Wed 16 April 2014

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,893

www.ngrguardiannews.com

A cross section of women delegates at the National Conference in black attire mourning the victims of the Nyanya bomb blast in Abuja… yesterday. (STORY ON PAGE 4)

Gunmen abduct 100 school girls in Borno From Njadvara Musa (Maiduguri), Charles Akpeji (Jalingo) and Joseph Wantu (Makurdi) ORNO State is in the news B again for the bad reason as suspected Boko Haram gunmen in unmarked Toyota Hilux vehicles and motorcycles on Monday night attacked Chibok town, killing a soldier and abducting about 100 students of Government Girls Secondary School.

The bandits also torched the school and several other houses and shops in the town.

In a related development,

Death toll hits 75 in Abuja blast - Page 3

16 feared dead in Taraba, Benue violence suspected herdsmen on Monday killed 16 persons in Nwokyo village of Wukari Local Council of Taraba State and Agatu Local Council of Benue State respectively.

Chibok is a council headquarters, west of Sambisa Forests; and 141 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the state capital.

According to an eyewitness, Malam Apagu Yohanna, the gunmen stormed the town chanting God is great in Arabic, before firing gunshots at sighted residents and set

ablaze several houses and shops with petrol-bombs.

They later carted away several bags of grains and other food items into waiting trucks and buses.

Other property destroyed in the attacks, he added, include the torching of Girls Secondary School, Chibok.

“Some of the residents fled into nearby bushes and farmlands, as the burning of Girls Secondary School, houses and shops lasted for six hours before the attackers fled into the Sambisa Forests in the early

Bomb scare at National Assembly, Tambuwal donates blood to Nyanya blast victims - Page 3

S’Court upholds female child’s right to inheritance in Igboland - Page 4

hours of yesterday,” Yohanna added.

He further disclosed that “the insurgents, who were armed with several AK 47 rifles, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petrol-bombs, first attacked the military post and shot dead one of the soldiers before they abducted over 100 students of the torched secondary school.”

A resident, who escaped the attacks but spoke under anonymity, said: “Based on the information we had last night, no resident was killed

Gunmen abduct Kogi Speaker’s two children - Page 5

in the six-hour attack that claimed the life of one soldier at a military post.

“I also learnt that out of about 250 female students writing their Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), some were able to escape into the bush, while over 100 were abducted and whisked away by the attackers using a 911 truck/lorry parked and abandoned by its driver who was heading to Maiduguri, the state capital.

“Prior to this incident, gunmen have attempted thrice to attack Chibok, but this time around, they were able to acCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

GTB shareholders approve N50b dividend - Page 18

N150

PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO

U.S. Navy turns seawater into fuel •SEPLAT in historic debut at NSE •Seven Energy gets N40.8b facility From Collins Olayinka (Abuja), Sulaimon Salau (Lagos) (with agency report) MAJOR breakthrough is A imminent in the energy sector as there are indications that some United States (U.S.) Navy scientists have successfully developed a way to convert seawater into jet fuel, calling it a potentially-revolutionary advancement.

Meanwhile, SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc on Monday heralded a new era for Nigerian exploration and production companies as its shares began trading on the Official Trading List of the Nigerian Stock exchange (NSE). The company’s shares closed at N604.80 at the end of its first day of trading.

In a related development, an indigenous firm, Seven Energy International Limited, has secured $255 million (about N40.8 billion) equity funding from global investors to further develop gas supply opportunities in Nigeria’s energy market.

According to ‘The Huffington Post’, researchers at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) deCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

2 | NEWS Wednesday, April 16, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

16 feared dead in Taraba, Benue violence CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 complish their mission as they were in Chibok from 9.00 p.m. and had a

field day before fleeing at about 3.00 a.m.”

A parent of one of the abducted students, Yakubu Isa, lamented saying: “Seven of my children, including those of my elder brother and sister who are writing the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) in the affected school are still missing, and I don’t know whether they were abducted or killed after the school was set ablaze by the gunmen.”

When contacted, the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gideon Jubrin, confirmed

the attack in Chibok, but said he was yet to get details on the number of casualties.

He promised to get in touch as soon as he gets details on the attack.

The herdsmen-led attack, which at the time of filing in this report was still raging, also led to massive destruction of property which included the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) project in the village as well as worship centres.

Though the actual figure of casualties is not yet known but an eyewitness, who claimed to have escaped the trouble region through the whiskers, told The Guardian that over 10 persons were killed and several others in-

jured.

According to him: “The herdsmen who were dressed in military uniforms took the villagers unaware”, stating that apart from the killings”, several people who could not escape were burnt beyond recognition in their houses.

The Guardian also learnt that several persons, especially women and children who had earlier gone to the MDGs hospital in the village for medical attention, were as well burnt to death along side with the structure.

Confirming the report, the Police Public Relation Officers (PPRO), Joseph Kwaji, told The Guardian: “It had been confirmed that there is

crisis in Wakari Local Council but of now, we don’t have detailed information on the number of casualties and those wounded.”

Kwaji added: “As I am talking with you now, we have already drafted our men to the area.”

Speaking with The Guardian in Makurdi yesterday, the House of Assembly member representing Agatu Constituency, Alhaji Sule Audu, said the victims had gone to get sand with a tipper in the river which is about three kilometres away to the local council headquarters when the gunmen attacked and killed them.

Audu, who disclosed that the corpses of the victims

had been moved to the Obagaji town, the council headquarters, however, lamented that soldiers drafted to Agatu had continued to stay at Obagaji without bothering to patrol the nearby villages.

He, however, appealed to security operatives posted to Agatu not to restrict their movement to the council’s headquarters but to always move around and ensure peace in every community in Agatu.

The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Daniel Ezeala, while confirming the incident, said the remains of the dead victims had been deposited at the mortuary.

Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha (left); Chairman, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Adamu Mu’azu; Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi; President Goodluck Jonathan; Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, Odugade I and his wife, Olori Morike, during the centenary birthday ceremony of the Olubadan in Ibadan… yesterday.

PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM

SEPLAT in historic debut at NSE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 veloped technology to extract carbon-dioxide from seawater while simultaneously producing hydrogen, and then converted the gasses into hydrocarbon liquid fuel. The system could potentially trim hours off the at-sea refuelling process and eliminate time spent away from missions.

Currently, most of the Navy’s vessels rely entirely on oilbased fuel, with the exception of some aircraft carriers and submarines that use nuclear propulsion, reports the International Business Times. The ability to render fuel from seawater may change that.

Vice Admiral Philip Cullom said: “For us in the military, in the Navy, we have some pretty unusual and different kinds of challenges. We don’t necessarily go to a gas station to get our fuel. Our gas station comes to us in terms of an oiler, a replenishment ship. Developing a game-changing technology like this, seawater to fuel, really is something that reinvents a lot of the way we can do business when you think about logistics, readiness.”

NRL noted that the carbon and hydrogen gasses produced from the seawater extraction process are converted to liquids using metal catalytic converters in a reactor system and that liquid product contains hydrocarbon molecules with carbon levels suitable for replacing petroleum jet fuel.

The Navy successfully used

the new fuel-from-seawater process to power a radio-controlled scale-model replica of a World War II aircraft with an internal combustion engine.

Cullom added: “Basically, we’ve treated energy like air, something that’s always there and that we don’t worry about too much. But the reality is that we do have to worry about it.”

The NRL projects the new fuelling system could be commercially-viable in less than 10 years and could produce jet fuel that costs $3-6 dollars per gallon.

Forbes columnist Tim Worstall sounded a caution, saying the system could be great for the Navy, but he doubts if it will be an economically-feasible or energy-efficient alternative for people on land.

“We need more energy to go into the process than we get out of it. As a general rule, it’s not really all that useful. We want to produce energy, not just transform it with efficiency losses along the way,” he said.

The dual listing of the company’s shares on the NSE and the London Stock Exchange (LSE) follows the successful completion of its IPO, which was oversubscribed.

SEPLAT announced its intention to float on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 in which it said it was seeking to raise $500 million and thereafter list, simultaneously, on the NSE and LSE. Facts and figures that have emerged following the suc-

cessful completion of the book building exercise and allotment of shares indicate that SEPLAT offer was hugely successful and over-subscribed.

On Wednesday, April 9, 2014, the company announced that its Offer Price had been set at NGN 576 per Ordinary Share for shares to be listed on the Official Trading List of the NSE (the “Offer Price”) and 210 pence per Ordinary Share for shares to be traded on the LSE’s main market.

Based on the Offer Price, the total market capitalisation of SEPLAT at the commencement of conditional dealings will be approximately £1.14 billion (equivalent to $1.90 billion or N3.13 billion) (excluding the exercise of the over-allotment option).

The Global Offer comprises a base offering (the “Base Offer”) of 143,284,130 new shares issued by the company, representing 26.4 per cent of the company’s enlarged issued share capital (excluding the exercise of the over-allotment option) The Base Offer raised gross proceeds of approximately £300.9 million (equivalent to $500 million or N82.5 billion) while the Over-allotment Option shall consist of 10,336,183 new shares representing 15 per cent of the final amount allocated to investors outside of Nigeria (the “International Offering”) in the Base Offer.

The Over-allotment Option can be exercised for a period of 30 calendar days from April

9,

2014.

Reacting to the Development, Dr. ABC Orjiako, Chairman of SEPLAT said: “We are delighted with the support shown and happy to welcome a range of blue chip investors to our share register. Despite a challenging market for oil and gas stocks, the response has been excellent and demonstrates strong demand in both London and at home for a leading Nigerian indigenous E&P player” while the CEO, Austin Avuru, added that “we are already a leading indigenous independent in our home market but the opportunities opening up in Nigeria for companies like ours are significant.”

As the company stated in its intention to float announcement, the net proceeds of the Global Offer will primarily be used to acquire and develop new acquisitions, and/or pay down any additional debt raised in connection therewith, of both onshore and shallow offshore acreages, assets and joint venture farmins. Approximately $48 million shall be used to pay down in full a shareholder loan from Maurel & Prom International (“MPI S.A”).

A statement by the Chief Executive Officer, Seven Energy, Phillip Ihenacho, yesterday said the facility was secured from global financiers, including Singapore’s investment company, Temasek, International Finance Corporation (IFC) and IFC African,

Wednesday, April 16, 2014 | 3

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

The Abuja Bomb Blast

Bomb scare at National Assembly From Adamu Abuh, Abuja ARELY 24 hours after the B Nyanya bomb blast early Monday morning, dozens of workers yesterday afternoon scurried out of the National Assembly Complex following a rumour that bomb was planted within the complex.

At about 1.30 p.m., the

frightened workers were seen in their cars desperate to exit the complex. With the exception of a few, who felt it was needless to close shop, members of staff of commercial banks, eateries, and other ancillary services operating within the complex closed shop, claiming that a security alert ordered

everybody to vacate the premises in their own interest.

A woman simply identified as Madam Doris and one of those that stayed back, confirmed the bomb scare: “From nowhere, we just heard that everybody should run for his life because the CAN (Clerk of the National

Assembly) say make we run go our house.

“Everybody started packing to close from that 12 p.m. we heard the story. But I refused to believe the story because I know there is security in the area; I know say nothing go happen here.”

When contacted, an aide to the Sergeant-at-Arms to the

House, who asked not to be identified, laughed off the scare, saying that it must have been a figment of the imagination of mischief makers keen on creating panic among workers at the complex.

“This is funny, even though it is not funny to make people just abandon their places

FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, with a baby whose mother was injured in the Nyanya bomb blast, at Asokoro General Hospital in Abuja…yesterday

of work all in the name of creating fear and panic in them,” the aide said. “There was no instruction to that effect that they should vacate the complex. It is all rumour, and you know how our members of staff here behave, they just want to go home. It is unfortunate.”

Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, was at the National Hospital, Abuja, to empathise with victims of the blast, after which he also donated blood at the National Blood Transfusion Centre in support of the victims.

He urged the citizenry to put aside their differences and support the ongoing efforts to keep peace in the polity, saying: “As leaders in this country, we must all come together and support the government in addressing this challenge of insecurity.

“We should stop playing politics with the issue of insecurity. From what I have seen among the victims, I doubt if they are members of any political party. We should stop playing politics, we should address the issue and it is not about any religion.

“It is unfortunate; we must come together and rise to the challenge. I will go to the National Blood Transfusion Centre and donate some blood to the victims. And I call on well-meaning Nigerians who have the capacity to donate blood to please come out and donate blood and whatever is required for the survival of the victims.”

Death toll in Abuja bomb blast hits 75 From Emeka Anuforo and Joke Falaju, Abuja HERE was fresh discloT sure yesterday that the number of persons who died from the Monday Nyanya Bus Terminal Abuja blast has risen to 75 up from the initial 72 deaths recorded by officials, according to the Health Minister, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu.

But the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday confirmed that death toll has increased to 72 persons while number of injured victims scaled up to 133 The agency also disclosed that it has activated its information desk, which works round the clock, located on the second floor of National Headquarters building, and the agency can be contacted on 080320035335 or 09290577.

Prof. Chukwu said in Abuja yesterday that the total number of persons affected had been reviewed downwards to 215 as against the initial 236 released on Monday.

He said: “We were talking of 236, but now it is 215 because there might have

been some double counting. But now, we know better. But what has increased is the casualty figure because we talked of 72 yesterday.

“At this moment, we have 75 as those who are dead. So, you have 215 as total but out of the 215, 75 are dead. So, that is the current figures.”

The minister spoke as he visited the hospitals where the dead and living were kept.

On the number of deaths that might have increased between Monday and today, he said: “Yes, when we released the figures yesterday, we made it clear that it was provisional. It took us quite a long time for us to even release a provisional figure, but finally late last evening when we released those figures, we still issued a caveat that they are provisional because sometimes there may be double counting and sometimes there might be people who were not counted.

“Now currently, having taken everybody into consideration, including the movement of people, some new deaths since then, what we have now is that those

• No mass burial for victims • NEMA introduces emergency lines who have been able to be evacuated and captured in hospitals because if someone just have a spinal injury and walked away, it is possible we did not capture that.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria is expanding its capacity in the management of traumas in the country.

Chukwu, who made the revelation yesterday, said: “The patter of diseases is changing. That is why we have been doing things as government to also increase the capacity for trauma. As you are aware, the addition trauma facility at the hospital is ready and even used a bit of it yesterday but it will be properly commissioned in the next few days.

He said pathologists were working on the bodies that were dismembered, noting that the process may not be very easy.

He said: “The pathologists are working hard on that.

When you have pieces of flesh and meat here and there, they need to be properly sorted out. Sometimes

it is not as easy as people may think. So, as at this time, I may not be able to give this information. By the time pathologists are through, obviously we may have to revise the mortality figure. It will come. So, I plead with you to be patient and let us do it properly.”

He said the bodies identified by the pathologists would be released to the families, while those whose bodies could not be identified may be given mass burial.

“Government will not do mass burial. We have already started identifying along with relatives and we are going to do other things that pathologists normally do, including DNA. Everybody must be identified, except where nobody or no relative comes, we will then bury them decently,” he added.

NEMA Director-General, Mohammad Sani-Sidi while confirming the figure during a media briefing yesterday in Abuja, disclosed that a report received from one

of the hospitals yesterday confirmed the loss of one of the victims, bringing the total to 72 deaths.

He added that information from the hospitals authenticated that most of the victims have been stabilised, while some have been released to their families.

He, however, noted that appropriate arrangement was being made by hospitals and other relevant organisations for families of those that lost there loved ones to claim their remains.

Disclosing that some of the victims were still in critical condition, the DG urged members of the public to donate blood at these hospitals: Asokoro General Hospital, Asokoro; Maitama District Hospital, Maitama; Wuse General Hospital Zone 3; Garki Hospital, Garki; Nyanyan General Hospital, Abuja; National Hospital, Abuja; Nigeria Customs Service Staff Clinic, Karu; Abuja Clinic, Karu; Nasarawa State Medical Centre, Mararaba and Pan Raff Hospital, Nyanya Phase 4.

Condoling with families of victims who lost there loved ones, he assured of full compliance with the presiden-

tial directives on the medical treatment of the injured persons. President Jonathan who visited the site of the incident and victims in some of the hospitals had directed NEMA to collaborate with Federal Ministry of Health and hospital management authorities in settling the medical bills and ensuring speedy recovery for the affected persons.

Sani-Sidi also disclosed that DNA test would be conducted for some of the deaths that were burnt beyond recognition and their remains handed to their families as appropriate.

He, however, called on citizens to be extra vigilant and report every suspicious movement or element to the security agencies, and render maximum support to the emergency responders.

Regretting that the emergency alerting system in the country was very poor as response time is very critical in any rescue effort, he said government is making very critical effort in activating the three-digital emergency line. He assured that if the alerting system in the country were enhanced, the response time would also improve.

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

NEWS Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Confab delegates mourn, dress in black From Terhemba Daka and Karls Tsokar, Abuja N line with the sober mood Itheacross the nation, following bombing at the motor park in Nyanya , a suburb of Abuja on Monday, all the women delegates at the ongoing National Conference holding at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), wore black while the men had black stripes pinned to their clothes.

Presiding, the Vice Chairman, Bolaji Akinyemi said, “it is evident that all is not well with us as can be seen in our dresses today.’’

As deliberation on the security breach that claimed the lives of about 75 Nigerians in one fall swoop went on, the female delegates stood out in their black dresses, and, at every opportunity any of them had to contribute, their mournful mood and their deep sadness was most obvious.

The lamentation and sobriety at yesterday’s sitting was further deepened when the news of the abduction of about 100 school girls in Borno was announced to the house by Prof.

Bolaji Akinyemi.

In contributions reflecting their anger, bewilderment and displeasure delegates could not hide their discontent at the situation in the country.

Without exception, they condemned the bombings and kidnapping of the school girls raising questions as to what the military and Joint Task Force were doing at the time the convoy of vehicles taking the school girls away was passing.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga (left); Chairman, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, Dr. ABC Orjiakor; CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema; CEO, SEPLAT Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Austin Avuru and Chief Lulu Briggs, major shareholder, SEPLAT during the ringing of the bell ceremony on the floor of the NSE on Monday… in Lagos

S’Court upholds female child’s right to inheritance in Igboland From Lemmy Ughegbe, Abuja ULING as discriminatory and in conflict with the constitution of the Igbo law and custom that prohibits female children from inheriting their late father’s estate, the Supreme Court yesterday nullified the practice.

In its judgment on the appeal filed in 2004 by Mrs. Lois Chituru

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Ukeje (wife of the late Lazarus Ogbonna Ukeje) and their son, Enyinnaya Lazarus Ukeje, against Mrs. Cladys Ada Ukeje (the deceased’s daughter), the apex court held that the practice conflicts with Section 42(1)(a) and (2) of the Nigerian Constitution.

Cladys had sued the deceased’s wife and son at

the Lagos High Court, claiming to be one of the deceased’s children and seeking to be included among those to administer their deceased father’s estate. The trial court found that she was a daughter to the deceased, who died intestate in Lagos in1981, and was qualified to benefit from his estate.

Also, the Court of Appeal,

Lagos, to which Mrs. Lois Ukeje and Enyinnaya Ukeje appealed, upheld the decision, prompting their appeal to the Supreme Court.

In its judgment last Friday, however, the Supreme Court held that the Appeal Court was right to have voided the aspect of Igbo native law and custom that denies female children inheritance.

I alerted Defence Headquarters ahead Nyanya blast, says rights activist From Abosede Musari, Abuja ONDAY’S blast at Nyanya M Bus Park in Nasarawa State, which killed scores and left many others wounded, could have been averted had the Defence Headquarters responded appropriately to a security tip-off, an activist with the Rights and Democracy Volunteers, Sani Aliyu, said yesterday in Abuja.

Aliyu told a roundtable organised by Konrad-AdenauerStiftung Foundation to

discuss cooperation between civil society organisations and the media on the security challenge in Nigeria that about a week ago, he spotted some young men in town early in the morning with bands on their heads, smoking.

“I immediately went to the military headquarters and reported,” he narrated. “The boys themselves, in vehicles, came to the front of the military headquarters and stood for some time and the military

did not do anything.

“Yesterday (Monday), when the bombing happened, I went back to the military headquarters but they told me they couldn’t arrest the boys because they didn’t have the authority to arrest them.”

Meanwhile, Resident Representative of the Foundation in Nigeria, Hildegard BehrendtKigozi, has called on Nigerians to avoid polarisation despite the biting security challenges the country faces at the moment.

In her address at the discussion, she noted that such uprisings or insurgencies have occurred and are still occurring in many countries of the world. Therefore, Nigerians should rather tackle it than allow it to polarise the country.

She urged Nigerians to unite against the ugly trend irrespective of religion, ethnicity and other factors, noting: “What worries me about Nigeria is that I’m afraid of polarisation. It can be dangerous and everyone should avoid that by all means. It could lead to what nobody wants.”

According to her, no matter how unified a people are, there are always a few people causing problems for everyone, and Nigerians should not be distracted by the few; instead, the majority should work together to end the problems.

More so, other discussants at the roundtable advised the media to avoid being drawn into the blame game trap by politicians, as politicians and political parties will employ them to denigrate others on the security lapses just to gain edge.

Justice Bode RhodesVivour, who read the lead judgment, held that “no matter the circumstances of the birth of a female child, such a child is entitled to an inheritance from her later father’s estate.

“Consequently, the Igbo Customary Law, which disentitles a female child from partaking in the sharing of her deceased father’s estate is in breach of Section 42(1) and (2) of the Constitution, a fundamental rights provision guaranteed to every Nigerian.

“The said discriminatory customary law is void as it conflicts with Section 42(1) and (2) of the constitution; in the light of all that I have been saying, the appeal is dismissed. In the spirit of reconciliation, parties are to bear their own costs.”

Justices Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, Kumai Bayang Aka’ahs and John Inyang Okoro, who were part of the panel that heard the appeal, agreed with the lead judgment.

Lagos Assembly Speaker charges youth on politics, development

By Wole Oyebade NTIL Nigerian youths rekindle interest in sociopolitical happenings in the country, they may not see the much-desired national development they currently crave, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji said in Ibadan, yesterday.

Ikuforiji, at a lecture to students of the University of Ibadan (UI), said the youth, which constitute 65 per cent of Nigerian population, are in pole position to decide their fate.

According to him, “Nigerian youths, by right and nature, are the political king makers.

Blame yourselves if in 10 months’ time, you vote in politicians who lack capacity; who lack the wherewithal to make you entrepreneurs; who use you as objects of political thuggery; whose leadership has converted theaters of dreams to stadia of deaths.”

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Speaking on the topic: “100 years of nationhood: The role of the youths in politics and national development”, the guest lecturer observed that Nigerian youth have always been visible in the making of Nigeria, since its amalgamation in 1914.

Ikuforiji observed that Awolowo was 37, Akintola 36, Ahmadu Bello 36, Balewa 34, Okotie-Eboh 27, Enahoro was 27, when they led the struggle for independence after the death of Herbert Macaulay.

Only Nnamdi Azikwe was 42 at the time.

He added that most of the military administrators who governed the states under successive military regimes, some of whom are governors now, were less than 30 years.

Ikuforiji said: “Under 30s were also not in short supply with appointments; we have examples of MT Mbu who became Foreign Affairs Minister at 23 and Pat Utomi who be-

came a presidential adviser at 27 and so on and so forth.

“Why is it that this age bracket is today still sleeping in three-seater chairs in their parents’ homes? Why is it that this age bracket is today still collecting pocket money from their parents?

“Why is it that this age bracket is today so docile?

Why is it that this age bracket is today still incapable of feeding itself? Why is it that this age bracket is today incapacitated, unwilling, unable and incapable of asking questions?”

Ikuforiji said while it might be unfair to blame the docility solely on them, the youths of today must also be unwilling to accept failure for meaningful progress to be made.

The urged the youths to join political parties of their choice along ideological lines or better still, start a political party with identifiable ideological basis.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Nigeria to host World Economic Forum, organisers insist

By Olalekan Okusan with agency reports ESPITE the bomb blast that rocked Abuja on Monday, organisers of the World Economic Forum have insisted that the Africa summit would still hold in Nigeria’s capital next month.

In a statement monitored on AFP, the organisers said, “these tragic events will not stop us from delivering on our promise to host a world-class meeting next month.”

Abuja has hosted a number of high-profile international events, including West African and African Union summits, but the World Economic Forum conference has been described as the most prestigious meeting planned for the nation’s capital.

The forum said it was putting in place unprecedented security measures to protect delegates in Abuja.

“Our security plan for the World Economic Forum on Africa is already well under way and will be the largest security operation ever mounted in this country for an international summit,” the body said in the statement.

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Wednesday, April 16, 2014 NEWS | 5

Gunmen abduct Kogi Speaker’s two children From Kolawole Timothy, John Akubo Lokoja and Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku Lagos NKNOWN gunmen yesterday invaded the house of the Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Lawal Momoh-Jimoh at Okengwe in Okene Local Government Area of the state and abducted two of his children.

Speaking with The Guardian on telephone, Mr. Felix Udebo, special assistant to the speaker on Media confirmed the incident and explained that the suspected kidnappers broke into the compound through the fence around 4a.m Tuesday morning and made way straight to the room of the two children where the three-year old Afiz and Ogirima, seven-old male children of the legislator were sleeping and picked them up.

Thereafter, the kidnappers

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• Martins tasks security agencies on terror took the two children to their mother’s room where the woman at a gunpoint was asked to surrender her vehicle’s key to them. The gunmen equally ransacked the entire rooms while the speaker’s wife was held at gunpoint while their operation lasted.

After several searches, they demanded for the speaker’s phone number and went away with the two children in the car to an undisclosed destination. He said they also made away with a television, generating set.

The kidnappers were said to have shot severally into the air to scare away people in the neighbourhood.

Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr. Austin Akubo, who also confirmed the inci-

dent, said that apart from the kidnapping issue, an undisclosed amount of money was carted away by the hoodlums.

He further said that the whereabouts of the two children were still unknown as at time of filing in this report.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Emeka Emeh, also confirmed the incident, maintaining that the DPO and the area commander have been on their trail with a view to apprehending them.

The Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Saidu Madawaki was said to be holding a crucial meeting with the senior officers of the command over the matter.

Up till the time of filing this report there has been no demand for ransom from the kidnappers.

Meanwhile, the Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins has urged security agencies in to step up in their duties and work to ensure adequate intelligence gathering in the fight against terrorism in the country.

He made this known at the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos 2014 Chrism Mass held at SS. Michael, Raphael & Gabriel Catholic Church, Satellite Town, Lagos.

Martins, who was commenting on the recent bomb blast which occurred in the early hours of Monday morning in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja which claimed many lives and injured others bemoaned the dastardly act which he described as “a pain and a sore in the heart” and called on security agents to

NEMA organises awareness workshop in Kogi From Kolawole Timothy Lokoja O mitigate and prepare for flood in 2014, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has organised an awareness workshop for stakeholders in disaster management in Kogi State.

Speaking at the workshop, Co-ordinator of Abuja Operation Office of NEMA, Mr. Ishaya Isah Chonoko explained that the agency decided to organise the workshop in view of the 2014 Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) prediction and prepare towards reducing the impacts of possible flood disaster in Kogi State.

According to him, “the 2012 flood disaster was unprecedented in the history of the country with devastating impacts on lives, properties and livelihood, considering the severity of the 2012 flood, the level of destruction and fatality would have been worst if the yearly awareness creation and sensitisation had not been carried out at the beginning of the year.

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London confab to address safety, security in oil and gas sector THREE-DAY conference in A Dorchester, London will address issues bordering on health, safety, security and environment in the oil and gas sector.

The conference organised by Arrowville Energy Limited, Lagos, with the participation of Imperial College London, holds from May 26 to 28, 2014.

Executive Chairman, Arrowville Energy Limited, Abiola Sowole, said the programme would concentrate on examination of the restoration programme of British Petroleum (BP) and examine the Health Safety Security and Environment (HSSE) programmes of all top oil producing companies in the world, “looking at the extent to which these programmes have been safety-enhanced by new technologies.”

Managing Director, Friesland Campina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, Mr. Peter Eshikena (left), Head Coach, Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, Operations Director, Mr. Vedavyas Vemuri and Human Resources Director, Tominiyi Oni during the media briefing for Peak Super Eagles Campaign in Lagos.

PHOTO: OSENI YUSUF

work in ensuring that the nation doesn’t experience such incident again in the future.

He said, “it is a pain, and like a sore in the heart that such a thing should happen again in our time. And that’s why one has to call on our security agencies to really make effort to forestall such incident. I am sure that if there is adequate intelligence gathering, by the grace of God, we should not be experiencing this kind of things.”

Martins further advised that efforts should be made to tackle the root cause of these terrorism acts advocating for a dialogue with the Boko Haram sect, who has claimed responsibility for most of the acts.

According to him, “beyond intelligence and working together of the various security agencies, we also need to attack the root of these problems. The Boko Haram that we suspect is responsible for this, we need to call upon them to just recognise the fact that their action is doing nobody any good, it is only bringing sorrow and pain and distress and creating economic challenges for people. I believe that we need to call upon them to really sheath their sword and embrace peace and give people a chance to just live like regular people.

“Of course, the government also needs to be encouraged to take the steps that are needed in order to deal with this matter. We know that soldiers are active trying to find out where their hide outs are but of course, beyond those acts, there is also the necessity to find ways and means of engaging them so that we will be able to address whatever their needs or their challenges are within the framework of the Nigeria that we have today.

Naturally, we don’t have another Nigeria, and therefore, they only have to find ways and means of engaging and living with us here in Nigeria.

Obiano pledges to boost food production From Chuks Collins, Awka NAMBRA State Governor, Willie Obiano has again expressed his commitment to boost food production in the state.

The new state Commissioner for Agriculture, Nnamdi Meko disclosed this at the Government House, Awka during a meeting of the technical committee set up by the governor to develop a blue print for a functional mechanised agriculture.

The committee, according to

A

Meko has thirty days to sit and draw from all the stakeholders in the agriculture sector that the blue print was expected to have bearing on the real farmers in the state.

He stated that the administration of Governor Obiano is so much interested in using farming to eradicate poverty, hunger and unemployment, which according to him was the reason for making agriculture number one in the government programmes.

One of the resource persons

and the national President of Fish Farm Estate Developers Association, FFEDA, Chief Maurice Ebo commended the new administration for its vision and drive for a major revolution in the agric sector in the state.

Ebo said that his group was very ready to assist the state achieve the governor’s goals and vision in the sector of one man, one fish pond policy. He said that on the whole, he has capacity to engage over one million; five hundred youths

would be engaged annually.

The National President stressed the need to discourage those he described as ‘political farmers’ from hijacking the process from the real farmers even as he noted that the responsibilities of financing the revolution couldn’t be solely shouldered by the government.

The chairman of the Anambra State Committee on Agriculture, Prof. Chukwuemeka Omaliko noted that the interaction with the stakeholders

have been most rewarding and elucidating, and would help the committee immensely.

He assured the meeting would not be just an academic exercise, but that Obiano is waiting to run with the outcome of their interaction.

Major stakeholders in the sector were expected to present papers on how to move agriculture forward in state from where a comprehensive report would be drawn and submitted to the governor.

Deeper Life holds retreat, charges members on essence of Easter From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu

• NSCDC to deploy 100,000 officials

GAINST the backdrop of A the huge security and social challenges in the country,

by Pastor William Kumuyi.

The retreat with the theme: ‘Living in His Victory’, will also run concurrently with the church’s monthly revival and miracle programme (which started in January 2013). The revival programme has been tagged: ‘Destined to win.’

The twin event will hold at the church’s Conference Centre on Kilometre 42, LagosIbadan Expressway.

Commenting on the reason for the retreat and why people should avail themselves of the opportunity by physically at-

the Deeper Christian Life Ministry has announced that its national Easter Retreat will hold place from Thursday, April 17 to Sunday, April 20, 2014.

A statement from the Church Secretary, Pastor Jerry Asemota said that as usual, the programme would feature seminars, choir/orchestra renditions, prayer and intercessory sessions and above all power-packed ministrations

tending, the Church Secretary, Asemota, said, “as a Bible-believing church, we hold sacred the word of God. In commemorating the vicarious death of Christ on the cross and His glorious resurrection, we come together via a retreat to reflect on that supernatural event and to receive the power to live victorious life. For us, Christ’s resurrection is a sign that one day, we shall arise to meet him in a new body.”

“However, the scripture is true that man born of woman is full of troubles. These ‘trou-

bles’ necessitated the search for solutions. But many people seek the way out of life challenges from wrong quarters, most times, complicating the situation.

“Therefore, to achieve freedom from such operations and the oppressors, the oppressed needs a higher power that has no negative consequences. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is potent enough to set the oppressed free and to make a repented sinner to walk in newness of life. This is the thrust of the retreat.”

The Easter Retreat programme will be concluded on

Sunday, April 20.Free transport, accommodation and feeding will be provided for all participants.

Pastor William Kumuyi, general superintendent of the church, will lead other anointed men of God at the event, which holds simultaneously in all the states, and regional headquarters of the church within Nigeria. The programme will equally be streamed live via satellite from DLCC to other centres in Africa, Europe, America and other continents of the world where the church has its branches.

6

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NEWS Wednesday, April 16, 2014

MRA launches device for easy download of FoI Act by phone users EDIA Rights Agenda M (MRA) yesterday launched an application to enable users of androidpowered mobile devices download the Freedom of Information Act 2011 to their handsets, tablets and other devices that use the android operating system in an easyto-navigate format.

According to a statement, the app was developed by Eko-Konnect for MRA with support from the Ford Foundation. Eko-Konnect is the Lagos cluster of the Nigerian Research and Education Network (ngREN), which aims to support network connectivity and collaboration between education and research organisations.

Announcing the release of the new app in Lagos, MRA’s Executive Director, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, said: “This latest FOI App for android devices complements two similar apps which MRA launched on November 15, 2011 for downloading the FOI Act to java-enabled mobile devices and Blackberry phones.”

According to him, “the development of these applications is part of an ongoing effort by Media Rights Agenda to create awareness about the FOI Act and to make the text of the law available to Nigerians across all social strata to ensure that it is fully utilised and that it is able to achieve its full potential.”

Ojo said: “With about 175 million connected mobile telephone lines in Nigeria at the moment, we are convinced that the mobile phone is a veritable platform for making this powerful piece of legislation available to most Nigerians at no cost. This latest app is motivated by the upsurge in the use of android devices in Nigeria since we launched the earlier apps nearly three

years ago.”

The android version of the FOI app as well as the java-enabled and Blackberry phones versions are available for download from MRA’s website at: http://mediarightsagenda.net/web/foi-app/.

It was gathered that any of the three versions can be downloaded directly into the appropriate device and is automatically installed and ready for use. Alternatively, they can be downloaded into a laptop or desktop computer, transferred to the handset or tablet and then installed.

The FOI android apps comes with a voice call option, the capability to send short message service (SMS) and even email from an android device in which it is installed.

These options are to make it easy for users to contact MRA for assistance on the FOI Act. The app also contains a link to MRA’s website for access to relevant materials on the Act.

Chairman, Advisory Board for Literature Prize and Emeritus Prof. Ayo Banjo (middle) handing over entries (drama) received for the 2014 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Literature to Chairman, Panel of Judges, Prof. Charity Angya, flanked to the (left) by Prof. Jerry Agada, member, Advisory Board and to the (right) by General Manager, External Relations, Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas company, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke and member, Advisory Board for Literature Prize, Prof. Ben Elugbe, at the handover ceremony in Lagos … yesterday.

NLNG gets 124 entries for 2014 literature prize IGERIA LNG Limited has N received 124 entries for the 2014 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Literature, its flag-

ship corporate social responsibility initiative and Africa’s most prestigious literary prize.

NGE urges confab to prioritise security

By Bertram Nwannekanma RESIDENT, Nigerian Guild of P Editors (NGE), Mr. Femi Adesina has urged delegates at the ongoing national conference in Abuja to prioritise issues on security of lives and property of Nigerians in their deliberations.

Adesina’s appeal was sequel to the latest terrorists attack on the popular car park in Nyanya, Abuja, which has left several innocent people dead.

The NGE’s president, who lamented that the country is on the edge of the precipice, said delegates and well-meaning Nigerians must do everything possible to salvage the nation from disintegration.

He said: “I believe the issue of security should be topmost in the agenda of the delegates because there is trouble in the country. If they sit there and they don’t talk about security, what else will they be talking about?”

“I think nobody needs to tell them that the issue of security should be a burning issue they will be discussing at the conference. Those who are there are very responsible people and I believe it is something they will take up.”

While appealing to the group to stop the needless bloodletting, Adesina said the situation is de-

generating to a state that government cannot handle alone.

He said: “I believe the government is doing its very best but the Yorubas have a saying that at times the water is much more than the yam flour. So, in that situation what can anybody do?

“But I will just want to appeal to anybody behind this insurgency and terrorism to have mercy on the country. The country is on the edge of the precipice and we must do everything possible to salvage it,” he pleaded.

According to a statement by the General Manager, External Relations, Kudo Eresia-Eke, five entries were also received for the award for literary criticism, introduced in 2012.

The entries were handed over through the Advisory Board for Literature to the Panel of Judges chaired by Charity Angya, Professor of Theatre and Drama, at the Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State.

Other members of the panel include Prof. Ahmed Yerima, playwright and past winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literature, 2006 edition and Prof.

Nasiru Akanji, a well respected scholar and professor of Performing Arts, University of Ilorin.

Also on the panel is Prof. Sirayi, a playwright and Dean, Faculty of the Arts at Tshwane University of Technology,

South-Africa, who will serve as an international consultant.

The Nigeria Prize for Literature is awarded yearly and alternates amongst four literary genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature. This year is for drama.

For the award for literary criticism, and which has not been awarded since introduced, special consideration shall be given to critical essays on the works of the new generation of Nigerian writers. Entries for this award must have been published in a reputable international literary journal.

The Nigeria Prize for Literature, now in its 11th year, is sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited to reward excellence and celebrate works of outstanding merit in literature.

African nations move to harmonise disease prevention, control strategies From Chukwuma Muanya (Luanda, Angola) ORRIED by the rising W cases of fake and substandard drugs and medical products, and the burden of diseases within the region, African Ministers of Health have endorsed the establishment of a harmonised African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDCP) and African Medicines Agency (AMA) as well as mechanisms to assess the implementation of declarations and other commitments.

The ministers yesterday at the first meeting of African Ministers of Health jointly organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the African Union Commission (AUC) in Luanda, Angola also identified key actions needed to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and agreed on key milestones as well as on mechanisms for addressing risk factors for non- communicable diseases.

The first conference of the ministers kicked off on Monday in Luanda, Angola with a focus on means of preventing maternal and child mortality, among other issues.

Led by the WHO Director, Dr. Luis Gomes, Social Affairs Commissioner of AUC, Dr. Mustapha Kaloko and Minister of Health, Republic of Angola, Dr. Jose Vieira Dias Van-Dumen, the ministers collectively and individually expressed commitment to establishing the African Medicines Agency (AMA), prioritising investment for regulatory capacity development, pursuing the efforts towards convergence and harmonisation of medical products regulation in Regional Economic Communities (RECs), endorsing the proposed milestones for its establishment, and allocating adequate resources for operationalising the AMA. The ministers, in a written commitment presented at the meeting, requested the AUC “to report, every two years, to the Ministers of Health meetings on the

progress made in the implementation of the agreed milestones.”

Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, in Nigeria’s position paper to the meeting, said: “Nigeria is in support of the establishment of a harmonised regulatory system for medical products. Standards, requirements, procedure and rules for the regulation of medical products should be streamlined. This will ensure that there are no much differences between countries of the region in the regulation of medical products.

“Countries should also consider it their responsibilities to monitor and prevent the production and movement of spurious and adulterated medical products in and from their countries.

“With a harmonised regulatory framework, regulatory authorities in member countries should take into consideration approval and registration of medical products by a sister regulatory authority when considering application for products reg-

istration from another country.

“Sub-regional groups may also wish to consider the principle of reciprocal recognition of approval and registration of medical products.”

Chukwu urged the WHO to assist AU to develop the harmonised regulatory system, provide technical support for member states to develop and strengthen their medical regulatory authorities. He said with the WHO support, member countries will be able to develop and improve medical products regulation; and also enjoy the cooperation of other countries.

On the establishment of ACDCP, Chukwu said it will not only be a viable public health issue, but will stimulate transformation in other components of the regions’ health care systems and thus enhance its development.

He said the ACDCP will provide opportunity for scaling up public health interventions and enhance its effectiveness within Africa.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, April 16, 2014 NEWS | 7

NELMCO begins verification of PHCN liabilities From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja HE Nigeria Electricity LiaT bility Management Limited (NELMCO) has

Coordinator, West Africa Region of Ponseti International Medical Board, Dr. O. Adegbehingbe (second left); Clinical Professor at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of British Columbia, Prof. Shafique Pirani (middle); Chief Medical Director of Ponseti International Association, Prof. Morcuende and Dr. Onyemaechi Ndubuisi of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, assessing a clubfoot patient during an advanced international Ponseti Clubfoot Workshop in Lagos…yesterday

Group seeks more women in leadership positions

Umeh loses bid to delay ouster as APGA chief From Lemmy Ughegbe, Abuja

OUNDER of the Nigerian Fmental HE Federal High Court, Network of Non-GovernT Abuja Division, at the Organisations (NNNGO), Yemisi Ransomeweekend rejected the reKuti, on Monday urged government at all levels to include more women in leadership positions to drive national development.

Ransome-Kuti told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that Nigeria’s quest to be one of the world’s largest economies by 2050 could be realised with more women in governance.

She added that with the active participation of women in governance, the rampant incidence of poverty could be reduced to the barest minimum.

“The government has a responsibility to ensure that there are enough women in leadership positions in Nigeria. President Goodluck Jonathan has not quite fulfilled even the Beijing Declaration of 35 per cent. In countries like Rwanda, where growth is so rapid and development very visible, they already have like 55 per cent women in parliament.

“Countries like South Africa, you see women are being given the space to lead and to make changes. So, that’s what government needs to do.

“It needs to empower women; it needs to educate these girls; it needs to ensure that all girls, all children have free education.

“And that in particular, girls are given the opportunity to become whoever they are meant to be. There should be no pressure, there should be no discrimination, and there should be access to finance.”

quest of Chief Victor Umeh to stay the execution of its judgment ousting him as National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The court, presided by Justice Abdul Kafarati, had on January 15, 2014, sacked Umeh and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Chief Maxi Okwu as the

party’s national chairman.

It further ordered the APGA National Secretary, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC), elected alongside Umeh at the February 18, 2011, convention in Awka, Anambra State, to vacate their respective offices.

