Wed 26 June 2013 by The Guardian Newspaper

Rivers under siege, says Amaechi • ‘CP bars visitors to gov’ • Confusion over legal representation stalls NGF’s suit • Oshiomhole faults calls for govs’ forum’s proscription From Lemmy Ughegbe (Abuja), Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt), Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu (Benin City) and Seye Olumide (Lagos) LLEGING that his state was under siege, Rivers State GoverA nor Chibuike Amaechi yesterday accused the state commissioner of police of directing all divisional police officers to bar elders from four councils from visiting the governor in

Port Harcourt. Irked by this breach of the constitutional rights of the elders drawn from Ahoada West, Ahoada East, Abua-Odual and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Councils by the police, Amaechi has vowed to lead a protest against the Federal Government and dare the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, to shoot him and others.

He spoke when thousands of his supporters from the four councils commonly known as Orashi region of the state paid him a solidarity visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt. Amaechi, who lauded the people for their courage to insist on their fundamental human rights to free movement, said he had got a report very late on Monday night that the police CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Vol. 29, No. 12,599

www.ngrguardiannews.com

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AFC seals pact with Nigeria on infrastructure HE Africa Finance CorporaT tion (AFC) has formalised a strategic collaboration with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Through this partnership, AFC and NSIA will collaborate to support the financing, development and implementation of infrastructure in Nigeria. Specifically, the parties will collaborate in the origination and execution of infrastructure investment transactions in Nigeria, leveraging mutual resources and capacity in the areas of project development, structuring, technical appraisal, due diligence and documentation. It is expected that this strategic collaboration will result in several co-investment by AFC and NSIA in critical economic infrastructure, for the longterm benefit of Nigeria. The Federal Government of Nigeria, through an Act of the National Assembly (the NSIA Act 2011), established the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). The objective of the NSIA is to promote fiscal A woman walking past a sign wishing well former South African President Nelson Mandela outside Mediclinic Heart Hospital where the anti-apartheid icon is receiving treatment in Pretoria, South Africa… yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

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Govt rejects proposed British visa bond policy, UK reacts By Bola Olajuwon ARNING of the danger a W proposed visa policy by United Kingdom (UK) poses to the stability of the Commonwealth, Nigeria yesterday stressed the need to review the move.

• Senate threatens counter-measure The proposed policy would compel visitors from some countries, including Nigeria, to deposit £3,000 bond before being allowed entry. The Minister of Foreign Af-

fairs, Olugbenga A. Ashiru, yesterday expressed the displeasure of the Federal Government over the UK’s policy. Ashiru, who made government’s position known to

the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock yesterday, described the proposal “as not only discriminatory but also capable of undermining the spirit of

the Commonwealth family.” The new development came as the Senate also yesterday rejected the proposed policy, saying it would not accept Nigeria being part of the list. The upper legislative chamber threatened that it would push for a similar policy

State of the nation address unconstitutional, says Jonathan - Page 5

against the UK citizens in Nigeria or those seeking entry into the country by the time Nigeria is officially notified of the new development. Ashiru had summoned the British High Commissioner to a meeting which was held at the Tafawa Balewa House, Abuja. A statement issued by the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

NEWS

Oshiomhole faults calls for NGF’s proscription CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 had planned to stop them from visiting Port Harcourt. “You should have recorded them so that you can show to the world how much a tyrant our commissioner of police is. Let us assume the commissioner of police is coming to protect, he cannot say we ban protest when it is part of your fundamental human rights which are there in the constitution. So, is his (Mbu’s) personal order now superior to the constitution?” he said. He continued: “We are now

in a police state in Rivers State, if they block the entire Orashi region by not allowing … a million persons. That area has more than one million population because we have … Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Council, you have Abua/Odual, you also have Ahoada East and Ahoada West councils and all policemen put together in Rivers are not more than 17,000, but with their guns, they were able to come and try to stop you. What you showed them is what we call peoples’ power.” But Police Public Relations

AFC seals pact with Nigeria on infrastructure CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 stability, build a savings base for future generations of Nigerians and enhance the development of Nigeria’s infrastructure. The NSIA’s investments are made through three distinct funds - the Stabilisation Fund; the Future Generations Fund; and the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund. Investments made under the MoU with AFC will be made through the Nigeria Fund. Infrastructure AFC, a multilateral finance institution, was established in 2007 with a capital base of $1 billion, to be the catalyst for private sector infrastructure investment across Africa. AFC fills a critical void in providing project structuring expertise and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs, and it is increasingly being seen as the benchmark institution for private sector investment in the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport and telecommuni-

cations. President and Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Finance Corporation, Andrew Alli, said: “The scale of Nigeria’s infrastructure investment requirement can only be addressed by structured collaboration between the public and private sectors. “The opportunities to finance, develop and accelerate the implementation of much needed infrastructure in Nigeria, through a collaborative partnership with NSIA, will not only secure a platform for accelerated infrastructure investment, but also contribute to the economic growth and industrial development of Nigeria.” Managing Director of NSIA, Uche Orji, commenting on the collaboration, said: “We believe strategic partnership with organisations such as AFC is essential to fulfill the mandate of the Infrastructure Fund of the NSIA. The mandate of this fund is to enhance infrastructural development in Nigeria through strategic investments and provision of a platform for attracting foreign investments. “Our relationship with AFC formalises our process of engagement in the joint execution of infrastructure projects in Nigeria.”

Officer of the Rivers Police Command, Angela Agabe (DSP), said the police commissioner did not infringe on the people’s rights. “The commissioner of police cannot stop anybody from travelling from one part of the state to another; they are law-abiding citizens with rights to freedom of movement. So, it is false that the commissioner gave such an order”, Agabe said. Besides, owing to confusion over legal representation for factional chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, hearing in the suit filed by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde, Raji Fashola, over the crisis of leadership within the NGF was stalled yesterday. Also yesterday, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole faulted the call by the Presi-

dent of the Nigerian Bar Association, Okey Wali (SAN), for the proscription of the NGF, saying the call was a contradiction of freedom of association as provided for in the constitution Though it could not be confirmed yesterday whether Oshiomhole would attend or not, Oshiomhole said the call for the scrapping of the NGF made in Bayelsa State by Wali would have been influenced by “the factor of location”, adding that “he betrayed his oath to defend Nigerians on the right to associate.” The governor made these remarks on Monday while opening the 2013 Law Week of the NBA, Benin Branch. Fashola is praying a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court to restrain factional chairman of NGF, Jang, from parading himself as the forum’s chairman.

Listed as co-defendants are Asishana Bayo Okauru, Osaro Onaiwu and the Registered Trustees, NGF. However, the suit, which was listed for mention yesterday, could not go on as scheduled, as Chief Tayo Oyetibo and Mr. Paul Erokoro (both Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs), announced their appearances for Jang and Osaro Onaiwu who is the third defendant. The team, led by Erokoro, had three other SANs. In order not to take the time of the court in view of the confusion, counsel to the second and fourth defendant, Dr. Awa Kalu (SAN), prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable parties resolve the matter. But The Guardian learnt that Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) is the head of the legal team for the first and third defendants as he was duly briefed.

Impeccable sources within the Jang-led faction said the confusion in legal representation was caused by some loyalists to Jang who briefed Paul Erokoro (SAN) on behalf of Jang. He said the matter had been resolved with Oyetibo (SAN) as the lead counsel. The plaintiff was represented by a former Attorney General (AG) of Lagos State, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo (SAN) and Mr. Femi Falana (SAN). Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Peter Affen, adjourned the matter to July 3 for “regularisation” of appearances. In the pending suit, Fashola is asking the court to restrain Jang from parading himself as NGF’s chairman. This, according to the plaintiff, is against the backdrop of the fact that the May 23 election, from where Jang purports to draw his strength, was won by Amaechi.

Former Head of Interim National Government (ING), Ernest Shonekan (right); President, Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies (AES), Nigeria, Ausbeth Ajagu; former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar; Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen; Chairperson, AES, Excellence Club, Mrs. Nike Akande and representative of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Hassan Lawal, during the fifth yearly national conference of the academy in Lagos… yesterday. PHOTO: OSENI YUSUF

Senate threatens counter-measure on British visa bond policy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ministry’s spokesperson, Ogbole Amedu Ode, which was made available to The Guardian yesterday, quoted the minister as recalling with nostalgia, the times when nationals of the Commonwealth travelled freely to the UK and other member-states. “This, no doubt, deepened the strong historical bonds between the peoples of the various countries who were all regarded at that time as Commonwealth citizens,” Ashiru said. He further recalled that this time-honoured practice was unilaterally jettisoned by the UK Government in 1985, thereby weakening the bonds of the Common-

wealth family. The minister further stated that the proposed policy would definitely negate the joint commitment by Prime Minister David Cameron and President Goodluck Jonathan to double the volume of trade between the two countries by 2014, just as it would hinder people-topeople contacts, which is one of the cardinal principles of the Commonwealth. He pointed out that the decision of the UK government is coming at the time the Commonwealth foreign ministers have unanimously recommended for adoption at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) holding in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in November

Our error N the caption on the back page of The Guardian yesterday, we Iofinadvertently identified Mr Bolaji Abdullahi as the Minister Youth Development . Indeed, the Minister of Youth Development is Inuwa Abdul-Kadir and not Abdullahi who is the Minister of Sports . The error is regretted

2013, a proposal to remove visa requirements for holders of official and diplomatic passports from memberstates. He, therefore, called on the UK government to reconsider the proposed policy, which is incompatible with the strong and cordial relations built over the years between the UK and Nigeria. He also informed the British High Commissioner that the Federal Government of Nigeria has a responsibility to take appropriate measures to protect the interest of Nigerians who may be affected by the proposed policy, if finally introduced. Responding, Pocock confirmed that the policy was still being developed and expressed regret that the yetto-be announced policy was leaked to the media, as the modality for its implementation has not been worked out. He confirmed that some elements in the report are correct and the policy, could, indeed, affect a few Nigeri-

ans, especially first-time visa applicants. He further clarified that the proposed cash bond is not a general visa fee payable by all applicants. He, nonetheless, assured the minister that the views and concerns of the Nigerian people and government would be conveyed to his country. Also yesterday, the Head of Press & Public Affairs Section, British High Commission, Abuja. Rob Fitzpatrick, in a statement confirmed that Pocock met with Ashiru on speculation in the press regarding the possible implementation of ‘visa bonds’ for Nigerian visa applicants. Following the meeting, Fitzpatrick quoted Pocock as saying: “I welcome the chance to set out the facts on so-called “visa bonds.” “The British Government has announced that it intends to undertake a very small scale trial of the use of financial bonds as a way of tackling abuse in the immiCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

NEWS 3

News Govt bans civil servants from accepting chieftaincy titles From Anthony Otaru, Abuja O sanitise the federal servT ice, the Federal Government yesterday banned its workers from accepting chieftaincy titles and other sundry awards except after retirements or disengagement from the service. This latest instruction is com-

ing barely a month after a similar directive was given to prevent civil servants in engaging in any form of business except farming at week end. The move, many may see as a welcome development from the part of government in view of making civil servants to be free from undue political interests or manipulations as

enshrined in the civil service rules. In a circular sent to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji said that it has come to the notice of government that some civil servants are in the

practice of soliciting for chieftaincy titles and sundry awards, an act, he described as inimical to the principles of anonymity, integrity and political neutrality which are the core values of the civil service. In a statement made available to The Guardian yesterday, the Head of Civil Service

of the Federation, however, directed that where a civil servant must hold a traditional title bestowed on him or her by inheritance or receive any awards, due clearance must be obtained from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation through the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

Enugu council workers groan under non-payment of salaries From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu T is no longer the best of IState times for workers in Enugu local governments following the inability to get their salaries for some months now. The Guardian gathered yesterday that while some councils are being owed over three months salary, others who have paid regularly gave half salaries, thereby subjecting their workers to untold hardship. The development, it was further learnt, might not be unconnected with the council election in December this year which might see most of the serving chairmen out of office having completed their four years in office. In one of the councils visited yesterday, it was discovered that many of the workers no longer come to work, even as those who report for duties do so only to write their names on the attendance register.

