Thur 13 Feb 2014

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,831

www.ngrguardiannews.com

N150

Jonathan sacks Orubebe, Oduah, Olubolade, Ngama From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja IKE the case of Chief Mike Oghiadomhe’s sudden exit from the office of the Chief of Staff to the President on Monday, the Federal Government again cited the pursuit of “further political ambition” as the reason for the departure of four ministers from his cabinet yesterday.

They are Stella Oduah (Aviation), Godsday Orubebe (Niger Delta Affairs) and Caleb Olubolade (Police Affairs). The fourth person is the

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• Explains Odimegwu’s removal as NPC chief • Cautions against divisive comments • Asks anti-graft agencies to show achievements Minister of State for Finance, Lawan Yarima Ngama.

But unlike the case of Oghiadomhe, the departure of the four was not backed by “resignation letter” as the Information Minister and Supervising Minister of Defence, Labaran Maku, told

State House Correspondents that President Goodluck Jonathan had asked the affected ministers to go “after they have indicated their interests to pursue their political agenda.”

Apart from Oduah, who was conspicuously absent from

the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday, Orubebe, Olubolade and Ngama were among the early arrivals. And perhaps unaware of the impending bombshell, were seen all over the place taking part in the usual ministerial photo session before

the commencement of the meeting.

Four of the remaining ministers have been drafted to take charge of the affected ministries until substantive ministers are appointed for them.

Accordingly, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has been asked to take charge of Aviation, his counterpart in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Olajumoke Akinjide, takes charge of Police Affairs, Darius Ishaku, the

Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, assumes full control of the ministry while the Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy (CME) and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, was directed to combine the two portfolios until a new minister of state is appointed.

Jonathan had in September last year sacked nine ministers after a FEC meeting. There was a similar scenario yesterday. The former ministers CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Ekwueme, Clark, Uduaghan, others affirm indivisible Nigeria - Page 4 Seven feared killed in Borno violence - Page 5

New postings, appointments in Army, Navy, Air Force - Page 7

Orubebe

Oduah

North, South Korea in rare high-level talks - Page 9

Ngama

Olubolade

Mark foils move to declare defecting senators’ seats vacant From Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Azimazi Momoh Jimoh and Adamu Abuh, Abuja N intervention of Senate A President David Mark yesterday foiled a move to declare the seats of five defecting senators vacant.

The request for the declaration of the seats vacant was made by PDP’s senators. The five senators were those who through Order 14 of the Senate Standing Rule openly pronounced their defection from

• Reps probe APC’s bribery claim, PDP denies inducing lawmakers, demands apology PDP to APC on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday.

These were out of the 11 senators that were on the list submitted to Mark two weeks ago by Bukola Saraki.

The agitation, which was led

by Ita Enang, was contained by the wisdom of Mark as PDP senators chanted “now, now”, insisting that immediate ac-

tion be taken to bring weeks of intrigues to an end.

Mark maintained his earlier stance not to deliberate on the matter that is before a competent court, and therefore ruled Enang out of order and saved the 11 lawmakers.

Coming under Order 14 of the Senate Standing Rule, Enang had urged Mark not only to

declare the seats of the said senators vacant as stipulated

by Section 68 (1g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended but also to regard them as strangers in the Senate for defecting from the party through which they were elected into office to another.

According to Enang, sub-sections 1(g) and 109 (g) of Sec-

tion 68 make it offensive for a lawmaker to leave the party that sponsored him in an election without it having a crisis like factionalisation.

Enang said: “Yesterday, Senators Abubakar Saraki, Abdullahi Adamu, Aisha Alhassan, Magnus Abe and Wilson Ake declared on the floor of the Senate that they are no more in the PDP. “This is the party that sponsored them to the Senate. This is the party that owns the seats that they are sitting on.

Mr. President, I have two judgments of the court to present before this distinguished Senate to show that the seats of Senators Saraki, Aisha Alhassan, Abdullahi Adamu, Magnus Abe and Wilson Ake are vacant on the floor of the Senate and they are strangers on the floor of the Senate.”

He continued: “I have the judgment of Justice E.S. Chukwu delivered on October 18, 2013 between the PDP versus CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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Reps probe APC’s bribery claim, PDP denies inducing lawmakers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

INEC, Abubakar Baraje, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and others in which the court had declared that there is no division in the People’s Democratic Party.

“I therefore move that you exercise the powers conferred on you Mr. President to declare their seats vacant.”

But Mark, who had to stop Enang from continuing to list his numerous reasons the 11 senators should lose their seats, said his ruling was not going to be different from his earlier position.

“I believe you were in the chamber here yesterday. I am not going to comment on the

issue you raised because you were here yesterday and I explained that the matter is before a competent court of law.

“My ruling is not going to be different because it is a constitutional matter. Hence, I shall make no pronouncement on it. Therefore, I rule you out of order.”

Not satisfied with Mark’s position, George Thompson Sekibo, the only senator still with PDP in Rivers State, prayed Mark to uphold Enang’s point of order by sending the defecting senators out and declaring their seats vacant without further waste of time.

But Mark in his usual approach to the issue said: “There should be no further

reference to the matter that is before the court. Therefore, I have no other option than to rule you out of order.”

In a bid to save the defecting senators, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Osun State, called his colleagues’ attention to the fact that the constitution should prevail over that of the Senate.

His argument was that PDP lawmakers had no power to speak on the matter that was pending in a court of law.

Ruling him out of order, Mark cautioned his colleagues against disrupting other pending serious issues by revisiting the very matter that he had overruled. He noted that no amount of explanation would make him shift ground on the matter.

He said: “You were here when I ruled Ita Enang out of order.

I don’t know why you should go back to it. It is my ruling that is important. We have serious issues before us. It does not matter whether you speak from now till tomorrow, it will not change my stand. Therefore, I rule you out of order.”

Returning to other “serious businesses”, the Senate quickly confirmed the appointment of Col. Umaru Faruk Ahmed from Katsina State as a member of the governing board of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Committee.

The Senate also yesterday began the screening of ministerial nominees. Six out of the nominees were screened before the Senate adjourned sitting till the next legislative day.

Among those screened were Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos State), Mohammed Wakil (Borno), Ambassador Amonu Wali (Kano), Mrs. Akon Etim Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom), Mrs. Lawrencia Labaran Malam (Kaduna) and Gen. Aliu Gusau Mohammed (rtd) (Zamfara).

While the rest were allowed to brief the chamber, Gusau was asked to “take a bow and

go” and within a few minutes, he was accompanied out.

On arrival at the chamber, Mark introduced him as a colleague in the army, though belonging to Course One while he (Mark) was of Course Three.

“Gusau is a retired general of Course One and I am a retired democrat, Course Three”, he said.

Obanikoro, who was first on the list, gave a brief account of his life as a former newspaper vendor, a trader and a cleaner.

On his achievements as a former High Commissioner to Ghana, Obanikoro noted that aside from sustaining peaceful co-existence between the host country and Nigerian community, his tenure also witnessed a tremendous increase in business activities by Nigerians in the country.

According to him, the business volume, which was at N600 million when he arrived in the country, grew to N4.6 billion at the end of his tenure.

The journey was, however, not very smooth for Wali, whom Senator Kabir Marafa tackled on his age.

According to the lawmaker, Nigerian youths may never have the privilege to serve so long as the country continues to recycle old hands.

The exercise continues today with Mr. Boni Haruna (Adamawa), Dr. Khaliru Alhassan (Sokoto), Hadjia Jamilla Salik (Kano), Alhaji Abduljelili Oyewale Adesiyan (Osun), Dr. T.W. Dangogo (Rivers) as well as Asabe Asmau Ahmed (Niger).

Meanwhile, an investigation into an allegation by the APC that the PDP has bribed some members of the House of Representatives to defect has begun.

Yesterday, the House directed its Committee on Ethics and Privileges to ascertain the veracity of the APC’s claim that each of its five members got $1 million (approximately N165 million) monetary inducement to defect to the PDP. The defectors at the start of leg-

islative proceedings on Tuesday were Lawal Shehu, Abdullahi Adamu, both from Tsanyawa and Bichi in Kano State, Umar Sani Dangaladima, Ibrahim Baba Shehu (Kaura Namoda and Gusau/Tsafe), both from Zamfara, and Umar Bature from Sokoto North and South. But Isa Mohammed from Makarfi in Kaduna State, formerly of the PDP, defected to the APC. Kingsley Chinda (Rivers: PDP) who drew the attention of the lawmakers to the allegation under matters of privilege urged his colleagues not to politicise the issue that could impinge their integrity in the eyes of the electorate.

Brandishing a copy of the Leadership newspaper that carried the story on its front page, he reminded his colleagues of the need to mandate the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges to probe the issue since there was a similar claim by Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, alleging that the PDP equally bribed members of the House from Nasarawa State with N50 million to decamp from the APC. Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who presided over the plenary session, mandated the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges to ascertain the veracity of the issue and report back to the House within two weeks.

When contacted, Deputy House Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, who described the allegation by the APC as laughable, noted that the onus was on the APC to prove the allegation.

“First and foremost, it is very alien that today APC is crying wolf. When 37 members of the House defected to the APC, are they saying that they were bribed? It is very unfortunate that APC today is singing a different tune. They are now finding themselves where they actually belong.

“Secondly, I think it is important that their so-called political grandstanding is taken outside the National Assembly.

They are not helping the electorate. The electorate elected members of the House to come here and represent them. And when they came, they swore to an oath of allegiance. Their oath of allegiance is to defend the constitution and serve the Nigerian people, not serving political interest of some political parties.

“The talk of people being influenced is absolute nonsense. Nobody in his rightful mind will want to make such a comment. There was nothing of that nature. Let he or she that alleges prove. You know that he that alleges is saddled with the responsibility of proof. The question I ask is that the other people that defected from PDP which are still a subject matter before a competent court of jurisdiction, are they saying they were also bribed? Or is it because the reverse is the case that they are now crying? They were the ones celebrating and busy trying to take over the House.

“I tell you one thing, knowing the person of President Goodluck Jonathan, he won’t give you a dime for anything, I can swear on that. He believes in transparency, due process and respect for the rule of law.

“Those that are defecting from APC have realised that if the stay in APC, they won’t win an election and every politician who wants to be relevant must win an election. Those allegations are totally unfounded, nobody can substantiate them. At the moment, they are more like people losing a battle; they are drowning in the middle of an ocean.”

In its reaction to the allegation of bribery, the PDP said that it was aimed at destroying democracy.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, PDP Spokesman, Olisa Metuh, urged the National Assembly to ask APC to apologise for the allegation.

President explains Odimegwu’s removal as NPC chief CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 were among the cabinet members that came for the usual FEC meeting and they were exchanging banters with their former colleagues, apparently unaware of the fate that was about to befall them.

The President did not display any emotion about the impending action, as he unusually asked the ministers to give him 30 minutes to enable him have a photo session with the appointees that he had just sworn in before the commencement of the FEC meeting.

The President said: “Distinguished members of the council, please give me 30 minutes, but make yourselves comfortable with some tea and coffee.”

Olubolade was the first of the former ministers to leave the cabinet meeting even before it was concluded. Before he came out of the chamber, a top source had confirmed the anxiety of State House correspondents that the President had indeed dropped the bombshell over the four ministers.

Maku said: “Also today (yesterday), the President announced further changes in the Federal Executive Coun-

cil. He said a number of ministers had been asked to step out of the Federal Executive Council to further their own interest, some in politics and others in their own private focus.

“Clearly, what the President did today was to allow ministers who have indicated interest in pursuing further goals in the polity, in the economy and in the life of the country to be allowed to go.

“Those asked by the President to go include the following: Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama; Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd); Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe and Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah.

“In announcing his acceptance of their decision to participate in the polity, the President thanked them very sincerely for the great job they have done, in helping the government realise the goals that have been achieved under the transformation agenda. The President believes that they have done so well for this administration and was generally happy with what they have done, particularly in their various sectors to help the ad-

ministration realise the goals we have seen today in the results we have arrived under the transformation programme of the government.

“The President also further explained contrary to some insinuations in some quarters, that our colleague, the former Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, was asked to go because of alleged involvement in alleged NNPC fraud. The President explained that contrary to these insinuations which came from the social media and were also replicated in some regular media, Chief Oghiadomhe left to pursue further interest in politics.

“The office of the Chief of Staff does not supervise the NNPC, it has no direct correlation with the NNPC and he said if Chief Oghiadomhe left because of the alleged NNPC fraud, then it will suggest that there would have been people that were involved with him and those people too would have gone.

“So, contrary to these speculations, the President asked him to go when he offered to resign to pursue interest in politics. Politics is very verse, so the President made it very clear that the resignation of the former Chief of Staff has

nothing to do with alleged misdemeanor in NNPC but rather purely the decision of the former Chief of Staff to withdraw his services to participate in politics.

“Today, the President asked the following ministers to take charge of the ministries: The Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Investment, Samuel Ortom, to supervise the Ministry of Aviation, until the substantive appointment of an Aviation of Minister.

“The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, already has a Minister of State, Darius Ishaku, in the Ministry of Finance of course, the CME is already in charge.

For the Ministry of Police Affairs, the President asked the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Olajumoke Akinjide, to take charge.”

On whether the ministers would be asked to go in batches since many others in the cabinet have political ambitions, Maku said: “That is left for the President to decide. I am not the President but I believe sincerely that it depends on what they have communicated to the President. He does not just take those decisions in isolation.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Thursday, February 13, 2014

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Seven feared dead in truck accident From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Head, South-West Bureau, Ado-Ekiti FATAL accident involving a A truck fully loaded with petroleum product has left no fewer than seven people charred to death at AramokoEkiti, Ekiti State.

Two buildings, two other vehicles and a motorbike parked in front of the affected buildings were also gutted by the inferno that surged from the tanker that Tuesday evening.

The identified victims included a retired head teacher, Mr. Ololade, four other occupants of the affected buildings and two passengers in the truck.

Their remains have been deposited at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital morgue in Ado-Ekiti.

The explosion from the tanker caused serious panic and stampede in the town, as people scampered for safety following the raging fire and thick-billowing smoke. The driver of the tanker, now being detained at Aramoko Divisional Police Station, and another occupant, were said to have escaped from the scene with bodily injuries.

An eyewitness told newsmen that the incident occurred at about 5.30 p.m. when the truck, which lost control while descending a hill, swerved off the road around a sharp bend and rolled towards the two buildings.

According to the source, a

huge inferno immediately rapped the truck and the buildings and spread further to the surrounding lock-up shops. He added that while the other occupants of the storey buildings escaped, the four victims were trapped until the fire services from AdoEkiti arrived.

Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, who visited the scene yesterday, lamented that the recklessness of truck drivers have usually led to the untimely death of innocent citizens.

She urged the youths, traders and hawkers to desist from plying their trades along the road as a way of preventing avoidable loss of lives.

Also, the town’s monarch, Oba Olu Adeyemi, who accompanied Adelabu, regretted that the Federal Government had awarded contract for the construction of a road that would link AdoEkiti from Ita-Ure but would by-pass Aramoko, Erio, Igede and Iyin-Ekiti since the administration of President Shehu Shagari.

“The road that passes through our town is not only hilly but also winding and this has been causing a lot of accidents,” he noted. “I want to believe that if there is a by-pass, some of these accidents would be prevented. I urge the Federal Government to revisit the contract to save my people from untimely death.”

‘Over 43,000 Lagos drivers’ licences ready’

By Abdulwaheed Usamah BOUT 43,000 new Universal Drivers’ Licences (UDL) have been completely processed and produced, and are ready for collection at various centres across the state, the Lagos State Government has announced.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, speaking after he was briefed by the state’s Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) on progress on the scheme, disclosed that the state has increased the number of processing points from six to 12 due to the volume of applicants.

He assured that the state was working hard to resolve the

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challenges of inadequate Data Capture Machines from the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC).

He further urged those yet to renew their licences to do so immediately instead of waiting till the June deadline, thereby creating unnecessary bottlenecks and pressure on the existing facilities.

Meanwhile, the state government has extended transport services by its agencies to Saturdays (except the monthly sanitation day). This involves Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI) and the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA), working from 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.

Marketing Executive/Representative of Messe Dusseldorf, Trade Fair Services Limited, Oliver Chukwu (left); Commercial Attachie, German Consulate in Lagos, Sophia Stepha; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Packaging Resources Consult Ltd, Kofo Ajelabi, and Business Development Manager/Representative of Messe Dusseldorf, Trade Fair Services Limited, Akhigbe Itua, during the briefing on forthcoming Interpack Processes and Packaging Leading Trade Fair in Dusseldorf, Germany, in Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Uduaghan, Clark, others affirm indivisible Nigeria From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba OTWITHSTANDING the N threats of disunity and disintegration which hamper Nigeria’s progress and corporate existence, Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, has assured that the country would survive the ravaging fire of ethnicity and religious fanaticism.

Uduaghan, who spoke yesterday in Asaba at the opening ceremony of the fourth General Conference of Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA), assured that the forthcoming national conference would provide an avenue for citizens to deliberate on issues that would move the nation forward, not tear it apart.

He explained that though President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has been beset by a catalogue of challenges, the President has handled them with maturity and sincerity.

Uduaghan listed the Boko Haram insurgency as one of such challenges and emphasised that the activities of the dreaded Islamic sect have been curtailed, with signs that the terrorists would soon see reason to embrace peaceful co-existence in the country.

“The Jonathan administration has done a lot to improve the nation’s economy and engendered a lot of growth and foreign direct investments and interest,” he said. “The benefits to the masses will take some time to trickle down to them.”

The governor commended southerners for “talking,” noting that those who talk often do not engage in violence. He added: “President Jonathan is providing a platform for us to discuss with the national conference and we are free to say anything in this world except disintegration of Nigeria, and

when we discuss, issues are resolved.”

He advised southerners to be prepared to make their points known during the conference, stressing: “Let us be hopeful, let us be positive because the future of Nigeria is bright. Nigeria will not disintegrate in the era of President Goodluck Jonathan. No ravaging fire of ethnic nationalism can consume this country.”

According to him, the governors of South-South and South-East geo-political zones are meeting regularly and there are plans for the SouthWest governors to join the forum to enlarge it to Southern Nigeria Governors’ Forum, noting that there was need for such forum because of common economic and other social issues affecting the region.

He observed that if Deltans could live in peace despite their ethnic differences, Nige-

Jonathan asks anti-graft agencies to show achievements CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Asked to clarify if the ministers resigned or were asked to step down, he said: “The President said he had asked them to go because of their interest. They have indicated interest in pursuing higher and deeper interest in the polity and so he has decided to allow them go and pursue those interests. You have to get that correctly so that you won’t go and say something like it was said in the case of the former Chief of Staff.”

On whether the President asked Oduah to go based on the report on the N255 million car scam of the committee he set up to investigate her, Maku said: “I have just reported exactly what the President said. Also, don’t forget an allegation doesn’t necessarily mean guilt and I think the press should always be patient. But the truth of the matter is that they left because they indicated interest in playing deeper roles in the politics of the country and

the President has decided to let them go.”

Yesterday too, Jonathan advised people holding sensitive positions to guard their public utterances, saying such persons should see their positions in the overall interest of entire Nigerians and not a section of the country.

The President also tasked the anti-corruption agencies in the country to show their performance before the public, noting that it was the only way the society could appreciate their duties.

Towards this end, he challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to make ordinary Nigerians feel the impact of their activities.

The President made the remarks while swearing in some recently-confirmed nominees for the National Population Commission (NPC) and ICPC, and special advisers. While cautioning public office hold-

ers against making comments that would bring government’s policies into disrepute, the President said that they should see their positions in the larger interest of the country.

He cited the removal of the immediate past Executive Chairman of the NPC, Chief Festus Odimegwu, from that position as a result of the statements he made in the media which tended to cast doubts in the mind of the public about the sincerity of government to conduct a credible census.

Those sworn in at the Council Chambers shortly before the commencement of the weekly FEC meeting included the new Chairman of the NPC, Chief Eze Duru Ihioma (SAN), with Bala Almu Banye and Dr. Aliyu Daniel Kwali as members; Senator Suleiman Ajadi and Ambassador Fidelia Akubiata Njeze as Special Advisers on National Assembly Matters and New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) in that order and Al-

haji Bako Abdullahi as a returning commissioner in the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

The President said their appointments were coming at a critical time in the history of this country. He said they should bring their experience to help the government.

He challenged the ICPC and the EFCC to make Nigerians believe that they were working.

He said: “I know what you are doing but not everybody knows what you are doing. Ordinarily, these are agencies whose activities are not supposed to be made too loud because you don’t celebrate a situation where you send 100 or 200 Nigerians to prison.

“But the society is so funny, that these days, anybody who wants to claim any element of credibility at all, will go to the television and attack government for aiding and abetting corruption.”

In a veiled reference to a recent comment by the Speaker of House of Representatives,

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Jonathan sarcastically said: “The President’s body language shows that he is not fighting corruption or he is not ready to fight corruption.”

He noted that sometimes it was the very corrupt people that make some of these statements “because if you attack government, you are insulated, you become an angel. If you want to be seen as an angel, just attack the government, whatever you have done is covered. So, you must prove to Nigerians and show to Nigerians that you are working.

“Recently, the EFCC published the list of about 250 people they have convicted and that is a huge number of people and they said the government is not fighting corruption. How many countries have convicted half that number of people within a space of time? But before the publication, so many people did not believe that the EFCC was even going to work.”

rians could equally live in peace and work for the growth of the country.

SNPA Chairman and leader of the South-South delegation to the meeting, Chief Edwin Clark, said the meeting of southern Nigerian people was very important to enable the region speak with one voice.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us, we must show respect to everyone,” he said. “We are part of this country; we have equal right in this country.

Fight for your right; protect your right.”

Muslim Society insists on trial over ban on hijab

By Bertram Nwannekanma HE Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos Council, yesterday urged a Lagos High Court to proceed with its case against the Lagos State Government over its ban on the wearing of hijabin public primary and secondary schools in the state.

MSSN stated its position yesterday before the presiding Justice Modupe Onyeabo at the resumed hearing of the case. The state government had, through one of its counsel, Mr. Samuel Ajanaku, pleaded with the court to grant further adjournment for parties to settle out of court.

Ajanaku had told the court that government’s delay in working out a reasonable term of settlement and presenting same to the court was due to the bureaucracy in the system.

However, counsel to MSSN, Adetola Kasim (SAN), argued, among others, that the state had several times requested for time to work out settlement terms but nothing was forthcoming.

Therefore, he asked the court to proceed with the hearing since government did not respond to a proposal for terms of settlement sent to it since last year when the matter was filed.

Further hearing on the matter has been adjourned till April 24, 2014.

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News Seven feared killed in Borno violence From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri with agency report UNMEN suspected to be G members of the Boko Haram sect on Tuesday raided two villages in Konduga council of Borno State, torching homes and markets and killing at least seven people.

According to an eyewitness and a Red Cross worker, Bukar Mai Rembe, “shortly after sunset, scores of gunmen in 4x4 trucks stormed Konduga village, spraying gunfire indiscriminately and setting the place on fire.

“The attack forced residents

to flee the town into the bush while the gunmen went about setting fire to houses and markets,” he told AFP, declining to give casualty figures.

“It was crazy,” resident Sanda Goni said, adding that “hundreds” of houses had been burned in the attack that lasted roughly five hours.

“Most of residents are still in the bush, afraid to return to the town,” he said.

Separately late Tuesday, gunmen opened fire in the village of Wajirko, before retreating during a shootout with sol-

diers deployed in the area, resident Adamu Maude said.

“We lost four people in the attack and six more have been taken to hospital,” he said, adding that the attackers razed about 50 houses.

Borno and the neighbouring states of Adamawa and Yobe have been under emergency rule since May last year in a bid to stop the Islamist rebellion, which has claimed thousands of lives since 2009.

Konduga is about 45 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital located on the edge of the Sambisa Forest, which

harbours a lot of terrorists’ camps in the state.

Governor Kashim Shettima who visited the town yesterday, stressed that the Boko Haram terrorists have no reason for unleashing fresh violence in the state. He directed the release of N100 million for relief materials to the affected persons.

The area had in the middle of last year witnessed deadly attacks when some terrorists ambushed residents including worshippers at a mosque killing over 50 of them, after setting the mosque ablaze as

well as torching residential houses and shops.

Spokesman of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Col. Mohammed Dole, confirmed the incident, but pleaded that the casualty figure is yet to be ascertained as they are still compiling details.

“Yes there was an attack by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Konduga council, please give us time so that we will feed you back with details after we might have concluded our findings”, Dole said.

Court dismisses Kashamu’s suit From Lemmy Ughegbe, Abuja HE Federal High Court, T Abuja Division yesterday dismissed an application filed by a Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Buruji Kashamu, to seek leave to register two judgments from courts in the United Kingdom which cleared him of any misconduct or complicity in a drug related crime.

Although, the decisions from the UK court cleared him of any alleged criminal offences over which the United States government is said to be seeking his extradition, the Abuja court refused to order that it be registered.

Ruling on the said application, Justice Gabriel Kolawole held that the court cannot extend the period within which the judgments could be registered.

Ogun lawmakers tackle two commissioners over loan From Charles Coffie Gyamfi, Abeokuta HE Ogun State CommisT sioners for Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and Works and

Prof. Yemi Aderibigbe (left), Lt.-Gen. Alani Akinrinade, Senator Biyi Durojaiye and Prof. Ademola Ariyo, at the Yoruba Constitutional Conference organised by the Afenifere Renewal Group PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM at House of Chiefs, Secretariat Ibadan.

I’m still in PDP, says Obasanjo From Tunde Oyedoyin, London ORMER President, Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday distanced himself from the mega opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC) and reiterated his total commitment to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) He stated this at the London office of the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation, saying:

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“I’ve never left PDP, I’m a card carrying member of PDP.” Fielding questions from reporters at the end of a press conference to mark the Foundation’s one year anniversary, the former President added that he had no intention of joining the APC. The following conversation ensued between reporters and the former President:

The Guardian: “since you have left the PDP board, any attempt to join APC?” Obasanjo kept mum, continued walking up the stairs of the office and said nothing.

Pressed further, “sir, any plans of joining APC?” With a little glance in the direction of the journalists, he replied: “you people are not well. If you’re well, you won’t ask me

that question.”

When another reporter asked if he would return to the PDP, Obasanjo spoke out loud, saying: “I’m a card carrying member of PDP.” Pressed again and asked when he will be returning to PDP, Obasanjo replied: “I’ve never said I left PDP.” When the reporter asked the same question differently, Obasanjo asked him,

“do you understand English?

I’m a card carrying member of PDP.” Speaking earlier at the press conference, the former president revealed that there is no end to his service to humanity and that his life experiences gave him the perspective of thinking globally when thinking of serving humanity.

S the nation’s foreign reA serves and Excess Crude Account continue to deplete, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said the trend was worrisome given its negative impact on the Naira and the entire economy.

The CBN Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, who stated this in Lagos at the 30th anniversary lecture organised by Udo Udoma and Bello-Osagie Barristers and Solicitors, also noted that the situation became worrisome as crude oil prices have remained above $100 per barrel.

“This problem is homegrown.

People keep exploiting the oil and gas industry without paying for it. We have to put a control mechanism and stop the theft in this industry. The world is watching and they are seeing as our foreign reserve is going down and this is not good for the economy.

“When our foreign reserves and excess crude account is depleting, the world is watching. The investor in London, putting his money in the capital market is watching and may begin to speculate that the country may not be able to defend its currency in this situation.

“All it takes is for more persons to join him and the ex-

change rate is changed automatically and the five year stability is crashed. Issues of stability are not taken for granted anywhere and for us, we must block the leakages, stop the theft, and build back our reserves.

“I would rather fight for stability than lower interest rate because it is the stability that brings about lower interest rate and inflation and I still think that the monetary system is not tight enough, and for me I would still opt for additional 15 per cent private sector deposit and 100 per cent public sector funds,” he said According to him, the mone-

ACF new leaders to be sworn in soon From Saxone Akhaine, Kaduna NEW leadership of the A Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), under the former In-

CBN alerts of depleting foreign reserves

By Chijioke Nelson and Femi Adekoya

Infrastructure, Mr. Lekan Adegbite, were yesterday tackled by members of the state House of Assembly over the state’s debt profile.

The lawmakers’ action is sequel to the bid to approve a N19 billion loan request sent to them by Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

The Speaker, Suraj Adekunbi, had last Tuesday read a letter sent by the governor, seeking the approval of the House to enable his administration obtain a N19 billion loan to complete some on-going projects in the state.

Apart from drilling Adeosun on the financial status of the state, she was also questioned why the government had failed to establish the Debt Management Office (DMO) despite the approval of the House.

tary policy decision already taken on CRR has been vindicated as everyone can see that the Naira is under pressure.

He further disclosed that apex bank chief said that CBN was able to mobilise banks to support the ongoing power privatisation programme to the tune of $2 billion.

The move, he said, was in recognition of the fact that power infrastructure was strategic to the nation’s development.

He reasoned that if the economy was recording seven per cent growth rate amid the difficult nature of power supply, it would have taken over the

global stage with effective system.

The apex bank chief also said that to further empower entrepreneurs at the bottom of the pyramid, as well as increase banks’ focus on agriculture, the CBN unveiled plans to increase financing initiatives in the sectors through partnerships with relevant stakeholders.

Specifically, he noted that CBN was working to increase its current per cent on agricultural funding to seven per cent by 2018, explaining that the move was to further give opportunities to farmers to have access to credit, fertilisers and drive the economy

spector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, will soon be sworn in after the expiration of the tenure of out-going Chairman, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed.

The emergence of Commassie as the new Chairman of ACF, sources told The Guardian, “was through an election whereby the North West zone produced two other candidates for the position in the person of the former Governor of Katsina State, Saidu Barda and the former Security Chief, Umaru Shinkafi.

“Coomassie later became the choice of the elders from that zone, while Shinkafi later sent in a message that he was no longer interested in becoming the chairman of ACF”.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

6 | NEWS Thursday, February 13, 2014

UN, UNESCO preach gender sensitivity on World Radio Day

By Gbenga Salau S the World Radio Day is being celebrated around the globe, United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon has urged media organisations to promote the voice of women and enhance their role within broadcast mediums.

In his message to mark the day, Ki-moon noted that the airwaves have frequently lagged behind when it comes to gender equality with insufficient stories about women and girls not being told.

“And women make up only a quarter of the members of the boards of the world’s media enterprises. I encourage radio stations to be more inclusive by equally recognizing women in their staff and in their audience. Radio can also help dismantle stereotypical and imbalanced programming.”

In the same vein, the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, said that radio is especially important for promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women.

A

Govt moves to limit effects of Lake Nyos volcanic eruption From Joke Falaju, Abuja N anticipation of the enviImay ronmental disaster that accompany volcanic activities from Lake Nyos in Cameroun, the Federal Government has put in place measures to control the threat of poisonous gas and flooding that may likely occur as a result of the eruption.

Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe, while inspecting the Kashimbila multipurpose dam site, said due to environmental disaster that

may accompany the breakdown of Lake Nyos in Cameroun, which may push the poisonous water to states such as Taraba, Benue, Cross River, Kogi and Delta, the Federal Government has embarked on construction of buffer dam that would accommodate the poisonous water.

The dam is located between Kashimbila and Gomovo town on River Katsina Ala and Takum Local Council of Taraba State close to the country’s border with Cameroun.

In August 1986, there was

eruption of Lake Nyos in Cameroun, which released poisonous gas and caused extensive flooding, resulting in the death of about 1,700 people, 4,000 herds of cattle, 330 sheep and thousands of other livestock in the villages of Cham, Nyos and Subum just downstream of the lake. Since then there had been international intervention and efforts by the Cameroonian government to de-gas the lake.

The minister said, “the idea of the dam came about as a result of response by the Nigerian government to the

likely environmental challenges that we might encounter if the Lake Nyos in Cameroun breaks.”

A statement by the Information Officer in the Ministry, Mrs. Boade Akinola, said the lake is at a terrible stage and that if it breaks, it could cause a lot of disaster to Nigerians, adding that the Nigerian government is building the dam to contain the excess water that could be released in the event of the lake eventually breaking down.

Ochekpe further said that the Kashimbila multipur-

Govt to continue policy on new varsities From Kanayo Umeh, Abuja HE Federal Government will T continue to license private universities that meet laid down requirements for the creation of access to quality tertiary education in the country, supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike has said.

Wike, who spoke when he received the management of Nigerian-Turkish Nile University in audience yesterday, pledged that the Federal Government would continue to collaborate with international agencies to develop university education.

He noted that the framework established by the Jonathan administration through the National Universities Commission has given rise to quality international and local private universities across the nation.

Crisis rocks Gombe APC as group alleges hijack of party From Charles Akpeji, Gombe crisis of confidence is rockA ing Gombe State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) as a group within the party is accusing some high-ranking members of hijacking the party.

Speaking through their spokesman, Khamisu Mailantarki, the group complained that some members of the party led by Senator Danjuma Goje, have now allegedly hijacked the affairs of APC in Gombe, thus marginalizing the real members of the party.

He went ahead to call on the national headquarters of the party to, as a matter of urgency look into the matter so as not to jeopardize the wide acceptance the party is enjoying in the state.

Flanked by the state chairmen of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which all merged to become APC, Mailantarki claimed that members of the then new Peoples Democratic Party, led by Senator Danjuma Goje, have manipulated situations to hijack the affairs of the party in Gombe.

Managing Partner, Udo Udoma & Bello Osagie Barristers and Solicitors, Daniel Agbor (left); Senior Partner, Myna Bello-Osagie; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; founding partner, Senator Udo Udoma and Chairman, Emerging Markets Telecommunications Limited/Chairman of the occasion, Hakeem Belo-Osagie, during Udo Udoma & Bello Osagie Barrister and Solicitor’s 30th anniversary lecture in Lagos… yesterday.

pose dam has an airstrip, constructed to facilitate the evacuation of people who are living in the area to a safe place in the event the lake breaks before the dam is completed.

She stated, “I will like Nigerians to know that when President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan assumed office, the project was about 10 per cent completed but today, as we are standing here the dam is about 75 per cent completed and the President has made available sufficient funds to complete it.”

Speaking during the inspection, Chairman, Senate Committee on Water Resources, Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, said that the National Assembly has been supporting Kashimbila Dam project, therefore the issue of funding would not be a challenge.

He added that the project when completed would be one of the landmark achievements of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

He called on state governments to utilize the available completed dams in their states and provide treatment plant and reticulation of the water to the end users as well as make provision for irrigation facilities, as Federal Government could not do it alone.

While briefing the minister on progress of the work, Head of Engineering, SCC Nigeria Limited, the company handling the project, Engineer Efim Frank, said that they are working hard to achieve 100 per cent completion of the dam and hydropower projects before the end of the year.

Civil society groups set agenda for confab From John Okeke, Abuja HEAD of the forthcoming A National Dialogue, Civil Society Organisations have declared support for the initiative, even as they have articulated an agenda for consideration.

The organisations under the aegis of Civil Society Partnership for Development in Nigeria (CSPDN) brainstormed and passed farreaching resolutions on the issues ranging from corruption to good governance.

A communiqué issued at the end of their meeting, signed by the CSPDN National Chairman, Dr. Uzod-

inma Adirieje stated, “CSPDN articulated several points, which they considered very critical for the continued existence and progress of the country.

“We are concerned about the widespread corruption in the country, injustice and violation of laws; fundamental rights, gender equity and protection of children and vulnerable groups; citizens’ participation in governance; peace and social security, as well as health and human capital development.

“Others are: youth mobilization, involvement in governance and political violence; transparency and equity in

resource allocation; removal of immunity clause, which protects some public officers in criminal matters; effective implementation of federal character to be inclusive of residents of every state and merit-based appointments across the country; review of the country’s governance structure, among others.”

Commenting on the proceedings of the meeting and selection process of civil society representatives, Chairman of the Communiqué Drafting Committee, Mr. Austin Osakwe, described it as transparent and urged other sectors of the economy to learn from them.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Community of Oyo State (MUSCOYS) has distanced itself from the resolution of the Yoruba leaders, saying they are not representing the overall interest of the Yoruba people.

Addressing a news conference in Ibadan, the Chairman of the Muslim Community, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, said that those parading themselves as Yoruba leaders are not their leaders.

“The so-called Yoruba leaders, gallivanting all over the place, are at best Christian Yoruba leaders.”

“How can you talk of Yoruba leaders in Yoruba land where

at least 70 per cent of the population are Muslims without a single Muslim in their midst,” Sanni wondered.

He wondered how such Yoruba group would leave out personalities like Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Chief Kola Daisi, Prof. Daud Noibi, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, Dr. Jubril Martins-Kuye, among others, from the proposed Yoruba Constitutional Conference group.

He said that those championing the proposed Yoruba constitutional conference through a nebulous Yoruba agenda should be regarded as “Yoruba dealers and not leaders.”

INEC assures of credible election in Ekiti From Muyiwa Adeyemi (Head South West Bureau, Ado-Ekiti) HAIRMAN of the IndeC pendent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday promised to organise a free and fair governorship election in Ekiti on June 21, this year.

Specifically, he said the election would be the best ever to be conducted by the commission.

He, however, frowned at the erection of political billboards and posters by the aspirants, which he said was against the rule of the game.

• Cautions against rumour mongering Prof. Jega, who described the erection of billboards and pasting of posters as “purely illegal” ordered owners of such campaign materials to remove them without further delay, saying the action contravened the 2010 Electoral Law as amended.

Jega was speaking at an election stakeholders’ meeting in Ado Ekiti attended by leaders of political parties, traditional rulers and security agents, including former governors Niyi Adebayo and Ayo Fayose, among others.

The INEC boss described as “spurious and unsubstanti-

ated” allegations by some politicians that some officials were compromising their positions ahead of the Ekiti governorship election and the 2015 general elections.

Fayose had on Wednesday alleged that some officials of the commission met at a fivestar hotel on Victoria Island, Lagos to perfect how to doctor the voter’s registration register in favour of a party.

Jega said: “If you have any evidence about any of us either being partisan with any political party, come out with it, but don’t distract us with your spurious and unsub-

stantiated allegations.

“We will do our best to remain impartial in the way we conduct our duties; anyone we see being partial, we will obviously deal with that.”

Jega promised that the commission was doing everything to ensure that the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti remain the best election conducted so far by the commission.

He, however, urged politicians and political parties to do what is required of them and operate within the ambit of the law and avoid anything that could heat up the polity.

To ensure credible elections, Jega said the commission had

taken adequate measures to improve the quality of voter’s register.

Jega vowed that those found to have engaged in multiple registration discovered in the register would be prosecuted before the June 21 election.

Appealing to political parties and politicians to cooperate with the commission, he said a free, fair and credible election should be the concern of all stakeholders.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti, Alhaji Halilu Pai, assured that the commission would create an enabling environment for all political parties.

Thursday, February 13, 2014 NEWS 7

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Behold, new structure in the Armed Forces

Jonathan From Madu Onuorah, Abuja HE new structure of the T Nigerian military became clearer yesterday with the release of postings and appointments in both Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy.

While 107 senior officers of the Army, comprising 36 Major Generals, 51 Brigadier Generals and 20 Colonels were affected, a total of 75 senior officers, involving 29 Rear Admirals, 28 Commodores and 18 Captains were moved in the Navy.

On February 6 (Tuesday last week), the Nigeria Air Force released its postings and appointments, which affected 116 of its senior officers. It affected four Air Officers Commanding, four Branch Chiefs at the Headquarters and Commandants of Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji and the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi.

In the redeployment of top officers of the Nigerian Army effected last Monday by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kennneth Tobiah Jonah Minimah, five of the six Divisions of the Nigerian Army got new General Officers Commanding (GOCs). For the Navy, three of its five operational commands have new Flag Officers Commanding (FOCs). In the Army, they include Maj.-Gen. K.C. Osuji, who moves from Defence Headquarters (DHQ) to Headquarters (HQ) I Mechanised Division, Kaduna as GOC; Maj.-Gen. J.S. Zaruwa moves from the Ministry of Defence to HQ, 3 Division, Jos as GOC; Maj.-Gen. T.I Dibi, who moves from Army Headquarters (AHQ) Garrison, Abuja to HQ, 81 Division, Lagos as GOC; Maj.-Gen. E.F. Abejirin, who moves from AHQ to HQ, 2 Division, Ibadan as GOC while Maj.-Gen. S. Yusuf moves to HQ, 82 Division Enugu as GOC. The GOC, 7 Division, Maiduguri, Maj.-Gen. Junaid Bindawa, had his appointment reconfirmed by Gen. Minimah.

In the Navy, Rear Admiral S.H. Usman moves from Central Naval Command to the Logistics Command as Flag Officer Commanding. Rear Admiral P.A. Agba is the new Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Yenagoa and Rear Admiral O.C. Medani is the new Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Calabar.

Sources told The Guardian that before releasing the redeployments on Monday evening, General Minimah

Jibrin

Minimah sought and received the approval of President Goodluck Jonathan. He also discussed with the Supervising Minister of Defence, Mr. Labaran Maku and the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh.

In addition, in the appointment of GOCs for the six Divisions of the Nigerian Army (four Infantry and two Armoured), each is now manned by senior officers from the relevant corps.

Another feature of the redeployments is that seniority was embraced in the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs).

For example, I Division is manned

by Maj.-Gen. Osuji member of Course 26, 81 Divisions by Course 27, 3 Division by Course 27 while 82 Division by Course 31. In addition, in the appointment of the GOCs, four are from the geographical North (two from NorthWest and one each from North-East and North-Central geo-political zones) while two are from the South (South East and South-South geo-political zones).

In the other details of the postings, Maj.-Gen. N.O. Amarie is the new Commandant of Nigerian Army School of Medical Sciences, Ojo Lagos; Maj.-Gen. E.B. Awala, formerly Military Secretary (Army), is the new Chief of Training and Operations (CTOP), DHQ, Maj.Gen. J.A.H. Ewansiha moves from Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation to Chief of Training and Operations, all within AHQ, Maj.-Gen. Nwaogbo is the new Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Maj.Gen. S.Z. Uba is the new Commander of Training and Doctrine Command, Minna, Maj.-Gen. O.S. Adeosun is the new Chief of Logistics (Army), Maj.-Gen. J.N. Nwaoga moves to DHQ as Director of Policy, Maj.-Gen. A. Chukwu is the new Chief of Civil-Military Affairs.

Other appointments include Maj.-Gen. A.T. Jibrin, who moves from GOC 2 Division to AHQ as Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation; Maj.Gen. R.I.D. Isa, Provost Marshal, Nigerian Army, is now Coordinator of Peace Keeping Operations, Ministry of Defence; Maj. Gen. G.A Wahab, GOC 1 Division is the new Chief of Administration (Army); Maj.-Gen. E.J. Atewe moves from Commander, Guards Brigade to Headquarters, Joint Task Force (Operation PULO SHIELD) as Commander; Maj.-Gen. S.N. Muazu (Commandant, Niger-

ian Army Peace Keeping Centre), Maj.-Gen. P.A.T. Akem (Provost Marshal, Army); Maj.Gen. O.A. Umahi (moves from GOC 81 Division to Defence Headquarters as Director of Administration), Maj.-Gen. C.O. Okoro (Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Infantry), Maj.-Gen. S.D. Aliyu (Defence Adviser, Beijin to Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi as Deputy Commandant); Maj.Gen. A.A. Salihu (Nigerian Army School of Signals), Maj.Gen. I.I. Abbah (Military Secretary, Army), Brig.-Gen. B.T. Ndiomu (Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison), Brig.Gen. A.B. Omozeje (Commander, Guards Brigade) and Brig.-Gen. M.D. Onoyiveta (Chief of Staff to Chief of Army Staff/Head, Office of Monitoring Team).