Justice Kafarati directed the electoral umpire to henceforth relate with Okwu, Mr. Ibrahim Carefor, Chief Dickson Ogu, Dr. Gbenga Afeni and Alhaji Abubakar Adamu all who emerged from a sepa-

Rotary Foundation chief hopeful on polio eradication by 2018

By Isaac Taiwo AST President of Rotary InP ternational and Trustee Chair of Rotary Foundation, its endowment arm, Dong Kurn Lee, has expressed the hope that the endemic polio, which is most rampant in three countries including Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan, would be completely eradicated in the world by the year 2018.

Lee, who is visiting Nigeria for the first time, arrived on Sunday, with his wife, Young and was received by his guest, the District Governor, District 9110, Rotary International, comprising Lagos and Ogun states, Olugbemiga Olowu, gave the assurance on Monday at a press briefing, which took place at Rotary Secretariat, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

Lee disclosed that the sum of $16 billion would be needed

to eradicate polio in the world and out of which $11 billion has so far been expended while the sum of $5.5 billion is required to complete the eradication process.

Lee expressed satisfaction with the performance of Rotary members in Nigeria and was elated that Rotary International in Nigeria tops the list of donors in the whole of Africa, adding that with this trend, Nigeria, which is currently operating on three districts, would have more districts in the near future.

The Trustee Chair, who affirmed the possibility of eradication of polio in the world, said as long as this was possible in India through concerted efforts, with the co-operation of governments of those nations where polio remains and the nationals with the Rotary, the world would soon be free of polio.

Police arrest Ekiti OPC leader, others From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado-Ekiti EADER of the Oodua PeoLNiyiples Congress (OPC) in Ekiti, Adedipe and two others, have been arrested by the Police for allegedly being involved in the recent politically-motivated violence

rate convention also held in Awka on April 8, 2013 - as the duly elected national officers.

Dissatisfied with the decision, however, Umeh had approached the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, seeking to set it aside while also approaching the court of first instance with a motion for stay of execution of the said judgment.

Nevertheless, Kafarati held that he cannot sit on an appellate court on his own judgment and consequently struck out the motion for stay of execution.

in the state.

Specifically, Adedipe, Richard Apolola and Owoju Ayodele were alleged to have masterminded the attack on the campaign office of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former governor, Ayo Fayose, at Adebayo area of Ado-Ekiti while one Seun, popularly known as Solar, has been de-

clared wanted by the Command.

Parading the suspects in AdoEkiti yesterday, the Police Commissioner, Mr. Felix Uyanna, disclosed that men of the Department of the Security Service had earlier arrested one Deji Adesokan over a similar offence.

Olowu, in his statement, said Lee came to Nigeria to see Rotary Foundation related projects as well projects executed with global grants, district grants and also to get an update of polio eradication programme.

Olowu, who also expressed satisfaction with the co-operation of the government of Nigeria towards eradication of polio, indicated that as at 2012, only 212 cases were reported, at 2013, 51 cases were reported while only one case has so far been reported in the current year, 2014.

In his contribution, the Chairman, Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee, Dr. Tunji Funsho, also assured that Nigeria is not far from being one of the polio-free nations.

He, however, revealed some difficulties being faced in the northern part of the country because of the invasion of Boko Haram sect and that even despite that, every opportunity to get across to children was being utilised.

He advised that no part of the country should feel safe and that making the children available for vaccine from time to time is the only secret of total eradication.

He disclosed that the sum of $450 million would still be needed to eradicate polio in Nigeria.

commenced the verification of the liabilities left behind by the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) after the Federal Government, in November 1, 2013, handed over many of its successor firms to the investors.

Some of the liabilities, officials said on Monday, date back to 1979 and relate to Independent Power Producers (IPP), legacy debts, local and foreign financial loans, and pensions.

Managing Director of NELMCO, Dr. Sam Agbogun, told newsmen in Abuja on Monday that of the amount owed by PHCN, N392.2 billion has been identified as interagency debts and as such, would be ferried to the Debt Management Office (DMO) and other ministries for cancelation.

He said: “This year and in the years to come, monies to be applied in the settlement of these liabilities will come from budget appropriation, proceeds receivable from unpaid bills owed PHCN from electricity consumers, collectable under the terms agreed in the signed pre-completion receivable agreement.

“As I speak with you, and with particular reference to non-core assets, NELMCO has not commenced any disposal of them. When the no-core assets are to be disposed, NELMCO will have to follow due process through our board that assures accountability and transparency of the process applied to the settlement of the liabilities.”

He went on: “What NELMCO has done is to sell scrap and obsolete items comprising disused and decommissioned abandoned old power

stations, which PHCN has valued, sought and obtained the approval for sale as scrap. This is contrary to the misleading and mischievous reports being circulated.

“The corporate governance structure at NELMCO provides that it is supervised by a board, which directs the activities of the executive management. The membership of the board has its chairman, the Minister of Finance, with other board members. The new executive management team comprises the Executive Director, Operations; Executive Director, Corporate Services; Executive Director, Pensions and Head of the Legal Department.”

He said following the government’s directive, the PHCN headquarters in tabular had been transferred to the Federal Ministry of Power for use as office. Government earlier planned to sell the imposing building, which is one of the prime property of PHCN, to raise funds to offset some of the liabilities of the corporation.

He noted: “Limited due diligence on the non-core assets will soon commence with the updating of the records and perfection of land title documents, which have lapsed and which PHCN did not revalidate. These are necessary in order to give title to the eventual purchases of these landed assets. Therefore, NELMCO cannot sell a single property without the prior approval.

“NELMCO is a special purpose entity established for a very limited timeline, to undertake a specific mandate and is only the third of its kind in the world after that of Canada and India specially set up to manage liabilities in a transitional electricity market.”

8 | THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

PHOTONEWS

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola (left); Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Sally Mbanefo and Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, during the 2013 Champion Awards in Lagos.

Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano (middle); President General, South East Amalgamated Traders Association, Okwudili Ezenwankwo (left) and Mrs. Victoria Ekenma Okoye, a victim of the fire incident, during the governor’s visit to Ogboji Ose Okwudo Market, Onitsha, which was gutted by fire.

Participants in the Mobile Restaurants road show organised by LOSTINLAGOS to commence Restaurant Week in Lagos.

PHOTO: CHARLES OKOLO

The three contestants saved by Judges Wild-Card, Zibili Evelyn (left); Anthony Akpan and Odugbemi Idown Sarah with the show host, Ill Rhymz, at the Etisalat sponsored Nigerian Idol Season 4 Wild-Card Episode in Lagos.

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (second left); Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris (left); Coordinator, Special project, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe (second right) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adesina, during the surgical intervention of the state goitre control programme in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada (middle); his wife, Hajia Halima Ladi; Mrs. Mariam Ladi Ibrahim; Chief Nike Okundaye (left) and others cutting the celebration cake at the recently concluded Kogi Women Conference in Lokoja, Kogi State.

Chairman, Sickle Cell Foundation, Prof. Olu Akinyanju (left); Director, Disease Control, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Jemilade Longe; Director, MTN Foundation, Dennis Okoro and National Director/Chief Executive Officer, Sickle Cell Foundation, Dr. Annette Akinsete at the Closing/Certificate Award ceremony of 16th Genetic Counseling Training Course on Sickle Cell Disorder in Lagos.

PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Airport Manager, Akanu Ibiam International, Airport, C.A. Nwobu (right); Supervising Minister of Aviation, Dr. Samuel Ortom; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Jamila Shuára and Acting Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Benedict Adeyileka, during the supervising minister’s tour of airport projects in Enugu.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

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9

WorldReport Activists condemn Morocco ‘silence’ over migrant crisis warning

Egypt court bans Brotherhood members from polls court yesterday banned Brotherhood as a “terrorist A members of the Muslim group” after blaming it for a Brotherhood, a movement deadly bombing north of listed as a “terrorist group”, from running in Egypt’s upcoming elections, a lawyer and state media said.

Egypt’s military-installed authorities are engaged in a deadly crackdown against the Islamist movement, which swept all elections in Egypt since the fall of former president, Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

A court in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria ordered authorities to bar any candidacies from Brotherhood members or former members in presidential and parliamentary elections.

The ruling came after an antiBrotherhood group filed a petition calling for the ban.

“It is illogical to receive such candidacies after the government designated the Brotherhood a terrorist organisation,” Tareq Mahmoud, a lawyer from the group told AFP. “We submitted videos, photos and documents showing terrorist acts carried out by the Muslim Brotherhood, which is why it is illogical that they lead the country or represent its people in elections.”

In December, the authorities blacklisted the Muslim

Cairo.

Egypt is to hold on May 26 to 27 presidential election, widely expected to be won by ex-army chief Abdel Fattah alSisi, to be followed by parliamentary polls.

Sisi is riding a wave of popularity after he ousted Egypt’s Islamist president Mohamed Morsi last July. Morsi belongs to the Brotherhood.

Since his overthrow, the authorities have cracked down brutally on the movement and its members.

Amnesty International says more than 1,400 people have been killed in the crackdown, mostly Islamists.

CTIVISTS yesterday conA demned Morocco’s “total silence” over warnings about

Maidan self-defence activists stop the protesters trying to enter the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev during a session, yesterday, during a rally outside the building demand authorities to take actions against separatism on the eastern part of the country.

PHOTO: AFP

Ukraine close to civil war, says Russia USSIA declared Ukraine on R the brink of civil war on Tuesday as Kiev said an “antiterrorist operation” against pro-Moscow separatists was under way, with troops and armored personnel carriers seen near a flashpoint eastern town.

Twenty-four hours after an Ukrainian ultimatum expired for the rebels to lay down their arms, witnesses

• Kiev begins offensive however saw no signs yet that Kiev forces were about to storm state buildings in the Russian-speaking east that armed militants have occupied.

Interim President, Oleksander Turchinov insisted the operation had started in the eastern Donetsk region, although it would

Berlusconi ordered to do community service for tax conviction N Italian court yesterday A ordered former Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi to serve a tax fraud sentence by doing community service and set travel restrictions that will limit his ability to campaign for next month’s European Parliament elections.

The Milan court ruled Berlusconi must spend at least four hours a week in a center for the elderly for one year.

He will not be allowed to travel outside Lombardy, the

region around Milan where he has his principal residence, except for restricted trips to Rome.

Following the definitive tax fraud conviction last year, Berlusconi was stripped of his seat in the Italian Senate and barred from holding public office for two years.

But the 77-year-old remains the most influential politician on Italy’s center-right as leader of the Forza Italia party.

A statement from the court did not say whether

Berlusconi would be allowed to campaign for the election while in Lombardy and Rome and what role he could play in public life, if any, over the coming year.

It said the trips to Rome could take place weekly, from Tuesday to Thursday, with Berlusconi ordered to be back in Lombardy by 11 p.m each Thursday.

His lawyers said in a statement that the ruling “appears balanced and satisfactory even with regards to the needs of political activity”.

Gambia bans flights from Ebola-hit countries HE Gambia has banned T flights from Ebola-hit West African countries from landing in its territory, airport officials told AFP yesterday.

Staff at Banjul International Airport said on condition of anonymity that President Yahya Jammeh had ordered airlines to cancel all flights from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in a bid to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

“This decision by the Gambian authorities has left prospective passengers travelling to Banjul ... stranded in these West African countries,” said an airport official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Brussels Airlines, which transits in Freetown from Europe, is only allowed to drop passengers there, but

not pick anyone up.”

The outbreak in Guinea is one of the most deadly in history, with 168 cases “clinically compatible” with Ebola virus disease reported, including 108 deaths, since the start of the year, according to the World Health Organization.

The outbreak began in the impoverished country’s southern forests, but has spread to Conakry, a sprawling port city on the Atlantic coast and home to two million people Neighbouring Liberia has reported 20 probable or suspected cases, six lab-confirmed cases and 13 deaths.

Mali also has suspected cases but does not appear to have been targeted for any kind of restrictions by the Gambia, although there are no direct flights between the

two countries.

There was no immediate official confirmation of the ban from the Gambia but an airport worker told AFP a letter dated April 10 enforcing the measures had been sent to airlines while Sierra Leone’s government said it was in talks with Banjul over the issue.

It was not immediately clear if sanctions were being threatened against airlines or airport authorities for ignoring the ban.

“I went to the Gambia Bird office in the Greater Banjul area to purchase an air ticket for my elder brother currently in Monrovia but was informed by the travel agent that they are not selling tickets to passengers travelling from Monrovia and Freetown,” Banjul resident, Nyima Sanneh told AFP.

happen in stages and “in a considered way”.

Amidst the deepest East-West crisis since the Cold War, the leaders of Russia and the United States have called on each other to do all in their power to avoid further bloodshed.

The standoff has raised fears that Moscow might turn off gas supplies to Kiev, disrupting flows to the European Union.

Russian exporter Gazprom promised it would remain a reliable supplier to the EU, but German energy company RWE began deliveries to Ukraine yesterday - reversing the usual east-west flow in one central European pipeline.

Russian Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev gave a gloomy assessment after at least two people died on Sunday when Kiev unsuccessfully tried to regain control in the town of Slaviansk, about 150 km (90 miles) from the Russian border.

“Blood has once again been spilt in Ukraine. The country is on the brink of civil war,” he

said on his Facebook page.

Turchinov said the offensive, which he first announced on Sunday, was finally underway.

“The anti-terrorist operation began during the night in the north of Donetsk region. But it will take place in stages, responsibly, in a considered way. I once again stress: the aim of these operations is to defend the citizens of Ukraine,” he told parliament.

At least 15 armored personnel carriers displaying Ukrainian flags were parked by the side of a road around 50 km (30 miles) north of

the plight of sub-Saharan migrants, accusing security forces of “barbaric acts” that contradicted the country’s new migration policy.

Last month, following a surge in attempted border crossings into Ceuta and Melilla, Spain’s North African enclaves, Moroccan authorities relocated hundreds of illegal immigrants to the capital.

That “forced displacement” was denounced by a network of 10 NGOs working with migrants in Morocco and treating their wounds and who warned of a “humanitarian crisis.”

Roman Catholic charity Caritas closed its Rabat office in protest.

“Three weeks later, this appeal has not received any response from any government department,” the NGOs said in a joint statement on Monday.

“Even though anyone might encounter wounded migrants in the capital itself... our organisations have met with total silence,” they added.

Mehdi Alioua, president of migrant support group GADEM, blamed Morocco’s auxiliary forces — a supplementary branch of the security forces — for betraying the government’s new migration policy, announced last year and aimed at dealing more humanely with the growing problem.

10 | Wednesday, April 16, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

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DAN-ALI, Brig. Gen. Muhammad Mansur (Rtd) DODO, Damian SAN DOMA, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe EJIGA, Maj-Gen. Geoffrey (rtd) HORSFALL, Chief Albert K. IDADA-IKPONMWEN, Brig. Gen. (Barr.) D. O. JIMETA, Mohammed Gambo Adamu LEKWOT, Gen. Zamani (rtd) MOHAMMED, Senator Ahmed Inuwa MONGUNO, Hajiya Fati (Dogonyaro) Ali MSHELBWALA, Maj. Gen. Alex (rtd) NKEMDEME, Chief (Barr.) Nicholas Daru NYIAM, Col. Tony (rtd) OBADA, Her Excellency Erelu Olusola Agbeja OHADOMERE, Gp Cpt Canice (rtd) OKWUONU, High Chief Jerome OMU, Gen. Paul (rtd) ORJI, Group Capt. Joe (rtd) USENI, Lt. Gen. Jeremiah T. (rtd) YUSUF, Senator Bello Maitama COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT DELEGATE ACHIMUGU, Elder Barr. John A. BASSEY, Rev. Nnimmo ELUEMUNOH, Elder (Dr) Chris Oseloka ENEYO, Chief (Dr.) Silas GBADEBO, Yinka GONI, Alhaji Mohammed IYAJI, Alhaji Sule KYARI, Mr. Bukar

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MADUGU, Alhaji Ali S. MAMMAN, Mr. John MANDARA, Yadoma Bukar METEE, Mr. Ledum MIMIKO, Prof. N. Oluwafemi NJEMANZE, Prince Bob Kay NWAJIUBA, Prof. Chinedu OCHEFU, Prof. Yakubu A. OKOYE, Festus SALAKO, Sunday Olusoji SAMUEL, Prof. Tunde SHUNI, Sen. Ladan WAI-OGOSU, Engr. Olu Andah WAZIRI, Hajiya Mariya YARO, His Royal Highness Ibrahim, Esu Bwari ZANDAM, Alhaji Umaru Musa COMMITTEE ON POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE DELEGATE ABARI, Dr. Garba ABDULLAHI, Amb. Yerima ABDULRAZAQ-GWADABE, Senator Khairat ADAMU, Amb. Hassan AHAMBA, Chief Mike SAN AINA, Prof. (Mrs.) Olabisi I. AJAYI, Sir Olaniwun AKINGBA, Dr. Amos DARENG, Elder Bulus EGWU, Prof. Samuel EKPU, Ray GANA, Prof. Jerry IDA, Senator Ibrahim M. ITA-GIWA, Senator Florence MUAZU, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu MUHAMMAD, Dr. Bello Halliru NA’ABBA, Hon. Ghali Umar NWANYANWU, Chief (Barr.) Dan NWUCHE, Hon. Prince Chibudom OKON, Senator Anietie OKUNROUNMU, Senator Femi UGOCHUKWU, Chief Onyema WABARA, Senator Adolphus YUSUF, Malam Kabiru Abdullahi COMMITTEE ON LAW, JUDICIARY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND LEGAL REFORM DELEGATE AGBAKOBA, Dr. Olisa SAN AKERE, Justice Peter (rtd) ALIYU, Justice Adamu (rtd) ASKIRAMA III, HRH Alh. Abdullahi Ibn Muhammad BA’ABA, Hon. Justice Baba Alkali BUCKNOR-AKERELE, Senator Kofoworola DURA, Dr. Magdalyne Mbadzendan EDOSOMWAN, Mr. Charles SAN FALANA, Femi GUMMI, HRH Justice Lawal Hassan GYE-WADO, Prof. Onje MUSA, Hajja Bintu Ibrahim MUSTAPHA, Hon. Justice Abdullahi(rtd) NWEME, Barr. Igberi OGUNTADE, Hon. Justice G. A. OJO, Chief Bayo SAN OSUN, Hon. Olawale OZEKHOME, Chief Mike SAN SHEKARAU, Ms. Hauwa Evelyn TABAI, Hon. Justice F. F. UMAR, Barr. Zubair Muhammad UMEH, Hon. Justice Veronica Ngozi UWAZURIKE, Chief Goddy YADUDU, Prof. Auwalu COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL SECTOR DELEGATE ABDULLAHI, Prof. Gambo Laraba ADAMU, Dr. Fati Lami AJANI, Comrade Olawale James AKUNYILI, Prof. Dora ANENIH, Iyom Josephine BUNU, Arc. Ibrahim ENABULELE, Dr. Osahon ERIOBUNA, Senator Nnamdi ESELE, Comrade Peter GABRIEL, Prof. (Mrs.) Amakievi GASKIA, Jaye IBRAHIM, Dr. Fati Eunice ISMA’IL, Hajiya Aisha M. S. JANKADA, Hon. Dr. Salome Audu MADAWAKI, Prof. Aisha I. MAHMUD-FASOMINU, Dr. (Mrs.) Olayemi OGBU, His Excellency Prof.

Chigozie OKPOYO, Her Excellency (Mrs) Atim Etim OLAGBEGI, Chief (Mrs.) Bisi Olateru OLAJIDE, Dr. Kunle OTHMAN, Alhaji Muhammed SAMO, Mr. Bah Abubakar SHOWN, Prof. Dakum ZAGBAYI, Dr. Shem Nuhu COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION DELEGATE ABUBAKAR, Yusuf Hamisu ADEDE, Senator Musa ADEWUSI, Barr. Promise Adebunmi Kanayo

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AGBONWANEGBE, Barr. Chris AKPAN, Brenda ANOLIEFO, Hon. (Chief) Obi BARKINDO, Mallam Hamman Bello BULAMA, Dr. Abdu EBINUM, Barr. J. I. IBRAHIM, Mrs Patience Hadiza ISIWELE, Alhaji Musa Shehu LOHOR, Chief (Mrs) Hannatu MGBADA, Dr. Clement NAHAYA, Asabe Baba NWAGWU, Ezenwa OBUR, Clifford OLASANOYE, Oyinkan OLUKOYA, Michael OSANAIYE, AIG Ralph Ola (rtd) SANNI, Mrs Felicia SEKONI, Hon. Sheik Mudathir UGOEZE, Millicent Okonkwo UKO, Prof. John VIKO, Mrs Lydia J. COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, TECHNOL OGY AND DEVELOPMENT DELEGATE ABAYORI, Dr. Femi ADEGOKE, Hon. Salvador Moshood DOKPESI, High Chief (Dr.) Aleogho Raymond ELEH, Mr. Emeka D. GEORGE, Chief Olabode GONDA, Engr. (Mrs.) Esther HART, Hon. Dandeson IGHURE, Isaac IVOWI, Prof. U. M. O. IZUOGU, Engr. Dr. Ezekiel KUKU, Chief (Mrs.) Remi MADAWAKI, Prof. Aisha MADDO, Dr. Daniel G. MADUKA, Engr. Vincent I. MUSA, Aliyu Abdulhakeem NWOSU-IHEME, Chief Uzoma OBASI, Comrade Chinonso OGUNDIPE, Mr. Lanre OKEY, Ntufam (Dr) Josephat Itafu OKOH, Hon. Sylvester Oziegbe OKWOLI, Prof. Ambrose TENUCHE, Prof. (Mrs.) Marietu TOMORI, Prof. Oyewale YUSHA’U, Dr. Balarabe COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE DELEGATE ABDULSALAM, Comrade Abdulkadir ABIYE, Mrs. Sheila Tamuno ABONGABY, Barr. Chris Danjuma AJAYI, Chief (Mrs.) Temitope ANISULOWO, Senator Iyabo ANKA, Hassan Salihu BABAJO, Hajia Nafisatu ESU, Prof. Ivara Ejemot HADEJIA, Umaru Muhammad IBRAHIM-IMAM, Kashim IDIGBE, Mrs. Ifeoma IKEGWUONU, Nnaemeka ILIASU, Hajiya Mariyatu JUNJU, Barr. Nasiru Ibrahim LAWAL, Dr. Mohammed Hassan LOMBIN, Prof. Ganyir Gabriel NWALI, Senator (Dr.) Offia NWUZOR, Dr. (Mrs.) Adaeze OTI, Prof. (Mrs.) Nnenna N. RAJI, Prof. AbdulGaniy Olayinka TSAMDU, Hon. Emmanuel TSUMBA, Rt. Hon. Terseer UMORU, Mosunmola USMAN, Hajiya Altine COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SOCIETY, LABOUR AND SPORTS DELEGATE AKANDE, Kazeem ALIYU, Zainab Argungu AREMU, Issa ASSANI, Comrade (Mrs.) Dinatu Asibi BASI, Mr. Paul DANGA, Mr. Iliya I. DUKE, Rt. Hon. Orok Out DUNTOYE, Comrade Ben EZIKE, Ebuchukwu GIWA, Kyauta IBRAHIM, Dr. (Mrs.) Hannatu Ladi NWABUEZE, Comrade Henry OFFIONG, Comrade Lucy A. OGUNRINADE, Mrs. Bola OKEI-ODUMAKIN, Dr. Joe OKUNNIYI, Veteran Olawale OLADELE, Dr. Rotimi OMAR, Abdulwahed Ibrahim OPARA, Engr. Bede OZO-ESON, Dr. Peter RAFSANJANI, Auwal Musa SHU’AIBU, Kiri Mohammed UMOH, Ms. Ekaete Judith YA’U, Y. Z. COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE DELEGATE ABDUSSALAM, Rt. Hon. Taofiq Olawale AGBARU, Chief Sampson AGUBUZU, HRH Igwe (Amb) L. O. C. AJIYA, Rt. Hon. Habu Isa AKANMODE, Chief Olusola ALI, Ammuna Lawan ALIYU, Amb. Adamu BARDA, Alhaji Saidu

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DADA, Olayinka (JP) DAIBU, Alhaji Yusuf Kawu DANJUMA, Senator Daisy EKERENDU, Dr. Edet Antai ENEBELI, Chief Paul IGWE, Mrs. Eunice KAIGAMA, Comrade Bobboi Bala MAGORO, Hajiya Dr Bilkisu MAMMAN, Kenan OGBONNAYA, Prof. Joshua C. OGUNSHOLA, Chief Ajibola OKEKE, Engr. Ebele O. OLAITAN, Olakunle Olanrewaju RASAKI, Gen. Raji (rtd) SANUSI, HRH Alh. (Dr) Nuhu Muhammad TURAKI, Prof. Yusufu COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTORAL MATTERS DELEGATE ABDULLAHI, Hon. Musa Elayo ADAMU, Senator Abdullahi Bala AKHABUE, Hon. (Dr.) Felix ALKALI, Prof. Muhammad Nur AYU, Dr. Iyorchia BALOGUN, Chief (Mrs.) Anthonia CHUKWU, Chief Wachuku DAUDA, Dr. Saleh EBISENI, Chief Nehemiah Olushola EDET, Rt. Hon. Ignatius Kevin IBRAHIM, Senator Muhammed JIBRIL, Senator Mohammed Kabiru KAWU, Is’haq Modibbo KURA, Malam Naseer NGIERIWAGHA, Dr. (Mrs.) NNEBE, Rt. Hon. (Chief) Anayo OKOKO, Prof. Kimse OKOROAFOR, Mrs. Ezinwa OLATUBORA, Barr. Remi OSOBA, His Excellency Chief Olusegun SALIHU, Barr. Musa SANI, Alhaji Mohammed Zoro UDENWA, His Excellency Chief Achike YUSUF, Khalifa Hassan COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN POLICY AND DIASPORA MATTERS DELEGATE ABUBAKAR, Amb. Abdulmumuni AIG (rtd) AHMED, Hon. Abubakar Sadiq ALA, Chief Babatunde ANIBOWEI, Hon. George AYOGU, Amb. Fidel Mama EKPEBU, Amb. (Prof.) Lawrence GAMBARI, Prof. Ibrahim Agboola MAMMAN, Amb. Yaro Yusuf MANUGA, Dudu Poloma MOHAMMED, Amb. Isa Aliyu NZADON, Chief (Barr.) Dan Leonard OKE, Mrs. Bunmi OKOBI, Amb. Vincent Sunny OKOYE, Mr. Gabriel OLADIMEJI, Adebayo OYEBODE, Prof. Akin SANI, Amb. B. M. SHINKAYE, Amb. J. K. SULE, Amb. Ibrahim Mai UDECHUKWU, Christian Chukwudozie UWAGA, Dr. Nelson U. O. UYOT, Chris YARO, Rt. Hon. Muhammad ZUBAIRU, Ambassador Suleiman COMMITTEE ON LAND TENURE AND NATIONAL BOUNDARIES DELEGATE ADEDAPO, HRM Oba Arc. Aderemi A. ADEDEJI, HRM Oba Michael Gbadebo Ariyowonye II ADEGBUYI, Barr. Bisi AKANWA, Hon. Dame Victoria ALIYU, Hon. Justice Balkisu Bello ALUKO-DANIEL, Steve Osebi BUBA, His Royal Highness Elder Jacob Gyang DIETE-SPIFF, His Excellency King Alfred EHANMO, Rear Adm. Christopher Sule (rtd) ESIENE, Chief Nduese FUMUDOH, Chief Joshua B. GAMBARI, HRH Alh. Ibrahim Sulu CFR ILOMUANYA, His Royal Highness Eze (Dr) Cletus ISEKHURE, Chief Nosakhare, JP MADUBUIKE, Prof. Ihechukwu Chiedozie MAMMAN, Gen. A. B. (rtd) MOHAMMED, Hon. Maryam S. MUSTAPHA, HRH Dr. Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu CFR NJIDDA, Kashim NWAORGU, Dr. Joe OLUGBENLE, HRM Oba Kehinde Gbadewole OSHINOWO-BASHORUN, Olufunmilayo OSUOKA, Dr. Isaac WALI, Okey SAN

TO BE CONTINUED

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

11

Focus Coalition prepares memo for International Criminal Court Victims of the alleged genocide perpetrated by gunmen in South Kaduna recently, are threatening to take their case to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. SAXONE AKHAINE writes on why they are considering the option. of the Southern Kaduna people are LStateEADERS threatening to take the Federal and Kaduna governments to the International Criminal Court (ICC), over the “genocide” perpetrated against their people by gunmen recently, resulting in hundreds of deaths.

Although, the police authorities have made efforts to broker peace between the Fulani herdsmen and the natives, the aggrieved Southern Kaduna people, who have suffered repeated attacks are still very bitter over the incident.

However, the state government’s peace moves, brokered between the Fulani herdsmen and natives, produced a signed peace pact in Kaduna recently.

But the Southern Kaduna people have also accused the federal government and Kaduna State Governor, Mukhtar Ramallan Yero of neglecting them, despite the series of attacks and killings of their people by those they believed were Fulani herdsmen.

They said that the impact of the last attack on the villages in Kaura Local Council, where over 100 women, children and men were sent to their early graves, was there for all to see.

Development Associations, Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organisations recently resolved that if the government fails to protect the Southern Kaduna people and those in the middle belt area, they would have no option than to take their case to the ICC. The Coalition group includes members of the Southern Kaduna Development Association (SKDA), Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) Youth Wing, Guagara Forum, Southern Kaduna Farmers Forum (SKFF), Southern Kaduna Lawyers Forum (SKLF), Southern Kaduna Youth and Students Forum (SKYSF) and the Southern Kaduna Women’s Forum (SKWF).

At a recent briefing, the coalition’s coordinator and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Kaduna State, Mr. Zakari Sogfa said: “Given the prevailing situation of insecurity in Southern Kaduna, unless the federal and state governments take immediate and practical steps to ensure that the Moroa massacre is the last act of genocide against the people of Southern Kaduna, the people will be left with no option but to conclude that the government has abandoned the Southern Kaduna people to their own devices for their security” .

Sogfa faulted the committee set up by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), saying that the responsibility of the police is to ensure that those responsible for the atrocities are apprehended and prosecuted according to law, and not to shield them.

He also accused the state government of playing politics with the killings, querying the delay in prosecuting those recently arrested with a large cache of arms and ammunition in the area.

He said: “We are ready to go to The Hague for the genocide committed against our people.

And we know that the Charter of the United Nations and the African Union allows us to do so.

“While I cannot speak on behalf of the Zamfara and Katsina people, even as much as I sympathise with them, I can only speak for the people of Southern Kaduna. They have been specifically targeted for extermination. And this extermination does not fall in the form of incidental robbery or conflicts; or conflicts between Fulani Herdsmen and farmers. It is a deliberate pogrom to wipe us out of existence. If you look at the trend, it has been on the increase.

And we have provided evidence of the 53 incidences of attacks on Southern Kaduna for the press to verify. We are giving statistics and figures. This has been following a particular trend.

We are saying that if you see the kind of weapons used, the ferocity, all kinds of guns and explosives that are being used to blow up people and homes, you will be shocked.

“And we are saying that this trend is not only in Southern Kaduna, it is spreading to many parts of the Middle Belt. While the governors of

Yero

Abubakar

Plateau, Benue and Nasarwa were meeting, our governor was absent. That is our complaint. He (Yero) is the Chief Security Office of Kaduna state, who has a social contract with the people. He should be seen doing something.

“If you go to Moroa, or Atakad, where our people were killed and decimated, they were not killed based on whether they belonged to the PDP or APC. Villages were wiped out. Look at the coalition. We are all professionals, not career politicians. What counts now is that our survival is at stake. ” The coalition members also said they were tired of the level of insincerity. “When somebody keeps telling you, ‘keep the peace, go and dialogue,’ and then, you hold the dialogue, but immediately after, there is another massacre. Each time you appeal, it is followed by more massacres. And yet, somebody tells you, keep the peace and live in peace with one another. And you know that you are always attacked with no provocation. The people that are perpetrating the massacre, those breaking the peace are going about freely, just making us look as if we are equal partakers in the crisis. That is what the state is doing - playing politics with our lives.”

Also, Mr. Francis Kozah of the Southern Kaduna Lawyers’ Forum, while reacting to the comments attributed to Yero that some people were playing politics with recent attacks in Southern Kaduna, queried: “What is political about the people asking that government respects its social contract with the people? Is it politics that lives have been lost and property destroyed? The only person playing politics with this tragedy is the person that is refusing to take his responsibility seriously. This is a statement of failure on the part of government. If we are attacked, we have the right to self defence. What is political about this? The reality that we have been visited with unprecedented terror is the truth.

“Now, if the Fulani that purportedly signed a (Peace) document agreed that they have been attacking our people, then we demand that government should start taking legal proceedings immediately, by arresting and prosecuting those that massacred our defenceless men, women, and children in their hundreds” .

The coalition also declared: “You cannot pepper over what is happening to Southern Kaduna people, just because somebody sent a DIG (Deputy Inspector General of Police) to broker peace. Where was the DIG when they were killing our people? This issue is beyond anybody coming to Kaduna and getting people to sign a document and then say that we have achieved peace in Kaduna.”

When the Police Peace Committee, led by Michael Zokumo, a DIG visited Kaduna, the members went to the governor who admonished them to parley with the locals who were directly involved in crisis in order to get to the root of the feud .

Yero told the committee: “It is only through active interaction with those directly affected that the panel can identify the true causes as well as solutions to the crisis. The crisis is not about religion or ethnicity. It is being engineered by some people using religion for their selfish interests.”

The governor also told the Committee that rather than hold reconciliation meetings with the elite, who according to him, were the ones escalating the situation for selfish aims, “the meeting should have been held in Kaura and other affected communities in order to involve people at the grassroots, so that you can sit down with the natives and Fulanis to resolve the matter.”

The governor urged the Zokumo’s Committee to also address the issue of reprisals attacks that emanate from such crisis, saying “security agencies must ensure the prosecution of anyone found culpable and in accordance with the laws of the land.”

Zokumo told the governor that the committee had succeeded in reconciling the natives with herdsmen in troubled communities in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba State where “relative peace and calm have returned.”

After hours of brainstorming, the committee got some of the leaders to sign a six-page document to end 14 years of hostilities, especially between the Hausa-Fulani and other ethnic communities in that area. Zuokumor and the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Umar Shehu, among others, witnessed the signing of the document.

In the document, read by the National

President of SOKAPU, Dr. Ephraim Goje, the groups condemned what they described as the wanton destruction of lives and property of innocent people. They also declared a ceasefire “to create an enabling environment for dialogue; for the return of enduring peace and unity in the area.”

Besides, the document urged the Kaduna state government to establish a peace and reconciliation commission, as well as complete the gazetting of all existing grazing reserves, livestock routes and also provide them with facilities .

According to the document, “the pastoralists should be encouraged to adopt modern animal husbandry techniques in the place of roaming about with their livestock. All grazing reserves that have been encroached upon should be reclaimed, while compensation be paid to the original landowners where this has not been done.”

The leaders of the groups also demanded the creation of a Ministry of Animal Resources and a check on the proliferation of small and medium arms.

They noted: “From the year 2000, the state has been bedeviled by crises which have created hostilities between the people living in southern part of Kaduna state and regrettably, instead of finding a solution, a very dangerous dimension crept in which has taken the form of attacks and reprisals, leaving deaths and destruction.”

Apart from Goje, the other signatories were: the Kaduna state Chairman of Miyyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Ahmadu Suleiman, Chairman, Miyyeti Allah Kautal Association, Alhaji Musa Sheyin, and another member of SOKAPU, Bitrus Gwadah.

However, the Arewa elders stated that the most of the actions taken by the federal government to end the regime of terror have not yielded results. The same position was taken by the JNI leaders, who claimed that Muslims have been the victims of the reign of terror in the region. While condemning the recent attack and killings in Zamfara state by unknown gunmen, the Arewa elders said that the frequency of the insurgency now indicates that a civil war has broken out in the north.

The northern elders urged the Federal Government to live up to its responsibility by putting an end to the crisis in the region. The ACF stated: “The attack on innocent people of Yargaladima village, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State by unknown gunmen, where over 100 people were killed was callous, barbaric and a worrisome development.”

The National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Alhaji Mohammad Ibrahim who signed the statement, said that according to reports, “over 100 gunmen armed with the AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons stormed the village in the afternoon without any resistance and began to shoot indiscriminately, killing innocent souls and destroyed their property.

“The frequency of such attacks in most states of North has been the order of day, as if we are in state of civil war where people live in fear and hopelessness. This situation is certainly unacceptable to any responsible Government.”

The ACF spokesman also called on the Zamfara State Government “to provide necessary rehabilitation materials to the affected persons and to equally intensify efforts that would bring the culprits to the full weight of the law.”

In the same vein, the apex northern Islamic body, the JNI alleged that there was a grand design by the military to exterminate Muslims in Nigeria and destabilize the Muslim community .

In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Dr.Khalid Abubakar, the JNI said the dimension of extra judicial killing of Muslims by the Military on a mere suspicion leaves much to be desired. The statement alleged: “Muslims have become endangered species; murdered and maimed indiscriminately under the guise of fighting terrorism.”

TheGuardian

12 | Wednesday, April 16, 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 Another bombing in Abuja OW it is official: The war of terror on Nigeria, sadly, is far from its end. The vioN lence that has practically sliced off Nigeria’s northeast, rapidly coursing through the nation’s north central with Benue, Plateau and Nasarawa states now under siege, arrived the nation’s capital, on a return leg, with devastating effect two days ago. Official figure of the dead is 72 and 164 injured. But naturally, eyewitness account is more gory with the figures double the official ones.

With the killing of hundreds of Nigerians and maiming of several other hundreds in the suicide bombing of Nyanya Motor Park in the Abuja Federal Capital Territory, whatever faith was left that there is any safe place anywhere in the country was shattered. The vulnerability of the entire country to this orgy of bloodletting was exposed and all pretences to normalcy, even at the seat of government, were thus removed. This must stop and the government of Nigeria should adequately discharge its responsibility for the safety of Nigerians everywhere forthwith. The consoling words to victims and their families are welcome but Nigerians want an end to the carnage.

For years now, the nation has fought insurgency in the northeast and other parts of the country including the capital, Abuja. Whatever success so far recorded in that war appears debatable with the magnitude of the occasional successes of the terrorists. Among many other attacks on the seat of the Federal Government, about 30 people were killed and over a hundred injured when the insurgents struck the United Nations office in Abuja in August 2011. The Nigeria Police headquarters was no sanctuary as the terrorists targeted it in June of 2011, leaving scores dead and injured. Before then, a military barrack was picked and the bombers killed about 30 people.

Late last year, the Boko Haram insurgents inflicted searing damage on the soul of Nigeria when they invaded the premises of the College of Agriculture in Gujba, Yobe State, murdered about 90 students by slitting their throats while they slept, wounded many, abducted some others and set the school on fire. Only yesterday, reports had it that more than 100 girls were abducted from the Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State.

Before then, schools in the state had been shut down for months due to the threat of insurgents following the killing of 42 students in another school in July. Only two months ago, the government boasted that it had recorded appreciable success in the fight against terrorism as its forces had chased the insurgents far out to the borders in northeastern Nigeria.

Before Monday’s bombing in the Federal Capital Territory put a lie to that claim, several incidents involving massive loss of lives had etched big question marks.

Yobe, Borno and Adamawa remain under emergency rule. Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam and Nasarawa’s Al-Makura have repeatedly lamented the siege under which their states exist with what started as clashes between Fulani herdsmen and native farmers now looking like another insurgency in that region.

Daily, hundreds of lives are lost to attackers with sophisticated weapons and property in unquantifiable sums are destroyed.

While it may sound like a stretch, the claim that the civil war Nigeria fought against herself over a period of three years did not consume as much blood of the innocent as this insurgency has consumed is now ringing true.

As Nigeria bleeds all over, a more heart-rending phenomenon is the politicisation of the insurgency, leading to a senseless blame game by politicians, a vanity industry of condolence statements and mindless photo-ops as well as a befuddled sense of what needs to be done. The result is that not only is solution still elusive, the ruling elite seems conscienceless enough to be exploiting the crisis, in symbols and in substance.

The Nigerian government, in spite of its protestations to the contrary, has certainly not earned praises in its approach to tackling the terror menace. And all talk of the buck stopping at President Goodluck Jonathan’s desk is true. He was, after all, hired as president to protect Nigeria and Nigerians against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That citizens, north, south, east and west, now live in fear is a testimonial that he cannot be proud of.

This is also the best time for the president to review his style. Following an earlier terror threat in the capital city, the government is on record to have practically imprisoned President Goodluck Jonathan in the Aso Rock Villa as most ceremonies that ought to be held in the Eagle Square or any other open space were observed inside the villa. While the president is entitled to maximum security in whatever form, that action, for whatever reason, smacked of a certain retreat and ceding of territory to the enemy, if not outright cowardice. On another level, the question may even be asked: When the leader retreats into a safe haven, into which territory do the rest of Nigerians retreat?

Once again, the sophisticated methods of the bombers and insurgents, the audacity of their open attacks and the devastating stealth with which they operate when that is required call to question the strategy of the Nigerian security forces and the commitment to the fight. Is there an insufficiency in the tools for the fight or are there people profiting from its open-endedness? If there have been successes, such have been cancelled out by the plundering of Nigerian lives, lives of security personnel and innocent civilians.

But blaming Jonathan, his government and all the other governments is the easiest thing to do. Of course, the government can and should do more. Intelligence gathering must improve and the agencies must be more pro-active. All the material as well as non-material needs of the security must not only be provided, such must be made to reach the men on the frontline either in the cities or in the suburbs.

As the Nigerian life gets cheaper by the day and death stalks every nook and cranny of the country in the colour of Boko Haram insurgents or suicide bombers, every Nigerian must pause, reflect on the death of the innocents, on the possibility that any Nigerian could be next and determine to be each other’s keeper.

Vigilance, eternal vigilance on the part of all is what is most needed now. That is the first step towards cooperating with the security agencies and overcoming terror in Nigeria.

LETTER

As Obiano settles down IR: There is no doubt that state and the people irrespec- a united state where people can Sremarkable March 14, 2014 has become a tive of religious creed/denomi- be their brothers keepers, free day in the political national affiliation he will defi- from jealousy and envy, where history of Anambra State, because it was on that date that the former Governor of the State, Mr. Peter Obi bowed out of Office while the incumbent Governor, Chief Willie Obiano took over the mantle of leadership in the state.

