Mon 17 Feb 2014

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Monday, February 17, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,835

www.ngrguardiannews.com

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NCC holds N3.6b broadband spectrum auction this week ‘Why some bidders withdrew’

By Adeyemi Adepetun HROUGH the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Federal Government will this week start the final process of awarding the 2.3GHz spectrum licence to the preferred bidder. But some interested firms withdrew from the race due either to fear of litigations or lack of funds.

Though a source close to the process told The Guardian at the weekend that there were about 15 firms, including foreign companies that submitted proposals, after the screening, only two contenders, Globacom Limited and Bitflux Communications Limited, met the Information Memorandum (IM) criteria for the auction.

Some of the firms, according to the source, that had showed interest in the multibillion naira spectrum auction include MTN Nigeria, Spectranet, Etisalat, Mobitel, Brymedia Consortium, Zinox Telecoms, Airtel, Bitflux Communications Limited and

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President Goodluck Jonathan (right), General Overseer, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye; and his wife, Folu, during a service at its Olive Tree Parish, Ikoyi, Lagos... yesterday.

Why kerosene’s price is high, by marketers From Mathias Okwe (Abuja) and Roseline Okere (Lagos) MID the controversy over A the subsidy on kerosene, an insight into why the product is scarce and its price high wherever it is available has been offered by stakeholders.

The President of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Abdulkadir Aminu, disclosed that the inadequate importation and supply of kerosene into the country to meet the growing demand of the product accounted for its scarcity and high price against the official rate of N50 per litre.

• Say removal of subsidy from product may cause revolution • Deny graft allegation against ministry, NNPC’s officials • Corporation explains how crude oil proceeds are shared Aminu also declared as “malicious and untrue” the allegation by ‘faceless’ oil marketers that IPMAN’s members induce officials of the Petroleum Ministry and the NNPC before they could be given allocations to lift petroleum products.

Besides, the NNPC has given a breakdown of the crude oil proceeds, royalty, cost of production, Petroleum Profit Tax

(PPT), profit and what should go into the Federation Account.

The NNPC insisted that the Petroleum Development Company’s (NPDC) assignment of some oil assets was in line with the terms of the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) with the International Oil Companies (IOCs) partners.

The IPMAN boss, who spoke with reporters in Abuja, equal-

ly advised the Federal Government to resist any pressure on it to remove subsidy on kerosene now until an alternative and cheaper energy source such as LPG was in place or risk a revolution that would follow the measure.

According to him, the shortage and high cost of kerosene in the country are because the country is still importing the 2003 seven million litres daily

consumption template whereas demand has since soared due to population growth and industrial demand.

He said: “About seven to 10 million litres are supplied but our national consumption today is over 15 million litres daily. There is a shortfall in supply and therefore the law of demand and supply sets in and people think there is no subsidy. No, there is subsidy.”

Aminu also spoke on the allegation of bribery against officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and the NNPC, saying that the claim was untrue CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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91 feared killed in fresh attacks on Borno villages - Page 6 Abia gov’s son escapes death, aide killed - Page 7 Benin teaching hospital records success in sickle cell transplant - Page 7 Yoruba in Kwara seek boundary adjustment - Page 8

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2 Monday, February 17, 2014

NCC holds broadband spectrum auction this week CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Globacom Limited.

After the screening at the weekend, NCC announced that Bitflux Communications Limited and Globacom Limited scaled through in the prequalified bidding as they met and complied with the prequalification criteria set out by the commission in the IM. “In line with the terms of the Information Memorandum

published on the 2.3GHz Spectrum Auction by the Commission, notice is hereby given that the auction will take place as follows: Wednesday, February 19 and Thursday, February 20, 2014 at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

Stakeholders are invited to witness the auction,” the commission stated.

NCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Reuben Muoka, told The Guardianthat the two firms, whose names were published in the newspapers, indeed met the IM requirements for the auction, “therefore, they are the pre-qualified bidders and the eventual winner of the bid would emerge between

Wednesday and Thursday.”

Muoka allayed any fear of litigation.

The auction, according to analysts, will be keenly contested like the Digital Mobile Licence (DML) auction in January 2001 that paved the way for the emergence of the GSM operations in the country.

Fear of litigations among oth-

ers, The Guardian learnt, may have forced some firms, which had earlier expressed interest in the auction, to withdraw.

A source close to both Zinox Telecoms and Airtel Telecommunications said the two companies pulled out of the bidding process for fear of running into litigations as a

result of possible encumbrances on the frequency. But the Corporate Communications Adviser to Zinox Telecoms, Uche Nnadozie, differed, saying that the firm pulled out of the process to focus on its service delivery.

“There was a last minute decision by the company’s board which discouraged the man-

agement from the bid. The board argued that 2.3GHz licence will divert attention from our core competence.

You know we are already an end-to-end solution to service providers in the ICT sector, the advice of the board is that we should focus on our core competence,” Nnadozie stated.

Marketers say removal of subsidy from product may cause revolution CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 as those making it were not members of his association.

He spoke on the efforts by his association to ensure that kerosene products reached every part of the country with the launch of “Kero-Direct” programme.

His words: “It’s a disgrace what they have done because at the end of the day, NNPC and the ministry will come out clean, more so that those guys are faceless and it’s unfortunate because I must know those who are campaigning for me.

Because if such money is there, I deserve to have my own cut.

That’s why I say secretary come, who are these faceless marketers? I need to know them.

“On Friday, I was in Lagos where I did ‘Kero-Direct’ launch to support the government; to support the minister; to support the NNPC; and to support the PPMC. We are doing everything possible. I think the problem with the system is that there is a certain gap that exists which is being filled because wherever vacuum exists, anything can fill it. And because there was nobody to fill the vacuum, now faceless marketers are filling it.

“We have done a lot and we thought it necessary to go to Lagos and we have injected more than 5,000 tonnes of kerosene in Lagos and its environs to cushion this effect. I was on Channels on Friday and I told them that this subsidy on kerosene for now is a necessary evil. You can never run a way from it because there is no where in the world, including America and Britain, where it is done. I travel all over the world; I have partners all over the world because I am a street marketer and I am one of the captains of the industry in this country. I am one of the major transporters in this country, so what else can somebody tell me about oil and gas?

“I said look in any nation if you want to replace something, there must be something in place. Therefore, what is required now is to start thinking of how to enhance this product reaching to the remote areas beyond even filling stations. I think this is the angle that Nigerians should have come in, not removal.

Now, we should be thinking of how to improve on the LPG that the minister has been talking about. LPG is the only ready-made product that can replace kerosene but this will take us three to five years. It’s a long time process. Now, we would have to also put more efforts in making sure that our LPG is there for the masses, which is far cheaper.

“Today in my commercial and NIPCO Plc, the largest oil terminal in this country, we have the largest LPG plant in this

country and it’s the first most automated terminal in this country. Now, with that LPG, the price of gas cylinder (30kg) before was running into about N25,000 but now, we have brought it to about N11,000 and this only happens with the support of the current Minister of Petroleum Resources.

She has been giving us that support. Therefore, the minister needs to put more efforts on LPG as against continued and endless subsidy on kerosene so that as the subsidy is being withdrawn from the market, the masses can get something in place.

“But if you remove subsidy on kerosene without any replacement, what are you looking for? You are looking for a revolution. You can’t be enjoying here and you go to your village and they can’t access anything to cook food and you ask them, don’t cut the trees because of deforestation. Again, you say the kerosene that is meant for them is not there, what do you expect..? This move by some people to cause this revolution is a combination of politics by some big fish around, including those who just lost their positions and so many factors.”

Reacting to the graft allegation against officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and the NNPC, the IPMAN president said: “I have read with serious concern the politically-motivated allegation of bribery against NNPC officials by faceless marketers who claim to be paying N25 per litre on top of the official price without any proof.

“It is quite intriguing that some mischievous individuals are hell-bent on turning the downstream petroleum industry into a political theatre without minding the negative impact of such a move on the Nigerian economy. It is now obvious that these enemies of peace in the industry having instigated all manner of public hearing in collusion with their allies to truncate the supply stability the populace have been enjoying with the aim of discrediting the efforts of the leadership of the petroleum industry have now resorted to a negative press war.

“The truth is that IPMAN controls 87 per cent of total retail outlet in the country with over 30,000 retail outlets. As a matter of fact, if the alleged practice were occurring in the industry as mentioned, the IPMAN members would have been aware of it. The fact that IPMAN is not aware of such demonstrates the hollowness of the allegation.

“It is instructive to note that NNPC and PPMC do not transact with any marketer without bulk purchase agreement. Also, we are aware that NNPC and PPMC have conducted a verifi-

Our error HE headline “Akinola wants govt to bluff West on anti-gay T law” on page four of The Guardian of February 14, 2014 ought to have read “Akinola wants govt to call West’s bluff on antigay law.”

The error is regretted.

cation of retail outlets in the country and have since sanctioned some fake marketers and stopped them from lifting products across the 21 PPMC depots in the country. All legitimate marketers lift their products and sell at approved government price in line with the directive of the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, which is being implemented by the GMD, NNPC; MD, PPMC; and IPMAN president.

“In addition, the honourable minister of petroleum has constituted a committee to ensure product distribution across the country with a view to sustaining and enhancing product availability in all our retail outlets in the country. NNPC has succeeded in sustaining product availability for over three years without queues in Nigeria. The honorable minister of petroleum alongside the GMD, NNPC and MD, PPMC deserves commendation, not baseless condemnation.”

In a document responding to the memorandum submitted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the Senate Committee on Finance on non-remittance of oil revenues to the Federation Account made available to The Guardian at the weekend, the NNPC explained that based on Production Share Contract (PSC) agreement, IOCs do not pay PPT from their share of profit from oil as alleged by the apex bank.

According to NNPC, PSC profit on oil is shared between government and IOCs, adding that government’s share of profit from oil is paid into the Federation Account by the corporation.

The CBN alleged that NNPC took away blocks belonging to the Federal Government and gave them to itself using NPDC as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) and thereafter transferred the operation to third parties/agents with limited experience in operating oil blocks.

The apex bank had alleged that one of the channels of revenue loss to the federation was from the unfavorable fiscal terms of PSC executed between NNPC and various IOCs. The CBN further posited that it had been misled into believing that the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) was a prerequisite for the amendment of the fiscal terms in the PSC. But NNPC, in the document presented to the Senate, insisted that CBN revenue sharing framework did not conform to the Nigeria PSC model.

Faulting the CBN, the NNPC said in the document: “For deep offshore blocks, royalty and tax are a function of legislation and would therefore require legislation to amend any of the sections or clauses. NNPC is not the appropriate party to amend the law.

“Attempts have been made by various governments since 2000, which the CBN might not be aware of, to renegotiate the government’s take as regards the 1993 PSC. However, government is at liberty to use any legal instrument it chooses

to amend the fiscal regime, consequently, government relied mostly on an omnibus method in the PIB to revise the regulations in the entire oil and gas industry rather than individual sections as there are other subtle but very important incentives or elements that also impact government’s take.”

The NNPC noted that the $20 realisable price trigger for a renegotiation of terms as provided for in the PSC only became effective in 2003/2004.

“Prior to this time, efforts to amend the fiscal regime using the PIB had commenced. The key objective of this initiative is to transform and unbundle NNPC to make it more effective and most importantly address the fiscal imbalance in the 1993 PSC.” It stated that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NNPC had also made a recommendation to the Federal Government in 2007 for a re-negotiation of terms of the PSC, which was approved by the then President Musa Yar’Adua.

It stressed that CBN’s knowledge of the Federal Government’s effort to amend the fiscal terms in the PSCs through the instrumentality of the law was limited as per the report submitted. “It is instructive to note, however, that changing fiscal laws in a democratic regime has always proved very challenging because it requires the necessary legislative process and executive assent.”

On the issue regarding the model for revenue sharing of the proceeds based on the PSC, NNPC said that the CBN had taken advice from non-subject matter experts who did not fully understand the dynamics and operations of standard oil and gas arrangements such as the allocation of proceeds in a typical Nigerian PSC. It noted that PPT deductions were removed in the Nigerian PSCs after which the profit was shared among the contractor and the concessionaire.

“However, the concessionaire profit share is also paid into the Federal Government account, while the PPT deductions are removed in the Nigerian PSCs after which the profit oil is shared among the contractor and the concessionaire. The concessionaire profit share is also paid into the Federal Government’s account”, it added.

According to the NNPC, the PPT is not paid from the IOCs (contractors) profit share as tax is paid on the contract area, adding that both the concessionaire and the contractor pay tax and then share whatever is left as profit.

“It is also very pertinent to state that most of the PSC fields currently producing are in water depths greater than 1,000 metres which attract zero per cent royalty. This is what the PIB or the re-negotiation is designed to address and consequently increase government’s take”, it said.

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Monday, February 17, 2014 | 3

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

News Obasanjo charges Christians to join politics From Charles Coffie Gyamfi, Abeokuta ORMER President, Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday challenged genuine Christians who really fear God to play active in politics if Nigeria is to get out of the woods.

Obasanjo who spoke in Abeokuta yesterday, the Ogun State capital, insisted that the country was where it is (bad economy, insecurity and social vices, among others) because many of the politicians administering the

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affairs of the country are ungodly, declaring “politics is not for the ungodly”.

Obasanjo regretted that many genuine, honest and patriotic Christians have kept away from politics on the wrong assumption that politics and Christianity are poles apart and challenged Nigerians with the “fear of God and good Christian background to be in politics in order to correct the wrongs”.

Obasanjo spoke at a special thanks giving service to mark the fifth anniversary of the

Chapel of Christ the Glorious King (CCGC), a church he built after leaving office.

Obasanjo who is the Church’s “Chief Promoter” commended Rev. Dr. S.T. Ola Akande who preached the sermon for his “sojourn” in politics stated “One of the beliefs in the Christian circles is that good Christians should not be in politics but this is a fallacy”.

He added: “If we will allow this to be, we shall be having only ungodly people in politics and this should not be, because if you leave politics without participating in it,

only bad people will join it and will dominate it. We must encourage good Christians, those God have accepted to be in politics, or else what we would be witnessing will not be good.”

In his sermon, Akande said he had been “a spectator of the many ups and downs of the life of Olusegun Obasanjo over the years,” noting that Obasanjo was a “special man that God has given to the contemporary Nigerian generation”.

“You all know that God has granted him (Obasanjo)

many victories in life. So, the building of such a chapel by him is indeed an expression of praise and thanksgiving to Christ, the Glorious King. So to you Olusegun Obasanjo, I say well done. May God continue to grant you more of His grace in Jesus name,” the cleric affirmed.

Akande also took a swipe at the current political situations ahead of the 2015 polls , observing that “their preparations, defections and counter defections from one party to another are robbing us of our sleep.”

‘Britain committed to Nigeria’s maritime security’

By Tunde Akinola HE British government T has reiterated its commitment to the security relationship with Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. This is part of the attempts to deepen United Kingdom investment in the country.

This was demonstrated as the British warship, HMS Portland visited the Apapa port to re-enforce UK’s commitment to Nigeria maritime security and provide training to the Nigerian Navy personnel.

Addressing journalists in Lagos yesterday on board the HMS Portland, British High Commissioner, Dr. Andrew Pocock said the visit of the ship to Nigeria was a symbol of the “continuing” British commitment to security relationship with Nigeria, “which covers a very broad field.”

Anambra disburses N56.6m for youth empowerment From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka NAMBRA State A Government has disbursed N56.6 million to 506

Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Peter Carter (left); British Defence Adviser, Colonel SD Fletcher; British High Commissioner, Dr. Andrew Pocock and Captain, HMS Portland, Commander Sarah West, on board British warship, HMS Portland during the visit to re-enforce UK’s commitment to Nigeria and provide training to Nigerian Navy personnel in Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO: TUNDE AKINOLA

APC accuses police of bias over ban on airports rallies ITING double standards, C the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the police of engaging in a selective enforcement of its ban on political, socio-cultural and religious rallies at the nation’s airports.

It added that such bias does not bode well for the 2015 polls when the police is expected to be neutral and professional in carrying out its duties.

In a statement in Lagos yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said the police was wrong to have allowed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to flout the ban with impunity on February 1, when hundreds of the party’s members thronged the Bauchi airport to welcome new PDP Chairman, Adamu Muazu.

It said a video footage of the reception showed PDP supporters, cultural troops and praise singers besieging the airport and even surrounding the plane just like passengers would have surrounded a ‘Molue’ in a bus stop.

APC said armed policemen at

the airport looked on as the ban, which was contained in a statement issued by force spokesman, Frank Mba on November 6, was flouted by the PDP. “The questions to ask are: Is the ban not applicable to the PDP? If it is applicable to it, what has the police done to

sanction the party since it breached the order over two weeks ago? If the police will allow the PDP to get away with such lawlessness, can the same police sanction any other party or individual who breaches its order banning rallies at airports?” it queried.

The party said the double

standard being exhibited by the police is the reason many Nigerians are saying the Nigeria police has turned itself to the enforcement arm of the PDP or that the force has even merged with the party.

“This does not augur well for the image of the police and it sends a wrong signal about

whether the police can be neutral and professional before, during and after the 2015 elections. It also raises doubt about the ability of the police to effectively carry out its constitutional duty of ensuring the protection of lives and property.

youths from different parts of the state under the State Youth Empowerment Programme.

Governor Peter Obi presented cheques of N100,000 each to the beneficiaries at Neni yesterday at the end of a twoweek character development/vocational and skill acquisition programme.

He disclosed that over 5000 youths have already benefitted from the programme since it was initiated in 2010.

According to him, the scheme was part of comprehensive measures to tackle challenges of unemployment, just as he assured that beneficiaries who distinguished themselves would receive more support from the state government.

Ibadan poly gets rector, others From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan

Jonathan links nation’s unity to prayers From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja GAIN, President Goodluck A Jonathan yesterday attributed the nation’s continued unity to the intercession of religious bodies, noting that but for their prayers, Nigeria would have been worse than it was in terms of security challenges.

He spoke yesterday at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Olive Parish, in Lagos where he worshipped.

According to the President, “I thank Christians and other religious groups that pray for this country especially at the

period the whole world is facing a lot of challenges.

“You will agree with me that whenever you tune your television especially the international news centres like Cable News Network (CNN), Aljazeera or Sky news you always see breaking news and all the breaking news are always negative, you hardly see any positive breaking news all over the world.

“In Nigeria too, we have been having our own fair share of these negative news brought about by the Boko Haram killings. But we believe that God knows it all.

“Without your prayers, probably it would have been worse

than this. God has always been faithful to Nigerians. God will continue to hear our prayers so that our country will get out of these challenges of terror and other related crimes,” he said.

The President thanked members of the Redeemed Church for 100 days of prayers it has declared, saying “even to keep faith with the orthodox 40 days fasting during the lent period which I also participate, is not easy to keep not to talk of fasting for 100 days, it is not an easy task.

“You are fasting not because of your personal interest, but for the country. I have to thank

the General Overseer and all of you who have been in this fasting. God will hear our prayers,” he said.

In his message which centred on the theme “God will remember you,” the RCCG General Overseer Pastor Enoch Adeboye said “whether the devil likes or not, Nigeria will be great again”.

He said that the Church would continue to seek the face of God for the country and its leadership.

“I can assure you that we are praying and we will continue to pray because we have no other place to go to and God has a reason,” he said.

S part of efforts to resolve A the crisis in The Polytechnic, Ibadan, the Oyo State government has announced the appointment of Prof. Olatunde Olubadejo Fawole as the new rector, among four other principal officers, all with immediate effect.

In a statement, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Solomon Olaniyan, said that Governor Abiola Ajimobi also approved the appointment of Mr. Ayodele Hezekiah Fehintola as (Registrar), Mr. Tiamiyu Rasheed Adeniyi (Bursar), Hammed Abayomi Bakare (Librarian) and Oyetoso Olufunmilayo John (Director of Works).

4 NEWS Monday, February 17, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Northern CAN denies alleged endorsement of Jonathan From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief HE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have debunked claims that the association has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 ambition.

They also stressed that association dismissed the reports

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Marketers deny graft allegation against ministry, NNPC’s officials

that the forthcoming elections might have sown a seed of discord in the Christian body, stating that the body was never divided on whether Jonathan should contest the election or not.

In a statement in Kaduna at the weekend, their spokesman, Mr. Sunday Oibe, described the reports that the blanket support by CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, for Jonathan’s presidential ambition may have polarised the association as false and a ploy to cause con-

fusion and tarnish the image of the association.

Oibe, who is also a national official of CAN, further debunked claims that the North East chapter had endorsed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the 2015 presidency, stating that one Mr. Jonathan Sambo who claimed to be the CAN Public Relations Officer in the zone and who was spreading the falsehood, was an impostor.

According to him, Oritsejafor had never at any time given a “blanket support” to

President Jonathan, as the association is a religious body and not a political party and should therefore not be dragged into it.

Oibe said that CAN was disturbed that desperate politicians were sponsoring people to smear the reputation of the association for their selfish interest. He appealed to journalists to always crosscheck their facts and avoid falsehood and misleading information to the public.

“Our attention has been

drawn to a report that CAN is divided along Jonathan and Atiku for the 2015 election,” he said. “This is absolute falsehood and it is nothing but a ploy by some mischief makers. CAN is united, it is not divided.

“We also want to clarify that the North East chapter of CAN has not endorsed or supported Atiku as reported in the media. We are aware of an impostor by name Jonathan Sambo, who is being sponsored by a politician to discredit CAN. He is not a leader

Police arrest seven kidnap suspects From Muyiwa Adeyemi (Head, South West Bureau), Ado Ekiti

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Dwelling on the NPDC’s acquisition of some IOCs’ assets, NNPC disclosed that the NPDC’s mandate was to grow its crude oil and condensate production to 250,000 barrels of oil equivalent by year 2015.

This ambitious growth plan, it stated, was expected to be achieved by a combination of asset acquisition and organic growth of NPDC’s existing assets.

It noted that the growth opportunity presented itself as directed by the Federal Government following the divestment by the IOC partners of some of their assets in the western Niger Delta arising from portfolio restructuring.

It stated: “The honourable minister is the only person empowered to grant licences or leases to explore, prospect and produce petroleum and approve the assignment of such interest by the licencee or lease holder to another party.

In compliance with the provisions of the Petroleum Act therefore, NNPC sought and obtained the consent for the assignment of interest to NPDC. “As you may be aware, the funding of the various joint ventures has continued to pose a challenge to the federation. Thus, in addition to the organic growth of NPDC’s assets, this assignment will also reduce the federation’s burden of cash call payment which for example was estimated at $950 million for the 2013 fiscal year. We also note that notwithstanding the assignment of NNPC’s interest to NPDC, the government will continue to receive royalties of about 20 per cent and Petroleum Profit Tax from these assets and other previous acreages owned by NPDC.” It stated that the corporation was not in a position to take away blocks or allocate them to itself as it did not have such powers. “There is a statutory procedure for the assignment of interest in blocks which was adhered to in the case of NNPC’s assignment of interest to NPDC. It is worthy to mention that NNPC followed the procedure as laid out in the Petroleum Act. NPDC acquired those blocks at a good and fair value and is in the process of concluding discussion and subsequently paying for the blocks as can be confirmed from Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).”

It said that the high cost paid by the consortium of Nigerian and foreign partners for the 45 per cent private equity in the blocks amounted to capital flight and the burden was actually on the Federal Government as this acquisition cost was actually deductible under the provisions of the PPT.

of CAN in any capacity at any level and therefore cannot speak for CAN in the North East.

“Has Jonathan told Nigerians that he wants to become President in 2015? We are saying categorically that this is a campaign aimed at tarnishing the image of CAN. “There is no division in the association and the association has not endorsed anybody for 2015 because CAN is not a political party and it is not our business to endorse anybody for any election.”

EVEN persons have been Switharrested in connection the abduction of a

Former President, Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Mrs. Layinka Abdul (left); President, Nigeria Society of Engineers, Ademola Olorunfemi; President, APWEN, Mrs. Nnoli Akpedeye and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dafe Akpedeye, during Akpedeye’s investiture as the 13th president of APWEN in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO

‘Surgeon-General’s office will worsen division in health sector’ From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja IKE the proverbial evil Lkeptegg, which can neither be on the ground nor be suspended in the air, the Federal Government is stuck with the factionalised health personnel as they make conflicting demands.

This time, the National President of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), Dr. Godswill Okara, has warned that granting medicinal doctors’ demand for the creation of the Office of the Surgeon General of the Federation would mean fresh agitation for similar cadre in all professions.

Ultimately, this would make government vulnerable to industrial actions and shutdowns in the months ahead, he said. Okara, who also leads the Joint Health Professional Associations, tasked government not to start what it could not finish.

In an interview with The Guardian at the weekend, he alleged that creating the office would have no known positive effect on the health sector, as “the bureaucracy in Nigeria today has ministers/commissioners, special advisers on health, directors, deputy directors and assistant directors, who are

all technocrats at federal and state levels.

“And at local councils, you have medical officers of health, so what do you need the office of a Surgeon General for?”

According to him, the position is not a broad based concept but draws a parallel from a United States (U.S.) model where a uniformed health personnel coordinates commissioned troops in different locations of the world.

“The position is reserved for any qualified healthcare personnel who has a military background. It is important to emphasise that even in the U.S, the office of Surgeon General is not a professional cadre for doctors.

“It is not exclusive to any cadre of healthcare staff. It is not about public health in the U.S, but designed to cover military personnel on assignment in different locations of the world.”

Tracing previous failed attempts to create the position, he stressed that the concept is unknown to law: “Nigeria has never implemented or practiced this concept. For the records, Senator Olorunnibe Mamora pushed a bill for the establishment of the office of Surgeon General in the 6th National Assembly, which

was rejected. It failed woefully.

“The major reason it was rejected was that it would only generate more entropy in the ever-boiling health sector. The NMA and medical stakeholders pushed the agenda at the Justice Gusau Presidential Committee on Harmony in the Health Sector and again, it was overwhelmingly rejected.

“How then do you, through a fiat, get what you failed to get through due process at the National Assembly? Under which constitutional imperative or Act of Parliament is the office of a Surgeon General going to be established?”

Speaking on the rivalry in the health sector, he alleged that, “Dr. Olikoye RansomeKuti, as then minister, brought all the other health professions to their knees to raise his medical colleagues in the 90s. The sector has not recovered from the monumental injustice associated with that shameful and obnoxious Act 10 of 1985 alongside Medical Salary Scale, which are Olikoye’s legacies.

“Some of the multiplier effects you get are that in some of our federal health institutions, chief medical directors and the boards tolerate the creation of DepCMAC slots albeit

unlawfully.

“In one particular hospital, there are six such slots and all, including a Dep-CMAC (Engineering) slot, is for doctors. Is it such greedy stakeholders like I just portrayed that you give more latitude of influence?

“A man goes to the university to study medicine but insists he will head medical laboratory department, which is another specialty.

Even when the National Industrial Court of Nigeria has ruled that doctors cannot head medical laboratory units in hospitals, the federal health institutions are not complying with court order because of the double standards exhibited by the Federal Ministry of Health.”

Meanwhile, he took exception to the argument that the development could check foreign medical tourism from Nigeria, saying: “How will the creation of an office curb medical tourism? Medical tourism is a fallout of poor management, insensitivity and sometimes incompetence on the part of medical personnel.

“A health sector that is run by ill-conceived policies, health plans or designs usually based on the input of only medical stakeholders is cut out for failure ab initio.”

medical doctor with the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Dr. Abayomi Adekunle, and a Lagos-based businessman, Chief Femi Fadeyi.

The Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Police Command, Mr. Victor Babayemi, who disclosed the arrest, said the suspects would soon be charged to court for prosecution.

Both were abductors at various parts of the state some weeks ago but were found at a location in Ijero Ekiti after their release. Babayemi, who said he was “very sure that it (their prosecution) is going to be very soon,” noted, however, that investigations were ongoing so he could not say precisely when it would begin.

“The police don’t believe in fire-brigade approach. We are methodical and professional in approach to issues,” he said. “We will be very diligent with our investigations so that we can ascertain the level of involvement of each of them before commencing prosecution.

“We are speeding up investigations and soon the facts and evidence will be available for us to prefer all necessary charges against them. We are determined to make Ekiti a no-go area for criminals and this we will achieved at all costs.”

Also speaking during a courtesy call on Governor Kayode Fayemi at the weekend, the new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Felix Uyanna, emphasized that only constitutionally recognised security agencies would be allowed to monitor the June 21 governorship election in the state.

By implication, the state’s security outfit, Ekiti State Peace Corps, which some opposition figures allege as tools for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the election, would be allowed to monitor the election, will not be allowed to supervise the election.

However, Uyanna said he needed to settle down and study the statute that created the body to know what the law says about it. He maintained that nobody, no matter how highly placed, would be given chance to disrupt or pervert the will of the people during the election.

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Monday, February 17, 2014

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Oyo APC faction joins Labour Party

Govt reassures on availability of vaccines

From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan

By Chukwuma Muanya

MAJOR crack has emerged in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State as a faction comprising mainly youths dumped the APC for Labour Party.

The defectors include the immediate past board chairmen in the Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led administration, as well as aggrieved loyalists of deceased former governor, Lam Adesina.

The affected politicians aged between 40 and 50 apart from being upset with the party’s leadership over the running of government activities, are said to be at the vanguard of a crusade for generational shift in the politics of the state.

The group, according to sources, has held a series of meetings with the LP leadership including Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

Already, the APC faction has reportedly been given a number of slots for the party’s offices, including a co-chairmanship position.

Appointed as co-chairman for Oyo LP is Mr. Gbenga Olayemi, who was until last December the chairman, Oyo State for Youth Development.

A letter addressed to one of the co-chairmen and jointly signed by the national chairman of LP, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu and the national secretary, Alhaji A.A. Salam, asked the interim committee to set machinery in motion for the conduct of state congresses.

The letter, which was dated February 10, 2014, read in part: “Following the series of deliberations in Oyo State chapter of the Labour Party, the National Working Committee (NWC) has approved the composition of an interim committee to be headed by Alhaji Basiru Apapa and Mr. Gbenga Olayemi as co-chairmen towards the state congresses of the party in the state.

“Henceforth, the activities of the Labour Party shall rest squarely on the shoulders of the interim committee and they are expected to prepare the party for the forthcoming congresses in the state very soon”.

Governor Mimiko of Ondo State and the national leadership of LP are expected to formally and publicly welcome the defectors to the party, as well as inaugurate the interim committee in the state capital.

HE Federal Government, T through the National Primary Health Care

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Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (left) with Mama Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo when the governor visited the matriarch of the Awolowo family at her Ikenne residence…at the weekend

91 feared killed in fresh attacks on Borno villages From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri UTHORITIES of Borno State Police Command and the 7 Division of Nigerian Army yesterday said there were multiple attacks at Izge Town by suspected Boko Haram terrorists who killed many residents, including women and children.

The gunmen were also said to have carted away several livestock and bags of grains, after torching unspecified number of houses and shops at about 9 pm on Saturday.

Izge is a fishing and farming community in Gwoza Local Council Area of Borno State and 185 kilometres South of Maiduguri, the state capital.

At Madayi Village in Kukawa Local Council, seven people were also killed on Friday night by suspected Boko Haram gunmen in military uniform.

A resident of Izge, Mallam Bulama Apagu, said the gunmen in military uniform attacked the town at 9 pm on Saturday, killing 91 people and injuring several others, including women and children, while several others are still missing.

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An indigene of Izge, who is residing in Maiduguri, Adamu Izge, who lost his father in-law in the incident, also told The Guardian yesterday that the insurgents attacked the town with explosives in military uniform and killed dozens of residents.

According to another eyewitness, Apagu Isa, the over 200 gunmen who dressed in military uniform came in 65 Hilux pickup vehicles and motorcycles carrying Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petrol-bombs, started shooting at some of the people and their houses and shops at 9pm on Saturday before carting away many livestock and grains into waiting pickup vans.

“Our people here in this town were terrified and shocked with the last night’s attacks of gunmen. Many people, including women and children, were crying and wailing for help and safety. Some of them were killed.

“As the torching of houses continued, the gunmen chanted ‘God is great’ and killing many villagers. I cannot tell you the exact number

Our people here in this town were terrified and shocked with the last night’s attacks of gunmen. Many people, including women and children, were crying and wailing for help and safety. Some of them were killed. of people killed, but 65 of my neighbours were killed by slitting their throats after tying their hands to the backs.

Near the market, 26 bodies were also retrieved yesterday morning for burial at the cemetery,” Isa said.

On security of Izge, he said: “There were no soldiers or policemen to provide security for us. Some soldiers came last year, in December, but after spending three days, they left in their brown and black dotted colour patrol vehicles.

The insurgents cashed in on the absence of security in Izge and Bita villages, which is 45 kilometres away from here.

As I speak to you, many villagers are fleeing to Madagali in Adamawa State, which is the nearest town.

“Some of the fleeing villagers, who include women

and children, carried only some of their personal effects because some of the houses and shops are still burning this morning (Sunday), as there were no fire fighting vehicles to put off the raging fire set by suspected insurgents last night.”

Confirming the incident yesterday in Maiduguri, the Borno State Police Commissioner, Tanko Lawal, and Spokesman of the 7 Division of Nigerian Army, Col. Mohammed Dole, in separate GSM messages to The Guardian, said: “There was a suspected terrorists attack in Izge, but no policeman was killed. We are waiting for details from the DPO”, while the military authority said: “We are waiting for the details of the incident, otherwise confirm from the police. Thank you,” Dole said.

‘PDP unaware of Jonathan’s pact not to seek re-election’ From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt HE Peoples Democratic T Party (PDP) has said it is unaware of any agreement between President Goodluck Jonathan and some political stakeholders not to run for a second term in office.

Deputy National Chairman of the party, Mr. Uche Secondus, stated this during an interaction with journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the weekend. He noted that even though there are positive indications that the President would seek reelection next year, the party has said that as an umpire, it will not force him or anyone else to contest.

According to Secondus, the PDP does not have knowledge of any agreement be-

tween President Jonathan and former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, or even some other critical stakeholders not to seek a second term in office. He stressed that the media and Nigerians should allow the President to make up his mind and at the necessary and appropriate time, he will do so.

He expressed optimism that some of the governors who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) will soon return to the PDP, noting that the new chairman of PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, is already in touch with these governors and they are talking.

Secondus added that effort is being made by both the national chairman and the national secretariat of the PDP

to woo Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi and others back.

He, however, said the party does not feel rattled if the governors refuse to return before the next general elections. According to him, the governors are individuals who are constitutionally entitled to just one vote each. He said the fate of those seeking election into elective positions would be determined by the Nigerian masses.

“Don’t you think that the governors are individuals.

We are talking about the masses. Are you saying that the governors are keeping the votes in their respective Government Houses? These votes are in all the towns and villages. This is the problem.

You don’t give a man the

power he doesn’t deserve.

The governors are individuals and they have just one vote each, ” he said.

According to him, PDP members have confidence in the ability of the national chairman to unite the party.

He noted that there has not been further defection from the PDP since Mu’azu took over from Bamanga Tukur, rather, people who defected to the APC are running back to the PDP. On the issue of the disputed oil well between Rivers and Bayelsa states, which has been cited by Amaechi as one of the reasons he left the PDP, Secondus said issues of land dispute are settled in the court.

“The governor is in the court.

He is only politicsing it. You

will recall that Cross River and Akwa Ibom states had similar issues. It was settled by the Supreme Court. So, lets not just politicise it for the sake of calling a dog a bad name,” he said.

The Rivers State Chairman of the PDP, Felix Obuah, said President Jonathan has done well and should run for a second term.

Obuah told journalists that Jonathan should run for second term because if his achievements in the course of his first term are objectively itemised and appraised, he will be easily electable by 2015.

“We in Rivers State are waiting for President Jonathan to declare his interest for a second term and we will give him our unalloyed support,” he said.

Development Agency (NPHCDA), has denied vaccine shortage in Nigeria even as it assured Nigerians and international community of adequate supply of the drugs and injection materials at all health facilities in the country.

Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Ado Muhammad, who spoke at the weekend in Abuja in a statement, said that in continued demonstration of President Goodluck Jonathan’s commitment to the transformation agenda and ensuring safety of lives of Nigerian women and children, the Federal Government, in 2014, provided N6 billion for vaccine procurement through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Muhammad said all needed vaccines for first quarter of 2014 have already been distributed to all health facilities nationwide since November last year.

Group wants more ethnic nationalities at confab From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja FAITH-BASED organisation, Minority Interests Rights Project of the Stefanos Foundation, has urged the Federal Government to review the recently released modalities for the national conference to ensure that more ethnic nationalities are represented.

Speaking at a workshop for ethnic leaders at the weekend in Abuja, the Foundation’s Programme Coordinator and convener of the workshop, Mark Lipdo, noted that the 20 per cent representation given to the ethnic nationalities is grossly inadequate, wondering how ethnic nationalities’ interest would be taken care of when over 80 per cent of the expected delegates to the conference would be government officials.

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Fayemi tasks Ekiti indigenes on industrialisation From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado-Ekiti OVERNOR Kayode Fayemi has called on the people of Ekiti State to take advantage of the enabling environment provided by his administration to industrialise it.

Fayemi made the call in AdoEkiti on Saturday while inspecting a modern resort project by an indigene of the state, Mr. Abiodun Isinkaiye.

