Thur 21, Feb 2013 The Guardian Nigeria

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Vol. 29, No. 12,474

www.ngrguardiannews.com

N150

States’ public debt stock hits N1.8 trillion • Lagos, Bayelsa, C’River top list of borrowers • Borno, Yobe least indebted • Oyo, Jigawa and FCT liabilities unknown From Mathias Okwe, Abuja ITH a huge debt portfolio W of N1.86 trillion, the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are in dire financial straits in their bid to ensure development.

The Debt Management Office (DMO), which in a report put the total liabilities at N1.86 trillion as at the end of June last year, said that this figure was up from the N1.42 trillion level of December 2011.

A breakdown of the figure indicates that local or domestic debt obligations account for N1.186 trillion with the balance being the foreign debt liabilities.

Contractors’ liabilities top the chart on the debt table followed closely by commercial banks’ loans,

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Suma River polluted as a result of the burst crude oil pipelines in Gwagwalada, Abuja … yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Debate on Jonathan’s term diversionary, says Presidency From Mohammed Abubakar and John-Abba Ogbodo, Abuja INCE President Goodluck Sfulfilling Jonathan is committed to his mandate to Nige-

• Defends non-assent to budget, Jonathan meets NASS • Caretaker panel not targeted at Obasanjo, PDP insists

rians, he should not be distracted by the controversy over his eligibility for a second term or not, according to the Presidency.

Besides, the Presidency yesterday defended again the delay in assenting to the 2013 by Bill Appropriation Jonathan, saying the action

was in the overall national interest. However, it acknowledged that consultations were ongoing with the appropriate stakeholders to resolve grey areas in the budget.

Consequently, Jonathan last night held a meeting with the leadership of the National As-

How Justus Esiri died, by son – Page 3

sembly jointly led by the Senate President, David Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

Dismissing the single-term debate as diversionary, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Doyin

Okupe, said yesterday that it was ill-timed.

In a statement, Okupe said: “Our attention has been drawn to issues raised by some political leaders to the effect that President Goodluck Jonathan signed an agreement with some governors

elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party prior to the party’s presidential primaries in 2011. From time immemorial, for every major event or contest in the world, there is always a time and a season apportioned.

“We wish to state categorical-

Jonathan in Lagos for Eko Atlantic City, business parley –Page 6

ly that this is neither the time nor the season to begin electioneering campaign or related discourse for the 2015 presidential elections and so President Goodluck Jonathan will not jump the gun. Mr. President will therefore stoutly resist any disguised or open attempt to drag him into any debates, arguments or political discussions relating to a presidential election in 2015.

“The president considers this as an invidious attempt to sway him from his chosen pursuit of the set out constituents of the transforma-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

2 NEWS

Northern elders fault SPA on regional autonomy From Saxone Akhaine, Kaduna ORTHERN leaders under N the aegis of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF)

have rejected the call by the Southern Peoples Assembly (SPA) for Nigeria to operate a loose federation, declaring that it would not foster unity.

President meets NASS on budget CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 tion agenda which form the basis upon which Nigerians overwhelmingly elected him to steer the ship of the nation in 2011,” Okupe said.

He continued: “For now, this is our position on this matter and we assure Nigerians of Mr. President’s resolve to continue to devote his energy to a successful implementation of the transformation agenda, fix Nigeria and thereby justify the mandate freely given to him by the Nigerian people.”

Also, following the crisis rocking the South West chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the national headquarters of the party yesterday said the insinuation that the setting up of 17-member caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the party in the South West zone was an act of vindictiveness was not true.

The caretaker committee Chairman, Chief Ishola Filani, said that the setting up of the caretaker committee for the South West was not directed at the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, but it was a fulfilment of a court order.

Inaugurating the committee in Abuja, the Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Sam Sam Jaja said the party was only obeying a court order and charged the committee members to reconcile party members who have issues.

“The inauguration is in obedience to the court order. The caretaker committee is inaugurated to take charge of the affairs of the South West zone.

Your task and responsibility is not an enviable one, it is quite demanding, you have to make

some sacrifices. Your being inaugurated is for the interest of the party to ensure that the party takes it place in the South West,” Jaja said.

Filani acknowledged that the task of the committee was onerous, but said that the party was only following due process.

“Ours is to reconcile the people, we require your support and prayers so that we can succeed,” he said.

Also sworn in was Alhaji Fatai Adewole Adeyanju, as the new National Auditor of the party, following the removal of Chief Bode Mustapha, by the leadership of the party.

Other high-level government officials at the meeting of Jonathan with NASS leaders included the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Affairs, Joy Emordi and Director General, Budget Office, Bright Okongwu.

But it was not clear at press time when the budget would be signed.

Speaking in Abuja to State House correspondents at the post-Federal Executive Council (FEC), Presidential Spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, explained that government was intent on finding the best deal possible for the people on the budget.

He said it “is all about making sure the best is done in the interest of Nigerians,” adding that the position of government on the issue was predicated on the submission of Okonjo-Iweala.

He noted that there were grey areas in the document that needed to be cleared but assured that once this critical stage was crossed by the two arms of government, the president would sign the budget.

Abati said since the issue involved two arms of government there would be the need for clarification but he regretted that the media appeared to present the false impression of conflict or territorial breaches.

The Northern leaders stated this yesterday after they met to review the state of the nation, amid growing insecurity, economic and political problems.

The ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, said “when I read the call from the SPA that the six geopolitical zones be made federating units and be given the authority and responsibilities to create their states and local councils, I quickly concluded that these people want a confederal arrangement, preparatory to disengagement”.

He added: “Otherwise, if the

zones will create their own local government, create their own states, where is the position of the Federal Government? What is the position of the Federal Government, is it not a confederation they are plotting? I do not think we need a confederal arrangement at this time, with a weak centre. If the centre is too weak the country will dismember”.

Sani added: “As far as ACF is concerned, this call is not in good faith. If you don’t want the unity of this country again, that means we would not be one country again”.

Besides, a statement issued and signed by Sani also stated:

“the National Working Committee (NWC) of ACF met on February 19, 2013,in Kaduna and “considered the controversies surrounding the exercises of recruitment and promotions in some security agencies as they affect northerners with serious sense of concern.”

He added: “It was against such back-drop that the Forum called on Northern governors to use their commissioners in the Federal Character Commission (FCC) to investigate the allegations with a view to ensuring that the North is not short changed”.

“The meeting also viewed with serious concern and sadness the recent attacks on the convoy of the Emir of Kano and the killings and kidnapping of some foreigners in some parts of the North.

“The Forum, therefore, called on those who derive pleasure in killing other people to lay down their arms and embrace peaceful means of addressing perceived grievances, lest the whole world decides not to do business with Nigeria as a result of the emerging violent culture that had hitherto been alien to the North.”

Mrs. Nogi Aifuwa Imoukhuede (left); Mrs. Rita Irele-Ifijeh; Mr. Victor Oziegbe and Mrs. Osaretin Stella Uwuigbe taking their oaths of office during their swearing-in as Judges of the Edo State High Court and Customary Court of Appeal in Benin… yesterday.

Lagos, Bayelsa, C’River top list of borrowers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 bonds, pension and gratuity and government-to-government debt in that order.

The DMO’s report said: “The total public debt of the 36 states rose from N1.42 trillion as at December 31, 2011 to N1.86 trillion by June 2012. The marginal increase of about 3.32 per cent was as a result of slight increases in both the external and domestic debt stocks. As in 2011, domestic debt dominated the total public debt portfolio of the 36 states of the federation in June amounting for over 77 per cent of the total as it did in the previous year.”

The entire records of Oyo and Jigawa states’ liabilities and those of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration are the only data missing out in the report of the exercise begun some five years ago and concluded December last year by the DMO. The three administrations reportedly didn’t co-operate much with the

DMO during the exercise. This, however, could not be confirmed yesterday, as all efforts to speak with top officials of the debt management agency were not successful.

The report titled “Five years of Effective Sub-National Debt Management in Nigeria” was obtained exclusively by The Guardian under strict confidentiality as members were still studying it preparatory to their meeting on the report next March 11.

The report listed Lagos State as the highest borrower with a contingent liability of N238.262 billion, comprising a local debt of N157,536 billion and a foreign component of N80.726 billion. Lagos is followed by oil-rich Bayelsa State with a contingent liability of N167.173 billion, made up of a domestic debt stock of N162.822 billion and a foreign debt liability of N4.350 billion while Cross River State is placed third with a total public debt of N113.598 billion, consisting of a local debt com-

Our error N the caption of the photo on page five of The Iwrongly Guardian of February 18, 2013, Foge Olutobi was referred to as Joge Olatobi. The error is regretted.

ponent of N96.544 billion and foreign debt of N17.053 billion.

Next to Cross River is Rivers State, which as at June last year had contracted a total public debt of N112.229 billion made up of N106.880 billion local debt and N5.349 billion foreign debt. The state is followed

by Delta State with a public debt of N93.304 billion, comprising a local debt of N90.843 billion and a foreign component of N2.46 billion. Imo and Kaduna states are next with total debts of N69.979 billion and N53.808 billion respectively.

Crisis-torn states of Borno and Yobe emerged the least indebted with Borno pulling the least public debt of N3 billion, consisting of N1.684 billion local debt and N1.894 billion foreign debt. Yobe on the other hand has only contracted a debt toll of N6.939 billion, made up of N2.088 billion local debt and N4.851 billion external debt.

However, on a debt solvency and liquidity ratio analysis relative to revenue inflow to states, Cross River State is the heaviest debtor as it scores the highest burden rating of 138.86 per cent as at December 2011, representing her total public debt to total revenue ratio. The state’s public rev-

enue is put at N77.489 billion while its public debt is far above the figure at N107.600 billion. Also, on a scale of domestic debt stock analysis relative to Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR), Cross River polls 584 per cent, next to the highest ranked Bayelsa State, which pulled 1,712 per cent. Cross River’s domestic debt stock relative to IGR at the period was only N16.553 billion.

On the total public debt sustainability score, Bayelsa is next to Cross River with a burden score of 104.93 per cent and a debt stock of N167.123 billion relative to its revenue base of N159.278 billion while it has the highest domestic debt burden score of 1,712 per cent relative to its IGR. The state’s local debt stock at the time of the analysis was N162.822 billion while its IGR was a paltry N9.510 billion.

Lagos State is placed as the third risky state in the total public debt solvency analysis as it polled 73.21 per cent after Cross River and Bayelsa. Lagos public debt at the time was N234.608 billion while its revenue base was put at N320.474 billion. It equally scored a ranking of 61 per cent on the domestic debt solvency analysis, as its domestic debt stock was N157.536 billion, relative to its IGR base of N257.419 billion.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

3

News Lamido tasks S’Arabia, Nigeria on peace in Islamic nations

20 parties adopt APGA for 2015 polls From Tunde Akinola O fewer than 20 opposiN tion political parties on the platform of the Patriotic Alliance of Nigeria (PAN) adopted the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) yesterday for the 2015 presidential polls.

Briefing journalists after a meeting in Lagos yesterday, PAN’s spokesman and National Chairman of the Action Alliance (AA), Dr. Dele Jadi, said the group chose APGA because of its transparency and clear-cut political ideology.

“APGA has a clear-cut ideology on issues that will facilitate national development hence the decision to adopt the party as a platform for the 2015 election,” Jadi said.

Jadi added that PAN would be an all-inclusive alliance in the forthcoming election, noting that the parties were not going into a merger but an alliance, using APGA as platform to present a single candidate for the presidential election.

The parties include Accord Party (AP), Citizens Popular Party (CPP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Advance Congress of Democrats (ACD), United Democratic Party (UDP), Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) and Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP), among others.

Responding to questions from journalists after the meeting, APGA Interim National Chairman, Maxi Okwu, assured that the party would not disappoint Nigerians. He said that APGA was the only credible platform that the Nigerian masses could identify with, stressing that the party leadership appreciated the opportunity created by the alliance.

However, he said that despite the current challenges facing the party, its leadership has set up a committee to woo back the aggrieved members.

From John Akubo, Dutse OVERNOR of Jigawa State, G Alhaji Sule Lamido, has expressed disappointment

National leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Tom Ikimi, former governor of Kano State and presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Ibrahim Shekarau, Governor of Nassarawa State, Umar Tanko Almakura, and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, during the pronouncement of the Constitution, Manifesto and INEC/Legal Compliance Committee of the All Progressives Party (APC) in Abuja…yesterday

Bomb blast kills three in Maiduguri • Court remands seven over terror attack • SSS arrests terrorist suspect From Lemmy Ughegbe, Terhemba Daka (Abuja), Njadvara Musa (Maiduguri), Charles Ogugbuaja (Owerri), and Willie Etim (Yenagoa) HERE may be no end to the T orgy of violence in Borno State, as barely 48 hours after the torching of a police station and killing of an inspector, a bomb blast yesterday rocked Maiduguri, killing three persons, including a suspected bomber, and injuring two others.

In a related development, the Federal High Court yesterday remanded seven persons in prison custody for allegedly robbing some banks in Bauchi State in 2011 for the purpose of raising funds to support the fiery Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

Meanwhile, the State Security

Service (SSS) has arrested a 50year old Iran-trained Nigerian, Abdullahi Mustapha Berende, for alleged espionage and terrorist activities.

The Maiduguri blast is coming on the heels of confirmation yesterday by the Police of Sunday’s abduction of six sailors of a foreign vessel by armed pirates in Brass and Southern Ijaw councils of Bayelsa State. Police sources also confirmed that the kidnappers have demanded $1.3 million as ransom.

Also, following Tuesday’s kidnap of seven French nationals at a Camerounian border town with Nigeria, the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS), the Police and JTF have been placed on alert, NIS Acting Comptroller-General, Rilwanu Bala Musa, has dis-

Knocks as Reps invite Orubebe, CBN over SURE-P From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh (Abuja) and Olalekan Okusan (Lagos) O ensure probity, the House of Representatives Joint Committee investigating the Subsidy Re-investment Programme (SURE-P) has invited the Niger Delta Minister, Godsday Orubebe, to explain his ministry’s role in the management of funds accruing to the programme.

In the same vein, the House of Representatives yesterday resolved to wade into the crisis rocking the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA). Adopting a motion sponsored by Toby Okechukwu (Aninri/Oji River Federal Constituency, Enugu State), the House mandated its Committee on Education to probe the ongoing causes of the crisis.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Yomi Ogunnusi, has faulted the implementation of SURE-P, describing it as a charade. The House ordered the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Malam

T

that countries like Nigeria and Saudi Arabia that are members of Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) have failed to exert their influence in restoring peace in Islamic countries.

Lamido, who said this yesterday while receiving the Saudi Arabian Consular-General, Mr. Majid al-Khatani, at the Government House, Dutse, added: “It is unfortunate that Nigeria and Saudi Arabia that were supposed to be spearheading peace and stability among Islamic countries by asserting their influences failed to do so”, regretting that “the two countries have failed the Islamic world in this regard.”

• Wade into UNIABUJA varsity crisis Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to appear before it next Tuesday for similar interrogation.

However, Chairman of the Joint Committee, Dakuku Peterside, who disclosed this at a meeting with stakeholders on the programme, assured Nigerians that the National Assembly’s inquest into SURE-P would be guided by national interest. The meeting provided fresh perspectives on the activities of the benefiting ministries and agencies.

Works Minister, Mike Onolememen, and Minister of State for Health, Muhammad Ali Pate, spoke on their challenges and constraints in the implementation of programmes in their ministries.

In the course of proceedings, the joint committee raised concerns about the award of contracts without due process.

It also frowned at what it called “fragmentation of projects” which, according mem-

bers, was fast becoming the order of the day, adding that it served nobody’s interest and must therefore be addressed in the interest of the people.

Ogunnusi told The Guardian that the idea of re-investing proceeds from the subsidy removal into projects that would impact Nigerians was good, but that the recent allegations during the public hearing by the House Special Joint Committee on SURE-P had highlighted the poor implementation of the exercise.

“There are series of allegations and counter-allegations by members of the House Special Joint Committee on SUREP, who accused the co-ordinators of SURE-P of duplication of projects already captured in the federal budget, and that the programme has been converted to a re-election campaign organisation for President Goodluck Jonathan,” he said.

closed.

And, irked by what they called neglect, some erstwhile militants in Imo State yesterday protested in Owerri.

Specifically, the youths in large numbers, led by one Mr. Andrew, marched through the streets of Owerri asking that they be considered in compliance with the agreement reached with the Federal Government under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

According to the Joint Task Force (JTF), the Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) was targeted at its vehicle while on patrol of the Maiduguri Monday Market (MMM) and General Hospital areas. JTF

Spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, added in a statement that besides the loss of lives, the patrol vehicle was damaged by the blast.

The seven accused persons, who were arraigned before Justice Abubakar Mohammed on a 13-count charge, did not enter their plea owing to lack of legal representation for them. The accused are Usman Sani, Abdulrahman Musa, Mahmud Mohammed, Kabir Mohammed, Umar Danjuma, Ibrahim Musa Abba and Abdullahi Lawan.

According to the SSS authorities, two of his accomplices, Sulaiman Olayinka Saka and Saheed Aderemi Adewumi, and a third, Bunyamin Yusuf,

now at large, would be charged to court, and “there is conclusive evidence that Berende, in collaboration with his Iranian handlers, were involved in grievous crimes against the national security of this country.”

The Police said: “Three of those abducted are from Ukraine, two are Indians and a Russian. And one of the kidnappers called to demand the sum of N200 million (one million euros, $1.3 million).

We have deployed intelligence personnel in search of the six workers.”

Bala disclosed this yesterday in Maiduguri when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Kashim Shettima Borno.

How Justus Esiri died, by son • Jonathan, minister, others mourn From Mohammed Abubakar and Bridget Chiedu Onochie (Abuja), Shaibu Husseini and Florence Otor (Lagos) S if the creative industry has become its permanent target, death, once more, has laid its icy hands on foremost actor, Justus Esiri. He was aged 70.

Only six days ago, rap artiste Susan Harvey, popularly known as Goldie, died in a brief illness. And in an emotion-laden voice, Esiri’s son, Onoriode, who is popular as Dr. Sid, confirmed his father’s death to The Guardian.

“My father had taken ill and was hospitalised for about three days before he passed on late Tuesday night in Lagos,” Onoriode said, though a family source disclosed the late Esiri was suffering from low sugar, which got worse and had to be taken to the hospital.

Meanwhile, condolence messages have begun to pour in as President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday described the late Esiri as an epitome of commitment, excellence and creativity.

In a condolence message

A

signed by his Media Adviser, Dr. Rueben Abati, the President re-iterated his belief that Nollywood actors have carved a positive image for Nigeria in the eyes of the international community, with the late Esiri, a Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), having contributed in no small measure to the creation and sustenance of that image.

In his tribute, Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, described Esiri’s demise as shocking and a monumental loss to the Nigerian culture and entertainment community. In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Dr. Taiwo Oladokun, Duke described Esiri as outstanding in the movie industry.

Also, frontline filmmaker, Mahmood Ali-Balogun, described Esiri’s death as “shocking” and “devastating,” adding that, “he was too good a thespian to die.” Popular actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, was still in shock early yesterday when The Guardian called. He said: “We were together in Abuja recently, and I have

been in touch with him.

Award-winning actress, Kate Henshaw, screamed, “it’s a lie” when called up to pay tributes, noting: “We worked together on what will count as his last job that will be premiered - Assassins Practice. So, you mean I wont see uncle Justus again? It’s a lie. We the younger ones will miss his professionalism and fatherly advice.”

Also, the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has joined other teaming Nigerians, Africans and European fans of Nollywood in mourning the dead actor. NFC Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mr. Afolabi Adesanya, described the passing away of Esiri as painful, and an irreplaceable loss to the Nigerian creative industry.

Born in November 1942 in Oria, Abraka, Delta State, Esiri had his early education at the Catholic School, Warri, before proceeding to Maximillan University in Munich, Germany. While in Germany, Esiri, who is survived by a wife and six children, attended Prof. Weners Institute of Engineering, West Berlin, and was later trained at the Ahrens School of Performing Arts.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

4 NEWS

Rivers lawmakers differ over N120b loan request From Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna) and Ann Godwin (Port Harcourt)

M

EMBERS of the Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday differed over re-

Jonathan for Africa, S’America summit From Madu Onuorah, Abuja RESIDENT Goodluck P Jonathan will leave Abuja for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, today to participate in the third Summit of Heads of State and Government of Africa and South America.

According to a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President is listed among the keynote speakers at the summit, which holds tomorrow.

Other speakers include the Presidents of Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Cameroun and Equatorial Guinea as well as former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria) and Lula Da Silva (Brazil) and the current Chairman of the African Union (AU).

Jonathan will be accompanied to the summit, which has the objective of promoting political and economic co-operation between the two continents, by the Minister of Transport, Alhaji Idris Umar, his Culture and Tourism counterpart, Mr. Edem Duke and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri.

Jonathan, who will also meet with Nigerians in Equatorial Guinea on the sidelines of the summit, will stop over in Lagos tomorrow on his way to Malabo to confer with former President Bill Clinton of the United States (U.S.) and visit the site of the Atlantic City Project.

He will return to Abuja tomorrow.

• Kaduna Assembly okays N179b budget quest by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to be granted leave to access N120 billion loan for completion of ongoing projects.

Some of the lawmakers, during debate on the request by the governor, queried the essence of the loan when, according to them, there is no visible result on the previous bonds.

A letter of request by the governor to the Speaker, Otelemaba Amachree, explained that it was the former bonds approved by the lawmakers that the executive was still trying to

access.

According to the Executive, the previous bond sought last year could not be accessed due to some difficulties.

A member representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II, Michael Chinda, argued that it was necessary to give reasons why the bonds were not accessed.

On his part, Mr. Martins Amawule (Obio/Akpor Constituency 1) said nothing was wrong in taking loans but he urged the government to ensure that the purpose is carried out.

Earlier, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Josiah John Odu, said the loan was aimed to complete the ongoing projects and urged the lawmakers to give the government the necessary support.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna House of Assembly yesterday debunked insinuations that the state government has tampered with the 2013 budget as presented by the late Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa. They approved N179 billion budget.

The approval by the lawmak-

ers is with an increment of about N5 billion from what Yakowa presented to the House in December last year before his demise in a helicopter crash.

But the legislators insisted yesterday that Governor Mukhtar Yero did not tamper with the appropriation as presented by Yakowa.

Fielding questions from journalists after presenting the passed appropriation bill, the Majority Leader, Mr. David Umoru, said at no time did Yero tampered with the appropriation as presented by his late boss, saying that the increment of the about N5 billion in the budget was done by the House.

Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (left) and his wife, Roli, during the renewal of their marriage vows at First Baptist Church, Warri… yesterday.

Plateau Speaker escapes attack by gunmen From Isa Abdulsalami, Jos HE Speaker, Plateau State T House of Assembly, John Clark Dabwan, on Tuesday night escaped death by the whiskers when some gunmen attacked an evening church crusade in Jos South Local Council.

About nine others sustained gun wounds as a result of the attack, which took the area by surprise. Those injured are now receiving treatment at the Plateau Specialist Hospital.

According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen entered into the centre, the Christian Rural and Urban Development Association of Nigeria (CRUDAN), wielding their dangerous weapons and demanding the whereabouts of the Speaker.

It was alleged that Dabwan drove into the premises and shortly, the attackers came demanding his head. They shot into the crowd of worshippers, injuring them in the process. It was not known if the attackers were armed robbers as is being claimed by government officials or they were kidnappers.

An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, told journalists that “we noticed that all was not well when we spotted the men who demanded where the Speaker was in a loud voice. Some of us were not aware that the Speaker was there and I think he sensed trouble so he drove out quickly before anyone could identify him.”

It took the timely arrival of members of the Special Task Force (STF) to scare the attackers away.

ICJ seeks enforcement of verdict on oil pollution in Niger Delta

By Bertram Nwannekanma HE International CommisT sion of Jurists (ICJ) has drawn the attention of President Goodluck Jonathan to a recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on oil pollutionrelated cases in the Niger Delta, calling for its urgent enforcement.

The ECOWAS court had, on December 14, 2012, in a suit brought by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against the country, ruled that Nigeria had violated its obligations under the Article 24 of the African Charter on Human Rights and Peoples’ Rights, which provides: “All peoples shall have the right to a general satisfactory environment favourable to their development”.

The case concerns activities of oil companies operating in the Niger Delta whose operations were identified as the cause of severe pollution of water, land and the general environment of the region.

The court recognised that all the steps previously taken by the country had not prevented the continued environmental degradation of the region, and concluded that “there has been a failure on the part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to adopt any ‘other’ measures” required by Article 1 of the

African Charter.

The “core of the problem”, the court held, “resides in lack of enforcement of the legislation and regulation in force” (109) and lack of accountability.

“And that it is precisely this omission to act, to prevent damage to the environment and to make accountable the offenders, who feel free to carry on their harmful activities, with clear expectation of impunity, that characterises the violation by the Federal Republic of Nigeria of its international obligations under Articles 1 and 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”

The court therefore ordered the Federal Republic of Nigeria to: • Take all effective measures, within the shortest possible time, to ensure restoration of the environment of the Niger Delta; • Take all measures that are necessary to prevent the occurrence of damage to the environment; • Take all measures to hold the perpetrators of the environmental damage accountable.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria has an international obligation to comply with and enforce this Decision of the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, in accordance with Article 15 of the Revised Treaty and Article 24 of the 2005 Supplementary Protocol on the Court.

But apparently to prevent any delay on the execution of the court’s verdict, ICJ in a letter dated February 6 and signed by its Secretary-General, Wilder Tayler, urged Jonathan to ensure the enforcement of the ruling by the competent authorities in the Niger Delta and the Federal Government.

It added: “I am writing on behalf of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) to call your attention to the recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States – ECOWAS in the case SERAP vs The Federal Republic of Nigeria, (No. ECW/CCJ/JUD/18/12) dated December 14, 2012.

“I would therefore respectfully request your government to take all necessary steps and issue instructions to relevant officials to comply with this ruling without delay.

“The problems related to environmental pollution, and ensuing effects of health, food and water for the local population in the Niger Delta have persisted for many years.

“Despite previous court decisions, including the decision by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in the case The Social and Economic Rights Action Centre and the Centre for Economic and Social Rights / Nigeria (155/96), the conditions of living and

the respect of their rights for the Niger Delta people have not substantially improved.

“The present ruling by the ECOWAS court highlights that much more needs to be done to enforce laws by holding accountable the perpetrators of violations and ending the pervasive culture of impunity existing in the region.

“I hereby respectfully request the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to act decisively to make good its international commitments to protect human rights against private parties, including transnational corporations and other business enterprises.

“In your endeavours, law enforcement agencies should have a prominent role and they should incorporate the affected communities in the monitoring of the enforcement process to guarantee their adequacy and effectiveness.

“My organisation, which has a long-standing interest and work in the defence of the rule of law and human rights in Nigeria, stands ready to assist in enabling better legal accountability and the guarantee of access to justice for the affected people.

“I would be grateful if your government could keep me informed of any measures taken to implement the judgment of the ECOWAS Court of Justice.”

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

News 5

Govt plans 50 per cent revenue from agro-industrial exports From Itunu Ajayi, Abuja HE Federal Government T has unveiled plans to receive over 50 per cent of its

Human rights activist, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin (middle), President, Women Arise, Alhaja Qudrat Omolara Dada (fifth right) and others, at the civic education on improving legislators/constituents’ relations through theatre, organised by Women Arise in Lagos…yesterday

Ijaw may seek Obasanjo’s trial for genocide From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt HE Ijaw may seek the trial T of former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the International Criminal Court for the 1999 massacre at Odi. The Ijaw National Congress (INC), which is to meet to deliberate on Tuesday’s Federal High Court judgment that ordered the payment of N37.6 billion compensation to the Odi community, has called for the immediate implementation of the court order.

Former INC president, Prof.

Kimse Okoko, told The Guardian that Ijaw would not be contented with the N37.6 billion compensation for the wanton destruction of lives and property at Odi. Instead, they will seek the trial of the former president for acts of genocide committed against the people of Odi community.

Also, a Niger Delta activist, Timi Frank, yesterday hailed the judgment.

In a statement in Abuja, Frank said the ruling had vindicated the people of the area.

He also called for the immediate prosecution of Obasanjo for the gross violation of the human rights to lives and property done to the people of Odi.

Leaders, diplomats want role for citizens in foreign policy formulation

By Marcel Mbamalu, News Editor (Sunday) and Tunde Akinola EADERS, the bulk of whom Lelder are renowned diplomats and statesmen, yesterday canvassed a more vibrant citizen participation in formulation of government policies to enhance quality delivery of employment opportunities and basic amenities for poverty alleviation and economic recovery.

The prominent citizens, who converged at the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs (NIIA) under the auspices of the Fourth Centre for Values in Leadership’s (CVL) Leader Without Title (LWT) tribute series, said lack of requisite knowledge among leaders consequent upon which there is poverty in the land, could only be addressed with a more robust citizen participation in the conduct formulating and implementing foreign policy.

With the theme, “Citizens’ Participation in Foreign Policy Making,” the event, which was chaired by Professor of Political Economy and CVL Founder, Pat Utomi, was organised to honour former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who turned 80 on Jan-

uary 18, 2013.

Addressing participants at the colloquium yesterday, former Ambassador to Germany, Professor Akinjide Osuntokun, said ordinary Nigerians had been reluctant to contribute to the foreign policy formulation process as a result of poverty.

He noted that before Nigeria could exert its influence in global affairs, it needed to take care of its domestic polices that have direct impact on citizens.

According to him, the foreign policy of a country draws its potency from its secret nature; hence, advocating involvement of citizens in its formulation process is a development he has not envisaged any time soon.

Erstwhile Nigerian Consular General to Atlanta, United States, Ambassador Joe Keshi, who shared a similar view, called on the NIIA to focus more on the country’s foreign policy so that information in the public domain could be educative enough to engender more positive action.

According to the Director-General, NIIA, Professor Bola Akinterinwa, the success of any nation’s foreign policy is tied to the participation of its citizenry.

He urged media practitioners to take time to understand the

country’s foreign policy at any given time so that they could relay it to the people in a more explicit manner. He also enjoined Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of leaders like Anyaoku to achieve the same measure of success.

On the occasion, Anyaoku urged diplomats abroad to be truthful in defence of negative issues at home but, at the same time, present it in a positive manner.