For the Navy, Rear Admiral E.O. Ogbor, formerly Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters, is now Chief of Administration, Defence Headquarters. Rear Admiral S.A. Akinwale, Director of Logistics at Defence Headquarters, is the new Director, Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate, Rear Admiral A.O.A. Ikioda, Chief of Policy and Plans; Rear Admiral I.E. Ibas, Chief of Logistics and Rear Admiral I.A. Oyagha, Chief of Training and Operations, all at the Naval Headquarters.

Other senior officers redeployed include Rear Admiral I.A. Ajuonu, Group Managing Director /CEO Navy Holdings Limited, Rear Admiral O.E. Ekwe; Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard Limited, Rear Admiral D.O. Osuofa, Navy Secretary while Rear Admiral A.B. Afolayan resumes as Director of Medical Services.

Also Rear Admiral O.P. Ozojiofor is the Director of Training at the Defence Headquarters while Rear Admiral A. Shettima is the Managing Director, Naval Hotels and Suites Limited.

Other Rear Admirals affected by the redeployment include Rear Admiral O.U. Emele as Director of Logistics, Defence Headquarters; Rear Admiral A. Johnson, Commander, Fleet Support Group (West); Rear Admiral L.O.N. Iwuoha, Admiral Superintendent, Naval Doctrine and Assessment Centre and Rear Admiral H.O. Ngonadi, Director of Development at the Defence Headquarters; Surgeon Rear Admiral T.G.S. Epelle, Director Medical (Admin/Logistics) Defence Headquarters; Rear Admiral E.G. Ofik, Chief Staff Officer, West-

ern Naval Command and Rear Admiral S.E. Ogoigbe, Deputy Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.

Rear Admiral A.L. Akintola is posted to Naval Shipyard Port Harcourt as the Admiral Superintendent; Rear Admiral J.K.Z. Ango is now the Director of Plans at the Defence Headquarters while Rear Admiral A.A. Osinowo is now the Chief Staff Officer, Headquarters Naval Training Command, Apapa Lagos. Also, Rear Admiral R.O. Osondu is now appointed as the Chief Staff Officer, Logistics Command, Oghara; Rear Admiral J.O. Oluwole, Director of Equipment, Standardisation and Harmonisation at the Defence Headquarters and Rear Admiral F.D. Bobai, Chief Staff Officer, Headquarters Eastern Naval Command.

The new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Naval Engineering Services Limited is Rear Admiral A.O. Odeh. Rear Admiral S.A. Ahmadu is now the Commander, Central Pay Office, Apapa, Lagos. Commodore O.E. Uwadiae is the Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore E.G. Ochai, Commander NNS PATHFINDER and Commodore B.T. Yusuf has been appointed as Director of Naval Accounts.

Director of Naval Information said that all Naval appointments have effective dates ranging from 14 – 27 February 2014.

The new Air Officers Commanding are: Air Vice Marshal Umar Omeiza (Tactical Air Command, Makurdi); Air Vice Marshal Samuel Abosede (Mobility Command, Yenagoa); Air Vice Marshal Salihu Bala-Ribah (Training Command, Kaduna) and Air Vice Marshal Mike Iloenyosi (Logistics Command, Lagos).

The new leadership at the Headquarters Nigerian Air Force include Air Vice Marshal James Gbum (Chief of Policy and Plans); Air Vice Marshal Tayo Oguntoyinbo (Chief of Training and Operations); Air Vice Marshal Christian Chukwu (Chief of Administration); Air Commodore Isaac Odunayo (Acting Chief of Aircraft Engineering); Air Vice Marshal Abba Zannah (Air Secretary). Air Vice Marshal Monday Morgan (Commandant, Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi and; Air Vice Marshal John Ifemeje, Commandant Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji and Air Vice Marshal Al-

Amosu kali Mamu, Group Managing Director, Nigerian Air Force Holding Company.

Also affected in the new postings were Air Vice Marshals Ahmed Iya (Chief of Policy and Plans, Defence Headquarters), Sadiq Abubakar (Chief of Defence Communications) and Bashir Saidu (Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence). In the same vein, Air Vice Marshals E.N. Nzokala, F.B. Nyoyoko, S. Ahmed and E.C Akogu take charge as Directors of Policy, Project Implementation and Monitoring Team, Evaluation and Operations at the Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force.

Other newly appointed directors are Air Commodores J.B. Adigun (Finance and Accounts); P.A. Imaji (Plans); S.B. Musa (Museum and Achieves); O. Olutoye (Medical Services); M.A. Soladoye (Research and Development); K.E. Adedeji (Intelligence); S.O. Akpasa (Safety); E.F. Golit (Administration) and M.O.D. Idonibo (Personnel Management).

Air Vice Marshals T.L. Danbaki, E.E. Agwungwu and R.A. Ojuawo are the new Senior Air Staff Officers for Mobility Command, Training Command and Tactical Air Command. Air Commodore M.R Dabo moves to Military Pensions Board as Chairman; Air Commodore A.A. Malomo (Managing Director, Nigerian Air Force Investment Limited) while Air Commodore C.O.E. Usoh takes over as Chairman, National Committee on the

Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Nigeria.

Also, new Commanders were appointed for the Service. They include Air Commodores N.A. Sanusi (435 Base Services Group); A.Y. Bello (106 NAF Camp); J.A. Gbamwuan (401 Aircraft Maintenance Depot), B.A. Abakpa (205 Rotary Group); A.A. Jekennu (97 Special Operation Group); A.O. Oyewole (209 Executive Airlift Group); B.U. Chiobi (National Air Defence Corps); S.J. Wukangha (335 Base Services Group); P.J. Usman (Quick Response Force); S.A. Zakari (401 Equipment Supply Depot); I.O. Amao (99 Air Combat Training Group); J.K. Baba (303 Flying Training School), T.A. Awoyoola (339 Base Services Group); D.S. Bausa (37 Base Services Group), A.G. Pani (104 Personnel Management Group); M.A. Idris (64 Air Defence Group); U.S. Suleiman (103 Pay and Accounting Group) and O.A. Adesanya (Nigerian Air Force Detachment).

The redeployments, which were approved by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, take immediate effect and is a result of the “the recent change in the leadership of the Nigerian Air Force.” Following the appointment of Air Marshal as Chief of Air Staff, about nine officers who were senior to him in service had to disengage from service.

8 | PHOTONEWS Thursday, February 13, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

HRM King Edmund Daukoru of Nembe Kingdom (left); former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme and Princess Bisi Sangodoyin.

Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (right) and Chief Host, Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA), leader, South-South Delegation and Coordinating Chairman, Chief (Dr.) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, during SNPA meeting held at Asaba,

HRM, Orodje of Okpe, Orhue 1, Maj.-Gen Felix Emujakperuo (rtd)(left) and Abari Obong of Calabar, Ediden Ekpo Okon at the SNPA meeting in Asaba.

Leader, South-West Delegation and Co-Chairman, Bishop Emmanuel Bolanle Gbonigi (right); former presidential candidate on the platform of defunct ANPP, Chief Olu Falae (middle) and South-West delegate, Chairman Afayese, Tokunbo Ajasin exchanging pleasantries during SNPA meeting held at Asaba, Delta State.

PHOTOS: JACOB GBOGIDI

President Goodluck Jonathan congratulating the new Chairman of the National Population Commission, Chief Eze Duruiheoma (SAN) at the swearing-in ceremony at the State House, Abuja… yesterday.

Ministerial nominee and former House Leader, Honourable Wakili Mohammed (left), former Chief Whip, House of Representatives Hon. Bawa Bwari and Senator Philip Aduda shortly after being screened by the Senate for ministerial appointment at National Assembly, Abuja... yesterday.

PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY-ELUKPO

New Special Adviser to the President on NEPAD, Amb. Fidelia Njeze Akuabata (left) and the New Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly, Senator Suleiman Ajadi taking the oath at the State House, Abuja…. yesterday.

PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA

Head of Service of the Federation (HOS), Alhaji Goni Bukar Aji (left) with the newly appointed Special Adviser to the President on NEPAD, Amb. Fidelia Njeze Akuabata and the Special Adviser to the President on MDGs, Dr. Precious Gbeneol after the swearing-in of the NEPAD adviser at the State House, Abuja… yesterday. PHOTOS: PHILIP OJISUA

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, February 13, 2014 | 9

WorldReport Hunt for clues as Algeria mourns plane crash victims EARCH teams combed the Smilitary wreckage of an Algerian plane yesterday for

Couples attend a mass wedding at an event held by the Unification Church in Gapyeong in South Korea. Unification Church members forming 2500 couples from 52 countries were married in a mass wedding in South Korea — only the second such event since the death of their “messiah” and controversial church founder Sun Myung Moon.

PHOTO: AFP

North, South Korea in rare high-level talks ESPITE a row over loomD ing South Korea-United States military drills, North and South Korean officials held their highest level talks for years yesterday, seeking to thrash out common ground for improving ties.

The discussions in the border truce village of Panmunjom had no fixed agenda, but aimed to cover a range of “major” issues, including a planned February 20-25 reunion for family members divided by the Korean War. A short morning dialogue

was followed by three hours of discussions in the afternoon, after which the two chief delegates began a oneon-one session.

The South delegation was led by top National Security Council official, Kim YouHun, who said Seoul’s focus was on ensuring that the reunion went ahead as scheduled.

The North side, led by Won Tong-Yon — deputy head of a ruling party organisation that handles inter-Korean ties — was expected to make another push for South Korea

to cancel its annual military drills with the United States, which are slated to begin February 24.

Before the talks began, Kim promised to keep “an open attitude to explore the chance of opening a new chapter on the Korean peninsula”.

He did not mention whether North Korea’s nuclear programme would be discussed.

It was the first such highlevel sit-down between the two sides since 2007, and came a day before US

Central African president vows to crush militia HE new president of the T Central African Republic has vowed war against a mostly Christian militia accused of ethnic cleansing, on the same day as the United Nations launched a major foodlift operation.

“We are going to go to war against the anti-balaka,” Catherine Samba Panza, said in the town of Mbaiki, south of the capital Bangui.

“They think that because I’m a woman, I’m weak. But now the anti-balaka who want to kill, will themselves be hunted,” she said.

She was referring to the mostly Christian anti-balaka (“antimachete”) militia that emerged last year after a mostly Muslim rebel group seized control of the country.

Amnesty International this week reported that anti-balaka violence had triggered “a Muslim exodus of historic proportions”.

“The anti-balaka have lost their sense of mission. They are now the ones who kill, who pillage, who are violent,” Samba Panza said.

The transitional president, who took power last month, was joined on stage by French Defence Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian.

France has grown increasingly strident in its calls for action against the anti-balaka in recent days, fearing that the violence could lead to partition of the country.

On Monday, General Francisco Soriano, commander of Operation Sangaris, described

South African election rally ends in violence OUTH Africa’s heated elecSintotion campaign escalated violence yesterday, as Johannesburg police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to stop armed supporters of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) from attacking an opposition rally.

ANC activists hurled Molotov cocktails and bricks at police and members of the Democratic Alliance (DA) who held a march for jobs near the ANC’s headquarters in the city centre.

Police responded with force

and formed a human barrier between supporters of the rival parties and arrested four people for public violence.

“The march was fairly peaceful until our members were pelted with stones and petrol bombs” from the ANC side, said police spokesperson Katlego Mogale.

The DA march had been planned as part of campaigning in the run-up to May 7 elections, which are expected to be the most competitive since the advent of democracy in 1994.

the anti-balaka as “the principal enemies of peace” in the country, who should be treated as “bandits”.

Secretary of State John Kerry’s arrival in Seoul for a brief visit focused on North Korea.

The North wants to resume talks with Seoul and Washington on nuclear matters, but both have insisted that Pyongyang must first make a tangible commitment to abandoning nuclear weapons.

The Panmunjom meet was requested by Pyongyang and made front-page headlines in the South.

But it barely merited a mention in the North’s state media, with the official KINA news agency putting out a one-line dispatch yesterday.

Kim Yong-Hun, a North Korean expert at Donging University in Seoul, said Pyongyang was keen to make a public display of its diplomatic credentials.

clues to why it crashed in a mountainous region killing all but one of 78 people on board.

Algerians began three days of national mourning after the C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying 74 passengers — soldiers and their families — and four crew came down in bad weather on Tuesday in the northeast Oum El Bouaghi region.

One survivor was found, official sources said of Algeria’s worst aviation disaster in more than 10 years.

A special unit arrived at the crash site early on Wednesday, as search teams scoured the snowy and rugged area.

“Rescue reinforcements and sniffer dog teams have begun

their search,” headed by the emergency service chief Mustapha Lahbiri, a source at the scene told AFP. The male survivor, suffering from serious head injuries, was taken to the military hospital in the city of Constantine, where the plane had been headed, as were the bodies of the 77 dead.

No more information about the survivor was available.

The last body was located at 0200 GMT, the source said.

“School notebooks and military duffle bags were also visible at the site of the crash,” he said.

Colonel Lahbiri said the black box flight recorder had not yet been found, contradicting earlier reports by Algerian media that rescue teams had located one of two black boxes.

Belgium set to give children right-to-die EING the only second B nation to allow minors the right to die, Belgium faced fresh protests yesterday as its parliament prepared to extend a ground-breaking euthanasia law to terminallyill children.

After months of public debate over the ethical issues at stake, surveys show Belgians broadly in support of the move to widen the 2002 euthanasia law to children faced with “unbearable physical suffering”, in a vote today.

But days after the Catholic church staged “a day of fasting and prayer” in protest, some 160 pediatricians Wednesday

petitioned lawmakers to postpone the vote on the grounds it was both ill-prepared and unnecessary.

“Pain can be eased nowadays, there’s been huge progress in palliative care,” said Nadine Francotte, a cancer specialist in the city of Liege who signed the petition.

Saying euthanasia drugs cause an un-natural death, she said palliative drugs on the other hand “enable a child to live to the last moment.”

“Children are not small adults, they have energy often up to the very last,” she told national RTBF radio.

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Thursday, February 13, 2014 www.ngrguardiannews.com

Eko Club members on warpath over constitution review

By Tope Templer Olaiya, Assistant Lagos City Editor TTEMPTS to engineer a change in one of the leading social clubs in Lagos, the Eko Club, is causing bad blood and tension amongst members, The Guardian can authoritatively confirm.

The bone of contention is the bid by the outgoing executive to rewrite the constitution and tinker with the mode of electing/appointing new executive members. The current constitution of the club, which was last amended in April 1, 2008, is the fifth edition.

For over five months, there has been raging debate among club members on whether presidents and vice presidents should continue to be elected through democratic systems or by means of selection by a few elders who are trustees and past presidents of the club.

However, the attempt to seek for an alternative arrangement to the election of presidents is presently tearing the family club, established in 1974, apart.

Past Presidents of Eko Club include Chief Rasheed Alaba Williams (1975-1977); late Alhaji G. Akanbi Danmola (1978-1980); Chief A. Fatai Dawodu MFR (1981-1983); late Alhaji Waheed O. Gbajumo (1984-1986); Alhaji A. G. Williams, (1987-1989); and late Alhaji M.A Pampam (19901993).

Others are Chief S. Adebodun Williams (19931995); Arch W.A. Adebiyi (1995-1997); Engr.

Mutiu O. Gbajumo (1997-1999); Alhaji M.M Ashorobi (1999-2001); Omo-Oba Murphy A. Adetoro (2001-2003); and Alhaji S.A Anjorin, (2003-2005) among other prominent Lagosians.

In recent times, election into executive positions of Eko Club, particularly president and vice president, had been raucous. To manage the feeling of animosity among members every election year, the Elders Forum, comprising former presidents of the club and members who had spent over 20 years, came to a political solution of pruning down contestants into the two juicy offices to two.

In any election year, which occurs every two years, once embargo has been lifted for campaigns and there are more than two aspirants for the offices, they are invited to face the Elders Forum, where their credentials and manifestoes would be screened and vetted before arriving at the best two.

The last two standing for both president and vice president are then presented before the general members to decide who wins. This practice, according to an inside source, has been in use for the last 20 years.

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There was a growing resentment against this process by some members, who made the claim that it was a subtle attempt by the Elders Forum to install their favourite candidate into office by instigating a stooge to vie for office to contest against their preferred choice, who would in the end lose out or be forced to step down from contesting few days to the election, since the power to select the last two rests with the Elders Forum.

The latest crisis in the club came to a head on Sunday, February 2, when an emergency general meeting convened to adopt the motion for a review of the constitution led to the suspension of 62 members from the club.

Information reaching The Guardian revealed that all 62 suspended members voted Nay to the motion for constitution review because they raised a counter-motion and protested that the sitting did not form the required quorum of 50 percent of financial members.

Long-standing members who spoke on condition of anonymity said they are opposed to some vital aspects of the proposed constitution expected to take effect from March 2014.

One of the new proposals bothered on the creation of another body called the Guardian Council, comprising of the first 21 surviving members of the club in order of seniority.

This new body would override the Elders Forum by appointing the president and vice president of the club. The offices will no longer be decided by election. The Guardian Council will also reserve the right to suspend the executive members.

“What this means is that Eko Club will now be run by imposition of leaders. The Guardian Council can appoint the president and his vice, who will no longer have a tenure of office as long as they enjoy the confidence of the council.

They can also be suspended anytime the confidence is lost,” a member explained.

Other likely consequences of this new regime of imposition, according to the aggrieved members are: that the president will no longer be accountable to the members; the tendency to implement orders from those who appointed the president, some of which might be detrimental to the interest of the generality of members of the club; and the danger of godfatherism and cultism.

“Those that are to choose the president will become godfathers and unless you are in their good books, you may never become a president no matter how good you are. Also, the presidency may be up for sale to the highest bidder, even if the highest bidder is a nonentity.”

President of the club, Engr. Owolabi Lawal, who confirmed the ongoing unease among members, said it’s an internal problem that is being tackled before the expiration of his tenure at the Members of Eko Club, Surulere casting their ballot to elect the incumbent executive officers at the 2012 election.

Ahead of the rains, LSPWC targets suburb, metropolis’ inner roads

By Tunde Alao HE Lagos State Public Works Corporation T (LSPWC) has reiterated its commitment to mending and rehabilitation of roads this time around. The optimism is hinged on the newly completed asphalt plant in Imota and the

already functioning pave stone making plants in Ojodu.

To ensure quality job delivery in road maintenance, the corporation has introduced pave stone where the terrain appears to be asphalt’s unfriendly.

Speaking on the ongoing road rehabilitation

Flooded Ile-Epo Market bus-stop, Lagos Abeokuta Expressway, Abule-Egba after a downpour on Tuesday.

along Ketu-Sala-Epe, in Epe Local government area of Lagos State and in Ikorodu Township, where road repairs seemed to be receiving little attention before the opening of the plants, the Executive Chairman/Managing Director of the Corporation, Mr. Gbenga Akintola, said the target of the corporation in 2014 is to ensure that major artery

PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN

roads in the city are in good condition before the rain starts.

On the seeming lull in road rehabilitation activities in the suburbs, Akintola said the situation would soon change because, according to him, there is availability of major materials needed to do job and also there is easy access to various locations now.

While denying deliberate attempt by the corporation to sideline the suburbs to favour the metropolis, he said that hitherto, conveying materials to the suburbs was somewhat difficult, but that has changed.

However, Akintola said the focus is on inner roads because the goal of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola is that all inner roads be properly fixed.

According to him, the corporation is ever ready now more than ever before to improve on the last year’s performance, especially now that two major materials for road rehabilitation are available.

“Transportation of asphalts and other materials was hitherto a big challenge. But now that we have asphalt plant in Imota that has been completed and another one in Badagry that its installation is almost complete, that have eradicated the difficulty that used to hampered work in places such as Epe, Ikorodu, Ibeju and along that axis. Similarly in Badagry, all the adjoining local governments and communities would be better served immediately the plant start functioning,” he said.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Lagos holds economic summit

By Kamal Tayo Oropo OVERNMENT has declared this year’s 7th biennial Lagos Economic Summit, Ehingbeti, as a platform for generating idea.

The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze, while addressing journalists in Ikeja, said arrangement had been concluded for this year’s summit to hold at the Eko Hotel and Suits, Victoria Island between April 8 and 10.

According to him, this year’s event would focus on power, which informed its theme: ‘Powering the Lagos Economy: Real Opportunities, Endless Possibilities.’

He said the platform, over the years, had been an avenue for showcasing the economic potentials of Lagos and that

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deliberations at the summit had often formed the blueprint that drive the Lagos economy.

According to him, Ehingbeti has been successful so far.

For instance, he said, in the last summit, there were 33 resolutions out of which 28 have been fully implemented by the government. Some of the gains Ehingbeti has attracted were the implementation of the Independent Power Project (IPP), which led to the establishment of the Alausa IPP to provide 10.6 megawatts of electricity, the Lagos Island IPP and two others, which are being expected before the end of the year.

He said the 2014 Ehingbeti would focus on strategies for accelerating sustained economic growth in the State, especially through the

encouragement of a vibrant and cost effective power sector.

According to him, the major goal of the summit is to provide cross-fertilization of ideas with a view to accelerating rapid and sustained economic growth in the State, envisaging the outcome of the Summit to include making new electricity players, regulators, consumers and other key stakeholders get a shared and better understanding of expectations and priorities.

“This should aid the strategic planning and implementation process. The summit would also enable consumers and stakeholders get a better sense of challenges, issues and timing of changes for planning purposes while the government would also get a

good input for planning and have a better understanding of how changes and policy can enable good economic growth,” he said adding: “The Summit will also create a forum for businesses, government, consumers and regulators to exchange ideas on how to tackle potential roadblocks, accelerate sustainable economic growth and delivering superior returns to investors as well as attracting venture capital, new investors and businesses.”

On the challenges encountered so far, Akabueze said there is the challenge of sustaining people’s interest in the project, getting the right kind of people for the event and even funding it, among others.

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Lagos Lens

Too close for comfort... A train blaring past Iddo market.

Idle but willing hands waiting to be engaged at Oyingbo market

Chairman, Central Organizing Committee of the Lagos Economic Summit and Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze (right); MD/CEO, Standard Chartered Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Bola Adesola; Special Adviser on Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs. Iyabowale Aluko; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello during a meeting of the Central Organising Committee (COC) of the 7th Lagos Economic Summit (EHINGBETI 2014) recently.

LAGOS ASSEMBLY DIARY

House commends Nigerians on political participation

By Wole Oyebade S the membership registration of A the All Progressives Congress (APC) party ended yesterday, the Lagos State House of Assembly has commended Nigerians for showing keen interest in politics and how they are governed.

The House said this as it observed that the turn out during the APC registration was unprecedented and a sign that the people are more eager than ever to decide the 2015 election.

Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, said his visit to some registration centres and reports across the federation had shown that 14 years of misrule had served as a wakeup call for Nigerians to be politically proactive; pay attention to how they are governed and who governs them.”

Shortly after his registration in Oke Oyinbo ward, Epe, Ikuforiji said: “The turn out showed to the world that Nigerians are fed up with the misrule of the ruling party and by the grace of

God, APC will show them that politics is about the people and service to the people. We will get to the centre and we will liberate Nigerians from the current shackles.”

The Speaker, however, frowned at the disruption of similar registration exercise in Rivers State, describing it as an indication that the ruling party was jittery.

He alleged that the ruling party orchestrated the disruption exercise in bad faith.

House Committee Chairman on Information, Strategy, Security and Publicity, Segun Olulade also condemned the commotion in Rivers State, adding that it was an indication that impunity still reigns in Rivers.

Olulade, representing Epe Constituency II, said in spite of the cries of the people of Rivers State and entire Nigerians against injustice and autocratic rule authored in Rivers State, the progressive people of the State are still being suppressed from exercising

their fundamental human rights and freedom of association as provided for in the Nigerian constitution.

“There is no doubt that the Federal Government has frustrated good efforts brought to the state by the leadership of Governor Rotimi Amaechi but it is obvious that the collective will of the people cannot be frustrated in the long run.

“The wish of the people will prevail no matter the mechanism put in place to suppress the good citizens of Rivers.

The former Commissioner of Police who was removed showed that APC’s agitation was right after all, but Mr. President’s action was already belated because a lot of damages had been done in the State and lives lost,” Olulade said.

The lawmaker, however, urged the people to be unrelenting in the struggle for freedom against their adversaries, adding that there would be light at the end of the tunnel

Sale of secondhand and disused tyres along Mushin-Isolo Road.

A slum settlement built on water in Makoko.

PHOTOS: AYODELE ADENIRAN

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Politics Ogun national lawmakers accuse Amosun of intolerance

Amosun From Charles Coffie Gyamfi, Abeokuta HE Ogun State Caucus of the National T Assembly has responded to a letter the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun wrote to Senator Gbenga Obadara last week.

Amosun in the letter, among other things, accused Obadara and other National Assembly legislators elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of conniving to cause violence in the State.

But in an open letter to the governor, copy of which was made available to The Guardian in Abeokuta yesterday, the legislators said: “Ordinarily, we should not have responded but it is important that we put the records straight as your letter is replete with so many deliberate misinformation.

“Your accounts of events that took place in broad daylight at both the APC state secretariat and that of Wasimi amaze and amuse us. So, the journalists who were attacked do not know the Ogun National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) top shot who led the thugs?”

The Federal lawmakers insisted in the letter that it was rather Amosun who is fomenting trouble in the state. They also accused the governor of treating his

Ordinarily, we should not have responded. But it is important that we put the records straight as your letter is replete with so many deliberate misinformation.

Your accounts of events that took place in broad daylight at both the APC state Secretariat and that of Wasimi amaze and amuse us. So, the journalists who were attacked do not knowthe Ogun NURTW top shot who led the thugs?

Akande group SIA, (Senator Ibikunle Amosun) within the APC as a “parastatal” of his government.

The NASS caucus denied that they have been disrespecting the office of the governor, saying “It is regrettable your assertion that we disrespect you possibly because you did not play any role in our emergence as candidates in 2011. You could not have played any role in our emergence because you were an aspirant like all others, including ourselves, but for different positions. No wonder you derided us after our emergence as candidates that we had no electoral value.”

The letter accused Amosun of “stage-managing” his endorsement for second term.

According to them Amosun had threatened to “deal” with those opposed to him, in response to this the legislators warned: “We know we are not troublemakers but we have resolved firmly too that should any harm befall us, our family or our supporters we shall hold you personally responsible.”

They said: “Henceforth, all security agencies are put on notice. No member of National Assembly from Ogun State is known to have a violent background.

Ogun State people know those with a record of violence. Besides, APC members and the good people of Ogun State know those harassing them with thugs at every twist and turn. The fact is that no member of National Assembly is involved in these ungodly acts”.

The letter stated: “Your threat after your meeting on Monday, January 20, 2014 that by the time one of them (National Assembly members) is gunned down, others will run for cover has gotten to us”.

They wondered why Amosun always “destabilises any political platform he joins”. They mentioned the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and APC as the

Osoba parties Amosun had at one time or other joined and destabilised them.

The lawmakers also accused the governor of always playing politics of intolerance and exclusion. The letter read in part: “Your Excellency may have conveniently forgotten that Ogun State was in the same position yesterday before your assumption of office. Secondly, yes, you were in the Senate about one decade ago (2003 – 2007 on PDP platform). But you failed to realise that today’s crop of APC National Assembly members are not mere bench-warmers. We sponsor bills, move motions and also facilitate visible federal projects for Ogun State. The records are there to show.”

According to the lawmakers: “In your letter dated January 23, 2011 to party leaders about all of us you said Kunle Adeyemi “is considered relatively weak in electoral value”, Segun Williams “was not strong nor has the resources or popularity to win”, Taofik Buraimoh “has no political clout nor the wherewithal to successfully prosecute and win in the elections, his choice as candidate is alarming, ridiculous and worrisome. That he is a nobody coming to Nigeria from abroad”, Kehinde Odeneye “did not enjoy the required broad-based support amongst the electorates in his own local government – Ijebu North East”. You totally rejected him. Alhaji Gbenga Kaka “had not enough money to contest as senator”, and so on.

They said: “You did not support anyone of us with a dime. You did not campaign for us. You wrote us off. But God did not.

God supported us and we won our elections even before yours. You may also want to recall that you were selected by the party leaders, among 10 other aspirants. While you currently continue to boast that none of the current NASS members will make it back to their positions come 2015, we are resolute in our belief that it is only God who places people in positions. God is not asleep. We firmly

The National Assembly caucus denied that they have been disrespecting the Office of the Governor, saying ““It is regrettable your assertion that we disrespect you possibly because you did not play any role in our emergence as candidates in 2011. You could not have played any role in our emergence because you were an aspirant like all others, including ourselves, but for different positions. No wonder you derided us after our emergence as candidates that we had no electoral value believe it is God that’ll decide everybody’s future, not a mere mortal. In addition, what did you achieve with the nine House of Assembly slots you got from the leaders towards the 2011 elections? You lost six of them to the opposition”, they stated.

Commenting on the issue of Harmonization Committee which was the cause of the January 9, 2014 crisis in Abeokuta, the Federal lawmakers opined “You wrote as if this Committee is our creation. Meanwhile, it was created by the national leadership. That of Ogun State was delayed severally by you. But when you finally agreed to its existence, you personally picked the date (January, 9 2014), the time (4pm) and venue (Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta) for its inauguration. You housed your supporters in the Committee in Continental Suites, Abeokuta for two days for the same inauguration. Why are you now opposed to the same Committee?

“The incident involving political thugs and Senator Obadara in Wasimi, Ewekoro Local Government Area is another in a series, which we have kept quiet about for the sake of our party, the APC. The verifiable facts are already in the public domain along with those that took place at the APC Secretariat in Abeokuta. But it is good you are trying to turn the facts upside down”, they said.

Thursday, February 13, 2014 POLITICS

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

By Tunde Akinola HEAD of the 2015 General Election, Nigerian youths seem to have developed a template to ensure that they are carried along as important stakeholders in the country’s political and project.

Young people from the country’s 36 states recently stormed Abuja in a conference where they critically undertook a holistic appraisal of the election climate and architecture.

The National Youth Conference was also aimed at harnessing the real participatory power of young people, their readiness to get involved in the electoral process, develop strategies and collaborations for effective youth engagement in the 2015 elections and beyond.

The conference was jointly organised by the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA), Youth Alliance on Constitution and Electoral Reform (YACORE) in collaboration with the Democratic Governance for Development Project of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP/DGD).

The Conference drew over two hundred participants from youth civil society organisations, Ministry of Youth Development, political parties, media organisations, socio-cultural groups, religious organisations and international development partners.

The gathering also benefitted from shared experiences of participants from South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana and the United Kingdom. Three national commissioners and directors of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) represented the electoral commission at the conference.

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INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega (right) with Head-Research, Policy and Advocacy, Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA), Samson Itodo.

The conference noted that there are remarkable improvements in Nigeria’s electoral process following the appointment of the current leadership of the INEC, especially, in the area of election management, voter registration and increased citizens trust and confidence in the electoral process.

Despite the obvious improvements in the country’s electoral process, Nigerian youths said the electoral process is still fraught with perennial electoral challenges like defective voters register, poor management of election logistics and low voter education.

They also decried the non-prosecution or slow prosecution of elec-

toral offenders. The Conference expressed concern that perpetrators of the 2011 post-election violence, those involved in multi-registrations as well as those alleged to have compromised in the 2013 Anambra State Governorship Election were yet to be prosecuted.

The forum raised questions over the preparedness of the commission for the 2015 polls, the uncertainty of the official commencement of the National Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) and distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) by the INEC. The gathering also frowned at the growing trend by politicians to

compromise electoral officials which it noted has tendency to undermine the entire electoral process and cast doubt on the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

They urged the National Assembly to revisit the Justice Uwais Committee’s Report with a view of mainstreaming its recommendations into the ongoing electoral reform.

The youths were of the firm belief that the present political situation in the National Assembly has great potentials of throwing electoral reform and constitution review into jeopardy. They lamented that

Imo youths want Jonathan to declare 2015 presidential ambition From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri OR two days, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and his yet undeclared presidential ambition for 2015 elections received a massive boost in Imo State as youths from the 305 wards in the state, under the Aegis of Imo Grassroots for Goodluck Jonathan Organisation (IGGO) and another, Owerri Peoples Front (OPF) literally shut down the state capital their during their respective rallies held recently in Owerri IGGO, during the rally, urged President Jonathan to stop be undecided and without further delay declare his interest to re-contest 2015, stressing that he remains the best candidate.

The rally, which was the first for Jonathan by any group in Imo State, saw the youths in a road walk from Prefab-Egbu Road to Fire Service, through Wetheral Road and the Government House roundabout.

The youths, numbering over 4,000, engaged in a prayer session to God to make Jonathan accept their plea to run in 2015.

From the Government House roundabout, they proceeded to the State PDP Secretariat along Okigwe Road to register their demand for the President to run and were received by the State Secretary of the party, Chief George Egu and State

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Jonathan Woman Leader, Nkechi Mbonu.

Presenting the demand of the youths, the National Coordinator of IGGO, Sam Otuibe, enumerated some of the achievements of the President upon which they premised their demand that he should run.

According to Otuibe, Jonathan’s achievements include, improved electricity supply, appointment of indigenes of the State into strategic positions, commencement of work on the Second Niger Bridge and allowing votes to count in the governorship elections that took place Edo, Ondo and Anambra states.

Others, according to him, were signing of the Freedom of Information Bill into law, political tolerance in the face of ‘unwarranted’ attacks by the opposition and signing of the Anti-gay bill into law, among others.

Addressing the youths, both George and Mbonu expressed their delight on IGGO’s support for the President and the call to declare for 2015 elections. Mbonu said Jonathan has remarkably delivered on his Transformation Agenda, he therefore urged the youths to sustain the support.

The Woman leader used the occasion to thank Jonathan for achieving the 35 per cent affirmation for women.

During the Road Work, the youth armed themselves with different the Road banners and placards with inscriptions asking Jonathan to declare for 2015 whilst assuring him of the total support of Imo youths.

OPF members and invited dignitaries converged on the popular Ugwu Ekwema Arena, along Egbu Road, Owerri, to show their solidarity and make the demand for Jonathan to re-contest in 2015.

The gathering also demanded that Owerri Zone should produce the State’s next governor in 2015. During the occasion a booklet “50 Reasons Why Owerri Zone Must Produce Imo Governor in 2015.” was launched.

Eminent members of the PDP were present at the occasion. They include Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, represented by Humphrey Amadi; the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Nkemakolam Ihedioha, represented by his Special Assistant, Political

Affairs, Chief Emma Dike, and a former Minister for Management Services during the defunct Interim National Government, Chief Innocent D. Nwoga as well as the leader of OPF, Ebere Chukwuemeka. in 2015.

They all emphasised the need for the Charter of Equity, as agreed by Imo people, to be maintained and ensure that the present governor of the state, Chief Rocahs Okorocha, from Orlu zone, is not re-elected to make way for an Owerri man to take over in 2015.

According to Ihedioha and Iwuanyanwu, “Owerri people who are the landlords of the State capital, should not always be visitors to the Government House.”

The zone, which comprised nine local councils – Owerri Metropolis, Owerri North, Owerri West, Mbaitoli, Ikeduru, Aboh Mbaise, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise and Ngor Opkala – according to them, should not be disregarded in the political equation anymore.

They maintained that since the current political dispensation in the country, the level of marginalisation of people of the zone was unprecedented. “Today is the turn of Owerri people,” they said.

Earlier, both Nwoga and the leader of the group, Chukwuemeka, opined that the struggle should not be abandoned, stating that they had strong support to actualise their aspiration.

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Nigerian that some legislators are more focused on promoting personal and party agenda rather than focus on people-centered legislations.

A communiqué issued at the end of the Conference recommended that INEC should be more transparent and proactive in addressing electoral challenges in order to restore citizens’ trust and confidence in the electoral process.

Following the release of the 2015 election timetable, they said INEC should as a matter of urgency, commence the continuous voters registration and distribution of permanent voters’ card.

They urged INEC to collaborate effectively with youth civil societies and media organisations in conducting timely and robust issue-based voter education ahead of the continuous voters registration, distribution of the permanent voters’ card and the 2015 elections.

The communiqué also urged the National Assembly to ensure that the review of the Electoral Act 2010 is giving a priority this year. They also recommended that the National Assembly should ensure adequate budgetary allocation to INEC in the 2014 and 2015 Appropriation Bills.

Youth and civil societies were urged to support INEC to deliver credible polls in the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states and the 2015 general elections and to also collaborate with INEC in conducting continuous voters and civic education to increase the value of citizens’ participation in the electoral process.

They solicited the support of international donors in providing more technical and financial support to youth organisations

Jigawa national legislators consult with Lamido on way forward From John Akubo, Dutse PPARENTLY piqued by A the purported return of the former Governor of Jigawa State, Saminu Turaki, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the state’s National Assembly members met with the state governor, Sule Lamido during the week to finetune decision on whether to defect to another party or remain in the PDP. It was gathered that the lawmakers were agitated about their fate especially as it was alleged that they have become subjects of ridicule in the National Assembly for being on the fence.

It would be recalled that though Lamido was one of the arrow heads of the G7 Governors who staged a walk out on President Jonathan at the Eagle Square venue of the PDP’s National Convention inAbuja last year, he declined to jump the boat when five of his colleagues defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) The lawmakers who see Lamido as their godfather have been unsure of where his political pendulum would swing to, they gave since been waiting in apprehension.

The Guardian in Dutse reliably learnt that the law-

makers numbering 14 (11 from the lower chamber and 3 from the Senate) stormed the Government House Dutse and met with the Governor for several hours for the purpose of knowing Lamido’s real direction.

Findings revealed that after the prolonged meeting which later involved other stakeholders in the party they resolved to remain in the PDP. Confirming the meeting the State PDP Chairman Alhaji Salisu Mahmouda said there was such a meeting adding that they have resolved to remain in the PDP. On whether they have decided to follow President Goodluck Jonathan, he said the PDP is for everyone, adding that though Jonathan is the leader but that he is a member like others.

On Lamido’s ambition, he said it was not yet time to start talking about that saying the recent time table released by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2015 General Election as having taken care of that.

The Presidency has been clandestinely making efforts to pave way for the former Governor to return to the PDP which has continued to generate debates in the State on what that will hold for the Jigawa polity.

TheGuardian

14 | Thursday, February 13, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience Nurtured by Truth

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

Editorial The N1.5 trillion for police reform RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s promise to commit N1.5 trillion P over six years to reform the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) sounds, on the face of it, a good idea that should not wait a moment longer. But that is to take at face value, that statement made recently at the 2014 Police Service Commission Retreat in Makurdi. On the other hand, if the history of outlandish promises by high officials of government is anything to go by, Nigerians cannot but, at the best, adopt a wait-and-see attitude, and, at the worst, sneer in cynical distrust. Pertinent questions include: will the money be released as and when due by the relevant levels of government? Will it be judiciously and transparently spent by the recipients? And, will the nation get value for that money in terms of better policing of the society?

N1.5 trillion is a lot of money but in truth, the Police desperately need to be very well funded – and accountable – if it is to “meet the challenges of the time,” as President Goodluck Jonathan put it.

There are just not enough trained and well-equipped men to do a policing job that gets increasingly risky and complex. The pay is poor vis-a-vis the duty and expectations, and the conditions of service generally are less than attractive. So much reform is urgently needed. But government is so wont to throw money at problems. This is why pronouncements on just about every issue are in terms of naira and kobo. Money by itself does not solve problems that require – nay demand – good governance, the ingredients of which include clear headed thinking, well thoughtout policies, open and credible governance, accountability, judicious application of resources, and patriotic commitment to genuine public service. It is the lack of these and more that necessitate government spending – actual or on paper – of the mind-boggling sums but with little to show for them.

President Jonathan said that government would provide only 60 per cent of the money and he expects the balance of 40 per cent to come from private sources and other stakeholders. That should be done with caution. The extant Constitution puts the Nigeria Police Force firmly under the authority and control of the Federal Government. Nigeria Police Force is classified under the exclusive legislative list. The Force, therefore, is first and wholly the responsibility of the national government – control, funding, and all. The ceding of the burden of funding the police to other interests has

LETTER

The reign of kidnappers spare the poor people from

cisely, the family of young The country is regretOshili Azuamaka was rounded SaceIR:tably faced with the men- the harrowing experiences.

Among the hundreds of up by kidnappers at the family of kidnapping, among a myriad of social problems.

The crime had its origin in militant youths in the Niger Delta who resorted to kidnapping expatriates workers in oil companies in the area to register their displeasure at the devastation of their farmlands and waterways which greatly affected economic life.

It has since spread the ugly tentacles to other parts of the country, a development that was attributed to the lucrative business of ransom taking from victims’ families.

Many families have been disconnected while many have even lost dear ones in the process. Really, government is not totally blameless over the ugly episodes, having provided a fertile ground for all manner of social misbehaviour linked to growing unemployment in the country.

However, kidnappers should really do a re-think or at least

reported cases, is the mother of Finance Minister Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Her Royal Highness Dr. Okonjo was kidnapped in daylight by her palace courtiers and she was tortured by the miscreants. A ransom of some millions of naira was placed on her head but because of the position her daughter occupies in government, the Presidency moved security operatives to track down the kidnappers. She was later released. Her experience from that unfortunate kidnap she would not forget in a hurry.

About the same time, one Mrs. Regina Okwunodu Dainty Obi (nee Ndabai) was kidnapped by a boy she personally raised like her own son. Sadly, Mrs. Obi was murdered in cold blood when she ordered her children not to pay ransom.

Again in the same OgwashiUkwu kingdom, Ogbe ubu pre-

house. The assailants vandalised the entire building and took the family away to unknown destination. The building was also torched. The only lucky family member supposedly went to a Christian wake-keep of a family friend in a neighbouring town but returned to an empty home.

Good Samaritans advised him to run for safety. Till date, no one knows the whereabouts of young Oshili Azuamaka. What a life!

A certain Regina Mundi, a philanthropic white woman who settled in Aniocha South Local Council Area of Delta State many years ago was painfully murdered by unknown assailants. The police have not been able to unravel the mystery about her killing and no arrest has been made. The list is endless.

•Leo Ezekiel,

exposed what should be an apolitical, neutral security agency to the suspect generosity of donors with good and not-so-good motives. Already, state and local governments buy vehicles, bulletproof vests and arms for the police; private companies and even rich persons do the same or make large financial donations to the Force. The consequence of this could be the inability of the Police to do its job in a professional and principled manner.

This newspaper believes that the ideal police system is a decentralised one and the proposed national conference should push this idea into effect.

In the interim, it may be assumed that this money is to implement the recommendations of the Parry Osayande-headed Panel on Police Reform. But the point must be emphasised that a reform, in its true meaning, is to make better in every aspect. Therefore, Nigerians expect that, with each passing year, if government honours its promise on the one hand, and the Police spend the money wisely and transparently, the reform will bear far reaching results. The most important reform must occur in the officers and men of the Nigeria Police. It is regrettable that the right attitude to duty, integrity, competence, confidence, trustworthiness, respectability, and professionalism are not uniformly evident in the Force. And this explains the collapse of public confidence in the Police. The President has promised that “government will continue to reform the police and ensure that the Force is properly equipped...”

It is well known that as the Police is part of its problems, it behoves the Police to justify that it deserves not only more funding but public trust and support.

There is no better way to sum things up than that by the Police Service Commission Chairman and former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro who noted the other day that despite many reforms of the system, “the nation is yet to witness a significant turnaround in the service delivery...” The Police Force must, therefore, search its soul, discipline itself and fall in line with the ongoing reform. Thus it will deserve to be entrusted not only with more money but also with public trust, cooperation, and respect.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

15

Opinion North and funding of oil industry Mobil Producing and other oil prospecting and producing companies.

