Thu 20 Feb 2014

TheGuardian Scores killed in fresh attacks on Borno Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,838

From Njadvara Musa, (Maiduguri) and Joseph Wantu (Makurdi) FRESH wave of violence swept through Borno State yesterday, leaving scores of residents dead.

The perpetrators of the mayhem who were in 56 Toyota Hilux and pickup trucks and motorcycles attacked Bama town and destroyed many houses and 16 vehicles in the early hours of Wednesday.

According to an eyewitness,

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• Gunmen in 56 vehicles destroy houses, others • Suswam wants govt to stop Fulani herdsmen’s invasion Ba Modu Bulama, the gunmen came in various vehicles with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petrolbombs in the morning and started shooting sporadically at houses, while chanting “God is great” in Arabic lan-

guage for over six hours.

Meanwhile, disturbed at the incessant invasion of Benue villages by suspected Fulani herdsmen, Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, has appealed to the Federal Government to urgently address

the crisis before it degenerates to a full scale tribal war.

The eyewitness said the insurgents who were around 150 continued to attack and shoot at any house right from the Shehu’s palace down to the motor park. He disclosed

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that at least 15 vehicles and the market by the park were set ablaze.

“Most of us were sleeping when the Boko Haram gunmen attacked; some of my neighbours were slain in their houses by slitting their

throats after tying their hands to the backs. Some of the women and children cried for help, but were also killed in the early hours today (Wednesday).

“Seven of my neighbours and their children scaled the walls and fled into the bush through the Tandari route for safety. But I can tell you that the number of people killed in CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Lagos State Governor/Chief Guest of Honour, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) (middle); Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu 1 (second right); author of the books, The Life of James Pinson Labulo Davies, A Colossus of Victorian Lagos and Worthy in Character and Learning, Prof. Adeyemo Elebute (right); his wife, Oyinade (second left); and former Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc/Chairman of the occasion, Fola Adeola (left), during public presentation of the books at the Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos… yesterday.

Mark orders panel to quicken work on PIB From Bridget Chiedu Onochie and Adamu Abuh, Abuja ENATE President David StheMark yesterday mandated Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) to accelerate work on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). He also ordered a probe into the Malabu oil deal.

This followed a point of order raised by Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (Ekiti North) on the unnecessary delay in the

• Orders probe into Malabu oil deal • ‘How Yar’Adua’s order on kerosene was ignored passage of the PIB and the need to investigate circumstances surrounding the Mal-

abu oil deal.

The Senate had referred the PIB to its Committee on Petro-

leum (Upstream) since March last year for further legislative actions and subsequently

mandated the same committee to carry out an investigation into the Malabu oil deal in July.

In the point of order, Adetunmbi told the Senate that he was at a function where the issues of the PIB and Malabu oil

• Senate okays National Health Bill - Page 5 • Court voids appointment of Agumagu as Rivers Acting CJ - Page 6

deal were raised. According to him, he was surprised by the reason given for the delay in the passage of the bill.

He noted that participants at the function insisted that the massive corruption in the country’s oil sector was as a result of the non-passage of the PIB and that the passage would stop this development.

“On coming back from the conference, I had to check my CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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‘How Yar’Adua’s order on kerosene was ignored CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

records and I found out that the Petroleum Industry Bill, after its debate, was committed to the appropriate committee on Thursday, March 7, 2013.

“It will be one year next month and as it stands, nothing seems to be going on the bill. The Malabu oil probe was committed to relevant committee in July 2013 about seven months ago.

“It may interest this Senate to know that an international extractive agency advocacy group wrote a letter on July 6, 2013 to the Italian and The Netherland governments requesting a public investigation into the role companies from both countries played as part of public accountability in the two countries.

“The same letter was written to the European Union (EU).

The Italian, The Netherlands and EU parliaments are about concluding a public investigation and the outcome of the investigation would be made public very soon.

“I think as senators, it is a privilege that we should know what is going on so that the reputation of this parliament is not called to question.

“This is because I fear a situation where while the report of European parliaments is on issues that affect our economy and our own parliament, the apex parliament in Nigeria, is seen not to do what it is supposed to do one year after.

“That is why I think it is my privilege as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to

receive an explanation from this Senate so that if I find myself in the public arena I will be able to speak intelligently and not to be subjected to the kind of embarrassment that I suffered a couple of days ago”, Adetunmbi said.

In his response, Mark sustained the point of order and mandated relevant committees to take immediate steps to ensure work was concluded on the two issues raised by Adetunmbi.

Meanwhile, more light was shed yesterday on why a directive by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on kerosene was not adhered to strictly.

The directive issued in 2009 which scared marketers of petroleum products away from the business of importing kerosene stopped any form of payment of subsidy to importers of petroleum products.

However, as soon as the presidential memorandum reached officials of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), a Principal Secretary to Yar’Adua issued a counter-order instructing the officials not to “make it public.”

As a result, both the Petroleum Ministry and the NNPC officials were left with no option but to sustain the subsidy on the importation of kerosene.

The General Manager of the Petroleum Product Marketing Company (PPMC), Mr. Haruna Momoh, who disclosed this while testifying before members of the House Committee

on Petroleum (Downstream), explained that the NNPC was left with no option but to import kerosene in the interest of the nation.

The PPMC boss, who was asked questions for several hours on salient issues relating to the supply, distribution and payment of the subsidy on kerosene, restated the position of the Group Managing Director of the NNPC: “The NNPC was copied that memo but that memo had a caveat from the principal secretary and it was to the effect that no pronouncement should be made. Now, you have the provisions of the law because the Petroleum Act says that for any price adjustment of petroleum products to be effective, it has to be gazetted by the minister of petroleum resources.

“Now, if the President issued a policy directive to the effect that subsidy should be withdrawn then at the same time we have the principal secretary to the President in the same letter directing the minister of petroleum resources not to make the announcement, which unfortunately is contrary to the provisions of the Petroleum Act, what then do you do in the circumstances?”

Momoh, who asserted that the issue of payment of subsidy money relating to the importation of kerosene was not within the domain of the PPMC, noted: “As a national oil company and supplier of last resort and if I have to make reference to the 2009 directive to the then minister of finance to

a committee that was set up by the President to look into the issue for deliberation of the petroleum downstream sector, the PPPRA was instructed to issue letters of allocations for PMS to marketers.

“The NNPC as the national oil company and supplier of last resort was directed to ensure that the country was ‘wet’ with kerosene in the meantime. Yes, that directive was given, yes, there was the issue of gazetting, yes, they were asked to delay the implementation of that directive. And I asked the question in the midst of that confusion, should the NNPC have gone ahead, because they would not recover the subsidy, to stop the importation of kerosene with its attendant social consequences?

“In my view, not as managing director of PPMC, but as a bonafide citizen of Nigeria, I think it would have been most irresponsible on the part of NNPC not to have continued to bring in kerosene while awaiting further clarification from the Presidency as to the implementation of the policy directive vis-a-visthe issue of the law.

It doesn’t work that way. You say I should remove subsidy and at the same time, you say I shouldn’t make it public.”

When members of the Dakuku Peterside-led committee asked Momoh, who is a lawyer by training, to comment on the appropriateness of the action by the principal secretary, he declined, retorting: “With profound respect, I will not like to delve into those presidential matters.”

A cross section of anti-government protesters during their clash with the police on Kiev’s Independence Square, Ukraine… yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

Gunmen in 56 vehicles destroy houses, others CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 this co-ordinated dawn attacks is high. It is in the evening today or tomorrow that the exact number of casualties could be ascertained by soldiers and police for burial,” he said.

He said the entire old Bama houses, shops and the motor park were destroyed in yesterday’s attacks that lasted for over six hours.

“The surviving residents fled towards Maiduguri and Gwoza roads for safety; and eventually some of them took refuge at Ngurosoye, 10 kilometres from the town.

The Borno Police Commissioner, Tanko Lawal, in a short message to The Guardian also confirmed yesterday’s multiple attacks.

Lawal said: “I am aware of the attacks, but waiting for details from the officers on ground; since operation is still going on please.”

Senator Ahmed Zannah, rep-

resenting Borno Central Senatorial District in a telephone interview yesterday said that the attacks on Bama in Borno State had claimed the lives of several residents, including women and children in their houses.

Speaking on how Bama was attacked and the casualty level, Zannah said: “The reports that I have been receiving from some of the surviving residents indicated that the old Bama has been completely razed down by suspected insurgents right from Shehu of Bama’s palace down to the junction, the barracks and hospital at the northern part of the township. Several people were killed in their houses, by either the insurgents’ bullets or slitting their throats, after tying their hands to their backs.”

Asked on how many people were killed, he said: “I cannot tell you the exact number of people killed in today’s at-

tacks in Bama, but it is certain that two personalities that I know were also slain in their houses today. The other reports I received this afternoon indicated that many other residents were also slain either in their houses or mosques praying. The surviving residents fled into various directions for safety in the morning, while some of the houses and the motor park are still burning.

“What Governor Kashim Shettima was saying on the capacity of the military and Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, was true; and I do not doubt the governor’s verdict on this insurgency in the state and the North-East subregion of this country.”

Speaking with newsmen at the Government House yesterday, Suswam lamented that the Fulani mercenaries have continued to wreck havoc on his people despite several efforts by his

administration to foster peace with the herdsmen.

He noted that the average Fulani man now goes about with AK47, and that if the situation is not quickly addressed, indigenes might be forced to defend themselves.

“Yesterday morning, Fulanis numbering over 700 attacked and destroyed the Tor Tiv’s village house. For them to have targeted the Tor Tiv’s house is an affront and totally unacceptable,” he said. “I have been trying since yesterday to control the situation because emotions have risen.”

Consequently, “our people have congenially been displaced from their homes by these Fulani herders on a daily basis. Some of our children have not been to school in the last two years because they have been displaced. If the situation is not quickly addressed, I fear that it may result into a tribal war soon.”

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NEWS Thursday, February 20, 2014

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West Africa, EU reach trade deal

By Oghogho Obayuwana (Foreign Affairs Editor) FTER over a decade of neA gotiations, West Africa has at last reached a compromise on an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU).

The trade pact is meant to provide 16 West African countries with long-term access to the European market without being subjected to tariffs or quotas.

The 16 African countries include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo and Mauritania. Of the lot, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire are already op-

erating an interim EPA. Both sides had been at odds over the EPA Development Programme (EPADP) under which the region was asking for €16 billion in new funds to cope with the cost of adjustment to the impending trade regime. However, the EU had insisted that the programme be funded from existing bilateral and multilateral contributions.

The West African region is the EU’s most important trade partner in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) region, accounting for 40 per cent of all trade between the EU and the ACP, with Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria accounting for 80 per cent of the exports to the EU. The two sides had reached a deal at the senior official

level last month but got to the chief negotiators’ level last week. Sources at the ongoing negotiations table disclosed to The Guardian that political endorsement was still needed. Along with being initialed and signed, both sides will have to ratify the deal in their respective legislatures.

In the days preceding the agreement, EU Trade Commissioner, Karel De Gucht, met with Senegalese President, Macky Sall, and Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) President, Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo, as well as other high-level politicians in an effort to clear up outstanding issues.

As has become common knowledge in the media, the

goal of EPAs is to provide for trade reciprocity, promote sustainable development and advance regional integration by encouraging ACP countries to enter negotiations with the EU in regional groupings rather than individually.

Negotiations for these agreements began over a decade ago. However, only the Caribbean and four African countries – Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles and Zimbabwe – have finalised their EPAs so far.

The slow pace of the negotiations has long been a source of tension between the EU and African countries. In an effort to speed up the talks, the European Commission announced in September 2011 that it would be impos-

ing October 1, 2014, for the withdrawal of market access regulation captured as “MAR 1528” – which currently provides duty-free, quota-free market access to ACP countries.

According to Brussels, this deadline was meant to give these countries added incentive to conclude regional EPAs and start implementing their existing ones.

Should the developing countries not ratify an EPA by this new deadline, they could potentially lose their free access to the European market.

And with the October deadline fast approaching, trade and development ministers from five EU member-states – Denmark, France, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom – recently

asked the European Commission to show more flexibility in its EPA negotiations.

The December 5 letter, addressed to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, EU Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, and EU Trade Commissioner, Karel de Gucht, also raised concerns regarding “the current situation” involving the interim EPA ratification deadline, given that “regional EPA negotiations continue to face significant difficulties.”

However, by yesterday, the news that negotiators had finalised the EU-ECOWAS EPA was unexpected. Integration experts have all along been wary of the emerging challenges over the years.

Reps ask Edo Attorney General to take over, speed up Oyerinde’s murder case From Terhemba Daka, Abuja HE House of RepresentaT tives yesterday mandated the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, to ensure that the Attorney General of Edo State takes over and facilitates the prosecution of suspects in the murder of former Principal Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde.

This follows revelations in the report on investigative public hearing carried out on the matter by the House Committee on Public Petitions.

The House also tasked the IGP to harmonise all perceived areas of conflict in the separate investigations carried out by the police and the State Security Service (SSS), based on quality of evidence.

It should also transmit the case file to the state Attorney General for subsequent prosecution of all the arrested suspects. The police authorities were further directed to ensure that in future, governors, as chief security officers of their respective states, are given regular briefings in matters of serious crimes and eventual breakthroughs.

The police and SSS presented conflicting reports on the murder investigation, which prompted Oshiomhole to accuse the police of deliberate cover-up.

Adopting the committee’s report, the House also urged the IGP to critically investigate the alleged complicity of

the Divisional Police Officer of Esigie Station in the documentation of the recovered locally-made single barrel gun because of manifest inconsistencies in both the extracts from crime diary and the exhibit register.

In his synopsis of the panel’s findings before its adoption on the floor yesterday, Chairman of the Committee, Uzo Azubuike, disclosed that further complications were introduced by the police when a firearm allegedly recovered from one of the suspects was registered against a man named by the SSS in the murder, but was said to have been in police custody before Oyerinde’s murder.

He said the committee approached the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation for intervention but the office was confounded over which investigation report (between the police and the SSS’) to stand on.

Again, AGF stalls Oyinlola’s suit against MTN From Lemmy Ughegbe, Abuja EARING in the suit filed H

by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola against some directors with telecommunications service provider, MTN, over alleged perjury and suppression of evidence, stalled yesterday as the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Justice Minister claimed not to

Ekiti to conduct council poll December From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti OVERNOR Kayode Fayemi G of Ekiti State, whose first tenure ends on October 16, has assured that his administration would conduct council polls in December this year.

Speaking yesterday during the swearing in of new caretakers for the 16 local councils, he also threatened to sack any caretaker chairman who fails to meet the expectations of grassroots people.

Fayemi disclosed that his administration spent over N600 million on several grassroots developmental programmes last year, and

Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III (left) and Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, during a courtesy visit to the monarch in his place… yesterday.

that he would consolidate on it by conducting the council election before the year ends.

He applauded party members for their large turnout during the just concluded nationwide membership registration of the All Progressives Congress, saying it confirmed their commitment to change in the Nigerian polity.

The governor also thanked the former caretaker chairmen for their contributions to the development of the rural dwellers, just as he urged the new chairpersons to bring their experiences to bear in driving development at the grassroots level.

have been served with the affidavit.

In the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, the former governor of Osun State, Oyinlola, is seeking an order of mandamus compelling the AGF to institute criminal proceedings against the defendants.

For the second time, however, hearing in the suit stalled at the instance of the AGF. When the matter came up yesterday, counsel for Oyinlola, Adebisi Raimi, told the court that he had filed a better and further affidavit, which has been served on the AGF and MTN. However, Raimi’s attempt to argue the application was halted by counsel to the AGF, C.A Ehedu, who said the AGF had not been served with it. Upon Raimi’s insistence that the process had been served and that an acknowledgment copy was in the court’s file, Justice Adeniyi Ademola checked and found the acknowledged copy filed.

At that instance, Ehedu prayed for an adjournment in other to respond and Justice Ademola, in the interest of justice, adjourned till

It will be recalled that Oyinlola had also alleged perjury against an official of MTN, Rotimi Odusola. In a petition to the Inspector General of Police, he alleged that Odusola consciously and deliberately misled the National Judicial Council (NJC) when he appeared before its special investigative panel to testify March for continuation of hearing. Nevertheless, he gave the AGF five days to respond to the applicant’s process.

It will be recalled that Oyinlola had also alleged perjury against an official of MTN, Rotimi Odusola. In a petition to the Inspector General of Police, he alleged that Odusola consciously and deliberately misled the National Judicial Council (NJC) when he appeared before its special investigative panel to testify.

This he achieved, according to Oyinlola, by denying the release from his department call data records that spanned a period of five months.

He further alleged that Odusola went ahead to commit perjury by deposing in his witness statement on oath to the effect that

MTN’s capacity to store and generate call detail history is limited to three months.

This was even as the call data records in question were earlier released to Area G Command, Ogba, Lagos.

In his suit, Oyinlola is praying the court for an order of mandamus compelling the first respondent to prosecute the second respondent and its directors by instituting and undertaking criminal proceedings against them for attempting to suppress evidence.

In his argument, Raimi submitted that consequent upon the corporate, ethical and professional misconduct of the second respondent before the National Judicial Council (NJC) Special Investigative Panel set up in 2011, which affected negatively the interest of the applicant, the applicant

on March 15, 2012 forwarded a petition to the Minister of Police Affairs and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) over the aforementioned misconduct of the second respondent.

He further argued that the IGP charged a special task force to investigate the matter and on February 8, 2013, a police report on the matter was released by “X” Squad Section of the “D” Department (FCID), Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The aforementioned report, he said, recommended that the second respondent be prosecuted for an attempt to suppress evidence, adding that the entire case file together with the police report has been transferred by the Force Headquarters to the Office of the AGF for necessary legal actions.

However, the plaintiff submitted, among others, that till date, the office of the AGF has refused, failed or neglected to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against the second respondent and its directors despite several demands to do so by the applicant.

Thursday, February 20, 2014 NEWS

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News Govt releases N200b for capital expenditure HE Federal Ministry of FiT nance has released the sum of N200 billion for the execution of various capital projects.

This is the first release of capital expenditure for the year and will be followed by others.

According to the Special Adviser to the Coordinating Minister and Minister of Finance, Paul C. Nwabuikwu, “the release signposts the determination of the Federal Government to ensure that clear and measurable progress is achieved in the execution of capital projects.”

Police caution Osun politicians against lawlessness Founder Chris Ogunbanjo Foundation, Chief Chris Ogunbanjo (left); guest speaker, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Michael Omolayole and President, Rotary Club of Lagos, Kehinde Ayo-Kasumu during the 2014 World Understanding Day lecture with the theme “Peace and Conflict Resolution,” organized by Rotary Club of Lagos in collaboration with Chris Ogunbanjo Foundation at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO: OSENI YUSUF

From Tunji Omofoye,Osogbo

Senate okays National Health Bill

the game according to laid down rules in relation to the August 9 governorship election.

The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ibrahim Maishanu who resumed duty in the state last week promised to provide a level playing ground for all political parties and to ensure adequate security of lives and property.

Addressing a maiden press briefing at the state police command yesterday, the commissioner said that politicians should not take laws into their hand, stressing that the command would not tolerate blocking of roads and attack of innocent citizens including security agents during rallies.

He said,”All processions and rallies must be peaceful and respect the right and safety of other people. The idea of blocking roads during rallies and processions and attacking innocent citizens including security men will no longer be tolerated. Anyone who breaches public peace would be dealt with and punished according to the law.”

From Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Emeka Anuforo and Joke Falaju (Abuja) FTER several months of deA lay, the Senate has finally passed the National Health Bill into law. The passage of the Bill yesterday brought to an end the protracted clause by clause debate, which began last year, when it was referred to the Committee on Health.

Meanwhile, the Senate and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina yesterday differed over the rising cost of foodstuff in the country.

In a related development, a funding trend analysis for agriculture in the last five years, according to ActionAid, indicates that though Nigeria had in recent years introduced a range of policies to increase productivity, its budgetary allocations and actual spending on agriculture is grossly inadequate to re-

• Differs with minister over rising food prices • ActionAid decries low budget share to agric duce poverty, especially on the key services needed by small holder farmers The Bill, which seeks to regulate the healthcare industry, was first passed by the 6th National Assembly but was denied assent by the President.

Speaking after the plenary, Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Ifeanyi Okowa, said the Bill would address impunity and recklessness in the practice of healthcare across the country. It will also address the challenge of infrastructure decay and several other lapses in the sector.

“It is a bill that actually seeks to regulate the healthcare industry because before today, a lot of things that we do in health services in this country are not regulated and this includes organ transplantation and the use of blood and

blood products.

“Plantation of tissue has also not been regulated before now such that if somebody wanted to transplant kidney or carry out any other transplant, there were no regulations guiding it and if there was any fault or default, the person who has done wrong could not be persecuted in the law court to conclusion,” he said.

According to Okowa, one of the vital aspects of the Bill is the provision of insurance for the less privileged as well as provision for the funding and total overhauling of the health sector.

This was captured in Clause 11 of the new law, which provides a basic health fund of one per cent of Consolidated Revenue Fund.

“We all know that the pri-

mary healthcare is within the purview of the local government councils, the states and Federal Government give support programme apart from technical support.

“But this Bill also seeks to provide one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the purpose of the development of primary health care and also for the purpose of providing health care insurance to certain class of people who are deprived.”

The disagreement arose during the budget defence by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Abuja, when a member of Agric Committee, Senator Abdullahi Adamu inquired from the minister why food prices were increasing despite the huge amount spent by the government to increase food

production in the country.

Adesina who earlier said food production in the country has increased to 15.5million metric tonnes, which is about 78 per cent of the ministry target by 2015, denied that there was hike in food prices, given the downward slope the country’s inflation rate assumed in the past few months.

Adamu who is also the President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) had directed about 10 questions to the minister, arguing the fact that food prices are on the decline in the market. To avoid argument, he asked the minister to proceed and answer the other questions.

The minister further explained that prices of food could be relatively cheap in areas where there are high concentration of food production; however, the cost of transporting food from those areas to urban centres can also be responsible for the soaring food prices.

HE Osun State Police ComT mand yesterday urged politicians in the state to play

Ex speakers want confab resolutions sent to N’Assembly From Iyabo Lawal (Ibadan), Terhemba Daka (Abuja) and Gbenga Salau (Lagos) S the nation gears up for the A planned national conference, former Speakers of state houses of assembly yesterday faulted arguments suggesting that resolutions of the dialogue should not be subjected to the final votes of the National Assembly.

The former Speakers, who spoke under the umbrella of Association of Former Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, contended that it was absurd for some Nigerians to suggest that the outcome of the conference should not be handed over to the National Assembly when the country was a sovereign nation.

The group has six delegates to

• Monarchs seek more slots, CSOs pick delegates the conference. The delegates are Habu Isa, Mohammed Yaro, Simon Lalong, Stanley Ohajuruka, Azeez Olaleye Alarape and David Iyoha.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, former Speaker of Edo State and incumbent member of the House of Representatives, Friday Itulah, said the clamour that the outcome of the conference should be subjected to a referendum smacked of lack of understanding of the status of Nigeria as a sovereign nation.

Itulah, who is the National Publicity Secretary of the association, expressed confidence that the conference would address some of the problems of

the country.

His words: “The association is in total support of the national conference”.

The lawmaker who declared that the unity of the country was non-negotiable also faulted those who are kicking against the conference, arguing that it is a window provided for Nigerians to dialogue and appreciate one another.

The amendment is to be taken to state assemblies for adoption before it becomes a law.

Meanwhile, a group of traditional rulers in the South West rose from a meeting yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital with a call on the Federal Government to increase the number of

traditional leaders’ representatives from three to six in each of the six zones in the country.

Also, Civil Society Organisations have released the list of nominees from each zone within the geo-political zones that would be their delegates to the conference.

In the list made available to The Guardian signed by the Chairman of the National Working Committee, Alhaji Mohammed Bougei Attah from World Association of NGOs, Kaduna, for the North East Zone, the nominees are: Pastor Sunday Simon, Kiferu Youth and Community Development Initiative, Bauchi; Alhaji Baba Shehu, Nigeria Cassava Growers Association

(NCGA), Damaturu; Dudu M. Manuga, Responsible Citizenship and Human Development Initiative, Gombe and Gimba Joseph – Centre for Peace Education and Community Development, Jalingo.

In a communiqué issued at the end of their three-hour meeting

by Yoruba Obas Conflicts Resolution Committee at the Alakia residence of Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, the executive council of the committee also canvassed two slots out of the expected six slots that would be allotted to the South West.

The council Secretary, who is the Sabiganna of Iganna, Oba Soliu Azeez, however, faulted calls for regional police by some groups saying the call was against the corporate existence

of

the Nigerian nation.

Instead of regionalism, the royal fathers maintained that the present Federal Government-controlled police force should be sustained but properly funded.

In his remarks, Oba Akinruntan said, “if we are two million, the Federal Government can cater for them. If the number is increased, all the zones would have good representation that would make everybody have a sense of belonging”.

Strengthening the stance of Oba Akinruntan, the Public Relations Officer of the council, Oba Adeniyi Ajayi, Gbaluwe of Igbotu kingdom said the Obas’ council was concerned about activities of the dreaded Boko Haram sect in Borno State and its effect on other parts of the country.

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NEWS Thursday, February 20, 2014

Court voids appointment of Agumagu as Rivers acting CJ From Kelvin Ebiri and Ann Godwin (Port Harcourt) and Bertram Nwannekanma (Lagos) FEDERAL High Court in Port Harcourt has nullified the appointment of Peter Agumagu as the Acting Chief Judge of Rivers State.

Delivering his judgment on the case instituted by Boma GoodHead and three others against the attorney general of the state, the presiding judge, Justice Lambo Akanbi, declared that the appointment of Justice Agumagu as acting chief judge was illegal since he is a judge of the customary court.

The judge therefore directed the Rivers State government to appoint the most senior judge of the High Court for the position according to the provisions of the constitution.

Justice Akanbi explained that the 1999 Constitution is clear on who should be appointed the acting chief judge of the state. “The constitution is explicit that the most senior judge in the state High Court should be selected to occupy the position

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whenever it is vacant,” he said.

Governor Chibuike Amaechi appointed Agumagu as acting chief judge last year following the retirement of Justice Iche Ndu, but the position has remained vacant since his tenure expired on November last year following controversy over the appointment of the new chief judge of the state.

The presiding judge also stated that he would not agree to the prayers of the plaintiff that an order be given for Justice Daisy Okocha to take charge as the acting chief judge. He explained that doing so will amount to overriding the powers of the governor and the National Judicial Commission (NJC) to pick a judge for the said position.

“The question as to who qualifies to be appointed as acting chief judge of the state has generated a lot of needless controversy. The provision of Section 271, sub-section 4 of the constitution is very clear, explicit and without ambiguity. It says

CJN Mukhtar tion?

“The inevitable conclusion I have reached is that His Lordship, the Honourable Justice P.N.C. Agumagu, is not qualified as a state High Court Judge hence he is not suitable and unqualified to be appointed as acting chief judge of the High Court of Rivers State.

“The only consequential order I should make in the circumstance is to direct the governor to comply with the constitutional provision on

the appointment of an acting chief judge of the state High Court as provided under Section 271, sub-section 4 of the 1999 Constitution. That shall be the judgment of the court,” he said.

Meanwhile, counsel to the state government, Tuduru Ede, has expressed dissatisfaction with the judgment, saying that the state government would appeal the verdict. In a statement, the government said it intends to seek further clarification on the position of the judge.

Counsel to the plaintiffs, Tubotamuno Dick, and the President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Okey Wali (SAN), hailed the verdict. In a statement, Wali said: “While the NBA does not intend to dwell on the legalese and merits or demerits of the matter before the Federal High Court, it is concerned with the orders of the Federal High Court, which we believe, not only presents the solution but will also ameliorate the hardship occasioned by the absence of the chief judge in Rivers State”.

for whether a building would stand or collapse. And a situation where cement meant for plastering was used to make concrete, such building would not stand. A lot of Nigerians do not know that cement defers, they just go to the market and buy and ironically most people selling the product too do not know that there are different grades, they only know of different brands.”

Citing examples of China and India, among the countries that have made a lot of difference in terms of growth recorded in their countries, Odumodu said the SON this year will ensure competitiveness of Nigerian products by supporting the SMEs to develop more rapidly in order to achieve increased job creation initiative of the Federal Government.

He said there are about 22 million SMEs in Nigeria and

the role of the SON is to see how to ensure that these SMEs are able to produce good products that can meet international competition, but also SON would create linkages between SMEs in Nigeria and the multinationals. According to him, if those linkages are created effectively, then the organisation would have ensured that there is prosperity in Nigeria which would have a resultant effect of job and wealth creation.

His words: “The SMEs are involved in all kinds of products but also the multinationals have requisite standards that people must comply with. So what we are trying to do is to make sure that the output of these SMEs are used effectively by the multinationals as their input materials and by so doing we would have created effective linkages between our SMEs and the multinationals.

Govt to ‘seek further clarification’

Amaechi the governor shall appoint the most senior judge of the High Court” Justice Akanbi said.

“The question is who is my noble Lord Honourable Justice P.N.C. Agumagu and where does he belong? Is he a judge of the High Court of Rivers State, appointed pursuant to the provision of Section 270, sub-section 1 of the Constitution or a judge of the Customary Court of Appeal under Section 280, sub-section 1 of the same Constitu-

Why building collapse persists in Nigeria, by SON From Itunu Ajayi, Abuja ORRUPTION, misapplicaC tion and integrity in construction process have been identified as responsible for incessant building collapse in Nigeria, rather than substandard cements.

The Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Joseph Odumodu, gave this indication in Abuja yesterday at the 10th yearly retreat of the agency tagged: “The role of standardisation in SMEs development in Nigeria”.

Odumodu, who noted that one of the issues that has be-

come very popular in recent time is the quality of cement in the country, and dismissed the claim that collapse of buildings in the country is a result of substandard cement, saying SON is fully on top of the quality of cement in Nigerian markets.

He said the literacy level of artisans who mix concrete in wrong proportions not knowing their action can cause loss of lives is also a challenge the agency is trying to address.

According to Odumosu, there are lots of activities in the cement sector that make it imperative for the agency to begin to engage with users,

sellers and producers themselves.

“I say it with all sense of responsibility that there is no substandard cement in Nigeria. The challenge we have today in the cement industry is that there is a misapplication of cement product in Nigeria.

The standard we have NIS 4441 specifies that there are three kinds of grades of cement. One is used for plastering and block moulding, another for more serious concrete activities like bridges and all that, and another for more advanced concrete activities. All cement companies in Nigeria are making all these grades and are all certified by SON as meeting the requisite specification of the standards. The allusion that cement quality is the reason for incessant building collapse in Nigeria is not true.

The strength of the concrete mixture is largely responsible

Obi pays valedictory visit to development partners NAMBRA State Governor A Peter Obi yesterday paid valedictory visits to international organisations and development partners that have tremendously supported the state since the inception of his administration.

Accompanied by the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget and his Chief of Staff, Prof. Chinyere Okunna, the Permanent Secretary in-charge of Abuja Liaison Office, Peter Afuba, Dr. Beatrice Okonkwo and Chief Okey Ezeibe, Obi took the opportunity to introduce the governor-elect and his successor, Chief Willie Obiano, who also went with the governor.

Thanking them for their support to Anambra, Obi appealed for the same support to the incoming governor, assuring them that Obiano has the pedigree and experience to sustain the gains of the partnership with them.

“You have given us tremendous support, I appeal to you to extend the same support to the in-coming governor”, Obi said.

Some of the organisations and individuals visited are the DFID, where Obi was received

by Mr. Christian Rogg; the European Union, where they were received by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Arrion and the Head of Political Section, Henry Prankerd, the United Nations Resident Representative, Dr. Dauda Toure; the Deputy Executive Director of UN Habitat, Dr. Aisa Kirabo and UNICEF Representative, Jean Gough.

Commission promotes 1,402 senior police officers From Karls Tsokar, Abuja HE Police Service Commission (PSC) has promoted 1,402 senior police officers with effect from yesterday, February 19, 2014.

According to a statement by the Assistant Director of Press, Ferdinand Ekpe, while wishing the newly promoted officers well, the Chairman of the Commission, Mike Okiro, enjoined them to live up to expectations and brace up to the challenges of their new positions.

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Bitflux beats Globacom to win 2.3GHz spectrum licence From Adeyemi Adepetun and Nkechi Onyedika (Abuja)

Gets 14 days to pay fee

ITH about $201,000 extra, Bitflux Communications Limited has beaten the Second National Operator, Globacom, to the $2.3GHz broadband spectrum licence.

Bitflux Communications Limited, which is a consortium of three firms - VDT Communications Ltd, Bitcom Systems Ltd and Superflux International Ltd emerged winner after the second round of auction with $23,251,000.000 to Globacom’s $23, 050,001.000 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja yesterday.

The auction, which was described by stakeholders and contestants as being very fair and transparent, lasted for about 48 minutes. The auction proper started exactly 11.00 am.

Both contestants at the first round, which had four representatives each lodged in dif-

ferent suite without any communication gadgets that could make them to influence anything, were tied at the initial bid price of $23 million plus 15 per cent mark-up, which puts the price at $26.4 million. But the software system, used took the competing firms to what the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Eugene Juwah, described as tie-breaker. It was at the second round that Bitflux Communications Limited floored Globacom to win the licence.

Juwah, while explaining the processes, however, said Bitflux Communications has 14 working days, starting from today (yesterday) to pay the fee, failure which may provide opportunity for Globacom to acquire the licence as second highest looser as contained in the Information Memorandum of the auction.

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Besides, Bitflux would also need to pay additional N155 million to NCC within 30 days because it does not have a Unified Access Service Licence for it (Bitflux) to start operation. Juwah said after the firm must have paid the fee within the stipulated dates, NCC would now issue it (Bitflux) the Wireless Wholesale Access Service Licence from then it can start operation on the spectrum and distribute services across the country.

The outcome of the event, which took many participants by surprise, comparing the antecedents of Globacom owned by Nigeria’s oil magnate, Otunba Mike Adenuga, to Bitflux Communications, has been described by stakeholders as a contest between the biblical David and Goliath.

The stakeholders were, however, very happy with the outcome of the bid, saying that this would prevent monopoly.

While declaring Bitflux Communications Limited as the winner of one slot of the 2.3GHz spectrum, Juwah noted that in every contest, there would always be a winner, stressing that collaboration among stakeholders in the industry would unlock Nigeria’s broadband potential.

Speaking on the process, NCC’s Director of Spectrum Administration, Rev. Nwalune Augustine, informed that the process, which started in November 2013, had 27 bidding firms, “but when the information memorandum was released, only two firms, which competed today, met the set criteria and we now have a winner in Bitflux Communications Limited.”

Commenting on the contest, Globacom’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Jameel, congratulated NCC for the success of the auction and wished Bitflux the very best.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, February 20, 2014 7

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8 | NEWS Thursday, February 20, 2014

Health workers petition Jonathan, seek redeployment of minister

Shettima donates N200m to victims of Boko Haram

By Chukwuma Muanya and Joseph Okoghenun (Lagos) and Emeka Anuforo (Abuja)

N200 million to rebuild the houses, shops and a market at Izge Town destroyed by suspected Boko Haram gunmen that claimed the lives of over 106 residents and 10 soldiers last Saturday.

Presenting the cheque to the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idrissa Shehu Timta, the governor said that though lost lives cannot be replaced or compensated, the destroyed houses and other property are to be rebuilt and replaced by the state government, because the surviving and displaced people have no other place to go and live.

His words: “We are here in your chiefdom to condole with the people of Izge, but I was advised not to come there (Izge) with my entourage, as the military is conducting operations against Boko Haram insurgents that attacked and killed over 100 residents last Saturday”.

ITING poor performance C of the current Health Minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, health professionals, under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU)/Assembly of Healthcare Professionals Associations (AHPA), have filed a petition to President Goodluck Jonathan, demanding that the Minister of Health be redeployed.

The health professionals in the letter, which was signed

by Chairman of JOHESU, Dr. Ayuba Wabba and President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Mr. Olumide Akintayo, also demanded that “a medical doctor should not be appointed as Minister of State for Health in the current dispensation in view of the well catalogued ills that have befallen the health sector in the last six years when it became the norm.