The governor, who said he was impressed with the facility, urged well-to-do indigenes to come down and start businesses that would gainfully engage people, especially youths who are going about looking for jobs in an already saturated labour market.

“What is being done here by Isinkaiye is showing Ekiti people the huge possibilities that exist in the state. The owner believes in what we are doing in the state and he is complementing our efforts.

“He could have taken the venture to other places that are more cosmopolitan. I am glad to have come here and we will support your efforts,” he said.

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Monday, February 17, 2014 NEWS 7

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372 to appear before ICPC over passports, others

Court restrains factions in Ekiti LP crisis From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Head, South West Bureau, Ado Ekiti

From Abosede Musari, Abuja

N Ado-Ekiti High Court has restrained the Labour Party (LP) or its agents from recognising the Akin Omole-led executive, as well as the other faction of the party in Ekiti State.

In an interlocutory injunction brought before the presiding judge, Justice Cornelius Akintayo, the court on Friday ordered that the parties should maintain status quo regarding the issue of holding any congress or issues pertaining to any congress of the Labour Party in the state pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

The order of the court also restrained the Akin Omole-led faction from holding any congress of the party until the hearing of the motion.

The order restraining the Akin Omole faction of the LP was brought before the Justice Akintayo court by Mr. Onile Adams.

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BOUT 372 persons will apA pear before the Independent Corrupt

Group canvasses leadership positions for youths

By Isaac Taiwo GAINST the backdrop of centenary celebrations, political leaders have been urged to put young people in challenging and leadership positions, which would provide enduring legacy into another hundred years.

Speaking at the weekend at Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos during an event organized by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, the President and Chairman, Governing Council of the Institute, Dr. Rotimi Oladele reminded participants and also political leaders in the nation that in the next centenary none of them would be living and should therefore place the love for the nation above self by involving youth more in governance, with a view to leaving a good legacy for which they would be remembered.

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Orubebe inaugurates Delta Peoples’ Forum EW days after he left the Fformer Federal Executive Council, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, has inaugurated a non-governmental organisation, the Delta Peoples’ Forum thus fuelling speculations that he may be getting set to enter the governorship race of the state.

Inaugurating the forum at a reception held in his honour by his supporters in Asaba on Saturday, Orubebe also announced the appointment of directors of the forum, many of who had been commissioners in the state to run the organisation.

In his remarks, Orubebe thanked late President Umar Yar’adua who first appointed him minister in 2007, he also expressed his gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan for giving him the opportunity to serve again in the Federal Executive Council.

He asked Nigerians to commend Jonathan for his achievements and to support him in his efforts to lift Nigeria to greater heights. He also expressed appreciation to the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for his achievements in the state.

First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Abimbola Fashola (second left); Secretary, Association of Teachers’ Pensioners, Lagos State, Rev. James Owoyemi (second right); Alhaja Amdat Adepeju Salau (left) and Alhaja Nafisat Adunni Adeyinka, during the Seniors’ Valentine, organized by Intuition Nigeria in collaboration with the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) at the COWLSO Retirement Villa in Lagos.

Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) from Wednesday to answer questions relating to the genuine ownership of their international passports, which were seized by the commission as a measure of curbing corrupt visa processing.

The ICPC said in an official communication yesterday that 372 international passports recovered from several persons and agents are in its custody.

“The recovery is part of an ongoing clampdown on corruption-prone processes in the acquisition of visas,” the commission stated.

The commission directed owners of the recovered passports to appear at its headquarters in Abuja between 19th and 28th February 2014 with proof of ownership and the travel documents supporting their visa applications to respective embassies.

It will be recalled that ICPC operatives had in October 2013, arrested 18 suspects in Abuja and Lagos. Three of them were allegedly involved in the production of fake documents to satisfy visa requirements, while one was in possession of suspicious travel documents.

Abia gov’s son escapes death, aide killed From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia NCERTAINTIES still surU round the shooting incident involving the son of Abia State governor, even as the state police command said it has set in motion investigation into the death on Saturday evening of a young man said to be an aide to the family of Dr. Theodore Orji.

The victim, whose name was given as Mr. John Ndubuka from Amokwe Ugba in Umuahia metropolis, had accompanied the governor’s son Mr. Chinedum Orji to the grand civic reception organised by the Ikwuano/Umuahia people in honour of Governor

• ‘we’re still investigating incident’, says police Orji under the chairmanship of Chief Onyema Ugochukwu at the site of the re-located Umuahia market.

Report said that a shot that was fired at late Ndubuka was targeted at the governor’s son but mistakenly hit Ndubuka on the chest leading to his death at the nearby Umuahia Federal Medical Centre shortly after he was shot.

The shooting, which occurred at about 5p.m. allegedly by a police corporal attached to government security team, happened when the late Ndubuka tried to shield

Chinedum from the surging crowd of youths, as he (Chinedum) was about to enter his waiting vehicle after the ceremony.

Confirming the incident yesterday on phone, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Geoffrey Ogbonnah, told The Guardian that the suspected killer cop has been arrested.

On the likelihood that the shooting was targeted at the governor’s son with an intention of assassinating him, the police spokesman said this was yet to be proved.

According to Ogbonnah, “until next working day, which is Monday (today), we do not have additional information on this matter because the incident occurred at the weekend.”

Meanwhile, the body of late Ndubuka has been deposited at the mortuary in Umuahia, the state capital.

Commenting on the incident, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Eze Chikamnayo, lamented the incident, saying it affected the reception held for Governor Orji, which was attended by notable personalities.

According to Chikamnayo, the governor and other guests had left the venue when the

shooting occurred. “We expect that the police investigation will reveal the actual cause and the target of the shooting and determine if the governor’s son was actually the target as being speculated.”

During the reception, the people of Ikwuano and Umuahia renewed their call on the governor to contest the 2015 election to represent Abia Central in the Senate. They presented a Toyota Hummer bus for his senatorial campaign while there was a pledge to purchase the Senate nomination form for the governor.

The governor responded that, “Come 2015, it is where you want me to go that I will go.”

UNIBEN teaching hospital records success in sickle cell transplant From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City LMOST three years after A the health sector achieved a major breakthrough becoming the third in Africa to have a successful stem cell transplant, respite came the way of sickle cell patients at the weekend when the management of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) completely drained infected red blood cells from a 27-year patient and replaced it with clean and un-infected blood.

Announcing the feat to journalists in a press conference, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Professor Michael Ibadin, said the success was achieved through collaboration with the University of Basel Switzerland, which provided the technical support and the machine identified as cobe

spectra, which would drain the blood through one arm and replace it through the other arm at the same time.

“The same department that championed the breakthrough in the stem cell transplant some two years ago is again in the news and we need them to share it with the members of the public. All of us as adults, we have some six litres of blood in us, then that blood is divided into two; a part is liquid and the other parts are cells. These cells are of different types, some are red, some are white, some are in other colours. The red blood cells are the ones that make blood red and for sicklers, the problem is located in the red blood cells especially some of them who survive long enough. They may have major challenges and these challenges will have to do with the fact that they can

have stroke, then some of them can affect the brain, other parts of the body may also suffer but what we have achieved here is total replacement of the entire red blood cells in an individual who is alive and replace them completely with another type of cell.”

Throwing more light on the success story, the head of the team who had undergone a year training in Switzerland, Dr. Nosakhare Bazuaye, said Nigeria parades the highest number of sickle cell carriers in the world as he said about three per cent of Nigerians carry the sickle cell in them.

“What we do is to remove the entire blood from the body through one hand arm and put in fresh blood from the other arm. When we do this total red cell exchange, we will remove the blood and it is re-

placed, the machine is such that it doesn’t cause much discomfort as it is taking away blood from one side, it is being replaced immediately from the other side. It can also be done for children without harm.”

“We have successfully performed the first one for a 27 years old patient who is a friend of the department, he is a Masters student in one of the universities and we feel he is also very important in pioneering this feat. He had severe crisis, we removed almost five litres of blood from him and replaced them in an equivalent amount, it has stopped his pains and crisis and that will relieve him for a long time. In Europe, some people do it twice a year,” he said.

On the cost, Bazuaye said, “it is mainly the blood that is

supplied because we used between eight to 15 pants of blood depending on the size of the patient. But if we have donors, the patient is not going to pay more, all we will do is just to screen the blood, but if he or she doesn’t have donors and we have to buy blood, that is when it becomes expensive. So, we encourage Nigerians to donate blood.

“He was fortunate and privileged to have his friends and course mates coming forward to donate blood for him.

The machine and other parts are not too expensive and with that, the full therapy would not be more than N100,000. If a patient does that twice in a year without crisis, if you compare that to the amount the patient will pay and the damages done to the system and organs.”

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Trawler owners caution govt on ban of fish importation

Amosun tasks corps members on unity

By Adeyinka Adedipe

From Joke Falaju, Abuja HE Nigerian Trawler Owners Association (NITOA) yesterday cautioned the Federal Government on its plan to ban fish importation to the country, saying there is shortage of fish in Nigeria.

Information Officer of NITOA, Manny Philipsson, who spoke on behalf of the association, argued that with a projected population of 174 million people by 2015, the demand for fish would rise to 2.1 million metric tonnes (mt) and with an estimated production of 740,000 mt, there would a shortfall of demand by 1.4 million mt.

Philipsson said any further reduction in fish supply would cause the price of fish to soar and directly impact on Nigerians who rely on imported fish as the most affordable source of animal protein to feed their families.

“The argument of exporting jobs abroad for what we can produce locally does not arise, as domestically we cannot match the affordability, quantity, Omega 3 healthy oils, or taste that imported pelagic fish provides,” Philipsson said.

GUN State Governor, O Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday charged members of the

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Vice Chancellor, Njala University, Prof. Abu Sesay (left); Deputy Vice Chancellor, Dr. Felixtina Jonsyn-Ellis; National Leader of All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Pro-Chancellor of the university, Dr. Sandy Bockarie, during a conferment and award of honorary Doctorate Degree at Njala University, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Yoruba in Kwara seek boundary adjustment From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin HE Yoruba in Kwara State yesterday demanded for boundary adjustment in Nigeria to eradicate the problems associated with minority group, citing Section 8 (2) of the 1999 Constitution.

At a conference with theme “The Kwara State Yoruba and the National Conference”, organised by an umbrella socio/cultural organisation of all Yoruba of the SouthSenatorial District of Kwara State, Yoruba in Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Irepodun, Ifelodun, Isin, Offa and Oyun local councils of Kwara State at Omu-Aran City

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• Urge merger with S’West Hall, the Yoruba said they were at a great disadvantage by remaining as a minority in Kwara.

The Yoruba of the other five Yoruba-speaking areas of Kwara State (Ilorin-East, West, South, Asa, Moro local council areas) were in attendance. The Okun Development Association (ODA) of the Yoruba in Kogi State sent quality representation. There were goodwill messages from Yoruba in Canada and America.

The group, in a communiqué

signed at the end of the conference by Sir Joseph Aderibigbe, said: “It is in the best interest of the Yoruba people of Kwara State to request for a boundary adjustment, which will accommodate the desires and interests of the Yoruba of Kwara and Kogi states to be appropriately grouped with our kith and kin in the present South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria, with whom we share common boundary, culture, tradition, folklores, artifacts, and others.

We hinge this demand on the Section 8 (2) of the 1999 Federal Constitution of Nigeria.

“Yoruba people of Kwara State reject vehemently their minority status in the North where they have been permanently disadvantaged, especially in seeking limelight political offices and key economic advantages, as we are like bat (neither animal nor bird) in the North where as a result of our language and culture, we are regarded as Yoruba and as a result of demographic partition, the South-West regard us as northerners. We have the greatest chunk of our people in the South-West Nigeria.”

The conference viewed with

concern the alleged political conspiracy that informed the non-implementation of plebiscite as recommended by Henry Willinks Commission of Enquiry into the grievances of the minorities in 1958.

The conference is of the view that if that had been done before Independence, the Yoruba of the North would not have had any business to be made part of the North “even at Independence.”

The communiqué added: “Conclusion of the conference is that the outcome of the issue of the boundary adjustment at the national conference should be subjected to a referendum to authenticate the desires of the people.

“The conference viewed with embarrassment and insult some spurious claims that the territories of the Yoruba of the North are the property of the defunct Caliphate and it is hereby emphasised that not an inch of Yorubaland will be yielded to any power outside Yorubaland.

“It is also resolved that the Yoruba of the North are not fairly governed in the states they are now forced to belong and that in the event of an issue of state creation at the national conference, the north-

ern Yoruba who by 2006 population census, are more than two-and-a-half million people, will want to be formed into a state where they can govern themselves with fairness, justice and equity.

“It is also resolved that since the Yoruba of the North have some age-long grievances as to the issue of the structure of Nigeria, special provisions should be made in both Kogi and Kwara states to make for adequate representations of the interests of the people at the national conference.

“The people also resolved that in the event of not being given adequate opportunities at the national conference, we shall commence immediate legal action under the Africa Peoples’ Charter over the negative and repressive conditions that the Yoruba people of the northern Nigeria are currently going through. We shall through that seek to be part of the state or region we want to belong. The provisions of the Africa Peoples’ Charter also provide for referendum, which we are at all times, prepared for.

“That our delegates to the national conference shall defend our positions as endorsed by this conference.”

2013 Batch ‘A’ National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who rounded off their one-year mandatory service nationwide to spearhead transformation and promote harmonious interaction and creative development.

Represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr. Lanre Tejuoso, Amosun urged the corps members to put the experience they acquired during the national service into making productive contributions to the country’s growth.

“For everyone of you, today marks the end of one phase of service to your fatherland and beginning of another.

You are now entering into a new role, one that will further call to task your training, knowledge, skills, talents and discipline”, he stated.

Governor Amosun, who reminded them that 2014 is a politically crucial year for the nation as the process towards the 2015 elections would commence in earnest, urged them to participate and let unity, peace discipline and fair play be their watchwords.

Okorocha appoints Awuzie IMSU VC From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri MO State Governor Rochas Iappointment Okorocha has approved the of Prof.

Ukachukwu Awuzie as the substantive vice chancellor of the Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri.

A statement by Okorocha’s Principal Secretary, Dr. Paschal Obi at the weekend in Owerri, said the governor approved the appointment after the recommendation of the governing council of the institution.

Awuzie, a former president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), had been on acting capacity for several months.

The Guardian gathered that the university, established about 1991, had over the years been operating without a substantive vice chancellor following a protracted legal tussle between a past vice chancellor of the institution and the authorities of the university and government over his unceremonious sack.

Enugu PDP crisis deepens, chairman, members bicker From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu NEW dimension was at the weekend added to the festering crisis in the Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its members in Enugu-West Senatorial Zone called for the immediate resignation from office of the state chairman of the party, Chief Vita Abba.

The zone, which comprised six out of the 17 local council areas of the state, accused Abba of furthering ‘undemocratic and nefarious actions’ on the party, as well as flagrant disobedience to the directive of its national leadership to restore to office the party’s suspended chairman of Udi Local

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Council Area, Uche Ogbodo.

A letter allegedly from the National Secretary of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, dated January 7 on the crisis in Udi Council of the party, which was obtained by reporters during the briefing, had directed Abba to “work with Ogbodo to maintain peace and orderliness in the smooth running of the party”, a development the zone claimed, had been ignored by the state chairman.

Contacted, however, Abba dismissed the call for his resignation as “laughable and baseless”, stressing that it was an attempt by a few individuals to cause distraction and

foster their selfish agenda on the party.

He said: “As a democrat and the chief executive of the party in the state, I wish to state without any fear of equivocation that I have been running the affairs of the party in the state since 2008 in line with the provisions of the PDP Constitution without any fear, favour or bias, and cannot under any circumstance deviate from this noble responsibility entrusted on me by our party members”.

Abba, who however, was silent on allegations that he had disregarded party directive on the suspended chairman of Udi, added that the al-

legation that he ordered that the traditional rulers who endorsed the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, for his senatorial ambition in 2015 be dethroned, was “not only false but also another ploy to ridicule my office and mislead the public”.

Addressing a press conference in Enugu under the aegis of Enugu-West Forum, the party faithful called on the national leadership of the party “to note the high level of abuse of executive and party powers in Enugu, especially

by Vita Abba and call him to order to stop the drift to internal anarchy in Enugu PDP.”

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Monday, February 17, 2014 9

PHOTONEWS

Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan (left) receiving a letter from Leader of the Delegation from United Nations Secretary Generals Advisory Board on Water Sanitation, Idrissa Daucoure, during a courtesy visit to the first lady in Aso Villa.

Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke (middle) flanked by the Rector of the state’s College of Health Technology, Dr. Franklin Ani (left); Registrar, Mrs. Philomena Obaji and Commissioner for Health, Prof. Angela Oyo-Ita while cutting the tape to commission an ultra-modern building that comprises laboratories and lecture auditoriums at the college in Calabar.

Supervisor, Education and Library Services, Apapa Local Council, Olasode Kamaldeen (right); National Coordinator, Givana Charitable Foundation and Mrs. Bola Arowosegbe, Head of Department, Education, Apapa Local Council, Mrs. Balogun-Buhari H. K and others at Apapa Grammar School, Lagos during the presentation of gifts by Givana Nigeria Limited to eight schools in Apapa.

Enterprise Account Manager, Oil and Gas, HP, Paul Ofulue (left); Enterprise Account Manager, Financial Institution and Telecommunication, HP, Ade Akinlade and Chief Information Officer, Keystone Bank, Femi Aderibigbe, during the launch of HP Office Jet Pro X in Lagos.

PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Tapit Tel Nigeria Limited, Kenneth Ajibade (left); General Manager, Eyitope Olumudi and Chairman, Dapo Balogun, during the pre-launch of the company in Lagos.

Mr. and Mrs. Oluwole Oluwafunke Sheba with friends during their 21st year marriage anniversary in Lagos.

Entertainment producer, Bunmi Davies (left); Marketing Communications Manager, SwatchMark Limited, Segun Ogunleye; Brand Manager, SwatchMark, Martin Osime and actor, producer/presenter, Yaw, at the unveiling of Ice Dime Store and Valentine Special 2014 Collection in Palm, Lekki, Lagos.

PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Dr. O. Elomobor (left); Mrs. Bunmi Runsewe and Proprietress, Cayley College, Lagos, Dr. Mary Iyayi, at the 2014 thanksgiving ceremony of the school in Lagos.

10 Monday, February 17, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

WorldReport Deadly bombing hits Egypt tour bus, as Morsi’s lawyers walk out of trial DEADLY bomb attack on a A tourist bus in the Sinai peninsula has killed at least three South Korean tourists and an Egyptian driver, officials have said.

Also yesterday, lawyers for deposed Egyptian President, Mohammed Morsi have walked out of his trial on charges of espionage and conspiring to commit acts of terror.

Some South Koreans were also hurt in the attack, which came as the bus was prepar-

ing to cross into Israel.

Security sources said the bus was hit by a car bomb or roadside bomb. No-one has admitted carrying out the attack.

The Sinai peninsula has become increasingly lawless since President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in 2011.

Officials in Sinai said the bomb blast had killed at least three South Korean tourists and the bus driver.

At least 13 other South Koreans were wounded, and

were being treated in hospitals on either side of the border.

The frontier was closed after the attack.

The bus was reported to be heading into Israel from St Catherine’s monastery, a popular tourist destination near Mount Sinai.

A number of militant groups operate in the area, and Bedouin tribes live largely outside of the control of Cairo.

Attacks by Islamist militants have intensified since the

People take part in a mass rally on Independence square in Kiev…yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

army overthrew President Mohammed Morsi in July.

The trial has now been adjourned until February 23.

According to British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the lawyers withdrew in protest at Morsi and other defendants being confined in a soundproofed glass cage.

The Islamist former leader is facing four separate trials, three of which have now opened.

Morsi was brought to Cairo’s police academy yesterday by helicopter from the Burj alArab prison where he is being held.

In this trial, he and 35 others are accused of working with Lebanese and Palestinian groups to carry out attacks in Egypt.

Morsi has been put in the soundproof cage in recent appearances to prevent him shouting and disrupting proceedings.

The defendants have said they cannot follow proceedings because of the cage, but the judge insisted that headphones installed inside the dock will allow them to listen.

The cage allows the judge to control when the defendants are heard.

At one point when he was audible, Morsi said: “What are you so afraid of? Are you afraid because you have no public support?” Reuters reports.

The court said it would appoint a new defence team.

Morsi was ousted by the military last July following mass street protests against his rule.

Since Morsi was ousted there has been a severe crackdown on his Muslim Brotherhood group, as well as on other activists seen as hostile to the military-backed government.

Ukraine protesters end Kiev occupation NTI-GOVERNMENT A demonstrators in Ukraine’s capital ended their nearly three-month occupation of Kiev City Hall yesterday as promised in exchange for the release of all jailed protesters.

But tensions remained high as hundreds stayed outside the building, vowing to retake it if the government fails to drop all criminal charges against the protesters.

Prospects for an easing of the standoff between the opposition and President Viktor Yanukovych dimmed further when a top opposition leader, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, again turned down an offer to become prime minister in a coalition government.

Yanukovych is expected to nominate a new prime minister in the near future, and Western officials have been advocating for a coalition government drawn from the ruling party and the opposition.

However Yatsenyuk said he would not agree to take the post, which Yanukovych

offered to him last month, unless the president makes further concessions, including a constitutional reform that reduces presidential powers.

“I cannot be bought with posts, Mr. President. Go ahead and buy your henchmen,” Yatsenyuk told the tens of thousands of protesters who turned out for the traditional demonstration.

Earlier, protesters handed control over City Hall to international mediators from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, who were then supposed to hand it back to city authorities.

The compromise was reached after the last of 234 jailed protesters were released in the past week under an amnesty that also called for opposition activists to vacate government buildings in Kiev and elsewhere.

But hundreds of angry protesters, clad in protective gear, amassed outside the building, saying they would seize it again if charges were not dropped.

200 trapped in S’African illegal gold mine VER 200 workers were O feared trapped yesterday inside an illegal gold mine in South Africa, emergency rescuers said.

“We have got communication with about 30 trapped miners. They have told us that underneath them there’s 200 others,” Werner Vermaak spokesman of private emergency operators ER24 told AFP. But he said he could not independently confirm the figure of 200 while local municipality officials could only confirm 30 trapped.

The workers went down on Saturday into the mine, which

has been dug illegally behind a cricket stadium in the Benoni district east of Johannesburg.

They failed to come out after a boulder fell and blocked their way, municipal rescuers said.

“We are currently in the process of attempting to rescue them,” Roggers Mamaila of the Ekurhuleni municipality emergency services told AFP. Heavy duty excavation equipment has been brought in to help in the rescue operation.

But Vermaak said it was “very dificult to access them at this moment”.

Police on patrol had discovered the men when a passer-by said he had heard voices of people screaming from under-

Monday, February 17, 2014 11

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Focus Indabo: A mission to save lives WOLE OYEBADE’s expedition to Indabo, a remote, rural community in Wudil, Kano state, reveals a people struggling with various health challenges, with little respite coming from concerned development partners NDABO, a remote, rural community of over 10, IWudil 000 inhabitants, is on the outskirts of the local council and about an hour’s drive from the cosmopolitan Kano metropolis. It lacks basic amenities: electricity, pipe borne water, health care services, good transport system.

In civilization terms, the village appears to be some 50 years behind. Although, Wudil, its neighbour, boasts of the Nigerian Police Academy and the Kano State University of Science and Technology, Indabo is simply on its own. Except for a few electric poles along the path leading to the village, nothing else suggests human existence within the vast, sprawling barren land, dotted by trees and grazing animals.

It was some minutes past 10 o‘clock this particular morning. The Indabo Central Primary School, the biggest of the five schools in the ward, located at the entrance into the community was alive with activities. Pupils were spotted outside their classrooms, roaming about, not minding the sandstorms mixed with the harmattan haze, which left layers of dust on their uniforms. They also had food bowls strapped to their waists, in readiness for the midday meal, courtesy of the state government’s school-feeding initiative.

There was something else. A close look at the pupils’ skins, especially those not wearing uniforms, revealed tattoos of ringworm, acne and chickenpox, among others.

According to a resident, the skin diseases were part of the signs of a village where portable water and specialised healthcare services are still a luxury. The source couldn’t even remember the last time a head a bath.

Community Leader, Sule Abdullahi told The Guardian that pipe borne water and good roads were the main problem facing the settlement occupied by a mixture of farmers, fishermen and traders. He observed despite efforts by some development partners and the state government to develop education and health services in the community, succour was still far off.

He said: “Indabo community is made up of more than 10,000 people, but serviced by only one Primary Health Centre (PHC) that has never had a single medical doctor or run a 24-hour service.” He acknowledged that with the coming of Partnership for Transforming Health Systems II (PATHS2) in the last two years, the facility (right behind Indabo Central Primary School) has received support services and drugs, although, access is being hindered by other problems.

“This PHC (Indabo PHC) was a small dispensary, built by the State government in 2008. It was recently upgraded by PATHS2, with the addition of drugs through the Drug Revolving Fund initiative. It now offers services like Antenatal Care (ANC), immunisation, treatment of malaria, among other primary services. But when the condition (of the patients) is bad, they are now referred to the General Hospital in Wudil town.”

Notwithstanding the development, of particular concern in the community are the poor state of infrastructure like roads, unreliable water supply, and lack of health personnel; as issues that have denied the people access to full benefit of health services.

According to Abdullahi, the poor condition of the road is a major barrier to the referral services offered by the health facility and by implication, a threat to the lives of those on the edge.

The distance between Indabo PHC and Wudil General Hospital is about eight kilometres. And conveying a dying patient on the threadbare Indabo-Wudil road would be a nightmare.

Without an ambulance attached to the facility, they had, more often than not, relied on alternative means of transportation, but only by chance do they succeed.

Abdullahi said: “I am aware of a woman who died from pregnancy-related complications because she could not be transported early enough to the general hospital in Wudil. We have a facility in Indabo with about six midwives, but it does not have medical doctor to handle serious cases.”

Besides inadequate medical personnel, lack of pipe-borne water was most visible in the community. Today, the village has only four boreholes. Each requires a lot of energy to pressure a litre of water off the century-old manual water system. To mitigate the shortage, a commercial water supply system was devised in the village.

School pupils at Indabo The village head observed that a 33,000-gallon tanker occasionally brings water from the town to a resident in the village, who in turn sells to the rural-poor community at a retail price of N25 per 25-litre gallon.

“N25 is a very big money here and very few people can afford it,” he observed. “The water tastes of petrol when you drink it. Sometimes, people do have stomach ache problem, but where there is very little alternative, what can we do?”

Also starved of portable water supply is the Indabo PHC, despite its sharing the same compound with a 1000-gallon water “Millennium Development Goal (MDG) CGS Project 2011.”

Residents said it has not supplied a drop of water for years.

Chairman, Ward Development Committee, Saminu Adamu, however, said his community had been unrelenting in mobilising the residents for healthcare services that are available in the PHC, “at least to save lives of children and pregnant women.”

He said, though effective health service was still a long way to go, the residents are getting to realize the importance of the facility supported by PATHS2, especially to maternal and infant health.

A 2013 Labour and Deliveries flow chart at the PHC revealed that antenatal care attendance ranges between 232 and 1851 persons per month.

The down side, however, is the number of deliveries taken at the facility – ranging from 17 to 30 for male, and 19 to 32 for female each month of 2013. It is an indication that deliveries by nonskilled birth attendants are still on the high side.

According to Adamu, “In recent times, it was like we don’t have any hospital at all. But people

are just getting used to what we have now. Sociocultural and religious beliefs are still very strong.

“We now educate and mobilise our people, using every social gathering like the Jumat prayers on Friday, naming and marriage ceremonies, to see reasons why they should seek help in the facility whenever they are sick or pregnant.

If government gives us a doctor, the attendance will improve,” he said.

Speaking at a recent Community Mobilisation and Engagement exercise held in the community, National Programme Manager of PATHS2, Mike Egboh said the lingering challenges facing the rural community, like several others around the country, were issues begging for collaborative efforts of all stakeholders.

Explaining the reason for the exercise, Egboh said: “We are here to make health a political issue.

As you are aware, in our country today, health is not on our political agenda. Everyone sees health as responsibility of the Ministry of Health at both the federal and state levels. But there is a need for every sector to see it as their responsibility, same as the people.”

Addressing the stakeholders, he said: “Our appeal is that traditional leaders must work with the conventional sector. Every woman deserves to live healthy like anyone else. Every child should also survive beyond age five. We have families today, where the head is 14-years-old because both father and mother had died. We need to prevent that in this community, and the traditional and religious leaders have a big role to play.

“We must also improve our health system to perk up the lot of our sick people. It is not only to make children healthy so as to be able to run around, but also to make them very healthy to be

Indabo Community Leader, Sule Abdullahi (left); Chief Imam, Indabo Central Mosque, Yusuf Sheu and Chairman, Indabo Ward Development Committee, Saminu Adamu

able to succeed us when we pass on,” Egboh said.

Egboh stressed that the effect of denying rural-poor communities like Indabo, of basic social amenities like pipe borne water and health facility among others would be borne by the entire country.

His words: “If your leg is aching, other parts of your body will surely be affected. If there is an outbreak of Cholera in Wudil, people from the community would travel to other parts of the country and people from other parts will come and leave, which can cause epidemic in those other places that were not affected initially. So we must be concerned.

“As government, development partners, corporate organisations, traditional and religious leaders and community residents, we are all stakeholders and should be worried about situation of things in the communities and country at large.

“We should ask ourselves, why are mother still dying in 2014 of common problems? Why are we one of the worst with health indices despite being one of the six richest oil producing? Why should we be living under conditions like countries in war and not as countries that are as rich as we are? These are unacceptable and should bother us all,” he said.

Egboh said further that the Indabo mobilisation exercise was intended to build consensus around health and to make the community take ownership of health centres. “PATHS2 is working with the government to facilitate change. We are acting as catalyst to speed up action and not a replacement for the government.”

Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labara told The Guardian that the government was not unaware of the challenges facing the people and had set machinery in motion to resolve them.

Labara said one of the moves was the approval for the supply of customised tricycle ambulances to facilitate referral from rural and hardto-reach areas to urban centres, as part of efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality.

Labara added that each LGA would have three tricycle ambulances for a start, just as he assured the rural dwellers that the shortfall currently experienced in requisite health personnel would be addressed once the 100 doctors and pharmacists now undergoing state-sponsored training overseas returned. Also, not less than 50 nurses are currently being trained in Egypt courtesy of Kano state, Labara said.

State Team Leader PATHS2 Kano, Dr Abubakar

12

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Monay, February 17, 2014

Politics ‘Why Idoma will not back Mark in 20015’ Worried by what they regard as marginalisation, the Idoma people in Benue State say it is their turn to produce the governor of the state in 2015. As part of efforts to address their grievances, they are agitating for the creation of Apa State. Madaki Ameh is one of the leading figures in the forefront for the actualisation of the Idoma aspiration, just as he has declared his intention to represent his people in the Senate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He spoke to Azeez Olorunlomeruon the Idoma dream and his aspiration.

HEAD of the INEC release of the timetable for A the 2015 general elections, is the political atmosphere truly healthy for a credible exercise?

I think it has drastically improved with the emergence of the APC) as an equally strong alternative party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Nigeria’s democracy is deepening and maturing through a coherent growth process and I believe it will improve further in the years ahead.

Coming from the corporate environment and as a technocrat, what spurs your interest in politics?

I have always been interested in politics, as the only alternative way to bring development to the people. It started from my secondary school days where I played active roles in leadership activities.

I fully developed this during my university days, leading to my election as President of the National Union of Benue State Students in 1988 when I was a final year Law student at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Due to the continued neglect of the citizenry, most Nigerians no longer have confidence in their leaders at all levels; what could be done to change this attitude?

Most Nigerians are deeply interested in politics and the governance of their country. They only get frustrated when government does nothing to positively impact on their lives.

More than 85 percent of the national budget is spent on recurrent expenditure, which just goes to fuel their grandiose lifestyles.

I believe the interest of Nigerians in politics would pick up when they begin to see changes in the attitude of politicians in becoming more interested in their wellbeing, and spending the national wealth more on the generality of the people than on themselves and their families.

A call to service in government should be seen as a privilege to offer one’s expertise for nation building and the wellbeing of the people rather than a source for primitive accumulation of wealth.

It may be a herculean task for you to achieve your senatorial ambition, considering that you are from the same senatorial district with Senate President David Mark.

I am convinced that the Benue South senatorial seat is the easiest election to win at this time be-

Madaki Ameh cause the incumbent, who happens to be the current Senate President, has done virtually nothing for the people of his constituency for the 16 years he has occupied that office.

If you come to Idoma land today, you will be shocked at the level of under-development there.

He may command respect and has an overbearing aura at the national level, but this is not the case he has at home, because he has always played politics of division and nepotism.

If you are not related to him by blood and you are not his in-law, he does not plan anything for you. He has not done much to elevate his area in spite of his exalted position.

It is really disturbing that he has failed to use

his God-given position to better the lives of his people, and now the day of reckoning is by the corner.

The PDP appears to be the dominant party in Benue; how could the APC defeat the party?

All that is changing rapidly. Our leader, Senator George Akume, has done a fantastic job of embedding the new party in the subconscious of the people of Benue State.

That has translated into a lot of interest in the on-going registration exercise, where the entire state has virtually become an APC State.

When the number of members is published after the exercise, it will shock everyone about APC development, especially in the Benue South Senatorial District, where Senator

Mark’s failures over the years has made a lot of people to be disenchanted with the PDP, and have decamped en-masse to the APC. What is your own blueprint for the development of the area?

Benue South Senatorial District will witness tremendous development when I assume office as senator after the elections next year.

I will commit 100 percent of my constituency allowances into a Trust Fund, to be managed by a Board of Trustees made up of people of proven integrity, one each from the nine councils making up the district. The Board will independently determine how the funds will be administered for the development of the area.

I will also contribute actively to the development of Benue State, and Nigeria as a whole, through ensuring the passage of quality bills that will have direct impact on the lives of Nigerians.

Instead of addressing Idomas at home, you went and held meetings with the Idoma community in Port Harcourt. How could this secure you victory?

After my initial declaration on the social media, I chose to have my first physical engagement with the vibrant Idoma community in Port Harcourt for some reasons.

First, I spent eight years of my working life in Port Harcourt, and all my three children were born while I was in Port Harcourt working for Shell.

I still have a lot of friends and well-wishers there, who are deeply committed to my cause because they know what I can do.

However, there is also an historical significance for me because in 2003, when David Mark was given the ticket for his second term in office, he came to thank the Idoma community in Port Harcourt.

I recall asking him to make one single commitment of what he would achieve for the Idoma nation before the expiration of his tenure in office.

Apparently not having anticipated that question, he was deeply embarrassed, as he could not provide a viable answer.

And I have it on good authority that he has continued to bear grudges against me for asking him such question.

‘PDP’S many lies, truth about Obasanjo’s visit to Rivers’

By Eze Chukwuemeka Eze HE Rivers State Chapter of the All T Progressives Congress (APC) is shocked by the lies being spewed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, particularly that regarding the working visit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, scheduled for Monday, February 17, 2014.

We are constrained to respond and set the records straight because lies, when told many times without being challenged, could be accepted as facts by the unsuspecting public.

In this regard, we wish to respond as follows, regarding some of the malicious lies by the PDP leadership in Rivers State, as contained in a statement issued by the propagandist Jerry Needam, on behalf of the PDP factional State Chairman, Mr. Felix Obuah: On PDP’s ex-President Obasanjo is coming to commission schools built by former Governor Peter Odili To put it mildly, this is a senseless lie that calls to question the mental state of those making the allegation, for there is no way any sane governor would wake up and decide to commission projects executed eight years back by his predecessor.

The truth of the matter is that Gov-

ernor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has, in his six years of being in the saddle, surpassed the achievements of all previous administrations since the creation of Rivers State in 1967 put together.

He, therefore, has more than enough completed projects for General Obasanjo to commission during his forthcoming working visit to the state.

This is a fact well known to Mr. Jerry Needam, whose newspaper, the Port Harcourt-based local tabloid, National Network, in its edition of Vol. 9 N0 45, Nov.14th-20th, 2012 published an article titled, ‘Amaechi: Five Years Of Education Revolution In Rivers State,’ (http://www.nationalnetworkonline.com/VOL7/vol9n45/education.ht ml) in which Governor Amaechi’s efforts in education in Rivers State were described as revolutionary.

The article pointed to the 24 Model Secondary Schools that were better than some universities in Nigeria being built in each Local Government Area of the State, well structured and fully equipped with modern-day educational, recreation and boarding facilities with standard housing for teachers.

According to Jerry Needam’s own National Network, observers have grossly referred to these secondary schools as universities.

Mu’azu In the same edition, it was stated that the Rivers State Government is targeting building 700 Model Primary Schools with 500 already completed, each with 20 classrooms, costing N3.1 billion each and equipped with ICT facilities, modern library, science laboratory, football field, basketball pitch, volleyball

pitch and nursery playground.

It is necessary to point out that the Rivers State Government is currently running free primary education with free books and uniforms, provisions of library and internet facilities for the primary schools.

The government has acquired 150 hectares of land to relocate the premier University of Science & Technology in Nigeria, the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), to a bigger and better permanent site.

