Mon 25 Feb 2013 The Guardian Nigeria by The Guardian Newspaper

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Monday, February 25, 2013

Vol. 29, No. 12,478

N150

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NITEL’s facilities rot away, govt dithers on liquidation • Stakeholders list ways to revive telecoms’ firm • GSM operators leverage Nigeria’s market to boost global earnings By Adeyemi Adepetun T was a veritable cash cow Iability for the nation and one’s to use its services was

Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi (left); Governor Olusegun Mimiko and his wife, Olukemi, during the swearing-in of Mimiko for his second term in office in Akure… yesterday. (Story on Page 3) PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

a sign of belonging to an affluent class. But that was years ago. Today, the Nigerian Telecommunications Company (NITEL) is moribund and its facilities in different parts of the country are rotting away. Yet, the Federal Government remains undecided on the fate of the national telecommunications company. The Guardian’s investigations revealed that several facilities belonging to NITEL, including buildings; telephone exchanges (across the six geo-political zones in the country); transmission channels, ducts and cables;

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Intrigues as governors pick leader today From Karls Tsokar, Abuja CLEARER picture was exA pected to emerge yesterday or today on where the pendulum will likely swing in the race for presidential candidacy in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), a formidable force in the polity, is scheduled to meet today in Abuja to elect a new chairman that will take over the reins from Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi if he is unable to clinch a second

• Opposition gov may emerge as NGF chairman • Presidency armtwists PDP state helmsmen • Amaechi’s fate depends on 20 colleagues

term of two years. But observers see the session for what it is: A parley to garner consensus on some knotty national issues, particularly the 2015 elections that are heating up the system more than two

years away. Already, Amaechi is in the news as having set his eyes on the presidency, as a possible running-mate to Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State. If one factors in the role of the

governors in the emergence of the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as president, and the making of incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan substantive in 2010, other aspirants to the plum job, including Jonathan,

may already have their hands full. Perhaps, this was the reason the President scheduled a meeting of PDP governors last night at the Aso Villa to blunt any possible negative outcome from the entire governors’ meeting. The strategy, sources said, was to get enough number of the governors on the president’s side before today’s meeting that will decide Amaechi’s fate

U.S. may deploy drones,spy planes to tackle Boko Haram - Page 5

for another two years. But it was not clear, as at press time, how many of the PDP governors were at the Villa, and where their loyalty lay. Meanwhile, dissentions within the fold of the Governors’ Forum has heightened, with some members questioning the interference of the Presidency and by extension, the PDP hierarchy in the Forum’s internal affairs. Their grouse is that the Presidency and the PDP view the Forum as an arm of the ruling party rather than a body of all

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

2 NEWS

Amaechi’s fate depends on 20 colleagues CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 the governors in the country. Nonetheless, the Forum’s leadership may go to a governor of an opposition party at today’s meeting. This is as a result of increase in the number of pro-leadership change to 15 on Saturday. The crisis in the forum came to a head last Thursday when a reported plot to remove Amaechi as the chair of the forum was uncovered. Though Amaechi and his men succeeded in wading off the move, by intimidating those who were perceived to be in the thick of the enterprise, it was a temporal reprieve, as The Guardian confirmed that the anti-Amaechi governors have closed ranks and gained in numbers. Inside information indicated last night that the forum had suspended any discussion on the change in the leadership indefinitely, but the antiAmaechi group is reportedly poised to “ensure that he is removed.” A vocal member of this group from the Northwest was quoted as saying, “it is better the change in leadership is effected now that it has become public knowledge.” “As it stands, election to the forum’s leadership is the only agenda in today’s meeting,” sources within the fold of the governors said. One of the sources added that it would have been a straightforward decision if they had decided on who would succeed Amaechi, as some of the people tipped to take over have one short-coming or the other, or would not receive the blessing of the PDP governors who are the majority in both

the forum and the proAmaechi camp. For instance, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State was being considered during Saturday’s clandestine meeting in which some ministers attended. “But his (Akpabio’s) candidature was put on hold, as the governors at the meeting said, “he will not get the backing of the majority of the governors.” Indications are that the antiAmaechi governors are considering a replacement for the coveted seat from a political platform outside the PDP. However, the snag is that two governors, Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and one from the Southwest, seen as matching the pedigree of Amaechi and would be a formidable threat to his success at the in-house poll, are strongly in support of his renewed bid for the Forum chair. One respondent said that Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State was also mentioned but they immediately dismissed him “because he is too radical to handle.” Rotimi Amaechi’s crime is his perceived ambition to be a running mate to a northern presidential aspirant in 2015 (he has denied nursing such an ambition) and his seeming uncompromising stance on some of President Jonathan’s monetary policies, as they affect the states. Some of the governors also view as dictatorial and arrogant, even though a governor, who backs him, said, “any position taken by Amaechi is a collective decision taken in the interest and with the input of all governors.” Still, there are allegations of achievement and showing the

scorecard of his tenure in the last two years. One of the pro-leadership change governors was quoted to have said: “Some of us said give us the scorecard, the achievements for the tenure, which was a legitimate demand and a normal thing to do, at the end of the tenure of every executive of any association.” With the exception of Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, almost all the core Northern governors are in support of Amaechi’s return to the forum’s chair. But for the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, the governors of North Central zone were not openly involved in the chess board until Saturday when Gover-

nor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State was won over by the antiAmaechi clique. He is said to have joined the opposing camp after being persuaded by emissaries of the Presidency. With about 15 of the governors in the cruise for Amaechi’s ouster, the challenge is who they will present as the candidate to replace him. Lately, Amaechi seemed to face stiff opposition from the South-South region, earlier from the Ijaw elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, the Minister of the Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, over what was perceived as uncomplimentary comments about the President. It would be recalled that 33 out of the 36 State governors were in attendance at Thursday, last

week’s meeting at the River State Governors Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja. The attendance is expected to be the same or more in today’s meeting, as so much seems to be at stake. As one of the governors from the Southwest said, “the integrity and survival of the forum would be decided tomorrow (today).” This is also against the background that some “aggrieved” governors are threatening to quit the forum if their decision to change the leadership was not achieved. “If the right thing is not done, some of us are ready to pull out of the NGF in the next meeting,” the governor said. The Nigerian Governors’ Forum was formed in line with Section 40 of the 1999 Consti-

tution, as an association, and therefore, its membership is voluntary. Since its inception in 1999, the chairmanship of the forum had never gone to any other region in the country outside the North Central and SouthSouth. The first was Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, former governor of Nasarawa State (1999-2004); then Obong Victor Attah, former governor of Akwa Ibom State (2004-2006), and Mr. Lucky Igbinedion, former governor of Edo State (2006-2007). Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, former governor of Kwara State held the position between 2007 and 2011 and the embattled incumbent Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State from June 2011 till date.

Stakeholders list ways to revive telecoms’ firm CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 and offices have been severely damaged. Indeed, 80 per cent of various NITEL offices, especially in Lagos and its environs, have been taken over by weeds. Others have become either warehouses or abodes for mentally-deranged persons. The same story of the sorry state can be told of NITEL’s offices at Ladipo, Iponri, Race Course, Mushin in Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Imo, Abuja, Delta, Benin, Abia, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Bauchi. They have been taken over by weeds with their facilities wasting away, while sometimes, hoodlums use them as their hide-outs. Several unserviceable NITEL vehicles litter the premises of some hitherto busy complexes. Indeed, the about 12 NITEL exchanges in Jigawa have been abandoned with some of them overgrown with weeds, investigation has revealed. Besides, some NITEL’s armoured cables worth over several billions of naira have been lost to road construction, as a result of cuts and other forms of damage. The Badagry NITEL exchange has been shut for over eight years now. A NITEL’s contract engineer based in Ughelli, Delta State, Kingsley Agbor, said about 20 exchanges with installed capacity of 32,500 telephone lines had remained comatose since 2006. According to him, these include those in Asaba, Agbor, Ogwashi-Ukwu, Warri, Sapele and Ughelli. Agbor explained that the facilities broke down shortly after the company was acquired by Transcorp. Also, a disengaged employee of NITEL in Kaduna, who sought anonymity, appealed to the government to reactivate the several exchanges of the telecommunications company in the state. According to him, Kaduna can boast of about 21 exchanges, two in the municipal, while the remaining 19 are in the local council areas of the state. He lamented that most of the facilities, worth billions of dollars in the state, had been vandalised and others taken over by weeds. A technician with NITEL’s office in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, who simply gave his name as Akin, said that all the five telephone exchanges and three booster stations in the

state had remained shut. He disclosed that weeds had taken over virtually all the offices of the telecommunications firm in the state. In Ogun State, investigation revealed that the office of the telecommunications firm, which used to be around Ibara in Abeokuta, has packed up, apparently due to lack of activities. In Yola, all the six exchanges have remained moribund with some already vandalised. The Iponri NITEL exchange in Lagos has also been abandoned while the exchange office at Race Course, Lagos Island, which hitherto housed the NITEL headquarters annex, has been taken over by squatters. Similarly, the PWD Bus Stop NITEL Exchange in Ikeja has been taken over by hawkers and urchins. The damage and neglect continue, while government remains silent on what it intends to do with the telecommunications firm in 2013. The rot of NITEL’s facilities is coming on the heels of increased mobile telephone penetration in the country. As at December 2012, Nigeria can confidently boast of 113 million active mobile subscribers, with over 150 million connected lines. The country’s teledensity is firm at 80.85 per cent. Pre-Global System of Mobile (GSM) communication era, about 2000, NITEL had over 500, 000 functional telephone lines. Today, NITEL among other fixed wired and wireless service providers had recorded severe losses in the number of their users in the country. Indeed, GSM operators, including MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat, which continued to record huge profits as a result of increased patronage from Nigeria, finished 2012 with about 109 subscribers that were active. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) statistics revealed that MTN Nigeria finished 2012 with 47.4 million subscribers; Globacom had 24.1 million; Airtel had 23.1 million with Etisalat closing the year with 14.9 million. Visafone closed the year with 2.65 million subscribers, while Starcomms Plc went down to 307, 844. Multilinks was left with just 263, 767, while Zoom mobile finished 2012 with just 111,077 subscribers only.

By and large, the Nigerian market has become a pedestal of geometric growth for the parent companies of some of these operators including MTN, Airtel and Etisalat. The MTN Group, with South Africa as the headquarters operates in more than 10 countries of the world and it can boast of about 182.7 million subscribers. From its audited results for the year ended December 31, 2011, MTN said its group revenue increased by 6.3 per cent to R121, 848 million due to sound growth in Nigeria, South Africa and Iran by 4.1 per cent, 7.7 per cent and 20.1 per cent respectively. Indeed, another report said between 2001 and 2010, MTN, which like others paid $285 million for its GSM licence from the NCC in February 2001, grossed a total of N2.988 trillion in revenues between March 2001 and December 2010, and posted profits after tax amounting to N857.655 billion during the same period. Airtel Nigeria, with its parent company based in India, Bharti Airtel and several operations across the globe, in its December 31, 2012 financial report boosted its global revenue by 15 per cent, which came from its African operations, with the Nigerian arm doing the delivery. Indeed, Bharti Airtel, which currently has about 262.3 million subscribers across the globe, raked in about $4.1 billion from its operations in Africa, including Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelle, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Etisalat, with headquarters in the United Arab Emirate, in its third-quarter report for 2012, said that the group’s net profits jumped 28 per cent to Dhs2.2 billion ($599 million). Etisalat, which also operates in countries including Nigeria and Iran, said that its consolidated revenues remained flat at Dhs8 billion ($2.18 billion), while revenue from international operations grew to Dhs2.4 billion. The aggregate subscriber base grew yearly by 20 per cent, or 22 million customers to 130 million. According to Etisalat, Nigeria and other Africa’s cluster consolidated subscriber base grew to 11 million at the end of September 2012 representing Year-on-Year (YoY) growth of 29 per cent and Quarter-on-Quarter (QoQ) growth of 13 per cent, while

Asia cluster consolidated subscriber base grew to 8.2 million at the end of September 2012 representing QoQ growth of six per cent while YoY declined by three per cent as year 2011 included the subscriber numbers of Indian operation that was deconsolidated in March 2012. Group Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat, Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar commented: “For some period now, we have recorded significant growth in our international operations, despite regional socioeconomic tensions, and we are pleased with the developments we have made across our key markets, specifically in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and West Africa, as well as Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.” Indeed, a Pyramid Research report said in 2010, telecoms companies, MTN, Globacom, Airtel, Etisalat and CDMAs, earned N1.3 trillion ($8.6 billion) in revenue from billing Nigerians for using their services. The research firm predicted that revenues would hit N1.7 trillion ($11 billion) by 2013. Meanwhile, The Guardian also learnt that in the early days of the GSM revolution in the country, some of the operators used to interconnect through NITEL’s primary exchanges, the interconnection circuit called E1, which are in Ikeja, Apapa, Iponri and particularly Saka Tinubu in Lagos. A telecoms expert, who spoke to The Guardian said then, all the Private Telecoms Operators (PTOs) channeled their optic fibre to the Saka Tinubu NITEL exchange point and interconnect offering telecommunications services through micro wave technology. “But that stopped. The operators complained that NITEL refused or was deliberately suffocating that link and subsequently, they stopped connecting through NITEL. Some of the operators, especially the GSM operators because of the peculiarity of their services got Mobile Switching Centres (MSC), where all their Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) are connected, by so doing giving them direct access in the country. “Some of the reasons why they dropped NITEL’s service was because they had more traffic than what NITEL facilities can contain. They reported that NITEL couldn’t come up with enough Call Detail

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

News Nigeria donates relief materials to Malian govt By Gbenga Akinfenwa IGERIA has handed over a total of 1110 metric tonnes of assorted relief materials to the Malian government for its internally displaced persons as a result of ongoing-armed conflict in the region. The items were transported in 37 trucks and delivered by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Bamako, the capital of Mali at the weekend. In a statement signed by the Head of Public Relations of NEMA, Yushau Shuaib, the Director General of the agency, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, said the relief intervention was on the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan that the emergency materials should urgently be delivered to the affected population in addition to the deployment of a contingent of the Nigeria military to ensure return to normalcy in Mali.

RMAFC wants state-council joint accounts abolished

OAU health workers may end strike today By Wole Oyebade EDERAL health workers at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun State may call-off their five-day old strike today. Sources said that the decision would be taken at a meeting of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) this morning. The aggrieved workers embarked on the industrial action last Thursday to ensure implementation of the report on harmonisation in the health sector and promotion of health professionals from Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) 14 to 15. Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Prof. Olusanya Adejuyigbe told The Guardian yesterday that the management at the weekend met with the health workers and they had assured that the strike might not last beyond today “since it is a warning strike”.

Centenary celebration lacks depth, says PRONACO By Seye Olumide RO-National Conference Organization, PRONACO has decried the failure of government to utilize the historic commemoration of Nigeria’s centenary to re-engineer the Nigerian union. Spokesman of the organization, Olawale Okunniyi, while criticizing Federal Government centenary programme, which started in Abuja yesterday said the event lacks depth and substance for the reality and needs of the country. Okunniyi lamented government’s “lousy commemorative plan” to celebrate what he tagged false national unity and nonexistent well being of the Nigeria people at a very critical and trying moment in The nation’s life “when Nigerians are dying in their hundreds on a daily basis due to violent ethno religious reactions to corrupt leadership and exploitative structure of the country.”

From John Ogiji, Minna S the debate on the autonomy of local government councils continues, the Chairman of Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Elias Mbam, has said that unless the state and local government joint account is abolished, the desired development at the grassroots may never be achieved. Elias, who spoke in Minna, the Niger State capital at the weekend, insisted that the local government councils, as beneficiaries from the federation account, should be allowed to get their allocation directly. The RMAFC boss, who noted that this will require amendment of the constitution in which it is stated that there should be state and local government joint account in which all revenues accrued to local governments should be paid, said the aim is being defeated because of the way the account is being managed by some state government. “The constitution has good intention because this is supposed to be a pull where you put whatever is coming from the federation account and then 10 per cent of the internally generated revenue by the state is added to it to increase the size before sharing, but what is happening now is to reduce the size before sharing, that is where anything is being shared at all.” Mbam described as unfortunate the situation at the local government level where some governors were said to have reduced the councils to a state government parastatals and their funds being squandered with reckless abandoned. He stressed the need to revisit the constitution to expunge that aspect because “some of these governors have now decided to be smarter than the constitution. “I thank God that the process of reviewing the constitution is on, so it is the responsibility of all Nigerians to support the review of the constitution in order to bail out the local governments from the hands of these smart governors in the interest of overall development of the grassroots,” Mbam said.

Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Adejoke Orelope Adefulire (right); who represented the Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola and Dean/Archbishop, Province of Lagos and Bishop of Lagos Mainland, Most Rev. Adebayo D. Akinde, during the consecration of three Anglican Bishops, presided over by the Primate of the church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas D. Okoh, at the Cathedral of St. Jude, Ebute-Metta, Lagos… yesterday PHOTO: CHRIS IREKAMBA

Mimiko begins second term in office From Niyi Bello, Akure T exactly 1.10 p.m. yesterday, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as winner of the October 20, 2012 governorship election in Ondo State, renewed his administrative control of the state for a second term of four years. In reaction, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) criticised the ceremony which it described as “absolutely elaborate and flamboyant” and expressed the hope of defeating Mimiko at the election petition tribunal. Accompanied by his wife, Olukemi and members of his immediate family of three girls and a boy, Mimiko was sworn-in by the Chief Judge, Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi. And like it was done at his February 2009 inauguration, Pastor Tunde Adesida of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), poured anointing oil on Mimiko’s head and beseeched God to endow the governor with the needed at-

We will defeat him at tribunal, says PDP tributes for a successful tenure in office. Thirty minutes before, in front of an assemblage of eminent personalities that cut across political and regional divides and scores of religious and community leaders, his running mate, Alhaji Alli Olanusi was sworn-in as the deputy-governor. Yesterday’s inauguration climaxed a week-long activities that included prayers in churches and mosques, a command performance and a lecture delivered last Saturday by eminent International Relations scholar and former Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi. Reflecting on his first term in office, Mimiko, who said he believed he has been able to “work for you, the people of Ondo State” as promised four years ago, declared that he was ready to make the next four years “even more fulfilling in the achievement of our goals of development. “In the past four years, we

have sought to re-engineer the education sector to be able to produce truly competitive and socio-economically relevant products who will be equipped to climb the social ladder; to continually create a vibrant middle class that will continue to innovate and drive our development. “Education must serve the present generation, like those before it, as a tool of social mobility; to do otherwise is to wittingly or unwittingly recycle generational poverty and close the hope of generations for better lives. “We can only do these at our peril because we shall be multiplying the tribe of hooligans, armed robbers, kidnappers and suicide bombers. That is why, in the past four years, we have invested massively in education; that is why we created the Quality Education Assurance Agency as a tool of effective monitoring, measurement and evaluation. “In the past four years, the health sector has witnessed a

new fillip. Our home grown initiatives, geared at removing all impediments to quality health care for our pregnant women and infants have received and continue to receive both national and international accolades.” Mimiko recalled: “We have declared that ‘pregnancy will no longer be death sentence in our state.’ Our health institutions have become generally more patient-friendly. We are also about to complete an integrated Emergency Medical Service Scheme, which will drastically reduce the toll of trauma, especially Road Traffic Accident, on our people. Important personalities that graced his inauguration included former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalaam Abubakar, governors of Abia, Theodore Orji and his Ekiti, Nasarawa and Anambra counterparts, Kayode Fayemi, Umar Almakura and Peter Obi respectively. Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State was represented by his deputy, Segun Adesegun.

Why Nigeria’s economy may collapse soon, by ACN HE Action Congress of T Nigeria (ACN) has raised an alarm that the nation’s econ-

omy may collapse unless the Federal Government cuts the “astronomical cost of running a bloated government and takes urgent measures to diversify the economy and shore up the production of oil which remains the mainstay of the economy.” The party, in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, warned that if the listed measures are not taken, the government may not be able to pay its bills, including workers’ salaries, in the next few years. ‘’Contrary to what the Federal Government may say,

this warning is not about crying wolf but is actually borne out of a patriotic fervour devoid of politicking, which is the usual refrain of this government when alerted to its shortcomings. We will like to be proven wrong, but this will depend on uncommon and monumental effort, rather than on the basis of the usual canned response from the government,’’ the party said. ACN said the alert is based on four empirical evidence: The cost of oil production which has skyrocketed from $4 per barrel in 2002 to $35 currently; the massive corruption in the oil sector, with oil theft and sabotage leading to lost production and costing Nigeria some $6 billion yearly in crude theft; the sharp fall in the dis-

covery of new oil and gas reserves due to the low investment in the sector, and the challenge posed by alternative sources of global supply of oil and gas. The party said, “the cost of oil production rose from only $4 per barrel in 2002 to $7 per barrel in 2005 and, from the $12 per barrel at the onset of the Yar’Adua/Jonathan Administration in 2012 to $35 per barrel in 2012, according to the just-concluded Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference in Abuja, where the mind-boggling cost hike was attributed to the cost of security in the Niger Delta (put at $16 per barrel). ‘’In other words, the gains recorded from ending mili-

tancy in the Niger Delta due to the Amnesty Programme have been wiped off by the cost of maintaining the ‘peace’.” ACN quoted the Managing Director of Shell Nigeria, Mutiu Sunmonu, as describing the situation thus: “Operating in the Nigerian oil and gas environment can be long and tortuous with costs at the high end of the global scale. There are a multitude of security related issues that have to be dealt with on a daily basis. ‘’In the recent past, militancy has simply been replaced by industrial scale oil theft and sabotage (emphasis ours). We, and others, have had to shutin significant production; spend huge amounts on re-

placing and repairing hardware and deploying massive resources to clean up spills.” On the discovery of new oil and gas reserves, ACN said “the disastrously-low level of exploration activity in Nigeria is supported by the statistics released by the U.S. Department of Energy for Deepwater Discoveries from 2009 to 2011 in which Brazil alone contributed some 40 new discoveries or 20 per cent of the global total, U.S. and Australia contributed 10 per cent each, countries like Ghana making nine new discoveries or five per cent of the global total, while Nigeria had only four discoveries or two per cent of the global total during this period.”

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

4 NEWS

Pandemonium in Kaduna over attack scare From Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna) and Njadvara Musa (Damaturu) HERE was pandemonium T again in Kaduna yesterday when hundreds of residents

Deputy President, American-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce (ANCC), Binta Famutimi (left); President, ANCC, Mazi Ohuabunwa; representative of United States (U.S.) Consul-General in Nigeria, Fred Armad and former Inspector-General of Police, Musiliu Smith, during ANCC’s yearly dinner/dance ceremony in Lagos… yesterday. PHOTO: PAUL OLOKO

GSM operators leverage Nigeria’s market CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Records (CDR). It was difficult for operators to get justified CDR because NITEL users were few and they subsequently became hugely indebted to the operators. They couldn’t reconcile. So along the line, in the mid 2000s, NCC appointed a licensed Interconnect Clearing house to reconcile interconnect debts among operators. That act eventually killed the ambition of NITEL”, he stated. Commenting on the richness of the Nigerian market, a former General Manager with NITEL, who rather preferred anonymity, said if government had done what it ought to have done, the several billions of dollars accruing to these private companies would have come to the Nigerian economy as the majority of their earnings are repatriated to their home countries. “You can imagine, MTN Nigeria earning above N2 trillion within a decade of operating in the country. Bharti Airtel, which acquired Zain, boosts its global earnings by 15 per cent from its African operations among others. Nigeria remains the market. “However, I must commend them, they took a decisive risk. In its 2002 financial result, MTN reported a loss after tax of about N5.091 billion, but was able to turn this around by the next year by investing in an aggressive network expansion programme and so many others too. But I still believe that if government had been more proactive about NITEL, it would have been the gateway to Africa’s telecommunications network today. Is it the huge infrastructure, though in rot across the country now, the technical workforce, the expertise, among others that you want to talk about? Corruption, mis-management, too much government interference, policy inconsistencies were among the

bane of NITEL”, he stated. In March 2012, the government announced plans to liquidate NITEL and its mobile subsidiary M-Tel, which signals an end to the various attempts to privatise the company since 2001. Indeed, the NITEL privatisation first began in 2001 when a strategic equity stake was sold to the International Investors London (IIL) consortium for $1.3 billion. However, the bid was cancelled after IIL failed to pay the balance of the fee, with the consortium forfeiting its $131 million deposit. In 2003, the Nigerian government appointed Pentascope, the telecoms consulting arm of Netherlands-based operator KPN, as part of a management contract with a view to eventually selling NITEL to KPN. However, this effort also failed, with the contract terminated within a year amid allegations from Pentascope of mismanagement and incompetence, while the government cited a failure to meet performance and roll-out targets. The privatisation of NITEL went through a number of additional bidding processes in 2007 and 2009, with bids ranging from $750,000 to $2.5 billion, and players such as China Unicom reportedly assessing the possibility of purchasing the operator. The Guardian had exclusively reported last July that about N500 billion in various litigations, unpaid workers’ salaries and arrears, depleted assets and other “social challenges” had hindered the proposed liquidation in 2012. Efforts to speak with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) spokesperson, Mr. Chukwuma Nwokoh, proved abortive, as he refused to pick several calls made to him. He had told The Guardian last year that no news about NITEL yet, stressing that

when there was any, “you will know.” However, telecommunications experts, who spoke with The Guardian, differed on what it would cost to reposition and rehabilitate the troubled telecommunications firm. According to Fola Ayeni, a retired telecommunications engineer, based in Abuja, more than N3 billion may be needed by government to rehabilitate about 20 moribund exchanges in some states due to neglect and years of disuse. Ayeni, who said some of the exchanges with installed capacity of 24,000 telephone lines could still be viable if adequately reactivated, noted that the reactivation would entail the replacement of some damaged cables; purchase of several 500KVA generators as well as replacement of the air conditioning system, among others. He said some vandalised exchanges in some particular locations had installed capacity of between 8,000 and 10,000 lines. Indeed, a recent Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) statistics currently put the number of fixed wired and wireless subscribers in the country at 432,899. The players, including NITEL, lost about 255,434 lines between January and November 2012. Former Minister of Communications, Mr. Olawale Ige, who spoke with The Guardian, said if NITEL must be revived, government may need to ask from other countries’ national carriers, which started with NITEL and were still in operation, how they were able to survive. Ige, an engineer, said Nigeria may seek the experience of firms, including British Telecoms and German telecommunications firm, to know their survival strategy. The former minister, who said it may be difficult to ascertain the level of deprecia-

tion of NITEL’s assets in figures, noted that the telecommunications firm’s infrastructure had gone from bad to worse. But if NITEL must be revived, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo in an interview with The Guardian, said the telecommunications firm should be divided into various components to make it easy for would-be buyers. According to him, NITEL in its heyday, especially in the nineties, enjoyed a huge market share; goodwill and government support, “but things changed drastically in the years after and it went like that till today. NITEL infrastructure have lost value. They have depreciated seriously. I can’t quantify that now, but they have lost value. “NITEL is a large corporation, which I think is too big for one entity to purchase. For NITEL’s revival, government may need to split it into component parts. Switching board; backbone; transmission channels; submarine cables, among others, should be divided. With this, it becomes easier for would-be investors to put money. NITEL has exchanges in virtually all the local councils of the federation.” Recently, an online telecoms platform—ItnewsAfrica reported that China’s Huwei had plans to invest in NITEL. ItnewsAfrica said Huawei had planned to make a $627 million investment into the now-defunct NITEL. The Platform quoted NITEL’s former Chief Operating Officer, Nicholas Okoye saying: “Had the corporation no sabotage by politicians and ridiculous litigations by state governments, which sued NITEL’s new owners, Transcorp, for its taxes dating as far back as 30 years, it would have been profitable.”

in the metropolis scampered for safety following the rumour of crisis in Sabo, a suburb of the southern axis of the town, at about 12.45 p.m when most church worshippers were rounding off Sunday services. Meanwhile, violence erupted again in Yobe State as gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect on motorcycles attacked a beer parlour at Ngalda in Fika Local Council, killed the proprietor (names withheld) and injured six others at about 8.00 p.m. at the weekend. Immediately the rumours rent the air in Sabo, there were trucks of armed soldiers and police on major roads to arrest the situation, while people deserted most streets and highways. Few vehicles were seen plying the roads, as residents kept in-doors. Incidentally, violence in Borno continued to erupt and spread to the neighbouring Adamawa State as gunmen also suspected as Boko Haram members attacked the palace of the District Head of Gulak, Dr. Sa’ad Danbram, and killed him by slitting his throat before his wives and children. Gulak is 202 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, and an epicentre of activities of the Islamist sect. An eyewitness and resident of Gulak, Isa Ibrahim, also said that the gunmen came on motorcycles at midnight and demanded the presence of the district head, before bursting into his room, tied his hands to the back and slit his throat in the glare of family members. Certifying their victim dead, they fled through the Maiduguri-Mubi Road at 1.35 a.m., while body of the slain was buried in the afternoon. However, according to a statement by the DirectorGeneral of Media and Publicity to the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, the state government has appealed to all law-abiding citizens to go about their businesses as security agents would deal with law-breakers. The statement stressed: “The entire people of Kaduna State have been urged to remain calm and go about their normal businesses as government has taken steps to forestall any break of law and order in any part of the state.” In another development, the Christian and Muslim Youths Development Initiative (CMYDIT) yesterday applauded Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State for effectively handling the insecurity and Boko Haram insurgency in Maiduguri metropolis and its environs. The CMYDIT commendation came in a joint statement of its co-chairmen, Mr. Deinde Toyin Komolafe and Alhaji Adamu Musa, which was made available to newsmen in Maiduguri yesterday. The two religious and youth groups said the governor’s timely intervention in the recent multiple bomb blasts and attacks in Gombouru, Hausari and Bolori wards of the metropolis, where property worth millions of naira

were destroyed, assisted in calming “shocks and frayed nerves” of the affected residents. Maiyaki described as “unfounded and false the rumour of crisis in the metropolis,” adding however that “Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has warned that government will deal decisively with any person or group found disrupting peace and order in the state.” On the attack at Aduwan Gida in Zangon-Kataf Local Council, the governor pleaded with people of the area and other parts of the state to remain calm, “as government has ordered an immediate investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators of the unfortunate incident.” According to a resident of Ngalda in Yobe State, Yohanna Musa, who spoke in a telephone chat yesterday, the gunmen took the proprietor of the beer parlour and customers by surprise when three suspects on two motorcycles stormed the building and opened fire at the people seated at various tables taking their drinks. “The people had to run for safety, while many of them sustained various degrees of injuries in the stampede when several shots were fired at them last night,” Musa said, adding that the assailants, who came on two unmarked motorbikes, afterwards fled towards Nafada town in Gombe State on the Potiskum-Gombe road at 8.35 p.m. Musa further disclosed that the “way and manner” the suspects attacked and killed the proprietor were similar to the Boko Haram, who had been attacking and killing people at mosques, churches, markets, houses and shops in the state. He said that Fika town, which is about 15 kilometres from Ngalda, was attacked and a church, police station and beer parlour burnt, killing five people, including two policemen at their duty posts. Confirming the incident yesterday in Damaturu, the Yobe State Police Command spokesman, Salisu Adamu, said that though he was not in office, the report of the Area Police Commander indicated that a beer parlour was attacked by armed hoodlums last night at Ngalda where one person was feared killed and several people injured in a stampede. Meanwhile, a top government source told The Guardian that it was an attempted reprisal attack by some youths in Sabo over the unfortunate incident at Aduwan Gida that resulted to the commotion in Kaduna metropolis, which sent many people running for their lives. According to the Government House source, “ the problem started when the people of Aduwan Gida were celebrating the death of an old village head at the weekend, and suddenly, gunmen appeared and started shooting at the people. “During the shoot-out, six people were killed and 11 wounded. Those that were wounded have been taken to the University of Jos Teaching Hospital and other nearby clinics for medical attention. It was as a result of this unfortunate incident that culminated to tension in Kaduna metropolis, when some of the youths wanted to engage in reprisal attack.”

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

NEWS 5

Afam Power, Kaduna Disco enter next privatisation stage

Hearing in Ilorin land case adjourned till March 21

From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja OLLOWING the expiration of deadline for the expression of interest, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has proceeded to the next stage in the sale of Afam Power Plc. and Kaduna Distribution Company, with the BPE receiving 29 applications for Afam and 19 applications for Kaduna Distribution Company. The Afam plant was initially listed last for bidding because of the alleged connection with former Power Minister, Professor Barth Nnaji’s firm, while the bidding for Kaduna was reportedly not held initially because none bided. Sources told The Guardian at the weekend that the BPE sent Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to all the bidders on February 4, 2013. A request for proposal (RFP) is a document that an organisation posts to elicit bids from potential vendors for a product or service.

From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin

URTHER hearing in a case instituted by some elders challenging the alleged illegal sale of Ilorin Old Yidi (Praying) Ground by the Kwara State government has been adjourned till March 21, 2013 by Justice Tunde Garba of the Ilorin High Court. Last Thursday, the case came up with lawyers for the claimants and defendants making their first appearances before the trial judge. While Salman Jawondo appeared for the claimants, Abdullah Daibu from the state Ministry of Justice represented the state government, while S.O. Ishola stood in for Mrs. Toyin Saraki, who is the seventh defendant

in the suit. Meanwhile, the state’s Police Commissioner, Chiwinke Asadu, has justified the abolition of check-points on the nation’s highways. He said recent police statistics on crime in Nigeria have shown that ‘the stop and search’ method currently in vogue by the security agency has proved to be a more effective way of policing in the country. For him however, the work of security of persons and property should not be an exclusive duty of the Police as the entire citizens should be alert to secure the nation and its people. The elders, the government and Saraki had been locked in a media war over the suit. In a press statement on February

1, the state Information Commissioner, Tunji Moronfoye, conceded that the Government had leased out the disputed land but absolved Mrs. Saraki of any wrong-doing. At the Thursday hearing, Jawondo told the court that he would be raising motions seeking interlocutory injunctions restraining the government from selling or transferring ownership of the disputed land. But counsel to the government and Saraki both filed notices of preliminary objections challenging the competence of the suit. Daibu said the government’s objection is hinged partly on the fact that it has “sold” the said land more

than three months before the claimants brought their suit. To him, the three months’ period within which a suit could be filed having expired, the claimants cannot now bring any law-suit. Jawondo is expected to have filed his response to the preliminary objections by the defendants before the March 21 hearing date. According to Asadu in Ilorin while parading some robbery suspects before the press, “the successes we have recorded through patrolling are more than those recorded in the days of road-blocks. “The order that we should not mount road-blocks does not mean that we should not do our duties. The directive is to stop blocking the major

Live honest lives, cleric charges Nigerians OR the country to attain enFcountries, viable height of advanced Nigerians, irrespective of their political, religious or tribal leanings, have been charged to live godly lives especially in the economic and social spheres. This advice was given by Pastor Samuel Babatunde Ogunfowokan, London-based General Overseer of Christ Healing Evangelical Church, at this year’s Biennial National Convention, tagged: “Emmanuel 2013”, held at the Camp Ground, Kilometre 45, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Mowe, Ogun State. Lamenting the present economic situation in the country, Ogunfowokan reiterated the need for absolute obedience to the dictates of God by living honest lives in the public and private sectors. “Since you are the salt of life, you must strive at all cost to live holy and be very good to others in the world through exemplary life.” In their respective contributions at the event, Pastors Adegboyega Talabi, the Europe National Coordinator of the church; Yomi Junaid, Adetomiwa Fesobi, Olaniyi Karim, Esther Olutosoye and Lady Evangelist Beatrice Ajoke Bamidele, while extolling the sterling virtues of the founding fathers of the church, congratulated the continued zeal of the members in expanding the church with their Divine endowments.

Ekiti indigenes to host Fayemi BODY of non-political Ekiti A State indigenes, Igbimo Ure Ekiti (IUE), will host Governor Kayode Fayemi to a motivational dinner at Harbour Point, 4 Wilmot Point Close, off Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Thursday, February 28. The group is attracting through the event a number of associates, friends and the state’s well-wishers, with the aim of improving the economy and social direction of the state. It also aims at connecting more deeply and variously with Ekiti State government and its citizens to X-ray Governor Fayemi’s scorecard, recognising his sterling achievements to date and highlight areas of critical needs in the state.

Members of Boko Haram splinter group insisting on a ceasefire at a news conference in Maiduguri…at the weekend

PHOTO: NAN

high ways. There must be free flow of traffic. That is why the ‘Stop and Search’ methods have been encouraged.” Asadu, while parading a suspect, Abdullahi Umar, said the latter was among a gang of four robbers recently intercepted by the police on Ilorin/Ogbomoso Expressway. The suspects, in a Golf car marked Abuja BB 665 BWR, were allegedly driving against the traffic on February 2 this year. While three others escaped with bullet-wounds, Umar was promptly rounded up by the police. Items recovered from the vehicle abandoned by the gang included two pump action guns with six rounds of live cartridges and two fullyloaded AK 47 rifles. “The arrested suspect and three others at large are strongly suspected to belong to a robbery gang terrorising the highways,” Asadu added. Another gang of suspects, Abdullahi Muhammadu and Abubakar, were allegedly apprehended at Massama Fulani camp treating gun-shot wounds locally. Two others were said to still be at large in connection with the arrest. The gang was believed to be responsible for a series of robbery attacks on unsuspecting passengers along Boode Saadu Road in Moro Local Local. The highpoint of the parading session was confession by two men, Olaitan Gobir and Dekunle Toyin, that they were responsible for the theft of motorcycles at Adewole area of Ilorin. They alleged that the regular receivers of the goods lived in a town near Ilorin. Asadu said all the suspects would soon be charged to

U.S. may deploy drones, spy planes in Nigeria over Boko Haram From Laolu Akande, New York HOUGH the debate about the rightness or otherwise of the use of external forces to check the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria has simmered down, it may be stoked with a planned intervention of the United States (U.S.) in the crisis. Apparently worried by the increasing activities of Boko Haram not only in Nigeria but in other African countries, President Barack Obama and the U.S. government are now taking the threat posed by the group more seriously and they are already considering military options, including the deployment of drones and spy planes. At the weekend, President Obama under War Powers Resolution of the U.S. Public Law, increased the number of American military personnel deployed to Nigeria’s border country, Niger, to 100, just about a week after the incoming Commander of the U. S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), Gen. David M. Rodriguez of the U.S. Army, confirmed that Boko Haram operations now cut across Nigeria, Cameroun, Niger, Mali and Chad. U.S. local media had reported about the same time that the deployment of U.S. military to Niger is with the intention of setting up a drone base to gather intelli-

gence without ruling out drone attacks against terrorists in Mali and Nigeria. In an even more categorical statement, Gen. Rodriguez disclosed that the U.S. military already had sufficient legal authorisation to go after Boko Haram’s operatives in Nigeria or in the African region based on existing military authorisations against Al-Qaeda. In a February 22 letter to the leaders of the U.S. Congress, made available to The Guardian yesterday, Obama confirmed that by February 20, 2013, “the last elements of a deployment of approximately 40 additional U.S. military personnel entered Niger with the consent of the Government of Niger.” According to Obama in the letter he personally signed, “this deployment will provide support for intelligence collection and will also facilitate intelligence sharing with French forces conducting operations in Mali, and with other partners in the region. The total number of U.S. military personnel deployed in Niger is approximately 100. The recently deployed forces have … weapons for the purpose of providing their own force protection and security.” While Obama’s letter indicated that the American troops would help with intelligence, it did not specifically

mention the controversial use of drones for which the U.S. government has attracted both military success and criticism in recent years. But a Washington Post report of the President’s letter at the weekend said the U.S. base in Niamey, Niger, with about 100 U.S. troops, “have been deployed to set up a drone base to support French-led military operation.” The paper added, quoting U.S. defence officials that drone flights were “imminent” from Niger. The letter required under America’s system of checks and balances then concluded: “I directed this deployment of U.S. forces in furtherance of U.S. national security interests, and pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive. “I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148). I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action.” The Guardian has obtained a policy statement of the incoming Commander of the U.S. AFRICOM meant for use while answering questions last week at a Congressional confirmation hearing by the U.S. Senate. In the advance talking points

made available to the public, the incoming Commander, Gen. David M. Rodriguez, said regarding the potential of a U.S. military strike against Boko Haram, “the current legal authorities, including the Authorisation for Use of Military Force to conduct counter-terrorism operations and activities against Boko Haram appear to be sufficient for operations in the AFRICOM area of responsibility.” Similarly, Obama’s nominee as new Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director also confirmed that U.S. readiness to use military force against terrorists around the world is not limited by geographic limitations. He spoke last week also at a Senate Intelligence confirmation hearing. He said: “ The current legal authorities, including the Authorisation for Use of Military Force to conduct counter-terrorism operations and activities against Boko Haram appear to be sufficient for operations in the AFRICOM area of responsibility. However, the Authorisation for Use of Military Force has been in place for 12 years and alQaeda has dispersed and operates in areas far from the original battlefield. “Given the evolutionary changes in the global security landscape, I intend to

continuously review the current intelligence on Boko Haram and assess whether the existing authorities are sufficient to take all necessary actions.” Observers of the U.S. Military say with the rise in Boko Haram’s and other terrorist groups’ attacks on westerners in Nigeria and neighbouring countries such a toughening of stance complete with the addition of U.S. troops in Niger are indicative of a readiness of the U.S. to send clear warning signals to Boko Haram operatives and sponsors. Detailing his response further on what would be his priority if confirmed as AFRICOM’s commander, the General added: “ The security environment of the African continent is dynamic and, if confirmed, I will seek to counter emerging threats while strengthening African nations’ capabilities to effectively address their own security challenges.” He then identified what the major challenges were, disclosing that they were “ effectively countering violent extremist organisations, especially the growth of Mali as an al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb safe haven, Boko Haram in Nigeria, and alShabaab in Somalia.”

