Wed 03 July 2013

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Vol. 29, No. 12,606

www.ngrguardiannews.com

N150

Reps ban same sex marriage From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Adamu Abuh, Terhemba Daka, Abuja FTER scaling the third A reading, a legislation banning same sex marriage finally got the endorsement of the House of Representatives yesterday.

The Senate had earlier passed a similar legislation, implying that barring any need for a conference committee of both arms of the National Assembly, a harmonised copy of the bill would soon be presented to the President, Goodluck Jonathan for his assent.

The bill which was debated on May 30 by the lawmakers who were favourably dis-

• Prescribe 10-14 year jail term for offenders • Seek overhaul of JTF to check oil theft in N’ Delta • Jonathan wants N’ Assembly to restore N72b to budget • Senate warns Okonjo-Iweala against ‘inflammatory remarks’ posed to it prescribes a stiff jail term ranging from 10 to 14 years for anybody that indulges or abets the committal of the act which is fast gaining currency in European countries.

The decision followed the consideration of the legislation entitled “A Bill for an Act to prohibit marriage or civil

union entered between persons of same sex, solemnization of same and for other matters related therewith” during proceedings of the House presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha.

With the passage of the bill, only marriage contract between a man and a woman is

recognised as valid in Nigeria just as no marriage certificate issued to parties of same sex marriage or civil union in Nigeria shall be valid.

Under the newly passed legislation, the registration of gay clubs, societies and organisations, their sustenance, processions and meetings have been prohibit-

ed while public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly is prohibited.

On the offences and penalties which fall under the jurisdictions of the high court of a state or of the federal capital territory, the legislation prescribes that persons who entered into same gender

marriage or civil union contract commit an offence and are jointly liable on conviction to a term of 14 years imprisonment each.

It further prescribes that any person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organisations, or directly or indirectly makes a public show of same sex amorous relationship commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment.

The legislation also prescribes that any person or CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Egypt’s crisis deepens, Morsi snubs army’s ultimatum • U.S., Germany warn leader against conflict

By Bola Olajuwon and Tobatombo Babayemi (with agency report) S the political crisis in Egypt A deepens, President Mohamed Morsi yesterday snubbed an army’s ultimatum threatening to intervene if he did not resign.

Already, five ministers have led a spate of resignations from government.

This came as a top Muslim Brotherhood leader urged Egyptians to stand ready to sacrifice their lives to prevent a coup, after the army gave Morsi and his opponents until today to resolve their differences or face intervention.

“Seeking martyrdom to prevent this coup is what we can

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FAAN, firm in bloody clash over land - Page 4

A cross section of Muslim Brotherhood members and supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi at the Rabaa El-Adaweya Mosque in Cairo’s eastern Nasr City District… yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

Stakeholders deplore high operational cost at ports

By Moses Ebosele EVEN years after the concession of the nation’s seaports to private operators, the dreams of cheaper cargo clearance, seamless operations and decongestion are far from being realised.

In December 2003, when the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) advertised for the concession of Nigerian ports, it outlined four critical issues namely: • to achieve reduction in cost

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• Seek regulation, fresh legal document over concession • We’re not to blame, say operators of cargo clearance; • to improve efficiency of operations and management of the port; • to facilitate further development of the nation’s trans-

port infrastructure; and • to eliminate congestion and facilitate the emergence of Nigeria as a hub for West African sub-region.

But it seems that going by

feelers across the country, the dreams are yet to be actualised, a development which is generally believed to be responsible for the current high cost of imported

goods and alleged diversion of cargoes to neighbouring countries by some importers.

But, the 2013 Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) first quarter

ASUU strike paralyses academic activities in varsities - Page 3

report made available to The Guardian indicated that Nigeria witnessed increased gross tonnage of coastal vessels and cargo traffic when compared with same period in 2012.

The report explained that the gross tonnage of coastal vessels was 2,237,822mt, an increase of 23 per cent over first quarter 2012 figure of 1,810,423, while laden conCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

NEWS

Morsi snubs army’s ultimatum over Egypt’s crisis CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 offer to the previous martyrs of the revolution,” Mohamed alBeltagui said in a statement yesterday.

He was referring to the more than 800 people killed during the 2011 uprising that ousted veteran strongman, Hosni Mubarak.

Meanwhile, Egyptian opposition groups chose leading dissident, Mohamed ElBaradei, to represent them in negotiations on the country’s future, after the army said it would intervene with a roadmap if political forces do not resolve the crisis by today.

The June 30 Front, which includes various groups, including Tamarod – a grassroots campaign behind Sunday’s record protests against Islamist Morsi – said it had delegated ElBaradei “to be the voice” of the opposition.

The Front “entrusts ElBaradei with the responsibility to ensure the execution of the Egyptian people’s demands and to draft a scenario that aims at the complete implementation of the roadmap for the political transition,” it said in an Englishlanguage statement.

The opposition too expressed concern that the military was poised to play a political role in

the deeply divided country, even as the army hastened to damp down talk of an imminent “coup”.

The United States (U.S.) President Barack Obama, whose government is a major military aid donor to Egypt, called Morsi to

warn him that the voices of all Egyptians must be heard, a White House official said.

Obama placed the call from Tanzania, the final stop of an African tour, and told him that Washington was committed to

“the democratic process in Egypt and does not support any single party or group,” the official said.

Also, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle expressed grave concern yesterday about

Egypt’s political crisis and urged all sides not to squander the hopes of the democratic revolution.

“I am deeply concerned and I do not want to hide it,” he told reporters.

Reps prescribe 10-14 year jail term for same sex marriage offenders CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 group of persons that witnesses, abets, screens, shields and aids the solemnisation of a same sex marriage contract or civil union or supports the registration of gay clubs, societies and organisations, processions or meetings in Nigeria commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed, justified the legislation, saying it was in line with the custom and tradition of Nigerians.

“I am sure if we practise same sex marriages, all of us that are here wouldn’t have been here today. For us, we are a country that have tradition and culture. As representatives of the people, we have spoken the minds of Nigerians and we must not miss this. The mosques, churches and several interest organisations have taken position on this and the House did what our people want. We can’t legalise it. Even in the holy books, we are told that a whole generation was wiped out because of this issue of same sex. So why go back to that?”

On the national budget, the House hit back at the Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, saying it could not be blackmailed to rescind its stand on the implementation of the 2013 Appropriation Act. The lawmakers directed the minister to prevail on her colleagues in the executive arm to implement the 2013 budget instead of dissipating her energies on the passage of the budget amendment bill which was re-presented by Jonathan to the National Assembly last week.

They also ordered her to appear before the House Com-

mittees on Appropriation, Finance and Legislative Compliance to clarify her position on the implementation of the budget which is pitting the executive and legislative arms against each other.

The lawmakers were reacting to the finance minister who was quoted by a section of the media as saying that the nation’s economy could be shut down by September if the National Assembly fails to pass the 2013 budget Amendment Bill.

The House condemned what it described as brazen theft of Nigeria’s crude oil. It urged Jonathan to immediately overhaul the operations of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta area for the purpose of carrying out a more proactive security check of all oil installations in the country.

It also mandated its committee to investigate the allegations made by the Director General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Akpobolekemi, of the involvement of influential people in oil theft and the fact that his organisation has seized ships belonging to the oil thieves and report back to the House within two weeks.

The House session yesterday moved to investigate the Amendment of the Armed Forces Act through the revision of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004 following the adoption of a motion introduced by Ibrahim El-Sudi on the need for the chamber to probe the alleged alteration without recourse to the National Assembly.

The parliament noted that Section 4(1) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 vested the legislative powers of the federation in the National Assembly, inter alia: “The Legislative Powers of the Federal Repub-

lic of Nigeria shall be vested in the National Assembly for the Federation which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives”.

It said that Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act as contained in CAP. A20 LFN 2004, published in June, 2004 states that: “The President may after consultation with the Chief of Defence Staff and subject to confirmation by the National Assembly, appoint such officers (in this Act referred to as the Service Chiefs) as he thinks fit, in whom the command of the Army, Navy and Air Force, as the case may be, and their reserves shall be vested.”

But the House said that in the revised edition of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 published in 2011, the Armed Forces Act CAP. A20 was amended, in Section 18(1) as follows: “The President, may, after consultation with the Minister of Defence appoint such Officers (in this Act referred to as “the Service Chiefs”) as he thinks fit, in whom the command of the Army, Navy and Air Force, as the case may be, and their Reserves shall be vested”.

It further expressed worry, pointing out: “This amendment of the Armed Forces Act removing the powers of confirmation by the National Assembly was effected by the Law Revision Committee without resort to the National Assembly” and added that there “are also certain typographical and avoidable errors in this edition of the Laws of the Federation.”

Consequently, Ihedioha mandated the Committee on Justice to investigate “this usurpation of the Constitutional Powers of the National Assembly” and report back to it in four weeks.”

Besides, Jonathan has asked the National Assembly to restore N72 billion deducted from various capital projects in the 2013 budget.

In a letter read to senators by Senate President David Mark yesterday, the President listed various projects in the Works, Health, Power, Transport, and Education sectors which he described as critical and very important that had been tampered with by the National Assembly.

He listed Abuja-Lokoja road which was reduced by N4 billion; Kano-Maiduguri road reduced by N3.5 billion; dualisation of Ibadan-Ilorin section 2 reduced by N5.5 billion; rehabilitation of Jebba bridge reduced by N1.25 billion among other projects.

The President noted that a total of N16.3 billion was cut from power project including the 215MW Kaduna Dual Fired Power plant reduced by N2.25 billion.

Other critical sectors Jonathan mentioned in his letter where critical capital projects were tampered with included the transport sector where Abuja-Kaduna rail budget was reduced by N1.4

billion; Jebba-Kano rail line reduced by N0.5 billion and procurement and rehabilitation of wagons/locomotives reduced by N1 billion.

Other sectors included Ministry of Health where MDG HIV/AIDS ARV drugs allocation was reduced by N1billion; routine immunization vaccines reduced by N1.75 billion; malaria procurement and distribution of insecticides reduced by N0.8 billion.

For capital projects in the education sector, Jonathan noted that allocations “to various projects were reduced to the tune of N5.64 billion including the National Library project which was cut by N2 billion”.

On the Subsidy Re-Investment Programme (SURE-P.) Jonathan said: “Against our proposal of N27 billion, the National Assembly allocated N9.8 billion. This cut will have the adverse effect of severely undermining our capacity to create the jobs needed for our teeming unemployed youths, women and physically challenged citizens”.

When asked for the justification for the reduction in capital projects, spokesman to the Senate, Senator Ehinnaya Abaribe said it was within the powers of the National Assembly to do so.

He said: “It has become a philosophical debate anytime we consider the budget. The facts are that when a budget is submitted before the National Assembly, the constitution empowers us to tamper with the figures and unless they want to turn the National Assembly to rubber stamp, the National Assembly has not done anything out of the ordinary.”

Asked when the amendment would be considered by the federal lawmakers, Abaribe, holding up the three big volumes of the amendment reacted: “Coming to bring amendments that are more than the original budget, the Presidency must not expect us to consider these within the short time we have.

“There is no way the National Assembly can consider the amendments within the short time we have before we go for our annual vacation. We need time to study the differences in the figures and we cannot do all these till when we come back from our vacation.”

Besides, the Senate yesterday cautioned Okonjo-Iweala not to pit the National Assembly against Jonathan over the amendment to the 2013 budget.

Abaribe cautioned ministers and government appointees against what he termed inflammatory statements that would put the presidency on collusion course with the lawmakers.

He said: “When a comment is made to say government will shut down because of the amendments was reckless.

What we got was a document that was larger than the budget we passed.”

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THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

News Okoh, group differ on capital punishment

By Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja HE Primate of All Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, has said that the Federal Government has made a remarkable progress in the fight against terrorism in the north eastern part of the country since the declaration of emergency rule in three states.

The cleric also threw his weight behind the use of capital punishment in the country, stressing that it should be applied on those who deserve it.

“Capital punishment must be effected against those who commit crime, anybody that has degenerated to the level of depravity deserves capital punishment,” he added.

AMCON files fresh contempt charge against Ogboru, firm

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Suntai may soon return to office, says Suswam

By Joseph Wantu, Makurdi OVERNOR Gabriel G Suswam of Benue State has described the confusion that has continued to trail the health status of the ailing Taraba State Governor, Danbaba Suntai, as handiwork of detractors.

He said Suntai has recovered substantially well and may soon return into the country to resume full duties.

Suswam, who spoke to journalists after his return to the state from official trip abroad and visit to Suntai on his sick bed in the United States, debunked the rumour that Suntai has lost his memory.

He explained that when he visited Suntai in U.S., he was able to recognise him as his colleague, stressing that even when he (Suntai) was served food, he invited him to join him but he declined.

CNPP decries decreasing budgetary vote for judiciary

By Bertram Nwannekanma and Joseph Onyekwere HE Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has filed fresh contempt proceedings against former Democratic Peoples Party’s governorship candidate in Delta State, Great Ogboru, at a Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly flouting an order of the court.

AMCON’s counsel, Mr. Kunle Ogunba (SAN), at the proceeding yesterday informed the court that he had filed and served Forms 48 and 49 on both Ogboru and Fiogret Ltd. AMCON’s Forms 48 (a notice of disobedience of court order) is dated June 25, 2013 and its Form 49 (a notice of consequence of disobedience of court order) is dated July 1, 2013.

Trial Judge, Justice Abang had on June 24, 2013 cited Ogboru and his Fiogret Ltd for contempt over their alleged violation of the January 30, 2013 order of the court.

The judge, however, declined ordering arrest of Ogboru due to AMCON’s failure to file Forms 48 and 49 in commencing the earlier contempt suit.

In his ruling on the matter, Justice Abang adjudged Ogboru and his firm, Fiogret Ltd as contemnors for flouting the order of court, which directed AMCON to tentatively take over his properties in Lagos following his alleged inability to pay N200 million loan granted them by Equatorial Trust Bank (now Sterling Bank Plc).

He also reiterated in his ruling that the plaintiff (AMCON) was “at liberty” to set in motion the necessary “machinery” to enable the court to impose appropriate sanction on Ogboru and others that might have been involved in the flouting of the order.

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Senators Mohammed Bindowo, Anthony Adeniji, Femi Lanlehin, Femi Ojudu, Robert Boroffice, Gbenga Kaka, Abdulkadir Jajere, Gbenga Ashafa, George Akume, Oluremi Tinubu, Domingo Obende, Akin Odunsi, Jide Omoworare, Gbenga Obadara, Musa Ibrahim, Mudashiru Husain, Ehigie Uzamere, Bunmi Adetunmbi during the condolence visit to the family of late Senator Pius Ewherido in Abuja ...yesterday

Human Rights Watch gives terms for Boko Haram’s amnesty From Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt) and Njadvara Musa (Maiduguri) NGRY Borno youths moved against former governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, on Monday, attempting to burn his mansion in Maiduguri metropolis over the Boko Haram menace in the state.

It was gathered that their action was triggered by alleged involvement of some political elite in the protracted insurgency in Borno. Some residents of Maiduguri and eyewitnesses yesterday said the former governor was accused of complicity in the “founding and funding” of the Boko Haram sect.

The attempt on Sheriff’s mansion, described as one of the best buildings in the metropolis, was said to have come moments after the house of the state chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Alhaji Mala Othman, was set ablaze on Monday by the irate youths who are now called

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• Group cautions over planned amnesty for sect “Civilian JTF.” They were said to have been seeking to “bring Othman to justice” for his alleged complicity in acts of terrorism for the last one week, but without success as he was believed to have fled his house severally.

The youths, who trekked to Othman’s house, according to sources, proceeded on foot, chanting war songs as they marched a distance of kilometres to the house of Sheriff. As they marched through the streets, they were said to be cheered by the residents who commended the courage of the youth to deal with the insecurity in the state.

On getting to Sheriff’s house, the youths attempted to torch it but were prevented by the security men who shot sporadically into the air to disperse them.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has been urged

to ensure that, in the interests of victims of Boko Haram violence, the rule of law, and long-term peace in Nigeria, any proposal on amnesty for the sect members should not exclude the serious crimes they committed in violation of international law.

Human Rights Watch, in a petition to the chairman of the Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, insisted that the government should demand accountability for crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international humanitarian law.

In the petition jointly endorsed by Executive Director, Africa Division, Daniel Bekele, and the

Director, International Justice Programme, Richard Dicker at Human Rights Watch and made available to The Guardian yesterday, the organisation pointed out that Boko Haram has carried out a brutal campaign of violence across northern Nigeria where it has primarily targeted government security personnel, Christians and Muslims who were critical of the group or seen as cooperating with the government.

It said Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks, including suicide bombings, on police and military facilities, church services, the United Nations’ building in Abuja, newspaper offices, markets, and schools.

It argued that the systematic attacks on civilian populations, including the murder of civilians and the persecution of Christians, likely amount to crimes against humanity under international law.

By Lawrence Njoku, Enugu HE Conference of Nigerian T Political Parties (CNPP) yesterday expressed worry over the alarm raised by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muktar Aloma, over depreciation in budgetary allocation for the judiciary, saying it portends great danger in the fight against corruption in the judicial arm of government.

The CJN had, while reacting to the depreciation in budgetary allocation to the judiciary, said that judiciary officers must be comfortable to enable them discharge their duties wholly without anticipation of graft.

The CNPP, however, in a statement in Enugu signed by its Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, said the organisation agreed with her entirely that a hungry judge cannot transparently and effectively serve the cause of justice, adding that the judiciary must be protected from corruption which is now a trademark social evil in Nigeria.

ASUU strike paralyses academic activities in varsities From Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna); Iyabo Lawal (Ibadan); Isa Abdusalami Ahovi (Jos); Ujunwa Atueyi (Lagos) and Kanayo Umeh (Abuja) CADEMIC activities were yesterday paralysed at uniA versities across the country following the strike declared by the teachers under the umbrella of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqqayatu Rufai, has said an offer has been made to the union and that the government was awaiting its response.

The minister, who spoke yesterday in Abuja at the Annual General Meeting of the West and Central African Research Education Network, stated that the government was constantly in touch with ASUU and assured that the cordial relationship would continue.

• NUC faults action “In fact, you know they are our colleagues, we discussed with them, we had a meeting, we made an offer as government and we are expecting to hear from them.”

Speaking to journalists earlier at the event, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, who also confirmed the offer made to ASUU, however, claimed that the government was not aware that the union has gone on strike. “I don’t want to hear in the public place that we are on strike, we have no official report from them; they should write to us. We have been meeting regularly, even on Sunday about three weeks ago, there was an offer made by government to them. They said they are

going to their National Executive Council Meeting (NEC); all we expect from them is to come back to us and tell us what their NEC said. As far as I am concerned, I don’t know if they are on strike.” Okojie stated.

At the University of Ibadan (UI), students who reported for early morning lectures went back disappointed as lecturers shunned classes.

Students were seen playing soccer and basket ball within the campus while final year students lamented their fate and the effect of the strike on them.

They appealed to the Federal Government to address the demands of the teachers and save the sector from another crisis.

National Treasurer of ASUU, Dr. Ademola Aremu, who spoke with reporters, expressed satisfaction with

the action, saying the strike order was fully complied with at the institution.

At the University of Lagos (UNILAG) yesterday, students gathered to lament the sudden turn of event. One of them, who identified himself as Obishakin Anu, pleaded with the government to stop playing politics with education, warning that the consequences of their neglect of the sector will greatly endanger the future of the country.

The Chairman of ASUU, UNILAG chapter, Dr. Karo Ogbinaka, said: “This is not an issue of paucity in the nation’s treasury; it is about somebody lacking the political will to place education in its rightful place; is it not the same government that is paying militants and Boko Haram members? You embark on strike; they will implement item one, and then another

strike for item to implement number two. We requested for specific things and we are not seeing evidence that government is serious with us, so we have to compel them to do the right thing.”

ASUU leaders in the University of Jos rose from an emergency meeting yesterday at the branch’s secretariat, with the chairman, Dr. Jangkwa David Nansoh, saying all members had unanimously endorsed the indefinite strike to press home their demands.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday backed the strike by ASUU and the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG), saying the Federal Government should immediately honour the agreement it entered with the aggrieved unions and preserve the economy of the nation.

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THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

NEWS

FAAN, firm in bloody clash over land

By Wole Shadare and Chika Goodluck-Ogazi

•Agency denies frustrating concessionaires

AUTION was yesterday thrown to the winds at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos yesterday, as the security arms of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and officials of AIC Nigeria Limited, the concessionaire building a four-star hotel and mall, engaged in a freefor-all over a parcel of land near the terminal.

Meanwhile, FAAN stated yesterday that it does not discourage investors or renege on contractual agreements, as it has over 100 concessionaires in its facilities nationwide.

About two weeks ago, FAAN also engaged Bi-Courtney in a bloody clash at the domestic wing of the Lagos airport over advertisement billboards of the latter, which were pulled down by the former.

The fracas left many people injured and caused traffic snarl on the busy road.

At the airport, FAAN had early yesterday bulldozed their

way into the barricaded land, pulled down the gates and started clearing the land with two tractors.

During the clash, Chairman of AIC, Chief Harry Akande, who was at the scene, was guarded by armed policemen as forms of weapons were freely used.

The scuffle, which lasted for

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several hours, caught the attention of travellers and the airport users, as activities were grounded in the area.

Both parties claimed that thugs were deployed to prosecute the fight, but team of policemen from the Murtala Muhammed Airport led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations), Chucks

Enwonwu, appealed to the parties to maintain peace until the matter is finally settled in court.

He admonished FAAN security operatives for “forcefully breaking the barbed wire used for fencing of the piece of land without recourse to the rule of law.”

He was overheard speaking

with FAAN’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), Col. Dalub Onalu (rtd), to let peace reign in the area after he ordered his men to pull down the barricades that AIC used to fence off the land.

While the FAAN is insisting that the land in dispute belongs to it by the virtue of a recent Federal High Court, Lagos ruling, AIC said the court never ordered the agency to take over the parcel

Ministry unveils Fascinating Nigeria tomorrow S part of efforts to reposiA tion the country as the preferred tourism destination and cultural capital in Africa, the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja, will tomorrow host the unveiling of Fascinating Nigeria, a project by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation.

The unveiling of Fascinating Nigeria will be witnessed by President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience Jonathan, who doubles as Nigeria’s Tourism Brand Ambassador, including respected dignitaries from across the nation.

The brand will be revealed in three stages, celebrating the Nigerian attributes of Warmth, Nature and Rhythm and culminating in a grand finale, which will showcase Nigeria’s artistes, musicians, performers, comedians, poets, footballers, fashion designers and food in a branded Nigerian feast.

Artistes taking part include Iyanya, King Sunny Ade, PSquare, TuFace, AY and Omawumi in a dynamic and diverse presentation designed to showcase the best of Nigeria.

Nikki Laoye will open the event with the Nigerian National Anthem while the National Troupe of Nigeria will perform a dynamic routine for the Rising Sun opening.

President Jonathan will address the audience on the economic and social importance of positioning Nigeria as a tourist destination. Other speakers include the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke; Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi; Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi and Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke.

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole (right) during the interrogation of some of the alleged kidnappers paraded by the State Security Service (SSS) in Benin City… yesterday.

of land until all matter concerning the dispute was resolved.

Speaking with reporters, spokesman for FAAN, Yakubu Dati, denied that FAAN workers attacked the concessionaire, stressing that they were only there to ensure security in the area.

He insisted that the land was FAAN’s property and had returned to the agency, alleging that they were trying to clear the area when they were attacked by suspected thugs.

But AIC’s General Manager, Chief Niyi Akande, described FAAN’s action as illegal, especially when the company had appealed the Federal High Court judgment on the matter.

Akande decried the violation of rule of law by the aviation agency, just as he maintained that land matter was not in the jurisdiction of the federal courts.

Dati said in Lagos yesterday that 69 concessionaires or facility managers are located at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, in different capacities as service providers, to either FAAN or members of the public directly, adding that the rest of the facility managers are spread across other airports in the country.

He noted that a sizeable proportion of such organisations work directly in aeronautical related areas, while others have shifted attention in recent times to non-aeronautical areas in conformity with standard economic practice in the industry worldwide.

Stakeholders seek fresh legal document over concession CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 tainer throughput was put at 216,110 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a growth of 2.9 per cent over 1st quarter 2012 figures of 210,057 TEUs. However, when compared to Benin Republic, Ghana and Senegal, Nigerian ports, according to experts, is the most expensive destination for cargo delivery and clearance due to alleged widespread corruption, multiple charges and poor infrastructure.

Besides, importers and other stakeholders are lamenting the inability of the Federal Ministry of Transport to put in place a commercial regulator charged with the responsibilities of protecting Nigerians from alleged exploitation by private terminal operators.

Under the concession agenda which is put at between 10 and 25 years, NPA ‘owns’ the ports land and is expected to “develop ports quay facilities, maintain the channels, provide marine services, offer common user services and technical regulation”.

Terminal operators on the other hand are empowered to handle cargo, stevedoring, warehousing and delivery.

The operators’ other functions include: acquisition of cargo handling and operations related equipment; de-

velopment and maintenance of ports’ superstructure; maintenance of safety and security within the terminal and towage, mooring, bunkering, ship chandelling and ship repairs.

The agreement was, however, silent on who regulates the commercial aspect of the port transactions now in the hands of private investors.

The development, according stakeholders, seems to have created a monopoly as the private terminal operators allegedly now resort to price increase without clearance from the Federal Government or any of its agencies.

Stakeholders such as customs agents, freight forwarders, economists and representatives of the Federal Ministry of Transport and its agencies who spoke with The Guardian, explained that the most appropriate option under the present situation is for the National Assembly to put in place a legal frame work to empower an agency to regulate the commercial aspect of the port concession.

Already, members of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licenced Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) have petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan, lamenting the “high clearing cost and deficient regulatory operation in Nigerian ports”.

According to the group, there is an urgent need to

have economic/commercial regulator “that will monitor the competitiveness, tariff dispute resolution as a result of deficient port activities”.

President of NCMDLCA, Lucky Amiwero, in an interview with The Guardian emphasised the need for the Federal Government to reduce transaction cost at the ports.

The group said: “The port system internationally is expected to serve the national economy and meet the needs of government and port users in a manner which are economically and environmentally sustainable through the establishment of an appropriate operational process and effective legislative framework”.

NCMDLCA added: “The cargo operation that was concessioned is not regulated, which critically creates extreme monopoly and market dominance in our port system.

“United States (U.S.) regulates and controls terminal operators and shipping companies through the Federal Maritime Commission by the Shipping Acts of 1984.

“The Act under section 1-9 established a non-discriminately regulatory process for maritime terminal operators, ocean going vessels and shipping companies among others.

“The South African Port es-

tablished Port Regulator under National Port Acts, 2005, Section 29, which is to exercise economic regulation of the port system.

“Concession without regulation allows for high port cost and dominance of market power by the operators which is associated with Nigerian ports system”, said Amiwero.

Speaking at a forum recently, the Chief Operations Officer of Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mrs Celine Amaka Ifeore blamed terminal operators, shipping companies and other service providers for the high charges at the ports and the delay in the clearance procedure.

According to the NSC, there were six charges at the ports before the concession, adding that under the present arrangement it increased to 14 and later 20.

Services which attracted levies before private investors commenced operations are terminal handling, container clearing, documentation, manifest amendment, container deposit and container demurrage.

Under the new dispensation, stakeholders who spoke with The Guardian claimed they pay all sort of levies including ones being charged for demurrage within the period service providers’ facilities are down either due to tech-

nological faults or poor network.

Narrating his ordeal, an importer, Chief Bernard F. Omigie said: “You cannot compare our ports with Cotonou (Benin Republic).

You can predict the transactions at Cotonou. You can stick to a defined budget at Cotonou. The reverse is the case in Nigeria. Even after you have successfully cleared your goods, government agencies follow you to your home or office. You attend to National Agency for Food Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Customs, State Security Services (SSS), Police, Immigration, Port Health, among others too numerous to mention”.

Explaining further, Omigie said: “Apart from the bottleneck within the ports, the access roads leading to them in Lagos is a disgrace. When last did you visit any of the ports at Apapa? It’s just crazy going to any of the ports at Apapa.

Importers are made to pay for poor infrastructure and inefficient facilities. Don’t forget, importers are businessmen, don’t expect them to operate at a loss. Naturally, all expenses are added to the transaction process. The final consumers share part of the cost. It’s as simple as that”.

Also lamenting the increase CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Justice Abubakar becomes chief judge of Niger From John Ogiji, Minna IGERIA’S former First Lady, Justice Fati Lami N Abubakar has been sworn in as the first female chief judge of Niger State, taking over from Justice Jibrin Ndajiwo, who retired from the service last month.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony at the Government House, Minna, yesterday, Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu described the new chief judge as “a paragon of empathy and welfare,” and urged her to bring those qualities to bear in her new office and transform the state’s judiciary.

The governor said he was aware of the problems facing the judiciary in the state from courtrooms requiring rehabilitation to lack of vehicles for judges and magistrates - and the need for improved welfare. However, he pleaded that the new chief judge should pursue the mitigation of these problems with vigour.

SSS parades suspected abductors of Justice Rhodes-Vivour’s family From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City HREE members of a gang that kidnapped the wife, daughter and driver of Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour (Justice of the Supreme Court) in May were among the seven suspects paraded by the State Security Services (SSS) in Benin City yesterday.

The others were three extortionists, who threatened to kill their victim if he did not

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Edo to demolish kidnappers’ hideout pay up, and a musician who allegedly trafficked in persons.

Parading the suspects before Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the press yesterday, the SSS State Director, Mr. Bello Bakori, said they had confessed to the crime and that three among the kidnappers of the judge’s wife were still at large.

He revealed that Mrs. RhodesVivour and her daughter were

kept in a house in Upper Sokpomba area of Benin City, where the suspects were arrested, adding that all the kidnap suspects are from Delta State while the human trafficker is from Edo State.

Meanwhile, Oshiomhole yesterday said the state would demolish the building that housed the kidnap victims two months ago, just as the guesthouse used for human

trafficking would be destroyed after confirmation.

“We have already made a decision that anyone who aides and abets kidnapping, human trafficking and others, any hotelier who does not comply with the security requirement of documenting people who stay in their hotels and provides accommodation for kidnappers, we will demolish the house,” he said during the suspects’ parade.

“Nobody has the right to make money out of the pain of

‘THISDAY bomber must stand trial’ From Lemmy Ughegbe, Abuja HE Federal High Court, T Abuja Division, yesterday declared that Mustapha Umar, who was charged with attempting to bomb a building in Kaduna occupied by THISDAY, Sun and The Moment newspapers, has case to answer.

Ruling on Umar’s no case application to quash the charge after the prosecution had closed its case, Justice Ademola Adeniyi held that the prosecution has successfully established a prima facie case against Umar.

In his no case submission, his lawyer, Nureini Sulaiman, had argued that the prosecution failed to make a prima facie case against his client, adding that all evidence led by the prosecution did not link him to the charges.

Umar, in his evidence, said he was tortured by investigators and made to confess to an offence he did not commit.

Consequently, Sulaiman prayed the court to set him free.

Arik hostess, Daramola, stands trial from July 16 From Tunde Oyedoyin, London HE Uxbridge Magistrates ruled yesterday that Arik Air stewardess, Temitayo Daramola, would stand trial at Isleworth Crown Court from July 16, after she made her fifth court appearance.

The court also ordered that she be remanded in custody till her trial begins, having pleaded not guilty at the earlier hearing. A female court staff told The Guardian yesterday afternoon that “the case has been committed to Isleworth Crown Court,” and that the trial is set for July 16.

Daramola was arrested on May 20 by UK Border officials on the Heathrow Airport shuttle bus used to transport aircrew between terminals for possessing cocaine with a street value of £600.

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Governor Mu’azu Babangida (right) and his wife, Hajia Jummai, congratulating the Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Fati Lami Abubakar, after she was sworn in as the first female Chief Judge of the state, by the governor at the Government House, Minna … yesterday

Nigerians and it is better to destroy one, two or three houses in order to keep our community safer. No one should doubt our will and these ones that have been used for these kidnappings, we are going to make example with them.”

Oshiomhole further expressed joy that the security agency was able to arrest the kidnap gang, saying: “I am particularly happy that we are able to catch some of those who were involved in the kidnap of the wife of the Justice of Supreme Court.

“For me, this is a major breakthrough because what is important is for criminals to know that there is no more immunity, it is a matter of when, not whether they will be caught.”

He added: “A majority of these criminal, about 95 per cent of them) are from Delta State. It shows in this business of crime, criminals are very mobile. No state can find a solution as they keep moving from one state to another.

When their colleagues hear that they have been put on trial, they would look elsewhere.”

He warned members of the public to be careful and not take anything for granted, as their own relations might be the source of their problems, just as he warned against the payment of ransoms, which he described as “incentive” to criminals.

Lagos Assembly seeks stiffer sanction against defilement of minors, rape

By Wole Oyebade

678 rape cases recorded in 2012

HE Lagos State House of T Assembly on Monday joined the campaign for

Judiciary and Public Petition for possible amendments and infusion of new clauses.

Presenting the motion, entitled: “Growing Case of Rape and Defilement of Minor in Lagos State,” Omowunmi Olatunji-Edet informed the House that rape had become commonplace in Lagos, as no fewer than 678 rape cases were recorded in 2012 by the State Ministry of Justice. Of this number, unfortunately, only six offenders were prosecuted and jailed through

more severe sanction(s) possibly life imprisonment for those who defile minors and rapists in the state to stem the occurrence.

To achieve this objective, the lawmakers will amend the Child Right Law 2007 to accommodate sanctions and preventive measures for the criminal acts that have apparently gone viral in Lagos. To that end, they unanimously passed the act to the House Committee on

the Office of the Public Defender (OPD).

She observed that Section 10 (1) (a) of the Child Right Law entitles any child to respect and dignity of person, “and accordingly, no child shall be subjected to physical, mental and emotional injury, abuse or maltreatment, including sexual abuse,” while Section 27 (1) “also forbids sexual intercourse with a child.”

Nevertheless, she noted that many cases of child defilement in the state are not recorded while culprits

often go without prosecution, thereby constituting nuisance and threat to other female children in their communities.

More so, some cases of defilement reported to the Ministry of Justice could not be prosecuted due to the attitude of some concerned parents, who would rather not pursue the case to its logical conclusion for fear of possible social stigma on the victim.

“Our people are suffering for things the law already provides sanctions,” she noted. “The Child Right Law is there, but when people

know that if caught they would be released in a couple of days, they are encouraged to perpetrate the act.

We hear of five and seven years old school pupils getting raped and their parents too scared to come out.”

However, the Deputy Majority Leader, Lola Akande, said the problem was more of non-enforcement of existing laws, like the Criminal Law Section 358 which has already criminalised the offence, but even so, people are given two years imprisonment when caught, thereby trivialising the offence.

Meanwhile, looking at the challenges confronting the race in present-day politics, the founder of O’odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr, Frederick Faseun, said that Yoruba participation in national politics ended when the likes of Awolowo, Ajasin, Adesanya and Bola Ige left active politics.

Wondering what type of legacies the few living Yoruba elders would leave for the coming generation, Fasuen said he shook to the marrow when recently he read in a publication that out of the 117 highest positions in the country today, Yoruba had only six.

He warned: “Whether we like it or not, presidential system of government is a lobbying system; if we are not part of it we cannot expect to derive any benefit from it. In

the Customs, Police, National Assembly, aviation, Prisons and others, we are not there as a result of the disunity among us.”

Noting that if Yoruba lack unity, it would also lack the force to fight for their right, he accused the present politicians of deliberately encouraging one party system, which is contrary to what the race stood for in the past.

“We all fought against one party dictatorship, but it is unfortunate that we are now saying everybody must sleep and face the same direction under one party. That would not be possible,” he said.

“Unity does not mean we should necessarily sleep and face the same direction under one party platform unless we would be encouraging one party system that would be smuggled into a civilian dictatorship.”

Yoruba leaders extol Adesanya, differ on unity

By Seye Olumide OME prominent Yoruba leaders have extolled the virtues and legacy of former leader of the Pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Pa Abraham Adesanya, whom they said left a legacy of unity, development and integrity.

The former leader of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) was also said to have stood out in his fight for democracy, unity and the dethronement of military rule in the country.

Furthermore, he was lauded for upholding the principles and philosophy of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo without deviating from or compromising the tenets of justice, equity and development of the Yoruba race and the country in general.

Speaking yesterday in Lagos

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during the first Abraham Adesanya Memorial Lecture, organised by the National Association of Ogun State Students, Yoruba leaders harped on the need for the South West politicians and leaders to operate in unity not just in the region but also across the country.

Former governor of Ogun State and chairman of the event, Chief Segun Osoba, while noting that Adesanya lived an impeccable life like his predecessors, Awolowo and Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, lamented that the unity the former leaders stood for was fast dwindling.

He emphasised the need for Yoruba leaders to seek their rightful place in Nigerian politics, stating, “Yoruba people are known for always coming together to fight in unity whenever the interest

of the race is being threatened.”

According to him, “when the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, was denied his mandate and later imprisoned, the Yoruba people forgot their differences and fought for the mandate.”

Pointing out that Awolowo’s philosophy was egalitarian, which Ajasin and others upheld till they also departed, he said it was “necessary at this period for the present leaders to follow the same path.

“Yoruba are asking for their rights. We are not known for corruption. We are not asking for assistance but selfactualisation; true federalism. Let us be ourselves and continue to maintain our culture and heritage.”

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

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We’re not to blame, say ports’ operators CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 in the number of charges collected by the operators without recourse to relevant authorities , Ifeore identified storage/rent fee as the most exploitative.

“The Minister of Transport in 2002 approved N4000 as progressive storage charge, but the terminal operators arbitrarily increased it to N8,000 and then N12,000 without approval from government”, said Ifeore, pointing out that one of the operators makes an extra N11billion a year from the alleged illegal charge.

Charges at Nigerian ports, according to her, in the June 2013 edition of ‘Trans Quest’, can be grouped into terminal charges, delivery charges and labour.

The three broad charges, according to Ifeore, amount to N62,682 in Nigeria, N24,000 in Benin Republic and N9,655 in Ghana while in Senegal the amount is determined by the weight and volume of the cargo.

Quoting a report by the World Bank, the NSC chief puts the average cargo dwell time at the ports of the sub-Saharan African countries at 20 days with Nigeria being the longest.

Details of the report, according to Ifeore, indicates that while Nigeria has between 20-28 dwell time, Benin Republic has between 10-15 days and Ghana between 8-15 days.

She attributed delay in cargo delivery system at the Nigerian ports to low skill of port workers, “unnecessary bureaucracy, indiscriminate billing system and too many containers that are made to go through physical examination instead of scanning”.

Meanwhile, as the usual culture of buck passing over who is responsible for the high cost of doing business at the nation’s ports continues, neighbouring countries such as Benin Republic, owner of Cotonou Port are popping Champagne in commemoration of a boom in business and at the same time putting more structures in place to accommodate cargoes that should naturally sail through Nigerian ports. Cotonou Port is the main stay of Benin Republic economy. Nigerians play active role in keeping the port active and vibrant thereby depriving Nigerian government of revenue.

When contacted, representative of one of the terminal operators who pleaded not to be named, denied the allegation of exploitation, adding that “we met nothing on ground. We should be commended for the investment efforts we have made. Nigeria is a difficult place to do business. Go to other sectors of the economy, you will be shocked to find what business owners and facilitators go through”.

Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Vicky Haastrup, also exonerated private terminal operators from the high cost of doing business at the ports.

Haastrup, who spoke recently said: “Contrary to the

malicious information being peddled by the enemies of ports reform, terminal operators have actually reduced the cost of doing business at the ports especially in the areas where they have direct influence.

She added : “The concessionaires did not bring about the increase in the cost of doing business at the ports. People do not want to hear this but that is the truth. At the ports, there are so many factors that can militate against bringing down costs of operations. We have so many people who operate within the port system. We have the concessionaires, the ship agents, clearing agents and numerous government agencies.

