of examination malpractices, especially at the basic education level, got a notch higher in the past two weeks following steps taken by the National Assembly and the West African Examination Council (WAEC). Also rising from its 57th meeting, the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) of the WAEC deplored the activities of examination cheats and their collaborators, and resolved to take some steps to that would bring back sanity. ENOABASI SUNDAY writes that divergent views have trailed these developments especially the ongoing amendment of the West African Examination Council Act of 2004.

HERE appears to be no end in sight to the T brazen thievery and sustained malpractices perpetrated by candidates, teachers/invigilators, security agencies, parents and other unscrupulous persons in the massive enterprise, which examination malpractices has become in most parts of the country.

This very ugly development, has percolated so much into the Nigerian fabric to the point that many, especially most misguided youths do not seem to see the merit in burning the proverbial midnight oil, when their patently corrupt parents and guardians would always be on hand to facilitate or supply the needed “help” to enable them scale most public examinations without commensurate efforts.

In fact, gone are the days when teenagers or other young adults preparing for any of the national examinations for their type, ranging from the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), organised by the West African Examination Council (WAEC); National Examination Council (NECO) examinations or the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations among others, burnt the proverbial midnight oil or had sleepless nights or even catch the non-life threatening “examination fever,” as the due date for the examination approached.

Also gone are the days when pin-drop silence, which likened examination halls to a graveyard, pervaded the atmosphere because every candidate loathed distraction and was concentrating on his/ her work.

Today, most candidates spend a greater part of their time watching the windows and doors through which assistance would come through, in the form of already prepared answers popularly called “micro chips,” which are facilitated by their loved ones or invigilators, teachers or even security agencies.

In some schools, especially the private ones, malpractices are so organised that school authorities get parents to pay for their wards to be “helped” by teachers, who dictate, write answers to questions on black boards for the students to copy or hand out photocopies of solved examination questions to them, while the external supervisor, who had been “settled” on arrival, looks the other way or takes a walk.

These and many more untoward scenarios, and very appalling situations have joined forces to strengthen the well-worn phrase that “examination is not the true test of knowledge.”

Perhaps, the sustained malpractices and the need to bring back sanity propelled the Federal Government to last year approve an amendment to an Act of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

Penultimate week, the bill, which among other things, will impose stiffer penalties on examination cheats was read a second time on the floor of the House of Representatives. It, however, passed the second reading in a unanimous voice vote at the session, which was presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal.

Sponsored by the Majority Leader, Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, the Bill provides for the amendment of the existing West African Examination Council Act 2004, to make examination cheats pay fines of up to N200, 000 upon conviction.

The fine currently stands at N2, 000.

Titled, the 2013 WAEC Amendment Bill, it states that, “A person who before or during an exami-

Supervising Minister for Education, Nyesome Wike

Mr. Charles Eguridu, Head, WAEC National Office

nation conducted by the council: is in possession of an examination paper; is found to have had foreknowledge of the contents of an examination paper; makes use of an examination paper or the contents of it in any manner whatsoever; without lawful authority, the proof of which shall be on that person, commits an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than N200, 000 or an imprisonment for a term of five years or to both such fine and imprisonment.”

Leading the debate on the bill, Akande-Adeola, noted that Nigeria was the only country among five member-countries of WAEC that was yet to ratify the convention on the new WAEC law. The other countries are Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.

The majority leader, who also informed the House that Nigeria, despite being a major financier of WAEC, was yet to domesticate the 2013 Convention of the examination body stressed, “Nigeria is the only country out of the five countries constituting the council’s membership that has not ratified the convention. ” During the recently concluded 57th meeting of the Nigeria Examination Committee (NEC) of WAEC, the issue of examination malpractice and its changing trends among candidates, were some of the topical issues deliberated upon.

The committee meets twice a year to consider matters related to the conduct of the May/June and November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). It is the highest decision-making organ of WAEC on examination-related matters in Nigeria.

During the meeting, the committee received a report on Special, Irregularity and Clemency Cases arising from the conduct of the May/June 2013 WASSCE, earlier considered at the 56th Meeting of the committee and also considered a report on the conduct of the November/December 2013 WASSCE, as well as irregularity cases arising from the conduct of the examination.

According to a communiqué endorsed by the WAEC’s deputy director of Public Affairs, Mr. Yusuf Ari, in the course of considering the various reported cases of malpractice, “the committee endorsed appropriate sanctions, in all established cases of malpractice, as prescribed by the rules and regulations governing the conduct of the council’s examinations, after diligent deliberations. It approved that the entire results of candidates involved in proven cases, which attract cancellation of subject results be similarly cancelled.

“In addition, some candidates will also suffer other sanctions such as barring them from sitting for the council’s examinations for a certain number of years. The decisions of the committee will be implemented without delay and the council would duly inform the affected candidates.

“The committee also directed that several ad hoc

examination functionaries, who were indicted for involvement or condoning malpractice, during the conduct of the November/December 2013 WASSCE, be reported to the appropriate state ministries of education and other relevant bodies for disciplinary action, in addition to the sanctions imposed on them by the council. The NEC as in previous meetings, strongly expressed concern at the rife incidence of malpractice in examinations,” the communiqué added.

Another disturbing development that caught the attention of the body was the increasing use of programmable calculators by candidates during examinations in order to gain undue advantages, and in contravention of the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of its examinations.

To this end, the WAEC says that from this November/December WASSCE it will introduce “branded, non-programmable calculators and mathematical sets” for all its examinations.

“In view of the noticeable increase in the use of programmable calculators by candidates during examinations, in contravention of the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of its examinations, the committee mandated the council to introduce WAEC-branded, non-programmable calculators, and mathematical sets for use by candidates, with effect from November/December 2014 WASSCE,” the communiqué stated.

Nigeria’s poor showing in the international awards given under the aegis of the WAEC Endowment Fund in recent years, also attracted the attention of the body as well. It, however, blamed the poor outings on “the lack of essential inputs.”

Said the communiqué, “The committee expressed deep concern that Nigerian candidates had won very few of the international awards, being given under the aegis of the WAEC Endowment Fund, for outstanding performance in the council’s examinations in recent years.

“The unimpressive performance of Nigerian candidates at the sub regional level, the committee believed, was due to lack of essential inputs-human, material and otherwiserequired to drive a sound educational system and the lack of continuity in the system.

“The committee implored the federal and state governments, as well as other stakeholders in the education sector to articulate policies and programmes, which would help improve the standard of education in the country. These include the provision of appropriate manpower, adequate infrastructure and teaching aids, which would facilitate proper teaching and learning so as to adequately prepare secondary school of students for WAEC examinations.”

Expectedly, amending the laws to make pun-

ishment for examination cheats stiffer has generated diverse reaction from stakeholders. While some see it as a step in the right direction, some are of the view that factors that give rise to the menace must be addressed.

For the Dean of Management Sciences, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Banji Fajoyomi, rather than rework the laws to keep examination cheats in jail for longer periods, the government should concentrate on educating the people to know that hard work pays.

According to him, “In our country, what we have found out is that the stiffer the penalty, the more the people get interested in committing that particular crime. At least we all saw it when General Muhammadu Buhari came up with death sentences for drug peddlers. So, in my considered opinion, discouraging people from committing crime is more rewarding than preparing to commit them to prison after they have committed the crime.”

In the light of this, Fajoyomi said what the government needs to do is to re-orientate the people, especially the youths and discourage them from dreaming of getting to the top without commensurate hard work. In other words, “Youths should know that hard work pays and that there is dignity in labour. And the totality of government efforts at stamping out examination malpractices should be to make the laws preventive and not punitive.”

Principal of a government secondary school in Lagos State, who preferred to remain anonymous, is of the opinions that as long as crime and criminality seem to “pay” in Nigeria, more work needs to be done to bring back sanity.

“No matter the number of years examination cheats are going to be jailed, malpractices of different shades will continue to grow in schools, if government officials, ranging from civil servants to politicians do not show good examples.

The principal said children being the offshoot of their parents constantly imitate and take after their lifestyles, be they good or bad. “They see their parents as mentors and role models. So, if we must uproot this menace that has grown into a monster in our country, the purge must begin from our respective homes. Moral values, discipline, transparency and hard work must be enthroned. Failure to do that would translate to winking in the dark.”

“Leaving the war against examination malpractices to be fought and won in schools and in the law courts is not the way to go,” so says psychologist and mother of three, Mrs. Nneamaka Uku. “To the best of my knowledge, it is only something that is very drastic that is capable of stemming the tide. Names and pictures of culprits should be published in national dailies and they (culprits) barred from writing exams conducted

by WAEC for years. By so doing, they and other intending cheats would have learnt a serious lesson.

“Parents who are caught aiding or facilitating this form of criminality should be sacked from work to serve as a deterrent to others because this war must be fought and won by the society in order for us to preserve our integrity as a people,” Uku said.

“Passing examination at all cost and the great emphasis laid on paper qualification are some of the reasons that examination cheats of all shades are emerging from our society. The earlier some of these things are de-emphasised, the better we would be,” says Mojisola Ishola, a National Youth Service Corps member (NYSC).

Ishola continued, “I don’t share the view that cheats should be imprisoned for five years because that would effectively end their educational pursuits, but no end malpractices. Heavy fine that would cost the family so much for raising a delinquent child would be just fine.