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

6 NEWS

PDP faults Lagos on Eko Atlantic project By Seye Olumide ITING the misplacement of priorities, the Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chapter, has faulted the Eko Atlantic project initiated by the Governor Babatunde Fashola led Administration. The party said that the invitation of the former United States’ President, Bill Clinton, to the project site was deliberate attempt of the state government to create the impression that the project had international acceptance. In a statement by the party’s spokesman, Taofeek Gani, he reiterated the PDP’s position that the Eko Atlantic project was a misplacement of priority and was capable of fuelling corruption as a plot of the land was sold for N450 million, while buyers were expected to purchase at least two plots. According to Gani, “It is our strong belief that Governor Fashola has indeed adopted propagandist style of governance by ‘mobilising’ Clinton to the site of the Eko Atlantic project in order to give the notion that the project has got international acceptance. As far as we are concerned in Lagos PDP, the said project remains in expedient and a waste of public funds. Even the presence of the President Goodluck Jonathan at the ceremony cannot remove the fact that the project remains a misplacement of priority, bourgeoisie and will only encourage stealing in the state.” PDP also said that the purported reclamation at the beach was done for the selfish commercial reasons of the Eko Atlantic project and indeed the shoddy Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) done led to flooding in state whenever it rained. The party noted that the recent unprecedented ocean surge at Kuramo Beach was directly linked to the effect of the sand filling of the Bar Beach for the Eko Atlantic project, adding that ‘a similar project in Dubai was now

sinking.” The party, however, urged the governor to stop co-funding the Eko Atlantic project with tax payers money, stressing: “Locating such a project on the already over congested Lagos Island is not ideal. The government would spend less than 50 per cent of the money projected for the Eko Atlantic project, to create irresistible estates in Badagry, Alimosho and Ikorodu areas of the state.” In a related development, the party also criticised Fashola for spending over $500,000 to invite a mere celebrity, Kim Kardashian, at a time school fees were no longer subsidised and civil servants were earning less than N18, 000 monthly.

Discourse on council autonomy postponed HE proposed second T national public discourse on ‘Local Government

Officers and men of NSCDC conducting a shooting exercise while being supervised by officers from 302 Artillery Regiment in Onitsha... yesterday

AGF, ministry clear director of fraud By Joseph Onyekwere

NSISTING that there are no Irecords, serious infractions in his the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Natural Resources have cleared the Executive Director of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR &T), Ibadan, Prof. B. A. Ogunbodede, of fraud and abuse of power. The parent body of IAR &T, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, while accepting the findings of the federal bodies, said it was okay with the findings of the panel of the Minister of Agriculture and that of the Accountant-General of the Federation. The petitioner, one Dr. Olatunde Awopetu, had alleged that Ogunbodede was involved in fraud and abuse of power, which ranged from conversion of official vehicles to private use, appointment of his daughter and double promotion for two of his favourites. But the AccountantGeneral, in a report refer-

enced INV/0087/S.1738/67 and dated November 15, 2012, stated that all the allegations against Ogunbodede were untrue. In the six-page report signed by the Director (Inspectorate), A. A. Giza, the accountant-general warned that “further petitions that do not comply with the relevant provisions of the Public Service Rules would be disregarded to deter faceless petitioners, who use such medium to malign the character of other officers.”

The report, however, observed that the transfer of N15 million from Personnel Account on December 9, 2010 to Overhead Account amounted to virement and recommended that the amount “should either be refunded to the Consolidated Revenue Fund by the Institute or deducted from their future allocations”. As a result of the findings, the AGF says that all Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on assump-

tion of duty, must be made to undergo compulsory training in accounting and financial management “to avoid total reliance on the finance officers who often mislead them, as ignorance of the law is no excuse.” Similarly, the Ministry of Agriculture, in a report submitted by a four-man panel set up by the minister, agreed with the findings of the office of the AccountantGeneral of the Federation on the allegations levelled against Prof. Ogunbodede.

PDP will sanction ward for re-admitting Kalu, says dep. gov From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia NDICATION emerged at the weekend that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State might sanction its Bende Local Council chapter, including Orji Kalu’s Igbere Ward A, for re-admitting the former governor of the state into the party. This was made known by the Deputy Governor, Col. Emeka Ananaba (rtd), at the Government House, Umuaha, when he addressed members of the PDP from all the 17 local councils of the state, who trooped to the Government House protesting the purported re-entry of

Kalu in the party. He said: “Abia State will not go back to the era of darkness. The ex-governor has disappointed his Bende people and we shall hold them responsible for the return or purported return of the ex-governor into the PDP.” He described Governor Theodore Orji as the messiah sent by God to rescue the state. Kalu recently asserted that he had fully returned to the party, having been duly re-registered by his ward executives and issued with a valid membership card. However, the PDP state Chairman, Senator Emma

Nwaka, has debunked that development, saying that the ex-governor was likely carrying a fake membership card or was re-registered by fake PDP officials at his ward. Spokesman of the protesters and Ohafia Local Council chapter chairman, Chief Kingsley Emeaga, said that PDP members across the state did not and do not support the return of Kalu, whom he accused of still being a member of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), adding that his mission was to come to PDP, instigate crisis there and pave way for PPA to reclaim the state in 2015.

Court to hear suit today against Babalakin over Ibori By Yetunde Ayobami-Ojo USTICE Adeniyi Onigbanjo of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has fixed today to hear various applications in an ongoing trial of Chairman, BiCourtney Limited, Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN). He is being accused of alleged involvement in the fraudulent transfer of N4.7 billion on behalf of convicted former Delta State Governor, James Ibori by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Babalakin and others were arraigned on 27- count charge on January 17, 2013, bordering on conspiracy, retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct and corruptly conferring benefits on account of public action. Babalakin alongside one Alex Okoh, Stabilini Visioni Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited and Renix Nigeria Limited pleaded not guilty to the charges made against them. The anti-graft commission alleged that the defendants

fraudulently assisted Ibori to transfer various sums, through various parties, to Erin Aviation account in Mauritius for the purchase of a Challenger Jet aircraft. Justice Onigbanjo granted them bail after the defence counsel moved their bail applications. Counsel to Babalakin, Olawale Akoni (SAN) in moving his bail application, prayed the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition. Akoni said, “Babalakin is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a member of the Body of Benchers, Pro chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, the Chairman of the Committee of pro-chancellors in Nigeria and the Senior Partner of one of the biggest law firms in the country. “He will present himself for trial. He came by himself into the court this morning without coercion.” Also Okoh’s counsel, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), urged the court to grant his client bail

on self-recognition as he had once headed a commercial bank in the country and had been ready for his arraignment each time it was scheduled. EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) told the court that he would not oppose the bail applications since the defendants had complied with the terms of the administrative bail granted to them by the anti-graft agency. But Jacobs maintained that while he was not opposing the bail plea in principles, the court should grant them bail on terms that would ensure they attend their trial. The judge in two separate rulings, admitted Babalakin and Okoh to bail on self-recognition. Justice Onigbanjo also ordered that the duo deposit their travelling documents with the EFCC. The court further ordered that the documents must not be released to the accused except with its permission.

AuthorityHow Autonomous?’ scheduled for tomorrow at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Conference Centre, Abuja, has been postponed. The Public Affairs Directorate of CMC Connect (Perception Managers) and O ‘Ken Ventures, organisers of the discourse disclosed this at the weekend. In a statement, one of the organisers, Mr. Gbenga Ojo of O’ Ken Ventures, stated that “some of the key stakeholders and members of the faculty, who had earlier confirmed participation, suddenly called us to plead for a shift in date because of new development in their schedule; and as government officials and key public figures, time management can sometimes be a challenge for such public figures.” He added: “We are deeply sorry for the inconveniences this might have brought to our numerous invited guests, friends and partners all over the country who had planned to attend the national discourse.

Minister warns MDAs over health insurance From Abosede Musari, Abuja INISTRIES, Departments and Agencies of government (MDAs) that fail to pay insurance premium in advance will henceforth risk sanction from the ministry of finance. Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama handed down the warning in a circular dated February 12 and copied to all government MDAs. The minister noted that provisions were made for insurance in the yearly budget and yet MDAs had allowed premium owed to insurance companies to skyrocket up to N24 billion as at January in 2012. According to him, the huge debt had undermined the ability of insurance companies to meet claim obligations to eligible beneficiaries. “MDAs and other stakeholders are by this circular directed and advised to comply with the provisions of section 50(1) of the Insurance Act 2003. Any MDAs found culpable will be sanctioned accordingly. Henceforth, any contract of insurance entered into without payment of full premium in advance shall be legally unenforceable”, he said.

Northern govs laud Shagari at 88 From John Ogiji, Minna HE Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) has paid tribute to former President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari who turns 88 years today, describing him as a statesman of uncommon pedigree. Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu said, as Nigeria’s first Executive President, Shagari demonstrably advertised probity and accountability and placed topmost premium on the values and virtues of constitutional democracy. In a statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, the Forum said Shagari’s life symbolised a rejection of the corrupting influences that usually distracted leaders’ commitment to improving the lot of the common man.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Fashola, Okoh charge new bishops on service, others By Chris Irekamba OVERNOR Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State and Bishop of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas D. Okoh, have commended three Anglican bishops who were consecrated yesterday at the Cathedral of St. Jude, Ebute-Metta, Lagos. The governor, who spoke through the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said God had ordained them before they were born and urged them to serve the church and the nation diligently. “I believe that God had chosen them before they were born and I want to also pray with other faithful that God Almighty will strengthen them, uphold them and bless the works in their hands. And this spiritual task that God has given to them, He will give them the enablement to be able to discharge it effectively, to be able to win more souls and preach the gospel,” he said.

NEWS

Suspended lawmaker sues Speaker, House From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu (Benin City) and Ali Garba (Bauchi) USPENDED female member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rifkatu Samson Danna, representing Bogoro Constituency, has filed a suit before a Bauchi State High Court against the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Yahaya Mohammed Miya and the House. Meanwhile, ahead of the council polls in Bauchi, opposition parties in the state have met to ally with a view to defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election. In a related development, some aggrieved ACN mem-

Opposition parties ally for council polls Edo ACN members decamp to PDP bers in Ikpoba Okha Council of Edo State at the weekend decamped to the PDP. The political parties planning the alliance include: Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Danna was suspended in June last year following a disagreement between her and her colleagues over the relocation of Tafawa Balewa Local Council Area Headquarters from Tafawa Balewa Town to Bununu.

In the suit, which was filed by her counsel, Des Morakinyo, she is praying the court to declare that her suspension was illegal, unconstitutional and contradicted the 1999 Constitution as contained in Section 36 ,39, and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human Rights. She is also praying the court to recall her and compel the House to pay her all her entitlements and N30 million damages. She had alleged that the lawmakers met somewhere out-

side the House where they took the decision to relocate the council’s headquarters. Danna had further argued that before passing such a law, the lawmakers ought to have conducted public hearing to seek the opinion of all stakeholders. Irked by Danna’s claim, the House asked her to apologise in writing for alleging that they met somewhere before passing the law, which she did orally but refused to put it in writing. She was subsequently suspended by the House for refusing to put her apology in writing. When contacted in Bauchi at the weekend, the embattled lawmaker said she

‘Why health insurance is vital From Leo Sobechi, Abakaliki GAIN, the importance of health insurance was at the weekend echoed by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Well Health Limited, a health management organisation (HMO) based in Enugu, Mr. Emmanuel Obi. Obi noted that until Nigerians were made to subscribe to health insurance, the ugly incidences of patients being detained in hospitals after treatment would continue. The HMO boss, who stated this while speaking with journalists in Enugu, discovered that HMO was envisaged by Article 35 of the 1999 Decree under General Abdulsalami Abubakar to cover all Nigerians, including people in rural communities, for public and private health insurance schemes up to the tertiary healthcare level.

Provost wants monotechnics included in TET Fund

Niger State Governor Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu (left), his Sokoto State counterpart, Aliyu Magatarkada Wammako and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar (presenting an award) during the Al-Huda Old Boys’ Association’s 50th anniversary at the Sheik Abubakar Gummi Memorial College, Sokoto

FCT pledges fairness over demolition

From John Akubo, Dutse ROVOST of the Jigawa State School of Legal and Islamic Studies, Dr. Abbas Abubakar Abbas, has urged the Federal Government to include monotechnics in the Tertiary Education Trust (TET) Fund. He made the call at the weekend shortly after the matriculation of new students for 2012/2013 session. According to Abba, “The ETF intervention has a great impact on the development of nonotechnics across the country through the provision of scholarships to the lecturers, financing of research works, building of administrative blocks, lecture rooms and other working materials, which enhance the standard of the colleges and the quality of education impacted on their students”. He added: “Excluding monotechnics from accessing TET Fund intervention started in 2010, and from that time to date, the negative impacts of the exclusion have manifested in the colleges. Therefore, I am using this medium to call on the Federal Government to look into the matter and rescind the decision in the interest of the country”.

From Terhemba Daka, Abuja

N assurance has come A from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Bala Mohammed, that his administration will follow due process while demolishing illegal structures in the city. The minister’s pledge came as campaigns by the PDP for the March 16, 2013 chairmanship and councillorship elections in the FCT six area councils kicked off at the weekend. Mohammed led other PDP stalwarts, including Senator Philip Aduda and House of Representatives members, Zaphaniah Bitrus Jisalo and Ega Dobi, to the campaigns for the forthcoming polls in the Abuja Municipal and Bwari Area Councils. Speaking at the event, the minister stressed that though removal of illegal structures was within the purview of the FCT Administration to maintain the Abuja Master-Plan

Kicks off council polls’ campaign Though removal of illegal structures was within the purview of the FCT Administration to maintain the Abuja Master-Plan and ensure aesthetics in the territory, the demolition would be carried out with a human face and ensure aesthetics in the territory, the demolition would be carried out with a human face. Mohammed further assured that the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) would be prevailed upon to be more civil in carrying out its responsibilities of cleaning Abuja, particularly in area of curtailing the menace of street hawkers, beggars and other environmental nuisance. He said the FCT Administration would continue to work for all categories of people in the territory in tandem with the requirements of the Federal Government’s transformation agenda. The minister stressed that

his administration was working assiduously to deepen democratic tenets in the FCT by providing a level playing field for all the political parties to operate. He, however, warned against intimidation and harassment of the electorate, adding that the government would not condone any form of illegality. According to him, the FCT Administration was prepared to provide security before, during and after the elections in the entire 8,000, noting that the government would not shy away from its responsibility of providing adequate security to lives and property.”

would not comment on the incident because the matter was in court. Also, the House’s Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Saleh Dumba (PDP) representing Dass Constituency, told journalists that the House had not received a copy of the suit filed by Danna, but added that the lawmaker was prolonging her suspension since she had refused to apologise in writing. Addressing reporters separately in Bauchi State, the state’s CPC, ANPP chairmen Aliyu Saidu, Sani Shehu and the ACN spokesman, Nasiru Ibrahim Darazo, confirmed the planned alliance development. Sa’idu said that at the meeting, it was resolved that each local council should support a popular candidate from any political party to contest against the PDP. However, speaking on the opposition parties’ planned alliance, the state PDP Assistant Publicity Secretary, Bashir Bukar Rimin Zayam, said: “We heard about their plans but we are ahead of them because Bauchi is an entirely PDP state, and the party has done a lot to provide the dividend of democracy to the people.” The Edo State PDP Chairman, Dan Orbih, while receiving the ACN defectors, said the party had resolved to launch an “Operation Reclaim” all members of the party that defected to the ACN. Orbih said: “We want to launch the “Operation Reclaim” exercise of ACN members in the state because they have been used, they have been dumped and they have been rendered worthless in the eyes of ACN government. We are going to win them back to the PDP where we will appreciate them”. He said the defection was a good omen for the opposition party to galvanise its members and commended the new members for the bold step they took.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

AfricanNews S’African leaders sign peace deal for eastern DR Congo OUTH African leaders have signed a deal aimed at bringing peace and stability to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo with plans to reinforce UN-led mission to combat rebels after years of unrest. Eleven countries in the Great Lakes region – including those accused of stoking trouble by backing rebel groups – signed on to the accord at a ceremony in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, in the presence of United Nations (UN) Chief Ban Ki-moon. “It is my hope that the framework will lead to an era of peace and stability for the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the region,” Ban said, but added: “It is only the beginning of a comprehensive approach that will require sustained engagement.” The accord calls for regional countries to refrain from interfering in each other’s affairs and aims to encourage the reform of weak institutions in the DRC, central Africa’s largest country. It also provides for the “strategic revision” of the UN’s 17, 000-man strong MONUSCO mission, which may lead to creation of a special UN “intervention brigade” to combat rebel groups and support political reforms and the appointment of a UN special envoy. South African President

Jacob Zuma described the creation of the brigade, which will total 2,500 troops, as a realistic way to quickly restore security. DR Congo’s mineral-rich east has been ravaged by conflict involving numerous armed groups for the past two decades, with new rebel movements spawned on a regular basis. The latest surge in violence erupted last year and culminated in the rebel March 23 movement (M23) — made up of largely Tutsi former soldiers — briefly seizing the key town of Goma last November. The presidents of the DR Congo, South Africa, Mozambique, Rwanda, Congo and Tanzania were present for the signing, along with envoys from Uganda, Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic and Zambia. “It shows that the right course of action is still being taken and that based on this there are opportunities and avenues which will be open for our common action for the peace and security of DRC and in the region,” the African Union’s commissioner for peace and security, Ramtane Lamamra, said. Rwandan President Paul Kagame, whose country is accused of backing the M23 rebels, welcomed the deal. “Today’s agreement is an important step and opportunity in reaffirming our commitment to regional peace,”

Kenyan elections and the looming fear Kenya – East Africa’s FtheOR economic powerhouse – issue of a looming International Criminal Court (ICC) trial for presidential hopeful, Uhuru Kenyatta, has sparked fear of economic and diplomatic consequences should he win and fail to comply with an order to stand before the global court for his trial, analysts have warned. If Kenyatta, who is widely favoured to wins the March 4 elections final succeeds, his first foreign trip along with his deputy could be to The Hague to face trial for crimes against humanity. This postulation raises the prospect that Kenya, a regional diplomatic hub, popular tourist destination and with a growing economy buoyed by foreign investment – could follow the path of pariah state Sudan, the only other country to elect a president indicted by the ICC. In an apparent caution over the possible victory of Kenyatta, the United States’ top diplomat for Africa, Johnnie Carson, earlier this month warned Kenyans that “choices have consequences.” “We live in an interconnected world and people should be thoughtful about the impact their choices have,” he said, without naming any names. The ICC issue “raises enormously the stakes of the

The National Alliance (TNA) presidential candidate, Uhuru Kenyatta, addresses supporters at Oloitokitok, near the Tanzanian border as they attend a political rally at the border town at the foot of Africa’s highest mountain, PHOTO: AFP Kilimanjaro…at the weekend. presidential contest”, the pected second round run off to run for office earlier this International Crisis Group vote. month. think tank warned in a reIn terms of clear policy, litCivil society groups have cent report. tle of real substance divides sought a ruling as to Kenyatta and running mate the top candidates. Kenya’s whether Kenyatta and Ruto William Ruto – a fellow ICC election races have a long should be allowed to stand indictee – “in particular have past of ethnic campaigning, for office due to the looming challenged the ICC proceed- as well as violence. ICC trial. The high court fiings as politically motivated, That has made many con- nally ruled it lacked jurisdicand used them to rally their cerned that voters will use tion to make a decision. respective ethnic communi- the election as a referendum The case illustrated how the ties’ support,” the ICG added. on the ICC. ICC has divided domestic Their trials for their alleged “The people of Kenya – and opinion: Some believing role in orchestrating post- they alone – have the power that Kenyans alone should election violence five years and the mandate to deter- judge Kenyatta through the ago in which over 1,100 peo- mine the leadership of this ballot, others keenly aware ple died are due to open on great country,” Kenyatta said of the possible impact on April 10 and 11, potentially after high court judges effec- the country should he win. clashing with a widely ex- tively cleared the way for him

Koroma begins fresh five-year term, ECOWAS commends Sierra Leoneans By Oghogho Obayuwana ONSEQUENT upon the earC lier announcement by Sierra Leone’s National Electoral Commission (NEC), incumbent President Ernest Bai Koroma’s second five yearterm as the leader of the West African country of some six million people officially got off the ground at the weekend. However, on the heels of

Koroma’s inauguration, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo, has congratulated Sierra Leoneans for their commitment to democracy as demonstrated by their first post-war peaceful, transparent and credible elections. The general election was the first free vote that Sierra Leone is organising by the country’s internal mechanism. The previous two post

Ouédraogo said that by their peaceful and commendable conducts during the November 2012 polls conducted by Sierra Leoneans themselves after a decade of devastating civil war, the citizens had showed a strong determination to ensure that democracy is entrenched in their country. civil war elections were organised by the United Nations (UN). But this would be Koroma’s second and final term in office. Koroma based his campaign on the theme of “Transformation for National Prosperity,” which continues to promise a revamp of the country’s mining sector to enhance the economic and social wellbeing of the people. Incidentally, his closest rival in the presidential race was former junta leader, Julius Maada Bio, who received 37.4 per cent of the votes polled in the election which according to local and international observers were largely free, fair and well managed. The election was the West African nation’s third since the end of the civil war, and the second since the withdrawal of the peacekeeping operation known as UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) in December 2005. Koroma, the flagbearer of ruling All People’s Congress (APC), had received 58.7 per cent of vote cast, while his main challenger Bio from Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) got 37.4 per cent.

And according to Sierra Leone’s Constitution (1991), if presidential candidate wins 55 per cent of the vote, a runoff will not be needed. The NEC also announced that the turnout rate in the November 17 elections was 87.3 per cent and 4.7 per cent of the votes were invalid. Parliamentary and local council election results are yet to be declared. Koroma was elected President in 2007. He also contested in the 2002 presidential elections, and served as the leader of the parliamentary opposition from 2002 to 2007. The November 17 elections were widely seen as an important step for a country that is rebuilding after the 1991-2002 civil war in which more than 50,000 people were killed. Speaking to journalists at the official inauguration of Koroma, Ouédraogo said that by their “peaceful and commendable conducts” during the November 2012 polls conducted by Sierra Leoneans themselves after a decade of devastating civil war, the citizens had showed a strong determination to ensure that democracy is entrenched in their country.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

WorldReport New Pope: The intrigues as the Conclave moves to convene By Oghogho Obayuwana, Foreign Affairs Editor (with agency reports)

XIT polls yesterday showed E Cyprus’ rightwing leader, Nicos Anastasiades, as win-

ARDINAL electors from C every region of the world are already gathering to pick the man to succeed Pope Benedict XVI. The Church has found itself in uncharted waters owing to the fact that no pope has resigned in more than 600 years. But intrigues, scandals, rumours and fears have become the confetti on the lane being walked by the 117 cardinals who constitute the Conclave that has the theocratic right to elect a new pope. The cable news is awash with ever emerging fears rife enough to influence the vote and with it, the direction of the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinal electors must be younger than 80 to participate in the conclave. The average age is 72. And interestingly Nigeria has two (Olubunmi Anthony Okogie and John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan) out of the 11 Cardinals from Africa who are part of the Conclave. The others are Polycarp Pengo (Tanzania), Gabriel Zubeir Wako (Sudan), Wilfrid Fox Napier (South Africa), Theodore Adrien Sarr (Senegal), John Njue (Kenya), Robert Serah (Guinea), Peter Kodwo Apiah Turkson (Ghana), Antonios Naguib (Egypt) and Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya (Democratic Republic of Congo). After the February 11 retirement announcement, various reports on inside happenings at the Vatican appeared to underscore the backbiting in the Vatican that the retreating pope was unable to control. Some of the stories making the rounds in the Italian media and streamed by New York Times stretched the high stake intrigue theory beyond bounds, alleging gay sex scandals in the Vatican, others focusing on particular cardinals stung

Amato

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United States yesterday reportedly lashed out against the Syrian regime, according to report by Agence France Presse (AFP). Also, French photographer wounded in the conflict was confirmed dead on Sunday. “Every day a large number of innocent children and women fall dead in Syria,” Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a key backer of Syria’s opposition, said on a visit to the United Arab Emirates. “We will not remain silent on those committing crimes against their people... We will not remain silent on the brutal dictator in Syria.” Turkey’s southern neighbour has been locked in a 23-

ning the country’s presidential election, securing a mandate to negotiate a crucial bailout for the EU state on the brink of bankruptcy. The announcement sparked instant celebrations as a large flag-waving crowd gathered outside the Nicosia headquarters of the winner’s Disy party and supporters honked car horns across the capital. Exit polls released as voting stations closed in the run-off election showed Anastasiades clinching between 57 and 61 per cent of the vote against an estimated 38-42 per cent for communist-backed candidate Stavros Malas.

Karzai orders American forces out of Afghan province Onaiyekan

Pengo

by the child sexual abuse crisis suggest internal struggles as prelates scramble to consolidate power and attack their rivals in the dying days of a troubled papacy. The reports, which the Vatican has vehemently refuted, touch on some of the most vexing issues of Benedict’s nearly eight years reign, including a new round of accusations of child sexual abuse by priests and international criticism of the Vatican Bank’s opaque record-keeping. The recent explosion of bad press, which some Vatican experts said was fed by carefully orchestrated leaks meant to weaken some papal contenders, also speak to Benedict’s own difficulties in governing, which analysts said he was trying to address, albeit belatedly, with several high-profile personnel changes. In a strongly worded rebuke and rebuttal, the Vatican Secretariat of State issued a rare statement last Saturday calling it “deplorable” that ahead of the Conclave, there

was “a widespread distribution of often unverified, unverifiable or completely false news stories, that cause serious damage to persons and institutions.” It went further to compare the news reports to past attempts by foreign states to exert pressure on papal elections, saying any efforts to skew the choice of the next pope by trying to shape public opinion were “based on judgments that do not typically capture the spiritual aspect of the moment that the church is living.” Benedict had addressed at least one past scandal with the February 15 appointment of a new head of the Vatican Bank. It is less clear why he reassigned a powerful Vatican diplomatic official to a posting outside Rome, though experts said it diminished the official’s role in helping to steer Vatican policy. At the conclusion of the Vatican’s Lenten spiritual retreat, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, a papal contender, spoke darkly of the “divisions,

Serah

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The recent explosion of bad press, which some Vatican experts said was fed by carefully orchestrated leaks meant to weaken some papal contenders, also speak to Benedict’s own difficulties in governing, which analysts said he is trying to address, albeit belatedly, with several high-profile personnel changes. dissent, careerism, jealousies” that he said plagued the Vatican hierarchy. The recent spate of news reports were linked to an earlier scandal in which the pope’s butler stole confidential documents, an episode considered one of the gravest security breaches in the modern history of the church. For instance, the past week’s articles in the centre-left daily newspaper, La Repubblica and the centreright Weekly, Panorama, which largely did not reveal their sources, reported that three cardinals whom Benedict had asked to investigate the documents scandal had found evidence of

Vatican officials who had been put in compromising positions. The publications reported that after interviewing dozens of people inside and outside the Vatican, the cardinals produced a hefty dossier. Said La Repubblica in this regard: “The report is explicit. Some high prelates are subject to ‘external influence’ – we would call it blackmail – by non-church men to whom they are bound by ‘worldly’ ties.” Separately, the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said last week that the reports were only trying to “discredit the church and its government” ahead of the Conclave.

Turkey, U.S. flay Assad’s govt as Aleppo toll rises FTER the death toll from a A missile strike on Aleppo rose to 58, Turkey and the

Rightwing leader, Anastasiades, wins in crisis-hit Cyprus

months-long conflict in which the United Nations estimated over 70,000 people had been killed. Yesterday alone, according to a toll compiled by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 63 people were killed in violence across the country. Early in the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Turkey broke ties with Damascus and led international calls for his ouster. Ankara has since backed the uprising against Assad by offering shelter to defectors from Assad’s army and hosting opposition meetings, while some 200,000 Syrian refugees have fled to Turkey, many of them living in squalid camps. On February 15, Assad’s government sent a letter to the

Every day a large number of innocent children and women fall dead in Syria… We will not remain silent on those committing crimes against their people... We will not remain silent on the brutal dictator in Syria. United Nations blasting Turkey’s “destructive” role in the Syrian conflict. Damascus has systematically blamed foreign powers, key among them Turkey, the West and Gulf countries, for the war in Syria. Erdogan’s statement came as the French foreign ministry confirmed that freelance photographer Olivier Voisin, who was seriously wounded in Syria on Thursday, died of his wounds after surgery in Turkey. Meanwhile the Syrian Observatory for Human

Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, updated its death toll from a missile attack on Friday on the northern city of Aleppo, saying that it killed at least 58 people, among them 36 children. Washington on Saturday condemned the Assad regime “in the strongest possible terms” for the strike, which activists said was carried out using surface-to-surface missiles. The army’s deadly missile strikes were “the latest demonstrations of the Syrian regime’s ruthlessness and its

lack of compassion for the Syrian people it claims to represent”, said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. She repeated Washington’s call for Assad to step down. “The Assad regime has no legitimacy and remains in power only through brute force,” Nuland said. The comments from Washington came after a statement from the main opposition Syrian National Coalition announcing a boycott of talks with world powers. Coalition chief Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib said that the group’s withdrawal from meetings abroad was “a message of protest to all governments of the world” that were merely looking on as the Syrian people were killed.

RESIDENT Hamid Karzai of P Afghanistan has demanded the withdrawal of United States special forces from Wardak within two weeks. Karzai accused them of fuelling “insecurity and instability” in the volatile province neighbouring the capital, Kabul. “In today’s national security council meeting... President Karzai ordered the ministry of defence to kick out the U.S. special forces from Wardak province within two weeks,” said presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi. “The U.S. special forces and illegal armed groups created by them are causing insecurity, instability, and harass local people in this province,” he told a media briefing.

African-American History: February 25, 1870

First Black U.S. Senator, Hiram R. Revels takes oath of office IRAM R. Revels was born H into a mixed-race heritage – Revels’s father was mixed-race and his mother was Caucasian. Born free in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1827, Revels was both well travelled and well educated. He attended schools in Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois, was ordained a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Maryland and conducted religious work in Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri. Revels also served as a chaplain during the Civil War. In 1869, after the war, he was elected to represent Adams County in the Mississippi State Senate. In January 1870, Revels gave the opening prayer in the state legislature. The prayer was powerful and left a lasting impression on those who heard it, leading to Revels being elected by the legislature to the U.S. Senate the next month by a vote of 81 to 15.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Politics Mimiko’ssecondinauguration: Whenpatriotismtakescentrestage • Victor Moses, Oboabona receive standing ovation From Niyi Bello, Akure LTHOUGH not physically present at the A venue, “the extra-ordinary nationalism” of football hero and member of the victorious Super Eagles of Nigeria, Victor Moses, received a standing ovation from the gathering of eminent personalities at a lecture organised to mark the second term inauguration of Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, in Akure, the state capital, last Saturday. In what eminent scholar and guest lecturer, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, described as “unique patriotism,” the sad story about Moses, whose parents were massacred by fundamentalists during a religious uprising in their home in southern Kaduna, but who chose to don the colours of Nigeria in the country’s just-recent campaign for the African Cup of Nations in South Africa, reverberated in the jam-packed Ondo State Cultural Centre, venue of the event. After narrating the story of Moses, Akinyemi, who was at the apex of Nigeria’s diplomacy as Minister of External Affairs during the military regime of President Ibrahim Babangida, confessed to the gathering that, “I don’t think I am capable of that kind of patriotism.” The Victor Moses experience was brought into the lecture, which has as its theme, ‘Leadership, Democracy and Development: A Paradigm Relationship,’ after his team mate, Godfrey Oboabona, was introduced to the crowd, as a product of Ondo State government’s commitment to youth development. Oboabona, a child of lowly parenthood, whose father was a gardener at Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) in Ondo town, was discovered and trained by the Ondo State Football Development Agency (OSFODA), which was set up by the government to scout for youths who have potentials of becoming football stars. After playing for the state’s youth football team, Oboabona was drafted into the stateowned Sunshine Football Club, where he became the captain before he was picked as a member of the victorious national team. As the gangling young lad was recognised and introduced to the crowd, the hall erupted in frenzy and Mimiko, who apparently was unaware of the boy’s presence at the venue, beckoned to him for a bear hug, to the admiration of the people. The Chairman of the event and former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Dr. Christopher Kolade, described Oboabona as one of the few lights at the end of the tunnel that signify that the country could still be put back from the edge of the precipice. Kolade urged the gathering to emulate the young lad in putting their best to put the country on a higher pedestal wherever they find themselves in whatever vocation they indulge in. “With a lot of commitment and dedication, the type that was shown by these young lads, Nigeria could still be called a country that cares for its citizens,” he said. In his response, Akinyemi said: “The appearance of this young man reminds me of one whose extra-ordinary nationalism is rare. I am talking of Victor Moses. Fundamentalists murdered both parents of this young lad and he was spirited away to safety in Europe by an uncle. “You can imagine the trauma of losing both parents to a ten-year-old boy. Yet, he chose to come back home and play for his country when he was called to do so. “He was offered a jersey to play for the English team, but he rejected that and came back to a country that had rejected him and caused him so much pain even at a time that the country has even graduated to a more extreme form of the circumstances that led to the cold-blooded

Former Minister of External Affairs/Guest Lecturer, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi (left); Pro-Chancellor, Pan-African University/Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Christopher Kolade and Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, at the governor’s second term Inauguration at the Cultural Centre, in Akure… on Saturday. murder of his parents.” The direction of the gathering, which had been focused along finding solutions to Nigeria’s problems of underdevelopment during a democratic regime that should facilitate human and physical growth, was then shifted to what could be achieved if enough blood of patriotism flows in the veins of Nigerians. In his lecture, Akinyemi lamented that Nigeria, as a state, has abandoned its people and the people, particularly, the youths, in turn, have lost faith in the ability of their country to provide for and take care of them. He told the story of how Nigerian youths, in their quest to escape from the big prison that their country has become, died in their thousands as victims of human parts hunters, in the terrible heat of the Sahara desert, as they made attempts to reach Europe through the Straits of Gibraltar. According to him, “In their bid to escape from their fatherland, less than one percent of ablebodied Nigerian youths get across while thousands of others perish. This is one of the sad fallouts of the mismanagement of the Nigerian dream.” He recalled with nostalgia, how, in the early sixties and seventies, Nigerians were being offered Green Cards of free citizenship by the United States, and how compatriots were rejecting them because of their love for their country, which then had the promise of a great nation. He said: “My generation was offered United States Green Cards without asking and we turned them down because we wanted to come home and we knew there would be opportunities waiting for us to join in the task of nationbuilding. “Now, our youths and even our elders would go through hell to seek US visas. They would commit any atrocity to secure foreign visas and they would endure any hardship and subject themselves to any danger to escape from this country.” Akinyemi noted that because of lack of visionary leadership at the national level, which, he said, had led the country into a sorry state of scary human development statistics even among African and Third World countries, the situation got so bad that even the long-held values of the people had been lost. “Now, there are no more values to hold on to. Parents not only encourage their children to cheat to beat the system, they aid and abet the

children in the nefarious activities. No one believes anymore in the concept of the society. It is everyone for himself and God for us all,” he said. Akinyemi stressed that bringing God into it might have had a salutary effect if not for the fact that Nigerians have created their own God in their own image. “In my youth, to be accused of theft or any criminal offence was tantamount to suicide,” he said. “But now, no one asks for the source of the wealth. People in jail, who are accused of murder, run for and win elections, and more than a score of members of the Nigerian Senate have EFCC court cases against them. Only in Nigeria do you steal billions and escape with less than a million naira fine.” In the unbridled reign of the insanity of corruption, Akinyemi castigated a section of the judiciary, which, he said, seems to be aiding corrupt individuals standing trial for graft cases to get undeserved freedom. According to the Emeritus Professor, who declared that he knew he was “stepping on toes,” the judicial system has mellowed down in the way it handles corruption cases during the current era of President Goodluck Jonathan, as Nigerian judges now look at corruption cases in the perspectives that favour the accused, especially in the way they grant bail and interlocutory injunctions. But Akinyemi, who addressed a rich gathering of eminent personalities, including traditional rulers, top government officials and politicians drawn from across political party divides, said, “the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC’s) Act states that interlocutory injunctions should not be given by judges handling corruption cases.” He expressed dismay that corruption cases drag on almost indefinitely because those accused of graft now obtain bail, which, in most cases, signals the end of their cases. “At the initial stage, it was difficult getting bail but now, it seems our judges have discovered new things. Granting of bail, we all know, is at the discretion of judges but now, we see that our judges grant it in favour of the accused,” he said. Reacting to questions from some of the participants about the level of corruption in the country, Akinyemi, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, declared that it was difficult for anybody to be a billionaire in Nigeria except such a per-

son was corrupt. “Our system does not allow the emergence of honest billionaires. You could be a millionaire, yes, but a billionaire? You have to be corrupt to be one,” he said. In putting the blame of the nation’s socio-economic and political woes on bad leadership, the Professor of International Relations said individual leaders with strong character can change the course of societies, listing past heroes who, by sheer personal determination, revised the status quo, charted new path and left worthy legacies in both local and international scenes. He listed Martin Luther King Jnr, Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain, Mao Tse Tung of China, Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore, General Park Chung-Hee of South Korea and Chief Obafemi Awolowo as some few individuals, who proved that a “strong man” could change the course of a society for the benefit of all. “Each of the Asian leaders inherited a rundown and impoverished nation but through sheer forceful personality, transformed their countries into the prosperous tigers,” he said. “Coming to the home front, we all swear by the name of Obafemi Awolowo, at least in this part of the country. The greatest political insult one can hurl at an opponent is to call him an anti-Awoist. And the greatest accolade one can be draped with is to be called an Awoist. “Yet, we all seem to forget that Awolowo was the Premier of the Western Region for only five years during which he seized a basically peasant economy by the scruff of its neck, introduced free education, free health, first ring road in Africa, first television station in the continent... a string of firsts still unmatched in these days of petrol dollars. Even the charlatans in or out of office, who are busy looting public treasuries, lay claim to the Awolowo heritage.” While charging leaders to learn the examples of “successful models” in their decision-making processes and implementation, Akinyemi observed that Nigerian leaders at independence had no “collective vision” of the kind of country they wanted to build. He said: “If truth be spoken, there was no collective faith in the Nigerian project. Each of the premiers with his political associates had a vision for his own region. But there was no vision for the whole country. There were no goals around which a consensus was built.

POLITICS 11

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

‘Lack of party supremacy bane of PDP in South West’ Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye came into national political consciousness on February 23, 2010, when the then governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, removed him, alongside his councillors, as the chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, in spite of a subsisting court order. The former deputy governorship candidate fielded questions from KAMAL TAYO OROPO on the crisis crippling the PDP in the Southwest.

