Thur 28 02 2013 The Guardian News

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Vol. 29, No. 12,481

www.ngrguardiannews.com

N150

PDP can present Jonathan for 2015 polls, says Tukur From John-Abba Ogbodo (Abuja), Iyabo Lawal (Ibadan) and John Ogiji (Minna) N indication that the PeoA ples Democratic Party (PDP) may present President Goodluck Jonathan as its candidate for the 2015 election emerged yesterday with its national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, saying that there is nothing wrong with idea. the Speaking with journalists in

• ‘Nigeria’s economy not in danger’ • Niger gov alleges plot to discredit him • More Nigerians congratulate Akpabio Abuja yesterday, Tukur also challenged other political parties to present their can-

didates if they already had.

He also said the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) can-

not choose a presidential candidate for the party because PDP has its own laid

down rules for conducting such exercise.

His words: “Let me tell you, in politics, there is a lot of misinformation and people tend to interpret issues from different viewpoints.

Jonathan is now the President and belongs to the PDP. So, what is wrong in presenting him? The other parties can equally present their can-

Why we can’t prosecute anybody for Oyerinde’s murder, by Adoke – Page 6

didates if they have any.”

“The Governors’ Forum is not for selecting a candidate.

We have got our own system in doing that. Candidates are not elected at Governors’ Forum.”

He said a comment credited to Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu that there was no need for another forum of his colleagues was a personal opinion. Tukur stressed that the birth of PDP Governors’

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Defence hqtrs trail kidnappers of French nationals • W’African leaders tackle insecurity, other issues • ‘No Nigerian casualty in Mali’ From Madu Onuorah(Abuja) and Oghogho Obayuwana (Yamoussoukro) ROM the Defence HeadFancequarters came an assuryesterday that relevant security agencies were “doing everything possible” to track down the kidnappers of French nationals and release the victims.

But the defence authorities said that contrary to their official policy of not responding to postings by terror groups, they advised the “hostage takers” to channel their demands through the telephone numbers of the joint task force “which they are conversant with.”

They listed the numbers to include 08064174066, Pope Benedict XVI (in his Papamobile) bidding the faithful farewell during his last weekly audience at St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican … yesterday. (Story on Page 9).

PHOTO: AFP/TIZIANA FABI

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

2 NEWS

W’African leaders tackle insecurity CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 O8154429346 and 07064174066.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, Defence spokesman, Col. Mohammed Yerima, confirmed that Nigeria had so far fully deployed the over 1,200 officers and men it pledged to the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA).

Yerima also said that the last batch of troops was airlifted to Mali yesterday by Nigerian Air Force C-130 transport Hercules.

He added that the C-130 aircraft provided by the British government would also airlift support equipment to the operation, “side by side our own (Nigerian) C-130.”

Besides, the French involvement in flushing out the rebels from northern Mali may be leading to discussion on the future of AFISMA as the authorities of heads of state and government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) began yesterday in Ya-

moussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, their 42nd ordinary session.

In his welcome address, the president of the ECOWAS Commission Kadre Desire Ouedraogo told the gathering of leaders of all 15-member nations which constitute the regional group, that it was important now for them to start “thinking about the process of transforming AFISMA into a United Nations Peacekeeping Mission based on specific modalities.”

Ouedraogo’s submission was interpreted yesterday as one means of ensuring that in the future, a foreign power does not seize the initiative of restoring situations as was the case in Mali, to normalcy.

He warned that “the political dimension of the crisis should not be overlooked.”

Following his submission, the Special Representative of the United Nations SecretaryGeneral for West Africa Said Djinnit, gave a rousing speech which was intermittently interrupted by ovation especially when he charged West African leaders to “get

involved now in Mali”, noting that “The enemies are not waiting.”

France intends to pull out of the Malian operation by the end of March 2013.

Declaring the summit open, the chairman of the authority of heads of state and President of Cote d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, said although the conclusion of work on a common market Common External Tariff (CET) - as well as the Investment Code for the region form a major part of the agenda, the security situation in Mali and Guinea Bissau were the major issues.

Calling for the current sanctions placed on Guinea Bissau to be lifted, the ECOWAS chairman disclosed that more than 73 percent of all AFISMA forces were now fully deployed in Mali. He urged his colleagues to use their closed-door session later to look at the issue of human rights in the places already liberated by the French, Malian and Chadian forces in Mali. Twenty-seven of these

soldiers have since died in the course of duty while 67 others are wounded.

But beyond the issues revolving around the security threats in the Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea, Ouedraogo who read an eight-paged speech, identified burning economic, energy, climatic, and food security challenges to be addressed at the summit He lamented that with the slowdown of the global economy, the economic growth of the region was projected for the receding year, at 6.4 per cent. But that rate which hides disparities within member states is however below the minimum required to halve poverty by 2015.

“With two years remaining until the deadline for achieving the MDGs, (Millennium Development Goals), and where there is now the need to plan the post-2015 agenda, the assessment report of progress made in Africa

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Babangida Aliyu alleges plot to discredit him CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Forum (PGF) was a collective decision of the party.

He went on: “It is an opinion.

It doesn’t mean that all the governors agreed with that position. So, it remains a personal opinion. That is why I have taken time to explain to you, as chairman of this party, and I can assure you that that was our collective understanding behind the formation of the PDP Governors’ Forum because we want our governors to come together.

“Well, if you say people criticise the forum, it is still part of politics. It is their personal opinion but that doesn’t mean it is a bad idea.”

He said plans were afoot to hold the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting but certain things had to be done first.

“We are going to take these things one after the other. We are going to have our caucuses and we will eventually have our NEC; I can assure you that will come pretty soon”, he stated.

Reacting to a statement credited to former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), that PDP does not need a merger because it is in an alliance with security forces, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others, the chairman said: “I don’t think you want me to react to this kind of allegation. I think the best thing is to ask for evidence but if he cannot show evidence, I cannot react because I can only react to things that are factual.”

He disclosed that the party would soon commence e-registration of members across the country, adding: “It is currently in the works. We are now in the age of technology whereby things are no longer done manually. Very soon, we will commence the e-registration of our members to have a common membership database.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Aliyu has alleged the existence of a plot to silence him over his recent comment on the 2015 presidential election.

The governor specifically claimed that some hawks in Abuja have concluded arrangements to print posters with his portrait and a message of “2015: Vote Babangida

Aliyu for President,” thereby pitting him against the party which has placed an embargo on campaign for the presidency.

A statement by Aliyu’s Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, in Minna yesterday, also alleged that some media houses have been commissioned to write negative reports against the governor as part of a grand design to discredit him and the state government.

The statement continued: “But Governor Aliyu is a law-abiding member of the PDP and is very much aware of the party’s directive to members not to commence campaign for the 2015 presidential election.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Aliyu has not declared for the presidency. If anything, he is at the moment focused on delivering on the mandate given to him by the people of Niger State and would not be distracted.”

Aliyu said God was the ultimate decider of who becomes what, just as he cautioned Nigerians to be wary of persons who may want to discredit others for selfish gains.

He reiterated his commitment to ongoing efforts at re-engineering Niger to achieve its vision of becoming one of the top three most developed state economies by the year 2020.

Also, Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, former Oyo State helmsman, Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Presidential Amnesty Programme Chairman Kingsley Kuku, socio-political groups, Akwa Ibom Progressive Forum (AIPROF) and the Centre for Awareness on Good Governance were among those who have praised the emergence of Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio as the chairman of the newly-created PDPGF. Besides, the Presidency has declared that contrary to claims of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the nation’s economy is not in danger of collapse as all globally-recognised indices indicate that it is stable and on an upward beat.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, described the claims as lacking in substance and contrary to the verdicts of rep-

utable international rating agencies that have consistently upgraded the country’s economic standing in the last one and a half years.

According to him, contrary to the claim of the ACN that the cost of producing a barrel of oil had ‘skyrocketed’ to 35 dollars in 2012 from four dollars in 2002, the actual cost of production stands at approximately 17 dollars per barrel.

The statement went on: “The cost of oil production per barrel had NEVER risen as high as the opposition claims. Even at the height of restiveness in the Niger Delta area and its consequential effect on the upstream oil sector, the per barrel cost of oil production in Nigeria never rose above 18 dollars.

When compared with a sum of between 50 and 70 dollars per barrel spent on production of shale oil by the United States (U.S.), the cost of producing oil in Nigeria which is 17 dollars per barrel as well as a prevailing sale price of over 100 dollars per barrel does not support the alarming claim of the opposition.”

It stated that the second leg upon which the ACN based its wrong assertions is similarly laden with deceptive undertones.

It said: “For a fact, there are incidents of crude oil theft which had existed for several decades before this administration came on board. However, the truth is that this is currently being tackled through proactive steps by the government. The opposition is most probably aware of the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan recently secured the co-operation of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK) and French President on measures to prevent refineries in Europe from buying crude oil stolen from Nigeria.

“Similarly, the Jonathan administration has provided more and better surveillance boats for the Nigerian Navy to enhance patrol of our coastal waters. This has resulted in arrest of several vessels engaged in oil theft and these were well reported in the Nigerian print and electronic media.”

The Presidency drew the ACN’s attention to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) currently before the National Assembly which it says was conceived by Jonathan to provide for best

practice processes for acreage availability, bidding and awards and therefore address the problems of dwindling oil and gas exploratory opportunities, and corruption among other problems in the sector.

It stressed that the need to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil has also been the driving force of the Federal Government’s massive investment in agriculture in a manner unprecedented in the annals of Nigeria. “In the year 2012 alone, the agricultural sector accounted for over 75 per cent of all non-oil export; the highest output in 25 years,” it said.

While agreeing that there is indeed a need to reduce the cost of governance at all tiers of government in Nigeria, the statement explains that Jonathan has shown practical commitment through a reduction in recurrent expenditure from 74 per cent in 2011 to 71 per cent in 2012 and 68 per cent in the 2013 budget, adding that the medium-term target is to reach 60 per cent recurrent expenditure.”

The statement wondered why a political party, individual or any organisation worth its salt would choose to ignore the positive rating of the economy by reputable international rating agencies in the last one and a half years of the Jonathan administration but rather conjure imaginary figures to make wild claims.

It added: “One wonders if the ACN would have ignored the ratings by FITCH, STANDARD & POOR’S, MOODY’S and JP MORGAN if those bodies had turned in a negative verdict on the Nigerian economy. The only conclusion one can draw from this is that the opposition has once again chosen the myopic and jaundiced path of public policy analysis rather that base its assessment on verifiable and objective indices. Unfortunately, a matter as sensitive as a nation’s economy ought not to be subjected to this fashion of blind politicking.”

Assuring Nigerians that the Federal Government remains committed to implementing sound economic policies and development of infrastructure, the Presidency urged politicians to exhibit statesmanship in addressing issues of critical nature rather than desperately seeking to score cheap points.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

4 NEWS

Issues in the news

Do they really boost energy?...A raging debate on health

By Chukwuma Muanya and Wole Oyebade AVING flooded the Nigerian market with the promise to imH prove energy, rehydration, stamina, athletic performance and concentration, and address weight loss, if taken in moderation, many had rushed to the “heal quick” energy drinks. But how many are aware of their components and effects?

Now prone to abuse, they have been linked to deaths due to heart attack or suicide, miscarriage, convulsions, deafness, hemorrhage, stroke, irregular heartbeat, severe diarrhea, migraine, psychotic disorder, and vomiting. These concerns have led to a call for the ban of energy drinks in Nigeria by a member of the House of Representatives.

Nevertheless, some experts have called for caution and want a thorough national scientific probe of the health effects of energy drinks, which results will inform the final decision. Energy drinks are beverages that contain caffeine, taurine, vitamins, herbal supplements and sugar or sweeteners, and are marketed to improve energy, weight loss, stamina, athletic performance and concentration.

They are available in over 140 countries and are fast taking over the Nigerian beverage market with over 30 brands registered by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Until now, several reports had indicated that though healthy people could tolerate caffeine in moderation, heavy caffeine consumption, through energy drinks, has been associated with serious consequences such as seizures, mania, stroke and sudden death.

A recent study published in Pediatrics has shown that children and adults, especially those with cardiovascular, renal or liver disease, seizures, diabetes, mood and behavioural disorders or hyperthyroidism, or those who take certain medications, may be at higher risk for adverse events from energy drink consumption.

The Guardian investigations revealed that the energy drinks market in Nigeria is large and unregulated, and research into their use and effects is sparse. It was gathered that Nigerians, especially those between ages 14 and 45, take several cans of energy drinks at a sitting and most often mixed with alcoholic drinks.

However, the controversy surrounding the health benefits and adverse effects of energy drinks has led to a call for the ban of the product by a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yacoob Bush-Alebiosu. Bush-Alebiosu has sponsored a bill in the National Assembly that might result in the ban of energy drinks throughout the nation.

According to him, “energy drinks contain high levels of ingredients and stimulants that pose dangerous health risks such as kidney damage, seizures and stroke, and life threatening effects on blood pressure, heart and brain function.”

Energy drinks

He expressed concern that the heart diseases caused by the consumption of these drinks, especially among the young people, were alarming and threatening the health condition of the younger generation.

Interestingly, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, told The Guardian that before energy drinks could be banned, they have to be re-analysed for evidence-based report, explaining: “We have to be careful here. You cannot just come out and say you want to ban a product.

“Anything that we have to do has to be evidence-based. I have to talk to NAFDAC D-G. They have to coordinate fresh analysis of energy drinks and once their findings show there is need, why not?”

For the Chief Medical Director of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Dr. Wale Oke, “there should be a trial to determine the potential hazardous effects of energy drinks before a decision is made.”

However, the Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, told The Guardian that the problem with energy drinks is that most Nigerians abuse it.

“The problem we have had is that of abuse. Most Nigerians believe that it is a status symbol. People abuse it and there should be education,” he explained. “What I can assure you, and what NAFDAC assures Nigerians, is that we make sure that those components, if taken in moderation, are good for health.

“Some people are mixing energy drinks with alcoholic beverages but that should not be. Energy drinks are taken by people who are weak and those who are recuperating after an illness and need boosters. People should not just sit down and consume cans after cans of energy drinks and accumulate toxins in their bodies.”

On the proposed ban on energy drinks by the House of Representatives, Orhii said: “I am aware of the plan. If they want to ban it, they have the right. I do not market energy drinks. I only approve them. If the National Assembly bans it, it becomes a law.”

Though energy drinks are approved and registered by NAFDAC, he noted: “Our test is to make sure that they meet the standards set by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON). Once we prove that they meet the standards, we register. You have to understand that energy drinks are not marketed only in Nigeria, they are marketed all over the world.”

A fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), Mr. Morayo A. T. Giwa, said an outright ban on energy drinks is not the solution, but regulations on the contents of the drinks, especially the percentage content of caffeine in the drink.

Giwa explained: “As at today in the soft drink industry, there is no clear differentiation and clear-cut segregation of functional beverages and drinks from the generic carbonated canned and bottled soft drinks that are highly sugar-based.

“Also, a blanket ban on energy drinks without clear differentiation between them would have direct adverse effect on other categories of the functional beverages and drinks in which caffeine is not part of the ingredients.

“It is time for NAFDAC officials to advise the Federal Government and educate the public through sponsored programme or a joint press conference with NIFST and Customs officials on the difference and category of functional beverages and drinks and those that are supporting the health-being of the populace.”

Executive Director of the Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF), Dr. Kingsley Kola Akinroye, noted that energy drinks contain substances that are recognised as heart stimulants, such as caffeine and many other ingredients that are understudied but not regulated. According to him, some energy drinks contain high levels of glucose that may increase risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and excessive caffeine is known to cause rapid heart rate and increased blood pressure, both of which are risk factors for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD).

The cardiologist said there was need to promote awareness in the population and educate on the effects of consumption of energy drinks, noting: “Regulation of energy drinks consumption should be based on appropriate scientific research.

“More scientific evidence and appropriate research are needed before regulation of all drinks that are considered for legislation. Also, NAFDAC should be supported to promote labelling of drinks that are heart-friendly.”

In agreement with this view is the adjunct professor at the University of Illinois, Chicago, United States, and medical director of Medical Art Centre (MART), Maryland, Lagos, Dr. Oladapo Ashiru, who said: “We cannot ban food, we should only caution people about its use. It’s like saying you want to ban coffee or sugar. They also have similar side effects when used in excess.”

Ashiru explained: “The health hazards of the energy drinks have become apparent for over five years. The frequent utilisation has been associated with increased admission at the emergency clinics in a number of countries. The health hazards derive from the caffeine content of the energy drinks as well as the sugar content.

“Problems such as insomnia, headache, anxiety and fast heartbeat are some of the known consequences of overuse of the energy drinks. In severe cases, it can cause seizures and even heart attack. Really, there is no basis for its use, especially for those who combine it with alcohol, as this can have severe consequences.

“The benefit gained from the initial energy boost can equally be obtained from just one boiled without the dangerous side effects that come with the energy boost. There are other dangerous long-term effects that caffeine can have on the liver and the nervous system, these include liver failure.”

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

NEWS | 5

Issues in the news

benefits and adverse effects of energy drinks But for the consultant endocrinologist and physician to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, and Associate Professor of Medicine, Dr. Olufemi Fasanmade, the use of energy drinks should be restricted, regulated or banned. Fasanmade explained: “Energy drinks pose dangers to health if taken in large quantity in short period or taken in moderate quantity over long periods, or in conjunction with alcohol, drugs or other stimulants.

“Side effects may include tremors, palpitations and insomnia, and some may raise blood pressure, increase heart rate, raise blood sugar or lead to anxiety and agitation.”

The Medical Director of Optimal Specialist Hospital, Dr. Ugochukwu Chukwunenye, noted that energy drinks appear beneficial to the health of a vast majority of the consumers, therefore, a total ban might not be good. He canvassed regulated sales of the drinks as likely a better policy.

“It should not be sold to those under 18 and above 70 years, except on doctor’s recommendation,” he said. “The sales outlets should be restricted, quantity sold to each individual should be limited based on the concentration of caffeine in it, and it should only be sold in certain hours of the evening,” He also noted that caffeine is generally found in many beverages like coffee, tea, coca-cola, kola nuts, bitter kola, and energy drinks. Chukwunenye further explained: “Many people consume them because of their benefits, which include better performance, improved concentration, increased zest and libido, among others.

“The drawback is that it induces palpitations in some people, which may prove lethal, especially in the elderly and among school-age children.”

Furthermore, a consultant public health physician and lecturer at the College of Medicine, the University of Lagos (CMUL), Dr Fela Oridota, stated: “We know that some side effects have been reported; we know what caffeine and excessive sugar can do to the body. I will advise the public to be cautious because energy drinks act on the central nervous system and can carry health risks both in the short and long run.”

Astonishingly, however, a study published in Pediatrics entitled, “Health Effects of Energy Drinks on Children, Adolescents and Young Adults” concluded: “Energy drinks have no therapeutic benefit, and many ingredients are understudied and not regulated. The known and unknown pharmacology of agents included in such drinks, combined with reports of toxicity, raise concern for potentially serious adverse effects in association with energy drink use.”

It further recommended: “In the short-term, pediatricians need to be aware of the possible effects of energy drinks in vulnerable populations and screen for consumption to educate families. Long-term research should aim to understand the effects in at-risk populations. Toxicity surveillance should be improved, and regulations of energy drinks sales and consumption should be based on appropriate research.”

In line with the foregoing, the health warning on a can of Power Horse energy drink seems necessary. It reads: “Consumption of more than two cans in a day may be harmful to your health. Not to be used for pregnant women, breast feeders, children under the age of 16, people with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, allergy to caffeine, and athletes during exercise.”

Fresh global concerns The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last November linked 92 illnesses and 13 deaths to a brand of energy drink. The body said the adverse-event reports (AERs) were filed by patients, families, or doctors. FDA warned that the products might have harmed someone but they do not prove that the product caused harm.

The FDA can remove a product from the market only when investigation shows that the product causes harm when used according to its label. Moreover, the reports do not offer details on any underlying medical conditions that may have led to product-related illnesses.

The FDA reports detail the events suffered by users of two different brands of energy drinks, including deaths due to heart attack or suicide, a miscarriage, convulsion, life-threatening fear, deafness and hemorrhage, deaths due to heart attack or loss of consciousness, hospitalisation due to irregular heartbeat, severe diarrhea, migraine, psychotic disorder, heart attack, and/or vomiting, disability from irregular heartbeat or stroke, and hospitalisation due to psychotic disorder, increased heart rate, or loss of consciousness.

A recent report by the United States Government documented a sharp spike in the number of people who need emergency medical care after consuming energy drinks. Also, health officials in Germany, Austria and Hong Kong had confirmed that they had found trace levels of cocaine in test samples of popular energy drinks. But health authorities said the findings hovered near the lowest detectable levels, and do not pose a health risk.

However, officials said the company found no traces of cocaine in its independent tests, maintaining that the product in question, ‘X’ Cola, is “harmless.” Also, an energy drink ingredient, taurine, is banned in several countries. Taurine is raising concern, which has caused several countries to ban the drink.

There are concerns of taurine’s cardiovascular effects in particular combinations with caffeine. However, experts have called for detailed investigations and in the meantime recommended moderation when consuming any energy drink, just as people would with coffee.

However, a study published in Experimental Clinical Cardiology entitled, “The potential health benefits of taurine in cardiovascular disease” concluded: “The potential health benefits of taurine in cardiovascular disease are rapidly emerging. Though more research needs to be performed, numerous experimental and several clinical studies demonstrated that taurine helps the cardiovascular system through a variety of mechanisms.

“While no severe side effects were reported with taurine-supplemented beverages or commercially available multivitamin

Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu and mineral formulations, some caution should be used when consuming these preparations.

“Pregnant women should be particularly careful, because it has been reported that maternal taurine supplementation during pregnancy causes insulin resistance and obesity in rat offspring.”

Benefits of energy drinks A variety of physiological and psychological effects have been attributed to energy drinks and their ingredients. Two studies reported significant improvements in mental and cognitive performances as well as increased subjective alertness. Excess consumption of energy drinks may induce mild to moderate euphoria primarily caused by stimulant properties of caffeine, and may also induce agitation, anxiety, irritability and insomnia.

During repeated cycling tests in young healthy adults, an energy drink significantly increased upper body muscle endurance. It has been suggested that reversal of caffeine withdrawal is a major component of the effects of caffeine on mood and performance.

Restorative properties were shown by a combination of caffeine and the sugar glucose in an energy drink, and some degree of synergy between the cognition-modulating effects of glucose and caffeine was also suggested.

In one experiment, a glucose-based energy drink (containing caffeine, taurine and glucuronolactone) was given to 11 tired participants being tested in a driving simulator. Lane drifting and reaction times were measured for two hours post-treatment and showed significant improvement.

Two articles concluded that the improved information processing and other effects could not be explained in terms of the restoration of plasma caffeine levels to normal following caffeine withdrawal.

Consumption of a single energy drink will not lead to excessive caffeine intake, but consumption of two or more drinks in a single day can. Other stimulants such as ginseng are often added to energy drinks and may enhance the effects of caffeine, and ingredients such as guarana themselves contain caffeine.

Adverse effects of energy drinks Reported adverse effects associated with caffeine consumption in amounts greater than 400mg include nervousness, irritability, sleeplessness, increased urination, abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia), and dyspepsia.

Consumption also has been known to cause pupil dilation when taken with certain anti-depressants or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)/a type of medicine used to treat mental health conditions. It has been shown that most mainstream

Some people are mixing energy drinks with alcoholic beverages but that should not be.

Energy drinks are taken by people who are weak and those who are recuperating after an illness and need boosters. People should not just sit down and consume cans after cans of energy drinks and accumulate toxins in their bodies

energy drinks do not provide electrolytes, and have a higher likelihood of an energy “crash-and-burn” effect.

Caffeine in energy drinks can cause the excretion of water from the body to dilute high concentrations of sugar entering the blood stream, leading to dehydration. If the body is dehydrated by one per cent, performance is decreased by up to 10 per cent.

In the U.S., energy drinks have been linked with reports of nausea, abnormal heart rhythms and emergency room visits. The drinks may cause seizures due to the “crash” following the energy high that occurs after consumption.

In November 2010, the University of Texas Medical School at Houston reported that energy drinks contain more caffeine than a strong cup of coffee, and that the caffeine combined with other ingredients (sometimes not reported correctly on labels) such as guarana, taurine, other herbs, vitamins and minerals may interact.

Energy drinks and alcohol Energy drinks consumed with alcohol may affect heart rates, blood pressure and even mental states. The caffeine content of energy drinks range from 80 to 300mg per cup serving, whereas a cup of coffee can contain 70 to 200mg.

Health experts say that caffeine prevents sleepiness and delays the feeling of drunkenness normally experienced when drinking alcohol, causing some people to continue drinking after they normally would have stopped. Both caffeine and alcohol are diuretics, so mixing energy drinks with alcohol can cause severe dehydration, possibly leading to vomiting, nausea and other health problems in the long term.

Best practices The United Kingdom has investigated the drink but only issued a warning against its consumption by children and pregnant women.

In November 2012, President Ramzan Kadyrov of Chechnya (Russian Federation) ordered his government to develop a bill banning the sale of energy drinks, arguing that as a form of “intoxicating drug”, such drinks were “unacceptable in a Muslim society.” Kadyrov cited reports of one death and 530 hospital admissions in 2012 due to “poisoning” from the consumption of such drinks.

In 2009, a school in Hove, England, requested that local shops refrain from selling energy drinks to students. Head teacher Malvina Sanders added: “This was a preventative measure, as all research shows that consuming high-energy drinks can have detrimental impact on the ability of young people to concentrate in class.”

The school negotiated for the local branch of the Tesco supermarket to display posters asking students not to purchase the products. Similar measures were taken by a school in Oxted, England, which banned students from consuming drinks, and sent letters to parents.

Some countries have certain restrictions on the sale and/or manufacture of energy drinks. For example, in Australia and New Zealand, energy drinks are regulated under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, limiting the caffeine content of “formulated caffeinated beverages” (energy drinks) at 320mg/L and soft drinks at 145mg/L. Mandatory caffeine labelling is issued for all food products containing guarana. On June 7, 2012, the parliament of Latvia approved changes in the legislation of sale of consumable goods to prohibit sale of energy drinks to persons under the age of 18.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

6 NEWS

Army denies killing protesting varsity students From Madu Onuorah (Abuja), Muyiwa Adeyemi (Ado-Ekiti) and Yetunde Ebosele (Lagos)

T

HE Nigerian Army yesterday denied the allegation that its troops killed any of the students who participated in the riots in front of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, on Monday.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to stage what it called “Mother of all protests” across the country if the soldiers, who allegedly perpetrated the killing, are not brought to book.

The threat came as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)

• NANS threatens action, NLC urges culprits’ arrest, trial called for restraint in the use of brute force to curtail peaceful protests in the country.

In a reaction to the allegation, which was published in the media, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, who spoke with journalists in Abuja, said: “I categorically say that our (Army) troops were not involved. Nigerian troops in Keffi did not shoot any of the students. Our troops were not deployed for peace mission in Nasarawa State. They were deployed for patrol. It is the

responsibility of the police to quell riots in Nigeria.”

Attahiru also said in order to make the fight against terror part of the focus of its officers, “the Nigerian Army has introduced Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency (CT COIN) training for all officers of the rank of Major and below, in line with its new strategy to increase combat efficiency.”

Towards this, various CT COIN trainings will kick off from next month in various training locations, including Kontagora.

NANS President, Yinka Gbadebo, who spoke in AdoEkiti yesterday, said the association would resist any move to protect the triggerhappy soldiers as “unknown soldiers” and appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately set up a committee to investigate the matter.

The students’ leader also berated the Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura and urged all students to show their annoyance towards him in any public function across the coun-

No Nigerian casualty in Mali, says military CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 showed that despite the decline in poverty levels on the continent, the pace of that decline was still too slow to achieve the set target,” he added.

Nigeria’s participation at the 42nd ordinary summit is

two-pronged with President Goodluck Jonathan who did not speak at yesterday’s opening, billed to address the Ivoirien Parliament in a special session slated for tomorrow. The president is having an after-summit state visit to the West African country Nigeria helped to liberate recently from the throes of civil war.

Speaking to The Guardian yesterday at the massive Fondation du Houphouet Boigny venue of the summit, the Nigerian ambassador to Mali Iliya Nuhu said the Federal Government had been adequately advised on what role the Nigerian forces would play when the French withdraw their troops from Mali by end of March.

“Co-ordination has been as

planned and I want to report here that there has been no Nigerian casualty in the conflagration in Mali...yes, the Malian militants have links with Boko Haram and a number of Boko Haram fighters have been killed in Mali but there has been no Nigerian civilian casualty, ” he added.

Special goodwill messages were taken from the African Union as well as the Kingdom of Morocco whose Prime Minister Abdellah Benkfrane delivered a lengthy message of support and continued collaboration (in the fight against terrorism) from King Mohammed V1.

A draft ECOWAS counter-

terrorism strategy and implementation plan are among the documents being considered by the heads of state. It was presented to them yesterday after finalisation by an extraordinary meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs and defence (working as Mediation and Security Council), which earlier held in Abidjan on Monday.

The strategy is expected to facilitate the implementation of regional, continental and international instruments in combating terrorism and provide a common operational framework for community-wide action to prevent and eradicate terrorism and related acts.

try, until those behind the heinous crime are apprehended.

Mr. Emmanuel Buba Nyam, a 300-level student in the Physics Department and Amina Usman Usuko, a 400level student of the Department of Geography, were on Monday, February 25, allegedly shot dead by soldiers deployed to Keffi streets when NSUK students were protesting outage and lack of potable water in the institution.

NANS also threatened to take the case to the International Court of Justice if the Federal Government failed to sanction the “triggerhappy” soldiers.

Gbadebo described as incongruous and antithetical to democratic practice, the deployment of soldiers to the streets during students’ protest, saying that should have been the constitutional role of the anti-riot policemen.

In a statement yesterday, the NLC urged the government and school authorities to desist from engaging members of the security forces who “lack the right temperament” to quell protests in schools.

Besides, the statement signed by the Congress’s President, Abdulwahab Omar, admonished the government to fish out the soldiers who allegedly shot the students and bring them to book.

According to the Congress, the right to dissent or protest is a constitutional

Why we can’t prosecute anybody for Oyerinde’s murder, by Adoke • Oshiomhole takes Police to N’Assembly • Senate seeks decongestion of prisons From John Abba-Ogbodo, Azimazi Momoh Jimoh and Bridget Chiedu Onochie (Abuja)

TTORNEY General of the A Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke, said yesterday that it has not prosecuted anybody for the murder of Edo State Governor’s late Principal Private Secretary, Olaitan Oyerinde, because of the conflicting nature of the investigation conducted by the Police and the Department of State Security (DSS).

Adoke, who was represented by a Deputy Director in the Justice Ministry, O.T. Olatigbe, made the revelation while giving testimony before the Uzor Azubuikeled House Committee on Public Petitions.

According to him, “the reports of both the Police and DSS investigations have been received, but the office does not know which to act on, because both were convincing in their analyses.”

He, however, explained that the dilemma of AGF was a result of non-involvement in the investigation process, by both Police and the DSS. He told the committee that the AGF had already started studying the police report on the incident before the DSS report came in and threw the office into confusion because the details of the DSS report were also very convincing going by the de-

tails of how the investigations leading to the arrest of the suspects were conducted.

Director General of DSS, Ekpeyong Ita, in his presentation, disclosed how the DSS was able to use Oyerinde’s phones that were stolen to trace and arrest them.

With the origin of the phones properly traced, Ita said the real robbers, who killed Oyerinde, were successfully tracked down and arrested and have made confessional statements.

The suspects, he said, have been handed over to the police for prosecution.

And Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, in his testimony, described the conflicting reports of the Police and the Department of State Security (DSS) regarding the alleged murder of Oyerinde as a monumental national embarrassment.

The governor alleged that the Police were trying to frustrate the investigation to cover up for the perpetrators of the murder.

He pleaded with the House to prevail on the Police Service Commission to immediately dismiss the Police officials, who handled the investigation of Oyerinde’s alleged murder.

Chairman of the committee, Uzor Azubuke, had made it clear that the public

sitting on that matter was necessitated by the petition the committee received regarding the conflicting reports by Police and DSS. Meanwhile, to ensure prisons’ decongestion across the country, the Senate yesterday moved to revive and strengthen existing Criminal Justice Act, which empowers Chief Justice and Chief Judges to order the release of persons detained in certain cases.

The new law, when passed, would make it mandatory for the Controller-General of Prison, as the chief custodian of prison inmates, to send monthly returns on the entire inmates of the prison to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Chief Judges of relevant states.

The Chief Judicial Officer also on the basis of that return, should order the release of inmates who fall within the category covered by the Act. Titled: “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Criminal Justice (Released from Custody) (Special Provisions) Act 2004 to Provide for the Comptroller-General of Prisons to make Monthly Returns to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Chief Judges of the States to Order the Release of Persons Detained in Prisons in the Circumstances Specified in this Act and Proffer more Effective Prisons’ Decongestion Solution 2013”, the proposed Bill is sponsored

by Senator Babajide C. Omoworare (Osun-East).

Navy seeks more funds to fight crude oil theft From Inemesit Akpan-Nsoh, Uyo HE Nigerian Navy and marT itime stakeholders rose from a two-day retreat in Ak-

wa Ibom State and called for an immediate increase in the financial allocation to the Nigerian Navy.

This, they reasoned, would enable the Navy to tackle head-on the embarrassing problem of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in Nigeria’s maritime domain.

In a 15-point communiqué signed by G.A. Anyankpele, it called for a dedicated fund to be approved for the Nigerian Navy, noting that such would enable them to effectively police the country’s waterways.

“Whereas the Nigerian Navy is constitutionally mandated with the onerous task of protecting the nation’s expanse maritime domain of over 84,000 SQ nm, the resources available to carry out these tasks were considered grossly inadequate.

Lagos NUJ hosts S’West quarterly meeting of journalists

By Tolulope Okunlola HE Nigeria Union of JourT nalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, will host the meeting of the South-West (B) Zone of the union from today to Saturday, March 2, in Ikeja.

The quarterly meeting, which will be attended by National President of the union, Mallam Mohammed Garba, zonal officers, chairmen and secretaries of Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti and Osun states’ councils of the union, will take place at Ladi Lawal Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

Lagos State Commissioner for Information and National Orientation, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, will formally open the meeting on Friday, March 1, by 11 a. m while his counterpart in the Environment Ministry, Mr. Tunji Bello, is expected to chair the occasion.

Other frontline journalists expected at the opening ceremony include the DirectorGeneral of Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau, Mr. Bolaji Uthman; Special Adviser (Media) to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Hakeem Bello; Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area in Lagos State, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan and erstwhile chairmen and secretaries of Lagos NUJ.

Police dock Adamawa Emirate Council’s scribe, man, over missing N276m From Emmanuel Ande, Yola HE Adamawa Police ComT mand yesterday charged an 86-year-old man, Mamud Alh Abba, an employee of the Adamawa Emirate Council and Alhaji Umar Yahaya, who is the secretary of the council, to a Yola Upper Area Court 11 over the controversy surrounding the alleged missing of N276 million.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Mohammed Isa, told the court that last week, the Personal Assistant to the Lamido of Adamawa, Dr. Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha, reported to the police station attached to the palace that between January 2012 and January 2013, the secretary and the cashier conspired, misappropriated and cheated the council of its fund to the tune of N276 million and one hundred and eleven thousand naira.

News 7

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

FEC okays panel on road safety From Madu Onuorah, Abuja HE Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday began moves for the implementation of a four-year national strategy on road safety policy by approving the constitution of an interministerial implementation committee on its evolution.

The road safety policy, which is billed to last from 2012-2016, would enhance the management and control of road crashes across the country.

