Mon 28 Apr 2014

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Monday, April 28, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,905

www.ngrguardiannews.com

N150

NERC okays interim rules for power sector From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja HE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved and signed into law the rules in the interim between completion of privatisation and the start of the Transitional Electricity Market (TEM).

The order, which was signed by the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, provides for regulation which shall apply to energy produced and delivered as well as associated services during the period.

The rules, which are in exercise of the powers conferred on the Commission by Section 96 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (2005), are intended to cover all electricity taken from the transmission system by the distribution companies with adjustment made to account for any bilateral arrangements between generation

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Chelsea’s Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho (left) keeps the ball away from Liverpool’s English midfielder Steven Gerrard (middle), during their English Premier League match at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, northwest England…yesterday. Chelsea won the match by two goals PHOTO: AFP

Why FG awarded crude lifting contracts to indigenous firms, by minister - Page 4

companies (Gencos) and distribution companies (Discos).

The existing arrangements shall, however, be maintained, save to the extent that they are modified by the order of the Commission.

The objectives of the rules are to establish a framework to govern trading arrangements during the interim period when Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) between the privatised Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) successor-generation companies and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) and Vesting Contracts will not be effective.

It is also to manage the probable revenue shortfall in the industry by determining the revenue allowable to participants and service providers during the interim period.

The objectives also include the establishment of payment arrangements and

Parents decry lack of security for exams candidates at Unity Schools - Page 9

flow of funds from Discos through the market operator to all beneficiaries and to establish the sources of funds required to ameliorate the probable shortfall in the revenues collected by the Discos during the interim period.

The market operator shall ensure the Discos with invoices for their allocation of energy delivered and available capacity regulatory charges and services provided in each month during the interim period.

In the event of disputes arising during the period between participants and service providers, it shall be resolved in accordance with the disputes resolution provision of the market rules.

In this same vein, the Commission has, under the powers conferred upon it by Section 96 of the EPSR Act CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Diamond Bank extends Otti’s tenure as MD - Page 10

59 feared killed in fresh Nasarawa violence From Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna), Abiodun Fagbemi (Ilorin), Tope Templer (Lagos) Azimazi Momoh Jimoh (Abuja), Charles Akpeji (Jalingo) and Msugh Ityokura (Lafia)

• APC cautions against extension of emergency rule • NEF, Muslim group, others differ over Nyako’s allegation

HERE seem to be no end T yet to the orgy of violence sweeping across the North

covered in wells and shallow graves in various places in Igga, Nasarawa Eggon council

Central part of Nigeria as about 59 gruesomely murdered people have been dis-

of Nasarawa State following a lingering violence in the area between the Eggon and

Gwandara ethnic groups.

In a related development, the All Progressives Congress

(APC) has said the consequences of any plan to extend emergency rule in three north east states where there is insurgency may not be in the interest of people that are CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Why FG awarded crude lifting contracts to indigenous firms, by minister From Adamu Abuh, Abuja HE recent award of term T contracts for crude lifting, mostly to indigenous companies, is part of the Federal Government’s objective to encourage effective local participation in the oil and gas industry, Petroleum Resources minister, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, said at the weekend.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Alison-Madueke who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC’s) Board, stated that over 60 per cent of the 2014 to 2015 annual term contracts for the lifting of Nigeria’s crude oil was decidedly awarded to local firms after a painstaking prequalification process.

The Minister said the balance was shared among some international trading companies, refineries and to some countries with bilateral trade agreements with Nigeria.

“When we unveiled the Nigerian content law a few years back, the overriding principle was to grow indigenous capacity in an aggressive manner and I am happy to report that today, in the oil and gas sector, Nigerian content has been placed on the path of irreversible progress,” the Minister said.

Alison-Madueke noted that the award to local players is in

• Rep laments non -passage of PIB Bill line with the aspiration of President Goodluck Jonathan for effective transformation of the petroleum industry.

She said the advent of the Nigerian content law has encouraged indigenous investment in critical infrastructure.

She added: “We have seen robust indigenous investments in Marine vessels of various categories and wholly owned Nigerian vessels have increased astronomically through the years. These vessels are the Category one and Category two types. Investments in reception, storage and distribution facilities such as jetties, depots, trucks, vessels and modern retail outlets have more than doubled over the past few years, and this has helped to increase the nation’s sufficiency level in petrol,” the Minister said.

Alison-Madueke remarked that as at the last count indigenous investments in the sector have created over 40, 000 jobs across the hydrocarbon value chain.

“We have witnessed increased local investments in asset, in land, swamp and offshore rigs which are vital performance indicators in business growth in Nigerian service companies. As we speak Nigerian companies

are forging partnerships for deep water rig ownership and are evolving strategies that will increase rig ownership among local players.’’

Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives, Mr Uzoma Agbonta has expressed concern over the non-passage of the petroleum industry Bill (PIB).

The lawmaker who was guest of the “Hot Seat” series organised by reporters covering the House of Representatives expressed the fear that political considerations may still stall the passage of the Bill which is aimed at correcting the ills in the oil industry.

Abonta who is the vice chairman of the House committee on privatisation and commercialisation said: “ I have to start by asking a critical question who is afraid of PIB? PIB to all of us is known to address the negative ills in the oil sector. Everyday we shout about missing money; fraud in the NNDC; unaccounted funds in the oil sector, missing subsidy monies and all what not. But the PIB that we know would cure these malpractices and I venture to say again that those who are sitting on PIB are fermenting trouble and do not wish Nigeria to grow.

“We have no reason in that house not to pass the PIB. You are aware that we are now in a critical period for the politicians; the elections are here but we seem not to bother about the PIB based on certain interests; certain influence from certain quarters.

That is my thinking. Otherwise, we concluded debate, have established ad-hoc committees, we had retreats and so what is keeping it? I ask that question aloud.

“But I must caution and I warn seriously the PIB is the only way forward in the petroleum industry. Anybody who fails to support the PIB should have no stake in the oil industry anymore. If you fail to support PIB, then we should stop considering any issue arising from the oil matters. We know the sickness in the oil industry, we have developed the cure and we are failing to apply it. Then what is our intention?”

The lawmaker who represents Ukwa East/west federal constituency of Abia state further restated his position on resource control noting that if the issue is not adequately addressed, Nigeria would remain a mere geographical expression and not a nation.

Warning against running Nigeria on the threshold of injustice, he said the Gbagis, the

main original inhabitant of the federal capital territory (FCT) and South-South people are the worst hit as they have been denied enjoyment of their God-given lands without commensurate benefits accruing to them in return.

The lawmaker who has sponsored a number of bills in favour of the Gbagis and the South South people canvassed the need to create other towns in the mould of Abuja in the oil -rich Niger Delta and the allocation of a vast land to the Gbagi to enable them establish sustainable settlement and carry out their agricultural activities without let or hindrances.

Lamenting the injustice meted to both the Gbagis and the Niger Delta region, he said the situation further reinforce the need to ensure the passage of the PIB bill and other related legislation aimed at empowering Nigerians whose places of abode are blessed with mineral resources.

He added: “ The NDDC that should cater for the needs of the people of Niger Delta is poorly funded. As I am speaking to you, allocation to it in this year buget is not more than N500 million. You displace a Gwari man and sell his land for millions and you settle him with a hut some-

where. That is the height of injustice. You build for him a two modern bedroom somewhere; you relocate him; he marries his wife, have four kids, or more. Years later he wants to expand, no where for him to expand, nowhere for him to go. “ There is the need to create a vast area for them and let them develop at their own space. Same thing happened in the Niger Delta, you displace the people, their land are exploited and you left them to suffer.

“Resource control had been the topical issue ever since the creation of Nigeria. In the era of groundnut pyramid, the palm oil and all what not, did we achieve resource control? What was the percentage? Was it 50 percent? So why now reducing what we call derivation? We should make it attractive. A lot of these issues was supposed to be what the PIB was supposed to have addressed. In PIB, the local communities are supposed to be involved directly, now they are not. So should PIB should be passed likewise other extractive industries for either tin, stone, whatever so that the local people should benefit; to feel part of it. now we are threading on a very dangerous threshold.”

APC cautions against extension of emergency rule CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 meant to be protected or that of the country.

In the same vein, the chairman, Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Prof. Ango Abdullahi has urged the Federal Government to investigate the issue of alleged genocide against the North raised by the Adamawa State Governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako, rather than condemning the claim.

Meanwhile, Muslim students in the 19 Northern states and Abuja, under the umbrella of Muslim Student Society (MSSN) have backed Nyako for confronting the Federal Government over the security challenges in the north.

But a group, Save Adamawa State Movement (SASM), has called for Nyako’s resignation over his indictment by the expanded national security meeting that took place last week, saying it brought shame to the State.

Similarly, the President General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Bala Kiagama

Bobboi, has canvassed community policing to check insecurity in the country just as the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) has appealed to security agents to intensify efforts at addressing various security challenges.

Also, the General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Prophet Kayode Abiara has called on Nigerians to engage in fervent prayers to stop the increasing criminal activities in the country.

Top government functionaries who pleaded anonymity told The Guardian yesterday in Lafia that it took the intervention of some highly placed people of Eggon extraction to remove some of the corpses from the affected community following the refusal of Eggon youths to allow security operatives access to the troubled places.

45 dead bodies had been discovered Saturday, following intense fighting which began

on Friday, government and security sources said.

Igga is a community located in Nasarawa Eggon which is the traditional headquarters of the Eggon speaking people of the state which has continued to experience violence since the return of civil rule in the country in 1999.

The latest crises, according to the police, erupted as a result of tussle over a piece of land allegedly owned by a Gwandara indigene which was encroached upon by an Eggon person following which an argument ensued resulting in the killings.

Homes especially those belonging to the Gwandara people have been completely deserted with some burnt down even as economic trees in the area have been cut down, with farms destroyed.

Sources pointed accusation fingers on Ombatse, a renowned cult group for carrying out the mayhem against the Gwandara people who are just a fraction in the

whole of Nasarawa State.

However, at an emergency security meeting convened at the Government House Lafia yesterday, both the governor and the security chiefs were silent on who is actually behind the latest uprising.

Before the meeting went into a closed door session, Governor Tanko Al-Makura explained that the essence of the meeting was to appraise the security situation in the state with emphasis on the latest violence to enable the necessary action to be immediately taken.

According to the governor, the meeting was also aimed at discussing issues relating to the deliberations of the northern governors forum last week with particular concern about the farmers/ herdsmen clashes so as to give some citizens in the state some form of confidence about their safety.

Briefing reporters shortly afCONTINUED ON PAGE 6

NERC approves temporary rules for power sector CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 2005 approved the Enforcement Regulation for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.

The regulation seeks to enforce, maintain and ensure the adherence by licences and other participants in the electricity market to the provision of the Act and other instruments for the purpose of achieving the creation, promotion and preservation of an efficient electricity industry and market and the fostering of a culture of regulatory compliance; the facilitation of the swift investigation and resolution of incidences of regulatory

non-compliance and the fair and transparent determination of rights and obligations.

Furthermore, it provides for the maintenance of a predictable, stable and effective system for the assessment of compliance in the NESI and the proper allocation of responsibility; the establishment of a system for the deterrence, penalisation and application of sanction to acts or omissions which constitute non-compliance with regulatory framework established by the Act and regulatory instruments made pursuant thereto.

In exercising its enforcement powers under the Act,

the Commission shall be guided by the principles of fair hearing and non-discrimination, accountability and transparency, proportionality of the exercise of enforcement with breaches, efficiency of the Commission’s enforcement regime for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the Act and all regulations.

Others are the need to ensure an efficient electricity market, the need to ensure the provision of stable, qualitative and reliable electricity, the need to intervene where there is a specific statutory duty on the Commission to work towards a public policy goal with markets alone can-

not achieve and such other principles and considerations as the Commission may from time to time deem necessary to meet the principal objects of the Act and the national interest of Nigeria.

Non –compliance with the decision and orders of the Commission shall attract an administrative sanction and institution of civil proceedings in court against any person for the purpose of enforcing compliance. Any licensee that fails to comply with the decision order or direction of any nature given by the Commission commits an offence punishable under Section 94 of the EPSR Act, 2005.

Monday, April 28, 2014 NEWS

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News APC tasks Nigerian leaders on conduct

Minister allays fear over genetically modified foods

HE All Progressives T Congress (APC) has called on those in charge of the

• Urges speedy passage of biosafety bill

country’s affairs, led by President Goodluck Jonathan, to hold themselves to higher standards of conduct as a way of ensuring good governance and winning global respect for the country.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the resignation of South Korean Prime Minister, Chung Hong-won, over his government’s much-criticised poor handling of the April 16 ferry disaster that left over 300 dead or missing, must jolt the conscience of Nigerian officials, who have been found wanting when they have found themselves in similar situations.

New national e-ID card for launch soon, says NIMC

By Adeyemi Adepetun HE National Identity T Management Commission (NIMC) has said that the longawaited new national identity card would soon be launched.

The Director, Corporate Communications, Anthony Okwudiafor, who confirmed this at the weekend, said President Goodluck Jonathan would formally launch the card.

Okwudiafor said the launching would be an important development and usher in the formal and comprehensive identification of Nigerians and legal residents with the e-ID card embedded with the National Identification Number (NIN).

He said, “part of the reasons why we delayed the roll out of the cards is because we deliberately meant to separate and distinguish between the National Identification Number (NIN), which is a person’s identity in the strict sense of the Universal Identification Infrastructure and the National ID-Cards which will carry the National Identification Number (NIN).”

From Joke Falaju, Abuja ONTRARY to the opinC ion of some experts, the Minister of Agriculture

Chairman, Amb. Joe Keshi(left); Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Philips Oduoza (third left); Vice-Chairman, Mrs. Rose Okwechime (2nd left) and Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, during the 52nd yearly General Meeting of United Bank for Africa Plc held in Lagos.

Creation of states not solution to Nigeria’s problems, says Ahmed From Abiodun Fagbemi, (Ilorin) and Yetunde Ayobami Ojo (Lagos)

• Confab panel wants civil groups revitalized

OVERNOR Abdulfatah G Ahmed has urged national conference delegates from

ments while traditional rulers should be incorporated into governance through constitutional responsibilities.

Ahmed commended delegates from Kwara State for, according to him, focusing on issues that could enhance growth and development despite their divergent political leanings and views. He promised to facilitate the setting up of a secretariat and appoint a secretary to facilitate the operations of delegates from the state to ensure unity of purpose and harmonisation of views on issues of paramount importance to the state.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegates, Prof. Ibrahim

Kwara State not to support moves that could lead to what he called balkanisation of the state whose strength is said to be in its heterogeneity.

Addressing members of the confab delegates from the state during a visit to him in Abuja, Ahmed said creation of additional states should not be seen as solution to the socio-economic problems in the country but good governance and optimum utilisation of resources.

He suggested that the revenue allocation formula should be reviewed to provide more funding to states and local govern-

Gambari said they were on the visit to discuss issues of concern to Kwara State with the number one citizen of the state.

According to Gambari, such issues include boundary adjustment, revenue allocation, devolution of power, creation of states and local governments, role of traditional rulers among others.

Meanwhile, the National Conference Committee on Civil Society, Labour and Sports has canvassed prompt revitalisation of the activities of the civil society groups in Nigeria as a precursor to good governance in the country.

According to the Deputy Chairman of the Committee,

Issa Aremu, yesterday in a chat with reporters in Ilorin, though the activities of civil groups led to the termination of military rule in Nigeria, they have since the advent of democracy assumed the posture of a lame duck.

Members of the committee are expected to resume works today at NICON NUGA Hotel, Abuja.

Aremu, who opined that the democratic institution could not be said to have assumed the expected productive status in Nigeria, noted however, that the gap occasioned by the lapses should serve as a catalyst for the growth of the activities of the civil societies in the country.

Lagos PDP wants Tinubu arrested over utterances on planned Ekiti polls

By Seye Olumide (Lagos) and Karls Tsokar (Abuja) HE Lagos State chapter T of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called for immediate arrest and detention of former governor of the state, and national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, over what it described as inflammatory, inciting and criminal utterances capable of worsening the current security challenges in the country.

The PDP in a statement yesterday by its spokesman, Taofik Gani, warned that unless Tinubu is arrested and made to explain details of his utterances, “the security agencies would be seen as either compromised or docile and this portends

• ‘Obanikoro, not Tinubu, is threat to peace’ • Police threaten to charge offenders over inciting statements great danger for the polity.”

But the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, posited that the appointment of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro as minister of state for Defence, representing Lagos State, is rather the threat to the peace and well-being of the state.

Meanwhile, consequence to the widely condemned letter a state governor wrote to his colleagues in which his comments were said to be unsettling to the efforts being made to curb the security challenge, the police have warned Nigerians against making inciting comments that threaten the peace of the country, saying violation

will attract consequences.

In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja from the Force Public Relations Officer, the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, said unguarded, inflammatory and unsubstantiated statements by some Nigerians would no longer be tolerated.

He said the situation is worrisome as “some are capable of causing the breach of public peace”, to which Abubakar “has issued a stern warning to those in the habit of making such statements to desist from doing so forthwith.”

PDP in its statement claimed that “Bola Tinubu had stated publicly that in

the coming elections in Ekiti and Osun states, anyone who attempts to rig would be murdered and roasted. The statement was made at LAUTECH, Ogbomosho, during the investiture of the APC national leader as Chancellor of the institution.”

According to Gani, “the statement is criminal and possibly with the PDP members as target. The security agencies must therefore act fast to prove that they are on top of security issues in the land.”

Gani recalled that similar careless statements made by a presidential candidate, who is also a member of the APC is believed to have also aggravated the violence in

the North, saying, “the situation in the North may not have been bad if the security agencies had acted fast.

Hence, this current agent provocateur must be swiftly curtailed. The security agencies, especially the State Security Service (SSS), must not be cowed by his over bloated status, but arrest and even prosecute him. Nigerians must also hold Tinubu responsible for any political murder, now or during the election.”

Igbokwe on his part, urged the PDP to call Obanikoro to order, whom he said allegedly singlehandedly mobilised soldiers to stop a housing project meant for the development of the people of Lagos State, an action he said was serious and portends great threat to 2015 elections.

and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has said that genetically modified foods are safe for human consumption.

The minister, who urged Nigerians not to be afraid of genetically modified foods, said appropriate regulatory agencies should be put in place to check the benefits and risks associated with such foods.

Adesina spoke at the weekend in Abuja during the signing of a memorandum of understanding between his ministry and the African Agricultural Technological Foundation (AATF) aimed at ensuring speedy access to improved technology by Nigerian farmers and provision of technical services to the foundation.

“There are those that hold misunderstanding about biotechnology, thinking that Nigeria should not use biotechnology or genetically modified crops.

They feel Nigeria should remain in the dung room of the scientist, but what is important to note is that science and technology hold the key to allowing us deal with complex problems, we should not be afraid of science.

“There should not be fear about GMOs or Biotech crops at all because technology is technology, how you manage that technology to lower the risk to consumer is important. It is not enough to say you are anti-technology,” Adesina said.

He stressed the need to develop Bio-fortified crops that would enable farmers adapt to climate change and also cub the growing problem of malnutrition and stunting in the country.

The minister disclosed that the bio-safety right bill has reached an advanced stage at the National Assembly, calling for quick passage of the bill into law so as to enhance easy adoption of improved technology by farmers to boost the nation’s domestic food production.

He noted that AATF is one of the brokered organisations established to allow Africa access top notch technology in other to increase food production, adding that agriculture is the future of Africa, but there is need to secure the food supply and move away from a situation where the continent is dependent on food importation.

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‘Work on 2nd Niger Bridge not suspended’ From Lawrence Njoku Enugu and Anthony Otaru Abuja HE Julius Berger and NSIA Motorways Investment Company (JB-NMIC) Consortium, the preferred bidder for the development of the Second River Niger Bridge Project, has described reports suggesting that work on the bridge has been suspended as untrue and unfounded.

It said: ‘’Contrary to recent reports, work on the Second River Niger Bridge Project is on course and continue to progress according to schedule to ensure timely completion of the Bridge, which is set to be executed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for a concessional period of 25 years through the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT).’’

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by Uche Orji, CEO, NSIA and Wolfgang Goetsch, MD, Julius Berger, which was made available to The Guardianyesterday in Abuja.

Reports in some national dailies have suggested that work on the bridge has been suspended due to non-compliance with environmental laws.

The statement equally said that the nominated EPC contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, has commenced full mobilisation to site and timely execution of all scheduled activities is anticipated.

The consortium also highlights, “compliance with Nigeria Environmental Laws continue to be deemed a paramount priority and that Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), is an intrinsic part of the project, which the environmental laws governing Nigeria and in collaboration with the relevant ministries.”

Recall that President Goodluck Jonathan performed the

T

• APC, Igbo group decry uncertainty over project groundbreaking ceremony of the Second Niger Bridge early this year in view of its socio-economic importance to Nigeria.

However, angry reactions are greeting the uncertainties over work on the bridge.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday that the uncertainties over progress on work at the 2nd Niger Bridge had exposed the grand deception covering the shoddy award and flag off of the contract.

APC’s Zonal Secretary (southeast), Osita Okechukwu, while addressing delegates during the state congress in Enugu called for international competitive bidding and due process to govern the award of the contract.

Also, President Ndigbo Cultural Society of Nigeria (NC-

SN) Udo Udeogaranya blamed and called for the resignation of the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam and Director, Environmental Impact Assessment, Kehinde Odusanya, over the non-issuance of consequential approvals on which the Ministry of Works relied on to suspend work.

Okechukwu recalled the position of the party that it was when His Royal Majesty, Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe on February confronted and put President Jonathan on the spot over the pledge he made during the 2011 presidential election campaign to the effect that he will complete the 2nd Niger Bridge in four years that prompted him to hurriedly flag- off the construction of the bridge in March.

Outgoing Chairman/Managing Director of ExxonMobil Upstream Affiliates, Mark Ward (left); Vice Chairman & General Counsel, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Dr. Emmanuel Kachikwu; Executive Secretary, Nigeria Content Development & Monitoring Board, Ernest Nwapa and incoming Chairman/ Managing Director, Nolan O’Neal at the send forth event for his predecessor over the weekend.

NEF, Muslim group, others differ over Nyako’s allegation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 ter the closed door session, the State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Idris, announced that the governor was urgently going to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja to discuss issues relating with the latest uprising.

He also said the inventory of the dead and property destroyed was still being taken by security authorities and would be made available to the public at the appropriate time, calling on the public to support the security agencies with information.

He added that all necessary measures were being put in place to return the displaced people.

The Gwandara had just returned to their homes a month ago having fled Igga two-years ago following an

earlier conflict that forced them out of the place.

Speaking with journalists after the conduct of APC Kwara State congress in Ilorin at the weekend, the interim National Publicity Secretary of the party, Lai Mohammed, “you can’t fight insurgency without democratic structure being in place.

“The extension of emergency rule is between the President and the National Assembly.

President cannot declare emergency rule without securing two-third majority of the National Assembly and there are certain issues to be considered by the National Assembly before they would grant the extension.

“What is more worrisome is the call by some people to the effect that some democratic structures in the states should be dismantled and the governors sacked. The question is when and how did governors become impediment to fighting insurgency?

“On the contrary, you can’t fight insurgency without democratic structures being in place. I hope that those who are trying to stampede the President on extension or sacking of governors should have a rethink, because if they do, the consequences will not be in the interest of the people you want to protect or that of the country”, he said.

He advised Federal Government to reach out to the affected governors as the number one stakeholders in any state.

Speaking on the letter written by Nyako of Adamawa State on prevalent insurgency in the area, Mohammed said the governor was not speaking for the APC. “I think people are getting it

wrong. Nyako as governor and leader of the North, expressed his views on what he perceived is going on. When did that one become a party matter? The issue of condemnation or not, let’s take a look at the issue and message he said. I have read the letter.

He’s making certain allegations and those allegations he believes them and proffered solutions to issues raised.

Nyako was not speaking for APC. He was speaking as a governor and the letter was not addressed to APC, but to northern governors”, he said.

Abdullahi said the action of the Federal Government following Nyako’s allegation indicated that there was a hidden agenda being nursed by the President Goodluck Jonathan –led administration.

Besides, speaking in an interview with journalists in Kaduna at the weekend, the NEF chairman pointed out that, “to me, as a Governor of Adamawa State, Nyako is in a position to have some privileged information that could have made him to make such statement but rather than

people addressing the serious allegation, they have resorted to abusing and condemning him.”

Zone A Coordinator and Vice National Amir of MSSN, Malam Yusuf Yakubu Arrigasiyyu yesterday, at the 60th anniversary of the Society, expressed disappointment over the attitude of some northern leaders on the current security challenges confronting the north.

Arrigasiyyu said that Nyako has raised a fundamental issue that needed to be addressed, noting that, it is painful that all governors in the region have risen against him forgetting that Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State made a similar comment over poor approach to the insecurity in the north.

The SASM also called for the imposition of full scale state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states in which the governors would be removed to allow the military gain total control without political interference.

In a statement by SASM’s National President, Stephen Albert at the end of its meeting

in Abuja yesterday, said the indictment of Nyako did not come to its members as a surprise, having lived with him as governor in the last eight years.

The IEDPU President, Alhaji Abdul-Hameed Adi, made the appeal while addressing journalists during the launching of the Union’s magazine, “The Emirate Voice”, at the Union’s secretariat in Ilorin.

Bobboi, who said this to journalists yesterday in his home town Kakara immediately after his turbaning as the Tafidan Sardauana, called on the relevant authorities to encourage community police, as it would go a long way to reduce the security challenges presently confronting the country.

In his sermon at a prayer conference organised by the Treasure House of God Church, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Abiara noted with concern that kidnapping and other related crimes were becoming a general trend in the country and enjoined Nigerians to be more prayerful and also vigilant.

Egmont absolves Nigeria Police of plot to destroy FIU information From Abosede Musari, Abuja HE Egmont Group, the global warehouse of information on corruption to which Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) of most countries of the world are connected, has dismissed reports that policemen in Nigeria forcefully gained access to the Nigeria’s FIU with the aim of destroying vital information.

It would be recalled that in November 2013, there were media reports that then Act-

T

ing Director of NFIU, Juliet Ibekaku, alleged that policemen prevented her from entering her office and that she could not guarantee the veracity of information at the NFIU due to the purported interference of the policemen.

As a result of the allegation, the Egmont Group disconnected Nigeria (NFIU) from the Egmont Secure Web (ESW) in order to prevent the destruction of information from the global body since the web links

all its member-countries.

Nigeria remains disconnected as of today.

However, the Egmont Group, taking a proactive step, visited Nigeria in February 2014 on a fact-finding mission to examine Ibekaku’s allegations and to know the situation with the NFIU. The report issued at the end of the visit which was obtained at the weekend by The Guardian, however cleared the air by dismissing Ibekaku’s allegations as unfounded.

VP Sambo loses brother in auto crash Jonathan, Babangida, Abubakar, ministers, others pay condolences From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja HE younger brother of Vice T President Namadi Sambo, Captain Sabo Yusuf Sambo (rtd) a pilot, in the morning hours yesterday, died in a lone car crash along Bill Clinton Drive, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The Vice President, had flown in from Tanzania, yesterday afternoon, where he repre-

sented Presented Goodluck Jonathan at that country’s 50th independence anniversary celebrations President Goodluck Jonathan was first to commiserate with him over the death of his younger brother.

The president who received the news while on his way back to Abuja from Bayelsa described the car crash as an “extremely sad event.”

The president who visited along with his wife, Patience and several top party and government functionaries including the National Chairman of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed and Minister of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, Minister of State

Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro among others, also condoled the government and people of Kaduna State and prayed God to give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

The late Capt. Sambo, who died at the age of 58 was buried at the Apo Cemetery, Abuja according to Islamic rites, in the presence of former military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and several other dignitaries and sympathisers.

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Monday, April 28, 2014

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8 NEWS Monday, April 28, 2014

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New chief to consolidate on TETFund’s intervention role

CSR-in-Action launches social investment report

From Kanayo Umeh, Abuja

By Tunde Akinola SR-IN-ACTION has C launched its second annual publication on social in-

ROF. Suleiman Bogoro sucP ceeded Mahmood Yakubu as Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) yesterday with a pledge to consolidate on the agency’s modest achievements and describing the concept of two per cent company tax for intervention in tertiary education as laudable.

He noted that in 1992, he was instrumental to the establishment of the defunct Education Trust Fund, now Tertiary Education Trust Fund, insisting that “no country rises above the standard of education of its citizens.”

Earlier, the former Acting Executive Secretary, Aliyu Na’iya, lamented the failure of government tertiary institutions to access the grant domiciled at TETFund. He noted, “many of our beneficiaries said it is because our guidelines are not well published.”

Chancellor, Diocese of Ibadan Anglican Communion, Adeniran Adeyemo (left), Justice Helen Ogunwumiju,Bishop of Ibadan Dioces, Most Rev. Joseph Akinfenwa, Deputy Chancellor, Diocese of Ibadan Anglican Communion, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN at the 2014 Synod Thanksgiving Service of Diocese of Ibadan Anglican Communion at Saint James The Great Cathedral Okebola Ibadan yesterday.

PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM

Kudos, knocks trail APC congresses in states From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin, John Akubo, Lokoja Willie Etim, Yenagoa, Isah Ibrahim, Gusau, Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City IXED scenarios emerged M in the state congresses of opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), which was held at the weekend.

In Kogi State, the warring factions, who have decided to queue behind Abubakar Audu as their leader supervised a rancour free congress that elected the state executive committee, which prompted them to express optimism on the prospects of the party in the state to upstage the ruling PDP without hassles in 2015.

• Edo postpones exercise, chairmen emerge in Kogi, Zamfara, Bayelsa The congress held amidst tight security brought together the various opposing camps and factions into one none divisive and formidable group witnessed the emergence of Alhaji Hadi Ametuo.

In his maiden speech, Ametuo called on the party faithful to close ranks in order to promote the party’s ideologies as well as anything that will bring eventual victory.

He warned the supporters to desist from violence and rancour in the state even as he called for tolerance among supporters of various political parties in the state.

Speaking shortly after the congress, Audu said there was no more division in the party adding that the party is now united to ensure total victory in the state come 2015 general election in the state.

Audu, who was also a former governor in the state, said the party would make a difference if given power in 2015 in the state.

According to him, “in APC we don’t believe in forcing candidates on people, we believe in true democracy, we believe in all elections being conducted in tandem with the tenets of democracy.

“Once you believe in that

when you practice it people will tend to have more confidence in the party and respect in a balanced judgment.”

On the contrary, he said those parties that believe in forcing candidates on the people always invite trouble for themselves. He said the secret of the successful congresses was that the leaders allowed for free contest and allowed the best candidate to emerge, which were the choice of the people.

“That is the true democracy that has been the hallmark of APC and that has brought a lot of peace in the entire state.

“That was the factor responsible for what you saw today, there were no hues and cries and no daggers were drawn, there were no acrimonies because we made sure that everybody was given opportunity to partake.”

Audu indicated that they are out to ensure best candidates emerged. He said the APC in Kogi is setting example for others to emulate.

On the new members from the PDP, who came in droves he said they convinced themselves that there is no other party that can salvage them apart from the APC. However, the storm created in Edo State All Progressive Congress (APC) as a result of the ward and local government congresses may have led to the postponement of the congress, but the party

said it was due logistic problem.

The Guardian reliably gathered that party leaders were yet to decide on which zone of the three senatorial zones should produce the next chairman of the party.

The Acting Chairman, Osaro Idah is from Benin (Edo South), he took over from Thomas Okosun (Edo Central) of the defunct CAN, while the governor is from Edo North.

But the odds favour either Edo Central or North, as the party would most likely pick its governorship candidate from Edo South.

State Publicity Secretary of the party, Godwin Erhahon, yesterday said logistics needed to ensure success of the congress were yet to be put in place. He also attributed non-conclusion of the local government congress as another reason why the state congress could not hold.

Erhahon disclosed that congresses were yet to be concluded in no fewer than seven councils of the state. He, however, could not give a date when the state congress would hold.

In another development, against a seven-day ultimatum handed down to Governor Adams Oshiomhole by a group of APC leaders loyal to Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu to cancel the party’s membership registration and congresses in the state or risk

mass defection from the, the Chairman of Etsako Central Local Council, Emmanuel Momoh, yesterday refuted allegation of leading a faction working against the interest of the governor just as he declared that he cannot be forced to leave the party.

In an interview with newsmen in Benin City, Momoh insisted that the governor as the leader of the party is empowered by the party’s national body to be in charge of party’s structure and called on those, who wanted the structure handed over to them to explore other internal peace resolution mechanism of the party in settling the crisis arising from the congress.

“What you see now is not enough for any loyal party man to want to pull out from the party and people should consider a lot of factors when they want to leave a political party, they should ask themselves where they are going to? I don’t think the crisis arising from the congress is enough for anybody to leave the party, those who are considering the option of leaving the party are doing that for personal reasons. However, I believe that everybody has its own political agenda but in any case, it is not enough for anybody to consider jumping to another political party.”

He said he would remain in the party in spite speculation that by some leaders that he is heading a faction of the party in his council.

vestment initiatives in Nigeria. The report, titled: The Collective Social Investment Report: Nigeria 2013 is a coffee table compilation that highlights organisations committed to promoting sustainable initiatives in Nigeria 2012 edition.

Addressing stakeholders and participants at a press conference to announce the launch of the report, Executive Director, CSR-inAction and Editor-in-Chief, Bekeme Masade revealed more features added to the report.

CSR-in-Action is a registered social enterprise that is devoted to the advancement of social ethics, social responsibility and corporate governance in Nigeria.

According to Masade, “in order to stimulate organisations to step up their game with respect to CSR and social investment initiatives, we coordinated a ranking that indexes organisations’ performance in respect to their social investment initiatives. We hope that in coming years, this performance ranking will necessitate the kind of change we anticipate for stimulating developmental progress and increased private sector collaboration within the Nigerian economy.”

“The critical look at slum living within the Lekki Peninsula, in Lagos, in the report will also serve as a vital tool towards promoting collaborative efforts in pushing for more sustainable housing and living conditions within the metropolis,” Masade said.

She noted that the performance indices supplied were totally unbiased and ranking criteria was well structured and thought-out. Masade also reiterated that summaries of all the 117 organisations included in the report were free and more organisations not included in the present edition were welcome to send their information for next year’s publication.

Twenty-three extra organisations within the private sector have been included to showcase increased collaborative commitment in promoting social change and development. Other new additions to the publication include special messages and interviews from CSR professionals, thought leaders and instrumental actors within the educational sector both in Nigeria and abroad.

Govt seeks co-operation of states on job creation, others From Karls Tsokar, Abuja HE Federal Government T has restated the need for collaboration with the states and local government to initiate strategic policies and appropriate programmes to create more jobs for teeming unemployed population, as well as, ensuring equality in income distribution.

This was made known by the supervising Minister of National Planning (NPC), Bashir Yuguda, at the weekend in Bauchi during the meeting of the National Council on Development Planning (NCDP), when he presided over with states’

commissioners of planning and chairmen of planning agencies as members.

He informed them that, “we need to jointly initiate appropriate policy towards creating job employment for the teeming Nigerian youth and ensuring a quality in income distribution. “There is the need for co-operation among all tiers of government in order to achieve our desired vision.”

In a statement signed by Salisu Haiba, the head of Information, the minister described the theme of the meeting, “National Strategic Planning for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable

Development: Fostering Job Creation and Equity,” as aptly reflecting Nigeria’s collective aspiration to ensure that policies, project and programmes implemented lead to significant improvement in the standard of living of the populace and that Nigeria at the sub-national level benefit from the fast growing economy which is consistent with the aspirations of the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda.

While conceding to the fact that, “the task of ensuring inclusive growth, job creation and equity is a very enormous one,” the minister

noted that government’s effort towards addressing unemployment is focusing on multiple strategies including substantial investment in technical and vocational education, as well as, improving the business environment.

Yuguda also stated that significant employment is not created by large companies, but by numerous small and medium sized enterprises, with this background, the Federal Government sponsored programmes, aimed at improving the business environment are already paying off with a total of 1.6 million net new jobs created in 2013.

NEWS Monday, April 28, 2014 9

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Our wealth is in wrong hands, says JP Clark

By Greg Austin Nwakunor and Anote Ajeluorou ESPITE the explosion of D wealth in the country, Nigerians are yet to feel its

Former Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa (left); his wife, Margaret; President Goodluck Jonatha, first Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and his wife Rachael, at burial of Chief Salo Memein Alamieseigha, the father of former Gov. Diepreye Alamieseigha in Amassoma, Southern-Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa State on Saturday.

Stable power would boost economic growth, says Nebo From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka INISTER of Power and M Steel, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, has said that the ongoing power sector reforms and the expected improvement in power supply could guarantee a two-digit growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as opposed to the current 6.5 per cent annual growth – a figure already considered one of the most impressive in the world.

Nebo disclosed this at the weekend while commissioning a N1 billion power cable manufacturing facility at Cutix Power Cable Plant, Nnewi, Anambra State.

While commending the effort of Cutix Plc in spearheading innovations in cable manufacturing in Nigeria, the minister noted that: “We have been declared, professionally, to be number one economy in Africa and 26 in the world.

But there is more; we are ex-

Babangida lauds Oshiomhole on development From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City ORMER military President, F(rtd), Gen. Ibrahim Babangida has commended the leadership of the Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Babangida made this commendation at the weekend during the 70th birthday reception ceremony in honour of former Foreign Affairs Minister and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Tom Ikimi, in Igueben, Headquarters of Igueben Local Council Area of the state.

He said Oshiomhole’s landmark achievements have brought good governance not only to the faces of the people but also on infrastructure.

He noted that he was not surprised that “all these are happening in Edo State given the antecedents of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole,” adding that such laudable projects could not have been possible without the vision and ideas of key leaders such as Chief Tom Ikimi and other members of the ruling APC in the state.

pecting that with companies like Cutix Plc coming on board across the country, we will soon leapfrog to one of the top economies in the world.”

According to him, “anybody who latches on to power now is a man of foresight, because Nigeria is generating just 4,000 MW of power while South Africa with a lesser population is generating 40,000 MW. The implication is that South Africa generates per capital 40 times what Nigeria does. So the demand for power in Nigeria is so huge

and those who enter the power sector are those I like to call ‘electroprenuers,’ which is what you are.”

He lauded the efforts and entrepreneurial spirit of people of the locality despite the limitations of power they have encountered over the years.

Chairman of Cutix Plc, David Ifezulike, in his opening speech, lamented that dearth of power supply from PHCN, and now Enugu DISCO was the major challenge the company faced.

He disclosed that, “In 2013, we used our electrical genera-

tors 100 per cent of the time to run our factory. The situation has not changed in 2014, as government and new investors still grapple with many challenges such as insufficient gas, sabotage of gas pipelines among others.”