Part of the letter reads: “It is on record that since 2010 when Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu was appointed, the health sector has not witnessed any measure of industrial peace. This is because the minister has continually acted the script and doubled as an alternate President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to the detriment of all other healthcare professionals and workers in the sector.

In a similar vein, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Ministry of Health over its “continued refusal to comply fully with the implementation of the Industrial Arbitration Panel awards and subsequent National Industrial Court (NIC) judgments for the 34 years.”

• Nurses threaten strike, NMA commends Fashola over anti-smoking law • Studies link financial stress to mental illness National President of the association, Abdrafiu Alani Adeniji, who showed journalists several copies of judgments on the matter, alleged that the Ministry of Health and the Head of Service of the Federation had refused to implement the awards in full since 1981, despite the association’s repeated appeals and reminders.

JOHESU continued: “The following are the actions and inactions of the honourable minister: In August 2010, he inaugurated what he called a Presidential Committee headed by Justice Abdullahi Bello Gusau (rtd), which was supposed to complete and submit its report in October

2010 but due to the alleged connivance of the minister with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) officials, the committee could not submit its report until November 2011, due to lack of funds and constant criticisms by the NMA while the committee was still meeting.

“The minister caused to be issued five different circulars, which were issued deliberately to weaken the economic strength or position of the non-medical practitioners in the health sector and to preempt some of the terms of reference of the committee.

“When the committee’s report was submitted in November 2011 and despite the

fact that the opening ceremony of the committee at inauguration was well covered by the press, the submission proceedings, which took place in November 2011, was completely blacked out from the media. This was due to the alleged connivance of the minister with the NMA, which sought to disrupt the proceedings”.

The letter continued: “Since his appointment as minister, Chukwu has disobeyed court rulings, refused to honour agreements, flouted Extant Laws of the Federation and has promoted industrial strikes in the sector with a minimum of 10 industrial strikes since he became min-

ister, which are directly caused by his inactions and negation of the rights of health workers apart from doctors.

“The most recent ones being industrial strikes of February to March, 2011; December, 2011; May 7 to 13, 2012; National Rally of December 13, 2012; rallies at state capitals in January, 2013; Rallies in federal institutions in February, 2013; strike of August 22 to 27, 2013; three-day warning strike from January 22-24, 2014 and the pending strike threat, which may commence on March 13, 2014, if the scheduled meeting of March 13, fails to address the issues before.

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday expressed shock over Tuesday’s announcement by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that it has engaged the services of a foreign firm, AKPD Message and Media, to boost its electoral chances in the 2015 elections, advising Nigerians to resist this attempt by the party to throw the nation back to imperialism, 54 years after independence.

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said this was not only a clear justification of its stand that the APC is antiNigeria but another insult on the hard working citizens of our dear country.

“In engaging the services of a foreign firm, the APC has shown that it does not have faith in our people, our indigenous consultancy firms and the well qualified, world acclaimed Nigerian profes-

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OVERNOR Kashim ShetG tima of Borno State on Tuesday donated the sum of

Police arrest four cattle rustlers in Bauchi From Ali Garba, Bauchi HE Bauchi State Police have T arrested four suspected cattle rustlers who specialised

Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima (right); Chief of Staff to the President, Brig.-Gen. Jones Oladehinde Arogbofa (left) and Secretary to Borno State Government, Baba Ahmed Jidda, after the governor’s closed-door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja…yesterday PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA

• Bickering in Bauchi over posters • Aspirant tasks Muazu on party primaries in Ekiti sionals and technocrats. Just as the leopard cannot change its spots, so also is the APC unable to hide its true colour as an anti-people organisation, tied to the apron-strings of foreign interests in utter disdain for fellow Nigerians and the age-long clamour for local content.”

According to the PDP, “there is no way the APC can justify this crime against our people. Nigerians are discerning enough to see the clever attempt to cover this monumental insult by dropping the name of President Barak Obama, who was duly reelected by the popular votes of the people of the United States as a beneficiary of this consultancy service.”

The PDP, therefore, urged Nigerians to continue to note the unpatriotic and anti-people actions of the APC. It said all well-meaning Nigerians must rise up and resist the APC, adding: “A party, which has clearly shown that it has

no regard for the talents of the people it seeks to govern can never win the trust of Nigerians.”

In Bauchi State, the APC has alleged that security agents are assisting supporters of the PDP in posting posters and billboards.

The state Secretary of APC, Alhaji Danjuma Dabo, made the allegation yesterday at an interactive forum for politicians and stakeholders organised by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Development Exchange Centre in Bauchi.

It said in spite of the fact that INEC has banned the posting of posters in the state, supporters of PDP are still in the habit of posting of posters, particularly in the night.

This was immediately denied by the PDP. In his reaction, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Samuel Usman

in stealing goats, sheep and cows.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed, disclosed this to newsmen yesterday in his office.

According to him, during interrogation, the suspects confessed that they were specialists in stealing of cows, goats and cattle.

DSP Haruna revealed that a locally-made gun was recovered from the suspects, saying that police have commenced investigations into the matter.

He appealed to the public to always assist the police with useful information that could lead to the arrest of criminals in the state.

UNESCO lists Kano as centre for mass literacy

PDP faults APC’s hiring of foreign consultant From Muyiwa Adeyemi (Ado-Ekiti), Azimazi Momoh Jimoh (Abuja), Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu (Benin City), Seye Olumide (Lagos) and Ali Garba (Bauchi)

From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri

Madaki, observed with dismay that electoral campaigns have started in the state, saying that such is capable of over-heating the polity before the elections.

“We do not want political parties to jump the gun because it may heat up the polity and this may amount to violation of the Electoral Act. We are monitoring all parties closely and security agents should take note of what is happening so that they can act decisively on every infarctions of the law”.

In Ogun State, the PDP has described as laughable an allegation by Concerned Members and Stakeholders of the PDP that the INEC and some of its officials are taking sides with the Adebayo Dayo-led PDP executive in the state.

The publicity secretary, Waliu Oladipupo, said: “The report was sent to the media to mislead unsuspecting members of the public and cause disaffection within the ranks of the PDP in the state”.

According to him, “It is common knowledge that former Governor Gbenga Daniel and

some of his associates have since joined the Labour Party (LP), just like a good number of them have defected to the PDP. Over 80 per cent of the members of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s group are with us in the PDP, having turned down the directive that they join the All Progressives Congress (APC). Also, all members of the Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye (JMK) group are with us.”

In Edo State, PDP Chairman, Dan Orbih, yesterday decried the ruling of the local council election tribunal, which on Tuesday called for a re-run within 60 days of the chairmanship election into Esan North-East Local Council of the state, declaring that the nullification was a “detour used by the state government to cover its track.”

Meanwhile, a PDP governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Mr. Deji Ajayi, yesterday in Ado-Ekiti appealed to the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, to ensure that the March 15 primary is free, fair and acceptable to all aspirants.

From Abba Anwar, Kano HE United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has endorsed Kano State to be the nerve centre of revitalising mass education for the northern part of Nigeria after assessing the tremendous financial and material contributions the state was giving to mass literacy campaign and programmes.

Executive Secretary of Kano State Agency for Mass Education, Professor Fatima Umar, in an interactive session with the media in her office on Monday in Kano, while emphasising the importance of literacy at election periods, maintained that mass literacy campaign was one of the critical areas the state government concentrated on.

“As a result of our aggressive public enlightenment campaigns and the impact we are able to make in mass literacy UNESCO, Dakar Regional Office, came to us and we had fruitful discussions with them. They were able to tour some of our centres and assess the work on ground”, she revealed.

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, February 20, 2014 PHOTONEWS | 9

British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Peter Carter (left); former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon and Richard Taylor during the N500 million fundraising for Damilola Taylor Foundation held at the Deputy British High Commissioner’s residence in Lagos.

PHOTO: TUNDE AKINOLA

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (middle) being presented with the key to a MAN Truck donated to the State Security Trust Fund at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos by the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, SCOA Nigeria Plc, Dr. Massad Boulos (left). With them are Consul-General of Lebanon, Dima Haddad (second left); Executive Secretary, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Fola Arthur-Worrey (second right) and Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje from the Trust Fund.

President, Society for Corporate Governance, Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye (left), presenting fellowship of the society to former Governor of Central Bank, Joseph Sanusi in Lagos.

Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma (left); Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko and Olowo of Owo, Oba Olateru Olagbegi at the commissioning of the six workshops upgraded by MTNF at the Government Technical College, Owo in Ondo.

Apena of Lagos, Oyemola Ogundara-Awise (left); Chairman, Yaba LCDA, Jide Jimoh; Chairman, Lagos Island Local Council, Wasiu Esinlokun Sanni and Chairman, Lagos Island East LCDA, Kamar Basua during the Senator Remi Tinubu presentation of money and gifts to all baales and chiefs in Lagos Central Senatorial District.

PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

Mr. Diran Adenugba of Unilever Nigeria Plc (left); Nsima Ogedi-Alakwe also of Unilever Nigeria presenting the Australian boarding pass to Mudiaga Akpudje and Sodie Opuda one of the five couples who won a romantic trip in the Close-up Cupid Games. With them is Oiza Gyang of Unilever (right)

Managing Director, Dees Travels, Olotu Oluwadaisi (left); Regional Manager, Emirates Airline, Manoj Nair; Senior Sales Executive, Emirates Airline, Grace Babalola; and Managing Director, Wakanow.com, Ekezie Obinna before their departure for the Emirates Airline sponsored familiarization tour to Dubai and Singapore for being outstanding travel agents in Nigeria.

Nutricima’s Project Manager, Sarah Amadi (left); Head of Marketing, Nutricima Limited, Wande Oluwasegunfunmi and NAFDAC’s Director, Drug Evaluation and Research, Titiliope Owolabi while presenting award to Nutricima as the First Most Compliant in Food Export Sector at the Ports Inspection Directorate (PID) 2013 End of Year Party/Performance Recognition Award by NAFDAC in Lagos.

PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

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Thursday, February 20, 2014

Politics Kwara 2015: Test case for Saraki, APC From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin ANY political analysts had held the notion M that it’s only the death of the strong man of Kwara State politics, Dr. Olusola Saraki, could evolve a level-playing field in the state politics.

(The former Senate Leader in the Second Republic passed on about one and a half years ago.)

But little did such pundits realise that his heir apparent, Dr. Bukola Saraki, had perfectly learnt the acts of politicking even more than those who had been in the system before him.

This development may be the determining factor of who eventually controls the politics of the state in the 2015 general polls in the country.

Already, those in contention with Saraki are teaming up against him, making the loudest of noise — reminiscing of the era of partisan imbroglio between the political dynasty and that of the late governor of the state, Muhammed Lawal.

However, what could be the most visible Heels of Achilles of Saraki is his refusal to go to the grassroots to verify the true political situations on ground.

Unlike his father, popularly known as ‘Oloye’ among his teeming admirers, who would personally tour all the nooks and crannies of the state, the younger Saraki seems to rely more on his foot soldiers for vital information on political developments in the state.

According to one of the aides of his late father, who clamoured for anonymity, Oloye, during his lifetime, would personally visit any remote area in this state.

“He would openly hold meetings with all the members of the communities, ask for their needs and allow them to present the candidates of their choice for all categories of elections,” the aide said.

“This method was the most potent weapon that Oloye used till he died. We wish his son were doing the same now. If he can do the same thing, he will not only lead the people conveniently, but will also sustain the best political style of the great politician.

“Most of Bukola’s aides don’t tell him the truth; they only panic before him and tell him only those things they believe he would love to hear.”

It was a one united polity dynasty until when Saraki recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC).

Despite the massive defection of members of the House of Representatives, those of the Kwara State House of Assembly and the elected members of Local Government Areas to the APC, a splinter group has evolved in the political family. This will, no doubt, give the opposition a rallying point for possible attacks on the Sarakites.

The list of those who refused to join in the decamping exercise includes the Chairman,

Gbemisola-Saraki

Saraki

Ahmed

Federal Character Commission (FCC), Professor Shuaib Oba Abdulrahim; newly appointed Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters to President Goodluck Jonathan, Senator Makanjuola Ajadi; Senator representing Kwara South, Simeon Ajibola; and former Transports Minister, Bio Ibrahim.

Others are: former Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Benjamin Issa; former Council Chairman of Offa, Olusegun Olawoyin; member, Kwara State House of Assembly representing Olooru/Ipaye constituency, Iliasu Ibrahim and his counterpart representing Ilorin West LGA, Abdulfatahi Salman; and former Chief Whip under the Speakership of Issa, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo.

What will make the opposition against the arguably invincible political dynasty is the decamping of Senator Gbemisola Saraki, the blood sister of Bukola Saraki, to the PDP. She had had her political voyage towards becoming the first female governor of the 47year-old state truncated when she was defeated in the last governorship poll by the incumbent, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed.

Gbemisola, who had reclined into her shell until some weeks ago, re-emerged on the state’s political scene, declaring for the PDP, at an event in Ilorin attended by a massive crowd.

Thus, the development has nailed the coffin of the All Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), the political party that presented Gbemisola for the futile governorship bid.

Besides, the governorship candidate in the state on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Dele Belgore (SAN) followed suit, during a recent event in Ilorin, publicly declaring his defection to the PDP. During the event at his campaign organisation building GRA, Ilorin, Belgore, cited, among others, absence of principles and procedures within the APC. With these developments, the salient question on the lips of any objective political analyst in the state is whether Bukola would have enough strength to weather the storms to be thrown at him by the emerging opposition in the polity.

According to a teacher of Political Science at the University of Ilorin, “it will depend on the sincerity of all the members of the group you have identified as the opposition in the state’s politics.”

“On paper, they looked very formidable, but don’t forget the power of the incumbent as being supplied by the Governor to Bukola,” the don said.

“Besides, don’t be surprised seeing some of those within the PDP defecting to APC at the eleventh hour. Some of them could be planted there for espionage mission.

“So, I think we need to be a bit patient and allow the events to keep on unfolding until when we get to a reasonable point where we can correctly do our analysis.”

OR Yemi Afolayan, the Interim Secretary of the FeryAPC in the state, the election-winning machinof the APC in the state remains intact, irrespective of the “paper-weight politicians” who are looking for political relevance at the state’s level.”

Afolayan added: “The statistics are there for anybody to see and judge. The Sarakites are in control of two Senators out of three. We are in control of all the six House of Representatives’ members; we produced the entire 16 Council Chairmen, Councilors and supervisory councilors.

And, in fact, all but two of the 24-member House of Assembly are publicly with us. So, who are those that are against us?”

Afolayan said he was saying all these because of those who are not in Kwara, and “who are sometimes being daily fed with lies on political situations here.”

“Many of those you have mentioned as opposition members today are not even known in their wards,” he said. “So, how will they be able to pose any serious threat whatsoever to us?

“We need to get this thing right once and for all — that opposition had always existed side by side with the ruling party under any viable democracy.

“We welcome that as well here in Kwara, but what we will not welcome is falsehood, whereby an ignoramus is being portrayed as a political giant. Wait and see; they will all be swept off their feet at the right time.”

But Senator Makanjuola Ajadi lectured that Afolayan was living in the past, urging him to wake up from his slumber.

He warned that the glories of the past elections should not be a good criterion for him to be boastful.

According to Ajadi: “Despite what they at the APC claimed to be controlling, how many of their supporters, who voted them to powers, are still with them? Have they not let them down?

“They should tell us just one reason why people should still be following them. I think our people are wiser and they are seriously clamouring for a change. We have gone far on this project of Kwara for change and by the grace of God, we shall accomplish our aim.”

One area the APC government has spread its tentacles is in the aspect of giving political appointments to over 90 Kwarans. These had come in the form of Commissioners, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, and Special Assistants, among others.

The appointments are being viewed as a gimmick by the government to, in one way, tie down tested politicians across the state from defecting to another party and to equally use them as campaign materials for the much-awaited elections.

These permutations may look plausible, though Issa, the former Speaker, viewed them as a charade. He said majority of the so-called appointment is for political jobbers, “who have

since lost touch with their people, at their different communities across the state.”

“They are mostly selfish and non-committed people who, rather than empowering their people, will prefer to amass wealth to themselves at the expense of the people.”

Although it could not be ascertained, sources told The Guardian in Ilorin that the Federal Government is equally planning some plum appointments for many members of the PDP in the state.

If this turns out to be a reality, then the battle of wits for the soul of Kwara will be tighter.

One area that could be a determining factor to where the pendulum of victory would swing is where the governorship candidates of the two dominant parties would come from. No one is willing to talk on the rather “sensitive issue,” especially at the APC where Bukola will be the determining factor.

The incumbent, Ahmed, appears not bothered with the ticket, as he keeps on rolling out his policies that could even exceed his first tenure.

But a source at the Government House Ilorin, said the governor had covertly gotten the nod of Bukola for the second term ticket.

Within the PDP, three persons may attempt a shot at the governorship ticket. These are Ajadi, Belgore and Gbemisola.

While Ajadi holds sway at his Kwara Central senatorial district, Belgore or Gbemisola may split the total votes cast in Kwara Central, as they hail from noble families within the district.

The Kwara North senatorial district may by then be the most beautiful bride for the two parties to court.

The calculation is that since both Ajadi and Ahmed are from Kwara South, the votes in the district, like those of the Kwara Central, are likely to be divided. Therefore, the party with the strongest incursion to and influence within Kwara North may form the next government in Kwara in 2015.

Presently, the decisions to be reached by the people of the state look dicey, as the 2015 polls will be the first rounds of elections in the last 40 years to be conducted without the involvement of the legendary Oloye.

But whichever way the pendulum swings, it will determine the strength or weakness of Bukola over the politics in the state.

Perhaps, Afolayan has the best views on the issue: “The structure of Oloye had in the past successfully weathered all the political storms in the state. Today, the structure, which has even grown stronger and bigger, fears no opposition; that is, if they even exist at all.

“Kwarans are used to the structure because you don’t need to be a prince or princess to be appointed commissioner in the state. Saraki, our present leader, has endeared himself in the minds of many Kwarans.

Belgore

Thursday, February 20, 2014 11

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Chime, Ekweremadu and politics of NASS seats in 2015 From Kodilinye Obiagwu, Enugu NDICATIONS that the contest for senatorial seats in Enugu State will be a major event in the 2015 elections are emerging. In Enugu East senatorial zone, rumblings show a gathering of forces, interests and emergence of credible names.

In Enugu West, the stage looks set for a contest between Governor Sullivan Chime and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, with the field littered with endorsements, innuendoes and vituperations from their supporters.

Enugu North appears quiet as if the people are occupied with the task of picking a governorship candidate.

In the scenarios, Chime and Ekweremadu are seen as the determinants of the fate of whoever wants to return to the National Assembly.

A source said: “This contest will not be isolated in Enugu West. Each of the lawmakers belongs to either Chime’s camp or Ekweremadu’s camp.

“And they will seek political protection or direction accordingly. It is a face-off that will spill over to the choice of the next governorship candidate.”

While Ekweremadu is considered close to the PDP power base in Abuja and the National Working Committee (NWC), Chime has the political structure in Enugu.

The question few people are asking is what happens if either the governor or the deputy senate president is out of power in 2015?

“They both want to be relevant after 2015; the implications are too wide to contemplate,” the source said.

“Many have seen what happened to Chime’s predecessor (Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani). It is a lesson in power play worth learning.”

With the gathering storm in the West and East senatorial zones, so much is being put on the widely touted suggestion made by Chime at a meeting of stakeholders at the Government House last year: that members of the National Assembly, who had spent two terms, should retire with him in 2015.

In the Senate, the immediate implication is that the state might not have any ranking lawmaker in the next dispensation, as it would mean the loss of Ekweremadu, who has represented Enugu West for three terms since 2003.

It might also mean the loss of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Ayogu Eze, who has represented Enugu North for two terms; and Gilbert Nnaji, a first-term senator for Enugu East, who spent two terms in the House of Representatives.

In the House of Representatives, only three lawmakers, namely, Stella Uchenna Obiageli Ugwu (Igbo Etiti), Toby Okechukwu Toby (Aninri/Agwu/Oji River) and Kingsley Ebenyi (Enugu East/Isi Uzo) were elected in 2011 and will likely commence a second term in 2015.

The Chairman, House Committee on Marine Transport, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Igboeze North/Udenu) and Ogbuefi Ora Ozomgbachi, who has been in the House since 2003, lead the second termers in the House of Representatives.

Other members are Peace Nnaji (Nkanu East/Nkanu West), Asadu Patrick Oziokoja (Nsukka/Igboeze), and Oforbuike Gregory Chukwuegbo (Enugu North and South), who were all elected in 2007.

In the meantime, many, who had applauded Chime’s suggestion as altruistic and a move to halt the tendency of sit-tight elected lawmakers, might ponder the development where the governor is being endorsed by groups and linked with a senatorial ambition.

Early this year, a self-styled pressure group, the Enugu Salvation Group (ESG), announced that it had endorsed Chime for the senatorial race in Enugu West.

The group’s National Coordinator, Steve Igweze, said that ESG would write Chime formally, asking him to contest for the Senate in the 2015 election.

He claimed that a survey conducted by his group showed that the people overwhelmingly preferred Chime to

I

Chime

Ekweremadu

Nnamani

Nnaji

Ekweremadu.

Igweze dismissed the endorsement of Ekweremadu by Umuneke Progressives Front (UPF) from Chime’s clan, saying, “it is not the wish of the electorate of Enugu West senatorial district.”

The Umuneke clan is made up of communities in Udi Council, the governor’s council. Recently, the clan reportedly asked Ekweremadu to seek re-election for the fourth time.

President of the UPF, Emeka Aneke, explained that the people reviewed the socio-economic developments in the clan and commended Ekweremadu for projects that transformed the communities.

Besides, he pointed to the “appointment of our people into positions of service in federal agencies and parastatals. We will continue to support Ekweremadu in his political endeavour.”

Another group, the Enugu Unity Forum (EUF), has boldly claimed that the governor would run for Senate in 2015.

The Chairman of the organisation, Chief Ta-Hill Ochi, said his group, which comprises professionals, former legislators and government appointees, had conducted a statewide consultation towards the 2015 elections.

According to him: “We have consulted with the state governor, and he has declared his interest for Senate.

We met with Chime on December 9, 2013.”

The group also claimed to have met the Speaker of Enugu House of Assembly, Eugene Odo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state chairman, Vita Abba, among others.

Although Ekweremadu has not declared his intention to contest, there is nothing to suggest that he will not run.

Many in the state have welcomed the endorsements from the supporters as a declaration of intent by either Chime or Ekweremadu, even as nerves have continued to fray over the anticipated clash between the duo in 2015.

Last week, the Awgu Council Peoples Assembly added its voice to the list of endorsements for Ekweremadu.

A communiqué at the end of an extraordinary general meeting in Agbogugu, Awgu Council, noted that delegates from the 38 autonomous communities agreed that Ekweremadu has performed well and that “he has made tremendous impact in the infrastructural development of our zone through his numerous constituency projects.”

In the communiqué, signed by Rt. Hon. Ichie P.C Okeke and Chief Innocent Okeke, the Agwu Assembly also condemned the activities of “an insignificant number of political miscreants in Awgu to ridicule the person and office of Ekweremadu.”

“We warn that Awgu Council cannot be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency or narrow political gain and advise all those who may have been misled to retrace their steps

before it is too late.”

The Awgu Council added: “Ekweremadu has impacted positively on the lives of vast majority of his constituents through his all-inclusive and sustained human capital development and philanthropy.

“He is a peacemaker, bridge builder and humane politician who takes the down-trodden to heart and feels their pain.”

But after the endorsement, the Executive Committee of the Awgu Council of the PDP resolved to endorse Chime, as their choice for the 2015 Enugu West senatorial contest.

The leaders cited the peace, security and total transformation the governor had brought to the state since 2007, as the reason for the endorsement.

“We are endorsing Chime for Senate because he ensured that Awgu got its fair share of democracy dividends in Enugu; he ensured that Enugu became the pride of the South East,” the leaders said.

“As the reward for good work is more work, we are saying that he should go and represent the Enugu West in the Senate come 2015.”

As supporters of both Chime and Ekweremadu piled up, factions in both camps have stood up to rebut some endorsements.

Last week, the Ezeagu Council, Aguobu-Owa in Enugu West, took out notice in the newspapers, denying its support for Ekweremadu.

Its notice, s signed by the chairman of the council, Emeka Ozoagu, PDP chairman of Ezeagu chapter, Chris Ohagwu, and the member representing Ezeagu in the State House of Assembly, Cecilia Ezeilo, was titled, ‘The purported further political support to Senator Ike Ekweremadu, by the people of Ezeagu.’

It said: “The people of Ezeagu never met, resolved or mandated any person or group of persons or traditional rulers to support or adopt any candidate on her behalf.”

Also last week, there were reports that the PDP in Awgu had denied endorsing the senatorial ambition of Chime.

A statement by the spokesman of the PDP in the Council, Raphael Okonkwo, described the reports as “mischievous, misleading and intended to create disaffection and confusion in our great party in the Council.”

“Awgu Council chapter of the PDP has at no time endorsed any aspirant to any position, not in the least for the Senatorial seat,” it said.

Although it acknowledged the contributions of Chime and Ekweremadu, it added: “We know that Awgu LG

Peoples Assembly has endorsed Ekweremadu, as well as Umuada Greater Awgu and Awgu LG Youths Forum, but that is not PDP. “None of the two has approached the Awgu LG PDP to declare their intentions or seek our endorsement and therefore, it amounts to setting the cart before the horse for any person or group of persons to go public with such scandalous claim and inputting same to Awgu Council PDP.” In the face of the groups’ prodding, endorsements and refutal, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Chuks Achife, simply said, “the governor has not declared his interest to run for any Senate seat.”

But a source close to Chime said that, “the governor has not said that he will run or that he won’t run,” as “the issue of who contests for the senatorial zone is for the stakeholders to decide.”

“Neither Chime nor Ekweremadu has come out to declare any political position regarding 2015. Both are still trying to deliver on the mandate they have.

“There is no point heating up the polity with the speculations of an impending electoral battle between them.”

Ekweremadu’s camp has not also confirmed or denied that the DSP would run in 2015, although there is nothing to suggest that he would not contest.

However, the likelihood of Chime and Ekweremadu, two top politicians in the zone, and in the state, slugging it out in an election, is raising concerns amidst the ongoing face-off between the two.

But the questions remain. Will the governor run? Will the Deputy Senate President step down? And if Chime eventually runs, will he be the first beneficiary of the change of guards in the Senate from the state?

If Chime runs, it would mean that he has dumped the notion of retiring with the federal lawmakers. Would this then mean that the incumbent lawmakers are likely to get their return tickets or will there be selective elimination of out-of-favour incumbents?

All this is fueling fears that Enugu West will be a tough battleground in the next elections.

In Enugu East, the continued stay in the Senate of Gilbert Nnaji has been the subject of speculation.

Rumours had it that his seat was up for grabs, based on a pre-election agreement that he would serve for one term.

But Nnaji told journalists late last year: “If anybody says I entered into an agreement with him, let that person

produce the agreement. If it is true, I will just withdraw honourably.”

He pondered: “How can I enter into an agreement with one person? Is it one person that can make someone a senator?

“It is only the people of Enugu East that can decide who will be their senator or representative in the National Assembly,” in 2015.

Nnaji, who is blamed for underachievement in the district and is largely seen as close to Ekweremadu, said that it was not in the powers of the governor to determine who represents the state at the National Assembly.

“It is left for the senatorial districts or constituencies to decide; it is the masses that will say you cannot go back and they will vote you out and if they say we should go back; then nobody can stop us,” he said.

“I believe that we have done well and time is coming when we will put our report card on the table and they will see what we have attracted within our constituencies and not for the governor to decide.”

There will no doubt be a huge battle for Nnaji’s seat within or outside the PDP. Former governor of the state and representative of the zone in the Senate, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, has been linked with fresh scheming for the seat.

Indeed, clandestine meetings between Nnamani and Ekweremadu have been linked with the senatorial seat.

One of Nnamani’s “boys,” and onetime Minister for Communications, Mr. Frank Nweke, has indicated interest in the race.

But Nweke’s emergence is described in some circles as “unserious” and a ‘test-the-water’ holding-interest for Nnamani or a yet-to-appear aspirant.

In the build-up to the 2015 elections, the political ambition or otherwise of the Governor’s Udi-born Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, has drawn the most speculation.

It is either that everyone expects her to run and become the first female senator from the state or her ambition is the most poorly kept secret.

Confronted with the question at an interactive session with journalists last December, she merely played up the fact that the responsibility of her present job was huge enough and she was busy and more concerned about delivering on that front.

She had said: “I was offered this job to serve as the Chief of Staff to the governor in 2007. I am not yet done with the job. It is a great responsibility.

“When I leave, I will always doff my hat for whoever I see working as chief of staff; the job is enormous.

“I will only wish to talk about 2015 when I am through with what I am doing at the moment and that is ensuring that the people of Enugu get the best from the incumbent administration.”

But her reticence has not stopped “her people” from trumpeting support for her and declaring that “Ifeoma di n’iru 2015,” meaning that better things are ahead in 2015.

With the gathering storm in the West and East senatorial zones, so much is being put on the widely touted suggestion made by Chime at a meeting of stakeholders at the Government House last year: that members of the National Assembly, who had spent two terms, should retire with him in 2015.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

12 | Thursday, February 20, 2014

WorldReport Botswana breaks ties with N’Korea OLLOWING a recent United

Ukraine leader denounces coup bid, as West weighs sanctions FTER 26 people died in the A worst violence since the former Soviet republic gained independence, Ukrainian President, Viktor Yanukovich has accused pro-European opposition leaders yesterday of trying to seize power by force.

European Union leaders condemned what they called “the unjustified use of excessive force by the Ukrainian authorities” and said they were urgently preparing targeted sanctions against those responsible for the crackdown.

Protesters have been occupying central Kiev for almost three months since Yanukovich spurned a farreaching trade deal with the EU and accepted a $15-billion Russian bailout.

The sprawling nation of 46 million people with an ailing economy and endemic corruption is the object of a geopolitical tug-of-war between Moscow and the West. That struggle was played out in hand-to-hand fighting through the night, lit by blazing barricades on Kiev’s Independence Square, or Maidan.

Russian President, Vladimir Putin’s spokesman insisted the Kremlin was sticking to a policy of not intervening in Ukraine, although his point man has called for decisive action to crush the protests.

The Kremlin said Putin and Yanukovich spoke by telephone overnight, calling the events an attempted coup.

Moscow announced on

Monday a resumption of stalled aid to Kiev, pledging a $2-billion cash injection hours before the crackdown began, although the money has not yet arrived and the Kremlin spokesman would not say when it would be paid.

In Brussels, European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy said the 28-nation EU, at an emergency meeting today, would impose sanctions on those blamed for the bloodshed.

“Our ministers in the Foreign Affairs Council will at their meeting tomorrow (today) examine targeted measures, such as financial sanctions and visa restrictions against those responsible for violence and use of excessive force,” he said in a statement.

Court bans use of violence against protesters in Thailand DAY after violent clashes between riot police and demonstrators left five people dead and dozens injured, a Thai court ordered the government yesterday not to use force against protesters who are attempting to oust the prime minister.

A

The decision leaves beleaguered Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra with fewer options in dealing with the protesters, who have camped out for a month with virtual impunity in major intersections across the capital to press for her resigna-

F

tion.

She also faces a possible impeachment vote over accusations by the National Anti-Corruption Commission that she improperly handled an expensive rice subsidy program.

German Chancellor, Angela Merkel (right); with French President, François Hollande (left) and Prime Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, leaves the Elysee Palace in Paris yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

Nations (UN) report on mass murder, enslavement and starvation, Botswana yesterday with immediate effect severed ties with North Korea.

“The Government of Botswana does not wish to be associated with a government which continues to display such total disregard for the human rights of its citizens,” a statement read.

Early last year Botswana suspended bilateral cooperation with North Korea “as the result of the threat posed by that country to international peace and security.”

Gaborone’s decision comes after a hard-hitting UN report detailed “extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions and other sexual violence” in the nucleararmed totalitarian state.

“Botswana wishes to convey its heartfelt sympathies to the people of North Korea who are currently subjected to inhuman treatment under the leadership of Kim Jong-Un.”

Iran, world powers map out agenda for final nuclear accord world powers and Iran StalksIXstrived at a second day of in Vienna yesterday to map out a broad agenda for reaching a ambitious final settlement to the decade-old standoff over Tehran’s nuclear program.

The United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany want a long-term agreement on the permissible scope of Iran’s nuclear activities to lay to rest concerns that they could be put to developing atomic bombs.

Tehran’s priority is a complete removal of damaging

economic sanctions against it.

The negotiations will probably extend at least over several months, and could help defuse years of hostility between energy-exporting Iran and the West, ease the danger of a new war in the Middle East, transform the regional power balance and open up major business opportunities for Western firms.

“The talks are going surprisingly well. There haven’t been any real problems so far,” a senior Western diplomat

said, dismissing rumors from the Iranian side that the discussions had run into snags already. The talks were expected to run at least into Friday morning, Western diplomats said.

The opening session on Tuesday was “productive” and “substantive”, they said.

“The focus was on the parameters and the process of negotiations, the timetable of what is going to be a medium- to long-term process,” one European diplomat said.

“We don’t expect instant results.”

Thursday, February 20, 2014 13

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Focus Delta counts blessings, losses in health sector Delta State has made spirited efforts to improve its health sector by putting many schemes in place. But despite making significant progress, deep challenges still remain, reports ROTIMI LAWRENCE OYEKANMI he Finger of God, as Delta state is fondly T referred to, has been an intense subject of debate since August 27, 1991, when retired

Delta State’s governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan (right) with other medical doctors as they prepare to perform a surgery on a patient recently tis – 7 percent; respiratory tract infections – 7 percent; neonatal sepsis – 6 percent; protein energy malnutrition – 3 percent and birth asphyxia – 7 percent.

Others include: tetanus – 2 percent, surgical complications – 1 percent; meningitis – 3 percent; prematurity – 1 percent; febrile convulsion – 4 percent and others – 20 percent.

According to the ministry, a total of N1.2 billion has so far been expended on the programme.

Besides, the state government, it noted, provided “appropriate electricity generating sets” to hospitals where dedicated, uninterrupted power supply was essential. Some of the departments under this category include maternity/labour wards and laboratory/children emergency units.

The state government’s rural health scheme also offered free treatment of patients with both medical and surgical conditions at no cost.

Under the scheme, 19, 974 patients registered in 2008, 19, 567 in 2009, 14, 879 in 2010, 24, 194 in 2011 and 19, 064 in 2012. “All the local government areas of the state,” the ministry declared, “have benefitted from this scheme, which has brought succour to many rural dwellers. The state government has so far expended N570 million within the period under review.”

On infrastructural development and procurement of modern equipment, the ministry explained that the state government has awarded contracts to the tune of N17.66 billion, out of which N8 billon has already been paid.

It explained: “It is pertinent to mention that the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara was commissioned by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on June 19th 2010. It has since been fully functional with an array of

“

foreign-based medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses, Information Technology experts and medical laboratory scientists. It has also made milestone achievements in Medicine, having recorded the first successful Knee Replacement Surgery in a public institution in Nigeria.

“In a few months’ time, DELSUTH would be undertaking the first Kidney Transplantation in a programme that has a huge Dialysis department for sustainable Renal Transplantation.

Furthermore, in the area of skill acquisition for patient care, DELSUTH is making in-roads at establishing an international Skill Acquisition Centre for Doctors; and Minimal Invasive Surgery well anchored in the Department of General Surgery for now.”

It added: “The State Government has embarked on a lot of capital projects involving construction, rehabilitation/renovation and equipping and re-equipping of the Hospitals and Health Centres in the state, as well as the Health Training Institutions. From 2007 - 2011, a total of 390 projects have been awarded to various contractors within and outside the state.

These projects cut across the three senatorial districts and affect the three tiers of Health Institutions; Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Health Institutions. (A total of) 248 have been completed, while others are at various stages of completion. The amount expended so far on hospital/ health centre Infrastructural Development is N4,614,507,203.80.

“Thus far, the state government has spent the sum of 5,463,776,470.82 on the procurement of equipment in our hospitals and health centres.

