Tue 22 April 2014 by The Guardian Newspaper

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,899

‘Nigeria to lose billions in new wave of import duty, tax waivers’

Bidders for Shell’s oil blocks under scrutiny By Our Reporter ROMOTERS of the oil firms that have submitted bids for the four oil blocks from which Shell is divesting its holdings have come under serious scrutiny from global anti-graft institutions and foreign governments. The four oil wells in which Shell has a 45 per cent stake are OML-18, OML-29, OML-25 and OML-24. Successful bidders for the four blocks may pay close to $5 billion for the stakes held by Shell in conjunction with two other international oil companies. The global institutions, respected for their thorough approach to unearthing sleaze and hard stance on same, are poised to ensure that only persons with transparent business records with no link whatsoever to indi-

ITING wrongheadedness, C the Nigerian Auto Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (NAMA) has faulted the new wave of import duty waivers granted by the Federal Government to unnamed businessmen to import cars into the country. In three separate letters written to President Goodluck Jonathan, Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as well as Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, signed by NAMA Executive Secretary, Arthur Madueke, the car manufacturers complained that the import waiver will CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Ogun security agents prevent attack on ritualists’ den - Page 5

viduals and bodies believed to have benefitted from proceeds of corruption are allotted the blocks. The agencies are said to be working in league with the EFCC, ICPC and foreign governments looking into sources of funds of the bidding firms. A top official of Shell admitted that the oil firm was under serious pressure to ensure that “politically-exposed persons or those who have corruptly enriched themselves” are not handed the blocks. Firms linked to such individuals who are serving jail terms either in or out of the country or granted reprieve following their conviction are under serious scrutiny and will have their dossiers CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Another stock of contaminated fish discovered in Lagos - Page 7 U.S. teenager survives five-hour flight in wheel well - Page 12

A boy entertaining bystanders with his bicycle at a procession during the yearly Lagos Carnival to mark the Easter holiday... yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Cameron criticised for tagging Britain a Christian country - Page 12

Only 39 of 134 abducted girls have returned, say parents From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri ARENTS of abducted feP male students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, have said only 39 out of the 134 kidnapped girls escaped and have already joined them in their respec-

tive houses in Biu, Gwoza, Damboa and other communities. They also told Governor Kashim Shettima yesterday at Chibok that contrary to government figure of 44 escaped girls, 95 students are still being held by the Boko Haram insurgents in Sam-

bisa Forest. The aggrieved and traumatised parents spoke at the premises of the destroyed school when the governor paid them a sympathy visit yesterday. One of the parents, Malam Shettima Haruna, told the governor that since last Tues-

day’s incident, they have been having sleepless nights as they took courage and entered the forest looking for their daughters, but their search and rescue mission was fruitless. “Your Excellency, we want to seize this opportunity to thank you for the visit and for

identifying with us at this sorrowful moment, but the truth of the matter is that only 39 out of about 134 students have so far been rescued, and we want to emphasise that we are not happy with this development. In as much as we continue praying for the safe return of our

daughters, we appeal to government and our security operatives to please intensify the search for our missing innocent children,” Haruna said. Amos Chiroma, who was among the search and rescue CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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‘Only 39 of 134 abducted girls have returneds’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 team, said that they saw a lot of strange things in the forest, adding that only prayers and fasting by all and sundry can rescue the 95 abducted girls. “While we were in the bushes of Sambisa with over 200 volunteers who only had cutlasses, bows and arrows and sticks, we came across different make-shift camps suspected to be owned by terrorists,” Chiroma said. According to him, ‘it is unfortunate that we have to withdraw from the rescue and search operation. When we met one Good Samaritan in the forest, he advised that all of us should go back because the camp we were approaching was a death trap set by insurgents. He said if

soldiers were able to join us to the forest, our missing children will be rescued or rather the parents will be satisfied if they can see the dead bodies of their daughters.” It would be recalled that there was a misleading report from both the military and Borno State government on the number of missing students which has attracted global outrage, but the truth however came out yesterday when the governor visited Chibok town. Governor Shettima while addressing parents of the abducted students sympathised with them over the unfortunate incident, and pledged to deploy all human and material resources towards the safe release of the remaining girls.

stakeholders to a SouthEast/South-South Development Forum 2014 to deliberate on the region’s development challenges towards a progressive 2035 roadmap. With the theme, “Walking the Talk,” the event holds this Thursday and Friday at the Grand Hotel, Asaba, Delta State, with President Goodluck Jonathan as chief guest of honour. The forum is an avenue for stakeholders to critically analyse and proffer development solutions for the regions in the key focus areas of agriculture, industry, tourism and entertainment,

PHOTO: OSENI YUSUF

‘Nigeria to lose billions in new wave of import duty, tax waivers’

S’East-S’South development forum 2014 begins Thursday HE South-East/SouthT South Professionals of Nigeria (SESSPN) is inviting

Holiday-makers at the Bar Beach for Easter celebration in Lagos… yesterday.

oil and gas, and the enablers such as infrastructure, power, education, healthcare, finance and investment, institutions and legislation, and security. Chairing the forum on the first day is Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, while Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd) chairs the forum on the second day. Also playing key role at the event are Senator Liyel Imoke, Chief Theodore Orji and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Others include Prof. Pat Utomi, Austin Avuru, Emmanuel Ijewere, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, High Chief Edem Duke, Mike Onolememen, Ambassador Joe Keshi, Dumo LuluBriggs, Ernest Nwapa, Ken Etete, Sam Amadi, Ndidi Nwuneli and Obi Asika.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 sabotage the new automotive policy launched by the Federal Government and also cause a loss of billions of naira in government revenue. The new auto policy seeks to create employment for Nigerians through the local assembly and the manufacture of cars. The letters titled: “Protest and request for cancellation of one-year duty waiver concession to import vehicles into Nigeria” sought to remind the government that barely six months ago, “we rolled out the drums to congratulate the Federal Government on the monumental stride taken to advance industrialisation in this country when the Federal Executive Council (FEC) announced the National Automotive Policy. Two months ago, President Jonathan launched the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan and the National Enterprise Development Programme. These two projects represent the Federal Government’s initiatives to industrialise this country, diversify our economy and reduce the stranglehold of developed economies on our people. Huge resources to be channelled into this endeavour.” NAMA regretted that “sadly

though, certain elements in our society, in pursuit of personal wealth, are prepared to stop at nothing to scuttle our aspirations to develop as a nation.” The car manufacturers recalled that their association made a passionate plea to government to demonstrate its commitment to the National Automotive Policy released six months ago, by patronising automotive assembly companies that have demonstrated faith in this economy by investing in manufacturing facilities in Nigeria. They said: “Our members (19 in number and growing) made a representation to the Nigerian Economic Summit team handling the preparation for the World Economic Forum to be hosted in Nigeria in May 2014. We undertook to supply vehicles to the summit at our expense and indicated our preparedness to pay duty as may be agreed by government for these vehicles. These letters we submitted to the World Economic Summit group in January 2014. There was no constructive engagement or response to this offer.” They therefore regretted that they had come to learn that the government has issued a letter of duty waiver valid for one year from Febru-

ary 2014 to certain auto importers, with no investment in the productive sector, to import 290 luxury vehicles for the purpose of the World Economic Summit taking place in May 2014. “This decision is to say the least retrogressive and outrightly scandalous. Our members who have taken the risk of investing in production in Nigeria are having to face up to our greatest fear that well placed vested interest in the auto import trade will work to undermine this policy. A duty waiver valid for one year for a one-week event taking place in May 2014 is an open border to flood our markets with imported vehicles and destroy the domestic market for locally-produced vehicles,” said the association. NAMA then requested the intervention of the President in getting the government to withdraw the said duty waiver letter immediately and cancel same. “We assure you that genuine capacity exists in NAMA to support the Federal Government in meeting the auto requirements of the World Economic Forum, without the request for a total duty waiver. Going ahead with this concession will undermine the investments in the pro-

ductive sector. The issuance of an incentive operative for a period of one year to ship vehicles through our borders without a dime duty, tax or VAT payment promises to usher in another era of treasury looting, information that will not go down too well in the public domain in an election year. We reiterate the preparedness of our members to supply the vehicular requirements of the World Economic Forum without request for any duty waiver.” NAMA assured that it believed in the transformational agenda of the President and were prepared to stand behind him to thwart efforts aimed at sabotaging his vision and agenda for a prosperous country. In compliance with the government directive on the waivers, the Comptroller (Import and Export) of the Nigeria Customs Service, Jibrin, M. had, in a letter dated April 7, 2014 titled “Re-Import Duty, VAT, and other taxes waiver Certificate” with reference number NCS/ADM/MGT/030/S.51/C/V.111 directed area controllers at the major sea ports to act on the “approval of the President and Commander-in-Chief... for a waiver of import duty, VAT and other taxes on the importation of 290 units of as-

Bidders for Shell’s oil blocks for scrutiny CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 sent to Shell Nigeria, its parent company in The Netherlands , the Nigerian authorities and foreign governments. According to Shell official, “one area that cannot be overlooked is the sources of funds of interested bidders and the eventual owners of these assets.” He said the attention of the global community is on Nigeria with the rapacious inclination of many of its officials to milk the treasury dry using willing and conscienceless businessmen and women as fronts. “Imagine the revelations from the on-going probe of the NNPC crude oil swap and you see the extent to which some can go in Nigeria to make illicit gains. As a major player in the global business

field, Shell cannot afford to be indifferent to the global war on corruption and the drive to enthrone ethical conduct in public office,” he said. Former and serving public officers should never be allowed to corner the nation’s patrimony after corruptly enriching themselves using proxies, he added. Also being considered by Shell is the antecedents of the bidding firms. That they have submitted high bids is not enough, their track record in oil exploration, their technical know-how is equally important, an NNPC official in the know of the sale and the concerns of the international community said. He cautioned against a repeat of the recently-concluded sale of the unbundled

firms in the power sector where competence and technical know-how were sacrificed and the attendant worsening of the power situation in the country. Such, he advised, should not be allowed in the current sale of Shell’s stake in the four blocks. Already, the sale of the blocks is well behind schedule. Billed to be concluded within eight weeks, the sale has entered the 12th week, a development that has heightened tension among the bidding firms and also fuelled suspicion about the process. The bidders for the blocks are Dangote/Dansa, Midwestern/Mart/Notore and Sahara Consortium for OML-18; Vertex/Seplat/Maurel & Prom/VP Global, Glencore/Neconde, Transcorp, Aiteo/Taleveras

for OML-29; Lekoil, Crestar, GreenAcres/CCC/Signet Petroleum, NDPR/SAPETRO and Essar for OML-25. Others are Sahara Consortium, PanOcean/Newcross, Shoreline, Aiteo/Taleveras for OML-24. Behind Dangote/Dansa is business mogul and the 25th richest man in the world, Alhaji Aliko Dangote. Midwestern/Notore has Jide Omokore and Wade Chewenko as backers. Tonye Cole, Tope Shonubi and Ade Odunsi are behind Sahara Consortium. Aiteo/Taleveras has Benedict Peters and Igho Sanomi as backers, Transcorp has Tony Elumelu; GreenAcres has Funsho Kupolokun and Basil Omiyi; SAPETRO Gen. Theophilus Danjuma; Lekoil has Lekan Akinyanmi and some other Nigerians as promoters.

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News APC urges release of abducted school girls ROM the All Progressives Fappeal Congress (APC) has come an on the abductors of school girls in Borno State to release them immediately and without conditions, in the spirit of the season. In comments made by the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at the dedication of the N150 million Catholic Church in his hometown of Oro in Kwara State yesterday, the party said whatever grievances the abductors may have, they have nothing to do with innocent school girls. It, therefore, urged the kidnappers to free the girls who remain in their custody and cease forthwith all acts of violence against innocent citizens. “Violence has never resolved any issue. Dialogue is always the preferred and civilised way to go in resolving any conflict, no matter how difficult. We are, therefore, calling on those who have been perpetrating unbridled violence to stop their despicable acts and renounce violence,” APC said. The party congratulated the Church on the successful completion of the magnificent edifice, and hailed it for forging the spirit of love, tolerance and peace within the community.

Traders appeal for lower naira notes traders in Lagos yesterSBankOME day appealed to the Central of Nigeria (CBN) to ease their transactions with customers by injecting adequate lower denomination naira notes into the system. The traders, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said dearth of lower naira notes was affecting the volume of their business activities. A stall owner at Ayobo Market, Mrs. Ayisat Bello, said the major problem she had been facing in the last three months was dearth of lower denomination notes. “All I get from my customers are N1000, N500 notes, even when they buy little things like soap and biscuits. Getting balance ‘change’ is a headache because I don’t have enough lower denomination currency notes. My business is really being affected”, she complained.

Grimari people fled Bangui sit aboard a truck as they are escorted by French troops of the Sangaris Operation (not seen) in Grimari in the Central African Republic on Saturday. Nobel peace laureate Demond Tutu warned that the Central African Republic was ‘‘on the brink of genocide’’, as he urged warring sides to reconcile their differences and ‘‘re-learn to live together.’’ PHOTO:AFP

Umar, Southern Taraba leaders trade words over frequent crisis From Charles Akpeji, Jalingo CTING Governor Garba Umar and some leaders of the southern part of Taraba State are trading words over the cause of what they described as incessant political upheavals in the state. The stakeholders in the southern zone blame constant upheavals on the alleged failure by Umar to continue with the Governor Danbaba Suntai’s road-map to peace. But the governor described the allegation as false and baseless. According to the stakeholders, Umar’s alleged lukewarm attitude to the raging crisis in the state, especially in the southern zone, which has led to wanton destruction of lives and property, was designed by him to destabilise the area so as not to achieve the dream of producing the next governor in 2015. In a statement made available to journalists by stakeholders in the southern part

of the state yesterday, they expressed sadness that in spite of the alleged sudden increase in the security vote of the state by Umar from N80 million to N200 million, the insecurity in the state is yet to be tackled. The statement, which was jointly signed by Manu Benjamin Caleb, Hajiya Asmau Sansani, Daniel Danbu, Atoshi Samuelson, Hajiya Nana Danladi, Greg Terlumun Tor, Ezekiel Yusuf, Abubakar Dan-Atiku and Irimiya Edward Rimande, reads further: “The ongoing mayhem is well worked out blue-print to destabilise the zone and institute a reign of terror, especially now that it is clear the zone is ready to produce the next governor in 2015 general elections.” They said Suntai is known for his effective restoration of peace to a once-troubled state and wondered why Umar has failed to tread his path. “Suntai achieved the feat by encouraging harmony

among the people and by being fair and just with the entire groups, irrespective of religion or ethnic background. “Suntai was also the grandmaster of swift response to skirmishes. Normally, Suntai would not even allow a situation to get out of hand before reacting. He was adept at getting to the root cause of any crisis through intense dialogue and consultation, thus nipping them in the bud. And by enlisting the assistance of groups and community leaders, he achieved a lot in promoting peace. A Christian, Suntai was even closer to Muslims and made them feel at home.” According to them, the situation changed immediately Umar came on board. They stressed the need for President Goodluck Jonathan to, as a matter of urgency, intervene so as to put an end to the incessant bloodletting. “We, therefore, urge the President to call Umar to order

by directing him to dust up the master-plan of Governor Suntai in providing Taraba State with peace; after all, before Umar came, the Hausa, Tiv, Jukuns and all the other groups in Southern Taraba had lived together in peace. It is not as if the basis for hostility was not there, but, as pointed out above, Suntai managed the differences in an effective way.” In a swift reaction to the allegation, Special Assistant to Umar on Media and Publicity, Aron Atmas, described the allegation as “false and baseless”, stating that “it is an act of irresponsibility for anybody to think that the acting governor is behind the crisis in the southern part of the state.” According to the governor, “What is happening is an attack by unknown Fulani people. It is a national problem. The accusation is baseless and has not done justice to the victims of the crisis. No responsible government will deliberately promote anarchy.”

Ogun security agents prevent attack on suspected ritualists’ den From Charles Coffie-Gyamfi, Abeokuta TWO-STOREY building in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, suspected of being used as a ritualists’ den, was nearly razed yesterday by irate youths but for the quick intervention of a combined team of policemen, men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Vigilance Service Organisation (VSO). The building, located in Ijaye, a very busy area of the state capital, was rumoured to be serving as a ritualists’ den. Based on the rumour, angry

mob, mostly youths, stormed the building and attempted to burn it down. But the prompt intervention of the Police from the State Special Crime Unit, the Adatan Police Station, the state VSO and the special unit of the NSCDC, prevented the mob from carrying out the plan. At the time of the attempted attack, most of the occupants were away. When the mob got uncontrollable, the security team that rushed to the scene had to fire several shots into the air to scare the youth. The incident not only led to commuters scampering for safety but also

caused long traffic jam. A cameraman attached to the state owned television station, OGTV, was among those who sustained injuries at the scene of the incident. Spokesman of the VSO, Mr. Soji Ganzallo, who spoke with newsmen, said: “The rumour came from nowhere and before we knew what was happening, there had been distress calls from all our units at Ijaiye area. When we got here (venue of the incident), we decided to seek the permission of the Balogun of Ijaiye, who equally had received similar distress call.”

Ganzallo said that sensing the situation was getting tensed “as stones were already being thrown at the building, shattering the glass windows, we decided to invite some youth leaders in the community and together we, all searched all the rooms from the first to the last floor and found nothing.” The Balogun Ijaiye, Alhaji Chief Balogun Alemo, confirmed that the intervention of the Police and the VSO and Civil Defence prevented the burning of the house. “I do not know where the rumour came from, but, this is very

bad and we are going to investigate it”. “The owner of the building lives outside Abeokuta, while other tenants were not around. The only female occupant, who simply identified herself as Tolu, said she was doing some house chores when she noticed heavy presence of people around the compound”. About two weeks ago, a storey building located at Adigbe, also a busy area in Abeokuta, was completely burnt down by angry youths for allegedly being used as ritualists’ den as well as “baby-factory”.

Marketers seek payment of N53.6b fuel subsidy claims by FG AJOR oil marketers in the M country have pleaded with the Federal Government to pay subsidy claims to avoid fuel scarcity. The Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers’ Association of Nigeria, Mr. Obafemi Olawore, who made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday, claimed that the outstanding subsidy claims stood at N53.6 billion. “As at April 1, we were still owed an outstanding of over N53.6 billion by government on subsidy, which makes it extremely difficult for marketers to import products into the country. “Most major and independent marketers who received Sovereign Debt Note from Debt Management Office last time never had it translated to cash from banks. “We appealed to the Ministry of Finance to approve payment of our subsidy claims because this had made it difficult for some marketers to get loans from banks,” he said. Olawore also advised the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to start importation of second quarter allocation of petroleum to avoid fuel crisis. “Delay on allocation of importation might cause product scarcity in the country if not managed carefully,” he said. He alleged that the N41 billion that was recently paid to marketers did not reflect total arrears owed marketers to date. He promised that the association would ensure total support for government in ensuring a robust petroleum distribution across the country if the association’s plea is taken seriously.

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6 NEWS Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Fayemi assures 132 communities of development grant

‘Adoption of 70 per cent majority saved confab’ From Eric Meya, Sokoto MEMBER of the National Conference from Sokoto, Prof. Sambo Juniadu, has said the adoption of 70 per cent majority in taking decisions diffused tensions and allayed the fears that membership of the conference was skewed in favour of Christians against Muslims. Junaidu, who is a federal delegate from Sokoto State, explained that with its adoption, the delegates now know that they needed the support of one another to reach consensus and that they were not there to fight for their religion. However, he said that as an elder statesman on federal delegation, the whole country was his constituency and he would consider issues in the best interest of Nigeria. He said the northern agenda to the conference was to promote the unity of Nigeria. According to him, the north also favours resource control, but adequate resources, as was expended in prospecting for petroleum, should also be spent in developing mineral resources in other parts of the country. “We are in support of true federalism. What we have now is more or less a unitary federation,” he said. “Let the Federal Government undertake research and exploit every mineral in every state and to everybody’s satisfaction, and every state can now work together as a federating unit.” He observed that the

Lamido of Adamawa, who supported disintegration, was airing his personal view, as nobody who means well for his country could wish disintegration for Nigeria given the experience of countries like Central African Republic, Ukraine, Libya and many others. Recalling that both the late premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, and former Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa promoted unity and religious tolerance during their time and worked with both Christians and Muslims for the development of the country, he wondered why citizens find it difficult to do the same now. And though he said the conference was desirable because it has brought people together to discuss the nation’s problems, he argued that it is a duplication of the work of the National Assembly, adding that a three-month conference would definitely not achieve what the long tenured National Assembly could not achieve. He suggested that the outcome of the conference should be passed to the National Assembly for members’ input and harmonisation. Junaidu is Chairman of the Advisory Council on Religious Affairs to the Sultanate Council and Executive Secretary of the Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki Foundation, is a Professor of Arab Literature at the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto.

From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti N furtherance of the commitIensuring ment of his administration to rapid development of

Women belonging to historical groups dressed as ancient Romans dance in Rome’s Circus Maximus to mark the anniversary of the legendary foundation in 753 BC of the eternal city .. yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

It will take 88 months to repay N31.5b I borrowed, says Elechi From Nnamdi Akpa, Abakaliki

OVERNOR Martin Elechi has said it will take the next governor of Ebonyi State 88 months to repay the N31.5 billion his administration borrowed from the capital market. At a town hall meeting in Abakaliki, the governor noted that it is not wrong for him to borrow, maintaining that he took loan to complete some of the projects his administration has embarked upon. The new N15 billion bond, which was approved by the House of Assembly generated a heated argument as the same projects which the governor cited as the reason for borrowing the first N16.5 billion are also the same projects the governor is citing for borrowing the recent N15 billion. Some of the projects the governor mentioned include international market, two mega water schemes at Oferekpe, Ukwua and Ochu Udo as well as the development of the stateowned university estimated at $500 million.

According to the governor, the breakdown shows that it would take his successor a period of four months to repay the N16.5 billion, he borrowed from the capital market in 2010 and 88 months to repay the N15 billion the state borrowed recently from the same capital market. Further breakdown by Elechi showed that the state is owing about N6 billion and so of the N16.5 billion, more than N6 billion would be for paying existing debt, meaning that the state had only N10 billion for the new projects. “The international market is projected to cost N17.2 billion on completion. Only N5 billion out of the bond money went into it. It was only when the United Bank of Africa, out of pleasant surprise and admiration that we are utilising the bond facilities effectively, offered us another short term loan to finance Ebonyi water projects.” “The two water schemes, plus the transmission, are going to cost a little over

N20 billion, but only N2.6 billion out of the bond money went into it. A few roads were selected for support from the bond facilities and out of the N8.4 billion expended on those roads, only N2.020 billion came from the bond facility,” Elechi said. According to the governor, “Borrowing is not a new phenomenon. The bond of 2010 was programmed to be paid in full by September 2015, meaning that when we bow out, the next administration will only pay it for four months and that will be the end. But that will not be the end of our problems. We have to refinance the existing debt in order to make the loan lighter so as to have an advantage over the situation that is prevailing now.” Elechi said the Federal Government advised him to take the bond since the $250 million his American consultants applied for on his behalf from America would not come on stream before 2016, because it is an offshore loan that is subject to approval by the National Assembly.

all parts of Ekiti State, the State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has assured the 132 communities and farmsteads in the state that the payment of the second tranche of aids given them for their self-help projects would be made this month. The governor, who gave this assurance in Isan-Ekiti during his quarterly meeting with representatives of Community Development Associations across the state yesterday, said the meeting was called to review all the projects being funded by the grant-in-aids programme. The various CDAs were represented at the meeting by their chairmen and secretaries at the meeting where Fayemi said the programme is already realising its set goal especially as some communities have completed their projects while some are at advanced stages of completion.

Nasarawa to resettle displaced Tiv From Msugh Ityokura, Lafia ONSEQUENT upon the posiC tive results of the community-based conflict resolution approach in Nasarawa State, the Fulani herdsmen have unanimously agreed to assist the state government in returning the displaced Tiv communities to their ancestral homes. Speaking yesterday at the Government House in Lafia during a peace meeting with leaders of the Fulani in the state, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura regretted the frequency of the crises and stressed the need for distilling of information in order to achieve lasting peace. According to Al-Makura, “the displaced persons will be taken to their homestead and be settled temporary in groups at designated settlements close to their farms while food, shelter and security will be provided to cushion their living.” “The security operatives that would be attached to the returnees will be detailed to patrol the areas on frequent basis in order to build confidence in their minds. My administration will not condone issues connected with insurgency, militias or interfering with lives and property.”

Shonekan preaches tolerance, raises hope of better Nigeria By Isaac Taiwo ORMER Head of the FGovernment, Interim National Chief Ernest Shonekan, has expressed confidence in the on-going national conference, adding that it is essential that Nigeria remains one, strong and united country. Speaking at the weekend at the conclusion of 2014 Easter Concert of the Apostolic Faith Church (Choir and Orchestra) with the theme: “The Gains of Calvary” which took place at the Church Camp Ground, Anthony Village, Lagos, Shonekan said he was confident that Nigeria will be greater than what it is now as long as Nigerians are ready to tolerate one another. His words: “I know that the problems confronting our nation are enormous, but

the loving God has kept the nation together as an entity. I believe God will direct us the way and manner to tackle all the problems. “There is no country, individual or organisation that would make progress without going through the kind of challenges the nation is passing through today, and I am sure God will show us the way out. “I am quite sure that a lot of people would be surprised that Nigeria is one of the largest economies in Africa, which in any case, should not come as a surprise. However, we cannot build on this if we continue fighting and destroying one another. God has blessed this nation and there is no cause for fighting one another. We have to strive as much as possible to see that we love one another.

“We have to take advantage of this season we are celebrating to forgive one another. We need a lot of prayers so that the country will continue to be one and we have to plead with God to forgive us our sins. We are one fifth of the black race and in every four Africans, there must be one Nigerian.” Also speaking at the programme, the District Superintendent, Apostolic Faith, West and Central Africa, Bayo Adeniran called on Nigerians to benefit from the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. He urged Nigerians to take a cue from the work of redemption that Jesus wrought, taking note of the fact that pain precedes gain. “Man lost the character of God and the privilege of God dominating his heart but God in his infinite love gave us His

only begotten Son, Jesus Christ who took our place on the cruel tree, paid the price of our iniquity and became an example for all of us. “He came to restore God’s character in us and when you see a person that has the character of God, such a man would not hurt a fellow man. He will not steal in his place of work. “A leader with the character of God will want to give his life for the people and not to take all that belong to the people. This is the example Jesus Christ came to give. It is unfortunate that man lives like an animal as if everything ends here on earth, but there is eternity and more-so, when we perceive one another as creatures of only One Living God and that we will give account of ourselves to Him one day, we will fear greatly.”

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 NEWS

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Stakeholders seek legal backing for building code Say collapsed buildings not due to cement quality From Karls Tsokar, Abuja O secure and sanitise the industry, stakeholders in the building and construction sector have called on the Federal Government to give legal backing to the National Building Code through appropriate legislation. In a communiqué at the end of the Second Lafarge National Dialogue series in Abuja, with the theme, “Building Collapse: An Assessment of Building Practices in Nigeria and the Imperative for Sustainable Construction”, the stakeholders also maintained that the quality of cement was not responsible for the collapse of buildings in the country. They asked that the Building Code, which came into force in 2006, be forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration and passage, to help achieve the desired sanity and safety in the building industry. It noted that the code, though accepted by all stakeholders since it came into force, was yet to receive the required legal backing, just as it called for an improved elec-

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) (right); Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and erstwhile Secretary to the Government (SGF) of the Federation, Sir Ufot Ekaette, during the 75th birthday celebration of the former SGF, in Abuja…on Sunday

‘Nigeria has best disease surveillance system in Africa’ By Chukwuma Muanya, who was in Luanda, Angola S Nigeria joins the rest of A the world to mark this year’s Immunisation Week,

beginning from today to 27th, the country, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), has the best disease surveillance system in Africa and has achieved 82 per cent immunisation coverage. Minister of Health and Chairman, African Union (AU) Health Ministers, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, told newsmen in Luanda, Angola, during the just-concluded first African Ministers of Health Meeting that the country was also ready to contain any possible outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease and was working hard to develop a vaccine. Against the backdrop of the

• Ready for possible Ebola outbreak • WHO set to prevent new infections WHO rating, however, Chukwu said the country still has “a lot of work to do to make it what it should be,” though there is no doubt now that the nation’s system is firm on ground. “We are doing a survey to actually know the true position in terms of our immunisation coverage. But administrative data for now suggest that we have 82 per cent coverage.” On Nigeria’s readiness to contain Ebola virus, Chukwu said: “Yes, we are ready. That was why we were able to handle a case that people thought was Ebola but turned out to be Dengue. Mind you, to develop a vaccine is very expensive but

work is ongoing, whether for Ebola, Lassa fever or Dengue. As of today, we do not have a vaccine, the only haemorrhagic fever that has a vaccine is yellow fever.” According to WHO, haemorrhagic fever is a general term for a kind of severe illness, sometimes associated with bleeding, that may be caused by a number of viruses. The term is usually applied to the disease caused by Arenaviridae (lassa fever, junin and machupo), Bunyaviridae (crimean-congo haemorrhagic, rift valley and hantaan haemorrhagic fever), Filoviridae (ebola and marburg) and Flaviviridae (yellow fever, dengue, omsk haemor-

rhagic fever and kyasanur forest disease). Also, WHO said yesterday that as the Ebola outbreak evolves in Guinea and Liberia, it continues to expand its activities by sending additional expertise to assist in all areas of the response. It said in a statement: “More than 65 public health experts are working with WHO and its Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) partners, assisting ministries of health and other partners in the two countries. “This work includes supporting clinical management of patients, contact tracing, disease surveillance, laboratory work, logistics, as well as communications and sharing of information to help people living in communities protect themselves from the disease. “In addition to caring for the

Another stock of contaminated fish discovered in Lagos By Fabian Odum and Gbenga Akinfenwa OR a second time in eight days, the Federal Government yesterday impounded rotten and expired fish stocks, worth N37.6 million, in two different companies in Lagos. In an exercise supervised by officials of the Federal Department of Fisheries (FDF), 95.7 metric tons of distasteful fishes were seized from the cold rooms of two fish importing and marketing firms, Premium Seafoods Limited, Iganmu, and Bexolac Foods Limited, Old Ojo Road, Badagry Expressway. At Premium Seafoods, 62.7mt of mostly herrings, mackerel and Alaska pollacks species worth N25.65 million was seized, while in Bexolac, 33mt of mainly hale, herrings and mackerel were discolored with bloodstains, while others had either changed to black or were poorly packaged. Unconfirmed report

96 tons seized from two companies said the same Indian operator owns the two companies. About a week ago, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), through the FDF, seized and destroyed 3,028 cartons (about 60.5 metric tons) of spoiled fish, which were discovered in the cold room of a Lagos fish trading enterprise. This consists of 2,771 cartons (55MT) of Russian Herring and 256 cartons of different other species of fish. In this case, the company located near the National Theatre at Iganmu did not want any signpost indicating its corporate identity, giving the impression that nothing was going on behind its closed gates. Also, three weeks ago, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, headed a team of ministry officials that raided and seized unwhole-

some stock from a Satellite Town-based fish company. FMARD Acting Director of Fisheries, Foluke Areola, who explained the events that trailed the destruction exercise carried out at Epe, Lagos, said it was in continuation of the ministry’s mop-up exercise intended to deter importers of food products from bringing in unwholesome fishes. She urged fish sellers to ensure that the cartons of fish they procure from cold rooms are neat and not tampered with, to ensure that the product is good for human consumption, adding that the increase in cancer-related diseases has been linked to nutrition. Areola, who cited cases of importers who have always assured of ready-made market in Nigeria for bad fish stocks, said the unwholesome fishes found at

Premium Seafoods and Bexolac Foods were of qualities that should not be consumed. According to the Assistant Director and Head, Quality Control Division of FDF, Mrs. Adunni Adeniyi, Adesina had earlier visited the companies, after which 12 inspectors from the ministry also visited the companies and carried out 100 per cent inspection of the fish stocks. She added that another major problem of the fish stocks is the poor packaging material and labeling, which she described as unacceptable. Meanwhile, the General Manager of Premium Seafoods, Alhaji Tajudeen Olalere, said he could not say that the fish were good or bad because they were still subject to investigation, adding that they have been complying with the FDF, which has been overseeing the companies.

current patients, new infections must be prevented in order to contain the outbreak. Raising awareness of the risk factors for infection and the protective measures that should be taken is the only way to stop transmission and subsequent deaths. “Close, unprotected physical contact with Ebola patients should be avoided, and those who have died from the disease should be promptly and safely buried.” Meanwhile, this year’s African Vaccination Week is themed, “Vaccination - a shared responsibility.” WHO noted that “immunisation prevents between two and three million deaths every year. Without vaccines, global eradication of smallpox and elimination of poliomyelitis and measles from large parts of the world would have been impossible. “New, improved vaccines are now available to protect not just children, but also adolescents and adults. Yet, one in five children and many adults are missing out. A lack of knowledge about vaccination is a key reason some adults consciously choose not to get vaccinated or to vaccinate their children. “For this year’s Immunisation Week campaign, on April 24 to 30, we encourage people around the world to find out what vaccines are available, check their vaccination status and get the vaccines they need.”

tricity supply at production level to stimulate the building industry’s contribution to economic growth. The stakeholders also observed that the lack of steel industries to drive the sector remained a major challenge, noting that lack of efficient and properly equipped laboratories for testing materials have hampered certification and growth process. They noted that incidents of building collapse have remained prevalent despite continued efforts by various professional bodies in the industry and at various tiers of government to check it. According to the communiqué, however, while incidents of building collapse had remained a major challenge, professionals are unanimous that such collapse is not in any way caused by the quality of cement. “Professionals are unanimous that cement is not responsible for building collapse and identify issues such as faulty designs, sharp practices, non-involvement of professionals in building projects, overloading due to change in initial building plans, among others, for economic gains as contributory factors to building collapse,” the communiqué read in part. “There is no substandard cement produced in the country, as the 32.5 strength manufactured by the cement manufacturers is of world standard. “Construction standards should be institutionalised through introduction of courses on standards in the universities and other higher institutions of learning in the country. “There is need to regulate and monitor the entire value chain of steel/metals production, using locally sourced iron ores for better products, in collaboration with local gypsum plants in the country.” It also wants research institutes to develop effective substitute to cement to make more choices available to consumers, adding that building professionals should re- invigorate their effort at stamping out non-professionals from supervising building projects, while manufacturers of building materials should adhere strictly to global standards.

8 NEWS Tuesday, April 22, 2014

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Borno CAN declares three-day prayers over abducted girls

Delta monarch, others urge peace, unity N the spirit of the Easter celebration, the traditional ruler of Idumuje Unor in Aniocha North Local Council Area of Delta State, Obi Charles Anyasi 111 has urged Nigerians and particularly indigenes of the community to thoroughly reflect on the essence of the season and rededicate themselves for peace, unity and progress. In a statement at the community’s 2014 Easter conference, Obi Anyasi urged Nigerians and his people to eschew evil and make sacrifice like Christ did by dying for mankind. Speaking in the same vein, the President General of Idumuje Unor Patriotic Union, Chief Jude Onwochei called for peace, co-operation and the success of the monarch while he awaits the presentation of the staff of office by the Delta State government.

From: Njadvara Musa Maiduguri

HE Borno State Chapter of T Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), has declared a

Director, Kip McGrath Education Center, Ani Ekwonna (right); Area Developer, Kip McGrath Nigeria, Folake Adeniyi (middle), and Public Affairs Adviser, Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN), Clement Iloba, during the commissioning of Kip McGrath Education Centre in Kurudu Abuja at the weekend. PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO

Rights group alerts Plateau over threat of terrorist attack From Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi, Jos and Chuka Odittah, Abuja

• Rotary donates items to Nyanya bomb victims

VEN as the country is still reeling from the Nyanya, Abuja, Federal Capital City bomb blast that claimed over 70 lives, a Switzerland-based Centre for Human Development (CHD), non-governmental organisation (NGO), has urged Plateau State government and citizens to be on the alert over threat of terrorism in the state. This admonition, which was given by CHD in Jos forum at the weekend, noted that such attacks could have a spillover effect in Plateau and warned citizens to be wary and avoid crowded places.

The NGO (CHD) with headquarters in Geneva and African regional office in Nairobi, Kenya, has been conducting inter-communal dialogue and conflict mediation among all the ethnic nationalities in Plateau, especially in Jos North, Jos South, Barakin Ladi and Riyom local council areas where Fulani herdsmen have been ravaging ethnic communities. According to a statement signed by the Senior Advisor, Dr. David Lambo, and chairmen of the steering committees of all the ethnic nationalities in the four local council

areas, Dr. Jonah Madugu, representing the Berom; Aminu Zang, for Anaguta; Zacc Nwakpa, for Igbo; and others, the centre condemned the bomb blast in Nyanya and the recent abduction of school girls by a group suspected to be members of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram. According to the statement, “we, the CHD Jos Forum condemn the recent act of violence perpetrated against innocent civilians at the Nyanya motor park in Abuja on April 14 and the recent abduction of 129 school girls and other crimes in Borno State. “We are distressed by the loss of lives and injury, we send our condolences to all the bereaved and we call on all community members and Nigerian citizens to help those injured or grieving for the loss of family and friends.” The forum stresses the need for all communities to unite for peace and security in the face of such violence. “We implore the government to take proactive steps to prevent violence and recover all the girls that have been abducted. There is the need for more dialogue and cooperation across the spec-

trum of government, civil societies and general populace to ensure greater safety for all.” Meanwhile, following the distress call by victims of the Nyanya bomb blast for help from well meaning Nigerians to augment their hospital bills, members of the Rotary Club, Gwarimpa District, have donated various gift items to patients receiving treatment at the National Hospital over the incident. Barrister James Ugbeda, who led other members of the district’s Rotary Club on the visit, said that the gesture was to show support to victims of the terror attack, adding that it is the belief of the association that service to humanity is paramount to self. While presenting packs containing items such as milk, cocoa products, glucose, Lucozade, Vaseline jelly, bathing soap, toilet rolls to the 24 patients currently receiving treatment at the National Hospital, Ugbeda described the bomb blast patients as victims of circumstance. He added that members of the Rotary Club, Gwarimpa district, were touched by the agonies felt by the victims and

three-day “fasting and prayers” for the unconditional and safe release of abducted girls of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok of which 86 are yet to be rescued from suspected Boko Haram captivity. Declaring the three-day fast and prayers at a news conference yesterday, state chairman of (CAN), Rev. Titus Pona, appealed to members of the Boko Haram sect to release the abducted students unconditionally without being unhurt, before handing them to their parents and guardians in the s t a t e . His words, “we are calling on all Christians in Borno State and Nigeria to fast and pray for the release of more than 100 girls who were kidnapped. I am calling on all Christians to fast and pray so

SURE-P assures over funding of East-West road From Abosede Musari, Abuja

family, hence, the visit to the hospital, but urged them to remain steadfast in prayer for quick recovery of all affected by the bomb attack. According to him, members of the club were ready to donate blood as often as possible to patients who may require it for speedy recovery. Gloria Aghagbobi, an official of the hospital’s information unit, who received the Rotary team on behalf of the Information Department, said that the National Hospital would be glad to receive blood donations for the victims. According to her, plans would be made to enable all members of the club, who wished to donate blood to do so without delay. She added however, that the process would begin with blood screening to guide in blood banking. During the visit, a member of the Rotary Club, Mr. Chibuzor Osuagwu, who incidentally was also affected by the bomb blast, thanked the Rotary Club Gwarimpa for the initiative to reach out to the wounded in the hospital. He explained that such a visit had further lifted his spirit and hoped for speedy recovery.