This has brought to an end an era of uncertainty, fear and threats that characterised the 2013 governorship election in the state. Notably, it is only the courageous that concedes defeats to an opponent without regrets, and it is only the brave that absorbs shocks without retaliation. But as people of the same destiny, aspiring to lead people, there is no need bearing grudges or perpetually dwelling in regrets. At times, failure offers the opportunity to learn about ourselves, as well as improving our lot.

According to Robert Green Ingersol: “The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.”

Fundamentally, ‘all major success is a joint effort’. This could be exemplified by the mammoth crowd that attended the swearing in ceremony of the new executive governor of the state. I believe that if the new governor of the state will remain people’s centred, people’s governor, a patriotic and a compatriot, a change mover, a man of integrity, a man of wisdom and knowledge, a good shepherd, agent of development/visionary leader, a peacemaker and a defender of the

nitely succeed.

Every patriotic Anambrarian would always pray for peace and good governance in the state. We will expect to see in place an appropriate vehicle for development, which includes growth of industries, expansion of infrastructures and creation of jobs for our graduates. We pray for a dream state, a State that is well organised and productive,

lawlessness at motor parks by young men and ladies would be a thing of the past, a state that is free from ignorance and poverty, a safe and well secured state. The citizens of Anambra State are known for their excellence, hence our state cannot be left behind. We need to cooperate with our executive governor, to take the state to the next level.

• Chris Chukwudebem, Lagos.

Thoughts on ‘The Letter That Changed Nigeria’ IR: “The letter that changed Nigeria” by SYinka Sayomi that appeared in The Guardian of Tuesday, March 11, 2014 is a crucial message to all Nigerians.

And I think the article should provoke our thought and conscience and then reignite our collective will to begin to rewrite our ugly history. I haven’t read a message like this for a long time.

Nigeria is a blessed nation (not a cursed nation). We are only bereft of leaders with strong and unblemished vision and determination to re-write our history for the common good of all.

Nigeria’s political clime is only dotted with sociopaths who attract friends and followers so easily as a result of poverty. But underneath, they are unable to feel empathy for any other living being. They have a hole in them where a sense of

shame or guilt should be. They are obsessed with competition and penchant for winning election at all cost. Despite having signs of material success acquired illegally, inside them is void and nothingness that ultimately lead to lives devoid of joy and happiness. Examples abound everywhere in the land.

What we need right now in Nigeria is to rediscover ourselves and henceforth speak (north, southwest and east) with one voice to expunge corruption from the system. There is beauty (and much to gain) in unity and diversity. We never know, Yinka Sayomi’s exposition might be the beginning or a prescription to a NU9Gr (new Nigeria). The time should be now. I personally and passionately recommend the article for peruse by all Nigerians as an antidote to all our multifarious self-inflicted problems.

• Yahaya Balogun, Arizona, USA.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014 13

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Opinion Of misanthropes, butchers and conspiratorial silence

By Alade Rotimi-John HE citizenry of our country is a curious adT mixture or a rude co-habitation of noblesse oblige and of persons endowed with mediocre mind and spirit; with baleful or ‘bileful’ disdain for human life and its accoutrements. Here, there are tendencies that seem most baneful or ghoulish competing for and encroaching on the space of the most illustrious achievements of the human spirit.

Week after week, we are forced to reconcile with loss in a collective mournful way. The mode of operation of the homicidal merchants in our midst is all too familiar: destroy institutions of learning, throw bombs at places of relaxation and at structures or motifs of competing faith or ideologies, market panic, fear and suspicion and (lately) generally attack sleepy communities in a bizarre demonstration of hate, smugness or insouciance.

Stories of unprecedented achievements, narrations of powerful statements regarding the human condition and result of probes for meaning and value beyond our immediate universe or clime all pale into insignificance in the wake of the genocidal war on our essence by those who have sworn to include us in their will or ill purpose.

The regular horrendous hacking to death by bombing of innocent bystanders or the cruel dispatch of young school pupils to the world beyond in their sleep, the forcible abduction of young girls from communities of learning or the relentless disruption to social and economic life in Nigeria’s northeast geo-political zone are too hackneyed to be rehashed here. If any organisation, whatever it chooses to be called, whether it be Boko Haram or such-like mumbo-jumbo or any other name, raises the stake or standard of social or religious hate or prejudices or attempts to make religious beliefs or tribal origins the test of fitness to live, it does violence to our collective spirit for cohesion and orderly development even in our diversity. It must be condemned by all those who believe, among other ideals, in the sacro-sanctity of human life. While we all wax strong or eloquent as to the affirmative provisions of our Constitution, the document stands violated constantly before our very eyes in our non-insistence on

the inviolability of its provisions regarding the right of others to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. We have failed to denounce by name the public officials or the conniving politicians who have made of our freedoms in that part of Nigeria and elsewhere a mockery and a sham. We have not been able to express our well-considered convictions because we find them ill adapted to the harsh realities of the struggle for survival [or for bread and butter] we are all engaged in. We have said that nothing of the more than one thousand lives lost in the abortive effort to locate and isolate the military wherewithal or fount of the insurgents. We have made no reference to the collapse of attempts to constructively engage the deviants. Only a tepid criticism of the scourge or of its merchants – one that lacks the requisite moral or intellectual force – is blown with muted horns. We seem to have traded in our conscience. We lack the creative indignation that cannot rest until justice is upheld.

This writer holds the view that at the bottom is the vital issue of whether Nigeria is to continue to blunder in a morass of material aims and purpose - or whether, guided by the quest for high ideals, she is to enter into the fullness of peace and plenty envisioned for her by her founding patrons and thereby reap the benefits of enduring brotherliness or togetherness which are the just inheritance of a nation exalted by righteousness or godly purpose. Such should be our faith; our purpose should be anchored thereon.

An unfortunate climate of mutual seething resentment among the ethnic nationalities has further compounded the siege on our psyche by religious bigots masquerading as insurgents. So it is the case that we are pussy footing not to be labelled or tagged even as self-evident truths become stillborn. We tip-toe for fear the tribe of insurgents might overhear us. Our own campaign has been overcome by a vast, mysterious and pervading silence. But there is no harm to us more injurious than vapid silence even in the face of adversity or of the perversion of our commonly held or

cherished ideals.

Our self-appointed spokesmen have failed to carry conviction in their speeches. They come to the edge and when you think they are about to hit the proverbial nail on the head, they fall just short of the right words and right effect. They give no evidence of a soul stirred within. Their words are not compelling. They seem to have no real grievance against the existing social, political or economic order. But, in truth, they are the projected beneficiaries of a desultory or vulgar system totally lacking in depth, sophistication or poise.

Wait a minute, a rude and audacious “discovery” intrudes brusquely!

Enter still an idyllic Soka village on the outskirts of Ibadan – that wondrous “splash of rust and gold.” For once, since after Adedibu, that grotesquely inimitable political strongman of Ibadan, who held that city and the rest of Nigeria spellbound on the world map of inanities, Oluyole Mesiogo is in the news for yet another wrong reason. For some time now, probably not long enough to blight our memories, some goblins, gnomes, imps, elf, psychopaths and plain mad men have taken over the ominously treacherous LagosIbadan Expressway working their demonic scheme into the numerous woes of the hapless traveller on that road, commandeering it to themselves for their own use or abuse.

Nigeria’s number one expressway has since become the metaphor for woeful sojourns or reckless peregrination. But that is just one side of the coin. Not too far from the rustic glitter of life in Ibadan, and unknown to many is a cesspit representing the grisly value we place on life and its vigour or essence. Some ghoulish characters have found a lucrative trade or pastime in human body members or organs.

So it is true that there is a hellish or sinister but lucrative relationship between the members of the human body and an unbelievably primitive and instantaneous wealth generation or creation modem. Human body parts are auctioned or sold as totems to a ready market of sorcerers, soothsayers, magicians, etc. These ones profit from the mysterious loss or disappearance on the highway of

many travellers whose journeys end up in the pit of hell created and serviced for pandering the atavistic whims or instincts of our antediluvian fellow countrymen and women.

To reflect that this trade in human body parts has gone on for this long boggles the mind and reveals our government and their security forces for what they truly are-mere cosmetic apparatuses or contraptions just to fulfill all righteousness regarding the full panoply of government. After all, the full accoutrement of governance is incomplete without the copy of suggested prescriptions of seemingly similar or identical models. What is good for the United States of America, for instance, can also find a safe harbour in Nigeria. The respective peculiarities of the country of origin and those of the importing counterpart notwithstanding, the copied version must take on the full armour of the original – with the full complement of staff, the accompanying perquisites, the high-fallutin designations, etc. Facile excuses can however be conveniently made regarding the charge of non-performance or ill performance of statutory duties or functions or of being a poor shadow of the copied model. So butchers continue to have a field day, doing what they know how to do best – slicing, cutting, chopping, decapitating or dismembering human bodies for sale in an open market designated for that ill-purpose even as a bewildered government announces panic measures, offers primeval solutions, makes fire brigade arrangements and defies or abuses its own rules or laws.

In the meanwhile, the ordinary people are left bemused wondering if the strident threats of secession or the shrill cries for self determination or dismemberment of the Nigerian state coming surprisingly from strange or unusual quarters are not in tandem or in direct relationship with, or reflective of, our collective sense of condoning viciousness regarding the continuing cold-blooded dismemberment of human bodies. The ill-fated Soka village is not only a telling metaphor regarding our imperiled circumstance it is also symptomatic of a general sense of malaise or of an abject lack or deficiency in moral capital or rectitude.

• Rotimi-John, a lawyer and commentator on public affairs, sent in this contribution from Abuja.

Diezani fixation:Enough should be enough

By Beks Dagogo-Jack vER the past couple of years, particularly since her apO pointment as Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke has been under the constant gaze of different stakeholder interests, each having different interpretations and indeed expectations of how she should do her job relative to their own well-defined interests. To be clear, Madueke is not the first minister of petroleum resources to face this level of acute tackling by vested interests across Nigeria’s socio-economic and political landscape. And she certainly would not be the last.

To provide some background, if indeed it is necessary, considering Nigeria’s near-total dependence on income from petroleum to run our economy at all the three tiers of government, the oil industry has been the most critical and viable sector of our economy for decades now. Yet, being largely public sector run, with significant political control and influence, the industry which in the last couple of years has been creating considerable opportunities for the flourish of indigenous operators and vendors, is today seen by both new and veteran private sector players as the surest path to achieving enterprise success and acquiring mind-boggling wealth.

In addition, the ministry and its agencies have been designed, from inception, to deal with various allocations and licenses capable of creating overnight millionaires and the likes. Does it, therefore, surprise anyone that the chief executive of this ministry would always be subjected to far more public and private pressures than any other, and indeed in some cases even more than the president? In this respect, the Nigerian people ought, ordinarily, to be moved more to appreciate the enormity of the multifarious daily challenges she must deal with, than being victims of manipulated propaganda antics of those struggling to substitute her with their cronies.

My personal opinion is that the current Minister of Petroleum Resources, Lady Deziani, came on board with better appreciation of the intricacies of the job than some of her predecessors did. Whilst this fact alone cannot and should not fully immunise her against the well-entrenched activities of decades-old vested capitalist forces in the oil and gas sector, yet evidence abound that her preparedness has helped to tide her, thus far, without caving in under the armada of attacks which had been the lot of several oil ministers before her.

The current campaign and attempts to stampede the minister out of office, with apparent undercurrents of organised attacks, mostly centered on her use of private jets, etc are, in my opinion, quite trivial, and a case of leaving substance in pursuit of shadows. Whilst no credible democratic government should stand idly by in the face of any impropriety or misuse of public funds, I am of the strong opinion that we must strive to build effective and efficient institutions, which should diligently handle such cases dispassionately and totally in our national interest. This would discourage this very harmful culture of over sensationalized trial of public office holders on the pages of newspapers, with mostly speculative and unfounded allegations.

Indeed, often times whilst the gullible public is treated to the high drama of sensationalised media campaign against public officials with the sole goal of instigating their sack from office, we often lose sight of the fact that most of such campaigns are engineered and promoted by capitalist interests, which in most cases, are founded and fueled by personal vendetta anchored on business and political interests. I repeat: a robust institutional framework for dealing with all cases of abuse of public trust remains our best hope for exposing and punishing genuine cases of violation of public trust, whilst seeking prevention and deterrence for new violations.

Without any doubt in my mind, Lady Deziani’s tenure has

come with its own unique risks, challenges, quirks and opportunities which she and her team have tackled with visible zeal and tangible results to show for their efforts. The multiplicity of demands on her ministerial duties and responsibilities, in view of the strategic position of oil and gas in our economy, is not comparable to any other ministerial portfolio. Over these years, even her harshest critics would readily admit that she has learnt quite a bit on the job and is headed towards the point of measurable confidence in the handling of the intricacies of this hugely peculiar duty post.

Whilst the experience she has gathered in the last couple of years now stand ready to benefit the government and the Nigerian people, those who have personal and political axes to grind seem hell bent on a totally different mission.

It is indeed a sad irony that on the one hand, Nigerians expect public office holders to demonstrate required expertise and experience in the discharge of their duties, and yet on the other hand, we so readily yield to our baser instincts. We pressurise government at the slightest opportunity to change ministers at such short intervals that they hardly ever settle in and tackle the job requirements before we begin to demand for them to be rolled off, invariably sending the wrong signal that acquisitive interests rather best practices on the job is the overriding factor in making such critical appointments. It is, therefore, hardly surprising that over the years, the performance level of public office holders across the sectors have continued to decline to the overall disadvantage of our national economy.

It is obviously a rewarding testament to her well-grounded training that in the face of these seemingly unceasing torrents of mudslinging against her, with yet no case proven against her, Lady Deziani has continued to comport herself with dignity and calm. Let us not forget, because we are in a hurry to undo her, that she is also human and so not perfect.

Lets’s have enough of this fixation of stampeding Deziani out of office. Let common sense reign!

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

14 Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Opinion From Ribadu to Danjuma, now Gusau

By Eric Teniola HE Minister of Defence of Nigeria is a senior T cabinet official in the Federal Executive Council in charge of the Ministry of Defence.

The defence minister’s main responsibility is to manage all branches of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to maintain a modern, competent and professional military force for the protection of the national territory, maritime interests, airspace and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

After independence, Nigeria’s first Minister of Defence was Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu (191065). On May 1, 1965, he was to be honoured along with the then Prime Minister, Sir. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1912-66) by the then premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir. Ahmadu Bello (1909-66), with gold medals of the Usmamiya order in Kaduna. He died on the morning of that day at the age of 55.

No doubt, Ribadu was a towering figure. A giant among men. He was in all but name, the deputy Prime Minister. He was powerful and intrepid.

Ribadu was born at Bulala, in the present Adamawa State. He was active in politics in the Northern Region and entered the Northern House of Assembly in Kaduna in 1947. Thus began a political career in which he rose rapidly.

He soon became a leader of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC), founded in 1949 as a cultural organisation but soon turned into a political party in order to meet the requirements of the Macpherson Constitution. Under the leadership of the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the most powerful politician during his era, the NPC won all the Northern seats in Nigeria’s first general elections of 195152, and Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu was one of the northern candidates who won the election to the Federal House of Representatives in Lagos where he was appointed Minister of Natural Resources. He was previously a director of the Nigerian Produce Marketing Company, but resigned this post on becoming a minister.

In 1954 he was appointed Federal Minister of Land, Mines and Power; he served in that ministry until 1957 when he was transferred to the

portfolio of Lagos Affairs. He was second vicepresident of the NPC, and of the most influential leaders of the NPC-dominated regime in the federation. He received a British decoration, being awarded the MBE in 1952.

While serving as Minister of Defence, Ribadu presided over a rapid expansion of the Nigerian Army, Navy as well as the creation of the Nigeria Air Force. He established the Defence Industries Corporation in Kaduna, the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna and a Second Recce Squadron in Abeokuta. He got practically all his budgetary requests through parliament including approval to spend 19.5 million pounds on defence from 1962-66 as compared with 5.5 million pounds during the preceding seven-year period. Defence costs as a percentage of federal recurrent spending from 1958-1966 ranged from 7.7 to 9.9 per cent.

Defence costs as a percentage of federal capital spending during the same period ranged from 1.5 to 12.1 per cent.

Ribadu lost the chairmanship of the Economic Committee of the federal cabinet in 1964, a position he had used skilfully to protect and oversee his defence appropriations. His colleagues often refer to him as “power of powers”. He completed the Nigerianisation of the Army. Till today he’s still being remembered as one of the most outstanding defence ministers Nigeria ever had. If we remember Ribadu in éclat, valour and repute and for his giant strides, we must also note in glory and prowess the two permanent secretaries and the four ministers of state who served under him.

Alhaji Abdul Azeez Attah (1920-1972) served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence between 1960 and 1964 and handed over to Alhaji Sule Dede Kolo (88) who is from Jos, Plateau state.

From 1960 to August 1961, a physician, Dr. Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi, CFR (19162012) was Minister of State for the Army. He handed over to an Idoma businessman and politician, Chief Jacob Obande who is from Elilazi, Igumale in the present Benue State.

Alhaji Ibrahim Tako Galadima who was an exstudent of Government College, Bida, Niger State took over from Chief Obande in January

1963 and served till January 1966. Alhaji Galadima, according to famous writer Dan Agbese recruited almost all the famous Generals including General Ibrahim Babangida, Gado Nasko, Abdulsalam Abubakar, Mamman Vatsa, Sanni Bello and others, particularly from Niger state, into the Nigerian Army.

Chief Matthew Tawo Mbu (1929-2012) served as minister of Navy from 1960-1965 under Ribadu. Chief Mbu from Okundi in Ogoja area of present Cross River State had earlier served as Nigeria’s first High Commissioner to the United Kingdom between 1955-1959. He was also the first Nigeria Representative to the United Nations.

After the death of Ribadu, Alhaji Inua Wada uncle to late General Murtala Muhammed was appointed minister of defence. There was little he could do until the military coup of January 15, 1966. Many scholars and historians believe till today that if Ribadu had been alive, the January 15, 1966 military coup could not have taken place. That he would have prevented it and that the first republic in spite of all incidents would have survived, and that we would not have been in this mess today.

Since Alhaji Inua Wada, Nigeria has had many Defence Ministers namely Major-General Iliya Bisalla (1975-1976), Professor Iya Abubakar (1979-1981), Alhaji Akanbi Oniyangi (1971-1983), General Domkat Bali (1984-1990), General Sani Abacha (1990-1994), General (rtd.) Yakubu Theophilus Danjuma (19992003), Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso (2003-2007), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed (2007-2008), Alhaji Shettima Mustapha (2008-2009), Major General (rtd.) Godwin Abbe (2009-2010), Adetokunbo Kayode (2010-2011) and Dr. Bello Haliru Muhammed (2011-July 2012).

Of all the defence ministers, none has resumed in office during war like the incumbent General (rtd.) Aliyu Muhammed Gusau.

I think it is not by accident that he has been picked at this period to serve as defence minister. He has all the credentials.

General Aliyu Gusau ended his military career as Chief of Army staff. His long tenure as national security adviser is still unequalled. He has been director-general of National Security

Organisation (NSO). He was once director of Military Intelligence. He was once chairman of Joint Intelligence Board. He has been Director of Defence Intelligence Agency. To top it all, he has friends. Many friends.

War is no longer being waged like in the past in the conventional way. Things have changed. For a war to be won now there must be a great input from the intelligence unit. For example in the United States, the secretary of defence, which is minister of defence to us, by the GoldwaterNichols DOD Reorganisation Act of 1986, has combatant control of the Defense Information Systems Agency, the Defense Nuclear Agency, the Defence Logistics Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Defense Mapping Agency and the Central Imagery Office.

In addition the secretary of defence gives policy guidance and direction to other supporting organisations, including the Joint Tactical Command and, Control, and Communications Agency, the Electromagnetic Compatibility Analysis Centre, the Military Communications Electronics Board, and the Joint Doctrine Centre.

Even in the United Kingdom, the minister of defence is the chairman of Defense Council and all other bodies; namely, the Admiralty, the Army Board and the Air Force board report directly to him. In return, he is accountable to the Queen and the parliament.

In relation to our present war in the northeast, if we are to go by the American experience, the Minister of Defence must have complete control on Specified and Unified Command so as to avoid duplication of efforts.

This Boko Haram war has brought dejection, depression and melancholy to us all. Many homes are today in anguish and despondency. Thousands if not millions have been displaced because of this war. It must and it should end. The continuation of this war cannot be justified. It is the duty of a General to fight a war. It is also the duty of a General to stop a war. I believe it is the duty of General Aliyu Gusau to help stop this war.

• Teniola was a director at the Presidency. He lives in Lagos.

The real issues on Ibom finances

By Moses Ekong OVERNOR Godswill Akpabio has just concluded a tour of G the 10 federal constituencies in Akwa Ibom State. During the four-week visit, he commissioned some projects, made more promises to the people and spoke glowingly of his achievements and the need for him to select his successor. But quite curiously, and to the surprise of most stakeholders, he again kept one piece of information a secret: How much Akwa Ibom State has earned since he became governor in May 2007 and what is the real size of its total indebtedness. Despite acclaimed successes in many areas especially infrastructure, the agitation from many eminent citizens to the governor to carry the people along on how he has managed their resources all these years have really not been addressed despite prodding from some quarters. In simple terms, what is the true financial position of the Akwa Ibom State government?

In the last few weeks, for instance, two Akwa Ibom citizens, Felix Abang, an Abuja-based attorney and Elder Enefiok Ekefre, the founding Chairman of PDP in Uyo LGA, quoting figures from the Federal and State Ministry of Finance, claimed in newspaper publications that the government has incurred a about N400 billion in bank debts and contractors’ unpaid invoices, despite sizeable inflow of revenue into the state’s treasury over seven years or thereabout. Although the government has denied these figures, it has not stated what the true position is.

The other day, the Commissioner for Finance, Bassey Albert Akpan made a feeble attempt in a newspaper advertorial to explain why Fitch Rating withdrew its services from the state. Akpan also denied claims that the state’s total debts are as much as N400 billion. But a comment from him on our total receipts and earnings so far would have addressed agitated minds. So the haunting question remains: how much has the administration earned so far and what is the total debt obligation?

From data sourced on disbursements from the Federal Ministry of Finance, it is clear that the Akpabio administration has earned a little over N3 trillion since its inception seven years ago, a figure the finance commissioner did not contest in his

advertorial. The details of the inflows are as follows: An average of N20 billion per month for the last 72 months from the FAAC gives N1.44 trillion, Allocations from Excess Crude Accounts in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 is N410 billion, refund from Revenue & Fiscal Mobilisation Commission in 2010 for adjusted oil wells and Paris Club debts reconciliation (N400 billion), Sure-P allocation in the last 15 months N18.3 billion), Ecological Fund (N10.7 billion) and IGR in 72 months at an average of N800m per month (N57.6 billion). These give a total of N3.335 trillion.

In the context of this discussion, a look at the government’s budgets over the years will suffice. On assuming office in May 2007, Akpabio inherited his predecessor’s budget for that year.

But the new administration earned more than N200 billion between May and December of that year. In 2008, the administration budgeted N2881.66 billion, N283.81b in 2009, N288.844b in 2010, N419.78 billion in 2011, N397.14b in 2012, N470.08billion in 2013 and N498.53 billion in 2014. In each of these years, the governor also got approval for supplementary budgets of about N1 trillion, thus bringing total budgeted sums for the last seven years to about N3.351 trillion. This indicates a close approximation to the total revenue of the state within the same period.

Interestingly, some official government propagandists keep claiming that the government revenues have not been near this level. Has the government then been engaging in deficit budgeting? Can we safely conclude that based on the state’s budgets since 2008 and figures from the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, not less than N3.335 billion has accrued to the administration since inception in May 2007?

On the issue of debt, it is surprising that the government could deny its total obligations of hundreds of billions of naira to banks and contractors - an information which is readily available in the relevant ministry. In fact, as recently as a few months ago, the government allegedly engaged in a new wave of borrowings to finance a hotel project in Ikot Ekpene even though the one in Uyo has been abandoned. The relevant questions then are: Why is the government’s commitment to the banks so much a month if not as debt repayments? Why have contractors abandoned work on the terminal building of the air-

port and the MRO facility if they are not owed? Why is the 16floor hotel project in Uyo a stillbirth six years after work started?

Why is work on the Twentieth Anniversary Hospital project in Uyo and several road projects like Etinan-Eket Road abandoned? Why has work stopped at foundation level in the 5,000seater convention centre if it is not for contractors’ unpaid invoices? This was the convention centre that the governor had boasted to President Jonathan would be ready to host the African Union meeting. Even the contractor boasted that the PDP annual convention would be hosted in the facility before Akpabio leaves office. Now we know better! Some well-informed insiders in government in Uyo believe that one possible reason the administration is keeping sealed lips on its finances is the embarrassing gap that exists between the total revenues earned and the value of projects so far executed.

The onus therefore is on the governor to come clean with Akwa Ibom people and provide a detailed outlay of the state’s finances and debts profile since 2007. This should have advisedly formed the integral part of his town hall meeting briefings; it’s not only about projects completed. That would be an incomplete briefing! Instead of being accountable to the people, all the people are getting are insults and abuses on anybody who dares to ask questions. The administration seems to be unnecessarily sensitive, secretive to questions raised about the management of the state’s finances. Yet democracy demands that leaders must give regular accounts of their stewardship.

Indeed, our democracy will be in peril if leaders treat issues of transparency, probity and accountability with levity and disdain. We note that a few other PDP governors like Theodore A. Orji of Abia State and Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State regularly publish their states’ financials. Akpabio’s predecessor, Obong Victor Attah, had a special publication in the Ministry of Finance, in which the state’s revenue and expenditures were regularly published. Our people demand no less. This is a challenge to the current administration on being accountable to the people, based on trust. We should emphasize Akpabio should be mindful of the verdict of history.

• Ekong lives in Lagos

Wednesday, April 16, 2014 15

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

TheMetroSection Morning after nature’s wrath …

Briefs Easter events at God’s Fire Int’l Church

•Rainstorm destroys 100 houses, school in two Ogun communities

HE God’s Fire International T Church is set to hold yuletide programme tagged;

•Government asseses extent of damage, pledges succour for victims

Easter Specials at Marble House, 95, Ogudu Road, AbuleSoko Bus Stop, Ogudu, Ojota in Kosofe Local Council of Lagos State, on Good Friday, 18 at 5:30pm and Easter Sunday, April 20, at 9.00a.m. Host is Prophet Israel B. Philip.

Three Nights of Transformation at CAC HREE nights of prophetic T transformation prayer meeting begin tomorrow to Friday at Chris Apostolic Church (CAC), Lion of Judah at 11.00p.m. daily and Sunday, April 20, from 7am -9am at 4, Adegbola Street, opposite Ikeja Local Council, IkejaAlong, Lagos.

Host is Pastor Tayo Ayodele.

Public school destroyed by the storm

A house destroyed by the storm

Ahmadiyya youths hold convention

OUTH members of the AhY madiyya Muslim Community in Nigeria will converge on Akure, the Ondo State capital to reflect on salient issues in the Nigerian nationhood, especially as it concerns the youths.

The yearly convention, which has been held every year since 1972, will hold from Thursday, April 17 to Sunday, Apri 20, 2014 at the St. Peter’s Unity Secondary School, Oba Adesida Road, Akure. The theme is: 100 Years of Nigeria: Concerns on Youth Development.

C. O. Taiwo dies at 104 A collapsed house

Roofs blown off by the storm

From Charles Coffie Gyamfi, Abeokuta

house-to-house enumeration and assessment to determine the immediate needs of the victims.

“We want you to know that you are not alone in this situation. In fact, the whole state is affected because what affects one affects all. As I am speaking to you now, relief materials are on the way for everyone who is affected in one way or the other. Besides, officials the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) are also on ground for house-tohouse enumeration and assessment,” Adeoluwa pointed out.

Speaking on behalf of the affected communities, the Onidogo of Idogo, Oba Saheed Olubiyi, and the Baale of Ipake, Chief Dauda Fadairo, thanked the governor for his timely response

Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Muyiwa Oladipo, and the ChairTHE Ogun State government has man of Yewa South Local Council, Safiu pledged to provide succour to vicAdeniji, Adeoluwa said the incident tims of Sunday’s heavy rainstorm, was a great loss not only to the affected which destroyed over 100 houses and a communities, but also to the state as a public primary school in Idogo and whole.

Ipake towns in Yewa-South Local CounHe thanked God that no life was lost cil of the state. to the disaster, disclosing that the state Secretary to the State Government governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, (SSG), Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, who led a was deeply touched by the incident, delegation to the area to assess the ex- which informed why he ordered imtent of damage, promised the govern- mediate inspections of the level of ment would provide adequate relief damage. materials to the victims to lessen their Affirming that the relief materials plight. would be brought to them soonest, Accompanied by the Commissioner the SSG revealed that the State Emerfor Environment, Mr. Ayo Olubori, his gency Management Agency (SEMA) counterpart in the Ministry of Local was already on ground for proper

å

HE death has occurred of T Emeritus Prof. C. O. Taiwo, the Olotu Aaye of Ijebuland, at

and pledged their continued support for the programmes and policies of his administration, which they noted had impacted positively on their lives.

Narrating his ordeal, one of the victims, the Basorun of Idogo, Chief Gbadamosi Amusa, explained that he and his household escaped death by the whiskers as they were almost trapped by the debris of his collapsed building while they were asleep.

“Only God can explain how we narrowly escaped because this is where I and my wife were sleeping before the roof suddenly came down. We thank God for protecting us all in the incident. We also thank Governor Amosun and his cabinet for their quick intervention,” he said.

the age of 104. He was the first Provost, College of Education, University of Lagos; Pro-Chancellor, University of Ilorin; Examiner and Council Member of several Commonwealth universities among other notable appointments He is survived by children and great –grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later by the family.

Abule Egba residents take protest over land grabbers to Lagos Assembly

By Wole Oyebade ESIDENTS of Abula Egba area of Ojokoro Local Council Development Area of Lagos on Monday staged a protest march to Lagos State House of Assembly over alleged threat by land grabbers in the area.

The protesters, numbering about 100, urged the state government to wade into the matter and forestall imminent breakdown of law and order.

In a letter submitted to the House, youths of Abule Egba under Abule Egba Central Community Development Association (CDA),

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whose parents have been living in Arowolo, Segun Akinola and Abiodun Onitiri Streets, alleged to have been under attacks by thugs since 2009.

A member of the group, Odunayo Oladejo, lamented the ordeal faced by the residents, due to determination of a Carena family “that have been terrorizing we people of the area with hired thugs.”

He alleged that the hired thugs were led by Kehinde Adeosun, who had been standing for Carena family.

According to him, “Adeosun

Yusuf claimed to have won a case over the disputed land.”

“They are acting under Carena family name with a court judgment passed by a High Court in 1987 and confirmed in 2008 by Supreme court.”

It was gathered that the Carena family, whose identity was unknown was later to be linked with one Iyabo Kuteyi, a Director with the State Water Corporation, Ijora.

One of the protesters explained that their parents had pleaded to pay the sum of N1 million per plot of land as a ransom, which those people claiming ownership have insisted that the resi-

dents must pay N6 million.

Another protester appealed to the state government to invite Iyabo Kuteyi to give details over the disputed land and get amicable solution, adding that the continued destruction of properties should stop forth with.

Receiving the protesters, member of the House, Bisi Yusuf, expressed satisfaction in the manner the protesters conducted themselves.

He urged them to maintain orderliness, so as not have the protest hijacked by mischief- makers.

Taiwo

Special service at KLM HE Kingdom of Light MinT istries (KLM) will hold this month’s Anointing for Breakthrough service on Saturday, April 19, at the church’s corporate headquarters, 1-2, Ajoke Kazeem Street, off Subol Bus Stop, Idimu-Ikotun Road, Idimu, Lagos at 7.30a.m.

The church will also hold its youth programme on Sunday, April 20, at the same venue at 5.00p.m.

Presiding Pastor, Samson Makinwa, Pastor Sunday Ihazah and David Ovie will minister.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

16 Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Briefs Pa Omorodion Iyare to be installed as Odionwere of Egba in Edo State LL roads lead to Egba land in Uhunmwode Local CounA cil of Edo State as Pa Omorodion Lucky Iyare ascends the throne of Odionwere of Egba land in grand style at the weekend.

The Odionwere, in Benin Kingdom is usually the most senior male in the community and owns a house therein.

He, in collaboration with the Council of Elders, would help the Oba of Benin Kingdom in the day-to-day administration of the community.

According to a statement by the Chairman, Egba Development Organisation, Lagos Branch, Mr. Frederick Onaghise, the installation ceremony of Pa Omorodion Lucky Iyare will take place on April 18, 19 and 20, 2014, inside the Egba Community Hall.

According to Mr. Onaghise, Friday will witness the installation of Pa Omorodion Lucky Iyare as Odionwere of Egba land inside the Communit Hall at 3:00pm, Saturday is for installation of potential leaders among the youth of the community into the Elders’ Council of Egba land inside the Community Hall from 12:00pm.

The ceremonies will be rounded off with a Thanksgiving Service at the Egba Baptist Church, Egba land on Sunday, April 20, 2014.

It would be recalled that the immediate past Odionwere of Egba land Pa Ben Ekhovbiye Onaghise transited to the great beyond on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at the ripe age of 109.

Omorodion

Imo steps up fight against baby factories • Commences revalidation of private hospitals, maternity homes From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri

ISTURBED by the increasD ing rate of teenage pregnancies and the discovery of

illegal orphanages also known as baby factories in Imo State, the government has ordered the revocation of all such homes, private maternity homes as well as hospitals and has begun the revalidation of their operation licenses.

The wife of the governor, Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha, who flagged off the exercise in Owerri on Monday, directed all the operators to present themselves for the exercise, adding that the state government would not keep its eyes open and watch while such illicit activities thrive in the state.

She retorted: “We are frightened by the reports received on the vulnerability

But traders interviewed said they were only informed on Monday to quit HERE was confusion in their shops and offices on the capital city of Awka, Monday afternoon, comthe Anambra State capital plaining that they were not yesterday following the given enough time to vamassive destruction of cate their wares. what government termed The tasks force men illegal structures belongdressed in green vests with ing to traders and tenants the inscription ‘Governor in the city.

For over five hours, traders Willie Obiano will work’ and numbering over 50 struggled with men of the task force unit of the Awka swooped on the stalls as South Local Council, work- early as 7.00a.m., throwing out their wares, including ing in collaboration with food items, provisions, the state government to salvage their goods, which clothing materials and othwere carelessly thrown out ers.

The Guardian observed that of their shops. the arrest of about five susGovernor Willie Obiano had last week launched Op- pected traders by some eration Keep Anambra Clean group of armed personnel (not policemen, soldiers or in Awka and its environs, paramilitary) who accompromising to extend to panied the task force and other towns.

S part of efforts aimed at making the Easter a fun-filled A one, the management of Leisure Mall will be celebrating and rewarding customers who visit the mall during Easter.

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AMILY members and friends of Mr Okeowo Oderinde are Fthanks today gathering at Christ Church, Anglican Agege for a giving service to mark his 50th birthday.

Oderinde, who is the Deputy Director, Finance at the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), was born on April 16, 1964 at Ikorodu, Lagos.

Oderinde, who began his career as Grade Two teacher, is now a chartered Accountant. He was a past Chairman of the Ikeja District of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN).

Among dignitaries expected at today’s thanksgiving are the Director General of FIIRO, Dr. Gloria Elemo and the Chairman of the Ikeja branch of ICAN, Mr. Francis Egba.

ELAN organises training in Port Harcourt HE Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria (ELAN) has conT cluded arrangements to hold a two-day lease training programme in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State on April 29 and April 30, 2014. The Course “Lease structuring and documentation” is designed to acquaint practitioners with the diverse variables that come to play in the pricing and structuring of a lease and equip them with the knowledge in handling these issues.

This course provides utmost benefit since the ability of lease practitioners to effectively price and structure with appropriate documentation remain key success factor to leasing business.

The programme will, therefore, capture ingredients for the best practice in lease process and packaging of transactions in all sectors of the economy.

RCCG organises Let’s Go A fishing

HE Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos T Province 23, Area 3, will on Friday, April 18, hold its Let’s Go A Fishing programme with the theme: The shout of Triumph at Adeniji Primary School, Adeniji Street, off Itire Road, by Municipal Bus Stop, Surulere, Lagos at 4.00p.m.

Pastor Amos Emovon will minister.

Lagos ASIS holds business meeting HE monthly business meeting of American Society for IndusT trial Security (ASIS), Chapter 206 Lagos holds tomorrow at noon at Police Officers’ Mess, Onikan, near Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos.

This topic for this month’s meeting is ‘Vital Infrastructure Protection In Times of Insurgency and Violent and it will be delivered by the Secretary General of the association, Innocent Enubuje.

The meeting, which is sponsored by Protection Plus Services Limited, will also afford members to brainstorm on the 2014 Port Harcourt and International Conferences as well as certification.

an illegal orphanage called baby factory in Umuaka, Njaba Local Council of the state.

Subsequently, other baby factories were uncovered and teenage pregnant girls majorly, rescued. The babies, according to sources, when delivered are illegally sold at rates ranging from N300,000 to N500,000, male or female respectively.

Nothing is given to ladies whose babies die.

Last week, the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Abdulmajid Ali, stormed two baby factories in Mbaise, arresting some and rescuing some pregnant teenagers.

Also, a medical doctor, who operates a clinic, Dr. Alex Ejiogu, is in the police net to explain the whereabouts of a set of twins delivered by a mother through caesarean section.

• As traders cry for help From Uzoma Nzeagwu - Awka.

Thanksgiving service for Oderinde at 50

ages as never done before, urging well- to- do individuals and organizations to replicate same.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Mma Love Onyechere, said operators of such homes must show proof to operate such before revalidation, re-certification and licenses would be issued to them.

Speaking, the Majority Leader of the Imo State House of Assembly, Mrs. Adaku Ihuoma, disclosed the plans of the Assembly to enact law to provide stiffer punishment for the culprits.

The Guardian gathered the state police command under the headship of the immediate past Commissioner of Police, Mr. Katsina Musa Muhamad, had last year arrested about 26 teenage pregnant girls from

Task force demolishes illegal structures in Awka

Mall to reward visitors at Easter The activities lined up for the festive period, dubbed Easter Family Fiesta, are Kiddies Games, Bouncing Castle, Face Painting, Egg Hunt, Candy floss, Friday Night Groove, Shopping and Raffle Draw, which will hold on the 21st April.

Shoppers are expected to spend up to N5,000 in any store or collective stores between April 13-21 to stand a chance of participating in the draw.

Gifts to be won include: Free Movie Tickets Courtesy of Filmhouse, Free Crystal Engraved Pictures courtesy Deep Arg, Free Accommodation Tickets in Duban South African courtesy Easy Holiday, Free Meal Ticket courtesy Barcelos, Free Shopping Ticket courtesy of Mr. Price, Over 500 free cocktail drinks Courtesy Blu Breeze cocktail and many more. In taking the mall to the next level, several innovations are being employed, according to the management, one of which is having various activities and events throughout the year.

of children who have no parents at all in the orphanages.”

Meanwhile, the state Ministry of Health has directed all private hospitals and clinics to present themselves for re-certification.

A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the ministry, Omaga Ugonna, stated that the Commissioner, Dr. Edward Ihejirika, gave the directive to ensure international medical best practices.

In the occasion that the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), among others sent goodwill massages to the occasion, the governor’s wife disclosed that the state government would, henceforth, pay increased attention to the welfare of the orphan-

later forced them into their waiting buses with the inscription ‘Awka South Environmental Sanitation Unit’, and drove off.

Efforts to speak with two officials identified as their leaders during the exercise proved abortive as they suggested that journalists wait until the arrival of their boss who never showed up.

A visit to the office of the chairman and his deputy at the council headquarters was also not fruitful as both men were said not be on seat, but Media assistant, Mrs. Floxy Ndukwe, at the local government said she was not aware of the exercise.

She said: “You know that the governor flagged off

Operation Keep Awka Clean last week and the people seen there could have been carrying out the order, but I am not aware if our staff were sent out on enforcement today.”

However, two traders who spoke to journalists, Mr. John Uche from Ebonyi and Mrs. Justina Ndulue lamented that they have lost millions of Naira and their source of livelihood destroyed.

Mrs. Ndulue who runs a canteen near the pedestrian crossing (UNIZIK Junction) said: “I don’t know how to pay back the loan I collected to start this business. My five children will starve for the next three years, may God help me.”

Naval Training Command inaugurates promotion examination

By Odita Sunday HE Nigerian Naval Training T Command (NAVTRAC) has begun examination for this year’s Command Appointment and Promotion Exercise (CAPEX) for senior naval personnel.

Briefing newsmen on the aim of the exercise, the CAPEX Board Chairman, Commodore Muftau Adeoye noted that the examination would determine if the participating officers were fit to hold Command’s appointments and also to know if they were eligible for promotion to the next higher ranks.

Addressing the officers, Commodore Adeoye said: “This examination marks another landmark in your career as Naval officers. Your progression in the service will depend on your performance in this all-important exercise. The examination will determine if you are fit to hold Command Appointments and also to know if you are eligible for promotion to the next higher ranks. It is also an hurdle you have to cross before you can be selected for the Command and Staff College Course. It is, there-

Navy Captain Ilobah Okoh (left), Chairman of CAPEX Board, Commodore Muftau Adeoye and another senior officer at the event... fore, my sincere advice that you give it all seriousness it require.”

The Naval officer noted that the Nigeria Navy has made tremendous efforts to keep pace with the present security challenges in the country, especially with regards to the crude oil theft by acquisition of modern platforms and creation of Forward Operation

Bases (FOB’s).

“These have resulted in billets for both sea and shore appointments. The billets are expected to be filled by officers of proven professional and administrative competence who are expected to be promoted to higher ranks of commander and above.

“In order to meet the needed quality of officers for deploy-

ment, the Nigerian Navy conducts the Command Appointment and Promotion Examination (CAPEX) for officers. This year’s CAPEX holds from April 7 - May 5.

“A total of 120 officers of the rank of Lieutenant Commander will take part in the exercise consisting of those for re- sit and those attending for the first time,” he said.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014 17

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Business Nigeria to produce 2.4mbpd of oil in 2014

By Roseline Okere HE Business Monitor International (BMI) has projected a daily crude oil production of 2.4 million barrels for the country between 2014 and 2015. It expects production to remain feeble over the coming year.