Speaking in an earlier interview, the Managing Director of Cutix Plc and President, Cable Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CAMAN), Ifeanyi Uzodike, said a major obstacle to the company and other cable manufacturers has been counterfeit and substandard cables in the market.

UN, Kumuyi laud Uduaghan on infrastructural development HE administration of Delta T State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has continued to receive commendation within and outside the country for the giant strides recorded in infrastructural development.

The United Nations and the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, in their separate remarks about the administration, stated that the Delta State Government was setting the pace in good governance and development in the country.

UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Daouda Toure, in

his goodwill message at the preparatory workshop on Delta State Development Performance Assessment, commended the decision of the state government, the first in the country, to subject its performance in key sectors: health, education, agriculture, water and sanitation for assessment with regard to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the global body.

Toure was represented by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms Louise Sethswaelo.

According to him, the assess-

ment would enable the UN and the state government to determine “what progress has been made, the shortcomings and where to strengthen efforts in the future.”

Pastor Kumuyi, during a courtesy call on the governor at the weekend, also observed, “I thank the Lord for the great strides of development that I see in the state. As I pass through and came to your capital here, I wondered has it been that long since I came to Delta State, because everything has virtually changed.

“As I see the members of

Parents decry lack of security for candidates at Unity Schools exams From John Akubo, Lokoja ARENTS of pupils who sat P for the Unity Schools’ Common Entrance Examinations at the weekend in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, have expressed dismay over what they termed “insensitivity and lack of proactive precautionary measures” on the part of the government against any possible attack on their wards during the conduct of the tests.

This is coming against the background that students and government schools have become targets of insurgency, as many lives have been lost and schools razed with over 200 abducted females still missing.

The parents, who spoke with The Guardian at the Crowder

Memorial College, Lokoja, where over 200 pupils sat for the examinations, said based on current happenings in the country, security should have been beefed up to check those that come in to the venue.

One of the parents, John Yakubu, said the problem with Nigeria is the lack of intelligence-gathering for security.

He said our leaders only believe in fire brigade approach to insecurity, which has made it possible for the insurgents to always have a field day killing innocent Nigerians.

Another parent, Bright Ogundeji, said the examinations board should have taken into cognizance the need to protect the pupils as

leaders of tomorrow.

He noted that the parents decided to stay around the premises because they noticed that there were no security men around. He added that Nigerian leaders attach importance to those things that have no value at the expense of human lives.

However, Kogi State Coordinator of the National Examinations Commission, Dr. Emmanuel Ekele, told The Guardian that they do not use police or uniform security to monitor examinations, adding that they use the State Security Service (SSS) to secure the pupils.

When the examination centres in Lokoja were visited, there was no presence of any security operative, not even national security and Civil

real impact, as those managing it fritter it away on frivolities. Also, Nigeria’s dream of becoming a great nation was aborted at independence when it was handed over to those who were unwilling for that historic moment of selfrule.

These were the submissions of elder statesman, poet and playwright, Prof. JP Clark, in Port Harcourt, two days ago at the week-long events heralding that city’s hosting of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Book Capital 2014 at the Hotel Presidential. It was at the ‘Meet-the-Author’ event, with Clark on the hot seat to respond to issues of literary and national significance.

He noted that the on-going national conference might yield little or no result because most of the delegates in attendance understood very little or nothing about English, Nigeria’s official language of communication and business. “Many of those at the national conference do not know the English language, our language of official business,” he stated.

Clark said: “The departing

British did not hand over to those Nigerians who really wanted independence.

Nigeria wasn’t handed over to those who fought for independence like Herbert Macualay, Nnamdi Azikiwe or Obafemi Awolowo. Only a hollow crown was given to Zik. If political power was handed over to those who left University College, Ibadan (UCI), I wonder what would have happened to Nigeria by now; things would have been different. These were mostly Government College graduates, who competed in games and understood the spirit of competition. Nigerians’ gaining power wouldn’t have been a ‘do-or-die’ affair”.

He defended the charge that their generation was a ‘wasted generation’, as ascribed by his literary colleague and Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, saying that on the contrary, theirs wasn’t a wasted one because of what they have achieved in their different fields.

“We were a distinguished class; we weren’t wasted; we achieved a lot. How could ours be a wasted generation when we produced the greatest literature (of this country and continent)? There’s a dysfunctionality in the polity. Soyinka said ours was a great waste of assets (because it was not made to direct their energy to the political field)”, he said.

Minister commissions Abia eye centre From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia HE Minister of Health, Prof.

T Onyebuchi Chukwu, has commissioned the first modern eye hospital in Abia State.

The minister, who opened the centre in Umuahia, the state capital described it as another medical feat recorded by the state governor, Dr. Theodore Orji, in his efforts to provide world-class healthcare to the people.

Prof. Chukwu said the building of the state-of-the-art eye care centre located within

the premises of the State Specialist Diagnostic Centre also demonstrated Orji’s commitment towards keying into President Goodluck Jonathan’s Millennium Development Goals to reduce blindness and provide qualitative eye care.

He urged the people to visit the centre for regular eye checks, adding that the modern facilities and qualified personnel would reduce expenses on overseas travel for eye problems.

Governor Orji, at the cere-

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10 NEWS Monday, April 28, 2014

PDP group asks Jonathan to take position on 2015 From Niyi Bello, Akure EMBERS of the Peoples M Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo North Senatorial District have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to make up his mind on a second term, pledging their support should he so choose.

They argued that his re-election is necessary to give him “ample time to steer the ship of the Nigerian state to a safe harbour and conclude his transformation agenda.”

At a meeting hosted by a former Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), in Ikaramu-Akoko, the leadership of the party in the district assured Jonathan of their total commitment should he seek re-election.

A communiqué at the end of the parley also appreciated Jonathan for the appointment of one of their sons, Brig.-Gen. Jones Arogbofa (rtd) as his Chief of Staff. According to Kayode, who briefed newsmen after the meeting, the party decided to back Jonathan because “he is the most qualified for the job.”

Anglican primates urge global support against insurgency in Nigeria Reject admission of same-sex couples to full sacrament From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja

ORRIED at the lingerW ing insurgencies in Northern Nigeria, primates of the Council of Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) have called on the international community to support the Nigerian Government and the Christian community in efforts to end the reign of terror and provide comfort to the affected communities.

In a communiqué after their meeting in London (made available to The Guardian), attended by no fewer than 11 primates, in-

cluding Nigeria’s Most Revd Nicholas Okoh and vice chairman of the council, GAFCON called for a genuine religious freedom in Nigeria, saying it would stand by the Church of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion) as it seeks lasting solution to the crisis.

The council, which also frowned at the recent massacre in Bor and Bentiu in South Sudan and the escalating conflict in the country, said it stands in solidarity with the church there in its appeal for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

Meanwhile, it expressed

concern at the state of lay and clerical discipline in the Anglican Communion, arguing that, “the House of Bishops’ advice that those in same-sex marriages should be admitted to the full sacramental life of the church is an abandonment of pastoral discipline.

“While we welcome their clear statement that clergy must not enter same-sex marriage, it is very concerning that this discipline is apparently being openly disregarded. We pray for the recovery of a sense of confidence in the whole of the truth Anglicans are called to proclaim, including that

compassionate call for repentance, to which we all need to respond in our different ways.”

It added: “Meeting shortly after the recognition in English law of same-sex marriage, which we cannot recognise as compatible with the law of God, we look to the Church of England to give clear leadership as moral confusion about the status of marriage in this country deepens.

“The Archbishop of Canterbury has rightly noted that the decisions of the Church of England have a global impact and we urge that, as a matter of

Poly, colleges of education teachers plan Abuja protest tomorrow

FCTA to review transport laws From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja HE park and pay policy may return at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as the administration strategises to curtail street parking in its review of the transport regulation bye-law to accommodate all issues that recently invalidated the park and pay services at the Abuja High Court.

The court presided by Justice Peter Affeng had declared the operations of the park and pay companies illegal because the programme was not contained in the FCT transport bye-laws.

Briefing the media yesterday in Abuja, the FCTA Transport Department Secretary, Jonathan Ivoke, disclosed that the administration had already commenced the review of its transport bye-laws even before the court judgment, adding that the review would accommodate all issues raised in the judgment.

According to him, the administration will continue its laws guiding orderly parking in the FCT till the conclusion of the review process, which he noted would see to the return of a reformed park and pay service in.

From Collins Olayinka, Abuja O draw public attention to T the continued closure of their institutions across the

T

Completed sections of Kano-Maiduguri road dualisation by Federal Ministry of Works despite security challenges.

Utomi seeks youths’ inclusion in national economic planning

By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku HE youths are the only agents for a positive and enduring turnaround needed by any nation to make headway, a former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP) and political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, has

T

said.

Speaking at a youth empowerment programme, RAGE Summit, organised by the Capstone Church, Yaba, Lagos, Utomi said it is the young of any country that saves it, adding that most of the developed countries were saved

from their errors by their young.

According to him, the youth is important in getting things done because young people have passion, are less prone to fear and truly have less burden on their shoulders.

Citing the United States (U.S.)

Diamond Bank extends Otti’s tenure as MD Appoints two deputy managing directors HE tenure of Diamond T Bank Plc’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Alex Otti, has been extended by its Board of Directors for another three years with effect from March 2014.

It also announced the appointment of Caroline Anyanwu and Uzoma Dozie, who are both Executive Directors at the bank, as Deputy Managing Directors.

This is the first time the bank will appoint Deputy Managing Directors since it was established about 23

simple integrity, its historic and biblical teaching should be articulated clearly.”

GAFCON noted that the movement was emerging as a faithful instrument of unity capable of gathering the majority of faithful Anglicans in communion globally, adding that it was taking practical steps to heal, renew and revitalise the communion for future mission by growing the membership, improving the frequency and range of communication and setting up networks, which will equip them to fulfill the Great Commission.

years ago. In addition, the bank promoted 473 other members of staff across the bank to higher positions following the conclusion of staff performance evaluation for 2013.

According to a statement, the extension of Otti’s tenure is in “recognition and appreciation of the impact his leadership has had on the bank since March 2011.”

“In his first three years, Otti focused on steadying the bank which was reeling from the effects of the global financial crises of 2008/2009, had

declined in size, and lost market share to competition. The bank was also confronted with the challenge of raising additional capital to meet the new Capital Adequacy Ratio required for the ‘International Banking Licence’ issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“These efforts have started to pay off. In 2012, International Finance Corporation, IFC, invested $70 million in Tier II capital after an extensive due diligence exercise on the bank. Financial performances in 2012 and 2013 show that the

bank has regained market share leading to its being named as one of the eight systemically important banks by the CBN. The bank is also back to profitability after the loss of over N16 billion declared in 2011 financial year occasioned by non-performing loan write-offs, and write down in the value of assets. The business of the bank is now more sustainable and the bank believes it will continue to build on the hard work that generated profits of N28.36 billion and N33.25 billion in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

as example, Utomi revealed that the incitement by former President Ronald Regan, when the country’s economy was dwindling and being overtaken by that of Japan, on the youths “to take up the challenge of an America that was losing its gate” that saved America.

According to him, that incitement gave birth to the “dotcom passion of that generation, which produced the likes of Bill Gate and Steve Jobs, who were in their 20s then, and which completely turned around the fortunes of American economy.

He recalled that Nigeria’s emancipation process and eventual independence were achieved by the relentless efforts of the youths of those days, noting: “The youths were in the process of emancipation in Nigeria.

“The colonial era in Nigeria was short-lived as the young of Nigeria said, ‘we will not continue to be oppressed’ through the Nigerian Youth Movement of the earliest political parties, with the likes of Herbert Macauley, Nnamdi Azikiwe and so on.

country, striking teachers in polytechnics and colleges of education would tomorrow hold a protest in Abuja.

Giving update in Abuja yesterday on the planned protest, the Chairman of Abuja branch of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Ahmed Lawal, said the protest is the first of strategies lined up to draw attention to the plight of polytechnics and colleges of education students, who have been at home for about seven months.

“The colleges of education and polytechnic teachers will on Tuesday organise a protest march, staring from the Federal Secretariat in Abuja to Labour House,” he said. “The Nigeria Labour Congress and some of our colleagues in the civil organisations would be joining us.

“This is not the end of the struggle, the protest is just the first step in the series of activities we have lined up to draw attention and ensure we are no longer ignored by government.”

While berating the Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, for attending the meetings called towards resolving the disagreement only once, he lauded the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Chukwuemeka Wogu, for attending all the meetings the unions had summoned on the issue.

Meanwhile, National President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Chibuzor Asomugha, said the Federal Government failed to honour the previous agreement reached with the two unions.

He condemned the divide and rule tactics adopted by the Ministry of Education, and Wike, for engaging in damaging propaganda. According to him, the union was neither contacted nor included in the presidential committee responsible for finding solution to the dichotomy between universities and polytechnic graduates.

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Monday, April 28, 2014 11

PHOTONEWS

Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi (middle); former Minister of Petroleum and ‘Super’ Federal Permanent Secretary, Chief Phillip Asiodu (CON) (left), and Dr. Babatunde Oyedeji, at the state Public Service forum lecture in Ibadan.

Turkish Ambassador in Nigeria, Mustafa Pulat (left), Delta State Commissioner for Works, Funkekeme Solomon and Ekiti State Commissioner Trade, Investment and Innovation, Debo Ajayi, during the Press Briefing on Turkish Construction Forum, organised by Turkish Ministry of Economy and Turkish Embassy in Nigeria.

PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN

Chairman/Chief Executive, Zmirage, Alhaji Teju Kareem (left); Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Ogun State, Yewande Amusan at the opening of the Wole Soyinka at 80 Life Painting Exhibitions, at the Ogun State Council for Arts and Culture (OGSCAC) at Abekuta, Ogun State PHOTO: CHARLES OKOLO

Guest lecturer, Prof. Adebisi Sowunmi (left); awardee, Prof. Oyinade Odutola Olurin, President, Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, Dr. Kemi Otolorin, Awardees, Dr. Tinuola Abiola -Oshodi, Prof. Olabopo Osuntokun and Prof. Folasade Akinkugbe at the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria lecture and award in Ibadan.

PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM

Executive Director, Institute of Communication and Corporate Studies, Dr. Austin Tam-George (left), Chief Executive Officer, International Style Weeks Limited, Bassey Essien and the Chief Executive Officer, FormAnnex Associates, Charles Egbudom, at the 2014 Tourism Development Workshop Press Briefing in Lagos.

Managing Director, Bank of Industry/Guest Speaker, Ms Evelyn Oputu (left); Chairman of the occasion, Paul Andrew; Chairman, The Hayford Alile Foundation (THAF), Dr. Hayford Alile; and Director of the foundation, Pat Alile, during the 2014 The Hayford Alile Foundation (THAF) and National Entrepreneurial Lecture at the University of Lagos, Akoka…recently PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

Youths’ delegates to the National Conference, Duntoye Ben (left); Umoru Mosunmola, Hassan Rilwan, and Abdullahi Kano, during a Press Conference organised by youths’ delegates to the National Conference in Abuja.

PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO

Abia State First Lady, Odochi Orji (left); Marketing Manager, Reckitt Benckiser, Q aisser Rashid Sajid and Abia Sate Commissioner for Health, Dr. Okechukwu Ogan, at a sensitisation walk to celebrate the 2014 World Malaria Day in Umahia, Abia State.

12

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Monday, April 28, 2014

WorldReport South Africa celebrates 20 years since apartheid

Obama urges united action to Russia for ‘destabilising’ Ukraine NITED States President, U Barack Obama yesterday said the United States and Europe must join forces to impose sanctions on Russia to stop it destabilizing Ukraine, where armed pro-Russian separatists were for a third day holding eight international observers prisoner.

Washington and Brussels are expected, possibly as early as Monday, to name new people and firms close to Russian President, Vladimir Putin who will be hit by punitive measures, but there is no consensus yet on wider economic sanctions.

Speaking during a visit to Malaysia, Obama said any decision on whether to slap sanctions on sectors of the Russian economy at a later time would depend on whether the United States and its allies could find a unified position on how to proceed.

“We’re going to be in a stronger position to deter Mr. Putin when he sees that the world is unified and the United States and Europe is unified rather than this is just

a U.S.-Russian conflict,” Obama told reporters.

The stand-off over Ukraine, an ex-Soviet republic of about 45 million people, has dragged relations between Russia and the West to their lowest level since the end of the Cold War. Obama said Russia had not “lifted a finger” to get proRussian separatist rebels in Ukraine to comply with an international agreement to defuse the crisis.

“In fact, there’s strong evidence that they’ve been encouraging the activities in eastern and southern Ukraine,” he said.

Washington is more hawkish on further sanctions than Brussels, and this has caused a degree of impatience among some U.S. officials with the European response.

Many European countries are worried about the risks of imposing tougher sanctions, not least because Europe has extensive business ties with Moscow and imports about a quarter of its natural gas from Russia.

RESIDENT Jacob Zuma led P celebrations yesterday to mark the 20th anniversary of

South Africa’s President and African National Congress (ANC) Presidential candiate, Jacob Zuma (centre) as he conducts a door-to-door electoral campaign in Duduza, in the East Rand, yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

South Korean PM quits over response to ferry disaster Korean Prime SwonOUTH Minister, Chung Hongannounced his resignation on Sunyesterday over the government response to the ferry disaster, in which it was first announced that everyone had been rescued, focusing attention on poor regulatory controls.

The Sewol ferry sank on a routine trip south from the port of Incheon to the traditional holiday island of Jeju on April 16.

More than 300 people, most of them students and teachers on a field trip from the Danwon High School on the outskirts of Seoul, have died or are missing and presumed dead.

The children on board the Sewol were told to stay put in their cabins, where they waited for further orders. The confirmed death toll was 187.

South Korea, Asia’s fourthlargest economy and one of its leading manufacturing and export powerhouses, has

developed into one of the world’s most technically advanced countries, but faces criticism that regulatory controls have not kept pace.

As part of the investigation, prosecutors raided two shipping safety watchdogs and a coastguard office. They have also raided two vessel service centers, which act as maritime traffic control.

Chung’s resignation was approved by President Park Geun-hye, who has the most power in government, although her spokesman said later that he would remain in post until the rescue operation was completed.

post-apartheid democracy in South Africa, saying it was closer to achieving the dream of a united multi-racial nation.

“Our country has done well,” Zuma said at a ceremony held two decades after the first allrace election that saw Nelson Mandela become the country’s first black president.

“We all have a good story to tell.”

“We have moved closer to our cherished dream of a united non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa,” he said at the “Freedom Day” ceremony held in the gardens of the Union Buildings, the seat of government in Pretoria.

South Africa is now the most developed country on the continent and boasts among other things, a strong constitution and an independent judiciary.

But its successes have been sullied by mismanagement and high-level corruption blamed largely on the ANCled government, as well as a legacy of racial inequality, poverty, rampant crime and a lack of basic services.

The government failings have become a rallying point for the opposition ahead of general elections on May 7, the fifth since the end of decades of sanctioned racial oppression.

But Zuma, who himself has been tarnished by corruption allegations, used his speech to warn rivals not to dismiss the “tremendous” gains in the

Israel cabinet divided over Palestinian unity deal SRAELI cabinet ministers Ilikely yesterday differed over the fallout on the battered Middle East peace process from an intra-Palestinian reconciliation agreement.

Wednesday’s surprise deal, which saw Palestinian leaders from the West Bank and the Hamas-run Gaza Strip agree to work together after years of bitter rivalry, was denounced the next day by the Israeli security cabinet.

That cabinet said it would “not negotiate” with any Palestinian government backed by the Islamist movement.

In an address to PLO leaders on Saturday, Palestinian president, Mahmud Abbas said the new government, which will be made up of political independents, would recognise Israel, reject violence and abide by existing agreements.

But at yesterday’s weekly meeting of Israel’s full cabinet, Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu again slammed the rapprochement between the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Hamas, whose charter calls for the destruction of Israel.

“Hamas denies the Holocaust while attempting to carry out a second Holocaust by destroying the state of Israel,” he said. “It is with this Hamas that Abu Mazen (Abbas) chose to make an alliance.”

“Abu Mazen must decide between an alliance with Hamas — a terrorist organisation which denies the Holocaust — and real peace with Israel.”

Justice Minister, Tzipi Livni, Israel’s chief negotiator with the Palestinians, said however that it was crucial to wait and see what sort of government emerged.

Army must develop to beat U.S., says Pyongyang DAY after United States ways to do so”, KCNA news Obama said on Saturday on a A President, Barack Obama agency said. visit to Seoul, where the U.S. warned North Korea of its milarmy has a large presence, itary might, Kim Jong Un has urged the army to develop to ensure it wins any confrontation with the United States, the reclusive country’s news agency said yesterday.

Kim led a meeting of the Central Military Commission and “set forth important tasks for further developing the Korean People’s Army and

“He stressed the need to enhance the function and role of the political organs of the army if it is to preserve the proud history and tradition of being the army of the party, win one victory after another in the confrontation with the U.S. and creditably perform the mission as a shock force and standard-bearer in building a thriving nation.”

that the United States did not use its military might to “impose things” on others, but that it would use that might if necessary to defend South Korea from any attack by the reclusive North.

North and South Korea are still technically at war after their 1950-53 civil conflict ended in a mere truce.

Monday, April 28, 2014 | 13

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Focus Port Harcourt begins reign as World Book Capital The historic city of Port Harcourt, Rivers State last week began its reign as the World Book Capital. ANOTE AJELUOROU and GREG NWAKUNOR, who covered the grand opening ceremony, write on the event’s purpose and significance.

HE attention of the literary world finally T turned to Port Harcourt last Tuesday, as it assumed the role of the 2014 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Book Capital (WBC), which will last for one year.

A galaxy of literary personalities and political leaders, including former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Prof. JP Clark among others, graced the occasion.

The Garden City’s year-long tenure is warped under the theme – Books: Windows to Our World of Possibilities.

The resonating message at the opening wasn’t only about books, but also on the need for peace to reign in the country, to enable the book play its role of enlightening minds.

To drum up support for the abducted Bornu secondary school girls, a passionate call for the immediate release of the remaining girls still in custody of the Boko Haram insurgents was made. “Bring back our daughters, Bring back our daughters,” resonated across the venue. Amaechi offered to admit the rescued girls in schools being remodelled in Rivers State, by way of rehabilitation.

Abubakar, who chaired the ceremony, sued for peace as panacea for the book and learning to thrive. Also, Soyinka called on President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that the schoolgirls were rescued from their abductors, whom he accused of imposing an unworkable, ultimate fatwa on the collective existence of all Nigerians.

He said Jonathan’s Bring Back the Book (BBtB) campaign, initiated in 2010, failed to truly bring the book back. He urged Jonathan to, instead, bring back the abducted school girls, to correct the earlier bad impression he created by taking to the dance floor in Kano just days after the deadly Nyanya bombing.

In a keynote address entitled Republic of the Mind and Thraldom of Fear, Soyinka also accused the federal government of impoverishing the book environment by arbitrarily imposing import tax on books. He was of the opinion that books should have free access into and from Nigeria, since the country was a signatory to all international conventions to that effect.

Amaechi said: “The power of great literature is immense; a key to other kingdoms, an escape from the dull and mundane. Only recently, UNICEF released figures of out-of-school children, with about 10.5 million in Nigeria. Rivers State Government appreciates the challenges posed by having so many children out of school. We’re working on reducing the numbers. We have completed over 300 new primary schools, all of them with libraries; new model secondary schools and a new campus for our state-owned university.

“As part of activities for our year as World Book Capital City, we would complete libraries in 23 Local Government Areas; seven new libraries and one Port Harcourt Book Centre, where we would be able to host Writers-inResidence among other things. We are determined to make the most of this awesome opportunity and while we thank UNESCO and partners for picking Port Harcourt above such favourites like Oxford, Lyon, Moscow and Incheon, we must congratulate last year’ host, Bangkok, for an amazing job as we look forward to passing the baton to Incheon, the Republic of South Korea, host for 2015.”

Also, Ezekwesili commended Rainbow Book Club for bringing the glory of the World Book Capital 2014 to Port Harcourt and Nigeria. She said, “any time Nigerians competed against the best they win. It’s the greatness within us coming forth. The most significant thing is not bringing WBC, but the enduring legacy of books in us; that reading culture be embedded in young people. Reading a book stimulates the brain and decelerates old age. For young people, to read a book is to prepare yourself for the future.”

Abubakar appraised the event in the light of World Copyright and World Book Day, which also fell on April 23, describing it a historic celebration, as it also coincided with Nigeria’s centenary. He commended Amaechi for his “revolutionary intervention in the education sector, infrastructure and teacher training.” He added:

Former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar watch as school children make a presentation at the opening ceremony.

Presentation by the Bangkok Team “Port Harcourt is haven to book-lovers, with the festival featuring an array of interesting writers.

It’s our hope that it lives up to the expectation of UNESCO, so it reverberates across the world as the most successful.”

On his part, President Jonathan, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Documentation, Ms Molara Wood noted: “Port Harcourt has for many years been a pivot of book and literaturecentred discussion, as well as a melting pot for writers and artists whose works help to enrich our lives. It is against this background that the Federal Government threw its support behind the Port Harcourt World Book Capital bid. It is to the glory of our collective efforts, that the shared golden dream of the Rainbow Book Club, and the entire readership and literary community for this city has today been realised.”

Rivers State’s Deputy Governor, Mr. Tele Ikuru, commended Amaechi for rescuing the state from criminals that had masqueraded as militants and bringing peace and glory to Port Harcourt, since 2008 when he assumed office. Education, Ikuru also stated, has been one of Amaechi’s legacy in the state, as he (Ameachi) worked tirelessly to reinvent River’s educational wheels through remodelling of schools and provision of important software for learning.

He also noted: “Since 2008, Amaechi has been sending the message of education, education, education. Education is the key. Even the insurgency of the north can only be resolved through education.”

Also present at the ceremony were delegations from the preceding host city, Bangkok and next year’s proposed host, Incheon. While Bangkok gave valuable gifts to Amaechi for succeeding them, Incheon invited the book-loving governor to its opening slated for next year.

Both Garcia of Hay Festival and Elechi Amadi gave an insight into the Africa 39 book project, which will form an innovative part of the event.

The idea is to select some of the best writers under 40 years on the continent and celebrate them throughout the hosting period. Although Lola Shoneyin and Chika Unigwe are 40, others fall below to make the selection an interesting mix of some of the best African emerging young writers.

The day ended with a dinner at the Government House, where a dance drama Obele and the Storyteller was staged.

A day earlier, children’s activities took centrestage at the Banquet Hall of Hotel Presidential. A book, 100 Years Around Port Harcourt: A Communal Story, written by public secondary school students in the state, on the sights and sounds of their local communities was launched. The idea was to aggregate all the local flavours each locality has to offer the world, as told by the young ones, and as a measure of stimulating their interest in their culture.

Project Director of PWBC, Mrs, Koko Kalango and the author of From an Orphan to a Queen Esther, Mrs. Titi Horsfall edited the book.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mrs. Ibim Semitari reviewed it, while the Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi made the presentation.

But before the presentation, students from some of the participating schools shared their experiences with the audience on how they approached their subjects and how the project enriched their intellect, deepening their understanding of their local cultures and traditions.

Some wrote on the marriage system, chieftaincy titles, festivals, and a lot of other interesting local materials.

Thereafter, a local drama group presented The Fate of Okuama; a play on the problems facing communities in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

With the discovery of oil wells and their exploration, the hapless communities were deprived of their once thriving occupations, due to the relentless onslaught of oil-induced degradation of their environment.

Shortly after, selected primary and secondary school students from private schools in Port Harcourt milled into the same hall for the Celebrity Reading event. It seemed ironic that public school students were not part of this important event that exposed their private schools’ counterparts to role models largely made up of film actors – Chinedu Ihedieze (Aki in Aki and Pawpaw fame) and Patience Uzoku – from Nollywood. They were joined by the state’s First Lady, Dame Judith Amaechi.

Interestingly, the difference in the level of English language proficiency between students from public and private schools was glaring.

While public schools students stumbled through their narratives, those from private schools displayed competence.

Ihedieze read an excerpt from Jaja of Opobo; Uzoku from The Barber’s Cleaver Wife and Amaechi’s wife from Beem Explores Africa. The three celebrities also took time to answer various questions from the students.

For instance, the students wanted to know why Ihedieze “is so short,” to which he explained that he was thought to have reincarnated as his grandfather, who, ironically, was over seven feet tall. He, however, said he didn’t believe so or else he would have been as tall as his grandfather. He also told the curious students that he was over 30 years old, married and wasn’t ‘small’, as they had supposed.

He also told them he and his acting ‘twin’ Osita Iheme (Pawpaw) were not twins or brothers at all, but professional colleagues, who met by accident on the acting job and brought together by fate. While he is from Abia State, Iheme is from Imo. He also said: “We are enjoying the unique advantage God ‘dashed’ us!”

Ikedieze admonished parents not to impose any profession on their children or wards, adding, “Let them enjoy themselves in what they want to be. In Nollywood you’re being paid to enjoy what you are doing.”

On her part, Uzokwu’s life experience presented an example of the struggle of one woman who overcame life’s challenges. Now a grandmother, Uzokwu said she has four biological and four adopted children, with whom she struggled to get a handle on life. From a teacher to a broadcaster, she fell into bad times when she was sacked and her husband took ill. But she stated that she adjusted fast and took to baking, as a way out and from where she found the means to also start school herself, while her own children were also still in school.

Now at the pinnacle of her career, some of her children have gone abroad chasing the golden fleece. Ultimately, she triumphed and today her success is celebrated all over. On the wicked roles she plays in movies, Uzokwu said it was the producers’ fault to cast a person in a particular role in which he or she has excelled. She charged viewers to demand otherwise from producers, saying producers merely responded to viewers’ role preferences for actors. She, however, stressed, “reading is the foundation, the key to a successful life and career. If you can’t read, you can’t know what to say as an actor.”

Uzokwu said she saw herself in the life of the Barber’s story she read to the students, as it reminded her of her years of struggling to overcome challenges.

Mrs. Amaechi also came under the intense lenses of the children who wanted to know what being the governor’s wife entailed. However, one pupil sought to know if it was true that she was once a housemaid who eventually rose to be governor’s wife. Touched, Amaechi took time to explain to her young audience the true facts and dispel what she saw as aimless rumours making the rounds in her city.

She said she grew up in the home of one of the greatest educationists in Port Harcourt from where she attended the famous Abonima Government Girls College and from then the Rivers State University of Science and Technology.

14 Monday, April 28, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

ISSUE

Re-enslavement of Nigeria by G-8, biotech

By Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour HEN a multi-national organisation, W whose main motivation and sole concern is maximising profit at whatever cost, is given the power to solely control the supply of seeds, it would eventually control life itself.

Many things humans do use or consume are optional. Feeding is not one of them. With Nigeria joining the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition initiative in the hope of getting $300 million from the G-8, we would be selling our birthright for the proverbial bowl of porridge.

At this stage in our development, we should not be depending on this kind of aid.

History has shown that depending on other nations to uplift us based on their own criteria, their own terms as well as their self-interest never works.

As the saying goes: “Beware Greeks bearing gifts.”

In June 2013, Nigeria was announced as a partner-country in the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition — a G-8 initiative to catalyse private-sector investment in African agriculture.

Towards that goal, the Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina, was quoted as saying: “Nigeria believes that agriculture is a business and that the role of government is to provide an environment that enables the private sector to succeed,” and “what joins all our food policies is the imperative to reduce our import food bill, promote domestic and regional markets, and create jobs across the entire food value chain.”

On the surface this looks very commendable but the question is: “How do these ambitious plans fit in with the G-8 and others like Monsanto’s strategies?

A closer look shows the new G-8 modus operandi is to give aid monies on the condition that beneficiaries, among which is Nigeria, meet requirements dictated by a selected group of multi-national corporations.

These requirements and timelines include that: Large tracts of land will be seized from local farmers to be given to corporations such as Monsanto and Unilever; passage of legislation revising seed laws to force small farmers to buy seeds and fertilizers from the corporate rather than seed-sharing, which has been practiced for generations and ensures biodiversity.

This is a particular cause for worry. The first stage of the framework would canvass passage and implementation of Seed Law that reflects the role of the private sector in technology development, seed multiplication and marketing, and reflecting the regulatory role of the public sector, consistent with Economic Community of West African States Seed Law; Cabinet, National Assembly and President’s approval of Seed Law - December 2013; Review and revision of regulations for the implementation of the Seed Law October 2014 and Implementation of the

Seed Law - December 2014.

The G-8 initiative should be viewed within the context of recent Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) policy pronouncements that include: (i) Zero per cent duty on agricultural machinery and equipment imports (ii) Removal of restrictions on areas of investment and maximum equity ownership by foreign investors (iii) Free repatriation of capital and returns (iv) Constitutional guarantees against nationalisation/expropriation.

We would come back to how ridiculous these federal policies are. For now, let us focus on the seeds.

The provider of these seeds, as listed in the framework, could be any of biotech companies, like Monsanto that produce genetically

‘

Lord Lugard said this about the Nigerian. ‘His thoughts are concentrated on the events and feelings of the moment and he suffers little from the apprehension for the future or grief for the past. His mind is far nearer to the animal world than that of the European or Asiatic, and exhibits something of the animals’ placidity and want of desire to rise beyond the state he has reached. Through the ages, the African appears to have evolved no organised religious creed, and though some tribes appear to believe in a deity, the religious sense seldom rises above pantheistic animalism and seems more often to take the form of a vague dread of the supernatural. He lacks the power of organisation, and is conspicuously deficient in the management and control alike of men or business. He loves the display of power, but fails to realise its responsibility... He will work hard with a less incentive than most races. He has the courage of the fighting animal, an instinct rather than a moral virtue... In brief, the virtues and defects of this race-type are those of attractive children, whose confidence when it is won is given ungrudgingly as to an older and wiser superior and without envy... Perhaps, the two traits, which have impressed me as those most characteristic of the African native, are his lack of apprehension and his lack of ability to visualise the future.’

enhanced (GE) seeds, which are more resistant to diseases, drought and promise high yields.

The catch, however, is that seeds purchased from such biotech companies cannot be replanted.

These crops will not produce viable offspringseeds or will produce viable seeds with specific genes switched off.

What this means is that such seeds have been biologically engineered to produce sterile seeds.

This means also that every farmer will have to buy seeds from such firms that also claims intellectual property rights on their seeds; hence, the need to force governments to ‘Review and revise regulations for the implementation of the Seed Law.’ It also becomes a fact that Nigerians would become completely dependent on the biotech companies for seeds each time they want to plant and the seeds can be sold at any price the biotech firms deem fit.

The negative chain reaction and impact of these farming methods on the earth is huge and include that: • The Federal Government will force farmers to buy seeds from and enforce Monsanto’s intellectual property rights.

• With huge acreage of land being planted all over the country by these corporations, the wind blows these seeds all over the country, leading to contamination of farms that are not using modified seeds. Those seeds will start growing on people’s farms, competing for resources with natural variety and eventually the natural variety dies out.

• Farming on such an industrial scale will exhaust the soil, leading to the use of more and more fertilizer, which, in turn, damages our water table. These harmful effects are irreversible.

Case studies abound in America, Europe and the rest of the world. Recently in America, a biotech company has fiercely fought the food labeling initiative I-522 in Washington State.

The initiative simply required that, “Foods produced entirely or partly with genetic engi-

neering, as defined, to be labeled as genetically engineered when offered for retail sale in Washington, beginning in July 2015.”

Now, if a product is so good for people, why does the biotech company refused to label and let people know that the food products contain genetically modified organisms? The reason is simple. If labeled, people in the Western world will stop buying.

Meanwhile, although these foods are being sold in the U.S., Genetically Modified Foods (GMO) are either banned or severely limited throughout much of Europe, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany. And a long list of other countries are following suit, including Japan, China and Brazil.

In fact, one biotech firm, Monsanto, has virtually stopped lobbying for GMO planting in

Jonathan

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

ISSUE

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Monday, April 28, 2014 15

firms and why we should be afraid Europe due to low demand by farmers and consumers. That is the worrying irony — that G-8 countries fiercely resist biotech foods in their own countries, but insist on shoving it down our throats.

In India, one such biotech company has been linked to the terrible farmer suicides since the introduction of Bt cotton in 2002.

Farmers are caught up in a lose-lose situation. They end up with a far more expensive crop that has the potential to fail more frequently than conventional crops and can be very dangerous to the animals and humans who consume them.

Genetically Engineered (GE) seeds are very expensive compared to traditional seeds, and have to be repurchased every planting season. These farming methods lead to higher occurrence of ‘super weeds.’

Thus, GE crops require much more water to grow, have much higher requirements for fertilizers and pesticides, and provide no increased yield.

Rising prices for seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and other farm supplies, along with falling prices for farm commodities, lead farmers to take out high-interest loans from opportunistic money-lenders.

A shift from poly-culture farming (diverse crops) to monoculture farming (primarily cotton) had depleted the soil and increased pest infestation on crop.

In India, a biotech company has been ruthless in its aim to use India as a testing ground for GE crops, giving a clear picture of what could happen for the small farmers of the world if GE seed conglomerates are allowed to continue.

Where does Nigeria stand in the G-8 initiative?

IGERIA currently has one of the youngest N populations in the world. While most countries are experiencing decline in population, ours is growing.

Our leaders have bought in to the paradigm of development, as dictated by the West, without an understanding of history, accompanied by an ignorant naivety that blinds them consistently to the fact that the West and big corporations only seek their own self-interest, which is always at our detriment.

More than a century ago, the ‘Scramble for Africa’ was instituted under the pretence of civilising the continent. Barbaric crimes were committed and the continent systematically de-developed because it profited Europe.

These countries and corporations are not doing us a favour; they are seeking to enslave us to maximise profit and guarantee dependence on them to survive.

Lord Lugard said this about the Nigerian.

“His thoughts are concentrated on the events and feelings of the moment and he suffers little from the apprehension for the

Genetically modified foods

future or grief for the past.

“His mind is far nearer to the animal world than that of the European or Asiatic, and exhibits something of the animals’ placidity and want of desire to rise beyond the state he has reached.

“Through the ages, the African appears to have evolved no organised religious creed, and though some tribes appear to believe in a deity, the religious sense seldom rises above pantheistic animalism and seems more often to take the form of a vague dread of the supernatural.

“He lacks the power of organisation, and is conspicuously deficient in the management and control alike of men or business. He loves the display of power, but fails to realise its responsibility...

“He will work hard with a less incentive than most races. He has the courage of the fighting animal, an instinct rather than a moral virtue...

“In brief, the virtues and defects of this racetype are those of attractive children, whose confidence when it is won is given ungrudgingly as to an older and wiser superior and without envy...