HE Chairman of the Subsidy T Reinvestment and Empowerment programme (SURE-P) scheme, Gen. Matin Luther Agwai has assured on funding for the completion of the east west road despite competing projects in he 2014 budget. The chairman said this recently at a meeting with Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Darius Ishaku Dickson. The meeting was held to assess the progress made on the major road project and the impact of the N30 billion funding offered by SURE-P in the 2013 fiscal year. Though the minister asked for increased funding without which he said the project completion will have to be shifted to 2015, he commended the management of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), for making 100 per cent release of the budgetary provision made by the programme for the East-West Project in 2013. A statement from the ministry read that the minister laid emphasis on the need to urgently complete the PortHarcourt-Onne end of the road in order to alleviate the suffering of road users in that axis.

Ekiti 2014: Why 13 aggrieved PDP aspirants support Fayose, Aluko From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti HE former Deputy Governor T of Ekiti State, Abiodun Aluko has dispelled the rumours that 13 aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants were bribed to support the candidacy of Mr. Ayodele Fayose for the June 21 governorship election. He said none of the aggrieved aspirants was offered money to drop their protest on how Fayose emerged as the candidate of the party. Aluko pointed out that his support for Fayose was borne out of his own decision as a loyal party man and the enormous respect he has for President Goodluck Jonathan,

whom he said, had pacified the aspirants. The former deputy governor, who was one of the 13 aggrieved PDP governorship aspirants, said this in Ikere Ekiti yesterday during a rally he organised to drum support for Fayose. Aluko said that neither the party nor the Presidency offered him money to support Fayose, saying, “what I did was to show that I am a loyal party man. “I am too politically conscious to know that it is better to be in the PDP, a party that controls the centre and that can be of advantage to the state and my supporters than to defect to APC,” he said.

Aluko, who was a deputy governor during the Fayose-led government, explained that though he was initially opposed to the candidature of his former boss, but decided to put behind whatever misgiving he had about the primaries for his immense love for the PDP. The PDP chieftain urged all his supporters across the state to work assiduously for the victory of the PDP at the poll, assuring that their interests will be protected. He said, “I have no choice than to work for the success of the PDP in the election. I have to work with former Governor, Ayodele Fayose to win the election. “As a loyal party man, I don’t

have to believe that the whole house must collapse because I didn’t get the ticket. I was not desperate for it and whatever grievances I had had been put to rest.” Speaking, Fayose, who lauded Aluko for displaying statesmanship, promised that he would offer leadership that would represent all the shades of interests in the party if elected governor again. Fayose, however, called on Governor Kayode Fayemi to tame the rising wave of capital flights in the state, saying this has crippled the local contractors. He also urged the governor to revert what he described as “the dwindling fortunes of education in the state.”

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

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10 | NEWS Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Chinese engineers conclude plans for auto firm’s take-off From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu Government’s FcarsEDERAL quest for made in Nigeria got a boost at the weekend as a team of Chinese engineers inspected ongoing construction work at the multimillion naira White Horse Automobile Manufacturing Company in Egede, Enugu State. This is to ascertain the level of readiness of the factory in preparation for the eventual take off of auto manufacturing services. This is as contractors handling the construction work of the project, Digit Global Industries, based in the United States has assured of its completion by December this year. Speaking after inspecting the 50,000 square meters site, General Manager, China Big Science & Technology Development Company,

Weilin Wang stated that his company had concluded plans with the Enugu-based White Horse Automobile Company to begin the manufacturing of white horse brand of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and Pick-Up cars from next year. Wang added, “We are the technical partners who will help develop the White Horse SUV and White Horse PickUps. These vehicles will be produced here and we are going to bring in the experts and other resources to compliment what is already on ground. It is a good place and we are very hopeful that the plant will generate enough support and good will to flourish. The automobile manufacturing industry has not thrived well in Nigeria and we are ready to contribute towards its growth and development.” He said about 95 per cent of

the materials that would go into the production of the cars including steel among others would be sourced locally, stressing that a research had been commissioned on how to produce quality and affordable cars for Nigeria. Managing Director of White Horse Automobile Company, Chika Joseph Okechukwu, said vehicles produced in the company would not sell beyond N6 million. He said the company, which had been in the manufacturing of air conditioners and water dispensers decided to diversify taking into account Federal Government’s policy on made in Nigeria cars as well as compliment her operations. “We decided to diversify into the automobile industry taking into account the new automobile policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria, where I know from next year, those who will be driving Nigeria made cars will get the facility at reduce rate, at least 10 per cent off. We also need to develop the economy,” he said.

Benin-Okene road dualisation by the Federal Ministry of Works.

Enugu monarchs defy govt ban on conferment of chieftaincy titles From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu RADITIONAL rulers in T Aninri Local Council in Enugu State have been defiling government directive asking them to stop further conferment of chieftaincy titles in the state until December 31. Despite the directive, the monarchs last weekend conferred a chieftaincy title on Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu. Others who were conferred with chieftaincy titles were the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, Group Managing Director of Setraco Construction Company, Engineer Fayex Khalaf, among others. It could be recalled that the state government through the Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters announced the suspension of conferment of chieftaincy titles by traditional rulers in the state with effect from April 7, 2014. The letter dated April 7, 2014

with reference number MCM/CM/98/T/203 was addressed to all recognized traditional rulers in the state. The letter, which was signed by Ibe Nnamani on behalf of the commissioner, directed traditional rulers in the state not to confer chieftaincy title on any individual between April 7 and December 31, this year. It reads: “I am directed to inform you that Enugu State Government has suspended the conferment of chieftaincy titles on individuals with effect from Monday, 7th April 2014 and ends 31st December 2014 by traditional rulers or group of traditional rulers in Enugu State. “If there is however any reason for which any traditional ruler will confer any title on anybody, a written permission should be obtained from the Hon. Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters. “Please ensure strict adher-

ence to this directive as appropriate sanctions, in line with traditional rulers law will be meted on defaulters.” But the community, which is part of Enugu West Senatorial District where Ekweremadu represents in the National Assembly, said they were honouring Ekweremadu for facilitating the construction of the N12 billion Nenwe-OdumaUburu road being funded by the Federal Government. Addressing the crowd, the Chairman of Oduma Unity Forum, Chief Ezekiel Chukwu, said that it was neither a political rally nor religious crusade but rather an assembly of the people eager to meet the man they have now come to regard as a phenomenon and extraordinary gift from God sent to wipe away their tears. He praised the Deputy Senate President for his pivotal role and contributions in infrastructure and human

development in Enugu West Senatorial Zone and especially Oduma. Speaking shortly after receiving the title during a civil reception at Oduma Primary School, Ekweremadu thanked God for not allowing the event to be ruined, adding that some people tried to scuttle it. He assured the community that the N12 billion Oduma/Nenwe/Uburu Road, which he attracted to the community would be completed soon and expressed happiness that the road has reached advanced stage. He used the occasion to disclose that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration has completed over 200 kilometres of roads in his constituency, stating that the president deserved the support and encouragement of Nigerians. Ekweremadu thanked the monarchs for honouring him, promising that he would continue to do more for them.

Medical director cautions W’African students over unionism From Inemesit Akpan-Nsoh, Uyo NIVERSITY students in U the West African sub region have been warned to refrain from unionism that tends to slow down their academic programme in their respective institutions. This advice was given by the Chief Medical Director of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Professor Etete Peters, yesterday when the executive members of West African Students Union Parliament (WASU) presented him with Kwame Nkrumah Exemplary Leadership honour in Uyo yesterday.

He also cautioned them not to engage in cultism and other social ills in their respective schools. He noted that cultism had always posed great danger to students’ development, which had prevented a lot of students from completing their academic work on time, while also describing the act as an endemic problem that should be tackled frontally. Professor Peters described WASU as a harbinger of freedom and quality education in West Africa, and as future leaders of their respective countries; he charged them to conduct themselves responsibly.

“You have a duty as officials of students union in your institutions. All universities students in West Africa are looking up to you. You should therefore be bold to defend them, your country and Africa at large,” he said. Prof. Peters, who thanked the students union executives for the honour, assured that the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital would continue to strive to provide conducive learning environment for its medical students. Earlier, Speaker of the West African Student Parliament of University of Legion, Ghana, Saint Solomon said that

WASU was formed in 1924 by African students with the sole aim of rescuing them from the jaws of colonialism. He explained that the students union executives nominated the Chief Medical Director for Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award based on his track record of achievement, especially in the area of internal medicine. The union leader said its members are drawn from universities from countries in West Africa. He appealed to government at all levels in the region to pay more attention to the health care of the

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014 |11

PHOTONEWS

President Goodluck Jonathan (left); his mother, Eunice; Executive Secretary, Christian Pilgrims Commission, John Kennedy Opara; Senator Philip Aduda and Youth Development Minister, Boni Haruna, at the Easter Sunday church service at Aso Villa Chapel, Abuja. PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA

Senator Helen Esuene (left); groom’s father, Prof. Jerry Gana; his wife, Lucy; the couple, James and Jessy and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, at the traditional marriage of Prof. Gana’s son in Uyo. PHOTO: NAN

Head, Central Accounts, Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), Sanusi Abdu Ali (left); Chief Enterprise Officer, Central Accounts, BPE ,Eze Callistus; Head, Public Relations, Maryam Mohammed and Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Barrister Victor Muruako, during a meeting in Abuja. PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO

Head, God’s Children Got Talent (GCGT) Reality Competition Coordinators, Sola David-Borha (left); Brand Manager, Coca Beverages, Cadbury, Mobolaji Alalade and GCGT Coordinator, Adedoyin Odunfa, at the media conference on the 4th Season Quarter-Final of GCGT initiative of City of David Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Province 4 Lagos. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Some of the suspected herdsmen and terrorists paraded by Taraba State Police Command.

Chief Operating Officer, Berger Paints, Jatin Madan (left); Managing Director, Aspire International Limited, Godday Okhio; Director, Berger Paints, Dr. Oladimeji Alo; Chairman, Clement Olowokande and Managing Director, Tor Nygard of Berger Paints at the unveiling of New Colour World Outlet in Lekki, Lagos.

Brand Manager, Knorr, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Abimbola Ogunsemi (left); Brand Building Director, Foods, Unilever, Nsima Ogedi-Alakwe; winner in the Knorr Taste Quest Season 2, Dixton Olakunbi and General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Services, Coscharis Group, Abiona Babarinde, during the Knorr Taste Quest Season 2 Grand Finale in Lagos. PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

Senior Instructor, Pquare Driving School, Victor John Osuyak (left); trainee, Psquare Driving School, Adedeji Adetola; Monitor, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Bariga axis, Sulaimon Lateef; a trainee of the driving school, Okpara Chukwuemeka Donatus and wife of the Senior Instructor of the driving school, Patience Osuyak during the seminar organized by the school in Lagos.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

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WorldReport U.S. teenager survives five-hour flight in wheel well 16-year-old boy has surA vived an extraordinary journey hidden in the wheel well of a five-hour flight from California to Hawaii. A spokesman for Hawaiian Airlines said airline staff noticed the boy after the plane landed on Sunday morning. He was questioned by the FBI and given a medical screening and was said to be in a stable condition. The boy is reported to have run away from home and jumped over a fence at San Jose airport to get to the plane. “Our primary concern now is for the well-being of the boy, who is exceptionally lucky to have survived,’’ a spokeswoman for Hawaiian Airlines said. An Orthodox priest blesses protesters during a pro-Russian rally outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk…yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Ukraine peace deal falters, as rebels refuse to surrender N agreement reached last A week to avert wider conflict in Ukraine was faltering as the new week began, with pro-Moscow separatist gunmen showing no sign of surrendering government buildings they have seized. Washington says it will hold Moscow responsible and impose new economic sanctions if the separatists do not clear out of government buildings they have occupied across swathes of eastern Ukraine over the past two weeks. Kiev and Moscow traded accusations over a deadly shooting on Easter Sunday morning, when at least three people were killed at a check-

point manned by armed separatists. Moscow and its separatist allies accused Ukrainian nationalists of attacking the checkpoint; Kiev said Russia had provoked the violence. In a later incident, the Ukrainian defense ministry said gunmen on motorcycles fired on an army checkpoint between Donetsk and Slaviansk shortly after dark on Sunday. The troops opened fire, wounding one attacker and capturing two, it said. Russia, Ukraine, the European Union and the United States signed off on an agreement in Geneva on Thursday, designed to lower

tension in the worst confrontation between Russia and the West since the Cold War. The agreement calls for occu-

ness ties, Japan’s top government spokesman has warned. According to British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Shanghai Maritime Court said it had seized the Baosteel Emotion, owned by Mitsui OSK Lines, on Saturday. It said the seizure related to unpaid compensation for two Chinese ships leased in 1936. The Chinese ships were later used by the Japanese army and sank at sea, Japan’s Kyodo news agency said. “The Japanese government considers the sudden seizure of this company’s ship extremely regrettable,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said yesterday. “This is likely to have, in general, a detrimental effect on Japanese businesses working in China.” The owners of the shipping

company, identified by Kyodo as Zhongwei Shipping, sought compensation after World War Two and the case was reopened at a Shanghai court in 1988, China’s Global Times said. The court ruled in 2007 that Mitsui had to pay 190 million yuan ($30.5m, £18m) as compensation for the two ships leased to Daido, a firm later part of Mitsui, Global Times and Kyodo said. Mitsui appealed against the decision, but it was upheld in 2012, Kyodo said. Kyodo said this appeared to be the first time that a Japanese company asset had been confiscated as warlinked compensation. The seizure comes with ties between Tokyo and Beijing severely strained amid rows over East China Sea islands that both claim and rumbling historical issues. Earlier this year, a court in China for the first time accepted a case filed by Chinese citizens seeking

Cameron criticised for tagging Britain a Christian country RITISH Prime Minister, David Cameron was B accused yesterday of sowing sectarianism and division after stressing in an Easter message that Britain was still a “Christian country”. The criticism came in an open letter signed by 55 public figures, including writers Philip Pullman and Terry Pratchett and the Nobel Prize-

Cyclone threatens search for missing Malaysian plane tropical cyclone was A threatening to hamper the search for a missing Malaysian jetliner in a remote stretch of the Indian Ocean yesterday, as a submarine drone neared the end of its mission scouring the sea bed with still no sign of wreckage. The search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which vanished on March 8 with 239

Japan cautions China over ship seizure HINA’S seizure of a C Japanese cargo ship over a pre-war debt could hit busi-

pied buildings to be vacated under the auspices of envoys from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, a security body.

compensation from Japanese firms over forced labour during World War Two. Japan has always held that the issue of war-related compensation was settled by a 1972 agreement between the two sides when ties were normalised.

people on board, has narrowed to a 10 sq km (6.2 sq mile) patch of sea floor about 2,000 km (1,200 miles) west of the Australian city of Perth. Search authorities and the Australian and Malaysian governments have said a series of sonar signals, or “pings”, traced to the area may have emanated from the plane’s “black box” and present the most credible lead as to its whereabouts. However no pings have been detected in almost two weeks and authorities now fear that, with the flight data recorder’s battery several weeks past its expected expiry date, the black box may not emit further signals. A United States Navy remote controlled submarine, the Bluefin-21, was on its ninth mission scanning the largely

“Kid’s lucky to be alive,’’ FBI spokesman Tom Simon told the AP news agency. Simon said that when the flight landed in Maui, the teenager hopped down from the wheel well and started wandering around the airport grounds. His only possession when he landed was a comb for his hair. He survived a lack of oxygen and freezing temperatures as the plane climbed to 12,000m (39,000ft). Simon said the boy had been unconscious for most of the journey. Since records began in 1947, about 100 wheel well stowaways are thought to have attempted to board flights, of whom around three-quarters died.

unmapped stretch of sea bed where the pings are believed to have come from, with still no trace found, Australian search officials said yesterday. “Bluefin-21 has searched approximately two-thirds of the focused underwater search area to date. No contacts of interest have been found to date,” the Joint Agency Coordination Centre said in a statement. The center added that the search, which has so far been largely unimpeded by weather, may be affected as Tropical Cyclone Jack continued to move south over the ocean. “Widespread showers are developing with isolated thunderstorms to the north and east south-easterly winds,” the center said of the weather forecast in the search area.

winning scientists John Sulston and Harold Kroto. Cameron, a member of the established Church of England, has been increasingly vocal about his beliefs recently, and in an article published last week urged Christians to be “more evangelical” about their faith. Commentators suggest he is trying to build bridges with the Church, which opposed government plans to introduce gay marriage, and following vocal criticism from many clergy about the impact of the government’s austerity measures. “Some people feel that in this ever more secular age we shouldn’t talk about these things. I completely disagree,” the Conservative prime minister wrote in the Church Times, an Anglican newspaper. “I believe we should be more confident about our status as a Christian country, more ambitious about expanding the role of faith-based organisations, and, frankly, more evangelical about a faith that compels us to get out there and make a difference to people’s lives.” The open letter, which was organised by the British Humanist Association and published in the Daily Telegraph newspaper, disputes Cameron’s claims that Britain is still a Christian country.

S’Sudan rebels slaughter ‘hundreds’ in ethnic massacres, UN reveals people. EBEL gunmen in South compound. hundreds of South Sudanese UN human rights investiga- and foreign civilians had R Sudan massacred “hunFighters took to the radio dreds” of civilians in ethnic urging rival groups to be tors said that after rebels taken refuge, and killed hunkillings when they captured the oil town of Bentiu last week, United Nations said yesterday, one of the worst reported atrocities in the war-torn nation. In the main mosque alone, “more than 200 civilians were reportedly killed and over 400 wounded,” the UN mission in the country said, adding there were also massacres at a church, hospital and an abandoned UN World Food Programme (WFP)

forced from the town and for men to rape women from the opposition ethnic group. South Sudan’s army has been fighting rebels loyal to sacked vice president Riek Machar, who launched a renewed offensive this month targeting key oil fields. The conflict has also taken on an ethnic dimension, pitting President Salva Kiir’s Dinka tribe against militia forces from Machar’s Nuer

wrested Bentiu from government forces in heavy battles last Tuesday, the gunmen spent two days hunting down those they believed opposed them. Both South Sudanese and Sudanese — some from the war-torn Darfur region — were killed, the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said in a statement. “They (the rebels) searched a number of places where

dreds of the civilians after determining their ethnicity or nationality,” the UN said. Some rebels took to the local radio to “broadcast hate messages declaring that certain ethnic groups should not stay in Bentiu, and even calling on men from one community to commit vengeful sexual violence against women from another community,” the statement added.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 13

THE GUARDIANwww.ngrguardiannews.com

Focus Taming unwholesome fish imports A timely intervention by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture recently saved Nigerians from consuming spoilt fish, discovered in some cold rooms in Lagos. FABIAN ODUM writes on how consumers can recognize rotten fish EETING the protein needs of Nigeria’s M huge population is quite a task, and fish has proven a reliable, cheaper source to such attainment. On any given day, the frozen fish stalls of the local markets that stock imported marine (and fresh water) products are awash with people. The rich, who patronise the more structured food malls and even the poor, have found this aquatic delicacy a common denominator, in terms of nutritional requirements of the body. Lately, however, the nation woke up to some very disturbing news of the shutting down of some fish cold rooms in Lagos, as a result of the discovery of rotten fish stored in freezer chambers. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Nigeria’s Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, personally shut down seven cold rooms belonging to two Lagos-based companies; Premium Foods Limited and Bexolac Foods Limited, in Satellite town, Lagos for stocking spoilt fish. Two weeks later, another company, Bharat Ventures, located at Odo Olowu area of Lagos, became the third culprit. The inspection and quality control officials of the Federal Department of Fisheries (FDF), again, alerted the public to yet another batch of unwholesome and expired fish, weighing 60.5 metric tonnes, that might have found their way to the market. That Nigerian consumers eat a lot of fish is not in doubt. Common on the streets are itinerant fish vendors, who bear the lagged cartons, in baskets, which they carry on their heads. Many consumers in the north enjoy the herring, locally known as ‘Shawa,’ sardine and other mixed fish. In the east, the consumption is more of Horse Mackerel (Kote), Sardinella (Agbodu) and herring while blue whiting (Panla) and herring, also are popular in Lagos, Ibadan (Oyo State), and Ilorin (Kwara State). But, in spite of the activities around fish and fisheries, statistics by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) show that Nigeria’s fish consumption per capita is about half of global average – about 21kilogram. Acting Director of Fisheries, Mrs. Foluke Areola said it was not enough for people, especially market women, to zero in on quantity and cheap price of products being offered for sale, at the detriment of quality. Health implication But for the arrival of the Agriculture Minister and his team from the Department of Fisheries to tackle the companies that had the unwholesome fish in stock, consumers would have ended up eating what would have brought them health problems, either on the short or long run. Assistant Head, Dietetics Department, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Mrs. Bola Tijani said eating spoiled fish “is a guarantee for gastro intestinal disorder, manifesting as severe pain, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.” Even smoking a spoiled fish doesn’t mean that it is good for consumption or safe for cooking. It just masks the spoilage, She explained, adding that the spoiled, smoked fish “is also dangerous to health.” When a spoiled fish is smoked, she affirmed, it could still be identified. She described it as “brownish, dusty, with mouldy inner part, which is carcinogenic and a threat to healthy living.” According to Tijani, “no processing method can convert a spoiled fish into a good fish.” Olu Odeyemi, Professor of Microbiology and environment expert at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun State, also explained the health implications of eating such unwholesome food to The Guardian. He said: “The immediate effect of the rotten fish

Cartons of spoilt, expired fish from Bharat Ventures cold rooms being destroyed and buried at the Epe dump site, Lagos last week. is that it causes considerable discomfort in the gastro-intestinal tract because of the chemicals that come out of it. Some of such chemicals, like mercaptans among others and organic acids are implicated as causative factors. Studies have shown that there is poison resulting from the reactions of chemicals in the spoilt product, such that not only discomfort could follow, but even death, if the health condition of the victim is not properly managed. “More than this, other things such as typhoid could manifest on the ingestion of rotten fish. But of more worrisome nature is that, when certain interactions of chemicals take place, there could be production of nitrosomes and nitrites.” This, the microbiologist with a strong bias for the environment said, could trigger off cancer, a situation considered very grave by any standard. Like Tijani, Oduyemi also points to the fatality that could happen if the food poisoning is not quickly resolved in the event that a victim is not adequately managed. A much displeased Adesina vowed to sufficiently sanitise the fisheries sub sector, to protect Nigerians. Quality control checks Odeyemi wondered how the spoilt fish found its way into the country in the first place and whether there was any supervision by regulatory agencies. Ordinarily, quality control (QC) should not stop at the port of lading or the processing factory, but QC officers from agencies like NAFDAC and SON ought to take charge of handling, to ensure wholesomeness of what goes to the dinning table. He said the matter should not be treated as ‘business as usual,’ insisting that a proper investigation be carried out and appropriate sanctions meted out to the culprits. There could have been other numerous cases of importation and distribution of poor products, which may have escaped the eyes of government and its agencies. In the estimation of the Professor, a lot could be attributed to poverty in the country that has compelled people to be unmindful of the kind of products they consume. According to him, this stems from the many mouths to feed in a populous country like Nigeria. But he also blamed the shortage in the number of quality control officers for some of

the lapses recorded. He said the nation does not currently have a proper quality control regime and culture. Odeyemi said the rate of recruitment of quality control personnel should be on the increase as Nigeria’s population continues to go up. To serve 150 million people, he said, “requires more officers, just like in other disciplines or sectors of the Nigerian economy.” However, the acting Director, FDF said the Agricultural Transformation Agenda with respect to fisheries “is on course, with the sanitisation effort being embarked on good quality across the value chain.” She assured that the culprits would be dealt with according to standard procedure in the law. Organoleptic assessment for fish For too long, the average Nigerian consumer has accepted anything offered for sale in the market as good product; and not being able to distinguish between a good and bad product. According to the acting Director of Fisheries, people should not just settle for quantity and cheap products, as they could spell danger in the end. She revealed the first thing to do “is to take a physical evaluation of what is being offered.” She pointed out, for instance, that fish with sunken eye, soft body on being depressed with the finger, accompanied with discoloration, are physical signs that the fish has gone bad. For fish to give bad smell, according to the Agriculture Minister, is another natural way to know that the product is bad, adding however that while the fish in the frozen state, this would not be very obvious. His words: “If you come in here (the implicated cold rooms) and buy, you wouldn’t even know, you won’t smell it because it is frozen. It is only when you take it away that you begin to perceive the smell. People buy and take it home, and after frying, they would think they are eating good fish without knowing that this is cancerous stuff. It’s a very serious crime.” Tijani affirmed: “You can usually tell if a fish is spoilt. But judging just how fresh a fish is can be tricky, unless you catch it yourself. There are ways to check for freshness: No one can get past the smell of spoiled fish. It also gets slimy when it goes bad. You will want to seal it in a bag when you throw it out, but

some people still ignore the fact that the fish is spoilt and still go ahead to do the cooking.” She stressed that no processing method could convert a spoilt fish into a good one. Present status A technical assessment report of the West Africa Agriculture Productivity Programme (WAAPP) says Nigeria consumes about 2.6million metric tonnes of fish annually, of which 60 per cent or 1.6 million metric tonnes is imported. Of the remaining 40 per cent, which is locally sourced, aquaculture accounts for 60,000 metric tonnes, while the rest 940, 000mt is captured from Nigeria’s waters. For a long time, the country has depended on fish imports to meet her fish protein needs. In recent years, fish consumption has increased, and the upward trend is continuing. Even with that, the FAO estimates that Nigeria’s per capita consumption of fish is only 11kg as against a global average of about 21kg. Interestingly, it is estimated that the nation’s fish demand will grow by 0.7 million tonnes in the next seven years given the population growth. For now, Nigeria’s fisheries is controlled by farm production involving the digging of big ponds and in which small time artisanal farmers are active, who use of trawlers to fish from the wild (seas). The trawling industry has been adversely affected by oil spillages and piracy in the Niger Delta area, where activities of the fishing vessels are mostly concentrated. Due to the long time ban on the importation of farmed fish into the country, local production of catfish has flourished tremendously. However, prior to the unfolding scenario, Adesina said there has been insincerity on the part of fish importers. He revealed that there have been cases of under-declaration of the volume of import. He revealed that some (importers) brought in 1.6 million metric tonnes of fish between 2010 and 2012, whereas the evidence from the Customs shows, to the contrary, that 16.3 million metric tonnes was imported. The minister directed that an inventory of every cold room in the country be taken to ascertain what stock they held, when the products were brought in, and what the status of the fish is. He declared that anybody caught with bad fish products, would have the cold room sealed and the products confiscated. In addition, the fish will be burnt while the offending companies would bear the cost of destroying the products and also banned from further importation into the country. Road map to fish sufficiency Stakeholders have underscored the need to step up fish production in order to meet domestic needs and reduce the huge foreign exchange directed at importation. But, capture fishery is not properly regulated and it is open to abuses, such as overfishing and the use nylon nets with mesh not approved. Its use could be unpredictable and unsustainable due to the negative impact on the environment. However, the Agriculture Minister, in the push for Agricultural Transformation, proposed to produce one million tonnes of table fish and 1.2 billion fingerlings by 2015. It would not be out of place for government at all levels, experts have argued, to engage in Public-Private Partnership to do the fishing business and boost production. As done in some other sectors, they suggested, the frozen fish importing companies should be encouraged to set up fish farms, which would also create more jobs for the youths and qualified professionals. At a recent workshop, Mr. Joseph Overo, President, Nigerian Trawler Owners Association (NITOA) called for increased safety at sea to enable trawlers work efficiently and boost productivity in a sustainable manner. He also called on the relevant government agency to step up effort to making this realis-

14 | Tuesday, April 22, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Politics ‘Why civil society sits with reactionary forces’ Femi Falana (SAN), former President, West African Bar Association, is a frontline civil rights campaigner, representing the civil society bloc at the National Conference. He spoke to Abiodun Fanoro on how the group, along with other forces would use the talks to wrest power from the ruling class in the country.

THE NATIONAL CONFRENCE DEBATE

ONTRARY to critics’ expectation and initial C feelers from the civil society, the bloc is participating in the national conference. What informed this sudden change of heart? It must be noted that when President Goodluck Jonathan assumed office, he was vehemently opposed to the strident calls for a national conference, be it sovereign or not. President Jonathan had then told proponents of a national conference to address their complaints to the National Assembly. But when the Administration decided last year to convene a national conference, which I now refer to as Jonathan National Conference (JNC), the civil society bloc felt that we have an opportunity to challenge the status quo by joining issues with those who had brought Nigeria to her knees. That is why we are at the conference. Shouldn’t the president’s sudden and unilateral decision give the civil society concerns and room for suspicion? We were not surprised that the Jonathan Administration eventually opted for a national conference, having regard to the crisis of unemployment, the crisis of insecurity, the crisis of underdevelopment and the pervasive crisis of poverty, which all combined to challenge political stability. We were not surprised. After 54 years of gross misrule, the claim of the ruling class that Nigeria is indissoluble and indivisible can no longer be justified. Now, a significant population of disenchanted youths has taken up arms against the state, either in the name of armed robbers, kidnappers, terrorists or baby-factory operators. The youths, who have been frustrated by the system, are today challenging the corporate existence of Nigeria, which this plundererruling class says is not negotiable. President Jonathan was compelled to call the conference, and that came out very well in the president’s inaugural speech at the conference when he said, “We cannot do it alone.” So, you are of the view that the conference is not borne out of a hidden agenda? I am trained to deal with facts, to deal with evidence. I haven’t seen any hidden agenda, and if there is one, we will expose it. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo launched his ‘Third Term Agenda’ but Nigerians defeated him through his own political Reform Confab. Thus, the civil society group is embracing the conference with enthusiasm? No, we are not embracing it with enthusiasm; rather, we are embracing it with caution. If the civil society had planned to surreptitiously seize the confab to dislodge the ruling class, have developments at the meeting in the past few weeks not suggested that it is wrong? There is no sign to indicate that we made any error in our judgment, as far as the conference is concerned. Indeed, I can say so far so good. For us, it is a forum for struggle and we are engaged in a struggle — a struggle in which we are fighting against vested interests, we are fighting a dangerous status quo; we are engaged in a struggle against those who have made life unbearable for our people, and we are engaged in struggle with the defenders of a lopsided political arrangement. However, we are confident that at the end of

Falana the day, the interest of the country would prevail over selfish, reactionary agenda. How could this interest prevail when government has the largest number of delegates, and 70 per cent endorsement is compulsorily required to effect any change? I’ve listened to the delegates very attentively, and I am impressed by the fact that most of them are worried by the fact that the country is not developing and have come to the conclusion that if we refuse to take urgent action to end these crises and set a fair and equitable term of engagement, these crises would consume the country and the ruling class would be the worst for it. There is a genuine collective concern at the conference that we must not miss this great opportunity to save the country and in the process, ensuring justice for all and making life more abundant for the downtrodden. With respect to the issue of 70 per cent endorsement, there is no cause for alarm. Why? This is because nobody in the conference can dispute the fact that poverty is pervasive in the country in the midst of plenty. No delegate would dispute the fact that there is insecurity of life and property in the country; that illiteracy, unemployment, infrastructural decay, corruption, impunity are on the ascendancy. So, why would any delegate oppose moves to look for concrete solutions for all these? Where we may disagree would centre on different factions of the ruling class wanting to

take advantage with respect to resource control and similar issues. RANKLY speaking, how possible, in a Fment Nigerian environment, would a governdelegate vote against the interest of the establishment? There is no government delegate that would tell the conference not to look for concrete solutions to the problems of insecurity, problem of unemployment, of infrastructural decay, etc. President Jonathan, in his speech, tasked the delegates to address these problems frontally; that we must allow the interest of the country to prevail above personal, ethnic religious or any sectional interest. If at any stage the government tells us that we should abandon the progressive course some of us have sworn to toe and defend, then we would part ways. By pulling out of the talks? Not necessarily so. How would you part ways? We would part ways with reactionary forces. Are you saying you are in interactive engagement with reactionary forces? Yes, we are engaging them. Let me again say, for the purpose of emphasis, that we have no reason to doubt the commitment of the delegates to use this conference to right all the wrongs, irrespective of how they got there. Should we expect the civil society bloc to move for the enforceability of Section 2 of the current Nigerian Constitution?

Let me again say, for the purpose of emphasis, that we have no reason to doubt the commitment of the delegates to use this conference to right all the wrongs, irrespective of how they got there. For the Labour movement, for the civil society group and for many other representatives of the Nigerian people at the conference, we would vigorously work together to bring about a new Bill of Rights incorporating political and socio-economic rights. For us at the conference, that is an irreducible minimum demand of the majority of Nigerians. What the ordinary people, the oppressed could take home from that conference are the rights to education, to health, to shelter, to employment and the payment of unemployment benefits where there are no jobs. There are so many laws lying idle in our statute books that are supposed to make the ordinary poor man on the street have access to some social facilities.

For the Labour movement, for the civil society group and for many other representatives of the Nigerian people at the conference, we would vigorously work together to bring about a new Bill of Rights incorporating political and socio-economic rights. For us at the conference, that is an irreducible minimum demand of the majority of Nigerians. What the ordinary people, the oppressed could take home from that conference are the rights to education, to health, to shelter, to employment and the payment of unemployment benefits where there are no jobs. There are so many laws lying idle in our statute books that are supposed to make the ordinary poor man on the street have access to some social facilities. For instance, there is the Child Rights Act, and the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act, that has made education free and compulsory from the Primary to the Junior Secondary School level. That is, it has given a child the right to compulsorily be in school in his first nine years at the expense of the government. We have the National Health Insurance Act to make access to health — cheap and affordable. We have a law championed by National Human Rights Commission and the Nigerian Legal Aid Council, which provides that government shall make legal aid to indigent Nigerians who could not pay for the service of lawyers, by assigning lawyers to them to defend them where they have cases. We already have these laws, what we are therefore required to do in this conference is to review and examine them with a view to making government fund them. All said and done, there’s no law backing the conference; yet, you, as a senior lawyer, turns a blind eye and keeps participating… I have heard this argument over and over again from several quarters, including from those who are expected to know better and enlighten the rest. This argument is rather spurious, as Section 5 of the Constitution has vested the President of the country with executive power, and that includes taking action in areas where the National Assembly has not enacted laws. In addition to that, Nigerians have the freedom of expression, freedom of association, as well as freedom of assembly. On a regular basis, the Nigerian President invites different Nigerians to the Presidential Villa, to rub minds with him on the way forward for the country. Where is the crime or the violation, if such a regular exchange of ideas by the President with Nigerians is now done on a larger scale as it is in the national conference? Beyond the legality of the conference, I am more concerned about the legitimacy of the conference. Once it meets the yearnings and aspirations of the Nigerian people, it becomes legitimate. Once the resolutions from the conference are profound and are relevant to the demands and aspirations of our people, Nigerians would own them and would campaign around them. How would these resolutions assume life? Once the resolutions are popular, profound, far-reaching and relevant, Nigerians would campaign around them and insist that the National Assembly must enact the constitution to reflect the wishes of Nigerians. On remuneration, are you not worried that people had to be paid to go there, while some are asking for more? I had stated very clearly that many of the delegates ought not to be paid allowances at all. However, there are unemployed people at the conference; there are physically challenged people, as well as representatives of the Nigerian students, who obviously would not be able to sponsor themselves to the conference. So, they need government’s sponsorship. As far as I am concerned, it does not make any sense to pay transportation and accommodation allowances to people who have houses in Abuja, or to those who could afford

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 POLITICS 15

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

PDP battles for soul of Southeast By Kodilinye Obiagwu T is certain that for the Peoples IforDemocratic Party (PDP), the battle 2015 has started; at least in the Southeast zone, where for the second time in three months, its hierarchy had besieged. Where other zones are content with one rally, the Southeast has been favoured with two rallies. On February 22, President Goodluck Jonathan (on his first visit to Imo State) led the PDP armada to Owerri, the state capital, to flag-off the battle for the soul of the Southeast. They called it, “sensitisation rally.” On April 12, Enugu, the political capital of the zone, was the field to relaunch what many termed, “Operation Total Reclaim.” The PDP National Vice Chairman (Southeast), retired Army Colonel Austin Akobundu, explained that: “The Owerri rally was a state rally, a sensitisation rally. Imo is not a PDP State and we needed to buoy up the state and we also used the platform to receive our members who were returning. “The Enugu event was a zonal rally, just as it is in other zones. The next rally is likely to be during the elections, when the campaigns start.” Interestingly, the refrain at the Owerri and Enugu rallies was the performance of President Jonathan and a call for him to declare for a second term. At the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, PDP top shots, including the party’s three governors, literally groveled while asking Jonathan to go for a second term. In Imo, where the high point was the return of some former members of the PDP, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, noted that “the president will leave assured that in 2015, he has the votes of the entire Southeast people.” Those welcomed back to the PDP in Owerri included erstwhile Governor of Imo, Chief Achike Udenwa, Senator Chris Anyanwu, former Secretary to the State Government, Cosmas Iwu, Chief Ifeanyi Araraume, and Chief Mike Ahamba. Udenwa and Araraume ended their sojourn in the All Progressives Congress (APC); Anyanwu retraced her footsteps from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), while Ahamba finally lost faith in the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). If the Owerri outing was bountiful, then there was famine in Enugu where the only returnee was a member of the House of Representatives for Owerri North/West/Municipal, Ezenna Onyewuchi, from Imo, who left the APC. However, the rally in Enugu has raised some concerns about the PDP quest in the Southeast. As the party leaders trumpeted how the zone is PDP and vice versa, they also told their supporters of the plan to make the zone “totally PDP.”