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, said that the ministerial committee included the Ministries of Works, Transport, Health and Interior and the Corps Marshall of the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC).

The inter-ministerial committee, which has six weeks to submit its report, is to study and fine tune the new policy, which is expected to cover training for drivers, issues of licencing, funds for road safety, collaboration with state governments as well as enlightenment and re-orientation of drivers and other road users.

Maku stated that the approval and constitution of the draft strategy followed its submission by the FRSC in response to the United Nations declaration of the present decade as a period to take action on road safety for all countries.

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Nigeria, Cameroun plan joint action against fake drugs, others From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja N furtherance of regional Isubstandard efforts to check fake and drugs, Nigeria and Cameroun have signed a cooperation agreement.

Both countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) yesterday that involves Nigeria providing some technical capacity to Cameroun’s anti-counterfeiting war, including training of the neighbouring country’s team and sharing Nigeria’s experiences and technological capacity with them.

The pact, officials of both countries say, is to enhance cooperation between both countries and to reinforce the application of standard and the respect of specification for all products, which come to Nigeria from Cameroun and those that go to Cameroun from Nigeria.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) signed on behalf of Nigeria, while the Cameroun Standard and Quality Agency represented that country.

Director General of Cameroun Standard and Quality Agency, Dr. Charls Booto n’Ngon, said at the ceremony: “Since Nigeria and Cameroun have been into cooperation for a long time, we want to reinforce the protection of our people. We have come to Abuja to sign a memorandum of understanding with NAFDAC for the benefit of our people. We will also make arrangements with our high commissioner for the Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, to come to Cameroun so that we can finalise everything to enhance this cooperation.”

Babangida scores NECO high From John Ogiji, Minna

• Aliyu wants end to exams fraud

ORMER Military President, FBabangida Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi yesterday in Min-

president said.

Babangida maintained that education remained one of the nation’s greatest challenges and congratulated the Federal Government for being painstaking in the choice of the new NECO board members.

He added: “Your appointment is a challenge. I believe you have been called upon to

na took a retrospective look at the National Examinations Council (NECO), saying the council had fulfilled the yearnings and aspirations of its founding fathers, saying that initially nobody gave the exam body a chance “but you have tried”.

In the same vein, the Niger State Governor Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu has challenged the NECO to check the spread of examination malpractice in the country.

NECO is responsible for the conduct of school- based examinations for senior secondary schools and that for November and December Addressing governing board of the council headed

by Prof. Paddy Njoku, who paid him a courtesy call in his residence in Minna, Babangida said that initially nobody gave NECO a chance, “but today, you are a force to reckoned with in the examinations bodies across the globe.

“I can confirm that NECO is doing well. I have close relationship with the management. They have made giant strides and have attained good standard,” the former

contribute your own quota to the advancement of education in Nigeria. Let me urge the management to continue the good work you have started and I will not forget to let you know that the management of NECO has been very useful to us.”

Babangida assured the council that he would always be willing to assist anytime

he was called upon for assistance.

Exchanging views with Njoku who led other NECO’s board to pay a courtesy call on him at Government House in Minna yesterday, Aliyu said that examination malpractice was already attaining an alarming situation requiring concerted efforts to arrest it.

He also said that involvement of candidates in exam-

ination fraud could be attributed to the fall in the standard of education, as most students were no longer working hard to pass their tests.

The governor regretted that some parents also encouraged their children to engage in malpractices by paying for people to either sit for examination for them or buy question papers for the wards.

NAFDAC witness testifies in My Pikin trial

By Joseph Onykwere WITNESS for the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mr. Ezekiel Akerele, a pharmacist yesterday told a Federal High Court, Lagos that he had been a major distributor of My Pikin teething mixture, until the out break of the alleged disaster.

Akerele, was giving evidence in suit filed by NAFDAC against Barewa Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, and two employees, for the production of an alleged killer teething syrup, My Pikin.

Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr. Aminu Alilu, Akerele told the court that he

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had been a distributor of the alleged teething mixture since 2008.

He said that he came in contact with the defendant company on March 18, 2008, while he was an employee of one Roka Pharmacy.

He said that he purchased the said My Pikin drug on behalf of his pharmacy from Barewa Company in large quantity.

According to Akerele, after he left the employment of Roka Pharmacy, he became self employed and continued the distribution of various drugs from Barewa Company.

“I engaged in the distribution of pharmaceutical products from Barewa Company to other pharmacy stores.

“I make purchase of their products at least twice a month and on each transaction, I was issued a waybill and invoice to cover the transaction,” he said.

Akerele further said that his transaction with the defendant company however came to a halt when he received a letter from them requiring his company to stop distribution of My Pikin till further notice.

He added that this letter was sent to him in November 20, 2008, and this marked the end of his transaction with the firm.

Akerele also stated that after reception of the letter, he immediately went to withdraw about 21 and half carton plus

34 bottles of the products, which he had already sent to his customers.

He said that in November 28, 2008, some NAFDAC officials came to his office on a tip off that he was a distributor of the alleged killer mixture.

He also said that the officials then confiscated about 25 cartons and 34 bottles remaining from the products and which was found in his possession.

Justice Okechukwu Okeke adjourned the case to February 28 for continuation.

The company is charged alongside two of its employees, Ebele Eromosele and Adeyemo Abiodun, on a sixcount charge bordering on the alleged offence.

They had however pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Ajimobi, Tinubu, others extol Okunnu’s virtues T was a day of glory yesterIformer day for legal luminary and Federal Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu as eminent Nigerians took turns to extol his virtues.

The personalities, who spoke in Lagos at the launch of two books written by Okunnu, included the former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi.

Others were former World Court Judge, Prince Bola Ajibola, former Governor of old Western State, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd.), former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Oorelope-Adefulire.

Tinubu, in his address read

by Ajimobi, said that Okunnu had shown zeal and dedication that underscored a life fully committed to God and the teachings of Holy Prophet.

“Okunnu is a devout Muslim who is faithful to religious harmony and peaceful co-existence. I consider him a worthy giant on whose should we will do well to stand, see further, reach higher and do more for the promotion of Islam and service to humanity,” he remarked.

In his remarks, Governor Ajimobi described Okunnu as one of the first generation of Nigeria’s public servants who exhibited high level integrity, incorruptibility, dedication and commitment to service.

“In a Nigeria where many of the actors of yesterday have had their ranks depleted, Chief Okunnu serves as one of the greatest surviving links between the Nigeria of old which, regrettably, because of the slide of affairs today, we still hold dear as the barometer with which to

measure a great period of our nation’s existence,” he said.

The governor, who pointed out that Okunnu was a man he had always followed his “unassuming yet immeasurable personality” with admiration, said that he had had cause to read a few lines of his life history and picked major elements there to structure his own life.

He also acknowledged his passion for Lagos and the influence that the city had on him, stressing “it is so great that he has a symbolic wish for us all – government and the governed – through these books, that we should mould our country and indeed our environment positively so that the children of today could develop into enviable sources of pride of a greater

tomorrow.”

Governor Ajimobi described the two books – Actors and Institutions in the Development of Islam in Lagos and Muslim

Personalities in the History of Islam in Lagos State, as both a historical recapture of the Lagos that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria lived.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

8 | NEWS

Reps reject proposal to pay unemployed graduates From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh and Terhemba Daka (Abuja) HE House of Representatives yesterday rejected a bill, which sought to make provisions for monetary incentives for unemployed graduates in the country.

The proposed legislation, titled: “A Bill for an Act to amend the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) Act, Cap. N28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, by creating specific functions and objectives for the Directorate to specifically cater for unemployed graduates of tertiary institutions,” failed to scale second reading when it was put to vote by the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday endorsed a bill seeking to overhaul the Consumer Protection Council.

The bill, sponsored by Daniel Reyeneiju (PDP, Delta State), seeks to amend the Consumer Protection Council Act to modify its composition; widen the scope of its functions and powers so as to provide for a broader and more effective Council.

Sponsor of the bill, Arua Arunsi, had, during his submission on the floor, said the objective of the bill was to design implementation programmes to combat mass unemployment of graduates that are between the ages of 18 to 35 years and also between third to fifth year of post-graduation experience.

According to him, the bill also seeks to pay certain amount of allowances to the unemployed graduates in Nigeria.

But opponents of the proposed legislation pointed out that the provisions of the bill failed to meet critical criteria of filling gaps inherent in the existing laws it was seeking to amend.

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• May review consumer protection law A member, Ibrahim El sudi, noted that the bill had nothing new as a similar programme for unemployed graduates was already in existence at the NDE. He added: “There is a graduate attachment programme that does exactly what this bill is seeking.

“Even, a similar programme exists for non-graduates on the social aspect for unemployed non-graduates at the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NISTF).

What should happen is for the authorities to strengthen these programmes”.

Also, James Faleke said providing such monetary incentives could only compound the economic challenges facing the country.

According to him, since the Nigerian economy was not production-based, industrial revival efforts would be defeated. “Rather than turn our unemployed youths into lazy ones, government should channel the monthly stipends towards the revival of our industries”, he said.

The bill equally seeks to repeal the Consumer Protection Council Act and re-enact the Consumer Protection Agency Bill to provide for the establishment of an investigation unit; ensure effective civil action for damages and other unfair or deceptive practices”.

“It will also ensure discontinuance of prohibited acts and, among other things, compliment other laws governing restraints of trade, unfair competition and unfair, deceptive and fraudulent acts or practices in order to protect the public and foster fair and honest competition”.

Reyeneiju, in defending the bill, stated: “There is an urgent need to completely review the Consumer Protection Council Act and get it re-enacted on a yearly basis and this will give us the appropriate form of buying and selling in the country.”

Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido (right), Bishop Sunday Onuoha and Emir of Azara in Nasarawa, Dr. Kabir Ibrahim, during a visit of members of Nigeria Inter-faith Action Association led by the clerics to Governor Lamido in Dutse…yesterday

Two jailed over illegal drug deals

By Joseph Onyekwere USTICE Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday confined two men to nine months’ imprisonment for illegally dealing in Indian hemp.

The convicts, Isa Buba and Wali Abubakar, were convicted on one-count charge bordering on the offence of illegally dealing in the hard drug at the Lekki axis of Lagos State.

In his sentence, the judge said: “In the light of the evidence of the prosecution witness-one, the court found you guilty of dealing in Indian hemp without lawful authority and also in accordance with your plea.

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“They did not waste the time of the court. The court will also consider their ages as well, but it will not be a case of go home and sin no more. They are hereby given a sentence of nine months’ imprisonment starting from August 2012 when they were arrested”, he ruled.

Before their conviction, the charge was read to them and they agreed that they understood it and pleaded guilty.

Thereafter, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA’s) counsel, Orji Kalu, had led in evidence its first prosecution witness, Dominic Doma.

Doma, an NDLEA employee, who said he is the chief narcotic agent of the agency, stated that the convicts were arrested by Lekki/Ajah security men with substances suspected to be hard drugs on August 18, 2012. He said they were transferred to the NDLEA the same day.

A certificate of drug analysis, the analysed result contained in a sealed brown envelope and a bulk canabis sativa substance weighing 300 grams, were tendered before the court and admitted as evidence when the defence counsel, H.A. Farah, declined to object to its admissibility.

How Ibrahim cheated us, by Ekpu

By Joseph Onyekwere ORMER chief executive officer of Newswatch Communications Limited, Mr. Ray Ekpu, yesterday told a Federal High Court in Lagos that the Group Managing Director of Global Media Mirror, Jimoh Ibrahim, does not like to pay

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debts, insisting that he (Ibrahim) short-changed him and the other directors by making only part-payment to their retirement benefits.

Ekpu made the statement while being cross-examined by the defence counsel, Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), in the ongoing trial in the suit filed by minority shareholders over the take-over and management style of Newswatch Magazine by Ibrahim.

The shareholders, Nuhu Wada and Professor Jibril Aminu, had filed the suit to challenge the method through which Ibrahim acquired the purported majority shares of Newswatch.

The veteran journalist said Ibrahim cheated him by refusing to pay him a balance of N30 million. “N79.5 million was given to me out of N109 million due to me and Ibrahim cheated me by keeping the balance of N30 million. Four of the directors had a meeting with Jimoh Ibrahim and he called a lady who is an accountant to read

the figure to us; what we were to be paid, figures less than what we expected, which we submitted to the board on May 5, 2011.

“When we told him that the figures were less than we expected, he said that was the money available. He just paid us what he wanted. Out of the money he paid, he said he would collect 10 per cent as tax and give us receipt, which he never did”, Ekpu stated, adding that efforts to make him pay the balance through letters written to him about the issue wER abortive.

The court also admitted in evidence copies of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) containing the names of other companies under the Newswatch group, which the plaintiff’s counsel, Adekunle Oyesanya (SAN), did not object.

Prodded by Ayorinde to disclose how much was paid to other directors, Ekpu insisted that he was only aware of his own. He added that he got to know that his colleagues were also cheated and short-paid when they began to complain

as well.

The trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, later adjourned the matter to March 18 and 19 for continuation of trial.

At the earlier hearing on Tuesday, a mild drama ensued when Justice Buba announced that he was sent a present by one of the parties and expressed displeasure over the unsolicited gifts sent to him by some unknown characters.

The judge became furious over the gift and threatened to withdraw from the suit if the parties were not interested in his continuing with it.

Justice Buba subsequently raised alarm over the gifts, saying parties must be warned to desist from doing anything that would undermine his integrity.

Obviously displeased with the gift, Justice Buba looked at Ibrahim’s counsel, Ayorinde and asked whether he (Ayorinde) wanted him (the judge) to conclude the case, to which Ayorinde consented.

ActionAid decries lack of transparency in budget From Itunu Ajayi, Abuja HE ActionAid Nigeria has decried lack of openness and transparency on the part of the political class on issues relating to budgeting and implementation of same.

At a roundtable on budget transparency held in Abuja on Tuesday, ActionAid Nigeria, in partnership with Budget Transparency Networks and relevant government establishments, maintained that Nigeria still remained within the 0-20 per cent category in the 2012 survey. This category, it said, was characterised by the provision of scanty or no public information on budget, a responsibility it stressed, was solely that of the Finance Ministry.

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Ekiti raises advisory body From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado-Ekiti OVERNOR Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State yesterday inaugurated an Elders’ Forum, which will play an advisory role targeted at putting the state in its pride of place in terms of values and character.

Performing the inauguration at the Lady Jibowu Hall in AdoEkiti, Fayemi said the constitution of the forum was aimed at re-enacting the “good days of old when Ekiti was at the zenith of her productive excellence”, which is fast receding.

He said the destructive “corrosion” of the society, if unattended to, could destroy the Ekiti existence.

Fayemi explained that the change of the state’s logo and slogan was a step to constantly remind Ekiti people of their rich past and halt the drift, which civilisation and “insensitive disposition”, had caused the unique existence.

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

WorldReport 9

Pope Benedict XVI’s final general audience

‘Always keep in mind the good of the Church, not of oneself’ Text of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI’s speech yesterday to his final general audience in St Peter’s Square.

IKE the Apostle Paul in the Biblical L text that we have heard, I feel in my heart that I have to especially thank God who guides and builds up the Church, who plants His Word and thus nourishes the faith in His People. At this moment my heart expands and embraces the whole Church throughout the world and I thank God for the ‘news’ that, in these years of my Petrine ministry, I have received about the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and for the love that truly circulates in the Body of the Church, making it to live in the love and the hope that opens us to and guides us towards the fullness of life, towards our heavenly homeland.

I feel that I am carrying everyone with me in prayer in this God-given moment when I am collecting every meeting, every trip, every pastoral visit. I am gathering everyone and everything in prayer to entrust it to the Lord: so that we may be filled with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding in order to live in a manner worthy of the Lord and His love, bearing fruit in every good work (cf. Col 1:9-10).

At this moment I have great confidence because I know, we all know, that the Gospel’s Word of truth is the strength of the Church; it is her life.

The Gospel purifies and renews, bearing fruit, wherever the community of believers hears it and welcomes God’s grace in truth and in love. This is my confidence, this is my joy.

When, on 19 April almost eight years ago I accepted to take on the Petrine ministry, I had the firm certainty that has always accompanied me: this certainty for the life of the Church from the Word of God. At that moment, as I have already expressed many times, the words that resounded in my heart were: Lord, what do You ask of me? It is a great weight that You are placing on my shoulders but, if You ask it of me, I will cast my nets at your command, confident that You will guide me, even with all my weaknesses. And eight years later I can say that the Lord has guided me. He has been close to me. I have felt His presence every day. It has been a stretch of the Church’s path that has had moments of joy and light, but also difficult moments. I felt like St. Peter and the Apostles in the boat on the Sea of Galilee. The Lord has given us many days of sunshine and light breezes, days when the fishing was plentiful, but also times when the water was rough and the winds against us, just as throughout the whole history of the Church, when the Lord seemed to be sleeping. But I always knew that the Lord is in that boat and I always knew that the boat of the Church is not mine, not ours, but is His. And the Lord will not let it sink. He is the one who steers her, of course also through those He has chosen because that is how He wanted it. This was and is a certainty that nothing can tarnish. And that is why my heart today is filled with gratitude to God, because He never left—the whole Church or me—without His consolation, His light, or His love.

We are in the Year of Faith, which I desired precisely in order to strengthen our faith in God in a context that seems to relegate it more and more to the background. I would like to invite everyone to renew their firm trust in the Lord, to entrust ourselves like children to God’s arms, certain that those arms always hold us up and are what allow us to walk forward each day, even when it is a struggle. I would like everyone to feel beloved of that God who gave His Son for us and who has shown us His boundless love. I would like everyone to feel the joy of being Christian. In a beautiful prayer, which can be recit-

Benedict XVI ed every morning, say: ‘I adore you, my God and I love you with all my heart. Thank you for having created me, for having made me Christian...’

Yes, we are happy for the gift of faith.

It is the most precious thing, which no one can take from us! Let us thank the Lord for this every day, with prayer and with a coherent Christian life. God loves us, but awaits us to also love Him! It is not only God who I wish to thank at this time. A pope is not alone in guiding Peter’s barque, even if it is his primary responsibility. I have never felt alone in bearing the joy and the weight of the Petrine ministry. The Lord has placed at my side so many people who, with generosity and love for God and the Church, have helped me and been close to me. First of all, you, dear Brother Cardinals: your wisdom, your advice, and your friendship have been precious to me. My collaborators, starting with my secretary of state who has accompanied me faithfully over the years; the Secretariat of State and the whole of the Roman Curia, as well as all those who, in their various areas, serve the Holy See. There are many faces that are never seen, remaining in obscurity, but precisely in their silence, in their daily dedication in a spirit of faith and humility, they were a sure and reliable support to me. A special thought goes to the Church of Rome, my diocese! I cannot forget my Brothers in the episcopate and in the priesthood, consecrated persons, and the entire People of God. In my pastoral visits, meetings, audiences,

and trips I always felt great care and deep affection, but I have also loved each and every one of you, without exception, with that pastoral love that is the heart of every pastor, especially the Bishop of Rome, the Successor of the Apostle Peter. Every day I held each of you in prayer, with a father’s heart.

I wish to send my greetings and my thanks to all: A pope’s heart extends to the whole world. And I would like to express my gratitude to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, which makes the great family of Nations present here. Here I am also thinking of all those who work for good communication and I thank them for their important service.

At this point, I would also like to wholeheartedly thank all of the many people around the world who, in recent weeks, have sent me touching tokens of concern, friendship, and prayer. Yes, the Pope is never alone. I feel this again now in such a great way that it touches my heart. The Pope belongs to everyone and many people feel very close to him. It’s true that I receive letters from the world’s notables—from heads of states, from religious leaders, from representatives of the world of culture, etc. But I also receive many letters from ordinary people who write to me simply from their hearts and make me feel their affection, which is born of our being together with Christ Jesus, in the Church.

These people do not write to me the way one would write, for example, to a prince or a dignitary that they don’t know. They write to me as brothers and sisters or as sons and daughters,

In these last months, I have felt that my strength had diminished and I asked God earnestly in prayer to enlighten me with His light to make me make the right decision, not for my own good, but for the good of the Church. I have taken this step in full awareness of its seriousness and also its newness, but with a profound peace of mind. Loving the Church also means having the courage to make difficult, agonized choices, always keeping in mind the good of the Church, not of oneself.

with the sense of a very affectionate family tie. In this you can touch what the Church is—not an organization, not an association for religious or humanitarian ends, but a living body, a communion of brothers and sisters in the Body of Jesus Christ who unites us all. Experiencing the Church in this way and being able to almost touch with our hands the strength of His truth and His love is a reason for joy at a time when many are speaking of its decline. See how the Church is alive today!

In these last months I have felt that my strength had diminished and I asked God earnestly in prayer to enlighten me with His light to make me make the right decision, not for my own good, but for the good of the Church. I have taken this step in full awareness of its seriousness and also its newness, but with a profound peace of mind. Loving the Church also means having the courage to make difficult, agonized choices, always keeping in mind the good of the Church, not of oneself.

Allow me here to return once again to 19 April, 2005. The gravity of the decision lay precisely in the fact that, from that moment on, I was always and for always engaged by the Lord.

Always—whoever assumes the Petrine ministry no longer has any privacy. He belongs always and entirely to everyone, to the whole Church. His life, so to speak, is totally deprived of its private dimension.

I experienced, and I am experiencing it precisely now, that one receives life precisely when they give it. Before I said that many people who love the Lord also love St. Peter’s Successor and are fond of him; that the Pope truly has brothers and sisters, sons and daughters all over the world and that he feels safe in the embrace of their communion; because he no longer belongs to himself but he belongs to all and all belong to him.

‘Always’ is also ‘forever’—there is no return to private life. My decision to renounce the active exercise of the ministry does not revoke this. I am not returning to private life, to a life of trips, meetings, receptions, conferences, etc. I am not abandoning the cross, but am remaining beside the Crucified Lord in a new way. I no longer bear the power of the office for the governance of the Church, but I remain in the service of prayer, within St. Peter’s paddock, so to speak. St. Benedict, whose name I bear as Pope, will be a great example to me in this. He has shown us the way for a life that, active or passive, belongs wholly to God’s work.

I also thank each and every one of you for the respect and understanding with which you have received this important decision. I will continue to accompany the Church’s journey through prayer and reflection, with the dedication to the Lord and His Bride that I have tried to live every day up to now and that I want to always live. I ask you to remember me to God, and above all to pray for the Cardinals who are called to such an important task, and for the new Successor of the Apostle Peter. Many the Lord accompany him with the light and strength of His Spirit.

We call upon the maternal intercession of Mary, the Mother of God and of the Church, that she might accompany each of us and the entire ecclesial community. We entrust ourselves to her with deep confidence.

Dear friends! God guides His Church, always sustaining her even and especially in difficult times. Let us never lose this vision of faith, which is the only true vision of the path of the Church and of the world.

In our hearts, in the heart of each one of you, may there always be the joyous certainty that the Lord is beside us, that He does not abandon us, that He is near and embraces us

Emotional scenes at Benedict XVI’s last audience T was a scene to behold yesItional terday as thousands of emopilgrims cheered and

whooped as Pope Benedict XVI rode out on St. Peter’s Square in his white “popemobile” for his final general audience before resigning.

According to agency reports, nuns, priests and whole families had flocked to the Vatican to get a front-row view of the pope, waving flags and holding up banners expressing their love for the 85-year old Benedict.

“Be-ne-dict!” and “Long live the pope!” the crowd chanted in almost stadium-like atmosphere.

“He won’t be pope officially any more, but he’ll always be special to me,” said 12-year old Giulia, who came to see the audience – the pope’s last major public act before stepping down – with her school class.

“He did the right thing resigning, he’s old and we don’t want him to do too much and die, he needs a rest,” her friend, Sara, said, as she snacked on sweets in front St. Peter’s, where an estimated 150,000 people gathered to say goodbye.

Priests wearing paper hats made out of the Italian Catholic newspaper, Avvenire, to shield them from the hot Roman sun could also be seen in the heaving square, where hundreds of church groups had seats in front of the basilica.

“I love the pope, I’m sad that he’s leaving, but he has made a grand gesture of love for the Church,” said Giuseppe Fan from Vietnam, who is training to be a priest, as he stood on tiptoe on the steps surrounding a fountain to get a good view.

Pope to begin retirement at lakeside villa OPE Benedict XVI will begin P his retirement after stepping down today in the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, a sumptuous villa outside Rome with ornamental gardens, breathtaking views and its own farm.

Benedict will spend around two months in the palace, which is perched high on a rocky outcrop above Italy’s Lake Albano, before withdrawing to a monastery within the grounds of the Vatican, Agence France Presse (AFP) indicated yesterday.

One wing of the palace looks out onto the main square of Castel Gandolfo, a mediaeval town listed among Italy’s most beautiful, and it is from one of those windows that Benedict will wave goodbye just before resigning on today at 1900 GMT and retreating to a life of prayer out of the public eye.

The villa and gardens, owned by the Holy See since 1956, expanded over the centuries to include other properties and now sprawl over 55 hectares (135 acres).

Inside the grounds, there are views down to the lake or glimpses of the sea beyond gardens decorated with sculptures, with orchards of apricot, peach and olive trees, and greenhouses of ornamental flowers.

The residence has long been a favourite with popes hoping to escape the infernal heat of a Roman summer and, at 426 metres above sea level, the palace is a cool oasis.

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

Politics The essence of a patriot and federalist, by Fashola (3) Being concluding part of excerpts of a lecture delivered by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) at the commemorative public lecture to mark the 80th birthday anniversary of Alhaji Lateef Olufemi Okunnu (SAN), CON, on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Challenges NE of the major highlights of the Land Use Act as stated above is the vesting of all the land in a State in the Governor of that State to hold same in trust for the common benefit of all.

Incidental to this is the requirement for the Governor’s consent to the alienation of all statutory rights of occupancy.

Because transfer or acquisition of interest in land is incomplete (and therefore voidable) without the Governor’s consent, we have put in place a speedy regime for Governor’s consent to assist entrepreneurs and investors to unlock the capital fixed in land and reduce its immobility, Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku (left), National Leader, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Guest Lecturer and Lagos State Lateef Olufemi Okunnu (SAN) and his wife, Alhaja Latifat Okunnu, and former Head of State, General thereby facilitating the process of wealth cre- Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), the celebrant and former Minister of Works, Alhaji Yakubu Gowon at the public lecture organised as part of activities to mark Okunnu’s 80th birthday in Lagos… on February 19. ation for the purposes of investment.

The efficient management of the consent chase or were under-aged and therefore lacked become a real menace. Vey often, we hear of 64, respectively. So also were Rwanda at 52, accused persons who are denied bail because, Botswana at 59, Namibia at 87 and Zambia at 94. regime remains a critical success factor for the capacity at the time of the transaction.

This phenomenon has been caused in part by the evidence of landed property in Lagos, which Much more to the point, Nigeria was rated 182 optimisation of the financial attributes of land the Land Use Act’s failure to neither prescribe a many courts require to fulfill bail conditions are out of 185 for ease of registering property. This is or any interest thereon.

Under our 30-day consent regime, the opening time limit for the transition period nor make usually found to be fake. All that will soon a clear indication that our land administration of the application and submission of all relevant the application for a certificate of occupancy by become history in Lagos State. tenure needs to be more proactive, more Preparations have reached an advanced stage investor-friendly and support easier use of land documentation to assessment, to processing, to a deemed grantee, mandatory.

A major negative effect of the practice is that it and when deployed, we will be able to process as collateral. endorsement to collection takes 30 days.

In practice, delays have been recorded, many inhibits government’s efforts to promote cer- 150 applications for certificates of occupancy per A Centenary Celebration times because of incomplete documentation or tainty and proper documentation of land titles day using 15 dedicated officers. This translates to BECAUSE our celebrant has contributed quite a incorrect information provided or outrightly and impedes our ability to establish a compre- 750 applications per week and 3,000 applica- bit to documenting the history of Lagos and fraudulent practices and I alluded to this much hensive and reliable database of landed proper- tions per month and will help us to take care of Nigeria, I cannot conclude this lecture without a the backlog as well as issue new C of O’s in record mention about the plans for a centenary celeearlier in the lecture. Let me illustrate the point ties in Lagos State.

Our response to it has been to pass the Land time. with two examples. bration.

In 2011, XYZ Company Limited applied to the Use Act (Title Documentation) Regulations The e-C of O project is closely linked with the Honestly, I am still not sure what to make of it.

State Government for issuance of a Certificate of 2012, which took effect from the 1st of August Digital Mapping and Geographic Information Have we ever celebrated Amalgamation day?

Occupancy in respect of its landed property 2012. The Regulations became necessary to system (GIS) project. GIS has revolutionised the Did we celebrate the 99th or did the Centenary guide the process of documentation and perfec- process of data acquisition, processing, storage just become attractive? I ask these questions located in Mowo Kekere Village, Ikorodu.

In support of its application, the Company stat- tion of title and to enable the Lagos State and dissemination. because I really seek answers and understanded on oath that it acquired the land on May 8, Government to operate an efficient and effec- We have concluded the Comprehensive Digital ing.

Surveying and Mapping of the whole state — in I was privileged to witness the bi-centennial of 1977. The Company further submitted its tive Lands Registry.

Under the Regulations, applicants for both rural and urban areas and this has been of the United States in 1976. They were celebrating Certificate of Incorporation dated November 11, Certificates of Occupancy or Governor’s tremendous benefit in accurately identifying 200 years of their liberation from colonial gov1975.

When the State Government contacted the Consent have been given a six-month window the size, location and description of properties ernance in 1776.

Corporate Affairs Commission to establish the to declare on oath and in the prescribed form for proper land management and documenta- French fighters, who later went back home to genuineness or otherwise of the information true details of any land transactions entered tion. liberate themselves from a tyrannical monarprovided by the Company, CAC confirmed that into after 29 March 1978; after which only prop- A bill to consolidate all the laws relating to reg- chy, assisted them in getting their liberty. the certificate was not issued by the erly executed Deeds of Assignment will be istration of titles to simplify the process for citi- The Statue of Liberty that we all see in New York zens and make it easier to conduct searches for was the symbol of the freedom and self-rule that Commission as, according to its records, the accepted.

On the request of the Attorney General, I grant- land title documents is currently making its way they celebrate till today because New York was Company was incorporated in February 2004.

The second illustration! In 2012, a couple, Mr. ed an extension of the deadline till 30th June through the Lagos State House of Assembly and the capital of the United States before it was and Mrs. O, applied to the Government for a 2013 and I do not intend to further extend this. will soon be passed. moved to Washington just like Lagos yielded Certificate of Occupancy in respect of their land Perhaps, citizens do not realise that this prac- The foregoing are some of our responses to the that role to Abuja. tice constitutes a criminal infraction punish- need to stimulate investment and development, that they claimed they bought in 1976.

In that sense, too, it is easy to identify the However, there was a small problem; the young able under S.363 of the Criminal Law of Lagos using the legal framework provided by the Land Tafawa Balewa Square as a monument of our libcouple were 32 and 30 years old, having been State 2011 for forging documents and S.96 of the Use Act. erty because that was where the British flag was born in 1980 and 1982, respectively. They were same law for supplying false information to Alhaji Okunnu’s advices, prodding and prompt- lowered and replaced with our national flag. still in the Diaspora in 1976 when they claim to public officials with intent to deceive and ing have been invaluable in bringing us this far My worry is heightened because I have been offenders will be prosecuted by the Attorney- and this close. have bought the land. privileged to read the confidential memo by They sound ridiculous, I know, but these are General and will be liable upon conviction to It should come as no surprise to anyone that my Lord Lugard, containing the proposals on the real life examples of everyday occurrences in our imprisonment for one year. The Regulations prescription for the way forward (amongst amalgamation of Nigeria, submitted to the other things) is the excision of the Land Use Act Colonial Office in May 1913; and also an Lands Bureau. Applications for consent using state this clearly.

Perhaps, they also do not appreciate the fact from the Constitution so that it can serve the exchange of telegram correspondence between receipts or other documents that are forged and backdated to create the impression that their that a reliable land title database benefits every- purpose for which it was enacted more robustly. him and Mr. Harcourt, who, I believe was the transactions pre-dated the Act have been the one not just government and will result in sav- Arguably, the Land Use Act should never have Secretary of State to the colonies and the person ings of millions of naira each year lost to dud been in the Constitution in the first place. In my after whom Port Harcourt was named. It seems norm rather than the exception. view, it was smuggled in as misguided attempt clear that the imperial interests were more of These fraudulent practices, as you will see from transactions. the examples given, are not limited to natural We are working everyday to fine-tune our inter- to safeguard what was at the time a radical solu- the compelling reasons rather than our interpersons. They are also prevalent among corpo- nal mechanisms for the 30-day consent regime, tion to a seemingly intractable problem. est. rate applicants, who forge company certificates as we are not unmindful of the delays we also I hold the view that the Land Use Act is not an Indeed, one of the telegrams described us a of incorporation, which are falsely presented as cause. However, I must stress that the 30-day integral part of the Constitution and that if it is, “overseas possessions” of His Majesty, the King if such companies were incorporated before the consent was not a pipe dream, as some sceptics it should not be. Happily, the Supreme Court of England. decision in Nkwocha v Governor of Anambra State My worry today is that after we rolled out the have opined. commencement of the Act. It was a well-thought out programme that was has finally laid the matter to rest.

They never tell the public this part of the story. drums in 2010 to celebrate 50 years of freedom All the public hears is that it has taken months tried and tested so we know it is workable. It My premise is that the Land Use Act should be from colonial rule, what is the historical benefit or years to get their papers in Alausa without will, however, require our mutual cooperation excised from the Constitution, and take its right- of celebrating the day and year that a colonial being told that the delay was caused by forged and we will continue to welcome your useful ful place as a Residual matter so that it can Governor General merged us together without respond to the varying social exigencies of the consultation in a bondage that lasted 46 years, suggestions for its improvement. or incomplete papers.

We shall shortly be introducing the electronic States and be tailored to local and individual until 1st October 1960?

Almost thirty-five years after the commencement of the Act, you will agree with me that this Certificate of Occupancy to replace the current needs.

Before we continue this journey, have we asked fraudulent practice has reached ridiculous pro- paper certificates. This is a more secure tamper That way, in competing for investors’ attention, ourselves how Ernest Ikoli, Herbert Macaulay, and forge-proof electronic land title format in States can align their various land administra- Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, and many portions.

Whilst a few years after the commencement of line with international best practices on land tion legislation with the requirements for a nationalists, including our celebrant of today, robust and conducive investment climate, each who fought for our independence and liberathe Act it could be said, in line with the transi- administration and management.

We understand very clearly the importance of of us having regard to our particular circum- tion will feel about this Centenary that celetional provisions in Section 34 of the Act that “the Governor is satisfied that the land was vest- proper land documentation to our collective stances. brates our bondage? ed in the applicant immediately before the com- prosperity and economic growth and these In the most recent World Bank IFC rating for Which other African state has celebrated such mencement of the Act,” the same can, however, new certificates will go a long way in increasing ease of doing business released last October, an event or the Berlin Conference that Nigeria ranked 131 out of 185 countries surveyed. Balkanised our continent? no longer be said, in many clear cases, where public and investor confidence.

The whole idea of the electronic C of O Countries like Mauritius, South Africa and What examples are we setting for Africa? either natural or juristic applicants were obviously not born at the time of the alleged pur- stemmed from the problem of forgery that had Ghana were ranked above Nigeria at 19, 39 and CONCLUDED

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POLITICS 11

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28 , 2013

Nine PDP governors in secret talks with APC From John Akubo, Dutse

BOUT nine governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party may be hobnobbing with the yet-to-be-registered Alliance of Progressive Congress (APC), according to a chieftain of the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

Mr. Ibrahim Hadejia, a member of the Board of Trustees of the ANPP, disclosed this yesterday at the party stakeholders’ meeting in Dutse, Jigawa State.