From these early beginnings in 1908 to the N an interview published at pages 48 and 49 of present moment, that is 2014, the Nigerian The Punch of February 1, Professor Ango Abdul- State, including Northern Nigeria, has never lahi, a northern elder and power-must-return-to- spent one kobo in oil prospecting and oil prothe-North diehard, claimed that the Nigerian oil ducing, with funds other than from proceeds industry was developed with money from the of petroleum products. The Nigerian Federal North. According to him, “It is the North that de- Government has at all relevant times been a veloped the present day oil industry in this coun- beneficiary of the petroleum proceeds from try. It is northern money; it is northern leadership the investments and activities of the oil multithat developed the oil industry.” nationals. The so-called NNPC investments in Perhaps, by constantly repeating this delusional oil prospecting have only occurred in northlie, the northern political and intellectual elite ern part of the Nigeria, namely, the Benue think it will stick in Nigeria’s collective con- trough, the Chad Basin and in Bauchi State. sciousness as the truth. The truth is that the The funds utilized by the NNPC in these northnorthern elite is addicted to the proceeds of Niger ern areas were obtained from proceeds of the Delta oil and gas. They have completely aban- Niger Delta oil operations. doned any pretence at productivity and interTherefore, rather than the Federal Governnally generated revenue. The North is now ment investing money in Niger Delta oil opercompletely dependent on the monthly federal al- ations, it is the proceeds of the Niger Delta location, which is the same thing as Niger Delta petroleum that is fueling state, power and acoil proceeds. The blatant falsehood about north- tivities in Nigeria and supplying all the funds ern funding of the initial stages of the industry for the NNPC’s prospecting of petroleum in arises out of the psychological need to justify this northern states. total dependence on Niger Delta oil proceeds for By and large, all initial expenses for prospectsurvival and for virtually every need of daily exis- ing and producing are borne exclusively by tence. The reasoning goes like this. Oil explo- the foreign multinationals. The Federal Govration in the Niger Delta was financed by ernment spends nothing of its own funds in Northern groundnut proceeds and therefore the the industry, except for cash calls which are North is equally entitled to Niger Delta oil pro- paid for by proceeds of Niger Delta petroleum. ceeds as the Niger Deltans themselves. But what Thus if the Federal Government itself spent is the truth? nothing in the development of the oil indusThe first oil prospecting in Nigeria was by a Ger- try, except to plough back Niger Delta oil proman company known as the Nigerian Bitumen ceeds earlier collected by it, how and in what Company. It commenced operations in 1908 and circumstances did the North per se fund the wound up its activities in Nigeria at the com- operations of the oil industry? mencement of the First World War in 1914.

Pre-Petroleum Economy of Nigeria The second attempt at oil prospecting in Nigeria Another misinformation that needs to be exwas in 1937 by a company known as Shell D’Arcy. orcised is the assertion that the Nigerian state Shell D’Arcy also stopped operations in 1940 be- survived solely on groundnut and cotton from cause of the Second World War. In 1946 Shell the North before oil was produced in comCompany was joined by British Petroleum (BP) to mercial quantities. This is patently false. The establish the Shell BP Company which finally dis- West produced cocoa, the Mid-West produced covered oil at Oloibiri in 1956. These companies rubber, palm oil, palm kernel and timber, and were later joined by Elf, Texaco, Agip, Gulf Oil, the East produced palm oil and timber. In

By Itse Sagay

I

each case, the producers of these natural resources sold their produce and pocketed their proceeds for their personal use. By contrast the oil and gas of Niger Delta is taken away 100 per cent by the Federal Government leaving the producing communities and the owners of that resource nothing but environmental degradation and pollution. In the pre-oil economy of Nigeria, it was only the export duty of the agricultural products that was shared on the basis of 50 per cent derivation and 30 per cent distributable funds for all the regions. The Federal Government got 20 per cent.

It could thus be seen that every part of Nigeria contributed to the pre-petroleum economy of the country. Most importantly, individual producing farmers sold their products and pocketed the proceeds for the benefit of themselves and their families alone. This is not applicable to the people of the Niger Delta whose oil and gas has been appropriated completely by the Federal Government without any consideration of the right and interest and future of the people on whose land the oil and gas are found.

Indeed, under the revenue allocation formula of the First Republic, it was the North that benefitted financially from the contributions of the other three regions and not the other way round. It will be recalled that by Section 140 of the 1963 Constitution, 50% of oil proceeds went to the region from which they were extracted, 20% went to the Federal Government, and 30% was paid into a distributable pool.

In the allocation of the 30% from the Distributable Pool Account, the North received a disproportionate share which effectively meant contributions from the other regions. Thus, out of the 30% of the resources of all the four regions paid into that account, the percentage paid to each region was as follows: (a) Northern Nigeria – 40% (b) Eastern Nigeria – 31% (c) Western Nigeria – 18% (d) Mid-Western Nigeria – 6% (Section 141, 1963 Constitution).

Thus, at all periods, since 1914, the North has

been and continues to be the major beneficiary of the financial output of the whole country.

We must not forget what motivated the British Colonial Power to bring about the amalgamation of 1914. The reason behind the decision of the British Government to amalgamate the two territories (North and South) was purely financial or economic. The Northern Protectorate was not economically viable. It had become a great drain on the British tax-payer. On the other hand, the Southern Protectorate was not just economically buoyant, it was producing surpluses every year. The British design was, therefore, to remove the northern financial burden from its own neck and hand it on the neck of the hapless Southern Protectorate.

According to Lord Harcourt, the British Colonial Secretary, unification of Nigeria demanded both “method” and “a man”. The man was to be Lord Lugard and the method was to be the “marriage” of the two entities. According to Lord Harcourt: “We have released Northern Nigeria from the leading strings of the Treasury. The promising and well conducted youth is now on an allowance on his own and is about to effect an alliance with Southern lady of means. I have issued the special licence and Sir Frederick Lugard will perform the ceremony.

May the union be fruitful and the couple constant”.

The comparative economic situation of the two halves of Nigeria has not changed in the last 100 years. Rather the economic power of the South has continued to increase vis-à-vis the North. This explains the fierce opposition of the northern elite to true federalism, and a National Conference, which might bring this about.

On the issue of funds and funding of the Federal Government, states and local governments, I think the northern political and intellectual elite should be grateful to the South, particularly the Niger Delta, the great provider.

• Professor Sagay is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Power sector: Shall we return to Egypt?

By Sunny Igboanugo NE of the most memorable events recorded in the Holy Bible is O the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land.

The story, in the book of Genesis, is well known and captivating.

Each verse captures the incontrovertible evidence of God’s power over creation and how it could be used to favour as well as destroy, depending on His preferences, while on the flipside also showcasing man’s frailty to recognising, acknowledging and situating the profundity of such capacity in his relationship with God. How could the Israelites display such faithlessness after witnessing the wonders God performed in pulling them out of Egypt, including practically dividing the Red Sea to allow them passage and causing it to swallow the pursuing Egyptian soldiers, that they, in no time, began to doubt that the same God could see them through obviously far lighter problems? But that, many may argue, is why man is man and not God. That is probably where the growing grumbling of many Nigerians grappling with the current challenging situation of electricity supply in the country becomes understandable.

Suffering is certainly not man’s best of friends. So, in recent times, like the Israelites began to grumble as soon as the journey through the wilderness became more upsetting and some of them wishing to have been left in Egypt to continue and die in endless suffering, even with the strong smell of the Promised Land wafting through the air, many Nigerians are also already similarly becoming weary of continuing the journey on the clearly defined road towards optimal electricity delivery.

Apart from individual complaints, writings from informed opinions, including media commentaries seem to have a combined effect of growing doubts over the recently concluded privatisation of the power sector in the Nigerian, notwithstanding that the same people actually joined in rolling out the drums to welcome that singular feat achieved not too long ago.

Is the present outage enough to make Nigerians lose faith so easily after the massive welcome party that accompanied the conclusion of the privatisation exercise? That may be akin to asking the Israelites why they made the golden calf and began to worship it when Moses failed to return early enough from the mountain where he had gone to get the commandments from God. Patience is a virtue which appears in short supply. Thus, this apparent despondency within these quarters has led to their questioning the

competency of the operators in the sector. “Where did they prove their expertise that qualified them to take over? What is their capital base? How are they going to raise the money they require to increase capacity and turn the sector around?” And the only conclusion is the expected mantra – corruption. “They sold the companies to their cronies.”

But does it follow? Where have the expectations such Nigerians demand of the current process been met before? Surely, only few businesses are likely to mature and break even in three months time. Even in well established ones, how much positive changes can be expected with the change of management in so short a time without cutting corners?

Do we then expect less from the operators in the power sector?

No matter the expertise with which they come, are they not expected to take stock and examine the ground before going full blast with their operations? Indeed, is it possible for them to do what the country could not do in decades in less than three months given the depth to which the sector has sunk during this period? These are the bigger issues.

Even the telecom sector that symbolises the most apt example of the expectation in the power sector did not come quite easily or happen in a jiffy. Have we forgotten that for many years, GSM phones remained the exclusive preserve of privileged Nigerians?

Not only were the SIM cards costly, the process of obtaining them was cumbersome. Now, the same cards are sold in every street corner at give-away costs and sometimes even free.

Therefore, the plausible option open to Nigerians is to be faithful and trusting. Professor Chinedu Nebo, Minister of Power, presently driving the process, must have the trust which the Israelites denied Moses during the journey to the Promised Land, if only for his pedigree as the Vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN and the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, at different times, but also the seamless conclusion of the privatisation exercise. That feat appeared intractable before his arrival; and was acknowledged as very transparent.

Even at that, industry followers would admit that domestic issues that fell on Nebo’s desk like signing the management contract for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and issuing of the Schedule of Delegated Authority (SODA); inaugurating the TCN Supervisory Board and revamping the transmission infrastructure; reactivating and funding the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and resolving labour issues and paying entitle-

ments of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) among other things were not easy task, given the hiccups that dogged the entire process in the past.

Recently, President Goodluck Jonathan flagged off Operation Lightup Rural Nigeria, another initiative that appeared like the icing on the cake in widening the horizon of the minister’s mandate, as it is aimed at electrifying the remotest areas of the country without hope of being connected to the national grid in the foreseeable future.

The combined effect of all these is that there is a focused leader, and the hope of success is very bright.

The minister was emphatic about this in his strong message to generator sellers: “Mr. President had announced and I have reiterated it that generator sellers should start thinking of another business, because we will give Nigerians power.” Nebo is never associated with weakness or frivolity. The picture he painted is already manifesting in some areas of the country; in Abuja, for instance.

As for problem areas, the minister promised accelerated action to deal with them. “We have problems in Lagos – technical problems.

Power fluctuates so badly in Lagos; is much worse now. That problem will be resolved very soon. But in many parts of the country, you will begin to see gradual growth and very soon, with the repair of the Western gas pipeline – Warri-Escravos and so on – generation capacity will grow. And when that happens, there will be more power available for the distribution companies to give to Nigerians,” he added.

The only foreseeable hiccup here is vandalism; saboteurs diving into the high sea to burst pipelines supplying the power stations with gas to ensure that electricity is not generated, for either economic or political reasons. They are the ones Nigerians should turn their anger to and do the battle against. They are the ones capable of derailing the train that has already left the station.

Nobody who was at the Nigeria Power Sector Investors Conference, on Monday, February 10, would have been left in doubt about what is going on in the industry. Not after witnessing the quality of investors that were there scrambling to see how they would have a piece of the action.

For many Nigerians who seem disappointed that the transformation they expect after the transition in the power sector has not materialised, the privatisation exercise is not an end, but a means to an end. That axiomatic first step, the right step in the direction of a thousand miles has just begun. We will not return to Egypt.

• Igboanugo wrote from Abuja.

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Opinion Bekololari Ransome Kuti: In memoriam

By Olumuyiwa Jimoh N February 10, 2006, eight years ago, we O all woke up with the news of the death of Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti. It was unbelievable at first but as the day wore on and as we began to make contacts and visit, the news began to sink and it dawned on most of us that this unrepentant humanist, terror to terrible people in public life, avid organiser and mobiliser and chronic pursuer of justice at all levels of our social life and a man in whose eyes a corrupt person remained odious no matter their stature in life, had gone.

It was like yesterday but years have truly gone by since the exit of Dr. Beko. The vacuum which his exit has created within the progressive movement in Nigeria of which he was one of the leading lights and in which he played crucial roles has as we write remained unfilled. He built bridges across the different divides within the family and was a strong pillar of unity around which the peoples’ movement coalesced. A man that never gave the smallest space for policies he considered negative to the yearnings and aspirations of the majority of Nigerians to go unchallenged and a stickler to agreements believing that the building of consensus within the movement is at the heart of the struggle against the oppressors of the Nigerian people.

He emphasised the need for continuous solidarity and egalitarianism within the movement believing that it is the sanctity and discipline that we build within ourselves that we can hope to use in transforming the larger society by example. These ideals which he espoused endeared him to most of us who were then youngsters in the movement and gave deep impetus and vibrancy to the activities of the various struggles which the movement engaged in especially against the military dictators.

These struggles he passionately clung to despite all the sacrifices and discomforts they brought to him personally; his immediate family and his associates. We cannot readily

remember how many times he was incarcerated in the gulag and how many detention centres had the privilege of hosting his worthy presence. The joke then was that Beko spent more time in jail than he did with his family.

He will, however, joke with some of us reiterating that the worst captive is the one who has allowed his mind to be held hostage by others or who has been cowed by circumstances to refuse to exercise his God given power of expression. He therefore told us that as long as his mind remained free, he considered himself free whether his physical body was in the Juntas detention camp or not.

Such were the strength of the noble thoughts that kept him going and upon which he was able to sustain the struggle to the point that he became inured to the feeling of personal pains and sufferings but was only awakened by the deprivations of the larger society. His life was, therefore, lived to the full in the service of the downtrodden masses of this country and in the hallowed quest for the enthronement of a just, fair and equitable society built on the desires, expectations and hopes of the Nigerian people.

The fire of the noble ideals which Pa and Ma Kuti lit in his young heart and the baton of the struggle which they handed over to him and his siblings, he handled courageously and effectively. He was a great patriot and an unrepentant defender of the masses and was always available for the advancement of the numerous causes anchored on it.

He left indelible imprints on various sections of our national life and gave birth to several ideological sons including his own biological children. The depth of this cistern of knowledge and the grit determination to contribute towards the emancipation of the society from the gyres and throes of underdevelopment marked him out and anointed him “father” to many within the movement.

It is useful that we see whether we have

made a dent on the ills in public life which Beko saw and which he suffered so much trying to stamp out. Has the level of systemic corruption gone down in Nigeria?

Has policies that are contrary to the wellbeing of the masses been reduced? And has the society become more transparent and egalitarian including whether the people have increasing access to social services, et cetera.

The best way we can, therefore, remember him as a movement and as a people is to insist on being driven by those virtues upon which he built his enviable service to the Nigerian people. It is by furthering the standards which he raised and using it to attain the objectives which he set out for himself and the movement which he led.

I am not sure that he would want us to waste resources celebrating and eulogising him given his very frugal nature and Spartan existence. He would prefer that we spend more time influencing policies that would help in making the lives of the downtrodden better. He would want us to spend our time and resources strategizing and building better and sustainable institutions and platforms for impacting the lives of the populace positively and for continuous social transformation.

If he were alive, Beko would be at the forefront of finding a solution to the present insecurity threatening the existence of our nation. He would have perhaps been able to reach out to the insurgents in his usual characteristics way and getting them to down their arms in exchange for the meeting of some of their demands.

Had he been part of the January 2012 struggle hmm! That would have been fought to its logical conclusion. I am definitely sure that that struggle would not have ended the way it did. We indeed miss his deft touches and uncanny strategies in the various trenches and picket lines which he led the masses.

We truly miss him all these years and Nigerians also miss him. However, it is the Nigerian nation that misses his contribu-

tions the more. It is the march of the nation towards greatness that has suffered setback and it is morality in governance that has become impacted negatively as a result of his passing.

The movement which he led owes it to him to remain cohesive and united in all its activities refusing to be divided. This was what he wanted and what he believed. The present divisions and schisms that I therefore see all over the movement today is not what he would have loved. It does a great disservice to his name the way we have allowed the movement to be infiltrated and dismembered. It does not show the resilience which he never failed to show and emphasise in the face of daunting challenges when he sees some of us bow to pressures and begin to double speak.

Let us all arise in honour of the life which Beko lived and the legacy which he left behind to resolve to build the progressive movement again. Let us resolve to use it to pursue the building of the Nigerian nation that we all will be proud of. This is an opportunity for us to fulfil some of his dreams which he had for our great nation. That is the remembrance that he deserves and the memory which he will want us to have of him.

Members of the progressive movement in Nigeria and the ruling elite are reminded that the only sure way into the good memory of the people is great service. Actions and policies that impact positively the lives of the citizenry can never be forgotten. Fat bank accounts can never replace the place of worthy service to the community and it will surely not supplant and silence voices raised on behalf of the masses.

Beko will continue being remembered for he has achieved immortality. His voice will continue speaking from the grave against all those who have taken it upon themselves to impoverish the masses of our great nation.

His ideals will continue offering the battle cry for freedom in this nation and his lifestyle will continue serving as a living example of how best to live our lives.

• Jimoh is a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Apapa I1 Constituency.

Banana peel and the PDP chairman

By Farouk Hamman HE idiomatic use of the phrase banana skin or banana peel T in Nigeria’s contemporary political lexicon was made popular by the late Senate President, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo; and it refers to something negative that is either embarrassing or uncomfortable for an individual or party, or something that poses a problem or causes a challenge. In the physical type of comedy, actors often used common props to help create the humorous scenes related to their physical activity. One of these was the banana peel or skin, where an individual would frequently slip on the banana skin and fall comically to the ground. Over time, the banana skin came to be associated with general liability, i.e. people slipping on things. In more modern uses of the phrase, a banana skin is not just a humiliating or embarrassing mistake, but something that has serious consequences for an individual or a group. For example, in business, leaders might talk about an unanticipated challenge like a legal liability as a banana skin, not just in terms of the negative publicity that it may cause for the business, but also in terms of its economic effects. When Dr. Okadigbo used this expression, he was referring to the frequent humiliation of successive senate presidents from office due to accusation of corrupt practices.

It was apparently within this context that Chief Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom State Governor, applied the phrase in his remarks shortly after Dr. Adamu Mu’Azu was inaugurated as the new National Chairman of the PDP last week. According to the Nigerian Tribune report, Akpabio was unapologetic in canvassing for state governors to be leaders of the party at the state levels while the president should lead the party at the national level. “You must beware of banana peels. We agree that crises have always been the main problems between the PDP executives and governors,” Akpabio warned. But Chief Akpabio’s warning to the new National Chairman is fraught with danger.

To fully grasp the full import of his statements, it is important

that we review the events of the last one year in PDP and situate that with the new chairman’s agenda. Dr Mu’Azu had in his inaugural speech emphasised that the party will pursue three key cardinal policies under his leadership: promotion of internal democracy, enforcement of party supremacy and conduct of open, free and fair primaries. These are very noble causes that would reposition the party for the challenge of 2015 and beyond. Why then did Governor Akpabio, in responding to the Chairman’s speech, resorted to giving the chairman such a warning which is an affront to the new leader and indeed the NWC. The seeming implication of Akpabio’s statement is that he should be allowed to run the PDP in his state outside the influence of the NWC and the leadership of National Chairman, choose candidates and delegates and conduct primaries without a look at the party’s Constitution. In other words, Akpabio prefers to run the party in his state as an extension of his fiefdom, independent of the national headquarters and without deference to the national chairman and his NWC. He has thus raised more questions and sent wrong signals to party members across the country. Are the National Chairman and NWC members not relevant in maintaining party supremacy across the country? Is the governor not under the leadership of the National Chairman? Why is he asking the new chairman to steer clear of party affairs in Akwa Ibom State, and what does his agenda portend, especially in relations to party discipline, internal democracy and the fortunes of the party in 2015?

If Akpabio is allowed to have his way, such a regime could trigger another round of crisis within the party and this would diminish its performance in the 2015 general elections. Governor Akpabio is brazen enough to push such a draconian idea to the party’s national leadership given the crisis in the party since he emerged as the Chairman of PDP Governors Forum in February last year. As soon as the governor emerged Chairman of the Forum, he perceived some governors as Judases and threatened to hunt them out of the party. His early conduct created mis-

trust among the governors and set the stage for the mismanagement of the Governors Forum election of last May, the walk-out at the mini-convention in August, the mass defections from the party and in the ouster of Dr. Tukur. Akpabio’s conducts and pronouncements are instrumental to the crisis in the party. He should resign his appointment as the Chairman PDP Governors’ Forum without waiting for the party to say so as to ensure lasting peace in the system. It would be unconscionable for the PDP to reward him with opportunities for further grandstanding and loquaciousness after his party is nearly consumed by crisis.

The governor had announced that he had appointed Senator Etok his campaign director for his senatorial election in 2015. In other words, Chief Akpabio will want to replace Senator Etok in the Senate, and it is Etok himself that would serve as his (Akpabio’s) campaign manager! Repeatedly, he had told his fellow governors to visit him in Uyo to learn a thing on gubernatorial performance since, according to him, no governor does it better.

If Dr. Bamanga Tukur was magnanimous enough to resign to make room for a peaceful resolution of the crisis within the party, Chief Akpabio should also be replaced as the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum for a full resolution of these challenges. It is an affront on faithful party members for a man whose actions and inactions generated so much negative passions and led to such intra-party crisis to be handing down orders to the new Chairman. It is pleasing that the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had quickly doused the discontent created by Akpabio’s proposition to the new PDP Chairman.

The president had noted that the position of the president as a National Leader of the party and governors as Leader of PDP in the state is not in the Constitution of the party. The presidential clarification indicates that all members of the party should submit themselves to the supremacy of the party.

• Hamman is the Executive Secretary of Democratic Development Network, an Abuja-based NGO.

Thursday, February 13, 2014 17

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

TheMetroSection Police arrest suspect for allegedly impersonating IGP, others • Another caught with fake US dollars

By Odita Sunday THIRTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD man A who specializes in duping foreigners and Nigerians using the names and signatures of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been arrested by detectives of the Lagos State Police Command.

The Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Umar Manko at the Command Headquarters, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, paraded the suspect who specialises in duping American citizens.

The suspect, who impersonates the IGP, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the Minister of Finance, OkonjoIweala told newsmen that he joined the illicit business because he was motivated to get rich quick.

The suspected fraudster, Victor Ekong, is at present being detained at the X-Squad section of the Command Headquarters, IKeja.

Parading him yesterday at the command headquarters, the state Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the suspect was arrested by men of the Area ‘G’ Command.

The suspect was arrested February 5, 2014 while on his way from Ogba to the State Secretariat Alausa, Ikeja, with forged police and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) documents.

In his confessional statement, the 34 year-old fraudster said that he used the name Phillip and a photograph of an American which he pasted on his Facebook account to swindle his victims.

The suspect told The Guardian that he was into fish farming before he was hit by a strange sickness and needed money to start up life again.

His words: “I graduated from the University of Calabar in 2004. I read Agric Science. I went into fish farming, but unfortunately lost all my stock when my farm was ravaged by an epidemic and I fell sick, too, because I was depressed.

“I met my first victim, an American, online and during our discussion I introduced myself as Phillip Agwe. I presented some business proposals to him and also forwarded most of the documents found on me to him.”

The suspect “Mid-way into the transaction, he sent me the sum of 10,000 US dollars, but somewhere along the line he found out that most of the documents I mailed to him were forged.

That was how the business ended.”

The suspect who admitted his offence said if he was addressed as a fraudster he would not be angry adding that it was the shock of losing all his life-savings that he invested in fish farming that forced him into crime.

He claimed that the Indian hemp found in his pocket actually belonged to him, but as part of his New Year resolution, he has stopped smoking “I wore this trouser last in 2013 and must have forgotten the Indian hemp in the pocket because I stopped smoking in December last year,” he said.

Parading the suspect at the Command Headquarters Braide, said that the fraudster was accosted by policemen who were on a stop and search duty at Ogba area of Ikeja.

“When he was searched, a wrap of Indian hemp was found on him, which attracted the suspicion of the policemen. A thorough search on him led to the discovery of more incriminating items, some of which include the IGP’s letter headed

The fake Dollars paper with the IGP’s name and signature, Federal High Court Certificate, CBN documents, ID card of the Federal Civil Service, Ministry of Tourism Award certificate, United Nation Terrorism Board, Anti-Drug/Money Laundering Clearance Certificate and Internal Revenue Tax Clearance Certificate.”

Similarly, a 54 year-old man was also arrested with fake US dollars

valued about N2.5million.

The suspect who claimed to be a graphic artist said he may have been set up by his friend who asked him to bring the fake foreign currencies with the intent of selling the same to criminally minded persons.

Braide said both suspects would soon be charged to court.

Briefs Former NBM leader, Onobo, dies at 48, burial February 22 ORMER National and FBlack World Head of the NeoMovement (NBM), Chief Jasper Onobo, aged 48,who died on January 17, 2014, in India, after a protracted illness, will be buried on Saturday, February 22, 2014, at Victoria Court Cemetery, after a lying-in-state at Dreamworld Africana Way Lekki, Lagos.

He hailed from Oron, Akwa Ibom State.

Meanwhile, a Christian wake/service of songs holds on Friday, February 21, at his residence, Road 22B, House M44, Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lekki Expressway, Lagos at 5.00p.m and social wake same day at No., 14, Dreamworld Africana Way, by Orchid Hotel, Elaganza Bus Stop, Lekki, Lagos at 8.00p.m.

Onobo, a bubbly character and a man of refreshing candour, contributed immensely to the growth of the movement within and outside the country.

He was also in the forefront of extinguishing the reign of terror and violence that characterised the activities of most confraternities in Nigerian campuses, especially in the early 2000.

In one of such efforts, he disclosed in Calabar, Cross River State, that the National InterConfraternity Council, which consisted of leaders of all such registered groups in the country were putting heads together to ensure that through a new orientation, the fire of opposition among members turns to that of passion.

He has left behind friends and family members to mourn his demise.

Documents recoved from the suspects

Seven die in Ekiti truck accident, two houses burnt From Muyiwa Adeyemi (Head South West Bureau, Ado Ekiti) ELL was let loose TuesH day evening at Aramoko Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Council as no fewer than seven persons were burnt to death in a ghastly accident involving a truck fullyloaded with petroleum product.

Two buildings, two other vehicles and one motorcycle that were parked in front of the affected buildings were also affected by the fire, after petroleum spilled from the truck and ignited fire.

The identified victims included one Mr Ololade, a retired head teacher, four other occupants of the affected buildings and two

passengers of the truck.

The explosion from the tanker had caused a serious panic and stampede at the central portion of the town with high concentration of people, as people scampered for safety to forestall being caught in the inferno that emitted a thick and dark smoke.

The driver of the tanker, who is now being detained at Aramoko Divisional Police Station and another occupant, were said have been lucky to have escaped the accident scene with only bodily injuries.

The remains of the victims have been deposited at the morgue of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado Ekiti.

An eyewitness told newsmen that the incident happened at about 5.30pm when the truck, which had lost control shortly after descending a hill, swerved off the road while negotiating a sharp bend and rolled towards the two buildings.

The source said a huge inferno immediately surged from the truck and consumed the buildings, while it also spread to the surrounding buildings and lock-up-shops.

He said while other occupants of a storey building had escaped, the four victims were said to have been caught in the web before the arrival of men of the Fire Services from Ado Ekiti.

Ekiti State Deputy Gover-

nor, Prof Modupe Adelabu, who visited the scene at about 9. 00am on yesterday lamented the recklessness of some truck drivers which have always resulted to the untimely death of innocent Nigerians.

Adelabu said: “This road belongs to the Federal Government, but I want to assure that the State Government will do something about it within the next two weeks. This death is painful and we have to something quickly to avert such occurrence”.

She urged the youth, traders and hawkers to desist from plying their trades along the road, saying this is one of the best ways to prevent the loss of lives on

the road .

The town’s monarch, Oba Olu Adeyemi, who accompanied the Deputy Governor to the accident scene, regretted that the Federal Government had awarded the construction of a road that would link Ado Ekiti from Ita-Ure near Efon Alaaye that would bye-pass Aramoko, Erio, Igede and Iyin Ekiti during the regime of Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

Oba Adeyemi said: “The road that passes through our town is not only hilly, but is windy and this has been causing a lot of accidents. I want to believe that if there was a bye-pass, some of these accidents would have been prevented.

I urge the Federal Govern-

Onobo

Daystar holds musical concert Sunday AYSTAR Christian CenD tre, District 7, presents musical concert tagged: In

His Presence, an evening of worship, word and wonders on Sunday, February 16, 2014 at Tastee Lawrell Jakande Estate Gate, Oke – Afa, along Ikotun Egbe Road, Lagos at 3.00p.m.

Pastor Tola Seedy, Pastor Victor Akinyemi and Sarah Thompson will minister.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

18 Thursday, February 13, 2014

Fayemi’s wife rescues stranded mother of triplets …appeals to runaway husband to return From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti HE Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has assured the stranded mother of a newborn set of triplets, who was abandoned in the hospital by her husband, Mrs. Abosede Omole, of her preparedness to rehabilitate her.

Beyond settling the hapless woman’s accumulated medical bill, the governor’s wife said she would set her up in a business of her choice pending the anticipated return of her runaway husband.

She said the comforting words during her visit to the nursing mother at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, where the triplets are receiving medical attention, on Tuesday.

The governor’s wife donated cash and gift items to the nursing mother, whose only companion had been her mother, Mrs. Dupe Afolabi, since her husband deserted her.

Describing the husband’s action as unbecoming, the governor’s wife appealed to the fleeing man, identified as Mr. Adewale Omole, to return to his wife and children to seek forgiveness.

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Instead of abandoning his wife to her fate, the governor’s wife said the head of the family should have sought assistance of the state government through the Multiple Birth Trust Fund.

She said several families with multiple births in Ekiti State were benefitting from the scheme and other forms of assistance through the Ekiti Development Foundation, which made Omole’s action inexcusable.

The governor’s wife said, “I’m appealing to Mr. Omole wherever he is to please return to his wife and children.

He cannot run away from his responsibilities. Moreso, you don’t know whether these children are future stars.”

“And I want to use this opportunity to say that we need a law to prevent men from abandoning their responsibilities in the state.”

“There are too many instances where men abandon their families and take off. They abandon their wives in hospitals when they are presented with surgery bills and they take off with the excuse that they were going to look for money.”

Having had two children be-

Briefs Araya community in Delta elects officers RAYA Progress Union (APU) in Isoko South Local Council of A Delta State, has elected new executives to run its affairs for the year 2014.

According to a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Aruga Joe Omokaro, who is also Editor of The SUPREME weekly national newspaper, the election was conducted under tight security. This was as a result of an aborted election earlier scheduled for December 31, 2013, but which was disrupted by hoodlums.

According to him, during the aborted election, several people including Edios (titled elders) were injured; and to avert a repeat of violence, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, provided adequate armed policemen who ensured that the election was successful.

The interim Chairman, Mr. Gideon Isara formally announced the dissolution of his executive, and appointed a three-man executive namely: Moses Ogbogo, Meshack Akpoma, Felix Ejobona and Mrs. Beatrice Owologba (chairlady), who conducted fresh election.

Subsequently, Mr. Eloho Akpoziakpo, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), was unanimously adopted the new president.

Others are Mr. Geofery Ogbogo (vice president), Mr. Odiki Eziokome (secretary), Sir Ajiri Akara (treasurer), Mr. Mathew Ulebe was unanimously adopted speaker, while Patrick Ederi (legal adviser), Mr. Omokaro (PRO), John Ofremu (Deputy PRO) and Israell Ukoliko (Special Adviser).

Angry mob machete thieves in Calabar From Anietie Akpan, Calabar T was a bad day for three suspected robbers in Calabar yesterday as they were mobbed by members of the public in Calabar, for snatching a woman’s handbag. The three suspected criminals were accosted and attacked by an angry mob, following after snatching a handbag from a woman who just got money from a bank.

The three young men were dealt several machete cuts and their vehicle torched by the angry crowd.

The suspected robbers would have been set ablaze but for the timely intervention of the police, but fears are high that they may not survive from the various machete cuts and beatings they received from the mob action.

An eyewitness around Goldie by Atu junction, scene of the incident, said the suspected thieves snatched a bag containing an unspecified sum of money from a woman who just stepped out of a new generation bank along Calabar Road and sped off.

It was gathered that another lady who saw when the thieves snatched the money from the woman drove behind them and alerted some people on what happened when the thieves lowered their guards along Goldie.

“Two other people with cars joined her and they trailed the thieves and when they got to Goldie by Atu Roundabout, they attempted to make a U-turn and the lady trailing them and two other cars blocked them from all sides”, the eyewitness said.

He stated that, “when the thieves saw that they had been trapped they simply wound their car glasses and remained inside because the place is a busy roundabout and any attempt to escape would have been fruitless so they simply remained inside the car.”

“The lady raised an alarm, which attracted a mob and the thieves were brought out instantly. I used my hand and broke open the car glasses and brought out the boys and some people came with machetes.” The suspected robbers were seriously beaten before the arrival of a team of policemen from the Atakpa Police Division who took them away for further investigation.

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Mrs. Fayemi (middle) with the mother and her babies the family to embrace family fore the arrival of the triplets, planning in order to give the governor’s wife advised

their five children proper upbringing.

Omole allegedly bolted soon after a scan result indicated that his wife, who did not attend ante-natal clinic, was carrying twins at the point of delivery. But the woman was delivered of triplets instead.

The Acting Medical Director of EKSUTH, Dr. Kolawole Ogundipe, clarified that the woman was moved to EKSUTH when the faith-based home where she was delivered of the triplets could not handle the post-delivery complications.

He said that the third of the triplets, who was under intensive care at the hospital, was now in stable condition.

The nursing mother could not conceal her joy after receiving cheery news from the governor’s, wife. She thanked the First Lady for the prompt response to her save-my-soul.

Rotary, Chellarams collaborate to donate blood at firms’ 90th anniversary

• Organisation preaches love, sharing at Valentine

By Isaac Taiwo and Clarkson Eberu OTARY International, District 9110, which comprises Lagos and Ogun States, through its arm “Safe Blood Africa,” has partnered with the Chellarams Plc and Lagos State Transfusion Blood Services to donate over 100 units of blood for distribution to several areas including trauma centres, hospitals handling delivery of children as well as hospitals handling diverse cases of children where pints of blood are needed among others.

The exercise came on the heels of the celebration of Chellarams 90th Anniversary of doing business in Nigeria. The event took place at the company’s training school in Isolo.

Speaking at the occasion, the District Governor, Rotary International, District 9110, Olugbemiga Olowu who also donated blood, lauded the initiative of Chellarams Plc for encouraging members of its staff to donate blood to save lives.

“Rotary International would always partner with organizations of like minds like Chellarams Plc that would always go the extra mile to help the needy, assist the less privileged and make contributions to make the world a better living.”

“Rotary International, an humanitarian body has always been in the vanguard of saving lives through blood donation and ancillary activities over the years through its Group “Safe Blood Africa” and that explains why we have decided to support Chellarams Plc in this noble exercise.”

“Safe Blood Africa” is Rotary International Body that works in Nigeria and other African countries to collect blood from donors and deposit in blood banks to store them for use during hazardous situations” he explained.

Also addressing the media during the occasion, the CEO of Chellerams, Mr. Aditya Chellarams, who also presented himself for blood donation said he was highly impressed to see members of Chellarams Plc and others outside the group volunteering to donate their blood.

“No one felt uncomfortable as the exercise went on smoothly.

I myself came out smiling and happy after donating my own blood and felt very happy to have actively participated in the exercise and more importantly, very glad that Chellarams Plc staff as well as staff

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of the Group of Companies were the largest turnout. We are glad to have as our partner in the exercise, members of the Rotary Club including the District Governor who also donated blood.”

“We quite realize the fact that there is shortage of fresh blood supply in the hospital system especially in Lagos which is a very fast-growing city and there is need for blood in hospitals and I believe this is what every Company should be ready to do.”

“The donation was 100 per cent free while members of staff had a meeting before the exercise with the Lagos State Transfusion Services who explained the benefit of donating blood and also disabused their minds of any danger involved in blood donation,” he said.

The Chairman, Safe Blood Committee, Rotary International, District 9110, Dr. Hassan Adelakun described the exer-

cise as timely due to the fact that there had been a dearth of save blood.

“Every year in Nigeria, we have the deficit of over two million units of blood and consequently have been facing the difficulty of meeting the needs of women who require blood during delivery as well as children with anemia after contacting malaria including those needing blood as a result of road accidents.”

Meanwhile, ahead of tomorrow’s celebration of Valentine’s Day worldwide, the Rotary Club of Abuja Gwarinpa, has called on people to show true love and care to people in need.

The club called for the re-definition of love, urging people to move away from the frivolities often associated with the day and rededicate themselves to the concept of true love for neighbours, the poor and the needy in the society.

A member of the club, Keziah Okonofua, who led the discussions, dwelt on love and sharing.

She said “love refers to a variety of emotions and identified five kinds of love: security love, friendship love, romantic love, selfish love and agape love.”

She advised Rotary members and guests to imbibe agape love and also weigh same with Rotary’s Four Way Test: is the truth, is it fair to all concerned, will it build goodwill and better friendship and will it be beneficial to all concerned.

She ended by saying that the only love we get to keep is the love we give to others. “ This is Rotary’s kind of love! This love shares, gives, doesn’t hold back,” she noted.

President of the Club, James Ugbeda, a lawyer, later gave out gifts contributed by members to all the guests in line with the spirit of the season.

District Governor, Rotary International, District 9110, Olugbemiga Olowu (third left), Kola Shodipo (second left), Chairman, Safe Blood Committee, Rotary International, District 9110, Dr. Hassan Adelakun at the event PHOTO: ISAAC TAIWO

Members of the Rotary Club Abuja Gwarinpa cutting the love cake at a Special Valentine Fellowship… on Tuesday

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Thursday, February 13, 2014 19

Business Why Nigeria adopts crude oil swap arrangement, by NNPC

By Roseline Okere HE Nigerian National T Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) adopted the Offshore Processing and Crude oil Swap Arrangements (OPA/SWAP) to ensure availability of petroleum products in the country.

The corporation noted in a statement yesterday, that the OPA/SWAP arrangements enjoy presidential approval and their operations are governed by contractual agreement.

NNPC explained that under the OPA, it delivers crude oil to a refinery for processing at a contractually agreed yield pattern and processing fee.

It added that in return, NNPC evacuates the refined products that are needed most,

stressing that OPA provides NNPC the opportunity and flexibility to exchange products grades based on domestic need and immediate requirements.

“As a result, NNPC can request the refinery to make available for evacuation more of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and kerosene that are required most in exchange for Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) out of the products yield”.

NNPC added that all other products such as propane, butane, Vacuum Gas Oil (VGO) and fuel oil that are not necessarily needed for consumption in Nigeria are sold by the refinery on behalf of NNPC at the prevailing market price and proceeds remitted to NNPC.

According to the corporation, the process allows NNPC to request for pre-delivery of petroleum products in the event of tight supply situation in the market or due to the inability to lift crude oil as result of operational constraints at the crude oil terminals or in the event of force majeure declaration.

It added that such pre-deliveries helps NNPC bridge the gap in supply situation and forestall products scarcity in the country. “In return, an equivalent value of crude oil will be allocated at a later date for the products pre-delivered”, it added.

Giving details of the swap agreement, NNPC explained: “Under SWAP/crude exchange arrangement, NNPC allocates

crude oil to reputable oil trading companies in exchange for the delivery of PMS, DPK or any other petroleum product as may be required by Pipelines Product and Marketing Company (PPMC).

“The contract is based on the international market value of the petroleum products against the prevailing international market value of the crude oil. This is value for value arrangement; crude oil lifted versus products supplied. The value for value philosophy enshrined in the SWAP contracts is validated and tested on a regular basis, when reconciliation meetings are held between NNPC and the trading companies.

“In the crude oil/products exchanges, PPMC can also

request for pre-delivery of petroleum products where tightness in the supply is anticipated in order to forestall scarcity or as a result of any operational constraint that may hinder the loading of the crude oil at the terminals.

The equivalent crude oil will be made available to the supplier at a later date to cover the products delivered”.

NNPC hinted that the entire activities under OPA/SWAP were recently subjected to scrutiny by the House of Representatives Committee on downstream with a verdict of clean bill of health returned.

union with Scotland if it votes for independence, the BBC reported yesterday, citing government sources.

Pro-independence Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond favours such an arrangement should Scotland vote to leave the United Kingdom in the September 18 referendum.

But the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported that Osborne, who has already said London is unlikely to back the idea, would officially rule it out on Thursday.

Prime Minister David Cameron said on Tuesday that a formal currency union would be "very difficult to justify" and Osborne would have "more to say" on the subject soon.

Salmond's deputy Nicola

‘How to reduce mortality rate of small businesses’

By Femi Adekoya and Tolulope Okunlola HE high mortality rate of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country may continue to rise if the Federal Government does not address the issue of creating a conducive business environment for entrepreneurs to thrive.

Indeed, issues of infrastructure deficit, smuggling, multiple taxation among others, were cited as key issues affecting the competitiveness of small businesses in the country.

According to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), in a rapidly globalising world with its attendant collapsing tariff barriers and the accompanying stiff competition, the manufacturing industry needs to be re-positioned for further growth while driving down internal cost.

Acting Director-General of MAN, Rasheed Adegbenro, while speaking at a sensitization workshop organized by MAN and Gold Elsh Unic Services in Lagos, yesterday on ‘Internal re-engineering of manufacturing firms for com-

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petitiveness’, noted that the move became necessary to promote good operating environment and sustainability of member businesses.

He explained that re-engineering the processes would include altering the approach to innovation, product development, life cycle management, supply chain operations, pricing strategies and incorporating the voice of customers in the value-chain process.

“It is a well known fact that businesses in the small and medium categories have a high mortality rate in the developing world. They rarely cross the 50 years threshold.

“Many factors alluded to this trend were weak internal processes, microscopic and undiluted ownership structure building businesses around personalities rather than institutions, uncompetitiveness of such type of businesses, limited access to markets, lack of innovation, near absence of corporate governance among others.

“Furthermore, manufacturing companies and other businesses are being confronted with unprecedented chal-

lenges to grow businesses in the difficult operating environment arising from long years of neglect of basic and critical infrastructures, menace of multiple agency smuggling and dumping of cheap product into the country”, he said.

He however noted that the high rate of globalisation coupled with attendant collapsing tariff barriers and the accompanying stiff competition, has further necessitated the repositioning of the manufacturing industry for further growth while driving down internal cost.

Adegbenro said that MAN being the umbrella body of manufacturers in the country, would continue to parley with the government for the resolution of these problems, while urging manufacturing companies to also begin to look inward for new and creative ways to bring innovation to their product and services offerings.

Executive Chairman, Gold Elsh Unic Services, Taiwo Olukunle said manufacturers having been confronted with global competition among other challenges, must become cre-

ative through innovations in their product and service offerings.

“We are doing an all encompassing analysis with your organization to bring about innovative solution, workshop leadership customer engagement workplace risk intervention and management efficiency.

Our re-evolving business model emphasises training for staff development and deployment of tools and techniques that address the complexity of the existing operation in order to achieve more with less.

“This project is to make the manufacturing industry process independent and not people dependent by introducing innovations that create and capture value and to encourage waste elimination thinking.

“With our Integrity Critical Process (ICP) matrix, we examine the critical processes (operations, facilities and personnel) that give us the expected ultimate profit as an organization in order to eliminate wastage of scarce resources time and energy on less important details”.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

London to rule out currency union with independent Scotland RITAIN'S finance minister, B George Osborne, is likely to rule out a formal currency

Chairman, Conferences Committee, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Moses Braimah (left); President, Prof. David Adewumi; Chairman, Publicity and Events Committee, Jide Awe and Executive Secretary, Chinedu Onuoha, at a media briefing on the society’s forthcoming 2014 events in Lagos.