Customs records N512m seizure From Charles Coffie Gyamfi, Abeokuta HE Ogun State Command T of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), recorded a

Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Adenike Orelope Adefulire (left); Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosu; National Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande; ACN Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi; his wife, Florence and Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha at the inauguration of Mokola Flyoyer in Ibadan ... yesterday. PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM

Gowon lauds vigilance group over manhunt for Boko Haram members From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri ORMER Military Head of F(rtd), State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon has commended Borno’s Vigilance Youths Group (BVYG) for complementing the efforts of men of Joint Task Force (JTF) in the

manhunt for fleeing Boko Haram members in Maiduguri metropolis and its environs. Speaking in the Hausa service of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Monday and monitored in Maiduguri, Gen. Gowon said: “It is only when communities along with their youths provide such

vigilance and monitoring support that the current security challenges could be overcome in restoring peace and protection of people’s lives and property in the country.” The youths which continue to hunt for Boko Haram terrorists, use sticks, cutlasses and knives since early this month in the

“stop and search” operations at strategic locations of Maiduguri, the state capital. The ex-military Head of State, however, noted that the Federal Government was doing its best in restoring peace in the affected 12 states in the North. He said: “These patriotic

Nigeria’s economy not threatened, says Presidency From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja HE Presidency yesterday debunked the fears being expressed that the discovery of Shale oil by the United States (U.S.) may have negative effects on crude oil. Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Public Affairs), Dr. Doyin Okupe, said: “Fears are being expressed in many quarters on the state of the Nigerian economy especially about the discovery of shale oil by U.S. and its likely effect on our crude oil production. ‘‘We wish to assert that the degree of transparency and

forthrightness which this administration has displayed in the management of the economy in the last two years as well as the various fiscal policies, reforms and programmes adopted by the Jonathan administration since its inception do not give room for fears that the economy might in any way be endangered. The truth is that contrary to this thinking, Nigeria’s total National crude oil production is 2.06 million barrels per day.” He said that market for Nigeria’s crude oil had since shifted from the U.S. to Europe. “Europe has become a major destination for Nigerian crude

oil cargoes, with the volume of Nigerian crude oil grades going to Europe increasing from 28 per cent in 2011 to about 38 per cent in 2012. A major factor for the growing demand of Nigerian crudes in Europe has been the Free Trade Agreement between Europe and South Korea,” Okupe said. According to him, “Already, the Federal Government is adopting appropriate strategies to effectively mitigate the impact of decline in the U.S. markets. The number and volume of term contracts with Asian refiners is gradually being increased. Current term volumes to Asian refiners stand at 120,000 barrels per day. In both the short and

medium-term, a combination of market openings in Europe and Asia will effectively compensate the loss of U.S. market and offer needed support for Nigerian crude oil exports. “Every discerning observer will notice that socio-economic challenges which had existed for several decades and which the current Transformation Agenda is effectively tackling are clearly spelt out in the Midterm report presented to Nigerians by President Goodluck Jonathan a few weeks ago. These challenges include, among others, dependence on oil exports, high recurrent expenditure, high food importation, poor infrastructure, high inflation, falling reserve and rising

youths that have sacrificed their lives without arms in the manhunt for Boko Haram insurgents are doing the right thing in the right direction in ending the Boko Haram insurgency Borno, Yobe, Adamawa states,” noting that the destruction of lives and property occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency is alarming. Meanwhile, over 250 members of the BYVG yesterday took full control of the “stop and search” operations of the JTF and Police at strategic locations of the Maiduguri metropolis. The youths’ takeover of the ‘stop and search’ operation, according to chairman of BYVG, Abubakar Mallum, is aimed at assisting security agents identify, arrest and handover members of the Boko Haram sect. Mallum said: ‘‘Our involvement in the manhunt of these killers was based on the belief that we would be able to identify insurgents faster and easier than the soldiers on patrol in their vehicles,” adding that there are nooks crannies which could not be accessed by JTF patrol vehicles, while the suspects use the same routes to escape arrests.

total of 540 seizure of smuggled goods worth N512, 797, 234.00 between January and May 2013. This is against 405 seizures worth N247,868,128.00 recorded during the same period in 2012. The Command’s Comptroller, Prince Ade Dosumu, who briefed reporters on the Command‘s recent activities at the Abeokuta yesterday, said the Command also generated a revenue totaling N540,762, 791.85 for May 2013 as against N430, 007, 328.82 recorded same month last year. This is a progressive difference of N110, 755, 463, 03.”

Court rejects Keyamo’s bid to try Fani-Kayode By Joseph Onyekwere FEDERAL High Court, A Lagos yesterday ruled that the chambers of Festus Keyamo does not have the fiat of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Justice Minister, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) to prosecute former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi FaniKayode. Fani-Kayode is standing trial on a 47-count charge of money laundering made against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The trial judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia in her ruling on the competence of Keyamo’s chambers to prosecute the matter also held that there is doubt that the AGF has given a fiat to Keyamo to effect the prose-

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

4 NEWS

UNIBEN sacks 13 senior lecturers, others

BPE to hand over power firms in October From Roseline Okere (Lagos) and Anthony Otaru (Abuja) HE Bureau of Public EnterT prises (BPE) has unveiled plans to hand over power firms in October this year to the new investors after the payment of the balance of 75 per cent bid price. BPE noted that all the investors had already completed the minimum of 25 per cent and are expected to effect payment of the balance before the handover date. Director-General of BPE, Benjamin Dikki, said in a statement yesterday, that any investor that is unable to pay the 75 per cent bid balance within six months from the date the mandatory 25 per cent bid payment was made, would be penalised. He, however, expressed the confidence that all the investors were serious businessmen who have the required financial muscle to pay the bid price. Dikki assured Nigerians that power supply in the country would improve when the private investors take over. He expressed confidence that the introduction of sound maintenance culture would ensure that the current installed capacity of 6000 megawatts is exploited and put on the national grid, stressing that that alone

would stabilise power supply. He appealed that the investors be given time to increase capacity as “they (investors) will after takeover, re-tool and bring in new machinery like turbines which are not easily bought off the shelf to put power on proper footing”. He allayed fears of monopoly by the investors as the necessary framework and institutional checks had been put in place to regulate their activities and appropriate pricing. Dikki who also spoke on agriculture and transportation sectors in the country, said the Bureau was working in tandem with the transformation agenda of the present administration to transform the two sectors through the privatisation of the Abuja Securities and Commodity Exchange (ASCE) and the setting up of a regulatory body in the transport sector. “When privatised, ASCE will ensure appropriate and stable pricing for all agricultural produce and warehousing while the setting up of Nigerian Transport Commission (NTC) will regulate activities in the transport sector”, he added.

From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City HE University of Benin (UNIBEN) yesterday said it had approved the termination of 13 senior lecturers of the institution and six other non-academic staff over offences ranging from admission racketeering and changing of students’ grades, to collection of money from students for various services. The Guardian gathered yesterday that the decision to relieve the affected workers of their appointment by the governing council of the university was sequel to the recommendations of the disciplinary committee that was set up to look into various acts of misconduct by erring staff. Those affected by the sack included a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, two doctors from the Department of Mathematics, three lecturers from the Department of Production Engineering and History and International Studies, a lecturer from the Optometry Department and four lecturers from the Department of Microbiology.

Executive Director/General Counsel, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Adesegun Akin-Olugbade (right); Deputy Chief Executive Officer/Chief Investment Officer, AFC, Solomon Asamoah; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, AFC, Andrew Alli; his counterpart from Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Uche Orji; and others, during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AFC and NSIA in Lagos… yesterday. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Govt rejects proposed British visa bond policy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 gration system (which occurs when some people overstay their visa terms). “The details of a pilot scheme are still being worked out. No final decision has been made. If the pilot were to go ahead in Nigeria, it would affect only a very small number of the highest risk visitors. The vast majority would not be required to pay a bond. Those

paying bonds would receive the bond back if they abided by the terms of their visa. “Let me put this in perspective. Over 180,000 Nigerians apply to visit the UK each year. About 70 per cent or around 125,000, of those applicants are successful. Travel between our two countries is a key part of our strong cultural and business relationship. Financial bonds would be focused on only a tiny minority of potential abusers. It

Lagos’ panel on collapsed building begins sitting By Emmanuel Badejo IVE weeks after some proFGovernor fessionals were named by Babatunde Fashola as members of panel to into incessant buildings collapse in the State , the panel yesterday began its inaugural sitting at the City Hall in Lagos. The panel which is chaired by , Mrs. Abimbola Ajayi, an architect, has Mr. Joseph Adewale, Mrs. Roli Craig, Mr. Segun Adedeji, Mr. Moses Ogunleye and Biodun Rufai as members. In her speech, Ajayi said the

panel had received a some memoranda from stakeholders and that the actual public sitting will commence on July 1, 2013 and run through 12 July between 10.00am and 3.00pm daily, urging contributors to testify in accordance with their papers. While Inaugurating the panel at the State House, Ikeja, last week, Fashola said he expected the panel to diligently inquire into the immediate and remote causes of collapsed buildings in the state, especially those that recently occurred .

would NOT be a “£3,000 visa charge” as some media reporting has alleged. “As soon as more details of the policy have been decided, we will inform the Nigerian government and public fully and officially, in the spirit of our long-standing friendship, and our wish to help bonafide Nigerian visitors to work, study or do business in the United Kingdom.” The policy requires Nigerians travelling to the UK to produce a cash bond of N730,000 (£3,000, $4,600 or 3,500 euros) before they enter the UK, as they are among country nationals deemed to pose a “high risk” of immigration abuse. The House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs also condemned the policy, saying it is discriminatory and unacceptable. Chairman of the committee, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, said such policy was not in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. “This is totally discriminatory and unacceptable. It is targeted at non-white Commonwealth”, she said.

Tinubu commissions Mokola Flyover Bridge, others in Ibadan HE Oyo State capital, T Ibadan, literally stood still yesterday as dignitaries joined Governor Abiola Ajimobi in inaugurating three of the projects executed by his administration. Prominent among them is a flyover bridge constructed at the ever-busy Mokola axis of Ibadan to ease the perennial traffic snarl that had characterize the area. The bridge is the first to be constructed by any civilian administration in the state in the last 35 years. Another project was a motor park at Podo with capacity to accommodate 60 luxury buses and 311 mini buses. It also hosts terminal building, shopping malls, restaurants, management office, auto services, auto car wash, public toilets and boreholes, among others. The third was a neighbourhood business complex at Scout Camp at Challenge, Ibadan, which has 760 open stalls, 384 lock-up shops, two blocks of warehouses, admin-

istrative building, large parking space and canteen, among other conveniences. At the event was the National Leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who led other party faithful, including the National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo), while Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Oorelope Adefulire. There were also the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, Chief Kola Daisi, Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Badejoko Adeniji, and Speaker of Oyo House of Assembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu. Speaking at the inauguration of the flyover bridge, Tinubu commended Ajimobi, whom he described as an actualizer,

performer and extraordinary leader in Oyo State, noting that his administration was making people the cornerstone of its economic policy. However, he lampooned those he said had presided over the state but failed woefully, and were now forming “an unholy alliance,” stating that their alliance would fail as the people of the state were now wiser and could read between the lines. On his part, Okorocha commended Ajimobi for transforming the state, particularly Ibadan, where he said he built one of his schools to take care of indigent students. Meanwhile, Ajimobi described the bridge as a dream come true and a historical mileage in the state. And berating the opposition, whom he said embarked on a campaign of calumny since the day the construction began, he urged them all to acknowledge excellence wherever they saw one.