“Further more, I think we should dissipate a lot of energy catching those that are carting away our resources and putting the future of generations yet unborn in jeopardy. These are the real enemies of our country and not those whose parents have failed in their responsibility to keep them on the moral lane. Cheating in examination is bad, but sending the cheat to spend five years in prison is likely going to give birth to a character that will devote the rest of his life tormenting his family for not showing him the right way, and the society for producing his type.”

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Thursday, April 24, 2014 EDUCATION 49

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‘Academia has surrendered moral high ground to political class’

By Eno-Abasi Sunday HE need for eggheads in T our institutions of higher learning to re-asses their role in the moulding of a virile nation as well as contribute to create wealth and a good society based on the knowledge industry has been stressed.

While calling for the return of nobility to our citadels of learning, the creation and management of an educational blueprint for the country, has also been identified as germane if the sector must produce create the needed impact in national development.

Speaking on the topic: “After The Insurgency: Some Thoughts on Reconciliation In Nigeria,” at the 43rd Convocation Lecture delivered at the University of Nsukka, recently, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah said, “There is need for us to bring back nobility into the university system. It is men and women of ideas, not politicians who will change our country. We are where we are today because the academia has surrendered the moral high ground to a political class that clearly lacks both the capacity and disposition to create wealth and a good society based on the knowledge industry.”

He continued, “Today, our universities, which should be the centre of ideas and intellectual curiosity, have become in many respects, incubators of ethnic jingoism where professors are competing not for excellence in research in their areas of endeavour, but to get the attention of politicians and secure political appointments.

“If we lose the nobility of

the intellect and its capacity to create ideas and visions, our future will remain in the firm grip of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram. So, if there is any lesson to learn, it is that we must seize the initiative and reclaim the ideals that led us into academia rather than other pursuits.”

He called on the Federal

Nigerian graduates are forced to go through while applying for their transcripts or verifying results from universities and polytechnics in the country, an indigenous firm has come to the resc u e .

EXT-NG is spearheading an easier, faster and seamless means of applying and getting transcripts with the introduction of the Electronic Transcript Exchange (ETE) for Nigerian tertiary institut i o n s .

Usually, students and graduates depend on their institutions to provide timely transcripts processing and result verification services to help them grab juicy job opportunities faster and meet graduate school d e a d l i n e s .

According to the firm, the ETE has been introduced to ease the process of ordering for transcripts in the nation’s tertiary institutions. The technology-based platform ensures fast processing and delivery of tran-

From Nnamdi Akpa, Abakaliki.

T

was to turn out some 300, 000 young men and women with different levels of skills. This is the way to go, not for us to boast of building new universities that are turning out job seekers who are dying to get jobs years after graduation (no pun intended).

The cleric also said the Federal Government’s deci-

sion to create separate schools for Almajiri as a step towards rebuilding the North after the insurgency was likely to have the opposite effect.

He therefore called on it to take a second look at the concept before the negative effects go full blast as “…these children, the Almajiris will already be stig-

matised by virtue of the fact that they will be perceived as being from the streets.

The northern elites are not likely to send their children to these schools. But even more dangerous to the programme is the likelihood that no non-Muslim child will be allowed into the schools, thus, denying the children opportunities to interact with others.

EXT-NG introduces electronic ordering, receipt of academic transcripts N a move geared scripts and verification some organisations go a c c e s s i n g in the country.

Ithetowards setting aside results from one institu- through in trying to veriwww.etx.com.ng.

Obomighie explained furcumbersome process

ASUP chapter calls for Wike’s sack he Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Uwana, Ebonyi State chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to sack the supervising Minister of Education, Nyesome Wike over his attempts to unilaterally impose and install a successor for the outgoing Rector of the institution Prof. Francis Otunta.

Otunta will bow out of office on June 12 this year having put in eight years as the head of the institut i o n .

In a statement by the state chairman of the union, Comrade Edmund Onyencho in Abakaliki, the union described the action of the minister as sustained interference and disregard for the law and due process in han-

Government to “think seriously about how it will manage an educational blueprint for the country.

The other day, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili spoke about the plans that the Education Ministry had to embark on comprehensive programme of training to be funded by various private sector agencies. The idea

dling the internal affairs of the school, especially in the process of the appointment of rector for the institution, stressing that the new rector cannot emerge outside the polytechnic system.

The union said, “ASUP demands that a rector be appointed from the system.

This demand is legitimate and for the avoidance of doubt, section 7(1)-(6) of the Federal Polytechnic Act 1979 (as amended) stipulates that the person to be appointed rector must be a chief lecturer.

“Can a Senator be brought to be Speaker of the House of Representatives or can an army General be made the Chief of Air or Naval staff? If not, why should a university professor be appointed rector of a polytechnic where we have many chief lecturers?

tion to another within 14 d a y s .

Shedding light on the new service during an enlightenment session with stakeholders, the Managing Director, EXTNG, Mr. Hillary Obomighie stated that the service will address all “the bottlenecks usually associated with the issuance of transcripts to students seeking local and foreign admissions and the rigours

fy degrees of potential e m p l o y e e s .

With ETX-NG, Obomighie noted, students and alumni can apply for transcripts from any university or polytechnic in Nigeria and have such transcripts delivered to any school or organisation worldwide; either electronically or in paper form. All of these can be done simply by

Tertiary institutions in Nigeria, he added, can send and receive transcripts as well as verify the degrees of their student applications between each other in a controlled, secure, and trusted environment, and companies can request to verify staff degrees and professional certifications for employment and other purposes from tertiary institutions

ther, “In addition to enabling the secure exchange of transcripts between tertiary institutions in the country, ETXNG also enables the request, transfer and delivery of transcripts from higher educational institutions in Nigeria to institutions within and outside the country through its collaboration with exchanges in other parts of the world.”

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50 | EDUCATION Thursday, April 24, 2014

UNESCO, others launch campaign to increase funding for education

By Olawunmi Ojo global campaign aimed at A improving funding for education and helping countries meet the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Education-for-All targets has been launched.

This is against the backdrop of recent research findings that estimate an annual funding gap of $26 billion as requirement to achieve basic education for children across the globe and which also puts annual global business corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending on education in low-income and developing countries at a $548 million.

The new campaign, tagged “Business Backs Education,” is at the instance of UNESCO, United Kingdom-based Varkey Gems Foundation and the Global Business Coalition for Education.

The campaign is to prioritise countries and groups most in need across the world, challenging businesses and com-

panies to begin to work out a framework that would see them committing 20 per cent of global CSR and philanthropic spending to education by 2020.

Specifically, the campaign is designed to bring businesses in line with government and NGO education spending targets.

UNESCO’s Education-for-All Global Monitoring Report recommends that governments should spend 20 per cent of their budget on education and that 20 per cent of official development assistance should go towards education initiatives.

But recent researches by the Brookings Institution show that corporate giving to global health is 16 times the amount given to global education. As such, the campaign aims to encourage the private sector to allocate 20 per cent of total global CSR strategically to education initiatives.

According to the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, the campaign would

encourage companies to work with the public sector on core areas of education needs, such as access to quality education, 21st century skills, global citizenship, and professional development of education professionals.

“This campaign comes at exactly the right moment.

Demand for an educated and skilled workforce has never been higher, and the stakes never greater, as we strive to achieve sustainable development and build lasting peace.

“Innovative alliances with business and investment from the private sector would be key to tipping the balance and making quality education accessible to all.

Business is a vital part of the equation,” she added.

The first year initiatives of the campaign would include the organisation of five summits to take place in London, New York, Hong Kong, Johannesburg and Dubai.

Collectively, the Summits will contribute towards a report that outlines a route map for how businesses can increase

their CSR spending on education.

A list of the top 30 listed companies, ranked by their investment in education, would then be published periodically on each of the major financial exchanges.

Already, a number of companies across the world have signed up to the campaign, including Nigeria’s Honeywell Group. Others are SAP, Crescent Petroleum, PwC, Majid Al Futtaim, Jumeirah Group and Equity Bank, Kenya, to mention a few.

Explaining its rationale for signing up to the campaign,

ory by pointing at the 5,333 students, which the school has just offered places to read different courses.

He warned the matriculants to desist from engaging in cultism, drug abuse, violent demonstrations and sundry anti-social behaviours that were capable of tarnishing the image of the varsity.

occasion to take your oaths as sacrosanct. You should also adhere strictly to it as it promotes the basis for civilised university life without any fear or favour.

“You are joining a reputable citadel of learning and you must therefore act in a manner consistent with continued maintenance of peace

greater role in developing the public sector’s ability to improve education access and learning quality in both the developing and developed world.

This, according to him, is not only because education is a public good but because if business is unable to secure future talent, then it will harm economic growth worldwide.

The campaign is also to, among other goals, help establish a more robust baseline on global corporate giving to education and a sharper analysis of where spending is going in terms of countries and education areas that ben-

Students tasked on global competitiveness

By Ujunwa Atueyi GAINST the backdrop of A challenges faced by contemporary Nigerian graduates in the labour market, Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mr. Yaw Nsarkoh, has undergraduates to

UNIMAID still popular despite Boko Haram, says VC From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri and stability in the system. I hope that you will not be 5,333 new students HE University of Maiduguri Matriculates tion at a ceremony last week, found wanting in this regard,” “Let me remind all of you T (UNIMAID), Bornu State backed up the popularity thethe vice chancellor stated. here today for this special may be located in the hotbed of insurgency in the North East, but the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof.