Akinterinwa observed that the study of Foreign Policy and International Relations had been included in courses like History in most universities, which, according to him, would in the long run; intensify the yearnings of citizens to participate in the process.

Director and Deputy Head, Peace Building Support Office, United Nations, Ejeviome Eloho Otobo, noted that citizens have a role to play in Nigeria’s foreign policy, the most prominent of which is monitoring the environment against pollution by multinational corporations.

Describing the state as a foreign policy implementation unit, he, however, recognised the influence of most multinational companies due to the enormous wealth that has accrued to them overtime.

Accord Party, Oyo disagree over projects From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan HE Accord Party (AP) in Oyo State yesterday called on the nation’s anti-graft agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to beam their searchlights on the financial activities of Oyo State government.

The AP accused the administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi of allegedly over-inflating contract sums, urging the anti-graft agencies to investigate the financial activities of the state in recent times.

The AP, in a statement by its media spokesman, Alhaji Lanre Latinwo, cited the newlyconstructed Bodija Bridge, as well as the Mokola Fly-over as two of such projects that the EFCC and ICPC must investigate.

“The Bodija Bridge, a one-span bridge, cost the state a whopping sum of N485.9 million while the Mokola Fly-over cost the state N2.9 billion compared to the bigger model in Ogun State, which cost N1.5 billion.”

AP also mentioned the threespan bridge at Apete, which was awarded to KPB International at N259.5 million and

T

foreign exchange earnings from agro-industrial exports by 2020. The plans are contained in a draft trade policy, which was considered and reviewed during a meeting of the Enlarged National Focal Point (ENPF) on Trade Matters in Abuja on Tuesday.

The meeting, chaired by Permanent Secretary, Trade and Investment, Mr. Dauda Kigbu, was to review the policy

Ajimobi warns YES-O cadets against corruption terminated even before takeoff after allegedly paying the contractor.”

Latinwo also berated the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) government in the state for allegedly disparaging former governor Rashidi Ladoja, the leader of the AP in the state.

He cited the claim of alleged seizure of Ladoja’s property by the ACN as one of such propaganda and warned against such henceforth.

He said: “To put the records straight, the EFCC never seized or recover any money or property from Senator Ladoja.”

In its reaction, the ACN expressed sympathy with Senator Rashidi Ladoja and his Accord Party over his renewed trial by the EFCC. A statement by ACN Publicity Secretary, Dauda Kolawole, said it was obvious that Senator Ladoja, having thought that the case against him by the EFCC had been swept under the carpet is currently upbeat, realising that the people of the state would not allow their hard-earned sweat to be misappropriated.

“We really sympathise with Senator Ladoja. He is currently

searching for needle inside the haystack. The Ladoja aide apparently forgot that the buck stops on his boss’ table, as he was the governor of the state. It is a puerile defence for Ladoja to hang the blame of the looting of Oyo State on his erstwhile Higher Executive Officer, Mr. Atanda. It is on record that the said Atanda confessed that he was only a front to Ladoja in the wanton looting of our state at the time.

“What is more? Ladoja also confessed to the crime when he made a statement to the EFCC that he instructed Atanda to release part of the loot to his daughter, Bimpe; his wife, Yinka; legal practitioners prosecuting his cases, among others,” the ACN said.

The party said it was obvious that the hysterics of the crime and the resurgence of the trial are making Ladoja and his Accord Party to seek “fellow travellers in the crime boat” by the allegation from the Accord Party that the Oyo State government had inflated contracts. It stated that when the PDP levelled “the same puerile allegation” recently, the ACN effectively showed to them that they were “construction

illiterates.”

In another development, Governor Ajimobi has read the Riot Act to the cadets of the Youth Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State (YES-O), saying that anyone of them caught receiving bribe from members of the public would be sacked with immediate effect.

The governor, while addressing the cadets at the Governor’s Office Secretariat, Ibadan, said that it had come to his notice that some of the cadets had been collecting bribe from the public and willfully destroying people’s property in the course of discharge of their duties.

Already, said the governor, about five cadets caught in the act had been relieved of their duties with immediate effect by the state government.

Governor Ajimobi also stressed the need for them to be punctual, as they would be monitored from time to time.

“It has come to our notice that some of you do not come to work and that many of you do not dress properly. I know there are good ones among you and that there are bad ones too. So I want you to be monitoring yourselves so as to discover the truants among you,” he said.

According to former Nigerian Ambassador to the UN, Chief Arthur Mbanefo, the reactions which government gets from citizens’ protests against a foreign policy are strong indications of their participation.

He urged citizens to be knowledgeable enough about foreign policy so they could contribute effectively. Insisting that a vibrant foreign policy could only come from a knowledgeable law-making committee at the National Assembly, Mbanefo regretted that a majority of politicians show some interest in the citizenry only when they seek votes, but “when they get in, they forget the citizens.

“If we have a very strong Foreign Affairs Committee in the Senate, they will be in a position to understand international events,” he said.

“Sometimes, when they appoint a Minister, who is not ready to learn, you wonder, as a citizen, whether the background and qualification were considered while allocating a Ministry to him.”

developed in 2002, with a view to making inputs by the various stakeholders. The document noted that agriculture was a key economic driver and accounted for about 35 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but was under-developed and inefficient despite the large land area available and favorable agro-ecological environment.

The document stated that agricultural exports exceed US$2 billion annually, mainly concentrate on a few unprocessed products while agricultural import of about $3.5 billion are mainly unprocessed foods products.

It stated that the government was poised to put in place agricultural trade policy aimed at increasing astronomically foreign exchange earnings from agro-industrial exports.

The policy, which would ensure free flow of agricultural products within the country, is also aimed at encouraging agricultural processing, link with the manufacturing sector and value addition processes, including imports of semiprocesses products for further processing.

The agriculture trade policy will improve product quality through implementing appropriate standards, operating procedures and enforcing compliance. It is also aimed at encouraging exports through improved facilities for handling and storage of export products and establishment of export promotion centres.

The policy, according to the statement, is aimed at improving export market information and providing appropriate incentives, including encouragement for investments.

It will also help improve farmers’ access to productivity-enhancing inputs, including imported inputs.

6

NEWS

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

Jonathan in Lagos for Eko Atlantic City, business parley

Aliyu hails merger of parties, Fasanmi craves support From Tunji Omofoye (Osogbo) and John Ogiji (Minna) IGER State Governor N Babangida Aliyu has declared that the formation of the All Progressive Congress (APC) is not only a welcome development but a wakeup call to the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Meanwhile, an elder statesman and leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), Senator Ayo Fasanmi advised stakeholders in the emerging APC to forget personal ambition and work for the success of the alliance in order to give the nation a new sense of direction.

The governor also said that the formation of the new opposition party would enhance the growth and development of democracy in Nigeria because, according to him, political office holders will now know that if they fail to perform, the electorate will have alternative.

Aliyu, who spoke in Minna, Niger State capital yesterday when he inaugurated new members of the state executive council at Government House, expressed belief that the merger of some political parties will lead to the institution of two party system where one party will not be cock sure of winning any election.

He argued that in case of any failure on the part of any party, Nigerians will have a choice during any election, adding that “those that feel that they can rule forever will also be told by the people that there is an alternative.”

He urged the PDP to put its house in order and continue to do what the people want, stressing that “with the merg-

er of these political parties, PDP must go out and compete for the minds of the people”.

On the reconstitution of the state executive council, which led to the dropping of three commissioners who were reappointed as special advisers, Aliyu said he took the step to reposition the government for better performance in the remaining period it has to serve the people.

He maintained further that “with the 27 months we have left to leave office, we are consolidating on the things we have done right, we will correct those things we have done wrongly and continue to serve the people to the best of our ability”.

Fasanmi, a Second Republic Senator under the platform of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), described the APC as a viable option to challenge the monopoly of the PDP at the centre, saying the new party is the medicine needed

by Nigeria to cure its headache.

Fasanmi, who spoke with The Guardian at his base in Osogbo, Osun State, noted that the prayers of the progressive elements had been answered, adding that the coming together of four parties that form the APC is an indication that the progressive forces appreciate the enormous challenges facing the country.

He recalled the position of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo whom he said predicted before his demise that the progressives would one day come under an umbrella to wrest power from the conservatives who have always been allegedly manipulating themselves to power particularly at the national level.

By Godfrey Okpugie and Tope Templer Olaiya RESIDENT Goodluck P Jonathan will today in Lagos commission the Eko

Former Secretary General, Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku(left); founder, Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL), Prof.

Pat Utomi and the guest of honour of the event, Authur Mbanefo during the CVL leadership tributes series in honour of Anyaoku at 80th held in Lagos yesterday.

ECOWAS summit to brainstorm on disorder in Mali, G’ Bissau From Oghogho Obayuwana, Abuja S leaders of the Economic A Community of West African States (ECOWAS) fret over the need to save their Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Europe, the situation in Mali and Guinea Bissau will dominate the 42nd Ordinary Session of the summit of the heads of state and government billed to hold in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire next week Wednesday.

A large chunk of the Islamic militants who had occupied the north of Mali since 2011 had by last week been driven out of the landlocked West African country of some 15 million people. When the rebel forces struck, diplomatic watchers predicted that it was not just going to be another African disruption of civil democratic order but one that bore major terrorist threat to the rest of

the world. And they were right.

In Abidjan, the leaders will consider a memorandum to be presented by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo, on developments in Mali, in the wake of on-going military mop up action that is expected to be sustained by the United Nations (UN) backed African, Nigerian-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA).

The sub-regional leaders will also consider the report of the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers held in December 2012 in Abidjan, which took important decisions notably on the mechanism for enlarging the commission from nine to 12 commissioners.

But West Africa’s experts started meeting in Accra yesterday in the latest effort to jump-

start the stalled EPA negotiations with the European Union (EU).

The meeting came nearly a year after the 10-year long negotiations were suspended over some contentious issues, including market size and duration of market access, as well as the EPA Development Programme (EPADP) to enable West Africa cope with the cost of adjusting to the impending trade regime.

Some 64 experts, (four from each ECOWAS member state and Mauritania), are attending the three-day meeting expected to make proposals to narrow the gap with the EU which is asking for a 70-per cent market access, against West Africa’s position of a 60 per cent market opening over 25 years, while the remaining 40 per cent will be closed during the period to protect its industries.

WHO, World Bank develop framework to boost access to health services

By Chukwuma Muanya ETERMINED to ensure that everyone, irrespective of the D ability to pay, should have access to the health services needed, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Bank are developing a framework that will help countries track their progress toward universal health coverage.

WHO and the World Bank, in a joint statement issued yesterday at the end of a two-day meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, said the framework would be available for consultation with countries and other partners later this year. The meeting was attended by top officials from health and finance ministries from 27 countries, and other high-level health and development officials.

The United Nations said its officials are working at global, regional and country levels to help countries confront the numerous challenges that the meeting highlighted towards accelerating universal health coverage.

The UN General Assembly resolution urges member states to develop health systems that avoid significant direct payments at the point of care. It further encourages them to establish mechanisms for pooling risks to avoid catastrophic

PSN tasks FG on bail out fund health expenditures that drive households into poverty.

According to the joint statement, delegates at the Geneva meeting expressed strong support for the ideas underlying universal health coverage, which means that everyone, irrespective of their ability to pay, should have access to the health services they need, without putting their families at financial risk.

Many speakers stressed the importance of getting political commitment to universal health coverage at the highest level. Some countries described how they are focusing their limited resources initially on providing coverage to the poor and vulnerable, while others have taken a more universal approach from the start. The use of general revenues to provide such coverage was a recurrent theme; but there was also some discussion about using earmarked revenues such as “sin taxes.”

Meanwhile, pharmacists under the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have called on the Federal Government to expedite action on making the N200 billion bailout fund for the sector available, arguing that it will help pharmaceutical manufacturers meet the process of prequalify-

ing their plants and products for the WHO certification.

The PSN also frowned at the deadline given by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to the pharmaceutical manufacturers to implement anti-faking devices on their malaria and antibiotic drugs.

They also faulted the government on the continued existence of the open drug markets across the country despite several evidences that they are the major source of counterfeit medicines.

President PSN, Olumide Akintayo, yesterday at the Chief Executive Officer’s forum of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) with the theme “The next level for the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria” said “for about two years now, the PMG-MAN has championed the call on the government to earmark and disburse N200 billion bail-out fund for the pharmaceutical industry as a veritable means of rejuvenating the industry and strengthening it against the ‘invasion of foreign pharmaceutical companies’ who are strategically supported by their own economies.”

Atlantic City and meet with notable business leaders and investors.

The Senior Special Adviser on Media to Lagos State governor, Hakeem Bello, confirmed this to The Guardian last night, noting that the President’s visit is in connection with the Atlantic City project.

The last parley the President had with business leaders in the state was in 2011 at Eko Hotel, in the run-up to the last general elections and it was a private discussion on how to drive his transformation agenda.

Details are, however, not clear on the venue of the meeting as foremost industrialists called up were not aware of the meeting as at last night.

Indians, Nigerians arraigned over alleged pipeline vandalism From Lemmy Ughegbe, Abuja WO Indians and three T Nigerians were yesterday arraigned at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division over alleged damage of oil pipeline in Okene, Kogi State.

The complainant - the Inspector General of Police– had preferred a four-count criminal charge against the accused persons who appeared before Justice Abubakar Mohammed. They include Fatai Afolabi, Emmanuel Igbokwe, Tukur Mohammed, Kamal Sharma, Ashok Agarwal and Prism Steel Mill Ltd. They pleaded not guilty to each of the four counts with counsel to the 3rd to 6th accused persons, Rauf Lawal-Rabana (SAN), applying for their bail.

Lawal-Rabana premised his application on the ground of ill health for the 5th accused person whom he said has chronic hypertension and has been at the Force Headquarters Medical Centre where he is being managed.

He said the doctors at the Medical Centre have said that he needed a medical doctor to place him on observation.

Group alleges Jang’s interference in Taraba affairs From Charles Akpeji, Jalingo OME indigenes of Taraba State have alleged interference by Governor Jonah Jang in the affairs of their state, urging him to desist and tackle the problems facing Plateau State.

The indigenes under the aegis of Save Taraba Group (STG) yesterday told The Guardian in Jalingo that they could not fathom why Jang has allegedly continued to play to the gallery by incessantly blowing the trumpet of the ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai, who has been in Hanover, Germany since October 25, 2012.

Jang, who claimed to have visited the ailing governor of Taraba State in Germany, was said to have told the world during his appearance in a private television station that Suntai was fast recuperating and would soon be back to Taraba to resume his assigned responsibilities.

S

News 7

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

Alaafin backs S’West govs on regional integration

Nigeria needs radical change, not slogans, says Oshiomhole

By Bola Olajuwon HE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayowola Adeyemi 111, has lent his support to the on going efforts by the various state governments in the South West region to integrate the entire region for economic development.

In a letter sent to the six governors of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states, dated 18th February, 2013, Ref APO/13/Vol.61/86, Oba Adeyemi asserted that he was spurred into action following the recent efforts of the governors of the South West geo-political zone towards regional integration for economic development.

“Being the political offspring of the great legend and icon of development politics in. Nigeria, nay Yurubaland, the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, one cannot but praise the determination of the governors to bring the glorious days of the old Western Region under Awolowo into life again.

From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City

T

EFCC pledges commitment to physically-challenged persons’ welfare From Abosede Musari, Abuja HE Economic and FinanT cial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated its commitment to defend the interests of people living with disabilities (PWDs) against fraudulent individuals.

Director of Operations, Olaolu Adegbite, made the commitment on behalf of the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, while receiving visiting members of the Disabled Persons’ Foundation recently in Abuja.

He stated that matters concerning them will receive expeditious action and culprits will be brought to book.

EFCC’s Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement that the Foundation’s Executive Director, Bello Bala, in his remark, articulated the grievance of over 19 million Nigerians living with disabilities.

According to Bala, public policies are skewed against persons living with disabilities as their peculiar needs and interests are rarely factored into such policies. This neglect, he said, has caused them inherent pain and driven most people living with disabilities to the streets as beggars.

Ondo PDP faction calls for caretaker committee From Niyi Bello, Akure

A

FACTION of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has urged its national leadership to constitute a caretaker committee for the state pending the time the crisis rocking the party would be resolved.

The faction, led by former Nigerian Ambassador to Australia, Professor Olu Agbi, is under a separate executive from that of the mainstream of the party, which contested the last October 20 gubernatorial election in the state.

The two factions have been sharply divided on whether the incumbent Labour Party (LP) governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, should contest the election on the platform of the PDP.

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday insisted that solving Nigeria’s problems required revolutionary agenda and not transformation as is being orchestrated in some quarters.

The governor stated this yesterday when he received the new leadership of the Edo State Council, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by Desmond Agbama.

Oshiomhole said Nigeria should wake up to its responsibilities of giving direction to other countries of Africa. “What Nigeria needs is a revolutionary agenda because the level of decay in our society and the amount of dysfunction in our society is high. The gap between where we ought to be and where we are is such that we can’t make up through just reform. I think we need a radical strategy to make up for lost grounds. We are in trouble; we need to sit up to meet up with those who have started working while we were sleeping. Today, the Ghanaians are asking Nigerians to go home, when we were at our best, we said ‘Ghana must go’ and they went, they fixed their politics right. They have changed their political system; different political parties have formed national governments there. Ghanaian democracy is on; power truly belongs to the people.

It is clear that Nigeria has to wake up. The African elephant has been on its belly for too long, it has to get up and run. So what we are doing in Edo is more of a revo-

E

Prof. Pat Utomi (left); Mr. Richard Giwa-Osagie; Chairman, Juli Pharmacy, Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi and Biodun Olufunbi at a lecture titled: “The Nigeria Condition and How to Survive it”, delivered by Adelusi-Adeluyi at a send-off party for Osagie as chairman of Island Club 1938 in Ikoyi, Lagos…on Tuesday PHOTO: ISAAC TAIWO

Unions threaten to shut airspace

By Wole Shadare HERE are indications that the Nigerian airspace may be shut tomorrow as the industry unions threatened to protest alleged inability of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to implement approved new salary structure.

The unions, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), called for implementation of the new salary structure within 72 hours or its members embark on a warning strike to force the management to comply.

Meanwhile, airline operators, under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), have called on the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah-Ogiewonyi, to nip in the bud the impending crisis, which they said, could cripple the aviation sector.

The Assistant Secretary General of AON, Mohammed Tukur, noted that the NAMA management should urgently enter into negotiation with the workers to avoid a shut down of the airspace.

Most of the workers are air traffic controllers, air traffic engineers and others, that offer critical services to flight operations.

T

The unions, in a joint statement signed by Olayinka Abioye for ATSSSAN, Abdulkareem Motajo for NUATE and Abah Ocheme for NAAPE, said that there is no going back on the planned strike.

The unions said the strike would force the management of NAMA to act fast in implementing the adjusted salary structure for its workers that was signed by the Salaries and Wages Commission in August 13, 2012.

The statement reads in part: “NAMA management has been given 72 hours to meet the demand of the workers.

Failure to do so will lead to the shutting down of the Nigerian airspace throughout Friday. We are bent on embarking on the one-day strike to press home our demands.

“During the period, no aircraft will be seen flying in the Nigeria airspace as our members will retrieve their services to airlines across the country and if that does not yield the expected result, we will embark on indefinite strike.”

President of ATSSSAN, Benjamin Okewu, said the same approval was made and fully implemented in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority of Nigeria (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN and even the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and

wondered why NAMA management is finding it difficult to implement it in the agency.

He said: “We just had a congress to renew our mandate concerning the implementation of the adjusted salary structure as approved by the Salaries and Wages Commission. We negotiated and then the law requires us to present those things with government agencies that are responsible for those approvals and we have done that. We got approval for NCAA, FAAN, NIMET and AIB and all those agencies have implemented their own, NAMA’s own was delayed and eventually approved in August last year and then, it was sent to the ministry and delayed there for so many months again and eventually the ministry released it in December after a lot of pressure.

“As we speak, we are in February 2013 and it is yet to be implemented. We have written several letters to the management about the implementation and they feel adamant about it. We have just come here to renew the mandate and by the mandate today, if three days after today, management has not done anything to show us that they are ready to implement these conditions of service, we are going to proceed on a day warning strike.”

Community leader tasks youths on peace, development From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka HE rate at which youths are being used as thugs during rallies and elections by political bigwigs who are supposed to be their mentors and fathers has been decried by the President-General of Omogho community in Orumba-North Local Council Area of Anambra State, Reginald Chigozie Onyeaka (JP).

He, however, praised the entire Orumba-North youths who he described as peaceful, law-abiding and respectful to their elders and leaders.

Onyeaka (aka Ezekueche) stressed that for there to be continuous and sustainable

T

development all over the state, the youth have to shun violence and vices, especially now that the government is looking inwards and developing the communities.

He pledged to continue to empower the youth of Orumba-North whom he likened to the young suckers that will take over when the old banana trees are no more. He lauded the Deputy Governor, Mr. Emeka Sibeudu, for his “loyalty to the people of Anambra State and his commitment to the value-creating and capacitybuilding ideology of Governor Peter Obi.” He also praised traditional rulers and presidents-general of all communities in Anambra State for maintain-

ing peace and stability, without which there could not have been any meaningful and sustainable development.

Onyeaka, while also commending the chairman and other executives of OrumbaNorth Local Council for their good work in the area, equally poured encomiums on Ben Nwankwo MHR (Insigidi Akpu) for facilitating federal projects and especially tackling erosion that has been plaguing Isulo, which could have cut it off from other communities.

Onyeaka implored everyone in the state to strive to move Anambra forward so it can get to the stage envisioned by the governor and the people.

lution”.

He said the Nigerian media had done enough to ensure democracy thrives, adding that they also needed to remain independent to sustain it. He kicked against leaders who would not want to relinquish power including the recent experience in Edo NUJ when an incumbent chairman refused to vacate power even after the expiration of his tenure.

“You have commented very freely on the challenges of free and fair election. The Nigerian media has taken a position over the years against sit-tight leaders as African leaders who seek to perpetrate themselves in offices, who have behaved like emperors. The Nigerian media is easily one of the freest in the African continent.

Whatever anybody wants to say, Nigerian media unarguably is the most vibrant in the African continent.

“For me, it was an embarrassment that you had difficulty in conducting a free and fair election and you had leaders who were reluctant to vacate. People must recognise that the honour of leading a voluntary association exists when you are freely chosen to lead and that when you are asked to vacate, no one should give us reasons. That is the beauty of democracy, there is a time to come, there is a time to go.

“Journalists must continue to lead by examples. We need associations, we need groups to organise, to mobilise, so that you can interrogate those in power and ensure that democracy is on.”

8

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

9

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

WorldReport Tunisia begins search for new PM to avert political crisis S Tunisia faces its gravest A political crisis since an uprising that inspired a wave of Arab revolts two years ago, the North African nation’s leaders yesterday began the search for a new prime minister to stop the North African nation from plunging into leadership vacuum.

However, Reuters cited Rached Ghannouchi, the powerful head of the main Islamist Ennahda party, as saying that the group had not named anyone to replace Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali, who resigned on Tuesday, but that he expected a new government to emerge this week.

“We need a coalition government with several political parties and technocrats,” Ghannouchi told reporters after talks with secular President Moncef Marzouki.

Jebali quit after his plan for an apolitical technocrat cabinet to prepare for elections failed. He had proposed it after the assassination of opposition leader Chokri Belaid on February 6 shocked Tunisia and widened Islamistsecular rifts.

It was Jebali’s own Ennahda party that scuppered the idea, extending a political impasse that has cast a shadow over Tunisia’s fledgling democracy

and ailing economy.

Tunisia began a transition to democracy after the peaceful overthrow of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011, electing a National Constituent Assembly to write a new constitution, and then forging a deal under which the moderate Ennahda agreed to share power with its secular rivals.

But disputes have delayed the constitution and the failure to tackle unemployment and poverty in a country that relies on tourism has dismayed many Tunisians and led to frequent unrest.

“Today, I cannot send a mes-

sage of reassurance to investors abroad because local investors in Tunisia are not reassured and the outlook is not entirely clear,” said Wided Bouchamaoui, president of Tunisia’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Negotiations on a $1.78 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund cannot be concluded amid the latest uncertainty.

“Once a new government is named, we will inquire about its intentions/mandate. Once the political situation is clarified, we’ll assess how best to help Tunisia,” an IMF spokeswoman said.

Tunisia’s Ennahda Islamist Party leader, Rached Ghannouchi (left) and President Moncef Marzouki, during a meeting on new prime minister yesterday at the Carthage Palace in Tunis – a day after Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali said that he had submitted his resignation to Marzouki after efforts to form a government of technocrats failed.

PHOTO: AFP

France pledges to confront terrorists after kidnapping Asks citizens to leave northern Cameroun RENCH Minister Laurent FFrance Fabius has vowed that would not give in to “terrorists” after the kidnapping of seven members of a French family in northern Cameroun, according to agency reports.

Fabius, ostensibly trying to exclude the possibility of paying a ransom, told the National Assembly: “We must do the maximum (to free the hostages) but nothing would be worse than yielding. We will not yield to terrorist groups.”

Also, the ministry has urged its citizens to leave northern Cameroun after seven members of a French family were seized in a kidnapping operation that officials linked to Nigerian Islamist group, Boko Haram.

The family – a couple, their children aged five, eight, 10 and 12 and an uncle – were snatched in northern Cameroun by six gunmen on three motorbikes on Tuesday and officials said that they had been taken across the border into Nigeria.

Continuing, Fabius said: “There is every indication they were kidnapped to Nigeria. Everything also indicates that the perpetrators of this abduction” were Boko Haram.

“This adds to the other hostage-takings. Sadly France is one of the countries that is perhaps most affected by this.”

And with the latest abduction, Agence France Presse (AFP) stated that France had

We must do the maximum (to free the hostages) but nothing would be worse than yielding. We will not yield to terrorist groups overtaken the United States as the country with the most number of hostages held abroad, with 15 nationals in captivity against nine Americans.

However, President Francois Hollande condemned the seizure as an “odious” act, saying: “This is the first time that children have been taken hostage in this manner.”

“We are doing everything with the help of authorities in Cameroun and Nigeria to find our compatriots,” government spokeswoman, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, quoted Hollande as telling a cabinet meeting.

Moreso, the French foreign ministry, in a notice, urged citizens in the far north “to leave the area as quickly as possible” and advised against travel to areas bordering Nigeria until further notice.

French authorities have launched a preliminary investigation into the “kidnapping staged by a terrorist organisation,” a judicial source said.

Such cases are routinely opened when crimes are committed against French citizens abroad.

The ministry could not say how many French citizens were believed to be in the north, but 6,200 in total were registered as living in Cameroun.

Zimbabwe’s police vow to crack down on illegal rights groups Bulgarian govt quits after days of protests “I will not participate in a OYKO Borisov, Bulgaria’s HE police authorities in southern African country, isation, Zimbabwe Election crunch constitutional referB prime minister, government where the T Zimbabwe yesterday Reuters reported, claimed that Support Network in the capi- endum and national elecannounced yesterday the police beat up people or declared that they would they were under attack from a tal, Harare, seizing docu- tions. crack down on rights groups that operated illegally and distributed false information to discredit President Robert Mugabe’s party before elections expected later this year.

But the rights groups in the

police force they had long accused of trying to silence opposition to Mugabe’s nearly 33-year rule.

The furore came as Police on Tuesday stormed the offices of election-monitoring organ-

ments, radio receivers and mobile phones.

Meanwhile, political leaders in Zimbabwe have picked Rita Makarau, a Supreme Court judge, to head the country’s electoral body ahead of a

Last week, there were raids on a group that documents and reports on cases of political violence. Activists said that the raids amounted to intimidation ahead of possible presidential and parliamentary el ections later in the year.

Cameron says colonial massacre in India ‘shameful’ HE ghost of brutal imperiT al rule in India British came alive again yesterday as United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron visited the site of a colonial-era massacre in Amritsar, describing the episode as “deeply shameful.” But the British leader stopped short of a public apology.

Cameron, who was on the last leg of a three-day trip aimed at forging deeper economic ties, took the bold decision to visit the city of Amritsar and tackle an enduring scar of British rule over the subcontinent, which ended in 1947.

Dressed in a dark suit and bowing his head, he laid a

This was a deeply shameful event in British history and one that Winston Churchill rightly declared at the time as ‘monstrous’. We must never forget what happened here. wreath at the memorial to the victims at Jallianwala Bagh where British troops opened fire on thousands of unarmed protesters in 1919.

In a message in the visitors’ book, he wrote: “This was a deeply shameful event in British history and one that Winston Churchill rightly declared at the time as ‘monstrous’.

“We must never forget what happened here. And in remembering we must ensure that the United Kingdom stands up for the right of peaceful protest

around the world.”

He later defended his decision not to say sorry, explaining that it happened 40 years before he was born and “I don’t think the right thing is to reach back into history and to seek out things you can apologise for.

“I think the right thing is to acknowledge what happened, to recall what happened, to show respect and understanding for what happened,” The Guardian newspaper quoted him as saying.

The number of casualties at the Jallianwala Bagh garden

is unclear, with colonial-era records showing about 400 deaths while Indian figures put the number killed at closer to 1,000.

S.K. Mukherjee, the secretary of the Jallianwala Bagh memorial trust, spent half an hour guiding the British leader around the site, showing him a well into which 120 people jumped to their deaths as well as bullet holes in the walls.

Mukherjee said that Cameron had struggled for words but had told him he was “regretful and this should not happen ever again” as he left the memorial which has 20,000 visitors a day.

surprise resignation of his government after days of sometimes violent rallies, paving the way for early elections in the European Union’s poorest member.

“It is the people who put us in power and we give it back to them today,” Borisov told parliament.

where threats for protests replace political dialogue. If the street wants to govern the country, let it do it.”

Elections were expected to take place in late April and in the meantime the president was expected to appoint a caretaker government of experts.

African-American History: February 21, 1965

Civil rights activist, Malcolm X, was assassinated URING the Civil Rights D movement of the 1960s, Malcolm X gained national

and international prominence. Often distancing himself from the movement’s leaders, he was perhaps the most controversial leader of the period.

Malcolm X’s separatism and militancy contrasted with the desegregation efforts and nonviolent tactics of Martin Luther King, Jr. Historians credit Malcolm X as the spiritual father of the Black Power movement of the late 1960s.