We can’t comment on Oyinlola’s issue, says PDP By Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja EOPLES Democratic Party P (PDP) yesterday said any issue about Olagunsoye Oyinlola, with regard to the post of secretary of the party, is subjudice and could not be commented on. The declaration came barely 24 hours after Oyinlola faulted PDP’s decision to conduct fresh congress in the SouthWest geopolitical zone to elect a new secretary despite the pending litigation in court about his (Oyinlola) removal. Reacting to Oyinlola’s submission, the newly appointed Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Caesar Tony Okeke, who briefed journalists at the party’s national secretariat on developments in PDP yesterday, said the party considered Oyinlola’s matter as subjudice and would not comment on it.

Nigeria, Angola top new HIV infections in children, says UNAIDS HE United Nations ProT gramme on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (UNAIDS) has mentioned Angola and Nigeria as two countries where new infections in children have increased and remained unchanged since 2009. According to a new report released yesterday, Nigeria has the largest number of children acquiring Human Immune Virus (HIV) in sub-Saharan region, with nearly 60,000 new infections in 2012. And without urgent action in Nigeria, the global target for 2015 may not be reached, the report indicated. And for infected children, a report by Reuters noted, access to AIDS drugs that can keep their disease in check is “unacceptably low,” with only three in 10 children getting the drugs they need in most priority countries.

NEWS 5

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

FRSC begins e-ticketing, campaign against phone use while driving

N3b Gombe hotel wasting away over alleged contractual breach State to boost transport with 80 18-seater buses From Ali Garba, Gombe

From Lillian Chukwu, Abuja HE Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has started the electronic ticketing initiative for fines or monetary payment by traffic offenders, and campaign against the use of mobile phones while driving. Speaking at the launch of the e-ticketing programme yesterday in Abuja, the FRSC Chief Executive Officer and Corps Marshal, Osita Chidoka, said the enforcement pilot scheme would commence from selected urban areas in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Rivers states. He stressed that the 60 handheld booking e-ticketing devices and Point of Sale machines donated by United Bank for Africa would enable the agency to view records of interaction, automate the penalty point system for immediate transfer to database, (licenses of offenders will be withdrawn after 21 points), accelerate speed in booking offenders, promote data integrity and enhance time management.

HE Gombe five-star hotel, T which cost the immediate past administration of

Uduaghan warns community against vandalism From Chido Okafor, Warri PPARENTLY worried at the A way citizens vandalise government’s projects, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has threatened to hold communities where such projects are vandalised liable henceforth. Uduaghan, while inspecting some projects in the Warri on Monday, was dismayed that some of the recently constructed schools had been vandalised. Reacting to that, he vowed that, “government will no longer tolerate the vandalisation of its projects.” He added: “Any community where projects are vandalised will henceforth be held responsible. We have a bill in the House of Assembly that will give us power to execute that and as soon as it is ready, we will ensure that we enforce it to check the excesses of those who see government’s project as something they can toil with.

Iru-V/I LCDA commissions office complex today HE Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area (LCDA) will tomorrow formally commission its new ultramodern office complex, which is named after the Oniru of Iruland, Oba Idowu Oniru. According to the Chairman of Iru-Victoria Island LCDA, Mr. Abayomi Daramola, dignitaries expected at the event include Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Bola Tinubu; his wife and representative of Lagos Central Senatorial District, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and some traditional rulers.

Governor Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi State (right) being shown workers’ payment vouchers during an unscheduled visit to the State Secretariat at Gwadaji in Birnin Kebbi…yesterday

Muhammad Danjuma Goje over N3 billion, is yet to commence services two years after its completion and commissioning. The 90-room facility, according to a Ministry of Culture and Tourism source, has been furnished and ready for operation. However, it was hinted that the construction firm, Eagle Construction Company Limited, based in Jos, was yet to hand over the facility to

Mark insists on death penalty for oil thieves Kuku seeks international cooperation on menace Senate confirms Nnamami, others for ICRC job From Bridget Chiedu Onochie and Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja

OT minding the opposiN tion of rights groups and other stakeholders, Senate President David Mark has maintained his stance that nothing short of death penalty would compensate adequately for stealing crude oil in the country. Mark, who spoke yesterday while welcoming the sena-

tors back from their two-week holiday to mark the end of another legislative year, based his position on the understanding that the menace would pose serious challenges to the nation’s economy if not adequately checkmated. In related development, Chairman of the Presidential Programme on Amnesty and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, has called for a

stop to illegal oil bunkering in the region even as the amnesty office prepares to wind down its programme. Kuku, at an event held in Abuja to celebrate the amnesty programme, called on countries such as Cameroun, Gabon and others “where illegal refineries exist” to stop the menace. While imploring Cameroun, Gabon and other countries where the demand for the

Court orders arrest of alleged oil subsidy scammers By Bertram Nwannekanma USTICE Adeniyi Onigbanjo of Jyesterday an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, issued a bench warrant against two oil marketers, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Habila Theck, for failing to attend their trial without cogent reasons. The judge also revoked the bail granted Ogunbambo, (the first defendant) for the same offence. The marketers and their company, Fargo Energy Limited, were being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N979.6 million fuel subsidy fraud. They were arraigned on a sixcount charge bordering on

conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and the use of forged documents. Before yesterday’s proceeding, hearing on the matter could not proceed owing to the absence of their counsel, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and Adebayo Adenipekun (SAN). Their absence, however, stalled the hearing on an application filed by Agbakoba, in which he sought to quash the charges against the defendants. Agbakoba had raised three major constitutional and jurisdictional issues against the EFCC, one of which touches on what is referred to in legal parlance as Miranda rights (secured rights of persons arrested or detained to have legal representation immediately on arrest and before making any

statement). Nevertheless, at yesterday’s proceeding, the defence counsel informed the court that the first defendant called on Monday to say he was not feeling well. However, the counsel could not provide detailed explanations on the absence of the first and second defendants. This prompted the prosecution, led by Francis Usani, to pray the court to discountenance the submission, stating that it was a ploy to delay trial. Usani also argued that there were no sufficient materials before the court explaining their absence, more so when the administration of Criminal Justice Act requires a defendant to appear in court for his trial unless with good reasons.

Govt seeks investors for Onitsha Port Tasks contractor on N4.3b Lokoja project By Moses Ebosele HE National Inland T Waterways Authority (NIWA) yesterday called on private investors to take advantage of the investment opportunities at the Onitsha River Port. NIWA Managing Director, Chief Executive, Hajia Maryam Ciroma, who was in Lagos on familiarisation tour of the agency’s facilities, explained that the Federal Government has resolved to partner the private sector to boost water transportation. She disclosed that the process of concessioning the Onitsha River Port was on, adding that some people were using the

port to transport building material at the moment. She explained: “The port is not as buoyant as we wanted. The port is supposed to generate income and relive the pressure on our roads. That is the most important thing. “I’m going there to see things for myself after my visit to Ondo State tomorrow (today). The government is looking at the possibility of making the port viable and efficient.” Ciroma, who spoke on sundry issues relating to water transportation, also decried the slow pace of work at the Lokoja River Port. According to her, the contractor for the project, which is valued at N4.3 billion, is performing below government’s

expectation. “I was there last week to see what was going on. I was not happy with the pace at which the job was going,” she said. “The port is supposed to connect Onitsha and Baro (Niger State). I intend to see the contractor to see how we can ginger them up.” The Lokoja Port is part of the Federal Government’s agenda to either construct or reconstruct river ports in some states. While procurement processes are on for the dredging of River Benue and the construction of Makurdi River Port, works at Baro Port, Oguta (Imo State) and Jamata (Kogi State), according to government, have reached advanced stage.

illegal oil emanate from to cooperate to put an end to it, he regretted that illegal oil bunkered runs into about 500,000 barrels per day while the country legally drills about 2.6 million barrels per day. Noting that persons in and out of Nigeria are involved, he, however, exempted the Niger Delta indegenes from the illegal act, claiming, “the one our people were involved in was illegal refining, which we call coal fire, but this has been stopped by the Joint Task Force,” adding that the international community should stop those asking for the illegal oil from the region. Speaking on the success of the amnesty programme so far, he said the peace enjoyed in the region through the programme has made it possible to drill such an amount of oil to the extent that sometime in 2011, the country’s oil output was over N6 trillion.

the state government due to the state’s alleged failure to pay off the contractor. Meanwhile, the hotel, located on the Gombe-Yola Road, is being maintained by some members of staff of the contracting firm. In another development, the state has ordered 80 18seater buses to replace its fleet in the Gombe State Transport Service (GSTS) and also purchased over 100 cars for township service. In that regard, it is constructing a mega motor park opposite the Federal College of Education (Technical) to accommodate buses and cars used for transport services, as all other parks around Gombe would be shut down. The Commissioner for Housing and Transport, Mr. Rabenson Zebulun Wasa, told newsmen that the government has liquidated all debts that GSTS owed the banks. This, therefore, meant that GSTS does not owe any bank. The 100 cars, he said, would be distributed on hire-purchase basis. And to minimise hazards on the roads, the government is constructing petrol tankers’ bay at the cost of over N500 million. The Commissioner for Housing and Transport, Mr. Rabenson Zebulun Wasa, said the move followed the incessant accidents involving fuel tankers in the state, which have claimed many lives and property. According to him, the bay, which is at 70 per cent completion, will also raise the state’s internally-generated revenue, particularly as avenues or such were limited.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

6 | NEWS

Police arrest 34 suspected criminals in Kogi

Balarabe Musa, Opadokun want confab held before 2015 polls

• Caution against inflammatory utterances By Seye Olumide ORMER governor of Old FtheKaduna State and leader of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, yesterday cautioned politicians against utterances that could spell doom for the country as the 2015 elections move closer. Expressing worry over what he called persistent tension in the polity as we approach 2015, Musa said: “The only option, if at all President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly would listen, is to convene a national conference.” In a similar manner, a leading member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Ayo Opadokun, warned that any attempt to conduct another election in the country on or before 2015 without first convening a conference might drag Nigeria into unprecedented chaos. They spoke separately with The Guardian on the tension in the polity. Although Musa said the tension is not new in Nigerian politics “it has always been there since 1960. It has always been worse from one election to another. The difference is that the one we are witnessing now is taking a dangerous dimension due to the state of insecurity all over the country.” Listing some of the factors that have always been the cause of tension, killing and

other crises anytime Nigeria approaches elections, Musa pointed out the failure of the ruling party to make itself relevant in terms of performance, the consequence of the misuse of the power of incumbency by government in power, lack of development under democratic rule, misrepresentation of civil rule for democracy, inability of Nigerians to protest effectively against bad policies of government and corruption. On the notion that the Presidency is becoming a contest between the South-South Zone and the North, Musa said it is not a new situation. “The fact that the South-West and the South-East are quiet does not mean they are not interested. The worry is the violent utterances and near war statement some elements from the South-South and North are making ahead of the 2015 polls.” Musa, however, said those dreaming of making any gain or benefit out of a disintegrated Nigeria would be disappointed “over the consequence such unwarranted desire may bring.” Opadokun said the tension is a fall-out of a combination of factors. “The North believes it is its turn to produce the next president and anything short of that will lead to chaos. The South-South region where Jonathan comes from is also insisting that the President must go for a second term.