Jonathan The PDP ran the Southeast after the 1999 polls. In 2003, it lost Anambra to APGA; in 2007, it lost Abia and Imo to the Peoples Progressives Alliance (PPA), but managed to reclaim them, not through the ballot boxes, but because of personality clashes in the party. It lost Imo again in 2011 to APGA through the ballot box and now the APC is in charge there. But Akobundu insists that, “the status of the Southeast zone as a total PDP territory since 1999 has never been in question. We assure Mr. President that come 2015, the Southeast will be delivered to the PDP wholly.” The choice of the theme, Unity and Reconciliation for the Enugu rally is not fortuitous. From Anambra to Enugu, there are cracks in the party, the kind that are easy to paper over, but still with the potential to cause problems. The protracted crisis in the Anambra remains a test case for the party. The clash of personal interests over party interests has ensured consecutive governorship defeats in the state. Ahead of the 2015 elections, rifts are developing in Abia and Enugu States. The return of former PDP governors, Chimaroke Nnamani in Enugu and Orji Uzor Kalu in Abia has been buzzing in the zone. Abia governor, Theodore Orji, and Kalu, enjoy a sour relationship. There were speculations that Kalu was billed for the Enugu rally, but he never surfaced. A similar scenario prevails in Enugu between Nnamani and the state governor, Sullivan Chime. Nnamani’s return to the party is an issue shrouded in confusion and intrigues. The ward Chairman of Agbani ward, Mr. Monday Ngene, who reportedly

Akobundu facilitated Nnamani’s registration and return, was suspended by the state leadership of the party, citing lack of due process. The brewing power tussle between Chime and Ekweremadu is another keg of gunpowder. With Chime’s supporters at the Enugu rally displaying his senatorial ambition — ‘Chime For Senate’ — on vests and caps, the contest between the two is certain to boil over in 2015. Will Ekweremadu run for Senate again, or will he and others in his camp accept Chime’s “retirement” policy for two termers for Enugu federal lawmakers? Presently, the face-off between the two Udi politicians is creating divisions in the state party, where victims have been their supporters at various levels. The PDP and Jonathan are credited with having done so much for the zone. The shiny spots include the upgrading of the Akanu Ibiam Airport in Enugu to an international status; flagging off of the construction of the second bridge across the River Niger; favouring the zone with the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government; a Chief of Army Staff, the first in the last 40 years; an Inspector General of Police; and the office of a Coordinating Minister. Others are: the building a 700-bed hostel for students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri; rehabilitation of the Enugu Port Harcourt expressway; dualisation of the Owerri/Port Harcourt Road; completion of Owerri/Onitsha Road; provision of 300 water projects, and building of electricity power plants. Senator Ekweremadu said in Enugu that, “actually, we have 101 reasons to

support Jonathan,” while the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, leafing through a bound sheaf of papers, stressed that, “we have it on record that there are 58 Federal Government projects going on in the Southeast.” Besides, Akobundu stated that the rally in Enugu “is both historic and significant because of the remarkable and unprecedented achievements the PDP-controlled Federal Government and the three PDP state governments in the zone have put on ground, in the area of security, infrastructure, social welfare, education, agriculture etc., since the commencement of the Fourth Republic.” “We commend Mr. President for keeping his promise on the Second Niger Bridge; also we appreciate the total reconstruction of the EnuguPort Harcourt expressway, which is ongoing.” For these and many more, PDP chieftains in the zone are begging Jonathan to run for a second term. Giving bite to the demand of the three PDP governors, the chairman of the Southeast Governors’ Forum and Abia governor, Orji, said the zone would ‘conscript’ Jonathan if he refused to accept the requests of the zone to run in 2015. As the PDP hunts for a total capture of the zone, there were obvious references to the APC governor of Imo, Owelle Rochas Okorocha as the prize. So far, it is in the realm of speculations that Anambra would eventually become a PDP state long after the former governor of the state, Peter Obi, took the spirit of APGA to PDP but nursed the trepidation to declare his “total allegiance” to PDP. Does Anambra still feature in the campaign to capture the Southeast? The Owerri rally and its outcome were interpreted as part of the plans to decapitate the APC in Imo ahead of the 2015 elections. The capture of Udenwa and Araraume was a huge victory of sorts. Okorocha had tried to make light of the departures. He said: “If Achike had 15,000 followers, as he claimed (at the rally), he would have won the senatorial seat of Orlu. Udenwa is not even a registered member of the APC. “The crowd that came there to the stadium was due to the presence of the president; none of the people joining them can attract any crowd to listen to them.” Describing as fallacy the claim that Imo is a PDP state, Okorocha said that, “Imo has since left PDP.” And of the campaign to hustle him out of Government House in 2015, he said, “they are more occupied with how they will capture power in 2015. What follows after capturing power? What did they do with the power they held for 12 years in the state?” “This state gave Mr. President 1.3

million votes three years ago; this shows that we love him and we have confidence in him. But three years after, the only ‘thank you’ we can get was for him to come and commission Udenwa as a project for Orlu Zone, Chris for Owerri Zone, Araraume for Okigwe Zone and Mike Ahamba as an addendum to the three projects. “This is his first visit since we voted for him and they brought him to come to solicit our support for 2015. I was shocked that none of them could ask him what he would do for Imo people. “Is casting votes all we are good for in Imo (and Southeast)? PDP people should know that we are not fools. This visit has not comforted the people. If they have no projects to commission, they could have said they had come on a thank-you visit.” Tasking the PDP on its projects in Imo, Okorocha said: “They listed the dualisation of Owerri to Port Harcourt Road, Owerri to Aba Road, Owerri to Onitsha road and a hostel for FUTO. “Is a hostel part of the projects to be proud of in Imo? Onitsha road was started 12 years ago by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo. My government did the Aba road. “The president might not be aware that nothing has been done in the state and they are shielding him from the truth. “Imo people can never be deceived again because 12 years of PDP has been terrible. The eight years of Udenwa was a waste; the four years of Ohakim, a disaster.” Meanwhile, the Southeast Zonal Publicity Secretary of APC, Osita Okechukwu, who wants Ndigbo to distance themselves from the PDP, said the projects are not as fulfilling. According to him, “despite the hype on the Enugu international airport, it cannot attract major international airlines like British Airways, Lufthansa. “The PDP has successively promised to revamp the coal industry but failed woefully.” While Akobundu describes as “blind” those who do not see the empirical evidence of the projects the PDP has put on the ground, a PDP stalwart, said, “actually, the concern is that our leaders in the zone do not have an articulated view on what is needed to develop the zone.” “Most of these projects are propelled by political interests. For example, so much is being made out of the second Niger Bridge because this is another election year. The promise has been there since the Obasanjo era. “And today, we are so grateful to the PDP for the bridge despite the fact that the zone has faithfully voted PDP since inception. “Our leaders could get more for us, not just top appointments that do nothing directly to the people, but projects that affect the lives of the real voters.”

Need to effect security reforms at confab, by expert By Emeka Nwachukwu ATIONAL coordinator, Association of Safety and Security Professionals, Lanre Ajegbomogun, has urged the national conference delegates to effect wide-ranging security reforms in cognizance of the huge security challenges in the country. The security expert traced the cause of the state of insecurity in the country to successive military governments. He said: “Many have attributed the rise, where pump action gun is perhaps now cheaper than bread, to the massive social economic slide during successive profligate military administrations, especially in the northern part of the country. “The United Nations Human Development Index report released annually has underscored the level of poverty in Nigeria, saying more

than 70 per cent of the population live below one dollar a day while life expectancy has slipped to 43 years. “As a result of this, thousands of our youths were unable to find jobs. This is compounded by the closure of many firms and the relocation of many others to Ghana, Angola and Cote d’Ivoire where the business climate is more clement.” Noting that the security agencies have been overwhelmed by this current state of angst, Ajegbomogun said, “this is why massive security reforms have to be put in our constitution by the national conference.” He said given this causal scenario, it had become imperative for the delegates to the national conference to seriously consider welfare packages for the unemployed citizenry and effect security sector reforms that would make the security agencies and institutions more effective in

Ajegbomogun combating crimes and other threats to national security, while also making them accountable to the democratic political system and struc-

tures. These democratic structures include the states and local governments. He stressed that the time has come for the nation to consider community policing, which could be introduced in school curricula, “from primary to tertiary level of our educational structure, wherein emphasis will be on the sanctity of life and property.” “This has really helped all advanced countries where virtually every citizen does police job by giving information,” he said. “It will reduce insurgency and other criminal act before any damage is done.” Ajegbomogun, however, said Nigeria’s security chiefs had acquainted themselves well. “In fact, the challenges before our security agencies are numerous and especially huge, which militate against effective performance of

security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police, despite the fact that they are adjudged to be the best on foreign missions,” he said. He has words of praise for the present Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, especially for inculcating democratic tenets in the men of the Nigeria Police. According to him: “Since IG Mohammed Abubakar took over, there has been no news or negative reports associating men of the Nigeria Police with electoral malpractices unlike what obtained in past elections. “My appraisal of policemen under his tutelage has seen improvement in the comportment and professionalism in the rank and file. “For these reasons, and also given the fact that general elections will be holding next year, Abubakar deserves to be allowed to continue.”

TheGuardian

16 | Tuesday, April 22, 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 CBN should begin Ogun APC Ward Congress S afresh LETTER

ENTRAL Bank governor-designate, Godwin Emefiele, at his confirmation hearing C made some pledges, which deserve critical examination. He went through the principal objects of the apex bank and promised to fulfill them. He undertook to promote macroeconomic stability, push down inflation and interest rates as well as ensure a strong exchange rate. He would resist devaluation and discourage dollarisation. He assured the Senate that he would not spend any money in contravention of the law. Yet, he stated that nothing could be done about the huge apex bank deficit expenditure arising from ‘‘Open Market Operation (OMO), which is needed to ensure that we maintain a strong currency and ensure that we continue to have a good country.’’ He needs to reconsider that standpoint. He must do nothing that implies that he is set to continue his predecessors’ inappropriate practice that engenders OMO. To wit, the CBN still holds on to shared Federation Account (FA) dollar accruals as its external reserves and in their place disburse to FA beneficiaries freshly printed naira amounts purported to be their equivalent, which they are not. That practice amounts to substituted deficit financing proportionate to the oil proceeds in FA allocations to the three tiers of government. It also ensured that CBN has not been able to achieve its critical principal objects. It should be noted that the apex bank’s OMO has no redeeming virtue. It involves 91day and 180-day treasury bills (TBs), which are issued for the purpose of mopping up some (but not all) of the excess liquidity in the system that is created by the illegal substituted deficit financing. The TBs are rolled over for a while and then restructured into the treasury bonds which mature at different dates and which make up over 90 per cent of the ever-rising national domestic debt (NDD). Proceeds from the TBs and the NDD are merely sterilised and non-investable. Their service cost (it amounted to about N1 trillion in 2013) represents unearned income to banks, portfolio investors from abroad and a few individuals. The huge debt and high annual service cost constitute a rape of national resources. The CBN, guided by good intentions, should use a sufficiently high cash reserve ratio and nominal interest charge to mitigate this avoidable fleecing of the country. In any case, the current brand of OMO should stop and the piled-up related debt should be cancelled. Additionally, the excess liquidity in the system that remains unmapped is responsible for, among other adverse accompaniments, persistent inflationary pressure and high lending rates which escalate domestic production costs as well as continual devaluation and constant depreciation which instigate dollarisation. Further, other principal objects are sullied by the substituted deficit financing. The CBN’s failure since 1972 to achieve its principal objects has led to retardation of the Nigerian economy. Recent official claims that the rebased 2013 GDP of $510 billion makes Nigeria the word’s 26th largest economy should be viewed in proper perspective. Our economic peers in the decade of our independence included Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea. Comparable 2012 GDP data are available for the four countries and show Nigeria trailing far behind. The country’s rebased 2012 GDP stood at $452.1 billion. Suppose Nigeria achieved the Malaysian 2012 GDP per capital of $6,765. Then the resulting ‘‘borrowed’’ total GDP of $1.138 trillion would have barely outranked South Korea’s GDP of $1.13 trillion as the world’s 15th largest economy. Alternatively, assume that Nigeria attained Singapore’s GDP per capital of $33,956. In that event, the putative total GDP of $5.715 trillion would have just fallen short of Japanese GDP of $5.96 trillion to rank as the world’s fourth largest economy ahead of Germany, which posted GDP of $3.43 trillion. But behold Nigeria, the laggard, nay, sluggard economy! Since the country does not rank among the world’s 15 largest economies, policymakers should maintain studied silence and begin earnestly to run the economy aright. The road to a job-inclusive and very rapid GDP growth starts with discontinuing CBN’s substituted deficit financing. Hence, FA oil proceeds should be disbursed to beneficiaries through domiciliary dollar accounts. That way, conversion of the forex to realised naira revenue through deposit money banks will be duly documented and any abuse will be detected. Budget spending should first and foremost be based on available revenue. And if, subject to a well-oiled and efficient budget execution machinery, the accrued revenue (that is not constricted by a lower benchmark oil price than world crude oil price) becomes exhausted, any deficit spending should fall within the conventionally accepted ceiling of three per cent of GDP. The end result will be the disappearance of excess liquidity along with its negative and costly accompaniments and conducive economic conditions will take firm root. Needless to state, public sector and autonomous supply of foreign exchange is far in excess of demand for eligible transactions. By confining forex purchases for commercial purposes to the banks and ensuring that payments for commercial-size imports (even where the importer uses own forex) are effected through banks, most of the abuses of forex that undermine domestic production will be checkmated. Thus even if the dirty exchange rate contained in the annual Appropriation Act is applied, the naira will stay strong and require no defending by the CBN. Instead, DMBs will sell surplus forex to the apex bank for scarce naira funds, thereby facilitating accumulation of genuine external reserves. Having been invested with exclusive monetary responsibility, the Federal Government owns the external reserves and may from time to time approach the National Assembly to appropriate part of accumulated foreign reserves over and above three months’ import cover for the execution of critical projects, including replenishing the sovereign wealth fund. The Federal Government should wholly own the SWF. All in all, after the CBN governor-designate assumes duty, it will not be necessary for him to consult Brazil and Mexico on the development-banking role of the CBN. The finally achieved principal objects and the attendant conducive economic conditions outlined above will make various sectors of the economy to flourish.

IR: I congratulate the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for holding a successful Ward Congress on Saturday, April 5, 2014. That exercise, by all accounts, ranks among the best in the annals of party politics in Nigeria. It was not only peaceful but also inclusive and the turnout impressive. Both the leader of the party, Chief Olusegun Osoba and the state Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, jointly monitored the exercise, thus giving lie to the rumour of division within the state APC. Of course, no one expected a 100 per cent success in any election - without one or two hitches. And I believe the governor underscored the essence of sincerity after last

Saturday’s Local Government Congress in explaining this human phenomenon. It is, however, sad to read of deliberate distortion of the Ward Congress in one or two papers. It is one thing to understate or exaggerate an event that happened but when some writers manufacture an event that never took place, then they act against public interest. Such amounts to gross misconduct and the public should be wary of accepting hook, line and sinker reports that they themselves know could be improbable or fly in the face of realities and accounts of other sources. Just like the governor, I was shocked to read in two newspapers “that parallel congresses

were held in all the 236 wards in Ogun State.” This is comprehensive falsehood. It never happened. Not even one parallel ward congress was held throughout Ogun on that fateful day. The APC Ward Congress held on Saturday, April 5, 2014 remains a landmark in the annals of Nigeria and is therefore a beacon of hope for all lovers of democracy. The ward congress is the foundation of all other congresses. It is like the foundation of a house. Once the foundation is strong, the house will be strong. Congratulations to Ogun APC, its leaders at the state and national levels and all lovers of democracy in Nigeria. • Soyombo Opeyemi, Abeokuta.

Lagos-Badagry Express Road The Lagos-Badagry olitions as in the first stage, have been used for more proStheIR: expressway is one amongst now it is year 2014. When will ductive work, quality time and several federal or interna- it be, if it will be ever complet- more intimacy with the family is tional roads in the country. With the euphoria of its award for expansion and reconstruction expectations were high, but going by what can be described as a Snail Pace at which it is going, one will assume and certainly conclude that the road will never be completed. Having started the first phase in the year 2010 from Orile to Mile 2, several demolitions took place, churches and banks relocated, shops, market places were affected and residential buildings were not spared. But after two years of construction of the first stage, the second phase started in 2012 with dem-

ed with the slow pace at which the project is going? The work has been just on one section of the road without a definitive conclusion of any section, though the beautiful camps built by the construction companies in different locations along the road, the presence of caterpillars, cranes and trucks will give little assurance on the possibility of completing the job. Residents, commuters, and commercial vehicle drivers spend valuable time in the constant traffic jam that characterises this route as a result of potholes. Time that would

now being wasted. In-fact, as early as 6:30 a.m, several supposed commuters are already trekking especially from Iyana-Iba to Ojo Barracks, same as on the return journey. This they have recourse to not because of their inability to pay the outrageous transport fair but certainly because it is now the fastest means to get to their work stations in the morning and their homes in the evening. On a rainy day, suspense is high, anger accumulates, stress is continuous, transportation fares shoot up to the detriment of the public. • Ejime Obinna, Lagos.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Opinion Less than monkeys (1) By Obu Udeozo HEN are you returning to your coun“W try…?” is the routine salute of Germans to Blacks resident in that nation! Across Europe and America, Nigerians sometimes experience muffled taunts and racism at the street level. And some decades ago, much more frequently, they have endured snide remarks of Western Europeans calling them Black Monkeys! Till date, eminent footballers lodge cases over such molestations across soccer stadia in the west. But quite surprisingly, I have no sympathy for those state of affairs–however indecent. The truth is that most black nations are less than monkeys in the manner they conduct their private and public lives across several African nations. We shall unravel the scenario quickly. T.S. Eliot that fabulous American poet intoned:… the communication of the dead is tongued by fire beyond the language of the living … You humans, Nigerians are setting apocryphal records of squalor unknown since the creation of the cosmos. Ugliness, bilge water, stench, feculence and pollution – unimaginable even in the community of the craziest pigs and nkawus! Refuse dumps in Nigeria have attracted special power and prestige among the citizens. Like Blue Passport International Diplomats – our wastes are enthroned upon us: with nobody daring to disturb their territory and peaceful possession of our land. Several animals will faint, swoon and vomit by the insane decomposition, oozing from our mad roads. Muckiness, sludge, hogwash, and the nauseous

breeze from our septic sewages assault the spirits of living organisms worldwide. Amidst monarchs that dare not clean their tables after their Belshazzar’s feast are executive rulers, Popes and leopards that dare not sweep beyond their bedrooms at daybreak. An Aristocracy that has forsaken every modicum of elementary hygiene. Ooh, if only we hear the language of ducks, pigs and guinea worms! Their lamentations over the scum, grime, dross, exuviae and infection your communities splash and besmirch across their terrains. Even cockroaches are ashamed that their unique sanitation programmes are overwhelmed by the exomosis flowing from your human homes! It is so easy and cheap to attribute what is unseemly to the animal kingdom. Nobody has ever bothered to find out whether monkeys, baboons, hyenas and lizards agree or accept our gratuitous baptism. Nobody has ever imagined the pain, indignation and bewilderment monkeys feel, when you ascribe some Nigerians as black monkeys. If ever there were a mutual judiciary, I am certain, the monkeys of this world would drag White folks for defamation, gross insult and actionable libel! ‘Black Monkeys?’ Far be it. Better fetch another term; for the truth is that some blacks are indeed less than Monkeys. To call people monkeys is a tragic understatement. It is also a gross ignorance of the reality of the animal kingdom. It is so smooth to slide into this human superciliousness; by attaching lack of elementary hygiene to animal behaviour. The truth from comparative psychology shows that most animals have positive grooming processes for their periodic up keep. Monkeys,

chimpanzees, baboons and all the great apes have consistent routine for de-lousing, pricking and brushing their aerial zones; this protocol akin to our own bathing, oiling and enfleurage; is done by apes as individuals or symbiotically by other members from among their coterie. With careful observation, you notice the elaborate preening among doves, pigeons, canaries, chicken and other birds of the skies. At certain moments, wise and conscious observations reveal these equivalents of ‘showers’ over safe interludes on the ground level or even within solemn pools of water. By sheer symbiosis, the elegant egret is a constant trophy atop the majestic cattle; pecking away at their sources of discomfiture, pitryiasis and pestilence. We know that cats are squeamish and very sensitive. Cats will cross great barriers to camouflage and conceal their waste - beneath the earth! And we cannot forget the nestling behaviour of various animals in preparing for their young at birth. The most spectacular being the white rabbits; that will steadily pull off fur from their skin to prepare a smooth, bounteous and resplendent paradise for their new born at dawn. You will almost wish to lie down on such soft susurrus of love! Therefore, it is the anthropomorphic arrogance of man, to always speak with relentless and utter condescension against the animal kingdom. That conceit approaches the pathological and that is why we never quite earn the wisdom that we ought. Did not even our Maker, The Almighty God Himself enjoin us with sanctimonious reproach; ‘you sluggard,

go to the ant.’ Did He not avail us with positive references to the glory of all living creation: the daintiness of gazelles, the meekness of lambs, the thunder of leopards, the rainbow of ostriches, the beauty of butterflies, the majesty of eagles and so on. How often do we try to measure our ways with the animal kingdom we take so much pleasure and misplaced contempt to ridicule? Pray which animals can ever live like this? We shall examine a slew of evidence by visiting some Nigerian cities. For instance, Aba, the Enyinmba City and Japan of Africa was in the news recently for less than noble portraits. She was the cover story for The Nigerian Newsworld Magazine as: The Filthy City! This erstwhile industrial and manufacturing giant of the east was broadcast for these reasons: “… made in Aba textiles, leather and various products have made Aba gain prominence and global significance. Unfortunately, the sanitary conditions of this commercial city diminishes its status. Refuse dumps, human defecation and other sights considered an eyesore litter the major locations of the town. Prominent among them is the Emelogu Mountain that has gradually assumed the size of a mountain. A business man, Elder Eze Wadibia said: “Aba is rotten and uninhabitable. Those of us who are living here are doing so, because we come from here; what you cannot help, you endure.” To be continued tomorrow. • Udeozo is of the University of Jos, Plateau State.

Confederalism as Nigeria’s realistic federalism (2) By Raphael Okunmuyide Continued from yesterday IGERIA’S confederalism should devolve power and governance from the centre to the two lower levels effectively by re-structuring the country not only away from the precipitous northsouth regionalism that has been unwittingly accentuated by the the six-geo-political federal structure to a nine-zone con-federal system with each ‘zone’ comprising four states. The heads of the zones will form a nine-member ‘Con-federal council’ whose chairmanship would rotate annually to permit every zone to head the council in nine years. The headship of each zone would rotate among the four states through election every two years to permit every state in each zone represent the zone in the con-federal council within eight years to guarantee that every zone, and every state through its zone, would participate permanently in the political leadership by right, rather than as a favour or concession from any region/zone. Thus each state would definitely head its zone and the con-federal council once in eight and 36 years, respectively through the collective participation of the national representatives from the zonal level in steering the ship of state at the centre towards a permanently well balanced political structure. This structured certainty of a permanent collective national leadership automatically allays the fears and obviates the increasingly unmanageable restiveness of over 90 per cent of the states from their historical failure to participate in the country’s leadership which the presidential-federal constitution is incapable of tackling effectively. Since the gubernatorial, local government, national and state houses of assembly elections will be as at present, this confederal system will introduce a vibrantly dynamic “1-2-4 democratic governance” into Nigeria’s politics, that is, synchronise annual rotation of chairmanship in the confederal council with bi-annual change in the zonal representative in the confederal council and quadrannual replacement/retention of the representatives at gubernatorial, local government, national and state levels. The actual re-structuring of the country into a con-federation of nine zones, with contiguity as the main criterion, comprises the following states, or as may be consensually adjusted: Zone A: Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina, Zone B: Kano, Jigawa, Gombe and Bauchi, Zone C: Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Taraba, Zone D: Niger, Kaduna, Nassarawa and Plateau, Zone E: Kwara, Kogi, Benue and Enugu, Zone F: Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa, Zone G: Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and Anambra, Zone H: Delta, Edo, Ondo and Ekiti, Zone I: Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Lagos. Along with the re-structuring of the executive and judiciary, the legislature should also be reduced to only two Senators per state, totalling 73, including FCT and three representatives per state, totalling 109, including FCT. The local governments should become more grass-root extensions of the state governments in achieving developmental programmes than being positioned as independ-

ent competitors with the state governments, which is mainly why they have failed to achieve their constitutional responsibilities satisfactorily. It is very important to note that a key superiority of this nine-zone confederal restructuring of the country towards strengthening her unity over the current six-geo-political-zone federal structure and the regional autonomy options is that, at least, two-thirds of the zones as proposed, trasverse the default lines of Nigeria’s major tribal/linguistic gropus. This is a strong antidote to the pervasively destructive malaise of tribalism/regionalism in Nigeria’s politics and its prospects for facilitating secession. Also, the fact that political juggling of influences will shift from the centre to the zones will not only promote stability at the center but will also enhance intra-zonal political cohesion and foster intra-zone socioeconomic co-operation towards a nationally sustainable framework for competitive development rather than inter-geo-political-zone suspicion and hostilities vis-a-vis the centre. The confederal government’s responsibilities should be limited to the management of the minerals and other ‘national’ resources, defence and security, currency, credit, international commerce, transportation, federal trunk roads, railways, aviation, ports, customs and immigration, the national legislature, appeal and supreme courts, central police force, foreign affairs and the central regulatory services. The revenue allocation formula for Nigeria’s con-federal re-structuring is as follows: averagely each state should have 1.5 per cent of the national resources, totalling 54 per cent, to avoid resource marginalisation, each LGA should have 0.20 per cent of the national resources, totalling 15.48 per cent, FCT should have 0. 27per cent, Lagos, additional 0.25 per cent for infrastructure maintenance in the nation’s commercial capital as envisaged on February 3, 1976, 13 per cent derivation for all mineral-producing (solid, liquid, gaseous) areas, one per cent for climate change/ecological relief fund, one per cent for national technological development and 15 per cent for the con-federal government as the virtual completion of the privatisation/commercialisation programme as well as the switch to public-private partnership and Direct Foreign Investment paradigms in financing public infrastructure development will relieve the centrer of the weight of this burden. Obviously, this revenue allocation enshrines a systemic ‘power/responsibility/accountability devolution’ through its live-and-let-live provision for everybody’s need in alignment with its robust structure of the nine con-federal zones as a water-proof prophylaxis for any danger of secession by any state or zone. Its obviation of this danger will substitute “competitive corruption” especially in the centre where resources and extraordinary types and scales of corruption have been most concentrated with “competitive development” nationally by spreading resources to the states and local governments which are in critical need for socio-economic devel-

opment as the permanent panacea for national prosperity, peace, security and unity. It is considered that four years will be required to establish the modus operandi for an effective switch of the country from her imperfect federalism to this more realistic form of federalism. This will include a systematic un-bundling of the existing structures of governance along with the re-alignment of responsibilities/obligations between and among the three tiers of government to assure a hitch-free change in compliance with the new constitution not later than March 2019. The 2015 elections should be the last to be organised under the presidential-federal constitution and those seeking political offices in that election must consider themselves to be transitional transformers of Nigeria to the new form of government. This transitional governance will include a forensic audit of the federal government’s assets and liabilities, locally and abroad to permit a transparent transfer of assets and liabilities along with the responsibilities to the states and local governments as are required. It will also include the strengthening of electoral laws to permit the effective take-off of the new confederal government through INEC’s organising of elections at the confederal, state and local government levels and boosting the capacity and competence of INEC to discharge these very challenging responsibilities with efficiency, effectiveness, integrity and patrotism. By June 2018, all the Governors, National Assembly and State houses of Assembly from each state in each zone should, through a joint open-ballot INEC-supervised election , agree among themselves both the rotational order of bi-annual election of Confederal council members from their states and, logically, the state that will present the first Confederal council member from their zone. The state which has been elected to be the first to present its citizen to represent the zone in the Confederal council, should invite nominations from interested candidates who will campaign for their election throughout the designated zone by September 2018. INEC must conclude all arrangements for elections across the states in each zone of the first set of Confederal Council members not later than March 2019 to permit their inauguration not later than May 29, 2019 and INEC should draw up the Confederal constituencies for the Confederal Assembly elections, making good use of the 2016 National Census data. Therefore, the appropriate Confab commitees should approve Confederalism as Nigeria’s realistic type of federalism to solve these endemic socio-economic and political problems by guaranteeing stable and strongly united government through allround development for real and sustainable growth as distinct from a mere load-shedding devolution of powers in a “federal setup” that has attracted unusually loud and consistent threats for its disintegration, from even a prominent traditional ruler! Concluded • Okunmuyide wrote from Lagos.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Opinion Rebased economy and President Jonathan’s burden By Lawson A. Omokhodion HE base year for computing Nigeria’s GDP has T now been officially shifted from 1990 to 2010. By 2016 government says the base year would shift to 2015 and every five years thereafter. In a country devoid of good news, there was palpable excitement on the part of Nigerians and the federal government. Something positive is coming out of ‘Bethlehem’. With the excitement over, the time for sober reflection and introspection is here. Following the rebasing of the GDP the estimated size of the Nigerian economy in 2013 is now $510 billion (N80.22 trillion) with a per capita income of $2,688. The rebased nominal GDP for 2013 represents an increase of 89.22 per cent over the nominal GDP using the old base year. This rebased GDP makes Nigeria the 26th largest economy in the world and in terms of GDP per capita it is the 121st in the world. By rebasing the economy the composite sectors of the economy increased from 37 to 46 meaning that more sectors like telecommunications, entertainment, motion pictures, vehicle assembly, ICT and a few others were added. It is gratifying to note that the structure of the Nigerian economy is changing and the dramatic rise in the share of services in the nominal GDP has displaced the old belief that agriculture was the largest contributor to Nigeria’s GDP. In the 2013 human development report Nigeria is ranked 153 out of 186 countries in the world. Despite the rebased GDP, Nigeria, according to the World Bank, is one of the five countries with the largest concentration of poor people in the world. In Nigeria 60 per cent of its people or over 100 million Nigerians live on less than $1.25 per day, which has become the measure for extreme poverty. With the rebased economy, in the best of times Nigeria generates about 4,000 megawatts or less of public electricity to power the 26th biggest economy in the world. While announcing results of the rebasing, the National Bureau of Statistics announced that growth in GDP is not synonymous with increase in job creation and that increase in the overall economic output of a country does not necessarily mean increase in incomes of individuals. Actually the statistician-general of Nigeria was referring to the contradictions inherent in the Nigerian situation because all over the world the experience is exactly the opposite of what he said. The rebased economy ran shy of telling Nigerians the unemployment rate in the country but even without taking the trouble to give us the estimate we know that the composite unemployment rate is about 30 per cent while the youth unemployment rate is nearly 50 per cent. Nigeria is now the largest economy in Africa beating South Africa to

a distant second but Nigeria’s newly derived GDP per capita of $2,688 still lags behind South Africa, Egypt and Tunisia. Let me quickly add that the last base year used to compute the GDP of the South African economy was 1998. But does this all mean that the rebased Nigerian GDP is meaningless? Not really but it weighs President Jonathan’s burden. Nigerians already know that the country is blessed with bountiful resources but with corrupt and unsympathetic leaders. The rebased GDP is not a gimmick. It truly represents the Nigerian economy using prices of 2010. In 2014 the 2010 prices have changed already. So the economy is even bigger now than it was in 2010. To arrive at the new GDP data every known and respectable organisation was involved. The UN, IMF, World Bank, ADB, local and international economists and a painstaking National Bureau of Statistics were involved. It was therefore a job well done. However, it is the best case yet of what classical economics calls growth without development. This expression is a fundamental measure of the wellbeing of a society. Having rebased its GDP, Nigerian economy became larger than the economy of Austria, Malaysia and Indonesia amongst others. The South Africans have jeered at our new size and have described the economy as a big house on faulty foundation. The Nigerian economy remains empty without infrastructure. An economy that has no intra-city rail service, an economy where no city can boast of portable water across the length and breadth of its city limits, an economy that accounts for 10% of global infant and maternal mortality rate cannot in good conscience relish at a huge size devoid of quality. The rebased Nigerian GDP is like the situation of a supposedly wealthy man whose house leaks from every corner and the children cannot eat, cannot go to school, cannot visit the hospital when ill, have no clothes to wear and have no water to drink and yet the man is described as rich. The National Bureau of Statistics says that rebasing will give the Nigerian government tools to better tackle the challenges of growing the economy and fighting poverty. It is vital that Nigerians know what it is to be the 26th largest economy in the world by GDP. It means Nigeria has an economy bigger than Austria’s. Austria is a European economy and it is one of the ten most comfortable countries in the world. Let us look at Austria so that the Nigerian president and his government know what Nigerians expect from an economy with Nigeria’s new GDP. In 2012, Austria was one of the countries surveyed by the OECD on life satisfaction index. Out of the OECD countries in Asia, Europe, America and Australia ten countries were selected as the world’s happiest countries and their citizens as the world’s most satisfied citizens. Seven pa-

rameters were applied; namely, life satisfaction, employment rate, self-reported good health, employees working long hours, disposable income, educational attainment and life expectancy. These measures of quality further examined homicide rate, sense of feeling safe walking home at night, quality of drinking water etc. Ten countries stood out as the happiest in the world namely Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Israel, Finland, Australia, Canada and Sweden. In the case of Austria, whose GDP is way below Nigeria’s rebased GDP, its life satisfaction score was 7.5 out of 10 meaning that 75 per cent of its people were happy with their life conditions. 82 per cent of Austrians were happy with the level and quality of educational attainment and a self- reported good health score of 69 per cent. Life expectancy of the Austrian in 2012 was 80.7 years with a feel safe factor of 70 per cent, a homicide rate of 2.1 murders per 100,000, and five per cent unemployment rate. Yet Austria’s GDP is less than Nigeria’s rebased GDP. The challenge for President Jonathan is to better the lot of Nigerians on the heels of the rebased GDP. Reporting a huge GDP cannot be an end in itself. GDP must mean growth and development. It must mean good health, good roads, good education, good electricity supply, good housing, good food and extremely low corruption. John Adams, the 18th century American statesman said: “The happiness of society is the end of government”. Arguing further, Eleanor Roosevelt, author, speaker and wife of a former American President Franklin D. Roosevelt said: “Happiness is not a goal; it’s a byproduct.” Therefore for Nigerian citizens to appreciate their rebased status, the government must invest considerable energy and resources in building and developing systems and structures that would guarantee the happiness they seek. Nigerians must benefit from the growth of their economy. A GDP of $510billion must translate into a better society for Nigerians. The federal government should develop a list of quick wins or low hanging fruits to harvest on the strength of a rebased economy. The unemployment rate should be the first casualty of a rebased GDP. The Nigerian constitution provides that the federal government shall operate a mixed economy model of development. It means both the public and private sectors must play a role in its development. The federal government and other state governments should borrow a leaf from the Lagos State government to see how a government can gainfully engage in the productive sector of the economy. The business of government is both in business and government. Government has business in business. As it provides enabling environment to the private sector,

it must make the public sector responsive to society. The federal and state governments should clear the streets of unemployed graduates of universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education immediately. In 1986/87, faced with a crushing unemployment problem, the federal government under President Ibrahim Babangida opened up the civil service and ordered mass recruitment of staff into the service. In no time unemployment ceased to be a problem and some of those recruited graduates today are directors in the federal service. To start, all establishment positions in the MDAs should be filled. For every ghost worker fished out, a true person must be recruited in its place. Nigerians must be allowed to guide the growth of this economy by supervising, regulating, monitoring and overseeing different aspects of the system. A rebased economy of $510 billion is reflective of an endowed nation. President Jonathan must act to engrain his footsteps in the sands of time. Governments, as the Chinese government does, must now set up state farms at strategic locations in the country. We have the labour for it. The Nigerian borders with Chad, Niger, Benin republic and Cameroon must be fully protected now and in the future. The Boko Haram menace is an opportunity to beef up the physical strength of the security services. The armed forces and the police will benefit from new recruits. The federal government should set up a new agency called ‘Border Guards” and recruit a minimum of 100,000 young Nigerians to be deployed across the country’s border posts. The border guards would undergo a sixmonth paramilitary training, properly armed and be the go-between police and the army at border control points. A huge economy needs security. Similarly, let the federal government provide seed money to build two new refineries in the next 2436 months. The idea of government owned refineries is acceptable to President Jonathan. When he visited Namibia last month, the federal government and the Republic of Namibia proposed to construct a joint oil refinery in Walvis Bay, Namibia, to maximise cooperation in the area of energy. Good idea but charity begins at home. If the petroleum unions see the government building new refineries to be technically operated jointly for 30 years by foreign partners the idea of selling the old refineries in a transparent way will be good news to them. New refineries will create jobs and end fuel importation. Petroleum subsidies should go and the nearly N2 trillion spent annually on it be ploughed into job creation and development. In this way the rebased economy will have meaning for Nigerians. • Omokhodion was former MD/CEO of Liberty Bank Plc.

Abia as pacesetter in education countrywide By Mercy Ozuobi DUCATION is obviously the most powerful weapon that can be E used to change the world, says the legendary, Dr. Nelson Mandela. But how far have we as a people and a nation strived to promote quality and affordable education as a means of changing our great country Nigeria for better? Before now, Nigeria education system was ranked among the best in the continent of Africa. Then there were few schools mostly public and governments at all levels lived up to expectations in funding and promotion of good and qualitative education. The country was good for it and many Nigerians benefitted from it. But since the policy of private ownership of schools came into existence, the rat race for proliferation of schools becomes the order of the day, not for affordable and sound education, but purely for commercial purposes. Beneficiaries of public schools who are in position of authority today loot public treasury at ease, refuse to fund public schools, and at the same time use the looted funds to establish their own private schools using proxies to run them. Amidst these challenges, the example of the government in Abia State on development of public education is highly instructive. From the inception of the reigning administration in the state, the government addressed the age-long rots and challenges that have bedevilled education sector . Before now, the state of educational infrastructures, conditions of service for workers and learning environment for students in all the state-owned schools were pathetic and appalling. The Governor, Theodore Orji, a product and beneficiary of public schools leaves no one in doubt of his government’s commitment to see that education is improved in the state. Coming on board in 2007, the government increased the monthly subvention of all the tertiary institutions in the state. The State Scholarship Board that has been moribund was reactivated. Thus, the regular bursary disbursement to indigent Abia students was resurrected and beneficiaries have continued to enjoy it till date. The Board also reactivated the Overseas Scholarship Scheme

through which it has granted bursaries to over 40 students of Abia State origin studying in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Asia. Students of Abia origin currently in Nigerian Law schools across the country were recently paid bursary by the state government. Not done, the governor instituted a private scholarship scheme known as Ochendo Scholarship Scheme, which took off with 25 undergraduates in various disciplines within the country as beneficiaries. The project, strictly private, once had the respected Catholic Bishop of Umuahia, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji as its Board chairman. One of the beneficiaries of the scheme Solomon Odochi Chibuzo of the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Abia State University Uturu emerged the overall best graduating student of the university in 2013 with CGPA 4.8. He was rewarded with automatic employment by the university authority. The government has also increased the fleet of buses in its Free-School-Bus Scheme for students in secondary and primary schools and has also repackaged the scheme to ensure effective and efficient service delivery. Teachers’ salaries and allowances are paid regularly and promptly. Ditto for promotions and entitlements, which hitherto were stunted. Notably, teachers in the state rather than embark on strike since 2007, have continued to work happily and wholeheartedly. Since 2007, the government has embarked on massive rehabilitation and construction of standard classroom blocks, offices, and other facilities in schools across the state. Many of the rehabilitation and construction works at the schools have been completed, and the list of completed work is endless, massive and unprecedented in history of public schools in the state. The state government then returned most of the schools to their original owners to manage, while it continued to pay their teachers salary till date. The Ministry of Education ensures strict supervision and monitoring of the activities of private schools in the state and caused the closure of some of them that were caught cutting corners.