S 2015 approaches, will the fresh A steps at repositioning the party in the zone materialise? No, please. The steps are in the wrong direction, left and right, like what Fela Anikulapo-Kuti called “perambulations.” The people are not ready to sit down and say the truth, frankly and sincerely. Certain people are not ready to show remorse. How can people, who campaigned against President Jonathan, who pasted the posters of their surrogates to cover that of President Jonathan, who raised the hands of candidates of other emergency party suddenly showed up at a PDP meeting as members and sat down and even make contributions, showing no remorse? No apologies, no regrets, as if nothing happened! How can someone who, with evidence known to the world, contributed to the loss suffered by the party turned back to want to make triumphant re-entry into the party like Jesus riding the camel into Jerusalem? Yet, they are being condoned, patronised and subtly promoted. What lessons are we teaching the younger ones and those who remained loyal to the party and are still steadfast? That treachery, party disloyalty is profitable and rewarding? What is your position on the recent Abuja meeting aimed to finding solution to PDP’s problems in the zone? I am very uncomfortable with the choice of Abuja as venue. What happened to Ibadan, the seat of Southwest PDP and the centre of Southwest civilisation? When I was abused and cursed on the Internet, I responded that they should mark my words: that nothing would come out of the meeting. The following day, the participants at the inconclusive meeting were still in Abuja when the Exco of PDP Southwest was curiously dissolved. Are you saying some leaders at the meeting were not aware in advance

Oladunjoye

that this would happen? The same people already starched their agbada to go and see Mr. President two days after, before the President, rightly sensing a divided house, cancelled the meeting. Chief Obasanjo remains the leader of PDP, at least in the Southwest geopolitical zone. If Obasanjo decides to queue behind anybody in Southwest PDP, some of us will carry him on our shoulders and say, ‘Baba Ile tito lo (it is time for you to go home). What has Obasanjo got to gain from us? We need him more than he needs us. We need his experience, his scolding, and his unrivalled international connections. There are some people you cannot fight. You should ask yourself what happened to people who fought this man in the past. How many of these Obasanjo-no-dey-important people have ever put their lives on the line for the country? They are being clever by half. They are what we call arije ni madaru (those who profit in crisis). They think they can create a wedge between Mr. President and his mentor for their business and political interest. They have failed. If they want to know where they truly stand, they should go back to their

wards and test their popularity. In the last council elections in Ogun State, we had eight PDP councillors. My council alone produced two out of the eight without the support of Prince Kashamu or former governor Gbenga Daniel. Of course, even at that, we knew our votes were stolen. For the Southwest PDP to make its mark and win the zone back for Mr. President, we need to scold the traitors, the double dealers, and make them apologise before we can say, ‘go and sin no more’. Some people say what is permanent in politics is interest; I say even then, there must be honour among thieves. WHAT do you make of the legal tussle the party is enmeshed in the zone? That is the legal and judicial embarrassment some people have used Southwest to foster on the PDP and Mr. President. How can you say you are obeying an order of a High Court that has been stayed by the Court of Appeal? The same order, which the NWC unfortunately relied on, and which directly arose out of Justice Charles Archibong’s judgment, was yesterday (Thursday, February 21, 2013) practically torn to shreds by the National Judicial Council (NJC), the highest judicial body in the land.

The NJC did not only suspend Justice Archibong, as a result of petitions filed on the case by PDP and other national officers, but also recommended him to Mr. President for ‘compulsory retirement’ otherwise known as sack. That is the judge whose order, our own NWC — the largest party in Africa — used to dissolve Southwest Exco and gave recognition to a non-existing Exco of Bayo Dayo. Can this be in the interest of our party, especially in the Southwest? How will you use the judgment of a discredited judge to cause havoc in the party even when the Court of Appeal had stayed that judgment? This looks like a man-must-wack agenda. They will then want to pretend as that they are working for President Jonathan when actually they are working against his political interest and rubbish the country’s international image. If President Jonathan obeyed the orders of courts, election tribunals that were even against the interest of his party in some states, especially in the Southwest, will he disobey a Court of Appeal order in favour of his party? Certainly no! It should be clear to you that some akara-politicians are behind it. Do you know akara seller?

She gives you akara with the right hand and immediately collects her money with the left hand even before she finally let go of the akara. I will continue to say the truth; those people are working for their own selfish agenda and not that of the President. This abuse of judicial powers, court processes and undermining of party structures is a serious liability for our party in the Southwest in general and Ogun State, in particular. It cannot continue if we want to rescue our state from the present dismal performance of the ruling party. What is the state of the party in Ogun, and its chances of winning at the polls? The PDP chances are brighter than in 2003 and 2011. Council workers are on strike now. So, the people of Ogun State are now saying, “PDP, go and unite; we are tired and waiting for your return.” How committed are you to the party? Are there people who want me out of PDP? I can’t leave PDP. I am not like people who go to five parties in 18 months. Where will I see a leader that is straight, humble, decent, and disciplined like Chief Olurin? Where will I see Chief Obasanjo that I don’t need to knock before I enter his inner room? I may not have political appointment now, as I am only into media consultancy and youth mentoring, but I am happy that God will not abandon the truthful. My friends in the Presidency will not pick my calls because they feel I am a political activist. But I ask: is it not the person you love and you are loyal to that you tell the truth and nothing but the truth? What do you recommend for the party, to attain the high level it did in the Southwest, and specifically, in Ogun State until 2011? Party supremacy, loyalty to the party, increased networking and synergy across the states of the federation, as we have seen in the ACN, truthfulness, and faith in God with the belief that what will be will be. Another is strategic media communications, and not newspaper ranting and beaming of smiles to television cameras. A good, trained communication manager or imagemaker doesn’t struggle for media attention with the principal. You stay in the background. I will also suggest the establishment of strategic media organisations across the states. Who owns TVC and Radio Continental, PM News, The News, Nation, and the rest of them? Are you aware that TVC is testing to go 24hours news broadcast? And who gave the opposition figures the licenses? The PDP Government! To add to the challenge, all government media in the Southwest are in the hands of the opposition. The challenges are real but they are not insurmountable.

Ohanaeze in limbo, as South East governors fail to meet From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu PEX Igbo socio-cultural organization, A Ohanaeze Ndigbo, is in midpoint following inability of the five Southeast governors to meet and resolve the problems tearing the organisation apart. A well-attended election of the organisation, which held at its secretariat in Enugu on January 12, where Chief Gary Igaraiwe emerged as president general, among others, had sparked off controversy. This is followed by a protest by the Ebonyi State government, which said that the deposed secretary of the national election committee, Chief Richard Ozobu, sent it a wrong date of January 19, 2013, as against January 12 when the election took place. The Ebonyi government and others, who protested the election, argued that the wrong date was sent to them to allow those with hidden agenda to actualise it and deny other con-

testants participation in the polls. The crisis deepened when a parallel election was fixed for Ebonyi State on January 19. This, however, could not hold following an interim court order secured by the Ohanaeze national electoral committee members against the process. The development prompted the intervention of governors of the five states of the zone, who met in Enugu on January 20 and set up an 11man committee, headed by Senator Ben Ndi Obi, to look into the problems of the organisation and make recommendations. The Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, who said the committee was given till February 10 to submit its recommendations to the forum, asked the warring parties to sheath their sword, even as he appealed that all matters in court be withdrawn. The governor also asked the newly elected leadership of the body to submit to the committee and stand down all other activities until

a decision was reached on the election. Investigations by The Guardian, however, revealed that the inability of the governors to convoke a fresh meeting since then has stalled the submission report of the Senator Obi-led committee. The seemingly silence of the governors over the development is causing some disquiet within the organisation, as members entertain fears that it might be treated as a political issue. It was gathered that the committee concluded its work less than a week after its inauguration. Senator Obi, who confirmed this on phone, said that the committee “has done all that was expected of it,” adding that, “we have not submitted our recommendations because the governors are yet to constitute a meeting for the purpose.” “They gave us the assignment and whenever they are ready to receive our recommendations, we will make them available,” he said.

Obi

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

TheMetroSection Police dock cleric, three others for selling a month-old baby Uzochukwu is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy of human trafficking and selling of a newborn baby. Obinwa, the auxiliary nurse, is facing a one-count charge of purchasing the baby while the Reverend is facing a two-count charge of human trafficking and failure to use all reasonable means to prevent the commission of the offence by the mother of the baby and the auxiliary nurse By Joseph Onyekwere HE Police have docked a 69-year-old selfT acclaimed ‘Reverend’, Simon Dike and three other persons before an Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for alleged conspiracy in the selling of a month and 18 days old baby boy for N60, 000. The other accused persons are the mother of the baby, Joy Uzochukwu, 27, an auxiliary nurse, Margaret Obinwa, 49 and the father of the baby boy, Chibuzor Ogbonna, 50. Uzochukwu is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy of human trafficking and selling of a newborn baby. Obinwa, the auxiliary nurse, is facing a one-count charge of purchasing the baby while Dike (the Reverend), is facing a two-count charge of human trafficking and failure to use all reasonable means to prevent the commission of the of-

Lagos State Police Commissioner, Umaru Manko

fence by the mother of the baby and the auxiliary nurse. Ogbonna, the father of the baby, is facing a count charge of impregnating Uzochukwu, failing, refusing or neglecting to contribute to the maternity-related costs, from antenatal to post-natal.

All the accused persons are residents of Odongunyan in Ikorodu, Lagos. The prosecutor, an Assistant Inspector of Police, Henry Obiazi said that the crime was committed at De-Ifes Medical Centre, Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Lagos. He said that Uzochukwu went to meet

Obinwa to help her abort the pregnancy as an auxiliary nurse but she encouraged her not to abort but to sell the baby after delivery. The prosecutor said that Obinwa introduced the Uzochukwu to Dike, who wanted to buy the baby because he has been married for 28 years without a child. According to the prosecutor, Uzochukwu signed an undertaking not to demand for the baby after collecting the money, which she signed and accepted the offer. He disclosed that Uzochukwu left Ogbonna who impregnated her because he couldn’t take care of her and married another man, known as Kingsley. It was Kingsley who later reported the case to the police. “He said it was Kingsley who went to report to Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) and informed the police for further investigation,” Obiazi said. According to the prosecutor, the alleged offences contravene Sections 409,274,408 and 277 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Chief Magistrate, S. O. Solebo, who presided over the case, granted Uzochukwu and Dike bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with a responsible surety in like sum, while Obinwa and Ogbonna were granted bail in the sum of N200, 000 each with two sureties in like sum. Solebo said that the baby should be taken to Lagos State Motherless Baby’s home in Victoria Island, Lagos. She ordered that Uzochukwu should be permitted to see the baby under the supervision of the matron of the home and adjourned

Briefs

A passion for mother and child

NIM holds lecture Feb. 28

Young doctors recognised for contributing to maternal and child health in Kano From Adamu Abuh, Kano IS work in the obstetrics department of various community hospitals in northern Nigeria, convinced 31- year-old Dr. Ashiru Abubakar that the high number of maternal deaths was unacceptable and must be checked. He, therefore, chose to focus his career on public health, emphasis on maternal health issues. Realizing also the causal role of obstetric hemorrhage in most maternal deaths, Abubakar launched an unprecedented blood donation campaign for the Maternity Unit of Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano. His efforts have so far yielded over 200 pints of donated blood and helped dispel some of the fears and misconceptions in the region about blood donation. Another young doctor, Oluwadamilola Olufunbi Olaogun studied at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and the Nuffield Centre of International Health and Development, University of Leeds, United Kingdom. Right from her medical school days, she had been passionate about maternal and child health. She volunteered as a health instructor in a skill- acquisition community development project called “Girl Child Education Initiative” and during her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year received training on HIV testing and counselling. A strong interest in public health propelled her to obtain a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) degree with assessment of the feasibility of using supervised home delivery to address maternal mortality in Northern Nigeria as focus of dissertation. Yet, another, Chinomso Ibe Traffina, 29, from Owerri, Imo State is currently working toward Advanced Masters in Public Health with a passion for every woman to live . A programme employee at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) for more than two years, she is also the Programme Coordinator, Traffina Foundation for Community Health, which she founded in 2007. The three are the latest ‘young champions’ sponsored by Maternal Health Young Champions Programme (MHYC)-a group committed to improving maternal health through research and innovative

Abubakar

Olaogun

field work in Nigeria. They have started a nine -month fellowship programme to understudy experienced mentors with the common objective of curtailing the high maternal and infant mortality rate in Nigeria. According to MHYC’s Programme Director in Nigeria, Dr. Yashua Alkali Hamza , the group’s latest effort is understandable, considering that every minute, a woman dies in pregnancy or childbirth and over 300 million women in poor countries suffer from maternal morbidity. “Many mothers, still, do not receive even the most basic health care during childbirth when both the mother and child are most at risk.” The latest infant mortality rates for Nigeria as revealed by UNICEF is 73 per 1000 live births and it is also estimated that every single day, over 2000 children die from preventable causes, top of which include malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea, all easily preventable with strong health systems. A consultant pediatrician and public health specialist, Dr. Hamza said the fellowship was aimed at equipping emerging public health leaders with the skills, commitment, and vision to respond fully to multiple causes and consequences of this threat. Justifying the intervention of the MHYC, she noted that: “Maternal health is a big issue because Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality ratio next to India . “So any intervention that can improve the health of women during pregnancy and childbirth is welcome and we believe that young people who are upcoming need that kind of awareness and they need to have

Ibe

that platform to air their ideas. “And so we felt we would look at young people who are emerging and have them focus on maternal health. “It is because we believe that young people have a lot of innovation; we believe that we should give young people a chance to bring about their ideas and focus on them. “That was why the focus was on young people. If we are able to bring up a group of young people, the future would be bright. So I think young people really need to know the issues of maternal health.” Chinomnso says she intends to use her mentorship to sharpen her skills in maternal health so that she is better able to run her foundation, which has been involved in specific projects including advocating for health issues women and child education, traditional and religious issues affecting maternal health. She will also organize public health events such as free check-ups, immunizations, and medical outreaches in communities in Nigeria. For Dr. Olaogun, the fellowship, would equip her with the skills to implement the interplay between curative and preventive medicine that can improve maternal health status of Nigerian women. Abubakar is already working with his mentor towards finding ways of “improving the attitudes of healthcare providers as a way of improving access to skilled maternal health services.” “I hope to explore various implementation strategies for programmes that target provider-attitudes and then go back to my community and implement the strategies I have learnt.”

HE Nigerian Institute of T Management (Chartered) will hold its inaugural Nigeria: Arise and Shine yearly ecture on Thursday, February 28, at the Auditorium of Management House, Victoria Island, Lagos at 11.00 am. A statement signed by the President and Chairman of Council of the Institute, Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, says the lecture, which has “Appraisal of Vision 20:2020: Perspective of Power generation and National Development” as theme ,will have the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Rahamon Adisa Bello, as the Guest Speaker.

NISPA meets Wednesday HE Nigerian-Spanish AssociT ation (NISPA) whose objectives include the promotion of business, friendship, cultural integration, tourism and mutual understanding between Nigerian and Spanish members of the Association, will on Wednesday, February 27, hold its first bi-monthly Business Luncheon meeting at The Metropolitan Club, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos at 12.00 p.m. A statement by the Executive Secretary, Jide Bibiresanmi said the Ambassador of Spain to Nigeria, Mr. Alvaro Castillo Aguilar would be the Special Guest/Guest Speaker, the Consul General of Spain, Ms Carolina de Manueles Alvarez and the Economic Counsellor and Head of the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain, Mr. Pablo Martinez Segrelles would also be in attendance.

METRO 13

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Rotary Foundation raises fund for polio eradication at dinner By Isaac Taiwo

OTARY Foundation, R which focuses on improving health, supporting

education and alleviating poverty and most importantly, eradicating polio all over the world, recently held its yearly dinner/dance at Shell Hall of MUSON Centre, Lagos. Dignitaries, including the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who was the Guest, the former Secretary of Health and Chairman, Julie Pharmacy, Prince Julius AdelusiAdeluyi, were present to support the eradication of polio. According to the District Governor, Rotary International, District 9110, Kamoru Omotosho, Rotary Foundation is the financial arm of Rotary International, a non-for-profit corporation that receives contributions from both members and non-members of Rotary Club and distributes funds in support of approved humanitarian and educational activities that are implemented through Rotary clubs and districts with a clear mission to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through improvement of health, support for education and alleviation of poverty. He addressed the crowd of dignitaries: “Today is another day to raise fund for Rotary Foundation with a view to looking after the down-trodden in our community and most important to eradicate polio.” “It is a yearly event to solicit funds from those with humanitarian heart that believe in our cause that there would always be less privileged people who should be catered for in

our various communities.” Omotosho said: “Five reasons why privileged Nigerians, both members of the Rotary Club International and non-members alike should support Rotary Foundation is to join in the battle to change lives around the world through eradication of polio which the Club has embarked upon since 1985 with about 99 per cent achievement, provide basic education and literacy, promote peace and conflict resolution.” “Rotary Foundation has been in the continuous war to stop sexual abuse of children, including pornography, human trafficking and abduction. Everyday, at least, 22,000 children worldwide are reported missing and 5,000 are victimized through commercial sexual exploitation according to the UNICEF. Others include reducing child mortality and fighting hunger,” he also revealed.” In his welcome address, the Chairman, Organising Committee for this year’s Rotary Foundation Dinner and Dance Ball, Dr. Jide Akeredolu, said that the objective of the event was to showcase the achievements and highlight the goals of the Foundation especially to non-Rotarians; to honour donors and benefactors over the years as well as raising funds for the future programme of the Foundation “The flagship of Rotary International is eradication of Polio which we have embarked upon 25 years ago and we are still fighting the battle. It is a worldwide project.” “When the Rotary Foundation took up the challenge, there were about

120 countries that were infected and we are happy today that only three countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan and of course Nigeria are left but we are determined to accomplish our goal as we have done in other countries despite the challenges confronting us in fighting the battle in these remaining countries,” he declared. In his speech, Abubakar lauded the activities of Rotary Foundation which, according to him, have touched many lives and changed them for better. He described the Foundation as one dedicated to service that is “philanthropic” in nature. “It is at a time like this that poverty, insecurity, joblessness among others have engulfed our nation that philanthropy has a bigger role to play.” Atiku enjoined: “We need to do more in Nigeria especially those who have benefited one way or the other from the resources of this country to offer help to the less privileged in the areas of education, water supply, child mortality and other humanitarian services. We do not need to be very rich to touch lives but can give out as little as we can afford to held the needy.” He said: “I am happy that large scale philanthropy has begun in Nigeria which we experienced when support was rallied round flood victims the other time,” adding that “we also need to look into those areas like scholarship for schools, recreational facilities to develop athletes.” Philanthropy is doing good for others without expecting any personal gain in return.

Adelusi-Adeluyi (left), Abukbakar, Omotosho and his wife, Sussan at the event...

PHOTO: ISAAC TAIWO

Photonews

Intending cadet of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, during the Entrance Examination at Nsit Atai, Akwa Ibom PHOTO: NAN State...yesterday

Police, immigration agree to raise standards on internal security By Odita Sunday

Immigration operatives will be trained in the art of modern techniques in intelligence, interrogation and investigation at the Police Detective Corps School, Enugu HE acting Comptroller General of Immigration, Rilwan Musa, has said that there is an urgent need to improve on internal security, as it is not just enough to dwell on the challenges facing security agencies. He said this recently when he paid a courtesy visit to the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar at the Louis Edet House, Nigeria Police Headquarters. Musa, who had worked with the IGP at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, in 1990 and attended the same course with him at the Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategies Studies in Kuru, Plateau State told his host that he is seeking collaboration with the Nigeria Police in the area of capacity building. According to the acting CGI, his immediate task is to secure the Nation’s borders.

He, therefore, intends to withdraw some Immigration operatives from the Passport offices and other hinterland formations across the country and transfer them to the borders. Already, the Service has dispatched patrol bikes to border states in Northern Nigeria to patrol areas that cannot be accessed by patrol vehicles. To this end, he requested that the next batch of Immigration operatives that would be dispatched to the Joint Task Force (JTF) should be trained at the Force Mobile Training School, Gwoza, Borno State and another 1,000 regular border patrol operatives at the same school. The need for training them at the Institution is to sharpen their skills to face the new challenges by improving fitness, endurance, weapons handling and counter terrorism techniques. In his response, the IGP acknowledged that the acting CGI’s appointment as the Head of Immigration Service is coming at a very challenging period but he believes that the acting CGI is equipped to perform his statutory duties. He also acknowledged that one of the greatest challenges of the Security Agen-

cies is the dearth of contemporary tools to work with. The IGP, however, said that despite the challenge of inadequate funding, if every security agency performs its duty creditably well, the insecurity witnessed in the country now would be significantly reduced. He welcomed the rebirth of the synergy between the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Immigration Service, promising to partner with the Immigration Service in training its men at the Force Mobile Training School in Gwoza. The IGP also said, Immigration operatives would be trained in the art of modern techniques in intelligence, interrogation and investigation at the Police Detective Corps School, Enugu and he also volunteered to assist the NIS during recruitment exercises by providing lie-detector machines that can verify the age and other biodata of applicants. “With the device, only fit and proper persons will be recruited to effectively man our borders,” he said. In his concluding remarks, the IGP directed the Deputy Inspectors- General of Police, who were present at the meeting, to ensure that the new synergy between the two security agencies trickle down to the State Commands.

Bauchi residents waiting to buy kerosene at the NNPC mega station, Jos Road, Bauchi...yesterday

PHOTO: NAN

Secretary-General, Yoruba Unity Forum, Senator Anthony Adefuye (left) and former Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Olu Falae at the media briefing of the Yoruba Unity Forum...

TheGuardian

14 THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 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 Reviewing the The Pope’s resignation electricity roadmap S LETTERS

HE move by the Jonathan administration to review the much-orchesT trated “Power Sector Roadmap”, barely two years after it was launched with fanfare, but without yet any significant achievement is confounding. It smacks of lack of a solid framework for the realization of stable power supply in the country. There can be no break from the present electricity predicament when policies made today are changed tomorrow without cogent reasons. The administration should be consistent and focused in the pursuit of its power sector programme. That is the only way to make progress. Apart from the fact that the former Minister of Power, Professor Bart Nnaji suddenly resigned without implementing the roadmap he midwifed, and a new one appointed in the person of Professor Chinedu Nebo, there is no major reason for the power roadmap to be reviewed now. The appointment of Mr. Beks Dogogo-Jack to head the Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP), a position formerly held by Nnaji is not enough reason to tinker with what looked like an ambitious plan. If the review was occasioned by Jack’s appointment, what happens now that a new substantive minister has been appointed to replace Nnaji? Does it mean that the entire roadmap has to be re-done? Policy somersault is the bane of good governance in Nigeria. It is sad that every new minister comes up with a new policy. And, the frequency with which the ministers are changed does not permit full implementation of their programmes. That leaves the country in a merry-go-round from year to year. It is pertinent to ask: why a review of the roadmap so early by the same regime? Nigeria needs a strategic national development agenda to make the desired leap. What has happened to this roadmap or what has been achieved with it to warrant the planned review? The Jonathan administration had on August 26, 2010 launched it as a bold “Power Sector Roadmap”, which many saw as a potent framework for redeeming the comatose electricity sub-sector. The framework contained policies and institutional reforms. It promised, among other things, to implement a super transmission network, generation of additional 5,000 megawatts by the international oil companies, active exploitation of hydro, nuclear and coal power, privatization of the power sector and an addition of 4,775 megawatts from the Independent Power Plants (IPPs) by December 2013. The medium-term expectation was that by end of 2013, the country would have attained 14,000 megawatts power generation capacity. However, two years later, there is no appreciable change and the administration is reviewing the plan. Although, there has been efforts towards privatization, unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), and implementation of the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO 2), among others, these have not crystallized into improved electricity supply, which is all Nigerians want. The new MYTO regime, it must be stated, has only succeeded in burdening consumers with outrageous electricity bills without commensurate power supply. It was done to please the new investors who want to recoup their investment. Has the roadmap suddenly become flawed just because the minister who authored it resigned? Would there have been talk of reviewing the plan if Nnaji had not left? What guarantee is there that this “review” would not be reviewed tomorrow, leaving the nation with so much movement but no motion in the power sector? The implication is that all the timelines and projections made in the roadmap as first enunciated have to be moved forward. Privatization, which is supposed to be concluded by now has been moved to the fourth quarter of 2013. Projections for the use of the various fuel and energy sources have been moved to 2016, when this current administration would have left office for a new one. A new administration would most likely change the entire plan once again. Issues like labour settlements, severance benefits; rationalization and winding up of PHCN are now obviously to wait. What all this means is that Nigeria is starting afresh. About two years ago, the same promises were made and yet there is no result. The administration is taking new steps of which no one is sure. There is nothing to indicate that Nigerians would experience any significant change in the electricity situation between now and the end of this administration. It is important to state that President Goodluck Jonathan must deliver on his critical promises for history to judge him fairly. Electricity is one of these promises. And for this to happen, there is need for a stable policy environment.

IR: “Ecce homo,” “Behold the man!” These were the words spoken by Pontius Pilate when he presented a scourged Jesus Christ to a hostile mob shortly before his crucifixion. The same words aptly apply today to Pope Benedict XVI, as he is being held up to unprecedented ridicule and scorn by a hateful press and a world so out of touch with its spiritual nature and moral being. One can almost hear Jesus

saying to the peaceful and benevolent Pope: “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first” (John 15:18). The world wants to see the death of the church because it knows the church is the mother of all saints. It knows that the Catholic Church is the last bastion of hope against a materialistic world that craves immorality at every step, including homosexuality, same-sex marriage, easy

divorce, abortion, radical feminism, contraception, embryonic stem-cell research and cloning. Contrary to his critics, Benedict will be remembered not for the scandals of a few priests but for his intense suffering in protecting the faith from wolves in sheep’s clothing. He will be known as one of the greatest of Catholic martyrs. •Paul Kokoski, Ontario, Canada.

Career women in marriage IR: A friend of mine is a Smarriage. strong voice on the issue of Her edge could be her background in psychology! This woman has a heart to adore and opinions to think about and assimilate. She is always crying because of the devil that has crept into the once sacred and revered institution called marriage. She believes that those ‘career women’ shouting for equal rights in their matrimonial homes instead of working for equity, justice, respect and understanding have failed it. She said: A woman is first called a wife and mother before her career! Little wonder that even after trying to pursue a career at the expense of marriage, there is always deep-seated loneliness. When you talk about submission, a lot of women picture slavery. (Yes, in truth, we might have some men who are highly irre-

sponsible and who do not seem to appreciate their wives). But submission in reality makes you the ‘controller’ of the home. Men by nature hate it when you ‘challenge’ them (it hurts their ego), thus in order to ‘catch a monkey’ you need to mellow and then make your point clear. That is submission. When you make the home conducive by doing the normal chores, this is submission. Submission is when you do not undermine your husband’s authority. I tell people that society began to lose values when the home front collapsed. And this began when women started clamouring for equal rights (the annoying thing is that we, women, have still not achieved the right). Marriage is a beautiful institution designed by “our creator”. It is so impossible to have two captains in one ship.

From time immemorial, a woman has been given the beautiful role(s) of taking care of her home, the future! Motherhood is the single most challenging job on the surface of the earth and I wonder, I really wonder, why it is still being equated with slavery. I really wonder. Marriage is actually another form of relationship. But the truth is, a lot of people (male and female) inclusive, are unwilling to put in a little commitment to make it the life-long relationship that marriage is destined to be. Whether we like to admit it or not, there comes a time in our life when we yearn to have that ‘one’ person with whom we want to have a life long relationship with. There comes a time when, deep down in our heart, we know we do not want to be alone. • Odimegwu Onwumere, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Business Business Interview P54 Staggered de-regulation regime imperative for Nigeria’s oil sector World’s richest lose $21b as Icahn’s fortune drops HE 100 wealthiest people on the planet shed T $21.3 billion from their collective net worth as the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index posted its first weekly decline so far this year. Activist investor Carl Icahn, the world’s 34thrichest person, was one of the week’s biggest losers, dropping $1.3 billion as shares of Icahn Enterprises LP (IEP) sank 15.6 percent. He’s worth $20.4 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. “The market was looking for an excuse to take a few chips off the table,” said James McDonald, chief investment strategist at Northern Trust Corp. (NTRS) in Chicago, which manages $759 billion. “The excuse was the minutes

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo (left); Chairman Senate Committee on Privitasation, Senator Olugbenga Obadara; Director, Vigeo Power, Funke Osibodu; and Chairman, Vigeo Power, Victor Gbolade Osibodu, at the signing of transaction and industry agreements for PHCN Successor Companies at the Presidential Villa, at the weekend.

Nigeria, Brazil to raise bilateral trade volume to $18b From Itunu Ajayi, Abuja

IGERIA’s bilateral trade in the Southern trade zone N may soon be bolstered with the country’s new resolve to raise its business relations with Brazil, from the current $9 billion to $18 billion by 2015. To achieve this, the two countries agreed at the weekend to leverage on their respective areas of competitive and comparative advantages, to boost their bilateral trade volume. The Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga stated this over the weekend at a Brazil-Nigeria Trade Forum in Abuja. He said: “The volume of trade has increased significantly over the years. Today, it is $9billion and we can do much more. We are working on how

we can double that by 2015”. The Minister disclosed that the two countries have agreed to put in place mechanism aimed at accelerating the trade development between them. Aganga stressed that “Brazil is our number three trading partner in terms of trade in oil after India and United States of America. So, the country is very important to our economy, knowing that crude oil sale is 90 per cent of our export. “In terms of imports, sugar, rice and automobiles come from Brazil and we are working to improve upon what we have at the moment.” Aganga stated that Nigeria has started discussing with the government of Brazil to have a direct flight to the South American country, to

He noted that there are reforms which have taken place in Nigeria, that will aid doing business in the country, stressing that government had established two business committee for doing business Bello said beside population, Industry and Foreign Trade of which is a great factor for Brazil, Fernado Pimentel, said doing business in Nigeria, the there was need to strengthen the trade relationship between the two countries. He expressed hope that the forum would achieve the desired goal of increase the trade volume by 2015. The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Mustafa Bello, in a paper presented at the forum, highlighted the processes of doing business in Nigeria among which he said included business registration through NIPC.

The volume of trade has increased significantly over the years. Today, it is $9billion and we can do much more. We are working on how we can double that by 2015 facilitate trade. “We will have a direct flight from Nigeria to Brazil. Today, a flight that should take six hours is taking us 24 hours, which is not good for business; it is not good for investment. We have a trade commission in place that will accelerate that process as quickly as possible”, he said. The Minister explained that the forum was to further strengthen the trade relationship between both countries by exploring some workable strategies. Minister of Development,

NCC to impose 2.5 per cent operating tax on telecoms operators By Adeyemi Adepetun with agency report

HE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unfolded plan to implement an operating tax on the country’s telecommunication operators in an effort aimed at repositioning the sector for improved performance. The NCC said that all telecommunication providers must pay 2.5 per cent of their yearly income as an operating levy. The levy would be charged on the yearly revenue of both

network and non-network providers. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has commended the NCC on the implementation speed of the Digital Awareness Programmes (DAP), and the Emergency Communications Centre (ECC) projects across the country, hailing both as major citizen empowerment programmes whose impact will be felt across the nation and beyond. The commission, at a public

discussion into the review of the draft Annual Operating Levy (AOL) has agreed “to look into some of the issues raised by operators, in order to develop a sound regulatory framework.” Operators Airtel, MTN, Etisalat, VisaFone and Glo all participated in the public inquiry. The telecoms companies have expressed their concern to the NCC over the huge interconnectivity debt that they must now contend with and

have called on the NCC to reconsider the new levy. Among the issues the NCC is seeking to address through the new regulation ranges from non- payment of operating levies, delayed remittances, non-compliance to set ruled and failure to submit financial statement to the commission as required by law. The draft regulation also seeks to impose sanctions and CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

country has allures, which include natural resources for raw materials ``We have natural resources. Also the location of the country places it safely outside natural disaster zone. The rate of return on investment is very high in some cases, we have over 17 per cent.”

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

16 BUSINESS

Analyst favours trading in naira against rand HE naira may soon T emerge investors’ toast in the continent, following an investment advisory from Souheir Asba, a London-based strategist at SocGen, which advised trading in the nation’s currency, against the South Africa’s rand. The rand may retreat to 9.2 per dollar, the weakest in almost four years, while

the naira will probably continue to trade within the Central Bank of Nigeria’s targeted peg of three per cent below or above 155 per dollar. The strategist advised that investors should start three-month rand versus three-month naira nondeliverable forwards, with an entry at 17.7393 naira per rand and existing at 18.1.

“The South African Reserve Bank maintains its position of desiring a weaker rand as deteriorating domestic conditions in South Africa are threatening its economy. The naira on the other hand, has enjoyed a relative stability and the CBN now has the determination and the means to keep it within that band”, Asba said. The rand slumped after

three credit rating downgrades since October and as labour dispute shut gold and platinum mines, cutting South Africa’s gross domestic product by 0.5 percentage point, according to the National Treasury. The currency of Africa’s biggest economy has declined 4.5 per cent this year versus the dollar, the worst performer

among emerging-market peers. The naira increased 3.9 per cent in 2012, the best performing currency in Africa, after the CBN left interest rate at a record high 12 per cent and as JPMorgan Chase & Co added the country’s debt to its emerging market bond index series in October. The currency has retreated 0.7 per cent

this year. The main risk against this trend is, according to Asba, increased Islamic militancy in Nigeria, which could trigger speculation against the naira, Asba said. The government has been battling the Boko Haram group, which has carried out gun and bomb attacks in the North and Abuja, killing hundreds of people since 2009.

World’s richest lose $21b revenue on sliding Standard & Poor’s index CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 from the Fed, but investors realize the Fed’s picture really hasn’t changed that significantly. Today, there was good German confidence data.” The S&P rose 0.88 percent at the weekend, trimming a decline triggered by concerns that the Federal Reserve will scale back stimulus. The index rebounded from two days of losses after German business confidence rose more than forecast, adding to signs that Europe’s largest economy is gathering strength. Carlos Slim, the world’s richest man, saw his net worth fall by almost $700 million as America Movil (AMXL) SAB, Latin America’s biggest mobilephone company by market value, fell 2.2 percent, capping its third straight weekly drop. Slim, 73, has a net worth of $73.4 billion. Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) cofounder Bill Gates, 57, is the

world’s second-richest person with a $66 billion fortune, down $260 million for the week. Amancio Ortega, the 76-year-old founder of Inditex SA (ITX), the world’s biggest clothing retailer and owner of the Zara clothing chain, is No. 3 with a net worth of $56.1 billion. He lost $1.3 billion. Trailing Ortega is Warren Buffett, 82, who’s valued at $54.2 billion. A federal judge froze a Swiss account that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission says was used to carry out suspicious trades in H.J. Heinz Co. shares shortly before Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK/A) and Jorge Paulo Lemann’s 3G Capital Inc. announced they’d agreed to buy the company. SEC on Feb. 15 sued the “unknown” traders over suspicious purchases of Heinz options through the account. Lemann, 73, is Brazil’s richest individual. He has a

net worth of $19.9 billion, down $20 million for the week. Hedge fund manager John Paulson, 57, is No. 93 on Bloomberg’s ranking with a net worth of $11.2 billion. Last year, executives at

his firm sent about $450 million to a reinsurance company that they’d set up in Bermuda. By June, the island company, which has no employees and sells far less reinsurance than the industry norm, had sent all the cash back to New York,

to be invested in Paulson & Co. funds. The little- known tax loophole allows them to reduce their personal income taxes and delay paying the bill for years. The Bloomberg Billionaires ndex takes measure of the

world’s wealthiest people based on market and economic changes and Bloomberg News reporting. Each net worth figure is updated every business day at 5:30 p.m. in New York and listed in U.S. dollars.

Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, Akinwale Goodluck (left); Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Brett Goschen; Chairman, Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Foluso Phillips and Director-General NESG, Frank Nweke (Jr) during a courtesy visit of NESG to MTN’s head office, in Lagos, at the weekend

Telecoms operators to pay new levy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 penalties on defaulters The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah was quoted as saying, “The draft AOL regulations are aimed at creating an effective administration of the operating levy regime. “They will also remove any ambiguity in respect of the AOL and other fees and charges being borne by operators.” Chairman, House Committee on Communications, Mr. Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo, at the Commissioning of DAP at Erijiyan Government High School in Ekiti State, said the project was an indication of how the commission has faithfully utilized the budgets appropriated to it by the government, especially at this period when the availability of physical infrastructures has become the basic criteria for performance measurement. Ojo said the impact of this project, even in rural Nigeria, can easily be felt and such, conveys the appreciation of government, and the community to the Commission for investing in the future of their youth

in an area that is very crucial to the development of the Nigerian nation. In support of the Commission, he also pledged to pay for the bandwidth fees for the school for the next three years after the expiration of the initial payment by the NCC, to ensure that the school does not experience any down time on its Internet connection in the next four years. Ojo who led the entire community to the event where the ICT facility was declared open for use by the students and the surrounding community, also inspected the Emergency Communications Centre under construction in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital where he also commended the Commission for helping government to tackle the key issues of security and emergency situations which has become a recurrent problem in the country. He conveyed the words of the Ekiti State Government in pledging every support to the Commission for early completion of the ECC project in the state capital. Juwah, who was represented

by a Commissioner of the NCC, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, said more than 222 higher institutions across the nation have so far benefitted from DAP while another programme called Wireless Cloud has yet another beneficiary 93 higher institutions of learning. “DAP is part of the major objectives of the Commission to achieve universal access for ICT. Having conquered the voice telephony, the area of data has become our major focus at the NCC. DAP, and the related programmes, are some of the ways that the Commission has strived to key the Nigerian youth into accelerated universal access. By making Internet services available to the younger generation, we are helping to build the bridge to connect this generation to the next”, he said. Juwah said the components of DAP include an air-conditioned computer lab in a property renovated by the Commission, and equipped with 20 desktop computers, branded computer tables and chairs, a server, a VSAT connection with a one year Internet bandwidth supply, and a 16.5KVA Generator.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

BUSINESS

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Galaxy Backbone targets 350 MDAs on 1-Gov.net platform By Adeyemi Adepetun ALAXY Backbone Plc, an integrated ICT company, established by the Federal Government, has targeted about 350 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for its 1-Gov.net platform. The 1-Gov.net is a model for optimal service delivery, which symbolizes a single pervasive ICT infrastructure platform supporting open IP technologies. The platform enables open access architecture where services can be regarded separately from underlying physical infrastructure; it discourages build out of disparate ICT infrastructure, but encourages standardization and compliance. Speaking at the Social Media Week, held at the Lagos elearning Centre, Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone, Gerald Ilukwe, informed the audience that the 1-Gov.net

platform facilitates improved engagement between the federal government, its agencies and the people of the country. Ilukwe informed that the platform enables cost efficiencies in procurement of ICT infrastructure and services through optimized sharing of resources, stressing that it also encourages ICT outsourcing in the public sector. On the role of the Federal Government in the digital age, Ilukwe, who was represented in the panel discussion by Head of Marketing, Galaxy Backbone, Amara Nwankpa, informed that 1Gov.net has about 4,000 nodes that provide connectivity to over 350 government ministries, departments and agencies. “A key objective of 1-Gov.net is to facilitate efficient and effective service delivery to the citizens of the country.