Rivers State under Governor Amaechi’s watch has been adjudged the Best Performing State in the Education Sector within the South-South zone. In recognition of this, the Federal Ministry of Education has rewarded the state with the sum of N70 million for its performance.

The state has offered scholarships to over 2,000 students in Nigerian Higher Institutions and has spent about N5 billion on her students in foreign academic intuitions.

The state is building a world-class university, which, when completed, will turn out well-equipped graduates that will hold their own in any field and compete with the best in the world.

Indeed, detailing the efforts of Governor Amaechi in the education sector in Rivers State is attempting to write a book.

On PDP’s claim that Amaechi is the cause of unemployment in Rivers State

This, again, is a very unfortunate statement. The Rivers State Government has one of the biggest workforces in Nigeria with 65,000 civil servants, yet the governor has exploited other avenues to create more jobs for our teeming youths.

It is on record that, in one fell swoop, Governor Amaechi employed about 13,000 teachers, a feat no other government in Nigeria has achieved both past and present.

About 400 medical doctors have been employed by this administration while efforts are made on a daily basis to create more jobs for our people through countless projects going on in the state through construction of schools, roads, health centres, agriculture, etc.

The fact remains that the menace of unemployment in Nigeria would have been greatly reduced if the Federal Government had pursued job creation with the same zeal showed by the administration of Governor Amaechi.

Read my article titled, ‘Unemployment In Rivers And Amaechi’s Magic Wand’, published by Vibe Ghana on August 29, 2013 (http://vibeghana.com/2013/08/29/u nemployment-in-rivers-andamaechis-magic-wand/) to appreciate the magical touch by this unassuming leader of our time.

Monday, February 17, 2014 POLITICS 13

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Amosun cautions Ogun NASS Caucus members T is regrettable that despite all my efIcolleagues forts to warm up to you and your since your nomination as

‘Don’t pull down house to protect corner’

party candidates and up till now, it is obvious that your group has always had scanty regard for me and my office because you believe that I played no role in your emergence as party candidates and subsequent elections in 2011 and will play no role in your reelection.

This explains why you continue to rebuff all my initiatives to make us work together as a team in the overall interest of our party and the good People of Ogun State. Nonetheless, I remain undeterred in the search for unity. You are, therefore, at liberty to share the content of this letter with your colleagues.

1. My understanding of the issues in the last few months I have received security reports and information from credible sources, including party faithful, leaders, mutual friends and utterances directly emanating from your group, indicating that you and your colleagues were planning to precipitate a crisis in our party in pursuit of your personal agenda.

I dismissed the reports with a wave of hands in the knowledge that no member of the party, much more so members of the National Assembly, would do anything that will impact negatively on our Administration’s mission to rebuild our dear state. Amosun Besides, I thought the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) eral elections in from the merger of the legacy parties, 2015, without regard to the opinions including the Action Congress of of the generality of members of our Nigeria (ACN) on which platform we great party in Ogun State. were all elected into various offices, In order to get the support of the unwould address outstanding integra- wary, these personal agenda of the tion challenges. It is my belief that the very few have been couched and new platform, the APC, offers an op- packaged as altruistic party issues portunity of a fresh beginning. and deliberately orchestrated to atHowever, the unfortunate events of tract national attention. the last few weeks, with their intensity 2. The Plot Against the State and frequency, have lent credence to The plot to achieve the narrow obreports and information jectives of your group has many eleI earlier disregarded. Two instances ments that I initially considered to will suffice here. be unlikely and far-fetched. HowThe violence that accompanied the ever, your recent actions and utterbotched attempt by your group on ances have all the trappings of these Thursday, 9 January, 2014 to foist a elements with the precision and aphandpicked so-called ‘Harmonisation proach foretold.

Committee’ on the party in the state Let me highlight some of these elenow seems to be the opening glee in ments that will certainly not be a well-scripted series. strange to you: For the avoidance of doubt, the ‘Har- • Instigation of pockets of violence to monisation Committee’, even if prop- create a sense of disunity in our party erly constituted, clearly has no role in and insecurity in the state as a whole. the forthcoming party membership This approach will include deliberregistration exercise. ately perpetrating arsons and symThe second incident was the event of bolic harms on the property and Thursday, 16 January, 2014 in Ewekoro persons of some members of your Local Government Area, organised by group and then blame the actions you to purportedly sensitise party on me and our Administration. members in Ogun Central Senatorial • Demonisation of my person and District on the forthcoming party reg- our Administration through a wellistration exercise but ostensibly a oiled smear campaign in the media manifestation of another scene in the that will evoke the ugly memory of series. the immediate past. Already, some of It is curious that a day in which the your supporters, especially allies in Interim National Chairman of our the State Assembly, have been instiparty, Chief Bisi Akande, was being ho- gated to start circulating text mesnoured in Lagos was the day you sages alleging threats to their lives. chose to hold your sensitisation event. • Distraction of the attention of the I was at the ceremony with members Government from governance so of the State Executive Council, that the programmes and projects Speaker, other members of the State that have endeared the AdministraAssembly and Chairmen of our Local tion to the good people of Ogun State Government Areas, including that of will be stalled. The intended conseEwekoro. quence is to reduce the popularity of These two events are just exactly one the government with the populace. week apart and in between there were • Blackmailing me and the National other activities by your group all Leadership of our party to underaimed at achieving the desired objec- mine the integrity of the party leadtives. I understand that these actions ership to intervene as impartial and incidents, that are part of a larger umpires, should the need arise. plot that will be highlighted below, • Generally making the state unare designed to achieve two primary governable, including precipitating objectives: crisis in the State House of Assembly The first objective is the quest of your through a plan to forcefully change group to control the structure of our the leadership and continuous disparty in the state, commencing with ruption of legislative proceedings. the hijack of the party membership • A further orchestration of the registration exercise, hence the at- “crises” aimed at creating a window tempt to foist a ‘Harmonisation Com- for your group to move motions in mittee’ on the party in the state. the two chambers of the National The second objective is the desire of Assembly designed to embarrass the all the National Assembly members State Government. from our state and some members of • Disruption of the impending party the House of Assembly to secure auto- membership registration exercise, matic second-term tickets for the gen- knowing fully well that the exercise

may expose the shallow followership of your group across the state. Even this noble exercise that is expected to develop our great party will also not be spared of the smear campaign to discredit the process.

• Joining forces with the opposition who are known “Masters of Violence” in an unholy alliance to help re-enact the immediate inglorious past. The overall thrust is to force a negotiation to secure an undeserved advantage that could not be otherwise achieved through the internal party democracy.

What is more disturbing is that in this venture, no tool is considered too crude to use, no weapon too unconventional to deploy, and no approach too demeaning to adopt.

I learnt that you and your colleagues have indeed been boasting that the nationwide destruction of our great party, the APC, will be kick-started from Ogun State.

3. The Implications for the State and our Party (APC).

It is important to always remember where our state was before the inception of our Administration on 9 May, 2011 so that your ambitions to control the party and secure your second term in office at all costs do not becloud your sense of judgment.

The implications of your actions are grave and are far greater for our state and the party, than for me as the Governor or our Administration. Whatever offices we hold now, many have done so before us and many will still do after. Therefore, the larger interest of our state must take overriding position at all times. Power is transient and all of us will be accountable to the people, posterity and God Almighty.

The implications of your actions include but not limited to: Rollback of the achievements attained by our party and Administration in the onerous task of Rebuilding Ogun State, particularly the widely acknowledged peace and security that pervade the state.

The state has received many national and international Honours and Awards in this regard, including the recent one — The Most Secure State in Nigeria (2013) — by CLEEN Foundation, a foremost Non-Governmental Organisation with focus on security in the country.

Some of the achievements, such as increase in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue from paltry N750 million monthly to about N3 billion, will be undermined. The image of our party (APC), as a party of peace and progress, will be negatively affected.

It will amount to taking the support of our people for granted. Worse still, your actions, if not curbed, will lead to an unfortunate return to the inglorious era of the immediate past.

Conclusion My Brother, you will recall some of my efforts and initiatives to forge unity and harmony in our party.

These are well-documented and predate my assumption of office as Governor.

Since inception, I have remained committed to the vision of building a virile, united and harmonious party with equity, justice and inclusiveness.

As a member of the 5th Senate myself, I have constantly extended my hands of fellowship to you and your colleagues, including my personal invitations to all our programmes.

The most recent initiative to achieve greater unity in the party was the formation of Consultative and Advisory Councils in all our twenty Local Government Areas. This body comprises party elders, elected members (including National Assembly and State Assembly Members), and political appointees. It provides a platform for closer interaction amongst all the stakeholders, fosters unity and engenders mutual understanding.

The composition, as you know, is inclusive. Regrettably, you and your

Democracy may not be perfect for human and societal organisation, but it is not for nothing that it remains the most preferred form of government worldwide. It has its tenets, the most profound being that it is a game of numbers. In this wise, I urge you and your colleagues to take full advantage of the forthcoming registration of party members by mobilising your supporters to register. This is the path true democrats adopt and it is also the path of honour. It is certainly more honourable than following the script of “what we can’t get, we destroy.

colleagues have declined participation in the activities of the Consultative Assembly in your respective Local Government Areas.

I remain resolute to building bridges within the party and even beyond. Far from being a sign of weakness, this is a demonstration of our commitment to general peace and security in the state. Any discord in the state or any critical segment or group, political or otherwise, takes away from this commitment.

I swore to an oath, which primarily requires me to protect life and property of all citizens and residents of Ogun State and remain unwavering in our commitment to ensure that the Mission to Rebuild Ogun State continues unhindered.

While I will continue to make overtures for peace and pursue initiatives to forge party unity and harmony, I will not abdicate my responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of the State. In this respect, I have re-emphasised to the Chairmen of the Local Government Areas that they will be held accountable for any breach of peace in their respective areas.

Furthermore, I have briefed, as always, all security agencies in the state, to be more vigilant and prevent any breach of peace in our state.

In the same vein, my expectation is that all political gladiators will conduct themselves peacefully within the ambit of the law, as any breach of peace and security that our Administration jealously treasures will be viewed seriously. For emphasis, the full wrath of law will be visited on anyone whose conduct is capable of returning our state to the inglorious days of the immediate past.

The citizens of the state have made it clear to us that they enjoy the current peaceful atmosphere that pervades the state in almost three years of our Administration and that they will not accept any further ugly development that casts a dark shadow on our state.

As the custodian of their legitimate and freely given mandate, I intend to keep faith with them in this regard.

It is my hope that your actions and utterances henceforth will be in consonance with this simple wish of the good people of Ogun State. It is not too late for you and your group to retrace your steps by putting a stop to the plot against the state and allow good reasons prevail.

Democracy may not be perfect for human and societal organisation, but it is not for nothing that it remains the most preferred form of government worldwide. It has its tenets, the most profound being that it is a game of numbers.

In this wise, I urge you and your colleagues to take full advantage of the forthcoming registration of party members by mobilising your supporters to register. This is the path true democrats adopt and it is also the path of honour. It is certainly more honourable than following the script of “what we can’t get, we destroy.”

The plan to foment trouble in our great party, the APC, while hobnobbing and nurturing opposition parties as alternative platforms to realise your personal ambitions is an ill-wind that blows no one any good.

I intend to continue to devote substantial focus to what the good people of Ogun State elected me to do — good governance — without allowing active partisan politics to become a major pre-occupation and distraction, as some would rather wish.

Once again, my Dear Senator Obadara, please accept the assurances, as always, of my highest regards.

• Excerpts of Governor Amosun’s reply to the Ogun National Lawmakers’ Caucus letter published on Thursday, February 13, 2014. It’s addressed to Senator Olugbenga Obadara, and copied Chief Segun Osoba, and Chief Bisi Akande and Alhaji Tijani Tumsah, Interim National Chairman and Secretary, respectively of APC.

TheGuardian

www.ngrguardiannews.com

14 | Monday, February 17, 2014

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 Osun school uniform palaver HE commotion caused at the Baptist High School, Iwo, Osun State, the other day, when students turned up in school in a motley of religious attire, is a dangerous recipe for violence and political instability, if it is not immediately contained. Apart from being a test of the egalitarian temperament of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, a man so notably religious, it is also a social barometre of the tolerance level of the people of Osun State, as well as a determinant of the stakes religion has in the political scheme of the South-West preparatory to 2015.

Reports indicated that students came to school in attires depicting their religious affiliation. They were also alleged to have formed different assembly lines, and simultaneously rendered songs and prayers corresponding to the liturgies of their faiths. While it is yet to be ascertained which adult influence instigated this crisis, what is clear is that, by this act, the students defied the state government’s directive on common uniform specification for all secondary schools.

Surely, Governor Aregbesola has never minced words about the height he wants his effervescent political idealism to take his government to. A fervent Muslim, who greatly admires the egalitarian structure of socialism, Aregbesola desires to turn Osun State into the cultural haven and socio-economic hub of the Yoruba, if not the entire country.

The starting point for him as it is with other passionate leaders seems to be education; which probably explains his effort to radically transform the educational sector of his state by overhauling schools and providing infrastructure. However, as idealistic as his proposal is, it was a grave error on the part of his government, in the first place, to merge religious schools; the reason being that the government seemed not to have foreseen the consequences of such an endeavour, especially the uniform crisis that is now playing itself out.

Beyond the purpose of identity, the school uniform suggests discipline and conformity. By its use, students learn the values of loyalty, comradeship and esprit de corps amongst those with whom the school attire is identified. Thus, as the term suggests, the school uniform is a symbol of uniformity. Any other attire, religious or otherwise, cannot in any way serve this purpose, especially as the basis for association in a public school setting does not rest on any religious affiliation.

Furthermore, to insist that religious attires be given consideration in the dress codes of state and public institutions is an argument towards absurdity.

What it means is that any form of religious paraphernalia could be incorporated into any kind of uniform. In other words, the army, the police and other law enforcement agencies, as well as state institutions identified by a uniform, could alter their dress code to reflect their faith. This is absurd!

The government and people of Osun State must bear in mind that the grundnorm of state conduct in Nigeria is secularity, in the most harmless sense of the term. Devoid of its religious connotation, secularity of the state entails neutrality on matters of personal differences relative to state affairs. Consequently, the state government should not conduct itself in a way that transgresses this neutrality of the state by paying such close attention to religion. The government should enforce what it started when it came up with a uniform specification for all secondary schools.

Moreover, it must also be inculcated into citizens that the tolerant society, which the government says it desires for its people, is built on mutual respect of each other’s religion. Before now the level of cohabitation amongst the adherents of the three main religions of Christianity, Islam and traditional African faith in Osun State has been cordial and peaceful. Despite the fact that Osun State is the capital of the Yoruba traditional religion, Christianity and Islam sit well in the heart and mind of its people and are firmly rooted in their consciousness. There must be no place for those who desire to use religion for political purposes in the state. The consequences of such a dangerous trend are too dire to contemplate.

On this fact, the government of Osun State should not display any form of tacit acquiescence by being silent on the crisis. The government must call the pupils to order and, working through the police and security agencies, expose the unseen hands, whether within the government or outside it, who are fanning the embers of religious bigotry in the state. Conscious of this situation, the governor should not only portray himself in stately neutrality, but be seen to be doing so.

The ugly scenario played out in Baptist High School, Iwo, shows that children have unknowingly become the helpless puppets of the intemperance of some adult community in Osun State. This is a shame! Children, who at once were feted as the beneficiaries of an ambitious legacy, were at the same time being initiated into the ignoble class of social miscreants.

Although people generally have a right to chose what to wear in the larger society, yet at the level of institutions including schools, there have always been, and should remain a uniformity in dressing. And schools in Osun State should not be an exception.

T

LETTERS

New auto policy, a needless yoke IR: The auto industry was Spolicy, recently hit by a new auto which will raise import duties on automobiles by 50 per cent to discourage inflow of used cars.

Focus will also shift to locally produced cars.

It is pretty obvious that this policy, which takes off early this year, will face serious challenges. There is no doubt that the ill-timed, illthought and rushed policy is flawed and will have farreaching consequences, not only for rattled auto dealers but also for prospective car owners. One immediate valid concern and fallout of the new automotive policy is that car buyers in Nigeria will be paying more for used cars.

One of the so-called advantages that the policy boasts of is that it would create employment for skilled and unskilled labour. This advantage can easily be faulted, as the stipulated time frame is not enough to get skilled local hands. To get the policy up and running especially within the short span, foreign hands will have to be employed which in the first instance defeats the entire purpose of creating jobs and reducing unemployment.

It is imperative to ask if the Nigerian socio-economic climate is indeed ready for such a drastic move. There are lots of issues that need to be sorted before the auto policy is effective, such as the epileptic power supply, inadequate water supply, basic infrastructure and some other daunting challenges that business owners battle with daily.

Due to the haste in implementing this policy, Nigerians currently working in the automobile sector may soon be out of jobs.

High import tariffs would require employers to save costs and the most logical way would be a significant reduction in staff strength. In a country where unemployment is already an issue, this is worrisome. That smuggling will become the order of the day is simply stating the obvious. Bribery and corruption at the borders will increase.

Furthermore, with the new duty regime, most prices of imported new cars currently hovering between N3 million and N5 million will shoot to between N4.8 million and N8 million while used cars currently being sold for average of N800,000 will go for a min-

imum of N1.5 million.

Sadly, this would greatly affect the purchasing power of the average Nigerian who might not be able to afford a car anymore. There will also be a rise in cost of auto parts for the vehicles.

Entrepreneurship dreams will gradually be killed, as the risk factor will become higher. Operating costs will also definitely be higher for many small and medium businesses as cost of purchasing utility vehicles will go high. This ripple effect will hit cost of products and services, unconsciously raising the cost of living within the country.

Frankly, the automotive industry is not ready for such a drastic step. Though the policy might seem to help the economy in the long run, there is no clear roadmap or plan for the sustainable execution, especially in the short run. So, whose interest is this policy protecting? For a policy with critical implications and credibility issues, the Federal Government really needs to be more transparent, fair, consistent and free from vested interests in growing the economy.

•Ejike Nnaka, Abuja, FCT

Monday, February 17, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

15

Opinion Quo Vadis public education in Nigeria? (1)

By Jacob Olupona THANK the organisers of Gboluji Grammar IasSchool’s Sixtieth Anniversary for inviting me the speaker for this important occasion. You may wonder why the title of my talk is the Latin phrase, “Quo vadis?” “Quo vadis?” means, “Where are you going?” It is a compelling question, one that spurs people to reflect on their lives. Never mind that Latin was my poorest subject in Gboluji Grammar School. My classmates present here may remember that afternoon in 1967 when it was my turn to experience the anger of our amicable teacher and father, Mr. Fadayomi, known fondly as “Baba Ee.” I had accompanied my dear friend of blessed memory, Akinlosose Ojo, to the house of our dear teacher Mr. Yemi Adewakun, who later became an Archdeacon. We enjoyed a nice gari lunch in the staff quarters, causing us to be late to Baba Ee’s Latin class. “Olupona, where were you?”

Baba Ee demanded to know. “I followed Ojo to Mr. Adewakun’s house,” was my meek reply.

“Did you say ‘followed?’” His questions ended as he applied a stroke of the cane that was always hidden under his desk.

Well, the caning I received indicates the type of education we received in those days. Zero-tolerance for tardiness in class or for failure to put our studies first! “Spare the rod and spoil the child!” But here am I today, a Harvard Professor recounting some of my cherished schooldays in a public school called Gboluji Anglican Grammar School. That was some 47 years ago.

“To God be the glory,” as we say in Nigeria.

The “Quo vadis” question –“Where are you going?” is a powerful one. It is often asked at a critical moment in one’s life or the life of a nation, or on a new journey of discovery and uncertainty. Perhaps the most famous “quo vadis” question is recorded in the apocryphal Acts – the imagined encounter between Peter and Jesus after the Resurrection. Peter was apparently running away from what would be his own martyrdom in Rome. When Jesus appeared to him, Peter asked, “Quo vadis?” “Where are you going, Jesus?” Jesus responded that he was returning to Rome to be crucified again. Peter felt ashamed of his own cowardly retreat, and thus encouraged by his Master’s bravery, Peter retraced his steps, turning back again to face his gruesome death at the hands of the Roman Emperor Nero.

In our gathering today, I intend to focus on our own Quo Vadis question. It is Nigeria’s question.

Where are we going in public education?

“Where are we as politicians, educators, parents, and students taking Nigeria?” I will draw possible answers to these questions from our global community, from other lands, particu-

larly from places I have visited as a wandering scholar, teacher, and intellectual in the past few years. I contend that the crisis in public education today is not unique to Nigeria. Other nations face similar challenges, particularly the so-called developed nations. But we developing nations differ from the so-called developed nations in our approach to solving the problems of educating our young people.

Granted, it can be discouraging to realize that although many scholars, writers, and policy analysts in this country have addressed the challenges confronting our educational system – in books, learned journals, newspapers, and unpublished speeches, we have paid little attention to the solutions they propose. So it is easy to wonder if one more talk, like the one I am about to deliver, will be merely another exercise in futility. But we must not remain silent. Like Peter, we must turn around to retrace our steps, to meet the crises and challenges head on. I trust that history will vindicate us. I trust that God and the heavens themselves will testify on our behalf. I trust that sometime in our history, Nigerians – some secular and some religious –will offer counsel and advice, and will admonish this country to think seriously about public education. Quo vadis? Where is it going? I trust that this question will be answered in time.

Rethinking primary and secondary education in Nigeria Although I am alarmed at the apparent decline of all levels of public education in Nigeria, I am particularly concerned with the condition of primary and secondary education, which has suffered visible neglect. Given the context of this celebration, I will often refer specifically to secondary education throughout this lecture, but most of the points I make are equally applicable on the level of primary education as well. Secondary schools are largely under the control and purview of state governments, and they are not collectively represented by an interest group like the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that could put pressure on the government to advocate for their interests. In the past, parents were very much concerned about the welfare of these schools. But today, parents seek other options: namely private schools, which are now thought to provide the kind of quality education that public schools cannot provide.

The role of the State in educating its people I would like to offer a few basic premises concerning the role and responsibility of the nation-state in formulating the national education system. The Nigerian state, as custodian of the country’s educational system, must educate present and future generations

of Nigerian children and youth irrespective of their background and social standing. The Nigerian constitution actually makes access to education at all levels a constitutional right. A well-defined national primary and secondary school system should not be a privilege. It is essential to the building of Nigerian society. Our elementary and secondary schools are critical institutions that socialize and acculturate our children and our youth for national citizenship, which is essential to the concept of the Nigerian nation itself.

We are in an open battle between what should be public and what should be private in Nigerian national life. Public spaces are shrinking, and those that were once public are becoming increasingly privatized. What happens when the public provision of education is fully privatized is that access to quality education becomes limited. Indeed, the overemphasis on the private and the utter neglect of the public is a symptom of a larger crisis, a crisis of values that affects who we are as a country. This is because the private sphere values first and foremost a focus on the self, on the survival of the individual, and not on the national and collective interests of our citizenry. To correct this imbalance, the state must invest in public education, assume ownership of it, and give it significant priority in its scale of preferences. The state must recognize that the purpose of education is not just to advance private individuals, but to advance the society at large. Because one of the primary aims of education is to educate the public for the public good, it is the responsibility of the state to ensure that quality public education is available to all its citizens.

Clearly, I believe in a strong public education system. But it is important to reflect briefly on the value of private schools as well. I applaud well-meaning Nigerians who have established private schools and for-profit institutions to meet the needs of the growing population seeking knowledge. But for them and their intervention, education in this country would have been even worse. I am proud to say that I am connected with several education entrepreneurs and Christian philanthropists who are natives of this town, and I applaud their good work.

However, we must agree that private education is not the answer to our national educational crisis, because at best private schools will be within reach of a bare minimum number of qualified candidates – whose qualification is largely a function of their socio-economic advantage. The majority of the citizens – particularly those in the rural areas and those with lean bank accounts – still lack access to education. Strengthening our public

school system will enable us to revamp access to quality education nationwide, helping us to achieve the “just and egalitarian society” that is promised to all Nigerians by the Constitution.

At present, without such a public educational system in place, it is very likely that the Nigerian public lacks the education to understand the harm that can occur when a culture of illiteracy takes over our national lives. How can we expect a citizenry that has been denied a quality education to see the advantage of supporting investment in public education? But they are not the only ones to blame for our current situation, in which both our perception of public education and the policy surrounding it are deficient. Even educated Nigerians have somehow come to believe that the public as an enterprise is not worth investing in, forgetting that the Nigerian society at large will suffer grievously if any of its members are deprived of the advantages education can provide.

Let us focus for a moment on why Nigerians who were unable to achieve much at home succeed in American and European educational systems. The reason has little to do with the individuals themselves, and much to do with the society at large. In a recent bestseller, The Triple Package: How Three Unlikely Traits Explain the Rise and Fall of Cultural Groups in America, Yale professors Amy Chua and Jed Rubenfeld, argue that a number of immigrant nationalities, including Nigerian, perform better than other groups in America, and they go on to explore the reasons for this trend. We, of course, rejoice that for once, Nigeria is associated with progress and high achievement in America rather than the 419 and drug issues that have defined us for so long. What Chua’s research confirms is that there is nothing inherently wrong with the Nigerian brain, and that among the African Diaspora, Nigeria enjoys a prime and privileged place based on academic and other professional achievement.

The reason that Nigerians perform so well abroad, where the basic ingredients for learning are available to them, and so poorly at home, where these ingredients are lacking, can be traced to the educational environment.

Not surprisingly, Nigerians frequently bloom in new lands where nurturing surroundings put new resources at their disposal.

• To be continued.

• Prof. Olupona delivered this –full title ‘Quo Vadis public education in Nigeria? Local Challenges and Global Lessons’ as Sixtieth Anniversary Lecture of Gboluji Grammar School, Ile Oluji, Ondo State.

Unity in diversity: Potential for peace

By Stella Bassey Esirah HERE are so many things we know to be wrong yet very often T we do them. From this attitude of contradiction, a fundamental question comes to mind: why do we have this contradiction within the human person? This is with respect to the basic principle of natural law: ‘Do good and avoid evil’. This is a law we all know by reason of possessing a moral conscience since we are endowed with a rational soul that is capable of distinguishing right from wrong, just and unjust and good from bad. Thus, it is a fact that we appreciate within us a disharmony of our own members since our nature is not in harmony with itself. The human person is moral and rational in nature yet often he/she acts immorally and irrationally. How can we account for this? The natural law is the source of morality, what is the source of immorality in our being? The conscience is the basis of our moral conscious choices, our faculty of judgment or mind is the seat of our rationality, what is the seat of our irrationality when we act like the lower animals driven by our appetites.

To solve the puzzles above, we will come to the point of making a clear distinction between our body and soul, appetites and reason, internal and external senses, instincts and conscience in order to understand the fact of diversity in our dimensions of being, and the need of unity for self integration. The most evident phenomenon in all spheres of the universe is of ‘unity in diversity,’ judging from ourselves; we have many parts and senses yet they make up one body – a unity. We have diverse aspects of our being yet they make up one human nature. We have con-

flicting issues opposing the dimension of our existence yet one individual and person underlies them all. Thus in every diversity, we experience an underlying unity; these two things constitute the fact of the universe which is in itself one complex system.

A system is made up of many organs, as organ is made up of many tissues and a tissue is made up of many cells; and a cell is made up of many chemical properties. By implication, the size of the uniting substance in a complex system is directly proportional to the size of the system itself. There would be no sense in speaking of diversity in the universe without speaking of an underlying unity.

The ancient Greeks were stumped by this discovery and this was the foundation of the philosophical venture itself. The fact was first discovered in natural philosophy by the Ionians who were cosmologists. This led to speculations in the universe and the fundamental question about this fact which they all grappled in attempt to explain the underlying substance of all things. What is the basic stuff out of which anything is made?

Out of these questions, the enterprise of philosophy was first distinguished from other ways of thinking and discussion. It was a critical and reflective attitude that raised more questions than it actually provided answers. In the history of Ancient philosophy, the perennial question of the classical Realist Tradition was on Unity in Diversity. This was nothing but the problem of reality and most rational questions are connected to this Unity in Diversity and till date, the problem of reality has not had a final solution. We do not promise to solve the problem which is re-echoed in this topic but attempts to apply it, to

solve the problem of conflicts in society since naturally, everything cannot be the same.

From the basic assumption that underneath every apparent diversity, there is an underlying unity; we deem it fit to consider the socio-cultural, economic, religious and political implications of Unity in Diversity. The point of departure is the note that there is always a way of solving every conflict. Thus, between two disagreeing and opposing parties, there is always a common ground for agreement and reconciliation. Hence, sentiments must be moderated and tempers lowered so that the common ground can be found to achieve realization of peace. We must be renewed and committed to values and shape new ways of exercising virtue. God is beauty itself, He created everything different for the sake of variety which makes the universe beautiful; if God created human beings and everything the same; the world would be very boring. If people are to realise this diversity both in nature and in human nature, diversity will not only be tolerated but promoted and progress will consist in the ability to harvest the results of the creativity this unleashes. Diversity in creation is awesome. If everything in the world including the human person is the same, the world will not be so exiting; but the joy in it is the uniqueness of each entity. We see that in the world, no two human beings are the same; every individual is unique and this makes life exciting which calls for understanding and consideration.

• Sr. Dr. Stella Bassey Esirah HHCJ is a lecturer and HOD of the Department of Philosophy in St. Joseph Catholic Major seminary Ikot Ekpene Akwa Ibom State.

16 | Monday, February 17, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Opinion The Central Bank under Sanusi Lamido

By Olumide Abimbola OW that it is certain that Mallam Sanusi N Lamido Sanusi is not going to be serving a second term as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian public should be treated to assessments of his tenure. This is especially so because in our context where the policy roles of political parties, the private sector and even the media are poorly developed and institutionalised, the functioning of the office is almost entirely determined by the man you appoint to it. Besides, the assessment of performance in technical positions tends to get caught up in politics. There is need to highlight crucial policy issues in public consciousness and create minimal standards of performance or core areas of consensus. Hence, the question whether on the whole, Sanusi Lamido’s CBN has been good for Nigeria; and what is absolutely worth keeping or worth jettisoning in the Sanusi legacy.

Confirmed by the Nigerian Senate as the CBN Governor in June of 2009, one of the first main tasks of the Bank under his leadership was to deal with the Nigerian financial crisis that was already brewing by 2008. Barely two months into his tenure, in August 2009, the Bank sacked CEOs of five banks and rescued the banks with N400 billion of public funds. Three of them were subsequently nationalized. In the wake of the rescue, the CBN set up the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), which acquired the “bad debt” in the financial system, almost without recourse to the taxpayers’ fund.

In its broad outlines, these steps call to mind what the Swedes did during the 1990s, when their banking system was almost insolvent.

They are also similar to the steps Brad DeLong and Krugman advocated at the height of the

American (global) financial crisis: nationalize the banks that are in trouble and recapitalize them.

Sanusi scores very high marks for his determined intervention to rescue Nigerian banking from its moral morass. This is especially so considering the fact that his predecessor had tried to paper over the governance and solvency crisis of Nigerian banks. His timely adoption of the “bad bank” solution, obvious as the solution was, also deserves commendation if for nothing but the reality that Nigerian decision makers often refuse to do the blindingly obvious.

The period during which the Central Bank of Nigeria was headed by Mallam Sanusi will also probably go down in history as the Age of Inflation Targeting. Although it bears mentioning that his predecessor, Professor Charles Soludo, was also an inflation hawk. Since the fall in revenue (mostly revenue from the export of crude oil, which has fallen by 10% since 2011), the Ministry of Finance has had to dip into the Excess Crude Account (ECA). This has in turn made it almost exclusively the job of the Central Bank, with its hand on the monetary policy lever, to keep inflation at low rates. It has been doing this largely by tightening monetary policy. For instance, since October 2011, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), the 12-member committee of the Central Bank which is responsible for setting the country’s monetary policy, has maintained the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at a record high.

The other tool the MPC has been using is the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR), the percentage of bank deposits that banks are required to hold as reserves. At the last meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (January 20), CRR on public sector deposits have been increased to 75%, up from 50%. This means that banks can

only keep 25% of the deposit made to them by government; the rest has to be kept as reserves.

Mallam Sanusi, speaking with Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 23, said that the CBN would increase the public sector CRR to 100% if it had to.

This aggressive stance of the CBN towards inflation has generally been rewarded by foreign portfolio investment – currently, foreign portfolio investment make up about 45% of activity on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Mallam Sanusi is a darling of the international investment community, especially those who look to invest in Africa.

Under his leadership, the CBN decided to hold some of Nigeria’s external reserves in Renminbi, a move that has been described as bold, interesting, and smart – especially since China is Nigeria’s largest import market, with more than 26% of total imports. Analysts hailed it as a particularly smart move for an inflation-targeting central bank, since the ability to import in a less volatile exchange environment would bode well for inflation.

The Central Bank’s push for interest-free banking, a.k.a Islamic banking, is also another interesting initiative. The first bank licensed to operate non-interest commercial banking, commenced operation early 2012. And about a year ago, the CBN inaugurated the Financial Regulation Advisory Council of Experts (FRACE). The Council will advise the Bank on Islamic financial services. Islamic finance, if properly implemented, will only serve to provide banking services to those who, for religious reasons, might otherwise stay unbanked. Besides, encouraging a fertile financial ecosystem should be good for financial inclusion. Certainly this and perhaps the attempt to re-dominate the naira could have been handled with more expert management

of public opinion.

In all, it has been quite an eventful and busy tenure. But probably the most important quality to the tenure of Mallam Sanusi – which some would argue is part of what has alienated him from the Federal Executive Council – is his willingness to talk in public about his job, the actions of his office, his view of what the CBN should be doing, and his views about Nigeria’s political economy. He has made himself very open to the media and has been interviewed by almost all major global news agencies. This is probably going to be the biggest shoe for his successor to fit. This writer thinks this is a shoe the next CBN Governor should keep safely locked in the wardrobe. The participation of the CBN in policy debates is better done institutionally, for example, through discreet but adroit investment in policy-literate think tanks.

What real economic historical research will judge is the wisdom and consequences of the Sanusi CBN’s exchange rate policy. So far, the attempt to maintain a stable exchange rate has been largely successful but at a heavy but not catastrophic cost. Will this continue to be the case? Whatever the answer is, Sanusi’s regime in many respects is an improvement on what went before. The next Governor must maintain if not improve on the regulator’s distance from banking sector participants, not be captured by them. He or she must recognise that investors are a key stakeholder in the Nigerian economy and balance their interest against the prerogative to drive growth of the Nigerian economy. These are the minimum standards that must be maintained.

• Dr. Abimbola is an economic anthropologist and a research fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Germany.

Testing the idea of modular refineries

By Godwin Igwe HAVE been asked this question many times: Does the GovernIcourse. ment know what you are doing? The answer is clearly yes, of We have held two international conferences on Petroleum Refining and Petrochemicals (August 27–30, 2012), sponsored by Petroleum Technology Development Fund [PTDF], and August 28-29, 2013 sponsored by Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals and published the communiqués in The Guardian newspaper. We have advocated and appeared on the NTA TV, AIT, Channels, Radio Nigeria Diaspora. We have published in newspapers, e.g., The Guardian, ThisDay, Sunday Daily Trust, Nigerian Compass, Business Day, PM News, Point Blank News, Punch Newspapers, 234Next, The Union – Energy Today, Lulu Briggs Lectures, Uniport Weekly.

We have published and presented papers on “Petrochemical Development in Nigeria” at a professional conference of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, and students forums.

The Internet (Afrinews, naijaupdate, onepetrol, energycorporateafrica,nigernews24,nigeriavillagesquare,elombahnews,chinaoilweb,nigerianews,energywcsrch,nigerianews,oilindustryheadl ines,saharareporters,headlinenews,nigeria70news,yahoogroups, nigeriaworldforum,panafricanews,etc.); is awash with our information on refining and petrochemicals.

As we strive towards the development of Nigeria’s indigenous technology for both economic and security reasons, we have also written the Presidency for support and approval, stating that “Petrochemicals” warrants an independent Research and Development Council in line with Raw Materials Research and Development Council, or Authority, as recommended in our 2012 Communiqué. We are yet to receive a feedback.

Modular mini-refineries, from simple diesel production units to more sophisticated cracking refineries, are increasingly becoming a flexible and cost-effective supply option for crude producers in remote regions. This is particularly true where there is a need to adapt rapidly to meet local demand. Relatively low capital cost, speed and ease of construction are key advantages of a modular mini-refinery. Two 30,000 barrels-per-day (bpd), units producing high octane unleaded gasoline, LPG, diesel, kerosene and fuel oil can be installed in an 18-month time window, with a budget of $150-200 million vs $2-5 billion for traditional refineries.

The overall economics or viability of a refinery depends on the interaction of three key elements: the choice of crude oil used or crude slate; the complexity of the refining equipment or refinery configuration; and the desired type and quality of products produced or product slate.

Mini-refineries are typically available in units from 4,000 to 30,000 bpd. The different configurations available for modular mini-refineries, with increasing degree of sophistication include atmospheric (topping unit), gasoline train, vacuum distillation (cracking), and hydrocracker units (full conversion).

Modular units are pre-fabricated in workshop conditions and shipped to site for assembly. Quality and speed of construction are key advantages of this approach. Yes, we can test modular refinery idea and witness how it will provide greater benefit to our society.