BMI, which made disclosure in its 2014-second quarter Nigeria Oil and Gas Report, said that Nigeria’s hydrocarbon sector has continued to struggle amid a worsening political and business environment.

According to BMI, the attractiveness of fiscal terms for deepwater offshore exploration and production included in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will be key in launching several current and future projects waiting for Final Investment Decision.

It stated: “Without attractive terms or the adoption of the bill, project delays could push back a Nigerian production ramp-up and lead to a stagnation of the country’s production in the medium-to-longer term. We expect crude and condensate production to stagnate in both 2014 and 2015 at around 2.4 million bpd. We nonetheless forecast production to ramp up to 2.8 million bpd by 2020 following the numerous offshore projects currently planned, such as Chevron’s Agbami 2 project, ExxonMobil’s Erha North Phase 2 projects and Total’s Egina field project amongst many others. This takes into account onshore production outages due to continued instability and the possibility for project delays.

“However, we reiterate that both downside and upside risk exists, largely depending on an improvement in the business environment and the content and adoption of the PIB. Should the current situation endure, project investments and cancellations could see Nigerian production stagnate in the longer term. A substantial increase in production is unlikely until the PIB is passed”.

It predicted output to rampup more significantly as many large fields come online after 2015, more than offsetting current depletion.

“Adoption of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which we do not expect before the Nigerian 2015 election, would be a strong signal for investors that Nigeria’s hydrocarbons sector is ready to move forward. Without the adoption of the PIB, further offshore project delays could occur, resulting in a stagnation of Nigerian production”.

According to the agency, disturbances and outages due to oil thieves and pipeline attacks have continued throughout 2013, impacting onshore and shallow water oil production throughout 2012 and 2013.

It noted that several international oil companies (IOCs) have divested some of their Nigerian assets throughout

T

2012 and 2013 as a result of this insecurity, such as Shell, Petrobras, Chevron and ConocoPhillips.

Shell’s November 2013 decision to sell its Nembe Creek Trunkline following losses from crude oil theft and recurrent pipeline attacks point to the seriousness of the situation.

BMI said that these divest-

ments of Nigerian assets are a sign that the country’s onshore hydrocarbon sector is becoming increasingly unattractive.

It stated: “However, while interest will endure, the largest risk faced by Nigeria will come in the form of delayed offshore projects and investments as a result of the uncertainty surrounding the

adoption and content of the PIB. Consumption of crude is forecast to rise at a compound annual rate of about seven year-on-year between 2014 and 2023, boosted by anticipated strong GDP growth and a strong growth of automobile use accompanying the development of a Nigerian middle class.

“We forecast consumption

rising from an estimated 283,000bpd in 2013 to 541,000bpd by 2023. We estimate that gas production could rise from an estimated 32bcm in 2013 to 38bcm by 2018 and 46bcm by 2023, with ongoing efforts to reduce gas flaring and potential field developments. However, we maintain that risks could be both to the upside or down-

side, depending on the evolution of the regulatory environment (and the adoption of the PIB) and of the security situation in the Niger Delta.

At the moment, many of the field development projects, which would produce gas are likely to be delayed until the adoption of a PIB supportive of offshore development projects”, it stated.

Executive Director, Dangote Industries Limited, Knut Ulvmoen (left); Chairman, Honeywell Group, Dr. Oba Otudeko; and Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Odumodu, during the Oyo State Economic Summit in Ibadan, on Monday.

Body seeks focus on mineral exploitation HE President of Nigerian T Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), Prof. Clifford Teme, has advised the Federal Government to develop some minerals as a precursor to the development of the mining sector.

He named the minerals as gold, coal, limestone, iron ore, lead/zinc, bitumen and barytes.

Teme said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday that the seven minerals had been found in commercial quantities around the country. ``We have found out that we have enough commercial quantities of the seven minerals; so, we should start exploiting them to boost our revenue earning. ``During my discussion with the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Musa Sada, he gave me the list of these seven minerals. ``The list is on his table; we

• Advocates partnership with foreign investors in steel production should first commence the mining of the seven minerals before going into the second phase of the other minerals,’’ he added.

Teme said that private investors had started processes aimed at developing the minerals, adding: ``before we begin mining, we have to isolate the minerals. ``We have to estimate the reserves to ascertain their quantities.’’

He said that the Federal Government had prioritised the seven minerals, out of the 44 minerals it had identified across the country.

Teme urged the government to issue mineral titles only to genuine miners who had the technical and financial capacity to carry out mining operations.

He, however, urged miners to refrain from illegal mining activities and engage the services of registered professional

geologists, mining engineers and metallurgists in mining operations.

He commended Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) for identifying minerals that abound in commercial quantities and advised it to continue with routine survey in order to discover more minerals. ``We used to have 20 minerals before, it came up to 24, 30, 34 and presently, 44 minerals have been identified in this country, ‘’ Teme said.

According to him, the number is growing because the agency’s work is ongoing.

Teme said that very soon, solid minerals would become the mainstay of the national economy while less focus would be on crude oil. ``Minerals are beneath the ground everywhere in Nigeria. Even under your homes, we have minerals. You have clay, sand and every-

thing. So, mining will become the in-thing in Nigeria,’’ he added.

Teme advised miners to always go to NGSA for credible geosciences data to work with during exploration processes.

He said NGSA and other technical partners would soon finish their work in gathering credible data to attract potential investors, adding that many investors were eager to go into mining.

He said the agency had identified the location of every mineral across the country, adding that it was the duty of investors to estimate minerals’ reserves before investing.

Teme advised steel rolling mills in the country to partner with foreign investors as part of efforts to resume steel production.

NAN recalled that the Federal Government had sold Delta, Jos, Osogbo and Katsina Steel

Rolling Mills in 2005 via its privatisation programme.

Nine years after the mills were sold to different entrepreneurs, Delta, Jos and Osogbo have yet to commence operation.

Only Katsina Steel Rolling Mill is currently producing.

He urged Delta, Jos and Osogbo mills to collaborate with foreign partners with financial and technical capabilities to develop their steel companies.

Teme also appealed to the Federal Government to make pragmatic efforts to revive the mills.

He added that, if the mills were revitalised, they would create jobs and spur the country’s economic growth.

He stressed that foreign investors would be willing to come and invest in the country, saying that joint ventures can be initiated via a privatepublic partnership.

18

BUSINESS Wednessday, April 16, 2014

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GTB shareholders approve N50b dividend As bank initiates continental expansion programme

By Helen Oji ITH a total dividend of W N50.033billion due to every investor of the bank, shareholders of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTB), yesterday, commended the board of directors of the bank for adding value to their investment for the 2013 financial year.

This translates into a payout of N1.70 per share; made up of an interim dividend of N0.25 per share and a final dividend of N1.45 per share.

The shareholders, who commended the company for declaring good returns amid harsh operating environment, added that the bank’s favourable policies has attracted more business opportunities to the bank.

Specifically, the National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Sir Sunny Nwosu explained that various investment decisions undertaken by the company in the year under consideration attracted more business opportunities for the bank, considering the N1.70 giving to shareholders.

He urged the board not to relent on its efforts of increasing shareholders’ value on investment.

The president of Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Boniface Okezie urged the bank to undertake good investment projects, adding that this would help to boost its profitability and create more income for shareholders.

The company’s gross earnings for the year grew by 8.8 per cent from the N223.06 billion recorded in 2012 to N242.67 billion, while it posted a profit before tax of N107.09 billion, 3.94 per cent higher than the

Group Managing Director, Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe and Apostle (Mrs.) Busola Jegede, Founder/President, Daughters of Destiny Interdenominational Fellowship at the commissioning of Access Express branch, Ikota Lagos, at the weekend.

N103.03 billion reported for the previous year.

Total assets and contingents rose by 21.21 per cent from N1.6 trillion to N2.1 trillion, while the shareholders’ fund grew from N281.83 billion in 2012 to N332.35 billion in 2013.

The Managing Director of the bank, Mr, Segun Agbaje said that the bank considered its shareholders as one of its greatest assets, adding that the

bank was doing all it could to build on its achievements in the last few years.

He added that the company intended to consolidate its position in 2014 by pioneering service innovations, developing value adding products within all markets, promoting excellence and creating role models for society through a myriad of social and other initiatives.

Agbaje said, “The year 2013, was a successful operating period for our bank as despite the various challenges we faced during the year and the uncertainties that prevailed in the domestic and global business environment, we still overcame and retained our position as one of the foremost and most profitable financial institutions in Nigeria today”.

Meanwhile, the bank has unfolded plans to expand its operations to the rest of Africa over the next three years in a bid to triple the pace of earnings growth.

“The bank plans to open in one other country, probably

Tanzania, Mozambique or Angola to deepen its retail banking in that region,” its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer ,Segun Agbaje, said in Lagos, last week,to give the bank a critical mass of population to drive a very profitable franchise.

The expansion would support a target for accelerating profit growth to 15 per cent a year in 2016 from four per cent, said Agbaje.

“Acquisitions would also help boost the contribution of earnings outside Nigeria to 10 percent of the total by that date”, he said.

GTB bought 70 per cent of Fina Bank Group two months ago to gain entry to markets in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, adding to its presence in five West African nations aside from Nigeria.

The bank also plans to open 25 more branches in the country this year, said Agbaje, adding to the 211 it has in the country.

The bank wants to increase retail deposits by 20 percent to help offset tougher regulatory requirements, he said.

Retail customers in Nigeria have increased 21 per cent to 5.2 million since the beginning of last year, Agbaje said.

Firm to introduce five Android phones into Nigerian market

By Adeyemi Adepetun -TiDE, one of the leading G mobile phone manufacturers, has announced plans to introduce five new Android devices in Nigeria to advance its mission to deliver user-friendly, high quality and competitively-priced communications tools to end users.

“G-TiDE have been operating in the Nigerian market for the past six year with cutting edge feature phones that have been highly accepted by the market because of its strong quality, battery strength, very attractive designs and good multimedia features” said Country Sales Director for Nigeria at G-TiDE, Pan Duliang while adding that the new products will compete in feature richness, pricing and durability.

The launch of the new Android phones into Nigeria, which will be available from leading retail stores and dealers network, will further consolidate the position of G-

TiDE as a mobile phone integrator and supplier of mobile devices of choice for end users in the country and across the West African market.

According to Duliang, “GTIDE is poised to deepen its commitment to its Nigeria market with the launch of the new Android phones will further position the brand among the teeming phone users not just as a communication tool but a gaming device as well.”

According to the Country Sales Director of G-TiDE, “In Africa and Middle East, our brand, G-TiDE has been among the Top 3 brands in this field and gained a high reputation and popularity.”

The company has further undertaken initiatives to advance and deepen its partnerships across key stakeholders in Nigeria including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Phones and Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPDAN) and its partners.

Duliang said, “the production facility of G-TiDE was visited in November last year by the officials of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Executives of Phones and Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPDAN) where the group had an interactive sessions in Shenzhen, China on the SON standards and eproduct registration.”

He added that, “the inspection of our factory and production lines received a satisfactory nod by the group.”

GTIDE remains one of the key brands that have obtained CE Certificate, which underscores the acceptance of its products in the EU market, he added.

“We have also met the SON Product Certfication requirements and e-product registration as G-TiDE is a service-oriented brand because we provide a top class after sales service in their various Service Centres to respond to customers after sales needs’’, Duliang added.

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Wednesday, April 16, 2014 19

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Wednesday, April 16, 2014

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Shipping

NIGERIAN CHAMBER OF SHIPPING

Customs overcomes the PAAR challenge ITH the geometric progression of daily generaW tion and transmission of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) seemed to have broken all the barriers which hitherto threatened the new customs’ clearing procedure at inception.

Available statistics show that from a daily generation and transmission of 250 PAAR at inception in December, the service, bracing all odds, is now doing between 1,700 to 1,800 generation and transmission of PAAR per day.

“We started this PAAR with 250 transmissions per day in December, but the Comptroller General of Customs said that was too small and ordered that we should increase it to two shifts, morning and evening. With two shifts, we transmitted 500 per day. He was still not satisfied with this, despite the backlog of 99,000 Form ‘M’ left behind by the service providers.

“He said we should increase this to three shifts to be able to meet up with the challenge. With three shifts, we transmitted 850 PAAR a day.

“The CGC was still not satisfied and he asked that officers with wide knowledge of classification and valuation be gathered across the customs formations in the country. They are made to work together with crop of young and talented officers who are computer wizards, and with this, we now produce between 1700 to 1800 PAAR per day,” Deputy Comptroller Ibrahim Yusuf, the ASYCUDA Project Manager, Apapa Port Command, told Ships & Ports.

This performance has therefore destroyed the myth and falsehood being peddled against the new initiative by those the Area Comptroller of Apapa Customs, Charles Edike, described as “rented crowd” whose sponsors are frazzled by the transparent nature of the new clearing procedure.

To underscore the fact that the programme has overcome its initial hiccups that are normal with such innovative idea, the Apapa command, which is the heart of the service and the fulcrum of the implementation of PAAR, has continued to record a progressive performance in generation and transmission of the clearing document.

According to the PAAR analysis made available by its ASYCUDA unit, the Apapa command has generated and transmitted a total numbers of 19,198 PAAR since December, 2013 till March, 2014.

Out of these numbers, 12,566 were unutilized while 6,632 were utilised.

The breakdown of the figures shows that the command transmitted 781 PAAR in December, out of which 372 were utilized and 409 unutilised.

In February, the command recorded 5,365 PAAR out of which 1,792 were utilised and 3,573 were unutilized. 9,722 PAAR were generated and transmitted in March, but 3,338 of them were utilised while 6,384 were unutilized.

“If this performance could be achieved at the infancy of the programme by Customs coupled with over 99,000 inherited Risk Assessment Reports (RAR) inherited by Customs, why would anybody want to say PAAR is not working?”, asked Chief Olu Ologbese, a frontline freight forwarder.

Comptroller Edike however disclosed that the opposition against PAAR regime by a section of stakeholders is a ‘’smear campaign’’ to discredit the process.

“We are aware that there is a lot of smear campaign to discredit the PAAR initiative. Not everybody likes good things, some people thrive on confusion,” he stated.

Deputy Comptroller Yusuf said the high number of PAAR generated would not have been possible if Customs had not prepared well in good time for the scheme.

“How many Form’ M’ are processed in a day? How many declarations are processed in a day? People are being mischievous in their assessment of the process and their view is myopic,” he said.

Also assessing the success of the PAAR scheme, Technical Supervisor at the Apapa Command, Apeh Fateh said even the former service providers combined could not generate the amount of clearing document currently generated by Customs.

To underscore the success and wide acceptability of the new documentation and clearing procedure, the Ghana Customs Administration came to Nigeria recently to understudy the Nigeria Customs Service

on the new process which they intend to copy.

However, investigation revealed that those who are opposed to the PAAR regime are either uncomfortable with its automation process which leaves no room for manipulation and compromise or are ignorant of the concept of the new clearing system, despite the comprehensive sensitization and enlightenment campaign embarked upon by the customs’ authority.

Comptroller Edike lends credence to the ignorant attitude of some importers and their agents on PAAR. “Most importers wait until their cargo arrive before they start to process their Form ‘’M’’ and they begin to lay blame of delay on PAAR. It is supposed to be pre-arrival but people are doing post-arrival. For RAR, it is fine, but for PAAR, that is not the concept,” Edike observed.

He also noted that an importer is not supposed to commence importation until his Form M is approved.

“It is after the bank has forwarded the Form M to the Customs’ portal that you place order. But some people wanted to circumvent the process and when they run into a hitch, they start to blame PAAR,” he said.

He said the purpose of the new clearing procedure is to engender change in the attitude of importers, exporters and agents and to infuse efficiency into the clearing process.

“People are used to doing things in the old ways which they could easily circumvent and compromise for their selfish interests. In the old order, the importer will seat at his house, call the agent to come and collect bill of lading. The agent, who does not know how long the importer holds the document, will go to the bank and open Form M in his own company name.

“When the customs gets the document and finds discrepancies in the names of the consignee in the bill of lading and Form M, how do you get PAAR?” he queried.

Fateh also corroborated the views of his superior officers when he said that some importers find it more convenient to wait for their goods to arrive before they commence the process of PAAR. “It takes a minimum of three weeks for cargo to come to Nigeria either from Europe or Asia. For a diligent and truthful importer, this is more than enough time to complete this process of PAAR,” he stated.

However, most stakeholders who spoke with Ships & Ports expressed their faith in the new clearing regime, pointing out that it was too early to condemn the process.

Chairman, Technical Committee on PAAR for the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), John Ofobike, described it as “a wonderful process which is proudly Nigerian”.

He noted that the hitches indentified with the programme are normal with such new endeavour but noted that the customs authority, which his commit-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Local Content Development In The Gulf Of Guinea: A Case For A Regional Management Approach

By Akin Osuntoki MD/CEO, Richardson Oil and Gas Limited OBJECTIVES HE objective of the paper is; To analyze the current status of local content in the Gulf of Guinea; To evaluate the challenges of local content development in the region; To model the possible synergic relationships that can be established among the nations in the region; To chart a way forward for all stakeholders by considering the formation and implementation of a regional management model for improving local content administration in the region.

DEFINITIONS Local Content is defined as the quantum of composite value added to, and created in the economy through a deliberate utilization of indigenous human and materials resources and services in the oil and gas industry in order to stimulate the development of indigenous capabilities without compromising acceptable quality, health, safety and environmental standards.

Local Content Development is an initiative on the part of indigenous governments.

Comparative Advantage refers to the ability of a party to produce a particular good or service at a lower marginal and opportunity cost over another. Even if one country is more efficient in the production of all goods (absolute advantage in all goods) than the other, both countries will still gain by trading with each other, as long as they have different relative efficiencies.

The Oil Producing Countries in the Gulf of Guinea include; Nigeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo-Brazaville, Gabon, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.

CHALLENGES OF LOCAL CONTENT DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION SECURITY CHALLENGES: The region is now increasingly identified as one of the world’s most poorly governed maritime stretches. According to the International Maritime Bureau, IMB, the waters off the coast of Nigeria now rank as the second most dangerous in the world after Somalia’s.

Illegal bunkering thrives in the

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region as well as the excess lifting of crude oil beyond licensed amounts.

INFRASTRUCTURAL CHALLENGES: Unreliable power supply in some nations that force suppliers to invest in generators and fuel, thereby increasing local cost. *Poor or non-existent shipyard facilities that significantly limit contributions to offshore operations. *Poor transport links that add to the cost of importing components. *These factors limit the extent of backward linkages – inputs to the projects from local (national) sources.

FINANCIAL CHALLENGES: High cost of funds that jeopardizes indigenous oil service companies’ ability to compete effectively with their counterparts in Europe and North America.

The low financial depth of banks in the region to adequately fund local content projects is also a challenge as the biggest banks in the region are tiny when it comes to energy financing.

HUMAN CAPITAL GAP: Findings have shown that qualified graduates useful to the oil and gas industry are numerous but the educational standard has affected their competence.

Our graduates therefore lack the requisite experience, lack adequate technical exposure and they have little or no opportunity for experience which is a requirement most times in recruitment for major oil companies.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EXISTING FRAMEWORK (NCDMB): THE NIGERIAN EXAMPLE Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB)’s achievements in local content development include the following: Over $5bn investments in the development of new yards and upgrade of existing facilities.

30,000 jobs created.

Saved 2,000,000 job loss in the Oil and Gas sector.

Supported contract/job opportunities to various categories of indigenous marine vessels operations. $380 billion saved in capital flight.

Existing pipe mill now manufacturing Oil and Gas pipe. Other mills under development.

The Nigerian Content Development Fund has grown to formidable level and now supports lending with partial guarantees and interest rebates to participating companies.

THE REGIONAL MANAGEMENT APPROACH THE SECURITY PERSPECTIVE: Re-initiating the Gulf of Guinea Energy Security Strategy.

Proposal of a Well Equipped Gulf of Guinea Guard Force.

The Regional Maritime Security Approach.

Creating a Hub within the Existing Regional Bodies.

THE COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE PRINCIPLE Strategically mapping out the comparative advantages in each country to meet the extensive supply needs of the regional oil and gas industry.

Applying the Principle of Comparative Advantage to maximize the resources within the region.

This can be achieved by; Setting up a Joint Committee of all the nations within the region.

Developing and modeling a practicable formula for effecting the comparative advantage principle within the region.

Establishing a Critical Path for the implementation of the strategies.

BENEFITS OF REGIONAL MANAGEMENT Regional collaboration will change the economic landscape of the entire region, through maximization of resources.

Duplication of assets will be avoided and waste will be reduced, through shared assets amongst the various exploration

companies within the region.

There will be increased efficiency of local content output in the region as more people will be employed.

There will be enhanced security through collaboration of all stakeholders in a Joint Patrol The cost of production will be reduced and there will be an increased economies of scale, which gives the Bottom Line Effect THE WAY FORWARD: WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE The Gulf of Guinea countries must press for dynamic cooperation between the Economic Community of African States (ECCAS) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Making the Maritime Trade Information Sharing Centre (MTISC) to be set up in Ghana; an information collection and dissemination tool for the Gulf of Guinea.

Organize in the near future joint surveillance operations in the region.

Prioritise the fight against maritime crime by creating an inter-ministerial committee in each country to draw up a national maritime strategy to tackle the immediate threat and the root causes of the problem .

Sign bilateral agreements at the presidential level between direct neighbours to facilitate extraditions and enable close cooperation between navies, maritime administration agencies and police forces in counter piracy work.

The Time to start is NOW

From the Desk of the

22 Wednesday, April 16, 2014

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SHIPS & PORTS

By Bolaji Akinola

Customs overcomes the PAAR challenge

DIRECTOR GENERAL Dear Reader, ELCOME to another edition W of our bi-weekly journal on Maritime issues.

In this edition, we commence and introduce to you a special maritime news column that will be anchored by an industry veteran newsman, Bolaji Akinola. In the Maritime Special Column By Ships And Ports, we have brought you a perspective from the Nigerian Customs Service on the PreArrival Assessment Report (PAAR) which has received various reviews in recent times. You will need to read and take an informed position on the chances of this novel procedure to perform as expected and retain within government coffers the huge revenue accruing from this process. Aside Custom Officers comments, you will also read the comments of expert operators on PAAR. Do you know about the MINT countries, read about them and their influence on the shipping sector. Also take a deep, even mathematical look at the GDP scenario as it affects Nigerian maritime sector. This is a must-read.

Last week we conducted the ABC of Shipping Training course and as usual it was a blast and an eyeopener for those who intend going into the maritime business.

We also have good thoughts for the Nigerian Corpers as we have started to engage them and build capacities for them in the maritime industry. We have signed in under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) empowerment and entrepreneurial programme, ‘Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurial Development’ (NYSC-SAED) programme. This will enable us train corps members every Thursday of the week for two (2) Months per Corps member at a much reduced cost.

The Local Content paper delivered by Mr Akin Osuntoki, MD.CEO Richardson Oil & Gas, is brought to you within these pages to enrich your knowledge base.

We have sharpened our arsenal and are prepared to indulge you in our top of the shelf training programmes this year. The ABC of Shipping and the Understanding Cabotage & Local Content in the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry will come as hot as ever with a bias for Banks and Financial Institutions.

Also, our novel PGD and Certificate programmes in Maritime. Oil & Gas will kick off this quarter at the Niger Delta University (NDU), Amasoma, Bayelsa State.

Financial Institutions, Oil companies, Maritime Organisations and Government/Public sector organizations are enjoined to grab the opportunity with both hands.

We are just poised to positively affect our Shipping and Logistics sphere of business in the quest to strongly support the development of our National Economy.

We welcome and encourage you to send in your relevant topical articles.

Please join our boat. Welcome!!

Happy Reading God Bless.

IFY ANAZONWU-AKERELE Director General Nigerian Chamber of Shipping Info@nigerian-shipping.org

Customs Comptroller General, Dikko Abdullahi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 tee liaises with, is on top of the situation to smoothen the rough edges.

He enjoined stakeholders to support Customs to overcome the initial challenges facing the implementation of PAAR. “People are in a hurry. PAAR started few months ago. Such a new endeavour is prone to initial hiccups. The only perfect documents in the whole world are Holy Bible and Quran. I tell you, PAAR will overcome its teething problems in few weeks and thereafter be strengthened,” he said.

Founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, said the introduction of PAAR has translated into higher revenue generation for the country.

He attributed false declaration on the part of importers as the cause of the delay experienced in the issuance of PAAR. “It just takes a right thinking person, somebody who is patriotic to understand that this is a transitional period of the Pre-Arrival Assessment notice.

“The teething problem is there and that we must contend with. We cannot get everything at a time. If you look at January till now, the fact that Customs

Controller, Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Charles Edike

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi, DG, NIMASA

has taken over of Destination Inspection this country is richer by over ten billion naira which could have been given to the service providers.

“And at the end of the day we will be looking at forty billion naira. Trade is about compliance and the Pre-Arrival Assessment notice as the name says clearly the expectations are quite obvious that the Customs and other bodies that have to do with this procedure must receive information. But what we get now is that goods are already on ground before we submit documents for pre-Arrival Assessment notice documents. Aside from that we are not compliant. The declarations we make for Customs purpose are not genuine. They lack in integrity,” he said.

the Next Eleven countries list.

Before MINT, O’Neill had in 2001 predicted the rise of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC). After a while, he added South Africa thereby changing the configuration to BRICS. At a time, Nigeria was rumoured to have been added to the formula and BRINCS was being touted until it became clear that we were not serious enough to pull through.

True to O’Neill’s prediction, the five BRICS countries witnessed huge economic growths, especially China and Brazil.

The economist has now predicted that global economic growths would be more visible in the MINT countries in the next decade.

In a column for Bloomberg View recently, O’Neill said: “I spent last week in Indonesia, working on a series for BBC Radio about four of the world’s most populous non-BRIC emerging economies. The BRIC countries — Brazil, Russia, India and China — are already closely watched. The group I’m studying for this project – let’s call them the MINT economies – deserve no less attention.

Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey all have very favorable demographics for at least the next 20 years, and their economic prospects are interesting.

“Policy makers and thinkers in the MINT countries have often asked me

why I left them out of that first classification. Indonesians made the point with particular force. Over the years I’ve become accustomed to being told that the BRIC countries should have been the BRIICs all along, or maybe even the BIICs.” Curiously, some politicians and government apologists have started celebrating already as if the prediction is an end in itself.

Nigeria is a peculiar country and I am sure O’Neill did not factor in our peculiarity – the well known Nigerian factor – in his assumptions.

I am a die-hard optimist as far as Nigeria is concerned and in the face of all odds but while I remain positive about the future of this country, I must admit that I do not share all the excitements in O’Neill’s prediction.

The MINT theory rests its assumptions on three main platforms namely demography, geography and commodity.

Yes we have the population; 170 million and still counting. Nigeria is a huge market no doubt and we are responsible for over 60 per cent of West Africa’s trade.

Nigeria is the largest single market in Africa. Our low per capita income is duly compensated for by our sheer number.

So yes, I agree with the economist; we have the number.

Of MINT and the shipping sector

INT is a neologism referring to the M economies of Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey. The term was originally coined by Fidelity, a Boston-based asset management firm and was popularized by Jim O’Neill of Goldman Sachs, who had created the term BRIC. The term is primarily used in the economic and financial spheres as well as in academia. Its usage has grown especially in the investment sector, where it is used to refer to the bonds issued by these governments. These 4 countries are also on

TO BE CONCLUDED

COMMUNIQUE ON THE NIGERIAN CHAMBER OF SHIPPING AND RICHARDSON OIL AND GAS TRAINING HELD ON 26TH – 28TH NOVEMBER, 2013 AT THE CIVIC CENTRE IN LAGOS TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING CABOTAGE AND LOCAL CONTENT IN THE NIGERIAN OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY (UPSTREAM) - UCLC BACKGROUND HE Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS) and Richardson Oil and Gas (ROG) have partnered with the sole aim of bridging the knowledge gap within the Maritime/Upstream Oil and Gas Sector through the provisioning of professional Human capital Development programmes. One of such programmes is UNDERSTANDING CABOTAGE AND LOCAL CONTENT IN THE NIGERIAN OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY (UPSTREAM).

COURSE DESCRIPTION Understanding Cabotage and Local Content in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry (Upstream) is a training program that comes up every quarter of the year. It is designed to expose a more practical, thorough and indepth technical and commercial understanding and approach to vessel operations from the Cabotage and Local Content perspective; which will eventually lead to a good understanding of international best practices as well as improve local participation in the upstream sector.

Local/Indigenous operators in the industry are still at a disadvantage compared to their foreign counterparts in ship management, vessel operations, offshore logistics etc. The training is designed to provide local/indigenous operators a better understanding of contracts and investment opportunities in the sector.

The course is designed to give an in-depth understanding of the Maritime/Oil and Gas upstream business in Nigeria. Either as an indigenous operator who wants to finance the acquisition of offshore vessels, have an understanding of vessel/offshore equipment inspections and surveys, understand the litigation and alternative dispute resolution processes in this sector, have a grasp of the fundamental technical and commercial knowledge of the maritime/upstream oil and gas business, appreciate environmental issues in upstream operations, comprehend ship management and deal confidently with the International Oil Companies, participants always find the course very comprehensive and valuable.

In the end, participants will have a broader knowledge of Contracts, Investments and Vessel Financing in the Upstream Oil and Gas sector.

THE MARCH 2013 EVENT The training program for the first quarter (Q1) of the year was held on the 18th – 20th of March at The Civic Centre, Lagos. The event attracted participation from major sectors of the Nigerian Economy (Insurance, Banks, Legal, Oil and Gas, Maritime etc.); which the organizers affirmed as a sign of successful development of the forum over the years.

FACULTY The Faculty members consist of both nationally and internationally-recognized professionals who have made valuable contributions to their various fields of expertise, some of whom are top Executives of leading organizations, Industry professionals, Legal experts, Maritime consultants and Government agency representatives.

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DAY 1 The program kicked-off at 10.00am on the opening day, the opening Ceremony was conducted by Mr. Nnamdi Eronini, the General Manager of Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS) who gave an opening remark and welcomed participants, facilitators to the training programme on behalf of Mrs. Ify Anazonwu- Akerele, the Director –General of NCS who was unavoidably absent.

The first lecture was given by Mr. Akin Osuntoki, the CEO of Richardson Oil & Gas ltd titled “Local Content Development in the Gulf of Guinea - A Case for a Regional Management Approach”. Prior to the lecture, he gave a welcome speech and an insight of the benefits to be accrued and knowledge to be acquired by the participants. His lecture spanned across the Local content initiative put in place by the government and instruments established to bring about the actualization of the initiative such as the Local Content Law, the NCDMB, and the challenges faced in actualizing the initiative such as security and infrastructural challenge, lack of requisite experience and skills and lack of technical exposure. He went further to point out the need for a comparative Advantage which he refers to as the ability of a party to produce a particular good and service at a lower marginal and opportunity cost over another.

Lastly he gave recommendations such as Re- initiating the Gulf of Guinea energy security strategy; to view the whole region as our territory and to jointly protect it i.e.

ECOWAS nations should work together as one, to form a joint surveillance team to fight against crime in the Gulf of guinea. He further noted that rather than having a Local Content, we should be aiming for a Regional Content.

He concluded his lecture with a question and answer session which proved that participants had been more enlightened about the Local Content Development more than ever.

Further into the day, Mr. Ike Ogbe of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) took the participants through a more technical class on The CLASSIFICATION OF VESSELS. Participants were introduced to the various classifications of the vessels as was obtained way back in time and the form of classification found today.

He went further to identify the objectives of the Classification societies which he said was to promote safety and security of life and property. He further noted that the classification society do not have any commercial interest in ship design, building, ownership management operation or chartering and insurance.

He enlightened the class on importance of the Safe Net which was formulated in 1996, where all data needed regarding how safe a vessel is, could be obtained. He also highlighted the procedure undertaken to classify a vessel and distinguished the various forms of survey to be carried out on a vessel such as the Annual Survey, Periodic Survey , the Due Date Survey and so on. Lastly, he warned that if a vessel is not maintained in compliance with the rules and specific recommendation of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) the licence of

the Vessel would be suspended.

The third lecture of the day was delivered by Mrs. Jean Chiazor –Anishere, the President of the Women International Shipping and Trade Association (WISTA) and was titled THE Development of the Maritime Industry in Nigeria/Legislation. Participants were given an overview of the maritime industry in Nigeria highlighting the economic and human resources available in the maritime sector, which is sufficient to boost the nation’s economic growth and international status as all other maritime activities and generating industries revolve around shipping.

She exposed participants to the various aspects of the Maritime Industry in Nigeria and Legislations involved, highlighting the Nigeria’s Shipping Policy and all the ACTs (1962 Merchant Shipping ACT, UNCTAD Code, NIMASA ACT, 2007 etc.); Cargo allocation, Foreign Shippers, Security involved in the industry, Container Port Traffic and Offshore offloading.

Other highlights in this session included technical presentation on Authorized discharges, Cabotage guidelines, Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), Port reform concepts, Privatization and Concessioning concept and problems involved.

She also pointed out the importance of the Port system to Nigerians Import and Export trade and the fact that Nigerian does not have a National Fleet. This has cost the country a great loss in revenue.

The next presentation titled Introduction to Local Content Development Concept and Successful Implementation was delivered by Mrs. Akinsanya Ebisan who represented Mr. Raymond Wilcox, both of whom are from Chevron Nigeria Limited.

She started the class with an introduction of Local content in Chevron Nigeria Limited stating the company’s vision and strategy. She made reference to the Local Content Act enacted in 2010 which stipulates that First consideration must be given to Nigerian organizations and Nigerian citizens in the Oil and Gas Industry. She explained the meaning of Local Content and the role of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in Local Content, emphasizing that the fact that one is Nigerian does not mean you have complied with local content, but rather it is just a step in the process.

You must also show that you have passion for the growth of the sector by adding value and making a difference in the sector.

She went on to explain the Tender Process as it applies in Chevron, stating that there are laws guiding the Tenders in IOC‘s as such non compliance with the Local Content Law is a fatal flaw which would prevent jobs from being awarded to Nigerians.

More so, she outlined some steps to be complied with during the Bidding Process such as understanding the bid requirements, knowing your technical and financial stand, participating in the pre bid meetings, having a specific time frame for completing the job and due consultation with professionals where necessary.

TO BE CONCLUDED

GUARDIANENERGY Marginal fields Role of indigenous licensing round to operators as catalyst in boost Nigeria’s oil, gas business production, says NAPE promotion, by Ogunbiyi Page 24

OIL

GAS

–Page 26

Distributed Generation: An overlooked electricity provision solution – Page 26

POWER

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com; www.theguardianmobile.com

Nigeria’s power sector challenges and future of electric vehicles

By Roseline Okere

IGERIA is one of the biggest consumers of oil products in Africa with over 40 million litres said to be consumed everyday, according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

All the millions of cars and trucks on the Nigerian roads run on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) everyday.

Globally, there is rise in the demand for passenger cars in Nigeria, China and India, which automatically gave rise to demand for PMS. Experts believed that by 2050, there might be as many as 1.5 billion cars on the road, compared to 750 million in 2010.

Many countries like China, France and others have started embracing the adoption of electric vehicles.

For instance, five million electric vehicles are expected to roam the vast country of China by the next decade, representing about seven per cent of its overall new-car market.

Although, Nigeria cannot be said to have been ready for electric vehicles due to the inadequate power supply in the country, this type of demand represents both a challenge and an opportunity to capitalise on new vehicle technologies, and in the process, reap substantial economic development benefits.

The Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, said recently that government’s immediate goal was for those already getting 12 hours of electricity supply to move up to 14 hours, others with 14 to enjoy between 16 and 18, while major cities like Lagos and Abuja will get between 22 and 23 hours supply daily.

Nebo added that the target would be achieved within a few months time, adding that the ultimate goal was for Nigerians to get 24 hours of daily power supply.

He noted that though the plan would still take some time, it would be realised, with the foundation already laid by government for increased generation and enhanced transmission and distribution of generated power across the country.

With this type of commitment from the Federal Government, Schneider electric believed there is future for electric vehicles in Nigeria.

It assured that with the current efforts of the Federal Government in improving electricity supply, Nigeria is in the process of adopting the

N

new technology.

For Schneider Electric, which has operations in Nigeria, it intends to play a major role in the imminent adoption of electric vehicles and has started pooling its expertise to offer charging solutions that are easy to use, safe, available and convenient.

According to the company, intelligent energy management represents the fastest, easiest and most cost-effective way to encourage the use of electric vehicles and reduce transportation’s environmental footprint.

As a global specialist in energy management, Schneider Electric has been an active contributor to the Electric Vehicle (EV) market for more than a decade and we are as active now as we always have been in promoting energy efficient solutions.

Marketing representative for Schneider Electric, Grenoble, France, Antonio Valcarce, told journalists during a tour of the company’s research centre in France, that as the global specialist in energy management, the company has strategised to be a key player in all major energy challenges.

According to him, the company is making efforts to be greener and energy efficient.

In that direction it seems that the electric vehicle is about to be the option for the transportation mean of the future.

Valcarce disclosed that the company has developed the latest technology and solutions needed to provide electric vehicle recharging solutions for all types of environments, from private homes to public lots.

“Our offers ensure the highest levels of installation and user safety, and provide options for tracking who uses the recharging stations and when, so that costs can be allocated or billed back if desired”.

He disclosed that the company has developed different charging solutions, which enable the vehicle user to charge at home and garages.

He stated: “Schneider Electric offers all the services the fleet manager needs to manage his electric vehicle fleet efficiently.

For example, he can use our recharging infrastructure to have vehicles ready to go out at a specified time; control the level of charge according to the distance to be covered; configure vehicle recharging to avoid exceeding a given total power demand; and ensure that the power allocated to each vehicle is modulated according to their level of priority.

NNRC tasks govt on transparency, accountability in oil, gas sector

By Sulaimon Salau HE Nigeria Natural Resource Charter (NNRC), has urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts towards entrenching transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector.

The NNRC, in a communiqué issued after a roundtable discussion in Lagos, said the main issues behind the oil revenue saga are a lack of transparency and accountability, inadequate financial reporting mechanism, institutional failures, and ineffective oversight by the National Assembly.

“The fact that the Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget Office of the Federation, and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) cannot agree on revenue realised from crude oil sales presents a compelling need to improve transparency and accountability processes in NNPC,” it stated.

T

• Harps on passage of PIB The group however welcomed the forensic audit proposed by the co-ordinating minister of the economy and suggested that what is required is an operational as well as a financial audit to gain a comprehensive understanding of the failures in the system that have resulted in

continued haemorrhage of resources.

The NNRA suggested that industry experts should be invited to review the terms of reference for the audits and suggest areas where the auditors should pay particular attention.

“The current administration needs to win back the confi-

dence of Nigerians in its integrity and that of the proposed audit.

NNRC Roundtable recommends that the government should immediately publish the report of the previous audits of the petroleum industry. For instance, the 2009 KPMG Audit Report, as well as the 1994 Okigbo Report.

24

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

ENERGY Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Role of indigenous operators as catalyst in Constantine ‘Labi Ogunbiyi served as the Chief Executive of First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Limited before his retirement. He is also a founder of Afren plc. Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive of First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Limited, he served as Executive Director of Afren. He has also served as Special Advisor to the previous Chairman, General Counsel for the Group, as well as a Director of Afren’s Nigerian wholly-owned subsidiaries. In this interview with ROSELINE OKERE, he spoke on the role of indigenous companies and the future of oil, gas sector in Nigeria. Excerpt.

HEN did you join First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Limited W and tell us your experience as the Chief Executive Officer of the company?

As the founding Chief Executive of First Hydrocarbon Nigeria, I led the team that conceived and established the company. I stood down from my role as an Executive Director on the Afren Plc board to take up the position and to guide the evolution of the company from an early stage start up to a mature and established leader in the indigenous E&P sector. I could draw on my experience in the early days of Afren, where I was part of the original team that conceived of and put the business in place as well, so it wasn’t entirely new to me.

Our vision was to extend Afren’s partnership model from providing financial and technical support to indigenous companies, to direct equity investment in an indigenous company with the capacity for FHN to become a significant operator over a period of time, tapping into local and international financing directly on its own balance sheet.

This was probably the most daunting task that I’ve faced in my career as we were amongst the very first to begin negotiating to acquire assets from the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) JV, so we had to effectively establish the model. As a Chief Executive, I tend to be more of a strategist than the face of the company; my background and skill set are in strategy, business development, transaction structuring, capital raising, asset acquisition and relationship management. All things that were vital as we built FHN’s brand, profile and asset base.

Looking back at your years in the company, what were your most memorable achievements?

I have been very fortunate to have worked with and learned from some of the leading international entrepreneurs and oil luminaries over the past decade as we established Afren plc and then FHN. From nothing, to becoming the leading Nigerian and independent E&P players in Africa, with world class management teams has been a very exciting and rewarding journey. At FHN, our founding and most significant achievements were the successful completion and financing of the acquisition of the SPDC joint venture’s 45 per cent interest in OML 26, with the majority of the capital required (both equity and debt) coming from Nigerian institutions and individuals. It took years, rather than months to complete and set the scene for a much broader process of divestment which SPDC is still implementing. When we first expressed interest in SPDC’s onshore asset base, the transaction was structured as a risk service contract, but quickly transitioned into an outright acquisition. We had to raise a significant amount ($250-300 million) of acquisition and development finance very quickly, which was challenging. When we first approached the local banking sector, the financial modelling expertise and technical knowledge required for reserves based financing was lacking locally, so we initiated conversations with a series of international banks. To my surprise, the discussions with international banks were not particularly fruitful. They were concerned about risks associated with onshore Niger Delta assets and were only willing to offer financing on relatively tough terms. We resolved to revisit our options with the local banking sector.

The period between signing initial terms for the acquisition of OML 26 and the conclusion of the transaction allowed us the time necessary to sensitise a number of local banks to local risks and operational issues and the complexities associated with the asset. This process, as well as the commitment of Nigerian financial institutions to increase their level of participation in upstream oil and gas, enabled us to agree strong and mutually beneficial financial terms with a consortium of banks led by First City Monument Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC Plc. Based on their understanding of the local context and risks and their increased interest in and understanding of the sector we were able to secure financing on world class terms, secured purely against the OML 26 asset base and with no need for wider support from Afren, or offshore banks.

The conclusion of our transaction gave the market the further confidence it needed to blossom. A number of other transactions have closed since the successful local financing of our OML 26 interests, with other local banks leading and participating. Perhaps, most importantly, international banks are now more willing to discuss equitable terms for similar deals in the Niger Delta, a reflection of how far the local banks have come and the recognition that international finance is no longer the only option available.