From prompt processing of travelers at the Immigrations’ desk or issuance of drivers’ licenses, to prompt payment of workers’ salaries, to efficient conduct of the Federal Executive Council deliberations, Galaxy Backbone is enhancing e-government and good gover-

nance in Nigeria. “We are also supporting the Petroleum Equalisation Fund to track the movement of petroleum products from the various depots in the country, facilitating accountability in ensuring the uniform pricing of these products across the nation”, said Nwankpa

He stated that the current initiatives on the 1-Gov.net platform most relevant to the social media discussions were the Government Contact Center (GCC) and the National Single Window Portal (SWP), which will provide electronic channels for citizens and other stakehold-

ers to access information and services being provided by the various ministries, departments and agencies. Nwankpa said Galaxy Backbone is managing the execution of these soon-to-be launched initiatives on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Communications

NACCIMA partners Niger Republic to boost bilateral trade By Femi Adekoya S part of efforts geared towards enhancing bilateral trade between Nigeria and Niger Republic, the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture of Nigeria (NACCIMA) and the Niger Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Cottage Industry have inaugurated the Nigeria-Niger Chamber of Commerce to such end. According to the Chambers, the inauguration of the joint institutions is aimed at enhancing bilateral trade, while serving as a vehicle for promoting cross border trade within the region. In a communiqué issued at the end of the first General Assembly of the Nigeria-Niger Chamber of Commerce held under the aegis of the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission for Co-operation, in Kano, recently, the Governor of Kano State,

Musa Kwankwaso urged stakeholders of both countries to work in harmony towards concretising business in order to enhance transactions between the two countries. He commended the chambers for the resolution in revitalizing the existing mechanisms towards achieving the goals of the First Trade & Investment Summit between Kano and the Republic of Niger held the previous year, noting that there are high expectations on the need for improved bilateral trade between the countries. President of NACCIMA, Dr. Herbert Ajayi expressed his satisfaction for establishing the Joint Chamber of Commerce which has been featuring in the Agenda of Nigeria-Niger joint Commission for over 25 years, particularly commending the stakeholders for their efforts towards putting in place the bilateral institution for the trade exchange.

20 BUSINESS

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

U.S firm offers incentives to Nigerian investors By Helen Oji O attract foreign invesT ments into its economy, a United States-based firm,

Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Steven Evans (left); Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Group, Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar, and Chief Regional Officer-Africa, Etisalat Group, Essa Al Haddad, at the Etisalat Capital Markets Day event held at the Jumeriah Hotel, Abu Dhabi at the weekend

last week, launched an incentive driven initiative to Nigerians willing to invest in its housing market. The United States of America (USA), through a designated entity (USANOW Regional Center) designed to facilitate Foreign Investments through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) came to Nigeria last week to prospect for investors who will own apartments in these Real Estates abroad (USA). With this investment, the USCIS says it would grant a two-year conditional green

card which converts permanent status upon compliance with the investment/job creation criteria. And with a deposit of about N78million made through a USANOW Regional Center, prospective Nigerians investors can buy into an apartment in real estates built and designed in United State of America. Speaking during a seminar held simultaneously in Lagos and Abuja, Marco Antonio Ramirez, Director, USANOW Regional Center said: “On an annual basis, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services makes available 10,000 investor visas to qualified individuals seeking permanent resident status on the basis of their investment with new

commercial or restructured at “risk” enterprises. Among the 10,000 Employment Based visa fifth preference (EB-5 Visas), 3,000 are made available through a USCIS designated “Regional Center” pilot programme.” “The United States government is rewarding families like yours for helping rehabilitate and stabilize the United State economy by means of your investments,” Ramirez told participants at the seminar. He said: “The regional center pilot progamme has been developed to promote economic growth and job creation within specifically defined geographical areas of the United States by requiring EB-5 investor visa applicants to invest in qualified investments of a regional center as a requirement to receiving a conditional visa to the United States. The USCIS generally defines a qualified investment as an amount not less than $500,000 per EB-5 applicant being invested in a new commercial enterprise that generates ten or more (direct, induced, or indirect) jobs.” This $500, 000 stipulated by the USCIS investment allows five family members of every property owner to become citizens of America within 60 months. “We want you to be our client/customer in the next three years. Within 60 months, owners of the property can become a citizen of America. In order to define a time period of the process to resolve the urgency of the majority of investors or clients, it is important that each potential client meets the time frame to allow us time to meet the government criteria (USCIS) in a timely manner. Government charges the developers $250,000. There is a shared cost,” he added. According to Ramirez, “The number that is assigned to each customer from the start guarantees a place in this process; but to preserve it requires you to comply with the time, otherwise it will be lost and reassigned a new one. Private Placement Memorandum (PPM) explains risk, benefits and terms of investment required to subscribe to investment not on the public market in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The time ranges for processing this investment are as follows: Introduction and assignment of investor ID (Day One); receipt of documents for first step of prequalification (Day 2 to 5); time limit for enrollment for EB-5 position and depositing the fee $45,000 (Day 5 to 10); outcome of the prequalification of the investors (Day 11 to 13); Presentation of Private Placement Memorandum (Day 14 to 19); receipt of all documents in the second stage (Day 20 to 25); preparation of I-526 position for investor and family (Day 25 to 40); subscription to the investment and deposit $500,000 (Day 41 to 45); and submission of position to USCIS (Day 46 to 47).

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

BUSINESS

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

How to grow cloud-computing technology, by NITDA By Adeyemi Adepetun

HE National T Information Technology Development Company (NITDA has called for accelerated development of the business environment, which it described as very imperative for economic development. While calling for more development through the adoption of various technology, including cloud computing, the Director General of NITDA, Prof. Cleopas Angaye said Nigeria was yet to derive full benefits of the cloud computing services due to a number of challenges confronting the nation’s ICT industry. He disclosed this at the weekend in Lagos at the launch of cloud services by Business Connexion Nigeria. Speaking at the ‘Impact of True Cloud Computing Services on the Nigerian Economy’, Angaye said though the cloud concept holds the future for sustainable socio-economic development, “Nigeria, like other developing countries, is still facing challenges in full adoption of cloud computing paradigm due specifically to the inefficient infrastructure, cost of access to ICT products and services.” Cloud computing is the use of computing

resources (hardware and software) that are delivered as a service over a network (typically the Internet). The name comes from the use of a cloudshaped symbol as an abstraction for the complex infrastructure it contains in system diagrams. Cloud computing entrusts remote services with a user’s data, software and computation. It is the storing, processing and use of data on remotely located computers accessed over the Internet. This means that users can command almost unlimited computing power on demand, that they do not have to make major capital investments to fulfill their needs and that they can get to their data from anywhere with an internet connection. According to Angaye, cloud computing has become ubiquitous paradigm in recent time with the advances in ICT which has brought about unique challenges and opportunities leading to fundamental changes in the way that information is generated, shared and distributed. He said the benefits of cloud services from technology perspective are enormous. “Organisations, including public administrations, can use cloud services to

Resort Savings to scale up mortgage finance facility HE Managing Director of T Resort Savings and Loans Plc, Abimbola Olayinka has affirmed that the commitment of the bank to providing affordable housing to Nigerians takes priority over many other things in its agenda. He made the disclosure while explaining to journalists the giant steps taken by the bank so far on its housing projects across the country. The Mortgage Bank, according to Olayinka, is rated as one the leading mortgage banks in the country with a pedigree of financing housing projects while the impact of the bank has spread to the nook and cranny of the country. He added: “We are proud to be associated with the housing needs of Nigeria. For instance the Pearl Garden Estate at Sangotedo in Lekki area of Lagos is within the

Lekki Trade Zone recently declared open by the State Government. “The estate stands to benefit from some of the infrastructural developments earmarked for the Free Trade Zone, which include construction of a coastal road, the proposed Ikorodu-Victoria Island express road and the improved ferry system. The estate is also 10 minutes drive from the Lagos Business School, which is also known as Pan African University.” On the quality of the buildings in the estate, he said, “The apartments in our estates and their ambience conform to what you have anywhere in the world. The road network, the buildings and the interior, the security system and the recreational facilities are excellent. It is also good to note that there are worship and health centre in our estates.”

Nigeria, like other developing countries, is still facing challenges in full adoption of cloud computing paradigm due specifically to the inefficient infrastructure, cost of access to ICT products and services. successfully replace internally-run data centres and ICT departments. “In addition, cloud services offer very large economies of scale meaning that go-it-alone efforts at national level are unlikely to deliver optional cost

efficiencies,” he said. Angaye, who noted that the unprecedented increase of data flow and processing of information over the Internet has a significant environmental impact through energy and water consumptions and green-

house gas emission, said cloud computing can mitigate these problems because of efficient use of hardware as well as by building data centres to use low-energy servers and green energy. In Nigeria, Angaye said cloud computing service can benefit private and government organisations, including public administrations to successfully replace data centres and other information. This, he said, will reduce

cost in running some of its agencies and which in turn; can help develop other aspect of the Nigeria economy. “Since cloud computing entails a wide range of services and solutions, it is imperative to strengthen and improve provider cloud computing business solutions. There is need for strong collaborations and partnerships from other professional organisations to seamlessly implement cloud computing solutions and services in Nigeria,” he added.

Director, Legal Services and Secretary to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Edosa Kennedy Aigbekaen (left); Director Banking Supervision, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, and the Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holding Plc, Mrs. Sola David-Borha during 2013 Standard Bank West Africa Investors Conference with the theme: “Nigerian Capital Markets Enabling the Next Level”, in Lagos.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013 Published in association with

InvestmentWatch Road Map For Managing Investment Risk Introduction N continuation of our study last week, we broaden our study on risk, because understanding risk is one of the most important parts of a financial education. Even far more important than making profit; for we tend to think of "risk" in predominantly negative terms, as something to be avoided or a threat that we hope won't materialize. However, risk is inseparable from performance represented by either loss or gain, and rather than being desirable or undesirable, it is simply necessary in the investment world. Risk Risk is a fundamental idea in finance that an investment's actual return will be different than expected. It is a deviation from an expected outcome that can be expressed in absolute terms or relative to something else like a market benchmark. It includes the possibility of losing some or all of the original investment and the compensation it provides for investors willing to take additional risk for greater returns. In this edition of INVESTMENT ONE education series we will highlight cardinal principles that can serve as road map for investors seeking to effectively manage their risk profile and maximize investment gains. The start off point to understanding investment risk however is knowledge of your personal profile as an investor. Are you a Truster Investor, with little knowledge of investment and relying primarily on your investment advisors and others for direction? Or are you a Partner Investor, armed with medium level knowledge of investment that enables you make investment decisions as well as seek professional assistance from your investment advisors? Or you could be a Controller Investor equipped with varied experience and sophisticated knowledge of the investment process and fully in charge of your investment decisions. Whatever you investment status, this study will be of immense benefit to your wealth creation and protection aspiration. Types of Risk Traditional sources of risk causing variability in returns can be categorized into two general types: systemic risk and non-systemic risk. Systematic Risk, also referred to as market risk, is the part of total risk that cannot be eliminated or reduced, no matter how well an investor diversifies his or her portfolio. Virtually all securities have some systematic risk, whether bonds or stocks, because systematic risk directly encompasses interest rate, market, and inflation risks. Systematic risk cannot be avoided. It is a risk you must assume if you invest. Non-systematic Risk, or non-market risk, is the risk that is unique to a particular secu-

rity or asset class and can be associated with such risks as business, financial, country, exchange rate, and liquidity. Non-systematic risk can be reduced and nearly eliminated with a properly diversified portfolio. Closer examination of these major risk factors shows that; performance risk is generally acknowledged to be common to most people who invest or buy stocks; it might gain value, or incur loss for the investor. And while market fluctuations occur because individual investment vehicles have unique characteristics and qualities that affect their changes in value. Stocks follow a general trend as a market, as do bonds and other securities as dictated by forces of inflation and interest rates causing your investments to gain or lose value in their individual market as well as controls the rise and fall of fixed- rates securities returns respectively. The essence of this study therefore is to outline time tested strategies proposed by investment management experts to guide you in making wise investment decisions as follows: Know Your Risk Tolerance Status Knowing your risk tolerance status is an important key to achieving investment success because knowledge of your risk tolerance profile will help you decide how to invest your money and manage investments twin risks: the risk that your investments can lose principal as well as lose purchasing power and enables you to have an entry and exit strategy on your stock holdings or investment of any kind. In determining your risk tolerance, your investment time horizon must take your biological age into consideration, because young and old investors have different risk tolerance perspectives which broadly fall into long and short terms respectively. The amount of risk capital (asset available to invest or trade with that will not affect your lifestyle) and net worth (asset minus liabilities) available should be an important consideration when determining risk tolerance. Understanding your investment objective is essential when calculating your risk tolerance. Whether you are saving for a child’s college education or your retirement plan, you must fully understand your motive and make provision to be able to meet up with your responsibilities as well as apply an appropriate investment strategy. An investor’s investment experience must also be considered. For beginners, it’s prudent to venture in investing with some degree of caution and strive for preservation of capital while seasoned investors risk tolerance is based on their wealth of experience

Discipline Your Emotions Many investors are too greedy to sell at market tops and sell at market bottoms for fear of losing more Fear and greed should never dictate any investment decision. Rather investment decisions should be based on fundamentals such as current and future economic conditions, how a specific sector will perform in those conditions, and the fundamentals of a company within that sector. If your buy/sell decisions are based on following the crowd versus market fundamentals, then you are gambling rather than taking a calculated risk. A disciplined emotion is an invaluable virtue investor must attain. You need to have a plan, when it works, you stay with it, when it doesn't, keep emotions out of it and change your plan based on facts. Don't Pursue "Hot Tip" Stocks. Be cautious about accepting tips on “hot” stocks whether the tip comes from your uncle, your brother, your neighbour or even your broker, you shouldn't accept it. When you make an investment, it's important you know the reasons for doing so; do your own research and analysis of any company before you even consider investing your hard-earned money. Relying on a titbit of information from someone else is not only an attempt at taking the easy way out; it's also a type of gambling. To be a successful investor in the long run, you need to make informed investment decisions. Adopt A Long-Term Perspective. Though large short-term profits can often entice those who are new to the market, adopting a long-term horizon and dismissing the "get in, get out and make a killing" mentality is a must for any investor. This doesn't mean that it's impossible to make money by actively trading in the short term. Trading involves very different risks that buy-and-hold investors don't experience. Note that investing and trading are very different ways of making gains from the market and while neither investing style is necessarily better than the other; both have their pros and cons. But active trading requires certain specialized skills and can be wrong for someone without the appropriate time, financial resources, education and desire. Naira Cost Averaging Adopt cost averaging strategies to enable you make timed investment of regular amounts over specific periods. This technique relieves investors of worrying about entering the market at the bottomed out point and protects investors from putting all their money in the stock market at the inappropriate time because it ensures even spread and safeguards against an investor missing out on good investment opportu-

nity. Diversify Your Portfolio Diversification in investing mixes a wide variety of investments within a portfolio and can include investing in different markets, regions or countries all aimed at reducing the risk without substantial reduction in returns. Diversification reduces risk because markets do not always move in tandem and many financial instruments will react differently to market conditions. A balanced portfolio will be less volatile than one that is concentrated on a single asset and can include the following strategies: Spreading the portfolio among multiple investment vehicles, varying the risk in securities and spreading industry or geographical location. Hold The Winners And Sell The Losers Do not underestimate or sell a stock that is performing well by sticking to some rigid personal policy to sell after a stock has increased by a certain multiple - say three, for instance. Because the theory that much of an investment overall success is due to a small number of stocks in the portfolio returning big holds true. You need though to have a good understanding of the potential of your investment to enable you stir clear of taking arbitrary and limiting rules. Selling a losing stock is important to avert further loses because there is no guarantee that a stock will bounce back after a protracted decline. While it's important not to underestimate good stocks, investors must also be realistic about investments that are performing badly. It's important to be honest when you realize that a stock is not performing as well as you expected it to. Pick A Strategy And Maintain It There are many ways to be successful and no one strategy is inherently better than any other. However, once you find your style, stay with it. An investor who flounders between different stock-picking strategies will probably experience the worst, rather than the best, of each. Constantly switching strategies effectively makes you a market timer, and this is definitely a territory investors should avoid. The bottom line remains to choose a method to pick stocks that will fulfil your investment goals. The guidelines above are not fool proof as there are exceptions to every rule, but we hope that you find them very useful. An investor’s knowledge of his risk profile is a starting point in understanding and prioritizing all relevant dangers in the context of the investment situation. A fundamental trap arises when many people are unaware of the risk they are really taking, but investors can avoid this pitfall by ensuring that they read or ask enough questions about an asset or financial product to understand truly what they are getting.

Seeking the counsel of an investment adviser can lower in investor’s investment risk considerably as well as foster partnership that can help them in achieving their investment goals. Join us next week Monday to learn more on what it takes to make well informed investment decisions. Kindly let us know if you have found this article useful. Please contact us at: enquiries@investment-one.com.

NEWS 25

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2012

Akinjide urges Oyo to distribute relief materials From Terhemba Daka (Abuja) and Iyabo Lawal (Ibadan) HE Minister of State for T Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Olajumoke Akinjide, at the weekend called on the Oyo State government to commence immediate distribution of relief materials donated by the Federal Government through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to reduce the suffering of victims of the rainstorm that wreaked havoc in Ibadan, the state capital, on Sunday, February 17, 2013. The minister’s call came following the alleged delay by Oyo State government in distributing relief materials provided by NEMA to the identified victims in the five Ibadan local council areas largely affected by the storm. The local councils are: Oluyole, Ona-Ara, Ibadan South-West, Ibadan South-East and Ido. Even though the relief materials were delivered in Ibadan on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 and NEMA officials have been standing by for days, Akinjide expressed regrets that the Federal Government’s response was being negated by the delay of Oyo State government to begin the distribution. However, the state government has cautioned the minister against “taking advantage of the pains of the people to score cheap political points.” A fifteen-man team of NEMA, led by the Abuja-based Acting Director of Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr. E.U. Eze, who represented the director general, supported by the Zonal Manager for the SouthWest, Mr. Iyiola Akande, expressed displeasure over the lack of co-operation by the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency and the government officials. The distribution, which was earlier scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday, February 21 and moved to Friday, February 22, 2013, was allegedly aborted by the state Emergency Management Agency. The relief materials donated by the Federal Government include: 2,000 roofing sheets, 800 bags of cement, 600 bags

• Stop politicising people’s grief, Ajimobi tells minister • ‘Why Oyo acquired Ibadan land’

of rice, 500 roofing nails, 1,000 Zinc nails, 1, 200 blankets, 2,000 mats, 300 mattresses and 2,400 - 2x4x12 planks. Oyo State government replied Akinjide in a release issued by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr. Tunde Muraina, saying: “The accusation is wrong. We are not surprised at Akinjide’s condemnation. Oyo people always see her at moments like this, with her politicised and momentary sympathy aimed at gaining undue and undeserved place in the hearts of the people. But the people of Oyo State know who really is their friend at moments of grief”. “While Akinjide was in the comfort of her office in Abuja as the rainstorm wreaked its havoc, on the second day of the storm, Governor Ajimobi abandoned every other duty to visit the victims at Olomi. He was there till dusk and even promised to construct a brand new road for them. “On Thursday, the governor was again at Ona-Ara, where he did a symbolic presentation to the victims relief materials that were given by the Oyo government and NEMA, even though the officials inexplicably absented themselves. He did not leave Ona-Ara until late in the night,” the release said. Accusing the NEMA officials of acting a script from Akinjide, opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord Party, the government said it wanted to avert a situation where the relief materials landed in the hands of prominent PDP faithful at the expense of the victims. “From all indications, NEMA in the state was flirting with the opposition with a view to rubbishing the government. Its officials are apparently pandering to some political interests. The leadership of the agency in the state was, during the week, controlled by one Accord Party House of Representatives member from Oluyole, who insisted he must call the shot off the distribution. We insisted that it was better to have the number of the actual victims rather

Jonathan urged to redress marginalisation of S’West By Adeniyi Adunola HRISTIAN Welfare Initiative C (CWI), a political arm of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has expressed sadness and utmost concern over what it called the marginalisation of the South Western part of Nigeria by the Goodluck Jonathan administration. In a statement in Lagos yesterday signed by the National President, Archbishop Magnus Adeyemi Atilade, the CWI, said: “When we studied the figure of last presidential election in 2011 region by region, the South-West region overwhelmingly voted for President Jonathan. In fact, Jonathan won in five states of South-West convincingly and in Osun State, he was placed second with a little margin above Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN’s) candidate.” “With the analysis at our disposal, we are not happy with this marginalisation and we say without mincing words that the marginalisation is very unfair and uncalled for. We call that this anomaly should be corrected now for equity, oneness of Nigeria and fair play. President Jonathan should treat the matter with the

urgency it deserves,” the Christian Welfare Initiative stated. It restated its earlier call on Lagosians that a Christian should be the next governor of the state come 2015 in the interest of justice and fair play, recalling that all the civilian governors who ruled Lagos State since its creation were Muslims, including Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Raji Fashola, the incumbent governor. The CWI also used the medium to call on the security agencies to checkmate the unwarranted killing of Nigeria farmers by the nomadic cattle herdsmen, who migrated from the Niger Republic to Nigeria. It called on the Federal and state governments to create ranches in the northern states for the herdsmen and stop them from coming to the southern states to destroy private farms. The CWI also urged the President to call the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to order in his unguided utterances. “Let him face his national assignment as head of CBN or resign his appointment and join politics”, it stated.

than having the materials in the hands of a privileged few,” the government said. The state government said all the consignments brought by the agency were received by the local councils. It stated that NEMA wanted to distribute the materials in three councils without assessment, rather than to the affected five councils, one of which was not affected by the storm. The government said the first phase of the items it was distributing to the victims comprised 200 bundles of corrugated iron sheets, 4,000 packets of nails, 4,000 bags of cement, 500 bags of nails, 3,000 planks, 2,000 bags of rice, 500 blankets and 500 mosquito nets. The minister’s request came on the heels of National

Emergency Management Agency (NEMA’s) delivery of another batch of relief items, according to Head of Public Relations of the agency, Yushau Shuaib, in a statement made available to The Guardian. NEMA’s Director of Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr. Eugene Eze, who delivered the items in Ibadan, alerted the residents on the predicted high rainfall this year and urged communities to cooperate with the government in preparations ahead of likely floods, which may occur in many parts of the country. He noted that the agency had already commenced series of consultations and awareness to prevent the disaster where possible and minimise the impacts in unavoidable circumstances.

Eze said the relief items were delivered on behalf of the Federal Government to provide succour to their plights. A member of the House representing Oluyole Federal Constituency, Ibrahim Olaifa, whose area was affected by the storm and who also witnessed the delivery of the relief items, commended the timely response of NEMA to the disaster. He, however, urged the agency to remain focused and proactive, especially in the face of the increasing incidence of disasters in the country. Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Chairman of Oluyole Local Council Area of the state, Ayodeji Aleshinloye, also appreciated NEMA for the relief assistance, noting that the gesture was timely and complementary to the earlier intervention from the state and local councils. The items delivered were building materials, which

included bags of cement, bundles of roofing sheets, nails, planks, bags of rice and other household items for the affected persons. Meanwhile, Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adebayo Ojo, has explained the rationale behind the acquisition of the land at IdiIshin Alalubosa area of Ibadan by the state government. Ojo said it was for the purpose of developing it into Government Reserved Area (GRA). Some landowners in Ibadan had dragged Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the Attorney General, as well as the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Survey to court over the acquisition of the land by the state government. They had prayed the court to declare the acquisition illegal and declare them the rightful owners of the land measuring 404.74 acres.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Insurance Govt directs agencies to comply with premium payment law signed by the Minister of State Finance, Dr. Yerima Lawan HE Federal Government has Ngama, titled “Guidelines on directed all Ministries, insurance premium collection Departments and Agencies and remittances – Compliance (MDAs) to comply with section with section 50(1) of the 50(1) of the Insurance Act 2003 Insurance Act”. enjoined all which stipulates premium pay- agencies of government to ment in advance for insurance enforce this law, as any contract contracts. of insurance entered into withA circular dated 12th February, out payment of full premium in 2013, reference F.15441/S.11/111/312, advance shall be legally unen-

By Joshua Nse

forceable. The circular said “In furtherance of the Ministry’s resolve to end the menace and era of nonremittance of insurance collections and premiums as well as consolidate the gains of the ongoing efforts in sanitizing the insurance industry, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has issued guidelines on insurance premium collec-

tion and remittance compliance in accordance with the provision of section 50(1) of the Insurance Act 2003. “Arising from the observed non-compliance by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other critical stakeholders in the insurance industry, the ability of insurance companies to meet their various claims obligations under con-

tracts of insurance to eligible beneficiaries has been grossly undermined. It is on record that the total premium debts owed the insurance companies by MDAs as at January 2012 is N24 billion, in spite of yearly budgetary provisions for insurance. “Consequently, MDAs and other stakeholders are by this circular directed and advised to comply with the provisions of the above Act, as any MDAs and organization found culpable would be sanctioned accordingly. To this end, all MDAs and other stakeholders are enjoined to render their returns on premium collection and remit-

tances to the National Insurance Commission as enshrined in the guidelines. “In addition, it is worthwhile to note that henceforth, any contract of insurance entered into without payment of full premium in advance shall be legally unenforceable. “It is expected that the enforcement of this provision of the law will strengthen insurance companies’ ability to meet claims obligations under contracts of insurance. “Please ensure that the content of this circular is brought to the attention of all concerned for strict compliance.”

STACO Insurance targets N8.5b premium this year OTWITHSTANDING the N harsh business environment in the country, Staco

L:R: Deputy President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB);Mr. Ayodapo Shoderu; President of the Council, Barrister Laide Osijo; Lead Consultant of IKK Consultancy, Mr Samuel Korode and Honourary Auditor of the Council, Mrs Bola Onigbogi at the NCRIB strategic retreat held recently in Lagos

Pension fund managers want informal sector captured in CPS By Joshua Nse HE country’s Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs ) have expressed the need to bring the informal sector of the economy into the new Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). Managing Director/CEO, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Demola Sogunle, speaking during the celebration of acquisition of the ‘one millionth customer’ by the company in Lagos recently said, as we all know, a high percentage of Nigeria’s working population is operating in the informal sector of the economy, and it is important to bring workers in this sector into the new pension scheme in order to raise the coverage ratio from the current level of less than eight per cent of the working population. According to him, we need to extend the benefits of the new scheme to many Nigerians and a coverage ratio of about 25 per cent will translate to touching the lives of about 18 million Nigerians. The impact of this on the economy on the one hand and the social wellness of average Nigerians on the other

are enormous. He said “The National Pension Commission is currently reviewing the guidelines which will govern the inclusion of this set of people into the contributory pension scheme (CPS). By the second quarter of the year, we should see some progress in this area. Our Pensions business on the other hand is not relenting in getting the message of the CPS out there. We will continue in our drive to register customers even in the formal sector who are yet to come under the CPS . We believe that continued awareness of the CPS will also go a long way in getting more people on-board. We are constantly at the forefront of new initiatives, he said, aimed at developing the industry. We are also actively involved in the activities of Pension Operators of Nigeria (PenOp). We engage with the regulators on innovative ideas aimed at moving the industry forward. |Sogunle explained that prior to registering under the contributory pension

scheme, the three most important factors to consider which are of course in favour of the scheme are transparency, portability and safety. With regard to transp0arency of the scheme, clients under the CPS have access to their retirement savings accounts (RSA) and they can also monitor the contributions and growth of their pensions over the period of their active years in service. The portability of the scheme allows the client to change jobs without having to open another RSA. Also, in the not too distant future, the transfer windows will open and the client is at liberty to change his PFA once in 12 months where he feels the need to. Regarding safety of the funds, by and large, the client is assured of capital preservation. The client is also assured of receiving his retirement benefits when due. On what makes his company unique, Sogunle, said “Our company, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers is unique because it is part of a strong reputable financial institution and is a member of the 150 year-old Standard Bank Group. In addi-

tion, Stanbic IBTC Group has over two decades of experience in the efficient management and administration of wealth for several companies and individuals. We are available to service our clients in multiple locations in every state of the federation and our customers can easily access their accounts via several service channels like the internet, telephone, e-mail and SMS. Said he “We are transparent in every aspect of our business, with transaction notifications on all contributions, quarterly statements and with our quarterly pension notes and newsletters, we make it easy for our customers to understand everything that affects their accounts with us as we position ourselves to be the nation’s foremost pension solution provider. Hence apart from the provision of the widest customer accessibility with over 210 branches nationwide, our uniqueness is also reflected in the safety of funds under our management; a high degree of liquidity in our assets; reasonable investment return over medium-long term and a robust risk management framework.

Insurance Plc has projected a gross premium income of N8.5 billion this year. The managing Director /CEO, Sakiru Oyefeso, said at an interactive discussion with journalist in Lagos that although there are a lot of challenges in the economy, however, we are pursuing our game plan vigorously to ensure that we achieve a gross premium income of N8.5 billion this year . According to him, our projection is based on strengthening our customer base through improved customer delivery service, to take active part and advantage of the oil and gas insurances, engage

more professionals to strengthen our operations. Staco last year announced a gross premium income of N6.485 billion in 2011 as against N5.248 billion in 20`0, representing an increase of 23 per cent. Earned premium also went up from N4.77 billion to N5.99 billion, while the company paid claims amounting to N1.205 billion during the year. The chairman of the company, Oritsedere Otubu, told shareholders at the yearly general meeting recently that the company has set in motion strategies to move the company forward, and to meet the expectations of all stakeholders in the company.

Royal Exchange appoints top managers ONSISTENT with its policy the coming years”. C Abiola Sanni, Group Head, to deliver more exquisite Asset Management, brings services and pleasant customer experiences, foremost insurance group, Royal Exchange Plc has announced three strategic appointments in the areas of Asset Management, Human Resources and Retail Business. A statement from the Corporate Communications Department of Royal Exchange confirmed the appointments of Mr. Donald Nosiri as the new Group Head, Human Resources; Abiola Sanni, Group Head, Asset Management and Mrs. Temitope Ige-Isang as the new Group Head, Retail Business. Speaking on the new personnel in the company, the Group Managing Director, Mr. Chike Mokwunye noted that the resolve of Royal Exchange is to build a marketoriented organization that would be responsive to the needs of the market and the ever-changing demands of customers. “These new appointments are in line with our vision to once again be one of the dominant players in the insurance industry in

to his current role several years of top-tier engagement in corporate finance and investment management. In the past, he had been responsible for setting up Zenith Capital Asset Management, which he nurtured to a competitive market status, initially in his capacity as portfolio manager and later as Chief Operating Officer. Donald Nosiri, Group Head, Human Resources, is an experienced human resources practitioner with over 21 years working experience in the banking sector and also in HR Consulting. Mrs. Temitope Ige-Isang, Group Head, Retail Business, is coming on board with over 22 years of sales experience spanning several industries. She joins from Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, where, as Head of Retail, she successfully established and managed a retail agency network of about 3,000 personnel.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Stockwatch In association with Lead Capital

Stock Market Report for the week Friday, 15th February to Thursday 21st February, 2013 N this week, the total volAJOR equity markets around the I41.61% ume depreciated by ANNOUNCEMENT M globe moved downwards as their uring the period under review, thirty three and value traded various indexes lost marginal points. appreciated by 1.05%. A D(33) stocks recorded price appreciation comIn our universe of sample equity marpared to fifty five (55) stocks that recorded price kets; the S & P 500, Dow Jones and NASDAQ lost points by 0.55%, 0.40% and 1.02% respectively at the end of last week. In Europe, The FTSE 100, German Dax and France CAC 40 all gained points by 0.57%, 0.22% and 0.31% respectively. In the Asia/Pacific region, Nikkei 225 gained points by 0.02%, while the BSE Sensex and Hangseng lost points by 0.88% and 2.16% respectively. In Brazil, the Bovespa lost points by 3.81% while Russia’s RTS INDEX lost points by 1.86%. On the local setting, NSE ASI closed at 33,506.60 recording 0.49% appreciation at the end of the week’s trading.

turnover of 2.54 billion units of shares valued at N22.05 billion was recorded, in contrast to a turnover of 4.35 billion units of shares worth N21.82 billion that was recorded in the previous week. Volume this week was driven by activities in the shares of UNITYBNK, GUARANTY, UBA, TRANSCORP, FBNH, ACCESS, FIDELITYBNK, WEMABANK, DANGSUGAR and AIICO.

appreciation in the previous week, DNMEYER was first on the top gainers chart to close with 31.90%, followed by JOHNHOLT with 25.62%, CILEASING with 22.22%, FTNCOCOA with 18.52%, BOCGAS with 15.57% and IPWA with 13.33%. Other gainers in the top ten categories were CUTIX with 13.13%, NESTLE with 12.03%, NCR with 10.15% and EVANSMED with 9.70%. On the flip side, sixty (60) stocks depreciated in price last week compared to thirty three (33) that depreciated a week ago. WEMABANK led on the price losers’ table with 31.76%, followed by ROYALEX by 26.32%, UNITYBANK by 20.95%, JBERGER by 18.67%, VITAFOAM by 18.29%, TRANSCORP by 16.49%, STANBIC by 15.86%, NEIMETH by 15.45%, MANSARD by 15.38% and JAPAULOIL by 14.43%.

30 STOCKWATCH

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Lead Capital Stock Valuation

COMPANY’S RESULT

CONTINUE ON PAGE 51

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Homes & Property Private investors pick Cappa D’Alberto in Lagos’ twin-tower project array of notable edifice Developer revs ANadorning the Lagos Lagoon front along Victoria corridor, up construc- Island-Lekki Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Island, is set for a tion on Abuja Victoria boost as owners of Civic have begun the conBrick City Page 33 Centre struction of a 15-storey twintower project, worth billions

The 15-storey twin towers structure stands on the site of a property that was recently pulled down to make room for the construction of the multi-storey edifice, owned by Civic Centre.

of naira. Sources disclosed to The Guardian that the project would be a top-grade commercial complex, consisting of two relatively independent towers that are joined together by a five-floor platform. Leading the consortium of contractors handling the project is Cappa D’Alberto while Etco Nigeria Plc and CFAO are sub contractors. Consultants include, Arup Over and Partners as structural engineers, Interstate Architects as designers, CA Consultants Limited as mechanical engineers and Austin Onaro and Associates as quantity surveyors. The Guardian also gathered that the two towers, consists of Area 1 and Area II with an overall construction area of 43,138 square metres (m2) of which 27,000 m2 would be for lettable floor space. The site covers 4,393.57 m2 with an additional 2,040 m2 to be re-claimed from the lagoon. The reclaimed land will be constructed along sheet piles that will sit into the foot of the lagoon bed to withstand the pressure of the driving water through the use of a retaining wall built with waterproof cement and additives. The roof level will house the water tank, satellite television system and other mechanical/electrical services. Lightning protection shall also be set on the building roof and protection strips with arrestors shall be placed around the top of the structures projecting the

roof. The ground floor and mezzanine levels are open garages, which can conveniently accommodate 233 cars. The development consists of retail outlets where each occupies a floor area of 100 m2. The towers also include one semi basement with two other mezzanine floors for parking. The remaining 14floors above the ground consist of lettable spaces while the central core areas will house the lifts and fire escape staircases. The basement of the two towers is used as a pump room and air-conditioning equipment room. The first and third floors house three large meeting rooms, which would be rented out, for seminars and exhibitions and can each accommodate 500 people. The development will also consist of retail outlets where each occupies a floor area of 100 m2. There are kitchenettes and toilets on every floor with provision for disabled visitors through the introduction of ramps, handrails and large well lit corridor spaces to accommodate free movement especially for the physically challenged. The building is designed with state of the art provision in telecommunications and multimedia equipment, including a total of 6 lifts and three 2000KVA generators. It would be recalled that a two-storey building standing on the property was

Projects Stories by Tosin Fodeke

Controversy trails revoked Lagos land for FG’s infrastructure project Page 36

FCT tasks developers on building approvals for housing projects Page 47

Illustration of the proposed Twin Tower, Lagos recently pulled down to make room for the construction of the building owned by former Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia. Only recently, Quantum Luxury Properties Limited, a company is leading the investors signed a multi-bil-

lion naira deal with the global hotel group, Marriott, in what could further alter the skyline of the Ozumba Mbadiwe corridor of Victoria Island, Lagos. Speaking at an agreement signing ceremony held in Lagos, Ovia said: “We are proud to have the opportuni-

ty to partner with a worldclass brand like Marriott,” pointing out that the Nigerian economy continues to be an attractive destination for foreign direct investments, particularly with the boom in the telecoms industry and the attractiveness of the banking sector.

Delta throws up tenders for N155b Warri Park scheme Projects comprehensive new plan A unveiled recently to reverse decades of neglect for a befit-

Layout of the proposed Warri Industrial Business Park

ting industrial district in Delta State, is promising an ambitious new deal by the authorities to create a lasting physical legacy in the ancient town of Warri. The scope of work is breathtaking, but the project known as Warri Industrial Business Park is creating a renewed vista of opportunity for building and civil engineering firms as well as professionals in the built environment. Already, tender call has been made for civil engineering construction firms, building

Offering unique investment opportunities and incentives to local/foreign investors, the ambitious project Warri Industrial Business Park may have jump-started the construction industry with new jobs for building and civil engineering firms as well as professionals in the built environment. companies and mechnical and electrical services firms. The Basic Infrastructure Engineering (BIE) Design is completed. The Basic Infrastructure Engineering design comprises of an integrated plan for roads, bridges, drains, sewers, electrical and telecommunication systems, water supply, solid waste management and gas supply. This is the final step in preparing

for construction work to start on the world-class mixed-use facility. Coming as part of projects to be bankrolled with the first tranche of Delta State Government’s Bond for the provision of infrastructure in the state, the Warri Industrial Business Park is designed to be the preferred choice for global

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32 HOMES & PROPERTY

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Jonathan, Ezekwesili for NIESV’s Benin conference Professional Practice OP dignitaries are expected at T the 43rd Annual General Conference of the Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) holding in Benin from March 14. Among them are President Goodluck Jonathan who will declare open the conference with the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Ama Pepple as special guests. NIESV President, Mr. Emeka Eleh disclosed this at a meeting with media personnel, explained that the choice of the conference theme, ‘Infrastructure Development and Economic Empowerment’ was informed by the need to open the transformational conversation in the housing and property sector to experts in diverse professions. “We are going to Benin to discuss development of infrastructure that will engender empowerment and to ensure that the topic is properly resourced, we are looking beyond our members to throw the conference open to other professionals so as to have diverse perspectives to the conversation”, Eleh explained on the choice of speakers at the conference. The Conference lead speaker is a former Minister for Education and member of former

President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Economic team, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili. She is the immediate past Vice-President (Africa Division) of the World Bank. Other speakers include the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Dr. Mansur Ahmed, Managing Director, Infrastructure Bank Plc, Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye, Dr. Christian Oboh, the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and NIESV’s second vicepresident, Dr. B. J Patunola-Ajayi, the. He noted that the institution have consistently been advocating for land reforms because it is fundamental to national development and economic well being of the citizens. “We have advocated for land reforms with good reasons because there’s no way this country will develop without easy access to land which is a source of wealth to everybody”. The NIESV President said over 2, 000 members of the Institution have registered to attend the conference, which he said would attract some 5000 delegates from across the country. The conference,which opens on March 13th, will end on the 16th with a dinner. It will feature exhibition by companies in the housing and property sector, a cultural night, a novelty football match and a variety night.

NIQS President, Mr Agele Alufohai (2nd left) and former Chairman of the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board Nigeria (ESVARBON) , Mr. Joe Idudu and other dignitaries during the Investitures of fellows, Awards Nite and Presidential Dinner held recently in Lagos

NIQS honours new fellows, others Professional Practice IGHTEEN fellows of the E Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) have been bestowed with various awards at the just concluded investitures of fellows, Awards Nite and Presidential Dinner held recently in Lagos. Themed: Re-engineering Politics for National Renewal and Economic Growth: The Role of a Nigerian Professional, the awards included the Lifetime Achievement Award, Outstanding Achievement Award and Inspiration Award. In addition, twelve members were inducted fellows of the

Institute Speaking at the ceremony, NIQS President, Mr Agele Alufohai, explained that the nation surely needs the skills of quantity surveyors in cost economics and project management to realize her economic potentials. In his words, “I have no doubt that with professionalism, integrity, talent and drive, we will be able to play our role in national development and meet the expectations of genuine reformers who desire transparency and value for money in the conduct of Government business.” Mr. Alufohai stated that

Nigerians expect a lot from the new fellows. “Nigerians totally agree that physical infrastructure will support the creation of economic growth and that transparency and value for money are critical to the provision and expansion of infrastructure,” he said. He thanked the awardees for accepting the recognition bestowed on them and urged the new fellows to learn and be inspired by the careers of the awardees. “The height they have attained and what they have contributed to the quantity surveying profession is a challenge and we have to

build on their achievement,” he noted. In his speech, the first president of the Institute, Chief Adetona Balogun who was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award urged the incoming fellows to maintain the high standard for which the institute is known. In a related development, Mr. Agele Alufohai has endorsed “Skill Up”, a Technical Skills competency development initiative organized by the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) and MCS Consulting Limited held in Lagos.