We have all seen it. Seeking investments here and there is commendable. It is not productive if we do not have the work force to manage these sophisticated equipment and instruments. They are deliberately calibrated to be sophisticated to make it difficult to copy. Comparatively, it is like investing, building a big hospital with all the medical devices, without doctors and nurses, etc. to support your operation.

Technology plays a vital role in the systematic transformation of the production systems and capacities. Development will always depend on the internal innovative capacities of a society, for it is man rather than machine that creates development.

Technology transfer, therefore, becomes a myth for non-productive nations, and a reality for the nations with new means of production, capital formation and technical knowledge. Sustained economic growth is then further ignited, accentuated and escalated by increasing technical wisdom. Do we have that requisite innovative, financial, self-discipline for technology to thrive…designing, making, producing and manufacturing goods to satisfy our needs before exporting?

No society has ever been greater than the products of its higher institutions of learning. Therefore, deep thought is required in the way government relates to its educational institutions as “laboratory think tanks”. The University of Port Harcourt is a Federal Government institution with a Centre for Gas, Refining and Petrochemicals, Institute of Petroleum Studies, training the first batch of pioneer M.Sc. students in Petroleum Refining and Petrochemicals, yet there is no coordination or linkage between one arm of the government to the other in terms of resources or consultancy.

Government’s (PTDF) written obligations to fund students’ tuition are yet to be redeemed, in spite of repeated requests.

With increasing high unemployment in the country and hyperconnectivity empowering the young ones, between Nigeria 2020-2030, is expected to surpass the United States of America in population growth (Lagarde, IMF, Dimbleby Lecture Feb.8, 2014). Government needs hard, deep, deep thinkers, in strategic sustainable terms, to create the environment where enough job opportunities will be available to satisfy our growing population. Why? Because we have heard and read from newspapers and other media outlets that: “As more countries are discovering oil, our exports will begin to drop at some stage. In addition, with climate change, development of alternative fuels, that is bad news for crude oil producers. Our case is even worsening because of frequent production outages and unprecedented oil theft, despite the billion-naira contracts awarded to militants to safeguard the pipelines. We are taking loans every day and our debts are pil-

ing up. The world’s biggest consumer of crude, the U.S., has now found a formidable alternative in shale oil. So, the demand for our oil has fallen and will only continue to fall. The new reality is that crude oil is no longer a monopoly. As demand falls, the price will fall. As the price falls, production will fall. Many oil fields will become unprofitable to operate. They are likely to close down. In this event, the naira would crash. A fall in foreign exchange inflow will hurt us since we are import-dependent. If we deplete our external reserves to protect the naira, it would impact negatively on the general prices of goods and services, hence, less money to build infrastructure, less money for government overheads, leading to retrenchment and salary cuts.

Money to fund fuel subsidy and petrol price will increase and as petrol price goes up, mass unrest will ensue as cost of living rises”.

Therefore, to provide employment, we have to turn the ‘illegal refineries’ into “legal refineries”. To make this to happen, we need to design a strategy and policy to set up an energy bank to provide financing, taxable at low interest rate. Sell crude oil to them at subsidized price. If you legalize, then you stop bunkering because it becomes unprofitable for their sponsors. They will become proud “owners” of a business, and kerosene, petrol (gasoline), diesel, will be everywhere, satisfying the demand in the country. Remember the British and our illicit gin? Yes, they turned round and sold us Gordon Dry Gin. I will persuasively argue that offering them opportunity to set up their businesses will be a disincentive to break pipelines, hence, becoming useful citizens. If you think about it, who is the real loser in all these? We, the people.

They already have the necessary raw production skills. We just need to provide guidance and training. The knowledge gap in distillation processes will be provided on appropriate standards, codes, specifications, and catalysis. This will in turn stop environmental pollution and degradation because all the refining fractions currently poured in rivers (depriving us of safe and reliable drinking water), will be fully utilized in some other process plants. Stopping pollution is very important, because having money is no guarantee of good health. By providing jobs and reducing unemployment, the Federal Government and 36 states will then have enough money to share.

Path forward, we need to stay focused. We need to develop value systems that see service above self-interest. The world is changing, where previously, hard men, now know when to be soft with their people. There is potential for growth, and we should not under-rate human ingenuity and innovation. So, the issue here is clear: • Prioritize and test the idea of modular refineries; • set up a Refining and Petrochemicals Authority, and • let illegal become legal. It is sound reasoning. It is practicable. It is demonstratively a true paradigm shift for the good.

• Igwe is Professor and Director, Centre for Gas, Refining and Petrochemicals, Institute of Petroleum Studies, University of Port Harcourt.

Monday, February 17, 2014 17

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

TheMetroSection Why we prosecuted Delta traditional ruler, by police boss

By Odita Sunday HE Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba has explained why police invited the traditional ruler of Abavo kingdom, in Ika Local Council of Delta State, Obi Uche Irenumah and charged him to court.

Aduba alleged that the monarch actually led palace thugs and other societal misfits to attack and destroy the residences of his subjects within his community.

The police boss who frowned at a report by a national daily (not The Guardian) for not stating the facts noted that police would not fold its arm and watch traditional institutions who are supposed to uphold the law of the land break the laws.

He warned traditional rulers in the state to work within the ambit of the law in seeking redress in any dispute in their community.

According to him: “Delta State Police Command has read with regrets and reservations the above caption, contained in the Tuesday 11th January 2014, edition of a national Newspaper as touching the protracted/lingering Abavo communal restiveness, where a respected constitutional cum human rights lawyer, among other unguided/unconscionable and reckless imputations, accused the Police of “hounding an innocent law abiding citizen as a common criminal.”

“And also that: “The police are actAduba ing in line with directives given to them by their pay masters.” pected usurpers - arrested those “The Command wants to state cate- found culpable within Abavo Comgorically that on issues of criminal munity and arraigned them in investigation; the Command has al- court, while declaring wanted othways been guided by the tenets of ers operating from without the our fledgling democracy which em- community.” phasizes Rule of Law and Equality He added: “However, when a reBefore the Law. On this premise, spected traditional ruler and supever since 2012, when the Abavo posed custodian of our Native Law communal restiveness came to the and Customs, took it upon himself limelight, whereupon some agto circulate a message to top Govgrieved persons in Abavo commuernment functionaries including nity wanted to take the law into the Commissioner of Police Delta their hands and create a parallel State to the effect that his mother – monarchy for whatever reason, the the Queen Mother of the commuCommand did not hesitate for a nity has been kidnapped and killed moment to clamp down on the sus- – which said message was immedi-

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ately investigated and found to be a calculated false alarm, the Police is certainly not expected to rest on its oars in the face of such widely circulated information found to be false.”

“Beside the issue of the false and mischievous alarm raised by the Obi - on the 17th of January, 2014, there were reported incidents of attacks and general upheaval at Abavo community, where the Command immediately deployed a detachment of personnel led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police to quell.”

“Sequel to the investigations com-

menced on the latter incident, there were evidence from eye witnesses giving an on-the-spot account to the effect that the Obi of Abavo – Obi Uche Irenumah actually led palace thugs and other societal misfits to attack and destroy the residences of his supposed subjects within his community.

“Naturally, the police will not fold its hands in such situation, but rather took up its constitutional role in furtherance of investigation by inviting all the parties concerned for interview at Police Headquarters Asaba. After several excuses, the Obi finally honoured police invitation on Friday 7th February 2014. In the interview presided over by an Assistant Commissioner of Police and in the presence of the Obi and his legal representatives, it was made manifestly clear that the Obi has no justification(s) for the several attacks and destructions wrought on the citizens of Abavo on January 17th, 2014, which the said Obi purportedly led and masterminded.”

“Consequently, out of respect for the revered position of the traditional ruler, he was released on bail immediately on self-recognition and issued with Notice of Arraignment to appear in Court at Asaba, on Monday 11th, February, 2014, having sought for and obtained an order for Assumption of Jurisdiction from the State Chief Judge.”

“The Traditional Ruler reported ill on Monday 10th to Tuesday 11th, February 2014 and could not be arraigned in Court, but has been arraigned on Wednesday 12th February 2014, together with his accomplices and remanded in prison custody.”

“In the light of the above thereof, the Command wish to state further that it will not be intimidated or steam-rolled into hesitating to visit the full wrath of the law on persons found in breach, no matter how highly placed, and also the Command as a creation of the Statutes will not hesitate to seek legal redress for scandalous and libelous publications.”

FG moves relief materials to Konduga for victims of terrorist attacks Kanar assured members of the community that more items would be distributed, including building materials to rehabilitate some of the structures destroyed HILE more troops have W been deployed for protection of lives and property, the Federal Government has moved truckloads of relief materials to Konduga Local Council of Borno State, which was recently attacked by suspected insurgents.

In a release by the Abdulkadir Ibrahim, Zonal Information Officer NEMA North East, truckloads of materials, which were transported by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) led by its North-West

Zonal Coordinator Muhammad Kanar, include food items, toiletries, clothing and other basic needs.

With the destruction of markets in the community, the gesture of the federal government was well received by thousands of locals who trooped out from their abodes and hideouts to receive the materials.

The Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Muhammad Kanar assured members of the community that more items would be distributed, including building materials to rehabilitate some of the structures destroyed in the recent attacks.

NEMA has undertaken many of such interventions in recent times in various communities in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states where a state of emergency has been declared as a result of the insurgent activities.

Briefs Veteran journalist, Gbenga Aliu, declared missing VETERAN journalist, Mr. A Felix Olugbenga Aliu, aged 54 has been declared missing.

Aliu who has worked with various newspapers which include the defunct Lagos Weekend, New Star and Vanguard Newspapers was last seen in his residence, No. 150, Pipeline Street, Ojokoro, LCDA on the night of December 31, 2013.

Family sources said report has been filed at both Ojokoro and Isokoko Police Stations.

Anyone who knows his whereabouts should report to the nearest Police Station.

Aliu

Special women prayer confab begins today HE Redeemed Christian Church of God, Praise TaberT nacle will fron today to Sunday host a Special Area Women Prayer Conference with the theme: It came to pass at the church auditorium, Nos. 9, 10, and 12, Ebun Street, Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos at 6.00p.m.. daily. while Sunday’s at 7.45a,m, and 10.00a.m. respectively. Pastors (Mrs). Helen Oyitso, Omowunmi Adeyemo, Tope Emovon and others will minister.

Church begins revival HE Power of Bethsaida T Evangelical Ministry will hold its seven- day revival with the theme: “Divine Favour at 3, Mafoyofo Street, off Ikugbomire Street, Loburo Mowe, Ogun State from Saturday 15 through Thursday, February 20, at 5.00p.m. – 8.00p.m daily while Friday’s vigil begins at 10pm. Chief host is Prophet H. A. Afolabi.

French Language Village’s int’l Easter holiday camp EGISTRATION has begun for R the yearly international holiday camp programme or-

Relief materials being distributed in Konduga town, Borno State, by Emergency and Relief Workers led by NEMA

ganized by the Nigeria French Language Village, Ajara-Badagry Ajara-Badagry A number of well-packaged programmes have been put together to make this year’s camp very interesting and quite rewarding. They include visits to historical sites in Lome and Kpalime, Republic of Togo; French lessons; film shows; French songs, games, art work, dance etc In addition, accompanying teachers from participating schools will attend a short seminar on French teaching methodology during the period of the Camp.

Meanwhile, arrival in Badagry is Sunday April 20, 2014; Departure for Togo is Monday April 21, 2014 while “Return to Nigeria” is Saturday April 26, 2014.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

18 Monday, February 17, 2014

NAFOWA marks Valentine’s Day with physically-challenged, orphans in Abuja From Karls Tsokar, Abuja T was a sight to behold when children with chromosome abnormality, commonly called Downs Syndrome, sang praises to God for being alive, and bringing succour to their doorstep on a day when loved ones share moments of happiness together, and motherless children dance with a hitherto unheard of mother with glee.

But we know, happiness is not so much in having as sharing. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

For Omolara Amosu, the new President of the Nigerian Air Force Officers’ Wives Association (NAFOWA) this is the essence of life and the opium one needs while striving for success in life.

The 208 children of the Abuja School for the Handicapped in Kuje and their 75 friends at the FCT Unity Children Home Gwako, Gwagwalada all in Abuja, can testify to this gesture as they received gifts, food items and also cut a Valentine cake with Mrs. Amosu on Friday in their schools, when she took out time to spend the day with them.

She said the intention was to come celebrate Valentine’s Day with the children, appreciate their challenges and eat with them on this day, and Taking a closer look at the children she said, “the faithfulness of the Lord is awesome, how can we not appreciate God. I want to encourage all Nigerians to come and see the challenges in this school and find one thing that would be of help to these

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children and do it for them. I and my women will come back again,” she said.

Although a staff at the school for the handicapped children said the children needed special care, the “staff strength of 22 is barely enough to ensure that this onerous task is achieved, hence sometimes we are lacking in our responsibility, but we are trying our best, the government can employ more staff, because each of these children need a staff attached to their needs, everyone of them,” he said.

Again, the facilities in the school, commissioned in May 1999 by then First Lady Justice Fati Abubakar, are worn out and nearing dilapidation.

“The hostel lacks mattresses, but with the donation of some by NAFOWA, that can be partly alleviated.”

At the Orphanage home, where about 17 babies beside the 75 are being taken care of by 34 staff members, the NAFOWA President said it is touching to see the staff take care of the children they are not biologically connected to so well, and more “encouraging to see that the children are looking so happy and well looked after.”

While appreciating the gesture of the NAFOWA leadership, the Chief Administrator of the orphanage, William Seidu, said with the visit and the particular enthusiasm ex-

hibited, “there is hope for the neglected child and sure this is the beginning of better things to come”.

“The challenges are many that we face here everyday, but giving this place our best cannot be compromised, as we always look forward to improving the situation. The FCT Administration has being doing their best in providing for the needs of the children here, but we always ask good spirited people and organizations as NAFOWA to come to our aid, and today is indeed one of the happiest times for us the staff and the children here,” he enthused.

NE of Nigeria’s leading architecture and design consultO ing firms, ATO Architects, has celebrated 25 years of successful professional practice in Nigeria.

The firm, which was founded by Ayoola Tokunbo Onajide, started operations from the sixth floor of the Cooperative Bank Building, Marina, Lagos, used the occasion of its 25th anniversary to formally open the doors to ATO Studios, its new purpose-built offices in Lekki, Lagos.

The celebration tagged, “25 years of Design Excellence,” entailed a 15.9 kilometre Charity Walk to raise funds to support the Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted Children, Surulere and the Lagos State Motherless Babies’ Home, Lekki, and an inaugural edition of its Anniversary Lecture Series.

The lecture entitled: “The WOW Factor as a Metaphor for Excellence?” was given by renowned architect, Prof. John Godwin, who highlighted the diminishing prominence of the architectural profession in favour of glossy and shallow “do It yourself” alternatives by flashy non-professionals. The trend, he noted, was resulting in buildings that are unresponsive to the environment, non-functional and fiscally unsustainable.

According to Prof. Godwin: “The buildings constructed by these non-professionals typically elicit the exclamation, ‘WOW!’ upon first encounter but mask deeper unresolved problems underneath. This trend of events is a problem spanning beyond the shores of Nigeria to professional practice globally,” he said.

The climax of the anniversary celebration was a Cocktail Party and Open House held at the new Lekki office of ATO Architects. Guests toured the building and viewed an exhibition of selected projects from the firm’s rich and varied portfolio of work spanning 25 years of its existence.

The firm’s principal, Onajide, said: “We thank God for His Grace and enablement. We did not expect that in 25 years we would have done so well.”

The event also attracted members of the executive council of the Nigerian Institute of Architects Lagos State Chapter (NIALSC) represented by the President, Ladi Lewis and Vice President, Titi Adeleye. Also present were the two Past Presidents of the Association of Consulting Architects Nigeria (ACAN), Architects Fred Coker and Roti Delano, among other dignitaries.

Farewell service for Omodunni Goodman HE death has occurred of Ms. Omodunni Banjo Goodman T at the age of 58. She was born on May 25, 1956, to the late Pa Reuben Adeeko Banjo and Abike Tanimowo Banjo.

Amosu donating to the physically challenged kids

LASU crisis still under investigation - Lagos Assembly • May re-open by month-end

By Wole Oyebade HE Lagos State House of T Assembly has said that the protest, which led to closure of Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo Campus, is still being investigated, especially the roles played by some forces.

The House said this at the weekend in reaction to students’ allegation that the House may have compromised in its role to resolve the face-off, leading to the prolonged closure of the campus.

It was, however, gathered that the campus might reopen by the end of February, for the conduct of final year students’ examinations.

A group of students who identified themselves as “Save LASU Group,” had last Wednesday alleged that the House was insensitive to their plight, allowing the institution to further close down shortly after the calloff of the six-month Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

Save LASU Group also criticized the State government for introducing exorbitant school fees that is well beyond the reach of average Lagosians. The group is scheduled to submit their petition to the Assembly early this week.

Commenting on the matter, spokesperson for the House, Segun Olulade, said since the crisis broke out, the House has never for once ceased to deliberate

Briefs Architectural firm donate to the less-privileged as it marks 25th anniversary

Olulade on the matter, with the goal of re-opening the institution as soon as possible.

According to the Lawmaker representing Epe I Constituency: “We have on a daily basis held meetings with all the principal stakeholders involved in this crisis, including representatives of the students. Sometimes the meetings run into the night, just to resolve this matter as quickly as possible. But for these students now to allege that the House is insensitive to their plight would be unfortunate,” Olulade said.

On why it may have taken the House several weeks to resolve the crisis, Olulade said the matter was already too complex than ordinarily thought, coupled with the enormous vandalisation of school properties “that must be addressed before resumption.”

The lawmaker observed

that investigation into the crisis also allegedly fingered some principal actors, like lecturers, academic and non-academic union members and security officers among others officers in the institution.

He said: “Don’t also forget that lives of some persons were also targeted in the riot. All of these put together, there is no way anyone can expect us to resolve the matter overnight”.

He, however, added that all efforts are in top gear to see to the early re-opening of the institution by the end of this month.

The campus was shut on January 23, 2014, following students’ riot in protest of the school authorities refusal to re-open registration portal for late registration of courses.

Lawmaker representing Agege II Constituency, Yinka Ogundimu added that the House was also looking for possibilities of not shifting the entire burden of damages on the students, majority of who were innocent in the crisis.

Ogundimu said though the estimated damages were huge, the House was still discussing with the Executive to assist with the repairs prior to resumption.

Continuing, he said: “The students by nature always believe they can get away with anything. We have never hidden anything from them since the whole issue started. We saw a lot of wrong things in the system and we think it is necessary

to correct them. Most of us (members of the Assembly) carry LASU certificate and we are ever ready to defend it.”

“We have estimated the damages and we are discussing with the Executive arm of government to see how they can be part of the repair. Notwithstanding the students’ view, we will see to the issues at stake and treat them accordingly,” Ogundimu said.

She joined USAID as General Development Officer/Field Program Officer, PRT Paktya; and then as Economic Officer, RC-East, Bagram Airfield, both in Afghanistan. She’s survived by her husband, Daniel Goodman and her two adult children, Jason and Danielle.

A farewell service will hold on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at the headquarters of Four Square Gospel Church, 62 Akinwunmi Street, off Alagomeji, Yaba, Goodman Lagos.

Group tasks CAN, school on peace, religious tolerance in Osun

By Abdulwaheed Usamah HE Muslim Rights Concern T (MURIC) has urged the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and authorities of the Baptist High School, Iwo in Osun State, where religious dress mode such as hijab and right to individual faith, has incited protests, to allow peace and religious tolerance reign.

This appeal came on the heels of the drama witnessed at the school last week where masquerades found their way into the school premises while lessons were ongoing and some students reportedly replaced their school uniforms with different uniforms of their faiths, groups and cultural dresses such as Celestial Church gowns, church choir and Boys’ Brigade uniforms, Tajia cap, Ifa beaded clothes, among others.

The Director, MURIC, Prof.

Ishiaq Akintola, stated that for the past three years, Osun State has witnessed unprecedented economic growth and moral rejuvenation, including youth empowerment, which has been building hope for the younger indigenes, including the human policy of care for the older citizens which also injected a large dose of hope and great expectation among a people long oppressed and, in such progressive state, religious opposition shouldn’t be allowed to find a way in there and stay.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the group to find the way forward on the emerging religious issues in schools, particularly in Osun State, Akintola emphasized religious tolerance as means to peaceful co-existence and as building block of a better political and economical society, which the state needs the most.

Aregbesola He said: “The issue of female Muslim students covering their heads with hijab while in school should not be a bone of contention that has allowed masked individuals who have been instigating children of other faiths.”

“MURIC believes that Nigeria could be truly great if both Christians and Muslims sink their differences and embrace peace as we have been living, co-existing together in the South-west for a long time and which should continue.”

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2014

FRC’s ‘readiness test’ flaws corporates, govt agencies

By Chijioke Nelson HE Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has bared fangs over poor participation and the inability to scale through the International Reporting Standards (IFRS) ‘readiness test’ by corporate organizations and almost all the government agencies.

The outright non-participation by most of government agencies, being described as regrettable in the journey to economic development, has also been assessed as a move to cover up corrupt practices, which has eaten deep into

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every activity in the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of FRC, Jim Obazee, who made the disclosures to journalists in Lagos, at the weekend, said that the development does not go well with the country’s image, but however added that sanctions are on the way for erring ones.

According to him, the road map for transition to IFRS was triple-phased, beginning from January 2012 to 2014, with the firs phase targeted at quoted companies and second on Government

Business Entities (GBEs), which is due since January 31, 2014.

The readiness test was scripted to ascertain the level of understanding of the entire IFRS codes, the readiness to transit and compliance level at the moment, the development that ahs been projected to enthrone transparency, better disclosure for sound investment decisions and risk assessment.

“Our council carried out the IFRS readiness test. 72 listed entities, 38 significant public

interest entities and only three GBEs- Bank of Industry, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc and Nigerian Police Force Microfinance Bank Plc submitted the requested documents.

“We have just finished collecting relevant documents from entities in the phase two of the national road map. It is sad that only 345 entities submitted the requested documents.

“All GBEs are expected to submit their financial reporting documents under this phase, however, only 10

government entities submitted their documents to the council,” he said.

These agencies, according to him, include Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Insurance Commission, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), NLNG Manning Limited, Niger Delta Petroleun Resources Limited, Niger Delta Properties Limited, Niger Delta Gas Limited and Niger Delta Exploration and Production Plc.

He said explained that other than the deposit money banks, other financial institutions have weak financial reporting, even as most of them failed to scale through the test.

“Except for the intervention of NAICOM, not more than 20 insurance companies would have been able to submit the 2012 financial statements prepared using IFRS

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Investors stake N5.16 billion on govt bonds

By Helen Oji TURNOVER of 5.179 million units valued at N5.165 billion was exchanged in 19 deals last week at the OverThe-Counter market for government bonds.

Similarly, turnover of 1.918 billion shares worth N25.134 billion changed hands in 25,346 deals by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 1.591 billion shares valued at N23.079 billion that was exchanged in 26,257 deals during the preceding week.

Specifically, at the close of transactions last week, the financial services industry (measured by volume), led the activity chart with 1.465 billion shares valued at N12.927 billion traded in 13,693 deals, contributing 76.37 and 51.43per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The oil and gas Industry followed with a turnover of 145.423 million shares worth N1.239 billion in 2,716 deals.

The third place was occupied

A

Executive Director, Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), Haruna Jalo-Waziri(left); Chief Executive Officer, Oscar Onyema; Lafarge Country CEO,Nigeria, Benin Republic, Guillaume Roux and Managing Director\CEO Lafarge Wapco, Joe Hudson, during the courtesy visit of the firm’s corporate team to the Exchange in Lagos.

Treasury Bills

FGN Bonds Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.18 2.50 3.19 5.37 7.95 16.44

Bid Price 89.40 98.30 102.30 107.30 110.90 76.00

Yield 13.99 13.88 14.16 14.01 14.06 13.71

Offer Price 89.55 98.45 102.60 107.60 111.20 76.30

Yield 13.83 13.80 14.04 13.93 14.00 13.65

Exchange Rates as at Friday, February 14 Currency US DOLLAR POUNDS STERLING EURO YEN CFA WAUA YUAN/RENMINBI RIYAL SDR

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Buying (NGN) 154.75 257.3957 211.404 1.5164 0.3037 237.3402 25.5181 41.2623 238.5007

Central (NGN) 155.25 258.2273 212.087 1.5213 0.3137 238.107 25.601 41.3956 239.2713

Selling (NGN) 155.75 259.059 212.7701 1.5262 0.3237 238.8739 25.6839 41.5289 240.0419

Maturity Date 15-May-14 07-Aug-14 05-Feb-15

Bid 12.70 12.60 12.50

Offer 12.45 12.35 12.25

NIBOR Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 13.7083 13.8750 14.1250 14.4167 14.6667 14.8750 15.1667

20

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2014

FINANCIAL GUARDIAN

www.ngrguardiannews.com

CBN plans multi-billion Naira Internet deal with NigComSat

By Adeyemi Adepetun O boost its nationwide cash-less initiative and empower primary, secondary schools and the entire banking industry with real time Internet connectivity, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced at the weekend that it will soon sign a multibillion Naira contract with Nigerian Communication Satellite (NigComSat) Limited to power the platform.

CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi announced this at the weekend when he launched Bank Verification Number Biometric Solution in Lagos.

According to a statement signed by NigComSat’s Head of Corporate Communications, Sonny Aragba-Akpore, the digital initiative contract with NigComSat, which is expected to be ratified early next week will create hotspots in all the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria for seamless Internet connectivity via satellite.

“All financial access points in the country will have dedicated hotspots through dedicated access points for the benefit of the banks and their customers”.

The Apex bank’s helmsman also said this same service will be available in many primary and secondary schools across the 774 council areas in the country will be fitted

T

with Internet hotspots for digital empowerment of this section of youths and future leaders.

Although the connection to schools shall be part of the Social Corporate Responsibility (CSR) of the apex bank, Sanusi added that “every Nigerian bank will be connected to this platform whether the banks are located here in Nigeria or elsewhere in the global community. This will enable customers’ access to online real time banking services whether they live in the villages of Bayelsa or desert Yobe in environment States” On the biometric solution platform, the CBN Governor said whenever you enter a bank henceforth irrespective of the location, transactions will be done with finger prints. Apart from being almost fool proof, it is expected to minimize the incidents of fraud and “in a few years, we will have a banking industry that is not only efficient but an industry to be proud of” Mobile money will also be available on customers finger tips, the Governor said, adding that the CBN has initiated all of these in collaboration with of Ministry the Communications Technology, the Bankers Committee, Chams Plc and the immediate past Deputy Governor in charge of Operations Tunde Lemo

to the stock exchange.

“GBEs’ financial reports are poorly monitored and this is giving room for poor financial reporting among a large number of them. I am surprised that no one has taken up GBEs for not participating in the IFRS readiness test,

except the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment,” he added.

Obazee stated the council’s opposition to the use of single practice accounting firms, which lacks a second partner audit quality and reliability, adding that it is a huge avenue for fraudulent financial reporting.

so free of charge, adding that “this legacy is more than the banking reforms which we have started” Sanusi added that “innovative banks can now think in a limitless manner that is opened to them by a combination of the biometric,

Internet availability via NigComSat and in a few years, you will have an industry that is the most efficient in the world by simply leveraging on the potentials of the solutions” “All Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Point

Of Sales (POS) in every village will be linked seamlessly to satellite.These solutions will efficiently take a lot of burden off the banks to enable them concentrate on how to woo customers and offer them services that will bring comfort to them.”

Group Head, E-Channels, Skye Bank Plc, Chuks Iku (left); Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Idris Wada; and the Regional Director, Abuja/North Central, Skye Bank Plc, Gbaye Adewuyi, at the flag off ceremony of the biometric data capture and electronic payroll system for the state work force powered by Skye Bank in Lokoja.

Investors raise stake on govt bonds CONTINUED FROM PAGEE 19

Govt agencies shun IFRS test CONTINUED FROM PAGEE 19

and the German Company Dorman Long.

The CBN, Sanusi explained, will fund the Internet connectivity in the first four years and all those who would receive Internet services through the designated nationwide hotspots will do

by the conglomerates industry with 137.095 million shares worth N630.718 million in 1,546 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely, NEM Insurance Company Nigeria Plc, Zenith Bank Nigeria Plc and FBN Holdings Plc (measured by volume), accounted for 554.707 million shares worth N6.106 billion in 4,649 deals,

contributing 28.93 and 24.29 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Also traded during the week were a total of 225 units of NewGold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) valued at N459,220 executed in six deals compared with a total of 165 units of NewGold valued at N326,855 million transacted last week in 3 deals.

At the close of transactions last week, the financial services industry (measured by volume), led the activity chart with 1.465 billion shares valued at N12.927 billion traded in 13,693 deals, contributing 76.37 and 51.43per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Similarly, 600 units of FGN bonds valued at N663,189.87 were this week traded in 7 deals compared with a total of 1,090 units of FGN bonds valued at N1.212 million transacted last week in 11 deals.

The NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalization both depreciated by 4.92per cent to close on Friday at 38,767.29 and N12.427 trillion respectively.

Also, all of the NSE sector indices depreciated during the week. The NSE 30 depreciated by 5.64 per cent to close at 1,741.97, NSE Insurance by 5.19 per cent to close at 143.58, NSE Oil/Gas by 7.08 per cent to close at 300.54, NSE Lotus

II by 1.73 per cent to close at 2,839.39. The NSE Consumer Goods index depreciated by 4.91 per cent to close at 996.04, NSE Banking index edged lower by 9.84 per cent to close at 368.56, the NSE Industrial Goods index shed 2.03 per cent to close at 2,550.76 while the NSE-ASeM closed flat.

About16 equities appreciated in prices during the week, lower than 46 equities of the preceding week. 67 equities depreciated in prices higher than 39 equities of the preceding week, while 115 equities remained unchanged higher, than 113 equities in the previous week.

Major Global Markets (U.S., Europe, Asia)

Currency Table Currency EUR/USD GBP/USD USD/JPY USD/CHF USD/CAD AUD/USD

Last 1.3690 1.6745 101.77 0.89270 1.0977 0.90280

Day High ---0.89270 ---

Day Low ---0.89270 ---

% Change ---+0.00% ---

Bid 1.3690 1.6745 101.77 0.89270 1.0977 0.90280

Ask 1.3695 1.6750 101.83 0.89310 1.0983 0.90380

DOW S&P 500 NASDAQ TR US INDEX

16,154.39 1,838.63 4,244.02 167.99

+126.80 +8.80 +3.35 +0.74

+0.79% +0.48% +0.08% +0.44%

FTSE 100 DAX CAC 40 TR EUROPE

6,663.62 9,662.40 4,340.14 175.48

+4.20 +65.63 +27.34 +1.31

+0.06% +0.68% +0.63% +0.75%

NIKKEI HANG SENG SENSEX

14,313.03 22,298.41 20,366.82

-221.71 +132.88 +173.47

-1.53% +0.60% +0.86%

Monday, February 17, 2014

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FINANCIALGUARDIAN FCMB partners TUC on 20,000 houses for workers .Signs pact on money transfer initiative From Chuka Odittah, Abuja and Azeez Olorunlomeru, Lagos HE Trade Union Congress T (TUC) and First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc has unveiled plans to partner to source capital required for timely completion of the social scheme, in a move aimed at actualising speedy delivery of the 20,000 housing units promised government workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement entered into between TUC and Rock of Ages Limited, FCMB, which provides financial support for the property company, said the housing scheme is however to operate on mortgage basis nationwide.

A total of 100,000 houses are expected to be constructed nationwide to boost decent housing for workers, TUC President, Bala Kaigama, said.

Speaking in Abuja, FCMB’s Head of Corporate Banking, Folusho Raheem, told journalists that the bank is in the venture to help workers access affordable and decent housing across board.

“FCMB as a bank in this project is to support the Chicason group, the parent company of Rock of Ages. They are our long time customers and also to key into the Federal Government transformation agenda of providing affordable housing units for all members of TUC. “We believe that once you have a roof over your head, half of your problems are solved. We are therefore bringing in easily accessible mortgage finance support to our client.

“Most of the transaction will be done on collection platforms and we provide one of the best collection platforms for workers of all categories and other classes of people.

“We have a good record of partnership with TUC and we have been partnering together for a long time. We are determined to support the scheme and ensure it’s timely completion,” he said.

According to him, upon completion of necessary documentation, workers who wish to own houses under the scheme are required to pay only an initial 10 per cent of whatever category of houses they wish to acquire before the bank comes in to support the delivery of the housing units.

“Once we are done with documentation and the initial 10 per cent paid, we are ready to provide capital for the houses to be acquired. We are assuring workers that they would the better for it because we’ve been helping them in this regard.

We would deliver according to plan and on time too,” he said.

Meanwhile, FCMB has entered into a business relationship with the MoneyGram International to offer money transfer services to Nigerians and further provide value-added services to its customers nationwide.

FCMB’s Executive Director, Lagos and South-West, Olufemi Bakre, said that the bank’s decision to partner with MoneyGram was aimed at promoting financial inclu-

sion and enhancing customer experience.

He stated that the development would help the bank to further connect with all classes of the Nigerian society by bringing financial services closer to them.

He also said bank’s ability to deliver MoneyGram products and services to its customers will highlights the its commitment to deliver quality service and promote excellent customer satisfaction.

“We are very excited about this new venture because the inclusion of MoneyGram to our portfolio of financial solutions will broaden the scope of value-added services we offer our customers,” he said.

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MONEY & BANKING

BDC’s operational manual debuts, EFCC, others urge adherence

By Chijioke Nelson HE financial system T reforms, at the weekend, got a boost, as the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) unveiled its operational manual, official logo and website.

The self-regulatory move was aimed at strengthening the in-house sanitisation processes, preparatory to full compliance with the regulatory authorities’ guidelines.

The President of ABCON, Aminu Mohammed Gwadabe, said that the developments serve as a platform for legitimate BDC operators, which would differentiate them from the roadside “currency hawkers”.

Explaining the benefits of the website, he noted that about 3, 500 registered BDC members will be listed on the site, including their office addresses.

He said that the move was a demonstration of ABCON’s commitment to performing the role of a self-regulatory organization mandated on it by the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN).

The Head of Operations, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zone, Iliyasu Kwarbai, also expressed gratitude by the measure taken by the association, saying that it is a sign of sincerity on their part.

He however, urged them to ensure strict adherence to the

rules, which was meant to guide their activities, but warned that new law on money laundering stipulates, “if you don’t declare correctly, you will lose all.”

CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Other Financial Institutions Department, Yemi Bedu, expressed delight that ABCON as an association has found out the need not only for strong regulation, but also the need for database management.

He also enjoined members of the association to ensure that the manual is adhered to, as that will go a long way in helping operators and contribut-

ing positively to the economy as a whole.

“I enjoin all the operators to study and abide by the manual. The logo will assist the public to distinguish licensed operators and illegal operators,” he stated.

Also, the Head of Compliance Unit, Nigerian Financial Intelligent Unit, Baba Hamed Hanafi, acknowledged that BDCs are vulnerable to money laundering but urged them to always resist the temptations.

To him, there was need to tackle the menace with all seriousness, as that would be an effective measure to redeeming the nation’s image, enlisting the support of the agency in training their BDCs and add value to their

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FINANCIALGUARDIAN EQUITY MARKET SUMMARY

MARKET REPORT AS AT 14=02=2014

PRIMERA AFRICA www.primera-africa.com

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MARKET INDICATORS

AS AT 14=02=2014

PRIMERA AFRICA

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MARKET INTELLIGENCE

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INSIDE TAX

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MoNEY & BANKINg FINANCIALGUARDIAN Fortis MfB receives €5m development facility to expand operations

By Helen Oji Microfinance Bank F(N1.1oRTIS Plc has received €5 million billion) facility from the FMo, the Netherlands Development Finance Company.

The fund, which is a five-year unsecured term loan, will be applied for on lending to boost activities in the microfinance sector of the economy.

Kunle oketikun, managing director/chief executive officer of Fortis, commenting on the transaction, which is termed as unprecedented, expressed his satisfaction saying it would enable his organisation deliver on its core services of making funds

available to small-scale businesses at the least cost. He noted, “This loan will ensure that our esteemed customers have access to finance at cheaper rates and longer tenors.”

Linda Broekhuizen chief Investment officer of FMo in a statement said that Fortis Microfinance Bank Plc was the first Microfinance that his organisation would be providing such support to in Nigeria.

FMo is a Dutch development bank that supports sustainable private sector growth in developing and emerging markets by investing in ambitious entrepreneurs.

FMo operates on the philos-

ophy that a strong private sector leads to economic and social development, empowering people to employ their skills and improve their quality of life.

Broekhuizen stated that they provided this unique loan to Fortis because the bank has positioned itself to provide microfinance banking services to support entrepreneurship and the empowerment of the large unbanked population with a focus on (mostly female) micro clients and small enterprises.

The CIo further noted: “Fortis will receive a local currency senior loan equivalent to €5.0 million.