“The concessionaires have put in a lot of investments for efficient operations. For instance, within one year that we took over, we were able to increase the turnaround of vessels by about 75 per cent and in three to four years, we had doubled that achievement. If you do not develop the ports or you do not invest in port operations, there is no way you can achieve that.”

Haastrup, who is also the Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of ENL Consortium – operators of Terminals C and D of the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa – claimed that concessionaires have drastically reduced the dwell time of ships which translates to cost reduction.

“We have reduced the number of days ships stay at berth and that has reduced cost.

The longer the time the ship stays at berth, the more money they pay. I remember the first ship laden with rice that we handled at ENL terminal in conjunction with the NPA because we had a one-month handover period at takeover in 2006, it stayed for 45 days at berth. There was a particular one that stayed for 60 days. We can discharge those ships in 12 days today. When a ship enters into demurrage, it costs money. So, that we’re able to handle ships efficiently and practically knock down the dwell time of the vessels at berth is a clear reduction in operations cost”, she said.

Haastrup said that Nigerian port charges are competitive: “At times, people talk about our tariff. It is not something that is out of this world. If you compare our storage and terminal handling tariffs with what obtains abroad, we’re still cheap.

“When we took over in 2006, NPA was actually collecting more in terms of cargo dues. They brought the concessionaires tariff down by 33 per cent. In other words, they reduced cargo dues by 33 per cent before we took over. NPA was actually doing it for more. Don’t forget, all those malpractices of those days were there before we took over.

“For instance, if you were to bring in your ship, you had to pay through your nose. Also, there was serious congestion at the ports. Congestion today, by the grace of God, has become a thing of the past. As I’m talking now, I’m

House of Representatives Majority Leader, Mulikat Adeola-Akande (left); Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha; Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal; Chairman, House Committee on Women in Parliament, Binta Maigari Bello; UNDP/DGP Project Director, Mourtada Deme; House Chief Whip, Ishaka Bawa and delegation of European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Allan Monday, during the Third Women in Parliament Summit in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO: TUNDE AKINOLA the one canvassing for ships.

I’m the one waiting for ships to come. I tell you, because of the efficiency in the Nigerian ports, Republic of Benin has suffered a lot”, she said.

She said the cost of doing business at Nigerian ports remain high due to the activities of other parties in the logistics chain including shipping agents, clearing agents; shipping companies and government agencies.

“Who is looking into their activities? Shipping agents’ tariff is even higher than terminal operators’ charges but nobody talks about that.

There are lots of charges that the shipping agents are not supposed to collect but they do. Who’s looking at those things? There are also a lot of corrupt practices at the ports. There have been instances where people bring their bills to us in ENL and we discovered that they have been tampered with. They’ll go and print ENL’s letterhead and slam whatever bill they want to cut the throat of their clients. This is part of the malpractices in the industry. But everyone heaps all the blame on the terminal operators.

But the operators, as a matter of fact, are the ones spending money,” she added.

Reviewing the operations of terminal operators, during the mid-term review of President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja recently, Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, said between 2006 and March 2013, private operators also identified as concessionaires deployed not less than $925 million (N148 billion) for terminal development and purchase of cargo handling equipment.

Details of the transactions made available by Umar, indicated that the concessionaires invested $475 million (N76 billion) on acquisition of cargo handling equipment and $450 million (N72 billion) on terminal development.

Speaking during the 2013 ministerial briefing in Abuja recently, Umar said: “In 2006, the Federal Government carried out comprehensive port reforms that made Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the landlord and technical regulator. Government delineated the ports into terminals and concessioned them to private operators. Terminal op-

erators are now responsible for all aspects of cargo handling and terminal upgrading under the concession agreement.

“As a result of the reforms, the overall efficiency in the ports has been steadily improving, and there is appreciable increase in infrastructure provision and maintenance by both the Federal Government and the concessionaires”, Umar added.

Umar, who spoke on sundry issues said the Federal Government is improving the depth of Nigerian waterways to accommodate larger capacity vessels.

He said: “There is continuous dredging and maintenance of the channels through established Channel Management Companies (Lagos Channel Management Company, Bonny Channel Management Company Limited and recently established Calabar Channel Management Company Limited) to deepen the channels and the berth areas.

“Lagos Channel depth by 2010 was about 10 metres but now 13.5metres-14 metres while the quay side was 9 metres in 2010 but now 12.5 metres, Bonny NLNG (Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas) was 11 metres in 2010 but is now 9.5metres. Efforts are now intensified to deepen it to allow for bigger vessels to call.

“Rehabilitation process is in progress for the consultancy services for rehabilitation of breakwaters at Escravos and the dredging of the Warri, Sapele and Koko channels up to the proposed Deep sea port at Ogidigbe”, said Umar.

Apart from appointing a commercial regulator charged with the responsibilities of reducing cost and transaction time, members of NCMDLCA advised the Federal Government to create wealth and employment by building confidence in Nigerian ports system through adoption of what they identified as Ghana model of port privatisation.

Amiwero said the Nigerian port programme should be looked into as it affects confidence building, wealth creation, and employment generation in line with Section 7(C) of No. 38 of Nigerian Ports Authority Act of 1999.

According to him, Ghana Port and Harbour Authority

(GPHA) are still involved in 25 per cent port operation, such as “multipurpose approach, bulk, bags, containers, RORO, liquid bulk and dried bulk and still controls 25 per cent of stevedoring services.

Though ports operations and development in Nigeria began in the 19th century, major efforts at the provision of facilities for ocean going vessels started in early 1900 with the construction of the Lagos breakwater. This was followed by capital dredging activities aimed at opening of the Lagos Harbour to shipping traffic in 1914.

Twenty-one years later, capacities were expanded through the building of additional quay walls of 762span.

Port operations and management remained under the control of different government departments during the era (pre 1954).

Cargo handling at the terminals was the prerogative of Nigerian Railways. Marine department took charge of vessel movement in the channel up the quays. Maintenance of quay walls was the responsibility of public works department.

Giving details of the concessioned programme recently, NPA’s General Manager in charge of Public Affairs, Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogu said the policy was to ensure viability.

“It is internationally accepted that reduced turnaround-time for vessels, reduced cargo dwell time, safety and security of persons, ships and cargo as well as protection of the environment are major determinants of a good, efficient and user-friendly port.

“Obviously, the desire to achieve these ideals informed the policy which the Federal Government of Nigeria embarked upon a few years ago. The policy was to ensure that Nigerian ports were re-engineered to compete favourably with other ports of the world. The primary aim was to turn Nigerian Ports Authority into a brand name and a first choice port in West and Central Africa sub-region, and indeed in Africa.

“Apart from this rationale, Nigerian ports were also in need of huge resources for rehabilitation and modernisation of port infrastructure to

make them more efficient and meet the demands of port users and attain international standard.

“The idea of restructuring the ports which is also in tandem with the economic policy of the Nigerian government is to grow an economy that is robust, public/private sector driven, locally and globally competitive and efficient.

“The port reform programme was therefore, designed to make the ports competitive, innovative and capable of attracting private sector investments.

“The basic tenet of this reform programme provides a platform for government ownership of port infrastructure and transfer of cargo operational responsibilities to the private sector as a means of improving efficiency, attracting private investment and freeing public resources for social services.

“To kick-start the process, concessioning was adopted, and a new structure was put in place in line with the new status of NPA on the landlord model.

“Concessioning was adopted because of its relevance to the emerging trend of the globalisation phenomenon and its apparent features, among which are: • emergence of larger vessels in response to economy of scale with greater cost effectiveness, speed, improved cargo-handling technology and reduced unit freight cost; • emergence of internationally acclaimed maritime terminal operators with specialised technical expertise in cargo handling; • port competitiveness; • fluid movement of goods across international borders; • offshore manufacturing; and • electronic business transactions.

“The concessioning process led to the emergence of 25 private terminal operators and one Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) initiative.

“The Nigerian Ports were modernised through the reform process that combined concession, joint venture and subsidiaries.

“The landlord model is defined by the clear separation of roles between the public and private sector. This separation ensures that each party does what it has expertise for and eliminates the possibility of conflict of interest.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Benue ACN denies crisis in state chapter From Joseph Wantu, Makurdi CTION Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leadership in Benue State has refuted reports that the party is factionalised in its process to merge into APC, noting that it is still united and finetuning the merger process.

The state Chairman of the party, Abba Yaro, made the clarification in an interview with The Guardian in Makurdi, Benue State capital.

A close source to the party said there was a tussle for supremacy between the camp of the Senate Minority Leader, George Akume and a chieftain of the party and deputy governorship candidate in the last election, Alhaji Usman Abubakar (a.k.a Young Alhaji).

It was also learnt that both camps had convened separate meetings in Wannune, Tarka Local Council Area, the homecountry of Senator Akume and Otukpo Local Council Area, Abubakar’s home where issues of the merger and how positions will be allocated to the three parties, including All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), were discussed.

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Govt pledges 4,000mw addition to power generation by Dec • To pay severance benefits of 44,000 PHCN workers in July From Abosede Musari, Abuja HE Federal Government has T stated its commitment to improving power generation and distribution by adding another 4,000 megawatts (mw) to the system by December 2013.

It has also finalised plans to pay the severance benefits of 44,000 verified workers of the Power Holding Company of

Nigeria (PHCN) by the end of this month.

The Minister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo, said these yesterday in Abuja while speaking at a breakfast meeting preceding the second annual workshop of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers titled: “Transformation Agenda 2: The real issues in the power, housing and energy sectors of the economy”.

Nebo assured that the preferred bidders for 10 GenCos and five DisCos have paid the initial 25 per cent of the bid price and that the remaining 75 per cent would be paid after the settlement of labour issues.

“It’s expected that over time, the new successor companies will be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange”, he said.

The minister added that currently, the country has an in-

stalled generation of 9,920mw as at December 2012, with available generation capability of 6,522mw.

Nigeria has peak available power of 4,517mw and 4,773mw is expected to be added from the NIPP projects, 292mw from Independent Power Projects (IPPs) and 514mw from Federal Government’s legacy assets before end of 2013. “We are also investing to boost generation

Ekiti teachers suspend strike From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado-Ekiti EACHERS in Ekiti State yesT terday suspended the threeday-old strike they embarked on to press home demands for the implementation of 27.5 per cent Teachers’ Peculiar Allowance.

Sequel to the suspension of the strike that had crippled public schools in the state, the government announced that teachers should resume work immediately and strive to make up for the lost ground.

A statement by the Ekiti State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr. Kayode Akosile, shortly after the deal was brokered, said the teachers grudgingly agreed with the 16 per cent proposal made by the state government to ensure quick resolution of the industrial feud.

Buhari, Abdulsalami, Mark, Dangote for ex-minister’s book launch From Madu Onuorah, Abuja WO former Heads of State, Maj.- Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and General Abdulsalami Abubakar; Senate President, David Mark and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, will on Saturday launch a book written by former Minister of Science and Technology, Maj.Gen. Sam Momah.

Gen. Momah served both General Abdulsalami and late Gen. Sani Abacha as Minister of Science and Technology.

The book, titled: Nigeria: Beyond Divorce is Gen. Momah’s sixth book. He has already written five books on technological empowerment, international relations and economic advancement.

Gen. Momah, who will on Saturday mark his 70th birthday, said in Abuja that the book is “my last gift to Nigeria and Nigerians.” It is an insightful compendium of issues and facts that capture Nigeria’s disparities and idiosyncrasy as a nation of over 250 ethnic bodies amalgamated about 100 years ago.

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The doyen of accountancy, Akintola Williams (left); former Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Christopher Kolade (CON) and erstwhile Chairman, Board of Directors, American International Insurance Company Plc (AIICO), Dr. Michael Olawale Omolayole, during the First Annual Christopher Kolade Lecture on Business Integrity in Lagos…yesterday

through small, medium and large hydros with total capacity of 4,234mw”, he added.

As for the PHCN workers, the minister said: “Let me clarify that government is not laying off PHCN workers but rather, workers are being severed from public service employment to enable them migrate to the private sector. These erstwhile PHCN workers will be trained and become part of the new energy sector”.

Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Arunmah Oteh, who gave the keynote address at the workshop, said that housing was critical to the growth of the nation’s economy, as it would serve as a sure avenue by which all Nigerians can access loans for businesses. She said all Nigerians should own their homes.

Oteh also called on oil and gas companies, especially Shell, to get listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Getting oil and gas companies to enlist on the market will give Nigerians the access to participate in the successes of these companies”, she said.

President of the Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers, Muritala Olushekun, in his address, said the market recorded a substantial increase of N12.6 trillion in June; a performance, which placed it among the best performing stock exchanges in the world.

He added that the workshop would serve as an input into national budget and will influence policy making in the country. At last year’s workshop, “the focus was telecommunications and power sectors. Housing and energy sectors are the focus this year.

We will also address power, oil and gas”.

Nigeria gets W’Bank, Australia, Canada aid on solid minerals’ finance From Lillian Chukwu, Abuja HE Federal Government, the World Bank (WB), Australian and Canadian International Development Agencies have commenced a two-year financial support agreement to boost Nigeria’s mining sector.

The support instrument, termed the Externally Financed Output (EFO) programme, is primarily designed to replace WB-executed trust funds below one million dollars.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development (MMSD), Musa Sada, said at a stakeholders’ workshop yesterday in Abuja that the foreign financial aid would increase the profile of the mining sector in the country and promote diversification of the economy from the traditional income sources.

The minister stated that the partnership would identify potentials, build consensus to start development process of a stakeholder-oriented approach to the sector’s reforms.

Senior Mining Specialist, World Bank, Francisco Igualada, said in a paper, entitled: “Strengthening plan to support strategic roadmap for mining sector development in Nigeria”, that the EFO is a “streamlined instrument for receiving external contribution to support the World

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Bank’s programme.”

He said the two-year Bank EFO was designed to align with key MMSD priorities in artisanal small-scale mining development, mineral taxation optimisation and spatial

analysis and economic corridor development.

Sada said the solid minerals development fund inaugurated in February 2013, will utilise funds for development of both human and physical

capacity in the sector and equipping the mining institutions to enable them perform their statutory functions.

He identified funding for geo-scientific data gathering,

storage and retrieval to meet the needs of the private sector-led mining industry and finance for extension services to small-scale and artisanal mining operators and provision of infrastructure in mines land.

Court grants anti-Amaechi lawmakers’ request • Dep Speaker urges compliance with rule of law From Kelvin Ebiri and Ann Godwin, Port Harcourt RIVERS State High Court in Port Harcourt has granted the request of five members of the House of Assembly to have an independent legal representation in the suit filed by Governor Chibuike Amaechi seeking to bar the lawmakers from impeaching him unconstitutionally.

Evans Bapakaye Bipi, Victor Ihunwo, Michael Amaewhule, Michael Okechukwu Chinda and Godspower Kelechi Nwogu, said to be antiAmaechi, had approached the court to demand that they should have independent representation in the suit filed by the governor against the 32member House of Assembly.

Amaechi had recently through his lawyer, Mr. Beluolisa Nwofor (SAN), filed a suit at the court presided over by Justice George Omereji, seeking an injunction that would bar the Assembly from im-

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peaching him unconstitutionally until the expiration of his tenure in 2015.

Amaechi, who has been having a running battle with his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after he won the Nigeria Governors Forum election, told the court that there was plan to use five or fewer lawmakers to impeach him in contravention of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that an impeachment will only be valid if two-thirds of the 32 lawmakers in the state endorse it.

Apparently not pleased with the governor’s suit against the entire 32 lawmakers, the five anti-Amaechi legislators filed a motion in the court seeking to have independent counsel to represent them owing to the fact that they do not share same interest with their colleagues, among whom are Speaker Otelemaba Dan Amaechree, presumed to be core loyalists of the governor.

At the resumed hearing of the motion yesterday, Justice Omereji, who stood down the court for about 10 minutes, returned and granted the five lawmakers’ request to have independent representation.

He pointed out that since lawyers to Amaechi and the five lawmakers did not oppose the motion, the court has no option than to grant it because legally, they have the right to fair hearing.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Leyii Kwanee said yesterday that strict compliance to rule of law would end the lingering political crisis.

Kwanee, who spoke when a delegation of the Law Graduates Forum of Rivers State led by its president, Augustine Nnaemeka, paid him a courtesy visit in his office, remarked: “The Rivers State House of Assembly under the current leadership is being mindful not to allow a situation where we play into the

hands of the anti-democratic forces to overheat the polity.

“I am sure a lot of you were in the court on that fateful morning when the judgment and the ruling came that the authority of the police should vacate Obio/Akpor Local Council premises and as I speak to you, that court order has not been obeyed.”

He advised that for democracy to grow, efforts must be made to play politics according to rules.

“So all you need to do is to ensure that you mobilise sufficient support that the rule of law must be obeyed”.

He decried the “political rascality” being exhibited by Amaechi’s opponents, whom he said, have lost every sense of civility and feared that if not checkmated by law and order, the young ones could pick up such negative values, which may not augur well for the political development of the nation.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

8 | NEWS

Amaechi seeks transfer of CP over corps members’ kidnap, others From Ann Godwin, Port Harcourt ORRIED by the implicaW tions of the yet-to-be released abducted National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Rivers State, Governor Chibuike Amaechi has again called for the transfer of the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu. Amaechi spoke when the Chairman of the NYSC Governing Board, Mr. Gordon Bozimo, led a delegation to the Government House, Port Harcourt, on a courtesy visit to the governor.

The governor pointed out that Port Harcourt was becoming unsafe, expressing the fear of repeated cases of kidnap except with the removal of Mbu. He, however, disclosed that the state government would soon stop funding the police for their inability to deliver and protect the lives and property of the citizens.

According to him, “I don’t want a Commissioner of Police who will work for me. I want a Commissioner of Police that will work for the interest of the state and work for Rivers people. So, it is not only me that you should complain to, talk to Inspector General of Police and those who transferred the commissioner”.

Bozimo had in his speech raised concerns on the recent kidnap of three NYSC members and other atrocities meted on corps members posted to the state.

He said: “Three days ago, three of our corps members were kidnapped. I feel very worried because if Port Harcourt is not safe, I don’t know where people will run. So, we are imploring the governor to look at the problems critically and fashion out what we can do to nip the problem in the bud. If not, corps members may begin to avoid Rivers State the way they

did to Borno, Yobe and other trouble-ridden states in the North. I have the intention of discussing it with the Inspector General of Police when I get to Abuja”.

Amaechi said the call for Mbu’s transfer became necessary because the commissioner has derailed from his legitimate function of protecting lives and property in the state.

“We used to have a wonderful security system and Commissioners of Police who understood their functions and knew what to do.

But, when the Police in Abuja, suddenly withdrew the predecessor of this current Commissioner of Police and posted the person called Mbu Joseph Mbu, nothing has been working. Mbu has been sitting with politicians for political reasons and the security system is down and out”, the governor stated.

Amaechi disclosed that no security meeting has been held since the arrival of Mbu in the state, a meeting that, according to him, was usually held two or three times in a month.

“Before Mbu came, we used to hold security meetings two or three times every month. We know where our corps members are and we know the level of security arrangement we put in place to protect them.

We also send the State Security Service to watch over them; we have equipment that monitors what happens and where, but such things no longer happen since Mbu came”, said Amaechi.

Amaechi warned that Mbu’s continued stay in the state would jeopardise the conducive business climate of Port Harcourt and the fastgrowing economy of the state.

“The Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, is a politi-

cian because he attends political meetings with those who brought him to our state and there is no way you can stop that.

“The only way you can stop that is to ask the politicians in Abuja to withdraw their Commissioner of Police and allow us secure Rivers State”.

He continued: “My fear is that his stay in Rivers State is intended to kill the conducive business climate in Port Harcourt and the fast-growing

economy of our state.”

The governor appealed that a new Commissioner of Police be posted to the state as soon as possible to take over from Mbu, who according to him, is taking laws into his hands, showing disrespect, insubordination to constituted authority, arrogance and gross misconduct to the state government and people.

“I have no control over Mbu even though the constitution

Director, Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Adeneye Talabi (left); Chairman, Gypsum Mines Association, Sokoto State, Alhaji Ibrahim Danyaro; Director General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Peter Unwaula and Chairman, Cement Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (CMAN), Sunday Adonduwa, at a stakeholders’ Forum on Mining, Processing and Utilisation of Gypsum in Nigeria, held in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY ELUPO

Yuguda returns to NGF, asks Babangida to step down From Ali Garba, Bauchi AUCHI State Governor Isa B Yuguda has rescinded his decision to withdraw from the Nigeria Governors Forum, just as he asked Babangida Aliyu of Niger State to resign from his position as chairman of the Northern Governors Forum.

Yuguda explained that what necessitated his change of

mind was consideration to the appeal of elders in the North to eschew sentiments and give fair representation to the region.

He said he initially left the Governors Forum due to the injustice carried out during the last NGF election, where incumbent Chairman of the Forum, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, emerged winner of the election after it was collectively agreed that Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State should be the chosen and adopted candidate.

Yuguda, who spoke through his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Yusuf Musa Gumli, yesterday with newsmen at the Government House in Bauchi, said he realised that there was unfairness within the forum when the Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, conducted an open vote election, which was not a fair deal.

Before the election, the Northern Governors Forum decided that Governors Shetima and Yuguda should step down in favour of the Governor Jang, who happened to be the consensus candidate. But instead of sticking to the plan, Aliyu compromised our position over the agreed candidate”.

The governor, who maintained that the unity and integrity of the Northern Governors Forum has been compromised, felt he could no longer be a part of the group and withdrew.

Yuguda said: “I, however, decided to mend the fences by letting go of the past and returning to the forum. Secondly, I have decided to heed the appeals from concerned elders in the North who want me to shun sentiments and give fair representation to the area in the forum. As an obe-

dient son, I have accepted their appeals and gone back to the NGF. Thirdly, I have never taken sides with Jonah Jang, I was only working under the instruction of the NGF so that Plateau State will be the centre of North, where there is a fair representation”.

Concerning future political aspirations, the governor said it is not a sin for him to aspire for the post of the president, vice-president or even the CBN governor. “There is nothing wrong for one to aspire for any position in the country so long as due process and legitimacy is followed”, he noted.

He dismissed allegations making the round in the media that the crisis in Plateau State is being instigated by Bauchi government, saying that it is wrong for the Plateau State government to associate its failure to address insecurity challenges to Bauchi State.

Five killed in Ijebu-Ode rival cult clash • 35 arrested, charged to court in Benue From Joseph Wantu (Makurdi) and Azeez Olorunlomeru (Ijebu-Ode) O fewer than five persons N have been reportedly killed between yesterday evening and this morning in a renewed cult clash between members of the Eiye Confraternity and the Black Axe in Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State.

It was gathered that the fresh killing was not unconnected with the last December face-off between the same groups in which over a dozen people were killed.

The cultists, according to an eyewitness, moved into IjebuOde during the bi-annual Agemo Traditional Festival on Sunday as part of activities marking this year’s cultural event.

Among those reportedly killed was a prominent Ijebu personality, Niyi Eleruwon, as well as two others who were allegedly shot dead in Ita-Alapo area of the town while one was killed along Ijebu-Ode-Ejinrin road.

The remains of Eleruwon was initially deposited at Amazing Grace Hospital, Off New Road, Ijebu-Ode. He has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

It will be recalled that cult activities and robbery incidents have in recent times paralysed economic activities in that part of the state.

All efforts to speak with Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, to confirm the incident proved abortive, as his phone rang severally

without being picked.

In Benue, the state Police Command yesterday arrested over 35 cultists and charged them to court.

The PPRO, DSP Daniel Ezeala, who made the disclosure to The Guardian yesterday, stated that the cultists were arrested at Katagum area of North Bank while they were in the process of carrying out an evil assignment.

Ezeala also said several weapons, such as charms, guns, knives and axes were found in possession of the cultists.

Cult activities are said to be common in Makurdi, Benue State capital and are mostly perpetrated in areas like Wadata, North Bank Wurukum, Akpehe, Kanshio and Ankpa Quarters areas.

Govt urges Kaduna to domesticate Child Rights Act From Omotola Oloruntobi, Abuja HE Minister of Women AfT fairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina, has called on Kaduna State to domesticate the Child Rights Act in order to protect the rights and proper development of children.

In 2003, Nigeria adopted the Child Rights Act to domesticate the Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, only 23 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have passed the Act into law while the other 13 states are yet to pass it, which include Kaduna.

Speaking in Kaduna yesterday during an advocacy visit to Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, the minister stressed that the Act, when passed and fully implemented, would guarantee the rights of the children, restore their confidence, self-esteem and status. He added that it would also enable children with special needs to enjoy their rights to survival.

PDP chief opposes alleged plot to impose head on Benue community From Joseph Wantu, Makurdi CHIEFTAIN of the Peoples A Democratic Party (PDP) and elder statesman in Benue State, Abu King Shuluwa, has kicked against an alleged plot by the government and certain influential personalities to impose Terkura Suswam, Governor Gabriel Suswam’s elder brother, as a first-class chief on the people of Sankera geo-political axis of the state.

He insisted that fairness and justice should be allowed to prevail on the matter.

Shuluwa, who spoke against the plan in Katsina-Ala at a thanksgiving service organised by traditional rulers of Sankera origin in honour of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Solomon Wombo, further maintained that decisions on who should occupy such an important tool of a first-class chief must go through wide consultations with stakeholders.

SIFE competition holds in Lagos TUDENTS in Free Enterprise Snounced (SIFE NIGERIA) has anits 2013 annual national competition for its teams in tertiary institutions across the country taking place on July 2, 3, 4 and 5 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

The four days are slated for the “My Nigeria Walk”, first round competition, innovation summit and final round competition. This year’s event is tagged: “The SIFE Challenge.”

According to a statement, the purpose of the competition is to celebrate the more than 40 institutions that will converge to make multimedia summaries of their various accomplishments, that is, lifechanging projects that have been developed and executed by them in their various host communities, along with their accompanying laudable results in the last one-year.

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THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

WorldReport S’ Africa’s last apartheid president, De Klerk, hospitalised HE last apartheid president T in South Africa, FW de Klerk, was hospitalised yesterday to receive a pacemaker, as his fellow Nobel peace laureate Nelson Mandela lies critically ill.

De Klerk cut short a visit to Europe over the weekend because of Mandela’s ailing health, only to fall ill himself.

The 77-year-old felt dizzy after his return from Europe on Sunday and saw his physician.

“The specialist recommended immediate installation of a pacemaker,” his spokesman Dave Steward told Agence France Presse (AFP).

“It’s a routine procedure. He will spend the night in hospi-

tal.”

De Klerk will receive the device, which helps the heart beat at a normal rate, in a Cape Town hospital.

Meanwhile, 94-year-old Mandela is spending a 25th day of treatment in a Pretoria health facility for a recurring lung infection.

He is in a critical but stable condition, the South African president’s office said Monday evening.

De Klerk – a one-time hardliner – dismantled white-minority rule and authorised the release of Mandela from prison in 1990, a decision that changed the course of South African history.

Several countries reject Snowden’s asylum requests, EU to discuss spying claims Former Chadian dictator, Hissene Habre (middle), is escorted by military officers after being charged to court by Senegalese authorities with genocide and crimes against humanity and remanded him in custody in a prosecution seen by many as a milestone for African justice…yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

AU leaders, partners adopt declaration to end hunger by 2025 Nigeria, others exceed six per cent target in agric production

By Bola Olajuwon heads of state and govS(AU)OME ernment of African Union member states, in conjunction with representatives of international organisations, civil society, private sector, cooperatives, farmers, youths, academia and other partners have rose up from an international forum and unanimously adopted a new declaration to end hunger in Africa by 2025.

This was made known yesterday as a report also indicated that about 10 African countries have reached the target of allocating at least 10 per cent of public investment in agriculture while another 10 countries, including Nigeria, have exceeded the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme

(CAADP) target of six per cent growth in agricultural production.

Rising from a High Level Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Monday, the AU leaders and their partners called for a combination of policies to promote sustainable agricultural development with social protection, for a budgetary allocation focused on the poor and recognises the importance of non-state actors to ensure food security.

The declaration contained in a statement made available to The Guardian by Information and Communications Directorate |of African Union Commission, also reaffirmed determination to accelerate the implementation of the Maputo Declaration (July 2003) on Agriculture and Food

Security in Africa as outlined within the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme CAADP framework.

The African Heads of State and Government had met to decide on innovative and actionable measures to put an end to hunger in Africa.

The High Level Meeting of African and International Leaders on a Renewed Partnership for a Unified Approach to end Hunger in Africa by 2025 within the CAADP Framework took place at the initiative of the African Union, FAO, and the Lula Institute along with broad non-state actors.

The decisions made at the High-Level Meeting will be discussed by the African Union Assembly, according the

African Union Commission Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

“To date, 10 of the 54 AU Member States have reached the target of allocating at least 10 per cent of public investment in agriculture. Among them are Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Malawi, Mali, Niger and Senegal who have already exceeded the target,” said the Chairperson of AU Commission Chairperson.

“According to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Planning Agency, to date, 10 countries have exceeded the CAADP target of six per cent growth in agricultural production (Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, The Republic of the Congo, Gambia, GuineaBissau, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tanzania) and another four have achieved growth of between five and six per cent,” said Dr Dlamini-Zuma.

Late Pope John Paul II for sainthood as Vatican panel approves second miracle HE late leader of the world Catholic Church, John Paul II, could be declared a saint this year after a Vatican committee approved a second miracle attributed to the Polish pope’s intercession.

A report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) indicated that the committee, Congregation for the Causes of Saints, ruled that an “inexplicable recovery” on May 1, 2011 was due to the late Pope’s intercession, Ansa reported.

Earlier that same day, he had been beatified after a first miracle was attributed to his intervention.

Pope Francis must now give his approval before a canonisation date is set.

T

Canonisation is the final step in the official process that declares a deceased person to be a saint.

At a plenary meeting of the Congregation yesterday, cardinals and bishops mooted a canonisation ceremony taking place in December, sources told Ansa.

One possible date would be December 8, on which Catholics celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception, which this year falls on a Sunday.

John Paul II could be canonised at the same time as John XXIII, Vatican sources suggested.

Venerated by Catholics as “the good pope”, John XXIII was elected in 1958

and convened the Second Vatican Council in 1962, but died the following year before it was finished.

Canonisation requires the attribution of one further miracle to the intercession of the candidate after they have been beatified.

The Vatican has not revealed details about the second miracle in John Paul II’s case.

It was reportedly deemed an “inexplicable recovery” by a panel of doctors before being approved last month by a board of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints’ theologians.

John Paul II died in 2005 aged 84 and was beatified by his successor Benedict XVI in May

2011.

Among a crowd hundreds of thousands strong on St Peter’s Square was French nun Marie Simon-Pierre, who says she was cured of Parkinson’s Disease after praying for the intervention of the late pope little more than a month after he died.

Some questioned the church’s speed in beatifying John Paul II just six years after his death.

Although widely regarded as one of the great popes of modern times, his 26-year pontificate was tarnished by his handling of the clerical sex abuse scandal that has rocked the global Church.

Critics said other of the

SEVERAL countries rushed to reject asylum requests from fugitive United States (U.S.) intelligence leaker, Edward Snowden, yesterday after he sought safe haven in 21 nations in a bid to win protection from American authorities.

It was however learnt yesterday that European Union (EU) nations will discuss allegations that Washington has been spying on its allies at talks between EU ambassadors on tomorrow in Brussels.

But yesterday, most European countries either flatly rejected the request or

reacted cooly.

But the leftist leaders of Venezuela and Bolivia rose to the 30-year-old’s defence and said they would consider the application under the right conditions.

Snowden, however, has withdrawn his request to Russia after Moscow told him he would have to stop leaking US intelligence reports, a Kremlin spokesman said yesterday.

One EU diplomat said there “will be a first discussion” on the reports at the meeting as well as an “update on the security question in EU premises.”

Mali’s polls to go ahead despite uncertainty over readiness UTHORITIES in Mali have A disclosed that elections would go ahead as planned on July 28, amid doubts over the conflict-scarred nation’s ability to organise a free and fair nationwide vote in just four weeks.

The caretaker government announced presidential elections just over a month ago, raising urgent questions over the possibility of inclusive polls in a nation recovering from a coup that paved the way for Islamist rebels to seize control of the north.

“The presidential election will be held on July 28. The

Malian government has never set two dates. The Ministry of Territorial Administration has never had any doubts,” said Moussa Sinko Coulibaly, who holds the portfolio, after a meeting with diplomats and Mali’s financial backers in the capital Bamako.

Mali’s election commission has raised concerns that the distribution of polling cards is seriously behind schedule and that it will be “extremely difficult” to get nearly eight million cards out in a country where 500,000 people have been displaced by conflict.

Ban Ki-moon feared for ‘trapped’ civilians in Homs NITED Nations (UN) U leader, Ban Ki-moon, has expressed fear for 2,500 “trapped” civilians as Syrian government forces press a campaign to take the city of Homs, a spokesman said yesterday.

Ban renewed a call for a halt to arms supplies to both sides in the conflict as he expressed “grave concern” about the fighting in Homs, said UN deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey.

“An estimated 2,500 civilians remain trapped in Homs,” said the spokesman.

Ban called on “the warring

sides to do their utmost to avoid civilian casualties and to allow immediate humanitarian access, as well as opportunities for trapped civilians to leave without fear of persecution.”

The UN secretary general also expressed “his concern over threats to seize two Shiite villages in the northern province of Aleppo.”

Ban “calls again for stopping the supply of arms to all sides and appeals to the parties in Syria and their supporters to focus instead on the search for a political solution that remains the only way out of this tragedy.”

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THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Politics How creation of states, councils caused disunity, dwindling economy in Nigeria, by Arewa elders, youths From Saxone Akhaine (Northern Bureau Chief) REWA youths and some elders in the A North have criticised the dwindling fortune of the nation’s economy, attributing it to the bogus expenditure by the Federal Government in maintaining the states and local government structures in the country.

Besides, they censured the leadership of the North for abandoning the philosophy of the erstwhile leader of the Arewa, the late Dr. Abdulrahman Okene, founder of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), as they allow the region to depress in terms of economic and educational development.

Elder statesman and presidential aspirant of the defunct National Republican Party (NRC), Alhaji Leman Jubrilu, who spoke on Monday at the Arewa House, Kaduna, as the chairman of the special memorial lecture in honour of Okene, said that the North should brace up to play a leading role in transforming the country.

According to him, the present situation whereby the Federal Government continue to spend most part of the nation’s resources on the maintenance of the 36 states and 776 local government structures would not be helpful for the development and growth of the country.

He urged the government to consider reverting to the old regional model for the country.

Jonathan Jubrilu said that since the advent of the state and local government structure, “I must say that there is disunity in the North; importantly, there is no more unity in the North as we use to know.”

“This was brought by so many factors. This is most unfortunate. The North used to be one entity. I think the creation of states and local governments brought about the disunity in this country.

“As soon as states and local governments were created in great numbers,

Mark people decided to go their ways, thereby endangering the question of unity in Nigeria,” he said.

He argued that, “the North used to be known for peace and development, but today, it is the peace of the graveyard,” stressing that “a day hardly passes without killings in all parts of the region.”

Jubrilu stated that the current state and local government structures maintained by the Federal Government has resulted “to enormous expenditure, to the extent that more money is being earmarked for

payments of commissioners, ministers, local governments officials and other public functionaries at the expense of development of the economy and the country.”

“I don’t want to sound outrageous but if I have my way, I will roll back all the states and local governments to the period of the late 60s and early 70s,” he said.

“See, almost all the resources of the country are being held by commissioners, ministers and others and nothing for development of the country.

“There is hardly any community in the country today with adequate drinking water; schools are dilapidated and the health care system is deteriorating everyday.”

The Minister of Youth Development, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, in a keynote address, urged the Arewa elders, who have been in positions of leadership of the country, to give account of their stewardship to the people, saying that the youths could draw some useful lessons from it.

“I will appeal to our leaders, especially those who have served this country, they have a lot of experiences to offer and impart those experiences to our younger ones,” Abdulkadir said.

“There is a lot of misinformation about their times, that led to the situation we found ourselves today.

“Let them come out to correct this, and let the youths learn from them on

what roles they played in politics of this country and in shaping the economy of this country. We have a number of Heads of State, military rulers and others.”

According to the minister, the present government “is trying to pay attention on agriculture in order to raise productivity,” adding that, “our youths would be encouraged in this direction and employment opportunities would be opened within the chains of agricultural enterprises.”

Meanwhile, in an opening address, the Chairman of the NYF, Mallam Jibril Tafida, lamented that the leadership of the North was eroding the principles and what Dr. Okene stood for among the Arewa.

“If the ate elder statesman were alive today, most of the problems or challenges facing us as a people would have been confronted headlong,” he said.

“It has now become common knowledge that when any patriotic northerner attempts to reach out to other Nigerians, it is either called divide-andrule tactics of government or sell-out or even betrayal of northern interest.”

Tafida said these sentiments are not only self-serving but completely against northern interest in the overall umbrella of national unity and development.

“What the North needs, therefore, is a good leader and not just a northern leader,” he added.

Awolowo, Fasehun & okada riders (2)

By F.A.O. Oseni WO more National Development Plans of T known duration and content were also implemented in the country. These were the Third National Development Plan of 1975-1980 and the Fourth National Development Plan of 1980-1985.

Dramatic positive changes occurred in our quality of life as a result of our National Development Plans, thus giving meaning to our independence. Starting with education, for instance, startling increase in the number of educational institutions at the three levels of Primary, Secondary and Tertiary occurred. Also, the rate of school enrolment increased faster than the rare of increase of the population.

In the case of health facilities, both their number and spread increased tremendously and in addition, several Teaching Hospitals were established with our indigenous doctors being well renowned for their expertise all over the world.

Going to housing, seeing is believing about the increase in the number and quality of the housing stock not only in the major urban centres such as the state capitals, but also in all towns and villages virtually throughout the country.

The building in Abuja, a brand new Capital City from scratch, may be regarded as the climax in this aspect.

Moving to water supply, the few water works such as those of Iju (Lagos), Eleyele (Ibadan) were replaced by giant ones such as Asejire (Ibadan), Adiyan (Lagos) and several multi-purpose dams were constructed all over the country.

With respect to electric power supply, isolated thermal generating plant in a few urban centers, with capacities rated at most in a few hundreds of kilowatts at independence, were replaced with several major power stations, having capacities rated in thousands of megawatts, using hydro and gas powered turbines and all linked together in a national grid.

The largest power station completed in 1982 at Egbin had six turbines each of 220 megawatts capacity, thus generating 1,320 megawatts at just one single location and also bringing the total power generating capacity in the nation to 4,000 megawatts, which we were unable to surpass until 30 years later when it was announced

on Monday 6, August 2012 that a generating capacity of 4,237 megawatts had been achieved in the country!

Even in telecommunications, where no spectacular achievement was recorded in the country until 2001 with the arrival of Global System of Mobile Communications (GSM), noticeable improvement in terms of coverage and technology occurred.

In the case of transportation modes, the 73,600 kilometres classified roads of single lane mostly unpaved roads (only 8,000 kilometres or about 11 per cent were paved) at independence in 1960 were replaced with more than 200,000 kilometres of paved roads out of which more than 2,000 kilometres have dual carriageways.

The quality and extent of the national road network received world acclaim and recognition as a result of which the International Road Federation produced a publication in 1982 entitled, “Building Roads in Nigeria: An IRF Case History.” Consequently, the Director of Federal Highways in 1982, Engr. Ifeanyi Osili (now deceased), was honoured as the “Man of The Year” by the Federation.

The Apapa Port Complex was greatly expanded, including the addition of Roll-on Roll-off berths, in addition to several other ports along the national coastline. Air transport was expanded to cover the country far beyond the Lagos and Kano Airports and the few landing strips located in some Provincial Capitals at independence.