HOMES&PROPERTY 33

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Prime Estates Developer revs up construction on Abuja Brick City Real Estate By Emmanuel Badejo

AVING successfully comH pleted the Phase I of its estate, construction activities are by the day increasing as the developer is set to deliver one of its landmark residential estate, popularly known as Brick City Phase II before the last quarter of the year. Located within the residential neighbourhood of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kubwa, a major suburban district in Abuja, Brick City Phase II is made up of 452 housing units, consisting of 124 units of 1 bedroom flat, 88 units of 2-bedroom flat, 72 units of 2-bedroom semi-detached bungalow, 84 units of 3-bedroomm semi-detached bungalow and 84 units of 3-bedroom detached bungalow. Also packaged in the residential project are 24 units of shops, 4 units of super market, 1 clinic, 2 religious areas and 1 filling station Promoted by Urban Shelter Limited, the upcoming estate is sited on an expansive 13.5 hectares of land, laced with dramatic backdrop of mountains, flowing stream and greenery. The developer says that The design of the estate layout ensures seamless compatibility and The project, according to the developer, boasts of an ideal scenic and tranquil location

Illustration of some units at the proposed Brick City, Abuja

along the Abuja-Zuba expressway, moments away from the Public Service Institute. The development has access and excellent transport networks to the city center of Abuja as well as other major business hubs such as Suleja & Minna, Niger State; and Kaduna, Kaduna State. The development, planned with a view to providing com-

fortable and quality housing solutions for individuals and families, will be finished with Urban Shelter Limitedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; signature burnt red bricks, which has a number of advantages including fire resistance, durability, climate moderation and environmental Sustainability. Throughout the units vitrified tiles will be fitted in all living areas while ceramic tiles

will be installed in the convenience areas and kitchens; fixtures and fittings will be of a high quality and the units will be roofed with framed long span coloured aluminum roof. It is going to be a blend of modern amenities and conveniences to ease the everyday stresses having facility management office, five transformers, three overhead water

tanks, clinic, shopping mall, dedicated green areas, individual water meter and electricity meter, user friendly internal road system and the option to install electricity inverters at moderate costs. Already, the 28 units of shops and supermarket spaces have been totally sold out, the developer in a release had said. Speaking with The Guardian,

a staff of the company, who preferred to be anonymous confirmed the on-going development, which she put at 30 per cent for now as the completion date was said to be sometime August or September. When completed and sold out, the developer, Urban Shelter, expects to generate N5.3billion from the estateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transaction.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Engineers canvass green building designs, induct new members Professional Practice At the awards and induction ceremony, engineers By Tosin Fodeke IDING on the crest of a R wave of global demand for environment-friendly smart buildings, which is gaining traction, Nigerian engineers have began to reposition its professional practice and advocating the need to adopt energy efficient building designs in the country. Green growth is gaining momentum across developed and emerging economies. Green-building construction is growing eight times in the global market. Studies have indicated a 13- to 15-percent reduction in operating costs and a 10- to 12-percent increase in values. Besides, foreign investors prefer Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified, or at least buildings designed following green-architecture principles like (allowing in) more natural light and ventilation, (installation of) green roofs, green walls, rainwater harvesting facility, sky gardens, LED lighting and solar wind energy retrofitable system. Nigerian professionals in the construction industry have increased calls for the adoption of more sus-

urged the government to adopt more measures to ‘green’ the construction industry by putting in place regulations to back energy conservation and efficiency. tainable measure in the building process, while guidelines have been created in order to assist project engineers and other stakeholders in setting sustainable development goals for their projects that are recognized and accepted by as being in the interests of society as a whole. The guidelines, initiated by International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) is intended to allow the alignment of project goals with local conditions and priorities and to assist those involved in managing projects to measure and verify their progress. Recently, at the induction of new members and awards ceremony of the Apapa Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), General Manager of the Real Estate Division of A G Leventis, Mr. Farid Khalaf who was the guest speaker called for green building designs so as to check the high level emissions associated to the building sector. Khalaf while stressing

that local village huts, colonial homes and some modern building are the few existing sustainable buildings in the country advocate for adoption of water conservation and reclamation, insulated walls and ceilings, low double pane windows, and use of solar energy equipments. He explained: “Government agencies must lead by example, professionals in the industry need to educate themselves and their clients and commit to introducing environmental sustainability in design and building. Just like rebranding Nigeria, the government needs to embark on environmental initiatives to develop a green consciousness amongst Nigerians.” NSE President, Mustafa Shehu, represented by past Chairman of the Ikeja branch, Margret Oguntalab, stated that the NSE is at the vanguard of driving the green revolution in the country even as it had

CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

36 HOMES&PROPERTY

Controversy trails revoked Lagosland forFG’s infrastructure project Land Matters By Tunde Alao O ensure the smooth take T off of the Federal Government Rural Electrification Project in the state, the Lagos State Government has revoked a large space of land, originally belonging to Epe people, located in Epe Local Government Area. The revocation order followed heated controversy that had ensued between the company handling the electrification project and the host communities. Coming under the Federal Government Rural Electrification project, the project was designed to serve the entire local gov-

The land in question has been under intense controversy between Messrs Rivbond Nigeria Limited, an indigenous developer and the Epe communities before the Governor revoked the C of O, under the principle of “overriding public interest”, to ensure proposed power project for the neighborhood sees the light of the day ernment area, including Agbowa, Imota in the Old Ikorodu Local Government and part of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government areas. Three years on, the communities have been reeling under perpetual darkness, following the controversy over a suitable site where Power Holdings of Nigeria (PHCN), could install its sub-station. At the initial stage, a site, located at “T-Junction,” an outskirt of Epe Township

was marked for the installation of the equipment, until a developing Firm, Rivbond Nigeria Limited, purportedly aborted the plan, claiming that the land was acquired 34 years ago, with the necessary processes of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), commenced in 2009. The Head of the Firm, Chief Lanre Rasaq, said what caused the delay in the commencement of the housing project, was “minor representation about the site.”

According to Rasaq, PHCN officials had visited the alternative site offered in Temu, another settlement close to Epe, for the installation of the equipment. While he claimed that he had written letter to Governor Babatunde Fashola on the status of the land, he added that the housing project, when completed, would be of “immense benefits to the people.” However, in reaction to his

Tender call for N155b Warri Park scheme CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 business Interaction and a friendly business environment for investors and tenants. The project is being implemented through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) jointly owned by the Delta State government, which has 80 percent stake, and Arco Petrochemicals and Engineering with 20 percent stake. The master plan of the entire project has been developed by Jurong, an industrial infrastructure specialist in Singapore, and divided into various categories such as “Industrial Use,” “Industrial Mixed Use”, and “Residential

Use”. Plots of land are available for long leases in areas earmarked as industrial, office and commercial building. Project Director, Warri Industrial Business Park, Ms Helen Emore, who revealed this during a breakfast meeting organised by the NigeriaSouth Africa chamber of Commerce last week said that because of the magnitude of the project it had issues expression of interest for the international and local development partners for the park, which is expected to gulp $1billion. Emore said: “Because of the enormity of the project we have decided to execute this project through a Public Private Partnership scheme

and that is why we have thrown open international expression of interest for the development of the project. We realized that this not something one person could do. “The project which is expected to be completed by 2014 will be financed through joint venture, concession and private equity participation and will be driven by Public Private Partnership will develop first class infrastructure in the park for private sector operators” Giving details of the project in Lagos Emore said that the state government conceived the project as part of strategies to diversify Delta State economic base, attract new businesses into the oil city and stimulate return of businesses

that left previously. The first phase of the park which is located on a 1,000 acres of land is expected to gulp over $1.4 billion when construction activity is completed in 40 months time. The project is designed to be a mixed-use industrial and business park that will provide world-class infrastructure for businesses - Manufacturing, Commercial, Logistics, Oil &Gas including residential and leisure purposes Already several organizations including, Zenith Bank PLC, First Bank plc, UKTI, British Enterprise, Chevron Plc, ASCON, Evergreen, Subsahara infrastructure have expressed interest in supporting the park development.

claim, a group, under the aegis of Epe Infrastructure Development Association (EIDA), said the land in question, had been revoked by the Lagos government. According to the revocation order made available to The Guardian, dated October 14, 2011, signed by the Governor, it reads in part thus: “In the matter of all that parcel of land (with any improvement thereon) measuring 4,1444,820 square metres situate and lying along Ikorodu-ItoikinEpe/Epe Ajah Express Road, Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State of Nigeria; Whereas, the Governor of Lagos State of Nigeria requires all land belonging to Messrs Rivbond Nigeria Limited with C of O dated 6th Day of August 2009, and registered No. 30/30/2009Q specified in the Schedule attached to this notice for overriding public Interest (construction of 132/33kv substation). It continued: “The said parcel of land being situate and lying at that place specified above in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State containing the area described in the schedule hereto and more particularly delineated in the plan at office of the Director of Land Services, Land Bureau, Governor’s Office, the Secretariat, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. The revocation document was categorical on the status of the land. It read thus: “Now therefore, in the exercise of the powers conferred on me pursuant to section

28 of the Land Use Act CAP 202, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, I, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), the Executive Governor of Lagos State hereby revoke the existing right of occupancy in the said land with immediate effect from seven days of the service of this notice for the reason given above; That any holder, owner or occupier of the said land or any part thereof is accordingly directed to yield up possession of the land on or before the expiration of the period specified in this notice”. In their reaction, the EIDA, while urging the quick resolution of the logjam to enable acceleration of works on the installation of PHCN equipment, said the emerging development in Epe area depends solely on the availability of power supply. EIDA also cautioned another group, called Indigenous Epe Elders Council, who earlier claimed that lands in Epe do not belong to community, but rather, individual families. “We appeal to this group of elders to allow the work to proceed on this project. Individual interest should not overshadow the interest of the present generation and those yet unborn. Ikorodu, Lekki and other communities that are not as old as Epe are growing in leap and bound. Epe cannot be allowed to be left behind simply some individuals would not bury personal ambition.”

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

HOMES&PROPERTY 37

Experts chart new course for Nigeria’s real estate investment trust Real Estate By Tunde Alao ONCERNED experts, not C relenting in the effort to tackle the protracted housing crisis facing the country, last week in Lagos called for appropriate regulatory changes to truly harness the benefits of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). Such a new move, could lead, among others to wellstructured and sustainable rental cash flow into REITs and other real estate investments as well as attract domestic and foreign investors to the market. The searchlight was beamed on the REITS in a roundtable forum for key industry stakeholders and regulators organised by Stanbic IBTC Capital, in partnership with Actis and Resilient Africa last week in Lagos. The event had in attendance regulators that included the Securities and Exchange Commission

Engineers induct new members CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Dr. Newton Jibunoh to formally taken over the campaign against desert encroachment across Africa. Newly elected president of the Apapa branch, Ibrahim Aledu, an engineer called for greater emphasis to be placed on technical education, restructuring of research centres and diversifying of the local content policy to other sectors. He lamented the low level of employment in the country adding that the nations problems are more engineering in nature. He said: “As the pre-eminent body of professionals saddled with the requisite skills in transforming the country, engineers need not reinvent the good old wheel; there are enough technological, scientific and technical knowledge out there for any group of people to achieve meaningful development. This calls for renewed efforts on the part of our various tiers of government in strengthening the value chain of engineering design and production.” At the event 15 new members were inducted as NSE member while five others were specially awarded honour. They include Executive Director, Marine &Operations, Nigerian Ports Authority, David Omonikebe, Managing Director, Nigerian Bag Manufacturing Company Limited, Abiodun Ogunkoya, Manufacturing Director, Nigerian Bag Manufacturing Company Limited, Jason Hoyle, General Manager of the Real Estate Division of A G Leventis, Mr. Farid Khalaf and Managing Director Ocean Glory Commodities

The forum called for a drive to encourage corporations to release the stock of real estate assets in their portfolios for securitisation as a means to develop a viable REIT market. Participants argued that efficiency in the real estate market could also attained through the product, as it will ensure viable exit route for developers Nigeria, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigerian Stock Exchange and National Pension Commission and had its theme: “Catalysing the Growth of REITs in Nigeria”, focused on how investment in real estate could be enhanced. A Cambridge University professor, Professor Andrew Baum, who set the tune of the discussion, stated that Africa is underweight in asset value of real estate relative to other geographies, thus making

it an attractive prospect for investible funds in real estate. According to him, the gross asset value of real estate in Africa is only €113 billion or 1percent of the world’s total value despite the fact that the continent controls 15per cent of world’s population. While reviewing the global performance of REITs, Baum noted that domestic and foreign investors are more attracted to markets with properly structured REITs sectors and encour-

aged Nigeria to develop these assets as well as harness the investment opportunity. For Mr. Andrew Brooking of Java Capital, highlighted the need for appropriate regulatory changes (especially modification of tax regulations) to truly harness the benefits of this asset class. He also showed how REITs have positively impacted the market. Brooking spearheaded the development of REITs in South Africa. The Chief Executive

Officer designate of Stanbic IBTC Capital, Mr. Yewande Sadiku, reinforced the ongoing drive from Stanbic IBTC and Standard Bank Group to continue to engage stakeholders at different levels to develop a viable REIT market. She further stated “the roundtable is a step in Stanbic IBTC Capital’s overall strategy to facilitate the establishment of an efficient and viable REIT product in Nigeria. Head, Real Estate Finance (West Africa) Stanbic IBTC, Niyi Adeleye pointed out that a well structured and sustainable rental cashflow is the most important driver of the value and quality of REITs and other real estate investments as opposed to the over-

weighted attention on project construction cost, property appearance and perceived building quality. In his submission, the Chairman of Resilient Africa, Mr. Des de Beer called for a drive to encourage corporations to release the stock of real estate assets in their portfolios for securitisation, which will increase efficiency in the market. He also highlighted the need to increase the stock of investment in real estate assets into the market; while Mrs. Funke Okubadejo, DirectorReal Estate, Actis, noted that a liquid REIT market would boost further investment in institutional real estate portfolios, as it will address the key need for viable exit route for devel-

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

HOMES&PROPERTY 45

Appeal Court backs respondent’s claim to Ondo property Litigation By Emmanuel Badejo FTER a legal battle to mainA tain his ownership right on a vast landed property in Ondo State, Justices of the Court of Appeal, Ondo Judicial Division, have unanimously faulted the claim of a man, one Olasupo Timothy, dismissing his argument and concluded that Messrs.’ Joel Fabusuyi is the rightful owner of the hitherto disputed property. Their lordships – Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Chinwe Iyizoba and Moore Adumein, had in a judgment found that since the respondent, Fabusuyi, had acquired and maintained acts of ownership on the land, he

For purchasing and exercising acts of ownership on a vast landed property in Ondo State, a Court of Appeal has decided that the plaintiff in this case had no better title of ownership but the defendant/respondent. becomes the legal and rightful owner of a parcel of land situate, lying and being at Onigbo Area, Off Ondo-Ife Road, Ondo State. Olasupo Timothy, the plaintiff had appealed against the judgment of the Ondo State High Court of Justice sitting in its appellate jurisdiction at Ondo Judicial division in suit No HOD/5A/2008 delivered by Justice Kolawole on March 4, 2009. Timothy (plaintiff) had stated that he bought the parcel of land in dispute from the family of Jomu-Doko Akinnawo of

Ondo in 1997. The agreement of sale/purchase receipt was executed by Chief Joseph Akinbinu Akinnawo, first plaintiff witness and the head of late Jomu-Doko Akinnawo family of Ondo for himself and on behalf of the family. The plaintiff took possession of the land by erecting 11 pillars, 6 feet each to demarcate the portion of land purchased. Two weeks after the erection of the pillars, the defendant went to the land and destroyed the pillars. The plaintiff claimed that efforts by Chief Joseph

Aso conference on affordable housing Housing HE third Housing T Exhibition and Conference organised by one of the nation’s frontline mortgage institutions, ASO Savings and Loans Plc will hold in April. The programme will attract experts in the housing industry, real estate investors, professional mortgage providers, urban and regional planners, home developers, Architects, housing development authorities, States and Federal Government Housing Corporations. Other stake-

holders would also showcase their products and services at the exhibition. The conference has the theme: “Achieving Affordable Housing Delivery by creating 500,000 housing units by 2016” and will hold in April at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. Panel of experts in global trends in housing development are expected to deliberate on four thematic areas: Funding; Delivery and Infrastructure; Mortgages and Legal Perspectives. Expected panelists will include, Evans Kofi Essienyi of the Affordable Housing

Institute, Ghana, President, Nigeria Bar Association, Okey Wali, Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Gimba Ya’u Kumo, and Central Bank of Nigeria’s Olufemi Fabanwo. Others are President of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, Olabode Afolayan, Ade Adesomoye of CBN; Managing Director, LAPO Microfinance Bank, Godwin Ehigiamusoe, Legacy Pension Managers Ltd, Kalu Aja, Chairman, Filmo Group Limited, Fatima WaliAbdulrahman, and Chairman, Urban Shelter, Ibrahim Aliyu

Akinbinu Akinawo to ascertain the reasons for the defendant’s action yielded no fruit and so he headed to customary court of Ondo State where by a summons claiming: a declaration that the plaintiff is the person entitled to the grant of statutory customary right of occupancy over that piece or parcel of farmland situate, lying and being at Onigbo Area off Ondo-Ife Road, Ondo; N250,000.00 only being damages for trespass committed on the farmland by the defendant and an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, his agents, privies, servants or anyone whosoever claims through the defendant from further trespass on the farmland. On his part, Fasuyibi (defendant) said that part of the land Akinbinu allegedly sold to the plaintiff had been sold to him by the same Jomu Doko Akinnawo family sometime in 1969 and 1970, with Akinbinu being a party to the sale of 1969, while his siblings were the signatories to the document of sale made in 1970, which Akinbinu later got to know about and did not raise any objection to. According to the defendant, the remaining portion of land owned by him, which was part of the land sold to the plaintiff by Akinbinu was bought by him from Akintade family of

Epe. He added that all the parcels of land bought from Jomu-Doko Akinnawo family and the Akintade family are contiguous. At the hearing, Akinbinu gave evidence for the plaintiff while the defendant gave evidence on his own behalf. At the conclusion of hearing, the customary court entered judgment for the plaintiff in terms of claims one and three. Even though it found the defendant liable in trespass, it failed to award damages to the plaintiff. The defendant being dissatisfied with the judgment appealed to the High Court. The plaintiff was also dissatisfied with the failure of trial customary court to award him damages for trespass. He therefore filed a cross-appeal. The appellate High Court in its judgment dismissed the plaintiff/respondent’s crossappeal and allowed the defendant/appellant’s appeal. Rejecting the verdict, the plaintiff/respondent appealed to the Court of Appeal, Akure, setting out eight grounds of appeal. In her words, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun said faulted the appellant’s position and claim, saying he could not through this appeal see to rely on technical procedural issues, which do not apply in customary courts. According to her, the respondent gave evidence of his being put in possession, the planting of cash crops on the land and that no one had disturbed him on the land for over 25 years since the dispute

he had with Akinyode one of his boundary men, which was settled by his vendors. Kekere-Ekun further said that the appellant himself also admitted that the respondent was in possession for many years from the time of his father but as a tenant, adding that equity cannot allow the appellant to sell in 1997 to another, land sold by his family to the respondent in 1969 and 1971 and in respect of which the respondent had been in possession for over 26 years before the purported sale. “It is rather strange that it took the appellant eight years to sue the respondent after alleged trespass in 1997. It further raises questions of good faith on the part of Akinbinu, as he is estopped by his conduct from having any dealing whatsoever with the land having led the respondent into believing in his concurrence to the sale of the land to him and having left him in occupation and possession of the land until the year 2005 when the suit was instituted. For all of the above reasons, the sole issue for determination in this appeal is resolved against the appellant and in favour of the respondent. I hold that this appeal lacks merit. It is hereby dismissed. The judgment of the High Court f Ondo State, Ondo Judicial Division in Suit No HOD/5A/2008 sitting in its appellate jurisdiction is hereby affirmed. Costs of N70,000.00 is awarded against the appellant and in favour of the respondent.”

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

HOMES&PROPERTY

FCT tasks developers on building approvals for housing projects Physical Planning From Terhemba Daka, Abuja PPARENTLY to forestall demolition of houses constructed without necessary documentations, the Department of Development Control of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has reiterated the need for developers of mass housing schemes to obtain building plan approvals from the authorities before the commencement of construction works. The Director, Yahaya Yusuf who spoke following the reshuffling of District Officers in the Department, last week charged the staffers to always ensure that mass housing developments do not spring up without building plan

Ekiti plans 5,000 units’ civil servants housing scheme Housing From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti S part of efforts to ease A accommodation and save tenants as well as prospective property homeowners from Shylock landlords and dubious estate agents, Ekiti State Government has concluded plans to construct two housing estates in each of the three senatorial districts of the state. The Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Land Matters, Mrs. Olufunke Falodun who made this known in Ado-Ekiti, disclosed that the estates would be sited in Isan, Ido, Aisegba, Ilawe, Iworoko and Efon-Alaaye. Mrs. Falodun added that arrangements have also reach an advanced stage on a proposed plan to construct 5,000 housing units for civil servants in the S t a t e . She stated that the housing scheme tagged “Homes Agenda’’ would be achieved through a public – private partnership arrangement. Stressing that undeveloped plots of land that were allocated by government would be re-allocated, the Permanent Secretary said that owners of the undeveloped plots would not be allowed to commence work without clearance from the bureau. She emphasized that the state government would not allow undeveloped plots of land to constitute security risks and serve as hiding places for men of the under-world. Assuring that the Bureau would continue to ensure that applicants obtain their Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) within 10 weeks of processing, Mrs Falodun cautioned against the use of touts, stressing that all applications should be processed directly at the B u r e a u . She explained that delay in issuance for C of O is usually caused by failure of applicants to produce necessary documents and passing through middle men to process their document.

approval. He said that such buildings should be stopped at foundation level. His words: “During accelerated development between 2004 and 2005, there was a clause in the agreement signed between developers and the government to the effect that they were to obtain all necessary building permits before the commencement of their building project.”

He described as unfortunate, the trend where developers who were supposed to be partners in progress in the area of construction in the territory turn around to become stumbling blocks to the aesthetic growth of the city. Yusuf however acknowledged the presence of developers in the territory who he said were law abiding and insist on necessary

approvals before moving to site, but lamented that others were working at cross purposes and bent on thwarting the will of Government. “There is no reason why Mass Housing development should start without obtaining a Building Plan Approval. There was no time that the Government allowed Mass Housing

development without approval as some people are now claiming,” the Director stressed. He appealed to developers

and the residents to cooperate with the district and site officers to ensure a safe, beautiful and healthy environment in the territory.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

The Environment Environment Ministers draw new pathways for Africa’s sustainable future The Environment By Chinedum Uwaegbulam, Assistant Housing & Environment Editor AFRICA’S leaders should put environment and health issues at the top of their national and continent-wide policies if growing challenges such as air pollution, vectorborne diseases and chemical exposure are to be addressed, according to a new report compiled by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Known as African Environment Outlook-3 (AEO3), the report commissioned by the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), places special focus on links between environment and health, pointing to the statistic that environmental risks contribute 28 per cent of Africa’s disease burden. Diarrhoea, respiratory infections and malaria account for 60 per cent of known environmental health impacts in Africa. Data for the report was complied from up to date information including the Fourth Assessment of the InterGovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which states that Africa is warming faster than the global average, and temperature could increase by as much as 3 to 4°C average this century. This makes climate change a major challenge for health and economy in Africa as climate-sensitive diseases are likely to spread with warming. Specifically, AEO is a tool of the AMCEN for monitoring environmental management in Africa. It provides a framework for environmental reporting at the national and sub-regional levels. Its ultimate aim is to enable AMCEN’s member countries to institute environmental management policies and programmes for the sustainable future of the continent. The AMCEN Secretariat partners with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), through its Regional Office for Africa (ROA) and the Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA), in producing the AEO report. In particular, particulate matter - the air pollutant with greatest impact on human health - is of great concern in poor rural areas, where little access to cleaner stoves and fuels causes significant health impacts through indoor pollu-

Coastal pollution...a major problem in Africa

As Africa inches closer to becoming a major player in the transition to a global inclusive Green Economy, AEO-3 gives policy makers a clear pathway to a sustainable and healthy future by focusing on the areas that need urgent attention, showing how to remove barriers to policy implementation, and highlighting new policies. tion. Air pollution in Africa can be 10 to 30 times higher than World Health Organization limits Other issues highlighted that have a major impact include the degradation of health-promoting goods and services such as food and medicinal plants made possible by land and marine biodiversity. For example, 80 per cent of Africa’s rural population depends on traditional medicines harvested from nature. The report also spotlights a lack of capacity to deal with the growing effects of climate change; inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene - in 2010, only 60 per cent of the sub-Saharan Africa population had access to safe water; and poor waste disposal practices. The AEO-3 Summary for Policy Makers is intended to provide information that can assist AMCEN member countries strengthen capacity for policy making and advocacy on national, regional and

global levels. The report highlights emerging issues and assesses trends related to environmental change and the consequences for human health in the region, and proposes new policy directions for enabling transformative changes for a sustainable future. In addition, the report found that many good policies to address environmental change already exist but are hampered by weak implementation. However, the AEO-3 assessment points to a number of actions, which if adequately taken can make promising policies work effectively. The report key messages and policy recommendations are as follows: Environmental and health issues deserve priority consideration in national development; indoor and outdoor air pollution, unhygienic or unsafe food, inadequate waste disposal, absent or unsafe vector control and exposure to chemicals are key

environmental health hazards in most African countries. According to the report, effective reduction of indoor air pollution requires rethinking national electrification programmes and accelerating access to improved technologies and alternative sources of cleaner energy. It further stated that climate change and variability impact human health because of Africa’s underdeveloped capacity to cope with the negative impacts. Policy options include integrating climaterelated scientific findings into decision making; building adaptive capacity; and strengthening early warning systems, preparedness and response. Other recommendations include that measures such as Community Based Natural Resources Management and Payment for Ecosystem Services should be scaled-up to conserve biodiversity, which provides services such as food

and medicinal plants and thus promotes human health. AEO-3 noted that chemicals bring benefits in many sectors, but if improperly handled can result in environmental pollution and serious risks to human health. Recommended policy directions include strengthening the knowledge and evidence base of health risks; accelerating domestication and implementation of the Basel, Stockholm and Bamako Conventions; and including issues relating to e-waste in national legislation. Similarly, coastal and marine resources contribute to human health and need to be conserved and used sustainably. In addition to scaling up Integrated Coastal Zone Management, there is need for effective surveillance in order to protect the coastal and marine environment from degradation and pollution. “Access to safe water and adequate sanitation is vital to human health and therefore requires action to improve infrastructure; reduce pollution of available water sources; and address poor hygiene. Assessing the suitability of land-use changes, regulating

large-scale land acquisition, and promoting technologies that enhance land productivity and more-efficient water use can promote sustainable land management and boost food and nutrition security,” the report said. “Africa’s population is growing at the fastest rate in the world and its economy is expanding at a commensurate rate, yet not enough focus has been placed on the role environmental concerns play in ensuring the wellbeing of this expanding, dynamic continent’s citizens,” said UNEP Executive Director and UN Under-Secretary General Achim Steiner. “Africa is moving into a new phase that could see the continent become a major player in the transition to a global inclusive Green Economy, but to do that it needs a healthy population with guaranteed access to well-managed natural resources,” he added. “AEO3 gives policy makers a clear pathway to a sustainable and healthy future by focusing on the areas that need urgent attention, showing how to remove barriers to policy implementation, and highlighting new policies.”

Architecture and Urban Design, University of Lagos (UNILAG), President of Society of Landscape Architects of Nigeria, (SLAN), Dr. Tunji Adejumo, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu. Unfolding her plan of Action, the initiator of the Eko Green Dream Initiative, Mrs. Faderera Williams, said her team has identified

three local government areas where 6000 trees are to be planted. The identified local governments are Kosofe, where 27 streets were identified; IkotunIgando, 16 streets and Isolo where 18 streets were also picked. “Although, the ultimate

Lagos, group launch tree planting initiative Climate Change By Tunde Alao PROACTIVE measure to A prevent over use of land for physical development at the expense of provision for green areas in the suburban areas in Lagos State was unfolded last week. Tagged as “Eko Green Dream Initiative”, the sensi-

As pilot experiment, three identified local governments have been picked. These are Kosofe, where 27 streets were identified; Ikotun-Igando, 16 streets and Isolo where 18 streets were also picked, with proposed 6000 trees to be planted. tization programme, heralding the take off of the project was put together by a non-governmental organization (NGO), in collaboration with the Lagos Ministry

for the Environment. The programme that took place at Eko Hotel &Suite, Victoria Island, had in attendance, speakers from environment sector, who pro-

vided ideas on how the initiative would not only succeed, but also sustained. Among the speakers are Professor Olaniyi Okedele, of the Department of

CONTINUED ON PAGE 49

THE ENVIRONMENT

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

UN agencies to assist 30 countries in transition to green economy The Environment NEW partnership A launched today by four UN agencies aims to support 30 countries over the next seven years in building national green economy strategies that will generate new jobs and skills, promote clean technologies, and reduce environmental risks and poverty. The new Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), is a response to the outcomedocument of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), entitled The Future We Want, which recognizes the green economy as a vehicle for sustainable development and poverty eradication. Governments at Rio+20 called on UN agencies to support countries interested in accelerating their transition to an inclusive green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication. The four UN agencies the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) - will provide a comprehensive suite of green economy services that will enable countries to transform their national economic structures to meet the

Ban-Ki-Moon

Achim Steiner

Mailafa

With the support of PAGE, developing countries in particular can put in place the policies needed to reap the economic and environmental benefits of an inclusive, resource-efficient, low-carbon pathway, and avoid the risks and shocks of carbon-intensive infrastructures growing demands and challenges of the 21st century. “This is yet another example of how UNEP with partners is implementing the outcomes of Rio+20. The Partnership for Action on Green Economy will work with countries to catalyze change at the national level, assisting them with targeted economic and policy instruments and training that will accelerate their green economy transition across sectors ranging from clean energy to sustainable agriculture,” said UN Under Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner. “With the support of PAGE, developing countries in particular can put in place the policies needed to reap the economic and environmental benefits of an inclusive,

resource-efficient, low-carbon pathway, and avoid the risks and shocks of carbonintensive infrastructures.” From Barbados to Mexico and Nepal to South Africa, many countries are already advancing green initiatives that will contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future. Germany, Kenya and the Republic of Korea, among other states, have set out radical changes in their energy policies to harness the power of renewables, and reinvest in their natural capital. Lebanon and Madagascar are working to rebuild their agro-industries, while other countries like Peru and Senegal - are focused on developing more capacity and green jobs. As The Future We Want rec-

ommends, PAGE will encourage “the implementation of green economy policies by countries that seek to apply them for the transition towards sustainable development as a common undertaking.” More specifically, PAGE will build enabling conditions in participating countries by shifting investment and policies towards the creation of a new generation of assets, such as clean technologies, resource efficient infrastructure, well-functioning ecosystems, green skilled labour and good governance. “ILO estimates that at least half of the global workforce or 1.5 billion people - could be affected in some way by the transition to a green economy,” said ILO DirectorGeneral Guy Ryder. “PAGE

aims to embed the right policies and opportunities at the national level as countries move forward with their inclusive green economy plans, and thus ensure this transition creates more and better jobs and benefits all of society”. “Promoting green and clean new industries, and helping existing industries become more resource-efficient, will be a key focus of the partnership,” said Director General of UNIDO, Kandeh K. Yumkella. “While business and industry should be aligned with national green economy efforts, governments need to set the parameters in order for business to thrive.” “Advancing green economies in the context of poverty eradication creates unprecedented needs and opportunities for learning and skills development,’ said Director ad Interim of UNITAR, Sally Fegan-Wyles. “PAGE addresses this challenge, by offering a suite of learning programmes and by strengthening capacities of national research and training institutions to ensure sustainability.” The four agencies have previously undertaken joint green initiatives. However, this is the first time that all four partners have come together to coordinate their support, expertise and resources at the national level. During the first two years of the partnership, PAGE will focus on seven pilot countries, yet to be named, and scale up this support to a total of 30 countries by 2020.

China, Russia block UN Security Council climate change action rises in global temperatures were likely to have catastrophic consequences. “With unabated greenhousegas emissions, humankind would venture into an uncertain future that is much hotter than ever before in its history – so from a scientist’s perspective, climate change is a global risk multiplier,” he said.

Conservation By Chinedum Uwaegbulam, wth agency report USSIA and China blocked efforts to have climate change recognised as an international security threat by the UN Security Council (UNSC). The council met in New York to discuss the potential effects of global warming, but according to Bloomberg the two permanent members objected to it being a ‘formal session’. Despite the participation of UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon this meant the session – planned by Pakistan and the United Kingdom – had few political implications. China, Russia, India and more than 100 developing countries oppose climate becoming a UNSC issue as the council does not operate under the principles of Common But Differentiated Responsibility, which underpins the UN climate talks . They are concerned that securitizing the issue would place a greater burden on poorer nations with large greenhouse gas emissions to take action. Small island states vulnerable to sea level rises have pushed for climate to be discussed at this level for over two decades. Marshall Islands representative Tony deBrum expressed frustration with Russia and China’s stance, explaining that 35 years on from gaining independence from the USA the very existence of his country is now in question. “Our roads are inundated every 14 days,” he said. “We

Some 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water, and a total of 2.7 billion find water scarce for at least one month of the year

The meeting – the third in UNSC history – was convened by council President Pakistan and permanent member the United Kingdom, which despite domestic criticism over its low carbon strategy appears to be embarking on a new initiative to inject momentum into global efforts to cut emissions. have to ration water three times a week. People have emergency kits for water. We can no longer use well water because it’s inundated with s a l t . ” The meeting – the third in UNSC history – was convened by council President Pakistan and permanent member the United Kingdom, which despite domestic criticism over its low carbon strategy appears to be embarking on a new initiative to inject momentum into global

efforts to cut emissions. The UK’s new climate envoy Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti is pushing for climate change to be framed as a global security c o n c e r n . “The UK believes that the impacts of a changing climate pose a significant and emerging threat to a country’s national security and prosperity,” a Foreign Office spokesman told RTCC. “The UK is engaging with our international partners and through international forums

to better manage this risk.” A 2009 report commissioned by the council identified climate change as a ‘threat multiplier’, stressing it would hit food supply lines and affect the territorial integrity of island states. And in 2011 it discussed whether ‘green helmet’ climate peacekeepers could be required to prevent conflicts caused by resource scarcity. Addressing the session, leading German scientist Joachim Schellnhuber explained that

The World Bank’s Rachel Kyte told delegates cities must take the lead in developing low carbon infrastructure, in terms of transport, urban planning and managing water resources . In a statement Oxfam International’s Tim Gore urged the UNSC to debate the issue further, warning the global food system was already under severe stress as a result of droughts across the US, Africa and Asia. “Droughts or floods can wipe out entire harvests, as we have seen in recent years in Pakistan, in the Horn of Africa and across the Sahel,” he said. “And when extreme weather hits major world food producers – like last year’s droughts in the US and Russia – world food prices rocket. This presents a major risk to net food importing countries, such as Yemen, which ships in 90per cent of its wheat. “The food riots and social unrest seen in the wake of the 2008 food price spikes were not a one-off phenomenon, but a sign of the risks we face through our failure to feed a warming world.”

Lagos, group unfold tree planting initiative CONTINUED FROM PAGE 48 goal was how to prevent the suburbs from being over used for physical development to the detriment of environmental protection, especially, tree planting and open space. But we want to quickly carry seize the opportunity available in the identified three local governments before we carry the campaign to the suburbs that included Epe, Ibeju Lekki, Badagy, among others”, said Williams, adding that almost 250 volunteers have been recruited for the exercise. For residential tree planting to attract residents, she said the organization has introduced what she called “Green Card Promo”. The green card promo involves getting gifts from some manufacturing organisations, for a number of tree plants by individual, either the landlord, tenants or corporate organisation. The essence of the promo, according to Williams, is to motivate people to key into the vision of tree planting and protection of the existing ones. In her address, Erelu Dosunmu, while appreciates the initiative, expressed her joy on the efforts of Governor Babatunde Fashola on environmental matters, especially, beautification exercises. She, however urged government to put in place a structure that would ensure the sustenance of the current efforts. Her words: “We have seen this kind of efforts before, but the sustainability was not there. We however want a situation by which any government that would succeed Fashola’s administration will share the same vision, by ensuring that tree planting, landscaping and beautification exercise continue. To Professor Okedele, beyond the freshness of air that tree provides, presence of trees is also an effective antidote against climate change effects. He advocates for a consistence policy that would make residents to inculcate tree planting. Dr. Adejumo, who spoke on Sustainable Green Lagos, called for an inventory of existing canopy coverage in the city and passing of legislation that protects critical habitat corridors and other key habitats characteristics such as water features, food bearing plants, shelter for wildlife, use of native species, all for sustainable developments. “One fruit tree in your care help solve food insecurity, one herbal tree can give you a breathing space, while one shade tree at the southwest of your property saves cooling cost and one flower and scented tree increase the value of your health”, he said, adding a cache- catch a good breath by planting one tree,” he said.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Weekly Lead Equity Ratings

COMPANY’S RESULT

CONTINUE FROM PAGE 30

STOCKWATCH 51

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

52 STOCKWATCH

Introduction to ethical investing INTRODUCTION HAT is ethical investing? The definition depends on your personal beliefs. Ethical investing is highly subjective because each individual investor has different ideas about what constitutes ethical behavior by a company, and different priorities that they want to support with their investment dollars. Broadly speaking, however, ethical investing is a way of earning returns in the financial markets by supporting companies that are creating positive change in the world, or, in some cases, that are not creating positive change; but are not making the world worse, either. Ethical investors want to reach their financial goals in ways that coincide with their values. Their investing decisions are usually part of an overall strategy for ethical living that includes making values-based decisions about work, housing, transportation and shopping, among other concerns. ACTIVE INVESTING Ethical investors are heavily involved in their investment decisions. They take their roles as part-owners of the companies they hold shares in seriously. They read annual reports and prospectuses, vote proxies and submit shareholder resolutions. They care who manages a company and who sits on its board. They are concerned about corporate transparency and accountability. They also want to know how companies are behaving with respect to the environment, social issues, human rights and workers' rights. Some ethical investors care about all of these issues; others choose to focus on just one or two. It's often difficult to find investments that meet 100% of an ethical investor's values and financial goals. UNETHICAL INVESTORS? Of course, the idea that some investors are "ethical" doesn't mean that individuals and institutions that don't pursue ethical investing are unethical. Many people don't have the time, or the confidence, to make the active investment decisions required of ethical investors. Others simply don't like investing and want to put minimal effort into it. Chances are that these people are putting at least some of their money toward ethical causes whether they intend to or not. What's more, people who consider themselves ethical investors often have to make compromises. A company that produces an ethical product might have some questionable business practices. A company that performs well on environmental issues might not perform well on social issues. A company that donates a percentage of its profits to the community might use sweatshop labor. Ethical investors are faced with the challenge of not only uncovering these complex issues, but deciding where to draw the line with their investments. Sometimes they will even invest in companies they are unhappy with and use shareholder activism to force the companies to change. Even people who aren't particularly interested in the social, environmental, humanitarian or governance issues, that ethical investors support, can benefit from incorporating ethical investing principles into their investment strategies. Companies that treat people and the environment with respect are less likely to find themselves distracted by or burdened with lawsuits. Companies that have a positive image in the public eye are more likely to generate high sales levels. Ethical business practices can generate better profits and better returns for investors, especially in the long run. VEHICLES FOR ETHICAL INVESTING The types of vehicles available to socially responsible investors are the same as those available to all investors: stocks, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), bonds, real estate, hedge funds and so on. However, socially responsible investors screen these vehicles differently than investors with a broader focus. They can also choose from vehicles specifically geared towards the socially responsible investor, like socially responsible mutual funds and ETFs. Let's evaluate the options. Socially Responsible Stocks Investing in individual stocks, as a socially responsible investor, is one of the most laborintensive investing methods out there. Typically, someone who invested in individual stocks would analyze the company's annual reports, and perform ratio analysis to deter-

mine if a stock had profitability potential. He or she would also stay on top of its current performance, and the company's new developments to determine if any changes warranted buying more stock or selling existing holdings. In addition to screening for financials, socially responsible investors have to screen for ethical criteria, and it's not always easy to uncover all the details required to make the most informed decision about a company. Investors whose portfolios consist of individual stocks, also, must pay special attention to diversification - buying stocks that are concentrated in just one or two industries can make a portfolio highly volatile. Also, investors who make small purchases, or trade frequently, will pay lots of commissions, which can create a serious drag on returns. However, for investors who have the time and are willing to put in the effort, investing in individual stocks provides a high level of control in ensuring that every investment meets ethical screening criteria. Also, value investors, who have historically achieved some of the highest stock market returns, tend to be individual stock investors. Socially Responsible Mutual Funds. A socially responsible mutual fund will invest in anywhere from a handful to hundreds of companies that meet specific ethical criteria. If you buy just one share, of a mutual fund, you'll own a small percentage of numerous stocks, whereas if you buy just one share of a stock, you're only exposed to one company. When you invest in a socially responsible mutual fund, you'll have to decide whether you're comfortable taking the investment company's word that the fund meets the ethical criteria it says it does, or whether you want to thoroughly research it to make sure you agree. If you're going to spend the time researching each of the individual stocks that the mutual fund invests in, you're creating even more work for yourself than if you were to invest in individual stocks. It's probably a better use of your time to thoroughly research a few mutual fund companies, and when you find one or more that you trust, let them do the work for you. Socially Responsible ETFs Mutual funds have begun to take a back seat to ETFs because, broadly speaking, ETFs are easier to trade and have lower expenses. Since expenses are the most reliable indicator of mutual fund performance, according to Morningstar.com, it makes sense that investors are leaving mutual funds in favor of ETFs. Socially responsible ETFs are put together in a similar manner as socially responsible mutual funds. However, they trade like stocks, so rather than needing, say, $2,500 to start investing, you can start investing in ETFs for as little as the cost of a single share, plus the trading commission.