At the time of Malcolm X’s murder in 1965, his views and commitments were undergo-

Malcolm X ing a great change. He was demanding unity and selfdetermination for black people, whose struggle he viewed in the context of oppressed peoples all over the world. He was also abandoning the hard-line anti–white prejudice of his early years.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

10

Politics ‘2015presidential race won’t be a solo run for PDP’ Founder and National Chairman of United Progressives Party, (UPP) Chief Chekwas Okorie, told LEO SOBECHI that it would be a three horse race in the 2015 presidential election because of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Excerpts: HAT do you think about the controversies W surrounding APGA’s involvement in the proposed merger?

The recent sacking of Victor Umeh as APGA national chairman has only opened the way for another cycle of litigations. Recall that I said the party might not feature on the ballot in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State. Umeh has filed an appeal and there is the likelihood that his case would get to the Supreme Court. What the leaders are doing would amount to nothing because as long as the case lingers, the only person the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) would continue to deal with is Umeh. And he is doing everything to ensure that Anambra Governor Peter Obi would not benefit from his sack from the party.

Do you think the move by the interim National Chairman, Maxi Okwu to reconcile former members including you would work?

Okwu’s claim of reaching out to me is childish.

He has nothing to reconcile; he didn’t consult me before making that statement, Maxi betrayed me; he has stopped relating with me.

Where is he bringing me to, there is no party. I can understand that those who quarreled with Obi said they are joining the merger. If APGA is a political party, it can come and talk with UPP after all they are children of the same father. But the point is that they have to repair the platform; which is actually irreparable. But if they have the capacity to repair APGA such that it become a full-fledged party, they will now be qualified to discuss with a full-fledged party like UPP that is already moving on. We are in Abuja campaigning for an (Abuja Municipal Council) election that is coming up. So where do we have time for such distraction? After that we would face Anambra. INEC will be issuing the timetable for the election in June/July. And for Anambra, we cannot go into the election with any candidate that is not properly nominated. We are ready to compete with anybody that is properly nominated; it is not going to be a wish washy thing again. All those games they use to play in INEC won’t be possible as long as we are there.

Is that the reason some people said that Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and Senator Annie Okonkwo played safe by identifying with the merger?

Party (PDP) in the forthcoming AMAC election.

AMAC is a mini governorship election and it is conducted by INEC as opposed to those things governors do with state Independent Electoral Commissions. When we finish with the AMAC election we will then move to Anambra. As for Lagos, nothing will be the same again and we have the strategy; when we come out people will be amazed at the world of difference we would make by way of impact.

Do you share the concerns that the ongoing merger has not put the people into consideration?

The APC and PDP are two sides of the same coin.

They all have bad people who have held offices and run Nigeria aground. People like Chief Tomi Ikimi are in this new arrangement to upstage PDP. It is only UPP for now that stands for the masses. One of the surprises is that the presidential contest in 2015 will be between UPP/PDP/APC. What I know is that the third leg of the tripod has been restored, that is UPP. That tripod that could not stand in the Third Republic, and part of Second Republic, which disappeared because of the bad politics of Igbo leaders. At the end of the day, Nigerians will see three prominent parties locking horns during the presidential election, not two.

Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu contends that since Igbo supported South West, North, South-South candidates in the PDP to produce president, the same platform should support the Igbo to produce the president…

He must be deceiving himself. An Igbo man cannot even be presidential candidate in PDP for the next 100 years. It is not possible. Former Okorie Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, nearly got it Okorocha and Okonkwo may think they are he would run with a northern presidential can- based on sympathy that he served former presplaying safe but they have also betrayed their didate while former governor Ahmed Tinubu ident Shehu Shagari well but they used it to people; because at a time they will look like neo goes to the Senate to become Senate President? draw Igbo people to PDP and after that colonial agents used to colonise their own peo- Will Tinubu chase away his wife; they belong dropped him. Since then, no Igbo person has come close to be considered. What happens is ple. And you know Ndigbo are not very rational to the same senatorial district? people; they will be roundly rejected. Even There is a plan to have Mrs. Tinubu to run as that people like Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu Senator Chris Ngige have finished himself, the deputy governorship candidate to a former would always pay nomination fees with which PDP runs the party. Kalu does not know what many people have started saying that they senator in Lagos… thought Ngige was a true Igbo patriot but now They will fail because UPP is coming; when we he is talking about. He cannot even justify his he has shown his true colour. So let him come show up in Lagos something different will tran- return to PDP after announcing to the world and campaign; he will campaign but he would spire. Igbo votes are taken for granted. We have that he leads Njiko Igbo and the purpose is to a test case in the Abuja Municipal Area Council produce Igbo president in 2015. Is it under PDP fail.

What do you make of speculations that (AMAC) election; right now we are the frontrun- that he can do that? You would first all be a canOkorocha is working on the assumption that ners, we are ahead of the People Democratic didate before talking of winning the election on the PDP platform. The only thing is that the major presidential candidates will run The APC and PDP are two sides of the same coin. They all have bad people three and one of them must be an Igbo in UPP. We who have held offices and run Nigeria aground. People like Chief Tomi Ikimi already know that the incumbent will run in PDP while APC will field a northerner. That is are in this new arrangement to upstage PDP. It is only UPP for now that the kind of scenario we are looking at; an Igbo candidate competing with a stands for the masses. One of the surprises is that the presidential contest in presidential northerner flying the APC flag and President 2015 will be between UPP/PDP/APC Goodluck Jonathan flying the PDP flag.

Anioma stakes claim to Delta governorship in 2015 From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja OR equity, fairness, justice and sustenance of peace in Delta State, the next governor of the State must come from the Anioma people in 2015.

This view was canvassed yesterday by the leadership of “Anioma Agenda,” a political pressure group seeking the emergence of the governor of Delta State from Delta North Senatorial Zone at a media briefing in Abuja. The group noted that the fact that other zones with the exception of the Northern Senatorial zone had occupied the State’s number one position made their case imperative and just. Chairman of the group, Alex Nnamdi Onwuadiamu, tracing the history of political leadership of the state since creation in 1991, recalled that the Urhobo in Delta Central Senatorial Zone have occupied the governorship slot for

F

10 years, starting with Olorogun Felix Ibru who did two years, followed by James Onanefe Ibori. Uduaghan, an Itsekiri representing Delta South Senatorial District is spending the second term as the governor, which will terminate in 2015. “Therefore, justice and equity demand that the Anioma people from Delta North should be supported by all to become the governor of Delta State in 2015.”

According to him, “For us in Anioma Agenda, our strategy in the quest for the governorship of Delta in 2015 has been that of appeal and persuasion to the conscience of all, hinging primarily on the alter of equity and fairness and backed strongly by the political history of Delta since its creation in 1991.

“While we take solace in the fact that our campaign for equity and fairness in the build up towards 2015 has

Uduaghan enjoyed respectable presence and support in Urhobo land, for which we remain grateful, even as we call on those who have not yet keyed

into the Anioma for governor project to do so earnestly.

“We, the Anioma people will obviously not accept to remain in a state where we do not have equal access to political power, neither are we going to say in pursuance of our quest for power, that we are willing to engage all and sundry in needless desperation for power at all cost.

“In the Anioma quest for power to govern Delta, we are seeking, soliciting and pleading for the support of the Urhobo, Ijaw, Isoko and the Itsekiri, knowing fully well that an alliance within Delta shall achieve for us the desired good and we advise other ethnic nationalities to follow this worthy example which is hinged on equity, justice and fairness. Indeed, we believe that equity breeds unity.

“The Anioma recognised and believe that Delta stands on a tripod

of three Senatorial Zones, constituted by five major ethnic nationalities namely: Urhobo, Anioma, Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko, none-of which can solely seek power and actualize same. The experience of the last general elections in Delta is enough lesson for any good student of politics in the state.”

The group expressed appreciation to Uduaghan on behalf all Anioma governorship hopefuls, for “his display of high sense of maturity in their quest for leadership come 2015. “He has maintained an appreciable candor in the journey towards 2015 as well as his developmental strides in Anioma area.

“We also appreciate our indefatigable elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark for his sustained advocacy for the principle of equity and justice as the basis for unity and peace in Delta.”

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

11

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

12

TheMetroSection Girl dies, homes, others collapse in Ilorin first rain

Briefs Ronik holds inter-house sport competition ONIK Comprehensive SecR ondary School (RCS) Ejigbo, Lagos will tomorrow hold its ninth bi-ennial Inter –House Sports Competition at Ronik Sports Ground at 11.00am.

Church begins crusade Divine Solution Ground JdayESUS Ministries will begin its fivecrusade tagged God of Assurance from today to Saturday at 6.00p.m. daily.

There is vigil on Friday from 9.00p.m. till dawn. It will end on Sunday with a thanksgiving service at 8.00a.m. at 26, Igun Street, Itire, Surulere, Lagos.

Host is Prophetess Doherty Ezeh.

Sacred Heart Catholic College resumes ACRED Heart Catholic ColSresumes lege, Ijebu – Ode, Ogun State, on Saturday, FebruA house destroyed by the rain

Roofs blown off by the rain

From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin ANY houses were destroyed on Tuesday morning in Ilorin following a heavy downpour that blew off some roofs on Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Alanamu and Oke Oyi suburbs of Ilorin.

But the most pathetic aftermath of the torrential rainfall was the reported death of a 10-year-old-girl who plunged into a drainage, got drowned and her lifeless body was recovered at the lower course of the

M

drainage shortly after the rain.

The heavy downpour, the first this year in Ilorin, started around 7.00p.m. and lasted for one hour as light showers that eventually developed into heavy storms.

At Gaa Akanbi area of the town, over 50 electric poles, property of the PHCN, were felled by the rampaging storm.

The victims of the rainstorm have cried for help. Alhaji Suleiman Agaka of 22 Ibrahim Taiwo Road lamented

PHOTOS: ABIODUN FAGBEMI

that the havoc wrecked by the storm has turned him, his three wives and 15 children homeless persons.

Enoch Adebiyi, a retired broadcaster, said unless someone came to his aid, his monthly stipends would be insufficient to repair his damaged roofs and windows.

The newly roofed three-storey Regional Office of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) on Asa Dam Road, Ilorin, was equally affected as half of the roof was blown off.

Already, the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Emergencies, Mr. Musa Abdullahi has visited some of the affected areas.

Abdullahi promised governmental assistance to the victims but urged residents of the town to shun dumping of refuse inside gutters to prevent flood disasters as the rainy season has started in earnest.

Kwara is one of the states listed by NIMET as likely to be prone to flood disasters this year.

For burying her baby alive, teenage mother bags six-year jail term From Tunji Omofoye, Osogbo

A

N Osogbo Magistrate’s Court yesterday sentenced an 18-year-old mother of one, Mrs. Adeola Joseph, to a six-year imprisonment with hard labour for burying her only child alive for three days.

The court, presided over by Mr. Olusola Aluko, in its ruling, said the convict was unrepentant of her cruel action and hence, did not deserve to be in the midst of human beings.

Mrs. Joseph was said to have buried alive her only child, Fatia Nafiu, at her residence in Ijetu area, off Ilesa -Osogbo Road, Osogbo, in Osun state.

According to the Police Prosecutor, Mr. Solomon

Oladele, Mrs. Joseph buried her child in the early hours of Monday, February 18, 2012 and the child was rescued after two days by a good Samaritan, Prophetess Tunrayo Akinwande, who lives around the area.

Oladele said the intervention of Prophetess Akinwande and other residents of the area, who exhumed Fatia from the grave and took her to the hospital, helped to save the innocent two- year-old baby who was still alive after two days in the grave.

According to the Prosecutor, the convict had through her actions committed an offence contrary to and punishable under sections 320 (1) and 509 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol 11, Laws of

Osun state of Nigeria 2003.

The convict, who was arraigned on a three count charge of attempted murder, felony and breach of peace pleaded for leniency.

She told the court that her parents were not favourably disposed to her marriage with the father of her child and she had since been living alone without assistance, hence her resolve to terminate the life of the toddler.

The convict also told the court that she decided to kill the baby due to her decision to relocate to Lagos in search of a job, without adding the child’s responsibility to her own.

It was gathered that the convict had made several attempts to kill the child before until her last

Photonews

ary, 23, 2013, between 8am and 3pm. The school management charges the students to be prepared for their ‘Back – to – school’ entry test billed for Friday, March 1, 2013.

A statement by the Principal, Rev. Fr. Jude Kuti, revealed that Open Day is on Saturday,

Fidau prayer for Imodagbe HE 40th day Fidau prayer for T Hajia Lametu Alice Imodagbe, who died on January 22, at the age of 74, and has since been buried according to Islamic rites, holds on Sunday, March 3, at Imodagbe’s compound, along Elele Road, AyuaUzairue near Auchi, Edo State.

She is survived by children among whom is Mr. Nasir’ S. Imodagbe, Manager, Public Affairs Department of PPMC.

Adeyemi for burial HE final burial rites for Mrs. T Christanah Oluwafunmilayo Adeyemi, who died on Thursday, January 10, 2013, starts today with a Christian wake at her residence, 51, Sokunle Sowunmi Street, Asero Estate Abeokuta at 5.00p.m.

Lying-in-state is tomorrow from 8am - 10am; funeral service holds at Owu Baptist Church Totoro Abeokuta at 11am to be followed by interment at the church cemetery.

Entertainment of guests holds at Bishops Courts Event Centre, Onikolobo Abeokuta.

She is survived by her husband,Chief Adebayo Adeyemi and children.

Danger...broken down Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) pole on Market Street, Shomolu, Officials of Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) enforcing the ban on street trading Lagos...yesterday PHOTOS: NAN at Doyin Bus Stop, on Lagos -Badagry Expressway...yesterday

Adeyemi

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

METRO 13

Retired Bishop of Ifo, Rt. Revd. Akin Odejide and his wife, Olubunmi, Emeritus Professor Yetunde Olumide and her husband, Mr. Kunle Olumide during the convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos...

Chief Abiola Ogundokun (left), Senator Olufemi Okurounmu; Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi and Bashorun Seide Arowogbowofa at the media briefing of Yoruba Unity Forum in Ibadan, Oyo State...

Over 200 frustrated Jigawa flood victims seek new settlement in Kano From John Akubo, Dutse O save themselves from further disappointment and frustration, over 200 households who were affected in the 2012 flood in Ringim Local Council of Jigawa State, have relocated to neighboring Kano for new settlement.

The residents of Yakasawa village that was submerged by the flood were earlier resettled on an upland area that is not susceptible to flood by the Jigawa State government but the conditions for acquiring plots of land in their new settlement were considered very stringent that some of them resorted to migrating from the area to Biyamusu Town in Ajingi Local Council of Kano.

They alleged that the land that they could not get in their own native village were given to them in Kano free of charge.

According to the village ward

T

head, Alhaji Yusuf Nadabo, who spoke to The Guardian at the new settlement, about 200 households had migrated from the area out of frustration that they were not given adequate compensation and land to accommodate them and their families.

Alhaji Nadabo pointed out that he just returned from the Emir’s palace to report the new development in the area but could not see him because of his other engagements.

According to him, after the flood disaster, the government in its effort to find a permanent solution to the effect relocated the affected victims.

“But the government had earlier confiscated farmlands from their original owners, which it re- allocated to them after it converted them to plots for residential buildings.

He said out of 255 affected vic-

tims that were to be resettled in the new village, only about 50 households had been resettled and had raised structures in their plots.

He, however, accused some of the affected people for selling their allocated plots of lands and opting for free settlements in Kano State.

According to one of the residents at the new settlement, Malam Dauda Illiyasu: “They have collected our farmlands from us and promised to allocate some plots from the land to us, which they did but they never compensated us for our farms that had been our means of livelihood for generations.”

When The Guardian sought the view of the Ringim Council Chairman, Alhaji Murtala Abubakar he said he was aware of the situation but could not make further comments.

Director of Public Health, Dr. Bridget Okoeguale, (left); Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu; , Founder/CEO, Rita Melifonwu and Dr Biodun Ogungbo, Board member, of Stroke Action Nigeria, during Stroke Action Nigeria’s courtesy call on the Minister in Abuja...

Lagos tasks night clubs, entertainment outlets on safety measures

By Tunde Akinola HE Lagos State government has started a Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement (CME) on all night clubs and entertainment outlets operating in the state.

This was the fallout of the successful hosting of the stakeholders’ seminar on events and gatherings in the state’s three senatorial districts organised by Lagos State Safety Commission (LSC), coupled with the unfortunate fire disaster in a night club in Brazil, which claimed many lives and property.

According to the Director General of the commission, Mrs. Odebunmi Dominga, assessing of the safety meas-

T

ures put in place in such outlets was part of government’s resolve to forestall ugly incidents like that of the Brazilian Club.

Odebunmi, in a statement signed by the commission’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Lola Jagunmolu, stated that the CME was carried out on 19 night clubs and entertainment outlets, but only one was found to be safe.

She called on club owners and managers to urgently create labeled “SAFE” escape route among other safety signages at visible places in clubs. Bars and mechanical ventilation should also be provided as part of safety measures. .

He said that workers in the night clubs were required to attend LSC Entertainment

Safety Training, which would count in the premises and operation Ranking Certification.

Odebunmi stressed that non-complying owners risk the closure of their businesses.

According to her, Regional Approved and Safety Agents (ASA) registered with the commission were ready to assist all club owners and managers that require information on how to ensure proper safety standards and procedures at their night clubs or entertainment outlets.

She reiterated the commission’s resolve to ensure best safety practices always, adding that “safety of lives or litigation is incomparable to any business profit.”

Cameroun Consulate General in Nigeria, Paul Ekpo Young A. Dong (left); Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye; Ewusi of Makun Shagamu, Oba Timothy Akinsanya Oyesola; Factory Manager, Nestle Nigeria Plc., Shagamu, Basile Kouamaen and Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Nestle, Dr. Sam Adenekan at the Presentation of Toyota HI-LUX Pick -Up Patrol Van to Ogun State Police Command in Shagamu, Ogun State ...yesterday PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Gridlock at Lagos Airport as police search for kidnappers

By Wole Shadare OTORISTS plying the Murtala Muhammed International Airport road yesterday had a hectic time as police frisked every car on the road in search of kidnappers who abducted a young woman at the Mafoluku area of Lagos State.

The Guardian learnt that the woman who was simply identified as Aisha and whose age could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, was kidnapped around 4:20p.m. at Mafoluku area of the state.

The woman was said to have been driving in a black Sports

M

Utility Vehicle (SUV) before the kidnappers attacked her.

The woman was allegedly bundled into the car booth of the kidnappers before they sped off.

Immediately the kidnapping occurred, the police authority in the state contacted every command to cordon all strategic areas and search for the kidnappers.

At the airport, the exit points from Mafoluku and Ikeja areas were cordoned by the stern-looking police officers, who searched every car on the road.

The Deputy Commissioner, Airport Command, Mr. Aliru Gwandu, when asked for com-

ments, confirmed the incident.

Gwandu explained that the kidnapping led to the dispatch of police to strategic positions in the state, but explained that the incident did not happen under his command.

He said: “The information got to the police authorities.

The commissioner just called that we should designate our men. An SUV was snatched. I don’t know the number of people involved. It is not airport command, but happened around the Lagos State Command because it happened around Mafoluku area of the state.”

Mr. Tope Awonaike (left); Mrs. Bolanle Adekoya; Founder/Coordinator, Live n Reign, Oluwatosin Oladimeji; Dr. Victoria Omokhodion; Pastor Supo Oluwashakin; Mr. Debo Ojo; Tofunmi Awonaike; Damilola Adeniju and Abayomi Olatemiju, at a seminar organised by the group in Lagos

TheGuardian

14 | THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

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 Controversial FCT 2013 budget

LETTERS

Uzoma, Moro and the rest of us Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence.

– Napoleon Bonaparte IR: The directive a few weeks ago asking the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mrs. Rose Uzoma to proceed on her pre-retirement accumulated leave, continues to raise pertinent questions on why those saddled with the responsibility of employing Nigerians into various positions in the country usually fail to play by the rules of fairness, justice and equity.

Mrs. Uzoma’s retirement followed the recruitment scandal that rocked the service in which she was accused of favouring people from a certain part of the country.

This has brought to the fore, once more, the wishy-washy manner a few individuals are highly favoured to man key positions at the detriment of those who obviously merit them.

The civil service and private organisations are replete with employment scams, which unfortunately are skewed to favour ethnic and religious identities. Many of such recruitments are entirely biased and not based on merit. The saddest part of it all is that recruitments in contemporary Nigeria have taken new dimensions with govern-

ITH several frivolous provisions, the Federal Capital Territory Authority S W (FCTA) has succeeded in raising serious questions of probity on its N253 billion budget for 2013. Some of the proposed projects now being consid-

ered by the Senate, and the sums budgeted for them are not only ridiculous, but also downright insulting on the intelligence of Nigerians.

The Senate was right with its observation during a lead debate that the FCTA had misplaced its priorities. The Senate, therefore, must do the right thing in the interest of the people of Nigeria: shoot down votes for unworthy projects and set the machinery in motion for implementation of whatever is approved.

Three areas, especially, are stirring public interest: the provisions on the evacuation and rehabilitation of prostitutes and the destitute in and around Abuja metropolis reportedly in the region of N5 billion; a N7.5 billion vote for the expansion and rehabilitation of two city entry and exit points at ONEX (Kubwa) and Airport Road expressways, and the proposed African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) building project, at the cost of N4 billion.

Since the national outrage over this proposed spending, the FCTA has regrettably been obfuscating its position on the issue. Officials have spiritedly defended the claims in an advertorial as untrue, insisting that the budget was made in the public interest. The minister too has argued at another forum that the law empowering the FCTA charges it with the responsibility of building public offices, and with planning, designing and providing infrastructure for the public.

The FCT administration or any official can quote the law that suits them but what is at stake is the perpetration of the culture of waste that has become the hallmark of governance in the country, generally. In this instance, the FCTA has displayed an absolute insensitivity to the priorities of the nation, while it has also demonstrated fiscal imprudence in the face of more pressing beneficial projects that can be captured under the appropriation, basic needs to improve the lot of residents socially and economically.

Against the backdrop of global economic recession, the provisions in the 2013 FCT budget are scandalous. They project the FCTA as a spendthrift, reckless with public funds. The bogus provisions do not make much sense because the intended infrastructure and/or the cited social development efforts cannot be a priority.

How did the FCTA arrive at the proposed N5 billion being debated by the Senate for resettling prostitutes? How many prostitutes are there to be rehabilitated, and who conducted the census? FCTA says just N150 million out of a total of N4.7 billion projected for the Social Development Secretariat is involved. The intention may be good, but no one knows of any holistic, articulated programme for this category of people. Are the officials unaware that many of the so called whores, often forced on to the streets by harsh economic realities, are well educated and actually need to be part of a concerted total effort to tackle youth unemployment in the country?

The FCTA is daring critics to pin-point where expenditure on city gates is captured in the appropriation bill, but that seems a non-issue. Plans for the road expansion project have been on since 2009, according to the administration. Expenditures like this are often confusing and can be captured in more than one overhead, especially in the federal budget. The authorities need only to clear all doubts with facts and figures and reassure Nigerians of transparency in their plans.

Undoubtedly, the most controversial provision in the budget is the proposed structure to house the AFLPM. Any spending on this project is illegal.

As Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has said, the FCTA is only “institutionalizing illegality”.

For a number of reasons, the AFLPM vote portrays this government as profligate and disrespectful of the people. One, it is unconstitutional because the office of the First Lady is not known to law in Nigeria. Two, AFLPM is not a part of Nigeria’s international obligations. Three, the group is not a permanent feature of governance in Africa unlike the African Union. In addition, there are ready structures in Abuja, like the offices and secretariat of the First Lady and the National Centre for Women Development, sections of which could be converted to house AFLPM. If proponents of the idea of administrative headquarters for the AFLPM insist on having one, they should look for money elsewhere, after all, the Presidency has once clarified that the body is a non-governmental organisation. Its burden should, therefore, not be borne by impoverished Nigerians.

Again, if the FCTA must build edifices for the public, they should be projects directly related to government activities for the benefit of the citizens.

Certainly, such areas as mass transit, primary education, and primary health projects can do with more funding.

The Nigerian democratic process has been debased enough and all stakeholders must strive to make it beneficial to ordinary Nigerians.

That cannot be achieved with insensitivity on the part of governments, misplaced priorities or misapplication of public funds.

ment or private institutions collecting huge amount of money for recruitment forms.

Where a recruitment exercise is advertised, what seems to appear later is a shocking internal recruitment like was witnessed during the INEC recruitment drives months back. As if that is not enough, application for jobs still appear in outmoded forms at a time when information technology has broken new grounds in online registration and recruitment feedback. The recruitment saga in the Nigeria Immigration is not an isolated case and would have gone unnoticed if some individuals had not raised petitions.

It is quite sad that the unfortunate events, which led to the coup of 1966, the

civil war of the following year and its aftermath, have all been ignored and thrown into the dustbin of deep chasm simply because we as a people pursue for ourselves nothing other than pecuniary gains or primordial interests.

We must go back to the era when merit, professionalism, expertise and willingness to work dominated our work-force, which in effect yielded viability and sustainability. We must begin the process of placing into leadership positions square pegs in square holes so that efficiency once more takes centre stage in our polity. A culture of discipline and value oriented disposition should be the watchword, so that our vision and goal for an egalitarian society will materialise.

• Raheem Oluwafunminiyi, Lagos.

Re: Maternal, infant mortality IR: Mrs. Bose Olayinka Srevealing has written a starkly appraisal that is as shocking as it is genteel.

Echoing the seventh paragraph, if there are no pregnancies, there’d be no deaths. I agree with her that the 2009 NAS workshop’s output better addresses the root causes.

Prof.

Babatunde Osotimehin’s volte-face is regrettable and worrisome. Good governance solves problems, not foreign aid driven cosmesis a la contraceptives. There is hope if patriotic advocates collaborate to encourage sustainable solutions.

• Chris Chukwu, Enugu, Enugu State.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

15

Business Appointments P31 Path to improved global development funds’ access SON partners stakeholders on e-registration

By Femi Adekoya O effectively sanitise the markets, rid the nation of sub-standard products as and discourage counterfeiting, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has concluded plans to begin the electronic registration of all goods and services in the country.

Already the agency has sought stakeholders input on the registration procedure before it commences a nationwide enforcement scheme that will witness arrests and confiscation of non-compliant products within the next few months.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, yesterday, the Director-General, SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, said the essence of the electronic registration exercise was to properly standardise the quality of products in the country by building a database containing details of product, for easy traceability and establish have

T

Group Executive Director, BUA Group, Kebiru Rabiu (left); Chairman, Abdulsamad Rabiu; Regional Director, Siemens North West and Africa, Fallman Samuel; and Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Nigeria Limited, Michael Lakopa, at the signing of the $30 million agreement for Siemens to build a unique SGT-500 power plant at the BUA’s Okpella Cement factory, Edo State, at the weekend, in London.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Insurers bemoan N700b yearly premium losses from dying industrial sector

By Joshua Nse HE prostrate profile of the T nation’s manufacturing sector, may have hit the insurance industry, with operators estimating about N700 billion yearly losses from the dying strategic arm of the economy.

The losses were said to have heightened in the last five years, as the harsh operating environment in the country has taken toll on some manufacturing companies, hitherto considered insurers’ hot green zone.

Chieftains of the underwriting business who spoke with The Guardian lamented that a large number of industrial

The losses were said to have heightened in the last five years, as the harsh operating environment in the country has taken toll on some manufacturing companies, hitherto considered insurers’ hot green zone. firms, which used to take policies to protect their factories, warehouses, machineries, raw materials and employees have closed down.

On the league of industrial factories that have closed shop due to the unfriendly business environment in the country include those in the production of textiles, tyres, automobiles, aluminum, batteries, iron and steel.

Indeed, the Manufacturers

Association of Nigeria (MAN), in its report last year, lamented that about 960 manufacturing firms closed down their operations to the harsh business climate, claiming over 800,000 jobs.

Besides, the textile industry in the country, which hitherto had been major employer of labour is almost dead as the number of the operational textile companies declined from 178 in the 1980s to less

than 20 today, while two major tyre manufacturing factories in Lagos and Port Harcourt have gone under, due to the influx of fairly used tyres.

Insurers pointed out that the losses recorded became manifest as the industrial firms, some of which are merely existing, used to take policies to protect their factories, machines, raw materials, warehouses, motor vehicles and employees.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Staco Insurance Plc, Sakiru Oyefeso, yesterday, lamented that the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Eleme Petrochemicals secures IFC’s $375m facility

By Tope Templer Olaiya HE International Finance Corporation (IFC)-a member of the World Bank Group, has approved a $375 million (N59 billion) facility for infrastructure upgrade of Eleme Petrochemical Company’s operations in Rivers State.

Already, IFC has signed a loan for $150 million, and mobilised another $75 million through a syndicated loan with the Bank of India for the Nigerian company, which is the country’s

T

largest fertilizer production outfit.

The IFC financing also mobilised an additional $150 million in parallel loans from other development finance institutions, such as the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries, the Commonwealth Development Corporation of the UK, Germany’s DEG, and FMO of the Netherlands.

The total project cost is $1.2 billion, of which $800 million will be financed by lenders. The

total IFC financing package to Eleme amounts to $375 million.

This new project involves the construction and operation of a nitrogenous fertilizer plant at the site of Eleme’s existing petrochemicals complex in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. On completion, the facility will produce granulated urea that will be sold domestically and abroad. The project will involve the development of an 84-kilometer pipeline from the gas supplier’s facilities.

The investment is expected to improve farm yields and agricultural productivity, which are critical to Nigeria’s longterm food security. The investment also supports SouthSouth investment into Africa, with Eleme’s parent company, Indorama, a long-time IFC client based in Indonesia.

Chief Executive Officer of Eleme Petrochemical, Manish Mundra, said: “IFC’s support for this project has helped to

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

THE GuARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

16 BuSINESS

SON partners stakeholders on e-registration CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 a link with allthe product in the country.

Odumodu also warned that any product that failed to comply with the e-registration policy would be removed from the market, irrespective of its status or whether it had SON Conformity Assessment Programme certification or not.

He said:”In our efforts to sanitise the Nigerian economy of substandard products, some measures are key, some steps are just necessary, and introducing an electronic process for companies and organisations to register their products is one of such key steps. As a standards body, we cannot close our eyes to important realities in the business sphere, we cannot ignore necessary changes in the fields we regulate and still aspire to get to achieve our set targets.