The recent superb performance of Abia State in the recently released 2013 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination in which they emerged the overall second best in the country is a confirmation of the government’s massive investment in education sector in the last seven years. With that investment, the state has greater potentials in the years to come when the sector must have consolidated the gains of the government’s interventions. Recently too, Governor Orji approved the increment of monthly subvention of Abia Polytechnic, Aba from N25 million to N90 million. Towards the end of last year, government released N5.4 billion to the management of the state university, ABSU for infrastructure; restored peace between the university and its host community, and liquidated the arrears of six month salaries of staff, which gulped a whopping sum of nine hundred and sixty million naira (N960, 000, 000.00). The government has also redeemed her promise to implement the 2009 FGN/University Staff union’s package in the university from January 2011 which cost an additional N528, 000, 000.00. Government rescued the university by providing all the requirement for the full accreditation of the Surgery and Medicine programme; approving and awarding contracts for Medical Complex and an Auditorium for Abia State University Teaching Hospital located in Aba. The projects have been completed and handed over the management of the school since. The government interventions in the educational sector has already started bearing fruits as can be seen from the plethora of laurels garnered by the state at various national and zonal competitions. The state took the overall best position in the Universal Basic Education Commission Good Performance rating for the entire southeast zone; came second in the southeast zone, and was rewarded with a plaque and cash prize of seventy million naira. Abia state is a pacesetter in educational development in the country. • Ozuobi, a teacher wrote from Umuahia, Abia State.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 19

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

TheMetroSection Dying for others to live in peace... • 91-year-old man dies while protecting non-indigenes in the Wukari crisis in Taraba State

cently innovated the toilet facilities of the Red Cross Motherless Babies Home, Yaba, Lagos. Speaking at the handling over ceremony, IL Bagno’s financial controller, Smart Akusebo, said the company’s target was to renovate or construct toilet facilities in 10 orphanage homes to mark the 10th anniversary of the company. He said the company would be 10 years old in May. He informed: “Our choice of orphanages is quite clear because they are members of our society who need assistance. Since government’s funding is not enough, individuals and organizations like us need to come to their aid.” He disclosed that last year was all about public schools, but the company had decided to pay attention to orphanages for the company’s anniversary celebration. “We do this every year. Last year, we gave out 15 toilets to just two public schools.” According to Akusebo, their products come with five years warranty and some could be 30 years.

EARS are no doubt still dropping T down the cheeks of Taraba indigenes as well as non- indigenes who

Christ World Gospel Ministry begins convention The late Chief Afukonyo emies, he told them point-blank that he would not allow the youths to carry out their ungodly acts on the non-indigenes.” According to the eyewitness: “Papa stood his ground that he would not allow any more bloodshed in his house. He went ahead to inform the already angry youths that for them to carry out their ill acts on the people hiding in his house, they would first of all kill him.” “Seeing that papa was not willing to change his mind, the youths left in anger but unknown to them that another set of youths had gone as far as rescuing those hiding in Papa’s house as well as Papa to another place.” Though Papa was neither stabbed to death nor gunned down by bullets, he was said to have given up the ghost when he saw his building and other buildings up in flames. “The shock of seeing burnt houses,

Ogun commissioner makes case for community policing GUN State Commissioner for InO formation and Strategy, Yusuph Olaniyonu, has underscored the need for community policing, calling on Nigerians to be vigilant at all times, particularly now that the country is facing serious security challenges. Olaniyonu bore his mind recently in Abeokuta, the state capital, in the lecture he delivered at a programme of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) with the theme “Effective Policing: the Key Factor to a Crime-Free Society.” He emphasized that the business of ensuring security is a collective responsibility of all, urging Nigerians to get the law enforcement agents promptly informed of any suspicious move or activity that could threaten the security and peace of the community. “We must all be vigilant at all times

Firm renovates toilet for Red Cross Motherless Babies’ home FIRM, which deals with saniA tary ware, bathroom fittings and accessories, IL Bagno, has re-

From Charles Akpeji, Jalingo

are still busy counting their losses in the recent crisis that erupted in Wukari Local Council of Taraba State, reported to have been ignited by the herdsmen. The attacks, which led to wanton destruction of lives and property worth millions of Naira, have made the Tiv community who are the principal targets of the herdsmen and other non- indigenes, to relocate to other states where their lives and property would be adequately protected. This decision as noticed by The Guardian has transformed villages around the ancient town of Wukari and Wukari itself into a ghost town as one can now travel several hours without seeing a single soul or house still standing. But for the decision of 91-year-old Chief Irmiya Elawa Afukonyo, who allowed himself to be killed in the crisis in order to herald peace into the ancient city of Wukari, the crisis as gathered by The Guardian, would have been more bloody than it was. Though a Red Cross sources claimed that only 62 persons were killed in the crisis and 66 injured, an eyewitness who spoke to The Guardian said but for the late nonagenarian, the death “toll and level of destruction would have been worse.” Though the police confirmed that no fewer than 99 houses were completely razed during the upheaval, which has led to the imposition of 24hour curfew, the eyewitness, however, frowned at the figures given by the police, stating: “As you have seen for yourself, majority of the houses were completely brought down. So, how for God’s sake would the police claim that it was only 99 houses that were burnt?” At the peak of the crisis when the people were busy running helterskelter, in his quest to prevent the killings, late Afukonyo was said to have turned his house located in the heart of the town to a hiding place for the non-indigenes. “Irrespective of tribe, he threw the doors of his house open for people to take refuge. Even when some of the warring youths discovered that he was in custody of some perceived en-

Briefs

and get the Police informed of any suspicious moves that is inimical to the security, and consequently, the peace of our community. That is why I am an advocate of community policing where all of us consciously police our environment. We must realise that members of the Nigeria Police are neither spirits nor omniscient. Thus, we provide them with information that can truncate the moves of men of the underworld.” While urging Nigerians to have attitudinal change and repose enough confidence in members of the Nigeria Police Force, the commissioner tasked the law enforcement agents to also see their profession as that which is sensitive and deals with lives and wellbeing of the populace. He, therefore, called on the Police high command to rid the Force of bad eggs and take necessary steps to launder its image in the mind of the populace.

His son, Ezekiel Afukonyo some of which were burnt alongside their occupants, made Papa to collapse and die,” said the source. Recalling how his father died to The Guardian, his son, who was a governorship aspirant on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Chief Ezekiel Irmiya Afukonyo, said: “My father died while trying to save other people from being killed in the crisis.” Afukunyo, who is one of the top governorship aspirants on the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC) told The Guardian that “When the crisis started people were running up and down and the Hausa went and took refuge in my father’s house” stressing that “my father fought tooth and nail to make sure that the Hausas were not killed.” He confirmed that his father died of shock, which he said was heralded by the balls of fires that emitted from his house that was set ablaze “because he thought his last child was still in the house, not knowing that he had escaped.” Visibly sad, Ezekiel prayed that the death of his aged father should bring permanent peace to the area so as to allow for rapid growth. According to him: “Our prayer is that Papa’s death should not be in vain. Let his death bring peace to Wukari, to Taraba State and to the country at large. My father did not like to fight and he did not discriminate.” “Everybody in Wukari knew him as a peacemaker. Whenever the Muslims celebrate he would always join them in the celebration. He did the same thing with all the ethnic groups in the area. It is our fervent prayer that his death would bring the much needed peace to our community.” An elder from the Hausa community who also spoke on the death of Afukonyo said, “Baba died for us to live.” Speaking in Hausa through an interpreter, he narrated how the 91- yearold man discouraged the warring youths from raising hands against the Hausa community but felt dejected that in spite of all his efforts “he still

died for our sake.” Though both the monarch of the town, Aku-Uka Shakarau Agyo MassaIbi and the Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, have been urging the fleeing people to return to their villages, a lot of accusing fingers have, however, been pointed at the Acting Governor who the House Committee Chairman on Information, Culture and Tourism, Daniel Ishaya Gani said “is not capable “ to preside over the affairs of the state. Gani, who also lost his house and immediate senior brother to the crisis, believed that the crisis would have been curtailed had the acting governor heeded the voice of reasoning by drafting security personnel to the area when called upon. In the same vein, the 2011 governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya, felt sad that since the eruption of the crisis in most villages of the council, the acting governor never “deemed it fit to visit any of the crisis areas.” While the people are still busy counting their losses, anxiety of a possible reprisal attack is still high in the community even when two units of anti-riot policemen from both Gombe and Adamawa States have been deployed to the area.

Though Papa was neither stabbed to death nor gunned down by bullets, he was said to have have fainted and later died when he saw his building and other buildings up in flames... He thought his last child was still in the house that was burnt, not knowing that he had escaped

HIS year’s convention at T Christ World Gospel Ministry began yesterday at 13/15, Ayoade Adele Street, off Mufutau Adeyemi Street, Orelope Bus Stop, Egbeda, Lagos at 5.00p.m. It will end on Sunday, April 27, with a thanksgiving service at 9.00a.m. Chief host is Prophet Bankole Olanrewaju while guest ministers include Prophet Sam Ojo, Apostle Akindele George, Apostle Folorunsho Macaulay, Bola Aare, Bukola Akinade, among others.

Ambrose Chioma, 85, or burial April 25 rites for Elder AmFdiedUNERAL brose Ette Chioma, who on March 7, 2014, at the age of 85, begin on Thursday April 24, 2014 with a social wake at his home town in Ugbarakuma Umuohuru, Ubakala in Umuahia South Local Council, Abia State. He will be buried on Friday, April 25, after a funeral Mass at Sacred Heart Parish (Catholic), Church Ugbarakuma Umuohuru, Ubakala Umuahia South Local Council of Abia State at his family compound at 1.00p.m. A thanksgiving service holds on Sunday, April 27, at the same church at 9.00am. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Comfort Ambrose and children: Ette Chioma, Boniface Chioma, Mrs. Philomena Chioma, Fidelix Ambrose Chioma, Martins Ambrose Chioma and others.

Chioma

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

20 Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Giving back to the society, despite all odds It is very rare to give back to the society when you have not accumulated so much from either public office or your private endeavour. But 25-year-old Miss Joy Umoren, a 300 level part-time Accounting student of the University of Calabar, is giving out so much even when the society has not been so kind to her. The fifth child in a family of six, the young and eloquent Executive Director of Youth Mentorship Scheme (YOMES) from Obot Akara Local Council of Akwa Ibom State mentors youths and gives them the right focus in life. Umoren in a chat with The Guardian’s ANIETIE AKPAN spoke extensively on her youth programme, her life experience, the society and among others. Excerpts: HAT is Youth Mentorship W Scheme (YOMES) all about? YOMES is a non-governmental organization registered in Cross River State. It was registered last year and we have the authority to run in the 18 local councils of the state on mentorship. Mentorship is a youth platform where we mentor youths and teenagers on how to build confidence in themselves, how to stand tall and be counted, how to be visible and viable, how to use their time effectively and how to be the best on what they really want to be, irrespective of their family backgrounds, challenges they face, societal factors and every other factor that appear to be a set-back to them. We teach them how to brace up because every great man or woman has a story to tell. Greatness comes with challenges. Life is never a smooth ride. So that is what YOMES is all about. We mentor, we coach, counsel both on career choices, personal life issues and issues that generally matter and all that affects the youths. You find out that because of these challenges they face, it wears them down and they actually need somebody they can talk to. At times even parents are not there to listen to them and at times the friends they keep even make matters worse. So they really need someone to talk to. So the vision of YMS is to be there for them even with the physically challenged. We are there to encourage them that yes you are physically challenged but not mentally challenged. So the mission of YMS is to build a knowledge roadmap that will transform great minds, we call them great minds towards a pinnacle of a sustained confidence and leadership because they are the future leaders of tomorrow. My target groups are the teenagers and the youths. Teenagers are from the age of 13 and youths in general covering students from JSS1 and above. We have the mentorship segment for the youths

Miss Umoren

Some of her mentees at a seminar and mentorship segment for the teenagers. So we have seminars for the youths and the teenagers. They meet their peers and interact, feel free and share ideas and experience. They also come out of their shell because the worst thing that can happen to a man or woman is inferiority complex when you cannot have confidence in yourself and anything you believe in. If you do not have anything you believe in, then you fall for anything. We encourage them to look inwards. How did you start? Before the idea of YOMES came, I had always thought of giving back to the society although the society has not given me much. I have always thought of reaching out to people and impact in the lives of people. So, before YOMES came up as an NGO, I was moving around talking to some youth organisations, organising seminars in secondary schools and I found out that many of them had these challenges I earlier listed. I thought that I could not move from door to door to sensitise and motivate them and bring them out, so I needed to bring them out in a central location where everybody would be equal and get the same thing at the same time. So I floated the NGO and when we started, the very first

seminar we had, we had about 15 participants and after, they went home and told others. I also have some children in the primary school at Akpabuyo whom I also assist in terms of education, provide them with educational materials once in a while and when I have enough resources, I pay their fees, all because I want everybody to be happy. If everybody could see what to eat, what to drink, where to rest their heads, the world would become a better place. How many youths have you trained? So far we have trained between 40 and 45 persons and I am looking at a minimum of 100 youths. It is designed to run in sessions and it is also programmed to run in a space of one year. After the space of one year, we would graduate them. We have the basic stage and the advanced stage. After their graduation, we send them out and they become our ambassadors. Sometimes we bring them back on board to mentor others. I try as much as possible to try to make the YOMES session a reality session, it is not all telling them what they read on internet or stories but also we share real life experiences like those things you always fantasize, you want to do and you cannot do it and how

you think we can assist you to achieve them. The good thing about YOMES is that it is free. There is no fee attached to it. The reason why I decided to run it without attaching a fee to it is because when I was growing up as a child, I had missed several opportunities in life because my parents could not afford the fees that were attached to it. They had to run around for the money and at the end, the registration is closed because they could not meet the deadline and I would miss the opportunity. When I was in my Senior Secondary three (SS3), I was supposed to write my WAEC examination but I missed it because I was unable to pay for my WAEC fee and before I could raise it, the entry had closed. Well, I said the society has not really given much to me. I mean there are some people, may be because of where they come from, or where they were born, they have benefitted something from the society. Right from the day I was born up till date, I have always struggled for everything that I have. There is nothing that has come to me on a platter of gold. What are the challenges you have encountered? The greatest challenge I have is funding. That is because I do not have sponsors.

This programme, so far, has been sponsored by some private individuals who share the idea with me. They said with all the money we have we couldn’t think of this, we have not even been able to give anything back to the society, but at your age, you are thinking of giving back to the society, bringing the youths together , thinking about some other persons without thinking about yourself first, so we think it’s worth supporting. Another challenge was when I stated this programme, there was a particular person who told me he needed it because it was a brilliant idea but wanted to buy it from me. I told him I was not going to sell it because it was my dream. Where did you get the motivation for this project? What motivated me to do this is love for humanity, the youth, the society and my country. I feel sad each time I realize that I cannot do more. When I went to Obudu Local Council, I met this 21-year-old physically challenged young boy who was avoided by many but was surprised when I went to him and I said ‘I wanted to talk to you.’ Today, he feels wanted in the society and he lives a normal life to the surprise of his mother and the community.

In another incident, there is this young guy I met last year and when I met him, because of his background, he was never a happy person. Every time he wished he could commit suicide but we rescued him and now he works with YOMES. The reason why we are having all the security challenges and all the commotion in the world is because not everybody has what to eat, drink and live. If everyone can afford all, these at least, some of these things will be minimized and peace will come to stay. Hence, my dream is to have one of the biggest foundations in Africa, a foundation that will have different segments, a foundation that will be able to produce, at least, 1000 skilled youths in the state yearly. Any message for the society? The message I have for the society is that it should please create an enabling platform for the youths to showcase what nature has given to them. If you are in a position to help, please help. Help that person without any tribal sentiment, help that person and do not ask for anything in return because that person may not be in the best position to pay you back, it is God who will pay you back.

Photo

Wading through the ﬂood at Aboru, a Lagos suburb...after Sunday’s rain

PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN

Flooded: Egbeda -Idimu Road, Lagos...after Sunday’s rain

PHOTO: OSENI YUSUF

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Business Senate explains port’s concessioning scheme By Roseline Okere HE Senate Committee on T Commercialization and Privatization has said that the Federal Government decision to concession Nigerian ports was to bring about infrastructural development and increase its revenue generation. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Olugbenga Obadara who stated this during the Committee’s oversight visit to Tin-Can Island Port, Lagos, noted that the aim was significantly achieved, as services at the ports had not only improved but the ports were also contributing immensely to the revenue base of the country. Obadara said the concession fees paid by the concessionaires has contributed immensely to the nation’s yearly budget as against the pre-concession period when the Federal Government allocated huge sums of money to maintain the ports. “The Federal Government through the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) concessioned the ports to ensure development and efficiency which in turn would yield high revenue for government as it is applicable in other countries with ports”, he stated. Earlier, the Port Facility Manager of Five Star Logistics Limited, concessionaire of Tin-can Island Port Roro Terminal, Fulwood Bizzaro had told the lawmakers that despite several challenges, the concessionaire had ensured strict adherence to the covenants it signed with the BPE and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). Bizzaro said in line with the concessionaire’s development plan for the port terminal, it had developed 16-17 square metres of land for container and cargo stacking to handle the increased vehicle importation in the country. Receiving the Senators, the General Manger of Josephdam Port Services Limited, Dimon Travers said the recent approval by the Federal Government for the company to extend its lease on Tin-Can Island Port Terminal ‘A’ by five years, had given them the opportunity to fully comply with the tenets of the concession agreement and to also develop the terminal. He expressed optimism that at the expiration of the concession period, the terminal would be “fully developed and operated as a world-class terminal”. Travers said cargo throughput was expected to increase significantly in the next few years, adding that in the first quarter of 2014, there was 29 per cent increase in cargo throughput as against the 12.6 per cent in 2013. He revealed that his company had remitted all throughput and lease fees to the NPA up to the first quarter of 2014.

Minister for Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke

Amadi

Govt commences review of gas export agreements From: Emeka Anuforo O check the problems of gas to power plants in the nation’s electricity thermal plants, government is working on taking some gas originally meant for the export market and re-channeling same to the domestic market. But to do that, government is considering paying attractive prices for the gas, to lure the international gas dealers to supply more gas to the local electricity industry. Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission ( NERC), Sam Amadi, told newsmen in Abuja that the poor pricing for gas was largely responsible for the preference for the export market, noting that though government had long term gas export agreements, there were short ones that could be set aside or bought over to satisfy they local industry. Briefing newsmen at the end a meeting with the Chief Executive Officers of the nation’s electricity utilities, Amadi also announced that the nation was working on adopting a new technology that would enable it use compressed gas for power generation, as an innovative way of checking the problems of poor

gas supply occasioned by poor gas infrastructure, vandalism and associated problems. He said: “You are aware that gas supply has been a major problem that has limited gas capacity in the industry. Most of our generation plants are gas based and are not generating to their normal capacity because they don’t have enough gas supply. “The federal government is doing a lot to improve gas supply. Government is purchasing more gas, possibly taking some gas from export market to domestic market, and fast tracking work on gas infrastructure. “There are talks about investments of some billions of Dollars by the Niger Delta Power Development Company in the Sovereign Wealth Fund. All the are part of the initiative. Today we got a technology based solution from a World Bank consultant showing us how we can use compressed gas, take, and through some technology regasify it in the power plants. The attraction is that it would avoid the use of gas pipelines and all the associated risks of vandalism and all that. “That presentation was made

to us in the meeting, and all the generation companies would take it up with the firm, all in the bid to ensure that we have more gas, especially for embedded generation. We are focusing on dealing with the scarcity in the market. We are focusing on enabling discos procure embedded power. The innovation in technology with regards to gas would help both ode who are already connected to gas supply in terms of gas time out, and also help new embedded generation who want to supply quick power to the distribution companies.” Meanwhile, NERC has assured consumers that it was treating cases of outrageous billing for electricity by Discos seriously. For this reason, it said effective monitoring has been put in place to ensure that firms don’t continue to engage in such activities. He said: “The reckless estimation must stop immediately. That means that consumers who are post paid, who have meters, but not prepaid meters must be read. Discos must go and read those meters, and any month that they don’t read the meter,

they should use a baseline. It means that if they read the meter today and take a baseline, next month, they cannot go and read the meter. “The third month, if they go to read the meter, they have to crosscheck with the last month. The idea is that if something doesn’t have a meter, that person should not be overestimated. It simply means that you have to use due process to establish if they are on post paid, what they call analogue. If the person has been overcharged, they should be recharged accordingly. “Those who don’t have any kind of meter at all, should be metered accordingly. What is going on now is alteration. They should go back to a methodology that we developed. Ultimately, what is required is prepaid meter. But we do know that it requires a lot of of financing.” He said the interim rules to guide the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry was ready after much consultations and would take effect latest next week. “We have done consultations on the interim rules to increase the amount of liquidity in the system before

the Transitional Electricity Market is declared. Yesterday, we had the final consultation on it, and we have just announced to the CEOs that the interim rules will come into effect by tomorrow or after the holidays when the Commission will meet to sign the interim rules, the key things about the interim rules is that the interim rules raises the bar at the threshold of remittance, that the discos should remit more money to the market to pay the Gencos and services until we get to 100% performance,” Amadi noted. He frowned at cases of electricity theft by consumers and warned that such actions were further throwing the nation into darkness. He stressed that consumers found engaging in electricity theft or bypassing meters would face relevant prosecution. Amadi’s words: “There is rampant theft of electricity, and we have said that the discos should aggressively monitor and apprehend any customer who tampers with power, who steals energy at this crucial moment, will face the full rigour of criminal and civil sanctions.

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BUSINESS Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Govt owes major marketers N53.6b fuel subsidy Stories by Sulaimon Salau HE nation may soon be thrown into another fuel subsidy brouhaha, going by the recent development on outstanding Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) claims and the body language of the Federal Government on subsidy removal. Specifically, the petroleum marketers, under the aegis of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) have confirmed to The Guardian that about N53.6 billion was outstanding claims owed by the government under the PSF scheme. The Executive Secretary of MOMAN, Obafemi Olawore, who decried this huge outstanding said the amount was only an estimate for the major marketers, while the Independent marketers are also being owed billions of naira as at April 1, 2014. Olawore said this has contributed to the shortage of products in circulation, as some of the marketers were incapacitated by funds to place order for fuel importation. He therefore appealed to the Federal Government to fast track the processing in other

• Anxiety mounts over imminent removal of subsidy to encourage the willing marketers. However, the body language at the Federal Government suggests that fuel subsidy might soon find its way out of the national budget. The situation has already thrown the stakeholders into confusion. The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in Abuja last week took a decision to remove petroleum subsidy in the country, although it is yet to be ratified by the President. The Chairman of Finance Commissioners Forum, Mr Timothy Odah, who disclosed this after an executive meeting said a committee consisting of six Accountants-General of states and six state Commissioners for Finance was set up to conduct investigations and present a report on the impact of the subsidy in the country so far. “FAAC in its plenary session finally took a decision that petroleum subsidy should be entirely removed. Because from what was discovered, the subsidy is more or less a solution worse than the problem it is meant to solve.

We are of the firm decision that it will be better for states to access their funds and grant subsidy in their respective capacity. Our position will be submitted to the Presidency. “Therefore, we are of the firm decision that it will be better for states to access their funds and grant subsidy in their respective capacity. Our position will be submitted to the Presidency,’’ he said. It would be recalled that Federal Government is operating a partial-subsidy regime, after it ordered a partial removal following a national struggle on subsidy since January 2012. The fund was therefore directed to Sure-P to be used for infrastructure development. Odah said: “The sum of N35.55 billion is proposed for distribution for the month of March under the Sure-P programme.” Meanwhile, the former President of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Aminu Abdulkadir, had earlier claimed that the govern-

ment owed the members about N110 billion subsidy claims. However, the Federal Government claimed to have paid N41 billion from the outstanding last month. The Media Adviser to the Minister of Finance, Paul Nwabuikwu, said the ministry often waited for Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to screen and submit documents of the subsidy claims of the marketers. He confirmed that the last documents received from PPPRA were for claims amounting to N41 billion, adding that the money was processed and paid immediately to the marketers. Abdulkadir admitted that N41 billion was recently paid to the members, but said that it was from an outstanding debt of N151 billion to the marketers.

Why Nigeria must boost gas utilisation, by Obi HE Executive Vice as; the high cost of T Chairman, Techno Oil We at Techno Oil are using our Going Green identifies the cylinders and shortage Limited, Mrs. Nkechi Obi has stressed the need for the Federal Government to further encourage robust utilisation of gas for domestic consumption in the country. Obi, in an exclusive interview with the Guardian recently, berated the huge quantity of gas flared in the country, which could be converted for economic benefits. The Techno Oil boss, however advocate for mass conversion from kerosene to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), as more economic and environmental-friendly fuel for domestic usage. “In terms of gas utilization, I don’t think they have met the industry expectations,

Campaign to reach out to the masses on gas utilization, we have expended so much money in this advocacy, because we see it as a Corporate Social Responsibility. As at today, we have distributed well over 20,000 units of our cylinders. We have also gone into partnership with indigent mothers and market women as a way of empowering them to use LPG.

because Nigeria is still unable to fully utilize gas, and we flare quite a very high quantity of the resources. We are not there yet, because countries like Ghana and Morrocco are doing fine. We have a good number of gas reserves, but as at today our gas consumption is still very low. So, gov-

ernment must wake up to this challenge,” she said. She said LPG is one of the many ways whereby the gas resources could be beneficial to the local economy, although there are some challenges in the adoption of LPG as a means of generating energy in Nigerian homes today, which she

of filling plants. “We must find a way standardizing our filling stations to be able to accommodate LPG refilling capability. A situation whereby Nigerians would travel for over 14 kilometres before they can access a refilling facility works against the adoption of this product. “That is why, we at Techno Oil are using our Going Green Campaign to reach out to the masses on gas utilization, we have expended so much money in this advocacy, because we see it as a Corporate Social Responsibility. As at today, we have distributed well over 20,000 units of our cylinders. We have also gone into partnership with indigent mothers and market women as a way of empowering them to use LPG. We give out our cylinders at highly discounted prices in other to encourage Nigerians switch from kerosene to gas, and we believe that the federal government would soon join us on the campaign to be able to capture the entire populace,” she said. Obi noted that there had been a slight increase in LPG consumption from 120,000 metric tonnes to about 240,000 metric tonnes in 2012. She said the Federal Government should support the efforts of the few investors in this industry by granting them duty waivers or reduction on cylinders and stove accessories which are mostly imported. “It would also be more rewarding for government to redirect the current subsidy on Kerosene to the procurement of cylinders. Studies have confirmed that high cost cylinder procurement is one of the barriers to the switch from kerosene to LPG,” she said.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014 BUSINESS

World Bank to finance 19 centres of excellence By Bukky Olajide HE World Bank’s Board of T Executive Directors has approved $150 million to finance 19 university-based Centres of Excellence in seven countries in West and Central Africa. These competitively selected centers will receive funding for advanced specialized studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-related disciplines, as well as in agriculture and health.

• Transforms science, technology, and higher education in Africa This landmark Africa Centers of Excellence (ACE) project, which will equip young Africans with new scientific and technical skills, will be financed through IDA* credits to the governments of Nigeria (US$70 million), Ghana ($24 million), Senegal ($16 million), Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Togo (US$8 million each).. The Gambia will also receive a $2 million credit and a US$1 million grant to provide higher education,

including short-term training, to students, faculty and civil servants through the 19 ACEs. “I am excited to support these pioneering centers of excellence because they will be another step in building and nurturing specialized worldclass higher education institutions on the continent,” said Makhtar Diop, World Bank Vice-President for Africa. “I can think of no better way to grow African economies, create jobs, and support research in Africa,

than educating young graduates with expertise in highdemand areas such as chemical engineering, crop science, and the control of infectious diseases.” The continent faces a serious shortage of skilled workers in fast-growing sectors such as extractive industries, energy, water, and infrastructure, as well as in the fields of health and telecommunications. The result of having too few skilled workers in Africa’s extractive

Director, International and Federal Affairs, AGCO Corporation, Philip de Leon (left); Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe; and President/Chief Executive Officer, Development Finance International, Diane Willkens, at the Investment In Africa Panel, MIT Africa Innovate Conference 2014, in Boston, United States America.

industries is that oil and minerals are extracted in Africa but processed elsewhere in the world, to the detriment of African industries and jobs. Africa also suffers from a shortage of trained health workers who can provide high quality maternal health services. This may partially explain why Africa’s maternal mortality rate has remained so tragically high at 500 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Further, Africa needs its own research and innovative solutions to tackle its development challenges including climate change, which calls for urgent measures to increase yields in agriculture; and infectious diseases, which continue to exact a heavy toll on families and economies. However, the researcher-to-population ratio is very low in African countries. Burkina Faso, for example, has 45 research and development (R&D) specialists per million people, and Nigeria has 38, in comparison to an average of 481 in Latin America and 1,714 in East Asia. The new Bank-financed ACEs offer a regionally integrated way to increase high-quality

R&D services that will help meet these challenges, yet are efficient and economical given limited public budgets. Coordination and knowledge-sharing among the 19 ACEs will be managed through the Association of African Universities (AAU), which has received a $5 million grant for this purpose, and is an important regional partner. “Students in West and Central Africa urgently need high-quality science and technology programs to compete in their own regional job market as well as the global economy, but not a single university from this part of Africa features in rankings of the world’s top 500 universities,” said Peter Materu, World Bank Education Manager for West & Central Africa. “The African Centers of Excellence project is a win-win initiative—it will help these young people achieve their aspirations without leaving Africa, and it will help firms to find advanced skills and knowledge domestically and to compete more effectively in international markets.”

24 BUSINESS Tuesday, April 22, 2014

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Lagos gives April 30 deadline to operators over weak communications masts By Adeyemi Adepetun HE Lagos State Government has given owners of communications masts made of hollow-pipes till April 30 to replace them with galvanised steel masts, failure to comply will earn them (owners) serious sanctions. According to Lagos, it will start the dismantling and evacuation of hollow-pipe masts from the streets, which according to it have become death traps to residents in the state. Addressing journalists in Lagos, the General Manager, Urban Furniture Regulatory Unit (UFRU), an arm of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, Joe Igbokwe said the warning this time around is final. Igbokwe, while reacting to damages that occurred after April 13 early morning rainstorm, which pulled down several communication masts that destroyed buildings and cars worth billions of naira, said owners of weak mast must removed them from the state. Although no life was lost in the latest incident, the torrential rainfall, accompanied by heavy windstorms brought down trees and mostly hollow-pipe masts belonging to telecommunications companies and banks. Giving details of the damage, Igbokwe, said the havoc would have been more, if not for the timely intervention of UFRU in sensitising masts owners to evacuate all hollow-

pipe masts and to replace them with galvanised steel masts. According to him, the agency had in the past dismantled several masts belonging to banks and insurance companies that were threats to lives and property in the state. Igbokwe said the windstorm was so severe that it pulled down roof tops, trees, houses, electric poles, sign posts and telecoms masts, damaging property worth billions of naira. Attributing the damage to the weakness of hollow-pipe masts used by most banks and insurance companies, Igbokwe said Lagos government had severally warned that all weak and hollow-pipe masts be dismantled and replaced with galvanised steel masts, but that most banks and insurance companies had refused to obey the laws of the

state, which seeks to save life and property of the good people of Lagos. Igbokwe listed operators, whose masts caused havoc in Lagos last Sunday to include MTN, Visafone, Reltel, Diamond Bank, Union Bank, Addoser Microfinance Bank, Africa Finance Corporation, Brain & Brace Security and 13 other unknown operators that were detected immediately after the windstorm. He said areas mostly affected were Gbagada, Ojuelegba, Kirikiri in Apapa, ApapaOshodi Express Way, Ilupeju, Ikorodu, Ikoyi, Surulere, and Alaba International Market. According to him, the state government had since 2006 issued several warnings to owners of the affected masts to replace them and even provided specifications for building new ones, but they failed

to comply with the directives. He said after the April 30 deadline, the UFRU would commence dismantling and evacuation of all hollow-pipe masts in the state, while their owners would take full responsibility of the cost of the dismantling and evacuation. “After we must have removed all hollow-pipe masts in the state, their owners must replace them with galvanised steel masts, if they so wish to do so.” Igbokwe explained that although the affected MTN mast was made with galvanised steel, it was erected on the top of a building and was not properly fitted. He also warned all operators using towers and masts to comply with the Lagos State infrastructure laws, or be prepared to face the wrath of the law.

PwC completes acquisition of Booz & Company WC said it has successfuly P completed its business combination with Booz and Company. According to the company, with the granting of all regulatory approvals for Booz & Company to join PwC, it is now officially part of the PwC Network, while all closing conditions for the deal have been met. Marking this occasion, Booz & Company has changed its name to Strategy&. This new name, which will be used alongside the PwC’s

name and brand, reflects the strength in strategy consulting that Booz & Company brings to the PwC Network and the benefits this deal will bring to all clients and stakeholders. After a short grace period, Booz & Company can’t legally continue to use the Booz name following the change in ownership. Welcoming the Strategy&’s team to the PwC Network, Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers International, Dennis Nally, said: “Today signifies an important step for PwC, our clients and stakeholders. Businesses are navigating unprecedented, disruptive threats and organisations increasingly want the right strategy and the ability to execute it. Together PwC and Strategy& meet this need – delivering superior value to our clients and stakeholders, attracting premium talent and helping businesses

around the world build their capabilities on a global scale. “This combination of PwC and Strategy& will see PwC lead the way in changing the landscape of the global consulting business.” PwC Africa Senior Partner, Suresh Kana, added: “The addition of Strategy& increases the pool of talented people within the PwC Network. Strategy& deploys the best industry experts suited to a strategic challenge, on a global scale. Tapping into these global resources will enable PwC Africa to assist our stakeholders in solving important problems.” “We are delighted to be joining PwC, the leading professional services network in the world, as it enables us to offer both our clients and our people a bigger, broader and better opportunity to connect strategy to impact,” said CEO of Strategy&., Cesare Mainardi.

US wants closer economic ties with Africa OVERNOR of Maryland, G United States, Martin O’ Malley has called for the reestablishment and deepening of economic ties between the US and Africa. His recommendation was necessitated by the efforts of the African Leadership Magazine and its Publisher, Dr. Ken Giami, who according to him, have consistently worked to bridge the trade and cultural gap between Africa and the US. Governor O’ Malley made this remark during the African Public Service Forum organised by the African Leadership Magazine in Washington DC, which was titled: “An Efficient Public Services Sector as Key to Africa’s Growth and Development”. O’ Malley, who was accompanied by the Maryland Secretary of State, Mr John P. McDonough and his Executive Assistant, Ms. Linda Aldredge, also used the forum to present a Governor’s Special Commendation Award to the Publisher of the magazine, Dr. Giami. Also speaking at the event, President, Republic of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, who delivered the keynote address

used the forum to call on African governments to do all it takes to enthrone peace, not just in their home countries, but also in their neighbouring countries. President Jakaya Kikwete, who was represented by the Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Bernard Membe, also highlighted some of the achievements of the country’s leadership and public services sector, which according to him have resulted in massive infrastructural developments across the country. He urged other African nations to borrow a leaf from the Tanzanian example. Reacting, Dr. Giami expressed his appreciations to Governor O’Malley for finding the time to personally attend the meeting hosted by the African Leadership magazine, and for recognising the work that the magazine is doing in promoting US – Africa Trade relations as well as cultural exchanges across the Atlantic. Giami expressed optimism that the magazine would continue to shine the spotlight on the opportunities that Africa represents in today’s

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014 INTERNATIONAL 25

Japan’s trade deficit widens as export growth weakens APAN’S weakest export growth in a year spurred a Jwider-than-forecast trade deficit in March, adding to challenges for Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe in steering the economy through the aftermath of an April 1 sales-tax rise. The 1.8 per cent rise in the value of shipments overseas from a year earlier, reported today by the Ministry of Finance, compared with a 6.5 per cent median estimate of 27 economists in a Bloomberg News survey. An 18.1 per cent jump in imports helped widen the deficit to the biggest ever for the month. Exports by volume fell the most since June last year, suggesting external demand may fail to provide much support for an economy set to contract this quarter. A spending spree ahead of the tax increase boosted imports, already swollen by a surge in energy costs due to the yen’s slide and nuclear shutdowns. “In spite of the continued weaker yen, the performance of Japanese exporters is quite weak compared to competitors like Korea or Taiwan,” said Junko Nishioka, chief Japan economist at Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc in Tokyo. The trade balance will deteriorate “unless the government decides to restart nuclear power plants,” she said. The rush demand ahead of the tax increase could have prompted companies to divert shipments to the domestic market, rather than overseas, crimping export growth, said Hiroaki Muto, a senior economist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management Co. in Tokyo. Abe’s drive to shake off more than a decade of deflation and economic drift helped drive down the yen, boosting profits of exporters such as Toyota Motor Corp. even as shipment volumes remain sluggish. Export volumes fell 2.5 per cent in March from a year earlier. At the same time, the Japanese currency’s 19 per cent drop since Abe came to power in December 2012 has boosted import values, contributing to 21 straight monthly deficits — the longest slide in comparable data back to 1979. The yen was down 0.2 percent at 102.63 as of 11:48 a.m. in Tokyo yesterday.The Bank of Japan is forecast to add to already unprecedented easing to cushion the economy from the salestax increase and keep inflation on track to its 2 percent t a r g e t . A survey of economists conducted ahead of the BOJ’s April 8 meeting showed 72 per cent forecasting the central bank would add stimulus before or during July. Weakness in exports could be a potential trigger for more easing in July, according to JP Morgan Chase & Co. economist Masaaki K a n n o . The deficit quadrupled from a year earlier to 1.45 trillion yen ($14.1 billion), larger than a 1.08 trillion yen projection by economists. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the deficit grew to 1.71 trillion yen.