Mohammed Mala Daura says the insurgency does not take the shine away from the institution.

Daura, while administering the matriculation oath on new students of the institu-

Honeywell Group’s Chairman, Dr Oba Otudeko told The Guardian that the Group’s endorsement is rooted in the belief that the relationship between business and education is symbiotic.

“Business performance is invariably at the peak when driven by people with the right kind of knowledge, skills and values. And I am proud to convey Honeywell Group’s endorsement of this noble initiative,” he said.

Justifying the initiative, the chief executive of the Varkey Gems Foundation, Vikas Pota, explained that, “businesses can and should play a much

The vice chancellor specifically charged them to eschew acts that were capable of breaching the peace on campus.

He informed that, “To prevent extreme tendencies due to the trauma occasioned by insurgency, a counseling centre has been set up within the hostels to ensure that students were able to discuss issues that affects their psychology and studies.”

Daura also assured that the Student Affairs Department in conjunction with trauma centres within the hostels, would soon organise an orientation programme for the freshment.

unlock their innovative thinking and approach their career with global mindset.

He gave the charge at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) during an interactive session with students of the institution.

During the session, which had as its theme “Driving Change Through Sustainable Growth,” Nsarkoh stated that any student who fails to think “out of the box” in this era of technological advancement and stiff global competition, would be left in obscurity, thus the need to fully utilise all learning opportunities while in school.

He challenged Nigerian students to always think of ideas and initiatives that would place them ahead of their contemporaries in the global competitive market, urging them to make judicious use of their time in school.

Nsarkoh said for any student to excel in today’s world, it was imperative to set high standards that would give him/her a competitive edge, and place him/her on a pedestal for global impact and achievement.

“At Unilever, global standards drive our activities.

Driving change in Africa

requires that no matter what, you must see yourself first as competing in global circumstances.

“Do not fall into the temptation that being the best in Africa is good enough, it is not.

You live in a modern interconnected world. The circumstances of your being in a competition in a market place will be predicated on the extent to which you will be able to outperform your competitors. So, do not present your circumstance and environment as an excuse. If you do that, you have put yourself on a low ranking,” he said.

Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Rahamon Bello, in his remarks expressed optimism that students would obviously learn and increase their knowledge from the experiences of industry experts, since hands on experience has been in the lack in Nigerian institution.

He said several efforts were being made to counsel undergraduates on skills and requirements expected of them if they must be on top of their careers. He commended the team for their immense contribution to students’ training adding that the relationship would be continually strengthened.

Don urges huge investment in early childhood education

By Ujunwa Atueyi HE Coordinator of Early T Childhood Education (ECE), University of Texas, United States, Prof Georgianna Duarte, has called on the federal and states’ governments in the country to invest heavily in ECE in order to safeguard the future of the Nigerian child and the society.

She made the call at the ongoing third edition of “Focus on the Young Child Education Summit,” a training programme organised

by Early Years Consult, for private and public school teachers in pre-school and elementary stages in Lagos State.

Duarte, who stressed that huge investment in ECE and children’s programme would not only ensure strong and virile economy as well as a healthy community, but would also ensure a peaceful community since it has proven to be one way of combating imminent societal crimes.

According to her ECE is not only hinged on the cognitive aspect but also addresses the social, emotional, physical and language development of a child, which is the factors that

makes the difference in an individual.

To her, early intervention in a child’s life builds a foundation for developing attitude and habit about learning, and also addresses reading, language, listening and writing skills, thereby forestalling children from dropping out of schools.

“Over the years, there has been great emphasis on adding literacy to early childhood classroom.

Recent researches on the development of reading and writing skills in young children is unequivocal. For a child to be academically successful he/she must begin to gain literacy skills early.

Countries that have early childhood programmes have strong and happy communities that are not dysfunctional and are also free from violence and crimes.

“ECE shapes the community and impacts the society.

Countries that invest hugely in childhood programme would have a strong economy, since it is financial investment that produces learned and peaceful individuals. It develops a whole child, who becomes a highly intellectual citizen and makes meaningful contribution to his community.

Therefore government at both state and federal levels, including school managers and policy makers, should rightly invest in ECE and avail themselves of opportunities inherent in it,” she stated.

In addition, there is also need for teachers to adopt what she called ‘a print rich environment’ for the children. “This refers to a room that has a variety of print abundantly displayed. It is an environment that encourages children to read and write by virtue of the rich literacy that surrounds them and all ECE teachers must put these into practice.”

Earlier, the Managing Director of Early Years Consult, Mrs. Funsho Chikezie, had remarked that the training programme was targeted at keeping teachers abreast of recent developments in ECE, by bringing experts to update their skills and knowledge.

She regretted that stakeholders and corporate organisations were paying little or no attention to sponsoring children’s programmes despite the huge societal benefits inherent in doing so.

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Ekiti to begin feeding of public school pupils in Sept From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti OVERNOR Kayode Fayemi G of Ekiti State says pupils of public school in the state would September begin to enjoy free meals in school courtesy of the state government.

Also, teachers that show promise would begin to benefit from overseas training to sharpen their skills and expose them to what obtains in developed countries.

However, all these policies

• Promises overseas training for teachers would only come to fruition if Fayemi were re-elected as governor for a second term in the forthcoming gubernatorial election, which he is the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking at a campaign rally at Okemesi in Ekiti West council area ahead of the June 21 contest, Fayemi said during his second tenure, public school pupils in the state

would join the league of students who benefit from free feeding during school hours to boost their learning, health and encourage school attendance.

Said he, “From September when the new school session commences, we shall begin the implementation of free feeding in our schools.

We shall also be sending our teachers overseas because

How to position Nigerian child for global relevance, by Agunbiade

By Ujunwa Atueyi HE Executive Director of T Silversands Hall School, Lekki, Lagos, Mrs. Ima-Mariam Nike Agunbiade, says unless the nine types of intelligences possessed by humans, is explored and developed, especially in every individual child, positioning the Nigerian child for global relevance may be difficult.

American developmental psychologist, Howard Gardner, espoused the theory of multiple intelligences in his book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences.

Agunbiade made the observation during the pre-launch briefing of Silversands High School, which commences lectures for Year Seven to Year 11 students in September this year.

Agunbiade, who maintained that the quality of education received in traditional public and private schools does not prepare students for the future, stressed that multiple intelligence approach to learning provides an opportunity for thorough learning based on students’ needs, interests and talents.

She said it was on that basis that the school adopted the use of Nigerian, British and American curricula, having discovered that one particular curriculum was incapable of taking care of 21st century learning requirements.

According to her, “There is an urgent need for education providers to tap into multiple intelligence approach to learning, which make students more active and involved learners rather than passive ones. Reports show that many students, who perform poorly in traditional examinations improve tremendously if class-

room experiences incorporate artistic, athletic and musical activities because they enable students demonstrate and share their strengths.”

“We discovered that there are three kinds of learners, the gifted, average and slow learner. However, all of these learners are capable and have potentials, which must be developed. Now with good a combination of curriculum and recognition of the child’s strength, an average child or a slow learner can be turned into a genius; while the gifted child continues to soar. The American system of learning allows innovation… and ability to turn ideas into concrete results. So, we need to explore the nine senses of children, nurture them and help the child become a model in his/her chosen career.”

This approach, she continued, “allows for a well-rounded and thorough learning experience for the child and for the teacher, because the multisensory approach plunges both teacher and learner into a rewarding and achievementprone experience.”

She further hinted that the Nigerian child requires the kind of education that does not only provide knowledge but also provides tools for harnessing and utilising to maximum advantage and opportunities that life always brings.

To achieve all these, Agunbiade said, “We have a teacher-training school, which ensures that all recruited teachers have first-hand, practical, working-knowledge and understanding of the curricula. We know the Nigerian children will gain a lot with the kind of teachers we will groom at the training school, and that is why we resort to training and retraining by our

Varsity group lifts indigent students with scholarship From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia S part of activities marking A the 2014 International Women’s Day, the Centre for Gender and Child Development, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture (MOUA), Umudike, Abia State has awarded the sum of N50, 000 each to five indigent students as scholarship grant.

According to acting Director of the centre, Mrs. Georgina Edeoga, the scholarship would inspire the recipients to realise their academic dreams in the institution for one session.

“This is geared towards using our limited resources to impact positively on their lives and we shall widen our scope in this direction as our resources improve,” Edeoga

stated.

Speaking on the objective of the 2014 International Women’s Day, Edeoga said it was to mobilise public support for the campaign to stop violence against women.

She called on traditional rulers and relevant authorities to abolish all forms of traditional and cultural practices that negate gender equality in our society.

The celebration featured drama by the MOUA theatre troupe, and three lectures, which topics were “Inspiring Change,” Gender Issues In Nigeria Tertiary Institutions,” and “Growing Trends of Cancers in the 21st Century” delivered by professors Beb Nwoke, Nnenna Oti and Dr. Longinus Ikejiaku respective-

national and international facilitators. If you have a good curriculum without good teachers to deliver it, you have not made a difference.”

that is what we have been doing to core civil servants.

“Our teachers too attended universities like core civil servants, and they deserve the best of training in any part of the world to build their capacity to perform better,” the governor informed an elated audience made up of teachers, students and residents of the area.