“If we must drastically reduce the incidence of substandard products in the country, some measures are key, and one of

such is the putting in place of an electronic products registration platform. The e-products registration programme is a process that allows you to register your products online, that is, without necessarily having to travel all the distance, or incurring all the other inconveniences involved in physically reaching our offices.

“You electronically connect with the SON through our website and following basic instructions register your products with us, without having to leave you work location and comfort zone.

Automatically, it means we would have your products’ profiles or particulars in our data base, which are important for ease of reference and for other regulatory validations.

“It makes the registration of all consumer products compulsory for all manufacturers before such products could be displayed on the shelves for sale.”

The DG also said that due to

issues encountered by the agency, the SONCAP certification would, henceforth, be issued in the country and that the organisation would no longer accept any product that had no liability.

Odumodu also said in order to reduce the level of substandard products in the country, and make a positive impact on the economy as well as encourage local industries to grow, SON was banking on a sixpoint agenda focusing on consumer engagement and education, global relevance, capacity building, improvement of the competitiveness of local products, aggressive conformity assessment programme and media engagement.

On the initiative, he explained:“The e-products registration scheme is innovative, and we are sure that it would tremendously assist our efforts manufacturers, the dealers, the consumers, the SON and indeed help the nation to sanitise the local economy of substandard products.

Premium losses hit underwriting firms CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 near-collapse state of the manufacturing industry in this country, is seriously affecting insurance underwriting business in the country.

These are corporate entities who actually understand the importance of insurance by taking policies to protect their assets, raw materials, finished products and employees. They import machineries, raw materials and pay appropriate premium. Where are the cranes of the 80s, where are the industrial estates, there are no longer there, it is most unfortunate, the economy is losing several billions of naira yearly.

“We want to appeal to the government, the National Assembly, to put up friendly industrial policy to revive the industrial sector of this country, because apart from generating employment, any country without effective industrial base is directly killing the economy, the government should address this issue urgently in the national interest,” he said.

Similarly, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LASACO Assurance

Plc, Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi, lamented that the problem in the manufacturing sector has serious negative effects in other sectors of the economy, including insurance business.

According to him, “the cost of running business in this country over the years has been escalating, forcing many industries to close shop, some relocating to the neighbouring countries. Consequently, insurance contract policies they entered to protect their plants and machinery, buildings and employees have been discontinued, and this is a huge loss in premium to the industry. It is a sad reflection of the economic situation in this

country, and has put pressure on government to put measures to revive the industry sector” The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FBN Life, Val Ojumah, said that despite the huge population, majority of the people are poor and are not literate. Such scenario translates into very low disposable income and lack of awareness. With poor public infrastructure, high unemployment and poor social welfare system, the result is that majority of the people are hardly able to satisfy their basic needs of food, clothing, housing and education for the children.

Eleme secures IFC’s $375m facility CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 provide direct financing and mobilise significantly more to commence our fertilizer operations. With a growing population and limited available arable land, fertilizers are increasingly important to improving crop yield and food supply in Nigeria.”

IFC Senior Manager for Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Services, Carsten Mueller,

said the corporation’s investment in Indorama’s Eleme Fertilizer would help Nigeria expand its manufacturing base while improving food security.

“Indorama has a proven execution capacity for large-scale manufacturing operations and with our long relationship and shared commitment to Nigeria’s development, we welcome this new partnership to support further expansion in Africa.”

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2012

BUSINESS

17

Govt to increase gas production to 40m tonnes a year From Roseline Okere, Abuja HE Federal Government has concluded plans to expand the country’s Liquefied Natural Gas (NLG) production from the current 26 million tonnes to 40 million tonnes a year.

The country has an estimated 180 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven natural gas reserves, making it the ninth largest natural gas reserve holder in the world and the largest in Africa.

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, who made this disclosure in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the Nigeria Oil and Gas conference on Monday, said the government has initiated extensive

T

gas expansion projects, which would contribute about 20 million tonnes of gas per annum to the country’s projection.

He listed the on-going projects to include, Brass LNG, LNG Train seven and OK LNG. Yakubu disclosed that the country is expected to contribute 10 per cent to the global NLG production target, which is expected to hit 400 million tonnes by 2030.

He stressed that that the Federal Government is committed increasing the country’s gas production in its attempt to meet the target on power generation.

“For instance, government has aggressive agenda for gas to generate 40,000mw of electricity. That plan will be powered by 78 per cent by gas, this means that more

focus will be place on gas development. The focus of Presidential Taskforce on gas will attract potential investment in the country. There is a huge potential for the development of oil and gas sector”.

He explained that Nigeria is concerned about contributing to the development of the global LNG market, where LNG is expected to grow by 400 million tonnes by the year 2030.

According to him, the country’s gas production is expected to grow by 40 million tonnes, which is 10 per cent of global gas production. “This will be pursued through the development of gas projects such as Brass LNG in particular, LNG Train seven, and OK LNG. The Brass LNG and OK LNG are expect-

Experts woo Nigerians to invest in opportunities in global markets

By Chijioke Nelson HE need to consistently T learn about global markets and economic trends have been advocated by investment experts, as this would afford Nigerian investors through the opportunity to diversify their portfolios and contribute meaningfully to the development of the country.

The experts, who spoke at an investment workshop with the theme: “Learn to trade and invest in global markets”, in Lagos, at the weekend, added that the investors would also compete effectively in an ever globalised world.

Describing Nigeria as an emerging market with lots of potentials, the Wall Street investment experts- Amro Zakaria, Managing Director, Market Trader Academy and Steven Santamouris, Chief Business Development Officer, World Wide Markets Limited, explained that trading and investing in global equities, precious metals, foreign exchange, among oth-

ers, would further empower Nigerians and help in mitigating adverse effects of the current and future global events.

To make Nigerians more aware of the risks and opportunities presented by the global market, the Market Trader Academy, according to Zakaria, offers specialised educational programmes and series of courses designed to familiarise traders and investors with the world’s largest and most active capital markets.

According to him, this will enable Nigerians to learn in real time how these markets work, why they are so heavily traded and how they can participate in them, while clients will receive an accredited certificates upon the successful completion of the programme.

The Africa Director, Market Trader Academy, Sunday Edisi, added the firm also hosts a series of workshops and webinars, featuring top analysts and traders in the global markets from around

the world.

He said that members of the Market Trader Academy will have unlimited access to the institute’s events, which is a valuable opportunities for traders to interact with renowned and sought-after traders and financial professionals.

Santamouris, while describing World Wide Markets as one of the leading brokerage firms offering access to global markets, including “exchange traded U.S. equities”, said: “An inside look at the most important decision you will ever make in the foreign exchange market is that clients should be armed with true and detailed understanding of the foreign exchange brokerage business.”

He added that its partnership with the Market Trader Academy was strategic, saying: “It will provide the Academy with necessary technical expertise for traders to navigate the volatility of the markets through knowledge of the markets, as well as risk man-

For instance, government has aggressive agenda for gas to generate 40,000mw of electricity. That plan will be powered by 78 per cent by gas, this means that more focus will be place on gas development. The focus of Presidential Taskforce on gas will attract potential investment in the country. There is a huge potential for the development of oil and gas sector ed to contribute additional 20 million tonnes. These are parts of the opportunities we are pursuing in the industry.

Again, there is a shift of focus to domestic gas consumption. The power agenda of the President on the gas revolution will also boost the development of the petroleum industry. Nigeria is set to capture greater portion of

LNG market in the world”, he said.

Dwelling on the TransSaharan gas pipeline project, he disclosed: “The project, which is sub-regional initiative, is still on the drawing board. There are other issues that surround the development of that project, which has to do with market, as you

know that gas project is market driven, that has to be put in the right perspective to enable it move. Usually, when you are developing a project, look around the investment and environment, the domestic gas development has never hampered the development of Trans-Saharan gas project”.

18

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

BUSINESS 19

Bankers’ Committee to engage NCC on strengthening cash-less initiative HE current challenges facT ing the smooth operations of cash-less policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may have received the attention of the Bankers’

Committee, as plans have been concluded to engage the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other service providers on

The numbers done in terms of Points of Sale (PoS), Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are very remarkable.

“We started last year with 5000 PoS machines, we ended year with 165,000 PoS machines. Mobile banking for example, in January was doing N4 million per month, by December last year, it went up to N8 billion. It is moving up and we hope it continues

the issue.

The Governor of CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido, who disclosed the plan, said that the Committee is currently working with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other service providers to ensure that the challenges are addressed.

The CBN governor expressed satisfaction with the level of progress made on the cashless policy, despite the challenges, saying that more efforts would be made to get to the desired target.

“The numbers done in terms of Points of Sale (PoS), Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are very remarkable.

“We started last year with 5000 PoS machines, we ended year with 165,000 PoS machines. Mobile banking for example, in January was doing N4 million per month, by December last year, it went up to N8 billion. It is moving up and we hope it continues,” he added.

He stressed that some of the challenges confronted by the policy were more about telecommunications issues.

He said: “If you want to move data for example, you

Sanusi

need more bandwidth. It is not enough to have PoS terminals, or to have ATMs, there is need to expand the bandwidth.

“There are operational issues, simple things like my name is Mohammed

Michael in one bank and there in another bank, it is Michael Mohammed. You will be amazed that you do a transaction on the PoS and you have operational issues because the name doesn’t

match. So, these are all small things that we discovered.

“We can say that we are not where we want to be, but definitely we are inching closer and we will get there.”

20

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

21

22

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

23

GlobalStocks World shares gain on rising growth optimism IGNS of improving global Sworld economic recovery lifted shares to 4-1/2 year highs yesterday, while sterling fell sharply when the Bank of England revealed it came close to easing policy further to boost growth.

Minutes from their last meeting showed that members of the BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee were more inclined than had been thought to voting for more asset purchases under its quantitative easing (QE) program and had even considered cutting interest rates.

“Today’s minutes have made us more comfortable

with our view that more QE is likely this year, particularly if GDP growth continues to fall short of the Committee’s expectations,” said Samuel Tombs, UK economist at Capital Economics.

The pound slumped to an 8-1/2-month low against the dollar of $1.5336, while the euro gained to a near 16month high of 87.565 pence, up almost 0.9 percent.

Britain’s main FTSE 100 stock index. FTSE jumped 0.4 percent to 6,401.79 points, a fresh five-year high and above the 6.400 psychological level that some traders

said could induce bigger moves higher.

The gains offset slightly weaker levels across some other European markets to lift the MSCI World Equity index by 0.25 percent to its best level since June 2008.

Global share markets had surged on Tuesday after forecast-beating German sentiment data pointed to an accelerating recovery in Europe’s largest economy and a rise in merger activity in the United States encouraged buyers on Wall St. Gains in Europe were being held in check by the approach of euro zone flash

Asian stocks extend 18-month high on global outlook SIAN stocks rose for a third A day, with the regional benchmark index extending an 18-month high, amid signs the global economy is recovering.

South Korea’s Kospi Index led benchmark gauges higher after the Governor of Bank of Korea, Kim Choong Soo, said the world economic outlook is improving.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. led gains among Japanese utilities. BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s largest mining company, fell 0.9 percent in Sydney after reporting a 58 percent drop in first-half profit.

Woodside Petroleum Ltd., Australia’s second-biggest producer of oil and gas, added 3.1 percent after full-year profit almost doubled.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index added 1 per cent to 135.44 as of 7:44 p.m. in Tokyo after closing yesterday at the highest level since August 2011. More than two stocks climbed for each that fell. The gauge is headed for a third day of gains, the longest winning streak since January 4.

“In general, the big picture is much better than last year,” said Grace Tam, Hong Kongbased global market strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management Ltd., which oversees about $1.3 trillion globally.

“In the medium term, we are still pretty positive on equities because monetary policies are pretty easy around the world.”

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index advanced 9.9 percent from the start of November through yesterday, led by Japanese shares as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to beat deflation and pressed the central bank to ease monetary policy. Asia’s benchmark traded at 14.9 times estimated earnings as of yesterday compared with 13.8 for the Standard & Poor’s 500 and 12.5 for the Stoxx Europe 600 Index.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 0.8 percent even after the government reported a record trade deficit in January. South Korea’s Kospi Index added 2 percent as Kim said the improving world economy boosts the odds of the nation exceeding this

year’s growth forecast.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index advanced 0.3 percent. New Zealand’s NZX 50 Index fell 0.7 percent as Fletcher Building Ltd., the most heavily weighted stock on the gauge, dropped 4.8 percent to NZ$8.87 in Wellington after saying robust local growth was being offset by a sluggish Australian building market.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.7 percent, while China’s Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.6 percent.

Taiwan’s Taiex Index added 0.9 percent and Singapore’s Straits Times Index climbed 0.4 percent.

Futures on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index were little changed today. The gauge added 0.7 per cent to close at the highest level since 2007 in New York yesterday on optimism over deal making and data showing rising investor confidence in Germany.

U.S. office supply retailers Office Depot Inc. and OfficeMax Inc. have discussed a merger and may announce a deal as early as this week, a person familiar with the matter said. German investor confidence jumped more than economists forecast in February to the highest level in almost three years, the ZEW Center for European Economic Research in Mannheim said yesterday.

“We will continue to rally until markets find something that spooks them,” said Donald Williams, Sydneybased chief investment officer at Platypus Asset Management Ltd., which manages about $1 billion. “Data in Europe — even if you are pessimistic — you’d have to conceive that they are stabilizing and there are points of improvement.

There’s nothing you can point to as negative.”

South Korea’s Kospi capped a six-day rally, the longest since October 2011.

Samsung Electronics Co., the nation’s biggest exporter of consumer electronics and the most heavily weighted stock on the measure, rose 3.6 percent to 1.545 million won.

Japanese power providers rallied after the Nikkei newspaper reported Prime Minister

Abe will inform U.S. President Barack Obama during their Feb. 22 meeting that Japan will reconsider the previous government’s commitment to

Purchasing Managers Index reports on Thursday and a German business sentiment survey on Friday that could show whether the region’s recovery is taking hold.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index.

FTEU3 index of top European shares was down 0.1 percent, though this followed a 1.1 percent rise on Tuesday - its best day for three weeks.

Frankfurt’s DAX .GDAXI was up 0.15 percent, while Paris’s CAC-40 .FCHI fell 0.2 percent.

“I see no reason why we can’t consolidate the gains and possibly move higher,” said Michael Hewson, an analyst at CMC Markets.

However, some traders have noted that European shares appear unable to break through their early 2011 levels.

U.S. stock index futures meanwhile pointed to a slightly firmer open when trading resumes later, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones contracts 0.1 percent higher.

Data on U.S. new housing starts and building permits

for January are all due at 1330 GMT and are expected to confirm a continued recovery in that market.

Attention in U.S. markets is likely to be focused on the minutes from the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee’s January meeting, due at 1900 GMT, which may provide clues on how long monetary policy in the U.S. is likely to remain ultra loose.

The recent rise in equities was weighing on assets perceived as safe havens, with German Bund futures down 0.3 percent to 142.24, though news that Spain may be about to issue a U.S. dollar bond helped support sentiment.

Yields on 10-year Treasuries edged up to around 2.047 percent from 2.03 percent in late U.S. trade.

Gold was also losing ground from a declining safe-haven appeal, hitting a six month low of $1,597.99 an ounce.

“Fundamentals for gold haven’t really changed, but

other asset classes have now become more attractive,” said Tobias Merath, global head of commodity research at Credit Suisse.

In the currency markets the yen resumed its climb against the dollar after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the need to establish a special fund to buy foreign bonds had declined.

His comments came a day after Japan’s finance minister also played down talk of such a scheme, which would have helped drive down the value of the yen.

The dollar fell as low as 93.12 yen after Abe’s remarks before settling to be down 0.2 percent at 93.35 yen, moving away from a near three-year high of 94.46 hit on February 11.

Strategists said Japan was stepping back from some of its more aggressive policyeasing proposals after the Group of 20 nations declared at a meeting in Moscow on Saturday that there would be no global

24

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

25

26

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

27

28

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2012

BUSINESS 29

Nigeria needs N350bn yearly to improve portable water supply, says Jonathan Y the estimation of the B Federal Government, the country would expend about N350 billion ($1.91 billion) to meet the demand for portable water.

President Goodluck Jonathan made the disclosure while declaring open a two-day Presidential Summit on Water with the theme: ``Innovative Funding of the Water Sector in Nigeria’’.

Jonathan said his administration had made investments to boost various aspects of the sector, from the line budget and special funds dedicated to ecological matters and natural resources.

According to him, in 2011, N40.94 billion was budgeted and utilised on water sector.

He said that in 2012, over N43.6 billion was spent on water supply excluding expenditure on specific projects.

The President said the specific projects funded in 2012 included the Goronyo Dam N3.4 billion; Kashimbila Dam - N38 billion; Gurara Dam and irrigation- N36 billion and Ife Dam - N3 billion.

In 2013, Jonathan said government proposed N39 billion from line budget to be spent on water related projects in addition to special intervention funds.

He, however, said that the fund spent had not achieved the desired results in the sector. ``Government is actually investing significantly in the water sector. However, the situation in our rural and suburban areas as regards access to clean water remains unac-

ceptable. On the average, only one in five rural households has clean water at home. ``Most families collect water from unsafe sources, such as rainfalls, ponds, streams and rivers. It is estimated that over 350 billion naira (1.91 billion dollars) will be needed annually to meet our water and sanitation targets. ‘’In the current circumstance, I charge this conference, therefore, to look into other areas that we must work. ‘’Just like President Olusegun Obasanjo said, not just the politicians alone, not just members of the civil society alone, not just the private sector alone but for us to work together with the development partners to make sure that as a nation we have portable water for our citizens.’’

The President urged the summit to explore new investment opportunities in the sector. ``It should examine how water projects can attract more financing and new technologies, from both public and private sources.’’

The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochepe, said that the Summit was a personal initiative of the President for improvement in social services.

She said that similar initiatives in other sectors in the past one and half years had witness improvement in services, including power supply, rail and road networks, aviation infrastruc-

ture, housing and sports.

The minister said the initiative would assist the country in attaining drinking water and sanitation targets for MDDGs and for other multi-purpose uses of water.

Ochepe said the ministry had completed projects and initiatives in the water sector, which would soon be commissioned and put into full use.

To open space and create opportunities for private sector participation, the minister said that the ministry had established a Public Private Partnership Unit last year.

She said that the unit was working with other relevant agencies to screen various water sector projects for concessioning. ``This will ensure better operation and management and thereby lead to increased production from such investments. ‘’These include existing water supply, irrigation and dam projects as well as new schemes that have been designed spread around the country. ’’ Niger Governor, Babangida Aliyu, hailed the initiative by the President and his team, noting that it would help in solving the challenge of making portable water available.

Aliyu recommended that the policy should be institutionalised in such a way that people who do not get access to portable water could drag government to court for redress.

30

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2012

31

Appointments Path to improved global development funds’ access, by experts From Oghogho Obayuwana Abuja HE questions: Who gets what? Goes where? And who knows where to go? are some of the encumbrances of development drivers in Nigeria such that the nation is yearly losing out to other countries in terms of accessing funds for the execution of local community projects.

The submission was made recently by capacity building experts at the end of a twoday roundtable on how best to engage local communities in the provision of amenities through projects that are not necessarily undertaken by government.

Speaking during a stakeholder roundtable by Crown Agents and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) the Country Director Dr. Mark Abani, said inability to answer the questions is also the reason the legion of Nigerian Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) may not be able to access the 780 million pounds budgeted for Nigeria by the British Department For International Development (DFID) for the 2012-2015 cycle.

“There are too many oneman-band NGOs in Nigeria today and whereas most of the global funds for development are leveraged through them, they have been found not to be in tune with the changing environment of today. There are changing legislation which calls for a reassessment of the way things are being done in

T

Nigeria”, he said.

According to him, “These Nigerian organisations must learn, unlearn and relearn if they are to remain relevant and access today’s global funds meant to develop our communities. The signal has gone out that capacity needs now to be built by our local partners. This is an indictment of the way even the CSOs operate in Nigeria...”

Interestingly, even though five percent of the DFID funding would be spent through the CSOs, it would nevertheless put as much as 39 million pounds in the hands of organisations based in Nigeria whose task is to put governments on its toes as well as being private sector partners in driving development.

Presenting the Capacity Building for Local Empowerment (CAPABLE) approach at the training event, the head, Crown Agents’ International Development Charlie Bronks said Nigeria is too important to global development partners to allow her miss out of substantial international development funds or expend monies coming into the country in arbitrary manner and thereby foreclose or shrink further intake.

She said, “That is why participating CSOs are engaged in every aspect of Nigeria’s development from community, state and national level... on board include CSOs supporting a range of interests includi-ng women’s rights, health, agriculture, education and governance.

Maintaining that Nigeria’s

Representative of the Minister of Petroleum Resource and Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Andrew Yakubu, Addax Petroleum General, Manager External and Government Affairs, Mrs. Dorothy Atake, Addax Petroluem Managing Director, Mr. Cornelis Zegelaar and GM HSE & Community Relations of Addax Petroleum, Mrs. Grace Amadi, during the opening ceremony of the 2013 Nigerian Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference held at the International Conference Centre Abuja.

funds attractiveness portfolio is very bright as a result of stakeholders intervention, Bronks said, “Nigerian trainers are currently delivering the CAPABLE programme to 60 CSOs at an economic development centre in the Niger Delta covering three modules in project and financial management, budgeting procedures and information and communication technology skills”

ICSAN signs MoU with Babcock Varsity HE Institute of difference in skill’s acquisi- cement the relationship between the two instituT Chartered Secretaries tion for its students.

He emphasised that educations. and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on ICSAN/Degree Linkage Programme with Babcock University.

A press statement issued by Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of ICSAN, Dele Togunde explained that the MOU is intended to prepare their students for work place as they will be graduating and at the same time “professionalising in Company Secretarial Practice”.

He explained that the decision is “informed by the fact that most graduates do not have the necessary skills for the Labour Market”.

The President of the Institute, Olatunde Busari according to the statement said at the signing ceremony of the MOU that the agreement would be mutually beneficial as ICSAN would attract more membership just as the University would make a

tion and professionalism formed the bedrock of social and economic development of any nation.

Busari explained that students of Higher Institutions were potential professionals and were required to be introduced to professional institutions such as ICSAN. According to him, it is no longer news that the standard of education in Nigeria has fallen to a “disgraceful level”, adding that “graduates of higher institutions in Nigeria are no longer found attractive for employment”.

The ICSAN boss said that this was a reflection of the larger society and that “Nigerians owed it a duty to ensure that the standard of education in Nigeria was revived such that the products of the nation’s Universities and Institutions of higher learning would not become liabilities to the nation and their employers”.

He said the signing of the MOU would foster and

In his remarks, the President and Vice Chancellor of Babcock University, Prof. J. A. Kayode Makinde, noted with regret the decay in the educational system, pointing out that his University was out to begin a gradual process of correcting the anomaly.

According to him, one of the ways to encourage the students is to “professionalize on graduation”.

He said the institution was prepared to extend the duration of courses from four to five years to accommodate the curriculum by the professional bodies.

Makinde said the idea was to get the students prepared for the Labour Market.

The statement said ICSAN is a foremost professional body in Nigeria, adding that it was established in 1944 and was chartered by Decree 19 of 1991, an offshoot of the international body in United Kingdom, which was formed in 1891.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

32 APPOINTMENTS

Stakeholders seek implementation of Procurement Act to address corruption

By Femi Adekoya XCEPT the Public Procurement Act is fully implemented, the 2013 budget may experience continued mismanagement of funds in the course of implementation, the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN) has said.

Specifically, the institute noted that despite the enactment of the Act six years ago, to safeguard public funds and guard against corrupt practices, the provisions of the Act has been neglected, while selective implementation was carried out to favour government cohorts.

The President of the Institute, Mohammed Aliyu, while addressing journalists in Lagos recently, stressed the need for government to set up a council to checkmate the excesses of the Bureau for Public Procurement of Nigeria in order to reduce mismanagement of funds.

Aliyu, who bemoaned the spate at which non-professionals mismanage public funds when engaged by government to handle procurement operations, described the menace as bane of infrastructural development in Nigeria.

He noted that the establishment of the council became imperative because government invest massively

E

in procurement in recent past.

He explained that for Nigeria to tackle the problem of corruption, procurement law must be established and implemented to the latter, adding that it would also help to curb the activities of quacks and nonprofessionals in the system.

“By June 2013, the public procurement Act 14 of 2007 would have existed for six good years unimplemented. It was enacted to reduce incidence of corruption in our contracting system thereby boosting Nigeria’s economic development.

Procurement system in Nigeria under the current handlers is a nightmare. The lack of political will and inability to implement most of the laws under the Act portends a great danger for us all. “ For instance, the current happenings in the Bureau of Public Procurement whereby a non-professional in the field of procurement and supply chain management is saddled with the responsibility to manage the Bureau to the extent of prolonging his tenure, even after his tenure expired on January 22, 2013. The absence of the National Council on public Procurement (NCPP) has contributed immensely to the negative acts in public procurement practice”, he added.

He further explained that,

“Procurement is a serious business. I think we should develop more than this in terms of procurement so that the issue of corruption can be reduced because that is where the bulk of money goes. It is through procurement that non- professionals drain the purse of the government and if this is not addressed, development will be a mirage while taxpayers will continue to suffer.

“In united Kingdom last year, law makers were agitating for the creation of ministry of procurement but in Nigeria, we are still battling with setting up a bureau of public procurement.

“We have auditor general, accountant general, surveyor general of the federation and where is procurement general, it is not there because they want to continue siphoning and mismanaging public fund,” he said.

He assured that the institute would continue to train its members on how to become professional to enhance the development of procurement management in Nigeria.

Aliyu also urged government at all levels to ensure that it involve professionals in the process of procurement and contract execution in the country to entrench professionalism in the system.

Brand Building Officer Unilever Nig Plc. Miss Sarah Adoki.(left). Category Manager Oral care, UNILEVER, Miss Vivian Ihaza, and Brand Manager, Close up toothpaste, Mr Dexter Adeola. after Close Up toothpaste was awarded with the Consumer Protection Council(CPC) Product Excellence.

Students get training on budgeting dynamics

By Tosin Fodeke

ORONA Secondary School, Agbara, recently embarked on a training exercise designed to keep students abreast with the dynamics of financial planning.

Speaking at a business summit organised by the school, Chairman House Committee on Aviation, Nkiru Onyejeocha who spoke on the dynamics of budget defence and the role the national assembly has to play in the budgetary process emphasised the need for fiscal discipline at

C

all levels.

Onyejeocha after explaining the rudiments of budgeting to the students called for more efforts to be made to amend the various provisions of the constitution that impedes on the budgetary process such as the passage of the output and outcome law or performance based system to budgetary allocation.

She further stressed the need to balance the budgetary powers between the Executive and Legislative in terms of limits to modify budget and which legislature can tamper with execu-

tive proposals.

Director of Corona Secondary School’s Trust Council, Agbara, Folasade Adefisayo also explained that the decision to train students about the complexities of budgeting was premised on the need to help students manage their personal resources properly.

Also the Bursar, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Otto/Ijanikin, Olayiwola Ipaye and Oladimeji Jiboku a business manager enlightened the students on budget preparation at national and individual levels.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

APPOINTMENTS

33

Abuja CCTV project: ZTE lays off Nigerian workers From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja

TE Nigeria Limited, the Chinese company handling the Close Circuit Television cameras installation aspect of the Nigeria Public Security Communication System (NPSCS) has allegedly effected the sack of Nigerian workers among its workforce.

Details provided by some affected staff indicated that the already troubled firm has sacked 13 staffs in its Abuja office.

Another batch of 30 were alleged to have been sacked, in its Lagos office this year alone. Last year the company sacked more than 50 per cent of its Nigerian staff, according to

Z

available details.

One of the sacked workers, who did not want to be named, disclosed that the management told them they were being laid off on the grounds of “redundancy”.

On whether they were paid any severance, he said: “they said they would pay us off February ending. So we will know by February ending if they will actually deliver on their promise”.

Officials of the National Union of Postal and Telecommunication Employees had end of last year sealed off the Lagos and Abuja offices of ZTE on allegation of ill treatment of Nigerian workers.

President of the Union,

Sunday Alhassan, told Journalists that the protest followed several failed attempts to dialogue with the management of the company.

He alleged that the workers were subjected to long work hours and denied payment of their entitlements.

Sources close to the issue have alleged that the recent sack targeting Nigerian workers may not be unconnected with their agitation for better service conditions. It was also alleged that without adequate intervention the sacked workers may never get their severance pay.

Following petitions of allegations over the claimed

the sub-standard job being executed by the firm, the House of Representative Committee on Public Procurement, Aid, Loan and Debts Management and Information Technology in December 2011, launched an investigation into the $470 million CCTV project.

The project was expected to have been delivered in July 2011, according to the contract terms, but so far there is no handling over date in sight.

The project is funded by a $470 million credit facility obtained from EXIMBANK China; it was secured as a soft credit line with 3 per cent interest repayable in 10 years after an initial 10

Edo applauds World Bank on development, partners NTA From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City

DO state government has applauded the World E Bank for its efforts at ensuring that sustainable development is anchored on the provision of basic needs of the people through its assisted projects such as State Employment Expenditure For Result (SEEFOR), FADAMA 111, State Agency for Control of Aids, Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project and Community and Social Development Project.

Secretary to Edo State Government, Professor Julius Ihonvbere stated this over the weekend during an interactive session with coordinators of World Bank assisted projects in the state

on how they could explore more opportunities said, “The World Bank, having recognised the value of people over the years, has shifted its focus from emphasising growth to holistic and sustainable development.

The World Bank has now become, in several ways, an agent of growth, development and good governance”.

Ihonvbere also noted that one of the major objectives of the session was to see how the state government could maximize the use of resources that comes from the World Bank and counterpart funding adding that no government can be self-sufficient in terms of development and social ideas.

Meanwhile, Edo State Government and the Benin Network Centre of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) have concluded arrangements to partner on service delivery to the people of the state.

Ihonvbere stated this when NTA Zonal Director, Mrs. Pauline Igbanor led the management team on a courtesy visit to Government House at the weekend in Benin City.

He said the State government was happy to be associated with NTA. “As a Nigerian, I can confirm that the services of NTA has improved tremendously. It is indisputable that you have the widest coverage in Africa which is deplored to

quality information dissemination, education, mobilization, entertainment, and building of the country’s image. We need to commend NTA. “We are proud to say that in four years, we have done what was impossible in the past 10 years because of the integrity, doggedness and commitment of Governor Adams Oshiomhole to work.