Also, about 5,000 kilometres of pipelines for transporting crude oil and petroleum products were built and linked to refineries capable of refining more than 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily.

The Third National Development Plan was greatly influenced by the fact that the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) of which Nigeria was and still a member, secured a dramatic increased in the international selling price of crude oil in 1972. The Plan was, therefore, based on the availability of funds to execute the programmes and projects under it.

Money, which was regarded simply as a means of exchange and not a commodity to be inordinately accumulated as a status symbol by a few individuals, was in circulation freely through-

out the country without any restriction by the Central Bank and there was no crippling foreign debt burden. Rather, the Administration gave financial support to some countries on our continent and the West Indies.

Since we abandoned National Development Plans of known duration and content in 1986 in favour of globalisation, privatisation, conditionalities of the International Monetary Fund and market forces in terms of profit-making by banks and other financial institutions at all costs, especially reduction in the quality of life of our individual citizens, the nation has been beset with a myriad of problems.

The problems include lack of security of life; erratic power supply and decline in the provision and maintenance of other engineering services; youth unemployment; depreciating currency and crippling foreign debt burden.

The Naira, which in 1986 was equivalent to $1.5, is now equivalent to only about 0.67 (or 2/3) of a US cent at N150 (or even more naira) being exchange for $1. The nation’s economy is being run on the basis of debt level determined and dictated by the technologically advanced countries and international moneylenders as if Nigeria is no longer an independent country.

Preparation of Annual Budgets has become problematic and budget implementation is based on unpredictable quarterly allocations.

Yet, Nigeria is still receiving income from export of crude oil and natural gas at levels comparable with the case when the nation joined OPEC in 1972, forty years ago.

It is obvious from the foregoing that our current political leaders have a lot to do to return us to the path of self-reliance charted by Awolowo and his contemporaries so as to make our independence meaningful.

Adopting the concept of self-reliance as our national ideology, for instance, will mean that the development of our human resources will take precedence over the search for foreign investors to come and develop our country at the expense of their own countries!

While we have a commission for promoting foreign investment, there is no such organisation for developing and promoting local talents and expertise. This is an area where the saying, “chari-

Awolowo

Fesehun

ty begins from home,” should be emphasised.

After all, there is nowhere in history where foreigners have gone to develop foreign lands in the interest of the indigenes. Rather, they either wipe out the indigenes or subject those who survive to a life of servitude. Nigeria is not likely to be the first exception.

• Mr. Oseni, an engineer of F.A. Oseni Consultancy Services, wrote from Surulere, Lagos.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

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THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

TheMetroSection Briefs In Jigawa, 73-year-old man defiles seven-year-old boy

Plumber murdered in his prime • Family demands justice over alleged killing of 25-year-old technician in Lagos

By Odita Sunday

OR Mr. Gabriel Nwoke, things have actually F25-year-old fallen apart with the gruesome killing of his son Samuel Nwoke by unknown persons.

Immediately Nwoke was informed about the discovery of his son’s body in a gutter, the first suspect that came to his mind was one Mr. Christopher Ezenwaka, whom his late son dragged to the police station for allegedly owing him N8,000 being the fee for a plumbing work he did for him, just two days before his death.

The suspect, Christopher, is now in detention at the State Criminal Investigation Department, (SCID), Panti, Lagos.

Samuel’s father said his family did not deserve anything short of justice.

Narrating the story of what led to the death of his son to The Guardian, Nwoke said: “I returned from work in the afternoon that fateful Tuesday, June 18 and asked my wife about the whereabouts of my son. She said he had just left the house after he received a call, which she suspected to be from one of his clients. I was worried when at about 9.00p.m. he was yet to return home. I tried calling his number but it was switched off. Thinking he had gone for an “out side work”, because sometimes he would travel and stay a day or two before coming home, I relaxed.”

“By Friday of that week, someone advised me to go to the police station at Mangoro Estate and report the case, since the man my son worked for lives almost opposite the police post. I went and gave them his name and all the information about him. Later, one of the policemen called me. He said I should please come back to the police post. I went there and the policeman told me that the body of a young man was discovered in a gutter very close to the OPC post at Mangoro Estate. He said I should call one

The late Samuel Nwoke

Mr. Wale. I did and Mr. Wale told me to come on Monday because he didn’t work on Saturdays.

“That Monday, I went there at about 8.00a.m., and met Mr. Wale, who handed us over to an-

other police officer, who we went with to the Lagos State Mortuary, Yaba. On getting to the mortuary, we showed the card and the attendant went in and brought the corpse. It was the body of my son, but without his eyes and tongue. I went back to the police station and then told the officer that my son had been to the station before his death. The officer said he was not aware of that. He asked his men to check the register and get the name of the officer on duty that day. A female officer was called in to tell them what happened at the station that day. She said my son came to the station to report one Mr. Christopher Ezenwaka and to get some policemen to arrest him and when they got to his house, they did not meet him.

He continued: “We later hired a taxi and went to Shasha Police Station to see the Divisional Police Officer (DPO). The DPO assigned a police officer to go with me and arrest Christopher’s wife at her shop near the place where my son’s body was found, since we didn’t know where to get her husband. She was asked to call her husband; she did and was released as soon as he reported to the station in the evening.”

“A few days later, the DPO said I should go and get a photographer to take my son’s pictures at the mortuary. I went to Mangoro Bus Stop to get one, on getting there, the photographer told me that the elder brother to Christopher Ezenwaka called him at midnight the following day after my son was killed to come to Mangoro Estate to take some shots of the body of a young man lying dead in a gutter. He later showed me the pictures of my son’s dead body from his system.”

Nwoke said that the only thing that would console the family is if justice was done on the matter.

“At this point now, what I want done is justice. The police is doing well and I rely on them for this justice I crave.”

Film producers, marketers bemoan piracy at Ojo-Alaba International Market

By Wole Oyebade ORUBA Film Producers/Marketers Association (YFPMA) has, again, bemoaned activities of film pirates in Ojo-Alaba International Mrket, Lagos.

The association, in its petition to the Lagos State House of Assembly, said the illegal activities in OjoAlaba International Market – the Mecca of film pirates in the country – has become a threat to lives and capable of breaching peace in Lagos.

The film producers and marketers noted that the pirates now operate openly with impunity, without regard for constituted authority and patent owners.

According to them: “Their activi-

Y

ties have reduced our members to the state penury; with loss of millions of naira, while the pirates smile to the banks.”

The petitioners prayed the House to come to their aid by making a law to prohibit hawking of all entertainment products in Lagos State and to broker peace between the Alaba Union and the YFPMA, with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), stating the condition of relation between the parties.

They also appealed for an update of the Lagos State Illegal Distribution Law to meet the recent challenges posed by technology, since the state cannot legislate on Federal Piracy Law. Apparently not unaware of the

perennial activities of “piracy cabal” in the market, the lawmakers commiserated with the association. They observed that the petition again underscored the poor nature of law enforcement in the country.

The lawmakers in their observations were unanimous that Lagos State is handicapped in the matter, because piracy laws is on the exclusive list of the Federal Government, though they disagreed on the need to broker peace deal with “criminals” as prayed by the petitioners.

Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, however, noted that it was not in the character of the Lagos Assembly to refuse public

plea for peaceful mediation, especially in sensitive matter affecting the Nollywood industry.

In his words: “The filmmakers are suffering and we should really look into their pleas. We can also look at the Federal law on piracy, with the possibility of domesticating its provisions in Lagos state.

Between 50 – 60 per cent of all films in Nigeria are recorded in Lagos, so we need to do something,” he said.

The Assembly at the end urged its House Committee on Transport, Commerce and Industry and Committee on Judiciary and Public Petition to bring the parties and law enforcement agencies together to broker a truce.

N52m fraud: How Ladipo Market president defrauded association, by witness

By Bertram Nwannekanma

N Ikeja High Court in Lagos was Tuesday informed by a prosecution witness, Anthony Mark, that the former President of Aguiyi Ironsi International Market otherwise known as Ladipo Market, Jonathan Okoli, refused to remit the sum of N46million trade permit to Lagos State Motor Vehicle Association Agency (MVAA).

While being led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Anselem Ozioko, the witness said that the defendant only remitted payment of 430 shops in-

A

stead of about 1,500 shops in the market.

According to the witness: “In 2007 the Agency confirmed through the letter written to the association that he (defendant) only paid N700, 000 out of the N8.7m made that year.“ The witness also told the court that the letter indicated that the state government should collect N5, 000 instead of N5, 500 being paid by the market traders.

Mark said that apart from N5, 500 being paid to the MVAA the traders at each shop in the market also pay N12, 000 to Mushin

Local Council yearly.

The witness said the money paid for two years between 2008 and 2009 to the tune of N18.7million was diverted to the defendant’s personal account number.

According to the witness, the defendant failed to remit the sum of N8.5million collected from the traders in 2011 and 2012 to the state government instead, he diverted the money to his personal account number 126101014690.

It would be recalled that Jonathan Okoli was arraigned on April 22 by the EFCC on a three-count

charge of obtaining money by false pretences and stealing.

The EFCC counsel, Mr Anslem Ozioko, had alleged that the accused had between 2009 and 2010, obtained a total sum of N52 million from members of Aguiyi Ironsi International Market Traders Union.

Ozioko had said the money was entrusted to Okoli for the payment of Trade Permits and Auto Dealers fees, by members of the association.

He had alleged that the accused fraudulently diverted the money, instead of making the payments to the

Lagos State Government and the Mushin Local Government Council.

According to him, Okoli’s alleged offences contravened Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.

Ozioko had said it also contravened Section 390(8) (b) and (9) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

The offences for which Okoli is being charged attract between seven and 20 years imprisonment.

The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

From John Akubo, Dutse HE Jigawa State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC) has arrested a 73-year- old man identified as Ibrahim Hassan while defiling a seven-year- old boy (name withheld) in a bush at Bigidan town of BirninKudud Local Council of Jigawa State.

This was disclosed to newsmen by the state Commandant, Muhammad Gidado.

He said his men had been monitoring the movement of the suspect for nine days before they caught him in the act, adding that the suspect had admitted to have been sleeping with young boys.

The boy, according to the Commandant, also confessed that it was the fourth time the old man had carnal knowledge of him.

Gidado said a medical examination would be conducted to ascertain the condition of the boy this week.

T

Church programme OD’S Glorious Deliverance G Ministries will hold its three- day programme tagged ‘Fresh Fire’ at 39, Rasaki Tijani ,

by Pako Bus Stop, Igando Road, near fortune School, Ikotun, Lagos from Thursday, July 11, 2013 at 4.00pm,. and will continue on Friday (vigil) at 10p.m to end on Sunday, July 14 at 8:30am with thanksgiving Service. Host is Prophetess Gloria Emmanuel.

Dynamic Faith holds Wonders of Praise

HIS year’s Wonders of T Praise organised by Dynamic Faith Bible Church tagged: Paul & Silas holds at Isale-Iju Ogundimu Ajuwon Road, beside Dutum Petrol Station, Iju-Lagos Friday, July 19, 2013 from 6a.m.-6a.m.

Prophet J. O. Jegede is the host.

Giantnetwork for launch HE launch of the GiantnetT work.com, a subsidiary of Giants International Magazine, will hold on September 13, at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

Meanwhile, a pre-event press briefing holds today at its head office, 30 A, Afolabi Aina Street, behind Alade Market, off Alen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.

Fidau prayer for Baruwa HE death has occurred of T Mr. Raimi Baruwa of Isale Eko, Epetedo, Lagos. He died on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at the age of 70 and has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

Third day Fidau prayer was observed on Monday and the eighth day Fidau prayer holds on Saturday July 6, 2013 at Block 190, Flat 6, Abesan Estate, Ipaja, Lagos at 10.00a.m.

Bar

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

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14 | THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

TheGuardian 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 Global food waste and malnutrition HE alarm raised the other day by the United Nations and its organs over T massive loss and waste in the world’s food system as well as the rising cost of malnutrition to humanity, is one that should compel concerted global action. The Federal Government, its agencies and all Nigerians should also heed the warning.

“Think, Eat, Save: Reduce Your Foodprint” was the theme of the reflection on World Environment Day last month, when stakeholders lamented the pervasive culture of waste in global food management system.

While emphasizing the need for “environmentally sustainable and socially-equitable food systems,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon decried the fact that a third of all food produced does not even make it from the farm to the table. Besides being an affront to the hungry, this ugly scenario carries a massive environmental cost in terms of energy, land and water.

This is deemed all the more unacceptable by the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), which described as “unacceptably high” the cost of malnutrition to global economy arising from lost productivity and healthcare expenses. According to its newly launched annual publication The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA), malnutrition could account for as much as five per cent of the global gross domestic product, $3.5 trillion (approximately N560 trillion).

It stated further that beside the 870 million people who are afflicted with hunger, two billion are malnourished because of deficiencies in micronutrients. Of the 1.4 billion who are overweight, it stated, 500 million are obese, adding that 26 per cent of all children under five years of age are stunted, while 31 per cent suffer from Vitamin A deficiency.

In Nigeria, where many people are hungry, malnourished and afflicted with hitherto uncommon infirmities associated with poor food consumption and management, the message articulated by these reports is very instructive. And it is a challenge that the government of the day must rise up to.

Everyday, the media are replete with stories of food crises, deplorable health conditions and mortality rates that negate government’s reports on improved food security and provision of quality healthcare system.

Agricultural and food fairs showcasing breakthroughs are legion, and artificial progress in the food and agricultural sectors of the economy are often advertised at international summits. Yet, the challenges facing Nigeria are far from being addressed. Research studies from different quarters have shown that the prevalence of certain ailments, including diabetes, heart diseases, obesity, kidney impairment, amongst others, may be partly linked to dietary conditions.

What could be wrong? Why are Nigerians hungry? Why are they malnourished? And why are they unable to produce, let alone enjoy the rich variety of food nature has blessed them with?

Certainly, despite the many agriculturally rich belts traversing the country and the benefits they possess for adequate food cultivation, it is sad to note that Nigerians have not only failed to feed from their soil, they have acquired a consumerist culture that makes them depend on foreign foods.

So, the seeming food insecurity is a mockery of the abundantly rich variety of crops in Nigeria’s food system.

Furthermore, it is common knowledge that Nigerian public servants have unnecessarily flamboyant lifestyle, engage in needless luxury and vanity, and carry out imprudent and wasteful expenditures. This attitude is, of course, played out in the food choices they make and in the food management decisions they take. The result is a corrupt food security policy pursued by corrupt public servants. As such, the nation wastes a lot of money on imported food, fails to feed her citizens from her own riches and thereby remains wrongly fed.

To combat hunger and entrench a wholesome food culture that will bring back the right kind of food that Nigerians need for healthy living, government and stakeholders must ensure that those who are at the forefront of providing food for the nation, namely, the peasant farmers are given the right incentives to do their work. Since these farmers produce the largest proportion of the nation’s food, they should be protected and assisted by government. This assistance should make it possible for them to work with modern implements and gain more from their labour.

To complement the activity of the peasant farmers, authorities should also begin to mobilize the potential of the nation’s youths in driving food security. This, of course, would require innovative strategies, beginning with such incentives as would facilitate youth participation in agriculture.

It is one way to restate that Nigerians have no reason to be hungry or malnourished.

LETTERS

The other state of emergency “Those insurgents and terror- the Minister for Finance, Dr. holders no longer have the fear SourIR:istssecurity who take delight in killing Ngozi Okonjo Iweala alongside of being caught in the act, operatives, whoever the Governor of the Central they may be, wherever they may go, we will hunt them down, we will fish them out, and we will bring them to justice. We will do more, we will gun them down.”

Who would have believed the above statement was made by President Goodluck Jonathan, I mean the same man from Otuoke village in Bayelsa State.

But believe it or not, this is real; it is not one of those Nollywood movies having Jide Kosoko or Justus Esiri play the role of the President.

Whatever might have gingered this hidden side of President Jonathan is worth praising.

The President has taken a bold, long-awaited step towards curbing terrorism in the country and restoring law and order, but he shouldn’t stop there. The security sector is not the only area of our nationhood that requires state of emergency. In 2007, the late President Musa Yar’Adua declared a state of emergency in the power sector. I want to believe as President Jonathan said in his remembrance speech on the late President, that the then seven-point agenda was a blueprint for the transformation agenda. It’s been six years after that promise was made and not even a partial emergency rule has been declared in the power sector, a sector which has continuously brought ridicule and shame upon our national image both home and abroad.

The economic sector too deserves an urgent emergency rule. There have been talks and campaigns on macro and micro economic system being used,

Bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, have been on various platforms to explain the growth of our economy and forecast robust future output. But to an average Nigerian these are mere ‘wall street’ statements if they do not translate to massive employment and reduction in the price of vegetable and onions in the market.

Our sovereignty is not only being threatened by terrorists and insurgents but also the future and continuous existence of the country is under siege by corruption. The so much glorified anti-graft agencies have suddenly embarked on sound sleep. Political office

rather they see looting of public funds as part of their job description. The confidence of the public must be restored not just in politicians alone but misappropriation in every area of our national life. We require emergency rule, not one led by soldiers and men in ‘Khaki’ but one chaired by men and women of unquestionable character.

But the military must ensure the safety of innocent men and women who may come in the line of fire. Another episode of Baga would only make mockery of this declaration.

• Adekoya Boladale adekoyaboladale@gmail.com

When truth and objectivity matters IR: It is not surprising that Stinues pop star Justin Bieber conto have plenty of “Beliebers” throughout the world despite his recent meltdown.

Very little of what we believe today is based not on objective truth but on mere sophistries manufactured by the media, lobby groups, government and advertising companies. For all intents and purposes we live in a virtual world of fragmented images and halftruths.

In this virtual world, when we like a person we tend to praise that person’s most insignificant feats out of all proportion as well as make excuses for all the wrongs

they do. When we don’t like someone we tend to belittle their great achievements and even invent bad things about them that aren’t true. This is evident not only in our personal relationships with others but especially in the world of entertainment, religion and politics.

When objective truth, and with it morality dies we are left to our own devices and the sad result is a world of selfishness and false compassion – a world without love. The darker side of this spectrum is the stark reality of abortion, contraception, same-sex marriage, easy divorce, genetic manipulation and euthanasia, which is infecting the globe.

• Paul Kokoski, Ontario, Canada.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

15

Business Energy P55

Industry P52

Mixed fortune trailing Nigeria’s marginal field operations, say stakeholders

Common external tariff regime as elixir for industrial growth

Govt begins implementation of backward integration policy for sugar industry HE Federal Government, T yesterday, commenced the implementation of the Backward Integration Policy (BIP) in the sugar industry with the official signing off on the BIP plans and projects by three major sugar refineries in the country.

The event, which was chaired by the Minister of and Trade Industry, Olusegun Investment, Aganga, was attended by representatives of Dangote Sugar Refinery, BUA Group, Golden Sugar Refinery, the Health, of Ministries

National Planning and the Nigerian Customs Service, among others.

The Federal Executive Council had on October 19, 2012, approved the Nigerian National Sugar Masterplan.

The master plan is expected to generate about 170,000 new jobs across the country, ensure self sufficiency in sugar production, and conserve about $350 million yearly in foreign exchange.

According to the plan, the sugar industry is also expected to produce about 1,797,000 tonnes of the com-

modity yearly, while about 161.2 million litres of ethanol to be produced will generate 400 MW of electricity, among others.

Speaking during the signing off ceremony in Abuja, Aganga said the event marked the beginning of the nation’s journey towards sound industrialisation, in line with the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan.

He said: “Today marks the historic beginning of the journey towards our nation’s industrial revolution, which is based on the areas where

we have competitive and comparative advantage.

“Today is the demonstration that the implementation of the Backward Integration Policy in the Sugar industry, which is a critical part of National Sugar Master Plan, has started.”

The minister, who commended the sugar refiners for keying into the new sugar master plan, said the Federal Government was committed to implementing the policy in a fair, transparent and mutually beneficial manner.

“I am particularly delighted

Founder, Heirs Holdings Plc,Tony O Elumelu, (middle) with US President Barack Obama, during a tour of the Ubungo power plant near Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

MAN decries ‘unfair’power distribution From Abba Anwar, Kano HE Manufacturers T Association of Nigeria (MAN), North-West zone, has described power distribution in the zone as lacking in transparency and fairness, adding that the situation has become very pathetic The Vice-President of MAN North-West zone, Alhaji Ali Safiyanu Madugu, in a press conference at Kano Press Centre, yesterday, explained that “analysis of data on market activities report of May 2013,…indicated that Kano zone which comprises of Kano, Jigawa, Katsina and Niger Republic was given 77,047,790 Kw/h, which is about 100 megawatt and

3.6percent of the total allocation nationwide and ranked as second to the last.”

Madugu expressed dissatisfaction over how the distribution took place among the areas comprising the zone, saying that the amount was shared between the three states taking into consideration the standing order to supply to Niger Republic.

“As such, Kano alone has less than 50 megawatts to distribute to manufacturers, other businesses and the people of Kano State.

Meanwhile, Kano zone was ranked third in cash collection nationwide, despite the least allocation”, Madugu stressed.

He maintained that, Kano

zone would have done better in terms of production if the power sharing policy were strictly followed for effective distribution and efficient service delivery. Pointing out that the situation could if there was any plan discourages prospective investors that would want to buy Kano Distribution Companies (DISCOs).

“We are calling on the state government to stand and challenge this flagrant violation of the eight percent power allocation of total generation due to Kano with courage and audacity. After all, it is our right. Otherwise the remaining surviving industries and other businesses in Kano would be

threatened by the brazen collusion to stagnate and strangulate the economic development of Kano state”, Madugu pleaded.

Madngu further pointed out that in recent years, over 400 industries have closed shops in Kano. ‘’And more industries were on their way to also close down. “Power is the heart of manufacturing.

We, as manufacturers, are only trying to survive”.

The Governor of Kano state, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso earlier had earlier challenged the sale of Kano Distribution Companies, on the basis that the state was not contacted and when the bidding took place, no government official was invited.

that since the new sugar policy was announced, we have been encouraged by the commitment of sugar refiners towards supporting the implementation of the policy. For instance, the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has made some pronouncements on the company’s intention to invest about $2 billion to produce about 1.5 million metric tonnes of sugar.

“Currently, they are discussing with Adamawa, Kogi, Kebbi, Sokoto and Taraba. If this is successfully implemented, the level of economic transformation that will take place in these states will amaze you. Similarly, Golden Sugar Refinery plans to produce about 30 metric tons of sugar from about 13, 500 hectares of land in Niger state with an investment of close to N50billion, he said.

He added, “I want to commend the sugar refiners – Dangote Group, BUA Group and the Golden Sugar Refinery – that have shown commitment to this country by supporting the Backward Integration Policy. Each one of them have prepared their Backward Integration Plans which I know was not easy to do but they have done it as a way of demonstrating their commitment.

“Apart from the refiners, the farmers and out-growers are all part of the value chain.

Our job is to make sure that the policy is rigorously implemented in a fair manner to all the parties involved.”

According to Aganga, an inter-ministerial committee will be set up to monitor the implementation of the poli-

cy.

According to him, “the policy is not about the sugar council and the Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment. We have an inter-ministerial group involved in the implementation of the Sugar Master Plan.

Just as we did with the implementation of the BIP in the cement industry, we will also have industry participants as part of the committee for the implementation team that will monitor the gap between what we are producing and what the demand is in the country so that when we make the allocations.

“The allocation will take into consideration the strong evidence that the refiners are committed to the BIP. This means that they must have their farms and must be working together with the farmers to produce sugar cane. We will look at these things rigorously in the implementation of the new sugar policy because that is the key driver to the success of the policy.”

The representative of Dangote Group, Joseph Makoju, said, on behalf of the companies, that the refiners would work with the Federal Government to ensure the successful implementation of the policy.

“We want to commend the minister for his relentless efforts towards making Nigeria the preferred investment destination in Africa and globally. We are happy with the minister’s passion and commitment for supporting local production as against importation”, he added.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

16 BUSINESS

At CIS forum, govt reiterates plan to boost power generation From Abosede Musari, Abuja HE Federal Government T has unfolded plans to add 4,000 megawatts of electricity to the national grid by December 2013.

The government has also finalised arrangement to pay the severance benefits of 44,000 verified workers of the Power Holdings Company of Nigeria (PHCN), by end of July.

Minister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo said yesterday in Abuja, while speaking at a breakfast meeting organized to mark the second yearly workshop of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) titled “Transformation Agenda 2: The real issues in the Power, Housing and Energy sectors of the economy” , that the preferred bidders for 10 GenCos and five DisCos have paid the initial 25 per cent of the bid price and

that the remaining 75 per cent would be paid after the settlement of labour issues.

“It’s expected that over time, the new successor companies will be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange”, he said.

The minister added that currently, the country has an installed generation of 9,920MW as at December 2012 with available generation capability of 6,522MW. Nigeria has peak available power of 4,517MW and 4,773MW is expected to be added from the NIPP projects, 292MW from Independent Power Projects (IPPs) and 514MW from FGN legacy assets before end of 2013. “We are also investing to boost generation through small, medium and large hydros with total capacity of 4,234MW”, he added.

As for the PHCN workers, the minister said:” Let me

• PHCN workers to get severance benefit this month clarify that government is not laying off PHCN workers but rather, workers are being severed from public service employment to enable them migrate to the private sector.

These erstwhile PHCN workers will be trained and be part of the new energy sector”.

Director-General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Arunma Oteh who gave the keynote address at the workshop described housing as critical to the growth of the nation’s economy as it will serve as a sure avenue by which all Nigerians can acess loans for business, stressing that all Nigerians should own homes.

She also called on oil and gas companies; especially Shell, to get listed on the

Nigerian Stock Exchange .

Getting oil and gas companies to enlist on the market will give Nigerians the access to participate in the successes of these companies”, she said.

President of CIS, Muritala

Olushekun, said that the market recorded a substantial increase of N12.6 trillion in June; a performance which placed it among the best performing stock exchanges in the world.

He added that the work-

shop will serve as an imput into national budget and will influence policy making in the country. At last year’s workshop, “the focus was telecommunications and power sectors. Housing and energy sectors are the focus this year. We will also address power, oil and gas”, he said.

Forbes, Aganga laud C’River’s rising investment profile HE Chief Executive Officer T of Forbes, Steve Forbes and Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga have commended Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, for creating the environment that has seen the state emerging the preferred destination for investment in the country.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Cross River last year alone was put at over $2 billion.

About two weeks ago, General Electric (GE), the third biggest company in the world, performed a groundbreaking for its manufacturing and

assembly facility in Calabar as part of a $1billion investment in the Nigerian economy.

Speaking at the launch of Ebonylife TV, Africa’s first global Black and Entertainment Network in Lagos on Sunday, Forbes said he was impressed by how Imoke is transforming Cross River into Nigeria’s investment hub.

Ebonylife TV, owned by Mo Abudu, transmits from Studio Tinapa in Calabar.

“Let me congratulate the Governor for his achievements. I am very impressed by what he is doing,” Forbes said.

Also, Aganga said it was not coincidence that investors

have been streaming into Cross River State in recent months.Rather, he attributed the trend to deliberate policies put in place by the Imoke administration.

According to him, “if the investment is in palm plantation, it goes to Cross River. If it is in heavy machinery like we saw with GE, it goes to Cross River. Imoke is an investorfriendly governor.”

GE’s Vice-President had echoed similar sentiments when he said his company chose Cross River because “it is easy to figure out and the Governor makes things easy for investors.”

Acting Director General PenCom Pension, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Stockb Brokers, Mr. Muritala A. Olushekun and Director General Securities and Exchange Commission SEC, Ms. Aruman Oteh during the 2nd Annual National Workshop of CIS held at the Trancorp Hilton Abuja.

Shell raises alarm over rising crude oil theft, spills in Bayelsa field

By Sulaimon Salau HE Shell Petroleum T Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) operated Joint Venture has recorded eight crude oil theft and sabotage related spill incidents in Adibawa field in the Niger Delta between January and June this year.

The Corporate Media Relations Manager, SPDC, Tony Okonedo, in a statement yesterday said nearly 500 barrels of oil were spilled into the environment from these incidents.

The Adibawa field straddles Biseni, Edagberi and Ikarama communities, but Okonedo alleged that majority of the spills were caused when unknown persons inflicted extensive hacksaw cuts on crude pipelines.

“A joint team comprising regulators, government

ministries, SPDC and communities investigated each of the spills and confirmed their findings in signed-off reports,” he stated.

The latest spills, according to him, occurred on the Adibawa - Okordia pipeline at Ikarama on 24th May and 4th June respectively. The largest individual spilled volume of 447 barrels came from the June incident.

He stressed that investigation is continuing into another spill, which occurred on the Adibawa North East flowline at Biseni on 22nd May. “In line with its spill response strategy and at the earliest opportunity, SPDC shut down the pipelines, mobilised teams to the site of the incidents for containment and recovery of spilled oil. Cleanup of impacted areas is planned for later in the year,” he stated.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

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THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

18, BUSINESS

Renewable sources to surpass gas by 2016 in the global power mix

By Roseline Okere OWER generation from hydro, wind, solar and other renewable sources worldwide will exceed that from gas and be twice that from nuclear by

P

2016, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), second yearly MediumTerm Renewable Energy Market Report.

According to IEA, despite a dif-

ficult economic context, renewable power is expected to increase by 40 per cent in the next five years. Renewable are now the fastest-growing power generation sector and will

make up almost a quarter of the global power mix by 2018, up from an estimated 20 per cent in 2011. The share of nonhydro sources such as wind, solar, bioenergy and geother-

mal in total power generation will double, reaching eight per cent by 2018, up from four per cent in 2011 and just two per cent in 2006.

IEA Executive Director Maria

van der Hoeven, said as she presented the report at the Renewable Energy Finance Forum in New York, that as their costs continue to fall, renewable power sources are increasingly standing on their own merits versus new fossilfuel generation. This is good news for a global energy system that needs to become cleaner and more diversified, but it should not be an excuse for government complacency, especially among OECD countries.”

Even as the role of renewable increases across all sectors, the IEA cautions that renewable development is becoming more complex and faces challenges – especially in the policy arena. In several European countries with stagnating economies and energy demand, debate about the costs of renewable support policies is mounting. In addressing these issues, Van der Hoeven warned, “policy uncertainty is public enemy number one” for investors: “Many renewable no longer require high economic incentives. But they do still need long-term policies that provide a predictable and reliable market and regulatory framework compatible with societal goals,” she stated.

Kwara to upgrade tourism sites

By Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin.

HE Kwara State Commissioner for Social Development, Culture and Tourism, Elder Samuel Bamisaiye, has promised prompt elevation of existing tourist centres in the state towards boosting the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

These include Patigi Regatta and Soap Stones in Esie in Irepodun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara.

Bamisaiye added that hotel industry and business would also be given favourable governmental policies as it remained one of the most strategic aspects of tourism that could be used to lift the state economic profile from the doldrums.

The commissioner made these disclosures yesterday at the official commissioning of JOOA Hotel, Shao in the Moro LGA of the State.

According to him, “tourism is seen as one of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) an initiative which calls for a concerted efforts on the part of both the government and individuals in order to join hands together with any would be stakeholders and organisers of such ventures in order to make our nation a destination choice for various kinds of tourists from anywhere across the world.

“Private initiatives must be allowed to thrive and such practitioners should team up with our various government to explore and develop the high tourism potential in our country. Very soon, major tourist centres in the state will be upgraded as promised by the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed.”

Bamisaiye however stressed that his ministry would continue in its efforts of monitoring and supervising the activities of all Resort Centres, Hotels and Recreation joints in order to retain in the operators best practices capable of turning the state into a haven for tourists world over.

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THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

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BUSINESS

NEITI lauds appeal tribunal’s judgment on $83.4m tax

By Sulaimon Salau HE Nigeria Extractive T Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has applauded the recent bold decision of the Tax Appeal Tribunal which ordered ExxonMobil to remit $83.4 million into the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) account.

The judgment by the Tax Appeal Tribunal represented Education Tax liability of the company to the Federation during the year 2008.

The Director, Communications, NEITI, Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, in a statement yesterday, said NEITI finds the courageous judgment as a fundamental positive development in its efforts to draw national attention to the findings and recommendations on the issues of underpayment and underassessment in royalties, taxes, signature bonuses, rents, clearly exposed by its independent audit reports of the oil and gas sector, over the years.

“This judgment is also a vindication of the findings of the NEITI 2006 -2008 independent audit of the Oil and Gas sector. In that audit NEITI clearly revealed that Mobil owed $83.28 million Education Tax for 2008.

However, before this litigation and landmark judgment by the Tax Appeal Tribunal, Mobil had insisted that it had no Education Tax liability to the Federation,” he stated.

It is on record that NEITI has consistently alerted the nation that out of $9.8 billion uncovered by its audit reports as the difference between what was paid and what government received, only $2 billion has been recovered through NEITI efforts, leaving a balance of $7.8 in the hands of companies.

The industry watchdog therefore described the judgment as a wake-up call for government agencies to rise up to the challenge and engage companies to remit outstanding revenues due to government.

“It is noteworthy that the judgment is coming at a time when Nigeria through the Petroleum Industry Bill, the European Union member countries, United Kingdom and United State are putting in place stringent regulations to compel extractive industry companies to embrace contract transparency, due diligence and corporate social responsibility.

“With this judgment by the Tax Appeal Tribunal, NEITI hereby renews its appeal to all relevant government agencies that are responsible for collection and management of oil, gas and mining revenues to engage companies on issues of payments of all outstanding

debt owed to the Federation as already identified by NEITI independent audit reports now in the public domain,” it added NEITI however, stressed the need to use NEITI independent audit reports to recover funds arising from underpayments and underassessment of taxes, rents and royalties has become a national priority, at this time that the Federal Government is in search of funds to finance budget deficits and rebuilding of the Country’s social infrastructure.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Afromedia Plc, Akinlola Irewunmi Olopade (middle); Chairman, Dr. Onaolapo Soleye (right); the directors, Patrick Nwabunie and Alhaji Mohammed Gobir, at the 47th yearly general meeting of the company in Lagos.

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MoneyWatch Global payments’ development: Imperatives, successes Payment reforms and central banks’ roles in stabilizing the monetary economy of various countries have been in the front burner of discussions on global financial system. But curiously, the drumbeats have become louder of recent, with significant emphasis on situational factors driving the system in Nigeria. CHIJIOKE NELSON writes.

HE glitz, razzmatazz, glamour and realities T associated with reforms in the global payments systems have been reckoned with, especially in our country where the cash-less project has taken the lead in the scheme of things. Yes, the reform has “come, seen” but the third stage“conquer” is still trudging and we cannot rule it out entirely. So far, the challenges are thereleadership issues, infrastructure, literacy level, right product development, attitude, among others, yet the nation’s payments systems are no longer the same.

The second phase of the cash-less Nigeria, which was piloted in Lagos, has just taken off, with Abia, Anambra, Rivers, Ogun, Kano states and the Federal Capital Territory in the purview. But a top official of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said that the apex bank was also working to ensure that the challenges experienced in the first phase are mitigated in this second phase. But, why the much emphasis on payment systems’ reforms, especially the cashless project in the case of Nigeria? What are the global perspectives?

Recently, at the conference on cash-less initiative, with the theme: “Nigeria Transiting to a Cash-less Society: Charting the Way Forward,” organized by DeNovo Limited and Reach Legal Consulting, in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in Lagos, the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, said that the ideals of a cash-less economy should be vigorously pursued, as the system offers a better management of the societal ills bordering on money laundering, among others. He said that transiting to a cash-less society means moving to a system that is more efficient and safer, in which most transactions are conducted, not with “Ghana-Must-Go” bags any more.

According to him, Lagos is at the forefront of this transition in Nigeria as the CBN chose the state for the pilot run of the policy. “There are various reasons why the transition to a cashless society can no longer be ignored. Some of these reasons include safety, reduced cost of cash management and to enhance the speed of doing business. It is easier to track online transactions and thus prevent money laundering and other fraudulent practices. The government has both participatory and supportive roles to play in the success of the transition to a cashless society and the first and important way through which this can be done is by implementing policies and laws that creates an enabling environment for it to thrive. In Lagos state, we have started passing legislation on the cash- less system. Primarily, we are trying to ensure that we have laws in place to protect both the users and the providers.”

But the apex bank said that the cash-less project currently undergoing several phases in the country is one of its intervention strategies in the country, as central banks all over the world are now at the centre of development of various banking and payment systems to ensure stability.

The Deputy Governor, Operations, CBN, Tunde Lemo, said that the initiative is imperative, given the fact that an efficient payments system enhances financial inclusion, effective transmission mechanism of monetary policy and overall financial stability.

“This is because the cost of cash and associated risk of a cash-driven economy to Nigeria’s financial system were high. Just this month, we went live on cheque truncation nationwide, thereby making cheque payments to clear within a clearing cycle of T+1. The CBN has licensed about 18 mobile payment operators to offer payment services via the mobile phone that over 100 million Nigerian are carrying.”

Lemo added that CBN has been at the forefront in the reformation of the banking and payments system in the country, including the development and launching of the Payments System Vision 2020 document in 2007, aimed at providing a roadmap for efficient payments system infrastructure that would be nationally utilized and internationally recognized.

He explained that the cash-less policy was designed to promote financial intermediation, financial inclusion, minimise revenue leakages and increase revenue generation, reduce inci-

dences of robbery and amount of cash payments in the system by encouraging electronic payments.

Also, the World Bank’s Payment Systems and Remittances Specialist, Carlo Corazza, said that going electronic in payments systems can save about 75 per cent of costs usually associated with cash-based regime, which is huge, especially in this era of stretched resources.

According to him, the system has also lowered the costs associated with physical barriers in international trade, making it easier for accessing financial services in other countries.

Corazza, in his presentation titled: “Global Payments Systems Development and Successes: World Bank Perspective,” noted that payment and settlement systems facilitate access to financial services, safe transfer of funds, mitigation of financial crises by reducing settlement risks and by extension, determine the price and efficiency of sending/receiving money by migrants to their families in international remittance systems.

Corazza said that a poor national payments system imposes a constraint upon financial institutions in many developing countries, hindering efforts to offer financial/payment services and to serve the under- served segments (hinders financial inclusion drive). It also creates risk that can threaten the financial system.

He also noted that the adoption of Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) worldwide has risen from 10 in early ‘90s to 116+ in 2010, leading to improved risk management in interbank settlement and increased financial stability of the individual nation’s financial system Explaining the how the system enhances efficiency and effectiveness for the society, he said that regardless of a country’s stage of economic development, all governments make payments to and collect payments from individuals and businesses. Presently the estimate is put at 15 to 45 per cent of Gross Domestic Product. (GDP).

“However, only 25 per cent of low-income countries worldwide process cash transfers and social benefits electronically, noting that a 2010 study estimates that the Indian government could potentially save Rs 1,000 billion (1.6 per cent of GDP) by moving all of its payments to electronic non-cash mechanisms.

“A more intensive usage of electronic- based instruments against cash can produce a potential saving to the country of 0.7 per cent of the GDP per year, releasing resources to the economy, according to Central Bank of Brazil. At launch, the Single European Payments Area (SEPA) project was estimated to bring benefits

as high as 123 billion euros over a period of six years.” This could be averaged at 20.5 billion euros (about N4.8 trillion) yearly savings. Even the European Central Bank noted that retailers incur 46 per cent of the social cost of retail payments, due to high usage cost of cash-based transactions.

At the global efforts, led by the World Bank, interventions at the country level are bringing down the cost of remittance services put at $33.87 billion (about N5.3 trillion saved).

Improving financial infrastructure is an innovative way to lower costs and physical barriers for accessing financial services However, the usage of innovative payment products is still low and innovative products are important for financial inclusion in over 14 per cent of the jurisdictions, which report that a majority of the users had access only to innovative retail payment products, according to World Bank’s Global Payment Systems Survey.