Fayemi who welcomed defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), described APC as a party of peace and progress, which has the interest of the masses at heart, even as he accused the PDP of mismanaging the state’s resources when it held sway in the state.

He explained that his administration’s legacies could be gleaned in renovation of schools, construction of palaces, renovation of hospi-

tals, payment of monthly stipends to old people among o t h e r s .

Teachers in Okemesi led by Mr. S.A. Adedigba, praised Fayemi for bettering their lives with the payment of core subject allowances and rural teachers allowances.

Adedigba noted that principals now rise to Grade Level 17 while teachers now receive their promotion as at when due.

Kasali Oluwafemi who spoke on behalf of students from the community said that Fayemi administration annually spends the sum of N1.2 billion on stipends for old people, N2.4 billion on youth volunteers and N10 billion on laptops for teachers and students.

He appealed to voters to keep faith with a government that cares for the people and not to vote for political parties that have failed the people.

President of Ido Ile Students Union, Ajayi Olagoke, said the community supports Fayemi’s re-election bid because of the need to ensure continuity in developmental projects in the state.

Teachers in Ido-Ile who spoke through Mr. Ajayi Peter Gbadebo said they were now in love with Fayemi for peacefully resolving the controversy surrounding the Teachers Development Needs Assessment (TDNA).

Gbadebo said primary school teachers now receive car and housing loans for the first time in the history of the state while the backlog of salary arrears has become a thing of the past.

He vowed that teachers would pay Fayemi back with their votes on election day for giving them an environment that is conducive to operate.

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Govt commences development of BECE syllabus From Kanayo Umeh, Abuja hE Federal Ministry of T Education has begun the development of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) syllabus, ahead of the Federal Government’s bid to provide a harmonised Basic Education Certificate (BEC).

This development is to ensure that the BEC obtained in any school around the country, remains acceptable and of equal standard and value anywhere in the coun-

try.

In designing the syllabus, the Education Ministry is working in conjunction with other tiers of government and the examination is slated to hold at the end of the student’s ninth year of schooling.

Speaking in Abuja at the opening ceremony of a workshop on the development of the BECE, Permanent Secretary in ministry, Dr. Mac John Nwaobiala, noted that the new syllabus was to take care of standards in the

BECE with particular reference to how many papers a subject should have, and the time allotted to each paper. he recalled that at the inaugural meeting on February 2009, the draft guideline on the uniform standards for the said examination was produced.

According to him, the ministry has put in place a machinery to develop the BECE syllabus, which would be used in all junior secondary schools nationwide. he also urged participants

to work out a robust syllabus that would be acceptable to all stakeholders in education sector.

“Let me use this opportunity, therefore, to call on the various subjects specialists here present, to come up with a workable syllabus that would be acceptable to all stakeholders. I urge you all to bring your expertise to bear during the process of the development of the syllabus in the various subjects, so that Nigerian children, who would be beneficiaries

participants, Dr. Ayodele Asesiomo, expressed delight at the privilege of being one of the developers of the syllabus.

Insisting that he was only picked from among the millions of qualified Nigerians to help in fashioning the new syllabus, Asesiomo promised to do his best in contributing to producing the document, which will be used to examine Nigerian children at the end of the third lap of the Universal Basic Education (UBE).”

of the syllabus would look back and thank you for a job well done.”

In her remarks, the Deputy Director, Junior Secondary Education in the ministry, Mrs. Abimbola Olamilokun, said that the development of the BECE would be recorded as a landmark in the history of basic education development in the country.

Chief Research Officer, Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) Minna, Niger State, and one of the

high literacy level can curb void votes in 2015, says NMEC chairman, Uduehi From Kanayo Umeh, Abuja S the nation prepares for A the 2015 general election, Chairman, Governing Board of National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education (NMEC), Dr. Esther Uduehi, has stressed the need to increase the literacy level of the electorate in order to reduce invalid votes.

Dr. Uduehi in an interview with The Guardian in Abuja, noted that high invalid votes recorded in previous elections were due to the high level of illiteracy in the country as those who could not read and write always have difficulties interpreting signs and symbols on ballot papers.

“Election is coming in 2015.

And if you take a look at the issue of void votes, you will discover that most of them were from illiterate voters because most of them could not really interpret the signs and symbols on the ballot papers.

“It is very important that governments right from the local to state and up to the federal levels should pay more attention to raising the literacy level of Nigerians and be more committed to the cause of eradicating illiteracy in the country,” she stated.

The NMEC Board Chairman also cautioned that all hands

must be on deck to ensure that the high illiteracy level in the country does not hinder President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda, stressing that even when the transformation agenda is well articulated to benefit every Nigerian, those who are illiterate are at the disadvantage position. her words: “As at the time we were inaugurated we were told we have 40 million adult illiterates in Nigeria and we are now not talking about 10.1 million out-of-school children.

Given this situation we are worried because we foresee a situation where this 10.1 million out-of-school children, if something drastic is not done, come to swell the ranks of the 40 million adult illiterates. With this in mind, we decided to do a lot of advocacy.

“We found out really that this mass literacy is really a function of local and state governments. The commission comes in by going around trying to supervise, coordinate and set standards for them and trying to do some advocacy to make them aware. So, with this type of situation, we thought we should go around the states. We found that some states are trying but some states are not trying at all. Therefore, the level of illiteracy is something that’s worrisome,” she stated.

Osun, varsity bicker over tax

By Emeka Nwachukwu DUDUWA University, O Ipetumodu, Osun State has described as outrageous and totally unjust, the recent shut down of the university by the Osun State Board of Internal Revenue over disputes on tax.

The school was shut down on Monday, April 7th, 2014.

In a statement the Registrar of the institution, Dr. Bernard Ifonedo, noted that asking a university that was granted license in November 2009, and started operations in 2010, to start paying income tax from 2006 was grossly unfair. he disclosed that as a responsible institution, aware of its civic duties, Oduduwa University has been making its monthly Pay As You Earn (PAYE) income taxes since 2011, adding that by calculation, what the institution was due to pay was N2, 526, 531:30, as against the outrageous sum of N173, 305, 450. 6, which the state internal revenue services is demanding.

he explained that the institution had been in continuous correspondence with the board over the issue and described the sealing of the institution as a serious embarrassment capable of creating tension among the students of the institution he described Oduduwa University as a respectable institution that is alive to its corporate, social and civic responsibilities, which shares the vision of the government of Rauf Aregbesola especially in the area of education.

The registrar appealed for understanding on the part of the revenue board, noting that the institution should be treated as partner in progress. he also appealed for calm on the part of the students; staff and parents assuring that the management of the institution is already working on resolving the matter amicably. he noted that issue of tax and other associated matters are regular issues, which usually crop up from time to time and do not affect the status of the institution or its academic

A section of pupils of Grange School, Ikeja, Lagos engaged in pottery during the 2014 “Artist in Residence Project”, held recently in Lagos.

Redeemer’s varsity gets CILT accreditation a dream come true the International Advanced undergraduate programme ItheTforwas the students and staff of Diploma in Logistics and in Transport and Logistics Department of Transport and Tourism Studies, Redeemer’s University, as the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT, London) presented the institution with its certificate of accreditation.

Announcing the result of the accreditation exercise, which took place a year ago recently, CITL’s National Executive Director (Nigeria), Mr. Francis Ehiguese, who represented the chairman of the institute’s council, Major General U.T. Usman (retired), said that the university has now been accredited to run the International Diploma in Logistics and Transport; and

Transport programmes.

Ehiguese added that students of the university would be exempted from some subjects and be allowed to sit for the International Advanced Diploma examinations. he urged the management to sponsor university staff members, who are also members of the institute to its trainings, conferences and workshops. he solicited for commercial collaboration between his institute and the university.

Ehiguese also appealed to the university to allow holders of the institute’s International Diploma gain direct admission for the

Management, while holders of its International Advanced Diploma should also be considered for admission for the postgraduate programmes. he later presented the institute’s learning materials, in soft and hard copies, and the certificate of accreditation to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Debo Adeyewa .

Some of the things the university would gain from the accreditation include: Access to the CILT Knowledge Centre by students and staff, and also opportunities for educational visit to the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) Transport Facilities.

The head of Department,

Transport and Tourism Studies, Professor Olumakinde Odugbemi welcomed the accreditation and pledged that his department would work very hard to meet the academic and professional requirements as spelt out in its curriculum and manual.

Other members of the Ehiguese-led CILT team were: Chairman, Public Relations and Business Strategy Committee, Alban Igwe; Deputy Director, Administration and Finance, Mr. Paul Ndibe; and a member of the Professional Development Committee, Mr. Remi Ajiboye.

JAMB to blacklist centres involved in extortion From Kanayo Umeh, Abuja hE Joint Admissions T Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it would sanction all examination centres indicted for extortion of money from candidates or widespread cheating in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Registrar of the body, Prof.

Dibu Ojerinde, who made this known in Abuja at a news conference where the

release of this year’s UTME results also took place said: “We have blacklisted them, those who did it last year were blacklisted and we didn’t go there this year. Next year, we will not go there either because we will not have cause go to any centre other than Computer Based Test (CBT) centres.

“We listed a number of institutions or centres where candidates were being asked to pay before they enter the examination

venues. Such centres were the ones found in Ahaoda in Rivers State. They asked the candidates to pay between N500 and N1, 000.