By Kolawole Timothy OGI State Police Command has arrested 34 suspects in connection with armed robbery and other criminal activities across the state. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilary Opara, disclosed this during an interactive session with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the state’s council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Lokoja. He listed some of the suspects arrested as Abdullahi Mohammed, Ishaku Usman and Sanni Jibrin, who escaped from Koton-Karfe Prison during the attack on the prison yard by some hoodlums recently. He said the trio were known for terrorising residents of the eastern flank of the state, especially Ankpa and other neighbouring local councils. Opara revealed that one Awo Dennis from Delta State was also arrested at the state university, Anyigba branch of the First Bank, while attempting to withdraw N1.5 million being proceeds of ransom paid into his account by relative of a kidnapped victim. According to the police boss, a gang of fraudsters who invaded the state from Abuja, defrauding the residents has been smashed, while one Maxwell Achor (alias Oracle) and Michael Aluu, also known as Catcher, are currently in police net. Opara said another syndicate whose members specialised in snatching motorcycles and strangulating their victims has also been smashed, disclosing that the two apprehended suspects, Mohammed Lawal and Jamilu Katsina are now assisting the command in its investigation. The police commissioner said the command would not relent in its efforts to make Kogi unsafe for criminals. He assured that the suspects would be taken to court upon the conclusion of police investigation.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Senator Robert Boroffice (left); FRSC Corps Marshal Osita Chidoka and Deputy Managing Director, UBA Plc, Kennedy Uzoka, at the campaign against the use of phones while driving and launch of FRSC e-ticketing in Abuja … yesterday.

Leaders warn against imposition of gov candidate on Ekiti PDP From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti OME leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State have kicked against consensus arrangement to select the candidate of the party in the 2014 governorship election. They cautioned President Goodluck Jonathan and the national leadership of the party against imposing any candidate on the party but should allow all the aspirants to face the primaries as prescribed by the constitution of the PDP. The PDP leaders, under the auspices of Forum of Pioneer and Past PDP Local Government Chairmen in Ekiti, said any attempt to handpick any candidate by the president

and NWC in collaboration with some members of the State Working Committee (SWC) would be resisted by party members. Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti yesterday, spokesman of the group, Tayelolu Otitoju, said it would be counter-productive for the party leaders to trample on the constitution, which recommends primaries in the selection of credible candidates for election. He clarified that the Forum is not against consensus candidacy, but pointed out that the process leading to the emergence of any candidate under this arrangement should be transparent and align with the wishes of the party members, especially at the grassroots. Otitoju said: “If the PDP is going to apply consensus, it should be purely Ekiti agenda. As former chairmen and statutory delegates to the PDP primaries, we will reject anything that will mar the electoral fortunes of the party in the general election.

“To avert this ugly situation, let the party at national, zonal and state levels follow the constitution to the letter. This will produce only a candidate and other aspirants defeated in a free and fair primary will easily abide by the result”. The PDP chieftain added that the candidate thus produced under consensus should be sellable, saying the PDP as an opposition party with just two elected members of the House of Assembly cannot afford to ruin its own fortunes through unwholesome and undemocratic practices. Otitoju, former PDP Chairman in Ekiti East Local Government, who was flanked by four other members, said the Ekiti electorate will reject any candidate that emerges in PDP through shady means. According to him, the Forum had earlier submitted a fivepoint position paper signed by 28 of its members to the chairman of the party, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, for consideration.

Ajudua loses bid to stop trial over $1.69m fraud By Bertram Nwannekanma RAUD suspect, Fred Ajudua and his alleged accomplice, Charles Orie, yesterday lost their bid to quash a six-count $1.69 million fraud charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following the dismissal of their motion by an Ikeja High Court, Lagos. Ajudua, who had been arraigned before Justice Olubunmi Oyewole since 2003 by the anti-graft agency, had approached the court, urging it to quash the charge. In a motion on notice dated June 7, 2013 and filed through his counsel, Mr. Alex Agba, Ajudua argued that since the complainant has withdrawn the case and filed an affidavit before the court to this purpose, the court should quash the charge. But the EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Wemimo Ogunde (SAN), countered the argument and urged the court to discountenance the application, stating that it is not known to law for a victim to come to court to file an affidavit of discontinuance on which the defence will predicate its application for charges to be quashed.

Ruling on the application today, Justice Oyewole dismissed the application for lacking in merit. The judge noted that the applicant was not responsible for the prosecution of the case and therefore cannot terminate it. Oyewole said if the prosecution has reached dead end in the case, it will say so, otherwise the defence cannot terminate the case even at the withdrawal of the fraud victim and witness as claimed by the defence. In dismissing Ajudua’s application, the judge said the defence’s application, coming at this stage of the trial, was very strange, adding that the testimonies of six witnesses are before the court and none of it will be touched until the statements of other witnesses are analysed. According to him, the testimony in a criminal trial is not at the discretion of the witness since its basis challenges the fundamental place of Administration of Criminal Justice Law. Ajudua, who is a lawyer by training was arraigned alongside Orie in 2003 for allegedly

defrauding two Dutch businessmen, Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen, of $1.6 million between July 1999 and September 2000. But he has refused to attend the trial after he was granted bail, which made the judge to issue a warrant for his arrest. But police authorities have not been able to produce him in court, prompting unending adjournment in the matter. When Ajudua eventually appeared in court after seven years, the judge remanded him in Kirikiri Prison. But in a fresh application, Ajudua’s counsel, Agba, asked the court to restore the bail revoked from his client on December 15, 2005 with the same condition but with an additional surety, or grant him a fresh bail with conditions the court deems fit while trial lasts. Agba who read to the court a letter from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) to back his claim that his client was suffering from a complicated ailment, urged the court to grant the application, adding that the dead cannot stand trial.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

NEWS 7

PFN cautions over 2015, plans aid for Boko Haram victims From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City S the drumbeat for 2015 A general elections sounds louder, the Pentecostal Fel-

Senior Manager, IT Advisory KPMG, Mr. Olawuyi Saheed (left); Partner, IT Advisory, Mr. Ademola Boye; Partner and Head, IT Advisory, Mr. Olumide Olayinka; Marketing Director, Information Systems Audit and Control Association, Lagos chapter, Mr. Ivan Anya; President, Mr. Peter Ineh and Director, Information and Branding, Mr. Uzo Odunukwe, during a courtesy visit of executive members of ISACA to KPMG…yesterday

UNDP, NIPSS open new leadership centre

Kwara group backs Mimiko’s stance on NGF

From Tunde Akinola, Kuru, Jos

From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin

HE United Nations Development Programme Democratic Governance for Development Project (DGD II), in collaboration with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), will today launch a training centre to strengthen the capacity of political parties in Nigeria. The centre, named: “The Political Party Leadership and Policy Development Centre,” will be commissioned at NIPSS, Kuru, Jos in Plateau State by the Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo. It was learnt that the centre would directly target political parties in order to strengthen their capacity and engender stability, national unity and meaningful participatory democracy in the country’s political system. The centre will engage political leaders with curriculum, jointly developed by DGD II and NIPSS, which emphasises the importance of providing comparative perspectives on multiparty democratic systems, units on constitutional law, materials on interparty democracy, and participation of marginalised groups, including women and youth.

White papers on tax reforms for presentation N an effort to drive positive Icio-economic change for the country’s soreforms and growth, the Nigerian Leadership Initiative (NLI) is set to present the Volume 2 of its White Papers series. The public presentation will hold on Friday, June 28, 2013, at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, at 9:30 am. According to Yinka Oyinlola, NLI’s CEO, “The publication of Volume 2 is NLI’s contribution to a long-term improvement to the Nigerian tax system. Over the last several decades, recommendations were proffered and great strides have been made at reforming Nigerian tax legislation and administration. Considerable improvements, however, still subsist in areas ranging from fair taxation to usage of taxes to transform the economy. Additionally, the social dimensions and transformative effects of taxes are yet to be undertaken.”

HE President of Akoko DeT velopment Union, Kwara State chapter, Steve Ajulo, has described the recent stance of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State on the Nigeria Governors’ Forum as a true reflection of the wish and expectation of the people of the state. Ajulo, who said: “A true Ondo son and daughter will always give an open support to whosoever he/she wishes,” lauded Mimiko for allegedly

shunning being a chameleon on the issue of leadership of the forum, just as he pledged the continued support of the Akoko for the governor. At a press briefing yesterday in Ilorin, Ajulo said: “We commend our governor in Ondo State for not going the ways of many of his colleagues on the shameful behaviour of many of them during their last meeting to elect their new leaders. He was indeed courageous on it. “Mimiko did not hide his feelings on who he wanted to sup-

port. Even after the election, he openly showed his loyalty to his candidate. We love this attitude because it is innate with us here in Ondo State. We always do things as we say. We are proud of him for being consistent on the issue.” Ajulo, while urging other state governors in the country to amicably resolve their differences on the issues relating to the forum, cautioned against consistent bickering over it. He added that it could cause disaffection among them.

lowship of Nigeria (PFN) has cautioned politicians to tread softly in their quest for power so as not to heat up the polity. The group said rather than go the way they are scrambling for political offices, the politicians, particularly those currently in government, should find solution to the rising unemployment level, reduce illiteracy and put the economy on the path of real development. Addressing a press conference, President of PFN, Dr. Felix Omobude, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to fight corruption to a standstill, not with kid gloves. He disclosed that the PFN has begun a process of getting comprehensive data of all its members, including their churches and pastors, saying “the era of anybody doing anything in the name of PFN is closing, so all PFN members will feature in our data base”. On security, the PFN president commended the President for declaring a state of emergency in volatile areas of the North. “I think the President was courageous to declare a state of emergency. He

Senate panel pledges more funds for National Theatre By Kabir Alabi Garba and Gregory Austin Nwakunor HOUGH in the last three T years there have been conscious efforts at lifting the National Theatre, Iganmu, the rot still remains. But the Senate Committee on Culture, Tourism and National Orientation visited the facility on Monday and promised to increase budgetary allocation and also ensure that the edifice is saved. Chairman of the Senate Committee, Ahmed Hassan Berata, said: “We have seen for ourselves the building, and we are convinced the place needs assistance. We discovered that the meager amount allocated to the place has been used ju-

diciously. We will make sure that adequate money is budgeted for the facility in 2014.” On the issue of encroachment on the National Theatre’s land, he said those identified would be invited to the Senate to defend themselves. The team, which also compromised Senators Babafemi Ojudu and Abubakar Tutaza, for almost two hours, toured all the facilities and listened to a presentation from the BGL Equity Group, which has been hired as transaction adviser for the concession project. The House of Representatives Committee on Culture and Tourism had also visited the arts facility as part of efforts to restore the asset to its initial

glory and help its revenue generation capacity. Though Senator Berata declined comment on concession issue because details were still sketchy, he, however, promised that his committee would invite BGL for interaction after full reports must have been read. Unlike outright privatisation, which represents an arrangement of transferring the ownership of public assets from the government to private companies or outright sale, concession is an arrangement where a private company enters into an agreement with the government to have the right to operate, maintain and carry out investment in a public asset within an agreed

period of time. In case of the National Theatre, the Federal Government identified the necessity to implement the National Theatre Master-plan, which requires full utilisation of the landed area earmarked for the tourism and entertainment industry. Under the concession arrangement, the government will have recourse to assets’ ownership at the end of concession period. It will also earn regulatory royalty income during the concession period, and it reserves the right to sanction or revoke licence for breach of concession terms. According to BGL Equity Group, till date, all stakehold-

As a result of the security problems in parts of the country, many of our churches have closed down, many were burnt. Many of our people have become refugees in their own country and many of our pastors have lost their homes has done what is right in taking necessary step to restore peace and order, especially in the troubled parts of the North. What we have seen so far may not be 100 per cent, but the Federal Government has done what is right. We will commend them when they do what is right and criticise them when they are wrong.” He commended the security agencies operating in the emergency states, noting that there have not been reports of unprofessional conduct by the security agents. To ameliorate the hardship its members have suffered in the area and other states where they have been victims of religious uprising, Omobude said the PFN has set up an Emergency Intervention Fund to be headed by Evangelist Matthew Owojaiye and assisted by leaders from the six geo-political zones of the country. “As a result of the security problems in parts of the country, many of our churches have closed down, many were burnt. Many of our people have become refugees in their own country and many of our pastors have lost their homes. I call on all Pentecostal members and all men of goodwill to contribute to the Fund from which we intend to assist the people and others faced with natural disaster. While we call on the government to help them, we will not fold our arms.” He said a peace and reconciliatory commission would soon be set up to resolve any strife among members of the PFN.