“Japan’s trade deficits may continue for at least three years,” said Muto, citing high energy costs and reduced potential for e x p o r t s . Other data also showed sluggishness in the nation’s corporate sector. Demand for loans from Japanese companies decreased in April from three months earlier, a BOJ survey s h o w e d . Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is considering loosening restrictions on lenders to make it easier for small businesses to procure funds, the Nikkei newspaper reported on April 19. While department store sales in March soared the most since at least 1991, Abe now has to ensure domestic demand doesn’t tail off with shoppers having to pay more for goods because

Nissan Motor Co. vehicles bound for shipment sit in a lot at a port in Hitachi City, yesterday.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Issue

How to tackle Nigeria’s electricity crisis INTRODUCTION HE 15th Annual Bassey Andah Memorial Lecture hosted by the Bassey Andah Foundation took place in Transcorp Hotel, Calabar on the 18th January, 2014 at 10.00am. The theme of the Lecture was “Power and Sustainable Development: The Place of Power in the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government”. The Lecture was chaired by Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw, Chairman, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The Keynote Address was delivered by Mr. Eyo O. Ekpo, Commissioner, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), while the Guest Lecturer is the Director of Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law, University of Ibadan, Professor Adeola Adenikinju.. The Lecture attracted several dignitaries including Chairman and members of the Board of the Foundation and over 300 participants.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LECTURE The highlights from the papers presented at the lecture include the following key points: All the Speakers at the Lecture commended the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the ongoing bold reforms of the electricity sector. Agreed that adequate, affordable and quality access to electricity is critical to the realization of that transformational agenda of the administration of President Jonathan That access to electricity in Nigeria is currently below 50 per cent and that the access is inequitable varying with levels of income and location. Agreed that electricity access should be a right to all Nigerians and not a privilege Agreed that the current status of electricity supply in Nigeria is unacceptable, given the level of electricity demand in the country and relative to comparator countries. The BRICS countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are far ahead of Nigeria in terms of elec-

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo

tricity access and per capita electricity consumption. The reform of the Gas sector is critical to the realization of the goal of stable and electricity supply in the country. Presently many power plants have no access to adequate electricity supply. The current electricity supply industry is characterized by high transmission and distribution losses. In addition, the transmission capacity in the country is grossly inadequate to meet planned electricity expansion targets. That there is currently high rate of electricity supply variability in the country as the difference between peak and lowest supply of electricity remains unacceptably high. That privatisation does not imply absence of regulation. It simply involves that the focus of regulation will have to change to ensure that all actors play according to the rule, that interests of all economic agents, especially the vulnerable consumers are protected, that quality of services are not compromised and that there are no attempts to hijack the normal functioning of the economic process through anti-competition practices. Recommendations The following recommendations emerged from the presentations and discussions that took place during the lecture. The government must continue to demonstrate necessary political will and courage to follow through the reforms in the electricity sector. Government must ensure the development of the gas market to support the reforms of the electricity sector. All the current constraints to the flow of gas in adequate and consistent levels to all the available power stations must be ad-

dressed. Efforts should be made to ensure that all completed power projects in the country have access to adequate gas supply. Institution building and transparent and disciplined governance are very important. A truly independent, strong and capable regulatory institution unencumbered by political interference is critical to the success of the reforms. Regulatory captures in whatever form should be jealously guarded against. Electricity should be treated as a business and

Government must ensure the development of the gas market to support the reforms of the electricity sector. All the current constraints to the flow of gas in adequate and consistent levels to all the available power stations must be addressed. Efforts should be made to ensure that all completed power projects in the country have access to adequate gas supply.

not a social service. Therefore necessary incentives should be put in place to encourage private investment in the sector. The discipline of the market should be made to bear on the operations of the electricity market. Competition should be allowed as early as possible in the various segments of the electricity supply chain. In addition, defaulting electricity suppliers should be made liable and make to pay appropriate penalties to consumers. The fuel base for electricity generation should be broaden to allow for security of supply and extend electricity coverage to as many Nigerians as possible by exploring both non-renewable and renewable energy sources. Hence Renewable Energy Technology should be promoted to complement existing thermal power plants. There should be equity in electricity access across income groups and geographical locations. Providing affordable access to electricity to rural dwellers is one of the fastest ways to cut poverty and reduce unemployment in the country. The subsisting legislation in the sector, the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) of 2005, should be reviewed to bring its provisions in line with current realities in the country and consistent with international best practices. Government should as a matter of urgency and honour, resolve all existing legacy and contractual issues in the electricity sector, including its obligations to former workers of PHCN. The government must fund urgently the expansion of transmission capacity in the country to ensure that all power generated in the country can be evacuated to demand centres. The protection of the consumers, in particular the vulnerable has to be given proper attention in the emerging electricity market. Electricity reforms have been accompanied with very steep increase in electricity tariffs. The place of research and development is very important in the emerging electricity sector. Government must encourage and fund research and development in our tertiary institutions to improve sectoral performance and support innovation. Tertiary institutions in Nigeria should be encouraged not just to provide human capital required for the sector, but also continue to explore application of local resources and adoption and adaptation of new technology in the energy sector. Conclusion The Lecture concluded that in his short term in office, the President has demonstrated his commitments and determination to break the impact of the vicious circle of poor electricity supply on the economy and welfare of Nigerians. He has taken important steps. However, the journey ahead is still long. If he succeeds, his legacy will be preserved for generations.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Appointments Terror attacks as threat to development

Victim of terrorist attack From Collins Olayinka, Abuja HILE it is the duty of govW ernment to chart development routes through policy declarations, the engine that often drives such development and brings it to fruition are the workers. It therefore goes without saying that the workforce is perhaps the most crucial centripetal factor that determines the success or otherwise of policies. Therefore, any sustained attacks on the workers directly threaten the collective existence and economic prosperity of nations. The sector of the Nigerian society that suffer the most since the advent of Boko Haram attacks in the country has been the labour force. This labour force indeed goes well beyond the formal sector to include those in the informal sector and even the unemployed who have been turned into nomadic due to their constant search for job opportunities that takes them from city to city. Beyond their movement, they also form the bulk of passengers who prefer the cheapest form of transport because of their state of near-permanent financial predicament. The terror attack in Nyanyan, an outskirt of Abuja last week was no exception as those who are often referred to as ‘wretched of the earth’ were mostly affected. The motor park is known as a major transit point from the Nasarawa state axis into the Abuja city centre. No doubt, the attacks mostly in the North East states like Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and not forgetting Kano, have seen hundreds of workers losing their lives. What these attacks depict is a depletion of

the workforce and stifling the development process of the country. It was the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chukwuemeka Wogu, who puts the scenario succinctly during his on-the-spot visit to the victims of the blast recuperating at the National hospital and Asokoro General hospital in Abuja, when he described the attack as one too many on hapless workers. He described the bomb blast incidence as sad, criminal, heinous and condemnable especially in view of the fact that most of the victims were workers. According to him: “This is a sad situation, it is heinous, barbaric and therefore a cowardly and dastardly act that should be condemned by all Nigerians” He also commiserated with the Nigerian workers and both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) over the incident. “For the survivors of this unfortunate incidence particularly the Nigerian Workers in both the Public and Private Sectors and to the Labour Centres NLC and TUC, I send my profound and heart-felt condolence”, the Minister sympathized. He urged Nigerians to rise up to the challenges posed by the current security threat by joining hand with the security operatives to combat acts of terrorism. While praying for the repose of the souls of the dead and quick recovery for the hospitalized victims, Wogu asked God to grant the families of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss and wished survivors of the unfortunate incident quick recovery.

And from the two labour centres, it was a harvest of rage and condemnation when they visited the hospitals. TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama, urged relevant securities agencies to quickly address the issue of security in the country. The TUC also hinted that some of the burnt buses belong to the centre. “See these buses, we are contributing to it and all the green buses you see here are under the TUC. We are affected and apart from that, Nigeria workers are affected whether in the public or private sector. So, everybody is devastated by this unfortunate incident. We tried to make a contribution into the system and people want to pull it down. This is an organized park; the attack on this park is to send a message. Most of the vehicles here are vehicles that have one connection and the order to the system that is contributing in easing the transportation system of workers in this country”, he said. Kaigama condemned the attack on workers as well as vehicles that are procured to ease their movement to w o r k . He stressed that the attack affected everyone therefore people must join hand with the security operatives to monitor their environments. Kaigama explained that entrances to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are not more than five; therefore government should install cameras in all the entry p o i n t s . He said doing this would help detect whatever anybody including terrorist will

be carrying into the FCT. He added: “It is our duty as Nigerians to monitor our environment, monitor our parks, and monitor our workplace to ensure that no unnecessary movement goes around without us paying attention to it.” He urged road transport

workers to be conscious of their environment and equally be security alert at all times. He said that workers who come to the Nyanyan Park and every other parks in the FCT are there because of the availability of cheaper buses and they should be protected from further attacks. Kaigama urged government to protect all Nigerians irrespective of their locations be it markets, hospitals, parks and in all public places. He said the labour movements would liaise with government on how to replace those buses so as to ease the transport burden workers from that route would face as a result of the attack. On his part, the President of NLC, Abdulwahed Omar, said that most of the people who were killed or injured are workers and petty traders. His words: “This is a very serious issues and we are wondering why the choice of this place. We are highly devastated and feel that government must try to overhaul the security system. We think something is really wrong and it is high time we started doing things differently in terms of readjusting the security architecture of the country. Nigerians cannot afford to continue to lose people particularly its workforce that is the engine-room of development and growth in these magnitudes.’’ The NLC stated that government need to do more to reas-

sure Nigerians about their safety as it takes more than regular effort to confront an enemy as resourceful as this. It noted that in the past three years a sizable percent age of Nigeria national budget has been devoted to security, saying this should translate into better infrastructure, training and incentive for our personnel and not slush funds for dark interests. NLC insisted that government must tackle this terror through confrontation and through the depletion of their ranks via provision of education and jobs. Again, the labour centre also called for the full and immediate implementation of the reports of the two committees set up by the Federal Government on Boko Haram. Also, condemnation came from the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU). Its General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, described the attack as ‘internal war on the country. His words: “The attack, as painful as it is, could not be termed to have come as a surprise to us all, because the handwritings were and are still all over the place. What was not known was where the next bomb will be detonated. Some heartless individuals, who eat bread gained from wickedness and drink wine

CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

36 APPOINTMENTS Tuesday, April 22, 2014

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Terror attacks as threat to development CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 obtained from violence, have declared an internal war against Nigeria, its citizens and citizens of other countries resident in the country. It is a war that all hands must be on deck to fight in order to enable the country defeat this heartless criminals, most of

whom are in high places.” NASU called on Nigerians not to sacrifice the attack on the altar of religion, creed, ethnicity and political party affiliation, saying collective efforts must be mobilized towards finding lasting solution to the Boko Haram menace. “Nigerians should not trivi-

alize this madness with ethnicity, religiosity, regionalism or worse still politicize it. We must come together because these monstrous individuals are not taking any of these into consideration before ordering the carrying out of the dastardly and cowardly acts. When the bombs are detonated, they

do not sort out their victims, neither do the bombs segregate ethnic groups, religion, region or political parties before killing or injuring,” he e x p l a i n e d . Adeyemi declared that the federal, states and local governments must pull resources together to fight those who are now state common enemies. NASU Scribe decried the concentration of CCTV cameras in Abuja to highbrows areas such Asokoro, Maitama, Wuse 11 to the detriment of heavily populated areas such as Nyanyan, Kubwa, Karu,

Gwagwalada and Mararaba, where attacks are most likely to curse massive deaths. He also insisted that government must take steps to ensure the cameras are functional and perform the tasks they are meant for. He said: “We hear of contracts for CCTV cameras and monitors in Abuja metropolis and some other cities and State capitals in the country. The question is, are they actually working or they are another avenue for syphoning taxpayers’ money by those in authority? Are these CCTV cameras installed in Abuja? Are they

working? Why have we not been told of what the cameras recorded? Nyanyan bus station is no jungle in Borno State or elsewhere. In other civilized societies, the primary places where CCTV cameras are first installed are places of mass movement, such as train stations, bus stations, airports, shopping malls, etc. They are not first installed in front of private houses in highbrow areas such as Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, etc, for the protection of the high and mighty alone. Most of these people do not even pay taxes and may be chief sponsors of these types of crimes.” He called for deployment of plainclothes security operatives in areas associated with mass movements such as bus stations, public offices and train stations. He added: “We require full military action, not lamentations and failed promises on the part of our security agencies. They should also be well equipped. Walkie-talkies are no longer equipment for Commissioners of Police, Directors of State Security Services or for Colonels and equivalents in the military for VIP movements, but for patrolmen in neighborhood surveillance.” Adeyemi advocated a change of method, saying, “the war against these untouchable criminals is now. We should not only go for their foot soldiers, most of whom we are always made to understand are foreign nationals. Let us not give terrorism a foothold in our beloved country.”

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 NEWSXTRA

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Court nullifies Abuja park and pay policy By Lemmy Ughegbe, Abuja

N Abuja High Court has A abolished the Park and Pay Policy introduced by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on the ground that it lacked statutory backing and was therefore unlawful, illegal, null and void. Although the court presided over by Justice Peter Affen, described the Park and Pay Policy as an

“excellent” one, it regretted that held that there was no law upon which it could be sustained. Affen declared the said law illegal while delivering judgment in the suit filed by Sun Trust Savings and Loans Limited (the plaintiff) against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and two others, challenging the legality of collecting fees from motorists through the park and pay policy.

The plaintiff had prayed the court to determine whether the park and pay policy of the FCT is in pursuant of any act of the National Assembly as provided by the 1999 constitution and whether the defendants can exercise the powers to collect taxes, rates and fees without the act of the national assembly. Upon resolution, the plaintiff sought a declaration that the pay and park policy scheme is ultra-vires, illegal

Group alleges victimization of Ibori From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City GROUP, Niger Delta Alliance for Human Rights (NDAH), has faulted the request by the prosecution counsel in Southwark Crown Court, London, seeking for the confiscation of assets belonging to the former governor of Delta state, Chief James Ibori. In a world press briefing in Benin City, the group also called for justice and transparency in the handling of the case involving the ex-governor as it said the court was starved of evidence by both the prosecuting counsels and the Metropolitan Police which carried out investigations alongside the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Convener of the conference, Nowinta Igbotako urged the Prime Minister of Britain, David Cameron, to take more interest in the hearing of Ibori’s case as he said it was capable of damaging British government’s reputation. They also called on the House of Commons to investigate the use of the British citizens’ tax payer’s resources which was apparently wasted by the Metropolitan Police in the controversial investigation. He said the group was not comfortable that prosecution’s confiscation request “is ignorantly anchored” on Nuhu Ribadu’s EFCC and British Metropolitan Police’s claim that Ibori defrauded Delta State, “whereas there is no single evidence from Delta State, the so-called victim, either in the Crown’s trial bundle or the recent hearing that there were withdrawals and funds diversion. “It is equally shocking to note that despite the EFCC and British Metropolitan police’s arrest, and detention of the officials of Delta State government including it’s Accountant-General between 2005 and October 2007, an incontestable fact remains that the EFCC and the British Police did not have any evidence that the state was defrauded by Ibori or that the state funds could be traced to accounts of the former governor except for his salary”. Members of the NDAH sought for adequate encouragement of the trial judge Anthony Pitts not to succumb to the lure of using inference to give his judgment but must stick to evidence as required by the

British and International criminal law. They called on Transparency International, Amnesty International, the global human right community and media to keep an eye on Ibori’s case given the

latest revelations, adding that “If evidences genuinely link his assets to Delta State Government, they should be confiscated and repatriated but if not, there is no basis keeping Chief Ibori a day longer in British prisons.”

and not in pursuant to any Act of the National Assembly, a declaration that the defendants are not constitutionally empowered to collect tax, fees and rate in the FCT without an act of the national assembly and an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents and privies from collecting taxes, fees and issuing of parking violation charges. The plaintiff also sought the refund of twenty thousand collect by the third defendant and another one hundred million Naira in exemplary damages. Affen in determining the suit held that though the first defendant can make laws to collect taxes, fees and rates in the FCT, but the 2005 bye law of the FCT did not contemplate the park and pay scheme rather made

provision for park and ride, “which is not being implemented.” He further held that the FCT Road Transport Regulation though made elaborate provisions, “but I was not fortunate enough to find the park and pay scheme in the 2005 FCT by law. What it provided for under section 118 and 119 is the park and ride scheme. “ For reasons of clarity, I will state out those provisions in extensor. Section 118 states that the transport secretary may from time to time designate any operational area or zone as a park and ride area or route for the purposes of traffic management between 6 am and 6 pm.” In granting the reliefs sought by the plaintiff, the judge declared the scheme illegal, ultra vires, null and void.

The judge also restrained the first defendant from collecting any taxes, rates and fees from motorists except such is provided for by a valid subsidiary legislation. “The defendants by themselves, privies, agents, servants or whatsoever name called are hereby restrained from operating pay and park scheme save and except the same is provided for or authorized by a valid bye law,” the judge ruled. While commending the judgment, the plaintiff’s counsel, Ekene Okwubanego expressed happiness saying the court has vindicated them. “I want to believe that the honorable minister of FCT being one of the key ministers of this administration will comply with the judgment of the court,” Okwubanego said.

38 APPOINTMENT Tuesday, April 22, 2014

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Varsity holds convocation, honours Tinubu From Tunji Omofoye, Osogbo

UTHORITIES of Ladoke A Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso in Oyo state would honour the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu with a doctorate degree (D.Sc Honoris Causa) in Management Sciences at its 11th convoca-

tion ceremony tomorrow. The vice chancellor , Professor Adeniyi Gbadegesin, said Tinubu was being honoured due to his outstanding contribution to the development of the society. Prof.Gbadegesin who briefed reporters on the activities lined up for the combined convocation ceremony for 2009/2010,2010/2011 and 2011/2012 academic sessions said the university would

confer first degrees on 12,181 graduands and 9,376 graduands would receive postgraduate degrees. Out Of the total figure,92 graduands came up in first class category,3,202 graduands were in second class upper division, 6,300 graduands in second class lower division,1,961 graduands bag third class division and 145 graduands receive pass degrees. The Vice Chancellor noted that the university has continued to pursue the vision of the the founding fathers despite the challenges facing it and remained focused as a centre of academic excellence for the advancement of technology in meeting socio-cultural needs of the society. He said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;am proud to inform you that an impressive number of of academic staff of the university have been making their marks as they receive accolades and recognitions for outstanding performances at local and international conferenceâ&#x20AC;? He said the curriculum of the university which makes it mandatory for all students to undergo courses in basic sciences and general studies irrespective of their course of studies had strengthened and broadened their horizon thus making them have competitive edge among their peers in the society.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014 APPOINTMENTS 41

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Employers are shifting the burden of health care to retirees HE number of employers T providing health benefits for retirees has been in a state of steady erosion over the past few decades — dropping from 40 per cent of firms to 28 per cent between 1988 and 2013, according to a new report by the Kaiser Family Foundation. At larger companies (200+ employees) the drop has been even more dramatic, falling from 66 per cent to 28 per cent. As it stands, fewer than one in five employees work for a com-

pany that offers health benefits to retirees. “It’s hard to foresee a scenario where this trend will be reversed,” says Trisha Neuman, senior vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation and co-author of the report. “Employers are making decisions on an annual basis on how they want to structure their plans. They’re deciding what they’re willing to pay.” The root of the decline is simple enough: Healthcare is growing increasingly expen-

sive, and as retirees live longer each year, covering their medical expenses will only grow costlier. To mitigate future costs, some firms are capping their contribution to retiree health care, while others are tightening their eligibility standards for coverage by raising minimum age and years-of-service requirements. Newer hires may be excluded from coverage altogether. In a recent survey by Prudential Insurance Company of America, nearly

Agunbiade bags Service Award By Emeka Nwachukwu N recognition of his transIgrassroots, formation strides at the a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. S.O.B Agunbiade, representing Ikorodu 1 Constituency, has been honoured with a Distinguished Public Service award. The awards, Ikorodu community Development Award (ICDA) which made its debut last year is the initiative of the Liberty Centre Branch, Ikorodu, of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM). The Director of the Directorate of National Transformation of TREM Liberty Centre, Ikorodu, Mr. Austen Awulonu said the Award is designed to celebrate individuals who impact Ikorodu community for good. “Knowing full well that government alone cannot solve all the problems of society and coupled with

the fact that God ordained His church to be a change agent for good, the Ikorodu Community Development Awards is designed to celebrate individuals who impact Ikorodu community for good; engineer a rebirth of the positive values that define us as a people; and foster the continued development of Ikorodu,” Awulonu said. On the criteria to qualify and receive the awards, Awulonu indicated that the process begins with receiving nominations from members of the public through dedicated lines. The nominations are then filtered and investigated by the screening circuit, which is primarily made up of seasoned journalists resident in Ikorodu. They submit their shortlist to the Planning Committee who verifies and contacts the successful nominees. He added, the award is strictly for those who have carved a niche for them-

selves in their various endeavours in life. According to him, Hon. Agunbiade has impacted positively on the lives of the people of Ikorodu community. We looked at all areas of human developments such as health, education, environment, empowerment and social infrastructure and we found him worthy of being appreciated with the award. The resident Pastor in charge of TREM Liberty Centre, Ikorodu, Pastor Mike Egwu said the award is aimed to encourage and engender positive grassroots leadership for the overall development of Ikorodu community. “Ikorodu Community Development Award is our own way of helping to preach the gospel to our community, and encourage individuals to live a selfless life. Until your life becomes a blessing to people around you, you are not living a good life.

half of 1,000 employers said they are considering moving to a defined contribution model, which would cap their contribution to retiree health coverage at a predetermined amount. For young retirees, the blow to retiree health benefits has been cushioned by the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the new healthcare marketplace. In the past, retirees who were too young to qualify for Medicare relied on employer-backed health coverage to fill in their gap in coverage until they turned 65. Without it, they were basically at the mercy of the private insurance market, and, if they weren’t denied coverage for preexisting health conditions outright, they would often face steep premiums. The new healthcare law blocks insurers

from denying consumers with preexisting health conditions and provides tax subsidies for some. Kaiser has a helpful tax subsidy calculator on its website, which you can access here. “The fact that retirees now have a place to go to purchase insurance is a game changer,” Neuman says. For retirees over 65, life without employer-provided health benefits is a different story. Two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries today are not receiving benefits from a former employer, according to Kaiser. It’s hard to get by on Medicare alone, as it only covers basic medical needs and excludes long-term healthcare and dental care. Without employerprovided retiree health benefits, Medicare beneficiaries mostly rely on supplemental Medicare coverage such as

Medigap or Medicare Advantage. As employers move away from retiree health coverage, it’s important for workers today to prepare themselves for healthcare expenses down the road. A 65-year-old couple who retired in 2013 will spend $220,000 on healthcare over the course of retirement. And more than 70 per cent of seniors will eventually need some sort of long-term healthcare, which is not covered by Medicare. Pre-retirees should look into their options for long-term care insurance before they leave the workforce. The average policy costs about $3,000 a year — not cheap but certainly less expensive than the $83,950 a year you’d shell out for a private nursing home stay without insurance.

Sparklight appoints Olabode, Director Finance HE management of T Sparklight Property Development Company Limited has appointed Segun Adedayo Olabode as the Director, Finance and Administration. Segun holds a National Diploma in Finance and Higher National Diploma in Accountancy from the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara state. He also has a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Olabode, an Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Nigerian Institute of

Management (NIM) was trained as accounts trainee in the Department of Finance and Economic Development of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Abuja. During his National Youth service, he served as the Corps Liaison Officer at the Obingwa Local Government Secretariat, Abia State and as Zonal Coordinator of the Nigerian Christian Corpers Fellowship, Abia State. He worked with Gospel Unlimited Foundation as both Gospel Commissioner and Projects Site Finance Supervisor. He also worked with the National Population Commission, Osun State as

Enumerator. He later proceeded to Havilah Engineering Limited, Ibadan, where he worked as Accountant.

Olabode

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42 APPOINTMENTS Tuesday, April 22, 2014

PwC Nigeria appoints CEO RICEWATERHOUSECOOP- ed Uyi Akpata has been P ERS Nigeria, has appoint- elected to succeed me. Uyi ed Uyi Akpata, as the new has played other practice Country Senior Partner. Mr Akpata, whose appointment will take effect on July 1, 2014, will replace Mr Ken Igbokwe, who has been serving as Country Senior Partner since 2002. Igbokwe is due to retire as Regional Senior Partner, West Africa and Country Senior Partner, Nigeria on June 30, 2014. Akpata joined the legacy firm of Coopers and Lybrand in September 1984 after graduating with a BSc Accounting degree from the University of Lagos. He qualified as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in November 1986 and is currently a Fellow of the Institute. He was admitted as a Partner in October 1992 and has obtained extensive experience in leading the audits of companies in various sectors of the Nigerian economy. He has in the last 15 years acted as Assurance Engagement Leader for key players in the Oil and Gas Industry and is currently the Oil and Gas Leader for PwC Africa. Igbokwe, expressed his satisfaction on Mr Akpata’s appointment. “I am delight-

Akpata

management roles in PwC including: Chairman of the Governance Board for Africa Central, Partner responsible for the Co-ordination of Risk Independence and Quality in Africa Central. He is well qualified to take on the role of Country Senior Partner and Regional Senior Partner for West Africa. I have been honored to lead PwC for over 10 years and look forward to assisting Uyi during this transition period”. Reacting to the appointment, Mr Akpata thanked his predecessor for the excellent job he did at PwC and pledged to work with his colleagues to build on Igbokwe’s achievements. “On behalf of the Partners and staff of PwC, I thank Ken Igbokwe for an extraordinary job as Country Senior Partner and throughout his distinguished career at PwC. Under his leadership, the firm has grown and consistently delivered value for all our stakeholders in the assurance, tax and advisory field. We are confident that PwC will continue to build on Ken’s accomplishments and leverage PwC’s strong brand in the years ahead. I am honoured to be given this unique opportunity to lead the firm and to build on PwC’s market position as we strengthen relationships with our clients”, he said. He extolled Mr Igbokwe’s tenure for the development of the strategic thinking and visioning that underpinned the growth of the firm.

President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Ayodapo Shoderu (2nd left) in a handshake with Lead Consultant of Netherwoods Consulting, Adeyemi Adetunji, after the commencement of IFRS training for registered brokers in Lagos. With them is Executive Secretary of the NCRIB, Fatai Adegbenro, (right) and Egwu Kenneth who represented the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM)

CIPSMN seeks role for procurement experts HE President, Chartered T Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN), Alhaji Mohammed Jimoh Aliyu, has canvassed a role for procurement experts in the value chain. Speaking at the maiden edition of the Daca Consults Procurement Academy training in Ikeja, Lagos last Thursday, he said because firms could not afford to fail, some of them are placing their trust in credible suppliers. He also said: “While increased levels of outsourcing may have led to improvements in corporate efficiency, they come

as a price. Companies must not just concentrate on their core competences, they must evaluate what they are going to outsource, to whom and how they are going to safeguard their supply chains – not just for the present, but also dynamically for the future. Companies really are placing their competitiveness and their strategic capability in the hands of their suppliers. The price of failure is the risk of extinction.” Managing Consult, Data Consults Limited Procurement Academy Mr Adebayo Ayoade said: “Private organisations, especially multinationals

have since reorganised the role of supply chain management as a strategic management function. However, as a result of globalisation and competitiveness, they (organisations) provide the need to continuously build teams, skills and processes that will enable them to develop procurement professionals who can deliver best value for m o n e y . ” He commended the Federal Government for adopting the United Nations’ recommendation for a legal framework for procurement, noting that since the FG rolled out the Public

Procurement Act (PPA) 2007,over 10 states had domesticated the Act. He urged others who were yet to not to delay. Though over 15 experts in the field attended the free event, Ayoade said subsequent ones would paid for, adding that it is not easy to finance the human resource development programme. The two resource persons - the General Manager, Lagos State Procurement Agency Akin Onimole and Niyi Fadipe, QA/HSE Manager NEXAN KabelMetal PLC – spoke on the theme, “Examining the Legal Framework of Public Procurement in Nigeria.”

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014 | 43

Labour Local councils may adopt NDE training centre model From Collins Olayinka, Abuja HERE are indications that the Federal Government may encourage local government councils in the country to adopt the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) skills acquisition training centres model. Speaking during an official visit to the NDE Bwari skills acquisition centre, the Special Adviser to the President on Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Prof Sylvester Monye, lauded the cost-effectiveness of the Directorate saying the spending N186million on the sprawling complex is worthy of emulation by all the local councils in the country. His words: “The concept itself is well thought-out because of its holistic nature that comprises skills acquisition and development and third component include the provision of full residential facilities for trainees. These features make the centre a unique one. Beyond these features, what I also find difficult to believe is the cost implications of providing these facilities. For a government agency to ensure prudent use of resources in this manner gives so much

hope that indeed government resources can be spent judiciously. The cost of these facilities is put at some N186million. For a complex that has two residential units, administration unit, workshops and training facilities. If the NDE can build a skills acquisition centre of this magnitude at the cost of about N186million, I do not see any reason this cannot be replicated in all the 774 local government areas of this country by local authorities.” The Presidential aid also explained why government is now raising its stake on skills acquisition as a veritable way of confronting unemployment in the country. His explanation: “Government has discovered that over the years, we as a people have concentrated on the white-collar jobs to the detriment of the skills acquisition that has massive capabilities to create jobs. What this facility is targeting is to take us back to the basics as a country to be able to address this fundamental aspect of empowerment. The role of government in job creation efforts is basically to provide the enabling environment for

Dangote Cement partners bricklayers on training HE nation’s leading cement Mr. Olaniyi added that T manufacturer , Dangote Dangote Cement will be proCement has expressed its will- viding the bricklayers with ingness to enter into partnership with members of Lagos State Bricklayers Association(LSBA) towards eliminating the spate of building collapse in Lagos even as the cement company collaborates with Standard Organisation of Nigeria(SON) to train building materials dealers in Benin, Edo State capital. Regional Manager, Marketing Services of Dangote Cement Plc, Johnson Olaniyi in his remarks at the inauguration of the new executives of LSBA in Lagos State said the company’s new product, Dangote 3X Cement, is developed to enable builders build with peace mind. According to him, the new 42.5 3X cement is quicksetting and comes with more strength than other brands in the market. Highlighting the advantages of new Dangote 3X Cement he said “The 3x is an acronym for more profit to all users of cement while allowing the builders to build with peace of mind. The product comes with more yield, more strength and more life”. He pledged Dangote Cement’s willingness to partner with the new executive led by Abel Kayode in training new bricklayers and retraining old hands in the sector to adapt to modern standards in bricklaying. The training he said, will help greatly in reducing the spate of collapsed building in Lagos State.

basic tools that will help them in doing their jobs more efficiently and called on interested members to come and become distributors of Dangote Cement. Responding, the new President, Abel Kayode commended Dangote Cement for sponsoring the inauguration of his executive and pledged to work hand in hand with the cement company towards eliminating the menace of collapsed building. In a related ddevelopment, the Edo/Delta Zonal office of the Standards Organization of Nigeria(SON) has commended Dangote Cement for partnering the agency in training members of Cement,Iron,and Asbestos Free Products Dealers Association(CRADA) in Benin City. State Head, SON, Edo/Delta, Mr. O.I Akogun who gave the commendation at a day seminar for CRADA members said that though a lot of organisations were approached for sponsorship of the training, only Dangote Cement responded. He commended the company for the introduction of the new 3X cement and called on participants to buy the products as it has been approved by SON. Responding, representative of Dangote Cement, Johnson Olaniyi said that the company’s sponsorship of the seminar is deliberate strategy of collaborating with stakeholders to promote standardization in the building and construction

the private sector to grow the economy and in the process create the manpower that can drive the growth. If employers of labour cannot employ people, then there is a problem and if a country has graduates that are employable, then there is equally a problem. Our job as government is to create that resource that those who create jobs require. It is therefore our expectation that skills that would be developed in centres such as this will help the value chain.” He declared that having the NDE model skills acquisition centre across the federation would solve the unemployment challenges half way, saying, “I expect local authorities to reach out to the NDE and ask how they did this.” On his part, the Director General of the NDE, Abubakar Mohammed said Prof

Monye’s visit vindicated the Directorate’s believe that skills acquisition remains one of the option with which to solve the unemployment conundrum. He said: “We always believed that the Directorate has done some good works and having the Special Adviser to the President confirming and commending the efforts put in far is highly pleasing. The third item on the President Transformation Agenda is job creation and this initiative is aimed at keying into that.” The NDE chief commended the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chukwuemeka Wogu for supporting the NDE ideas and given the freehand to implement them. He hinted that the Bwari centre is one of the five centres the NDE is constructing in the country.

He named other centres that will soon be commissioned to include Araromi, Onipanu, Tambuwal and one in Rivers state. Abubakar disclosed that the NDE has taken over the ownership of skills acquisition training, standard, curriculum and output. He added: “In achieving our aim at ensuring high standard of our trainees, the Directorate is in discussion with the National Board for Technical Education and National Board for Business Education with the aim of awarding certificates.” He stressed that the NDE is ready to work and share ideas with all the stakeholders on the modalities as well as how to reduce cost in the building of the model centre. He said: “The declaration by the Special Adviser that this should be replicated in all the local governments of the feder-

ation lends credence to our ambition at the NDE. By the time we have centres all over the country, we will be able to shift the thinking of Nigerians from paid and wage employment into self-employment. Skills acquisition is not new in Nigeria; what we are doing that is new is formalizing it and makes it appealable to the youths. I believe state and local government councils can emulate what we re doing for the good of the country. Irrespective of what some characters are insinuating, skills acquisition centre is cost effective. We are willing to collaborate with relevant stakeholders that are interested in establishing skills acquisition centres.” He expressed hope that in the next two years, all the 72 centres across the country will begin operation.

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Chicken Republic repositions for better services NDICATIONS have IQuick emerged that a leading Service Restaurant

in Nigeria, Chicken Republic has become a blaze trailer considering its performance within the first quarter with a record of double digit percentage growth. According to reports, the company made the giant stride as a result of the discovery of consumers that Chicken Republic is consistent in the quality of products coming from its stable. It has also been discovered that many consumers considered the company as their preferred choices because of the ambience at its outlets. Confirming the new development, the company’ s Chief Operations Officer, Kofi Abunu said; “The numbers are in and they’re looking good for Chicken Republic; the chicken chain has recorded double digit percentage growth in first quarter. In a way, this has reaffirmed that the brand has pioneered a revolution in the Nigerian fast food sector,”

Abunu added that the brand started off this year with hopes of seeing 7-8 percent sales increases in the first quarter and that the management was delighted that the performance has far exceeded expectations. He admitted that the ongoing store renovations have allowed the brand to thrive, but he was quick to add that much of this performance can be attributed to the company’s product innovations, operational improvements and aggressive customer service training program. Chicken Republic recently overhauled its menu offering which saw the launch of four new products; Chief Burger, Zippy Burger, Crunchy Wings and Crunchy Strips along with several value meals. At a press briefing organised to usher the new product into the market, the Head of Marketing and Public Relations, Mrs Susan Rotimi explained that the new products are part of the ongoing market repositioning strategy aimed at strengthening the

VSO trains 541 volunteers in Nigeria From Kanayo Umeh, Abuja HE Country Director of T an NGO, Voluntary Service Organisation (VSO), Mr Sriramappa Gonchikara has revealed that the organisation had trained more than 541volunteers in Nigeria between 2008 and to date. Gonchikara who revealed this during a visit to the Director-General, NYSC, and Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi in Abuja said that the current areas of the VSO’s work in Nigeria include HIV/AIDS, education and national volunteering, which the volunteers are trained on. The country director, who stated that when young people are provided with the skills they require, they do a lot in the progress and development of the country, attributed the success of the organisation’s exercise to its partnership between the NYSC. He said there was no organisation in the country that had the outreach to every nook and cranny like the NYSC, adding that the VSO depended on the organisation in training

of the youth. ‘’Nigeria has one of the VSO’s longest running programmes; it is the most populous nation in Africa and a vibrant country with huge potential. The current areas of the VSO’s work in Nigeria include HIV/AIDS, education and national volunteering. In recent years, VSO’s involvement in Nigeria was extended to six successful global exchange programmes between Nigerian and British youths,’’ he said. Gonchikara stated that the organisation had its presence in Kara, Kano and Nasarawa states of the country adding that it creates an atmosphere were sustainable development would be achieved. Responding, the NYSC Director General, who said he was impressed with the partnership between the NYSC and VSO, revealed that plans were on the way to expand the Scheme so that it would be more relevant to stakeholders. Olawumi urged the VSO to extend its programmes to other states to help government in its transformation agenda and meeting the MDGs.

Chicken Republic brand so as to deliver more choice and value to its teaming customers. “Product variety and affordability are critical to delivering extra ordinary satisfaction to our customers. We regularly feel the pulse of our customers by conducting consumer research annually and our robust New Product Development (NPD) unit work tirelessly to ensure all new products meet and exceed the expectations of our customers”. She further added “Our guests love our soulfully spiced chicken and anything we introduce that builds on our authentic West African spiced chicken seems to be a hit” Earlier, the Manging Director of the company, Mr. Deji Akinyanju, stated that the organisation remains optimistic about its operations and will continue to position itself for an upward growth trend in the industry. ‘The investments we have made in our business will give us a strong competitive edge in the QSR sector’ he said.

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NIWA introduces passenger manifest at jetties HE National Inland T Waterways Authority (NIWA), has introduced com-

muters manifest at jetties in Lagos, an official has said. The authority’s Lagos Area Manager, Mu’azu Sambo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the manifest would assist in getting information on commuters in case of mishap. “We introduced the use of manifest at our jetties following the recent boat mishap at Majidun in Ikorodu, that was attributed to overloading. “The manifest would help in checking overloading, providing names of commuters, point and time of embarking and disembarking, next of kin, as well as their cell phone numbers. “Such information is necessary in case of any mishap considering the peculiarity of this mode of transportation,” he said. The Managing Director, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) Mr Olayinka Marinho, also told NAN that the authority was making efforts to make boat operators in the state adopt the use of passengers’ manifest. Some commuters at the C.M.S Ferry jetty, who spoke to NAN, commended the introduction of manifest at the jetties, saying that it would help the authorities identify casualties in the case of any mishap. Mrs Amaka Ezeala , a civil servant , said that the use of manifest would also help in

checking overloading by commercial boat operators. “Some greedy boat operators tend to overload their boats when there are many passengers. “I use the ferry regularly because I work at Apapa Wharf and live on the Island, I frown at overloading but other commuters see me as a

bad person whenever I complain”, Ezeala said. Another commuter, Mr Titus Morakinyo , a civil servant, also commended the introduction of the manifest, saying it would enable the authorities have information on commuters in case of mishap.

Girl-child worst hit by insurgency, says minister From Omotola Oloruntobi, Abuja HE Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina has stated that girl-child are the worst hit with the increasing rate of terror attacks around the country. Maina stressed that the continuous attacks and abduction of children from schools in the North-East of the country is a clear demonstration of the extent of violence meted to the Nigerian child, while condemning the abduction of about 200 girls from a Government Secondary School in Maiduguri. She stated this in Abuja at the inauguration of the National Joint Taskforce for the Prevention of Child Sexual abuse and violence against children, adding that the unwholesome attacks on children is worrisome. The minister said, “Whenever there are insurgencies, children become very easy targets as they are killed, maimed or abducted. Similarly, when there are eco-

nomic problems in the family, children are made to hawk in the streets where they are exposed to all kinds of hazards including child sexual abuse. Worthy of special mention is that the girl-child is the worst hit because she is predisposed to being sexually abused.” She said that violence against children has devastating physical, emotional and psychological consequences on children both in the short and long run, adding that such acts result in victims being depressed, suicidal having difficulties in relating with people, among others. She added the ministry in partnership with UNICEF, CDC Atlanta and the National Population Commission is conducting a national survey on violence against children in the country, stating that the outcome would ensure informed and evidence based programming for effective child protection in Nigeria.