“Perhaps, the two traits, which have impressed me as those most characteristic of the African native, are his lack of apprehension and his lack of ability to visualise the future.”

Supporting this alliance would be no different from confirming Lugard’s allegation of ‘lack of ability to visualise the future.’

What we need is not aid; we need to develop our food sovereignty, focus on food crops for food consumption as opposed to cash crops for export.

Food sovereignty is the ownership and control of land and non-reliance on imported seeds and foods, as well as being able to adjust crops to need.

We should be apprehensive; we should be worried. How long would we be puppets?

From slavery to colonisation, from apartheid to the most recent Pfizer scandal in Kano where children were used as laboratory rats… have we not been given more than enough reason to be apprehensive?

History shows and continues to show that our welfare should not be put in the hands of those whose sole motivation is profit without consideration to environmental or societal damage.

It is in this regard our government is supposed to protect its citizenry by putting together sustainable frameworks that not only tackles problems and challenges we are faced with today, but does this knowing our children would bear the burdens/reliefs our decision brings.

Putting aside the danger to our health as relates to cancers, allergies and all other factors that put the entire world on edge when dealing with biotech firms like Monsanto, as well as all the court cases against them, docu-

The provider of these seeds, as listed in the framework, could be any of biotech companies, like Monsanto that produce genetically enhanced (GE) seeds, which are more resistant to diseases, drought and promise high yields. The catch, however, is that seeds purchased from such biotech companies cannot be replanted. These crops will not produce viable offspring-seeds or will produce viable seeds with specific genes switched off. What this means is that such seeds have been biologically engineered to produce sterile seeds. This means also that every farmer will have to buy seeds from such firms that also claims intellectual property rights on their seeds; hence, the need to force governments to ‘Review and revise regulations for the implementation of the Seed Law.’ It also becomes a fact that Nigerians would become completely dependent on the biotech companies for seeds each time they want to plant and the seeds can be sold at any price the biotech firms deem fit.

’

mented harmful effects on our soil, water and ecological resources and without having to surrender whole crop genomes and biodiversity, let’s think about the future and disappoint Lord Lugard’s expectations.

Years from now, after surrendering our Food Sovereignty to biotech firms, the West is still developing tests and experiments to prove and disprove the effects of GM foods. How far along would Nigeria have come on that path?

At this point, all we know about the effects GM foods have on the human body come directly from the people trying to sell them to us.

Now, when people feed you with food made in a laboratory, you would have no choice but to eat it or if they choose to use your population as lab rats, they would as they have done before.

If the West decides that our population should be artificially controlled through the manipulation of our foods or immunizations and inoculations the Nigerian population takes, it would be easily possible. This has been done successfully throughout world history in several countries.

By making less desirable populations sterile, such groups are reduced by the ruling class.

This process is called ‘Eugenics’. They control what you eat, which ultimately means they control the health of your body.

If you are not yet worried, scared or apprehensive, then truly, Lord Lugard’s words still ring true.

I acknowledge positive strides in agricultural reform the President and the Minister (of Agriculture) have made in this administration as regards homegrown rice processing and less dependence on imports.

Those are solid steps taken towards Food

Obama Sovereignty. We need to apply the same independent approach throughout the agricultural revolution our government is trying to spur.

This New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition would set us, and generations to come backwards. It places our fate in systems that have proven over and over again that they do not have our interest at heart.

Organic crops are more labour-intensive, yes, but we are not short of labour in this country, are we? We are short of jobs. We can feed the entire country by integrating companion cropping/premature techniques reforestation of arid areas, alternative infrastructures, and increasingly with holistic ecological and biotechnological approaches.

And most importantly by simply improving the conventional farming practices that are already used around the world.

Alternatives to the industrialisation of agriculture are being explored worldwide, and as the realities of climate change come to the fore, Africa is a place where new models of permaculture could meet old models of sustainable farming and in so doing create sustainable and locally owned solutions to nutritious food production.

Our future generations cannot afford the costs of degraded soil and water quality, lost biodiversity and catastrophic levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

If it is a question of funds, the $400 million of the late Sani Abacha’s stolen funds seized by the US is more than the value the entire G8 is going to contribute, according to the framework. Surely, if the agriculture revolution is that important, those funds can be put to it.

Our leaders once sold their people for umbrellas. It seems that, a century later, we have not learnt anything or we would not be talking about selling our food sovereignty for $300 million.

It is my hope we learn from our past so our children don’t pay for our foolishness.

TheGuardian

16 | Monday, April 28, 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 insensitivity in Kano t was certainly an unimaginable feat of political miscalculation or error of judgment, President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision the other day, to take time off to attend the so-called unity rally of his party in Kano, a day after several Nigerians were murdered in cold blood in Nyanyan, right at his door-step. It was a colossal error of judgment on the part of the PDP and its leadership and in clearly unmistakable terms, it portrayed Mr. President as thoroughly insensitive.

What would make a political campaign or gathering of any sort desirable or worthy of the president’s attendance a day after the massacre of the same Nigerians he swore to protect, by a murderous group his government has found difficult to contain?

Shouldn’t the situation have called for sober reflection on the part of the government and the ruling party for two major reasons; namely, that several homes had just been thrown into needless mourning by the dastardly act of the insurgents and would still be mourning at the time Mr. President and his party men were jubilating and dancing in Kano? Secondly, that government had been unable to find solution to the recurrent problem of insecurity in the land and in particular, the Boko Haram insurgency? What the occasion called for, from Mr. President, was total sobriety and an appearance of personal devastation as though he was an uncle or father or relation of the victims of the Nyanyan bombing. That would have been the only way to empathize with those who were bereaved. The day the Kano rally took place should have been the day to summon an emergency security meeting to demonstrate his anger and impatience with those who design and tend the failing security architecture of the country and as a way of assuring Nigerians that he had not resigned to fate.

But President Goodluck Jonathan gave primacy to politicking over and above governance and statesmanship forgetting that he was elected to govern and primarily to ensure security of life and property, a responsibility he has shirked so abysmally and without remorse, as the Kano rally would tend to suggest. Whereas, the surest way to a second term of office, nay victory at the poll, for any elected public office holder is not so much about the number of rallies attended or how much of electioneering he is able to conduct; it is how well the basic things of life have been made available to the citizenry and how well the quality of life has been enhanced. A life that is daily threatened or in constant apprehension of danger is far from being a life of quality. Every citizen, the world over, knows that talk is cheap and that what politicians excel in, particularly in this part of the world, is to say what they don’t mean. So only a handful of people, probably the naïve, get carried away by what transpires at those rallies. In effect, nothing is really sacrosanct about them other than being an avenue to share out largesse to party members who are at the foot of the ladder.

Calling off the Kano rally, therefore, would have been a wonderful symbolic gesture, that would have spoken volume to Nigerians about the quintessential attribute of their president much more than any political rhetoric would. What is more, that gesture would have resonated and achieved much more than his physical presence in Kano. No government, which counts on the vote of the people for victory would demonstrate the kind of insensitivity symbolised by the Kano rally. To say the least, Jonathan’s presence in Kano, in ordinary language, was an affront generally to Nigerians. He should have been willing to forego self-interest, which the Kano rally represented, for national interest, which called for sober reflection and deep introspection.

And that was not the end of the litany of errors. If it was bad enough that Mr. President attended the rally, it was worse that he made there unguarded and highly controversial statements, unbecoming of the exalted office he occupies. So in a way, it is right to say, as many have said that Jonathan’s conduct generally at the rally - dancing and backslapping with his fellow PDP members– at a time Nigerians were mourning, coupled with his altercation with Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso was far beneath his office. The bitter diatribe launched against the governor in his state was capable of heightening tension in the state and a recipe for violence, as idle and fanatical supporters may take up the gauntlet to embark on a free-for-all or acts capable of disturbing public peace. A better conduct is expected of Mr. President at this time when the ship of state appears to be floundering and all appears not to be too well with the polity, symptomised by deep cleavages and political discontent along geopolitical, religious and tribal lines. Intemperate language from high quarters such as witnessed in Kano will only exacerbate existing tension and widen the fault lines beyond manageable proportion. That the president, in a democracy, needs to join issues with the opposition would not avail. Only uncommon restraint and maturity would. A tensed atmosphere is not conducive to the conduct of a peaceful election, meaning that if 2015 election must be devoid of violence, there must be cessation of verbal assaults from the political gladiators. The diatribe in Kano was one too many.

And more important, what the president is doing by his so-called unity rallies amounts to electioneering campaign, a wanton violation of the electoral laws of the land, which spelt out clearly when such campaigns must start. An adjunct of that is the lawlessness of using state resources to prosecute this political jamboree. There is no provision in the 1999 Constitution that justifies this political recklessness at public expense. This again underscores the failure of the mechanisms put in place by democracy to check this kind of excesses. These mechanisms work virtually everywhere democracy is in place. It is not working in Nigeria because of the effect of partisan considerations on state institutions. Party politics emasculate the constitutional organ, the National Assembly, put in place to put the president in check where arbitrary deployment of national resources is involved. Needless to say that illegal frittering of public resources on political rallies is also capable of breeding friction and disharmony in the country, as governors who find this distasteful, obscene and repulsive may never welcome the president to their states, in breach of protocol, as a way of protesting the abuse of office and state resources such rallies represent. This will not augur well for the polity.

Above all, there is little to celebrate in the face of Boko Haram and in the way insurgency is being addressed. A lot more is required to rekindle hope that the battle is not lost and that the insurgents are not achieving their objectives.

President Goodluck certainly needs to execute his office with greater competence and grace than he has done.

I

LETTER

Obanikoro endangers the army ir: The only reason why the democracy was won in 1999. He unseat APC in the southwest former Prime Minister of was rehabilitated and made a and hence the need to resort to SSingapore, Lee Kuan Yew, for- commissioner by the then brutal force and intimidation mer President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashivili, the leader of Dubai Mohammed Bin Rashid Maktoum and the President of Botswana, Ian Khama stand out as successful leaders of their respective countries today is not only because they had or have a clear vision of where they wanted to take their countries to but they also had or have the right team to work with. You only need to visit Singapore, Georgia, Dubai and Botswana to see what intelligent leaders can do when they work with the right people. A good leader with bright ideas and right focus may have good plans but the wrong cabinet can create a big problem for the leader.

Even the action of one person in a team can create a big problem that will affect the entire system.

Obanikoro came to the limelight when he became the executive chairman Lagos Island Local Government few years back. During his tenure the vibrant and viable local government was looted with reckless abandon, and everything he touched turned to ashes. When it was time to leave, history had it that the LGA was set ablaze by the forces traced to his table in the bid to cover up. The rest is now history.

Obanikoro was later to be forgiven when the battle for

Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the then Alliance for Democracy (AD). Commissioner Obanikoro was made to lead a delegation of Lagos Muslims to pilgrimage in Mecca. His last outing before he became a Minister was an Ambassadorial position in Ghana.

As 2015 elections draw near, I guess Obanikoro is working hard to satisfy political paymaster as a defence minister. This is the reason why Obanikoro invaded Ondo State during a House of Representatives election in the name of fighting for PDP. Recall that El Rufai went alone to Anambra to monitor the last year governorship elections and was stopped by the State Security Services but it was okay for Obanikoro to go to Ondo State to collect votes for PDP. As if that was not enough, Obanikoro allegedly invaded Lagos with military personnel to stop housing projects in Lagos Island and the one close to Adeniji Adele and of the Third Mainland Bridge called Illubirin on the pretext that the land belongs to the Federal Government. Now what is the meaning of this? Is Obanikoro fighting for Lagosians or for his pocket? Is it for personal ambition or for PDP’s advancement in the southwest? Obanikoro’s invasion of Lagos, Qui bono?

PDP and its spin-doctors have found out that they do not have the capacity and capability to

using the federal might.

Successive civilian governments have used the police and other agencies of government to win elections in Nigeria since 1979 and only the military has been spared of this mess. But now that a minister has dragged the well-respected Armed Forces of Nigeria into politics, what do we expect in 2015? Can anybody see and feel the danger of dragging the Armed Forces of Nigeria into local politics? Can anybody imagine the consequences of this dangerous trend in the history of Nigeria? Yes, the Army of Nigeria has been involved in the business of military coups in the past but not in local politics. This is the reason why Obanikoro must be investigated by the Army and sanctioned if found guilty.

My take is that his actions since he assumed office are unbecoming of anybody that is privileged to be a minister of a federal republic. As for 2015 elections Obanikoro and his soldiers will meet us in Lagos and the southwest and I can bet that they will kiss the dust once again. I have said it before that PDP Lagos lacks common sense, strategy for critical thinking, they are not cerebral and they are not proactive. This invasion of Lagos will backfire in 2015 and Lagos PDP will cry again. This I can assure you.

• Joe Igbokwe, Lagos.

Monday, April 28, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

17

Opinion Republic of the mind and thralldom of fear

By Wole Soyinka HAVE a cloud of sadness within me as I speak.

It has to do with an absence, a non-event Iwhich, both as a product in itself and as the product’s fate, could easily stand – among similar testimonies – as symbolic of the mission of this gathering, and a number of others like it, at least in all societies which value the exertion of the mind and products of the imagination.

Before I state what that non-event is, I wish to emphasize very strongly that this is not meant as an indictment of this Book Fair of which I consider myself a part, having been with it – albeit marginally - from its very inception. That would be grossly misleading. My remarks represent a personal wish, generated by the nation’s current crisis of existence, and extend beyond this present location and time, even though they do take off from there. They are a continuation of a discourse on which I embarked years ago - and formed part of my BBC Reith Lecture series – CLIMATE OF FEAR. That discourse was nudged awake quite fortuitously when I visited the London Book Fair three to four weeks ago, where the issue of censorship resurfaced. In any case, this absence I speak of, paradoxically, constitutes an integral part of the story of the book, narrating the predicament of much of humanity in scattered parts of the world – and on so many levels, both specific and general.

For us in this nation, that predicament is hideously current and specific. We are undergoing an affliction that many could not have imagined possible perhaps up to a decade ago.

In a way, both that product and its absence are simultaneously instruction and consolation.

On the one hand it brings home to us the price that others have paid – and still pay - for complacency, timidity, evasion, and/or failure to grasp the nature and multiple guises of the power drive. The obsession to dictate, dominate, and subjugate. On the other hand, it consoles us, in that painfully ironic way, that others have been there before, and many more are yet lined up to undergo – if I may utilise an

apt seasonal metaphor, this being the Easter season - many more unsuspecting nations and communities, currently insulated from a near incurable scourge, are lined up to undergo the same Calvary.

To the product then: It’s just a book, but then, more than ‘just a book’ - written by Professor Karima Bennoune, an Algerian presently teaching at Berkeley University, California. And the title? Your fatwa does not apply here. It is not a work of fiction. It is a compilation – with commentary and analysis of course - of experiences of individuals - men, women, young, old, professionals, academics, entire families and others – among them her own father. It is a record of unbelievable courage and defiance, yes, also of timorousness and surrender, of self-sacrifice and betrayals, of arrogance and restraint, intelligence and stupidity, fanaticism and tolerance – in short, a document of truth at its most forthright and near unbearable, the eternal narrative of humanity that illustrates, the axial relation between the twin polarities called power and freedom which, I persist in pointing out, stand out as the most common denominator of human history.

I feel sad that through this absence, Africa north of the Sahara could not meet and speak to Africa South on Nigerian soil, console and instruct us through a shared experience, one from whose darkness one nation recently emerged and into which the other is being dragged by the sheer deadweight of human mindlessness. It is such an important book, one that has a sobering relevance – does one have to reiterate? – for this nation. It is not quite over yet for Algeria by the way. Only yesterday I read in the papers that eleven soldiers were ambushed and killed by forces of identical mental conditioning to the ones that are currently traumatising this nation. We can only hope that Karima Bennoune does not have to drastically update her account through a resurgence of a traumatic past. So much on the product itself.

Now comes the question: what would have been the effect of that title on most of us, see-

ing it displayed in one of the bookstalls of a participating publisher? Let’s begin from there.

Even before we have opened the cover, what impact does it have on us, the local consumers?

This is not a rhetorical question – what is it in the title itself that guarantees in advance that the average viewer would instinctively approach it with some trepidation? This is a familiar battle ground for thousands of affected writers, and constitutes the phenomenon that I wish to drag into this specific context, seeing that the book is available through all the normal sales channels elsewhere, and has been reviewed extensively in numerous media. It leads inevitably to the question: have we been shortchanged, albeit through circumstances too convoluted to go into here – in an environment to which such a history is excruciatingly pertinent?

One should not cry over spilt milk, yet one should never let an opportunity go to waste to recoup one’s losses wherever possible – even in divergent directions. In this case, as I hinted earlier, the very absence forms part of our literary mission. I consider this work of such relevance that I am persuaded that it should be made compulsive reading for everyone in leadership position in this nation, beginning from the president all the way down to local councilors, irrespective of religion and community leaders. I intend to adopt Professor Bennoune’s book as entry point into the interrogatories for the very contestation that is summed up in the title of this address – “The Republic of the Mind and the Thralldom of Fear”. I intend to pose questions such as: should such a work constitute a contentious issue in the first place? Is our world now in a condition where a work that may – repeat – may – explore and narrate unpleasant histories is approached as an instant minefield for its handlers? Is any interest group, as long as it is sufficiently vociferous, reckless and dangerous, entitled to bestride and menace our world once such a minority decrees even factual history unpalatable or unflattering? Do we now instinctively make assumptions of negative responses on behalf of

such a minority? Does anyone possess a right of imposition in the first place? What does that mean for any community?

I pose these questions because my increasing conviction is that our space of volition and equality of choice is rapidly collapsing under internal relationships based on fear and domination, on dictation and imposition. This is not the view of this speaker alone. Both Egypt and Tunisia, one after the other, are solid proofs that this shrinkage of space is an obsessive project by the assiduous cultivators of the realm of thralldom, and we have seen how it is answered in both instances. My business here is not to urge the adoption of the solutions pursued in either nation, or indeed Somalia, but to point out an existing agenda of control, manifested in different ways and degrees, and consequently drawing unpredictable responses.

But quickly, that question, are the people themselves sometimes collaborators in the shrinkage of that space of choice, that space of freedom? This, indeed, was the disquieting issue that triggered off the London discussion, catapulting the Nigerian predicament to the fore. We must be honest in our answers. When we look into the demands and impositions by one section of society upon another, coldly and analytically, we find that, very often, our instinctive assumptions are totally divergent from the actuality of relationships between such groups. We find that we have conceded what was never at issue, or else can be argued and clarified through mutual exchange. We find that sensitivities are often exaggerated, or else unnecessarily indulged. It is a lazy intellectual habit, one that is born of a timorous attitude for frank and honest dialogue. Mutual respect is built by clarification, not by avoidance or unjustifiable concessions, which is an attitude of condescension, a patronising approach that is not only disrespectful but unhealthy.

To be continued tomorrow.

Professor Wole Soyinka is a Nobel Laureate in Literature.

Phoney defence of naira, the nation’s folly

By Henry Boyo IGERIANS generally believe that large foreign reserves are useful N for defending the exchange rate of the naira. However, our total foreign reserves actually comprise two primary income streams; the first is the Excess Crude Account (ECA), which consists of all crude oil revenue that is in excess of budget projections.

In the recent past, over $10 billion accrued annually into the ECA. Surprisingly, however, government always managed to consume the proceeds in this account in addition to hundreds of billions of naira, borrowed by government, at costs usually above 12 per cent, to fund earlier projected ghost deficits, which were largely induced by the misguided conservative price and output benchmarks adopted for crude oil revenue in annual budgets.

The inherent contradiction in our federal budgets, which inexplicably accommodate deficits as well as actual revenue surplus, is regrettably generally lost on our people and our illustrious economic management team.

The second major component of our foreign exchange reserves, which is currently about $40 billion, is what the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) describes as its “own reserves”. CBN’s claim to sole ownership of these reserves is founded on the principle that the federation cannot lay claim to this fund since government was already the beneficiary of the naira ‘equivalent’, which the apex bank unilaterally created and substituted as allocations for constitutionally distributable dollar revenue.

For this reason, CBN’s $40bn reserves can neither be appropriated for defraying deficits in our budgets, nor for redressing some of our serious infrastructural deprivations.

For example, some Nigerians will recall that the president was in China last year, partly to raise funds for infrastructural enhancement, and indeed, apparently raised about $1.5 billion with an interest rate that may not be far short of the seven per cent rate on our existing Eurobonds. Interestingly, however, the CBN governor was also in China to assess investment opportunities for CBN’s dollar reserves! However, it is unlikely that Sanusi found any investment opportunity that would ultimately produce a yield of more than four per cent; in such an event, there is nothing stopping Chinese investors from borrowing directly from CBN at a cheaper cost for onward lending

to the Nigerian government at a higher rate of interest!

Sadly, the above illustration is indeed also mirrored in the process of domestic debt accumulation. To substantiate this observation, we quote Sanusi’s revelation in Thisday Newspaper’s issue of 24/07/2013. “…First of all, you have got liquidity (naira) surplus in the banking industry; … there is over N1.3tr or so sitting in banks and belonging to government agencies. Now basically, they (these funds) are at zero per cent interest and the banks are lending about N2tn to the government and charging 13 to 14 per cent! Now, that is a very good business model, isn’t it? Give me your money for free and I lend it to you at 14 per cent; so why would I go and lend to anyone?” Worse still, the funds mopped up (borrowed) by the CBN are simply sterilised or kept idle, despite prevailing significant budget shortfalls, which are funded with additional borrowing!

Thus, both the reserves from the ECA and the “CBN’s own” reserves are, in fact, consolidated from controversial sources, as the ECA surplus, untenably exists alongside budget deficits, while CBN’s forex reserves accrue primarily from dollar revenue captured by CBN, after it has created and substituted fresh naira values for constitutionally distributable dollar revenue.

Thus, as CBN’s reserves grow, so also will the extent of naira surplus in the system expand to inadvertently instigate a general price rise, and lower exchange rate as CBN’s obtuse and patently unconstitutional payments strategy constantly induces a market mix of systemic surplus naira chasing relatively few ‘goods’ and rationed dollar supply from the CBN every month.

Consequently, the flipside of increasing CBN dollar reserves is actually the constant threat of inflation as well as increased domestic borrowing, as the CBN ‘posthumously’ embarks on a borrowing spree at double-digit interest rate in order to reduce the burden of surplus naira that becomes increasingly worrisome, with the apex bank’s unceasing monthly substitution of naira allocations for distributable dollar revenue. A significant part of Nigeria’s estimated N8 trillion domestic debt was actually accumulated with this suicidal monetary strategy while service charges on such “useless” debts probably exceeded $3 trillion in the last six years.

Furthermore, the government as well as CBN’s forced appetite to borrow hundreds of billions of naira at such high cost, inevitably also crowds out the real sector from accessing cheap

funds. The scarcity of cheap funds to SMEs ultimately contracts the domestic economy, thus, inducing an increasing level of unemployment as collateral.

Consequently, we become poorer for CBN’s reserves to grow, as indeed evident in the uneasy reality of deepening poverty nationwide despite the increase in our dollar reserves and imports cover from $4bn and four months respectively, in 1996, to $40bn and 12 months imports cover in 2014!

In the current failed attempt to stem naira depreciation, Sanusi wrongly identified abnormal dollar demand as the prime villain for increasing market pressure. The CBN, therefore, reduced its weekly forex allocations to Bureau De Change (BDC) from $1million to $250,000. Expectedly, however, rather than douse demand, the vibrant forex market experienced dollar supply shortage, which invariably intensified the pressure on the naira exchange rate. Consequently, less than 60 days later, the suspended CBN governor, in another characteristic policy somersault, summarily lifted the limit on sales of dollars to BDC, despite the recognition of the BDC’s role in facilitating money laundering, capital flight and the ignoble smuggling enterprise, which kills our industries.

Invariably, Sanusi’s incongruous policy flip-flop could not reduce pressure on the naira, because he probably failed to appreciate that the problem was not only dollar supply, but significantly also the unceasing deliberate creation of excess naira supply by the same CBN. For example, the apex bank’s illadvised injection of over N1trillion to settle AMCON’s non-CBN debts in addition to disbursement of 100 per cent naira allocations every month, in the last quarter of 2013, inadvertently also added more than N10 trillion more of naira liquidity into an already naira-suffocated money market to further worsen the plight of the naira against the dollar.

Thus, it becomes a farcical expression of concern, when the same agency that consciously created the disenabling naira surfeit, which weakens the naira turns round to sell rations of dollar revenue it earlier captured, in a sadly futile bid to defend the naira rate of exchange. Nevertheless, these unforced contradictions in the product of monetary strategy will become successfully resolved with the adoption of dollar certificates for the disbursement of the dollar component of distributable revenue.

• Boyo is a commentator on financial matters.

18 | Monday, April 28, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Opinion Boko Haram: Let truth be told

By Raymond Oise-Oghaede lot has been said and done about the activiA ties of the Boko Haram sect in the past but the menace continues unabated. The truth remains that the issue is not being handled rightly. I have said it severally that the only viable solution to the problem is through ‘true reconciliation’ by way of dialogue and negotiations.

Several tactics have been employed and each has been matched with devastating consequences and more calamities. What this means is that the most viable option has not been embraced. Another troubling aspect is that our leaders and people have tended to look at the grave problem from wrong perspectives. That is, we have narrowed the menace to ethnic, political and religious perspectives. The leaders and the people are shying away from the main issue, which is the fact that the perpetrators are aggrieved and disgruntled by the socio/political and economic situation in the country. As I wrote in my review titled ‘ Is Boko Truly Haram?

What is most worrisome with the present trend is that more of these militant groups will spring up in the nearest future if the right steps are not taken at the right time because it is becoming clear that the majority of our youths will take up arms to fight for relevance and sustenance in the face of uncertain future. This should not have been the case if the government and people are perceived to be genuinely putting things in the right perspectives, which will guarantee the assurance that they meant well for the future of the people.

Be that as it may, one would have expected all

well meaning Nigerians to come together and join hands with our leaders on the best way to tackle the menace and that is by way of peaceful resolutions.

With all due respect to our religious leaders, traditional rulers, politicians inside and outside government, academia, captains of industries and well meaning Nigerians, the fact remains that we have not really done much to support the government of the day in resolving this problem. While religious leaders are trading blames and castigating one particular religion or belief for being the architects of the menace, politicians are accusing one another of being the sponsors of the sect.

Some captains of industries are keeping mum because the activities of the sect are prominent in areas where their industries are not located. Traditional rulers in some parts of the country are also not coming forth with viable ways of resolving the problem because it is not happening in their domains. They are busy prostituting with politicians and depend mainly on the gains of ruler ship or what is generally known as ‘isakole’ in the Yoruba parlance.

Majority of the people are also trivialising the issue because it does not affect members of their immediate families. Media practitioners are not also to be spared from the blame because most of them prefer to publish articles with ‘big grammar’ written by well-known people regardless of whether the content readily addresses the substance of the problem at hand or not. Some are even jettisoning good reviews because the wordings are more

than what is allowed by their outfit. (What they are saying indirectly is that you must prune your review to certain number of words without minding if such is enough to accommodate the basis of the article’). Some of this practitioners should however, be commended because they go out of their ways to publish good reviews regardless of the volume. For the earlier mentioned practitioners, they are very comfortable to reporting incidents and number of casualties of a Boko Haram attack rather than also proffering workable suggestions and ways in which the menace could be curbed as required by the principle of their profession. (The Editors Guide should please take note of this very sensitive shortcoming).

In as much as no man has the monopoly of knowledge, I am of the opinion that the government should adopt peaceful approach towards resolving the issue. When we talk of peaceful resolution, we mean resolutions guided by the principle of ‘no victor no vanquished’. It means true reconciliation through dialogue and negotiations. In this situation, when you are calling for peaceful resolution of a crisis, you do not have to back it up with threats. That is, ‘drop your weapons now and embrace dialogue or the government would be forced to do this or that’. That is not a committed and sincere call for reconciliation in the true sense of it.

By now, one would have expected politicians and members of the opposition to be visiting the seat of power on daily basis with the aim of finding lasting solutions to the problem instead of adopting the option of accusations and

counter accusations. The fact remains that if the people in opposition take over governance in the country today, there is no guarantee that the activities of the sect will stop except of course, if they are truly the architects or sponsors of the sect.

In the same vein, the leadership of all religious beliefs and denominations are supposed to be meeting with one another at this point in time to fashion out ways of resolving the problem instead of accusing one another of complicity in the matter. If truly we believe that there is only one God, then we should not allow our religious inclinations to blind us from coming together to resolving a problem that affects us as human beings and as a nation.

Also, traditional rulers from every part of the country are also expected to come together and come out with a communiqué calling for peaceful resolution of this problem. They should have it at the back of their minds that even the British Colonial masters relied on our traditional institutions to have headway in their colonisation of the country. The question is, has the traditional rulers lost their relevance in today’s governance? (They should be in a better position to answer this puzzle). It is some parts of northern Nigeria that are presently facing the challenges; all other rulers should come together to render helping hands in resolving the problems instead of sitting on the fence. It could be the turn of any other part of the country tomorrow.

To be continued tomorrow.

• Oise-Oghaede wrote from Lagos.

MMA2 as private sector’s beautiful ‘bride’

By Kayode Adewunmi HE greatest thing that can happen to the economy of any naT tion is when the private sector is involved in all the processes of its evolution, development and growth. That Nigeria prides itself today as the largest economy in Africa, after rebasing its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is largely courtesy of the private investors, whose imprints in the telecommunications, aviation, education and entertainment (Nollywood), among other sectors, are very pronounced.

One private sector initiative that has not ceased to impress me each time I pass through it is the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), Lagos, operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL). It is worthy of note that the Federal Government created the atmosphere that brought this landmark about, and it is also good that it has continued to wax strong despite the limited resources and having passed through some trying times in the recent past.

Many Nigerians and foreigners are impressed with the wonders of the private sector participation as manifested in MMA2; in terms of its aesthetics and the constant maintenance of its facilities.

Being a place I pass through almost every week, one can say without fear or favour that the terminal has remained a benchmark when talking of world-class airport terminals in Africa. In terms of cleanliness, electricity supply, orderliness at its multistorey car park, the first of its type in this part, general infrastructure, the number of airlines operating from there, the number of retail outlets and others, the terminal has been outstanding.

Thus, many stakeholders in the aviation sector have continued to use MMA2 as a reference point. While the newspapers and other media have been publishing the pictures of the terminal, the electronic media have been using same as background picture, when doing any story on the country’s aviation, even when MMA2 is not the specific focus of such stories.

One good thing that should gladden the hearts of pro-private sector Nigerians recently was the way the terminal was flaunted by the Federal Government, some of its agencies, and the media, including the social media, after it won an award in faraway Dubai. It is noteworthy to say here that with this, the Federal Government and some of its agencies are actually showing that they appreciate the private sector as partners in the development and growth of the aviation sector. This is commendable.

The recent show of appreciation for Bi-Courtney’s many efforts to keep MMA2 running 24/7 is in the award of the best emerging airport given to the Federal Government in the United Arab Emirate (UAE). Although the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) was mentioned as the winner of the

award, MMA2 was actually the terminal showcased by both local and international media to illustrate the story. It is gratifying that this is happening now, and goes to show that no input of the private sector will go unappreciated now, or in the nearest future. This is a form of encouragement to Nigerians who have the resources to assist the government develop Nigeria and provide jobs for the army of unemployed youths in the country.

The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunoma, received the prestigious award at the event, which took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The organisers of the conference cited what they called the turn-around of airports in Nigeria as amongst the reasons for the award. The award ceremony also featured conferences and an exhibition, which attracted over 15 airport directors, CAA’s airport companies from the emerging markets in Africa, Asia and Middle East.

Dunoma presented a paper at the conference on April 10, where he showcased the investment potential and business opportunities in the Nigerian aviation industry. Others who attended the event included representatives of Mozambique Airports, Tanzania Airports Company, Ghana Airports Company, Kilimanjaro Airports Company (as delegate), Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Bahrain Airports Company, GMR Airports and GVK Airports from India. Others were Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Dube Ports – South Africa, Jordan Airports Company (delegate), Egyptian Airports Company (delegate), ADPI – the airport design company, Hill International, TAV Airports Holdings (Turkey) and over 45 exhibitors representing airport suppliers, investors, contractors, equipment manufacturers, suppliers and others involved in ground handling, airport operations, airport ATC/ATM, airport maintenance and ancillary services providers.

While accepting the award, FAAN showcased MMA2 as the terminal highly valued by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Government deserves congratulations for this achievement. It should continue to encourage private investors as its partners in efforts to lift the economy from the doldrums by showcasing their investments. This new focus of government is not entirely surprising, as this has been advocated for, for quite some time now. Many newspapers in February, this year, quoted the immediate past Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mazi Nnamdi Udoh, as saying at an aviation forum in Lagos that “MMA2 is a success”. Udoh was saying the truth, and he was in a better position to know this.

According to the veteran of the aviation industry, who said he had witnessed the changing of the country’s aviation ministers about 36 times in his 35 years career: “Any architect worth his salt looking at MMA2 will agree with me that the design is something else. It is something every Nigerian should be proud of. No wonder, the design of six or seven newly-renovated air-

port terminals in the country looks like a replica of MMA2”.

Udoh reportedly said that he was the master of ceremony at the foundation-laying and the inauguration of MMA2 during the former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration, while praising the resilience of Bi-Courtney to keep the terminal clean at all times. He said that since then, he had been “emotionally attached to MMA2 as a terminal” and as an engineer of over three decades standing, he was sure that the terminal is one of the best in the world.

The reports had it that airline and cargo handling companies’ executives who spoke after Udoh, including the Managing Director of Med-View Airlines, Munner Bankole, the Managing Director of Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL), Oluropo Owolabi and his counterpart in the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCo Aviance), Kayode Oluwasegun Ojo, toed the same line, saying MMA2 remained a terminal every Nigerian was proud of.

Sometime last year, I also read it in the media that a high-powered delegation from the central government of Sierra Leone had visited MMA2, guided to the terminal by an official of Nigeria’s Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Adamu Umar. The six-man delegation, led by the Coordinator of that country’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Unit in the Office of The President, Abu Kamara, was reported to have said that they came to MMA2 to understudy how it was able to remain what it was as the first successful PPP in Nigeria despite all the challenges. Speaking on behalf of others, Kamara said that their search for the terminal on the Internet revealed a wellmanaged facility.

They were saying the obvious, as maintaining the facilities at MMA2 is what has been baffling many people because of the huge cost. Currently, when I travelled through the terminal, I saw massive rehabilitation going on there without interfering with the operations of the airlines. I had arrived at the terminal early enough, before my flight, to walk round some of the structures to see for myself what is actually happening. I could see that the escalators and some elevators are being replaced with brand new ones. I could see that the car park at the terminal is being automated.

The other day, I also read it in the media that new multi-million naira screening machines had been procured for MMA2 final departure and the cargo shed. I saw a new clinic at the terminal building with a brand new ambulance. All these are what make the difference between public and private investments.

What the government needs to continue doing at this juncture is to keep encouraging the private investors to put in their money where they would be appreciated. It shows that Nigerians can really fix Nigeria, if the necessary atmosphere is created.

Monday, April 28, 2014 19

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

TheMetroSection Policeman disappears over alleged failed ritual attempt • Missing eight-year-old girl held captive uncovered in his bedroom

By Odita Sunday

But one of the detectives demanded for a stool, which he climbed and peeped through the window and behold, he found a human leg shaking in an attempt to free herself NGER is raging in Ikosi area of Ketu, Lagos A over the disappearance of a mobile policeman identified as Gbuchenge Augustine with Force Number 400823, said to be serving under the Police Mobile Unit 22. He allegedly held an eight-year-old girl in bondage for ritual purpose.

The girl was discovered under his bed in his one-room apartment located at No. 1, Olufowobi Street, Ikosi Ketu, with her mouth, legs and hands tied. The girl was speechless for several hours after she was rescued and there were visible damages to her skull and neck, which was broken.

Trouble started for the policeman on the evening of last Thursday when parents of the girl, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Abakwan, who had gone out for their businesses returned and searched for their daughter, Amarachi.

It was gathered that Amarachi’s mother was the first to return home after the day’s work, but since she was busy outside their compound, she took no notice that her daughter was missing. When Amarachi’s father, a driver with Strands Communications Limited, returned from work, he discovered that Amarachi was taking too long to come and greet him as she usually did.

He then queried his wife and demanded to know the girl’s whereabouts, but he was told she was sleeping. “I demanded to see her and when they went for her, she was nowhere to be found. That was how we started searching for her. Another little child in the compound said she saw Oga Olopa (the policeman) carrying Amarachi in his arm from their room where he was sleeping to his room.”

“As a child, nobody took her seriously, but in the ensuing confusion, the child insisted that Amarachi was in the policeman’s room. The policeman, we gathered, had before the incident, sent Amarachi on an errand to buy bean cake (akara) and recharge card before she went to sleep.”

“When it became obvious that the girl was nowhere to be found, the mother confronted the policeman to provide her daughter since she was last seen with him,” he said.

The suspect, Gbuchenge Augustine The father said the policeman, who was said to be sitting outside his room smoking, got up and pretended as though he was angry. He claimed that he was accused of something he knew nothing about.

It was gathered that the policeman used that opportunity to escape from the compound. Unknown to the crowd who had gathered, the cop was on the run and as at the time of writing this report, he is yet to return to the compound.

The Guardian was informed that the parents of the girl had gone to Ketu Police Station to report the incident. Police detectives have been sent to the compound to commence investigation.

According to Mr. Abakwan, the detectives said they had no power to break into the policeman’s house. “But one of the detectives demanded for a stool, which he climbed and peeped through the window and behold, he found a human leg shaking in an attempt to free herself. The policeman then decided to rush back to the station to mobilize other policemen to the scene.

It was reliably gathered that the angry crowd at the scene had broken into the policeman’s room where the girl was discovered and eventually set free.

“The most important thing is the safety of my daughter. When we went into the room, we

Ohaneze urges South-east govs to participate in Uwechue’s burial

By Odita Sunday HE Igbo Socio-Cultural Organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo, has urged governors of the South-east extraction to participate actively in the upcoming burial of its leader and elder statesman, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue.

The former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Uwechue died on March 13, 2014 at the National Hospital Abuja. He was aged 79.

In a statement issued in Lagos by its spokesman, Chief Tony Osita Oganah, Ohanaze stated that there was need for all Igbos to give the late Uwechue the honor he deserves, having served the organization and ensured unity of all Igbospeaking people in Nigeria.

“We are not pleased by the response of some Igbo leaders to the planning of activities to mark the final burial rites of this great Igbo son, who had served the Igbos meritoriously,” Ohaneze spokesman said.

According to him, some of the

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Uwechue Igbo leaders, including some of the South-east governors are yet to give the needed support to the family and Ohaneze over the planned befitting burial.