“There is going to be an inflow of investors from Taiwan, Brazil, US, among others into the state, we will build local investors capability and promote indigenous investors, invest in agriculture. Edo state is set for business and we are ready to partner with you for the benefit of all.”

years of grace.

Part of the requirement in the contract terms is the provision of wireless voice service for the Nigerian Police Force, but this has been faced with hiccups with yet no clear solution.

Eyebrows have also been raised about the efficiency of the CCTV’s installed under the project, which is aimed at enhancing public safety and helping Security Agencies curtail crimes.

ZTE got this very big public safety projects but appears

to lack the commitments in the execution and delivery to the Nigerian Government.

A 10- Man committee was sent to China on a one –week trip allegedly sponsored by ZTE in April, 2012 on a fact finding mission of projects previously executed by the firm in China with a view to comparing the standard of work done there to what was being done in Nigeria. But findings from their investigation are yet to be disclosed.

Human capital providers association elects President, others UMAN Capital H Providers’ Association of Nigeria (HuCaPAN), the umbrella organisation of all registered private recruitment agencies in Nigeria, has elected Mr. Neye Enemigin as its new President.

A statement explained that at its 2nd yearly general meeting, Mr. Goodluck Atogwe, was elected 1st Vice President, while Mrs. Glory Shasanya and Mr. R. A. Nasiru were elected 2nd and 3rd Vice President respectively.

The new officers will run the affairs of the association for two years. Other elected officers are Mrs. Roselyn Onalaja (General Secretary), Mr. Basil Adimorah (Publicity / Welfare Secretary), Mr. A. R. Emedo (Ex-Officio) and Mr. Smatt Eburajolo (Ex-Officio).

Representative of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, the DirectorGeneral of Nigeria

Consultative Employers Association, (NECA), and other State Coordinators of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, according to the press statement attended the event.

The statement said: “With the new executives, the Association is poised to move the human capital providers industry to new heights. Part of its immediate task is to ensure the printing of the Code of Conduct for Private Recruitment Agencies. The Code of Conduct was a product of the desire of the Association to ensure that ethics of the profession are strictly adhered to by organisations. The influx of quacks has made this more important. The Code of Conduct was produced with the support of NECA, International Labour Organisation (ILO), European Union, (EU) and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity”.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

34

ScienceGuardian Devastating Russian meteor, asteroid flyby hint at possible doomsday

By Chukwuma Muanya with agency reports HE world on Friday T February 15, 2013, witnessed a near doomsday scenario when a 50-foot meteor unexpectedly crashed into Chebarkul, Russia, while scientists were waiting for asteroid 2012 DA14’s close encounter with Earth.

According to reports from the Near-Earth Object activity at European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) Space Situational Awareness (SSA) programme office, and United States National Aeronautic Space Agency (NASA), nearly 1,200 people were reported injured by the shock wave from the meteor explosion, estimated to be as strong as 20 Hiroshima atomic bombs.

Named after the evil Egyptian serpent god Apophis, lord of chaos and darkness -and recently dubbed the “doomsday asteroid” - it flies past Earth every seven years. This year, its 1,000-foot bulk approached to within nine million miles. In 2029, it will swoop in close enough to put some of our orbiting satellites in peril - 20,000 miles. In that year, no doubt Apophis will arouse even more attention, because it will be visible in the daytime sky. In 2036, it will probably pass by at a reassuring 14 million miles.

However, preliminary information indicates that the meteor in Chelyabinsk, Russia, is not related to asteroid 2012 DA14, which flew by Earth safely on Friday February 15, 2013.

These events hint at possible doomsday scenarios, which is the collision of a large meteor with Earth that could cause a mass extinction, and bring about the end of human civilization.

About 66 million years ago, an object six miles in diameter smashed into what is now the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, leading to the demise of the dinosaurs, as well as most plant and animal life on Earth.

Indeed, the most famous meteor impact occurred 65 million years ago in the future land of the Maya, Chicxulub, Mexico. The meteor was probably an asteroid 10 kilometers

across that smashed a 200 kilometer-wide crater into Earth’s crust.

The impact reportedly threw up ash and debris into the atmosphere that first heated the planet igniting fires all around the world and then darkened the sky for years, cutting off the bottom of the food chain from its source of energy, the Sun. A majority of animal and plant species went

Scientists predict possible Doomsday by 2040

extinct, including the dinosaurs. Events such as these probably occur on Earth every 100 million years.

Scientists estimate that only about 10 per cent of smaller objects, such as DA14, have been found. The asteroid was discovered on February 23, 2012, by the Observatorio Astronómico de La Sagra, Granada in Spain (J75), seven days after passing 0.0174 AU (2,600,000 km; 1,620,000 mi) from Earth.

2012 DA14 is a near-Earth asteroid with an estimated diameter of 50 meters (160 ft) and an estimated mass of 190,000 metric tons. During its 2013 close passage, the asteroid passed 27,700 km (17,200 mi) from the surface of Earth. This is a record close approach for a known object of this size. An unrelated meteor event, which occurred about 15 hours earlier than the asteroid’s passing, had a significantly different orbit.

The Guardian learnt that finding objects that pass close to Earth and are large enough to do damage if they enter the atmosphere is a major goal of ESA’s SSA programme.

Also, European space telescope last month captured new images of the huge asteroid Apophis, revealing that the potentially hazardous object is actually bigger than previously thought.

Asteroid Apophis has long been billed as a “doomsday asteroid” because of a 2004 study that predicted a 2.7 percent chance of the space rock hitting Earth when it passes within 22,364 miles of the planet in April 2029, European Space Agency officials said.

Later studies proved, however, that the asteroid poses no threat to Earth during that flyby, but astronomers continue to track the object since it will make another pass near Earth in 2036.

ESA officials announced that its infrared Herschel Space Observatory has discovered that Apophis is about 1,066 feet wide, nearly 20 percent larger than a previous estimate of 885 feet.

Dark light consciousness and neurotheology (2)

By Edward Bruce Bynum Ph.D

Continued from last week RAWING from research in physics, neuroscience, biochemistry and the latest findings from the field of neuro-theology, along with the ancient traditions from Africa and India, a new research study in this dark and paradoxically light infused force and phenomena called DARK LIGHT CONSCIOUSNESS (Inner Traditions & Bear Company, Rochester, VT), explores the ancient Egyptian science of the Ureaus, revealing in clinical terms and detail how it is intimately connected to the living dark matter of neuromelanin.

Neuromelanin is a light-sensitive, energy conductive substance found in progressive amounts in the inner spinal line, brain stem, the brain core and surface and indeed the nervous system of all the higher life-forms on our planet. This is not confused with simple surface skin melanin, which is variable from group to group, even varying greatly from person to person within the same family, and this more neurologically rooted neuromelanin, which is found in all humans regardless of surface differentiation.

In fact the degree and intensity of neuro-melanin directly and proportionally increases in amount as we progress up the evolutionary line from simple mammals to more complex ones to the primates, to the great apes and finally reaching its zenith in man . This neuromelanin is the so-called “grey matter” of the brain that is light sensitive despite being under the surface of the skull away from the sun. It manifests an increasing capacity to absorb and transduce light itself into more complex forms.

D

To be continued

ASTRONOMY

Sirius- the African timekeeper (6)

By J.K. Obatala RITING, this time, as a solo author, Laurence R. Doyle, of NASA’s Ames Research Center, Space Science Division, described the Borana timekeeping system as “an amazing cyclical calendar similar to those of the Mayans, Chinese, and Hindu, but unique in that it seemed to ignore the sun completely...”

The calendar was first documented in 1973, when the Borana ayyantu (timekeepers) explained its workings to Ethiopian anthropologist Asmarom Legesse, then an associate professor at Northwestern University (U.S.A.).

Actually, Doyle was para-

W

phrasing a passage from Legesse’s classic monograph, Gada: Three Approaches To The Study of African Society. “Borona time reckoning is unique …,” Legesse wrote, “and has been recorded in very few cultures in the history of mankind. The best known examples…are the Chinese, Mayan and Hindu calendars…”

Two archaeologists—B.M. Lynch and L.H. Robbins—later found 19 stone pillars near Lake Turkana, in northwestern Kenya, which appeared to have celestial orientations. The alignment of the pillars, they hypothesized, provide the astronomical basis for the Borana calendrical system.

Petroglyphs (drawings or carvings on rock) at Namoratunga II, as the site is known, are similar to those on stones at a burial site 100 kilometers to the south, which was dated at 300 B.C. Doyle thus ascribed this age to the pillars, because of their association with the burial site.

If the date is correct, he surmises, “the site would…correspond to the time of…Cush, referred to as Ethiopia in the Bible but actually centered about present day Sudan. One would then conclude that the Borana calendrical system was… developed …about 1800 years before… our…

Western Gregorian …calendrical sys-

tem”.

The Borana calendar is a complex lunar-stellar system, in which certain phases of the waning Moon are, at various times, keyed to seven stars or stargroups. The Western names of these stellar entities are Triangulim (Lami in the Borana language), Pleiades (Busan), Aldebaran (Bakkalcha), Bellatrix (Algajima), central Orion stars (Arb Gaddu), Saiph (Urji Walla) and Sirius (Basa).

Starting with Triangulum, these objects form a rough line, running from north to south in the night sky. Throughout the first half of the lunar year, the new moon will rise near one of these stars or star-groups every

27 days, to mark the beginning of another Borana month. (The Borana don’t have weeks.)

But during the second six months, the procedure is reversed—because the seven designated luminous bodies are not visible when the new Moon is rising. So the ayyantu use the northerly star Triangulum in conjunction with the full, quarter or gibbous Moon.

“For half the year,” Legesse reported, “they identify the different phases of the moon against the background of one particular star, Triangulum. In the other half…they identify the new moon relative to a set of seven different stars: Triangulum, Pleiades,

Aldebaran, Bellatrix, central Orion, Saiph and Sirius”.

Triangulum is the most important alignment, because it marks the beginning of the New Year. But Sirius is the pivotal point, the conceptual fulcrum around which the Borana timekeeping system turns. The new moon appears with Sirius once a year, demarcating the transitional month of Obora Dikka.

The publication of Legesse’s historic monograph, plus Lynch’s and Robbins’ discovery of possibly aligned stone pillars at Namoratunga, sent a veritable deluge of Western scholars rushing to Kenya—and triggered a raging controversy.

To be continued.

35

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

NaturalHealth Fresh concerns over tainted palm wine Dangerous drug, heavy metals contaminate commercial product

It is replete with yeast, vitamins C, A and B. Palm wine is used in ethno-medicine as a prophylactic against malaria and also used to increase milk flow in postpartum mothers; and a mixture with bitter leaf for treating measles, small pox and chicken pox.

But recent studies suggest that “processed” palm wine is often tainted with chemicals and heavy metals and could be one of the major causes of rising liver and kidney failures, cancers, and hypertension in the country.

CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes.

ALM wine is a sweet, effervescent drink P obtained from the fermented sap of the tropical palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) and

keratolytic agents or agents containing methyl salicylate. Most of these preparations are liquid, highly concentrated and lipid solraphia palm trees (Raphia species). Palm wine is uble, and, therefore, they are able to provoke used in ethno-medicine as prophylactic a severe, rapid salicylate poisoning. against malaria and also used (mainly that of E. According to the study, “the toxic effects guineensis) to increase milk flow in postpartum of salicylate are complex. These could be lifemothers. threatening or even lead to mortality.

Medicinal herbs can be infused in palm wine Ingestion of salicylic acid tablets is the most to remedy a wide variety of physical com- common cause of salicylate poisoning. plaints and are used to drink some medicines, “In a child, moderately severe poisoning is like the exceptionally bitter ones, such as the achieved by the ingestion of 240 mg kg-1. In mixture with sequestered extracts of Vernonia adults, 150 to 300 mg kg-1 is moderately toxic amygdalina (bitter leaf); the mixture is rubbed while greater than 500 mg kg-1 is potentially on the body together with drinking a glass lethal. Its overdose stimulates the respiratory daily in the course of curing measles, small pox centre, inhibits citric acid cycle, stimulates and chicken pox. lipid metabolism and inhibits amino acid The results of nutritional value of palm wine metabolism. published in Economic Botany showed that “Clinical effects are nausea, vomiting, acute while palm wine is an important source of renal failure, gastrointestinal bleeding and nicotinic acid or niacin (the water-soluble B epigastric discomfort. Symptoms of mild poivitamin), and vitamin C, previous studies soning are dizziness, sweating and vomiting. appear to have overestimated its value as a Severe poisoning is characterized by respirasource of protein, thiamin, and riboflavin. tory alkalosis and metabolic acidosis.”

Some eye doctors and optometrists say as The researchers concluded: “The presence yeast is good for the eyes, likewise palm wine of salicylate in the regularly sold palm wine helps in enhancing sight, but with a word of as opposed to the freshly tapped is certainly a caution from the World Health Organisation result of adulteration of the product. To avoid (WHO): Fermented palm wine should be taken salicylate poisoning and high alcohol intake, with caution as it contains high quantity of we advocate consumption of freshly tapped, alcohol which can be injurious to organs of the unadulterated palm wine. Moreover, palm body like liver, kidney and eyes. wine and some other traditionally fermented Unfermented palm wine, it was reported, drinks have provided basic food and drink in contains good amount of yeast, though there many African countries. It is thus a commodare other formulated yeast tablets. It is also ity with economic, social and cultural value beneficial to the body as well. and hence should be maintained in its origiMedical experts warn that other precaution- nal unadulterated form.” ary measures that must be observed when conAnother study published in African Journal sidering drinking palm wine to enhance the of Biotechnology found heavy metal contamisight is that it must not be the adulterated type. nation of bottled palm wine in Benin City.

Indeed, due to its growing commercial The study is titled “Some mineral profiles value, palm wine has become an object of mass of fresh and bottled palm wine – a comparaadulteration with saccharine and untreated tive study.” water, to improve the taste, and is often tainted The researchers from the Faculty of Science, with salicylates and heavy metals when pre- University of Benin, Edo State concluded: pared in commercial quantities.

“From the results obtained in this study it is Several studies have linked salicylates and clear that except for copper (Cu), all the minheavy metal poisoning to the rising incidences erals analysed were either not detected in of organ failures such as liver and kidney, unprocessed palm wine or were present at hypertension and cancers. much lower levels than in the bottled anaSaccharine is an artificial sweetener. It is logues. This strongly suggests that most of used to sweeten products such as drinks. these minerals might have resulted from conStudies in laboratory rats during the early tamination during the bottling process, most 1970s linked saccharine with the development likely from the dilution water. This deduction of bladder cancer in rodents. As a consequence, is supported by a recent finding, which indiall food containing saccharin was labeled with cates that the ground water in Benin City is a warning. contaminated with unaccepted levels of lead However, in 2001, the United States Food and (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and zinc Drug Administration (FDA) and the state of (Zn).

California reversed their positions on saccha“In addition, ground water is a major rine, declaring it safe for consumption. source of industrial and public water supply, A new study published in African Journal of not only in Benin City, but also in many parts Food Science found traces of salicylate in sam- of Nigeria. The variabilities in the levels of the ples of some of the regularly sold palm wine various minerals may be attributable to nonbut not in the freshly tapped. uniformity in water quality among the botThe study titled: “Meddling with a cultural tling outfits, as well as likely differences in heritage: Traces of salicylate in adulterated palm wine handling. In view of the toxicities palm wine and health implications” was con- of Pb and Cd, this study has underscored the ducted by researchers from Obafemi Awolowo need for optimum water quality in the palm University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria; and wine bottling industry.”

School of Mathematics and Natural Science, The researchers wrote: “The World Health Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Organization (WHO) recommended limits Salicylate (Salicylic acid) a common pain for Pb and Cd in drinking water are 0.10 and reliever or an analgesic was a powder extracted 0.003 ppm, respectively. Thus the levels of from the bark of willows to treat pain and these metals in some of the bottled palm reduce fever. In the year 2004, the United States wine samples are potentially toxic. Sources of poison center reported over 40,000 exposures human exposure to Cd include atmospheric, to salicylate-containing products. Besides the terrestrial and aquatic routes; as well as phosaspirin, a common source of salicylate, various phate fertilizer. The most severe form of Cd other sources of salicylate poisoning are an toxicity in humans is “Itai-itai”, a disease charexcessive application of topical agents, inges- acterized by excruciating pain in the bone. tion of salicylate containing ointments, use of

Fresh palm wine

Excessive TV in childhood linked to long-term antisocial behaviour hildren and adolescents C who watch a lot of television are more likely to manifest antisocial and criminal behaviour when they become adults, according to a new University of Otago, New Zealand, study published online in the United States journal Pediatrics.

The study followed a group of around 1000 children born in the New Zealand city of Dunedin in 1972-73. Every two years between the ages of 5 and 15,

they were asked how much television they watched.

Those who watched more television were more likely to have a criminal conviction and were also more likely to have antisocial personality traits in adulthood.

Study co-author Associate Professor Bob Hancox of the University’s Department of Preventive and Social Medicine says he and colleagues found that the risk of having a criminal conviction by early adulthood increased

by about 30% with every hour that children spent watching TV on an average weeknight.

The study also found that watching more television in childhood was associated, in adulthood, with aggressive personality traits, an increased tendency to experience negative emotions, and an increased risk of antisocial personality disorder; a psychiatric disorder characterised by persistent patterns of aggressive and antisocial behaviour.

Heart attacks linked to ozone levels ESEARCHERS at Rice R University in Houston, United States, have found a direct correlation between out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and levels of air pollution and ozone. Their work has prompted more CPR training in at-risk communities.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure, performed in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person in cardiac arrest.

Rice statisticians Katherine Ensor and Loren Raun announced their findings February 18 at the American Association for the

Advancement of Science (AAAS) conference in Boston.

Their research, based on a massive data set unique to Houston, is due to be published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.

At the same AAAS symposium, Rice environmental engineer Daniel Cohan discussed how uncertainties in air-quality models might impact efforts to achieve anticipated new ozone standards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Given that the American Lung Association has ranked Houston eighth in the United States for high-ozone days, the Rice researchers set

out to see if there is a link between ambient ozone levels and cardiac arrest. Ensor is a professor and chair of Rice’s Department of Statistics, and Raun is a research professor in Rice’s Department of Statistics.

For the new study, the authors analyzed eight years’ worth of data drawn from Houston’s extensive network of air-quality monitors and more than 11,000 concurrent out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) logged by Houston Emergency Medical Services (EMS). They found a positive correlation between OHCAs and exposure to both fine particulate matter (airborne particles smaller than 2.5 micrograms) and ozone.

36

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

SCIENCE HEALTH 37

Why govt should introduce pneumonia vaccine into national programme, by Pfizer

By Chukwuma Muanya s part of efforts to prevent A the estimated over 177,000 children under the age of five that die of pneumonia yearly in Nigeria, which number is highest in Africa and second highest overall in the world, Pfizer Nigeria, East Africa Region (Pfizer NEAR) has continued to woo the federal and state governments in the country on the urgent need to introduce the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine into the routine national immunization programme.

The firm at a press parley in Lagos last week also announced that the European Commission has approved expanding the use of the company’s pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine, to older children and adolescents aged six to 17 years for active immunization for the prevention of invasive disease, pneumonia and acute otitis media caused by vaccine-type Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Country Manager Pfizer NEAR, Enrico Liggeri, blamed the retailing pharmacy shops and hospitals for the high cost of the life-saving pneumonia vaccine. Liggeri said the retailers sell the vaccine at a price three times what they get from Pfizer.

The Guardian learnt that most private hospitals in Lagos offer three shots of the vaccine that is the complete dose for N15,000 while they get it for a little less than N5,000 from Pfizer.

Liggeri said: “Something can

• Vaccine gets European approval for use in six to 17 year olds • Firm blames ‘middlemen’ for high cost be done about the price. It depends on the Ministry of Health. There are countries where the price of consumer goods is fixed. The rule in Nigeria is there is freedom, which is driven by market forces. With that anybody can increase the price and people pay more than three times what Pfizer sells the vaccine.

Another solution maybe to shorten the number of distribution chain.”

But the Medical Director of Pfizer NEAR, Dr. Kodjo Soroh, said with the government intervention by pool procurement the vaccine will be made available to the citizens at a very cheaper price and even free when introduced into the national routine immunization programme.

Soroh added: “Anywhere there is mass gathering of people there is need to be protected with this vaccine. In a situation where some age groups are not covered the spread is reduced because of high herd immunity because the spread is reduced following the coverage of more children and the elderly.

“The government should be a bit faster in embracing the vaccine. Qatar has ordered for the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines for its citizens going for Hajj.

“Every child in Nigeria has a right to live and not be killed by pneumonia and any other pre-

ventable disease.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), pneumonia is a deadly disease, especially for children in developing countries. It is a severe infection that affects lungs and makes it difficult for the lungs to absorb oxygen. Worldwide, nearly 1.6 million children under the age of five years die of pneumonia annually; 98 per cent of these children who die of pneumonia live in developing countries.

The WHO fact sheet on pneumonia noted that the disease could be caused by bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. The most common causes of fatal pneumonia are Pneumococcus and Haemophilus Influenzae type B (HiB), these bacteria are responsible for up to half of childhood pneumonia deaths.

Chief scientific officer, Vaccine Research, Pfizer, Dr. Emilio Emini, said: “Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has been administered to millions of infants and young children around the world and helps protect against the often fatal effects of pneumococcal disease. As the global leader in pneumococcal disease prevention, Pfizer continues to study

the use of this life-saving vaccine across all ages.”

Soroh said the European approval means that children between six and 17 years who have not previously received this vaccine may receive a single dose of the vaccine.

The Medical Director explained: “The European Commission’s decision to

approve this expanded indication followed submission and review of a Phase 3, open-label trial of the vaccine in 592 healthy children and adolescents, including those with underlying medical conditions such as asthma (17.4 per cent of the study population).

The study met all endpoints, demonstrating immunogenicity and establishing a safety profile in children and adolescents aged six to 17 years consistent with the safety profile established in previous tri-

als in infants and young children.”

Vice president, Vaccines Global Medicines Development Group, Pfizer, Dr. Luis Jodar, said: “Children and adolescents aged six to 17 with underlying medical conditions have an increased risk of pneumococcal disease. Pfizer will continue working with health authorities worldwide in an effort to provide access to Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to those at risk of disease.”

Medical Director of Pfizer Nigeria, East Africa Region (Pfizer NEAR), Dr Kodjo Soroh (left); Director Communication and Public Affairs, Mrs Margaret Olele; Country Manager, Dr. Enrico Liggeri; and Business Unit Director, Patrick Aja at the press parley with the media at the Head Office of Pfizer Specialties Limited in Ikoyi, Lagos…. recently

38

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

SCIENCE HEALTH

Experts endorse IRS for malaria elimination

By Chukwuma Muanya ALARIA experts from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), United States President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI)/African Indoor Residual Spraying Programme (ARS), Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos, University of Ilorin and University of Ibadan, and others at the just concluded fiveday training for states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja vector control officers on indoor residual spraying (IRS) have endorsed the method as critical for malaria elimination in Nigeria.

The malaria experts including the Vector Control Officers, in a communiqué released at the end of the training held last week in Abuja, reaffirmed the importance of, as well as their unwavering commitment to IRS as one of the primary interventions of reducing malaria burden in Nigeria.

They recommended among other things that: *States should adopt and implement the National IRS

M

Policy document using the guidelines for implementation. *States should strategically establish, equip and maintain vector control laboratories for entomological studies. *NMCP and States should organize regular training and retraining of Vector Control Officers to enhance their practical skills and competence for entomological monitoring and surveillance necessary to generate adequate knowledge and data required to inform cost effective implementation and programme management in Nigeria. *States should designate and retain Vector Control Officers for sustenance of the critical mass capacity being built for Integrated Vector Control programmes in Nigeria. *There is need to strengthen collaboration with other partners in the deployment of IRS as exemplified by the PMI|AIRS Project. *Set up State Committee on IRS to serve as a platform for experts and professionals to advise government on ways to achieve targets in the current National Strategic Plan on IRS scale-up progressively

to 25 per cent by 2015 as part of the Integrated Vector Control efforts in Nigeria. *Strong advocacy led by NMCP should be made to States and Local Governments on the importance of IRS towards achieving malaria disease reduction targets set by Roll Back Malaria (RBM) and NMCP in Nigeria. *Federal Government should establish vector control laboratories in each of the six geopolitical zones to serve as reference laboratories and training centres for Vector Control Officers. *The Federal Ministry of Health through the National Malaria Control Programme should establish structures and systems for managing IRS activities at various levels of government to ensure effective and efficient implementation of IRS campaigns.

The five-day training was organized by Abt Development Foundation implementing the PMI|AIRS Project funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in collaboration with NMCP. Present at the training

Participants at the just concluded five-day training for states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja on indoor residual spraying (IRS) held last week in Abuja organized by Abt Development Foundation implementing the United States President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI)/African Indoor Residual Spraying Programme (ARS) Project funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in collaboration with National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP). bidity. were the representative of the Federation and FCT. Consultant Entomologist The objectives of the trainNational Coordinator, NMCP, Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe; the ing were to: train Vector and Head, Public Health and immediate past NMCP Control Officers on basic Vector Control Department, methods; NIMR, Yaba, Lagos, Dr. Sam Coordinator, Dr. Chioma entomological Amajoh; Dr. Mark Maire and build capacity of State Vector Awolola, reiterated that inDr. David Hoel from the CDC Control Officers on entomo- country capacity building for and Dr. Henry Nsa, Country logical surveillance; and malaria vector control is a Chief of Party for Abt strengthen and expand field necessity which cannot be Development Foundation, laboratories/insectary facili- over emphasized. He said PMI|AIRS Project Nigeria and ties at sentinel sites for ento- that from the information from the States, shows that mological monitoring. his team.

Amajoh, who chaired the there are no capacities at the Also present from the academia were Dr. Sam Awolola programme, expressed glad- state level to ensure sustainfrom the Nigerian Institute of ness that the opportunity was ability of IRS implementaMedical Research, Dr. Dayo given to build the capacity of tion in Nigeria.

Dr. David Hoel from CDC Oduola from the University of the vector control officers Ilorin, and Dr. Nkem Okorie and entomology technicians Atlanta informed that malarfrom the University of Ibadan. in the bid to sustain IRS in the ia used to be of a public Also in attendance were State country. She emphasized that health importance in USA, Vector Control Officers, IRS has been described as the which was eliminated using Entomologists and most effective vector control integrated vector manageEntomology Technicians intervention that reduces ment, mass drug administrafrom the 36 States of the malaria mortality and mor- tion as well as window screens.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

39

40

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

41

42

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

43

44

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

NATURAL HEALTH 45

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

Challenges of temporary impotence HIS is a condition where a T man is unable to attain onto an erection or maintain

one sufficiently long enough to guarantee sexual satisfaction for himself and his partner. Otherwise known as erectile dysfunction, it is a relatively common finding among men. It has been found out that in most countries of the world about one third of the men may be suffering from erectile dysfunction.

Premature ejaculation may be considered as a form of temporary impotence since the man ejaculates long before the wife is even ready for orgasm. Some men may even ejaculate before making a penetration into the vagina.

The cause of temporary impotence could be organic or psychological (emotional).

Organic causes include illnesses that cause metabolic disturbances like diabetes mellitus and vascular diseases like arteriosclerosis and hypertension. Others are neurological disorders, side effects of medications, alcoholism, smoking and drug abuse. Hormonal imbalance depicted by low testosterone (male sex hormone) can also cause temporary impotence.

Psychological (emotional) causes of temporary impotence are; . Anxiety and fear. This could be fear – of having another failure of erection, of rejection, inability to bring the wife to orgasm, of being compared with other men, of inability of impregnating the wife, of premature ejaculation. Anxiety when one is not sure of himself or fear of being humiliated can also lead to erectile dysfunction. . Ridicule by the wife. A woman who has had other sexual experiences may ridicule a husband who may not be as endowed or as proficient as a former ‘boy friend.’

Such may be mentioned at times of anger and quarreling. . Anger, hatred and bitterness.

These can lead to depression if not checked. . Nagging and complaining by the wife. A man will most

Afroindia launches teleradiology services FROINDIA Medical Services A Limited has launched the first Teleradiology services to ease the challenges of radiology in the country.

Speaking recently at the launch, Director of programme Afroindia, Dr Sumer Sethi, said the technology would give accurate diagnosis through remote reading service, “so patient management in Nigeria can be initiated promptly and with confidence.”

Teleradiology is the process of transmitting and receiving digital radiology image from one point to another through a secure digital network. The transmission of image can be sent to another part of the hospital. It eliminates delays experienced in completing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), CT Scan, and x-ray among others.

President, Afroindia Medical, Alexander Okunbor said government; private hospitals and diagnostic centres in Nigeria would be provided free machine and free connectivity software to link up with Afroindia center for accurate diagnosis of Nigerian patients.

certainly lose concentration and the power to maintain an erection if the wife complains of his lack of skillfulness in bed. . The controversy of a ‘small penis’ versus a ‘loose’ vagina. . Tiredness and lack of physical fitness. . Feeling guilty of having cheated on the wife. . Pressure of work. . Passive wife. . Female dominance. . Eating the wrong food, surprisingly, is a very significant cause of temporary impotence.

Physiology of erection Understanding the mechanism of erection will go a long way in managing cases of temporary impotence.

The penis is made up of two spongy tubes known as corpus spongiosum and corpus cavernosum. These are connected to arteries that are directly from the aorta. The

arteries pump blood under very high pressure into the spongy tissues in response to certain stimuli. The visual stimulus is the most important that a man responds to.

Others are touch, auditory (hearing), and imaginative.

In response to any of these stimuli, nerves from the spinal cord cause the arteries to dilate forcing more blood into the penis, which now becomes stiffened, bigger and erect. At the same time the muscles at the base of the penis contract to prevent blood from flowing out of the penis. The spongy tissues that have become filled with blood further compress the veins and block blood from flowing out. If the penis is not stiff enough blood may leak out of the spongy tissues worsening the erectile dysfunction.

Consequences of temporary impotence

In marital relationships where communication is also an issue, discussing a challenge such as temporary impotence may be very difficult or not at all. Both partners will, therefore, be left to dwell in their own thoughts.