Our Mobile Field Hospital is already in very good use, especially during the flood incident of

It is pertinent to mention that the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara was commissioned by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on June 19th 2010. It has since been fully functional with an array of foreign-based medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses, Information Technology experts and medical laboratory scientists. It has also made milestone achievements in Medicine, having recorded the first successful Knee Replacement Surgery in a public institution in Nigeria

“

General Ibrahim Babangida’s administration carved it out of the old Bendel state.

Like many other states in the country with diverse tribes, it is not very common for Delta’s distinct Igbo/Anioma subgroups of Enuani, Ukwani, Ndokwa and Ika to agree easily with their Delta ethnic counterparts comprising Urhobo, Itsekiri, Ijaw and Isoko on any matter.

For instance, one of the contentious arguments still making the rounds, 26 years on, is that Babangida made Asaba the state capital under the influence of his late wife, Miriam, who is from that area. There are those who still complain of marginalization till date, due to the lack of development in their entities.

Yet, this Finger of God, in the real sense, has enough resources to go round. It has oil, in abundance. It has arable land, covering a whooping 762 square metres, and very good for agricultural activities too. It has, also, several able-bodied men and women, who have been dominating Nigeria’s sports arena for a very long time. There is Ogwashi – Uku, reputed to have the largest space for industrial development and then, Warri, the most popular and populated, which is believed to be the state’s economic nerve centre.

But there is a downside. The James Ibori saga has left a sour taste in the mouths of many patriotic Deltans, but recent events emanating from the state have also been soul lifting.

Delta state is one of the best places in the country to have and nurse a child at the moment. Since 2007 when the state government launched the Free Maternal Health Programme at the Central Hospital, Ughelli, pregnant and nursing mothers, who have been privileged to enjoy the free services, have had some of their fundamental health challenges solved.

The have enjoyed free ante-natal care, deliveries and caesarean sections (C/S) (which cost N100, 000 in some public hospitals). They have also enjoyed free laboratory tests, while those with complications of abortions have been taken care of. Blood transfusion services and management of ectopic pregnancies have also been rendered free of charge. According to the state’s Ministry of Health, the goal has been to reduce maternal mortality by more than 50 percent.

While more Deltans have been taking advantage of the state government’s largesse since 2007, some stakeholders have argued that the scope is not wide enough, when the state’s estimated population of 4.1 million is taken into consideration. But the health ministry provided its accumulated figures to show that many citizens have been reached, nevertheless.

For instance, more than 254, 000 women made ante-natal care (ANC) bookings between 2008 and 2012, while 836,544 others enjoyed routine ANC within the same period. Total baby deliveries totalled 116, 504, out of which 102, 910 were delivered normally, and 13, 594 through C/S. Sadly, perinatal deaths were 4, 933 while 407 maternal deaths were recorded during the same period. Also, the state government expended N1.8 billion on the initiative.

Under the Free Under Five Medical Care Program flagged off by the state government in May 2010, the ministry announced that free medical services were offered for all kinds of ailments affecting children who were five years and younger.

Specifically, a total of 82, 486 children, 76, 459 of which were outpatients, were treated in 2010, but 151 deaths were recorded. In 2011, 235, 957 children, 16, 621 of which were admitted were also treated. Some 552 deaths however occurred. In 2012, a total of 351, 106 children were attended to, but 644 of them died.

The causes of death were: Malaria – 27 percent; severe anaemia – 7 percent; gastroenteri-

2012. The Intensive Care Unit ambulances would soon be rolled out to strategic points in our highways as we eventually actualize our Emergency Medical Services for Delta State Dream.

“Two hundred and sixty four Primary Health Care Centres were built/rehabilitated at the total cost of 789 million. The State Government, having taken over the Eku Baptist Hospital in November 2009, has upgraded almost all the facilities. In fact, most of the hospital buildings were redesigned and reconstructed with modern aesthetics and facilities. The hospital has also been equipped with updated medical equipment to facilitate training of health care providers. This intervention has positioned the institution for specialized and quality health care service to the people of the area and the state at large. The Delta State Government has spent 2.649 billion so far.”

About N3.1 billion has also been expended on the Central Hospital, Asaba. Government hospitals in Uzere, Ubuluku, Onicha – Olona, Ogriegbene and Abigborodo have been completed.

The Ministry also showcased how it had been monitoring the activities of private hospitals in the state. It disclosed that a total of 129 facilities have so far been inspected, out of which 43 were sealed up as a result of quackery. Some 36 others were warned.

Many Deltans have also been granted financial assistance upon request for medical treatment both at home and abroad. Some N1.4 billion was spent in this regard.

With regard to the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF), which is saddled with the responsibility of providing the public hospitals with essential drugs, the ministry revealed that “the value of drugs and other pharmaceuticals goods supplied in the period under review was N3.9 billion. The corresponding revenue received during this period stood at N2.1 billion. These figures are inclusive of the supply and receipts in respect of the Free Maternal Health Programme, Free Under Five Healthcare Programme as well as the Free Rural Health Scheme of the State Government. The drugs quality assurance unit of the DRF has thus far continued to remain focused on its main objective of ensuring that drugs procured by this organization meet the pharmacopoeia recommended standard. A total number 62 drugs were analyzed in 2012 and out of these, nine failed the required test while 53 drugs passed.”

14

Thursday, February 20, 2014 www.ngrguardiannews.com

Return of ‘Koro’

By Tope Templer Olaiya, Assistant Lagos City Editor UESDAY’S clearance of Senator Musiliu Olatunde Ishola Obanikoro and nine other President Jonathan’s ministerial nominees by the Senate has established the reemergence of Obanikoro into Lagos politics.

As expected, the former High Commissioner to Ghana got a soft landing from his colleagues as he enjoyed the ‘bow and go’ treatment, but was after briefing his audience and the nation on some details about his life.

Obanikoro narrated his humble beginnings: From being a newspaper vendor in the streets of Lagos, to an apoti trader and a former cleaner, to his rise as a council chairman, commissioner, promotion to the Senate, an ambassador and now, a minister.

No doubt, the listing of Obanikoro as a ministerial nominee didn’t come as good news to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party in Lagos State, who have been forced to return to its strategy room for a proper analysis of the implications of a ‘Koro, as the minister-designate is called, coming onboard the federal cabinet, a year to the general elections.

For the Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obanikoro’s new national assignment is an acknowledgment of his previous excellent services to the nation.

In a statement, PDP stated that it is very proud of the former Ambassador and Senator.

“We thank Mr. President for nominating Senator Musiliu Obanikoro as Minister.

We particularly commend the president for allowing the state to have the benefit of the Southwest ministerial slot. Indeed, Senator Obanikoro is a tested and trusted public servant, whose ability to deliver is not in doubt,” statement reads.

The PDP also commended the Senate for rising above partisan politics by confirming the nomination of Obanikoro and nine others as ministers. The party noted that all the Senators unanimously suspended further debates on the issue of defection in order to confirm the nomi-

T

nees, thereby putting national interest over partisan politics.

While the APC vacillates on its choice of who succeeds Governor Babatunde Fashola, it is glaringly clear that the PDP would put its best foot forward and all indications point to Koro.

Many who witnessed the feverish 2007 governorship campaign involving Fashola, Obanikoro and Jimi Agbaje will not forget in a hurry the many violent scenes on the political fields across the state and would gladly not look forward to a repeat of such.

Of the many Obanikoro’s catch-phrase campaign slogans, Ko si Koro, ko si ibo, meaning ‘No Koro, no vote,’ comes to mind.

Tracing his long career in politics, which began in 1989 as a Caretaker Committee Chairman of Surulere Local Government under the National Republican Convention (NRC) and Chairman, Lagos Island Local Government, he was able to win Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s heart in 1999 because of his Lagos Island followership, when he was appointed Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture.

He was elected Senator for Lagos Central in April 2003, running for the Alliance for Democracy (AD), but later defected to the PDP. According to an APC stalwart, one reason he has not been able to come back to the progressives’ fold is that the manner in which he betrayed Asiwaju was drastic.

“He swore to Asiwaju even in Kabba, Mecca, that he will not go anywhere only for him to return to Nigeria and defect. It was a very difficult time for the party because that was the period former President Obasanjo seized Lagos council funds. Good for him that he has found a sort of solace in the PDP structure, from an ambassador to becoming a minister, but will he achieve his aim of ruling Lagos, it will be fight to finish,” said the stalwart.

Another APC chieftain at the Acme Ikeja secretariat recalls that Obanikoro’s campaigns are always violent. “You recall the incident at Oregun during his 2007 campaign where several women were shot at.

His coming as minister at this time is strategic. Already, there is a Lagosian in the cabinet in person of Aganga. We understand that the only reason they giving him the chance is strictly politics.”

Feelers from party men confided in The Guardian that Obanikoro’s nomination has made APC edgy in Lagos, as this is happening at a time there are some restiveness in Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA). FERMA has been hiring new recruits that are being drilled daily at their office at the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway old tollgate area in Lagos.

First to sound a note of warning on this development was the chief security officer of the state, Governor Fashola, who told newsmen recently that he doesn’t know the purpose of such mass recruitment by a parastatal under the Ministry of Works.

“If they are recruiting, what is the purpose? If they want to police federal highways, what is now the role of the FRSC? Have they appropriated funding for it because you can’t have an agency in a constitutional democracy without having appropriation for it in the budget? Or are you funding them with slush fund? Is it SURE-P money, meant for the development of Lagos State that is being used to do this?

“Again, you ask yourself, ‘what is the need for such a task force?’ There are about 10,000 roads in the state, out of which 6,000 belong to the state government. A little over 3,000 belong to the local government. Less than 120 belong to the Federal Government. So what do you need such a large army for, unless there are some ulterior motives? I hope we are not going back to the days of machetes,” Fashola said.

One of the theories flying around is that Chief Federick Faseun’s Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) is behind the FERMAtrainee project, considering his relationship with the Federal Government and the recent contract he won to police pipeline installations nationwide.

“The impression is that already, foot soldiers are being created for Obanikoro to use to engage Lagos in the next election. It has forced the APC to start getting prepared; that with the emergence of Obanikoro, we should expect more violence, more of pedestrian talk and cheap propaganda,” a source said.

The immediate hurdle to cross for the APC is the choice of a candidate on the basis of religion, which is a worry for party leaders. “If we choose a Christian candidate and Obanikoro enters the mosque,

Reliving the past with ‘Spirit of Lagos’

By Adeniyi Idowu Adunola EVERAL people would find it odd to Sis not hear that Lagos has a ‘spirit’. While it out of place to attribute a spirit to an emerging mega city such as Lagos, as it may conjure some diabolical feelings to some; but in reality, Lagos has a spirit.

A group already goes by the name ‘The Spirit of Lagos’ and they simply depict the essence of the commercial nerve centre of Sub-Sahara Africa. “It is the embodiment of all things good about Lagos and the very lifeline that connects its glorious past with its future that we dream of,” Olaniyi Omotosho, the project coordinator said.

Omotosho is worried that the once vibrant, enterprising, fun-loving and accommodating spirit, which Lagos is known for, has been challenged and diluted by a combination of factors. This is a problem the group is determined to address through a creative campaign.

The factors include widening gap between the government and the governed, poor quality of life, unemployment, high density/poor housing, education, healthcare, social/environmental services, which resulted in indifference and diminished sense of belonging towards communal development and sustainability.

“The initiative is to discuss the development possibilities that can make the city a better place for all to live in. It will probably be the most transformative thing to happen in this city in several decades. And it is only fitting to have it taking place in Lagos, the crown jewel of the Nigerian economy. Hopefully, its success will spur renewed focus, across the country, on ambitious, value-adding infrastructure projects,” he stated.

The group noted: “As apathy deepens over time and people do not see a way out, a state of contagious depression, cynicism and negativity results. They loose all sense of restraint and violate established laws with adverse effect on them and society at large.

“People become desperate and look to survive by any means necessary. Social values spiral down, as people stop caring for one another. This manifests in increased armed robbery, vandalism, lawlessness, road rage, kidnapping and others.”

The group believes that recourse to social justice, equal opportunity, civic responsibility, citizenship education and good neighborliness would address the issues.

Speaking on the subject of social justice, the group stated that Lagos historically has always been a fair and just place to live, both in terms of access to recourse for injustice and a collective responsibility to

fight wrong to an individual or group.

“History is replete with examples of these acts of liberation that make everyone ‘free’ in Lagos. These will be reenacted and presented to enliven Lagosians to a spirit that should never die through indifference and a lack of information of all that the government continues to put in place to ensure justice for all,” it explained.

Omotosho

Obanikoro

APC may kiss the election goodbye. On the issue of violence, we believe that the APC can take care of him.

“What may not be so clear is whether a Muslim versus Christian ticket would be decisive in Lagos. Christians within the APC have been saying that they have been voting for all our Muslim candidates in Lagos over the years.

“But in a year whereby you have a Jonathan also running as president, who is a Christian, there may be a way the Muslims may feel alienated in the state, having a Christian run at the centre and in Lagos,” another source concluded.

‘CDC is catalyst for grassroots development’ HAIRMAN of Mushin Local C Government, Olatunde Babatunde Adepitan, has described the Community Development Committee (CDC) as a catalyst for grassroots mobilization and development. He made this known during the inauguration of the newly elected executive members of the CDC. According to Adepitan, through the various Community Development Associations (CDAs) and the umbrella body, which is CDC, infrastructural needs of the community could be addressed and citizens can be mobilized to embark on projects that could improve the welfare of residents.

“Only people with track records of achievement, dedication and accountability in their various communities could have scaled the hurdle during the CDC election that took place some months back.

Adepitan thanked members of the CDAs for conducting themselves maturely during the election. He promised to support any community that embarks on projects that have direct impact on the communities.

“We are ready to assist any community that could start a project of immense benefit to their society, but they must have started and gone far on the project before we come in. Also, at the end of the year, during the CDA Day, we shall give handsome awards to the best CDA in Mushin.”

The CDC chairman in Mushin, Chief Rasheed Agbolade, promised to mobilize the residents for growth and development. He appealed to the council to provide utility vehicle for the CDC. He also sought the assistance of the local government on office accommodation and stipends for the CDC leadership.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, February 20, 2014 15

Lagosians heave sigh of relief as report says cell phone poses no health risk base stations.

“Thanks to the research conducted within the programme, we can now be much more confident about the safety of modern telecommuniAGOSIANS have expressed happiness and cations systems.” relief over the recent report that the use of The £13.6 million MTHR programme has been cell phone poses no health risk. jointly funded by the UK government and the “There is no evidence of mobile phones causing telecommunications industry. any health risks,” reports a UK’s largest proThroughout its existence, the programme has gramme of research into the possible link. been overseen by an independent committee to The finding followed 11 years of research conensure that none of the funding bodies could ducted by the Mobile Telecommunications and influence the outcomes of the research.

Health Research programme (MTHR).

Despite the findings, Professor Coggon warned It found that there is no evidence that the use of that there are still some questions to be mobile phones leads to an increased risk of can- answered about the impact of mobile phone use cer. on health.

It also found that there was no evidence that He said: “There is less uncertainty linked to exposure to mobile phone base station emismobile phone use now so we have much less reasions during pregnancy affects the risk of develson to be worried. oping cancer in early childhood.

“However, you cannot rule out the possibility Professor David Coggon, the chairman of either that something might happen in the longMTHR, said, “When the MTHR programme was term but not be manifested in the early years of first set up, there were many scientific uncertain- mobile phones, or that there us something subties about possible health risks from mobile tler that doesn’t show up in the studies that have phones and related technology. been done up until now.”

“This independent programme is now comThe MTHR has provided funding to set up a plete, and despite exhaustive research, we have new study, which will look at long-term mobile found no evidence of risks to health from the phone use. radio waves produced by mobile phones or their

By Godfrey Okpugie Deputy Lagos City Editor

L

The COSMOS study will follow 100,000 longterm mobile phone users to see if there are any delayed adverse effects linked to mobile phone use.

“The report has provided a relief to many Lagosians. This is because the city hosts the largest cluster of users of mobile phones in Nigeria and in fact, Africa,” said Mr. Joe Ukim, a surveyor in Surulere area of the city.

In a recent report, an average Lagosian carries at least two cell phones. This has been compressed to two sim cards in a dual cell phone.

Following this development, phone users in the metropolis are or were more exposed to radiofrequency and microwave radiation by the use of mobile phone.

United States based authors. Dr. Ronald klatz and Dr. Robert Goldman in their book: The New Anti-Aging Revolution: Stop the Clock, stated that the public and those who they trust with their health – their physicians – have, by and large, been left to scramble up a coherent review of the subject of the adverse effects of cell phone usage.

They stressed the need for consumers to be given the opportunity to know what potential health consequences they may experience as a result of using cell phone and, by all rights, should have the opportunity to make informed judgments as to whether they wish to continue such risk-related use.

Anther United States based public health expert, Dr. George Carlo noted in a published report: “We’re now in a gray area that we’ve never been in before with this. When we’re in a gray area, the best thing to do is let the public know about the findings so that they can make their own judgment.”

Klatz and Goldman further observed that because of the immense numbers of present and future phone users, some scientists and public health experts are worried that even if only a small percentage of the population are adversely affected by Radiofrequency (RF)/Electromagnetic (EM) waves emitted by cell phones, this could still equate to a public health issue of epidemic proportions.

A mid 1990 report stated that because the use of cell phone just began it might be around the year 2020 before a full-scale epidemic hits. Or it might not happen at all.

This expectation led to the thought in some quarters that each of us using mobile phones today must be aware that he or she is in the position of serving as an involuntary and unsuspecting test subject in an uncontrolled global experiment.

Recently, another disturbing dimension emerged to swell the fear that mobile phone

LAGOS ASSEMBLY DIARY

Lawmaker faults over-dependence on crude oil

By Wole Oyebade

EMBER of the Lagos State House of Assem- • House to look into fee hike protest by LASU students M bly, Yinka Ogundimu has blamed Nigethe lead by creating enabling environment has been abandoned and that is why our ria’s mono-economy and over-reliance on crude oil as the cause of high rate of unemployment in the country.

Ogundimu, in a chat with the press in Lagos, noted that crude oil and its attendant cheapmoney-syndrome led to the neglect of agriculture and manufacturing sector, which used to be the mainstay of the country’s economy with employment opportunities for the labour force.

Ogundimu, who represents Agege II Constituency, explained: “Overdependence on petroleum products is the major problem we are facing as a country because our past leaders were before now able to achieve greatly in terms of infrastructure with the little revenue they gathered from agricultural produce.

“Nigeria was once at the top in the world economy because of huge foreign exchange earnings from cocoa and other produce, but things have turned upside-down. Agriculture that used to be the mainstay of the economy

youth cannot secure good jobs after graduation and unemployment keeps swelling.”

Officially, unemployment rate in Nigeria is put at 25 per cent but this is believed in some quarters to be as high as 50 per cent. The government is the highest employer of labour.

To further worsen the situation, Ogundimu, who is the Vice Chairman, House Committee on Finance, said that high interest rate on loans in the country was crippling the manufacturing sector.

He advocated a downward review of interests, adding that only such would encourage entrepreneurs and young people to venture into business.

According to him, “There is need for the banks to support the people by reducing the interest rate. The current 23-25 per cent interest is frustrating businesses.”

He, however, stressed that the government alone could not solve the problem of unemployment, though the government must take

for business and entrepreneurship to thrive.

Ogundimu added that youth should also acquire useful skills that could create value and meet the needs of their immediate environment.

Deputy Speaker of the House, Kolawole Taiwo, who had difficult time receiving the protesting students on Tuesday, said that their grievance would be addressed in due course. He gave assurance that their matter would be top on the list of ‘matters of urgent public importance’ that the House would deliberate on upon resumption on March 3, 2014.

He commended the students for remaining law-abiding despite being aggrieved by the situation.

He said: “I want to assure you that the house would look into your complaints. We thank you for not taking laws into your hands. We shall do the needful,” Kolawole assured.

usage not only induces cancer but that phones carried on belts or in pants pocket may harm reproductive health and that men who talk on a cell phone using a Bluetooth device or other headset keep the phone in a pants pocket or clipped to a holster face this danger.

Again it was also stated online that it is dangerous to use a cell phone while it is being charged.

The New Indian Express, which reported it stated: “A 10-year-old boy from Dewas district, India, was seriously injured when a mobile phone, said to be of Chinese-make, exploded in his hand while charging.”

In November 2013, a Thai man was reported to have died from alleged electrocution while charging iPhone.

AppleInsider, in online report in November 2013 stated that a 28-year old Thai man was killed while lying shirtless on an iPhone 4s, which was charging with a “knockoff third-party” charger. The man’s father found him dead, with scorch marks on his chest. The cause of death was suspected to be electrocution.

In July 2013, a 23-year old Ma Ailun from Xinjiang, China, died when she answered a call on her iPhone 5, which was charging at the time.

Apple issued an apology, stating, “We are deeply saddened to learn of this tragic incident and offer our condolences to the Ma family. We will fully investigate and cooperate with authorities in this matter.”

The woman’s family insisted that, unlike the Thai man’s case above, she was using the original charger, purchased at an Apple store.

AppleInsider, however, described the woman’s charger as “an unofficial third-party adapter.”

Some reports of the incident point out that the woman answered the phone just after getting out of the bath, and that overloads and electrical failures are common in Xinjiang.

In July 2013, a week after the above incident, a 30-year old man was allegedly left comatose after being “suddenly shocked” while plugging in an iPhone 4.

As with the other incidents listed above, his adapter was described as “counterfeit.”

Apple reacted to the two electrocutions in July 2013, with a statement urging customers in China to avoid using counterfeit products, and instructions on how to spot real and fake Apple chargers.

Earlier, in September 2008, Apple had issued a recall for the iPhone 3Gs, stating that rare conditions could cause “risk of electric shock” to those who touched an exposed connection.

The recall was a proactive move by Apple, as no injuries were reported prior to the recall.

In virtually all the above incidents of people being shocked or electrocuted by cell phones plugged into the wall, a counterfeit or Chinesemade product of questionable quality was the culprit.

In the case of the Chinese woman, other contributing factors could have been the fact that the woman was wet along with common overloads in that region.

However, none of the recent incidents resulted from increased radiation, as the narrative in circulation claims, nor would a low battery be the cause for increased cell radiation.

Ukim said that many people who have no knowledge of science other than what they hear on the news believe that radiation from cell phone is dangerous to man.

Similarly, Lagosians, who have not experienced physical harm done by cell phone, always believe on what they hear or read in the media.

In view of this, the widely reported finding that ‘ there is no harm in cell phone use’ by the COSMOS, a body that was set up some years ago to investigate the possible health effects of long term use of mobile phones and other wireless technologies becomes a cheering news to many Lagosians.

The study measures particular characteristics of a population or group of individuals at the end of an event or intervention and compares them with those characteristics before the event or intervention. The study gauges the effects of the event or intervention. The collection of data on the cases and controls is defined before the study begins.

Though many reviews had concluded that there

TheGuardian

16 | Thursday, February 20, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience Nurtured by Truth

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

Editorial Reflections on the confab HE ovation that welcomed President Goodluck Jonathan’s national conference T remains loud and clear, and speaks volume of the premium placed on it by Nigerians. A few dissenting voices notwithstanding, the conference portends for the country and her people, a new beginning of some sorts that would address the prevailing errors, misgivings, injustice, and mutual distrusts. This euphoria may, however, have been moderated by the proclamation of the modalities for the conference

by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). That modus operandi of the conference announced by government has given rise to heated controversies and acerbic reservations injurious to the success of the conference or attainment of maximum result.

In the first instance, the question has arisen why 25 per cent of its members should be direct appointees of the Federal Government while 75 per cent others are selected representatives of other interests. This means that there is not a single elected representative is in the body set up to draft a new constitution for Nigeria in a democratic government. This has justifiably brought on the perception that the conference is hardly representative of Nigerians and lacks the legitimacy to design the way forward since ordinary Nigerians have no say in its composition. On this score, a conference of elected delegates thus seems preferable.

This is a critical issue that government cannot afford to gloss over if its efforts at the end of the day would not turn out a mere waste of time. No doubt, a conference of elected delegates is desirable but the lack of it does not totally remove from the significance of the conference at this time. It only calls for ingenuity on the part of government in the way it addresses the defect.

One way of doing this is to ensure that those who are selected are representatives of diverse backgrounds and viewpoints knowledgeable enough about and acceptable to the constituencies which they represent such that whatever opinion they express as individuals can be readily and unequivocally equated with that of their constituencies. This simply demands that nomination by the civil society groups, professional bodies and other interest groups should be diverse and broad-based to give a semblance of representation across board and of a wide spectrum of the society.

Admittedly, this may not be more than mere palliatives, far beneath the clout a conference of elected delegates would garner. But it would at least, calm frayed nerves.

Equally worrisome is government’s volte face on its policy of no “no-go-area”. All of a sudden, the mantra of no “no go area” to which so many had subscribed yielded ground to “Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable,” and that “there shall be no discussion along that line”. Granted, Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable but shouldn’t the basis of the unity be exhaustively and frankly examined? Why shouldn’t Nigerians be allowed to discuss the terms of the unity? Deeply implanted in the subconscious of every Nigerian is the indivisibility of Nigeria. No part wants to leave Nigeria in spite of all pretensions to the contrary, considering the advantages inherent in the unity and size of the union.

It is, therefore, highly unlikely that any group of Nigerians or a section thereof would call for the disintegration of the country at the conference. Why then make an issue of it by declaring it a “no go area” when without such a declaration, the conference by itself would not have dared? Also, the timeline of three months given the conference to round off would appear so ridiculous that government looks like a joke. It betrays this government’s poor understanding of the critical role the conference stands to play in the life of the country. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing less than six months would bring value out of the project as only such a period would be just and adequate for a meaningful deliberation.

On the contrary, what is surplus is the number of the delegates. It is clearly unwieldy and unnecessary and a recipe for confusion. It should be pruned down drastically beginning from the tribe of government’s nominees. Again, the requirement of 75 per cent consensus seems a tall order too and may be a clog in the wheel of progress.

Beyond these legitimate reservations are also the views expressed by pessimists who believe that the conference is programmed to fail and that it will not achieve anything. They see it in the mould of the earlier ones contrived for the attainment of selfish ends by the governments of the day. Truly, the precursor of the present conference right from Ibrahim Babangida’s government to Olusegun Obasanjo’s, gulped Nigeria’s meagre resources for nothing. This is a road Nigerians dread so badly and do not want to travel again. As such, any leader who charts a new course to Nigeria’s true nationhood would have written his name in gold.

This is where history beckons on President Jonathan. He can book a place in history through this conference by doing the right thing. He may elect to travel the old selfish way and thereby inherit, in one fell swoop, the consequences of all the failures of the past conferences. That would attract a harsh judgment by history. But it is good for him to elect to perch on the path of history. All it takes is to insulate the conference, its processes, its deliberations and its operation from the shenanigans of power play, partisan political consideration and struggle for political space between his party and the opposition. Basically, Jonathan’s focus must not be polluted by the politics of re-election. That is a danger he must flee.

LETTER

Voters, another call to honour How long shall we Ssive?IR:remain lethargic and pasNigeria is in ruins

prevented. A lot of Nigerians are begging on the streets for stipends that will enable them because we have not made take care of bad health. People use of our power to vote first- also beg for money in the rate, reliable leaders into print media so they can go for office. The consequence is medical treatment. that there is no middle class How long are we going to to any extent, only a wide gulf remain silent without trying between the haves and the to find justice and the fulfillhave-nots. How long are we ment of our dreams? Citizens going to wait while political are suffering so much and the figures lie, take what belongs cost of everything is so high. to us and watch us die? So The political class has not many people are dying every made life easy for those in the day from diseases that can be rural areas leading to the influx of people to the city How long are we going to with inadequate infrastrucremain silent without trying ture to take care of them. to find justice and the fulfill- Private schools are so expenment of our dreams? Citizens sive in the cities and access to education is denied families are suffering so much and who cannot afford outrageous the cost of everything is so fees. The social tribe of private high. The political class has school graduates will be the not made life easy for those ones to rule Nigeria someday we do not stem the tide in the rural areas leading to ifquickly. the influx of people to the city Leaseholders are in ruins with inadequate infrastruc- because of the abrasive manoeuvres by homeowners ture to take care of them. impose outrageous rents Private schools are so expen- who without control. What hapsive in the cities and access pened to all the promises to education is denied fami- made to us? The promise of lies who cannot afford outra- liberation from poverty and neediness? The promise of geous fees. The social tribe good healthcare, employment of private school graduates and quality life?

Who we can trust? Who do we will be the ones to rule Nigeria someday if we do not run to for justice when our homes are bombed, torched

stem the tide quickly

and people killed audaciously? Why is there no peace in our land? Has justice suddenly disappeared?

All of a sudden, people are indispensable even when they engage in wrongdoings as public officials. To whom must we appeal when police officers turn their guns loose on citizens? How swift will the state respond to atrocious jungle-justice that navigates through our lands every day?

Who are we going to hold responsible for bad governance and to provide us with solutions to the mounds of state and country challenges?

Who will provide us with secure homes, first-rate education for our children and stable wages?

The time to change Nigeria is now. It is our responsibility to vote the right people into office. Let us not be swayed by the deceit of office-seekers.

Never again are we going to be so diffident about politicians to deceive us with paltry amounts of money to buy our votes and mortgaging our children’s future. We will henceforth be counted to make a difference.

Do not waste your votes by voting for the wrong people and for the wrong reasons.

Only little minds do that.

• Simon Abah, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

17

Opinion Of defections and political prostitution

By Anthony Akinola NE major difference in the politics of the O advanced democratic nations and that of contemporary Nigeria is that one is highly “individualistic” while the other is still largely “communal.” By this, I mean there is a greater degree of independence in one than exists in the other. Whereas the divorce lawyer may not be summoned because a wife has chosen to hold a political view that is different from that of her husband, this may not be the case in a communal society where the choice made by one person could be taken, invariably, as the choice made by others. It is precisely because of this communal culture that the phenomenon of defections, i.e. crossing over from one political party to another, attracts the attention it hardly deserves.

When a key political actor has defected from one political party to another, there is a “bandwagon” effect helped by a very low level of political education as well as economic poverty on the part of others. I remember when my father, the late Chief Josiah Akinola Oisa was “coerced” into transferring his loyalty from the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) in the late 1950s, quite a number of erstwhile supporters of the party followed him to the ruling Action Group (AG)

in the then Western Region. He was quite an influential chief, very intelligent as he was equally principled and bold. However, the “regional government” threatened him with deposition if he did not switch loyalty. Deposition was, and still is, some kind of disgrace no one would wish for. My father reluctantly abandoned the political party he so much cherished, thanks to the intolerance of those in positions of power and authority. He was not given the option of being paid “a penny a year salary.”

Armed with what I observed as a very young child, I took exceptional interest in the phenomenon of defections during the Second Republic (1979-83). I was about arguing a thesis that the presidency would bring about a twoparty system in Nigeria, hence the excitement in an observation that members of minor political parties were defecting in large numbers to the then two relatively successful parties, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). I saw the development as a process of “party cross-breeding”. The termination of the then democratic experiment, not least because of the culture of election rigging, frustrated whatever outcome or conclusion one was anticipating.

There have been quite a few noticeable defections since political party activity resumed in

1999; however, the phenomenon of defections has never been as pronounced as it has been in the past couple of months. The internal crisis in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opened up a floodgate of defections, with as many as five governors as well as senators and representatives transferring their loyalty from the PDP to the new alternative political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Of course, the PDP has equally been benefiting from the spate of defections as well as allegedly “buying back” its fleeing members.

The ease with which our politicians change political party support clearly suggests that ideology is of little relevance in our politics.

Our politicians are divided by their greed and selfish interests than by anything else. Where there is commitment to ideology, a politician will not transfer his or her loyalty for the fear of competition by potential rivals. They will not be running from the political party they believed in for the fear that its structure could be hijacked by another. On the contrary, an ideologically-informed politician will remain in his or her party and sort out whatever problems might have arisen.

It will take quite a while for the Nigerian party system to stabilise. The party system is evolving, still some kind of work in progress. The one good thing to take from current observa-

tions is the potential for integration being exhibited by the presidency as a political institution. There will be those arguing for Nigeria to return to the parliamentary system of government which was practised in the First Republic, not least because it is believed to be less expensive than the presidential alternative. However, when it comes to the issue of political integration, I shall be one of those arguing that the presidential system should be accepted as having come to stay. A return to the parliamentary system will be a return to another era of ethnic political parties and the erstwhile culture of conspiratorial ethnic alliances. There is nothing to be nostalgic about in the practice of the parliamentary system as witnessed at the federal level of political governance until its deserved death on January 15, 1966. The emergence of the PDP and the APC, as broadbased political parties, has revealed the centralizing influence of the presidency and proved beyond reasonable doubt that there is no place for ethnic political parties in the current dispensation. A bit of tinkering with the constitution, especially at the level of leadership recruitment (rotating the presidency, for instance) could tame the spate of defections and political prostitution.

• Dr. Akinola, a political and public affairs analyst, lives in Oxford, United Kingdom.

Microeconomics of banking, high lending rates (2)

By Temitope Oshikoya • Continued from yesterday HERE are also non-price and other strategic variables that affect banks’ supply of credits. Facing a winner’s curse, a bank may consider lending to current customers more profitable than lending to new customers. Further, given their risk appetite and the opportunities presented in the treasury and foreign exchange markets, banks make more income from non-interest activities based on transactional banking, economies of scope and economies of scale. For some banks, portfolio of treasury bonds is about the same as credits portfolio. In some banks, non-interest income represents over 72 per cent of total income, with interest income accounting for less than a quarter of income.

Oligopoly, Banking Concentration and Higher Interest Rate The third observation is that banks, having charter or franchise value based on regulatory capital requirements, and the need to maintain banking stability, are not ordinary firms. Due to the specific nature of banks, the traditional microeconomics of industrial organization is quite limited in its application to the banking industry.

In the microeconomics of banking and finance, the discounted value of a bank’s expected future profits is equal to its charter value, which will be zero under perfect competition as they will not need to keep capital. Faced with the real world, the other banking and financial market structure such as oligopoly where there are entry barriers, the charter value becomes positive. The higher the charter value, the less need to take risk.

It has been suggested in some quarters that banks in Nigeria are over-concentrated and that breaking up the larger banks and allowing more banks to enter the market will improve efficiency, stability and reduce interest rates. There is no conclusive evidence to this suggestion, based on the theoretical arguments expounded above, empirical research studies, and actual global practices.

According to the Financial Stability Report of CBN, six of the 23 Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) dominate the Nigerian banking industry in terms of deposits and asset, with market share of 56.8 per cent and 59 per cent respectively. The largest bank’s share of assets and deposits was 13.57 per cent and 15.17 per cent in mid-2013.

A comparative study by OECD shows that banks are concentrated in most developed and developing countries. The six largest banks account for 90 per cent of total banking assets in Canada. South Africa’s four largest banks account for 80 per cent; it is 75 per cent for Australia’s largest bank; 67 per cent in Chile; and 95 per cent in Sweden. In Korea, three banks account for 52 per cent of assets, while in Turkey, five banks account for 60 per cent. Yet, lending rates in most of these countries are in

T

the single digits.

In terms of soundness of its banks, Canada ranked 1st among 134 countries; they are well capitalized, managed, and regulated. Canada was also the only G7 country that did not have a government bank bailout in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. The Canadian six largest banks have an average Non Performing Loans (NPL) of 0.3 per cent compared to over 10 per cent in Nigeria before AMCON and five per cent thereafter. In the era before banking consolidation with about 90 banks, lending rates and NPL ratios were even much higher.

Competition and Macro-prudential Stability The fourth observation is that in the banking industry there is a trade-off between competition and financial stability. In most other industries and markets, an increase in the number of firms tends to improve competition and efficiency. An increase in the number of banks in the face of information asymmetry would suggest that lower rated banks may have poor screening processes which ensure that relatively bad borrower would have access to credits and increasing overall NPL, with threats to financial stability. This observation is supported by the savings and loans debacle and the sub-prime loans in the mortgage market in the USA. In Nigeria, the current effort to rationalise and re-capitalise micro-finance banks, currently close to 900, is also a case in point. This problem is further compounded by the fact that the capacity of the regulatory and supervisory authority is often overstretched.

SMEs and Development Finance Access to and pricing of credits in SMEs banking are even more impacted by the issues of information asymmetry, adverse selection, moral hazard, backward bending supply curve of credits, and mismatch between short term deposits and long term assets.