Financing the asset was just the start of the journey. Once we took ownership we had to work closely with the operator, NPDC, to optimise the existing operations, reassess the reserves base and build a Field Development Plan. Within a year of assuming ownership, we had demonstrated a major increase in reserves following an independent assessment that boosted 2P reserves by 218 per cent and 2P+2C volumes by 12 per cent.

I’m also very proud of the work that we did with our communities and corporate social responsibility in general; foremost in my heart was the Benin City Youth development and empowerment sports camp we supported, in partnership with the charity We Play To Win, which provided physical, emotional, social, mental, and intellectual support to over a 100 young girls. I’ve also always had a passion for Nigerian culture and art, and we were able to support and make more visible some of the enormously talented artists, photographers and musicians working in Nigeria today.

I’m privileged to have been able to put together a world class team of Nigerians to support that process. From Afren Nigeria MD, Adebayo Ayorinde and our FHN COO, Femi Ba-

jomo, to individuals such as Faiz Imam, Daniel Sasegbon, Natalie Dickson, Deji West and Ahonsi Unuigbe, we could not have had a better Nigerian management team to support the development of our businesses.

What would you say were the challenges you faced at the CEO of the company and what did you do to surmount the challenges?

There are always challenges when you embark on a journey like this. Perhaps the most significant was the decision by NNPC to prevent operatorship of the asset base passing from the SPDC JV to the acquirer across all of the

Ladi Ogunbiyi

divestments that were being implemented, with NPDC taking on the role. Raising capital despite this and then learning to work closely with the National Oil Company (NOC) as the operator presented obstacles we didn’t expect, but ones we were able to overcome successfully.

Working in a partnership with the NOC is not unusual; as the senior partner (55 per cent) in the Joint Venture a Joint Operating Agreement is the norm with both partners needing to approve plans and activities accordingly. In this case, we put in place a true partnership with NPDC through the Joint Operating Agreement and by seconding our personnel into asset management teams and impressing with our technical and operational skills and knowledge. The great advantage that we had was that NPDC has significant growth ambitions, having previously disclosed its ambition for a Stock Exchange listing and commitment to increasing production and revenues, so, like us, its management team is commercially and results focused.

You left Afren to join First Hydrocarbon Nigeria. Are you planning on joining another oil and gas company in the country? Or do you have other plans for the future?

I’m not tired and certainly feel too young to retire!

I’ll be focusing on

some long overdue family time over the coming weeks and months; too much of that side of life has been compromised over the last decade as my two ‘corporate children’ (Afren and FHN) have been growing up. I’ll also be devoting some time to a number of projects that have been gestating for a little while in ICT, agribusiness and energy, which are very exciting, but I doubt I will stray too far from the upstream E&P space long term. Its been at the heart of my career and the opportunities for indigenous companies in Nigeria are only just starting to be exploited. There is a long way to go.

I’m also very interested in the oil services space.

24

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

ENERGY Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Role of indigenous operators as catalyst in Constantine ‘Labi Ogunbiyi served as the Chief Executive of First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Limited before his retirement. He is also a founder of Afren plc. Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive of First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Limited, he served as Executive Director of Afren. He has also served as Special Advisor to the previous Chairman, General Counsel for the Group, as well as a Director of Afren’s Nigerian wholly-owned subsidiaries. In this interview with ROSELINE OKERE, he spoke on the role of indigenous companies and the future of oil, gas sector in Nigeria. Excerpt.

HEN did you join First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Limited W and tell us your experience as the Chief Executive Officer of the company?

As the founding Chief Executive of First Hydrocarbon Nigeria, I led the team that conceived and established the company. I stood down from my role as an Executive Director on the Afren Plc board to take up the position and to guide the evolution of the company from an early stage start up to a mature and established leader in the indigenous E&P sector. I could draw on my experience in the early days of Afren, where I was part of the original team that conceived of and put the business in place as well, so it wasn’t entirely new to me.

Our vision was to extend Afren’s partnership model from providing financial and technical support to indigenous companies, to direct equity investment in an indigenous company with the capacity for FHN to become a significant operator over a period of time, tapping into local and international financing directly on its own balance sheet.

This was probably the most daunting task that I’ve faced in my career as we were amongst the very first to begin negotiating to acquire assets from the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) JV, so we had to effectively establish the model. As a Chief Executive, I tend to be more of a strategist than the face of the company; my background and skill set are in strategy, business development, transaction structuring, capital raising, asset acquisition and relationship management. All things that were vital as we built FHN’s brand, profile and asset base.

Looking back at your years in the company, what were your most memorable achievements?

I have been very fortunate to have worked with and learned from some of the leading international entrepreneurs and oil luminaries over the past decade as we established Afren plc and then FHN. From nothing, to becoming the leading Nigerian and independent E&P players in Africa, with world class management teams has been a very exciting and rewarding journey. At FHN, our founding and most significant achievements were the successful completion and financing of the acquisition of the SPDC joint venture’s 45 per cent interest in OML 26, with the majority of the capital required (both equity and debt) coming from Nigerian institutions and individuals. It took years, rather than months to complete and set the scene for a much broader process of divestment which SPDC is still implementing. When we first expressed interest in SPDC’s onshore asset base, the transaction was structured as a risk service contract, but quickly transitioned into an outright acquisition. We had to raise a significant amount ($250-300 million) of acquisition and development finance very quickly, which was challenging. When we first approached the local banking sector, the financial modelling expertise and technical knowledge required for reserves based financing was lacking locally, so we initiated conversations with a series of international banks. To my surprise, the discussions with international banks were not particularly fruitful. They were concerned about risks associated with onshore Niger Delta assets and were only willing to offer financing on relatively tough terms. We resolved to revisit our options with the local banking sector.

The period between signing initial terms for the acquisition of OML 26 and the conclusion of the transaction allowed us the time necessary to sensitise a number of local banks to local risks and operational issues and the complexities associated with the asset. This process, as well as the commitment of Nigerian financial institutions to increase their level of participation in upstream oil and gas, enabled us to agree strong and mutually beneficial financial terms with a consortium of banks led by First City Monument Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC Plc. Based on their understanding of the local context and risks and their increased interest in and understanding of the sector we were able to secure financing on world class terms, secured purely against the OML 26 asset base and with no need for wider support from Afren, or offshore banks.

The conclusion of our transaction gave the market the further confidence it needed to blossom. A number of other transactions have closed since the successful local financing of our OML 26 interests, with other local banks leading and participating. Perhaps, most importantly, international banks are now more willing to discuss equitable terms for similar deals in the Niger Delta, a reflection of how far the local banks have come and the recognition that international finance is no longer the only option available.

Financing the asset was just the start of the journey. Once we took ownership we had to work closely with the operator, NPDC, to optimise the existing operations, reassess the reserves base and build a Field Development Plan. Within a year of assuming ownership, we had demonstrated a major increase in reserves following an independent assessment that boosted 2P reserves by 218 per cent and 2P+2C volumes by 12 per cent.

I’m also very proud of the work that we did with our communities and corporate social responsibility in general; foremost in my heart was the Benin City Youth development and empowerment sports camp we supported, in partnership with the charity We Play To Win, which provided physical, emotional, social, mental, and intellectual support to over a 100 young girls. I’ve also always had a passion for Nigerian culture and art, and we were able to support and make more visible some of the enormously talented artists, photographers and musicians working in Nigeria today.

I’m privileged to have been able to put together a world class team of Nigerians to support that process. From Afren Nigeria MD, Adebayo Ayorinde and our FHN COO, Femi Ba-

jomo, to individuals such as Faiz Imam, Daniel Sasegbon, Natalie Dickson, Deji West and Ahonsi Unuigbe, we could not have had a better Nigerian management team to support the development of our businesses.

What would you say were the challenges you faced at the CEO of the company and what did you do to surmount the challenges?

There are always challenges when you embark on a journey like this. Perhaps the most significant was the decision by NNPC to prevent operatorship of the asset base passing from the SPDC JV to the acquirer across all of the

Ladi Ogunbiyi

divestments that were being implemented, with NPDC taking on the role. Raising capital despite this and then learning to work closely with the National Oil Company (NOC) as the operator presented obstacles we didn’t expect, but ones we were able to overcome successfully.

Working in a partnership with the NOC is not unusual; as the senior partner (55 per cent) in the Joint Venture a Joint Operating Agreement is the norm with both partners needing to approve plans and activities accordingly. In this case, we put in place a true partnership with NPDC through the Joint Operating Agreement and by seconding our personnel into asset management teams and impressing with our technical and operational skills and knowledge. The great advantage that we had was that NPDC has significant growth ambitions, having previously disclosed its ambition for a Stock Exchange listing and commitment to increasing production and revenues, so, like us, its management team is commercially and results focused.

You left Afren to join First Hydrocarbon Nigeria. Are you planning on joining another oil and gas company in the country? Or do you have other plans for the future?

I’m not tired and certainly feel too young to retire!

I’ll be focusing on

some long overdue family time over the coming weeks and months; too much of that side of life has been compromised over the last decade as my two ‘corporate children’ (Afren and FHN) have been growing up. I’ll also be devoting some time to a number of projects that have been gestating for a little while in ICT, agribusiness and energy, which are very exciting, but I doubt I will stray too far from the upstream E&P space long term. Its been at the heart of my career and the opportunities for indigenous companies in Nigeria are only just starting to be exploited. There is a long way to go.

I’m also very interested in the oil services space.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

ENERGY

25

oil, gas business promotion, by Ogunbiyi Many of the structures we developed as pioneers in the indigenous E&P sector can be applied to that sector, especially on the financing side, and its growth potential is immense. It’s clear that there is no better time than now for indigenous participation and there are a few opportunities I am involved in there too.

In order to grow the country’s crude oil production, the Federal Government began to encourage indigenous players in the industry, what do you think are the challenges of the local operators?

The largest single obstacle to increasing reserves and production is investment, not just for local operators, but for all operators. It is anomalous that I, as an indigenous company, can raise debt at commercially attractive levels (I.e. LIBOR + x) for asset developments (based on reserves in the fields that I participate in) and that the NOC has not done the same, despite being the senior partner (at least in terms of license and economic interest) on most if not all assets that companies like mine have historically raised debt on. Capacity and interest is there from major financial institutions and product traders. If the indigenous sector is to grow, so the capacity of the NOC to finance its own interest in those assets must also grow.

Do you think the indigenous players will ever have the opportunity of increasing production and begin to compete with the International Oil Companies (IOCs)?

I don’t think it’s a case of either/or. The role of the IOC’s and the role of indigenous producers are likely to be complementary, certainly in the short to medium term, rather than competitive. The IOC’s have many years of expertise, technical knowledge and significant funding behind them.

That’s not something indigenous firms can develop overnight and the areas of investment both are pursuing currently, are generally different as well. As the IOC’s rationalise their onshore portfolios and the indigenous sector focuses its attention on those assets, the deep offshore projects, which require much larger investments, and much more technical skill, still remain the preserve of the IOC’s (at least for now).

Having said that, on-going bid rounds and the size of these new acquisitions demonstrates that the capability of indigenous companies to raise money is improving exponentially. From Seplat, who are in previously unchartered waters with their exciting and successful dual Nigerian and London stock exchange listings, to Oando’s acquisition of ConoccoPhillips’ assets and the on-going growth of long term producers like Moni Pulo, Niger Delta Exploration and Production Company, Amni and Oriental Energy, many industry veterans are finally reaping the rewards of their commitment. At the same time, other companies are constantly emerging, from Lekoil, Neconde, First E&P, Shoreline and Seven Energy and Nigeria’s largest investors, as well as individuals including Aliko Dangote and Tony Elumelu, are also deepening their exposure. All this can only be good for Nigeria as it significantly deepens local capacity and ownership while providing potentially renewed momentum behind reserves replenishment and production.

Much will depend on the ability of the Government and indigenous companies to deliver on the promise of a local solution to some of the challenges that the oil and gas industry faces. From ensuring a strong and sustainable approach to community development, to the need to address oil theft and the environmental impact associated with it.

Many indigenous companies took over some marginal fields some years ago, and only few have been able to bring their blocks into production, what do you think might be responsible this?

Investment has traditionally been a core obstacle, combined with the need to drastically increase local technical capacity to provide the basis for true change. A change is taking place in mentality amongst the indigenous companies bidding for these assets as well. In the past, what might have been a rent seeking structure with little motivation to invest, has been replaced by a wave of interest in production.

The multinational oil companies seem to be against some

clauses in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), most especially, the areas of fiscal terms. As an indigenous player, do you have any section of the PIB that is not too favourable to local operators?

The PIB contains such a large amount of content in one piece of legislation, it might have been better to break it up into bite size pieces and pass as separate bills addressing different areas; something that still might have to happen in the context of the urgent need for gas supply in the power sector. There are a number of non-contentious sections in the bill which could, in theory, be passed quickly and easily, delivering value, but when very emotive and political issues that affect the nation are central to it, it’s inevitably going to cause discussion and debate; especially if it centralises power in individuals rather than institutions.

The philosophy behind the PIB is sound in seeking to increase indigenous participation across the public and private sectors. Despite its imperfections, it has been developed and discussed now for over a decade and the uncertainty around it has had a negative impact on the level of investment, production and reserves.

The country is yet to recover from the fuel crisis, which hit some parts of the country. What do you think should be done to avoid future scarcity in the country?

Local production of petroleum products sits at the heart of the solution to this. Just as the growth in indigenous ownership and capacity in the upstream sector is core to the future of the upstream sector, so significant investment in the local midstream industry is essential if we are to guar-

The philosophy behind the PIB is sound in seeking to increase indigenous participation across the public and private sectors. Despite its imperfections, it has been developed and discussed now for over a decade and the uncertainty around it has had a negative impact on the level of investment, production and reserves.

Ladi Ogunbiyi

antee long term markets for our crude and reduce our reliance on imported petroleum products. Aliko Dangote’s refinery and associated petrochemicals facility project is a potential game changer that could lead to a revolution in that sector. Nigeria should be Africa’s energy hub, acting as a supplier of gas, crude oil and refined products to the rest of the continent rather than being import dependent.

It will also be vital to improve general distribution infrastructure. What arrives in Lagos at price X does not cost that price when it arrives in the North, or in remote regions of the Delta. The cost and efficiency of transportation needs to be addressed.

What are your expectations for First Hydrocarbon and Afren going forwards?

Afren and FHN have created a very strong platform for growth, and centred on Nigeria. The Afren/FHN group-wide production is ca. 50,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) and they have 2P reserves of ca. 300 million barrels (mmbbls), the vast majority of which is in Nigeria. There is also the basin opening discovery offshore Lagos at the Ogo-1 well in OPL 310 (the third largest global discovery in 2013 with P50 resources of nearly 800 mmbbls), contiguous to FHN’s OML 115 interest (containing the significant Aje field with contingent resources of ca. 170 mmbbls). These assets, combined with group revenue of $1.6 billion, and world class management teams, makes me very confident that both companies are exceptionally well positioned for further significant growth.. I am extremely proud to have been a part of the establishment and evolution of Afren and FHN and to have been a part of their incredible success.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014 27

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

INTERVIEW

‘Aregbesola more than qualified for second term’ Ajibola Bashiru, Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, The State of Osun, has described as tales orchestrated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) allegation that Governor Rauf Aregbesola has placed the state under huge debts, culminating in arrears of salaries and pensions to its workforce and retirees. He stresses that such unfounded accusation will not scuttle the governor’s re-election in August. The commissioner fielded questions from Abiodun Fanoro and Seye Olumide in Lagos.

HAT qualifies Governor Aregbesola for a W second term in office despite the controversies surrounding his administration?

There are several factors, but I will limit myself to about two or three. One, the Aregbesola’s administration has brought what I call a positive change to Osun State. As the governor said during his inauguration on November 2010, “we are resuming a journey back to greatness.”

And happened in the state since he became governor were obvious that we were back on the path of greatness. This is against the background of helplessness, hopelessness, joblessness, squalor and flooding and so many unpleasant situations inherited by the current administration.

The government inherited a state, which was in serious infrastructure decay and lack of opportunities for even growth and development in 2010.

The government has intervened in the area of infrastructure: Roads, water, hospital renovations and empowerment programmes.

As we speak, in all the major towns, many roads have been constructed and others are under construction.

On empowerment, we have the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, the Osun State School Feeding Programme by which students in Grade 1 to Grade 4 in all public schools are fed everyday. This has led to the employment of 3,000 vendors, who are empowered with the community caterers.

We have the school uniform programme by which the state provides free uniforms to students in all public schools. About 750,000 of them have been given uniforms and this has ensured a garment factory, which is the largest and the best in the West African sub-region. We employ at least 3,000 workers with the state-ofthe-art equipment.

Another fundamental is the channelisation of our waterways to tackle the problem of flood.

In July 2010, shortly before Aregbesola assumed office, there was problem in some towns caused by flood. This was because the waterways had not be cleared or channelised for a very long time.

This had been done and even in 2011, when flood ravaged the entire country, Osun State was less hit because of the precautionary approaches we had made.

We have the Agba Osun (Monthly Osun Relief Allowance) in which N10,000 is paid to vulnerable adults from age 65 and above and we also give free medical services to the elders in the society.

In the area of rural economy and development of agriculture, the state, under the Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme, has been able to provide resources to farmers: close to N2 billion to support them. We have also got farmers to be trained and given farm implements.

Under this scheme, we have opened up rural roads, bridges and others. As we speak, many of the rural places have access to good infrastructure. There is also massive electrification of the rural communities and provision of transformers.

There’s empowerment of the women in the area of artisanship, training and others.

Another area is the provision of Opon Imo (Tablet of Knowledge), which is being coupled in Osun.

When we compared these with the serious state of hopelessness that the PDP banqueted when we took over government, you will know that any reasonable community will respond by allowing such a government to continue in order to create sustainability and greatness, which we have brought to the state.

The second reason Aregbesola is qualified to continue in office is in the area of security.

Going by the Nigerian Constitution, section 14, sub-section 2, paragraphs 2, security and welfare of the people should be paramount to any government.

Before Aregbesola took over, there were cases of insecurity when the PDP was in power. There was lack of peace, as many political opponents of the government were hounded and vic-

Bashiru timised.

But upon our assumption of office and till date, massive investment has gone into security and today, Osun remains one of the most peaceful states in the country.

Before we took over government, some characters, which are political thugs of the PDP, had turned into law, extorting different people.

These are now things of the past. The only challenge we have in the area of security today is the attempt by the PDP to create crisis under the guise that they are coming to hold elections.

Thirdly, before we talk about somebody not qualified to seek for a second term, there must be an alternative. All the so-called gladiators seeking power in Osun do not have what it takes compared to what Aregbesola is doing.

None of them has come up with a blueprint of what they want to do that will surpass what Aregbesola has achieved. The only thing they do is to lie about what is not on ground and what is on the ground.

For instance, one of them, while launching his campaign on a project completed by current government, claimed shamelessly that we had not finished any project. The question you

should ask him is whether the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park was in place before the incumbent took over.

O you consider the emergence of Iyiola D Omisore, as the PDP candidate, a threat to Aregbesola’s second term ambition?

I will say Omisore is a grandstanding politician. When you make too much noise, it could cause too many distractions. I will give you facts to support my position.

Omisore is the one that decided on his own he was going to use propaganda machinery for self-projection. In 2007, he contested for a Senate seat and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him winner.

But his opponent, who is now the senator, Jide Omoworare, challenged the election and the Court of Appeal declared the election null and void on account of irregularities, banditry and electoral fraud.

In 2011, he did not win in his ward or his local government. Now, in 2014, with all that Aregbesola has done, which has endeared him to the people, is it somebody that cannot

The second reason Aregbesola is qualified to continue in office is in the area of security. Going by the Nigerian Constitution, section 14, sub-section 2, paragraphs 2, security and welfare of the people should be paramount to any government.

Before Aregbesola took over, there were cases of insecurity when the PDP was in power. There was lack of peace, as many political opponents of the government were hounded and victimised. But upon our assumption of office and till date, massive investment has gone into security, and today, Osun remains one of the most peaceful states in the country. Before we took over government, some characters, which are political thugs of the PDP, had turned into law, extorting different people.

These are now things of the past. The only challenge we have in the area of security today is the attempt by the PDP to create crisis under the guise that they are coming to hold elections.

win in his ward that will give a fight to Aregbesola?

Omisore is just doing what he is doing to get money from the PDP at the centre. Deep in his mind, and those in the PDP, they know that he is no match for Aregbesola.

When it comes to election, we also know that some people are banking on violence and thuggery. We should ask Omisore why he is coming up to say he did not want to ride on the blood of Osun people to become governor.

I guess he must have realised that everybody is aware that the only thing he relies on is to oppress the people and impose his will, but that will not work in Osun State again because our people are determined to continue with the government that has been improving their lot and the state.

I know the Southwest people are committed to defending their position when it comes to electoral integrity. Having demonstrated that he did not have the support of his people, if Omisore insists on using violence to win the election, he will not succeed.

Are you envisaging violence in the election, and would you call for the military like we witnessed in past elections?

We are not the ones in control of the military.

We can only hope that the military and the police would be professional.

What the President has done is cause for alarm, by appointing Musiliu Obanikoro as Defence Minister and also appointing Omisore’s acolyte as Minister of Police Affairs.

Unless they want to carry out a coup and not an election, Omisore cannot defeat Aregbesola. We are going to win that election.

If it is going to be through the ballot: free and fair election, Omisore cannot even win in his ward.

Is there any working relationship between Aregbesola and former governor of Osun, Olagunsoye Oyinlola?

I don’t know about Oyinlola having a faction.

But I know that the Court of Appeal ruled that he remains the secretary of the PDP. As far as I am concerned, there is the APC and Oyinlola is not in our party.

The Southwest zone of the PDP is working towards regaining control of the region…

These people are what I call business politicians. They need money from Abuja and they feel they should come up with a programme that could fetch them the money.

There is this character in Ogun State they refer to as the chief mobiliser of the region. If you can recall, this man had a candidate in the last election in Ogun, but what was the outcome of the election?

The Yoruba have an adage that, there is the need to first look at what someone, intends to sew clothe for another person, is putting.

The PDP members in the Southwest region are mere political paperweights. I don’t see them making any inroad into the region again.

Are you convinced that INEC will do justice in the election?

I hope that the commission will be able to correct itself in all the problems it’s having in the elections it had conducted. We hope to have a credible and peaceful election.

One of the challenges we want to tell our people is that they should be vigilant. They must ensure that they monitor the election and follow the results properly.

We urge the Federal Government not to turn the Southwest into an arena of war. The candidates they are pushing forward in Osun and Ekiti are discredited politicians. The only way they can have a way is to march on the blood of our people by trying to impose them on us.

One thing I want to remind the Federal Government is that the First Republic collapsed because the Federal Government tried to lord unpopular candidates, like the present ones, on the people of the Southwest.

Has the government been able to convince the Christian/Muslim communities on the controversies surrounding the school reclas-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

28 | THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

PHOTONEWS EXTRA

President, Abuja Newspapers Distributors Association (ANDA), Comrade Otu-Otu Eno (left); Director, Contact and Mobilization, SAM4Nigeria Presidential Campaign, Patricia Kupchi; former Chairman, Leadership Group and APC presidential aspirant, Sam Nda-Isaiah and Director Communications, SAM4Nigeria Presidential Campaign, Kalu Okoronkwo, during a courtesy visit by ANDA to Nda-Isaiah in Abuja.

Deputy Managing Director, Digiprints, Kingsley James (left); MD/CEO, PrmAfrica, Mike Dada; Acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BoI), Waheed Olagunju and Director, Brand Communication and Sponsorship, All African Music Awards, Matlon Tsotetsi, during the meeting with the organisers of All African Music Awards in Lagos .PHOTO: OSENI YUSUF

Vice President, Namadi Sambo (left); Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Bubakar and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, at the Jama’atu Nasril Islam golden jubilee lecture in Kaduna.

Akintola Williams (right); President, Nigerian-Spanish Association, Isaac Olusola Dada; former President of the Association, Dr. Rauf Masha and Mr. Oliver Johnson at the Association’s Annual General Meeting on Victoria Island, Lagos.

PHOTO: ISAAC TAIWO

Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Osita Chidoka (left) with the President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, during a courtesy visit by the FRSC boss.

Head of Information Security, Interswitch, Inalegwu Awogwu (left); Member, Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), Nkechi Ukoh; Information and Branding Director, ISACA, Uzo Odunukwe; Member, ISACA, Blessing Jasper-Mbamara and Financial Secretary, ISACA, Abiodun Ademosu, during a conference on Control and Audit of E-Channel Systems by ISACA Lagos Chapter PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

Chief Operating Officer, Chicken Republic, Kofi Abunu (left); Head of Marketing, Susan Rotimi; Operations Manager, Alase Funmi and Christiana Ogbonna, all of Chicken Republic at the Launch of Easter Pick ’n’ Mix promo in Lagos.

PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN

Secretariat Administrator, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, Godwin Ihimekfen (left); President of the Association, Dr. Godswill Okpara and President, African Students Union Parliament, University of Ghana, Legon, Emmanuel Kendus, during the presentation of the PanAfrican Leadership Award to Okpara in Abuja.

PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO

Wednesday, April 16, 2014 29

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

INTERVIEW

‘Those shouting ‘P-D-P’ in Osun are political merchants’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 sification programme?

I don’t know about the controversy you are talking about. On the second of October, we launched the new school reclassification policy and by the grace of God, 2,000 schools have been completed. When the schools were reclassified, we had 1,050 schools.

In how many schools have you seen this controversy? Possibly not more than two! What is the percentage of one or let’s even say five out of 1,050 that will justify you saying that the policy is not working?

The opposition had orchestrated the old crisis.

They tried to use religion to discredit our education policy, but the policy has started yielding results.

From the 34th positions in external examinations, as at the time when Aregbesola took over, we are now in the eighth position.

The National Bureau of Statistics said that Osun has the highest number of student enrolment because of our massive investment in education. As we speak, about 50 to 52 new schools, with modern equipment, are being constructed and about 30 have been completed.

So, when you see this positive result, you need not be told that it is just some visionless politicians, who were in government for seven and half years and allowed the educational system to rotten to the extent that even dogs could not be put in those things they called schools.

We have ensured we have quality education.

For the school feeding programme, we spent N3.6 billion yearly. For students in the basic education, we spend N84,000 per capital on each; for those in higher education, we spent N35,000, that is excluding the cost of infrastructure, instruction materials and others.

What we have done is to qualitatively invest in education where the future of the society lies.

Education must not be based on circumstance or the economic position of the children; every person in a society deserves good, basic education to be able to proceed.

When we took over government, we made an assessment of the education system and discovered that only three per cent of students from Osun State were matriculable and could proceed to higher institutions.

Besides that, our concern was to ensure that we get capacity development and build our manpower, as that is the only way we can compete favourably in the century.

The Opon Imo has been the hallmark of education in the state but how sustainable is it?

It is sustainable because we have been able to put in place part of the production process; what we call local content.

We have brought 50,000 (tablets) from China; the remaining 100,000 will be produced in Osun and we have set up a factory to do that.

That is where the RLB Adulawo Technology Village comes in. The software components are done in Nigeria, and Opon Imo are being coupled here effectively. So, the possibility of stability is there. It has also helped us to train local manpower.

I read Omisore claiming that we had not distributed up to 1,000 Opon Imo but even in the place he came from, we have distributed more than 3,000 pieces.

It is either he is bereft of information about

These people are what I call business politicians. They need money from Abuja and they feel they should come up with a programme that could fetch them the money. There is this character in Ogun State they refer to as the chief mobiliser of the region. If you can recall, this man had a candidate in the last election in Ogun, but what was the outcome of the election? The Yoruba have an adage that, there is the need to first look at what someone, intends to sew clothe for another person, is putting.

The PDP members in the Southwest region are mere political paperweights. I don’t see them making any inroad into the region again.

Bashiru the development in the state or he is simply playing politics.

How would you address the allegation that Governor Aregbesola has put Osun in debts, and that the government could no longer pay pensions and teachers’ salaries?

The issue of non-salary payment is a lie. All workers in Osun get paid. It is interesting that in November 2013, we did not only pay salaries, but Osun paid 100 per cent basic salary as the ‘13th month’ salary to all workers.

If we cannot pay normal salaries, where did we get money to pay the ‘13th month’ salary of 100 per cent?

On pensions, when Aregbesola took over power, we had arrears of pensions of more than 22 months, which had been cleared by this government.

We must tell ourselves the truth about the situation all states in Nigeria are facing, financially. But notwithstanding that challenge, we are still able to pay up our pensions.

Three PDP-led states have come out to say that they were planning to reduce salaries by 50 per cent. They include Bayelsa, where Mr. President comes from, Bauchi and Cross River, and even Akwa Ibom State that takes huge allocation monthly that surpasses what Osun State collects in a year.

Ordinarily, Osun cannot continue its infrastructural projects because of the 40 per cent reduction in allocation to states since July last year. But projects are still being carried out.

The allegation of indebtedness is inconsistent.

Omisore claimed that we owed N300 billion; later, he moved it to N630 billion and now he is talking of N413 billion. He is oscillating.

The truth is we approached the capital market to take conventional bond, which was over-subscribed by investors. That means there is confidence in the ability of the state government to repay.

Investors that are consistent and have access to information patronise bonds. It is not like overthe-counter bill with the banker for which there will be no transparency.

There is no merit in the allegation. The past PDP government took N18.3 billion for what? To construct six stadia!

Look at the series of projects that we are doing; we are very prudent in managing the resources of the state. We have a lot of projects ongoing, to the extent that people are wondering where we get the money. That may the basis of what the opposition is going about to say.

Are you likely to complete most of these projects before the administration’s tenure expires or they are merely for political show?

We have completed several projects. We have completed many roads even with streetlights: Oko-Soda, Lokere and others in Ilesha; the township roads, which comprise 21 roads, have been completed.

In Oshogbo, the inner roads have been completed. Togbu, which passes the inner ring

road, has been completed.

Besides these, the local governments have built between eight and 10 kilometres; it has not been done any where in the country. That goes to about 3,000 kilometres. Seventy-five per cent of these roads have been completed.

All you need is to drive down Ilesha, Ejigbo, Ikire; then, you will see what is happening.

Government is continuous; there is no way all projects would be completed in a year. Mr. President recently went to inaugurate the second Niger Bridge, and what completion period did he mention: 36 months or so.

But we will be there in 36 months or will he say that he will not be there and the project would not be completed? It is illogical and it is people, who are not competent in government that would be making that kind of statement.

When we finished one project, another one is waiting. For political purpose, why did PDP not do projects when they were there for seven and half years?

ID Aregbesola borrow some money to pay D pensioners and the money was diverted for something else on the advice of one of his cabinet members?

I am not aware of that. Whether the government diverted money or not shouldn’t be a beerparlour discussion. They should approach the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) if they know that money was borrowed for a certain purpose and was diverted.

They should write petitions to the appropriate authorities for investigation.

The question we should ask is if you borrow money from a bank for a particular purpose, how is it easy to divert such into other use(s)?

Secondly, why would you go and borrow money to pay pensioners? We have increased the amount we pay for gratuity and pensions — more than 100 per cent of what we met on ground.

The problem of pensions and gratuity is an inherited issue. States that are governed by the PDP still owe huge arrears of pensions and gratuity and this is not the case in Osun. We have struggled to pay off our debts and meet our financial obligations.

And come to look at it, the Federal Government, without any genuine reason, cut down the allocations for states by 30 per cent since July last year and the implication of this is that at the best of times, allocation to The State of Osun is between N3.6 billion and N4.2 billion before July last year.

The wage bill of Osun, because of the increment that we did on the Minimum Wage Bill, is N3.6 billion before last July.

After July, we now earn between N2.6 billion and N2.8 billion, and nothing is left. We are in deficit to the tune of N1.2 billion and N1.4 billion to be able to pay salaries and pensions every

month.

How do you cover for that?

Before the crisis started, we had funds set aside to settle some unforeseen challenges. That has been helping us, but if it continues this way, something would have to give way for the other.

As I told you, three PDP governors had said they were contemplating cutting down on salaries by 50 per cent. We are still committed and will continue to pay.

So, we want our people to appreciate the challenge we are facing by paying the pensions based on the dwindling allocation. At the same time, we continue with projects.

Amid these shortfalls, Aregbesola is accused of serving the interest of his master in Lagos, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and not the State of Osun.

Besides, within the ACN arm of the APC in Osun, there is serious dissention...

(Laughter) This is tale by the moonlight. That is my own response to the allegation. There is no way the governor would be serving the interest of Tinubu. There is no money in Osun; we are just managing to harness the resource that we have.

There are so many tales that we hear from the PDP and this is because the party is hopeless and its members know that they do not have anything to show.

Come up with your blueprint; we have our blueprint. Everything we are doing now is in our blueprint contained in a book: My Pact with the People of Osun.

They even said we bring casual workers from Lagos to Osun. How is it possible for workers to leave Lagos, where they earn good pay, and come to Osun where they are not even sure of securing accommodation?

They claimed there are dissentions within our party, but we have just one aspirant in the APC but the PDP is factionalised.

Does Aregbesola take care of APC members?

The business of government is not to share money but to engender economic development and empower the people. And this is what we are doing.

We have employed more than 10,000 teachers since we took over government.

HAT has the economic integration in the W Southwest brought to the table?

One of the things that have happened in the region is what I will call templating of development. The pattern of our development is synergised.

If you go to the APC-controlled states in the region, the state of developments is evenly spread.

We have also created an avenue where we exchange ideas and carry out joint activities to promote our economic integration. This has been on ground and we are working towards further consideration.

Do you foresee any positive outcome from the ongoing national conference?

I don’t know and I am not a soothsayer, but I do not hope anything (good) is going to come out of it. One, the manner of appointment of the delegates is not clear.

We want to talk about the future of Nigeria and majority of the delegates are handpicked. Some of the people that our states recommended were replaced.

Secondly, I looked at the conference delegates and discovered that majority are old people.

Thirdly, how will the resolutions of the conference be implemented? Would there be a referendum? They said there wouldn’t be because a referendum is too costly, but it is not costly to set up the conference!

Then, how would you merge the outcome of the conference with the amendment that the National Assembly is doing on the 1999 Constitution?

How would it affect the 2015 elections? Will the outcome of the confab be implemented before the elections or after, or will there be a recommendation that there will be no elections in 2015?

These are questions we need to ask. I don’t have the answers but we need to get the answers.

How would you assess Nigeria beyond 2015?

I don’t see Nigeria splitting. In fact, it won’t be in the interest of anybody, region or ethnic group that Nigeria should disintegrate. No nation in the African continent can contain us.

I want to appeal to the people in authority to do what is right and peacefully restructure the country, as a Nigeria breaking up will be a disaster to the human race, and not Africa alone.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

30 Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Money Foreign exchange developments and monetary policy mix Stories by Chijioke Nelson T present, the nation’s foreign reserves stood at $38 billion, while the price of the Bonny Light- the country’s quality grade crude oil is estimated at $109.7 per barrel and our newly rebased Gross Domestic Product puts us ahead of other economies in the continent at over $500 billion. These indices, one way or the other, have something to do with our foreign exchange matrix.

The Economic Report of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for January 2014, may have led credence to the above conclusion.

For example, the gross external reserves at the end of January 2014 stood at US$40.67 billion, indicating a decline of 5.1 per cent and 11.2 per cent from the levels in the preceding month and the corresponding period of 2013, respectively. But sustained efforts on price stability (including foreign exchange rate) and the depletion of the Excess Crude Account may have hit the nation’s reserve to the record low then, even now at a new record low.

Estimated aggregate demand for foreign exchange by authorized dealers under the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS), Bureau-de-change (BDC) and RDASForward contract was put at $6.79 billion in January 2014. This indicated an increase of 56.9 per cent and 495.9 per cent above the levels in the preceding month and the corresponding month of 2013, respectively.

The rise in aggregate demand was attributed to the 58.9 per cent and 37.4 per cent increase in demand at the RDAS-spot and BDC segments of the market. A total of $4.04 billion was sold by the CBN to authorized dealers during the period, reflecting an increase of 42.9 per cent and 296.3 per cent above the levels in the preceding month and the corresponding period of 2013, respectively.

Under the RDAS, the average exchange rate of the Naira vis-à-vis the United States of America’s dollar, depreciated by 0.01 per cent to N157.29, compared with N157.27 in the preceding month, but showed an appreciation of 0.01 per cent above the N157.30 recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. At the BDC segment, the average exchange rate depreciated by 0.2 per cent and 7.9 per cent to N171.71 per US dollar, below the respective levels in the preceding month and the corresponding period of 2013.

The average exchange rate at the interbank segment, depreciated by 0.7 per cent and 2.0 per cent, below the respective levels in the preceding month and the corresponding period of 2013 to N160.23 per dollar. Consequently, the premium between the RDAS and Bureau-de-change widened to 9.2 per cent from 9.0 per cent in the pre-

A

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Finance Minister

Dr. Sarah Alade, Ag. Governor, CBN

ceding month. The premium between the inter-bank and RDAS also widened to 1.9 per cent from 1.1 per cent in the preceding month.

The report also indicated that foreign exchange inflow and outflow through the CBN in the month of January 2014 was $2.54 billion and $4.65 billion, respectively, resulting in a net outflow of $2.11 billion, compared with the net outflow of $0.69 billion in the preceding month, but in contrast to the net inflow of $1.78 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2013.

Relative to the level in the preceding month and the corresponding period of 2013, inflow fell by 19.6 per cent and 23.4 per cent, respectively. The decrease in inflow was attributed to the 22.2 per cent decline in receipts from crude oil sales. Outflow rose by 23.3 per cent and 202.5 per cent above the levels in the preceding month and the corresponding period of 2013, respectively.

The development was attributed, largely to the increase in RDAS, BDCs and inter-bank sales, which amounted to $2.99 billion, $0.56 billion and $0.49 billion, respectively.

However, the aggregate foreign exchange flow through the economy indicated that

total inflow was $12.13 billion, representing a decrease of 2.9 per cent and 0.2 per cent below the levels at the end of the preceding month (December) and the corresponding period of 2013, respectively. The downward development was driven by the decline in receipt from crude oil exports. But, of the total inflow, receipts through the CBN and autonomous sources accounted for 21 per cent and 79 per cent, respectively.

Non-oil public sector inflow, put at $0.17 billion (1.4 per cent of the total), rose by 46.3 per cent and 6.3 per cent above the levels in the preceding month and the corresponding period of 2013, respectively. Autonomous inflow, which accounted for 79 per cent of the total, rose marginally by 2.8 per cent above the level in the preceding month.

Also, at $4.76 billion, aggregate foreign exchange outflow from the economy rose by 15.9 per cent and 204.6 per cent above the levels in the preceding month and the corresponding period of 2013, respectively.

Thus, foreign exchange flows through the economy resulted in a net inflow of US$7.4 billion in the review month, compared with $8.4 billion and $10.6 billion in the preced-

ing month and the corresponding month of 2013, respectively.

Under the period, total non-oil export earnings, was estimated at $379.07 million, rising by 30.1 per cent above the level in the preceding month. The development reflected, largely, the 191.2 per cent and 22.6 per cent increase in export receipts from agricultural and manufactured sectors, respectively. A breakdown by sectors showed that proceeds of manufactured, industrial, agriculture, minerals and food products sub- sectors stood at $185.98 (49.1 per cent), $115.36 (30.4 per cent), $56.21(14.8 per cent), $16.20 (4.3 per cent) and $5.32 (1.4 per cent) million, respectively.

The invisible sector accounted for the bulk (45.6 per cent) of total foreign exchange disbursed in January 2014, followed by minerals and oil sector (17.8 per cent). Other beneficiary sectors, were industrial sector, 14.8 per cent, food products, 9.7 per cent, manufactured product, 8.3 per cent, transport, 2.9 per cent, and agricultural products, 0.9 per cent In January, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Union Commission (AUC) signed a new project grant, which was aimed at strengthening the capacity of African countries in coordinating the implementation of regional infrastructure programmes and projects necessary for enhancing Africa’s physical and economic integration and socio-economic transformation of Africa.

The 2013 Statutory Meetings of the West African Monetary Agency (WAMA), West African Monetary Institute (WAMI) and West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) were held in Banjul, The Gambia from January 8 - 17, 2014, together with 30th meeting of the Committee of Governors of WAMZ. Major decisions taken by the Committee of Governors (COG) at the forum include: The computation of non-performing loans (NPLs) across the zone should be standardized based on Basel core principles reporting templates to ensure a uniform reporting format across member states; and COG directed that the extent to which member states have implemented the recommendations of the roadmap of the ECOWAS Monetary Cooperation Programme should also be reported at the next meeting; Others were the acceptance of the proposal on the fast-track approach where two countries (Nigeria and Ghana) would drive the single currency programme by going into the monetary union before other member countries would follow; and approved the report of the College of Supervisors of WAMZ, directing the college to undertake a study on “Dollarization in the Zone” as well as a “Gap analysis on prudential guidelines in the Zone”.

FCMB, Microsoft, Ciuci, others pioneer enterprise development initiative HE partnership among First City socio-economic conditions and being next iQube, which is scheduled to hold at Members of the panel include Founder of T Monument Bank Plc, Microsoft, Ciuci rewarded. the University of Oxford on May 17, 2014.

LEAP Africa, Ndidi Nwuneli; Chief Executive Consulting and ES Africa, at the weekend, The innovation, which was accepted by The maiden edition of iQube was held in Officer of House of Tara, Tara Fela-Durotoye;

saw the selection of the winners of “The Innovation Challenge”– an initiative and contest designed by iQube, aimed at promoting and rewarding innovation. iQube is a knowledge-sharing platform designed to foster collaboration within corporate business communities and the wider public, specifically driven by innovation, inspiration and insight, to spur creativity among Nigerian youths.

The scheme, which was uniquely scripted to give young entrepreneurs and innovators an opportunity to showcase their ideas, was also targeted at improving

Nigerian youths as over 500 contestants across the country sent in entries, cut across various sectors– agriculture, technology, power, education, tourism and healthcare.

Before the just concluded grand finale, the competition had gone through various stages, which had seen the number of contestants reduce from over 500 to 10, while the assessment was based on the originality, feasibility, sustainability and potential socio-economic impact of the innovative ideas by a panel of highly experienced judges.

and Head of Small and Medium Enterprises Banking, FCMB, George Ogbonnaya.

The top 10 contestants were Toni Oniwon, Salem Habib, Adewale Opeloyeru, Enoo Abamba, Patrick Ezeanyagu, Nwogu Chukwunonso, Upeters Franklyn, Gozie Nwabuife, Terver Malu and Oluwaseyi Temitayo Odukoya.