The man may be too embarrassed to discuss the problem with the wife. The wife on her own part may begin to blame herself, thinking she is the cause or that she may no longer be attractive to the husband. Soon enough, she will begin to wonder if the husband is having an affair. If not checked this can lead to severe feeling of rejection, depression and finally threat to the marriage and separation.

Management of temporary impotence Communication is very important between a man and his wife. There should be nothing that a married cou-

ple should not be able to talk about. They should discuss the emotional causes and visit a doctor together for counsel. For those cases that are caused by one disease or the other, the man really needs to see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. I cannot over-emphasize the eating of the right kind of diet for healthy living.

Surely a man who is generally unhealthy through regularly eating dead food, devoid of nutrients will have sub-standard hormones and difficulty satisfying the wife sexually.

Finally there are herbs and other supplements that can be used to treat temporary impotence. Let me sound a note of warning: when temporary impotence is not prop-

46

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

SCIENCE HEALTH 47

Corporate philanthropists target 37 mobile cancer centres

By Wole Oyebade

ORPORATE philanthroC pists in Nigeria will on Monday flag off a plan to donate a Mobile Cancer Centre (MCC) to each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as they commemorate International Corporate Philanthropy Day (ICPD) 2013.

This year’s commemoration, first in Nigeria, is focused on the fight against cancer infection, especially screening for early detection and prevention in hard-to-reach areas of the country.

The philanthropists, under the aegis of Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) Nigeria, will mobilise corporate organisations, organised private sector and public-spirited

Nigerians to donate into the MCC project, each at the cost of N95 million.

Quite ambitious as the project seems, convener of CECP-Nigeria, Mrs. Adetutu Adeleke said in humanitarian acts of this nature, coming from the private and social partners, lays the hope of average Nigerians.

She told reports that dependence on government was out of fashion, adding that government’s pledges might have become synonymous with empty promises.

According to her: “We all remember the cancer project initiated by the wife of our late President. It gulped millions of naira, but today, nothing has been heard of it. But we believe that if the corporate bodies can come together even with little, without waiting for government, several lives of

Nigerians will be saved and this is a platform to promote a worthy cause,” she said.

Adeleke added that the ICPD, celebrated globally on the last Monday in February, availed Nigerian corporate organisations the opportunity to concentrate on accomplishing one major objective every year — this time, reinforcing the fight against cancer.

The commemoration will begin with an official declaration at the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), a road show to raise awareness and flag-off at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Estimates have it that cancer kills more people every year than HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Meanwhile, World Health Organisation (WHO) noted that one-third of all

cancer incidences are preventable; another one-third curable with early detection, while the last onethird stands a chance of good quality of life with adequate care.

Adeleke said given the fact that Nigeria lacks adequate structure for cure and care, “it is important to focus on prevention, which is better, cheaper and surer than cure.”

“Hence this need to have mobile cancer centres in all parts of the country. The target is that within a year of acquiring these MCCs, half a million people will be screened nationwide. The beauty of the MCC is that it has the requisite equipment including mammogram machine and could last 20 years on the road.

“An individual does not have to donate an entire van, but can partner with

others to make it possible.

Together, we can achieve a lot,” she said.

CECP-Nigeria, initiated last year, was co-founded and supported by major bodies of the organised private sector among which are the Institute of Directors (IoD), the International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria (ICCN), the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the National Association of Chambers, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

Others are the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC), the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and NSE.

Representative of LCCI, Muda Yusuf assured that the Lagos business community would support the landmark initiative. He cited moral and social imperatives of giving back to the host community and promoting healthy society upon which every business depends.

Yusuf’s counterpart, Thompson Akpabio canvassed the support of the medical community to fast track the process.

ICPD is an international advocacy day to build awareness of corporatecommunity partnerships and to inspire businesses around the world to societal needs. The first CECP made up of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of major American corporate organisations, sets aside the last Monday of February to celebrate ICPD eight years ago.

48

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

49

50

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

SCIENCE HEALTH

51

CPM gives free care services to Lagos community

By Wole Oyebade UILDING on the foundation laid by Jesus Christ to care for the needy, the Christian Pentecostal Mission (CPM) International, Ikeja branch, recently reached to about 1000 Lagosians at its medical outreach.

The two-day programme themed: “Healthy Living for Supernatural Release 2013” gave free healthcare services, food and material items to participants comprising the elderly, adults and young ones.

As early as 9 a.m. on day one of the programme, no fewer than 300 people, among them the very sick and old, thronged to the church site and venue of the outreach for free care services.

And they were not disappointed. One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Maria Oloyede Moses lauded the initiative as one of the best things to have ever happened to the community. She had undergone about three screenings and given free drugs following consultation.

Another, who identified herself as Mrs. Bassey said the initiative was unique, accommodating all irrespective of religion or tribe.

According to her: “They test-

B

ed for all ailments including the eyes and advice us on healthy lifestyle. This is what many people in this place need. Some people are very sick but don’t have money for hospital care. But see what they are doing. I am very happy and grateful to them,” she said.

Her joy was not unconnected with the health and sanity that the church has brought to the small community around Olowu Street, which was until recently called “the den of iniquity”. The street, including the ground where the church now sits, was home to prostitutes, miscreants and perpetrators of all vices about six months ago.

Head pastor, Dr Abraham Okoro said the church had been empowered by God to bring smiles to faces of the residents and extended community of Ikeja.

Going biblical, he said: “We are following the example of Jesus, when he said in III John 2 verse 2 that I wish above all things that you prosper in all things, and be in health, even as your soul propers. We believe that God is interested in the salvation of our soul and in our body to be in optimal health to enable the body carries the soul.

“We know that we are faced

LSTMB boss tasks traditional practitioners on service delivery

By Oluwakemi Ajani HE Chairman of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board (LSTMB), Dr Bunmi Omosehindemi, has urged traditional medicine practitioners to make service to humanity their top priority.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Natural Integrative Medicine Practitioners Association (NIMPA) recently in Lagos, Omosehindemi urged the association to practice with sincerity of purpose in order to achieve their aims and objectives.

He said an association form on greed and corruption would not last. “If we don’t get it right we will produce quacks that will later kill the profession,” he said.

In his speech, the president of the association, Dr. Isaac Ayodele said that the aim of the association was to empower practitioners of natural medicine to freely use various natural treatments to restore health in the patients, in line with the needs of the people.

Ayodele said the practitioners of natural integrative med-

T

icine might use herbal medicine in addition to a variety of other natural therapies such as Osteopathy, therapeutic and body massage, which the practitioners intend to promote.

He explained that the advent of antibiotic and introduction of western medicine in the 20th Century saw a decline in the natural therapeutic practices, adding that the relegation and adulteration of natural medicine has been responsible for the alarming increase of incurable ailments in the country.

Continuing, he said: “We need an integrated voice to enhance our unity in diversity and stress the things that unite us which is natural medicine. There is need to repair our dented image and rebrand ourselves so that we can be respected again.”

Ayodele added that the natural integrative medicine was formed based on the need to use all natural therapies to effect healing and wellbeing of the patient rather than engaging single therapy.

Firm plans $650m hospital for Abuja From Emeka Anuforo RIVATE sector involvement in the health sector is expanding in Abuja, as IBT Group concludes plans to mount N97billion hospital in the capital city.

The hospital project, which has been named ‘Abuja Medical City’ is a 1,687-bed hospital.

The promoters said in Abuja recently that the project would take about 36 months to be completed will comprise and would comprise facilities like Trauma Centre, Specialty Hospital, Amenity Care Pavilion, Pediatric Hospital, Maternal and New Born Institute, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation and Ambulatory Care Centre.

Representative of IBT Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, reemphasized how billions of Naira is lost yearly to foreign medical

P

treatments.

He noted that the hospital, on completion, would engage doctors in Nigeria and Diaspora and create employment opportunities for teeming unemployed Nigerians.

Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, who spoke on the initiative, said that the proposed hospital would help in reducing economic loss by Nigeria to medical tourism. According to him, the initiative came at a time Nigeria was preparing for its centenary celebrations.

“As part of Nigeria’s commemoration of her centenary, the country has among its plans a new city. This facility fits into that concept. You are coming at the right moment,” the Minister said. He however stated that all procurement procedures would be followed before the actualization of the dream.

with high poverty rate these days, so we come in pray for them, and by God’s grace give a little help to keep body and soul together. It is our social responsibility to show the love of God to mankind,” Okoro said.

He added that it would be “heaven on earth” if other churches and corporate organisations would make it a duty to give back to their host community and help the government in improving the quality of life around them.

The organizers left no stone unturned. Participants were taken through the rounds of counseling, health talk, checks on Body Mass Index (BMI) for obesity, blood pressure and then the blood sugar prior to seeing the doctor (about six of them). Also given on demand were malaria parasite test, Widal test, HIV test, cholesterol, chest X-ray and ECG all on site.

The founder of Kanu Heart Foundation, Mr. Nwankwo Kanu (right), handing over the list of 542 children who received free heart surgeries in foreign countries courtesy of the foundation to the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu during a visit to seek the support of the minister for the Kanu cardiac hospital planned for Abuja… recently

52

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

53

54

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

55

56

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

57

58

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

59

60

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

61

62

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

63

64 |

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

Education

Yakubu

Rasheed

Okojie

TETFund committee makes history, converts 18 outstanding PhD theses to textbooks

By Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi FTER three years of rigorous work, the A resilient Central Coordinating Committee (CCC), an arm of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG), set up by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to administer the National Book Development Fund, has finally released the list of 18 outstanding doctorate (PhD) theses, that have passed all the tough, compulsory tests and successfully converted to textbooks by their respective authors.

The 18 proud authors (See Box), nine of whom are Professors, were taken through the full details of how their theses were chosen, at the CCC’s meeting held in Abuja on Monday.

Already, TETFund has approved N65 million for the books’ publication, while Mosuro Booksellers Limited will print them at the cost N61.8 million. Since the sum of N3.2 million will be left over in the till, the CCC resolved at the meeting to join two additional converted theses, to elongate the list to 20. About 2000 copies of each book, and 1000 copies of each thesis will be printed in this first phase. The University of Ibadan Press was selected as the publisher. All things being equal, the books should be ready

by June 30.

With this feat, TETFund has now created a record of being the first ever parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Education to spearhead the conversion of doctorate degree theses to textbooks, for the benefit of the university system. It will also be on record that the federal government, for the first time, made money

UI Press to publish first set available for Nigerian academics to publish their PhD long essays as textbooks.

But a lot of credit must go to the immediate past TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, who, in the first place, sold the idea of a National Book Development Fund (NBDF), among others to the federal government a little over five years ago. The idea was not only to resuscitate academic journals, but to also encourage serious minded dons to publish textbooks. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) must also share from the glory since TETFund itself was a direct product of the 1992 Federal Government/ASUU Agreement.

Upon accepting Yakubu’s idea, the Federal Government had made N2 billion available for NBDF’s take-off. Again, Yakubu constituted a 52member TAG, made up of 34 eminent professors and carefully selected stakeholders, headed by the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed. Assisted by other TAG members, Rasheed then constituted the CCC as a sub-committee of TAG, under the leadership of Prof Charles Awoh of the University of Ibadan, which was now saddled with the assignment of considering various A-rated PhD theses and determine the most suitable ones for conversion to textbooks.

The CCC painstakingly came up with a very tough criteria for selecting the doctorate theses and subsequently went to the National Universities Commission (NUC) and all

List of PhD Theses converted to textbooks and due for publication

Universities, asking them to hand over their best PhD theses for consideration. The action led to the first collection of 150 theses in various disciplines, each of which was taken through an initial evaluation.

The evaluation sheet had nine distinct scoring items: breadth/depth of knowledge; currency of content; suitability as an educational reading and learning material; relevance of thesis if published as a book to Nigerian and global communities; contribution to knowledge and development; projected impact of the book on discipline/specialization and society/environment; projected demand of thesis if published as a book; use, currency and relevance of references; and editorial quality.

Shockingly, only 42 or less then 30 per cent of the initial haul of 150 theses could scale the first evaluation, which was carried out by a team respected Professors in diverse disciplines, who had to provide detailed written reports on each thesis, with the corresponding scores. Thirty-eight out of the 42 assessors returned assessment reports with scores ranging from 22 to 87 per cent. Four of the 38 theses scored less than 50 per cent, while only 11 scored at least 64 per cent and were declared suitable.

However, authors of four other theses that also passed the evaluation test, who could not be located initially later showed up and were added. The list eventually expanded to 18.

The exercise also led to an unintended dis-

covery. At the last CCC meeting held in Abuja, an obviously disappointed Aworh had lamented that the scores derived from the exercise had shown that PhD theses in Nigerian universities “are so deficient in content and quality that they cannot be published as book.” He also added: “It is true that some of the best theses by nature of the topics they address may not be suitable for conversion into books for a wider audience. But it should be a matter of concern that after a careful selection, less than 30 per cent of some of the best theses from Nigeria Universities, that scored 70 per cent and above from internal assessment by the Universities, were found worthy of being published as books. The comments on some of these PhD theses by Nigerian assessors from outside their Universities, call to question the quality of PhD theses from Nigerian Universities and the effectiveness of the internal quality control systems, if indeed they are in existence and operational.”

After the elaborate debate that followed Aworh’s submission, the CCC members agreed that since the practice of awarding doctorate degrees to the undeserving posed grave danger to the entire country, concrete step must be taken to address the anomaly. One of the ways suggested was for the committee to, through TETFund, write an official letter to the NUC on its observations and implore it to take appropriate actions. Besides, it was suggested that all vice chancellors and senate members of the Nigerian university system should be invited to an interactive meeting on how to address the various identified problems.

Education | 65

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

Why NASFAT established Fountain varsity, by Yusuf As Fountain University, Oshogbo, Osun State, prepares to hold its second convocation ceremony, proprietors of the University, the Nasri Faith Society of Nigeria (NASFAT), a leading Islamic organization, have invested over N2 billion towards providing a conducive environment for teaching and research, according to its National President, Alhaji Sherriff Yusuf.

In an elaborate interview with MARY OGAR recently in Lagos, Yusuf, a retired banker with over 20 years’ experience, affirmed that although, NASFAT’s mission is to promote higher education within an Islamic environment, the university is not averse to western education, since “education has no colouration.” He also spoke on funding challenges and future plans for the fledging university. Excerpt: HY NASFAT decided to invest in education W The charter of NASFAT is mainly centred on education. NASFAT, essentially, is an association of educated and enlightened Muslims or those desiring education. It was our desire to have a forum, sit together, interact and bond.

But on that platform, the major thing we want to do is to educate ourselves, not just for those who are sitting in membership, but also for our upcoming youths, children, women and the generality of Muslims.

Education is the major platform of NASFAT and we do it very actively in our gatherings. We educate our members about the tenets of Islam and we also extend it to our various branches. We established nursery, primary and secondary schools and Allah now granted our vision that we should establish a university, because we wanted to promoted education up to the highest level possible. God granted that prayer and we were able to get a license to establish a university and that is why the university is very dear to our heart.

Vision and objectives of Fountain University For us in NASFAT and Islam generally, education is education. Education is about learning and trying to know what you didn’t know before; trying to develop your intellect, your mind, your aspiration and assessment of the world and trying to now use it to improve your personality, your environment and your community.

Education has no coloration, whether western, eastern, northern or whatever it is. So in Islam and in NASFAT, education is education. Education is an essential part of Islam.

Islam is built on education because it says, “you cannot serve God unless you know him.” So, if you don’t know God, if you don’t know about life, how you were created, the purpose of your creation and what you are expected to do, you can’t serve God. So, the first basic thing for everyone in Islam is to know. Education is very dear to our hearts. It doesn’t matter where it comes from, so there is no distinction or objection to western education or any other form of education.

In the contemporary world, they have made a distinction between what is western and what is not western and this is because of the way it is being propagated. In history, the first sets of literates in what is called Nigeria today were the Muslims. Education came in from the North and education was even brought in by Islam. It was when Islam got to Northern Nigeria that it brought education along. The first set of people who could read or write in any form were the Muslims, but they were doing that in Arabic. So, it was Arabic education that was brought into the country at the time, religion was on one side.

Religion is a matter of faith, what you believe in; the doctrines and philosophy. But the other thing is about knowing and learning generally and to seek knowledge wherever you could find it. One of the sayings of the holy prophet states: “you are enjoined to seek knowledge, even if it means going as far as the eastern end of the world.” Now, we interpret that to mean China, so, if it means travelling as far as China, you must seek for knowledge. Islam encourages education and we are following that doctrine to stress that education is very important for the Muslim child, for the Muslim youths, for the Muslim woman and for the community generally..

Expectations of Fountain University and its graduates Fountain University’s mission is like every other university’s: to transmit knowledge to the students who are admitted into the university in the various fields of endeavour. In addition to that, which we do very well, Fountain University has produced its own graduates.

We are seeking to produce graduates that are also morally equipped; graduates that are not only sound in learning and knowledge, but also sound in character. Sound in morals, in etiquette and who can represent Islam in any part of the world with assured high standard of morality, integrity, honesty and comportment.

And that is why we set up the university so that our children can learn in an environment where they would also be free to practice their faith, while those that are non-Muslims are also free to practice their faith. But they must also be prepared to adhere to the moral codes, moral guides and moral teachings that would fortify them to be very good ambassadors or good personalities after graduation.

Education has no coloration, whether western, eastern, northern or whatever it is. So in Islam and in NASFAT, education is education. Education is an essential part of Islam. Islam is built on education because it says, “you cannot serve God unless you know him.” So, if you don’t know God, if you don’t know about life, how you were created, the purpose of your creation and what you are expected to do, you can’t serve God.

Yussuf Can students of other faiths fit into these codes or guidelines laid down by the university?

We have non-Muslim students and they are happy. They are happy because they are not compelled to practice Islam.

They are also free to practice their own faith and all of them are learning together. But the only thing is that there are some strict codes. For instance, women are not allowed to open their hair. That is an Islamic code that goes for everybody. They are not allowed to wear mini skirts like girls do these days and even the boys must dress properly. They are not allowed to sag. All students are expected to dress decently. You can wear whatever goes on in the fashion (world) other than the indecent part of it.

How much has NASFAT invested in the University?

There is the financial and the non-financial investment. The non-financial investment is much bigger than the financial investment. But the financial investment, so far, is in the neighborhood of about N2 billion and we are still looking for more money to invest and support the university. But what is not financial is what we have invested: our own time, energy and resources, which you cannot begin to quantify in terms of money.

Has all the investment, so far, been worth it?

Absolutely. We are very delighted with the progress the university has made and the graduates that it is producing.

Recently, some of them have been released into the labour market and we took time to find out the impression of employers. The response has been very delightful because this practically confirms our situation that these should be graduates that not only have knowledge of the disciplines they read, but are also morally strong with very high level of character and integrity. Their employers confirmed that and we are indeed very happy with that achievement.

Sourcing for funds The funds come basically from the nickels and dimes contributed by members of the society. And with our very large membership and followership all over the world, people contribute whatever little funds they have to support the university.

At medium level, there are people who, apart from the little nickels, still go ahead and contribute resources at regular periods. We ask our people to put in N100 every week, which is the minimum that every member is encouraged to contribute. We need a lot more than N100, so we have people we call Fountain University partners. This category of people can contribute a minimum of N1000 per month. Also, we have people who belong to the Fountain University patrons’ club and these are people who contribute a minimum of a N100, 000 per annum. All of these are to sustain infrastructural development in the university.

Looking at the various courses the university offers, which one would you say is your area of strength?

We have two colleges in the university: the College of Management Sciences and the College of Natural and Applied Sciences. So, it’s only the disciplines in these two CONTINUED ON PAGE 67

66

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

Education | 67

‘Fountain varsity welcomes non-muslim students’ We have non-Muslim students and they are happy. They are happy because they are not compelled to practice Islam. They are also free to practice their own faith and all of them are learning together. But the only thing is that there are some strict codes. For instance, women are not allowed to open their hair. That is an Islamic code that goes for everybody. They are not allowed to wear mini skirts like girls do these days and even the boys must dress properly. They are not allowed to sag.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 65 major areas that are being offered for now. But we are planning to, in the next one year, add an additional two: the College of Art and the College of Education. And progressively, as we gather more funds, we would be able to establish more disciplines.

On Accreditation It’s been very good. The National Universities Commission (NUC) has carried out an accreditation exercise and to the glory of God, all the programmes we have on offer were accredited. There were some courses in which we were advised to improve in certain areas and we are seriously working on that. But none of our programmes was denied accreditation.

On quality of Academic Staff and welfare It’s excellent because that is one of the criteria that NUC looks at before accreditation. They looked at our facilities, staffing, the general management of the university and the environment. They were happy with everything. We have a very good teaching staff and I am very confident of that. Also, our salary structure for staff is very competitive. The minimum we, as a matter of policy, decided to give our staff is what they get in other government institutions and when we can, we still go ahead to add a little more. We try as much as possible to encourage those who come and work for us.

On the qualification of our academic staff, we adhere to the minimum grade as approved by the NUC. The minimum we have are those with Master’s degree and are pursing their doctorate degrees. They are recruited as graduate assistants while others are doctorate degree holders and Professors Challenges so far The challenges have been basically funding. Our aspiration is for the university to grow much bigger than it is now. We want to accommodate a lot more students than what we are doing presently, but we are limited by what our funds can provide now in terms of putting more facilities in place. The major challenge is money. This is our permanent site and with more funding, the rate of development would be doubled.

Plans for the future We have about 80 hectares of land and we have only developed about five on the site. Five hectares is not small, it’s quite big but I am just emphasizing this to point out the prospects. So, our aspiration is to develop as much of the entire land as possible. In addition, we are also hoping to establish satellite campuses in places like Lagos, Abuja, Kano and other places.

Private investors in education are asking for funding from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), but critics argue that private universities were set up for profit. What is Fountain University’s position?

We did not establish the university for profit making. Our motive is not for profit but to promote knowledge and to give core values to as many people that can benefit as possible. And with that in mind, it is very hard to say we want to make money by proving tertiary education.

I believe we should benefit from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), because whoever is providing education for the Nigerian child or youth up to a defined standard should be encouraged. I would strongly recommend that the

Yussuf government should define a minimum level so that if you are able to admit a certain number of students, provide a defined standard of facilities and not charge more than a certain amount of fees, you should be able to benefit from TETFund. This will encourage people who have really invested for the sake of promoting quality education rather than

ABC Transport donates buses to three institutions

By Mary Ogar and Taiwo Hassan S part of activities to mark A ABC Transport company’s 20th anniversary, its management has handed over three model buses to three public tertiary institutions, to equip mechanical engineering students with hands-on practical skills.

The beneficiaries include: the Lagos State University (LASU), Imo State University (IMSU) and the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede.

Speaking at the flag off of the th 20 anniversary celebration/unveiling of the new fleet of vehicles in Lagos recently, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Frank Nneji said the motive behind the donation was to better prepare engineering students with practical k n o w l e d g e .

With one bus for each of the three selected institutions, he explained that they would serve as demonstration vehicles to be used for teaching and learning, which would also enhance the practical aspects in the Automobile/Mechanical Engineering departments of the institutions.

He said: “ABC Transport

commenced operation about 20 years ago. It is regrettable that our institutions of higher learning, that are mandated to produce graduates who would man the industries, lack the vehicles to use for practicals. Yet, we have produced enough graduates over the years in Automobile/Mechanical Engineering who can hardly handle that sector.”

Clamoring for graduates who would meet industry needs, check unemployment in the country and encourage entrepreneurship, Nneji said the private sector must support the efforts of government to raise the quality of education, especially at the higher level.

It is regrettable that our institutions of higher learning, that are mandated to produce graduates who would man the industries, lack the vehicles to use for practicals. Yet, we have produced enough graduates over the years in Automobile/Mechanical Engineering who can hardly handle that sector.

He said: “ ABC Transport believes that education is a public service which demands collective trust and responsibility. Nothing is too small or too great to offer the education sector, if we have passion for technological development in our count r y . ” Nneji however cautioned the beneficiaries not to use the buses for transport purposes, reiterating that the buses were mainly for practical lessons in Automobile/Mechanical E n g i n e e r i n g .

The acting Vice Chancellor, Imo State University, Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie noted that the company’s gesture signified its interest in the development of the country.

Impressed with the security facilities in new buses, Awuzie urged all stakeholders to contribute their quota in advancing the education sector in the country.

He said: “It takes an individual to make a change in a society. I want to assure our benefactors that the school would put the bus to maximum use. I hope other persons and organizations will learn from this laudable contribution.”

just making profit, because to make profit, you must really charge high.

Any university that is charging anything below N500, 000 (per session) cannot make profit. It is impossible. Our average charge at Fountain University is about N340, 000 per annum. Any institution charging below N500, 000 is just out to support the provision of education for Nigerian students and not to make money.

Students who cannot afford the fees We have scholarship schemes. Our branches offer scholarships of their own and the university itself organizes scholarships for those that are indigent but brilliant.

On quality For those who are desperate to study abroad, they can get quality education here in terms of academic content. I would even rate what is offered here more, because part of education is also the environment. So, in terms of facilities and the environment and the grandeur of the neighbourhood, maybe there is some benefit to looking at the option of studying abroad.

We do not discourage any student as long as they can afford it. But, if you are a Nigerian and you intend to make a career and live in Nigeria, then we advise that it’s best to study in Nigeria at whatever level, because you must have adequate knowledge of where you intend to work and live.

And by the time you are attending a university in Nigeria, you are already matured and would have been exposed to the rigours of life.

Population of students and challenges of access Right now, we have about 850 students and the number is still growing. We can accommodate at least double the number. There are lots of new private universities that have spaces for students, but cost may be a limiting factor because private education doesn’t come cheap.

For us we try to ameliorate that a little bit by providing scholarships, but again, there is a limit to what scholarships can offer. It is sad that there are so many students out there that are willing and qualified to enroll, but just can’t afford to. At Fountain University, we also try to ease the burden on parents, by allowing them to pay instalmentally.

68 | Education

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

Provost laments Adeyemi College of Education’s financial situation From Niyi Bello, Akure UTHORITIES of Adeyemi A College of Education (ACE), a foremost teacher-training institution established 49 years ago in 1964 at Ondo town, have lamented the precarious situation of the college’s finances, which they claimed is threatening to ground its academic activities.

The college, which took off as an appendage of the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), has for many years, been agitating to be recognized as an autonomous University of Education.

The college’s Provost, Professor Adeyemi Idowu, who spoke at press conference during the 32nd convocation ceremonies held recectly, identified its degreeawarding programmes as the reason for the college’s poor finances.

He said: “We are being funded as a college of education because we are recognized as such, despite the fact that a large percentage of our student population is registered as degree students. We are stretching our teaching resources to the limits, to accommodate the burden of running mostly degree programmes.”

Idowu, who said it costs more to train a degree than an NCE student, also affirmed that the college was training undergraduates with the financial status meant for grade one teachers.

He appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action on the proposal to make the degree-awarding institution a full-fledged University of Education, adding that the college has all it takes to function as such.

The Provost disclosed that three years ago, the Federal Ministry of Education

approved the upgrading of the college to a university status but that “the proposal is currently before the National Assembly which is yet to endorse the proposal.”

He added: “We are being faced with paucity of funds because we are recognized as a Federal College of Education (FCE) but we produce degree students too and in fact, more degree students than NCE ones. This college is more than ready to be called University of Education. For instance, out of the 3,657 graduates that we are churning out this year, only 1,400 are NCE.” In terms of staff development, Idowu said, “by next year, about half of our staff would have bagged PhD which is a feat among our peers. We already have 18 degree programmes but we now have additional newlyaccredited ones that we want to commence next academic session.

Govt names vice chancellors, registrars for new federal varsities RESIDENT Goodluck P Jonathan has approved the appointment of Vice Chancellors and Registrars for the three newly established Federal Universities in Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara States.

According a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala, the Minister of Education, Prof.

Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’I gave the names of the new Vice Chancellors as: Professor Shehu AbdulRahman (Federal University Gashua,); Professor Lawal Suleiman

Bilbis (Federal University, Birnin Kebbi) and Professor Ben Chuks Okeke (Federal University, Gusau).

The Minister further stated that Jonathan also approved the appointed of Professor Isaac Asuzu to replace Prof.

Chinedu Nebo as Vice Chancellor Federal University Oye-Ekiti. Nebo was recently appointed Minister of Power.

Rufa’i gave the names of the Registrars as: Alhaji Sule Dauda (Federal University Gashua); Mr. Ibrahim Mungadi (Federal University Birnin Kebbi) and Mr.

Ibrahim Bawa Kaura (Federal University Gusau).

Rufa’i said the choice of the new Vice Chancellors and Registrars followed the laid down rules that require a Vice Chancellor to among others, “be an experienced former Vice Chancellor or Deputy Vice Chancellor with sufficient scholarship and leadership, backed with an area of specialization relevant to primary area of focus of the new university.’’

The new appointees are expected to report for briefings by the Minister tomorrow.

Mrs Ogunbor Odegua (middle) with students of Vicsum Private school, Omole Phase 2, Lagos, during the “Develop and Discover Girls Innovating with Engineering” programme, organized by the James Ogunbor Education Foundation, in collaboration with the United States based Society of Women Engineers (SWE), to create engineering awareness among girls in primary school recently.

PTI admits 517 out of 1077 applicants NLY 517 out of 1077 candiO dates that applied for admission at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State were eventually admitted, according to the acting principal of the institute, Mrs. Nnenna C. Dennar.

Speaking at the school’s matriculation ceremony held recently, Dennar stated that the figure represented those who were successful in the compulsory screening process. Her words: “Our records show that about 1077 candidates applied for admission to pursue various programmes in the 2012/2013 academic session; but only 517 were fortunate to pass through the selection process.

This is to ensure that only the best candidates were admitted.”

Dennar also announced that the school’s part time programmes were restructured two years ago, with the introduction of entrance examination, to achieve what she described as “academic excellence.”

She advised the new students to take their oaths seriously “the consequences of its breach could be grievous to the offender.” On PTI’s background, Dennar stated: “The PTI was set up by Act No. 37 of September 19, 1972, and subsequently amended by Act No. 52 of January 1, 1975; to provide courses of instruction, training and research in oil technology and production of

Technologists and Technicians and such other skilled personnel normally required for oil production, amongst others.

“Since inception, the Institute has developed competent technical manpower that is turning the valves in the oil and gas sector. I am proud to say that PTI is now a household name in the oil industry, as there is no oil company that does not have PTI graduate in its employment.”