Stating the benefits of the OPA/ SWAP arrangement, the corporation noted that the scheme has availed NNPC the opportunity to sustain the market, guarantee the security of supplies and keep the entire country wet with petroleum products even when other marketers were reluctant to perform due to the non-payment and or delayed payment of subsidy by the government.

It added that the process has also reduces the cost of NNPC’s importation by way of reduc-

Sturgeon accused London of trying to "bully" Scotland into voting for the status quo and warned that an independent Scotland without a currency union would not take on its share of the UK's ever-expanding debt pile.

"It's a bluff," Sturgeon told BBC radio, claiming Osborne's position would put London at odds with public opinion on both sides of the border.

"It would cost their own businesses hundreds of millions of pounds, it would blow a massive hole in their balance of payments and it would leave them having to pick up the entirety of UK debt.

"We, Scotland, should continue to use our pound, because it is our pound as much as anybody else's."

Asked if she had an alternative plan in case a currency

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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Thursday, February 13, 2014

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Stakeholders canvass trade-for-aid policy to boost export capacity

By Femi Adekoya O further boost Nigeria’s export potential and promote locally manufactured goods, stakeholders within the export sector have tasked government on the need to review it foreign aid policy to boost non-oil exports.

Indeed, the move, according to the stakeholders, would demand the Federal Government giving out madein-Nigeria products rather than cash to countries that are getting assistance from Nigeria.

According to them, many developed countries are already implementing the policy as their products and services constitute the foreign aid to many regions.

Furthermore, they emphasized the need for collaborations in facilitating and implementing strategies that will boost manufacturing exports in the country.

Precisely, some of the strategies include how the potential in quality certification and various incentives like the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) could be properly harnessed to boost export activities in the country and the region.

The stakeholders were drawn from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Manufacturers Association of

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Nigeria Export Group (MANEG), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and exporters among others.

To this end, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has called on the awardees of the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) to take advantage of the quality certification to boost the export potential of their products.

Making the call in Lagos yesterday at an export business roundtable organized for NIS certified manufacturers, the Director/Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, Olusegun Awolowo noted that despite the challenges encountered by some manufacturers who export, their companies are making a mark in international markets.

“I wish to emphasize that this event has been organised with the aim of bringing together reputable companies that had won the NIS certification mark with a view to ensuring that they participate in export business to maximize their potentials,” he said.

He stated that it was also part of the agency’s strategy of reiterating the need to diversify our dependence on oil to nonoil in line with President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda.

Awolowo, who was represented by the agency’s Director of Product Development, Henry Otowo, stressed that the roundtable had become necessary as a result of the huge export potential of Nigerian manufactured products as revealed by the recent NEPC sponsored exhibitions held in Lome (Togo), Accra (Ghana) and Niamey (Niger).

“The feedback from our participation at fairs staged in three countries of the West African region in the last quar-

ter of 2013 showed high levels of on-the-spot sales, which is an indication of the appreciable acceptance of Nigerian products by consumers,” he revealed.

He disclosed that NEPC has capacity building initiatives meant to upgrade the technical skills of potential exporters such as the Export Skills Acquisition Programme (ESAP) designed for beginners in the export business.

“Furthermore NEPC in collaboration with MAN Export Group (MANEG) has estab-

lished an export house known as NEXPOTRADE in Liberia, to strengthen market penetration of Nigerian products as the export houses guarantee continuous supply in the host countries. It is hoped that this novel endeavor will overcome its present hiccups and achieve the objectives for its setting up,” he said.

In his presentation, Chairman MANEG, Tunde Oyelola, noted that there is an urgent need to execute a concerted and coordinated approach to manufacturing

export development in Nigeria and also made recommendations to government and its MDAs that could boost manufacturing exports.

“Government should support manufacturing exports in her foreign aid policy by giving out made in Nigeria products rather than cash to countries that are getting assistance from Nigeria. This policy is already being implemented by many developed countries as their products and services constitute their foreign aid,” he said.

London to rule out currency union with Scotland CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 union cannot be agreed, Sturgeon said: "I'm not going to be bullied out of the right position for Scotland and the rest of the UK." Salmond and Sturgeon's proindependence Scottish National Party has said Scotland will not join the euro -- formerly their favourite option.

The SNP also does not want to establish a separate currency, preferring to remain with the Bank of England as the central bank and lender of last resort.

If London says no to such an arrangement post-independence, Scotland could in theory carry on using the pound sterling without having any say in Bank of England monetary

policy.

Several countries worldwide have unilaterally adopted foreign currencies, notably the US dollar and the euro.

Bank of England governor Mark Carney said last month that an independent Scotland would have to cede some sovereignty if it wanted to keep the pound, or risk the problems of the eurozone.

He said the difficulties in the eurozone had shown the "clear risks" of having a currency union without firm foundations.

The latest opinion poll in Scotland found 34 percent in favour of independence and 52 percent against. Twelve percent were undecided and two percent said they would not vote.

Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board, Engr. Ernest Nwapa (left); Chairman/Managing Director, ExxonMobil Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Mark Ward; and Division Head, Oil & Gas Upstream, Fidelity Bank Plc, Abolore Solebo, at the launch of the ExxonMobil Nigeria Contractor Finance Scheme in Lagos.

NNPC explains adoption of crude oil swap arrangement CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 tion and stabilising the premium paid under the open account regime.

“Also, the situation whereby traders will gang up and decide on the premium to be paid by NNPC for the deliveries has been eliminated.

“It provides flexibility for the pre-delivery of products as well as conversion of products not needed most for those that are mostly needed. Also, it protects the diversion of prod-

ucts to other markets where high premium is paid more especially during arbitrage situations.

“Prompt delivery of products even under difficult market conditions because of the high liquidity position as crude oil is lifted ahead of products delivery. The supplier can book the products cargoes far ahead of time and does not require sourcing of financing which in return reduce the cost of the products.

“No interest payment which

became a burden to NNPC in the open account regime where interest is paid to suppliers in default of the contractual provisions. Therefore, it relieves NNPC the burden of overdue debt owed to the suppliers with its attendant negative consequences on the financial rating of Nigeria in the international financial market”, NNPC added.

It noted that crude oil is sold at the prevailing international market price secured with confirmed irrevocable letter of

credit as obtained in any other crude oil transactions, saying that the security of the transaction is fully guaranteed.

NNPC said an average of 20 suppliers performed per quarter under the open account regime compared to only five suppliers under the swap arrangement which make products deliveries easily managed and closely monitored for efficient performance.

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Thursday, February 13, 2014 BUSINESS

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Govt commits N5b to tackle poverty eradication From John Okeke, Abuja HE Federal Government, T through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs (OSSAPMDGs) and government of Anambra State have jointly made available N5 billion for the execution of pro-poor projects across the state.

This was made known by the Governor, Peter Obi and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, Dr. Precious Kalamba Gbeneol at the flag off ceremony for 2012/2013 MDGs Conditional Grants Scheme to State and Local Governments Anambra State on Monday.

According to Governor Obi, the fund, out of which a total of N3.8 billion was jointly contributed by the State and Federal Government, will be used for the execution of projects such as regional large water schemes, small town water projects, boreholes, abattoirs, Schools, Healthcare facilities and medical staff quarters amongst others.

In her remark, Gbeneol stated that in a final push towards accelerating the attainment of the MDGs in Nigeria, a total of 14 poorest LGAs were selected for direct intervention through the 2013 CGS to LGA track to the tune of N200million each bringing the total to N2.8 billion. In the State track, Anambra is also receiving a jointly contributed fund of N1 billion.

The remaining N1.2 billion making up the N5billion is

solely provided by the state government. Gbeneol added that six out of the fourteen LGAs, namely Ogbaru, Oyi, Idemili North, Anaocha, Ekwusigo and Ihiala initially selected have already received funding. The remaining eight LGAs recently added for intervention in the scale up will soon receive their funding.

Although, a total of 210 LGAs are currently benefiting from the direct intervention from the OSSAP-MDGs across the country, Dr Gbeneol noted that the decision of her office to scale up intervention to additional eight LGAs in Anambra was due to the outstanding performance by the state in the previous round as well as the timely provision of counterpart fund by the State Governor.

“At this juncture, I would like to reiterate that access to funding under the CGS is strictly performance-based and any state that ensures accelerated implementation in previous rounds will get increased funding.” Gbeneol remarked.

She expressed optimism that at the completion of these projects, many families across Anambra will be positively affected as more than three thousand projects would have been completed. “I therefore urge everyone to take ownership and ensure that these projects are maintained for sustained use.” Gbeneol stated.

Since 2011, selected LGAs under the Conditional Grants

Reps task committee on NCC’s planned 2.3GHz spectrum auction From: Terhemba Daka, Abuja HE House of T Representatives has passed a resolution mandating its committee on communications to review the pre-qualification criteria for companies that wish to participate in the proposed auction of 2.3GHZ broadband spectrum by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).

The House also mandated the committee to critically look into future auctions of national telecommunications assets with a view to including a requirement that interested companies be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

This followed the adoption of a motion on the matter moved by Chris Emeka Azubogu (APGA, Anambra).

Azubogu noted in his motion that “most of the major players in the industry - MTN, Airtel, Etisalt, etcetera - all of whom have indicated a desire

to participate in the auction are privately held companies that are not subject to the corporate governance and full disclosure standards obligatory for publicly listed companies.”

He lamented that the absence of standards, which he said make the country’s prime national telecommunications assets to be transferred to companies without proper authentication of their financial status.

He said “auctions of communications licences to unquoted companies is not in the public interest of the Nigerian state,” adding that the state of events was dangerous to the wellbeing of the industry.

Following an announcement by the NCC for auction of the 2.3GHZ spectrum broadband spectrum, major telecommunications companies like MTN, Glo, Airtel, Zinox among others were reported to have bidded for it.

Govt commends Dangote Sugar on backward integration INISTER of Industry, Trade M and Investment Olusegun Aganga, has commended the management of Dangote Sugar Refinery on its remarkable progress towards meeting its sugar backward integration project targets.

Aganga who was accompanied by the Executive Secretary of National Sugar Development Council, Dr. Lateef Busari while on a working visit to Savannah Sugar Company Ltd, Numan Adamawa State, recently, expressed satisfaction at the level of positive changes seen in the company since its acquisition by Dangote Group, and subsequently Dangote Sugar.

The visit, which coincided with Savannah Sugar 2013/2014 harvest season afforded the minister and the team from National Sugar Development council an opportunity to inspect Savannah Sugar facilities first hand and appraise the progress, made so far in the sugar company in line with Federal Government’s New Sugar Master Plan introduced in September 2012.

The Minister who was elated at the level of improvement in Savannah’s operations and activities, commended Dangote Group for the volume of investments it has made in the company.

Scheme (CGS) have received N100 million from OSSAPMDGs, counterpart funded with equal amount in a bid to support Sectoral initiatives and local priorities in the third tier of Government.

“Under the 2011 round of the MDGs Conditional Grants

Scheme to LGAs, a total funding of N600 million (N200 million each) was accessed by Anambra West, Awka North and Orumba South LGAs after the State and LGAs had provided 50 per cent of the counterpart funds.

A total of 304 projects across

the Water, Health and Education sectors were delivered in these three local government areas.

In addition to the interventions in Anambra State through the LGA track, the 2011 Conditional Grants Scheme to States ensured that

the sum of N1.3 billion was utilized for developmental projects in the State.

These funds were used to construct hostel blocks in ten locations with eight small water schemes, amongst others,” Gbeneol stated.

NIMAREX boss laments economic losses in shipping industry From Abosede Musari, Abuja HAIRPERSON of the Nigerian Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) Planning Committee, Margaret Onyema-Orakwusi has lamented that Nigeria has been losses huge revenue to shipment because it does not have its own shipping line.

Onyema-Orakwusi, who was at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to solicit the agency’s participation at the expo which is to take place

C

in March, said that though Nigeria is a major oil producer, the fact that it does not have a national shipping line denies it the opportunity of taking advantage of the large chunk of revenue available to industry players.

She implored the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to participate in the expo saying that this will boost investors’ confidence to invest in the country.

She added that the coming together of various partici-

pants at the expo would enhance growth in the sector and bring about development.

“We need them (participants) to be educated. EFCC comes with a lot of credibility. We want you to be visible during the fair. It becomes necessary that we have you on ground during the fair”, she said.

Onyema-Orakwusi who disclosed that participants at the fair will include both local and foreign investors said investors would be encouraged by an assurance from the

EFCC that should anything happen to their investment; there is an organization they can report to and seek justice.

In his response, Lamorde agreed that the maritime industry is critical to the nation’s economic development. He said that the Commission will be at the event to showcase its activities while assuring investors of the safety of their investment. “We are interested in going there.

We find it an opportunity to learn and network,” he said.

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INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY Thursday, February 13, 2014

China trade growth rises further HINA’S export and import C growth unexpectedly accelerated in January, defying signs the world’s secondlargest economy will slow while fueling speculation that

fake shipments are resurfacing.

Overseas shipments rose 10.6 percent from a year earlier, the General Administration of Customs said today in Beijing,

a pace that may be distorted by false invoices and holidays and compares with the median projection of economists for a 0.1 percent gain. Imports (CNFRIMPY) advanced 10 percent, leaving a trade surplus of $31.9 billion, the widest for January since 2009.

Asian stocks extended gains and the Australian dollar jumped as the report provided some evidence of support for an economy that’s projected by analysts to grow at its slowest pace in 24 years in 2014. Economists were split over whether the figures were exaggerated again after a crackdown by authorities last year on the use of inflated export invoices to disguise capital inflows.

“The January trade data are puzzling,” with a divergence from figures reported by Taiwan and South Korea that previously showed a “good correlation,” said Ding

Shuang, senior China economist at Citigroup Inc. in Hong Kong, who previously worked at the International Monetary Fund. “Inflated invoices aren’t extinguished, although it’s much less severe now than a year earlier.”

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index of stocks advanced 1.1 percent as of 5:12 p.m. in Tokyo. The Australian dollar rose 0.2 percent to 90.55 U.S. cents.

China’s benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.3 percent.

China’s exporters have been challenged by a yuan that’s appreciated about 2.8 percent against the U.S. dollar in the last 12 months, the most among 24 emerging-market currencies tracked by Bloomberg. The yuan weakened 0.04 percent today to 6.0630 per dollar.

Economists at Nomura

Holdings Inc. and Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. questioned the extent to which the January data indicate strength in the economy.

“We suspect that export overinvoicing activities have reemerged,” while import gains indicated a “front-loading effect before the Chinese New Year,” ANZ analysts including Liu Li-Gang in Hong Kong wrote in a note.

Bank of England hints at 2015 rate rise HE Bank of England hinted mation of Britain's growth take risks with this recovery."

T yesterday, that interest prospects in 2013.

Sterling hit a two-week high It said market expectations against the dollar and British rates may need to start rising in just over a year as it broadened its guidance on when it will consider the economy to be healthy enough to cope with higher borrowing costs.

The BoE sharply revised up its forecasts for growth over the next three years, recognizing the surprise transfor-

of a rate hike in the second quarter of 2015 - around the time of a general election in May - were in line with its aim to keep inflation at 2 percent.

But the BoE also said there was enough spare capacity, or slack in the economy, for now to keep rates at an alltime record low level of 0.5 percent without risking a surge in inflation.

It added that any increases in borrowing costs would be gentle.

"The message to businesses, to households is that the Bank rate is going to follow a path that is consistent with jobs, with incomes and with spending growing in a sustainable way," Governor Mark Carney said.

"We are going to calibrate it carefully. We are not going to

government bond prices fell after the Bank's announcement as investors added to bets on a rate hike next year.

The Bank said it will focus on 18 separate measures of the spare capacity in Britain's economy, including business surveys and the number of hours worked.

That contrasted with the guidance adopted by the BoE last August when it said it would consider whether to raise borrowing costs only once unemployment fell to 7 percent.

Since August, unemployment has tumbled and stands at 7.1 percent. The BoE forecast on Wednesday that it will hit 7 percent in the three months to January and will sink further to 6.5 percent by early next year.

Thursday, February 13, 2014 INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY | 23

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Boeing ponders transcontinental plane to replace 757 OEING Co. (BA) said it’s in B early stages of testing the market’s appetite for a new medium-size plane for transcontinental flights within the U.S., the market that includes the most-lucrative routes for domestic airlines.

Boeing won’t be in a position to start work on the project immediately, partly because it hasn’t defined the parameters, Scott Fancher, the planemaker’s head of aircraft development, said in an interview at the Singapore Airshow today.

Some customers have shown interest in such a plane, John Wojick, head of Boeing’s commercial-aircraft unit, said separately.

A mid-range aircraft would fill a gap left when Boeing’s 757, the longest single-aisle airliner, went out of production in 2004. The transcontinental market includes the New York Los Angeles trips prized by U.S.

House to vote on U.S. debt-limit bill without conditions HE United States (U.S.) T House will vote on lifting the U.S. debt limit without conditions, Speaker John Boehner said today, giving in to Democratic insistence upon a so-called clean measure.

The chamber will vote tonight because a snowstorm is forecast for the U.S. East Coast, a Republican leadership aide said.

Boehner, an Ohio Republican, said Democrats will need to back the measure suspending the debt ceiling until March 15, 2015, which he said will get minimal Republican support.

“We’ll let the Democrats put the votes up,” Boehner said.

Asked whether advancing a bill without conditions amounted to a recognition that Republicans lack political leverage after October’s 16-day partial government shutdown, he said, “It’s the fact that we don’t have 218 votes. And when you don’t have 218 votes, you have nothing.”

A suspension of the U.S. debt limit enacted by Congress in October expired Feb. 7. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew said last week that borrowing authority may not last past Feb. 27.

On Monday night, Republicans said they would move a debt-limit increase that would include benefits for military retirees.

President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats have said for months that a debt-ceiling increase must not be combined with other policy measures.

“The bottom line is we need to get our work done,” Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions, a Texas Republican, told reporters today after a private party meeting.

Boehner has struggled to find enough support from divided Republican lawmakers to increase the debt limit, joking last week that he’d have trouble getting enough votes from them even if the measure authorized sainthood for Mother Teresa.

The announcement marks the first time House Republicans will propose a debt-limit increase without adding spending cuts or other conditions since they took power in January 2011.

carriers because of the demand for premium seats, and Airbus Group NV (AIR) has sought to move into the space with its A321 by extending the model’s range.

“If you look at the market, it’s the niche which has the oldest airplane serving it, and its the niche that we don’t cover with our current offerings,” Fancher said.

Boeing engineers are occupied with the 777X and 737 Max, both upgrades of existing models that are now in development.

The 777X is due to enter service by the end of the decade while the Max’s first flight is scheduled in 2016.

Boeing introduced the 757 in 1983, and carriers began using the 200- to 289-seat narrowbody in ways Boeing hadn’t envisioned, including to cross the U.S. and fly from the East

Coast to parts of Europe, sor would do, he said.

Fancher said. Boeing must “First question is, how big is the think hard about what a succes- market, and then, what size

plane, what range, what operat- “We’re studying that, like the ing economics and characteris- other guys are.” tics,”Wojick said in Singapore.

Unemployment edges down, except in eurozone, says OECD HRONIC unemployment C across advanced democracies edged down again in December, but there were wide differences and the rate in the eurozone remained far above the average, the OECD said on Tuesday.

The average rate in the 34member OECD area was 7.6 percent of the workforce which meant that 46.2 million people were registered as available for, but without, work.

The total of people unemployed is 11.5 million, more

than when the financial crisis began in the middle of 2008, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said in its monthly unemployment bulletin.

The OECD rate edged down by 0.1 percentage points, in the third monthly fall in a row, in December.

Japan showed a low rate of 3.7 percent with a reduction of 0.3 points, and in the United States it fell by three points to 6.7 percent.

But in the eurozone, which

had 17 members in December, the rate was stuck at the same level as in November, at 12.0 percent.

But here, too, there were wide differences.

The rate in France was stable at 10.8 percent, and in Germany at half that level at 5.1 percent.

In Spain, with a rate of 25.8 percent, there was an improvement of 0.3 percentage points.

In Ireland, emerging from a bailout, the rate fell by 0.2 points to 12.1 percent.

Italy achieved a reduction of 0.1 points to 12.7 percent.

In the Slovak Republic it fell by 0.2 points to 13.8 percent.

In Poland, outside the eurozone in what analysts call emerging Europe, the rate fell from 10.2 to 10.1 percent.

Referring to a particular issues of concern for policymakers, the problem of “lost-generation” unemployment among young people, the OECD said that the average rate in its overall area eased by 0.1 points to 15.5 percent in the month, and by a full percentage point on a 12-month comparison.

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24 | Thursday, February 13, 2014

Focus Rivers’ education ship continues voyage amid icebergs ROTIMI LAWRENCE OYEKANMI examines the recently unveiled Rivers State Education Sector Strategy Plan and the challenges it faces F the six BRACED (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa O Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta) states located in the South-South region of the country, none is believed to have tackled its education sector challenges with sustained aggression more than Rivers, with Dame Alice Lawrence – Nemi, the restless, girlish Commissioner, who has astounded everyone, in charge.

When Governor Rotimi Amaechi assumed office in 2007, as the story goes, hardly could anyone drive around Port Harcourt from 8pm at night within a week, without hearing gunshots. Gang wars were common. The state government came up with the theory that many of the militants causing havoc were young boys who should still be in school. It took an inventory of the 1, 300 public primary and 266 secondary schools at that time and realized that they had deteriorated.

The revival journey thus began first, with an education summit in 2008, and on October 1, 2012, the free education policy was unveiled.

A follow-up summit was organized last year.

With it came free textbooks, uniforms and sandals. While the state government planned for 750 model primary and 24 model secondary schools to beef up its education sector, some 264 of the former have been completed, with 100 of them now in use. Each school was provided with a computer laboratory, library, sick bay, new furniture, sports ground with tartan tracks and even a small farm.

No only that. A careful analysis further revealed that the state would need 91, 000 teachers to be comfortable. Although, the total number could not be taken at once, the state recruited 13,000 new teachers, unprecedented in the country. The state government, in partnership with the British Council and Cambridge University, introduced the TKT Essentials training and certification, which facilitated the training of over 9,000 teachers across the state’s 23 Local Government Areas.

It had also embarked on the re-certification and verification of teachers’ credentials, to not only ascertain their numerical strength, but also to ensure that only qualified teachers were allowed to teach in the schools.

Last year, the state government distributed free laptops to students as part of its Laptopper-Child project to, according to LawrenceNemi, “ensure that students in the state can compete favourably with their peers around the world.” The commissioner also said: “The age long process of enhancing knowledge retention is continuous study even after school hours which is called “home work.”

The device will help this process through having access to resources online available in the school’s e-library. This tablet is preloaded with various educational applications that the student will use to enhance the learning process.

“Recently the Federal Government of Nigeria introduced reading initiatives to improve the reading culture amongst students. As part of the campaign, students were encouraged to read various books, which will help them. Each of the devices will have access to an e –library with 100,000 books within the system. The advantage of this device is that students can utilize these resources within the e-Library by reading books for free. The teachers will also give reading assignment to the students. Also research-based assignments can be given to the students.

“A uniform learning platform will be established across all the schools in Rivers state using the same tablets, as such, the students will be exposed to the same educational type of applications for learning. This will help in improving the threshold of the educational standard of the state and encourage both the rural and urban dwellers to send their children to school.”

Besides, the state government established both the Quality Assurance Agency and School Based Management Boards to enhance quality and monitor the schools.

Rivers State also received N400 million for its outstanding implementation of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme, using the 2009 Federal Government/UBE intervention fund. President Goodluck

Rivers State’s Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence – Nemi (2nd left), Chairman, Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr Allli Oruitemeka (left), Chairman, House Committee on Education, Mr Augustine Ngo and Prof Okorosaye Orubite during the launch of the Rivers State Education Sector Strategy Plan in Port Harcourt last Tuesday Jonathan presented the cheque to Amaechi in Abuja, during the “Good Performance Award to State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBS), organized by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

Also in March last year, the state government unveiled a new education policy “to guide and direct all players and stakeholders in the education enterprise, to achieve desired goals and objectives.”

And last Tuesday, the “Rivers State Education Sector Strategy Plan: 2014-2017” was unveiled in Port Harcourt. Underscoring the need to have to have the plan in place, Lawrence – Nemi said: “In order to determine the future direction of the Ministry of education, it is necessary to understand its current position and the possible avenues through which it can pursue course of action.” She explained that the plan “articulates not only where the Ministry is going and the action needed to make progress, but also how it will know if it is successful.”

The plan’s five focal areas include: Access and Equity in Education; Strengthening Institutional Management of education; Standard and Quality Assurance, Teacher education and Development; Technical and Vocational Training and Funding.

The commissioner also said: “this plan stipulates the objectives of the Ministry, identifies the roles and responsibilities of departments, agencies and other stakeholders and prescribes a timeline to achieve the said goals.”

The plan has 29 objectives, which include: achieving the full implementation of the new basic and senior secondary school education curricula; harmonizing the school calendar and curriculum of all schools (public and private); Sharpening and Streamlining minimum standards and procedure for the establishment of new schools; and ensuring that persons with special needs benefit maximally

from mainstream education.

It also entails the provision of conducive learning environment for junior and senior secondary school students; exposing the students to appropriate science and technology learning environment, popularizing Technical and Vocational education and Training and re-certifying persons to teach in both public and private schools in the state.

Reduction of the rate of examination misconduct, and out of school children was also included in the plan.

Icebergs threaten voyage Governor Amaechi’s comments at the ceremony gave some cause for concern. He told the gathering that at the time the state government set out to execute its plan for the education sector, it never envisaged that its monthly allocation/revenue would fall from N20 billion to N13 billion.

Although, it is common knowledge that he had been have a running battle with the Federal Government over political matters, Amaechi did not reveal what led to the drastic reduction in the state’s revenue. There were suggestions, however, that the state’s loss of some oil wells to Bayelsa state could have contributed to it.

However, Amaechi appealed to the teachers not to disappoint the state government by working hard to justify the “huge investment” on them. He noted that Rivers state had been coming third nationally in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). He queried: “My question is, why not come first instead of third?” He implored the teachers to work hard to improve the fortune of the state’s education sector.

The governor also said that he was not bothered about his own political upheavals, or “whether anybody is abusing Amaechi,” but “how to get money to pay teachers and execute the education and other important proj-

The plan has 29 objectives, which include: achieving the full implementation of the new basic and senior secondary school education curricula; harmonizing the school calendar and curriculum of all schools (public and private); sharpening and streamlining minimum standards and procedure for the establishment of new schools; and ensuring that persons with special needs benefit maximally from mainstream education. It also entails the provision of conducive learning environment for junior and senior secondary school students; exposing the students to appropriate science and technology learning environment, popularizing Technical and Vocational education and Training and recertifying persons to teach in both public and private schools in the state

Amaechi ects.”

He averred that the state government’s efforts would only be worthwhile if the quality of school products of schools was good.

Minimum standards for schools When the state’s new education policy was unveiled last year, the governor explained why the establishment of minimum standards for all schools in the state was important. He said: “A lot has been done in the past few years with respect to infrastructural component for education delivery. We have done a lot of structural input at the primary and secondary levels, even at the tertiary level with the building of a brand new campus for the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. There has also been increased funding to our educational institutions.

“We recognize that infrastructure is one component of what we require to get the educational sector functional. We know that we have to shift emphasis to the content with respect to curriculum and all of that, and also very importantly, in order to guarantee quality, monitoring and supervision.

The former chairman of the Oyo state Universal Basic education Board (SUBEB), Dr Sulleiman Adediran emphasized the importance of service charters for public primary and secondary schools to ensure quality.

According to him, service charters ensure effectiveness, efficiency, accountability, transparency and inclusiveness.

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Appointments Why future development agenda must include disabilities, by experts From Collins Olayinka, Abuja iD experts have tasked the A Department for international Development (DfiD) to produce an overar-

ching strategy on disability, as it would send an important message to the rest of the world that that it was taking disability seriously.

Global Development quoted

Bob McMullan, a former Australian minister for international development, addressing Members of Parliament on the international development commit-

tee that such a step would be the most important thing DfiD could do to put disability on the global agenda.

While noting that making disability a priority would

Assistant Director, Skill Acquisition Entrepreneur Development, (SAED), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Rachel Idaewor (left); outstanding corps members that got immediate appointment, Abdulssalam Mariam and Tiamiyu Mubarak; and Managing Director/CEO, New Horizons, Tim Akano during the ‘Batch A’ New Horizons/NYSC job fairs in Lagos.

NUPENG threatens industrial action over alleged maltreatment of members

By Yetunde Ebosele iTiNG alleged maltreatC ment of its members by oil majors and multinationals, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), yesterday threatened to embark on a nationwide strike “without notice”.

Already, the union said it has placed its members nationwide on notice to mobilise for a “total shut-down of activities in the oil and gas industry, in protest against these injustices in the industrial relations practices in the industry if there is no immediate intervention from the government” President of NUPENG, igwe Achese in a statement explained that the union has watched with great concern the activities of oil majors and multi-nationals in the industry and warned of imminent fuel scarcity if their alleged “nefarious activities” are not checked.

Achese alleged that the new drive of the oil majors and multi-nationals amounts to sabotage, adding that if not controlled “will lead to an unhealthy atmosphere in the sector”.

The union also called on President Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Labour and the National Assembly to urgently inter-

vene in the crisis.

NUPENG described the development as impunity and non-conformity with best practices by the multinationals in their dealings with contract workers in their system. it states that actions of the firms are allegedly geared towards sabotaging the economy of the country and to impoverish its citizenry, “particularly the contract workers in their system”.

NUPENG reiterated that some of the alleged antiunion policies and decisions have remained unresolved despite the mediatory role played by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

According to NUPENG, part of the unresolved transitional issues include Chevron contract workers “who transited into new contracting companies since January, 1, 2013”, pointing out that 14 months after discussions, some of the issues are yet to be resolved.

The Union stressed that it has made several attempts of re-opening discussions on the outstanding transition issues without any success, pointing out that the understanding reached that

NAPiMS should convene a meeting to resolve the outstanding transition issues as they affect the contract workers has not materialized.

The Union states that the new labour contractors are resisting unionization of the workers with alleged tacit support from Chevron management.

NUPENG in the statement claims some of the multinational companies have commenced what it identified as “a systematic lay off of our members who work as labour contract workers in their companies and thereafter replace them with service contracts”.

The statement added: “These companies include Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and Agip Oil Company Limited”.

The Union explained that the management of Mobil Producing on November, 30, 2013 laid-off over 200 contract workers “under the guise that the contracts have expired and that new contracts will also commence to replace the old ones forthwith”.

NUPENG states that in the case of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company Limited, over 50 labour contract workers have been “penciled down for termination without adherence to due process”.

The Union alleged that it has

also been having a running battle with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and their contractors over unionization of contract workers, as well as putting in place a Collective Bargaining Agreement.

incur extra costs, he was quick to point out that such extra costs would be less than expected.

“Some things will be more expensive, such as low-rise buses. i don’t want to pretend there is no cost, but it was less than we feared,” he stated.

Lorraine Wapling, a disability and development consultant, agreed that a DfiD strategy document on disability would send an important signal. “it acknowledges that disability is an important development issue, influences the internal organisation and sends an important message to other development actors,” she said.

The World Health Organisation estimates that 1 billion people live with some sort of disability – about one in seven people. People with disabilities are statistically more likely to be unemployed, illiterate, to have less formal education and less access to support networks.

They are further isolated by discrimination, ignorance and prejudice.

Disability was largely neglected in the millennium development goals, but the signs are that people with disabilities will receive greater attention in the forthcoming framework.

The UN high-level panel that looked at the post-2015 development agenda urged that no one be left behind. During consultations before the panel document was produced, civil society organisations insisted that the next set of development goals should cover the world’s most marginalised people, including indigenous groups and those with disabilities. in a visit to Uganda in October, Lynne Featherstone,

the parliamentary under secretary of state for international development, acknowledged that the world had for too long has been guilty of neglecting the challenges, discrimination and prejudice that people with disabilities face and have been too often left behind when it comes to development. As a consequence, disabled people are disproportionately some of the poorest and most marginalised in the world.

She added that the post-2015 development framework provided a “once in a generation chance to finally put disability on the global agenda and on an equal footing with other challenges”.

The committee heard several examples of how oversight by donors could leave people with disabilities at a further disadvantage.

Edwin Osundwa, Kenya representative for Sense international, an organisation that supports deaf and blind people, said a DfiD programme to support free primary education in 2003 provided textbooks but no learning materials for deaf and blind people. “it would be helpful for DfiD to consider supporting areas of health and education with a view that such programmes include children with disabilities,” he said.

Mahesh Chandrasekar, international policy manager for Leonard Cheshire Disability, said as “mainstreaming” disability in development was fairly new, DfiD had the opportunity to play a leadership role. He cited the example of Germany, which has developed a national action plan for people with disabilities.

Survey ranks banks among top 20 ideal firms

By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku ESPiTE the recent meltD down of the world’s economy, which adversely affected companies and banks in particular, as they downsized workforce, with wage cut, financial institutions remain an ideal place for jobseekers to make a career.

The conclusion was reached by a survey on the best 100 companies Nigerian’s jobseekers would like to work for, which also had respondents place Guaranty Trust, Central Bank of Nigeria and First Bank Nigeria Plc among the first 20 companies most ideal for job seekers.

The survey conducted by Nigeria’s foremost job website, Jobberman.com, released the result after collating responses from 89 per cent of gainfully employed persons.

According to Senior VicePresident, Products and Marketing, Jobberman.com, Opeyemi Awoyemi, “in December 2013, we conducted

a survey to identify the companies Nigerian job seekers would like to work for and after collating responses from 89 percent of gainfully employed Nigerians, a report on The Best 100 Companies to Work For in Nigeria was released.

“The survey, the first of its kind, compiled responses from 10,482 participants across three categories- experienced, entry level and executive management; with 89 per cent of respondents being gainfully employed and companies with at least 100 fulltime permanent employees were considered.

“The index was calculated by getting a weighted average of each respondent’s top five companies and dream company to work for.

Respondents also selected workplace metrics considered in their choices of top companies, company culture, salary and non-salary benefits, proximity to company location, prestige, company

brand, management, integrity and commitment to staff welfare.

“Hopefully, the report would spur more corporate bodies in Nigeria to increase efforts in order to empower and motivate their employees to run with company visions,” he said.

Oil and Gas companies and General System for Mobile (GSM), as usual, were the jobseekers most preferred workplace, with Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited, Chevron Nigeria, Mobil Oil Nigeria, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and MTN Nigeria making the top five, while Nestlé Nigeria, Nigerian Civil Service, Total, Dangote Group, Nigeria Breweries Plc, Glo, Guaranty Trust Bank, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Unilever Plc, Guinness, Etisalat Nigeria, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Julius Berger Nigeria and Cadbury Nigeria Plc making the top 20.

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Thursday, February 13, 2014 29

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APPOINTMENTS Thursday, February 13, 2014

Oxfam flays gender imbalance in transformation programme From Joke Falaju, Abuja N International NonA Government Organisation Oxfam GB has expressed its dissatisfaction at the federal government’s Agriculture Transformation Agenda for being insensitive to the plight of small-scale women farmers.

They argued that the Federal Government through its Agricultural Transformation agenda is yet to initiate program wherein women can fully benefit and take the lead despite the fact that they produce more than 50 percent of food consumed by Nigerians.

The Gender Officer Oxfam, Mrs. Boyowa Roberts who stated this at a Female Food

Bingham Varsity pledges to tackle corruption The ECWA president charged

From Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi, Jos the institutions management on transparency and account-

AISING intelligent stuR dents who will fight cor- ability in order to make a difruption and bring about posi- ference from other universitive changes in the leadership of the country is the goal of Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State, the President of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Rev. Jeremiah Gado has said.

Gado, who is also a visitor to the university spoke recently while commissioning hostels, classrooms and office complex of College of Health Science of the institution.

According to Gado, the aim of the institution was to compete with universities in the developed countries.

He said: “We will leave no stone unturned at ensuring that Bingham University is made the best, not just in Nigeria but in the entire world. I want to assure the students that we will give you the best so that you can also give the best to the society, you must also serve as agents of positive change.”

ties, saying attitudes that contradict Biblical injunctions will not be tolerated.

In his remarks earlier, Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Samuel Kursim Leonard, said that the institution had made remarkable achievements in the area of academic and infrastructure to meet the required standard of National Universities Commission (NUC).

Leonard assured parents of the security of their children and encouraged others to get admission for their wards in the institution, adding that the university was prepared to give nothing but the best to students.

As part of the security measure, he noted that the school was partnering a foreign company to produce a standard fence in the school, adding that he had a mechanism that would checkmate and monitor the students on campus.

Hero Stakeholder Consultative meeting recently in Abuja said, “we know that government has initiated a Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) among others but it is yet to capture and create specific program for women farmers in the transformation agenda” She added, “Women are viewed as part of the society, and whatever initiative that is introduced they will also participate but I have not seen any program wherein women take the lead and interact with the government on their challenges and ways it could be resolve”.

Roberts said the Female Food Hero program initiated by the NGO would ensure that women are more empowered and also create a platform wherein women farmers are motivated to interact with government and seek clarifi-

cation on issues bothering them.

The National Programme Coordinator, of the Association of Small Scale Agro-producer in Nigeria (ASSSAPIN), Adu Yarima Charles, in his address on “situation analysis of Women SmallScale farmers” pointed out that the challenges of small scale women farmers cuts across religion, culture, illiteracy and access to farm land.

He added that that most women farmers do no have access to credit facilities and improved farm inputs, adding that 85 percent of women farmers do not have access to modern tools, farm implements, lack of productivity and this often lead to low yield and loss of produce.

Charles further argued that most times the terms and condition for accessing credit facility either by government

or foreign donors are not favorable to women farmers, saying that government often assume that men and women have equal power or education opportunities to access credit facilities.

He said female agriculture extension agents are below the required number, stressing the need for government to increase the number of female extension agents with whom farmers would be able to freely interact with without the problem of language barrier or cultural imbalance. He said lack of extension agents often lead to low productivity of women farmers.

The ASSAPIN programme coordinator said more often than not women farmers complain about the farm input accessed through the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES), he said most time the farmers complain

about the poor quality of farm input received.

He said, “There are cases when the farmers complain that they plant their seeds two times and did not germinate, and some farmers also complained that the fertilizer they received were full of sand”.

He urged government to have a strong political will of designing a women structured program which would take care of financing of women in agriculture, access to market, value addition to their produce and women empowerment, adding that farm input should be made available at the right place and at the right time.

Oxfam is working with 500women farmers in 18 states of Ogun, Kastina, Oyo, Nassarawa, FCT, Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross river, Plateau among others

From left Prof. Idowu Sobowale, Prof. Lai Oso, Prof. Dayo Alao and Prof. Victor Ayedun-Aluma at the Association Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN)’s general meeting in Lagos.

Thursday, February 13, 2014 APPOINTMENT 31

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Activist urges Nigerians to elect credible leaders From Omotola Oloruntobi, Abuja N activist and President of A the Guardians of the Nation International, Linus Okorie, has appealed to Nigerians to hold their destiny in their hands by throwing out politicians who are not willing to serve the nation but are intent on servicing themselves.

He also said it’s high time quality persons led the country and that judging from past experiences people should know the implications of voting wrong hands into power.

Okorie who was addressing the press at the end of the Toastmasters International District meeting in Abuja expressed that change can take place in the country when developed and groomed persons take over leadership, adding that, the onus lies with the electorate to inspire such growth.

He said: “You cannot ask those who have not developed their mind to live in a particular way. As individuals we must mobilize people of our country to now help tune the system from local government to governorship level. This mobilization can only happen through the set of Nigerians who understand the implication and consequences of voting wrong people in power. If we are able to convince ourselves, change will happen and we will be able to change the system.

“Anyone who is not willing to serve society should be

thrown out in 2015. Every Nigerian has the power for his growth. I call on Nigerians to have key interest in the election so that at the end of the day, it will no longer be business as usual because social media is now powerful and people are changing. So any leader who is not ready to serve should quit. Nigerians are coming to ensure that only quality people serve and I want to encourage quality individuals to step up to be part of the electoral process

because this country must work.”

Okorie, who is also a leadership development consultant, urged youths to develop themselves despite the challenges in the system, adding that the responsibility for greatness is vested on every individual.

“Anybody can become great in spite of the system, the responsibility for greatness is vested on individual. The individual who works so hard to discover himself has that

responsibility to develop whatever he has discovered. That is why knowledge is very key. The pursuit of knowledge is the foundation for the growth we need in our system.

Most times our generations allow the challenges they face to push them out of the place.

You must take your dream seriously despite the challenges. Knowledge is very important.

The pursuit of knowledge is the foundation for the growth we need in our system,” he

Village health scheme to provide 1,480 jobs From John Okeke, Abuja HE Federal Government T has said its Village Health Workers Scheme (VHWS) would provide 1,480 jobs to 148 local government areas across the 36 states in the Federation.

The First Lady Dame Patience GoodLuck Jonathan who disclosed this at the official launch of the VHWS said that the scheme was planned to create employment in the country adding that, Federal Government is committed to the health care and creation of jobs to it citizens.

Besides, she also urged the beneficiaries to work assiduously to ensure that the objective of the scheme was accomplished.

“The MDGs village health workers scheme is a project designed to provide over 1,480 jobs in our rural com-

munities. The beneficiaries were selected from 148 local government areas across the 36 states and the FCT.” “The launch of this scheme today is therefore the commitment of Mr. President desire to give Nigerians access to better Medicare and as the same time to create jobs to the rural populace. “ “Let me at this point call on the village health workers to make good use of this opportunity by taking time to carry out the task of which this scheme is being launched today. As you do your Jobs, ensure that you mobilise women, children and men to use the health facilities provided by government and other donors agencies, “ Dame Jonathan said.

According to her, the VHWS will be an ambassador in the rural communities and other remote communities in the

country’s local government areas.

Also In her speech, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs Dr. Precious Gbenoel said the village health workers are expected to be vanguards of advocacy campaigns, mobilization of individuals, households and communities, provide data management and baseline inventory of households on health related issues amongst other services.

According to the Presidential Aide, the Scheme is a world acclaimed best practice which has the basic principle of establishing a link between community and health services as well as providing the much needed avenue for generating demand for ease of access and increased coverage of services.

Methodist prelate tasks govt on youth employment From Niyi Bello, Akure HE inability of governT ments at the three tiers of governance in Nigeria to address the high rate of unemployment among the country’s vast pool of youthful human resource or put in place, social welfare schemes to take care of their vulnerability, has been identified as the major reason for high rate of criminal activities in the country.

The Prelate of the Methodist Church in Nigeria, His Eminence, Samuel Chukwuka Kanu, who made this observation in Okitipupa, Ondo State last weekend at the installation of Archbishop Akin Akinlose as the new Archbishop of Igbobini Diocese, said government has failed to provide an enabling environment to tap the energy of Nigerian youths for national and personal development.

The cleric, who was on a visit to Okitipupa Prisons, where he donated foodstuffs to the inmates before the installation, expressed shock at the number of youths in their productive years, who were in incarceration at the facility due to involvement in criminal activities.

According to him, the youths must be supported and encouraged to take part in productive ventures through which their energies will be channelled to nation-building especially at this period of dwindling economic fortunes.

Stressing that an idle hand is the devil’s workshop, the cleric urged government to

put in place, socio-economic policies that would encourage industrialization and commercialisation from where the youths can tap abundantly.

The prelate, who also faulted the country’s criminal justice system, however counselled the inmates to repent from their sins, and give their lives to Christ saying, “the gospel is the only solution to human problems. Crimes come as a result of malnutrition of souls and spirit. It takes the Grace of God to resist these temptations when they come our ways. Many of these people are here because of the crimes they have committed.

“Some are innocent. Why many are here because the power that be, wanted them to be here. We have many influential people who have committed same or worse crimes, but today you see them moving around in expensive cars unpunished because they are highly connected.”