ETFs can also be more tax efficient than mutual funds, which matters if you're investing outside of a tax-advantaged retirement account. Socially Responsible Bonds You might consider some types of bonds to be socially responsible. You could invest in corporate bonds, which allow companies to borrow money from investors, or you could invest in municipal bonds, which fund local government projects and which some people view as a form of community development. You can also invest in bonds through mutual funds and ETFs rather than buying individual bonds. Bonds help to diversify a portfolio based on stocks and can smooth out fluctuations in portfolio value. Real Estate If you're extremely picky in your ethical investment criteria, real estate could be a great choice. You'll have a ton of control over what property to invest in and how to manage it. Real estate investing can be an especially logical choice for environmentally conscious investors, as owning property lets you make daily decisions that affect your environmental impact. It's also a sensible choice for other types of ethical investors, because property ownership doesn't require you to worry about corporate governance or sweatshop labor (except in the purchasing decisions you make when operating, maintaining, remodeling or furnishing your property). You can also use real estate investing to support community development. Don't Forget the Basics No matter which investment vehicle you choose, you can't overlook fundamentals, just because an investment is ethical. If you're investing in mutual funds, you can't ignore expense ratios; if you're investing in real estate, you can't ignore location. Ethical investment doesn't substitute one set of investment criteria for another - it adds a new level of investment criteria to an existing level. You'll also have to confront the issue of whether buying into a socially responsible investment, issued by a company that caters to everyone is good enough, or whether you're only willing to work with companies that exclusively deal in socially responsible investments. BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS OF ETHICAL INVESTING There are many reasons to pursue ethical investing - and many reasons why people avoid it. Here, we take a closer look at their motivations. The Feel-Good Factor Ethical investing certainly has a large emotional component. People who choose to follow an ethical investing strategy let their feelings, about how workers should be treated, how the natural environment should be cared for, how corporations should treat their shareholders and so on drive their investment decisions. One of the benefits of this style of investing, is the potential for good feelings when a company, whose actions you support, performs well financially, bringing good returns to your portfolio, and benefits to all of its stakeholders. The downside of this emotional component is that if a company violates one of the principles you thought it stood for, can bring massive feelings of disappointment. The same thing can happen if the company's principled stance fails to bring good financial returns, or even brings financial losses. Compounding the Effects of Everyday Choices If you already live your life in strict accordance with a particular belief system, ethical investing is a logical addition to that system. The decisions that large corporations make have a much bigger impact than the decisions that one person makes, after all. It doesn't make a lot of sense to ride your bike everywhere, and only use canvas bags for your groceries while holding shares in a company with a poor environmental record. Of course, if you're an average investor with a few shares, or even a couple hundred shares, you're too small to have much influence on a company, but you'll probably sleep better at night knowing that your investment choices are aligned with your living principles. Deciding Where to Draw the Line It can be difficult to find investments that perfectly meet your criteria, which means that you have to decide what's most important for you and where, if anywhere, you're willing to compromise. What if 5% of a company's operations involve something you don't approve of, and

the other 95% in something you do? Do you invest? What if you like a particular company, but you don't like its parent? What if you invest in a company you support, and then it gets purchased by a company you hate? If you have to choose a lesser evil, why invest at all? What about socially neutral investments - do they have a place in your portfolio? You have to overcome difficult decisions, like these, if you want to be an ethical investor. Not investing isn't an option if you want to be financially successful. Forgoing High Returns from Investments that Don't Meet Your Criteria When you screen out investments that don't meet your environmental, social or governance criteria, you'll inevitably be screening out some high performers. You won't necessarily earn lower returns by pursuing an ethical investing strategy, but it will take more work to track down the right investments. Expending Time and Effort Socially responsible investing is not a passive strategy. It takes a lot of time and effort to track down and review all the research you'll need to make your decisions - more time and effort than it would take if you were solely focused on financial performance. Once you've found investments you like, you have to keep tabs on them to make sure they meet the ethical and financial goals you expect them to. Sometimes you'll have to sell investments that fall short and find new ones to replace them. If it all sounds like so much work that you feel totally discouraged from investing at all, you might want to invest conventionally and commit to donating a percentage of your profits to charity. Overcoming High Fees If you choose to invest in socially responsible mutual funds, you might have to overcome higher expenses than you would as a conventional investor. Essentially, what you're paying for is to have someone do all the difficult research on ethical and financial performance for you. If you're busy and if you trust the mutual fund company, this price may well be worth it. But high expenses can really drag down your returns, especially over the long run. Will you still be able to meet your financial goals if you're paying expenses of 1.2% annually instead of 0.2%? ETHICAL INVESTING –NIGERIAN EXPERIENCE In line with the global trend about ethical investors, on June 6, 2012, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Lotus Capital Limited to develop and manage the first index created to track the performance of Shari’ah compliant equities on the floor of the NSE. To bring to fruition Nigeria’s vision of becoming the gateway to African markets, this week marked another milestone in the rebirth, growth and transformation of the Nigerian capital market when the NSE Lotus Islamic Index (NSE LII) was launched. NSE LII is expected to serve as an important diversification tool for foreign investors and portfolio managers from the Gulf and Asian countries, among others who seek to profitably invest in emerging African equities markets in accordance with the principles of the Shari’ah. With the release of non-interest banking guidelines by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), experts anticipate increased awareness towards Islamic Finance hence the NSE LII would act as an important benchmark for Islamic equity investments in Nigeria. Also, with the NSE LII, the NSE has increased the variety of its indices to seven, giving opportunities to investors with varied investment appetite and interests that track our indices. Prior to the MOU, Nigeria’s first quoted socially responsible mutual fund that allows subscribers to make profitable investments without compromising their religious beliefs and/or principles was launched in 2005. The primary objective of The Ethical Fund is to achieve long-term capital appreciation of its assets by investing in a carefully selected portfolio of high quality equity securities quoted on The Nigerian Stock Exchange. The Ethical Fund follows a socially responsible approach to investing and excludes investments in Breweries and Tobacco sectors of The Nigerian Stock Exchange as well as companies whose activities are considered harmful to the society. The Ethical Fund’s objective is achieved by investing at least 75% of The Fund’s assets in equities of blue chip companies listed on The Nigerian Stock Exchange while retaining a maximum of 25% of its total assets in money market instruments.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

BusinessInterview Staggered de-regulation regime imperative

Amobi

Dr. Ifediora Amobi, Executive Director of the African Institute for Applied Economics (AIAE), a policy economist, has served in different capacities including Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Development Matters. He was the Investment Policy Adviser for the UK Department for International Development (DfID) funded programme, Growth and Employment in States (GEMS3). He feels that we can only achieve destination for business if we reform our bureaucracy and bottlenecks. He spoke to ROSELINE OKERE on other issues including grave implications of pipeline vandalism. Excerpts. The country has witnessed incessant pipeline vandalism in the last few months. What is the economic implication of this to the country? S an oil exporting country, pipeline vandalism is and always will be a serious crime capable of crippling our nation’s economy. Its causes range from discontent and neglect, as is the case in the Niger Delta, to sabotage and greed. Often times, the culprits are unaware of the health, safety and economic implications of their actions. Economically, vandalisation of the nation’s pipelines has led to fuel shortages, which have disrupted economic and business activities by hindering the smooth movement of people and commodities. It has fueled insecurity in the country and has been linked to some of the recent abductions and kidnapping, with the implication that potential foreign investors have been disheartened. The oil spills from the damaged pipelines have very serious safety, health, and environmental implications as well. Added to all these are the economic and social costs to Nigeria – the alternative cost incurred in transporting oil by road, the huge amount spent in monitoring and providing security to the over 5,000 km of oil pipelines across the country, incessant repair and replacement costs, and the thousands of lives lost that cannot even be quantified as a result of this criminal action. The passage of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has been delayed for some time now. How is

this affecting investment in the oil and gas sector? It is very unfortunate that up till now the Petroleum Industry Bill still has not been passed. Every stakeholder in the economy is raising this issue and I know it is giving President Jonathan sleepless nights. The passage of the PIB is crucial for increased investment in our oil and gas sector. There are definitely some concerns both by our lawmakers and the International Oil Companies like the increase in the gas tax, the increase in royalty payments and the minimal tax allowances for investment incentives on gas, but I believe that these could and should have been tabled and settled by now. Today, Nigeria is losing a lot of money and market share to our neighbouring oil exporting countries especially Algeria, Libya, and new entrant Angola. Nigeria has not felt well in international ratings. What do you think can be done to improve the country’s ratings in respect to accountability, best destination for business and corruption? This should not come as a surprise to any Nigerian. The efforts Nigerians are putting

in place to fight corruption, ensure accountability and transparency, and renew confidence both in the public and private sectors, are dwarfed by the actions of the same Nigerians who are bent on circumnavigating such efforts. We are all concerned about how the rest of the world perceives us and our international ratings, but when we are in position and have the power to make things right within our system, we get overwhelmed by the rent-seeking opportunities that arise from the inefficiencies in our system that it becomes ‘somebody else’s problem to solve at a future date’. We can only become an effective destination for business if we collectively improve our business environment by reducing the bureaucracy and bottlenecks experienced in starting a business, acquiring a licence or business permit, registering land, ease of paying taxes, etc. Even apart from the international ratings Nigerians are not oblivious of the unfriendly business environment as revealed in one way or the other by indigenous think tanks to compliment the international ratings. For instance, the Business Environment and Competitiveness Across

We can only become an effective destination for business if we collectively improve our business environment by reducing the bureaucracy and bottlenecks experienced in starting a business, acquiring a licence or business permit, registering land, ease of paying taxes and others.

Nigeria (BECANS), which is the flagship of the African Institute for Applied Economics (AIAE) as revealed in 2007 and 2010 reports complimented and vindicated ratings by these international bodies. The logic of BECANS is that Nigeria’s sub- national jurisdictions (state and local governments) are crucial in ensuring good business environment and enhancing Nigeria’s global economic competitiveness ratings. Like every federation, business environment in Nigeria is the shared responsibility of the central and sub-national governments – federal, state and local. Hence, the overall business environment will depend upon complementation and synergy between these levels of government. In particular, state governments, are responsible for the bulk of the infrastructural, regulatory and administrative services needed by private enterprises. So, without commensurate business environment reforms by state and local governments, the macroeconomic and institutional reforms of the federal government cannot produce the desired impact on employment and poverty. So essentially, it has become everybody’s business. While we are making attempt to define and enshrine true fiscal federalism in the constitution through the current constitutional review, fighting of institutional corruption should be taken seriously at the state and local government levels. It seems attention is so focused on fighting corruption at the national level that the canker-

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

for Nigeria’s oil sector, says Amobi worm is eating deep into the fabric of the sub-national governments, even including the private sector, as we can see in the banking sector for instance, which is often overlooked. It is that general approach that can bail us out. Major oil marketers have started canvarssing against fuel subsidy regime. Do you think we are ready for such move? Yes, we are ready. However, the manner in which it will be done would make a difference in the way the impact is felt amongst Nigerians. Sincerely, as long as we retain even the slightest subsidy, we will continue to encourage corruption. After all our past experience, I am certain that what Nigeria needs is a Staggered De-regulation. Under this regime, government should work out and announce a full deregulation timetable, and decide how to increase pump prices in a phased manner. For instance, if the agreement with all stakeholders, including the labour unions is that by December 31, 2013, the fully deregulated pump price should be N150 per litre, then in order to help Nigerians adjust from N97 a litre, an anticipated N5 per litre will be added to pump prices every month-end. This will be communicated and agreed nationwide, and it will be achieved in 10 months, the subsidy eliminated once and for all, and the shock to Nigerians would be minimal. What is your view on the current fuel subsidy investigation and the Ribadu report? I have not read the full Ribadu Report, but I know it highlighted and exposed a lot of what had been going on in the petroleum sector, arising from revelations to Nigerians and the world during the fuel subsidy investigation. Unfortunately, the excitement and interest Nigerians felt during the investigations started waning when suspicions arose about the credibility and genuine nature of the entire exercise. There was, and still is, the Farouk-Otedola saga-enough said. Over 20 people have been indicted since the investigations and none of them, at least to my knowledge, has been prosecuted to date. Regular power supply has become a problem in the country. What is the cost implication of this to the economy? Outrageous! And I say this because when calculating the cost to Nigeria, we start with the cost to Nigerians. There is the monetary cost of providing your own electricity – buying and maintaining a standby generator, fuelling it, plus depreciation. Then there is the cost to manpower productivity, when a person wakes up from a very uncomfortable nights sleep due to heat, mosquitoes and others. This will adversely affect his or her performance at work. Also, regular power outages encourage crime, particularly in the inner cities. As far as businesses are concerned, epileptic power supply increases their operating costs and erodes their profit margin. For them to survive, this cost is passed on to the consumer in form of higher prices. Irregular power supply has also led to numerous cases of fire outbreaks and explosions, resulting in loss to lives and property. If one has to put a figure, it will be in trillions of Naira. How will the decision by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to retain the nation’s Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), also known as interest rate benchmark, at 12 per cent affect investment and businesses in the country? On the surface, no one wants high interest rates, and the CBN’s decision to retain the 12 per cent benchmark is primarily to control inflation. Our current inflation rate at about 13 per cent is considered high. To prevent it from further increasing, the economy has to be contracted or slowed down reasonably. Interest rate is the price we pay for money. When rates are low, it means money is cheap, making it is attractive to invest in (borrow) money. Normally this is very good because businesses can borrow to expand their productive bases and fuel growth. However, in the present situation where inflation is high, the only way to bring it down is to make money expensive, hence discouraging borrowing and growth in the short term. This will make money scarce

and when the level of borrowing drops, so will the price of money (inflation). On the other hand, it is also noteworthy that high interest rates have increased foreign interest and investment in Nigeria’s stocks and bonds in the international market. Recently, there were arguments on who will actually be in a position to receive the 13 per cent oil derivation. In your own opinion, should it be the state government or the oil producing communities? The way things are now, I would say neither of them should collect the 13 per cent derivation. Traditionally it has been going to the states without the expected full trickle down effect. On the other hand, the oil producing communities have not shown capacity to visualize, plan and execute a people-oriented development programme – at the community level. The only other channel that can effectively ensure that proceeds from the 13 per cent derivation touch the people at that sub-state level is the local government. Now that raises the issue of the effectiveness of the local governments as presently constituted today and the yawning need for actual local government reforms across the country. The way I see it, these arguments will continue until the structure of government is adequately addressed. Nigeria is said to be losing so much to gas flaring. What is the implication of this and how to do we convert it to economic use? Every year, Nigeria has been shifting the goal post on when to end gas flaring. I remember when 2008 was declared ‘it’ or nothing. Gas flaring not only has financial implications giving that we are losing over $1billion every year, but also has environmental and health issues for the communities affected. It is considered a crime against humanity. Credit should be given to Mr. President though for his initiative in reducing the amount of gas flared by 75 per cent to date, but the remaining 25 per cent still being flared poses serious problems for Nigeria and needs to be harnessed and deployed efficiently for both commercial and industrial use. What do you think will happen to the Nigerian economy in the next few years if the rate of militancy and kidnappings are left unchecked? That’s obvious – total anarchy and economic collapse. The solution is jobs, jobs, and more jobs. In addition to that is the confidence in the leadership at all levels of government and the belief, particularly amongst our desolate youths that Nigeria cares and still has a future for them. What is your assessment of the 2013 budget? Do you think we are on the right track? The 2013 budget proposal presented by President Goodluck Jonathan was a breath of fresh air. From the key sectoral allocations, particularly in defense and police, it showed that government is sensitive and cares for the safety and lives of the people. If implemented properly; the budget will not only shrink the fiscal deficit by almost 0.7 percent from 2012, but will also increase capital expenditure in 2013 by 2.8 percent. Noteworthy is government’s ability to remarkably reduce significantly the provision for domestic borrowing in 2013. The $75 per barrel benchmark oil price notwithstanding –ironically it is coming at a time when the United States and other energy analysts are predicting a decline in crude oil prices in 2013. Also, a key aspect of the 2013 budget is the introduction of the N100 billion Sinking Fund to service debt obligations as they mature. This is good and will also help reduce Nigeria’s credit risk. A poser would be whether the fund would be interest-bearing. On the downside however, the budget, which promotes continuity of the theme and pillars of the 2012 budget, with poverty at the core of that theme, is conspicuously silent on specific poverty alleviation programmes in 2013. Also, although very concerned about Nigeria’s debt burden and an appreciation for fiscal prudence going forward, the 2013 budget is noticeably silent once again on the $5.9 billion external debt and how it will be reduced. Besides, the expected political din that will becloud the signing as well as its implementation, the 2013 budget is generally commendable and achievable.

Under this regime, government should work out and announce a full deregulation timetable, and decide how to increase pump prices in a phased manner. For instance, if the agreement with all stakeholders, including the labour unions is that by December 31, 2013, the fully deregulated pump price should be N150 per litre, then in order to help Nigerians adjust from N97 a litre, an anticipated N5 per litre will be added to pump prices every month-end.

As far as businesses are concerned, epileptic power supply increases their operating costs and erodes their profit margin. For them to survive, this cost is passed on to the consumer in form of higher prices. Irregular power supply has also led to numerous cases of fire outbreaks and explosions, resulting in loss to lives and property.

Our current inflation rate at about 13 per cent is considered high. To prevent it from further increasing, the economy has to be contracted or slowed down reasonably. Interest rate is the price we pay for money. When rates are low, it means money is cheap, making it is attractive to invest in (borrow) money. Normally this is very good because businesses can borrow to expand their productive bases and fuel growth.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

BondWatch DLM BOND WATCH: FEBRUARY 25, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, June 6, 2011 63

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

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APR expects improved financials, returns on investment By Helen Oji FRICA Prudential Registrars Plc (APR) has expressed commitment to continue to post improved performance in its financials and deliver better returns to shareholders. The company, which emerges the first and only registrar in the country to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, has an authorised and paid share capital of N500 million, Formerly known as UBA

Registrars and listed on January 2013, the company which has delivered over 100 per cent increase in profit before tax in 2012 set to continue the trend in 2013. Africa Prudential Registrars has several local and international investors, the most prominent of which is Heirs Holdings, the pan-African investment company with long term, and strategic interests in key economic sectors that generate social wealth.

Being the only registrar listed on the stock exchange gives APR a level of accountability and openness that far exceeds its competitors’. According to Peter O. Ashade, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, the process of listing a company is a rigorous one, which he believes is the reason why APR stands apart. “Not every company can withstand the scrutiny required by the listing process. It requires visible

accounting, proper systems and ongoing processes to meet the standards,” he says. “For our clients it gives them further reassurance that their confidence in us is not misplaced.” APR Chairman, Chief Eniola Fadayomi said: “We are assured by the young, dynamic management at the helm of the company. Through a combination of their dedication and experience, we have seen a history of significant positive impact

on our performance, which we believe will continue into the future. “APR boasts a number of other firsts. It is rated as Nigeria ‘s number one corporate registrar for innovative use of technology to improve its services. The company was the first in the share registration niche to deploy an estock software application. “In 2008, it pioneered an online e-share registration service which proved a major turning point for the busi-

ness and ensured a higher level of convenience for clients. The simple innovation shifted the paradigm of manual share register administration and brought it to the fingertips of shareholders and clients. “Its consistent use of innovation to drive the business has resulted in APR enjoying consistent growth of its shareholders fund from N1.6bn in 2010 to N2.3bn in 2012, and a 35.4 per cent Compound Annual Growth Rate.”

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Opinion How not to bungle foundation (1) By Agbo Areo HE Nigerian Educational Research and DeT velopment Council (NERDC) has woefully bungled children’s education in Nigeria over the past seven years – and this could be an understatement. The NERDC is the Federal Government agency charged with periodic review and compilation of primary and secondary schools curriculums, among other functions stated for it in the law establishing it, as an agency tied to the Federal Ministry of Education. Obviously, of the functions assigned to it, the major one that immediately and daily touches the lives of all Nigerian families is curriculum review and compilation. We do not have to go in this piece into the history of the establishment of the NERDC from the fusion of the former NERC, CESAC, the Book Development Council and the Nigerian Language Centre. Within the past seven years the NERDC has issued out three ‘revised’ curriculums, that is, three various subjects syllabuses for the primary and secondary schools levels. Curriculum review is valid in educational planning and execution. Syllabus reviews give planners and the learners the opportunity to incorporate into new syllabuses emerging and current ideas into the learning process, ideas, which have emerged since the last or latest review undertaken. Revised syllabuses take much time and involve a lot of funds to compile, hence it is carried out at fixed periods of time, conventionally once in five years, to update recent developments in the social, political, economic and technological advances of the nation and the world at large. Drawing from experience of closely working with primary and secondary schools curriculums, as an educational books publisher – as a book editor – for not less than an unbroken period of 40 years, I have followed the trend in curriculum review in Nigeria since the early 1970s. I indeed once had the opportunity to be a member of the review panel of one of the primary school subjects (Social Studies), representing book publishers, at the Bagauda Review Programme in the early 1980s. The last three or recent curriculum reviews are arguably the worst of the syllabus review

programmes within the past 40 years for various reasons! The last two are particularly questionable. There is overloading of prescribed contents for learning, repetition of contents in two or three different subjects, too high level of difficulty in various subjects for many classes, and above all, overloading of subjects supposed to be learnt by pupils at the primary and secondary school levels. Within seven years, three revised curriculums have been issued out by the NERDC, with hyped rhetoric. In educational practice, at least two years notice is given to schools, book writers and publishers for change in syllabuses; but when you have three massive changes within seven years, what then happens to the series of books written and published in accordance with each of the fast changing curriculums? Parents are confused, book publishers abandon book projects suddenly, incurring very heavy financial losses, and terminal examination bodies are thrown into confusion. It is observed that the Universal Basic Education authorities must have been spending several millions/billions of naira purchasing for schools ‘obsolete’ books, which are rapidly overtaken and rendered useless by rapidly changing syllabuses within, especially the past four years. The NERDC has recently been churning out untenable excuses for the abysmal failure of their 2007 ‘new-approved nine year basic education curriculum’, which ‘commenced’ in September 2007! The 2007 curriculum loads the primary school pupils with 20 subjects! After operating the curriculum for roughly three years, a new revised curriculum has again been issued, purporting to reduce primary school subject loads to – is it seven or 10? Still some confusion here! Covering a press conference addressed by Professor Godswill Obioma, the Executive Secretary of the NERDC, The Guardian, reported in the paper’s edition of February 23, 2012, as follows (page 44): “Barely three years into the implementation of the nine-year Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) in all nation’s primary and junior secondary schools (JSS), education stakeholders have unanimously agreed on a new shape. The forum for the formulation of a new

structure took place in Abuja recently, at the instance of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC). There, Education Commissioners, Chairmen of State Universal Basic Educational Boards (SUBEBs), representatives of State Ministries of Education and private school owners brainstormed for two days.” Quoting the NERDC Secretary, the report goes further: “Recent feedback on the implementation of BEC suggests an overload in terms of subjects at the primary and JSS levels…” The report goes further: “Since September 2008… learners have been contending with 20 subjects listed in the curriculum. Pupils in primary 1-3 are to offer 10 compulsory subjects… In addition, they are expected to offer at least one elective subject from three options of agriculture, home economics and Arabic language”. We should ask the NERDC some pertinent questions. One, as a research agency, did they consider that the total number of subjects on the timetable in schools is spread over a total of 40 periods a week, out of which English and Mathematics are allotted a total of 20 periods – when they initially compiled a primary curriculum of 20 subjects? Were some of the contents tested in some various levels of schools – rural, urban, etc. before final compilation? Were the opinions of relevant educators at universities faculties and institutes of education, colleges of education, etc. sought before final issue of the curriculum? The latter question arises because, unlike in the past when participants were drawn from all parts of the country and various strata of practitioners of education, participants in the review/compilation of the 2007 published curriculum were mainly officials of the NERDC – for the primary Social Studies, for example, out of the eight participants, six were from Abuja, out of whom three were from the NERDC office! “The NERDC boss disclosed,” the report continues, “that the streamlining of BEC curricula was done without reducing the contents” (emphasis mine). He explains that Kenya offers seven subjects, Tanzania eight, United States six, Malaysia and Indonesia nine subjects each… (and) the implementation of the new

BEC structure would commence in September 2012.” In essence, the nation now operates a third curriculum (since 2008) commencing in September 2012. The new curriculum merges an overload of 20 subjects for the primary school into 10 subjects “without reducing the contents”. The hundreds of millions of naira spent producing the penultimate two curricula documents have gone down the drain, not to mention tons of millions of naira spent on the participants’ jamborees. Up to now, many schools nationwide, authors and book publishers are yet to see the new syllabuses of the curriculum/curricula supposed to start in September 2012! Books purchased by UBEC/SUBEBs in years 2011 and 2012 are automatically rendered obsolete. The NERDC Secretary did not tell the nation what specific subjects, in comparison to Nigeria’s, are offered in Kenya, Ghana, the U.S UK, Malaysia and Singapore where they offer fewer subjects, and what advantages our heavier subjects load has over other countries. We are now saddled with heavier individual subjects load of incongruous individual combinations. Before the subject mergers, authors and book publishers had seriously complained about the very unwieldy, repetitive, and indeed too difficult nature of the various syllabuses. I once asked an experienced teacher and French textbook writer to comment on, for instance, the French syllabus for the ‘upper basic’; his reply: ‘obscenely overloaded’. Now, according to The Guardian (page 37) report of January 3, 2013 “… subjects like Islamic Religious Studies, Christian Religious Studies, Social Studies and Civic Education, which were in the old curriculum, and a new one called Security Education, were merged into the new Religious and National Values.” What a merger indeed – for a primary school child! I predict that the present whimsical compilation also will be thrown down the drain in another one year or two – call it cynicism. Who and where are the teachers qualified to teach the new curriculum? • To be continued. • Areo is an educational books publishing consultant based in Ibadan.

APC: Radically new or merely novel? By Temple Uwalaka N 1868, Charles Francis Adams Jr., astonished by the power of Imous the transcontinental railways remarked, “Here is an enorincalculable force, let loose suddenly upon mankind, exercising all sorts of influences, social, moral, and political; precipitating upon us novel problems, which demand immediate solution, banishing the old before the new is half matured to replace it. We rarely regard this new power otherwise than as a money getting and time-saving machine; not many of those who fondly believe they can control it ever stop to think of it as the most tremendous and far reaching engine of social change which has blessed or cursed mankind”. The quotation above could plausibly be applied to the coming of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Nigeria. The point is that the coming of APC is like a disrupting technology or what some people call killer Applications (killer Apps) in the world of politics in Nigeria. It is changing the mood and tone of politics in Nigeria. The question is, can APC transform Nigeria to her desired abode? Is APC really a radical new party with vision? Or just a merely novel party that will go the way of others? Going by local newspaper reports, so many Nigerians feel that this party will transform. Some say that it “will bring succour to Nigerians” while others opined that “APC will fix Nigeria”. The presence of APC if successful will be a big lift for democracy in Nigeria as there will be viable opposition against the current sham in the name of opposition. It will also ginger the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not only to be democratic in itself but also to deliver on its election promises. In this regard, we share in the optimism of APC spin-doctors and their victims that Nigeria will be better with the party. But wait, there is a problem. Irrespective of the great media attention, the fete and paean that accompanied the news of the amalgamation of the opposition parties in Nigeria, we feel that Nigerians should not be carried away by the party’s newness but look into the genuineness of the founders in respect to shared burden, intent, pur-

pose and vision. Nigerians can do this by looking at the main actors as the dramatis personae are rolled-out. The leaders of this group must not be PDP members that ran away on account of PDP’s inability to give them political positions. Their intent must be pure as their service should be honorary in nature. Many a time, politicians swap parties or form new ones to meet their personal needs. They act not to correct a flaw in the system but because they failed to gain from the flaws. Most Nigerian politicians behave like a reverend father who scolded a sister for committing fornication, not because he is unhappy that she broke one of the biblical Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy chapter 20, but because the said sister did not commit the fornication with him. Here, the scold is not godly but personal. This is how our politicians behave. They chastise the incumbent not because he is doing badly, but because they are not given a share of the squandered money. This is one area that APC will try to disprove if it is truly radical and transformative in nature. Furthermore, a transformational APC must come up with an ideology that will shape their vision and mission. The ideology can either be left or right. A peep into the list of the party’s key actors shows a combination of conservatives like Buhari and plain democrats like Fashola and Rochas Okorocha. This pushes one to ask what differentiates Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from All Progressive Congress (APC)? Are they just different parties in name and not in ideology? In business terms, what is the distinctive competence of the new party over the dominant PDP? It is not enough for parties to come together and form a new one. Did they think about the vision and mission cum ideologies of all the parties before they went into the amalgam? Just like in mergers and acquisition, such fit analysis is carried out before merging. This is very salient because it will tell Nigerians how prepared the new party is. Should the party negate this fit analysis, we will not be surprised to see breakaway groups from the party soon. The breakup may come after the leadership selection, where those who longed to lead but were not selected will chart another course.

They can destroy the party from the inside (betrayal) or move to PDP or even form another party that they will lead. To put it succinctly, the journey being undertaken by Nigerians who join the new party bandwagon is not going to be entirely hitch-free. Not only from the actions of the new parties biggest opposition intent on maintaining the status quo, but also from within the party’s internal structure, and the Nigerian political atmosphere. The party will face the problem of not only selecting its candidates for subsequent elections among a long list of favorites, but also tackle problems of party finance, party loyalties, and all related complications that will enable them formulate political and policy agendas, select candidates, conduct election campaigns, and monitoring the work of their elected representatives. The opposition party that Nigerians need now must be different from PDP in both composition and vision. The party must have an incredible internal democracy, party loyalists who will remain in the party at all times to espouse the policies and ideals of the party. The party must have a political leaning (right or left, democrat or conservative etc); and the party, in a form of manifesto must reject graft and criminality. These will ennoble the party and put it in good stead to serve Nigerians and merit the appellate ‘opposition party’. Thus far, APC has nothing that makes it a radically new party. Its vision cum ideology has not shown anything different. It is a duplication of PDP in their inability to create an identifiable vision. So, will APC transform the Nigerian politics? With the evidence on ground, the party cannot transform politics in Nigeria. To have large membership should not be correlated to transforming the polity. What APC has achieved is only to increase the number of the party. But a truly transformative party will provide the country with alternatives in regards to party vision, platform and ideology. APC is a novel party but it will need to work harder to be transformational. • Uwalaka wrote from Solbridge International School of Business, Woosong University, Daejeon, South Korea.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Opinion On our centenary, let the lies crumble By Chuks Akamadu HERE is this family I have known for 36 T years. A hotchpotch or some sort. Fascinating habitat for the good as well as the bad guy! Even the ugly too finds accommodation in it. Perhaps for reasons bordering on abundant inheritance, the father is somewhat laidback and has very little to worry about financially. Mother, on her part, is not a particularly frugal manager of resources on the home front. Whereas the first-born is hardworking and disciplined, his immediate younger, a set of twins, are, kindly speaking, wasteful. Baby of the house, on her part, is without doubt highly intelligent, but hedonistic. Under same roof, there is an Imam, a Sunday School Teacher and a Shrine Priest. Amongst them, there are the exuberant, the levelheaded, the eloquent and the taciturn, etc. The twins are forever squaring up with each other. The baby of the house and mother get along well or fairly so, whilst first-born appears to be father’s favourite. Tunes from their home, depending on the nature of a particular set of circumstances, range from the melodious to the discordant. Maybe because mother is dark whilst father is fair, their offspring are equally divided into fair-complexioned and dark-complexioned classes. In all, they present a brilliant picture of all the ingredients of a delicacy, but isolated in separate shells. As fabric, this family is a Coat of Many Colours. As many as there are hues represented in the colour spectrum, so many are their challenges, nonetheless. Power supply is erratic. Financial transactions in the family are unquestionably opaque. Hunger is a regular caller. The family healthcare delivery system gasps for breath. Religious friction and tension also make unscheduled appearances. There are vivid differences and/or variations in taste, mode of dressing, attitudes and cultural expression, among others. From time to time, issues arise – and for the most part, they end up as brawls. Occasionally, there is what could pass for upheaval! In some instances, the eloquent and the taciturn are at each other’s throat. When this is not the case, the wasteful and the lazy are on a war-path with the pleasure-loving/pleasureseeking. But all things considered, nobody

can deny that this family stay intact as the envy of the rest of the community, unarguably on account of their vast prospects for greatness. A scan of the family – whether horizontal or vertical – reveals huge but untapped individual potentials. Curiously, rather than harness their talents and complimentary endowments for the good of family, they take pride in dwelling on one another’s weaknesses; when irrefutable facts on ground show that by all reasonable assessments, their positives – both as family members and as a corporate whole – outweigh their negatives. Suddenly, the roof of the house begins to leak; and suddenly, too, few voices, a minority that is, say the most viable option for the family is to have the roof pulled down. Welcome to the Nigerian Family! I recall with a bleeding heart when President Goodluck Jonathan’s letter requesting the House of Representatives to grant the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) audience to brief the House on the proposed framework for Project Centenary was first read on the floor of the House. The outburst that greeted that presidential request kept my heart thumping for eternity. Gosh! What a people we are!! What was the President’s offence? In his preliminary remark, he had refreshed the minds of House members that it was for the Centenary purpose that he had long ago set up a 19-member planning committee. He went further to inform the House that the committee had articulated a framework for the centennial celebrations which had received the attention of, input from and endorsement of both the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the National Economic Council (NEC). Based on these otherwise cheery developments, President Jonathan had prayed the House to have the SGF brief them; so they too could be part of the process from the planning stage. Alas, the heavens were let loose! Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and his comradesat-arms quickly raised pillars of objection without any justification, whatsoever! The best they could adduce as reason for impetuously objecting to the proposed briefing by the SGF was that the last time they invited the President to the House, he dishonourned their invitation and should therefore be paid back in his own coin, by denying his admin-

istration’s chief scribe audience. There was also a hasty and erroneous presumption that the centenary was another drain-pipe in the offing. But Abike Dabiri-Erewa rose to admonish her colleagues that “this House should not be a House of opposition”. Must we oppose everything that did not emanate from our own interest-group, even if it best serves the national interest? Haba! The Gbajabiamilas of this country are in the same boat with members of the Nigerian Family described above; who would say the solution to the leaking roof is in the de-roofing of the house. Their emotions erupt like a volcano. They don’t touch the substance of any issue or argument that has to do with the Nigeria project with even the longest of poles. You can’t beat them when it has to do with going into an argument with a pre-determined outcome. They are adept at pointing out defects without providing possible remedies. That is why a few of them have asked “what are we celebrating for?” They have also asked “what have we achieved in the past 100 years of our existence”. And if you try to answer their questions, they cut in to add that “the amalgamation of 1914 was a mistake that needs to be corrected now”. Since in a democracy, we are all required to cultivate the virtue of tolerance for contrary viewpoints, however offensive or provocative, though at pains, I would venture to answer. I would also brush aside the temptation to complete a moderate description of this tiny fraction of the populace who say our dear nation is irredeemably doomed, so I won’t run risk of being accused of raking up mud. Suffice it to say, nonetheless, that we do not have a standing choir that sings the “Nigeria is doomed” hymn; what we have is an oscillating choir where members constantly switch faith on and off the Nigerian enterprise, depending on how well the economic and political climate of the country favours them at any given time. However, like the way humans are born into communities in different geographical locations, there is no particular way nations come into being. Whether a Lord Lugard was instrumental to the birth of 1914 or not is immaterial. Somebody or something somewhere at some point had to be instrumental. Ours is a responsibility to build the nation thus formed. Equally, we may choose to put

our country on the path of stagnation or, worse still, retrogression. The choice is entirely ours. Even our physical body requires care and maintenance for all the organs to function well. One wonders why we seek to repair ailing parts rather than cut them off, since by reason of their malfunctioning they constitute some source of irritation to the entire system. A nation of hypocrites! Furthermore, there is no nation in the world that does not have its own contradictions. Just as the coldest regions in the world battle with ice and snow and Israel contends with the everlasting hostility of her neighbours, such issues as inequity, religious differences, poverty, corruption, nepotism and tribalism are facts of life that we, as Nigerians, have to deal with as a people. The home truth nevertheless is that these concerns have constituted major obstacles to our quest for national greatness because of the evil in us. The average Nigerian loves Nigeria; what he or she passionately loathes is the mindless squandering of our collective till, integrity, humanity and future. Centrifugal forces should kindly let us be. There are less hurtful ways of venting their anger on those who at the moment keep them away from the Nigerian dining area. Unemployment does neither belong to any ethnic grouping nor does it speak any native language. Poverty and diseases live in the North just as they do in the South. A combined team of Christians, Muslims and other faith take credit for the corruption that thrives in this land. Our Centenary is not a time to simply say “let bygones be bygones.” Yes, bygones will be bygones, but not until we have found the humility to admit the errors of the past as well as found the courage to sincerely apologise without reservation. Much as our Centenary is not a time to unduly dwell on our failures, it is a time of sober reflection, a time to desperately hunt for solutions to our loads of problems. No man runs away because his house is on fire – he stays back to fight it until the fire is put out. Let us resolve to fix our leaking roof. Pulling it down might look not-too-bad on paper, but the cost, I can assure us, is so gruesome, so calamitous that we cannot afford it. This is time to build a national consensus on the need for us to enter into a covenant of voluntary union, as we celebrate our centenary. • Akamadu is a member of the, Centenary Celebrations Planning Committee, Abuja.