SMEs have been acknowledged to be incubators of innovation, sources of employment generation, and seedbed of new products and services. Yet, financing for SMEs by commercial banks has been very limited relative to financing to large corporates. It should be acknowledged that the mid-tier banks appear to consider SMEs as an important niche market segment and provide relationship banking to this segment.

The lending rates to SMEs should proximate those of corporates, without the signalling effects, information asymmetries, high screening and monitoring requirements, and network externalities. Moreover, non-performing loans tend to be much higher within the SMEs banking compared to retail/consumer banking, public sector banking, and corporate banking, partly due to higher lending rates and other factors identified within the microeconomics of banking.

SMEs require more long-term financing at single digit lending rates, compared to current short-term credits provided at very high rates. The CBN’s Financial Stability Report shows that

Credit maturing within one year accounts for 57 per cent of total credits; those with longer term greater than three years accounts for less than a quarter. On the other hand, short-term deposit with maturity of less than one year accounts for 97 per cent of total deposits; those with maturity of 30 days account for 75 per cent.

Due to credit rationing and assets mismatch, SMEs financing by commercial banks will likely not fill the huge credit requirements of this essential sector of the economy. On average, loans and advances to SMEs business are less than 15% of total loans and advances of the commercial banks.

The huge deficits between the credit needs of and credits supplied to SMEs by commercial banks are likely to be better filled through other financial instruments, institutions, and markets. Private equity, venture capital, capital markets, and development finance are more suitable to fill the gaps in long-term finance.

In some countries, specialised banks source long term funds through the capital markets, government funding, and development finance institutions, which are intermediated through the commercial banks and or directly to SMEs and for infrastructure. The Business Development Bank of Canada, Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa, China Development Bank, and Brazil Development Bank play this catalytic role.

Conclusion The supply curve of credits may not be upward sloping, as banks refuse to provide credits even at high lending rates by rationing credits. High lending rates of commercial banks may serve as a signalling mechanism and barrier to entry in the credits market. Furthermore, due to assets mismatch, the commercial banks may not fill the credit requirements of SMEs, which require more long term financing at single digit lending rates.

The gaps in financing for SMEs can be filled through a developmental approach. This is critical given the inherent limitations of commercial banks with the understanding of the microeconomics of banking, and realizing that financial markets are imperfect, and not self-correcting, there is a role for a developmental state in financing SMEs. References CBN, Financial Stability Report 2013 CBN, Published Figures on Deposits and Lending Rates by Commercial Banks, January 2014 OECD (2010), Competition, Concentration, and Stability in the Banking Sector Xavier Freixas and Jean-Charles Rochet (2008), Microeconomics of Banking, MIT Press.

• Concluded.

• Oshikoya, Ph.D, is an economist and a chartered banker.

18

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Opinion Traditionalists deserve representations

By Victor Oshisada N this country, we do not value what we have.

The very moment that we value what we have, that very moment we shall discard the toga of under-development. Simply put, in all the strata of our cultural heritage, ranging from mode of dressings to hairstyles and the names that we bear, our culture is not considered – we do not value our cultural identity. But with time, this Europhile tendency shall pass into oblivion.

That the tendency is a passing phase was manifested recently as published in The Punch, February 10, 2014. The headline of the news-story read: “National Conference: Traditional worshippers protest exclusion”. The protest is in accordance with their Fundamental Rights as provided under Section 38, sub-sections 1 to 4, of the 1999 Constitution (As amended). By their protests, they are on the right track. The story read that the Practitioners of African Traditional Religion protest their exclusion by the Federal Government from the impending National Conference. Their argument: “Their exclusion would haunt the country in many years to come”. In many respects, this is bound to be so.

In the country, there are the Christians, the Muslims and the African traditional religionists. If the first two are represented, why not the third? Their exclusion smacks of gross injustice.

The first two were “imported”, in a manner of speaking. The implication of this statement is that traditional religion in this country existed before the advents of the previous two. Why the unfair preferential treatment? The issue may sound trivial. In many countries of the world, however, it is this type of triviality that triggers off countervailing responses of conflict among the citizens and from the adherents. Therefore, this writer is inclined to reason that the exclusion of the practitioners of African traditional religion is a very serious omission. Three reasons probably account for their exclusion.

First, it is thought that the traditional practitioners are falling into extinction. So, it is believed that they are inconsequential who cannot be reckoned with, because of their being a “tiny minority.” This viewpoint is misplaced. Traditionalists are increasingly gaining international recognition. This fact shall be proved below.

Second, most of the traditionalists are regarded as “stark illiterates” so to speak. This is not

I

absolutely true, because Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Free Education Policy in the SouthWest has rubbed off upon them. It tremendously makes literates of the illiterates. If the rank-and-file members are ill-educated, there are university egg-heads among them as their leaders, such as the former Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof.

Wande Abimbola; President of International Council for Ifa (African) Religion, and Dean, School of Earth and Mineral Sciences at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof.

Idowu Odeyemi and also, Otunba Gani Adams of Oodua People’s Congress. He cannot be brushed aside in original thinking. With these stars in the galaxy, therefore, the Africanists are not absolutely bereft of first class brains to be excluded in the National Conference.

Third, it is erroneously believed that the traditionalists are docile and complacent; that they usually resign their predicaments to fate, as they cannot raise a finger in protest of any ugly treatment of relegations to the background.

Again, this writer believes that Life is mobile; people change with the change of time. Their toga of complacency can be cast off to challenge their tormentors. They must not relent in making themselves relevant in the affairs of this country.

Do the African traditional practitioners really deserve representation at the National Conference? I believe that they really deserve to.

If they are Nigerians who vote at elections and perform their civic duties, why are they not entitled to representations? They constitute part of the 160 million population and perform useful services to the communities to which they belong. In terms of moral decency, as opposed to decadence, most of these polytheists are Nigerians of upright character; to them, corruption is an anathema. The monotheists who serve in various governments at different levels, have the history of profligacy and dishonesty, having been sworn in with their respective Holy Writs to be of good behaviour. I am not saying that there are no depraved elements among the polytheists, but that the percentage is comparatively low, because of their fear of the dire consequences of any misdeed.

Some years back, precisely in June, 2010, the Benin Monarch, Omo N’Oba Erediauwa reportedly invoked curses on criminals and kidnappers that made Edo State to be uncomfortable.

Barely 24 hours thereafter, those who were in-

Some years back, precisely in June, 2010, the Benin Monarch, Omo N’Oba Erediauwa reportedly invoked curses on criminals and kidnappers that made Edo State to be uncomfortable. Barely 24 hours thereafter, those who were involved in crimes visited the Palace to beg for atonement. A race or country where respect for its culture is at a discount, is distancing itself from civilization. Another example of the usefulness of the traditional religionists was the attempted assassination of the late Senator Abraham Adesanya, when the bullets were unable to penetrate his car’s rear wind-screen. By excluding the traditional religionists, it is another example of disdain for our cultural heritage. And it may open a can of worms which the Federal Government may not be able to control.

Nigerians are brain-washed into systematically dispensing with our heritage. volved in crimes visited the Palace to beg for atonement. A race or country where respect for its culture is at a discount, is distancing itself from civilization. Another example of the usefulness of the traditional religionists was the attempted assassination of the late Senator Abraham Adesanya, when the bullets were unable to penetrate his car’s rear wind-screen. By excluding the traditional religionists, it is another example of disdain for our cultural heritage. And it may open a can of worms which the Federal Government may not be able to control. Nigerians are brain-washed into systematically dispensing with our heritage.

By excluding the polytheists from representation, the Federal Government is denigrating our culture to venerate foreign one, whereas our Constitution prohibits State Religion. The exclusion is in breach of Chapter 1, Part 2, Section 10 of 1999 Constitution (as amended): “The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion.” Is the exclusion not the beginning of the adoption?

It is a delightful irony, as we denigrate our culture, many appreciating people from the United States of America (USA), Brazil, Argentina and other parts of South America visit our country in veneration of our polytheism. I am aware of those who come to be initiated as Babalawo in Yorubaland. Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, the Araba Ifa of Oshogbo can bear me out.

For in The Guardian, January 11, 2014, he was reported to have crowned one Dr. Angel William Viera Bravo, a medical practitioner, with the conferment on him as the Araba Ifa of Havana.

Dr. Bravo was the Oluwo of Havana with large followers of Ifa priests. It was in recognition of

his efforts at promoting Orisha worship in Cuba.

Similarly, in Ode-Remo, Ogun State, under Kekere Awo, Araba Ifa, Adesonya Awoyade, the Ifa priests regularly receive Black Americans for initiations into the priesthood. Further, many senior citizens of this country can remember the 1977 Festival of Arts And Culture (FESTAC) which many Blacks in the Diaspora attended at the time of General Yakubu Gowon. The festival served positive purposes; one of which was that it demonstrated what Blacks could contribute to world civilisation and advancement. Therefore, if foreigners are embracing our culture, why are we shying away from it? Further, some years back, The Punch published a Whiteman Babalawo who was recording success in his practice and was training other apprentices. By the way, what stops traditional worshippers (Babalawo) from becoming Presidents, if Christians and Muslims have attained the status and disappointed us? There is the prospect of Nigeria becoming better under them – without corruption and violence.

It is a parody of Conference, if all segments are not represented. With the foregoing narratives, my contention is that we must not discount what others are embracing. It is imperative that the Federal Government has a re-think by the inclusion of the African religionists in the National Conference. It is not a threat that failure to include them can open a can of worms which may be beyond control.

• Oshisada, a veteran journalist, lives at Ikorodu, Lagos State.

A toast to Onaiyekan at 70

By Bamiduro Fatosa IS coming to Isanlu was not foretold, but Reverend Father H Onaiyekan’s entry shone around like the glory of the Lord that everybody knew he brought messages: the normal good tidings of great joy; to change the status quo ante of the clergy.

Before Onaiyekan’s arrival, the clergy was like a pool of used and abandoned men, the scum of the earth; scullions in the kitchen of men that they (clergy) proudly referred to as houses of the Lord. Not even Catholic churches around Isanlu had among them the young.

My itinerary saw me in his living room in Abuja on January 2; John Cardinal Onaiyekan walked briskly, straight and with dignity to shake my hand. He had a long bright red cap that made me think he had been given an Igbo title. He looked papa in the cap and mature. His skin sun tanned, but retained the attributes of the youth. His hand was strong, his voice unchanged: soft and melodious. His mind nimble as he recalled names and remember faces. He was jovial and could hold anyone like the Ancient Mariner. The Cardinal could pass for a 50 year-old man. It is hard to believe that the man has joined the septuagenarian club. It is difficult to think that those Kizito years were over 40. How time flies!

In the parade that lived or visited Saint Kizito’s College, Isanlu those years were Bishop Makozi from Lokoja, Reverend Fathers Champagne (the principal of Saint Kizito’s College, Isanlu), Delislie (the Isanlu parish priest), Leblanc (a Kizito teacher).

Others from Kabba (hometown of Reverend Father Onaiyekan) were Roi (Saint Augustine’s College principal), Mofolorunsho and several others my memory fails to remember their names.

One thing was common to all these men and a few women of God: Old age. This did not preclude the protestant outside St. Kizito’s College, Isanlu. The clergy, there was, but nobody wished to be a member. It was like going to the Polar region, where no one wants to live.

Suddenly, Reverend Father Onaiyekan blazed into Saint Kizito’s College, Isanlu with a silent-loud message: to change the thinking of the old and the young towards the clergy. John was young, trim, slim, clean and pure as a morning flower that just blossomed, the white cassock accentuated his fair complexion; he was handsome and would dazzle any lady, but as Yoruba will say: Oti kekere moju Oluwa, and above all he was forthright and intelligent.

His students can attest to his brilliance. He had his hands in the Arts as well as in the Sciences. Students of Saint Kizito’s College of old nicknamed their teachers with errors they committed, but John was Father Onaiyekan. He is the beacon light that Jerome Bello (now late) one of his students followed to become a reverend father.

A brief of the part of the elephant I touched: A morning there was when Reverend Father Onaiyekan finished a 30-minute religious class with us and was going to his residence in the school. I ran after him to ask if the names of towns he mentioned that we were tracing in the map of Palestine (a religious map supplied with our Bible) were the same with the one in my

Phillips’ Modern College Atlas for West Africa that we used for our Geography class? The soldier of God said, yes. I asked another: Are these places, Jerusalem, Galilee, Jordan, Samaria etc not in heaven? The Father said No; he went on a spiritual discourse that made me take a stand, where now I am.

The Catholic Church struck us with brevity of goodness, as Onaiyekan was not left for long in St. Kizito’s College. He was taken away to a place we knew not. Never were we close to the fathers like we were to Father Onaiyekan.

About 12 years later, we met at the foyer of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ilorin. He was then the Bishop of Ilorin, where we exchanged pleasantries. I had then grown tall to his height and slim like him, but he was unchanged: still like Reverend Father Onaiyekan of St. Kizito days. God showered him with favour. He was still gracious like he was in his Kizito years. Some who saw us thought that we were peers!

My itinerary saw me in his living room in Abuja on January 2; John Cardinal Onaiyekan walked briskly, straight and with dignity to shake my hand. He had a long bright red cap that made me think he had been given an Igbo title. He looked papa in the cap and mature. His skin sun tanned, but retained the attributes of the youth. His hand was strong, his voice unchanged: soft and melodious. His mind nimble as he recalled names and remember faces. He was jovial and could hold anyone like the Ancient Mariner. The Cardinal could pass for a 50 year-old man.

It is hard to believe that the man has joined the septuagenarian club. It is difficult to think that those Kizito years were over 40. How time flies!

Join me in toasting to the health of this Okun man, the liberator, the preacher, the teacher, His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan as he turns 70. May your star never grow dim, sir. Aase Wa!

Thursday, February 20, 2014 19

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

TheMetroSection Fear of fuel scarcity grips Lagos

Briefs ASIS holds lecture today HE monthly business T meeting and lecture of American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), Chapter 206, Lagos holds today at noon at Hall 3, Protea Hotel Westwood, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

According to the Secretary, Innocent Enubuje, the topic for this month’s lecture is “The Role of Law in Promoting Economic Growth in a Developing Country: Nigeria in Focus while the speaker is Prof.

Oyelowo Oyewo of Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG).

The meeting, which is sponsored by Proton Security Services Company Limited, will also afford the members to review the activities of 2013 in projecting for 2014.

Akporobaro passes on HE death has occurred of T Mrs. Emireno Paul Akporobaro of Adaza community in

A long queue at a Filling Station at Gbagada, Lagos...yesterday

By Isaac Taiwo HE fear of petrol scarcity is heating up the Lagos metropolis again and the possibility of vehicle owners buying at higher prices and commuters paying more for transport fare, as against what they used to pay, is rising among Lagosians with the appearance of long queues in many filling stations.

The fear was almost corroborated few days ago, when mini buses plying Oshodi-Mile 2 began to charge arbitrary fares. Some of them suddenly raised the fare from Oshodi to Toyota that under normal circumstances would attract N50.00 to N100.00, leaving commuters who could not afford the fare stranded at the bus-stop.

The N150.00 fare to Mile Two was equally raised to N200.00 with commuters who were caught unawares co-operating not to enter the buses.

Of course, the sudden change and increase in fares turned out to be a big surprise. While those who were in a hurry and without an option rushed

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PHOTO: CHARLES OKOLO

to enter, those who did not prepare for the sudden change began to complain and had to wait till they were able to find those vehicles that would charge regular fares.

“What is happening again and why this sudden increase. We know we are always at the mercy of these transporters, but at least, reasons should be advanced for the sudden increase in transport fare.”

“I am not prepared for this and so would have to wait until I can find someone who would be considerate enough to accept what I have. Candidly, I did not budget for this,” a commuter began to murmur.

As at yesterday, when The Guardian went round to investigate the situation of things, it was discovered that some filling stations were not actually selling despite the fact that entrances to their filling stations were opened. Paradoxically, few that were selling instead of having the usual long queue at their feeling stations had scanty buyers.

At Majok Oil Limited, Ladipo, Oshodi, it was as if the attendants were on holiday

as the entrances to the filling station were left open without a single buyer inside. Yet, the usual signboard turning back buyers was not displayed.

Around the Ikeja area only the FP filling station on Airport Road was dispensing fuel and car owners passing through the station quickly grabbed the opportunity to stop over and buy fuel, as the queue was already building up.

At YTK Petroleum, Oshodi, few buyers were noticed with attendants dispensing fuel to them.

At Adonai Petroleum Station, Charity, Oshodi, vehicles were being turned back that there was no fuel, while the attendants converged at a point where diesel was being sold.

Speaking to The Guardian, one of the female attendants said that they had no fuel and she could not tell when they will get fresh supply.

She, however, said that diesel was available that petrol was the problem.

The Guardian also visited Fortex Oil Petrol Station where scanty vehicles were being attended to in the station.

When asked to comment on the loom-

ing scarcity, another male attendant who would not reveal his name said: “Indeed, there was scarcity. What you see us selling is our new supply.”

Transport fare from Iyana Ipaja to Oshodi as at yesterday still remained at the normal rate and the BRT popularly known as “Fashola” were still charging their normal fare of N70.00 to Oshodi, the mini buses that used to charge N100.00 to Oshodi were still collecting the normal fare, too.

But a female private car owner, who felt the pinch of the scarcity yesterday, feared that if the situation continues like that today things might become worse.

“I went round all the filling stations where I used to buy fuel but all their gates were locked in the Agege and Ikeja area, but I was lucky to join the queue that was just building up at the FP filling station on Airport Road to buy fuel. I hope this situation does not continue like this, otherwise it is going to bring more hardship on commuters and car owners alike.”

Traditional rulers urge NDDC to revive PSD Forum • As NDDC boss pays condolence visit to Oba of Benin HE Association of TradiT tional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON) has called for the reactivation of

the Partners for Sustainable Development (PSD) Forum, which serves as the clearing-house of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

Court fixes March 18 for trial of former Lagos Trade Fair employees

By Yetunde Ayobami Ojo USTICE Kudirat Jose of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, Jformer Tuesday fixed March 18 for commencement of trial of five staff members of the Lagos International Trade Fair

Complex who allegedly stole N274 million belonging to their employer.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Bassey Eyamba, Francis Dajilak, Lazarus Okocha, Barnabas Kolo and Eunice Okafor on a 20-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

All defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The EFCC counsel, Mr Anslem Ozioko, alleged that the defendants fraudulently obtained various sums of money belonging to their employer by renting and selling some plots of land owned by the complex.

He said defendants committed the offences between January 2009 and December 2011 in Lagos.

According to him, the alleged offences contravene Sections 390 (6) and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2003.

Justice Jose, therefore, adjourned trial till March 18, 2014.

The royal fathers made the call on Tuesday when they paid a courtesy visit to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Office of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Bassey Dan-Abia at its headquarters in Port Harcourt.

The paramount ruler of Ngbirichi in Imo State and the national chairman of TROMPCON, Eze Akuwueze Ikegwuruka, said that the PSD Forum was an important organ for bringing all the stakeholders under one umbrella to aid the process of harmonizing development projects as enunciated in the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan (NDRDMP).

Ikegwuruka said that TROMPCON was concerned about the increasing incidence of oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta. To put a stop to this development, he said that the group was planning to host an international conference to address the issue.

He assured the Federal Government and the NDDC of their “commitment to creating the

enabling environment for the execution of various development projects in the Niger Delta Region.”

Addressing the royal fathers, the NDDC Managing Director, Dan-Abia, said that the new governing board of the commission had approved the reactivation of the PSD Forum. He said that the NDDC management has realized the importance of the forum, which brings together representatives of federal and state governments of oil-bearing states, youth and women leaders, traditional rulers as well as the organized private sector, civil society, the mass media and international development agencies such as the UNDP and the World Bank.

Dan-Abia assured the traditional rulers that the commission would not relent in providing sustainable development despite funding constraints.

He promised that the new board would work as a team, emphasizing accountability and transparency, in line with the mandate given to it by President Goodluck Jonathan.

In another development, the management of NDDC, last Friday visited the palace of the Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa to commiserate with him over the death of his eldest wife, Oloi Esther Omoyenmwen Erediauwa, the Eson N’Erie of Benin kingdom.

The team sympathized with the monarch and the people of the entire Benin kingdom.

The Managing Director, who was represented by the Executive Director Projects, Tuoyo Omatsuli, said NDDC had always counted on the blessings of the royal family and was, therefore, pained by the loss of the motherly support of the late queen.

Dan-Abia prayed God to give the Oba and his family the fortitude to bear the great loss. He described the late Oba’s wife as a true mother who demonstrated her love and care for all, adding that her legacies would endure for a long time.

Responding, the Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council, Chief Frank Irabor, thanked the NDDC team for their visit.

He assured them of the continued blessings of the Oba.

Emede kingdom of Isoko South Local Council of Delta State. She died on February 1, 2014.

A stament by Simie Robaro Akporobaro on behalf of the family said: “A Christian wake holds on Thursday, February 27 at No. 5, Obaruo Street, Adaza community at 6.00p.m. She will be buried on Friday, February 28.”

She is survived by eight children and three grandchildren among whom is Ogbes Paul Akporobaro of Princeton Educational Services.

Akporobaro

Ajayi, 103, passes on UNERAL rites for the Senior Ftianah Mother-In-Israel, ChrisOluwakemi Ajayi (nee Awodunmila), who died at the age of 103, begin on Friday, February 22, with a Christian wake at No. 2, Odo-Ile Street, Ipele- Owo, Ondo State at 5.00p.m.

She will be buried on Saturday, February 22, after a funeral service at St. Matthew’s United Church of Cherubim and Seraphim Organisation, Oke Bola Quarters, Ipele-Owo, at 11.00a.m.

Ajayi

20 Thursday, February 20, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, February 20, 2014 21

Business Reps fault CBN’s 9% rate offer to MFBs From Terhemba Daka, Abuja HE House of T Representatives, yesterday, expressed worry over the nine per cent lending rate fixed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Micro-Finance Banks in the country.

The CBN, at its seventh Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Finance Conference held in Abuja recently, announced that it has set aside N220 billion as fund from which micro finance banks could borrow at nine per cent interest rate and in turn lend to MSMEs. The CBN Governor stated that the fund, specifically made

provision for micro-credit which has been identified as a way to combat the prevalent high poverty rate in the country and empower Nigerians to embark on ventures that would enable them become self employed.

But the parliament, at its Wednesday session (yesterday) said that "the nine per cent lending rate ceiling fixed by the CBN seems rather high, considering the group of people the fund is meant for, who are mainly artisans, small farmers engaged in subsistence farming and small scale business owners."

Further expressing concern, the chamber lamented that

"despite the fact that microfinance banks are currently charging between 30 and 40 per cent as interest, the CBN has granted them powers to fix the rate of interest when they lend to industrialists, a situation that, if not properly monitored, may be abused and defeat the aim of the scheme," Following this development, the House mandated its committee on banking and currency to liaise with the CBN to ensure adequate monitoring of the N220 billion for microfinance banks across the country.

It further directed the apex bank to liaise with the rele-

vant associations of microfinance banks in the disbursement of the funds, saying efforts should be made for easy accessibility of the funds by intended beneficiary, including the 60 per cent reserved for women, at minimal interest rate.

This came following the adoption of a motion introduced on the floor of the chamber by Patrick Ikhariale (PDP, Edo) who expressed concern that if not properly monitored, the high interest rates would defeat the aim of the scheme.

Ikhariale had also expressed the need for the CBN "to closely and carefully monitor the

Central Bank Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi (centre) welcoming President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Remi Bello (left) and Deputy President, Dr. Mrs. Nike Akande who paid him a courtesy call in his office, on Tuesday.

DPR sanctions marketers for hoarding fuel

By Roseline Okere and Sulaimon Salau HE Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), yesterday, meted out sanctions to erring petroleum marketers who were caught hoarding Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, among other sharp practices.

Besides, black marketers where also capitalising on the scarcity to sell a litre of fuel for between N120 to N150, according to investigation by The Guardian.

The Guardian visit to some filling stations in Ago and Ikeja area of Lagos, showed that some filling stations were locked out for business.

The petroleum industry watchdog embarked on a monitoring exercise across Lagos metropolis yesterday in view of the current scarcity, and discovered that some marketers were capitalizing on the shortage in the system to profiteer through illegal means.

While some filing stations were under-dispensing, others were found hoarding

T

•Black marketers sell fuel for N150 products. Indeed, the DPR compelled some of the marketers to begin selling of products immediately and sealed those that failed to comply with the immediate directives.

The filling stations found wanting included Capital Oil Plc and Kings Petroleum at Okota axis of Lagos, which were sealed up. Conoil filling station and Seabird petroleum were found hoarding 13,500 litter and 8,500 litters accordingly, which were compelled to be sold immediately.

Rainoil filling station was caught rationing products and under-dispensing, while others such as Amonota, Star Oil, Oando, Fort Oil, Total and Propel along Lagos-Abeokuta Express road were out of stock.

The Head Operations, Lagos Zonal office, DPR, Adekunle Soyebo, who led the inspection team, berated the act of hoarding, which he described as economic sabo-

tage.

Soyebo said the DPR would have sanctioned many more stations that were caught with sharp practices but decided to warn them due to the situation at hand, while others that were adamant got sanctioned accordingly.

According to him, the DPR has confirmed that the scarcity was artificial, and it would continue to ensure compliance at the filling stations and depots across the country.

“A lot of filling stations were hoarding fuel. We know we have enough fuel at the depots to go round, but we found that some are hoarding. This exercise will continue till the normalcy returns to the system, and the DPR is ready to sanction more marketers and seal more depots that are found wanting,” he said.

A consumer, Kunly Ajayi condemned hoarding and urged the authority to keep strict monitoring on the marketers, to save the masses. “Its

unfair, why are we punishing ourselves. I really appreciate what DPR has done today, but they should be doing regular monitoring and roll out their contacts at every filling station so that consumers could direct reports to them directly when necessary,” Meanwhile, Mobil, Total, Oando along Lawanson/Tejuosho road in Lagos were locked against sales of petroleum product with the excuse of non-availability of petroleum product.

Also, Petroleum Manager along Oshodi Apapa Expressway and Acorn filling station along Ikotun Ejigbo Road were not selling as well.

The situation has resulted to increase in the price of petrol. At Ago Palace way area of Lagos, a litre of fuel from the black now sells between N120 to N150 from the black market.

Also, major petrol stations in some parts of Edo state Auchi, Etsako-West Local Government Area of Edo, have closed down for business following fuel scarcity in the area.

implementation of the scheme in order to prevent corrupt practices by bank owners or their privies who may appropriate funds."

"The fund was aimed at addressing the financial challenges experienced by MSMEs, notwithstanding its intention, there are obvious hurdles envisaged in its implementation," he said, adding that "the fund, according to

the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would be made available to Participating Financial Institutions (PFI), thereby improving their capacity to meet the credit needs of MSME. Members when put to vote by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over the session, unanimously adopted the motion.

NB, Dangote Cement lift NSE’s market capitalisation by N124b

By Helen Oji QUITY transactions on the floor of Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed in an upbeat yesterday, following price gains by major bluechip companies, especially Nigerian Breweries (NB) and Dangote Cement as market capitalisation of listed equities improved by N124 billion.

Specifically, at the closed of transactions yesterday, the value of equities increased from N12.530 trillion recorded on Tuesday to N12.654 trillion.

Also, the NSE All Share Index (ASI) grew by 424.53 basis points to 39397.09 points from 38972.56 points traded the previous day.

Further review of transactions showed that investors bought 303.346 million shares worth N3.804 billion in 5911 deals against 475.596 million valued at N4.224 billion traded by investors the previous day in 6074 deals.

E

On the price movement chart, Nigerian Breweries led gainers’ table, appreciating

by N4.50 kobo to close at N151.50 kobo, Dangote Cement followed with a gain of N3.00 to close at N238.00 while PZ Cussons added N1.77 kobo to close at N37.26 kobo.

International Breweries and Guaranty Trust Bank appreciated by N1.15 kobo respectively to close at N29.15 kobo and N25.91 kobo.

On the other hand, Total Nigeria Plc topped losers’ chart, shedding N6.99 kobo to close at N173.00, Guinness Nigeria Plc trailed with a loss of N2.40 kobo to close at N180.00 while Unilever Nigeria Plc depreciated by N1.30 kobo to close at N50.00.

Other stocks that depreciated in price were UAC Property and Oando Plc, which shed N0.72 kobo and N0.55 kobo respectively to close at

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

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Electronic payments’ value rises by 26%

By Chijioke Nelson HE payments system reforms and sustained campaign on the need to embrace new ways in financial transactions may have paid off, as the electronic payments’ component rose by 25.6 per cent in value.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in its Economic Report for the first half of 2013, disclosed that about N1.4 trillion was recorded in the first half of 2013, over N1.12 trillion in the second half of 2012, while the volume declined by 27.2 per cent to 147 million from 201.8 million in the preceding period.

However, the above figures may have further increased in the second half of 2013, going by indications from the Bankers’ Committee, at its 315th meeting in Lagos, recently.

A breakdown of the e-pay-

T

ment channels deployed for the review period indicated that the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) remained the most patronised, accounting for 93.0 per cent, followed by mobile payments and PoS terminal, with 4.1 per cent and 2.1 per cent, respectively, while the web (Internet transaction) was the least patronised, accounting for 0.8 per cent of the total.

In terms of value, ATM accounted for 90.8 per cent; PoS, 4.0 per cent; the web (Internet), 1.5 per cent; and mobile payments accounted for 3.7 per cent.

The number of ATMs deployed stood at 11,702 in the first half of 2013, representing a 9.1 per cent increase over the figure of 10,727 in the second half of 2012.

However, ATM transactions decreased in volume by 30.6 per cent to 136.7 million in the first half of 2013, from 197 mil-

lion in the second half of 2012, while the value rose by 22.9 per cent to N1.3 trillion above the level in the preceding period.

The volume of web transactions in the first half of 2013 was 1.1 million, indicating a decline of 5.9 per cent, compared with 1.2 million in the second half of 2012.

However, the value also rose by 13.1 per cent to N20.7 billion from N18.3 billion in the preceding period, even as the fall

in volume was attributed to users’ preference for other payment channels.

The volume and value of the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) Instant Payment transactions rose to 5.9 million and N4.2 trillion in the first half of 2013 from 3.3 million and N2.9 trillion in the second half of 2012, representing an increase of 80 per cent and 45.4 per cent, respectively.

The rise in the use of the electronic payment channel was

attributed to the growing awareness of the scheme, as well as users’ preference for its quick transfer capacity.

The volume and value of cheques cleared rose by 11.1 per cent and 19.1 per cent to 21.1 million and N11.5 trillion in the first half of 2013, over the levels of 19 million and N9.7 trillion in the second half of 2012, respectively.

The increase was also attributed to the improvement on the use of cheques for pay-

ments, especially with the extension of the N150,000 limit on encashment of third party cheques nationwide.

In furtherance of the development of the National Payments System, CBN also commenced nationwide launch of the Cheque Truncation system from June 1, 2013, to enhance the efficiency of cheque clearing and settlement, especially in the reduction of clearing cycle from T + 2 to T+1, and float in the system.

Ecobank’s CEO may quit next month, says DaMina COBANK Transnational Inc. E (ETI) Chief Executive Officer Thierry Tanoh may quit next month after reports that senior executives called for him to step down, DaMina Advisors LLP said.

Tanoh may resign at an extraordinary shareholder

meeting that Ecobank is holding on March 3 to adopt a plan for recommendations on corporate governance made by Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission, NewYork based DaMina said in an e-mailed note today. Four executives, led by Deputy Group

CEO Albert Essien, wrote to interim chairman Andre Siaka on Feb. 11 requesting that Tanoh step down from the Lome, Togo-based lender, Reuters reported yesterday, citing internal e-mails.

“Tanoh has no sensible option but to quickly resign,” said

Sebastian Spio-Garbrah, Managing Director at DaMina, a frontier-market risk adviser.

Mwambu Wanendeya, a spokesman for Ecobank, declined to comment by phone today. Tanoh, Siaka and Essien didn’t immediately respond to e-mailed requests for comment.

Nigeria’s regulator investigated Ecobank after Laurence do Rego, the former group executive director of risk and finance, told the SEC in August that Tanoh and former Chairman Kolapo Lawson planned to sell assets below market value. Do Rego said she was pressured to write off debts owed by a business headed by Lawson and manipulate the bank’s results. Both Tanoh and Lawson deny any wrongdoing.

The agenda of next month’s shareholder meeting also includes a resolution on raising capital, reconstitution of the board and changes in articles of association regarding mergers and acquisitions.

Tanoh’s departure would spur interest from investors, said Spio-Garbrah of DaMina.

“Hamstrung by a depressed capital markets valuation and recent governance issues, the pan-African bank may see activist funds and large private equity firms swoop in for equity stakes after Tanoh’s exit,” he said.

The SEC review of Ecobank found “inadequate transparency in the recruitment procedures and mechanisms for board members and executive staff,” the Abuja-based regulator said Jan. 10. It asked Ecobank to appoint a “substantive” chairman and develop a one-year plan to address the governance issues.

Founded in 1985, Ecobank operates in 35 Africa countries and France, and also has representative offices in Beijing, Dubai and London. The bank had $21.5 billion in assets at the end of September.

Blue chips buoy NSE’s market capitalisation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 N20.00 and N20.25 kobo.

FBN Holdings recorded highest volume of activities for the day, exchanging 37.785 million shares worth N480.800, Access Bank followed with account of 28.320 million shares valued at N227.570 million while GTBank sold 24.525 milloon shares cost N618.760 million.

Zenith Bank took fourth position with a total of 20.673 million shares valued at N429.924 million and African Prudential traded 19.768 million shares worth N71.232 million.

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BUSINESS Thursday, February 20, 2014 25

ANDFI tasks DFIs on real sector development

By Helen Oji HE Association of Nigerian T Development Finance Institutions (ANDFI) has advised Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in Nigeria to re-evaluate its roles in the nation’s real sector development .

The Managing Director of the infrastructural bank, Adekunle Oyinloye made the call in Lagos recently during his investiture as chairman of the association.

He stressed the need for Developing Finance Institutions to design sustainable participation in the real sector development.

Oyinloye described DFIs as the engine of economic growth through the provision of longterm finance, expertise and skills .

“You can see the fact that the real sector has not grown as expected. It might also be directly or indirectly traceable to DFIs .

“If we know our roles as DFIs, we double and recommit ourselves, we might be able to impact on the development of the real sector. When members know and appreciate their mandates, they begin to articu-

Standard Chartered to reward consumers in promo

By Anthony Chidubem Nwachukwu HIGH end Porsche A Cayenne awaits the ultimate winner of the grand finale of Standard Chartered Bank’s maiden Mega Rewards promo, which was unveiled to reward its customers and continue its investment in people and technology.

Unveiling the promo last week at a brief ceremony at the Porsche Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, the Head of Retail Banking Products, West Africa Consumer Banking, Mr. Sheahan Arasaratnam, said the bank aims to reach out and reward its customers through the campaign.

According to him, with good knowledge of customer aspirations, institutional experience and technology, the bank aims to make retail banking worth the experience. The promo starts from Monday, February 17 till June 30.

To participate, existing and would-be owners of current and/savings accounts are expected to deposit and maintain a minimum monthly balance of N50,000 for two consecutive months to qualify for the mini draws holding at the end of April and June, or maintain same for three months to qualify for the grand draws in August.

While the mini draws will stake N4 million for four winners and four iPads, the grand draw has one winner of the Porsche Cayenne, N1 million and10 winners of smartphones.

Individuals who currently do not have Standard Chartered Bank accounts can visit any of its branches to open one and make the required deposit to be eligible. The more deposits of N50,000 made, the more entries the depositor would receive.

late policies and structure themselves to meet the needs of developing the real sector. Nigeria is at a turning point, which not only makes demands on us all to contribute our quota, but also creates an opportunity to redirect our energy towards actualizing our set goals.

“The tasks before us are enormous, but we must refocus ourselves towards achieving our collective and individual mandates.

This will naturally give us a platform to further transform ANDFI into a key player to address issues concerning the real sector of the economy,’’ he said .