He also urged politicians in the country not to put their ambitions on the foundation of selfish interest but on the development, unity and continuous existence of Nigeria as a nation.

According to him, “many politicians go into politics not because they want to serve the people and the nation but for their selfish interests which in most cases conflict with the desire and needs of Nigerians.

They seek office not for the development of the nation but such people will soon wither away like a tree planted on a rock.”

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32 | Thursday, February 13, 2014

ScienceGuardian Boosting healthcare with communication technology

ASTRONOMY With J.K. Obatala

Stars, planets, clusters herald dry season (7) ORMED just ten million Fastronomical years ago, Rigel is an infant. But,

eHealth solutions... healthcare practices are now being supported by electronic processes and communication

By Chukwuma Muanya HE healthcare industry has T experienced a proliferation of innovations aimed at enhancing life expectancy, quality of life, diagnostic and treatment options, as well as the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the healthcare system.

Indeed, Information Technology (IT) has played a vital role in the innovation of healthcare systems.

According to the Internal Journal of Medical Informatics, health information sharing between patients and providers helps to improve diagnosis, promotes self-care, and patients also know more information about their health.

Several studies have shown that deploying IT in health care delivery or rather Health information technology (HIT) is the most promising tool for improving the overall quality, safety and efficiency of the health delivery system.

It has been demonstrated that broad and consistent utilization of IT in health services will: Improve health care quality or effectiveness; Increase

health care productivity or efficiency; Prevent medical errors and increase health care accuracy and procedural correctness; Reduce health care costs; Increase administrative efficiencies and healthcare work processes; Decrease paperwork and unproductive or idle work time; Extend realtime communications of health informatics among health care professionals; and Expand access to affordable care.

Countries such as the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom are effectively deploying IT to boost their health care delivery system.

Although IT innovation is yet to take root in Nigeria, a school of thought led by the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PHN), the Ministry of Communication Technology, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken the lead with the launch of the Nigeria Health Innovation Marketplace (NHIM) and inauguration its Steering Committee.

The NHIM comprises of three components: Virtual Portal: A website to serve as a virtual link to the different players in health innovation providing up to date information on innovations, innovators, resources and opportunities; Health Innovation Challenge: A yearly competition to identify and support the most promising innovation in health; Innovation Hub: A physical space to facilitate business and technical support for innovations and house the activities of the NHIM and serve as a convergence point for researchers, entrepreneurs, star-ups and others in the NHIM ecosystem.

A working model of health innovation in marketplace in Nigeria include the “Save One Million Lives” Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), the use of anti-counterfeiting cutting-edge technologies such as Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) scratch and text, TRUSCAN (hand held device), Radio Frequency Identification Service (RFID) and Deep Infra Red by NAFDAC; and the use of Geographical Information

System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS) and smart mobile phones by NPHCDA to monitor the Midwife Service Scheme (MSS) and immunization campaigns.

The “Save One Million Lives” Initiative was launched as a public-private coalition with a focus on health outcomes and results- with private sector engagement, innovation and technology highlighted as key enablers.

Senior Special Adviser to Minister of Health & Lead, ‘Saving One Million Lives Initiative,’ Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, said it represents a shift from a focus on inputs and processes to one additionally focused on health outcomes and results by tracking lives saved.

Ohiri said the private sector can enable saving at least one million lives by 2015 through harnessing innovation and technology to leapfrog constraints and increase access to care, particularly for the poor; and pooling the collective capabilities and resources of the private sector to strengthen primary

CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

like a stricken progeria patient, it will age and expire as a cosmic teen—in less than 50 million years as a hydrogen burning, main sequence star.

The explanation lies in Rigel’s bulk properties, especially its mass.

Characteristically, as Universe Today reminds its readers, “blue supergiant stars have extremely high masses,” in some instances “dozens of times the mass of the Sun.” Before we go further, please remember: In stellar astronomy, the bigger you are, the faster and harder you fall. Thus the future of Beta Orionis is fixed. In a few million years, it will blow itself apart in a type II supernovae explosion—and leave behind, either a neutron star or a black hole.

This is a good time to remind you as well, of the war between heat and gravity: They are fierce contenders for supremacy, within stellar interiors.

Recall that gravity- whose power increases exponentially with mass—pulls everything towards the centre, while heat wants the star to expand.

The more massive the star, the more powerfully it self-gravitates. This selfgravitation, generates pressure in the star’s central interior, which causes atomic nuclei to fuse and release enormous amounts of energy, in accordance with Albert Einstein’s formula, E=MC2.

It is heat from these nuclear reactions that supports the star—pushing it outward, against the inward tug of its internal gravity, to stave off implosion. But in order to sustain this “hydrostatic equilibrium,” the star must always be able to fuse one type of atomic nuclei or the other. Or it collapses.

Incandescent bodies of two to three solar masses, or less, can continue this balancing act for billions of years—trillions, in the case of low mass red dwarfs (the most abundant stars in the universe).

Sooner or later though, these stars will exhaust their hydrogen and then burn their helium: And that’s it for them.

But high mass stars, like Rigel and its Orion stable mate, Betelgeuse, can keep the fusion process going, far beyond helium. They can fuse carbon, oxygen, neon, magnesium and silicon, right up to (but not

including) iron.

In Nuclear Chemistry: Theory and Applications, G.R. Choppin and J. Rydberg write that “A star at this stage may be characterized by a central core of iron group elements surrounded by layers of the silica group… magnesium, neon, carbon plus oxygen, helium, and, finally, at the outermost layer, hydrogen.”

Here are two considerations that should further enhance the instructional value of Rigel and other visible supergiants. First, as the elements synthesized in the core of a star get heavier, the temperature required to initiate the next round of fusion becomes higher- causing the core to get hotter and hotter.

“As each element is burned to depletion at the centre,” Chaisson and McMillan explain, in Astronomy Today, “the core contracts, heats up, and starts to fuse the ash of the previous burning stage. A new inner core forms, contracts again, heats up again, and so on.”

Each round of fusion creates heavier nuclei than the one before it. As the star evolves, a concentric, onion-like structure develops, in which layers of lighter nuclei extend outward from the core of the star—culminating with layers of helium and hydrogen.

With core temperatures rising, the surrounding shells heat up, until- layerby-layer- and the nuclei start to fuse. Says Choppin and Rydberg, “In a star in which heavier elements are accumulated in its centre, …energy production is carried on in an envelope surrounding the core.”

Secondly, these nuclear reactions induce marked changes in the structure and appearance of the stars, especially the more massive ones. The outer envelope of hydrogen expands and contracts— causing the object’s colour and size to fluctuate over time, from big to smaller and from red to blue.

“As different elements are fused in the core,” About.Com notes, “the fusion rate can vary wildly.

It is at this point that the star can contract, during periods of slow fusion, and become a blue supergiant.

And it is not uncommon for stars to oscillate between the red and blue supergiant stages…”

To be continued.

Thursday, February 13, 2014 SCIENCE & HEALTH

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Nigeria may be declared polio-free soon

*Only polio-endemic country not to record any case in eight weeks *Dismisses possible vaccines’ shortage for 2014 *Has enough stock provided to last up till 2015

By Chukwuma Muanya IGERIA is the only polio endemic country not to N report any case of Wild Polio

Virus (WPV) in eight weeks; the last case of WPV type one (WPV1) was recorded on December 15, 2013.

According to the latest edition of the Weekly Polio Update published yesterday by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the country also has not reported any case of type three WPV (WPV3) in over 14 months and the most recent case of WPV type two (WPV2) that is circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus (cVDPV2) from Konduga, Borno State, had paralysis on November 6, 2013.

The other polio endemic countries- Afghanistan and Pakistan have all recorded cases of WPV in 2014.

Pakistan has recorded seven cases in 2014 with most recent one on January 16, 2014; while Afghanistan’s most recent case was on January 14, 2014.

Also, the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Gana Mohammed, has dismissed suggestions by the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) that the country may run out of vaccines needed for routine immunization against childhood killer diseases by March 2014.

Mohammed who also corroborated the GPEI report told The Guardian: “The federal government of Nigeria is fully committed to ensure that funds are available. As I am talking to you now, from November last year we were able to pay for the total vaccine need of Nigerian children up to the third quarter of 2014 and we are just in the process again of paying through United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) because we procure vaccines through UNICEF. “In the next few years we will also be paying UNICEF for additional vaccines that will take us to 2015. So what it means is that we are comfortable as a country with vaccine needs of Nigeria up till the third quarter of 2014 including buffer stock.

Because it is not just the vaccines we also make provision for buffer stock in the event there is an outbreak or even of any issue that will suddenly jack up the demands. So we make provision of buffer stock, which is 25 per cent of the vaccine

Ado Mohammed needs of Nigeria. So what I am saying is that we are not out of vaccine.

“The federal government of Nigeria has made provision that we will have adequate vaccine up to 2015 and the budget has not even been passed yet. What it means is that proactively the federal government of Nigeria has made vaccine available for Nigerian children.”

On polio eradication, Mohammed said: “For eight weeks we have not

UN Envoy wants Nigeria to accelerate plan to achieve health-related MDGs HE United Nation (UN) T Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, on Nigeria’s PublicPrivate Acceleration Plan to Achieve the Health Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Ray Chambers, has commended Aliko Dangote, Jim Ovia, Aig Aigboje-Imoukhuede for blazing the trial with the Private Health Sector Aliance of Nigeria.

Chmabers in a statement said: “Today – with only 695 days remaining until the deadline for achieving the globally endorsed Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – a remarkable coalition of government officials, private sector leaders and development partners came together to present an aligned vision for accelerating progress to achieve the

Foundation screens market women for cancer O mark world cancer day, tance of early detection T Pink Pearl Foundation through regular self-screenjoined the rest of the world ing as well as healthy living. to promote breast cancer awareness with free screening in major markets in Lagos, Nigeria.

The screening, which took place at Kairo Market, Oshodi and Balogun Market, was well attended by market women and business operators within the vicinity.

Participants at both markets were encouraged and educated about the impor-

reported a single case and Nigeria is the only polio endemic country that has not reported any case.

Pakistan has reported, Afghanistan has reported and we have outbreak in the horn of Africa, in Somalia, in Ethiopia, in Kenya and you have in Syria.

“What it means is that Nigeria is making progress.

Just like Mr. President said, ‘Nigeria will be the next country that will exit as polio endemic country.’

Not only that we have not reported a single case, but if you look at the types of polio virus itself, we have not in the last 14 months reported a single case of WPV3. It is unprecedented in the history of this country.

“In addition our routine immunization has jacked up in the last one year from where it used to be from about 51 per cent two years ago to about 84 per cent now. This is not unconnected to the fact that vaccines are available.”

The Weekly Polio Update report on Nigeria reads: “No new WPV cases were reported this week. The total number of WPV cases for Nigeria 2013 remains 53 (all WPV1). The most recent WPV1 case in the country had onset of paralysis on 15 December from Damboa, Borno.

“No new cVDPV2 case was reported in the past week.

The total number of cVDPV2 cases for 2013 remains 3.

The most recent cVDPV case had onset of paralysis on 6 November (from Konduga, Borno).

“Of the country’s 53 WPV1 cases in 2013, only six were reported since September, traditionally the ‘high season’ for polio transmission.

Four of these are from Kano.

“Sub National Immunisation Days (SNIDs) were conducted on 25-28 January 2013. National immunization days (NIDs) are planned for March. “

Managing Director of Diamond Helix Medical, Dr. Ufoma Okotete, who is also coordinator of Pink Pearl Foundation, demonstrated to the audience how to carry out self-examination using balloon and other medical equipment. She added that men are also vulnerable to breast cancer though with very low percentage.

health-related MDGs in Nigeria, over the remaining 8 quarters.

“We congratulate Nigeria for its commitment to the MDGs and to saving 400,000 children’s and 20,000 mothers’ lives by the end of 2015, which is essential for the world to reach the goals and for Nigeria to make continued strides in improving the lives of its citizens. These lives are, without any compare, Nigeria’s most precious commodity.

“In particular, we would like to acknowledge the critical leadership of the His Excellency President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Honorable Minister of Health C.O. Onyebuchi Chukwu.

“Today is a landmark day for Nigeria. UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon and I are fully supportive of the unique partnership that has emerged in Nigeria between the public and the private sectors, and the Quarterly Acceleration Plan that was announced today by the Government of Nigeria, which presents business-like quarterly milestones to achieve the health-related MDGs, focused on the health of women and children.

“I was pleased to meet with several of the visionary leaders of the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) – including Aliko Dangote, Jim Ovia and Aig Aigboje-Imoukhuede – who have pledged their full commitment to partnering with

the government to ensure that children do not continue to needlessly die.

“In addition, we are greatly appreciative of the alignment of Nigeria’s faith leaders with these important health plans and of their commitment to the health of all Nigerians, regardless of belief.

“As the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Financing the Health MDGs, I am aware of the critical importance for all funding streams to align over the next eight quarters to execute this plan, state-bystate. The international community stands ready to support Nigeria.

“I fully expect the necessary funding to be made available from various partners in the international community – including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, the World Bank, UNICEF, the RMNCH Fund, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, and others – to complement what I know will be increased Nigerian government resources at Federal and State levels, as well as private sector resources. All resources must be carefully aligned with the newly developed Quarterly Acceleration Plan to be successful.

“Going forward through the remaining 695 days to achieve the MDGs, we look forward to the regular quarterly progress reviews that are part of the plan, and to supporting this important public-private commitment

33

Mimiko promises robust relationship with global healthcare partners N his determination all the nooks and crannies of Ihealth towards making primary the state. care fully operational He restated his administrain Ondo State, the State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has promised a deepening relationship with healthcare delivery partners globally even as he commissioned the secretariat complex of the State Primary Healthcare Development Board.

The complex, which is located at Alagbaka in Akure the State capital, according to Governor Mimiko is connected to public power grid with 250KVA generator, and 120KVA UPS inverter system to provide energy backup for 24 hours.

He added that the complex also has facilities such as ICT wares, furniture and fittings to make it conducive for effective and better service delivery.

At the commissioning recently, Mimiko noted that the composition of PHC under the same roof is in line with the national guidelines for more robust coordination of the system, thereby improving the quality of healthcare to the people in

tion’s commitment to community participation in healthcare delivery system so that every community will have a stake in its healthcare challenges and development.

He said: “The Ondo State Primary Healthcare development Board is an outfit established to run an integrated primary healthcare facility and is no doubt fully poised to offer qualitative primary health care service delivery.

This, he said, further reaffirms the government’s commitment and determination in advancing the frontiers of good governance in the state.

Earlier in his welcome address, the State commissioner for health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju said that the State government had committed much resources to primary healthcare as the most effective, fair and cost effective way to organise health system, adding that efforts would be intensified to ensure that the State is free of diseases.

Doctors alert on erectile dysfunction as Rosswell launches T-Max Tadalafil Adigwe further stated: EDICAL doctors advise M that success at treating “Erectile Dysfunction is a Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is health condition that renders best achieved by using medically approved drugs. This was disclosed at the launch ceremony of T-Max Tadalafil (20mg) by Rosswell Pharmaceutical Limited, during the in-house training session of doctors, at Gbagada General Hospital, Thursday, February 5, 2014, in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Yemisi Adigwe, coordinator of the event, explained that medical experts in Nigeria advise people who suffer from Erectile Dysfunction to desist from self-help, but seek appropriate medical check-up before using drugs for the disease.

Adigwe said: “Men who are suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED) should consult a medical doctor in a hospital, who should conduct a basic test on their hearts. Based on this, the doctor will prescribe a suitable drug and dosage needed to treat the ailment.”

the penis ineffective, hence inability for smooth penetration when needed for sexual activity.”

One of the sponsors of the event, Mr. Charles Ochieze, Managing Director of Rosswell Pharmaceutical Limited, based in Ajah, Lagos, marketers of T-Max Tadalafil, (20mg) spoke on the need for medical doctors to work at minimising abuse of drugs that enhances sexual activity.

Ochieze, a professional pharmacist, is particularly concerned about the risks involved in the use of unauthorised drugs in Nigeria. He said: “the medical community should focus effort at averting health problems associated with use of unauthorised drugs among Nigerians.

Rosswell is therefore working with the doctors to encourage patients to get doctor’s prescription before using drugs for treating ED.”

U.S.-based foundation announces toxicology internships for African scientists HE Africa Education duct toxicological studies T Initiative (NEF), a non-prof- leading to an exciting and it organization in the USA has stimulating career in pharannounced the beginning of the application for the 2014 toxicology internship programme. This is a threemonth paid internship programme jointly sponsored by NEF and National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI)Vom, Nigeria.

Students eligible to apply for this internship must have a background in any number of the science disciplines, including biology, chemistry, toxicology, medicine, veterinary medicine, and pharmacy. Interns will gain handson scientific research or technical experience by participating in structured projects guided by mentor professors.

This training programme serves to promote scholarship and excellence amongst African students by providing enabling environment for them to design and con-

maceutical drug development. This is the 10th year of this programme, which was started in the summer of 2003. This year’s toxicology internship programme will commence from May 26h, 2014.

According to the President of the Foundation, Dr. Chudy Nduaka, young students drawn from several African countries like Egypt, Swaziland, Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria have participated in the internship program in the 10 years of its inception.

Nduaka specially thanked the co-chairs of the internship program Ms Heather Findlay, (also a member of the Board of Directors) and Ms. Adanne Nduaka for their efforts through the years in planning and execution of the internship.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

34 | Thursday, February 13, 2014

NaturalHealth How to boost waning libido, beat anxiety, depression at Valentine

Sphenocentrum jollyanum (Akerejupon in Yoruba)

Alligator pepper

The season of love is here again! Tomorrow is Valentine! It is a period when lovers rev up their libidos and moods to make sure they are firing on all cylinders. A novel local plant, Sphenocentrum jollyanum, and increased physical activity have joined the list of novel but natural aphrodisiacs and antidepressants. CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes.

RE you anxious about so many A things? Are you depressed that you cannot satisfy your spouse sexually?

Scientists have validated several plants and physical activity to effectively help affected men and women get their grooves back. They found that extracts of local plants and spices induced weight loss as well as improved sexual arousal and orgasms.

Sphenocentrum jollyanum A study published in Pharmacologia

by Ghananian researchers has demonstrated the ability of Sphenocentrum jollyannum extract (SJE) to relax tension development.

The researchers concluded: “The results have provided evidence to support the use of S. jollyanum in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in traditional medicine. Other experimental approaches will be necessary to delineate the exact constituent of SJE responsible this action in smooth muscles.”

Sphenocentrum jollyanum Pierre belongs to the family Menispermaceae. In Nigeria, it is Akerejupon in Yoruba. It is known locally in Ghana as Aduro kokoo (red medicine) or Okramankote (dog`s penis).

It is a small erect sparsely branched shrub, growing up to 1.5 m in height with very few branches.

The root of S. jollyanum is chewed or taken in alcoholic bitters for its stimulant effect on the Central Nervous System (CNS) and as an aphrodisiac in Ghana. Several studies have showed that the ethanolic extract of S. jollyanum increased libido and enhanced sexual behavior in male mice. Furthermore, daily administration of the extract to rats for three weeks increased levels of testosterone and Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).

Another study published in Science Alert has confirmed earlier reports, which indicated that 50 and 100 mg kg-1 of a methanolic extract of the plant increased significantly the serum levels of testosterone.

Researchers have also demonstrated the antidepressant effect of Sphenocentrum jollyanum roots.

The study titled “AntidepressantLike Effects of an Ethanolic Extract of Sphenocentrum jollyanum Pierre Roots in Mice” concluded: “Putting all together, present results suggest that the extract has antidepressantlike effects in the model employed and may possibly exert its effects by modifying monoamine transport and/or metabolism.”

Preliminary study has also established an anxiogenic property of the extract in murine models. As part of the study of the neuropharmacological properties of S. jollyanum, the

present study evaluated the effect of the root extract on two well-established murine models of depression the forced swimming and tail suspension by tests.

The study also evaluated the involvement or otherwise the role of adrenergic mechanisms in the antidepressant effects of the plant. Comparable data for known antidepressants imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant and fluoxetine, a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, obtained under the same experimental conditions were also provided.

The researchers concluded: “Based on present results from this study, it is clear that the ethanolic extract of S. jollyanum roots has anti-depressant properties in rodent models of depression and may have actions similar to fluoxetine.”

Yet another study published in Journal of Science and Technology found that the roots of S. jollyanum are considered as sexual stimulant in Ghanaian traditional medicine.

The study titled “The effects of Sphenocentrum jollyanum Pierre root extract on sexual behaviourand hormonal levels in rodents” investigated the effect of an ethanolic extract of the root of S. jollyanum on sexual behaviour of male mice and reproductive hormones in male rats.

They wrote: “Extract of S. jollyanum (100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg p.o) stimulated mounting and mating behaviour by increasing mounting frequency, intromission frequency and prolonged ejaculation latency. In addition, a decrease in mounting latency, intromission latency and post-ejaculatory interval was observed. These observations were indicative of increased libido and enhanced sexual behaviour.”

The roots, which are bright yellow with a sour taste, are used as chewsticks, relief for constipation, as a stomachic, as a cough medicine, for sickle cell disease, rheumatism and other inflammatory conditions.

However, Indian researchers in a study published in the Reproductive Medicine and Biology, reported that the plant has steroidogenic potential and this explains its use as an aphrodisiac agent but the intake needs to be regulated because the Sphenocentrum jollyanum could produce harmful effects on male reproductive functions.

Increased physical activities/shedding weight A new study links weight loss with an increase in testosterone and sex drive in middle-aged men.

The study, published in Endocrine looked at 891 middle-aged obese men with prediabetes, or high glucose levels that border on turning into Type 2 diabetes. (The average participant was around 54 with a body mass index of 31.9; Type 2 diabetes is the form of the disease more commonly associated with being overweight.)

Those who incorporated two-and-ahalf hours of exercise a week into their lives, as well as healthier food choices, saw dramatic results in the course of a year. There was a 15 percent increase in testosterone levels and a 46 percent decrease in instances of hypogonadism, a condition characterized by low testosterone levels that can be linked to low sex drive and erectile dysfunction.

Weight loss has long been associated with feeling more amorous in the sack. Men’s Health noted earlier this year that losing abdominal fat could

increase blood circulation to the penis, leading to better erections and performance.

And in 2011 Health.com reported on a small sample size of men in Australia who saw an increase in sex drive after losing five to ten percent of their weight.

A recent study in the International Journal of Obesity found that overweight and obese women who lost weight reported improved sexual arousal and orgasms. Also, more the weight lost, better the impact.

Regular exercise can increase sexual desire and make sex more enjoyable; studies show. No matter what, all types of exercise are good for you and by keeping your body in good working order everything should keep functioning at its near optimal levels.

Some studies have shown that regular exercisers report a higher sex drive; this may be related to surges of testosterone that can occur immediately after resistance training like lifting weights, or right after endurance training like running or stair-climbing.

Researchers at Bentley College in Massachusetts found that women who in their 40s who exercised engaged in sex more often (about seven times per month), and enjoyed it more than a sedentary group of peers. Since sex can be an act of endurance, improving cardiovascular fitness with aerobic activity such as walking, running, cycling or swimming for at least 30 minutes, three times per week, will help both partners perform longer and more often.

Potent medicine, aerobic exercise revs up hormones, flushes stress, whittles away fat and rejuvenates the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

NATURAL HEALTH Thursday, February 13, 2014 35

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

For better libido, health at Valentine CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34 body filling us with renewed vigour, greater confidence and the glow of good health.

Regular exercise also increases blood flow to the genitals priming men and women for sex. A University of California study of middle-aged, sedentary men found that after just one hour of exercise three times a week, men demonstrated improved sexual function, more frequent sex and orgasms, and greater satisfaction.

Watermelon There has been a surge in media reports that watermelon may have effects similar to Viagra. If true, this would give a natural aphrodisiac, cheap and without prescription.

How can watermelon help enhance the men’s lives? Turns out, it has high concentrations of citrulline, which is then converted to arginine in the body, Arginine leads to higher levels of nitric oxide which is a vasodilator improving the blood supply to tissues.

However, the reports that watermelon is similar to Viagra may be grossly exaggerated. Watermelon ingestion does improve blood supply everywhere in the body, however without focussing on “where it is needed”. As such, one would need to eat lots of watermelon to match the effects of Viagra.

Alligator pepper/Grains of paradise However, a 100 per cent natural product from Alligator pepper or Grains of paradise (botanically called Aframomum melegueta) has shown promise in resolving erectile dysfunction and delaying ejaculation.

A preparation from Alligator pepper has received a United States patent as a potent aphrodisiac.

Aframomum melegueta is the commonest species of Aframomum present in Nigeria. It has a pungent, peppery flavour. In traditional Igbo society, Alligator is used alongside Kola nut and local clay when offering prayers.

Until now, it forms the basic component of most herbal preparations.

Advocates say it helps to other herbs to mix better and enhance their effect. It is used extensively in dishes in West and North Africa. It has a long history of being used medicinally as a digestive aid.

It has been shown that Alligator pepper is more effective when used with Piper guineense (Uziza in Ibo)), kola nut and bitter kola. In a research, this combination was used on male rats. The results showed that this combination has an ability to “turn on” male rats.

Indeed, the patented invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions based on the use of Aframomum seeds to solve the problem of male erectile dysfunction as well as premature ejaculation in men.

A summary of the U.S. Patent 5879682 reads: “One aim of the present invention is to provide a painless therapy for male erectile dysfunction as well as for premature ejaculation in male without the drawbacks of the prior art techniques. The composition of the present invention provide a painless and safe medication to patients suffering from erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation as well as to men wishing to improve their sexual performance.”

The Primary Examiner is Hutzell, Paula K., while the Assistant Examiner is Bakalyar, Heather A. The Attorney, Agent or Firm is Swabey, Ogilvy Renault Cote, France.

They claim: “A pharmaceutical composition comprising milled seeds from Aframomum stipulatum or extracts therefrom in association with a pharmaceutical carrier, wherein said composition is in a molded or pressed tablet or capsule form. A method for improving penile rigidity of a human male, said method comprising the step of administering the pharmaceutical composition to said male in an amount effective to increase penile rigidity.

“The composition is administered at a dosage of about 0.3 mg to about 10 mg per kg of the male’s body weight.

The pharmaceutical composition is administered at a dosage of about one

mg to about six mg per kg of the male’s body weight. It is administered once, twice or three times daily.

“It can be used in combination with alcoholic beverage to said male in an amount effective to achieve multiple successive ejaculation/re-erection processes with constant penile rigidity.

The pharmaceutical composition is administered at a dosage of about 0.3 mg to about 10 mg per kg of the male’s body weight.”

Velvet bean and fluted pumpkin They are two of a kind. They are climbers found in many farms and garden across the country. Fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) is a popular vegetable commonly called Ugu by most Nigerians. But cowhage or velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) is not that popular. It is called Werepe in Yoruba and Agbala or Agboloko in Ibo. The velvet bean plant is notorious for the spiky hairs on the mature bean pods that are very irritating to the skin.

Recent studies suggest that a combination of the two herbal extracts could produce the must awaited novel drug that can improve sperm count, boost libido and sexual performance in men, protect the testicles from environmentally induced damage, lower blood sugar, act as antidote to snake bites, among other benefits.

A study published recently in the African Journal of Biotechnology sug-

Watermelon

gests that aqueous extract of T. occidentalis could improve haematological parameters and sperm quality, and could be a potent hypoglycemic agent.

The researchers noted that the ability of T. occidentalis to increase sperm motility, viability and counts, as observed in this study, is of great interest because these parameters are determinants of the fertilising capacity of sperm cells.

They added, “in fact, studies have shown that agents, which reduce the fertilising capacity of sperm cells do so by reducing these parameters. For instance, the reduction in the fertility of male rats treated with chloroquine and the extracts of Morinda lucida and Alstonia boonei had been attributed to significant reduction in sperm motility, viability and counts induced by these agents.

Immotile or sluggishly motile spermatozoa would not penetrate the cervical mucus and thus could fail to fertilise the ova.

Fewer numbers of viable sperm cells could also reduce the chances of fertilisation. The increase in the sperm parameters induced by T. occidentalis could therefore increase the fertilising capacity of spermatozoa.”

The researchers concluded, “since T. occidentalis contains most of these substances, it could, therefore, be a natural product that may be very useful in the treatment and management of infertility especially that associated with reduction in sperm performance. This study suggests that aqueous extract of T. occidentalis could improve haematological parameters and sperm quality and it could be a potent hypoglycemic agent.”

Extract of S. jollyanum (100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg p.o) stimulated mounting and mating behaviour by increasing mounting frequency, intromission frequency and prolonged ejaculation latency. In addition, a decrease in mounting latency, intromission latency and post-ejaculatory interval was observed.

These observations were indicative of increased libido and enhanced sexual behaviour

According to the study, the significant increases in the sperm motility, viability and counts could also be attributed to the actions of some of its active ingredients, which have welldocumented spermatogenic activities.

Another study published in the International Journal of Applied Research in Natural Products concluded, “the overall results obtained in this study suggest that Telfairia occidentalis leave extract (prepared as is done in Nigerian trado-medicine) possesses protective effect on the testes at a lower dose, but is deleterious to the testes at higher doses.”

Yet another study published in Caderno de Pesquisa, série Biologia noted, “this shows that the extract of Telfairia occidentalis has a regenerative effect on the destroyed testicular histology induced by quinine therapy.”

Indian researchers have shown that Mucuna pruriens improves male fertility by its action on the hypothalamuspituitary-gonadal axis. The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is a critical part in the development and regulation of a number of the body’s systems, such as the reproductive and immune systems.

According to the study published in Fertility and Sterility, decreased sperm count and motility were seen in infertile subjects. The researchers wrote: “Serum Testosterone and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) levels, as well as, seminal plasma and blood levels of dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline were also decreased in all groups of infertile men. LH is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that helps the egg mature and develop.

The seminal plasma mediates the chemical function of the ejaculate.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centers.

Release of adrenaline and noradrenaline is triggered by nervous stimulation in response to physical or mental stress.

This was accompanied by significantly increased serum Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Prolactin (PRL) levels in oligozoospermic subjects. FSH is essential to fertility and the ability to get pregnant. PRL is peptide hormone primarily associated with lactation.

“Treatment with M. pruriens significantly improved testosterone (T), LH, dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline levels in infertile men and reduced levels of FSH and PRL. Sperm count and motility were significantly recovered in infertile men after treatment. Treatment with M. pruriens regulates steroidogenesis (production of steroids by the adrenal glands) and improves semen quality in infertile men.”

The results of a Nigerian study published in the Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, showed that the Nigerian M. pruriens seeds improve the haematological and serum biochemical parameters determined in a dosedependent manner. The results showed that shade-dried, pulverized seeds of M. pruriens lowers blood cholesterol, blood urea and serum creatinine.

“It also reduces bleeding time; increases platelet count and these were statistically significant.

However, the effect on packed cell volume (PCV) was not statistically significant when compared with the control. Hence, shade-dried seeds of MP seeds are not poisonous when compared with the raw seeds.”

‘

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

36 | SCIENCEGUARDIAN Thursday, February 13, 2014

Healthcare and communication technology healthcare systems and address the leading causes of mortality through a coordinated platform.

Members of the NHIM Steering Committee, which is chaired by the Group Managing Director (GMD) of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, and Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of PHN, Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, acting as secretary include among others: Executive Director National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Gana Mohammed; Mrs. Fola Laoye of Hygeia Group; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Glaxosmithkline Pharmaceuticals, Anglophone West Africa, Mr. Lekan Asuni; Senior Special Adviser to Minister of Health & Lead, ‘Saving One Million Lives Initiative,’ Dr. Kelechi Ohiri.

Others are: Prof. Adedoyin Soyibo of University of Ibadan; Prof. Gari Clifford, Director, Centre for Affordable Healthcare Technology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Idris Ayodeji Bello, Afropreneur & Cofounder, Wennovation.

The group is persuaded that NHIM will accelerate Nigeria’s drive towards meeting health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) even as the federal government plans to set up $15 to $20 billion (N3.2 trillion) IT Innovation Fund.

Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, in her keynote address at the inauguration of NHIM Steering Committee and official launch of NHIM in Lagos said: “What we require to meet the MDGs is significant. Delays and poor quality of data have led to poor health outcomes especially maternal and child deaths.

“But deploying innovative interventions such as IT could be used to solve this problem. It has been successfully used in Malaysia to reduce infant mortality. In Nigeria, the Ondo State government has used Abiye to improve maternal and child health. The Abiye programme uses Information Communication Technology (ICT) for communication, and follow-up between the Health Rangers and the pregnant women.

“ICTs are key part in “Saving One Million Lives” initiative. It is clear that mobile phones are invaluable tools of improving health outcomes. It could be used to empower patients.

“The Ministry is facilitating the connectivity and content between the tertiary hospitals and the secondary facilities. We are planning an IT Innovation

Aliko Dangote

Health innovations that exist in Nigeria tend to not attain scale or create sustainable impact due to poor support system for health innovators (lack of access to capital, business and financial management), little visibility by investors on compelling viable health innovations as well as investors and health innovators lacking the convergence platforms that create market and technical linkages

Fund of $15 to $20 billion to boost health care and other sector of the economy where IT could be effectively deployed.

“This fund is expected to catalyse innovation ecosystem. We are also looking at how to support young entrepreneurs on how to make their innovations to solve problems. We also plan to identify quality innovation in health and bring it to scale in a very accelerated manner. The key is think big, start small and scale fast.

“So we need to partner with the private sector for raise this fund scale up the deployment of ICT innovation in healthcare delivery and save lives.”

The Minister said government is partnering with NHIM, which aims to identify and develop innovative products, approaches, processes and technologies to meet MDGs 4, 5 and 6.

The MDGs 4, 5 and 6 are to improve public health. MDG 4 is to reduce under-five child mortality by twothirds, between 1990 and 2015; MDG 5 is to improve maternal health and reduce by three-quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio; and MDG 5 is to combat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), malaria and other diseases and to have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS. Chairman Founding Board of PHN and richest man in Africa, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who is the who inaugurated the NHIM Steering Committee charged the NHIM Steering Committee that comprises of high profile stakeholders who are experts in the areas of health, business, innovation and technology to provide strategic direction in implementing the activities of the different components of the initiative.

Dangote also unveiled of the NHIM challenge - a three-step annual challenge that seeks to spur innovation in health and encourage the application of existing technological advances to healthcare delivery. He said applications to identify health innovation challenge winners will open from February 17 to March 21, 2014, and winners will be announced on May 21, 2014.

“Online hackathons with health data sets will also be developed as part of a separate challenge. Winners that will emerge on May 21 will be given cash prizes and enrolled in a health incubator to provide a platform for innovations to achieve market readiness,” he said.

Former Minister of State for Health and Chairman Presidential Committee on Polio Eradication, Prof.

Muhammad Ali Pate, told The Guardian: “There is a lot of potentials in Nigeria’s private health sector to improve the lives and well being of Nigerians and to contribute to our economic development.

“The Private Sector Health Alliance is basically a platform for private sector players, corporate bodies, leaders and also entrepreneurs to mobilize their own human capacities and financial resources to deploy them where they will improve the health of our people.

“Now the innovation and entrepreneurship platform is to bring new ways of solving the problems that we have. We have heard the Minister of Communication and Technology mentioning about the use of mobile technology. Mobile phones have transformed other sectors and it has the potential as we have heard in transforming even the healthcare system.”

Pate who is also an Adjunct Professor at Duke University, United States and former Director at the World Bank, added: “We have already started applying it in maternal and child health in this country but scaling it up. There are a lot of opportunities for creating synergies between different players, between telecom operators and healthcare operators.

So all those opportunities will be harnessed through this platform.

“The marketplace will be the one whereby there will be the opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators to compete and good ideas will then be expose to the possibilities of getting support to see it to fruition. We have heard what the Minister of Communication said they were doing

Muhammad Pate

‘

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32

in other sectors.

“If that were replicated in health you will find that young people in the universities, software developers, community health workers, really vibrant minds out there, the youths of Nigeria can then come and realize their dreams while contributing to this country’s natural development. That is very much in line with Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda and what the government is doing and the private sector is now keying in to compliment that effort.”

Mohammed said: “NHIM is to see how we can work with the private sector to improve on maternal and child health outcomes and to also ensure that Nigeria is on track in terms of achieving the health-related MDGs. So are making progress with the vaccines being available. We are working with the private sector; we are working with the state governments; we are working with local government officials to reduce maternal and child mortality in this country.”

Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, who was represented by Director Registration and Regulations, Mrs. Monica Eimunjeze, said: “We are aligning with this alliance in our mandate to save human lives. We appreciate the impact that it has in public sector. We have deployed this innovation in our fight against counterfeit medicines.

“We appreciate the resource available in the private sector both human capacity and financial muscle. We align with it and support it as we move forward to save the public health.”

Umar-Sadiq said with the theme, “Creating the Nigerian Health Innovation Market Place to advance Nigeria’s progress in meeting MDGs 4, 5 and 6,” NHIM is being positioned to discover innovators, who would utilise existing technological advances to reposition healthcare delivery as is the case with certain African countries.

Umar-Sadiq, said that a number of African countries like Ethiopia and Malawi have recently developed appropriate local health technologies

Jim Ovia

and innovations to accelerate progress in health-related MDGs. According to him, “NHIM focuses on four inter-related core objectives: Identify promising innovations, provide market linkages and incubation support to enable health innovation achieve scale, make targeted investments in selected innovations that make it through the incubator, and build a sustainable convergence platform around health innovation.

“The low application of innovation and technology in healthcare delivery is believed to be the biggest missed opportunity in transforming healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

“Health innovations that exist in Nigeria tend to not attain scale or create sustainable impact due to poor support system for health innovators (lack of access to capital, business and financial management), little visibility by investors on compelling viable health innovations as well as investors and health innovators lacking the convergence platforms that create market and technical linkages.”

He noted: “In order to leapfrog existing constraints and spur health innovations through a sustainable convergence platform, the Private Sector Health Alliance is leading a coalition of partners to launch the NHIM, which will comprise three core elements - a virtual health innovation portal, health innovation hub/incubator and health innovation challenges/online hackathons.”

PHN has developed problem statements in collaboration with NPHCDA, Saving One Million Lives Initiative, the Ministry of Communication Technology and NAFDAC. The thematic focus will be revised annually and be guided by priority public health needs.

Laoye said to accelerate the progress towards meeting the MDGs by 2015 the country needs N480 billion ($3 billion).

The Director of Hygeia Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) said: “We need to invest on the supply side. We need $3 billion going into infrastructure and medical education between now and December 2015.

“In terms of delivering the care, there is really crisis now. We know it is possible. It has been done before with Friends for Africa that mobilized United States President Emergency Preparedness Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria against HIV.”

Thursday, February 13, 2014 SCIENCE & HEALTH

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

37

LUTH, Chevron unlock genetic testing in Nigeria

Zygocki

By Chukwuma Muanya NTIL now, Nigerians go abroad or send their samples overseas for forensic testing, parental testing, newborn screening, and prenatal diagnosis among other genetic tests.

Forensic testing is used to determine parentage, and identity plane crash victims, while prenatal diagnosis is used for preventive diagnosis of sickle cell anaemia and screening for breast cancer gene I and II (BRCA 1/2).

But a new Molecular Biology Laboratory Centre (MBLC) at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-Araba, built and equipped

by Chevron/Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Joint Venture is set to locally provide all these high-tech genetic tests at affordable prices.

Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, allows the genetic diagnosis of vulnerabilities to inherited diseases, and can also be used to determine a child’s parentage (genetic mother and father) or in general a person’s ancestry.

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms.

Forensic testing uses DNA sequences to identify an individual for legal purposes. This type of testing can identify crime or catastrophe/crash victims, rule out or implicate a crime suspect, or establish biological relationships between people (for example, paternity).

Parental testing uses special DNA markers to identify the same or similar inheritance patterns between related individuals.

Newborn screening is used just after birth to identify genetic disorders that can be treated early in life.

Prenatal diagnosis is used to detect changes in a feotus’s genes or chromosomes before birth. This type of testing is offered to couples with an increased risk of having a baby with a genetic or chromosomal disorder.

Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, at the official commissioning of the Genetic Centre last week in Lagos said Nigerians will no longer have any reason to travel abroad for specialized medical diagnosis and treatment, and the country will soon become a destination of choice for medical tourism in Africa.

Chukwu said: “With the commissioning of the first molecular biology laboratory centre in LUTH today the country will soon become a destination of choice for medical tourism especially from our neighbouring countries.

“The availability of this centre will have a significant impact as thousands of Nigerians who could not afford overseas medical treatment, now have access to quality and affordable healthcare services which will be

U

Osibogun provided by this facility.

“This is bound to add value to healthcare delivery in Nigeria. Critical health services are now available and the Centre is now empowered to provide capacity building. In addition, the centre will enhance the quality of patient’s care, improve the standard of education and knowledge as medical students and researchers will use the facility for studies.”

Chukwu who was represented by the Project Director, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Dr. Abdulsalami Nasidi, said facilities such as this are highly needed in Nigeria because it will make it possible for all human diseases to be linked to genes, which will ensure better diagnosis and treatment. “I believe that this facility will aid easy diagnosis and tailored medical treatment. It will also help in reducing morbidity and mortality especially in inheritable diseases,” he said.

Chukwu thanked Chevron for their commitment in improving healthcare in the country especially in releasing additional $5 million funding for the Prevention of Mother and Child Transmission (PMTCT) of Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Nigeria.

Vice President, Policy and Planning, Chevron Corporation, Rhoda Zygocki, yesterday at the commissioning said: “Our partnership with LUTH in providing the Molecular Biology Laboratory Centre, worth N100 million, aligns with our commitment to helping to improve the quality of healthcare delivery in Nigeria. With the establishement of this laboratory at LUTH, the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture has unlocked DNA biotechnology for Nigeria. In particular, LUTH will be able to provide some services for Nigerians, which hitherto were not readily available in country.

“This is a remarkable boost to healthcare delivery in Nigeria and expresses Chevron’s commitment to partnering with governments and other institutions for the development of the health sector in the country. We expect that in no time, laboratory samples from our hospitals will be treated at this facility.”

On why Chevron is so passionate about health care, Zygocki said: “As a company, Chevron supports long term social and economic development in the communities where we operate. Over the years, we have seen that economic development, energy development and human development are interwoven. The success of our company therefore depends on the success of the communities where we operate.

“We cultivate partnerships in three focus areas to promote social

Irobi-Devolder progress- in health, in education and in livelihoods. In the pursuit of our corporate responsibility obligations, we view health care as a crucial social service that we should support the government to implement as there can be no development in a society where people are plagued by illhealth.”

The Chevron’s Vice-President thanked the management of LUTH for partnering with the company to make the project a reality. “We also appreciate their commitment to sustainability through training of laboratory technicians and running the centre with funds to be generated from the usage of the facility,” she said.

Chairman LUTH Management Board, Dr. Olatokunbo AwolowoDosumu, said that the commissioning of the centre was another feather in the cap of the hospital. AwolowoDosumu added that the possibilities to be unlocked by the presence of the Laboratory would further enhance the standing of LUTH as the leading teaching hospital in Nigeria and perhaps West Africa.

Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof.

Akin Osibogun said: “I must say that I have been lucky in seeing our efforts come to fruition. Following the sad incident of the DANA crash of March 2012 and the protracted delays that preceded the release of bodies, we set for ourselves the goal of developing the capability for DNA Biotechnology not only for the purposes of identification, but also for other very important purposes including prenatal screening and genetic diagnosis. We also hope that in future we will be able to go into the advanced areas of gene therapy.

“In the journey to establish this laboratory we were able to identify a very reliable partner in Chevron/NNPC Joint Venture. This corporate entity

with a deep sense of social responsibility has funded the renovation of the space we provided and also funded the equipment that have been installed ready for use.”