“In one of the centres, a team leader was given N15, 000 from the proceeds. The team leader reported it and we have paid in the money into JAMB’s account and an appropriate receipt would be sent to the person or the institution that gave us that money,” Ojerinde stated adding that the Rivers State

Ministry of Education has been adequately informed of the proposed sanction.

Also, “We are writing to states’ ministries of education and we are reporting the affected schools to the appropriate authorities. We are also looking into the results of these places to determine whether the payments of these monies have any effect on the candidates’ performances. If it doesn’t have an effect, we will release the results to the candidates.”

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MarketReport EQUITY MARKET SUMMARY

AS AT 23=04=2014

PRIMERA AFRICA www.primera-africa.com

Thursday, April 24, 2014 MARKET REPORT 59

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MARKET INDICATORS

AS AT 23=04=2014

PRIMERA AFRICA

Seplat holds promise for investors’

By Bukky Olajide NALYSTS have declared A that earnings accruable from Nigeria’s lucrative oil exploration and production sector may no longer be elusive to local investors.

This was said against the backdrop of the listing of Seplat’s shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) last week, after its successful global Initial Public Offering (IPO) of $500 million seen as a barrier breaker.

“The decision of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, an oil exploration and production firm, to list its shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has opened a new vista of opportunity that was formerly unavailable to local investors in the Nigerian capital market, said the Chief Executive Officer, FutureView Financial Services Limited, Elizabeth Ebi. According to her, the listing of the indigenous oil exploration and production company on the NSE will yield bountiful dividends and also create wealth for discerning Nigerians while urging local investors to acquire the shares from the floor of the Exchange.

Before now, oil exploration and production companies including those also promoted by Nigerians preferred listings on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and London Stock Exchange (LSE) denying local investors in the capital market dividend earning as well as capital apprecia-

tion opportunities”.

Commenting further on the Seplat IPO, a dual listing in Nigeria and London Stock Exchanges, Ebi stated that Seplat remains a thrilling prospect and has been trending as the prime topic in local and international investment circles.

“There has been no IPO comparable to Seplat on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in terms of niche, sophistication and scale. It was not your everyday Initial Public Offer that was open to all investors.

It was for highly sophisticated and discerning investors with a good understanding of the complexities involved in oil exploration and production.

“I can categorically state that the listing of Seplat on the NSE is a win-win situation for Nigeria and Nigerians. We are hopeful that it will herald the listing of International Oil Corporations, as well as oil majors promoted by Nigerians on the Nigerian Stock Exchange as against the selective preference for London and Johannesburg stock exchanges that was the practice in the recent past,” Ebi added.

The offer, therefore, targeted only institutional and high net worth investors, and successfully captured both locally and internationally, boosting global confidence in the Nigerian capital market and the economy.

FutureView Financial Services Limited acted as one of the comanagers and local receiving agents for the Seplat InitialPublic Offering.

Lead Securities to attract more investors’ participation through platform

By Helen Oji EAD Securities & Investment Limited, a subsidiary of LeadCapital Plc has expressed commitment to develop the new LeadTrader portal in such a way that the platform would attract the participation of retail investors that exited the market during the meltdown.

The new trading platform, which was designed to conform with global best solutions for on-line, real –time trading of securities utilized by retail and institutional investors in the advanced economies, according to the company also provide a secure and efficient electronic channel of buying and selling stocks on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), in a transparent manner which gives investors full control over their mandates.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos yesterday, the Group Managing Director, Lead Capital Plc, Wale Adewumi explained that ATM cards used to execute transactions in the platform are configured to mitigate against money laundering and other fraudulent practices.

He pointed out that the company has adopted the ‘straightthrough process’, which enables the entire processes of trading and payment to be executed electronically, without the need for re-keying or

L

What Happened?

The NSE All-Share index decreased by 54bps (0.54%) and closed at 39,194.09. This represents a year-to-date performance of - 5.17% Market Capitalisation appreciated 0.46% to close at N12.889 trillion.Total value traded increased 6.38% to N5.272 billion and total volume traded decreased 4.27% to 356.52 million units.

Where?

At the close of trading, the banking sector represented 71.21% of the total market value traded, while the breweries sector represented 9.83%. The Top 5 stocks as a % of total market value traded were: FBNH (30.24%), ZENITHBANK (20.19%), GUARANTY (10.05%), NB(9.04%) and ETI (4.22%).

On a volume basis, the Top 5 most traded stocks for the day were: FBNH (127.18m), ZENITHBANK (46.05m), GUARANTY (18.97m), ETI (16.87m) and TRANSCORP (15.21m).

manual intervention, which, according to him, is in line with the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s directive.

Adewumi added that it provides investors the convenience of executing their trades on-line through a range of devices such as desktops, laptops, tablets and other mobile devices.

“We are starting our roll out plan in may. We want to bring in more investors to become active participants. Nigeria has the biggest in Africa and we hope that in the next few years, our GDP will grow in terms of size because we would develop the retail market in such a way that investors can trade and control their investment in the capital market. This will enhance transparency, attract more market participant which would boost the economy.

“Lead Securities &Investment Limits promptly responded to the initiatives of the NSE by upgrading its existing trading infrastructure to a world class trading portal. The platform offers investors a secure channel to buy and sell shares of companies listed on the NSE. Orders submitted through LeadTrder pass through a FIX compatibles Order Management System where appropriate compliance checks are in place to prevent erroneous orders going into

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ISSUE

Alafin writes Jonathan on Nyanya bombing, general insecurity WISH to commiserate • I with Your Excellency, over the unfortunate bomb blast, which occurred at the Nyanya Motor Park, a suburb of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory on Monday, 14th April, 2014 which left a number of people killed and injured.

• Your Excellency, this incident is not only tragic but also a national calamity, which deserves condemnation of every right-thinking Nigerian.

• Your Excellency, the Boko Haram menace has become a national disaster and embarrassment, to the well being and security of Nigeria.

• With the influx of mercenary fighters, grenades and rocket launchers, the Boko Haram’s senseless and unreasonable warfare has taken an international dimension and the time is ripe now for Your Excellency to seek for support and cooperation of the international communities, most especially our neighboring countries of Cameroon, Niger Republic and Chad Republic, to put an end to this threat on the Sovereignty and Security of Nigeria.

• Your Excellency, sometimes in May and November 2013, when the American Consular General, Ambassador Jeffrey Hawkins and the British Deputy High Commissioner, Ambassador Peter Carter, respectively, visited me at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, on courtesy duty tours, I reiterated the need for international supports to clamp down on the Boko Haram threats and menace in Nigeria, inclusive of logistic supports.

• Your Excellency, the religion of Islam, of which I am a strong adherent, is a religion of peace, which forbids and abhors the killing of any human soul, in other words, the Boko Haram warfare is not fighting the cause of Islam but rather a political tool in the hands of those that do not wish you and your government well and, therefore, the urgent need for enhancement of intelligence, logistics, holistic and political intervention, to uproot this menace that has become an international embarrassment.

• It is my fervent prayers and wish, that the blessings of Almighty Allah will never forsake you and that the Almighty Allah will continue

With the influx of mercenary fighters, grenades and rocket launchers, the Boko Haram’s senseless and unreasonable warfare has taken an international dimension and the time is ripe now for Your Excellency to seek for support and cooperation of the international communities, most especially our neighboring countries of Cameroon, Niger Republic and Chad Republic, to put an end to this threat on the Sovereignty and Security of Nigeria

to give you the wherewithal and enablement to continue to pilot the affairs of this largest black African country in the continent.

• On behalf of the good people of Oyo town, the Oyomesi, the good people of Oyo State and the entire Yoruba Nation in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, I wish Your Excellency further successes in all your endeavours.

Please accept the highest assurances of the Royal Stool.

• Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III JP, CFR, LL.D, the Alaafin of Oyo and Permanent Chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs

The Alaafin of Oyo, HRM, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, and Owa-Obokun of Ijesha Land Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, during a courtesy visit by the Owa to Alaafin's Palace yesterday.

PHOTO BY PRINCE FEHINTOLA AZEEZ

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Ondo to begin chocolate production

NDO State government O has concluded plans to commence production of

Chocolate as part of its efforts at revolutionising cocoa production. The Chocolate will be of 70 per cent cocoa.

The state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko made the disclosure yesterday in his office during a courtesy visit by the Director General of Standard Organisation of

Nigeria (SON) Dr. Joseph Odumodu and members of his management.

At the meeting, Mimiko advised the regulatory body to create ways of protecting local industries as the backbone of the nation’s economy.

The governor also commended the organisation’s management for its untiring efforts at heightening the con-

• Residency Card distribution starts June 1 He assured that his adminissciousness of Nigerians at waging war against substandard products.

Mimiko said local entrepreneurs are confronted with numerous challenges, stressing that concerted efforts must be intensified to boost Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria through local industrialisation.

tration would partner the organisation to prevent the country from being flocked with substandard products that are injurious to health and living standard of the people.

He threw his weight behind the international accreditation that will make the prod-

ucts of Nigeria globally competitive and acceptable, stressing that his administration had concluded arrangement to commence production of chocolate of 70 per cent cocoa in its efforts at revolutionising cocoa production and create job opportunities in line with the government’s action plan.

Also speaking during the call, the director general of SON, who noted that the organisation had set standard for Nigeria in the global market, added that National Coalition on Zero Tolerance to Substandard Products would soon be launched in the country.