Oyinloye pledged ANDFI’s commitment to partner with governments at the various levels for development, adding that partnership would be focused on the areas of policy formulation and financing of development project, while urging the various states’ investment companies to

seek membership and benefit from ANDFIs’ coordinated development policy and project finance initiatives.

He said that the four development banks: Bank of Agriculture, Bank of Industry, Nigerian Export-Import Bank and Infrastructure Bank were mem-

bers of ANDFI .

He identified one of the challenges facing the association as the absence of internal cohesion as strong partners of governmen.

The new chairman also pledged to make ANDFI a strong voice in the development of the nation’s real sector.

BDAN raises concern on CRR increase HE Bank Directors of T Nigeria (BDAN) has expressed concern at the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to increase the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) on public sector deposit from 50 to 75 per cent.

BDAN in a statement, observed that raising the ratio by 25 per cent just six months after it was jerked from 12 per cent to 50 per cent would adversely affect the banking sub-sector and the

economy.

The association noted that the increase would weaken the ability of banks to lend to economic agents and thus slow down the robust growth rate the country has enjoyed in the past few years. It noted that as the economy slows down, the poverty rate and incidents of social upheavals, which have constituted serious hindrance to national development, could worsen.

“Since banks do not have

much liquidity to lend, they will increase interest rates.

Two consequences could naturally evolve from this. The first possibility is that many people will shun bank loans because they cannot afford it, while those who bear the excessive cost of funds will pass it to consumers of their products and services. These will reduce the productive capacity of the economy in favour of short term high margin trading, which is not in the interest of

the country,” it stated further.

BDAN also lamented that the policy will reduce returns on capital investment in banks.

It argued that weak lending would translate to lower incomes, noting that some banks could consider staff downsizing to mitigate the impacts.

“Unfortunately, the squeezing comes when the economy is crying for interventionist programmes that could make funds available for the real sec-

tor. With the mop up, the already credit-dried economy faces harsher funding environment,” BDAN said.

BDAN is the umbrella body of bank directors and it was established to be an effective forum for representing the interests of bank directors in Nigeria. Also to promote sustainable banking best practices within banks in Nigeria, and collaborating with regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to ensure the public interest.

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Appointments Amnesty programme may be extended, says Kuku From Abosede Musari, Abuja HE amnesty office has hintT ed that the programme might have to be extended beyond 2015 because of over 6, 000 former agitators that were still awaiting placement for training.

Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, said that the extension might be unavoidable because of the addition of almost 10,000 former agitators to the programme in the course of its execution.

He explained that at the proclamation of the programme in 2009, it was designed to cater for 20,192 persons but a first addition of 6,166 was made in the second phase of the programme and much later, another 3,642 was

added in the third phase.

Noting that the extension of the programme had not been proclaimed by the President, Kuku suggested that it was either the programme was extended by another two years in order for those awaiting training to be able to get placements, or the funding of the amnesty office be increased so that more beneficiaries could be placed on training at the same time so that the programme could still be wound up by 2015.

Speaking on the achievement of the amnesty office so far, Kuku said that of the 30,000 persons enlisted in the Amnesty Programme, over 12, 031 have successfully undergone vocational training both within the country and abroad, while 128 delegates have successfully graduated from several universities in the United Kingdom and

Malaysia. About 5, 315 delegates are in universities in the UK, United States of America, South Africa, Malaysia, Canada, United Arabs Emirates, Kaplan colleges as well as six private universities in Nigeria with courses in formal education including law, political science, forensic science, international relations, engineering, accounting and medicine.

“A total of 2,719 delegates are currently undergoing various forms of skills acquisition in Nigeria and other parts of the world. For vocational training, beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme are in France, United States of America, Italy, Greece, Poland, South Korea, Israel, Belarus, Romania, United Kingdom, Croatia, Cyprus, United Arab Emirates, Trinidad & Tobago, South Africa, Ghana, Jordan, India, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Career choices range from

Schneider Electric Group Chairman & CEO, Jean-Pascal Tricoire (left), SSA to the Minister of Power on Access to Energy, Dr. Albert Okorogu, SA to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku, Schneider Electric Africa Zone President, Mohamed Saad, Schneider Electric Nigeria President Marcel Hochet, and Nigerian Ambassador to France, Ambassador Hakeem Suleiman, at the inauguration of the Isaac Adaka Boro Technical Training school in France.

Delta pensioners to protest short fall in payment From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba Uduaghan for the release of N1 PFA’s, the question is, is AVING reached the limit of their endurance, Delta state pensioners have threatened to stage a mass protest against the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Abuja to kick against the short payment of their pension and gratuity.

The senior citizens under the umbrella of Association of Contributory Retirees said they are yet to understand the criteria being used by PENCOM in the payment of their entitlements.

The Vice Chairman of the retirees, Uwhen Ede-Edijala who spoke to journalist in Asaba called for the immediate full implementation of their pension and gratuity to relieve the suffering and hardship, which they are presently confronted with.

Ede- Edijala said that he is in league with Comrade Goodluck Oforbruku led National Joint Negotiation Council to find a solution to the problem.

As a way out, he pleaded with Governor Emmanuel

H

billion every month for the settlement of gratuities of contributory retirees with effect from January 2014.

While demanding among other things the immediate payments of the differences to affected state civil servant retirees from 2010/2011 till date, the retirees called for the urgent harmonization of state civil servants retirees, actuary calculations with the 2010/2011 salary structure, as done by local councils.

“The mandatory five per cent of state civil servants’ monthly wage bill should be deposited into central bank bond without delay and defaulting. State government should seek a way to obtain N10 billion from the stock market, to offset all these anomalies. While the Delta state pension reform law states 2008 deduction of workers money stated in April, 2007.

He charged: “The N1billion has been released to PFA’s to settle 179 retirees with certificates but they haven’t been paid due to the lame excuse that PenCom Abuja hasn’t release cheques of benefits to

PenCom registered as a Pension Fund Custodian with State Pension Bureau? Which part of Pension Reform Act 2004 gave PenCom the power to collect contributory pension check offs from Delta Stat government employees’ association? We are giving PenCom, Abuja 72 hours to release all pension funds belonging to Delta State Government employees in its coffers, otherwise we shall hold mass rally in Abuja, Asaba, Warri, to demand for justice.”

Uwhen Ede-Edijala lamented that the pensioners have been faced with embarrassment and hardship thus causing untimely death out of frustration, hypertension and harassment from moneylenders and landlords as well as family problems.

He added that the pension managers/administrators have decided to pay 25 per cent against the 50 per cent of the total benefits of retirees which the pension commission stipulated from the beginning to be paid in the programme to alleviate the suffering of retirees among others.

marine technology, diving, agriculture, drilling, boat building, oil and gas technology, automobile technology,” he said.

Over 11,700 have graduated in various fields and several of them have been employed including 10 with Nigeria Army and six with the Nigeria Customs Services, 40 with the Century Energy Group, five with SAP Drilling Oil and Gas Limited and 30 at the Proclad Group in Dubai, UAE. Pursuant to our carefully worked out post-training policy, we are currently setting-up 2,000 of the graduates of our skill acquisition programme in small businesses. The women programme has over 500 people in various training programmes including hospitality and fashion design while several are still in line to attend their training programmes in Nigeria and Europe.

“One of my most memorable experiences on this job is flying with our trainees in aviation training schools in South Africa, Jordan and UAE. 31 of our delegates who are already qualified commercial pilots are currently undergoing type rating at the famous Lufthansa Aviation Academy in Frankfurt, Germany and the prestigious CAE Oxford in England. Early next month, 39

other trainees will be graduating from the Jordan Aviation Academy in aircraft Engineering and maintenance,” Kuku said.

He also used the opportunity to clarify that the terminated NNPC pipeline surveillance contract was not awarded to any former agitator under the amnesty programme.

“The contract for Bayelsa State was awarded to Bajero Limited and not to Boyloaf. Oil Facilities Surveillance Limited got the contract for Delta State and not Tompolo. A company called ADEF got the contract for Rivers State and not Asari Dokubo and Ateke Tom,” he said but however clarifying that it was possible that the companies that got the contract might have involved any ex-agitator or any other member of the communities.

“But that the contracts went straight to the ex-agitators is not true.”

“The impression has been created that these contracts are going to ex-agitators enlisted in the Amnesty Programme. As far as I know, this is not true.

Maybe the persons or entities giving out these pipeline surveillance or protection contract will one day come out to give the names of the companies benefiting from this contracts.

“I am aware that sometime in

2011, the federal government through the NNPC got several of the persons enlisted in the Amnesty Programme involved in the surveillance and protection of the pipelines that crisscross their communities. It was the right thing to do, given that it is only persons who understand the terrain where these pipelines lie that can protect them.”

“However in less than one year, this deal to get the ex-agitators involved in pipeline protection was stopped by the NNPC and its Joint Venture Partners. As far as I know, as we speak today, I am not aware that any ex-agitator enrolled in the Amnesty Programme is currently a beneficiary of pipeline protection contract as being supervised by the NNPC. I must also clarify that even the brief period this deal with the NNPC and a number of the ex-agitators lasted, the Amnesty Office was not in any way involved and we cannot speak about the details of what led to the suspension of this collaboration. However the Amnesty Office is urging the NNPC and its joint venture partners to properly restructure the modalities for the implementation of the pipelines surveillance and protection contracts and get as many ex-agitators as possi-

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30 APPoINTMENT Thursday, February 20, 2014

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Compulsory retirement: FIRS ex-staffers demand benefit

By Yetunde Ayobami Ojo ECENTLy sacked staff members of The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) have demanded immediate remission of five months unpaid salaries into their various accounts.

Briefing the press recently at the Committee for Defence of Human Right (CDHR) office at Ikeja, one of the victims, Usani Bassey Inyang said that the termination of their appointments was a gross violation of their rights.

Inyang who spoke on behalf of the other victims described the termination of their appointment by the management of FIRS as a violation of their rights and as an act of well as injustice.

According to him, “on 15th July, 2013 management of FIRS served a number of the employees letter of compulsory retirement from 31st July, 2013 citing Section 7 of No 13 of the FIRS Establishment Act 2007 to drive home their rationale for such cruel and inhumane act.

“Between 2010 and 2012, the management had issued us, the victims of the injustice, termination of appointment, letter of implementation owing to Section 63 of the FIRS Establishment Act 2007 called Transitional Arrangement offer which gives room for employees career improvement with clauses such as acceptance of offer, minimum qualifica-

R

tion, remuneration, withdrawal of service and Cadre (Career Group) with a stipulated period of 60 days as deadline for acceptance of the Transitional Arrangement offer in line with Section 63(2) of FIRS Act, 2007.”

He stated further that the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Joint Union Council, umbrella body of workers within the establishment stated: “you are required to improve your educational qualification to a Bachelor degree or Higher National

Diploma (HND) in a discipline relevant to the business of the service on or before 31st December, 2013.”

Inyang explained that the victims immediately reacted by notifying the management in writing of their acceptance of the offer, despite some deficiencies in the letter.

The victims said that the management had determined their unjust sack before the letter of transitional arrangement offer was issued to them.

The victims said that they were shortchanged (paid

low) and cheated on the benefits in the termination of their appointment.

They therefore demanded among others, immediate remission of their outstanding arrears of five months salary from August to December 2013, scale of payment for their benefit and immediate remission of their balance into various bank accounts, and a letter of apology published in three national dailies addressed to massive number of victims of FIRS unjust termination of appointment.

Ships & Ports gets maritime award oRT and Terminal the occasion, otunba Kunle Taiwo Afolabi, who was repreP Management Academy of Folarin, was quoted, as saying sented by the General Nigeria (PoTEMAN) has con- Ships & Ports Daily duly ferred the “most widely read and most circulated” specialised maritime Journal award on Ships & Ports Daily.

A statement issued by Ships & Ports explained that the company won the award recently in Lagos at PoTEMAN’s 4th national graduation ceremony and investiture of the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive officer of Sifax Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, as chairman of the academy’s Governing Council.

Presenting the award to the representative of the Company, Daniel Nwakwuoke, the Chairman of

deserves the award “because the publication circulates widely within the industry and has exhibited credibility and objectivity in reporting maritime industry issues.”

Folarin who is also Chairman of the Nigerian Port Consultative Council said: “It is no doubt that Ships & Ports Daily deserves the award that was given to them by PoTEMAN as the most widely read and circulated maritime publication in the country because their reportage of the maritime industry is second to none.”

The new Chairman of PoTEMAN Governing Council, Dr.

Manager of Sifax Consult, Mike owope, according to the statement pledged to steer the affairs of the academy in the path of growth and development.

“As a company, we will support the academy as much as possible and this will be done with the support of our friends in the industry. This is to ensure that whatever needs to be done to bring the academy to the fore for government attention is done,” he said.

Afolabi congratulated the graduating students and charged them to support efforts aimed at making the maritime sector a better place.

EDC commences capacity building for entrepreneurs

By Femi Adekoya o further increase the T capacity and enhance the growth potential of Nigerian entrepreneurs, the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Pan African University has concluded plans to commence the 28th edition of entrepreneurial programme.

Scheduled to commence on February 24, 2014, the Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management (CEM) programme was designed to aid the development of small businesses through adequate capacity building skills, especially in the difficult operating environment.

According to the EDC, the CEM programme has been successful in developing many small businesses’ owners’ managerial and entrepreneurial skills through the hands-on

case study approach.

“The programme is particularly suitable for actual or potential members of management teams and for those currently engaged in the entrepreneurial process. With opportunities to relate with experts and professionals for mentoring and business advisory services during the programme, entrepreneurs are guided through implementation of acquired skills,” the EDC added.

Some of the modules designed for the programme include, an introduction to Entrepreneurship, legal and tax issues, business ethics, customer service, making operations faster, better and cheaper, using technology to outperform competition, sales and marketing, and developing financial records and strategies for growth.

Govt re-appoints Abubakar NSITF boss From Collins Olayinka, Abuja RESIDENT Goodluck P Jonathan has approved the re-appointment of Munir Abubakar as the managing director/chief executive officer (MD/CEo) of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

The re-appointment was contained in a letter signed by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh and dated 7th February, 2014, with reference number

ML/PS/NSITF/61/1, entitled “Renewal of appointment as Managing Director/Chief Executive of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF)”.

Abubakar’s second four years tenure as the chief executive of NSITF takes effect from 28th December 2013.

Abubakar, who was first appointed as the managing director of NSITF on 28th September 2009, has served as the executive director (Administration) of the Fund

Thursday, February 20, 2014 APPOINTMENT

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Niger poly ASUP vows to continue strike From John Ogiji, Minna HE Academic Staff Union of T Polytechnic (ASUP) Niger State Polytechnic branch has vowed to continue the ongoing strike embarked upon nationwide by ASUP even if the national body decides to call off the three months old strike.

It decried the zero funding it gets from the state government for over five years

Ekiti council workers to write promotion exam Saturday From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti HE 2012 and 2013 promoT tion examinations for about 5,000 local government workers in Ekiti State will hold on Saturday, February 22, 2014.

A statement from the office of the Chairman of the State Local Government Service Commission disclosed that the examination would hold at the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti by 11am.

According to the statement, all eligible officers that have been screened for the examination are expected to report at the venue with their identity cards.

The concerned workers are warned to shun examination malpractices and comport themselves, it advised the officers to check at the Local Government Service Commission for their examination numbers and other relevant information.

despite the continuous capturing of N20 million each year in the budgetary provision.

Chairman of the union, Kasim Ibrahim Mohammed said at in a news conference in Minna that the polytechnic would remain shut until the state government addressed the deplorable condition of facilities in the institutions which he pointed out had made teaching and learning difficult.

According to him, “it has become absolutely necessary to bring to the attention of the world, the nonchalant attitude of the state government towards our polytechnic. We are in a worrisome state with zero funding from the state government to execute capital project and for the day-to-day running of the institution.

“In Niger State Polytechnic the picture is much more dismal with minimal prospects for improvement as the authorities in the state continued to gamble with the future of our children who choose to pursue carrier in technical sector.”

He described the situation in the polytechnic as a worrisome state with zero funding from the state government to execute capital projects and for the day-to-day running of the institution, saying that the situation in the institution was morally reprehensible and example of how polytechnic education had been reduced to ridicule and epic debauchment.

“If we look at the budgetary provision of the State government, N20 million has always been budgeted for the polytechnic to rehabilitate the Library which is in a very bad state for the past five years with no single kobo being released to the institution from the government. The only funding done to the Polytechnic by the state government is the payment of salaries.”

Kasim however lamented the non-implementation of the CONPCASS/CONTEDISS salary package for both Academic and non-academic staff of the Polytechnic despite the fact

that the union have done all its efforts to draw the attention of the State government to the negative effect of the refusal.

The chairman lamented further, “the Niger State Government is not interested in the development of the institute in all indications and for reasons best known to them. It does not seem to be making any tangible effort to implement our agreement.

The refusal of the government to implement the CONPCASS/CONTEDISS salary package have led to massive brain-drain and low morale of staff in the polytechnic, thus lowering the rating of the institution in the committee of its peers in the country.”

The chairman however condemned the constant claim by the state government that the country operates a federal system of government with education on the concurrent legislative list to undermine some of the policies set up by the NBTE towards maintaining standard and enhancing the

Access Bank appoints executive director for business banking HE Board of Directors Access years of outstanding contribu- Board of Wapic Insurance Plc T Bank Plc has approved the tion to the bank’s success, she and the Chief Executive Officer appointment of Mrs. Titi Osuntoki as executive director in charge Business Banking, a division within the bank, which is focused on Small and Medium Scale business entities.

Osuntoki is a qualified and experienced banker with over two decades of cognate experience cutting across all facets of banking.

She joined Guaranty Trust Bank Plc in 1991 and following

was appointed an executive director in 2008.

In that role, she had direct responsibility for strategy formulation and business development in the bank’s Lagos Division until October 2011.

Osuntoki, a member of the Non-Oil/Non-Agric Policy Commission of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, until this appointment, was an Independent NonExecutive Director on the

of GTO Professional Services Limited, a business consultancy outfit based in Lagos.

She holds a Second Class Upper Division in Civil Engineering and an MBA from the University of Lagos; an alumnus of Cranfield University School of Management, UK and attended Executive Management Programmes in world’s leading Business Schools.

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Agency empowers entrepreneurs with N10m

By Tunde Akinola N a bid to empower existing Iwho and aspiring entrepreneurs successfully completed the entrepreneurship-training programme and had their business plans certified, Shield Academy Partners Limited, the implementing agency of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Southsouth Entrepreneurial Development Centre (SSEDC) has launched N10 million seed fund.

The event was held recently in Calabar, Cross River State had the state governor, Liyel Imoke represented by his Special Adviser on Investment, Gerald Ada, CBN officials, representative of the International Finance Corporation, Director General, Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (MEDA), MDs of microfinance banks, investors, stakeholders from various business sectors in the state and other participants.

At the occasion, cheques of various values were presented to participants of the centres to expand their businesses.

The amounts ranged from between N50, 000 to N500, 000 each based on their certified business plans.

Chief Executive Officer, SHIELD Academy Partners, Seni Hassan said the seed fund was born out of the commitment of the desire to equip the graduates of the Centre to start-up and grow their business as part of efforts of contributing to the development of the national economy.

The SSEDC with

Headquarters in Calabar comprising of Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo and Delta states is one of the three EDC’s newly established in 2013 by the CBN as an intervention initiative of the Federal Government to stimulate the growth of micro enterprises aimed at job creation and reduction of poverty in Nigeria.

The initiative is targeted at citizens without formal education, secondary school leavers, graduates; aspiring as well as existing entrepreneurs who desire to take their businesses to greater heights.

Imoke described the seed fund gesture by Shield Academy Partners Limited as “direct investment in human capital development.”

He also noted that the endeavour by Shield Academy Partners is the first of its kind by any of the implementing agencies of the EDC in Nigeria.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Programme Director of the Southsouth Entrepreneurship Development Centre, Gbenga Owolabi informed the audience that the SSEDC had trained 1,143 people so far while over 400 participants are currently on the training programme.

He said that the launch of the seed fund is Shield Academy’s sure step in the right direction with a glorious view in focus, adding that the Academy is “confident that this little seeds being planted would be reverberating in a few years to come.”

He stressed that a major challenge faced by many would-be entrepreneurs is lack of access to finance to kick-start their

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ScienceGuardian Student engineers set to race with made-inNigeria cars at Shell Eco Marathon

By Chukwuma Muanya EN student engineers T from the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State,

and University of Lagos (UNILAG) are set to join more than 3,000 of their colleagues from 26 countries when they gather in Rotterdam in May for the 2014 Shell Eco-marathon Europe.

Shell Eco-marathon is one of the world’s most challenging student innovation competitions and takes place annually in Europe, America and Asia. The competition brings together current and future leaders, along with a broader public passionate about energy issues. It encourages debate around sustainable solutions to the challenge of rising global energy demand.

The Nigerian students with the support of their professors and technical team from Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) have designed and built by themselves 95 per cent made-inNigeria cars, which are at 75 per cent completion.

To ensure that the cars are 100 per cent ready by end of February, for UNILAG, and March 7, for UNIBEN, the SPDC Eco Marathon unit has released N10 million to each of the universities including the team from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Kaduna State.

Due to initial finds constraint and the five months strike by Nigerian universities, ABU could not meet up with the criteria set by the Shell technical team.

However, with the provision of N10 million, video cameras and technical assistance from the SPDC, they are scheduled to participate in Manila, Philippines for Shell Eco-Marathon Asia in February 2015.

The UniBen undergraduates of production and electrical engineering, include: Taj-Liad Abdulmalik, Adeyemi Adekola, Okwoka Daniel Ejiro, Ajari Emmanuel, and Oyemike Chinedu Justice while the UniLag undergraduates of mechanical and electrical engineering are: Agba Stanley Obinna; Abraham Abraham J. Imohiosen; Agamoro Joseph; and Abayomi Adeboye.

The team from UNILAG is led by a professor of electrical and electronics engineering, Ike Mowete, while a professor of Manufacturing Engineering, Akaehomen O. Akii Ibhadode, leads the team from UNIBEN. Shell’s Spokesman in Nigeria, Precious Okolo, said: “The plan is when we have these vehicles up and running, we will have a mini demonstration of these vehicles in Port Harcourt and Lagos where Shell staff will come in and see what is

done. All is part of the effort to arouse the interest of the Shell community in Nigeria towards this great effort.”

The student teams from Europe and Africa will from May 15 to 18, 2014, in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, each try to drive as far as possible on the equivalent of 1 kWh or 1 litre of fuel, with cars they designed and built themselves.

Students from Europe and Africa have developed innovative technologies and organized fascinating partnerships to squeeze those extra kilometres out of their cars. Rotterdam will again be the setting for one of the most impressive showcases on fuel efficiency and the future of mobility: Shell Ecomarathon Europe 2014.

200 teams have been invited to compete in two categories: the futuristic Prototype category and the UrbanConcept category, the latter of which features more conventional concept vehicles. The teams will have an extra challenge this year with the change in direction of the circuit, stimulating the students to adjust their driving strategies.

After inspection visit of the two Nigerian teams by a team of engineers from SPDC, it was found that UNIBEN is blazing the trail with Tuketuke UrbanConcept.

Shell Companies in Nigeria, last year, supported a group of Nigerian students and academics (Team Nigeria) to participate in 2013 Shell Ecomarathon Europe. Team Nigeria consists of outstanding engineering students from the University of Lagos, University of Benin, Ahmadu Bello University, supported by their academic professors.

2014 marks the first year that Shell Eco-marathon Europe is expanding with a strong participation from the African continent. Teams from Nigeria, Morocco and Tunisia will take up the challenge to compete against their peers from Europe.

In the design and construction phase of the vehicles, teams are using novel technologies, such as professional wind tunnel testing to optimize aerodynamics. Teams also work with new technologies such as 3D printing of the body parts and dashboard.

Alongside technical partnerships with institutions and companies, some teams have also set up creative partnerships, including a primary school where young students design the graphics on the vehicle body.

Throughout Europe several teams have also taken the initiative to obtain a license plate, allowing them to drive on public roads with their vehicle.

This year, for the first time, Shell has partnered with Eurosport to bring the event in front of a global television

The chassis of Tuketuke, the car manufactured by production engineering students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State, which is scheduled to race at Eco-marathon Europe from May 15, 2014 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

audience. In a series of mini films on ‘The Road to Rotterdam’, the network will follow the excitement and progress of teams as well as the challenges they face in the build-up to the event. A full half-hour broadcast feature of the event will be aired in prime time in 54 countries in late May and June.

President-Director, Shell Netherlands, Dick Benschop, said: “Last year we were struck by the spirit of the competition, the professionalism of the teams and the innovative design of the cars. This year we again expect to welcome guests from throughout

Europe, together with tens of thousands of visitors from Rotterdam and beyond to support their local Shell Ecomarathon teams. It’s fantastic to see some of the brightest young minds working hard to come up with exciting fuel efficient vehicles. I wish all the teams luck and hope we see continued participation in the future.”

Adeyemi of the UNIBEN team in his presentation during an electronic phone conference between the university engineers, their Shell counterparts in Nigeria and the Shell Eco Marathon team in the Hague, The Netherlands,

held last week in Lagos said: “We actually started with our usual paper design and we went on to do some simulation works. When we simulated we actually noted where the forces are acting and after proper simulation then we headed on the fabrication. We have fabricated the frame and the chassis.

We have installed the wheels, the engine and everything.

“As at December 2013 we had our first test-driving.

When we got to this year, we headed on with our brake design and now our brake is working perfectly well. The

2014 marks the first year that Shell Eco-marathon Europe is expanding with a strong participation from the African continent. Teams from Nigeria, Morocco and Tunisia will take up the challenge to compete against their peers from Europe. In the design and construction phase of the vehicles, teams are using novel technologies, such as professional wind tunnel testing to optimize aerodynamics. Teams also work with new technologies such as 3D printing of the body parts and dashboard.

electrical guys printed cyclic board, so we did our own circuit ourselves and our team name is actually printed on it. So it actually original. We did that and we were able to use that to start the engine and some other things that come up with the electrical gadgets and all of that.

“When the Shell team came to our school they actually told us that looking at the time frame that we have we should draw up a 25 days plan till when we finish our car.

“We are very positive that

by March 7, 2014, we would have actually finished everything concerning our car. At the present now we are working on the body. We are actually using fibre glass for our car body and that is what we are actually working on now.

When we finish the car body we are heading for the interior.

“On publicity we have a facebook page with 277 members, we have Google plus account, we have twitter account as well. We have not been able to work too well on our U tube site. One of the things we intend to do as time passes by is to incorporate most of activities with the student union government. In terms of sponsorship we are actually on top of that. We have a contact in Glo.” Corroborating his student, Ibhadode said: “We started this project in June immediately we came back fro Rotterdam as part of their Industrial Training (IT) experience at the penultimate year in engineering. So they started this work in June.

One month of starting the work, the Academic Staff Union (ASU) of Universities went on strike that lasted till December 2013. During that period we did not know what to do. We now had to work out a strategy because all activities on campus were frozen.

“So we had to negotiate with a private firms outside that allowed us to use his facilities, give us a space where the students kept on working and it was there they were able to have this first version, which they test drove and when they saw the faults that were now rectified. When they called off the strike we now went back to campus a few weeks before the Shell team visited. By the time they came we were still trying to perfect the brake and other things, which we have perfected now.

“The particular car we are looking at is urban concept and the name they gave to it is Tuketuke, which is a popular mode of transportation in Benin City, Edo State, where mini buses are used. We decided that if we are going to have this car let us give it a

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SCIENCE HEALTH Thursday, February 20, 2014

LUTH has facilities for kidney transplant, hip replacement, says Osibogun

By Eno Bassey and Joseph Okoghenun HE Chief Medical Director of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof.

Akin Osibogun, at the weekend revealed that the hospital has the capacity to effectively provide tackle to the myriads of ailments, which Nigerians have often-sought treatment overseas.

Speaking with the leadership of the Chapel of the Healing Cross, a non-denominational ecumenical Christian worship centre for the College of Medicine and LUTH, shortly before turning the sod for the construction of a crèche to be built by the Chapel, Prof.

Osibogun said he found it hard to understand why Nigerians chose to spend more money abroad for treatments, which are available in Nigeria at lower costs.

Meanwhile, paediatric oncology experts at the hospital have identified various challenges facing the fight against rising trend of childhood cancer in the hospital especially and Nigeria in general.

The experts, who spoke recently in Lagos during donation of cancer equipment worth about N6.7 million to LUTH paediatric cancer ward by Children Living With Cancer Foundation in partnership with Unilever Nigeria Plc and Avi-Cenna International School, explained that Nigeria was having challenges with effective cancer treatment majorly because of

• Foundation donates N6.7m equipment to cancer ward

T

Osibogun, LUTH CMD late presentation of cancer cases in hospitals.

Osibogun listed such medical treatments available in LUTH to include those for cardiovascular ailments, renal challenges including kidney transplants as well as knee and hip replacement surgeries.

He urged Nigerians to use the upgraded facilities in LUTH instead of going to foreign hospitals for treatment of various ailments.

He said that LUTH now had three echocardiogram

machines for the diagnosis and treatment of heart ailments and that the hospital has, for some time now, also been successfully treating renal diseases including kidney transplants.

In addition, he disclosed that LUTH has the capacity and has, indeed, for years been carrying out successful knee and hip replacement surgeries.

He pointed out that while it might cost as high as N7 million in Indian hospitals to carry out a kidney transplant, the same operation in LUTH would require N3 million while between N1.5 million - N3 millions could be the cost for a hip replacement.

And, for these surgeries, he said LUTH uses high quality implants, which the foreign hospitals may not be very willing to use so as to remain cost effective and attractive.

He wondered why Nigerians prefer to travel overseas for these same treatments, often of inferior quality outside the country when than can receive better care at far lower costs in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Osibogun said the hospital faces many challenges including power on which it regularly spends between N6 million and N11 million monthly on Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and another average of N15 million on diesel, lubricants and maintenance of generators.

For these and more, he appealed for better funding and support from government, corporate establishments and individuals.

He commended the Chapel for the crèche it is about to build and later performed the official turning of the sod ceremony to flag-off the beginning of construction work for the crèche, a child care and learning facility, designed to serve the teaching hospital and the College of Medicine, University of Lagos.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chief Resident Minister (CRM), Chapel of the Healing Cross, IdiAraba, the Venerable Tunde Osho, an architect, said the facility is part of the worshiping community’s corporate social responsibility planned as part of programme of events to mark the 50th anniversary of its establishment as a non-denominational worship centre for Christians in the community.

According to him, everything

has been put in place to complete construction of the crèche in four months, adding that the facility would be commissioned in June this year.

Later in the day, the Chapel also presented a N6 million to the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos.

Presenting the cheques to the College, the Osho, who led a team of clergymen and laity to the event, said “the money is for the establishment of an endowment fund, in perpetuity, for the best graduating students in three faculties of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos.

These faculties whose best graduating students will benefit from N200, 000 each from the endowment fund are Basic Medicine, Clinical Sciences and Dental Sciences.

According to him, the Chapel, initially founded for the Christian community in the College and LUTH, was merely giving back to the community in appreciation for the foresight of staff, students and patients of the medical facility in establishing the church.

In response, the College Secretary, Oladejo Azeez, Esq. who received the cheques on behalf the Provost, Prof.

Folashade Ogunsola, thanked the Chapel for the gesture and said the endowment will definitely serve as a motivating factor for both staff and students of the institution.

Last year, the Chapel donated N6 million to LUTH for the acquisition of an echocardiogram machine as part of the activities marking the 50th anniversary of its establishment.

The church also refurbished an existing cardiology laboratory in the teaching hospital as part of its corporate social responsibility to the community in addition to the just redeemed pledges.

LUTH Consultant paediatric haematologist at the Department of Paediatrics, Prof. Edamisan Temiye, said that sometimes parents whose children have cancer symptoms do take the prompt initiative to seek medical care on time until it is too late when nothing much could be done to salvage the situation.

Temiye added that misdiagnosis of cancer cases has become a problem, as some medical personnel do not have the capacity to diagnose cancers among patients, thereby worsening cancer morbidity and mortality rates in Nigeria.

Some of the equipment donated by the foundation with her partners included 180 bone marrow aspirators, 20 central lines, 14, infusion pumps, 6 pulse oximeters, oxygen panelling and points for each bedside.

Temiye, who is one of the key experts in the ward, said the donation would go a long way in bringing succour to children living with cancers in the ward.

The paediatric expert urged Nigerians to emulate the spirit of Children Living With Cancer, Unilever Nigeria Plc and Avi-Cenna International School in supporting paediatric cancer patients in need of help, adding that government alone could not meet the yearning of every Nigerian patient.

Group takes sensitisation on HIV stigma to Lagos suburbs NON for profit organisation A led by Alhaja Alli Dawah and Ojo Local Government Area (LGA) team has taken sensitisation on stigma/discrimination reduction against People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) to communities in Ojo, Lagos State.

Alli at the 3rd Walimotul Qur’an of the Alhaja Alli Dawah

Ceremony held recently at LGA Model Nursery/Primary School said that the aim was to stamp out stigma/discrimination against People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and ensure zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.

She urged Nigerians: “Ensure you and your family go for blood screening test every three months to ascertain your status.”

Evexia concept to healthy living

By Daniel Anazia VEXIAS Concept, a healthE oriented outfit with focus on providing screening services to client, recently visited Orile Idi-Araba in Ilupeju area of Lagos during one of its outreach programmes.

According to Dr. Yetunde Duze, registrar, Department of Community Health and Primary Care, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the outfit mission is to provide appropiate screening services, health promotion, disease prevention and support programs for children, women and the elderly, so as to help

attain a level of health that will permit them to lead a productive life.

The outreach which was sponsored by a mobile phone company based in Ikeja, Lagos, held at the palace of the Baale of the community, Chief Kamorudeen Yusuf Kushimo, witnessed large turnout of residents, mostly women and children, who were screened

by Ophthalmologist and Dentist in the team.

Residents enjoyed free blood pressure checks, dental examinations, eye examinations, deworming exercise. The children were also given toothbrushes and corrective eyeglasses for those with refrac-

We’ll leverage on NHIS to fast-track health care for all, says Adelabu HE Ekiti State government T yesterday unfolded a plan to fast track the implementation of its health programmes and its free health care services to infants, expectant mothers and the aged. It spoke of plan to use the window offered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to fulfill its health obligation to the citizenry.

Deputy Governor Prof.

Modupe Adelabu dropped the hint when the Executive Secretary of the NIHS, Dr. Femi Thomas led a delegation to her at work in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

She explained that the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration was applying every strategy to ensure that every resident has access to qualitative health care services, which is the fifth item on the Eight-Point Agenda of the pres-

ent government.

She said: “To ensure that the free health touches every class of the society, the government has taken free heath to every nook and crannies of the state through its Free Health Mission, Ilera L’aafin, (free health at the door steps of traditional rulers) and now free medical check-up and treatment for the civil servants are part of the strategies to make sure that every citizen enjoys good health and are able to make meaningful contribution to the development of the state.”

According to her, the government has found a veritable platform in the NHIS to fast track its health care agenda and will not hesitate to key into the scheme, more so that it is in tandem with the government agenda and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Govt begins implementation of mental health project in S’East zone From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka HE federal government has T restated its commitment at providing primary health care delivery system to the grass roots, with the commissioning of the implementation of Mental Health Gap Action Programme (MHGAP) for the south East region at Nnewi, Anambra State.

The ceremony was held over the weekend at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Complex (NAUTH) Nnewi in collaboration with International partners and federal ministry of health (FMoH).

The event, was witnessed by top officials from the FMoH, including the permanent secretary, Bala Sani represented by Dr. Aliyu Magaji, the director, public health, Dr. Bridget Okoeguale, the chairman mental health action committee, Prof. Oye Gureje, and the National Coordinator NonCommunicable Diseases

(NCDs), Dr. Anthony Uzoro.

Other are Anambra State commissioner of health, Dr Lawrence Ikeako, represented by the director, medical services, and the Chief Medical Director, NAUTH, Dr. Anthony Igwegbe, and the college of medicine provost, Prof Clement Ozichukwu, among servant heads of Departments of the Institution.

In his address, Gureje disclosed that mental, neurological and substance use disorders are the causes for considerable suffering and disability to individuals, emotional and financial burden to families, in addition to great loss of productivity and economic growth to communities and states.