Associate professor of Molecular Genetics at the University of Antwerp, Belgium and Chief Consultant to the LUTH/Chevron-NNPC Joint Venture Genetic Testing Centre, Dr. Joy IrobiDevolder said the new genetic centre promises to reduce the over 100,000 lives lost annually in the country to sickle cell anaemia and much more to breast cancer.

Irobi-Devolder said with technical support from Department of Molecular Genetics Antwerp University, Belgium the Centre has several applications.

The Molecular Geneticist who also has a first degree in Pharmacy from University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), said: “It think this is really wonderful opportunity because we are now in the era of human genomic sequencing and there are so many genetic diseases.

“Let us take for instance a simple one, the sickle cell disease, when we know as for now 100,000 infants are dying in Nigeria every year and this largely because of misdiagnosis. Now the old technique of using haemoglobin blood count is actually not properly diagnosing the disease very well and this is why it has become important that this centre is now going to develop a genetic assay that is going to correctly diagnose every sickle cell patient.

“Why it is really important is that all those people that are carrier can now actually come to the centre where they can do prenatal or even newborn screening so that immediately they know if their child is sickle cell carrier or a real sickle cell disease and then they can start from early onset to treat the patient and not wait till

This is bound to add value to healthcare delivery in Nigeria. Critical health services are now available and the Centre is now empowered to provide capacity building. In addition, the centre will enhance the quality of patient’s care, improve the standard of education and knowledge as medical students and researchers will use the facility for studies

when the disease is already expanded and then it becomes a rescue and this is how you lose a lot of them.

“So this centre is actually giving a new diagnostic estimate in the form of genetic analysis that is going to help reduce the high mortality rate of sickle cell disease in Nigeria. That is number one.

“Number two is that we now see a lot of Nigerian women that are dying of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Why is this? It is because some of them do not have the opportunity or have enough finance to go abroad for genetic testing.

Now we have it in-house, in-country so that when there is a patient that know that there is someone in the family, an auntie or the mother, has breast cancer.

“You can come to the centre and ask for genetic test because this actually increases the chance of personalized medicine. It has been shown that specific mutations in BRCA gene (breast cancer gene) actually determines the type of treatment that you will be given. So it is not just the diagnosis, this is also therapy. So it becomes very important that it is within the country, which means it is affordable for everyone, for every Nigerian.”

Irobi-Devolder said the Centre would also be able to solve all disputes on paternity and maternity of an offspring.

She explained: “Paternity testing is a very common assay and what it now show is that most of the hospitals within Nigeria send the sample outside either to United Kingdom or South Africa. It is no longer required because now this centre has the capacity to do in-house parenting testing by looking at more than 26 genetic markers. What is important now is that they start sampling; they start collecting the samples.

“Another important issue of this centre is that it is not just sending the blood sample but I am going to help them to start training all the other scientist within several of all these big hospitals. So that they are able to have their own DNA Data Banking so that it is easy to just send DNA sample to the centre for screening.

“So it is not all about doing paternity test, which is now in-house, you don’t have to pay so much money for taking it outside, it can be done within the country. But also they get sort of training on how they can isolate DNA from each sample, from blood sample and start having your own individual hospital-based DNA storage data bank. I think it is a novel technology because of paternity is something that is so common and we can now do it so comfortably inhouse at this new genome centre in LUTH.”

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SCIENCE HEALTH Thursday, February 13, 2014

Activists raise alarm over plans to scuttle tobacco control legislations • Urge NASS on quick passage of tobacco control bill

By Wole Oyebade NTI-TOBACCO groups and A activists yesterday raised alarm over plans by tobacco multi-national industries in the country to scuttle tobacco prohibition legislations in Nigeria.

And top on the list of legislations allegedly targeted by the industries is the National Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB), which is still awaiting passage by the National Assembly.

The group, under the aegis of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC) alleged that the tobacco companies had further up their games on lobbying lawmakers, promising self regulation and partnering state governments, in exchange for law against smoking in some states.

The group also urged member of the National Assembly to prioritise safety and health of Nigerians by passing the NTCB into law.

Executive Director, ERA/FoEN, Godwin Ojo in a statement yesterday said it was noteworthy for the Nigerian government and members of the public to be aware of fresh tactics adopted by pro-tobacco industries, against the health and safety of the public.

According to him, the industries now use tactics like “lobbying political decision-makers, and even going as far as to draft legislations and regulations; promise of self-regulation and offering of voluntary initiatives, some supposedly designed to prevent youth smoking and offering to ‘partner’ with governments on issues related or unrelated to public health.”

Others are: “Demanding a seat at the table when tobacco control policies are being developed, claiming rights as a legitimate ‘stakeholder’ despite their fundamental conflict of interest with public health; promotion of so-called ‘corporate social responsibility’ through donations and other initiative as we see in communities like Iseyin where BAT regularly holds

farmers day celebrations.

“Hiding behind workers, farmers, retailers and front groups and gaining influence through financial relationships with governments, from tax breaks and other incentives to government ownership of tobacco businesses, and so on.”

Ojo added: “We are speaking up at this time to keep the Senate and House of Representatives alert and to expedite action on the Bill in anticipation of renewed and more subtle attempts by the tobacco industry to further delay the passage of the bill,” he said.

Director, Corporate Accountability Campaigns & Administration, ERA, Akinbode Oluwafemi said further that it was high time the lawmakers had set aside party sentiments and personal ambitions to confront a common challenge, which the tobacco menace poses to our nation.

He said: “It is now time for our lawmakers to prioritize health and the wellness of our citizens by speeding up work on the Bill to finally make it law.

“There are several reasons why we must now move to autopilot mode on the tobacco control bill. It may interest you to know that during the yuletide we continued to unearth and document the subtle and very deliberate activities of the tobacco industry aimed at confusing the Nigerian public and thwarting any form of regulation.

“We documented more articles in the dailies and online platforms obviously concoct-

ed and written word for word

by PR agencies paid to burnish the image of British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN). As anticipated, the articles showed similarities in phrases and intent, especially the demand for watered down legislation, which will allow BATN to continue its deceptive marketing strategies that have lured our youths into the smoking habit.

“The articles are consistent with a pattern of misinformation which has become more insidious after ERA/FoEN and CISLAC jointly criticized the visit of BATN Managing Director, Keith Gretton to the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola last September and the commissioning of BATN recreational center by the Oyo State Governor, Abiodun Ajimobi two months after.

“For us, the visibility that BATN intended to create by ingratiating with our elected representatives is further proof that the company is unrelenting in its ploy to pull wool over the faces of Nigerians. BATN has gone beyond its annual so-called Farmer’s Day event in Iseyin and donation of cottage industries in Ogun, Ondo and other states around.

“The company is now oiling its so-called Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to go for the kill, which is to effectively thwart legislation that would regulate the marketing, sale and distribution of its lethal products in Nigeria,” the statement read in part.

Oluwafemi reiterated that the single greatest obstacle to the success of the Framework

Dangers of smoking Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which Nigeria signed in 2004, ratified in 2005, and plans to domesticate through the National Tobacco Control Bill, is tobacco industry interference in public health policy. Article 5.3 of the FCTC forbids this anomaly.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) affirms that the FCTC aims to reverse an epidemic that today claims

ETERMINED to boost agriD cultural yield and food security in the country, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) is seeking the support of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).

FAO Country Representative, Dr. Louise Setswhaelo, during a courtesy visit to the National headquarters of the Agency in Abuja yesterday said there is need for collaboration since NASRDA has the potentials to optimize the work which they are doing, and can support them in areas of forecasting crop harvest, early warning, and can also provide satellite

families and dear to us all.

“The passage of the tobacco control bill and its implementation will save us from further deaths and the trading off of the young generation that BATN and other tobacco companies are priming to take over the smoking habit from a dying generation of smokers.

The Bill will be a vital legislation to hold the tobacco companies accountable for their deception,” he said.

Edo government seeks accreditation of medical training institutions From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City S a way of appeasing A protesting students of Edo State Schools of Nursing and Midwifery who last week protested the withdrawal of the schools’ accreditation over statutory conditions, Edo state government yesterday said it has embarked on

moves to revalidate the accreditation of the schools to reduce apprehension among the students and their sponsors that certificate from the school may not be honoured.

The school was inherited from the old Western region in 1963 and its enabling laws have not been updated.

The state commissioner for health, Dr. (Mrs.) Aihanuwa Eregie told journalists recently that the enabling law for the school has been reviewed in line with current standards and already sent to the Ministry of Justice for legal review before forwarding it to the state house of assembly.

She said to demonstrate gov-

FAO woos space agency to boost food production

By Chukwuma Muanya

the life of one in 10 adults, most of whom are from developing countries like Nigeria.

The deaths arising from smoking are not only restricted to our climes.

Continuing, he said: “As a country we have lost talented sportsmen, musicians and even journalists to tobaccorelated illnesses. These great minds may not have been as popular as the Marlboro man but they were dear to their

imageries on illegal foreign fishing vessels on African waters.

Setshwaelo in a statement signed by the NASRDA’s Deputy Director of Media and Corporate Communications, Felix Ale, described NASRDA as a novel achievement in the developmental history of Nigeria and indeed Africa. “I am overwhelmed by the immense activities and capabilities of the Agency. NASRDA has the brains, which should be rapidly harnessed for the development of the African continent.”

Setshwaelo said the Agency is a pride to Africa and should play a strategic role in the activities of the Food and Agriculture organization given that most of their activi-

ties are focused in the area of environment and water resources.

She further emphasized that the Space Agency has the technology to curb the illegality on our waters as the organization is currently looking at that in their framework.

Director-General of NASRDA, Prof.

Seidu Onailo Mohammed, said with the 2.5m panchromatic and 5m multi-spectral capabilities of the NigeriaSat-2, the Agency can efficiently carry out soil characterization which will help in land evaluation to aid farmers in realizing optimal yield.

He said NASRDA is already involved in the flood-plain farming, known as Fadama where imageries are provided

to help farmers understand the suitability of flood-plain for rice production.

Mohammed said with the Agency’s mandate to attain space capabilities for the socioeconomic improvement of the nation and the lives of the people especially in areas that border on human life of which agriculture is paramount; and that the agency is poised to train and re-train its staff to acquire the knowledge base.

“25 year roadmap of the agency will place the agency at par with other space faring nations, and with the procurement of a Synthetic Aperture Radar in 2015, the mangrove and the marine belt will be effectively covered to curb illegal fishing currently experienced on our waters,” he said.

ernment’s resolve in running standard medical training institutions, new hostel has been built while existing ones renovated just as she said the library of the school has also been refurbished and provision of ICT facilities on the way.

She, however, assured that all those who have completed their programmes would not be affected as the ministry works to restore the school’s accreditation. “Since 1963 when Midwest region was created, the school of nursing was one of things that we inherited from the Western region and there was no enabling law that was in place, it also affected Oyo state, it affected almost 70 per cent of schools of nursing and midwifery in this country, even in UBTH. All that we want to do is to make sure that the process is fully completed then we can now formally invite the regulatory body to re-inspect so that they can restore the accreditation of the training institutions.”

On the plans to complete the Central Hospital in Benin City, part of which collapsed two years ago, she said; “The areas that collapsed have been completely brought down and they have also pro-

vided remedial measures to provide steel structure to reinforce not just the physical structure alone. We have also made sure in this year’s budget that we have construction and fixing of equipment going on simultaneously because we don’t want to a situation where we build a structure and you invite equipment vendors and they begin to bring down walls in the name of fixing equipments.”

The commissioner also said the ministry has opened special customer lines for the public to call it in the case of complaints or deficiencies in service deliveries.

Eregie said the administration of Adams Oshiomhole has been rendering free of charge immunisation for children and Hepatitis B at various points across the state adding that the state government had achieved 79 per cent on immunization and intend to meet the 85 per cent minimum target by the Federal Government this year.

“We are one of the very few states that have gone this far in terms of immunisation.

Some states are even below 50 per cent and out target is to meet the minimum 85 per cent by this 2014 budget, which has provided for over N8 billion for the health sector of the state.”

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Jonathan seeks support for universal health coverage ROVIDING access to P affordable and qualitative healthcare delivery for every Nigerian has received a boost from President Goodluck Jonathan, as he hosts a weeklong Presidential Summit on Universal Health Coverage in the first quarter of this year.

The Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Femi Thomas, dropped the hint in Abuja, while receiving a delegation of the management of the FCT Health Services Scheme (FHSS).

Thomas, according to a statement signed by Head, Media & Public Relations, NHIS, Ayo Osinlu, said at the occasion that the Summit which is scheduled for March 10-14, will galvanise support from various sec-

tors of the economy, while exploring more possible sources of funding.

Furthermore, the summit will also seek to generate concepts and strategies to facilitate the process and benefits of Universal Health Coverage in the country, besides defining a roadmap and work plan for the successful accomplishment of the objective of rapid development of the nation’s human capital.

He, therefore, commended the efforts of FHSS in scaling up coverage in the FCT, adding that the Scheme was always willing to support FHSS with advocacy and technical expertise.

Describing the visit as auspicious, Thomas called on political leaders at State and Local government levels to recognize health

insurance as the most viable option for healthcare financing, having produced enviable outcomes in developed economies.

He expressed the Scheme’s concern about States that have not fulfilled their obligation under the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) project, by failing to remit their counterpart fund, adding that such instances could hinder the attainment of critical but plausible milestones.

Thomas highlighted funding as a critical factor in driving the health insurance process, especially as regards extending coverage to persons identified as vulnerable, who are unable to make contributions to the pool.

He, however, assured that the strategies set out by the Scheme would ensure inclu-

siveness, regardless of socio-economic status of Nigerians.

Speaking earlier, the Programme Manager of FHSS, Dr. Evans Onyekele said that 68,000 persons have been enrolled under the FCT programme, as well as twenty-two communities under the Community Based Health Insurance Scheme (CBSHIP).

He stated that a revalidating process to determine bona fide enrolees has been commenced, adding that the goal to provide quality services remained in focus.

He called for sustained cooperation between NHIS and the FCT, in the mutual objective of providing easy access to affordable and qualitative healthcare in the area.

Thomas

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New guidance for treating children with acute malnutrition

FCT plans to give out mosquito nets to mothers • Akinjide assures on safe meat for Abuja residents From Terhemba Daka, Abuja HE Federal Capital T T e r r i t o r y Administration (FCTA) is

Malnourished children in Nigeria HE World Health Organisation (WHO) has released new treatment guidelines for the almost 20 million children under-five worldwide who have severe acute malnutrition.

Severe acute malnutrition is when children suffer severe wasting that may or may not be accompanied by swelling of the body from fluid retention. It occurs when infants and children do not have adequate energy, protein and micronutrients in their diet, combined with other health problems such as recurrent infections.

It is diagnosed when the circumference of the upper arm is less than 115 mm or when the weight for height of a child is severely reduced.

Children with severe acute malnutrition are among the most vulnerable people in the world. They are very thin: most of their fat and muscle has been used by their bodies to stay alive.

Main recommendations The updated WHO guidelines recommend that children with severe acute malnutrition who do not have health complications that require hospitalization, receive special, high-energy food and antibiotics to treat infection. This allows them to recover at home with their families. They also give guidance on how to treat them for HIV and, if necessary make recommendations on how to treat severely malnourished infants under six months.

“The guidelines are critical because many national health plans currently overlook children with severe acute malnutrition... If these children don’t get the right medical and nutritional care, very often they die,” Dr Francesco Branca, Director, WHO Department of Nutrition for Health and Development “The guidelines are critical because many national health plans currently overlook children with severe acute malnutrition. This can be fatal. If these children

T

don’t get the right medical and nutritional care, very often they die,” says Dr Francesco Branca, Director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition for Health and Development.

New guidelines reflect new opportunities and technologies The new guidelines supersede those issued by WHO in 1999 which recommended that all severely malnourished children be hospitalized, given fortified formula milk and appropriate treatment including antibiotics.

The guidelines have been updated to reflect new opportunities and technologies that allow severely malnourished children who have an appetite and no evident medical complications to be effectively treated at home with specially-formulated foods that provide energy and nutrients and antibiotic medicines.

“It’s generally better for children and better for their families if they’re treated as outpatients,” says Dr Elizabeth Mason, Director of WHO’s Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health. “It can be easier for families who need to continue providing and caring for other children, and it allows vulnerable, malnourished children to stay home and avoid the risk of getting hospital infections.”

The proactive use of antibiotics is important because

the immune system of a child who is severely malnourished can virtually shut down. This lack of immune response means both that the body cannot fight off infection and that tests may not detect infection, even when one is present.

Evidence shows that giving a broad spectrum antibiotic such as amoxicillin enables the child’s body to fight off common infections like pneumonia and urinary tract infections which can be fatal to this group of children.

However, the new recommendation is specifically for children with severe acute malnutrition—not those who are simply undernourished. Widespread use of antibiotics among children who do not need them would increase the risk of infections becoming resistant to lifesaving antibiotics—a situation that would harm the health and survival of all children.

Severely malnourished children with HIV Another new aspect of the guidelines relates to the treatment of severely malnourished children with HIV. The 1999 guidelines did not recommend HIV testing of children with severe acute malnutrition. At that time, there was poor availability and little experience of treating children with antiretroviral drugs.

Circumstances today are very different. We now know

that antiretrovirals significantly increase survival of children with HIV, and access to these drugs is improving. The new guidelines recommend that children with severe acute malnutrition in countries where HIV is common be routinely tested for the virus, and those who are positive should start on antiretroviral drugs as well as special foods and antibiotics to treat their severe malnutrition.

Infants under 6 months with severe acute malnutrition The other group whose needs are addressed for the first time in these guidelines are infants under 6 months with severe acute malnutrition. WHO recommends that all babies under 6 months are exclusively breastfed for optimal nutrition and protection against infections. This is particularly important for babies who are severely malnourished.

Health services should give special support to mothers of these infants to breastfeed as well as treating the child with antibiotics.

If there is no realistic prospect of a severely malnourished baby being breastfed, the family may need breast milk from another woman, e.g. a family member, a neighbour, a wet nurse or a milk bank. If this is not possible, they will need infant formula and support to prepare and use it safely.

Savante approved as product authentication service provider HE National Agency for Food Administration and T Control, (NAFDAC) at the

meeting of its Top management held at its Oshodi, Lagos office on Thursday, 30th of January approved Savante Consulting Limited as one of the service providers for product authentication system for NAFDAC regulated products.

The product authentication system is a mobile phone based service that verifies the authencity of products through a code sent by sms

(mobile telephone short messaging system) to a dedicated toll free number. An immediate automatic response to the sender confirms if the product is genuine or fake. The service is currently mandatory for some class of antimalarials, but it is planned to be extended to some other classes of pharmaceuticals very soon.

Savante’s winning presentation to NAFDAC was based on a carefully designed and well tested service bouquet that brings innovation and excel-

lence to its offering. It is leveraging current technology available in mobile telephony as well as a back end that assures security and very advanced data management system that will provide capabilities for added values to pharmaceutical companies, NAFDAC and consumers of pharmaceutical products.

The NAFDAC Director General, Dr Paul Orhii, said the service provides opportunity for consumer education and information beyond product authentication.

set to give out 160,000 free mosquito nets to pregnant women and nursing mothers in the FCT. The Executive Secretary of the FCT Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, gave the indication in Abuja at the flag of the Abuja Maternal and Child Health Week at the Gwarinpa General Hospital.

He said that the aim of the exercise was to encourage mothers to come forward for intervention in primary health care facilities across the FCT. Dr. Mohammed noted that most pregnant women in rural areas choose to deliver at home and only go to the hospital when there are complications.

He added that the board has provided six motorcycles for nutrition officers to enable them to access difficult areas and give pregnant mothers vitamin tablets and deworming drugs.

Also speaking at the launch of the week long event, The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed revealed that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) last year spent N635 million on free antenatal care and medical treatment of children under five.

“For this scheme,” he

said, “we have procured and distributed lifesaving drugs like anti-malaria, antibiotics, and oral rehydration salts to 248 health facilities across the six area councils of the FCT.” He added that modest achievements in the healthcare sector were a mark of his administration’s commitment to improved healthcare delivery.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide has promised to ensure that residents of Abuja have access to hygienic and safe meat for consumption.

Fielding questions yesterday during an inspection of a private abattoir, Halal Meat company located in Jikwoyi, Old Karu, in Abuja, Akinjide commended the company for setting up a mechanized abattoir for meat processing.

The minister who was taken through the process of how the cows are slaughtered, skinned, dismembered and stored through an automated line assisted by skilled butchers, noted that the development was good for the food industry.

“It will be good if we could have such a modern abattoirs in all the local governments in the country which would ensure safe meat for our people. This is just the beginning and with private public partnership we will do our best to start modernising the abattoirs,” she said.

Kogi to spend N1 billion to upgrade health institution From Kolawole Timothy, Lokoja OGI State Government has disclosed that it intends to spend over N1 Billion in the upgrade of Health Institutions across the State under its Subsidy Re-investment Programme.

The State Governor, Capt.

Idris Wada, stated this at the opening of ‘Team 10’ free cleft and facial deformity surgery programme and three years of existence of the Cleft Care Foundation.

The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, said the repositioning of General and Cottage hospitals across the State, through massive rehabilitation, was the present administration’s resolve towards improving the health needs of the people.

Capt. Wada reiterated his administration’s commitment to sustain the State Free Rural Health Programme and its resolve to continue to make the State polio free.

The governor appealed to patients with cleft and craino facial challenges not to be ashamed but should take the advantage of the medical services to get treated. The Governor

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described their medical challenge as no fault of theirs, and commended the Cleft Care Foundation for the services they are offering to people in the State.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chief Medical Director of the State Specialists Hospital Lokoja, Dr. Paul Ahmadu, said the Free Surgery offered

by Cleft Care Foundation was designed to bring succour to Nigerians who for no fault of theirs are suffering from facial deformities.

In his speech, Dr. Seidu Bello, the director of Cleft Care Foundation, said several Nigerians due to ignorance, poverty, inaccessible healthcare and sometimes cultural believes suffer untold hardship caused by facial deformities.

Dr. Bello called on indigenes of the State with facial deformities to take advantage of the free surgical care offered by the foundation to get treated.

The Director Cleft Care Foundation commended the Kogi State Government for the technical support that has enabled it successfully carryout surgeries for patients with facial tumours, locked jaws, facial cleft and others.

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More studies support call for salt reduction to stop hypertension

By Chukwuma Muanya HE renewed call for reducT tion in salt intake as part of measures to reduce the high

incidence of high blood pressure and the attendant complications such as stroke and kidney failure among Lagosians has been backed by scientific studies.

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said it is recommended for everyone with hypertension to reduce their salt intake for three reasons: The chances of being salt sensitive in hypertensive are relatively high; even if one is not particularly salt sensitive, there is likely to be at least some reduction in one’s blood pressure with a reduced salt diet; and restrictions of salt in diet make most anti hypertensive medications more effective.

Indeed, several studies have shown that a modest reduction in salt intake for four or more weeks causes significant and, from a population viewpoint, important falls in blood pressure in both hypertensive and normotensive individuals, irrespective of sex and ethnic group.

Salt reduction is associated with a small physiological increase in plasma renin activity, aldosterone, and noradrenaline and no significant change in lipid concentrations.

The result of a recent study published in British Medical Journal support a reduction in population salt intake, which will lower population blood pressure and thereby reduce cardiovascular disease.

The observed significant association between the reduction in 24 hour urinary sodium and the fall in systolic blood pressure, indicates that larger reductions in salt intake will lead to larger falls in systolic blood pressure.

The current recommendations to reduce salt intake from 9-12 to 5-6 g/day will have a major effect on blood pressure, but a further reduction to 3 g/day will have a greater effect and should become the long-term target for population salt intake.

Idris said Lagosians could help themselves improve their health by: • Reduce your food consumption generally and you will be reducing your salt intake, the more food you eat, the more sodium it will likely contain • Include a lot of fruits and vegetables in your diet • Choose unprocessed and minimally processed foods • Eats foods raw in its natural forms where possible • If you have to eat canned fruits and vegetables, rinse, wash and drain before eating.

• Use healthy fats and oils in your foods • Use natural herbs and spices like ginger or garlic, this will reduce the need for added salt in food.

• Restrain your taste buds; learn to savour foods with less salt.

• Identify foods with high sodium content and eat less of them e.g. sausages, white bread (Agege bread), processed cheese, cooked rice (check label before purchase).

• Avoid preserving foods (meat) with salt (eran oniyo) – a common religious practice and fermented locust beans (iru) • Some foods are also high in salt but do not taste as such, e.g. breakfast cereals, fish sauce, soy sauce, energy and sport drinks.

• Some seasoning product and spices in markets are taste enhancers and are sodium based, if they are used, there might not be need for additional salt.

• Eat less of fast foods and junks, they are predominantly salt, sugar and fat packed.

• Pair unsalted food with salted, i.e. there will be no need for salt in rice if stew is salted.

• Use cooking methods that does not totally depend on salting such as roasting and grilling and less of boiling.

• Remove the salt shaker from the table to prevent being tempted to add more salt while eating.

Idris said: “Your food may appear tasteless when you start to reduce your salt intake, don’t worry, the taste for salt is acquired as it takes 3 weeks for the taste bud to adjust to reduced saltness.

Making very small changes could be life saving. Take responsibility for your health.”

A recent study published in BMJ and titled “Effect of longer term modest salt reduction on blood pressure: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials” concluded: “Our meta-analysis shows that a modest reduction in salt intake, as currently recommended, has a significant effect on blood pressure both in individuals with raised blood pressure and in those with normal blood pressure.

“The fall in blood pressure is seen in white and black people and in men and women.

These findings provide further support for a reduction in population salt intake.

This will lower population blood pressure and thereby reduce strokes, heart attacks, and heart failure.

Furthermore, our analysis shows a dose-response relationthat is, the greater the reduction in salt intake, the

Idris

greater the fall in blood pressure.

“The current recommendations to reduce salt intake to 5-6 g/day will have a major effect on blood pressure, but are not ideal. A further reduction to 3 g/day will have a greater effect. Therefore, 3 g/day should become the long term target for population salt intake. Indeed, NICE has recommended a reduction in salt intake to 3 g/day by 2025 for the UK adult population.

“Many developed countries are now adopting a policy of reducing salt intake, firstly by persuading the food industry to reformulate food with less salt, as is occurring successfully in the United Kingdom (UK) and Finland, and also encouraging people to use less salt in their own cooking and at the table.

“The major challenge now is to spread this out to all other countries, particularly the low and middle income countries, where often salt intake is high and about 80 per cent of the global burden of disease related to blood pressure occurs. All countries should adopt a coherent and workable strategy to reduce salt intake. A reduction in population salt intake will have major beneficial effects on health along with major cost savings in all countries around the world.”

Indeed, all over the world, hypertension has been identified as a killer disease with casualties more than that of cancers and malaria put together. It is a silent killer in which many sufferers do not know that they have the diseases and only starts to show signs of the disease when other parts of the body are affected.

An individual is said to have high blood pressure if the blood pressure is persistently raised above 140/90. It could be due to an underlying condition and in the majority of cases no cause is found and could occur at any age in both male and female.

Symptoms of hypertension include dizziness, headache, or blurred vision; irregularities of heart beat, getting tired easily, weakness,

slurred speech, nosebleeds, one sided limb weakness and twitching. Others symptoms might be a result of damages to other part of the body and these could include blindness, kidney failure unconsciousness and sudden death.

Idris further explained: “For hypertension without identified cause, the way we live our lives has been found to play a major role in its development and this includes lack of exercise, being overweight and increased salt intake.

“Evidence backing the relationship between increased salt intake and development of hypertension in the population has since been documented. High salt diet disrupts the natural sodium in the body. This causes fluid retention, which increases the pressure exerted by the blood against the blood vessels. The recommended daily allowance of table salt is 5g (a level teaspoon full). This is inclusive of the naturally occurring sodium in the food. Reducing salt intake to 5g in a day will reduce blood pressure by five per cent and could lead to a 16 per cent reduction in deaths from stroke and 12 per cent reduction in deaths from coronary heart disease.”

The current public health recommendations in most countries are to reduce salt intake from about 9-12 g/day to 5-6 g/day.1 2 Much evidence shows that such a reduction in salt intake lowers blood pressure. The evidence comes from different types of studies including epidemiological, migration, population based intervention, genetic, and animal studies, as well as treatment trials. As raised blood pressure throughout its range is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, a reduction in salt intake, if it lowered blood pressure, would reduce cardiovascular risk. Indeed, both prospective cohort studies and outcome trials have shown that a lower salt intake is related to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Strategies for living a disease-free life (5) The Genesis 1, 29 Diet T has been confirmed that Iposed the human body is comof elements from the

earth. This is supported by the truth that GOD made man from the dust of the ground. These elements are all in continuous state of reaction to maintain a balance in energy production, growth, wellness, optimal functioning of the immune system, replacement of old cells and synthesis of hormones and neurotransmitters.

All these biochemical reactions going on in the body release acids, free radicals and other toxic waste materials that should be eliminated as soon as they are generated. Water, as we know plays a very important role in eliminating these wastes and thus prevent diseases. In fact, most of the elements are also dissolved in water and are transported throughout the body by water, more reasons why we should drink sufficient water daily.

“Genesis 1, 29 Diet” The different elements in the body, by percentage body weight are as follows: oxygen 65 per cent, carbon 18 per cent, hydrogen 10 per cent, nitrogen 3 per cent, calcium 1.5 per cent, phosphorus 1.2 per cent, potassium 0.2 per cent, sulphur 0.2 per cent, chlorine 0.2 per cent, sodium 0.1 per cent.

Others are magnesium 0.05 per cent, copper, zinc, iron, iodine, cobalt, fluorine and selenium are less than 0.05 per cent. These elements, predominantly from the soil, except oxygen, which comes from the atmosphere, are passed to the body through the plants.

For the wellbeing of an individual, they should always be found in the body at their optimal levels.

Oxygen is the most abundant element by weight in the body and even though one atom of oxygen combines with two of hydrogen to form a molecule of water, oxygen is much heavier than hydrogen. These elements transported through the plants to the human body are in their natural, organic states and most suited for the organic and natural human body. Most of the drugs used by medical practitioners are synthetic, chemical drugs that are toxic to the human body, hence all the side effects that accompany the use of such products.

Now, the components of the “Genesis 1, 29 Diet” are for replacement and replenishment of the elements as they get used up in the body. Also, they help to boost the immune system so that it can perform maximally in fighting against

disease causing organisms and foreign bodies. Cancer cells for instance, are considered to be foreign bodies and a well-boosted immune system will always get rid of them before they can develop into a tumour and become difficult to manage and cause serious damage.

Indeed, we are all exposed to these cancer cells on a daily basis and not all human beings are diagnosed of cancer because their immunity, which is predominantly a function of diet, is high.

In other words, the “Genesis 1, 29” which is a diet based on raw vegetables, fruits, grains, seeds, nuts and good oils is a diet that is able to supply all that is needed to boost the immune system and keep it working perfectly in preventing sicknesses and diseases. Not only that, this is a diet programmed by the Creator Himself, for the adequate supply of the elements needed for the generation of energy for all the functions of the body.

Cell division for growth and replacement of old cells, for example, require a lot of energy. This is a diet that also supplies the elements needed to replenish used ones as most of these elements are not stored in the body. The synthesis of hormones and neurotransmitters is also dependent on the components of this diet and by extension, the function of the brain, nerves and endocrine system.

What this means, is that this is a diet that is capable of preventing neurological diseases such as Alzheimers Dementia, when eaten regularly. Endocrine diseases like diabetes mellitus can also be prevented by regular consumption of this diet.

Indeed, the “Genesis 1, 29 Diet” is well suited for maintaining optimum blood sugar levels thus preventing type 2 diabetes.

I must not fail to mention the place of vitamins in the “Genesis 1, 29 Diet.” Apart from Vitamin D, which is synthesized on the skin by the sun, all the other vitamins are found in this diet.

Vitamins A, C, E are powerful antioxidants that neutralize free radicals, which are unstable and highly destructive ions and products of the biochemical reactions in the body.

In conclusion, the “Genesis 1, 29 Diet” is one diet that incorporates optimum functioning of the organ systems of the body and prevention of diseases in one.

Regular consumption of this diet will ensure an allround wellness of the individual.

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Education Stakeholders suggest regular training of teachers as panacea for poor WASSCE results

By Wole Shadare HE alarming poor results recorded yearly T at the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination is an indication of more

fundamental challenges, which altogether are responsible for the prevailing rot in the country’s education sector.

This was the unanimous declaration of stakeholders who at the weekend in Lagos canvassed regular training of teachers and strategic investments in education as part of the measures required to reposition the sector.

According to the Chairman, West African Examination Council, Professor Pai Obanya, who was the lead discussant at the forum, which has the theme: “Educatiion: building viable frameworks for sustainability”, there should be an assessment of the education sector as a whole as a way of ensuring appropriate policies, programmes and processes.

Obanya stressed that examination failure is a surface manifestation of several issues, which include system failure, insisting that the paramount issue remained system assessment.

According to the don, it required good politics to have good education, because good politics would provide good policies, which would result in good programmes, which would also compel good processes. He added that repositioning of the education sector makes strategic planning compelling.

“Strategic planning means indepth-not cause-analysis to address the challenges from their very roots”, Obanya stressed. “There must also be situational analysis, policy planning, action planning and an in-built monitoring and evaluation framework”, he also stated. Stressing that quality is about inputs and processes, Obanya lamented that social recognition for teachers and professional support for them are lacking. “Yet, education is about producing the human ware that will produce the hardware and the software”, he wondered.

The WAEC boss declared communal involvement in education as another imperative for the revival of the sector. In his words: “The popular word: Public, Private, Partnership (PPP) must now be ‘Public, Private, Community, Partnership as far as the education sector is concerned. Until this is done, we will keep talking grammar”.

Also speaking at the forum organized by ThistlePraxis Consulting, a Professor of Counseling and Psychology, University of

Chief Executive Officer, Education Partnership Centre, Dr. Modupe Adefeso-Olateju (left); Chief Academic Officer Kepler University, Kigali, Rwanda, Chrystina Russell; Professor of Counseling and Psychology, University of Lagos, Ngozi Osarenren and Chairman, West African Examination Council (WAEC), Prof. Pai Obanya, during a workshop on Education: Building Viable Framework for Sustainability, held in Lagos recently.

Lagos, Professor Ngozi Osarenren said continuous development of teachers is very critical. Teachers, she stressed, must be aware of updates in the sector, especially as it affects teaching. They must be aware of new teaching methods and provided with teaching materials, she advised.

Osarenren declared that 95 per cent of teachers in public schools do not have the syllabus, and asked rhetorically: “How can a teacher be teaching without copies of recommended textbooks”? She challenged the Organized Private Sector to begin to show interest in teachers and the teaching profession, even as she commended Etisalat Telecommunications firm for sponsoring the event.

To the Chief Academic Officer, Kepler University, Kigali, Rwanda, Chrystina Russell, no efforts should be spared in support of education because of its impact on employment and productivity.

The Lagos State Team Leader of Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN), Olabode Oyeneye said that a shift of focus from certification to functionality is an imperative in the quest for viable frameworks for sustainability in education. In his words: “certification has been so much glorified to the detriment of ability, capability and performance”.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), West Africa Vocational Education, Misan Rewane canvassed some measures to boost educa-

tion. According to Rewane: “ can we use idle pension funds to train and empower students if they will come back to teach? Because access to education is key, can we have students’ financing models? Can we leverage on technology to provide more education opportunities? And how do we encourage entrepreneurs to do what government is not doing?”

Earlier at the forum, ThistlePraxis’ CEO, Mrs Ini Onuk, in her welcome address, said the organization’s latest initiative was targeted at feasible and workable solutions to meeting the nation’s educational needs. “The Millennium Development Goals are due in 2015. So, how can we fast track our progress in this critical sector? This is part of our concerns”, Onuk said inter-alia.

Open education, recipe for national development, says Gambari

By Ujunwa Atueyi HE place of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) education in national development was recently revisited at the third convocation Lecture of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), delivered by the Joint Special Representative, African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari.

The 32-page lecture, titled “Open and Distance Education for Development, Unity and Democratic Transformation of Nigeria”, revealed that ODL has great potential in repositioning the nation’s education sector by providing the needed manpower for the transformation agenda.

“This form of education (ODL) holds immense potential for the massive spread of higher education among a greater number of Nigerians who may otherwise find it difficult to attend conventional face-to-face classes.

Though Nigeria is the pioneer of open education in West Africa with the establishment of NOUN yet ODL is yet to be well entrenched and its gain yet to be fully realized in the country”.

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“Nigeria’s inability to decisively tackle most development challenges such as poverty, unemployment, security and deplorable state of infrastructure has been largely attributed to bad governance, which includes political and economic governance and effectiveness of institutions. But one thing is very clear; a functioning, robust democracy requires a healthy educated and participatory followership. A learning nation is a nation that can envision ennobling possibilities, develop and empower its teeming population for a wholesome multi-sectoral transformation, and the crucial place of NOUN in this regard cannot be overemphasized”, he said.

Highlighting that emergent platforms in technologies, open-university concept and open educational resources hold tremendous potentials for capacity building, skill enhancement and knowledge acquisition improvement, he maintained that ODL is an important avenue for the attainment of higher education by a vast number of Nigerians”.

He said: “Basic literacy, technical skills, socialization into higher education ethos and production of knowledge are critical to society’s development. As Nigeria marches

towards its vision of becoming one of the top 20 economies by 2020, education must be a core component of this agenda to provide the needed manpower and intellectual stimulus to drive sustainable development”.

He expressed that issues like inadequate financing; inadequate technology and digital divide; outreach and public perception; research development; expansion beyond Nigerian borders; collaboration with conventional universities and ICT associates; and more customized and modularized courses; should be addressed for Nigeria to maximize the benefits of ODL. “It may be useful to recommend a triennial review of Open University systems with a view to strengthen delivery on the core values, mission and in the light of the rapid transformation in technology. Experts in open learning and ICT, students and general public could participate in open consultation for improving open education system. And unless urgent and massive remedial actions are taken, the Nigerian education sector is clearly not poised to provide the manpower and intellectual support for its ambitious social and economic transformation agenda”, he stated.

Prof. Ibrahim Gambari

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Experts warn on dangers of sending underage children to school

By Mary Ogar made both national and IinTinternational news when, September 2012, 15-yearold Nigerian girl, Saheela Ibraheem gained admission to study Neuroscience at Harvard University in the United States (U.S). Not only did she get a placement at Harvard, she was also offered admission at 13 of the 14 other institutions she applied to.

In Nigeria, it is now common to see very young children wearing bogus school uniforms on their first day in secondary schools. It is common to hear some Nigerian parents boast of the fact that their children started secondary school at age 8 and graduated at 14.

The Lagos state government, in 2013, ordered a ban that no underage students should be admitted into its public secondary schools.

While the directive that no child who did not complete primary six should be admitted into any public secondary school was received with mixed feelings by parents, sources reveal that they are still taking advantage of the loopholes in the system to enroll their underage children in secondary schools.

Meanwhile, some stakeholders who attended this year’s International Schools’ Exhibition held in Lagos last week, argued that while it is inspiring to hear about young geniuses in a world

where the focus of young people is being adversely affected by peer pressure and the negative sides of the internet/social media, the youngsters who gained admission to secondary schools at a tender age would miss out on their youthfulness, as a result of their academic commitments.

Addressing parents on the topic: “Creating the Right Academic Plan For Your Child,” the Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, Prof.

Mopelola Omoegun, explained that children must be put in the right environment where they would be willing to learn.

Underscoring the importance of children starting formal education at six, she frowned at the attitude of some parents who rush their children through school, just to fulfill their own selfish desire.

Citing a popular case in a tertiary institution in Lagos, where an underage student was admitted to study Physics, she said any school that emphasizes only on one aspect of education cannot give the best to its students.

She said: “Total education should be able to affect the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains. And every individual has a stake in their success, whether they have school-age children of their own or not.”

Regardless of the system of

education practiced by individual schools as well as their plans for the students, she noted that all of a nation’s young people need high-level knowledge and skills to achieve success in a rapidly changing world of technological advances and international competitiveness.

Commenting on the tasking nature of secondary schools, she said the challenging nature of classes could be intimidating for underage students. Her words: “All students must learn the advanced skills that are the key to success in college and in the 21st century workplace. Every student should take demanding classes in the core subjects of English, History, Science, and Mathematics; and no student should ever get a watereddown course of study.

Students should also be given the opportunity to earn industry certification or some college credit while in high school through programs such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or those

Principal CSS Rumuepirikom, Mrs Elenwo Justina (left); Principal, Ambassador Nnefuro Kurubo Model Secondary School, Mrs T. Rao; Programmes Coordinator, Port Harcourt World Book City project (PHWBC), Mr Wale Salami; Principal, Holy Rosary College, Ms. Amadi Judith and Assistant Programmes Coordinator, PHWBC, Mr Akwarandu Chibuike at a briefing held for Principals/Head Teachers for the PHWBC Reading Tree programme, held in Port Harcourt recently. offered through a local college or university.”

Executive Director, Supreme Education Foundation (SEF) schools, Mrs. Adenike Adamolekun stressed the need for stakeholders to take cognizance of individual differences of children before determining the right age for secondary school education.

She said: “I agree that there should be a minimum age we can admit, but again, we should not be hard on it because children differ from age to age, parent to parent, and from environment to environment. Sometimes if you delay a child because of age, you end up frustrating that child.”

According to her, parents should study their children and find out the potential and maturity level of each child “since all these things are what contribute to the success of the child.”

For her, parents should not compare their child with

another one, even siblings of the same parents. She said: “Generally, girls mature faster than boys. Most boys in the first 10 years of their lives would just want to play but that should not get parents discouraged. They will catch up with the girls along the way if you are patient enough.”

Affirming that it was appropriate for formal education to start at age 6 since children would have been able to express themselves, write and weaned from the toilet, she admitted that some children could do the same even at the age of 4.

“So for this category of children, it is not a bad idea to allow them start primary school at 4 years of age. But they should be engaged more with co-curricular activities, to develop them as well as occupy their time,” she added.

Mr. Abayomi Solesi of Jextoban Secondary School, Lagos was of the opinion that

the issue of parents sending underage children to secondary schools and even universities “is a reflection of the decay in the society.”

According to him, the deterioration in the value system sometimes makes people to falsify everything to achieve their aims. He said: “As stakeholders, we have said a child should be about 10 years before he takes the entrance examination into a secondary school, but unfortunately, parents have hijacked that process. That is the main reason why we insist on parents tendering birth certificates.

But if the certificate has been tampered with, there is nothing we can do about that.”

While he accepted the notion that some children could indeed be exceptional, he cautioned that what parents fail to understand is that “falsification of age would come back to haunt them because the dangers would

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Kyari links north’s poor enrolment to harsh weather From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri He Chief of Staff (COS) to the Borno state government, Alhaji Abubakar Kyari has attributed the backwardness of northern parts of the state in western education to “harsh weather conditions” of the Sahara desert and difficult terrains.

Speaking to newsmen in Damasak recently, on low school enrolment in the north compared to the southern parts of the country, Kyari said that the harsh weather conditions of the area, makes it very difficult for students to perform credibly; under western education curriculum.

His words: “the North could have been able to match the

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other parts of Nigeria, if the curriculum is adaptable and favourable to this harsh desert weather conditions experienced in most parts of northern states, including Borno state that affected central and northern senatorial districts.”

Kyari, a former member of the House of Representatives, who is aspiring to be elected into the Senate in 2015, said the North would be able to match the rest of the country if the curriculum is adapted to the harsh weather condition, adding that besides the difficult desert terrains, the average daily temperature rises to over 45 degrees Celsius, unlike 25 degrees Celsius in south parts of Nigeria.

He continued: “I am terribly worried by the fact that northern Borno of which I aspire to represent in the country was one of the most educationally backward parts of the country. I am also pleading with the Shettima administration; and the Federal Government to change the time of school attendance in most parts of this state, so that it aligns to the harsh weather conditions for students’ performances in classes and examinations.”