The group lamented that despite attempts by it to ensure that the Igbos give the ambassador a befitting burial, some of those expected to play key roles were yet to respond de-

spite several attempts to reach them.

The group, however, urged all lovers of the Igbos , including Igbo businessmen and captains of industries, to come out enmasse and give the former Igbo leader a befitting burial.

“Uwechue remains the only Ohaneze leader to have led the organization for four years without any rancor,” he said.

The burial activities for the late Ambassador kicks off from May 5 at Abuja, ending on May 9 and May 10 at his hometown, Ogwashi Uku, capital of Aniocha South Local Council of Delta.

A career diplomat and former Ambassador of Nigeria in Libya, Uwechue joined the Nigerian Foreign Service at its inception in 1960, and served in a number of other countries, including Cameroun, Pakistan and Mali.

He was also Nigeria’s first diplomatic envoy to France, where he opened the Nigerian Embassy in Paris in 1966.

Amarachi brought out Amarachi with her mouth, legs and hands tied. Only her legs were outside as she was struggling to free herself but the upper part of her body was under the man’s bed, she could not talk.”

“The man had twisted her neck and used an object to break her skull thinking that she would die in the process but God saved her. We rushed her to Dafe Medical Hospital where they refused to admit her,” the father narrated.

It was gathered that the parents had moved the girl to Gbagada General Hospital, where it was advised that she should be taken to the Lagos Island General Hospital Emergency Ward for proper attention.

Some other neighbours who spoke to The Guardian, said the victim was lured into the suspect’s house about 8pm on Thursday, and although he didn’t succeed in having carnal knowledge of the minor, he vented his frustration by tying her up and cutting her skull.

It was also gathered that a search in the suspect’s room unearthed several clothing items belonging to young girls, fueling speculation that the items may be souvenirs from possible past escapades with his victims.

Barely managing to speak with her parched throat, the victim, who was saved by her sheer

grit and brilliance, said she never saw what was coming till it happened.

She said: “Mopol had sent me to buy bean cake for him earlier on, which I did. Later, as I wanted to go into our apartment and sleep, he dragged me into his room. Then I heard my father calling my name and I told him to allow me go.”

“Mopol told me to shut up my mouth and the next thing, he covered my mouth with his hand and tied it with a cloth. He also tied my neck and my hands. He then used a sharp iron and hit me on the head. I started bleeding but I could not shout because he tied my mouth.”

“When he heard my parents looking for me and shouting my name, he pushed me under his bed. Later, he locked the door and left me under the bed bleeding. I could hear my parents shouting my name but I couldn’t do anything.”

“Later, although I was weak, I heard some people at the window and I heard my mother’s voice there. I used my last strength and dragged my body till one of my legs came out from under the bed. It was when they saw my leg from the window that they now broke the door.”

Five persons feared killed over battle to control oil-rich community From Ann Godwin, Port Harcourt T least five persons have been feared killed in the Ogbogu community of Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Council of Rivers State following serious gunshots by suspected assassins.

Reason for the killings was not yet known as at press time but investigations revealed that there was pandemonium in the area as people were seen fleeing the community for fear of being killed.

However, a youth leader in the area alleged that the incident would not be unconnected with the battle over who should represent the oil rich community during negotiations with multinational oil companies operating in the area.

Another Community source further disclosed that the hoodlums also det-

A

onated explosives at the residence of the President General, Egi Peoples Assembly, Mr. Oris Onyiri.

The explosive was said to have damaged a portion of his structure in the compound and also sent one of the President’s relative to an early grave.

The community source said: ”The hoodlums threw what sounded like grenade at the residence of Chief Onyiri. One of his relatives died from the incident.”

He added: “ Security men engaged the killers in a gun battle, killing one of them while the others escaped.”

“This area has been overtaken by crisis over who would represent the oil rich community and I am afraid that that could be the essence of the killing,” the source added.

He noted that about six persons have been killed in

A youth leader in the area alleged that the incident would not be unconnected with the battle over who should represent the oil rich community during negotiations with multinational oil companies operating in the area. oil rich communities in the local council within the last one year in cult-related crises The state Police Command confirmed the incident. Assistant Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Koko, said the Police was investigating the situation, adding that it was aware of the death.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

20 Monday, April 28, 2014

Briefs

Amosun to launch ARAYA health care programme tomorrow GUN State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun will tomorO row launch the State Community-Based Health Insurances Programme at Obas complex, Oke-mosan, Abeokuta.

This was made known by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr.Olaokun Soyinka who stated that the health scheme, which has been tagged “ARAYA” aims not only to provide free health care for pregnant women, children under five and the elderly, but will also bring affordable care to all residents in Ogun, especially those in the informal sector.

“Our governor is launching “ARAYA” in fulfilment of his promise that his administration would provide free health care for the most vulnerable in our society”.

“We have gone further to devise a programme that will also bring efficient health care within the reach of our people who are hit hard when they incur bills as a result of ill health, or who may not even be able to afford care at all” he said.

According to Soyinka, “the scheme will operate by enrollees paying regular small amounts to be a member with a government subsidy which will complement this and those to benefit from free health care to will not have to pay anything,” He explained that the insurance fund would finance a package of health care so that the enrollees will not have to pay if they need to access care while the programme would also focus on upgrading of facilities, training of staff and implementing preventive health care by educating the communities.

Firm holds training for small businesses FIRM, HT-Limited will on June 5-June 6, hold a Marketing and Sales Training at Seminar Room 104, HRDC, University of Lagos, (through University of Lagos Second Gate). It will make a significant input to the growth of small businesses and help the sales team to increase revenue by improving their product knowledge, productivity and selling skills.

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Agency for LASAA's Africa sign expo State Signage and Advertisement Agency's (LASAA) LtionAGOS bid to host Africa's biggest outdoor conference and exhibiin June this year has received a big boost following the participation of the world's biggest outdoor agency, JCDecaux. The Chief Executive Officer of JCDecaux Southern Europe, this week confirmed participation, indicating willingness to share his wealth of experience with other international speakers and conference delegates.

Jean-Sébastien Decaux joined JCDecaux Group in 1998. From 1998 to 2000, he worked as a Sales manager responsible for the launch of advertising campaigns in supermarkets for JCDecaux in the United Kingdom before being appointed City Relations Manager of JCDecaux Italia in 2000. He previously served as Managing Director responsible for Street Furniture and Sales Director of IGPDecaux, of which he is also a board member. In 2004, he took on responsibility for the Belgian and Luxembourg subsidiaries. The outdoor agency is presently in 3,700 cities with more than 10,484 employees.

Managing Director of LASAA, Mr. George Noah was upbeat about the development saying it will augment the level of debate at the much anticipated event. ''Mr Jean-Sébastien Decaux's presence would add more pep to the intercontinental flavour of the conference owing to his wealth of experience in European markets,’’ Noah enthused.

Old boys kick off N80m multi-purpose centre From Lawrence Njoku (Enugu) HE College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC) Old Boys’ Association has flagged off campaign to fund the construction of its multi- million naira multi- purpose centre for students of the school.

The building, which will house a library, an amphitheatre, computer rooms, multi-purpose hall, student health centre and some offices, has been estimated to cost N80 million.

The project expected to enhance learning and extra -curricula activities would be completed in the next two years.

International President of CIC Alumni Association, Eman Denchukwu, who disclosed this during the ground- breaking ceremony of the project at the school premises in Enugu, said it would give the present and future students “ of our great alma mater an excellent structure and functional space to learn optimally and be engaged in productive curricular and extra curricular activities when completed”.

He lamented the level of decadence that has crept into the education system, stressing that it required the assistance of the alumni to raise the standard of education in the country.

Denchukwu said the alumni would continue to give the school the best it deserved, stressing that the building project was part of the contributions of the group to the growth of education.

He said before now, the alumni had provided scholarships, educational materials as well as funded competitions in the school.

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Stolen vehicle BLUE Toyota Camry Saloon car, with Registration NumA ber EKY 417 BS, Chassis Number 4tib6622K3WU315225, belonging to Mr. Taofeek Ayodebo of No. 169, Orile Ilugun, via Odeda, Abeokuta, Ogun State has been reported stolen since April 10, 2014 at Abeokuta, Ogun State. If found, please call 08023227226 or the nearest Police Station.

Chamber of Commerce holds breakfast meeting IGERIAN-DANISH Chamber of Commerce, Industry and N Agriculture holds its yearly Business Breakfast Meeting entitled “Power Sector Reform: Overcoming Institutional and Regulatory Challenges in an Era of Liberalization; on Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja at 9.00 a.m..

The breakfast meeting is designed to create a forum for business networking and garner knowledge and strategies on critical issues in the national economy.

Godknows Igali is the main guest speaker while other guests honour include Mr. Benjamin Dikki, Dr. Ransome Owan, Mr. Victor Gbolade Osubodu, Mr. Olajuwon Olaleye, Mr. John Momoh and Dr. Sam Amadi.

School-teacher arrested for raping, impregnating pupil in Plateau From Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi, Jos HE Plateau State Police T Command has arrested one Chukwudi Boniface, a teacher with Bright Kids Academy, Barkin Ladi Local Council of the state for raping and impregnating a 12year-old (names withheld) primary three pupil of the school.

Confirming the arrest to journalists Tuesday in Jos, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state Police Command, SP Felicia Anslem, said the teacher has been arrested and he is already in Police custody for investigation.

According to her: “The man has been arrested and investigation is on-going. He will be charged to court because the girl is already four months pregnant now. I want to assure the public that justice will be the outcome of the investigation.”

The PPRO reiterated that proper investigation in the matter is on-going, because the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe, does not tolerate crime.

It was gathered that the private school, which is located in Barkin Ladi, had last year December introduced an extra-mural lesson, and only

Olakpe four of the pupils attended the lesson, including the victim, on a Saturday. Chukwudi, after giving them a class work, told the victim to wait for him in the other classroom with her books where he committed the crime.

While narrating the ungodly incident to journalists, The 12-year-old girl said: “My teacher called me to come close and held my hands and then he forced me down and removed my clothes and had sex with

me. I cried but nobody could come to help me, so after he finished he warned me not to tell anybody and said if I do so he would deal with me.”

A close family source, who does not want his name on print, said the victim is an orphan and the teacher had warned her not to mention the issue to anybody.

The source said the threat made her keep the secret to herself “until few months later, when they begin to notice some pregnancy symp-

toms, which after thorough investigation led to her confession.”

For some time now, there have been reported cases of rampant rape of female minors in the state, especially Barkin Ladi that has remained unabated. Recently a group under the aegis of the Young Women’s Christians Association (YWCA) Plateau State Chapter condemned in strong terms the inhuman acts of raping female minors between the ages of 2-13 years on a daily basis in Plateau state.

Speaking through their state representative, Mrs. Elizabeth Audu, the group said the raping of girls between the ages of two and 13 years has taken a dimension that calls for government intervention to checkmate as well as punish people found engaging in such derogratory acts in the society.

The state commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Sarah Yusuf, who decried the level of rape in the state, said government will take steps to bring the perpetrators to book.

She called on all stakeholders in the campaign to speak out in order to put an end to the menace.

Police distribute relief materials to 100 widows in Borno From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri HE Borno State Police T Command on Monday distributed relief materials and other food items to 100 widows of slain policemen from Boko Haram activities in the state.

The items, which include 100 bags of rice and packs of detergent, were donated by the wife of the Inspector General of Police, Hajiya Zara Abubakar, who is also the president of Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), the police authority disclosed yesterday in Maiduguri, at the police headquarters.

The wife of the Borno State Commissioner of Police, Rahinatu Tanko, said that the relief materials were part of the gesture of the police management and POWA to identify with the widows in

difficult times.

She said the President of POWA and the IGP’s wife

were particularly concerned about how the wives of the slain cops have been

Nigerian musician, Mr Dapo Oyebanjo (a.k.a. D’banj), with a victim of Nyanya explosion, Mr. Jim Anthony, a building engineer, during his visit to Asokoro District Hospital in Abuja ...

PHOTO: NAN

coping with challenges of life and, as such, graciously donated 100 bags of rice as their widow’s mite to the widows of policemen that died on duty in Borno.

“It is to assist the widows and immediate families of the policemen who died in the course of their duty. I am also assisting with the donation of packs of detergents which we are giving to the widows, too, on behalf of POWA in Borno,” said Rahinatu.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command, Rabiu Yusuf, who represented the Commissioner, Lawan Tanko, also lauded the gesture, urging the widows not to lose hope despite the death of their breadwinners.

The widows also thanked the POWA President and police authority in the state.

Fallen mast kills one, injures scores in Delta community

By Clarkson Eberu HE telecommunications mast erected beside St. Lazarus Sabbath Church at Okwagbe Inland in Ughelli South Local Council of Delta State caved in at the weekend killing one person and injuring 56 others.

The facility owned by communications giant, MTN Nigeria, reportedly collapsed on the church during a Sabbath service after a very heavy rainstorm.

The deceased, identified as Prince Agulabri, a native of Okrika in Burutu Local Council of the state, was dedicating his newborn when the mishap occurred.

Speaking with The Guardian on the incident at the weekend, the President-General, Okwagbe United Elite, Evang. Nelson Omogosibo, while commiserating with

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the families of the bereaved and the injured, said the event had thrown the entire community into a sorrowful mood and confusion.

Omogosibo, a civil cum structural engineer, submitted that the collapse may have been accentuated by what he referred to as the “very poor foundation and poor construction done” on the ill-fated installation.

“As a seasoned civil/ structural engineer, I discovered from visual analysis that the mast had a very poor foundation and the construction was poorly done. The foundation was too shallow and there was no underground beam acting as a tie-beam.

At this level, I am very surprised that the communication giant is still doing such poor work. May the soul of the departed rest in peace.”

The fallen mast

BUSINESS INTERVIEW / 61

PROPERTYGUIDE /31

Nigeria needs to reduce import profile, says Le-Bris

Nigeria strengthens partnerships for new Africa urban agenda

MONDAY, April 28, 2014

IMF, World Bank unveil revised guidelines for public debt management

By Chijioke Nelson HE two global financial institutionsInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank have unveiled a new guideline for public debt management, a move scripted to enthrone micro and macro-

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economic stability in member countries’ economies.

The document, titled: “Revised Guidelines for Public Debt Management”, which is a collective efforts of staffers of both institutions, has also received the approval of the respective

boards.

According IMF, the “application of these guidelines should strengthen the international financial architecture, promote policies and practices that contribute to financial stability and transparency, and

Bank Governors at at a meeting in Moscow last year.

The request for the revision was necessitated by assessed structural changes in many countries’ debt portfolios.

According to the Group, there were observed changes both in size and composition of public debts over the last decade as a result of financial sector and macroeconomic policy developments, especially in response to the recent financial crisis.

The revisions to the Guidelines mainly concentrated on the management objectives and coordination, including clarifying the roles and accountabilities of fiscal authorities and debt managers to the debt sustainability analysis process; and ensuring transparency

reduce member countries’ external vulnerabilities.”

The new guideline, which also emerged from the 2001 Guidelines and their 2003 Amendments, was requested by the Group of 20 (G-20) Finance Ministers and Central

and accountability by enhancing communication with investors, especially during periods of crisis.

Others include the institutional framework with the use of collective action clauses in bond contracts as necessary for the efficient resolution of sovereign debt restructuring; debt management strategy, including debt portfolio risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans; risk management framework, with emphasis on stress testing of the public debt portfolio and the use of derivatives in managing portfolio risk; and development and maintenance of efficient markets for government securities, as an integral part of developing a robust debt management strategy.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Bank Limited, Mallam Ahmed Kuru (left); the bank’s Board Chairman, Sir. (Dr.) Ogala Osoka; and Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Mrs. Olufunke Olakunri, during the second yearly general meeting of the bank in Lagos, at the weekend.

UBA, FBN Holdings, others lift NSE’s volume by N27.8b

By Helen Oji ESPITE the Easter break, a D turnover of 2.059 billion shares worth N27.839 billion were exchanged in 20,413 deals by investors on the floor of the Nigeria Stock Exchange, higher than a total of 1.532 billion shares valued at N14.309 billion that changed hands l in 17,704 deals during the preceding week..

The increase in volume of shares traded last week, may, however , be attributed to the huge volume of transactions recorded on the stocks of United Bank for Africa (UBA).

According to analysts, both foreign and local portfolio investors were taking position, in order to benefit from UBA ongoing expansion into African countries.

The expansion programme is expected to increase the bank’s profitability and raise shareholders’ value on investment in future.

Specifically, the financial services industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.872 billion shares, valued at N18.429 billion, traded in 12,470 deals; thus contributing 90.94 per cent and 66.25 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and

value respectively.

The conglomerates industry followed with a turnover of 61.227 million shares worth N375.477 million in 1,079 deals.

The third place was occupied by the consumer goods industry with 57.913 million shares worth N6.575 billion in 2,946 deals.

Trading in the top three equities, namely- United Bank for Africa Plc., FBN Holdings Plc. and Zenith International Bank Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 1.299 billion shares worth N14.926 billion in 4,664 deals, contributing 63 per cent and 53.66 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Also traded during the week were a total of 12,184 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N425,438.88 executed in 16 deals compared with a total of 23,153 units of valued at N622,765.88 million transacted last week in 14 deals

Similarly, 1000 units of FGN bonds valued at N1.201million were traded this week in one deal The NSE All-share index and market capitalisation appreciated by 0.58 per cent and 2.98 per cent to close on Thursday !"#$%&'()$ at 39,311.60 and N12.928 tril-

lion respectively.

All the NSE Indices appreciated during the week with the exception of the NSE Consumer Goods Index and NSE-Lotus II that shed 0.76 per cent and 0.84 per cent respectively; while the NSE ASeM closed flat.

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Currency US DOLLAR POUNDS STERLING EURO SWISS FRANC YEN CFA WAUA YUAN/RENMINBI RIYAL DANISH KRONA SDR

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Buying(NGN) 154.73 259.8845 213.9606 175.2917 1.5103 0.3074 239.1355 24.7583 41.2569 28.6505 239.6768

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Central(NGN) 155.23 260.7243 214.652 175.8582 1.5152 0.3174 239.9082 24.8387 41.3903 28.7431 240.4513

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Selling(NGN) 155.73 261.5641 215.3434 176.4246 1.5201 0.3274 240.681 24.9192 41.5236 28.8357 241.2258

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

22 Monday, April 28, 2014

FINANCIALGUARDIAN

FMDQ OTC’s transactions to hit N10tr in 2014 gurated an electronic bond trading system.

He explained that the new system, developed in conjunction with Bloomberg LP for trading in fixed income securities, “provides an integrated solution for both trading and surveillance, which gives the sponsoring entity – FMDQ – supervisory view of the OTC markets.”

According to him, the transparency and information, which the e-bond system offers, would attract more investors’ participation in the market.

He pointed out that the firm was poised to develop and empower the market through the implementation of initiatives under its ‘Global Competitive, Operational Excellence, Liquidity and Diversity’ (GOLD) agenda.

The introduction of the ebond trading, according to Odeyemi, is in line with this agenda as it had the potential of giving the Nigerian securities market greater visibility.

He said, “E-bond is an internationally recognised system that is capable of making the Nigerian financial markets globally competitive by pro-

By Helen Oji HE amount of trading in treasury bills and bond in FMDQ OTC Plc is expected to hit N10trillion by the end of December 2014, the Divisional Head, Operations and Technology, FMDQ OTC, Dipo Odeyemi has said.

Odeyemi, while fielding questions from Journalists on the performance of the company since it commenced operations, explained that if over N2 trillion amount of deals can be concluded on the platform in one month and six weeks, the target would be achieved and even surpassed.

“Our foreign portfolio are interested in fixed income treasury bills and bonds. If in one month and a week, thereabout, we’ve done up to N2tn (worth of deals), then I’m looking at not less than N10tn to be conservative by the end of the year – from when we inaugurated the e-bond. It can be more, but just to be conservative – N10tn.”

Odeyemi also said, FMDQ, which was inaugurated in November 2013 to develop and empower the financial markets, while operating an OTC platform, has also inau-

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viding visibility of similar securities markets across different regions.

“It is a stable system with very good trading tools that make dealing on it effective.

He explained that the e-bond platform allowed for the trading of bonds and treasury bills because it is integrated, adding that FMDQ was also working to introduce other money market products on the platform.

“Today we accommodate all Tbills and FGN bonds. We are working with Bloomberg to see how we can accommodate state government bonds and

all other non-FGN bonds,” he said.

He expressed the firms commitment towards ensuring that the country’s OTC become a world class market within five years, adding that 24 banks and discount houses currently trade on the e-bond, while two dealing members were finalizing their paperwork with Bloomberg.

The Market and Business Development Officer, FMDQ OTC, Jumoke Olaniyan, explained that since its inauguration the company had implemented several initiatives to make the market

more transparent and efficient.

She said the initial focus had been on fixed income securities, but the plan is to eventual shift focus to developing the FX market and reviving the commercial paper market.

“FMDQ is taking up a market that already existed; there is a lot to be done. And so we staggered how all our initiatives will go into the market.

“The idea was that before we introduce new products, we must at least fix what already existed to a minimum standard. And that is why we started with fixed income securi-

ties; bonds and treasury bills.

They are products that impact on the everyday person immediately.”

She said now that the fixed income market was basically fixed, focus was shifting to other aspects of the financial market, adding that with the emergence of FMDQ, the OTC market was bound to attract more investors to the country and boost liquidity in the market.

She listed initiatives of FMDQ to include the inauguration of the daily quotation list in November 2013, the FGN Bond Index and the e-bond in 2014.

CBN, NIBSS’ pilot run on BVN begins May in Lagos

By Nelson Chijioke HE Central Bank of Nigeria T (CBN) and Nigeria InterBank Settlement System (NIBSS) may have perfected plans to begin the pilot project of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) in May. The initiative, which has been scripted to tow the mode of the pilot run of cashless policy, would begin in Lagos, with no fewer than 1000 of the 1401 branch network of the nation’s deposit money banks.

Already, the scheme, before now, known as biometric data capturing by banks, had commenced since March 31, at the respective banks’ head offices.

Corroborating the development, the Acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Isaac Okoroafor, said BVN project, through the biometric capturing, was anchored on the need to reduce to barest minimum,

The initiative, which has been scripted to tow the mode of the pilot run of cash-less policy, would begin in Lagos, with no fewer than 1000 of the 1401 branch network of the nation’s deposit money banks.

Already, the scheme, before now, known as biometric data capturing by banks, had commenced since March 31, at the respective banks’ head offices. incidences of fraud, identity theft, enhance credit risk management and financial inclusion.

According to him, individual banks will have a database of its customers, shared across its branch network, while NIBSS will host the industry-wide database, and made up of all the nation’s lenders.

This would mean that new account openings from all the banks would be cleared first from NIBSS database, as a foil to identity theft, fraud and multiple identities.

Okoroafor explained that the process would be foolproof to plausible degree, adding

that besides the facial capturing, the 10-finger prints captured would be hallmark the exercise, since no two biometrics are the same.

The CBN spokesman said that transactions on accounts not registered would trigger alerts and banks, which are involved would be treated as aiding fraudulent activities in the banking system.

According to him, in the long run, biometric system will replace various identification mode used in the banking industry, eliciting fresh data collection at various banks on the opening of new accounts.

He said that the option of running a pilot scheme was favored because it will reveal the likely challenges, while solutions are preferred before nationwide rollout.

But the BVN Project Manager, NIBSS, Oluseyi Adenmosun, said the cooperation of all stakeholdersfrom banks to customers, would be needed to achieve the desired goals.

According to him, there was need to protect legitimate businesses and mitigate frauds to sustain confidence in the industry.

Adenmosun pointed out that the project does not conflict with the NUBAN scheme (the new account number initiative undertaken recently), as both serve different purposes.

He also said that it does not conflict with the national identity project, adding that already, the National Identity Management Company have worked out a model of mutual cooperation for the BVN scheme.

According to him, the focus of the BVN project at the moment is on the banking industry, noting that credit buses system, among others, would be incorporated later.

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Monday, April 28, 2014 23

24 Monday, April 28, 2014

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EQUITY MARKET SUMMARY

MARKET REPORT AS AT 11=04=2014

PRIMERA AFRICA www.primera-africa.com

Monday, April 28, 2014 | 25

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MARKET INDICATORS

MARKET REPORT AS AT 11=04=2014

PRIMERA AFRICA

26

Monday, April 28, 2014

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MARKET INTELLIGENCE

‘The Missing Middle’: Providing Innovative Solutions to Financing SMEs in Nigeria

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INSIDE TAX

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FINANCIALGUARDIAN

UBA restructures under growth plan NITED Bank for Africa U (UBA) Plc has announced key appointments to drive its quest for industry leadership by 2015,under its ‘project alpha’ plans.

The bank’s three-year road map of key transformation initiatives was designed to reinforce the group’s strategic positioning and leverage its huge Africa presence to fully exploit the burgeoning opportunities in Africa ’s economic renaissance.

Consequently, the group has announced the splitting of its operations into two broad divisions-UBA Africa and UBA Nigeria.

The UBA Africa Division will be made up of the 18 African country subsidiaries of the UBA Group outside Nigeria and will have a Chief Executive Officer, supported by two deputies, along the bank’s two core product lines-wholesale banking (comprising corporate bank-

ing, institutional banking and public sector); and retail banking (comprising personal banking and SME banking).

Kennedy Uzoka, Deputy Managing Director, has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer, UBA Africa, while Emeke Iweriebor, an Executive Director, has been appointed UBA Africa Deputy CEO, Retail Bank; and Oliver Alawuba is now UBA Africa Deputy CEO, Wholesale Bank.

According to the Group Managing Director, Phillips Oduoza, “the newly created UBA Africa Division will grow and deepen the bank’s presence in member countries, optimise the synergies within the network, deepen service delivery excellence, and promote cultural integration and a high level of motivation in UBA staff in the different countries to foster one UBA family”.

Also, the new UBA Nigeria Division of the group, which will be managed by Apollos Ikpobe, Deputy Managing

Director, Domestic Bank, will consolidate all of UBA’s Nigerian businesses into a single division and will comprise all the regional banks in Nigeria, corporate bank, energy bank, and UBA Pensions.

The Nigeria division will intensify the bank’s focus on the Nigerian market, with the aim of expanding its market share, while deepening UBA’s wallet share of existing businesses.

Also in the announcement, Ms. Obi Ibekwe, formerly Executive Director, Human Resources and Customer

Service is now the Executive Director, Resources, overseeing Human Resources, Customer Service, Corporate Services and Procurement.

“These changes will have a strategic impact on our business as we take critical steps to fast track our Project Alpha initiatives and transformation process. Stakeholders will no doubt see significant results from the organisational and human capital repositioning we are making to enhance value creation in the group’s operations” Oduoza said.

Firm deploys new payment solutions From Abosede Musari, Abuja N line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) policy on cash-less economy, a mobile company, Teasy Mobile Money said it has deployed the first commercial Non Field C o m m u n i c a t i o n (NFC)/Contactless payment solution in Nigeria.

Announcing the achievement, Chief Executive Officer of the company, Musa Ali Baba, said recently that not only will retail payments be

I

easier and faster, it will also guarantee satisfaction.

“We are very excited with the market opportunity that this solution will bring us, we believe that retail payments will seriously drive up the volume of transactions as well as grow customer confidence in the mobile payments space” Ali Baba said Assuring on the easy usage of the solutions, Baba said “We want to make smaller payments quick, convenient, and contactless. The company saw the gap and the need to enable wallet payments at existing POS terminals”.

Chief Technical Officer, Stanley Vandu said that the organization has always been at the forefront of providing innovative solutions to drive the adoption of mobile payments as well as financial inclusion. “ He added that the solution was provided by VeriFone Mobile Money, which includes the UNI-verse wallet enablement solution integrating the mobile wallet, banking and telecommunications provider networks with the point of sale. Teasy has also deployed VeriFone NFC POS Terminals as well as mPOS terminals sup-

porting NFC running on the Android operating system.

He added that customers are provided with NFC stickers, which are linked to their mobile wallet, thus allowing tap to pay transactions to be carried at the POS and mPOS. “The choice of the Biometric/NFC technology was in line with industry standard as well as global best practices. Contactless payments have seen a steady rise in countries that have deployed such.

In addition, our platform supports a whole range of services, which would allow Teasy to provide a whole bouquet of financial services ranging from m-commerce, cinema to bus ticketing solutions. This is in addition to the already existing banks account transfers, airtime top-up, and bill payments”.

“The speed and ease with which these transactions are completed makes for a wonderful customer experience.

The solution also allows the use of biometric data for secure user identification and authentication aligning with recent CBN policies around KYC and financial inclusion”, he explained.

Access Bank bags CSR award OLLOWING its compliance FCorporate with key tenets of Social Responsibility, Access Bank has been adjudged the best Nigerian company in Corporate Citizenship at the first competitive index on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Nigeri.

The award was conferred on the bank by CSR-in-Action, a registered social enterprise devoted to the advancement of social ethics, social responsibility and corporate governance in Nigeria.

According to the social enterprise, firms were assessed under the Corporate Citizenship Index, that featured 117 private sector companies, using six ranking pillars: Human Right, AntiCorruption, Community Investment, Economic, Labour and Reporting, which reflect how companies are functioning in these areas of development.

The firm explained that on a scale of 100 per cent, Access Bank scored 83.3 per cent on Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) focus areas to emerge as the best Nigerian

organisation in Corporate Citizenship, outperforming Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), Exxon Mobil, GTBank and Procter and Gamble in the top 5 category.

For CSR-in-Action, “it is no surprise that Access Bank scored the highest in targeted community investment, especially on MDG focus areas with a score of 83.3 per cent”, the enterprise noted.

Speaking on the bank’s performance, its Group Managing Director, Herbert Wigwe, said: “At Access Bank, we have set for ourselves the ambitious target of becoming the world’s most respected African Bank. That means making sure that sustainability is part of everything we do; that it is in our very DNA. “I am honoured that we have been named best organisation in Nigeria for corporate citizenship and want to thank everyone at Access Bank who has helped us to get this far. This ranking will spur us on to work even harder to lead the efforts aimed at building strong and sustainable institutions across Africa. ”

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FINANCIALGUARDIAN

Osun approves N1b for pension arrears SUN State government has O approved the release of N1 billion by the state’s treasury for the settlement of pension arrears of retirees that were forced to retire by the last administration.

According to the state government, the disbursed amount is an addition to the payment made on the 142 per cent pension arrears.

In a statement made available to The Guardian by the state’s Commissioner of Finance, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro that state government explained that the challenges commenced with the huge 142 pension pension arrears, the current administration inherited from the last administration in 2010.

“At the inception of the current administration, the state’s

liability on the 142 per cent pension arrears was about N4billion. In demonstration of the magnanimity of the present government, up to N1.2billion of the inherited liability hitherto unattended to by the previous administrations was paid.

“The impact of the mass retirement of the state’s employees in late 2012, given their unwillingness to join the contributory pension scheme in the state also contributed in no small measure to the current challenges and the origin of 2011/2012 Retiree forum. Aside from the fact that the previous administration that approved the forceful retirement of the group of the referenced retirees did not consider the cashflow implication when

granting the approval of the forceful exit, the administrative bottlenecks in processing retirees’ entitlements contributed to the problem.

“The last administration failed to automate the manual pro-

cessing of retirees’ benefits to take care of the surge in their number, thereby leading to delay of processing the Authority to collect (ATC) papers of the retired personnels. This consequently led to

the situation whereby some people who retired since December 2012 were unable to submit their Authority to collect until later month such as November 2013”, Bolorunduro explained.

Bolorunduro stated that the impact of the aforementioned 2011/2012 retirement was an unprecedented surge in the state’s salary and pension obligations from N250million in November 2011 to N600million monthly presently.

Resort and Loans partners developers on mortgage financing O strengthen its market T position and address concerns relating to affordable housing in the country, Resort Savings and Loans Plc has concluded plans to partner estate developers to such end.

According to the firm, efforts are underway to either finance projects by developers or provide mortgage facili-

ties to the off-takers at affordable interest rates.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Abimbola Olayinka, in a statement, confirmed that the bank has been able to bridge the gap a little in the housing deficit nationwide by creating over 4,000 housing units in recent times and it has plans to improve on the target.

He said: “In the first half of 2014, the bank is to make available over 2,753 housing units in the Lagos and Ogun States axis through mortgage, these include the current development of the Resort Estate Ofada, with over 400 housing units, tastefully finished 2 and 3 bedroom terrace bungalows, which Nigerians will be able to access at affordable

prices. The Resort Pearl Garden Sangotedo is also not left out, which will have at least 80 housing units”.

Olayinka stated further that in the bank’s bid to strengthen its position in the housing sector, the bank is partnering with a lot of developers in either financing their projects or providing mortgage facilities to the off-takers at afford-

30 Monday, April 28, 2014

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Redworth Estate adds glamour to Lekki’s residential landscape

RICS seeks arbitration in sector’s dispute resolution

Govt lauds GEF’s $4.43b donor funding, unfolds new proposals

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MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2014

Nigeria strengthens partnerships for new Africa urban agenda Urban Development

By Chinedum Uwaegbulam

The Federal Government is backing the process to translate the growth of African cities into engines of economic and social transformation, and to establish strong institution frameworks as well as responsive legislation that go beyond policies RESH building blocks were FMedellin, again laid recently in Colombia, unto the

Joan Clos, UNHabitat Chief

Akon Eyakenyi, Minister, FMLHUD

continent’s urban development sector, when Nigeria, and key officials of United Nations Human Settlement (UNHabitat) held a side event to build political support and commitment to an African Urban Agenda by state and nonstate actors.

The programme, promoted by the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development had the theme: Strengthening Partnerships for a New Africa Urban Agenda and was aimed to assess progress made in the implementation of the habitat agenda and consider priority areas for action.

Africa’s urban characteristics present significant opportunities for sustainable transition pathways, including the demographic dividend potential, given that by 2040, Africa’s youth was likely to constitute the largest labour force in the world, and this could either be

the cornerstone for development or a major socio political risk. By 2020, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Africa countries is projected to almost double from 2008 real GDP value to $1.6 trillion.

Speaking at the event, Nigerian High Commissioner to Kenya and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UNHabitat, Ambassador Akin Oyateru declared that previous attempts at managing urbanization in Africa were largely uncoordinated. He added that urbanization leads to slums and degenerated conditions as well as lack of o p p o r t u n i t i e s .

He disclosed that the Federal Government plans to ensure all tiers of government imbibe the new urban agenda through the National Housing Council, adding that a

National Habitat Committee has also been set up to provide input and support to the national preparatory process of the Third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III).

The UNHabitat Coordinator, Partners and Interagency Coordination, Mrs. Mariam Yunusa noted that Africa is the least urbanized region of the world, but its rate of urbanization is the fastest. However, the phenomenon of urbanization is neither given priority by national governments nor fully grasped by the population at large. Although cities and urban areas contribute over 50 per cent of the GDP, urbanization is not addressed in national development plans of most countries.

She explained that “it is essential for adequate plans, policies and partnerships to be

Yunusa

established if Africa is to produce new ‘Cities for Life’ – cities that are equitable, socially inclusive and which provide comprehensive safeguards for all.”

Yunusa highlighted AMCHUD intervention, especially the new pact on urbanization, which goal is to mobilize, sensitize and strengthen the non state actors to partner with sub-Saharan governments in articulating Africa’s priorities for the next 20 years.

It will strengthen partnerships between state and nonstate actors in the pursuit of a new urban agenda for Africa.

According to her, the African Urban Agenda seeks to empower habitat agenda

partners with understanding and knowledge of the urban imperative at all levels, define priorities on urbanization for the African countries as a contribution to milestones of the UN system-wide consultations, and facilitate the dialogue and exchange among African States themselves on issues relating to sustainable urbanization.

She disclosed that Nigeria donated about $3million to strengthen partnership within the framework, especially to enable some countries engage in national preparatory processes. The project, which extends from last year will end in 2016 and cover 47 subSaharan countries.

FHA, developer begin N6.5b estate in Bayelsa Housing

By Tunde Alao FFORTS to increase housing E stock in the country received a boost last week, as private developer, Messrs Fransbros Nigeria Limited embarked on the construction of a N6.5billion housing estate in Bayelsa State.

The project, located near Bayelsa Palm Estate, KpansiaEpie in Yenagoa Local government area (LGA), is in conjunction with the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), and comprises of 229 housing units. The estate will be equipped with the necessary infrastructure.

Speaking on the project last week, Fransbros’ Project Director, Mr. Emmanuel Ovome, said that the project, which is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP)

After the initial hiccups, construction work has been flagged-off on the estate, which is being promoted as part of a new policy by FHA to improve housing delivery across the nation through private sector partnership initiative, put together to by the federal government to reduce housing deficit in Nigeria is already receiving favourable responses from the prospective owners within and outside the state.

According to Ovome, the project, in order to ensure quick delivery, has been divided into two phases, saying that under the first phase, 114 housing units would be built.

The entire project, he explained, comprised of different house types. These included a fully detached four-bedroom duplexes, semidetached terrace three-bed-

room duplexes and blocks of two-bedroom flats consisting of six units per block of flats.

“The commencement of work on the estate that started earlier in April 2014, marked the beginning of the realization of a new policy by FHA in 2011 to improve housing delivery to Nigerians across the nation through private sector partnership.

“Although, Fransbros got its contract in 2011, it was only on March 18, 2013, that the firm got authority to mobilise to site and commence land-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

The newly refurbished NIS building, Lagos.

M.I.Okoro draws curtains on N250m surveyors’ complex Projects AGOS-based multi- purLvaluation pose estate agency and practice, Messrs M.I.O. Okoro Associates has completed renovation work on the N2.5 billion ‘NIS Building’ in the professional centre area in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen will for-

mally commission the building owned by the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) tomorrow, located on Engineering Close. The President of the institution, Bode Adeaga and council members will play host to the ceremony that will attract dignitaries from all works of life. The company won the bidding process three years ago but

could not commence renovation due to some administrative and logistics cons t r a i n t s .

Under the agreement between NIS Board of Trustees and Principal Partner of the firm, Dr. Meckson Okoro, the company was appointed to renovate, lease and manage the “ Surveyors Building “ for a

CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

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32 Monday, April 28, 2014

PROPERTY GUIDE

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

RICS seeks arbitration in sector’s dispute resolution With the increasing challenges that revolve around projects’ implementation coupled with the lapses within the nation’s legal system, professional surveyors are beginning to consider arbitration in dispute resolution within the construction industry.

Professional Practice GROUP of surveyors have A advocated for the adoption of arbitration as a means of dispute resolution, saying it is preferred to normal court system.