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Bank , NYSC sign MoU on entrepreneurial development From Kanayo Umeh, Abuja ORRIED by the high rate of unemployment among Nigerian youths, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bank of Industry on skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development among the corp members. The Director-General NYSC, Maj-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, who disclosed this when the Commandant Guards Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Brig.Gen Anthony Omozoge paid him a courtesy visit in his office yesterday in Abuja stated that the issue of unemployment is one of the “critical catalyst for insecurity in any society. He revealed that the collaboration was designed to train and empower corps members in various entrepreneurial skills and give them collateral-free loan as capital and expansion. His words: “Recently, we approach the bank of industry and we signed a memorandum of understanding whereby corps members who takes advantage of the skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programme during the service year can a write business proposal and the Bank of Industry will offer them loan so that they can start on their own business. The DG noted that Federal Government is committed to repositioning the scheme by

using it to address problem of unemployment in the country. “What we are looking at is to see how we can build into this young men and women that the universities and polytechnics turns out every year the skill acquisition that they can develop on their own. Rather than being job seekers, we can turn them to job creators. “We have been looking at how we can reposition the scheme; like I told you, when it started about forty-one years ago, it was to foster unity and integration in Nigeria, that was the problem then. Forty one years down the ladder, we can say we still have problems as far integration is concerned, but then we have more serious issues now. Speaking on the call by some delegates at the National Conference for the increment of corps member’s allowance, he said “we must appreciate the effort of the government in keeping the scheme alive in view of the enormous resources that government put in every year. He noted that many countries in the world are surprised at the way Nigeria has been able to sustain the NYSC over the years. The Commandant Guards Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brig.Gen. Anthony Omozoje, pledged to continue to support the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) by providing security for corps

members in the FCT. Omozoje said the Guards Brigade was responsible for providing security for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the FCT. “The main purpose of our visit is to consolidate the brigade’s relationship with the NYSC, and to pledged our support to the NYSC,’’ Omozoje said. He also thanked the NYSC for its support to the Guards Brigade.

Recently, we approach the bank of industry and we signed a memorandum of understanding whereby corps members who takes advantage of the skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programme during the service year can a write business proposal and the Bank of Industry will offer them loan so that they can start on their own business.

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NEWSEXTRA Tuesday, April 22, 2014

ICPC drags Delta Deputy Speaker to court From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba THREE-time lawmaker and Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Basil Ganagana has been dragged by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to an Asaba HIgh Court over an allegation of using his office to confer advantage upon a relation. The offence contravenes and is punishable under section 19 of the ICPC Act 2000. At the hearing before Justice Mabel Omovie, Ganagana, who is a former speaker was slammed with a ten-count charge along with two other persons including his wife, Joan, and his brother, Thaddeus. In case No. A/ICPC/IC/2014, the anti-graft agency accused the deputy speaker of nominating his brother Thaddeus Ganagana, which eventually led to his employment as his political aide under Thaddeus Epo while still an employee of the Delta State Ministry of Education (Basic and Secondary). ICPC also alleged that the

Ekpo Nta, ICPC chairman politician, who represents Patani Constituency, retained his wife (Joan), under the name Amadbi Okoro as his legal assistant

when she was actually employed by the Delta State Ministry of Justice, an action that makes her to receive salaries simultaneously from both organisations. Among other charges, he is accused of receiving money, which has been obtained by means of an act constituting a felony and refusing to honour an invitation contrary to section 28 (1) (a) and punishable under section 28 (10) of the ICPC Act 2000, When next the case comes up on May 28 for hearing, Ganagana will attempt to dismiss the charge through an application which he has since filed.

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Obanikoro in the eye of the storm From Niyi Bello, (Akure), Kamal Tayo Oropo (Lagos), Karls Tsokar (Abuja)

• Lagos, Ondo govts, others want him sanctioned • Minister denies using soldiers against opposition

HE Minister of State for T Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, a former sena-

According to him, “We do not need the Federal Government permission to build a bridge in Lagos. That is the reality, we do not. But like I said we work with a lot of stakeholders when building bridges or roads. It is not just Federal Government. Even tenant and home owners on the road, we have to talk to them. “If you recall during the commissioning of the Ikoyi-Lekki Link Bridge, the governor thanked former President Umar Musa Yar’Adua that he gave up four buildings belonging to the Federal Government to enable us execute the project. “We demolished four Federal buildings and that when he spoke to him, the then President just told him to go and remove them. That shows that there is discussion. If those building do not belong to the Federal Government, we will need the permission of the owner. “We will compensate him in doing the bridge, we will have discussion. But to build a bridge in Lagos we don’t need the Federal Government’s permission, we should make that clear but if the Federal Government owns asset that will be affected just like any other human

tor, is facing heavy criticism from the Lagos and Ondo states’ governments as well as All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP) for different reasons. Lagos State Government and APC are tackling him over a housing project which he is accused of halting with soldiers. Ondo State Government, LP and their allies accused him of unwholesome influence in a recently held by-election for a House of Representatives seat. The minister and former ambassador has denied the charges. Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat said the Lagos authorities do not necessarily need to seek the permission of the Federal Government to build bridges and other peopleoriented projects in the state. Hamzat, while rendering his ministry’s account of stewardship in the last one year, said what the state government does is to consult with relevant organs of government and individuals before embarking on project execution.

being, we need to talk to them.” The Lagos chapter of APC accused President Goodluck Jonathan of engaging people of alleged questionable character as members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). In statement by its spokesman, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, the APC also faulted the PDP leadership for endorsing Mr. Ayodele Fayose and Senator Iyiola Omisore as its standard bearers in the governorship polls billed for June and August in Ekiti and Osun States respectively. According to the statement, the two ministers –Obanikoro and Abduljelili Adesiyan representing Lagos and Osun States lacked the wherewithal to be in the FEC and therefore ought not to have been nominated by the president. Igbokwe claimed that Obanikoro has demonstrated his lack of pedigree by abusing his office as the Minister of State, Defence when he “wrongly mobilised soldiers to stop workers on some project sites being carried out in Lagos and deployed soldiers to pave the way for manipulation of the rerun election into the House of Representatives in Ondo State.

On Adesiyan, Igbokwe alleged that the Minister of Police Affairs was accused alongside the PDP candidate in Osun State in a grave case. He said the quartet were specifically endorsed by the presidency to enable it have a political foothold in the Southwest through the backdoor, even as he described the plot as dead on arrival. The APC spokesman said the endorsement of Fayose and Omisore after their emergence from questionable party primaries spoke volumes of the PDP leadership. Igbokwe faulted the deployment of soldiers in Ondo State for a bye-election and said that the practice has always been that police should monitor election under the democratic dispensation. The statement reads: “Successive Federal Governments under civilian dispensation have used the police and other agencies of government to win elections in Nigeria since 1979 and only the military has been spared of this mess. But now that Obanikoro has dragged the well-respected Armed Forces of Nigeria into politics, what do we expect in 2015? “Can anybody see and feel the danger of dragging the Armed Forces of Nigeria into local politics? Can anybody imagine the consequences of this dangerous trend in the history of Nigeria? Yes the Army of Nigeria has been involved in the business of military coups in the past but not in local politics. This is the reason why Senator Obanikoro must be investigated by the Army of Nigeria and sanctioned if found guilty. Did President Jonathan authorize his brigandage in Lagos?” Describing the reliance on the duo of Obanikoro and Adesiyan by the federal government to realize their dreams of dislodging the APC in the Southwest as wishful and wasteful, Igbokwe said the voters know the party that has their interest at heart. A social-political group, Restoration Alliance, called for the resignation and prosecution of Obanikoro over the April 5, 2014 by–election in Ilaje/ese-odo local government area of Ondo State. The group said: “Following the indictment of the Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that he soiled his hand in the recently held by-election into the vacant Ilaje/ese-odo, Ondo State, Federal Constituency seat in the Federal House of Representatives,” he should “resign his position with immediate effect while his prosecution should commence immediately.” The group, in a statement issued in Akure, further demanded that the elec-

Obanikoro toral body declare the LP candidate, Hon. Kolade Akinjo, winner of the election without further delay. In the statement signed by its General Secretary, Akin Ulenuse, the group said through the report of the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Akin Orebiyi, it has been established that the Minister played an active role in the election to the advantage of the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate. However, Obanikoro denied reports alleging that military officers acting on his instructions are victimising the opposition. The Minister said it was “an unfounded but deviously conceived attack on a person perceived by his political detractors to be the most formidable threat in the lead up to a round of elections.” In a statement issued by a personal assistant, Ikenna Ezekwe in Abuja, the minister said the seemingly organised attack at his person based join spurious allegation of using a well organised and discipline institution like the Nigerian army is embarrassing to his integrity. The statement reads in part: “But for his present office, he has no need for a security detail. It has to be noted that the Honourable Minister is not responsible for deploying military personnel either in his detail or in operational circumstances. “He has no mandate to give soldiers or any military personnel orders. The Nigerian military is too professional to become tools in a game of political brinkmanship. “...There is absolutely no truth in the assertion that works on the site was disrupted by the military detail that accompanied him.” He said it was rather those within the opposition political circles that have collectively chosen to demonize and distract him with spurious reports of phantom incidents. On his part, the PDP Leader in Ondo State and its candidate in the last governorship election, Olusola Oke, challenged Orebiyi, to substantiate his allegation that Obanikoro, engaged in unwholesome activities during the bye-election.

The REC, at a parley with politicians, security agencies and other stakeholders last Tuesday to fix the date for the supplementary poll required to complete the exercise, publicly accused Obanikoro “of going about soiling his hands” during the election and that he had “hard evidence” to support the allegation. The statement by Orebiyi seems to have confirmed earlier allegations by the leadership of the LP in the state that the minister was going around on poll day with bands of soldiers to intimidate the voters and that he engaged in disruptions of the exercise through snatching of ballot boxes and causing general confusion. Oke, however, in a release titled: “Musiliu Obanikoro: Mimiko, Orebiyi Goofed” and signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Kunle Adebayo, said “the REC should provide for the public the facts that he said he has against the minister on the day of the election.” According to the release, “the entirety of this tale is not only untrue but also a deliberate mischief by frustrated politicians and the intemperate REC to tarnish the integrity and reputation of the minister, the Nigerian Military and indeed the Federal Government of Nigeria. “Senator Musiliu Obanikoro as a responsible and esteemed leader of our party, joined other leaders on the campaign train of our party to Ajapa and Arogbo areas of Ese-Odo Local Council on Thursday, April 3 (two days before the election) just as PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, led our party’s national delegation to the grand rally at Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Council Area, four days earlier. “After participating in the rally, which lasted till late evening, the minister left Ondo State very early on Friday, one day before the election. He was not in Ondo State during or after the election and so, was not in position to lead soldiers, intervene or visit the venues of the election. I strongly challenge the indecorous INEC REC to substantiate his spurious and irresponsible claims to the con-

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MarketReport EQUITY MARKET SUMMARY

AS AT 17-04-2014

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014 MARKET REPORT

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MARKET INDICATORS

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Shareholders task regulators on quoted firms’ dividend policy By Helen Oji HAREHOLDERS’ group under the aegie of Renaissance Shareholders Association of Nigeria have urged capital market regulators to make it mandatory for all quoted companies to submit statement of dividend policy to regulatory authorities and make it public. The President of the Association, Ambassador Olufemi Timothy who lamented that the determinants of the dividend policy have received little attention in developing countries such as Nigeria, argued that companies are declaring dividend arbitrarily without considering what is actually due for investors in accordance with the corporate performance. He explained that if quoted companies were compelled to declare a percentage of their profit as dividend and make it consistent, it would enhance company’s performance and sustain investors’ confidence in the market. He pointed out that such dividend policy would help investors to ascertain how strong a company is in terms of its fundamentals, as well as enhance investment decision Olufemi added that if such statement is made public, it

will ensure integrity of the board of these companies in giving to investors what is due to them, as well as compel them to embark on businesses that would enhance profitability in order to fulfill the mandate. “Recently, Nigerian Breweries declared its paying 80per cent of its PAT as dividend policy. Let regulators make it mandatory for every quoted companies to also do same. In the interest of stakeholders and the capital market. “As investors prepare for Easter holiday, we think its time for capital market regulators to demand for statement of dividend policy from quoted companies. As it is now, companies are just paying arbitrarily, without considering the need, interest of the larger per centage of investors. “Regulators can protect investors’ interest and by doing this, investors’ confidence will be restored. Companies will be committed to keep such promise and statement because their integrity will be at stake. This will enhance performance and investors would know companies with strong fundamentals to invest in.” he said.

Pfizer moves for $101 billion AstraZeneca bid FIZER Inc. approached P AstraZeneca Plc (AZN) about acquiring the United Kingdom (UK) drug maker, in a deal that would value the company at more than 60 billion pounds ($101 billion), according to a media report. The talks were reported by the London-based Sunday Times, citing bankers and industry sources it did not name. The conversations were described by the paper as informal and no longer continuing. “As a normal course of business, we continually explore opportunities to enhance shareholder value,” Joan Campion, a spokeswoman for New York-based Pfizer, said in an e-mail. “We don’t comment on market speculation or rumors.” Esra Erkal-Paler, a spokeswoman for London-based AstraZeneca, declined to comment. In the last three years, Pfizer has revamped its business, shuttering some research projects and emphasizing others. It also divided into three main units: two newdrugs businesses, and one focused on older products. Pfizer’s stock has gained 34 per cent in the last two years. AstraZeneca’s shares are up 32 per cent over that period, while sales have fallen from $33.6 billion in 2011 to $25.7 billion last year, with further

losses projected by some analysts as drugs lose patent protection. A merger of this reported size would top Pfizer’s 2000 purchase of Warner-Lambert Co. for $87 billion, the industry’s largest deal, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Pfizer has been at the center of the biggest drugmaker mega-mergers, making up three of the 10 deals worth more than $30 billion in the last two decades. AstraZeneca rose 0.6 per cent to close at 3,781.50 pence on April 17, giving the company a market value of 47.7 billion pounds. The U.K. stock market was closed for a holiday on April 18. Since taking over in 2010, Pfizer Chief Executive Officer Ian Read’s answers to whether or not he’d pursue a mega-merger such as a deal with AstraZeneca have shifted slightly. On a January conference call in 2012 he said, “I’m very disinclined to be looking at any possibility of another megaacquisition. You never say never, but we have all of the science we need.” In July 2013, when Read was asked on another conference call about the size of deals he might pursue, he replied: “We’ll look at any type of acquisition — never say never to a larger acquisition that made sense.”

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

GlobalStocks Corporate earnings boost S&P 500’s indices

New York Stock Exchange HE Standard & Poor’s 500 T Index (VIX) posted its best week since July, rebounding from a technology-driven selloff, as corporate earnings from major Wall Street banks to Yahoo! Inc. surpassed estimates. Morgan Stanley and Citigroup Inc. surged more than 5.6 percent after results beat forecasts. Yahoo soared 11 percent as sales jumped at Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., the China-based e-commerce company it has a 24 percent stake in. Coca-Cola Co. rose the most in five years after sales volume in North America halted a slide and gains were strong in markets such as China. UnitedHealth Group Inc. slid 4 percent after cuts to Medicare pricing hurt results. The S&P 500 rose four straight days, adding 2.7 percent to 1,864.85 during the holidayshortened trading week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) climbed 381.79 points, or 2.4 percent, to 16,408.54 for its best week this year. “There is an intense focus on earnings and how well companies were executing in a challenging first-quarter environment,” Alan Gayle, who helps oversee about $50 bil-

lion in assets as a senior strategist at RidgeWorth Capital Management, said in a telephone interview from Atlanta. “The macro environment is expected to improve and it does look like the numbers are moving in that direction. It’s really important that companies continue to be able to execute. The market is not kind to any company that misses expectations.” Earnings Estimates More than 10 percent of the companies in the equities benchmark disclosed results in the week, with another 158 members scheduled to report next week. Profit for S&P 500 companies probably increased 0.7 percent in the first quarter, analysts now forecast, after anticipating a 0.9 percent decrease as of April 11. The index rebounded from its worst week since 2012 and is up 0.9 percent for the year. It had dropped 4 percent from an April 2 record as investors sold Internet and biotechnology stocks amid concern that valuations were too high as earnings season began. The week’s rally left the index 1.4 percent below its all-time high. The surge reduced volatility,

as the Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index sank 22 percent to 13.36. The measure’s biggest weekly decline since January 2013 erased a 22 percent rally in the prior week. Investors also kept an eye on developments in eastern Ukraine, where the government unleashed an offensive to dislodge militants. Fourway talks on the crisis among U.S., European Union, Russian and Ukrainian diplomats on April 17 ended with an accord aimed at taking the first steps toward de-escalating the conflict. Economic data in the week indicated gains in manufacturing are helping power the U.S. out of the winter doldrums, while homebuilding showed signs of lagging behind. Retail sales increased in March as consumers bought more cars, clothing and garden supplies. Fed Chair Janet Yellen, speaking in New York on April 16, said the central bank has a “continuing commitment” to support the recovery. Three rounds of Fed bond-buying and record-low borrowing costs have helped push the S&P 500 higher by as much as

180 percent from its March 2009 low. All of the 10 main industries in the S&P 500 advanced at least 1.5 percent over the past four days. Chevron Corp. rose 5.7 percent to $123.68, helping energy shares jump 4.7 percent as a group. Financial stocks in the S&P 500 climbed 2.7 percent in the week, following a 4 percent rout in the previous period, as the biggest Wall Street banks reported earnings. Morgan Stanley advanced 8 percent to $30.76 for its best week since January 2013. The only major bank to report a rise in trading income posted net income that beat estimates. Citigroup gained 5.6 percent to $48.22 after it delivered a surprise increase in earnings and revenue. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. rose 3.1 percent as an increase in investment-banking revenue boosted profit. Coca-Cola added 5.4 percent to $40.72. The world’s largest soda maker showed signs of a rebound in the first three months of the year, easing the concerns that arose when the company unsettled investors with surprisingly sluggish global sales in the fourth quar-

ter. Yahoo soared 11 percent to $36.38 for its best week since October 2011. The web portal reported its first sales growth in more than a year and profit fell less than analysts estimated. Alibaba posted a 66 percent sales surge and more than doubled its net income for the last quarter of 2013. Google Inc. Class C shares added 1 percent to $536.10. The operator of the world’s largest search engine fell 3.7 percent on the final trading day after saying sales fell short of estimates. That trimmed a gain of 4.9 percent in the first three days of the week. The company’s costs are rising as it finds it harder to keep up with a shift to advertising on mobile phones. The Nasdaq Composite Index (CCMP) rallied 2.4 percent in the week, the most in two months. The gauge fell to within four points of its average price in the past 200 days on April 15 before rebounding. The last time the technology-heavy index dropped below that level, considered an important threshold by technical analysts, was Dec. 31, 2012.

The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index climbed 3.2 percent, the biggest gain in a month. Micron Technology Inc., the largest U.S. maker of memory chips, surged 13 percent to $23.91. SanDisk Corp. jumped 13 percent to $82.99, the most in nearly two years. The maker of flash memory for mobile devices boosted its forecast for gross margin this year. International Business Machines Corp. dropped 2.7 percent to $190.01 after sales missed estimates amid declining demand for hardware and waning sales in developing countries. While earnings fell, IBM reiterated its projection for 2014 adjusted profit. The stock had risen in six of the previous seven weeks. UnitedHealth slid 4 percent to $75.78 for the steepest drop in the Dow. The biggest U.S. health insurer said profit fell 7.8 percent. It has derived growth from Medicare and has the biggest program among publicly traded insurers, with 3 million enrollees. In April, the government implemented a second round of cuts to Medicare Advantage.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014 77

Law

Quote of the week “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward”. -Amelia Earhart

‘Chief Judge’s appointment is inconclusive without NJC’s input’ The National Judicial Council’s (NJC’s) recent suspension of Justice Peter Agumagu, who was sworn in as the Chief Judge of Rivers State by Governor Rotimi Amaechi without the body’s recommendation has continued to attract comments from many stakeholders. Although, the matter is now in court, BERTRAM NWANNEKANMA, however, sought the view of Mr. Kalu Umeh, the Attorney General of Abia State, on how the state was able to solve a similar situation and why the NJC should be revered. He also spoke on efforts by Abia state to make justice accessible to the public.

INTERVIEW SKED to comment on how Abia state was A able to resolve the intrigues involving the appointment of the state’s Chief Judge, Umeh said it was a long battle that was later won peacefully. He said: “Since the former chief judge of the state retired, the state has not been able to have a substantive Chief Judge. It is an anomaly and not good for the system. Constitutionally, the chief judge should be the head of the judiciary but we had issues with the National Judicial council (NJC). We had issues of recommendation coming from the NJC and the House of Assembly not confirming the person recommended, thereby putting the governor in some difficulty, because constitutionally before the governor appoints, he needs recommendation from the House of Assembly. We had a scenario here, where the NJC made a recommendation to the governor, the governor submitted the name of the person recommended but the House of Assembly withdrew or denied confirmation of the candidate. So, there was nothing we could do at that stage rather than writing back to NJC on the situation. On while the situation was allowed to linger, the revered lawyer said just as they were battling to see whether the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) could make fresh nomination to the NJC for consideration and possible recommendation, a lawyer went to court and made the NJC, the state government, the House of Assembly and all the judges in Abia state as defendants. “We are in that scenario and the matter was at the Federal High Court, Abuja. We made application for the matter to be transferred to Abia state, which took about 9 months. “Eventually, it was transferred and the judge had to take arguments and judgment was delivered in December 2013, thereby clearing the bottleneck that we had. So when that happened, the JSC had to make a fresh nomination to the NJC, which they accepted and then picked the name of the present chief judge. Asked whether, the chief judge was the one recommended before; Umeh said she was not the one. “We had sent three names but the NJC in their wisdom chose the third person in the list, that name was sent to the House, but the House did not confirm either. The present Chief judge was the one recommended by the NJC after the court case, when we have to send fresh nomination through the JSC. “It was a sole nomination and it was accepted, then sent to the House, which affirmed the nomination and the eventual swearing in. On whether the appointment process should remain in view of the crisis in Rivers state, Umeh said issue bordering on the appointment of chief judges is a procedure, which the constitution in Section 271 has taken care of. “If you look at the constitution, ample provisions had been made and roles assigned to these bodies, the bodies had one role or the other to play. I must tell you as a lawyer that the NJC is an umbrella body at the apex, when it comes to issues bordering on appointments in the judiciary. “All judges are under the purvey of the NJC, in terms of appointment and discipline. The governor appoints the chief judge but in terms of oversight functions, what happened within

Umeh the entire gamut of the judiciary, from the High Courts up to the Supreme Court, it is the NJC. The role assigned to NJC in terms of appointment is recommendation. When there is a vacancy, the NJC will shortlist the candidates that are nominated by the JSC, which is equally a body created by the constitution. It is an independent body with seven members. The chief judge of the state is the chairman, the attorney- general of the state, president of the customary court of appeal are all members, including two lawyers representing the Bar and two other respectable citizens appointed by the governor. So the JSC will meet and short list candidates, most of the time 2 or 3, score them and then send the list to the NJC, with their resumes. The NJC is the body that will make recommendation in a statutory function, to the governor because; it is the governor that has the constitutional power to appoint. The issue of appointment of the Chief Judge is of the governor but on the recommendation of the NJC. When the NJC

had evaluated the profiles of the candidates, they now choose one and make recommendation to the governor for the appointment, the governor on receiving the recommendation will now forward the name to the House of Assembly for confirmation and then the swearing in, which is the final process. There is wisdom in all that and I think the process should remain the way it is. “At the local level, the JSC knows all these judges and they are in better place and that is why they should kick start the process. These judges work in the state, their role is to nominate to the NJC, the documentations are done by the JSC, then the evaluation is done by the NJC, which equally had the privilege of having their past reports, because these judges make quarterly reports to the NJC. So somehow, they score them, they have their records. So, the NJC has a role to play, which I think is commendable. On what could happen when one body refused to play its expected role, the attorney- general

“For me, it is not good for the system, the NJC is a body which every lawyer revere, if you look at the composition of that body, they are the best brains, we have in the judiciary, we should revere it”.

said, it is a chain thing and when there is a break in that chain, it means that the process did not work. “For instance, if you take what is happening in Rivers state, if you ask me, the governor cannot appoint a chief judge, because on whose recommendation is he appointing? There is a break in that link; somebody somewhere has not played its role. If the governor appoints somebody that the NJC has not recommended then, I think the governor is over reaching the NJC, which the constitution did not envisage. There is a problem in Rivers state, if you ask me, they could start the process all over again, I don’t think anything is only cast on steel, like I said, we had that stalemate in Abia state, where the NJC recommended, the governor did not want to challenge them but pass the name to the state house, because we are not really interested on whom become the Chief Judge, all the candidates are Abians, The governor is not interested on whom become the Chief Judge, he was merely performing a constitutional duty, which is sending the name to the House of Assembly, which he did, but the House of Assembly made other considerations by saying, we are not confirming this candidate. So we moved it back to NJC that is what we did. In the case of Rivers state, it has gone a step further, in the sense that both parties are flexing muscles, and, eventually, it is now in the domain of the court. Probably, we should wait and see what the court will come out with. On how such reoccurrence could be prevented, the respected lawyer said, “Nigeria has an evolving democracy and when issue like this comes up, it calls for those, who are stakeholders to come together, put their heads together and if there is need, then probably make some amendments because the constitution is really a document and it does not really envisage everything. I think, this the first time such an issue is arising. “For me, it is not good for the system, the NJC is a body which every lawyer revere, if you look at the composition of that body, they are the best brains, we have in the judiciary, we should revere it. To that level, I will not subscribe to anything that will desecrate that body. Even as legal practitioners, we are subject with the roles the NJC plays over every arm of the judiciary, where they have control over judges. If you are not happy with what a judge is doing in your matter, you can petition to the NJC. To that extent, you can see that it is more like an apex body. I am not happy as a legal practitioner that we have situations where powers of the NJC are being challenged. I am not saying that you cannot challenge their powers if they do wrong, I think the NBA and other stakeholders had a role to play to solve the problem. I am sure there will be some interventions. But more importantly is the fact that it is now within the domain of the court. I am sure that whatever competing rights that are being contending, the courts will resolve. Asked what option is opened to the judge that is at the centre of the storm, he said he sympathized with him especially, when he has been disciplined by the NJC but that does not deny him his own rights as an individual. As a judicial officer, I feel for him, because he is at the centre of the storm, they said when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. The matter is in court and I am sure, he will ventilate his grievances at the court but indeed, then it is a time lag, while the courts are on it, I don’t know

CONTINUED ON PAGE 80

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78 LAW Tuesday, April 22, 2014

LawPeople

“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth.” -William Faulkner

Ukiri: An environmental rights advocate PROFILE By Bertram Nwannekanma LTHOUGH the justiciability or A enforceability of socio-economic rights as provided for under Chapter II of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999 has been a subject of controversy among stakeholders in judicial circle, however, recent decisions of some courts have given a ray of hope to many, who are agitating for government to be accountable to the people. To these agitators, the provisions of Chapter II of the Constitution and the attitude of Nigerian courts to its enforceability is a reflection of class politics, which is programmed against the interest of the poor and down-trodden, and not necessarily because the Constitution ousts the jurisdictional competence of the court to adjudicate on implementation or non-implementation. One of such agitators is Blessing Emonena Ukiri, a Port Harcourtbased legal practitioner and a former first vice president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Ukiri has, through his advocacy on environmental rights, expanded the nation’s jurisprudence by advocating through many legal battles that the right of life be given an interpretation to include right to healthy environment. According to him, what is called the non-justiciable rights in Chapter 2 of the Constitution include rights to healthy environment, what the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights has now made justiciable. “I have always advocated for that but the courts have not always agreed with us, that you could enforce right to healthy environment, free from pollution as basic rights to life as created and enforceable under the constitution until recently. “We popularised that situation and today, so many decisions have been given by our court, where billions of naira have been awarded not to us but to others. “So I believe that is one of the contributions I have made because I opened up that area of practice and people started testing it until one or two judges started agreeing with them”. Incidentally, Ukiri’s forage into the legal profession was inspired by his environment. He grew up in a place where lawyers were worshipped and respected as super-stars and role models. As an argumentative person and a member of the literary society in Government College Ughelli, where he had his secondary education, it was natural for him to pick interest in the wig and gown profession. Those days, people who were good in arguments are encouraged to study law. So when as a boy, Ukiri demonstrated proficiency in argumentation, it was clear that his best bet was to become a lawyer. He said of that moment: “From my exploits in the school’s literary society and the accolades from my teachers and counsellors, I knew that I

Ukiri was going to read law, to plead people’s cause and to defend the oppressed in the society because I began to see myself as a social engineer who should help to address the societal ills and ensure a better society”. Ukiri’s father was also keen to have a son as a lawyer, who would protect his interest since he had interest in courts and, therefore, encouraged this dream. The man was looking for someone who would protect and look after his property. Unfortunately, while Ukiri eventually became a lawyer, he however, found himself in Port Harcourt far away from home, where he could look after his father’s property. Ukiri’s first time in court was as dramatic as it was remarkable. It was during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) years with the Nigeria Police in 1986, when he was given a fiat to prosecute the then dean of Faculty of Law, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, during the time Mr. Fidelis Oyakhilome was the state governor. His first assignment was to prosecute the dean for corrupt practices and illegal collection of money from students before a Ghanaian judge. Then, Ghanaians were in the state on contract. Ukiri did not experience the initial fright that characterised such outing

by new wigs as young lawyers are called, as he was actually prepared for the case. Ukiri was already an advocate at the university where he had always appeared at the Moot Court House. So, the confidence was already there as he used to be a trade union activist. Thus, he carried out his assignment with calm and candour and almost got the professor convicted; but at a stage, there was a truce and the matter was settled out-of-court and the charges withdrawn. The students, who paid illegal fees, had their money refunded. From that experience, Ukiri grew up to become a notable figure in environmental and human rights law. Although he has handled several matters that helped expand the nation’s jurisprudence in environmental law, Ukiri picked a case he did against Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited as the most challenging. He said: “I remembered vividly one of the cases I did against Mobil. Judgment was given in our favour and we had a good award but at the time of enforcing the judgment, they went to hire a SAN who made it difficult for us to reap the fruits of the judgment. “So, we were winning in courts but we could not enforce the judgment because the SAN was smart and always obstructing it. It was quite complex because you were getting

judgments in court for a minimum of 14 years both at the high and appeal courts but could not get the award. For every step you take to get the award, extra legal impediments were put there and if you were not very careful, you could get frustrated. But for us, the more they put the impediments, the more energised we were on the matter”, he added. Ukiri said he has no regret becoming a lawyer, as he will like to be a lawyer again. One of the things he termed a setback created mostly by persons who believed that he was getting too much was his inability to be elevated to the rank of the SAN after 14 years of trial. “I have been applying for the position of SAN for 14 years now. Just as they are about to give me, they just come up with one reason or the other. It is one of the things one is expected to be annoyed with. But I don’t, because everyone they give every year merited it to be fair to them; but if they don’t give you, you feel naturally upset”. On why SANship position is not given to everybody that merits it, Ukiri said those who are regulating it know why there are not giving everybody that merited it. “We cannot challenge them; that is where some of us think you will really have to regret. But I don’t see it as a basis of regret but an impetus to try harder. The positive side perhaps is that if I had been successful earlier than now, I would have started relaxing in terms of intensity with which I study or prepare. So, it has a positive side. Yes, 14 years of disappointment. There are better and much ground now; I can work hard and make sure that I am not disillusioned”.

Ukiri graduated from the University of Benin in 1984 and holds a Masters Degree in Law (LL.M). He was called to Bar as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1985 upon his completion of the Nigerian Law School. He was admitted to study law through direct entry after successfully completing the High School Certificate (HSC) in Government College, Ughelli. His areas of practice are enforcement of fundamental rights and judgments, litigation, energy, natural resources and environment, intellectual property, among others. He is also a Notary Public. A highly cerebral person, Ukiri has won many prizes, which include Mid-Western State Academic Merit Scholarship Award, 1974 for outstanding academic performance; first Prize in Government, Economic, Literature, Literary and Debating – Government College, Ughelli, outstanding legal practitioner - NBA, 2004, Distinguished Graduand Award - Faculty of Law, University of Benin; Award of Excellence - Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria; Award of Distinction, University of Benin Alumni Association; Achievement Award, NBA, Port Harcourt branch; Award of Excellence, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS); Service Medal Award, NBA, Port Harcourt branch; NBA Merit Award, amongst others. He was also named Role Model Award, Amazon of Delta State at the 20th Anniversary of the Creation of Delta State; Niger Delta Role Model Award - 2011 and one of the 50 Guardian Newspapers Men of Distinction and Integrity in Nigeria 2012. The amiable lawyer has held several positions of responsibility and honour in his career as a lawyer, which include: member, Congress of the University of Benin; secretary-general, Law Students’ Association (LAWSA), University of Benin; assistant secretary, NBA Port Harcourt branch; public secretary, NBA Port Harcourt branch; secretary, NBA Port Harcourt branch; national financial secretary, NBA; national 3rd vice president, NBA. Other merits include: national 2nd vice president, NBA; national 1st vice president, NBA; member, Governing Council of the Human Rights Institute; chairman, NBA Election Monitoring Committee (2002-2004); chairman, National Welfare Committee, NBA (2006-2008); chairman, NBA Law Reform Committee (2002-2004); member, Council of Legal Education (2004- 2010); member, National Executive Committee of NBA (1988-date); life member of the NBA Port Harcourt branch. Others positions are executive committee chairman of the NBA National Human and Environmental Rights Committee; member, International Bar Association; member of the American Chemical Society (Environmental Section); member, United Kingdom Energy Lawyers’ Group; Peace Ambassador of the World Peace Federation; chairman, NBA/NDDC Law and Order Development Committee and elected member of the General Council of the Bar - Highest Regulatory Body of the Legal Profession - August 2011 till date. Ukiri’s contributions to the legal profession and humanity in general are too numerous to recount here due to space constraint. He is married to Gloria Eloho Ukiri, a legal practitioner and the marriage is blessed with five children.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 LAW

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

LawReport Once arbitral award is prima-facie good on face of it, court will refuse to set it aside In the Court of Appeal, Lagos Judicial Division, Holden at Lagos, On Thursday, February 14, 2014, Before their Lordships: Sidi Dauda Bage, Justice, Court of Appeal; Joseph Shagbaor Ikyegh, Justice, Court of Appeal; Tijjani Abubakar, Justice, Court of Appeal CA/L/895/2012 Between CELTEL Nigeria Bv (appellant) and Econet Wireless Limited Delta State Ministry of Finance Incorporated O.O. Networks Limited DTSG Ecoshares Limited Bromley Asset Management Limited FBC Assets Limited Akwa Ibom Investment & Industrial Promotion Council Ibile Holdings Limited First City Telecom Limited Lac Telecom Limited All Speaks Nigeria Limited S & D Ventures Limited Oceanic Securities International Limited the appellant together with the other respondents. Boye Olusanya In outline, the 1st respondent initiated an Tunde Hassan-Odukale action at the court below, seeking some Conoor Investments Limited declaratory reliefs against the other respondents and the appellant. While the action Bolaji Balogun was pending, the 1st respondent issued a Broad Communications Limited notice of arbitration against the other Oba Otudeko respondents and the appellant, alleging Foluke Otudeko breach of shareholders’ agreement between them. The shareholders agreement had an Ato Adeboye (respondents). HAT a court called upon to set aside an W arbitral award and an appellate court called upon to adjudicate on the decision of the setting aside court has to decide is, whether the arbitral award was prima-facie good or right on the face of it, not whether the reasons (whether of law or facts or both) given by the arbitral tribunal for the award were right or good unless the reasons form part of the award. Once the award is primafacie good on the face of it, one of the parties to the award can object to the award either upon the law or the facts, simply because the award is not in his favour. So held the Court of Appeal, Holden at Lagos, in a unanimous leading judgment delivered by his lordship, Joseph Shagbaor Ikyegh, (JCA) his learned brothers Sidi Dauda Bage and Tijjani Abubakar (JJCA), concurring while dismissing the appellant’s appeal. The appellant was represented by Mr. A. Akinrele (SAN), (with Messrs, J. Okere, and C. Eze) while the 1st respondent was represented by Prof. A.B. Kasunmu (SAN) (with Mrs. O.T. Adekoya, Miss O.M. Lewis and Miss T. Adesanmi). Mr. A. Atake (with Mr. A. Atitebi) for the 2nd and 4th respondents. Mr. K. Awodein (SAN) (with Mr. A. Ogunro) for the 6th respondent. Mr. O. Oyebolu (with Mr. A. Owoade) for the 8th respondent. Mr. M.O. Laidi (with S.I. Onuka and Miss K. Igwe) for the 7th and 9th respondents. And Dr. A. Olawoyin for the 21st respondent. The facts are as contained in the body of the judgment. The appeal is against the judgment by the High Court of Justice of Lagos State (the court below), by which it refuses to set aside an arbitral award entered by an arbitral tribunal in respect of disputed shareholders agreement between the 1st respondent and

of hearing the dispute, the appellant and the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th respondents raised preliminary objections, challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to entertain the dispute on sundry grounds to the effect inter alia that the arbitral tribunal was improperly constituted and that the proceedings before it amounted to an abuse of process, as well as misconduct on the part of the arbitrators. The arbitral tribunal took the preliminary arbitration clause in the event of dispute objections along with the substantive matter. At the end of the day, the arbitral tribunal arising there from. Pursuant to Clause 25 of the Shareholders’ overruled the preliminary objections and Agreement containing the arbitration heard the dispute on the merit resulting in its clause, the 1st respondent wrote to the then partial award against the appellant and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court (Ukeje, other respondents. In consequence of the partial award made by CJ) to appoint arbitrators to settle the dispute. Ukeje, declined to make the appoint- the arbitral tribunal, appellant and the 2nd, 4th, 6th respondents applied to the court ment. The 1st respondent, by its suit at the High below to set aside the award on grounds, Court of Justice of Lagos State, invoked the among others, that the arbitral tribunal wrongly assumed jurisjurisdiction of the diction over the discourt to make the pute. The court below appointment. dismissed the said Before the court applications. could make the Aggrieved, the appelappointment, the lant filed a notice of 1st respondent reappeal with seven applied to the Chief grounds of appeal. Judge of the Federal The appellant submitHigh Court, ted under the first issue (Mustapha, CJ), who that in order to avoid had replaced Ukeje, absurd and uncertain in the office to conresults that would crestitute an arbitral ate an abuse of the tribunal to settle process of the court, the dispute. Section 7 of the Mustapha, CJ, Arbitration and granted the Conciliation Act, Cap request. He caused A18 Laws of the a three-man arbiFederation of Nigeria, tral tribunal 2004, (ACA) represent(Justice Sanyaolu ing the statutory mech(rtd), Professor anism for appointing Fidelis Odita, (SAN), arbitrators and the arbiMr. Michael Kuper, tration clause under who declined the Clause 25.1 of the appointment and Shareholders was replaced by Mr. Agreement representStephen Bates, to ing the contractual resolve the dispute. mechanism for The arbitral tribuappointing arbitrators, nal heard the disshould have been conpute. In the course Justice Bulkachuwa (PCA)

strued by the court below to the effect that both the said statutory and contractual mechanisms cannot be utilised by a party to obtain the appointment of an arbitrator on the premise that once one is utilized, the other becomes spent for the purpose of the particular dispute. It was also argued that in light of the fact that the 1st respondent had by a deposition under Section 7(3) © of the ACA informed the High Court of the failure of the appointing authority chosen by the disputants to appoint an arbitral tribunal before she approached the High Court of Lagos State to appoint an arbitral tribunal, it was not right for the 1st respondent to revert to the same appointing authority she had stated on oath refused to make the appointment. It was argued on the second issue that the arbitral tribunal exceeded its mandate by deciding in page 1075 of the record the rights of the parties under the Offer Letter Contract, which was a separate contract from the Shareholders’ Agreement and had no arbitration clause and was not pleaded as a relief in the statement of claim, therefore, its determination by the arbitral tribunal amounted to a misconduct warranting the setting aside of the award vide Section 48(a)(iv) and (v) of the ACA read with the cases of Taylor Woodrow (Nig) Ltd v. S.E. GMBH (1993) 4 NWLR (pt. 286) 127 and U.B.N. Plc v Ayodare and Sons (Nig) Ltd (2007) 13 NWLR (pt. 1052) 567 @ 595596: it was argued that the arbitral tribunal having found in paragraph 285 of the award in page 299 of the record that the Offer Letter Contract and the Shareholders’ Agreement were inextricably linked and inseparable the court below ought to have set aside the award. Arguments on the third issue are to the effect that the Offer Letter Contract was the subject of a pending Suit No: LD/841/2006 filed by the 1st respondent as claimant at the High Court of Lagos State with reliefs fundamentally the same as the arbitration, which was an abuse of process and also, amounted to waiver or estoppels of the 1st respondent’s rights to arbitrate, therefore, the court below was wrong to uphold the award in its reasoning in pages 1066-1067 of the record citing in support the cases of the Owners of the M.V. Lupex v Nigerian Overseas Chartering and Shipping Ltd (2003) 15 NWLR (pt. 844.) The appellant contended on the fourth issue that she submitted four issues to the court below for determination, which it did not determine contrary to established practice that all the issues presented before the court for adjudication must be pronounced upon by the court vide Oyelofu v Durosimi (2001) 16 NWLR 1 at 14, Yesufu v. Adegoke (2007) 11 NWLR (pt. 1045) 1 @ 29. The appellant proceeded to itemise the said undecided issues as those contained in grounds 4,5,6 and 7 of the originating motion in pages 1-3 of the record to witThat the arbitral tribunal misconducted itself by deciding the rights of the parties based on Clause 27.7 of the Shareholders’ Agreement in respect of escrow obligations created by another contract, the Offer Letter Contract, and inconsistently applied the said clause to find liability on the part of the appellant without corresponding liability on the part of the claimant in the arbitration. The 1st respondent prefaced its brief with the remarks that in determining whether or not to set aside an arbitral award, the court of first instance concerns itself with whether the award was objectionable, as there is no right of appeal to the court below over arbitral awards as to give the court below the power to come to a different conclusion from the arbitral tribunal for the purpose of setting aside the arbitral award vide Unic v Karima (1969) NCLR 247 @ 253, Law and Practice of Arbitration and Conciliation in Nigeria by Orojo and Ajomo page 275.