Uprooting neglected tropical diseases By Adetokunbo Lucas YMPHATIC Filariasis. Onchocerciasis. Schistosomiasis. We Lcalmay not all recognise the names of these neglected tropidiseases (NTDs), but for the more than one billion people affected around the world, including roughly 800 million children, the human toll is all too familiar. Survivors of NTDs are often left permanently disabled, disfigured or blinded, and many face a lifetime of health complications. Many of us know these diseases well. Elephantiasis and river blindness are more common in Nigeria than any other African country, and no country anywhere has more cases of schistosomiasis. Although these diseases affect the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations and drive people even deeper into poverty, global and national responses to NTDs have been inexcusably lax. Instead of being neglected, these devastating diseases should be at the top of health agendas in every affected country. Nigeria has made progress in recent years, notably by eliminating guinea worm. The Federal Government and states have also launched community education programmes and bolstered drug distribution, which has led to improvements in the control of other NTDs, including leprosy. Yet, despite promising gains, efforts have been stalled by a persistent funding gap and imperfect national coordination that have kept the best solutions away from those who need them most. Today, we have reason for hope. Nigeria is standing up against this scourge of terrible diseases. Last Tuesday, February 19, the government launched a robust and fully integrated multi-year national plan to control and eliminate 10 of the most common NTDs. Earlier this month, more than 100 par-

ticipants from Nigeria’s 36 states came together in Abuja to finalise the overall strategy and make specific plans for each state. Guided by the plan’s emphasis on mapping disease burdens, local leaders helped devise state-specific plans to determine priority locations, identify those most at risk, and most efficiently deliver treatments. With an approved budget of N49 billion to treat more than 60 million people yearly over the next five years, the national NTD plan lays the groundwork for historic progress. I am proud of my country for taking such decisive action. I am also pleased that Nigeria’s NTD plan was built with a strong spirit of partnership. Nigeria is acting in concert with a broad group of national and global partners who are committed to sparing people from these terrible diseases. Nigeria worked with partners such as the World Health Organisation, the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to obtain technical support and secure necessary funding. And closer to home, philanthropist General TY Danjuma has led the engagement of the private sector in the cause. For this intensified programme, we must make good use of lessons from our past. The best outcomes are achieved when key stakeholders collaborate effectively. The public sector, including health authorities and local, state and federal governments, has developed partnerships with the private sector. Non-governmental organisations make valuable contributions through their close working relationships with local communities, and pharmaceutical companies and other commercial enterprises provide massive drug donations. However, we need to pay more attention to the role of regular people in responding to the new programmes. The general

public must be treated as partners, not passive recipients. We should make more effective use of Nigeria’s expert sociologists, political scientists, medical anthropologists and other social scientists to enhance our understanding of popular beliefs and close the gap between health workers and the communities they serve. This is our best hope of preventing the sort of disputes and misunderstandings that sometimes break out in relation to major health interventions such as polio. A recent development points the way to closer interactions with communities. Rather than use health workers to distribute ivermectin, a drug for river blindness, a new approach was developed, which involves empowering communities and enabling them to take responsibility for distributing the drug. The success of this Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) has been adapted to facilitate other communitybased programmes such as the mass drug treatment of schistosomiasis and the distribution of vitamin A and bed nets. In recent years, we have witnessed a global awakening about the burden of NTDs. Just over one year ago, a group of global partners came together to launch the London Declaration on NTDs. A year later, their report cites Nigeria as a model. By setting out its national plan and by inviting support from global partners, Nigeria is taking advantage of this unique moment and setting a powerful example for other countries. I have dedicated much of my career to fighting NTDs. I have seen the effects first hand – and some days, it has been hard to look past the heartache. But today, with Nigeria on the march toward success, I am more optimistic than ever. • Prof. Lucas was Director of the UNICEF/UN Development Programme/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) from 1976-1986.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Oil & GasWeekly Remi Aiyela, Editor-in-Chief

editor@NOGintelligence.com www.NOGintelligence.com

Cameron Systems. The leading provider of flow equipment products, systems and services to worldwide oil, gas and process industries, will provide the sub sea production systems including production trees, water injection trees, manifolds, production and topside controls and associated equipment to EEPNL's Erha North Phase 2 development. Cameron's Chief Executive Officer said the development would enable the company to further enhance their in-country capabilities and add to their track record in Nigeria for executing projects, transferring skills to our Nigerian workforce and partnering with local suppliers.

DOWNSTREAM NEWS

UPSTREAM NEWS

OPEC daily basket price slides to $111.27 a barrel Thursday ConocoPhillips, Brass LNG Begin Negotiation on Use of Technology NITED States oil and gas exploration and producU tion (E &P) company, ConocoPhillips and Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Limited have commenced negotiations on the terms of a licence agreement for the continued use of ConocoPhillips' technology in the Brass LNG project, NOG intelligence can exclusively reveal. NOGintelligence gathered that the negotiation was aimed at ensuring that the planned exit of the Houston-based ConocoPhillips from the Brass LNG project does not delay the construction of the plant. A source close to the two companies told NOGintelligence that ConocoPhillips would also enter into other transitional arrangements with Brass LNG Limited for the continued provision of expertise to ensure a smooth transition. The negotiation followed concern by the other shareholders of Brass LNG Limited that the exit of ConocoPhillips would impact on the multi-billion dollar project as the firm accounts for about 80 per cent of the technology adopted in building the LNG plant. NOGintelligence learnt that apart from having a 17 per cent stake in Brass LNG, which represents about $3.7billion of the project expenditure, ConocoPhillips is also the owner of the Optimised Cascade Process, which is the technology adopted for the construction of the plant. This development, it was learnt, has fuelled concern among the other shareholders that the planned exit of ConocoPhillips could delay the execution of the project. A Final Investment Decision (FID) on the project is scheduled for this year. Planned as a world-class, greenfield LNG facility located in Brass Island in Bayelsa State, the project is designed to produce 10million metric tonnes of LNG per year. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) holds 49 per cent equity in the project, while ConocoPhillips; French oil giant, Total and Italian company ENI hold a 17 per cent stake each. However, NOGintelligence gathered that NNPC plans to divest 17 per cent of its stake in the ENI-run project after the FID. Of the 17 per cent to be divested, Bayelsa and Rivers State Governments are proposed to take five per cent each, while the remainder will go to NNPC's strategic investors. The three potential strategic investors, it was learnt, include Japan LNG, Itochu Corporation and a joint venture between Sahara Energy and Sempra Energy. ConocoPhillips put its stake in Brass LNG along with its other Nigerian assets up for sale in May last year. After a lengthy bidding process, Oando soon emerged as a front-runner and eventually won after bidding a reported $1.79 billion, plus customary adjustments. It is currently going through a rights issue to raise funds to finance the acquisition. The shareholders signed the Heads of Agreement

BNP to Advise NLNG on $1.6 Billion Ships Purchase

HE price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at T $111.27 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $113.28 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. Introduced on 16 June 2005, the new OPEC Reference Basket is currently made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

REGULATORY NEWS Minister Presents PIB to Senate HE Minister of Petroleum Resource Mrs Deziani T Allison-Madueke presented the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to the Senate on Tuesday. While doing so, the Minister was assured by the Deputy Senate President, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, that the PIB would be given a speedy passage into law. However, he implored her to ensure that Senate invitations to her were honoured as there were likely to be contentious issues on which the Senate might need some input from her. The Minister has been criticised in the past by Senate for allegedly refusing to appear before the National Assembly to respond to their questions on the Bill. The Minister dismissed suggestions that there is too much control vested in the Minister under the PIB. She said the current Petroleum gives the Minister much more power than in the PIB.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY NEWS NNPC Pledges to Support Kanu Heart Foundation HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation T (NNPC) has pledged to support the Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF) in its quest to build a befitting hospital for heart surgery in the country. Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Mr. Andrew Yakubu made this pledge recently while receiving the founder of KHF and former Super Eagles player, Mr. Nwankwo Kanu in his office at the NNPC Towers in Abuja. "As an entity, we believe in Corporate Social Responsibility. We participate in things geared towards giving back to the society. Therefore, we will support you on this laudable project and also urge other stakeholders within our areas of operation to do so," Yakubu said. According to the NNPC boss, strong team of medical staff in the corporation will be designated to collaborate with the KHF in order to examine the key areas where the NNPC can be of assistance.

NEWS FROM NOG 13 Conference Chair, Parra: Nigeria's Oil and Gas Strategy in the Next Five Years

IGERIA Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG) is R Alirio Parra, Board Member, CWC Group N to raise $1.6 billion for the purchase of 6 LNG carriers. NOGintelligence gathers that GTBank is also part MLimited and chair of the first conference session from the 13th year of the annual Nigeria Oil and Gas of the consortium advising on the fund raising. The purchase of the ships will enable NLNG to upgrade its dedicated fleet. The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation owns a 49 per cent stake in the venture. Co-owners are Shell (25.6 per cent), Total (15 per cent) and ENI (10.4 per cent). The company is looking for medium to long-term finance by the end of March 2013.

Esso Awards Subsea Contract to Cameron SSO Exploration Nigeria Limited (EEPNL) has E awarded an important contract for the provision of sub sea production systems to Houston-based

Exhibition and Conference, spoke on Nigeria's oil and gas strategy for the next five years, looking at how the global economic crisis and uncertain oil prices are impacting Nigeria and how Nigeria can continue to attract investment amidst competition from other Sub-Saharan African countries. After summarising the positive issues - government at a surplus, sovereign wealth fund created, prices increase over the last 4 years - he then went on to look at the challenges facing Nigeria is facing. He said that the changes in the global energy environment would be reflected on Nigeria. He particularly wanted to stress the following: 1. Unconventional renewable resources will for the first time surpass conventional resources and this

increasing diversity of energy supplies will mean that options have widened out for consumers of oil and gas supplies. 2. As a result, there are also wider opportunities and choices facing investors. 3. World oil and gas production has moved westwards - for example the United States of America has already become the largest producer of gas and possibly shale oil in the future. 4. The shift in consumption continues to move eastwards and the implications are that as US shale increases, imports of light sweet crude from US will decrease and the global energy trade will increase towards the east. Mr Parra concluded with what he expects the Nigerian oil and gas to look like in the next five years. From inexperienced operators to sophisticated developers: Mr Parra said the rise of indigenous companies was crucial and they would have an increasingly high role to play in the future of upstream oil and gas in Nigeria. From paper tray to masterplan: Mr Parra praised the gas master plan which he said would bring gas to the domestic market by 2015 when it comes to fruition. From abandoned swamp to the most advanced processing plan: Mr Parra praised the gas to liquids (GTL plant), which, when fully operational, will be the most technologically advanced plant in Africa. Finally he praised the Nigerian content plan, which with increased investment has highlighted the entrepreneurial skills of Nigerians. All of this, he said, was due to the entrepreneurial skills of Nigerians.

Minister: Nigeria Transiting Towards Next Chapter HE Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs AlisonT Diezani speaking at the conference, said that Nigeria is transiting towards the next chapter and that since Goodluck Johnathan's assumption of office the industry has experienced new levels of investment. She said whether in the upstream, midstream or downstream, the government was poised to boost efficiency and productivity so that the country can get the best out of her abundant resources, just like other producing countries. The Minister outlined some of the industry's notable achievements in the last few years, upstream including: • Oil production at 2.4 million barrels per day • Gas production at 6.3 - 7.8 billion tcfs per day • Flaring of associated gas at under 11 per cent • Initiative to gear NNPC* to a medium size oil company has been done in a aggressive manner over the last two years. • The completion of the signing over of NNPC's equity in oil blocks to NPDC. • Key gas infrastructure developments including 13inch pipelines, expansion of Escravos, doubling of gas supply, and funding of the gas initiative now being done through Eurobonds. She also outlined some downstream improvements, including: • Gas utilisation up from 16 per cent to 88 per cent • Increase in contribution of refineries from 12 million litres to 21 million litres daily • Rehabilitation of refineries - turnaround maintenance (TAM) already commenced with Port Harcourt, others to follow thereafter • Establishment of more NNPC stations The Minister also stressed the many challenges the country is facing. Top of the list of challenges are the criminal syndicates who are daily vandalising pipelines and interrupting product supply as a result. She said the crude obtained illegally from the pipelines are being sold abroad and are ending up in far-flung parts of the world. The Minister also mentioned the environmental challenges. Reacting to the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on the clean-up of the Niger Delta, she said that the government has set up an agency, the HydroCarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP), which is charged with carrying out the recommendations in the UNEP report. The other big challenge is the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which the Minister said was on course and is currently going through the legislative process at the National Assembly. She said that over 80 regulations would be developed as a result of the PIB becoming law. The Chairman of Oando Plc, Mr Wale Tinubu, speaking just after the Minister, was however, a little more sceptical about the chances of the PIB being passed this year, at all. Regarding the next five years, the Minister said the government would continue the transformation of critical areas of the industry. Among those, she mentioned: • The gas revolution agenda • The crude oil blood money initiative which is intended to deter crude oil theft • Increasing Nigerian content in the industry with a particularly focus on job creation • Supporting the HYPREP clean-up of environmental degradation • Ensuring the passing of the PIB into law She said that despite the increasing dependence the US on shale oil, Nigeria had nothing to fret about in the face of dwindling imports from its largest importer of crude. She said that other markets would be explored. She finished by stressing that the next five years would create an opportunity that will allow for great achievements in the industry. She called it a period in which challenge will be tempered by opportunity for the government.

in association with

The Menace of Crude Oil Theft - The Blood Money Campaign HE Minister of Petroleum Resources spoke during T her speech at the conference of the government's determination to stop crude oil theft by finding a way to stop the laundering of the proceeds of the theft. The Minister said: "The government is determined to address these problems once and for all. As a matter of fact it is trying to reach out to some of its counterparts where some of these products are being refined. It is the thinking of the government that some fiscal entities throughout the world are responsible for laundering of the funds realized from this illicit act. One thing that is sure is that the products of bunkering are not sold in ECOWAS countries. The proceeds are also not kept in these countries but in far flung international financial institutions. So it is important we find a way of curbing this trend." It is generally thought that although the illegal oil exports may be ending up further afield, the proceeds are being laundered in the world's leading financial centres. Oil theft campaigner, Ambassador Dele Cole has said in the past that the illegal oil is ending up in refineries in Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia and Singapore. Calling the proceeds of crude oil theft "blood money" the Minister said the government was calling for the assistance of foreign governments over tracking the proceeds of the oil theft. For example, she said, the President met last week with the British Prime Minister, David Cameron for discussions on how to address the menace both from the internal and external perspective. Apart from seeking foreign assistance in the fight against crude oil theft, the Minister said that the finger printing of Nigeria's oil, something that had been talked about as far back as 2008, is to be introduced. The idea of "oil finger-printing" is nothing new and is a certification process that follows the successful "conflict diamonds" campaign. The technology makes it possible to identify the origin of any cargo of oil using analytical chemistry techniques. The identity of the cargo will be used to determine its legitimacy or otherwise. It is the application of oil finger printing to oil theft that is a more modern idea. The technology was developed to trace oil reservoirs and determine specific sources of crude where various sources were likely to co-mingle. The successful use of the technology in the fight against Nigerian crude oil theft will choke off the market thereby interrupting the supply chain. This government, finally, it seems, has the appetite to introduce this technology into the Nigerian oil industry as it braces itself to take a final stand against crude oil theft in Nigeria. The Minister said the Service Chiefs are included in the battle against crude theft and bunkering, as they are being co-opted to find a lasting solution to the disturbing trend. "We are doing everything including inviting the Service Chiefs to help us out. In fact, the Chief of Naval staff is already putting up programmes and fashioning out plans towards addressing this problem," she said. It appears that the plea for foreign assistance by foreign goverments does not include military assistance, something that, during President Yar'Adua's regime, the government was willing to consider. Gordon Brown had in 2008 offered military assistance for the policing of the Gulf of Guinea, which had, at that time, become one of the most dangerous waterways in the world. For many commentators, effective policing of the creeks is one of the most effective ways that the government can fight the theft by ensuring that stolen oil never gets to leave the creeks, effectively stifling any chance of exporting stolen oil. The estimates are that 90 per cent of the stolen oil is exported. Inability to export the oil and earn valuable foreign exchange will prove a strong deterrent, many believe. The Minister said the government is not going to surrender to the antics of the criminal gangs as it is prepared to do all within its power to stop these cabals and their collaborators.

Shell: Powerful Nigerians Are Behind Crude Oil Theft DDRESSING the issue of crude oil theft at the A Conference, the Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu accused powerful Nigerians of being behind the local and international syndicates involved in crude oil theft. He urged the Federal Government to move against these cabals. Speaking at the Conference, Sunmonu said that instead of going to European and other foreign countries to seek for help on how to tackle crude oil theft, President Goodluck Jonathan's administration should move against "principalities and powers in high places," who are the sponsors of crude oil theft. Sunmonu acknowledged that it was commendable for the government to discuss with foreign countries suspected to hold the proceeds from the sale of stolen crude oil, but added that the problem could easily be solved if the sponsors were identified and dealt with. He said like the drug business all over the world, criminals who sabotaged crude oil pipelines in the Niger Delta were only working for bigger entities. "The truth is that the small criminals in the creeks of Niger Delta bursting pipelines and stealing crude oil are not working for themselves. Like the drug cartels around the world, they are being sponsored by big principalities and powers in high places, which the government should go against if the fight against crude oil theft is to be won," he said.

THE GUArDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Media Gate-keeping, professionalism… setting agenda for editors’ convention in Ibadan Issue By Bisi Olawunmi S members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors A converge at Premier hotel, Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, for their biennial conference from February 28 to March 2, 2013, there is need to ponder the state of the Nigerian media. It has to be admitted that the Nigerian media enjoys the accolade of being one of Africa’s most vibrant. Editors have led the media posse, as people’s vanguard, on various occasions to confront authorities when policies are deemed to be anti people, the most recent example being the media’s strategic role in opposition to increase in the price of petrol, that eventually exposed the fuel subsidy scandal. yet, media performance can be much better. In this regard, the issues which demand attention include fairness and accuracy in the media; rabid political partisanship in editorial content as well as media credibility. There is the issue of poor quality control of editorial content, particularly news stories, which is the flagship product of the media. In all these, the ownership factor is crucial. However, as the professional leader, the editor is the pivot of any media establishment, in spite of competing forces seeking control of the media. A key competing force is the media owner – public or private. There is the widespread notion that the media owner, like the person who pays the piper, has the right to dictate the tune in editorial content. This is a fallacy, given the media’s primary mandate as a public trust. For the privately-owned media, it is a dual mandate – as a business and public trust. Hence, while the investor has a right to expect returns from a media company as a business, it is for the editor to determine the editorial content that strikes a balance between the investor’s expectations and what serves the public good. It is a responsibility that he should neither abdicate nor compromise. Where the owner is government, such media outfit should function mainly as public service, not business, as is currently the case with the commercialization of news, particularly in radio and television stations owned by federal and state governments. To surrender publicly owned media to market forces is a repudiation of government’s fundamental service to the people and a denial of their rights to know and be heard as such policy shuts out a significant section of the polity. It is a policy the Editors’ Guild should contest. It is understandable that governments, private owners, special interest groups and even

NGE President, Gbenga Adefaye advertisers would seek to influence or control the media in their desire to sell a point of view, to be positively projected to the people through the media or to contain resistance by the masses. The editor is the bulwark against these assaults on the media by power blocs and he can only resist such assaults successfully by imbibing professional integrity. A prerequisite to acquiring professional integrity is to acquire professional training – being a trained journalist with a university degree in mass communication or journalism, a training that emphasises the ethics of the profession. So, a major challenge for the Nigerian Guild of Editors is professionalising the position of editor and other editorial cadres and their equivalent positions in the broadcast media. A situation where just anybody can get into media establishment, parade himself or herself as a journalist and even aspire to be editor should not be allowed to continue. With over 100 universities, polytechnics and monotechnics offering courses in mass communication and journalism in Nigeria, there is a pool from which to build a class of professional journalists. A concession might, however, be given to non mass comm. graduates in the media to

Talking Media and Gender Issues in Abuja Programme TWO-DAy roundtable on A Media and Gender Issues in Nigeria opens on Thursday, February 28, 2013 at the rockview royale Hotel, Abuja. being organised by the Democratic Governance for Development (DGD) project II of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the meeting will attract the participation of the Executive of the National Association Women Journalists (NAWOJ), representatives of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), academia, civil society and the media. The DGD project is an electoral cycle project funded by

the European Union (EU), the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the Canadian International Development Agency CIDA) and UNDP, that manages the project. Expected as facilitators are Prof. Patricia Donli; communication and development expert, Kayode Ogunbunmi, gender advocates: Ene Ede, Miriam Menkiti, and Constance Meju; as well as former NAWOJ President, Alhaja Fatima Abdulkarim among others. Some of the issues to deliberate upon include: Promoting Gendere Diversity in Newsrooms – The role of Media Owners and Managers; What is Gender responsive reporting?; My Sisters’ Keeper: Mentoring

Female Journalists; Gender Issues and Media in Nigeria; as well as NAWOJ – A SWOT Analysis. A major component of DGD’s activity in the postelection period includes support for on-going democratic reforms including strengthening the capacity and voice of the media within the democratic process. One month ago (January 21 and 22, 2013 precisely), the same DGD project anchored two days Community Radio Briefing and Strategy Meeting with a view to develop strategies to achieve the speedy implementation of community radio licensing to promote media pluralism and democratization of citizen access to information.

undertake a post graduate diploma course in mass communication to upgrade their status. A professional journalist is expected to know the limitations of owners in terms of editorial content. There are studies, which support this stand. Scholars, including Peter Golding, Noam Chomsky and James Curran, note that while governments and other media owners are inclined to determine the editorial line in newspapers and broadcast stations, “ they exercise these powers within structures which impose limits”. They thus contend with regard to media control that “owners, advertisers and key political players cannot always do as they would wish”. Sadly, some editors, lacking professional integrity, by their obsequiousness give media proprietors the impression that they (owners) can always do as they wish. A trend where some editors tag along, as seeming bag-boys, on the entourage of their proprietors on local and foreign trips diminishes the position of editor. I often cite the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as an example of a credible governmentowned media, largely due to the professionalism and integrity of its pioneer Editor-inChief, Mr. Femi Adefela, a tradition that has been sustained by NAN’s current managing director, Mrs. remi Oyo, a former NAN staff, even when she had served in the politically partisan position of media aide to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. An important issue with editorship is accountability. If editors hold officials of governments and other institutions accountable to the people, if they decry impunity, they also must be accountable to their audience – readers, listeners and viewers. Freedom of the press cannot be freedom to be irresponsible in their editorial content.

In this regard, newspaper editors need to subject themselves to the arbitration of the Nigerian Press Council when aggrieved members of the public petition the Council on alleged media excesses. Treating summons from NPC with levity does not accord with media ethics. A key function of the editor is quality control of media content to ensure fairness and accuracy. It would, however, seem that this function has been largely abandoned given the many embarrassing errors of act, spelling and grammar in media fare, even on the front pages of newspapers! In this regard, the media needs government intervention to assist with capacity building for the overall public good. I will end this piece by returning to the issues of professionalism, integrity and monetisation in the media with a quote from the 1947 report of the U.S. Commission on Freedom of the Press, headed by robert M. Hutchins : “Whatever may be thought of the conduct of individual members of the older, established professions, like law and medicine, each of these professions as a whole accepts responsibility for the service rendered by the profession as a whole, and there are some things which a truly professional man will not do for money”. The Nigerian Guild of Editors need to make a ‘truly professional man’ of editors and other cadres of journalists by initiating a peer review on qualifications and a mechanism to bring erring editors and other journalists to order. Editorship is a distinguished position whose prestige and authority can only be enhanced where ethics, professionalism and integrity rule. Dr. Olawunmi, a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and Lecturer, Department of Mass Communication, Bowen University, Iwo, is a former Washington Correspondent of the News

Guest speaker at the inaugural lecture of 35th Anniversary of Bauchi Radio Corportaion, Dr. Haroun Adamu (left); chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed; and zonal director, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Malam Ladan Salihu… at the lecture last week in Bauchi

Hallmark goes daily From Gordi Udeajah, UMUAHIA UblISHEr of business Hallmark newspaper and Abia State-born prince Emeka Obasi last week in Umuahia launched Hallmark as a daily newspaper. Obasi also used the occasion to debunk some newspaper publications credited to Emeka Obasi, which people erroneously believed were authored by him. Hallmark Publisher announced that the said reports which were considered unpalatable to governor

Theodore Orji were authored by another Emeka Obasi whom he alleged, “is a personal/media assistant to the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.” Obasi solicited the support and patronage of Nigerians for his new Hallmark daily urging south easterners to encourage emergence of what he called regional newspapers. He stressed this on the basis that out of the many newspapers that emerged in the east region, only The Sun and Champion became successful

till date. Accordingly, the state governor, Dr Theodore Orji who described the occasion as remarkable in the history of the state and that of publisher Obasi, advised him to go for and stand by the truth and counter falsehoods even as he pledged to support the growth the new publication. Similarly, governor Peter Obi of Anambra State represented by two Commissioners including Chief Joe-Martins Uzodike of Information, commended Obasi for his perseverance in journalism.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Media 71

Why national body shouldn’t ignore crisis in Edo NUJ Issue HE commitment of the leaderT ship of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to ensure better welfare package for media professionals especially the issue of insurance has been hailed as a right course to be pursued by any serious organization. Specifically, reference is being made to the report published recently featuring NUJ President, Mallam Mohammed Garba as he explained why journalists should embrace the insurance scheme being promoted by the journalists’ body. However, Mallam Garba has been urged to pay attention to happenings in the state councils of the NUJ, especially crisis in Edo council. “There are of course some other disturbing issues I would have expected Mallam Garba to nip in the bud which would have gone a long way to sustain the integrity of the union and the profession. Amongst these issues, is the matter of not treating raised issues from some members and chapels of the union nationwide. “A case study is the Edo State Council of the union of which I am a registered member and the President needs to tell the nation what he has done to address the numerous complaints that have reached his table in Abuja regarding the forging of a diploma in Journalism certificate prior to the last election in Edo State Council. “While colleague Garba will not deny of being in receipt of the complaint of the alleged forgery, what has he done to handle this nasty allegation which has established beyond doubt that he and his national secretariat, till date, did nothing to handle the claim other than to allow the election to be held. Turning and looking the other way is not a solution to this nauseating and image denting development,” lamented Prince Usman Abudah. The allegation of the forgery is supported by the realization that the current edition of the National Board for Technical Education (2011 edition), the official national body responsible for the certification of

institutions offering mass communication didn’t list the school to offer any course whatsoever. “In totality, the Diploma Certificate presented by the said candidate worsened his case by presenting another diploma certificate from the same un-quoted school by the Technical Board. Mallam Garba has all these details on his table. The chairman of the credential committee who smelt a rat and passed the details to the Nigerian Police to authenticate the claims was suspended from the union by the national secretariat and the two remaining members of the committee were harassed and they threw in the towel and the election was conducted. “To me, I will not address the election issue because of the profound

basis of its illegality when the candidate’s criminal stance of presenting a forged material wasn’t addressed by the NUJ President. “This my reaction is based on the concept of handling burning issues at the appropriate time which would have enhanced the integrity of the profession rather than ignoring such a serious issue and covering it up with the insurance propagating matter,” Abudah raged further.

He submitted, “Any journalist who ignores the insurance matter is personal and the end result would show the true colour of such a practitioner. I might be asked if I am carrying an insurance scheme. I did work in two reputable Nigerian newspapers, later with a foresight and getting tired of the glamour of the by-line for my stories as a correspondent, I later joined the Federal Public Service from where I retired and I am com-

A case study is the Edo State Council of the union of which I am a registered member and the President needs to tell the nation what he has done to address the numerous complaints that have reached his table in Abuja regarding the forging of a diploma in Journalism certificate prior to the last election in Edo State Council.

fortably enjoying my pension entitlement without any problem, but still in the journalism profession because I publish a monthly title and I am a fully registered member of the NUJ and indeed, I voted during the last national delegates conference that brought in the current National President. “My pain is that Mallam Garba ought to have acted on the disturbing issues that would tend to stain the image of our cherished profession and set an example with colleagues who tend to stain the integrity of the calling by desperately forging documents in order to get into offices. If I may ask: what would Mallam Garba write in his memoirs concerning Edo State, which is a part of his constituency?”

Participants at the workshop in Owerri

‘Why women issues should engage journalists’ attention’ From Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Abuja HOUGH interests of womT enfolk are beginning to gain attention in the media, journalists are being urged to do in the areas of advocacy and awareness campaign. But since no one gives what he or she does not have; Ipas, a nongovernmental organization that focuses on women’s sexual and reproductive rights organizes regular capacity building programmes for journalists to hone their skills. At the four-day event held two weeks ago in Owerri, Imo State, a total of 28 journalists drawn from both public and private establishments participated in the capacity building exercise. The organization said that about 432 journalists have so far benefited from its training programme. The Country Director, IpasNigeria, Dr. Ejike Oji, said one of the objectives of the NGO was to conscientize media practitioners and make them advocates for women’s rights and health. He stated that the fact that unsafe abortions

account for high rate of maternal mortality, infertility in women and infections in the country, was enough reason to engage the media in an aggressive campaign. According to him, the campaign should not only emphasise the need for the passage of national health bill and other relevant bills, but women should also be made to understand their reproductive health. He added that in the course of their regular programmes, journalists’ attention is equally redirected towards bills pending at the National Assembly including the National Health Bill and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Bill 2011. The programme exposed participants to various healthrelated cases resulting from infringement on women’s rights, obsolete legislative framework, harmful traditional practices as well as religious beliefs. Resource persons recounted instances, where denial of girls or women’s choice to reproductive rights, have resulted in loss of lives or post

abortion complications. Dr. Oji regretted that Nigeria has the second highest maternal mortality rate globally. According to him, majority of the cases would have been prevented if the reformed health bill has become an act and if other laws that are lopsided against the women are modified. He however commended the media for better understanding and increase in the reportage of cases of violence against women. To Dr. Oji, media handling of the bill in their reports might be a test case for them. He sees headway for the bill if the media has full knowledge of the contents of the bill and serves as arbiter between the general public and the National Assembly. “I believed there is headway for the bill but the only challenge is the people referring to it as ‘Abortion Bill’. There is no abortion in that bill. That is where the media comes in again; they should fully show what the bill contains for the world to see so that people who are trying to be mischie-

vous by calling it ‘Abortion Bill’ would be silenced.” Oji added that so long as the law does not provide for easy access to justice by women, who are violated or assaulted regularly, the incessant reported cases of rape, battering and other forms of violence against women would remain on the increase. “When it is difficult to get assailants who have assaulted women violently, when the law is not made in such a way that it is possible for women to get justice and remedy, then, it is a porous kind of law. But this new bill on prohibition of violent against persons, will make it easier to prove rape cases and other cases of sexual violence and seek to provide remedy for the assaulted person.” Mr. Charles Ozoemena has attended several editions of Ipas training programme and concluded that the workshop has succeeded in exposing the degree of injustice that Nigerian woman faces, not by her fault, “but because the society has chosen to be very unkind to her health issues and survival. She deserves her

rights but is it given to her in totality comparatively to those of the men? “There is a wide range of discrimination against women. Nigerian woman is like a person chained by cultural practices, religion and the bias that men often apply in the area of even beating women up and denying them of their rights.” As a journalist, he said the training drew support from the media towards reforming existing laws as well as changing societal attitude towards women, who have been in bondage when examined critically from her rights. Martin Obiora Ilo of DAAR Communications Plc. described the programme as educative and eye-opening, having brought some of the challenges confronting Nigerian women to full glare. “What shocked me is the fact that the society says it is against abortion, the high and mighty say they hate abortion but they are the ones that get the abortion because they can afford it in whatever hospital and then, we are left with those poor ones. They already have the challenge of poverty,

challenge of disease, challenge of food and shelter, then, added to this unsafe abortion and consequences. A lot of families lose young girls, others lose wives just because these facilities, laws or environment for people to say ‘let us do it this way because people are suffering’ are not there. As journalists, we have a lot to leverage from this exposure”, Ilo said. Barrister Okey-Ehiezi Anwuli is elated that she would be returning to the court with an understanding that certain laws need modification and urgently too, to save a lot of women from dying. But the workshop did not only focus on women’s interests, participants also benefited from information communication technology experts. Other programmes and activities included adult learning skill, Maslow’s law of hierarchy of needs, media networking as well as the impact of social network on the media. Participants also visited the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, where doctors on duty attested to high rate of unsafe abortion cases.

THE gUArDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Sports

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Shun Akwa Ibom government’s reception, players tell Eagles

Maigari, FA Chairmen at loggerheads over administrative style From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja IgErIA Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari, battled for over four hours on Saturday night to absolve himself from charges of incompetence leveled against him by the states’ Football Associations’ (FA) chairmen, who met in Abuja at the weekend. The Guardian gathered that the meeting at the West Point Hotel had in attendance Maigari, Amanze Uchegbulam, Taiwo Ogunjobi, Mike Umeh, Effiong Johnson, Chidi Nwantu, Christopher green, and Leye Adepoju, among others. A source at the meeting told The guardian on condition of anonymity that the meeting was convened to set the records straights, as well as let the federation’s boss know the “blatant truth over his administrative failures and ineptitude.” One of the issues on the table was how Maigari’s administration handled the Super Eagles Nations Cup participation, especially the threats to the job of Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, by the NFF, when the team was struggling at the group stage of the competition. “We had to table his sins before him, which if you ask me were impeachable offenses. Contributor after contributor told the president his administrative flaws, which understandably resulted in the ignoble treatment meted on the federation since the Super Eagles won the Nations Cup. “We faulted his administrative style and warned him clearly that the style of operating without functional subcommittees should stop henceforth. He inaugurated several committees last year, yet he preferred to run the federation with few selected individuals. “Again, we had to warn him that his newfound love with the Sports Minister would cause him more harm than good, and also cautioned him that the minister would not

save him if we want to impeach him,” the source revealed. Asked if at any time there was plans to impeach Maigari as speculated, one of our sources replied that though the situation did not degenerate to that extent, the federation boss feared the worst and that was why no State FA chairman from his zone attended this meeting. “Yes, he may have committed impeachable offenses, but we did not allow the situation to deteriorate to that extent. I can however tell you that there was palpable tension before this meeting, there were also alignment and realignment caucus meetings because most members were disgruntled over the way he has been running the federation. It was even out of fear for the worst that no FA chairman from his zone attended the meeting. “On the whole, I would say that from the intensity of the interaction during the meeting, it was a fruitful and fulfilling one. The president was remorseful and sober over his actions. He has no choice because he knows that election year is already around the corner. His failure and success is on his hands. If he chooses to fail, history has a place for him,” the source added.

• No more long camping for Eagles ggrIEvED Akwa United A players have called on the Super Eagles not to honour

Eagles celebrate at the just concluded AFCON held in South Africa.

NSC refutes alleged FG’s underfunding of Super Eagles’ AFCON campaign From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja HE National Sports Commission (NSC) has refuted allegations that the Federal government did not properly fund Nigeria’s participation at the just concluded 2013 African Nations Cup, saying the football federation got enough money for its activities in South Africa. The NSC said it took the intervention of the Minister of Sports/Chairman of the commission, Bolaji Abdulahi, to plead with the Presidency to approve and release part of the NFF’s budget for its 2013 activities, even when the year’s appropriated budget had not been passed or signed by the president.

The commission regretted, however, that rather than applauding its efforts, some NFF members have been giving wrong information to the press, accusing the NSC of not releasing all their money for the championship. reacting to media reports, where a member of the NFF board said the federation was given less than N1 billion for the Super Eagles outing at the South Africa 2013 Nations Cup, NSC Director general, Patrick Ekeji, urged the NFF members and Nigerians in general to study the budget very well before making public pronouncements. Ekeji disclosed that the Federal government released

the sum of N794 million to the NFF through the NSC as part of the federation’s proposed N1.5 billion for its activities for the 2013 fiscal year, adding that since the AFCON was one among the NFF’s many activities for the year, there was no way the Presidency would have released all the proposed N1.5 billion for them to prosecute just one event. The NSC director general also disclosed that the Presidency approved the release of N220 million to the commission from its appropriated fund to enable the NSC execute the AFCON, adding that it was from the released fund that it sponsored the minister’s

entourage to South Africa, released the sum of N5 million to the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, as well as accommodate the Nations Cup winning players and officials and organize the presidential reception for the team. “The NFF appropriated a total sum of N1.5 billion for its activities before the National Assembly for the financial period of 2013. This is what is in the proposal. When AFCON time was fast approaching, we at the NSC felt that it would be very difficult for us to assess the fund for the NFF to prosecute the championship since the 2013 budget had not been passed.’’

an invitation from the Akwa Ibom State government to host them for winning the 2013 African Nations Cup. Speaking with MTN Football.com, one of the players said it was unjust for the Akwa Ibom government to reward the Eagles who worked for the nation and have been rewarded by Federal government at their detriment. “I am begging the Super Eagles on behalf of my fellow players at Akwa United not to come for the reception the Akwa Ibom State government is planning for them. This is because we have not been paid our sign-on fees for the past two seasons on the account that there is no money. Now they have money to shower on the Eagles who are rich already,” the player said. “The Eagles should help us send a message to the governor to use the money he wants to spend on them to pay us because we are dying here. “We are being owed 20 per cent from 2010/2011 and 80 per cent sign on fees for last season. We don’t know our fate this season. “We need their help because they are big boys.” The player further said: “We tried to see the commissioner and the governor on our case to know what the problem is, but our chairman Isang Isong has always made it impossible for us to see any of them, may be he doesn’t want us to expose him. “This is an opportunity for us to let the governor hear our voice that we are suffering.” Another player said, “This is an eye service, we have not been paid because the chairman has always made us to believe there is no money, now we know there is money, let them pay us instead of spending it on the Eagles. “We would really appreciate if the Super Eagles didn’t show up for the reception here and beg the governor on our behalf.”

English Premiership

Man City dents Chelsea’s top four hopes, Newcastle wins HELSEA’S interim managC er, rafael Benitez, has acknowledged that his side is

Manchester City’s Ivorian midfielder, Yaya Toure celebrates scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League match against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England, yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

going to have to battle until the end if it is to finish in the top four this season and qualify for the Champions League. Benitez had hoped to push Manchester City for second place but the Blues now find themselves looking over their shoulders after they were beaten 2-0 by roberto Mancini’s team. Tottenham could leapfrog Chelsea into third by beating West Ham this night and Arsenal trail Benitez’s team by only two points. “I said before the game, [if we win] it will still be a battle to

the end,” Benitez told Sky Sports. “Not winning is exactly the same situation. We have to carry on until the end.” goals from Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez sealed Chelsea’s defeat after Joe Hart saved a Frank Lampard penalty, denying the midfielder his 200th goal for the Stamford Bridge club. Benitez admitted that the penalty save in the 50th minute was a turning point despite his team’s unspectacular performance until that point. “The penalty is a crucial moment, we did not do as well as we were expecting but

the penalty could have changed everything,” he reflected. “It was a good penalty and a good save. 10 minutes later, they score. Then we have to take a risk and it is clear they are a good team.” Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez took advantage of the rare Frank Lampard penalty miss to fire Manchester City to its first Barclays Premier League win in a month, a 2-0 victory over Chelsea. Lampard was a kick away from his 200th Chelsea goal when he lined up a secondhalf spot-kick at the Etihad Stadium but Joe Hart, who stayed on after fouling

Demba Ba, saved from his England teammate. Yaya Toure made Chelsea pay with a fine finish from inside the area and substitute Tevez made victory certain with a long-range effort late on. The result reduced Manchester United’s lead at the top of the table to 12 points but, perhaps, more importantly with the title drifting away, increased City’s advantage over thirdplaced Chelsea to seven. Alan Pardew got the win he craved as Newcastle fought back to beat former club Southampton 4-2 and complete a good week.

SPORTS 73

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Pepsi ICC-Africa Division 1 T20 Championship

Nigeria rekindles hope, beats Botswana, meets Kenya today By Christian Okpara IGERIA resuscitated its hopes of playing in the Dubai round of the Pepsi Twenty20 Division One Championship at the weekend when it defeated Botswana by seven wickets at the on-going Pepsi ICCAfrica Division 1 T20 Championship holding in Kampala, Uganda. The Nigerians lost their first game of the competition to Uganda on Saturday, the opening day of the competition. Playing at Lugogo cricket

oval, Botswana ended its challenge at 123/4, while Nigeria had 127/3 to win by seven wickets. Despite the heroics of Karabo Modise, who notched 86 off 64 balls and Joshua Ogunlola’s 2/15, Olatuji Oladotun, who had 67 off 41 balls with support from Segun Oloyinka 25 off 31 balls took the game beyond the Southern Africans. Nigeria meets Kenya today as the qualifier for Dubai leg of the competition gathers steam.