FMo supports Fortis as one of the leading MFI’s in the country to further implement the client protection principles (‘CPP’) with the aim to become CPP certified. The FMo facility will contribute to further financial inclusion and stimulate the further development of financial services”. oketikun advanced his organisation’s commitment to the future growth of microfinancing noting that the only thing really micro about microfinancing is in the smallness of the loans and not that the entire operations would be small and confined to a room and parlor. He further stressed, “with the introduction of mobile money,

Chairman, Augustine University Project Fund Raising Committee, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas (left), Archbishop, Lagos Catholic Archdiocese, His Grace, Most Reverend Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, Deputy Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Tony Okpanachi, Head, Personal Banking, Lagos and South West, Folake Aina and Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc, Sir. Steve Omojafor, during presentation of Electronic Boards to the proposed Augustine University, Ilara-Epe Lagos, by Ecobank, in Lagos, at the weekend.

Skye Bank, Kogi collaborate on biometric, electronic payroll system

By Chijioke Nelson ogI State government K has entered into partnership with Skye Bank Plc for the use of the biometrics data capture and electronic payroll system for all civil servants in the state.

Flagging off the exercise in Lokoja, the state governor, Captain Idris Wada, said that the data capturing exercise had become necessary in view of the alarming increase in wage bill of the state, following the implementation of the minimum wage, to promote efficiency and prevent fraud in salary administration.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Regional Director, Abuja/North Central, Skye Bank, gbaye Adewuyi, said the bank’s antecedents and track record in electronic payroll system administration have endeared it to several clientele.

Adewuyi said with the biometrics data capture, it would be impossible for fraud to be perpetrated as the data of all the civil servants would have been gathered and stored.

He commended the state government for the initiative, vision and thoughtful-

ness in coming up with the idea, which he said has brought a revolution in salary administration in the state.

Skye Bank is a major electronic payment solutions provider with an impeccable track record of excellence and innovativeness, and has partnered with several states, ministries, departments and agencies of government at all levels.

It is also one of the leading banks in the area of boosting internally generated revenues for states and has an excellent record of performance in the sector.

Wada clarified that the exercise was not aimed at retrenching civil servants, but targeted at a centrally coordinated system for efficiency in salary payment.

He said his government was keen in putting in place an efficient payroll system that would eliminate inefficiency, loopholes for fraud and abuse through which the state loses money.

Wada noted that the choice of Skye Bank as a partner in making the idea a reality was borne out of the bank’s experience and track record in developing effective payroll systems for states and local governments.

electronic banking and internet banking the services of formal financial institu-

tion will soon get all Nigerians irrespective of location.

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FINANCIALGUARDIAN

MONEY & BANKING

‘Biometrics will revolutionalise Nigerian banking system’

By Helen Oji HE Governor of Central T Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said that the launch of Bank Verification Number (Biometric) would revolutionalise Nigerian banking system and position it to become the most efficient in the world soon.

The banking sector biometric solution, which was initiated by the apex bank, in collaboration with the Bankers Committee, apart from enhancing KYC for greater lending and curbing crime in the sector would also help banks to reduce costs and create easier access to customers.

Speaking at the official launch of the biometrics

solution in Lagos at the weekend, Sanusi explained that leveraging on the numerous opportunities presented with the biometric, Nigerian banks would witness many landmark achievements in the industry.

“Innovative companies can now think in a limitless manner that is opened by this combination of the biometric, the Internet availability, the agent banking. In the next few years you would have an industry that is the most efficient in the world simply be leveraging on the potentials of this solution. In the next two weeks February 27, we would present something to the CBN Board for approval which will allow us to sign off a contract with NITCOM SAT and drop satel-

lite and work with main one for Internet in all of he local governments in his country.

“For the initial three, four years the CBN will pay, it will be free, there will be dedicated lines to all financial access points, every ATMs and pos at every village will be connect-

ed. And we will also provide dedicated access points to every primary and secondary schools in the hotspot. If you’ve got all these database why do you need to have a back office. And then all branches, all these structures you have are collapsed.

“ It doesn’t matter if you walk into FirstBank and you are a GTB customer once you’ve got your finger, you can transact your business.

And because its a shared back office you are sharing the cost, and then you spend your time on the things you

are supposed to be doing, getting the customers, servicing them, following up on them and somebody else does all the back office work, processing the cheques disbursing the money and making the entries.” He said.

Mainstreet Bank plans 80 agric equipment hiring centers From Joke Falaju, Abuja HE Managing Director of Mainstreet Bank, Faith Tuedor-Matthews, has unfolded plans to support the federal government by setting up 80 agricultural equipment-hiring centers across the country.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had

T

kick-started the first phase of the agricultural mechanization scheme which involve the setting up of 80 centres for hiring agricultural equipment across the country, making available 400 units of tractors, 500 power tillers and various post harvest equipment.

Each of the centres would be

equipped with five units of tractors, five units of power tillers, and various harvest and post harvest equipment.

The GMD while speaking during an interactive session on mechanization intervention programme with the agriculture minister, in Abuja, said that the bank has concluded plans to support the govern-

ment during the second phase of the programme.

“I want to give the commitment of the Mainstreet Bank to the agricultural mechanisation scheme, and I want to say here that when the first 80 agricultural hiring centers are completed, we are going to support the next 80 centres.

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APBN cautions govt over preference for foreign professionals

Allottees, developer bicker over facilities in Penthouse estate

OPIC launches N2b Orange Valley estate project

Page 47

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2014

Richards, investors plan N300m Lekki tech complex

Illustration of the proposed Lekki Technological Centre

Investors are tapping into the real estate market along the Lekki-Epe corridor, with a proposal to building a N300 million technological complex.

The developer, Richards Infrastructures Limited has picked a contractor and ready to launch construction works in March Projects

By Chinedum Uwaegbulam RAND plan for the conG struction of a mega shopping mall in the prime area of Lekki in Lagos may have begun in earnest, with conclusion of preliminary works by the promoters who are set for the actual turning of sod activities early next month.

The project being midwife by Messrs Richards Infrastructures Limited has already received massive support of investors and Lagos State Government in a bid to decongest the ever busy Computer Village in Ikeja. It is located along the newly constructed Lekki-Epe Expressway, and directly in front of Abraham Adesanya

Estate, in Ajah. It has proximity to the Lekki free trade zone and newly proposed Lekki International Airport.

Designed by the architectural firm of Gab A Associates, the complex is estimated to gulp N300 million. The proposed complex christened Lekki Technological Complex is projected to have 167 shops for show rooms, business offices, phone repairers and retailers.

For out right purchases, each shop goes for N350, 000 per square meter.

The Guardian gathered that Messrs SSL Project Limited has been picked as the main contractor. According to the developer, foundation, filling and construction will commences in March 2014.

Completion date is estimated for December 2014 and han-

dover to shop owners will be in the first quarter of 2015.

However, the contractor has been given project duration of 18 months.

Among the private investors to the project is Messrs Asbeach Nigeria Limited.

Discussions have also reached advance stages for other

investors who are proposing to come in as off takers. They include Slot MTN, GLO, Samsung, Computer and Allied Dealers Association, Otigba branch. The investors have indicated interest to establish business outlets and experience centers in the mall.

The Lagos State Government

has already issued a Governor’s Consent on the land. Prospective shop owners will get title, which will be released upon full payment.

Payment can be in full or in mile stones, initial payment of 30 per cent and the balance due within eight months.

The Chief Operating Officer,

Messrs Richards Infrastructures Limited, Mr. Dayo Oyedele told The Guardian that the complex is will be a one stop centre for individuals and corporate organisations that commute to Ikeja for their technological needs. He plans to use the

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Ogun unveils New Makun City, redesigns Agbara/Igbesa industrial estate Urban Development

By Tunde Alao N continuation of its urban Idubbed renewal schemes, which is “Change Agenda”, Ogun State Government has extended the activities to Agbara, a major industrial town bordering Lagos, Ogun and Benin Republic.

The scheme is in line with the redesigning and rehabilitation of clusters of the existing districts and zones across the state. The exercise is also geared towards achieving a global urban rejuvenation in the state.

Coming on the heel of the new

Moved by experts’ criticisms over its urban planning schemes, especially in Agbara estate and LagosIbadan-Sagamu axis, Ogun authorities have adopted new urban renewal scheme for Agbara/Igbesa estate and launched New Makun City in Shagamu area plan is the proposal to launch a new scheme, known as New Makun City, located along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, near Shagamu Interchange. The city, apart from taking care of haphazard physical development along the axis, would also bring sanity to illegal use of open spaces, exemplified by petroleum tankers, trucks and articulated vehicles that dotted the expressway, apart from the

fact that it would provide huge revenue for the state when completed.

The city is to occupy an area of 750 hectares and promoted by the Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation (OPIC), in conjunction with the planning authority and other relevant agencies.

According to the Ogun State’s Special Adviser, Property and Investment, and OPIC

Managing Director, Mr. Babajide Odusolu, the city is designed to as “a catalytic hub for enhancing the industrial/commercial base of Ogun State”.

To be incorporated into the scheme are at least Ten Districts. These include; Four residential districts, a central park, a School District, with zones for day and boarding facilities, a regional shopping district/bazaar, a multi-purpose convention center, a light industrial district, among others.

Meanwhile, among the major activities planned for

CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

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Monday, February 17, 2014

HOMES & PROPERTY APBN cautions govt over preference for foreign professionals Professional Practice

By Emmanue Badejo RESIDENT of the P Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, (APBN), Mr. Bala Ka’oje last week led other professionals to warn government at various levels to desist from the norm of preferring and engaging foreign firms, saying the trend could cripple the drive towards nation building.

Ka’oje spoke in Lagos last week during 1st Annual Public Lecture/Awards organised by the Lagos State chapter of

The group says that the attitude of some public servants to engage foreign professionals at the expense of their local colleagues, who are exposed and experienced is at the detriment of the drive of building the nation APBN. Speakers at the event included the chairman of the day, Mr. Bashorun J.K. Randle, Lagos State Commissioner for Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde, the guest lecturer, Mr. Uju Ogubunka, among others.

In his remarks, Ka’oje, stated that the place of professionals

in nation building either in Nigeria or elsewhere could not be over emphasized, concluding that the every country needs the professionals to reach its desired dream.

The President, who was represented by his Vice said, the import of professionals into Nigeria from abroad calls for concern, and should to be

UN-HABITAT Deputy Chief visits Nigeria Urban Development HE Deputy Executive T Director and Assistant Secretary-General for UNHabitat, Ms. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, will be arriving Nigeria on February 19, at the start of a five-day mission to strengthen growing ties between the United Nations city agency and sub-Saharan Africa’s most populous nation.

The mission, coming just ahead of the fifth session of the African Ministerial Council on Housing and Urban Development (AMCHUD) scheduled for N’djamena Chad from the 25th to 28th February and the seventh session of the World Urban Form holding in Medellin, Columbia from

5th to 11th April, is coming in the wake of mounting efforts towards the articulation and adoption of a New African Urban Agenda, which is required to tackle the growing challenge of urbanization on the continent. These processes will lead up to the landmark third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, billed to take place in 2016.

Nigeria, which is leading preparations under this initiative in Africa, had last year demonstrated its commitment to the process with a pledge of $3million spread over three years, to drive participation by African countries.

Ms Kaycira is a former Mayor of Kigali, capital of the

Republic of Rwanda, where she had also previously served as Governor of Eastern Province, the largest in Rwanda and as an elected Member of Parliament prior to assuming office as Assistant Secretary-General for UN-Habitat.

During the visit, the UNHabitat Deputy Executive Director will hold several high-level meetings with top government functionaries including the Supervising Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Musa M. Sada and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. She will also address the inaugural ceremony of Nigeria’s National Habitat Committee on Thursday in Abuja.

addressed. He however, charged the professionals to be good ambassadors whenever they are called upon for national assignments.

In his lecture, Ogubunka, a fellow of Chartered Institute of Bankers, said each professional should make personal decision and resolve to commit to contributing to nation building with or without the next person to him, pointing out that if all professionals abide by their professional codes of ethics and conduct, utilize their knowledge, skills and competencies, the collective approach and commitment to nation building can make the task lighter and perhaps, exciting.

He further noted that professionals must be involved in the articulation of national vision and plans, implementation of national programmes and projects efficiently in the quest for nation building.

According to him, the role of professionals in nation building also include analysis, evaluating, discovering and pointing out gaps as well as proffering objective and well informed solution options on national issues, adding that supporting public and private sector projects and activities that are aimed at building the nation is equally a function of professionals. ‘’Practicing and promoting maintenance culture in and outside the home, complying with laws and regulations, practicing and promoting sustainable environment, creating public awareness and

enlightenment are the roles of professionals in nation building. They are also expected to be an advocate on issues of individual, communal and national interest and importance. ‘’They should get involved in promoting, mentoring and coaching of the youth, building human capacity in general, supporting the professional bodies that produce professionals. They should generate and discuss ideas and suggestions for public policy aimed at improving and sustaining the nation as a whole.

He said one of the reasons some private and public organisations preferred foreign professional to their counterparts at home was due to the way “we conduct our ourselves”, adding it was high time for professionals to rise to the challenge of nation building.

Randle said the task of nation building was not for the fainthearted but for people who have professional integrity to prove. He added that collaborative efforts among the professionals and retraining programmes for the professionals could bring about nation building in Nigeria.

Pointing out that the place of professionals in nation building was vital to any nation, he said any nation that toys with its professionals does so at its peril, arguing that if a professional can succeed in Nigeria, he can succeed anywhere. .

Earlier, Lagos State APBN Chairman, Mr. Aare Adewale Adeyemi said that profession-

als have greater role to play than the current passive engagement of the polity, pointing out that the political landscape is yet to record a critical mass of professionals with active partisan participation.

According him, ‘’people who will dream new dreams, articulate ideas and bring in the discipline required for execution should be deliberately encouraged. When professionals decline to actively engage the system, avoid getting directly involved or actively participating in the political process, they unwittingly create an environment for the emergence of leaders that are not the best among us. After all, nature abhors vacuum. The professionals will then not have the moral right to query the way and how they are governed’’.

Ayinde, a town planner, who was one of the awardees, said to regain their lost grounds, there was need for professionals to reorder their values, while upholding integrity and expertise in any chosen field. Also recognised for professional excellence in governance are Chairmen of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, Mr. Kamal Bayewu and Yaba Local Council Development Area.

In their reactions, the recipients expressed satisfaction over the award and pledged to do all in within their knowledge and power to boost professionalism in Nigeria.

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PRIME ESTATES

OPIC launches N2b Orange Valley estate project Projects LANS by one of the viable P state’s owned property development companies, Ogun State Property Investment Corporation (OPIC) to increase the nation’s housing stock and expand its operations may have begun in earnest, with the launch of a N2 billion new residential development in the state capital, Abeokuta.

The project, located opposite the Governor’s Office at Oke-Mosan, occupies 75 hectares of land area and designed to deliver 71 units, comprising four bedroom semi-detached duplexes, including boys’ quarters; three bedroom flats and five bedroom villas including home office and boys quarters. The completion date is targeted to be within 18 months.

The first phase of development at Orange Valley includes construction of 24 apartments and 29 semidetached duplexes and is scheduled for completion within six months whilst the second phase would take a further nine months and includes completion of recreational facilities and 18 luxurious villas.

Special Adviser on Property and Investment, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Mr. Babajide Odusolu, who also doubles as OPIC’s Managing Director, disclosed that the project commenced in January 2014,and designed to

compete favourably with similar developments in Lagos, the pricing has been carefully worked out to make it attractive.

Mr. Odusolu explained that Orange valley creates a scenic, serene green living environment for its residents and serve as suitable accommodation for the increasing number of senior executives resident in Ogun state. It is strategically located with considerable proximity to neighbouring cities including Lagos and Ibadan. “The concept of Orange Valley is to increase the attractiveness of Ogun State particularly Abeokuta and other major cities as the preferred destinations to live and work in a secure and serene e n v i r o n m e n t . ” Central services to be provided include a common clubhouse, medium sized swimming pool and gymnasium for the exclusive use of the residents and their guests, 24-hour power supply, potable water, central sewage system and broadband services.

OPIC Managing Director disclosed that OPIC is partnering Sterling Bank and First Bank Plc, especially, in the area of providing mortgage for those who may not be able to afford personal payment. He listed terms for payment to include either down right payment, or installment payment, by which 20 percent would be the initial deposit while the balance would be spread for one year.

Prototype of housing units in the Orange Valley estate, Abeokuta, Ogun State

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HOMES & PROPERTY

FMBN targets N4b monthly from NHF e-card collections Mortgage Finance

By Chinedum Uwaegbulam RIGHTER days may lie B around in the corner for contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF), with the introduction of an electronic collection platform by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), which will eliminate fraud, promoting transparency and accountability in the housing sector.

The e-card is a form of identification card bearing the contributor’s name, participation number and photograph. It also enables the holder to access records of his/her contributions using any of the information technology channels such as Automated Teller Machine, Point-of-Sale terminals and the Internet.

Using the NHF e-collection platform web portal, a contributor can scrutinize his record of contributions online and print out a statement of account at a computer workstation around the world. Yet another benefitNHF card can be used as an ewallet to stash extra cash for purchases via POS terminals or online. But only the extra cash, excluding the NHF funds, can be spent.

One of these new initiatives is the revitalization of the National Housing Fund, NHF, with the introduction of an electronic collection platform in June, last year. The e-card was formally unveiled last week by President Goodluck Jonathan at a ceremony where he also commissioned

The newly commissioned Aviation Village in Abuja, recently

With the e-card collection by FMBN, the rate of collections rose significantly from about N700 million to over N2.2 billion per month. We estimate a further 100 per cent increase in monthly collections to achieve about N4 billion per month before the end of the year 270 housing units in the ‘Aviation Village’, along Abuja Airport road.

Essentially, the e-card is part of the radical policy review on the strategies to accelerate the provision of

decent abode for all Nigerians; affluent and average income earners as well as reduce an estimated 16 million shortfall in national housing stock.

The Jonathan administration

is however, charting a new course through a long term perspective planning – developing the right policies, strategies and frameworks and involving all stakeholders, especially the private sector in financing massive erection of new, standard houses.

The President, who received his own e-card from the supervising minister of lands, housing and urban development, Musa Sada, recognized the benefits of the e-platform; and also seen

as a huge step forward in achieving speed, accuracy, and value-added services.

FMBN managing director, Gimba Ya’u Kumo, is elated at the success of the initiative.

“Mr. President would be pleased to know that we have begun to harvest the benefits of the NHF e-collection platform, especially in the volume of NHF collections. For instance, the rate of collections rose significantly from about N700 million to over N2.2 billion per month. We estimate a further 100 per

cent increase in monthly collections to achieve about N4 billion per month before the end of the year,” he said.

Managers of the e- collection platform, the Puzzles Group, represented by Mr. Bayo Adeyemo, said the new project would mobilize funds to finance massive housing projects across the country. “The implication of this pool of funds on the socio-economic development of our country is quite considerable. The FMBN would be able to fund the construction of about 1,000 housing units in every state of the federation with the associated benefits of generating over one million new employments all over the country as a direct consequence of the growing construction and mortgage sub-sector,” Mr. Adeyemo noted.

He identified massive leakages in revenue collection as the bane of economic growth and development; and fingered the lack of capacity by government agencies to track and collect funds legally due to government. “Failure to block these leakages, which often runs into billions of Naira, will continue to hamper genuine efforts to stimulate the economy, create employment and help achieve the transformation agenda of this administration,” he warned. He however assured the President that Nigeria has the requisite skill and knowledge to reverse this ugly trend.

President had earlier sought the co-operation of the NLC in ensuring the success of the NHF, although Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar had earlier pledged to mobilize and sensitize workers on the benefits of embracing the scheme, which he described as a testimony of true transformation in the housing sector.

Sada disclosed that the estate was originally conceived to house the personnel of Nigerian Airforce, but was expanded to 270 units to accommodate more contributors to the NHF. The bank provided a N2.4 billion loan, for buildings and infrastructure and was built by Suntrust Real Estate Investment Limited.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim praised the track record of the bank in the last three years but asked government to re-capitalize it to enable the bank deliver its mandate. He also advocated the integration of the informal sector into the scheme to make the NHF serve more people.

Established in 1956 as the Nigerian Building Society, the FMBN has come a long way in discharging its mandate. To meet the challenges of raising the national housing stock, experts reckon that the bank requires a massive injection of funds and a capital base up to N200 billion. As a first step, government may provide sovereign guarantee for the Bank’s bonds and loans.

Furthermore, the Central Bank of Nigeria could grant the bank long-term loan as high as N250 billion at an interest rate lower than 5per cent. This will put the bank on a solid pedestal to fund the building of affordable housing for teeming Nigerians yearning to own their own

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HOMES & PROPERTY Ogun unfolds New Makun City, redesigns Agbara/Igbesa complex CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 N continuation of its urban Idubbed renewal schemes, which is “Change Agenda”, Ogun State Government has extended the activities to Agbara, a major industrial

town bordering Lagos, Ogun and Benin Republic.

The scheme is in line with the redesigning and rehabilitation of clusters of the existing districts and zones across the state. The exercise is also geared towards

achieving a global urban rejuvenation in the state.

Coming on the heel of the new plan is the proposal to launch a new scheme, known as New Makun City, located along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway,

Investors pick contractor for N300m Lekki tech centre CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 RAND plan for the conG struction of a mega shopping mall in the prime area of Lekki in Lagos may have begun in earnest, with conclusion of preliminary works by the promoters who are set for the actual turning of sod activities early next month.

The project being midwife by Messrs Richards Infrastructures Limited has already received massive support of investors and Lagos State Government in a bid to decongest the ever busy Computer Village in Ikeja. It is located along the newly constructed Lekki-Epe Expressway, and directly in front of Abraham Adesanya Estate, in Ajah. It has proximity to the Lekki free trade zone and newly proposed Lekki International Airport.

Designed by the architectural firm of Gab A Associates, the complex is estimated to gulp N300 million. The proposed complex christened Lekki Technological Complex is projected to have 167 shops for show rooms, business offices, phone repairers and retailers.

For out right purchases, each shop goes for N350, 000 per square meter.

The Guardian gathered that Messrs SSL Project Limited has been picked as the main contractor. According to the developer, foundation, filling and construction will commences in March 2014.

Completion date is estimated for December 2014 and handover to shop owners will be in the first quarter of 2015.

However, the contractor has been given project duration of 18 months.

Among the private investors to the project is Messrs Asbeach Nigeria Limited.

Discussions have also reached advance stages for other investors who are proposing to come in as off takers. They include Slot MTN, GLO, Samsung, Computer and Allied Dealers Association, Otigba branch. The investors have indicated interest to establish business outlets and experience centers in the mall.

The Lagos State Government has already issued a Governor’s Consent on the land. Prospective shop owners will get title, which will be

released upon full payment.

Payment can be in full or in mile stones, initial payment of 30 per cent and the balance due within eight months.

The Chief Operating Officer, Messrs Richards Infrastructures Limited, Mr. Dayo Oyedele told The Guardian that the complex is will be a one stop centre for individuals and corporate

near Shagamu Interchange.

The city, apart from taking care of haphazard physical development along the axis, would also bring sanity to illegal use of open spaces, exemplified by petroleum tankers, trucks and articulated vehicles that dotted the expressway, apart from the fact that it would provide huge revenue for the state when completed.

The city is to occupy an area of 750 hectares and promoted by the Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation (OPIC), in conjunction with the planning authority and other relevant agencies.

According to the Ogun State’s Special Adviser, Property and Investment, and OPIC Managing Director, Mr. Babajide

Odusolu, the city is designed to as “a catalytic hub for enhancing the industrial/commercial base of Ogun State”.

To be incorporated into the scheme are at least Ten Districts. These include; Four residential districts, a central park, a School District, with

zones for day and boarding facilities, a regional shopping district/bazaar, a multipurpose convention center, a light industrial district, among others.

Meanwhile, among the major activities planned for Agbara is the construction of N1.5 billion 10-kilometre road; the ongoing industrial

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HOMES & PROPERTY Kaura district residents appeal to FCDA for infrastructure Housing EELING marginalised, F stakeholders, including workers, businessmen and concerned residents of Kaura district in the heart of the Federal Capital Territory have cried out against the continued neglect of the area which is one of the oldest to be mapped out for development but ignored by successive administrations.

According to a statement, Mr. Afam Ilouloh, a legal practitioner with bias for property, noted that Kaura was mapped out in the 90’s along with areas such as Jabi, Utako, Wuye, Katampe, Gwarinpa but “surprising, while Kaura district is in the heart of town, which would have aided development, it has been neglected.

He disclosed that development of infrastructure has been completed or is on-going in places like Jabi, Utako, and Gwarinpa, which were

mapped out about the same time as Kaura district.

The residents said that because of the undeveloped state of the district, transportation is mainly by tricycles, popularly called Keke Napep, as there are no regular taxi or bus services in the area which hosts many estates, markets, educational and other business and government establishments.

Among them are the Kaura International Market, Dubai International Market, the Paediatricians Association of Nigeria, Fortland International Academy, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, and Geosciences and Mining House owned by the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society.

“People are developing the place by putting up structures but strangely, government is not putting infrastructure to

facilitate movement as well as comfort for the residents or those doing business or working in this district,” Ulouloh c o m p l a i n e d .

He listed other popular areas in the district to include Sunnyvale, Sun City, bounded

by Prince and Princess and Games Village.

A resident and tricycle operator, Uchenna Nwideni, and some security personnel and workers who pleaded anomymity lamented that the poor state of the road makes commuting a nightmare. They said while tricycles ended their journeys at Prince and Princess estate, those going further afield have to trek very long distance to get to their destinations.

Ilouloh drew attention to the fact that bringing infrastructure to the place would help in decongesting other parts of the town, thereby bringing down the cost of accommodation in areas such as Wuse, Jabi, Apo and Garki, among others.

FMBN introduces NHF e-cards CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34 h

o u s e s .

The bank also requires a favourable business environment to thrive, especially a review of existing legal and legislative framework to ease transactions in housing property, property and lien registrations and lien enforcement. It is also necessary to review the Land use Act of 1978 to meet critical national

demands. The land registry in the various states must be modernized to support timely and cost effective transact i o n s .

To ensure that Nigeria meets its housing target, government will have to enforce compliance with the NHF Act. Specifically, it is imperative to rein in defaulting corporate bodies, especially commercial banks and insurance

companies. By the provisions of the Act, commercial banks are expected to invest 10 per centof loans and advances in the housing sector. Similarly insurance companies should invest 20 per cent and 40per cent of their earnings on nonlife and life funds in housing.

That will provide more investible funds for a radical improvement in housing delivery.

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HOMES & PROPERTY Court orders status quo over disputed Ikoyi landed property Litigation OVED to preserve the res M of the dispute, a Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, has

By Joseph Onyekwere

ordered that parties should maintain status quo over a landed property located at 6, Okotie-Eboh Street, Ikoyi.

The order by implication means that all those laying claim to the controversial land, should forthwith stay action either directly or indirectly.

Shortly after giving the order, Justice Folasade Bankole-Oki warned that any party who flouts the order would be held in contempt of court.

“I don’t need to tell anybody that when there is a status quo order, there are legal consequences if it is violated,” the Judge said.

Justice Bankole-Oki said: “Status quo should be maintained pending the hearing of the claimant’s application for injunction. Counsel to the claimant should take the picture of the property to ensure that nothing further is done to the property while the defendants counsel file all necessary processes before the next adjourned date.

“The court will not entertain further adjournments in this matter. The photograph of the property must be verified by all counsel by way of an affidavit.”

The claimant, Chief Louis Onwugbenu sued the former

The court held that status quo be maintained pending the hearing of the claimant’s application for injunction in an on-going land matter, which the court is already adjudicating over chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, Ikechukwu Obiora, his company Corporate Ideals Properties Limited; a businessman A. B. C Orjiako and property firm Orangeline Limited.

Onwugbenu claimed that he gave the senator the sum of N1.4 billion for the purchase of 6, Okotie-Eboh, Ikoyi and other properties in Lagos.

But that the senator became evasive after receiving the money and refused to hand over the title documents of 6 Okotie-Eboh street to him.

Now, he is urging the court to hold that he is the rightful owner entitled to the grant of certificate of occupancy in respect of the properties.

The claimant sought an order directing the defendants to return the original certificate of occupancy in respect of the property to him, and to take necessary steps to perfect the title to his name.

In the alternative, Onwugbenu sought an order directing the former senator to refund the sum of N1.4billion to him, which he claimed he gave the former senator in trust for the purchase of the properties.

The claimant accused Obiorah of demolishing a three-storey building on the property with a view to erecting another structure on the land.

His counsel, Chief Philip Umeh told the judge: “The property has been demolished without any order of this court. For us, it’s a sad day that for a matter that’s in court, a party who has entered appearance in a case could engage in such self-help.”

But the Senator denied the claimant’s claims, saying there was no trust created at all or set out by the claimant.

He said in his statement of defence: “The claimant is not entitled to the declarations sought in this suit as the claimant never provided the said sum of N1.4billion.

“The sums provided by the claimant to the first defendant which have almost been refunded came between April 2009 and August 2010 long after the acquisition of the enumerated properties which do not belong to the first defendant who received the relevant money from the claimant.”

Justice Bankole-Oki adjourned the matter till March 6 for hearing of the claimant’s application for injunction.

The disputed property at 6, Okotie-Eboh Street, Ikoyi, Lagos

NIESV’s Ekpenyong memorial lecture holds Professional Practice EMBERS of the Nigerian M Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) will converge on Thursday next week at the Civic Center in Victoria Island, Lagos to ponder on developments in the industry and undertake self evaluation as they celebrate the 20th edition of the annual John Wood Ekpenyong Memorial lecture.

John Wood Ekpenyong was the first Nigerian to qualify as a chartered surveyor/estate surveyor and valuer in whose memory the NIESV instituted the lecture in 1995. President and Chairman of the National Council of NIESV, Mr. Emeka

Eleh announced in Lagos that 34 members of the institution would be inducted as fellows of the Institution at the event.

In a statement, Mr. Victor Ayeye, the National Publicity Secretary disclosed that the 11th President of the institution and immediate past chairman of the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON), Mr. Joe Idudu will be the lecturer on the topic, ‘Estate Agency: Have we lost it?” Ayeye explained that the topic is very apt at this time that NIESV instituted an interim board for the regulation of Estate Agency Practice with Mr. Chudi Ubosi as the C h a i r m a n .

The 9th President will chair the event and immediate past Chairman of ESVARBON, Mr. A. G Sangosanya as the Chairman of the event while the Paramount Ruler of Yewa Land and Olu of Ilorin, Oba Gbadewole Olugbenle, a member of NIESV will be the Royal Father of the Day. The executive governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko and the Lagos State commissioner for finance are the special guests of honour.

He said some 34 members who were recently ratified by the National Council as Fellows of the Institution will be formally admitted and inducted at the luncheon following the lecture.

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HOMES & PROPERTY Allottees, developer bicker over facilities in Abuja’s Penthouse estate Homeowners in Penthouse Estate III are in a bitter quarrel with the developers, Messrs Penthouse Properties Limited over misapplication of about N400million, which they allege was contributed by subscribers for provision of infrastructure.

Housing From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja EEKING to enforce an agreeSdevelopers, ment entered into with its residents of the Penthouse Estate III Lugbe in the Federal Capital Territory have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate an alleged misapplication of about N400million, meant for the provision of infrastructure in the estate.

The residents under the aegis of Penthouse Estate III Residents Association are accusing Messrs Penthouse Properties Limited of not meeting the obligation specified in their letters of offer.

They also threatening legal action against the company for breach of agreements on the provision of infrastructure such as water, roads and elect r i c i t y .

Penthouse Estate, a site and services scheme came into being in 2011 is expected to have about 450 housing units on completion. Currently, about 300 houses have been completed while about 82 are o c c u p i e d .

The Guardian learnt that access into estate and internal

networks are through earth roads, while overgrown weeds have taken over some of the undeveloped plots. The property owners’ say its porous fence has made houses in the estate unattractive to rent s e e k e r s .

The Secretary of the association, Mr. Ezenwa Okoli told The Guardian that most of the residents bought into PentHouse Estate in 2011, with an agreement that all infrastructure would be provided.

He explained that subscribers paid infrastructure fee of N1.475million for three bedrooms while four bedrooms were N1.6million.

Okoli who claimed that the arrangement with the developer was that each subscriber must pay the infrastructure fee before moving into the estate, pointed out that most of the resident paid up and after completing and moving into their houses, the firm failed to provide basic facilities in the estate.

He observed that the residents had series of deliberations with the developer in 2012 and he made promises with timelines within which to accomplish them adding that as at March 2012, the developer acknowledged he had collected about N300mil-

Penthouse estate, Lugbe, Abuja, recently lion as against the expected N600million for infrastruct u r e .

He lamented the residents are continuously being harassed by armed robbers and reptiles due to inadequate security and porous fences adding that there has been seven cases of armed robbery attack on the resid e n t s .

Okoli explained that in order to address the problem of water within the estate, people started drilling boreholes individually but the developer said he doesn’t want it that he was doing water reticulation.

However, when contacted, the Managing Director, Penthouse Properties Ltd, Mr.

Segun Ibukun that the money required for infrastructure is not totally available as only less than 50 percent subscribers have paid.

On why he allowed subscribers that have not paid the infrastructure fee to develop their plots and move into the estate contrary to the agreement, Ibukun said, “We did that on compassionate ground because some of them came to beg us to allow them to develop their plots, that they are tired of paying exorbitant rent. They promised that they would pay, we obliged them but it was a miscalculation on our part”.

He stated that the company is providing the needed infra-

structure according to priority, stressing that about 100 houses have been connected to electricity while about 150 houses have water reticulated to their houses.

When The Guardian inquired why he allegedly gave selective permission for individuals to drill boreholes against his earlier stand, Ibukun said, “ I did that because there was an internal squabbles among them, some of them appealed to me to allow them drill boreholes because the arrangements made by the association is not working out because at time they might need water but the person that the borehole is in his house might not be around

and I can’t stop families from having water”.

The Penthouse estate boss observed the estate had been completely fenced for three consecutive times but was pulled down by villagers who claimed that the land belongs to them, adding that he paid about N35million as compensation to the villagers before gaining access into the land.

He further told The Guardian that the estimated cost for road construction within the estate three years ago was N150million but right now, due to inflation, the cost has jumped to over N300million.

Ibukun who solicited for understanding of the residents.

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TheEnvironment Stakeholders task consultants on ethics, environmental protection The Environment

By Emmanuel Badejo

OISED to achieve its goal of P sound environmental protection and sustainable development in Nigeria, the superof Minister vising Environment and other stakeholders at the weekend in Lagos have urged all consultants within the environment sector to keep to their rules of engagement in their professional service.

They spoke during a three-day Mandatory Training for of Ministry Federal Accredited Environment Consultants, organized by the ministry in collaboration with Convention Basel Coordinating Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the Africa Region.

The event, which attracted huge participants, was held at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

In his keynote address, the Minister of the environment, Mr. Darius Ishaku, said the training became necessary following a discovery that industries were not complying with the requirements of extant environmental laws and standards in Nigeria.

He added that since every country has its own standards of practice, every consultant was expected ensure that these standards were not compromised. “Every country has professional regulations whose primary function is to legally protect the public. Consulting professional shall abide by the government’s professional regulations and honor the code of ethics of the profession in the country where the services are to be performed.”

Ishaku, an architect, urged the consultants to note that as environmental challenges increase daily, their services would be needed particularly to bridge the gaps between the ministry and industries, adding that this could not be done except accredited consultants updated themselves with emerging global environmental issues, management technologies, environmental regulations to enable them advise clients to help avoid possible legal actions.

The three-day event was meant to update and expose consultants within the environment sector to emerging challenges and how best to tackle them visà-vis government’s goal towards sustainable development The Minister, who was represented by Director, Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Olufunke Babade, further said it was incumbent on the consultants to be familiar with their area of practice to render qualitative services to their clients.

“Consultants must be familiar with Best Available Technologies (BAT) and Best Environmental Practices (BEP) in order to render qualitative services to clients be it to industries or the ministry”, Ishaku added.

According to the Minister, it was imperative for consultants to display high level of integrity as well as possessing corresponding educational qualifications. “Consulting services should be performed by professionals possessing the necessary qualifications, education, experience and legal registration to practice; for each consultant, his/her professional qualifications and integrity are his/her warranty that the best interest of the public and country where the services are to be performed are served when his/her services are procured.”

In her address, Babade said the training was needed to prepare consultants within the environment sector in the country to face issues affecting our environment, hopeful that the training workshop would contribute immensely to the realization of effective environment management. She urged participants to work assiduously to ensure that the objectives of the training were achieved.

Executive Director, Basel

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Construction work at the Kashimbilla multipurpose buffer zone project

N104b Kashimbilla dam gets December completion date The Environment From Lillian Chukwu and John Okeke, Abuja ITH a slew of deadly flooding events hitting communities around the world, Federal authorities have assured states likely to be affected by any breaking off of the Lake Nyos of Cameroun that the Kashimbilla multipurpose buffer zone project meant to curtail the dam will be completed by December.

The Kashimbilla multipurpose buffer Dam project is situated between the towns of kashambilla and Gamovo on river Katsina - Ala in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State and has a capacity of 500 million

W

cubic of water with 450 million discrepancy gap against Lake Nyos of Cameroun to contend the flood.

The States, which are at the risk to suffer the danger posed by such breakage, includes Cross River, Kogi, Delta, Benue and Taraba States. The Lake Nyos of Cameroun has a capacity of 50 million cubic of water.