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80 LAW Tuesday, April 22, 2014

FamilyLaw

“I liked being a minor because you can’t get into trouble. Now I just have to try and behave myself.” Avril Lavigne

Concept of minors under the law (3) HIS is an aspect of the public poliT cy of parens patriae. In the criminal law, each state will consider the nature of its own society and the available evidence of the age at which antisocial behaviour begins to manifest itself. Some societies will have qualities of indulgence toward the young and inexperienced, and will not wish them to be exposed to the criminal law system before all other avenues of response have been exhausted. Hence, some states have a policy of doli incapax (i.e. incapable of wrong) and exclude liability for all acts and omissions that would otherwise have been criminal up to a specified age. Hence, no matter what the infant may have done, there cannot be a criminal prosecution. However, although no criminal liability is inferred, other aspects of law may be applied. For example, in Nordic countries, an offense by a person under 15 years of age is considered mostly a symptom of problems in child’s development. This will cause the social authorities to take appropriate administrative measures to secure the development of the child. Such measures may range from counseling to placement at special care unit. Being non-judicial, the measures are not dependent on the severity of the offense committed but on the overall circumstances of the child. The policy of treating minors as incapable of committing crimes does not necessarily reflect modern sensibilities. Thus, if the rationale of the excuse is that children below a certain age lack the capacity to form the mens rea of an offense, this may no longer be a sustainable argument. Indeed,

given the different speeds at which people may develop both physically and intellectually, any form of explicit age limit may be arbitrary and irrational. Yet, the sense that children do not deserve to be exposed to criminal punishment in the same way as adults remains strong. Children have not had experience of life, nor do they have the same mental and intellectual capacities as adults. Hence, it might be considered unfair to treat young children in the same way as adults. In Scotland, while the age of responsibility is eight years, a child below the age of twelve cannot be prosecuted.

In England and Wales and Northern Ireland the age of responsibility is ten years and in the Netherlands and Canada, the age of responsibility is twelve years. Sweden, Finland, and Norway all set the age at fifteen years. In the United States, the age varies between states but is normally not lower than seven years. As the treaty parties of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court could not agree on a minimum age for criminal responsibility, they chose to solve the question procedu-

rally and excluded the jurisdiction of the Court for persons under eighteen years. Some states refuse to set a fixed minimum age, but leave discretion to prosecutors to argue or the judges to rule on whether the child or adolescent (“juvenile”) defendant understood that what was being done was wrong. If the defendant did not understand the difference between right and wrong, it may not be considered appropriate to treat such a person as culpable. Alternatively, the lack of real fault in the offender can be recognized by rul-

ings that dispense mitigated criminal sentences or address more practical matters of parental responsibility by adjusting the rights of parents to unsupervised custody, or by separate criminal proceedings against the parents for breach of their duties as parents. The defense of infancy is a form of defense known as an excuse so that defendants falling within the definition of an “infant” are excluded from criminal liability for their actions, if at the relevant time, they had not reached an age of criminal responsibility. After reaching the initial age, there may be levels of responsibility dictated by age and the type of offense committed. Under the English common law the defense of infancy was expressed as a set of presumptions. A child under the age of seven was presumed incapable of committing a crime. The presumption was conclusive, prohibiting the prosecution from offering evidence that the child had the capacity to appreciate the nature and wrongfulness of what he had done. Children aged seven to fourteen (13 years, 364 days 23’59’59” aged) were presumed incapable of committing a crime but the presumption was rebuttable. The prosecution could overcome the presumption by proving that the child understood what he was doing and that it was wrong. Children of fourteen and older were presumed capable of committing a crime. However, the child could rebut this presumption by establishing that because of his immaturity he was incapable of understanding what he had done or the wrongfulness of his conduct.

Ignorance as key factor against access to justice CONTINUED FROM PAGE 77 the fate he suffers, for now, I know he is suspended, I don’t think he is operating now as a judicial officer, you can see that fall out. On the efforts to boost justice delivery system in Abia state, Kalu said although the state has done a lot citizens are still not getting the much they can get in access to justice not only in the state but all over the country. According to him, in terms of access to justice, there are so many factors militating against it, the first is ignorance, so many people did not even know their rights, you must appreciate that you have some basic rights before you talk about seeking for where to access these rights. Most of the people are basically illiterates and even the educated ones do not know the inherent rights that they have. The issue of high cost of justice is another one because you cannot commence nay action without getting the services of a lawyer. You need to pay for such services to lawyers handling your matter, even when Justice Mukhtar (CJN) the matters are in court, you are to pay fees. Now, the few bodies we have here, the legal aids in Lagos state, they have gone ahead of many council, I don’t know the funding that they states further than what is happening in many have. In most states, they are not active. In Abia states, in terms of their Office of Public state, we have a legal aids council and as attor- Defender. I had course to send somebody to see ney general of the state, I don’t see much of how it is operating and she came back with a their activities. But I hear they make some visits report, which led to the establishment of a to the prisons once in a while but I know that Citizen Rights Department in Abia state’s minthose visits are not regular, there are a lot of istry of justice. We have lawyers in the ministry, people, who are in prison languishing, those whose job is actually to assist people access the that need attention, the Bar too is not doing court. The department intervene when ever, we much, being the conscience of the society, they feel that people’s rights are being trampled should equally play a role by doing pro bono upon, even though, we are prosecuting in the cases, unfortunately many are not doing that. ministry of justice. We also have a Mediation When I was in Lagos as a young lawyer, that was Centre. We understand that there are cases, we an area I found fascinating, I discover that a lot can resolve without going to court. So for us in of people especially tenants were denied their Abia state, there is so much we can achieve rights, I started the struggle and I had audience through the Mediation Centre, which can short with the then attorney general, this was to circuit the entire litigation by resolving minor result to the 1997 tenant amendment law in disputes. Lagos state. I am happy with what is happening “ I must say, we have not been able to have

much publicity, it requires a lot of publicity so that people can access the ministry of Justice and know that there is a department that can attend to their needs. It may not be enough, but that is much we have done in the state. There are also many divorce matters, child custody matters, people in detention even tenantslandlord matters, these are issues if we have quicker access to justice or system that can really take it, people can access them at no cost. On whether the welfare of judicial officers are not important element in making justice accessible to the people, he said so much has happened in the state in last four years, as the state is one of the few that pay harmonized salaries. Abia state did the harmonization two years ago, the morale of the lawyers is high, and they are well paid. We are doing well too for the support staff in the judiciary. In the lower bench, the magistrates are well paid; we equally pay the harmonized salaries, provided them with vehicles. For the judges, their allowances are being paid by the state, while the federal government pay their harmonized salaries, to that extent, we do not have any problem. For the infrastructure, there is so much happening here, the new court complex we have is one of the best in the country. There are court halls a now, we renovated the old ones, and we are building new ones as well as providing facilities. The new buildings in Umuahia and Aba will be commissioned by May. We are also introducing recording system in the next phase and a Foyer with event centres in all the courts. We have computerized our courts, four years ago, the courts were no computerized. We are also planning a

new procedure rules. We equally have an alternative disputes resolution centre (ADR, which was equally to decongest the court. We have an ADR judge, these are some of the things we have here, the government build the ADR centre and we are giving them support, the idea is to make justice accessible to the people quicker dispensation of justice. Asked whether he supports magistrates getting to the High Courts, the attorney general said it should be supported in as much as it encourages career progression. According to him, we should not do anything that will truncate the career of the magistrates. Most of them, who had distinguished themselves, should be able to progress. “ We have the higher and the lower bench. The lower bench is the magistracy, the higher bench is the High Court up to the Supreme Court, the present Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) started at a magistrate court, if you go to the supreme court, 70 percent of them started from the magistracy and they rose from that level. The judiciary is like wine, it gets better with time. The art of trial and judgment writing is not learnt over night, it is equally something you learnt over time, they take trial at the magistrate courts and watch the demeanor of witnesses. I think, it is important not to truncate the career of the magistrates at that level. “More importantly, the doors of appointment of judges should be thrown open for all legal practitioners, whether magistrates, lawyers, prosecutors and even company lawyers. When you denied then that rights of progression in their career, that will be offensive to them.

“There are a lot of people, who are in prison languishing, those that need attention, the Bar too is not doing much, being the conscience of the society, they should equally play a role by doing pro bono cases, unfortunately many are not doing that.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 LAW

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At judges’ conference, inadequate legislation in Nigerian food, drug administration re-echoes EVENT By Yetunde Ayobami Ojo ACK of adequate legislation in the area of Lpenalties food and drug in Nigeria, especially in the and victims’ remedy, came to the fore last week at a two-day international conference organised by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for judges in Lagos. The event, held at Orchid Hotels, Lekki, Lagos, attracted many justices in all cadres of the court, both in and outside Lagos. It was an effort by NAFDAC to sensitise the Bench on its mandate in ridding the nation of counterfeit and substandard products. Decrying the gross inadequacy in legislations to cover NAFDAC’s mandate, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam AlomaMukhtar, who chaired the event, urged judges to explore all options within the ambit of the law to ensure the protection of consumers. She noted that counterfeiting and circulation of fake products have dire consequences on public health and prosperity of the nation. According to her, counterfeiting has a direct effect on innovators and intellectual property right holders, since it constitutes an infringement of their intellectual property rights. The CJN, who said the recent global awakening that the counterfeiting of medical products and foods adversely affects public health, stressed that the conference afforded Nigerians judges a forum to rob minds on this fundamental and existential issue. She said: “All consumers, whether rich or poor, uneducated or educated, healthy or indisposed, are involved and should be con-

Supreme Court’s Justice, Justice Olu Ariwoola (left), Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon Justice. Aloma Mariam Mukhtar and Director –General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii…at the Conference PHOTO: Gabriel Ikhahon cerned. “This conference, I understand, is a feature in NAFDAC’s regulatory calendar, that will surely enrich the participants’ knowledge of food and drug issues, intellectual property rights enforcement and the global effort to combat counterfeiting of medical and food products. “It is, however, hoped that the exposure of Nigeria’s judges to the relevant international legal framework and enforcement mechanism

by this conference would ensure the building of capacity for the handling of counterfeit product cases. “I know that the Nigerian judiciary is with NAFDAC in its mandate to deal with the incidence of counterfeiting and protection of public health”, she added. Earlier in his speech, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, appealed to the justices to see the fight against counterfeiting and sub-

standard products in Nigeria as their fight by trying as much as possible to give matters involving counterfeiting of drugs, misbranding of regulated products and unwholesome processed food the priority they deserve. According to him, the appeal became inevitable since the profit margins in the nefarious business of drug counterfeiting leave the merchants of death with enormous and filthy wealth to hire the services of expensive attorneys that have mastered the art of delay tactics. He said experience in NAFDAC has shown that the longer a criminal proceeding takes, the more complicated it becomes. Dr. Orhii said while the agency, under his leadership, has a commitment to always obey court orders and conduct its activities in accordance with the law, it looks up to the Bench for support in the protection of the health of the nation by bringing to book drug counterfeiters and other violators of NAFDAC regulations and imposing maximum penalties available in the statutes. He further expressed optimism that the conference would provide a forum for cross-fertilisation of ideas and adoption of strategies that would address issues arising within regulatory framework on protection for consumers of food and drugs and other issues affecting NAFDAC’s regulatory activities. Also, the host governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), who spoke through the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, expressed willingness to assist NAFDAC fulfill its mandate. According to him, Lagos State, has through various regulations and laws, supported the protection of the health of the citizens, which is in line with the agency’s mandate.

Rule of law: Socio-economic implications of default (2) By Ngozi Olehi HE first known use of the phrase “rule of law” occurred around 1500 AD7. Another early example of the phrase “Rule of Law” is found in a petition to James 1 of England in 1610, from the House of Commons, to wit: “Amongst many other points of happiness and freedom which your majesty’s subject of this kingdom have enjoyed under your royal progenitors, kings and queens of this realm, there is none which they have accounted so dear and precious than this, to be guided and governed by the certain rule of the law which giveth both to the head and members that which is of right belongeth to them, and not by any uncertain or arbitrary form of government...8 In 1607, the Chief Justice of England Sir Edward Coke said in the Case of Prohibitions (according to his own report): “That the law was the golden met-wand and measure to try the causes of the subjects, and which protected His Majesty in safety and peace: with which the King was greatly offended, and said , that then he should be under the law, which was treason to affirm, as he said: to which I said, that Bracton saith, quod Rex non debed esse sub homine, sed sub Deo et lege (That the King ought not be to be under any man but under God and the law)9. Samuel Rutherford became one of the modern authors to give the principle a theoretical foundation in his work Lex, Rex, which is the Latin expression for “the law is king” and reverses the traditional rex lex (“the king is the law”). That was in 1644. John Locke also discussed this in his Second Treatise of Government (1690) and in 1748, Montesquieu discussed same in his work, The Spirit of the Laws10. The notion that no one is above the law was popular

during the founding of the United States. For instance, Thomas Paine wrote in his pamphlet common Sense that “in America, the law is king. For in absolute governments the king is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king; and there ought to be no other”11. In 1780, John Adams enshrined this principle in the Massachusetts Constitution by seeking to establish “a government of laws and not of men”12. The last stage in the development of the concept came with the writings of A.V. Dicey who gave it three meanings. First, “it means the absolute supremacy or predominance of regular law as opposed to the influence of arbitrary power, and excludes the existence of arbitrariness, of prerogative, or even wide discretionary powers on the part of the government. Englishmen are ruled by the law and by the law alone. A man may with us be punished for a breach of the law, but he cannot be punished for nothing else”13. In other words, powers can only be exercised in accordance with written law made by the law makers14. Secondly, it means “equality before the law, or equal subjection of all classes to the ordinary laws of the land administered by the ordinary law courts”.15 Dicey, however, allowed for some modifications here because some Acts of Parliament gave judicial or quasi-judicial powers to some executive authorities. There are also immunities from the operation of some laws based on public policy often granted to other members of the society. For example, judges, legislators, the president and governors, members of the diplomatic corps and so on16. In addition, social and economic inequalities in society tend to affect directly or indirectly accessibility or extent or outcome of, the subjection of per-

Adoke (AGF) sons, to the operation of the law17. Thirdly, it means the existence and enforcement of certain minimum rights usually guaranteed by the Constitution. Dicey’s theories significantly led to the emergence of some schools of thought on the nature of the rule of law in modern times. According to Anthony Mathews18, one of the outcomes is the procedural justice theory, which acknowledges the supremacy of the law and the requirement for it to be administered in accordance with definite procedural safeguards. This is akin to the common law view of legality or due process, which finds expression in the concept of natural justice and the requirement of certainty and predictability of law19. There is also the law enforcement theory on the other hand which defines the rule of law as no more than adherence to a supreme law, and can thus be used to justify the existence of rule of law in totalitarian states. In the western world, such a law must have certain minimum content, and the concept is not concerned with the rule of just any type of law. The rule of law is entrenched in the United States constitu-

tional framework by the concept of the due process of law provided for under the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of America, which provides inter-alia: “No state shall make or enforce law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; Nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; Nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws”. It is the discuss that arose from examination of Dicey’s theories that led to the emergence of the material justice theories of law suggested by International Commission of Jurists which, at the African Conference on the Rule of Law, held in Lagos in 1961 stated that: “The rule of law is a dynamic concept which should be employed to safeguard and advance the will of the people, political rights of the individual, and to establish social, economic, educational and cultural conditions under which the individual may achieve his dignity and realise his legitimate aspirations in all countries whether

dependent or independent.” Thus, governance in any political system must be rooted in and guided by laws duly passed in a legitimately predefined order. A government that cannot be guarded by any law except in accordance with its own instruction, not according to standard rules but by the whims of its prescription, cannot be regarded as democratic. Even if it governs, the crude breach cannot pass the test of good governance. It can best be described as crude and primitive and therefore must be unacceptable. Constitutionalism in Nigeria is predicated on the rule of law. Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) vests judicial powers of the Federation in the courts. Subsection 6(b) thereof provides: The judicial powers vested in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this section: shall extend to all matters between persons, or between government or authority and to any person in Nigeria, and to all actions and proceedings relating thereto, for the determination of any question as to the civil rights and obligations of that person. Accordingly, nothing is to be

presumed rightly done unless it is convincingly rested on the provisions of a validly enacted law. The Supreme Court summarises the position in Military Governor of Lagos State & ors v Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu20 whereat it declared: “The Nigerian Constitution is founded on the rule of law the primary meaning of which is that everything must be done according to law. It means also that government should be conducted within the framework of recognised rules and principles, which restrict discretionary power.” Section 4(8) of the same Constitution is explicit on the powers of the courts to adjudicate on crucial issues. It provides thus: “Save as otherwise provided by this Constitution, the exercise of legislative powers by the National Assembly or by a House of Assembly shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of law and of judicial tribunals established by law, and accordingly, the National Assembly or a House of Assembly shall not enact any law that ousts or purports to oust the jurisdiction of a court of law or of a judicial tribunal established by law”.

Ikeja NBA holds Law Week LEGAL BRIEF HE Nigerian Bar T Association (NBA) Ikeja branch, will start her Law Week 2014 from Friday, April 25, 2014 and end with a dinner in Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, to be chaired by former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Muhammed Uwais (rtd), on May 2, 2014. The events of the week start April 25, 2014, with a World Press Conference on several issues at Ibis Hotel, Toyin Street, Ikeja, at12 noon; a football match between Ikeja

branch and Lagos branch on April 26, 2014 and a Christian service at Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, Ikeja GRA on Sunday, April 27, 2014. There will also be a visit to Ikoyi Prisons with gifts and materials, on April 28, 2014, as well as a manifesto night for political office aspirants for 2014 election in the evening. On April 29, 2014, the branch will hold Continuing Legal Education with judges of various jurisdictions and Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), including very senior lawyers. This will continue on April 30,

while the yearly Alao-Aka Bashorun Memorial Lecture comes up on May 1 by 10 am, to be chaired by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN). The lecture will be followed by a variety night, as the event will be rounded off with a dinner at Sheraton, Hotel, Ikeja, on May 2, 2014, with guests as Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Deputy Senate President, Governors Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State; Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014 | 87

Arts&Culture Extra Carnival Calabar Queen plans big for abandoned kids From Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Abuja he Carnival Calabar Beauty Queen for T 2013/2014 was unveiled last weekend as the Face of Mothers Against Child Abandonment (MACA) - a project initiated by the wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Mrs Obioma Liyel-Imoke. The choice of a beauty queen as the face of MACA, according to the executive Director, MACA, Ndodoye Bassey, was to restore hope and confidence in the young ones, who through no fault of theirs, are exposed to harsh condition of life. She added that seeing a person, who in spite of life’s challenges has risen to becoming a celebrity will restore hopes in abandoned children and inspire them towards hard work and honesty. Bassey noted that the current Carnival Calabar Queen, Nancy Olive Aisaghonhi, was selected after a rigorous screening exercise that distinguished her as not only beautiful but equally humble, passionate and willing to sacrifice her time in the service of teenage girls and children who are abandoned by their parents and society that created them. Blaming the increasing rate of social vices witnessed in the country on inability of parents to instill positive virtues in their children, Bassey said only a collaborative efforts of groups, organizations and good-spirited individuals Culture Minister, Edem Duke (right); Queen Nancy; and Mrs. Obioma Liyel-Imoke can save the country from the menace of child labour and abandonment. mate children in the world but there are ille- n’t want to talk to us or share their experiences According to her, a total of 30 girls contested gitimate parents and we also believe that with us because there was no common ground. in the pageant. They were taken through every child has a right to live and to thrive in “So we thought they should get to talk to somescreening that tested their level of intelli- a safe society like every other child irrespec- one who is in the same age bracket as they, who gence, talents and inner beauty. The queen tive of the circumstances of their birth.” can think like them and who probably have also must have as part of her quality, a listen- She said the queen has the responsibility of experienced some of the things that they have ing ear and patience required to deal with psy- taking the campaign against child abandon- experienced and we decided to go into chological and emotional traumatized chil- ment round the world during her one-year pageantry. dren. reign. “For us, our target was not to choose a beautiful In her remarks, the First Lady of Cross River “Today is about the project that the Carnival girl but we wanted someone who was intelliState, Obioma Liyel-Imoke, explained how her Calabar Queen (CCQ) has. It is a one-year gent, someone who has the passion for saving contact with infants dumped in refuse bins project that she has to take round the world, teenagers from themselves, someone who has spurned her establishment of centre for the telling people about the menace of aban- an ear to listen to them, to advice and be a role abandoned and street children. doned children. model to them for a year. She believed that there are no illegitimate She said the children would prefer to share “The queen interacts with the children at the children in the world but rather illegitimate their experience with the Queen, who is with- Destiny Child Centre which is the resettlement parents. in the same age bracket with them. home for street children. There, we rehabilitate She said: “In MACA, one of the things we “We realized that there was a separation, this street children and try to reintegrate them into strongly believe in is that there are no illegiti- huge gap between us and the girls who did- the society and most importantly, we make sure

that they all go back to school”, she said. For the queen, it was rather unfortunate that child abandonment has become very common in Nigerian society. She regretted that as at 2002, when the last survey on street children was carried out around the world, over 100 million children were living on the streets around the world with Kenya topping the list of countries where the scale of the phenomenon is massive. “But most of us here may not be aware that this phenomenon is becoming a great concern in our country. Let us zero in on the city of Calabar as a case in point. “I have chosen the city of Calabar partly because this is where they are developing a replicable model in child protection and there is great potential for replicating it across the country.

homosexuality as cult of darkness Review By Bayo Ogunmupe he book, Homosexuality as a Spiritual Cult of T Darkness, written by Kenneth Okocha is a parody of the teachings of the Bible, which says that at the approach of the rapture, and the second coming of Christ, sexual and religious perversions will predominate. Thus, this book is an attempt to highlight the satanic wickedness of homosexuality. Also, Okocha makes it clear therein, the web of iniquity and destruction tied to this ungodly lifestyle. Moreover, the author makes it abundantly clear that this spiritual cancer will continue to spread as the age advances because the world economy has sold itself to propagating hell in preparation for the eventual takeover of the antichrist while the church raptures in glory. This primer on apostasy contains six chapters, and 58 pages. Chapter one deals with homosexuality. here, Okocha argues that homosexuality is filthy, dirty and demonic. Thus, as a spiritual cult of darkness, it has its foundation in sexual perversions. homosexual desires are unnatural and its twin is pedophilia, which is

an abnormal sexual attraction to children and animals. It is noteworthy that homosexuality is a lifestyle orchestrated by satan so as to bring its practitioners under Jehovah’s curse and judgment. But unlike other sins, homosexuality has a judg-

ment administered by God himself. It serves thus to observe that the homosexual is a reprobate – Romans 1: 26-28. Indeed, the wrath of God is incurred by this unrighteousness. It is pertinent to observe that idolatory has been the root of this heathen behaviour. Sadly, this behaviour is rooted among unbelievers who become conceited, building personal idols, which propel them into such lifestyle of licentiousness. The origin of homosexuality is traced to Lucifer whose uncontrollable appetite for worship and self exaltation created all manner of wickedness and sin in the universe. In its fight for world rulership, Lucifer enlisted a third of the trillions of angels God created such as Leviathan, Belial and others. In the end the rebellious forces were stopped by God – Jeremiah 4: 23-26. After angel Lucifer rebelled against God, its rulership of earth was replaced by man – Genesis 2:28. It was after that Lucifer developed his plan with Leviathan to retake the earth from mankind, because they want a place better than hell, which was their abode after their rebellion. homosexuality is part of satan’s attempt to pollute the human race. This takes several dimensions, all with the intent of bringing to nullity the curse decreed by God Almighty. In Genesis 6: 1-4 it is shown that fallen angels took as wives the daughters of men and gave

birth to giants which had no resemblance to Adam. Satan made sure fallen angels invaded the earth to pollute humanity twice. They invaded the earth first before the flood and later after the flood of Noah – Gen. 6:4. Chapter three focuses on how satan has been expanding homosexuality. From his transcendental plane, satan the devil is able to control the minds of men. he operates a spiritual satellite control system through which he projects thoughts and pictures into the human mind. We then wonder how such thoughts and pictures should come into our minds. however, if you are a true believer, satan cannot control you through that system, the holy spirit will simply push his pictures aside. For the perversion called homosexuality, there are several satanic angels expanding it. In chapter four, Okocha deals mainly with the propagation of homosexuality by apostasy. earlier, we stated that homosexuality is a product of apostasy, which is the failure to glorify God and acknowledge him as the creator. Which is why satan has held all homosexuals and other sexual perverts captive. It is noteworthy to avow that all mankind that engage in homosexual acts are automatically initiated into the homosexual cult with a spiritual mark placed on them.

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88 ARTS EXTRA Tuesday, April 22, 2014

New members of the Guild of Professional Artists of Nigeria (GFA) and the foundation members during the induction ceremony in Lagos…recently.

Artists oppose NGA, NCMM merger By Tajudeen Sowole ITH the two government agencies for W visual arts, museums and monuments — the National Gallery of Art (NGA) and National Commission for museums and Monuments (NCMM) — now merged, many have said this just be a misadventure if the elusive national gallery edifice and other challenges confronting the two parastatatals are not on the front burner. Artists, promoters and art administrators, who commented on the merger, faulted government for what they described as lack of understanding of the art and culture sector. A Federal Government document released recently, known as the White Paper Report of the ‘Committee on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies’ disclosed that NCMM and NGA have been merged under a new agency to be known as National Commission for Museums, Monuments and Art. Among all the merger recommendations by the Steven Oronsanye-committee concerning the number of parastatals under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, only the merger of NCMM and NGA merger was the only one accepted by the Federal Government. Rejected merger recommendations included National Theatre, National Troupe and the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) as well as National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) and Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) with National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR). While the process of legislation to repeal the laws that set up the two parastatals and re-enact another law to legalise the merger is being awaited, it is important to note that the challenges of the NGA in meeting its statutory obligation appeared more pronounced compared to whatever grey areas the NCMM has been facing. Set up as a separate agency from the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) via Decree No 86 of 1993, the NGA has the responsibility to “serve as a repository of Nigeria’s creative spirits and to promote the appreciation” of the country’s art by “acquiring and collecting Nigerian works of art.” The function, expectedly, should be carried out through acquisition of works and displaying of the collection. Ironically, the NGA has never met its basic function as a national gallery since it was set up over 20 years ago: it has no gallery. There is no doubt that the NGA, through

acquisition and donation, has quite a vast collection of art spread in its outstations across the country. But the public and visitors rarely view the collections, particularly in major cities such as Lagos and Abuja, as most of them exist only in stores of the government agency. More worrisome, the preservation safety of the works is being threatened by poor facilities. For example, shortly before the repair of the old gallery space inside the National Theatre Ignamu. Lagos, last year, alarm was raised over a possible damage to some of the collections as the roof of the gallery was said to be leaking. Also, a section of the art’s community has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction over what it described as the NGA’s ‘inadequate’ promotion of art through art shows at home and in the Diaspora. While some argued in sympathy for the management of NGA over “underfunding.” others chided the parastatal for its over reliance on government’s funding. It is, however, apparent that the NGA has not been as active in meeting the demands of artists. For example, its major yearly event, International Art Expo Lagos did not hold last year. Also, another yearly international event, African Regional Summit on Visual Art and Exhibition (ARESUVA), has not held since 2010. The NGA, in 2011, declared that the event will henceforth hold as a biennale. Last year the management disclosed that

another event, Abuja Biennale, has been planned to replace ARESUVA, and “should start next year.” If the promotion of modern and contemporary Nigerian art had not been properly articulated and achieved under a separate government agency solely set up to carry out the function, perhaps the merger could do the job. While disagreeing with the merger, Prof. Peju Layiwola of the Department of Creative Art, University of Lagos, said, “I am not bothered so much with the change of name or structure as I am of government doing what it ought to for the arts in Nigeria.” She noted that government’s latest move of merging the NGA and NCMM as a “way of further shrinking the culture sector and this does not in my view, help the culture profession at all.” She argued that the NGA “is the only one I know of in the world without a proper gallery space.” But it would take a “miracle” for modern and contemporary Nigerian art to function under the merger. “If this merger would help it function properly, that would be great, but sincerely, I am not expecting any miracle.” Former chairman, Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Lagos State chapter, Dr Kunle Adeyemi, also disagreed with the merger. “With the merger, art would be relegated just as a unit under the new parastatal,” Adeyemi warned. He traced the merger to the lack of financial independence of the NGA and blamed “civil servants for mismanaging” the paras-

tatal. Director, Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Lagos, Bisi Silva summarised the merger as a “disaster” and described the government as “clueless.” Silva stated, “it is obvious that the committee has no understanding of how the museum sector works. But more than that it shows a lack of commitment to developing the art and culture sector.” She argued that art as part of the creative economy in the 21st century is among “the potential income generators of countries” that plans ahead for the future.” She therefore added that “Basically” the advisers of government on the merger “are clueless and this is a disaster.” Apart from the complex issue of return of cultural objects of Nigerian origin housed in foreign museums confronting NCMM, the immediate challenge of improving the standard of museums across the country may or not get adequate attention under the merger. But in a central approach to the challenges of the NCMM, a review of the over 33 years old law was already being put in place by the management. The NCMM got its legitimacy from a 1953 document known as Antiquities Ordinance, to the creation of Federal Department of Antiquity, which gave birth to the commission via Decree 77 of 1979. Currently, NCMM has 36 museums, 63 national monuments and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites under its management.

At Cologne Paper Art, Omenka lifts Nigeria T the just held Cologne Paper Art A 2014 show, Lagos-based Omenka Gallery had three Nigerian and one American artists on parade. The artists, Olu Ajayi, Duke Asidere and Gerry Nnubia (Nigerians) and South Africanbased American, continue the exploits of the gallery in representing artists on the international market. Just last month, Omenka took some artists, including Stephens, to the Art Dubai 2014, in UAE. The gallery, in a statement, said: “Ajayi’s metaphoric vocabulary is also deeply rooted in the body, his ultimate vehicle for expressing life’s dualities. His sensuous colours, sweeping strokes and narrative content place the human fig-

ure on a grand scale, while the dramatic cropping of figures and forms emphasises the immediacy of the paint. “Asidere engages directly with ongoing contemporary African politics. His artworks are visual metaphors that reflect on the everyday human drama that surrounds him, whether it is political, social, psychological or cultural. His drawings are charged with irony and humour and his broad oeuvre ranges from headless or limbless figures and faces of strangely hybrid beings to densely populated urban landscapes, accentuated with thick strokes of vivid colour. “Nnubia is an artist that tries to explore the limits of his medium

and technique, which involves skilful manipulation to a liquid viscous flow often assimilating accidental occurrences and temperature adjustments, depending on the effect sought. Frequently, he scrutinises the medium of painting in the context of the current art theory investigations and examines tensions among form and formlessness. In some of his works, he approaches the unpredictability of the medium in order to address natural environmental issues, like volcanic eruptions, tsunami, hurricanes or even dust storms. However, more recently he has been focusing on natures’ splendour and profound experiences like family or togetherness. “Finally, Stephens whose experi-

ences from vast travels have permitted him to evolve his art practice into distinct themes and techniques. Due to the multiple and continuous contaminations, he started focusing on themes like landscapes, animals or flora, with a strong connection of Fauvism. His recent work engages the urban African style with a focus on hair braiding, by combining long, vertical repetitive folds and pleats in the paper with string systems. Stephens also emphasises the three-dimensional quality of the weave patterns and voids at several angles while moving across the picture plane. In parallel, he is inspired by the bold patterns and colours that we typically find in ankara fabric.”

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014 METROEXTRA 89

Lagos Carnival 2014 LASGIDI in pictures Lagos was agog on Easter Monday with the celebration of the fifth edition of the yearly Lagos Carnival, which marked the high point of the eightday Lagos Heritage Week. With the catchy theme “Lasgidi,” Lagos Carnival 2014 was a true reflection of the pomp, highlife and entertainment that the country’s commercial nerve centre is noted for. The colourful carnival train that went round Lagos and terminated at the Tafawa Balewa Square are captured in these pictures. What a beautiful way to cap this year’s Easter Festival!

Briefs Amosun, Awujale call for religious tolerance in Ogun State GUN State Governor, O Ibikunle Amosun, has commended the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona for using religion as a tool for nation-building and peaceful co-existence among the people of the state. Speaking at the installation and turbaning of the new Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Amosun stated that “events show that there is no discrimination in religion, which can be use as a religious harmony in the country. ” He noted that for the country to attain its rightful position in the comity of nations, in the terms of security and political stability, religion should be a determining factor. Amosun pointed out that since the inception of this administration, the government has always used such an opportunity to enhance the religious harmony and peaceful co-existence of the citizenry. Also speaking, the newly installed Imam of Ijebuland, Razaq Salaudeen commended the efforts of the governor and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona at improving the existing religious harmony in the state. He urged Muslim Umah to be steadfast and upright in their daily activities among the Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Adetona advised the new Imam and others to live up to expectation and use the opportunity to preach the oneness of God to the Muslims nd non-Muslims.

Nigerian-Danish Chamber of Commerce meets IGERIAN-DANISH Chamber N of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture holds its yearly business breakfast meeting entitled “Power Sector Reform: Overcoming Institutional and Regulatory Challenges in an Era of Liberalization; on Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja at 9.00 a.m. The breakfast meeting is designed to create a forum for business networking and garner knowledge and strategies on critical issues in the national economy.

Pa Madumere dies at 96 HE death has occurred of Pa T Francis Nzekwe Madumere, at the age of 96. He will be buried on Saturday, April 26, at his compound at Ndimbara Amaegbu, Nkwerre, Imo State after obsequies on Thursday, April 24. Pa Madumere was a revered member of the Royal Eshi’s cabinet till his death. He is survived by numerous relatives including Chijioke Nzekwe an Abuja-based property developer and lawyer.

PHOTOS: CHARLES OKOLO

Madumere

90 Friday, April 22, 2014

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GolfExtra

Some professional golfers and their caddies in action during the 2012 Glo West Africa Tour, at the Otukpo Golf and Country Club, Akpegede, Otukpo, Benue State

PHOTO: ENO-

Grief as PGAN loses three members in two months Stories by Eno-Abasi Sunday HESE indeed are not the T best of times for the Professional Golfers’ Association of Nigeria (PGAN), which has been struck by tragedy of immense proportions. What has turned out to be a tragic year for the association began February 23, when ace golfer and assis-

tant resident professional at the IBB Golf and Country Club, Abuja, Edet Umoh, slumped and died during a novelty football match to celebrate the birth of his twins in Abuja. Edet, 32, turned pro in 2006 and was number two on the PGAN Order of Merit in 2011. He finished 4th and 12th position in the PGA of Nigeria Order of Merit in 2012 and

2013 respectively. Umoh was turbaned Sariki‘n Golf by the Emir of Kano after winning the Emir of Kano’s Golf Championship in 2011. He also represented Nigeria at the World Cup of Golf qualifiers in Malaysia in 2010. Only few weeks after Umoh’s demise, the death of 38-year-old richard DieteSpiff on March 19, 2014 shocked the golfing commu-

Iwere promises to stick to Ikoyi Club’s five-year strategic plan ETErAN journalist and V newly inaugurated captain of Ikoyi Club 1938 (golf section) Ted Iwere, says he would be guided by the FiveYear Strategic Plan enunciated by the club in 2009, as he steers the affairs of the club for the next one year. Besides using the document as a rudder to further the golf section’s developmental aspirations, Iwere said he would also bank on the massive experience of members of his team as well as the collective support of the generality of members to sustain the section’s improvement. “What the golf section needs is continuous improvement. In line with my campaign, the Five-Year Strategic Plan, as approved by your good selves at the 2009 Annual General Meeting of the golf section gives us a track to run on,” the captain stated in his

acceptance speech at the inauguration of the Executive Committee. Insisting that he will focus on the developmental plans his predecessors have outlined for the club, Iwere said, “There is a very strong development programme on ground at Ikoyi, and the golf course and clubhouse have at different times been undergoing different stages of upgrade. These have been made possible by ongoing investments of the club in its facilities, coupled with the growing contributions of the corporate community in supporting the development of the game at the club and in the country. “As we set out to serve our fellow golfers and the game of golf, as we pursue the common good of the golf section in particular, and the club in general, we will count on you. Our strength is in you, the members of the

golf section, because, none of us is as smart as all of us,” the veteran journalist stated. The new Executive Committee has Tony Onwu as vice captain: Tony Okwoju and Dan Akujobi would serve as secretary and treasurer and Ngozi Ngoka, lady captain respectively. Other members of the Executive Committee are Chris Ogan, course officer; Tim Ayonmike, assistant course officer; Ben Oghojafor, house officer; Stuart Connal, assistant house officer; B. H. Sumanth, competition secretary; Abisodun Awoleye, assistant competition secretary; Akin Akinola, handicap secretary; Akin Oteniya, caddy officer and Seyi Siwoku, entertainment officer. Kayode Ogunleye, Bintu Tinubu and Anthony Oboh are project officers while Matthew Jacobs will serve as professionals’ liaison.

nity and in particular, members of the PGAN who were preparing for the Annual General Meeting of the Association in Otukpo, Benue State. Diete-Spiff, the only southpaw member of the PGAN who turned pro in 2001, has been described by the PGAN as a “serious and dedicated

golf professional. He was gentle, kind and generous to no fault.” Survived by his father, mother brothers and sisters, he will be buried on Wednesday, April 23, 2014. Barely 10 days after DieteSpiff’s death, Pender Umuebu, on the 28th of March 2014 gave up the ghost

at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos after a brief illness. The late Umuebu, who turned 64 last year, was a golf professional and was until his death, attached to the golf section of Ikoyi Club 1938. He turned pro in 1982 and his burial arrangement is yet to be announced by the family.