They spoke last week at the Continuous Professional Development (CPD)/ Business Luncheon organised by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) (Nigeria Group), during which members examined, “General Overview Of The Law, Practice, and Procedure of Arbitration In Nigeria”. The lead discussant was Mr. Olatunde Busari, a legal practitioner. They agreed that arbitration is a better and quick way to reduce manhour loss, which often hampers the construction industry, Alternative dispute resolution was said to be a private law system available only to those who agree to use it instead of litigation. Parties to an agreement may further agree that, any dispute arising there from shall be settled through arbitration by one or more arbitrators.

Chairman, RICS, Nigeria Group, Mr. Barin Epega, while welcoming participants, said

the CPD lecture was a lifelong learning to help members achieve the highest ethical standards and also provides a platform for the group to lend a voice to issues of national importance as it affects the built environment and the national economy.

Epega in his speech said the topic of discussion was very apt and timely in view of the current upsurge and global acceptance of alternative dispute resolution mechanism as against court litigation in dispute resolution where justice is always delayed and in most cases denied.

According to him, alternative dispute resolution has been in existence for 30 years and widely accepted worldwide as it refers to a range of techniques for resolving disputes without seeking redress from the court.

He added that it could help avoid lengthy and expensive litigation, “It is flexible and cost effective and can bring a speedy conclusion to a problem involving landlord and tenant matters, construction issues, dilapidation, neighborhood and services charge matters. He therefore urged members to embrace the idea of alternative dispute resolution option.

The immediate past chairman,Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) (Nigeria Group), Mr. Austin Onaro (left), chartered arbitrator and guest speaker, Mr. Olatunde Busari, and Chairman, Mr. Barin Epega during the Continuous Professional Development (CPD)/ Business Luncheon organised by the group in Lagos, last week Guest speaker, Mr. Olatunde Busari, a chartered arbitrator, while speaking to The Guardian said, generally, arbitration is private way of resolving your dispute, adding that, disputes often come up in construction jobs, and it is much more better you seek resolution through arbitration and not litigation because of its complexities.

He said with arbitration, dispute arising while construction is on, could easily be resolved, without necessarily creating any bad blood

between the claimants and the respondents.

Encouraging more construction professionals to join chartered arbitrators, Busari said in Europe and East Africa, a greater of number of arbitrators are members of the construction industry, saying that should be the trend in Nigeria too.

Busari, a legal practitioner, who spiced his presentation with practical illustrations, noted that as it is now in Nigeria, arbitration is lawyers’ congregation, which he said

should not be so, calling on professionals within the construction industry to develop interest in becoming arbitrators.

In his comparison between arbitration and litigation, Busari said arbitral procedure is flexible, where there is party autonomy whereas the court procedure is in accordance with the rules of court. He added that dates and time for arbitral hearing are flexible and determined by the parties and arbitrator for their convenience whereas, these

are decided subject to the convenience of the in litigation among others.

Also speaking at the event, immediate past president Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Mr. Alufohai Agele, said alternative dispute resolution mechanism was desirable because of its numerous advantages such as cost effectiveness, time management, flexibility, privacy, more so that construction is a very special field, which also needs special people to mediate in case of dispute.

Monday, April 28, 2014 33

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PROPERTY GUIDE

PRIME ESTATES

Redworth Estate adds glamour to Lekki’s residential landscape Housing

By Emmanuel Badejo PRESTIGIOUS residential A development has registered its presence within the sprawling Lagos- Epe corriodor in Eti-Osa Local Government Lagos State.

Redworth Terraces, development of Stable Shelters Development Company Limited, is an upscale residential apartment was designed to provide new 21 high quality homes in a luxurious gated estate, precisely located within fast-developing IkateElegushi community along the Lekki corridor.

Set in a serene Cul-de-sac just off Kunsela road, Redworth terraces would be delivered with expansive parking spaces, landscaped front and turfed rear gardens. The styling is an attractive blend of the traditional and the modern, with high windows and recessed patches, combined with extensive glazing and high quality, sustainable finishing.

Messrs. Rogba Orimalade & Co and Omo Egbedi and Company are marketing agents of the new residential project, which as at two weeks ago, had just about six more units on offer.

According to Mr. Olurogba Orimalade, Redworth Terraces, is a development located within a fantastic

Illustration of the proposed Redworth Terraces in Lekki, Lagos community spirit, and a burgeoning choice of modern infrastructure and amenities, making it investors’ delight.

He said the developers are known in the real estate market for their trademark finishing and quality delivery, and therefore assuring prospec-

tive buyers that the Redworth Terraces is indeed value for money.

Orimalade illustrated the fact that due to the close proximity of the development to Victoria Island and the integrity of the promoters of the project, the Redworth Terraces is

definitely a choice home for wise investors.

“The astonishing fact is that this project is still in the preliminary stage of development as only six of the 21 terrace units are currently available for purchase, lending credence to the fact that the

Redworth Terraces is an investor’s delight.”

Commenting on the development, Mr. Omo Egbedi, who is among the sole marketing agents emphasized on the mode of payment, which he said would be structured within the duration of the

development, which is expected to be 12 months.

He added that from all accounts, the development would be a game changer in the area of providing high quality homes to the highly discerning populace in the Lekki axis.

34 Monday, April 28, 2014

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35

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

PROPERTY GUIDE

UNHABITAT, IESCO launch $2m youth empowerment, ecological project Urban Development

By Chinedum Uwaegbulam COMPREHENSIVE new iniA tiative for addressing urban issues such as urban poverty, youth unemployment and ecological disasters in China and Africa caused by climate change and poorly planned urban settlements was recently unveiled at the Seventh Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF7).

The Urban Youth Empowerment and Ecological Safety Programme is a three year project jointly implemented by the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) and International Ecological Safety Collaborative Organization (IESCO), mooted in 2013 with a $2 million funding from by IESCO to tackle unemployment, poverty and ecological safety through the development of models and policies that will lead to the meaningful engagement of young people in the development of cities.

IESCO aims to tackle climate change, handle ecological crisis, achieve urban disaster reduction and ecological restoration and gradually achieve the sustainable development of economy, society, and ecology through cooperation with political parties, parliaments (congresses), governments, scientific research institutions as well as national think tanks around the world.

Essentially, a nine-member project steering committee will oversee the project’s implementation. The project is envisioned to improve youth livelihoods and access

Developer flags off estate in Bayelsa CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 clearing, noting that this informed the seeming delay of commencement of work”, said Ovome, who assured that once site clearing is completed, sub-contractors would be shortlisted and those successful would be mobilised to commence work.

He also hinted that the firm entered into an agreement with a local development partner, Messrs E&F Partnership Nigeria Limited, as well as local and foreign financiers to ensure the success of the project, promising the firm would deliver according to the terms of the contract.

“We have already moved to site and commenced siteclearing and land preparation work. The development of 229 housing units will meet required standards and with our agreement with E & F Partnership and Simta Nigeria Limited, we are sure to deliver on our promise of giving Nigerians houses that will suite their needs,” he said.

The development was as a result of the policy put in place by the Federal Housing Authority, when the PPP policy begun in 2011. “To date, a total of number of 27 contractors, including Fransbros Nigeria Limited, were given jobs by the FHA to deliver houses across the nation”, he

The project is envisioned to improve youth livelihoods and access to economic opportunities including access to green jobs through research training, mentorship and entrepreneurship development in Nigeria, Cambodia, China, Tanzania and Thailand. to economic opportunities including access to green jobs through research training, mentorship and entrepreneurship development in Nigeria, Cambodia, China, Tanzania and Thailand.

Representative of the UNHABITAT at the launch and Chairman of the Project Steering Committee, Prof.

Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka explained that under the project, youth centres based on the UNHABITAT one-stop centre model will provide skills training and resources to young men and women in tar-

geted countries.

It would also support other youth activities: publication of the State of the Urban Youth Reports and magazines to deepen the understanding of urban dynamics of equity, prosperity and poverty affecting the lives of youth; an Innovation Awards programme; and an Urban Ecological Safety Index incorporating information on construction, city location, management, planning and positioning.

Oyelaran-Oyeyinka said: “These activities aim to pro-

mote youth innovation and participation, and to highlight best practices in ecological and urban safety and entrepreneurship.” He added, “through this partnership, we will work with all countries to strengthen youth capacities to create green jobs, mitigate urban disasters and contribute to the post-2015 agenda and Habitat III processes.”

He further disclosed that a mobile application -UE, positioned as a platform for communication, releasing and interaction for the youth empowerment programme

and IESCO’s long standing development has been introduced.

“We are concerned about the great and complex changes the world is experiencing. The population of people under 25 has been increasing and statistically reached three billion.

Unfortunately, instead of getting adequate opportunities for education and employment, they are deeply affected by the impacts of climate change and urban congestion. During the economy crisis, youths suffer particularly in the labour market, according to IESCO Director- General, Dr. Jiang Mingjun.

He said: “We noticed the safety of ecological safety, meaning “the safety of living”. In recent years, frequent natural and ecological disasters not

only affected the patterns of mankind’s survival, but also bred poverty, and national and regional conflicts.

Therefore, diminishing the risks of climate change and disasters, protecting natural resources and ecological safety and promoting youth employment through facilitating education have become the shared responsibilities of all countries.”

He pledged to continually cooperate with countries and international organizations all over the world to set ecological skills training and youth employment training as top priority, “let young people become the dominant force of sustainable development and make contributions to achieve the post-2015 sustainable development goals.”

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PROJECTS

PROPERTY GUIDE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 period of five years with the option of further renewal.

The Guardian gathered the

Surveyors end N250m NIS building renovation contract managerial aspect of the property would start on the completion of the refur-

bishment contract.

The seven-storey building was initially developed and managed

by Messrs HFP Engineering Nigeria Limited for 20 years to recoup their investment spent in the construction.

On the expiration of the

lease agreement, some years ago, the institution managed the property, and there was need to overhaul the building, hence a professional company was sought to turn around the building for the well being of members of the institutions.

Chief Okoro told The Guardian last week that the renovation work has been completed and fixing of lifts in the complex will commence in a few weeks time.

He lauded the current NIS administration led by Adeaga for his intervention and being able to mop up funds from members through levies and contributions to complement the financial support from Enterprise Bank.

The entire renovation is estimate to cost about N250 million with a provision for four brand new lifts while rents in the building has been fixed at between N30, 000 to N50, 000 per square meter.

Okoro said the complex is ready for prospective tenants. “We have ordered and paid for four lifts that will serve the entire building.

We have also made provision for two generators, about 500 KVA.” He recalled, “ when we won the contract, we started clearing the site and started work on the first and second floors. After further consultation with the board and the NEC, we started full-scale

renovation on the entire building. We have ensured good workmanship and enduring legacy for the surveyors.

“It was a completely run down building, due largely on vandalisation of the property. At a point, we could not continue because things have changed on the site from the bills of quantities submitted initially. The bills of quantities doubled.

We have to hire another quantity surveyor and embarked on the contract through direct labour to achieve the result you’re seeing today.

“By the time, the last occupant left, no body was in charge of the building, and every single thing was stolen. We removed all the external tiles and replaced them. Likewise, all the fittings, including electrical and plumbing works inside was removed and changed.

We reactivated the water system and installed a treatment plant. I’m happy we have changed landscape, and aesthetically; it is an elegant structure and a sight to behold.”

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BRIEFLY

PROPERTY GUIDE

Lagos issues 3, 510 Governor’s Consent, renovates court buildings Housing

By Tunde Alao AGOS authorities have L3,510announced the issuance of Governor’s Consent and began to breathe new life into

Magistrate and High Court buildings across the state as part of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s commitment to improve and decentralize justice administration system.

The Ministry of Justice is embarking upon the new project, targeted at bringing

standard courtrooms to all areas of the State. About 11 of such projects are under reconstruction. For instance, the Ikeja Magistrate court is 85 per cent completed while the Magistrate Court in Badagry has achieved 80 per cent completion.

Similarly, Magistrate Court, Epe, 85 per cent completed.

Construction of Magistrate Court, Ogba, and 50 per cent completed. Magistrate Court, Ajegunle, 38 per cent completed. Magistrate Court, Igando, 22 per cent completion stage, but to be terminated and re-

Subscribers in N1.5b Eden Park get plot allocations Projects

By Emmanuel Badejo OPE of homeownership H has further increased as a developer, Le’Venue Group, has concluded allocation to numerous subscribers to its residential estate, christened as Eden Park Estate, located within the sprawling Magboro town, behind Punch Newspaper, along LagosIbadan Expressway, Mowe of Ogun State.

The first phase of the N1.5b project has a total of 297 plots, which has been classified into blocks A,B,C and D, while E,F,G,H are currently being earmarked for immediate allocation.

Eden Park, though a site and service scheme, is designed to have a one-floor buildings either bungalow or semidetached duplex or one level terrace, coming with recreational centre, shopping malls, schools and other ancillary facilities.

To encourage greater participation in the phase 2 of the scheme, the developer, Lagosbased firm, is already talking with the Federal Mortgage Bank (FMB) in order to deliver a social housing that would be affordable to the generality of the masses.

The total land size of Eden Park is about 90 acres of land, sited around lot of developments within the choice location like Wisdom Estate, Computer Village, MTN

FIABCI president visits Nigeria HE president of the T International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI), Mr. Flavio Gonzaga Nunes has started a working visit to Nigeria.

The visit, which will be the second by Nunes, a Brazillian to Nigeria, “is to let the world President have a feel of the uncelebrated goodness of Nigeria as well as her investment potentials, especially in the real estate sector.”

During his first visit last year, he was conducted round the Eko Atlantic City project which he adjudged as one of the best reclamation projects he had seen n the world especially because of the size of the project. He also visited the Lekki EPZ and many others.

He will equally visit many interesting projects during this and also pay a courtesy call on the executive governor of Lagos state, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, like he did to the Oba of Lagos last year.

As part of the activities of the visit, a seminar will take place tomorrow at the Golden Gate Restaurant, Kingsway Road, Ikoyi, Lagos on the “Challenges of Planning Approval and its Effects on Housing Developments in Nigeria”.

Cooperative among others.

Apart from the proposed recreational park within the estate, at least, 5 percent of the entire landmass would be devoted to greenery area, and would be takers have varied terms of payment, which include six, 12 and 18 months payment plan.

Speaking with The Guardian on the estate, Group

Managing Director of the developing firm, Mr. Jemine Adollo, said his company, which also does designs and development, facility management, sales and letting, decided to take on the Eden Park Estate to reduce the nation’s housing deficit in a pleasant and delightful environment.

“We got into Eden Park, and as the name connotes, Eden in

the Bible is a place of delight and we believe and share the view that it is better you live in a pleasant and delightful environment as well as bring your children up within such serene vicinity. This is our flagship project and hoping that before the end of this year, phase 1 should have been totally sold out so that the phase 2 can begin.”

awarded.

Others are administration block, Police Area Command, Idimu, 55 per cent completion stage; Construction of Administration block, Police Area Command, Elemoro, Ibeju-Lekki, 85 per cent.

Construction of administration block, Police Area Command, Ilashe – Ibeshe, 70 per cent. The Magistrate Court, Ikorodu has been completed and commissioned on last year.

Speaking on the projects at the 2014 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa last week, the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, said that the ministry is out to give the best as far as the administration of justice is concerned through

the provision of conducive environment in every court rooms across the state.

According to Ipaye, government place premium on developing the capacity of the state counsel. “It is our belief that continuous legal education is vital to enable our staff to continue to provide cuttingedge and quality legal advice and representation to the people and government of Lagos State, especially, where there is functional infrastructure He said between January 2013 and March 2014, a total of 3, 510 Governor’s Consent and 897 Certificate for Justice has been issued. “As of today, I am pleased to inform you that the office of Attorney General has no pending file in respect of C of O or Governor’s consent”, concluded the attorney general.

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PROPERTY GUIDE

THE ENVIRONMENT

The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam and some participants at the GEF National Steering Committee Meeting in Abuja organised by the Federal Ministry of Environment and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Nigeria Country Office, recently

Govt lauds GEF’s $4.43b donor funding, unfolds new proposals This record level of fresh funding for “GEF 6” is to support projects in more than 140 countries in the areas of climate change, deforestation, land degradation, extinction of species, toxic chemicals, waste and threats to oceans and fresh water resources by the Federal Ministry of

Conservation

By Chinedum Uwaegbulam IDING on the crest of a R steady growth in the profile of Global Environmental Facility (GEF) funded projects in the country, the Federal Government has applauded a fresh budget of $4.43 billion committed by 30 donor countries for the next four years at the concluded replenishment meeting in Geneva, recently.

The funding will support projects in more than 140 countries, including 54 in Africa to tackle a broad range of threats to the global environment, including climate change, deforestation, land degradation, extinction of species, toxic chemicals and waste, and threats to oceans and freshwater resources. The GEF is the main global mechanism to support developing countries to take action to fulfill their commitments under the world’s major multilateral environmental agreements.

The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam who spoke at the GEF National Steering Committee Meeting in Abuja organised

Environment and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Nigeria Country Office said: “This is commendable and a clear demonstration of the solid commitment of the global community to attain sustainable development and to create the future we all desire.”

Participants in the meeting comprised of representatives of government agencies such as National Orientation Agency, National Planning Commission, NGOs, GEF Project Managers, GEF implementing agencies (UNDP, UNIDO), academic institutions and media personnel.

The highlight of the meeting was the official launching of the Nigeria GEF website by the Minister.

She said that the government is committed to seeing that current environmental challenges in the nation receive top priority for action under the GEF-6 cycle.” Our participation in the GEF programmes is one of the major ways of ensuring that these environmental challenges, with global dimensions, are adequately addressed at the country level.”

The minister who acknowledged the contributions of implementing partners, espe-

‘Large funding gap for biodiversity remains’ ITH the recent global national biodiversity strate- to the global biodiversity W commitment to the gies and action plans and agenda risks compromising Global Environment Facility associated national targets.” the capacity of countries to (GEF), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has urged the donor countries to fulfill the target set at the Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 11) in Hyderabad, India, to double the international financial flows by 2015 relative to the 2006-2010 average.

The GEF is the main global mechanism to support developing countries’ to take action to fulfill their commitments under the world’s major multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), CBD. the including “This is a significant development. We welcome the efforts of the GEF Secretariat and the commitments of donor governments to replenish the GEF capital and thus allow the GEF to continue to serve as the financial mechanism of the CBD and other MEAs,” said Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, CBD Executive Secretary.

“This will ensure that the GEF maintains its support for developing countries and c o u n t r i e s with economies in transitions to support the implementation of their commitments under the CDB, in particular the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity for 2011-2020 and its 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and the updated

“However, this still serves as a reminder that donor countries failed to fulfill the target set at the Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 11) in Hyderabad, India, to double the international financial flows by 2015 relative to the 2006-2010 average,” underlined Dias. “This means that we have missed the opportunity to significantly increase the investment on biodiversity to increase the efforts for achieving the implementation of the Aichi Targets,” said Mr. Dias. “This limited effort of multilateral funding, which represents a 30per cent increase over the baseline of 2006-2010, puts undue pressure on bilateral funding, domestic funding and private funding to compensate for this shortcoming to meet the estimated funding gap if we hope to achieve the agreed Aichi Targets by 2020,” he said.

The conservation, restoration and sustainable use of biodiversity can provide solutions to a range of societal challenges. For example, protecting ecosystems and ensuring access to ecosystem services by poor and vulnerable groups are an essential part of poverty eradication.

Failing to pay due attention

eradicate poverty and to enhance human well-being, as well as their means to adapt to climate change, reduce their vulnerability to extreme natural disasters, to ensure food security, to ensure access to water and to promote access to health.

“Without adequate funding for the global biodiversity agenda the continual availability of biological resources and ecosystems services will be compromised and impact the capacity of the business sector to continue to operate and supply the market with products, services and employment,” said Mr. Dias.

“I encourage all countries to ramp up their contributions complementary to the GEF Trust Fund to ensure a better and more sustainable future for us all.”

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and entering into force in December 1993, the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty for the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of the components of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of the benefits derived from the use of genetic resources.

cially UNDP, stressed the need to strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems, which would go a long way in not only demonstrating

transparency and accountability but which would also enhance the visibility of all the good work being undertaken with GEF support.

UNDP Deputy Country Director for Programmes, Bernardo Cocco noted that over the last 20 years, GEF has enabled developing coun-

tries to invest more than US$11.5 billion on more than 3,000 innovative, people-centered projects that foster nationally owned sustainable development practices.

Cocco noted that one key aspect of GEF 6 is the emphasis on innovative and integrated solutions for the global environment. Among these is an innovative approach, known as Integrated Approaches Pilot aimed at addressing environmental challenges by focusing on some of the underlying drivers of environmental degradation through special focus on, for example, food security in Africa and sustainable city development.

He assured of UNDP’s unwavering commitment to the goals and ideals of GEF, which are clearly reflected not only in our corporate strategic plan but also firmly embedded within the core of our programmatic work under the 8th Country Programme as their contribution to strengthening resilience at federal, state and local levels.

Among others, the meeting created the platform for stakeholders to harmonize project proposals received for the GEF 6th Cycle and to discuss ways of attracting GEF funding to address environmental issues in Nigeria. The meeting also reviewed the different proposals received for submission in GEF 6 and identified the potential proposals that will be further developed for submission to the GEF. CONTINUED ON PAGE 49

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THE ENVIRONMENT

PROPERTY GUIDE

Lagos plans new road map for wastewater development

Celebrities in call to action for World Environment Day The Environment UPERMODEL Gisele SCheadle Bündchen, Actors Don and Ian Somerhalder

A water treatment plant in Lagos

ESIRING to achieve effecD tive and sustainable wastewater treatment capacity, the

To discourage people from continuing with unhealthy practices of disposing their wastewaters into the drains, government needs to build sufficient waste water treatment plants with the capacity to meet the water treatment needs of the State.

Lagos State Government mooted plans to embark on a 15-year roadmap development plan that boost wastewater management and sanitation activities in the metropolis.

The roadmap, when fully operational, would among other things, reduce the pervasive attitude of some Lagos residents, who have and still in the habit of improperly managing their wastewater.

Also, the roadmap would further sanitation throughout Lagos.

Governor Babatunde Fashola made the disclosure last week in Lagos while visiting various wastewater treatment plants.

He said that his government’s target towards achieving the required standard in wastewater management remains

irrevocable, deploring the pouring of wastewater into the drains.

According to him, the current practice whereby residents pour their waste water into drains from where the water finds ways into lagoons and other wetlands only helps to pollute the environment and underground water from which water are being extracted into boreholes.

At the on-going Odo Iyaalaro wastewater treatment plant in Ojota, he said the plant is part of the roadmap designed by his administration to safeguard the environment of the State.

“To discourage people from continuing with such practice, government needs to

Sanitation

By Tunde Alao

build sufficient waste water treatment plants with the capacity to meet the water treatment needs of the State.

“If we ask people not to dispose their waste water into the environment where they find their way into the Lagoons, then we must do something about it. So we are locating one of the huge waste water treatment plants here”, he said, adding that it was in the face of these realities that government designed a road map that will take 10 to 15 years to implement.

Recalling his earlier visit to Abesan Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Governor explained further government is also rehabilitating and reviving all the old

ones to get them back to optimum capacity.

He hinted that the plant in Alausa, is to serve the whole area, while the Odo Iyaalaro, which the described as a communal one is to serve Maryland, Anthony, Ikeja and environs. “Once it is piped here it is treated until the final products, which become environmentally friendly and safe.

They are discharged back either into the lagoon, while the solid parts are used for other activities”, he said.

Recently, there was a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the LSWRC, where discussion was centred on how to discharge wastewaters, prevent pollution from water sources, such as boreholes or from hawkers and tankers.

At the event, one of the discussant, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun, informed the gathering that contrary to the general perception, the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission was not solely to monitor and regulate Lagos Water Corporation alone, but

rather activities of all water providers, be it public or private.

Fagbohun, while responding to the question on when the inspection of water begins and stops, noted that the commission was charged to look into water that comes out of boreholes, from water corporation, water suppliers and so on.

“Essentially, three areas are our core interest, namely, to ensure effectiveness of service, to know how much is being paid to get water and to ensure quality of waters that have been given out, including proper coordination of all water providers in the state”.

According to him, individual boreholes need to be inspected to determine the quality of water coming out; the proximity between where the borehole is situated and the sewage; the concentration of boreholes in the neighbourhood to determine how close they are from house to house and the type of water coming out from them.

Experts urge increased funding for water resources, sanitation Water Resources

By Emmanuel Badejo FTER reviewing the current A trend within the sector, experts have expressed grave concern, calling for serious financial initiative that would aid provision, management and maintenance of water, its infrastructures and sanitation related issues in Lagos State.

At a High Level Media Roundtable on “Resources Mobilization for Improved Water Supply and Sanitation service delivery in Lagos State”, held last week in Lagos, leaning on several reports, experts gave overwhelming revelation of shortage of water resources in the state, though some state officials rose in defence of the state, notwithstanding.

The event was organised by a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Water

Over 10m-14m more Lagosians must have access to potable water supply if target of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) is to be achieved in the state by 2015, which is just in few months time and to achieve this funding to the sector must be reviewed upward and Sanitation Media Network with the support of Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council and WaterAid in West Africa The meeting, which brought together journalists reporting water supply and sanitation stories for print and electronic media houses, as well as online media in Nigeria, was organized to identify financial needs for accelerating and ensuring universal coverage of safe water supply and sanitation services to residents of Lagos state. It was also to determine how required financial resources could be mobilized from government agencies, private sector, donors, private sector,

and consumers to meet investment needs.

In his presentation, National Chair, WASH Media Network, Mr. Babatope Babalobi, said with the estimated population of Lagos at 21 million, the state needed about 1.6BLD potable water to meet her daily consumption of her residence, adding that only 7 million Lagosians out of the estimated population of between 17.5 million and 21.3 million currently have access to potable water supply.

He added that for the state to meet her Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015, over 10 to 14 million of her dwellers must have access to potable water supply and

warned that if something drastic was not done to address the situation, subSahara African countries would not meet the MDGs water target till 2046 and the sanitation target till 2076.

According to him, the demand projection implies significant capital requirements for infrastructure expansion, estimated to be in the range of US $1.5 – 2.0 billion, averaging around US$100 million per year over the next 25 years, saying these would be required in order to reach 80 percent coverage of its target in the state.

Babalobi, who submitted that the contribution of the state government to rural water supply and sanitation in the last six years was minimal, as only a donor agency contributed over 56 percent funds utilized on all activities related to rural water and sanitation, added that rural water supply and sanitation were

poorly funded.

Though he gave kudos to the state for creating the Wastewater management Office, however, said that the agencies were still in dire need of funds to meet the sanitation challenges of the mega city status of Lagos.

Chairman of the event, Prof.

Lekan Oyebande said in the area of innovative funding sources, cost recovery poses a great challenge, adding that Lagos has not done well in that regard, and urged for the launching of serious initiative towards ensuring that operation and maintenance cost was contributed in the mega urban region by water users.

According to him, “The high level of unaccounted for water should be seriously tackled. If such losses can be recovered, or reduced to an acceptable level, the savings will represent a significant source of innovative investment in the state.”

and footballer Yaya Touré – all UNEP Goodwill Ambassadors – have launched a challenge to see who can rally the most registered activities for World Environment Day 2014.

Their call to action, Message in the Bottle, asks individuals around the world to join one of the celebrities’ teams and make a difference by pledging to take action in support of World Environment Day. These pledges can be registered at wedchallenge.com.

The campaign features a variety of Public Service Announcements in seven languages which will run on CNN, large format billboards in Times Square in New York City and Piccadilly Circus in London, and on-line.

In a unique creative approach, viewers get to see Don Cheadle playing trumpet to prepare for his upcoming directorial debut and lead role as Miles Davis, Gisele practicing her beloved martial art, Kung Fu, and Yaya Touré getting mentally prepared for the run up to the World Cup. “These global celebrities are giving fans a unique glimpse into the private moments that make them who they are,” said Jeffrey Nachmanoff, director of the Public Service Announcements, screenwriter for the climate blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow and writer/director of Traitor and the CBS series Hostages.

“They are then interrupted in these moments by a message in the bottle which is an unexpected play on their roles and provides a twist that should get the viewer’s attention and encourage them to want to go to the site to get involved,” he added.

GEF support for developing countries hits $11.5 billion CONTINUED FROM PAGE 48 In the communiqué issued, participants observed that some State governments are yet to maximize the opportunities provided by GEF to access funds to address environmental issues in their states; some stakeholders in Nigeria especially Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs) lack the capacity to develop project proposal for the small grant projects, medium and full size projects.

They recommended that GEF Office should put in place programmes and activities to build the capacity of NGOs and other stakeholders to develop bankable proposals as well as project proposals should be developed to fall within the GEF priority areas and must be country driven.

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OIL&GAS WEEKLY

FINANCIALGUARDIAN

Remi Aiyela, Editor-in-Chief

editor@NOGintelligence.com www.NOGintelligence.com

UPSTREAM NEWS

Olorunsola Joins NDEP Board ORMER Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Osten Olorunsola has been Fappointed to the board of Niger Delta Exploration &

Production Plc (NDEP). Also appointed to the Board of the company is Ede Osayande, Former Managing Director of Cooperative Development Bank, Equitorial Trust Bank and Devcom Merchant Bank. NDEP said in a statement that their invitations to the join the Board have been approved by the Board Governance Committee and presented to the full Board at its last sitting.

Dr. Layi Fatona, Managing Director, NDEP Plc, said in the statement: “We are fortunate to have such distinguished new Board members joining us. With exposure to all aspects of the petroleum industry, and indepth financial expertise, the appointments of Mr Osayande and Mr Olorunsola will both complement and strengthen the existing Board of NDEP Plc.” Mr. Olorunsola graduated with an Honours degree in Geology from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria and is a skilled Petroleum Engineer. He commenced his career at Agip-ENI, where he trained and worked as a Reservoir & Petrophysical Engineer, later specialising as a Production Geologist. He then joined The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited as Production Geologist, and subsequently served in several positions, including Lead Geologist, Petroleum & Development Engineering Manager for SNEPCO, Business Interface Manager (BIM), before retiring as Vice President (Gas). Mr Olorunsola thereafter was appointed as Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), drawing from his experience as adviser to two Ministers of Petroleum Resources.

Olorunsola is currently Chairman and Chief Executive of both Capital One Energy Ltd and Energetikos Ltd. Mr. Olorunsola was unceremoniously removed as Director of DPR last year. Many believe his removal had much to do with the marginal fields licensing round that eventually kicked off under his successor, George Osahon. The process is now stalled, with application forms yet to be issued, following the announcement of the bid round late last year.

Mr. Osayande is a Capital Market Specialist with over 30 years of experience in Banking and Finance. In the course of his career, he has served in key areas of finance, including governance, financial analysis, risk management, banking operations and regulatory Compliance. He also served in the position of Bank at Accountant Chief and Treasurer PricewaterhouseCoopers Nigeria, earlier on in his career.

NDEP is the operator of the Ogbelle marginal field, located on OML 54, which it acquired through its wholly owned subsidiary, Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (NDPR). The field has 6 producing wells and recently reached 3,000 bpd production. A fully managed flow station has been installed, with a capacity of 10,000 bbls per day.

NDPR also has the right of first refusal for Omerelu oil and gas field in OML 53, also near Port Harcourt.

In 2012, NDPR together with other partners completed the acquisition of a 45% interest in OML 34 from the Shell/ Total and Agip joint venture as ND Western Limited. NDPR also has a 6 per cent interest in OPL 227, in partnership with Addax Petroleum OPL 227 Limited, Petroleum Prospects International Limited and Express Petroleum and Gas Company Limited.

Petrobras Yet to Conclude $5 Billion Nigerian Asset Divestment

YEAR after announcing its mammoth $5 billion Nigerian asset sell-off, state owned Brazilian oil A company, Petrobras is yet to find buyers for its Nigerian asset. Petrobras, formally known as Petroleo Brasileiro SA, hired Standard Chartered Bank to manage the deal that experts suggested could fetch up to $5 billion.

Asian oil majors were said to be watching the development with interest, while private equity funds were also said to be interested, banking sources said at the time.

The Petrobras sell-off revealed in March 2013 includes its 8 per cent stake in the Nigerian offshore Agbami deepwater field, which is operated by United States energy firm Chevron and its 20 per cent share of the offshore Akpo field.

The giant Agbami Field is one of the largest deepwater oil offshore discoveries in Nigeria with estimated reserves of 900 million barrels. Crude oil production began from the field in 2008 with a peak production of 250,000 barrels per day (bpd). The cornerstone of the development is one of the world’s largest floating

production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels. Key components of the FPSO were fabricated in Nigeria, setting a benchmark for using Nigerian goods, labour and services. Agbami represents not only a new source of energy supply, but also provides employment and economic opportunities for Nigeria.

Akpo, which began production in 2009 is located 200 kilometres offshore Nigeria in Oil Mining Lease (OML 130) in water depths ranging from 1,250 to 1,480 meters. Its proved and probable reserves are estimated at 620 million barrels of condensate and more than 28 billion cubic meters of gas. With its huge gas reserves, the field has been described as a gas field with oil. It produces to a 310-meter-long, 61-meter-wide and 31-meter-high FPSO weighing 100,000 metric tons and designed to process 185,000 barrels of condensate and 15 million cubic meters of gas a day and to store up to two million barrels of condensate.

Petrobras, which began operations in Nigeria in deep waters off the Niger Delta coast, is divesting the assets in a bid to concentrate on exploration and production closer to home. It is now trying to raise funds for the $237 billion that it is expected to spend on developing domestic oil and gas assets. The company’s cash flow has been hampered by the fact that it is subsidising local consumption of gasoline and diesel, which the Brazilian government is keeping artificially low through government subsidies.

Petrobras is expecting to help Brazil become self sufficient in oil and gas, as well as refined products. It hopes to double its current oil and gas production within a few years to about 5.2 million barrels of oil equivalent a day.

Following the divestment, it is reported that the company will focus on exploration off the coast of Brazil in the subsalt region. The deep sea region is thought to contain billions of barrels of crude oil.

Neither Standard Chartered nor Petrobras had ever revealed whether the assets would be sold piecemeal or in one lot. The preference with recent divestments has been to sell in one lot although the experience is that it is not always achievable. If Petrobras is insisting on selling in one lot then the steep price tag could be a major deterrent. Although in 2012 and 2013 international oil companies (IOCs) that have divested assets in Nigeria have reaped over the $7 billion from the sell-offs. The Petrobras deal will eclipse all the divestments if it goes through in one lot.

Forcados Oil Terminal Remains Closed

in association with

Ogidigben Gas City Project To Go Ahead OVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan has confirmed G that the $16 billion Gas City Project to be sited at Ogidigben in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State is to go ahead as planned.

Uduaghan made the revelation as he sought to put an end to rumours of the relocation of the project due to community conflicts. He said that President Goodluck Jonathan would attend to perform the ground-breaking ceremony very soon. Already, 60 per cent of the bush clearing for construction to begin is scheduled for completion in August, 2014.

The $16 billion project is a public private partnership between the Federal Government through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, working with private investors and the Delta State Government also being part of the project as the host state of the project. The gas city will initially host three major projects: a gas processing plant, a fertiliser plant and a petrochemical plant. There are other projects that will spring up thereafter. The gas processing plant will act as a feedstock to the petrochemical and the fertiliser plant. The Nigerian Ports Authority is also going to construct a deep sea port at the gas city.

According to Uduaghan, “The ground breaking will take place in the next few weeks. Mr. President will come here to do the groundbreaking ceremony. I know it is going to be very soon. They will soon give us a date. We are quite ready; you can see that the site

DOWNSTREAM NEWS

cations for the 2013/14 annual term contracts for the period starting 1st August 2013 to 31st July 2014. The financial requirements were very steep and were expected to take all but the most serious players out of the running. Applicants had to have not less than $500 million annual turnover and a net worth of not less than $100 million. Many indigenous companies were expected to fail to scale this hurdle. The deadline for applications was the 18th of June 2013. As the industry waited for the results, the highly critical Berne Declaration report was published and the results of the 2013/14 applications were never revealed.

The year 2012/13 was when indigenous companies began to feature prominently in the contract awards.

In spite of the $600 million annual turnover requirement for that year, Nigerian firms won almost half of the nearly $60 billion worth of oil contracts.

Nigeria normally allocates about 75% of its daily production for sale through term contracts that last for a year. About 580 million barrels of oil a day will be sold through these term contracts. International commentators are surprised that the practice of awarding to middlemen rather than direct to refineries continues to take place.

OPEC daily basket price stood at $105.20 a barrel Thursday, 24 April 2014 HE price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at T $105.20 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $104.99 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC basket price had been rising steadily, except for a few blips, since it plummeted to $101.57 on the 3rd of April. It peaked on the 16th of April at $106.06 before sliding down to $104.09 on the 23rd of April. It now seems on an upward trajectory once again.

NNPC Awards 2014/15 Term Contracts HE results of the long awaited annual term contracts by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have finally been revealed, after applications were advertised in 2013. The results, which take effect from June 2014 for a year, are quite startling and show that indigenous companies have been favoured over Swiss trading companies that traditionally got the lion’s share of the awards. Reuters has obtained a confidential document that reveals the details of those that have been awarded the longterm contracts worth approximately $40 billion at today’s oil prices. This move has been seen largely as confirmation of the government’s intent to drive local content participation in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. This comes as the Nigerian Content Development and Management Board (NCDMB) celebrates its fourth anniversary.

Details of the winners and losers are still emerging as the letters of award are circulated to the winners, but the initial indications are that indigenous companies that won the contracts unsurprisingly include Talveras and Aiteo. Aiteo recently revealed that it would build a 100,000 barrels per day crude oil greenfield refinery in Warri, Delta State by 2017.

Meanwhile, among the newcomers are Hyde Energy, Springfield and Barbedos Group. Swiss traders that lost out include Glencore Xstrata, Vitol, Trafigura and Gunvor, which have for many years, always been assured of getting contracts. Mercuria was the only Swiss trader to receive an award. Losers also included more recent recipients, state owned Chinese trader, Unipec, the trading subsidiary of Chinese refiner, Sinopec, as well as Socar, the state oil company of Azerbaijan. Other losers were West African state refineries from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Sierra Leone.

The government’s determination to award most of the contracts to indigenous companies means that the traditional buyers of NNPC’s share of Nigeria’s crude have to partner with indigenous companies to get the prized light crude that Nigeria produces. A great many deals are likely to be done as trading houses scramble to find local winners willing to turn over their allocations for a quick profit.

Critics of the award process are not surprised that in an election year, most of the awards are going to Nigerians. They suggest that many of the winners could be political cronies who will use the profits to finance election campaigns. A report by Chatham House last year would support that proposition, after the London-based think tank estimated that by flipping the contracts, indigenous traders could get up to 40 cents on the barrel earning up to $5 million dollars on their annual contracts. That could go a long way towards financing many a political campaign, critics maintain.

The NNPC process of awarding long-term contracts for the sale of its crude oil production share has been widely criticised as being opaque.