“I have it on good authority from one of our members that he is talking with about nine PDP governors,” said Hadejia, who was the ANPP governorship candidate for Jigawa State in the 2011 general election.

This revelation followed earlier reports, credited to sources, that about 15 governors were ready to dump the PDP for the APC. And it is coming barely 24 hours after the Presidency and the party hierarchy prompted the formation of a PDP Governors Forum (PDP-GF), whose major aim is to tackle the overwhelming influence the proposed opposition APC, an amalgam of three plus one political parties.

After a presidential meeting called at Aso Villa, Abuja, on Sunday night to possibly pre-empt the reelection of the Chair of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, the PDP-GF was formed, and it mantle

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handed to Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State.

And the governor made no bones about the underlining factor that necessitated the PDP-GF formation.

Addressing newsmen on Tuesday at the Akwa Ibom Governors Lodge in Asokoro, Akpabio said he said the forum was created to enable the ruling political grouping to restrategise and heal its wounds in the face of the threat posed by the emergence of the opposition party merger.

He said some committees set up to reposition the party would have to wake up to their responsibilities, stressing that, “we are of the opinion that we should take steps to set up structures to meet the emerging challenge of APC.” However, according to Hadejia, at a meeting in Dutse to sensitise ANPP members in Jigawa on the true position on the merger arrangement, “to avoid misleading the people,” the PDP was in the process of implosion, judging from the way some of its governors were acting out of sync.

“The job of dislodging the PDP is made easier by what is happening in the PDP itself,” he said, adding the opposition “doesn’t need to dislodge PDP from power,” as some of the PDP governors have started romancing the leadership of the new party.

He continued: “The (hand)writing is on the

Hadejia

wall. If you look at the faces of the PDP governors when they came out of the press conference after forming the PDP Governors Forum, you will realise that all is not well.

“Some of them were not given the chance possibly to talk about what happened there, even though some had discussions with the press subsequently.

On the insinuation by Governor Sule Lamido that the merger of the opposition parties was borne out of insincerity, Hadejia said he would not respond;

rather, he would repeat what the Niger State Governor (Babangida Aliyu) said after Lamido

spoke.

“That anybody, who will dismiss this APC with the wave of the hand from the PDP, is playing a very dangerous game. He said it is real and a threat that they have to stand up.”

He also re-echoed the statement by Governor Akpabio, saying that it was actually the formation of the APC that saw to the formation of the new group (PDP-GF) within a group (NGF), which includes Lamido himself.

“Also, I wouldn’t take him (Lamido) on that. I think the two governors (Aliyu and Akpabio) have debunked the insinuation in his statement.”

Hadejia iterated that he had it on good authority from one of the ANPP members that he was talking with about nine PDP governors “and by the grace of God, the APC is like a clean sheet, like a clean black board with no historical antecedent or luggage.’

“If you are progressive in nature and you subscribe to the ideals of the new APC,

as will be contained in the manifesto, you are welcome on board. Whether from the PDP, APGA, or Labour Party, you are in at the moment,” he said.

Hadejia said the difference between “this amalgamation and any other merger is that everybody is pulling his resources together to form a brand new party.”

He said any key political observer would realise that “the PDP is going to dislodge itself from the inside.”

“Everything you are talking about is as a result of intra-party not inter-party (feud), as the PDP is very intolerant of anybody’s ambition,” he said.

“We all know their antecedents when it comes to internal democracy; so, we believe that the PDP will dislodge itself from power by what is happening.”

He said going by the animosity among the PDP governors, the president and the leadership of the party, he has given them “another six months within which they will be on their knees.”

12

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

TheMetroSection Govt, union move closer on shut Ladipo Market

Briefs Zamfara dep. gov. loses father, burial today ALAM Muhammad Liman M Gusau, the father of Zamfara State Deputy Governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, is dead.

He died in the early hours of yesterday, at Darul Heekmah Hospital in Egypt.

This was contained in a statement issued to newsmen in Gusau and signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Yusuf Idris Gusau.

The stament said the deceased died at the aged of 95 and is survived by two wives, children and grand children.

He will be buried today after a funeral prayer at 9.00a.m. at Gusau Central Mosque.

PHOTO: CHARLES OKOLO

Ladipo Market...still closed

By Isaac Taiwo and Abdulwaheed Usamah AYS of hope began to manifest yesterday on the re-opening of the Ladipo auto spare-parts market that was shut down on Monday when the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, visited the market yesterday and dialogued with the leaders of the market union on modalities for reopening the market.

The Ministry of Environment and a committee set up by the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, to resolve the issue of the closure met the union and other members and conveyed to them government’s expectation which include, among other things, demolition of illegal shops erected on both sides of the canal.

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Bello reiterated the government’s stance not to any longer condone illegal structures unbefitting of modern business environments adding that yesterday’s meeting with the union was the first phase towards reaching a mutual agreement with the traders on the re-opening of the market.

He urged the union’s representatives to convey Lagos State Government’s expectation to their members to fasttrack the re-opening of the market adding that without doing that, the market might remain closed for some time.

He indicted the traders for not heeding the warnings of the government for proper maintenance of the market after several visitations by government officials.

Bello said: “ The state government is not satisfied with the obscene sight of

illegal shops erected along the canals on both sides and will soon demolish them irrespective of the nature of businesses being carried out there. Putting up of these kind of shops must stop if the traders would like to continue their business in the area”.

Also, the Chairman, Mushin Local Government Area, Babatunde Adepitan, said the local government was working in collaboration with the state government to ensure compliance of the union and its members on how to keep the market clean all the time.

He added that every effort of the council to generate revenue from the market had always been sabotaged by the traders.

The President, Ladipo Auto Centre Executive Committee (LACEC), Iyke

Bello

Animalu, said the union was ready to comply with the demands of the state government which would be conveyed to the traders.

Meanwhile, some residents of the Ladipo Arae and adjoining streets have also indicted council officials of contributing to the rot in the area.

“Apart from the traders menace, council officials also do brisk business with illegal parking. They collect money from traders who don’t have shops, allow them to park along the streets and display their wares, thus obstructing free flow of traffic.

A journey that would have taken a few minutes takes hours within our area because of the menace of these street traders who sell on the streets after paying money to the council officials,” a resident of the area who wanted his name off-print revealed.

Relations begin burying Ebonyi, Cross River clash victims From Anietie Akpan, Calabar ELATIONS of victims of the communal clash between Ebonyi and Cross River states in Adadama, Abi Local Council of Cross River State have started burying their fallen ones.

Accordingly one of the victims, Mrs. Mavis Egbe, would be buried on Saturday, March 2, 2013.

A statement signed by her husband, Pastor Edmund Egbe, a lecturer at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), said the burial would take place at the Hawkins Road Cemetery, Eyo Ita axis after a funeral service conducted by the Shepherd’s Porch, 26, Diamond Hill Road, Calabar.

A sing song night service holds today at UNICAL Hotels Conference Hall at 6.00 p.m.

Mavis was murdered on Saturday, January 19, 2012

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when the people of Ndiagu Amagu community in Ebonyi State allegedly attacked their neighbours in Adadama community in Abi Local Council of Cross River State over boundary issues.

Princess Mavis was fleeing from Adadama, where she was attending the funeral ceremonies of her husband’s aunt, when the attackers from Ndiagu Amagu allegedly invaded Adadama that morning.

On her way to Itigidi, she was killed by men in a Hilux Van dressed in police uniforms, who did not only shoot her, but inflicted machete cuts on her and even attempted to behead her, before help came too late.

Mavis was from the same community with the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr. Dave Umahi, who is also the Chairman of the Ebonyi State

Delta CP seeks public support against kidnappers From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba

HE Delta State Police Commissioner of Police, Mr. T Ikechukwu Ayo Aduba has appealed for public support in their onerous task of curtailing the menace of kidnappers and armed robbers in the State.

Aduba who spoke yesterday at the foundation laying ceremony of a new police station at Igbodo, Ika North East Local Council, disclosed that every information provided to the police for the arrest of any kidnapper in the State will attract N500, 000 reward to the informant.

He said that some persons have received the award, adding that the state government recently released

N2, 500,000 to compliment the efforts of the command in information gathering on criminals.

He described Delta as a flash point, maintaining that the police have a duty to protect lives and property of the people.

Aduba explained that community vigilante groups were being strengthened for greater efficiency, disclosing that those alleged to be collaborating with kidnappers have been sacked.

He described the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Police Station in Igbodo, which was built through communal effort, as a step in the right direction.

The Police Commissioner

appealed for compromise between the traditional ruler and his subjects over the marriage issue that is threatening peace in the community, acknowledging that every society has a history as well as a unique culture and tradition.

Aduba said that there would be no king without the people, urging the traditional ruler to listen to his subjects and the subjects to co-operate with the king.

The Iyase of Igbodo, Dr. Ifeanyi Unomah and the President General of the Community, Chief Peterson Ozili-Chiemeke, said the project was an effort towards grassroots policing as being championed by the Inspector-General of Police.

Boundary Committee.

The deceased was the daughter of the late Eze of Etiti Uburu community in Ohaozara Local Council of Ebonyi State, His Royal Highness, Eze Agwu Akpa.

Aged 38 ,and a mother of two children, aged six and one, Mavis was a Desk Officer in charge of Hostel accommodation in the Student Affairs Department of the University of Calabar, Cross River State.

She held a B.Sc in Biochemistry from Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State.

Before joining UNICAL, she was a teacher with the Cross River State Post Primary School Board.

The communal clash between the two warring communities has consumed not less than 15 lives from both sides.

Photonews

Evang. (Mrs.) Nkiruka Chidi (left), Chidi Anthony, actor, Victor Osuagwu and the Proprietress of the Beth Torrey Home, Mrs. Obi Veronica during the visit of members of King in Christ Ministries to the home…

Selina Ebinum, 105, for burial Saturday rites for Princess FdiedUNERAL Selina Mgboba Ebinum, who at the age of 105, begin tomorrow with a Service of songs at her residence at Obiaruku, Ukwani Local Council, Delta State at 4.00p.m., interment is on Saturday , March 2, after a funeral service at the Cathedral Church of Christ (Anglican Communion), Obiaruku at 10.00a.m.

Thanksgiving service holds on Sunday, March 3, at the same church at 9.00a.m.

She is survived by children including Prof. Mabel Ejime Osakwe and Prof. Emmanuel Ozegbe Osakwe; Mrs. Dorothy Akpotohwo and Chief Francis Akpotohwo; Dame Beatrice Ashinedu Omeni and Rev. Ezekiel O. Omeni; Dame Esther Kelicha Uduehi and Dele Uduehi; Mrs. Patience Nkem Eboreime and Mr. Alex Eboreime Mr. Isaac Terry Ebinum and Mrs. Ekene Ebinum.

Ebinum

Akinbote dies at 56 HE former Chairman of the T Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos branch, Mr. Anthony Akin Akinbote, is dead. He was aged 56.

He attended the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) from 1976 to 1981 where he bagged B.A in French.

He later went to the University of Benin where he graduated in law in 1986.

A polyglot and a well-travelled lawyer, he attended several courses within and outside the country, during which he did a specialized legal training in Arbitration.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Adenike Akinbote and four children.

Meanwhile, a Christian wake for Akinbote, a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), holds on Wednesday, March 6, at the premises of the Baptist Academy in Obanikoro, Lagos at 5.00 p.m. while interment in on Thrsday, March 7, at Atan Cemetery after a commendation service.

METRO 13

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

Photonews

the National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Bamanga tukur (middle), the Chairman of the PDP Founder, Benola: A cerebral palsy initiative, Air Vice Marshal Olufemi Gbadebo (rtd.), his wife, Mrs. Alaba Adeyemi Governors' Forum/Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio (right) and the Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson during a courtesy visit by Akpabio to the PDP national secretariat…

Gbadebo, Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike and Chief Executive Officer, Bright House Group, Mr. Ola Oyelola at the launch of Benola in Lagos.

Stolen 10-day-old baby rescued from abductors From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu HREE persons have been T arrested by the police in connection with a 10-day-

Managing Director/CEO, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd., (NDPHC), Mr James Olotu, Chief Operating Officer, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Oladele Amoda and Senior Special Adviser on Power to the Vice President, Larry Egberongbe at the commissioning of 1x15MVA distribution Injection Sub-station by NDPHC at New Yaba- Lagos ... yesterday

old baby stolen some weeks ago, but rescued yesterday in Enugu.

The suspects, including a female, were said to have taken away the baby at a residence in Gariki, Enugu on February 10, while she was asleep.

The baby who belongs to one Chinyere Egwu from Oduma, Aninri local government area of the state was whisked away to an un-

known destination.

Confirming the baby’s rescue and arrest of the three suspects, Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Ebere Amaraizu said they would be charged to court after thorough investigations. He said operatives of the Anti- kidnapping Unit of the command has nabbed three suspects involved in the criminal act.

He said, the suspects, who gave their names as Nwandi Chinenye, a female, Friday Ude and Sylvester Ozollo are now helping the police in

their investigations over the stealing of the baby.

He stated that the stolen child has also rejoined her parents.

In another development, Amaraizu said that the police in Nsukka have arrested a suspect who gave his name as Kenneth Ugwu, alleged to be trading in fake currency notes.

He said the suspect was allegedly found with 28 pieces of fake N1000 notes when his house was searched, adding that full-scale investigation has commenced on the matter.

Measles, meningitis claim four lives in Jigawa From John Akubo, Dutse

HE Jigawa State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tafida Abubakar has disclosed that, at least, four deaths have been recorded in the state from measles and cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) in the last seven months.

The commissioner, who made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in his office yesterday, said from June 2012 to February 2013, the ministry has recorded 256 cases of measles in 19 local councils with three deaths, 24 confirmed measles cases and additional 38 confirmed positive.

Abubakar explained further that for CSM, 16 cases were recorded within the same period with one death of a three-year-old.

T

Chief Gabriel Agbabiaka (right), Managing Director, Ocean Pavilion Hotels, tunde Agbabiaka, wife of Ogun State Governor, Olufunso Amosun and Mrs. Esosa Agbabiaka at the official opening of Ocean Pavilion Hotel inPHOtO: Lagos...AYODELE ADENIRAN

Deputy Lay President, the African Church, Evang. Oladosu Oladipo (left); Primate of the Church, Most Rev. Emmanuel Udofia and Bishop of Lagos Central Diocese, Rt. Rev. Julius Olayinka Abbe at the General Committee meeting in Lagos ...

He said the state had planned to immunize over 250, 000 children under one year against measles in the next two weeks.

The commissioner indicated the cases of measles and cerebrospinal meningitis had been sporadic.

“We took extra caution based on the fact that Kano State, parts of Zamfara, Katsina and Kebbi are currently experiencing outbreaks of measles.

“Measles is a highly contagious disease and we also know that for you to be on the safe side, you must have vaccination coverage beyond 80 to 85 per cent in the population to ensure that children don’t contract measles.

“So far, we have analysed of all our cases between June 2012 till date and we realize

Pensioners protesting in support of Maina in Lagos...yesterday

that we have not entered the threshold of outbreak in Jigawa so we are not in an outbreak situation we have not yet gone beyond the threshhold for an epidemic but we are taking precautions.”

He said all the children that are supposed to take measles vaccination would be vaccinated within the next one or two weeks.

He said they had already drafted a strategy to mobilize health workers in all 628 health facilities to ensure that children are given measles vaccination. “ We have drafted health promotion strategy, whereby we inform parents and guardians across the state to encourage them to go to the health facilities to have their children vaccinated against measles.

14 | THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

TheGuardian 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 Good Governance tour N principle, Nigeria probably needs a ‘Good Governance Tour’. But this must be done by credible, independent groups, to assess how well those elected into leadership have matched the words in their oath of office with action. Such an assessment tour is even in accord with the extant constitution, which is solely for “the purpose of promoting the good government and welfare of all persons in our country on the principles of freedom, equality and justice…”

But Mr. Labaran Maku, a minister of the Federal Republic, who is himself part of a government whose activities should be assessed, and his entourage of 120 odd persons, are not suited for the task.

In conception and its execution so far, the Maku-led tour is a perfect example of how not to engender good governance. The group not only lacks the technical skills to do a proper evaluation of governments, it is, on account of its composition alone, short on credibility and, therefore, stands on shaky grounds in terms of morality.

First, the minister is reported to say that he is going round with the aim to engineer healthy conversation concerning development between the leaders and the electorate. But so far, much evidence point to more of a monologue by the minister, often with the host governor in tow, than conversations with the people. Really, does any leader worth the title in this country need to be told just what the electorate want from the elected? Are the people’s needs and expectations so hard to discern that there is a need to ‘engineer a conversation’ before a government gets on with the job? The people are speaking their minds to their ‘leaders’ daily in print and electronic media, as well as online. Second, Mr. Maku insisted that the tour is not a Federal Government project but a national programme endorsed by state governors. Why would a federal official lead such a large cross-interests delegation that includes, according to a fawning Bayelsa State Government advertisement, ‘media workers’ and ‘civil society groups’ on this inspectorial assignment? To assure credibility, an independently funded, disinterested persons and groups would have been better suited for such an important role. A monitoring and evaluation process that is co-funded by the states and co-conducted by their officials is already bias-laden; it is not trustworthy.

That the states allow this performance tour under the leadership of a federal agent is pitiable acquiescence to their subordination in a federal structure and system. It seems that, out of genuine or wilful self-serving ignorance, many state governors connive with the central government to entrench centripetal federalism that, in practice, is merely a decentralised unitary system of government. This is clearly not the intendment of the spirit and letter of the 1999 Constitution. Of course, it may be granted that, as done in other jurisdictions, the Federal Government would rightly demand to assess specific projects that involve its resources in states. Even these are usually done by the skilled officials assigned to perform monitoring and evaluation functions, but seldom by an entourage of jobbers.

Is this tour truly aimed at good governance or is it for mere publicity? It is safe to conclude that this is nothing other than a vanity tour.

Two revelations have however, emerged from the tour, which challenge the team and throw up the question of who will assess the assessor. In Edo State, the governor, Adams Oshiomole, alleged a request for hospitality by the touring group, which he rejected. The minister has denied making monetary request but not non-monetary ones such as accommodation, feeding, and ‘logistics’. This is a sordid revelation that clearly dents the integrity of the tour and is also at variance with the meaning of good governance. Also in Rivers State, the visiting minister claimed the Federal Government had sent computers to some state schools of which the state chief executive claimed ignorance. The public disagreement between the minister and Governor Rotimi Amaechi over the matter should be embarrassing. Since due process and accountability are aspects of good governance, it behoves both officials to find out and tell the public what happened to the computers if any was ever sent. Nigerians want to know.

It must be said that ensuring good governance is too important a goal to be left for government officials alone. Mercifully, the pertinent question of who will assess the assessor – be it federal, state or local governments, or even the ministries, departments, and agencies of governments – is clearly settled by two legal provisions. In Section 22 of the Constitution, the media is empowered by law, to comprehensively monitor, evaluate, and report on it to the electorate. It states: “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people”. It is to be expected, therefore, that the media in minister’s team will publish a separate and unbiased report in fulfilment of their constitutional duty, even compromised as they now seem, having been part of a flawed process. Beyond this, the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 is a strong instrument in the hands of every bona fide citizen to drive transparency in the conduct of public affairs. Armed with these legal provisions on the one hand, and the will to act on the other, the media, civil society groups and the electorate, supported public-spirited persons and organisations, can do much to deepen good governance in the country.

I

LETTERS

The gaffe on Suntai’s health IR: The way and manner an horse’s mouth and reported In the African context of hanSedonline news medium parrot- in the reputable national dling such issue as Suntai rightly false report on Governor dailies from February 6-8, 2013, James Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State was not only reckless and shameful, but also demonstrates that the online medium suffers an extreme dryness when it comes to the matter of facts and truthfulness. Sahara Reporters borrowed its name from the world’s largest desert and should take its negative energy to the desert where it truly belongs.

It is ironical and disheartening that this online publication was desperate to mis-inform and mislead the good people of Taraba State and the general public concerning the health of Governor Suntai. The website continues the publication of half-truths, twisted facts to tarnish the good image of the governor.

The barrage of misleading, uninformed and mischievous report started with claim by Sahara Reporters that Governor Suntai and his personal aides all died in the unfortunate plane crash of October 25, 2012 near Yola in Adamawa State. But the medium was later to recant the story, only to say that the governor survived the crash with “spinal cord” injuries. When that again was proven to be false, it again changed the story to be that Governor Suntai is “brain damaged” (later to be proven wrong). And recently, this has again changed that the governor is “brain dead” and unable to recognise visitors, including members of his family and few Nigerian politicians who visited him.

But as we heard it from the

particularly The Nation, Daily Trust, Leadership among others, the Acting Governor stated unambiguously that he met with Suntai who is recuperating in the hospital and that the governor is stable and requests all Tarabans to continue with prayers for peace in the state.

said, is prayers. The country’s two main religions — Christianity and Islam encourage praying for the sick. Indeed, this is not a time to make political gains ahead of 2015.

The public should be wary of professional misconduct of some reporters.

• John Akevi, Bauchi, Taraba State.

As Dr. Kunle Odola departs IR: Death is a necessary end; lives we lose everyday would Scome. it will come when it will have been saved.

But when death punctu- Dr. Odola’s outsized personality ates a life that began to flourish and nourish other lives, its tragic visitation can be very painful and traumatic. This is what we went through when Dr. Adekunle Odolola’s unfortunate death was announced.

But our consolation is the lives he touched through his academic acumen. I recollect his brilliance during our school days when he used to mesmerize us and dazzle our teachers.

We were not surprised decades later that he achieved an enviable position in his academic career.

Your tragic death on Ondo road was the result of a sustained mismanagement and corrupt system by visionless leaders. Roads, air and rails are death traps, hapless commuters and reckless drivers in Nigeria embark on journeys everyday on these famished roads. If these infrastructures are well maintained, so many

was matched by his integrity, intelligence and independence.

His inspired love for education, family, his people and country will forever change the course of our future in Igbemo-Ekiti and beyond.

Your sudden demise has engendered us to demystify death, as we know that death is a means to an end and not an end to itself.

But death…!, who can blame you, when our system is bleeding with corruption; when all minds are polluted; when politicians have lost their souls to chasing ephemeral things. “There was a country” and things are falling apart, so who will salvage her from the current state of miasma. He that created us has ultimate power over death as He has prepared a beautiful place for Dr. Kunle Odola where we will all meet to part no more. We have lost a gem, a bosom friend.

• Yahaya Balogun, Arizona, USA.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

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Business Appointments P27 NCDMB, Amnesty office partner on job creation for ex-militant

‘NDIC pays N90b to depositors of 48 failed banks’ From: Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief HE Nigeria Deposit T Insurance Corporation (NDIC) paid depositors of 48 failed banks in the country N90.13 billion as at December 2012. This figure represents 11 per cent rise over the N80.18 billion paid in 2011.

This was disclosed in Kaduna yesterday, by the corporation’s Managing Director, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim.

Ibrahim, who spoke during the NDIC’s special day at the on-going 34th Kaduna International Trade Fair,

pointed out that the depositors’ money represented an increase of about N10 billion.

Besides, he added that a total of N2.50 billion had been paid to depositors of the 103 closed Micro Finance Banks (MFBs) as at December 2012, against the N2.25 billion that was paid to insured depositors of the defunct financial institutions s across the country.

“That was not all. A cumulative liquidation dividend payment to shareholders of Alpha Merchant Bank, Nigeria Merchant Bank and

It is on record that the NDIC had paid a cumulative of N90.13 billion to depositors of 48 deposit money banks in-liquidation as at 31st December 2012 as against N80.18 billion paid to depositors as at 31st December 2011, representing an increase of about N10 billion Pan African Bank (in-liquidation) stood at N373.04 million, N620.0 million and N293 million respectively during the period. This was in addition to the settlement of all the depositors and creditors of the three banks (liquidation)”, he said.

Noting that as part of efforts to sanitise and strengthen the micro finance banks and primary mortgage banks across the nation, the NDIC revoked the licences of the 103 failed Micro finance Banks and the 25 primary mortgage banks as well as the revision

Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, MS Amal Pepple; Permanenet Secretary, Ibrahim Mahe; Chairman, Board of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Chief Bisi Ogunjobi and Managing Director (FMBN), Gimba Kumo at the inauguration of the Board of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria in Abuja

Seven new airlines apply for operational certificates

By Chika Goodluck-Ogazi EvEN new airlines have SOperators applied for Airline Certificates (AOCs), to operate their respective businesses in the Nigerian airspace.

This was disclosed yesterday by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

According to NCAA’s spokesman, Sam Adurogboye, the prospective airlines that just applied for the certificates are Prime, Dyro, Hak, AZMA, EAS, Easy Jet, and Taraba State Airlines.

Skybird Airline has, however been issued its AOC recently.

Meanwhile, the Director-

General of the agency, Dr. Harold Demuren, has encouraged Nigerian airline operators to become IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) compliant, stressing that all the African presidents have approved Abuja safety declarationthat all airlines in Africa will be IOSA compliant.

Also,NCAA has paid over N10 million for gap analysis in favour of some airlines to support their becoming IOSA compliant. The beneficiaries include IRS, Air Nigeria, Aero Contractors, Chanchangi and Arik airlines Gap analysis help airlines and airports uncover shortfalls in some processes.

Demuren explained that the initiative “will help them to improve their standard. That is what is good, let us improve everything in life; make sure we improve the way we do things. That is what we have in future for Nigeria.

Aviation has become the engine for revenue generation, there is nothing you can do without aviation...it has to be safe; it has to be fair”.

IOSA programme is an internationally recognised and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline. Its quality audit principles are

designed to conduct audits in a standardised manner.

Currently, all IATA members airlines have to pass the audit to become and remain member. Nigerian airlines that have already passed the audit are Air Nigeria and Arik Air. “Now that we are happy that we got all the regulation in place; let our airlines also do their own beat, to ensure that they become IOSA compliant”, Demuren said.

The DG had stated that the purpose of this was to enhance safety in the country’s aviation industry, as well as to have safety records in their airline operations.

of the micro finance policy.

Ibrahim, who was represented by a director in the c o r p o r a t i o n , Jacob Afolabi, stated that NDIC had contributed to the various banking reforms, in the last two decades.

It is on record that the NDIC had paid a cumulative of N90.13 billion to depositors of 48 deposit money banks in-liquidation as at 31st December 2012 as against N80.18 billion paid to depositors as at 31st December 2011, representing an increase of about N10 billion.

“A total of N2.50 billion had been paid to depositors of 103 closed Micro finance Banks as at 31st December , 2012 as against the sum of

N2.25 billion that was paid to the insured depositors of closed micro finance banks as at 31st December 2011.”

The NDIC boss stressed that the corporation was not unaware of the perennial problems between customers and banks on various issues, such as bank charges, account balance and frauds, adding that “the corporation has established Complaints Units in the Bank Examination Department and the Special Insured Institutions Department to cater for the needs of customers of deposit money banks and primary mortgage banks/micro finance banks across the country.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

16 BUSINESS

Governor signs Kaduna’s N179bn appropriation bill into law From: Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief HE Governor of Kaduna T State, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, has signed into law the N179 billion 2013 recently passed by the state legislators.

A breakdown of the budget showed that N104.5 billion was earmarked for capital expenditure while the balance of N74.5 billion has been set-aside for recurrent.

According to a statement issued by the Governor’s Media Aide, Mallam Ahmed Maiyaki yesterday, “the 2013 budget is in line with the commitment of the Governor Yero adminis-

tration to reduce the cost of governance by cutting down on recurrent expenditures while concentrating on capital development”.

“The budget breakdown is part of government’s deter-

mination to rapidly transform Kaduna State through provision of critical infrastructures that would improve the living stan-

dards of the people. While signing the budget, Yero urged the people of Kaduna State to continue to cooperate with his administration

by shunning acts of violence in order to create the enabling environment for peace and sustainable growth”.

The 2013 budget is in line with the commitment of the Governor Yero administration to reduce the cost of governance by cutting down on recurrent expenditures while concentrating on capital development

The Country Manager & Managing Director of Statoil Nigeria Limited (left), Ariwoola Ogbemi, with the Country Chair and Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria, Andrew Fawthrop, during the Nigeria Oil & Gas Conference in Abuja.

MainOne Cable stakes $240m on infrastructure From: Ann Godwin (PortHarcourt) AINONE Cable Company M has invested $240million (about 40 billion) in infrastructure alone before start-up to ensure reliability and sustainability in its service delivery.

The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Funke Opeke, stated this during the

outfit’s first major awareness in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

She noted that the telecommunications market had relied on VSAT to deliver internet services but regretted that it has been agonisingly slow.

She disclosed that MainOne built a submarine cable from Nigeria to Europe with points in Ghana, Ivory Coast,

Senegal, stressing that its strength was based on reliability and flexibility to enhance Global IP Transit and global internet access.

According to her,” we have a strong governance structure and we are well capitalised.

We had invested $240 million in infrastructure alone before start-up. We have a responsible board chaired by the founder of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc and that should tell you something about reliability and sustainability”.

She said their partnership with major enterprise in West Africa, as well as Nigeria, has ensured their world class delivery services.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

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Appointments NCDMB, Amnesty Office partner on job creation for ex-militants

By Roseline Okere

HE Nigerian T Development Monitoring

Content and Board (NCDMB) in collaboration with the Presidential Amnesty Programme have embarked on creating employment opportunities in the Oil and Gas Industry for ex-militants who have undergone specialized training programmes.

The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Ernest Nwapa confirmed this in a media statement made available to The Guardian on Tuesday.

Over 1,498 ex-militants underwent various training programmes in foreign locations such as South Africa, Ghana, Cyprus, Dubai, with some of them specializing in practical Oil and Gas disciplines.

Nwapa said that the Board was working with all stakeholders of the industry under the strong leadership of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke to domicile more work incountry and deepen the capacity of the local supply chain to execute complex industry work, thereby creating more opportunities for employment of qualified Nigerians.

Nwapa stated that major operating companies, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation cannot employ more than 50,000 Nigerians as they had outsourced most of their operations, adding however that the industry was capable of creating thousands of jobs through the execution of its jobs in-country.

“We are pulling the industry together because they have capacity to create new shop floors and it is only where there are jobs that training can thrive and succeed,” he said.

He identified the manufacturing of components of various equipment used by the industry as the segment that will unlock thousands of productive job opportunities for young Nigerians, including ex-militants.

Nwapa also counseled the Amnesty Office to manage the expectations of the exmilitants about the Oil and Gas industry, indicating that “contracts in the Oil and Gas industry run for 18 to 20 months, after which companies start disengaging workers who will be expected to seek fresh employment in companies that have got new projects.”

“We need to increase shop floor space and encourage

Consultant, PPM Corporation, Mrs. Delia Omatshola left, Head, marketing and Corporate Communication, First Bank Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, Head, Human Capital Management and Development, First Bank Mrs Ayo Jaiyesimi and Group Head, Products and Marketing Support, First Bank, Mrs Ezinne Obikile, during the media briefing on First Bank Youth Excel series in Lagos recently….

Photo; OSENI YUSUF.

manufacturing through the help of the international operating companies. We also need to educate the exmilitants that their employment lies in the manufac-

turing facilities.”

According to the Executive Secretary, the ex-militants and other young Nigerians would also benefit from the Capacity Building

Internship Programme, which the Board had begun with the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, (PETAN).

Under the programme,

Court summons NEPC boss, AGF over 115 sacked workers From Lemmy Ughegbe, Abuja

HE Federal High Court, T Abuja Division has summoned the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council [NEPC], David Adulugba to appear before it on April 18, 2013 to explain why one hundred and fifteen employees of the council [NEPC] were sacked in 2005.

The Judge, Justice Gladys Olotu also ordered the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke [SAN] to appear in court over the matter.

Justice Olotu was caused to issue the summons on Adulugba and Adoke upon an action brought by the 150 workers said the NEPC boss had refused to reinstate them in disobedience of two circulars allegedly issued to that effect by the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation since 2009.

Consequently, the plaintiff are praying the court to among other things, issue “An order compelling the defendants to reinstate the plaintiffs back to their positions in the service as contained in circular Ref. No. HCSF/PSC/PARA/437/3402/1/ 96 dated January 20, 2009, from the office of the Head

of Civil Service of the Federation on re-absorption of severed staff by parastatals, MDAs and circular No. FC. 3418/S.56/ Vol. 1/ C.1/40 dated June 10, 2009.

“An order compelling the defendants to pay the plaintiffs the sum of one hundred and seventy five million, seven hundred and fifty seven thousand, five hundred and fifty six naira, being their total entitlements calculated to include accrued gratuity, pension fund benefit, repatriation allowance and terminal benefits in November 2005 as a result of the organisational restructuring services no longer required, carried out by the Federal Government’s Economic Reform Policies in the year 2005.

“Payment of the sum of N20million being general damages for failure of the defendants to either reinstate the plaintiffs or pay them their severance benefits from November 30, 2005 to date”.

Also, “interest on the judgment sum at court’s rate from date of judgment until final liquidation of the entire judgment sum, including the cost of the suit.”

Meanwhile, joined as

defendants in the suit, were the Executive Director of NEPC, and the AGF. In their statement of claim dated July 19, 2012, the plaintiffs told the court that they were employed into the service of the 1st defendant based on different qualifications, ages, posts, grade levels from different states of the Federation and have put in various years of service with the NEPC. They averred that shortly after the federal government introduced the Economic Reform Police aimed at serving the economy and the needs of Nigerians better, they were on November 28, 2005, disengaged from service vide a letter with Ref No AMD/CONF/SM/20/VOL.9.

“That upon receipt of the letters of disengagement we waited for the defendant to pay our entitlements which includes accrued gratuity, pension fund benefit, repatriation allowance and terminal benefits as contained in the letters of disengagement.

“That while waiting for our entitlements to be paid, some of us wrote appeal letters to the 1st defendant to consider re-engaging us.

That on or about April 28, 2008, the Director of

Administration on behalf of the Minister of Trade and Industry via a letter with Ref No T/FAL/820/T/63, addressed to the 1st defendant, drew its attention to an earlier letter dated April 17, 2008 on the report of the establishment committee of the NEPC governing board on the 2005 retrenchment exercise.

“That on June 10, 2009, the Federal Civil Service Commission directed the absorption of severed staff reinstated into the service by the steering committee on Public Service Reform.”

They further told the court that the Budget Office of the Federation subsequently okayed the release of fund to the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for the payment of personnel emolument of the re-instated staff of MDAs, with attached list that included their names and the amount payable to each person totaling the sum of N175, 757, 556, regretting that since then, nothing was paid to them.

They therefore beseeched the high court to intervene in the matter, lamenting that they had since 2005 when they were disengaged, “suffered mentally, economically and socially as most of us could not pay

our house rents, hospital bills, children’s school fees and even feed ourselves and families properly.”

PETAN will recruit qualified Nigerians and expose them to various training and skills development workshops and on-the-job training to prepare them to work in the course of contracts and gain employment.

PETAN companies will then absorb the trainees once they win the contracts and retain them after the internship phase based on their performance.