How to boost women’s role in politics, by Osuntokun By Tunde Akinola MEMBER of the PresidenA tial Advisory Council on International Relations, Ambassador Akinjide Osuntokun, has stressed the need to overcome the country’s cultural problem before women can play the correct role in politics. He noted that until it is appreciated that the country cannot ignore 50 per cent of the population and that we even deprived ourselves the attribute that this 50 per cent can bring into governance, Nigerians would continue to look at women’s participation in governance as a con-

cession rather than what is necessary and proper to do. According to the former envoy to Germany, since the Beijing conference on the status of women in the world, many countries have put into action programmes to ensure that the voice of the woman is heard. Osuntokun, a professor of History and Strategic Studies, said the recommendation of the Beijing conference was that at least, a third of elective and appointive offices should go to women. “A few countries have met this. In Africa, the countries that have accorded women their rightful place on governance are

Rwanda and South Africa, which have attained 50 per cent and 40 per cent respectively. Even in the established democracies of Great Britain, the United States and Europe, efforts are still being made to ensure that women play active roles in politics. “In the recent past, there have been female Prime Ministers in France, Great Britain and Turkey and now, the German Chancellor sitting on the same sit on which Adolf Hitler sat, is a female. America is yet to produce a female head of government or Head of State. Some people in the United States are hoping that in 2016, Hillary Clinton may

become the Democratic Party’s nominee for President,” he said. Osuntokun said in Nigeria, beginning with the Obasanjo government, the country made some efforts to increase the profile of women in our politics. “Obasanjo appointed a considerable number of women into his cabinet and President Goodluck Jonathan has even done better. We now have a woman as Chief Justice of Nigeria and another as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Some states in Nigeria have even done better than the Federal Govern-

ment. Lagos State, for example, has a female deputy governor and another, secretary to government. Osun and Ekiti states have female deputy governors but we still have a long way to go.” The ambassador noted that “out of 36 governors in the country, there is not a single female. Hopefully by 2015, we may have one or two. The problem women have in politics is the patriarchal nature of our society. Political meetings are usually held in the night and husbands are not likely to allow their wives go to meetings at night and people generally frown at women being in politics.”

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

WorldReport U.S. Supreme Court nullifies part of Voting Rights Act NITED States (U.S.) U Supreme Court has struck down a key part of the Voting Rights Act in a decision denounced as a setback for civil rights by President Barack Obama and antiracism activists. The justices of the court, in a hotly anticipated decision, ruled by five votes to four that part of the 1965 law that sets a formula for deciding which states must seek Washington’s blessing when amending voting laws is unconstitutional. “Our decision in no way affects the permanent, nationwide ban on racial discrimination in voting,” Chief Justice John Roberts argued, writing in the majority opinion issued with the verdict. But Obama said he was

A police officer places flowers for former South African President Nelson Mandela outside the Mediclinic heart hospital in Pretoria, where the former antiapartheid leader spent a second night in critical condition ... yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Global messages, others pour in for ailing Mandela as condition remains critical 100 white doves released outside ex-president’s hospital S messages of support A poured in from around the world for the ailing Nobel Peace Prize winner, Nelson Mandela, his close family gathered yesterday at his rural homestead to discuss the failing health of the South African anti-apartheid icon who was fighting for his life in hospital. Also, flowers, balloons and messages of support piled up outside the Pretoria hospital where 94-year-old Mandela was admitted on June 8 with a recurrent lung infection dating back to his time at the

windswept Robben Island prison camp near Cape Town. Also yesterday, news hunters, South Africans and well-wishers continued their vigil near his hospital with two South African businessmen releasing 100 white doves into the air outside the medical premises where the anti-apartheid icon is receiving treatment. Meanwhile, United States (U.S.) President Barack Obama is unlikely to see the critically ill Mandela when he visits South Africa later this week,

We are really appreciative of what you have done for us as a nation. What you have done will echo throughout the generations to come.

the country’s minister of international relations said yesterday. “President Obama would have loved to see president Mandela, but he is indisposed,” said Maite Nkoane Mashebane. Mandela spent 27 years behind bars for his struggle under white minority rule and went on to become South Africa’s first black president. However, the South African presidency said Mandela remained unchanged in critical condition yesterday. “We must keep him in our prayers and leave the rest to the Almighty to decide on,” Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said. Family members, including

one of Mandela’s daughters and at least two grandchildren, were seen gathering for a meeting in the village of Qunu, where the charismatic former leader spent his childhood tending cattle and living in mud-walled huts. The meeting was called “to discuss delicate matters”, according to South Africa’s SAPA news agency, amid speculation that the location of his possible gravesite was on the agenda. One of the South African businessmen who released 100 white doves into the air outside the hospital, Thomas Toutts, told Agence France Presse (AFP): “It symbolises that fact the we need to have love as South Africans, we need to have peace in South Africa.”

Jonathan, other African leaders resolve to secure Gulf of Guinea From Oghogho Obayuwana, Foreign Affairs Editor and Mohammed Abubakar (Yaounde, Cameroun) FTER what seems a long A period of vacillation, heads of state of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), their counterparts in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as well as officials of the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) have finally taken the bull by the horns in the charge to make the Gulf of Guinea safer and more secure. Leaders of the 25 states that make up the gulf agreed yesterday at the end of their special summit on maritime safety and security, in the

Camerounian capital, to establish an Inter regional coordinating centre in Yaounde, to tackle headlong escalating piracy, trafficking and other illicit activities in the strategic region. Fielding questions from newsmen on the sidelines of the summit, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan declared that the end was near to the excesses of piracy with the commitment and determination of all the concerned leaders and countries. He noted that the highest number of attacks were on the Nigerian waters as a result of the high volume of oil industry activities and trade, assuring that the leaders of the West African Coast and

the Central African Coast would expand cooperation to check the illicit activities that were hampering economic growth of the region. Jonathan, who commended the host president, Paul Biya, for successfully hosting the summit, expressed happiness with the way the conference ended. His words: “The key thing about this conference is the issue of piracy and armed robbery in our coastal waters of which of course you know we have quite a number of attacks in Nigeria because of the volume of oil industry activities and the trade being a very big country. “The only way we can contain it is for the countries

within the Central African Region and West African Region to come together. Already, Nigeria and Benin have been partnering but we need to expand across the coast, the West African Coast and the Central African Coast. So, this is the beginning of the end of these excesses of piracy, so we are quite pleased with the conference”. Meanwhile, a United Nations (UN) report this month drawing its data from the International Maritime Bureau, said piracy affected more ships and sailors off West Africa than off Somalia’s coast last year, and cost West Africa up to $950 million last year.

“deeply disappointed.” America’s first black president said the ruling “upsets decades of well-established practices that help make sure voting is fair, especially in places where voting discrimination has been historically prevalent.” “While today’s decision is a setback, it doesn’t represent the end of our efforts to end voting discrimination,” he said. “I am calling on Congress to pass legislation to ensure every American has equal access to the polls.” The Voting Rights Act – which was last renewed by Congress in 2006 – is opposed by some states which see it as outmoded, but a number of civil rights organisations have argued it is still needed.

Taliban gunmen attack Afghan presidential palace, CIA base UNMEN and bombers reG ported to be Taliban operatives using fake NATO identification attacked an entrance to the Afghan presidential palace in the heart of Kabul yesterday, just a week after insurgent leaders opened an office in Qatar for peace talks. A nearby building known to house a CIA base also came under attack as explosions and gunfire erupted for more than an hour in an area close to heavily secured Western embassies and ministry buildings. Three Afghan security guards and all five assailants were killed, the interior ministry said. It was one of the most brazen assaults on the city since President Hamid Karzai narrowly escaped assassination in April 2008 when the Taliban attacked an annual military parade.

Karzai, who lives in the palace, was due to hold a press event in Kabul yesterday morning. Officials confirmed that he was in the building at the time of the attack but not in danger. The strike also came during a visit to Kabul by U.S. envoy, James Dobbins, after a dispute over the Taliban opening an office in Qatar as a first step towards peace talks ending 12 years of war. The three guards were killed close to the Ariana hotel building, used as a CIA base since about 2002, but officials said neither the palace nor the CIA property were breached. Two four-wheel-drive cars using fake badges from NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) tried to pass through a checkpoint to access the sprawling palace grounds at about 6:30 am (0200 GMT).

Qatar’s emir hands power to son in historic transition Hamad bin Khalifa SrichHEIKH al-Thani – the emir of gasQatar, a major actor on the world diplomatic stage and key backer of Arab Spring uprisings – stepped down yesterday in favour of his 33-yearold son, Sheikh Tamim. Al-Thani’s abdication after 18 years was a rarity in the Arab world, but analysts do not expect significant changes in the way the super-rich Gulf state is ruled. “I address you today to announce that I am handing the rule over to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani,” the 61-yearold emir told Qataris in a televised speech. The decision marks the beginning of “a new era in which a young leadership will hold the banner that would place the hopes of the coming generation upon its priorities,” he added. Sheikh Hamad suffers from

kidney problems but officials insist he has not stepped down because of his health but instead to bring a younger leadership to the fore. He appeared to be in good health during his speech yesterday and during weekend meetings with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and French President Francois Hollande. Under a scorching sun, scores waited in long lines outside the seaside palace in Doha to swear allegiance to a tall, smiling Tamim, who stood next to his father to welcome the visitors. Among those who congratulated father and son was influential Sunni Muslim cleric, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who embraced both. Qaradawi is a controversial figure in the West and has millions of supporters, mostly from the Muslim Brotherhood.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

POLITICS

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Politics We need to return to fiscal federalism, says Ochei Being opening remarks by the Speaker of Delta State House Of Assembly, Mr. Victor O. Ochei, at a symposium to mark the 2nd anniversary of the 5th Assembly on June 14, 2013 at the Event Centre, Asaba. HE idea of a lecture, as part of our anniversary T celebration, is informed, in part, by our desire to bring important issues challenging us as a nation to the front burner for intellectual discourse and also seek solution to them. This is hinged on our hope that such discourse will collectively form part of the compass through which we can navigate our way through in our journey to self-discovery in this stage of our national development. So important are the issues for discourse today that we are fortunate to have in our midst the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who will give the keynote address. The topic of our first interaction, which is Fiscal Federalism in Nigeria: The Need for Constitutional Review, is highly germane. The idea of fiscal federalism suggests that each tier of government is allowed to pursue its financial policy initiative, as this, if perceived, would ensure rapid development of our country. Indeed, decentralisation has become a feature of reform agenda promoted and supported by the World Bank and other multinational institutions. For us in Nigeria, given the historical commitment to federalism as the basis for coexistence and unity, fiscal federalism has long been the subject of several committees, commissions since the fusion of Southern and Northern Protectorates in 1914. The issue remains in the front burner today, still evoking a great deal of passion and virulent con-