In 2012, a Nuhu Ribadu led enquiry into the process, commissioned by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, concluded that the system allowed contracts to be awarded to "briefcase traders with little or no commercial or financial capacity."

Last year, Swiss non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Berne Declaration, in a very damaging report also said the process was opaque. The NGO went even further to accuse NNPC of colluding with major Swiss oil traders to defraud Nigeria of oil revenues through swap deals in which NNPC sells crude oil to the trading houses in return for refined petroleum products.

The NNPC award process usually kicks off with advertisements for applications. The last public award was for 2012/2013. In May 2013, NNPC advertised for appli-

REGULATORY

EVEN weeks after it announced the latest closure of T SDevelopment the Forcados Oil Terminal, Shell Petroleum Corporation (SPDC) Nigeria said the export terminal remains closed. SPDC closed the 400,000 barrels per day terminal in the Western Niger Delta for repairs after discovering a leak on the 48inch export line at the terminal, which the company said had been sabotaged. The closure led to the suspension of SPDC joint venture and third party crude oil exports through the terminal and a force majeure announcement.

At the time of the closure, SPDC said that helicopter over flights showed a slight sheen around the export line, indicating a leak. They immediately launched a joint investigation, conducted by representatives of the host communities, SPDC, regulators and security agencies. They found that a crude theft point had been installed on the line in water depth of about eight metres.

Shell said it was working to repair and reopen the line as soon as possible and that it had mobilised equipment and materials to the site to begin the work.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) claimed responsibility for the damage that caused the leak. They said they initially sabotaged the pipeline and then sent divers down to cause further damage to the ongoing repair work. Shell has refused to confirm or deny the allegations.

Africa's largest producer, Nigeria, is struggling to cope with the scale of oil theft, which it is estimated is losing the country at least $6 billion in revenue annually. The Federal Government announced two months ago that it would commit $1 billion to the fight against crude oil theft.

New Investment Fund Engota to Acquire Nigerian Oil Assets

EW investment fund, Engota, has revealed that it N intends to acquire Nigerian oil assets that will enable it to build a portfolio of oil exploration and production assets.

"Nigeria holds some of the richest and lowest cost of production oil deposits in the world. Engota's indigenous status opens the door to significant opportunities," the Chief Executive Officer of Engota Fund, Sayo Daniel said.

The investment fund intends to capitalise on opportunities which the international oil company (IOC) divestments have presented to indigenous companies. As the local companies step in to scoop up the divested assets, many of them producing, this also presents the ideal opportunities for an investment fund like Engota.

The Nigeria focused Engota Fund, which is entering the e&p space as an indigenous company will be funding exploration and production companies that offer a significant risk to reward investment profile. They also intend to target additional opportunities that overseas companies may not have access to.

"Engota's uniquely placed team on ground in Nigeria will work to uncover quality opportunities that can be exploited to produce superior financial return," the Vice-President of Investments, Engota Fund, Chuck Kowalski said.

MIDSTREAM

House of Reps Committee Urges Cautious Destruction of Confiscated Oil

HE House of Representatives has urged the T Nigerian Navy be cautious about the method of destruction of confiscated crude and petroleum products. The House Committee for the Environment is concerned that indiscriminate destruction of petroleum products confiscated from oil thieves and illegal refineries could be endangering the environment.

Chairman of the committee Rep Uche Ekwunife was speaking during a session with the Navy and the Nigeria Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA). He urged them to be wart about the implication o in Abuja said in spite of the commendable efforts of the Navy, they should be wary about the environmental implication of the work they do. She said: "We are worried in the way of discharging the bunkered oil. We want to see if there are other ways we can discharge bunkered oil. We want to ensure that the environment is not further devastated."

In response, the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin, represented by Chief Naval Safety and Standards, Rear Admiral Johnson Olutoyin, said that the Navy is looking for a solution to the problem. This indicates that there is no policy for the destruction of the confiscated products. Photos that have emerged of the destruction of these products usually display controlled burning of the confiscated products.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ABU Reveals Technology Breakthrough for Heavy Crude Refining HEPetroleum Technology Development Fund has T revealed that a team of researchers led by the Chair, PTDF Endowment in Chemical Engineering, ABU, Prof Abdulkarim Ahmed has developed a new technology in the local refining of heavy crude for the production of petroleum products using locally sourced materials. After four-years of research on the production of zeolite catalyst using clay, the team discovered that zeolite catalyst was an essential additive in the conversion and refining of heavy gas oil into usable gasoline and petrochemical products in refineries.

Plans for the design and fabrication of the pilot plants for the production of zeolite catalyst have reached advanced stage with a view to inaugurating a prototype refinery in November this year according to the Fund.

The Executive Secretary, PTDF, Dr. Oluwole Oluleye, said: “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.”

Oluleye said that Nigeria spent $12 million last year on importing zeolite catalyst for its refineries. This breakthrough would save the nation money on the importation of raw materials for the production of zeolite catalyst.

Monday, April 28, 2014 59

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DLM BOND WATCH: April 28, 2014

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BUSINESS INTERVIEW

FINANCIALGUARDIAN

Role of capital market in SMEs’ growth, by Oteh The Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms. Arunma Oteh was recently hosted in a radio interview, under the Fidelity SME Forum programme and she highlighted among other issues, the role of the Nigerian capital market as a source for long term funds for SME start-ups. Business Editor, ADE OGIDAN monitored the interview on Inspiration FM channel. Excerpts.

OW do you see the role of the SMEs in the H economy?

We can’t say enough the important roles of SMEs in transforming our nation, both because every business starts off as an SME. Secondly, SMEs provide most of the jobs. 90 per cent of businesses in Africa and in Nigeria particularly, small and medium scale enterprises are the biggest employer of labour and employment brings dignity but it’s also what develops a nation and with a country like ours that has a very strong entrepreneurial culture, even more importantly when we focus on those who develop and startup businesses. Kudos to Fidelity Bank for this initiative which complements the great work that they are doing in supporting SMEs. What is the structure of the capital market and how does it function?

The capital market enables you to raise medium to long-term finance particularly for a small and medium scale enterprise. They enable you to invest, whether you are an individual, company, a large institution or a government. One important aspect of capital market is, of course, the equities market. It gives individuals and companies the opportunity to participate in the creation of wealth by a particular company through investing in that company. What I think also as important is the large bond market, which is much larger than the equities market in most parts of the world. The reason for this in most parts of the world is that the federal government raises money from the capital market to be able to invest in infrastructure, agriculture and in other development projects. The state government do the same, the local government do the same but companies also raise money through the bond markets. So instead of always letting your business or giving a piece of it to people, you can basically allow them to participate in growing your wealth through the bond market. The other part that is important which we haven’t focused as much in Nigeria is really that the capital market provides you risk management instruments and they enable you to be able to manage your investments. Of course the equities market is the most feasible because both individuals and entities participate and every day, you either watch on the New York Stock Exchange people ringing the closing bell and so that is why there is a greater focus, and or us in Nigeria, this last few years has really been a great opportunity to revamp the equities market. For this year alone, the markets have gone up by 44%, last year they went up by 35%. but our bond markets have done very, very well primarily because of what the federal government has done in maintaining macroeconomic stability.

So we’ve had both domestic investors and international investors leverage the success of the Nigerian market in building wealth for themselves. So we’ve had a great market. Today we have a market that is in total about $121billion, which is about N18trillion in terms of capitalization. The equities market is about N12.9 trillion and the rest of it is actually the bond markets.

What are the components that SMEs can benefit from in raising funds to run their businesses?

First and foremost, access to finance being a key challenge for SMEs is an important one and it’s the same all over the world. But I think in Nigeria, if you look at the world economic forum’s most recent global index, it focuses very specifically on what entrepreneurs face as their biggest challenges in terms of their business, and access to finance was the number one.

Therefore, we at SEC believe that it is something that we must tackle, given the importance of SMEs to our nation. What we’ve intended to see is traditionally that SMEs rely on bank lending and rely on personal funds for funding themselves. We haven’t seen much as we should see as happened in the USA and other parts of the world, where you see SMEs focusing on the capital market and that is why the reform agenda that we’ve embarked on over the last three years has been particularly important. The key aspect of it is the revamping of the second tier and the third tier market of the Nigerian stock exchange.

The first tier is the main bond, while the second and third tiers are what has become the alternative securities market and one of the reasoning behind both our work as the SEC and the Nigerian Stock Exchange in revamping that market is really to address why that market was not really relevant to SMEs before this time. One of the things that is a key characteristic of the alternative securities market is that today, you have what is called Designated Advisers who

Oteh hand hold you through the listing process, and after you’ve listed, they help you make sure that you are meeting the requirements of listing.

I’m talking about SMEs and other companies in specific sectors. If you want to list on the main board, which is not where SMEs would normally go to, you don’t need to have a designated adviser. So you’ll have an issuing house, lawyers and accountants who can help you with the listing specifically. A key characteristic that is new for the Alternative Securities Market is that you have a designated adviser that works with you so that they can help you list but also, after you have listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, that designated adviser remains with you and ensures that you are able to meet the listing requirements. This is important because the number of SMEs that were listed in the past ended up being delisted because they were not able to cope with the requirements. So this is something that we’ve learnt that has worked in South Africa, U.K and in other parts of the world. Entrepreneurs have very specific characteristics; they are very focused on their business and nurturing their passion. They are not as

focused on building a team or the building blocks that enable a company to be successful. So that designated adviser helps in doing that.

Who appoints the designated adviser?

The designated advisers are pre-qualified by the Nigerian Stock Exchange and they are on the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s website. So an entrepreneur, a promoter of an SME can actually go on their website and look at the designated advisers.

They are experienced accountants, experienced issuing houses and experienced consultants who can work with you and support you through the process.

On the issue of venture capital, what is SEC doing to make sure we have a culture of venture capital?

We have put together a package of reforms. One of them was of course working with the exchange to revamp the second and third tier markets. The second, which is particularly critical, is to start to build a culture of venture capital and private equity in Nigeria. If you look at countries like Israel or the USA, where SMEs have been nurtured, that culture of having venture capital and private equity has been very critical. That nurturing from the beginning of SMEs is very critical. The reason

There are so many benefits for SMEs in going to the capital market. One of them is building your brand. What the stock market does for you is create greater awareness, because on a daily basis people can buy your stock or sell your stock. And it helps your business because you’ll have a wider range of customers who can feel empathy, and participation in the creation of wealth.

The second one is to build a lasting legacy. Who would have known that the little money that was put in Facebook or in Google would list them among the largest companies in the world? So you see, it also gives access to other sources of funding. So brand awareness, feasibility of business, people’s confidence. The NSE and SEC promote good corporate governance practice, so when your company is listed, people believe you are actually a company that is well run and they should invest in.

Google is one of the biggest companies in the world is the early foundation that was laid by the venture capital firm that supported it from the very beginning. We need to have such a culture in Nigeria and we have opportunities to do that. We have a number of state governments that are developing export processing zones, but we at SEC have basically launched new rules on private equities and venture capitals which are ensuring that we have world class practice in that regard, because venture capital and private equity believe in you well ahead of a bank.

The other aspect is that we also today can rely on your business plan and your support from a technical partner or somebody who is already well known. And this was not a case as a way to consider you coming to the market. Today we can have green field projects and new projects come on the market. We can have brown field projects also come on the market, which we didn’t have in the past.

What are the benefits of taking a small business public?

Building a small business is like having a child and nurturing that child till when that child becomes an adult. One aspect is basically growing your business, creating value and being able to realize some of that value. That’s what the capital market offers.

What are the measures in place for people’s investment to be secure?

Starting in 2010, we decided to partner with the law enforcement agencies so that if there is any wrong doing in our markets, people will be brought to book. What that does is that it makes people know that they can be brought to book, so they try not to do the wrong thing and we make the cost of doing the wrong thing much higher than the cost of doing the right thing.

We also have financial literacy programmes because what I always say is that if you don’t understand an investment and someone is marketing it to you, please don’t invest. If the person can’t explain to you, then they don’t know enough about it to guide you.

What are some of the rules of listing for SMEs? To list your company, you need to have some form of a track record. It may not be a track record of profitability as we had in the past but you need to have set up an organization. You have to make sure that it has good corporate governance practices and you need to make sure that you gave a business plan that can explain to Nigerians what it is that can enable you make money and grow the business.

What has the SEC done with regard to documentation to make sure that it is easier for SMEs to access the market?

Let me clarify that documentation is not a bad thing. The reason documentation is very important is to avoid the kinds of challenges that we faced in 2008/2009. Some of what we have done as SEC and the Nigerian Stock Exchange is to create greater awareness of what the processes are so that you can start as early as possible in preparing yourself for the processing. The second is to make the process very fast. If you meet all the requirements, then the council of the stock exchange can provide you approval very quickly. The SEC can also do the same. So there’s clarity of what the process is. You can find it on the SEC website and you can also find the listing process on the website of the Nigerian Stock Exchange as well. The process is clear, it’s simpler, it is streamlined and the requirements are simple. But most importantly, it is paramount that you get an expert who can advice you, and there is a list of designated experts on the website of SEC. There are so many benefits for SMEs in going to the capital market. One of them is building your brand. What the stock market does for you is create greater awareness, because on a daily basis people can buy your stock or sell your stock. And it helps your business because you’ll have a wider range of customers who can feel empathy, and participation in the creation of wealth. The second one is to build a lasting legacy. Who would have known that the little money that was put in Facebook or in Google would make them the largest companies in the world? So you see, it also gives access to other sources of funding. So brand awareness, feasibility of business, people’s confidence. The NSE and SEC promote good corporate governance practice, so when your company is listed, people believe you are actually a company that is well run and they should invest in.

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BUSINESS INTERVIEW

FINANCIALGUARDIAN

Nigeria needs to reduce import profile, says Le-Bris Frank Le-Bris is the Managing Director of Nigerite Limited, a foremost complete building solutions company. In this interview with the Business Editor, ADE OGIDAN, he stresses the need for the government and people to invest in alternative construction methods. He talks about his vision and strategic growth plans for the company. Excerpts: HEN was the first time you came to Nigeria?

W I came to Nigeria in September 1992.

This is your second coming to Nigeria after 20 years, were you not discouraged about the level of insecurity in Nigeria?

No, I was not discouraged.

Is there any significant difference between now and the first time you came to Nigeria?

Yes, there is a big difference. Airport refurbishing, I remember Ikeja then but it is wearing a new look, new shopping malls, new buildings and most especially, Lekki Link Bridge. Then, I remember molue but it’s no longer common these days. Eko Atlantic, Ikeja GRA, I was told there are much more developments in Abuja but I have not been there since my second arrival.

As the new Managing Director of Nigerite, what is your agenda for the company and the housing industry in the country?

My mission here is to introduce new products and solutions for housing; and to prepare a new era for Nigerite. We are market leaders for roofing and ceiling, but at the end of this year, we will have a new industrial process, which will allow us to produce not only this three millimeter-thick ceiling, but to have different thicknesses.

When you have thicker sheets such as eight, 12 and even 20 millimeters, you can use them to partition walls by putting two sheets together, for instance, you can also use them for flooring, especially for shopping malls; you can also plaster the sheets for partitioning.

So, the ambition of the company is to transform Nigerite from the market leader for mainly ceiling and roofing into market leader for housing for residential and non-residential; not to be only for ceiling and roofing but for partitioning for both internal and external structures.

We also want to be a company for housing solutions for both high-end and low-income owners. So, it is a new market we are entering into and we also want to capitalize on our vision, which is to bring solutions. The new investment will cost about N1.2 billion.

Nigerite has been involved in some green initiatives. What are your plans for the sustenance of these programmes?

We will try to continue to move these initiatives forward; we respect the environment and green obligations. We have respect for waste management and here in the company, we have a strict system to recycle all the waste that we have with the aim of achieving zero waste; all waste should be recycled. Also, what we call dry construction is what we will be able to promote because it is environmental friendly. We will continue with what has been done in the past.

What informed your resolve to change the perception of Nigerite as a ceiling and roofing materials company?

We are a company for complete building solutions component; and secondly, people should think of partitioning walls inside their houses not only ceiling and roofing; that is what we want to be known for, as a company for housing solutions. There is need for housing in Nigeria; we are talking about 17 million of housing units, which are missing. When you look at the papers, people are also talking about two million additional houses that are missing every year. So, the country needs to build houses quicker. We can use bricks and mortar, but it takes time; dry construction is very quick and respects the environment and it is our answer to these needs.

We want to change the perception of just ceiling and roofing. For instance, we have training actions and solutions for carpenters; so, we are talking to them about installation, which is important in building construction. We have people orgainsing seminars for carpenters in the western part of the country; the five states around Lagos. The next stage is to make a high advertising campaign to let people know about our vision to be the complete building solutions component company.

Nigerite just turned 55 and from producing roofing and ceiling materials, we are moving to another

Le-Bris

We should also be encouraged to continue. Some of our limitations have been bureaucracy from bodies that look at Nigerite with interest, which is making business more complex. Although this is not peculiar to Nigeria, but some of the budget for paying these taxes could be rationalized to boost the system. Let’s help companies work peacefully and in the most efficient way in Nigeria; we should not encourage import; that is my view. Competition is important but don’t encourage imports; for me, it is not the right way to go. Though we must import some raw materials that we cannot find here but I am talking about finished goods such as PVC strips. level of introducing more innovative products and solutions. This company should be a symbol of quality and Nigerian-made products. Our products are locally made. When I look around, a lot of things are imported; for me it is not the best. So, I want to emphasise that at 55, Nigerite is a quality product, which is made in Nigeria. It is not fake or from China, it is made by people here and belongs to the future of Nigeria.

We buy our cement here; we import our fiber but everything else is done here. I would like to emphasise that it is important for the country to build industries. I am French and when I look at our situation in France, the automotive industry, it is a shame.

It is a worldwide economic problem but every country should fight to keep some good industries. That is why I would like to stress that Nigerite is a Nigerian company that produces locally.

We should also be encouraged to continue. Some of our limitations have been bureaucracy from bodies that look at Nigerite with interest, which is making business more complex. Although this is not peculiar to Nigeria, but some of the budget for paying these taxes could be rationalized to boost the system. Let’s help companies work peacefully and in the most efficient way in Nigeria; we should not encourage import; that is my view.

Competition is important but don’t encourage imports; for me, it is not the right way to go. Though we must import some raw materials that we cannot find here but I am talking about finished goods such as PVC strips.

Talking about the housing deficit, many people are below the poverty line so the cost of building materials must be on the low side. What are your plans concerning the pricing of building products?

We are not looking at pricing and at solutions. If you want solution for cheap house, we will propose it; if you want for ‘normal’ house, we will provide it; and if you also want solution for high-end houses, we will offer the solution. So, we bring solutions and if poor people will need house, we can get the budget to suit their needs and the same for high end individuals. It is really about solutions, which is important in housing.

Do you then have plans of developing lowincome houses like some firms in the private sector are doing?

For the moment, the main target is our industrial launch for the new process; then, we will move for less expensive solutions for people. We have limited resources for the moment. So, we prefer to work according our budget. We did it in the past but it was a bit too complex, the price expectations were not met; so, we gave up and put it on hold. Right now, we are waiting for the new product, which we will get at the end of this year to start building very simply low cost houses again.

Apart from the government and private sector intervention, what do you think people can do on their own to reduce the housing deficit?

They can build lighter houses, and wall.

For instance, in Europe and some parts of South America, they keep the classical walls on the ground floor, with brick and

mortar, but from the wall, they build only with dry construction because it is less expensive. I think people can try that here alongside the conventional brick and mortar method; that is dry construction and conventional method put together, and they can achieve a lot of things.

How would you assess the Nigerian market?

Nigeria’s economy is growing very well. We just need to look at the energy sector. The Minister of Finance is doing a great job. I see high potentials in the Nigerian market. There are more structures. I can see a lot of potential and huge opportunities here.

Now that you came to Nigeria on a different platform, what difference are you coming to make with Nigerite?

I decided to come and make a big investment, which has been agreed by the shareholders, and we are looking at launching new products and new plant at the end of this year. Also, we are to extend our portfolio of market products and to increase our market share.

Now, Nigerite is going through transformation from a company that offers a product to a company that offers complete building components solutions. We are beginning to play at international level, so the experience of an expatriate is needed to help in the transformation programme having seen what was in Nigeria before and what was involved in Europe before I came back to Nigeria.

Most of these days, structures are built with foreign materials. Now, Nigerite is ready to provide those materials using local resources. Our strategy is to provide complete building components solutions to our numerous customers. We are already doing it for roofing, we want to do it now for housing, the full housing including walls, partitions cladding, internal and external parts of the house. We are moving from one-product company to solutions company.

How do you think you can withstand competition considering the cost profile of your products?

We cannot go below our quality standard. The cost of our product cuts across every level of consumer.

We have products for all categories without compromising our quality and international standard.

Another one is to accomplish the needs of the customers. They need something new. Apart from that, Nigerite has existed for 55 years, and we understand the marketing terrain of Nigeria. Nigerite is a company that adds value to our customers having knowledge of Nigerian market. If we are not known as a company of value and quality, we would not have been operational by now. In addition to that, because of our knowledge of Nigerian market, we offer an innovative product that can fit into our culture and people.

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Monday, April 28, 2014

INSURANCE

FINANCIALGUARDIAN

NIA sensitises on compensation, counsels against touting

Asst General Manager, Corporate Marketing, Mutual Benefits Life Assurance Ltd, Shola Adekunle, (left), Managing Director, Mutual Benefits Life Assurance Ltd, Femi Asenuga,, Managing Director, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Segun Omosehin, Group Managing Director, Mutual Benefits Group, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, Head, Corporate Communication, Mrs. Ellen Offo and Mrs. Controller, Human Resources/Admin, Mutual Benefits Life Assurance Ltd, Mrs. Betty Akinyemi-Sanya at the presenration of award to the company in Lagos

By Joshua Nse ORRIED by losses sufW fered by insurance consumers in the motor vehicle (third party) policy through patronage of fake insurance operators, the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) has advised the insuring public to buy genuine insurance documents only from member companies.

A member of the council told The Guardian that the consumers who patronized touts at the local government offices to obtain third party insurance certificates may have lost billions of naira in

form of compensation unknowingly, because they are holding fake insurance certificates and policies which are sold by unlicensed operators.

The motor vehicle (third party) insurance cover is a regulated tariff approved by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), cost N5,000 but touts at the local councils readily offer it for between N1,500 and 2,000, according to operators just to pass the police check points.

Section 68 of Insurance Act 2003, states that no person shall use or cause or permit

Regrettably, he said, nearly 80 per cent of motor vehicles plying Nigerian roads carry fake insurance certificates, you can estimate millions of naira compensation which consumers of insurance have lost to touting yearly. He explained that compensation on the motor vehicle third party cover depends on the depth of the damage, there is no limit. any other person to use a motor vehicle on a road unless any liability which he may thereby incur in respect of damage to the property of third parties is insured with an insurer registered under this Act . The insurance taken out pursuant to this section

shall cover liability of not less than N5 million.

Regrettably, he said, nearly 80 per cent of motor vehicles plying Nigerian roads carry fake insurance certificates, you can estimate millions of naira compensation which consumers of insurance have

Mansard Insurance records 31% growth in profit ANSARD Insurance Plc, M provider of risk and investment management services announces its Audited Financial Results, for the year ended December 31, 2013. Profit after tax rose to N2.09 billion as against N1.60 billion the previous year.

Gross Premium Written of N13.59billion (December 2012: N12.44billion) an increase of nine per cent , growth was stifled by regulatory enforcement of No Premium, No Cover regulation. This is a section of the 2003 Insurance ACT that stipulates that Premiums must be paid for before an insurer can incept cover. This regulation was enforced by the regulator (NAICOM) with effect from January 1, 2013.

Net Premium Income of N7.53 billion (December 2012: N7.10billion); grew by six per cent predominantly due to efficient underwriting capacity. Investment Income and Other Operating Income of N3.73 billion (December 2012: N2.36 billion) increased by 58 per cent; as a result of fair value gains on financial assets and increase in rental income.

Profit before Tax of N1.99 bil-

lion (December 2012: N2.17billion), a decline of nine per cent . This is as a result a 13 per cent decline in underwriting profit (occasioned by higher claims due to large Oil & Gas claims) and a 34% increase in operating expenses (due to retail expansion costs and write-off of prior year receivables of a large Public Sector Group Life account).

Profit after Tax of N2.09billion (December 2012: N1.60billion), an increase of 31 per cent attributable to tax write back.

Total Assets of N36.13billion (December 2012: N32.11 billion) an increase of 13 per cent. Trade Receivables of N166m (December 2012: N2.04 billion) a reduction of 92 per cent reflective of the No Premium, No Cover regulation Reinsurance and Co-insurance recoverables of N2.85billion (December 2012: N1.79 billion) an increase of 59 per cent driven by prepaid reinsurance assets. Insurance Liabilities of N7.69 billion (December 2012: N5.87 billion); up 31 per cent driven by unearned premium and increase in life fund.

Shareholder’s Funds of

N14.27billion grew by one per cent (December 2012: N14.11 billion) Operating Expense Ratio of 49% (December 2012: 41 per cent), Underwriting Expense Ratio of 21 per cent (December 2012: 13 per cent), Loss / Claims Ratio of 47 per cent (December 2012: 44 per cent). Cost to Income Ratio of 64 per cent (December 2012: 57 per cent). Return on average Equity of 15 per cent (December 2012: 12 per cent), Return on average Asset of six per cent (December 2012: eight per cent), Earnings per Share of 19 kobo (December 2012: 14 kobo).

Commenting on the 2013 results, Chief Client Officer, Mr Tosin Runsewe said “We achieved growth in a rather difficult year where the industry experienced a decline in growth rate. Growth was stifled by the ‘No Premium, No Cover’ regulation. The institutional end of the market was most affected. On the other hand, we had a much better cash flow into the business reflecting our compliance with the regulation”.

He said “Overall, we achieved 31% increase in our net earnings as a result of significant growth in the income from our increas-

ingly diversified investment base”.

Chief Financial Officer, Mrs. Rashidat Adebisi, the said “This is the first time, since our renaissance, that we would record a single digit growth, but we understand the peculiarities of 2013. We are unwearied because we are seeing growing numbers in Mansard’s penetration of a resilient market. We will continue to work enthusiastically to deliver on our assurance of financial security to our customers. We also find the 2013 financial year interesting as we saw retail business being a major driver of both revenue and profit. We find this very exciting and rewarding as we seem to have started reaping the rewards of our significant investments in retail”.

According to her, “We successfully opened three more Mansard Welcome Centres in Lagos and a branch in Port Harcourt. This brings our distribution network to 14 Mansard Welcome Centres and 2 Branches in Abuja and Port Harcourt. We intend to open more Mansard Welcome Centres across the country to make our services more accessible to both retail and corporate ends of the market.”

lost to touting yearly.

He explained that compensation on the motor vehicle third party cover depends on the depth of the damage, there is no limit.

Compensation, he said, can be arrived at in three methods, through negotiation between the insurance company and the family of the deceased, and any dispute can be settled through competent court.

Secondly, he said, in the case of bodily injury, there is no limit, the court will consider the extent of the disability of the injured, and in the case of property damage, section 68 of the Act imposed N1 million compensation, but it is possible that in case of heavy duty vehicles which may cause serious damage, the company may pay an extension premium in the event of it happening.

It is against this backdrop, the Association in its effort to sanitize and rid the market for fake insurance documents, initiated the Nigerian Insurance Industry Database (NIID) in 2010 as a repository

of all insurances underwritten by NIA member companies.

The NIA said, “Of concern to the industry is the high incidence of fake insurance documents, such as Motor Vehicle and Marine certificates and policies which are sold by unlicensed companies.

Earlier research estimated that not more than 15 to 20 per cent of all motor vehicles on Nigerian roads carry genuine insurance policies.

“Against this backdrop, the Nigerian Insurers Association in its effort to sanitize and rid the nation’s insurance market of fake insurance documents, initiated the NIID in 2010 as a repository of all insurances underwritten by NIA member companies. This was enhanced in 2011 starting with the motor vehicle insurance policies. The initiative we believe will increase public confidence in the insurance industry and the services rendered.

It is on the basis of this challenge that NIA restated during the official presentation of some units of HP Elite Pad 900 to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to assist in the verification of genuine insurance documents of motorist on the Nigerian roads.

The Director-General of the NIA, Sunday Thomas, explained that the donation of the units to the commission was to assist its fields men ensure that vehicles on the road carry genuine insurance documents so that there would be compensation to unfortunate victims who sustain injuries or die as a result of road accidents.

He enumerated some of the benefits of the database system as monitoring and authenticating insurance transaction documents, reducing incidence of fraudulent insurance transactions and policies most especially for motor and marine policies, reducing red tape and corruption by integrating with the vehicle registration system of the FRSC, the Police and other relevant government agencies and ensuring easy access to statistical data for effective decision making.

Old Mutual hosts brokers HE month of April 2014 ediT tion of the Members’ Evening of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) is to hold next Tuesday, April 29, 2014. The event is to be hosted

by Old Mutual Nigeria Life Assurance Limited, at the Insurance Brokers House, 58, Moleye Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos, starting from 3. pm.

According to a release issued by the Director of Communications of the NCRIB, Tope Adaramola, the bi-monthly event is to be utilized by the host company to enlist the support of insurance brokers for the market expansionist strategy of the company.

He noted that the Members’ Evening has remained a veri-

table platform for networking between insurance underwriters and insurance brokers under the aegis of the NCRIB in order to grow the market strength of the former.

It is a common belief that the Nigerian insurance market is a Brokers- market, considering the fact that no fewer than 70 per cent of insurances underwritten by insurance companies are placed through Brokers. This is the reason why many underwriters take advantage of the Members Evening to grow their market share through Brokers.

Adaramola disclosed that Old mutual will utilize the platform to apprise the Brokers with its market initiatives and curry their support for progress

Monday, April 28, 2014 INSURANCE 63

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INSURANCE

FINANCIALGUARDIAN

ECOWAS insurers discuss Brown Card claims management BOUT 70 insurers in the A Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) gathered in Banjul to discuss claims management regarding the Brown Card Insurance Scheme in West Africa.

The April 24-25 event is the 1st zonal meeting this year of the ECOWAS Brown Card Scheme hosted by the Gambia National Bureau of ECOWAS Brown Card.

It is being preceded by an extraordinary general assembly to enable the scheme to adopt a new Consensus Brown Card for use in all ECOWAS member states.

The Brown Card Scheme is a compulsory insurance cover for third party liability against accidents involving vehicles traveling across the West African sub-region. It covers death, medical expenses, injury and material damage.

The deputy governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG), Basirou Njai, said the essence of insurance was defeated when companies defaulted on their most basic function, the timely settlement of genuine claims.

He said claims management and settlement lay at the heart of the Scheme as one of

Sovereign Trust hosts tournament nd

HE stage is set for the 2 T edition of the Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc Open Golf Tournament in the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State. The event is scheduled to hold from April 25 – 27, 2014, at the Ibadan Golf Club, Onireke Reservation Area, Ibadan, Oyo State. The 3day tournament is expected to bring together some of the country’s top golfers both at the Amateur and Professional levels for both male and female in all the categories.

The captain of Ibadan Golf Club, Prince Bayo Adeleke expressed great appreciation to the Management of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc for staying true to its promise of sponsoring the tournament on an annual basis. He said he is very optimistic that this year’s tournament will be far thrilling and exciting than the last edition. He enjoined all golf enthusiasts across the country to make the ancient city the converging point during the 3-day tournament.

According to him, “Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc has consistently been leading the pack amongst insurance companies in the country in promoting sporting activities at all levels and urged more participation from other corporate organizations in advancing the game of golf and other sports in order to further enhance the human capacity in the burgeoning sports industry in the country.

Conclusively, he stated that the intervention of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc in sports development in Nigeria and beyond cannot be undermined in any regard.

The company’s spokesperson and Head of Corporate Communications and Brand Management, Mr. Segun Bankole said, the underwriting firm will not relent in any way in giving back to the society through different sporting and social platforms of this nature in reinforcing its corporate social responsibility stance in line with its corporate philosophy. He further mentioned that adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure a successful and entertaining tournament.

While commenting the Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Wale Onaolapo stated that “the gesture is a further indication of the company’s affirmed commitment to the development of sports in the country”.

In his words, “we are resolute in our commitment to the ideals of promoting development in all areas of human endeavours as much as we can accommodate, which explains why our CSR philosophy is hinged on Health, Sports and

the Community, and these to us, is all-encompassing”.

the most important aspects in the functioning of an insurance company.

Njai said speedy claims settlement could make a difference in a market that was highly competitive and economically challenging.

Ebou L. Bittaye, chairman of the Gambia National Bureau of ECOWAS Brown Card said the meeting was expected to

arrive at firm resolutions and decisions about the new brown card and settlement that would be acceptable by all.

The meeting would discuss pertinent issues relating to the Consensus Brown Card and claims settlement under the scheme, added Mr Bittaye, who is also the Managing Director of Global

Security Insurance Company in Gambia.

Technocrats say “the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme is the most successful tool for integration within the sub-region as it facilitates the safe movement of peoples and goods in West Africa”.

The Scheme was established by a Protocol signed by

ECOWAS heads of state in Cotonou, Benin, in May 1982.

Its objectives are to enhance the free movement of road users and foster a real regional integration and guarantee a fair and prompt compensation to victims of road accidents for losses suffered by visiting motorists travelling from other ECOWAS member countries.

Sanlam acquires major stake in Malaysian insurer operations in India, Malaysia Zurich, said the current conENTURES Africa – Sanlam ($113.7m).

V Emerging Markets (SEM), SEM, a Sanlam unit whose and 15 African countries. nection between the two Heinie Werth, the CEO of companies is the start of a a unit of South Africa’s sec- mandate is to expand into ond biggest life insurer, Sanlam, has acquired a 51 per cent stake in Malaysian life insurance firm, MCIS Zurich Insurance Berhad (MCIS Zurich), for about R1.2 billion

emerging markets, said the deal is in keeping with the company’s plan of tracking down value adding growth opportunities in the South East Asia region. SEM has

SEM, said Malaysia is a critical part of Sanlam’s growth strategy for the time ahead, with this acquisition increasing its presence in Malaysia.

Kevin Jones, the CEO of MCIS

new era in the 60-year history of his firm.

He said this deal meant that his firm will tackle the future with much self-confidence.

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Monday, April 28, 2014

Media Protecting sensitive security information in FoI regime Presentation

By Chris Olukolade HIS paper essentially is a review of the statutoT ry and institutional framework that protects classified information. Open government is the norm in democracy. Consequently, citizens have the right of access to government information in order to allow for public oversight. Secrecy in government affairs is usually frowned at since the government exists in the public interest. In the Nigerian context, democracy has given impetus to the passage of the Freedom of Information law. With the law, greater disclosure is expected in the conduct of government business as the judiciary can now intervene where such disclosure as required by law is denied.

Evidently, this has implication for sensitive security information or what we normally refer to as classified information. Information of this nature must be protected from getting into the wrong hands, because it has the potential to compromise national security. Crafters of the FOI law in their wisdom have put provisions in the law to ensure that defence information is protected.

Be that as it may, protecting defence information portends enormous challenges. This is because the public’s right to know must be continually balanced against national security, in the preparation and dissemination of information, especially as the country grapple with internal and external security threats.

At the heart of the matter is managing the main stream media, the online media and the social media whose main business is disclosure.

The aim of this paper is to examine these challenges: statutorily and institutionally and how we have partnered with stakeholders in the management of security information over the years.

Protecting National Security Information Protecting national security information is a fundamental activity in defence administration. This is provided for in the National Security Agencies Act, the National Defence Policy and the FOI Act itself. Information is generated and used within the various arms of the military on a daily basis to document actions, confirm decisions, identify rights and responsibilities, and to communicate within the hierarchy and with members of the public.

Without information flow, communication within the system would simply grind to a halt.

The public would simply view us with suspicion and hostility. Information generally is compartmentalised or classified. Classification would generally range from the non-risk information to the high risk or top secret information. While the non-risk information is generally made available on demand or exists in the public domain the top secret information is restricted. At the lowest level is the information which is usually made available to guide members of the public on our activities or operations. Such information are disseminated through briefings, publications, and the media.

Information within the defence apparatus, is used for wide-ranging purposes but the ones we may consider as sensitive would have to do with those that may have negative repercussions or prejudicial to national security and strategic objectives if mishandled.

Such information may border on troop deployment, operational procedures, numbers and where troops are deployed. Resources available, hardware and software and their location amongst others. The enemy laying hands on such information may use it to sabotage our national defence strategy. Hence there is always the need for institutional and statutory cover for classified information especially when national security is at stake.

Much of this has been recognized and endorsed in definitions contained in the principles spelt out in Part II of the Global Principles on National Security and The Right to Information (The TSHWANE Principles) of 2013: PART II: Information that may be withheld on national security grounds and information that should be disclosed Principle 9: Information that legitimately may be withheld (a) Public authorities may restrict the public’s right

Olukolade and Special Assistant to the President on Media, Bolaji Adebiyi at the conference

Ekiti State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda (right); and Special Assistant to the AGF, Prof. Deji Adekunle of access to information on national security grounds, but only if such restrictions comply with all of the other provisions of these Principles, the information is held by a public authority, and the information falls within one of the following categories: Information about on-going defence plans, operations, and capabilities for the length of time that the information is of operational utility.

Information about the production, capabilities, or use of weapons systems and other military systems, including communications systems.

Information about specific measures to safeguard the territory of the state, critical infrastructure, or critical national institutions against threats or use of force or sabotage, the effectiveness of which depend upon secrecy; Information pertaining to, or derived from, the operations, sources, and methods of intelligence services, insofar as they concern national security matters; and Information concerning national security matters that was supplied by a foreign state or inter-governmental body with an express expectation of confidentiality; and other diplomatic communications insofar as they concern national security matters.

Note: To the extent that particular information concerning terrorism, and counter-terrorism measures, is covered by one of the above categories, the public’s right of access to such information may be subject to restrictions on nation-

al security grounds in accordance with this and other provisions of the Principles. At the same time, some information concerning terrorism or counterterrorism measures may be of particularly high public interest.

Institutionally the military restrict information to certain officers within it ranks and mishandling of such information can result in serious sanctions. In this instance, anyone outside the scope of access is required to first obtain a formal security clearance before such information is made available.

The secrecy of a document is usually hierarchical in nature, the higher an officer is up the ladder the greater his access to secret documents. This it must be said is a direct result of the regimental nature of defence institutions. Be that as it may sensitive information may fall into the hands of unauthorised personnel. When this happens we can only pray that such individual would act responsibly and in the national interest. I am sure we are all aware of the embarrassment the civilian defence contractor, Edward Snowden is currently causing the United States government.