She told the students: “I am aware that most of you are grappling with so many challenges. Besides being workers, some are fathers and mothers.

You have to balance your time to achieve academic excellence, bearing in mind that there is no freedom without sacrifice. As new students, you are expected to be disciplined.

Management does not encourage any type of social vices and deviant behaviours, such as drug peddling, abuse, cultism, examination malpractice and unlawful protest.

Let me warn against unlawful protest on campus. It is an act of indiscipline. No student should take the laws into his or her hand. Any student caught or involved in unlawful protest on campus would be deemed to have breached the matriculation oath; and

Elizade varsity gives scholarships to 250 pioneer students OUNDER of Elizade FChief University, Ilara-Mokin, Michael Ade Ojo has announced a scholarship of N100,000.00 for each of the 250 pioneer students of the University.

According to a statement by the Registrar of the institution, Mr. Omololu Adegbenro, the scholarships are intended to assist the students in the pursuit of their academic careers.

Adegbenro also announced that the University had concluded arrangements to introduce internship and workstudy programme for its students, to give them practical experience in their chosen dis-

ciplines.

The students would be attached to reputable industries for holiday jobs during long vacations. The purpose, the registrar explained, is to provide the students with the opportunity of gaining experiences of the work-place before their graduation.

Adegbenro added: “The university will also give priority to mentorship as this is one way of bringing up the students to become good future leaders.”

Meanwhile, the institution’s post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) test will hold on February 26 and 27.

NACA unveils HIV/AIDS centre at Bayero varsity From Murtala Muhammed, Kano O create more awareness T on the dangers of HIV/AIDS and curtail its spread among the youths, Bayero University, Kano in collaboration with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), has launched a center for inclusive counseling and conducting tests.

The unveiling of the new, fully equipped edifice, located on the university campus and funded by a commercial bank, coincided with the official presentation of the University’s 19-page HIV/AIDS Policy document, which highlights its goals and objectives.

Available records from NACA indicated a 4.1 per cent prevalence of the scourge in the country, with over 11 million people living with disease in Kano, which is ranked among the 12 states in which the disease is most prevalent.

Nigeria is next to South Africa with the high prevalence of

HIV/AIDS in the world.

Speaking at the occasion, Director General of NACA Prof. John Idoko said the agency conceptualized the idea of having HIV/AIDS Youth Friendly Centres across the country, backed by a public private partnership, as part of measures to check the spread of the disease among vulnerable youths. According to him, universities and other institutions of higher learning were considered strategic sites for the centres.

Represented by Assistant Director, Resource Mobilization at NACA, Dr. Emmanuel Al Hassan, the Director General said: “the conceptualization of a Youth friendly Centre is designed for counseling and to test individuals for the HIV virus.

We trained the counselors that will offer services and the center will give free counseling on the scourge and other areas, like career counseling, drug addiction and others.”

On the rationale behind

the choice of the university, Al Hassan explained: “Bayero University Kano has a population density of youths and it is located at the heart of the second most populated city in the country, with diverse communities in and around it.”

Chairman of the occasion and Head of Clinical Services, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Dr. Hadiza Galandanci, expressed concern on the health burden of HIV/AIDS on the victims in the country, due to lack of efficient facilities.

While stressing an urgent need for youths to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the centre, she noted that the disease has taken another worrisome dimension with the prevalence of mother to child spread.

The vice chancellor, Prof.

Abdulrasheed Abubakar affirmed that the initiative would further propel the university’s new policy on HIV/AIDS.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

69

70

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

71

72

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

73

74

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

75

76

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

77

78

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

79

80

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

NigeriaCapitalMarket NSE Daily Summary (Equities) PRICE LIST OF SYMBOLS TRADED FOR 20/2/2013

81

82

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

CAPITAL MARKET

NSE Daily Summary (Equities) as at 20/2/2013

PRICE GAINERS

LOSERS

Firms lift NSE’s market capitalisation by N120b

By Helen Oji RANSACTIONS on the Nigerian Stock Exchange closed in an upbeat yesterday occasioned by price gains by major bluechip stocks, causing market capitalization to rise further by N120billion.

Volume of transactions traded however dropped slightly as 434 million shares worth N4.3 billion was exchanged in 7243 deals, lower than 528.8 million units valued at N3.6 billion

T

exchanged in 6,827 deals on Tuesday.

Specifically the All/Share index of the NSE rose significantly by 373.07 points or 1.1per cent from 33,335.11 recorded on Tuesday to 33,708.18 while market capitalization increased by N120 billion from N10,666 trillion recorded on Tuesday to N10,786 trillion.

Further analysis of yesterday’s transactions showed that Nestle topped the gainers chart with 7100kobo to close at N981.00 per share fol-

lowed by Nigerian Breweries with 799 kobo to close at N169.99 per share.

Dangote Cement gained 199 kobo to close at N146.99 per share.

Presco, Cadbury, BetaGlass garnered 165 kobo,159 kobo and 45 kobo to close at N25.90, N40.80 and N9.49 per share.

National Salt Company of Northern Nigeria and Champion added 35 kobo and 21 kobo to close at N9.50 and N4.56 per share.

FBNH gained 19 kobo while

DN Meyer added 17 kobo to close at N1.96 per share.

However, Julius Berger topped the losers chart with 599 kobo to close at N54.00 per share followed by Guinness with 500 kobo to close at N275.00 per share. PZ Cussons lost 325 kobo to close at N37.00 per share.

Okomuoil, GlaxoSmithKline, Flourmills lost 299kobo, 177kobo and 74 kobo to close at N58.00,N47.96 and N77.00 per share.

Berger Paints shed 59 kobo to

close at N11.31 per share.

UACN lost 50 kobo to close at N50.00 per share.

Stanbic IBTC and AirService also dropped 38 kobo and 31 kobo to close at N13.90 and N5.45 per share.

On the activity chart, the banking sub-sector maintained its dominance in volume terms with 182 million shares valued at N1.4 billion followed by the insurance sub-sector which traded N63 million units worth N52 million in 504 deals.

The food/products sub-sector also featured with N41 million units valued at N271 million in 392 deals.

Trading in the shares of Fidelity Bank and United Bank for Africa boosted activities in the banking sub-sector with 32 million shares and 21million units worth N108 million and N169 million while the insurance subsector was enhanced by activities in the shares of Mutual Benefit Assurance with 12.5 million shares worth N6billion.

83

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

Opinion Reviews and clarifications

By Edwin Madunagu HOSE, like me, that are not experts or authoriT ties in any field of knowledge but are compelled by the nature of their commitments and daily engagements to “dabble” into virtually all subjects, usually “cultivate” – or, rather, may consider “cultivating” – teachers in critical areas of their needs. The learners will, of course, not always announce their “cultivated” teachers or let the fact of their being “cultivated” be known to the teachers. Rather, the learners follow their teachers through available mediums other than the classroom. Furthermore, the teachers cultivated in any field need not be – in fact, should not be – the only teachers in that field; the important thing is that the “cultivated” teachers are followed as closely as a diligent student follows his or her teachers in classroom settings.

But, then: Just as a learner in classroom setting can disagree with his or her teacher, a student in the type of “distance – learning” we are talking about can disagree with his or her “cultivated” teacher. The only difference is that in the latter situation the learner is freer since the teacher, in most cases, is unaware of the relationship into which he or she has been “cultivated”, and there is absolutely no sanction for such disagreements. In the academic discipline called History my cultivated teachers include Professor Obaro Ikime, a frontline academic, an activist public intellectual and an ordained clergy in the Anglican Church. I am happy that Ikime survived the critical health condition he passed through a couple of years ago – just as he survived his shocking incarceration in 1990 by the military regime. I am also happy he survived his premature retirement from Ibadan shortly after regaining his freedom.

Obaro Ikime’s main areas of interest – or rather, the areas I have found most useful – are ethnic relationships and Niger Delta history. Whenever he applies the knowledge he has acquired in his studies in these areas to a contemporary national issue and takes a public position Ikime becomes truly controversial. It is this attribute, as much as his intellect, that led me to cultivate him.

This essay is however not about Ikime or the process of “cultivating” him, but about his ideas. I recalled some of them when I started the current review of my series of essays on populardemocratic restructuring. The particular publica-

tion that came to my mind was the collection of his lectures and seminar papers titled History, Historians and the Nation.

In the series of articles, which ended last Thursday, I proposed a popular – democratic restructuring of Nigeria’s system of governance and political economy. The main features of the proposed structure are collective presidency with rotational headship at the federal level; regional integration, grassroots development with popular control and participation; and genuine antipoverty and employment programmes through the redeployment of the nation’s resources to the masses.

This column has consistently argued the impossibility of ethnic separation in Nigeria – peacefully or through war. But this is not an argument against the existence and reality of ethnic marginalisation in the country. The holistic popular-democratic restructuring I have proposed is aimed, in part, at addressing and redressing this marginalisation. To see, prima facie, how far my restructuring proposal can advance my objective, I conducted a quick research on the number and distribution of Nigeria’s ethnic groups. I consulted old and new sources. One of the newest listings came from the late Chief Anthony Enahoro and the Movement for National Reformation (MNR), which he led. This listing appears to have been adopted by the pro-National Conference (PRONACO), which in 2006, produced a draft constitution for the country. The shortest list I saw in my brief research has 42 ethnic groups while the longest has about 200. The Enahoro – MNR – PRONACO list, one of the longest, has less than 200.

Now, why did I go through this exercise? I had, in my popular – democratic restructuring, proposed the recognition (and empowerment) of local government areas and their council wards as centres of grassroots development and popular-democratic practice. In this setting I believe that ethnic and geopolitical marginalisation will begin to decline provided: governments at various levels are not controlled, or at least not dominated, by predators; and provided: a real war on corruption and state robbery is engaged.

To assess my claim objectively, you should not confuse concepts like “regional integration” and “local autonomy” with “ethnic separa-

tion”. My research convinced me, once again, that the Nigerian population is so ethnically integrated that almost all local government areas in the country are mixed in population.

Therefore? There simply has to be ethnic cohabitation - however far the geopolitical restructuring goes. Ethnic co-existence must therefore be held as a fundamental principle of national existence and development.

It was at this point that Obaro Ikime “spoke” to me through his book, History, the historian and the nation: the Voice of a Nigerian historian, a collection of 15 of his lectures and papers, first published in 2006. The particular paper to which I make reference here appears as Chapter 13 of the book. It is titled Inter-ethnic harmony and the development of Delta State. It was presented at a “Retreat of Political Office holders and Permanent Secretaries” in Delta State government held in Warri from May 31 to June 2, 2000”. Ikime was invited by the state government to deliver the paper.

While I shall be selective in presenting some key propositions contained in the paper – dictated by my immediate need – I commend the entire paper, indeed the whole book, to the reader. I shall, before long, attempt a more systematic appreciation of this book.

In the inter-ethnic harmony and the development of Delta State, Ikime said: “I am an Isoko man – and proud to be so, though both in Nigeria and in Delta State, I belong to a minority group. I did not make myself an Isoko man. God did. We all need to remember this truth as we relate one to another”. I would add: Ikime also did not decide who would be his neighbour. Ikime’s declaration appears in the subsection titled Inter-ethnic disharmonies in Delta State.

Ethnic conflicts, disharmonies and tensions, were, of course, not caused by particular governments in office but various governments have worsened and exploited them in various ways, or insensitively ignored them. Ethnic tensions and conflicts “vitiate meaningful development” and “they arise usually, though not always, when a peoples sense of justice is outraged” (emphasis Ikime’s). Ikime goes on to tell us that whatever else he says “with regard to the subject of ethnic disharmony, this aspect of the peoples’ sense of justice being outraged is the core of my submission”. He

copiously elaborates and illustrates this proposition.

All ethnic groups – big and small, developed and under-developed, advantaged and disadvantaged – “are a product of history’, submits Ikime. “Historical events have created all the basic human groupings – countries, religions, classes – and all the loyalties that attach to these. It is the events recorded in history that have generated all the emotions, the values, the ideals, that make life meaningful, that have given men (and women) something to live for, struggle over, die for”. (This is a quote from sources, which were not named in the version of the paper I possess). Ikime’s “attitude to inter-ethnic and inter-group tensions and conflicts is determined by knowledge that in intergroup relations, we are not dealing with saints and sinners, but with sinners all!” Again, the author goes on to elaborate.

Obaro Ikime offers this fundamental proposition: “Quite a bit of the inter-ethnic tensions of today have their roots in History. Our peoples need to know that history. It is not that knowledge of that history would remove the tensions and conflicts. It is, rather, that both people and government can more meaningfully seek accommodation when they have knowledge that some of their present problems are the unintended results of History, not the criminal machinations of their neighbours, it is often easier to elicit a greater willingness to seek justice and accommodation without loss of face”. And further down: “Empires rise and fall. Those advantaged by today’s political arrangements could lose that advantage when those political arrangements change. A constant reference to the day when circumstances favoured one group over another cannot, and does not, solve the problems of today. If anything, such constant reference intensifies that problems.”

What is in a name?, asks Ikime. Quite a lot, he argues: “The names we give to political groupings like local governments can be problematic and conducive to strife and so inimical to development”. The location of the headquarters of geopolitical entities can cause the same problem. While not opposing the continuing existence of the traditional institution, Ikime strongly argues that the role and authority of traditional rulers in governance should be localised and the headship of traditional rulers’ councils should be rotational. I agree, and thank Obaro Ikime.

• To be continued next Thursday.

The crisis of nothingness

By Isi Omoifo E seem to be giving credence to the racist propaganda that W the mind of the African is a tabula rasa – a blank state, that we have never invented anything, never created anything, etc.

We legitimise the racists’ claim through our dressing habits, economic and cultural choices, religious formats, etc; which are slavish to, or imitative of, foreign forms. In the words of the late Afro-beat king, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, we have chosen to adopt a ‘follow-follow’ mentality rather than exhibit a creative originality or advertise the splendours of our cultural heritage.

Myles Munroe, the internationally acclaimed author and motivational speaker from the Bahamas, stated that the white man (and the Arab) in his imperialistic phase had a need to dominate like the lion in the great plains. Sheepishly, black Africans all over the world surrendered and continue to surrender to this dominance complex. We are cultural and economic factotums of the east and the west. Dominance compliance is at the root of black stasis and underdevelopment.

Negritude, which took off in Paris in the late 1930s, was a reaction by black intellectuals to the racist libels by white historians, ethnologists and writers. Its ideals, almost a century later, have not penetrated the Nigerian consciousness. It aimed at a reclamation of African values and cultures and turned down the project of assimilation into white ways by the French colonialists.

Negritude, according to Leopold Senghor, is the totality of the cultural values of the black world, an affirmation of self and a refusal to be lost in the other.

Nigerians are caught in profiles of rootlessness. We drag along slave manacles in the mind and that is why we are imitation whites and imitation Arabs. We submit witlessly to the wind and the waves of foreign contact or conquest. If Eskimos had impacted on us, directly or obliquely, we would have been imitation Eskimos. We are not moved by a vitalistic principle or prompted by the beautiful zeal of the hands, where everything emerges recreated at our touch. With our present entrapment in the barracoons of nothingness, progress is unattainable.

Dress-wise, we should embrace bright and artistic designs in local fabrics and wax prints, which are compliant with our cli-

mate and culture. This is one of the ways to puncture the racist lie that we have nothing to project or perpetuate. We are spending N600 billion annually to import wheat and the policy to introduce 20 per cent cassava flour into bread making is welcome. We should go further to invent or adapt the technology for cassava bread. One hundred per cent wheat-bread is not universal and there are always local variations. We must tame our imports craze.

We are neither vitalistic nor visionary. Without vision, we cannot move past the present crossroads in which our gigantic limbs have been paralysed. There is visionlessness in almost everything we do, in politics, in economic management, even in our arts. Take the current film fare being offered by what the whites denigrate as Nollywood. There is no attempt to indigenise film content, to leverage on music, dance, fantasy and the beauty of our natural environment. There is a nauseating focus on rituals, which the scriptwriters designate as doing culture. Culture is a much more profound subject which they apparently lack the competence to script into their stories. A thorough-going film ideology will aim at social renewal, producing culturally upgraded and dazzling images of post-colonial reality to situate conduct and gesture.

We are almost totally submerged in waves of foreign music, including the current hip-hop rave. Most of our music scholars and bodies such as the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), concentrate on western classical music, which may not totally be a bad thing. But they should also teach African classical music and lead the quest for its modernisation. In many of our secondary schools, students are prancing about like white youths in ballet classes which is what dance means to our colonised eyes. African dance works largely by rhythm, which agrees with our cultural temper. Each race is differently endowed and there are probably no two races as contrasting as black and white.

In politics, we should bring forward the participatory spirit of Africans to enrich the concept of democracy. The Esan people say when we join our heads and our hearts together, harmony flows among us as a river. Instead of the materialistic and selfish agendas of our extractive elite, we should adopt a harmony model, through which are align our disparate groups on a holistic course.

The prime step in a redemptive vision is the rise of the aristocracy of the spirit as encoded in our pre-colonial art. We must grow in spiritual magnitude rather than the present empty religious formalism. We should aim to produce strategic individuals who are epitomes of the good, the fruitful and the beautiful and rise above spiritual emotionalism and immaturity, which erupt in fanaticism, extremism, devilphobia, disorders of the tongue, etc. The quality of each individual is being interrogated.

Our children are going to ask: ‘where do you stand in the alien tempests from the fourteenth to the twentieth century?’

Nigeria has lost its soul in the turbulent seas of the world. Our reality is shattered from the east, our universe unhinged from the west. Nigeria is a castaway on the rocks of unknowing, an amputated intellect proud of foreign names, foreign designers, foreign music, foreign architecture etc. An African proverb says the farthest you can go is to return home. There shall be jubilation at the return of our prodigals to cultural port. We must start a counter movement to indigenise our names, our dresses, our music, our architecture, our economy as well as the foreign religions.

A reconstructive vision begins with the family. The home is the conservatory of manners and morals and the primary medium for cultural transmission, including instruction in the local language. It teaches discipline, time consciousness, sensitivity, fraternity, love of the arts and love of nature. The modern home has a library and Internet access and opens the window on globalised reality. Woman as the pillar of the home is educationally fortified to be the midwife of generational progress.

Nigerians must step back in order to launch forward, must project backward like the Shankofa bird in order to glide into the horizon. They should extend themselves in the humus of their cultural heritage. They should respond to the generational challenge of anomie-bursting motion by rediscovering the wisdom of their ancestors and by being carriers of the primal vision – divine causation, family solidarity, group dynamism, artistic gingerism, etc., – subject to their constextualisation in the present.

We need the perspective of the eagle, cherished in our coat of arms, which rises above the chaos of reality to soar toward a brilliant vision to encompass the entire globe.

• Omoifo, a poet, essayist and journalist lives in Benin City.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

84

Opinion The Pope’s ultimate testimony of courage

By Emeka Nwosu WAS, like few other lucky Nigerians to have a immersed in my duties when a confrere Iofjob, mine burst in to announce the proposed resignation of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, the 265th Bishop of Rome and Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. The impact of this news was initially lost on me, as I didn’t give it much thought and continued with my work. And then, I received a text message from my sister in Abuja asking me what was going on. From the tone of her text message, it was evident that she was worried and alarmed. I called her back, reassuring her that all was well that there was nothing to be worried about. I suppose her sense of worry and anxiety was reflective of that of so many other Catholics and even nonCatholics who were shocked and overwhelmed by this unexpected news. I guess that many who looked up to the Pope as a spiritual and moral guide and as a reassuring source of hope and stability must have suddenly felt like sheep without a shepherd: lost, confused, vulnerable and even betrayed.

The impact of the Pope’s resignation only started dawning on me when I began to follow the event on international news channels and listen to the Pope himself speak on his wellthought out but difficult decision to resign.

Added to my sense of loss was a feeling of sadness even though his reason for deciding to resign made perfect sense to me.

It was curious and interesting to listen to the comments of people about the Pope’s resignation. While so many took it really badly and even felt almost let down by the Pope for expressing his decision to quit office, some wondered if the health reason given by the Pope was actually the real motive. Some went as far as comparing his decision to resign on health grounds with that of Blessed Pope John Paul II’s decision to stay on and refuse to “come down from the cross” until “it is finished.” The former Secretary to Pope John Paul II, and now Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Dziwisz, was even reported to have said that “one does not come down from the Cross”, almost a subtle rebuke of Pope Benedict’s decision. A few further insinuated that while John Paul II’s decision characterised the virtue of courage, which refuses to yield even in the face of the most challenging health situation, Benedict XVI seemed to have chickened out like any coward would do.

Of course, there are already several “complotists” or conspiracy theorists that have already begun to spurn out theories on the possible conspiracies underlying Benedict XVI sudden

resignation.

No doubt, Pope Benedict’s unexpected resignation is enough to spark off the wildest imagination of any fertile mind, but that is not our concern here. Our concern is to examine the very act or gesture of this Catholic Pope. There is no doubt that Blessed Pope John Paul II’s decision to stay on as Pope even when he was bent over with sickness and pain, in other words, his refusal to come down from the cross but to remain until the very last drop of blood is shed, is indeed a hallmark of courage.

His was a testimony of the virtue of perseverance and steadfastness in the face of the most difficult and challenging situation. His was a living testimony to a generation, which has wittingly or unwittingly chosen to renounce any and every form of pain, suffering and sacrifice. In a culture that embraces unapologetically hedonism and an anti-Cross or anti-suffering culture, John Paul’s decision was an unambiguous and courageous testimony that pain and suffering is also the crucible where human persons are fashioned and molded. In a culture that opts for euthanasia in a perhaps well-intentioned but mistaken belief that it is better to shield one’s loved ones from every form of pain and suffering, John Paul courageously and stubbornly chose to remain on the cross in order to bear testimony to that core of the Christian message, viz. that suffering can be redemptive and salvific if united with the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ. That was the courageous witness of Blessed Pope John Paul II. But is Benedict’s resignation for reasons of burden of age and ill-health not a negation of the testimony of courage borne by his predecessor? Certainly not! Far from being an act of cowardice, his decision rather complements his predecessor’s testimony of the Christian virtue of courage. While his predecessor testified with his life, the courage not to succumb to pains, sufferings or any form of difficulty but rather to walk steadily under the powerful arm of the crucified but risen Lord, Benedict, on the other hand, testifies to the courage to recognise and embrace willingly and humbly the limits of human nature but at the same time trusting in the wisdom and power of the Almighty God who alone is uncircumscribed by any limit or weakness. It is a courage borne out of a humble spirit which, deeply aware of the limits and weaknesses of the human nature and capacity, submits humbly before the Infinite and Invincible Lord and confesses that nothing depends absolutely on the human person but on God alone.

While John Paul II courageously challenged the dominant death-culture and anti-cross culture, Benedict has likewise testified and challenged the arrogant culture of the world and of Europe in particular which refuses to acknowledge the place and role of God in the scheme of human life and society. In recognising the limits of his strength and recognising that the future and fortunes of the church are not entirely and absolutely dependent on him but on the one who, in the first instance, entrusted him with that task, His Holiness is challenging us all to recognise the finitude of the human person and the futile pretensions of the human person to infinitude and omnipotence. If there is a clear message that has stood out in the papacy of Pope Benedict, it is this message. In fact, his call for the re-evangelisation of Europe and other parts of the so-called developed nations is nothing but an invitation to a humble and courageous submission to God. Thus, his resignation is a final and unequivocal testimony to that message he had always preached before and during his papacy.

As President of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, he was not afraid to call to order erring and heretical theologians who risked muddling the faith and tradition of the Church. As Pope, he was never scarred of confronting and challenging the dominant cultures, including the tyranny of relativism and secular atheism that mark modern European culture. While respecting other cultures and religious traditions, he was never afraid of challenging and pointing out what needed to be said and understood. He was never afraid to acknowledge and apologise for the scandals that emerged from the womb of the body of Christ over which he was called to preside. Indeed, he had always lived out the cardinal virtue of courage.

One remarkable thing to note is that courage is a virtue that is accompanied by prudence.

Prudence is a practical act of judgment, which enables one to discern and act rightly. But prudence itself requires wisdom and wisdom as the Holy Scripture tells us is nothing but the love and fear of God. In other words, one who acts courageously must act with prudence and to act with prudence would require wisdom and to be wise is to know and fear God. There is no doubt that, though a highly intellectual and cultivated prelate, His Holiness is a man that fears and loves God, hence he must have been inspired to make the wise and courageous decision to resign at this point of his papacy. Likewise, filled with the wisdom that comes from the love and fear of God, John Paul II was able to

discern rightly, i.e. prudently, that he was being called upon by Divine Providence to tread that courageous path of remaining on the Cross right to the end. And so, we see here that prudence inspired by wisdom leads one or persons to act differently according to particular circumstances but in the interest, not of oneself, but that of the common good.

I would like to end this piece by pointing to a few lessons we all can draw from this heroic and courageous act of the successor of St. Peter.

There couldn’t have been a better lesson to leaders at all levels of the Nigerian and African society than that which Pope Benedict has taught us on the morning of February 11: the honesty to recognise that the foundations of the world or even of any institution are not laid on anyone of us and so we are not indispensable. We must constantly keep this truth in mind and so be ever willing to step down or step aside when we have come to the limits of our physical, moral and spiritual strength and not pretend that the earth will cease orbiting round the sun if we do not step aside or step down. Related to this is the truth that there are always others who if not better than us are, at least, as good as us to continue the good works.

In recognising that his strength is no longer sufficient to carry on the onerous task of the papacy, Pope Benedict is simply saying, that there are younger cardinals, bishops or priests who are as capable if not more capable of continuing the ministry of the Bishop of Rome. Pope Benedict, both implicitly and explicitly admits that he is not the only fish in the wide ocean.

This is his last testimony to our African leaders who do not believe that God has endowed other men and women with sufficient capacity to lead and also to governors who stay away from their responsibilities for months on the grounds of accumulated leave even when it is clear that he has serious health issues. It doesn’t matter even if a senior Prelate rails against those who question such long absence.

Pope Benedict’s ultimate testimony of faith is a priceless lesson for those who are already scheming for 2015 even when it is evident that they do not have the intellectual and moral credentials and capacity to be at the helm of affairs of a great nation like ours. As our beloved and well-respected Pope retires to a quiet life of prayer and contemplation, I sincerely pray that the rest of his earthly days will be filled with great serenity, joy and peace and an intimate fellowship with the Lord whom he has faithfully served all these years. God bless our Pope!

• Fr. Nwosu is Dean of Studies, Dominican Institute, Samonda, Ibadan.

Pope Benedict XVI: Quo Vadis?

By Paul Kokoski N what some are calling a display of divine displeasure at the ICross Pope’s decision to resign, a bolt of lightening struck the atop the dome of Peter’s Basilica in Rome only hours after the Pope’s shocking announcement. The Pope’s decision left Catholics confused and bewildered as to the direction in which the Church is now headed. “Quo Vadis” is a Latin phrase meaning, “Where are you going”. It refers to the encounter between St. Peter (the first Pope) and Jesus Christ on the Appian Way. Peter, fleeing from the persecutions and likely crucifixion of the Emperor Nero had a vision of Christ whom he asked “Domine, quo vadis?” Jesus answered him, “Whither I go, thou cannot follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards” (John 13:36). Peter understood this to mean that Jesus was going back to Rome to be crucified again. Peter, following his own fate, returned to Rome and was crucified at the foot of the Vatican Hills where St. Peter’s Basilica stands today.

Is Pope Benedict XVI on the same Appian Way today fleeing the wolves? The last Pope John Paul II suffered from such physical disabilities and spiritual tortures at the end of his papacy that he could no longer hide them from public view. But he did not abandon the barque of Peter. Instead he allowed his scourged body to be held up as a testament to his faith and trust in God – just as Christ did when he stood before Pilate and the rebel crowd. Even when pressured several times to resign from those both inside and outside the Church, Pope John Paul II did not cave in to the wolves’ demands. Rather, he used their taunts as an opportunity to teach us how “Christ, (in his hour of darkness), did not come down from the cross.”

He taught us: “Now is the time to work, heaven is the time to

rest”. So where is Benedict going at this late hour? Did he perhaps receive a vision altogether different from that of Peter?

Many in the Church – especially those who previously applauded Pope John Paul II’s fortitude in embracing his papacy – are now, in rather stark reversal, favourably comparing Pope Benedict XVI’s abdication with that of the abdications of Pope Celestine V and Pope Gregory XII. However, contrary to the pundits these were exceptional cases. Celestine V resigned after having been snatched by force from his hermit’s cell. Gregory XII was forced to resign in order to resolve the very serious issue of the Great Western Schism. Where is the exception in Benedict XVI’s case? His intellectual faculties were fully intact. His health, according to Holy See Press Office director Fr. Federico Lombardi, is “generally good”. Is there something more we are not being told? Every pontiff experiences a certain human inadequacy in fulfilling the office of the Vicar of Christ. But the Holy Spirit is most assuredly guaranteed to stay with the Pope from the time he is elected to the very end of his pontificate. Most likely, only the Pope will ever know for sure if he has chosen to follow the will of God or the will of man.

The Pope’s abdication, while quite permissible from a theological and canonical standpoint, is nonetheless extremely innovative and revolutionary from a historical perspective. It represents a serious break with tradition insofar as the Chair of Peter has now become an office that can be judged by the same criteria by which modernity judges things. Essentially, the papacy now runs the risk of having its image stripped of its sacredness in the eyes of the world.

Despite this continuing trend toward modernity, Pope Benedict XVI in his address to the clergy of the Rome diocese on February 14, wished to assure Catholics that 50 years after Vat-

ican II, “the strength of the real Council has been revealed...and is becoming the real power, which is also true reform, true renewal of the Church.” But there are few if any signs of this new springtime. One need only look around a bit to see that very few of his priests and bishops pay him any real homage other than the usual empty lip service betoken wolves in sheep’s clothing. This is especially visible in their almost unanimous disdain for the Pope’s Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum promoting the Latin Mass. It is also evident in their refusal to follow the Pope’s many good examples regarding the Novus Ordo such as his abandonment of the practice of receiving Holy Communion in the hand while standing.