Ochei testation. However, I do not think such hair-letting is necessary, for going by what existed preindependence, it might ensure positive competition and development. Therefore, it might not be out of place if we lend our voices to those already clamouring for a return to pre-independence era, when the regions controlled their economies and thus ensured healthy rivalries among them or to continue on this path. On this very topical, and necessary discourse, we have no doubt that the distinguished Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, will navigate us through. In the second lecture, our effort here must be seen in the true light of what it is; simply a collaboration with the executive in finding answers to the problem of underdevelopment, occasioned

by paucity of funds, over reliance on a diminishing commodity such as oil and even more odious, the operation of what many call ‘Abuja handout’ (in apparent reference to the tradition of states trooping to Abuja for the monthly sharing by the Federal Accounts Commission). In order not to be caught hamstrung in this mono ‘economic web’, the State Government, ably led by Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, had, as part of both futuristic and immediate plans, developed an economic strategy known as ‘Delta Beyond Oil’. It is an economic blueprint developed by His Excellency aimed at extricating the state from overtly relying on revenue from a diminishing mono product, as is presently the case. The point being made here is that many countries abound in the world, though not blessed with oil, but have witnessed phenomenal growth by developing the real sectors of their economies; hence, the need to diversify the economy. It is in line with the thinking of the state that we decided as a House, to contribute to the ongoing discourse on diversifying the state economy that we choose to discuss, Delta Beyond Oil: Taxation as a Catalyst for Socio-Economic Development of Delta State — a lecture to be delivered by the National President of the Institute of Chartered Accounts of Nigeria, Mr. Doyin Owolabi. Many have argued that one way of doing this is through proper taxation. While it is true that the fortunes of the state might have greatly improved due to the gradual but, indeed, steady increase in the internally generated revenue (IGR), due principally to taxation; great as this effort may be, one thinks we are not yet fully where we ought to be. Efforts must be intensified to minimise lapses, as humanly possible, while individuals and organisations, who under-declare their yearly profits by doctoring the books or who are in active connivance with tax officials to evade payment of tax, ought to be punished. Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I do know we are in good hands today, but I must pay obeisance to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr.

Seriake Dickson, who, in spite of avalanche of pressing state duties, has found time to be with us. How do I thank our amiable Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and the ever-ebullient Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha? I am deeply grateful, knowing your very busy schedules, yet finding time to be with us today. We are equally grateful, knowing your desire to facilitate an amendment to our Constitution if the people so desire. Almighty God is your strength. To my Lord, Hon. Justice Francis Tabai (JSC), your acceptance to chair this occasion bears eloquent testimony to your insatiable thirst for knowledge and excellence. We remain grateful. I am also indebted to the National President of ICAN, Mr. Dele Owolabi, for finding time, despite his very busy schedule, to be with us; and to my brothers, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN), Mallam Yusuf Alli (SAN), Odua Clement Ofuani (FCA) and Mr. Joel Onowalekpo (FCA). I am deeply touched by your acceptance to be with us today. Thank you. Permit me also to congratulate one of the great Deltans of our time and the doyen of boardroom politics, Chief Gamaliel Onosode, who recently joined the revered octogenarian club. Happy birthday, sir! We must never get tired of appreciating our own, the highly cerebral, focused governor, His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON), for truly keeping faith to his three-point agenda, and which has greatly turned the fortunes of our state in all spheres for the better. We must also salute his courage for being such a bastion of support and a democrat in ensuring that truly, the principle of separation of power holds sway in Delta State. To my distinguished colleagues, I owe it all to you. I remain ever grateful for your support, invaluable advice and for being such worthy allies.

‘Akwa Ibom needs the best man in 2015’ By Iboro Otongaran EADERSHIP is everything. Now, that is a trite statement, but its oftrepeated use rather than diminish its eternal truth nevertheless bolsters it, making its wit ring as true today as when it was first made. Let’s look at the verity of the claim on leadership by way of a random empirical overview. Cases At the end of the Korean War in 1953, the two halves of the peninsula were basically at par in socio-economic development. But one thing differentiated one from the other: leadership. The leadership in the south was focused more on people-oriented development, and even when there were setbacks of military takeovers, they never took their eyes off the kind of development with impact that would lead to the greatest good for the greatest number. On the other hand, the leadership in the north was stuck with eccentric use of power and never bothered about development that addressed the mass interest of its people. Today, South Korea is a prosperous country with a high standard of living, contrasting sharply with the north of starving citizens and an eccentric one family rule. In southern Africa, for another illustration, Rhodesia, with its loathsome racist government, posted strong economic progress year after year. At the end of racism as a philosophy of government, Robert Mugabe took over in the successor nation called Zimbabwe but couldn’t resist the temptation to vengeance. Consumed by hate, Mugabe took his eyes off the ball with regard to build-

ing the economy. The Zimbabwean economy crashed and citizens of the once buoyant and proud nation literally ate from the rubbish bins. Ghana next door was a classic basket case. Its citizens migrated in droves in search of even menial jobs all over the continent, particularly to Nigeria where their case of misery was very well known. It took hard-headed leadership to halt the decline and put Ghana back up on its feet. Today, the world is celebrating the Ghanaian rebirth. Akwa Ibom The centrality of leadership in the affairs of men is starkly on display in Akwa Ibom State, to use the example of a small slice of humanity. Akwa Ibom, before 2007, was the butt of malicious jokes by other Nigerians. They regaled themselves with laughter on everything about Akwa Ibom people — their language, their accent, their lack of education; indeed, the absence of everything good in the state. In six short years, good leadership has changed nearly everything ugly about Akwa Ibom and with it the perception of the world about a people whose industry, creativity, healthy work ethics had all along been there but could not manifest — (no) thanks to bad leadership. Under Governor Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom has manifested truly as the Cinderella story. No one, not even the most optimistic onlooker at the start of 2007, could have imagined that within a wink of six years, Akwa Ibom would boast the mass of infrastructure that it has today. Nor could anyone have foreseen the revolution that is taking place in the social sector where there has been for

Akpabio each child in the state since 2008 a strictly enforced right to 12 years of free and compulsory education; where pregnant women, infants and senior citizens enjoy free health care; where the health sector has benefited from a massive makeover in infrastructure, manpower and worker welfare. No one could have imagined that this one-time backwaters of Nigeria would within six years become such an attraction that the crème de la crème of the society fall over one another to visit. The progress in Akwa Ibom has been made possible by good leadership. Another truth is that all this quantum leap can be reversed even in shorter order by poor leadership. We have already shown the example of Zimbabwe, which went from being a net exporter of food to being a beggar

nation within a few years on account of leadership. Uganda under Idi Amin would serve as another example of such regression. Leadership is without doubt everything. Leadership can build or destroy. The double-edged capacity of leadership for evil and good should be a subject of deep, deep reflection by Nigerians at every turn they have to make a choice about who leads. For all Nigerians such major turn is coming in 2015. Best Man In the particular case of Akwa Ibom, used earlier as one of the illustrations, the significance of leadership would be appreciated even by infants. Leadership has turned their long night into day — suddenly. Because leadership has taken away all reproach, all sources of shame and frustration from the Akwa Ibom man and woman, they should carefully consider who takes over the mantle from the current governor in 2015. For me — and this should be the same for all Akwa Ibom people — the choice is simple. The job of LEADER in the state in 2015 and in all subsequent decision years should go to the Best Man. The job of leader must go to the Best Man in 2015 for fear of the past and in preparation for the future. The past is where no rational Akwa Ibom person would want to go back. The past was physically unprepossessing, psychologically wrenching, socially frustrating. That is the past good leadership has separated the Akwa Ibom man from. But another instance of bad leadership can take the state back to that regression curve. Examples of such backward

steps abound. So, to guarantee a future of continuing progress, to keep up the momentum for progressive social change that has been unfolding in the state since 2007, the search for the next good leader must be dispassionate, clear-headed and absolutely patriotic. In the search, nothing should matter, absolutely nothing except the overall interest of Akwa Ibom, the interest being a continuation of the sea change we have all been witness to since Governor Godswill Akpabio came into office in 2007. The search for the Best Man for the job, the right CEO for an Emerging Tiger like Akwa Ibom State, should be for all Akwa Ibom people a call to battle. When there is war, the Commanderin-Chief sends his best soldiers to battle, not half-baked officers who have yet to prove themselves. Qualities The Best Man, therefore, for Akwa Ibom State, come 2015, should be a man so adjudged by a proven track record of excellence in public or private life, competence, experience, unalloyed patriotism and unflinching commitment to the Akwa Ibom project. And given the history of lopsided development in the state before the current dispensation of fairness and equity, the next leader of the state must be fair-minded and free from all kinds of hubris, including the hubris of ethnic bigotry. Who the cap fits Who fits this bill among politicians currently angling to succeed Governor Akpabio in 2015? • Otongaran is Lagos-based media consultant.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

TheMetroSection We dupe only single women, say suspects • SFU arrests two bank workers who connive with fraudsters By Odita Sunday HE Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU) has arrested two staff members of Skye Bank Plc. for aiding Internet fraudsters who receive monies from their victims through the Western Union Money Transfer. The suspects, who were paraded by the Commissioner of Police Special Fraud Unit, Mr. Tunde Ogunshakin, at its 13 Milverton Road, Ikoyi office yesterday, had allegedly duped their victims of millions of naira using the Internet. He warned owners of cyber cafés to desist from giving access to fraudsters in their shops. “The Special Fraud Unit in its battle against Internet fraudsters has recorded yet a giant step in nabbing cyber fraudsters who are up and doing daily,” he said. In a petition through the unit’s website from one Amela Brosick, a United States citizen, dated April 16, 2013, she alleged that one Devon Miles, suspected to be a Nigerian, defrauded her of the sum of $16,439 through different tactics. She further said she met the suspect under the guise of dating her for marriage, and obtained the alleged sum fraudulently through Western Union Money Transfer. According to Ogunshakin: “Upon the receipt of the petition, the Western Union Money Transfer was contacted and it sent a detailed spread-sheet showing all fraudulent money transfers transacted by the suspect.” “Following the information, the duo of Nnamdi Nwakwue Dike and Olawale Ogunniran attached to the Western

From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin WARA State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has urged the Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Police, to carry out a thorough investigation into alleged attempt by some gun-wielding individuals to attack a former Chairman of Offa Local Council of the state, Prince Saheed Popoola. Ahmed said the culprits must be brought to book, just as he cautioned politicians against provocation and sensationalism of security issues that could heat up the polity. The governor, who said this in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, warned that his administration frowns at any act that could threaten the life of any individual or groups.