He stressed that importation of substandard products into the country had resulted into death of many people, noting that the organisation would not relent in the fight against the economic saboteurs.

Appreciating the state government for the provision of office accommodation free of charge for the body, the SON DG also requested for the allocation of land to enable the organisation build a permanent office and regional laboratory in the state.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Ondo State Civic Data Centre, Mr. Tunde Yadeka said on Monday that the Residency card ‘kaadi Igbeayo’ being distributed to pregnant and nursing mothers designed for

the application of all government social welfare programmes and services in the state will be extended to other citizens from June this year.

The centre, he said, will start giving out the cards to others who are not pregnant and nursing mothers with effect from June 1,2014.

Speaking while distributing cards to pregnant women and nursing mothers at the General Hospital in Igbaraoke, Ifedore Local Council Area of the state, Yadeka said the distribution of the cards started with the safe motherhood initiative of the state, ‘Abiye’ because of the importance the state government attached to the reduction of maternal and infant mortality rate. This, he said, would also rationalise health services to curb the influx of women from other states.

According to him, the cards of about 595,000 adults who had already registered their names are almost ready. He disclosed that only residents with the card will enjoy the benefits from government as from January 2015.

He explained that those who have not registered and need to register will have to identify themselves as residents of the state before they will be registered saying that the mode of identification will soon be decided by the government.

I will not return to PDP, says Ladoja From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan ORMER Governor Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo state yesterday ruled out the possibility of returning to the Peoples

F

Democratic Party (PDP), which he dumped in the wake of the 2011 elections saying his decision to leave was based on sound political judgment.

Ladoja, who is presently the leader of Accord Party (AP) in the state, said his decision to remain in AP was not negotiable.

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Sports Yobo may be fit for Norwich’s Chelsea clash

Ahead Brazil 2014 World Cup

NFF wants Uche, Obasi in Keshi’s World Cup list

uper eagles captain, Joseph Sreturn Yobo, is targetting a May 4 to action at Stamford Bridge after a calf strain relapse ruled him out of last weekend`s game against Liverpool at Carrow road.

The on loan defender was advised to rest for one week after a scan showed a relapse.

“Joseph will be out for another week at least. he has had a scan on his calf and it will be a week,” Norwich caretaker coach, Neil Adams, has confirmed.

Adams is, however, desperate for the return of the former everton man, whose arrival in Norfolk has been a blessing to the club.

Yobo has made a huge impact since his arrival from Turkey at the end of January. he has won three man-of-the-match awards, including the one in the goalless draw against Manchester City in February.

The Nigerian was also at the heart of another impressive Norwich defensive display a week later against Tottenham and ensured the then free-scoring emmanuel Adebayor did not know his way to the Canaries’ goal.

• Backs Yobo’s exclusion, as Osaze makes list From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja he Nigeria Football T Federation (NFF) refused to unveil the 38-man list of players submitted to it on Tuesday by Super eagles’ Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi, because it was not satisfied by some of the names pushed forward by the coach.

The NFF told the coach to do more consultations and tinker with the list before it would be made public.

Keshi submitted the list at a meeting with the NFF technical committee, which The Guardian gathered included Stoke City striker, Osaze Odemwingie, with Villarreal inform striker, Ike uche, captain Joseph Yobo and vastly improved Schalke 04 attacker, Chinedu Obasi, conspicuously missing.

A technical committee member, who was part of the stormy meeting, told The Guardian that the committee differed with the eagles’ coach in his choice of players, stressing that while he listed some injured players, whom he did not know their level of fitness, he deliberately closed the doors on some inform players, who have been making waves in their clubs.

The committee member, who pleaded anonymity, said the coach was given more time to monitor some Nigerian players as well as those that are injured to come up with a realistic list. he said that as the NFF president, Aminu Maigari, told Keshi at the meeting, Nigerians would want nothing but the best of the coun-

ty’s players at the World Cup. he noted that while the technical committee supported him in his decision to drop Norwich defender, Joseph Yobo from the list, it disagreed with the coach on the exclusion of Ikechukwu uche and Chinedu Obasi, who, they argued, deserved to be there following their impressive performances at their clubs in the Spanish and german leagues respectively.

The committee’s argument was that since the eagles’ coach decided to pardon Stoke City’s Odemwingie, he should have extended the same to uche, since his interest is in giving Nigeria the best outing at the World Cup. he said: “There is every hope that the likes of Ike uche and Chinedu Obasi will be invited to fight for shirts in the World Cup team based on their current forms in their clubs. Like Osaze, the committee believes that the two players should be invited to fight for a shirt in the team.

“While we congratulated him at the meeting for the reconciliation that led to the recall of Osaze, we asked and was not given acceptable reasons for the exclusion of Ike uche and Obasi, who are currently doing well in their clubs.

“We believe that he should extend such reconciliations to the two if he had some issues with them. These were some of the reasons why we decided to postpone the release of the list so that he would have more time to reconsider his position on the players as well as to monitor others that have injuries, but were listed in the team.”

Eagles get May 27 deadline for Scotland friendly TepheN Keshi, the Super STuesday eagles’ head Coach, on said players invited for the friendly against Scotland were expected to arrive the team’s camp latest on May 27.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match against Scotland will take place at the Craven Cottage in Fulham, england on May 28.

Keshi said the deadline was given to the players to enable the team have one day to get its strategy for the match right.

``We are playing on May 28, and we all should be there on May 27 so that we can have at least a one-day training session before we play,’’ he said.

The coach said he was still working to get 30 players out of the list of 38 already submitted to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

On the 38-player list, Keshi said players, which made the provisional list were invited based on their performances in their various clubs and communication with the team’s handlers.

Januzaj has chosen Belgium, says Wilmots

Obasi was in Super Eagles’ team to the South Africa 2010 World Cup.

NSC meets NFF over World Cup preparations From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja its efforts to ensure that ItoNnothing is left unattended in the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) efforts to prepare the Super eagles adequately for the Brazil 2014 FIFA World cup, the NFF yesterday met with the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) to brief them on its programme for the Mundial Coupe.

The Guardian gathered that the meeting was facilitated by the NSC leadership, which in a lettered dated Thursday, April 17, summoned the NFF leadership to the parley where it was expected to

brief the Commission on the extent of preparations for Brazil 2014.

An NSC source at the meeting revealed that the NFF team was led by the president, Aminu Maigari, with all the management team in attendance, including the chairman of the technical committee, Chris green, while Minister of Sports, Tamuno Danagogo and the Director general, gbenga elegbeleye, led other NSC directors.

At the meeting, a source disclosed, the minister informed the NFF of the NSC’s receipt of the approval letter for release of the World

Cup budget from the presidency, while the NFF boss briefed the NSC on accommodation arrangement for the Super eagles and other members of the Nigerian contingent to the World Cup. The source also disclosed that the minister reminded the NFF of the need to avoid any form of confrontation with Super eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi, over the team list, while calling on the Federation’s technical committee to seek amicable means to make the coach see reasons in their suggestions since they are all working in the interest of the nation.

Nigerian coaches need re-orientation, says Obiku

By Christian Okpara OrMer Super eagles’ striker, Mike Obiku, believes Nigerian players can only achieve their true potential when the coaches learn the modern ways of training players.

Obiku, who is the head coach of Feyenoord rotherdam Academy, said in Lagos yesterday that he was surprised to see some coaches using the same method players of his era were subjected to about 30 years ago, arguing that ‘you don’t have to kill the player to get the best out of him.’

The former Iwuanyanwu National striker is in Lagos as one of the coaches training the players and coaches in the semifinals of the 2014 NNpC/Shell Cup, which final

F

•Tips Eagles for second round in Brazil holds on Sunday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

“Before I came in here, I took time out to watch some lads in training at the Teslim Balogun Stadium and I was surprised that they are still made to run many laps around the field in this modern era.

“Nobody does that any more in holland. The players get all the physical fitness they need from the training he does on the pitch. Nobody will tell you to carry another player and start running round the pitch. There are more scientific ways of training for stamina. We have the determination to succeed, but we are not going about getting

success the right way,” he said.

On Super eagles’ chances of success at the Brazil 2014 World Cup, Obiku said the country could surprise pundits at the Mundial, pointing out that most of the teams are at the same level. he said: “The good thing is that we qualified for the World Cup and that we also have a good coach.

“In the World Cup, you never know, but I think we can make the second round.

“In the game against Argentina, anything can happen and I really feel that we are better than Bosnia.

“But everything will depend on how the players apply themselves.”

eLgIuM coach, Marc B Wilmots, says that talented Manchester united winger, Adnan Januzaj, has chosen to play for the Belgian national team.

The 19-year-old was born in Brussels of Balkan heritage and has played for united since 2011. he was able to choose between several nations for international duty, including Albania and Kosovo.

Wilmots announced yesterday via his official Twitter account that he ‘’received the official confirmation that Adnan Januzaj has offered to defend the Belgian colours for the rest of his career.’’

The decision strengthens a Belgium team built around such talented youngsters as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and playmaker, eden hazard.

Both belong to Chelsea, though Courtois is on loan to Atletico Madrid.

Belgium is favoured to do well at the World Cup in June, where it faces russia, South Korea and Algeria in group h.

Obiku

SPORTS Thursday, April 24, 2014 | 77

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Nigeria women’s 4x400m relay team now world’s third best

By Gowon Akpodonor

• Maurice Greene very excited, says AFN

EAM Nigeria’s preparation for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games is gradually taking a good shape, if the record posted by the country’s women 4x400m relay team at the just concluded Mount SAC Relays in California, USA are anything to go by.