At Moanda Open, Willy hopes to be fifth-time lucky IGErIA’S Gift Willy teed N off yesterday alongside peers from some other

African countries in the 17th Moanda Open Golf Championship, taking place in Gabon. This is Willy’s fifth appearance at the championship. And, as in about three of the last four editions, he has been one of those favoured to win the tourney, which offers $30, 000 in total purse. The winner takes home $10, 000. Other top contender at the event include Gabonese ace, Brice Moukagni, Desire Ebela of Cameroon and Marcel Sormahoro from Cote D’Ivoire. Willy’s performance in the championship has been impressive. In fact, on two occasions, he has missed victory by the skin of his teeth, and on the last hole, thereby finishing in second position,

first to Ghana’s Vincent Torgah and later to Togo’s Agbavon Kosivi. All these notwithstanding, Willy, Nigeria’s sole flag bearer to the championship hopes to be fifth-time lucky, and lift the trophy this year. “On two occasions, I have played well enough to win the tournament. Sadly, I lost the lead on these two occasions on the last hole. I think I have matured with time. I enjoy a lot of support in Moanda and they expect a lot from me. That is one of the reasons that I have shown up here. The quality of organisation too is rare. Everyone teeing off hopes to win and that is what I expect of myself too.” Willy said from Gabon. Four other Nigerians, who had also indicated interest to participate in the event, pulled out in order to play in a local tourney to mark the birthday anniversary of

Senate President, David Mark. Even Willy’s participation in the championship was nearly truncated 48 hours to its tee-off, as he had to fight off stomach upset, which was food-induced. According to vice chairman of the organising committee, Paul Lobo, the event’s pedigree has been growing. This development, he said puts the committee in the spotlight, especially given that most of the participants were international players. “This is a major tourism call for our country and we are very careful what we make of it. It my be just an event but the impression people take away is that of the entire country, so we do all our best to get the course in the best shape ever, provide best possible hospitality and run the event as fair as we can,” Lobo stated.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014 | 91

Sports ‘Lagos’ Heineken House ready for UEFA Champions League duels’

Ahead Brazil 2014 World Cup

Forget Nigeria, we’ll qualify alongside Argentina, boasts Bosnia coach By Christian Okpara, with agency reports OSNIA and Herzegovina Coach, Safet Susic is sure that his team would beat Nigeria to the second position, behind Argentina, to qualify for the second round of the Brazil 2014 World Cup from Group F. Bosnia opens its account at the Mundial Coupe against Argentina, play Nigeria before ending the first round with a game against Iran. Susic believes his game against Nigeria would be the second position decider, as his team is sure of beating Iran in their last match of the group stage. “Argentina is by far the best team in our group, and they should finish first,” Susic said. “Our target is to join them in the next round. “I think our chances are very realistic, because at this moment, both Nigeria and Iran are not better teams then us. I fully expect that we pass into the second round.” The coach has a simple but stubborn logic that has followed him throughout his football career: Attack is the best defence. Guiding Bosnia to its first World Cup is the greatest triumph of Susic’s not-so-extensive coaching career. And the tournament in Brazil will provide a stern test of his training skills. Bosnia scored 30 goals in qualifying — 10 coming from Manchester City striker, Edin

Dzeko. The team conceded only six in 10 matches. “We have to play like we are doing now,” Susic said. “It may sound tactically risky, but I think it would be wrong to play differently.” Once an attacking midfielder who played more than 350 games for Paris Saint-Germain, the 58-year-old Susic coached in France and Turkey before taking over the national team in 2009. His hiring led to protests in Bosnia — because fans were angry it took him so long to become coach. “I did it once I realized that this team has a potential to do something big,” Susic said. “And, now I don’t regret it.” Susic, a football great in the former Yugoslavia before it broke up in a bloody civil war, has an offensive squad including Dzeko and Stuttgart striker, Vedad Ibisevic, and a couple of very creative but also attackminded midfielders in Miralem Pjanic of Roma and Zvjezdan Misimovic of Chinese club Guizhou Renhe.

Manchester City’s Eden Dzeko is Bosnia’s main attacking weapon.

NFF technical committee, Keshi meet over World Cup, other issues By Christian Okpara ARRING any last minute B change, the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Super Eagles’ Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi, will meet today to deliberate on the country’s preparation for the Brazil 2014 World

Red Devils former master dribbler, Onyeanwuna, passes on into coma at their Festac resiLBERT Onyeanwuna, who dence. One hour later, she Ahas been described by vari- called me again to say that her ous followers of Nigerian football as the best dribbler the country has ever produced, died yesterday in Lagos. The midfielder, who thrilled Nigerian football fans in the 1950s and 1960s, was a main stay in the senior national team, then known as the Re Devils. Onyeanwuna scored six goals in 26 international appearances for the Red Devils. A friend to the late Onyeanwuna family, Sports Journalist, Kayode Tijani, who broke the news, told The Guardian yesterday that “Albert Onyeanwuna died yesterday evening around 5.00 pm having gone into coma less than one hour earlier. “I was driving when his wife called me, crying and yelling that her husband had gone

he anticipated resurgence or T further slide of FC Chelsea will be the main focus at the

husband was dead. “Onyeawuna has been struggling with his health for decades, especially with his eyes, which was repeatedly operated on. He bore the cost of these operations with his life savings and even though he struggled financially for years, he consistently swore that he would never beg Nigeria, the country he served meritoriously in his youth, for help.” The late Onyeawuna stopped granting media interviews some years ago when a reporter wrote that he was pleading for Nigeria to come to his aid. According to Tijani, “some years ago, he was involved in a ghastly auto accident that complicated his condition, but again he bore the cost alone.’’

Cup. An official of the NFF told The Guardian yesterday that Keshi is expected to brief the committee on his scouting activities and also submit the list of players he would require for the last phase of his team’s preparations for the World Cup. This is the third time both parties would schedule a meeting to discuss issues bordering on preparations for the Mundial Coupe. On the previous two occasions, the parties could not meet due to varying reasons. If today’s meeting holds, Keshi is expected to convince the NFF on why some

players have been included in the team, while others, who are doing well for their clubs and have served the country meritoriously in the past, are not in the list. One of the players touted to have returned to favour with Keshi is Stoke striker, Osaze Odemwingie, while Villarreal star, Ikechukwu Uche, will not figure in the team. There has been a strong lobby by Odemwingie’s supporters for his inclusion in the team, just as some NFF officials say they are surprised that Uche’s agents have not done anything to ‘persuade’ the coach to include the former

Iwuanyanwu Nationale star in his plans. Keshi is expected to announce his provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup this week with Odemwingie figuring in it. According to NFF sources, Odemwingie is being recalled because he apologised to the Federation and Coach Keshi for his previous infractions The striker’s recent form at Stoke City has also swayed the soccer chiefs at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to plead and convince Keshi to hand the former Lokomotiv Moscow man a recall.

Heineken House, Lagos, when the first leg semifinal matches of the UEFA Champions League get underway this evening and tomorrow in the Spanish capital, Madrid. The rivalry among the visitors and consumers at the Heineken House Lagos is so intense, especially those whose loyalty are to top English Premiership clubs. It has also been a visible trend on match days, depending on affinity; many fans tend to support the opposing club against the ‘rival’ club. Expectedly, when the in-form Atletico Madrid host Chelsea at the Estadio Vincent Calderon tomorrow evening, the club with no significant fans in Nigeria will enjoy huge supports from football fans at the Heineken House Lagos, urging them to go all out and eliminate the ‘last man standing’ of the English Premiership representative in this year’s competition! However, FC Chelsea, with huge fan base in the country led by the guest of the week, Frank Edoho of the famous ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ TV show, can still raise their voice to counter the ‘opposition’ all through the 90 minute of play. Their fans in the house had enjoyed similar fortune in the second round match, when the artiste, Alexander Adegbola, popularly known as 9ice, who is a staunch supporter of the club, was part of the viewing experience when they demolished ambitious Galatasaray at the Stamford Bridge fortress. The last time both teams met was in 2012 European Super Cup match but against all expectations, the Spanish side won 4-1. Aside the Estadio Vincent Calderon match, Heineken House Lagos fans will also be interested in the outcome of the other match at the Santiago Bernabue also in Madrid. When two former champions of the competition, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich play this evening, it will be a repeat of the 2012 match when both teams met at the same stage of the competition with German side going through via a lottery of penalty shootout after score line remained at 2-2 on aggregate.

Three friendlies not enough for Eagles, says Laloko From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja

Accuses Mourinho, Rogers of hampering Mikel, Moses’ growth

ith the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) waiting to receive the Super Eagles’ provisional team list for the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup, the Federation’s former technical director, Kashimawo Laloko, has warned the team’s coach, Stephen Keshi, against introducing new players into the team in the last phase of their preparation for the competition. Laloko also says that the team needs more than three friendly games to be properly

tuned for the competition. The coach, who was one of the CAF instructors at a recent C license workshop organized by the NFF in Abuja, noted that rather than introducing new players, the Eagles technical crew can use the few friendly matches to put final touches on the team they have been using in the past, warning that adding new players now may not be the best for the team He urged the NFF to ensure that the Super Eagles are engaged in more pre-tourna-

ment friendly matches, noting that “this is the time to expose the current players in the system to friendly matches, especially those that have been match rusty in their European clubs.’’ According to Laloko, “the coach must settle immediately for his team rather than starting afresh with new invitations. If we prepare them well, definitely they will deliver.” On the situation of Mikel Obi and Victor Moses in their clubs, Laloko accused Chelsea

and Liverpool coaches, Jose Mourinho and Brendan Rogers respectively, accusing them of deliberately killing the Nigerian players’ games despite their impressive performances during trainings. Laloko wondered why the same Jose Mourinho, who signed and spoke glowingly about Mikel in the past, could afford to leave him on the bench, just as he added that Moses’ value cannot diminish after all the praises from Liverpool captain, Steven Gerard.

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92 SPORTS Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Manchester United declines comment on Moyes reports AnCHESTER United say M David Moyes has not been sacked but declined to comment when asked about the manager’s longer-term future. national newspapers in England say the club will dispense with the Scot’s services following a poor season. However a United spokesperson would only confirm Moyes has not been sacked. When pressed on whether the manager would leave before the end of the season, the spokesperson added, “we do not comment on speculation”. none of the newspapers are reporting that Moyes has been sacked yet. The Daily

Mail writes that he will be dismissed before the end of the season, while the Daily Telegraph says he has lost the support of club owners the Glazer family and is facing the sack. The Sun and the Daily Mirror, meanwhile, report that the United board will sack him, but that it is unclear whether this will happen before the weekend’s game at home to norwich. Moyes was chosen by Sir Alex Ferguson to succeed him as United manager when he stepped down from the role after 26 years in charge last summer. The 50 year-old was handed a six-year deal to leave

Everton for the Premier League champions, but his tenure could be nearing an end after just 10 months. United, who currently lie in seventh place in the table with four games remaining, will record their lowest ever points tally in the Premier League having struggled at Old Trafford, especially. Under Moyes, they have lost six league games at home, been beaten in the FA Cup by Swansea and were unable to prevent Sunderland knocking them out of the Capital One Cup in the semi-finals. In March, supporters chartered a plane to fly overhead trailing a banner with the words, “Wrong One - Moyes Out” during the Premier League win over Aston Villa. The Reds will also miss out Champions League football for the first time since 1995 and are in danger of missing out on European competition altogether for the first time since 1990. United did reach the last eight of the Champions League before being knocked out by Bayern Munich and Moyes argued that their best displays had been in the competition. But the Scot has been dogged by claims of fallouts with his squad. When midfielder Anderson joined Fiorentina on loan in January, he was quoted as saying other United players “wanted out” although he later denied it. Rio Ferdinand and Robin van Persie also made less than complimentary comments about his management style, while Javier Hernandez and Wilfried Zaha posted cryptic quotes on Twitter.

Burnley’s Joey Gudjonsson (left) and Robbie Blake after a game

David Moyes

Boston marathon honours bomb victims HOUSAnDS of marathonT ers have taken to the streets of Boston, after the city honoured three killed and more than 260 injured in a bomb attack last year. A moment of silence was held before some 36,000 runners set off, 9,000 more than normal. Officials have mounted a huge security operation that includes a ban on rucksacks

Burnley beats Wigan, promoted to Premier League URnLEy have been proB moted to the Premier League after victory against play-off hopefuls Wigan at Turf Moor. Ashley Barnes converted Dean Marney’s cross from close range to give the dominant hosts the lead. Wigan striker, Marc Antoine Fortune headed against the bar before Michael Kightly’s free kick doubled the advantage. Danny Ings hit the post for Burnley after the break before Latics forward Fortune headed wide. Wigan are left still needing points to secure their top six spot, while Burnley join Leicester in the top flight next

season. Burnley, who had lost their last two home games, were promoted to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2009 but the last time they had earned automatic promotion to the top flight was back in 1973. There was no stopping them yesterday as they dominated from the start to race into a 20 half-time lead. The Clarets are now just four points behind leaders Leicester, who play their game in hand at Bolton today. Few expected Burnley to be challenging for an automatic promotion spot at the start of the season, with a number of their Championship rivals

spending big in an attempt to get into the Premier League. Clarets boss, Sean Dyche has only paid a transfer fee for one player since being appointed in October 2012 buying Ashley Barnes from Brighton for £400,000 in January. And it was Barnes who gave Dyche’s men the perfect start, tapping home from close range after Marney’s low cross from the left. Wigan have suffered a slump in form in recent weeks, having won just two of their last

seven games in all competitions, after manager Uwe Rosler rescued the Latics’ season following Owen Coyle’s disappointing tenure. They knew a win would allbut secure them a place in the play-offs but, bar a Fortune header against the bar, it was the hosts on top. Their efforts were deservedly rewarded just before the break as, after Scott Arfield was fouled near the bye line, Kightly stepped up to brilliantly curl home Burnley’s second.

Golf: Luke Donald edged out by Matt Kuchar at RBC Heritage UKE Donald finished secL ond at the RBC Heritage as Matt Kuchar’s final-round 64 earned victory in South Carolina. The Englishman scored a 69 to trail Kuchar, 35, by one shot and beat third-placed Ben Martin and John Huh by one. After bogeying the 17th, Kuchar holed from a greenside bunker for a birdie at the last for a seven-under-par final round and 11 under par overall. Donald was unable to gain the shot he needed from his

final three holes to force a play-off with American Kuchar. After beginning the final round with a two-shot lead, Donald hit a wayward tee shot at the sixth before threeputting for a double bogey. Kuchar, who started the final round four adrift, posted seven birdies in his first 10 holes and followed with six pars before his spectacular chip-in at the last. “I wasn’t too disappointed to end up in that front greenside bunker on 18,” he said.

Boston Marathon winner, Meb Keflezighi

and screening at checkpoints. US runner, Meb Keflizighi and Rita Jeptoo from Kenya won the men’s and women’s races. The BBC says that the marathon been never been run amid so many layers of security, as 500,000 are expected to watch the activities. Athletes with disabilities were the first competitors to set off, at 08:50 local time (12:50 GMT). The elite women’s race started at 09:32, with the elite men setting off half an hour later, followed by thousands of other runners. Keflizighi won the men’s race, clocking in at 2 hours, 8 minutes and 37 seconds. He is the first US runner to take the title since 1985. Jeptoo was the first to cross the finish line in the women’s race, marking her third win in the competition. She finished the course in a record 2 hours, 18 minutes and 57 seconds. Protecting the 26.2-mile (42.2km) route has involved a massive mobilisation of

law enforcement agencies, including police units, bomb squads and Swat teams from other states. The Boston police department has erected 8,000 steel barricades, 1,200 more than last year. Before the race, runner Katie O’Donnell, who competed in last year’s race, said she could not imagine the range of emotions she would feel this year. “I think I’m going to start crying at the starting line and I’m not sure I’ll stop until I cross the finish line,” she said. Many people in the city have been wearing “Boston Strong” T-shirts. Last year’s winner of the men’s elite race, Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa, competed again and met several victims of the blast.

Cricket: Bairstow regrets Peterson absence nGLAnD wicketkeeper, E Jonny Bairstow says he is disappointed he will not get to play with Kevin Pietersen again. Pietersen was discarded after the 5-0 Ashes defeat in Australia and England managing director Paul Downton says there is no chance he will be recalled. The ECB unveiled Peter Moores as their new coach last week with Downton saying the batsman had become “disengaged” during the doomed Ashes tour. “He [Pietersen] is a fantastic player,” Bairstow told BBC Radio 5 live. “He is one of the best there has ever been; it was a great pleasure to play with him. He could change a game on his own, so it’s disappointing that I won’t get to play with him again. “However, that is the decision they (England and Wales Cricket Board) have made and we move forward and I’m sure the team will go from strength to strength.”

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 SPORTS

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Okpekpe: Before Kenya, Ethiopia ‘hawks’ sweep Oshiomhole’s largesse again By Gowon Akpodonor EFORE the commencement B of the maiden Okpekpe 10km Road Race last year,

Athletes getting ready for the take off of the maiden Okpekpe International Road Race…last year.

2014 Commonwealth Games: Quadri sure of table tennis’ medals ABLE tennis has conT tributed many medals to Nigeria’s haul at the Commonwealth Games since the country started participating in the competition. But in recent times, the country has been struggling in the game, which it was among the best playing nations in the Commonwealth. However, with all the talk about Nigeria losing its place in the comity of nations, Portugal-based Aruna Quadri still believes the country has enough firepower to excel in the sport at the Glasgow 2014

Commonwealth Games. That is, if the team is given adequate support. Quadri, who defied all odds to make the last 16 at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour, tagged Spanish Open, admitted that the attention giving to football is really affecting adversely the fortune of other sports, particularly table tennis. “We really need support and motivation as we are hoping that things must change in our country’s sports because priority is just being accorded to football. “Things are not going well

DAWN Games LOC meets, inspects facilities on Thursday HE Joint Technical T Meeting (JTM) and inspection of facilities for the DAWN Games (South West Secondary Schools Games) holding in Lagos, will hold from Wednesday to Friday, the local organizing committee (LOC) has revealed. The DAWN Games, involving all the southwest states of Nigeria - Ekiti, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Ondo, holds between May 16 and 24 in Lagos. According to the LOC, the Director of Sports/ General Manager, Sports Council and the Director in charge of sports in the Ministry of Education will represent each state at the JTM and inspection. Others expected are representatives from DAWN Commission, National Sports Commission (NSC)

South West Zonal Coordinator and LOC members. The inspection begins on Thursday April 24 and the team is expected to inspect the venues like Rowe Park Sports Complex, Yaba; Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere and Agege Stadium. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Camp in IyanaIpaja, which will serve as the Games Village, will also be inspected. The Joint Technical Meeting follows the inspection on Friday April 25. The games will feature 12 sports, which are athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, football, gymnastics, scrabble, swimming, table tennis, tennis, taekwondo and volleyball with over 2000 athletes and officials expected to participate.

in table tennis because it is not receiving enough support and this situation puts us in difficult situations all the time. Most times, we spend our personal money to attend competitions in order to be well prepared for the Commonwealth Games. We appreciate the financial support the President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi, has been giving to us since January,” he said. To be like their foreign counterparts, who get grants from their sports authorities to attend preparatory tournaments, Quadri pleads with the National Sports Commission (NSC) to consider supporting the players with grants to attend competitions. “I wish to take part in more pro tours before the Commonwealth Games, but I need support and motiva-

tion. I have spent a lot on myself and I am in need of financial support to keep playing tournaments regularly to be in good shape for the Glasgow Games,” he added. He said Team Nigeria has the wherewithal to be among the medal winning teams in Scotland, adding, however, that “at the Spanish Opens, we had five English players and five Indian players with one English and two Indians making it to the last 64. But as Nigerians, we were only two that took part in the competition and only one of us made it to the main draw (round of 64). “England and India are not better than us at present, but because they are playing tournaments regularly they keep improving. We also need support to be playing tournaments regularly and with that, we can do so much better than before,” he admitted.

some Nigerian athletes had boasted that they would give the visiting Kenyans and Ethiopians a run for the $25,000 top prize. Part of the permutation was that the Okpekpe Road Race, being a new competition, could be anybody’s game. They got it wrong, as Kenyans, with their ‘antelope legs,’ virtually strolled to the finish line to pocket all the juice cash prizes on offer, leaving the crumbs for the home athletes. Kenya’s Moses Masai who emerged the inaugural winner of the men’s title in 2013, smiled home with the accompanying $25,000 top prize (about N4 million), while Romo Georgina (also a Kenyan) got the $20,000 in the women category. The stage is set once again for ‘Okpekpe festival’ and many Nigerian athletes are strategizing with the hope of sharing from the total prize purse of about N20 million. Okpekpe is a sleepy town of about 25km from Auchi, in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. The community is famous for its hilly scenery and according to the indigenes; the road leading to the community was a no-go area before the coming of Governor Oshiomhole. This year’s Okpekpe Road Race is No. 13 on the programme of event of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN). According to the organisers, this year’s edition will be more competitive, going by the cal-

iber of world-class athletes who have already registered for the event. There are over five thousand athletes across the world coming. “As many as 11 foreign athletes including reigning world champion, Aziz Lahbabi of Morocco, have registered,” Mike Itamagbor, Chief Executive Officer of Pamodzi Sports Marketing told The Guardian. Edo State governor, comrade Adams Oshiomhole resumed training some weeks ago ahead of the race, promises to improve on his first edition position of 131. The governor has also promised that there would be an improvement in this year’s championship. Some top AFN officials who are currently with Team Nigeria athletes in the United States for the Mount SAC Relays and Penn Relays are expected back in the country next week to be part of the Okpekpe Road Race billed for May 3rd. An official of the AFN, former Nigeria jumper, Yusuf Ali, said that some Nigerian and foreign athletes invaded Okpekpe community two weeks ago for training ahead the competition. Apart from the athletes, the entire Okpekpe community is already wearing new look with the indigenes beaming with excitement awaiting the D-Day. Meanwhile, Director of Organisation of the race, Zak Amodu has disclosed that Enterprise Bank has been picked as the official banker of the race, just as he revealed that Malta Guinness Low Sugar is the official Malt drink for the event.

Chukwumerije drills 172 taekwondo kids in Lagos N continuation of his ICampaign” “Inspire the Future launched last year, three time Olympian and founder/chief executive officer of Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF), Chika Chukwumerije, at the weekend in Lagos took 172 taekwondo children between the ages of four and 16 through the rudiments of the sport. The event, held at the Abesan Comprehensive School, Abesan Estate, Ipaja, Lagos, witnessed scores of parents and members of the public come to watch the martial art maestro inspire the kids.

Chika Chukwumerjie sparring with a 13-year-old participant at the ‘Inspire The Future’ campaign…at the weekend.

The programme included aerobic drills, plyometric exercises, co-ordination and agility training, basic taekwondo movements, and a mini kiddies’ competition. At the end of the programme, many of the parents were not disappointed. Mrs. Irabor Oyakwe said, “I have five children and all of them do Taekwondo. They were all inspired to start after they saw Chika Chukwumerije on TV. We are really grateful that he could come here. Look at the number of kids here from different clubs in Lagos, looking so excited and happy. It is really worth it.” Another parent, Michael Ugboko, who is also a World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) third class International Referee and whose three kids attended the workshop, commended the CCSF initiative, noting the large difference in quality of coaching methodology on show at the workshop. He urged the CCSF to continue to add value through its annual competition and practical workshops. Also speaking at the event, special guest of honour and double All Africa Games gold medallist, as well as the current Vice-President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth Binga took the children on the importance of participating in sporting activities, while excelling in their education, especially the female child.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

94 SPORTS Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Champions League Round-up

Atletico looking to compound Mourinho’s woes TLETICO Madrid sent Jose A Mourinho packing without a major trophy in his final

Chelsea’s Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech (middle) stands along with teammates during a training session at the club’s complex near Cobham …yesterday. Chelsea are to play Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions today. PHOTO: AFP

Hazard to miss match against Atletico ELGIUM playmaker, Eden B Hazard, missed Chelsea’s open training session on the eve of the Champions League semi-final first leg at Atletico Madrid. Chelsea trained at their Surrey headquarters before travelling to the Spanish capital, but Hazard was absent, the club’s official website

reported. Petr Cech, who missed Saturday’s volatile Premier League home loss to Sunderland through illness, trained as normal. Hazard suffered a calf injury in the second-leg defeat of Paris St. Germain two weeks ago, which secured a seventh semi-final appearance in 11

seasons for the 2012 European Cup winners. Yet he could be risked at the Estadio Vicente Calderon today after Chelsea’s Premier League title challenge unravelled and boss Jose Mourinho saw his 77-match unbeaten home league run end on Saturday as Europe represents the Blues’ best

‘We desire UCL’s trophy more than anyone else’ “Mourinho’s teams are tac- after leaving Atletico in HE Rojiblancos captain is T ready to face Jose tically very well prepared 2007, and Gabi admits it will Mourinho’s Chelsea and will come out to play likely be an emotional “weapons” and says the tie will be emotional for Fernando Torres Atletico Madrid midfielder Gabi claims his side have more desire than any of the other Champions League semi-finalists. Diego Simeone’s side have enjoyed a stunning campaign to date, leading La Liga by four points heading into the final four rounds of matches, and are preparing for a last-four European clash with Chelsea after beating Barcelona in the quarter-finals. Gabi acknowledges that fellow semi-finalists Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Chelsea have a huge amount of quality at their disposal but insists his side want to win the tournament more than anyone. “We have more desire than anyone. I don’t know if we have more capability, but more desire, that’s for sure. We’re going to try to show that,” he told reporters. Gabi is expecting a tough task against Jose Mourinho’s well-drilled side on Tuesday and believes the match will be won by whichever side is best able to stick to their game plan.

their game. We have to counter their game with ours, using the wings, looking for Diego. The more successful team will win. “It’s clear he has weapons, he’s very intelligent.” Today’s clash marks Fernando Torres’ first return to Vicente Calderon

evening for the 30-year-old. “I called (Torres) after the Barca game. We spoke about many things. It’s an emotional moment for him, he has not yet returned to the team of his heart,” he added. “The people, including myself, are very grateful for what he did for the club.”

chance at glory this term. Branislav Ivanovic is suspended, meaning Cesar Azpilicueta could be switched from left-back to right-back and Ashley Cole could return. Alternatively, David Luiz could be fielded at right-back, leaving Azpilicueta on the left and Cole in the margins. Striker Fernando Torres could feature against his former club, if selected ahead of Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba. Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah are ineligible, having played for Benfica and Basle, respectively, earlier in the competition. Mourinho is returning to Madrid, where he spent three tempestuous years as Real manager. He is bidding to win the Champions League for a third time after successes in 2004 with Porto and in 2010 with Inter Milan.

season in Spain and the surprise Champions League semifinalists are itching to land another blow on the Portuguese coach. Mourinho’s Chelsea play their last four, first leg at the Calderon today against an Atletico side riding high in La Liga and through to the semifinals of Europe’s elite club competition for the first time in 40 years. In Mourinho’s third and final campaign at Real in 2012-13, they had been knocked out of the Champions League by Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona had wrapped up the La Liga title when they hosted Atletico in the King’s Cup final at their own Bernabeu stadium. But Miranda’s extra time header secured a 2-1 comeback win for Diego Simeone’s inspired Atletico side in an action-packed and ill-tempered clash in which Mourinho and forward Cristiano Ronaldo were both sent off. “You don’t have to be a magician to tell that the result of the final was not fair, that Atletico is not a just winner,” Mourinho told a post-match news conference.

Now back at Chelsea, Mourinho is seeking to avenge that bitter reverse as he makes his latest bid to become the first manager to win the European Cup with three different teams after triumphing with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010. He and his expensively assembled squad face a stiff task against an Atletico team who are top of La Liga and closing on a first domestic league title since 1996 when a team featuring Simeone won a La Liga and King’s Cup double. Atletico warmed up for today’s clash with a 2-0 win at home to Elche, while Chelsea slipped to a shock 2-1 home reverse to Premier League strugglers Sunderland, Mourinho’s first league defeat at Stamford Bridge in 78 matches. Mourinho refused to answer questions after the game and appeared to blame the referee for Chelsea’s setback, which severely damaged their title chances, rather than his players. “They did everything they could,” he told a news conference. “They fought, they played from the first to the last second and they deserve that (praise),” added the 51-yearold.

I’m relieved playing against Chelsea, Courtois admits TLETICO Madrid’s on-loan A goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, has admitted his relief at being allowed to play against parent club, Chelsea, in today’s Champions League semi-finals. The 21-year-old goalkeeper has established himself as one of the key figures in Diego Simeone’s eye-catching side as they pursue both domestic and continental honours, but had feared he may be forced to miss one of the biggest games of their season after the Champions League draw paired Atletico with his English employers. Reports suggested Courtois would only be able to play if Atletico paid Chelsea a substantial sum - something the club had said they were unable to do - until UEFA released a statement saying any such contract clause would be invalid and

Courtois could play. “(I was) very relieved,” Courtois told FIFA’s website. “For me, the fact that we’ve drawn Chelsea, like we did in the European Super Cup (in 2012, when Atletico won 4-1), is special, because even though I’m at Atletico, Chelsea are my club too. It’s better not to think about it too much though and play like I always do, because if I start thinking, ‘Oh, I’d better be careful’, then I’ll end up playing poorly. “I want to win trophies here and I’ll be an Atleti supporter for these two games, but at all other times I’m a Chelsea fan too. I hope they win the Premier League, just not these two (Champions League) matches. I really hope we can reach the final as we’re so close. They’re the favourites, but (beaten quarter-final opponents) Barca were too.”

We are ready for Chelsea, says Tiago TLETICO Madrid midfieldA er and former Chelsea player, Tiago says the Liga

Atletico Madrid’s players celebrate a goal near supporters during their Spanish first division match against Elche…at the weekend PHOTO: REUTERS

leaders are prepared for Jose Mourinho’s mind games ahead of today’s Champions League semi-final clash. The 32-year-old spent a season at Stamford Bridge under ‘The Special One’, picking up a Premier League winners’ medal before leaving for Lyon in 2005. And Tiago says the whole Atletico squad are familiar with Mourinho’s antics following his spell with city rivals Real Madrid and are ready to swat away his attempts to “crank up” the pressure. “It’s not just me: Jose was

here for three years so we all know him,” the Portuguese midfielder told The Guardian. “Mourinho knows exactly what to say to his players in any given moment. He makes the decisions. He never consults the players and never tells the (media). “He takes responsibility, he’s the leader and it’s a role he plays better than anyone. We all know that if he has to crank up the pressure to win he will do that.” Although Tiago was full of praise for his compatriot, he believes Atleti boss Diego Simeone is a match for Mourinho – even if there are subtle differences between their management styles.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

TheGuardian

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Olu’Seun Esan Y heart goes out to those bereaved families who lost their beloved one in a stampede not of war or of famine, but a stampede to look for job, to seek better livelihood, to serve their fatherland, to make enough to have an average life and earn a living. A stampede among hustlers strengthened by hope; I mourn those hope dampened, the sun that sets at noon. They were trying to escape death by starvation, they met death by stampeding. They left home that morning clad with shorts and vests like children during inter-house sports competition, families and neighbours who knew what was happening in town were wishing them ‘goodluck’. If their families had known they should at least have given them one more hug or if possible prevent them from going. Would we say we were wrong to be Nigerians, is it a crime to be a nationality of this country? I don’t believe those preventable deaths are the acts of God as some wordless individuals would console tens of families of the casualties of this cheap deaths procured for her citizens by a careless country. If Nigerian had been a country that had the slightest care for her citizen or that government institution has the meanest respect for nationals, I believe these deaths would not have occurred. The Nigerian Immigration Services would not say they didn’t expect such mammoth crowd since every one of them must have registered somewhere, online most likely. What control measures did they put in place? I am yet to be convinced that stadia around the country, a stage for the whole world to behold, are the best place to bring our teeming youths all in the name of employment. In other climes, that have respect and care for her citizens, exercises that promise to bring many people like that are mostly batched, so that a controllable crowd could be had at a time. Here we are, we had not only washed our stinking panties in the market square, we washed it right in every major stadium in almost all state capitals in Nigeria. Even if the attention of the whole world was not focused on the exercise, those preventable deaths must have commanded attention and showed to the whole wide world that we are deeply in trouble and we seemingly do not know it or refuse to care. Trust Nigerian journalists, PM newspapers will be the first to have a steaming headline from the tragic event while some mindless and heartless individuals would even link it to political parties to score cheap points that it is the failure of one party or the other. All tabloids of the following day would have it screaming of how our nation exposed her youths to needless stampede just to secure daily bread. This brings to mind the words of Segun Akinlolu’s music ‘an average man doesn’t ask for too much, he only wants what you and I want, a safe place to lay his head at night, is that too much to ask?’ While we can’t blame journalists for doing their job or for making a living, either or both, they could not have kept quiet either; they owe us a duty to report and inform. Sinister motive or not they are doing a duty. Private companies in Nigeria probably would never make such mistake that a major government institution made, an institution that has one of its secondary if not primary mandate as keeping the citizen’s safe. Sacrificing innocent youthful and promising souls for someone’s carelessness and failure in proper planning. The government agency mocks Nigerians youths for being massively unemployed, the press mocks the government for being irredeemably careless; and the rest of the world watches. They watch our failure as a nation, our non-chalant carelessness as a people. They watch our land being drunk with innocent and promising blood; they watch us spill the blood of our very children and yet everyone wakes up the following morning going about his businesses as if nothing happened; only the bereaved could say what they lost. A pitiable dilemma we are. While there seems nothing wrong in trying to recruit for vacant positions

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Story of a country mocking herself

Applicants at the Abuja National Stadium scrambling to secure seats for recruitment test into the Nigerian Immigration Service recently in an organisation, there are thousand things wrong in lives being lost to regrettably avoidable deaths in the process. If we cannot care adequately for ourselves, do we then have the right to blame expatriates and foreigners for treating our youths with utter disdain either on home or foreign soil? Counting tens of deaths across the country on a single Saturday exercise is highly unacceptable. In fact, if the exercise were conducted in a dozen days no life is supposed to be lost.

We drape our national flag over the coffins of the military or para-military men who died while on duty, what then do we do to people who were slip shoddily killed while applying to be enlisted to the service. If it were our enemies that killed them we would have said they died protecting us, but how then do we mourn the people that the ineptitude and sloppiness of some people killed. We can’t protect our citizens against terrorist insurgency; we can’t protect them from accidents caused by danger

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We can’t protect our citizens against terrorist insurgency; we can’t protect them from accidents caused by danger paths that we call roads, our hospitals aren’t even equipped enough to cure diseases and care for the sick, and ultimately the very service who is supposed to protect our borders caused deaths for some people’s sons and daughters, who are other people’s uncles and aunties paths that we call roads, our hospitals aren’t even equipped enough to cure diseases and care for the sick, and ultimately the very service who is supposed to protect our borders caused deaths for some people’s sons and daughters, who are other people’s uncles and aunties. A presentation at World Bank Regional Workshop on Youth Employment in 2013 reported that Nigeria with a population of about 160 million is the most populous African country and among the top six most populous countries globally. With an annual population growth rate of 2.8 per cent the country is yet to experience the demographic transition (illustrated by significant decline in fertility rate and high dependency ratio). Arguably, eliminating youth unemployment is more challenging where there is no demographic transition. Of the labour force of 67.3 million people in 2011 which was about 41 per cent of the total population, 76.1 per cent was gainfully employed. This, however, is about 10.5 per cent decline from 2008 figure. In the past five years, an average two million people enter the job market despite the declining rate of job creation in the economy, fuelling the massive joblessness in the land. Unskilled and semi-skilled workers dominate the structure of the labour market. A striking observation is that one in four Nigerian was unemployed in 2012 compared to one in seven in 2008. Also notable, is that unemployment is becoming more of a rural phenomenon 25.6 per cent compared to 16.1 per cent in urban areas. There is a wide disparity in the unemployment rate, with the range spanning 7.5 per cent to 39 per cent. The highest unemployment rate is in Yobe State with 39 per cent while Lagos State has the lowest rate of 7.5 per cent. All categories of educational levels below post graduate had double digit unemployment rates above 20 per cent, (20.2 per cent for bachelors’ degrees to 33.4 per cent for Junior Secondary School Certificates). Unemployed educated and young people are a growing phenomenon of the unemployment crisis. Based on age group classification, the 15-24 age group has the highest unemployment rate of 37.7 per cent, followed by the 25-44 age bracket with unemployment rate of 22.4 per cent. These millions of poor and unemployed youth are made up of a mix of educated and poorly educated young people. Also, the 2012 National Baseline Youth Survey Report issued in December 2013 by the NBS in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youths Development states that 54 per cent of Nigerian youths were unemployed in 2012. “More than half, about 54 per cent of youth population were unemployed. Of this, females stood at 51.9 per cent compared to their male counterpart with 48.1 per cent were unemployed.’’ All these are disturbing statistics that may predict future violence for the country if something urgent is not done. The recent stampede at various locations in the country in one day for a government agency jobs is a sign to the unpreparedness of the government and its agency in combating what is a national menace and in fact, adding salt to injury. • Esan is the state team leader, New Initiative for