28 APPOINTMENTS

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

COREN boss, Ogunbayo, laments activities of fake engineers He pointed out that as a matter From: Saxone Akhaine, of priority, engineering faciliBureau Chief, North ties in the nation’s tertiary instiFFICIALS of the Council of tutions should strive to readRegistered Engineers in just their curriculum to make it Nigeria (COREN) have raised an more functional and meaningalarm over the infiltration of ful to meet international stanquacks in the engineering pro- dard best practices. fession, while giving it a bad Besides, he urged the particiname and compromising stan- pants to always collaborate dard. with the development control The activities of the quacks, officers and the Nigerian Police according to the officials of Command in their areas in COREN had led to the collapse order to maintain a synergy in of structures purportedly con- the implementation of the structed by Engineeers, includ- ERM. ing building structure across The COREN boss said:” You will the country. agree with me that the perCOREN President, Ibikunle formance of engineers in the Ogunbayo while speaking in execution of projects in Nigeria Kaduna recently, at a one-day workshop on Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) organized for COREN Inspectors, ERM Desk Officers and COREN Zonal Officers in the Northwest geopolitical also accused the From Eric Meya, Sokoto Federal, States and Local HAIRMAN of the House of Governments for the undue Representatives preferences given to expatriate Committee on Interior, Alhaji engineers at the expense of the Umar Bature, recently in indigenous engineers. Sokoto appealed for support Ogunbayo who explained for the National Identity that no nation can develop by Management Commission relying on the technical expert- (NIMC) as preparations ise of other countries, heightens for the commenceexpressed concern over the ment of the National dearth of skilled artisans and Identification Numbering technicians in the country.

O

today is a far cry from expectation. The challenges are numerous and as such, all of us here have the responsibilities ahead of us to put engineering in its proper place to serve the Nigerian people.

“The cases of collapse of engineering infrastructures across the country have become worrisome. This has been attributed to the infiltration of quacks into the profession. The major mandate of the ERM is to address these issues.

This workshop should come out with strategies to effectively implement the ERM program.“

“I would like to mention here that so far, COREN has achieved a lot in the implementation of the ERM through the inspectorates but not much is known to the public yet. We therefore need to step up our publicity in this regard.”

Also speaking at the workshop, the Registrar of the Council, Felix Atuma urged the Federal government to implement the White Papers on strategic plans for Engineering Development and control which entails the use of more local professionals for the major infrastructural projects in the country.

Bature solicits support for national identification numbering

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System.

Bature who spoke at the NIMC stakeholders’ forum said at present, no one could say the exact population of Nigeria and that the exercise would go a long way in telling us “how many we are”.

He acknowledged that the commission failed in the past but attributed the failure to the absence of appropriate law.

According to him, this is the time to have a clear identification of Nigerian nationals and foreigners resident in the country.

He said the commission should be supported and given the benefit of the doubt, adding that, the National Assembly would not give any “kobo” to the commission if it failed again to perform.

Credit Awareness partners Ajapa on skill acquisition, wealth creation

By Helen Oji s part of efforts to instill the culture of entrepreneurial skill development in youths and children, Credit Awareness, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ajapa World Club.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Executive Director, Credit Awareness, Mr. Ladi Smith explained that the Group is non-profit organization set up in 2008 by SIAO to identify extreme gaps in various sectors and contribute to sustainable development these sectors, among other functions.

According to him, the synergy would enhance entrepreneurship and financial literacy in Nigeria, adding that it would afford both youths and children the opportunity to develop their skills in various areas and become economically independent, thereby help alleviate poverty.

“I am delighted by this initiative. Ajapa is a world of children, it recognises the value of children by ensuring that they have a voice across all spectrum. Our ability to enhance competitiveness and survive in the comity of Nations depends on how well informed the youths are and taking care of other essential ingredients that drives the economy.

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“Once a child can think logically, he can be thought how to manage finances and develop their skills. Through this, we can nurture future leaders, teach them how to have bigger visions for themselves, which would help, tackle poverty and grow the economy. We are focusing on the youths because their minds are active and they carry transfer traits and responsibilities to the future.

“We are trying to arm the future leaders with information to be able to take decisions on their own. The platform would help inculcate the right kind of responsibility in them as they grow up. We are working with Ajapa in order to ensure that we reach broad spectrum of the populace, especially the rural areas.” He said.

The Chairman, Ajapa World Club, Mr. Akin Braithwaite said the aim of the initiative was to use Nigerian culture to impact knowledge, with focus on the youths.

He explained that the concept helps to monitor a child’s learning and developmental process and reward the child.

“We intended to replicate this across all the states. We did the launch in October last year and few months ago; we started the pilot in Borno State because they are the most exclude.

THe GUArDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

APPOINTMeNTS

Vice-Chancellor seeks assistance for new professional graduates From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin.

He Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin, Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali has canvassed for prompt constitution of a body by the Federal Government to assist new professional graduates in the early stage of their professions as part of measures to drastic reduce the number of unemployed graduates in Nigeria.

Ambali, a Professor of Veterinary Medicine said no professional graduates could kick start the practice of his or her profession without a takeoff grant noting that the absence of this has greatly reduced the idea of “private practice” among the nation’s professionals.

He spoke with reporters recently in Ilorin just as he identified the prominent among the professionals as doctors, lawyers, engineers, and accountants.

According to him, “the Federal Government should set up a machinery where these professionals will be empowered in order to allow them to start their practice on time. Finance is usually an impediment to fresh graduates.

“No matter how lucrative your course may be, you will always need the take off grants to start something on your own after your graduation. Don’t forget that many of these professional graduates passed through financial paucity before graduating.

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They are like investment to their parents who will in turn be expecting something in returns from their children.”

Ambali, while praising the Federal Government for its overhead funds to the Federal Universities, debunked the claims in some quarters that some neighbouring Universities are of higher

standards than those of Nigeria.

He disclosed how the government, owner of the Universities had made some avenues available for research but believed that the government could do more in the area as research apart from its academic benefits remains the bed rock of invention in

No matter how lucrative your course may be, you will always need the take off grants to start something on your own after your graduation. Don’t forget that many of these professional graduates passed through financial paucity before graduating. They are like investment to their parents who will in turn be expecting something in returns from their children.”

any nation.

The Vice Chancellor justified the conduct of post UTMe by some nation’s Universities before admission could be granted to candidates.

According to him, the exams by the institution have reduced the number of students being asked to withdraw from their courses of studies due to poor academic records.

On cultism, he said many of those in the group are products of bad up- bringing from homes, just as he disclosed that many of those that had been caught in the act had confessed taken into the crime since their days in post primary school.

NCS targets one million jobs with IT career fair

By Toyin Olasinde

He Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has conT cluded plans to create about one million jobs in five years through an Information Technology Job and Career Fair, it intends organising on a sustainable basis.

Chairman, Publicity Secretary, Jide Awe in a press statement made available to The Guardian, explained that the career fair was being organised to encourage people who are interested in starting a career in IT, and will also be an opportu-

nity for them to meet with people have succeeded on the job.

According to him, the fair is an initiative of the NCS in line with its commitment to leverage on IT to create jobs and overcome developmental challenges in Nigeria.

He said the programme being organized in collaboration with its student affiliate; the Nigeria Association of Computer Science Students (NACOSS) is scheduled to hold in Akure.

Awe said the fair activities

are directed towards giving final year students and young graduates an edge in the competitive job market; addressing the youth and graduate unemployment situation in the country, while promoting youth innovation development to address developmental challenges and achieve overall prosperity in the country through information technology.

Besides, he explained that the NCS plans to hold additional IT job and career fairs later this year in Lagos and Abuja respectively.

resort Savings and Loans appoints rabiu as Assistant General Manager eSOrT Savings and Loans r has appointed Yemi rabiu as its Assistant General Manager and Chief Finance Officer.

Prior to this appointment, rabiu was the Divisional Head Banking Operations of the company.

He has over 20 year post professional qualification experience, which spans over mortgage banking and finance, professional practice and general commerce.

He is a fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Fellow of Chartered Institute of Taxation and a graduate of Banking & Finance from the University of Lagos.

He joined resort Savings and Loans Plc on October 2nd 2008 as Senior Manager.

Rabiu

raji assumes duty as Fountain varsity VC rOFeSSOr Bashir Ademola P raji has assumed duty as the second Vice Chancellor of Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State.

He takes over from the pioneer Vice Chancellor, Professor Hussain Oloyede.

The new V.C had his first degree in Geology from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife), a Masters and Ph.D in Geology and Soil Science respectively from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

He also has post-graduate diploma in Soil Survey from ITC, enscheda, The Netherlands.

Prof. Raji

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

ScienceGuardian ASTRONOMY

Sirius-the African timekeeper (7)

By J.K. Obatala

the wayfaring zircons originated in ancient fragments of continental crust located beneath Mauritius. They pro

of pillars in the stone circle with the seven Borana calendar stars and star-groups and the tenability of the “300 B.C.” date.

Extrapolating backwards, Lynch and Robbins had obtained coordinates, indicating that the 19 stone structures were aligned with points on the eastern horizon that would have been the rising positions of the seven Borana calendar objects, 2300 years ago.

But another archaeologist, Robert Soper, re-measured the pillars and found them to be magnetic-which, he posited, may have affected the instrument Lynch and Robbins had used.

Undaunted, Doyle and Frank mounted an expedition to Namoratunga II in 1983 and made their own measurements. Although the original coordinates had to be modified, the investigators still found stellar alignments.

“Re-measurement of pillar positions,” Doyle reports, “produced 25 two-pillar alignments with the 300 B.C. eastern rising positions of the Borana calendar stars”.

Nevertheless, many critics of the “alignment hypothesis” remained un-mollified, postulating that the stellar orientations could have been random, that is, coincidental and unplanned.

Doyle countered with an ingenious experiment, using high-speed computers at NASA’s Ames Research Laboratory. He generated seven random star positions and compared them with pillars at the stone circle in Kenya, to see how many random alignments would appear.

According to Doyle and Frank, they repeated the process 10,000 times! But only in 41 instances, did the computer generate 25 or more random stellar alignments for the pillars at Namoratunga II. “This result would indicate,” they wrote, “that there seems to be a less than 0.5% probability that the Namoratunga pillars could have randomly made as many as 25 or more alignments with the 300 B.C. horizon rising positions of the seven original Borana calendrical stars.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 39

To be continued.

HE Dogon controversy T had simmered for decades, before it erupted

The space telescope will spot near-Earth objects and keep tabs on space junk. Testing to see how the Canadian Space Agency’s asteroid-hunting satellite, Near-Earth Object Space Surveillance Satellite (NEOSSat), fares against radio frequencies.

Photograph courtesy Janice Lang, DRDC

UN prepares for possible asteroid, Earth collision

Canada launches first asteroid-hunting space telescope

Experts hope that after agreeing on a program to monitor NEOs such as asteroids, the UN can also come up with a contingency plan to minimise damage in the case of an unavoidable impact on Earth. This would include technology, which could deflect NEOs away from the planet, and emergency protocols for damage limitation should an impact prove unavoidable.

By Chukwuma Muanya with agency reports HE Earth received a wake-up T call penultimate week with a double shot of incoming space rocks-the near miss of asteroid DA14 and the Russian meteor explosion.

These events have set astronomers on their toes. A global early warning system, which would track asteroids and predict possible impacts with Earth was expected to take shape at a United Nations (UN) committee meeting last Friday.

Members of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) were due to agree on a series of recommendations for an International Asteroid Warning Network on, following two weeks of negotiations.

The proposals will set out how countries can pool resources to track near-Earth objects (NEO) such as asteroids and generate the earliest possible warning of potential collisions.

Also, the first satellite designed to search for and keep track of asteroids and space debris was launched into orbit on Sunday.

The Canadian Space Agency’s suitcase-sized NearEarth Object Surveillance Satellite (NEOSSat) will circle the globe every 100 minutes, scanning space to pick out asteroids that may one day pose a threat to Earth.

Meanwhile, no object larger than a kilometre is expected to threaten Earth for several hundred years, meaning a global catastrophe is currently off the cards, but there are many thousands of smaller NEOs, such as Asteroid 2012 DA14 which whistled narrowly past Earth last week, which have the potential to flatten entire cities.

Although DA14 had been spotted a year before its arrival,

the unexpected arrival of a meteor over Russia on the same day highlighted the risk posed by the vast proportion of smaller NEOs which remain unidentified and could arrive with little or no notice.

The meteor, which injured 1,500 people when it exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, is understood to have “helped focus minds” in London, Paris, Moscow and Washington on the negotiations last week by

highlighting the threat posed by NEOs. Sergio Camacho, Chairman of the UN’s Action Team on Near-Earth Objects, said earlier this week that if the proposed measures had been in place before the arrival of the meteor, “it would have allowed for more observation and better understanding and education of the population CONTINUED ON PAGE 39

into a row—and the credibility of the French anthropologists was called into question, for attributing to traditional Malian astronomers knowledge of Sirius, which they could not possibly have possessed.

By contrast, the Borana debate flared instantaneously after the publication of Asmarom Legesse’s pioneering paper. Fueling the fires, Lynch and Robbins announced, five years later, that the stone pillars at Namoratunga II were astronomically aligned.

The Borana calendar, they argued, was derived from these alignments. Unlike Griaule and Dieterlen, the archaeologists made no illogical attributions. Nor was there any need, since the “astonishingly sophisticated” Borana system, as Legesse put it, was there for everyone to see.

This sophistication is evinced clearly in the operation of the calendar, which has both a stellar (sidereal) dimension of 27 days (“ceremonial,” in Legesse’s terminology) and a synodic or “lunar” aspect of 29.5 days, based on the Moon’s phases.

The sidereal period is not fixed. It permutes or “floats” in a fashion somewhat similar to that of the highly accurate Islamic lunar calendar, so that the day on which the month starts recedes by roughly 2.5 days each time and completes a cycle of 29.5 days in one lunar year (354 days).

“The loss per month,” Legesse explained, “is equal to the difference between the two types of months, that is the 27 day month (ceremonial) and the 29.5 day month (lunar)”.

The debate, therefore, was purely professional.

Nobody’s credibility was at stake, least of all Borana astronomers. At issue, primarily, were the alignment

Long-lost continent found under Indian Ocean HE beaches of Mauritius T contain fragments of a type of rock typical of ancient continental crust-rock, which could have been brought to the surface by volcanic eruptions.

The drowned remnants of an ancient micro-continent may lie scattered beneath the waters between Madagascar and India, a new study suggests.

Evidence for the long-lost land comes from Mauritius, a volcanic island about 900 kilometres east of Madagascar. The oldest basalts on the island date to about 8.9 million years ago, says Bjørn Jamtveit, a geologist at the University of Oslo.

Yet grain-by-grain analyses of beach sand that Jamtveit and his colleagues collected at two sites on the Mauritian coast revealed around 20 zirconstiny crystals of zirconium sili-

cate that are exceedingly resistant to erosion or chemical change- that were far older.

The zircons had crystallized within granites or other

igneous rocks at least 660 million years ago, says Jamtveit.

One of these zircons was at least 1.97 billion years old.

Jamtveit and his colleagues suggest that rocks containing

Dark light consciousness and neurotheology (3)

By Edward Bruce Bynum Continued from last week HE research explains how the dark light of melanin and neuromelanin serves as the biochemical infrastructure of what the introspective and spiritual traditions refer to as the ‘subtle body”, just as cold dark matter, together with gravity, forms the infrastructure and holds the galaxies and constellations together. With clearly illustrated graphs and instructions in everyday language moving progressively from chapter to chapter, the study shows how

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the classical disciplines of psychology and contemplation teach us to safely awaken and stabilize the biospiritual energy of the Ureaus through meditation practices, breathing exercises, and yoga postures as well as how to prepare the subtle body for more expansive and illuminative experiences.

In the last two decades research in the emerging field of neurotheology has shed considerable light on the interrelationship between neuroscience, biology, medicine and the biological roots of spiritual experience. In

books like Newberg, MD, D’Aquili, MD, and Rause’s Why God Won’t Go Away: Brain and The Biology of Belief and Rhawn Joseph, Ph.D., The Transmitter To God: The Limbic System, The Soul and Spirituality, as well as innumerable popularized books by the quantum physicists suggesting that consciousness in a fundamental way pervades the universe ,e.g., Kafatos and Nadeau’s The Conscious Universe and Amit Goswami’s The Self-Aware Universe, to name only a few, indicates that there is a real and primordial connection between these realms of human exploration.

The disciplines of the Ureaus and Kundalini provide modern science with explicit maps and empirically based methodologies for the exploration of these experiences. Modern psychology is also doing its part in DARK LIGHT CONSCIOUSNESS. Concluded. *Dr. Bynum is a clinical psychologist and the director of the Behavioral Medicine and Stress Management Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Health Services/CCPH in Amherst Massachusetts, United States.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

32 SCIENCE & HEALTH

Household chemicals cause cancer, birth defects, wide range of health issues, WHO study admits new landmark study by the World Health Organization (WHO) says a host of common, everyday household chemicals pose severe health problems including cancer, asthma, reduced fertility and even birth defects.

According to the study, WHO identified a number of “synthetic chemicals” which the UN agency said had “serious implications” for health, even going so far as to suggest that so-called “genderbending” compounds found in PVC flooring, kids’ toys and even credit cards should be banned in order to protect future generations, recent reports detailing the findings said.

The study said more research was likely needed to flesh out the links between endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which are found in a number of household chemicals, and “specific diseases and disorders.”

WHO researchers said they have discovered links between EDCs and health issues including breast, prostate and thyroid cancers, testicular problems, developmental effects on children’s nervous systems, and attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity in kids.

Scientists at the UN agency also said it is “reasonable to suspect” chemical substances called phthalates of disrupting female fertility, and also linked the sub-

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stances to rising rates of childhood diseases such as leukemia.

Researchers labeled the study the most “comprehensive” report on EDCs so far because it examined and evaluated several chemicals and related evidence rather than just focusing on a single element or compound.

The study is titled, “State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals.”

The findings also raised concerns over bispehnol A, a man-made compound found in many daily items such as tin cans and sunglasses. The substance is believed to interfere with the natural hormones that influence human development and growth.

WHO scientists also said there was “very strong evidence” in animals that the substances can interfere with thyroid hormones; that could lead to brain damage, loss of intelligence, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Regarding the incidence of prostate cancer, “significant evidence” exists that suggests a link with agricultural pesticides, according to a team of international medical experts, which examined the data. The UN agency also said wildlife was at risk.

“The diverse systems affected by endocrine-disrupting chemicals likely include all hormonal systems and range from those

Household chemicals...WHO researchers said they have discovered links between household and health issues including breast, prostate and thyroid cancers, testicular problems, developmental effects on children’s nervous systems, and attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity in kids. controlling development and function of reproductive organs to the tissues and organs regulating metabolism and satiety,” the report said. “Effects on these systems can lead to obesity, infertility or reduced fertility, learning and memory difficulties, adult-onset dia-

betes or cardiovascular disease, as well as a variety of other diseases.”

The same report, published 10 years ago, found only “weak evidence” that said chemicals could affect human health.

“The latest science shows that communities across the

globe are being exposed to EDCs, and their associated risks,” said Dr. Maria Neira, WHO’s Director for Public Health and Environment.

She said the agency “will work with partners to establish research priorities to investigate links to EDCs and human health impacts in

order to mitigate the risks,” adding: “We all have a responsibility to protect future generations.”

The study backed similar warnings by the European Environment Agency that were issued last year, warning items like cosmetics and medicines containing EDCs could be harmful to human health.

Earlier, Natural News reported that EDCs identified in this study may have on the body’s hormone system may have “significant health implications” for humans.

According to a UN press release, the report “calls for more research to understand fully the associations between endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) - found in many household and industrial products - and specific diseases and disorders.”

“We urgently need more research to obtain a fuller picture of the health and environment impacts of endocrine disruptors,” Neira said.

Govt, WHO, UNICEF, others establish polio emergency operation centre New HIV-1 vaccine safe

By Chukwuma Muanya part of efforts to stop the AStransmission of the Wild

Polio Virus (WPV) in the country and the renewed transportation to neighbouring countries, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHC-

DA) in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rotary International, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Nigerian Governors Forum has established a Polio Emergency Operation Centre (PEOC).

Also, to address the challenges faced by polio vaccinators, the Federal Government through the NPHCDA has increased the number of vaccinators and has directed that extra security be provided for vaccinators and health workers.

Meanwhile, results from a randomized study published in PLOS ONE last week demonstrate that Mymetic’ innovative HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1) vaccine is safe and well tolerated and demonstrates a high level of immunogenicity in a Phase I trial involving 24 healthy women.

The publication highlights that vaccine-induced mucosal antibodies may contribute to reduce sexually transmitted HIV-1. Mymetics Corporation (OTCBB: MYMX) is a pioneer in the development of vaccines that use the human mucosal system, the body’s first line of defense, to prevent transmission of infectious diseases.

Executive Director NPHCDA, Dr. Ado Gana Mohammed, in a telephone chat with The Guardian yesterday said the new type one WPV reported in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja was the first case in 2013. Mohammed, however, faulted the FCT Primary Health Care Board for not reaching the 60 month-old boy with the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV).

Mohammed explained: “The Abuja case was the very first this year in a 60 month old baby boy. The parents have been moving back and fort from Katsina. The child was never immunized. We have asked the FCT to strengthen

immunization. The FCT Primary Health Care Development Agency must strengthen immunization. I don’t see any reason why they missed the child because the area is accessible and the vaccines are there.

“All they need is to ensure properly that they reach all children within its territory.

We are providing the technical support. We are working with the FCT and also to improve the quality of the campaign.”

Mohammed said the PEOC will provide strategic leadership in the polio eradication efforts and there are plans to replicate this in various states to ensure that each and every child is reached with the polio vaccine.

The NPHCDA boss told The Guardian that with the Geographic Information System (GIS) that provides visual overview of all the settlements, the PEOC has discovered 3,087 settlements that were not in the microplan but are being covered now.

On the challenges faced by polio vaccinators and health workers, Mohammed said: “We have reviewed upwards the number of vaccinators. We found out that the number of vaccinators is quite small compared to the number of settlements and children they are expected to cover. So they get over worked. We are collaborating with the states and local governments to provide additional vaccinators.

“What happened in Kano and Borno where vaccinators and health workers were killed was unfortunate. People should not loose their lives. It is unfortunate that patriotic Nigerians are victims.

President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that security be provided for vaccinators and health workers. Security agencies have also reassured us.

“Local communities are being more vigilant and reaffirmed their commitment. We are further encouraged by the commitment of health workers that say that they will continue to provide service.”

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

NaturalHealth Diabetes plus depression equals increased death risk, review finds EOPLE living with diabetes who also have untreated P depression are at increased risk

Avocado... consuming avocados may be associated with better diet quality and nutrient intake level, lower intake of added sugars, lower body weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumferences, higher “good cholesterol” levels and lower metabolic syndrome risk

Tomato... provides vital chemicals to help muscles recover and blood levels return to normal after being stretched and strained

How avocado, olive oil, tomatoes boost life expectancy, by studies

Recent studies suggest that eating diets rich in avocado, olive oil and tomatoes may be the recipe for boosting the numbers of years lived in good health (life expectancy). The studies found that regular consumption of these plant-based foods lowers the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer, kidney and liver failure; and boosts muscle recovery after exercise.

CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes.

AN daily intake of diet C replete with avocado (Persea americana), olive oil (Olea europaea) and tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) increased the number of years lived in good health?

A new United States study published in the January 2013 issue of Nutrition Journal indicates that consuming avocados may be associated with better diet quality and nutrient intake level, lower intake of added sugars, lower body weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumferences, higher “good cholesterol” levels and lower metabolic syndrome risk.

Metabolic syndrome is a name for a group of risk factors that occur together and increase the risk for coronary artery disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

The new analysis of data was from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a programme of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Also, the results of another study published in the New England Journal of Medicine support the use of the Mediterranean diet for “primary prevention” of heart disease.

The new study found that eating a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil and nuts lowers the rate of major cardiovascular events, at least among people at increased risk for heart disease, The traditional Mediterranean diet, the researchers noted, is characterized by lots of olive oil, fruit, nuts, vegetables, legumes, and cereals, some fish and poultry, and limited amounts of dairy

products, red meat, processed meats, and sweets. As well, the diet includes moderate amounts of wine with meals.

Another study published in journal Food and Chemical Toxicology found that tomato juice could be better than energy drinks at helping the body recover from exercise.

Experts say tomatoes provide vital chemicals to help muscles recover and blood levels return to normal after being stretched and strained.

Experts from a number of health institutions in Greece conducted tests on 15 athletes over a period of two months, looking at vital signs before, during and after exercise.

Nine of the athletes drank tomato juice after exercise and six consumed their regular fizzy energy drink. Those drinking tomato juice had quicker levels of muscle recovery and their glucose levels returned to normal faster after strenuous exercise.

Earlier study by Nigerian researchers reported that leaf extracts of avocado protected the liver from paracetamolinduced medical damage, produced anticonvulsant effect against convulsion and epilepsy, and offered protection against cardiovascular diseases including hypertension in animal models.

Previous studies by United States and Spanish researchers had identified compounds in olive oil and fish oil that can stop cell damage thereby providing cures for leukaemia and pancreatitis. Other studies had shown that the oils are beneficial in preventing and treating breast and prostate cancers.

Researchers had also found that eating large portions of

cooked tomatoes could improve sperm quality and bone mass. They reported that high consumption of tomatoes might be the panacea to infertility in men and osteoporosis or brittle bone disease in women.

Indeed, several studies have associated eating cooked tomatoes with better treatment outcomes in prostrate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases and other chronic diseases.

Meanwhile, the NHANES 2001 to 2008 study of 17,567 adults from ages 19 years and above revealed that the 347 adults (50 per cent female) who consumed avocados in any amount during a 24-hour dietary recording period had several significantly better nutrient intake levels and more positive health indicators than those who did not consume avocados.

According to the analysis, among the avocado consumers, average daily consumption was about one half (70.1 +/- 5.4 g/day) of a medium sized avocado, somewhat higher in male avocado consumers (75.3 +/-6.3 g/day) than females (66.7 +/- 7.3 g/day).

According to the study, avocado consumers more closely adhered to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans than those who did not eat avocados, as measured by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI).

Avocado consumers had significantly higher intakes of certain important nutrients including 36 per cent more dietary fiber, 23 per cent more vitamin E, 13 per cent more magnesium, 16 per cent more potassium and 48 per cent more vitamin K than non-con-

sumers.

Avocado consumers also had significantly higher intakes of “good” fats (18 per cent more monounsaturated and 12 per cent more polyunsaturated) and total fats (11 per cent more) than non-consumers, although average caloric intake of both groups was the same.

Avocado consumers and nonconsumers had similar intakes of sodium. Avocado consumers had significantly lower BMI values than non-consumers. Avocado consumers had significantly smaller waist circumference measures than non-consumers (an average of 4 cm smaller). Avocado consumers weighed significantly less than non-consumers (an average of 7.5 pounds less).

Avocado consumers had significantly higher High Density Lipo-protein (HDL)/ ‘good’ cholesterol levels.

The study found that Avocado consumers had a 50% lower odds ratio for metabolic syndrome compared to nonconsumers. Metabolic syndrome is a name given to a group of risk factors, which, when they occur together, increase the risk for coronary artery disease, stroke and type2 diabetes.

As with most analyses of NHANES data, research findings were based on cross-sectional data from a single 24hour dietary recall (which may be inaccurate and biased due to misreporting and memory lapses) and cannot provide cause and effect evidence between avocado consumption and improvements in diet quality.

The study’s primary investigator Dr. Victor Fulgoni said: “These findings suggest an

interesting association between the consumption of avocados and better nutrient intakes and other positive outcomes.

“These observations were derived from population survey data, they provide important clues to better understanding the relationships between diet and health, and give direction to future research endeavors.”

Meanwhile, in a randomized trial in Spain in high-risk people, those who ate the Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or mixed nuts saw a reduction in the rate of major cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes by nearly 30 percent compared with a control group eating a low-fat diet, according to Dr. Ramón Estruch of the Hospital Clinic in Barcelona, and colleagues.

But they cautioned that participants in the study lived in a Mediterranean country and were already at high risk for cardiovascular events, so it is not clear how well the results will apply to other people.

Nonetheless, the trial’s data and safety monitoring board ruled late in 2011 that the benefits were sufficiently clear that the study should be stopped, Estruch and colleagues reported.

To test the idea that the diet protected against heart disease, the researchers randomly assigned 7,447 people, ages 55 to 80, to one of three diets- a Mediterranean diet with additional extra-virgin olive oil, a Mediterranean diet supplemented with mixed nuts, or a control diet, which consisted essentially of advice to reduce dietary fat.

of death, according to a new evidence review in General Hospital Psychiatry.

More than 42,000 patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and depression were analyzed in the review. The reviewers discovered that depression was associated with a 1.5 fold increase in the risk of dying. In four of the studies reviewed, comorbid depression was linked to about a 20 percent higher risk of cardiovascular death for people with diabetes.

“Depression consistently increased the risk of mortality across virtually all studies,” said Dr. Mijung Park, lead author and assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. “We can now postulate that the harmful effect of depression is universal to individuals with diabetes.”

Dr. Todd Brown, associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said it is very common to see a patient go into a downward spiral when obesity-related co-morbidities, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and depression converge.

“Obesity can lead to worsening metabolic status that can lead to hopelessness and decreased physical activity, which in turns worsens obesity, and the cycle continues,” he explained.

The encouraging news is that depression is a highly treatable condition, said Park.

Because depression can make diabetes self-care more difficult and lessen quality of life, she suggested that depression treatment should be included in overall diabetes care strategies.

Stress, anxiety and sperm quality man’s ability to produce A sperm may depend on his ability to handle stress, according to a new study from Italy.

Researchers found that men with higher levels of both shortand long-term stress and anxiety ejaculated less semen and had lower sperm concentration and counts. Men with the highest anxiety levels were also more likely to have sperm that were deformed or less mobile.

But one fertility researcher not involved in the new work said it’s hard to know how the results apply to the general population because the research included men who were already seeking treatment at a fertility clinic.

“Do you become stressed from becoming infertile or is stress causing infertility?” asked Tina Jensen from Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, who has studied the effects of environmental factors on sperm quality.

Previous research has found that men going through fertility treatment or evaluation have higher stress levels than the average person, and some studies have also shown links between stress and sperm quality, according to the Italian researchers, led by Elisa Vellani of the European Hospital in Rome.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

34 SCIENCE & HEALTH

Furore over local drug production

By Chukwuma Muanya HE revised National Drug Policy (NDP) identifies the realisation of self-sufficiency in local production of essential drugs, the establishment of an effective drug procurement system, evolving a wellordered drug distribution system, the harmonisation and updating of drug legislation, the effective control of drug advertisement and promotion, the entrenchment of and commitment to rational use of drugs at all levels of health care, and drug research and development as some of the major challenges facing drug production, distribution and regulation in the country.

According to the NDP, the need for increased capacity in local drug production has been well recognized; and such capacity should cover the production of raw materials and intermediate products, not just formulation and packaging.

Chairman, Bradford Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Idowu Obasa, told The Guardian in an exclusive interview that drug production facilities in the country are presently operating under severe constraints, including: poor infrastructural facilities such as water and electricity supply; poor transportation and communication; poor waste disposal management; inadequate incentives such as tax relief, capital allowance, and government patronage; limited access to funds for capital development; unfair competition by imported drugs; and reliance on imported raw materials, machinery and spare parts.

He said Bradford Pharmaceuticals is involved in 100 per cent local production of drugs and capacity utilization of existing industries with the recent launch of made in Nigeria medicines: Bradmol a novel brand of paracetamol syrup; Bradcuff a cough syrup; and Bradferex and Bradferon as blood tonics.

Obasa said in order to achieve the target of greater reliance on local drug production, steps shall be taken by government to: encourage the development of a stable economic and political environment; intensify efforts to improve basic infrastructure and facilities; provide an efficient regulatory environment; provide favourable tax, interest rate regime and duty structures for locally manufactured products and imported raw materials, as well as for drug packaging materials; intensify efforts to ensure that the petrochemical and other essential industries for the proper development of the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry come on stream; and encourage research on pharmaceutical raw materials.

Obasa said government should also promote the development of associated industries for the production of materials, such as plastics, glass, paper, aluminium foil, etc., which are essential for drug packaging; encourage patronage of local drug manufacturers by public and private health care institutions; provide grants for the establishment of plants for the production of basic raw materials; and encourage small-scale pharmaceutical production.

Obasa said with the incidence of fake and counterfeit medicines coming mainly from Asia, local drug production would contribute to availability of safe and effective medicines for healthcare, conservation of foreign exchange and utilisation of locally pro-

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Drug production plant...drug production facilities in the country are presently operating under severe constraints

Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu duced raw materials and services.

Obasa stressed the need for Nigerians to invest in pharmaceutical manufacturing as part of efforts to contribute to local industrialisation which would in turn lead to creation of jobs for a pool of unemployed youths.

Meanwhile, to avoid unfortunate incidents of poisoning involving some brands of paracetamol syrup and baby teething mixture in Nigeria, Bradford Pharmaceuticals Limited have discovered novel ways of making drugs without using solvents such as propylene glycol, glycerin and analogues that are easily contaminated.

Obasa said the company’s new flavoured paracetamol syrup, Bradmol, solves the problem of toxicity.

He said the products have been donated to various state governments and teaching hospitals for unstructured clinical trials, even as the company has filed for patent to protect its intellectual property right on the novel compound.

Obasa, however, refused to give away the scientific name of the compound that it discovered after 10 years research,

PSN President, Olumide Akintayo but said it will do so after it had obtained the patent.

Bradford’s superintendent pharmacist, Mr. Anthony Obi, explained: “Bradmol is a pleasantly flavoured paracetamol syrup. Its formulation is unique and novel, as it does not contain propylene glycol, glycerin and analogues.

“You will recall that in 1990 and 2008, there were unfortunate incidents of epidemics of poisoning involving some brands of paracetamol syrup and baby teething mixture in this country. We lost so many innocent and promising children in those epidemics.”

He added: “We researched into the cause of those incidents of poisoning and identified the problem. We found that some vehicles (substances) namely, propylene glycol and glycerin used in dissolving the active pharmaceutical ingredient (paracetamol) were contaminated or substituted with a poisonous substance called diethylene glycol (DEG). We also discovered that DEG is implicated in epidemics of poisoning involving other consumer products such as other medicines, wine and toothpastes around the world.

“We researched and refor-

Chairman Bradford Pharmaceuticals, Idowu Obasa mulated paracetamol syrup eliminating the use of propylene glycol and glycerin. That new formulation is Bradmol Syrup. Our research also revealed that propylene glycol has been implicated in causing latrogenic illness in some pharmaceutical formulations.

“So, Bradmol and indeed our syrups, expectorants and blood tonics are formulated without propylene glycol and glycerin.”

Obi said Bradmol is effective in relieving feverish conditions as in common cold, malaria and other infections, treating mild to moderate pain and mitigating fever and pain after immunisation in children.

The pharmacist said Bradcuff expectorant is a pleasantly flavoured cough syrup and is administered in the mitigation and treatment of cough and nasal congestion.

“Bradcuff expectorant is effective in the relief of cough and nasal congestion. It soothes expectoration of secretions from the respiratory tract and relieves nasal congestion. It is used in treating cough and nasal congestion in both children and adults,” he said.

Reliance Referral Hospital to address medical tourism, says lead consultant

By Emeka Anuforo a bid to curb economic IinNlossthe due to medical tourism country, Reliance Referral Hospital is set to open in Abuja a world-class medical centre with state-ofthe art equipment Speaking during the facility tour of the hospital by the General Electric Healthcare (GEH) team, Dr. Emmanuel Nyong, Lead Consultant to the hospital projects said the rational of establishing the Reliance Referral Hospital is to address the economic loss of Nigeria to medical tourism in the country.

Nvong said: “We have discovered that medical tourism is taking quite a substantial amount of Nigerian money from our healthcare facilities.

Once in a while you wake up in the morning, you see headlines in newspapers as ‘Gen XYZ in motor accidents, after

one week you take him to the United Kingdom (UK) and what you hear is, he is dead.

Why? Because he did not have facilities for the two hour window or four hour window of intervention for his head injury, for instance, which could have been the highest quality service to be delivered that would restore functions of 100 percent respiratory functions when you intervene firmly.”