Nigeria’s athletics team featured in the Mount SAC Relay last weekend and will do battle with athletes from over 60 countries in the Penn Relay, which begins today in Philadelphia.

Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, who is with the athletes in Philadelphia, told The Guardian in an exclusive chat yesterday that the women’s 4x400m relay quartet made an impressive outing at the Mt SAC relay, running 3mins 28 seconds.

“We didn’t expect to achieve our best performance at the Mt SAC meet because the competition was designed to test the physical and psychological strength of our athletes at competition level.

But the women 4x400m relay team did very well by returning a time of 3.28s, which currently ranks as No. 3 in the world leading time going by the IAAF rating.

Things are shaping up for us.

“The male team didn’t do as well as the female, but their performance was fair considering the fact that we didn’t feature our full strength because we needed to test everybody available by spreading into two teams.

The good news is that our male team has been further strengthened with the arrival of two additional athletes in the 4x100 and 4x400m for the Penn Relays event,” Nesiama said.

The Penn Relay with an annual record of more than 22,000 entrants will end on Saturday.

Speaking further, Nesiama said: “We can start seeing the shape of the team at the end of the Penn relay event.

Though, the track is not usually a fast track, we can test their strength against other national teams. From the results also coming out from AFN Golden League, we have

T

depth in the men’s team at the home camp as against the female, where the depth is based abroad.

“This why the Technical Committee planned from the beginning of the season to establish camps both at home and abroad. The strategy is that about three weeks to the World Relays, the final team would be put together in a blend between the home-based and foreignbased athletes. They would then be exposed to at least two other competitive relays before moving into the world relays in Bahamas.”

The AFN Technical Director also spoke on the recently appointed relay coordinator of Team Nigeria athletics team, American Maurice Greene.

“Oh, Greene is happy working with Nigerian Team. He believes that if our athletes keep their minds open, believe in themselves and trust the instructions from their coaches appointed to oversee their activity, they will achieve world class results,” Nesiama said.

Meanwhile, AFN president, Solomon Ogba has said he is expecting a better performance from the athletes in the Penn Relay, which begins today in Philadelphia, USA. He said that the relays would be used to analyze and better the performances of the athletes ahead of the IAAF Relays holding in Nassau, Bahamas between May 24 and 25 as well as the Commonwealth Games and African Senior Athletics Championships.

U.S.-based Regina George leading Team Nigeria’s 4x400m relay team at London 2012 Olympic Games. The country’s women’s 4x400m relay team is now rated as the world’s third best quartet.

Erico wants Keshi to stick to World Cup list

By Alex Monye OLLOWING the postponeFbetween ment of the meeting Super Eagles boss Stephen Keshi and officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Committee on Tuesday, former Super Eagles assistant coach, Joe Erico, has urged Keshi to stick to the list of players he penciled down to fight for shirt ahead of the Mundial.

Erico, who was reacting to the Technical Committee’s decision to postpone the meeting with Keshi, explained that the Eagles’ handler would find it difficult to parade the best legs in Brazil, if he is forced to release names of players at the early stage.

He tasked the NFF Technical

Committee to emulate other participating countries in the World Cup by ensuring Keshi get the best of support to assemble a formidable team.

Erico advised Keshi not to bow to any form of pressure to change his World Cup list, stressing that the Big Boss is the only person that has the right to pick the right players for the Mundial.

“Postponement of meeting between Keshi and technical committee should not raise any tension. The fact still remains that Keshi has listed the players for the World Cup. The Eagles boss should not allow any body to make him change his mind. There is no need for people to panic on the Eagles list because other countries have not release their list.

NFF should not expose Keshi’s list and they should allow him takes his time,” Erico said.

Meanwhile Super Eagles spokesman Ben Alaiya has said the meeting between Keshi and NFF was shifted to let the Big Boss add more names to the list. He assured that Keshi was focused and committed to pick the best legs for the Mundial. ‘’The meeting was not postponed because of disagreement from both parties. The NFF wants Keshi to still add more players to his list in case of injury. Also the Big Boss wants to still be given ample time to get the main players he needs for the World Cup. There is no course for alarm. The date of the meeting will be announced by the NFF,’’ Alaiya said.

Feyenoord coaches drill NNPC/Shell Cup teams, semifinalists arrive their trainers in the evening. football players.

TEAM of coaches and offi- Model Secondary School, Speaking during an interac“We focus on developing A cials of Feyenoord Kotangora, Niger State and tive session with journalists good players, as against buyRotherdam Football Club of Government Day Secondary

Nestle and Etisalat football teams fighting for the Remita Football Champions Cup final ticket at the Campus Square Stadium, Lagos…recently.

Holland, who arrived in Nigeria early in the week, will this morning at the National Stadium, Lagos, begin a threeday training session with the coaches and players of the four teams in the 2014 All Nigeria Secondary Schools Football Championship, also known as NNPC/Shell Cup. The four semifinalists are St. Thomas Basic Secondary School, Benin, Brightville College, Ibadan, Government

School, Bangudu, Zamfara State.

According to the Feyenoord coaches’ itinerary, the training session will begin this morning with the students of the four schools, while the coaches will have their turn in the evening.

After tomorrow’s semifinals of the NNPC/Shell Cup, the team will return to training pitch on Friday first with the players in the morning and

yesterday, Feyenoord’s International Relations Manager, Gido Vader, said he was excited to be in Nigeria to help develop players of the future, adding, “Feyenoord Youth Football Academy has a big bank of professional skills to impart to the teams and we believe that they are as eager as we are for this interaction.’’

He added: “We aspire to develop great human beings, who grow to become great

Oshiomhole declared fit for Okpekpe Road Race DO State Governor, E Adams Oshiomhole, has been declared fit and ready to run in next weekend’s second Okpekpe 10km Road Race, his trainer, Yusuf Ali, has disclosed.

‘The governor has been going under five minutes per kilometre in training and this is an indication of his readiness for the race,’ revealed Ali, a former African long jump record holder.

Ali, who is also the race’s director, is confident this year’s event will be a huge improvement on the inaugural edition last year, both in terms of its technical

organisation and quality of elite runners.

“We have confirmed the participation of some of the who is who in the road race world,” said Ali, who reiterated Pamodzi’s plans to make the race one of the eagerly anticipated races in the world.

“The race is already one of the highest paying 10km races in the world. The quality of athletes the second edition has attracted is a confirmation that the race will become very successful,” he said and thanked Pamodzi, the organisers of the race, for putting the rusty town of Okpekpe on the world map.

Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev. Alfred Martins (left); President of Catholic Men Organisation (CMO), Chief Emeka E. Asoegwu, and the Chaplain of the Archdiocesan CMO, Rev. Father Daniel Nwakwo, at the cup presentation for Archbishop Martins soccer tourney…recently.

ing stars, which is why for four years, Feyenoord Academy has been rated by the Dutch Federation (KNVB) as the best in Holland.

“One week is too short to change the players’ orientation, but we want to point the way forward to their coaches.’’

Former Nigerian international, Mike Obiku, who played for Feyenoord for four years, is in the coaching team in Nigeria for the programme.

Obiku is the head coach of the Feyenoord Academy.

Earlier, Shell’s Regional Communication Manager, Philip Mshelbila, had explained that the Feyenoord team was invited to Nigeria because “we want to see players and coaches from all the schools that qualified for the semi-finals of the championship leave with life changing experiences from this interaction with Feyenoord Rotterdam FC. “We are partnering with an organisation that has built capacity development strategies in manpower development. So, we are partnered with Feyenoord to help us in primarily capacity building.

“They will spend time with the coaches of the four schools remaining in the competition. This is a partnership we truly believe will help in taking the NNPC/Shell Cup to a higher level.”

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

78 SPORT Thursday, April 24, 2014

European round-up

Mourinho to concentrate on Champions League HELSEA boss Jose C Mourinho is considering surrendering the Premier League title to Liverpool by fielding a weakened team at Anfield on Sunday to prioritise the Champions League semi-final second leg with Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea’s first-leg stalemate at the Vicente Calderon Stadium came at a cost on Tuesday night as goalkeeper Petr Cech was ruled out for the season with a dislocated shoulder and captain John Terry suffered an ankle injury to rule him out of next Wednesday’s second leg.

The injuries added to problems for striker Samuel Eto’o (knee) and Belgium playmaker Eden Hazard (calf), while midfielders Frank Lampard and John Obi Mikel will miss the second leg through sus-

pension.

Chelsea lost 2-1 to Sunderland in the Premier League last Saturday to leave the European Cup they won in 2012 their most likely trophy chance this term.

Given the Blues are five points behind Liverpool with three games to go and ahead of the trip to Anfield, Mourinho believes Europe is now the priority.

But he will consult the Chelsea hierarchy before deciding which players to field.

“I can’t decide by myself,” said Mourinho, who was again critical of the Premier League for not changing the date of the Liverpool fixture to benefit his side’s European ambitions.

“I think that’s a decision I have to listen to the club. I’m just a piece, I’m just the man-

Gabi: I was frustrated by Chelsea’s tactics ABI was disappointed by G the Rojiblancos’ inability to break the Blues down at the Vicente Calderon but believes the tie remains open ahead of the return clash in London Atletico Madrid captain Gabi admitted his frustration at Chelsea’s spoiling tactics after the first leg of their Champions League semi-final ended in a 0-0 draw.