Meanwhile, the Kashimbilla multipurpose buffer Dam which is principally intended to check the threat of flood from the structurally wear volcanic Lake Nyos located in the high Bamenda Plateau (300 m above sea level) up stream along the Cameroun line of vocalnic activity has already attained a 75 per cent completion.

The Dam project was

awarded to SCC Messrs Nigeria Limited at the initial cost of N42.9 billion on May11, 2007 and has other components like hydropower plant, irrigation network, Air strip, water supply point and access road which However, to ensure the progress of the projects due to the review in the project’s scope and additional structures the contract was reviewed to N60, 633,323,102.69 and N104, 375,666,732.10 in July according to the release made available by the Director of press Ecological Funds Office (EFO), Mr. Tolu Makinde.

According to the statement, EFO released another N186 billion for the project in 2010 to fast tract the completion of the project.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe during her official inspection to the site said that since the work kicked off that the sum of N90 billion has been given to the contractors out of N104 billion contracts awarded to the project.

Ochekpe maintained that there is need for the urgent completion of the project to avert the flood threat that would threaten the country at the break of lake Nyos of C a m e r o u n .

“The lake Nyos is in a very terrible state that any breakage from their will cause a disaster in Nigeria so the Nigeria government is building this Dam to curtail any excess water that will be released as a result of the breakage of that Dam. “

Yobe, AFDB release N600m to halt open defecation Jigawa to impose N5m fine on councils over unkempt environment The Environment From Njadvara Musa,Damaturu and John Akubo, Dutse OWARDS curbing open T defecation and preventing water-borne diseases, Yobe authorities and African Development Bank (AFDB) have released the sum of N620 million for the construction of 432 latrines in schools and other public places across the state.

The project will be executed in phases and 252 blocks of latrines, comprising of 760 compartments has already been awarded in 10 council areas of this state, while ten-

der will soon be opened for prospective contractors in the outstanding 180 in the remaining seven councils.

In another development, Jigawa state Governor Alhaji Sule Lamido has threatened the newly elected Local Government chairmen who may be nonchalant about keeping their environment clean with N5 million fine when found wanting.

Addressing newsmen in Damaturu on measures to curtail outbreaks of cholera and other diseases, the AfDB Programme Manager, Alhaji Musa Haruna lamented that open defecation is a common practice among people in the

state. He therefore called on residents, pupils and students to make good use of the sanitary facilities being provided by government and the bank.

He said that open defecation, in public places can cause a lot of health hazards such as cholera and diarrhea among children; stressing that the programme is aimed at overcoming the challenges these practices by eradicating the health hazards associated with the practice of open defecation.

He added that the AfDB is intervening in over 1, 000 communities across the state in the areas of Water Supply

through the drilling of motorized boreholes, concrete wells, and solar powered boreholes in tackling water scarcity across the state.

Meanwhile, speaking at the flag-off of a five-day retreat for local government Chairmen, Vice chairmen, councillors elect organised by the ministry for local government in conjunction with the office of the Head of Civil Service at the Manpower Development Institute, Dutse, Lamido gave the indication yesterday The Governor, said his administration would not condone unhygienic environments, saying that if he

finds out that any council area is filthy he will send the Jigawa state Environmental Protection Agency (JISEPA) to help clean the place but the chairman concerned would be surcharge N5 million which would be removed from the monthly allocation.

Lamido said neatness starts with the office of the council chairman then the environment adding that it is the aura of one’s neatness that determines the command of respect he gets from the people.

Lamido said the retreat is meant to acquaint the chairmen elect and their vice with what the need to move their

councils forward.

“Today we are laying the foundation for democracy to acquaint them with their mandate so that they can be impacted with the art of leadership. “Open your ears, take notes, avail yourself of the opportunity, so that when you are sworn in you will be more prepared to deliver the dividend .”

The retreat, with the theme: Towards the Emergence of values based leadership at the local Government level was targeted at inculcating social values in the newly elected Chairmen, Vice chairmen and Councillors across the state.

Jigawa Commissioner,

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THE ENVIRONMENT NASPIN workshop on POPs Disaster Management HE Nigeria – Africa T Stockpiles Programme Implementation Network

Resident Brian Eves (R) is rescued from his house after the river Thames flooded the village of Wraysbury, Southern England February 10, 2014.

Photo: EDDIE KEOGH

Blame game in Britain as extreme weather wreaks havoc Flooding RITAIN’S top political leadB ers headed to flood-hit areas of South-West England last week as they looked to limit the growing fallout from the government’s handling of the crisis.

Prime Minister David Cameron returned to the area for the second time in four days, visiting Dorset, while Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg arrived in badly-flooded Somerset.

Parts of Britain have seen their wettest January on record and around 5,000 homes have been flooded, with some remaining under water for more than a month.

Attention is also turning to more populated areas close to London, where water levels are still rising.

Anger among residents over the slow response to the crisis and the lack of resources put into preventing it in the first

Environment Agency, Chairman Chris Smith, who has faced calls to resign over the handling of the crisis, defended his department’s record and blamed government rules on limits to funding available for individual flood prevention schemes. place have led to a pointing of fingers over whether Britain’s Environment Agency or government is to blame.

“I back the Environment Agency, I back the work they are doing. Everyone has got to get on with the job they are doing,” Cameron told reporters from a windy beach in Dorset as politicians on all sides criticized the escalating blame game.

“I am only interested in one thing and that is making sure everything the government can do is being done and will go on being done to help people through this difficult time.”

Earlier Cameron’s spokesman

said the government acknowledged part of the problem had been the failure to dredge rivers, a measure he said had been cut back since the Environment Agency was established in the late 1990s.”That needs to change and will change,” he said.

Last week, the government pledged an extra 130 million pounds ($213 million) to help with the repairs and maintenance of flood defenses, and the military have been drafted in to help build defenses and evacuate homes.

Cameron has described the scene in the Somerset Levels, an artificially drained wet-

lands area prone to flooding, as “biblical”.

Mohammad Khan, insurance partner at PwC, estimated the cost of the damage caused by the bad weather in December and January could be more than 600 million pounds, with the insurance industry facing paying out as much as 500 million pounds.

“Given the weather forecasts for this week and further into February, we would expect further flash flooding and for these estimated costs to rise,” he said.

On top of the devastation in the south west, the Environment Agency has issued severe flood warnings for areas of the River Thames west of London, and the Thames Barrier was closed on Monday to protect east London from flooding.

Environment Agency, Chairman Chris Smith, who has faced calls to resign over the handling of the crisis, defended his department’s

record and blamed government rules on limits to funding available for individual flood prevention schemes.

“There’s no place for playing politics in the serious business of flood protection,” he wrote in the Guardian newspaper.Rail links to much of the south west, a popular area for tourism, remained cut off ahead of school holidays next week.

Chief UK economist at Berenberg, Rob Wood said the wider economic impact of the floods would depend on how quickly the weather dissipated.

“Previous episodes of bad weather like snow have taken upwards of 0.1, 0.2 (percentage points off quarter-on-quarter GDP),” he said, adding that sectors such as construction and manufacturing would likely be worst hit. “If it snows in January and February, then you maybe don’t make up the loss until the second quarter so you have the whole quarter depressed.”

NEMA urges disaster managers to reduce impact on communities Disaster Management From Joke Falaju, Abuja

MID the cross boundary A nature of disasters, the Director General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mohammed Sani-Sidi has implored West African disaster managers to work together towards reducing the impacts on communities in the subregion.

Sani-Sidi who is the President of Executive Board Meeting of the Regional Committee for Disaster Management in West Africa made the appeal while speaking in Dakar, Senegal, saying given the cross boundary nature of disaster and the impacts require collective actions from all of the coun-

tries.

A statement signed by the agency’s spokes person, Mr. Manzo Ezekiel, he said between June and December 2013, there were reported cases of flooding in Republic of Benin, The Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal and this highlights the facts that occurrences of natural disasters in region is now on the increase.

Attributing the occurrence to impact of climate change coupled with vulnerability of the sub-region in relation to the rest of the world, he said until a permanent solution is found to reverse or abate the menace of climate change; it is our responsibility as disaster managers to reduce its impacts on the populace.

“Since disaster is crossboundary in nature, it is necessary for the sub-region to work together to move disaster management in West Africa forward. Fortunately, this is our objective in GECEAO (being the French acronym of the Regional Committee for Disaster Management in West Africa).”

The NEMA boss pointed out that the group has designed an action plan for 2013-2014 which covers more efficient use of hydro-meteorological information, harmonization of preparedness and response tools, financial resources mobilization and effective implementation of the Oslo guidelines on the use of military and civil defense assets in disaster

Sani-Sidi relief,” among others.

He said through the committee, member countries would benefit from the opportunity it provides for cross fertilization of ideas

and experiences as well as available training opportunities for their disaster managers.

The meeting in Dakar, Senegal which opened Wednesday with the Nigerian DG NEMA Mohammed Sani-Sidi presiding is facilitated by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) with the participants drawn from governmental, regional and international agencies engaged in disaster management from all countries in the West African SubRegion.

It will recall that the NEMA Director General was elected as President of the Regional Committee for Disaster Management in West Africa at its consultative meeting

(NASPIN) is organizing a oneday workshop on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), which will hold at the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (LCCI) Conference Halls and Centre, behind Marwa Gardens in Alausa, Lagos.

The workshop is part of the project launched in 2010, where NASPIN commenced a study titled ‘Community Action to Reduce the Pollution Load of POPs and other Toxic Effluents (PTS) Into the Lagos Lagoon with the support of the GEF Small Grant Programme. The NASPIN Project keys into the aspiration of the Stockholm Convention as it plan to reduce the POPs load of the Lagos Lagoon.

This project involved extensive consultations with key stakeholders in the Lagoon catchment area like the Ilaje Community Development Association, the Ilaje Fishermen Association, Women groups and Youth association. Further consultations were held with the Department of Fisheries of the University of Lagos and briefing meetings with LASEPA. The Stockholm Convention has indentified over a dozen POP substances, which it had proposed should be banned or their used are curtailed globally. Among the dirty dozen is a chemical called Lindane, a major component of a rat poison widely used in Nigeria and Gamaline 20 widely used in fishing in some parts of Nigeria.

Govt tasked consultants on ethics CONTINUED FROM PAGE 48 OISED to achieve its goal of P sound environmental protection and sustainable development in Nigeria, the supervising Minister of Environment and other stakeholders at the weekend in Lagos have urged all consultants within the environment sector to keep to their rules of engagement in their professional service.

They spoke during a three-day Mandatory Training for Federal Ministry of Environment Accredited Consultants, organized by the ministry in collaboration with Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the Africa Region.

The event, which attracted huge participants, was held at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

In his keynote address, the Minister of the environment, Mr. Darius Ishaku, said the training became necessary following a discovery that industries were not complying with the requirements of extant environmental laws and standards in Nigeria.

He added that since every country has its own standards of practice, every consultant was expected ensure that these standards were not compromised. “Every country has professional regulations whose

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WEF Africa 2014 is a strategic opportunity to

Okidegbe

PHOTOS:LADIDI LUCIE ELUKPO

Dr. Nwanze Okidegbe is the Chief Economic Adviser to the President and Co -Chairman of the 24th World Economic Forum Africa (WEF) slated for May 7 to 9 2014, in Abuja. Appointed in July 2011, he has been providing the President with evidence-based advice on critical economic issues confronting the country, serving in a number of other economic policy teams. Before now, has spent over 30 years in various capacities at the World Bank in Washington, DC, retiring as a Policy and Strategy Adviser, and later worked as a Senior Consultant to the bank. Okidegbe has also designed and implemented development projects and programmes in more than 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. He obtained his PhD in Economics from Howard University in 1980, having also obtained Masters and Bachelors degrees in Economics from the same University. He also has a Masters degree in Business Administration (Accounting) from the George Washington University in Washington, DC. In this interview with Assistant Business Editor, MATHIAS OKWE, NELSON CHIIJIOKE and ANTHONY OTARU, he assured of Nigeria’s readiness to host the event, as well as showcase its abundant untapped investment opportunities to investors. Excerpts.

HE Republic of South Africa has hosted T the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa 17 times before now. Other African countries have hosted as well. Why is Nigeria just hosting this year for the first time?

First, South Africa is the only country within the continent that belongs to the Group of 20 (G-20). WEF was comfortable with that and adopted Cape Town as a convenient place to host the yearly meeting on Africa.

However, the rest of Africa has been making significant economic progress and WEF has decided to make the hosting of the Africa meeting more African centric. Second, Nigeria has come a long way in the last decade and become attractive destination for a summit of this magnitude. If I may remind you, we have become the second largest economy on the continent in the last decade and poised to become the largest one in the next few years. Since 1999, we have had four successive general elections, trans-

lating to 14 years unbroken democratic governance during the period. Our economy has experienced high growth rates with low debt burden. Our current debt-Gross Domestic Product ratio at 22 per cent is one of the lowest in the world. With political stability and improved economic and investment conditions, including single digit inflation rate, we have attracted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) totaling over $20 billion in the last three years, 10 per cent of the entire FDI flows to African continent.

Nonetheless, we recognize the critical challenge we face– converting the vast human and natural resources we have into broad economic prosperity and improving the general standard of living of Nigerians by expanding job opportunities in the country.

More importantly, this is recognition of the success of recent economic reforms across different sectors of the Nigerian economy.

And while it has taken this long, we are determined to maximize this privileged

opportunity for investment, growth and job creation.

WEF Africa 2014 is just barely three months away. How ready is Nigeria to host the world, given that this is the first time it will be happening here?

I think we have made significant preparation. But, let me give you a little bit of the background. About two years ago, in Addis Ababa, the Chairman of World Economic Forum, Professor Klaus Sccwab, approached Mr. President and requested that Nigeria host the 2014 WEF Africa. Immediately Mr. President set up a steering committee that includes senior government officials and leaders in the private sector. A Secretariat was also set up to support the steering committee and liaise on a day-to-day basis with WEF. WEF representatives have visited Nigeria a number of times, engaging with the secretariat and a number of sub-committees on a set of issues that include security, accommodation, transportation, ICT, among

others, and they are very pleased with the preparations we have made to date. In fact, if you had seen Nigeria’s outing in Davos, which was like an ice breaker about things to come, you will know that Nigeria had that good outing because of the level of preparations we made. We are dutifully following Mr. President’s directive that we should leave no stone unturned and make the summit the best ever yet and I can assure you that we are on course. The final inspection by WEF is around the corner and this inspection round will be used to ensure that we are ready, but for me, I will say that Nigeria is ready.

The main thrust of the Nigeria’s 2014 budget estimates now before the National Assembly is on inclusive growth and job creation. Is there any way the forthcoming WEF can benefit the country by way of fast-tracking the attainment of this objective?

The theme of WEF 2014 Africa is “Forging Inclusive Growth, Creating Jobs”. You will recall that Mr. President came up with this

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BUSINESS INTERVIEW

get investors into Nigeria, says Okidegbe transformation agenda at the beginning of his administration, which has three pillars – fiscal consolidation, inclusive growth and job creation. So, you can see that the theme of this year’s Forum is well aligned with his agenda. This administration has been working very seriously on job creation. He once said he is pleased that the economy is growing at six to seven per cent, but what is more important is that every Nigerian who is able and willing to work can have a job. And that is one of the reasons he has embarked on a number of job creation initiatives that include YouWin and all the measures around SURE P, besides creating the enabling environment for private sector to thrive through a number of economic reform programmes.

By doing all these, we are expanding the country’s economic base and having more economic activities take place here in Nigeria, creating jobs and wealth for all Nigerians.

This is not the first forum on investment that Nigeria would be hosting and we haven’t seen the flurry of FDI inflows, instead the reverse seems to be the case, as can be seen in the Third Quarter External Report of the Central Bank of Nigeria, which projected dipped FDIs by over $7 billion. Can you shed light on how Nigeria will in concrete terms benefit and actualize the gains of the WEF 2014? Is there a post-WEF plan of action to pursue any gain to logical conclusion?

Yes, there are measures, but I want to also emphasize that this administration has been advocating private sector led-growth, and that is one of the reasons why it has embarked on a number of reforms and has been providing incentives for private sector.

Also, because Mr. President believes that it is the private sector that creates most of the jobs, not the public sector, so hosting WEF offers an opportunity for Nigerian businessmen and women to interact and possibly partner with their foreign counterparts. We are also aware that we have local content initiative, so that the global businesses we are attracting are not going to do it alone- they have to work with the Nigerian private sector.

We cannot prejudge all the initiatives that will come out of this summit, but in the past, they have come up with some initiatives like “Grow Africa”, which has to do with agriculture. The Minister of agriculture is currently leading it here in Nigeria. It is one of the outgrowths of the past WEF initiative and this one will come up with some initiatives and at the end, we will know what they are because I don’t want to prejudge them. But when those initiatives are reached and agreed, this administration will continue to provide the enabling environment to make it happen for expanding our economic base, improving and forging the inclusive growth and creating jobs, which is the undertaking of this administration.

In fact, the administration is working hard on this. Mr. President is concerned and daily he asks how the economy is doing on job creation. For example, this administration has put instruments in place for National Bureau of Stastistics to use scientific method to determine how many jobs this economy is creating. And they have categorically said that in the past twelve months, this economy has created 1.6 million jobs. And it will continue to increase as we expand our infrastructures, including plugging our housing deficit, which is why Mr. President launched the National Mortgage Refinancing Company. I believe everyone is also aware of the progress being made in the agriculture sector, and the improvements in aviation infrastructure, all to ensure that we expand the economic base, improve the productive capacities and activities here in Nigeria and create jobs for Nigerians. It is necessary to do this because, when you import goods, you are creating jobs for those countries, but if you produce it here you are engaging Nigerians to produce it.

What will be the expected outcomes from the forum? Will government set targets and

achievable timelines for the private sector, especially in FDIs inflow from the current $20 billion?

Essentially, we hope to enthrench the notion that “if you are not in Nigeria, you are not in Africa,” because of the great potentials that Nigeria has. As the second largest economy in Africa and poised to overtake South Africa in no distant future, we hope to continue to attract the largest FDIs on the continent. But one thing you already know is that investment funds are limited and every country is trying to do whatever they can to grab part of it. That is one of the reasons why some countries go to road shows and in fact, Nigeria has done that for power sector. Some countries do invite captains of industries, chief executives and try to woo them to relocate to their countries with their manufacturing plants.

I am not going to tell you that one event will solve all the problems.

This WEF on Africa is going to be financed by three parties- government, the private sector and the WEF itself. I did indicate earlier that when Mr, President was approached, requesting that Nigeria hosts WEF 2014, he set up a steering committee, including senior government officials and captains of industries. In preparation, we have a subcommittee on private sector in terms of what they would like to get out of this and we are engaging WEF to ensure that it happens.

All global companies have different sources of information- they read reports about countries, look at economic fundamentals and Nigeria’s economic fundamentals are great and trending upwards, but they also would like to see what obtains in the country and this WEF is an opportunity to get them to see Nigeria. This will be an effective economic diplomacy for Nigeria.

We will be there to tell our story of economic reforms and show the great promise that Nigeria holds. Sometimes people think of Nigeria only in terms of oil, but we are far, far more than oil. In fact, our non-oil sector is growing far more than the oil sector, so there are a lot of opportunities in infrastructures, manufacturing, mining and agriculture, among others. This is an opportunity and we believe strongly that seeing a lot of opportunities that Nigeria offers, they will invest more now than what they have done before. Am not going to play number game and tell you it is X or Y but I can say that we expect that FDI will increase as a result of hosting this conference.

How then would non-members and nonmember firms be able to participate and benefit from this programme?

Yes, the World Economic Forum is a membership-based organisation. There are currently, 18 members in Nigeria and we are working with them to ensure that we maximize the opportunities of hosting the summit in Nigeria. However, there are opportunities for non-members and those interested can visit the World Economic Forum and Nigeria’s dedicated website for the summit for more information. Also, the summit can be leveraged on for the organisation of other meetings. Indeed, there do exist initiatives such as the Grow Africa initiative for which non-members can participate. In line with our pursuit of inclusive growth and job creation, we are working with different sections of the private sector to hold smaller meetings along the lines of infrastructure, ICT, housing and construction, agriculture, among others.

Are there challenges so far in the preparations of the hosting of the WEF 2014?

One thing is clear. Whether you are talking about individuals like us or you are talking about a nation, there are always challenges, but the important thing is how you deal with those challenges when you are confronted with them. So, we are leaving no stone unturned and any challenge we have encountered along the way, we have been able to address it . I am going to emphatically say to you that Nigeria is ready.

Nigeria has come a long way in the last decade and become attractive destination for a summit of this magnitude...Hosting WEF offers an opportunity for Nigerian businessmen and women to interact and possibly partner with their foreign counterparts.

We recognize the critical challenges we face– converting the vast human and natural resources we have into broad economic prosperity and improving the general standard of living of Nigerians by expanding job opportunities in the country...We are determined to maximize this privileged opportunity for investment, growth and job creation.

We hope to enthrench the notion that “if you are not in Nigeria, you are not in Africa,” because of the great potentials that Nigeria has. As the second largest economy in Africa and poised to overtake South Africa in no distant future, we hope to continue to attract the largest FDIs on the continent.

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Insurance Insurance, a veritable revenue booster to Nigeria, say operators

By Joshua Nse HE insurance industry T has the potential of becoming Nigeria’s financial power base if practitioners can initiate new strategic products that would significantly enhance the penetration of services in the country.

According to operators, insurance industry is the most stable in the financial services sector of the economy, adding while the stability of banks are still being viewed with suspicion in some quarters, such was not the case with insurance mechanism, as it remains the backbone of the economy anywhere in the world.

Specifically, with a huge population of 170 million people, operators say, the sector has opportunity and capacity to become the biggest market in Africa.

The Managing

Director/CEO, Riskguard Africa (Nigeria) Limited, Yemi Soladoye, who x-rays current developments in the insurance sector, said practitioners should initiate and create new products which would meet peculiar needs of the insuring public, thereby generate additional premium income to the industry.

According to him, the insuring public was becoming more and more enlightened and sophisticated, such that the industry should be a lot more creative and innovative in products development in respond to the needs of the public.

Soladoye, who presented a graphic picture of low insurance penetration in the country said, “We have 170 million Nigerians that have been neglected by the insurance industry for close to 100 years. We have the small and medium scale enterprises

that are yarning for protection.

“Insurance is a business that guarantees the development of other sectors of the economy. Mortgage institutions cannot develop well without insurance, it provides protection and funds for long term investments, and it is through insurance that we get funds for projects of national development.”

On the development prospects of the industry, Soladoye said that the Nigeria insurance industry in general was set for the expected growth that they had been talking about all these years.

“You are looking at the growth pattern of our industry, you probably put it in phases.”

Said he: “I believe that between 1921 and 2007, that is the phase one when the competitive edge of insurance companies was probably pronounced. Between 2008 and

2011, we see it as transition period, four years of transition because that kind of change can no longer be revolutionary. It has to be evolutionary and has to combine with so many other things” According to him, the operators equally have to see and understand that there is the need for a new way of doing things. Hitherto, their business focus concentrated on wholesale markets – what can we get from the brokers, what can we get from government accounts, they had the capital, but the business orientation or focus was solely on wholesale market and it became difficult for them to extricate themselves from the wholesale market without having a prepared alternative.

Interestingly, he said, I know about four insurance companies in the market who are coming out big in the retail market area to make a mark

for their companies.

An operator who pleaded anonymity said there are a lot of opportunities opened to the industry in telecommunication, oil and gas, retail life assurance market and the NAICOM’s market development restructuring initiatives (MDRI) programme to drive the market to greater height, what practitioners should do is to be innovative in product development that meets the peculiar demand of consumers.

He said, building the necessary capacity to conduct proper research and coming up with innovative products that satisfy the needs of insurance public is an essential ingredient that the market must take seriously.

The Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) sources

WAII gets new helmsman HE West African T Insurance Institute (WAII) has got a new direc-

Group Managing Director, LASACO Assurance Plc, Olusola Ladipo- Ajayi, (left), Acting Chairman, Ashim Oyekan and Acting Company Secretary, Mrs. Morayo Akinkunmi, during the company’s yearly general meeting held in Lagos…recently.

Insurers brace for dynamism in sector HE global insurance marT ket is facing as much change in the next five years as it has over the past 50. This is as technological advances drive transformation in the sector and shape customer expectations, a new report from PwC suggests.

Eighty-six per cent of 74 global insurance CEOs surveyed by PwC in the final quarter of 2013 pegged technological advances as the trend most likely to transform their businesses in the next 12 months.

“Technology is shaping customer expectations and creating the revolutionary new capabilities to meet them.

Regardless of product or service, people now want to be able to conduct business whenever and wherever they want and on the channel of their choice,” says the report, which forms part of PwC’s 17th Annual Global

CEO Survey.

Many insurance companies have been slow to respond to transformational changes in the market and risk falling behind their more proactive competitors. Half of insurance CEOs surveyed view

new market entrants, like telecoms companies, as a threat to their growth prospects, as these players use strong customer links and data insights to compete for the most valuable insurance business.

Niger hosts NCRIB members IGER Insurance Plc will N tomorrow host the Members Evening of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers. The venue is the Insurance Brokers House, 58 Moleye Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos starting from 3

pm.

The Members Evening is a bimonthly interactive platform where host underwriters exchange views with insurance brokers under the aegis of the council for the growth of the insurance industry.

The edition will feature

delivery of pep talk on a compulsory insurance of public buildings in Nigeria by the host company.

Government institutions and professional bodies in the built environment are expected to grace the occasion.

explained: “The insurance industry represents an important component in the financial intermediation chain and remains the backbone of Nigeria’s risk management mechanism. We believe once the critical issues of insurance awareness and penetration, product development and distribution are addressed, coupled with the implementation of NAICOM”s market development and restructuring initiative (MDRI) which emphasized the enforcement of compulsory insurances, more importantly, the support of governments at all levels in ensuring their assets and paying appropriate premiums, the industry will take its well deserved position in the financial services sector of the economy.”

tor general in the person of Mr Frederick Bowen-John, a statement by the Insurance Association of The Gambia (IAG) has said.

Bowen-John replaces Prof Prince Mike Ikupolati, who served as DG of WAII from 2001 to 2013.

“The West African Insurance Institute has also undergone changes in its management following the retirement of the former Director General. I have pleasure to inform this meeting that our own Mr Frederick Bowen-John, the former Deputy Managing Director of Great Alliance Insurance Company, is now the Director General of WAII,” IAG Secretary General Henry Jawo said at the 26th yearly general meeting of the association held on 8th February 2014 at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi.

John, who was the chairman of the association’s Technical Committee, has contributed immensely to

the activities of the IAG Secretariat, Mr Jawo added, saying: “I therefore wish to seize this opportunity to call on all members to support him at the institute.”

In his remarks at the General Assembly, the President of the IAG, Almamy B. Jobarteh also said:”Before concluding my statement, please allow me to report that one of our colleagues and a member of the Executive Committee Frederick Bowen-John has now been appointed as the Director General of the West African Insurance Institute.”

He was a deputy Managing Director of Great Alliance Insurance Company Limited and he has been very much instrumental in all activities of the IAG over the years, according to Mr Jobarteh.

“I therefore wish to seize this opportunity to call on every one of us to give him a supporting hand as he has contributed and is still contributing to the Gambia.

Stakeholders deliberate on micro-insurance NSURANCE practitioners Ibrainstorm and stakeholders are set to on how to unlock the estimated N60 billion micro-insurance untapped business.

The event, which is part of the Nigerian Insurance and Pension Award organised by Inspenonline Media, is scheduled for February 26, by 11:00am, at Muson Centre in Lagos.

A statement by the Editor Inspenonline, Chuks Udo Okonta said that the event would provide an avenue for shareholders and consumers

to deliberate on the objectives of Micro-insurance.

The Managing Director, Riskguard-Africa Nigeria Limited, Yemi Soladoye, will deliver the theme paper entitled: ‘Unlocking Micro-insurance Business’ under the chairmanship of Sunny Nwosu.

Okonta noted that insurance companies, pension fund administrators and operators that distinguished themselves in 2013, would be presented awards for their contributions to the industries and the economy.

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NAICOM, NLC collaborate on group life S part of efforts to deepA en insurance penetration and provide adequate protection to workers, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) are set to collaborate on the implementation of Compulsory Group Life Insurance in Nigeria.

This was disclosed by both parties when the Commissioner for Insurance/Chief Executive Officer, NAICOM, Fola Daniel led members of his top management on a working visit to the President, Nigeria Labour Congress Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar at the Labour House, Abuja.

He said in his opening address that the cardinal functions of the Commission were the protection of existing and prospective insurance policy holders in the country.

He went further to enumerate the benefits inherent in the consumption of

compulsory Group Life Insurance under the Pension Reform Act of 2004 and urged the NLC to ensure their members, especially at the State and Local Government levels are adequately insured by their employers.

The Insurance Commissioner seized the opportunity to commend the NLC President Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar and his team for their role towards the successful resolution of the protracted ASUU strike in 2013.

In his response, the President of NLC Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar said that the Congress would be more than willing to work in collaboration with NAICOM in sensitising Nigeria workers and the general public on the benefit of insurance products.

He suggested the setting up of a joint working committee for strategic planning and implementation to achieve desired success.

Membership of the

AIICO honours retiring directors IICO Insurance Plc. A recently celebrated two great minds that have immeasurably contributed to the growth of the AIICO Group.

They are Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, an economist and Chief Eugene Okwor, a qualified lawyer and an insurance guru, both served as directors on the board for seventeen and seven years respectively.

The event which was held in honour of the two great men at Intercontinental Hotel, on Victoria Island Lagos, was attended by members of the board, top management staff of AIICO

plc and subsidiaries, colleagues in the Insurance and insurance brokeage firms as well as distinguished guests.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the company, Dr. Oladele Fajemirokun said that the ceremony was organised to show profound appreciation for the efforts of the retiring directors who discharged their duties creditably.

He further described the duo as men of imitable qualities and wished them well in their future endeavours.

AIICO Insurance Plc is the largest Life insurer in Nigeria.

NAICOM approves AIICO CEO HE Board of Directors of AIICO Insurance Plc has announced NAICOM’s approval of Mr. Edwin Igbiti as managing director/chief executive officer of the company.

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) in its letter dated January 28, 2014, confirmed the appointment of Igbiti as the substantive MD/CEO following the company’s announcement in December 2013.

Edwin Igbiti’s insurance career spans over two decades. His visionary lead-

T

ership has inspired AIICO’s continuous and exceptional growth over the years and has seen the company rank amongst the top three Insurance companies in Nigeria. He is a seasoned professional with tremendous depth and wealth of technical experience.

Edwin is professionally affiliated to the Nigerian Institute of Management, Chartered, (NIMC) and the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) where he recently bagged a fellowship of the institute.

Committee will include NAICOM, NLC and PENCOM to ensure greater efficiency and effectiveness. The

committee is expected to be inaugurated very soon.

In attendance at the meeting are the Deputy

President, NLC Kiri Mohammed (president, Civil Service Commission union) Igwe Achize (presi-

dent NUPENG) Issa Aremu (deputy president NLC and a host of other top council members of NLC.

Chief Operating Officer, The Ibeto Group), C. K. Bopaiah (left) Managing Director/CEO, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Wale Onaolapo, chairman, United Vanguard Insurance Agency), J.N.C. Obi, C.J. Ogbonna (GGE), (Financial Controller, Eze S. Eze and Regional Manager, East, Angela Onochie (The Ibeto Group) during the visit of the insurance company to the factory at Nnewi, Ananbra State…recently.

‘My ambition is to see growth of insurance in Gambia’ HE new president of the T Insurance Association of The Gambia (IAG), Almamy B. Jobarteh, has expressed strong desire to take The Gambian insurance industry to higher heights by bringing to pass most of the resounding plans of the industry that would boost the sector, develop insurers and bring about customer satisfaction.

The industry has grown in membership to 12 companies with the introduction of Enterprise Life Assurance during the year, which is an important development taking into consideration the benefit economies gain from the establishment of new enterprises, the new IAG president said while making a speech reviewing the association’s activities in 2013 and for the years ahead, at the 26th AGM of the IAG held on Saturday at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” Jobarteh addressed his colleagues and insurance stakeholders, “I mentioned last year during my inauguration speech that my ambition is to see the gradual growth of the industry to enable us tap the fallow fertile areas in the market.

“The Executive

Committee under my leadership is convinced that one robust way of achieving this goal is to lobby for the establishment of a National Insurance Commission, which will be the driving force for the growth of our industry.

“This is a major project for our industry and I wish to call upon each and every one of us to put together all the

necessary resources and efforts to ensure the realization of this project.”

Jobarteh’s emphasis on the necessity of a national insurance commission for The Gambia is well understood and in place as the role of an independent insurance commission or regulatory authority is to ensure that insurance companies are able at any moment to fulfill their obliga-

tions and that the interest of the policyholders are sufficiently safeguarded.

The pivotal role insurance plays in the socio-economic development of a nation and its potentiality to act as a catalyst for the eradication of poverty and other social ills in society make it vital for an Independent Insurance Commission to be established.

Oasis announces change in ownership structure

By Helen Oji ASIS insurance Plc O (“Oasis Insurance” or “the Company”), has announced that a significant change in the company’s ownership structure where the erstwhile majority shareholders of the Company, Oasis Group Limited and MetroWest Investments Limited (“the Sellers”) have sold to FBN Life Assurance Limited, a subsidiary of FBN Holdings Plc, a total of 4,630,595,326 ordinary shares of 50kobo each representing 71.2% of the total issued ordinary share capital of Oasis Insurance.

The acquisition was effected through the execution of a share sale and purchase agreement between the parties following receipt of the requisite regulatory approvals from the National Insurance Commission, Securities & Exchange Commission and The Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Following this majority acquisition, FBN Life is required to make a mandatory take-over bid to the remaining shareholders of Oasis insurance in line with Section 131 of the Investment and Securities Act and Rule 445 of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s

Rules and Regulations.

“As a result of this transaction Oasis Insurance becomes a subsidiary of FBN Life, and a member of FBN Holdings Plc. We intend to leverage on this affiliation with FBN Holdings Plc to expand our coverage of the Nigerian general insurance market by offering our insurance products through First Bank Limited’s branch network. More importantly, the acquisition allows Oasis Insurance and FBN Life to leverage their relative strengths, thereby creating synergies for the benefit for their respective stakeholders.”

South Africa short-term insurers’ costs rising insurers’ costs Ser HORT-term are rising due to the weakrand and a deluge of weather-related claims, putting pressure on them to increase premiums.

However, struggling consumers are likely to shop around for the most affordable premiums, leading insurers to seek innovative ways to become more efficient and reduce risk.

Ratings agency Fitch said last week that short-term insurers in South Africa would have their underwrit-

ing profits negatively affected by significant claims related to natural catastrophes.

Fitch also said that the increased financial pressure experienced by consumers and a challenging economic environment made it “difficult” for insurers to “achieve appropriate premiums for the risks underwritten”.

In the past three years, South Africa’s short-term insurers have been hit by massive flood, fire and hail claims. One of the innova-

tions in the sector has been an SMS service to clients warning of impending weather events to help avoid, for instance, hail damage to vehicles.

At the same time the rand has weakened by about five per cent against the dollar so far this year, increasing the costs of repairs as it costs more to import parts.

“The pronounced weakening of the rand feeds directly into our claims costs, specifically the price of imported car parts,” says Santam, South

Africa’s largest short-term insurer. “This puts a significant strain on our insurance results as we must manage the lag between costs and premium increases (when we) absorb the exchange rate differential cost.”

Santam said that in light of the weakening rand and increased weather-related claims, premium increases are inevitable. “We have to ensure that the risk pool is sustainable and rate actions are therefore inevitable,” the insurer said. “Segmented

increases mean good-risk clients will attract lower premium increases.”

Last month, the Reserve Bank increased interest rates in South Africa by 50 basis points, a move some analysts said would increase financial pressure on consumers by raising the cost of servicing their debt.

Short-term insurers have to ensure premiums meet claims from clients and generate profits. To manage costs, Santam, which has about one million policy-

holders, said that it was making its procurement process more efficient.

Santam’s underwriting margin has come under pressure, falling to 1.3 per cent in the six months to end-June last year, from 6.1 per cent a year earlier.

Santam has a medium-term target for its underwriting margin of five to seven per cent.

In its 10-month operating update, issued in November, it said that the underwriting margin was still below target.

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FINANCIALGUARDIAN

TAX WATCH

The key issues and challenges of implementing the National Tax Policy (Part 2) Having a roadmap is good, but it is only a start – walking the road is what makes a difference

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By Taiwo Oyedele

Government should not be fixated on introducing new taxes and increasing tax rates on the already over-burdened few businesses and taxpayers. A long term sustainable approach would be to support businesses by reducing their tax burden especially compliance cost to enable them grow and thereby increasing the tax base and tax revenue in the long-run.

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N continuation of our Iposals series on tax reform proas articulated in the White Paper published by the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) in conjunction with PwC, this article is a continuation of my thoughts on how to implement the National Tax Policy.

From sports to entertainment, tourism to technology, infrastructural development to industrialisation, and the list goes on - Nigeria is a country that is often celebrated more for her potentials than real achievements.

This is true even in terms of natural resources. Nigeria is one of the largest producers of petroleum in the world, with one of the largest proven oil reserves of over 35 billion barrels and over 185

trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas. One of the areas requiring significant improvement is the fiscal regime applicable to the industry.