The suspects... Union Money Transfer from Skye Bank, Owerri and Allen Avenue, Ikeja branches respectively were arrested. Their revealing statements led to the arrest of serial Internet fraudsters: Uche Chibuzor Akobundu also known as Devon Miles/Martin Williams and one Sani Bala Ismaila,” he said. According to him: “Other victims were Jettie. F. Simpson - $5,000; Shelly Bashir sent only $100 and backed out when she suspected that it was fraud. The next victim was Billie Klock, who sent $13,000 for a relationship that lasted for five months. Then followed by Aurea Desena who sent $8,000 to him and he lavished the money in South Africa.” “It was when his relationship with the last victim ended that he met the petitioner Amelia Brosick whom he swindled the sum of $16,439. He connived with a Skye Bank employees, Nnamdi

PHOTO: ODITA SUNDAY

and Bala to perpetrate the fraud. He confessed that he provided the duo with the photocopy of his ID so that they could pull out the monies while he gave them some percentage of the amount and that they used it to withdraw for other persons without his knowledge.” “He also stated that they were aware of his fraudulent acts. In fact, it was Nnamdi that advised him to open an account with another name so as to avoid being caught and this made it easy for Nnamdi to pull out money from Western Union for him, collect his own share and would pay the rest into his account with them. The suspect stated that he lavished the whole money on trips to South Africa and hotel bills.’ The Skye Bank worker, Niran Olawale, who works at the Allen Avenue branch, told newsmen that he had been doing the deal with the fraudsters for a long

time. He was paraded alongside 25-yearold Nnamdi Dike of Owerri branch. Olawale confessed: “We have been doing it for them for a long time. They normally come for their Western Union. I have been with Skye bank for six years. I am a Teller. They don’t give me extra money after paying them. They only give me gifts of N2, 000 and N5, 000 as the case may be. Bala is the one who usually comes to the bank. I had been arrested before by the SFU over a similar matter.” The prime suspect, Uche Akobundo, who sends the fraudulent emails, told reporters that he usually targets single women and divorcees. He simply described his victims as “clients.” “I use the cyber café or my laptop. We normally set up a profile with fake picture. The website is a site for single women. I target women between the ages of 40- 50. I tell them I am 48 years old. I pose to them as a divorcee,” he said.

Community demands justice over alleged murder of woman by Customs officer By Seye Olumide IX days after, members of Ilashe community are still mourning the death of Fausat Oyede, a 45year-old petty trader and mother of five, who was allegedly killed by a stray bullet from a Customs officer stationed along the Owode-Idiroko Expressway. The incident caused a pandemonium at the premises of the Ogun State Customs Command, Idiroko, when irate youths, commercial bus operators and members of Ilashe community besieged the command and destroyed property . The angry mob demanded for the immediate release of the officer, identified as Tunde, to face jungle justice. Oyede was allegedly killed by a stray bullet from one of the Customs officers at the checkpoint along Owode-Idiroko Expressway. She later died in the hospital after efforts to save her life failed. The command, in a release, has appealed to the irked members of the community to remain calm, while promising that the officer involved would be appropriately dealt with according to the law. Narrating the incident, father of the deceased, Alhaji Gafari Oyede, said he was in the Mosque when a commercial motorcyclist came in to inform him that his daughter had been shot. According to him: “ I went to the Customs hospi-

Briefs Kwara gov condemns alleged attack on former council boss

tal where she was taken to. On getting to the hospital, 68-year-old driver who took her to the hospital told me that when they got to Ilashe junction, he was stopped by the Customs officials and after thoroughly searching his car, they were cleared to move on but one officer shot in the air and the bullet pierced through the body of his car, hit him on the hand and broke his windscreen. He said he did not know that the bullet had hit Oyede and by the time he discovered the bullet had also hit Fausat, she was ushed to the hospital where she died,” Oyede explained. Alhaji Gafari lamented that a similar incident happened about two months ago. “My appeal is that the command should warn its people to stop shooting in the community. I don’t think that they have the right to shoot even at smugglers when it is within the community.” Meanwhile, some angry commercial bus drivers who took The Guardian to the spot where the incident happened, vowed that they would not relent until the officer is properly apprehended. One of them, who gave the name of the indicted officer as Tunde, said: “The man is fond of drinking while on duty.” The Customs Area Controller, Ogun State Command, Comptroller Ade Dosunmu, while appealing to the irate youths, said that an in-house investigation panel had been set up to investigate

the matter. “The officer involved would be handed over to the police for further investigation. We have done our preliminary investigation but it is not in our jurisdiction to try him,” he said. Dosunmu’s appeal came following the destruction of property and the determination of the people to ensure justice is done. Meanwhile, the Command in a press release signed by the Public Relations Officer, Chike Ngige, said that the incident happened on June 20, 2013 at about 6.00a.m. “Our Patrol Team on Information Patrol along Ilashe area of Idiroko/Owode Road, Ipokia Council, accosted a suspected vehicle. The driver of the vehicle tried to escape, to avoid proper Customs checks, and that prompted one of the patrol officers to aim the tyre of the vehicle to demobilize it. The bullet re-bounded on the hard surface of the road and hit a lady inside another vehicle. The lady was immediately rushed to the Customs clinic at Idiroko for urgent medical attention, but she died shortly after arrival at the clinic. Assuring members of the public that the officer involved was under investigation, he said, the controller had held several meetings with the deceased’s family, the traditional ruler, and the community leaders.

Photonews

Strike top agenda at ASUP’s NEC meeting From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka HE protracted industrial action embarked by the Academic STAFF Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) to press down their demands will top agenda at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union slated for Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra state. Chairman of ASUP, Oko chapter, Dr Onyeka Uwakwe, who disclosed this to The Guardian on Monday said the meeting would evaluate the success so far recorded as a result of the strike with a view to finding a lasting solution to the protracted problem.

UNIDO, Ministry hold fair HE United Nations InT dustrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) hold an Entrepreneurship and Career Fair from tomorrow to Thursday, July 4, in Lagos and Abuja respectively. The initiative powered by Career Solutions Africa

Musical concert MUSICAL concert to be A presented by Toyin and Friends tagged: Lover Of Our Souls Edition 2, will hold on Sunday, June 30 at 4.00p.m. at The Balmoral, 98, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Lagos, Ikeja. Special appearances include Dorien Jacob, Are, Samsong, Laide Sax,Okiki Jesu,Simi,Dapo Keys among

Church anniversary CTIVITIES to mark the A ninth anniversary /thanksgiving service of

Student of Government Senior College, Ikoyi, Master Nlemogu Nnaemeka (left), Vice Principal of the school, Dupe Adelakun, Chief Education Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Okikiola Adegoke and Project Manager, MTN 21 Days of Y’ello Care, Felix Omojola at the presentation of winning trophy of a quiz competition to mark closing ceremony of MTN Y’ello Care in Lagos ...on Saturday PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Human Resources Director, Royal Salt Limited, Alhaji Jibrin Kolo-Doko (left), Executive Director, Alhaji Lawal Idirisu, Emir of Zazau, Dr. Shehu Idris, Marketing Director, Mr. Nitesh Srivastav and General Manager Marketing North, Mr. Munir Khan, during their courtesy visit to the Emir in Zaria …

Christ Apostolic Church, Purity and Power Assembly, began on Monday with a 21day revival at 5.00p.m. daily at Nos. 16-18, Ibunkunoluwa Street, end of Orisunmibare Street, Mowe, Ogun State. It will end on Sunday, July 14, with a thanksgiving service at 9.00a.m.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

METRO 13

Photonews

Chief Samsondeen Abayomi Aluko being turbanned as the Are Adinni of Daru Taqwa Mosque, Egan in Igando Ikotun, by the Chief Imam, Tajudeen Ganuyu ... PHOTO: OSENI YUSUF

Pastor Yemi Olumiuyiwa, Dr. Stuart Quartermount and Pastor Trevor Akindele at the arrival of Dr. Quartermount and his team from the United States of America to perform free surgeries organised by the RCCG ,City of David’s Healing Stripes Hospital, Victoria Island, Lagos...

Mother of Aduragbeminiyi Olawuyi, Mrs. Funmi Olawuyi (left); Chairman, Childville Schools, Ogudu Estate, Lagos, Sir Kehinde Smith; the ‘King’, Master Aduragbeminiyi Olawuyi, the School Principal, Mr. Warren Townsend and the “King’s father, Rt. Revd. Isaac Ayo Olawuyi, at the play Oba Ovowramwen Nogbaisi of the former Benin Empire staged by the school at University of Lagos (UNILAG) auditorium, Akoka, Lagos…recently.

Rev. Monsignor Livinus Ukah, receiving an award of West African Personality of Intergrity, from President, Federation of West African Freelance Journalists, Yomi Runsewe, at the SS. Joachim & Anne Catholic Church, FHA, Meiran Parish, Lagos...on Sunday

Media consultant, John Woma (left), promoter, Panaserv Nigeria Limited, Mr. Suraj Rupani and Mr. Hiro Hiyama of Panasonic Corporation, Japan during the media launch of Panasonic 2013 model of built- in Automatic Voltage Switcher Air Conditioner for Africai n Lagos... PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

HE Nigeria Immigration ServT ice (NIS) has warned unsusNigeria Immigration warns job-seekers against fraudsters pecting Nigerians against the activities of job fraudsters who post fake Immigration vacancies on the Internet. The warning came from the spokesman of the service, Mr. King Ekpedeme on Tuesday. According to Ekpedeme: “It has

By Odita Sunday been brought to the attention of the Nigeria Immigration Service that some unscrupulous Nigerians have continued to post advertorials on the internet calling for submission of ap-

plications for recruitment into various cadres in the Nigeria Immigration Service as well as demanding for some amount of money to be deposited into certain bank accounts for the recruitment.”

“The Comptroller-General of Immigration wishes to re-iterate that the NIS is presently not carrying out any recruitment exercise at any level. Therefore, the CGI calls on members of the public to be wary of the an-

tics of these few fraudsters to avoid falling prey to them.” The CGI, through King, said he wished to reassure Nigerians that whenever the Service will commence recruitment, the public would be duly in-

formed in the manner prescribed by Federal Civil Service Rules and Regulations as well as other relevant statutes to ensure fairness, equity and that only qualified persons that meet their contemporary needs are recruited.

14 | THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 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 Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji (1917-2013)

RONTLINE leader and President-General, Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, who died on June 15, at the age of 96 made her name as a political activist before her latterday renown as mother of the former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. She was vocal on the side of the truth and resolute in defence of the downtrodden. Her political activism elevated her to the caravan of the privileged but she remained an advocate of the unprivileged from whom she drew her remarkable relevance. There were women of substance even in her era but she stood out. Not privileged by birth, not elevated by marrying up and certainly not lucky with formal education, Mogaji did it her way: hard work, fearlessness and unflinching commitment to her courses. From humble beginnings, she grew up to become a prominent figure in politics and commerce. She was a political activist at a time when few women ventured into politics under the colonial government. She was a strong supporter of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the first Premier of the old Western Region and his Action Group. Her political activism must have inspired her son, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who rose to become Governor of Lagos State and is now a formidable force in Nigerian politics. A grassroots mobiliser, Abibatu Mogaji was known to have, many times, prevailed on market men and women in Lagos to reduce prices of items in the public interest. Her formidable influence and leadership ability was evident in the obedience and unflinching support she received from the traders. Hers, therefore, was a perfect example of the greater power of influence over raw power; that power is not wielded by intimidation or compulsion but by an exemplary character that endears the leader to the led. Alhaja Mogaji, the Iya Loja, as she was popularly known, was indeed a nucleus of power in Lagos where she was known as a mother to all. A forthright and fearless defender of whatever was right, her death leaves a vacuum that would be difficult to fill.