However, retail payment systems in developing countries still lag behind significantly when compared to those of developed countries. Perhaps, this may be the reason to support the current reforms in the nation’s payment system. While there is 100+ per capita cashless transactions per year in the European Union and15 to 20 for East Asian Pacific (EAP) countries, there is less than one for Africa. The challenges are further aggravated by access (cost, geographic coverage, lack of coherent national payments strategy, parlous infrastructure, inefficient payment instruments, customer attitude and confidence in electronic payments.

Financial Inclusion Financial inclusion is universal access, at a reasonable cost, to a wide range of financial services, provided by a variety of sound and sustainable institutions. Greater financial inclusion gives people more power over their lives and it is a means to an end – to help reduce poverty and meet other social and economic development objectives. Perhaps, this is what the payment system reform in the country is targeting, if only the clogs in the wheels of its progress would be overcome.

To achieve financial inclusion’s objective, as part of the overall payment system reform, a comprehensive strategy would be adopted to develop retail payments. Still, innovative payment solutions can help, at least. to tackle one piece of the value chain.

To achieve this, the World Bank survey prescribed that the market for retail payments should be transparent, have adequate protection of payers and payees’ interests, and be cost-

effective; • retail payments require reliable underlying financial, communications and other types of infrastructure; • retail payments should be supported by a sound, predictable, non- discriminatory and proportionate legal and regulatory framework; • competitive market conditions should be fostered in the retail payments industry, with an appropriate balance between cooperation and competition • retail payments should be supported by appropriate governance and risk management practices; • public authorities should exercise effective oversight over the retail payments market and consider direct interventions where appropriate Efficiency and Customer Considerations As part of the retail payment system, these should contribute to the overall effort to enhance the efficiency of the sector. This means that one of the objectives of regulation should be to ensure that the benefits on any improvement in the retail payment space accrue to the end-users and the economy in general, without creating un-justifiable rents in some part of the value chain.

Independently of the kind of commercial relationship between the provider and the user of the service, either durable or occasional, rules on transparency and protection of customers must be granted The establishment of an effective oversight function on payment systems and services is instrumental to foster the adoption of electronic payments, including mobile money.

Integrating the Agenda on Remittances Leading Group of Eight (G-8) and now Group of 20 (G-20) remittance work, in adoption of remittance, targets higher price reduction as its objective. The groups have also created global standards for efficient remittance markets together with the relevant standards.

Assessment/implementation programmes have covered over 20 countries.

They also target hosting the Secretariat of the Global Remittance Working Group, an international monitoring and coordination body and operating Remittance Prices Worldwide, a global survey and database of remittance prices that is used to monitor G8 and G20 targets; Coordinating/certifying a number or regional/national databases, among others. The question still overhang is “Where will we (Nigeria) be when these are achieved?”

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

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Human Capital Development in Transport:

An Investment for future Success Paper presented at the National Induction Programme of the institute of Transport Administration Nigeria (IOTA) JUNE, 2013

By Gbadamosi Kolawole, T. Ph.D RANSPORT systems are the response to the T ever growing need for contacts between individuals and societies and for the movement of commodities as part of national and global economies. Spatial movement of individuals and of goods and services create demands that are met through the transportation. That the transport sector has had a remarkable impact on economy of all nations and the lifestyles of its citizens is undeniable fact more so that the quality of life depends heavily on a safe and efficient transportation system. The responsible and efficient operation of the nation’s transportation system depends on a well-trained workforce. Successfully addressing transportation workforce issues requires a collective effort involving the relevant agencies, the federal government, the private sector, and a wide range of academic institutions, as well as the transportation professional bodies as IOTA. Personnel needs transport sector-as part-of the resources for driving the sector require adequate training on various aspects of its activities. The current art of personnel needs in the transport sector in the country point to that fact that there is shortage of expertise in transport due to lack of institutional recognition for transport professionals in the scheme of things. This paper addresses the

ated, activities of clearing and forwarding analytical competence cannot be overemhuman resources needs and skills requirements in transport as a strategy for human cap- phasized in meeting the current exigency of agents are bound to increase. All these will transportation of goods across the globe and require well equipped and trained personnel. ital development. . local entity.

Personnel Needs for transport Sector to thrive The outlook of personnel in the transport sec- Factors influencing Change in the pattern of Human capital need in Transport tor in the country point to the fact that it’s The Nigerian transport has grown to become A number of factors have been identified as key one big industry with many separate interrelat- diverse and disintegrated nature of skills coupled with the disorientation and lack of factors that determine the future workforce ed sectors operating as a system. The overall professional coordination is responsible for among which we have the rapid pace of techimportance of the transport is attested to by the fact that whether taken as a whole or disag- the low level personnel productivity a situa- nological change, globalization, aging of the population, Diversification of the economy, tion which can only be overcome with the gregated in terms of oil and non- oil traffic, it spatial expansion of the physical landscape. accounts for over virtually all physical carriage creation of awareness through medium designed to achieve a target set for sustainpositively to the growth of trade and comable growth in the overall interest of the sec- 1. Technological Change merce, employment and job opportunities, The Internet and Web-based communications tor. industrial growth and development, revenue Wireless communication systems The world is currently undergoing an generation, international relation and coexistence and institutional development in the country. emerging trend that calls for improved level Information technologies Advanced control systems of service delivery and personnel needs in The transport sector in Nigeria over the years transport. New areas of operation with diver- The elimination of some jobs and the creation has grown extensively in terms of sification in forward and backward integra- of others Technicalities and diversity of operation as such requires highly skilled personnel and pro- tion, more service providers are diversifying Costs and productivity benefits of technology fessional. . Invariably to develop and sustain the in new allied services for providing multiple services to customers under one roof. This is 2. Globalization industry would require appropriate planning obvious with the globalization trend in the Migration of some jobs to foreign locations for the human element that would make the process of goods sales with several national Competition for highly skilled workers industry achieve the desired result. Effective Greatly reduced transportation and communitraining of personnel constitutes major compo- and international players consolidation in cation costs the market. nent in the development of human resources The word as turned to be a global village with The growing volatility of some market segin the country’s transport sector. ments the influence of globalization of the world economy. With globalization it is expected Skills Required in Transport Operation 3. Aging of the Population and other The diversity in the application of the transport the country will witness the emergence of large distribution centers Demographic Trends sector in the overall operation of human socito handle higher volumes. The need for the The aging population and workforce eties with diverse nature of services to be proThe loss of experienced workers due to retirecountry to be part and benefit from pan vided regarding the spatial transfer of goods and services requires multi-talented personnel. Nigeria coverage will require increasing the ment The global needs for specialized personnel with number of warehousing facilities to be operCONTINUED ON PAGE 24

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THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Maritime industry as strategic driver for national economic development A PAPER BY OVBUDE F.O ET me use this medium to express my gratitude to the planning committee of NIMAREX for availing me the rare privilege of using this platform to share my views with you 0 the theme “Maritime Industry as a Strategic Driver for national Economic Development”.

This certainly, is an auspicious moment to bring to the fore a discourse that would contribute towards Government’s quest to diversity its revenue generation base by harnessing the resources in the maritime industry in tandem with Mr. President’s transformation agenda.

It was Leonardo Da Vinci that said “He who loves to practice without theory is like me sailor that boards a ship without a compass’.

Permit me, therefore, to ask this question: What is maritime industry? Pedestrian as this question may sound; it is interesting to note that it is only in situating it, that the reach and importance of this industry to the economic

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From the Desk of the DIRECTOR GENERAL Dear Readers , ELCOME to our bi- weekly journal on W Maritime issues. This edition has an interesting mix of activities.

June was a busy month for us. We had our Popular ‘ABC of Shipping’ Training Course on the 5th- 7th June and it was a worthwhile experience for all participants. Last week, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping held a three day second edition Workshop on ‘Understanding Cabotage and Local Content in the Oil and Gas Industry’ (UCLC) at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island Lagos. The course covers every aspect of maritime industry needs, from vessel/ Contract Funding to working with the IOC’s. The workshop had a full complement of Maritime/ Shipping experts, key industry resource persons including the Lagos Commissioner for Energy and Mineral resources, Hon. Engr. Taofiq Ajibade Tijani, who was represented by Mr. Dare Omole, Mr. Uche Nwokedi (SAN), Principal Counsel, Uche Nwokedi & Co Legal, R/ And GSA. Ombo (Rtd) Former Flag Officer Commanding, Sir Peter Olorunfemi, CEO, Peter Maritime Consulting Services, Naval training Command, Mr Dele Moses Olaoye, MD Q-She Limited, A.K. Addulkadir Esq, Victor Ekejuru, Assistant Director CVFF, NIMASA, Barr (Mrs) Ekeoma Ezeibe, MD/CEO Crystal Trust Insurance brokers Ltd, Sampson S. Chima, Registrar, Nigerian Institute of Shipping/ Maritime Consultant, Capt. Labinjo Executive Secretary Nigerian Indigenous Ship-owners Association, Mr. A. A. Bello and Engr. Ali Lawal of NDCMB, who represented the Executive Secretary, NCBMB, Engr. Enerst Nwapa and more. We had a full house of participants from different corporate organisations involved in maritime business; financial institutions, legal firms and a host of others.

This week, we have a paper presented by Gbadamosi Kolawole, titled ‘Human Capital Development in Transport: An Investment for future Success’. We also have another paper titled ‘Maritime Industry as a Strategic Driver for National Economic Development’.

We have included in this edition workshop communiqué and a presentation made by the best group at our last Workshop on ‘Understanding Cabotage and Local Content in the Oil and Gas Industry’ (UCLC). Including also is a presentation made by Mr Uche Nwokedi (SAN), on Legal Issues within the Cabotage and Local Content Regimes.

Once more, we hereby reiterate that competitiveness must be part of maritime operations in Nigeria. All must be done to ensure best practices and professionalism.

We hope you enjoy our package. We promise to bring issues that greatly affect us in the Maritime Sector. Have a nice week.

God Bless.

Ify Anazonwu- Akerele Director General Nigerian Chamber of Shipping

well being of any endowed nation can be appreciated.

Maritime industry includes all enterprises engaged in the business of designing, constructing, manufacturing, acquiring, operating) supplying, repairing and /or maintaining vessels, or component parts thereof: of managing and/or operating Shipping lines, stevedoring, customs brokerage services} shipyards, dry docks, marine railways, marine repair shops, shipping and freight forwarding services and similar enterprises.

These enterprises can be associated with various parastatals and agencies representing government in the public sector or other players

and companies in the private sector. The maritime industry is an important industry as it is a major service provider to other industries and a major contributor to the nation’s wealth.

Activities in the maritime industry fall under the water transport mode.

What is development? The meaning of “development” has always been as varied as t e parameters used in measuring it. What is clear however is that it generally refers to desirable social and economic progress i.e. that’’... certainly, development must mean improvement in living conditions, for which economic growth and industrialization are essential’’ The level of economic development of a state,

therefore, is majorly influenced by the development and efficiency of its transportation Infrastructure} which facilitates the relocation of goods and services from areas of production to areas of consumption.

Sea transport has been globally adjudged the most cost effective way of moving goods across economic and geographical boundaries. The history of most of the world’s dominant economies has been associated with access to the sea and development of sea transport. Even countries without natural endowments, except the advantage of location CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

Human Capital Development in Transport: An Investment for future Success CONTINUED FROM PAGE Changes in workforce composition; increasing participation of underrepresented groups Population growth, suburban and exurban growth, and related travel impacts Strategic Workforce Planning Process: Concepts and Principles In the analysis of motivation, McGregor (1973) discussed four needs of man. These are psychological and safety needs, social needs, ego needs and self- fulfillment needs. The first two are classified as lower needs while the last two are higher needs, the latter are further classified. The egoistic needs are of two kinds: Needs that relate to one’s self esteem needs for self-confidence, independence, achievement, competence and knowledge Needs that relate to one’s reputation- needs for status, recognition, appreciation and deserved respect of colleagues Self-fulfillment needs are for realizing one’s own potentials, for continued self-development and for being creative. These higher needs are rarely satisfied and man indefinitely seeks to satisfy them in an attempt to be more relevant to the needs of the society.

The ability of an organization to meet these needs motivates and effectively mobilizes the employee into the effective performance-satisfaction relation postulated by Simon Model and Peter- Lawler (Schwabs and Gummings, 1973). The model cautions against entropy or the ‘running down’ of the level of employee motivation that is sustained by past reward and aspiration level.

These authors accept the theory of work adjustment and attribute high performance levels to the improvements in ‘abilities and traits’ through selection and training processes’. They suggest a “role for performance appraisal and salary admin-

istrator in increasing employee performance levels”.

Follow-up training and appraisal of employees and supervisors on the job have been advocated in order to enhance performance and satisfaction (pigirs, Myers and Malm, 1973,) The nature of training needs and results should be carefully analyzed in order to achieve the objective of improving the performance of personnel in the transport sector. It has been observed that shortage of man power is “a serious setback to the implementation of national transport development programme because of neglect in training and development in the area” (Adebisi, 1988).

In our attempt to chart a sustainable course for the transport sector in the future it is important we focus more on the core principle of professional development of the transport sector as we have in some other sectors as this is the only way we can bring sanity to the sector. Professionalism of the sector is strategy towards guarantee of the productivity in the transport sector in meeting the highest standards of competence and commitment to strengthen the transport sector personnel core competence on a sustainable basis The core competencies of an organization are the collective knowledge, skills, and abilities that set the organization apart from others and without which it cannot accomplish its primary mission or business and realize its desired outcomes. Core competencies reflect how an organization chooses to accomplish its mission. The development of core competence in the transport sector will require the following strategies: Pursue formal academic opportunities Commitment to continuous learning, skills development and application of new knowledge on new technique.

Encourage registration with professional bodies in transport to enhance growth of individuals with capacity for skills and competencies with attendance at training and retraining sessions like this.

Promote ethical operation in the sector.

The purpose of the development of core competence in the sector is to ensure that the sector has require human resources it needs to accomplish its

mission. Practitioners and professional bodies in transport field must as a matter of urgency assess the nature and the content of its current and future personnel capacity and the kind of workforce required to perform it. They must identify and react the social, technical, economic, political, and environmental factors that may change the sectors mission or priorities. Tracking these changes and evaluating how they affect workforce needs help identify gaps to be addressed. These gaps form the basis for actions aimed at providing the needed for future capacity of the sector. The workforce planning addresses four key issues: Identifying the composition and content of a personnel. Strategically positioned to deal with possible future situations and business objectives in the sector. identifying the specific capability gaps-including any special skills required by possible future situations between the current and future workforces Preparing recruiting and training plans for permanent and contingent staff that address these gaps, and Determining what functions or processes can and should be out-sourced and how this will be done.

Conclusion The current technological advances in transportation with reference to all modes coupled with improvement in the telecommunication sector will continue to provide support for the growth of international commerce. It is important to note’ that it is of essence that training need of personnel in transport should include understanding of the differences across borders in terms of employment laws, labour market conditions, the employees should learn the work around the world together more so that certain aspect of transport sector operation are guided by international regulations.

It is important to note that the current diversification of transport infrastructure in the Lagos area, the Federal capital territory is a pointer to likely future upsurge in the manpower need of the country.

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CompuLife British Airways e-tags passengers’ luggage EGINNING from this month, British Airways (BA) is expected B to commence a new electronic bag tag system that eliminates the use of paper tag on luggage.

Minister of Communications Technology, Omobola Johnson (right); Permanent Secretary, Communications Technology Ministry, Henry Akpan and the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Eugene Juwah, at a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos.

Internet group canvasses zonal frequency allocation for broadband spread

By Adeyemi Adepetun S Nigeria matches towards realising its set out broadband strategy, the need for regional frequency allocation has been stressed.

This was the submission of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), which also canvassed for more infrastructures for better service delivery and expansion.

Already, the Federal Government, through the recommendation of the Presidential Broadband Committee has set out a five year (2013-2018) strategy for massive broadband expansion in the country.

Beside, government said it is also targeting an 80 per cent increase in Nigeria’s 3G penetration.

But, the president of NIG, Mr. Bayo Banjo believed that for improved broadband reach across the country, there should be zonal frequency allocation.

Banjo, in an interaction with journalists, said having frequency on a zonal basis is the most critical issue if the country must achieve its broadband target.

He explained that the previous frequency allocation exercise in which only big companies situated in cities like Lagos, Abuja and probably Port Harcourt have access didn’t really work, stressing that there were service issues including interconnect challenges.

“The challenge is that an area like Sokoto will have that frequency tied up and it will be very unlikely that those companies will ever reach there in the next 10 years. However, if allocation were made on small zones basis, there won’t be need for them to apply for national licenses and secondly, their licenses can be revoked if they don’t work in those areas.

“For instance if that frequency was allocated also to Sokoto, am sure an indigene of that state will take it up and have broadband service delivered in those areas. But, we believe that the present Nigerian Communications Commission is looking at that”, he stated.

Indeed, Banjo said good investment in telecoms infrastructure, like broadband, was very important considering the multiplier effect it would have on the Nigerian people and the economy at large.

He said various funds being committed to some projects in

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the sector, like the rural telephony project, could have been used to build ducts for the channelling of broadband in the country.

The NIG boss said bandwidth was technically free, but its high cost over the years was as a result of the cost of transportation.

According to him, the involvement of the private sector investors in bringing in fibre optics and satellite facilities has made it imperative to attach some cost elements to the infrastructure as such investors needed to recoup their investments.

Speaking on the development of the Internet in Nigeria, he said, “The roles of the Internet have changed. There is now the need for government laws that protect intellectual property and innovations. This will help entrepreneurs to flourish in the sector. This has been relatively successful in the country’s entertainment industry.”

Banjo explained that government needed to find a way to reduce the cost of bandwidth to enable the private sector provide infrastructure.

In proffering solutions, he said, “Government has a cable. It can crash the price of SAT 3 reasonably. We also have satellite, which was acquired using tax payers’ money. Government can play its role without distorting the market.

“The economic benefits of providing free bandwidth, far outweighs the cost of provision.”

He stressed the need to censor the Internet in Nigeria, saying there was a high level of abuse in the polity via the Internet.

According to him, the Judiciary needs to be equipped with the right legislations.

“In developed countries, people are taken to court for using foul languages on the Internet. But in Nigeria, anybody says anything on the Internet and nothing is done,” he complained.

According to him, until government appreciate the explosion that will happen when the Internet is liberalized, like what we have in the telephone sector, stressing that government should create an enabling environment for its growth.

“Most countries that has moved fast with Internet have some government push”, he stated.

E-PPAN, CBN to examine grey areas in electronic payment HE E-Payment Providers Association of Nigeria, with the support of industry stakeholders, including Interswitch Nigeria T Limited, SecureID Nigeria Limited and the Central Bank of Nigeria, is making fresh move to encourage increased adoption of the cash-less initiative in Nigeria.

These stakeholders are expected to meet at the second annual E-Payment for Government Summit 2013, scheduled for July 30 to 31 in Abuja.

Interswitch Nigeria, an e-payment and switching company, was quoted in a statement by E-PPAN as saying that it was committed to proffering solutions to the issues facing Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government in the implementation of the e-payment system.

SecureID Nigeria, in the statement, said that it was set to make

services available to over 400 top-level government executives expected to attend from various MDAs from the three tiers of government across the country.

According to the Summit Director, Ms. Ntia Sylvia, the edition was set to increase by 100 per cent as the work of E-PPAN had increasingly become oriented to policy advocacy and capacity building towards the achievement of a cashless Nigeria.

Speaking more on the summit, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, E-PPAN, Mrs. Onajite Regha, said that Nigerians were awash with stories of delayed salaries, bill payments, among others in the country, and stressed the need for government all levels to harness the opportunity, which the summit offers to resolve issues and understand the workings of the e-payment system.

The electronic tag requires passengers to hold their smart phone over the electronic tag, which will automatically updates with a unique barcode containing their flight details and an easy-to-see view of their bag’s destination. Not requiring a traditional paper tag to be printed and attached, customers can then save precious time by having their electronic tag quickly scanned at the bag drop, going straight through security to relax before catching their flight. It is intended that the patent-pending hi-tech tag can be used time and time again.

BA Managing Director, Brands and Customer Experience, Frank van der Post, said: “This is a fantastically simple, yet smart device that gives each customer the choice to have their own personalised electronic baggage tag that changes with the swipe of a smartphone – every time they fly.

“As the saying goes, ‘good things come in small packages’, and this innovative device is no exception. Along with other initiatives we are investing in, we believe it has the potential to revolutionise the way our customers check in and pass through every airport around the world in the future.”

BA’s Head of Service Transformation, Glenn Morgan, said: “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do and our drive to innovate with this new electronic bag tag is a brilliant example of how we can help transform their travelling experience. We’ve harnessed expertise from across the airline to produce a solution for speedier checking-in, which at one swipe shows British Airways can be a game changer when it comes to customer service.”

Development of the personalised electronic bag tag is part of a wider strategy by BA to improve dramatically the customer experience through the airport, making it quicker, smoother and easier.

Major trials have also taken place on self-service bag drops, automated boarding gates, porter services, auto check-in, and meet and greet hosts. The electronic tags have been specially developed by BA in partnership with Densitron Displays, and Designworks Windsor, while Heathrow Airport is providing help with the trials.

Over the next five years BA will be investing more than £5 billion in new aircraft, smarter cabins, elegant lounges, and new technologies to make life more comfortable in the air and on the ground.

NCS seeks support for conference HE Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has solicited for more T support on its forth-coming conference, scheduled for IjokoIjesa, Osun State.

According to Chairman, Publicity and Events Committee, NCS, Jide Awe, with the theme being “e-Government and National Security”, he said it would provide an opportunity for stakeholders to identify the related issues, concerns and opportunities for consideration in moving the sector and country forward.

Awe, who said the event comes up from July 24 to 26, noted that the yearly NCS conference facilitates forward thinking discussions, practical demonstrations and experiences with a view to influencing outcomes to advance society in general and the Information Technology (IT) industry and profession in particular.

According to him, the NCS Osun 2013 promise and focus is on IT in governance and security for global competitiveness, digital inclusion, economic growth, job creation, human capital development and overall prosperity.

He informed that the conference comprises plenary, parallel and technical sessions, networking meetings, panel discussions and special focus forums. Interactive engagement will be used to facilitate learning and networking – critical is the promotion of innovation and global best practices in addressing the national priorities of smart governance and security. Issues to receive attention include governance automation, improving public service delivery, closing skills gaps, Public-key Infrastructure (PKI), ICT sector capacity, identity management, digital culture for governance, privacy, research approaches, legislation, policy making, youth innovation, etc.

“The immense intensity, energy and follow through the conference will generate is expected because this NCS event is the largest annual gathering of IT professionals and stakeholders in Nigeria. Participants should look forward to new models, ideas, concepts and methodologies. As an international conference NCS Osun 2013 will provide avenues to connect with other IT professionals and stakeholders working on these areas in Nigeria and in other countries. With international participation and attendees from all sectors (education, business, industry, government, social, etc), there will be platforms for fresh, multidimensional and multi-stakeholder insights and approaches.

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Nigeria tasked on $3 billion digital media sector Firm plans ICT capacity building Stories By Adeyemi Adepetun digital media sector has been estimated to NTheIGERIA’s worth over $3 billion, with calls for better exploitation. sector, which houses film editing, graphics designing, character animation, digital publishing and web developing among others, is said to have capacity to bridge the unemployment capacity in the country if adequately explored.

In view of the potential embedded in the digital media, Digital Access Foundation for Technology Development (DAFTECH) has unveiled plans to build capacity in Nigeria’s Information and Communications Technology, starting with Lagos State.

DAFTECH is a registered not-for-profit organisation with an objective to provide free technology educational services, digital learning and new media services to developmental organisations, students, civil society groups, educational institutions and individuals alike under its skills4Life programme.

In a chat with journalists in Lagos, the Programme Manager West Africa for DAFTECH, Mrs. Adebisi Bakinson, said the aim of the company, apart from knowledge transfer, is also to bridge the unemployment gap in the country.

Bakinson, who stressed need to simplify technology, noted that the training would empower educators and inspire students to enhance their technology potential.

“Through transparency and high integrity, our objective is to provide a technology hub where learning and skills’ development thrives with the overall goal of reducing unemployment and creating technology entrepreneurs in Nigeria and Africa.”

To bridge the widening skill-gap and create employment opportunities, she said DAFTECH had developed a programme called Skills4Life.

The aim of the programme is to provide basic and advanced courses in iOS, Android and Windows applications, digital effects, classical character animation, film and video editing, graphic designs, web and mobile publishing.

She added, “The potential of the digital media industry in Nigeria is worth $3 billion in annual revenue if properly harnessed but it is evident that we lack the high technology skills required to fully build the industry.

“To this end, starting July 2013, DAFTECH will through its Skills4Life programme select 99 participants quarterly to undergo an intensive six weeks of free training in the highlighted areas in our fully-equipped classroom and digital studio.”

At the end of each session, certificates will be awarded to participants and the best overall student will get rewarded with a Mac Book Pro, she said.

The first of such centres is now operational in Lagos and open to participants for registration.

To the Managing Director, Mike Oseji, DAFTECH is an NGO that provides technology training, saying that the firm planned to be training 5000 youths, others on a yearly basis.

Ahead of the planned training, Oseji said the company has invested about N60 million with no external funding, stressing that there is need to build skills in the country.

According to him, the major challenge to employment is the skills gap, “and we are out to bridge it.”

He said that beginning from 2014, DAFTECH would award scholarship to three students to study Digital Media in the United States of America.

Glo introduces self-help SIM replacement for customers UBSCRIBERS of Globacom, Sor can now replace their lost damaged SIM cards by themselves, thanks to a new SIM replacement process introduced by the company.

Launching the new process in Lagos, Globacom’s Coordinator, Marketing, Mr. Adeniyi Olukoya, said, “a subscriber who lost or damaged his or her SIM only needs to visit any of the retail outlets, either Gloworld or Glozone, to buy a new SIM card.”

A special PIN will then be generated and given to the subscriber after necessary authentication and the subscriber can initiate the SIM replacement process by either dialling *305*PIN#, send to 30501 and follow the voice instructions.

This process, he further explained, must be completed within 24 hours in the Glo shop or at home, adding that the process had eliminated all bottlenecks associated with waiting for Customer Care

representatives to activate newly replaced or swapped SIM. According to him, the new “Glo SIM-Swap” would operate on the Pyro GUI solution for prepaid subscribers.

“The beauty of the new Glo SIM-Swap process is that the effort is seamless and can be done in the comfort of one’s bedroom. Glo gets over 50,000 requests every month for SIM replacement from customers either due to loss of customer’s phone with the need to retain the old number or due to SIM cards being damaged. It is, therefore, necessary to deploy a technology that can carry out such tasks in a less tasking manner and this is what this process sets out to achieve,” he added.

Olukoya, however, said that only prepaid customers would be able to use the new solution for now, while postpaid customers would be able to replace their SIM through the same process in the near future.

FBNLife leverages Airtel’s mobile platform to boost insurance patronage O move the business of insurance closer to the populace, FBNLife, a subsidiary of FirstBank of Nigeria, has partnered with Airtel Nigeria on a new insurance scheme, targeted at the telecommunications firm’s subscribers currently put at about 25 million.

At the launch of the initiative tagged: “Padi4Life”, the Managing Director of FBNLife, Mr. Val Ojumah said that the life insurance scheme was as low as N20 per day.

Ojumah said that the scheme was a life protection plan for registered Airtel subscribers, with daily premiums payable to secure cover on death and permanent disability (when the life assured becomes totally and permanently unable to work in

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any occupation which the life assured is reasonably able to do, given his knowledge, experience, education, training or ability, because of an injury or illness).

He explained that the daily premium charge was N20 with a benefit of N500, 000 (subject to N1 million for a maximum of two lines).

According to him, the maximum age to enjoy death and permanent disability benefit shall be 70 years, “thereafter a member shall be insured for death benefit. This means that after a member attains the age of 70, he cannot enjoy the benefit of total permanent disability. The scheme will pay a maximum of N1 million for a registered owner of two premium paying Airtel lines.”

The processes according to the FBNLife boss would include the collecting the name of assured, name of beneficiary, Airtel mobile number of beneficiary, stressing that the minimum entry age is 18.

He pointed out that a scheme member could change a named beneficiary if need be.

To make a claim, he said, “text CLAIM and phone number of the deceased to 45433. The following documents will be required: death certificate, police report (if death was as a result of accident), identification card of the beneficiary (Driver’s license, Int’l Passport, National ID, National Voter’s card); means of identification for the deceased.”

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Microsoft offers Office 365 for SMEs’ growth in Nigeria, nine others ICROSOFT has announced the availability of Office 365 in nine M new territories across the African continent. The entire suite of Office 365 packages is now also available in Angola, Cameroun, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mauritius, Rwanda, Senegal and Zimbabwe. Office 365 is the next iteration of the company’s flagship office product line, which is made available for consumers, businesses and educational institutions via the cloud. The solu-

Core Group, Stanbic IBTC offer Nigerians 0% interest on iPad deal

By Bankole Orimisan HE official distributor of Apple products in Nigeria, Core Group Africa, has signed a major partnership deal with Stanbic ITBC Bank, that will offers Nigerians the opportunity to pay for an iPad on interest-free basis over 12 months.

The deal is available from this week and will include any iPad with Retina Display and iPad mini, as well as other selected Apple products.

According to the Director of Core Group Africa, Rutger - Jan Van Spaandonk, said “offering a finance deal is further testament to the commitment to making official Apple product more accessible to Nigerians.

ThedealgivesNigerianstheopportunitytopurchaseofficialproduct at an affordable monthly rate, with no deposit interest.”

In his words, “iPad is a life-changing product and we want to ensure that more Nigerians have the option of owning this revolutionary device. There has never been a more affordable finance deal to purchase iPad in Nigeria and we encourage customers to apply”, concluded Van Spaandonk, he said.

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Software practitioners’ target NCS presidency EMBERS of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria M (ISPON), has indicated their interest in having one of them as next president of Nigeria Computer Society (NCS).

According to the President of ISPON, Dr. Chris Uwaje, the next president of NCS with quality stakeholder assurances might likely emerge from the software professional domain.

Uwaje said that after series of productive deliberations, it had been acclaimed that there existed no better time than then for the nation to concretely address her Software challenge and to ensure that Software Nigeria was positioned at the helm of leadership of the affairs at the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS).

The ISPON president noted that in Nigeria, the immense contribution of software could be seen in virtually every sector of the economy, adding that it could rightly be said to be the driving force of the global IT business, governance, education and industry.

To him, that was fuelled by an explosion of ideas leading to creative thoughts and translated into solutions applicable in all aspects of our daily lives.

The Nigeria Computer Society, according to Uwaje had been known to have a pedigree in excellence which had helped it bolster its position as the foremost IT professional body in the nation and sought to continue in this tradition of excellence as it ushered in a new council come July 24, 2013 at its National Conference holding in the serene town of Iloko, Osun State.

“The emergence of professional software personality as president of NCS is long overdue, judging by its unwavering support to previous contributions to NCS affairs at all levels of engagement in the past twelve years as well as its expert contribution and wise counsel leading to several ground breaking and innovative ideas that have led to the advancement of the society in no small measure.

“ISPON, as a founding member of NCS and national advocate of Software Nigeria at her recent council meeting has endorsed the personality of a seasoned software professional in the person of Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, the former country manager, Microsoft Nigeria for the esteemed office of the president of Nigeria Computer Society. Presently, he is the Secretary General of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria.

“As a fellow of NCS and managing director of InfoGraphics Nigeria Ltd, he has severally been recognised for pioneering many innovative solutions especially in multimedia technology as a strategic tool for business growth.

tion is also in Nigeria “Office 365 is available in various packages, each one specifically designed to meet a particular need,” says Office Division Group Lead for Microsoft West, East and Central Africa and Indian Ocean Islands, Marc Israel, adding, “this means that whether you are a consumer, educational institution, small to mid-size business or a large enterprise, we have an Office 365 package that will meet all your software requirements in an always-up-to-date cloud service, at a predictable monthly cost.”

In Africa in particular, the Small and Medium Business sector continues to play a big, contributing heavily towards GDP growth and employment. The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) estimates that SMEs represent over 90 per cent of private business and contribute more than 50 percent of employment and of GDP in most African

countries.

“One of the biggest challenges SMBs face in today’s harsh economic conditions is finding technology that meets their needs without breaking the bank,” says Marc Israel, Office Division Group Lead for Microsoft West, East and Central Africa and Indian Ocean Islands. “Just because your company is smaller, it does not mean you should have to compromise on the type of technology available to you.”

Designed for companies with between one and 10 employees, Office 365 Small Business Premium gives organisations access to the richness of Office applications, extending the functionality to make it available via the cloud. The pay-as-you-go model can save customers between up to 20 per cent of their software budget, without them having to compromise on the technology they have within their organisations.

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Focus Nigerian varsity graduates are theoretically strong, but weak in usable skills, says Famuyibo Mr. Victor Famuyibo, is the President and Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) Nigeria, and Human Resources Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, with over three decades of HR practice. In this interview with DELE FANIMO, he spoke about the role of human capital in achieving corporate goals and the need to embrace outsourcing In the face of shrinking bottom line, among other issues… excerpts What is your take on the skill gap in HR practice, more importantly with the influx of quarks. How do you close the skill gap? hat is why we are encouraging practitioners to belong to CIPM of Nigeria.

CIPM offers end-to-end solution to the practice of human resource. Its form is very complete. Within the CIPM we have specific programmes to address all the specialist areas of human resource – be it learning and development, recruitment, employee engagement, career development, succession planning, mentoring issues, welfare or compensation and benefits, reward management, industrial relations. So, over the years we have developed the expertise in all the areas of human resource management.

We have subject matter experts; standing committees; ad-hoc committees at different areas of HR. We run continuous training programme for continuous education because we believe that it will never be a start to finish affair; it is a process and a journey where you continuously have to discover and rediscover because new challenges come on board all the time. The good thing is when you have the practitioners who are out there, belonging to the institute, the quacks will naturally fade into oblivion. We get them to own their skills even better. They have the opportunities to practice in their own organisation, yet the institute provides them with very solid theoretical backing and also help them to be on top of new development, through our continuous learning interventions. So, for us to get it right, we just need as many practitioners as possible in our net, so we can help them develop appropriately.

What is your take on the notion that most Nigerian graduates don’t have requisite skills to work in industries and it is becoming increasing difficult for people like you to engage them. If it so, how do you think we can solve the problem instead of importing expertise from abroad?

It is true that products of our various institutions sometimes could be theoretically strong but lacking in what I’d call usable skills – unlike what you’d find working abroad where right from school, the focus of the teaching is an end in mind. Here it is completely different. ‘I’m teaching you this and better learn it.’ That is why when you go abroad, in one of those western countries and spend like a week in their university in a faculty, you’ll find their students working

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on various projects, in teams, making presentations, coming back to consult and working on real-life cases; things that will confront them when they get to the workplace. The curriculum there is already tailored in such a way that the end aim is kept in focus because you are not just there for learning sake. You are there to learn so that you can use what you have learnt in the workplace. It is completely different for us.

The take is ‘Come and learn and just pass the exams’. What then happens is that the students pass out of school, passed those exams and suddenly, they are confronted with a very different situation called, the world of work. And the world of work doesn’t have patience for them. It just want people with transferable skills; people that can hit the ground running because it is very competitive out there and therefore, you don’t have time to spend nurturing people.

But I say to employers that we also have a role to play much as I know that the government have a big role to play in restructuring our curriculum. Where I work for instance, the way we go about is that we put something between these new joiners and our world of work. They would be part of the membership of the organisation but they are made to go through finishing school. Each and everyone of them would have to be put through the finishing school, where we can then turn their theoretical knowledge into transferable skills before we allow them to start working on our machines and equipment. I think that is the role employers should play and it is about commitment to investment in people.

If you are an employer who wants to employ and use tomorrow, then I would describe you as being a mercenary. If you think as an employer that you have a real stake in this economy then you must say to yourself: ‘I need to invest in people. I would take whatever is coming out of those institutions and finish them properly. So they can become useful.’ When they are useful to you, they become useful to the economy and generally, we can turn this country around.

What is the difference between an HR practitioner and an admin officer in an establishment?

They are very different. Administration, in HR parlance is nothing more than hire and

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fire. It’s what we describe today as the transactional part of HR, where you just do the routine every now and then. They are though important to the organisation but what we, the most contemporary HR practitioners, say is that as much as possible, ensure you don’t spend too much of your quality time doing pure transactional HR work. In real terms, it doesn’t add value to the growth of the organisation. It is required. At least people must be paid, data must be updated and so on. But whether that adds value – in terms of growth skills of your people, in terms of managing their career, in terms of preparing them for higher roles and responsibility, in terms of indentifying potential, knowing your future CEO today so that you can start investing in him,I don’t think pure administration will do that.

To what extent is the institute helping government to tackle corruption?

We preach it and seize every opportunity to talk about it.

We have developed schemes and themes around the subject of ethical practice. But there is a whole lot that get subsumed under political exigencies in this country. Some of the things that you’d call corruption in employment practice within the public service, will not be agreeable to a politician. The politician would then explain to you that: ‘Yes, you can talk about merit but also remember that the federating states in this country are not equally endowed. And if you would then go strictly by merit, then you’d leave my people out of the share of the public office and employment. Therefore, given all your talks about merit, first ensure that I get my own state allocation and let that merit be determined among the people of my own state. And all of us will then donate to the centre on equal basis because we are federating units.’ So, I’m really not sure that the politician would agree with you that it is unethical to do it that way.

From a very professional stand point at CIPM, we would like to see a very high standard where only merit and meritocracy is the driver for employment issues. Of course, it works in many private sector led organisation. I worked in a place that no matter who is introducing you, the paramount considerations are qualification for the job and vacancy. Then, the third thing is that you are going to com-

Some of the things that you’d call corruption in employment practice within the public service, will not be agreeable to a politician. The politician would then explain to you that: ‘Yes, you can talk about merit but also remember that the federating states in this country are not equally endowed. And if you would then go strictly by merit, then you’d leave my people out of the share of the public office and employment. Therefore, given all your talks about merit, first ensure that I get my own state allocation and let that merit be determined among the people of my own state. And all of us will then donate to the centre on equal basis because we are federating units

pete on a level playing field w i t h everybody else.

And the process is so transparent that if we would give it to you, we cannot do otherwise. But it is not everywhere.

What is the level of synergy between the institute and the government, in the area of curriculum development among other things?

We work very well with the government.

We have a lot of sympathy there.

Remember also that we have a charter and that came also from the government and we are the only one with that charter. Are we collaborating well with the government? We think we are. But could it be better? Of course, it can be a whole lot better than what it currently is. We are still, for instance, looking at the issues of accreditation within the civil service structure, whereby our certification becomes employment platform into the service. Not only that, but also in terms of promotion opportunity where our certification CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

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becomes a reference point. We don’t have that yet and we are still working a whole lot on it. With few states, of course we are getting that. At the federal level, we have an agenda to have that on the front burner. So there is scope for improvement and we won’t rest on our oars until we are there.

Why is it difficult to get outsourcing right in Nigeria, such that it is almost becoming a problem?

There is indeed a wide gap. But is it the way to go with outsourcing? I think so, to be honest. What are the risks if we don’t?

Because for me that is the way I always like to explain issues around outsourcing. If the government would come with a legislation tomorrow, telling employers ‘sorry, you no longer can practice outsourcing.’ Are there risks? I think there are big risks there and that is why we need to get that balance right. What are the reasons for wanting to outsource your non-core activities? It is so that you can survive as an organisation.

What we need to realize is the fixed cost of an operation. It is the one that can send you down and under if you do not watch it. One big element of your fixed cost of operation is your labour cost. Because it is there and there is nothing you can do about it. it is your variable cost that you can manipulate; not your fixed cost.