The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) was initiated to address some of the issues but no concrete progress has been made and hence the negative impact on the much needed local and foreign direct investment in the sector. The inability to pass the previous versions of the PIB was due to vested interests pulling in opposite directions and lack of sufficient will by the political class.

As much as it is desirable to optimise government take in petroleum operations, this should be done after a tax impact simulation and assessment to determine the additional revenue that is likely to accrue to government and by implication cost to the operators and impact on the economy. This should also be the case for all fiscal policies; for instance, government should be required to quantify the impact of new taxes to be introduced, waivers to be granted and compliance cost among others.

Oftentimes government introduces waivers and incentives to attract investors. Whilst this may look attractive on the surface, it is seldom the solution to simply throw tax incentives at investors. The most important incentive is to develop an efficient tax administration system built on a robust tax legal framework. Investors are looking for certainty of tax treatment which is consistently applied and stable to enable long term planning.

Businesses have a key role to play in economic development and taxation is a major consideration in this regard.

It is therefore important for government to develop a fair, stable, sustainable and competitive tax system.

Government should not be

fixated on introducing new taxes and increasing tax rates on the already overburdened businesses and taxpayers. A long term sustainable approach would be to support businesses by reducing their tax burden especially compliance cost to enable them grow and thereby increasing the tax base and tax revenue in the long-run.

Concluding thoughts and action points

Action #1 – Establish a body to implement the National Tax Policy As part of the implementation strategy, it is necessary to constitute a central body with representation from key stakeholders including tax authorities at different levels to monitor implementation and report regularly to an appropriate authority such as the National Economic Council or the National Assembly.

The body will also have the responsibility of keeping the National Tax Policy under constant review.

Action #2 – Address multiple taxation To address multiple and numerous taxation, earmark taxes should be reduced to the barest minimum and approved list of taxes should be streamlined and adhered to by all tiers of government. The ongoing review of the Constitution should include relevant amendments to clearly outline the powers of governments at different levels regarding imposition and collection of taxes.

Action #3 – Simplify the tax system

Tax legislation – tax laws

should be written in plain language and ambiguities should be reduced to the barest minimum.

Conflicting provisions should be removed. With respect to introduction of new taxes, there should be a mechanism to pass all proposed tax laws through a body of key stakeholders in addition to existing procedures in place to prevent arbitrary tax laws which are contrary to the overall policy direction. Also the commencement date of any new tax law or regulation should give adequate notice and allow a reasonable period of time for taxpayers to make the necessary changes required for implementation. Tax laws should not be applied retrospectively.

Tax administration - both FIRS and State Tax Boards should consider issuing a Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or Taxpayers' Charter. This can include taxpayer obligations, as well as a commitment to professional and legal behaviour by tax consultants and the tax authorities.

Technology should be used to automate the tax system and

About PwC PwC firms help organisations and individuals create the value they're looking for. We're a network of firms in 158 countries with close to 169,000 people who are committed to delivering quality in assurance, tax and advisory services. Tell us what matters to you and find out more by visiting us at www.pwc.com/ng

information regarding taxation should be freely available and easily accessible electronically via tax authorities’ websites and printed copies at the various tax offices. Tax refunds should be paid promptly within 90 days as provided in the law. There should also be continuous taxpayer engagement, education and awareness.

Tax adjudication - Tax courts and appeal tribunals should be more active and functional at all times. Tax disputes should be resolved as quickly as possible. Sanctions for non compliance should be of both a civil and criminal nature - to be used in an appropriate and graduated manner. Civil penalties should be proportionate to the tax lost. Interest should be charged at reasonable commercial rates, on an annual or other periodic basis - to reflect time value of money and opportunity cost to government. Likewise, offences such as failure to file tax returns, or failure to provide information on request, should carry a civil penalty.

For flat rate penalties, there needs to be some simple man-

‘

The anti-graft agencies will beam their searchlight on tax frauds. Whether this will be done out of a genuine desire to curb tax corruption or as a political witch hunting will be up for debate. Hopefully we will see non tax compliant politicians disqualified from contesting in 2015.

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ner for adjusting these to reflect changes in the economy such as inflation (perhaps as a percentage of minimum wage).

Actions #4 – Set the tone from the top and lead by example An effective mechanism for achieving high compliance is to lead by example as well as by making the most efficient use of the tax revenue collected by the government.

Accordingly, all political office holders on an annual basis should fully disclose all their sources of income and ensure the right taxes are paid culminating in the publication of their tax clearance certificates annually as recommended in the National Tax Policy.

History of tax compliance which must bear some correlation with declaration of assets must be a precondition for election and political appointments. Tax compliance must be all encompassing – before, during and after

This article was contributed by Taiwo Oyedele, Partner and Head of Tax, PwC Nigeria, to the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) White Papers Volume 2. The White Papers were published by the NLI in partnership with PwC to highlight some of the critical issues in the Nigerian tax system covering policy, legislation and tax administration. The Papers also demonstrate the urgent need for action and proffer practical solutions for tax reforms.

Blog with Taiwo for indepth analyses, unique insight and superlative perspective on tax matters: www.pwc.com/nigeriataxblog. Subscription is free!

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FINANCIALGUARDIAN DLM BOND WATCH: February 17, 2014

Monday, February 17, 2014 59

BONDWATCH

Published in association with

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Media On World Radio Day… Gender sensitivity, release of community radio licence top discussion Issue

By Kabir Alabi Garba

Expectedly, last Thursday’s anniversary of World Radio Day provided an auspicious moment to renew campaign for the establishment of community radio outlets in Nigeria while the global focus was on the need for gender equality, freedom of expression and cultural diversity as reflected in the messages of two key officials of the United Nations System. a campaign that is not only over one FitsOR decade old, but which has not, also, achieved goal, it is normal to appropriate any opportunity to amplify its yet-to-be realized objectives, raise awareness about its aspirations as well as frustrations.

This was exactly what the Nigeria Community Radio Coalition (NCRC) sought to accomplish last Thursday, February 13 on the occasion of the World Radio Day commemoration.

The coalition, in a statement issued by its coordinator and Executive Director, Institute for Media and Society (IMESO), Mr. Akin Akingbulu, did not hesitate to join “the international community in celebrating the third anniversary of World Radio Day, today February 13, 2014”.

The body, which has been advocating the need for the establishment of community radio outlets in nooks and crannies of Nigeria since April 2003, also shared “the aspirations which informed the proclamation of February 13 as World Radio Day and identify with the themes being celebrated this year- gender equality, freedom of expression and cultural diversity.”

But it went further to spotlight certain “observations and recommendations” while drawing the attention of policy institutions at federal, state, executive and legislative levels to the importance of enacting and implementing appropriate policies which “will enhance democratic governance and run in consonance with international standards and best practices.”

The coalition raised four issues, which it argued, “demand urgent attention of government.” They are: delay in the licensing of Community Radio; absence of empowerment for Campus Radio; lack of constitutional backing and updated legal framework for independent broadcasting in Nigeria; and poor access for women in broadcasting.

On the delay in the licensing of Community Radio, the coalition argued thus, “more than three years ago, President Goodluck Jonathan announced presidential approval for the immediate commencement of the licensing of community radio stations across the country.

However, this presidential approval has not been implemented despite the clear potentials of community radio as an important modern development tool acknowledged by the government’s representatives and the clear development dividends it has delivered in all parts of the world.”

It therefore urged President Jonathan “to ensure that appropriate government agencies give effect to his October 2010 directive, while the regulatory body, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) should immediately begin the issuance of community radio licenses.”

While canvassing appropriate empowerment for campus radio, the coalition asserted that the issuance of radio licenses to academic institutions started about 12 years ago. So far, about 30 radio stations have been licensed in this category. Their licence conditions expect them to deliver on mandates which include: functioning as training laboratories and assisting in the delivery of learning. However, apart from the issuance of licences, there has been no visible or

Ban Ki-Moon notable government funding support for these stations to enable them perform optimally. Its prayer is for government “to provide dedicated funding for these stations and make them beneficiaries of its various intervention mechanisms designed to strengthen educational institutions.”

Constitutional backing and legal framework for independent broadcasting also attracted the attention of NCRC stating that,”the current review exercise on the 1999 Constitution in the National Assembly projects an impression that interest in issues affecting the media, particularly the broadcast sector, are not featuring on the front burners.

“If broadcast-sector issues are not addressed in the exercise, a historic opportunity would have been lost in consolidating the liberalization of the sector and in updating the regulatory environment to international standards, especially in the area of the independence of the regulatory body.”

Specifically, the coalition urged the National Assembly and other broadcast sector stakeholders to use opportunities such as the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution and the planned review of the National Broadcasting Commission Act to achieve constitutional and legal reforms as follows: The regulatory body in charge of broadcast-

Irina Bokova

Akingbulu

ing should be made one of the Federal Executive Bodies recognized in Section 153 and under the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution. It should therefore be listed in those sections accordingly. Making the broadcast regulator one of the Federal Executive Bodies in the Constitution would be also guarantee adequate funding for its operation.

The process of appointing representatives of the different interests groups that constitute the governing body of the broadcast regulator should include a requirement for consultations to be held with the various stakeholders in each of the named sub-sectors of the Nigerian society when selecting their representatives for appointment to the governing body.

Members of the governing body and staff of the regulatory body should have security of tenure and clearly defined conditions of service.

Part of the functions of the regulatory body should be exclusive power or right to issue and revoke broadcast licenses, through a transparent process with clearly stated criteria that are publicly available. The decisions of the body in this regard should be subject only to judicial review. Consequently, the proviso to Section 39(2) of the 1999 Constitution

should be amended to reflect this principle of empowering the regulatory body to so act.

While decrying poor access for women in broadcasting, the coalition recalled that since the return of Nigeria to civil rule about 15 years ago, reports from monitoring of broadcast media, particularly during elections, have consistently showed that coverage was skewed against female candidates. The cause of democratic consolidation cannot be well served if broadcast media coverage gives overwhelming focus on men while neglecting women.

As a result, the NCRC would want the National Assembly, the broadcast regulator, NBC, and other stakeholders to ensure that, beginning from the 2014/2015 season, electoral laws and other instruments have provisions which guarantee equal access to broadcast media for both male and female candidates in all elections.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon also used the occasion of the commemoration to call on managers and owners of radio stations to promote the voice of women and enhance their role within broadcast organisations.

In his message to mark the day, Ki-moon noted that the airwaves have frequently lagged behind when it comes to gender equality with not nearly enough 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.

“This is an opportunity for everyone. Let us celebrate this World Radio Day by saluting women in radio today — and doing our utmost to nurture the new voices for tomorrow,” he said.

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

“From pioneering executives in the early 20th century to those today reporting from conflict zones, women have played a key role in the growth of radio. As citizen journalists, reporters, producers, technicians and key decision-makers, women are working at every level of the broadcasting industry to ensure the free exchange of opinion, information and ideas over the airwaves.

For her, there is still much work to be done as less than one quarter of radio stories are about women, and women represent less than one third of all top level management and governance positions in media.

Members of Nigeria Community Radio Coalition (NCRC) with the Information Minister, Labaran Maku (middle) at a function in Abuja on June 28, 2010

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Social Media Week Lagos opens today

By Gregory Austin Nwakunor LL is now set for the 2014 Social Media A Week (SMW) Lagos. The event, which begins today, ends on February 21. It is themed; A Connected Africa Is The Future.

Social Media Week is a leading news and publishing site and worldwide event that holds in over 26 cities every year.

The week provides global brands with unique and compelling ways to engage with some of Africa’s most hyper-connected influencers. Last year, it received over 350 press mentions globally, generating more than 31 million impressions.

With attendees from across Africa and around the world, SMW Lagos explores a wide range of topics including education, entertainment, banking and politics. The SMW audience is made up of senior marketers, founders and entrepreneurs and digitally connected consumers.

In its second year, it has already claimed its place as a premier city for the February event. Due to its scale and impact, SMW Lagos is considered the largest, technology, new media and business conference on the continent of Africa.

Participants represent a diverse group of learners and creators. It attracts some of the continents most forward thinking media and brands, together with a sophisticated audience.

According to a statement by the organisers, the mission is to capture, curate and share the most meaningful ideas,

trends, and best practices with regard to social media’s impact on business, society and culture.

In the words of Obi Asika, Chairman, Social Media Week Lagos: “We are truly excited to be coming back to Lagos and looking forward to working with amazing event partners, sponsors and the entire community to deliver an incredible week of programming. In our second year in Nigeria we aim to lead the conversation globally and further establish SMW Lagos as the number one new media and communications technology conference on this great continent.”

Ellen McGirt, senior writer, Fast Company Magazine, said: “Social Media Week does not disappoint. It is a real-world manifestation of some of the best that new technology has to offer - ideas, strategies and insights shared by the people who are shaping the future.”

In addition to introducing all new satellite content hubs, curated programming, dynamic local content, partnerships, workshops and master classes with Nigeria’s brightest minds, Social Media Week Lagos 2014 is getting international!

In the spirit of the 2014 theme, “we’ve launched 55 Forward, an initiative inviting business, technology, entertainment and media ambassadors from each of Africa’s 55 countries to participate during the

SMWLagos conference,” said the statement. “In a city of 20 million, and on a diverse continent of over 1 billion, we believe passionately that the future of digital, social and economic growth inevitably belongs to Africa. It is about examining the technologies and ideas that are changing the ways we work, live, create and connect now... and into the future.”

The organisers also noted, “as the epicentre of innovation for the African continent, Lagos will be the stage on which the world’s most influential thought leaders, brands, agencies, startups & digital change makers share best practices, ideas and inspiration.”

Over 5,000 participants are expect-

ed to attend the 150 event sessions that will have 300 speakers. Iroko’s Jason Njoku will give the opening innovators keynote.

Some of the sessions include Women Doing Business the Social Way: How Women Entrepreneurs Can Use Social Media to Build a Business presented by W.TEC; Master class: Using Social Media to Create a Great Personal or Corporate Reputation to be hosted

by Cmoore Media. Luvvie Ajayi (aka Awesomely Luvvie), an award-winning social media maven, digital strategist and 10-year blogging veteran, will teach the master class.

Her blog is a respected space where she covers all things pop culture, from TV to movies to technology.

Luvvie has been featured on Africa.com, Huffington Post, Black Enterprise, Essence, Ebony and more for her work. AfroElle Magazine named her to their 35 under 35 influential women’s list and she was chosen as one of JET Magazine’s 40 under 40 recipients in 2013.

Also expected to engage participants are Web Women Want: African Women In the Digital Age Panel, The Digital Church hosted by Elevation Church, Enterprise Creative Presents: Freelance Friday SMW Edition and Social Media, Brands, Trends and Challenges: Insights From The Alder Social Media Report.

A cross section of panelists at last year’s conference

Wake Up To Lipton Radio Show hits the airwaves Stories by Gbenga Salau O ensure consumers of its brand enjoy a delightful day through waking up to a positive mood, Unilever Nigeria has launched a new radio show it dubbed, Wake Up To Lipton Radio Show.

The show, anchored by one of Nigeria’s renowned comedian, Bovi Ugboma, with the stage name, Bovi, has commenced airing in six different radio stations. It aims to be an early morning happy tonic for listeners according to the promoters because Lipton is mainly a morning drink.

Giving an insight on the show as a press briefing to announce the commencement, the Category Manager, Tea and Spreads, Unilever Nigeria, Plc, Vivian Ihaza, said that the show, which is for 5-minute recorded gives room to the consumers of Lipton and listeners to start their day on the right note by listening to comic twists of popular sayings.

According to her, it was conceived from a strong desire to help the Lipton Tea consumers and all listeners to the show kick start their day in a mood that would help ensure a fun and brighter day. Ihaza also noted that the show is meant to make listeners laugh, raise their spir-

T

Assistant Category Manager, Tea and Spreads, Elohor Olumide-Awe; Ace Comedian, Bovi and Category Manager, Tea and Spreads, Vivian Ihaza at Press Conference on the launch of the “Wake Up to Lipton” Radio Show.

Forte Oil unveils Tiwa Savage as Brand Ambassador Oil has unveiled Tiwa not easy being in the market and FSheORTE Savage as the face of the brand. remains consistent in terms of qualiwas announced at a press brief- ty, commitment and value delivery. ing in Lagos last week, where the organisation also officially transited from AP to Forte Oil. Speaking at the event, tagged the birth of performance enhancers, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Forte Oil, Mr. Akin Akinfenwa, gave a historical birth of the company, transiting from 1964 as British Petroleum to African Petroleum in 1979 and now Forte Oil. According to him, the brand will continue to give customers value for money, which was why the re-engineering of the brand is not restricted to just the communication tools but also the filling stations, it process, philosophies and people.

The Head of Strategy, Mr. Bayo Akinwunmi, noted that the rebranding effort is a milestone in the history of the company. He described it as the birth of a veteran noting that it is

Akinwunmi gave an insight into why Tiwa Savage was picked as the brand ambassador. According to him, it is because besides both brands share the same vision and mission, she is considered a committed, open and respectful persons which are attributes embedded in Forte oil as a brand.

On her part, Tiwa Savage said that she was privileged to be part of the company because she realises that the firm is different from others in terms of the quality of its product.

The representative of standard Organisation of Nigeria, Nnaoma Olujie, commended Forte Oil for consistently creating quality products, which was why SON had reasons to certify its products.

On hand to entertain the guests were Olamide and Tiwa Savage.

its and generally brighten up their day with the idea that if they start the day on a lighter, happier note, it will have a positive effect on the rest of their day.

Ihaza further said that the show was introduced to appreciate and reward its consumers for keeping and ticking to the brand because Lipton tea over the years has remained a dominant market leading brand in Nigeria beating its closest competitor by a wide margin.

She also said though the show is being aired in some selected regions of the country, the projection is to ensure that it goes across the country as well as extending it to the Lipton Nigeria facebook page.

On the choice of Bovi to anchor the show, Ihaza said besides Bovi being a familiar name, he is a good complimentary brand. She further said that the company also wanted a person with a good image. According to her, the show was packaged having in mind that the brand is a product that has global relevance and local flavour.

Bovi said he was excited to be the anchor of the programme, which was why he did not think twice to accept the offer when it came because it is a brand he grew up with and has become emotionally attached to it.

Dasuki charges security spokespersons on proactive media relations POKESPERSONS of Security and Response Agencies in Srelationship Nigeria have been urged to cultivate and sustain mutual with media practitioners to ensure a better understanding on the current challenges in fighting criminal elements.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), who made the call on Friday at the inauguration of the Forum of Spokespersons in Security and Response Agencies (FOSSAR) in Abuja, said accurate and responsible public information is also vital to the war against terror.

“The next stage of war on terror should include advocacy and media engagement through accurate, timely and responsible information to dissuade our people from criminal activities as well as to silent the propaganda tools of terrorists,” he said.

While seeking greater cooperation and synergy among spokespersons of security agencies on information management, he urged them to be proactive and responsive to major issues that require urgent attention.

Represented by the Director Special Duties, Col, Bello Fadile (rtd), the NSA said “with various forms and channels of communication, security managers and their information personnel must proactively and timely address and

response to issues in curtailing rumour mongering and mischiefs.

As the nation is going through electioneering period, Col Dasuki also urged the media to be wary of politicians who may be playing politics with actions that may be detrimental to national security and national interest for selfish ambitions.

Responding, the Chairman of the FOSSAR, who is also the Director, Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, disclosed that the establishment of the forum was one of the outcomes of an Interactive Security-Media Parley, which was held in the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2013.

He said the forum would ensure professionalism and patriotic commitment to information dissemination as regard security issues in the country and partner with the media towards national development by working in harmony in the defense and protection of Nigeria’s image.

Members of the forum include spokespersons from various security and response agencies including Army, Navy, Airforce, Police, Civil Defence, Fire Service, SSS, NIA, Road Safety, Customs among others.

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‘I’m committed to help PDP regain lost ground in Southwest’ Concerned by the worsening fortunes of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest, Prince Buruji Kashamu, the Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of the party in the zone speaks on the efforts being made to salvage the situation and win the confidence of party faithful and new converts ahead of major elections which are to hold later this year and the next.

EGARDLESS of the side of R the divide you belong in discussing the contribution of personalities in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria, Buruji Kashamu remains a force to reckon with in the political space of Nigeria.

With governorship elections holding in both Osun and Ekiti states this year and the general election coming up next year, the PDP in the South West has to re-strategise to avoid being roundly defeated by the All Progressives Congress

(APC).

The PDP, which once held sway in the zone, has been enclosed due to recent activities where it now plays the second fiddle. In Ondo State, where the Labour Party (LP) is in power, the PDP’s position as the lead-

ing opposition party is being seriously contested by the APC. The same scenario is playing out in Ekiti State with the LP/Opeyemi Bamidele’s Ekiti Bibire Coalition.

The plight of the PDP in the zone became worsened after the 2011 elections when it was swept completely out of power in the zone by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) now APC. With this development, the party headed for the doldrums in the zone as many the leaders retreated and left the mass of party supporters in the zone in the lurch.

Consequently, members of the PDP began to defect to other parties in the zone, thus making it extremely difficult for the party to stage a successful comeback. Some of them who did not defect were disillusioned. Others were simply indifferent.

Concerned about the worsening fortune of the party, Prince Buruji Kashamu took it upon himself to revive the party’s fortune from imminent collapse.

Starting from his home state, Ogun, he started his rebuilding process by using his Omo Ilu Foundation to give succour to the people by empowering them.

Thousands were given vehicles, motorcycles to use for commercial purposes, while small and medium scale entrepreneurs were given priority to set up their businesses. Many who could have defected to other parties were encouraged to stay back in the party through his efforts.

The Kashamu’s effort in rebuilding the PDP in Ogun State is evident in the number of defectors the party has witnessed even from the ruling APC and others.

Among the defectors were the former state Secretary of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), Elder Yemi Akinwonmi and Otunba Adeleke Adekoya, a former chairmanship candidate of the PPN in Ijebu North LGA. Speaking at a declaration for the PDP recently through Buruji effort, the former deputy governor of the state, Rafiu Ogunleye, said the decision to join PDP was based on his observations of his former party. “This great journey started on the fateful day when Prince Buruji Kashamu visited my home in Itele-Ijebu in company of the state chairman of PDP,

Engr. Bayo Dayo, Otunba Ola Kukoyi, Prince Fakoya and Chief Dele Odulaja, to ask me and my group, Imole, for partnership in PDP. “Today is an eventful and remarkable day in my life, but I must let you know that after going through the constitution of PDP, I discovered that PDP is a very progressive and truly democratic,” Ogunleye stated.

The event was attended by PDP leaders from outside Ogun including Ibrahim Mantu, a former Deputy Senate President and Wale Oladipo, National Secretary of the PDP, Otunba Rotimi George-Taylor and his supporters.

Kashamu has not only been concentrating on Ogun State but also involved in rebuilding the party as well as mobilising members across the zone.

He has also lent support to all the state executives in the zone in their bid to strengthen the party in each state, which gave birth to massive membership drive as a way of gaining more ground.

When the former National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, visited the zone in March 2013, Kashamu mobilised members from across the zone to make the visit remarkable as well as during the time President Goodluck Jonathan came to launch the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

He facilitated the mobilisation of party members from across the zone in over 600 buses, making it one event with the greatest level of mobilisation in recent times.

Kashamu has consistently maintained that he is not in politics for personal gains but to improve the lot of the common man.

“As an individual, there is a limit to what one can do. On my own, through the Omo Ilu Foundation, I have done a bit to improve the lot of our people. But how many lives can an individual or even a group touch? For everyone we helped, there are many more we wish to help but can’t help due to resources constraints. That is why I am passionate about having the PDP in control in the South West because that is the party that has the concerns of the masses at heart. The PDP is the only party that can help the masses. The APC, it has become clear, is only inter-

ested in grabbing power at all cost causing untold hardships to the people,” he said.

Speaking of his determination to ensure victory for the party in the zone, Kashamu said he is ready to make sure that the party came victorious in the forthcoming election in the state.

“I’m ready to commit myself to ensuring the success of the PDP governorship candidate in Ekiti State during the forthcoming election. It would be a shame on my part if I fail to do that. I’m ready to do the same thing in Osun, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Oyo states.”

Today, Kashamu is one of the vocal leaders of the PDP in the South West. He has spoken at different fora and platform on a number of national issues. His blunt views on issues are well documented. Yet, this has also set him against some vested interests in his home state of Ogun State and outside.

For instance, he has spoken about the need for all Nigerians to support President Goodluck Jonathan for the developmental strides the administration is doing on the nation at large.

According to him, those fighting Jonathan do not love Nigeria, “their intention is not just to upstage the president but to destroy the country. Once someone has been elected into office, we must support such a person until his tenure is over.

What the APC is doing is an attempt to destroy Nigeria and to pull down the President to score political point.”

Kashamu said the northerners should not see Jonathan as their enemy, saying he is a friend to the northerners. Expatiating on this, he said if he were an enemy of the North, he would not have just declared a state of emergency in the North Eastern states; he would have also sacked all the democratic structures and appointed sole administrators like Obasanjo did in Ekiti State where he appointed Maj.Gen. Adetunji Olurin as Sole Administrator.

Applauding Kashamu’s exploits in putting the party together in the zone, former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, said that since his days as governor, he had never seen a party man with passion to mobilise people like that.

Analysts are of the view that with the level of opposition by the elite to the Jonathan presidency, it is high time it looked in the way of proven foot soldiers that can continually mobilise the grassroots for electoral victory if it is desirous of winning any electoral contest in the likely event that the President decides to seek re-election.

Indeed, for Kashamu, it is time President Jonathan came out and declare his stance on his political future “according to his constitutional right”, adding: “It is time to speak out, clear the road and get rid of the enemies of the government and our dear country.

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Monday, February 17, 2014

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Sports First Nigerian Medical Doctors’ Games begins

CAF Champions League

Enyimba survives Togo test, moves to next round

By Christian Okpara NYIMBA of Aba yesterday in Lome survived the onslaught of Togolese team, Anges de Notse, to move to the second round of the CAF Champions League.

Although the ‘Peoples Elephant’ lost the game 1-2, the team still qualified having won the first leg in Aba 3-1.

As has been their lot in recent times, the 2013 and 2014 champions are the lone Nigerian side in the Champions League following Kano Pillars ouster from the competition on Saturday by AS Vita of DR Congo.

The Togolese team opened scoring in the 29th minute, while Enyimba equalised in the 66th minute through new boy, Abdulrahman Bashir.

The home side took the lead again towards the end of regulation time, but Enyimba held on to win the tie 4-3 on aggregate.

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Enyimba will now meet AS Real Bamako of Mali in the next stage of the competition.

Officials of the team told The Guardian yesterday that the Enyimba delegation will return to Nigeria today and move straight to Aba to begin preparation for their second round clash with AS Real Bamako, which is the last qualifying round for the lucrative group stage of the CAF Champions League.

The defending champions, who won two consecutive editions of the competition in 2003 and 2004, plan to regain the trophy this year as their contribution to Nigeria’s centenary celebrations.

In another Champions League match, Zamalek of Egypt progressed to the next round after they won 1-0 at Douanes of Niamey on Sunday.

Zamalek thus qualified 3-0 on aggregate after they won the first game 2-0 in Egypt.

Eagles officials off to Brazil for 2014 seminar • Team thanks Jonathan for CHAN reception UPER Eagles officials, led by Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, will literarily return to school this week as they take part in a FIFA organised World Cup seminar strictly for the Brazil 2014 World Cup, holding in June this year.

Apart from Keshi, other officials, who departed Nigeria for Brazil last night are team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, team doctor; Ibrahim Gyaran, Media Officer of the team; Ben Alaiya, Chief Security Officer, ACP Abubakar Baba, Scribe of the NFF Security Committee, Christian Emeruwa and Chuks Alizor of the NFF Marketing Department.

FIFA is organising the course to prepare officials of the qualified nations for Mundial 2014 for high level of professionalism and service delivery during the summer World Cup. Coaches of all 32 qualified nations and other relevant officials will be in the Brazilian city of Florianopolis for the weeklong seminar.

Meanwhile, the national team

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has hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for the wonderful reception he granted the team last Thursday in Abuja, for coming third at the recently held CHAN African Nations tournament in South Africa.

Team Captain, Chigozie Agbim and Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, said the team was humbled by the reception given to them, adding that nobody expected it.

“We are very delighted and on the part of the players we hope to bring more joy to Mr. President and the nation because he has always showed us love,” Agbim said.

On his part, Achor said apart from NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari’s love for the team, President Jonathan ranks equal with his fatherly love for the team.

“He visits the team when we are preparing for major competitions and he always rewards us even when we don’t meet his expectation. We must say thank you to Mr. President,” he said.

By Chukwuma Muanya and Ayoyinka Jegede, Uyo HE first ever sports fiesta T organised for medical doctors will be flagged off today

Liverpool’s striker, Luis Suarez (left), vies with Arsenal’s defender, Laurent Koscielny during their English FA Cup fifth round match at The Emirates Stadium yesterday. Arsenal defeated Liverpool 2-1 to qualify for the quarterfinal, where they will meet Everton.

GTB backs Lagos International Polo tournament

By Adeyinka Adedipe NE of the major sponsors O of the Lagos Polo Tournament, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) has said that its continuous support for the game is part of its contribution to the development of sports in the country.

GTB’s Head of media and event, Jide Sipe, said sponsoring the event has given the bank the opportunity to meet with its key customers, adding that sport is a vital part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility.

“We started sponsoring the Lagos Polo International

tournament last year and it has given us the chance to meet our key customers, while also giving back to the society in which we operate,” Sipe added.

He said that the bank would increase its marketing, do more branding and let its customers know that it is worthwhile to support polo, adding, “Polo can help boost our local and international market and we are going to be doing a lot in this respect.”

Sipe noted that the reason the Lagos Polo Club was reaching out to its sponsors is to ensure that more people embraced the sport, while calling on the public to visit

the event, which takes place from Wednesday to February 23.

He said that the Lagos Polo Club has a fantastic history and have organised top local and international events, which has endeared it to many lovers of polo. It has also attracted top international players from outside the country.

“Our involvement in sports has been fantastic, we are not just in business to make profit, but to also reach out to people by supporting sports, which is a unifying factor, especially in a country like Nigeria with various ethnic groups.

by the Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.

Tagged: ‘Maiden Nigerian Medical Doctors’ Games,’ medical doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) from all the 36 states of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, yesterday stormed Eket, for the seven-day event, which the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, said was designed to keep doctors healthy and sharp in the discharfge of their duties.

In a statement yesterday, Enabulele said, “the national games was introduced by the current leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association as part of the overall strategy to promote quality healthcare delivery in Nigeria by ensuring that medical doctors/dentists remain physically, mentally and medically fit with improved health status and life expectancy, by indulging in sports and practicing what they preach to their patients.”

Enabulele said the Games is expected to attract over 1000 medical doctors to the ‘destination city’, and shall feature football, Lawn tennis (male and female), table tennis (male and female), basket ball (male and female), badminton (male and female) scrabble (male and female), Chess (male and female) and draught (male).

The opening ceremony will feature the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu as Guest of Honour, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Dr Godswill Akpabio as Chief Host, and the Executive Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan as special guest of honour.

English FA Cup

Arsenal avenge Liverpool defeat, meet Everton in quarter-final RSENAL avenged their A Anfield aberration with a 2-1 defeat of Liverpool in a pulsating FA Cup fifth-round clash at the Emirates Stadium yesterday.

The Gunners, still reeling

2014 Julius Berger Charity Golf Cup winner, Sam Anyamele (center), receiving the tournament’s trophy from Julius Berger Nigeria Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Nuruddeen Imam and the company’s Managing Director, Wolfgang Goetsch… on Saturday.

from last weekend’s 5-1 Premier League loss at Liverpool, twice scored in the opening 50 minutes despite being second best before surviving a secondhalf onslaught to set up a home quarterfinal with Everton.

Arsene Wenger was described as “a specialist in failure” by Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho on Friday after last leading Arsenal to a trophy almost nine years ago, in the 2005 FA Cup, but now his side are in the last eight.

The Blues are out.

On-loan striker Lacina Traore made the perfect start to his Everton debut but it was substitute Steven Naismith who played the pivotal role in their FA Cup victory over an understrength Swansea.

Traore, who joined in

January from Monaco, scored after just four minutes but it was his second-half replacement, who secured the 3-1 win and safe passage into the quarterfinals.

The Scotland international scored within four minutes of coming on to restore Everton’s lead after Jonathan de Guzman’s equaliser and won the penalty, which Leighton Baines converted.

Toffees Manager, Roberto Martinez, facing the club over whom he had such an influence between 2007 and 2009, remains on course to complete his quest of becoming the first manager to retain the cup with different clubs, having lifted it with Wigan last May. In the quarter-finals, former City favourite Uwe Rosler will take his Latics side to the Etihad Stadium where

Manuel Pellegrini’s side saw off Chelsea 2-0 on Saturday, with Wigan hoping to claim another top-flight scalp after seeing off Cardiff in the fifth round.

Arsenal will be at home to Everton in the next round, while Sheffield United will face the winners of the rearranged fixture between Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton.

Gus Poyet will wait to see if he makes a return to his old stomping ground after his Sunderland side were drawn away to the winners of Monday’s match between his former side Brighton and Hull.

Everton away to Arsenal is the only guaranteed allPremier League clash in a draw, which will see at least one Football League club reach a Wembley semi-final.

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76 | SPORT Monday, February 17, 2014

Quadri, Makanjuola depart Kuwait, set for ITTF World Tour in Qatar

By Olalekan Okusan IGERIA’S duo of Aruna N Quadri and Kazeem Makanjuola at the weekend left Kuwait to Qatar to participate in this week’s International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour tagged: “Qatar Open.”

After failing to progress to the main draw of the Kuwait Open, Quadri and Makanjuola have promised to do better in Qatar with most of the top players that featured at the Kuwait Open also departing for Qatar on Monday.

“I think we are hopeful of doing better in Qatar because it has been a long time that we featured in this kind of tournament with some of the world’s best.

There is no doubt that it will also be tough in Qatar, but we are going to try to qualify from the group to the main draw. With more competi-

tions like these, we will surely be in good shape for the Commonwealth Games holding in Scotland come July,” Quadri said.

For Makanjuola, taking part in the Kuwait Open has indeed exposed him to top class competition. “I think coming to this World Tours has indeed shown that we still have a long way to go in the game. The game is faster and the players are more tactical. So for me, I hope I will do better in Qatar to show that I am improving with each competition,” Makanjuola said.

With Chinese players dominating the Kuwait Open, the Qatar Open holding in Doha is the second super series after the Kuwait Open holding this year.

From Tuesday February 18, world’s best will converge on Doha to participate in the event, which boasts the highest prize money in the World

Tours’ history. The total prize money is $500,000 and this is followed by the ITTF China Open, which has $350,00 staked as prize money.

Players that make it to the main draw will get prize money for their efforts in the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events.

First round losers will each receive $1,500, while winners of the Men’s and Women’s Singles events will receive $35,000 each with runners’ up getting $17,000 respectively.

In each of the Men’s Doubles and Women’s Doubles events, the winning pair gets $9,500, the runners up win $4,700; while in the U-21 Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events, winners will get $3,000 each.

The runners’ up here will smile home with $1,500. 200 players from 35 countries are expected to compete at the Qatar Open.

Emmanuel inspires Jaja House to retain title at Lekki Greensprings sports meet

By Tony Nwanne ELECHI Emmanuel singlehandedly inspired Jaja House, the defending champion to retain the title at the 2014 edition of Greensprings School, Lekki inter-house sports competition.

Emmanuel, who was adjudged the best athlete of the competition ensured that Jaja emerged overall winner of the one-day tournament.

Moremi House put up a good

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Portugal-based Aruna Quadri will today departs alongside Kazeem Makanjuola to compete at the

Expect a colorful, fun-filled Valentine tourney, Cusworth tells golfers F

Mutiu Adepoju, who graced the event alongside some parents, and guardians commended the school’s management and parents for their relentless efforts towards seeking a better future for their wards.

At the event, where parents and teachers also competed, Adepoju, who was the special guest informed of the importance of sports in character moulding.

HFN disassociates self from veterans tourney

By Adeyinka Adedipe HE Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) has warned clubs not to attend the Veterans Handball championship in Abuja, saying the tournament is not known to the Federation.

In a letter signed by the Secretary General of the HFN, Adamu Elijah Ameh and made available to The Guardian, the Federation also called on public and the entire handball family to disregard the competition.

The letter read in parts, “this is to inform the general public that the handball competition being organised by a group called the Veterans, scheduled to begin in Abuja

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its importance in unifying us pants from across the counas a people, we have decided try, Cusworth stressed that OR golfers looking for- that the competition must the Valentine Kitty would be ward to the 2014 Valentine hold every year and for the full of colours.