The judges, in awe at the end of the competition, said: “These wonderful ideas and inventions showcased today proves that there is a bright future for our country”.

But the organisers said that some of these wonderful ideas would be featured at the

2012 at the City Hall, Lagos with the theme, ‘Back to the Future’, suggesting that businesses can draw insights from past experiences and use them in developing innovative approaches that provide pragmatic solutions for the future.

In achieving its vision of promoting innovation in Nigeria, iQube has partnered with leading organisations such as Microsoft – known for developing innovative products and the Microsoft 4Afrika initiative, which is designed to develop future African leaders by giving them access to education and skills required to succeed.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, April 16, 2014 MONEy

31

Stanbic IBTC Bank, stakeholders seek solutions to haulage challenges Stories by Chijioke Nelson IBTC Bank Plc, customers and SwasTANBIC experts in the haulage business said there need to find a lasting solution to the lingering challenges besetting the sub-sector, which range from poor financing structure to inefficient management.

The move, according to them, became imperative, as indications emerged that about 90 per cent of goods and services produced in the country is transported by the

road, while 85 per cent is particularly through the haulage.

The Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Obinnia Abajue, said that the financial institution convened the Haulage and Logistics forum to overview issues in the sub-sector, get feedback from customers and experts on financing, express gratitude and strengthen the existing partnership.

According to him, since the Group’s emergence as a holding company, all the sub-

Enterprise Bank unveils product for unbanked persons NTERPRISE Bank Limited has introduced E another product known as SimpleSave, meant to reach the financially excluded persons of the society.

The move, according to the bank was line with the initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to target the unbanked, presently at 46.3 per cent of the adult population of the country and its determination to get a larger share in the retail segment of the financial market.

The product, which is in two variants, SimpleSave and SimpleSave Plus, is designed for individuals in informal employment like personal security guards, cooks, valets, petty traders, small-time farmers, road-side auto tyre repairers (vulcanizers), mechanics, labourers, tricycle operators, garage boys, bus conductors among others.

Generally, these products are largely beneficial to uneducated individuals above 18 years of age, who perform menial tasks for a living and neither have statutory means of identification nor access to banking facilities because of the heavy documentation often required for the commencement of banking relationships.

The bank pointed out that to open a SimpleSave Account, the physical presence of the customer is not required, while for the SimpleSave Plus, any form of identification subject to authentication by the bank will be acceptable.

These include valid identification cards such as national identification card, voters’ card, international passport, association identification cards, drivers’ license and employer’s staff identification cards among others.

The SimpleSave account requires zero open-

ing and minimum balances and comes with the enjoyment of the Enterprise MasterCard Debit Card, which is optional to the customer.

The maximum single deposit for SimpleSave is N20, 000 and for the SimpleSave Plus N50, 000, while the maximum balance of N200,000 and N400,000 respectively apply to the two product variants.

sidiaries, including Stanbic IBTC Bank, have become more strong and specialized for efficient service delivery.

But the Managing Director of Joza Global Limited, Emmanuel Usiakpor, said that many odds have bedeviled the all important sector of the economy, which serves as a gateway between the producer and end-user.

To him, poor financing structure, which sometimes manifest when unforeseen occurrences and bad deals occur, is complicated as well, when banks refuse to identify with their customers’ assessed challenges.

Usiakpor explained that banks might be a witness to the challenges, but insist on collecting the agreed sum and sometimes, after calculating charges for default, the whole business becomes unsustainable, even facing imminent collapse.

He however, admitted that cash flow management has become a major challenge for some businesses that entered into financing deals with banks, as they lack the basic skills.

Other issues, according him, include lack

maintenance of haulage vehicles, inadequate spare parts for repairs, one man business structure that dominates the industry and high interest rate.

But the Director of Policy and Planning, National Automotive Council, Lukman Mamudu, said the extant law will compel every one to buy made-in-Nigeria vehicles, which parts would also be made available.

He said that would also be eased as the council was already working out plans with banks to reduce interest rates on facilities for the acquisition of the vehicles, adding that there are about N6 billion seed fund on ground and the expected fund to be generated from the 35 per cent charges on import.

“This seed money is small, but we are hoping to grow the fund with the 35 per cent levy on import. We are planning to partner local and international sources in such a way that when we provide our own at zero interest rate and join it with those ones sourced, the average will not exceed single digit or at most 10 per cent,” he added.

Head of Small and Medium Enterprises Banking, First City Monument Bank, George Ogbonnaya (right); Founder of LEAP Africa, Ndidi Nwuneli; Managing Partner of Ciuci Consulting, Chukwuka Monye; Chief Executive Officer of House of Tara, Tara Fela-Durotoye; and General Manager, Sale, CNBC Africa, Ope Filani, at the grand finale of “The Innovation Challenge,” in Lagos, at the weekend.

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OBILE Money operators’ revenue M in Africa will rise to $3 billion by Africa’s mobile money revenues to hit $3 billion 2015, a study by Pyramid Research has shown.

Although Safaricom’s M-Pesa in Kenya, according to the report has long been the lone success story in the mobile money universe, the report noted that successes are being recorded in Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania with similar mobile money offerings.

According to Mobile Money Africa, MTN Uganda’s mobile money service accounts for three per cent of all airtime sold on its network, and Vodacom’s M-Pesa service in Tanzania currently has six million subscribers with exponential growth of 600 per cent experienced in the past year alone.

Currently, mobile money offerings remain limited and are concentrated in just 22 of the more than 50 African countries.

Analysts said the African mobile money market has the potential to grow to a money-making market, but operators, banks and regulators need to work toward developing an en-

abling environment for business models that meet service providers’ revenue demands.

In Nigeria, a recent survey showed that 37 per cent of Nigerians are not aware of mobile money and as such, do not use the payment platform, is worrisome.

How to promote Nigeria’s profile in tech space, by experts Stories by Adeyemi Adepetun XPERTS in Nigeria’s Information and ComE munications Technology (ICT) sector have stressed the need for the country to guard against becoming a dumping ground for all forms of technologies to facilitate the nation’s emergence as a big player in technological world.

For effect, they prescribed a conducive environment to engender ingenuity and creativity, while suing for the protection of intellectual property right.

Already, Nigeria’s ICT sector contributes about six per cent to the country’s GDP, and projected to contribute about 15 per cent by 2015. But experts believed that the country can surpass this projection if policies are backed by actions.

The experts, who spoke at different fora, noted that the potential for ICT development and others is huge in Nigeria compared to other part of the continent.

Speaking at the weekend in Lagos, the Chairman of Digital Africa Global Consult Limited, Evans Woherem called for accelerated efforts targeted at improving Nigeria’s current technological development status.

Specifically, Woherem said Africa lags behind other continents of the world in technology acquisition, stressing that other continents; especially the Americas, Europe and Asia seem to be on steroids in acquiring and adopting new technologies. “However, in Africa, there is no sense of urgency in this regard at all”, he stated.

According to him, Although Africa had traditionally lagged behind in certain critical economic sectors; ICT is clearly a bright spot for the continent that must be seized to move the continent ahead confidently.

He noted that ICT is changing the world, as we know, “It is transforming governance, agriculture, health, oil and gas, and financial services, among other sectors, by driving effective and efficient performance largely for the benefit of the governed, consumers and corporations.

“It is now commonly known that countries that have technological competence are more developed and economically competitive.

They are at the higher pecking order of world development.

“Of course, there is a difference between using technologies invented and innovated by another country and actually being the inventing country. It is more rewarding to be one of the key inventing and innovating countries of the world in technology. This is what I mean as technological competence. In other words, it is not the mere purchase and use of technologies invented from abroad or technological diffusion”, he said.

Woherem explained that Africa is the last frontier for most global technology brands that are seeking fresh and virgin markets.

According to him, North America and Europe have almost reached a market saturation point for many ICT products and services;

Director, Women Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Folasade Ogunaike (left); Director, MTN Foundation, Dennis Okoro and wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola,during the presentation of tools of trade, donated by the MTN Foundation under its Widows Empowerment Scheme, to Widows in Lagos, on Monday. growth in Asia and Latin America is quite modest. “As at today, the most exciting ICT business opportunities lie in Africa and the Middle East.

In Africa, Nigeria should spearhead this growth.”

In line to drive that vision of innovation and effective use of digital technology in Africa, Woherem announced that Digital Africa Global Consult Limited is organising a 3-day yearly conference &exhibition for Africa’s technology sector, saying that the event is conceived as an integral part of the vision to move Africa from being a passive consumer to a dominant innovator and producer of digital technologies. “It is an important platform to network, share knowledge on the latest developments in the technology ecosystem, as well as do business and sign deals.”

He said the Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition 2014, which is the second edition, will also host the 19th World Electronic Forum (WEF). WEF is the global and high profile gathering of CEOs and Directors of Electronic Industry Associations worldwide. The theme of the event is “Towards Digital Singularity in Africa” and deliberations at the conference will proffer solutions that would enable Africa make significant advancement towards competing strongly in the global digital market.

While Nigeria boast of the largest telecommunications sector in Africa with about 130

million active subscription, over $25 billion investment and 30 per cent yearly growth, much work, according to telecoms expert, Kehinde Aluko, still need to be done.

While speaking to The Guardian, Aluko called for concerted efforts that will jump-start the potential in the data segment of the market, stressing that the ministry of Communications Technology and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) must ensure that broadband drive is a success in the country.

He stressed that broadband availability should spur creativity in the country, “by so doing we can also export our innovation to other part of the globe.”

According to Aluko, who called for urgency in technology growth in the country, he said we cannot say we have reached a saturation level as far as voice services are concern, the market is still very virgin, but at the point we are, we should try as much as possible to develop the data segement because of the huge opportunities embedded in it.

“The broadband segement comes with various opportunities. There will be electronic revolution. You can see what is happening in the eCommerce space, and we are yet to tap into into it fully. It will create jobs because Nigerians will be able to create software applications that will not only aid our development but at

the same time make the army of unemployed youths in the country to be busy and creative.

But one thing is however, critical, we need adequate and constant power supply”, he stated.

At the handing over ceremony to his successor, the immediate past president, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Chris Uwaje noted that time is running out on Nigeria in meeting with the global development challenges, stressing that efforts must be channeled towards innovation and creativity.

Uwaje, while calling for a more conducive atmosphere for creativity in the country, tasked government at all levels on patronage of indigenous software, stressing Nigeria as an emerging market holds greater potential to become technology hub of Africa, if the right environment is created, favourable policies in place among others.

From the perspective of the Managing Director, CrossWalk Data Link Ltd, Tony Ibidapo, efforts must be concerted to accelerate ICT growth in Nigeria.

Ibidapo, an expert in the security printing segment of the ICT sector, believed that innovation and conducive business environment hold keys to unleashing technology potential in the country

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‘552 million identities suffer cyber attacks in 2013’

By Adeyemi Adepetun BOUT 552 million identiA ties across the globe suffered cyber attacks in 2013, according to Symantec study.

In the Symantec’s Internet Security Threat Report (ISTR), Volume 19, released at the weekend, it reported that there was a significant shift in cybercriminal behavior, revealing what the culprits have been plotting for months before pulling off huge heists -instead of executing quick hits with smaller rewards.

Symantec disclosed that after lurking in the shadows for the first ten months of 2013, cybercriminals unleashed the most damaging

series of cyberattacks in history.

Regional Manager for West Africa at Symantec, Sheldon Hand said one mega breach can be worth 50 smaller attacks.

“While the level of sophistication continues to grow among attackers, what was surprising last year was their willingness to be a lot more patient -waiting to strike until the reward is bigger and better.

“In 2013, there was a 62 per cent increase in the number of data breaches from the previous year, resulting in more than 552 million identities exposed -proving cybercrime remains a real and damaging

threat to consumers and businesses alike”, he stated.

Vice President and Principal Analyst, Forrester Research, Ed Ferrara said “Security incidents, managed well, can actually enhance customer perceptions of a company; managed poorly, they can be devastating,” wrote, “If customers lose trust in a company because of the way the business handles personal data and privacy, they will easily take their business elsewhere.”

According to Symantec, the size and scope of breaches are exploding, putting the trust and reputation of businesses at risk, and increasingly compromising consumers’ per-

sonal information - from credit card numbers and medical records to passwords and bank account details.

It desclosed that each of the eight top data breaches in 2013 resulted in the loss of tens of millions of data records. By comparison, 2012 only had a single data breach reach that threshold.

“Nothing breeds success like success - especially if you’re a cybercriminal,” said Hand, adding, “the potential for huge paydays means largescale attacks are here to stay.

Companies of all sizes need to re-examine, re-think and possibly re-architect their security posture.”

Hand said targeted attacks

Interswitch, Western Union unveil account-based money transfer

By Bankole Orimisan

A

leading pan-African integrated payments company Interswitch Transnational, has entered into agreement with Western Union, a global payment services company, to introduce an account-based money transfer service (ABMT) in Nigeria.

The ABMT service already works in GTBank, StanbicIBTC and Wema Bank facilities, while First Bank, United Bank for Africa, Skye, Diamond, Enterprise and Access are currently in the process of implementing the service.

The collaboration enables customers to receive Western Union transfers directly into their bank account through the Quickteller website or via their bank’s internet banking website.

This eliminates the need to visit a physical bank branch, Interswitch said.However, there is no additional charge to the receiver of funds for using this service.

Quickteller provides customers with a safe and secure way to receive funds sent by family, friends and business partners abroad.

This is in addition to existing services such as recharge, bill payment and funds transfer on the Quickteller platform.

Quickteller services can be accessed through multiple channels including: ATMs, mobile, POS and online.

Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Interswitch Transnational, Mitchell Elegbe said: “Interswitch is proud to be working with Western Union to introduce this new account-based money transfer (ABMT) service to the inward remittance market. This service ensures compliance with Central Bank of Nigeria regulations that make it mandatory for remittances into Nigeria to be account based.

“The Quickteller ABMT service allows recipients of funds to credit their accounts directly via the Quickteller website as well as the internet banking sites of participating banks. This eliminates the need to travel to bank branches to collect cash thereby saving on travel time and other attendant risks associated with cash. The solution is free to the receiver of the funds. Since the introduction of this service earlier in the year over NGN 700 Million worth of transactions have been processed.

“Quickteller is a robust platform designed with a clear focus on the customer providing simplicity, convenience and security. The ABMT service further reinforces Interswith’s commitment towards the consistent delivery of simple, convenient and innovative customer solutions.”

were up 91 per cent and lasted an average of three times longer compared to 2012.

He hinted that personal assistants and those working in public relations were the two most targeted professions - cybercriminals use them as a stepping stone toward higher-profile targets like celebrities or business executives.

Commenting generally on this menace in an interview with The Guardian, the Chief Executive Officer of Secure and Trusted Alliance Services, Biodun Jagun, today, in Nigeria and globally, a person’s name, age, personal details and phone numbers can be accessed by anyone for a fee, at such times, it is important to be extremely careful when di-

vulging personal details in any online transaction.

Jagun said one of the first things to do is use only one credit card for online dealings, stressing that using multiple cards can increase the risk of personal details exposure. He advised that people must ensure that emails are sent and received through secured and locked email boxes.

For criminals, he said business identity theft can be a multi-purpose tool to perpetrate, or perpetuate a wide array of identity fraud schemes, adding that the impersonation of a legitimate business not only significantly broadens the types of fraud that can be pursued, but also broadens the list of potential victims.

Infinix, Slot reward customers’ loyalty NFINIX Mobility, a leading Iphones, manufacturer of smarthas partnered Slot Systems Limited to reward customers in Slot Promo 5.

The Slot Promo 5 is the 5th edition of the yearly Slot customer reward promo and ran between December 2013 and March 2014. Customers were expected to buy any product from Slot’s 41 sales outlets across the country in order to be eligible for the promo.

A total of 105 customers emerged winners in the draw held at the company’s corporate headquarters in Lagos. Prizes won included smartphones, DVD players, LCD TV sets, airconditioners, refridgerator, blenders, mi-

crowave ovens, N500, 000 cash and a brand new Kia Rio. Mrs. Mary Ogwu won the grand prize of Kia Rio while Umeh Ozoechi won the runner-up prize of N500, 000.

In his opening remarks, the CEO, Slot Systems Limited, Nnamdi Ezeigbo, said the promo, which coincides with the company’s 15th anniversary, was an avenue to appreciate the loyal customers, who have stood behind the company since inception.

He said the company couldn’t have survived the challenging operating environment without the loyalty of the customers.

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Weco Systems, Cisco chart path to business productivity, security

By Adeyemi Adepetun EETING with the 21st Century business challenges, coupled with adequate security protection was the centre of discussion at the Weco Systems and Cisco organized workshop for their customers.

Tagged: ‘Severe the cable not the service’ in Lagos, at the weekend, Weco Systems introduced participants to a hardware solution called Unified Access Solution, which, according to it, has the potential to assist organizations that are particular about productivity and systems security.

Besides, the workshop also presented ways by which businesses and organizations can learn new ways of making their employees more productive on devices they use.

Apparently mobile devices are swiftly becoming the primary communica-

M

tions and computing platform for business. However, the adoption of smartphones and tablets in the enterprise introduce cost, security risks, and usability challenges that traditional IT management tools cannot address. A new management approach is required: Mobile Device Management (MDM).

According to the Solutions Manager, Mobility Solutions of Weco Systems International, Tunde Ogunbiyi, “this new Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) implementation will enhance and harden firm’s existing security infrastructure. This new security strategy is to provide granular management of end users’ device access into your network and its enterprise resources. The security systems will provide better users’ devices tracking, visibility, con-

trolled access, user/device profiling and devices posture assessment”.

Ogunbiyi said that the firm’s mobility solutions deliver a complete portfolio of mobile services and applications that provide rich voice, video, data and mobile communications, adding that the secured wireless network solutions will facilitate services such as network access, Mobility for work-force, Unified Communications/IP Telephony, video services and much more.

“We base our deployments on the latest IEEE ratified 802.11ac wireless technology which delivers wireless access speeds up 1.2Gbps, providing increased range of coverage by a single access point and enhanced wireless security. The 802.11ac technology has completely changed the face of wireless access. Quad play serv-

eWorld holds broadband forum, telecoms day HE yearly eWorld T Forum, which since 2013 has also being used to celebrate the World Telecommunications Day will hold on May 16, in Lagos Organisers of the event, eWorld Magazine and Ajomedia Limited announced at the weekend that this year’s event has in its tradition adopted the World Telecom and Information Society Day (WTISD) theme which is Broadband for Sustainable Development.

The World Telecommunication Day has been held worldwide by industry stakeholders and the public to commemorate the founding of the International Telecommunication Union in May 17, 1865.

Nigeria had joined other

nations in the early 1980s to celebrate the day. eWorld collaborated with the Nigerian Communications Commission ( NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency ( NITDA) to hold the 2013 edition which had as its theme: ICTs and Improving Road Safety.

Chief Executive of Ajomedia and Publisher of eWorld Magazine, Aaron Ukodie said in a statement that the eWorld Forum keys into the current focus of the federal government and its agencies, the National Broadband Council in their bid to create awareness on the benefits of broadband to the economy and to Nigerians.

Ukodie said eWorld Forums have been at the fore-

front in pushing for the adoption of a national strategy for driving broadband development and adoption since 2009 when it began its eWorld Forums, tagged then as eWorld Broadband Forum. He noted that it was at the 2009 and 2010 editions that Professor Raymond Akwule first mooted the idea of a national broadband strategy, which has now gained currency.

“We at eWorld agree with the ITU that “digital development is a transformative tool to fast-track sustainable development.

In order to realize its full potential it is essential to roll-out high-speed broadband networks, making it affordable and universally accessible”.

ices (voice, video, data and mobility) are now supported simultaneously with great ease.” Ogunbiyi stated.

He explained that as a Cisco 1-Tier gold partner, Advanced Wireless LAN Specialist of Cisco and Authorized Technology Partner for Cisco Identity Services Engine; Weco Systems possesses the highest level of expertise that is required to plan, design and implement secure mobility services.

Weco Systems deployments in wireless networks have evolved over the years from building ordinary wireless networks to highly secure enterprise mobility services.

Ogunbiyi said the mobility solutions facilitate increase in productivity for workforce, adding that it reduces the operating expenditure for building structured cabling and the clumsiness that old cabling systems can cause in an organization.

“As a Systems Integration company, Weco Systems job revolves around helping companies to navigate through their maze of requirements and options by designing and implementing technology solutions that consider these disparate systems and deliver the best available functionality”, he stated.

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Hong Kong firm, Phase3 Telecom ink deal to boost communications in Nigeria, othBy Bankole Orimisan CCW Global, the Hong KongP headquartered international operating division of HKT, Hong Kong’s premier telecom service provider, has signed a collaborative agreement with Phase3 Telecom, a West African market leader in telecommunications infrastructure and broadband solutions.

PCCW Global operates an in-

ternational network which covers more than 3,000 cities in 130 countries worldwide, providing services based on the latest Ethernet, IP, fiber and satellite transmission technologies in major cities across the globe as well as to markets in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

Phase3 Telecom is a National Long Distance Operator (NLDO) licensed by the Nigeria Communication Commission to

Glo bags awards T was double honours for of Nigeria and accelerate naIasGlobacom on Friday night tional development. the National telecommunications operator won two awards at two different ceremonies held in Lagos.

The first honour came at the Champion Newspaper’s 2013 Awards at Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos where the company emerged Brand of the Year, while the second award was at the Marketing Edge Brands Summit and Awards Night at Federal Palace Hotel where Globacom was recognised as the Outstanding Telecoms Brand of the Decade.

Publisher of Champion Newspapers, Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, said Globacom was honoured for making a significant difference in the telecoms industry in the past year.

“The Champion Award was instituted to identify and celebrate those who have effectively utilised any and every opportunity to lead at one level or the other for the good of our people.”

He observed that Globacom had consistently supported efforts to empower the people

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, who was the Chief Host at the event, noted that it was an honour “to host this event meant to celebrate some of our country’s best and finest.

provide transmission services to Nigerian telecommunications operators, Internet service providers and corporations using fiber optic systems carried along electricity infrastructure.

Co-operation between the two companies will enable new and advanced communications solutions for Nigeria and other West African countries with Phase3 Telecom now having access to PCCW Global’s vast international MPLS network covering major African cities such as Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Maputo, Johannesburg, and Cape Town, as well as 3,000 other cities around the world.

PCCW Global will also gain improved access to networks in Nigeria via Phase3 Telecom’s robust fiber infrastructure.

Phase3 Telecom’s Chief Executive Officer, Stanley Jegede said the firm has deployed more than 6,000 km of fiber optic

Firm bags award for innovative payment processing NTERSWITCH Transnational, Igrated a leading Pan-African intepayments company with operations in Nigeria and a growing presence in West and East Africa, announces that its Verve and QuickTeller solutions have emerged as winners in the Retail Payments and Product & Services Innovation categories at the 2014 ACI Excellence Awards.

These are the fifth annual Excellence Awards held by ACI Worldwide, a leading international provider of electronic payment and banking systems.

The Awards celebrate leading financial institutions, processors and retailers, for their innovative and transformative uses of ACI solutions to solve real-world customer and business issues.

The winners across ten categories are selected by a judging panel composed of ACI experts and leading global payments analysts from Aite Group, CEB TowerGroup and Celent, and are based across the Americas, the Asia Pacific region, and EMEA. This year there were a total of thirty submissions across the ten categories.

cable to date with another 3,000 km planned for the next 18 months while commissioning several Points of Presence at sites in all key cities.

Jegede said the partnership is

a strong endorsement of the quality of the “network we have built and a clear step forwards in our mission to connect all Nigerians with each other, and with the rest of the

world. PCCW Global’s extensive network provides us with an unrivalled offering for corporate and institutional clients looking for a truly global solution, locally.

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‘Connected world can offer Nigeria higher productivity’

firm, Etisalat is extending access to TTheitsELECOMMUNICATIONS Easyblaze high speed HSPA+ data service. firm announced that customers who purchase 1.5GB data plan or more from any Etisalat Experience Centre from April 4, 2014, will receive a free USB modem and Data SIM card, loaded with a 12 month free internet offer.

This free offer rewards customers with 100MB monthly based on purchase of 200MB and above.

According to the Director, Consumer Segments, at Etisalat Nigeria, Oluwole Rawa, the launch of this offer is driven by our desire to extend quality Internet access to all Nigerians.

Dare Ogunlade is the General Manager Cisco, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra-Leone. He has been in the Information Technology sector for about 20 years, with an electrical engineering background. In this interview with ADEYEMI ADEPETUN, he spoke on how connected world can bring efficiency to Nigeria.

Ogunlade also stressed the importance of the Nigerian market to the global economy. Excerpts

Orji, NSIA boss to deliver BoICT lecture HE Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria SovT ereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Uche Orji has agreed to deliver this year’s Beacon of ICT Distinguished Lecture Series,

HERE does Nigeria stand in Cisco’s Global business strategy W and is there a long- term investment plan for Nigeria?

The structure we have in Africa is that we have four focus countries and five areas. Our focus countries are South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt and our focus areas are our South African business, East African business around Kenya, English speaking West African countries around Nigeria, Egypt and other countries that make up Africa, which we call Emerging Africa.

As one of the four focus countries, Nigeria is important and we also recognize the growing rate of Nigeria so we know it is going to be one of the biggest countries by share price and opportunity.

Yes, we have a long-term view for the market.

A lot of multinationals complain about human capacity development of Nigeria. What have you seen in the past years?

I think there are a number of challenges in this country. We are a very smart people as a nation and all organizations need is to have more programmes to develop the talent we have. For instance, our Network Academy is a programme with which we develop ICT talent to build networking skills. We also have a program for fresh graduates to go to Amsterdam for a year to understudy Cisco and return. We have a number of people in this team right now who have passed through that. There is talent out there.

Is the talent developed for Cisco or for the entire market?

What we sell is not proprietary; it is standards-based so whatever skill set you develop here can be applied anywhere.

Can you share with us your investment plans for the year particularly in Nigeria?

The much I can say is that we have not been given any reasons why we should not keep investing in Nigeria and for an American company to keep investing in any market; clearly it means we are getting positive signs from the market, or that we have a long term view of that market. In this case it’s two scenarios: we have a long-term view for this market and we have a lot of positive belief in the market.

If you cannot break down your investment plans, can you tell us about your CSR strategy for this country?

It’s to keep on promoting our Network Academy programme. We have someone resident here whose job is basically to see how we can increase our Academies in the region. In Nigeria specifically, we are trying to see how we can take it more away from the cities to the rural areas. A good example is our Network Academy in Ogun state prisons, which is dedicated to helping inmates develop the basic networking skills so that when they do come out, they have an opportunity to fend for themselves. The academy was launched some time last year. We are also speaking with governments in the Eastern part of the country to see whether we can replicate the same thing in a similar type of environment. It is not just for you and me but for everybody who is interested.

With most concentration placed on the cities, what are Cisco’s development strategies for the rural areas of Nigeria?

Cisco is all about the network and anywhere there is network connectivity typically, you will find us trying to partner with those playing in the rural areas with our technology. In the case of Nigeria we have sub-sea fiber-optic cables bring an enormous amount of broadband to our shores. Now, various stakeholders are working towards getting this broadband to the hinterlands, including of course, the rural areas. Since our technology is centered on the network connectivity there has to be that infrastructure before we can step in.

In our model, we work with partners; we sell our products through partners and at the end of the day we enable our partners work with infrastructure providers in those remote areas to be able to deliver service to them.

We rarely hear about Cisco these days, even in critical areas that we believe are Cisco’s major focus. Could it be that you simply work from the background?

I am assuming you have this perception because we do not allocate a significant portion of our marketing spend to advertising when you compare us to some of the other big technology players out there. This is part of a calculated strategy. We focus our spending on supporting our partners and their efforts to market to their customers – that is how we are creating awareness. We also invest heavily in roadshows and events designed to educate business leaders, customers as well as perspective customers about technology and its key drivers in Nigeria. We have also been very vocal in Nigeria through our PR activities and I’m sure you’ve read the coverage where you would have seen a lot of coverage around our strategy around the Internet of Everything (IoE) and how this is impacting and redefining people, data, processes and things both here in Africa and globally..

Looking at the noise around Internet of Everything (IoE), where the Internet is in some ways is expected to do everything, don’t you think that it will affect the labour market negatively?

I do not agree because the more connected the world is, the more productive it will be. Indeed, economists have proven that Internet penetration and overall internet connectivity do have a very positive impact on country GDP. The more connected the world, the better the quality of decision making for instance and the less is the transaction costs. For example, imagine if we conducted this interview with you being in your office and me in mine and we could chat, you could see me and we have crystal clear communication. The hours spent on the road trip could have been used on something more productive.

Etisalat offers customers free USB Modem, 100MB

Ogunlade Data warehousing is getting more popular in Nigeria. What do you think has brought about this trend?

Globally, the impact and the importance of wholesale data centers continues to grow as companies realize the value of minimizing infrastructure investments on the balance sheet and freeing up capital to strengthen their core business activities. Let’s look at data centers from a telecoms perspective: regulation forces them to keep records for a long time so they must have a huge data centre capability. Banks as well, because of the nature of their work and the sensitivity of the information they carry, must also have a robust data centre infrastructure. However, it doesn’t make economic sense, for instance, for 23 banks to build 23 data centers, which is what is pushing consolidation. Regulators are also encouraging the idea that instead of investing money in something that is not your core area, why not just come together and build a world-class infrastructure that you can use on a shared basis.

Now, will that bring an opportunity? Yes, because historically, we have never really held people accountable in this country. For instance, if I go to my bank and the banking navigation is down or not available before now there was really no one to hold anyone responsible. But now, we can start holding people accountable because it’s our right as consumers to actually demand good service and this is one of the elements that will make the vendors provide that good service. This is in addition to the fact that operators are fewer now and competition, much stiffer. Gone are the days that you could be a little unperturbed with your business: you have to be innovative, provide very good customer service to be able to retain and keep your customer base On the skill set aspect, I think it is an opportunity for Nigeria to take advantage of it. We have a huge youthful population that can be trained and equipped with the skills and wherewithal to support this emerging data industry.

There are some complaints about Cisco’s products that they are expensive and considering that 80 per cent of Nigerian businesses are SME’s struggling in terms of how they contribute to the economy. What plans does Cisco have for that segment?

For us when we look at cost at Cisco, “cost” does not only encompass acquisition cost, you have to look at total cost of ownership and the return on investment (ROI). Most times, people only look at one side and say we are expensive but by the time you bring together all the components of the jigsaw puzzle together, you will realize that we are not.

We have different products offerings targeted at different segments: we have products targeted at SME’s which offer value for money which we know is what they are looking for.

Let’s talk about telepresence. We remember that Cisco made history when telepresence was launched but we do not seem to hear about it anymore. Plus, looking at other disruptive technologies like Skype which is practically plug and play and very affordable.

Do you think it will affect or has affected the adoption of telepresence in Nigeria?

I think there is a target market for both segments. Cisco TelePresence is typically for an enterprise or organization while Skype has more of a residential play. An organization looking for quality of service, security and how it can also integrate with existing tools will definitely subscribe to Telepresence.

We have a number of customers in Nigeria using our TelePresence Solution today including MTN Nigeria, which in collaboration with Cisco and Resourcery plc, became the first service provider in Nigeria to offer Cisco TelePresence. The public Cisco TelePresence rooms in Nigeria, known as ‘MTN ePresence rooms’, provide convenient local sites for virtual in-person meetings and are active in three locations: the Southern Sun Hotel in Lagos, the Sheraton Hotel in Abuja and the Le Meridian Hotel in Port Harcourt.

In 2011, we also acquired Tandberg, which today provides customers of all sizes with a complete portfolio of endpoints, infrastructure and TelePresence cloud services. Together, Cisco and Tandberg are transforming the collaboration market by helping to accelerate video adoption and interoperability between all vendors to create more demand for collaboration technology and tools.

according to the organisers, Communication Week Media Limited, publishers of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek.

Vice President, Infrastructure Investment & Special Advisor to the MD&CEO, Obinna Ihedioha conveyed Orji’s acceptance to share his wealth of global experience in the financial services sector with ICT industry at the event slated for April 26 in Lagos The organisers said that the Keynote speaker’s experience is particularly useful now that Nigeria is facing increased demand transformative power of high-speed networks to drive socio-economic development.

Editor-in-Chief/CEO, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, Ken Nwogbo said that Orji will speak on the theme: “Plugging the Funding Gap in Broadband Deployment”.

“He is qualified to speak on this because of his background and wealth of experience. Broadband is the future and the key to making it affordable and ubiquitous is funding. Am sure he will have a few hints on how networks can go about it” Nwogbo added.

According to Nwogbo, the NSIA boss has intimidating credentials having joined Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority from Switzerland’s largest bank, UBS Securities, where he was Managing Director in the New York branch of its Equities Division.

ATX to hold workshop FRICAN Technology Exhibition (ATX), an offspring of TechA nology Exhibition Africa Limited (TEA), will in August this year, bring together, technology firm from across Africa to showcase their latest technology products in Lagos.

ATX has over the years, become a global technology platform for showcasing technology companies. It provides a unique and central platform to showcase new technology products, solutions and services in Africa.

The exhibition is expected to attract over 50, 000 visitors and the organisers are partnering with different hotels and airlines for discounted rates and services, so as to reduce cost on the visitors during the period of the event.

Speaking at a pre-event briefing in Lagos recently, ATX team, Wale Olawande, Abisoye Ajayi, Raji Eniola and Tope Roluga explained that the exhibition would attract technology companies across Africa, to showcase technology solutions that address the African challenges in various sectors of the African economies.

The focus is to expose Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Africa, to new trends in technology development and make them better entrepreneurs.

“The primary objective is to use the ATX platform for technology exchange. We are hoping that there will be business partnership between SMEs in Africa and the visiting technology companies from across Africa,” the team said.

LG sees new vision for television OUTH Korean based electronic firm, LG, has said the webOS Ssmart technology unveiled by the company, has finally given TV the human interface it deserves.

The technology allows users to select channels by moving back and forth with a cursor, making the smart TV easier to use than ever before, according to the firm.

Open WebOS is a Linux operating system for smart TVs, and formerly a mobile operating system.

A webOS is less about being a ‘real OS’ and more of a human interface for the types of apps that require that quality.

LG stated “This, coupled with the intuitive ability of webOS to suggest, match and switch between content, opens doors to a more enhanced viewing experience.

“However, one interesting story that perhaps hasn’t been focused on as much in the excitement stemming from the unveiling at CES 2014 is how the webOS interface was optimised to meet the selective and decision-making tendencies of reallife viewers.

“After all, the developers of webOS got their start in smartphones, which is a far more mature platform when it comes to understanding how users interact with their devices.”

The firm explained that in order to make TV simple again, webOS would start with the metaphor of a timeline – something most people can easily relate to.

“Instead of a grid of apps, everything you want to do is arrayed horizontally. There’s nothing simpler than understanding a line – you have your past things, you have your present, and you have the future,” it added.

LG said it recently extended the idea of natural user interfaces to the increasing staple of societal communication – the instant message.

42

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Maritime Govt intensifies consultations on economic regulation at ports

Bello

By Moses Ebosele HE Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has commenced industrywide consultations and campaign aimed at educating stakeholders on its new mandate as economic regulator.

The sensitisation agenda according to the NSC is also designed to carry stakeholders along especially in the area of cost and quality of services rendered at the nation’s seaports.

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Hassan Bello who, recently in Lagos led senior management staff of NSC on a visit to the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Seaport and Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) and the Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN) called for partnership in the discharge of the new mandate.

Speaking during an interactive session with the terminal operators, Bello appealed for their cooperation, understanding and partnership.

He said: “The assignment given to us by government is a re-affirmation of what we have always been doing. We are trying to see that there is a balance in the industry. We want to ensure that the cost paid by port users is commensurate with services they get”.

He explained that the Council would be very fair and firmed in the discharge of its responsibilities to the Nigerian people, adding that shipping is strategic to the Nigerian economy.

Bello said: “We are going to work with you and for you. We are going to make sure that the way things are done internationally is achieved in Nigeria.

We cannot be biased. Everybody should accept the moderation we are going to make at the end of the day.”

He told the gathering that a committee would be raised to work with the concessionaires and the shipping companies.

Responding, chairman of STOAN, Princess Vicky Haastrup, described the appointment of NSC as commercial regulator of the port as long overdue.

She urged the Council to always listen to both the shippers and concessionaires as part of measures to find lasting solutions to port challenges.

Haastrup said: “In the concession

T

Okonjo-Iweala agreement, the appointment of a regulatory body is there. Up till now, the Ports and Harbour Bill is yet to be passed. If this had been passed, a regulatory body would have been constituted. The port has been concessioned for eight years and yet we don’t have a regulator. Who is protecting the interest of the terminal operators? We are like orphans. “We are now your baby.

So also is the shipping trade” Bello said the Council would synergize with terminal operators with a view to creating a balance and enabling environment for the interest of the various stakeholders in the maritime sector.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of NPA, Habib Abdullahi has directed the Executive Director, in charge of Engineering, Muhammed saleh to make offices available to NSC in all the ports across the country.

In a related development, members of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners recently in Lagos pledged to support activities and operations of Council.

President of the Association, Capt Ade Olopoenia, who led some members on a courtesy visit to Bello also appealed for the involvement of members of the Association in capacity building such as maritime seminar for judges.

He said: “We have not been playing active role in these proceedings. As master mariners, when issues of legal matters come up in the industry, we have the rare competence to advice on areas that are necessary.”

Recounting the good old days when Nigeria ships played prominent roles in international waters, Bello said: “That glory must be restored. Your Association must have a role to play in re-fleeting this country. Unless we have ships, we are just pretending that we are a maritime nation. Forget about the cargo, the coastline; forget about the waterfront or port. Nigeria needs to own these vessels.”

Bello urged the association to partner with the NSE in order to re-strategize and develop the sector, pointing out that there is need for master mariners to come up with proposals on what

can be done to address the problem.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently empowered NSC to regulate commercial activities in the maritime sector.

Speaking on the development in a chat with The Guardian, recently, Bello said: “Now, we have been given express directive. We have the pedigree. We have the capacity. Over the years, Nigerian Shippers’ Council has developed capacity. I don’t think there is any agency in the transport industry that will have the qualification of staff of the Shippers Council as far as commercial shipping is concerned. We have had people trained in transport economy. We have port operators. We have logistics and don’t forget, Shippers Council is an economic institution. The first Managing Director of Shippers Council came from the Central Bank.

All the past Chief Executive of Shippers Councils has developed the institution. It is a versatile institution.

It is an economic institution. The orientation, the culture of staff of Nigeria Shippers Council has made it most qualified and the most equipped to handle this very important assignment”.

Bello added: “The issue of regulation is not new to Nigerian Shippers’ Council. The section 3 of Nigerian Shippers Council Act provides that the council should be the government eye especially in the area of freight rate, availability and adequacy of shipping space, terms of shipment, class and quality of vessels, port changes and facilities and other related matters. That in itself is economic regulation”.

According to Bello, the law was made when Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) was the one handling Cargo, adding “Things have substantially changed with the coming of the private sector. The Nigerian Shippers’ Council also has to change to reflect such changes. The absence of an emphatic economic regulator is of concern to the government because a vacuum has created a lot of distortion. If you look at the port, efficiency has been recorded. We have more ton-

Umar nage coming to Nigeria than before.

“The turnaround time for ship and dwell time for cargo has increased.

The NPA has been alive to its responsibility as a landlord and technical regulator.

“The terminal operators have made investment and this has to be acknowledged and appreciated.

“However, the economic regulator is the umpire, is the coordinator and the moderator of many interest in the port. That has been missing.

Nigerian Shippers’ Council has acted that role with weak legislation.

“The Federal Government seized the opportunity to say the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is the economic regulator. This is a temporary measure pending the passage of the Nigeria Transport Commission Act. The Nigerian Shippers Council is going to bring a lot of its experiences, pedigree, its qualification, the wealth of trained staff and its facilities and knowledge of the industry to bring about this very important and cardinal role of economic regulation”, said Bello.

The Shippers Council boss who spoke on sundry issues explained how the agency handled legal challenges in the past.

He said: “We were created to take care of cargo interest. Over the years, the industry has gone through tremendous development. The

Nigerian Shippers’ Council has always found itself at the middle. You have providers of shipping services bringing complaints against the users.

Before you know it, Nigerian Shippers Council is at the middle. Nigerian Shippers’ Council is the only government body with no interest. Nigerian Shippers’ Council sees things from a very impartial perspective. We have tremendous respect for the providers.

We have been approach to settle certain disputes. We have developed the mechanism. We are experience in settling disputes. We have trained staff.

We also coordinate quality of service that providers give. Nigerian Shippers’ Council is well equipped to do that.

Speaking on Monday, Habib said:” I will direct them to at least give you an office in each of the ports so that you can function effectively”.

The NPA boss added: “Without them been on ground, they may not get the right information about thing happening in the ports because we can’t expect you to work without getting an office to monitor.”

Abdullah advised the council to go about their new mandate with caution. “Don’t go beyond your mandate.

Do thing considerably”.

In his remark, Bello commended NPA’s disposition towards NSC’s new

CONTINUE ON PAGE 43

Minister tasks NASC on dispute resolutions HE new executive of National T Association of Stevedoring Companies (NASC) has been inau-

Speaking during an interactive session with Journalist, President of NASC, Bolaji Sunmola urged the gurated by the Minister of Labour , Federal Government to ensure consisEmaka Wogu. tency in the formulation of policies Represented by the permanent regarding the maritime sector. secretary in the ministry, Dr. He also explained in details the assoClement Illoh, the minister ciation’s activities at ports and jetties, charged members to ensure disadding that members of NASC will do putes are resolved amicably and in everything possible to ensure success the interest of all concerned. of government policies.

IIIoh also commended pledged by Sunmola said: “We are currently First City Monument working on Nigerian Ports and Bank Plc(FCMB) to enhance the Harbours Bill to ensure that the operaassociation’s activities through tion of stevedoring services are actualfinancial advice and support. ly captured and properly put in place”

Wednesday, April 16, 2014 MARITIME 43

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Govt revs up consultations on economic regulation at ports CONTINUED FROM PAGE 42 mandate.

Bello said: “The idea is to take up the economic regulatory responsibility so that NPA will face its technical regulatory function which are fundamental as far as shipping is concerned in ports service.

NPA had for the year ended December 31, 2013, announced recently a cargo throughput (excluding crude oil terminals) of 76,886,997 million metric tonnes indicating an increase of 0.042.6 per cent over the 2012 figure of 76,855,754mt.