The challenge is to ensure that sensitive security information is processed and stored in such a way that only authorised personnel can access it.

However with changing communication technologies, where miniaturised storage and retrieval devises are readily available in the open

Be that as it may, protecting defence information portends enormous challenges. This is because the public’s right to know must be continually balanced against national security, in the preparation and dissemination of information, especially as the country grapple with internal and external security threats. At the heart of the matter is managing the mainstream media, the online media and the social media whose main business is disclosure.

market this can be a daunting challenge.

The important thing to note here in protecting information is to recognise that information has a life-cycle. The task is to make sure that information is organized and controlled all through its life circle from creation, to use, and final disposal. This we do with methodical patience and professionalism in the service of the nation.

Outline Of Operational Procedure The responsibility of protecting national security information from getting into unauthorised hands, lies on the military and security establishment generally, below is a review of major operational procedures put in place by the security establishment to protect sensitive national security information. The procedures as you would observe has human capacity development component, public relations and media relations components and institutional development.

Security of Documents The flow of security documents is very vital to the management of security related information. Accordingly, the training on document security has remained an essential aspect of training for officers and soldiers. Document security is the collective term which describes protective measures designed to ensure that classified information in documentary form is correctly safeguarded always. Some of the document include: notes, letters, maps, charts drawings, carbons, films, photographs, slides, recording tapes, printing plates and so on. The principle that are inculcated in military personnel by training border on: a. The Need to Know: A fundamental principle of security is that knowledge or possession of classified materials of any grade should be limited to those who are both authorized to receive it and need to know it in order to carry out their duties. Rank and appointment do not of themselves entitle anyone to knowledge or possession of classified information. b. The Need to Hold: Classified materials are retained by an individual officer after it has ceased to be necessary for the efficient discharge of his duties. The materials are therefore reviewed at regular intervals. c. Security of Reproduction and Reproduction Processes: Only authorized personnel may be employed to produce and reproduce classified documents. Commanders have responsibility to pay particular attention to those offices or facilities where productions of official information materials are conducted emphasizing the need for: Regular and frequent inspection of such facilities by intelligence officers.

All officers are billed on need for precautions to prevent extra copies being produced either inadvertently, or for unauthorized purposes Unauthorised persons are not allowed access to or recorded information.

When in use recording machines are kept away from telephones as far as possible.

Recording machines are not allowed near security communications, equipment (eg. Cypher machines and radios.

As a safeguard against the threat of eavesdropping, machines are forbidden in rooms in which classified information is being discussed or other buildings which might be used for the installation of intercept equipment.

All classified material should be erased from tape as soon as possible and when no longer required, tapes are cut into small pieces and then disposed of as classified waste.

Photocopy machines are carefully handled in such a way necessary to prevent copies being made accidentally.

All soft copies used for classified material are kept in secure containers out of normal duty hours, and destroyed as classified waste when they become unserviceable.

In general, all materials used in producing classified documents, eg, flash drive, plates, trial copies and all hard drives are treated as classified matter.

When documents are being passed, they are carried under cover to prevent unauthorized persons from seeing them.

Extract from, or copies of top secret and secret documents are made only on the authority of a responsible officer who is himself entitled to originate such documents.

Contingencies might warrant that certain documents or instructions be seen only by Nigerians troops or certain other nationals. Such documents would be appropriately marked. This may be useful in multinational operations.

Major General Chris Olukolade, Director, Defence Information gave this talk at the African Regional Conference on Freedom of Information Implementation, Abuja, March 18-19, 2014.

TO BE CONTINUED

Monday, April 28, 2014 MeDIA

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65

Media-Security: Building trust to stimulate information flow freely Issue

By Abiodun Yakubu

As war against terrorism has forced politicians, regardless of their political affiliations, to close ranks reflected in the expanded National Security Council meeting presided-over by President Goodluck Jonathan last Thursday in Abuja, the need to build trust between the media and security and response agencies for information to flow freely has also been reiterated. heRe is no better time than now to reopen T the discourse of trust building between the media and security agencies. This is because as the nation is grappling with daily security challenges, the media must do its reporting of the insurgencies in a way it will not escalate the crisis.

To create that synergy that will ensure both parties do its bit adequately, emphasis should be on the need for these two agents of change (media and security agencies) to ensure that

Lifestyle magazine to hit news-

information gathering and flow is done to help prevent further carnage in any part of the country.

The media needs to see the security apparatus as ready and willing to give information that will help the public and educate them from falling victims.

While security agencies want to see the media as another source of intelligence gathering, since it interfaces with the stakeholders within the society, the media must ensure that sensitive security information that has the potentials of neutralizing strategies to combat crimes are not exposed.

This, however, makes it necessary for the security agencies to begin to work closely with the media in every respect. There should be shift from the current situation where pressmen are ill-treated or are misinformed on security issues. The media on the other hand, should avoid distorting information as well as divulging sensitive information that could hinder crime combating.

Trust can also be built, if security agencies create a regular platform where information can be given and verified by the media, to be able to shift truth from half-truth. If there exists a friendly platform for exchange of ideas and information, the likelihood is that pressmen will do away with rumour to stick with competent information from verifiable security sources. Only then can these two begin to see themselves as partner in achieving a secure and safe nation.

Security agencies can use media outlets to monitor opinions on security and safety issues; this in no small measure can help their

Sambo Dasuki planning.

Any contending issues between the media and security agencies can always be evaluated and sorted out. For instance, the later can organize a weekly forum that brings together security reporters from different media outlets all over the country, under a conducive atmosphere, where questions are asked and

answers given, without fear of molestation or arrest. There can also be regular debriefing, information and events clarification forum, as found in developed democracies like in the United States of America, where the State Department assembles local and foreign media regularly to clarify the country’s stand on local and international events.

If this is replicated in Nigeria, it can be a pointer to trust building between the media and security agencies. What matters most when information is being reeled out by security agencies to the media is to ensure truth and facts are given, to avoid a dilemma of misinformation and lack of trust.

It is in this connection that the efforts of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, Col. Sambo Dasuki in bridging the gap between the security agencies and the media should be acknowledged and commended.

Recently, he facilitated a platform of interaction between select media professionals and spokespersons of security and emergency agencies in the country in order to engender trust, confidence and harmonious relationship between the two parties.

The interaction has since given birth to what is now known as Forum of Spokespersons on Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA). The forum had another engagement with an expanded congregation of media professionals in Lagos recently where issue of tackling the menace of insurgents jointly was marshaled frontally. With this kind of engagement, days of terrorists’ attacks against Nigerians, are certainly numbered.

he Nigerian newsstand will from May 5 see a T new lifestyle magazine called Drumbeat in its fold. According to elsie Ijorogu-Reeds, the publisher, who is also the founder and chief executive officer of Deltawomen, an NGO that empowers the less privileged and does online publishing, the magazine, which is the first of its kind in Africa will be informative, entertaining and educative.

In her words, “Drumbeat is not just a local magazine; it will add a qualitative value to the lifestyle magazine market in Nigeria and beyond. I want to use Drumbeat to celebrate the positive sides of Nigeria, its people and events.

It will also feature places within Nigeria and around the world.

The 64-page magazine, which will be sold all over Nigeria, including the United States and London will be launched on Friday, May 3, 2014 at the Night Shift Coliseum, Opebi, Lagos.

The event, which will be graced by the Special Adviser on Social Development to President Jonathan, Mrs. Sarah Pane will have the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom as Father of the Day; Chief eunice Onokpasa, Mother of the Day and Chief Dominic Oneya as the magazine presenter.

“This publication’s guiding principle is to educate, inform and entertain our readers in a way that has never been done before. So, our unique selling point is: ‘Bringing out the best in you,’” she said.

Currently, Ijorogu-Reeds is using Crown FM and Melody FM (DBS), which cover the entire Delta State and its neighbouring villages for her weekly radio programme.

With its in-depth reporting of issues in the country and across the globe, the publisher General Manager, Sales and Distribution, Akinola Salu (left); Marketing Manager, DStv, Mrs. Chioma Afe; General Manager, Marketing and Retention, MultiChoice noted that the magazine would compete Nigeria, Martin Mabutho; Regional Manager, Mnet Africa, Mrs. Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu; and Public Relations Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria, Ms. Caroline Oghuma durfavourably with others on newsstands. ing the Media launch of DStv Boxoffice and Catchup held in Lagos last Thursday

With BoxOffice, MultiChoice enriches TV offering in Nigeria ULTIChOICe has officially M launched BoxOffice in Nigeria, in what is yet another move to provide DStv subscribers with the ultimate in home television entertainment.

BoxOffice is a service that allows subscribers to conveniently rent and watch the latest blockbuster movies in the comfort of their homes, right on their DStv explora decoders.

With BoxOffice, subscribers can now rent and keep movies for up to 48 hours, for N400 per movie, and your first movie is courtesy of DStv Nigeria. Thereafter, customers using the service may choose to use any of the flexible payment options to rent and make anytime movie time with

BoxOffice.

Box Office will give subscribers access to a wide variety of movies from comedy, drama and family movies, to horror, fantasy and a whole lot more, including a selection of great Nollywood titles such as Plantain Girl and In Her Shoes to start with.

Managing Director of MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe says that with BoxOffice, DStv Premium subscribers can enjoy the best and latest of hollywood and Nollywood on their explora decoders.

“DStv services like BoxOffice form part of a bigger MultiChoice strategy to use cutting-edge technological innovation to help people enjoy some of the best entertainment available at a time that’s convenient

to them.

“And with the all-new explora decoder, we’re taking on demand video to a whole new level, by offering suscribers an experience that mimics the Internet, but on a decoder, and without the high data bills.”

“With this innovative service,” Ugbe adds, “our subscribers can watch the latest blockbusters before they become available on TV, legitimately. “BoxOffice delivers quality, simplicity, choice and convenience at the touch of the Green Button” BoxOffice on explora: With up to 20 movies at any one time, the DStv explora is packaged with a brand new, stylish hD user interface, which makes finding favourite

movies on BoxOffice so much easier.

Content is displayed using hD poster-art – just like an Internet video service. In addition, the explora has powerful search features that help subscribers find movies quicker and easier as it searches across the electronic Programme Guide. explora’s remote control further enhances the experience with dedicated shortcut buttons to BoxOffice and other viewing options. You can also watch a trailer of the movie before renting.

For years, MultiChoice has distinguished itself as Africa’s leading pay-television operator with a presence in 49 countries on the continent and its adjacent Indian Ocean

islands.

It provides premium television services — DStv and GOtv which are supported by world class subscriber management services. DStv provides the best local and international channels, including first-run films, documentaries, children’s programming, news and sports.

As pioneer in pay-tv, it has continually developed technology that makes information and entertainment easily accessible and available catering for a broad range of family viewing requirements.

Being a proudly African business, the company has continuously invested in the development of those communities in which it operates, enhancing education through initiatives such as MultiChoice

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66 | Monday, April 28, 2014

GlobalStocks

FINANCIALGUARDIAN

Wall Street plunges as Amazon tumbles; indexes slip for week .S. stocks dropped on U Friday, pulled lower by a selloff in consumer discretionary stocks as bellwether names Amazon.com and Ford Motor fell in the wake of their quarterly earnings.

Amazon (AMZN.O) was the S&P 500’s worst performer, down 9.9 percent to $303.83, and other high-flying sectors dropped along with it. Social media names slid, with Twitter (TWTR.N) losing 7.1 percent to $41.61, and the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index .NBI falling 2.4 percent as investors once again shied away from riskier sectors.

The Global X Social Media index ETF (SOCL.O) tumbled 5.3 percent, its second-worst performance since its debut in November 2011.

Still, even with Friday’s decline, the S&P 500 finished nearly flat for the week. The benchmark index remained within 2 percent of its alltime intraday high.

Amazon’s stock declined a day after the company reported a jump in quarterly revenue, which was offset by sharp increases in spending.

Ford Motor Co (F.N) shares fell 3.3 percent to $15.78 after the No. 2 U.S. automaker reported first-quarter earnings that missed expectations. The company’s results were hurt by higher warranty costs in North America.

The two weighed on the S&P index of consumer discretionary stocks .SPLRCD, which dropped 1.7 percent and ranked as the worst-performing sector of the day.

“What that says is people are using any strength at all to raise some cash because they think the market is going to test lower,” said Ken Polcari, director of the NYSE floor division at O’Neil Securities in New York.

Investors continued to pay attention to geopolitical

strife over Ukraine, creating some nervousness heading into the weekend. U.S. President Barack Obama and four European allies agreed on Friday that Russia failed to live up to terms of the Ukraine peace accord, and would coordinate on a response to “impose costs” on Russia, the White House said.

While the situation has taken a backseat to corporate earnings recently, investors remain on edge over the possible result of escalating tensions. Visa Inc (V.N) said late

Thursday that U.S. sanctions on Russia were hurting its card transaction volumes.

Visa’s stock dropped 5 percent to $198.93 and weighed on the Dow. On the upside, Microsoft Corp’s (MSFT.O) earnings topped analysts’ forecasts, while investors were cheered by the software company’s new emphasis on mobile and cloud computing. Microsoft’s stock edged up 0.1 percent to close at $39.91.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI fell 140.19 points

or 0.85 percent, to end at 16,361.46. The S&P 500 .SPX dropped 15.21 points or 0.81 percent, to 1,863.40. The Nasdaq Composite .IXIC tumbled 72.777 points or 1.75 percent, to 4,075.561.

For the week, the Dow fell 0.3 percent, the S&P 500 dipped 0.1 percent and the Nasdaq lost 0.5 percent.

While companies are clearing a lowered bar for earnings, estimates have been improving. Profits are now seen rising 3.3 percent this quarter, down from the 6.5 percent growth rate estimat-

ed at the start of the year, but above the low of 0.6 percent seen last week, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Healthcare names were among the biggest gainers after LifePoint Hospitals Inc’s (LPNT.O) results. The stock advanced 6.3 percent to $56.87, while Tenet Healthcare (THC.N) jumped 9.1 percent to $46.11 and Community Health (CYH.N) climbed 6.6 percent to $39.92.

In the latest economic data, U.S. consumer sentiment rose to a nine-month high in

April, according to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan index. But the U.S. services sector expanded at a slower rate.

Volume was modest, with about 6.26 billion shares traded on U.S. exchanges, slightly below the 6.57 billion average so far this month, according to data from BATS Global Markets.

Declining stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the New York Stock Exchange by a ratio of 2 to 1, while on the Nasdaq, five stocks fell for every one that rose.

Some traders at a stock exchange

Treasuries soar on refuge from Ukraine tensions REASURIES rose for the T fourth time in five weeks as the escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine as well as weaker-than-forecast reports on housing and jobs spurred demand for the safety of U.S. government debt.

U.S. 30-year bond yields reached a nine-month low yesterday as the Group of Seven nations prepared more sanctions against Russia and as Ukraine’s government said separatists had seized international monitors as hostages. New home sales fell the most in eight months while first-time jobless claims posted the biggest climb since December. The Federal Reserve meeting April 29-30 is projected to produce further reductions to monthly bond-buying while April nonfarm payrolls data on May 2 is estimated to show faster jobs growth.

“Yields reflect a scenario of moderating price pressures and growth that has yet to impress” as well as “the escalation of Russia-Ukraine tension,” said Christopher Sullivan, who oversees $2.3 billion as chief investment officer at United Nations Federal Credit Union in New York.

Benchmark 10-year yields fell six basis points this week, or 0.06 percentage point, to 2.66 percent in New York, Bloomberg Bond Trader data showed. The price of the 2.75 percent security due February 2024 rose 1/2, or $5 per $1,000 face amount, to 100 23/32.

The 30-year yield fell eight basis points to 3.44 percent, touching 3.42 percent, the lowest since July 3, and is down from 3.97 percent in January. A rally in the bonds pushed returns past 10 percent in 2014, the best start to a year in at least two and a half decades.

Thirty-year debt has gained

10.3 percent since Dec. 31 through April 24, the most for the period based on Bank of America Merrill Lynch data that go back to 1988. The broad market rose 2.1 percent and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index returned 2.3 percent.

While bonds gained on the outlook for subdued inflation, shorter-term notes have lagged behind on speculation the Fed will raise interest rates at some point next year. The difference between two- and 30-year yields narrowed to 3.01 percentage points yesterday, the least since June.

Real yields on 30-year notes have fallen about a percentage point since November to 1.93 percent, the lowest level since August, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The yield on Treasury 10year notes has fluctuated 0.22 percentage point

between 2.81 percent and 2.59 percent this month. That compares with ranges of 0.23 percentage point in March and 0.21 percentage point in February.

“The market is seeking data it doesn’t have and it’s not willing to make a move without it,” said David Ader, head of U.S. government bond strategy at CRT Capital Group LLC in Stamford, Connecticut.

“We’re in a bloody range.”

Hedge-fund managers and other large speculators reduced their net-short position in 10-year notes futures in the week ending April 22, according to U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission data. Bets that prices will fall outnumbered long positions by 145,865 contracts, a decline of 16,413 from a week earlier.

The Treasury will auction $15 billion in two-year floating rate notes April 29. That was the size of the initial offering of the securities in January

and an increase of $2 billion compared with the previous two offerings. The U.S. sold $96 billion of fixed-rate notes this week.

First quarter growth in the economy was 1.2 percent at an annual rate, hampered by a colder-than-average winter, and less than half the 2.6 percent from the previous quarter, the Labor department will report on April 30, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg before the April 30 Commerce Department report. The core personal consumption expenditure index will slow to 1.2 percent at an annual rate, from 1.3 percent the previous quarter, according to a separate survey.

Jobless claims increased by 24,000 to 329,000 in the week ended April 19, the most in a month, an April 24 Labor Department report showed.

New-home sales dropped 14.5 percent to a 384,000 annual-

ized pace, lower than any forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg and the weakest since July, Commerce Department data showed April 23.

The Labor Department will report the U.S. added 215,000 jobs in this month when it releases nonfarm payroll data, according to the median forecast of 41 economists in a Bloomberg News survey. The jobless rate is projected to decline to 6.6 percent from 6.7 percent, according to a separate survey.

“The weather-related impact of the weaker economic data in the first quarter should start to fall away,” said James Caron, who manages money in New York at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, which oversees $61 billion of fixedincome assets. “The market is stuck very much in a waitand-see mode. We know the

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INTERVIEW

Things Nigeria and France should be doing together...

• Why France intervenes in troubled African countries • How France is co-operating with Nigeria at the UN Security Council Apart from collaboration in building a more responsive security architecture for Nigeria in the war against terror and insurgency, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Jacques Champagne de Labriolle was very elaborate in his survey of the various sectors that strategic bilateral relations between the two countries could bring benefits to citizens. He spoke with Foreign Affairs Editor OGHOGHO OBAYUWANA. Excerpts.

OR example, Schneider is needing a lot “...F of transformers to do their job in electricity distribution and transmission and a transformer is basically a piece of heavy metal that will become hot when you change the voltage of electricity, this is the very simple and very heavy stuff. It does not need to be done in France or in china and then exported to Nigeria it should be made in Nigeria...”

Recent reports have it that France and Nigeria have decided to co-operate in the fight against terrorism and insurgency. Can we have details of this collaboration?

On the general lane, one may say that bi-lateral relations have been ascending since the end of military dictatorship you may remember that French President Chirac came here in July 1999, which was a few weeks after General Obasanjo was elected the first civilian president, and this was a new beginning in the bilateral relationship ever since the relation have been improving and this is becoming more and more obvious now but there is long treat that is at work, it is the policy of balancing our relationship with Africa generally and in west Africa we want to discuss more with all the country’s including Nigeria, off course it is the leading country in the region we are present as a country in most Africa states, we know the people, the governments we are interested in understanding exactly what have been and what we can do to work with as part of our global foreign policy...

What I can say is that if you look back you can see that there was a very good working relation between Chirac and Obasanjo and there was also a good relationship between Sarkozy and President Jonathan when he was interim president and there is now a good relationship between President Hollande and President Jonathan.

This is an historic feat and it will not stop, it will not be interrupted it will continue to be what it is, which is something that exists beyond administrations. So when President Hollande was here for the centenary of Nigeria and again I wish to say that I see a lot of symbolic value in the fact that the French president was a special guest in this Nigeria historic event...

President Hollande said we are close to Nigeria in their fight against terrorism. For some time the ideal of Nigeria was that the insurgency was a domestic affair and it has now be obvious in the last two years that even if there is a strong domestic dimension in all these, there is also in the insurgency a regional dimension and in fact a global dimension, a certain way for some people to believe that terrorism may be a political choice that is legitimate or a genuine line of action, this is not what we think we think that it is deemed to fail that is it deemed to go backwards and all the people involved we believe that political progress is going in another direction so indeed we have made it clear that we do our best to help Nigeria to fight terrorism because Nigeria’s fight against terrorism is the same with the one we had to fight in the past...

Now on the details of it, this is not a matter, which is meant to be public so it include intelligence it include sharing information and data, things like that is not meant to be made public as far as we can help, its is going, you know very useful way, which is that we have good relations with the neighbouring countries and we can share views and information what is going on.

But still what can be regarded as the French approach in terms of the modus of your support, does it involve logistics? Equipment sup-

Champagne de Labriolle

plies and so on?

I see the security development in this region as a worry in the sense that it is very difficulty to say that only one country is concerned with terrorism, it is always more less regional issue very soon the terrorist groups will move through the borders will play hide and seek trying to take advantage of the rule of law, which is basically you cannot go in another country when you have a security force so there is a way for more co-operation, this has been developed for some time between Nigeria and neighbours and this is a trend we are ready to support.

The regional dimension is what I believe is where we can help best, you were saying that the terrorist are coming from Cameroun they are not coming from Cameroun they are just coming and going very easily because never ever was the border really secured. It is a matter of exchanges, legal and illegal that have gone for decades that now has a consequence that is very difficult to prevent people crossing the border which is the problem because security forces of other country can not go after them in another country, this is not the state of international relations as we speak.

Our ideal, which is drawn from the lessons we learnt in the Sahel is that for a long time terrorist have been hiding in neighbouring countries, sometimes having deep rooted shelters and things like that, it is part of the action against terrorism to address this, so we come to think that instead of speaking of borders and trying to see that the specific lines between two countries be not crossed, a deep analysis would put at the centre of the thinking that it’s a region, it’s a border region, which is at stake with people from both sides that may have problems that have to be addressed for terrorism to recede.

I have said earlier that terrorism is also a consequence of a certain state of things in terms of economic, social and political development and this has to be addressed within the frame work of inclusive strategies that is something that we can help and as we have a good record working with the neighbouring countries

indeed we can discuss with them and with Nigeria on how best is the way out of this crisis.

We certainly believe that Nigeria can use it, (take advantage of it) in fact what we’ve been trying to do is to create a new frame-work for new kind of relation between countries, developed countries, developing countries in all the countries. We cannot believe that the traditional co-operation relationship is enough, the needs are too big the needs for money, the need for technology transfer, the need for more relations so to deal with these, the French president organised early December last year the summit also called Elysee summit, that was a summit which was centred on security issues but it of course it discussed development issues.

We thought, after what happened in Mali and how it went should be discussed and this is what we have done and also why some people turn to terrorism and we ended up looking at management of other issues and management of development and to take the example of the French-Nigeria relations we obviously have a situation, which is different of what we have with the French speaking countries in the region, we have in fact in France at least five million people, who are of African decent from the different neighbouring countries and all the time creating relationship between Africa and France.

Every day, there are some people, who, in France and in the French speaking countries, are organising things, doing contacts, doing a number of things that lead to what is called close relations, Nigeria we don’t have that we don’t have a, twinkle of cities we don’t have twinkle villages so we are trying to organise what we think is needed for a strong relationship, which is to go beyond the relations between the two government as I said before and as I speak the relations between the government are better than ever in history but that will not be enough, we have more than sixty million people in France and here is far

above hundred and sixty million people, we have need to organise contacts and relations at the level where it will be directly useful for development.

Beyond the abstract, what are the benefits in the practical sense, of the newly proclaimed French-African Foundation for Growth?

What is in it for Nigerians?

The foundation for growth is meant to coordinate efforts so that there be a new kind of relationship between the public sector and the private sector, between the private companies of both countries and that many initiative that have been seen in the past to be more co-ordinated, be centralised so that there is like a kind of opening data bank for people, who are looking for partners, for people, who are looking for money, for people, who are looking for investment to make in fact one of the main ideal is to create a better knowledge of the work force and to create a new financial source between the developed countries and the developing and the emerging countries so that more money that is now circulating in the finance system be invested in productive development sector.

It is not a particularly your ideal it’s just that it does not happen in fact investment in Nigeria is not strong enough there is a need for much more investment and this further investment will not come from Over sea Development Assistant (ODA).

It has to be open in a way...So this foundation will be something that will work at the level of the African continent not a specific region, certainly not a specifically linguistic zone and to discuss opportunities for development with basically and interesting this is what we want to say that we have heard that a number of companies, we’ve realise that they need to make more effort in vocational training, investment, to be able to produce something here, for more manufacturing in Nigeria and they so far don’t have a place where they can go and say this is what we want to do, where can we connect a network of people, who do the same, we have seen that when we where trying to organise in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a system for scholarship we have been having for years, for decades an official system for scholarship and its just not enough for the needs, so we turned to the companies and we told them you are making good money in Africa you need to contribute more to vocational training in Africa and that is part of the government policy and the companies will do it out of co-operate social responsibility but even beyond this as an understanding that it is their interest that the society will develop not only their business because if a company develops alone in a country it will not bring development it will just bring royalties for some people.

But in fact the ideal is to sot of make co-operate social responsibility wider and to put it at the level of the needs, which are huge as we speak in fact as we where discussing the result of the millennium goals for development and all such of things we realise that though every figure was known on the percentages and things like that still, what is needed in this country is much more bigger than whatever was needed in our country in the past.

Never ever in history did we have a population, which was half under 18 what we call the medium age in France as I speak is 43 we’re an old country and never ever we will need a university with 50,000 students already a few thousand students was already a big university because even after world war two when there was a famous baby boom, which led to so many consequences and social and political development we never had the pressure that exists in developing countries.

Thanks to very high demographic growth and pending real development and the happening of what in school demographic transition, which means that the growth of population will be reduced by a change in the priority of people, a lot of efforts will have to be made to accommodate the young genera-

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tion so this more and more companies are aware of it, more and more companies are looking for work force that is trained and that is available, where it is needed, so an effort is made on our side, to sot of co-ordinate so that all the good will and all the effort be centralised in places where exchanges happen, is like a stock exchange where you can go and find something.

In terms of higher education and training the ideal is to focus on the increase of what is called human capital, which is for the time being, a bottle neck for Nigeria development just as lack of electricity or lack of infrastructure are also bottle neck and creating infrastructure is a matter of time, decision, money, creating human capital, knowing what is already available, this is what we intend to do.

So we take a society like Nigeria we don’t have ready knowledge of the country because it is not a French speaking country and we don’t have the many social links that we have with the French speaking countries so in our mind this foundation for African growth will be particularly useful in the country where we don’t have a traditional presence but in fact its not meant to play one against the other, it is meant to help bridging both as is needed in a developing countries of the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), region focusing on human capital, focusing on youth, focusing financial flow and focusing a development of our economic presence, economic presence as the French president explained when he discussed with president, when he and President Jonathan made a speech during the French-Nigeria business forum, which was held at the same time of centenary ceremonies and conference.

The ideal is to change a certain trend that is precisely what makes a difference between regular relation and partnership. We are trying to shift from foreign trade which is: I make stuff and I sell it to you and we are discussing now with Nigerian industrialists, we’re discussing with Nigeria minister of investment, trade, and industry so that there will be more links between French and Nigeria companies so that there be industrial joint ventures.

A typical example is what the French company, Schneider is doing its a company that is in electricity especially distribution of electricity. For example, Schneider is needing a lot of transformers to do their job in electricity distribution and transmission and a transformer is basically a piece of heavy metal that will become hot when you change the voltage of electricity, this is the very simple and very heavy stuff. It does not need to be done in France or in china and then exported to Nigeria it should be made in Nigeria this is what Schneider is trying to do that you need Nigerian work force and you need investment that make a sense that is you have to have a knowledge of the market, you have to create a kind of industry where the supply of transformer unit, which are basically simple industry of devices will be made here, which will create jobs everything that creates added value in Nigeria is good.

So as we speak, I was mentioning Schneider because Schneider is one of big French company is a group, which has invested here over the last ten years a lot and is one of the many foreign companies who are interested in the reform of the electricity sector, there is a lot of reform going on, privatisation, number of changes in the roads and Schneider is interested in that already working with some state who are trying to organise themselves as fast

If there was better electricity supply it will be much easier to have a better mass transportation, better distribution, better railways but we can do that but we need better electricity, if you want to develop an industry in this country you will need electricity because most machines do work with electricity we are no longer at a time when they were working with steam

Champagne de Labriolle

as possible within the frame work of new regulations and their basically in Rivers State and in other states in the south, they are working in Edo, I wouldn’t say anything wrong but I know they are very much in Rivers and they trying to cover the big numbers of needs, a company like Schneider is able to contribute like the German company, Siemens in big infrastructure work like organising very high tension lines and changing them into semi high tension lines as they will be doing sooner in Abuja, in fact the project was signed when the French president was here.

A substation will be build here in Nigeria, in Abuja there is only one substation and as we speak is not enough and a number of lines and substations are needed so that the electricity supply can be distributed evenly, which will stop the number power cuts because the power cut is not only when there is not enough electricity but also when the distribution system is over wieldy which is what is happening now and paradoxically, there is enough electricity in Nigeria, for Abuja but it is the distribution system that is not enough so electricity is our priority, it is in fact Nigerian priority.

That electricity supply is a bottle neck for development, its obvious and most of our companies are delaying investment in this country because of difference in the electricity supply situation with what they have in France, I believe that our electricity production is seventy times than it is here and the companies are used to regular and cheep supply they pay for, they have their subscription, they pay for it and they are paying a price for regularity supply, that is what we don’t have here.

If there was better electricity supply it will be much easier to have a better mass transportation, better distribution, better railways but we can do that but we need better electricity, if you want to develop an industry in this country you will need electricity because most machines do work with electricity we are no longer at a time when they were working with steam, we need electricity and because there is no electricity every small or big company is obliged as we speak, to organise for electricity, autonomy and self sufficiency and the result is very high production cost.

A lot of the delay in industrialisation of Nigeria is linked to high cost and the cost is not that of work force only, its the cost of having your own electricity plant because if you don’t have it you are very dependent on the regularity of the public supply and if there is a problem you may lose what is the added value of your services typically a great distribution company and we have some of the biggest in the world they are also American, German, Italian, south African distribution company like Shoprite is trying to develop them here.

They are used to working in conditions

where you have to be self sufficient the co-operative advantage of French distributors is speed and guarantee of expected what we call the change of coats which is that you can import, export and sell frozen product without them be frozen and melted several times which is not good for health and in fact its forbidden and as long as there is no regular electricity supply the question of cost of production in Nigeria will be at the centre of things and the question of cost of product for Nigerian consumer will be a real problem. so improving electricity is no doubt an emergency, everybody knows it everybody was trying to help not only us but we’re certainly part of the effort.

Every partner of Nigeria in fact is interested more or less in some cases Nigeria could do much better like feuding, and things like that, you don’t need so much electricity but you need it and if you want to make real good money, you need transformers to transform and the added value will be in the transformation in some cases you don’t need much and in some cases you need to guarantee to your client that the product that you are selling is good and comes from a sophisticated and guaranteed transformation process so without electricity no good processing and that’s the problem.

Even with the strategic relations between Nigeria and France started during the days of late president Yar’Adua, how high is the volume of trade and how healthy is the current trade balance?

Our trade volume is big in fact if we count what we could exchange, both import and export, which is the way we describe in fact economic partnership if we count in dollars we more than $6 billion because we, French buy a lot of Nigerian oil and Nigeria supply to France is very important, which is between 20 per cent and 40 per cent of what we buy outside and of course thanks to the good work of French company, ‘TOTAL,’ which is by far, and has been here for the last 50 years.

Many French investors in this country have invested thousands of billions for a long time and most of what Total is doing is indeed onshore where the level of investment is very important and a lot of technical knowhow and a lot of money just to give you an idea in a regular onshore or in field the cost of 1 barrel, the actual cost of oil out of the ground may be between 10 and 20 dollars sometimes less, well indeed up-shore especially in the beginning it can be 75 so then the cost of an oil barrel in the market which is now close to an $100 you imagine the profit is completely different and the companies need different rules because investing indeed up shore and in onshore, its completely different and then working in the deep sea is more complicated but they have much less people.

Well when you’re onshore you have to have a kind of cooperate social responsibility that is completely different and the excess of people you are waiting to distribute money in all works of life, which makes life difficult. So as we speak a barrel in the market, most of Nigeria oil is good, the Bonny light is good and its about an hundred dollar so is one of the best price, this is good as Arabian light very bright and better.

Yes, but this is not how refinery CEO will think, he don’t think in terms of identity they think in terms of chemistry in fact the price of oil is good but the price of oil is not too high as we speak and you are aware over the last five years that there was a big change in the oil market some countries importing before especially the United States of America are no longer importing even Saudi some surplus in the market so that’s the oil and the same gas which has changed completely the economics of oil and gas in the world and make every analysis and prediction, which was done five years ago completely useless because what is happening now is not what the industry was anticipating every time so total in fact is investing a lot, they have announced already that they are building a new platform which is called ‘EJINA’ where they are working with the Chinese oil company and this is a matter of 10,15, billion dollars so it takes huge things and this require the kind of engineering, which is long drawn relationship, it is not at all a market relations where you can buy something in the morning and sell it in the afternoon it’s different and that requires a kind of long drawn partnership, which is exactly what we are in first to do as a government because what we stand for is prosperity and sta-

bility for everybody beyond oil which is our main sector as we speak we are precisely in fact trying to diversify our investment in Nigeria both in geographic terms and in sectoral terms.

So a good example from this point of view is the French company ‘Lafarge’ which is doing cement and they have a plant in Abeokuta, they have a plant in Calabar, they have a plant in Gombe, and they are in fact as we speak discussing doubling the capacity of the cement plant in Gombe because some development is occurring in the north and rule of the game in cement industry is that if you want to sell it at a good price you can not transport it to a long distances because the added value of cement bag is not much so if you transport it to a long distance you will loss money or you will sell it at high price, which will make no economic sense for housing and construction and public works in general.

So this obliges in the cement industry to have many plants which are not too far from the market and diversification requires that you have a cement plant in the east, north, south and one in the centre and proper economics require that you have fair competition between producers so that they don’t take advantage of some sot of monopolistic situation to sell you that stuff at a high price, it is usually what happens when there is a monopolistic situation so Lafarge in fact have been doing this for the last 15years and now they have strong industrial capacity here, which is the second largest after the one by Aliko Dangote and as we speak we exported last year 1.7billion Euros of French stuff to Nigeria which is 2.2 or 2.3billion dollars and we count 1.3 as we speak and this is in fact wide arrear of thing counting from the refined oil product to cars, to some small planes to medicine, industrial products, manufactured products, food, wine, all that.

We believe rather sound kind of export and with roughly more than $2 billion, Nigeria is our second client in Africa after south Africa but the exchanges of the first in Africa because we don’t buy oil from south Africa so that’s the different between biggest partner and biggest client and what I am trying to do as the French ambassador to Nigeria is to make Nigeria our first client and this we believe we can do because we have usually a share of African market, which is high and here in Nigeria already with the 2 billions that we do that is only 3 per cent share of the market so we believe we can sell more in this country and we assure that we will do it when the development will disseminate.

So, we are...the fourth foreign investor in Nigeria, we are the second in Africa and we hope to develop this kind of relations.

What are the various levels of co-operation between Nigeria and France at the United Nations?

This is very important for us. We have supported the move of Nigeria to go back to the Security Council because we believe the Council of which we find ourselves a member as you are aware is the core of the international, political legitimacy since Nigeria came back to this security council which is the first of January this year we have good relationship that has developed in several cases especially the ones that we are directly interested in, that is fighting terrorism and voting a number of resolution of the international situation.

We have very recently and we had an opportunity last week to commence the choice of Nigeria when European ambassadors were received by the new Foreign Minister, Aminu Wali, Nigeria has voted to support Ukraine in the present crisis, which have been provoked

by Russia and Nigeria had a position, which said we believe that the UN chapter was violated in this case, which is also the European position so in this case we have very similar views as we have terrorism and we have also discussed recently, and we also discuss, as I speak what should be done in Central Africa Republic to help the country to get out of the crisis so there are many fields in which we’ve just been close, it helps us to have a common view and to defend the same position and therefore to help finding a solution or at least showing the way to a good solution.

We are fortunately have two offers in the UN,

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INTERVIEW

Things Nigeria and France should do CONTINUED FROM PAGE 72 a kind of automatic positioning, which shows that people are not interested in finding a solution, they just want their position to be defended but what we are interested in is being pragmatic and this has very often underlined quite rightly the voting record of Nigeria in the UN is very consistent over the years. The credibility of the country is high and her issues. Typical issues on which French and Nigeria have worked closely in the UN system not in the security council but in the UN system is what happened last year about innovative financing as Nigeria during the year 2013 was the share of something that is called Pilot Group on innovating financing for development, which something that we are the permanent secretary of and therefore we have been working last year quite closely with the people here who are in charge of this file, the development ministry and this is why the French minister came here January to be Part of the international meeting which was organised by Nigeria here Abuja which was in the annual section of the Pilot Group here.

Weber e are still discussing but probably this year is Chile that will take over from Nigeria because this is a yearly chairmanship, it is an annual one, it has to turn, technically is an ideal that every of the 60 members should take their turn so that we have a programme for 60 years. The ideal was that each country has its way to work and to address issues and if we agree on the objectives we can progressively create concerns on how we should get to take decisions in the field of innovating financing.

Basically for us we include tax on air ticket for example very little tax and many air ticket that are sold makes big money and the figure were impressive during the meeting in Nigeria here in Abuja and we also believe but on this there is not much more international support that the huge profit that are made in the financial speculation should be used for, should be tasked and a little part, symbolical part should be levied and dedicated for development as far as we are concerned, we have implemented the ideal on task on air ticket already some time ago and it was done in 2006 and we are levying in fact dozens of millions of dollars that we give to a UN organisation, called UNITED which is fighting HIV and AIDS and United is distributing in fact their money according to population that is infected with AIDS at times there is big unitary money here in Nigeria.

The role of France in Africa (in terms of troops deployment and interventions) has been seen by some people as an infraction on certain peace-keeping and conflict resolution functions of the African Union. Of course you want to react to this?

Well, the basic situation is that there should be African solutions for African problems, for us it is not an absolute rule but the policy of African union, so the ideal is to develop stand by force, which will be ready to intervene if needed and this is being built but it is not build yet pending when this will happen...