Day Golf Kitty, organisers of 2014 edition we have prom“Valentine stands for love the event have asked them to ised every participant a fun- and sharing. And that is brace up for a fun-filled, filled tournament on exactly what we are going to colourful tourney like no Tuesday, March 4,” the for- showcase on the golf course. other. mer lady captain said. Play your golf, have fun and The assurance is coming She added, “First Bank has at the end we will all be betspecifically from former lady been very supportive and ter for it,” she stated. captain of the club and ini- have not relented ever since Continuing, she said, “I see tiator of the event, Bola they started with us in 2010. Valentine Day as a day that Cusworth, who has prom- So I also want to call on other can help unify people and ised that all stops would be individual and corporate especially families. It brings pulled to make the Tuesday, organisations to come to our people together thereby March 4, 2014 tourney at the aid in our effort to build a building a better society. So golf section of Ikoyi Club better society through the far, we have been able to do 1938 a memorable one. Valentine tournament.” just that in our own little Since the Valentine Kitty Expected to draw partici- way,” she said. made its debut, it has continued to grow in importance even as its appreciation and attendance has also been upswing.

Last year, the one-day tournament was described by many as a huge success. That explains the reason Cusworth and her committee consisting of Nkechi Obinni and Tosin David, have promised to deliver an even greater tourney next month, which will leave a lasting impression on participants.

While speaking ahead of the tourney, the initiator said with the support of First Bank Nigeria Plc, as well as other sponsors, this year’s edition of the event would be grand even as she called on other prospective sponsors to come on board.

“The valentine tournament Former Ikoyi Club 1938 (golf section) lady captain, Bola Bola Cusworth (middle) with other particihas become a must play for everybody. And because of pants at the last edition of the Valentine Day tourney

By Eno-Abasi Sunday

fight in an attempt to wrestle the top position from Jaja House, but all its efforts came to noughts as it failed to measure up with the dominance of Jaja House in all events. It finished second in the competition, while Amina House clinched the third position.

Amongst others, the athletes defied the rains to take part in events like 100m, 200m and 4x100m, amongst others.

Former Super Eagles star,

• As players call for truce today is not known to Handball Federation of Nigeria.

“Therefore, all clubs and technical officials registered with the HFN should not participate in the competition.”

A stakeholder stated that it was wrong for a group that has stalled the activities of a federation after taking it to court to organise a competition under any name, while the same federation was finding it difficult to operate due to the legal proceeding.

“To me, this group is trying to take up the activities of the

HFN after they stalled its activities by taking it to court. My position is that they must stop the legal proceeding before they can organise any championship, which must be approved by the HFN. “The clubs must also be wary of the activities of this group, which has done more harm than good to handball in the country by taking the HFN to court after the last election,” the stakeholder warned.

However, a concerned player called on all aggrieved parties to settle the rift currently rocking the HFN and allow handball to develop in the country.

Alder rates C.O.D United as Nigeria’s popular football brand its efforts to give new sumers.

FtionOR face to football administra- As COD United begins another in Nigeria, C.O.D United quest for a place in the elite has been rated as the most effective and popular football brand in the country.

The ranking put together by renowned creative intelligence consultancy, Alder Consulting in its recently released 2014 Social Media Report has attested to the impact C.O. D United has made in the local league within the short period they have operated in Nigeria.

The Alder 2014 Social Media Report, a yearly event, has grown to become Nigeria’ most definitive and respected report on how Nigerian brands are leveraging social media and its numerous platforms to form deeper and more meaningful bonds with their audiences and con-

league, the Chief Executive of the club, Shola Opaleye said this award would spur the team this season.

“To be honest, it was not something we were expecting. We just figured out a while back that we needed to have a social media strategy in place to get closer to our fans and set to work so when we heard the news, we were pleasantly surprised,” Opaleye told The Guardian.

“We consider it something to be proud of as we go into the new season. There are many Nigerian football brands online and for us to be ranked the best is quite pleasing. It gives us fresh impetus as we prepare for a big, big season in the NNL,” he added.

Monday, February 17, 2014 SPORT

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NNL 2013/2014 Season

We are primed for the best possible football league, says Inyama

By Christian Okpara FTER some delays, the nation’s second tier league, the Nigerian National League, kicked off at the weekend with 16 teams staring the race for the four promotion tickets available in the competition.

It is the second division of Nigerian club football, but the NNL is acknowledged as the toughest arm of the league structure, where budding, uninhibited talents go all out to show lovers of the game that there is no difference between them and their more renowned Premier League stars.

This season has the potential of becoming the most competitive in the history of the competition owing to the presence of some traditional Premier League teams in the race.

Such clubs as Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), Niger Tornadoes, Bendel Insurance

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NNL Chairman, Emeka Inyama.

and First Bank are teams that for many years in the 1980s and 1990s fought for the right to be recognised as the best in the local club setting. Now they find themselves in the second tier league, which, according to their officials, is a temporary abode for their renowned teams.

Also in the league are some emerging teams, which fancy themselves as having the wherewithal to be in the Premier League and they have vowed to prove their claims on the field.

To make for a successful season, officials of the NNL have promised to provide a level playing field for all the teams and ensure that all concerned play according to the rules.

The 32-team league was earlier scheduled to start on January 25, 2014 but had to be shifted to February 15 at the instance of the teams following a strong appeal to the NNL by the participating clubs that they had no money to meet the huge financial burden involved in the payment of match officiating officials’ indemnities.

The clubs appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) through the NNL to shoulder that burden and in the process reduce the undue influence on the referees and also prevent mass withdrawal from the league as was witnessed last year.

Speaking on the NNL’s preparedness for the new season, the League’s Chairman, Chief

Emeka Inyama, said logistics have been put in place to ensure a hitch-free league season.

According to Inyama, this season holds a lot of promise for the clubs and football fans because of the new verve that is flowing among Nigerian clubs.

“We are promising football fans quality football and good officiating in atmosphere devoid of corruption and other vices that had held Nigerian club football down for a long time.

“The clubs are set, that I can assure you because of the way they went about their preparations for the kick off. And most importantly, we promise the clubs good officiating because we have increased the referees’ indemnities and they have promised us fairness in al, their dealings.

“The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which is in control of discipline, has made it clear to all match officials that anyone found wanting would face the full wrath of the law. So, we are good to go.”

Shortly before the kick off the season, the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), which had earlier threatened to boycott the games, said they have jettisoned the decision following favourable discussions with the NNL board.

NRA President, Ahmed Maude, said the NNL’s management had agreed to increase its previous pay-

Navy Sailing Club targets medals at Rio Olympics

By Adeyinka Adedipe HE Navy Sailing Club has said that its athletes are capable of winning medals for Nigeria at Rio 2016 Olympic Games if the club gets the right support from government, corporate and well-meaning individuals.

Speaking at the Valentine Day race in Ojo, Commodore of the club, Babatunde Ajayi said the club is always organising events for athletes to put them in good shape for local and international competitions.

He said that winning medals at Rio Olympics was achievable considering the level of training and competitions organised at the club. “Our athletes have been trained to always be prepared for events and that is why we competitions at all times.

“What we need is the support of everyone to enable us sustain what we are doing. We have been holding several competitions and this is the first edition of the Valentine race, another in the series of event meant to ensure the growth of our athletes.”

He stated the club would do everything possible to sustain the Valentine Day race, which brought together the families of the athletes and members of the club.

“The hope of the present executive is that the people coming behind us will leverage on the Valentine Day race and see it as a good avenue to

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bring our family members to be part of the club’s activities.

Our spouses who wonder what we do at the club have now seen it and we hope to enjoy their support henceforth. The next executive can improve on what we have done.

“The race will also help keep the athletes in shape and know that they must always put in their best, so whatever you have seen today (Friday) is just in furtherance of what we do. God-willing, we can be

part of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and win laurels for the country.

“To also sustain our activities, we need people to join us and supports us by giving us sponsorship to help the country grow the sports of sailing,” he added.

Ajayi also said the club, which houses the Nigeria Rowing, Canoeing and Kayak Federation, would support the growth of water sports in the country.

Niger Tornadoes is one of the teams expected to challenge for promotion to the Premier League. ments of N17, 000 and N14, 000 to N25, 000 and N20, 000 to centre and assistant referees respectively.

“We have agreed that our members will officiate in the NNL season starting on February 15 because they have agreed to increase the indemnities paid to our referees,” Maude said.

And so the league got underway at the different venues across the country at the weekend, with club football starved fans trooping out en masse to see their clubs in action.

Expectedly, home clubs dominated the proceedings with Niger Tornadoes, Kogi United and Mighty Jets recording resounding victories over their opponents in the Match Day One actions.

Jos-based Mighty Jets walloped Spotlight FC of Katsina 3-0, the same score line recorded by Niger Tornadoes against Supreme Court FC, while Kogi United also thrashed

ONSTRUCTION giant, Julius Berger Plc, at the weekend persuaded took top Nigerian players to the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja to raise fund for charity.

The competition, which is the 14th edition of the tourney, described as unique by the organisers, saw former Finance Minister/Central Bank Governor, Adamu Ciroma, leading other prominent members of the golf club, including Rear Admiral Dele Ezeoba (rtd), to battle for honours at the18-hole course, which produced Sam Anyamele as the over all winner.

Speaking at the tee off of the competition on Saturday, Managing Director

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of Julius Berger Plc, Wolfgang Goetsch, said as an established tournament in the calendar of the IBB Golf Club, it features a lot of prominent citizens, who are also prolific in golf and are willing to contribute their quota to charity.

He noted that the construction firm invited the dignitaries to help it raise fund for Abak Orphanage in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, adding, “we have done this in Lagos, AkwaIbom and Rivers States. We reach out to places where we have business as well.”

Goetsch revealed that the tournament also brings friends, clients and colleagues together and provide the avenue for them to reach out to the larger society.

Also speaking at the event, Ciroma and former Chief of

FC shocked Prime FC 1-0 in Omoku, Rivers State in the first game of the season, while COD of Lagos settled for a 1-1 draw with Gateway of Abeokuta.

Although the season kicked off on an exciting note, the NNL already has a case to battle with following the crisis that marred the Jigawa Golden Stars game against Wikki Tourists on Saturday.

NNL Week 1 results FRSC, Abuja 1 Mighty Jets, Jos 3 Sokoto United 0 Kogi United 3 Tornadoes 3

GROUP A Adamawa United 1 Spotlight FC, Katsina 0 Kwara United 0 Ranchers Bees 1 Supreme Court, Abuja 0

C.O.D, Lagos 1 Akwa Starlets 1 Go Round FC 1 Bendel Insurance 1

GROUP B Gateway 1 Ekiti United 0 Prime Oshogbo 0 First Bank 0

Lagos Polo Club wears new look, as teams arrive for 2014 fiesta

By Christian Okpara HE Lagos Polo Club, Ikoyi, T has been put in top condition for the 2014 edition of the international polo fiesta, which features players and teams from across the country and overseas.

All around the club, handlers have been busy tending to their horses as the competition draws near.

Ciroma, Ezeoba thrill fans, as Anyamele wins Julius Berger Charity tourney From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja

Ranchers Bees 3-1 in Lokoja on Saturday.

In Abuja, Federal Road Safety Corps and Adamawa United ended their match 1-1 in Group A. In Group B, Bendel Insurance piped First Bank of Lagos 1-0 in Benin City, but Akwa Starlets recorded the first away win when they beat newly formed Ekiti United 1-0 in Ado Ekiti.

Earlier on Friday, Go Round

Naval Staff, Dele Ezeoba, praised Julius Berger for organizing the annual charity-based competition, stressing that all the proceeds of this year’s edition will be used to support a noble course in the country.

The Lagos International Polo Tournament, which flags off on Wednesday, will see the players raising their mallets in the game of kings in search of honours up till March 2.

The tournament is divided into two weeks where teams will compete for the Dansa Cup and Open Cup in the first week which runs from February 19 to 23.

The Beginners Cup, Oba of Lagos Cup and the Open final will also be decided in the opening week while the second week which runs from February 26-March 2 will see teams battle for the Independence Cup, Beginners Cup, Low Cup, Lagos Governor’s Cup and the prestigious Majekodunmi Cup. The tournament has MTN and GTB as major sponsors, while Veuve Clicquot, Union

Bank, Chapel Hill, UBS, Caverton Group, Dansa Foods Ltd/Dangote, Southern Sun Hotel, Smooth FM, Beat FM, Delaney and Avlon Group are also sponsoring the event, which is about the biggest in the calendar of the Nigeria Polo Federatrion.

The tournament will gallop off with matches between Lagos Bonhams and Lagos Valkyrie in the Stream A of the eight-team Dansa Cup, while Lagos Sao Paolo will confront either Unity Polo or Badboys who will square off in a qualifying match of Stream A of the same cup. The first set of matches in stream a will be concluded when Ibadan A battle Kano Titans/Ibah in game 3 while the day’s schedule of matches will be rounded off by the Stream B clash between Kano Tripple K and Ibadan B.

President, Lagos Polo Club, Habeeb Fasinro, deputy Tournament Manager, Seyi Oyinlola, Secretary, Lagos Polo Club, Lolu Agoro and Event and Sponsorship Manager, MTN, Dola Bamgboye, at the Lagos International Polo Championship pre-tournament press conference… on Friday.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

78 | SPORT Monday, February 17, 2014

European Round-Off

Juventus maintain title charge extended their J12UVENTUS lead at the top of Serie A to points, ahead of Roma’s

Manchester City’s defender, Joleon Lescott (2nd R) scores past Chelsea’s Czech goalkeeper, Petr Cech, but is ruled offside during the English FA Cup fifth round match at The Etihad Stadium in Manchester on Saturday. Manchester City won 2-0.

PHOTO: AFP

FA Cup: City gets another shot at Wigan ANCHESTER City will M take on FA Cup holders, Wigan as the quarter-final draw threw up a re-match of last year’s final.

Former City favourite, Uwe Rosler will take his Latics side to the Etihad Stadium where Manuel Pellegrini’s side saw off Chelsea 2-0 on Saturday, with Wigan hoping to claim another topflight scalp after seeing off Cardiff in the fifth round.

Sunderland boss, Gus Poyet will wait to see if he makes a return to his old stomping ground after his Sunderland side were drawn away to the winners of Monday’s match between his former side, Brighton and Hull.

Wigan beat City 1-0 in last

year’s final thanks to a late header from Ben Watson in what proved Roberto Mancini’s last match in charge of the Manchester club.

Although City fans will be keen for revenge, Rosler can be sure of a rapturous reception at the Etihad, having established himself as a cult figure at Maine Road during a spell that saw him score 64 goals in 176 appearances.

Although Wigan followed up their FA Cup success by suffering relegation, City have already beaten them once this season, a 5-0 Capital One Cup victory before Rosler took charge at the DW Stadium.

Everton away to Arsenal or Liverpool is the only guar-

anteed all-Premier League clash in a draw, which will see at least one Football League club reach a Wembley semi-final.

The Toffees saw off Swansea 3-1 at Goodison Park prior to the draw, but Roberto Martinez - the man who guided Wigan to their famous success last year was slightly disappointed to be drawn away.

“That’s the excitement of the cup,” he told ITV about the potential Merseyside derby.

“Obviously when you reach the sixth round you’re in a fantastic position to get a trip to Wembley and that’s what makes it exciting. The draw has not been too kind in terms of playing away

from home but we will embrace it and look forward to it.”

Although City fans will be keen for revenge, Rosler can be sure of a rapturous reception at the Etihad, having established himself as a cult figure at Maine Road during a spell that saw him score 64 goals in 176 appearances.

Although Wigan followed up their FA Cup success by suffering relegation, City have already beaten them once this season, a 5-0 Capital One Cup victory before Rosler took charge at the DW Stadium.

Everton away to Arsenal or Liverpool is the only guaranteed all-Premier League clash in a draw which will see at least one Football

League club reach a Wembley semi-final.

The Toffees saw off Swansea 3-1 at Goodison Park prior to the draw, but Roberto Martinez - the man who guided Wigan to their famous success last year - was slightly disappointed to be drawn away.

“That’s the excitement of the cup,” he told ITV about the potential Merseyside derby.

“Obviously when you reach the sixth round you’re in a fantastic position to get a trip to Wembley and that’s what makes it exciting. The draw has not been too kind in terms of playing away from home but we will embrace it and look forward to it.”

Mourinho, a boring bully, says Wilson Messi makes history HELSEA boss, Jose C Mourinho is a “bully” engaging in “boring” mind games, former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson has said.

On Friday, Mourinho responded to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s claims that managers were playing down their Premier League chances because they were “afraid to fail” by calling the Frenchman “a specialist in failure.”

“I think at its best it’s disrespectful, at its worst despicable,” former Gunners player and coach Wilson told BBC Radio 5 live. “I find him bor-

ing in the extreme.”

“I think it’s personal,” continued Wilson, who played more than 300 times for Arsenal and twice for Scotland.

“He is a hugely talented, amazing manager but a selfpublicist and it’s mainly inaccurate.

“To say West Ham play 19thCentury football, to give Manchester City boss, Manuel Pellegrini the abuse he has: this is a weekend when we honour a gent - Tom Finney - I don’t like bullies.”

Mourinho has repeatedly played down his side’s title chances, despite their posi-

FIXTURES FA Cup quarter-finals Arsenal v Everton Brighton/Hull v Sunderland Sheffield United/Nottingham Forest v Sheffield Wednesday/Charlton Manchester City v Wigan Matches to be played over the weekend of March 8 and 9.

tion at the top of the league, and has likened the Blues to a “little horse,” not yet ready to be title challengers.

Wenger, who last won a trophy with Arsenal in 2005, said that in ruling Chelsea out of the race, Mourinho was setting up a position from which he could not fail.

Mourinho said, “if he is right and I am afraid of failure it is because I didn’t fail many times. Eight years without silverware, that’s failure.”

Wilson, an ever present in Arsenal’s double winning side of 1970-71, says Wenger has “opened eyes and ears” during 17 and a half years in England and is frustrated by Mourinho’s “dismissive” comments.

“It’s not the first time he has singled Arsene out,” Wilson, 72, told the Sportsweek programme. “A few years ago he called him a voyeur, which is a disgusting claim - albeit thankfully with a belated apology.

Messi moved into LtimeIONEL joint third place in the allPrimera Division scoring charts with a brace as Barcelona warmed up for their Champions League showdown against Manchester City with a comprehensive 6-0 demolition of Rayo Vallecano.

Messi struck in the 36th and 68th minutes of a completely one-sided match at the Nou Camp to move above Alfredo Di Stefano (227) in the record books and level with another Real Madrid legend, Raul, on 228 La Liga goals.

At just 26 years old it now seems only a matter of time before the prolific Messi claims the outright record, which is the 251 goals scored by former Athletic Bilbao star, Telmo Zarra.

Hugo Sanchez is second on the list and next in Messi’s sights with 234 goals for Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Rayo.

Rayo must be wishing they

could still call on the Mexico ace as they battle to avoid relegation from the top flight this season, but even he would have been powerless to prevent the Madrid outfit from being swept aside by brilliant Barca.

Messi

clash with Sampdoria, thanks to a 3-1 win over Chievo.

Kwadwo Asamoah and Claudio Marchisio gave the Bianconeri a comfortable lead at the break, but a bizarre own goal from Martin Caceres gave the visitors hope.

Fernando Llorente settled Juve’s nerves, however, to ensure a return to winning ways after a draw at Hellas Verona.

Napoli kept the pressure on second-placed Roma thanks to their third win in a week wtih a 2-0 victory at Sassuolo.

Blerim Dzemaili and Lorenzo Insigne scored the goals for Rafael Benitez’s men, who beat AC Milan 3-1 and Roma 3-0 over the past seven days and appear to have hit form ahead of their trip to Swansea in the Europa League on Thursday.

Sassuolo tried to find a route back into the game while Gonzalo Higuain left the field with an injury, giving Benitez some cause for concern, despite Napoli’s latest victory.

Atalanta’s solid home record in Serie A was put to the sword by a rampant Parma side who struck three times inside the final 15 minutes en route to an impressive 4-0 win.

The hosts had only lost twice at the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia stadium this season and went into Sunday’s match eyeing a third straight win on their own patch.

Yet in Parma they met a side in sterling form and riding an unbeaten sequence dating back to November 2, and their confidence told as strikes by Cristian Molinaro, Antonio Cassano and Ezequiel Schelotto, plus a Yohan Benalouane own goal, saw them to the three points.

Livorno climbed out of the Serie A relegation zone on Sunday afternoon thanks to a 2-1 victory at fellow strugglers Cagliari in a game, which saw three men sent off.

The Tuscan side headed to Sardinia third from bottom in the standings and seven points behind their hosts, but took control of the game courtesy of Emerson’s opener and a Paulinho penalty either side of the break.

Nene pulled one back for Cagliari after 64 minutes, but their hopes of equalising suffered a blow seven minutes later when Daniele Conti saw red for foul and abusive language.

The visitors finished the match even further reduced in numbers following the late dismissals of Federico Ceccherini and Marco Benassi, but held on for the three points.

Lazio suffered their first defeat in six games and their first under coach Edy Reja as they went down to a surprise 3-1 defeat away to Catania.

The relegation-threatened Sicilian outfit ended a run of three straight draws to ease the pressure on coach Rolando Maran.

SPORT Monday, February 17, 2014 | 79

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Bubka’s pole vault world record broken That’s fantastic. It’s history and I’m very happy that Renaud does it here, in Donetsk, my town

Helmet camera worsened Schumacher’s injuries, investigators say LMOST two months after a A skiing accident caused him to be put into a medically induced coma, Michael Schumacher’s friends are still at a loss to explain the lifechanging consequences of the seemingly innocuous accident.

Schumacher, 45, an experienced skier, was travelling at a moderate speed when he fell and hit a rock. His skis were new; his bindings have been subsequently tested and were not at fault; he was fully in control of his movements as he left the marked pistes and traversed the patch of snow in between two groomed runs in Meribel.

But now investigators believe they have found a reason for the seriousness of the injuries caused by the crash in the French Alps. They suspect his helmet camera could have worsened the blow, causing the helmet to shatter into pieces.

Experts from Ensa, the world-renowned ski and climbing academy in the French ski resort of Chamonix, have conducted tests to determine whether a solid object on a helmet hitting a rock could weaken the helmet’s structure.

Schumacher’s helmet smashed, but the camera he had attached to it to record himself and his son skiing was undamaged. The footage, audio and visual, has provided police with crucial information.

“The helmet completely broke. It was in at least two parts. Ensa analysed the piece of the helmet to check the material, and all was okay,” said a source close to the investigation.

“But why did it explode on impact? Here the camera comes into question. The laboratory has been testing to see if the camera weakened the structure.”

Patrick Quincy, the prosecutor in charge of the investigation into the accident, is expected to make an announcement today.

He is expected to clear the ski resort of any involvement and conclude that the manufacturers of Schumacher’s ski equipment were not liable.

Schumacher remains in

Schumacher

intensive care as doctors try to ease him out of an artificially induced coma. He had been skiing on the piste with his son and family friends.

But shortly after 11am he “deliberately” skied on an offpiste stretch located in between two runs “with a number of dangers, notable rocks,” according to investigators.

It was here, no more than 6m from the piste, that he struck a partially covered rock and then catapulted on to another, crashing his head with such force that his helmet split in two.

Lawyers had argued that managers of the ski resort might face up to three years in prison because the dangers lurking within the offpiste section were not properly marked.

The resort, in response, hired a top lawyer, Maurice Bodecher, who is a specialist in ski and criminal law and was until 2010 the head lawyer for the French Ski Federation.

But, presenting initial findings 10 days into the investigation, the Police chief, Stephane Bozon said, “the piste markers conformed to the regulations.

Unfortunately, this off-piste area had a number of dangers, notably the rocks being only barely visible, covered with five to 10cm of snow.”

Mr. Quincy, a former policeman who has been the prosecutor at Albertville since 2009, added that all safety procedures by mountain authorities “had been respected”.

LYMPIC champion O Renaud Lavillenie has broken Sergey Bubka’s 21-

Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych returns the ball to Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis during their men’s singles tennis match at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, PHOTO: AFP

Berdych ends wait, wins ABN Amro tournament

By Eno-Abasi Sunday OMAS Berdych won his first ATP tournament title since October 2012, beating Marin Cilic of Croatia 6-4, 6-2 yesterday in the ABN Amro final.

“After such a long time of waiting and not having one, this is a great moment for me,” the third-seeded Czech said.

The match appeared to turn in the in the second game of the first set, on the Berdych serve, when Cilic had three breakpoints.

With the game at deuce,

T

Berdych appeared to have won a long rally, but Cilic complained that the ball had been damaged during play.

The umpire agreed and instructed the point to be played over. A relaxed Berdych was able to make light of the situation and went on to win the game “I think that was the key to the match,” Berdych said afterward.

He broke Cilic in the following game as the Croat hit two consecutive returns into the net.

In the second set, Berdych’s serve was becoming an increasingly potent weapon and his play became increasingly confident, prompting Cilic to throw his racket into the air in frustration after one lost point.

“It was a tough one, even if it

doesn’t look like it from the score,” Berdych said. “I mean Marin is playing really well, his game is really on top the last couple of weeks.”

Cilic came into the match having won the PBZ indoor tournament last week in Zagreb and ousted two top-10 players in Rotterdam - JoWilfried Tsonga and Andy Murray - on his way to the final.

Nadal hopes back problem gone for good T an audience with the A media in Rio, Brazil over the weekend, Rafael Nadal among other topics discussed wished the back he cupped during a loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the Australian Open final last month goes away finally.

“I spent some days resting at home and I hope my back injury is not going to be a problem to reach the final,” said Nadal, who admitted before he left his back still was not at 100 per cent.

“I felt the back issue for the first time when I was warming up for the final. I can’t predict the future, but I hope it is not a critical problem.”

The new Rio event marks the third time Nadal has played in Brazil after winning titles in both Costa do Sauipe in 2005 and in Sao Paulo last year.

“Every time I compete here

in Brazil I have good feelings.

I have a good connection to the fans, it is always special to play here.”

But there’s a big tournament in Rio in 2016 called the Olympics.

“Two and a half years is a long time, it is difficult to predict, but my motivation, my idea, is to try to be competitive here in Brazil in the Olympic Games,” said Nadal. “The fact I didn’t play in London is an extra motivation for me.

“I competed in Beijing and won, that was a good feeling.

In 2016 I hope I will be ready for that again.”

Nadal opens plays tomorrow night against countryman Daniel Gimeno-Traver.

Rafa could face Tommy Robredo in the semis. David Ferrer, Nicolas Almagro and Fabio Fognini are on the other half of the draw.

Nadal

year-old pole vault world record with a 6.16m leap in the Ukrainian’s home city of Donetsk.

The Frenchman, 27, cleared the height on his first attempt to go one centimetre higher than the record Bubka set indoors in February 1993.

Former Olympic champion Bubka also held the world outdoor record of 6.14m, achieved in Italy in 1994.

Marks set indoors or out are accepted as world records in the pole vault.

Lavillenie wrote on Twitter: “World record! 6.16 at my first attempt! That’s incredible.

I’m still in the air.”

Bubka was a pioneer of the sport, becoming the first man to clear 6.00m, and was in Donetsk to witness Lavillenie eclipse his record.

The six-time outdoor world champion broke the men’s pole vault world record 35 times during his career, 17 times outdoors and 18 indoors.

Bubka walked onto the track to congratulate Lavillenie and later said, “that’s fantastic. It’s history and I’m very happy that Renaud does it here, in Donetsk, my town.

“I’m happy because my job is to help athletes perform.

Athletics is my life. I’m pleased for him and for athletics.”

Lavillenie, whose best outdoors is 6.02m, described his achievement as “completely unbelievable.”

He told French news channel BFM TV: “I will need time to get back down on earth. It was a mythical record. I knew I had the potential to try it but (to) beat it so early, that’s something else.

“I did not know what was happening to me. The sound was crazy. These are huge emotions. I am in a new dimension.”

Luke Cutts’ fine start to the season continued as the British record holder cleared 5.81m to finish second in Ukraine.

TheGuardian

Monday, February 17, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Femi Famure IGERIA is a country flowing with milk and N honey and blessed with abundant natural and human resources. On the contrary, however, the abundance of these resources has not really translated into a better life for the entire citizenry. The problems of the country are multifaceted and multidimensional, from anomalous founding philosophies to unconcerned leaders and dishonest followers, policy somersault and, even in some cases, negative spiritual influences. Narrowing the issues to the foundational point of view, there is the need to look at our founding philosophies, most especially the necessary national apparatus, which speaks volume of our heritage – the coat of arms, the national flag and the national anthem.

The Nigerian national flag and the coat of arms are governed by the national flag and coat of arms ordinance No. 48 of 1960 and remain the symbol of authority and instrument of state power. However, let’s take a cursory look at the image of the nation. On the coat of arms, the eagle (red in colour) is said to symbolize strength, while the horses represent dignity.

Without being patriotically biased, what comes to mind is this, is the eagle stronger than the sky flying eagle? Is the land-treading horse more dignified than the sky flying eagle? I see no reason why the senior male football team should be identified as green (super) eagles when the eagle on the coat of arms (national image) is painted red. The same applies to the male basketball team called D-tigers, which should appropriately be named D-stallions to represent the horse on the coat of arms.

The two wavy bands, which are silvery in colour on the shield, represent the rivers Niger and Benue and their confluence. I want to believe both rivers are water bodies and based on my little knowledge of cartography, the two wavy bands should be painted in blue, which natural-

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Irony of Nigerian national symbols ly represents water bodies. Since the shield is black and represents the good fertile earth (soil), which is logical, then why paint the water body in a silvery colour? This, to me, is “artistic suicide,” An anthem, they say, is a national hymn, which portrays the country’s past status, present locus and future focus. In other words, the anthem is a song that reflects where we were, where we are and where we are going. Hence the national hymn, if not rightly composed, may not be seen as an anthem but an anathema, because it should be a guiding compass towards the actualization of our national goals.

The anthem says, “Arise, O compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey.” This is a clarion call to those asleep. Despite the fact that we have gained freedom from colonial powers, we still find ourselves in a state of psychological bondage, hav-

ing the mentality of a slave despite being free.

That is why leaders will steal what belongs to the country, which is supposed to be used for the betterment of all and sundry. The “The labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain” line shows the fears of our founding father that a time might come when the labour of heroes past will be forgotten, their family abandoned, and their philosophy jettisoned. Are we not witnessing this today?

Our unity is threatened day by day and may disappear once our peace is shattered. The same also applies to the second stanza. The second line says: “Guide thou our leaders right, help our youths the truth to know.” Suffice it to say that it would have been better if it were the other way round –help our youths to know the truth they know, because ignorant youths will end up as leaders that will be guided alright as a result of

the truth they know, because ignorant youths will naturally end up as recalcitrant leaders. The foundational truth surely should be the future compass.

The truth is that if our youth and leaders did grow in love and honesty, there would not be cult killings, internet fraud, gross embezzlement of funds, monetary diversion, etc. All the dishonesty and lack of love that we see around us are debarring us from attaining the lofty heights. The last line equally indicates another fear our fathers had, namely that in Nigeria, will justice reign? We have cases of extra-judicial killings, money laundering, mass looting, and election rigging swept under the carpet. The second line of the first stanza says to serve our fatherland, while the latter end of the pledge says to defend our unity and uphold her honour and glory. What comes to mind is, is Nigeria a he or she? Just wondering, is this our fatherland or motherland?

Even if we cannot directly connect our present political quagmire to the literary anomaly of the anthem, one thing is sure: the impact of incompetent governance in this country is gradually turning Nigeria to a – no-go-area, a country where anything goes, a geographical and social misnomer, the only country divided into three by water bodies, which forms the letter Y. We have 14 states named after water bodies yet we lack portable water supply (why?), with a landmass of 923,700 km2; an approximate population of 170 million, which naturally translate to 5km2 of arable land per Nigerian, yet there is poverty in the land.

Nigeria is a country more populous than the other West African countries put together yet we are in lack of good and responsive leaders.

South-Western Nigeria has the highest number of football academics in the country but there are no players of Yoruba extraction in the Super Eagles and Super Falcons’ starting 11.

• Famure, 08062317515.

The ethical imperative in governance and development in Nigeria (1)

By Omobolade Olutade “Nature provides for everybody’s needs, but not for everybody’s greed”- Mahatma Gandhi TTAINING development is not automatic.

There are prerequisites for economic growth.

In whatever perspective it is conceptualized, either as a process or a state of affair, development follows certain criteria. Development is not only inconceivable in an environment of disorder but impossible where ethical rules are trampled even with impunity. Sustainable development is embedded in good governance, which is enamored in good ethical conduct.

Basically, the two major factors that determine economic growth are good geography and strong institutions. Countries like Canada, USA, Sweden, England and others are prosperous because of their good geographical features such as accessibility to the seas, good climate and arable land for agriculture. However, it is not good geography per se that determines prosperity, but good institutions. For instance, Botswana, a landlocked country, is evidently not much endowed by nature but amongst the most virile nations due to good institutions while Nigeria with abundant resources is struggling with poverty. Thus, Nigeria’s under-development is grounded in bad governance and weak institutions arising from, basically, low ethical practice.

Nigeria’s need to satisfy the ethical criterion, which is a critical condition of development serve as impetus for this short article.

Ethics, Good Governance and Strong Institutions Ethics are sets of rules and conventions that guide people’s conduct in any given environment – which might be an organization, institution or society.

Good governance is the harmonious and transparent working of the processes of decision making. Good governance ensures that corruption is minimized and transparency enthroned in decision-making.

Institutions are structures, which serve as the vehicles for moderating the processes and impacts of governance. Institutions are not only the physical structures such as the parliament

A

buildings or supreme courts, but also embody the laws, habits, conventions and tacit rules in a society. These habits or conventions, otherwise called ethics, to a large extent, determine the virility of institutions. Thus, a strong institution is that in which set down rules are abided by.

Institutions are products of people’s thoughts and world-view refined by their value system. In fact, institutions cannot be fairer than people’s ethical outlook. The ethical contents of an institution are obvious and can be likened to software that drives computer hardware. A well-packaged computer hardware installed with bad software is useless, perhaps only good as a toy for children.

Succinctly, the integrity of a people and their institutions is determined by their ethical constitution.

Ethical principles, being expressions of moral values, are major drivers of institutional change.

For instance, recently, the resentments of military rules resulted in certain institutional change and deepening of democratic structures in Africa. Hence, as values are not morally neutral, the institutional change can only be evaluated in terms of its ethical impact. Good governance and qualitative institutions, as basic attributes of sus-

tainable development, are impossible where ethics are put in abeyance. Invariably, no country can aspire to greatness on a platter of low ethical stance.

Although some theorists like Adams Smith submit that the economy ought to operate by its own rules and not according to moral considerations. This value-free-economic-agent perspective fails to note that the economy cannot run solely on economic laws but also men who are moral beings. This is why Pope Benedict XVI observed that“…an undisciplined economy would collapse by its own rules”.

Nigeria’s performance in terms of good governance and development of qualitative institutions vis-à-vis other countries is pathetic.

According to the 2012/2013 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index report, Nigeria ranks near the bottom half of lower middle-income countries in most dimensions. For instance, compared to 96 other countries ranked in the report, Nigeria’s executive branch is quite weak (ranking74th). The performance of the criminal justice system is appalling (ranked 94th) as the country is contending with crime, civil conflict and political violence.

The YOUTHSPEAK Column which is published daily is an initiative of THE GUARDIAN, and powered by RISE NETWORKS, Nigeria’s Leading Youth Development Centre, as a substantial advocacy platform available for ALL Nigerian Youth to engage Leadership at all levels, engage Society and contribute to National Discourse on diverse issues especially those that are peculiar to Nigeria. Regarding submission of articles, we welcome writers‘ contributions by way of well crafted, analytical and thought provoking opinion pieces that are concise, topical and non-defamatory! All articles (which are not expected to be more than 2000 words) should be sent to editorial@risenetworks.org To read the online Version of this same article plus past publications and to find out more about Youth Speak, please visit www.risenetworks.org/youthspeak and join the ongoing National Conversations’’.

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Comparably, most countries high on the scale of good institutions are also high on Human development index (HDI) and good governance. In Africa, which is the region that is ranked lowest in terms of HDI, Nigeria is ranked 26th, which is below the sub-Sahara regional average.

Compared to Botswana, Nigeria does not fare well. As at 2012, Botswana’s HDI ranked 119th while Nigeria was 153rd out of 187 countries with comparable data. Botswana, in the Sub-Sahara, ranks first in all aspects of the rule of law except one. It has an effective system of checks and balances, an independent judiciary, a free press and corruption is nominal. All arms of government run effectively and fundamental rights are normally respected. Conversely, Nigeria is high on corruption. On the global Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2012, Nigeria is ranked 139th in the world while Botswana is 30th. Also on the index of Morality, Conscience and Good life, which is the combination of various developmental indicators, rating countries according to their development impacts in the world, Nigeria stands as number 172nd while Botswana is 111th out of the 190 countries graded.

The foregoing indicates a positive relationship between ethics, qualitative institutions and economic growth. Attempts at growth without regard for ethics are wasted while development projections are as such reduced to mere quixotic endeavours, beautiful deceptions, pure sophistries and sumptuous nothingness fed to fuel the masses gullibility. Amartya Sen, the welfare economist and novelist, in his book: On Ethics and Economics, rightly claimed that “… economics could be substantially enriched by paying more attention to ethics”. So when the economic environment of a people is navigated with the Machiavellian notion of ‘the ends justifying the means’, then the country has become nothing but a Hobbesian state of nature, where life is “ solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and, short”. This has been the case in Nigeria, where the people are poor, their lifespan is short (below global average) and they command no respect within and without.

TO BE CONCLUDED • Olutade, olutadejapheth@yahoo.com