In another game playedon Saturday, Uganda continued its unbeaten run by beating Tanzania by nine wickets. Under a bright sunny morning, Tanzania won the toss and opted to bat posting 62/10 in 20 overs, with K. Mussa scoring 16 and K Rehemtula 13 as F Nsubuga 2/9 in 4 overs and D Karashani 2/14 in 4 overs stepped on the break. Uganda chased the score for a loss of one wicket after A Kyobe got 34 not out 22. On Saturday, the opening day of the competition, Uganda started with two wins after beating Kenya and Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Endurance Ofem

Okocha wants Odemwingie, others for Brazil 2014 qualifiers ORMER Delta State FOkocha Director of Sports, Emma has called for the end of the celebration of the Super Eagles’ victory at the last African Nations Cup competition in South Africa. He would rather expect the moneybags throwing out the cash to ‘the equally very rich footballers’ to go to the provinces and support local communities and finance grassroots programmes for the people.

Looking at the team, Okocha congratulated Stephen Keshi for sticking to his game plan, but appealed to the coach to reconsider his stance on inviting Osaze Odemwingie to the Super Eagles camp. He said, “you have beaten the best of African soccer and the next hurdle is our preparation against the world,” he said. According to Okocha, “against the world, we need

Mahroof, Afolabi rule at Kandaval table tennis cup ITH huge support from W their schoolmates coupled with pep talks from the

Athletes compete during the last Lagos State Sports Festival tagged: Ibile Games held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium… recently. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

300 schools for maiden Premier Lotto Lagos School Athletics championship VER 300 schools from the O six education districts in Lagos State will feature in the

maiden Premier Lotto Lagos School Athletics championships, which kicks off today. Today at Teslim Balogun Stadium, schools from Ikorodu, Somolu and Kosofe will kick-start the tournament with the aim of making the grand finale on March 9. 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 competi-

tion will be in two categories starting with the district finals made up of the six education districts in the state. The technical officials of the competition have warned participating schools to desist from cheating, as the organisers would surely sanction any school caught. The top athletes from each district will qualify for the grand finale at Teslim Balogun Stadium. 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 holds on March 9 at Teslim Balogun Stadium with top athletes from each district converging to determine the state champions.

principals, Zainab Mahroof and Kehinde Afolabi were crowned champions at the second inter-school table tennis tournament tagged Kandaval Cup held at the weekend. Mahroof, a junior player of Isheri Junior School was in superb form against her senior counterpart, Amdalal Sanni in the girls’ final of the competition. The junior class student was not intimidated by the academics superiority of her opponent as she dismissed Sanni 11-9, 11-8 to the admiration of the fans. In the boys’ final, Afolabi was made to work hard for the title by Dare Gbadamosi in the encounter, which attracted accolades from the dignitaries. After winning the first game 11-6 easily, Gbadamosi turned the table against him with 11-2 win the second

game. But Afolabi took the lead in the third game with 12-10 win and just like he did in the second game, Gbadamosi leveled up in the fourth game to win 11-8. However, the final game produced the best of the two players with Afolabi claiming the victory with 15-13 win to emerge as the new champion of the tournament. Organisers of the championship, Kandaval Communications Limited, a frontline sports programme production outfit believes the competition has come to stay, while they reaffirmed commitment to the tournament. For the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Kandaval, Tony Obot, staging the competition is part of the company’s commitment to grassroots sports development. Former national coach, Babatunde Obisanya was the special guest at the competition.

to attack from all flanks. We don’t have a fire eating offensive squad and that is the reason Mikel Obi is doing a lot. He is defending, motivating the midfield and joining in the attack; against a Spanish side that midfield would be scrambled.” He explained, “Odemwingie is a franchise player. He is the type people pay money to come to the field to watch. We supported Keshi’s treatment of the player’s petulance but we need that type of player against Spain. “Odemwingie interchanging wings with Emmanuel Emenike, Victor Moses and Mikel Obi holding the midfield with Kalu Uche on his right increases the mobility

and killer instinct of the Super Eagles as they prepare to face the best of the world.” According to Okocha, “having called the bluff of the player, it is time to welcome him back to the eagles. After all, Stephen Keshi, as a player in those days was not the most disciplined.” He pointed out that the same cold relations almost marred the playing time of Mikel Obi in the team when he fell out with Keshi’s predecessor, Samson Siasia. “A Super Eagles line up with Osaze Odemwingie, Victor Moses, Mikel Obi with the present crop of young talents would be able to withstand any squad from Europe or the Americas,” Okocha concluded.

32 teams for Ogunnusi Youth Unity Cup S part of his efforts to A empower youths in Ifako/ Ijaiye Federation Constituency, member, House of Representatives, Yomi Ogunnusi has bankrolled a yearly football tourney in Lagos with 32 teams expected to participate. The competition, which kicked off recently at Agege Stadium is part of the promise made by the lawmaker to engage youths in meaningful activities. Thirty-two teams will jostle for honours at the championship, which has been embraced by teams in Lagos. Speaking during the kickoff of the tournament, Chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Council, Apostle Oloruntoba Oke, lauded the

Chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Council, Oloruntoba Oke (third left); during the introduction of players by Captain of LSDPC FC, Famad Akerele, before the kick-off of Ogunnusi Unity Cup at Agege Stadium in Lagos. Others with him are Vice Chairman, Ifako-Ijaiye Local Council, Babatunde I. Q. Rajh-Label (fourth left) and ACN leader in the council, Akin Fadayomi…recently.

sponsor of the competition, saying such gesture would help to douse vices among youths in the area. Oke, who represented Ogunnusi at the event said, “we witnessed what our national team did in South Africa as well as the goodies that attracted the AFCON feat and this singular efforts can also help to unearth top football stars that will do the nation proud. “Most importantly, empowerment of youth will be taken care by this competition and we hope that others will take a cue from this and encourage the youth by organising more sporting activities in the area. This also helping to compliment what our sports loving Governor, Babatunde Fashola has been and still doing in the state.” The preliminaries matches have commenced with the teams drawn into groups while the top two teams progress to the knockout stage. Agege Stadium will host the final match on April 20, which also coincides with the birthday celebration of Ogunnusi. Among the dignitaries that graced the kick off included Vice Chairman, Ifako-Ijaiye Local Council, Babatunde I. Q. Rajh-Label, Party chairmen in Ojokoro and IfakoIjaiye, Alhaji Amosu and Akin Fadayomi, Tayo Jagunna, Abiola Ogunnusi, Victor Dairo, market leaders, community leaders and youth leaders.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

Reps summon NFF, LMC over FG’s bail-out grant From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja HE House of Representatives Committee on Sports has ordered the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Nigeria Premier League Management Committee (LMC) to appear before it on Thursday to explain why it decided to go direct to the Presidency to seek the take off grant for the LMC without first seeking approval from it. The League Management Committee (LMC) Chairman, Nduka Irabor told journalists at the draws for the Nigeria Premier League 2012/2013 season in Abuja that the LMC got a takeoff grant by the Presidency, through the efforts of the Sports Minister/Chairman of the NSC, Bolaji Abdulahi and the Coordinator of the nation’s economy and Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, to enable the Committee commence the new season. Irabor noted that the bailout became necessary because of the huge debt profile of the league body, which is over N500 million, adding that it has not been able to pay the salaries and allowances of its workers for several months because it lacked the funds to do so. He added that all efforts by the LMC to bring the warring sponsors to an agreement

for the smooth take off of the league had been abortive as they all reneged on the earlier agreement to settle out of court. But piqued by his committee’s alienation from the process, House of Representatives Sports Committee on Sports Chairman, Godfrey Ali Gaiya told journalist in Abuja that the committee decided after its meeting last week that both the NFF and the LMC must appear it on Thursday by 1 pm. He added, “we are not aware of any planned bailout or grant to the league body. We have not deliberated on such issue with any person or group and did not appropriate such to the NPL. So we have decided to invite both the NFF and the LMC, which it constituted, to appear before our committee on Thursday by 1pm to explain all this. “This does not mean that we are against the commencement of our premier league, but it is necessary we invite them to ensure things are followed appropriately. “As part of our oversight functions, I think the House Committee on Sports should be carried along when this type of decisions are to be taken. This is because they will come back to us when they need our input to secure all that they require for football and sports development in the country.”

Lagos Junior League

Apapa Golden Stars, Nath Boys record big win By Olalekan Okusan PAPA Golden Stars and league champion, Nath Boys at the weekend recorded high margin scorelines after both teams whitewashed Eko Akete FC and Ikoyi Obalende in the ongoing Lagos Junior League. In the week 13 matches played, Apapa Golden Stars who were trailing the league leaders, Nath Boys by nine points were merciless against mid-table Eko Akete FC with a 4-1 win. It was Adetunji Abodurin, who started the onslaught in the 9th minutes. But Eko Akete got back into the game through Adewale Sapara but their joy was thwarted when Anthony Joshua put the Apapa Golden Stars ahead on the stroke of half time. At the end Eko Akete conceded four goals to lose at 4-1. Depleted Nath Boys were even stronger with the absence of some of their top players as they overwhelmed Ikoyi Obalende 60. Ikoyi Obalende had no chance in the second half as tactical changes from the Lekki boys’ bench with the withdrawing of midfielder, Ntoro, which gave goal sniffer, Aminu Abubakar, a place up front. The change yielded positively immediately with Aminu netting a

brace. The Ikoyi team could not get their rhythm as the Nath team took advantage of the space to put more goals behind the net for the encounter to end at 6-0. Surulere Sport City FC continued their steady climb up the table when they defeated Onigbongbo Ultimate Strikers 3-1.

Enugu Rangers’ Chimaobi Chukwu squares up to Samuel Tswanya of Enyimba during a 2011/2012 league game. Both teams will clash in the opening game of the 2012/2013 season on March 9.

Lawmakers want Kwara indigenes in Super Eagles From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin. ORRIED by the absence of Kwara State indigenes in the squad of the Super Eagles, who recently won the African Cup of Nations in South Africa, two of the state’s members of the House of Representatives, Dr. Ahmad Ali (Ilorin West and Asa) and Alhaji Zakari Mohammed (Baruten and Kiama) have canvassed more talent hunts in the state. Ali and Zakari in separate interviews with The Guardian in Ilorin said it was demoralising watching the national team without a Kwaran, more so when a former Super Eagles leading striker, Rasheed Yekini was from Ira, Oyun Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

The legislators said the reality was that sporting activities in the state have nosedived and it required an urgent intervention by both the government and the private sector to revive them. Ali, who said school sports should be revived to restore the lost glory, urged the private sector in the state to emulate the gesture of the past Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who is the sole proprietor of a Nigeria Premier League (NPL) club. Besides, he opined that sports have become veritable means of livelihood for the talented ones and could also assist in solving the problems associated with youth unemployment in Nigeria. “With the talents we have

in Kwara State we can solely contribute 11 good players that can form the bulk of the nation’s football team. In the good old days, our academicals were the best in the country. “We need to revisit the good old days. There is a need to go back to the grassroots and bring to the limelight our talented youths. We should not forget that Kwara State is the only state in Nigeria with two premiership clubs in the NPL. Besides, our football academy is one of the best in the country.” Ali, who opined that the government could not exclusively uplift football standard in the state, encouraged all football lovers to use their resources to make Kwara ‘the Spain and Brazil

of Nigerian football.’ For Mohammed, other nonfootball events should be revamped. According to him, “we produced Atanda Musa in the past in the game of Table Tennis. In boxing, Joe Lasisi was discovered right here in Ilorin. In athletics, don’t forget the likes of Fatima Yusuf and Hameed Adio and so on, who shook their generations. “All we need to do now is to get right our bearing in talent discovery. Our school sports should be more vibrant. We have one of the best stadia in Nigeria. The design of the stadium is such that it can simultaneously host about 20 different sports, we should explore this option very well.”

Proprietors’ Cup debuts LANS have been concludP ed for the maiden edition of the Proprietors’ Cup. The

Apapa Golden Stars’ striker (right) tries to beat Eko Akete goalie during the week 13 of the Lagos Junior League held at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium in Surulere at the weekend.

championship is the brainchild of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, (NAPPS), Lagos State Chapter. The tournament is open to all private secondary schools in the state. The 11-A-Side championship to be organised by the State’s Private Schools Sports Development Association, (LAPSSDA) has already secured the blessing of the various regulatory bodies in the state, including the State Football Association, (LSFA). Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, (LOC) of the event, Oluwole Cole said the championship, which is going to be an annual event is put together to compliment the other

schools football competitions in the state, such as the Principals Cup and Shell Cup. “Not many of the private schools has the opportunity to take part in the Principals Cup or the Shell Cup, and if they do, how many of them? Go past the first round, in order to bridge this gap, hence the decision to organise this annual tournament for our pupils.” Cole, who also doubles as the head of Technical stated. He disclosed that with over 2000 private secondary schools in the state there is no better time than now to organise this tournament for our talented children to express and display their God given talents. Collaborating Oluwole Cole’s view, the project consultant, Adenike Onile-Ere

slated that the tournament was long over-due, saying education and sports is inseparable. “All work and play makes Jack a dull boy, so says an English adage.” She said they are expecting over 1000 schools to take part in this first edition. “We are targeting about 1000 secondary schools to take part in this median edition, the forms are already at all the local government offices of NAPPS in the state,” she stated. Onile-Ere, who heads, Omibod Sports Services added that is going to be on knock-out basis starting from the divisional level up to the state with various awards available to win. She, however, called on corporate bodies and multi-national companies to support the initiative.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

English Premiership

Wenger hopeful of Arsenal after victory RSENE Wenger hopes A Saturday’s win over Aston Villa will restore a sense of calm and normality to the Arsenal camp after what has been a testing week for the club. Santi Cazorla struck five minutes from time to give Arsenal a morale-boosting 21 over a plucky Aston Villa side. Pundits and some sections of the Arsenal support had

begun to question Wenger over the previous seven days following Arsenal’s FA Cup exit to Blackburn and their 31 home defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Although the performance in north London was hardly vintage Arsenal, the win moves Wenger’s men to within one point of Tottenham, who play their game in hand tomorrow

night at West Ham. And with a crunch north London derby coming up at White Hart Lane next weekend, Wenger hopes the turbulent past week will now be nothing but a distant memory. “I hope this gives us a bit more quietness for us to prepare our next game. It was a very important day for Arsenal Football Club,” the Arsenal manager said.

“I am very happy for the players because they have a good attitude and want to do well. We went through some difficult times so it was important first to show that we are united, determined, and focused to win the game and we were. “We were a bit nervous - I concede that - because we are under a lot of pressure, we had our backs to the wall and had to win the game.” The way Arsenal surrendered their only realistic hope of silverware against Championship side Blackburn, and the way they were completely outclassed by Bayern, were signs to some that Wenger’s powers were on the wane.

A bizarre press conference rant prior to the game against last year’s Champions League finalists also gave ammunition to Wenger’s critics. The Frenchman insisted later in the week that he had never contemplated quitting the club he joined 17 years ago, but he admitted at the weekend that the past seven days had been tough. “Honestly, I have been welltested (over the last week),” the 63-year-old said. “It is not the critics that have been tough. I’m not masochistic - I prefer that (the media) say I’m good rather than bad, but I can understand that is part of my job.

“What was very, very difficult to take was to lose against Blackburn in the FA Cup at home and after against Bayern, it can go both ways - but one after the other, to lose big games, that is what was absolutely terrible. “We question ourselves always as coaches. You are not 30 years in your job if you don’t question yourself. It is a bit more challenging now. I don’t think it is down to the methods of coaching or training or managing the team. Opinions are multiplied by a thousand - everyone knows exactly what you should do, but not everybody has been on a football pitch.”

Martinez demands more clean sheets IGAN Manager, Roberto W Martinez has warned his side they must keep more

Arsenal’s English midfielder, Jack Wilshere (left); vies with Aston Villa’s Dutch-born Moroccan midfielder, Karim El Ahmadi (right) during the English Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium in London at the weekend. Arsenal won the game 2-1. PHOTOS: AFP

Carrick warns Man United against complacency ANCHESTER United may M already have one hand on the Barclays Premier League but Sir Alex Ferguson is ensuring complacency does not creep in, according to midfielder Michael Carrick. Rafael and Ryan Giggs scored on Saturday as United secured a 2-0 victory at embattled QPR, with rivals Manchester City needing a meltdown of unparalleled proportions for the Red Devils to let a 20th title slip from their grasp. England international Carrick knows United are in an incredible position of strength but will not be taking that for granted over the remaining 11 matches. “We’ve got a job to do and the manager said that we need to take it game to game and just win the next game if we can,” he said. “You can’t look too far ahead because it can come back and bite you. We’ve got the experience around the place and obviously the manager sets the tone. “I think you saw against QPR it was just about that game, getting the result and moving onto the next one.” Carrick was one of a number of experienced players drafted in by Ferguson for the trip to Loftus Road in a bid to avoid a potential banana skin. “It’s not always going to be pretty,” he said, speaking to MUTV. “Sometimes you have

to grind it out, work hard and make the most of the opportunities. “That comes from experience as well and the manager picked an experience side today, who would be able to cope with that. “We played some good football at times when we had the chance, but other times it was about defending well and playing on the break. “All in all, I think we can be really delighted with how the day has gone.” While Saturday was a team performance, Giggs, like so

many times before, is the focus of attention. The 39-year-old made his 999th senior appearance on Saturday and scored a fine effort at the same end he netted an iconic goal 19 years previously. “He is incredible, isn’t he? He is still making those runs into the box and the condition he is in,” Carrick said. “He is light on his feet, drifts past people still at that age. His quality and experience and brings so much to the team not just on the pitch but off it as well. Incredible.”

clean sheets if they are to survive for an eighth consecutive Barclays Premier League season. Sportinglife reported that the Latics have established their reputation under Martinez for a fluid passing game, however, the Spaniard believes the lack of a harder edge has proved costly this season. Wigan have kept just four league clean sheets so far this term - remarkably all of them have come away from home with the latest a 3-0 win at Reading on Saturday that pulled them out of the bottom three. Reading had taken 10 points from the past 15 on offer but failed to get a shot on target as Arouna Kone’s

double added to a rare Maynor Figueroa strike banked the points. While delighted to grab a first league win of 2013, Martinez was keener still to stress the importance of his side’s defensive display as they look to beat the drop yet again. “I would say defensively it was as good as it gets,” he said. “Defensively you know you are going to play against a Reading side that are strong, especially in the

dead-ball situations. We dealt with that really well. “We have to keep improving but to keep a clean sheet away from home, especially at the Madejski Stadium, is pleasing. Since they’ve changed tactically they have become a very difficult side to restrict. “So that clean sheet pleases me as much as any defensive display this season. We have to make sure we replicate this level until the end of the season.”

Lukaku targets Europe WO goal hero, Romelu T Lukaku has set his sights on becoming “the complete striker” and helping West Brom to qualify for Europe. Lukaku, who is on loan from Chelsea, gave another demonstration of the potential in the 2-1 home win over Sunderland which persuaded the Blues to pay £18 million for his services two years ago. He scored the opening goal from the penalty spot and his sheer perseverance enabled him to charge down Black Cats keeper Simon Mignolet’s clearance for his second - and 12th of the campaign.

Martinez

Spurs not a one-man team, Taylor insists EST Ham midfielder, W Matthew Taylor has urged his team-mates not to

Manchester United’s Welsh midfielder, Ryan Giggs (right) challenges Queens Park Rangers’ Portuguese defender, Jose Bosingwa during the English Premier League match at Loftus Road in London at the weekend. Manchester United won the match 2-0.

spend too long thinking about Gareth Bale when Tottenham visit Upton Park today. Bale has been one of the top players in the Barclays Premier League this season, with the 23-year-old already hitting 21 goals across all competitions. The Wales winger was on the scoresheet in Spurs’ 3-1 win over London rivals West Ham earlier in the season but, despite his eye-catching performances of late, Taylor is keen for the Hammers to express themselves. “The main thing for us on Monday night is to try and worry about ourselves,” he said. “We understand that Tottenham have got lots of

fantastic players and they are a great team but we’re not bad ourselves. “Everybody’s talking about Gareth Bale because he’s playing well and scoring goals. He’s one of a number of players that we’re going to try to have shackle on Monday night to get a good result. “I wouldn’t want to suggest that Tottenham are a oneplayer team because they’re not. They’ve got lots and lots of exceptional players and we’ve got to make sure that we keep as close an eye on those players as we can, but also go and do our stuff as and when we get the chance.” Spurs go into the match sitting fourth in the Premier League and with a Europa League tie against Inter Milan on the horizon.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

EUROPEAN FOOTBALL Messi demands Barcelona step up for Clasico IONEL Messi has issued a L rallying cry for Barcelona to step up their game against

Real Madrid’s Argentinian midfielder Angel di Maria (left) vies with Deportivo’s midfielder Jesus Vazquez during their Spanish league match at Riazor stadium in Coruna on Saturday PHOTO: AFP/MIGUEL RIOPA

Madrid, Barcelona come from behind to win ONZALO Higuain scored G an 88th-minute winner as Real Madrid came from a goal down to sneak past a 2-1 win at Deportivo La Coruna. The hosts, bottom of the Primera Division, took the attack to a slightly weakened Madrid side, with Luis Pizzi and Riki causing problems before the latter broke the deadlock 10 minutes before the interval. Depor had several chances to extend their lead but were made to rue some poor

finishing when Kaka equalised in the 73rd minute, while Higuain sealed victory for the visitors two minutes from time. Angel Di Maria was then given his marching orders in the 90th minute after picking up two bookings, but it mattered little to the result. Barcelona also had to come from a goal down to beat Sevilla 2-1 and extend their lead at the top to 15 points.

Sevilla, who took the lead through Alberto Botia in the 42nd minute before two goals in eight minutes, turned the game on its head. David Villa equalised when he nodded home in the 52nd minute on his return from a kidney stone operation before Lionel Messi scored his 38th league goal of the season eight minutes later. Rayo Vallecano’s ambitions for Europa League qualification suffered a blow on at the weekend, as they

Sevilla took important step in Barcelona defeat, Emery insists NAI Emery has insisted U that Sevilla can take a lot of heart from their performance, despite losing 2-1 away at Barcelona. The visitors took a surprise lead shortly before half-time through Alberto Botia, but second-half goals from David Villa and Lionel Messi were enough for the league leaders to take the three points. However, speaking to jour-

nalists after the game, the Andalusian outfit’s trainer declared that he was happy with the performance his team delivered at Camp Nou. “I am satisfied,” the 41-yearold Spaniard told a postmatch press conference. “A defeat always leaves a bad taste, but we have to look at the positives. We have taken an important step in building something that will help us in the future.”

The loss saw Sevilla slip into the bottom half of the table but Emery maintained that there was no need for alarm. “We had opportunities to draw the game but we just couldn’t do the little things well enough,” the former Valencia and Spartak Moscow boss added. Sevilla have dropped back to 12th in La Liga with 32 points from 25 fixtures.

were beaten 2-1 at home by Real Valladolid. The visitors took a secondhalf lead thanks to an own goal by Jordi Amat, who then scored an outstanding goal at the other end to equalise. However, Manucho fired Miroslav Djukic’s side in front once more on 79 minutes. Getafe came from a goal behind to win 3-1 at Real Mallorca thanks to scoring three times in the closing stages of the match. Giovani Dos Santos gave the hosts the lead midway through the first half but everything changed when Getafe were awarded a controversial penalty with 20 minutes remaining. Diego Castro scored from the spot to equalise and then

Cavani is better than Balotelli, says Lavezzi ZEQUIEL Lavezzi believes E his former Napoli teammate Edinson Cavani remains the best striker in Serie A despite Mario Balotelli’s winter arrival. The Italy forward sealed his move from Manchester City to AC Milan on deadline day in January, and has scored four goals in his first three games for his new club. Lavezzi, who left the Stadio San Paolo last summer for Paris Saint-Germain, believes the Uruguayan remains the main force to be reckoned with despite the Rossoneri’s star acquisition. He told Corriere dello Sport, “Balotelli might, but I think Cavani is without doubt the best.” The Partenopei are just four

points off league-leaders Juventus after 25 games, and the Argentina international is of the opinion that his former team-mates can beat the reigning champions this season. “They are in a position to be able to succeed,” Lavezzi continued. “Compared to other years, they have a chance to fight for the title and I hope they can exploit it. “So far, Juventus have done better and are ahead in the standings, but I do not think they are that much better. In my opinion, the two teams only are potentially equal. “ The Partenopei face Juventus in a key league clash at the start of March, and the Parc des Princes attacker hailed head coach

Walter Mazzarri for having placed the Naples-based club in such a position at this point in the campaign. “With Napoli fighting for the Scudetto, the credit above all goes to coach Mazzarri,” Lavezzi added. “Nobody else works with his level of attention and he was very important for my growth as a player. “If he were to leave, it would take a lot away from Napoli. He built this team and made it a winning unit.” Lavezzi was coy about whether he would return to Serie A in the future and refused to rule out such a suggestion. “I don’t know (if I will return), but I remain fascinated by Italian football and in future I could come back.”

Balotelli

Adrian Colunga netted twice inside five minutes to condemn Gregorio Manzano’s side to back-to-back defeats. Real Zaragoza missed a great chance to increase the gap between them and the sides in the relegation zone by throwing away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Valencia. A penalty by Apono and a headed goal by Helder Postiga gave the Aragon side a two-goal cushion that was cancelled out by a double from Jonas. However, things could have been even worse for Manolo Jimenez’s side, who played the final 11 minutes of the game with 10 men after goalkeeper Leo Franco was sent off for handling the ball outside his area.

Real Madrid after they were forced to come from behind to beat Sevilla 2-1 on Saturday night. The Blaugrana needed second-half goals from David Villa and the Argentine forward to prevent another disappointing result this week, following their 2-0 loss against AC Milan on Wednesday. “We knew it would be a difficult game, more so after the result against Milan. But we won, and that’s the main thing,” Messi was reported as saying after the Camp Nou victory. “I feel good, and like to play. Now we must play like we always do in the cup game against Madrid. We won’t be able to count on a 0-0 draw.” When asked about reports in the Spanish media, which alleged that the 25-year-old insulted los Blancos assistant Aitor Karanka after their firstleg stalemate in Madrid, Messi declared his lack of concern in such things. “Knowing where they come from, I don’t care too much about it,” he added, abruptly. Barca stand-in Coach Jordi Roura insisted that Villa remains instrumental to the club’s project, with the Spain international having initiated the turnaround after Alberto Botia put the visitors into a shock lead on the stroke of half-time. “We’ve always said that Villa is a key player for us,” Roura told reporters. “He consistently shows it. He scores easily and that’s very important. At half-time, I asked the players to stay calm and not to hurry. Alexis (Sanchez) got a serious knock, so (Cristian) Tello came on earlier and added a lot, creating space for others. “Of course we’re worried about conceding goals. We try to improve that, just like we try to improve other things.”

Sampdoria ease relegation fears moved clear of SclearAMPDORIA Chievo and effectively of any relegation fears thanks to a 2-0 win at a snowy Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa. Andrea Poli gave the home side the lead in the 33rd minute before the sleet turned to snow, and Eder struck the second with seven minutes remaining. Chievo’s attempts to find an equaliser throughout the second half were thwarted as they were left just eight points above the danger zone. Alberto Malesani is still waiting for his first win as Palermo head coach as his former club Genoa held the Rosanero to a goalless draw at the Stadio Renzo Barbera. Palermo needed well over an hour to get warmed up and, just as their engines were roaring into life, they lost Salvatore Aronica to a red card, effectively ending their hopes of picking up more than a point. Genoa proved once again how difficult they are to break down since former Palermo boss, Davide Ballardini took over and they will treasure a point that gives them a five-point cushion over the bottom three.

SPORTS 77

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

ENGLiSH LEAGuE CuP FiNAL

Swansea routs Bradford 5-0 REMIER League Swansea P City clinically crushed fourth tier Bradford City 5-0 to win the English Capital One (League) Cup final on Saturday and mark their centennial season with their first major honour. Two goals from Nathan Dyer, one from Michu and a penalty and a late strike from Jonathan de Guzman ended Bradford’s fairytale cup adventure in which they became the first fourth-tier team to reach a major English final for more than half a century. Bradford’s goalkeeper Matt Duke was sent off early in the second half for a trip on De Guzman before the Dutchman netted the spot kick as Swansea went on to record the biggest ever League Cup final win and secure a place in next term’s Europa League. Bradford, whose huge contingent of flag-waving fans made a memorable impression at Wembley, never seri-

ously threatened to score in the very one-sided final. Welsh side Swansea took the lead when Dyer slid the ball home in the 16th minute and doubled it five minutes before the break when Michu scored with a cool finish. Dyer ended the match as a contest with a superb curling shot soon after the restart. De Guzman made no mistake with his 59th-minute penalty after winning a heated row with hat-trick chasing Dyer over who would take the spot kick. The midfielder added another in stoppage time. “I’m very proud,” Swansea manager Michael Laudrup told Sky Sports after winning a trophy in his first season in charge. “It wasn’t easy but after the second goal you could see the difference. I think we played very well. As a manager it’s at the very top to win a trophy for the first time in 100 years.”

Pistorius’ brother faces his own murder charge HE murder case involving T Olympic star Oscar Pistorius took another unexpected turn yesterday with the news that his older brother, Carl, is himself facing charges for the death of a woman in a traffic accident. Carl Pistorius faces a charge of unlawful, negligent killing for a 2008 road death, “in which a woman motorcyclist sadly lost her life,” Kenneth Oldwage, the Pistorius family lawyer said yesterday. The charge of “culpable homicide” was dropped and then reinstated and will be challenged in court, the lawyer told The Associated Press. It is the second time someone associated with the Pistorius case has been found to face a serious charge that has been dropped and then reinstated. It was revealed that the chief police investigator in the case is facing charges of seven counts of attempted murder for shooting at a vehicle with seven passengers. Following the revelations, Hilton Botha was removed from the Pistorius investigation and a new chief detec-

tive was appointed on Thursday. To drop and then reinstate charges is “not uncommon in South African criminal law. The law specifically makes provision to allow charges to be dropped and then to be reinstated as a result of further investigations,” said Jacob van Garderen, director of Lawyers for Human Rights. “It is a practical procedure, a process that is there to assist both sides.” • Culled from The Associated Press.

Swansea City’s English-born Welsh defender, Ashley Williams (right); lifts the trophy with defender Garry Monk (centre), man of the match, midfielder Nathan PHOTO: AFP Dyer (left), after the League Cup final match against Bradford City at Wembley Stadium in London, England at the weekend.

James wins second World Championships gold ECKY James stormed to B victory in the keirin for her second world title in 24 hours, as she became the first British rider to win four medals at a single World Championships. The 21-year-old did not get much sleep after winning world sprint gold on Saturday before returning to the track. She came through two races and led the final from the start to triumph. Laura Trott had to settle for omnium silver with the Olympic champion, losing her world title to Sarah Hammer. But Britain’s young team still end the week on top of the medal table in Minsk with nine in total, including

five golds, to make a confident start on the road to the Rio Olympics in 2016. Anna Meares was the last female rider to win four medals at a single World Championships, in Melbourne in 2012, while Victoria Pendleton’s best was three, which she managed on three occasions from 2007 to 2009. “Oh my gosh. I can’t believe it. Wow. It’s going to take a good week for it to sink in, or two weeks, or a month,” a dumbfounded James said. “I just need someone to pinch me and tell me if it’s really happening to me. I feel like it’s a complete dream apart from the pain in my legs.” James, from Abergavenny,

Farah sprint finish sets course record in New Orleans RITAIN’S double Olympic B champion Mo Farah won the New Orleans half

marathon in a course record of one hour 59 seconds after holding off Ethiopian Gebre Gebremariam in a sprint finish. Ethiopia’s 5,000 metres Olympic gold medallist Meseret Defar had an easier time in the women’s race finishing in 1:07.25 in a course record and more than a minute ahead of American Shalane Flanagan. Farah, winner of the 5,000 and 10,000 at the London

Games, ran with Gebremariam for the final few kilometres before turning on the speed over the last 200 metres to beat the 2010 New York marathon champion by a second. “I was working pretty hard. It was an effort. I was really pushing it,” Farah told reporters. “It was definitely a fast course and with good guys pushing the pace.” The previous men’s course record was 1:01.07, set by Kenya’s Martin Lel in 2010, and the women’s was 1:07.36

run in 2011 by New Zealand’s Kim Smith. Lel, a three-times London marathon winner, was fourth on Sunday some three minutes behind the leading pair. Farah will run half the London marathon in April prior to making his debut over the full distance in 2014. Looking ahead to the longer race the 29-year-old said, “it is going to be a completely different ball game. It does not necessarily mean that I am going to be amazing at it, I’ve got to go out there and do it. I am quite excited.”

was in action for the fifth straight day in Minsk but did not look tired as she sped to victory in her heat, then showed her tactical nous to squeeze through the field to make it through her semifinal. She made the final look easy, leading out from the start and holding off Jinjie Gong of China and Lisandra Guerra Rodriguez of Cuba. Trott, who took team pursuit gold on Thursday, also clambered back on to the podium, although this time it was not to the top step. A poor performance in the points race on Saturday, when she finished 10th, proved decisive and, although she bettered American Hammer’s results in two of the final three events on Sunday, she could not make up the lost ground. Hammer is the individual

pursuit world champion and after she had finished first in her specialist discipline, third and fourth places by Trott in the scratch race and time trial were not enough to reel the American in. Trott, 20, who had already won team pursuit gold this week told BBC Sport, “a better rider beat me on the day. What more can I do? “After the points race, I am happy to come away with a medal, so to end up with silver I am super happy.” There were no British men left in the final stages of the men’s individual sprint after Jason Kenny, Matt Crampton and Philip Hindes were eliminated on Saturday. Germany’s Stefan Botticher took gold, after beating Russia’s Denis Dmitriev 2-0 in their best-of-three battle, with France’s Francois Pervis taking bronze.

Rebbeca James of Britain

Akiga faults NBBF on D’ Tiger Olympic appearance ROPRIETOR of former P Nigeria Premier League side, Gboko Heats, Felix

The Director, Debiruss Schools, Mrs. Margret Oni (middle); Principal, Debiruss College, Mrs. Obodoeshike (left), with the winning team, Red House at the 4th annual inter-house sports competition in Lekki-Epe, Lagos… recently

Akiga has said that sheer determination on the part of players was responsible for Nigeria’s men’s team appearance at the London 2012 Olympic Games as against claims by the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) that they were responsible for it. Akiga’s stance came on the heels of the NBBF claiming that the federation was rated the best among all the other sporting bodies last year noting that the parameter for being a success is not based on just appearing at the Games. “It’s utterly wrong for the NBBF to take credit for Nigeria’s presence at the London 2012 Olympic

Games. That we qualified in Venezuela was the sheer will power of the players and not due to any deliberate or sophisticated planning on the side of the NBBF, so, no one should deceive Nigerians that they were responsible for Nigeria being at the Games.” He noted that if the NBBF is to take credit, then it should have reflected in the domestic league. “What manner of administration are we running when there’s nothing spectacular to write about our domestic league? I know the innovations I came with to the Nigerian league when Gboko Giants and Gboko Heats were in the league and those who benefited are still talking about it till date but the NBBF cannot put a finger on anything they have done

to better Nigerian basketball. Nigerian basketball deserve far more than what we’re getting at the moment given our contribution to the world of basketball.” He pointed out that for the NBA to have enjoyed the services of Nigerian players like Obinna Ekezie, Olumide Oyedeji and many others means that the nation has the talent base and as such should be reaping financially from them and not just producing players without getting any reward for it. “Clubs in Nigeria are working hard to identify, develop and nuture players and at the end of the day, they are taken away without any benefit to them. If we had the right persons to run our basketball, we would have surpassed our present state.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 25, 2013

TheGuardian

Monday, February 25, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Omo Omoluabi N far away Taraba State, something miraculous is happening. It is as if a prophet had been sent there to perform miracles to astound the people. However, if it were to be a prophet sent from Above, one would not be surprised at whatever such prophet sends forth, for miracles ordinarily are meant to convince even the stone hearted man into believing in God. The word miracle, however, should be an understatement, most especially as it has to do with the political drama and theatrical events unfolding in Taraba State. Since the air mishap, which almost took the life of the state governor, Danbaba Suntai, and few others, the people of the state and curious Nigerians like this writer have had to contend with series of lies, cover-ups and deceit from the political elites all in the name of perpetrating themselves in power and further denigrating the principles of democracy and the rule of law. As a Nigerian, it is unbelievable that the political class have refused to learn from history and therefore, allowed history to repeat itself. There is nothing wrong when history repeats itself, what is however wrong is to allow those horrendous and unfortunate events of the historical past run its cycle again. Such is what is happening in Taraba State. Not many would forget in a hurry the imbroglio that engulfed the political scene a few years back, nearly tearing the country apart. There was a president who was incapacitated and could not even speak, yet some few elements in Aso Rock did all in their capacity to tell shocking Nigerians that an incapacitated man could rule from anywhere. They went as far as using a popular foreign media to get the president to talk in order to allay the fears of Nigerians, even when the government owned media houses could have done such. They held Aso Rock with a heavy hand and refused to allow the vice-president serve even in an acting capacity. It would only take pressures from civil society groups and the vast majority of the people before common sense eventually prevailed. One would have thought such unfortunate event in the history of the country would have been settled finally, not until the wife of the president, the latter who had once fallen victim of the cabal in Aso Rock, also disappeared without trace and for any cogent reason. Speculations were rife that Dame Jonathan was diagnosed of a million and one ailment, when in fact nothing of such was wrong with her. Her return at the nick of time quickly doused whatever speculation Nigerians and the media

The pictures depicted Mr. Suntai sitting on a special support chair, holding one of his twin babies and showing no emotion. The pictures were intended to be clear to the eyes of those intended to see them, convincing them that all was well with the governor. Despite the pictorial politics whoever was behind sending the pictures to the media wanted to play to blind the masses, it certainly failed to assuage the fears of the people, for no matter how long one hides a dead body, the stench will sooner expose it.

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Taraba State, Suntai and health politics

No matter what the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Emmanuel Bello, wants to have the people of the state believe, he and his ilk must understand that lying before their own people will not solve the already tensed situation in the state. The true nature and health status of the governor must be stated and known. In a situation of this nature where confusion in the political equation of the state is rearing its ugly head and especially when ethnic and religious schemes play a dominant role in the political sustainability in the state, common sense must begin to prevail.

Wreckage of Governor Suntai’s plane

had earlier about her. Many were still trying to get over the Dame Jonathan health razzmatazz, when the same trend of playing politics with issues relating to the health of the political class suddenly evolved right in far away Germany; photos of the recuperating governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai were released to the media. In one of the photos, Mr. Suntai was shown carrying one of his twin babies, flanked by his wife and the other of the twin babies as well as a family friend. The pictures depicted Mr. Suntai sitting on a special support chair, holding one of his twin babies and showing no emotion. The pictures were intended to be clear to the eyes of those intended to see them, convincing them that all was well with the governor. Despite the pictorial politics whoever was behind sending the

pictures to the media wanted to play to blind the masses, it certainly failed to assuage the fears of the people, for no matter how long one hides a dead body, the stench will sooner expose it. Suntai betrayed all emotions in the pictures simply because he was shown only smiling, yet visibly lost in alertness. An alert governor who truly was recuperating would have insisted his photographers snapped him while hugging his wife, dancing and playing around with his friends and kids or even waving to the public. Rather, the picture showed Suntai as one who did not understand what was happening around him and looked dribble. It is quite unfortunate that those who posted the picture failed to realize that pictures do not lie and if truly those were the faces of Mr. Suntai, then something

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urgent must be done to make him recuperate in peace rather than forcing the poor man believed to be brain dead on the people of Taraba. No matter what the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Emmanuel Bello, wants to have the people of the state believe, he and his ilk must understand that lying before their own people will not solve the already tensed situation in the state. The true nature and health status of the governor must be stated and known. In a situation of this nature where confusion in the political equation of the state is rearing its ugly head and especially when ethnic and religious schemes play a dominant role in the political sustainability in the state, common sense must begin to prevail. Simply because we do not want another Northern state whose history has always been rife with peace and tranquility to suddenly go on fire, because we do not want soldiers to occupy once again, like some Northern states, a once peaceful turned troubled state caused by the actions of politicians, and because we do not want religious and ethnic bigots to overrun the state just like they had done with Jos, all those who hold Taraba State dear in their hearts must ensure that those few who are bent on subverting the rule of law are quickly replaced. Taraba State must not stand on the wrong side of history for its destiny is in the hands of both the politicians and its people. • Written by Omo Omoluabi