The 2013 statistics revealed that refined petroleum shipment handled was 19,416,043

metric tons, an increase of 9.5 per cent over 2012 full year figure of 17,730,727 metric tons.

According to NPA, in 2013, a total of 5,185 oceans going vessels with a total Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 131,674,337 gross tons called at Nigerian Ports.

Specifically, in the period under review, Lagos Port Complex (LPC) recorded a Gross registered tonnage of 34,466,291 gross tons, showing an increase of 9.4 per cent over the same period of 2012 which was 31,513,987 gross tons. A total of 1,498 vessels were handled in the period under review at the port.

Tin can Island Port recorded a

Gross registered tonnage of 42,758,161 gross tons indicating 23.2 per cent increase over the corresponding period of 2012 which was 34,703,547 gross tons while 1,725 ocean going vessels were handled at the Port within the period.

Calabar Port complex recorded a total GRT of 2,792,488 gross tons, showing a marginal decline of 2.8 per cent compare with 2,871,622 gross tons, leaving the port with 197 Ocean going vessels in the period under review.

Rivers Port complex recorded a total Gross registered tonnage of 6,394,270 gross tons, 7.9 per cent drop compared with 6,929,179 gross tons, in

the corresponding period of 2012. 447 ocean going vessels were handled within the period under review.

Onne Port complex recorded a GRT of 38,967,131 gross tons reflecting a decrease of 7.4 per cent as against 42,062,351 gross tons recorded in the corresponding period of 2012 with 820 vessels in the year under review.

Also, within the period under review, the Delta Port Complex recorded 6,295,996 gross tons showing an increase of 105 per cent over the 2012 full year figure of 3,069,887 gross tons, with 498 vessels handled.

The further breakdown of the

throughput revealed that; The container traffic amounted to 1,010,836 TEUs, showing a growth of 15.2 per cent over the 2012 full year figure of 877,737TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units); A total of 291,824 units of vehicles were handled in the period under review showing an increase of 8.9 per cent over the 2012 full year figure of 268,026 units; and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) shipment handled in the period under review amounted to 19,341,663 metric tons, indicating a drop of 12.7 per cent from 22,146,908 metric tons of 2012

full year figure.

NPA attributed decline experienced in some products to general economic factor. “In Dry Bulk for instance, there is ban on the importation of cement, also the increase on rice tariff has reduced the importation of the commodity to the Country through Nigerian Ports, but through smuggling by another route”.

Explaining further NPA’s Assistant General Manager (Public Affairs),Musa Iliya, said the european debt crises gave birth to the decrease in Liquefied Natural Gas, “many of their industries have closed down, and so the demand for

Maersk Line’s Vessel

‘Confidence in shipping industry hits six year high’ ONTAINER freight rates are C expected to improve or maintain existing levels over the coming 12 months, according to a survey conducted by Moore Stephens.

According to the firm, the results show that confidence levels in the shipping industry have risen to their highest level for six years in the threemonth period to February.

“There are signs that we have passed the deepest point of the recession. The only question now is how long it will take for the markets to improve to the point where we have sustainable rates again,” one respondent said.

In February, the average confidence level expressed by participants in the markets in which they operate was 6.5 on a scale of one (low) to 10 (high), compared with the 6.1 recorded in the previous survey in November 2013.

This is the highest figure since the 6.8 recorded when the survey was launched in May 2008.

Confidence on the part of owners was up from 6.2 to 6.6 and the rating for charterers, up from 5.7 to 6.5, was the highest yet recorded.

The rating for managers was up from 6.1 to 6.4 and that for brokers was up to 6.4 from the previous level of 5.6.

Geographically, confidence

was up in Asia from 5.9 to 6.4, in Europe from 6.1 to 6.4, and in North America from 6.6 to 7.1.

Meanwhile, the biennial Asia Pacific Maritime (APM), one of Asia’s largest and leading maritime shows, concluded with a forward-looking outlook.

APM 2014, which took place recently received a total of 14,239 visitors from 64 countries, an 11 per cent growth from its last edition in 2012.

Beyond the exhibition floor, APM delegates also heard firsthand insights on key growth areas in the Asia-Pacific region, Asia’s impact on container shipping and dry bulk demand, as well as viable solutions to improve efficiency, cut cost and make a green impact in the face of tightening environmental and energy policies imposed on the maritime industry.

Ben J. Bonte, Director of Alewijnse Marine Rotterdam B.V., said: “We decided to participate in this year’s APM as an exhibitor after visiting past editions, as we have seen its ability to draw the international maritime and offshore community together. Since the set- up of our two new entities in Singapore and Malaysia this month, the APM expo was an ideal platform to solidify our presence after a year of marketing in both countries. Having ended up with two

new awarded projects, our decision to participate as an exhibitor at APM was definitely worth the investment.”

Asia’s leading maritime satellite service provider, SpeedCast, also announced the opening of its new facility in Singapore at APM. The new facility includes warehousing, staging and testing capabilities, as well as a significant increase in personnel in Singapore. This latest addition marks SpeedCast’s expansion in the region to better service offshore customers in Singapore.

Speaking in a similar vein, Michelle Lim, Managing Director, Reed Exhibitions said: “This has been the biggest APM to date in all aspects. We have received very positive feedback from the floor, including strong re-bookings for the next edition of the show by exhibitors. These positive indicators mirror the industry’s careful but optimistic outlook.”

In a related development, the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) said its dedication to pursuing the highest standards of safety, quality and environmental protection led them to joining the Green Award scheme as an incentive provider for seagoing ships.

From 2014, oil, product and chemical tankers, LNG and,

after a launch of the certification programme later this year, LPG carriers, that hold the Green Award certificate are eligible for a three per cent reduction in port fees when calling at the port of Hamburg.

The port of Hamburg has an active position in promoting safety and environmental consciousness. It carefully chooses options to stimulate ship owners and managers for going above the minimum required legal standards through giving benefits to vessels that are proven to operate on the highest level.

The reduction of three per cent in port fees will be given to crude oil, product and chemical tankers and LNG carriers of any size that have been assessed and certified by the Green Award foundation.

In order to ensure a better environmental impact, the port of Hamburg will also award Green Award certified LPG carriers as soon as the certification programme for this ship type, which is now in development, has been launched.

Green Award currently has 241 seagoing vessels and over 500 inland barges certified.

Its assessment criteria cover environmental issues, quality and safety, and performance of management and the crew.

With this comprehensive approach and a diverse team of the industry’s experts supporting the scheme, Green Award secures the quality of its audits and real value of its certificate. And with 34 ports and 20 other institutions providing discounts to certified

ships, the scheme motivates shipowners and managers to invest in the improvements on board and ashore and serves as a reliable Corporate Social Responsibility and risk reduction tool for ports.

Group seeks refuge for damaged ships HE Hong Kong Ship ownT ers Association (HKSA) is warning of an “environmental catastrophe” if crippled ships are left at sea and forbidden to land, thus increasing the risk of breakup and spilling its cargo and fuel into the ocean.

The HKSA calls on ships in such incidents to urgently remove any remaining cargo and bunkers and to repair the damage, ideally, in a sheltered place, or place of refuge.

This issue has gained prominence in Asia due to the chemical tanker, the Maritime Maisie that was damaged in a fire and collision and is being towed at sea without a place of refuge two and a half months after the incident.

Governments, especially

those in Asia, are urged to consider adopting the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Place of Refuge Guidelines and MAS Guidelines, as a matter of urgency, and similar measures to those prescribed in the EU VTM Directive.

IMO Assembly Resolution A.950(23) “Guidelines on Places of Refuge for Ships in Need of Assistance” provides the master, owner and coastal state with a framework to enable them to respond effectively in the event of an incident.

In Europe, the existing measures are contained in the European Community Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Information System (Directive 2009/59/EC as amended by Directive 2009/17/EC).

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44 Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Industry WTO raises outlook for global trade Stroeis by Femi Adekoya with agency reports

•Nigeria, others account for drop in export in 2013

an improveFtheOLLOWING ment in global economy, World Trade

domestic product) forecasts hold true, we expect a broadbased but modest upturn in 2014, and further consolidation of this growth in 2015," "Prospects for world trade and output in 2014 and 2015 are better than they have been for some time, but leading economies remain fragile, including some of the most dynamic developing countries that until recently were propping up demand," the WTO said in a statement.

"Downside risks to trade abound, but significant upside potential also exists, as the US economy seems to be gaining momentum and the European Union appears to have turned a corner," it said.

"At the same time, developing economies have slowed appreciably, for a variety of reasons both internal and external. Which of these forces is stronger may determine how world trade evolves over the next one to two years".

WTO economists noted that a growth rate of 5.3 per cent in 2015 would bring trade growth back to its 20-year average. For the past two years, growth has averaged only 2.2 per cent.

WTO economists said that the 2014 forecast was based on an assumption that global GDP would expand by 3.0 per cent.

Organization (WTO) has expressed optimism on the growth of global trade to 4.7 per cent this year and 5.3 per cent in 2015, with recovery in rich economies expected to mitigate risks in developing nations.

Indeed, the WTO had previously forecast an increase in trade by 4.5 per cent in 2014, up from an estimated rate of 2.1 per cent in 2013, while the latest forecast projection of 4.7 per cent is more than the double of the growth achieved last year.

According to a press release made available on WTO’s website on Monday, trade remains a key measure of the health of the global economy, which it both stimulates and reflects.

The WTO noted that the sluggish pace of trade growth in 2013 was due to a combination of flat import demand in developed economies (0.2 per cent) and moderate import growth in developing economies (4.4%).

On the export side, both developed and developing economies only managed to record small, positive increases (1.5 per cent for developed economies, 3.3 per cent for developing economies).

Although Africa was able to increase its imports even as its exports fell in 2013 due to continued high primary commodity prices, the negative figure of -3.4 per cent for Africa was due to sharp reductions in shipments from petroleum exporting countries, including Libya (27 per cent), Nigeria ( 11 per cent) and Algeria (-7 per cent).

The report showed that Asia will continue to fuel growth rates, despite the drop in China's exceptionally strong expansion, while Europe and North America's recovery is also set to be a key driver on both the import and export fronts.

In his statement, WTO chief Roberto Azevedo said: "For the last two years trade growth has been sluggish.

Looking ahead, if GDP (gross

"Risks to the trade forecast are still mostly on the downside, but there is some upside potential, particularly since trade in developed economies is starting from such a low base," the WTO said.

"However, volatility is likely to be a defining feature of 2014 as monetary policy in

developed economies becomes less accommodative," it said.

The WTO said that risks had receded in Europe thanks to an easing of the eurozone crisis, and in the United States owing to the easing of brinksmanship over budget limits and tax policy between the Obama administration and the Republicans, which led to last year's government shut-

down.

Concerns in developing economies include large current account deficits in countries such as India and Turkey, currency crises in some countries including Argentina, over-investment in productive capacity, and rebalancing economies to rely more on domestic consumption and less on exports.

The WTO also pointed to

geopolitical risks, notably conflicts in the Middle East, Asia and Ukraine, which it said could provoke higher energy prices and disrupt trade flows if they escalate.

The 158 economies which make up the WTO set trade rules among themselves in an attempt to ensure a level playing field and spur growth by opening markets and removing trade barriers, including subsidies, exces-

Corporate and Public Affairs Manager, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Dr. Sam Adenekan (left); Brand Manager, Maggi, Emeka Nwodo; Category Business Manager, Culinary, Guy Kellaway all of Nestle Nigeria Plc; Musical Artiste, Innocent Idibia (Tuface) and Executive Director, Marketing, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Iquo Ukoh during the official launch of Maggi Chicken Seasoning cube held in Lagos.

PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

AFRIMA seeks collaboration with BoI ITH Nigeria winning the W rights to host the maiden edition of the All Africa Music Award, AFRIMA, the organisers of the event have sought collaborations with the Bank of Industry (BoI) in harnessing potential investment opportunities provided through the event.

Speaking during a visit t o BoI office in Lagos, on Monday, Executive Director of AFRIMA, Mike Dada disclosed that Nigeria was selected ahead of Gabon, South Africa, Namibia and Kenya to host the PanAfrican music award after months of intensive deliberations as a result of its booming music industry and

g r o w i n g entertainment/event hosting infrastructure.

According to Dada, AFRIMA is a continental award to reward talents in the Africa music industry, communicate the identity of Africa and to see how the entertainment industry can contribute its quota to the GDP. He said: “We have also found out that so many African artiste live with much fame and die poor.

There is also a need for us to rejuvenate that sector.

AFRIMA is in partnership with the African Union (AU) because we observed the creative industry has tremendous impact on GDP.

“AFRIMA is taking place in October here in Nigeria after so much debate during the bidding which involved 13 countries. Nigeria will be hosting the event for three years. We are looking at an opportunity in partnering with a lot of key sectors in Africa either public or private.”

Acting Managing Director, BoI, Waheed Olagunju said: “Under the bank's paradigm shift launched in 2006, we paid considerable attention to the creative industry because we are aware of its potentials and contributions to the Nigerian economy and under the rebased figure released recently, the

industry contributes about 1.42 percent of Nigeria's GDP and this is without much support.

“This shows that there is a lot more to be achieved if given the necessary support.

The multiplier effect of investing in the industry is most importantly; job creation while other value chains in the industry will be supported.

“We are assuring you that we will look at your proposals and evaluate them to see how best we can support AFRIMA. We have talents here in Nigeria but what we are lacking are mainly structures.

The National Copyright Commission is

doing its best to ensure that intellectual property right is protected”.

Regarding needed structures, he added: “these are areas that need investments.

The talents are there so foreign and private investors are being urged to ensure that structures are put in place to support the industry in providing facilities such as editing suites, studios and the likes because right now we spend considerable amount of money importing most of these things from abroad. If we get these things right, we will not only conserve our foreign exchange but attract foreign exchange.”

Odumodu advocates adoption of common standards in Africa O curb the influx of subT standard goods into the continent as well as enhance regional trade, President of the African Organisation for Standards (ARSO), Dr Joseph Odumodu, has urged African governments to develop a common standard policy to such end.

Odumodu, during the ARSO Council meeting in Accra, emphasized the need for information sharing as part of measures to drive industrialization in Africa.

He said governments in Africa need to address the problems of industrialization through standards harmonisation and ensure that their teeming youths were gainfully employed in order to build a better future for generations to come. `` ARSO seeks facilitate intraAfrican and global trade through providing and facilitating the implementation of harmonised standards,’’ he added.

Odumodu, who is also the

Director General of the Standards Organization of Nigeria, expressed concern that trade among African countries amounted to less than 10 per cent, declaring that African countries need to see to their economic independence, by increasing the volume of intra-African trades.

On the way forward, he said: “Africa need to speak with one voice to stop the dumping of sub-standard products on us.’’

He added that low literacy levels, coupled with poor infrastructure, are hampering efforts to achieve standardization in Africa.

He said without standardization, Africa would not be able to develop rapidly and provide employment for the teeming youth, adding that policy makers in Africa do not understand the importance of standardization very well, which is compounding the problem.

The ARSO chief attributed

continued patronage of substandard products to the high level of poverty and low literacy levels in Africa, saying “most people tend to patronize sub-standard goods from Asia, which do not last long and in the end, the accumulated cost of frequent repairs and replacements are much high compared to buying a high quality standard one”.

Odumodu said over the years, Africa had been exporting labour to the rest of the world, and importing pover-

ty, pointing out that by buying inferior goods from Asia, Africa was providing employment for the citizenry of those countries and thereby becoming poorer and poorer.

He said goods produced locally are of high quality standards than those imported from Asia, because of the enforcement of strict standardization regulations, questioning also that why should the Asians manufacturers label some of their products "for export only".

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Wednesday, April 16, 2014 INDUSTRY 45

Trade centres as elixir for economic development In developed climes, the essence of establishing trade centres by agencies in charge of trade promotion is to broaden primarily the base of indigenous exporters by providing a central forum where the entities can gather to collaborate and acquire the advocacy, expertise and customized assistance they need to confidently compete in regional and global markets. With many mature trade partners exploring new opportunities for growth in Africa, the move by the Federal Government to remodel trade centres to serve initial purposes for which they were established has been commended by stakeholders. However, the sustainability of this move remains a source of concern considering the prevalent practice of policy inconsistency and government’s ability to follow due process. FEMI ADEKOYA writes.

UILDING the capacity to participate in regionB al and global trade is becoming increasingly critical for economic growth in developing countries.

According to stakeholders, this is not a task with a clear start and end; it is a process that has to be set in motion with small initiatives.

The growing need for trade promotion Already, the context of today's super-competitive world and the radical changes being brought about by the new information technologies, has necessitated the prime importance of redefining trade promotion in many developed economies.

Indeed, international trade promotion agencies advocate a national export strategy that needs to be comprehensively integrated into the overall economic planning framework.

Such strategy is expected to not deal simply with offshore market development and promotion, but should encompass the longer-term onshore challenges of establishing a national competitiveness environment, creating an export culture, a national consensus and developing new export industries.

For the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the potential benefits for countries that promote foreign investment and trade are huge, especially in the creation of new jobs in transnational corporation (TNC) affiliates and exporting companies.

According to UNCTAD, FDI and international trade may also lead to higher productivity of domestic firms through access to new ideas, technologies and organizational skills – either through direct exposure to overseas markets or inward investors, or indirectly, through knowledge spillovers.

It was however strongly held that trade promotion in the absence of a competitive environment is pointless as global competitiveness is increasingly recognized as the key to prosperity at both national and firm levels in the quickly changing economic environment.

Reviving trade centres for trade promotion Bearing these objectives in mind, the Federal Government recently unveiled plans to reclaim its abandoned structures in Lagos State and make them profitable ventures through processes that would see one of its key infrastructures becoming a national trade centre.

Indeed, key edifices like the 25-storey Independence building at the Tafawa Balewa Square, is expected to be remodeled to a national trade centre following the approval of the Federal Government establishing a National Trade and International Business Centre (NTIBC) in Lagos.

With the approval, the Tafawa Balewa Square Management Board (TBSMB), an agent of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, would drive the project through a Public-Private Partnership according to the guidelines of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Tafawa Balewa Square Management Board, Mrs Aisha Bakari noted that the board has commenced plans to ensure that the primary objective of setting up the centre is achieved in due course.

According to her, the trade centre is expected to serve as an engine room for commerce, promoting domestic and international trade as well as propelling the country towards the realization of her vision 20:2020.

Although plans have commenced with the renovation of some structures, she added that the proposed facilities and capacity utilization would be enhanced when the facility is concessioned.

Taking a cue from Lagos Trade fair complex concessioning Only last November, the Federal Government had said it has concluded plans to review the concession of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, while representing President Goodluck Jonathan at the 2013 Lagos International Trade Fair organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the review was crucial to the national industrial and trade promotion policies of the Federal Government.

“The Vice-President at a meeting with the National Council of Privatisation has directed that legal proceedings should commence to recover the concession of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex,” he said.

It could be recalled that the trade fair complex

Aerial view of the Trade Fair Complex along Badagry expressway. Inset: Remodeled Independence building was in 2008 concessioned to Aulic Nigeria Limited, a move which had come under severe criticism by several trade groups.

The President explained that the decision to review the controversial concession was because government recognised the role of the LCCI in its industrial revolution plan.

He said, “Our industrial policy is to promote higher levels of trade, by increasing internal trade, trade with the Economic Community of West African States and the rest of the world. Lagos International Trade Fair is key to the Federal Government in achieving this national industrial and trade revolution.”

A long due move say stakeholders The Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Muda Yusuf, explained that the move to revive trade centres in the country would aid growth of domestic trade, increase participation of small businesses in the economy and position the country for foreign direct investments.

According to him, Nigeria has not been able to effectively harness its trade potential due to inadequate infrastructure necessary for trade promotion and exhibition.

He said: “Our economy is on the threshold of being the largest on the African continent with an estimated GDP of $400 billion, post GDP Rebasing. At present we are one of the fastest growing economies in the world and

the potential for further growth are tremendous.

“Nigeria therefore deserves to have a befitting National Trade and International Business Centre, which I believe this initiative is all about.

Those of us in the business of trade promotion, trade fairs and exhibition have suffered enormously from the absence of quality exhibition and trade promotion infrastructures. The basic consequence is that the cost of organizing quality trade shows has become very exorbitant.

“Most often, the organizers have to provide the necessary infrastructure and the combination of these consequences has constrained our capacity to deliver the desired value to our clients at our exhibitions and other trade shows.

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry is therefore excited by the proposition of the National Trade and Investment Centre and would do everything possible to support it.

“We believe that the economy and the citizens will benefit tremendously from a standard exhibition and convention Centre. Given the size of our economy and our stature on the African continent, we should be having regular trade shows in this country. In the United Sates for instance, there are 10,000 trade shows annually. Whereas here in Nigeria, it doubtful whether we have up to 100 trade shows and exhibitions, with the major ones probably less than twenty. Our trade promotion efforts should be scaled up to match the potential that this country offers”.

Yusuf emphasized the need for trade centres in facilitating trade, noting that visitors at exhibitions tend to have a more definite agenda in mind.

“They attend exhibitions with the intention of buying, booking or at the least seeking information in order to make a purchase in the near future. In fact, research shows that 54 per cent of visitors to exhibitions specifically come to see new products and services; 48 per cent come for information; 40 per cent to keep up to date with technology; and 15 per cent to make business contacts.

Reviewing trade strategy One of the lessons learned by successful exporting countries, according to an Executive Director at the International Trade Centre, Denis Bélisle is that, while the public sector is the catalyst in the strategy development and management process, to be effective the strategy must be 'owned' by the private sector.

“Strategy design is therefore most effective when its development and refinement come from the bottom up, with industry representatives and managers working directly with public sector officials in establishing priorities”, he added.

Hence, sustaining policies initiated for trade promotion is key if the public-private partnerships would remain viable and effective in driving desired industrial growth.

Association seeks improved bilateral ties with Spain Stories by Isaac Taiwo HE President, Nigerian-Spanish Association, Chief Isaac Olusola Dada has urged the government as well as Nigeria businessmen to look inward into other agricultural products that can be exported instead of relying only on oil and gas.

Speaking at the yearly general meeting of the Association in Lagos, where Dada took over the mantle of leadership of the Association from the former President, Dr. Abiola Masha, the new President said the nation has a lot of potential in terms of agricultural products that can be exported to boost the nation’s economy.

“If we look at the balance of payment between us and Spain, we will discover that Nigeria has higher balance of payment. But take away oil and gas, we are no where” he said.

Dada who mooted the idea of the association metamorphosing to Nigerian-Spanish Chamber of Commerce disclosed that the idea was to broaden the relationship between Spain and Nigeria so that both nations would be able to gain more from one

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another.

“There is economic advantage in the relationship and with many Nigerian businessmen now aware that it is not only in Britain and America that they can do business, they can also affiliate with Spain that is reputed for construction, building materials and leather works.

“Another advantage is that Spanish is the third language widely spoken in the world after English and French, therefore, doing business with Spain will also link one to a greater part of

the world and Latin America” he said.

Dada said as the new President of the Association, he would be working on a number of activities that will generate more revenue for the association and that if the intention to metamorphose from Association to Chamber of Commerce becomes realizable, it will certainly bring in more people to join the Association because they will realize that there will be great economic benefit as Chamber of Commerce.

Hi-Nutrients expands product offering with new factory O increase its product offerT ings to consumers, HiNutrients International Limited has commissioned its new factory to such end.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Olabode Adetoyi said the move was part of the firm’s determination to be a solution provider to those challenges confronting the live-

stock sub sector of agriculture as well as those challenges bedeviling the Nigerian youth.

“Hi-Nutrients International Limited has been able to make a mark in the agricultural sector of the economy which has contributed more than 45 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Hi-Nutrients International

Limited produces feeds vitamins-minerals premixes for the fortification of all classes of feed for livestock nutrition under the brand name H-Mix ranging from Poultry, Dairy Cattle, Beef Cattle, Catfish and Tilapia, Horses, Pigs, Guinea Fowl, Grasscutter vitaminsminerals premixes for optimum production.

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Wednesday, April 16, 2014

MarketReport EQUITY MARKET SUMMARY

AS AT 15-04-2014

PRIMERA AFRICA www.primera-africa.com

Wednesday, April 16, 2014 MARKET REPORT 51

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MARKET INDICATORS

AS AT 15-04-2014

PRIMERA AFRICA

World corporate bond issuances hit $3.2 trillion

By Bukky Olajide, with agency report.

HE volume of corporate bond issuances reached $3.2 trillion in 2013, compared to $0.9 trillion in 2000.

In the last 13 years, 27 new economies have recorded corporate bond issuances, while most of the emerging markets accounted for 30 per cent of recorded issuance volume in 2013 compared with just five per cent in 2000.

The Research Department of the International Organization of Securities Commissions [IOSCO] published this report to provide an overview of corporate bond markets since 2000 and identify issues regarding market development, investor protection and systemic risk for further research; and Speaking on the report, the chairman of the IOSCO Board, Greg Medcraft said that the report is a good example of Commission’s being proactive and ahead of the curve in its research efforts ‘’ Corporate bond market development globally is important for long-term investment and economic growth,’’ he said.

According to the report, in 2013, issuances of bonds with a put option in emerging markets reached $47 billion, compared to issuance of $1 billion in developed markets.

Long-term infrastructure projects and real estate property developers are also raising financing on corporate bond markets. For example, between 2000 and 2013, $171 billion worth of infrastructure bonds were issued, the

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In the last 13 years, 27 new economies have recorded corporate bond issuances, while most of the emerging markets accounted for 30 per cent of recorded issuance volume in 2013 compared with just five per cent in 2000. majority issued post-2007.

The report said further that a search for yield is driving investment in high yielding corporate bond markets: High yield issuances have increased from $72 billion in 2000 to $550 billion in 2013 The report also identifies trends in financial versus non-financial firm issuance; local versus non-local currency issuance; issuances for refinancing purposes; and term length. These bonds are examined in the context of interest rate risk, default risk, call risk, rollover risk, foreign exchange risk and liquidity risk, with a focus also on retail investors.

Ultimately, the report posits that changes in the secondary markets may transform the primary corporate bond markets. Issuing firms may issue standardized issuances to facilitate electronic trading and/or continue to issue tailored bonds to meet specific financing needs. This could result in a segmented market similar to listed equity and private equity markets; or standardized and over-thecounter derivative markets.

NSE All-Share Index grows by 0.59% in bullish trading

By Bukky Olajide HE equities market closed yesterday on a positive T note, as the All Share Index of

What Happened?

The NSE All-Share index appreciated by 59bps (0.59%) and closed at 39,217.65. This represents a year-to-date performance of -5.11%. Market Capitalisation also appreciated 0.59% to close at N12.910 trillion. Total value traded increased 135.78% to N3.48 billion and total volume traded declined 52.54% to 277.69 million units.

Where?

At the close of trading, the banking sector represented 48.05% of the total market value traded, while the breweries sector represented 22.04%. The Top 5 stocks as a % of total market value traded were: NB (21.5%), ZENITHBANK (14.2%), GUARANTY (12.7%), SEPLAT (7.7%) and FBNH (6.1%).

On a volume basis, the Top 5 most traded stocks for the day were: TRANSCORP (49.50m), FCMB (49.14m), ZENITHBANK (22.50m), FBNH (17.14m) and GUARANTY (16.25m).

the Nigerian Stock Exchange appreciated by 0.59 per cent to close at 39,217.65 basis points, compared with the depreciation of 0.25 percent recorded previously.

Major blue chip equities recorded price appreciations Its Year-to-Date (YTD) returns currently stands at 5.11 per cent.

An analysis of price movement chart showed that Seplat, which was listed on April 14, led the gainers’ chart with N30.24 to close at N635.04 per share.

PZ Cussons improved by N1.45 to close at N33.45, while Nigerian Breweries gained 95k to close at N145.99 per share. GT Bank rose by 88k to close at N27.80, while Oando chalked up 44k to close at N15.74 per share.

Consequently, the market capitalisation, which opened at N12.834 trillion, increased

by N76 billion to close at N12.910 trillion.

Conversely, Mobil topped the losers’ chart, losing N1.50 to close at N120.50 per share.

Total followed with a loss of N1 to close at N169, while UAC Property declined by 60k to close at N25 per share.

Dangote Sugar and First City

Monument Bank lost 24k and 16k, respectively, to close at N9.75 and N3.34 per share, each.

Transcorp emerged the most sought equity, accounting for 49.47 million shares, worth N199.24 million.

FCMB came second on the activity chart with 49.14 million shares valued at N176.36 million, while Zenith Bank traded 22.50 million shares worth N494.26 million.

FBN Holdings sold 17.14 million shares worth N212.36 million, while GTBank traded 16.25 million shares valued at N443.29 million.

In all, investors’ staked N3.49 billion on 277.69 million shares transacted in 4,793 deals, representing an increase of 47.52 per cent.

This was against the 188.24 million shares worth N1.52 billion traded in 3,667 deals on Monday.

For sectoral indices NSE Banking recorded 1.54 per cent to emerge the most active sectoral performance among others while NSE Insurance is the least hit with 0.31 per cent loss recorded today.

For Corporate Earnings PZ, in its third quarter 2013 earnings report, records positive growth of two per cent in its revenue with positive growth of 33.3 per cent in its bottomline.

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Midweek Arts Lagos Heritage Week glows with masquerades, dance

Holloway being shown round Vision of the Child painting exhibition stand Masquerades on duty

Holloway (second right) and other guests during the opening on Monday

Spirit of David troupe on stage

By Anote Ajeluorou and Ijeoma Opara HE much-anticipated yearly Lagos Black T Heritage Festival opened on Monday inside Freedom Park, Lagos Island, Lagos. The opening was a colourful affair with many masquerades from Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states performing to the delight of those who trooped to the park to have a taste of culture and fun. The festival has as overall theme ‘The Music Makers’.

In attendance were officials from Lagos State Government. They included Commissioner for Tourism and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mr. Disu Holloway, who declared the festival open on behalf of Governor Raji Fashola and the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Funmi Balogun among others.

Holloway thanked all those who attended as having the festival spirit and urged them to stay true to it till Easter Monday when it winds up with the Lagos Street Carnival. He also called on all Lagosians to take time out to be part of the festival. As usual, this year’s festival opening, although not as roaring and colourful as some editions in the past, will have its usual dose of fun-filled activities. There will be plenty stage performances including Obakoso by Duro Ladipo Company, Command Performance of Olodumare by Wole Alade, Lanke Omu: The palmwine Drinkards by Kola Ogunmola today at Civic Centre, Victoria Island.

Youthful Footprints of David entertained the commissioner with energetic dances, as the young male and female dancers performed canoe rowing and engaged in fishing activities through their dance.

Also, Badagry Day with Gelede Masks is holding today at Freedom Park. Tomorrow, Thursday fast-rising and uniquely entertaining Eko Brass Band will be on duty alongside Night of Poets event. On Friday, the children’s painting contest and exhibition will come to a climax in a gala night where prizes will be awarded to the children painters in Vision of the Child competition. The children’s painting exhibition has as theme, The rule of law and the law of impunity, and is open till the end of the festival.

On Saturday, Carnival Queen Gala Night will

hold at Freedom Park alongside Fitila Procession and Lanke Omu: The Palmwine Drinkards by Kola Ogunmola, which will take place in Badagry.

As part of the opening, Holloway was conducted round the exhibition stand hosting the paintings by the school children in their interpretation of the theme. Clearly, the varied interpretations rendered by the children are studies of how the typical Nigerian adult has sunken in the eyes of the children they are bringing up.

Young Tomisin Sarumi of Corona School, Victoria Island renders Nigeria’s lopsided judicial system where a man who has stolen N30 million is asked to refund only N5 million while another who stole a mere N1000 is sent to jail!

In another work, Mishack Uzuokwu renders the sharp inequality among Nigerians, with the elite and corrupt building and preserving the best part of town for themselves while the poor still live in thatched houses in rural areas and urban slums without amenities.

In other renderings by these perceptive primary school pupils, a politician approaches a ritualist to make human sacrifices to assist him into office and offers a policeman bribe to look the other way. In yet another rendering, one of the buccaneers – flatulent beyond words - sits atop a weeping Nigeria, with the northern part of the country flowing in ocean of blood from the bloodletting by insurgents.

These sobering interpretations by these innocent children give a chilling feeling about Nigeria’s dilemma and how the children’s future has already been mortgaged. They are this young but they have a stark understanding of the crises of their fatherland and the adults (their parents) that run it. Visitors to the painting exhibition continue to express amazement at the level of awareness these children have shown in their understanding of the warped contours of their country.

After viewing the children’s works, the Commissioner of Tourism and InterGovernmental Affairs, Holloway expressed his views on the children’s perceptiveness, saying, “I have been most impressed by what I’ve seen today. When Professor Wole Soyinka told us the

title, some of us were a bit skeptical about the ability of the children to interpret it. We thought it was a pretty difficult theme but you can see what the children have done and I am most impressed. Each one of them has taken their time to express what they see of our society and it’s a little bit depressing actually to see that children of this age, they are looking at us, the grownups and this is what they see as us. It’s a bit depressing but that’s reality.”

The Commissioner also touched on why organisers chose to tone down the intellectual part of the festival, noting, “In previous years, the theme of the Black Heritage Week has been cerebral and based on speeches but it’s moved from that this year to something that we can be engaged in. Music is not just the kind of music we hear at home; it goes beyond that. That’s what we are trying to achieve this year and we have achieved it”.

In an earlier briefing, it was disclosed that 32 students who scaled through the screening processes were engaged in a live painting competition to depict the theme: ‘The rule of law and the law of impunity’. The live painting competition was designed as an interactive session to test youthful creativity.

The screening exercise and adjudication were based on skill, craftsmanship, understanding of the theme, verbal expression, appearance and originality. Speaking at a press conference held at Freedom park recently to announce the vision of the child live painting competition, Coordinator of Lagos Black Heritage Festival, Mr. Jahman Anikulapo, who represented Festival Consultant, Prof. Wole Soyinka, praised the level at which young children have been able to discern and interpret the meaning of the theme they were given to work on which he said was remarkable.

He stated, “This year is about the rule of law and impunity which ordinarily we think should be above the concentration of the children. From what we saw last year, which was on corruption, it shows that the children really understand and know what it is going on, but we always assume that children don’t know what is going on. This tells us that as adult we have to be careful when we behave because these children are watching; they are observing and are putting it on record”.

PHOTOS: CHARLES OKOLO

HIS year, the Lagos Black Heritage Festival T takes a break from its current series –- The Black in the Mediterranean Blue. While the festival policy of a thematic selection for each edition is not abandoned, it moves from the geographic outlook to the disciplinary — the discipline for this year being Music.

Much is happening in the musical field, but there is a domination of Euro-American pop forms, which near completely stifles the exploration of indigenous musical resources both in direct performance for audiences, and in their application to other disciplines — most notably in theatre and cinema/video.

Regarding the latter, when one considers what passes for incidental or ‘mood’ music in much of the output of the ever-expanding African film industry, it becomes a classic case of a visual assault compounded by aural aggravation! A reverse track may yet be brought about by exposing film and video directors to possibilities from neglected musical modes within their own cultural environment.

Traditional drama was founded on what was generally dubbed ‘folk opera’, a form that is largely dying out. Additionally therefore, in an attempt to resuscitate this unique performance genre, so highly developed in other societies — see, for instance, the heights to which it has been taken in countries like China — LBHF yields Front Stage this year to Music, its fortunes under technological enhancements and the proliferation of foreign music. Music, we know, plays a dominant role in social life.

The Festival will use the event to also pay tribute also to pioneers — such as Steve Rhodes — whose struggling orchestra and choral ensemble won laurels in famous international competitions such as the Welsh Eisteddfod. It will provide a homecoming platform for contemporary composers whose works have been enjoyed for decades by foreign audiences but remain totally unknown in their own homeland.

Indeed, the festival plans to open the eyes (and ears!) of aspiring musicians to the vastly unexplored possibilities of the musical forms right in their own backyards, as an option to the largely imitative trend being pursued by a new generation of musicians. Innovative African music, organisers insist, should not end with Afro-beat!

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Agbese’s lens zooms on Vanishing Cultures From Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Abuja ORRIED by the aping of foreign culW tures, a photographic artist, Philip Agbese Junior, has embarked on a mission to save Nigeria’s indigenous cultures from extinction.

In an exhibition titled Vanishing Cultures, Agbese attempts to capture some of the country’s unique cultures through his lens and documents them for history.

A total of 30 different photos are on display at the French Cultural Centre, Abuja, venue of the exhibition, which opened yesterday and would run till May 4. It is his first solo outing.

Some of the titles include Ochanya’K Idoma, Iworji (The breaking of kola nut) as well as Adan’na (The gathering of spirits).

A graduate of Business Management turned photographer said he chose the medium of photography to launch his campaign because he believes in the power of pictures to educate, entertain and perhaps, indoctrinate human minds towards change.

“Images can tell a story that a thousand words cannot be able to tell and my belief is that when you capture people doing what I can call ‘cultural things’, they speak for themselves.”

By documenting these cultures in frame, Agbese said he is not only creating history but also reminding his viewers of the inherent beauty in Nigeria’s cultures and tradition and the need to proserve them in the face of challenging Western trends.

The photo artist noted that the rate at which Nigerians absorb Western civilizations and values are indicators that the next generation may not have anything to bequeath their children in terms of indigenous cultures.

“When you capture a woman cooking, all you need do is put a pointer to show that at a particular point in history, this is what was indigenous to this people or tribe”, he said.

“It is inevitable that this will happen.

What I am trying to do is to capture a bit of it and document them with the help of my camera before they finally pass away.

“My worries are that our cultures that distinguish us as Africans stand the risk of extinction in the next 50 years going by the threat of civilization. The West is imposing their culture on us. Colonizing us culturally by moving the frontiers of their culture forward while our own is receding.

“Children no longer speak their indigenous languages probably because their

parents cross married and through no fault of theirs, they are not taught to interact in their local languages or taken to their villages to blend with their age mates.

“Even our dances, our cuisines and dress cultures are gradually fading away. I know they will pass away but what effort are we making in our life time to reduce the pace at which they disappear?,” he asked.

Adding: “This is what I do with my pictures. They speak for themselves. Though they are subject to individual interpretation but the main message, which is that our cultures are passing away is not lost to anyone who looks at them.”

But Agbese is not against cultural evolution. His fear however is that certain elements of cultures are often lost in the process.

“My belief about culture is that it will continue to evolve but my fear is that in so doing, certain elements are lost. So, I try to find a bridge.

“I am not trying to help people make up

Plenty fun as first draw for Dubai Shopping holds OPULAR entertainment P handout, O’Jez, in Surulere, Lagos, is the place to be tomorrow as the first raffle draw for the 2014 edition of Legend Extra Stout’s National Consumer Promotion holds, expecting to produce 10 lucky winners.

The star prize for the 10 lucky consumers that will emerge in the Legend Extra Stout promo will be an all-expense paid trip to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. While there, they will shop for items worth up to N1 million in value in that country’s biggest shopping malls. They will also be taken on a tour of exciting sites of Dubai.

Mr. Emmanuel Agu, Marketing Manager, Gulder,

Legend and Life – Nigerian Breweries Plc., urged consumers to purchase the stout brand for the golden opportunity of travelling to Dubai for the shopping experience.

He said: “Legend Extra Stout, which is Nigeria’s fastest growing stout brand has commenced the third edition of the Real Deal Promo. And just like the brand did in 2013, consumers will be rewarded with a trip to Dubai. The significant change is that we are taking 30 consumers to Dubai, instead of 25 which we took last year.”

Mr. Agu advised consumers of Legend Extra Stout not to throw away their crown corks after consuming the content so as not to miss out on the golden opportunity.

He explained: “The Legend crown is actually a potential visa to Dubai for consumers of the stout brand. Even though the draw officially commenced on April 7, the first draw is coming up 10 days after. This was designed to give Legend consumers ample opportunity to send in their entries.”

To qualify for the raffle draw, consumers only have to buy a bottle of Legend Extra Stout, text their names, area and the code under the crown to 31077. In addition, the Legend brand is giving out airtime worth N300 million. To qualify, consumers are to buy a bottle of Legend and check under the crown cork. They will then text the code under the crown

via SMS to 31077 to get the instant N200 airtime from a network of your choice.

Urging Legend consumers to go to Ojez Restaurant on Thursday, April 17 for the raffle draw, Agu stated that the first batch of winners would embark on their Dubai journey on Friday, April 25 to return on Monday, April 28, 2014.

The Marketing Manager noted that the Real Deal National Consumer Promotion was an avenue for Legend Extra Stout to reward the brand’s consumers for their patronage; which has made the Legend the fastest growing stout brand in Nigeria. Port Harcourt and Enugu are expected to host the next two draws.

Literature prize fellowship:

To Yewande from Bulawayo with love INNER of the maiden edition W of the Etisalat Prize for Literature, NoViolet Bulawayo has, in a genuine demonstration of sportsmanship, gifted her runner-up, Yewande Omotosho the Fellowship attached to her winning.

Expressing her magnanimity, the author of ‘We Need New Names’ Bulawayo said “My prior commitment to a fellowship at Stanford University will not permit me to take advantage of the Etisalat Fellowship aspect of the prize and I have gifted it to my runner-up, Yewande Omotosho in the hope that her participation would further promote the values that Etisalat Nigeria sought to achieve with this literary prize”.

The Etisalat Fellowship is a unique £10,000 fellowship to the

winner of the Etisalat Prize for Literature lasting four months in the UK, at the University of East Anglia in Norwich and mentored

by Professor Giles Foden, author of the Last King of Scotland. The fellow will take residency at the University of East Anglia, joining members of the school of literature, drama and creative writing.

NoViolet Bulawayo and Yewande Omotoso are set to attend the World’s Literature Festival 2014 which takes place during the fellowship. The World’s Festival hosts a gathering of writers from across the globe to celebrate and discuss works of literature. Nobel Laureate and MAN Booker Prize Winner J M Coetzee is one of the writers participating at this year’s festival.

NoViolet Bulawayo (left); Yewande Omotosho and Karen Jennings

Agbese their minds but as a photographer, I am only trying to document something that I see happening and which I know I may not be able to change.

“This is like history in a making. That is what the exhibition is trying to achieve.

Agbese has been in the business of professional photography since 2003. A 1995 graduate of Business Management, University of Jos, he worked briefly in the Civil Service before picking up a banking job.

However, the creative instinct in him remained restless until he opted out three years later to upgrade his training in the art of photography.

He said: “After three years, I realized that banks structured kind of work was not for me. So, I returned to what I loved doing. I went back and started the training at the end of which I opened a studio.