That is why employers would continue to look at their fixed cost, of which labour cost is a high element. So, when employer then decide that the way to ensure flexibility is ‘everything that is not core to my operations, I’d let it go, so that I can maintain my flexibility as an employer, reduce my wage bill.’ If we would force them not to do that, but continue to have very high wage bill, the risk that we can be faced with as a country is that employer will reduce workforce over time. Many big companies will run the risk of going down because they can no longer afford paying their wage bills. The risks are there.

Mentoring is a very powerful tool for helping the up and coming starters to navigate through the system without making early mistakes. What mentoring does is very early in the life of that employee he or she would be attached to someone who is more experienced and can guide the new joiner or just growing in a profession or business. It is a very powerful too but the risk is that if you don’t structure it well, it can also lead to Godfatherism in the system. It can lead to all kinds of affinity that you’ll want to prevent. So, you need to be very smart in the way you define it. Pair mentor and mentee, have very good guidelines. You must also invest in training, personality profiling.

It can help an organisation to really pull through

That is why for me, we need to be careful in pushing the employers to take decisions that ordinarily they think they have found solutions. Outsourcing: are we getting it right? I think in the private sector, many employers are getting it right. Should the government be happy about it? I really think so. Because for as long as you allow outsourcing to thrive, more and more people will be kept in employment. They will be taken off the streets. You will then query how much they are paid. That is a different question. The government can then use the instrumentality of the national minimum wage to ensure that they are paid at a level that will guarantee food on their table, pay school fees for their children, guarantee that they have roof over their head. But that will also be low enough for the employer to keep them in employment. But we should never make that mistake as a country of forcing employers to be keeping everybody on their same pay level. The last risk I’d mention is that if we force employers to that point, that outsourcing that we don’t want within the country, jobs will be outsourced outside the country. And that is where the western world has found itself today. Because of the high wage bill, all the

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jobs have been outsourced to Asians. So, it is no longer outsourcing within, but it is now offshore and they are complaining like hell.

Unemployment in Spain is now over 20 per cent. Average unemployment in the US is around seven per cent. It is worst in Europe, where it is double digit. Because the unions over the years insisted over very high wage increase and it got to the point where owners of the factories say ‘I no longer can continue at this level. I know somewhere in Asia. I’d dismantle all these machines and take them there. Wage bill is next to nothing and the people are contented with it.’ the choice is ours to make; either to allow outsourcing to thrive and perfect it very well or you push the employers to the point where they would turn this country into a trading nation,and all the jobs will go.

What is the place of mentoring in HR and to what extent can it help in achieving corporate goals?

Mentoring is a very powerful tool for helping the up and coming starters to navigate through the system without making early mistakes. What mentoring does is very early in the life of that employee he or she would be attached to someone who is more experienced and can guide the new joiner or just growing in a profession or business.

It is a very powerful too but the risk is that if you don’t structure it well, it can also lead to Godfatherism in the system.

It can lead to all kinds of affinity that you’ll want to prevent. So, you need to be very smart in the way you define it. Pair mentor and mentee, have very good guidelines. You must also invest in training, personality profiling. It can help an organisation to really pull through.

CIPM had your investiture just recently. What would you describe as your unique selling proposition to CIPM? Unique selling proposition is my nature. I’m never satisfied being a game keeper. I like to be a game changer. I like a whole lot of things done with the institute by the past leadership; two or three leaders h i p s

down the line. They have done so well. They have renewed the agenda of the institute and brought it out of its shell. They have made the institute more interesting for more civilized and refined practitioners to belong. They have changed the image of the institute and that has changed permanently from what it used to be in the past.

It was seen as very old, lethargic organisation, but what has happened in about six years is that we are more upbeat, more contemporary and we are quick at reacting to developments in the HR profession – in the country and internationally.

But for me and by my nature that is not all. I would like to really defend the gains that we have recorded in the past six years or thereabout, but I’d also like to change the game and push the agenda to the next level. From this interview we have mentioned few issues; the fact that we are still not engaging well with the government, the fact that we are not like the reference point when it comes to topical HR issues.

These are the things I’d like to work on. I’d want us to be comparable to any HR institute that you find anywhere in the world – in terms of our engagement. We want the public, whenever there are issues out there – it could be labour union issue, something about succession planning or the lack of it, anything whatsoever bothering on HR – we want to be at the top of minds. So that the first organisation they would ever think of would be CIPM. For me, that will be changing the game; taking it to the next level.

Talking about ethics, are there enabling laws that can be used to sanction erring members in the process of practicing HR? And what are you doing about the quarks?

We know our right and we know that we are very well enabled if we really want to be the policeman of HR in the country. We are fully backed by law and we can insist, for instance, that nobody occupies our space by plying his HR trade without belonging to the institute. We can, as an institute. But for us, policing is one thing and getting your agenda to the point that you are really sort after is another. For now we’ve chosen the latter.

We’ve said ‘why don’t you reposition yourself in the mind of individuals, employers in such a way that anybody that does not belong feels awkward.

That can only happen if we have positioned ourselves rightly.

That is what we are working on now; to make people run after the CIPM like you have it with CIPD in London or SHRM in the US.

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MaritimeWatch Ciroma woos investors, seeks adequate funding for NIWA

By Moses Ebosele HE Managing Director and T Chief Executive Officer of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Hajia Maryam Ciroma, has called on private investors to take advantage of what she identified as “investment opportunities” within the industry.

Ciroma, who is currently on familiarisation tour of NIWA facilities across the country, explained that the Federal Government has resolved to partner with the private sector as part of measures to boost water transportation nationwide.

Already, Hajia Ciroma, a former Minister of Women Affairs, has visited Lagos, Igbokoda, Warri, Onitsha in Anambra State and Oguta in Imo State.

Scheduled to visit other NIWA area offices such as Calabar, Port Harcourt, Eket, Markudi, Kaduna, Yauri Yelwa in Kebbi State, Ciroma has also pledged to ‘look into’ issues raised by the area managers.

Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, the NIWA boss emphasised the need for the agency to improve on its current N1.66 billion yearly revenue base.

According to Ciroma, more funding would stimulate activities in the sector coupled with prospects for more jobs and development of waterways transportation.

The process for concessioning Onitsha River Port, according to her, is on, adding that “at the moment some people are using the port to transport building material”.

Explaining further, she said: “The port is not as buoyant as we wanted. The port is supposed to generate income and relive the pressure on our road. That is the most important thing. I’m going there to

see things for myself after my visit to Ondo State. The government is looking at the possibilities of making the port viable and efficient”.

Hajia Ciroma, who spoke on sundry issues related to water transportation, also decried the slow pace of construction works at the Lokoja River Port.

According to her, the contractor handling the project valued at N4.3 billion is performing below the expectations of the Federal Government.

She said: “I was there to see what is going on. I’m not happy with the pace at which the job is going. I’m not very happy with it. The port is supposed to connect Onitsha and Baro (Niger State). I intend to visit the contractor to see how we can ginger them up.”

Making reference to NIWA’s facilities in Lagos, Hajia Ciroma threatened to drag the state government to court over alleged encroachment.

Hajia Ciroma said: “NIWA will first of all pursue dialogue with Lagos State government before considering legal option because I believe Federal laws supersedes state laws so any law purportedly made by the Lagos State House of Assembly to claim our right of way will not be accepted.

“We will dialogue with the Lagos State government on how we can resolve this issue in our interest”, she said, adding that if dialogue fails, NIWA may explore legal options.

Hajia Ciroma identified inadequate funding as one of the challenges confronting NIWA, adding that the parastatal is exploring measures of enhancing its revenue base.

“At times, people that use our facilities wouldn’t want to pay. We have to use our police (NIWA Police command) to get this people to pay”, said Hajia Ciroma, pointing out that NIWA will put in place measures on how to make the waterways viable for purpose

Jonathan of revenue generation for the Federal Government.

Hajia Ciroma resumed recently as the sixth Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), with a pledge to transform waterways transportation.

“I promise to run an open door administration and I need the support of all. We cannot afford to fail. This is a critical parastatal that can jerk up our economy”, she added.

While procurement processes are on for the dredging of River Benue and the construction of Makurdi River Port, construction works at Baro Port (Niger State), Oguta (Imo State) and Jamata (Lokoja, Kogi State) according to the government have reached advanced stage.

Commissioning Onitsha River Port in August, last year, President Goodluck Jonathan

Ciroma said the Federal Government decided to embark on the development of the country’s inland waterways transport as a way of exploiting all avenues of enhancing both road, rail, air and water transportation in the country.

“The river or marine transport must be enhanced and to do it, we need inland port like the one in Onitsha. Our target

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tour, explained that the board was determined to enhance the fortune of Eastern ports.

Chairman of NPA board, Chief Tony Anenih, also used the opportunity to commend its workforce especially those in Rivers Port, Port Harcourt, for sustaining the port in the last 100 years of its existence.

Represented by a member of the board, Florence Ita Giwa, Anenih appealed to the workers to embrace new reform efforts of the board.

The Managing Director of NPA, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, represented by the Executive Director, Marine and Operation, David Omonibeke, an engineer, Abdullahi said the working tour of the board

members would enable them see the operations of the authority firsthand as well as enable them interact with the workers and stakeholders.

Acting General Manager, Eastern Ports, Dele Alabi, briefed the board members on the activities of ports in the region, the cargoes they handled and the challenges confronting their operations.

Speaking at an interactive session with the management of Brawal Oil Serving Limited at Onne recently, members of the board also pledged to give equal opportunities to all stakeholders.

Giwa also used the opportunity to pledge the resolve of the board to work with the

River Port and jetties in 14 locations have either been completed or at between 30 per cent and 90 per cent construction rate.

According to NIWA, construction of Yenagoa Jetty 1, Construction of Owerrinta Jetty in Imo State and Rehabilitation/Upgrading of Onitsha Inland River Port Complex in Anambra State

EU gets new rules on scrapping of old ships DEAL between European A Parliament and Council negotiators has been reached on plans to clean up the scrapping of old ships and ensure the materials are recycled in EU-approved facilities worldwide.

The Council represents the 27 European Union (EU) governments.

“This new legislation finally

NPA chief tasks Eastern ports on improved activities, revenue generation, others

By Moses Ebosele MEMBER of the board of Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan’Agundi, has implored the management of the Eastern ports to device strategies of increasing the tempo of activities in ports in the region and revenue generation.

According to Agundi, ports in the Eastern region do not enjoy the patronage they deserve, adding that majority of the importers are from the region.

Agundi, who spoke recently when members of the NPA board visited Rivers Port as part of its familiarisation

is to link all the ports by roads and rail so that doing business in Nigeria becomes easy. The river ports must be linked up to other areas of resource.

Today, the process is being started and others on the drawing board must be completed.”

National Inland Waterways (NIWA) explained recently that construction of Inland

concessionaires “to ensure the realisation of the concessioning objective”.

The Brawal Legal and Commercial Manager, Chief Christopher Odili, according to a press statement issued by NPA’s General Manager (Public Affairs), Capt Iheanacho Ebubeogu appealed to the board members to always ensure fairness in their relationship with concessionaires.

Ebubeogu explained that the board members also paid a working tour of operational areas of INTEL Nigeria limited in both the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) and Federal Lighter Terminal (FLT).

puts an end to European ships being recklessly scrapped in developing countries.

Currently, most EU ships are sent to South-East Asia at the end of their lives, where they are scrapped on a beach, under unacceptable conditions for human health and gross pollution of the environment,” commented the EP rapporteur of the report, Carl Schlyter.

“I want to stress that this is not an attack against India, Bangladesh or Pakistan - the countries that currently practice beaching - but against the

Abdulahi

dangerous and highly polluting practice of beaching,” he noted.

Meanwhile, NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO), Shipbreaking Platform, an international group campaigning for the promotion of safe ship recycling, noted that upcoming regulations will only apply to EU-flagged ships, and not to EU-owned ships.

“About 40 per cent of the worlds’ fleet belongs to European owners, but only less than 20 per cent are EUflagged.

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THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

IndustryWatch Common external tariff regime as elixir for industrial growth Stories by Femi Adekoya ASIC trade theory suggests that there are gains to be made from free trade relations.

This apparently justifies efforts by many nations to develop trade relationships to drive development and growth.

In recent time, many African nations have shown an increased degree of having regional integration as a move towards achieving economic development. This has spurred regional and sub- regional bodies formed in recent years include Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Eastern Africa Community (EAC), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the West Africa Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA).

As a means of promoting production and trade efficiency through the reduction of transportation and information costs, regional integration has nonetheless come to be seen as a must for African countries in the face of fast-paced globalisation in an attempt to promote mutual trade and increase their bargaining power vis a vis countries from other regions during trade negotiations.

Despite the potential increase in trade brought about by the different regional integrations, there have been concerns about how regions can reach a consensus on the level of trade to be done, benefits accruable to each country and essentially the Common External Tariff (CET).

While the issue of collective welfare gains among trading partners is not in itself in question, there are issues relating to the potential (in)equity of the distribution of overall welfare gains across countries as well as industries.

Worried by the challenges the Common External Tarrif (CET) may pose to the real sector, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) hopes that a consensus that would favour Nigerian industries would become feasible in the new CET regime when the inter-ministerial meeting is held on the issue..

For instance, MAN believes that the ECOWAS CET 5th Band of 35 per cent already adopted should be fully implemented, especially where Nigeria has more than adequate capacity for local production and in some cases, for export.

In a chat with The Guardian, the Acting Director-General, MAN, Rasheed Adegbenro, explained that the CET has dragged for too long because of Nigeria’s protectionist stance, especially for its industries.

He said: “A Common External Tariff (CET) is a basic feature of the Customs Union as a form of economic integration. All the countries in a customs union abandon the individual tariff structure with which they trade with other countries and adopt a common external tariff in trade with third countries. The same customs duties, import quotas, preferences or other non-tariff barriers to trade apply to all goods entering the area, regardless of which country within the

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Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga area they are entering.”

He identified the three major regional economic groups that already have a CET. The UEMOA group made up of eight francophone West African Countries has a four band CET: 0, 5, 10, 20 per cent; the CEMAC group of 6 Central African countries has a 4 band CET of 5, 10, 20, 30 per cent; and the COMESA group of 20 East and Southern African countries has a 4 band CET of 0, 5, 15, 30 per cent.

Clearly, the CET structure adopted by the UEMOA countries is the least protective of domestic enterprises as it offers less nominal protection to the intermediate and finished consumer’s goods in West Africa.

For ECOWAS countries, he noted that the CET is an instrument used by ECOWAS in negotiating the Economic Partnership Agreements, especially with the European Union.

He said: “ECOWAS should have adopted it by 2007 and established a Custom Union (CU) but this could not be owing to divergent views on tariff bands. The West Africa Monetary Zone (WAMZ) adopted a modified form. Nigeria insinuated the addition of the fifth band of 35 per cent for finished goods that are manufactured locally, considering the growth of its real sector compared to other economies. Initially, Nigeria proposed 80 per cent for the fifth band before it was reduced to 35 per cent.

“Nigeria’s reservation on the CET covers two sen-

MAN President, Chief Kola Jamodu

sitive issues; the increase in Community Levy from 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent as well as the verification exercise procedure.”

On the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), he noted that measures have been put in place to safeguard the new CET regime from the effects of the ETLS, attributing the weak sanctions for erring members in the ETLS as a reason for the low implementation of the scheme.

Again, LCCI tasks govt on diversification OR the umpteenth time, FCommerce the Lagos Chamber of and Industry (LCCI) has called on the Federal government to give due consideration to the diversification of the economy as a permanent hedge against the impending oil market glut.

According to The Guardian a chamber, the domestic and international issues facing the oil and gas sector pose both risks and opportunities for the Nigerian economy, while

Stakeholders task govt on real sector growth XCEPT government intensiE fies its effort towards the growth of the real sector, especially in the area of local production, the economic growth being witnessed by the country would continue to be devoid of adequate employment generation.

This was the view of the Special Adviser to the President, Dangote Group Engineer Joseph Makoju while speaking at the post yearly general meeting talk of the International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria (ICCN) in Lagos at the weekend.

According to him, the growth Nigeria is witnessing is a jobless growth, but encouraging manufacturing activities in the country and protecting investments that generate

employment can reverse this trend.

He added that the challenges of high interest rate regime and accessibility to long-term funds are critical to development of the real sector and realisation of government’s vision of a transformed real sector.

He said, “Despite the entire noise making about getting the real sector to drive economic development; the fundamental requirement is development funding. Low interest rate and long term funds must be available.

“No matter the claim of what is being done or achieved in this regard, they are just not there. The contribution of the rea sector to the GDP remains low. Manufacturing hardly contributes anything to export

but over 50 per cent of imported goods are manufactured goods. This does not depict a serious economy as other economies are taking advantage of our lack of productivity.

However, no nation achieved development without significant increase in the contribution of the manufacturing sector to GDP.” He said that the manufacturing sector has high growth potential due to the natural endowment of the country, but the development of the sector had been undermine in the past by inconsistent government policies. He said the situation has however improved in recent times due to stable macroeconomic stability and reforms in various sectors of the economy.

According to him, some countries within the West Africa have abused the ETLS protocol especially in the area of trans-shipment and relabeling of goods.

“What many industries are facing today is a spill over of the many years of decay in the real sector.

The problems of infrastructure, power among others can only be resolved effectively where there is consistency in policy initiation and implementation”, Adegbenro added.

He cited the example of the cement industry, which now produces all the cement consumed in the country, as an example of how to use government policy to enhance development of the real sector.

Makoju said that what is required is for government to play the role of an enabler, by putting in place measures that will aid manufacturing across the country.

Meanwhile, ICCN has made a case for government to actively engage the private sector for the development of the economy.

Chairman of the Chamber, Babatunde Savage said, “The active engagement of the private sector is necessary for the success of sustainable development and poverty alleviation.”

the greatest risk is the potential shock to fiscal sustainability if the global oil price slumps at a time when Nigeria’s oil output is declining.

In a press statement made available to, recently, the chamber called on government to take proactive steps to protect the nation from another economic downturn.

The statement read in part: “The unfolding global oil market scenario and the shortfalls in domestic oil output pose a major threat to the 2013 budget. At an output level of 1.85 million against the budgeted 2.54 million barrels, Nigeria currently records an estimated shortfall of N10.7 billion ($69 million) daily due to oil theft, bunkering, illegal

refineries and rising spate of insecurity.

“The international oil market landscape is changing very fast and eroding the competitive value of Nigeria’s oil and gas. First, the number of countries discovering oil and gas reserves within their national boundaries is increasing; thus expanding the supply base of oil and gas products in the international market.

“Also, improvement in refining technology is helping to eradicate the difference between the Nigeria light crude and the other types of crude oil; a feature that reduced the price premium on Nigerian’s bonny light for many years.

“Despite the declining contri-

Dangote, others to speak at NEPAD Business summit O seek leeway to real sector T growth, stakeholders within the sector have concluded plans to hold a business session to such end.

Specifically, President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and other stakeholders in the manufacturing sector are set to brainstorm and proffer solutions to the challenges facing the industry at a Business Lunch organized by NEPAD Business Group Nigeria (NBGN) scheduled for Tuesday, July 9, 2013 in Lagos by 11am prompt.

Dangote is expected to speak on the theme ‘The Growth and Challenges of the Manufacturing Sector’.

In a statement by the NBGN Chairman, Chris Ezeh, he explained that the event was part of the Group’s contribution to the growth and development of the economy, especially the manufacturing sector.

According to him, the fastest way through which a nation can achieve sustainable economic growth is through effective development of its manufacturing sector.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Maritime industry as strategic driver for national economic development CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24 by sea have been known to have developed powerful economies based on the maritime industry.

The industry generates massive employment and earning opportunities for its host communities and others and contributes significantly to the GDP and national development.

It is from this perspective that this paper will showcase the maritime industry as a strategic driver for national economic development, by: Reviewing the role and development of the maritime industry in the economic history of Nigeria through the activities of some major players Highlighting the impact and opportunities in the industry Identifying and examining some critical issues and challenges in the Nigerian Maritime Industry Offering insights on the way forward, I. Role and development of the maritime industry in the economic history of Nigeria During the colonial era, the administration and economy of the Nigerian colony was factored on resourcebased transport systems designed to exploit its raw materials for the European industries through sea transport and gateways like Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ward and Calabar.

The Nigerian economy, pre and post war was equally built on trade and transactions carried through the maritime gateways.

Lagos lagoon opened up in 1900 marking the first milestone in the efforts to provide facilities for oceangoing vessels. Port Harcourt port opened for business in 1913 to service the coal business of Enugu mines.

The ports which were hitherto administered on an ad hoc basis by different Government Departments were subsequently harmonised under one administrative umbrella for effectiveness through the enactment in 1954 of the Ports Act that created the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

The Nigerian civil war and post-war reconstruction efforts which necessitated importation by the Federal Government of 20 million tonnes of cement strained the 6.5 million tonnes of annual general cargo capacity of the ports in the 19705.

Many powerful shipping conferences like United Kingdom West African Lines(UKWAL), Continental West African Lines Conference(COWAC}, American West Africa Freight Conference(AWAFC), shipping lines like Elder Dempster, Nigerian National Shipping Lines(NNSL) with regular calls, freight forwarding companies like Panalpina, Umarco, the Board of Customs and Excise, NPA dockyard, some privately owned ship repair yards, Nigerian Railways, and Cargo Handling companies among others, were the players in the maritime industry then.

The post war economic boom that followed the discovery of oil in the country and the urgent need to address the infrastructural deficit in the ports in particular and 0 her strategic sectors of the economy led to the expansion of Apapa port and the construction and commissioning of Tin Can Island, Warri .Calabar and Sapele ports; the construction of refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna: construction of pipelines for distribution of petroleum products and transportation of Venezuelan crude to Kaduna; the development of Aladja and Ajaokuta steel companies and development of cement factories. These developmental efforts and economic activities also introduced new players and value into the maritime industry contributing to the growth of the economy.

The restructuring of some core

parastatals and creation of new agencies by government from the mid 19705 to 2006 in order to meet some administrative imperatives, operational exigencies, stave economic sabotage I contain health and wellbeing threats, and protect the interest of importers and exporters) saw a further increase of players and stakeholders in the maritime industry with diverse competences and innovations.

Some of the services, agencies and parastatals include the NPA, the Department of Customs and Excise which metamorphosed into Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) I the State Security Services, Nigeria Police, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration {NAFDACL National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEAL Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) and National Maritime Authority(NMA) which through a subsequent merger with the Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council became Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in 2006. Others are the Naational Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), NEPZA, Calabar Free Trade Zone and the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, Some private companies who have played a prominent role in the maritime industry over a considerable time resulting in the creation of massive employment include Flour Mills, Dangote Industries) lntels Nigeria Ltd, Brawal I privately owned ship repair yards etc.

Nigeria’s gradual growth and integration into the mainstream of global economy also exposed her to the global demands for efficiency, which in turn necessitated a number of reform initiatives in the ports sector of the maritime industry such as Terminal Management contracts, Commercialization, Corporate management restructuring, joint ventures with the private sector and dock labour reforms.

The reform initiatives proved inadequate and in keeping with global trend, Government opted for the concession of port terminals and landlord port system as model for the re arm programme, with the aim of injecting private sector efficiency and discipline into port business while transferring the burden of investment costs to the private sector.

Other key players in the maritime industry like the Nigeria Customs Services, NIMASA, Nigerian Shippers Council, Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, NEPZA, NIWA; Calabar Free Trade Zone have also passed through one form of reform, restructuring or another over the years aimed at positioning them to cope with innovations and challenges in the maritime industry.

II. Impact and Opportunities in the Maritime Industry The most visible impacts can easily be seen in the world’s Maritime Industrial Development Areas like Free Zones and port cities. Lagos and Port Harcourt typify this.

Contributions to National GDP Growth of industries and Development of Value Added services like: • Oil &gas • Refinery • Fertilizer Blending Plants • Petro-Chemical Industries • Free Zone • Hub port status (which may be earned).

Other ripple opportunities include the following maritime ancillary services which in turn create the job opportunities:

53

Legal issues within the cabotage and content regimes

Being a paper presented by Mr. Uche Nwokedi SAN on a WORKSHOP ORGANISED BY NIGERIA CHAMBER OF SHIPPING.

INTRODUCTION The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry is the single connecting thread that runs through the entire economy.

The Industry is OPEC’s sixth largest oil producer and the most prolific producer in sub-Saharan Africa.

An OPEC quotas estimate of about 33 billion barrels with a current daily production rate of about 2.6 million barrels of crude oil.

The discovery of Fields such as Shell’s Bonga Field, Total’s Amenam Kpono Field, Chevron Texaco’s Agbami Field and ExxonMobil’s Erha Field offshore Nigeria have been reported to be amongst the most prolific in the world.

Our gas reserves are in the region of about 185 trillion standard cubic feet.

The main thrust of both the Cabotage and Local Content Acts is to promote indigenous participation in the primary sectors of the economy, to add value to the local economy, increase local participation and build local capacity THE COASTAL AND INLAND SHIPPING (CABOTAGE) ACT 2003 To regulate domestic shipping, which includes navigation and inland waterways To establish a Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund and related matters.

The Cabotage Act was bold move to build the capacity of indigenous shipping companies bearing in mind the integral relationship coastal trade has with the oil and gas industry in Nigeria Coastal trade or maritime vessel business leans heavily on the oil and gas industry in Nigeria The Act is set out in nine parts made up of 55 sections, which involves the following parts: - Part 1: Short Title and Interpretation - Part 2: Restriction of vessels in domestic coastal trade: - Part 3: Waivers - Part 4: License to foreign vessels - Part 5: Registration - Part 6: Enforcement - Part 7: Offences - Part 8: Cabotage Vessels Financing Fund - Part 9: Miscellaneous:

A close perusal of the law will reveal that it is set out in the same mould as the Cabotage Law in the United States, more particularly known as the United States Merchant Marine Act 1920 or the Jones Act. The major characteristic of the Act is the indigenization of coastal trades within Nigerian inland waterways. This may be simplified as follows: - Cabotage vessels must be owned by Nigerians - The vessels must be built in Nigeria - Nationality of the crew must be Nigeria - Vessels must be registered in Nigeria DEFINITION OF CABOTAGE UNDER THE ACT The carriage of goods by vessel or any other mode of transport from one place in Nigeria or above Nigeria waters to any other place in Nigeria or above Nigeria waters either directly or via a place outside Nigeria and includes the carriage of goods in relation to the exploration, exploitation or transportation of the mineral or non living natural resources of Nigeria whether in or under Nigeria waters; The carriage of passengers by vessel from any place in Nigeria situated on a lake of river to the same place or to any other place in Nigeria either directly or via a place outside Nigeria to the same place without any call at any port outside Nigeria or to any other place in Nigeria other than as an in-transit or emergency call, either directly or via a place outside Nigeria.

The carriage of passengers by vessel from any place in Nigeria or from any place above Nigeria waters to the same place or to any other place above or under Nigeria waters where the carriage of passenger is in relation to the exploration, exploitation or transportation of the mineral or non living natural resources in or under Nigeria water; and The engaging, by vessel, in any other marine transportation activity of a commercial nature in Nigeria waters and the carriage of any goods or substances whether or not of commercial value within the waters of Nigeria.

LEGAL ISSUES WITHIN THE ACT The issues that arise from the Act include the following; The meaning of vessel under the Act. The prohibition of foreign owned and crewed vessels The issue of waiver and licensing The implementation of the Act The status of certain provisions of existing laws before the Act CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

54

Understanding Cabotage and Local Content within the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry: from a Maritime perspective.

PRESENTED BY: Group 4 Lagos, Nigeria - 27th June, 2013 Group’s Adopted Business Name: ELOOOEMA SERVICES LIMITED (ESL) Group Members : Osa Ogbemudia - Total Nigeria Plc. Edwin Okoro - General Marine and Oil Service Ltd Oluwase Joseph - Jirad Ventures Nigeria Ltd Adewale Adeyinka - ACP Nigeria Limited Linda Bassey - Aquashield Oil and Marine Services Ltd. Oladale Ajayi- Bembe –Akindelano Legal Practitioners Efe Asemota - Mettle Energy Mmaduabuchi Chigozie Emeghebo – Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) BUSINESS PROPOSITION Introduction The development and international competitiveness of indigenous Nigerian shipping companies stem from :Enactment of Government Policies Availability of basic infrastructures Development and availability of manpower capacities & capabilities.

To this end : Coastal and Inland Shipping Law (Cabotage Act) 2003 Nigerian Local Content Development Bill 2010 Key Players Government & Regulators Ship Owners/ Lines Port / Terminal Operators Financial institutions with Maritime Desk Maritime Lawyers & Arbitrators Maritime Logistics Operators Maritime /Shipping Associations Oil & Gas upstream and downstream operators Cabotage – defined The carriage of goods by vessel, or any other mode of transport, from one place in Nigeria or above Nigeria waters to any other place in Nigeria or above Nigeria waters, either directly or via a place outside Nigeria and includes the carriage of goods in relation to the exploration, exploitation or transportation of the mineral or non-living natural resources of Nigeria whether in or under Nigerian waters; The carriage of passengers by vessel from any place in Nigeria situated on lake of river to the same place, or to any other place in Nigeria, either directly or a place outside Nigeria to the same place without any call at any port outside Nigeria or to any other place in Nigeria, other than as an in -transit or emergency call, either directly or via a place outside Nigeria; The carriage of passengers by vessel from any place in Nigeria to any place above or under Nigerian waters to any place in Nigeria, or from any place above Nigerian waters to the same place or to any other place above or under Nigerian waters where the carriage of the passengers is in relation to the exploration, exploitation or transportation of the mineral or non -living natural resources in or under Nigerian waters; and The engaging, by vessel, in any other marine transportation activity of a commercial nature in Nigerian waters and, the carriage of any goods or substances whether or not of commercial value within the waters of Nigeria; Pillars of Cabotage Act All vessels that will be engaged in coastal trade must be : Owned by Nigerians Built in Nigeria Manned by Nigerians Registered in Nigeria Benefits & Challenges Benefits Empowering of indigenous shipping & Marine service businesses to be involved in all trade within Nigerian waters Development of infrastructure – shipyards, construction e.t.c Job creation for Nigerians Challenges Assumptions of Cabotage Act is flawed due to; Nigeria not being a “Ship building” country Shortage of adequately skilled manpower- lack of institutions/seafarers High capital cost associated with owning ships Unfavorable regulatory environment – high custom duties Act contravenes WTO treaties specifically GATS Political interference - Use of Ministerial Waivers Corruption/lack of fair trade

“ the quantum of composite value added to or created in Nigeria through utilization of Nigerian resources and services in the petroleum industry resulting in the development of indigenous capability without compromising quality , health , safety and environmental standards”.

Framed within the context of growth of Nigerian entrepreneurship and domestication of assets to fully realize Nigeria’s strategic developmental goals.

Objectives Expansion of the upstream and downstream sectors of the Oil & Gas. The diversification of the sources of investment into the sector such that some funds would begin to come from local sources.

Promotion of indigenous participation.

Fostering of technological transfer.

Employment generation for all categories of Nigerians.

The integration of the oil and gas industry into the mainstream economy Challenges Dearth of Funds – Nigerian Banks lack the financial base to make meaningful impact on LCD (in the context of energy financing).

Thin industrial base, lack of adequate power, water and other to support an expanded manufacturing.

Lack of small & medium-sized enterprises and an under-developed capital market.

Executive capacity and critical mass with technical and financial wherewithal.

Disconnect that exist between policy formulation and policy implementation.

Links between Cabotage & Local Content Promotion of indigenous participation in the Oil & Gas industry / Maritime Sector.

Development of indigenous capacity and manpower in the Maritime/ Oil & Gas industry.

Economic empowerment of local industry players.

Job creation for unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled Nigerian within the Maritime sector.

ESL’S STRATEGY GOING FORWARD Develop strategy for securing investment either locally (CVVF, NCDMB) or internationally.

Build Capacity through acquisition of assets - Vessels, Tank farms, facilities e.t.c.

Build Competencies/skills - Sourcing qualified personnel, training e.t.c Identify & establish partnerships with foreign companies - Technology and skills transfer Build relationships with government agencies NCDMB, NIMASA, NAPIMS e.t.c Conclusion Cabotage & NOGICDA both have the potential to be game changers in marine & specifically the O&G Industry.

Critical success factors include: Creation of an enabling environment by government Development of necessary infrastructure – shipyards, facilities e.t.c Nigerian Local Content- Defined Availability of funds with internationally competitive Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry Content Development Act interest rates (NOGICDA) 2010 defines local content as

Legal issues within the cabotage and content regimes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41 THE MEANING OF VESSEL UNDER THE ACT Section 2 of the Act defines a vessel to include any description of vessel, ship, boat, hovercraft or including: air cushion vehicles and dynamically supported craft designed, used or capable of being used solely or partly for marine navigation; and used for the carriage on, through, or under water of persons or property without regard to method or lack of propulsion.

What is the status of FPSOs/FSOs or rigs under the Act? Section 23 (5) (i) mentioned floating petroleum storage as one of the vessels eligible for registration under the Cabotage regime.

In Nobel Drilling (Nigeria) Ltd v.

Nigerian Maritime & Safety Agency, & Minister of Transport. Suit No. FHC/L/CS/78/2008, the Federal High Court held that drilling rigs did not fall within the definition of the word ‘vessel’ under the Act. The United States, oilrigs, Floating Production Storage and Offloading Platforms (FPSO), Floating, Storage and Offloading platforms (FSO) have been included in the meaning of vessels under their Cabotage Act. Global Marine Drilling & Co v. Triton Holdings Ltd (the sovereign Explorer) [2001] 1 Lloyds Rep. 60 FOREIGN OWNED AND CREWED VESSELS The Prohibition of Foreign Owned and Crewed Vessels Section 3 of the Act prohibits vessels other than a vessel wholly owned and manned by a Nigerian citizen, built and registered in Nigeria to engage in the domestic coastal carriage or cargo and passengers within coastal, territorial, inland waters, island or any port within the waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone Wholly owned Nigerian vessel means a vessel which is owned and registered in Nigeria whose 64 shares are beneficially owned by Nigerian citizens, or a company registered in Nigeria with 100% of its share capital beneficially owned by Nigerian citizens. and the share in the vessel and the ship owning company shall be held by Nigerian citizens free from any trust or obligation in favour of nonNigerians.

Vessel wholly manned by Nigerians means where all the shipboard officers and crew employed aboard the vessel are exclusively of Nigerian citizenship.

Section 23(2), a vessel shall not be registered for use in in the domestic trade unless the controlling interest in the company is owned by Nigerian Citizens.

THE ISSUE OF WAIVER AND LICENSING Sections 9 – 11 of the Act empower the minister to grant a waiver to a foreign ship to operate within Nigeria waterways in the following circumstances There is no vessel wholly owned by Nigerian which is suitable and available to provide the services or perform the activities described in the application for waiver.

There is no qualified Nigerian officer or crew for the position specified in the application No Nigerian ship building company has the capacity to construct the particular type and size of vessel specified in the application.

The order for granting the waiver shall be: To a shipping company and vessels owned by a joint venture arrangement between a Nigerian and a foreign partner whereby the equity shareholding of the Nigerian shall not be less than 60% Any vessel registered in Nigeria and

owned by a shipping company registered in Nigeria PRECONDITIONS FOR THE GRANT OF WAIVER The Minister upon the following conditions may grant an application for license If the foreign owned vessel is eligible to be registered in Nigeria.

The owning company of the foreign vessel has a representative office in Nigeria.

The foreign vessel has paid all applicable levies, duties and tariffs The foreign vessel possesses all certificates of compliance The foreign vessel meets all safety and pollution requirements.

Section15 (1) of the Cabotage Act ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION The agency embedded with the power to implement the provisions of the Cabotage Act is the Nigerian Maritime Authority which in 2007 metamorphosed to Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Section 22 of NIMASA Act 2007, enumerates the functions of the Agency to include among others, to enforce and administer the provisions of the Cabotage Act 2003.

The procedure for the enforcement of the provisions of the Cabotage Act was provided for under (Part VI) same specifically sections 29 – 34.

The Act empowers the Minister to maintain a separate register for vessels intended for use in the domestic coastal and inland waters trade.

By virtue of section 30, the Minister shall immediately after the commencement of the Act create an enforcement unit in the NIMASA with appropriate operational guidelines and shall designate officers in that unit known as enforcement officers.

Section 31 gave the enforcement officers power to stop and board a vessel, detain a vessel or its crew THE STATUS OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF EXISTING LAWS BEFORE THE ACT Section 53 of the Cabotage Act repealed provisions of existing legislations, which are inconsistent with the provisions of the Cabotage Act but retained those which are consistent with it Section 5 of the Merchant Shipping Act Cap. 224 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria is in consistent with section 3 of Cabotage Act, therefore repealed.

Section 290 of the Merchant Shipping Act which defines a Nigerian ship as a ship owned by commonwealth citizens or bodies corporate established under and subject to the law of a commonwealth country and having their principal business in a common wealth, which definition is inconsistent with sections 2 and 23 of the Cabotage Act, is therefore repealed.

THE NIGERIAN OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY CONTENT DEVELOPMENT ACT 2010 The Act provides for the development of Nigerian content in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, Nigerian content plan, supervision, coordination, monitoring and implementation of Nigerian content; and for related matters Section 2 (2) of the Petroleum Act of 1969 provides that licenses or leases may only be granted to a company incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act Regulation 26 (1) of the Petroleum (Drilling and Production) Regulations 1969 which is subsidiary to the Petroleum Act, stipulates that the licensee of an oil prospecting licence shall within twelve months of the grant of the licence, and the lessee of an oil mining lease shall on the grant of the lease, submit for the Minister’s approval, a detailed programme for the recruitment and training of Nigerians.

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Energy Mixed fortune trailing Nigeria’s marginal field operations, say stakeholders

By Roseline Okere ACK of access to finance, high Lcaltaxes, community issues, technicompetence, fluctuating assistance from foreign equity partners and low funding capacity of indigenous players were identified as some of the challenges posing serious concerns to marginal field operators in the country.

Nigeria’s marginal oil fields are mostly those relinquished by the International Oil Companies (IOCs), for their low oil reserve capacity, and taken over by some indigenous oil companies with the technical com-

petence to produce an average of about 10,000 barrels per day, or less.

They are the small and abandoned fields, which have remained undeveloped by the IOCs because such fields contain reserves that are uneconomic when produced by the multinationals.

In 2003, 24 marginal fields were licensed as part of the government’s quest to ensure rapid involvement of Nigerian companies in the nation’s crude oil exploration and production business.

Since then, it has been an uphill task for them as the expected technical and financial supports have been tough in

coming their way.

The Nigerian marginal field programme is now 10 years old with reports of about 30 per cent field production and 75 per cent field reentry activities as at February 2013.

To discuss the successes and challenges of marginal fields in Nigeria, the Nigerian branch of Energy Institute, London in partnership with the United Kingdom Trade and Investment of the British High Commission are collaborating with the Nigerian Marginal Field Operators Group to host the first yearly marginal field forum in Lagos.

The event brought together profes-

sionals, academics and policy makers to discuss the critical issues that pertain to the marginal field Programme.

Speaking on Marginal Field Re-entry Learning Points, the Chief Executive Officer of Dansaki Petroleum, Engr.

Ade Afolabi, encouraged operators to be proactive in planning marginal field operation.

He also stressed the need to seek access to low interest fund to avoid the inability to pay back. “Develop an oil mining field, not an exploration block, seek expertise in details of the development from the industry, work well with government agen-

Managing Director, Addax Petroleum, Mr. Cornelis Zegelaar (left); Chairman Addax Petroleum, Mr. Xinmin Wu; Manager, Organisation and Development, Mr. James Clark; and General Manager, Facilities, Mr. John Niezner; during the inauguration of the company’s health, safety and environmental week in Lagos.

Mitega introduces security technology solution in Nigeria’s petroleum industry ITEGA International Limited, one M of the leading integrated security development company with a significant pedigree in Africa, has introduced security technology solution into the Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

The company has also launched its consultancy services of Security Risk Assessment (SRAof the Nigerian oil and gas pipeline to curb the menace of §vandals in the country.