Some will like to do it but don’t have them, some have them but won’t do it we are ready, so we are in fact not seeing it in terms of doing the job of others, we are the only one who can do it as we speak and we are acting in terms of emergency, this is what we have done in Mali, because we do it over night well the UN could do it but it takes 18 months, before the AU can do it may be it takes at least 6 months we can do it over night that’s the difference and that is the service we are offering to our interlocutors.

This is going far beyond the traditional defence agreement that we have with some of the French speaking countries not all of them depending on whether they like it or not in fact we have been led to intervene on most of the countries, which we don’t have defence agreement and we have not intervened in a number of countries where we have it because they did not need it.

Basically there is a line of action and this is very, diplomatically speaking its important because there is misconception, yet there is no conflicts because AU cannot do what we do, they don’t have the people... just don’t exist as we speak. When it exist, we will be only too happy not to do it but we are bound to do it to avoid massacres that’s what we’ve done. Now there is a line of action, which is that there is

emergency action then there is a military operation proper and then there is a development policy to try to get out of the crisis and to remove the causes of the crisis.

So there are three completely different elements, the emergency action as far as we see it should not be too long, this is intervening because there is an open crisis, this is what we had to do in Mali, this is what we are now doing in central Africa republic and our ideal is not to remain alone in there so for us working with ECOWAS, AU,UN on Mali is a continuous line of action because if you want to do a military intervention because there is something going on what you need is standby commando forces.

If you want to organise a military action that is most structured what you need is security forces, military forces and if you want to restore order what you need is police forces and this is very different, is not the same kind of people and if you want to have an exit in policy crisis you need development money and development investment so that the people who are more less rebelling will be more satisfied with governmental action and this will not be done by the AU, this can be done only by the International community and as far as police forces are concern we have the problem in Mali as I speak we will have the problem in central Africa republic that what is needed is not 500 commando what is needed is 1000 policemen and its very difficult to find police men in Africa and in the world.

Most countries have an army and if they are at peace they can propose contiguous brigades, several brigades because they don’t need them, they are not at war and this is what many countries are doing in fact we French we are not particularly a big contributor to the UN peace keeping operations but a number of countries are doing it and this is for military but which country has so many policemen that they can propose them outside usually there is a situation, we don’t have enough in your own country and for us we can propose cooperation we have units, who specialise in training the others but we cannot send French policemen.

We don’t have enough at home and if ever parliament hears that we are exporting policemen instead of putting them in French suburbs, we will have problems so as everybody as the same problems the ideal is that when the time of military action ends and turns to peace keeping rather peace keeping is for police, peace restoration is in fact for the army when it turns to peace keeping and restoration of the law and other this is for police job not military and if you want to find enough policemen for any action, anywhere in the world you will have to ask the whole world.

No continent is able to send enough people to specific destination so our ideal in this is that the line of reaction is always the same, who ever can do something when there is an emergency do it when there is fire call for fire men and then you will organise for more permanent action and that is clearly for the AU to do and then you organise for exit crisis policy which the AU cannot do at the time because their action clout in economic and social terms is very limited so our ideal is to organise as soon as possible so that there be perspective and that’s why as I speak we are trying to organise for a creation at the end of this year of a peace keeping operation but what we are witnessing now is suppose to be AU action.

Am talking about CAR but this is also what happened in Mali and the perspective there is no contradiction, they may be contradiction because if you want to give money to Mali, whom do you give it to? Do you give it to Mali? to ECOWAS, to AU, to RedCross , to UN, this is a matter of politics and choice what is needed is co-ordination and fact.

We didn’t need to intervene we are not making any intervention without the request from the local authority and as we speak we don’t make any intervention without a UN resolution that’s why we have done in Mali and this also what we have done in fact in CAR. I can see cases where it will be so urgent that do not ask for resolution precisely where defence agreement are meant. it is to create permanent frame work for possible action and we are changing our system this is has been announced years ago and it is going on in fact President Hollande when he made a speech during the human security conference here in Abuja, he mentioned that we are changing our military system in Africa because we believe that the situation is very different now from what it was 30 or 40 years ago

and we don’t need the kind of Bases we had before in Senegal, in Djibouti, in Gabon, things like that we need a superb system with less people but probably able to be more so that they can assist whatever happens. So a change has been decided, there is a white book in France is about this that has been adopted by parliament and our ideal is that the probability of conflict between two countries has diminished over that last 40 years.

There is hardly in fact any open conflict between African countries. Thank GOD the continent is more integrated, now average so what is needed is not to protect one country against invasion by another, what is needed is to be able to help government to face insurgency or rebellion. That is not the same kind of weapon, it’s not the same type of military concept because you don’t stop an insurgency the way you stop a rebellion, the way you stop an invasion, you don’t need air force, you won’t do it with very fast jet you will need helicopters, you won’t do it with many tanks, you will do on the presence on the ground and if possible friendly with the population.

This is completely different and we’ve been changing, slowly our system but now it has reached the point where in fact it require a new kind of agreement because what we were able to organise in the 60s and what we want to do now is different so in the last years we had to go to Ivory Coast, we had to go to Mali, we going to Central Africa Republic that’s about it and in each time it was emergency and quite urgent and I believe we are acting like fire men, flying fire men at that but we are not here to do the job instead of the local government and instead of the AU and in fact in Mali, we’ve been quite close with ECOWAS, helping ECOWAS to organise their military operations, and then to restore order, trying to fight terrorist who are trying to centralise Malian authority in the north then helping the earlier force to be turned into MUNISMA, which is except for Nigeria the same Africa contiguous but under UN financing, which gives more stability to the operations.

Having a MUNISMA is also a guarantee that there will be a connection between what will be done in the military terms and what will be done in police and development terms which is also very important for the future.

Coming back to Fraco-Nigeria relations, as we speak, what are the fruits of strategic relations between France and Nigeria in real terms?

What can one say is the level of investments by French corporations in Nigeria today?

This is maybe a summary. I have said, if you want to induce for example more investment in the sector you will not have it over night, you have to change roles so that now its ready for more investment, you are not going to invest yourselves otherwise it means that the government will divert everything and then the capacity of economic system to react to the needs of the country is diminished so i think overall, our relations are going well, I have talked about the fruits of investments. They will roll in more once the power sector is fixed.

We have seen, heard the ministers of finance, trade and our government officials.

One has visited three times in a little more than one year and so for us, its big priority and the fact that he remains in charge will enable me to remind him as soon as the government is running that he has promised to come back to Nigeria, he will come certainly in the coming months. After the elections we just had, President Hollande will stay in charge in France. I am not sure we will see him any time unless they is an international event that will requires it, the fact he has come, he was the second president to visit here in history, its already, I believe a good thing technically a visit can be organised any time, politically you usually will not make it when there is election coming...and the president came in February that was almost a year before the elections and it was a good time for it, its more difficult to make a visit just before an election, its not the same thing, it will not be understood same way.

We have a very good relationship with president Jonathan administration, better than ever, I have said it many times and they can continue like that, our problem is probably that insurgency is a bit working against the French and that our presence, which we would like to be spread all over the country and the time is limited, we cannot have anybody it is forbidding by a law the state under in fact its not a law its decree, in the states of emergency when its difficult for us to be in the north because there are threats so it will lead us to work more with Nigerians that’s why my effort as I speak is trying to switch to more training, training in French language, vocational training so that we can work with people as we relate with the Nigerian state. #

Monday, April 28, 2014 POLITICS EXTRA 75

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

‘Denying Jonathan the presidency will be costly’ From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja HOUGH he has been pretty consistent T that he had yet to determine whether to seek re-election next year, the debate over the merits or demerits of President Goodluck Jonathan throwing his hat into the ring has taken the centre stage in the media and other public discourse.

Even with the president’s position that he was still consulting and would soon tell Nigerians the outcome of his consultations, his “sympathisers” and opponents are at each other’s throat, trying to justify their positions.

For instance, during the recent Southeast zonal rally of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu, the party’s governors literally forced the president to make his declaration on their soil, but he would not budge.

Yet, with the “pressure” mounting on a daily basis, can Jonathan ever disappoint his “admirers” by saying no to their request to seek re-election come 2015?

Odilim Basil Enwagbara, a development economist, financial analyst, newspaper columnist and social commentator does not think so.

Taking a deep look at the political dynamics of the country; the fast changes that are occurring on the political landscape, he warns that unless something is done to slow it down, it was capable of triggering sectional or ethnic conflicts.

“This could trigger some sections of the country to begin to think that they have had enough of this country, and seek the United Nations intervention, to the extent that UN could say, yes, you are free to be on your own,” he said.

Citing the case of the South Sudan as a reference point, Enwagbara pleaded that Nigerians should not allow the situation to get to that level.

Specifically, he believes that the way the politicians, particularly in the ruling PDP and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) are fighting each other; the way people are being beaten up by the police; the way people are moving fast from one party to another and back and forth; and the way some groups of people are ganging up to ensure that they win election is not a sign of good omen for the country.

“For instance, I could have believed that what is good for the Northwest, having been in power for a long time, and has been good for the North Central, having been in power for a long time, and has been good for the Southwest, having been in power for a long time should be good for the South-South, and the Northeast and Southeast,” he said.

“What I’m saying in essence is that there is no urgency for a group of people to say that Goodluck Jonathan should go for a second term. They have not justified it to me.

“If they have a serious justification, I would support them but from what I’m seeing, there are some people who are very hungry to get power and they want to use all excuses in this world to get to power. Now my concern is why shouldn’t it be?”

Enwagbara recalled that about seven years ago, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, for eight years, was made the president of the country, and nobody protested.

He said: “North never protested; Southeast, Southwest never protested. It was his ‘Third Term’ that he was going that everybody protested. But why is it that a South-southerner for the first time is going to taste power in this country and everybody is calling the president names, without sufficient reasons.

“I want us to be very careful because there is a way you push somebody to the wall. The president today is like that elephant in a China shop that can break everything if care is not taken.

“I believe that there is need for the North to take it easy because if the North is patient enough and allow the South-southerner to rule for eight years, the North could have it in 2019, and they can do eight years without strings attached.

“But the situation now is that the North wants power at all cost and wants to take power from whomever that can be involved in the marriage.”

However, Enwagbara warned that the condition set by the person coming into the

Enwagbara

We know what happened after the Civil War, when, of course, the North was ruling Nigeria, but the economic power was not in the hands of the North.

So, what does the North want? Do they want just power for the sake of wielding political power? I think that if the North is patient and allows Jonathan to do four more years, nobody, including the Southeast will challenge them to have the next eight years marriage, who has nothing to lose joining the marriage, could be more difficult for the North to withstand.

“We know what happened after the Civil War, when, of course, the North was ruling Nigeria, but the economic power was not in the hands of the North,” he said.

“So, what does the North want? Do they want just power for the sake of wielding political power? I think that if the North is patient and allows Jonathan to do four more years, nobody, including the Southeast will challenge them to have the next eight years.

“And when it has those eight years, it would not be under pressure. No Southwest would be putting pressure on the North about any condition to go in this marriage with them.”

Enwagbara continued: “I don’t think that stampeding Jonathan is in the best interest of this country because why I’m saying this is that the Southwest has nothing to lose joining the APC but has a lot in being in the PDP because it has done its eight years in the PDP. “If power rotation is what we are talking about, it means for power to rotate to the Southwest, it will take another 20-30 years.

So, they felt they have finished with the PDP, and they could join another party.

“And they think that maybe Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is anxious to become president of this country, that is why he has come together with Bola Ahmed Tinubu at all cost to form APC.

“I have no objection to APC, but I wanted an APC that could be freer and fair; APC that would have been national; APC that would bring all ethnic nationalities together, and not Yoruba and North coming together and forming APC, because the two of the three major groups want to come together and rule Nigeria at all cost.”

EMINDED that there were also promiR nent Igbo, who are in the APC, such as Senators Chris Ngige, Annie Okonkwo, and Governor Rochas Okorocha, Enwagbara said he was not speaking directly about the Igbo.

His words: “I’m not talking about Igbo people, may be you misconceived me; I’m saying that a South-southerner must do eight years. I’m not talking about the Igbo; I’m saying is that what is good for the Northwest should also be good for the South-South.

“I’m not against anybody. What I’m saying is that the Northwest is trying at all cost to take power, bearing in mind that they have had their turn. If we have to build Nigeria on equity and fairness, we should allow other geopolitical zones to taste the power; that is what I’m saying.”

On the inconsistencies in the ruling party when it comes to operating its rotational policy in its constitution, as experienced during Jonathan’s transition from Acting President, and during the 2011 elections, leading to claims and counter-claims on the existence of a pact Enwagbara said even though the nation is not being run on the

basis of the PDP constitution, there was need for fairness and equitable.

According to him: “I’m not trying to say that it is the PDP constitution we are running in Nigeria. What I’m saying is that if we should be fair and just, we would have allowed all (to taste power).

“What I’m saying is that so many people are trying at all cost to ensure that Jonathan never goes for a second term.

“I’m not a PDP member; so, whether they rotate or they do not rotate is not my business. What I’m trying to state in essence is that why shouldn’t it be possible for a South-southerner to be allowed to do eight years. It may not be Jonathan; it may be another person so that that sense of equity will be there.

“You cannot also deny the fact that that is the zone that produces the bulk of the country’s revenue; in fact, more that 80 percent of the nation’s earnings come from there.

Therefore, they are capable of inflicting much wound on the nation’s economy.”

Enwagbara was emphatic in his note of warning. “Whenever it happens, you will see that the Ijaws, the Niger Deltans would make this country ungovernable,” he said.

“I’m assuring you with my blood flowing.

I’m trying to tell you the truth and they have all the reasons that nobody will fault.

“I believe that allowing another four years (for Jonathan) will definitely calm the frayed nerves so that nobody will begin to bring issues of resource control or that they want to leave Nigeria or that Nigeria is unfair to them; that is what I’m trying to say.

“As a man who loves this country, who wants to see this country, I believe they (North) should see reason because what happened in 1966 should not be allowed to repeat itself again in this country.

“We must find a way to allow the elephant in the China shop gradually to have its way and leave the house. Jonathan’s next four years will not bring Nigeria down.

“Even if he is destroying the economy, which he is not because I haven’t seen anybody who has done better than Jonathan in the economic field since some of them have failed Nigeria.

“But let us pretend to be naïve; so, the naivety will claim wisdom. When we always claim wisdom in the presence of the fool, the fool will fight you back because the fool will feel that you are displaying your wisdom in his presence.”

Enwagbara prayed that, “my northern brothers, whom I love a lot, whom I have a lot of respect for should come together and think out how to allow this South-southerner (Jonathan) to have the next four years and then the power will return to the North.”

“If it (northern presidency) is going to be APC, PDP or PDM, or whatever so-called, I will assure you that all of us will support it because the North will have to have it after this.

“After all, since the return of democracy, the North only had three years and I have to be fair as well. But we cannot take it by force; we cannot rush it.

“It is just like somebody who has been inside the pit, and he is about being brought out and he is saying be quick because very soon I will die.

“I want the North to think because they have a longer-term thought. Or do you think they will sit back idly and allow power to slip away from their hands? How do they react in the event of such development?”

Enwagbara said these are the questions people should ask, adding, “northerners cannot just be thinking that others don’t have powers because today, whether you like it or not, the type of power that Gen. Ibrahim Babangida had when he was a dictator; or Buhari had as a dictator, Jonathan has it because he is the Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces.”

“He (Jonathan) can mobilise the military; he can use them anywhere; he can use them as he likes; he can do anything he wants with the military. So, the same power those people had is what he has now.

“So, what I’m trying to say in essence is that there is no justification for this rush. Let’s give the South-South — we may not call it Jonathan — let’s say our brothers in the South-South, who might feel marginalised for a long time, another four years. Let us all, together, build a better Nigeria.”

76 Monday, April 28, 2014

THe GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sports DAWN Games officials okay venues, facilities

2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers

Nigeria draws S’ Africa, Sudan

By Adeyinka Adedipe IGeRIA has been drawn in N Group A alongside old foes, South Africa, Sudan in the draws of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which was held yesterday at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) headquarters in egypt.

A team would also join the three teams after a first and second round games involving Namibia, Congo Brazzaville, Libya and Rwanda.

Group B has Mali, ethiopia, Algeria - plus winners of Sao Tome e Principe versus Benin/Malawi versus Chad.

Group C comprises of Burkina Faso, Gabon, Angola - plus winners of Liberia versus Lesotho/Kenya versus Comoros Islands.

Group D, which has been dubbed the group of death has Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroun - plus winners of Swaziland versus Sierra Leone/Gambia versus Seychelles.

Group e is made up of Ghana, Guinea, Togo - plus winners of Madagascar versus Uganda/Mauritania versus equatorial Guinea. Zambia, Niger, Cape Verde Islands plus winners of Tanzania versus Zimbabwe/Mozambique versus South Sudan are in Group F, while Group G has Tunisia, Senegal, egypt - plus winners of Burundi versus Botswana/ Central African Republic versus Guinea Bissau.

In the first round games, Liberia takes on Lesotho, Kenya battles Comoros

Islands, Madagascar lock horns Uganda, Mauritania will square up against equatorial Guinea, Namibia takes on Congo, Libya confronts Rwanda, Burundi takes on Botswana, Central African Republic battles Guinea Bissau, Swaziland takes on Sierra Leone, Gambia plays Seychelles, Sao Tome clashes Benin, Malawi takes on Chad, Tanzania battles Zimbabwe, while Mozambique plays South Sudan.

The two-legged first round games will see the team named first hosting the opening leg on the weekend of May 16 and18. The return leg will be played on the weekend of May 30 and June 1. The aggregate winners advance to the second round CAF President, Issa Hayatou in his remarks said the Africa Cup of Nations continues to attract global interest with over 10 billion viewers recorded for the last edition in South Africa in 2013.

“The qualifiers serve a major phase towards the final tournament. Forty-nine teams will fight for 15 places for the final tournament.

On his part, Fouzi Lekjaa, president of Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee said his outfit is prepared to ensure the best of conditions for a successful tournament.

“We are committed to organizing a successful tournament. The tournament is also an opportunity for the youth on the continent to participate and showcase their talents to the world.”

Lagos FA Cup: Quarter-finals hold today He road to the Onikan T Waterfront Stadium for the finals of the 2013/2014 Lagos FA Cup is becoming stiffer by the day with the quarterfinals holding today at Agege Stadium, Agege beginning from 8am.

The competition, powered

by Winners Golden Bet, will see 2011/2012 finalist, Fame FC take on Collins edwin in the first match that has all the tapping of a highly entertaining and explosive match given the way the two sides play.

Bridge Football Club will confront their Metro Pro league counterpart, AS Racine FC in another encounter expected to produce fireworks. Young and enterprising Nath Boys Football Club will take on last edition’s runners up, MFM Football Club, the NNL side, which also parades young and talented players.

Meanwhile former champions, First Bank Football Club has booked its place in the semi finals after seeing off Clique Sports FC, the side that accounted for the exit of the defending champions, COD United in the round of 16 beating them by 2-0. They lost by a lone goal to exit the champi-

onship.

Lookman Oshun, head coach of First Bank FC stated that the match was very tough going by the scoreline.

He said that they had to prepare extra hard for the match when they read in the media how the side that parades arguably the youngest team in the championship stopped the defending champions, COD United who are playing in the NNL like First

By Samuel Ifetoye He local organising committee for the T Development Agenda for

Manchester City’s Ivorian midfielder, Yaya Toure shields the ball from a Crystal Palace player at Selhurst Park yesterday. Man City won 2-0.

PHOTO: AFP

AFN Golden League: Junior athletes in fine form ORMeR junior athletes took best forms beating others in were the first three, while in women category, Fconcluded over the stage at the just the men 200m with a time of the second leg of the 21.14secs, a victory, which he Margaret etim (53.93), Oladoye 2014 AFN Golden League at the University of Ilorin mini stadium with brilliant performances in their events.

Former junior athletes now competing in the senior ranks-Divine Odududru, ese Brume, Deborah Odeyemi and Akerele Omeza won their events. Over 300 athletes competed in the classic, as few elite athletes were away in the USA competing in the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, which also ended at the weekend.

Competing in the senior category for the first time after quitting the junior ranks, Delta State born Divine Oduduru produced one of his

described as the beginning of good things ahead. The second and third positions went to Odele Tega (21.23secs) and Briggs Tamunotonye (21.58secs) respectively.

One of the highlights of the competition was Amaka Ogoegbunam’s trilling performance in the women 400m hurdles where she ran an improved time of 57. 31 seconds to win the race. Nwaogu Ann was second with 59.24secs, while Aminat Odeyemi came third in 59.82secs.

Other results includes the 400m men where Akerele Omeza (47.33), Fasasi Adekunle 47.36) and Ifiok Andrew (47.63)

Funke (54.41) and Ali eleojo (54.82secs) came first, second and third respectively.

However, the 200m women was won by Igbinosun Isoken in 24.24secs, while Africa youth champion, Deborah Odeyemi came second in 24.49secs and ezealah Nkem was third with 24.49secs also.

In the 4X100m women, the Customs (45.91secs), NSCDC (46.21secs) and Kwara (47.18secs) came first, second and third respectively, while the 4X400m men saw NSCDC (3.15.68), Lagos (3.18.54) and Customs (3.18.98) taking the first, second and third positions respectively.

Premiership: Chelsea dents Liverpool’s title hopes HeLSeA blew open the race C for the Premier League title by ending leaders Liverpool’s 11-game winning streak with a hard-fought victory at Anfield.

Demba Ba gave the Blues the lead at the end of the first half after Steven Gerrard’s slip and Willian capped the win with a breakaway goal in stoppage time.

The result ends Liverpool’s 16match unbeaten streak that had seen them march to the top of the table and means the title is no longer in their control.

Manchester City can draw level with them if they win their games in hand, while

Chelsea are two points behind, within touching distance should Brendan Rodgers’ side slip up again.

Blues boss, Jose Mourinho had threatened to field a weakened team at Anfield ahead of his side’s Champions League semifinal second leg with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, but helped by a disjointed Liverpool display, he produced another tactical masterclass to earn the points.

Liverpool’s attempt at a trademark fast start failed in the face of a wall of blue shirts, with the visitors’ five-man midfield sitting deep to protect their back four.

Chelsea were keen to disrupt the home side’s flow in other ways too, taking their time over set-pieces from the first minute onwards to visibly frustrate Liverpool’s players as well as annoying their fans.

The game’s pattern of play was soon established. The Reds were still dominant in terms of possession, but on reaching the edge of the Chelsea area, they struggled to open up a typically well-organised defence.

After Liverpool wasted a rare sight of goal when Mamadou Sakho blasted over, they failed to bring a meaningful save from Mark Schwarzer in the

first half.

Aside from a skidding Ashley Cole shot and an appeal for a penalty when Mohamed Salah’s shot hit Jon Flanagan’s hand inside the area, Chelsea did not threaten much either.

But, with Branislav Ivanovic solid alongside rookie Czech defender, Tomas Kalas at the back, their game-plan of frustrating their hosts was working and received an unexpected bonus before the break.

Gerrard miscontrolled a Sakho pass then slipped inside his own half, allowing Ba to run unopposed towards the Kop before coolly slotting the ball past Simon Mignolet.

Western Nigeria (DAWN) tagged: DAWN Games were given pass mark by the delegates from other five participating states that include Ogun, Oyo, Osun, ekiti and Ondo. They expressed satisfaction and look forward to an improvement before the start of the Games scheduled to hold from May 16 to 24.

According Lagos State Director of Sports and member of the local organising committee, Kweku Tandoh: “…I am quite happy to note that each of them is satisfied with the level of the facilities and questions that related to one or two issues that came up were also answered. From the feedback that we got from the five states, we are quite satisfied that even if the festival was to begin tomorrow, we can say that Lagos State is ready.

The Zonal Coordinator, National Sports Commission, South West, Steve Olarinola, said Lagos State being a pacesetter, is ready for the competition even if it was to start now with what he saw.

“We are coming to a state where we had the last sports festival and the same facilities used for the last festival will be used for this Games.

And Lagos State being a state of excellence, we expect nothing less from them. With what we have seen, this is actually to confirm how committed Lagos State is to being excellent in whatever they do.”

Registration for Season Seven of MTN Lagos Street Soccer begins eAMS have continued T trooping to Teslim Balogun Stadium, the registration centre of this year’s Lagos MTN Lagos Street Soccer Championship, which began across the state last week.

The competition, which is in its seventh season, will see teams jostling for the mouthwatering prize money in the (U-15) junior, female and male (open) categories of the competition.

According to the executive Secretary, Deji Aladegbemi, the tournament has grown over the past seven years as evident by stakeholders’ enthusiasm and community patronage, as more teams are willing to be part of this year’s championship.

Aladegbemi admitted that the introduction of the junior category has improved the event and made the tournament more attractive and competitive.

Screening of players has commenced in order to eradicate age falsification and use of mercenaries.

“We were overwhelmed with the turnout and performance of the junior category during the last edition, underpinning the Ministry and MTN Nigeria Telecommunications quest for an improved and sustainable standard of the competition,” he said.

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Nigeria tackles Indonesia, India, as World Team Table Tennis Championship begins ORE than 200 countries M are in Tokyo, Japan for the 2014 World Team Table Tennis Championship, with Team Nigeria opening its challenge today with matches against Indonesia and India in the men and women events of the competition.

Having failed to gain promotion to the championship division in 2012, the Segun Toriola-captained side will taste action on the opening day in Group E when they take on the Asians in the first match of the preliminary round at the Yoyogi Gymnasium in Tokyo.

Indonesia is rated below Nigeria and table tennis buffs believe the Asian side should not pose a threat to Nigeria’s ambition in the competition.

Tomorrow, Nigeria will confront the two toughest teams in the group – Czech Republic and Belgium, while on Wednesday, the team will take on Bosnia-Herzegovina, with its last group match on

May 1 being against Canada.

Also today, the women team, led by Germany-based Funke Oshonaike, will face their Commonwealth perennial foes, India, in the first match of Group G. Tomorrow, the team will battle Bulgaria and Italy, while on Wednesday, it will clash with Portugal. The team’s last group match is against Turkey on May 1.

The top teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinal stage with the last four teams gaining promotion to the championship division.

In 2010 and 2012, Nigeria’s male team made significant efforts to progress to the elite division but their efforts were not enough to secure a place for the team.

In the men’s seeding of Group E, Czech Republic is the top seeded team in division two. They, alongside Belgium, are rated above Nigeria in the group.

Nigeria’s female team has not

been impressive since 2008 in Guangzhou, China. In fact, at the 2012 edition in Dortmund, Germany, the team managed to escape relegation to division three.

This year, the trio of India, Italy and Turkey are seeded ahead of Nigeria, while Portugal and Bulgaria are lower than Nigeria in the rating.

Despite the country’s position on the ranking table, Oshonaike and Aruna Quadri believe the high rating of Italy and Czech Republic cannot intimidate Nigeria when they confront the European sides in Tokyo.

Customs’ Abayomi Joshua tries to outwit Godwin Ikonshul of Union Bank during their 2014 DStv Premier Basketball League game at the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium, Surulere…at the weekend.

Mandela Commonwealth Nations, America Unifying Championship

Stevie Wonder leads top stars to Nigeria, as Ultimate Commander begins camping MERICAN music superstar, A Stevie Wonder, is among the top stars expected in Nigeria for the country’s leg of the Nelson Mandela Commonwealth Nations and America Unifying Wrestling Championship, which will also hold in South Africa, the United States and Britain.

According to the Project Coordinator, ace musician, Tee Mac Itseli, the multi-talented Grammy Award winning star, will lead a strong cast of stars from the United States, Britain and South Africa, who will join Nigerians (musicians and comedians) to spice up

the wrestling carnival in honour of the late Mandela.

According to Tee Mac, “we have some interesting stars coming for the event, but I think the coming of Stevie Wonder for the event further testifies to the power of Mandela name to draw the best in all areas even in death.

“Soon, we will come out with the list of all the participants in the championship, which is a collaboration of the South African High Commission, American embassy and the Ultimate Wrestling and Charity Organization (TUWCO).

Obiano condoles Onyeanwuna family, as Anambra mourns late star NAMBRA State Governor, A Willie Obiano, has joined the people of his state in De Ultimate Commander

162 schools register for Ibile Games “We produced champions in O fewer than 162 secondN ary schools will present Table Tennis in the boys and athletes for this year’s Lagos girls’ categories for Mainland State Sports Festival tagged Ibile Games 2014, which kicks off on Wednesday, the organisers of the event have revealed.

According to the Technical Sub-Committee of the Games Main Organising Committee (MOC), 112 public schools, 35 private schools, nine missionary schools and six military/para military schools have so far registered in the junior category.

It added that entries by sports show that athletics has 129 school entries, boxing has 33, table tennis has 104, while basketball has 53, among the other sports.

Preparation for the Games is in top gear, as the school with the highest number of sports entries, Eletu Odibo Senior High School, Abule Oja, Yaba, is already boasting that they are going to the Games to come out tops.

According to the school’s Games Master, Luqman Adeigbe, Eletu Odibo Senior High School has some athletes that have represented Lagos State in national competitions, adding, “our students won medals for Lagos at the National Schools Sports Festival in Port Harcourt and Ilorin respectively.

division, while five of our students are playing for Yaba Local Council Development Area, in the Lagos Junior League.

“We have good credentials going to IBILE Games this year and nothing short of overall prize is expected of my athletes.”

Adeigbe was a Lagos State boxer at the Oluyole ‘79 National Sports Festival.

To the Technical Director of Lagos State Basketball Association, Gbade Latona, the large number of entries in basketball will afford the state the opportunity to select a strong team for the DAWN Games 2014 coming up in May, the National School Sports Festival, National Youth Games and the National Sports Festival in Calabar, all coming up later this year.

Latona said: “The expectation is high especially for the numbers of schools that registered for Basketball. We are full of expectation to see great skills from these secondary schools like International School, Lagos and Ilupeju Grammar School. There is no doubt that Basketball will be keenly contested at Ibile Games this year.”

mourning the late national team star, Albert Onyeanwuna, who passed on last week in Lagos.

The legendary footballer, a native of Ifite Agbaja, Abatete in the Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State, was aged 78.

A release by Anambra State Sports Commissioner, Tony Nnacheta, describes the late Onyeanwuna as the “first superstar emotively created in Nigeria’s football pantheon: the sheer wizardry of his head-shaking dribbles remained etched in the memories of older citizens.

“Similarly, half a century after he played competitively,

his record as a speedster on the football field kept drawing complementary comparison with latter-day compatriots.

“Onyeanwuna is a Nigerian original, one of the last of our out-and-out patriots, who served Nigeria from the bottom of their hearts. He played from 1955 to 1964 as a member of the national team, then known as the Red Devils before they became the Green Eagles in 1960.

“He is remembered for his efficiency and effectiveness with both legs. Remarkably, not only did he never receive any red or yellow cards, he took—and scored—all the penalties for his team throughout his career: another feat unparalleled in mod-

Meanwhile, Universal Professional Wrestling Federation’s (UPWF) world champion, Nigeria’s Osita Offor, also known as De Ultimate Commander, has gone into camp to prepare for the championship, which will see him facing some of the top wrestlers in the profession.

The Nelson Mandela Commonwealth Nations and America Unifying Championship will take Nigerian, American, Canadian, South African and European wrestlers to South Africa, Britain, the US, Canada and Nigeria in celebration of the late South African legend, Dr. Nelson Mandela.

De Ultimate Commander said he has concluded consultations with top local and foreign wrestlers to ensure that he emerged from the bouts

with his title still intact, adding that he is going into a closed camp to ensure full concentration in his preparation for the event.

“I am training locally here with Jimmy Palm because I want this title to remain in Nigeria. “I have also been in touch with my coach, Jimmy Superfly Snuka, as well as the Barbarian and Earthquake because they are the ones in charge of my training. I am waiting for certain things before I join them in the US,” he added.

De Commander said the Mandela Championship will begin in the South African cities of Johannesburg and Durban on July 18 and 20 respectively, hold in Lagos (July 25), Abia (July 27) and two cities in Britain on August 1 and 3, 2014.

Arsenal clinic: Six Airtel rising stars depart for Rwanda

By Alex Monye Ix Nigerian youngsters, Sselected three boys and three girls, from the Airtel Rising Stars, a grassroots development programme sponsored by the telecommunications outfit, left the country last night for Rwanda, where they will participate in a one-week football clinic.

The clinic would be run by Arsenal Football Club of England, as part of its partnership with Airtel.

NFF President, Aminu Maigari (left) and former international, Paul Okoku, during the launch of the Greater Tomorrow Children’s Fund, a charity organization initiated by the retired football star in Abuja…recently.

Speaking during the send forth and presentation of the players to the media on Friday in Lagos, Airtel’s Media Director, Emmanuel Okpara, explained that the young stars would be groomed by experienced UEFAlicensed coaches from Arsenal, adding that the football clinic was aimed at exposing the boys and girls to the rudiments of soccer.

“Airtel’s decision to sponsor these six players to Rwanda was informed by the company’s desire to see Nigerian young stars excel in their chosen career in football. The boys and girls we have selected for the trip would be nurtured in all aspects of soccer.

“All arrangements have been put in place to ensure that the best facilities you can find in Arsenal are moved to Rwanda because we want these players to gather enough experience and in the nearest future play for the national team,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, Airtel’s Brand Manager, Obinna Anuchi, reiterated the key role the company has been playing in developing grassroots soccer in Africa, adding that the company’s talent hunt has contributed in reshaping football at the grassroots level in over 18 African countries.

“Our goal is to discover tal-

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Monday, April 28, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Obi Ebuka Onochie

The economy of every component unit of the federation (state) should shape its destiny by allowing every state the control of its resources

OR ages, outcome of conferences have always Fpeople been bellwethers or peep into the future of a which always birth decisions that affect them under the jurisdiction covered by the decisions. We can still remember the Berlin Conference of 1884 where the present direction Africans are towing was gainfully shared and tailored by European imperialists who still enjoy that leverage over Africa today. Berlin Conference also known as scramble for Africa was called for by the Portuguese but was organised by Otto Von Bismarck, the first German Chancellor at the time Germany was emerging world power just as conference of 1945 threw up United States as world power.

Various conferences at various times such as Malta Conference of 1945, Moscow Conference of 1945, Potsdam Conference, Yalta Conference, etcetera all produced decisions that shaped the future. National conference that is ongoing in Abuja is one that the outcome will either unite Nigerians and set us on the route to prosperity or one that will leave us wider apart than we were.

The future of Nigeria was entrusted to the hands of delegates the day President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned them for this national duty. At this point, we cannot say it is a call to serve as remuneration doled out to delegates is enough financial lure to bring even people without direction or idea to the table of discuss. As they always say, “the end justifies the means” and it is only in the end that we will evaluate the outcome of the conference and place it side by side with the financial payment to see if the conference was actually a call to serve or to eat. If many of their decisions go down well with majority of Nigerians, then it’s a call to serve but anything short of that makes the conference a summer job for our senior citizens who, incidentally by their actions and inactions, brought Nigeria to its present predicament.

The conference was set up to discuss everything but the unity of Nigeria just as God told Adam to avail himself the enjoyment of every fruit in the Garden of Eden except that which stood at the centre of the Garden. The people of Nigeria are set to take their destiny into their hands but not to tamper with the status of indivisibility of Nigeria. Abuja appears to be in the middle of Nigeria which also is hosting the conference and habours the symbol, power and authority that bind Nigeria together.

The question is can the delegates avoid the temptation in the middle of Nigeria that Adam could not avoid in the middle of Garden of Eden? The answer was in the news not long ago as Lamido Adamawa pointed to that fruit as Eve did to Adam and Nigeria who are against ‘no go area’ await to see if Nigerian Adams will bite the fruit. Our president charged the delegates to go to the conference with Nigeria at heart but from what has transpired even as the conference has barely started, one cannot be crucified to say that delegates came with six geopolitical zones and two regions at heart and not Nigeria. We are unceasingly hoping that the turbulent start of this conference will not hobble a desirable outcome.

Excluding the unity of Nigeria, there are a number of critical areas the delegates have and must look into with a view to reconstructing, reconsti-

The economy of every component unit of the federation (state) should shape its destiny by allowing every state the control of its resources and business environment and pay agreed percentage to the government at the centre as it was in the First Republic and is done in Germany, USA, India, Australia, and Canada and even in Brazil. It is misleading when some people say that some states will be unsustainable if fiscal federalism is reintroduced in Nigeria

Please send reactions and feedback for YOUTH SPEAK to:

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A demand for fiscal federation

Delegates at the National Conference tuting and restructuring. One of them is fiscal federalism where the component units of the federation will control their resources and government at the centre will have taxation power. This is one area the conference must not fail to vote into their decisions. If they succeed in everything but fail to entrench fiscal federalism, they have failed. Fiscal federalism will solve more than half of the problems we are facing at the moment as a nation. Dr. Azikiwe, Chief Awolowo and Alhaji Bello were able to achieve meaningful success in the early times of our independence because we operated it to a certain extent in their time, but who, when and why it was changed still remain questions no satisfying answers have

been given to the youths. Every reasonable Nigerian should discountenance the present structure of Nigeria’s so called federalism.

Deputy Senate president in far away Canada once called it feeding bottle federalism and he was right. Nigerians have also variously called it “amala”, lousy, centralised or hand out federalism and they are all right. How can we say we have federation when our governors converge in Abuja every month to share money? How can we say we have a federation when the Federal Government has kill-power over states and states in turn over local governments?

The economy of every component unit of the federation (state) should shape its destiny by allowing every state the control of its resources

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and business environment and pay agreed percentage to the government at the centre as it was in the First Republic and is done in Germany, USA, India, Australia, and Canada and even in Brazil. It is misleading when some people say that some states will be unsustainable if fiscal federalism is reintroduced in Nigeria. There is no state in Nigeria that has no resources especially human resources which when developed can take advantage of their environment to produce and multiply wealth. This will fasten development of this nation as states will engage in healthy competition for development, taking advantage of the resources and their locations just as Ogun State is taking advantage of its nearness to Lagos population. If we fail to establish fiscal federalism with this opportunity, then the prosperity we hunger for will remain century away from us.

Fiscal federalism will domesticate our ever roaming and nomadic governors who have virtually moved their offices to Abuja where each picks up financial hand out monthly like civil servants. Fiscal federalism will bring growth in the whole of 36 states that will collectively increase Nigeria’s GDP. Devolution of power which is crucial to new Nigeria can only be implemented soundly in a fiscal federation. Recent events in Nigeria especially as it relates to security have eerie echoes of Nigerian security situation in the 60s and delegates should keep this in mind as they approve and disapprove resolutions especially with the idea of fiscal federalism. Having something less than confederation and something more than the type of federation we have currently is the ideal thing for a new Nigeria.

• Onochie is a public analyst, living in Port Harcourt.