He further disclosed that the people of northern Borno lag behind in western education, not because they were unintelligible, but because what exists in the region was the wrong approach to teaching and learning.

experts warn on dangers of sending underage children to school CONTINUED FROM PAGE 50 still reflect at a later time.”

He continued: “We advise our stakeholders to be patient enough and allow children attain the right maturity for secondary school. You can imagine a child coming into JSS1 and is still playing with sand. And for every little rebuke, he or she keeps on crying for the whole day. What are you going to achieve from that child?”

The Principal, Welkin College, Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Mbgolu said her school does not admit underage children because they are most times lagging behind. “It affect them academically and intellectually,”

Wike advocates partnership, as firm hands over completed projects O achieve accelerated T progress in the country, Supervising Minister of education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has stressed the need for individuals and organizations to partner in with the government developing public schools.

Making the appeal at the official commissioning and handing over of projects at the annex campus of the college in Victoria Island, Lagos, Wike said such partnership would bring about growth not only for the education sector but also for the country in general.

Represented by his Special Assistant, Mr. Lambert Oparah, he implored the

donors of the commissioned projects, Total Upstream, extend its intervention effort by officially adopting King’s College, Lagos, for continued assistance.

Describing the college and the oil and gas company as representing twin brands of excellence, Wike said “Let me use this medium to call on other corporate organizations in Nigeria to emulate the good gesture of Total upstream by partnering with government in its bid to develop our public schools.”

Two of the five projects, comprising a twin lecture theatre and an assembly hall, were renovated and

equipped by the company while three other facilities, including a bakery, were provided by the College and the Federal Government.

King’s College and Total he said, “ these schools undeniably represent the goose that laid the golden eggs of manpower in Nigeria. I am aware that in keeping with the philosophy of collective responsibility in the development of the education sector, and in line with the saying that education for all is the responsibility of all, government alone cannot do it all but rather needs the support of all.”

Wike noted that It is gratifying that Total Upstream, in

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living up to its corporate social responsibility, decided to undertake the renovation and upgrading of the two structures that were hitherto, in a deplorable state.

He expressed the gratitude of the Federal Government for the intervention, which he said, is in tandem with its avowed policy of exploring partnerships and collaborations for the promotion of the Transformation Agenda.

While inspecting the projects, he described the quality of job done by the donor partner as world class, adding that the state-of-the art auditorium provided is the first of its kind in the

she said. “So what we do to curb this is to give them a test and when we know they are fit for that class, we admit them under strict monitoring, so that we would be able to ascertain their weak points and deal with that aspect.”

For parents who subject their children to what she described as academic torture, she advised: “What is the need rushing them? By the time they finish early, they would still sit at home doing nothing.

So it is better they let them go at a very good and appropriate pace so that they would be able to develop intellectually, spiritually and morally.”

For her, the appropriate age to admit children into secondary schools should be nothing less than 10-11 years of age for JSS1. She argued that double promotion should not be given based on academic prowess alone. If a child is doing so well, rather than give double promotion, she observed that the child also needs to develop in other critical aspects.

School Counsellor, Mrs. Tessy Odunukwe urged parents to allow their children to be of age. “If you rush your children so that you can boast to your friends that your child finished secondary school at age 12 or 14 years and entered university at age 16 years, there is a stage or level the child would get to, and diminishing returns will set in.”

She pointed out that if a child is hustled through education, the child would get to a stage in his life, where the stage missed in his development

would come back. “If you skip what you are supposed to do for instance in stage 2 and 3, by the time you get to stage 8, you may come back to those stages that you skipped.”

However, she said counselors and psychologists advise that children must be allowed to go through the various stages of development. “If you rush your child and by 9 years, he is already in JSS1 or 2, the brain is not well developed to take the rigours of academic work in such classes and that is when parents start complaining and looking for solution from one place to the other.

“Such parents would claim it is either spiritual or would start pointing fingers at one person or the other or moving the child from one school to another. The reason is that the child has skipped a state and they must go back to that stage.”

For her, the issue of double promotion depends on the child and the level of education. “If double promotion is given to a child in Primary 4 to 6, at that level, they would have done most of the primary 5 work. That child would have covered most of the work expected in primary 5. But then, if it is in the secondary school, definitely, there may be a problem because secondary school curriculum is tabled along the line of the stages of a child’s age. Like blocks that are laid, if any block falls, then there would be a problem.”

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Federal varsity, Dutse matriculates 971 students From John Akubo, Dutse He Federal University T Dutse has matriculated 971 students into its three existing faculties. The ViceChancellor of the institution Professor Jibrilla Dahiru Amin(OFR) in his speech said the Faculty of Agriculture matriculated 98 students with 20 students each for the newly introduced BSc Fisheries and BSc Forestry and Wild Life programmes.

Faculty of Arts and Social Scienes(FASS) matriculated 70 students in the BA english,149 for BSc Criminology and Security Studies,140 for BSC economics and 108 for BSc Political Science programmes respectively. The Faculty of Sciences matriculated 61 stu-

dents for BSc Microbiology, 56 for BSc Mathematics, 62 for BSc Computer Science, 57 for BSc environmental Management and Toxicology, 30 BSc Chemistry, 34 for BSc Physics and 38 and 28 for the newly introduced BSc Botany and BSc Zoology.

Professor Amin congratulated the matriculating students adding that the university will continue in its policy refunding the fees of the best students in all the programmes in order to encourage excellence.

The VC said he would have love to accommodate all the students but inadequate hostels made some students to stay off campus adding that when the 500 bed space hostel under construction is completed, it will ease the accommodation of the students.

National science fair holds in Akwa Íbom Feb 17 Inemesit Akpan-Nsoh Uyo IGeRIA’S quest for technological development would come to fore with the National School Science fair slated for Akwa Ibom state from February 17-21st, 2014.

Sponsored by Shell Petroleum Development Company SPDC, Intel Corporation and Interswith, the fair is expected to attract pupils from the thirty six states of thee federation and FCT. Addressing a press conference on the National Festival of School Science Quiz and Fair competition 2014 at Le Meridian Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo Akwa IBom state, Mr. Bola Onuologo, Manager

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Sustainable Development in SPDC said, the fair was co sponsored by the Akwa Ibom state government.

According to him, the fair would give the pupils the opportunity to showcase their independent research projects and inventions, noting that,they would also show how their challenges could be solved in their local communities.

“We are pleased to be pat of the success of the national science Fair, we believe that by encouraging the young ones to take interest in science subjects, we will be lying a solid foundation for the technological development of Nigeria”, he said.

Federal varsity, Wukari holds matriculation He third matriculation holidays and thanked the T ceremony of Federal Almighty God for his protecUniversity was held on the tion and for granting us the 22nd January, 2013 at the University matriculation ground. The matriculation which had the them; “The Academic Staff: Their Roles as Teachers and Facilitators of Learning, not enables of Learning Dysfunction.” The event which had about seven hundred intakes in attendance paraded personalities from all works of life. In his speech, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Geoffery Okogbaa used the occasion to welcome both the matriculation and returning students, the management and staff back from the Christmas and New Year

opportunity to transit to the year 2014, and subsequently a minute silent was observed for one of the departed students.

According to the V.C. “The very essence of this Universal exercise is the induction of our students into a new lease of life with the sole aim of enabling them to acquire knowledge through research and learning to become worthy citizens and leaders of society. Thus to our new students having gone through the orientation process and subscribing.

Amosun to unveil Thames Valley College He Chairman and the T Board of Governors of Thames Valley College has announced that the newly established college will formally be declared open this Saturday February 15, 2014.

A statement signed by a member of the Board of Governors, Mr. Babatunde Kolade said the executive Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun will be the Special guest at the event.

Kolade said the formal opening of the college will surely mark the beginning of a new era in the education sector in Nigeria as the management has left no stone unturned to

ensure best delivery of secondary school education in Nigeria.

“Thames Valley College is a purpose – built, world class international secondary school built on a sprawling 21 acre, serene environment at km 10, along the SagamuIkorodu road, beyond the reach of the hustling and bustling of surrounding towns and cities”.

“It is built on the philosophy of creating and nurturing great minds and has therefore made a huge investment to ensure that every facility and staff of the school meet the international standard”, the statement said.

Students of the Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State during their matriculation ceremony held recently

ekiti spends N12.7m on remedial colleges From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti

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He distribution of scratch cards for the procurement of the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms by ekiti State government recently, brightened hope for some 2,500 students with academic requirement for admission into higher institutions.

Beneficiaries are out-ofschool youths and repeaters who were registered by the Agency for Adult and Non-formal education (AANFe) - an agency of the Ministry of education, Science and Technology – to retake the Senior Secondary School Certificate examinations (SSSCe) supervised by the West African School examination (WAeC) Board and National examination Council (NeCO).

Governor Kayode Fayemi, who flagged off the distribution of the free JAMB eRegistration scratch cards at Olaoluwa Grammar School, Ado-ekiti, said the gesture

•Procures JAMB forms for 2500 applicants will assist students with six credits including Mathematics and english Language pursue a course of study in the varsities, polytechnics and Colleges of education.

Besides, the governor said it will take the financial burden off the shoulders of the parents and guardians of the beneficiaries. Represented by his deputy, Prof Modupe Adelabu, the governor described the programme as a demonstration his administration’s determination to ensure equal opportunity and education for all and for ekiti to keep its record as the state with the least number of outof-school children in the country.

He restated that his administration will not in any way toy with the development and training of youths, who he described as the future of the state. His words: “education is a lifelong process and this government will continue to use

every strategy at its disposal to move education industry to greater height among the comity of states. The state would leave no stone unturned in order to provide lofty innovation and favourable educational programmes to our teaming populace.”

The governor enjoined beneficiaries to gainfully utilize the opportunity of the free JAMB/UTMe registration to secure admission into any of the tertiary institutions within and outside the country.

In his remarks, Commissioner for education, Science and Technology Mr. Kehinde Ojo said the programme has offered hardworking youths a second chance to attain their dreams of pursuing higher educational qualification.

According to him, since inception, the Fayemi administration has encouraged youths to pursue higher educational qualification by pur-

chasing and distributing JAMB forms to qualified admission seekers in the state, without ethnic and political consideration.

Going down the memory lane, the commissioner said 72 per cent of the 1910 applicants scored above 180 in the 2012 JAMB while 75 per cent out of the 2100 applicants scored above the 180 cut off mark last year.

The commissioner, who expressed the hope that the 2500 applicants seeking admission this year will record above 90 per cent, urged all stakeholders including teachers and parents to closely monitor and guide the beneficiaries to success so that government’s investment on the programme will not be a waste.

Also speaking, AANFe’s Chairman Chief David Adeyanju said the agency has kept faith with its mandate since it was established in 1996.

Students donate refrigerator to maternity home

By Mary Ogar OTHeRS with their babies, including pregnant women at the Ketu AdieOwe Health Centre, Ogun state had every reason to celebrate recently, when students of the Corona Secondary school’s Press Club visited the centre and donated a refrigerator for the storage of drugs and vaccines.

With over 120 mothers and their babies visiting the centre during the clinic days, the matron in charge, Mrs. Ramat Ayobami described the gift as a timely intervention that would benefit the women and children of the community.

A major challenge of the centre, according to her, has been the difficulty of storing vaccines and antigens, especially for nursing mothers and their babies.

She said: “We usually go to Ota (Ogun State) to collect the vaccines and when we

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don’t finish using them, we have to return to Ota for storage on that same day.

Sometimes, we have had cause to send mothers and their babies back because of the difficulty of transporting to and fro to collect the vaccines.”

Lamenting the risk and stress of going to Ota, she said the vaccines were very relevant in combating the six killers diseases affecting children. “Once the infants take these vaccine, their childhood development is protected,” she said.

The matron commended the students for their gift, stressing that the problem of preserving the drugs would no longer be an issue at the centre, adding that the mothers would forever be grateful.

The centre was commissioned on May 20, 1999.

A member of the Ketu AdieOwe Community Development Association (CDA), Mr. Idowu, showered praises on the students for

taking up the responsibility of caring for the less privileged in the community. He said: “What these students have done as children is so much. If as secondary school students, they can do this much, you can imagine what they would do when they grow up. Their intervention is immense and we appreciate them for having this community in mind.”

Idowu reiterated that the Corona school’s intervention is also reflected in other areas. He said: “Today, they (students) have brought in something that would impact on the health of our people. But Corona school, Agbara has also brought positive changes to our schools.

Children who before now, behave like hooligans are now behaving responsibly because of the school’s intervention.”

The Press Club’s coordinator, Mr. Sonji Fagbohungbe said the school has also undertaken to build a block

of four classrooms in one of its adopted schools, the Community Secondary School, Ketu Adie-Owe in Ogun state, as part of its community intervention initiative.

The students, who visited the centre as part of activities marking the World Press Day, said they were pleased to be part of the community’s development and putting a smile on the faces of mothers and children.

President of the Press club, Mr. Muiz Yusuf said the visit was also intended to expose the students to what is happening in some deprived communities.

He said: “Some of us, by virtue of our background, may never get to see what we have seen by visiting these local communities. A while ago, few students visited the maternity home to distribute food and they came back and told us about the challenges at the centre.

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MarketReport EQUITY MARKET SUMMARY

AS AT 12=02=2014

PRIMERA AFRICA www.primera-africa.com

Thursday, February 13, 2014 MARKET REPORT 65

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MARKET INDICATORS

AS AT 12=02=2014

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NSE’s market capitalisation depreciates further by N56 billion Stories by Helen Oji HE bears continued to T strengthen its hold on the equities sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange with price losses incurred by most blue chip companies, causing market capitalisation to depreciate further by N56 billion.

Specifically, the value of equities went down by 0.43 per cent to N12.911 trillion from N12.967 trillion recorded the previous day while the All/Shares Index dropped by 174.79 basis points to 40278.82 points from 40,453.61 point traded on Tuesday.

Further analysis of yesterday’s transactions showed that investors bought 354.886 million shares worth N5.915 billion in 5091 deals against 343.049 million shares valued at N4.366 billion exchanged on Tuesday in 5548. A breakdown of the trading indicated that I5 companies appreciated in price, led by 7UP with 10.23 per cent to close at N82.64 per share while TransNational Express followed with 9.91 per cent to close at N2.55 per share.

UBCAP added 7.62 per cent to close at N2.40 per share. UACProperties garnered 5.30 per cent to close at N21.05 per share. Courtville, Wemabank, Ikeja Hotel gained 5.19,5.00 and 4.05 per cent to close at N0.81,N1.05 and N0.77 per share.

First City Monument bank added 2.63 per cent to close at

N3.90 per share. Paint Company gained 2.56 per cent to close at N2.00 per share.

Mobile, added 2.46 per cent to close at N125.00 per share.

Continental Reinsurance gained 0.88 per cent to close at N125.00 per share.

On the other hand, 19 stocks depreciated in price, as Japaul oil led the losers table with 6.78 per cent to close at N0.55 per share while Constain west African followed with 4.95 per cent to close at N1.93 per share. NEM dropped 4.94 per cent to close at N0.77 per share.

Mansard, Evansmedical, PZ Cussons dropped 4.80,4.79 and 4.45 per cent to close at N2.38,N2.98 and N36.31 per share.

RT Briscoe lost 4.38 per cent to close at N1.31 per share while Custodian&Allied insurance shed 3.91 per cent to close at N2.21 per share.

A breakdown of transactions on the activity chart showed that Wema Bank was the most active stocks in volume terms as it traded 65.115 million shares worth N62.891 million, GTBank followed with 34.907 million shares valued at N957.105 million while Zenith International Bank exchanged 28.993 million shares cost N606.825 million.

FBN Holding traded 27.588 million shares worth N385.657 million and UBA Capital exchanged a total of 19. 932 million valued at N45.845 million.

SEC to sanction quoted firms on noncompliance to registration directive IGERIA’S Securities and N Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday, said it will not hesitate to sanction public quoted firms that have not complied with its directive on registration of companies.

SEC disclosed this in a circular posted on its website, stating that at the end of June 30, 2014, quoted companies whose securities are not registered with the Commission would be sanctioned.

According to SEC, “this is to draw the attention of all public companies in Nigeria to the provisions of Section 54 (1) of the Investments and Securities Act No. 27, 2007 and Rule 279 (1) (a) of the SEC Rules and Regulations, to the effect that all securities of public companies shall be registered with the Commission.

“All Public Companies in Nigeria are expected to register their securities with the Commission upon incorporation or conversion from a private company.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has however observed that some public companies in Nigeria are yet to comply with the above stated provisions. “Therefore, all existing public companies with securities not registered with the Commission are strongly advised to comply with the provisions of the law by registering their securities with the Commission before June 30, 2014.

“At the expiration of this date (June 30, 2014), all public

companies whose securities are not registered with the Commission will be sanctioned appropriately.” It added.

Meanwhile African Capital Alliance (ACA), a premier private equity firm in Africa has concluded plans to launch the ACA Foundation.

According to the company, ACA has been committed to nation-building via varied platforms and partnerships with different organisations in the public, private and non-profit sectors.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer Okey Enelama said “the ACA Foundation has been established to further deepen and widen ACA’s positive impact on the Nigerian economy and, subsequently, Africa’s, as ACA itself originated from the nation-building work of the founding partners, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Pascal Dozie, Dick Kramer and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.”

The launch event is a culmination of work that has been done over the past eighteen months, since the idea for the Foundation was conceived in September 2012.

The event, which is slated for thursday, february 13, 2014 will feature a special presentation by Professor Catherine Duggan from the Business, Government and International Economy (BGIE) unit at Harvard Business School, whose specialty research focuses on sub-Saharan Africa.

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GlobalStocks China trade, U.S. budget deal push up world stocks LOBAL shares were on track to G post their longest winning run in five months as they rose for a sixth straight day on Wednesday, boosted by upbeat trade data from China and a U.S. House deal extending the federal borrowing authority.

Chinese exports and imports outperformed expectations in January by a wide margin, easing fears that the world's second largest economy is mired in a worsening slowdown and reviving appetite for emerging market assets that had been battered in recent weeks.

The cheer spread to Europe, one of China's largest trading partners, where the FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.6 percent. Mini futures on the S&P 500 index were pointing to a flat start on Wall Street after Tuesday's rally.

MSCI's index of emerging market stocks added 0.9 percent, extending its bounce from five-month lows hit earlier this month. The Australian dollar rose to a one-month high on the prospect of stronger demand from China, Australia's largest export market.

The broader MSCI All-Country World Index was up 0.3 percent in its longest winning streak since September.

"Our analysis suggests that emerging market equities are discounting an outcome substantially below current consensus forecasts, so of course a better-than-expected outcome is going to help the case," said Ian Scott, a global equity strategist at Barclays in London.

Investors also took heart from a strong share market performance in the United States, where Congress agreed to advance legislation extending U.S. borrowing authority and the Federal Reserve's new chief pledged to keep interest rates at ultra-low levels for longer.

By contrast, the Bank of England

Trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange indicated that interest rates may need to rise in just over a year and raised its growth forecasts, sending the pound up against the dollar and the euro.

"Recovery (in Britain) has gained momentum," said Neil Jones, head of hedge fund FX sales at Mizuho.

"The market likes this and is starting to reinvest the pound sold off in January."

A speech by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi will also be in the spotlight on Wednesday.

The calmer mood in markets was reflected in the VSTOXX index of

euro zone equity volatility falling for a sixth day to lows not seen since late January.

Among commodities, spot gold snapped a three-day winning streak, giving back some of its sharp overnight gains as stocks rallied. But it was still not far from a three-

month high of $1,293.44 hit on Tuesday.

Brent crude edged higher toward $109 a barrel and London copper climbed, reversing losses from the previous session and moving away from a two-month low of $7,016 touched on February 4.

U.S. stocks fluctuate as treasuries fall .S. stocks yesterday, fluctuated after the U best four-day rally in a year for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. Treasuries slid amid comments from Federal Reserve officials, while Chinese data spurred a rally in commodities.

The S&P 500 declined less than 0.1 percent at 1:06 p.m. in New York after rallying 3.9 percent in the past four sessions. Ten-year yields climbed to the highest in two weeks. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.8 percent for a sixth day of gains.

The euro fell against the dollar on speculation the European Central Bank may charge lenders to deposit spare cash. Turkey is selling the longest-dated dollar bonds on record. The S&P GSCI gauge of 24 raw materials rose 0.3 percent as oil held gains above $100 and copper gained the most this year.

Amazon.com Inc. fell after an analyst downgrade and Procter & Gamble Co. tumbled after cutting its earnings forecast. St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said he expects U.S. output to grow 3 percent this year, after Fed Chairman Janet Yellen said yesterday only a “notable change” in economic prospects would lead policy makers to slow the pace of reductions. The House of Representatives voted to suspend the debt limit. Cisco Systems Inc. and Whole Foods Market Inc. are set to release results today. China’s export and import growth unexpectedly accelerated in January.

“We’re taking a breather here,” Phil Orlando,

New York-based chief equity market strategist at Federated Investors Inc., which oversees about $376 billion, said in a phone interview.

“Washington has essentially gotten out of the way, Yellen has told us monetary policy will be a continuation of what we’ve seen and we have a sense of what’s going to happen with the taper.”

Procter & Gamble lost 1.8 percent after the world’s largest consumer-products maker cut its forecasts for profit and sales growth.

Amazon slid 3.7 percent after UBS AG lowered the online retailer’s rating. Dow Chemical Co. fell 0.8 percent as an internal review conclud-

ed a breakup plan would reduce the company’s value. TripAdvisor Inc. jumped 8.2 percent as fourth-quarter revenue beat analysts’ estimates.

Bullard, a supporter of tapering bond purchases, said today in New York that fourthquarter job growth was “pretty good” and forecast that inflation will speed up toward the 2 percent target. Yellen yesterday fueled bets the economy is strong enough to weather further stimulus cuts, which she said would continue in “measured steps.”

The 10-year Treasury note yield rose three basis points to 2.76 percent. The U.S. is sold

$24 billion of 10-year notes today and $16 billion of 30-year bonds tomorrow. It auctioned $30 billion of three-year securities yesterday.

The Fed has twice reduced the size of the monthly asset-purchase program, lowering bond buying to $65 billion in February from $85 billion last year. Three rounds of stimulus under previous Chairman Ben S. Bernanke have helped push the S&P 500 as much as 173 percent higher from a 12-year low in 2009.

In Europe, the Stoxx 600 capped its longest winning streak of the year with a sixth straight gain, as two shares rose for every one that fell and 18 of the 19 main groups gained.

Asia’s shares rise on Yellen’s remarks, debt-ceiling vote SIAN markets climbed Wednesday after A the new US Federal Reserve chief said she would stick with its stimulus policy, while lawmakers agreed to raise the debt ceiling and avert another standoff.

Wall Street rallied for a fourth straight session after Janet Yellen told Congress she expects to continue predecessor Ben Bernanke's plan to wind down its bond-buying gradually and keep interest rates low until the jobs market improves significantly.

Tokyo climbed 0.56 per cent, or 81.72 points, to 14,800.06, Sydney jumped 1.06 per cent, or 55.6 points, to close at 5,310.1 and Seoul added 0.20 per cent, or 3.78 points, to 1,935.84.

Hong Kong jumped 1.47 percent, or 322.81 points to end at 22,285.79 and Shanghai added 0.30 percent, or 6.29 points, to 2,109.96.

Investors were buoyed by Chinese data showing a better-than-forecast jump in exports in January.

In her first testimony since taking the Fed chair on February 1, Yellen said the world's number one economy is expected to grow this year and next at a moderate pace, despite some recent poor data that has sparked fears of a slowdown.

Investors were reassured by her comments following turmoil on global markets earlier this month.

The markets had feared a flight of capital from emerging economies, after the Fed's policy board said it would reduce its stimulus by $10 billion a month beginning February to $65 billion -- following a similar move at its previous meeting.

Yellen said that when the Federal Open Market Committee meets again in March it could consider a pause to the taper if economic conditions show a significant deterioration.

"Yellen hit just the right note with the market, reassuring that there would be no major break with the existing policy, while remaining somewhat cautious," said SMBC Nikko Securities general manager of equities Hiroichi Nishi.

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UNN’s alumni Aba branch sue sacked pro-chancellor, UNAA president

By Kodilinye Obiagwu new dimension has been A added to the crisis rocking the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). This is because the Aba branch of the University of Nigeria Alumni Association (UNAA) sued the sacked Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Dr. Emeka Enejere, the association’s National President, Chief Andrew Oru, and 55 other members of the body.

In an originating summons filed at the Federal High Court, Umuahia on January 31, 2014, the Aba branch of the UNAA sought its leave to declare that the purported national convention of UNAA held in Asaba, Delta State on December 5-8, 2012 was unconstitutional as it was held in breach of the alumni constitution.

The applicants also sought that in the alternative that the national convention of UNAA held in Asaba, Delta State was constitutional, a declaration that Oru does not possess the requisite good character to be the national president of UNAA, “as he has been tried, found guilty of professional misconduct in the legal profession and his name consequently struck out from the

roll of legal practitioners.”

To prove their claim, the plaintiffs attached to the summons a letter from the Supreme Court dated January 14, 2014, signed by the Chief Registrar, Sunday Olorundahunsi entitled; “Re: Chief Andrew Oru, Inquiry on whether readmitted to the Nigerian bar.”

The letter stated that the Supreme Court had “checked its records and can confirm to you that Chief Andrew Oru was “enrolled at the Supreme Court registry on the 17th day of August, 1984 with the name Oru Andrew Ovuikuroma. On the 18th day of November, 2008, Oru, Andrew Ovuikuroma was struck off

the roll of legal practitioners as directed by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee and till date, it has remained so.”

The plaintiffs prayed the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction restraining Oru, and the others he represents from parading themselves as the national officers of UNAA. They also prayed the court to declare that the award of the association, Aloha, conferred “on Mr. Emeka Enejere sued herein as the 53rd defendant was in breach of the provisions of Article 21 of UNAA Constitution and therefore null and void and of no effect.”

Belgore quits Kwara APC, joins PDP From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin ORMER governorship canFCongress didate of the defunct Action of Nigeria (ACN) in Kwara State, Dele Belgore (SAN), yesterday defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing ideological difference with some elements within the APC in the state.

In a speech to his supporters at his GRA, Ilorin campaign organisation centre, Belgore

said the idea for forming the then ACN was to wage war against oppressive politicians in the state, alleging that since the point of the merging of the ACN with some other political parties evolving under the name APC, the ideology of the defunct party had been lost.

Besides, he queried the rationale for giving to the new entrants into the party more plum positions at the executive level than those they met at the party.

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Ajudua wants Bamaiyi tried over alleged money laundering

By Bertram Nwannekanma Ajudua, who is facing FingRED trial for allegedly launder$6 million, yesterday

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (left); Chevron Corporation Vice President, Rhonda Zygocki and Pastor Joe Ebiware of Keffes Regional Development Committee, Bayelsa State, during a Global Memorandum of Understanding Fair and Exhibition organised by NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture at Transcorp Hotel, Abuja

Communities, government celebrate GMoU with Chevron OVERNMENT and community stakeholders involved in a Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) with Chevron Nigeria Limited have celebrated the successes recorded so far in the implementation of the agreement.

The celebration took place at a GMoU Fair and Exhibition programme organised by NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture at Transcorp Hotel, Abuja. The stakeholders are five Niger Delta states of Rivers, Delta, Imo, Ondo, Bayelsa and communities close to Chevron Nigeria Limited’s operations represented by communitybased development organisations known as Regional Development Committees (RDCs).

According to the stakeholders, the GMoU model with Chevron has led to significant development of communities close to the operation of the oil company.

Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and his Imo State counterpart, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, who spoke at the fair, lauded the GMoU, which involves NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture, communities close to Chevron Nigeria Limited’s operations represented by community based development organisations known as Regional Development Committees (RDCs) or Foundation (RDFs) and the government.

In a keynote address, Uduaghan expressed delight, saying the results achieved by the GMoU so far have surpassed the state government’s imagination. His words: “The GMoU involving us, NNPC/Chevron and our communities have succeeded beyond our imagination. The GMoU model has gone a long way to achieving its objectives. The era of accountability

G

and transparency it has brought to the administration of community resources is worthy of note because it has eliminated the allegations that some community leaders embezzle fund meant for community development.”

While noting that the GMoU model has reduced disunity and disharmony among community leaders, Uduaghan, who was apparently making reference to the controversy surrounding the six million dollars provided by Chevron for the development of the New Ugborodo, averred that “no money can miss from GMoU”.

On the theme of the GMoU “Fair: Enhancing Sustainable Community Driven Development Through Partnership, Transparency and Accountability”, he said it was apt, particularly as it would afford all stakeholders, including the state governments, the necessary platform to evaluate the contributions of the RDCs through the GMoU implementation to the development of the of the communities as well as share best practice with others.

Uduaghan pledged the state government’s readiness to partner with all stakeholders of the GMoU model to arresting the scourge of oil theft, just as he enjoined Chevron to explore the option of domiciling pipeline surveillance contracts to contractors within the communities so as to ensure effective protection of the pipeline facilities and collective responsibility on the part of the communities.

Okorocha, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Prof. Okee Okoro, stated that Chevron has done so well for the oil-producing communities under its areas

of operation. He enjoined government and other development agencies to replicate the development strides of the RDCs. In an address, Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), Mr. Andrew Fawthrop, posited that without the support of the state governors in its areas of operation and the Federal Government, the GMoU programme would not succeed.

His words: “It is also important to recognise the support of the governors of the states where the GMoU is meeting the development needs of the communities. Without the support of the state governors, the GMoU programme would not succeed. His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan, has also been very supportive of the GMoU. We believe his support is a testament to the high value he places on community development in Nigeria.

Mr. Fawthrop explained that the GMoU is a tripartite participatory partnership, which empowers the communities to identify and determine their developmental needs using funds provided by CNL while the government ensures that the governance and control measures, which guarantee that approved projects are executed with financial transparency and accountability, are strictly followed. He said community development organisations that signed the agreement with NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture are Keffes RDF, Dodo River RDC in Bayelsa State, Idama RDC, Kula RDC in Rivers State, Ilaje, Ondo State, Jisike RDF, Imo State and Itsekiri RDC and Egbema Gbaramatu Central Development Foundation (EGCDF) in Delta State.

Dr. Ikeh Tolar, the pioneer

chairman of Egbema Gbaramatu Central Development Foundation, said the implementation of the GMoU has translated to improved understanding between the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture and the communities.” The GMOU process has helped to build a bridge of understanding, trust and commitment to improving the quality of life of the people while also creating an enabling operating environment for Chevron to operate”, Dr. Tolar stated.

The former chairman of Ilaje RDC, Prince Philemon Ebiesuwa, in his comments, said the GMoU has brought some positive impacts in the development of oil-producing communities with regards to contract awards to community members. “There are high quality infrastructural projects that can be seen … all these have helped to stem violent agitations in the communities”, he added.

Dr. Urohbo of Morgan Smart, a non-governmental organisation, also applauded the GMoU, saying the model has significantly raised the capacity of community people thereby enabling them to drive their development needs and execute complex business transactions.

The RDCs and foundation are Egbema-Gbaramatu Central Development Foundation (Delta State); Itsekiri Regional Development Committee (Delta State); Ilaje Regional Development Foundation; Dodo River Regional Development Committee (Bayelsa State); Keffes Regional Development Committee (Bayelsa State); Kula Regional Development Foundation (Rivers State); Idama Regional Development Foundation (Rivers State) and Jisike Regional Development Foundation (Imo State).

urged a Lagos High Court in Ikeja to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (rtd) for money laundering.

Apart from seeking Bamaiyi’s trial, Ajudua also asked the court, presided over by Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, to quash the charges instituted against him by the anti-graft agency.

The businessman is being accused of obtaining $6 million (about N1 billion) under pretence.

The 52-year-old lawyer, who was aided to the dock by two prison officials, was billed to be arraigned for the charge but his counsel, Olalekan Ojo, said his client could not be arraigned until the court has taken a decision on the applications he filed.

“When a defendant is challenging the jurisdiction of the court by virtue of the alleged incompetence of the charge, the law stipulates that the motion be heard before the plea is taken,” Ojo said.

“The law has always been that a challenge to the charge must be taken before plea. It has been the unanimous position of the court. The law is trite that an application must be heard, no matter the perceived weakness or frivolity of that application,” he added.

In the application, Ajudua is praying the court to declare Section 260(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice of Lagos State Law 2011 null and void and inconsistent with Section 36(6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The General had, from his

admission and confession in those statements, engaged in diverse acts of criminality, whether in attempting to give gratification to these public officers through his agents or by making payments exceeding N500,000 in cash. The law prescribes punishment ranging from minimum of five years’ imprisonment, as can be seen in Sections 8 and 9 of the Anti-Corruption Law, and over 100 years’ imprisonment as can be gleaned from Section 15(1) of the existing Money Laundering Act at that time,” he said.

Further hearing in the matter has been adjourned till February 27.

Bamaiyi was said to have written to the EFCC, accusing Ajudua and his accomplices of collecting the money between November 2004 and June 2005 to facilitate his release from prison.

“A critical review of Bamaiyi’s statement to the EFCC established that the money was meant to bribe judicial officers. Part of the money was paid to a lawyer to bribe the Attorney General of Lagos State and to ensure that General Bamaiyi’s case is split and tried separately.

“The other persons linked to the illicit transaction whose statements were attached to the proof of evidence denied knowledge of the allegation; General Bamaiyi also admitted the unauthorised use of cell phone while in detention; no evidence of how the funds moved in and out of the prison, no evidence of any of the prison personnel who had knowledge of the movement of the funds apart from a self confessional statement of one of the officers,” Ojo said in the application.

Panel member allays fear over confab • Says conference will determine what happens to outcome

By Tunde Akinola MEMBER of the Presidential A Advisory Council on National Dialogue, Tony Uranta, has allayed the fear that the Federal Government would hijack the conference, but urged Nigerians to exercise faith in the process.

Addressing journalists in Lagos yesterday, Uranta described the proposed national dialogue as a “true” peoples’ conference a lot of statesmen had dreamt about a long time ago.

He added that the conference would be fully controlled by the people without external influences. “When the conference begins, the people will decide whether there should be a no-go-area or not. The people are in control of the conference. The President has only 71 delegates out of 492, making 14.43 per cent,” Uranta said.

He added that although the committee earlier opted for elections, recommending that election be held based on adult suffrage, “but there is currently a bit of brouhaha about the budget for the conference.

“Some people have said that what the President has done is to carry out his agenda or

make sure his agenda will be carried out. We made sure and the President was honourable enough to stand by our recommendations. This conference will be truly and fully the one Nigerians have yearned for.

“In the committee, our report said let the national conference decide what happens to its outcome. You have to be strategic in thinking and planning. If we must put a bill to the National Assembly before the convoking of the conference, that means the conference will not take place this year.

“If we say we must have a referendum, that may mean certain vital interests in Nigeria will start working hard against the conference. Left alone to me and individuals within the committee, we would have preferred a referendum. For political and strategic reasons, we decided that the conference should decide if they want it or not, whether it wants a brand new constitution and how it wants to go about having it.

Believe me, when the people speak, I want to see who will stand up and oppose them,” Uranta said.

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‘Consumers drive IT, mobility convergence’ The trio of Samsung Electronics officials, including the Director, Hand Held Products, Emmanouil Revmatas (left); Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, South Africa, George Ferreira and CE, EBT and IT of West Africa, Sunil Kumar, spoke to Nigerian Journalists in Malaga, Spain, at the just concluded Samsung Africa Forum 2014. According to them, increasing consumers’ preference is behind the convergence of IT and mobility. They also spoke on other germane industry issues.

ADEYEMI ADEPETUN was there. Excerpts.

HE new Samsung UHD curved television, when is this T going to be available in Nigeria?

The Ultra High Definition television will be available in Nigeria by June. Just before the World Cup begins in Brazil, it will enter the market. The UHD product is just coming to the market, it may not be pocket friendly at the beginning, but gradually, it will. It belongs to certain market segment.

About four years ago when the LED TVs came out, it wasn’t affordable, but today, almost everybody can buy it. That is the way technology works. It may not be affordable today, but subsequently in the future, it will.

The tab unveiled also differs from what we have in Nigeria presently. But if you look at some of the trends taken place between IT and mobility, there has been a lot of convergence. Consumers, whether in Nigeria or other parts of the world want devices or electronics that is portable and allows them to do many things at a go. They want a device that will allow them do so many things, whether as a professional or otherwise.

Samsung is out to enable this. The device unveiled is targeted at professionals, but consumers have embraced virtually all the inches we have introduced from seven, nine and 10 and now 12. This is a device that offers completely different user interphase, enables you to do so many things at a go.

Looking at these products unveiled, what is your target for the next 12 months?

Our innovation targets every strata of the society. We don’t just make products for just one segment of the community. Some of the innovations are high end, but that does not mean the low end products are not meeting needs as well.

For example, the Flat screen TVs are targeted at the mass market, because they are affordable.

Samsung’s strategy is to drive growth year-on-year and become market leader. In Nigeria, for instance, the trends are evolving. If you noticed, what you saw last two, three years and 10 years ago, there has been an improvement on them.

In many ways, our businesses are been remodeled to fit into what people wanted. Nigeria is emerging and the market is exciting, so we are also trying as much as possible to meet the demands of every segment of the market.

In terms of mobile, we have feature phones for as low as N12, 500 and S3 goes for as high as N105, 000 and of course there are several products in between these two sets.

Our target this year is to gain insight into each segment of the market. It is this insight that will make us provide products that will meet individual needs. From the insight we have gained, the youths are strategic, not only in Nigeria, but globally. Also not only in the mobile, even in electronics segment.

From the different display of your products, which cuts across IT, mobility and electronics, what is the future of technology globally?

From the beginning, every body talks about ubiquitous technology, anyway, time and where. What we are doing at Samsung is to drive that principle.

Ubiquitous technology is simply allowing all the devices to connect to the Internet and drive our professional and domestic lives. The fact remains that we shall continue to look and explore every opportunity that comes our way to improve lives through technology.

I was telling some people some time ago that between 1850 and 1950, Alexander Graham Bell developed the telephone, 100 years nothing changed. But from 1950 to 2000 and to today, there have been a lot of development and changes.

And I think we at Samsung have been part of those propelling the changes.

However, as time goes on, we are looking at the concept of smart home, which is already in Nigeria with the introduction of home sync. A middle class family in Nigeria can have smart TV, tablets, camera, phones and connect seamlessly.

The future is to be able to stream things live from one destination to another without challenges, making it simple, affordable and available; this is where technology is headed.

Samsung is looking at taking its digital village project to all part of Africa. What will be the impact of the infrastructure gap in Nigeria and others on it?

Some elements of the Digital Village already exist in Nigeria. I mean, we have invested in the Samsung Engineering Academy. We also have projects like that in Ekiti, where we look at exploring solar technology to bridge some developmental gaps.

We are also talking to more NGOs; organizations, which we think can understand the process better. But you need to know that government, and other authorities must be involved. We have started the process but we hope to in-

Samsung Electronics officials, Director, Hand Held Products, Emmanouil Revmatas (left); Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, South Africa, George Ferreira and CE, EBT and IT of West Africa, Sunil Kumar, at the 2014 Samsun Africa Forum in Malaga, Spain. crease our engagement.

The fact remains that we are very committed to the Nigerian market. Consumers here have been very great. I can’t put a date to full deployment because so many things are involved, but we believe that as we continue in the campaign something will happen.

The fact about using it, is to drive value, reason it is important to get all necessary stakeholders involved in the push. It is very easy to deploy, but you need to get the buying of all necessary stakeholders for it to be successful. It is a work in progress.

How strategic is Nigeria’s market to Samsung and how has it respond?

Nigeria remains very strategic to Samsung in Africa and will continue to be. The driving force behind Samsung has been to meet peoples’ need and we hope to continue in this form. For example, in Nigeria when we unveiled the Galaxy Grand, we realized that the people likes touch, Smartphone and large screen and they also need something that is very friendly to the pocket. The Galaxy Grand fit into this and it has been successful.

Besides, if you look at the current tends in the world, people want to be connected faster, share information faster among others, and so with that in mind, you need to develop technology that could meet such traffic.

So if you look at innovation today, it has followed that trend and it will continue. As the need gets bigger in Africa, we shall make more investments.

Examining the consumer base of Africa, 50 per cent of them are in the youth category, around the age of 25 years, so we know the needs of the youths. They want to be connected at the go, share information faster, so they are the one driving changes and Nigeria is no different. Technology innovation will not only come in hardware but also software. All that is needed is to keep up with the trends of things. The fact remains that it is the consumer that are driving the innovation. The African consumers have become highly informed, well travelled so they demand the very best in Africa and other part of the world.

How do you handle counterfeit challenges, especially on your mobile products?

I will be hesitant to give figure as per the Nigerian market, because there are lots of reports on that. However, there are significant grey and fake markets in Nigeria. So we have two challenges to face. We have been very active in engaging and educating our consumers on simple things they can do to basically differentiate between a genuine Samsung products imported into Nigeria and the fake products peddled around.

For instance, if you enter Computer Village today to buy say our Samsung S4 for N35, 000 that is a complete fake.

Though, that may not damage our product directly, but may impact our credibility when such product failed to do what the original does.

Already, like others, we have also engaged the govt and regulators on how we can clean up the market. As you know all our products passes through the type- approved system of the Nigerian Communications Commisison. So we need to protect our investment in Nigeria against counterfeits.

However, the most important thing is actually on how we inform our consumers. So what we do is to differentiate ourselves completely from the grey market by educating our vendors and consumers on such dangers. So we are tackling the challenge from several angles, while we still seek support of relevant authorities to mitigate it.

Our main objective as company is to partner with the relevant authorities to get this menace tackled in countries that we operate. We do this by also educating our vendors,

partners, and dealers.

Secondly, we ensure that our products come through the right direction and that the value proposition they come with, for instance the 24 months warranty should be met and given to them. It is the authority that can really fight such and ours is to work with them to get this done.

Looking at the volume of market in Africa, especially Samsung’s success in Nigeria, won’t it be wise for Samsung to situate a manufacturing plant in Nigeria, which will also boost local content drive?

At Samsung, we take great pride that we are always looking for opportunities across the globe. This we shall continue. In Nigeria and other regions in Africa, we will look at more opportunities that come our way and look at the possibility of establishing a manufacturing plant say in the future. For now, we are stuck into research of more consumer satisfying products.

In Nigeria, have you ever encountered challenges in bringing your products, solutions and services to the country?

I don’t think we have had any challenge in that regards. We are law abiding by following strictly what the law says in everywhere we do business. As we speak, no particular challenge either with government or any agency.

What is Samsung eWaste strategy?

As a very responsible organisation globally, this has been one of our key focus and concern. Though, I wouldn’t specify what has been happening in Nigeria in that regards. We await regulation from the authority. Whenever there is anything coming from government, we will embrace it.

Can’t Samsung champion this course?

For example, on the migration of analogue to digital transmission, this is something we are trying to engage the government about awareness creation because as of now, there has just been an announcement by the NBC on switching to digital by June 2015. But it is not as simple as that and these are the things that the stakeholders need to be engaged with. .

The coast is still not crystal clear on how to go about that by the relevant authorities, however, there is need for more awareness because transition is bigger than the way we are looking at it.

Lets look at it from this perspective, what are those things critical to our migration from analogue to digital?

First and foremost, there is an ECOWAS specification as to how to migrate, the kind of frequencies we need to move to among others.

If this process must to start July 1, 2015, we are not prepared for it at the moment. By now, the testing should have been done and go ahead should have been given to Manufacturers on products. What we understand now is that they want to ban the importation of second hand television sets from Nigeria from July 1. By now there should have been several activities around that, but nothing seems to be happening.

The only news now is that there will be ban on second hand TVs, there are other things that must happen before the 2015 timelight.