He said such disorders rank among the most disabling conditions in Nigeria in particular and the world in general, with mental and behavioral disorders alone accounting for 7.4 percent of the total years lost due to premature death and

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NaturalHealth Alcohol-breakdown molecule may play role in breast cancer development EW research looking at the N biological process involved in breast cancer development has strengthened the argument for a potential link between alcohol consumption and the disease.

New research looking at the biological process involved in breast cancer development has strengthened the argument for a potential link between alcohol consumption and the disease.

Scientists from The University of Manchester – part of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre – and the University of Salford looked at a particular enzyme, a biological molecule that accelerates chemical reactions - known as CYP2E1.

Their findings offer a possible target to improve outcomes for patients in the later stages of the disease.

Dr. Costas Demonacos, based at The University’s Manchester Pharmacy School who led the research, said: “This enzyme, known as CYP2E1, has been implicated in various liver diseases linked to alcohol consumption (Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD), as well as diabetes, obesity and cancer.

“We wanted to understand why an enzyme known to function mainly in the liver was found to be heavily present in some types of breast cancer tissues. We also wanted to explore what other activities this enzyme might have that control the development of breast cancer.”

The enzyme breaks down various molecules within cells, including alcohol. The byproducts of this metabolism include reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in something called oxidative stress - in normal physiological conditions this aids cellular functions, whereas when concentrations of ROS are high or oxidative stress becomes chronic, cells can be seriously damaged.

Previous studies have shown that the enzyme is most strongly expressed in earlystage breast tumours rather than more developed tumours and scientists believe that it contributes to the progression of breast cancer. The Manchester team looked at the role it plays in various cellular functions in breast cancer cells. The study, published in Breast Cancer Research, found that depending on the stage of the breast cancer, high levels of the enzyme could help cells survive during stress.

They also found that inhibiting the activity of the enzyme in cells with high migratory potential promoted cell migration – a process linked to cancer spreading – known as metastasis.

Demonacos said: “Now that we have a clearer picture of the role played by this enzyme in breast cancer development, scientists could use it as a target in the later stages of the disease, to slow down the spread of cancer as well as to personalise anti-cancer therapy.

Scientists probe health claims, concerns over herbal teas

Herbal teas... Dried hibiscus flowers (Zobo/Hibiscus sabdariffa) made into tea is known to reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol as well as strengthen the immune system because it is rich in vitamin C. This tea, which is rich in antioxidants is widely consumed as zobo drink in Nigeria

‘Cars, computers, TVs spark obesity in developing countries’ HE spread of obesity and T type-2 diabetes could become epidemic in lowincome countries, as more individuals are able to own higher priced items such as TVs, computers and cars. The findings of an international study, led by Simon Fraser University health sciences Professor Scott Lear, are published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Lear headed an international research team that analyzed data on more than 150,000 adults from 17 countries, ranging from high and middle income to low-income nations.

Researchers, who questioned participants about ownership as well as physical activity and diet, found a 400 per cent increase in obesity and a 250 per cent increase in diabetes among owners of these items in low-income countries.

The study also showed that owning all three devices was associated with a 31 per cent decrease in physical activity, 21 per cent increase in sitting and a 9 cm increase in waist size compared with those who owned no devices.

Comparatively, researchers found no association in highincome countries, suggesting that the effects of owning items linked to sedimentary lifestyles has already occurred, and is reflected in current high rates of these conditions.

They have taken over the food and beverage market. Herbal teas are in vogue. They are recommended for treating all kinds of ailment from indigestion, diabetes, hypertension to cancer and weight loss. But there are concerns over the safety, validity and efficacy of these herbal teas.

How food price CHUKWUMA MUANYA examines the scenario. hikes raise type 2 resistance.

“Dried hibiscus flowers The chronic administration of ESEARCHERS have validatThe researchers concluded: R ed the efficacy of herbal (Hibiscus sabdariffa) made into aqueous extract of HS has “The results of this study has diabetes risk teas or rather green teas to tea is known to reduce high lower the risk of cancer, lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels and also prevent dental diseases owing to its polyphenol (a potent antioxidant) content. Antioxidants are substances that may prevent or delay some types of cell damage.

The researchers from the Department of Microbiology, Food and Industrial Division, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, said that green tea is a herbal tea of great health benefit that it is called the wonder herb. “This product has high concentration of total polyphenols, which are known to exert a wide range of beneficial biochemical and physiological properties,” they said.

The research published recently in European Scientific Journal is titled “Microbiological Characteristics and Phytochemical Screening of Some Herbal Teas in Nigeria.”

Dr. Omogbai, Barry Aigbodion, and Dr. Ikenebomeh, Marcel, wrote: “A major polyphenol antioxidant reported in green tea is epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG).

Bush tealeaves contain a flavonoid called 5-hydroxy-6, 7,3’, 4’, 5’ – hexamethoxy flavon 3-ol, a compound with biological activity as reported by Mashimbye et al. (2006).

blood pressure and cholesterol as well as strengthen the immune system because it is rich in vitamin C. This tea, which is rich in antioxidants is widely consumed as zobo drink in Nigeria.”

Commonly called Roselle, Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) belongs to the plant family Malvaceae.

This happens to be one of the most extensively studied plants for antihypertensive properties. The leaves, calyx, and corolla of this plant are used traditionally in many West African countries for various medicinal purposes and as edibles.

The antihypertensive effect of this plant extract has been variously studied. One study reported the antihypertensive effect of calyx of HS. Adegunloye et al independently produced a similar result in Lagos, Nigeria. An intravenous administration of 20 mg/kg of a water extract of dry HS calyx produced a fall in the BP of experimentally induced hypertensive rats.

The antihypertensive effects of the crude extract of the HS have been attributed to mediation through acetylcholine and histamine like dependent mechanism through direct vasorelaxant effects. Earlier report showed that the petal crude extract of same plant had a direct relaxant effect on the aortic smooth muscle of rats.

been reported to reverse cardiac hypertrophy in renovascular hypertensive rats.

Clinical trials of the plant extract in human being have shown reliable evidence of antihypertensive effects. A standardised dose of HS (9.6 mg per day) given to 39 patients and captopril, 50 mg per day, given to the same number of patients did not show significant difference relative to hypotensive effects, antihypertensive effectiveness and tolerability.

Meanwhile, phytochemical analysis of the herbal teas showed that they contain tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and saponins and volatile oils and phenols. Of these secondary metabolites, antidiarrhoea herbal tea contained tannin, saponin, flavonoid and phenols. Saponins and volatile oils where not found in antimalarial and antihypertensive herbal teas. Anti-diabetic herbal tea was found to contain alkaloids, volatile oils, flavonoids and phenols. The slimming tea (slimming tea) had alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids and phenols but was devoid of volatile oils and tannins.

The researchers said the presence of secondary metabolites justify the use of herbal teas but good manufacturing practice and proper quality control is however needed for the continued use of the products to curtail antibiotic

shown that microorganisms associated with herbal teas belong to either saprophytic or pathogen flora. High bacterial or fungal contamination could constitute a health hazard if the organisms present are pathogenic or capable of producing toxin under favourable conditions. Thus good manufacturing practices (GMPs) and appropriate hygiene should be adhered to for high quality herbal teas.”

According to the researchers, the study was designed to determine the bacteriological and fungal contamination of herbal teas in the Nigerian market with special reference to Benin City.

26 samples of five different types of herbal teas: antidiarrheal, antimalarial and antiobesity (slimming), antihypertensive and antidiabetic teas were obtained from herbal vendors in Benin City.

All samples of the herbal teas were contaminated with both bacteria and fungi. The bacteria count ranged from 1.1x101 to 4.8x102cfu/g. The fungal count ranged from 1.1x102 to 4.5x105cfu/g.

Bacterial isolates from herbal teas include: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomanas flourecens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia

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prices are linked to FwithOOD blood sugar levels in people type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests.

To reach this conclusion, researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) merged information from two giant studies.

From the first study, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), they gathered blood sugar measures of about 2,400 adults who met a definition of type 2 diabetes.

They then compared those levels to average grocery prices over the previous three months in 35 markets around the United States. Those prices came from the Quarterly Foodat-Home Price Database.

The result? As the costs of healthy foods like fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products climbed, so did blood sugar levels. The reverse was true for unhealthy foods.

Falling prices for sugar, saturated fat and total calories were tied to higher blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Those relationships were strongest for low-income consumers.

“Most likely, it’s because people eat less produce and switch to products that are less healthy,” said study author Ilya Rahkovsky, an economist with the USDA’s Economic Research Service in Washington, D.C.

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NATURAL HEALTH Thursday, February 20, 2014 37

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Fresh concern over herbal teas’ safety, efficacy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 marcenscens, Salmonella typhimurium, and Escherichia coli. Fungal isolates were Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium expansum, Rhizopus stolonifer and Fusarium solanii.

Of all the bacterial isolates, Bacillus subtilis had the highest occurrence (100 per cent) and the least was Salmonella typhimurium (three per cent).

Among the fungi, Aspergillus niger had the highest occurrence (100 per cent) and the least was Rhizopus stolonifer (10 per cent).

The bacteria isolates showed multiple resistance pattern to the antibiotics with all gramnegative exhibiting resistance to ampicillin.

Meanwhile, McGaw et al.

(2007) reported that bush tea leaves do not contain caffeine or pyrrolizidine alkaloids, thus justifying its medical potential. Ivanova et al. (2005) reported that the roles of herbal tea in disease prevention and cure have been partly attributed to the antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds present in their extracts. The presence of total phenols in tea leaves are the main potential indicators for medicinal usage due to their antioxidant activities.

Herbal teas have many health benefits and they taste great

too. The widespread popularity of herbal teas such as green tea, rooibos and chamomille is due to their perceived therapeutic effects against some chronic diseases. When administered, chamomille has been found to sooth the stomach, relieves indigestion, fight insomnia, calms the body and mind thus relieving stress.

Decoctions of spearmint (Mentha spicata), marjoram (Origanum marjorana), thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and papayamint tea are primarily consumed to treat digestive ailments, to reduce fever and for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

However, despite the significant role of herbal teas in improving nutrition and health, there have been reports of microbial contamination and adverse effects resulting from their consumption. These include neurological, cardiovascular and haematological hazards. Toxin-producing microbial contaminants are often the cause of these adverse effects.

Therefore, it is important to identify the microbial contaminants of herbal tea products as indicators of safety and quality.

A few reports demonstrating microbial contamination of medicinal herbs from various

parts of the world exist in the literature. Rizzo et al. (2004) indicated that medicinal plants in Argentina harbored toxigenic fungi such as Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus and several members of the Genus Fusarium.

Efuntoye (1999) showed that dried medicinal plants from Nigeria herb markets contained A. flavus, A. parasiticus and A. ochraceus. He added that the above fungal isolates were capable of producing mycotoxins when grown on semi-synthetic media.

Martins et al. (2001), after evaluating several medicinal herbs obtained from Portugese markets, reported that the commodities were infested with a variety of moulds such as Aspergillus and Fusarium spp. Halt (1998) isolated a wide spectrum of fungi (including Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Rhizopus and Mucor species) from Croatian herbal teas and medicinal plants.

Czech et al. (2001) reported bacterial and fungal contamination of medicinal herbs in Austria, while Skorska et al.

(2005) showed that the air in chamomile and peppermint processing farms in Poland contained high levels of Pantoea agglomerans and other gram negative bacteria.

Such reports indicate the

‘Why more Nigerians are becoming hypertensive’

By Wole Oyebade OTWITHSTANDING the N genetic risk factor among Africans, Nigerians’ love for Western way of life and attendant lifestyle modifications have been identified as reasons behind increasing cases of hypertension-related sicknesses and deaths in the country.

That was the submission of experts recently in Lagos, as they warned that the country might be in for a major public health problem without effective control measures against hypertension.

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated. High blood pressure is said to be present if it is often at or above 140/90 mmHg. Speaking at a one-day special workshop on ‘Fight the Good Fight Against Hypertension’, collaboration between Neimeth pharmaceuticals and health professionals, Consultant Cardiologists, Prof.

Adewale Oke observed that there was more to the incidences of hypertension today, than being a black man.

He said while hypertension is today known to be the problem of the black race, the Noncommunicable disease was few decades ago not considered as a health problem in Nigeria - the most populous Black Country in the world.

Oke said: “But today, hypertension accounts for high rate of morbidity and mortality among our people.”

Oke, who is also the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos, added that there is a paradigm shift in the trend of sicknesses, from infectious diseases to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD), and leading the pack is hypertension.

According to him, “Hypertension does not used

to be common among us, but now, as it is declining in the western world, it is becoming common here, because of their bad habits that they have transferred here. Today, we have the tobacco industries, fast foods every where among others, coupled with our love for sedentary lifestyle and poor attitude to health,” he said.

Stressing that the country has a major public health issue at hand, Oke said effective control measures starts with creating massive awareness on the condition, “because hypertension is one disease that never sleeps.”

Though he foresaw a daunting task in its prevention, he however added that all stakeholders must fight harder against hypertension, especially in recognition that they would be contending against cultural factors, ignorance of the people and bad health habits that are prevalent among the people.

The CMD thanked Neimeth pharmaceutical for championing the cause of awareness and affordability of anti-hypertensive drug, by reducing the cost by 50 per cent for local consumers.

Managing Director of Neimeth, represented by Roselyn Oputa observed that the Neimeth healthcare Professional Forum was launched last year to drive the fight against hypertension, in the area of awareness and finding innovative approach to tackle the upsurge among Nigerians.

Oputa said in line with the “four-A” strategy of Awareness, Availability, Affordability and Action that had been proffered by leading experts in the country to tackle hypertension, Neimeth had slashed the cost of anti-hypertensive drug by 50 per cent, to make the drug available and affordable.

She said the drug, like 99 per cent of Neimeth products, was locally manufactured based on the findings of researchers on the conditions among

Nigerians.

Prof. Jane Ajuluchukwu of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, defined the condition as a situation where anyone has blood pressure above 140/90 in persistent way.

She observed that hypertension is important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

More so, any level of blood pressure beyond 140/90, targets organs in the body.

On why it is so prevalent, she said environment factors were to blame for unlocking the genes in black people to be at risk of hypertension.

She said while the black people are still the same people they used to be, myriad of factors like differences in food, radiation, unhealthy lifestyle, stress and so on has influenced the gene, adding that “we are more or less living in unnatural environment today.”

Associate Professor of Medicine and Consultant Cardiologist, LUTH, Dr Amam Mbakwem added that the challenge was worrisome because “it is a disease that targets organs of the body to destroy them.”

“Besides, it comes with financial difficulties in managing the disease,” she said.

Addressing health professionals, Mbakwem stressed that the aim of hypertension management should be to reduce cardiovascular risks and co-morbidities, and not just treat the condition alone.

Hypertension puts strain on the heart, leading to hypertensive heart disease and coronary artery disease if not treated.

Hypertension is also a major risk factor for stroke, aneurysms of the arteries, peripheral arterial disease and is a cause of chronic kidney disease. A moderately high arterial blood pressure is associated with a shortened life expectancy while mild elevation is not.

existence of a ubiquitous problem. In Benin City, Nigeria, there are many retail outlets for a host of herbal teas with promising cure for many ailments. A large number of people rely on these teas for cure, howbeit without thinking of the microbiological characteristics.

The researchers wrote: “The presence of microorganisms in medicinal plants is common but medically unfavourable phenomenon.

The results of the present study demonstrated the presence of both saprophytic and pathogenic microbial flora.

The aerobic plate counts from herbal teas showed the contamination of 100 per cent of the samples analyzed. The presence and numbers of bacteria could be explained by the fact that some of these organisms like Bacillus pro-

duce spores which are resistant to harsh processing elevated heat and dry conditions.

Therefore they can survive for a long time in the product in a dormant state.

“This result is corroborated by the report of (Martins, 2001), who isolated Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfrigens from Chamomile and other herbs. Also, part of the bacterial bio-burden may have originated from the personnel handling the tea materials after processing, especially if strict good manufacturing practices (GMPs) and hygienic conditions were not followed. Staphylococus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis are organisms, which can be transferred from humans to teas during processing.

“Microbial loads of the herbal products analyzed may have

also originated from processing plants, the environment and air. Settled dust in herbs processing plants are often highly contaminated with bacteria which could add to the microbial burden already present in the commodity brought in from the field.

Dutkiewiez et al. (2001) reported the presence of Bacillus cereus, Alkaligenes faecalis, various fungi, and actinomycetes from herb such as mint, sage and marjoran processing plants. Some of these organisms are capable of causing human infections allergies and/or producing endotoxins, which makes them health risks. Thus care should be taken to reduce such contaminants mainly by following strict GMPs at all stages of processing.

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Thursday, February 20, 2014 SCIENCEGUARDIAN | 39

Made-in-Nigeria cars advance CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 name that is familiar to the populace.

“So it is Tuketuke Urban concept. We are hoping by the first week of March we will have a car that is ready to be tested for the technical inspection and hopefully it will be taken to Port Harcourt for test-driving. The bodywork is going on now and we are hoping that in the next week we will be ready.”

Agaba of the UNILAG team said: “We have completed our designing phase and the engineers that came can attest to that. We have passed stages one and two. At this stage we have started the construction of the mould and we are entering for the prototype category and we are using a chassis. We intend to use Raphia palm for the chassis of the body.

“We have already started the construction of the mould we are going to use and that should be done hopefully within the next two weeks. We have also started work on our battery management system, which is required by the rules by Shell. We placed orders for components, which we could not secure locally especially the motors, braking system and other electric components needed for our circuit. The order has been placed and we are expecting the arrival within to Nigeria within two weeks. The most visible items now are the construction of the mould, the construction of the electrical component and the other placements.”

Corroborating his student, Mowete said: “We have been able, as he said, placed the orders. We have the constraints of fund earlier on but fortunately Shell came through and the Vice Chancellor support was fort coming and we were able to place orders. Quite a few numbers of the items are not available locally so we had to place orders from the outside the locality, in Europe.

“Our plan, we have told the Shell team that they can visit us by the end of February to come and see a trial run and that is what we are working towards. We are going to work for two weeks intensively so that we can be able to present something to the Shell technical team when they visit by the end of February. We are not saying it will be perfect but you will have something that you will see in February. We can promise you that.”

Head of Communications, SPDC, Phillip Mshelbila, said: “I understand from your professors that this is an integral part of your development and training as well. That helps and I think that is a positive element to what we are doing. The focus for us has never being just about building a car, there that educational component that are critical as well otherwise we will probably be doing the Eco Marathon with a bunch of engineers who have graduated and are outside. But I think the importance of engaging with students and that forms part of their development process. I think that is one of the elements that fulfills are aspiration as a company when it comes to innovation and one of the challenges the Eco Marathon brings to you is innovation.

How can you translate? How can you start from a clean

sheet of paper essentially work up a design and then go from a design into actually constructing, building something and building something that works.

“I must say that I am extremely impressed because slightly less than a year ago when the teams were here and we talked, we were actually working on a different schedule. We were working on a schedule that

by November this year will be the time when each of the teams will be ready to actually participate in Shell Eco Marathon. Circumstances have changed and an opportunity has come up earlier and I must say that I am pleasantly surprised and impressed that at least two of the teams are almost ready to go and I think also means that the next couple of months is going to be absolutely critical in completing the preparations that are needed for the teams to make Rotterdam.

“So roughly about six months ahead of schedule you have managed to be able to essentially get yourselves prepared to the extent of hearing back from the engineers and hearing from the phase one assessment that has been done. It looks like you have put in quite a lot of work in the course of preparations.

“We are clearly looking forward to Nigeria being represented and in fact sub Saharan Africa being represented for the first time in the Eco Marathon and you are the one that is going to do that and the ones that are going to achieve that. If anybody thought this wasn’t a big achievement I think it is a very significant one and all of you should be congratulated on the work you have done so far.”

Mshelbila said: “For us as Shell we have actually funded development up to this stage and we intend to support you through Rotterdam and hopefully beyond that.

Indeed, one of the things that we had discussed last year when we met is that also that in addition to Shell funding, we would encourage you to always look beyond and look for additional co-funding that you might be able to raise.

“We have to my understanding now made available N30 million that is N10 million to each of the schools. I believe that has been received by each of the schools hopefully supporting the work that have been going on. We know quite well that your scope maybe wider than that. That is why I started with the encouragement that you should not be constrained by simply what we give.

“We have internally a team of Shell engineers dedicated to this project and I hope you have interacted with them.

The intention is that they will continue to provide you with support going forward even beyond Rotterdam and all the way through because what was going to be Qatar 2014 has now become Manila 2015. February 2015 the Eco Marathon that would have taken place in Qatar in November 2013 will now be taking place in Manila, the Philippines.”

A member of Shell’s technical team that has visited UNILAG and UNIBEN for assessment of their preparedness and SPDC’s Principal

Engineer on Projects, Eng. Rabvi Kampattu, said: “What they said is right. They had some funds constraints but that has been addressed now.

By the end of this month we will visit the universities for another round for progress report. They have come up with a skeletal design, woodwork for the models. Now they are set to assemble.

“The Shell technical team has come with back up plan.

Like in shipping from Nigeria to Rotterdam there is a lot of Customs clearance and your package may be delayed. We are very closely monitoring the teams and the projects.”

On whether the Nigerian team is ready, Shell’s Social Investment Advisor and Coordinator of Shell Eco Marathon Europe, Celina Wang, said: “Basically yes. I have visited so many teams and they are also assembling their cars. I heard that UNILAG is still designing. So I think they should really accelerate the process to have the parts ready in-house and then assemble it. But it looks good and we have to take into consideration that it will take a longer time shipping from Nigeria compared to other countries.

“Since it is your first time joining the competition you should make sure that when you get to Rotterdam you can drive it. Please don’t tell me you are going to come first in the competition. Be realistic, make a reliable car, which is also safe. I think that is really the first step in such competition and later on the years you make it more efficient and then you can break the record.”

Shell’s Relations Manager for Nigeria, Sola Abulu, said congratulated the teams and urged them to ensure that they have a communications unit and at least a female in their team. “ Sola said: “The car needs to be assembled and de-assembled for shipping purposes.

You need to have a communications manager, people who are not involved in the technical matters.

“Can we have sufficient visuals that can be shared so that we can begin to build archive for the journey?”

Sola said the shipping of the cars to The Netherlands will take about three weeks but air-freight could be used to accelerate the process.

“The vehicle should be in Rotterdam by the first week of May around 7th,” she said.

Shell Eco-marathon Europe aims to involve European citizens in challenges related to energy and mobility, while inspiring them to consider innovative solutions. With Rotterdam as the host city, Shell brings the competition closer to the public with a fitfor-purpose street circuit.

Shell Eco-marathon Europe is a visible demonstration of Shell’s concern with helping the world to meet its growing energy needs in a responsible way and demonstrates its collaborative approach, bringing together students, partners and the public.

The 30th edition of Shell Eco-marathon Europe takes place for the third time in a row in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Various activities around the challenge are offered at the venue to engage and inspire European citizens who are interested in the future of our energy and the technologies to meet our future needs.

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Thursday, February 20, 2014 SCIENCE & HEALTH 43

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‘Appointment of another medical doctor as Minister of State for Health will cause uprising in sector’ ‘Suntai is mentally alert even when he might not be 100% physically fit’ President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Olumide Akintayo, has declared that his colleague and Governor of Taraba State, Dababa Suntai, is mentally alert, physically fit and therefore still capable to perform his duties as Governor. Akintayo who is also the Chairman of Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) and an executive member of Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU) condemned plans to appoint Dr Khaliru Alhassan from Sokoto State as the new Minister of State for Health, after he scaled the screening hurdles at the Senate. Akintayo, a fellow of the PSN, West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists, Nigerian Institute of Management and the fledging Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, in a chat with journalists over the weekend, after he visited Suntai with members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and past presidents of the Society on Tuesday February 11, 2014, shared his perspectives on some other contemporary issues in healthcare and national politics. CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes. Excerps:

I

Works/Building/Environment sector which has a plethora of professionals like the Health Sector NIA, NSE, NIESV, and NSE are represented.

We are worried that the Health Sector as usual has received very shabby treatment in obvious continuation of the levity and contempt with which government conventionally treats professionals in the Health Sector (This is apart from doctors who get the status of sacred cows) The AHPN/JOHESU feels very slighted that the true representatives of the Health work force in Nigeria has been neglected, ignored and treated with disrespect for too long in the annals of national endeavours of this nature.

We have therefore collectively resolved that on this occasion we shall not leave this situation unchallenged.

It is imperative to draw the attention of President Jonathan to the fact that pharmacy as a profession is the only health profession directly modulated by the workings of the 1999 constitution because drugs and poisons are listed as item 21 of part 1 in the second schedule of the constitution.

This development stems from the importance of drug use endeavours which therefore compels many serious nations of the world to centrally regulate and control the use of drugs.

In view of the need to broaden the impact of the Pharmaceutical and Health Sector in all national discourses, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria as a veritable and prime stakeholder in careprocesses must be encouraged to contribute its quota.

We respectfully implore Mr. President as one of the condition precedent in our ongoing negotiation with government on injustice pertaining to labour matters to immediately redress this matter by giving immediate approval to the nomination of at least 3 member bodies of AHPA to be represented at the National Conference.

A pool of expertise and knowledge is available within the ranks of AHPA/JOHESU, which needs to be tapped in the quest for nation building.

We insist on being counted as front-runners in the quest to rebuild Nigeria.

You recently visited the Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai, who is believed to be recuperating after an ill-fated plane crash.

There have been calls for him to resign because he is no longer fit enough to run the office of the Governor. How is he doing? Do you think he is still fit to do the job?

For many months now, I have tried to avoid the seeming and endless controversies associated with this development. One of the main reasons was that I did not want to posit from a viewpoint laced with ignorance. You have read

PSN President, Olumide Akintayo various accounts and editions of the Suntai saga including the politicisation by some scrawny figures in key professional bodies who suddenly wanted to assume roles to certify Governor Suntai medically fit. For the records I make bold to tell the world that the pharmacist, Danbaba Suntai, that I saw in the company of some of my NEC members and past presidents of PSN on Tuesday February 11, 2014 is mentally alert even when he might not be 100 per cent physically fit.

What the constitution says in Section 189 (1-5) is hinged on the fact that the Governor shall cease to hold office if he suffers from permanent incapacitation which makes it impossible to perform the duties of a Governor.

We shared reminisces of his days as an old boy of Federal Governor College (FGC), Kano which must have been some 35 to 40 years ago with him and he was vibrating with smiles. His in-depth analysis of the evolution trends of the PSN after my introductory remarks were probably more thought provoking and impactful more than the four

‘

previous visits i was privileged to have made to his office since he assumed the governorship in 2007.

It is important to say the federal constitution does not envisage that you will have a sitting Governor and an Acting Governor in the same state. To that extent what is going on in Taraba State is an aberration.

An absurdity that has reached an apogee because of an unfortunate luciferian disposition of insubordination by persons in high places in both the executive, legislative and even the judiciary in Taraba State.

Luciferianism is a belief system that includes both theistic and secular denominations, and is therefore heavily influenced by personal perspectives and experiences.

So what do you think is the way to go now on the issue of Suntai’s office as the Governor of Taraba State?

I am not a politician, but I have read accounts where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) describes itself as the biggest political party in Africa.

The size and or quality should be made proportional to the quality by the big-wigs in PDP

For seven and half years we did not have any doctor and we made tremendous progress especially with Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, the Health Economist. If the Jonathan government brings another doctor to the Federal Ministry of Health after all the in equilibrium and injustice Prof Chukwu has perpetrated in the last two years, then Nigerians will contend with an insurrection that is unparalleled in the annals of healthcare. That is a promise

‘

Dr Khaliru Alhassan from Sokoto State just scaled the screening hurdles at the Senate and may emerge the next Minister of State for Health. What is your take on this??

WAS part of Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU)/Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) team that advised government to retrace its steps if it truly wanted harmony in the health sector.

With due respect it cannot be in tandem with commonsense to appoint two doctors to head the Federal Ministry of Health.

It was unprecedented to have that until the Yar’Adua/Jonathan administration in 2007. Recall that out of the eight year tenure of President Obasanjo it was only Dr. Tim Menakaya who featured for six months.

For seven and half years we did not have any doctor and we made tremendous progress especially with Prof.

Eyitayo Lambo, the Health Economist. If the Jonathan government brings another doctor to the Federal Ministry of Health after all the in equilibrium and injustice Prof Chukwu has perpetrated in the last two years, then Nigerians will contend with an insurrection that is unparalleled in the annals of healthcare. That is a promise We observed the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria was not tipped to send a representative to the National Conference like professional bodies of equal status. How are you redressing this?

The PSN is redressing this alongside JOHESU/ APHA. In recent times, we have continued to catalogue glaring episodes of marginalisation and injustice to our individual and collective templates by the Federal Government.

We have observed that the Federal Government has listed only the following professional bodies as participants at the forthcoming National Conference. They include: Nigeria Bar Association (NBA); Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE); Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB); Nigeria Medical Association (NMA); Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA); Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN); Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN); Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR); Nigeria Institute of Estate Surveyors and Values (NIESV); and Nigeria Environmental Society (NES. While we do not deny any of these bodies their inalienable rights to have representatives on the National Conference, we enjoin Mr. President to critically appraise the list of professional bodies listed. In the Finance Sector, CIBN, ANAN and ICAN are represented.

Infact ANAN and ICAN represent only the Accounting profession In the

since they have a way of sorting their hooplas the “family” way. I met the incumbent Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Muazu when he was Bauchi State Governor in 2004. He strikes me as a fine and decent gentleman, so i appeal to him to investigate and intervene in the tragic events in Taraba State. Beyond this President Jonathan and his people often mouth a rule of law mantra, so i appeal to His Excellency to wade into the Taraba affair because it does not project a good image for national politics and our nation.

You have been one of arrowheads in recent negotiations for improving welfare of pharmacists and other health workers in the public service. What is the latest and can we avoid a strike in the foreseeable future?

The meeting and consultations reviewed the various agreements between JOHESU and the Federal Ministry of Health from 2009 to 2014. After a critical appraisal of all the agreements, stakeholders resolved as follows: The meeting evaluated the composition of the boards of Federal Health Institutions and concluded that the composition was still skewed in favour of medical practitioners where there are eight to nine medical practitioners on the 13-member board whereas only one health professional/worker represents other health professionals/workers who constitute over 95 per cent of the workforce. It was also observed that the boards of the Federal Teaching Hospitals have more than the 13 members provided for by the enabling statute.

Consequently, we demand that the boards of the Federal Health Institutions be reconstituted in line with the enabling statute and the agreements and in such a way that the lopsidedness in favour of the medical practitioners is corrected.

We critically reviewed matters pertaining to increase in the retirement age of health workers from 60 to 65 years and agreed that the way forward was an immediate circularisation of the review of retirement age from 60 to 65 years in line with the May 10, 2012 agreement with JOHESU. Stakeholders under the aegis of JOHESU/AHPA canvassed the application of sanctions on Chief Executive Officers of Federal Health Institutions who refuse to promote deserving healthcare professionals before the end of the 1st quarter of 2014 in line with existing circular duly approved by government.

A call was made to admonish government to check the impunity of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors who have continually refused to implement circulars with respect to skipping of CONHESS 10 and payment of the accrued arrears.

We requested the Federal Government to provide fund to energise the Presidential

Committee of experts on harmony in the health sector to complete its assignment without further delay.

JOHESU/AHPA critically appraised the politics of consultancy status in the health sector and demanded that circular Ref. No. SMH/491/S.2/VOL.11/221 of 29th March 1976 remains the legitimate instrument to appoint healthcare professionals as consultants in the health sector. Let me put on record that the intransigence and rigidity of the Health Minister is the basis of a needless crisis on this.

In furtherance of above, we advocated an enabling circular to enforce the payment of specialist allowances to hospital based practitioners who possess postgraduate qualification such as fellowship obtained from postgraduate colleges or possession of PhDs, MSCs, PGDs from recognised universities with effect from January 2010 when the collective bargaining agreement took effect.

Stakeholders under JOHESU/AHPA rejected the unlawful creation of the position of Deputy CMAC in teaching hospitals because it was a violation of Section 5 (subsection 5 and 6) of the Teaching Hospital Act. JOHESU/AHPA observed that it was a misnomer to continue to empower part-time staff of the teaching hospitals that should render teaching/medical services to dabble into routine administrative duties of the hospitals.

JOHESU/AHPA strongly demanded for the immediate approval and circularisation of the salary proposal submitted to the government with effect from 1st January 2014. We note the propensity of government to prevaricate and oscillate on matters like this with intent to frustrate similar negotiations.

For instance the inaugural meeting of the collective bargaining committee of February 11, 2014 was postponed without notice. JOHESU/AHPA however warns that we shall do the needful as soon as we observe government is playing games.

We strongly reiterated the rejection of the appointment of a Surgeon-General for the Federation on grounds that it is a military appointment and an unnecessary duplication in bureaucratic structure in healthcare especially at a time government was seriously exploiting ways of reducing the cost of governance.

JOHESU/AHPA advised medical practitioners who were threatening to break into facilities of health professionals who are on legitimate strike for whatever reason to tread on the path of caution as such development will leave members of JOHESU/AHPA with no other option than upholding their chartered liberties albeit with unprecedented emphasis to prove we are freeborn citizens of this nation.

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Nigerian Medical Doctors Games will reduce mortality among members, say Chukwu, Enabulele From Ayoyinka Jegede, Eket HE Minister of Health, Prof.

T Onyebuchi Chukwu, and the President of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Osahon Enabulele, have said that the maiden Nigerian Medical Doctors Games will reduce mortality and morbidity among members even as they charged medical doctors to get more involved in sporting activities.

Chukwu and Enabulel, yesterday in Eket, Akwa Ibom State during the flag off of the maiden edition of Nigerian Medical Doctors’ Games’ organized by the NMA said the link between lack of exercise, poor nutrition and smoking as well as development of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like obesity, diabetes and heart diseases have been scientifically proven.

The theme of the Nigerian Medical Doctors Games is ‘… let the doctors play!!.’

Chukwu revealed that the concept of having games for doctors on annual basis is a great initiative that demonstrates the value and role of sports as a component of the overall strategy for the promotion of healthy living amongst the citizenry as they take a cue from doctors who do not smoke, and are physically active.

The minister added that beyond the health benefits of participation in the games is the opportunity it affords doctors to socialze,fraternize, and network in a convivial atmosphere devoid of the rigorous scientific conferences and delegates meetings.

His words: “The link between lack of exercise, poor nutrition and smoking and the development of Non-communicable diseases, NCDs like obesity, diabetes and heart disease have been scientifically proven. Proven too are the profound beneficial effects physical activity had both on the prevention of these conditions and on the amelioration and reversal of their negative effects on the bodies. The concept of having these games for doctors on annual basis is a great initiative that demonstrates in clear terms, the value and role of sport as a component of the overall strategy for the promotion of healthy living amongst the citizenry as they take a cue from doctors who do not smoke, are not overweight and are physically active.”

Chukwu added that the maiden edition of the ’NMA Medical Doctors Games’ will encourage the Nigerian doctors to live a healthy lifestyle, thereby practicing what they preach maintained that the salutary effect of such games on the local economy is not in doubt as sports in general promote tourism.

Enabulele who is also the Vice-President (WAR), Common Wealth Medical Association, said the National Doctors’ Games is a response to the increasing deaths amongst doctors/dentists.

The event featured 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).

Enabulele said the association identified the need for a strategic response to the increasing deaths amongst doctors/dentists thereby put in place the Doctors Games to stem the work stress on medical doctors.

He explained that in total recognition of the popular cliché: “Physician heal thyself “the current National Officers Committee of NMA in 2012 commenced the faithful implementation of some strategies aimed at promoting the health and wellbeing of Nigerian doctors which include health promotion campaigns and talks delivery to members, planned institution of a trust fund, comprehensive welfare scheme, free health checks for doctors during all national activities of the NMA as well as the institution of a national games.

His words: “Many may wonder why this National Games was put together. Really and truly, at the inception of the tenure of the current National Officers Committee of NMA we are greatly terrified at the spine-chilling increase in the number of deaths and morbidities amongst doctors.