He said the firm’s mandate is to put up a world-class hospital that would match in quality service with any other hospital in the world.

Nyong also said the flagship/core clinical services include: ophthalmology, urology, nephrology, cardiology.

He further explained: “We are elected to go for only three specialties namely: ophthalmology with particular reference to paediatrics, we

want to offer not only adult ophthalmology but paediatrics.

“Other services are renal care, nephrology and diatel, a dialysis in a hotel kind of setting where you can come in and have your dialysis as if you are in a hotel room, reading newspapers relaxing. The bed categorization meets the requirement of present day health care approach. We have facilities for VIP social and general dialysis.

“Reliance hospital is a 150 bed ultra modern world class medical centre, with state of the art medical equipment. It bringing America, UK and Canadian healthcare standards to our reach in Nigeria.”

Nvong said the hospital will be managed by interHealth Canada (Global Healthcare Solutions) while awaiting accreditation by the Prestigious Joint commission international (JCI).

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

35 SCIENCE HEALTH

Philanthropists raise awareness on cancer

By Wole Oyebade HE Nigerian Stock T Exchange (NSE) in collaboration with Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) on Monday took Lagos Island by storm, as they staged a road show to create awareness on cancer and support for Mobile Cancer Centers (MCCs) initiative.

It was indeed an unusual support for a common course especially on a Monday morning. And between nine and 10 a.m., the entire floor of the NSE building was empty as the stakeholders, led by Chief Executive Officer, Oscar Onyema, publicly “stand up to cancer”, walked for health, and raised the banner high for charity in commemoration of the International Corporate Philanthropy Day (ICPD) 2013.

The capital market community walked through the intersections of Kakawa, Broad Street, Tinubu Square, Martins, Marina and back to the NSE. Onyema, at the floor, told members that the road show was important to draw attention of Nigerians to cancer, volunteerism and humanitarian support for the laudable MCCs initiative led by CECP-Nigeria.

The CECP-Nigeria planned to donate a mobile cancer van to each state of federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) counting on donations from philanthropists in the country.

Each van costs N95 million.

Onyema shared his experi-

Poor turnout of donors dogged MCCs project launch ence with cancer to underscore the importance of investing in quality care programme.

Pledging the support of the NSE, he appealed to all wellmeaning Nigerians to rise to the occasion, citing that the challenge was already way out of the means of the government.

But quite successful as the NSE outing was, the same cannot be said of the fund raising ceremony some hours later. The expected donor and philanthropists did not show up at the lunchtime event held at the Civic Centre.

Convener of CECP-Nigeria, Mrs. Adetutu Adeleke did not hide her disappointment.

Speaking with The Guardian, she said: “I am very disappointed. But I know that it takes time to catch up in Nigeria. This is happening for the first time, maybe by the time they hear of it again and again, there will be a change.

We could not have changed this date because it is the ICPD day commemorated around the world,” she said.

The next strategy, according to her, will be meetings with relevant chief executives of organised private sector, most of who had earlier agreed to be part of the project.

“All of them can still contribute, though we do not have them present or represented today. We will talk to them. The few that came promised to talk to their colleagues. The interest has

rekindled and with more, we will get the best out of them.

I am still optimistic,” Adeleke said.

Senator Daisy Danjuma, who was among the few present at the fund raising, said cancer, which kills more than HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined should jolt the attention of both government and pri-

vate sector to respond to the immediate need.

“I think the awareness should be more. I don’t have an immediate family member that has cancer but it is our duty to be our brothers’ keeper. Together we can prevent it because it is actually preventable,” she said.

Empty seats notwithstanding, the afternoon paid trib-

utes to long list of notable Nigerians that had passed on due to cancer. They were names that would have donated the 37 mobile cancer centres at one seating, if they were alive. And if someone had thought of this initiative some years earlier, some of the deceased might still be alive.

Zonal Coordinator of National Cancer Prevention Programme (NCPP), Dr Abia Nzelu noted that cancer actu-

ally kills more on daily basis (at least 10 Nigerians every hour), and expected to double by 2030. “It has no respect for status, which is why we need to improve on prevention. Together we can fight it, no matter how little to give to the course,” she said.

But whether the philanthropists in Nigeria will rise to the occasion and prevent “unnecessary” cancer morbidity and mortality, only time will tell.

Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Community Health Insurance Scheme, Dr Abdulraheem Oba Sulyman (Left); Managing Director, Hygeia Community Health Care, Dr Peju Adenusi; Group C.E.O Hygeia, Mr. Lars Stork and Chairman, Hygeia Group Mrs. Fola Laoye at a press conference to announce a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kwara State Government on the expansion of the Kwara State Community Health Insurance Programme in Lagos recently

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Scientists gear up for possible asteroid, Earth collision CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

on what to expect rather than having a surprise effect with people not knowing what was happening.”

Any recommendations

formalised by the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space will be formally approved during a UNOOSA session in June,

and later submitted to the UN General Assembly.

Experts hope that after agreeing on a program to monitor NEOs such as asteroids, the UN can also come up with a contin-

gency plan to minimise damage in the case of an unavoidable impact on Earth.

This would include technology, which could deflect NEOs away from the

Lost continent: Sand from Mauritian beaches reveals rock from ancient landmass CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

pose that geologically recent volcanic eruptions brought shards of the crust to Earth’s surface, where the zircons eroded from their parent rocks to pepper the island’s sands. The team’s work is published recently in Nature Geoscience1.

The paper also suggests that not just one but many fragments of continental crust lie beneath the floor of the Indian Ocean.

Analyses of Earth’s gravitational field reveal several broad areas where sea-floor crust is much thicker than normal — at least 25 to 30 kilometres thick, rather than the normal 5 to 10 kilometres.

Those crustal anomalies may be the remains of a landmass that the team has dubbed Mauritia, which they suggest split from Madagascar when tectonic rifting and sea-floor spreading sent the Indian subcontinent surging northeast millions of years ago. Subsequent stretching and thinning of the region’s crust sank the fragments of Mauritia, which together had comprised an island or archipelago about three times the size of Crete, the researchers estimate.

The team chose to collect

Gene therapy shows early promise for heart failure HEN it comes to treating heart failure, the W ultimate hope is to develop a therapy that repairs the damaged heart muscle.

Now, an early study hints at a way to do that by harnessing the body’s natural capacity for repair.

Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition where the heart cannot pump blood efficiently enough to meet the body’s needs, which leads to problems like fatigue, breathlessness and swelling in the legs and feet. Most often, it arises after a heart attack leaves heart muscle damaged and scarred.

In the new study, researchers were able to use gene therapy to modestly improve symptoms in 17 patients with stage III heart failure -where the disease is advanced enough that even routine daily tasks become difficult.

What is novel about the tactic, the researchers said, is that the gene therapy is designed to attract the body’s own stem cells to the part of the heart muscle that’s damaged. The hope is that the stem cells will then get some repair work done.

The findings, published February 21 in the journal Circulation Research, are preliminary, and much more research needs to be done.

sand, rather than pulverize local rocks, to ensure that zircons inadvertently trapped in rock-crushing equipment from previous studies did not contaminate their fresh samples.

The nearest known outcrop of continental crust that could have produced the Mauritian zircons is on Madagascar, far across a deep sea, Jamtveit notes.

Furthermore, the zircons came from Mauritian sites so remote that it is unlikely that humans carried them

there.

“There’s no obvious local source for these zircons,” says Conall Mac Niocaill, a geologist at the University of Oxford, UK, who was not involved in the research.

Also, it does not seem as if the zircons rode to Mauritius on the wind, says Robert Duncan, a marine geologist at Oregon State University in Corvallis.

“There’s a remote possibility that they were wind blown, but they’re probably too large to have done

so,” he adds.

Other ocean basins worldwide may well host similarly submerged remains of “ghost continents”, Mac Niocaill notes in an accompanying News & Views article2. Only detailed surveys of the ocean floor, including geochemical analyses of their rocks, will reveal whether the splintered and now submerged Mauritia has any long-lost cousins, he suggests.

planet, and emergency protocols for damage limitation should an impact prove unavoidable.

NEOSSat will focus on the day-side of the sky, which is not visible from groundbased observatories. It is hoped that the mission will discover at least half of the asteroids 1 kilometre across or larger within Earth’s orbit.

The mission will also keep an eye on high-altitude satellites, and monitor orbiting space junk to try to minimize collisions.

Tests of anti-satellite weapons and collisions between satellites have led to an increase in the amount of orbiting debris in recent years, leading to several near-misses with the International Space Station.

NEOSSat would not, however, have been able to provide advanced warning of the meteor that exploded over Russia earlier this month, according to the Canadian Space Agency.

The new probe lifted off from from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, riding on an Indian-made rocket together with other satellites.

Weighing in at a mere 143 pounds (65 kilograms), this $12 million suitcasesize satellite will spend half its time pinpointing asteroids. Researchers say it could find at least a hundred new ones during its first year of operationsome of which currently have undetected orbits between the Earth and the sun.

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‘Fresh polio case was imported’ From: Mohammed Abubakar and Emeka Anuforo (Abuja) INISTER of State for Health, Muhammed Ali Pate has confirmed the new case of polio in Abuja, adding that the case might have been “imported” from one of the endemic states.

Pate told The Guardian that the single case of a 27-monthold child currently in FCT was reported.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government (FG) has advocated a stiffer sanction against the media found culpable in the serial campaign against polio immunization in any part of the country.

The Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu said such sanction would dissuade others from carrying out such campaign against the exercise in any part of the country.

Pate noted that the polio victim is from a family that travels back and forth from one of the high-risk areas.

According to him: “So far in 2013 there has not been a case from any of the traditionally high risk States. The case in FCT could be an importation, and illustrates the need for continued vigilance and utmost attention by FCT. “I have discussed with FCT Minister who has demonstrated strong commitment to ensure polio eradication from the FCT in line with Mr. Presidents direction,“ he said.

Chukwu’s position on the proposed sanction was not unconnected with the recent brutal killing of seven polio immunization workers and three others earlier this

M

FG seeks sanction against anti-polio campaign month in Kano State.

Chukwu, who made the call during a press briefing at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in State House Abuja recently, said Kano State government had already complained to the Nigerian Broadcasting Organisation (NBC) over the negative campaign allegedly embarked upon by a local radio station in the state.

The incident had led to series of resignations in the affected radio station by key staff of the broadcast outfit, citing alleged state government interference in the running of the station.

The action followed the arrest of some of the people believed to have instigated the mass revolt against polio immunization exercise through a popular radio programme days before the commencement of the exercise.

Besides, the Police in the state had arrested and charged three radio journalists for allegedly sparking the killings of at least nine women gunned down while trying to administer polio vaccines.

The arrest was made on the premise that the on-air comments about a vaccination campaign in the area inflamed passion against the exercise and caused the attacks.

The Minister said investigations were still on in the matter and noted as unacceptable the use of the media to instigate the public against

accepting polio immunization noting that the federal government was doing something about the negative campaign against polio immunization in parts of the north.

According to Chukwu, “The

mass media is controlled by private people. Kano government has complained against the medium and NBC ought to sanction it,” assuring that the federal government was working with security agencies to provide security for the health workers and those participating in the exercise.

Abuja hospital celebrates IVF breakthrough From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja HE management of Abuja based hospital, Amana Medical Centre, is elated following the arrival of its first In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) baby.

And to keep the memory of its feat in history, the hospital and the parents have named the baby Amana.

Chief Medical Director of

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Govt adopts new framework to tackle maternal mortality From John Okeke, Abuja S part of efforts to reduce the high rate of maternal mortality in the country, the Federal Government has adopted a new strategy known as Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Acceleration Framework (MAF) to address the problem The plan, which offers a new urgent way to rise to the challenges of accelerating progress with the MDGs in the country, identifies priorities on the area of interventions that would help reduce the high level of

A

maternal mortality in the country.

The plan also draws attention to prioritized interventions which removes bottlenecks that stands in the ways of implementing these interventions Minister of Health Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, keynote address at a recent two day technical workshop on MDG Acceleration Framework organized by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs in conjunction with the British

Department for International Development (DFID) said that MAF would help fast track the health sector efforts aim at accelerating progress towards the MGDs by 2015.

The Minister also said that the MAF has been tested and proven by other countries to be a an accepted policies to engender progress through capacity building Chukwu noted that government and other non-government has made a lot of effort to reduce the scourge to the barest minimum.

Prime Care Fertility Clinic at Amana Medical Centre, Dr Eloka Menakaya, told newsmen in Abuja that Nigerians need not go abroad to get IVF services as any more as many hospitals in the country had the capacity to handle the technology.

He said about 60 per cent of increased infertility rate is now being experienced by men, stressing that the situation gave rise to the fertility clinic in February 2012.

He stressed how Amana had drastically reduced the cost of IVF, why calling on government and insurance companies to include infertility management in health insurance cover.

“IVF treatment is not regarded as life threatening compared to malaria, tuberculosis and Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS),” he said According to him, because of the high costs of managing infertility, Amana Medical Centre started a fertility clinic in February 2012 and began to treat couples in the process of IVF via Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) at a cost of N800, 000 to N900,000.

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Why we want 1861 abortion law repealed, by Ipas chief Unsafe abortion still a major contributor to maternal death in Nigeria From Emeka Anuforo and Bridget Chiedo Onochie Nigeria, an international ItionPAS nongovernmental organizaworking in the area of women’s sexuality and reproductive health and rights have intensified clamor for the promulgation of an 1861 English law which outlined abortion.

Speaking on the need for Nigerian to enact safe abortion laws, Country Director of Ipas Nigeria, Dr.Ejike Oji, at a media training in Owerri, said that England has since reviewed the law over four times while Nigeria still practice provisions of the law and associated versions.

He spoke of how women turn to unsafe abortion to terminate pregnancies where safe abortion is unavailable, at the risk to their health and lives.

According to him, unsafe abortions are a major contributor to the high rate of maternal death in Nigeria and have a devastating public health impact as measured by deaths, illnesses, injuries and the costs of emergency care.

He noted how existing abortion law in the country is killing women. “As a result of the highly restrictive abortion laws, people perform the procedure in unsafe, clandestine conditions,” Oji said.

“Where abortion is legal, safe and accessible, death and injuries for unsafe abortion are on the decrease. Laws’ complicity in compromising

Unsafe abortions are a major contributor to the high rate of maternal death in Nigeria and have a devastating public health impact as measured by deaths, illnesses, injuries and the costs of emergency care. women’s reproductive health is evident in the status of Nigerian law on abortion,” he observed.

Oji said there is urgent need for Nigeria to take serious actions to legalize abortion.

“Unsafe abortion is the number one cause of infertility in Nigeria,” he said.

He made copious reference to a recent review of the causes of deaths among pregnant women by the in Lagos State Government, which observed that most were as a result of complications arising from illegal abortions.

He said: “ 20 per cent of all rape cases end up in unwanted pregnancy and 95 per cent of all victims want to abort.

Nigerian woman dies every six minutes from having babies through abortion or having them too early or two frequently.”

Stressing the need to use contraceptives to avoid unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion, he enjoined the Nigerian government to ensure the promulgation of a law to make safe abortion available to all instead of forcing people to resort to illegal abortion that endangers the lives of women.

He went on: “ According to available researches, unsafe

abortions lead to about 34, 000 deaths of Nigerian women in each year. A 1996 study estimated that 610, 000 abortions occurred each year in Nigeria of which 142, 000 resulted in complications severe enough to require hospitalization. With the country’s growing population, the annual number of abortions is estimated to have increased to 760, 000 abortions by 2006.

However, the actual number if deaths is likely much higher, because these estimates exclude women who died before reaching a hospital or before being interviewed for the studies on which the estimates are based.

“Unofficially, one in 10 Nigerian women of child bearing age say that they have had an abortion. Of the total number of abortions in Nigeria, only 40 per cent are performed safely. Low income women and girls who cannot afford the high cost of abortion or who are ignorant of the dangers of unsafe procedures by unqualified individuals, stand very high risks of losing their lives. For every u safe abortion that results in death, another thirty women suffer long-term injury and disability.”

CMD seeks establishment of stem cell transplant centres in six geo political zones From Nkechi Onyedika, Benin ONSIDERING the high C number of Nigerians suffering from sickle cell anemia, the Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Dr. Michael Ibadin, has urged the federal government to establish stem cell transplant centre across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

Ibadin also called for more funding to enable UBTH expand the facilities in its centre to cater for the needs of patients who require the service.

Speaking when the National Good Governance Team visited the stem cell transplant centre of UBTH yesterday in Benin, Ibadin noted that the centre, which is the first in West Africa and third in African continent, had so far carried out two successful transplant after which genotypes were changed from SS to AA. He disclosed that the procedure costs between N4 to N6 million but can be reduced. “About N60 million has been spent on the project and with more funds it can be expanded,” Ibadin added.

The UBTH CMD said: “The procedure takes one day but the patient is kept for one hundred more days to undergo series of examinations.

Patients are kept in air- tight rooms where only health

With the equipment, most kinds of cancer can be cured; except those in hidden areas. Early detection is key. A lot of cancer patients do not come to the hospital on time. But as long as they do, the machine detects and its treated early care workers have access to them.”

Also speaking, a consultant hematologist and specialist in bone marrow transplant, Godwin Bazwaye, said that there is very minimal risk in the procedure particularly to the donor.

He, however, said it is advisable that for persons with sickle cell, the procedure should be done on persons between the age of 15 and below, as it is not encouraged in adults due to the higher risk.

Bazwaye said sometimes the patients react to the drugs administered during the process of crushing the bone marrow.

On the risk of infertility, he said: “In the past we used to administer a high dose which could cause infertility because the sperm is destroyed but right now we use a reduced modified intensity to prevent infertility.

“There is a five to ten percent risk that the patient may react to which may lead to death. The hospital carried out its first transplant in September 2011 and the patient has not had any crisis

since the transplant.”

Taking the team round the state of the art equipments, a Computed Tomography (CT) scam machine and simulator, at the radiotherapy unit of the hospital, the CMD noted that the equipments enables the picture of the tumor in the cancer patient to be viewed and the area is delineated for treatment.

He observed that with the state of the art facilities, at least 60 patients could be treated in a day. He, however, lamented that several cancer patients only go to the hospital when the cancer has reached an advanced stage.

“With the equipment, most kinds of cancer can be cured; except those in hidden areas.

Early detection is key. A lot of cancer patients do not come to the hospital on time. But as long as they do, the machine detects and its treated early,” he said.

Ibadin said the hospital management has already constituted a cancer management board to create awareness on screening procedure for patients.

“The equipments were acquired for about N24 million.”

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Cerebral palsy initiative is to provide succour to affected families, says Gbadebo IR VICE Marshall Femi A Gbadebo (Rtd) is the founder of Benola, a Cerebral Palsy initiative. The former Air Force Instructor pilot and facilitator at various Military Training Institutions says he is committed to raising awareness about cerebral palsy and also providing succour to those living with the condition in an interview with selected journalists in Lagos.

On why he established the cerebral palsy initiative, Gbadebo said: “I have a 16year son who has been living with cerebral palsy since birth. My family and I have lived with this unique condition all this time and my job which has afforded me the opportunity to travel to several countries made it possible for me and my wife to assess and explore other opportunities of caring and seeing first-hand, how the issue of disability is handled in the western world.

“While in service, my wife did most of the management of our son and since my retirement, I have spent all my time with him because I made a commitment that whatever I do after retirement must afford me enough flexibility to spend as much time with him as possible. That is why I have never considered taking up a full time appointment. All along the way, I started to think of how I could use my experience with my son to educate and encourage others through the use of the social media like Facebook, twitter etc.

“In my interaction with people, I found lot of those who want to identity with the course of the disabled but the problem has always been who to trust because of the activities of fraudsters parading as directors and trustees in some NonG o v e r n m e n t a l Organizations. “ So people are sceptical as to who to support to get things done, who has the credibility and managerial prowess to do things right.

Gbadebo

That is why we decided to step to make a difference and we are not alone because I believe that with the large pool of retired Chief Executive Officers and top management staff both in private and public sectors that we have in this country, not to mention the bulk of retired officers and civil servant, Nigeria has the human and material resources to change the face of NGO’s in Africa.”

How are you going to source funds? Gbadebo explained: “If you start thinking about funds, you will not achieve anything but if you believe in what you are doing, all you need to show people is sincerity of purpose and commitment along with a well-articulated plan and a clearly defined structure.

God will do the rest.

Certainly, it may be rough at the beginning but when people see what you are doing, they will surely buy into it and begin to support you.”

How are you going to sustain the initiative? “Some people like to personalize things but we intend to create a structure that will outlive the founder. What I mean is that as the founder, i am only making sure things get off the ground, Thereafter; a full time chief executive officer will be engaged to run the affairs under the direct

supervision of the Board of Trustees. We also have an Advisory Board who will help direct the affairs of Benola. So you can see that we are creating a structure that is will be self-sustaining,” he said.

Are you going to synergize with other health related NGOs? The founder of Benola said: “Issues of disability cut across many groups. We see advocacy for the handicapped as one issue which no individual or organization can handle alone. So we intend to work with other groups and from interactions with people in the industry, the impression is that we are on the right track.

When you have this kind of project at your hand, you must reach out to others who share similar views and already know the terrain.”

What is your message to physically challenged Nigerians? He explained: “My message to families or anybody living with a disabled person is that a disabled person is no different from you and me. He or she is just a unique individual who is unable to do some of the things that we can do unassisted and so what they need is love, not pity. If I am to talk from my own experience, I will say that once you show love and understanding to a disabled person, what you get in return is a whole lot of love.”

SFH boosts malaria diagnosis in Delta with microscopes From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba ORRIED by the menace W of malaria which presently afflicts over half of Nigeria’s adult population, the Society for Family Health (SFH) has presented 26 Microscopes to health care facilities in the 25 Local Councils of Delta State and the Teaching Hospital at Oghara.

The territorial Manager of SFH, Mr. Sabastin Ikejide who spoke in Asaba recently during the presentation explained that the microscopes were distributed to boost the capacity of implementing malaria diagnosis in referral health care centers as well as consumables that would help tackles malaria.

Ikejide lamented that with millions of Nigerians suffering from one episode malaria there was the need for a strategy to tackle the disease, adding that as a strategy to tackle the disease, the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) appointed SFH to implement the proj-

ect.

He disclosed some of the activities carried out between 2009 and 2011 in the phase 1 of the project included selection of private sector health facilities, training of selected private sector health providers, distribution of health commodities and behavioral change in communication through advocacy. “A total of 115,000 dose of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) where distributed in the state,” Ikejide said.

According to Ikejide, SFH was collaborating with the Federal Government and other international donors to implement programmes in areas of malaria, safe water system, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), child survival and reproductive health through the private sector. He said the mission of the society was to empower Nigerians especially the poor and the vulnerable to live a healthier lives

through social marking as well as behavioral change in communication activities.

The Benin, Edo State based Territorial Manager said that in phase 2 of the project facility which is based on distribution of insecticide nets, health system strengthening and diagnosis would be carried out in line with the new National Strategic Trust on Malaria control.

He lauded the state government for the holistic approach towards giving the health sector a face lift especially its giant strides in the area of reduction of maternal and child mortality.

The Delta state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Otumara, said that the SFH has been enhancing lives and the microscopes would be judiciously utilized to achieve the purpose for which they were donated, even as he maintained that malaria could only be effectively tackled when it had been diagnosed.

Hormonal imbalance and infertility in women ORMONAL imbalance is H one of the most common causes of female infertility.

Hormones play a very significant role in reproduction and like every other thing in the body that God created, they function optimally when they are in perfect condition.

Certain hormones referred to as the female sex hormones control the menstrual period, which occurs monthly in a woman of reproductive age except she is pregnant.

These hormones are, Follicle Stimulating Hormone [FSH], Luteinizing Hormone (LH), oestrogen and progesterone.

The menstrual cycle and subsequently pregnancy are under the control of these hormones and this is dependent on their quantity, quality and timing of secretion. The characteristics of these hormones and their production are further dependent on the pH of the tissues and organs where they are secreted. The alkalinity or acidity of the body is referred to as the pH (hydrogen potential). This is measured on a scale that is from 0 to 14, 0 to 6.9 is acidic and 7.1 to 14 is alkaline, while 7 is neutral.

For optimal performance of the functions of the body, the pH should be alkaline (the Creator made it so). However the lifestyle and diet of the modern human beings have rendered the body pH acidic.

Alkalinity promotes life while acidity promotes infection and death.

Hormonal imbalance, as a cause of infertility, is predominantly due to the acidic pH of the body. The sperm cells and eggs are very minute cells that can be affected by slight changes in the pH of the region where they are produced. The quality of the hormones, whether from the brain, the adrenal glands, the ovaries or the prostate gland in men are also dependent on the pH and the amount of water in the cells of these organs and their extracellular spaces.

In a state of dehydration, the pH is usually acidic and detrimental to the reproductive cells. The hormones released, being inadequate (hormonal imbalance) will lead to the production of substandard eggs. Oestrogen, which is the hormone predominantly secreted in the first phase of the menstrual cycle along with FSH and LH that should be secreted for an egg to mature and be released at ovulation may all be deficient. In this case an egg may not mature for release during ovulation. This sort of cycle is known as an anovulatory cycle and with the absence of an egg there never can be pregnancy.

There is what the experts refer to as luteal phase deficiency and this is when the progesterone, the hormone in charge of the second phase of the menstrual cycle is inadequate in quantity and quality. The reason is the same as we have been looking at, hormonal imbalance caused by the wrong pH. Progesterone is supposed to check the influence of oestrogen and prepare the uterus for pregnancy. If it is inadequate, oestrogen remains unchecked and the uterus may not be ready for the implantation of the embryo. Progesterone is initially secreted in the corpus luteum, the site in the ovary where an egg was released for the month. If there was an anovulatory cycle, there will not be a corpus luteum and no progesterone secretion.

Without the release of an egg at the time of ovulation,

there can never be pregnancy.

The acidity in that region of the body where fertilization takes place, the vicinity of the ovary and the fimbrial end of the fallopian tube, for instance, may be too harsh for the sperm cells and egg and if fertilization occurs the resultant embryo may not be viable.

Such an embryo may die before getting implanted in the uterus. Together with a corpus luteum that may not produce adequate progesterone to maintain pregnancy, the end result will be failure of implantation or missed abortion.

Furthermore, the vagina, which is naturally acidic, may become more acidic in a state of dehydration and if the semen carrying the sperm cells into the vagina is not as alkaline as it should be, it may not be able to neutralize the acidity of the vagina. The sperm cells may all be destroyed in the vagina.

Also, there is a fluid around the cervical orifice (the opening into the uterus) that should trap and direct the sperm cells through. This fluid is known as cervical mucus and its consistency is dependent on the state of hydration of the individual. In a woman who is chronically dehydrated the cervical mucus may become too thick with the result that the chemicals in the semen that should create a corridor for the passage of the sperm cells through the mucus may not be able to do so. Next week I shall consider more causes of female infertility and prevention.

Nephrologists task govt on kidney care

By Wole Oyebade EPHROLOGISTS in the country have tasked government at all levels to improve strategy at tackling the scourge of chronic kidney disease among Nigerians.

The experts with specialty in diagnosis and management of kidney disease and under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Nephrology (NAN) at the recent 25th anniversary and congress held in Abuja called for concerted effort to reduce the burden of kidney disease.

NAN in a communiqué

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issued at the end of the 10day programme, though expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and mobile telecommunication giant, MTN on improving facility in the six geopolitical zones of the country, they requested that screening programmes and preventive initiatives should be pursued with the backing of government at all levels.

The body expressed concern that the current National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) does not cover renal replacement therapy, treatment for chronic kidney disease, which is very expensive

and unaffordable by most Nigerians.

They called for necessary legislative amendments in the laws to ensure that renal replacement therapy and other renal care services are covered by the NHIS. NAN reiterated the need for short-term waivers on hardware and consumables need in the renal care, adding that import charges on these items had further increased costs. They urged the government to create enabling environment for the manufacturing of consumable, both in the medium and long-tem in the country.

UBA, MoneyGram extends CSR programme to UBTH NITED Bank for Africa Plc U (UBA) in collaboration with MoneyGram International, has donated a fully branded children playroom and center for the Pediatric ward of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

The donation, which was in commemoration of 15 years of robust relationship between UBA and MoneyGram International, was also undertaken to boost health delivery in Nigeria and in line with plans to execute hospital based Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects in four states of the country-

Lagos, Ibadan, Benin and Owerri.

Recently, UBA and MoneyGram International donated a fully branded crèche to the Oncology Pediatric ward of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Nigeria.

While taking delivery of the play center, the Chief Medical Director, University of Benin, Professor Michael Ibadin, commended UBA and MoneyGram for the donation, saying that “the relationship between UBTH and UBA had come a long way and dates back to the 80s when other banks were having

their branches located around the popular Akpakpava and Ring road.

UBA was the only bank that came toward UBTH. As a result of that, we have very good relationship and we have worked very well since then and will sustain the partnership.”

The Director, Consumer Banking Group of the bank, Owoeye Ilesanmi, said: “UBA will continue to nurture the relationship with UBTH with excellent professional services and necessary support towards achieving the hospital’s goal of providing quality health care to Nigerians.”

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

Education ABU: Still struggling at 50 The Ahmadu Bello University has contributed immensely to the economic development of the country, through scores of its graduates who are holding key positions in both the public and private sectors of the economy. But its growth rate has been slow, due to poor funding and dearth of critical facilities, reports ROTIMI LAWRENCE OYEKANMI HERE is hardly any university in Nigeria or T the sub Sahara African region, that can match the sheer size of the reputable Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), located in Zaria, one of Kaduna’s most illustrious towns.

Sitting over 7,000 hectares of land and named after the former legendary Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the university opened its doors in October 1962 with 426 students, 89 academic staff members and only four faculties.

After his installation as the first chancellor of the university in November 1963, Bello had defined the mission of the university in the following words: “the cardinal principle upon which our university was founded is to impart knowledge and learning to men and women of all races, without any distinction on the grounds of race, religion or political beliefs.”

And right from that moment, ABU began its journey with the world at its feet. During its golden era between 1962 and 1986, ABU flourished to the admiration of the entire African continent, held its convocation regularly and had in its fold, students and staff members from all parts of the world.

Today, the institution’s size has ballooned, accommodating 12 Faculties, 82 departments, 12 specialised institutes and centres; and a post graduate school. It also currently parades 7,793 staff members, with a student population, at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, hovering around 36,000. It has also, in 49 years, graduated over a record 500, 000 individuals, who are in both the private and public sectors of the country.

Sadly, as the university prepares to hold its special convocation ceremony and launch its Phase Two Development Fund on Saturday, an unbelievable level of rot has also been uncovered. According to the 2010 Visitation Panel Report, no significant research breakthrough was recorded by ABU in the last 49 years. The number of academic staff was found to be grossly insufficient; teaching facilities have broken down very badly; the university library is practically in reverse gear, and its finances are, curiously, being poorly managed.

The panel, headed by emeritus Professor of English Language, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan and former Pro Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Ayo Banjo, also included: Profs G.A. Obiozor, Festus Ogunbona, Eugene Okpere, Mrs Itunu Rewane, Alhaji Lawan Rano, Alhaji Ismail Tingim and Mr. Bassey Iweama.

On staff strength, the panel established that out of the university’s 7793 members of staff, only 1,781 or 22.9 per cent were in the academic

Mustapha

Banjo

cadre. The non-teaching junior and senior staff members were 3393 (43.2 percent) and 2639 (33.9) respectively. The report stated: “ (an) analysis of the figures indicates largely that the Faculties of Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy Science, Environmental Design are adequately staffed. On the other hand, the faculties of Medicine, Social Science, Science and Engineering are grossly under-staffed. Worthy of mention is the Faculty of Medicine, with 734 student population in Nursing Science and only four academic staff.”

On students’ academic performance, the panel discovered that in 2009, out of a total of 6,211 graduating students, 4, 958 or 80 percent had either Third Class or Pass. The report noted: “from a barely acceptable figure of 20-28 percent in 2005-2008, this (third class graduates) spiked to an alarming 80 percent in 2009. The improvement in 2010 (41prcent) is a mirage.

That year witnessed the highest number of pass degrees in the five years reviewed.”

It continued: “The genesis for the poor performance of students is complex and multi-factorial. Such factors may include a poor quality of intake of students, over-admission in excess of available facilities, frequent industrial actions mainly by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and uncongenial hostel environments. Nonetheless, poor dedication by academic staff may play a more than passing

role.”

The findings on teaching facilities were damning. The panel discovered that the number of students studying Mathematics/Computer Science had gone up to over 200 at the 300 and 400 levels; and over 300 students at the 200 level. There is no lecture hall to accommodate all the students at a time. Many of them were seen sitting on the floor of the hall, while some were observed taking notes through the windows.

On the library, the panel wrote: “We found that all the libraries and, notably, the main library are in a state of disrepair. The floors are cracked, the walls are peeling, the ceiling boards are neither here nor there. A gross majority of the books are very old and are clearly not being accessed. To crown all these, new donated books are still on the cataloguing tables 12 months after acquisition. In most parts of the library, the air conditioners are not functioning; the digitalization room contains a single scanner that takes over two hours to scan a 100page-book. There is too much inflow of students coming to watch the wide screen plasma television, ostensibly located in the main library for ‘current affairs.’

Of equal concern is the Law library. Most of the journals are all outdated; even the 2009 Nigeria law review was not available.”

On financial management, the panel sub-

mitted that the Bursary department, in its current state, “does not provide efficient support services needed by the university.” It noted that the accounting system of the university was yet to be fully computerized. Some records such as cash books and ledgers were kept on stand alone Excel systems and given the university’s volume of transactions, lack of linkages and the low level of skilled staff in the Bursary, financial reporting is delayed and inaccurate.

The panel found that the list of staff debtors was “long and unwieldy, some dating back to 1997 and cutting across departments and units.” The total outstanding in the pre-2004 cash balances was N10million, while the figure for 2010 was N80 million. The outstanding for salary advances and vehicle loans was in excess of N50million.

The report submitted: “There are names that keep recurring on the list. This is a sign of weak internal controls as there is provision for staff (members) who are in default of retiring advances to have the outstanding sums deducted from their salaries. On the other hand, it could be due to poor ledger maintenance, but most likely a combination of weak controls and sloppy work. Poor control over cash advances may result in misappropriation of university funds and incomplete capture of expenses.”

Under “leadership,” the report revealed the circumstances that led to the sudden resignation of Mallam Adamu Ciroma as pro chancellor of the university in October 2009, barely eight months after his appointment. The institution’s council under Ciroma had initiated the process for the appointment of a new vice chancellor, but the exercise ended in a controversy. Although, the council had followed due process, and had nominated Professors Andrew Nok, Yakubu Nasidi and Zakari Mohammed as the first three candidates, the council could not decide on who to appoint.

Obviously dissatisfied, Ciroma resigned. The report asserted that the inability of the council to devise practical strategies to resolve the complex but unique problem amounted to a “failure of leadership.”

But instead of disbanding the entire council, the federal government not only retained it, but also appointed one of the members of the same council as the new pro-chancellor. The “new” council initiated a new process, redesigned the criteria, which eventually led to the appointment of the current vice chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha. Expectedly, another round of controversy erupted, and some aggrieved individuals have since gone to court. In fact, the governing council summarily sacked Prof. I. Dafwang, one of the two academic staff members who went to court.

Ibadan grammar school clocks 100,old boys recount fond memories

By Isaac Taiwo S the old boys of Ibadan A Grammar School prepare to lavishly celebrate their alma

mater’s 100th anniversary, some of them have been recounting their respective experiences with nostalgia.

Unveiling the elaborate activities lined up for the centennial celebration at a briefing in Lagos recently, the Chairman IBAGRAMS Independence Club (1956 to 1960 set) Chief Akin Lasebikan explained that a world press conference has been fixed to March 21 at the school, during which journalists would have the opportunity to inspect various facilities provided by the old boys.