Agbese confessed that he derives so much satisfaction and pleasure from his lens because according to him, “it gives me room to make wealth, room to make friends and room to study people. I am still on a journey. It may be a life time journey but I don’t have any regret”, he concluded.

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SPECIAL REPORT ON OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE LUBRICANTS IN NIGERIA (PART 1) NE company that has distinguished itself not only in the production and marketing of premium quality lubricants but also in the sales of petroleum products in Nigeria is Total Nigeria Plc. Total Nigeria Plc is a subsidiary of Total, a multinational energy company operating in more than 130 countries and committed to providing sustainable products and services for its customers.

Since inception, over 50 years ago, Total Nigeria Plc has remained the leader in the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry with extensive distribution network of over 500 services stations nationwide. The consistent collaboration of Total with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in Europe, Japan and America, coupled with research and development has given the company’s products prominent position in the Nigerian market.

The company parades wide range of quality lubricants that meet and surpass the varied needs of the users and these products include: Automotive Lubricants- Superior Engine Oils: Passenger Car Engine Oils (QUARTZ 9000 5W40, RUBIA S).

Motorcycle and Outboard Engine oils. SPECIAL 4T 20 W-50, 2 TZ, and NEPTUNA 2T - SUPER SPORT. Premiums Transmission Oils manual transmission. (TRANSMISSION TM and EP) and automatic transmissions. (FLUIDE AT 42 and FLUIDE II D). Other automotive lubricant include HBF, PETITS, MECHANISES, MULTIS EPS and MULTIS 2.

Industrial Lubricants of the company include: Engine Oils (DISAL CF and AURELIA TI), Also, Hydraulic Oils (EQUIVIS ZS and AZOLLA ZA), Compressor and Air Tools (DACNIS, PNEUMA and LUNARIA), Turbines and Cylinder Oils (PRESLIA and CYL) Machine Tools and General Lubrication (DROSERA MS, CIRKANIC, and LACTUCA LT), Gears and Cables (Carter Ep and CARTER ENS / EP 7000), Specialized Oils and Grease as (DEMOULDING OIL, SERIOLA, ISOVOLTINE II, MULTIS MS, and MULTIS COMPLEX EP), Agricultural Machinery and Food Grade lubricants.

True to its mission statement “ Total Nigeria Plc is in business to ensure total customer satisfaction by the creation of quality products and services delivered with a strong commitment to safety, respect for the environment and the sustainable development of resources” the company developed a one –stop centre strategy where a variety of customers needs are met in one place. Total service stations are available all over the country where customers can purchase premium quality lubricants and other petroleum products , gas, car – car products, insecticides and conveniently shop at Café Bonjour shops, and receives premium car maintenance and care services from Total services and Total Wash, while corporate customers demand for bulk products are meet through the company’s vendor Management Service and Equipment/ Technical Assistance service: To maintain and consolidate its leadership position in the oil and gas industry in the country, the company established three lubricants Blending plants (LBP) at Koko in Delta State, Kaduna and Apapa in Lagos State. Total Nigeria Plc also invested in the bottling of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and with 5 LPG bottling plants strategically located in different parts of the country with a coastal storage in Apapa, Lagos. Due to the versatile, fast, clean, powerful, portable and safe nature of Total Nigeria’s Liquefied Petroleum, Gas (LPG),

O

TOTAL NIGERIA PLC …..HOME OF QUALITY LUBRICANTS IN NIGERIA the product is in high demand in many homes and industrial concerns in Nigeria.

As a leading global energy brand known for premium quality products and services that meet and exceed customers specifications and expectations.

Total Nigeria’s Lubricant blending plants and depots have been awarded 1S0 9001:2008.

Quality Management systems certification, while all its major products have received NIS certifications from Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON). According to Mr. Mabuyaku Albert, head, Corporate affairs division “our Quality and Environmental

Management System ensure that our processes are in line with international best practices. Our International Small Site Safety Rating System (ISSSRS) certification further elucidates our commitment to conducting our sites (depots and plants) operations in line with internationally recognized safety regulations. Also, periodic internal and external audits are organized to ensure that these systems in place are consistently enhanced to be at par and even surpass established standards.

Our state – of – the - art laboratories also certify that every batch of lubricants blended meets the required specification. The

Nigerian public is guaranteed of exceptional and consistent quality products that meet the highest international standards each time they use Total Lubricants.

They are also assured of top quality and professional service delivery every time they visit Total stations for lubricants services”.

Apart from premium quality lubricants that the company is known for. Total Nigeria Plc with the supports of Air Total International incorporated in Switzerland, is well established as one of the major suppliers of aviation fuel to the Aviation industry in Nigeria. Indeed, the company is currently one of the two largest suppliers of JET AI

fuel in the country today, offering excellent fuelling services at Lagos Airport (domestic and international), Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt Airports.

To sustain its unique position in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, the company has put in place professionals, highly skilled and well motivated manpower to provide high quality products and services in an environment that provides a challenging and rewarding career for them. Indeed, the staff are not only dedicated but also among the industry’s best and they are known for always playing to the rules in the sector.

It is worthy of note to state that

Total Nigeria has created much impacts in the lives of Nigeria.

For instance, the introduction of Skills Acquisition Programme (SAP) by the company which is aimed at reducing unemployment among youths in its host communities while creating a pool of economically empowered indigenes who will impact their communities. The youths are trained on various skills of their choices like welding and fabrication, computer operation, fish and crop farming, hairdressing, woodcraft, furniture, making, fashion and designing etc.

Total is highly respected by the regulatory authorities in the country as a result of its high level of compliance with rules and regulations. The company conducts its business in a manner that reflects its passion, for top quality products, customer services, health, safety and environment. Little wonder why its products are highly sort for in Nigeria.

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Sports Ahead Brazil 2014 World Cup

All eyes on Abraka as Easter Polo tourney gallops off

Keshi: Why we don’t fear Argentina

By Christian Okpara UPeR eagles’ Coach, Smissed Stephen Keshi, has disthe claim by Argentina manager, Alejandro Sabella, that Nigeria, Iran and Bosnia Herzogovina are all afraid of the La Albiceleste, saying that his team has no reason to fear anybody at the Brazil 2014 World Cup. Nigeria is pitched against Iran, Argentina and Bosnia in Group F of the 2014 World Cup, which kicks off on June 12.

In an interview published in the Argentine media, Sabella, said Nigeria and the other Group F opponents would be intimidated by the quality of attackers at his disposal in Brazil.

But Keshi, who said the Argentines should be worried by the Super eagles’ work ethics, argues that no team at the Mundial Coupe has the power to intimidate his boys.

Speaking during the launch of Peak brand of milk’s promotion in support of the Super eagles’ World Cup campaign yesterday, Keshi said, “Afraid? I am not afraid of Argentina or any team in the World Cup.” Part of the issues Keshi did not address yesterday was the fact that so many Nigerian players are not getting enough playing time in their various clubs while star-studded Argentine players play

regularly in their own clubs.

Players like lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Fernando Gago, Di Maria and Carlos tevez are regulars in their clubs. top Nigerian players – Mikel Obi, Victor Moses, Victor Obinna have become benchwarmers in their clubs thereby heightening the blood pressures of Nigerian fans. the South Americans are favourites to qualify from the group and Sabella says all he needs to do is sort out their defence, as their striking options can do the damage.

“Our rivals will fear us.

Argentina has an amazing front line,” Sabella said on the national team’s official website.

“It’s very hard to be World champions. We don’t have to believe that we are the best. In fact, we know we’re not the best, but we are candidates.

We can’t go into the tournament thinking we’ve won it.

“I don’t know if I’ll take seven or eight defenders. Depends on whether I include another midfielder. the best thing is to try and cover all the areas.

Almost certainly those who are here now will be making it.”

Nigeria opens its campaign in Brazil against Iran on June 16, meets Bosnia on June 21 before rounding off the group stage with a game against Argentina on June 25.

FCT targets seventh position at Calabar 2014 National Festival From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja He Federal Capital territory (FCt) Sports Council yestert day said it has commenced preparations for improved performance at the 2014 National Sports Festival, scheduled to hold in Calabar in November. the FCt yesterday formally inaugurated its 21 sports associations after operating for many years without any form of organised sports body.

Inaugurating the associations at the cultural center in Abuja, executive secretary of the FCtA Social Development Department, Blessing Onuh, charged the association members to see their appointment as a call to duty, stressing that they were expected to contribute their quota in developing the sports associations.

Onuh, who announced a take off grant of N500,000 for each association, assured of her department’s readiness to work with them through the FCt Council.

She charged them to work hard to ensure that FCt finished among the first seven states at the 2014 National Sports Festival in Calabar.

She also disclosed that the FCt administration was work-

ing hard to ensure that adequate and conducive facilities were provided for its athletes in sports.

“Although we have facility challenges in the FCt, things would soon change because we are constructing mini community stadiums in all the six area councils. the work is on going and we hope to finish them in the next two or three years. this is one of the measures that we have taken to bring sports to the grassroots in the FCt.

RGANISeRS of the forthO coming Abraka International Polo

Argentina’s Lionel Messi (left) evades Super Eagles’ Fegor Ogude and John Obi Mikel during a recent international friendly game. Keshi says Nigeria has no reason to fear Argentina at the Brazil 2014 World Cup. PHOTO: AP.

Okpekpe Road Race stars to get N20m INNeRS in the second W Okpekpe 10 kilometres International Road Race, Meanwhile, a watershed in

which holds on May 3 in Okpekpe, edo State, will go home with N20 million, the organisers have announced.

According to the organisers, Pamodzi Sports Marketing, financial prizes will be given to the first eight finishers in the men’s race, while the first seven finishers will have a share of the prize money in the women’s race. the winner of the men’s race will pocket $25, 000 while the first and the second runners-up will get $15,000 and $10,000 respectively.

For the women, the winner will get $15,000; the second placed athlete will get $10,000, while the third placed athlete will go home with $8,000. there are also cash prizes for the first eighth-placed edo State indigenes (men and women).

the first man will pocket N100, 000, while the second and third placed finishers will get N75,000 and N50,000 respectively.

In the women’s category, the first three finishers will get N70,000, N50,000 and N25,000 respectively. the payment of all prize money is dependent upon athletes undergoing and clearing the usual anti-doping procedures. last year, Kenya’s Moses Masai emerged the inaugural winner of the men’s title and took the accompanying $25,000 top prize.

As many as 11 foreign athletes including reigning world champion, Aziz lahbabi of Morocco, have registered for this year’s race, which edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, says will be an improvement on the maiden edition.

terms of securing corporate sponsorship for the road race was achieved on Monday in lagos, when Pamodzi Sports Marketing (PSM) unveiled enterprise Bank as the official bank of the annual event.

Director of Organisation, Zak Amodu, told journalists yesterday that “the bank sealed a deal with Pamodzi today with a view to help develop and identify with the grassroots and rural connection objective of the road race. “the bank will in addition drive the CSR objective of the race, as the organisers are desirous of using the race to fight malaria surge in the communities within and around the host town.

Registration forms will be available for interested runners in the bank branches across the country.

Obajimi, others want support for sports development

By Adeyinka Adedipe ARtICIPANtS at a lecture to P commemorate the United Nations International Day of Sports for Development and Peace yesterday in lagos has among other things called on the government to create structures and laws that would enable sports serve as a tool for development.

Speaking at the event, representative of the Civil Society Group, Belo Aideloje, a lawyer, said that laws that would encourage people to participate in sports should be put in place and ensure that busi-

ness that supports sports should enjoy tax rebate.

He said a structure must also be put in place to support athletes instead of allowing them sacrifice their education for sports career. Aideloje noted that the laws and structures created must be upgraded and monitored so that sports would have synergy with other aspects of national life.

United Nations Global Compact Initiative’s representative, Innocent Azih, stated that the private sector has a role to play in using sports to cub violence so that their business can grow. “Crisis does not

help sports to grow, so it is imperative that corporate organisations help restore peace by backing sports.”

He urged the private sector to disburse their corporate social responsibility budget and ensure that those who benefit are the ones that actually need the funds to grow.

He also noted that this would help youths, who could be prone to vices, to take up sports, since there is adequate funding to take care of their interest.

Homeless World Cup boss in Nigeria, Yomi Kuku, said that the competition has been able

to give opportunities to people who would not have had the means of travelling abroad to play football.

He said that his organisation also encourages education and noted that he could only succeed further if he gets support from private organisations.

President of the National Association for Women in Sports (NAWIS), Gloria Obajimi, said women are the most vulnerable group in crises situation and said that efforts must be made to use sports as a tool for international peace.

tournament, Nigeria’s number one privately organized polo event, which holds at the serene Abraka turf and Country Club in Abraka, Delta State, say preparations for this year’s edition of the competition have been concluded. the prestigious Abraka event, which will gallop off on Good Friday and climax with fanfare on easter Sunday, is reputed for its competition, excitement and pomp.

With such traditional rivals and defending champions as Ashbert Raiders, lagos MRS and crowd favourites, Aqua Dulcis and Ashton Wells teams participating, the high profile polo fiesta promises to live up to the billings, as the biggest polo event this easter Holiday. tournament Coordinator, Adaeze Igwe, confirms that top Nigerian teams were already on the ground to vie for honours in the fiesta, while delegates from Cowdray Park and Ham Polo Clubs from the UK are expected to be part of the fiesta.

Regulars and debuting players from lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Kaduna will be matching talents and wits in what promises to be a weekend of intense, invigorating polo at the highest level.

As usual, glittering prizes will be at stake, but inevitably, it is the Patrons trophy with another scintillating parade of world class professionals that has polo fans salivating at the guaranteed prospect of yet another Abraka high goal extravaganza.

Nestle unveils 2014 Milo U-13 African championship eStle Plc will today unveil N plans for the Milo U-13 African Championship, which is a football competition for U13 boys in Africa.

According to Doja ekeruche, Category Business Manager, Beverages, Nestle Nigeria PlC, the Media Briefing scheduled to hold at the Protea Hotel, Maryland would kick-start a month long build-up to the tournament, which is holding in Nigeria for the first time.

“On the occasion, we will be presenting the team Nigeria to the Media and flag-off the official communication to engage a cross-section of our consumers and football stakeholders on this championship which is being hosted in Nigeria for the first time”, ekeruche explained. the Milo U-13 African Championship was first held in South Africa in 2010, which Nigeria won and in 2012, Ghana hosted and won the competition.

Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya are some of the countries that have qualified for this year’s event, which has been tagged Nigeria 2014.

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Maurice Greene’s appointment will brighten our chances in Glasgow, says AFN

By Gowon Akpodonor HE Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has counselled those critising the body over the appointment of former Olympics and world champion, Maurice Greene, as the relay coordinator of Team Nigeria track and field athletes.

The AFN announced the appointment of Greene last week, saying that his contract would begin at the Mt. Sac Relay in California this week and terminates after the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the African Athletics Championships in Marrakesh, Morocco in August.

But some criticised the AFN for engaging the American, saying the body should have looked the direction of competent Nigerian coaches.

However, the President of AFN, Solomon Ogba told The Guardian yesterday that those criticising the federation over Greene’s appointment don’t mean well for the country.

“It is either the critics are ignorant of what present day athletics is all about or they don’t want Team Nigeria to succeed at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow,” Ogbe said.

“All over the World, every country engage the services of a quality coach for its relay teams. The coach of Great Britain relay team at the last Olympic Games was a Dutch.

He was employed from The Netherland to strengthen Team England’s relay team.

He resigned when he failed to meet his target at the Olympic.

He continued: “I thought that Nigerians will applaud the AFN for this great move because it is great for Maurice Greene to accept the offer. He is not asking for huge amount of money. Greene said he was excited at the prospect of working with the Nigerian athletes and that it would be his own way of giving back to Africa.

“I am very sure some Nigerian coaches will learn a lot from Greene. Our athletes may not be fantastic individually, but collectively, we have the potentials to achieve great results at the Commonwealth Games. That is what Greene has promised to do for us and

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Nigeria’s 400 speed star, US-based Regina George looks set for the MT SAC Relays in Walnut, California, USA tomorrow.

Warri Wolves set for legal battle with sponsor over unpaid N50m fee

By Gowon Akpodonor

• It is not a debt, says ULO boss

IGERIAN Premier League side, Warri Wolves FC, is set to institute a legal battle against their sponsor, ULO Company, over bridge in contractual agreement.

Both side entered into a N50 million sponsorship deal last year, which ULO has failed to pay till now. But the chief executive officer of ULO Company, Uche Luke Okpunor, told The Guardian yesterday that the company would pay at its convenient time, saying: “it is not a debt.”

The company had presented a replica cheque of N50m to Amaju Pinnick, the Chairman of Delta Sports Commission who also doubles as the State FA Chairman in a ceremony last year in Abuja. Okpunor said during the presentation that ULO, a conglomerate of companies into construction, energy and power, was renewing its sponsorship deal with Warri Wolves.

Wolves wore the jersey inscribed with ULO logo throughout its campaign last season. The team made it to the final of the Confederations Cup and Okpunor was among top dignitaries who cheered the team against Enyimba at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, where they lost on penalties.

Several months after the deal, the management of Wolves

says it is yet to receive a penny from the sponsor and several appeals to Okpunor to pay had fallen on deaf ears.

An official of Warri Wolves told The Guardian yesterday that the new management of Warri Wolves had lined up a legal team to battle the management of ULO Company over the N50m debt.

“We just have to go to court to sort things out because it obvious the management of ULO is not ready to pay the sponsorship fee,” the official said.

“Okpunor told us at the ceremony in Abuja that he was renewing his sponsorship deal with Warri Wolves. He pledged that his organisation would take the club on a playing tour of Europe at the end of last season and also present a brand new bus to the club if they finish within the top three. We achieved all that and we even played in the final of the FA Cup, yet he has refused to fulfill his side of the deal.

“At the initial stage, we thought Amaju had collected the money on behalf of Wolves, but we have since realised that the man (Okpunor) has not paid.

Amaju has been persuading us to exercise patient, but we have to approach the court because we need the money to run the club,” the official

N

added.

It was learnt that Wolves’ legal team would be led by one of the board members, Steven Agbeyegbe.

Contacted on the issue yesterday, Okpunor said: “Did you say sponsorship money. Is it a debt? Or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which is voluntary? It should be at our convenience.”

people should allow him.

“For Team Nigeria to meet the medals target in Glasgow, people must do away with selfish interest. The new sports minister must succeed and one of the ways to do so is to get those we think can do a good job.

That is what we have done and people should be patient,” Ogba said.

The 39-years old American is a retired track and field sprinter who specialised in the 100m

and 200m. He is a former 100m world record holder with a time of 9.79 seconds. During the height of his career (1997 to 2004), he won four Olympic medals and was a five-time world champion.

Nigerian athletes will compete in the MT SAC Relays in Walnut, USA from Thursday to Sunday and proceed to the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, USA, which holds from April 24 to 26.

Archbishop Martins soccer tourney begins in July

By Samuel Ifetoye ATHOLIC Church football C teams would have the opportunity to showcase their skills at the first edition of the Alfred Adewale Martins Cup football tournament, which come up in July.

At the unveiling and the trophy presentation on Monday at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Catholic in Lagos, the Archbishop of Lagos, who the competition is named after, His Grace, Most Reverend Alfred Martins, said sports should be encouraged in all spheres of human endeavor.

The competition is the brainchild of the Catholic Men Organisation (CMO) of the Archdiocese of Lagos. In his opening speech, President of the CMO, Chief Emeka Asoegwu, stated, “it is often said that religion is the opium of the people, and that sports is the unifying factor.

Today, we are combining sports with religion to have a truly happy people in the Catholic community.

“His Grace, the Archbishop has graciously accepted a trophy being donated in his name by the CMO, for an archdiocesan football tourna-

ment involving all the parishes in the Lagos. A tournament of this nature couldn’t have come at a better time than now when the Archbishop has declared 2014 as the year of the family.

“The tournament is designed and intended to further unite and strengthen the CMO in the archdiocese and parishes respectively. It will afford members the opportunity to exercise their bodies and have access to a healthy living in a hectic cosmopolitan city like Lagos.”

Archbishop Martins, who expressed delight at the idea by the CMO, said sports help to develop the body and makes one to live healthily, which he said should be encouraged. He, however, disagrees with the view that religion is an opium of the people, but rather he sees it as a gift from God, which serves as a guide to mankind’s salvation.

Most Reverend Martins, who assures of his cooperation to make the tournament a huge success, however, urged the CMO to also create other avenues for the members of the church to fulfill their purpose in life.

‘We were ‘robbed’ by Sunshine in Akure’ HE Technical Adviser of Warri Wolves, Paul T Aigbogun has advised the

want football to grow in the country.

Aigbogun, who is not used to League Management complaints, said he had to Company (LMC) to pay more speak out in view of the level attention to officiating if they of officiating in the game between Sunshine Stars and Warri Wolves at the Akure Township Stadium on Sunday, which ended 3-2 in favour of the home team.

According to Aigbogun, “LMC said people should not condemn the league, but with this type of officiating, one will be forced to speak out because Nigerian football will be worse for it.”

The former Enyimba gaffer condemned the red card given to Michael Egbeta who was only carrying out an instruction from the centre referee to wait for a change to be made before taking the corner kick, only for the referee to give him the marching order for time wasting.

Apart from that, the first assistant referee ignored the rules and was basically the 12th player, aiding and did everything possible to help Warri Wolves on ULO Company jersey in the final of 2013 Confederations Cup against Enyimba in the Akure outfit.

Lagos. The N50 million sponsorship deal between the club and the company may be settled in court.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014 SPORT

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Okagbare, Asumnu, others fly Team Nigeria’s flag at MT Sac Relays HE President of Athletics T Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Evang. Solomon Ogba will lead the Nigerian track and field team to Mt.Sac Relays in Walnut, California, USA. The Mt. Sac Relays is part of the AFN build up for the IAAF World Relays in Bahamas next month and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland in July.

The meet starts tomorrow with the nation’s best and captain of Team Nigeria track and field team, Blessing Okagbare among those that will represent Nigeria.

Okagbare, a double world champion medalist is likely to compete in the individual event and also anchor the 4x100m women relay team.

Gloria Asumnu who made the final of the 60m at the Sopot 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships is also in the

Cricket: England places are up for grabs, says Cook APTAIN Alastair Cook has C said there are places to be won in the England Test side to face Sri Lanka in June.

Cook, 29, averaged 24.60 during the 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia over the winter, but scored a century for Essex on Monday.

Ian Bell and Sam Robson also made tons for their counties this week.

“It’s an exciting time in English cricket in that, for the first time in a long time, there’s quite a few places up for grabs,” Cook told BBC Essex.

“That happens when you lose games of cricket and we lost five pretty heavily.”

Cook managed a secondinnings total of 181 in Essex’s County Championship Division Two game against Derbyshire this week, hitting his first century since making 154 for England against Australia A last November.

Bell also struggled with the bat in Australia, passing 50 only twice in 10 innings, but his 189 not out for Warwickshire against Sussex will have pleased selectors.

England Lions batsman Robson enhanced his claims for an opening position alongside Cook with a knock of 163 for Middlesex against Nottinghamshire, while fellow Test hopeful and team-mate Eoin Morgan struck 86.

“Everyone knows there are places up for grabs and good performances in the County Championship over the next few months will push peoples’ claims,” said Cook. “I don’t think you rule anyone out.

“I’ve hit the ball quite nicely myself over the last few weeks or so. It’s nice to go on and make a sizeable contribution.”

The Tests against Sri Lanka take place at Lord’s (12-16 June) and Headingley (June 20-24).

Cook

team. Obinna Metu who won the 100m over the weekend at the Abuja Golden League is also in Walnut.

Also in the team is Amaechi Morton whose blistering anchor ensured the Nigeria 4x400m quartet set a new Africa record at the Sopot 2014 World Indoor.

There is also Regina George, a quarter-miler, Nicholas Imhoapermhe, Chukwudike Harry, and Noah Akwu.

Others are Abiola Onakoya, Isah Salihu, Orukpe Erayoka, Stephanie Kalu, Khadijah Suleiman, Peace Uko, Omolara Omotosho, Bukola Abogunloko, Folashade Abugan, Josephine Ehigie, Benjamin Ada and Ossai Rita.

The coaching crew are Daniel Etsebiminor, Eric Campbell, Gabriel Okon,

Victor Omagbemi, and Maurice Greene, while Olumide Bamiduro, the Secretary General of AFN is the team secretary.

Ogba said that participating in Mt. Sac Relays and other meets across America is to get our athletes ready for the IAAF World Relays in Bahamas next month and the Commonwealth Games.

“Apart from giving our athletes training grants, we must also ensure that compete in the best meets against tough opposition, so that by the Commonwealth Games, the will be in top shape’’ This edition of Mt. SAC Relays is the 56th in a row that the very best athletes in track and field will gather in Walnut.

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SPORT Wednesday, April 16, 2014

European Round up

Our title hope is not over yet, Pellegrini assures ANCHESTER City managM er, Manuel Pellegrini, is convinced his side are still

Ancelotti

Martino

‘Ronaldo won’t be available for Copa del Rey final tie’ EAL Madrid forward R Cristiano Ronaldo will miss today’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona due to a hamstring injury.

Ronaldo was a major doubt for the game at the Mestalla and Ancelotti explained at his pre-match press conference that the Portugal international will instead focus on being fit for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich next week.

Ancelotti said: “Cristiano is not available because we don’t want to take risks and we have other very important games this season. He will do individual work (today) and then travel to watch the game.”

The Italian has been criticised for not resting Ronaldo earlier in the campaign to prevent him from getting injured at the crucial stage of the season, but insisted: “I don’t think that would have changed anything. With him or without him in the team, we have the same idea of how we want to

play.

“Cristiano didn’t rest because he didn’t need to rest. There was no situation where we saw him being too tired. At this stage of the season, many players have this problem and we have taken as much care with him as we have with all the other players.”

And Ancelotti believes that, even without their talisman, Real still have every chance of beating Barcelona.

“We have many players out, but we have a lot of confidence in this team and we have always responded well when players have been missing, and I am sure we will do the same (on Wednesday),” he said.

Ancelotti has lost both of his battles with the Catalans in his first term in charge of Madrid, but said he was not motivated by a sense of revenge.

“When you play a final, you are obliged not to lose,” said the 54-year-old, who will welcome captain Iker Casillas back into his starting line-up.

“There is nothing more to say than that. We know anything can happen in a final and we hope to be the better team.”

Gerardo Martino’s men are preparing to face their arch rivals after a week in which they were eliminated from the Champions League by Atletico Madrid and had their Primera Division title aspirations dealt a devastating blow with defeat at Granada.

The two results were the latest chapters in a tumultuous campaign, which has witnessed the resignation of president Sandro Rosell, a FIFAimposed transfer ban for breaching its rules on the international transfer of minors, plus a host of injuries to key players.

However, speaking at the prematch press conference, midfielder Andres Iniesta said: “We always try to isolate ourselves from what has happened, even though it is very difficult.

“If you analyse the season from day one, we have had to endure incredible things and

deal with big setbacks that have been very hard to take it’s not been easy.

“But we have to overcome it all, because that’s life - it’s about survival and you cannot stop to think. We are ready to play this final.”

Iniesta rejected suggestions that Real headed into the final as favourites, given Barcelona’s recent dip in form.

“My personal feeling is that Barcelona are not down in the dumps,” he said.

“We have had a week with two tough moments, but we have to put it behind us, even though it’s difficult.

“This game is a final - there’s a trophy at stake. It’s another competition and a chance to make the fans happy. We cannot allow ourselves to think about anything else other than this final and winning this trophy.

“We are convinced we can do that, but if we want to we have to be at our best against a powerful rival. The team is capable of playing well and winning and that’s what we’re going to

I won’t stop Costa moving to Chelsea, says Simeone TLETICO Madrid boss, A Diego Simeone, has admitted he may be powerless to stop star striker, Diego Costa, joining Chelsea in the summer.

Costa has been the standout player in Atletico’s exceptional season to date, with his 26 goals in 31 Primera Division matches giving his side an excellent chance of winning their first league title since the 1995-96 campaign.

It is therefore unsurprising that the Brazil-born Spain international has attracted the attention of several leading European clubs, and Jose Mourinho’s Blues are reportedly at the front of the queue.

It would take a substantial offer for Atletico to contemplate selling their prize asset although Simeone believes

Costa will ultimately decide his own future.

“It depends on him and what he believes is best for his future. I will support any decision,” the Argentinian told AS. “It is normal that Chelsea are interested in him. They have good economic potential.

(Samuel) Eto’o is getting older and Diego Costa can do his work, but right now he’s ours.”

Costa will be hoping to showcase his talents against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals, a clash that has been made more intriguing by the prospect of the Blues’ own goalkeeper turning out for Atletico.

Thibaut Courtois is on loan at Atletico for a third successive season and Chelsea insist he will be free to play against them, in line with UEFA rules,

as the clubs compete for a place in the May 24 final in Lisbon against Real Madrid or defending champions Bayern Munich.

It was reported that Chelsea would allow the Spanish side to play the Belgian in both legs of the semi, provided they paid a fee of around €3 million for each game.

However, UEFA moved to clarify that it expects Courtois to be free to face the Blues in both legs and Simeone has no doubt that the 21-year-old will be available for selection.

“I have no doubt that he will play against Chelsea. He also has no doubts. Not a concern,” Simeone said.

There has been some suggestion Courtois could be used as a makeweight if Chelsea does pursue their interest in Costa,

but Simeone does not know whether the Belgian’s future lies at the Vicente Calderon.

“It is not yet know where he will play next year,” he added.

Costa

firmly in the Barclays Premier League title race.

Pellegrini insists little has changed as a result of Sunday’s defeat to leaders Liverpool.

The loss left third-placed City trailing the Reds by seven points and Chelsea by five but, with two games in hand, Pellegrini claims the battle could still be too close to call.

The Chilean said: “I think the team knows perfectly what they have to do.

“We lost that game but we have still to play six games more and we will fight to the end to win the title.

“If we don’t do it, it is because Liverpool will win their four games, but I don’t think some things change after the game on Sunday.

“Of course, the fans believe that we can do it.

“The two games postponed if we win both we are just one point behind Liverpool.

“If you don’t believe (when you are) just one point behind the leader, nobody can believe anything.

“We have had a very good season so far and we hope we finish in the last six games in the same way.”

City’s title destiny may be out of their hands but they will look to apply pressure as they play the first of their games in hand at home to bottom side Sunderland today.

“The important thing is that we win our games,” Pellegrini said.

“We can do nothing about the other teams but we can do a lot of things here.

“That is why I am sure the players know exactly what they have to do and we will try to start winning one of the two games postponed so both teams, Chelsea and Liverpool, must feel we are only three or four points behind them with one game also to play at the end of the season.”

Pellegrini accepts it will be difficult for his players to pick themselves given the manner of the defeat at Anfield.

After a sluggish start, City recovered from 2-0 down to level but Philippe Coutinho pounced on a Vincent Kompany error to settle a pulsating clash 12 minutes from time.

That capped a chastening

afternoon for Kompany, who had been a fitness doubt going into the game and was also at fault for Liverpool’s first two goals.

But the City boss said: “We are recovering. It is not easy to recover from that game but we are recovering.

“The players are very conscious of what we are fighting for and the only duty we must do is to win our games.”

Sunderland proved tough opponents for City when the sides met in the Capital One Cup final last month.

Since then the Black Cats’ plight has worsened considerably and they are now seven points from safety at the foot of the table.

Pellegrini said: “I think it is very dangerous, the position that they are in the table more dangerous than a match that was one month ago.

“Sunderland are in a very bad position and they know they have to win so they will be very dangerous.”

City will be without key midfielder Yaya Toure, who limped off just 19 minutes into Sunday’s game with a leg injury and will be out for 10 days to a fortnight.

That means he could also miss matches against West Brom and Crystal Palace but the problem does not appear as bad as first feared.

“Yaya has a muscle injury,” Pellegrini said. “We will see with the doctor how many days.

“Maybe it is not so hard as we thought at the beginning, but I think he needs at least 10 days or two weeks to recover.”

Pellegrini

Toure out for two weeks ANCHESTER City will be M missing talismanic midfielder, Yaya Toure, for up to two weeks due to a groin injury.

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure could be back in action within a fortnight, manager Manuel Pellegrini has suggested.

There were fears the influential Ivory Coast international could miss the remainder of the season after limping out of Sunday’s defeat at Liverpool with a leg injury.

Pellegrini has now said the problem is not as bad as first thought but Toure could still miss key Barclays Premier League games against Sunderland, West Brom and Crystal Palace.

Pellegrini said: “Yaya has a muscle injury. We will see with the doctor how many days.

“Maybe it is not so hard as we thought at the beginning but I think he needs at least 10

days or two weeks to recover.”

City will hope Toure will be fit to return for City’s vital trip to Everton on May 3.

The loss at Anfield left thirdplaced City trailing leaders Liverpool by seven points, although they still have two games in hand.

They play the first of those extra fixtures on Wednesday as Sunderland visit the Etihad Stadium in a rearranged game.

Captain Vincent Kompany, who suffered an injury scare prior to what proved a chastening afternoon, and top scorer Sergio Aguero have both been declared fit.

Aguero played 22 minutes off the bench on his comeback after a five-game absence with a hamstring injury.

Pellegrini said: “Vincent is okay. He is fit, he is in the squad list.

“Sergio is in the squad list also. We will see tomorrow (today) who the 11 starters (are).”

Wednesday, April 16, 2014 SPORT

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Average college footballer is worth $178,000

Djokovic storms past Montanes in Monte Carlo EFENDING champion Novak Djokovic was in rampant form as he thrashed Albert Montanes at the Monte Carlo Open.

The world number two got a bye into the second round and beat Montanes 6-1 6-0 in 45 minutes to reach the third round.

Djokovic lost only five points in the second set, in his first match on clay since last year’s French Open.

“You never know how you’re going to react and I lost only one game so there are not too

D

this year, with the singles champions each receiving 1.65m euros (£1.36m).

That is an increase of 150,000 euros on the cheques picked up by champions Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams last year and an overall increase of three million euros.

The biggest increases have come for those losing in the early rounds.

Wimbledon is set to announce changes to its prize fund later this month.

The total prize pot at Wimbledon last year was

HAT would the average W college football player be worth on the free market? A

many bad things I can say about my game,” said Djokovic.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga progressed to the third round but had a tougher time before eventually beating Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4 1-6 6-4.

Grigor Dimitrov also needed three sets to beat Marcel Granollers 6-2 4-6 6-2 in the first round, while Andreas Seppi beat Mikhail Youzhny 6-3 7-6 (7-4) and Michael Llodra defeated Jerzy Janowicz 6-4 6-2.

French Open increase in prize money pot to £20.6m HE French Open will pay £22.56m, with winners Andy T prize money of more Murray and Marion Bartoli than 25m euros (£20.6m) each taking home cheques of £1.6m.

Players at this year’s French Open - which starts in Paris on 25 May - who are beaten in the second and third rounds will pick up 20% more prize money than last year.

That equates to 42,000 and 72,000 euros respectively with the fourth-round losers taking home 125,000 euros a 25% increase.

Tournament director Gilbert Ysern said: “This significant increase is part of the four-year plan developed for the years 2013 to 2016. It specifically targets players eliminated in the first week.”

63

report from Drexel University and the National Collegiate Players Association says $178,000.

The results of the survey were released Monday and are clearly more ammunition for the unionization efforts at Northwestern University after the National Labor Relations Board ruled scholarship players were classified as employees of the university. The NCPA is helping facilitate the Northwestern union push.

“The bidding war for athletes would likely be in the millions,” said Ellen Staurowsky, a professor of sports management at Drexel University and co-author of the report.

Djokovic

Government Junior College, Ketu-Epe wins Olulade football tourney T was excitement for stuIGovernment dents and teachers of Junior College, Ketu-Epe, as the school male football team emerged champions at the maiden edition of Hon. Olusegun Olulade football competition for junior secondary schools.

The Ketu-Epe young lad defeated Okemagba Junior High School 1-0 in the final, which took place at the GCK football field.

Apart from capturing the trophy, the sports master of

Government Junior College, Ketu-Epe, Mr. Adeoso was given sponsorship for a 12month advance coach training course by the tournament sponsor (Hon. Olulade).

The school smiled home with a cash prize of N100,000, a trophy, a football, 16 medals and complete set of jersey for the players, while Okemagba Junior College, which finished second position went home with a cash prize of N50,000,

16 medals, a football and a complete set of Jersey for the players.

The principal of Government Junior College, Ketu-Epe, Mr. Ikuseyidunmi Pius Bababo was very delighted for the success of his boys, just as he commended the sponsor for his kind gesture. He advised other philanthropists to emulate the good work of Hon. Olulade for the development of sports at the grassroots.

Oshin Babatunde, a JSS-3 student of Government College, Ketu-Epe emerged the best player of the tournament.

Some of the dignitaries present at the final were Hon. Tobun Abiodun, Hon. Olusegun Olulade, Alhaji Chief Akanni Seriki (BAMU), representative of Commissioner for Education, traditional rulers, including the Alara of Alara, Alaketu of Ketu, Aladesonyin of Noforija, Omola of Odomola and Uraka of Doka.

TheGuardian

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Adejoh Idoko Momoh

‘

OME with me for a second as I tell you C the story of Jibril. Born in a remote village in Kogi State, Jibril would soon grow tired of a society that offered him no opportunities for growth either as an entrepreneur or a government employee. His decision to leave for Lokoja and ultimately Abuja in search of a better life would see him fall out of favour with his parents. With no family or money, Jibril would manage to start life in Abuja as a ‘bag carrier’ in a motor park. Having learnt frugality, his meager earnings adequately would meet his needs.

One day, he is approached by a young, white bearded fellow who invites him to lunch, then buys him a steady supply of food. They talk about Nigeria’s state and he introduces him to a community of young idealists from where he finds a wife. Their beliefs are much like his: The shared hatred for a society that has purposefully denied them livelihood and the awareness that someday they would contribute to building the very same society. Two weeks pass and a car bomb would go off close to Abuja’s Eagles Square, the suicide bomber? Jibril.

Casual observers would ask, ‘how does a young man with big city dreams decide to end his life suddenly?’ The answer is quite simple; he waited long, prayed, hoped and jumped at the first opportunity that presented itself. The man who took him to lunch would simply be a recruiter, and the idealistic people who became his family and offered him board, simply belonged to a school for suicide bombers. This story as you might suspect is obviously made up, but think to suicide bomber recruitment tales you have heard and you would find the above scenario familiar.

Depending on whom you ask, Nigeria’s unemployment rate is about 21-24 per cent.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) would peg it at 21 per cent and the Central Bank of Nigeria would argue that it is 24 per cent. In either of these scenarios’, 39-41 million Nigerians are unemployed; this is besides a 10 million unschooled school age children population out of which nine million are northerners and a 112 million population of Nigerians that live below the poverty level of $1 or Nigerian Naira 160.

Putting it plainly and perhaps presenting it in grimmer light, a worrisome 65 per cent of Nigerians live below the poverty line and a significant portion of them without jobs or schooling and therefore not capable of contributing in ideas and initiatives to Nigeria’s development goals.

If what the National Population Commission says is true and Nigeria’s pop-

‘

We must be determined to go out en masse, demand change. Demand electricity, education, good roads and jobs. We must demand that our lives are of value and ask our government to stop senseless killings in the north. Doing anything less would simply be building a country for terrorists

’

Please send reactions and feedback for YOUTH SPEAK to:

editorial@risenetworks.org and 07067976667- SMS ONLY

Building a nation for terrorists

Millions of Nigerians are unemployed and even the employed do not earn enough in wages to cover the cost of feeding and accommodation, the government must create more jobs, provide capital to businesses so long as such businesses would create skilled jobs. Parents must ensure their children are taught proper Nigerian values of tolerance and understanding, unity and peace and progress

’

ulation grows at the rate of 5.6 million per annum, then all Nigerians have genuine reasons to worry about the current state of affairs in our country and the way things would progress. From predictions by the Commission, in 2020 there would be 221 million Nigerians who would if things stay as they are, be undereducated, poverty

stricken and probably raised in circumstances similar to Jibril’s. Imagine what fertile ground Nigeria would become for recruiting terrorists? Besides the 419 posture Nigeria has since taken in the international community, we would also have the reputation of grooming terrorists. You could choose to look on the bright side and say it would be better than the reputation

The YOUTHSPEAK Column which is published daily is an initiative of THE GUARDIAN, and powered by RISE NETWORKS, Nigeria’s Leading Youth Development Centre, as a substantial advocacy platform available for ALL Nigerian Youth to engage Leadership at all levels, engage Society and contribute to National Discourse on diverse issues especially those that are peculiar to Nigeria. Regarding submission of articles, we welcome writers‘ contributions by way of well crafted, analytical and thought provoking opinion pieces that are concise, topical and non-defamatory! All articles (which are not expected to be more than 2000 words) should be sent to editorial@risenetworks.org To read the online Version of this same article plus past publications and to find out more about Youth Speak, please visit www.risenetworks.org/youthspeak and join the ongoing National Conversations’’.

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OLOJA

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we have now of being a consumer nation that imports everything and exports nothing, at least then, we would still be a consumer nation but one that exports terrorists.

Our society owes it to us to create opportunities for growth and development: If the potential suicide bomber is exposed to options that go beyond unemployment, poverty, disenfranchisement, there would be a reduction in unrest. Just look to typical Nigerian examples, states like Lagos and Osun who have about seven per cent and three per cent unemployment respectively record the rarest cases of terrorism while states in Nigeria’s North like Borno and Yobe which both have double digit unemployment rates record the highest prevalence of violence. What immediately is clear from the above is that the larger the set of economic options available to an individual, the lower the likelihood or the willingness to be involved in terrorism or any such activities.

In conclusion, we must realise that everyone has a responsibility in all of this.

Nigeria currently ranks 147th in the ease of doing or starting a business. Government must make concerted efforts to improve this; it must cheapen tuition rates and make primary education qualitative and compulsory. Millions of Nigerians are unemployed and even the employed do not earn enough in wages to cover the cost of feeding and accommodation, the government must create more jobs, provide capital to businesses so long as such businesses would create skilled jobs. Parents must ensure their children are taught proper Nigerian values of tolerance and understanding, unity and peace and progress. They must also ensure that these children are availed all the opportunities they can provide and we the youth must realise that the change for a better nation we seek is not in the hands of future leaders, it is in the hand of the leaders of today.

We must be determined to go out en masse, demand change. Demand electricity, education, good roads and jobs. We must demand that our lives are of value and ask our government to stop senseless killings in the north. Doing anything less would simply be building a country for terrorists.