Additionally confusing is the fact that the Pope is leaving office blaming not the long developing trend toward Modernism in the Church but the media for causing the internal divisions, which have led to “seminaries and convents closing and the liturgy being trivialized”. Certainly the media has played its part and played it well in mercilessly crucifying the Church, but most of what the media reports about the church was and continues to be generated by dissenting priests and theologians, many of whom had a direct hand in moulding the documents of Vatican II. Also, if it is the case that the Catholic Church needs to depend on the media for its livelihood, it might just as well abandon ship now for the media, with its pro-world, pro-flesh, and prodevil mandate, is not going away any time soon. No doubt these are troubling times and the future looks ominous indeed! Let us all pray that Pope Benedict XVI has in the end made the right decision.

• Kokoski wrote from Ontario, Canada.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

85

86

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

87

88

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

89

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

90

Sports Countdown To 2014 World Cup Qualifier

Kenya intensifies preparations, names new coach to battle Eagles HE Harambee Stars have T intensified training for their Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier against the Super Eagles, with the latest in the plans to upset Nigeria being the appointment of Belgium’s Adel Amrouche as manager to replace Frenchman Henri Michel, who quit in December.

According to Reuters, the 44-year-old former Burundi coach was unveiled at a news conference attended by the East African nation’s Sports Minister, Ababu Namwamba, and Football Kenya Federation Chairman, Sam Nyamweya.

Like Michel, who resigned citing differences with the Kenyan football authorities over the terms of his contract, the Belgian, who managed Burundi from 2007 to 2012, left the Southern African country last year in protest over his working conditions.

Kenya visit newly-crowned African champions, Nigeria, in a second round 2014 World Cup qualifier on March 22.

Nigeria lead Group F after two matches with four points, three more than Kenya, whose only point came in a goalless draw at home to Malawi last June.

Only the top team in each of the 10 groups qualifies for

the third round.

“I am happy to be the Kenya coach. The federation and myself have similar objectives and goals,” Amrouche, who was born in Algeria, told reporters.

“I am here to develop football on long term basis.

Football Kenya may not have selected a big name, but they have a worker, somebody, who can change Kenyan football for the better.”

Meanwhile, the Kenyans have lined up friendlies against former African champion, Egypt and Congo Brazzaville in readiness for the game against Nigeria.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President, Sam Nyamweya, announced the planned friendlies recently while stating the intent of pulling all stops to ensure Harambee Stars were in good shape for the Super Eagles next month.

“We have received invitations from Egypt and Congo Brazzaville in March before we play Nigeria. We are ready for them and I’m urging the team to cause a surprise,” the chairman added.

“These friendlies will give the team good time to gel and I’m confident we can do well against Nigeria. In Tunis, the local and foreign players gelled very well and followed instructions and that is why

CAF Champions League

Ganaru sure Kano Pillars will make group stage ANO Pillars’ Head Coach, K Baba Ganaru is sure his team would qualify for the group stage of the ongoing CAF Champions League, following its brilliant start to the 2013edition of the competition.

Pillars defeated Olympique Real de Bangui 5-1 in the first leg of their preliminary round tie in Kano at the weekend, a win, which Ganaru said showed that the team was poised to go places.

“I am very optimistic that we are going to qualify for the group stage of the competition. We started on a brilliant note by beating them 5-1 and it is a good way to start the qualifying stages,’’ Ganaru told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The coach assured that the team would not get carried away with the result from the first leg, but would work harder to secure the ticket for the group stage.

“Our main goal is to clinch the ticket for the lucrative group stage of the CAF Champions League and we won’t relent until we achieve our objective. We are already preparing for the return leg match and it will be better than the first leg,’’ he said.

The coach commended his players for the hard work they put into the encounter and

their adherence to the tactical plan for the match.

“The players played according to my instructions; and if they continue like this, they will go far in the competition,’’ he said.

The return leg of the fixture would be played in Bangui on Feb. 28.

Super Eagles’ striker, Ikechukwu Uche (left), battles with Kenyan defenders during a past World Cup qualifier. Both teams will meet again next month in the Brazil 2014 qualifiers.

Kalu describes late Isima as a visionary BIA State’s former A Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu has described the late Green Eagles star, Okey Isima, as man, who knew what was good and went for it.

Eulogising the 1980 Nations Cup winner, who passed on in Abuja on Monday, Kalu said, “Isima knew football without education was dangerous, so from the blast he was interested in making money to further his education. That he achieved even after winning gold in his 1980 Nations Cup debut.”

According to Kalu, when other players were dissuad-

ed from living Enugu Rangers, even with scholarships from American Universities, Isima looked a top official in the face and told him he needed more money to take care of his family.

“Yes, Isima was bold and blunt. He eventually left Rangers for Jos Standard early in 1979 with Arthur Egbunam. In that year’s league, the Flying Antelopes lost home and away to the Jos pen pushers, first time a Nigerian team would beat Rangers home and away.

“It was from Jos he joined the Eagles. And after Nations

FIFA security head wants governments’ support against match-fixing head of security FtheIFA’s warned on Tuesday that fight against match-fixing would ultimately flounder without the full support of governments across the world.

Ralf Mutschke hopes a Singaporean businessman accused of heading a crime syndicate that made millions by betting on rigged Italian games will be brought to face the courts with the help of local government authorities.

Speaking at a conference in Malaysia co-hosted by Interpol and the Asian Football Confederation, Mutschke said referees and players are being banned for life for corruption but the masterminds walk free because of legislative weak-

nesses.

“We have to bring in the governments because they have to change legislations and laws, because a lot of countries do not have proper laws fighting match manipulation and corruption,” he said. “Talking is nice, but we have to come to a conclusion that it’s time now for action.”

The European Union’s police agency reported earlier this month that organised crime gangs have fixed or tried to fix hundreds of football matches around the world in recent years.

Europol said its 18-month review found 380 suspicious matches in Europe and another 300 questionable games outside the continent, mainly in Africa, Asia and South and Central America. It

also found evidence that Asian crime groups were involved in some of the match-fixing.

Mutschke pointed to the case of Singaporean businessman Tan Seet Eng - known as Dan Tan - for whom Italian authorities have issued an arrest warrant but have been unable to take into custody because it cannot be served on him while he is in Asia.

He said FIFA would not sanction Singapore’s football association, which is not responsible for arresting Tan. Tan “needs to be brought to justice ... but it’s out of our jurisdiction,” Mutschke said.

“Why should FIFA punish the entire Singapore if it’s a political problem? The problem has to be solved on a political level.”

Cup gold he travelled abroad to better his life,” Kalu added.

Isima actually starred as a schoolboy for Christ the King College (CKC) Onitsha before crossing over to Holy Ghost College, Owerri in 1976 with Chukwuma “Water” Nwokike where they won the East Central State Schools Cup under Sunny Aguta.

He joined Rangers in 1978, following in the footsteps of Godwin Gbenimacho (Mature) and Emma Merenini. As a professional, he played for Portuguese side, Maritimo Funchal alongside Sylvanus Okpala, while his younger brother, Ndubuisi, teamed up with Asabatex.

“Give it to Isima,” Kalu continued, adding, “he always found a way round North Africans. It got to a level where para-psychologist, Gabriel Okonzua, prayed that he be made Eagles captain for Nigeria to beat Algeria 3-0 away, after a home 0-2 loss in a 1981 World Cup qualifier.

“Skipper Segun Odegbami was dethroned mid-air, Muda Lawal took over, and Isima scored the lone goal in Eagles’ 1-2 loss.

“Isima’s goal helped Nigeria hit Egypt 1-0 in 1980, at Libya ‘82 he scored again against Algeria in yet another 1-2 loss and against Tunisia in 1985, the defender gave Nigeria a slim 1-0 triumph.”

Isima is the latest among the 1980 Eagles squad to pass on. He joins Muda Lawal, Tunde Bamidele and Aloy Atuegbu in the great beyond.

Benin monarch charges motor bike riders on track maintenance From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City S the Edo State government plans to begin the construction of motor-bike asphalt track in Evbuobanosa, near Benin City, the Benin Monarch, Oba Erediauwa has charged motor-bike riders in the state to ensure maintenance of the facility once its construction is complete.

He also urged the bike-riders to embark on programmes that would enhance the popularity of the recreational sports.

Speaking when the riders under the auspices of Motorcross Naija visited the palace recently, the monarch said, “the palace will always give his backing to any project that is geared towards the development of Edo State.”

To this end, the Oba urged the management of Motocross to ensure proper management, stability and continuity of the sport to enable it live its dreams.

Responding, the President of Motocross Naija, Comrade Oduagbon Okao, said, “Motocross has come to stay and it is only wise that we get the blessing of our royal father for the construction of the asphalt track which the comrade governor promised us which will soon commence.

“Interestingly, our royal father is a lover of sports, as it is always exhibited during the yearly Igue Festival and other palace competitions and sports sponsorships which accounts for interest in Motocross,” he enthused.

A

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

SPORTS 91

Ahead 10th Biennial Police Games

Ghana, five other countries listed, as organisers declare Port Harcourt ready

By Christian Okpara HE Chairman of the Police Sports Planning Committee, Abimbola Macaulay, on Tuesday disclosed that Ghana, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Benin Republic and Gambia will part of the 10th Biennial Nigeria Police Games, which begins on March 3 in Port Harcourt.

Also expected at the games are secondary school relay teams, as well as, teams from other forces, she added.

Speaking on the plans for the games at a press briefing yesterday in Lagos, Macauley, who represented the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, said the 10th Biennial Police Games will be marked with elaborate opening and closing ceremonies to be held at the Stadium, Port Harcourt on March 3 and 9, with the President Goodluck Jonathan as the special guest of honour.

T

The 10th Biennial Games will feature 24 events, which would hold at the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium, and the Agbani Darego Sports Complex from March 4 to 8.

These events include athletics, football, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, judo, hockey, wrestling, swimming, weightlifting, boxing, tennis and taekwondo.

Others are kickboxing, golf, tug-of –war, chess, squash, shooting, karate, polo, wushu kung fu, badminton and handball.

She disclosed that this year’s games aims at producing talented athletes for the country, adding, “the Biennial Police Games is one of Nigeria’s most prominent and resourceful sporting events, having drastically impacted very positively in diverse ramifications, on the nation’s rich sporting history, producing eminent national and international sporting giants like of Chioma

Ajunwa, who won Nigeria’s first ever individual Olympic gold medal in her famous Long jump at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Late Sunday Bada, who was the anchorman of Nigeria’s relay quartet to the 2000 Sydney Olympics that won the country her third Olympic gold medal (after the disqualification of the American Team).”

She disclosed that the 12 zones of the force and the headquarters, Abuja, would participate in the games with over 4000 athletes.

“We have secondary school invitational relays. We also have a raffle draw that is open only to the rank and file of the force, with the winners going home with five cars,” she added.

Macauley also revealed that the Force wants to establish a foundation that would ensure that funds do not stop the games from holding on schedule.

Super Eagles striker, Victor Moses (right) vies with Burkina Faso’s midfielder, Djakaridja Kone during the 2013 African Cup of Nations final match at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg.

PHOTO: AFP

Chukwu at Heineken Planet, hails Keshi’s impact on Nigerian football UPER Eagles former Coach, Sdescribed Christian Chukwu has Stephen Keshi’s feat

Nigeria’s first Olympic Gold Medalist, Chioma Ajunwa (left), General Manager, NPF Microfinance Bank, Ade Adesina, Nigeria Police Force Spokesperson, Frank Mba, Head, Sponsorship and Events, First Bank Plc, Bridget Oyefeso Odusanmi, Chairman, Police Sports Planning Committee, Dr. Abimbola Macaulay, and head of Corporate Communications, Mutual Benefit Assurance Plc, Mr. Offo, at the Police Games Press Conference held in Lagos…yesterday.

at the South Africa 2013 CAF Nations Cup as one of the best things to happen to Nigerian coaches.

Keshi became the first indigenous coach to lead Nigeria to the Nations Cup title when his team defeated Burkina Faso in February 10 in Johannesburg to emerge continental champions.

Speaking at the Heineken Champions Planet, where consumers, media representatives, celebrities and football legends gathered to watch the UEFA Champions League

Nigerian coaches thrilled by FCAAN courses T was all smiles and back Itwo-day slapping at the end of the football coaching course organised for Nigerian coaches by U.Sbased Football Coaches Association of Africa Nations (FCAAN) in Lagos at the weekend.

The event, which took place at the National Institute For Sports (NIS), National Stadium, Lagos, had in attendance football coaches from all over Nigeria and Ghana.

At the end of the exercise, the coaches were delighted at what they called a long awaited opportunity to learn new tricks in the game and thanked Dr. Terry Babatunde Eguaoje, founder of FCAAN for giving them an opportunity to be better coaches through the coaching course.

Speaking on the coaching course, Dr. Eguaoje told reporters that he was delighted with the attitude of the Nigerian coaches to learning during the course.

“One interesting thing about the FCAAN E License course was the quest by

Nigerian coaches to learn.

They didn’t just sit down and watch, they asked very vital questions, which showed their enthusiasm to be better coaches in future,” enthused Eguaoje, who is the technical director of Mississippi Soccer Association.

Also speaking at the event, Sam Snow, an American, who is the United States Youth Soccer Technical director, and who was brought to Nigeria by Eguaoje to train the trainers, was also delighted at seeing Nigerian coaches scramble for knowledge and promised to be back in the country as soon as possible for FCAAN’s D License coaching courses.

The FCAAN course, which held between February 16 and 17, involved theory and practical sessions and was in collaboration with the Lagos State Football Association.

All the coaches in attendance were awarded FCAAN E Licenses.

FCAAN is endorsed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

game between Real Madrid and Manchester United, Chukwu praised Keshi for his courage in taking risks.

“Taking risks is the hallmark of good coaches all over the world,” Chukwu said. “Keshi did exactly that in South Africa, even though he knew he did not have the required support by most football followers and would be sacrificed if things went wrong.

“Considering that 17 of the 23 players paraded at the competition had not participated in previous Africa Nations Cup made his team look suspect.

“Without any doubt whatsoever, Keshi has made the world believe that there is a lot of talent in our domestic league. This can eventually affect the league positively in such a way that our future national team would be built

around players at home and we can return to our formidable status.”

Also at the Heineken Planet on the night were comedian Julius Agu and Super Eagles’ former striker, Victor Ikpeba, among other celebrities.

Most of the visitors and passionate followers of the tournament on StarPlayer app are normally at their best while the matches are on, in other to score points with their anticipatory skills.

The StarPlayer app, which has now been adapted for Android phones and can be downloaded online.

The App offers users the chance to further enhance their UEFA Champions League viewing experience by trying to anticipate what will happen next in a particular game in order to score points.

Premier Lotto Lagos School Athletics championship debuts N continuation of its drive Iathletes unearth young and quality for the country, Lagos

Sam Snow was one of the resource persons at the two-day football coaching course, organised for Nigerian coaches by U.S-based Football Coaches Association of African Nations (FCAAN) in Lagos… at the weekend.

State is staging the maiden Premier Lotto Lagos School Athletics championships this month across the state.

The competition is among secondary students in public and private schools in the state and is bankrolled by Premier Lotto in collaboration with the Lagos State Athletics Association and Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development.

According to the organisers, the tournament is aimed at promoting athletics in schools as well as to discover new talents. The competition will be in two categories starting with the district finals

made up of the six education districts in the state.

The top athletes from each district will qualify for the grand finale at Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The district finals will kick off on Monday February 25 at Teslim Balogun Stadium with schools from district two, three, four and five jostling for places in the grand finale.

Agege Stadium will host district one and six on Tuesday February 26 and March 6 to determine the athletes that will compete in the finale.

The climax of the championship is the state final, which will hold next month at Teslim Balogun Stadium with top athletes from each district converging to determine the state champions.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

92| SPORTS

No inconsistencies in Pistorius’ account, Police admits A

POLICE detective testifying at Oscar Pistorius’ bail hearing yesterday said that police have not found anything inconsistent with how the star athlete described his shooting of his girlfriend — a killing that Pistorius says was accidental but which prosecutors call murder.

The second day of the bail hearing in a case that has riveted South Africa and much of the world, appeared at first to go against the double amputee, with prosecutor Gerrie Nel saying a witness can testify to hearing “nonstop talking, like shouting” between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. before the predawn shooting on Valentine’s Day. Pistorius said in an affidavit read in court on Tuesday that he and girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and budding reality TV star, had gone to bed and that when he awoke during the night he detected what he thought was an intruder in the bathroom. He testified that he grabbed his 9 mm pistol and fired into the bathroom door, only to discover later to his horror that Steenkamp was there, mortally wounded.

Under cross-examination, police Detective Warrant Officer Hilton Botha acknowledged that the witness, who allegedly overheard argument was 600 meters (yards) from Pistorius’ house, where the shooting occurred.

Pistorius, the first Paralympian runner to compete at the Olympic Games, is charged with premeditated murder in the case.

The prosecution attempted to cement its argument that

the couple had a shouting match, that Steenkamp fled and locked herself into the toilet and that Pistorius fired four shots through the door, hitting her with three bullets.

Botha added: “I believe that he knew that Reeva was in the bathroom and he shot four shots through the door.”

But asked if the police found anything inconsistent with the version of events presented by Pistorius, Botha responded that they had not.

Botha, a 16-year police veteran, said the trajectory of the bullets showed the gun was fired pointed down and from a height. Pistorius’ statement on Tuesday said that he was on his stumps and feeling vulnerable when he opened fired. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel has said the killing was premeditated because Pistorius took time to put on his prosthetic legs before the shooting.

Nel projected a plan of the bedroom and bathroom for the courtroom and argued Pistorius had to walk past his bed to get to the bathroom and could not have done so without realizing the Steenkamp was not in the bed.

“There’s no other way of getting there,” Nel said.

Hilton said the holster for the 9 mm pistol was found under the side of the bed on which Steenkamp slept — also implying it would have been impossible for Pistorius to get the gun without realizing that Steenkamp was not in the bed and could have been the person in the bathroom. Pistorius testified on Tuesday that the bedroom was pitch dark.

Jigawa ready to churn out champions for Nigeria, says Lamido From John Akubo, Dutse OVERNOR Sule Lamido G has promised that Jigawa State would soon become the national reference point in sporting activities because his administration has laid the foundation for grooming champions in all spheres of sports.

Speaking at the just concluded sports competition for secondary schools at the Yakubu Gowon Sports Complex/NYSC Orientation Camp in Dutse on Friday, Lamido said the event is targeted at identifying the talents at the very tender age.

“We are trying to catch them young at very early stage and groom them so that they become like other accomplished champions in the world.

“It is one of the ways we intend to translate the Jigawa vision, the Jigawa dream. We want to build the best for Nigeria so that Jigawa becomes our national reference point. This is one of the ways we develop our youth to realise their potentials both academically and sports wise. This has been a yearly event.”

Speaking earlier, the state’s Commissioner of Education, Prof. Haruna Wakili said the event marked the revival of

schools’ sports in the state, adding, the competition started at the school levels, continued at the zonal and inter-zonal levels with the winners coming together to decide the state champions.

He thanked the governor for reviving schools’ sports, while revealing that the state was planning for a basic level competition, which will involve primary schools and later tertiary institutions in the state.

Hilton said Steenkamp was shot in the head over her right ear and in her right elbow and hip, with both joints broken by the impacts.

Defense attorney, Barry Roux, asked Botha if Steenkamp’s body showed “any pattern of defensive wounds,” and the detective said it did not.

Hilton said the shots were fired from 1.5 meters (five feet), and that police found three spent cartridges in the bathroom and one in the hallway connecting the bathroom to the bedroom.

Police also found two iPhones in the bathroom and two BlackBerrys in the bedroom, Hilton said, adding that none had been used to phone for help. Pistorius had said that he called the manager of his guarded and gated housing complex and a private paramedic service.

Roux said Pistorius did make calls, including to the guards of the housing estate. In one case, he said, a guard could hear Pistorius crying. “Was it part of his premeditated plan, not to switch off the phone and cry?” Roux asked sarcastically.

Botha said Pistorius did not have a license for a .38-caliber weapon and consequently his possession of ammuni-

Pistorious. tion for such a weapon was illegal.

The detective said that all Pistorius would say after the shooting was “he thought it

was a burglar.”

In an additional revelation yesterday, police said they found two boxes of testosterone and needles in the

Pistorius’ bedroom.

But Roux said the substance was a “herbal remedy,” and not a steroid or a banned substance.

Why AFN boycotted Mobil School Athletics Championship in Eket, by Ogba

By Gowon Akpodonor HE President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Solomon Ogba said he decided to ‘stay away’ from the past two editions of the annual Mobil School Athletics Championship in Eket, Akwa Ibom State because the sponsor was not living up to expectations.

Two years ago, the AFN terminated its relationship with Mobil for the sponsorship of the prestigious All Nigeria Athletics Championship (formerly Mobil Athletics Championship).

The Mobil School Athletics Championship in Eket is still on course, but Ogba revealed in Lagos at the weekend that the sponsor was not living up to expectations, saying, “I don’t pretend. I made it clear to Mobil when I was invited to the School Athletics Championship three years ago that until they laid a tar-

T

• Says contract with Glo on Lagos Marathon has expired tan track at the Eket Stadium, I would not honour its invitation again. I am very serious about it.

“Eket is the host community where Mobil has its major operation in the country and the company will not be doing too much for the people if it fixed the tartan track of the stadium for the school children to have a smooth athletics championship. It is part of its social responsibility to the people of the community where it operates. Building a career for the children is not too much.”

He added, “every year, Mobil will charter a plane to carry ministers and other top functionaries to watch the final of the competition in Eket, yet it found it difficult to put in place just a tartan track in the Stadium.

“You see the school children

A student doing the long jump during one of the editions of the Akwa Ibom Mobil Schools Championship.

running on sandy field, jamming one another. It is unacceptable and that is why I deliberately refused to be part of the past two editions of the championships in Eket.

“Again, running on a sandy field makes it difficult for the school children to grow in their athletics career. That championship has been on for some time now but we can’t lay hand on any of the products at national level. Where are the athletes, who passed out from the championship?

“It is like Mobil is sponsoring the championship to satisfy

some people. We refused to accept Mobil’s N13 millon sponsorship for the All Nigeria Athletics Championship two years ago because we felt it is not worth it. Why should we take N13million when the Cross River State government was ready to put in N50 million?”

The AFN boss also revealed that the sponsorship deal it entered with telecommunication film, Globacom, for the Lagos Marathon has expired.

“When we are ready for the Lagos marathon everybody will know,” he added.

Table Tennis:Lagos final qualifiers of Adeboye U-20 national tournament holds tomorrow

By Olalekan Okusan

T

O ensure transparency, as well as, to give players equal chance to make the state team for the grand finale of the Pastor E. A. Adeboye U-20 National Table Tennis Championship, the Lagos State Table Tennis Association (LSTTA) has fixed tomorrow as the state final.

According to LSTTA Technical Director, John Peters, having concluded qualifiers for some educational districts in the state, the eight players selected from each district will compete in the finale holding at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park this Friday.

Hundreds of players competed in the district finals played last week.

He said, “the qualification matches to select players that will represent Lagos State in the forthcoming 1st Pastor E. A. Adeboye National U-20 Table Tennis Championships kicked off at Rowe Park Yaba on Wednesday, February 13, 2013.

The elimination contest started with schools in District four of the State comprising Yaba, Ebute-Meta, Akoka, Shomolu, Bariga, Iponrin and Surulere.

About 100 students from these schools participated, from whom four boys and four girls emerged to represent the District at the state finals scheduled for Friday 22 at Rowe Park.”

Peters, who is one of Nigeria’s International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) certified blue badge umpires, the tournament is a sign of great things to happen to the development of table Tennis in Lagos and Nigeria.

“This is the first time in recent years that table tennis championship is being organised at the grassroots level with about 600 players expected to participate in all the six districts of Lagos State. Four boys and four girls will eventually qualify to represent Lagos at the national finals from 26 to 28 February at the Redemption Camp in Ogun State,” he said.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

93

94

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, February 21, 2013

95

TheGuardian

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Dr. Izuhunwa Amadasun HE likes of the United States T (U.S.), China, Japan and Brazil have the most booming economies. Hong Kong, Macau, Israel and Iceland have a life expectancy of 82 years on average, while Italy, France and Chile have sites to die for. The above make your mouth water for these things when they are not in your grasp.

The desire for a better life is ignited more in societies whose average guy finds a daily supply of food and water with much difficulty. It is in order to want more.

This quest for the “American dream” has caused a great deal of relocation in our society. Emigrant lands lose human resources as some depart and never look back.

The abandonment and sheer deficiency of interest in the welfare of the place from which they come is something of concern. It is only when you share a patriot’s unflinching support for his country that you can understand my passion. It can be likened to a marriage where one takes the bad together with the good instead of throwing up both hands in resignation or calling it quits.

It is not by singing the national anthem or residing in the country, hoping. Not at all. My desire to always uphold and defend the motherland runs far deeper than that. Against all odds, I am so dam proud of the non-perfect populace referred to as Nigerians. They are gifted with such a sizzling rich culture and all manner of resources so much that the country has the potential for greatness.

Nigerians are people who are not ashamed to be themselves anywhere in the universe. They are people who can always come up with something to laugh about out of the most unfortunate events.

The nation, plagued by so much hardship and assailed with criticisms, is still reputed to have the happiest people on earth. I have never considered renouncing my land and my people, no matter the problems.

Though it is no excuse, we ought to know that every nation has had its low point at one time or the other.

We are in ours today. The way Rome was not built in a day is the same way our spiral down did not occur overnight. Someone started something bad and got away with it.

Another person witnessed it and followed suit without thinking things through properly. Soon enough morals were put aside; the tendency towards lawlessness became the vogue. Anarchy and chaos are now firmly in place. We cared not about the repercussions, except we were the ones directly affected. Now that the sting of this ripple effect has come to stay with us and is to await subsequent generations like onion breath, we complain day land night like chirping cockatoos.

Please send reactions and feedback for YOUTH SPEAK to:

editorial@risenetworks.org and 07067976667- SMS ONLY

The patriot’s dream

Though many consider it a delusion, inside of me exists this hope, a near certainty that things will change for the better. It might not be in my day. It might be in those of my children, or my children’s children; it may even happen after things got worse. What I do know is that it will get better. I speak solely for myself when I say I stand tall and nurture that hope, instead of frequently complaining as most tend to do, instead of pointing fingers without actually doing anything to solve the problem, instead of channeling all my energy into that unproductive whining and hullabaloo. I choose to kindle the belief that says, ‘we can make it.’

honourable, what we need is not more jabs at the government or lengthy prayers and crusades but revival, deliverance from this repulsive system. To get there, we must wake up and take responsibility and play our personal roles to the best of our ability. You have no right pointing the accusing finger at the supposed terrible leaders if you as a follower do not do the right thing either. Remove the log in your eye, dear comrade, so you can see clearly the speck in another person’s eye. Fact is, you cannot dictate how other people behave but retain the right to determine your own actions and reactions.

Though it is easier said than done, we should not let external pressures arm-twist us. Start something good, something worthy of emulation and with time a new Hope, the Holy Book says, is not deceptive. Like the rays of light piercing through the mist, the dream for a bettrend shall be set in motion - that ter tomorrow for Nigeria may be actualised gradually or instantaneously. But whether it dawns today or tomorof a law-abiding citizen. It lies with row will depend on how readily the citizens will follow in the path that leads to light. us as a nation to stop promoting the all too common and silly verRome was not built in a day is the Undoubtedly, we are not without a great deal of issues. The nation is same way our spiral down did not nacular phrase - no be naija we dey plagued with corruption, insecuri- occur overnight. Someone started again? by conducting ourselves in ty, illiteracy, bad leadership and something bad and got away with the right manner. Let us not throw troubled healthcare, to mention it. Another person witnessed it and our hands in the air but instead but a few. The hardship the com- followed suit without thinking join forces to determine our mon man grapples with day after things through properly. Soon future, the future of green.

Though many consider it a deluday pushes him to frustration and enough morals were put aside; the sion, inside of me exists this hope, a tendency towards lawlessness sometimes, inappropriate behavnear certainty that things will iour. The rapidly spreading evil is became the vogue. Anarchy and change for the better. It might not choking and blurring out the good chaos are now firmly in place. We be in my day. It might be in those of struggling to burst forth from the cared not about the repercussions, my children, or my children’s chilpeople. These societal perils have except we were the ones directly dren; it may even happen after affected.

Now that the sting of this existed for a long time and have, things got worse.

What I do know is ripple effect has come to stay with understandably, caused people to that it will get better.

I speak solely us and is to await subsequent gengive up; most, in fact, do not care for myself when I say I stand tall erations like onion breath, we much anymore. and nurture that hope, instead of Though it is no excuse, we ought complain day land night like frequently complaining as most to know that every nation has had chirping cockatoos. tend to do, instead of pointing finIn as much as taking a stand and its low point at one time or the othgers without actually doing anyer. We are in ours today. The way fighting for our rights as citizens is thing to solve the problem, instead of channeling all my energy into The YOUTHSPEAK Column which is published daily is anTHE initiative GUARDIAN,of and powered by RISE NETWORKS, Nigeria s Leading Youth Development Centre, a that as unproductive whining and substantial advocacy platform available for ALL Nigerian Youth to engage Leadership at hullabaloo. all levels, engage Society and contribute to National Discourse -on diverse issues espe I choose to kindle the belief that cially those that are peculiarRegarding to Nigeria. submission of articles, we welcome writers contributions by way of well crafted, analytical and thoughtsays, provoking ‘we canopinion make it.’ Rise above all pieces that are concise, topical and non-defamatory! All articles- (which expect and make the the are evil not someday ed to be more than 2000 words) should be editorial@risenetworks.org sent to To progress I know we can. Even now read the online Version of this same article plus past publications and to find out more that it seems like a silly notion, the about Youth Speak, please www.risenetworks.org/youthspeak visit and join the place we are running away from Also join our on-line conversa 21676F3E @risenetworks RISE GROUP would be the place to seek refuge, much like the stone the builders Published by Guardian Newspapers Limited, Rutam House, Isolo, Lagos once rejected. You can laugh all Tel: 4489600, 2798269, 2798270, 07098147948, 07098147951 Fax: 4489712; Advert Hotlines: Lagos 7736351, Abuja 07098513445; Circulation Hotline: 01 4489656 you want buy that notwithstandAll correspondence to Guardian Newspapers Limited, P.M.B. 1217, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria. ing, until the day I die, I will keep E-mail letters@ngrguardiannews.com; www.ngrguardiannews.com believing.

Editor: MARTINS OLOJA ABC (ISSN NO 0189-5125) .