There will be a procession by the old students to the Oyo State government house, the Anglican Archbishop’s official residence and the Olubadan if Ibadan’s palace on March 25.

Students’ exhibition will take

place the following day, while a centenary lecture and book launch will hold on March 28.

Recounting fond memories of the school at the briefing, Dr. Patrick Dele Cole, who attended the School between 1959 and 1960 to prepare for his Higher School Certificate (HSC) examination, described his experience in the school as fantastic.

His words: “Ibadan Grammar School lays the foundation for an average student that goes there to build upon. I came from Baptist High School, Port Harcourt with a religious background and I was one of the few that came from Eastern Nigeria during the political period.

My experience at Ibadan Grammar School was fantastic and in the absence of any exaggeration, the school was and I believe still remains a school that every parent would want his son or daughter to attend, because the teaching in our own time was efficient and our

results absolutely fantastic.

“Your mates in the class are the same faces you are likely to meet in the University, because every student was made to work hard and have good result. It was only one student who did not graduate during my set. Our principal, Rev. Emmanuel Alayande took all of us as his own children. He was a disciplinarian and a mentor.”

Professor Akinjide Oshuntokun, who was also in the school to prepare for his HSC examination between 1961 and 62 said: “Though I came from the Anglican Christ School, where I was nurtured as a Christian and became very gentle, Ibadan Grammar School, however, introduced me to different people from all walks of life, and this gave me a different perspective of life.

“Our Principal, Rev. Alayande, was a father, who showed us love which we too reciprocated. He did not demonstrate

any act of partiality. He utilized his privilege of being a member of Teachers’ Union to recruit a lot of white teachers for the school. He was a committed and very efficient person, who helped Ibadan Grammar School produce a lot of great people, who have contributed

to national development.”

“Mr. Tunde Adeniyi, also a student from 1951 to 1956, said affirmed that Alayande was second to none in terms of building the lives of young people. “I was privileged to be among the group that moved from OkeAre to Molete when we had to

carry our benches on our heads within the range of 10 kilometres,” he recalled. “I was second to the youngest in my set.

Though, we had to carry benches for our seniors too, it was fun because we had the time to play around.”

Members of the 1956 -60 set of Ibadan Grammar School, also known as the ‘Independence Club”. From left: Alhaji Waheed Kassim, Mr. Akin Parker, Chief Akin Lasenikan, Chief Akintunde Taylor, Mr. Tunji Taiwo and Mr Goke Adeniji.

The GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

50 | education

Private schools must take training of teachers seriously, says Oloriade

By Mary Ogar ATheR than just for the financial gain, individuals and corporate organizations planning to set up private schools should also have passion for education and the children, according to the pioneer principal of Wellspring College, Lagos, mrs. Olwayemisi Oloriade.

Speaking with The Guardian Lagos recently, against the backdrop of the school’s 10th anniversary Oloriade also asserted that constant training of teachers was an important virtue that all private schools should imbibe. Besides, she canvassed a thorough supervision of teachers and all other non-academic staff members, to enable the school achieve its goals.

Another critical element of a private secondary school, she noted, is the provision of good, wellequipped laboratories for the science subjects. “From our experience, we believe that when a child sees something, he or she learns better than just hearing about it.

And this has helped us to get the best out of the children,” she said.

Oloriade, who attributed the school’s impressive academic record since its inception in 2003 to the quality of its teachers also admitted that various hurdles had to be crossed in the last 10 years. her words: “We would be celebrating the 10th

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Oloriade anniversary of the college in October and the journey has not always been easy. But God has helped us to build the lives of all the children that have passed through this school. Their achievements are a proof that our efforts were not in vain.”

She added: “At Wellspring college, we don’t just hire teachers indiscriminately.

We ensure that they have a strong knowledge of the subject matter, because what we have discovered over the years is the fact that it is one

thing to know a particular subject but another thing to be able to deliver.

She added: “We don’t manage or share resources. We have the Physics, Biology, Chemistry and music, laboratories separately. We ensure that every subject that encompasses the practical aspect has its own laboratory.”

On the college’s partnership with the University of Lagos Consult, she explained: “the Unilag Consult is the technical supervisor. When

we started, they hired the staff, produced examination questions and even when we set questions, they still ensured that the questions were standardized. They help us to break down the curriculum to something that can easily be managed by any teacher.”

On morality, Oloriade revealed that emphasis is placed on the holy bible and its teachings, through which the students are exposed to strict moral codes.

On the performance of students in the last may/June West African Secondary School Certificate examination (WASSCe) may/June, she said the school recorded a 100 per cent pass in 13 subjects and between 80 and 90 percent in the sciences, arts and commercial subjects.

On discipline, the principal insisted that all students must adhere to all the school’s rules and regulations. She said: “One can assume that by the virtue of my position, I should get to school at any time. But I get to the school before 8.00 am and that is because I want to show my teachers that it is possible. I was brought up in an environment where you respect time. Another motivating factor is that I look forward to seeing a generation of leaders that would move the country forward. To get the best out of these children is not only when we talk, our behavior counts too.”

Race for vice chancellor causes disquiet at UNIOSUN he selection process for the T post of vice chancellor at the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) is generating interest among stakeholders both within and outside the institution. more curious is the purported recent directive by the Osun State house of Assembly to the institution’s governing council to halt the selection process, as the university’s enabling law goes through a review by the lawmakers.

Before now, the procedure for appointing a vice chancellor had been a thorny issue between the State house of Assembly and the university’s governing council, prompting the call for a review of the law setting the institution up. As things now stand, there are allegations that some candidates who applied for the post have been deliberately disqualified, while those allegedly “favoured” have been shortlisted.

Specifically, a source told The Guardian that the shortlisted candidates include: Profs.

Oladiran Famurewa, Joshua Obaleye, Fatai Akintunde Balogun and Bashil Adekunle Okeshina among others.

Unconfirmed reports allged that three of the shortlisted candidates are between 62 and 68 years old, while the younger candidates were disqualified by a clause which stipulated that, candidates aspiring for the post must have been a professor for not even a day less than 10 years.

From John Akubo, Dutse ROvOST of the Jigawa State School of Legal and Islamic Studies, Dr. Abbas Abubakar Abbas has implored the Federal Government to allow the benefits of the Tertiary education Trust Fund (TeTFund) to trickle down to monotechnics.

Abbas, who spoke shortly after the school’s matriculation of over 1500 newly admitted student for 2013 session, also urged the governement to rescind its decision which excluded monotechnics from TeTFund’s grants.

According to the Provost, TeTFund’s past interventions had a great impact on the development of monotechnics across the country, in terms of the provision of scholarships to the lecturers, financing of research works, building of administrative blocks, lecture rooms and even the provision of other working materials that enhanced the standard of the colleges and the quality of education they offered. “excluding monotechnics

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Provost canvasses TeTFund’s intervention for monotechnics from accessing TeTFund intervention started in 2010,” he regretted. “And from that time to date, the negative effects of the exclusion have manifested in the colleges. I am using this medium to call on the Federal Government to look into the matter and rescind the decision (to exclude monotechnics) for the interest of the country”.

Abbas also disclosed that the college had concluded with the arrangements that would lead to the commencement of the National Certificate in education (NCe) programme in 2014.

Besides, he revealed that the school had entered into collaboration with a University in Sudan, to enable the college commence degree programmes in Quranic Science and Sharia next year.

ICPC’s study reveals corruption, abuses in varsities From Abosede Musari, Abuja he Independent Corrupt T Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), has vowed to check the rot in the Nigerian university system, through the preventive and prosecution approaches.

The commission’s Chairman, ekpo Nta made the pledge at a briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, where he revealed some of the rot still taking place in the nation’s higher institutions. Nta stated that the rots were revealed through the pilot systems review of the universities, carried out by the ICPC in collaboration with the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC).

Three institutions: the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye and Salem University, Lokoja were chosen for the pilot study, which would later be carried out on a comprehensive scale in the other 124 higher institutions.

Chief among the findings of the committee set up for the job, was sexual harassment of students by lecturers. Besides, the operation of illegal satellite campuses, lack of due process in the appointments and promo-

tion of university staff members among others were also discovered.

Nta noted that review was one of the six mandates of the ICPC with the goal of preventing corruption. he explained that the review was necessary because other sectors of the nation depend on the education system.

According to him, the many petitions received from parents, students and staff of universities compelled the ICPC to go into that sector. he said: “Part of the responsibility of the Commission is Systems Study of the ministries, Departments and Agencies (mDAs) and to give directives on how to correct shortfalls. We are not going to allow this corruption in our universities to continue. We will tackle it. We will restore the past glory of Nigerian universities. No student in any Nigerian university will be forced to engage in any immoral activity. We will address this issue.

Sale of exam questions, inducement to manipulate awards of degrees, direct cheating during examinations, deliberate delays in the release of results, victimisation of students by officials among others, were among other findings by the study review.

Agege council to collaborate with NIPR on training, others hAIRmAN of the Agege Comfort Nwakwo and Chief C Local Council, mr. Jibreel Temitayo Onabajo.

The chairman also urged Abdulkareem, has agreed to collaborate with the Lagos state chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in areas of training, sports development and branding.

Abdulkareem made the pledge when the NIPR’s executive committee visited the council recently.

The NIPR delegation, led by the chapter’s Chairman, mr Jide Ologun, also included Kunle Ogedengbe (vice chairman), Abiodun Olatunbosun (secretary), marcel Anyawu, Kalu Olekauwa (ex officio members), Willy Ogbidi, mrs

the NIPR to assist the local government administration in Nigeria by participating in the ongoing constitutional review, to raise the standard of the local councils in the country.

AbdulKareem also called for increased national budgetary allocations to the councils, insisting that the current 20 per cent allocation was “grossly inadequate,” due to councils’ multifarious responsibilities, such as teachers’ remuneration, construction of roads, overhead and other statutory expenses.

education | 51

The GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

Red house wins King’s Kid school’s inter- house sports competition

By Andrew Iro Okungbowa he mood was a sporty and T festive one at the weekend, as the King’s Anchor College

Master Damilola Samuel (Red House) middle; Monsurat Gbadebo (Orange House) left;, and Omotolani Olatubosun (Purple House) right, representing the houses that came with first, second and third respectively, with their trophies, at the King’s Anchor School Inter House Sports competition held in Lagos at the weekend.

and The King’s Kid School celebrated their fifth bi- ennial Inter – house sports competition. held at Local Government Primary School, Igando, Lagos the spirit of comradelier was displayed not only by the students but also by the parents who were part of the memorable occasion.

Done with the opening formalities, the students who were adorned in the colours

AIBS, Beloxxi donate business simulation lab to UNILAG

By Mary Ogar O help students in tertiary T institutions connect theory to practice, the Africa Institute of Business Simulation (AIBS) through the sponsorship of Beloxxi Nigeria recently commissioned a business simulation laboratory at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Fitted with computers and linked to the Internet through high speed broadband, the laboratory is expected to facilitate the acquisition of the practical skills of business leadership and entrepreneurship, and to enable institutions produce confident graduates, ready to engage the business world.

The facility was commissioned by education Minister, Prof Ruqayyatu Rufai on behalf of the Visitor to UNILAG, President Goodluck Jonathan at the institution’s recent 50th

First Bank’s excel series holds at UI today he First Bank Youth excel T series, an empowerment initiative designed by the bank to motivate and encourage Nigerian undergraduates towards realizing their dreams, which kicked off at the University of Lagos on Tuesday, will also hold at the University of Ibadan today.

According to a statement by the bank’s head of Marketing and Corporate Communication, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, the programme is being organized to tackle some of the challenges faced by youths in their pursuit of good education, research development, small and medium scale enterprises, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) amongst others.

She said: “First Bank is the first to introduce this kind of product in the area of youth empowerment as an integral part of its corporate responsibility. Our goal is to remain a strong supporter of efforts geared towards equipping the youths with the skills and tools required for socio-economic empowerment, through our support of youth engagement initiatives, endowment schemes and infrastructure development”.

The programme will feature an address by experienced motivational speaker and author of “A Set is a Set Up for Come Back,” Willie Jolley and an exhibition of the bank’s products and services.

anniversary and convocation ceremonies.

Founder of the institute, Mr. Richard Obire, who spoke at the event, explained that the laboratory was established in response to what he described as “the huge gap in the educational system.”

According to him, despite the Federal Government’s “lip service” over the inclusion of entrepreneurship education for University undergraduates, “no concrete step is being taken to ensure implementation.”

On the benefits of the simulation laboratory, he said the facility would promote hands on skills and enable

students at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels to connect the theory they learn in different areas, to what is obtainable in practice or reality. he said: “For those who are not students of business, it’s an opportunity for them to practically learn how to start a small business. Although, the facility is in the University of Lagos and housed in the Faculty of Business Administration, it is cross disciplinary.”

Obire pointed out that the facilitators are required to use innovative tools and creative thinking both for teaching and learning, stressing

that simulation offer students and lecturers the opportunity to explore a new way of teaching.

“It is unfortunate that students cannot boast of empowerment skills after spending four to six years going through a university courses,” he observed. “Why would students be put through such stress and when they graduate, they are not ready for industry. If you cannot figure out how to use your natural talent and to transform it into a business to solve problem for other people, create value for other people and create value for yourself in the process, then

of their respective houses (Love-blue; Dove – wine; Victory – yellow; Peace – green; Royal- purple and Glory – orange) left no one in doubt that they were here for stiff competition amidst joyous celebration.

Some of the events fiercely competed for at the primary school level included 25 metres tiny tots (boys and girls); 50 metres (boys and girls); 100 metres junior (boys and girls); skipping race (girls) and picking the colours (boys and girls) while at the secondary school session the spectators were enthralled by junior and senior boys and girls races in the 100 metres, hurdles and relay (4 by 100 metres).

Other categories of events were invited schools race, old students and officers race and football (boys and girls).

Besides, the parents were not left out of the harvest of fun as many of them enthusiastically participated in the parents race, which added a lot of drama to the entertaining spectacle of the day.

At the end of the keenly contested sporting events, Dove (red) house topped the medal table with 10 gold, two silver and five bronze (17 medals) followed by Royal (purple) house with seven gold, five silver and four bronze (16 medals) while Glory (orange) house

claimed the third position with six gold, eight silver and four bronze (18 medals).

The Chairman of Board of Governor of the school, which is located at Ogunfowora estate of Abaranje axis of Ikotun area of Lagos, Mr. Oladejo Fajobi, described the day as a glorious one and sports competition as unique for both the school and parents as for the first time the primary and secondary wings of the school were coming together to stage the event. he also used the occasion to pay tribute to the guests, teachers, officials, pupils and others who made it possible for the event to be held while the Chairman of the day, honourable Alade Adewale who is also the Chairman of the Igando – Ikotun Local Council Development Area Committee on Public Accounts and education, expressed great delight at the opportunity to chair the event he urged the school to continue to build the character of its pupils through academic and physical pursuit, as both are necessary tools in the development of the pupils into rounded personalities. he also pledged the support of the council in the actualization of the school’s developmental goals and objectives.

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Students state reasons for aspiring to study abroad

By Mary Ogar HEYall have the same story to T tell. Much as they would have loved to undertake their under-

graduate studies at home, they have found situation of the country’s university system unacceptable. They were, thus, united in their motive for attending the fair: to find a place to pursue their academic dreams.

Despite the high cost of studying abroad, especially with the depreciating value of the naira, many middle and upper class parents still prefer to send their wards to Europe and the United States. At this year’s Education UK (United Kingdom) exhibition held in both Lagos and Abuja, the number of parents and students who attended was impressive.

Many students who spoke with The Guardian agreed on one thing: if the university sys-

tem at home were good, they would have preferred to study at home.

Take Akinsola Korede for instance. He wants to study Medicine at the University of Leeds, in the UK and his preference was informed by the institution’s “state of infrastructure.”

Apparently impressed by what he had read on the Internet and the information he obtained at the Lagos edition of the fair, Korede affirmed that the number of research works already undertaken at the university had also impressed him.

Korede’s initial plan was to study Biochemistry, but he “realized” that “most people who study such courses in Nigeria end up as classroom teachers.” He said: “I have come to realize that there is no room for people who study such courses, so I decided to go for medicine.”

His advice for the federal government: “More teachers who are up to the task of giving quality education should be employed. More job opportunities should also be provided so that people can continue with their education here (Nigeria).”

For Ariba Mark, who intends to study Physics at the University of Kent, UK, the institution’s level of research work, scholarship opportunities, rating and low cost of living informed his choice.

But he is worried that some institutions abroad do not recognize degrees awarded by some Nigerian institutions.

“This is not our fault as student,” he averred. He appealed to the federal government to create “an enabling environment for studying, by providing good infrastructure.”

His words: “What we learn in our universities is just theory.

Vice chairman, Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Mr. Kunle Ogedengbe (left); Agege council Manager, Mrs. Adeola Sanya; Chairman, Agege Local Government, Mr. Jubril Ayodeji; Chairman, Lagos NIPR, Mr. Jide Ologun and the Secretary, Mr. Abiodun Olatunbosun during the NIPR delegation’s visit to the council recently.

Government should fix education because it’s in a rot.

Corruption has crept into the admission process and students who are well qualified are denied admission because of favouritism, ethnicity and the so called quota system.”

Daniel Oyelekan, who wants

to study Computer Science at the Royal Holloway University of London, also cited because of the institution’s facilities as the attraction.

“When it comes to computer science,” he stated. “Our universities are still far behind in terms of facilities. If govern-

ment can do something urgent about the state of infrastructure in our universities, then a lot of students would prefer to study here because the cost of studying abroad is very high. But that is the only option we have, if we desire quality education.”

UK varsity’s alumni association debuts in Lagos

By Mary Ogar HE alumni association of T the Leeds Metropolitan University was launched at a dinner held recently in Lagos.

The pioneer members urged busy Nigerian executives to take advantage of the flexibility of academic programmes being offered by the Executive Business School, Lagos (EBS), to acquire professional qualifications without having to resign from their

employers.

The EBS’ Assistant Director, Mr. Kayode Oluwa, explained that the dinner was organized to create a platform for the alumni of university resident in Nigeria to interact, network and exchange ideas and information for their individual and collective interests.

Among them were a business mogul, Oba Otudeko, former Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Fatai Adeyinka, Senator Heineken Olopobiri among others.

According to Oluwa, some of the academic programmes currently offered by the school in partnership with leading universities in the United Kingdom include: MSc Corporate Governance; MSc Accounting, Master of Law (LLM); Doctor of Business Administration (DBA); Doctor of Philosophy (PHD) and Bachelor of Law (LLB) among others.

A member of the 2008 set, Mr. Akintunde Olusegun, who obtained a Master of

Science (MSc) degree in Corporate Governance said: “Initially I was skeptical about the programme because corporate governance is a major issue in Nigeria and the course is not common here. But my experience has been a period of intensive lectures with wonderful facilitators. Access to online library was amazing and the programme provided an opportunity to bond with other course mates.”

Also, Mr. Shina Babatunde,

a chartered accountant affirmed: “this is a good school, where one is allowed to bring in practical knowledge with theoretical knowledge and concepts. Being a father and student, I can confidently say I am impressed with what is being offered and part of the mission of the alumni is to allay the fears for those who want to pursue programmes at the school”.

Director General of the EBS, Dr Remilekun Bakare said: “ The school offers Executive

training and academic programmes leading to the award of Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees of reputable UK universities. The school’s academic programmes are designed in a unique and flexible manner, allowing participants to effectively combine full time employment with the rigours of academics and still complete their chosen programmes within the same time frame as full time students.”

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NigeriaCapitalMarket NSE Daily Summary (Equities) PRICE LIST OF SYMBOLS TRADED FOR 27/2/2013

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CAPITAL MARKET

NSE Daily Summary (Equities) as at 27/2/2013

PRICE GAINERS

LOSERS

UPDC REIT sets up committee for N30b IPO

By Helen Oji O enhance appropriate corporate governance, UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust yesterday announced that it has instituted an investment committee to provide appropriate policies, review and assess processes and controls that would guide proposals by the fund managers on the offer.

The committee, according to the company, is made up of nine members, out of which two is selected from UPDC. Addressing stock brokers during the ‘Facts Behind the Figures ‘ of the company in Lagos yesterday, the Managing Director of the company, Hakeem Ogunniran explained that UPDC chose to become the minority to ensure that it does not have unduly influence on the Committee.

He added that the

T

Committee was designed to ensure safety of investment and entrench good corporate governance on the REIT. “We have put together an investment committee with UPDC the minority. We have two out of the nine members to ensure that UPDC does not have unduly influence on the committee. The investment vehicle was redesigned in such a way that it would reassure investors that if they put in their money, they are sure their returns would come.”

The REIT, which is sponsored by UACN Property Development Company Plc, seeks to raise N30billion by way of IPO of 3,000,000,000 units of N10 each at par.

Ogunniran explained that the REIT is a very unique investment vehicle with complete assets that have history which have performed over the years.

The assets, he maintained, are fully tenanted without any vacancy which would

enable the REIT to generate income from the very first day as a result of its full tenancy.

“The REIT is a unique opportunity that rarely comes around in the sense that the assets are there for all to see.

Fund is not being raised to start looking for assets. There are assets on ground which have performed over the

years and are still going to double the performance in future. The REIT is going to be very liquid because from the cutoff date, we as sponsors have to return the advance rent already collected to the REIT. So, from day one, the REIT is generating income,” Ogunniran explained.

He expressed confidence

that the REIT would help deepen the market as it would provide the opportunity to unlock values for the benefit of the shareholders and the investing public.

He said: “It gives the investing public the opportunity to invest and to own the properties as part owners indirectly even though on their own, they might not

have been able to own these types of properties. The REIT has very unique benefits.

“When you are looking at REIT, the first thing is the sponsor and underlining asset. We are the sponsor and we are real estate developer and this is what we do over the years. We have established a credible track record in the field,” he said.

Nigerian Breweries revenue hits N253b in 2012

By Helen Oji HE Board of Directors of T Nigerian Breweries Plc. has announced a revenue of N253 billion for the 2012 financial year. The unaudited and provisional result released at the weekend shows a 20 per cent increase in revenue over the N211 billion recorded in the 2011 financial year.

The Company’s profit before tax stood at N56 bil-

lion for the 2012 financial year.

A statement issued by the board reveals that the company maintained its leadership position in the market despite the challenging operating environment in 2012.

Results from the company’s operating activities grew by 13 per cent from N54 billion to N64 billion, while profit for the year was impacted by high financing costs arising from investments in plant

expansion as well as working capital.

The statement signed by Uaboi Agbebaku, Company Secretary and Legal Adviser, said the board has recommended the payment of N23 billion dividend, that is, per ordinary share of 50 kobo each.

If the dividend recommended is approved, it shall be paid (less deduction of withholding tax at the appropriate rate) on the 16th of May,

2013 to all shareholders recorded in the Company’s Register of Members at the close of business on Wednesday, 13th March, 2013.

The company’s yearly general meeting is scheduled for May 15.

According to Agbebaku, the operating environment is expected to remain challenging but, the board is confident that the company is prepared to take advantage of any growth in the market.

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Opinion Reviews and clarifications (2)

By Edwin Madunagu AST Thursday, in the first segment, I presented L(apologies some ideas on peaceful ethnic coexistence to Cold War rhetorics) from Professor Obaro Ikime’s History, the historian and the nation.

The conclusion therefrom and from what I had previously said on the subject, is that whatever geo-political structure is adopted in the country, whatever grouping or re-grouping you may think of, there will be no entity however small, where the population is not mixed: ‘indigene” and “non-indigenes” and even “first-come indigenes” and ‘latter day indigenes’. Implication?

The impossibility of ethnic separation, as I have continued to insist. The proposed popular-democratic restructuring is a response to “ethnic disharmonies” and various forms of marginalisation.

In continuing this review, I would like to bring up a published book and a private communication. First, the book: People-Centred Democracy in Nigeria? The search for alternative systems of governance at the grassroots. The title immediately recommended it for another reading. Published in the year 2000, this collection of workshop papers by experts in the field was edited by Professors Adebayo Adedeji and Bamidele Ayo who also contributed to the 17-chapter book. The workshop from which the book emanated was organised by the African Centre for Development and Strategic Studies (ACDESS) in 1997 in search for a “socio-political system that will make Nigeria respond to the demands of the modern age”. It was a “follow-up to the Centre’s 1993-94 studies of the role of indigenous modes of social and political organisations, especially community-based organisations and other grassroots institutions, in the governance of various ethnic groups in Nigeria until recently”.

The particular segment I re-examined closely was Chapter 4 on account of its survey of the history of local government in Nigeria from 1950 to 1997 “during which its fortunes rose and fell”. The chapter, titled Yesterday’s hope and today’s disillusionment: Whither local government in Nigeria?, was presented by Tunde Ojofeitimi. The twin-conclusion I drew from Ojofeitimi’s paper was that local government in Nigeria has hardly existed as stipulated in the country’s successive Constitutions since independence, and that the only attempts to make the local government system exist as a tier of government came from the colonial administrations and military regimes after independence.

The private communication I mentioned was received from a female friend of mine. She is some years younger than I am, well-educated, well-read and well-travelled. In politics, my friend, who is a non-Nigerian living outside Nigeria, is an activist radical leftist, an internationalist and a feminist. She is a working professional and is married. She has a son who is also a radical leftist and presently a Marxist graduate student. I deliberately sketch the profile of my friend in these terms so that the reader may be assisted to form a mental picture of the lady in question. She has followed my column in The Guardian since 2005 or thereabout and she and her family have given me many valued and rare books. A couple of weeks ago I requested her to respond to the series of articles I had written on the popular-democratic restructuring I am proposing for Nigeria.

The response came. She touched on several aspects of the proposal including: the rotational presidency; equal representation in some state institutions; the five-tier governance structure; recent revolutionary upheavals across the globe (Social Forum, Occupy Movement, Arab Spring, etc) and a critique of my practice. I shall present, in summary, her responses on only the rotational presidency, equal representation, five-tier governance structure and her personal opinion of my practice. Other issues, as well as my ongoing discussion with her, will be shared in future – when necessary and appropriate.

On Collective presidency with rotational headship my friend said:” I am intrigued by the idea of the rotational presidency. I assume you are trying to encourage an ongoing conversation about this idea in Nigeria. So I think it would be useful to continue to bring in other outside voices, legitimators and those who opposed it, that is, to play out the conversation in print. I can imagine that since ideological divides here are even greater than in Switzerland it might not work. But it is interesting topic for sure, in some ways akin to parliamentary coalition governments”.

On “equal representation” she said that with regards to giving “states with smaller populations” equal representation (such as in the Senate and the proposed collective presidency) most progressives she knew in countries that practise this principle (such as the United States of America) would be against it. Why? “Because (since) poor people tend to migrate to large cities most of the larger states tend to be more liberal”. She would therefore prefer

more populous states having larger representations. In systems of equal representation, she says, progressive legislations are often blocked by smaller states with smaller populations but equal representations.

For this same reason (blockage of popular progressive choices by conservative preferences), she opposes the concept and practice of “electoral college”.

On the five-tier governmental structure, my friend said she was “not won over”, and “not only with regard to cost”. Her argument: “In places where the state reaches down to the community level, the system seems to have created disaster”. The examples she could immediately provide were the defunct Community Party regimes in eastern and central Europe, China and Cuba “where the party controls community life”. The “worst example”, according to her, was the Cultural Revolution in China. When she lived in Mexico, “the party controlled things down to the local high schools. So each time there was a change of party, a bunch of teachers would lose their jobs to members of the other party”. But she conceded that, “municipal governments do set up parastatals bodies at the community level, e.g. neighbourhood citizen commissions of various kinds”. The commissions, she said, “play an advisory role, sometimes a powerful one”.

My friend, however, insisted that, “the more the state controls community life, the less that grassroots organising takes place”. I agree. It is the danger of the state eventually controlling “community life”, which my friend warned against that made me reject the idea of incorporating community-based organisations or local branches of non-governmental organisations into the local government structure. The suggestion was made

by Dele Gege in an insightful paper, Crafting an enduring local government system in Nigeria: A case for multi-tier local government structure placed as Chapter 10 of People-Centred Democracy in Nigeria? My friend believes that, “it is essential that police be accountable to someone other than the government”. She expectedly concluded her two-page communication on a personal note, and this relates to a discussion we have been having for a long time now. She acknowledged what she saw as “holding oneself to one’s principles” but sharply criticised “clinging tightly to them”. Reading and absorbing this criti-

cism was like chewing a glass bottle.

I have chosen to enter no self-defence in this period of searching. What self-defence when the mass misery that propelled me into Left politics has deepened much further than met it when I made my choice about four decades ago? I can only clarify and, thereafter, use others’ counter-ideas and counter-propositions to interrogate my own ideas, principles and practices. It is in this spirit that I now announce that I have gratefully admitted, for self-interrogation, all suggestions and counterideas. I shall, however, offer the following clarifications and reminders.

The Cultural Revolution in China (1966-1970) was a revolution in revolution, to borrow from Regis Debre. It was what it was called: a Revolution, not a policy decision. It was a mass attempt from the grassroots, inspired (not instigated!) by Mao, to deepen the socialist revolution that triumphed in 1949 under his leadership. It was a revolutionary struggle to purge degeneracy, “reformism”, unprincipled liberalism and bureaucratism from party and state. When the revolutionary upsurge began to threaten the revolutionary state itself, Mao mobilized the coercive apparatuses of the state to stop it. I offer no defences, no justification.

I am only informing and explaining. Secondly, the one-party system, which the European Communist Party regimes operated, and which China and Cuba still operate, is not inherent in socialism, communism or Marxism.

You may recall the struggle waged by the Marxist Opposition in the Soviet Union and the struggle of Rosalind Luxembourg on five simultaneous fronts: against imperialism, left-wing reformism, left-wing dictatorship, anti-Semitism and sexism.

In particular, you may recall that she (and much later, Trotsky) insisted that “freedom is always for the opposition, because supporters of government already have it”, that the suppression of opposition parties would eventually lead to the suppression of dissenters in party and state and that to ban opposition parties was to ban “political life” from the country. For me, personally, the consecration of the one-party system in the Soviet Union was a fundamentally wrong turn in the development of the socialist revolution in the Soviet Union – with tragic consequences for the socialist movement worldwide. But what propagandists call the collapse of Communism makes no sense, not even as a short-hand formulation. What collapsed was the Communist Party regimes.

• Concluded

Nigerian movies should inspire

By Richard Nzeamaka BELONG to the class of Nigerians who are usually branded Isues. non-patriots because they make certain statements on isI have met a good number of intelligent guys and ladies who obviously fall into the category of individuals who are more at home with foreign movies, paying no regard to our local movies. On different occasions I tried to investigate what exactly would have prompted them to become so blunt in their perception of the Nigerian movie industry. The findings are not surprising since they were obviously observed from the movies produced and distributed across the nooks and crannies of the country. It would interest you to know that this article was not written in a haste, this issue had lingered in my mind and I’ve carefully observed and carried out rigorous investigations before making inferences and drawing my conclusions.

I am a scientist and so I strictly adhered to the rules of investigation and experimentation, which dictates that I must first of all observe carefully, describe my observations in a way that must be understood, classify my descriptions using a non-bias method, make concrete, reliable and valid inferences that must be proven to be factual and finally draw a conclusion that entails the proffering of solutions to the problem. All these scientific rules and procedures were observed with a view to clearing all reasonable doubts and inquisition about the issue.

I even had to sit down at different times on subsequent occasions to see some Nigerian movies, which I selected randomly so that I can be factual enough in this submission. Most Nigerian movies usually have a non-connected beginning and a predicted end. For instance, most recent movies start with the display of half naked ladies whose underwear could be easily accessed from the screen of the television. The ladies, perhaps three or four in number or even more, sit round a table,

holding a glass of wine each, flaunting their exposed breasts and laps discussing an issue that is not far-fetched of course about men or either a big party to attend or a rich man to scam. The middle part of the movie presents these flamboyant ladies cruising flashy cars, which obviously they got from a rich sugar daddy or a married young guy. Finally, it ends with either one of the ladies in bed with a man, of course a married man, or the group of ladies in same hotel but different men.

The men expose their broad hairy chests and the women as usual can be described as being naked.

What do you observe? The movie practically has no story line, no moral lesson; it started with fun and ended with fun. Are these the kind of movies we need, especially in the present situation of our country? A movie that is not inspiring, a movie that promotes promiscuity amongst the youths, especially girls growing up, a movie that is not heart thumping; you just don’t feel any anxiety when watching a Nigerian movie. I even prefer the Nigerian comedy to home movies though they also fall victim of not teaching anything worth emulating. The Pidgin English and mixture of Nigerian languages brings me home, the characters in the movie are too hilarious to avoid been heard and seen. The content of the movie is a display of what occurs in the environment of an average Nigerian, unlike the former where from the beginning you try to link the exact story. In this case there is no story to link because every scene shown makes me laugh my head off, I feel more satisfied watching Nigerian comedy.

The Nigerian movie industry should look inwards. Lots of things are happening in our country from every sector, the political, economical, social etc, inspiring and interesting storylines should be drawn from our daily routines and occurrences. They should exterminate the culture of nudity in movies that promote immoral behaviours. Writing about the negative effects of these movies on our youths, especially the female folks would make my article very robust.

The Nigerian movie industry should look inwards. Lots of things are happening in our country from every sector, the political, economical, social etc, inspiring and interesting storylines should be drawn from our daily routines and occurrences. They should exterminate the culture of nudity in movies that promote immoral behaviours. Writing about the negative effects of these movies on our youths, especially the female folks would make my article very robust.

Kudos to Wale Adenuga’s running show on ‘Super Story’. The present storyline is a true reflection of what is happening in the society. The issue of human trafficking and women abuse, a situation in which girls were deceived and flown abroad for prostitution is worth mentioning. The storyline is superb and the dress sense of the characters is modest, even those ladies that played the role of prostitutes did it with caution, they were careful not to be unnecessarily immoral with the way they translate the script. In fact, everything in the movie is Nigerian. I look forward to Nollywood cultivating same approach in producing educating movies. The youths are eager to be inspired with meaningful stories.

• Nzeamaka was at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

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Opinion The Reditusof a Catholic-Islamic scholar

By Emeka Nwosuh ODAY marks exactly one month of the demise T of one of the greatest non-Moslem Islamic Scholars in Africa and perhaps in the whole world. On this day, his mortal remains will be laid to rest at the Dominican cemetery, Samonda, Ibadan to await the resurrection of the dead when his mortal flesh brought low in death will be raised and transformed into the glorified and immortal body like Christ’s. The dates of Fr. Kenny’s death and burial are quite significant. He died on January 28, which is the liturgical feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas, model of Dominican intellectual life and patron of Catholic theology. Fr. Kenny is being buried on February 28, a remarkable day in contemporary Catholic history, when His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, a notable intellectual, will formally resign as Pope and Bishop of Rome.

And so this remarkable Catholic-Islamic scholar appears to have planned his exit on these two historic dates. But did I say a Catholic (nonMoslem) Islamic Scholar? Certainly! Rev. Fr. Prof.

Alhaji Joseph Kenny, OP, as fondly called by us his Dominican brothers, or Fr. Sharp Sharp as fondly called by the Catholic students of University of Ibadan, was a Catholic priest and a member of the Order of Preachers, otherwise known as Dominicans but he was also an Islamic scholar of great repute. What strange mix! In fact, this strange alchemy sums up the very life and person of this great American-Nigerian. Another odd chemistry! Yes, Fr. Kenny was both an American and a Nigerian.