Therefore, in our fearless implementation of our collective organizational Agenda for Sustained Consolidation, Progressive Reformation & Reengineering of NMA and our cherished Medical Profession (well captured in our ‘’Covenant with Nigerian doc-

Enabulele

Chukwu tors’’), which focuses on building great foundations in NMA and adopting new strategies to engage the Nigerian system and the challenges of the 21st century, we identified the need for a strategic response to the increasing deaths amongst doctors/dentists. We saw this as one critical challenge that needed to be addressed.

“Thus, as part of our national response to this critical challenge and disaster, and in total recognition of the popular cliché: ‘’Physician heal thyself”, we commenced in the year 2012 the faithful implementa-

tion of some strategies aimed at promoting the health and wellbeing of Nigerian doctors. This includes health promotion campaigns and talks delivered to our members, planned institution of a Trust Fund, comprehensive welfare scheme, free health checks for doctors during all national activities of the NMA, as well as institution of a National Games, this being the first NMA Doctors Games/Sports week holding here in Eket, Akwa-Ibom state from February 17 to 22, 2014.

“This national games is therefore not only historic in

being the first time that the national body of NMA is organizing this event, it marks a high point in our overall strategy to promote the physical, mental and medical fitness of our members (with improved health status and life expectancy), and by so doing improve the quality of healthcare delivery in Nigeria by our members.

It is our hope that all our members will avail themselves of these opportunities and actively participate in the Maiden NMA Doctors’ Games and practice what they preach to their patients.”

Enabulele said his adminis-

tration it is the dream and vision to see the NMA National Games transmogrify into the West African Medical Doctors Games and also be a reservoir for athletes for all of Nigeria’s national teams (in various sports).

At the event the Chief Medical Director University of Uyo Teaching Hospital Prof.

Etteh Peters called on doctors to always take time to exercise and do what they tell their patients to do. Peters said this would create awareness among patients on the need to exercise their body as well as encourage them.

Jonathan commissions 12 new labs today From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja VER five hundred (500) O herbal products currently flood the Nigerian market

from China and other countries that have acquired high capacity in traditional medicine manufacturers.

Concerned about this, the Nigerian Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) is intensifying its efforts in medical research and development.

Today (Thursday), President Goodluck Jonathan will commission 12 new laboratories built by NIPRID. Officials said the labs are some of the best in this part of the world, and would greatly contribute to reversing the importation of drugs into Nigeria, and rather, position Nigeria to become a major producer of drugs locally.

Director-General of the Institute, Prof Karniyus Gamaniel, described the influx of herbal drugs into the country as unacceptable.

He explained: “When we discovered that importation of drugs was becoming unacceptable. We decided to turn around the herbal industry into what Nollywood has done to the film industry. We have signed an agreement with the National Agency for Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). We assist to test for safety and efficacy of products that NAFDAC intends to list.”

On how the Institute examines the efficacy of herbal products, he stressed: “We have five distinct Departments of Medicinal Plant Research and Traditional Medicine. If we

• As Nigeria moves to enhance local herbal drug production • How China, other flood Nigeria with over 500 herbal products, by NIPRID DG have an herbalist that has something new, it first goes to that department to sort out what plant and what names the product carries? Identity matters throughout the process. So, the department through its scientists does the preliminary. The make of the herbal product at various samples; that is their role. They deal with the plants and with the traditional healers. Then, it moves to Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Quality Control.

“This department deals with more of standardization at the final level. Then, the product goes to microbiology and biotechnology, which is another area. From there, it moves to pharmacology and toxicology. These are the departments that test this product for biological systems on bacteria and so on. They give result. From pharmacology and toxicology, the product moves again to Department of Pharmaceutical Technology; the delivery stage, the formulation department. No matter how good your drug is in the laboratory, if it is not formulated to be taken by human being in a standard way, it doesn’t worth the effort.

“So, each of the five departments has two different departments in it. We have dedicated the remaining two departments to what we call Central Laboratory Facilities.

There are some pieces of equipment that are being used in common in all the departments. There are some equipment that you cannot afford to buy as a department;

it will be inadequate. So, those specialized instruments and expensive instruments or instruments of common use are stationed in a special unit in my office to handle the lab.”

He said running cost has been one of the challenges of the institute.

His words: “The challenge we have is the running cost.

Some instruments, once you launch them, they are alive like human beings. You cannot put them off. You have to be feeding them with necessary consumables as spare parts. The consumables and the spare parts are not seen in

the budgetary process as capital. And then, the overhead that is supposed to cater for the cost is severely inadequate. We are talking of about N250 million or a little more than that to run this institute successfully as overhead or running cost. But, what do we get? For this year, especially, it is N54 million. It comes to about N4 million naira monthly; and it is what we use to pay for in-house services and what have you.

On how soon the country would see a breakthrough in local production of vaccines, he stressed: “All over the world, the issue of vaccine

production is not as straightforward as people think.

Though technically, the production of vaccine and tablet; tablet is probably more complicated. But, because of its nature, vaccines have requirements in research that have to do with preliminaries. In 1996, NIPRD coordinated a study of the HIV strain that is predominant in Nigeria…The idea then was to know the predominant specie of HIV in the country.

Production of vaccines will be more to that because you have to prepare something that the disease responses to. That has been done. I know there are other studies that are going on now. But, that is the problem because you don’t just make vaccine.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Dr. Rui Gama Vaz, Executive Director (ED)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Muhammad, and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative, Mrs. Jean Gough, while addressing the media recently in Abuja on vaccines’ availability in Nigeria

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Thursday, February 20, 2014 NATURAL HEALTH 47

Lagos makes progress in maternal, child deaths reduction Strategies for living disease - free life (6) Exercise SEDENTARY lifestyle is one that is devoid of any physical activity or one that is characterized by irregular physical activity. People that live such lives spend most of their time sitting down either reading or watching the television or working with a computer or just sitting, doing nothing.

This is even made worse by the advent of cellular phones. You do not have to get up to go somewhere; you can reach as many people as you wish in a day by the use of your cell phone.

A sedentary lifestyle can lead to diseases such as diabetes, hypertension (due to dehydration), arthritis, obesity and all the complications that accompany it. Indeed, any of the chronic degenerative diseases can occur in one who lives a sedentary kind of life. Regular exercises keep the muscles in tone, gives strength to the heart, gives you a vibrant and disease-free life; a state of wellness.

Recommended Exercises The recommended exercises for maintaining a vibrant life and general wellbeing are referred to as aerobics. Brisk walking for 30 minutes each day, three to four days a week is all that you need. However, caution must be taken if you are doing this for the first time.

Start with five to ten minute walks and gradually increase the duration every week.

Cycling, swimming and jogging are other forms of exercise that you can do.

Benefits of exercise to the body Reversal of Acidity Exercise causes a shaking of the body leading to movements within and without the cells and faster circulation of blood with a reversal of stagnation and all its secondary effects. The increased flow of blood in the vessels and of water in and out of the cells ensures that the wastes from the cells get eliminated faster.

These acidic wastes no longer accumulate in and around the cells and the tissues become alkaline.

A

A cross section of women who participated in one of the senatorial town hall meetings on maternal and child mortality reduction programme in Lagos State… recently cost, lack of recognition of an senatorial districts respective- health care centres offering 24

By Chukwuma Muanya emergency and lack of access ly.” hour services in each of the 57 Idris added that the town hall EWER women and children to information and gender meetings provides govern- Local Government and Local are dying in Lagos due to inequity; delay in reaching an ment with an avenue to engage Council Development Areas reduction strategies adopted appropriate health facility for the communities on effort were renovated and provided by the State government in reasons of distance, infrastruc- geared towards reducing with emergency obstetric 2008, according to the Lagos ture and transport; and delay maternal and child mortality equipment to enable them State Commissioner for Health, in receiving adequate care rate with a view to generating function optimally as basic when a facility is reached emergency obstetric centres.

Dr. Jide Idris. interest and participation for Idris said: “As part of our Idris in a chat with journalists because of sub-optimal com- the programme stressing that over the weekend said: “The plement of human resources, government have been fur- infrastructural development maternal and child mortality inadequate utilities such as nished with firsthand feedback strategy, we commenced the reduction (MCMR) strategies electricity, water and unavail- on the strength and weakness construction of 10 Maternal and Child Centers (MCCs) at employed by the State govern- ability of medical supplies.”

He stated that a major thrust of the programme and other strategic areas in the state; ment to address the twin issues maternal and child health seven of which have been comof maternal and child deaths in of the MCMR strategy is advoca- issues through the meetings. cy and public enlightenment pleted and have commenced the State is already yielding According to him, plans are positive results as evident in and sensitization campaigns in top gear to continue the operations. The remaining some key performance indica- which includes advocacy and advocacy and sensitization three are at varying degrees of sensitization campaigns at the completion.” tor.” campaigns especially in comIdris noted that these MCCs Idris said the MCMR strate- community level, enlighten- munities where the maternal gies were fashioned towards ment and health promotion and child health indices are not located at Ikorodu, Ifako-Ijaiye, addressing some specific activities including provision encouraging. Hence, town hall Isolo, Gbaja in Surulere, Amuwomajor causes of maternal and of radio jingles, documen- meetings will be done on local Ajeromi-Ifelodun, taries, information, education Odofin . Lekki, Epe and Badagry child mortality in the state. government areas basis with The health Commissioner and communication materials Ajeromi local government area are to serve as additional exclusive maternal and child health noted that since the com- on maternal and child health as take-off point. referral centers to the PHC facilmencement of the MCMR pro- interventions.

He posited that the need for ities.

The commissioner added: gramme over a year ago, there interaction with the people at The Commissioner added have been positive key indica- “One major thing we have the grassroots cannot be over tors that showed that the done in this regard is to go to emphasized in lieu of the need that the State government has strategies adopted are yielding different senatorial districts to to address grey issues and procured and distributed a positive results as evident in enlighten the public on this involve the people in the imple- large number of delivery packs the increase in ante-natal atten- programme and we divided mentation of the programme for pregnant women called dance, increase in deliveries, the State into four senatorial to achieve the desired results as ‘mama kits’ as a way of attractincrease in patronage of child districts and we have held four they have crucial roles to play ing pregnant women to the prisurvival interventions like senatorial town hall meetings in the success of the campaign. mary health care facilities for ante-natal care attendance immunization against child- in Oshodi-Isolo, Ibeju-lekki, On infrastructural develophood killer diseases and Surulere and Amuwo-Odofin ment, the Commissioner stat- adding that over 15,000 mama increase in women accessing for Lagos West 1, Lagos East, ed that a total of 57 primary kits have been purchased and Lagos Central and Lagos West 2 distributed. family planning services.

Idris said: “We have run the MCMR programme for over a year now and we have been collecting data to see how far we have gone, what else we need to do and if there is a need for HE huge medical bills being medical bills in the course of the development partners, all us to amend or change our these constituted the council, experienced by lots of getting health care services.” strategies. But from what we According to Ikharo, “the that came up with the Nigerians in accessing health have seen so far, there is no care services has accounted for word here is social; it is empha- Resolution for mandatory need for us to change our stratthe poor state of the health sta- sized, because by its design, National participation.” egy.”

Ikharo added: “Before now, tus of Nigerians. This has made NHIS was meant to be mandaThe Commissioner noted it impossible for a greater per- tory, where contributions Nigerians especially those in that the design of the strategy centage of Nigerians to have a equitably deducted or mini- the formal sector, had to pay was geared towards addressqualitative access to hospitals mally contributed are held in a for their medical bills out of ing some delays in seeking and clinics, but resort to alter- common pool alongside other pocket, with huge bills to pay assistance and accessing qualinative option of self-medica- sources of funding, which give on Utilities and upkeep, we tative care for pregnant tion, which in itself has its equal access to the enrolees have a situation here where women and children stressing without limits to the amount there is no more pocket to pay complications. that public enlightenment, from.

Speaking during a courtesy contributed.” infrastructure, quality of care He further stated: “NHIS “Though most part of visit to the Honourable have been identified as areas Commissioner for Housing flag off was made possible Organised Private Sector has that needs to be addressed in Lagos State, the Lagos Zonal through the National Council not rolled in their employees the MCMR design.

Coordinator of the National For Health with the Minister of into the scheme, the NHIS is a He further explained: “These Health Insurance Scheme Health, the Commissioners of big fund pool, making contristrategies were developed to (NHIS), Prince Nasiru Ikharo Health in all the 36 States of the bution from enrolees very address three delays which are; stated:“The Scheme was pri- Federation and FCT, represen- minimal with robust benefit delay in seeking appropriate marily established among oth- tatives from the Legislative packages covering primary to medical help for obstetric ers to solve the problem of arm of the Government and tertiary level of access to health emergencies for reasons of who bears the burden of huge other Stakeholders alongside care, compared to the huge

F

‘NHIS is solution to out-of-pocket medical expenses’ T

individual contributions in private Health insurance.”

Pointing out that there were various drivers in place to roll in the entire Lagosians, these included among others: The Community Based Social Health Insurance Programme (CBSHIP) which will fold in all organised traders/Artisans, Group and Communities, all pregnant women and children under-five, all primary school pupils in public schools; the Organised Private Sector (OPS) for employers with employees strength of five and above; the voluntary Contribution Social Health Insurance Program (VCSHIP); and the Tertiary Institution Social Health Insurance Program (TISHIP).

As one exercises there is increased rate of breathing and together with increased blood circulation (increased heart beat) more oxygen gets to the cells and carbon dioxide is eliminated from the body faster.

Carbon dioxide is acid-forming, while oxygen is alkaline-forming. Exercising is therefore highly recommended for people with degenerative diseases such as hypertension, arthritis, cancer etc.

Reduction of blood pressure Exercise helps to build up the muscles of the heart, making the heart to pump more blood with less effort and efficiently.

The heart gets conditioned and rests at a lower diastolic pressure. Whenever there is need for more work to be done the rise in blood pressure will not translate into hypertension because of this lower diastolic (rest) pressure.

Moreover, capillaries that were shut down because of dehydration open up and with the formation of new capillaries as one exercises more nutrients and oxygen are supplied to the growing muscle bulk.

Exercise helps to stabilize blood sugar level in diabetics As the muscles do more work, they will require more glucose for the production of more energy. As the demand for glucose rises, less glucose becomes available in the blood for insulin to move into the cells for storage. There is also improved sensitivity of insulin, working effectively to move glucose from the blood into the cells whenever the need arises.

Exercise increases lymphatic flow The lymphatic system is made up of very tiny vessels, which run side by side with the small arteries and veins. In these vessels is the lymphatic fluid that empties into lymph nodes regionally located to serve corresponding sections of the body.

Dead white blood cells, which have engulfed microorganisms and other foreign bodies like cancer cells, toxic acidic wastes and certain chemicals are picked up by the lymphatic fluids and deposited in the lymph nodes. White blood cells destroy the bacteria in the lymph nodes before they are emptied into the blood circulation for eventual elimination from the body.

The lymphatic system, unlike the circulatory system, has no pump (heart) to drive the fluid.

It therefore depends on the contraction and relaxation of the muscles to move the fluid along the lymphatic vessels. With exercise, there is increased contraction of the muscles and this in turn ensures increased performance of the lymphatic system.

Exercise increases sweating There are millions of sweat glands in the skin and by sweating the body gets rid of certain toxic wastes. Increased exercise, which also comes with increased sweating leads to increased elimination of waste from the body. Together with the lymphatic system, sweating is among the ways that the body is detoxified and rendered alkaline.

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Thursday, February 20, 2014 49

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Education Forum decries poor ranking of Nigerian varsities, suggests solutions

By Mary Ogar S concerns over the poor ranking of A Nigerian universities by global agencies continue to mount, some stakeholders are canvassing a synergy between the federal government and organized private sector, towards initiating a policy that would take the education sector to the promised land.

In the 2014 Universities’ web ranking released by the 4International Colleges and Universities (4icu) recently, the Obafemi Awolowo University was ranked 25th, University of Lagos 39th, University of Ilorin 57th, Federal University of Technology, Minna 64th and the University of Ibadan, 70th.

Among the top ranked institutions were: Cairo University – 1st, University of Caper Town – 2nd, University of Pretoria 3rd , University of Stellenbosch – 4th, University of South Africa – 5th , University of Witwatersrand – 6th, University of Western Cape- 7th, Universite de Ouagadougou – 18th and University of Johannesburg – 19th.

The 4icu is an international higher education search engine and directory, which reviews accredited universities and colleges in the world. It covers 11, 307 colleges and universities across 200 countries.

Some Nigerian academics, who converged on Johannesburg, South Africa, for the International Tertiary Institutions’ Top Executives’ training programme, organized by the Executive Trainers Limited recently, were of the opinion that public and private tertiary institutions in Nigeria should now focus more on addressing the challenges of funding, capacity building, research and other critical factors affecting them, than on other mundane issues.

At the workshop with the theme: Strategies for Institutional Capacity/The Revival of Technology and Engineering Education in Tertiary Institutions, Udechukwu Ojiako, a Professor of Business Development and Project Management at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, argued that with the current scenario in most developing countries, not every nation needs to have world class universities, especially when more fundamental higher education needs were yet to be met .

According to him, even a country with a large economic scale needs both a limited number of world-class universities and a larger diversified quality higher education system to be healthy.

Considering the statistics and projections for Nigeria by local and international agencies, ranked 114th on Human Capital Investment Index by the World Economic Forum, Ojiako insisted that world-class standing could only be built on reputation and perception, including outstanding performance in many events.

He said: “How do we, as Nigerians, improve on our higher education? Nigeria isn’t where it should be and looking at all the positive projections being made, this is an opportunity to put the necessary structures that would propel this vision in place. Our gate for progression was opened about 50 years ago and we are still lagging behind. South Africa only had their gates opened about 20 years ago and they have made so much progress. ” With United States (U.S) universities winning an increasing share of Nobel Prizes, he disclosed that about 75 per cent of Nobel laureates, since 1990, have been affiliated with US i n s t i t u t i o n s .

Citing the world bank report on the challenges of establishing world-class universities, he stated that becoming a member of the exclusive group of world- class universities is not achieved by self declaration but is rather conferred by the outside world on the basis of international recognition.

Referring to the general models for building a world-class university as highlighted by the World Bank, he recommended some of the options adopted in the United Kingdom, which involve the upgrading of existing institutions, which is believed be a less expensive option. Part of the options of establishing

Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folorunso Adewole (left), Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof Arinola Sanda, and Prof Kolapo Hamzat after Hamzat had delivered his Inaugural PHOTO:NAJEEM RAHEEM Lecture titled From Ward to Ward: The Neurophysiotherapist as a Returning Officer, at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan recently. world-class universities, according to him, includes the merging of existing institutions.

“Merging existing institutions can provide opportunities to change organizational culture, but this may also be difficult to manage,” he noted.

On the option of creating new institutions, he said: “Creating new institutions from scratch provides the most opportunities to create a culture of excellence and select the best staff, but this is also the most expensive policy option.

With 40 federal, 38 state and 50 private universities making a total of 128 universities in the country, Ojiako affirmed that there was no need building more non-functional public sector universities or “very questionable” private universities. To attract the best hands in the sector, he said: “We want to be in a situation where we can attract people who don’t look at the academia only as a profession of last resort. We need people who are highly motivated. Motivation means we want to get people who feel that teaching is their calling. It also means that we have to make teaching in universities attractive.”

Provost of the Federal College of Education, Okene, Kogi State, Prof. Ajayi Iyela attributed the problems in higher education to the inability of the government to allocate 26 per cent of its budget to education, as prescribed by UNESCO. Apart from devoting only 12 to 13 per cent of the budget to education every year, Iyela also identified “outdated curriculum, lack of facilities and inadequate staffing” as some of the factors responsible for the decline in the sector.

A chief lecturer with the Federal Polytechnic, Ado- Ekiti said: “We have a consuming economy not a productive one. Government’s attempt to introduce entrepreneurial education courses has not yielded results, since there is no base for this to happen in our institutions. Our curriculum should be overhauled and staff should be trained.”

Besides, he lamented that many departments in most institutions were still static, as new ideas are not being introduced. “Students should be reorientated to look at things in a new way.

Students are so money conscious and a huge part of our problem in Nigeria is that knowledge is still being hoarded. In world class institutions, knowledge should be free and allowed to circulate,” he added Also, from the Federal Polytechnic, Ado- Ekiti, Mr. Ibraheem Ganiyu said: “Initially, our education sector had a lot of great plans. But along the way, politics came in. Presently, there is a lot of

duplication and people are trying to bring in all sorts of concepts. The middle manpower level, which the polytechnics were set up to produce, has been abandoned. At the university level, there is hardly any research going on and even the few that are being done are not being passed to the appropriate quarters for implementation.”

In her contribution, Mrs. Bolade Iyela, from The Federal College of Education, Katsina blamed the rot in the higher education sector to the faulty foundation from the primary and secondary schools. She said: “The infrastructure is not there. You have students who can hardly carry out any experiment and yet, we are canvassing for world-class institutions. We should go back to the basics and fix that level of education before we can begin to see any significant change at the higher level. ” Mr. Olorunoje Saadu, a chief lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado- Ekiti said aspiring to become world class institutions should not be the priority of higher institutions in Nigeria for now, but a functional education system.

Condemning some lecturers’ poor attitude to work, he advised that the laws governing the administration of higher education in Nigeria should be amended to punish lecturers who fail to teach.

As part of recommendations made, the Director of Works and Services, Federal College of Education, Katsina, Mr. Liadi Abdussalam encouraged Nigerian institutions to actively engage alumni associations to support their institutions.

He said: “the concept of alumni needs orientation in Nigeria. Institutions like Harvard (University) and the rest are getting massive support from their alumni bodies. They can also draw on their knowledge and expertise to support their respective institutions.”

Receiving the participants at the University of Johannesburg, Kingsway Campus, the Registrar, Prof Kinta Burger said while the University was open to exploring various areas of collaboration to increase the number of its international students, it has also put in place strategic plans with a lot of focus on Africa.

According to her, Nigeria and South Africa also share similar problems in higher education such as funding, access, dropout rate and equity among others. She said: “UJ would give you a broad picture of what you (Nigeria) are also struggling with. UJ is a comprehensive University and it is not in all universities in South

Africa that you find the extent of funding you find in UJ. The profile, in terms of providing for students who come from poor communities is large.”

On access, Burger disclosed that the gap between the secondary school students leaving school and those entering the universities is still wide adding that universities in South Africa “are not just dealing with financial support but also providing bridges between schools and universities.” She explained that Universities in South Africa also have to contend with the challenge of dropouts, as some students have problems adjusting to the higher education environment.

On employability of graduates, she noted that the university “is well geared towards providing opportunities for international engagement and getting students ready for work place including further studies.”

With the government providing the larger percentage of funding, she said UJ has been able to solve a major part of its funding challenges through research output.

“We have a system where we get subsidy from the state, based on our research output, enrollment and others. For us to publish more and get subsidy, we make sure we have the right facilities and initiative in place,” she said.

Burger said Nigerian universities could also take a cue from the success story of the University of Johannesburg by focusing more on research activities that are in tune with present day challenges.

She said: “Over the years, UJ has strategically focused on particular research fields that are attractive for outside funding. We have been able to successfully align research focus with national critical issues that would be attractive for funding either from industries or the state.”

With a total of 49,000 students, she observed that Nigeria falls within the top 10 feeder countries for UJ’s international students’ population.

Attributing good financial management as responsible for the success recorded in the area of funding, Burger averred that while the goal is to keep tuition as low as possible through subsidy from government, students in South African universities still need to pay tuition.

Vice Chancellor, Academics, Prof Angina Parekh explained that the higher education system in South Africa was changed after the apartheid regime, by unifying and consolidating about 36 universities into 26, without actually closing any down.

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Thursday, February 20, 2014 EDUCATION

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Firm woos Nigerian students to Turkey for academic studies ITH over three million W students seeking university education in foreign countries across the globe, Nigerian students have been urged to take advantage of the vast educational opportunities available in Turkey to achieve their dream of qualitative and affordable higher education.

According to the Managing Director, Aydinlar Education Ltd, Emin Godek, apart from the advantage of cost, Nigerian students would benefit immensely from attending universities in Turkey as Turkish universities offer instruction in English language and is home to many European and US-educated professors.

He explained that Turkish degrees are internationally recognized, thanks to the very high standards constantly maintained. “Many Turkish universities have modern campuses with outstanding facilities. Turkish doctors consistently rank amongst the best doctors in Europe and Turkish hospitals carry out more successful operations than many other European countries.”

Offering an array of courses, he disclosed that students with a desire to pursue careers in the airline industry would find Turkey an attractive destination as Turkisheducated pilots are highly sought-after in the airline markets due to their experience with different types of planes and vast international

experience.

In the field of construction, he said “ Turkish construction companies rank third in the world. Turkey is one of the few European countries which is safe and affordable for many students.”

He also assured Parents who wish to send their wards for university education in Turkey that accommodation for international students has been made easy and affordable.

“Many Nigerian students stay in dorms which have existed since the Ottoman times for foreign students.

Dorms with reasonable rates are everywhere in Turkey from Istanbul to Izmir to Ankara to Kayseri and Gaziantep. Almost all Turkish dorms are comfortably built buildings with 24/7 electricity, internet, hot water and many more amenities. Turkish campuses and cities also enjoy high security where a Nigerian can feel safe to do whatever he/she wants 24/7 under the law.”

With Turkey’s economy growing on an average of 5% in the last 15 years, Godek said Turkish bid for EU also offers international students the chance to benefit from the ERASMUS (European Study/Exchange Program).

On internship, he said Turkish companies that wants to expand also provides opportunities for international students through internships.

He said: “ The growth in

Turkey also serve as a very good job market for fresh graduates especially Nigerians with native English speaking abilities ,who are educated in Turkish universities and understand the Turkish culture.”

Citing other attractions in Turkey, he noted that Turkey lies in a fantastic geographical place where Asia meets Europe and Africa is just at the next door. “Turkey lies in the central of world civilizations and home to many historical places as well as churches and mosques. Tourists visit Turkey more than many other countries. Over 35 million people come to Turkey each year to live the four seasons.”

Godek also gave assurance on the security situation in Turkey “Turkish people are usually very warm people who can offer you a cup of tea just after 10 minutes of chatting. Also, during the last decades many international students have been studying in Turkey hence the government officials and many local people also know the problems international student face and are quick to act like their second parents to solve them.”

To avoid the harzards of exploitation by quack agencies, he advised parents and other prospective students to take advantage of the resources and counseling available at the Aydinlar Educational Consulting Company to solve the hassles

of securing acceptance, getting VISA as well as complying with many regulations of the host country.

“Lucky for Nigerians there is a Turkish educational agency based in Abuja that handles all these.

Aydinlar Educational Consulting have been sending students to Turkey for more than 10 years.

With our vast experience, Nigerian parents will not only safely send their kid to Turkey

51

UNILAG to name proposed N3b hostel after Patience Jonathan but also monitor their academic progress” he said.

According to him, monitoring of students’ performance

is very vital to the overall success of the students as many students fail to make progress due to unforeseen circumstances or challenges.

“Aydinlar Educational Consulting helps students through their office in Istanbul and gives parents a peace of mind in Nigeria” he

Head Training, Executive Trainers Limited, Mr David Dayo (left); Provost, Federal College of Education, Katsina State, Prof Ajayi Iyela; Professor of Business Development and Project Management, University of Johannesburg, Udechukwu Ojiako and Director of Works and Service, Federal College of Education, Katsina, at the International Tertiary Top Executive Workshop, held at the Reef Hotels, Johannesburg, South Africa recently.

By Wole Shadare niversity of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, has concluded plans to name a proposed 15-storey female hostel after the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience Jonathan as the number one female figure in the country.

The disclosure was made at a media briefing jointly addressed this week by the authorities of the university and the officers of the institution’s Parents’ Forum, the initiator and donor of the project, where it was disclosed that Mrs. Jonathan will formally lay the hostel’s foundation tomorrow.

Speaking to the media, the university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Management Services, Prof. Duro Oni explained the roles and contributions of the parents to the atmosphere of peace and academic excellence currently being enjoyed by the institution, saying few universities on the continent of Africa could boast to be endowed with the calibre of individuals the ivory tower has as parents.

U

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Thursday, February 20, 2014 EDUCATION

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Group scores Osun’s education policy high, plans stakeholders symposium ORRIED about the misW representations being created around the Osun public school policy, a group the Osun Movement for Peace , has concluded plans to host a symposium in Osogbo , the state capital, where stakeholders would be availed the opportunity of discussing all the components of the policy.

Regretting that such a laudable a policy has suddenly assumed religious and political colourations, the group noted that present trend in discussions relating to the Osun School system has continued to focus solely on the reclassification of schools , to rubbish the wider public spirit and mission of the policy and play down the holistic beneficial impact of the various components of the policy such as the OUniform, OMeal and Opon Imo, which have been adjudged as revolutionary concepts in public school management approach in the country.

It therefore called on all well meaning Osun indi-

genes to shun sentiments and support the effort to create a new public school order in the state for the future of Osun children.

The proposed symposium which is to hold in Osogbo in the first week of March, will seek to dissect the various components of the much maligned Osun policy on public school management with a view to enhancing public understanding and appreciation of its desirability.

It would be recalled that the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, had defended the policy as a comprehensive and holistic response to a scandalous educational rot, which had threatened the socio-economic growth of the state.

“Our education policy is tailored towards making the Osun public schools system produce the complete child, to become the complete youth and grow up to become the complete citizen, empowered in learning and in character, in the best tradition of the Yoruba Omoluabi. ”

MoneyGram donates books to Lagos school

By Ujunwa Atueyi O contribute to the educaT tional upliftment of the Nigerian child, global money transfer company, MoneyGram International, has donated learning materials and stationeries to pupils of Arch Bishop Taylor Primary School, Victoria Island Lagos.

The donation, aimed at supporting quality teaching and learning in Nigerian schools is part of the corporate social commitment of the company in giving back to the society and mankind.

Speaking shortly after the notebooks was handed over to the pupils who were extremely happy to have received from MoneyGram, the Executive Vice President, Europe, Africa & Emerging Channels, Mr. Carl-Olav

Scheible, remarked that one of the fundamental rights of every citizen is the right to basic education, “thus our commitment to support the children”.

He said, “Our company as a money transfer company discovered that Nigerians in diaspora so much cherish education, that most of their transfer is for education of their family members. So we like to also support community schools, we think about the future of Nigerian children and the future of African children thus donation of educational materials like we did today, engaging in small things in the big scheme of things but important for us.

We go to schools every month across Africa and so far we have spent about $5 million on school supplies across Africa”.

Why education standard is high abroad, Akpor-Robaro

By Gbenga Salau HE Managing Director of William Wilberforce Educational Development Services, (WWEDS), Mr. Simie Robaro Akpor-Robaro, has said that standard of education in developed climes is high because education is given priority in the scheme of things.

According to him, they did this, because they knew it is a critical element in the drive for development by any country.

He argued that it is because Nigerian leaders had not made education a priority is why the education sector is falling below standard.

“When you compared this to what happens abroad, where education is given a priority, because they know that without education, there cannot be development. In abroad, there is priority for the education system, which ensures that every part of the education system is catered for. In terms of research, equip-

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ments, libraries, laboratories, teachers’ remunerations, everything is well taken care.

“So, there is high standard in the education sector there. This is one reason a lot of Nigerians like to go abroad because we lack this back home. This is why youths or parents want their wards to go out in order to be exposed to that standard. So that when they come back, they are well equipped to contribute to their fatherland.

“This low standard is being address with the recent fund made available after the ASUU strike. Though this does not mean people will not be willing to go out, as people will always be inquisitive and looking for greener pastures.”

For him, many Nigerians prefer to send their children abroad not only because of the frequent disruption of academic activities but also due to the low standard of education provided back home.

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How words can change students’ lives, by Fashina Lekan Fashina, a United Kingdom (UK) based motivational speaker with special interest in the youths, who comes to Nigeria regularly to coach public secondary school students on how to achieve all round success, spoke on his experiences with The Guardian recently. Excerpts: What informed your decision to embark on motivational admonition of the youths and for how long have you been doing this?

HAVE been speaking to young people since 1991, but we started this phase in 1998. I had a period when I did a deep soul searching. I came off this soul search knowing that my life must mean something very directly significant to young people. I was invited to speak to students of Federal Government College, Ogbomosho. I then decided to write an article that could be printed in bulletin form, but the printer said it was too long and we printed it as book instead. The book is titled How to have Unlimited Academic Success. It became an instant success with the students. We published other books called Creative use of time and How to develop a sharp and retentive memory.

My second reason is that I am simply giving back what I have received. A United Kingdom-based millionaire, Peter Beckwith gives a scholarship worth £200,000 to students who want to attend Harrow School but who cannot afford the £28,000 annual school fees. When asked why he does it, he said: “I am a product of that type of scholarship. I won a scholarship to Harrow School in 1958; I am simply giving back to others a gift that totally changed my life and prospects.”

What methods are you using to achieve your objectives?

I achieve these objectives by speaking and I must have spoken to more than 200,000 students face to face. We are constantly going to schools.

Schools are very friendly.

Principals, head teachers and school proprietors are some of the friendliest and caring people you will ever meet. We would not be successful at all without their help.

I once listened to a programme about the most successful quit-smoking organization in the world and the strategy they use is WORDS. They talk to those who want to quit and who have not been able to do so for very many years and then people quit smoking after listening to WORDS Every time I speak especially in boarding schools, I get the opportunity to be quizzed by the students. After a while, I found out that students wanted to know how to manage their time, so I wrote the book Creative Use of Time. I noticed that students wanted to know how to study and retain information and not forget when they write exams, so I wrote a book titled How to Develop a Sharp and Retentive Memory and I noticed that students have a palpable fear of exams and a lot of misconceptions about exams and academic success and I dealt with these questions in my book, How to have unlimited academic success.

I wanted to inspire a consistent habit of reading that

I

Lekan Fashina went beyond the need to prepare for exams and I solved this problem by writing the book, The Habit of Reading is a Goldmine. Each one is very helpful.

Feedback from students The feedback is also always interesting. Some say I wish I had known these truths earlier. We have received thank you letters from principals, proprietors and even parents appreciating the impact of our work. We are blessed to be able to do what we do. We appreciate the teachers who teach and the parents who pay for the kids and the proprietors and the principals who run the schools.

What we do is only the icing on the cake they have baked.

It is a blessing that money can’t buy to hear people say I have copies of all your books; I have bought extra copies of your books for my younger ones. I regularly buy loads of your books and give to young people in my church.

We Nigerians are very strong people. Even when there are challenges, we find a way to overcome them. As a child in boarding school, I have seen 12-year old Nigerian boys who are as tough as nails. Living in the United Kingdom, I have seen and met so many tough Nigerians; we don’t give up.

The Nigerian youth just needs more direction, guidance and mentoring.

Infrastructure is good, resources are good, but resources with no vision and passion will not get anyone anywhere. I have lived in the West and I have seen very good local libraries; some people used these libraries, but not everybody did. I have seen universities that offer student loans and some people truly used them, but not everybody uses them. There are still a lot of free computer

training courses in the UK for UK citizens, but not everyone has accepted a training offer.

It is not automatic that once resources are provided, every youth will succeed. Resources without a personal fire, zeal, zest, passion, vision, desire and eagerness to succeed is nothing.

What made Bill Gates outstanding was not the government, it was not even the exceptional private school he went to. Instead, it was the exceptional mothers’ club of the school that decided to do a fundraiser to help their sons buy computer time from a larger computer terminal. It was similar to paying a bigger company to bring a connection to a big computer into the school so that their kids could use it. So it was not the government, it was not the school; it was the mothers.

Bill Gates spent a lot of time on that computer and became very good, so much that he built Microsoft and became the world’s richest man.

On the influence of local and foreign cultures on youths We have a culture that values hard work. I am more worried about is a subculture that is prevalent, which is an offspring of this culture of corruption made popular by the political classes, a culture where some people will not do their normal work until given a brown envelope, a culture where everything and anything can be bought with money, a culture where behaviour goes in the direction of money, I am worried about the effect it is having on the kids.

Another one is the very superstitious nature of our people and how it translates to the youth. Once, I was speaking in a school and a little girl of about 13 years old came to me and asked for

deliverance prayers and I asked why. She said because when she reads she forgets, so I asked her if she could recite the national anthem.

She did so excellently and I said to her, “I just conducted a brain test; your brain is in perfect shape. You don’t need any deliverance; all you need is to understand the way the human memory works and cooperate with it”.