The Chief Executive Officer, Ibuje Is-

rael, said in a statement on Monday that the company supports security initiative by leveraging its deep domain and analytical expertise to rapidly develop and transition technologies and systems into operational solutions Israel stated: “In accordance with ISO_DIS 3100,2009 any project must have an SRA conducted which include the following component, assessment –of the situation along the Pipeline, security audit- of the cur-

rent capabilities and gap analysis-to identify the gaps/weakness in mitigating the identified risks and threats.

He said that as part of findings and recommendations of the SRA, it may be requested by the clients to introduce a technology to enhance the security of it’s critical infrastructure, to achieve this, there are many number key phases to introducing any Technology solution.

He added: “Design-could include

strategic design for multiple technologies and FEED design. Implementation-involves civil works, installation, project and program management, IT deployment and application development.

“Integration-of the sensors and systems, interfacing with existing security infrastructure and services(ensuring a robust response capability is established)third party application integration, communication and IT interfacing.

N32b pipe mill to roll out 200,000mtpa by 2014

By Sulaimon Salau Nigeria’s pipeline manufacturing capacity may soon receive a boost, as an indigenous manufacturing pipe mill, Technova Africa Group, plans to roll out 200,000 metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) by November next year.

The facility, estimated at about N32 billion is expected to create over 500 direct employments for Nigerians as well over 300 indirect jobs, and 50 new spin off firms.

Works officially commenced on the 150 hecters of land situated in

Ologbo area of Edo State, last week, with expectations that the first phase of the project would be commissioned in 2014.

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Deziani Allison-Madueke, who officially had the ground breaking ceremony for the Pipe Mill in Edo State, recently, assured that the government would support the investors and ensure that the company enjoys patronage after completion.

She said, before now, pipeline was imported from abroad, but the new indigenous Pipe Mill would pro-

mote local utilization of resources in line with the local content agenda of the Federal Government.

“Today we are celebrating a major breakthrough in our effort to domicile pipeline manufacturing in Nigeria and Technova take this bold step to flag off the construction of a line pipe mill and coating facility for the utilization of oil and gas industry and indeed by entire Nigerian economy,” she said.

The Group Managing Director, Technova Africa Group, Norbert Oleah, said the project intends to roll out 200,000 metric ton per an-

num (MTPA) line pipes which would be coated side by side in the same facility when the phase 1 is completed

by November 2014.

Oleah said the company aims to replace imported welded steel pipes with cheaper steel pipes manufactured not only locally but also equal to global standards.

According to him, the company has signed a multi-level Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Service Agreement with PSL Limited of India for the purpose of institutionalizing a fully integrated Line Pipe Mill and Coating Plant.

cies, play by the rules and regularities”, it added.

Afolabi also stressed the need for operators to work towards integrated oil and gas field development from product to making of petroleum products.

The Managing Director of Frontier Oil Limited, Dada Thomas, while telling the success story of his company said that they have been able to invest in the building of sustainable programme in the community.

“We were able to set up a trust fund through which we have been able to impact positively on the community where we operate. It can never be perfect because some people within the community may want to keep everything to themselves, but it is necessary that marginal field operators put the community into consideration when planning.

The government gives you the license to operate, but the community gives you the freedom to work.

“We recognizes the importance of a peaceful and harmonious relationship with its host communities and has therefore made extensive efforts and invested substantial amount of time and resources to engage with them. Our philosophy for working with our host communities is premised on keeping our promises and engaging in regular and transparent engagement to keep them informed of, and involved with the development of the field”, he added.

Speaking on the challenges of operating marginal field in the country, Thomas said that the country’s rating in terms of good governance was affecting business generally. “There is high cost of doing business in the country, infrastructure is nothing to write home about, lack of technology, which results to the importation of technology and services required for oil and gas development”, he added.

He also stressed the need for the government to hands off from gas pricing, saying the present gas-pricing regime was discouraging investment in the sector. “Fiscal regime in the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill should encourage and not discourage investment in gas. Insecurity in the country is leading to huge cost of operation”, he added.

The Chief Executive Officer of Midwestern Oil and Gas, Adams Okoene attributed the company’s success to its relationship with the community.

“We recognised community as important partners. We acknowledged the fact that the willing active support of our community partners is indispensable to our communities.

We lay emphasis on enhancing relationship with our community.

“Midwestern Oil and Gas considers social projects and involvement in the development of local community as an important part of its activity, readily participating in the activities of local community and developing good relationships with it.

“Midwestern Oil and Gas implements social projects and financially supports various social groups. Midwestern is proud that these programs help to increase living standards for people as well provides opportunities for personal development,” he said.

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Special Focus on Fund Managers/ Mutual Funds Scheme in Nigeria (Part 1) “Seek Professional Advice before Investing”, says expert UTUAL Fund is a collective investment scheme in which funds are pooled together from a group of people and invested in stocks, bonds, properties, cash and other securities on behalf of the investors. The funds provide the investor with professional management of funds and diversification of investment among the securities offered by leading corporations, federal and state governments, and other entities.

In recent years, mutual funds have evolved to include a variety of sectors, investment strategies and structures to accommodate the objectives and risk tolerance of a wide range of investors. Mutual funds have become a widely popular and effective way for investors to participate in financial markets in an easy, low-cost fashion, while muting risk characteristics by spreading the investment across different types of securities, also known as diversification.

In Nigeria, mutual funds sachems, also known as the collective investment scheme(CIS) is about taking roots, as its operation is not widely known. However, efforts are being put in place to energize the scheme as investment haven for potential investors, so as to generate much needed funds for national development.

Meanwhile, Intending investors in the mutual funds sector of the financial industry, have been advised to always seek professional advice before investing their resources for their own safety.

Mrs. Hajara Adeola, MD, Lotus Capital who gave this advice during an exclusive interview with the Guardian recently, said in order to avoid being duped by unregistered fund managers, investors should certainly find out who they are investing with and make sure they invest with a SEC registered fund manager.

“They can easily do that by going to the SEC

M

Oteh, SEC D-G

Hajara Adeola, Lotus Capital

Oscar Onyema, NSE D-G

website that has the list of every registered fund manager, if the fund manager is not there they should investigate further before investing. They should stay away from fund managers offering extremely high returns on short term investments. They should always seek professional advice before investing, she stressed.

Mutual funds can play a central role in an individual's investment strategy. They offer the potential for capital growth and income through investment performance, dividends and distributions under the guidance of a portfolio manager who makes investment decisions on behalf of fund unit holders.

According to Adeola, who is also the President of the Fund Managers Association of Nigeria, Mutual Funds have an edge over direct equity investment because “your investment is

diversified into different stocks and sectors which means that your risk is spread’.

She explained that, most people familiar with the stock market will invest their resources in shares directly, but that has special risks attached to it, noting that the primary risk is that most individual investors scarcely has the expertise to assess the viability or valuation of their stocks.

“Added to that is that portfolio theory has proven that the best way to invest is to diversify your portfolio and spreading your investment among different stocks, different sectors and even different asset classes. She pointed out, noting that most investors cannot afford to invest in a well diversified portfolio as it requires a large amount of capital.

By so doing, she explained, you find them putting their money in one or two stocks typically in one sector and what happens is that if anything happens to that company or sec-

tor, the investor’s investments are put at high risks.

According to her what Mutual Funds do is to pool investments of several investors and regulated by regulatory authorities, such as Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, to make sure structures are in place to safeguard investors’ interest.

“And what that means is that the Fund Manager is registered, the Fund is registered, there is Trustee in place to see to the right of investors or unit holders, it also means that the Custodian who holds the assets of the Mutual Fund is separate from the Fund manager and the fund manager does not have access to the cash of the Mutual Fund’ she reiterated., stressing that the fund manager who is a professional looks for acceptable companies, and man-

…. Creating Wealth the Halal Way

Lotus Capital is an ethical investment management company specializing in Shari’ah compliant Asset Management, Private Wealth Management and Financial Advisory Services. Lotus Capital is duly registered and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as Fund Managers, Corporate Investment Advisers and Issuing House. We adhere to a strict code of ethics and do not employ the use of interest, nor earn from tobacco, alcohol, gambling, pornography, conventional banks and insurance companies.

The company has pioneered the provision of interest-free financial services known as ‘Islamic Finance’ through the development of a bouquet of investment funds and financial advisory services.

Some of our products and services: LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL INVESTMENT FUND The “Lotus Capital Halal Investment Fund’ is an open ended Unit Trust scheme designed for investors seeking attractive returns through a broadly diversified portfolio of equity, real estate and Islamic financial contracts in compliance with Islamic Law. Benefits of the Fund: • Ethical, Shari’ah compliant investment; a professionally managed Fund • Diversification, which helps reduce risks • Easy access to a wide variety of investment opportunities; credible research on all investment decisions; flexibility of investment Product Features • The 'Halal Fund' is an open ended fund which means that investors can buy into the fund and exit when they choose • Each investor’s purchase is represented by a number of units which is his/her holding in the fund, the fund invests in quoted shares that have undergone rigorous qualitative and quantitative screening and fundamental analysis to ensure their eligibility and growth potential.

• The minimum balance for the account is N20,000.00 (Twenty thousand naira only) • The minimum additional investment is N20,000.00 (Twenty thousand naira only) • The minimum redemption is N20,000.00 (Twenty thousand naira only)

LOTUS CAPITAL MURABAHA INVESTMENT PLAN This is an ethical alternative to the conventional interest–based fixed deposits.

The key benefits: • Flexible investment tenors (from 30 days, 60 days, 90 days) to suit your needs with the option to roll-over investment; • Expected profit distribution will be based on an agreed rate of investment; • Entry amount of N500,000; • Indicative returns range from 4% per annum (based on volume and tenure of investment); • Deposits in the Murabaha investment account will be invested in secure asset-backed investments in partnership with a deposit money bank;

LOTUS CAPITAL FINANCIAL HEALTH PLAN This is a free internet tool that provides our customers with an overview of their financial status.

This is based on the information provided by the customer and a set of financial assumptions.

We are able to recommend investment options on how to improve their current and future

CONTINUED ON PAGE 60

financial situation for financial security and peace of mind.

Features: • Helps determine current financial status • Helps customers plan by advising them on how to allocate and invest their income • Option to consult with a financial adviser for free

LOTUS CAPITAL EDUCATION PLAN This is a free financial planning tool that helps our customers plan towards their child/ward’s education. It cuts across all stages of a child’s education (Primary to Post Graduate level). This service is customized to cater for all major currencies.

Features: • Calculates the estimated total cost of your child’s education based on your preferences • Tells you how much you need to invest today to meet estimated education costs in the future • Helps calculate payment time for school fees and subtracts from the ongoing investment • Option to consult with a financial adviser for free LOTUS HAJJI PLAN The Lotus Capital Hajj Investment (Hajji) is an Investment Plan developed by Lotus Capital to enable intending pilgrims put aside and grow their wealth with the sole purpose of performing pilgrimage. Hajji is unique in that it invests only in shari’ah compliant investments.

LOTUS IJARAH: The Lotus Ijarah is an Islamic lease such that the customer (lessee) pays for the usufruct of an asset owned by the Lessor at a predetermined price spread across an agreed repayment period.

Features: • Rentals have to be known prior to each period • Owner of usufruct can make all transactions on usufruct Benefits • Can be used to acquire assets such as cars , office equipment, manufacturing equipment, household appliances etc • Customers can manage their cashflow as they acquire the assets Other Services include: • Wealth Management • Asset Management • Financial Advisory Services • Issuing House services

Head Office Address: 1b Udi Street, Osborne Foreshore Estate, Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos T: +234-1-271 3280-2, F: +234-1-271 3284, Website: www.lotuscapitallimited.com Email: info@lotuscapitallimited.com Branches; Kano: 1st Floor UBN Property Company Limited, 37 Niger Street, Kano.

T1: 234-64-890546, T2: 234-702 805 9001 Abuja: Ground Floor, 2 Malanje Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. T1: 234-9-8759306

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

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Special Focus on Fund Managers/ Mutual Funds Scheme in Nigeria (Part 1) FSDH Asset Management Limited: Helping clients develop effective financial solutions to achieve financial objectives Asset Management Limited “FSDH AM"FSDH FAM”SDH is the wholly owned subsidiary of FSDH Merchant Bank Limited and one of Nigeria’s leading asset management and financial advisory firms.

FSDH AM provides unique investment advice to a broad array of discerning individual and institutional investors and has established an enviable track record in this respect FSDH AM’s business philosophy is premised on providing investment advisory services, tailored to meet

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 59

“Seek Professional Advice before Investing”, says expert ages the portfolio dynamically and spreads it in different asset classes, stocks and sectors.

She revealed some steps taken by operators to improve the security of investor’s resources in the sector, noting that the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), and Securities and Exchange Commission SEC are setting up a Fund to ameliorate some of the things that happened during the capital market crashes.

Mrs. Adeola hinted that very soon we will have an Exchange Traded Fund-ETF, which will be based on a particular Index on the exchange.

However she pointed out that there is the challenge of lack of awareness which is hindering investment flow in the sector adding that “We have resolved to collaborate as an association to create awareness, because no single organization can take that up. So we are also working with the SEC in this respect. Investment in the sector is very small and that is why we are collaborating with SEC and trying to raise awareness. Also we are trying to see what hinders customers from reaching us, we are looking at issues such as Technology, KYC requirement, Identity Management, Distribution (reaching the customer) and so on that will make investors to come to the sector. I want to solicit for a central online depository for KYC for easy identification of customers in the sector.

Adeola revealed that the investment certificate in Mutual Fund could be used as collateral in banks, except that it is left for the bank to determine the level at which to admit such. But in the real sense, it is acceptable by financial institutions.

Lotus Capital is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a Fund Manager, they specialize in Shari'ah compliant Asset management, Private wealth management and Financial Advisory services..

the needs of investors, who have a long-term investment horizon. In this way, FSH AM seeks to add significant value by enabling these investors to achieve their specific return objectives. In seeking to achieve long-term partnerships, FSDH AM is unequivocally performance driven and result oriented. However, the presence of risk and uncertainty in financial markets is not lost on FSDH AM and as a result, the management of risk is firmly embedded in its investment management and financial advisory services.

The key to FSDH AM’s success lies in its ability to leverage on the expertise

that it has cultivated over time as financial advisers to both individuals and institutional clients as well as on its ability to promptly access pockets of capital.

Essentially, FSDH AM can help clients develop effective financial solutions in order to achieve their financial objectives using alternative assets.

Currently the company manages two open ended collective investment schemes, namely, the Coral Growth Fund and Coral Income Fund. The minimum investment sum required to invest in any of these Funds is N50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira).

These schemes are efficient

tools used by a variety of investors to plan, grow and manage their wealth. They are available to individuals and institutional investors, based in Nigeria or abroad.

The Trustee to the Coral Funds preserves the interest of unit holders by ensuring that the Manager’s activities adhere to the provisions of the Trust Deed. In addition, the administration of the Coral Funds are carried out in accordance with global best practices as its assets are segregated from that of the Manager and held under full custody by an independent Custodian.

CORAL GROWTH FUND The Coral Growth Fund

(CGF) is an open ended, equities-based collective investment scheme, which was established in February 1, 2001. The Fund’s structure permits a maximum investment of 65% in quoted equities, while the balance is invested in high-quality fixed-income securities and money market instruments. The primary objective, of the CGF is to achieve capital growth over the long-term.

Following the successful launch of the flagship Fund, the CGF, in January 2005 and in response to the effective demand from investors, the Coral Income Fund was launched in May 2006.

CORAL INCOME FUND The Coral Income Fund (CIF) is an open ended, income-based collective investment scheme, which was launched in May 2006.

The Fund’s structure permits a maximum investment of 30% in quoted equities, while the balance is invested in high-quality fixed-income securities and money market instruments. The primary objective, therefore, of the CIF is to achieve capital preservation over the long-term. The CIF was established to provide investors with an investment outlet that provides stable but competitive returns in excess of inflation.

THE GUARDIAN, Wedesday, July 3, 2013

NEWS | 61

Issues in the news

Why we are reaching out to young African leaders, by Obama Contiuation of the text of remarks and answers to questions by President Barack Obama at Young African Leaders Initiative Town Hall at University of Johannesburg-Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa.The first part was published yesterday Mabuse: Yes, the plan is to get somebody here in Soweto before we move across to other parts of the continent.

Obama: Okay.

Mabuse: The choice is yours, Mr. President.

OBama: well, this is a good-looking group. Let me — (laughter) — I’m going to call on this young lady right here. Introduce yourself.

Question: Good afternoon, President Obama. My name is Melissa (ph). I’m an attorney, and I’m passionate about telecoms in Africa. My question is: The African Growth and Opportunities Act, the term expires in 2015, and I understand there’s a bill which provides for an extension to 2019. Do you think this bill will be passed? And if it isn’t passed, what do you think the impact will be on small states in Africa that are benefiting, such as Lesotho and Togo?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, it’s a great question. (Applause.) By the way, what kind of law are you practicing?

Question: Oh, right now I actually do cross-border African work.

President Obama: Excellent.

Question: Yes, (inaudible) work.

President Obama: Fantastic. Well, for those of you who are not as familiar with it, the program we call AGOA is basically a trade arrangement that allows probably 95 percent of goods from Africa to come into the United States without tariffs, duty-free.

And, as a consequence, it obviously gives African exports a greater advantage.

And the whole idea is that historically, if you look at the relationship between Africa and the rest of the global market, dating back to colonial days, the idea was somehow that raw materials get sent somewhere else, they got produced somewhere or refined somewhere else; sometimes they’re sold back to Africa, but the jobs, the value, the profits are all someplace else.

And we graduated from those colonial times to the idea of aid, Obama which continues to be critically important. There are parts of Africa that — where, right now, people just need food, or right the recent shift of trade ties of Kenya to the East, how does this now people just need medicine, and it is the obligation of impact on American foreign policy towards Kenya? And does wealthier nations to help deliver that food or that medicine.

But everywhere I go in Africa, what’s very clear is people want to the ICC indictment of our President and his deputy prevent the break out of a dependency trap. The idea is not that Africa some- U.S. from engaging with Kenya both politically and economihow should be the ward of some other country. What we need is cally? In addition, Mr. President, many Kenyan youth would like an Africa that is building, manufacturing, creating value, invent- to know what are your thoughts and plans on youth empowerment that involve structure of governance to Kenya? Thank you. ing, and then sending those products around the world and reKenya Moderator: Now, Mr. President, as you prepare to respond ceiving products in return in fair terms of trade. And if we do to that question, I’m sure you’re alive to the fact that there has that, then there’s no reason why Africa cannot succeed. been a lot of speculation in the Kenyan media and also in the soSo part of what I’m trying to highlight during this trip is the cial media for your reasons for not visiting Kenya on your second enormous opportunities for an Africa that is intimately intetour of Africa. Maybe if you recall in an interview that you did grated into the world market. I want small and medium-sized have with this channel that is way back on the 1st of June 2010, businesses and entrepreneurs and startups here in Africa to see you did a promise that during your tenure as President of the their potential not just in the local market, but to be able to sell goods and service all around the world and to bring those profits United States of America, you will be touring Kenya. Well, will you still keep your word on that? (Laughter and applause.) back to Africa and reinvest in Africa and hire Africans.

Obama: Well, Asante Sana. It’s wonderful to see all of you.

And so as part of that, we want to make sure that the United (Laughter.) First of all, let me just say that I’m going to be PresiStates is a critical trading partner. And, by the way, we’re not doing it out of charity. We’re doing it because if Africa is doing well, dent for another three and a half years. (Laughter and applause.) One of the things that you learn as President is not then now we’ve got a market of people who want to buy more only do people want you to fulfill your promises, but they want iPads and — (laughter) — Boeing airplanes and all the good stuff you to fulfill your promises yesterday. (Laughter.) that we sell, right? And Africa, by the way, is the youngest contiAnd part of the reason that I wasn’t able to visit Kenya this time nent, which means that demographically this is going to be a is I’ve been to Kenya multiple times and there hadn’t been a suslarger and larger share of the world market.

So specifically, in terms of AGOA, you’re right — the current AGOA tained visit by me in West Africa; and then South Africa, given the importance of the work that we’re doing together; Tanzania is a structure expires in 2015. It is my hope that we get it renewed. country I hadn’t visited before. So I was trying to spread the Now, what I mentioned to President Zuma today, and I said this wealth a little bit in terms of my visit. at a press conference, is that we will have to engage in some neBut what’s also true, I won’t deny, is that Kenya just had an elecgotiations to find ways to both improve what we’re currently dotion. I was very proud to see the restraint in which the election ing, but also to reflect on the fact that South Africa is becoming more and more successful, and that U.S. businesses — in order for was held. We did not see a repeat of the violence that we saw in the last election. But with a new administration that’s also havme to get it through Congress in the United States, U.S. busiing to manage some of the international issues around the ICC, I nesses have to feel as if they’re getting a level playing field reladid not think it was the optimal time for me to visit. But as I said, tive to, for example, some of the European companies who are able to operate here — because there’s a free trade agreement be- I’m going to — I’ve got three and a half years. So if in three years and seven months I’m not in Kenya, then you can fault me for tween Europe and the United States. not following through on my promise. (Laughter.)

But I’m confident that with good negotiations, that we should You raise the issue of whether our attitudes towards Kenya be able to get it done. The broader point I want to make, though, changed because of Kenya’s orientation towards trade and comis that the future is going to be in creating value here in Africa and making sure then that Southeast Asia and China and Turkey, merce with the East. And this was asked of me before — it’s a general question that I get during this visit; people saying, well, and all these other places around the world that everybody is China is here a lot, and is this what’s motivating America to want starting to see the benefits of global trade patterns. And Africa cannot just be a source of raw materials for somebody else. It has to be more involved. And I want to make two points.

First of all, our commitment to Africa is based on our belief in to be a source of the kinds of products and services and imaginaAfrica’s promise and Africa’s future, and we want to be part of tion that is going to be the future of the 21st century. Thank you. that future. Second of all, I think everybody should be involved (Applause.) in Africa. (Applause.) I want China and I want India and I want Mabuse: We have a young person in Kenya who has a question Brazil, and I want Singapore — everybody, come on down — for you. Kenya, you ready? There we go.

Kenya Moderator: Thank you, South Africa. You are watching us, (laughter) — to Africa because 6 of the 10-fastest growing broadcasted to you live from Nairobi here in Kenya’s capital. And economies in the world are right here in Africa. (Applause.)

You are seeing a shift inside of Africa in which a commitment indeed I’m joined by eight young Kenyans who have come in to democracy and transparency is beginning to take hold. I just from five different counties within the country, quite excited. I visited Senegal, where President Sall has embarked on a reform think I speak for all of them when I say that indeed it’s an honor agenda, including, by the way, shortening his term from seven to be able to engage with you, Mr. President, while directly duryears to five years, and a belief that, for example, members who ing this program.

And I’ll just get right to it and give an opportunity for one of the join the government need to disclose their assets — just basic measures that can help to root out corruption.

Kenyans who is with me here to be able to ask a question to you, And so when you start seeing these changes, everybody should Mr. President. Margaret (ph), you have the floor now. be excited about wanting to do business here in Africa and doing Question: Thank you, Katherine (ph). Jambo, Barack Obama, business with Kenya. Now, what I said during a press conference President. We are honored to be with you live today this aftertoday I want to repeat, which is I want to make sure that as counnoon from Nairobi, Kenya. Our question to you really is, given

tries come to Africa, that it’s benefiting Africans. So if somebody is building a road here in Africa, make sure they’re hiring some Africans. (Applause.) If there’s going to be manufacturing taking place of raw materials, locate some of those plants here in Africa.

And so I do want to make sure that whoever you’re dealing with — and as you enter into government and business — whoever you’re dealing with, making sure you’re getting a good deal that’s benefiting the people here and can help to spur on broad-based development. And, hopefully, that’s the kind of relationship that you’ll be able to develop with the United States of America. And that’s the kind of relationship I want Kenya to have with every country on Earth.

We’re in a global economy with a global supply chain, and I don’t want Africa to continually just be at the bottom of the supply chain. You produce the raw materials, sold cheap, and then all the way up the chain somebody else is making the money and creating the jobs and the value.

So part of what your generation’s challenge will be is making sure that, first of all, you have a transparent, accountable, noncorrupt, open government — because economic development is not going to happen in the absence of that kind of certainty. That’s what businesses want. They don’t want to have to pay a bribe just to get phone lines installed in their business.

They don’t want to have to hire somebody’s cousin just to open a business. And we have to be honest about it. In a lot of countries, that’s still the case, and that discourages investment.

And then as you move into positions of power, I want to make sure that you’re negotiating a good deal with these other countries. Now, it’s got to be realistic. It’s got to be based on what assets do you bring to bear. And initially, at least in some countries and in some regions in parts of Africa, you’re looking at a certain type of manufacturing or a certain type of industry that may not be very capital-intensive, for example, because there may not be as much capital initially to invest. So it may start at a smaller scale but continually upgrading and improving the prospects for Africa I think will require that kind of tough, hardheaded negotiations. But I want every country to be here.

Last point on Kenya — I already made this for all countries — yes, I want young people to be involved in holding their governments accountable. Now, there is a lot of variety here in Africa in terms of quality of governance. And I don’t want to reinforce for the American press that are here this attitude that Africa is just one big piece of land on the map. (Applause.)

There’s a lot of variation. Some countries are doing great work when it comes to accountability and democracy, and an act of civil society, and a free press, and freedom of assembly. And some countries are not doing as well. But what’s exciting right now is you’re starting to see more and more a norm, a standard, take hold in Africa. And young people, I think especially, have high expectations about how government should function, and it should function for the public good, not for the benefit of just a few. And people should be able to speak their mind, and they should be able to organize without fear of retribution. And they should be able to cast a ballot without problem.

And South Africa, I think, has been a great model. This is one of the greatest legacies of Nelson Mandela — is to show that through a commitment to the constitution and rule of law, and equal treatment for all people, that a country can prosper despite a tragic history. And the same should be true in Kenya, which is why I was heartened that the process of the last election at least did not result in chaos.

And that should be true for every country. And President Zuma said something important today at the press conference, and I’m going to see what we can do to work with them. The African Union I think is trying to create sort of a peer review system so that it’s not just the United States coming in and lecturing some African country that’s not observing democracy; it’s fellow Africans who are saying, what are you doing? Why are you suppressing your people? Why are you throwing political dissidents in jail? Why are you blocking people’s ability to organize new political parties?

And when peers are organizing in that fashion, then slowly standards get raised and new norms are established, and all of you can be at the forefront of that. Thank you, Kenya. (Applause.)

Mabuse: We are going to stay in East Africa and take a question from Kampala, Uganda. .

Obama: Fantastic.

Uganda Moderator: Hello from Kampala in Uganda, “the pearl of Africa,” as we are known. I am Nancy Kacungira, a news presenter with NTV Uganda. And Uganda is a very youthful nation — more than half of our population is actually under the age of 15. I’m here today with a group of vibrant and dynamic young people.

And as you can see, they are very excited to be addressing President Obama today and asking him a question.

Now, I’ve had the chance to interact with the young people here today, and they’re all great young leaders in their own right. And they all have different backgrounds and different experiences, but I’ve found that one of the things they do have in common is their passion — their passion for a better Uganda and for a better Africa. Mr. President, one of them is now going to ask you a question on behalf of the rest of the group.

Question: Hello, Mr. President. It’s an honor. My name is Eirene Ikomon (ph). My question comes on behalf of everyone seated here with me. Unfortunately, it’s also regarding trade.

Mr. President, as young Ugandan leaders, we are looking to the world for equal business partners and commitments, and not necessarily aid. We are not looking for donors. And yet, Mr. President, the policy you have just described right now seems to emphasize help coming in from the U.S. but emphasizing offering jobs and employment within the countries that they come into. As young leaders, Mr. President, we want to do the businesses at home and be the ones to own our own markets. So CONTINUED ON PAGE 62

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Issues in the news

Why we are reaching out to young African leaders CONTINUED FROM PAGE 61 how do you, Mr. President, plan on assisting us in reaffirming the U.S. policy to achieve this vision? (Applause.)

President Obama: Well, with respect to U.S. policy, I think you mischaracterize it, because our policy is to see success here in Africa. Now, there’s no doubt that U.S. businesses also want to sell into Africa, because as President of the United States, I want to create some jobs in Africa as well.

But my attitude is that the more successful African entrepreneurs are, then the more they’re going to be purchasing and interested in purchasing U.S. goods. And, conversely, when the economy in the United States is doing strong, then we’re going to buy more from Africa, and everybody’s standards of living can rise. But as you heard me say earlier, I completely agree with you that we want more investment and value creation here in Africa.

Now, one thing we haven’t spoken about, which I think is critical, is intra-African trade.

All too often, it’s easier to export, say, tea and coffee, from East Africa or flowers from East Africa to Europe than it is to export it someplace else in Africa.

And part of that is the legacy of colonialism, an orientation out of Africa rather than internal to Africa. Part of it is a lack of basic infrastructure — so port facilities, trains, rail, roads. So one of the things that we’re going to be very interested in is working with the African Union as well as various regional organizations to find ways that we can start linking up markets inside of Africa, because particularly for new businesses — if you’re starting a business here in South Africa, then the best chance you have initially for export might be closer to home, one of the surrounding countries.

If Uganda — if you have a business that you want to get started, and initially you’ve gotten your product popular inside of Uganda, the next step before you think about selling to the United States, you might say to yourself, let me start selling some in Kenya, or let me start selling in Tanzania, or Rwanda. And so part of what we have to do is to find additional ways in which Africans can also trade with each other.

The last point I will make — because it’s related to trade and capacity-building — I just came, as I said, from Senegal. And one of the things that we were featuring was our Feed the Future program and a Food Security Alliance that we’re creating here in Africa. And we’ve already gotten nine countries to join, and Senegal just determined that it was going to join as well. But we’ve already helped 7 million small farmers in Africa to pool their resources, access lower credit, link themselves together as one producer group so that they can market and sell more effectively. And we’ve seen those farmers increase their yields and their sales by 10, 20, 30, in some cases, 50 or 100 percent.

I met with a young woman farmer who had started off with one hectare, now has 16. She has been able to achieve enough growth that she has now bought a tractor. She’s hired eight people. Now, that’s not what we ordinarily think of as business or entrepreneurship, but if you think about the number of Africans who are involved in agriculture and giving them the tools where suddenly they’re getting better prices for their crops, they’ve got access to a marketplace, they now are getting enough credit to be able to mechanize their operations, and now suddenly they’re able to hire some people in their surrounding villages, you’ve just suddenly seen a small business grow. And the next step may be then they start doing some small food processing. And next thing you know, now they’re suddenly supplying these processed foods to a school. And next thing you know, they’re supplying those processed foods to the whole country.

And so not every business is going to be an Internet business, an app — (laughter) — I mean, I know that’s what young people are all about — I’m just going to create an app, I’m the next Facebook. That’s great, and I hope some of you do that, but when we think of development of Africa as a whole, especially if we’re thinking about broad-based development, then part of what we have to recognize is that a huge number of people inside of Africa are still in the agricultural sector, and the work that we’re doing is trying to create capacity for those small farmers who are essentially small entrepreneurs to be successful — because if they’ve got more money in their pockets, now they can afford to buy your app.

So thank you very much for the question, Uganda. Appreciate it. (Applause.)

MS. Mabuse: Mr. President, we’re moving over to West Africa now, and we’re going to take a question from Lagos, Nigeria.

Nigeria Moderator: Well, welcome, Mr. President, to Lagos, Nigeria, home to perhaps Africa’s biggest youth population. I’m Maupe Ogun for Channels Television here. And here with me in the studio are a selection of some of Nigeria’s brightest and best, and I must tell you, Mr. President, they’re mostly women, so you better be careful around them. (Laughter.) And they say they’re on the march and they have their question ready. Over now to Aisha (ph).

Question: Good afternoon, Mr. President.

My name is Aisha Myna (ph), and I represent seven other people here. In acknowledging our challenges and our responsibility as the young leaders of Nigeria to accept our challenges and make the difference, we would like to thank you for your support to Nigeria and Africa as a whole. The largest resource in Nigeria is our human capital, and we would like to ask a two-pronged question.

The first is, how can the United States deepen its investment in deploying technology that will develop our vast human capital as well as the education of her youth? My second question — it’s two-pronged, sorry, Mr. President — considering how long the war on terror has been on for, would you say that we’re winning the war on terror, seeing that there are new terrorist groups developing in Africa, one of which is in Nigeria? Thank you.

President Obama: Well, those are both great questions. Thank you. (Applause.)

And before I answer the question, I just want to be clear: I am surrounded by opinionated women in my house all day long — (laughter) — so I’ve got good practice dealing with strong women. You guys haven’t met Michelle, but you’ve probably seen her on TV. She’s not shy.

(Laughter.) And Malia and Sasha, they’re just taking right up after her. So every night at dinner I’m surrounded.

In terms of human capital and young people, I think there is no doubt that the most important investment any country can make — not just an African country — any country can make is educating its youth and providing them the skills they need to compete in a highly technological advanced world economy — countries that do not do that well will not succeed. Countries that excel at training their young people are going to succeed, because these days businesses can go anywhere. And one of the key criteria for any business is, where can I find outstanding workers?

Where can I find outstanding people to manage a plant or manage my sales force? And if you have countries with high illiteracy rates or limited skills, you’re going to have problems.

And I want to be clear that this is a problem in the United States, not just a problem in Africa. One of the main things that I’m spending a lot of time on is trying to push Congress to improve our early childhood education, because it turns out that children are most susceptible to learning between the ages of zero and three. And so working with parents, particularly mothers, around reading to their children, proper nutrition, stimulating activities. Then, when they get to school, making sure that our schools are prepared and redesigned for today — because a lot of the schools in the United States were first created during the agricultural era and aren’t always appropriate for what’s required today. And then on into what we call community colleges, which are two-year colleges or four-year colleges and universities.

Somebody should have told my helicopter to quiet down while I’m talking. (Laughter.)

So across the board, we’re having to rethink education and workforce training.

And one of the things that we want to do is to partner with a country like Nigeria and identify ways that we can provide direct value added —

whether it’s in helping to train teachers, helping to incorporate technologies into the education process.

So, for example, one of the things that you hear across the continent is, because a lot of Africans still live in rural areas, it may be difficult for them to access education and schooling once they get beyond a certain level. Well, are there ways in which we can pipe in, essentially, a university into a rural community? And suddenly, you’ve got the lecturer right there, without the same costs or obligation for a young person to take on when they go to travel far away from home in order to study.

And so I think that there are some excellent ideas that sometimes we’re doing country by country, depending on the country. But this is an area where I would love to get more input from young people in terms of what they think would work. And so part of the Young African Leaders Initiative may be to elicit additional ideas from those — particularly those who may be working in education and have a sense of what are the barriers right now for young people in order to succeed.

Now, with respect to the so-called war on terror, there’s no doubt that we’ve made some progress in dealing with some extremist groups — for example, core al Qaeda and bin Laden, that was based in the FATA area between Pakistan and Afghanistan — that they have been greatly diminished. But what is also true is that in some ways, the problem has metastasized.

You have more regional terrorist organizations, like a Boko Haram in Nigeria, espousing an extremist ideology, showing no regard for human life. And although they may not have the same transnational capacity that some of the earlier organizations did, they’re doing great harm in Africa and in the Middle East and in South Asia.

People always talk about the terrorist threat to the United States or the West, but the truth of the matter is, is that the number of people who are killed by terrorist attacks in African countries, or in Muslim countries, or in South Asia, far outstrips any deaths that are experienced by westerners. It’s typically people right there where these organizations are based that are most likely to be killed. When the Kenya Embassy

bombing happened, the overwhelming majority of people who were killed were Kenyans, not Americans. And so this is not just a problem for us. This is a problem for everybody.

Now, the question is, how do we address this problem? It is my strong belief that terrorism is more likely to emerge and take root where countries are not delivering for their people and where there are sources of conflict and underlying frustrations that have not been adequately dealt with. The danger we have right now, for example, in a place like Somalia is that it’s been two generations, maybe three since there was a functioning government inside of Somalia. Now, we’ve started to see actually some progress, in part because of intervention by African nations in Somalia to clear the space, to create the space for governance.

But you look at what’s happening in Mali, for example, right now. Part of the problem is, is that you had a weak central government and democratic institutions that weren’t reaching out as far into the country as were necessary, and we’ve got to build those institutions. A lot of what we talked about in terms of responsiveness and governance and democracy, those things become defense mechanisms against terrorism. They’re the most important defense against terrorism.

So I don’t start with the attitude of a military solution to these problems. I think the more that we’re giving people opportunity, the more that we’re giving people education, the more that we’re helping resolve conflicts through regular democratic processes, the less likely they are to take root. Now, having said that, there are some extremist groups that will not compromise or work through a democratic process, and we have to also be realistic about that. And what we want to do is partner with African countries to figure out how we can help.

But I promise, this notion somehow that we want to somehow expand our military reach — I was elected to end a war. I’ve ended one. I’m now in the process of ending another one.

Every few weeks, I go and visit soldiers who are your age, who have had their legs blown off in Afghanistan, or worse. Every week, I’m writing letters to the families of fallen soldiers. Sometimes I go to Arlington National Cemetery, where our heroes are buried, and I hug those families and I feel their sobs on my shoulder.

This idea somehow that we want to get more involved militarily around the world is simply not true. First of all, it costs a lot of money, and the United States, just like every country around the world, has to think about its budget. And where we intervene oftentimes it’s not very effective because unless you’ve got a local population that is standing up against terrorism, we end up being viewed as interlopers and intruders.

So with — in the Africa context, what we want to do is to build African capacity. We want the African Union and other regional organizations to build up the capacity to send in peacekeepers, to be able to nip terrorist cells that may be forming before they start and gain strength.

And we can provide advice and training and in some cases equipment, but we would love nothing more than for Africa, collectively, to say no to extremism, say no to terrorism, to say no to sectarianism — which in the case of Boko Haram, for example, is an example of essentially a religious rationale for this kind of violence — and the United States to be able to step back and worry about selling iPads and planes. That’s what we would like to do.

But what we won’t do is just stand by if our embassy is being attacked or our people are in vulnerable situations. And we expect countries to work with us to try to deal with some of these threats. And this is a global issue; it’s not just one reBE CONTINUED lated to theTOUnited States.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

BUSINESS

IATA tasks airline on $5tr growth plan

By Chika Goodluck-Ogazi LOBAL airline industry has G been called to make new ideas on how the partners in air transport value chain would attract the $5 trillion, needed over the next 20 years to meet the growing demand for aviation connectivity.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) made the call recently in Geneva, in a study, titled, “Profitability and the Air Transport Value Chain”, which showed that returns on capital invested in airlines have improved in recent years, but still a far cry from what investors would normally expect to earn, it noted.

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, IATA, Tony Tyler said: “The airline industry has created tremendous value for its customers and the wider economies we serve. Aviation supports some 57 million jobs globally and we make possible $2.2 trillion worth of economic activity. By value, over 35 per cent of the goods traded internationally are transported by air.

“But in the 2004-2011 period, investors would have earned $17 billion more annually by taking their capital and investing it in bonds and equities of similar risk. Unless we find ways to improve returns for our investors it may prove difficult to attract the $5 trillion of capital we need to serve the expansion in connectivity over the next two decades, the vast majority of which will support the growth of developing economies.”

According to IATA, during the 2004-2011 period, returns on capital invested in the airline industry worldwide averaged 4.1 per cent, stressing that, it was an improvement on the average of 3.8 per cent generated in the previous business cycle over 1996-2004.

First Bank, UNICEF partner on mobile payment solution IRST Bank of Nigeria Limited, through its Fmobile payment solution FirstMonie is partnering with the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) Health Scheme in its payment disbursement plans to ensure that stipends get to recipients securely and conveniently irrespective of their locations.