Born on January 12, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois, Fr. Kenny joined the Dominican friars of St. Albert the Great Province, Chicago in 1956 and was ordained priest seven years later after having completed the canonical studies in philosophy and theology. Had the Eternal Father not willed to invite him to the eternal banquet in heaven, Fr. Kenny would have celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his priestly ordination sometime this year. Characteristic of his adventurous spirit, Fr. Kenny accepted to come on mission to Nigeria after having listened to the talk of Late Msgr.

Edward Lawton, OP who was then the Apostolic Prefect of Sokoto Prefecture and later first Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese. His arrival in

Nigeria in 1964 and his mission in Sokoto marked the beginning of his career as a Catholic Islamic Scholar.

This was indeed providential as his initial studies of Arabic and Islamic studies in Rome, Tunisia, Cairo and Edinburgh was merely to equip him to understand and appreciate better the context in which he was to work as a Catholic missionary.

After serving for a number of years in the then Sokoto Diocese, a time in which he also picked up the Hausa language and in fact took part in the translation of the Hausa Bible, he was asked by his superior to proceed to Ibadan where he was to assist in setting up the Dominican Institute. It was in the course of his stay in Ibadan that he was engaged in the services of the University of Ibadan, where he taught Islamic Studies for almost a quarter of a century at the Department of Religious Studies, which he once headed. Leaving the services of the university after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 65, Prof. Kenny took up full teaching appointment at the Dominican Institute, which along with Fr. Iheanyi Nwadinma Enwerem, OP he had helped to pioneer in the 1990s. He served for some years as Dean of Studies of the Institute.

Expectedly, his long years of intellectual and academic career have brought him in contact with so many other scholars across the globe and so he has truly a wide network of friends, colleagues, associates and acquaintances who will miss him greatly. But he has also a lot of academic progenies who are the first fruits of his fecund mind among which is my humble self.

These too, many of them professors and senior lecturers in different universities and institutions, priests etc. will certainly miss him. These generations of Nigerians and non-Nigerians will remain grateful for his example of true scholarship.

It is, indeed, remarkable to see even Moslem scholars come to consult him on issues and questions of Islamic scholarship. But what is even more remarkable is the great respect with which he approaches issues and questions on Islamic scholarship. I can affirm that for the 19 years that I have known and lived with him, I have never for once heard him speak in a derogatory manner on any issue in Islam, even when he holds a different opinion on the subject. In the heat of the 9/11 terrorist attack and other similar terrorist at-

tacks linked with Islamic fundamentalists, Alhaji Kenny was able to bring in that intellectual equilibrium and clarity of mind to debates about violence in Islam, which oftentimes make some of his confreres wonder on whose side he is. There is no question that he truly respected Moslems and the Islamic faith even when he does not entirely agree with some of their principles, teachings or practices. It is this genuine respect for a faith, which is different from his that certainly won him the respect and admiration of many Islamic clerics and scholars both within and outside the country. This is an abiding example for each and every one of us, and particularly for those who instrumentalise religion for their egoistic pursuits.

It would be a great disservice to Prof. Kenny to remember him only or even primarily as an Islamic scholar. Yes, he was one of the greatest Islamic scholars in the world. A quick glance at his website (www.Josephkenny.joyeurs.com) where all his publications are hosted will leave no one in doubt of this claim. But in addition to being an Islamic scholar, he was also a Catholic theologian and philosopher very well rooted in the Thomistic tradition of the Order of Preachers.

Prof. Kenny was, indeed, a man of many parts to whom there are no boundaries or barriers to what the human mind can inquire into and experiment on. Hence, he once went into beekeeping, which turned out to be a lucrative hobby.

He was what many today will call a Greener, that is, an environmentalist. He loved nature and the proof of this is the many trees he once planted at the Dominican community, Samonda. In fact, he was an active and enthusiastic member of the Field Society, which has as its interest and focus, nature. Perhaps not so many who knew Prof. Kenny will recall that he was a great pianist and vocalist. After he technically retired from the Dominican Institute, Prof. Kenny spent long hours digging up and uploading onto the web old Dominican chants, hymns and liturgy. Indeed, Prof. Kenny’s interests and aptitudes were multiple, varied and sometimes contrasting. This is what makes him an unusual, uncommon and unconventional person.

In fact, his unconventionality is what may best describe his personality. And this is what might help us understand why he fought so hard to ob-

tain the Nigerian citizenship and when he did, he was so proud to brandish his green passport around. In his usual humor, he told us how his green Nigerian passport got him a quick walk through at the Iranian airport when he went for an Islamic Conference in Teheran, whereas, a delegate with an American passport was held up for hours by the Iranian immigration authorities.

When he voted as a Nigerian citizen in the last election, Prof. Kenny’s excitement was almost like that of a child who had just received his first Christmas gift. He went around the community showing his confreres his inked stained index finger, telling everyone who cared to listen: uhm! I have voted.

Of course, it is impossible to recall the details of one whose life and experiences spanned 77 years, of which almost 50 were spent in Nigeria. This is a task one of the young Dominicans should and must take up. This short piece is just a few reminiscences and a tribute to a great scholar who dedicated his life to the service of the Catholic Church, the Dominican Order, the University of Ibadan, the Islamic community and indeed to the Nigerian society.

If there is any such thing as an untimely death, Prof. Kenny’s was indeed one of such, since the events that culminated to his death happened unexpectedly. Prof. Kenny left a host of uncompleted projects and dreams. One of such is to witness the licensing of the Dominican University.

This was one of the projects he had tirelessly laboured for. In fact, right there on his website, one will see a bold appeal: Support Dominican University of Nigeria. It is indeed sad that he did not live to see this dream come true, but now that we have him among the choirs of angels and saints, we are more confident that his dream will be more speedily fulfilled. As our brother, priest, professor and scholar returns to his Eternal Father, and as he takes his Sabbath rest in the bosom of Abraham, we pray that we may continue to carry forward the legacy he has left behind: the legacy of respectful dialogue and engagement with men and women of other faith traditions and a legacy of mutually respectful coexistence with persons of other backgrounds and beliefs. Rest in peace Prof. Kenny; Rest in Christ Alhaji Kenny; Rest in the Lord, Fr. Sharp Sharp.

• Rev. Fr. Nwosuh is Dean of Studies, Dominican Institute, Samonda, Ibadan.

New party, same old actors

By Anyanate Ephraim EPORTS that four opposition political parties, including the R All Nigeria Peoples Party, Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive Change and the All Progressive Grand Alliance have merged to form one party appear to have led to some excitement and celebrations in the media. Media comments have given kudos or knocks to this plan. Some have termed it a new party while others are cautious about calling it a new party and express their doubts on the workability of such merger. But is this excitement entirely real?

In fact, Sam Nda-Isaiah’s piece published in Leadership newspapers prompted some reflection on his views. Nigeria is a very funny country while most Nigerians are like babies sometimes in the sense that whenever our parents bring in new things into the house, we get excited and scream on top of our voices. But trust Nigerians also, such expression of excitement doesn’t last. If another party comes up today, we shall all shout again about it.

Isaiah puts it succinctly, “before this excitement gets into people’s heads, it will be important to know that this is only the beginning of a very long and hard journey for the brand new party”.

So, the question is, is the APC truly a brand new party? Nigeria is going through what we are facing today because of a wrong process of amalgamation in the past. Let us even agree that APC is a brand new party with the opposition having the mind to displace the ruling octopus, PDP. We can then ask if the people who have come together to form this new party be considered as brand new also in their actions and deeds?

For those of us who may be considered as ‘naive’ in politics, this obviously looks like an old wine in a new bottle. Is this all about rebranding or what? Ask Dora Akunyili and she will tell you that it is not easy to rebrand Nigerians or anything in Nigeria for that matter. At least we have tried it and seen how it ended up.

Many online bloggers have said some things, which I believe we would commonly agree on. For instance, some ask whether they merge or not, are they not the same thieves all over? Some say it is not all about the label on the container but the content. Others ask so what policies unite these disparate parties? What’s their unifying ideology other than a quest for power?

Isaiah advised leaders of the party to make Nigerians own the party. How are the leaders going to do that? Have they been able

to make Nigerians own the parties they were leading before? My grandmother used to tell me that the smell of the intestinal gas released from the rectum is an indicator of the smell of the faeces that will come out of the rectum. So you see where my pessimism is coming from? These individuals that make up the so-called brand new party have been there since the inception of this our nascent democracy.

They have jumped from one party to the other in search of power. Okorocha for instance was a member of the PDP who moved to APGA. Buhari left ANPP for CPC, so what is the policy and ideological difference between the various parties and how has that affected these men? Ngige, a one-time governor on PDP platform left PDP for ACN to become a senator on the platform of the latter. How has ACN ideology changed his PDP ideology? Tom Ikimi was in PDP as the Chairman of the Presidential Elections Committee in 2003. PDP won that election but he left for ACN for reasons only he can explain. This is the method of operation of many of our opposition politicians.

I have come to realise that individuals with ideologies make parties, not party names. From Buhari to Tinubu, Okorocha to Ikimi they are all individuals with certain characteristics, which some Nigerians abhor. I believe everyone will agree with me that the character of our politicians need to change and until such a time when that happens we are wasting our time with new names or mergers.

A thorough analysis of the activities and achievements of the component political parties of the new APC would show that these parties have not been able to come together in the various states where each of the parties hold sway. One then wonders how they will manage as one unit at the federal level. Obviously, power at the centre is the key issue at stake.

The Leadership publisher has said that, “that the most effective democracies are sustained by two major political parties struggling side by side for the people’s attention and providing a counterpoise to each other and this is hoping the coming of APC will achieve just that. Is this not a shortcut to two party system? It is true that many of the parties have not been viable because so many of them were floated simply to attract the financial subventions, which the 1999 Constitution, before its amendment, guaranteed them and so their demise has been predicted to be sooner rather than later. Can we therefore not legislate to have two parties if that is what we all crave for?

Part of reasons given for the new APC is transparent internal democracy and fair play, which the PDP has been accused of not operating. If wishes were horses beggars would ride! Before we forget, the only thing most Nigerian politicians whether in opposition or ruling party want is power and the associated goodies or else we would not be in our situation.

The APC has been dubbed Armoured Personnel Carrier, interpreted in some quarters that, as the name implies, the leaders of the party will be in an armoured personnel carrier that will protect them from the sufferings of Nigerians. As we have seen, the bigger the party the more distant it is likely to be from the people. APC is therefore likely to become the same thing they are accusing the PDP of currently.

An online report quoted the governors under the umbrella of the APC in a communiqué read by Governor Tanko Al-Makura, that the party would give priority attention to the promotion of radical social economic and political reformation of the country.

In particular, Governor Tanko Al-Makura said the party’s priority programmes would be agricultural development, job creation, free education, affordable healthcare, infrastructural development, adequate power supply, eradication of poverty and corruption and rapid technological advancement and industrialization. Just how would this be different from what they have individually told us in their respective states and various component parties and why Nigerian people voted them into power? So what is new? Are these not all sounding rhetoric?

We all know that previous attempts at merging opposition parties have failed amid infighting and selfish individual desires and back stabbing. In an attempt therefore to field an acceptable presidential candidate for 2015 it is obvious that these characteristics will sure play a role because the actors have not changed.

As the new APC attempts to challenge what the leaders describe as the PDP’s 14 years of misrule, mismanagement and misappropriation of resources, the leaders must know that Nigerians are not oblivious of the plaguing issues and challenges that have held Nigeria spell-bound in its development efforts since independence and as manifest in all states whether PDP controlled or opposition party controlled. It is not about a name but a genuine desire to change the fortunes of Nigerians and showing that we love Nigeria and Nigerians. Our political attitude must change.

• Dr. Anyanate wrote in via aephraim@doctors.org.uk

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

For The Record Comprehensive and sustainable peace and security in a Being text of a speech delivered by former Chairman of the Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC, Chief A.K. Horsfall, OFR, at a two-day peace and security summit in Abuja under the auspices of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on January 30and 31, 2013.

INTRODUCTION: HE two global wars, otherwise called world wars – one and two had been fought before I was born. Following these global threats to peace and security there had been relative global quiet (peace and security) aside from the occasional regional blips – particularly Korea, Vietnam, Middle East (i.e.

Israel and the Arabs), the Indian sub continent (India and Pakistan) throughout the global scene.

In this country the earliest known case of the use of firearms to confront a government and kill fellow human beings was the military coup event of 1966 when a group of young officers mostly majors took up arms and partially overthrew the Nigerian government of that time. The country then went through periods of insecurity and violence, murders and destructions of lives and property, which ultimately led to the Civil War of 1967-1970 when over one million Nigerian lives were needlessly lost.

Since the Civil War violence and insecurity had somewhat become endemic in this country. At first it was the crime of armed robbery that started soon after the Civil War. Then series of other sporadic and protracted cases of violence and insecurity here and there.

The Nigeria I grew up in used to be one Sea of tranquility and placidity. Perhaps the major insecurity of a regional or national character we knew was the Gboko riots and the brutal attempts to suppress them. Insecurity at the local level were the occasional murders arising from disputes over the promiscuous or randy escapades by some of our rascally forbears over female partners which was sort of rampant among some Ijaw community (where incidentally I belong) and Ikot Ekpene areas; or indeed local seasonal clashes over farmlands in Izzi and Abakaliki parts of this country.

Gentlemen – for we are all gentlemen at the Bar. Today the world is in turmoil! The entire globe – North, South, East and West is in conflict or some other forms of insecurity!

THE WORLD IN TURMOIL, PRESENTLY? I repeat, the world is in turmoil! Insecurity has become the order of the day. Where do we start? Middle East, where we had had the Arab spring turned to Arab autumn and now winter. It all started in Tunisia, Bahrain, Egypt, where Mubarak was overthrown after 39 years of rule, all by violent action, slightly brushing off in Algeria then Libya where Moama Gaddafi was overthrown and murdered after 42 years of dictatorial governance and so on and so forth. Or South East Asia, i.e. Thailand, Burma, etc. or Latin America, the violent drug wars in Columbia, Mexico, etc. or the Pacific, East Timor, Philippines, Indonesia, etc. or North and South Korea where the two, sometime one country, now divided to North and South Korea threaten peace and security. Iran and Iraq had fought a bloody war in the eighties, then followed the invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Sadam Hussain by America and some western and Arab countries and of course the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Afghanistan wars where America and some western countries had been locked up in conflict for years over terrorism.

But let us leave all of these other countries and come to our continent Africa, below the Sahara!

There we observe a grim emerging or present picture of violence and insecurity.

THE SUB SAHARA AND TERRORISM: When we talk of Africa South of the Sahara the immediate area of concern will be Somalia, Sudan and lately the violent incursions by the Taureg invaders in Mali. The Tauregs had never been friends of the Taliban or Al-Qaeda. They and Al-Qaeda/Taliban are what you will term strange bed-fellows in Mali. But the fact is that they are there side by side in Mali! And have violently taken over the northern part of Mali and imposed an extremist Islamic dispensation in that part of Mali. France, ECOWAS and the United Nations have intervened and despatched French and ECOWAS army including

T

Horsfall

Nigerian troops to Mali.

Sadly, the Malian war may become endemic in sub-Saharan Africa and may spread far beyond Mali in the future because of the massive desert terrain involved and the connectivity through the desert of several African and Arab peoples who preach or practice similar culture, religion, are heavily armed and can provide safe haven for desert based terrorists and terrorists groups.

PEACE AND SECURITY: Again, I should recall that in the Nigeria I grew up in, we took peace and security for granted. A young Divisional Officer (DO) usually white but sometimes a young Nigerian graduate, was the representative and symbol of government we knew. A single police officer in smart khaki uniform usually based at the Divisional Police Headquarters with a small contingent of policemen under his command were the forces of law and order we saw! But these rather symbolic representation of government ensured the due process of the law and usually operated in good discipline and were therefore respected or feared. The ordinary folk in the countryside or even in urban areas hardly saw or encountered (perhaps only once in a quarter) these government representatives or forces of law and order and did so usually on ceremonial occasions or when in very rare cases a breach of security occurs. The ordinary citizens went about their business without fear of molestations or breach of their human rights such as existed then.

Farmers went to farm unmolested, fishermen went to sea and returned with their catch safely, workers went to their work place regularly, teachers went to school in full belief that their pupils and students will be in class regularly, and unharmed. Education, was a priced asset although not all can afford it but it functioned perfectly. Various professionals proudly went about their practice, commerce and business were conducted in an atmosphere of reasonable decorum with the usual chatter and clatter.

Even politicians went about their campaigns during electioneering, etc. with only some manageable blip of razzmatazz and rascality! The ordinary folk went to bed at night and expected to wake up next morning into a tranquil and normal atmosphere and environment. Individuals, communities and government took their responsibilities seriously. Government and public servants and officials were accountable to the colonial master and, to some extent, the

populace. Of course there were miscreants and the renegades, petty thieves, etc. who will break into their neighbours ‘barns’ or houses and pilfer yams, rape or defile some innocents and constitute such unwarranted intrusions in community life but these odd souls were rare and promptly dealt with according to law or tradition! Such was the normal order of Peaceful and Secure society that Nigeria was. Which can only be dreamt of TODAY. The opposite and absence of such orderly society are the conditions we live in these days; at the local, national and international levels. And this is the focus and thrust of this LECTURE. RESPONSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT: The primary responsibility of government in any modern nation state is to provide peace and security and welfare for its citizens. When there is peace and good security, human beings in every community relax and go after their regular business. Education, religion, culture, jobs, trade, agriculture, fishing and all manner of human endeavours blossom freely and mankind is happy and expects prosperity. In contrast, the absence of peace and security leads to lawlessness, chaos and anarchy.

HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS/BEGINNINGS OF INSECURITY: But my introductory paragraph may have missed some vital points. For in all our history mankind had been known to live in an atmosphere of insecurity; even in Nigeria. History will tell us that human kind had lived throughout in insecurity starting from Cain and Abel; even to the period of the emergence of settled communities. The pre-historic inter-communal ethnic wars, the wars of the Middle Ages, the wars of the Jihadists and even our own local tribal and ethnic wars paint a grim picture of insecurity and breaches of peace throughout man’s history on earth especially during man’s early development. However, these trends had been checked by the emergence of modern civilized states.

Modern states needed to have peace and security in order to embark peacefully in modern trade and commerce and civilized human interaction.

The need to monitor and broker peace and security was the reason the United Nations Organization (UNO) was agreed and established.

CURRENT MAJOR THREATS TO PEACE AND SECURITY IN NIGERIA: Threats to human peace and security could be varied and variable. A nagging wife denies peace and security to her dear husband. So does a bossy and over bearing husband be a threat to peace and security in the home. Followed down to the socio-political and state or community level we could readily aver that insurgency and terrorism including economic terrorism and corruption had become the main threat to our nation’s peace and security. Stretch the averment further and we would perhaps accept that home grown insurgency in collusion and collaboration with external terrorism networks constitute the greatest threat to peace and security in Nigeria.

THE RECENT NIGER DELTA INSURGENCY: Alas! With the Niger Delta violent militancy which led to loss of countless lives and damage to huge public and private properties and installations principally oil and gas installations, the stage was set for a new and sustained insecurity in this country. Indeed a threshold of insurgency and terrorism had emerged.

BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY: This is ongoing! The difference between Niger Delta insurgency and Boko Haram is that Niger Delta is political and Boko Haram is religious and ideological! Boko Haram, an extreme religious sect, having connections with international terrorist network had now landed squarely in the country as part of what is obviously a violent network of internal insurgency and terrorism. We must therefore see and deal with Boko Haram as the local counterpart of AlQaeda and Taliban because: Of the proven international connectivity and affiliations of these organisations. Let us not forget

Threats to human peace and security could be varied and variable. A nagging wife denies peace and security to her dear husband. So does a bossy and over bearing husband be a threat to peace and security in the home. Followed down to the sociopolitical and state or community level we could readily aver that insurgency and terrorism including economic terrorism and corruption had become the main threat to our nation’s peace and security. Stretch the averment further and we would perhaps accept that home grown insurgency in collusion and collaboration with external terrorism networks constitute the greatest threat to peace and security in Nigeria.

that the spiritual and inspirational dogma preached and practiced by Al-Qaeda, Taliban and other Pakistan, etc. based extremist sects runs through the veins of Boko Haram practitioners and some of our youth of the same faith in this country, many of who like the young MURTALAB, the would-be plane bomber were trained in Pakistan, Yemen and such places.

Following the violence in Libya which resulted in the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime a lot of the arms of that conflict especially from Gaddafi’s side of the conflict have infiltrated into the West African sub-region principally the Niger Republic, Chad, Mauritania, Mali, etc. and indeed some have found their way into this country and helped to fan the currently burning Boko Haram flame.

THE CHALLENGE OF BOKO HARAM: The threat of Boko Haram is the main challenge of the internal terrorism that Nigeria faces at present. I have said it in previous lectures that Boko Haram which represents violent religious extremism has been in this country for a fairly long time. It has surfaced in various forms and guises in the past. Sometime it has come as mita sine. At another time as kalakato. We could safely assume that the cells of these previous groups which had lied low for sometime had re-surfaced and re-grouped with other related extreme religious bodies to re-emerge as the latest violent extreme religious group now styling itself as Boko Haram – at least that seems to be in my opinion the internal terrorist group that is confronting our country at present. Of course these local extremist groups have now linked up with other extremist and violent religious groups from outside the country with linkages with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda which are the international spearhead of violent religious terrorism.

IMMINENT DANGER: Ladies and gentlemen. I foresee an imminent danger. A potentially deadly threat to our country’s peace and security! I fear that the day when Boko Haram ferries its destructive weapons of terror across the River Niger, that day we can foresee the spread of violence and terror across the country! The dreaded trigger may be pulled! For such act of mindless mischief may unleash the retaliatory response of OPC, MASSOB, MEND, etc. throughout the country and throw this country into endless carnage. We must all pray for God Almighty to spare the country of such long and dreary period of insomnia!

EFFECT OF GADDAFI’S GUNS FROM LIBYA: I did say in a lecture to Catholic Men’s League about a year ago in Lagos that Gaddafi’s guns from Libya will extend radical and extremist insurgency to West Africa including Nigeria. I did say then as follows I quote: “We now find these fears expressed rather so soon in parts of West Africa especially in Mali where our troops are already being dispatched to fight to save that country. The truth is that the insurgency will not affect only Mali but could soon find its way to Niger where Gaddafi’s guns are already in evidence but also in Tchad, Central African Republic, Mauritania and indeed also our country Nigeria.

There is clear evidence that Boko Haram is in contact with insurgencies in Mali, Libya, Sudan, Mauritania and even Somalia.

For immediate mention should be the current Libyan crisis. Because of the negative posture of its former leader, Colonel Moama Gaddafi towards Nigeria Libya had usually been a threat to our national security. Among other hostile acts Gaddafi is suspected to be one of the external sources funding the Islamist fundamentalist fighters popularly called BOKO HARAM. Our national security and intelligence must have foreseen and should clearly foresee the potentially adverse effect on Nigeria’s security which the conflict in Libya poses to Nigeria. In transmitting money and saboteurs to Nigeria, Gaddafi and his former officials still remain a potent security threat to Nigeria. Security/intelligence has to anticipate that Gaddafi cells for propaganda, indoctrination, training, infiltration and actual sabotage and subversion have to exist in this country controlled and run by Gaddafi loyalists. Such elements must be quickly identified and rooted out. The media had reported the large scale movement of former Gaddafi supporters to Niger and Chad Republic. Some of our national papers have even gone so far to suggest the possibility that some Gaddafi agents may have infiltrated

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plural society: Challenges to Nigeria’s internal security (1) into Katsina and some other states of Nigeria.

One will hope that these statements by the media are mere speculations of a free press anxious to spread news, etc. but also hope that our security and intelligence are alive to their responsibilities in correctly anticipating and neutralising these potential threats to our national security.”

WHAT ABOUT SYRIA? WHAT LESSONS SHOULD WE DERIVE FROM THERE? In Libya the toppling of Gaddafi’s regime was relatively easy and on the whole less bloody than what the Syrian situation has proved to be.

The reason was partly due to the fact that the Syrian crisis started as a mere protest for reform and the Asad government came down rather heavily on the protesters and actually inflamed the situation. The Syrian situation must impress all concerned that the mis-calculation and the mis-handling of any security situation can result into uncontrollable violence and bloody revolution which the Syrian government had not anticipated! Also that no government nor regime can deal successfully with a people who having been oppressed under a bad government and having been forced into resolute violent resistance can be stopped by further oppressive violence from the authorities. Such is the case in Syria TODAY. The people’s resistance would ultimately consume any regime almost without exception. We must all accept and learn that the only answer to the problem of insecurity and violence is justice and good governance and adherence to the will of the people through the rule of law.

OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO THE THREATS OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL TERRORISM: The official response to the threat of internal terrorism in the current time is happily gaining momentum. The pace of response is picking up and becoming more positive lately. And I will attempt here to identify the various arms of officialdom that is dealing with this problem as follows: The Executive Arm First, the executive arm of government – by drastically increasing the security vote have made the right move but there are still political actions, which need to follow and hopefully must follow. The last security budget was indeed phenomenal and the largest any government had budgeted for security in this country.

Resources To Tackle Insurgency: Yes, the last security budget was huge compared to previous ones; but so is the security problem confronting us at present. However, other aspect of the problem as I see it is weak political methodology and the absence of effective co-ordination among political operators and the various arms of the security and defence forces who are dealing with the problem. Such deliberate co-operation and co-ordination will be essential for this huge security threat that presently confronts the country. There must also be proper co-ordination among the Defence, Security and Law and Order services engaged in these assignments. At present this seem to be lacking and at some point somewhat confused. Take for instance the commissioner of police Biu incident resulting in the escape of a primary Boko Haram suspect.

The position should be that the collaborating services should be properly co-ordinated within a joint command arrangement such that they share the same level of commitment and understanding that will ensure that shared intelligence will not be compromised, etc. At the political level, the necessary authorizations and political directives need to be promptly given to assure the services that they have political backing to deal with every person identified from good and correct intelligence as being the political sponsors and financiers of the terrorists. What then remains will be proper psychological re-orientation exercise that will re-assure the Boko Haramists that they are welcome and acceptable by the country if they behave as good and useful citizens, deviate from a harmful course that will destroy the cohesion and corporate existence of the country which is equally theirs for whether Muslims, Christians or pagans, haramists or extremists, we all belong to this country called Nigeria. In effect I would wish to emphasize that side by side with whatever security or political operation to quell the insurgency, a proper reorientation and publicity programme should be launched forthwith to bring the Boko Haramists back into the mainstream of Islamic beliefs and practices.

President Jonathan

Inspector-General of Police Abubakar

The Legislative Arm The legislative arm of government must also express its pain and anger firmly and openly by condemning terrorism, extremism, religious fanaticism and those behind it. They should make stiff laws to curb violence and extremism.

The Judicial Arm The judicial arm, in particular, has a major duty to perform in this matter. The dispensation of justice is on the shoulders of the judiciary and the least one would expect from the judiciary in the matter of violent terrorism, economic “terrorism” and corruption, is to emulate the action taken by their Indian counterpart, a commonwealth country like us, to set up special courts to deal with these dangerous cases that are capable of destroying our country. It will be recalled that following the gang rape of a twenty-three year old young lady by six Indian youths, the judiciary in that country has designated special courts to rapidly dispense justice in that outrageous criminal matter. In my opinion so should the Nigerian judiciary do by immediately designating special courts to rapidly deal with persons under trial in these matters!

SAFETY AND SECURITY OF JUDGES AND JUDICIAL OFFICERS: But there is a new challenge facing the judiciary.

The safety of judges and judicial officers embarking on these dangerous and risky assignments. These functionaries must be adequately protected by the state. The Legislative and Executive arms of government must take immediate action to ensure the safeguard and protection of Judges and other officials engaged in the dispensation of justice by making fresh laws and providing adequate safeguard and security for judicial officers. They must do this urgently to confirm their commitment to the cause of justice.

THE LAW & ORDER, DEFENCE AND SECURITY SERVICES: I have confirmed while researching for this lecture that it is universally acknowledged by public opinion that the SSS and to a good extent its sister service, the NIA, who operates in secret have performed extremely well in the task to rein in the threat of Boko Haram. Well, I cannot be surprised. I trained those chaps and started the NIA from scratch! And I should like to hope that like the SSS and NIA, all the other services engaged in this struggle to keep Nigeria safer will raise the level of their performance such that we the ordinary citizens will relax more and shut our eyes when we go to sleep.

STATE POLICE OR NOT: The issue of whether or not the process of law and order enforcement will be best served by the institution of state police under a new or amended constitution had become a hot topic for discussion in various quarters. The governors’ forum made a statement through their chairman that it is their wish and have placed it on the table for constitutional amendment. I would like

to sound a word of caution on the issue of state police. Many of those especially those at the helm of affairs and of political leadership may be wishing for state police to serve some selfish interest. So far as I know during the political debates conducted by the House of Representatives and the Senate to seek public opinion on the proposed issues for amendment, the proposal to create state police was roundly rejected by all but a few states! Bad as the present centralized Police Force may be the truth is that the ordinary policeman under the present dispensation is there to protect the average Nigerian citizen. You do not need to go far in order to confirm that even at this stage of our national development there is a tendency of the strong to use the police to oppress or suppress the weak. Such excesses are so far generally checked by the fact that the police is monolithic with its hierarchy stretching up from the community/village level to the Abuja national headquarters where an IG superintends its affairs. Therefore the average aggrieved Nigerian citizen while trying to sort out his case can start by dealing with the constable in his village or community and without much cost, bring his matter to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), from the DPO to the area command, from the area command to the state commissioner of police, from the state commissioner of police to the zonal AIG and eventually to the IGP. He does all of these at only the cost of the piece of paper in which he writes his complaints or the transport cost which will take him to all of these places to verbally lodge his complaints. The Nigeria Police may be accused of being plagued by a nest of corruption but especially because of its hierarchical arrangement offers some of the best opportunities to the under privileged Nigerian to make his case and be heard and indeed to ultimately receive justice.

Judging from what the new breed of politicians have so far enacted since 1999 to date, it will be interesting to note that the tendency has been to consolidate power in their own hands, not the in-

The primary responsibility of government in any modern nation state is to provide peace and security and welfare for its citizens. When there is peace and good security, human beings in every community relax and go after their regular business. Education, religion, culture, jobs, trade, agriculture, fishing and all manner of human endeavours blossom freely and mankind is happy and expects prosperity. In contrast, the absence of peace and security leads to lawlessness, chaos and anarchy.

stitution of government at their levels, and in so doing they give less and less room to the ordinary citizen to express himself and exercise his God-given rights of citizenship. During the period when in the south-south zone, for instance, the cult and youth militancy largely sponsored by local politicians inside governments who prompted most of the ugly gunfights, killings and operation of cult members and other forms of youth violence that took place under the full glare of authorities, no meaningful action could be taken by the police and other security agencies because: The heads of the services and formations who should deal with the matter had been intimidated or bought over or brought under the corrupt subjection of the local political leadership in those states where all these crimes were openly taking place.

These enforcement and service authorities were intimidated by the real or implied threats or inducements of one form or another etc. and so connived, turned the blind eye or totally ignored their duty to the state and citizenry.

Even the media which during the Abacha era rose up stoutly in defence of the interest of the citizenry were for whatever reasons, for almost three years, unable to effectively expose these ugly crimes and incidents of killing, maiming, etc. which were taking place extensively in some of these states and so the country and the outside world were kept almost completely in the dark throughout the early stages of these ugly criminal developments.

This is what we should expect when we succumb to the demand for state or regional police in our present state of development.

But come to think of it, the series of crises and violent eruptions since 2007 resulting in the Niger Delta, Boko Haram, etc. including the potential for possible tribal, ethnic and religious crises could not be easily handled under state police without the sceptre of accelerating the predicted break-up of the federation of Nigeria in 2015 allegedly predicted by the Americans. It is important for all and sundry to carefully consider this matter especially the governors, some of whom are at present at the forefront of the advocacy of state police. Let me remind them that some of them may become the victims of state police by the very individuals whom they may have installed as their replacement as governors but who may become thereafter their political opponents and bitter enemies and may like to have them in jail.

To assuage some of the fears of the advocates of State Police, I will recommend that the Police Act be reviewed. The complaints about the current system of political influence and partiality from the federal government where some states and commands are alleged to being unjustifiably denied the deployment of needed personnel to carry out effective policing, etc. can be solved by placing the operational control of the police under A Police Council made up of truly distinguished Nigerians of integrity including former police IG’s who retired meritoriously and without blemish.

DANA AIRLINE: Allow me to digress slightly from the main flow of this lecture but still on the issue of peace and security! I would like to introduce the issue of continued Dana airlines operations in Nigeria. I do not think this gross irresponsibility that cost so many human lives should be allowed to stand, especially if many of the reports such as the fact that the very air craft which was involved in the accident was reported even by some management staff of the air line to have been defective. Inspite of which the air craft had been allowed to continue to operate until the fatal accident. This shows complete criminal negligence on the part of this airline. I rather think that the air line operator should be prosecuted for: Criminal negligence and The families of the victims should sue the air line collectively or respectively and claim severe damages for the loss of their dear ones.

That the airline’s operating license should be withdrawn forthwith through the appropriate authorities and the airline banished from the Nigerian airspace even if it attempts to come back in another name.

TO BE CONTINUED

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NPFL to introduce players’ transfer certificate, says Idoko

Keshi, NFF officials to meet Ameobi, others over commitment to Eagles

By Christian Okpara UPER Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are expected to meet with Shola Ameobi and Danny Shittu, among others, to ascertain their disposition to playing for Nigeria in the Confederation Cup and the World Cup qualifiers.

An official of the NFF told The Guardian on Tuesday that the players, who could not make the South Africa 2013 Nations Cup due to club commitments, were highly regarded by Keshi, but the coach wants to know their position on the issue before including them in his team.

After playing for Nigeria in a friendly against Venezuela in the U.S.A last year, Ameobi was excited and pledged his future with the Super Eagles. But his club, Newcastle United, refused to release him for the Nations Cup. “We want to find out if he is still well disposed to playing for Nigeria,” the source, who pleaded anonymity, said.

“Two months is a long time in a player’s career, but we are optimistic that he would accept to play for Nigeria when needed. The meeting with him is to clear the air so that we are not embarrassed if he perchance chose to shun any call up,” he added.

The source said the team would also meet with Shittu, who like Ameobi, could not feature in South

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Africa due to club commitments.

Keshi is expected to release the list of players for camping ahead the Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier against Kenya on March 23 next week.

Nigeria currently sits atop Group F of the qualifiers with four points, ahead of Namibia, Malawi and Kenya.

Keshi was quoted by a website of saying that “the list for the Super Eagles for the game against Kenya will be released next week on or before the March 9.

We already know the players but we are weighing up some options,” Keshi said.

Keshi is expected to keep faith with the squad who won the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa with Spartak Moscow striker, Emmanuel Emenike, a notable absentee because of a long-term hamstring injury he suffered at the tournament.

Keshi’s assistant Sylvanus Okpala has already hinted there will be no fresh call-up from the domestic league because it has yet to kick off.

“The fact is that we are not going to call a new set of players for the World Cup qualifier against Kenya, especially the home-based players because the league is not on and there is no platform to see them. We have enough players at our disposal to choose from now,” Okpala told a Lagos radio.

FCT NUJ gives NFF 24 hours’ ultimatum on ‘banned’ journalists From Terhemba Daka, Abuja HE Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council, has given the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) 24 hours to rescind its purported ban of two journalists, Messrs. Ezeocha Nze of The Guardian and Romanus Ugwu of The Sun Newspapers, from covering its activities.

The council in a statement signed by the chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Chuks Ehirim, described the alleged ban by the NFF to hangover of the dictatorship that has become the bane of football development in the country.