There is need to be proactive about this process. What happens to those who have analogue television sets, how do they get setup boxes and others, we need to look into that now. We are not looking at setup boxes as opportunities for us now.

Has Samsung any trade-in-facilities for consumers?

We did an exchange programmes for air-condition last year. These are issues are in-country specific.

Is there any market opportunity for Samsung in Nigeria’s broadband drive?

At this moment, I can’t say specifically. But we may develop products that would work on that. We are not drivers of

Thursday, February 13, 2014 NEWS EXTRA

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Group scores Aregbesola high

Imo towns association Lagos chapter elects new executives

EMBERS of Imo State HE National Youth M Towns Development T Coalition for Civic Association (ISTDAL), Lagos Development (NAYICODEP) has said Governor Rauf Aregbesola has transformed almost all the sectors in Osun State.

According to the National Coordinator, Comrade Omotosho Bolarinwa, “it is obvious that Aregbesola has librated the state from the mismanagement of his predecessor.”

He said a man, who inherited a state that was deeply in dearth of development in manpower and infrastructure, has endeared his administration to the heart of the people through economic emancipation, tourism, youth empowerment, job creation and mechanised farming, among others.

Cross River to launch Security Trust Fund ROSS River State C Government is set to launch a Security Trust Fund as part of strategies aimed at sustaining its status as the safest state in the country.

Part of the objective of the trust fund is to provide a platform to galvanize collective effort towards maintaining security.

Additionally, the initiative seeks to improve swift response to distress calls by providing the necessary infrastructure.

As a prelude to the official launch of the trust fund, a consultative meeting with critical stakeholders in the private sector was held yesterday in Calabar.

Speaking at the meeting, the Security Adviser to Governor Liyel Imoke, Mr. Rekpene Bassey, disclosed that the decision was borne by the desire to have the private sector partner with government in securing lives and property in the state.

“Security is everybody’s responsibility and government, in its wisdom has created a platform that will encourage public private partnership in pulling resources for effective and more efficient management of security,” he stated.

Continuing, he said: “We are motivated by the need to encourage private involvement for effective security management because we believe that it should be private sector-driven, and it is hoped that members of the committee will support the workings in line with current realities.”

The meeting had in attendance top management staff of banks, the leadership of the Cross River State Chambers of Commerce, Agriculture and Industry, representatives of quarries as well as representatives of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the state.

The Department of State Services, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp and the Nigerian Police were also represented at the meeting.

Another meeting with stakeholders in the hospitality industry holds today.

75

chapter have sworn-in and inaugurate their newly elected executive members in continuation of the development plans of the body and the entire state in general. The ceremony held at the Imo Liaison Office located on Victoria Island, Lagos.

During his welcome speech, Okey Anorue, the new president of the association appreciated all for keeping the vision of the association alive while promising that the new executive will continue to keep the fire aglow and the flag flying at full mast.

“I make bold to say that a new era is born today, an era of selfless service and purposeful leadership predicated on team spirit, transparency, accountability, integrity and openness,” he said.

The new executives, Anorue continued, will take proactive

steps to improve on the fortunes of ISTDAL. He also promised that his team will work for the continued unity, peace and development of the association, in synergy with relevant partners and authorities, with the hope of repositioning ISTDAL for faster development and make it the pride of all lmo indigenes in Lagos.

Part of his tenure’s action plan includes building a civic centre with state-of-the-art Information and Communication Technology (ICT), skills acquisition centre, and such other facilities that will shore up revenue for ISTDAL, review and production of ISTDAL constitution that will reflect the yearnings and aspirations of members, actualization of Imo indigenes directory, which will be a compendium of the crème de la creme in Imo State and then a database of all Imo indigenes resident in Lagos and in various fields of human endeavour. The

incumbent president also promised that his administration would register ISTDAL with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

Nze Umunnakwe, the chairman of the occasion said ISTDAL has always justified her claim as a stakeholder in the development of Imo State; a state government’s partner-inprogress, and in all her efforts, has placed emphasis on peace, unity, socio-cultural and economic development of lmo State. “It’s a pity that some of our elected leaders have gone off the grid and lost clarity of vision to see the difference between incidental and accidental, the difference between essential and what is merely desirable for our people”.

Some of the dignitaries present at the event include Eze Samuel Ohiri, the chairman of Imo Council of Ndi-Eze, Eze Imo, Eze Hyacinth Nwabueze Ohazulike, Eze Ndigbo of Lagos, Steve Amadi, Grand Patron of

ISTDAL, Augustine Anozie, Pillar of ISTDAL, Tony Ohakwe, the outgoing president among others.

The new executive members are; Pastor Okey Anorue (President), Barrister Stanley Iweh (1st Vice President), Chief Mike omeihe (2nd Vice President), Barrister Norbert Ogunnaya (Secretary general), James A. Oguh (treasurer),

Agabus Anomudu (Financial Secretary), Tony Uzomah (PRO), Nicholas Okoro (Welfare officer), Chima Davis Ukwandu (Provost), Mr. Tony O. Duru (Assistant Secretary General), Chidi Okoro (Assistant Welfare Officer), Don Ezugha (Assistant. PRO), Emma Ahamefule (Assistant Financial Secretary) and Innocent Osuji (Assistant Provost).

Okorocha suspends commissioner From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri MO State Governor Rochas Iindefinitely Okorocha has suspended the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Love Nma Onyechere, from office.

According to a statement signed by the Secretary to the Government of Imo State (SGI), Prof. Anthony Anwukah

and made available to journalists yesterday, the decision to suspend Onyechere was taken in an executive council meeting presided over by the governor on February 11, but was made public on Wednesday, February 12.

The suspension announcement was subsequently aired on the state-owned electronic media, Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), Orient FM.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

76 | Thursday, February 13, 2014

Sports Yobo returns to Eagles, as Keshi picks 23 for Mexico friendly

Khan urges Mayweather to take him on in May showdown MIR Khan has challenged A Floyd Mayweather Junior to keep his word and fight him

• IK Uche, Odemwingie, Agbim out UPER Eagles’ Head Coach, SSkipper Stephen Keshi has listed Joseph Yobo in his squad of 23 for the international friendly against Mexico in Atlanta, USA on Wednesday, March 5.

Yobo, who is back in the keenly-followed English Premiership, this time with Norwich City, on loan from Fenerbahce of Turkey, last played for the Eagles at the 29th Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, which Nigeria won.

Also returning are Israelbased defender, Juwon Oshaniwa, 2014 African Nations Championship Most Valuable Player, Ejike Uzoenyi and Canada-based striker, Bright Dike.

New faces include former junior internationals, Ramon Azeez and Shehu Abdullahi, and Belgium-based strikers, Imoh Ezekiel and Michael Uchebo. Centre - back Kunle Odunlami, who made CAF’s list of Best 11 at the recent African Nations Championship in South Africa, is also included.

Usual suspects like goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide, defenders Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe and Kenneth Omeruo, midfielders John Mikel Obi and Ogenyi

Onazi, and forwards Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike and Obinna Nsofor, will also fly to America.

The full squad of 23: Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille FC, France); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel).

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco FC, France); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor, Turkey); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough FC, England); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Joseph Yobo (Norwich City, England); Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars).

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Ramon Azeez (Almeria FC, Spain); Shehu Abdullahi (Kano Pillars); Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers).

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United, England); Victor Moses (Liverpool FC, England); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce FC. Turkey); Obinna Nsofor (Chievo Verona, Italy); Bright Dike (Toronto FC, Canada), Imoh Ezekiel (Standard Liege, Belgium); Michel Uchebo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium).

Lazio adamant star is 17, not 41 club, Lazio, have ItoTALIAN released official documents prove that 17-year-old midfielder, Joseph Minala, is not actually 41.

Minala caused a stir this week because of his appearance after being one of the

Minala

youngest players in recent years to be promoted to the Lazio first-team.

He was subject of abuse on social media, with many claiming he was an age cheat, who is in fact much older than 17.

Minala’s agent has rubbished the claims, but quotes have emerged in the Senegal press suggesting that the player has admitted that he is 41 – and will turn 42 in August.

They claim that the starlet confessed to a reporter that he has been lying in order to earn money to send back to his family in Cameroun.

However, Lazio have now moved to end the age speculation by publishing his official documents on their website, with the club insisting that his registration proves that he is 17.

‘Lazio, referring to press reports relating to the age of player Joseph Minala, confirms the absolute legitimacy of the documentation filed with the federal authorities,’ they said in a statement.

Nigeria’s Joseph Yobo (right) and Theofanis Gekas of Greece gesture during their 2010 World Cup Group B match at the Free State Stadium, Mangaung/Bloemfontein. Coach Stephen Keshi has recalled Yobo to the national team.

after winning the poll to be his next opponent.

The pound-for-pound king asked his fans to choose between Khan and Marcos Maidana for his next opponent, with the Bolton fighter coming out on top.

Khan collected nearly 60 per cent of the votes when Mayweather asked boxing fans to choose between him and Marcos Maidana.

The former WBA and IBF lightwelterweight champ has been chasing a showdown with Mayweather for months and has called on the world pound-for-pound king to face the winner.

Khan, 27, is already in training with Virgil Hunter in California for the mooted multi-million-pound Las Vegas showdown on May 3 and says Mayweather cannot ignore the verdict of his own fans.

The Bolton fighter is nervous that Mayweather will still not sign for the fight and said on Twitter: “It would b an honour to share the ring with @FloydMayweather who will be loyal to his word and to the fans, to fight the winner of his poll.”

Khan has not fought since outpointing Julio Diaz in April because he is patiently waiting for a shot at Mayweather.

NFF, again, rules out foreign technical assistant for Keshi From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja and Alex Monye HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday restated that it was not considering hiring a foreign technical assistant to work with Super Eagles’ Coach, Stephen Keshi, on the road to the Brazil 2014 World Cup. The NFF technical committee, which met yesterday in Abuja, also restated that the federation was committed to providing full support to the Eagles’ coach as he prepares the team for the World Cup.

T

• Confirms Garba, Ugbade for Flying Eagles Briefing the media at the end of the meeting, the NFF Director of Technical Department, Emmanuel Ikpeme said the committee has also received the list of 23 players who forwarded by Keshi for the March 5 friendly match in Atlanta, Georgia.

Ikpeme also revealed that the committee has recommended for the NFF executive board’s ratification the promotion of former U-17 Chief Coach, Manu Garba to the U 20 team, with Nduka Ugbade as his assistant, while Fancy Ewulu will serve as

the goalkeeper trainer.

“The committee would want to state its stance that at no time did it approve or recommend the appointment of any foreign technical assistant to the head coach of the Super Eagles. The committee will also give its total and unflinching support for the team to succeed in the forthcoming FIFA World Cup,” Ikpeme stated.

Ikpeme also disclosed that the committee recommended to the NFF board to make it compulsory for all indigenous

coaches to acquire a Nigeria Football Federation Coaching License.

Earlier yesterday, NFF Media Committee Chairman, Chief Emeka Inyama had told The Guardian that some people had gone to the ‘ridiculous extent’ of spreading false information to cause disaffection between the NFF and Coach Keshi.

Inyama said the ‘Big Boss’ had all the privilege to handle the Eagles the way he desires, adding that the NFF’s technical committee could only advise Keshi on how to succeed in Brazil.

‘Calabar to host best National Sports Festival ever’ ROSS River State Governor, C Liyel Imoke has promised Nigerians that the 2014 National Sports Festival would be the best in the history of the competition.

Cross River State will host this year’s festival in November.

“This is the Centenary Games, the first ever Open Games and we are not only proud to be saddled with the historic responsibility, we are determined to make it the best National Sports Festival ever,” Imoke told a National Sports Commission (NSC) delegation, which came to the ‘Canaan City’ on Tuesday to inspect the facilities lined up for the games.

The delegation comprised members of the Main

Organising Committee (MOC) of the festival, led by the NSC Director General, Gbenga Elegbeleye, who is also the chairman of the MOC. Elegbeleye informed the Imoke that his committee was in Calabar for a facility tour, to determine the state of facilities and interface with members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) on time lines for the festival, tagged: Paradise Games.

Governor Imoke said he was delighted to be part of the sports transformational agenda of the President Jonathan administration, adding, “you will remember that after our dismal outing in the Olympics, President Jonathan issued marching orders to all concerned and it has become

a matter of policy which has heralded a new beginning for our sports.

“We in Cross River have keyed in especially in the area of grassroots development, which is the future of our sports.”

He assured Elegbeleye that no effort would be spared to ensure the state delivers a unique festival, revealing that all the contracts had been awarded and the contractors already on site to guarantee that deadlines are met.

Imoke said he was looking forward to a game that would not only dovetail into the international Calabar Carnival, but would be another opportunity to showcase the rich potentials of Cross

River State to the world.

A release issued by Chairman of the Media and Publicity Sub Committee of the festival, Paul Bassey, stated that the committees spent the whole of yesterday touring the various venues and facilities earmarked for the Festival, including the University of Calabar, the Cross River State University of Technology, General Hospital, Calabar Sports Club, Calabar Golf Club, Marina Resort for yachting, chess and ayo, among others.

At the time of filing the report, the MOC and the Local Organising Committte were involved in a marathon meeting to review the inspection tour and set time lines for the festival.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, February 13, 2014 | 77

Cricketweekly Pietersen may spark IPL bidding war

Ahead Malaysia 2014 WCL Division Five Championship

Team Nigeria thanks Sri Lanka, prays for NSC’s assistance

By Christian Okpara FFICIALS of Team Nigeria O have commended the Sri Lankan High Commission in the country for its role in preparing the team for the forthcoming Malaysia 2014 World Cricket league (WCL) Division Five Championship, which holds from March 4 to 14 in Kuala Lumpur.

The Sri Lankan High Commission is bankrolling Team Nigeria’s training tour of Colombo from February 21 to March 3 and according to Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) Technical Director, Olisa Egwuatu, preparing in one of the biggest cricket playing nations will put Nigeria in good stead for the championship.

He said the tour, scheduled from Feb 21 to March 3, would be bankrolled by the Sri Lankan High Commission, adding that the team would depart Colombo on March 3 for the Division Five tournament scheduled to run from March 4 to 14.

“Sri Lanka is among the top eight cricket playing nations in the world and this is a great achievement for Nigeria to be recognised by Sri Lanka. It is also an opportunity given to us to play with world known stars,” he said, adding that it was the desire of the NCF board to expose its cricket team to the best teams in the world.

Among the six teams slated to compete for promotion to the Division Four at the Malaysia championship, Nigeria is the least ranked side. But Egwuatu believes that with the level of preparation the team is experiencing in Abuja and the training tour of Sri Lanka, Nigeria will be ready to challenge successfully for promotion in Malaysia.

Competing at the WCL Division Five Championship

against Nigeria are Malaysia, Jersey, Cayman Islands, Tanzania and Guernsey.

“The Sri Lankan high commissioner has been very helpful to us since we began preparation last month in Abuja for the WCL championship. He went with us to meet the Minister of Sports and was surprised that we were not getting any financial or material support from the National Sports Commission (NSC).

“Now, they have arranged for us to travel to Colombo to train world class facilities and play against the top teams in their country. We cannot stop thanking them for what they are doing for us,” Egwuatu said.

He added, “the Sri Lankan High Commission has given us a platform, which we will utilise to prepare adequately for the championship.

“In Sri Lanka, we will play four games, two each against Colts Cricket Club and Moores CC right on the main pitch of the cricket stadium in Colombo. We will begin the 10-day tour of Sri Lanka on February 21.”

Egwuatu also thanked former NCF President, Dr. John Abebe, Chief Philip Asiodu and Toye Timinadi, a cricket coach, for their financial support, adding that the team would try to justify the material and emotional support they have received from their patrons.

“But I want to once against plead with the Sports Minister and the NSC to support us because we are going to fight for Nigeria.

“If we qualify for the Division Four, it means we will get the opportunity to vie for qualification for the 2019 ICC World Cup in New Zealand. That would be the first time a West African team would get to such height and we need government support to achieve that feat,” he said.

EVIN Pietersen could be at K centre of a bidding war, which makes him the most

Team Nigeria celebrating a good turn during the 2009 WCL Division Seven Championship in Guernsey.

India Premier League set for biggest auction HE 2014 IPL auction will be T held in Bangalore today and tomorrow, the seventh auction but the third in which the franchises will have to build their teams largely from scratch.

In the inaugural auction in 2008, most of the franchises had only a marquee player each around whom to form their teams.

Ahead of the 2011 shake-up, when player contracts

expired and two new teams were added, teams were allowed to retain up to four players ahead of the auction.

This year, to preserve the core of their teams, franchises were allowed to retain up to five players and given a ‘Right to Match’ card to buy back some more of their players during the auction.

The auction purse in 2008 was $5 million. In 2011 it was $9 million. In 2014, the auc-

Sharif dismisses Ashraf, picks Sethi as PCB chairman HE turmoil within the top T management of the PCB took two new, and yet familiar, twists on Monday with the Patron of the Board, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, dismissing the Chairman, Zaka Ashraf, once again and dissolving the board of governors.

Sharif directed a management committee to pick a PCB chairman from among its eight members and it chose Najam Sethi, who acted as

interim chairman while Ashraf was suspended.

The management committee included Shahriyar Khan (former PCB chairman), Najam Sethi (former interim PCB chairman), Zaheer Abbas (former Pakistan captain), Naveed Akram Cheema (chief secretary, Punjab), Shakeel Sheikh (former member of PCB board of governors), Yousaf Naseem Khokhar (former member of PCB board of governors), Iqbal Qasim (for-

expensive player in Indian Premier League auction history today.

The 33-year-old is available for the entire tournament for the first time after being sacked by England.

“He is such an awesome player that every franchise would like to have him in the team,” said Kings XI Punjab head of cricket operations, Anant Sarkaria.

Former IPL chief, Lalit Modi, predicted Pietersen could cost a record £3m.

Each franchise has a spending cap of 600m rupees (£5.87m) and although Pietersen has been given the highest possible reserve price of 20m rupees (£195,000), competition among the eight franchises is expected to drive the cost of his signature far higher.

The current record paid for a single player was set in 2011 when India batsman, Gautam Gambhir, was signed for $2.4m (£1.45m) in the annual auction.

Last year, Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell fetched the highest bid of $1m from eventual winners Mumbai Indians.

This year, players are being bought in Indian rupees instead of US dollars for the first time.

“A lot of teams would be looking for Pietersen and we are one of them,” added Sarkaria.

“The availability of English players for the whole duration of the IPL has always been a problem for most of the franchises. They have international commitments to fulfil.

“Pietersen’s retirement changes the dynamics of auction.”

mer cricketer), Ijaz Chaudary (IPC secretary). It was expected to meet for the first time on February 11.

The mandate given by the prime minister to the committee is to form a new PCB constitution and restore stability to cricket administration in Pakistan.

The committee said they would let the decisions made

by Ashraf stand only if they are legitimate, and will scrap the ones that are not. Ashraf was

critical of the decision.

“The decision clearly shows that there is government interference (in the PCB),” he said.

“It’s an undemocratic decision by a democratic government.”

It was the second time that Ashraf had been removed as PCB chairman in the last eight months. Ashraf had been suspended in May 2013 by the Islamabad High Court after it ruled he had been elected via a “dubious” and “polluted” process.

tion purse will be in Indian rupees for the first time; teams have INR 60,00,00,000 ($10 million approximately) to spend on their squads. Not only is the purse deeper than in previous mega-auctions, so is the pool of players to choose from with the addition of uncapped Indian players to the auction list.

A total of 514 players - 219 capped, 295 uncapped - will be part of the 2014 auction.

They have been pooled into two sets of marquee players, which will be up for sale first, and subsequent sets according to their skills: batsman, wicketkeeper, fast bowler, spinner, allrounder. The sets 53 in total - for capped and uncapped players are separate.

In previous years, the maximum size of an IPL squad has been as many as 33 players. In 2014 the franchises need to build squads of at least 16 players but no more than 27.

They may buy a maximum of nine overseas players. There is no requirement that an IPL

squad must contain players from the franchise’s catchment area.

Every IPL franchise must spend at least INR 36,00,00,000 ($6 million approximately) on its squad at the 2014 auction and the next two seasons. Every player bought at the 2014 auction will be on a one-year contract with the franchise having the option to extend the term for two more years.

In the lead-up to the auction franchises were allowed to retain up to five players - of which no more than four could be capped Indians from their 2013 squads. For each player retained, a certain amount was deducted from the team’s auction purse irrespective of whether that was the salary agreed by the franchise and the player. A franchise that retained five capped players - like Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians did - will have a balance of INR 21,00,00,000 ($ 3.5 million) to buy a minimum of 11 players at the auction.

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

SPORTS Thursday, February 13, 2014

Mixed fortunes for Nigeria at Kuwait 2014 ITTF World Tour

By Olalekan Okusan was mixed fortunes for ItheTNigeria’s representatives at ongoing International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour, tagged: Kuwait Open, with Aruna Quadri recording an emphatic 4-0 win over Egypt’s Mohamed Elsobky, while Kazeem Makanjuola fell by the same margin to France’s Benjamin Brossier.

Quadri, who played in Group Nine, started the encounter against the southpaw Egyptian on a shaky note, but he prevailed to win the first game at 13-11. The next three games went in his favour at 118, 11-8, 11-6 to record a whooping 4-0 win.

But it was not the same for his compatriot, Makanjuola, who is making his debut in an ITTF World Tour losing 5-11, 911, 8-11, 5-11 to his French opponent.

However, Quadri is in a position to progress to the main draw as his last group match holds today against Russia’s Alexey Liventsov to decide the winner of the group.

Makanjuola last group match will be against Portugal’s Joao Monteiro.

The winner of the 32 groups in the qualifiers will advance

Quadri is expected to tackle his Russian counterpart in today’s last group match in the ongoing ITTF World Tour in Kuwait.

LMC innovations will rejuvenate, return glamour to Nigerian league, says Eguma

By Eno-Abasi Sunday ANAGER of Dolphins M Football Club of Port Harcourt, Stanley Eguma has applauded the far-reaching reforms and innovations championed by the League Management Company (LMC), saying if well implemented, they were capable of bringing back the glory days.

Eguma while interacting with The Guardian yesterday, specifically on the threat by the LMC to decertify clubs that default in the payment of the agreed N150, 000 minimum wage for Glo Premier League players, however, cautioned that the implementation be done with minimal force in order not to upset the apple cart.

The Chief Operating Officer of the LMC, Salihu Abubakar, had last week while conducting the draws for the new league season, told the media that the outfit would decertify

any club side that is found wanting even as he informed that adequate measures would be taken to ensure clubs comply with the agreement.

“Over the years, poor welfare package has remained the bane of the Nigerian domestic league. This has given rise to the exodus of our talented players to leagues on the continent and lesser leagues in Europe and elsewhere.

“This is why the innovations put in place by the LMC should be applauded because they are aimed at making our players happy so that they can resist the temptation of being lured to sign poor or slave contracts in Europe,” Eguma stated.

Insisting that the N150. 000 monthly salary recommended

by LMC was “not too much considering the wear and tear the players experience in the course of the season, the Dolphins FC boss stressed that most professional club sides in

the country were capable of sticking to the new salary regime.

However, he urged the LMC to apply brakes in the enforcement as most of the clubs, who are state government-owned had drawn up their spending profile before now and it would be very difficult for them to make up for the shortfall.

His words, “some LMC’s reforms though very difficult to abide by are meant to make our league stronger, lucrative, update facilities, return the glamour and give attention to security issues. But I would plead with them (LMC) not to be too strict with the issue of the N150. 000 monthly salary for this season. This is because most clubs are sponsored by state governments, who after the budgetary provisions they had made at the beginning of

the fiscal year, may not be well disposed to coming up with more money for the clubs.

“So I would advise that the full implementation of the new salary structure should come into full force from the next football season when the state governments and clubs would have prepared well for it.”

its kind race and ball to mark the Valentine’s Day. Aimed at fostering stronger family ties, the event, which is being packaged by wives of members of the Club, according to the co-ordinator, Grace Giwa Daramola, is also to help promote water sports for children of members.

“It is our goal to use the Valentine Day Race and Ball to foster stronger family ties, promote family values, bring wives of members together through this interaction and promote water sports, as most of our

children are involved in swimming and kayaking.

“It will also help inculcate discipline in our children through community interaction and also to appreciate our husbands.”

She noted that many people, who do not know about the club often think it is meant for people to just come and drink, pointing out that there is more to benefit from the club through the development of water sport.

“When families come together on a day like the Valentines and relax together, we’ll help promote family values because it means with is race, parents understand what their kids are doing.”

Heineken Champions Planet berths in Ikoyi lovers in Ikoyi and FgoodOOTBALL its environs are in for a time during the knock out stage of the UEFA Champions League, which resumes across stadiums in Europe next week. Reason, Heineken has announced the relocation of the Champions Planet from Victoria Island to a more cozy location in Ikoyi.

The new Heineken Champions Planet will be opened to visitors from the February 18 and as usual, the venue would host live telecast of all matches from the knockout stage through to the final match in May 24.

The Heineken Champions Planet has over the years provided premium viewing experience for consumers and visitors to enjoy all the matches alongside captains of Industry, legends of the game and celebrities in the entertainment industry.

All visitors to the Heineken Champions Planet this year are in for a fun-filled and premium viewing experience.

“Our consumers and visitors deserve the best and we intend to give them premium taste in the house every season,” said Kehinde Kadiri, Heineken brand manager.

Weightlifters want Jonathan’s reward for performance in Malaysia

By Gowon Akpodonor FTER a long wait, Nigerian weightlifters, who won the 2013 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship in Malaysia, have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to extend his financial rewards to them.

Their call for a presidential

A

NSC holds Valentine’s Day race tomorrow HE Navy Sailing Club, Ojo T tomorrow will be a beehive of activities as it hosts the first of

to the main draw to confront the top 32 seeded players.

In the doubles’ the duo of Quadri and Makanjuola got a bye to the round of 32 of the qualifying round and they are expected to tackle the German pair of Ruwen Filus and Ricardo Walther also today.

Quadri said yesterday that his victory over the Egyptian would surely spur him against the Russian.

“I did not play like I expected before the match. I won but I was not on top of my game.

The reason is just that it has been so long I took part in an international tournament. I was expecting a tougher challenge from the Egyptian, but I was fortunate because he did not play well also,” he said.

The 2011 All Africa Games bronze medalist added, “I think I will play better in my next game as I will keep improving in every match.

Winning the Portuguese Cup does not matter because Portuguese Cup was between clubs in Portugal. But everything is different in Kuwait because this is an international tournament and the level of play is high. I know that to win my next match to be certain of the playing in the main draw, I must improve on my service as well as how I receive serves.”

A female weightlifter, Mariam Usman, representing Nigeria in an international championship. The lifters to Malaysia 2013 Commonwealth Championship are calling for President Goodluck Jonathan’s financial reward

reward is coming at a time, Nigeria’s junior athletics team that won the Mauritius 2013 African Athletics Championship, are at daggerdrawn with the Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, for allegedly refusing to forward their names to the presidency for financial reward seven months after doing the nation proud in Mauritius.

The Nigerian weightlifting team to Malaysia topped the medals table in the female category, winning a total of eight gold, three silver and three bronze medals. India came first in the male category.

The victory by the Nigerian lifters was widely celebrated, especially when they overcame stiff opposition from the hosts, Malaysia and India, with a large contingent of over 100 weightlifters and officials to top the female medals t a b l e .

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, one of the lifters expressed dismay over the manner in which the Presidency go about selecting only footballers for reward, ‘even if they fail to win a major trophy.

“A friend told me a few days ago that the Presidency would host the home-based Super Eagles in Abuja on Thursday (today) for finishing third at the just concluded CHAN in South Africa. Nobody is talking about us and it is not the best for sports in this country.

Look at the junior athletes that won the Mauritius 2013 African Athletics Championship.

The Presidency is not looking at their direction. Why footballers all the time?” the weightlifter queried.

Speaking further, he said, “We all praised the president when he came up with this idea of rewarding athletes and officials, who do the country proud in international competitions. The country has actually benefited from it because Jonathan’s government has recorded a lot of achievement in sports and this is as a result of the financial reward for the athlete and their officials.

“What is baffling me now is the fact that the reward is going the way of footballers alone.”

Thursday, February 13, 2014 SPORT | 79

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

EUROPEAN ROUND-OFF Aubameyang earns Dortmund cup semis place

Simeone proud in defeat IEGO Simeone believes D his players exited the Copa del Rey with their heads held high despite their 5-0 aggregate semifinal loss to city rivals Real Madrid.

Already trailing 3-0 from last week’s first leg at the Bernabeu, two early Cristiano Ronaldo penalties at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday night sealed Los Rojiblancos’ fate.

Simeone said on www.clubatleticodemadrid.com: “After losing the tie and being knocked out, we are not happy about how it happened and it is logical and normal not to be happy.

“Last year we reached the final and won the cup, and this year we reached the semi-finals. You can always

do better but I think it is not bad, being as competitive as we have been in the Copa del Rey. “The team did not lose face.”

The Argentinian acknowledged his game-plan to try to overcome the first-leg deficit had not worked.

“I always think that when you’re losing 3-0 is difficult trying to climb fast,” he said.

“We wanted to get the ball, but could not. We tried recovering the ball in the middle with Koke, (Jose) Sosa, Mario (Suarez), Diego and (Cristian) Rodriguez to attack on the wing with (Javi) Manquillo and (Emiliano) Insua.

“This did not work out. The responsibility is mine, but the words do not count if they are not during the game.”

... As Casillas warns for Atletico fans EAL Madrid goalkeeper, R Iker Casillas has warned there could be “serious” consequences for Atletico Madrid after Cristiano Ronaldo was hit on the head by a lighter thrown from the stands in Tuesday’s Copa del Rey clash.

Two early penalties from Portugal forward Ronaldo earned Carlo Ancelotti’s side a 2-0 win at the Vicente Calderon, securing a 5-0 aggregate triumph in the two-legged semi-final.

Ronaldo’s reward was to be struck by a lighter as he walked off at half-time alongside Sergio Ramos, and, although he was not seriously injured, Casillas felt it could have turned out a lot worse.

“There is always someone that tries to smear the image of a club like Atletico Madrid and it doesn’t reflect how the majority of their fans are,” he said on www.realmadrid.com.

“I think the consequences could be serious, because it could have hurt a player.”

Ronaldo played for the remainder of the match and left at full-time as a winner, and with the praise of coach Carlo Ancelotti soon ringing in his ears.

“The tie overall was good

IERRE-EMERICK P Aubameyang’s header seven minutes from time

for us,” the Italian said. “The advantage that we got in the first match was crucial.

We also scored very soon (on Tuesday night), which almost settled things.

“The team played well in both matches and we deserved to win. I think that we have played well in all of our cup matches, and kept clean sheets, and that is very good. Now we’re through to the final, which is important.

“Cristiano is doing well. He scored two goals and played a key role at the start of the match. The three forwards did well at the start and were very dangerous.”

Record signing Gareth Bale agreed that the visitors fully merited their triumph, which set up a final date with either Barcelona or Real Sociedad.

“We played a great match,” the Wales forward said. “We did very well in the tie overall and deserve to be in the cup final.

“We are doing very well in attack, but we have improved a lot in defence.

We are playing very well. It is great to see that what we work on in training comes off when we use it in matches and gets us the results.”

Hugain

Higuain relishing Naples stay ONZALO Higuain has G pledged his future to Napoli after revealing he plans to see out the remainder of his contract at the San Paolo stadium.

The Argentina striker, who was a reported target of Chelsea in the winter transfer market, is Napoli’s top scorer this season with 12 goals in 22 Serie A games.

“My future is at Napoli,” Higuain said to Gazzetta dello Sport. “I have a contract with Napoli for another four years and I am treated like a king here.

“This is an important time for me and for my career. I’ve been playing at the highest level for eight years and I feel physically well and there’s a great atmosphere in Naples.”

The 26-year-old turned down an offer from Juventus shortly before joining Napoli from Real Madrid in a £34.5million transfer deal last summer.

“Juve executives spoke to my family but I already had an offer from Napoli,” Higuain said. “I also received a phone call from Napoli’s coach, Rafa Benitez that convinced me in no time of Napoli’s project.

“After speaking to my father,

Falcao’s recovery on track, says Monaco ADAMEL Falcao’s recovery R from a serious knee injury is on track, according to an update from his club Monaco.

The Colombia striker suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage in his side’s Coupe de France clash with minnows Monts d’Or Azergues last month and it was feared he would miss the rest of the season and the summer’s World Cup. But Dr. Jose Carlos Noronha, who operated on him in Portugal, offered an encouraging prognosis in late

January when he said of Falcao’s World Cup hopes, “the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t small.”

And a statement on Monaco’s website yesterday read: “Radamel Falcao has successfully completed the first phase of his recovery further to the operation on his left knee.

“As Monaco FC and the player would like to thank all the people, who took care of Falcao in Porto, in particular the medical department of Doctor Jose Carlos Noronha and the FC Porto club.

“Radamel Falcao is going to pursue from this Thursday the second phase of his recovery in the sport clinic in Madrid, in close collaboration with the medical department of AS Monaco FC.” Falcao was signed from Atletico Madrid last summer for a reported 60million euros (around £50m), having previously played for Porto.

He has scored over 30 goals in each of the last four seasons and, with 11 from 19 games, was on course for a similar total this term until his injury.

I decided to turn down the other offers and go for Napoli.”

Napoli are third in Serie A and hold the last Champions League qualifying spot.

“They are also alive in the Europa League and the

Coppa Italia. We hope we can win a title this season,” Higuain said. “We believe it is possible.There are three titles up for grabs and although we know it will be very difficult, we are very determined to surprise everyone.”

booked 2012 DFB-Pokal winners Borussia Dortmund a place in the final four of this season’s competition.

The Gabon international clinched a 1-0 victory for Dortmund over Eintracht Frankfurt - just when a game dominated by Jurgen Klopp’s men appeared to be heading for extra time.

With the chances of Bundesliga glory looking slim, given the 17-point deficit on leaders Bayern, the DFBPokal could well present Dortmund with their best chance of silverware this term.

With that in mind, they soon built up a head of steam with Robert Lewandowski starting what was to be an intriguing battle with Carlos Zambrano.

The Frankfurt defender’s close attention of the Pole helped the hosts keep themselves in the tie while frustrating the Bundesliga’s secondhighest scorer.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan was guilty of missing the best chances, though, as he exploited the room left open to him, albeit without showing the incision which had helped him score twice against Werder Bremen at the weekend.

Frankfurt also had goalkeeper Kevin Trapp to thank for keeping them in the tie at half-time.

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

ODFATHER is a word that has been used in difG ferent ways by different people to describe a sponsor of a child to infant baptism as done in many orthodox churches in Christendom who would serve as guardian in nurturing the child.

There is the 1969 novel ‘The God father’ written

by Mario Puzo, which was subsequently adapted to a blockbuster film titled The God father. It is Please send reactions and feedback for YOUTH SPEAK to: also used to describe sponsors of loyalists to political positions in government under some editorial@risenetworks.org and 07067976667- SMS ONLY terms and conditions that may include but not the least, financial settlement.

In all these definitions, the word ‘sponsor’ appears to be recurring and when we look at the positive perspective of it, there is nothing wrong for one to sponsor or to be sponsored for a political position in government especially if the key interest is to render good service to the masses. It is also re-assuring if the process of emergence of the candidate is transparent and widely acceptable. Here the godfather can be described as a guardian, mentor and strong supporter to his godson, working for him to succeed.

As ideal as the assertion above appears, it is clear that practically it is mainly the opposite that applies. Nigerian politicians always find ways of subverting the collective interest of the people to their own advantage especially in favour of their chief sponsor (the god father).

Party structure and constitution in some cases are tampered with by these big untouchable men who command so much influence.

Godfatherism is a nemesis that has bedevilled Nigeria political system for a long time since independence. The first perceived instance was the nomination of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as the Prime Minister of Nigeria by Ahmadu Bello (a godfather and Premier of Northern Region). This act subjugated our communal and national rights to the dictate of a remote personality and group of people around him. Godfatherism has been associated with many negative outcomes and little or no positives in Nigeria. It has worked in opposite of the basic principle of leadership which is supposed to be derived on merit. It promotes mediocrity, as those put forward by the godfathers, as candidates for elective positions are in most cases not the best out of the millions.

Many are incompetent, bereft of ideas and hardly work towards the interest of the masses.

After the elections of 1999 and a couple of years gone by, it has dawned on many Nigerians that the serving president and some of the governors in some states were handpicked by godfathers, President Goodluck Jonathan and the electorate only fulfilled their selfish interest by going to the poll to legitimise the the unseen hand moving the pawns on the impasse lasted the godfather applied all the scheme. Our voting was of little importance as chessboard of Anambra State. The godfather powers necessary at his disposal to attempt to they relied heavily on rigging for result. How did successfully executed the contract and had cow the renegade godson. It all fell through. we come to know about this? Of course when the boasted once that he singlehandedly installed Having exhausted all means to whip the godson loyalty and peace of the polity are no longer as the governor of Anambra State, and the mem- into line, the godfather and his protégé decided they used to be and in some cases, money and bers of the state House of Assembly. It is need- to crash the vehicle by voluntarily announcing other ancillary positions are no longer dictated less to write about the rigging system that was that the election that brought the godson to by the godfather and so on, with a resultant in operation at that time. It is important to note power was rigged by them. At the end PDP lost schism, power struggle and confessions, it that in all these ventures, the interest of the peo- the governorship to APGA and the rest is history. ple of Anambra State was of little importance.

Similar godfather’s overbearing influence was becomes clear that we have been fooled again.

A case that comes to mind is the political The key interest remained to have a strong grip played-out in many other states such as Oyo struggle between the erstwhile godfather in on the government of the state through any State (Lamidi Adedibu vs. Rasheed Ladoja 2003Anambra State and his former governor godson. means necessary that included intimidation 2007), Kwara State (Olusola Saraki vs.

The godfather and cohorts wielded so much and oath taking. The godfathers manipulated Mohammed Lawal), Rivers State (Harry Marshal power and influence on the machinery of gover- the whole Anambra government system to vs. Peter Odili), Abia State (Orji Uzor-Kalu vs. T.O nance in the state at that time. The bid, or other- their advantage with the perceived tacit sup- Orji), Enugu State (Jim Nwobodo vs. Chimaroke Nnamani; Chimaroke Nnamani vs. Sullivan wise, to carry the godfather along and satisfy his port of the Presidency.

Nevertheless, after a while the relationship Chime, (Uba vs. Mbadinuju and Uba vs. Ngige in demands almost brought Anambra State to its knees. The state government almost became went sour due to the inability of the godson to Anambra), e.t.c. While the above mentioned are bankrupt with salaries of teachers, pensioners, honour their allegedly agreed contractual doc- concentrated in the respective states of origin of etc being owed for more than six months. It was ument (if it existed) or put in another way, a godfathers and godson, however the case of a disaster and the tenure of the Governor in ques- gentleman’s agreement that was easily deni- Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which initially started as a tion eventually ended perceptively on a negative able. The main point of disagreement we later lonely seed planted in Lagos (with eventual came to know was over an allegedly huge sum retainership of Lagos State and emergence of note.

At the expiration of that godfather’s reign, the of money in the tune of about N3 billion that the Raji Fashola) however latter grew to cover the power shifted to a relatively unknown group. godfather demanded. The same godfather, it whole of South-Western Nigeria and beyond.

The Presidency started this infamous style of con- was claimed, had asked for N10 million month- Even Governor Segun Mimiko of Ondo State tracting the control of the political party machin- ly as money agreed with his predecessor the benefited somehow from Bola Tinubu during ery of the ruling party in any state to an internal- then military governor of the state as statutory his pursuit and eventual legal victory at the ly approved loyalist who in turn became the god- payments for contract executed. What a ridicu- courts.

At the national level, it is a combo of godfafather of that state. In Anambra case, the job of lous demand and selfishness. While the the new winner of the godfather contract services was to successfully handpick candidates for Also join our on-line conversation 21676F3E @risenetworks RISE GROUP the governorship, federal and state legislators as well as make nominations for federal or national Published by Guardian Newspapers Limited, Rutam House, Isolo, Lagos appointments, state commissioners and the Tel: 4489600, 2798269, 2798270, 07098147948, 07098147951 Fax: 4489712; Advert Hotlines: choice of portfolios they would occupy, etc. For Lagos 7736351, Abuja 07098513445; Circulation Hotline: 01 4489656 All correspondence to Guardian Newspapers Limited, P.M.B. 1217, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria. this contract, the executor and chief operating E-mail letters@ngrguardiannews.com; www.ngrguardiannews.com officer was the infamous godfather-in-chief and ABC (ISSN NO 0189-5125) his protégé working in the presidency that was Editor: MARTINS OLOJA .

Politics of godfatherism: Nigeria nemesis

Thursday, February 13, 2014 therism and cabalism that operates using everything possible including ethnicity to entrench their selfish interest. Obasanjo’s emergence as president of Nigeria in 1999 was under the support and sponsorship of some notable ex-generals and elite mainly from the North. The basis for the choice of Obasanjo was to assuage the bad feelings of the South-West over the raw deal the zone suffered and death of Moshood Abiola the winner of June 12, 1993 election on the one hand and on the other hand because the North as the vaunted kingmaker said it was Obasanjo they could trust.

After Obasanjo has settled down and consolidated in power, he took the godfather politics to another level of impunity and carelessness. His style was more of military command kind of control. It was sheer show of power and control over virtually everything political and government. Needless to say that election during Obasanjo’s tenure under Prof Maurice Iwu’s independent national electoral commission was a disaster as attested to by all observers, local. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was foisted on Nigerians through that disastrous election.

Conversely, on a positive note, Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola’s godfather/godson relationship brought a seemingly positive outcome to Lagos State because Fashola did not disappoint both the godfather and Lagosians and that to me is wisdom.

The key question remains: Where does the masses come in, in the whole political and electoral equation? Arguably, Nigerians are docile and extremely patient, or put in another context, of shallow memory and repeatedly easily deceivable by their political leaders. The godfathers know how to play games with our obvious sentiments of ethnicity to their own advantage and to our collective disadvantage. In all these instances of the past, we have refused to learn, grow and develop ourselves.

One easy way possible to take our destiny in our own hands is to revise our electoral system and build fraud controls into it such that would expose and fling out potential cheats and abuses, that’s if and only if, the law enforcement agencies and judiciary are compromise-proof.

My suggestion is to design an electronic counter machine that will allow us to vote electronically and give us results in real-time. That means, if I go to the polling station, I would simply press a button under which party I want to vote and the counter would record in iterative manner and in real time the total sum of votes per candidate per voter and on the big electronic board displays on real-time the result. It will subsequently automatically print two slips of evidence with your face on it, one for the voter and one for INEC. Since party agents, electoral officers, peoples, police etc are within sight in polling units and everybody could see the number of people on the polling booth it would be difficult to rig the vote by repeatedly pressing the button, neither would the machine be carted away because the machine is networked. This would eliminate the electoral frauds that do happen between the times of closure of voting and declaration of result. Even electoral staff would find it difficult to cheat if the result is on real-time. As an extra check, a human scanner that could also count should be installed at the entrance of the polling booth just like the one that counts cars at the tolling gate. Remember that option A-4, which was introduced by Prof Humphrey Nwosu was based on a real-time counting of numbers of people who queued for each candidate of a party of their choice; and everyone knew the result for each polling unit instantly. However, in the method I am suggesting, it is you and the electoral machine under the watch of electoral officers, police and the electorate that matter.

In summary, it is important to reiterate and let’s not forget that our horrible electoral experiences so far are not unconnected with the activities of godfathers and poor electoral structures.

If the electoral system is robust, it should give the electorate power to choose the right candidate irrespective of which interest the candidate represents. In my opinion, the masses would make fewer mistakes in choosing their leaders compared to when a godfather or cabal does the selection on behalf of the people.

•Chukwuemeka Oranye, V.I., Lagos.