In the partnership, FirstMonie, the mobile money payment solution of FirstBank would support the UNICEF Health Scheme Initiative through its payment disbursement services and redemption related issues to its Volunteer Community Mobilisers (VCMs) as well as their consultants across the nation.

Firstmonie enables a subscriber send and receive money, pay bills, buy airtime, and make sundry purchases in Nigeria without owning a bank account. The platform supports wealth creation by providing opportunities for thousands of entrepreneurs across the nation as well as financial inclusion through the provision of banking services for the unbanked and underbanked.

However, the body stated that this was nowhere near the average cost of capital of 7.5 per cent, which represented the return on capital that investors would expect to earn by investing in assets of similar risk outside the airline industry.

While some airlines, it said, have consistently created value for equity investors, which are few in number. IATA explained that, on average industry, returns were just sufficient for the industry to service its debt, with nothing left to reward equity investors for risking their capital.

IATA further stated that the biggest cost for airlines today is fuel and companies in this sector benefited from an estimated $16-48 billion of their annual net profits generated by air transport.

It added that, the most profitable part of the rest of the value chain is in distribution,

with the computer reservation systems businesses of the three global distribution system companies generating an aver-

age Returns On Investment Capital (ROIC) of 20 per cent, followed by freight forwarders with an ROIC of 15per cent.

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NigeriaCapitalMarket NSE Daily Summary (Equities) PRICE LIST OF SYMBOLS TRADED FOR 02/7/2013

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

CAPITAL MARKET

65

NSE Daily Summary (Equities) as at 25/6/2013

PRICE GAINERS

LOSERS

NSE’s market capitalisation rises by N67 billion Stories by Helen Oji OLLOWING price gains Fcompanies, recorded by major bluechip equity transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange closed in an upbeat yesterday, causing market capitalization to increase marginally by N67 billion.

Specifically, at closed of trading yesterday, market capitalisation of listed equities rose by N67 billion or by 0.59 per cent to N11.414 trillion from N11.347 trillion it closed yesterday.

Also the All/ Share Index increased by 211.32 basis points to close at 36043.48 points from 35,832.16 points recorded the previous day.

A turnover of 463.214 million shares valued at N2.946 billion changed hands in 5193 deals, higher than 315.78 million shares worth N1.93 billion exchanged in the previous day in 4099 deals.

Nestle Nigeria Plc led gainers table, appreciating by N14.00 to close at N950.00 while Total Nigeria Plc followed with a gain of N5.00 to close at

N158.00 . Glaxosmith, FO and GTBank added N5.00, N1.48 kobo and N1.00 to close at N67.00, N18.50 kobo and N25.00.

On the other hand, Cap Plc topped losers chart, dropping

N4.82 kobo to close at N43.70 kobo, International Breweries followed with N2.00 to close at N24.00 Berger Paint lost N1.13 kobo to close at N10.25 kobo.

Other stocks that recorded

price depreciation were Arbico and Union Bank of Nigeria UBN loss N0.69 kobo and N0.44 kobo respectively to close at N6.22 kobo and N12.00.

Transnational Corporation of

Nigeria (Transcorp) traded the highest volume of activity, exchanging 245.658 millioN shares worth N327.399 million, Aso Savings and Loans followed with account of 20.00 million shares valued

at N10.00, Access Bank Plc exchanged 18.726 million shares worth N200.384 million while AIICo came fourth with a total of 17.754 million share valued at N15.978 million.

Briscoe Properties posts N101m profit for 2012 T Briscoe Nigeria Plc has R announced that its investment in property and real estate business has started yielding positive results as Briscoe Properties Limited, the property development subsidiary of the firm, has posted a profit of N101 million for the 2012 financial year.

R.T.Briscoe is known for the sales and service of Toyota and Ford motor vehicles, technical equipment including forklifts, industrial compressors, mining and drilling equipment and generating sets.

However, it diversified into facility management, property development, sales and

lease of properties.

The Chairman of the company, Clement Olowokande told shareholders at the company’s yearly general meeting held recently in Lagos that the investment in property business has started to yield fruits.

According to him, the company had acquired Briscoe Properties Limited as a fully owned subsidiary in 2011.

“The acquisition has already started yielding the desired results. For the year ended 31st December 2012, Briscoe Properties Limited recorded a turnover of N886.4 million and a net profit after tax of N101.3 million.

Olowokande disclosed that

in the second half of last year, “Heliconia Court” Yaba, an estate of 18 terrace houses with a gym and swimming pool constructed by Briscoe Properties Limited for sale to third parties would be declared open.

“I am pleased to inform you that all the housing units have been sold out. A new property development project is in the pipeline and you will be kept informed as appropriate,” he said.

Reviewing the performance of the R.T. Briscoe Group, he said the company ended 2012 with a turnover of N21.98 billion, showing an increase of 12 per cent above the N19.605

billion posted in 2011.

Operational profit of N942 million was recorded.

However, the high finance cost of N1.2billion, the company’s first time of adopting the International Financial Reporting Standards(IFRS) led to loss. Olowokande assured shareholders that the management has intensified efforts in collecting the outstanding debts and selling its aged stock, which he said are veritable sources of profit in the current financial year.

“Your Board will ensure that this trend continues and is improved upon.

It has adopted a strategic turnaround plan to reposition

the fortunes of the company and redress the crippling undercapitalisation that has become a handicap to our profitability. The business of the company is also being restructured for improved performance. I do confirm to you that your Board is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that you receive your dividends in the coming year,” he said.

He added; “When we meet at the next AGM, I expect to be in a position to confidently inform you that the company has returned to a comfortable profit position that would enable the recommencement of your good dividend trend.”

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Opinion Anti-corruption potentialities of public budgeting

By Emeka Ejikonye N the preceding commentary of this series, we Iruption made effort to reveal that the ubiquitous corriding roughshod over our society is just but a mere symptomatic expression of the absence of public accountability in our administrative systems; the firm establishment of public accountability into the governance will, for sure, eliminate the menace of corruption. This commentary is an effort to reveal that the only channel through which any Nigerian Federal Government can win the war against corruption is through ‘public budgeting’.

As duly differentiated from ‘fiscal policymaking’, in the first of this series of commentaries captioned, “Between ‘fiscal policymaking’ and ‘public budgeting’” (The Guardian, Monday, October 22, 2012, page 67 and Tuesday, October 23, 2012, page 67), ‘public budgeting’ shall prosecute the anti-corruption crusade from two broad fronts. First and from the perspective of the executive arm of federal governance, it shall thrive on the vivid recognition that the relationship between the President and Ministers is inadvertently adversarial due to conflicting viewpoints and interests. While the President is focused on a holistic perspective targeted at equitable distribution of funds within prevailing constraints, acceptable deficits, efficiency and effectiveness of the government mission, the Ministers focus on a narrow horizon aimed at maintaining and expanding the resource base of their individual agency. Hence, each Ministry would submit only information that is certain to serve its own parochial interests and regard any analysis system that seeks to illuminate its activities as a threat that must be resisted or subverted. Of course, this scenario also portrays the relationship between the Minister and Directors of the sectoral departments at the level of ministerial administration.

Therefore, the President cannot just continue to rely on the mere abstract whims of ‘trust’ to drive the relationships at these two critical junctures of the executive apparatus. Rather, he must develop and implement a practical, pragmatic means of consciously and consistently checking up on the parochial pursuits of the subordinate sectoral officials at each of these levels. Herein resides the strength of the administrative-performance-auditing ingredient of the operation-control apparatus of ‘public budgeting’ (see the previous article in this series entitled, “accountability impediment to good governance” in the Opinion columns of The Guardian of June 17 and 18, 2013). Built on the twin elements of ‘coordination’ and ‘feedback’, its policyreview-procedure and powers over bureaucratic activity serve to centralize budgetary decision-making in the Office of the President. The aim is to assert effective control of the President over civil servants through his/her personal involvement in setting policy objectives for all agency managers and

monitoring the progress of program implementation. This breeds not only the central-clearance of budgetary rules to checkmate poor agency studies and maintain their competence but also stock-taking of both the uses and limitations of ‘public resource inputs’. Thus emerges a very useful device for: • Reflecting the priorities of the President in government policy statements; • balancing his participation and control in the development and implementation of the policies and utilization of resources by the civil servants; • identifying, evaluating and influencing the policies, revising the ill-conceived and imposing the long sought discipline on the administrative system; and • establishing firmly the view of the President as the primary symbol of the public interest and official best suited to coordinate the administrative system in opposition to the centrifugal forces of sub-governmental politics.

Certainly, this observation queries the continued reliance of the President on the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as the sole policy review organ of the executive branch of federal governance in Nigeria since the constituent ministers come with the sole aim of justifying their respective agency resource needs. The administrative-performance-auditing ingredient of the operation-control apparatus of ‘public budgeting’ serves as the critical instrument for asserting an independent, alternative or parallel policy-review and bureaucratic-control capability for the President vis-à-vis the FEC. Its continued absence in the executive apparatus of the federal administrative system not only perpetuates the characteristic condemnation of the President to a captive of the adversary information supplied by the agencies but also nurtures the poor communication network between public service agencies that has become the bedrock of federal governance in Nigeria today.

From the second perspective of the legislature, ‘public budgeting’ would fight corruption from the premise of recognition that the National Assembly is, unfortunately, subordinated to the Presidency in Federal Government budgetary matters. After interaction within it, the executive merely submits a finished format (the budget) to the legislators who, therefore, only respond to the budget proposal submitted by the President.

This way, the legislators must rely solely on information that serve and enhance only the policy priorities of the President. This scenario is due to the absence of a coherent and systematic means of exerting control of the legislators over Federal Government fiscal priorities to assert their position on not only the micro and macro budgetary policies but also put the decisions into effect once arrived at; in short, do

their own budgeting.

Strengthening the power of the National Assembly over public spending (‘power of the purse’), the very heart of legislative prerogative, is inevitable if our Parliament must enjoy institutional and public credibility. To the rescue, the administrative-performance-auditing ingredient of the operation-control apparatus of ‘public budgeting’ thrives on a visibly coherent appropriations procedure for considering all government budgetary matters during the course of a year. The objective is to breed amongst others: • A coordinated National Assembly approach to the handling of all public revenue and expenditure authorizations to provide a holistic picture of government fiscal policy; • capacity of the National Assembly to pass budget Acts before the commencement of the year to which they relate; and • ability of the National Assembly to deal with impoundments (that is, instances of the withholding of appropriated funds by bureaucratic and executive agencies).

Certainly, the effect of this virtuous mix would be enhanced capacity of our legislators to assert the initiative in government budgetary matters.

The ultimate product would be the transmutation of the National Assembly from its prevailing passive or reactive position to an active partner vis-à-vis the Presidency in the federal governance of Nigeria.

On the broad framework, the capacity of this (or any other) Federal Government of Nigeria to eliminate the pervasive corruption bedevilling the polity, therefore, hinges on the existence of two operational elements in the administrative system. First and from the perspective of the executive, strengthening of the capacity of the President to checkmate the pursuit of unethical practices by civil servants via access to an administrative-performance-auditing device for centralizing budgetary decision-making authority in the Office of the President to assert his/her independent, alternative or parallel policy-review and bureaucratic-control capability vis-à-vis the Federal Executive Council (FEC). Second and from the perspective of the legislature, strengthening of the power of the National Assembly over public spending through access to an administrative-performance-auditing device for achieving the independent capability of the legislature to do its own budgeting, to assert the initiative of the legislators vis-à-vis the President in federal government budgetary matters. The ultimate product of this virtuous mix is a ‘proactive’, problem-‘recognition’, ‘definition’ and ‘prevention’ approach to the anti-corruption crusade when compared to the prevailing ‘reactive’, problem-‘solving’ approach of the EFCC, ICPC, SERVICOM and like agencies, which has continued to prove a colossal failure.

Specifically, the responsibility for initiating these two operational elements into the federal

government administrative system hinges squarely on the requisite-skill, steadfast-resolve and strong-will of this (or any future) President and leadership of the National Assembly to initiate an institutional-structural ‘transformation’ (‘paradigm-shift’, if you like) in the functioning of four policymaking concepts of federal governance in Nigeria, thus: • ‘Planning’, from its existing perception as, “determining development goals and designing policy strategies to move the ‘economy’ (not necessarily ‘society’) along a chosen path towards a desired state”, to become, “a deliberately designed and applied process and time dimension for actualizing the government vision”.

• ‘Budgeting’, from its prevailing archaic perception as, “the process of mobilizing and deploying merely public funds for actualizing purely ‘economic’ (not necessarily ‘social’) development goals”, to its more contemporary view as, “the coherent and systematic deployment of institutional resources for the successful accomplishment of government mission”.

• ‘President’ from its existing feudal-monarchical view as, “a ‘patron-saint’ that merely doles out favors and aids to others from a subtle aloof position atop the administrative machinery while leaving these others to get the job done”, to its more democratic-republican perception as, “the only elected chief executive officer of federal governance in Nigeria whose position derives from the requirement for an identifiable individual empowered to get the job done and take full responsibility for the successes or failures of administrative outcomes”.

• ‘National Assembly’, from its disparaging view as, “a passive or reactive partner vis-à-vis the executive such that the President exerts full control of discretionary authority in federal government budgetary matters”, to its more esteem perception as, “an assertive or active partner vis-à-vis the executive through the optimal capacity of the legislators to do their own budgeting”.

This ‘transformation agenda’ is inevitable if we must make progress in the march towards national development. Obviously, the starting point for this critical transition must be indepth analysis of the budgeting concept for more meaningful interpretation and appreciation of its social impacts, political and bureaucratic peculiarities, social and institutional behaviours, and normative theory of governance in a federal system.

“You cannot continue to do one thing the same way and expect a different result”.

• Ejikonye, wrote from the Federal University, Wukari.

On Mandela for Jonathan

By Anthony Akinola ELSON Mandela is today the world’s most loved statesman across racial, religious or ideological divides. Even though he is already 94, an age most human beings do not attain, the world still wishes him to continue to live for more years. Mandela is the quintessential saint, one who has no space for grudges in his heart. “It does not matter if he is being patched together on a life support machine, what I may not be able to bear is the thought that Nelson Mandela is no longer here with us”, said an old English woman whose ears have literally been glued to the radio since the elder statesman was admitted to hospital.

Of course, death is inevitable and the muchadmired Nelson Mandela cannot live forever; when his end finally does come, what would not end is his place in the consciousness of history. And, of course, in the hearts of those of us who survive him.

The tale of Nelson Mandela’s incarceration for 27 years will be told to generations yet unborn.

If his important South African nation endures as one in which different racial groupings co-

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exist peacefully, the path of reconciliation charted by the conciliatory character of Nelson Mandela will forever be eulogised. For the apartheid system under which Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison, was one racial injustice on an ignoble scale as that of slavery. It was a system in which the minority whites held the majority blacks in servitude and degradation.

Nelson Mandela, even when he was the symbol of that oppression, refused to reward evil with evil when the apartheid system eventually collapsed and natural order took its turn.

Nelson Mandela’s uniqueness or exceptionality was demonstrated in his choice of decency when he became the first black President in 1994, opting for reconciliation instead of revenge.

Equally noteworthy is the fact that he declined to seek re-election after serving out a first term in 1999.

In a continent where political leaders are noted for “sit-tightism”, election-rigging and manipulative politics, Nelson Mandela’s attitude to transient political power is noteworthy. If he were a Nigerian politician, there would be supporters arguing that he deserved to stay longer in office because he had suffered so much and should

“enjoy”. In the scramble for power and more power, a Nelson Mandela of another African nation would have long lost respect in the eyes of the civilised world. The goodwill the dignified Madiba enjoys at home and abroad would not have been there. The life of Nelson Mandela is, indeed, a lesson in endurance, humility and contentment to all of us.

Of course, Nelson Mandela’s life of glory should be a lesson to President Goodluck Jonathan. Our country, Nigeria, is on a threshold; a patriotic Goodluck Jonathan can be what decides peace instead of anarchy in the years ahead. Goodluck Jonathan should reflect on the contentment of Nelson Mandela who suffered personal humiliation and deprivations because of his people, yet refused to see political power as a matter of life and death.

Goodluck Jonathan is not known to have ever carried a placard because of Nigeria, much less of being humiliated because of her. If he were my brother or friend, I would tell him there is a time to say “Thank You” to Almighty God for how far “luck” has carried us in life. I would tell him stories of tragedies that had very happy beginnings and pray with him that his is not one.

Goodluck Jonathan will have been vice-president and president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for eight years by 2015. Even when he may be constitutionally entitled to seek re-election, there must have been a reason or reasons why he once told us he would not be seeking reelection. Sycophants, ethnic jingoists and beneficiaries of state power would undoubtedly be willing him on; however, a man or woman of wisdom and determination should see beyond these parochial interests. The writing is on the wall and the omen is not good.

There has been the warning, albeit from those who can make it happen, that Nigeria could disintegrate by 2015. Two thousand and fifteen happens to be an election year, with all its historical implications. The war drums are already out; the same Nigerians who were reportedly said to have rejected “rotational presidency” have been threatening all sorts of violence if the president was not elected from their regional grouping.

Confusion, confusion, and more confusion, may God help the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

• Akinola is a political writer based in Oxford, UK.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

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Opinion If students can’t write well

By Michael Skapinker is odd that the problem persists when parents try to give IATtheir children every advantage. few weeks ago, I received an e-mail from a U.S.-based professor, whose Dean had reprimanded him for trying to teach his students how to write. “That is not a writing class,” the professor was told. The professor, who has been teaching Business and Law students at some of America’s top universities for 50 years, told an MBA class that clear writing would be essential in their careers.

Each week in his class, they would compose a one-page memorandum, which he would read and mark (or grade). The memos would answer a simple question from their textbooks.

“I wanted the assignment to be more about conveying their analyses than testing their ability to get the analyses right,” he said.

Were they grateful? “The students complained so vigorously to the Dean that I was asked to stop.” The students said that in today’s business, they did not need to know how to write. “Emails and tweets are the medium of exchange. So, they argued, the constant back-and-forth gives one an opportunity to correct misunderstandings caused by unclear thinking and writing.”

The Dean insisted that the professor should make the writing exercise voluntary. By the end of the term, only one student, a non-native English speaker, was submitting the assignments. The professor’s worry about writing is widely

shared. According to 2008 research, 46 per cent of first-year California State University students needed writing help.

The deficiency is not confined to undergraduates. A study published in 2009 in the journal Current Issues in Education found that a group of 97 U.S. masters and doctoral students did no better in a diagnostic writing test than the typical collegebound high school senior.

Teachers at even the UK’s top universities say the same. David Abulafia, a Cambridge history professor, said in a talk this year: “People do not know how to write. Command of grammar, punctuation and spelling is atrocious.”

There was need, Prof Abulafia said, to recover “an art (I shan’t call it a skill) that has been lost and has to be instilled in firstyear undergraduates even at Oxford and Cambridge: the ability to write continuous prose, clearly, elegantly, concisely, setting out an argument”.

Is students’ writing really worse, or are professors imagining a golden age of literacy that never existed? People have been complaining about writing for a while. “If your children are attending college, the chances are that when they graduate they will be unable to write ordinary, expository English with any real degree of structure and lucidity,” Newsweek Magazine said in a famous essay called “Why Johnny can’t write”. That was in 1975, and the experts blamed “the simplistic spoken style of television”.

Today, Prof Abulafia says poor writing “may reflect a society in which fewer young people read and much of their informal writing consists of Twitter and Facebook messages”. He does, however, also worry about rote learning in schools and that

pupils receive no reward in examinations for having read more widely. He adds that many more students are now sitting school-leaver A-level examinations, which means teachers and examiners have less time to spend on each candidate.

Whether poor writing is new or old, it is odd that it persists at a time when parents are vying to provide their children with any possible advantage, exposing them to Paul Klee at the age of four, as the New York Times recently reported, and teaching them to sing “Heads, shoulders, knees and toes” in Mandarin.

If there is such a shortage of competent writers, why are ambitious parents not rushing to make sure their kids can compose an elegant English essay, and why are MBA students not scrambling to do the same?

One possible answer is that there really isn’t much of a demand and that being a decent writer commands no premium in the job market. Are the U.S. professor’s students right in thinking that Twitter, Facebook and text messaging are all they need?

I doubt it. There are still jobs where good writing matters. It is hard to see those law students stepping up to the bench without being able to render a literate judgment. And I can’t be the only customer who assumes that a banker who doesn’t know where an apostrophe goes is going to be equally careless with my money.

There’s a gap in the market and the smarter parents and students should get on to it. Good writing is far easier to master than Mandarin.

• Skapinker wrote this in the Financial Times.

Wahab Dosunmu: An unusual political ideologue “no one really knows why they are alive until they know what they would die for”. For him, the essense of being would amount to nothing if the totality of earthly sojourn is unworHE totality of the message conveyed by inevitability of thy of being held to account on the basis of what a man stood death is only a mirror which the lifetime of the dead reprefor. He lived and died a courageous and consummate politisents and the reflection we see of ourselves. In his lifetime, Dr. cians who could neither be cowed or ignored. He adopted a Wahab Olaseinde Dosunmu exemplified uncommon candour ‘live and let’s live’ disposition to life even as he was always in the face of adversity and opposition. Till death, he held tena- steadfast when convinced about a position or mission. He carciously to his political views; demonstrating tolerance of diver- ried himself with certain gait that could hardly be discountegent opinions but however remained largely unpassuaded by nanced even if perceived as politically unsuited in the convinience of bandwagon politics under which lack of inter- estimation of others. There is no doubt that Wahab Dosunmu nal democracy and subjugation thrive in this part of the like all mortals could not have achieved all he wanted in life; world. For him, politics is essentially about the people and as a especially on the political turf, but there is no denying the fact means for accessing governance to service the community. He that he stood to be counted at critical moments of his political was persistent in the conviction that if politics is primarily pursiuts. He was an accomplished politician who held his own about the people, access to governance at all levels should against all odds. Certainly not the typical run-of-the-mill polititherefore be accorded appropriate, if not equal preference. He cian; usually on ego trip, yet he made his marks within the was a dogged politician whose preference for a federalist apmodicum of space and time which providence thrusted upon proach to politics was never in doubt even if it was, for most him. times, in conflict with dominant political ideology of his imWahab Dosunmu ventured into politics with the mindframe mediate political constituency. Inspite of difficult challenges, of serving Lagos community primarily and Nigeria in general. he lived and exuded his political dream elaborately and, in the There was no pretence about his motive in politics. His admiprocess, etched an enviable profile in public service as Federal ration for the dominant political tendency in his immediate Minister of Works, Senator of the Federal Republic, Nigeria contituency was without iota of doubt, nevertheless he was of Ambassador to Malaysia at various point of his eventful politi- the view that mutual welfarist ideals could be pursued within cal career in addition to his less publicised role as a political ac- different political platforms. It was precisely for this reason tivist and prodemocracy exile in the turbulent days of popular that at a time considered most inauspicious for a man with struggle against military rule. supposed promising political future, Dosunmu exhibited It must be noted that a humble family background and strict courage and determination in teaming up with National Party religious upbringing invested young Wahab with strong char- of Nigeria (NPN), which was in opposition to Awolowo mainacter and virtues. He was raised an effective ‘Epetedo boy’; cosstream politics of the southwest in the Second Republic. The mopolitan, urbane, assertive, dignified, modest and humble! backlash of such political venture was not unexpected in our These attributes were a major plank upon which he cultivated clime but as it turned out, it marked but eventful phase in a focussed and disciplined approach to life. Without doubt, Wahab Dosunmu’s contribution to politics and public service. the defining character of Wahab Dosunmu in and out of proAs Minister for Works and Housing, he was responsible for the fessional and political terrains was the supreme self-confidevelopment of mass houses popularly referred to as ‘Shagari dence he deployed in engaging the numerous challenges he Estate’ across the country. All through his stint as public offiencountered. Late Wahab Dosunmu’s deep concern and love cer, he didn’t acquire an estate for himself or indulge in privafor the ordinary people was reflected by the modest life he tization of the commonwealth of the people or lived. Despite ample access to paraphernalia of political offices personalization of their collective heritage. He was a selfless at various levels and at difftrent times, Wahab Dosunmu was person who cared so much about the welfare of everyone not cut-out for the archetypic flamboyance of Nigeria’s politiaround him and almost forgot himself. Such was the largeness cal landscape. Those who knew him would attest to his of Wahab’s heart! avowed contentment and loathe for avarice. He could not be You didn’t have to agree with Wahab Dosunmu on all points blackmailed or influenced by greedy; primitive accumulation to admire his style of politics. Dosunmu’s voice could not be and, in the process, coerced or subsumed into abandoning the subjugated as a condition for loyalty to a political party. He cause of indegeneous Lagosians. Till death, he was enamoured would ventilate his opinions with strong persuasion and inby the desire for ventilating the collective voices of the desisted on inputs from of all stakeholders. He was very principrived and marginalised indegeneous communities and peo- pled on issues that border on consultation but always willing ple in Lagos. His politics was largely defined by the pursuit of to let go as a true democrat. As a leader he was held in high escommon goods in the service of the community and the peoteem. As members of the same political party, he never exple. He deployed energy and passion into building bridges pected us to be on the same side on all issues and for intents across ethnic and cultural divides but never forgot his root as and purposes. Senator Wahab Dosunmu was not the type that well as the yearnings and aspirations of the people. celeberates mediocrity or dignifies indolence but he was a A professional town planner and at various times academic stickler for standard who admonished family members, and civil servant, Wahab Dosunmu lived a life consistent with friends and associates to always strive for the best possible. ideal propounded by Martin Luther King (Jr.) to the effect that While vying for the governorship ticket of PDP ahead of 2011

By Ade Dosunmu

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general election, I never took his support for granted. He was elated about my ambition much as I appreciated he would insist on keeping faith with the process of candidate selection as demonstration of fairness to all stakeholders.

I now recall two incidents which I consider very key in appreciating the essence, courage and quality of the man; Wahab Dosunmu’s politics. The electioneering campaigns for 2011 general elections had reached feverish peak when he made public his view on the presidential election billed to come up before the governorship poll in which I was engaged as the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State. In a widely circulated article titled: It’s a matter of Conscience, Wahab Dosunmu had returned a verdict that appeared, from all indications, unfavourable to the PDP’s Presidential candidate for which I received numerous ‘distress’ calls from supporters who believed such publicised view was bound to affect my chances at the poll.

I could only offer gentle explanation to those who cared to listen that such could not be wished away if we genuinely crave for issue-based democracy where opinion should count over and above sycophancy. I knew Wahab Dosunmu couldn’t have been bothered; inordinately by anybody exercising freedom of opinion in a democracy just as I would love to demonstrate freedom to express my opinion in good conscience. The second incident relates to what a friend recalled to me as fallout of the first incident. This has to do with what could be rightly or wrongly regarded as ‘political indiscretion’ in some quarters.

It is recalled that Wahab Dosunmu had congratulated Olusegun Obasanjo after the 1999 presidential election whilst his party, the Alliance for Democracy (AD) rejected the results and resolved to head for the election petition tribunal. Wahab Dosunmu’s argument then was simply that a shaky democracy at that time in the political history of our country ought to be strengthened by spirit of sportsmanship. He was convinced that a congratulatory message could not in any way stand as inhibition to the findings and eventual verdict of the tribunal. As close as I was to him, we never discussed the issue relating to the first incident before or after the election and till he died because there was no big deal at all! On a personal note, one big lesson I learnt from Wahab Dosunmu is that politics is a game whose end ought to depend more on the sacrifice we are expected to make in servicing our community, the nation and the people.

To this extent, politicians must cultivate the largeness of heart to eschew bitterness and develop the right attitude that would make intimacies and intricacies of politics worth the energy and passion invested.

Wahab Dosunmu would be remembered as a genuine politician who was espoused by the tenets of freedom of choice and fairplay. He demonstrated genuine love for democracy and freedom through politics of engagement and would be remembered as a committed democrat who evinced absolute faith in the ballot box as a means of seeking political power. Wahab Dosunmu left a legacy of constructive political engagement on the strength of courage and steadfastness. In the words of Thomas Campbell: “to live in hearts we leave behind is not to die”. Adieu; Wahab Olaseinde Dosunmu!

• Dr. Dosunmu was 2011 Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

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Midweek Arts How Nollywood hooked Paris OLLYWOOD is a phenomenon, no doubts about that. It is the second biggest film industry in the world and the least celebrated.

It is indeed a story to marvel about, worthy of celebration and sharing with the world, that a group of half-literate dramatists of the popular traveling theatre tradition, seeing their trade tottering on the brink of extinction, because of the harsh economic policies of the 80s, could, out of desperation, seize the opportunity of newer technologies, and, in alliance with small-scale entrepreneurs, they harnessed it with such inventiveness, and now their successors have tirelessly turned it into a multi-million naira film industry, whose products have almost completely displaced the far more sophisticated, far more technically competent products, of Hollywood and Bollywood.

And really, this must have led to the anticipation that followed the decision to host a film festival celebrating Nollywood in Paris.

So, when Qudus Onikeku decided to organise the first NollywoodWeek Paris, many had wondered, why film and not dance?

Those who are familiar with artistic preoccupations of Onikeku have often asked, “what is it exactly that might have propped the mind of a dancer and choreographer, with such a touring calendar that turns him into a diehard fan of Nollywood?” he wondered.

“I take it therefore, that, since I deal with body movements, with the texture and architecture of moving bodies on stage, and cinema on the other hand, deals with motion pictures in frames, meanwhile, the stage, just like cinema plays with the tones of light, shadows and colour,” Qudus Onikeku, organiser of the festival, said. “As a dancer, I’ve told stories with my works, just as cinema does; so, in that magical territory of visual spectacle and of storytelling, you can see that I am not a learner.”

Therefore, the question for him, was what should a NollywoodWeek Paris be like?

“Because a phenomenon like Nollywood, more than a festival, the appropriate gesture must be that of gratitude, that is, a wonderful occasion to say thank you to all those who dreamt what was to become Nollywood today.

As a creative artist, however, raised on Nollywood stories in Lagos, a professional life in Paris and across the globe, Onikeku has made the dream of a different utopia evident for me, with few friends we have previously organized a tour around six African cities, for a documentary film project he titled, Do We Need Coca Cola to Dance?

“The title alone attest to a never-ending quest for fresh air, for a different story and evidently, a different utopia. Then a strange idea came; NollywoodWeek in Paris. Just the sound of it gives hints of a wonderful thing. The Nollywood story is by any consideration a most phenomenal story, for an industry that began almost by accident, and has not benefited from any official nor foreign support. A totally homegrown industry,” he said.

Onikeku continued, “Nollywood has created its proper commercial path, through popular

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and old fashion manner of reaching out from doors to doors, it has therefore, positioned itself as the legitimate business model, for the way Africa must position itself within global negotiations.”

“It now prides itself as the first homegrown African initiative with a global appeal. Everywhere you travel these days, you will realise that Nollywood has been there before you.”

Onikeku noted, “this enormous success of the contemporary Nigerian cinema, has made a complete redefinition of contemporary African art. Without any formal schooling, without recourse to foreign assistance, without the benefit of hefty budgets or of any of the dazzling gadgetry of Hollywood, Nollywood outstrips all its former predecessors, within the Participants during the screening first two decade of its birth, and initiated a completely novel cinematic genre in global media.”

Between May 30 and June 2, YK Projects presented the first edition of NollywoodWeek in Paris, at the Cinema l’Arlequin, in the heart of Paris, France.

We gathered around 1500 spectators from around the world. In addition to having access to watch the most recent and talked about films from Nigeria on the big screen, seven movies were screened; Maami, Phone Swap, Ije, Inale, Tango With Me, Last Flight to Abuja and Man On Ground.

The festival attendees also had opportunity to meet directors, producers, actors, scholars and France-based film industry professionals during conferences and question and answer sessions held throughout the festival.

For four days, Parisians celebrated Nigerian cinema and voted the film, Phone Swap, by Kunle Afolayan as the Public Choice Award winner for this first edition of NollywoodWeek.

With the added Nigerian touches throughout the weekend, from Nigerian cuisine at the ‘Lagos Lounge’ to live musical performances, including a surprise session from Keziah Jones, on the opening night, many walked away feeling this event was a success.

“As we celebrated, however, we were equally aware that we are simultaneously responding Tunde Kilani (right); Kunle Afolayan and others to the increasing global curiosity for Nollywood movies. With this festival we have an entirely new audience, to make a resoundbeen able to speak to millions of Parisian ing echo of all those who worked so hard to cinephiles, who are so much in deep need, and make the dreams become films; to be watched deep thirst of a different utopia; watching sto- all over Nigeria, all over Africa and throughout ries, films, images, made by people who they the world.” share imaginations, questions, thirsts, needs, According to him, “with this new platform, and dreams with,” he said. we also hope to create an annual hub, for all Lastly, “we at Yk Projects are very much hon- those scholars, journalists and researchers oured to present the best of New Nollywood to who have taken their time, to record and doc-

ument a phenomenon that is constantly changing and constantly evolving. And to make it a legitimate meeting point between actors, directors, producers, co-producers, distributors and other industry professionals to exchange, to inspire one another and eventually, do things together.”

GUS 10… viewers to pick gatekeepers th

S stage is set for the 10 edition A of the popular reality TV show, the Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS), viewers have been saddled with the task of choosing this year’s gatekeepers. Similar to tradition last year, the Gatekeepers for Gulder Ultimate Search 10 will be chosen by viewers from the past winners of the reality TV show. Dominic Mudabai, Michael Nwachukwu and Christopher Okagbue, winners of Seasons 4,5 and 8 respectively, emerged as the viewers’ choice last year.

Any of them is eligible to return as a Gatekeeper this year, if the viewers so desire. The list of past winners which the voting public can also vote from includes: Ezeugo Egwuagu (GUS 1 winner), Lucan Chambliss (GUS 2 winner), Hector Jobarteh (GUS 3 winner), Uche Nwaezeapu (GUS 6 winner), Oyekunle Oluwaremi (GUS 7 winner) and the reigning champion, Paschal Eronmose (GUS 9 winner).

While two Gatekeepers will return for this year’s edition, it remains unsure what roles they will be play-

ing. Last year, the Gatekeepers’ sudden appearance at tasks meant the eviction of a contestant; and they also played the role of leading the contestants to advanced stages as the show progressed.

Marketing Manager, Gulder, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Emmanuel Agu said: “This year will mark the 10th edition of Gulder Ultimate Search, Nigeria’s longest running reality TV show. Each edition of Gulder Ultimate Search adopts a unique theme and storyline, which serves as the roadmap for the con-

testants’ challenges. Just like last year, we are asking the audience to choose two past winners who will play the role of Gatekeepers. One of the hallmarks of Gulder Ultimate Search is suspense. All I can say for now is that the 10th edition will be iconic.”

The Marketing Manager urged the show’s ardent viewers to choose their favourite past winners via the Gulder Ultimate Search website, www.gulderultimatesearch.tv, twitter handle and FaceBook page. Fans have until Wednesday, July 17, 2013

to make their choice from the list of nine past winners.

GUS was first staged in 2004 at the Snake Island in Lagos. Subsequent editions were held in the hills of Obudu, Cross Rivers State (2005); the Nigerian Institute For Oil palm Research (NIFOR), Edo State (2006); Shere Hills in Jos, Plateau State (2007); Awgu Hills, Enugu State (2008); Omodo Forest, Aagba, Osun State (2009); Omo Forest, J4, Ogun State (2010); Egbetua Ososo, Edo State (2011); and Usaka forest in Obot Akara, Akwa Ibom State (2012).

ARTS | 70

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Marriage Coup: How not to abuse power

By Tayo-Banks Isijola IME was, when Nigerian writers were T themselves cautious in expressing their opinions in print, due to the cold disposition of national leaders who were intolerant of criticism. With the return to civil rule, writers now seem to feel a sense of “freedom of expression”. Until then, Journalists, n o v e l ists, poets and playwrights stood the risk of penal sanctions should they write against leadership’s corrupt practices, or the oppression they inflict on the masses. With the drama titled Marriage Coup, Julie Umukoro rings a warning bell about the revolution that can ensue from the extravagance of reckless leadership.

Premiered on the thrust stage of the University of Port Harcourt Arts Theatre (aka CRAB) on February 7, 2013, during the institution’s 29th Convocation ceremony, Marriage Coup centers on General; a dictator, whose infamous and corrupt acts, include the denial of human rights, extra-Judicial killings and women trafficking. After ordering the execution of Ken Saros, the writer, General requests his Chief-of-Protocol (CP) to usher in “Indian contractors” (expatriate prostitutes) to administer relief to his restive nerves.

Thereafter, General falls into a deep sleep and gets drowned in a dream.

His dream occasions disjointed scenarios like a typical dream state. It enacts the rebellion against General’swish, which b o r dered on affiancing Sheba (his daughter, an undergraduate student) to Napoleon (the Prime Minister’s Son), while she was neckdeep in love with Malik (the Student Union Leader). Malik goes to jail, but Sheba aids his quick release, and hands him her wedding gown with the accompanying accessories, on the eve of the wedding. Consequently, Malik attends the wedding as Bride. After Napoleon declares his intent, and the Priest demands same of the Bride, Malik uncoversswiftly and draws out a pistol. Meanwhile, the military men on General’s entourage are already in alliance with the armed Student Union Loyalists, in their plot to take hostage of everyone in the Cathedral. Inside the Cathedral, everybody, including General, is made to kneel for last prayers- with the Priest leading the liturgy. Afterwards, Malik takes a countdown for the pogrom of suicide bombing.

The dream is scary, even to the audience.

General screams and wakes up from his sleep, overwhelmed with remorse. He horrid-

ly releases the contractor ladies and takes time to shares his dream with his wife. In sobriety, he submits “A dream is like a piece drama, a product of mere imagination.

However, the reality of our existence is hinged on our ability to imagine, think or reason.

Every dream is a food for thought”.

The Marriage Coup as directed by Ovunda Ihunwo, engaged a thirty-man cast playing the 34 roles prescribed by the dramatist, and was run by a production crew of eight (8) offstage artistes. The appropriateness of casting is highly commendable, except for a few actors/actresses whose elocution did not match the tempo demanded by the play, and as already defined by other fantastic performers.

However, such hiccups are prominent in actions that occur in the dream, and may be pardonable under the umbrella of Strindberg’s dream play, where anomalies and inconsistencies are permissible.

Some defects which occur in the lighting and scene design for the production are note-worthy. The lanterns are scanty and the beams are harsh on performers throughout the dramatic action; even the dream scene was not deciphered by a different tone of lighting.

Besides, having light beams extended beyond the borders of the backdrop, to reveal other sides of the cyclorama, and certain unnecessary elements that weren’t part of the stage picture, as it occurred in the production is not very apt. Concerning the scenery, the deliberate effort to sustain a surrealistic style of the drama, with the utilitarian use of scenic units, and an unchanging backdrop hanging on the cyclorama that bears expressionistic designs, is creditable. In fact, its appropriateness derives from the essence of

Scene from the play convenience, for a swift scene change while the drama lasts. Nonetheless, more effort could have been made to extend the backdrop through the perimeters of the cyclorama rather than having it hang about the center- knowing the limitations of the light design.

The proper alignment of technical inputs and the arrangement for an apt scene-shift mechanism that will clear the stage and background of all unnecessary elements which are not part of the ongoing stage picture will enhance the overall outlook of the production. Marriage Coup, at its premier, spanned for a period of ninety (90) minutes, which is considered as standard entertainment time. The drama is enriched with metaphors, intrigues and elevated wits, which engage the audience in a high degree of suspense through its climactic plot structure.