The two sides went into the game boasting the best defences in La Liga and the Premier League and a war of attrition duly ensued, with little in the way of goalmouth action.

Atletico enjoyed 62 per cent of the possession on the night, though, and 26 shots on goal compared to just five from the Blues, in a clash that will not linger long in the memory.

The result favours the English club heading into the second leg, with forward duo Eden Hazard and Samuel Eto’o set to return for Jose Mourinho’s men, and Gabi admitted the Rojiblancos had been left bitterly frustrated by the way the first leg unfolded.

He told reporters: “We’re not satisfied, but the tie is still open. Atletico wanted to win from start to finish. We knew they would not concede a goal easily and we come away with a bad taste.”

Colchoneros defender Juanfran was quick to echo the sentiments of his teammate, but added that he remains confident of going to

Stamford Bridge and securing either a victory or a score draw.

“We are not happy,” he admitted. “We wanted to get the win. But they played a defensive game because they think they can win at Stamford Bridge.

• Culled from Goal.com

ager and no more than that.

“I think the fact that the match is on Sunday puts the problem out of my hands.

“We represent English football and we are the only English team that is European competition. Spain has four and gave them all the conditions to try to have success.

“I know what I would do but I have to speak with the club. I would play with the players that are not going to play Wednesday.”

Premier League rules say that “in every league match each participating club shall field a full strength team”.

Wolves received a suspended fine of £25,000 when they famously rested a host of players for a trip to Manchester United back in December 2009.

Cech suffered a dislocated shoulder after 18 minutes and was replaced by Mark Schwarzer.

After visiting hospital, Cech travelled back with the team on their evening flight to London.

Terry, meanwhile, will only play in the Champions League again this term if Chelsea reaches the May 24 final in Lisbon against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.

Chelsea’s defender David Luiz (left) vies with Atletico Madrid’s Brazilian defender, Filipe Luis during the UEFA Champions League first leg semi-final …on Tuesday.

PHOTO:AFP

Again, Ferguson to help Man United select manager IR Alex Ferguson will play a SMoyes’s key role choosing David replacement as Manchester United manager.

Moyes, who was hand-picked

by Ferguson as his successor last year, was sacked on Tuesday after 10 months in charge.

Ferguson will be part of a selection panel consisting of every Manchester United board member.

During his 26-year reign at Old Trafford, Ferguson won 38 trophies, including 13 league titles and the Champions League in 1999 and 2008.

Under Moyes, United lost six league games at home, were beaten in the FA Cup by

Swansea at Old Trafford and went out of the Capital One Cup at the semi-final stage.

They are seventh in the table with four games remaining and are guaranteed to record their lowest points tally in the Premier League.

United will not be playing Champions League football next season for the first time since 1995 and are in danger of missing out on European competition altogether for the first time since 1990.

Things came to a head on Sunday following United’s 2-0 defeat at Everton - Moyes’s old club.

The board met to discuss the

decision to sack Moyes, with Ferguson and Manchester United legend and fellow director Bobby Charlton believed to have been part of those discussions.

Moyes was summoned by executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, at Carrington on Tuesday morning, when his contract was terminated.

Ryan Giggs, formerly playercoach, will take care of the first team until a permanent appointment can be made, but the 40-year-old United veteran, who has played 962 times for Manchester United, is not thought to be in the running for the job.

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Thursday, April 24, 2014

79

TheGuardian

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Linus Aleke S the Master of all masters, Jesus Christ A rightly observed in the cause of His sermon as recorded in the Gospel of Luke (14:2831): ‘For which of you, desiring to build a tower will not first sit down and estimate the cost, whether he has the enough to complete it?

Otherwise, when he had laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying this man began to build and was not able to finish.’

The illustration above aptly captures what families, corporate bodies and governments at all levels have obediently adopted over the ages and do not seem to be in the mood to discontinue the practice till the present day in the name of budget and budgeting processes.

A housewife draws up a budget for the running of the household within a specific period and submits same to the husband for funding to avoid running into trouble and debt.

Same is applicable to corporate bodies, big or small, as well as the governments at the centre, states and local levels. This is in consonance with the oriental clichés which state that he who fails to plan plans to fail.

Therefore, budget and budgeting processes are in line with modern planning system.

It is necessary to note that apt as the foregoing illustration may be, poor implementation of a plan or budget will amount to chaos and retrogression in the system—public or private.

Take, for instance, a situation in which a housewife budgets 1,000 dollars for her monthly upkeep and she spends less than half of the total sum. The effect of the under spending on the household is not hard imagine.

It is, nonetheless, in line with the aforesaid realities that a group of professionals under the aegis of Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) appealed to the Executive and Legislative arms of the government to find a lasting solution to the perennial disagreement which has always delayed the early passage of the appropriation Act, the assent of Mr. President and the subsequent implementation of the nation’s budget—on record time.

The national president of the group, Mr. Bawa Ka’oje, an engineer, who made the appeal at a press briefing, had said that for the projects and other services to go as planned in the 2014 appropriation, the National Assembly must hasten the passage of the budget before it. The budget, however, has now been passed by the Legislature.

When Mr. Ka’oje spoke before the budget was passed, he said: “The first quarter of the year is almost ending and the passage of the 2014 appropriation bill in the national assembly is still pending. The legislative and executive arms of government must find ways and means to agree on budget parameters to enable the Executive to present budget proposal on time so as to allow the parliamentarians deliberate on it and analyze the proposal for early passage and assent by the President; this will enable a timely commencement of budget implementation through the year, thereby allowing a better and more meaningful implementation to be achieved, for a more enhanced national development.

Therefore, APBN is urging the national assembly to hasten and pass the budget to get projects and other services to go on as planned in 2014.”

The former minister also used the opportunity to berate the poor implementation of the previous budget, that is, last year’s budget with particular reference to agriculture sector, noting what may be implied from his speech as the Federal Government’s indifference towards diversification of the nation’s economy. According to him, it is what is responsible for the shortfall in the releases of budgetary allocation to the sector.

He said that no nation can industrialise with

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Poor implementation of budget a recipe for underdevelopment

DG, Budget Office of the Federation, Dr Bright Okogu revenue from one source as is the case with Nigeria, stressing that the government must step up efforts in diversifying the nation’s economy particularly the agric sector if the nation is to witness the desired change and

rapid development.

“Nigeria as a nation needs to diversify its economy from total reliance on oil, and agriculture is one of the major areas to ensure a sustainable diversification of our economy. In 2013, agricul-

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ture had a budget of N39.9 billion out of which only N19.9 billion was released, leaving a shortfall of N20.1 billion as at December 31, 2013. This does not show seriousness in our drive to achieve a meaningful diversification from reliance on oil revenue in Nigeria.”

He then went on to advise the government to ensure prompt release of budgetary allocations to ministries, departments and agencies of government to stimulate a successful implementation of the budget while describing as unacceptable the non-release of budgeted allocations as painted in the foregoing.

Ka’oje also expressed displeasure at the snail pace of implementation of the budget. He said that despite the poor implementation of the 2013 budget in almost all the sectors, particularly as it affected the Ministry of Agriculture, the Federal Government borrowed more than N10 trillion to fund projects and services in last year thereby raising the nation’s debt profile from N7.55 trillion in 2012 to a whooping sum of N10.04 trillion at the end of 2013, and it is still rising.

“Nigeria’s debt profile hits N10 trillion as at December 31, 2013, indicating an increase of 33.03 per cent compared with N7.55 trillion

by December 31, 2012. This is as a result of massive borrowing from both domestic market and institutional agencies, according to debt management office. The Federal Government borrowed N2.49 trillion to finance operations in 2013. There is, therefore, the need to be careful with the level of borrowing so as not to over burden the nation with debt.”

He went on: “It is with utmost commitment and sense of humility that the association affirms that we have a very important role to play in the development of the country. With the involvement of Nigerian professionals as stakeholders, Nigeria can truly attain its potentials as a great nation.”

It will be recalled that before the advent of crude oil revenue, the nation survived solely on revenue accruing from agricultural produce. For example, the North was noted for its production of cash crops such as groundnut, as well as herd and skins, the East led in the area of palm oil production while the West was the leader in the production of cocoa and rubber. But the discovery of oil and the balkanization of the regions into states weakened the regions and drove the component units into indolence and slumber.

Supporting the above view, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in his Centenary address, remarked that the government had not been able to reap the full benefits of the oil exploration in the country.

“The history of Nigeria since Independence is the story of a struggle to fulfill our great promise. The discovery of oil in our country in the late 1950s offered new hope of prosperity but we have not always been able to reap the benefits in a fair and equitable way.”

In the light of the foregoing, however, it is appropriate to emphasize that no nation can attain meaningful development in an environment characterized by unending disagreements between major arms of government charged with the responsibilities of appropriation and implementation of budget for the nation. Hence the urgent need for the duo to sheathe their swords in the overall interest of the nation.

It is on this premise that one is safe to infer that ‘to whom much is given, as they say, much is also expected.’ Therefore, those orchestrating this endless disagreement between the two arms of the government in the area of budgeting should be conscious of history which often judges everyone according to the measure of his contribution to the development of his society or the nation at large.

• Alake is an Abuja based journalist. gov4live@yahoo.com, 08067366500