We are in trouble if we live in a nation where kids believe that examination results can be bought and sold. We are in trouble if kids believe that you can pay others to write exams for you. We are in trouble if kids believe that there are examination centres where cheating is allowed.

We are in trouble if kids believe that admission to universities is by whom you know and not by how well you’ve studied.

It is worrying if young people think that the reason they may not be doing well is because they are under a spell or bad omen or curse. It is worse when they even identify an individual to blame for their failure.

I have watched the UK Financial system and studied finance also in the UK. In the first module of my course, all you study is compliance and they make it clear that they want to build a system that could be trusted! It’s not surprising that the United Kingdom makes a lot of money from banking. The biggest work is creating a system that can be trusted! It is this lack of a system that can be trusted that bothers me.

Our culture is great, but we have a hybrid culture, an alien culture. It developed in the womb of corruption and it’s nurtured at the breasts of bribery, it feeds on favouritism and tribalism.

It is wrong for our young people to believe that the only professions that pay are those of the footballer or an actor/actress or the pop star. I am not too worried about the foreign culture that is littered everywhere, we all wear jeans at one time or the other, we may also wear trainers and even talk with an American twist to our accents but please note this; the same internet that has been blamed for corrupting the youth is also the place where some apply for scholarships, and obtain admission to foreign universities and even run businesses around Africa.

We need to sell a new gospel and shout it from the housetops: you can make it without cheating, you do not need to know anyone to get the job, do a good examination and by faith you will obtain your result, there is no witch or wizard that can block the progress of a student who is prepared. There is hope; you do not need to wait for the government. Determine to succeed regardless of these harsh circumstances.

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MarketReport EQUITY MARKET SUMMARY

AS AT 19=02=2014

PRIMERA AFRICA www.primera-africa.com

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MARKET INDICATORS

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PRIMERA AFRICA

NASD to partner GTI on private securities trading

By Bukky Olajide O deepen Nigeria’s capital T formation while creating opportunities for increased local and offshore participation in the nation’s investment market, the board of NASD Plc may hasten discussions with GTI Securities Limited on possible areas of cooperation on securities trading on the latter’s private trading floor.

Vice chairman, NASD Plc, Chike Nwanze, who led other directors to NASD Plc on a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s first private trading floor built by GTI Securities in Lagos, said the NASD and GTI have complementary roles in deepening Nigerian capital market and would work together to achieve this common goal.

Nwanze, who is also the Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Icon Stockbrokers Limited, described the GTI’s trading floor as “one of the greatest contributions that has come to our market” and applauded the dynamism of the GTI in ushering in a new era of development for the Nigerian capital market.

He urged all stakeholders to support GTI noting that the Nigerian capital market needs milestone private initiatives like the GTI trading floor to realise its full potential as Africa’s financial hub.

Group Managing Director, GTI Capital Group, Abubakar Lawal, said the group has put together a network of financial resources and expertise to energise Nigerian companies and assist professional financiers to effectively perform their functions.

Managing Director, GTI Securities, Tunde Oyekunle,

also pointed out that the trading floor is fitted with cutting-edge technology that allows seamless interconnectivity with the NSE and other exchanges as well as settlement agents and banks for real time online trading and straight through processing of transactions.

Also, Managing Director, NASD Plc, Bola Ajomale, said NASD would work closely with GTI to explore the concept of its private trading floor, which he described as a “highly imaginative, state-ofthe-art, world-class, first-ofits-kind” platform.

“We are very excited about this, it has really set a standard and we want to move closer to see how we can partner with GTI. I believe that the mind that put this together is not empty yet, it still has much more to come out of it,” Ajomale said.

A director of NASD and Managing Director, Marina Securities, Jibola Odedina, said GTI has attained a milestone as the owner of Nigeria’s first trading floor but quickly added that it must braced up for competition that will come from other operators.

“This is a real milestone in terms of development of our market; I’m overwhelmed.

Being number one is an enviable position, you have attained that; but be rest assured that a lot of us will be chasing you, so don’t rest on your oars,” Odedina said.

Managing Director, Goldbanc Asset Management Limited, Abayomi Sanya, also reiterated his support for GTI pointing out that it has changed the growth curve of the Nigerian market as many operators are now reviewing their growth plans.

Heritage Bank plans listing on the Exchange

By Chijioke Nelson eritage Bank is planning to list its shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in the next two years, a move aimed at extending it reach, after securing the national operating licence.

The bank’s Executive Director, Ivory Banking, Mrs. Mary Akpobome, disclosed this in Lagos at the grand finale of the 2014 edition of Ikoyi Club’s yearly Tennis Grand Slam competition sponsored by the bank, said the strategy would be vigorously pursued as soon as it gets national status.

“For now, we are regional bank. But, in the next two years, judging from the advances we are currently making and the solid plans we have put in place, we should be listed on the stock exchange.

“The market has received us much better than we expected, considering the time we came into the market. But I guess it is not surprising because of the quality of people we have and the level of their experience. I can proudly say that we have done extremely well since we came on board,” she said.

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What Happened?

The NSE All-Share index gained by 109bps (1.09%) and closed at 39,397.09. This represents a year-to-date performance of -4.67%. Market Capitalisation also appreciated 0.99% to close at N12.654 trillion. Total value traded decreased 9.94% to N3.80 billion and total volume traded decreased 36.22% to 303.35 million units Where?

At the close of trading, the banking sector represented 54.30% of the total market value traded, while the breweries sector represented 7.01% The Top 5 stocks as a % of total market value traded were: GUARANTY (16.26%), FBNH (12.64%), ZENITHBANK (11.30%), NB (7.01%) and NESTLE (6.22%).

On a volume basis, the Top 5 most traded stocks for the day were: FBNH (37.79m), ACCESS (28.32m), GUARANTY

Akpobome, who pointed out that the bank currently has over 11,000 customers, lauded the immense public goodwill the bank has enjoyed since its market entrance in 2013.

According to her, “we are happy that our projections as a new entity have been met.

We planned to attain certain goals in five years, but already, we have achieved them in less than the first year of our existence. That speaks a lot about the passion of people the bank was able to put in place”.

Pledged the bank’s continued commitment to customer-centric innovations, she added: “Ours is a bank that is truly set up to understand the customers. So, the driving force behind our business is commitment to excellent service delivery.

“Today, we are the only bank that has absolute zero Commission on Turnover.

We don’t charge COT on any of our product, whether you are borrowing from us or keeping money with us.

Going forward, we are absolutely committed to pioneering other innovations in the areas of service delivery and consumer delight.”

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Sports Lagos International Polo Championship

We can’t stop Keshi from joining Bafana Bafana, says Abdullahi

Ebano shines, as Lagos Unity Polo Club beats Sao Polo 5-3

• Minister to federations: Win medals get Presidential reception From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja PORTS Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi has confessed that Nigeria cannot stop Super Eagles’ Coach, Stephen Keshi, from moving to manage South Africa’s Bafana Bafana if he so desires.

Speaking at the State House, Abuja, where President Goodluck Jonathan received members of the Nigerian Football and Other Sports Supporters Club, Abdullahi said the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that hired Keshi knows what to do if the situation arose because they know the contract they have with the Eagles’ coach.

“Keshi is under the employment of the Nigeria Football Federation and they know the terms of his employment.

Since the Federal Government did not hire Keshi, we don’t have that influence to stop him.

“We are happy with the work he is doing and the federation are also happy with what he has done. I cannot comment on what has not happened,” he noted.

Earlier, Abdullahi had charged presidents of the country’s sports federations to aim at producing athletes that

S

will win medals if they desired rewards from the Federal Government.

Abdullahi said he would be a satisfied man if other sports recorded successes that would attract Presidential reception, added that President Goodluck Jonathan has demonstrated his unflinching love for sports achievers.

“We have made it very clear that we want to encourage other sports and I am proud to say that for the first time, it was under President Jonathan that athletes were received at the Presidential Villa.

“I am very sure that it never happened before and we should also recall that it was under Mr. President that an athlete was received on the floor of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting for winning medals at the World Championship.

“So, this government more than any other and at any other time in Nigerian history has demonstrated support for all sports as long as they continue to do what is right.

“Don’t forget that all sports are federation based and so any federation that wants to be celebrated must put extra effort to do well. Ours is to support and advice them,” he noted.

Ahead Brazil 2014 World Cup Jonathan promises to lead Eagles’ fans to Brazil, doles out N50m to Supporters Club From Mohammed Abubakar and Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja RESIDENT Goodluck P Jonathan yesterday assured the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Nigeria Football Supporters Club [NFSC] that he will be in Brazil this summer as the Super Eagles’ chief supporter in their quest to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy.

The president gave the assurance while receiving members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club at a colourful ceremony inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he was decorated as Grand Patron of the club.

He hailed the efforts of the NSC, NFF and the Supporters club for the successes recorded by Nigerian national teams recently, noting that with the efforts of sports administrators in the country, Nigeria has been able to excel in football and other sports.

Stressing that the year 2014 will also bring my honour to the country in sports, Jonathan announced a donation of N50 million to support the NFSC to help the

club mobilise its members to Brazil to cheer the Super Eagles to victory at the world cup.

“The Year 2014 is a very important one for our nation, as we have the FIFA World Cup and the Commonwealth Games ahead of us.

“The Federal Government will not relent in giving support to all our athletes in all sports to excel. I am indeed honoured to be officially recognised as Nigeria’s number one supporter.”

LORY Ebano made a dozen G touches with all parts of the mallet and scored the goal of

Keshi being carried shoulder high by admirers after leading the Super Eagles to success at the 2013 African Nations Cup. PHOTO: AFP.

ITTF World Tour in Qatar: Portugal’s Montiero edges out Quadri, as Nigeria eyes victory in doubles

By Olalekan Okusan SPIRITED effort by A Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri could not prevent him from exiting the men’s singles of the ongoing International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour tagged: “Qatar Open holding in Doha.

Despite the scintillating performance put up by the Portugal-based Nigerian, the experience of Portugal’s Joao Monteiro was what saved the France-based Portuguese from the brink of defeat against Quadri.

For every point that Monteiro won against Quadri, the Nigerian made the Portuguese to work for as Monteiro won the first game at 11-7. But an improved Quadri leveled up with an 11-9 win in the second game.

The next two matches went in favour of the Portuguese at 11-8, 11-8. Undeterred by this lead, Quadri recovered to match up with 11-8, 11-9 win to put the encounter at 3-3.

The seventh match, the decider was spectacular with both players fighting for each pint. But, at the end, the Portuguese escaped with a narrow win of 12-10 to progress to the main draw of the competition.

Before the tie against Monteiro, Quadri had overcame a highly-rated Chinese Taipei’s Wang-Wei Peng with a 4-2 win in his first group match.

A disappointed Quadri said he was not too happy losing narrowly to the Portuguese.

“It was a sad day for me because I was close to mak-

ing it to the main draw of the men’s singles and I lost narrowly to what I could say is ill-luck. In all, I was not disappointed with my performance but I am sad to have lost in such manner that I was looking for just a point to win,” he regretted.

Continuing he said, “there are lots of differences in Qatar when compared to my performance in Kuwait.

Though I am still lacking in the receiving tactic but I was always ready to make blocking anytime I received a service. As I am hoping to be at the German and Spanish Opens and I want to thank the President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi for sponsoring us to these competitions, may God continue

Uncertainty over D.K. Olukoya U-18 Athletics Championships

By Gowon Akpodonor ITH a ticket to China W 2014 Youth Olympic Games and the Africa Youth Games at stake, this year’s Annual Pastor D. K. Olukoya National U-18 Athletics Championships is expected to record the largest turn out ever, but there are indications that the championship may not hold next weekend as expected.

Apart from serving as the only trial for the Youth

• Postponement will affect us seriously, says AFN Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) are equally looking up to use the D. K. Olukoya championships to select Nigeria’s athletes for this year’s Africa Youth Games holding in Gaborone, Botswana in May. Going by AFN’s programme, the annual Pastor D. K. Olukoya National U-18 Athletics Championships is

suppose to run for two day, February 27-28 in Lagos.

However, a source close to the sponsor told The Guardian yesterday that the date might be shifted because, according to him, the wife of Pastor D. K. Olukoya is bereaved and that the MFM general overseer is ‘seriously occupied’ on how to give the departed one a befitting burial.

“My GOC’s wife is bereaved

and as we speak, I can’t even reach him (Pastor D. K. Olukoya) on how we are going about the sponsorship of the athletics championship for next week. I doubt if the date will stand unless if the AFN is ready to bankroll it alone,” the source said.

But a top official of the AFN told The Guardian yesterday the purpose of scheduling the D. K. Olukoya Athletics Championship for next weekend would be defeated if it suffers any form of postponement.

the day to lead Lagos Unity Polo to a 5-3 victory over Lagos Sao Paolo at the Lagos International Polo Tournament, which galloped off yesterday.

The classical goal, scored under enormous pressure, underlined the high reputation of the tournament, which also saw Lagos Valkyrie edging out Lagos Bonhams 7-6.5 in the opening match of the doublephased event, which falls under the Dansa Cup. A +2 handicap player, Ebano, was on fire scoring two more goals to seal victory for Unity despite Ahmed Umar-led late rally for Sao Paolo.

Umar had opened scores for Sao Paolo with a spectacular reverse shots from 30 yards, which could not match Ebano’s first chukka brilliance that drew an all-round applause.

Gabriel Omale was the hero of the match as he scored a lastgasp penalty, which helped Valkyrie to the narrowest of wins against Bonhams, who were made to rue the dying minute penalty miss by Chris Atkinson.

The third Dansa Cup match was won by Kano Titans/Ibah, who beat Ibadan Olisa Farm 7-4, while Kano teams eventually confirmed superiority over their Ibadan counterparts when Tripple KKK outgallopped Challenge 9.5-4 in the last game of the day.

Lagos Country Club’s badminton fiesta begins tomorrow ADMINTON connoisseurs B are in for a good time at the Lagos Country Club,

Ikeja, where the 2nd Cleanserve Inter-club Badminton tournament will hold tomorrow and Saturday with players from some of the biggest clubs in Nigeria vying for honours.

The event, billed for the Badminton Section of the Lagos Country Club, will feature Ikoyi Club 1938, Makurdi Club, Badminton Exclusive Club Kaduna, Shell Club of Port Harcourt, Indian Community Badminton Club, University of Lagos Staff Club, WAHUM Badminton Club (Chinese), and Indonesia Community Badminton Club.

According to the organisers, the players will clash in the following categories: Gold - 2 teams; Silver - 3 teams; Veteran - 2 teams. The competition is strictly a Doubles tournament.

After the draws and pairings for the competition, games will commence at 5 pm tomorrow and continue by 10.30am on Saturday and end by 7 p.m.

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Ahead 2015 Africa Youth Championship

Garba submits programme, opens Flying Eagles’ camp in March

By Alex Monye HEAD of the qualifiers for the 2015 Africa Youth Championship (AYC) slated to hold in Senegal next year, newly appointed national U20 Coach, Manu Garba says arrangements are on to ensure the Flying Eagles commenced preparations in March.

Garba told The Guardian yesterday that he has already submitted his programme for to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for ratification, adding that he has informed the Federation of his preference for Calabar as camp base.

Praising the NFF for giving him the privilege to handle the Flying Eagles after leading the Golden Eaglets to win the U-17 World Cup in the

A

United Arab Emirate last year, Garba said his experience first as an assistant and later as chief coach of the U-17 team in two editions of the cadet World Cup would help him succeed in the Flying Eagles.

On how he will assemble a formidable U-20 squad, Garba agreed that qualifying for the AYC and winning the U-20 World Cup for the first time for Nigeria is a daunting task, adding, however, that he would build the victorious Eaglets the fulcrum of his team in the quest for success.

“I have submitted my programme to the NFF for ratification. My desire is for the team to camp in Calabar because of the peaceful environment and the assistance Nigerian teams receive from

the Cross River State government.

“I will invite new players to the team to create opportunity for more players to compete for shirts. The screening of players will involve some footballers discovered within the country and those based abroad in a close door section.

“There would not be open screening of players to avoid overcrowding, which could bring confusion and distraction to the team.

“Any player that falls within the 20 years age bracket, who has something to offer, in as much he is a Nigerian, would be qualified to play for the U-20 team.

“I will commence work immediately NFF rectifies my programme,” he added.

Hayatou, Maigari, other World Cup bound federation presidents parley in Cairo The national cadet team celebrating their victory at the UAE 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup… the Golden Eaglets will form the bulk of the new Flying Eagles to be assembled by Manu Garba.

PHOTO: FIFA.COM

Messi, Van Persie, Wilshere, three others feature in Pepsi’s ‘the Art of Football’ EPSI yesterday officially P announced its global creative curation, uniting the exciting worlds of photography, street art and sport to celebrate “The Art of Football” as part of the brand’s 2014 football campaign.

Combining worldrenowned photographer, Danny Clinch, six of the world’s leading street artists and some of the globe’s best footballers, including Leo Messi, Robin van Persie, Jack Wilshere, David Luiz, Sergio Aguero and Sergio Ramos, Pepsi presents a truly bespoke art collection celebrating the artistry of football.

The resulting artwork – six spectacular 10-foot by 10foot canvases was created by emerging artistic talent chosen specifically to represent the vibrancy and spirit of the global players’ home countries.

Participating artists

include the UK’s professional doodle bomber, Hattie Stewart, Argentinian urban artist, Jaz, Brazilian illustrator and street artist, Ricardo AKN, Barcelona, Spain-based visual artist, Zosen, Merijn Hos, visual artists from the Netherlands and Argentinian street artist, Ever.

“The Art of Football” collaboration brings the raw energy of street art onto permanent fixtures of art, which depict the players – who last month were announced as Pepsi’s global 2014 football ambassadors – in a clash of color, energy and movement to bring to life the beautiful game in a powerful, striking way.

To capture the athletes’ passion and excitement for the game, Pepsi commissioned lensmen Danny Clinch, whose distinctive, stark, black and white imagery of iconic subjects have earned global acco-

lades.

Clinch’s images were then enhanced by the six street artists, giving the photography an unbridled creative edge, urban rawness, bold color and sense of movement.

IGERIA Football N Federation President, Aminu Maigari and FA presidents of the other four countries billed to represent Africa at the Brazil 2014 World Cup will be guests of CAF President, Issa Hayatou, in Cairo, Egypt, tomorrow.

It is expected that the former 400m champion of Cameroon would seek to sound out Maigari and the FA presidents of Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire on their teams’

R

League- Kano Pillars from the competition.

According to the former coach of the Super Eagles, who believes that the country’s football has been stuttering, “when we exit a competition the way we have, it is always very embarrassing to the country that we have to yet again go through such sobering experience when we have so much quality to excel.

“However, for some of us, the embarrassment was not totally unexpected because we as a country have become well versed with going against the norm. Or how do you explain a situation where government parastatals are masquerading as football

Africa’s flag into the last eight of the FIFA World Cup, with Cameroon narrowly beaten by England in 1990 and Senegal eliminated by Turkey in Japan 12 years later, while Ghana lost to Uruguay four years ago.

Nigeria, champions of Africa, play two-time winners Argentina, BosniaHercegovina and Iran in Group F, with Algeria up against Belgium, Russia and Korea Republic in Group H and Ghana to face Germany, Portugal and USA in Group G. Cameroon tackle Brazil, Croatia and Mexico in Group A and Cote d’Ivoire are up against Colombia, Greece and Japan in Group C.

Kid boxers take centre stage at Sportscity HE boxing gym of the T National Stadium, Lagos, is the place to be on Saturday,

Leo Messi is one of the 2014 Pepsi Global Football stars in the Pepsi canvass photo.

Adherence to global best practices, solution to Nigeria’s football woes, says Onigbinde

By Eno-Abasi Sunday ESPECT for timelines, eschewing haphazard implementation of policies and programmes, as well as deployment of all standard practices as obtained in major leagues across the world, remains the only route to the top for football development in the country.

This is the opinion of FIFA and CAF instructor, Adeboye Onigbinde, while baring his mind to The Guardian on recent developments in the country’s football, specifically the ouster of one of Nigeria’s flag bearers to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions

preparations for the biggest showpiece in football, happening in Brazil between June 12 and July 13.

Hayatou is also likely to impress it on the FA chiefs on the need to adequately prepare their teams to make the continent proud in South America.

No African team has made it to the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup in the past 19 editions, with only eight countries having lifted the trophy Brazil, Italy, Germany, Uruguay, Argentina, England, France and Spain.

Only Cameroon in Italy in 1990, Senegal in Korea/Japan in 2002, and Ghana in South Africa in 2010, have flown

clubs? Clubs like Kano Pillars should have nurseries or academies, where players are groomed. Management of the club should also be independent and capable of choosing who leads them.

“Unfortunately, what we have is a situation where sports administration is used as a form of political patronage, while football clubs are nothing more than government paratatals, where the right people are substituted for the wrong ones, Onigbinde stated.

He continued, “for decades now, the English Football Association has not tinkered with the timetable of the Premiere League, but this

season alone, we have shifted our kick-off date at least twice. The lack of competitive action by our club sides is bound to affect the teams locally and on the continental scene because there is no time for structured preparation and effective competition.”

“A lot of things are not going right with our league and one of them is that it ought to have commenced before now for the teams to be exposed to competitive action. As matters stand now, the non-commencement of the league up till this time, will have a effect on next season’s kick-off,” he stated .

as young pugilists will take centre stage to show their skills in a boxing talent hunt programme, tagged: “Potential 2014.”

Scheduled to be on the ring side at the Sportscity to guide and motivate the youngsters are Olympian and Commonwealth champion cum former National Coach, Jeremiah Okorodudu and Yomi Idowu of NASCOM. The kiddies boxing talent hunt is a programe of the

Onigbinde.

Child Dignity Foundation (CDF), a non-governmental child protection, development and advocacy charity dedicated to the “total wellbeing of children with special attention on kids from disadvantaged backgrounds.”

According to the Executive Director of the foundation, Amaka Awogu, the programme is designed as a forward plan to bring back the lost glory of boxing through tournament for children and providing scouts the platform to discover young talents for further training, as medal-winning national boxers and as professionals.

She explained that “sports is a very effective instrument of child development and rehabilitation and we need to provide the kids access to sports. We also noticed that not many kids these days have access to training and competitions in boxing whereas we have many young persons, who have natural talent for the sport.

“Our mission therefore is to help them discover and showcase their potentials. As we all know, it is important to catch them young.”

SPORTS Thursday, February 20, 2014 | 79

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

‘Referee did nothing wrong’

UEFA Champions League

IFA’s referee chief has FSwedish come to the defence of official, Jonas

Barca will beat Man City again, Martino boasts ARCELONA Coach, B Gerardo Martino was pleased his side came home from their Champions League last-16 clash against Manchester City with a win but said they will approach the second leg as if it was goalless.

Four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi struck from the penalty spot with 54 minutes gone after being brought down by Martin Demichelis, who was sent off at the Etihad Stadium.

City had their chances but Barcelona dominated possession throughout and were rewarded when Dani Alves struck the second in the last minute to seal a 2-0 win.

Argentinian coach Martino was delighted with Barca’s “solid performance” but warned that the tie was not over as they looked to book their spot in the quarterfinals.

He told his club’s official website fcbarcelona.com: “I don’t have the assurance that we’re in the next round, but I do have the tranquillity of doing a good job away from

home.

“We came here to win.

There was no moment when we thought of any other result that wasn’t winning. I think the result is fair.

“I’m focusing on the solid performance from the team.

“We played a bit differently than we usually do when we have three strikers. The selection of an additional midfielder was made in order to have more possession.”

The two clubs meet again in three weeks’ time at the Nou Camp and Martino added, “we won the first 90 minutes in a match that lasts 180.

“We’re going to approach the second leg as if it were 00.”

Referring to City’s progress in the group stages, where the Premier League side suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Bayern Munich before going on to win the away clash 3-2, Martino warned that a comeback is not unheard of.

He said, “City have only lost at home to Bayern and later, in Germany, they managed to win.”

…I’m happy we shamed our critics, says Fabregas ARCELONA midfielder, B Cesc Fabregas was pleased the Spanish giants could “prove a point” to some of their doubters following a dip in form over the last month and he was delighted they could “shut up” their critics.

Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho had called the Catalan side “the worst Barcelona of many years” and former Arsenal star Fabregas told ITV: “Maybe we had to prove a point in a way and I think we did it and I think we did it in a style and very, very well, but this team has done so much and won so much to always have to prove a point.

“But today was one of those days maybe everyone was saying Barcelona was not the same Barcelona...some people were talking a bit too much and as usual they will have to shut up for a few

days.

“We are top of the league, we had a good result and we are in the final of the (Copa del Rey). There’s nothing else you can ask for.

“But the fans in Spain in general put the most pressure on you as a team - the fans and everyone - and that’s what makes everyone feel so special to this team.”

Barcelona head coach Tata Martino refused to get carried away by the first-leg result, pointing out that City had beaten Bayern Munich away from home in the group stage.

He said, “I am not confident but we have had a good game away from home and we just have to repeat the same performance.

“We must not forget that City lost to Bayern Munich at home and then they won away.”

Man City’s Martin Demichelis (Right) fouls Barca’s Lionel Messi to concede a penalty…on Tuesday

Eriksson, after he was accused by Manchester City Manager, Manuel Pellegrini of favouring Barcelona.

Jim Boyce, a FIFA vice-president from Northern Ireland, said it was “absolute nonsense” for Pellegrini to suggest that UEFA should not have chosen a referee from Sweden for such an important Champions League match as Tuesday’s last-16 fixture.

Boyce’s view is that Eriksson performed well in Barcelona’s 2-0 win at the Etihad Stadium.

Pellegrini claimed Eriksson, who awarded a penalty against City and sent off Martin Demichelis, had “not been impartial”.

Eriksson, 39, has been selected by FIFA for the World Cup finals in Brazil, and Boyce, chairman of FIFA’s referees committee, told Press Association Sport: “It is absolute nonsense to say a referee should not be chosen for an important match because he comes from a smaller country.

“If the referee has proved himself at the top level it should not matter what country they come from.

We lost to bad officiating, Man City boss laments ANCHESTER City boss, M Manuel Pellegrini launched an astonishing attack on referee Jonas Eriksson after the 2-0 defeat

by Barcelona, accusing him of being “not impartial” and suggesting UEFA had made a mistake in appointing an official from Sweden.

The comments are set to land City’s manager in serious trouble with UEFA, especially after he suggested that Eriksson was trying to make up for making an error against Barcelona in a previous match against AC Milan.

Pellegrini’s statement overshadowed a game, which was decided by Lionel Messi’s penalty, which led to Martin Demichelis’ dismissal, and Dani Alves’ last-minute strike.

The City manager said, “from the beginning I felt the referee was not impartial to both teams so he decided the game with a foul that he didn’t whistle against and a penalty with Demichelis that was not a penalty, it was outside the box.

Off you go…Man City’s Martin Demichelis being shown a red card in their game against Barcelona

“He did not have any control of the game. He was on the side of Barcelona from the beginning until the end.

“I think it was not a good idea to put a referee from Sweden in charge of such an important match, especially a referee who has made an important mistake against Barcelona in a previous match.”

Pellegrini appeared to be referring to the 2012 Champions League quarterfinal when Eriksson was criticised by then-Barcelona

Coach, Pep Guardiola for failing to award his side two penalties in the first-leg’s goalless draw at the San Siro.

“This referee whistled the Barcelona-Milan and he made an important error against Barcelona. Today he rearranged it,” said the City boss.

Pellegrini claimed Eriksson should have given City a freekick in the build-up to the move that led to the penalty award for a foul on Jesus Navas.

He added, “I think that the

referee decided the game because before the penalty there was a foul on Navas three metres away from him so he could see it without any problem.

“The more important mistake is the foul against Navas and secondly the penalty.

“Contact was outside the box - that is the foul, you cannot continue the foul. The first foul is outside the box.

Before the penalty Barcelona did not have chances and we were preparing the way to score.

PSG not through yet, Ibrahimovic insists LATAN Ibrahimovic and Z Paris St Germain are not taking a place in the Champions League quarterfinals for granted despite opening a formidable lead over Bayer Leverkusen.

Sweden striker, Ibrahimovic drove in two goals as the French capital side beat Leverkusen 4-0 in Germany on Tuesday night, suggesting the second leg on March 12 should be a formality.

His first was a penalty and the second a 20-yard leftfooted rapier strike to the top right corner, and Ibrahimovic acknowledged PSG had built themselves an ideal platform.

Blaise Matuidi scored in the third minute and Yohan Cabaye netted the fourth goal of the night in the closing stages as the Ligue 1 champions overwhelmed their hosts.

“I think we had a good start,” Ibrahimovic said on Paris St Germain’s website after the game.

“After three minutes we scored a goal, then we played our game, created chances and scored a second and a

third, so there were a lot of spaces to play and we did good, very good.

“We have to play the second leg like we did today. We have a big advantage absolutely, but still we have to be focused and play our game and let’s see what happens in the second game.”

Ibrahimovic

Head Coach, Laurent Blanc believes those at the BayArena saw the best football PSG have to offer.

“We reproduced the kind of soccer we were playing in the first half of the season,” Blanc said.

“Obviously I am very happy with the performance.

TheGuardian

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Obi Peter Adigwe HEN the Kaiser Chiefs penned: “I predict a W riot”, no one knew that a few years later, Britain will be rocked by a series of violent riots.

Although I borrow the title of my article from their song, unlike them, my prediction is underpinned by incontrovertible evidence and good science. In Nigeria, there is a looming health crisis on our hands that may not only exacerbate the poor health state of millions in the country but could also overwhelm our overburdened and fragile healthcare system.

Currently, there is clear and indisputable evidence that a significant proportion of Nigerians are overweight or obese and current trends suggest that many more Nigerians will be. Obesity and overweight refer to the accumulation of abnormal or excessive fat that can lead to an impairment of one’s health.

Although not infallible, the most common way to determine whether an individual is overweight or obesity is the Body Mass Index (BMI). The BMI is a simple index of weight for height and is defined as a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters (kg/m2). A person with a BMI of greater than or equal to 25 is overweight, whereas if the figure is greater than or equal to 30, the individual is said to be obese. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) obesity constitutes one of the most serious public health challenges of the century. Additionally, obesity is an important determinant of a wide range of mortality and morbidity, as well as a risk factor for several serious conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Nigeria, like many other sub-Saharan countries, is already plagued with a burden of communicable diseases. If left unaddressed, the significant and rising burden of obesity in the Nigerian population will inadvertently lead to further morbidity and mortality. Considering the inefficiency, inadequacy and lack of capacity in our health system, it doesn’t take a PhD in rocket science to predict the likely outcomes, both for Nigerians and for our healthcare system.

According to the WHO, governments, international partners, civil society, NGOs and the private sector have vital roles to play in addressing this problem. I however also believe that other stakeholders such as the public and the media can make significant impact in addressing this issue. In this article, I highlight a few of the key stakeholders in the Nigerian context as well as undertake a critical exploration of their role in preventing and controlling obesity.

In every other aspect in life, parents want better for their offspring. For instance, illiterate parents want their children to be better educated, poor parents want their children to be more financially secure. It is therefore surprising that obese parents in Nigeria only seem to want to nurture morbidly obese children. It is not an uncommon sight to see fat parents gorging their offspring with high calorie treats without ensuring that their children engage in commensurate amount of physical activity.

The evidence suggest that overweight and obese children are likely to stay obese into adulthood and more likely to develop noncommunicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at a younger age. So the question is, in terms of health, what kind of future is planned for these children?

Although interventions underpinned by healthy eating and increased physical activity are usually initiated by policymakers and health groups, the Nigerian public has a role to play as well. There are reliable books, articles, websites and apps that can be easily accessed and understood by persons without any healthcare training. These can provide the average Nigerian with sufficient knowledge to contribute to the process. Parents also have a key role to play. The few green zones, recreational areas and parks that exist in the country must be made good use of. This can help to increase exposure to beneficial physical activity, particularly in an age when televisions, smart phones and tablets seem to be the rage.

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I predict an epidemic

Significant effort must also be made to help children eat better. The country has a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and high-fibre foods that can help control or prevent obesity.

Healthcare professionals not only have a statutory responsibility to ensure that Nigerians have sufficient and swift access to healthcare, they also have a moral obligation to ensure that this is done efficiently, effectively and with minimal expenditure of resources by the patient. Nurses, Doctors, Pharmacists, Nutritionists and Physical Education Practitioners are some of the above named groups that can significantly contribute to curbing obesity. In addition to the regular counseling is provided to patients in line with their routine work activities, there are other measures that can increase their impact in this area. Collaborative research projects with colleagues form academia, other disciplines and healthcare systems with similar challenges can add value to their knowledge base and approach to tackling the problem.

Engaging in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities is another Also join our on-line conversation

important way for these professionals to keep abreast of the latest global trends, which will in turn enable them provide superlative service. With the increasing level of access to the internet in the country, tools such as specialised apps and dedicated websites are cost effective ways of achieving relevant capacity.

Public health focuses on preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting population health using a collaborative platform that facilitates organized efforts and informed choices. International aid drives NGO activities in Nigeria and they in turn stimulate behavior change to achieve public health goals.

Currently, the emphasis on MDGs 4, 5 and 6 is warranted due to the importance and prevalence of these issues and conditions in the country. Developing initiatives to address obesity in Nigeria however provides an opportunity for public health practitioners and aid agencies to adopt a visionary, rather than a reactionary approach to healthcare planning and health system capacity development.

Currently, a lackadaisical attitude is what characterises health care journalism in Nigeria.

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This means that many healthcare programmes are either lukewarm or insipid and articles are frequently ‘culled’ verbatim from foreign magazines and journals without the relevant contextualisation. As such, the public is not vigorously engaged with important healthcare issues. There is therefore, an urgent need for Nigerian journalists to go more for innovation, originality and contextual focus in their healthcare related programmes and articles. In the same vein, more programmes that can act as interactive platforms for policy debate and critical reviews of healthcare policies and interventions need to be developed. This will aid the development of more robust public health initiatives for health conditions like obesity.

Additionally, there seems to be a venal association between extensively debated health issues on the one hand, and pharmaceutical products and projects with generous grants on the other hand. This is evidenced by the assortment and regularity of advertisements aired or published alongside such programmes and publications. The risk associated with this approach is that sponsored health issues and diseases are vigorously debated and other equally important ones are neglected. Journalism must borrow a leaf from the legal industry in developing a pro bono model for ‘orphan’ health issues Among the key stakeholders that can contribute to the development of an effective strategy to fight obesity, perhaps, the most important, are those that influence, make or implement policies. There is a desperate and urgent need for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and collaborative platform to enable a rigorous debate. With this approach, an indigenous and contextually appropriate intervention can be developed. Government agencies are strategically placed to initiate and facilitate such a platform. In many areas relating to health (for instance health insurance and poliomyelitis), Nigeria has had to play ‘catch up’ not only to developed countries, but even sometimes to third world nations. With the burden of this condition shifting from the global north to the global south, developing a home-grown intervention means that we can be a forerunner in tackling the looming globesity epidemic.

Although the buck may seem to stop at the table of the health ministry, other equally important players must contribute if the strategy is to be sufficiently robust, resourceful and effective. For instance school children need to understand to the importance of healthy eating and physical exercise from an early age; taxation can be used to discourage the importation and production of unhealthy foods as well as promote investment in sports and exercise; and agricultural incentives can be used to stimulate production of indigenous products that support healthy eating.

Currently, these initiatives may exist in various ministries/departments /agencies, but what is needed now is integration and collaboration so that the synergy would result in a healthier and wealthier nation.

In Nigeria, developing a strategy to address the rapidly increasing prevalence of obesity has been largely relegated to the Ministry of Health. Clearly, this institution lacks the capacity to undertake such a gargantuan task.

To avert a nationwide obesity epidemic, together with the other conditions it predisposes, other important stakeholders must step up. This will facilitate the development of a collaborative and efficient strategy, which is unique to Nigerians and the Nigerian healthcare system. In doing this, we will not only save countless lives and develop our healthcare system, we would also develop a model that other countries plagued with similar issues, can base their interventions on.

• Dr. Adigwe, a Health Systems expert and policy strategist, is the Head of the Health Policy Research and Development Unit of Pharmaceutical Services in the National Assembly.