It is common knowledge that the paradigms of misgovernment which pervade the Nigerian political arena were laid by Military leaders (dictators) who as it were, were neither empowered by the people nor accountable to them. However, in the current “people’s democratic” dispensation it is expected that of national leaders to make frantic efforts to redeem the “people-power” vested in them, on trust, by providing good governance. Umuokoro’s drama is relevant in the contemporary days: since corruption and oppression remain the bane of our society, and many of the national leaders still luxuriate in inordinate ambition at the expense of the masses. The “Marriage Coup”, epitomized in General’s dream, is a warning to ruthless leaders. It says that revolution is inescapable and imminent where leadership maintains a posture of insensitivity to the plight of the people - forcing on the masses austerity measures which only exacerbates their

An evening of romantic classics at MUSON

By Florence Utor IANIST Babatunde Sosan made an indelible P impression on his audience at his piano recital Romantic Classics held last weekend at MUSON Centre. In an attempt to relive the memories of his mentor and instructor, Raymond Banning, who passed away last year, Sosan displayed an impeccable artistry with the piano. Playing pieces from Schumann, Chopin, Debussy, Rachmaninoff and other celebrated romantic composers, Sosan proved his prowess on the keyboard and wooed his audience.

Opening with the exquisite melody line of Schumann’s ‘May, Charming May’, Sosan set the mood for a night of provocative feast in romantic classics.

Like an adventurous sailor, Sosan led his audience on a romantic voyage by rendering pieces of Mendelssohn, Chopin’s formidable No. 1 G minor ballade, Poulene’s Novelette.

Delivering his own piece, Precious Jewel, Sosan displayed a subtle approach that reflects the romantic influence in his personality. Closing the first section before an interval with a Concertino for trumpet and piano with Michael Oladugba as the trumpeter, the pianist whetted his audience’s appetites, which was already seated before the second section.

Sosan opened with a brooding Rachmaninoff Prelude in C sharp minor, which was followed

by Evans’ Peace Piece, the most romantic ballad

of the night. With his skillful fingers, Sosan lured his audience into a flirtatious tempo, adding embellishment to the notes, stretching the romantic ambience with his textures.

In a special dedication to Raymond Banning, a song he claims was his late mentor’s favourite, La cathedral egloutie, Sosan once again drew inspiration from its inner being with the ascension of the notes into a melodious harmony.

Also adding flavor to the recital was the performance of the MTN Project Fame’s vocal coach, Dupe Ige Kachi, popularly known as Ige. She gave a very powerful rendition of the popular Benjamin Britten’s Johnny with choreography

by Zoe Chinaka who played the bride and Obinna Ifediora who played Johnny. The choreography provoked laughter from the audience who were amused by the way Johnny kept leaving his lovely bride heartbroken despite her ambitious ways of getting him to propose to her.

He was always lovely in the beginning of their dating but suddenly became overwhelmed by an inexplicable aura; he jilts his lover over and over again.

While the audience might have shed a tear or two for heartbroken Chinaka, she came back on stage to sing the award winning I will always love you by the late Whitney Houston with Perpetual Atife on the saxophone, Nelson Taiwo on the bass guitar and Sunday Oruoghor on the drums. With a soulful voice, Johnny couldn’t help but do what she had always

Sosan in a piano duet with Dapo Dina during the recital at MUSON wanted him to do: he came back on stage and went down on one knee, and finally proposed to her. This definitely brought the love drama to a satisfactory end as the audience applauded the characters.

Perhaps the duet with the Germany-based pianist Dapo Dina was the peak of the concert. It brought the house down with an outstanding performance by the two pianists.

Performing the classical theme from a love story composed by Francis Lai, the pianists

stamped their feet on this brilliant music. At a point, they were both lost in the trance inspired by the music so much so that they conjured impeccable melody and harmony that got the audience screaming for an encore. It was so brilliantly performed that one could see the satisfying grins from the audience as they tapped their feet and swayed their heads in rhythmic melody. It was the most successful of all the performance of the night.

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Sports Kalu recalls day Oliha dared death in Algeria

CAF throws Rangers out of Confederation Cup over ‘ineligible’ player

EPARTED 1994 Nations D Cup Super Eagle, Thompson Oliha exhibited so

• NFF, LMC back club’s appeal OR fielding a player it FConfederation regards as ineligible, the of African Football (CAF) has thrown Enugu Rangers out of the 2013 Confederations Cup. CAF said the player, goalkeeper, Emmanuel Daniel, was not qualified to play for Rangers in the Confederation Cup game against Club Sfaxien of Tunisia.

Rangers won the preliminary stage match 1-0 on aggregate to qualify for the group stage of the competition.

In a letter dated July 2 and addressed to the NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu, CAF said it based its decision on “documents and letters sent by the club, Shooting Stars and its chairman,” which confirmed that “by the time the player was registered on December 24, 2012, no agreement was found between Shooting Stars and Enugu Rangers for the player, Daniel Emmanuel.”

However, the League Management Company, in charge of Nigeria’s elite division, yesterday confirmed that Emmanuel Daniel plays in the Glo Premier League with a valid license that recognises him as a player of Enugu Rangers.

Also yesterday, Enugu Rangers, which is the only Nigerian club left in con-

tention for continental honours this year, immediately set in motion the process to appeal the decision.

NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu said the Federation would give Rangers the full support in the appeal process.

“We are absolutely shocked that an internal transfer matter between two clubs could snowball into a situation that will see a Nigerian club disqualified from continental competition.

“We have seen the player’s contract. He signed a contract to play for Shooting Stars FC between January and December 2012, and at the expiration of his contract, duly signed for Enugu Rangers. The player did not start playing for Enugu Rangers until he secured his license from the LMC in April this year.

“It is also on record that the player had featured for Enugu Rangers against clubs like Heartland FC and Sunshine Stars, and even against Shooting Stars in Enugu a couple of weeks ago, without any of the clubs protesting his eligibility.”

Amadu added, “the NFF and LMC will afford Enugu Rangers total support in this case and we are confident that the club will be reinstated in the competition.”

Enugu club accuses local rival of sabotage NUGU Rangers, who are E Nigeria’s remaining club in continental competitions, have accused a local rival for their disqualification from the CAF Confederation Cup and will appeal the decision.

The Nigerian club were kicked out of the CAF Confederation Cup after they fielded an ‘ineligible’ player, Daniel Emmanuel versus Sfaxien of Tunisia.

The Tunisian club will now replace Rangers in Group A of the mini-league stage of the competition.

Rangers Technical Director, Innocent Obiekwo told MTNFootball.com, “this is highly regrettable and an act of sabotage by a Nigerian club. I have it on good authority that Sfaxien paid $60,000 to an official of that club to send the documents with which they protested.

“It is highly regrettable that a Nigerian side can do this to the only surviving club in the continent. But, all hope is not lost as we are appealing this decision.”

Rangers’ General Manager, Paul Chibuzor also expressed his disappointment, saying

all

hope was not lost.

“It is not good. We are appealing that decision and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is in the know about this latest development. We are still in contention for the continent,” he said.

The player in the centre of the controversy Emmanuel reserved his comments.

“I don’t have anything to say.

It is an administrative matter and I believe it will be sorted out that way too,” he said.

Enugu Rangers and Heartland of Owerri fighting fo0r points during a recent Glo Premier League game. CAF has thrown Rangers out of the Confederation Cup alleging that the ‘Flying Antelopes’ used an ineligible player in one of their games.

PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Junior athletes seek Presidency’s fund for World Championship in Ukraine

By Gowon Akpodonor EAR has gripped Nigerian Fyear’s athletes preparing for this 8th IAAF World Youth Championship in Donetsk, Ukraine, on the possibility of not making the trip, following alleged non-release of fund by the Federal Government.

For about three months, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has been preparing the young athletes in Port Harcourt camp for the world championship, which runs from July 10 to 14.

There were indications yesterday that the AFN was finding it difficult to raise the fund needed to take the athletes and officials to Ukraine.

The AFN had planned to take the athletes and their officials to Ukraine early this week to enable them acclimatise before competition

Elderson Uwa Echijile (right) in control of the ball when Nigeria played Spain in the just concluded Confederation Cup. The Braga FC star wants PHOTO: AFP. to move to the English Premiership.

begins on July 10.

A source close to the AFN said yesterday that the body was running from pillar to post looking for financial assistance to enable it meet its plans.

“As I speak with you, the AFN is yet to secure money for the trip to Ukraine. The athletes and their officials are highly worried in the camp in Port Harcourt. The Federal Government has not released any kobo to the AFN and this is not good enough.

“If these kids fail to make the trip to the World youth championship, it would affect the country in a great way because these are the set

of athletes the AFN is banking on for the Project Rio 2016 Olympics. The calculation is that some of these athletes should be able to graduate into the main team by 2015 or early 2016. They need this championship in Ukraine to compete against their counterparts from different parts of the world.

“We are praying and hoping that the sports minster will be able to use his good offices to secure money for the team before the week runs out. The minister loves athletics and I am sure he will do something to salvage the situation,” the source stated.

Echiejile dreams EPL move IGERIA defender, N Elderson Echiejile has said he wishes to move to the English Premier League amid speculations about his future.

Elderson still has a year left on his contract at Portuguese club Sporting Braga, but he is most likely to move this summer with several English clubs among his numerous suitors.

He said on his official website www.elderson3.com he will have a clearer picture of his next destination by this weekend.

He also said he has offers from England and the German Bundesliga, but his dream has always been to star in the EPL.

“There are interests in the English Premier League as well as the German Bundesliga and by the weekend I would have a clearer picture of things,” he revealed.

When asked his preferred destination, he said he wishes to move to the popular EPL. “The EPL (that’s where I would like to play). It’s very popular in Nigeria and most of us grew up following it,” he said on his website.

“It will really be great to take my game there and I have spoken about the league with players like Yakubu (Aiyegbeni) and Mikel. They love their football in England and so the atmosphere is unbelievable.”

much energy that former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, believed the star could not die young.

Eulogising Oliha, Kalu recalled an incident in 1988 when the player, starring for Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland) was unconscious for nearly 24 hours.

“It was at the June 17 Stadium Constantine, Algeria.

Iwuanyanwu were away to Entente Petroles Setif of Algeria in the CAF Champions Cup Grand-Finale.

“Oliha came in for Law Ukaegbu in the 65th minute and was ready to do or die.

The Algerians went after him, and in five minutes, he was injured. Oliha had seven stitches on his face and was unconscious thereafter.

“As soon as he came to, the young man was more concerned about the Cup loss than his health,” the ex-governor said.

Kalu again drove down memory lane in his tribute to Oliha, who was called Tommy by friends.

“From Owerri, he moved to Abidjan to join Africa Sports in 1992. Same year, with Gabriel Okolosi, they won the Africa Winners Cup beating Vital’o of Burundi 5-1 aggregate.

Nigeria climbs nine places on IRB world rankings VORY Coast may have won Ihome the Africa Cup Division 1 on soil and climbed five places to 40th in the latest IRB World Rankings, but they are not the biggest climbers of the week as that mantle goes to Nigeria, who jumped nine to 81st.

An 83-3 win over Mauritius in Yamoussoukro gave them their second comfortable win of Division 1C but it had no impact on their rating with their opponents ranked 98th.

The result that did see Ivory Coast on the rise was their narrow 18-15 win over the higher ranked Morocco on Saturday to clinch the title, lifting them above Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Tunisia, Uganda and Switzerland.

They now sit just four places below Morocco, who fell three places after the loss with Brazil, the Netherlands and Ukraine the beneficiaries from the North African side’s defeat to Ivory Coast.

Nigeria had lost 38-8 to Morocco earlier in the week but their emphatic 45-10 win over Zambia – a side who began the week ranked 15 places above them – saw them jump up to 81st and condemn their opponents to a nine place drop to 84th.

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CricketWeekly Nigeria is programmed to excel in Jersey, says Sharma Stories by Christian Okpara ASHPAL ‘Ricky’ Sharma is one of the players selected to represent Nigeria at the World Cricket League Division Six Championship slated to begin on July 19.

The Lagos Asians star was in the victorious Nigerian team, which won promotion to Division Six at the Division Seven championship in Botswana.

Now established in the team, Sharma is looking forward to another success when Nigeria competes at the WCL in Jersey because “the team is more experienced and better equipped for the competition.”

The team is expected to leave for London on a training tour on Friday from where they will go to Jersey for the competition.

Speaking on his expectations of Team Nigeria, Sharma dispels the fear in some quarters that Nigeria would not fare well in Jersey.

“We have some dedicated players in the team and I believe that with the training we have had since we have had in preparation for the competition we will surely do well.

“We know that Jersey is a different level from what we had in Botswana, I mean the competition would be tougher, but we have been toughened enough to withstand the challenges.

“One of the good things the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has done is to take us top England on a training tour where we would work under some of the best coaches in the game and I believe we will be a better team after that experience,” he enthused.

The wicket-keeper, who says playing for Nigeria has made him one of the happiest cricketers in the world, says the support and prayers of Nigerians would spur the country to success in Jersey, adding that Good has a lot in store for the team.

According to Sharma, “when more than 160 million people

Y

pray for you, and your federation does everything possible to ensure you are comfortable you have no reason to think of failure.

“When we were in Botswana, we believed that the hundreds of millions of people that prayed for us would make the difference, so we were not surprised by the dramatic success we had on the last day of the competition. It is still possible in Jersey because we know Nigerians would not relent in their prayers for us,” he said.

The Lagos Asians’ skipper also hinges his optimism on the commanding presence of Joshua Ogunlola, Ayoola Olatunji and Endurance Ofem, among others, saying the collective experience of the individual stars has consistently seen the team out of some difficult times.

“After the defeat by Fiji in our opening game in Botswana, we dug deep to turn the table.

We kept the belief and in Ayoola Olatunji and Joshua Ogunlola, we had warriors, who kept urging us on even when everything seemed hopeless.

“We are taking that spirit to Jersey and I am sure there is no stopping us,” he added.

Sharma, who was born to Indian parents, relishes the opportunity to play for Nigeria at international level.

He describes it as the highest honour any player can receive in his career.

“Cricket means a lot to me and it has always been my ambition to play the game at the highest level even when I was a kid in India,” the Lagos Asians’ wicket keeper begins.

“But to chosen out of more than 200,000 people to play for the country gives one an incredible feeling. You don’t need anybody to tell you to work hard because this is an opportunity several people are looking for and to keep you place you must be on top of your game.

“So, I am going to do everything possible to justify my selection for the competition,” he pledged.

Nigeria celebrating qualification for the WCL Division Six Championship after winning the Division Seven play-off in Botswana. PHOTO: ESPNCRICINFO.COM

Ahead World Cricket League Division Six Championship

Adegbola, Ofem lead Team Nigeria’s 15-man tournament squad • Team flies to London on Friday HERE were no real surprisT es in the Nigeria Cricket Federation’s (NCF) list of players for this month’s International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League (WCL) Division Six competition scheduled to hold in Jersey, an island off the coast of the United Kingdom.

In the list released on Monday are such key players as Captain Kunle Adegbola, Endurance Ofem, Ademola Onikoyi, Emmanuel Okwudili and Jide Bejide. The squad is largely reminiscent of the team that represented Nigeria at the World Cricket League Division VII tournament in Botswana.

Other players, who made the cut, are Ayoola Olatunji, Segun Olayinka, Osita

Onwuzulike, Joshua Ogunlola, Seye Olympio, Leke Oyede, Ricky Sharma, Joshua Ayannaike, Saheed Akolade and Mathias Devadayal.

The Nigeria national cricket team a few weeks ago commenced closed camping in Abuja ahead of the WCL competition, which holds from July 19 to 29 in Jersey.

Speaking on what informed the choice of players for the competition, the Technical Director and Convener of Selectors, Olisa Egwuatu said the selectors looked at skill and technique, tactical awareness, form of players, playing condition in Jersey, discipline and team play, team formation and structure, adaptability to condition and role in team.

“The bulk of the team that won the World Cricket League Division VII tournament in Botswana was retained with minimal changes,” said Egwuatu.

“We needed to strengthen our top-order batting and fortify our spin department. We also needed to give width and latitude to our lower order batting and give our bowling extra edge.

“Emmanuel Okwudili made a comeback to the team to challenge for a top order batting place and Leke Oyede returned as an all-rounder.

The Only debutant is Mathias Devadayal, who will operate as our off-spinner.”

Nigeria will play against Argentina, Bahrain, Kuwait and Vanuatu in the group phase of the tournament in Jersey. But the Coach Uthe

Ugbimi-led team is expected to depart Lagos on Friday for London, where they will play five tune-up games against selected clubsides between July 8 and 17 before heading for venue of the world cricket league.

The London trip, it was gathered, is being sponsored by a former President of the cricket federation, Dr. John Abebe.

The clubs that have agreed to play Nigeria are Biockhampton, Queries, Herefordshire, Potterne and Free Forester.

“Our home ground is Cheltenham and we would attend the Gloucestershire Cricket Festival. We are also looking forward to watching a day of the first Ashes Test between England and Australia at Trent Bridge, Nottinghamshire,” Egwuatu

Ahmed granted Australian citizenship HE legspinner, Fawad T Ahmed’s application for Australian citizenship has

Sharma (second right) with his Lagos Indians’ team mates before a CCC League game at the TBS, Onikan, Lagos…recently.

officially been approved, clearing the way for a possible call-up to the Test squad for the Ashes.

Ahmed described the confirmation from former federal Immigration Minister, Brendan O’Connor, as a “dream moment” and, said

he was now looking forward to giving something back to the country that had welcomed him after he fled from Pakistan in 2010.

In one of his final acts as immigration minister before losing the position in a cabinet reshuffle, O’Connor approved the application last week and an official citizenship ceremo-

ny is all that remains before Ahmed can obtain his passport.

The announcement was made at the MCG yesterday and O’Connor said he had listened to a number of submissions, including those from Cricket Australia, on the character and virtues possessed by Ahmed.

“I was able to tell Fawad

Ahmed today that his application for citizenship has been approved,” O’Connor said. “It was approved late last week ... and it was approved because we were able to look at the application in a different light because of the changes to the Australian citizenship act that went through the parliament not long ago.”

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

SPORTS | 77

‘For best results, NFF should allow Keshi a free hand

By Eno-Abasi Sunday UPPORT aplenty appears SCoach to be coming to Head of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, from his professional colleagues, who are vehemently opposed to him having his team list vetted by his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The Federation President, Mr. Aminu Maigari recently disclosed in an interview that Keshi would no longer be solely responsible for selecting the Super Eagles’ squad.

Bringing into perspective the team’s outing at the recently concluded FIFA Confederation’s Cup, he said, “the Confederations Cup is a big tournament and that’s why the other teams brought their best players...Spain brought their best players, but we did not.

Why would you bring a local player to play Spain at such a big stage?

He described the situation as “unacceptable,” stressing that “we have experienced players that were not selected and this is where we have to step in. The coach should not have the sole responsibil-

ity on squad selection. We all have to make inputs. This team belongs to 165 million people. Selections should affect all these people so we cannot continue to let this happen because we need to compete well with others.”

But Ikhana, who coached Enyimba of Aba and Kwara United Football Club, is of the opinion that Keshi should be allowed free rein to implement his programmes. In an interview with The Guardian, he deplored the seeming perennial rancour between the FA and Keshi in the recent past, cautioning that if it persists, immense energy would be spent on the spat than achieving set goals and objectives.

Insisting that no coach worth his salt would take a job with the intent of failing in his assignment, he maintained that Keshi’s strides so far should convince his employers that he was still strengthening the team’s foundation.

While commending the Maigari-led board of the federation for the “different strides they have made since coming on board including

winning the 2013 African Cup of Nations, qualifying the male U-17 team for the World Cup as well as qualifying the male and female U-20 team for the World Cup,” he stressed that it was time they allow the coach to take decisions he deems best for the country.

He said, “as far as I am concerned, no coach would do the things that would predispose him for failure.

Keshi has come this far and keeps improving by each passing day. As one of the first coaches to take domestic players to a major tournament and come home with the trophy in recent times, he should be accorded his due.

“As a person, I would score him 70 per cent and his predecessor about 50 per cent. However, I see nothing wrong in NFF advising him in some areas. But imposing on him, who plays and who does not is out of it. I would, therefore advise the NFF to be patient with him and not try to impose players on him as he tries to rebuild the team. They should close ranks and discuss,” he stated.

Milo BB: St Jude Girls in good start

By Adeyinka Adedipe EFENDING champions, St Jude Girls Secondary School, Bayelsa began their title defence on a winning note, beating Government Secondary School, Gboko 2416 in the opening game of the Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship.

The championship, which began yesterday at the sports hall of the National Stadium, saw the defending champions running rings round their opponent to record the victory. The Gboko girls also had their moments in the game but the powerful play of St Jude Girls was too much for them to take.

In the second game, Yejide Girls Secondary School, Ibadan beat Ahmadiya Girls Secondary School, Kano 3411in a one-sided encounter.

The Ibadan Girls dominated the game and left no one in doubt of their desire to win the game.

Yejide Girls were flawless and look good to advance to the later stages of the compe-

D

Yejide Girls, Oyo and Ahmadiya Girls, Kano in one of the games of the final phase of the Milo Secondary School Basketball championship at the sports hall of the National Stadium Lagos… yesterday PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN KUTI

tition. In the boys’ category, University of Port Harcourt International School, Rivers lost to Government Secondary School 34-29.

The game was keenly contested and it took the brilliance of the Minna team to win the game in the closing stages of the game. Both teams fought hard and were

only separated in the fourth quarter of the game. The Minna team also had to defend stoutly in the final moment of the game to repel the attack of the Port Harcourt team.

Five thousand seven hundred schools across the country took part in this year’s championships.

Onyali pledges total loyalty to NSC director general FRICA’S former fastest A woman, Mary Onyali, who was recently appointed as special assistant on Technical Matters (SA Technical) to the Director General, National Sports Commission (NSC), Gbenga Elegbeleye, has pledged to help her boss in his transformational agenda for the NSC. The elated Onyali, who described her appointment as just reward for years of service to the country, said she would bring to bear her years of experience in the discharge of her duties, adding that Elegbeleye has

started charting a true course for real development of Nigerian sports.

The Atlanta 1996 Olympics medalist thanked the NSC director general for the recognition given to her and vowed to help her new boss develop sports during his tenure.

“I am beyond words. I cannot express my happiness as regards the appointment given to me by the new DG of the National Sports Commission. This is a step in the right direction for true believers, true sports lovers, true believers of the abundant talents we

have in this country and the African nation as a whole.

“For Elegbeleye to deem it fit to appoint me as a special assistant (Technical) on Sports means that the likes of me, as far as the exathletes are concerned, are going to see why it is necessary to do the right thing and give your best, the ultimate best at all times for you will be rewarded when the time is right,” she said.

Onyali received her engagement letter on Monday in Abuja, where she was directed to start work immediately.

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THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Andy Murray not hampered by back problem NDY Murray said the back A injury that saw him miss the French Open was “no cause for concern” after reaching Wimbledon’s quarter-finals.

He appeared to wince at times during his 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 fourth round win over Mikhail Youzhny on Centre Court yesterday.

Asked afterwards about his back, Murray said: “It felt way, way better than it was a few weeks ago. Now that I’m playing, there’s no chance I would stop. I mean, unless I couldn’t hold the racquet.”

The British number one did reveal that he had taken an extra 20 minutes to carry out his post-match recovery on Tuesday.

“I need to make sure I do all the right things, like ice bathing, having my massage, and taking care of my body,” said the Scot, 26.

“Obviously, a few weeks ago I missed the French Open. I don’t want it to be a case of things creeping back up on me. I want to take care of my

body. It’s my main priority, this tournament.”

Murray, seeded second, is yet to drop a set in the tournament but was under pressure for the first time against Youzhny, although he played down any suggestion of physical issues.

“There’s a few times on the court where you feel things,” he said.

“You just have to find a way of managing those issues and getting through them because a lot of guys have had problems during this Slam especially. A lot of guys have had trainers on court and what not.

“So everyone’s got little niggles and stuff. You just have to manage them and get through it.”

Murray will take on Spain’s world number 54 Fernando Verdasco for a place in the semi-finals today.

“Verdasco is a very, very good tennis player,” said Murray.

“He’s playing very well this week. He’s extremely dangerous when he’s on his game.”

Lisicki through to Wimbledon semi-finals ERMANY’S Sabine Lisicki G backed up her stunning win over Serena Williams by beating Kaia Kanepi to reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon.

The 23-year-old, seeded 23, won 6-3, 6-3 on Court One to secure a place in the last four at the All England Club for the second time.

There she will face Polish fourth seed, Agnieszka Radwanska or former French Open champion, Li Na. In the other half of the draw, Marion Bartoli plays Sloane Stephens and Petra Kvitova takes on Kirsten Flipkens.

Lisicki had caused arguably the shock of a tournament characterised by upsets when she beat defending champion Williams on Monday, and she suffered no

dip in form 24 hours later.

It was the German’s returning, rather than her big serve, that proved the difference in the first set as she broke in a lengthy opening game and again to take the set.

Kanepi, who beat Laura Robson in round four, edged ahead in the second when Lisicki double-faulted twice.

The German responded immediately though, reeling off four straight games and closing out the match, rather nervily, on her third match point.

“I am very happy,” Lisicki told BBC Sport. “It was an amazing match yesterday and I had to calm myself down, but I think the experience that I got from three previous quarter-finals here helped me.

PGA Tour agrees to anchored strokes ban from 2016 HE PGA Tour will impleT ment the global ban on anchored strokes from 1 January 2016 to “avoid confusion.”

The R&A and the U.S. Golf Association first unveiled plans last year, which were supported by the European Tour but not the PGA Tour.

The PGA has now decided that a single set of rules on acceptable strokes is “desirable and would avoid confusion.”

The ban will apply to any club rested against a part of the body, such as broom-handle or belly putters. Four of the last seven major winners have used anchor putters, most recently Adam Scott at this year’s Masters in April.

In May, the PGA Tour said it

would discuss the matter with its Player Advisory Council and Policy Board members and, having done so, has said it will “allow” the ban.

A PGA Tour statement read, “the PGA Tour Policy Board acknowledged that the USGA’s ban on anchored strokes, known as Rule 14-1b, will apply to PGA Tour competitions beginning on January 1, 2016.

“In making this acknowledgement, the Policy Board also passed a resolution strongly recommending, along with the PGA of America, that the USGA consider extending the time period in which amateurs would be permitted to utilise anchored strokes beyond January 1, 2016.

Murray

Mayweather: ‘I am not nervous, I cant be beaten’ LOYD Mayweather may be Fpound-for-pound boxing’s undisputed best fighter as well as the sport’s biggest cash cow, but it’s Saul Alvarez’s fans who feel strongly enough about their fighter to actually show up and give their support when the Mayweather-Alvarez show comes to town.

In each of the promotional stops so far on the 11-city tour to hype their September 14 pay-per-view clash, Canelo fans have outnumbered Mayweather fans by a significant amount—- even in Mayweather’s hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

On Sunday, the tour stopped in Mexico City and, as expected, the Mexican fans welcomed their conquering hero, Canelo Alvarez, with open arms.

Police estimated that approximately 32,000 fans turned out at the historic Monumento de los Niños Heroes to support Alvarez and to take a glimpse at the curiosity of Floyd “Money” Mayweather. The fans were respectful to the five-division world champ, but it was clear that they had come to see and support their redheaded battler from Guadalajara.

“There are a lot of people, who think I won’t win, but come September 14, everybody is going to realise I can,” the square-jawed Alvarez told the partisan crowd. “One of those that doesn’t believe I will win is WBC President, Jose Sulaiman. But that day, I’m going to show him that in boxing, we all have our

time…and this is mine.”

Next up was Mayweather and, despite some mix-ups with the interpreter, the superstar pugilist kept to his script for this promotional tour.

“Mayweather loves Mexico,” he told the mass of humanity gathered in the dry sun. “I’ve faced a lot of great champions in my career and the toughest fighters was the Mexicans.”

During the question and answer portion of the event, the press targeted Mayweather with several rewordings of the same question: ‘What’s it going to feel like when Alvarez beats you?’

“I’m not afraid of nothing,” Mayweather calmly replied.

“Floyd Mayweather will win September 14. I’m not worried about nothing, I’m not nervous. I’m the champ, pound for pound I’m the best. Why are you asking me the same question over and over again? Once again, I commend Canelo. He’s a young, strong champion but

when you’re facing Floyd Mayweather, you’re facing the best. Mexicans know boxing, but there’s one thingright now I just can’t be beaten. It’s just another day for me, September 14. I never have worries.”

On the flip side, a supportive Mexican press tossed softball questions at the 22-yearold WBC and WBA junior middleweight titlist, mostly concerning his preparations for the fight and his eventual place in Mexican boxing history.

“I was 19 when they first offered me this fight,” Alvarez revealed after one such question. “As a fighter, I wanted it, but my team knew I wasn’t ready. But now is the moment. We’re confident that we’re going to win.

Obviously the fight won’t be easy, but it’s a question of good preparation and good strategy in order to win.

The press conference, as these things tend to do, eventually morphed into more of a love fest, meet and greet

Mayweather

Alvarez

than informational tool for a hungry media. But the real story of the afternoon was told by the mass of humanity willing to wait patiently in the sun for a relatively brief gander at Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and his highly-confident, highly-skilled opponent.

In Mexican history, los Niños Heroes were a brave band of teenage cadets who gave their lives defending their capital from invading U.S. forces in 1847 during the last days of the MexicanAmerican War. One cadet, in particular, wrapped himself in the Mexican flag and jumped to his death from the Castillo de Chapultepec rather than see the flag captured by the foreign invaders.

The symbolism of staging the Mayweather-Alvarez presser in front of the monument honoring the young heroes may have been lost on most of those in attendance, but there was a definite us vs. them vibe in the air Sunday afternoon. War may not break out on September 14, but its closest relative in polite society will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas that evening.

The young Saul Alvarez will be fighting for his country, fighting for his place in history, and fighting for all of those who turned out to support him during this press tour. Mayweather will be fighting for personal pride and to fulfill his multi-fight contract with Showtime.

Could this difference in levels of motivation be enough to affect the outcome of the bout?

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, July 3, 2013

79

TheGuardian

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Obi Ebuka Onochie

The megalomaniac differs from the narcissist by the fact that he wishes to be powerful rather than charming, and seeks to be feared rather than loved.

To this type belong many lunatics and most of the great men of history Bertrand Russell is a concept of organisation, LhaveEADERSHIP direction and development which humans been battling for centuries and millennia, looking for the central point and perfect directorship in human affairs. The struggle to produce a quality human leadership has yielded results and is still yielding with different kinds of leadership and leaders emerging as gifts and curses to human family. In history, the world has witnessed different political epochs, climes and eras where megalomaniac leaders held the world to ransom and in the nick of decisive events, the world managed to recover.

They have existed and still exist in all the continents of the world and in all walks of life as war generals, politicians, religious leaders, money bags, scientists, sports men and women, etc. Megalomania, according to Wikipedia, “is a psychopathological disorder characterised by delusional fantasies of power, relevance, or omnipotence of oneself”. This is a mental illness characterised by delusion of grandeur, power, wealth, etc. Political megalomania becomes a state where an individual with megalomaniac disorder seizes or is elect-

By Adewale Kupoluyi our polytechnics continue to be releSbeenHOULD gated to the background? This question has asked several times without any consensus as to whether the answer should be in the affirmative or in the negative.

This confusion is worsened by the government’s inability to be decisive and to make up its mind on what it hopes to do with polytechnic education. This inconsistency in public policy formulation and implementation can largely explain why our polytechnics will have to be on strike for several weeks running without anybody really doing something concrete to end the imbroglio.

What dominates our national life is politics. It’s politics galore – left, right and centre. Sure, politics is important, but it becomes counter-productive if good governance is sacrificed on the altar of party politics.

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics have down tools over the non-constitution of governing councils for Polytechnics, Monotechnics, and Colleges of Technology; nonrelease of government white paper of the visitation panels to federal polytechnics; and noncommencement of the NEEDS Assessments of the Nigerian polytechnics.

Others grievances include the need for the changing of the deplorable conditions of state government-owned polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of technology; the continued appointment of unqualified persons as rectors and provosts by some state governments and the failure of most state governments to implement the approved salary package (CONPCASS), and 65-year retirement age for their members.

The union is also aggrieved by the insistence of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to implement the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) module; continued delay in the amendment of the Polytechnics’ Act; the appointment of principal officers on acting positions in some polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of technology beyond the approved periods; the review of the polytechnics’ scheme of service; and the non-commencement of the re-negotiation of the Federal Government/ASUP agreement as contained in signed agreement To any discernible mind, the agitations by the workers are legitimate and reasonable. What is worrisome, however, is the inability of the appropriate agencies to address the issues raised but this is not happening maybe because they concern the polytechnics.

It is saddening that polytechnic education in Nigeria is being treated with disdain, culminating into why their graduates are stigmatised in the labour market and seen as mere educatedilliterates.

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Megalomania: A vitiating virus in leadership ed to power. However, megalomania in itself is not entirely bad as it is inherent in every leadership making it a state or idea with two discrepant sides. It is the desire to do more and drive to excel no matter the opposing circumstance but it can also birth maladministration, dictatorship and monster of a leader if it is driven by irrational crave for power, fame, wealth and omnipotent authority over others.

Megalomania is the impelling cause of all the unmerciful and extremist political ideologies that have ever existed in the world.

They all derive their propelling power from megalomaniac tendencies in leadership, be it fascism, totalitarianism, Nazism, monarchy, kleptocracy, Stalinism and what have you. The likes of Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, Benito Mussolini, Mobutu Sese Seko, Saddam Hussein, Saladin, Nebuchadnezzar,

Pharos, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Pol pot, Tamerlane, Francois Duvalier, Alexander the Great, etc, were all products of uncontrolled megalomaniac tendency inherent in the seat of leadership they found themselves. Some political scientists have come up with the notion that a megalomaniac leader is not created in power but rather by determinism .

In as much as this may not be entirely true in every case, the truthful part of it can be explored from the life and times of Idi Amin of Uganda, the most notorious and callous African leader that ever lived. He was born Idi Amin Dada in 1925 near Koboko, in the west Nile province of what in now the Republic of Uganda. At a tender age his father deserted him and his herbalist diviner mother—which ensured that he grew up without father’s authority or influence. He

Killing our polytechnics Going back the memory lane, this system was originally adopted from the British. It was designed not to be more than intermediate institution to train technologists and middle-level manpower. That is, the Higher National Diploma certificate was never meant to be equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree as erroneously being claimed here over the years.

This disparity has continued to create acrimony until it was abrogated in1992 under the British Higher Education Act, in which all the polytechnics in the United Kingdom were elevated to conventional universities.

Despite what critics may say that polytechnics have outlived their usefulness, the strategic importance of polytechnic education - as enunciated in the Nigeria’s National Policy on Education – to provide for practical, technical knowledge and skills that are necessary for agricultural, industrial, commercial and economic transformation – cannot be overemphasized.

Unfortunately, most students seeking admission into higher institutions in Nigeria will hardly pick polytechnics. The reason is simple: why choose polytechnics when the universities are there? Many students that end up in polytechnics are those who cannot secure university admission coupled with the pressure and influence of parents and guardians, who always prefer that their children and wards attend universities.

In the late 1970s, when there was an effort by the Federal Government to scrap HND, with the hope of creating a pool of technicians that will be different from engineers pro-

duced by the universities but this attempt failed due to the poor implementation of the policy that merely replaced HND with a lower certificate; National Technical Certificate (NTC), which was vehemently resisted by the students.

To redress the anomaly, an attempt was made by the Olusegun Obasanjo Administration to end the discrimination between HND and BSc graduates. In a 40-page paper, the Presidential Committee on the Consolidation of Emoluments discovered that entrants into the public service with HND were barred from reaching the highest grade even when they were found competent.

Before the removal of the ceiling on the salary grade level/rank, the promotion of HND holders in the public service terminated at Grade Level 14 while their counterparts holding university degrees were allowed to reach level 17.

Other biases meted out to them include inequality in salary Grade Level (HND - GL 07 & BSc - GL 08), security personnel - BSc (Commissioned), HND (Non-commissioned), promotion; HND (maximum of GL 12), while BSc (Unlimited), banks and other financial institutions treat HND holders like outcasts while BSc holders are employed as administrative staff, HND holders are confined within the executive cadre.

Ironically, the frustration led not a few into all kinds of unemployment, social vices, criminality, non-chalant attitude and complete frustration by young men and women that are groomed to be technically-versatile, selfemployed and job-creators.

The YOUTHSPEAK Column which is published daily is an initiative of THE GUARDIAN, and powered by RISE NETWORKS, Nigeria’s Leading Youth Development Centre, as a substantial advocacy platform available for ALL Nigerian Youth to engage Leadership at all levels, engage Society and contribute to National Discourse on diverse issues especially those that are peculiar to Nigeria. Regarding submission of articles, we welcome writers‘ contributions by way of well crafted, analytical and thought provoking opinion pieces that are concise, topical and non-defamatory! All articles (which are not expected to be more than 2000 words) should be sent to editorial@risenetworks.org To read the online Version of this same article plus past publications and to find out more about Youth Speak, please visit www.risenetworks.org/youthspeak and join the ongoing National Conversations’’.

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became a hawkish soldier and executed the most bizarre military orders and was notorious for his brutality during interrogations.

Holding Uganda’s light heavyweight boxing championship, he was said to entertain British officers with his boxing style and imposing animalistic appetite to overpower and consume. He continued this life of brute and intemperance to conquer others until he came face to face with unrestrained power of state.

The height of his megalomania could be seen on his self-evaluation and self picture which in itself embodies narcissism. Idi Amin actually reached apotheosis in his own estimation and bloated self-delusional image. His selfchosen title clearly reflected the level of his megalomania and false self-worth. He declared himself to be: “His Excellency President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea, and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular.”

The characterisation of Idi Amin as we know is embedded in the determinism surrounding his birth, maturation and profession just like other despotic leaders. The causes and manifestation of megalomaniac leadership stems from the failure of family unit of the society which bears the brunt of its viperous bite in the later years. Many of them have come and gone with many here with us and many are yet to come. Sometimes one can’t but imagine why and how these psychopathic “leaders” keep finding their way to power and the likely answer to that lies in the drive to excel which is contained excessively in megalomania.

What we should do is to strengthen our polytechnics, realising that although the university strives to impart a particular kind of education by teaching ‘why things work’, the polytechnic on the other hand teaches ‘how things work’ thus, they complement each other.

Therefore, non-technical courses that are irrelevant to the core mandates of the institutions should be limited to the barest minimum in the polytechnics to allow them maximise their capacity to train technicians, technologists and middle-level managers.

Over the years, the nation has been experiencing imbalances and disconnects between the actual manpower needs of the economy and the educational system, resulting in dire structural imbalances that are inimical to national development.

As I have observed in an essay, Why HND Should Not Be Scrapped, “The elite should be blamed for policy failures because as policies are being formulated, they also build landmines in order to take advantage of such loopholes for their selfish interest when eventually the policies fail” (The Vanguard, 27/06/2008, page18).

The nation now needs well-orchestrated objectives that will harness its many talented manpower to produce the synergy that will drive it to development that is not made possible under the present arrangement.

The bitter truth is that in as much as we have university graduates who are better than polytechnic graduates, there are also polytechnic graduates who are by far better than the university graduates. So, polytechnic graduates are not mentally inferior in anyway.

And to the UK example, we should not follow that to kill our polytechnics. The needs and aspirations of the nations maybe similar but the structure and the peculiarities of the two societies completely differ.

The National Board for Technical Education, which supervises these institutions that currently stand at 110 for tertiary technical institutions and 159 technical colleges, should urgently review the curricula of polytechnics to make them go in tandem with modern day reality.

It should be appreciated that the real sector of the economy is the engine room for attaining envisaged development hence; a well-managed economic system requires technical hands that propel the industries to run at optimal capacity.

Without delay, the government should pay less attention to party politics and end the ongoing strike by going into dialogue with the angry workers. The workers too should be responsive, bearing in mind that all their demands may not be met at a go. This is the right thing to do.

•Kupoluyi wrote from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.