According to Ehirim, 14 years after military rule, the NFF is yet to come to terms with democratic norms of freedom of speech and rule of law, warning that the union will not watch idly while journalists are subjected to the whims and caprices of few individuals and/or a g e n c i e s .

Ehirim added that there is no law in the country that gives the NFF such powers to bar any journalist from car-

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rying on with his official duties, stressing that the constitution gives journalists the right to hold any government official accountable and monitor governance on behalf of the people.

The NUJ FCT chairman stated that the officials of the NFF would be held accountable if any harm came to the affected journalists, while urging other journalists to beam the searchlight on the activities of the NFF for the good of the country.

• Emordi berates NPFL over comments on Mba MEMBER of the 12-man A Interim Committee of the Nigerian Professional

Ameobi

MTN Lagos International Polo Championship

Ibadan Mapo draws first blood, beats Kano Dala 7-3 URUDEEN Akibu brought chukka and it was followed Dolapo Bamgboye, the desire N some elegance and class up by Owoeye’s goal as to excel and claim glory by to the king of sports Tuesday Mapo’s class soon came to the teams have led to a highat the Lagos Polo Club, Ikoyi, when he led his team, Ibadan Mapo to a comfortable 7-3 defeat of Kano Dala on the opening day of the 2013 Lagos International Polo Championship.

Akibu set the team, comprising Femi Awolaja, Kanyinsola Owoeye and Salisu Umaru on a winning path, guiding the ball for almost 50 yards as he outpaced Usman Mohammed.

Babiru Bello drew Dala level soon after but Owoeye was to restore his side’s advantage hitting a 20-yead shot. Usman Mohammed leveled the tie again for a 2-2 scoreline to end an entertaining first chukka.

Awolaja converted a penalty at the start of the second

the fore as it closed the game with a 7-3 scoreline.

The day’s second game, which was also in the Dansa Cup, saw a revenge of some sort for Kano as Ibah defeated Eleyele 5-3 to move to second place in the group.

Three matches are on the card for today with the Lagos Ericsson versus Lagos Ironclad/Hurstlers and Kano Titans versus Lagos Goodfellows/Ark the eyecatching clashes.

Meanwhile, one of the sponsors of the tournament, telecommunications outfit, MTN, says it is sure that this year’s event would live up to expectations owing to the standard displayed on the opening day.

According to MTN Event and Sponsorship Manager,

er standard in performance.

“The performance of the teams so far has been of a very high standard and as major sponsor of the tournament we are proud of the teams,” he said.

Another major sponsor, Guarantee Trust Bank added through Oyinade Adegbite, its Communication and External Affairs manager, that it is sure of getting value for backing the tournament, which ranks as the top in the domestic activities on the calendar of the Nigeria Polo Association.

“GTB have decided to come into the sponsorship of this prestigious tournament, which we believe will enhance the development of the game in Nigeria,” she stated.

Botswana U-17 delegation arrives tomorrow for friendly DELEGATION of A Botswana’s national Under-17 team will arrive in the country tomorrow for two friendly games against the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria.

Both matches will take place at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Saturday and Monday.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says its is organising the games as part

of the Golden Eaglets’ final phase preparation for the African U-17 Championship taking place in Morocco from April 13 to 27.

Manu Garba’s boys are unbeaten in 20 friendly and competitive matches since coming on stream last year, and swept into the African U17 finals by winning all six qualifying matches, scoring 21 goals and conceding only one.

In contrast, Botswana’s cadets only squeezed past Malawi, Rwanda and Algeria to reach the eight-nation finals.

Prior to their qualifying race last year, the Eaglets played a similar two-leg friendly against the Rwandan U-17 Team, also in Calabar, both of which they won comfortably.

The Eaglets will fly out of the country to Qatar on March 13, for a four-week

final preparatory programme ahead of the continental showpiece in Morocco.

They will be availed of the exquisite training facilities at the worldrenowned Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, Doha.

Nigeria takes on Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and debutants, Congo Brazzaville, in Group B of the African U-17 Championship in Morocco.

Football League (NPFL), Mike Idoko, on Tuesday revealed that the body was set to introduce certificates for the transfer of players.

Enugu Rangers, Warri Wolves and Dolphins of Port Harcourt are engaged in an ownership tussle for the Africa Cup of Nations revelation, Sunday Mba and goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim.

And speaking on the controversy generated by the tussle, Idoko said the certificate would prevent the future occurrence of such issues, adding that it would serve as evidence of ownership of any player.

Idoko said the certificate would also make for easy transfer of players during any transfer window.

“We want to issue a local transfer certificate without which players cannot be transferred from one club to the other,” he said.

Idoko said the NPFL board kept records of players’ movements in the transfer market, adding that it was part of the board’s reference to also look after player’s welfare and to act in due time to protect their careers.

Meanwhile, Enugu Rangers’ Chief Coach, Okey Emordi has berated the NPFL board for its comments on the ownership of Mba, saying the board has no justification to claim the player is a Warri Wolves’ player.

Emordi said he was confident Mba was a player of Rangers because he had trained with the team before joining the Super Eagles’ Africa Cup of Nations camp.

“The NPFL has no justification to claim that Mba is a player of Wolves. It’s the clubs concerned that are in a good position to lay claims to the player.

Kanu, Akintola to conduct The Nation draw Super Eagles FandORMER Captain, Nwankwo Kanu popular actress, Miss Bimbo Akintola are special guests as draw for Buy The Nation and Sporting Life raffle entries holds today in Lagos.

A statement on Tuesday by the General Manager (Training and Development), Soji Omotunde, said the two celebrities would be joined by officials of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and Lagos State Lotteries Board at the event slated for noon at the headquarters of The Nation on Fatai Atere Way, Matori on the Lagos Mainland.

The promo, which between October 2012 and January 21, requested readers to cut 90 promo pages and send in to be qualified to participate in the draw.

Thousand of readers sent in entries from among whom the winners will emerge today.

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

42 Ethiopians, others storm Warri for African Youth Athletics We will host the best athletics meet event, says Uduaghan

By Gowon Akpodonor ITH a large contingent of W 21 male and 21 female athletes, Ethiopia looks set to paint the city of Warri red in the fast approaching African Youth Athletics Championship.

Apart from the host country, Nigeria, which has entered a total of 80 athletes made up of 40 male and 40 female athletes, the East African country (Ethiopia) has the second largest contingent for the championship.

The competition will run from March 27-31 at the allcovered Warri City Stadium.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) said on Tuesday that it was expecting about five hundred athletes for the championship.

A list of countries made

available to The Guardian, South Africa has 30 registered athletes for the event just as Egypt picked 24 and Senegal and Liberia has 20 each.

Others include Algeria (13), Burkina Faso (12), Chad (20), Kenya (17), Mali (24), Morocco (18), Uganda (11) and Togo 10 athletes.

Countries with least number of athletes for the championship include Mozambique (4), Angola (2), Botswana (2), Cape Verde (2), Comoros Island (2), Seychelles (2) and Zimbabwe (2).

As at Tuesday, the LOC had received a total entry of 421 athletes made up of 223 male and 198 female runners from 32 countries.

In Delta State, some of the athletes, who scaled through a recent trial organised by the state ahead the African Youth

Athletics Championship are already in camp in Sapele and Oghara.

The Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee for the championship, Onochie Anibezie, told The Guardian on Tuesday that the body would stage one of the best athletics championship ever witnessed in the continent.

On his part, Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan declared that the government and people of Delta State would use the championship to showcase their rich culture as the best sports state in this part of the World.

Nigerian athletes during a recent international relay race. Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, says Warri is set for the African Youth Athletics Championship.

Wenger, Moratti lead others to Kanu Heart Foundation hospital launch

By George Udeh RSENAL of England A Manager, Arsene Wenger, Inter Milan of Italy owner, Massimo Morati, Confederation of African Football (CAF) and President, Isah Hayatou, are among the football personalities expected to attend the N5 billion Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF) Cardiac Specialist Hospital launch in Abuja next month.

Speaking on the event, which will signal the take off of the project, KHF Co-ordinator, Pastor Onyebuchi Abia said the event would also feature cap-

tains of industry, footballers from all over the world, and entertainers, adding, “as I speak to you now, most of these dignatories have given their words to attend.

“Some of the Nigerian industrialists coming are Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, Oba Otudeko, Rabiu Ishiaku and a host of others.”

Abia said such renowned football stars as Arsenal legend, Thiery Henry, Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Adebayor, former world best player, George Opong Weah, would also grace the occasion, just as efforts were being made to get some former

teammates of Nwankwo Kanu, both in the national team and the various clubs he played for, to be in Abuja for the event.

He added that former presidents and heads of state, including Olusegun Obasanjo, would be at the event alongside states’ governors.

Abia revealed that since the inception of the Kanu Heart Foundation in 2000, it has helped 425 children of varying ages to free open heart treatment in Asia, Europe and Africa, adding that with the growing number of heart disease patients, the KHF is proposing to build and equip an ultra-mod-

ern cardiac centre in Abuja.

He added that the project would be the first of its kind in the country and would perform at least 250 open-heart surgeries annually, adding that on completion, it would treat children between the ages of 1 and12 free of charge, while the treatment for adults would be subsidised.

He thanked President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Government for allocating the land where the ultramodern cardiac specialist centre would be built, saying that it is instructive that the president has agreed to be the special guest of honour.

Emotion flows as Stanbic IBTC takes AFCON trophy to PSLC’s autistic children Athlete competes at the maiden Premier Lotto Lagos Schools Athletics Championship holding at Teslim Balogun Stadium… yesterday.

PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Premier Lotto Lagos Schools Athletics Championship

Athletes yearn for regular tourney as more finalists emerge

By Olalekan Okusan HOUSANDS of students T taking part in the maiden Premier Lotto Lagos School Athletics championships believe such competition should be regular for them to showcase their talents.

The students, who thronged the Teslim Balogun Stadium for the district finals, however commended the organisers and sponsors for initiating the championship.

Abosede Fakoya of Igbogun Senior High School, Epe said being her first time of competing the tartar track, she would want to be participating in more competition like them on such facilities.

“Although I did not make the final list but the opportunity of running on the track alone would forever remain with me. I only watch people running on the track on television during the last National Sports Festival and running on it was a moment I would cherish. When I was running it was as if the track was drawing my leg because I ran bare-footed,” she said.

Also, Umoru Elijah of Epe Grammar School, who jumped 6.61metre in the boys’ long jump event,

believes the tourney would help to unearth talents from schools.

“This is my best jump and I believe it will fetch me the qualification to the grand finale next week. I hope to set another record in the high jump as well. I am really enjoying myself in this tournament,” he said.

By Christian Okpara UESTS at the Patrick Speech and Language Centre, Ikeja, an institution that caters for autistic children, were filled with emotion on Tuesday when Stanbic IBTC presented the African Nations Cup to the children.

The gesture, rare in this part of the world, gave the children a reason to aspire to achieve the immense possibilities derivable from unleashing their human potential.

The event presented the children the opportunity to feel and take photographs with the trophy, as well as, listen to stories about the Nations Cup and how hard work can transform an individual to great heights no matter his circumstances.

An elated Director of the centre, Dotun Akande, described

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the visit as a landmark event that would help in building ambitions in the children, who she believed would integrate properly into the society after undergoing the special care.

She described autism as a complex developmental disability, which “typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the ares of social interaction, communication and imaginative skills. Both children and adults with autism show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions and leisure or play activities.”

The director revealed that the centre was established in 2006

Stanbic IBTC Chief Executive Officer, Sola David-Borha (centre left), CAF Marketing and TV Director, Amr Shaheen (centre right), and children of the Patrick Speech and Language Centre, Ikeja, pose with the AFCON 2013 trophy won by the Super Eagles.

PHOTO: GABRIEL IKHAHON

as a special needs educational centre designed to assist individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), aspergers syndrome, speech and language disorder and other disbilities.

She praised Stabic-IBTC for empathising with the children, describing the visit as one of the events in the sevenyear-old centre.

Also speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Sola David-Borha said the decision to embark on a Trophy Tour, showcases the bank’s resolve to provide everyone with the chance to participate meaningfully in the world around them.

She disclosed that the bank’s sponsorship of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the continental showpiece tournament is in recognition of the link between aspiration and achievement, hence the Group’s commitment to the long-term development of the continent and its people. She urged the children to strive to fulfil their potential regardless of the challenges that they face.

“Our visit to this centre of learning is essentially meant to make us all realise the height you can attain in life if only you try. The success of the Nigerian national football team in South Africa clearly reveals what is possible with single-minded determination, hardwork and self-belief.

“We are a caring institution and believe strongly in adding value to the communities in which we operate,” she said.

David-Borha said it is the recognition of such potential in the children and Nigeria as a whole that is driving the

growing presence of the organization across the country, and the continuing investment of Standard Bank in Nigeria.

“We decided to share this victory with the children because we identify with the goals of the school. We commend them for being able to train the Nigerian child, who could grow in future to be leaders of the nation.

“It is important to remember these children in celebrating victory because every single child is a winner, and the Super Eagles triumph is a testament that dedication and hard work can get you your goal.

“We believe that if the school continues to work hard, it will definitely achieve its goals.

Also speaking at the event was the Marketing and TV Director, Confederation of African Football, Amr Shaheen, who accompanied the trophy to the school.

Shaheen said, “I am touched by this experience. Usually, I am invited to meet with big people in business. But this is different.

“Meeting with children like these from the grassroots is a touching experience. I have met with people from the grassroots in Botswana, Soweto, South Africa, and some countries that have never qualified for the Nations Cup, but this is a different experience and I commend the school and the bank for making it possible.”

A highlight of the visit to the centre was a talk by Super Eagles former star, Victor Ikpeba, who spoke about football management and development in Nigeria.

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

European Round-Off

Copa del Rey least important trophy, says Xavi AVI says the Copa del Rey X was the least important trophy on Barcelona’s radar after the club was knocked out of the competition at the semifinal stage by Real Madrid on Tuesday.

The Catalans were beaten 3-1 in the second leg of their tie after recording a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu, meaning Barcelona miss out on the Spanish cup.

However, while admitting the defeat was yet another disappointment on the back of a difficult February for the club, Xavi is doing his best to remain upbeat and focused on the prizes still at stake.

“This was another setback after the loss against AC Milan, but we have to move on. Yes, we miss out on a trophy, but it’s the least important one,” Xavi told reporters.

He added, “we are still in the running for two important titles. We have to return to winning ways against Madrid at the weekend and hold our heads high.”

Barca takes on Madrid in La

Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday. Meanwhile, Barcelona says Lionel Messi has a fever and did not attend yesterday’s scheduled training session.

The club says Messi, who played a lackluster match in his team’s 3-1 loss to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey semifinals on Tuesday, was being attended to by doctors.

Barcelona says ‘’a team of doctors have visited Messi at home, where he has been given appropriate medication and been advised to rest.’’

The club says midfielder, Xavi Hernandez also missed Tuesday training session, instead doing ‘’physiotherapy work.’’

Pepsi takes Nigerian Idol contestants to the Gym EPSI, the global soft drink P giant, last Monday took the 10 contestants in the season 3

Barcelona’s Argentine forward, Lionel Messi (centre); vies with Real Madrid’s forward Jose Callejon (left), and midfielder Xabi Alonso during the Spanish Cup semi-final second leg match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Tuesday.

Casillas wants repeat performance from Real Madrid EAL Madrid Captain, Iker R Casillas is hoping for more of the same from his side as they look to follow up Tuesday night’s superb Copa del Rey triumph over Barcelona with a Champions League success over

Manchester United next week.

Barca looked favourites heading into the cup semi-final second leg having drawn 1-1 at the Bernabeu, but they were swept aside as two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and another from Raphael Varane helped Madrid win 3-1 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate.

Madrid now face a similar situation in the Champions League, having drawn 1-1 at home with United in the first leg of their last-16 tie, and Casillas wants his side to replicate Tuesday night’s performance at Old Trafford next Tuesday.

The Spain goalkeeper said, “we have to transfer this to the match against Manchester United. It is also 1-1 and we have to score and keep a clean sheet.

That’s the aim that we’re going with.

“Manchester United know how to play football, it is a difficult place to go to and we have to take what we have done (against Barca) to Old Trafford.”

Progressing through to the Copa del Rey final will be a huge relief to Madrid, whose hopes of silverware this season had looked in some doubt with their Champions League bid hanging in the balance and their Primera Division title defence in tatters.

Madrid are currently 16 points adrift of Barca in La Liga, with the Catalan club also boasting a 12-point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid with 13 games to go.

The league may be lost, but Casillas is determined not to go

down without a fight over the closing months of the season.

“Hopefully this is a turning point to have won this tie and to make it better it was against Barcelona,” said Casillas.

“We played a very good tie all round and this will motivate us to make a good showing of ourselves in other matches.

Winning the Champions League is a better possibility than the league, but Real Madrid will fight to the end.”

Jose Mourinho’s men can cut into Barca’s advantage this weekend when they face their arch rivals once again at the Bernabeu.

Casillas expects Barca to be out for revenge, but has warned Tito Vilanova’s men Madrid will be up for the game as well.

of the Nigerian Idol, a reality TV show to the gym of the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel on the Island in order to make them physically fit as music and sports go together. Pepsi is the official beverage of the show.

Tagged a ‘Day Out with Wizkid’, the event featured Nigerian wave making Hip Pop Star, Wizkid, who is also a Pepsi music ambassador leading the pack of the contestants to various exercises at the gym.

The contestants at the end of the over two hours of sweating it out at the gym, said that they were more challenged and ready to face the rudiments of the show.

“The gym experience is great. I am mentally and physically alert now for the remaining challenges that the show would pose,” said Amara, one of the contestants.

Mr. Norden Thurston, head of Marketing, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, said that the company decided to take the contestants to the gym in order to physically prepare them for the rigours of the show.

In his words, “music and sports go together. Music and dance exert lots of energy.

Anybody that is not physically fit may not be able to make prove of his or her career in the world of entertainment.

“Based on this, Pepsi decided to take the Nigerian Idol contestants to the gym. But to add glamour and fun to it, we decided to champion it through one of our music ambassador, Wizkid, who is also young and about the same age grade with the contestants. The essence is for them to feel free and flow with him.”

Dickens Sanomi golf tourney tees off next week

Bale is not at Messi’s or Ronaldo’s T level yet, Ferdinand insists ANCHESTER United M defender Rio Ferdinand believes Gareth Bale has to

Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward, Cristiano Ronaldo (left); is congratulated by his teammate, Alvaro Arbeloa after scoring during the Spanish Cup semi-final second-leg match against Barcelona at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Tuesday.

PHOTOS: AFP

Real defeat helps Barca, Alba admits ARCELONA defender, Jordi “These are two key games B Alba believes their Copa del which we’ve lost but there’s Rey semi-final exit at the still the return leg against

hands of Real Madrid will make them stronger for their upcoming crunch UEFA Champions League clash with AC Milan.

Barca’s hopes of trophy treble in the final months of the season were shattered on Tuesday night as they lost 3-1 at home to arch-rivals Madrid in the second leg of their Spanish cup clash, going out 4-2 on aggregate.

However, Alba, who scored a late consolation for Barca last night, says his side’s cup exit will provide them with added motivation for their European clash.

“We’ve given our all and it wasn’t to be, this defeat will make us stronger for the Champions League,” Alba said.

Milan to come which I’m sure will go better.

“If we score an early goal we will have a good chance of getting through, I have a lot of hope. The team has shown they can win any tie.”

Barca fans would have felt their side had done the hard work in the semi-final after drawing 1-1 in the first leg at the Bernabeu, but Cristiano Ronaldo’s 13th-minute penalty last night quickly wiped out their away goal.

Ronaldo then doubled his account for the match in the 57th minute before Raphael Varane made it 3-0 11 minutes later. That left Barca needing to score four times in the final 20 minutes to go through, and all they could manage was Alba’s 89th-minute effort.

keep putting in top class displays for the next two or three seasons before the Tottenham star can be considered in the same bracket as Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Spurs winger has been in sensational form of late, scoring 15 Premier League goals this season to alert the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City as his current club prepares for a huge summer bidding war.

And while the Wales international surged past the former England center back to score in a 3-2 victory at Old Trafford, the Red Devils stalwart says the 23-year-old must show this form for far longer to become one of the world’s best.

Ferdinand tweeted, “people mentioning Bale in the same breath as Cristiano Messi really don’t know football! Bale been 1 of best 2 in PL this year but...He is not on CR7 + Messi’s level yet...he carries on doing what he is doing for 2/3yrs then there can be a debate.

He added, “Bale showed me a clean pair of heals once this year so I’m in good position to judge! CR7 + Messi have been

on another planet for 4-5yrs #consistent .”

Spurs sit in third place in Andre Villas-Boas’ debut season at White Hart Lane, with Bale two goals in the 3-2 Monday night win at West Ham - the last being a 90th minute match-winning won-

Bale

der strike - leaving his side four points clear of rivals Arsenal.

The Gunners travel to Spurs on Sunday, where a win for the home side would leave them seven points clear of Arsene Wenger’s side in the race for Champions League qualification.

HE much-awaited Police Games 2013, Dickens Sanomi Golf Championship, gets underway in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Monday, March 4, 2013.

The tournament ends on Thursday, March 8. The first two days are strictly for the Police Athletes while the last two days would see invited guests and VIPs joining up with the former.

The venue of the entire event is Port Harcourt Club Golf section, on Forces Avenue, Old G.R.A Port Harcourt, River State.

This year ‘s event is named after veteran and highly respected police officer, late AIG Dickens Sanomi, whose immeasurable contributions to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) were described as timeless and deserving of even greater honour.

A keen sportsman in his younger days, the late Sanomi played soccer for his alma mater, Urhobo College and was so skillful that he was invited to the Junior National Camp.

He also represented his college and later, the Nigeria Police Force in athletics especially in 100m Hurdles, Triple Jump and Long Jump. He succeeded the legendary, Alhaji A. K. Amu as Captain and Team Manager of the then Midwest Region Athletics Team in 1965.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

78 SPORTS

Adeboye U-20 National Table Tennis Championship

Top seeds progress as tourney enters round of 16

By Olalekan Okusan LL the top seeded players had easy passage in the knockout stage of the maiden Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye National U-20 Table Tennis Championship with the round of 16 expected to commence today.

The top four seeded players in the men’s event, Ojo Onaolapo, Olawale Fagbamila, Olajide Omotayo and Azeez Ogunlade thrashed their opponents to berth in the last 16 of the championship.

Like their male counterpart, the top seeded female players like Funke Hassan and Fatimo Kazeem also advanced to the round of 16 of the competition, which attracted over 150 players from 25 states of the federation.

According to the chief referee of the competition, John Peters, the tourney has been impressive with the players displaying lots of skills to the admiration of the fans.

Peter, an International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) certified blue badge umpire said from the quality of play, it was obvious that Nigeria still possess the quality to dominate Africa.

The tournament is jointly organised by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and the Directorate of Sports, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), as part of the activities to celebrate the 71st birthday of Pastor Adeboye.

Over 3000 players already featured in the state preliminaries with four boys and four girls representing each state at the championship holding at the Redemption Camp, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.

Also, former international, Toyin Okenla-Ojeaga has been

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named as the competition’s ambassador by the organisers.

The grand finale holds on Saturday March 2, while it will be preceded by a seminar titled: “Maximising The Potentials Of Nigerian Youth In Table Tennis Towards The 2016 Olympic Games: Roles Of The Private Sector.”

With plans to expand the

event, Special Assistant to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (Administration and Personnel), Johnson F. Odesola, who was represented by Head of Sports in RCCG, Paul Bankole, said over N6 million will be won by the top eight players at the competition with the winners getting N1.5 million each.

Fashola, Abdullahi, NASCOM others for Greensprings Sports Forum AGOS State Governor, L Babatunde Fashola and Minister of Sports/ Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Bolaji Abdullahi, as well as, top officials of the National Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM) led by its chairman, Yemi Idowu are expected to grace the second Greensprings Sports Forum.

The one-day interactive session, which holds this Saturday March 2 at 10am. The theme of the event is the Role of the Media in School Sports Development with speakers expected at the event.

According to Greensprings’ Director of Education, Prof.

George Hickman, the forum is aimed at highlighting the role of sports development in the all-around and holistic development of young persons.

“The Sports Forum is an annual Greensprings School initiative aimed at highlighting the role of sports development in the all-around, holistic development of young persons. It emphasises the importance of schools having a strong co-curricular, afterschool programme, along with the regularly scheduled

physical education classes to enhance the academic programme of schools,” Hickman said.

He added, “research clearly indicates that the best schools in the world are ones, which offer a wide range of athletics which go hand-in-hand with academic programmes. The forum is also designed to solicit the support of the media in emphasising the overall importance of sports as an integral part of holistic education, including character building, healthy life styles, team building and fitness as a natural part of growing up.”

The Lekki campus of Greensprings will host the event and it will also be used to launch the sports academy of the school in Lekki.

Speakers include, Mumini Alao, deputy editor-in-chief, Complete Communication Limited, Aisha Falode, sports analyst, African Independence Television (AIT), Dr. Larry Izamoje, CEO, Brila Radio and Abimbola Kazeem, Connect Marketing Services.

Former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu will also grace the occasion.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 28, 2013

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TheGuardian

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Adetipe Adekunle Declaus “THE more prosperous a state is and the more equitably and justly distributed its wealth is, the less liable it is to the danger of internal disorder and the more able it is to discourage external aggression.” Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909-1987) economics, unemployment refers to the and extent of joblessness within IanNcondition economy, and is measured in terms of the

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editorial@risenetworks.org and 07067976667- SMS ONLY

Unemployment and insecurity in Nigeria: The Nexus

unemployment rate, which is the number of unemployed workers divided by the total civilian labour force. Hence, unemployment is the condition of not having a job, often referred to as being ‘out of work’ or unemployed.

It is an understatement to say that majority of the graduates churned out by the universities in Nigeria on yearly basis are unemployed, rather, the fact remains that the jobs available cannot absorb the jobless hands that idle away on the labour market. As at October 2012, the Statistician General of the Federation, Dr. Temi Kale, said: “20.3 million Nigerians are currently jobless and not employed in any form of job.” Indubitably, a majority of the youths in the country falls into this category. The country’s unemployed youths roam the streets on a daily basis in search of greener pastures. They continue to hope against hope that the ‘haves’ will have mercy on them and give them their dream jobs. While on the other hand, the ‘haves’ and their accomplices in government continue to retain the vacancies most especially in federal parastatals for their children who are yet to complete their education in higher institutions of learning all in the name of federal character.

Opportunities are reserved for less qualified and yet-to-be qualified applicants while qualified applicants are denied employment due to flimsy considerations. What an injustice!

More than ever before, the unemployment rate of the country stands at an alarming figure of 23.9 per cent. This is not without all the trillions of naira expended in the last 12 years as national budget. However, the effects of the unemployment crisis in the country spare nobody regardless of the social status.

The first casualty of this economic monster called unemployment is our value system. Rioting youths The value system of the Nigerian society has prevails, and where any one class is made to depreciated greatly and this social decadence feel that the society is an organised conspira- rassment to business and national security. is easily noticed among the youths. It is now cy to oppress, rob and degrade them, persons Mr. Emeka Oparah, vice president, Corporate Communications/Corporate responsibility at a common thing to see some ladies in their nor property will be safe.”

Airtel Nigeria said that vandalisations of the 20s and early 30s patrolling the streets of big These youths see nothing at stake if the telecom service were regular occurrences. He cities as ladies of evening. They now see pros- whole country is on fire! They make themtitution as a display of entrepreneurial skills selves available hands to prosecute evil acts cited the example of base station in Abia State and a way out of the socio-economic pressure while their godfathers capitalise on the where Airtel Nigeria lost four generators to being mounted on them by the society. It is unemployment crisis to use them for their the vandals.

Speaking on the same premise, Uthman now not uncommon to see some female selfish ends. They terrorise the very fabric youths in cabaret posing nude. They trade off that holds the country together. They see a Garba, director general, Kaduna Chamber of their treasured virtues for some wad of cur- situation where they give back to the society Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture rency notes. Due to high level of competition (Nigeria) what it handed over to them. It is said: “Businesses are suffering in the North among themselves, they now dress indecent- now a case of a fowl, which perches on the and we desperately need the government to ly exposing their cleavages and even their pri- rope; neither the rope nor the fowl is at ease restore peace to the region as businesses have collapsed. The destruction of communication vate parts in order to attract the attention of (Adie ba l’okun, ara o’rokun, ara o’ro adie). infrastructure would further worsen it.” This their ‘customers’. They see nothing wrong in Properties worth billions of naira and lives has hampered the free flow of strategic inforsleeping around to secure jobs. are destroyed as a result of the activities of In the same vein, some of the male youths the terrorists in the society. They believe they mation, which is necessary for intelligence now see robbery as an occupation. We see have found a way to register their grievances gathering between security agents. In most how they are being paraded on the pages of and as well as meeting their needs. They are cases, our security chiefs rely on third party to newspapers as crime suspects. The worst no longer answerable to anybody (not even gather needed information in order to nip a being the issue of cyber-crime traditionally the law of the land) except to their godfa- brewing violence in the bud. This results in tardiness in expediting action as the third called ‘yahoo-yahoo’. The social networks thers. meant for making friends and sharing cre- Closely related to the issue of insecurity dis- party may also conspire with the violent ative and constructive ideas have been cussed above is the economic sabotage suf- gang. During the eruption of violence, many turned to dubious means of making money fered by the country. Some of the unem- business investments are lost and economic

by Nigerian youths. As of today, youths of oth- ployed youths see nothing wrong in vandal- activities are brought to a standstill.

The northern geopolitical zone of the couner climes, creeds and breed find it difficult to ising infrastructural facilities in the country deal with Nigerian youths, having at the back as far as they get paid for such an act. The try is the worst hit as so many telecommuniof their minds the dubious character that transmission infrastructure for telecommu- cation gadgets had been blown by this deadly Nigerian youths can display; persons of ques- nication services such as fibre cable links and sect. It was reported the other time that pretionable character mail scam messages to power generating sets are the worst hit. meditated bomb attacks were carried out by their unsuspecting victims most especially These gadgets have consistently become the the Boko Haram terrorist sect against MTN, corporate organisations asking for cyber target of vandals. These vandalisations not Airtel, Etisalat, Globacom, Visafone, Helios security codes. Hacking, cyber stalking, spam- only lead to breakdown of communication Tower and HIS Nigeria. As a result of this series ming, address mugging, e-mail spoofing, between subscribers but also cause embar- of attacks, a lot of workers in the telecommunication sector have been thrown out of work. pharming, phising, phreaking et cetera are also popular cases of cybercrimes in Nigeria.

The YOUTHSPEAK Column which is published daily is an initiative of THE GUARDIAN, and The second brunt of unemployment being powered by RISE NETWORKS, Nigeria’s Leading Youth Development Centre, as a substantial borne by the Nigerian society is insecurity of advocacy platform available for ALL Nigerian Youth to engage Leadership at all levels, engage life and property. We now watch helplessly as Society and contribute to National Discourse on diverse issues especially those that are pecuhapless youths in our society dissipate their liar to Nigeria. Regarding submission of articles, we welcome writers‘ contributions by way of energies on destructive endeavours as is well crafted, analytical and thought provoking opinion pieces that are concise, topical and being witnessed in the case of terrorism. non-defamatory! All articles (which are not expected to be more than 2000 words) should be Nigeria today has become an open field sent to editorial@risenetworks.org To read the online Version of this same article plus past where despicable social vices reign supreme publications and to find out more about Youth Speak, please visit and the security agents watch helplessly as www.risenetworks.org/youthspeak and join the ongoing National Conversations’’. they cannot curtail the perpetrators. No doubt about the fact that the perpetrators of Also join our on-line conversation 21676F3E @risenetworks RISE GROUP these evils are youths in their prime who want to create a so-called alternative society Published by Guardian Newspapers Limited, Rutam House, Isolo, Lagos that will at least provide them their basic Tel: 4489600, 2798269, 2798270, 07098147948, 07098147951 Fax: 4489712; Advert Hotlines: Lagos 7736351, Abuja 07098513445; Circulation Hotline: 01 4489656 needs for existence. The youths in this categoAll correspondence to Guardian Newspapers Limited, P.M.B. 1217, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria. ry see the Nigerian society in the words of E-mail letters@ngrguardiannews.com; www.ngrguardiannews.com Frederick Douglass “Where justice is denied, ABC (ISSN NO 0189-5125) . where poverty is enforced, where ignorance Editor: MARTINS OLOJA

Not only this, private investors who have interests in investing in this sector have been scared off.

Moreover, the southern part of the country is under the siege of kidnapping and militancy.

As a way out of the economic logjam that some of the employable but not employed youths in this region find themselves, they have taken to kidnapping and militancy.

Kidnapping is a lucrative enterprise with millions of dollars a year in the country. Oil workers and other foreign nationals are often targeted because of high ransom money involved. Also not spared of this scourge are the relatives of high-heeled individuals in the country.

Besides, especially on the creeks, piracy has now become integral part of kidnapping and militancy in the Delta. The Nigerian pirates operate like their Somali counterparts; they are very organised. There are investors (godfathers), accountants, logistics officers, welfare officers, (in charge of the hostages), and a pirate leader on land, then the group in charge of the actual attack. Every individual involved is trained in specific aspects; equipment handling, weapon usage, navigation and they are also conversant with the creeks.

They attack vessels loaded with crude oil.

It was reported on 24th December, 2012 (according to British Broadcasting Corporation News) that pirates had kidnapped four sailors after attacking their vessel off Nigeria coast. The hostages were foreigners. The pirates are only interested in the ransom money that will be paid by the companies that their hostages work for. The major bargaining tools of the pirates are the lives of their victims. Millions of naira are staked on the lives of the hostages. The companies in most cases do make the payments otherwise the pirates are left with no other choice than to kill their hapless victims. The attendant consequence of this despicable act is reflected in the quantity of crude oil being exported by the country, as there is a remarkable reduction in the volume of crude oil export and these results in the reduction of revenues accruable to the purse of the government that will be spent in developing the infrastructural facilities of the country.

Moreover, the use of unemployed youths as political thugs has now taken the centre stage of our political system. It is not uncommon to see unemployed Nigerian youths staking their lives and ambitions for their political godfathers simply because of the crumbs from the national filthy lucre. These youths in their productive ages carry all sorts of dangerous weapons during electioneering. They are mostly paid to cause violence in the camp of their godfathers’ political opponents. They use all sorts of dangerous political weapons such as guns, machete, daggers, axe et cetera.

They are simultaneously paid to kill and to die while protecting their political godfathers who might have promised them their dream jobs if elected. They are used as political pawns on the political chessboard. The electoral umpires are handicapped in curtailing these ferocious youths, because they get donations from these same unscrupulous politicians in order to meet some logistic demands. The police are helpless for the same reason. Our national politics is now shamefully dictated by the army of political thugs controlled by the politicians and their political parties as against politics of national issues as is being practised in developed democracies world over.

Furthermore, this violence continues even after the elections. It is not surprising that attacks are launched even in the wake of elections. These attacks are launched either to scare away the political opponents and their supporters or the political thugs from the opponents’ camp launch the attacks to destabilise the government in power. Either way, loss of lives and properties takes the centre stage. Moreover, as a way of compensation, the political jobbers cum political thugs are not disarmed and this leads to proliferation of dangerous weapons in the society. This leads to upward spiraling of robbery and other social vices in the society.

However, it is my firm belief that if the unemployment rate in the country is drastically reduced through provision of basic infrastructural facilities (such as power, good roads) and encouragement of local investors through incentives, tax cuts and diversification of Nigeria’s economy through commercial investment in agriculture, not only will the unemployed youths be fully engaged, the societal instability that has gripped the fabric of the country will be reduced to the barest minimum if not totally eradicated.

• Adetipe is a Youth Corps member serving in Abia State.