Fatai ‘Rolling Dollar’ Olayiwola Olagunju (1926-2013)

EGENDARY highlife maestro, Fatai Olayiwola Olagunju, popularly called Fatai Rolling Dollar who passed on, June 12, 2013, aged 87, was not just an entertainer, he was a worthy ambassador of Nigeria’s music. A guitarist, singer and exponent of native thumb piano – Agidigbo, he was the oldest artist on the Nigerian music circuit when he died and perhaps one of the most active. His music career spanned decades and till the very end, he was an electrifying presence on stage and a colourful character on the entertainment scene. He will be sorely missed. Born on July 22, 1926 in Ede, Osun State, Fatai Olagunju later grew up on Lagos Island. He started his musical career in 1953 after encountering the music of legendary artists like Tunde King and Irewole Denge. After a short sojourn in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from where he picked some music ideas, he came back to Lagos and modified the then so-called palm-wine music originally played by the Jolly Orchestra band popularly called Atari Ajanaku, led by Harbour Grant. He added the sweet melody of guitar and the rumbling of percussions. Olagunju’s music then became a fusion of native Agidigbo with broader highlife and Latin themes. The Latin influence emanated from his interaction with a large immigrant Brazilian and Hispanic population in Lagos. His music evolved from the “palm-wine” music, which was played as far back in 1939. More lately, he experimented with Afro-funk and Afro-beat music. His verve and dexterity on the guitar was fantastic. His zest for life and energy, even in old age, thrilled his admirers. Earlier in his career, he had appeared to have lost steam and fallen on hard times. Then, from the blues, about a decade ago, he took the music scene by surprise with a hit song. He then followed with a remix of some of his old tunes, all instant hits. He was the ultimate “comeback kid” of Nigerian music, becoming a much sought-after performer thereafter. He was always a legend but it was not until this second coming that he finally got his due, commercially, and as a virtuoso, an exponent of neotraditional highlife rhythms. Fatai Rolling Dollar was so successful on his second coming that he was a regular at high-class events and on the international scene. He was prepared to go to Germany before his ailment and consequent death. With his passing, the nation’s entertainment industry has certainly been grossly impoverished.

LETTERS

PDP, APC and future of small parties For some time now, the All power to serve the needs of the threats of moneybags in Action ShasIR:Progressive Congress (APC) people. Therefore, despite the Congress (AC), or the power of remained a political issue, movement towards two strong and the controversies surrounding its registration as a rival party to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The controversies have been deepened by the emergence of two other groups laying claims to the acronym APC. These political associations are alleged to be PDP-sponsored, to truncate the registration of the newly formed All Progressive Congress (APC) – a merger of about five opposition parties. The bigger the better seems to be the political philosophy behind this effort. However, it is pertinent to note that parties are appreciated more in Nigeria because of the enormous resources available to them for genuine and fake projects and to run parties and contest elections for power, which small parties cannot generate. In Nigeria’s Second Republic, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) was a small party but ideologically driven along the line of progressive values and interests. Members even contributed money to build the party led by Mallam Aminu Kano who championed the cause of the oppressed. The party in 1979 won two states of old Kano and Kaduna, which today include Jigawa and Katsina states. But politics today has been taking over by money and a culture of extravagance, making it difficult for political parties in

and big political parties in Nigeria, there is still the need to have smaller parties like Labour Party and All Progressive Grand Alliance to participate in the democratic process, as they remain platforms for the ordinary people when the big parties deny the “people’s candidates” their platforms for elections. These parties should remain to serve the need of the masses. After all, the good work Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State is doing today would not have been possible if he had succumbed to the

incumbency of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2007 or in 2011. Governor Rochas Okorocha defeated the powerful incumbent PDP’s Ikedi Ohakim in 2011 with poor and weak All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). We cannot afford to surrender all our political aspirations as a people to money politics. The people-centred politics is needed to get things moving. So let the small and ideological parties also live alongside the big ones. Both are good for democracy. • Ugo Jim-Nwoko, Abuja.

Hijab in Lagos public schools IR: The above matter, as shows that Section 38 (i) and (ii) SEkujumi, addressed by Nelson of the constitution guarantees refers. For the freedom of religion, and the records, it is pertinent to point out that the issue at hand borders on the fundamental human rights of Muslim female students in public schools in Lagos where their parents are taxpayers. It is crucial to also point out that the same 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which Ekujumi relies on to support his stance on the “secularity of the state” and the frowning at “the use of public space and resources to promote one religion at the expense of another” clearly

right to practice and manifest ones religion. The Hijab is a dress code for Muslim females, and it must not, like Ekujumi attempted, be reduced to an expression of religious sentiments. Like many other multi-religious societies, Lagos State must not hinder people from professing and practicing their faith. What we all must place a premium on is tolerance and peaceful co-existence, not just with Hijab-wearing Muslims, but adherents of other faith. • Rasheed Afolabi, Lagos.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

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How impunity slows Nigeria’s development

Nigeria, other D-8 countries target $500b trade volume by 2018 From Itunu Ajayi and Omotola Oloruntobi (Abuja) other and IGERIA Developing Eight (D-8) countries have agreed to increase the volume of trade among members from the current $150 billion to $500bn within the next five years. The Minister of Industry, Investment, and Trade Olusegun Aganga, disclosed this during the First D8 Ministers Council Meeting on Trade Preferential the Agreement in Abuja, yesterday.

He also proposed that the D-8 Trade and Investment Council made up of the private sector and sponsored by the Ministers of Trade be established as soon as possible. The D-8 countries include Nigeria, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Bangladesh, Iran, Pakistan and Egypt. To fully maximise the benefits of trade between Nigeria and other D8 member countries, Aganga said Nigeria would develop its own country specific and regional trade strategies, which would be

based on the areas where the country had competitive and comparative advantage. He said: “At the moment, the value of intra trade between D8 countries as of 2012, is about $150 billion, but our target is $500billion in the next five years. The details of this will be agreed at the next meeting. “On that basis, Nigeria will have its own trade strategy, based on where we have competitive and comparative advantage and also on what D8 countries import from mem-

ber countries. Then, we will make sure that we have our own import substitution so that we can trade with other D8 countries. “For Nigeria, our emphasis will be on improving the quality, volume and value of trade by moving away from exporting raw materials to exporting semi-processed and finished goods so that we can create jobs locally. Also, we have unique country specific and regional strategies for West Africa, Africa and for D8 countries in order to achieve our

Head of Egyptian delegation, Ahmed Talaat (left); Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga; and Turkish Deputy Minister of Economy, Mustafa Sever, during the D-8 Ministers Council Meeting, in Abuja

NCAA to re-certify airlines By Wole Shadare HE Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has unfolded plans to re-certify all airlines operating in the country, just as it stated that the new aviation policy would strengthen its autonomy. The new aviation policy was greeted with criticisms, over plan for the autonomy of the aviation regulatory body. They faulted especially the proposed creation of a new regulator for the aviation sector. According to experts, giving the functions of the NCAA, to another body could compromise air safety as experience has shown in other countries, including the United States of America.

The Acting Director-General of NCAA, Joyce Nkemakolam, while speaking to reporters in his office yesterday, said: “The new aviation policy has not threatened the autonomy of the agency or impacted negatively on its functions but strengthened its roles as a regulator.” He also assured that the agency would soon embark on re-certification of all Air Operating Certification (AOCs) issued pre 2009, adding that those that were issued post 2009 don’t need to be re-certified. “I also want to clear the air on the allusion that AOC takes a long time to be issued. I don’t agree with this. Our experience is that some intending

operators will come and we tell them please go and provide so and so. Some will go and will not come back in a long time and probably due to financial constraints,” he said. The NCAA chief explained that what was enshrined in the new policy had been in operation ever since, stressing that the agency remained a parastatal under the supervision of the aviation ministry. He also noted that the frequent grounding of aircraft could be avoided if operators adhere strictly to the regulatory requirements and rules guiding airline operations. According to him: “If there is no violation or flouting of

these regulations of course, there will be no sanction. We want to eradicate the culture of impunity, which some operators have penchant of taking liberty of. This has got to stop.” He said that the agency was planning to invite all operators and re-sensitise them to adhere to regulations guiding their operations adding that once they follow all the regulatory requirements that grounding could be avoided. On private jets operations, Nkemakolam explained that there were limitations and restrictions to the use of private jets for leisure, adding that anybody flying with friends should be captured in their insurance policy.

overall international trade objectives.” The minister noted that Nigeria would work closely with other D8 countries to remove the barriers to improved and mutually beneficial trade relationship among member countries within the next five years. “As a result of the current global financial, economic and sovereign debt crises which have adversely affected many countries, most countries have realised trade and investment are the most powerful tools for achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development. “There are three most important things that D8 member countries need to work on immediately. The first thing is to allow our business men and women to have easy visas which will make it easier for them to move across member countries to do their businesses. “The second thing is to have a

better and friendlier environment for customs in terms of operations. The third thing is to have a Preferential Trade Agreement across member countries in the areas where we have competitive and comparative advantage,” he added. Speaking during the event, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, called on the Organised Private Sectors of the D-8 countries to take advantage of the Preferential Trade Agreement to boost trade and investment among member countries. He said: “The Trade Ministers Council Meeting, as the highest policy making body of the Preferential Trade Agreement, is expected to consider the report of the Supervisory Committee on the PTA and the junior officials trade meeting, which took place on Monday. We are hopeful that the outcome of this meeting will provide the desired leeway for the post implementation of the PTA.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

16 BUSINESS

Regulators, Shell, others investigate vandalised pipeline By Roseline Okere

JOINT team began an investigation yesterday A into the cause of the June 19 explosion and fire on the 28” Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), after Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) shut the facility resulting in a deferment of 150,000 barrels per day. The team comprises regulators, including the Ministry of Environment, community members, SPDC and independent observers. SPDC, which made this disclosure in a media statement signed by its Media Relations Manager, Tony Okonedo, said that The TNP had previously been targeted by crude thieves and shut down several times to take out crude theft points.

“To ensure that the facility continued to meet operating standards, SPDC deployed a team to Bodo West on May 22, 2013 to remove and repair crude oil theft connections on both the 24 and 28-inch sections of the TNP. “The repair team’s presence and mandate to remove crude theft points were made known to the community which granted them access. No sectional replacement work was underway. One operations support barge, one environmental barge and two tug boats were the only authorised vessels at the Bodo West worksite. Environmental barges are typically used to store and transport recovered oil. The Managing Director of SPDC and Country Chair, Shell Companies in

• Saipem wins new $3b contract in Nigeria Nigeria, Mutiu Sunmonu said: “Unfortunately, crude thieves continued to operate at night even as the repair team worked to remove illegal connections during the day, such that, on the day of the incident on June 19, two unauthorised Cotonou boats were reportedly present at the time of the initial explosion and fire. The established operations routine at any repair site comprises a team of SPDC staff, contractors and regulators who only work during daylight hours and leave the site at the end of each day. This means that no SPDC authorised people could have been on the ground at the time of the incident.” Sunmonu continued:

“Having shutdown and isolated the pipeline, but with oil continuing to flow from the pipeline under gravity to the low point on the TNP, the only other practicable option in the circumstance was to allow the fire burn out naturally. To prematurely extinguish the fire without functioning containment equipment on site could have resulted in further environmental damage. We continued to monitor the fire while also mobilising replacement oil spill containment and response equipment to site. With the fire out, a residual leak was observed at the site contained within the crater caused by the initial incident. We are currently mobilising crews to

evacuate the pit, access the leak point prior to the joint investigation visit and complete repair.” On the reported arrest of some employees of SPDC’s contractors and sub-contractors on suspicion of involvement in crude theft activities, Sunmonu said: “We appeal that the arrested suspects be treated in line with the principle of presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and hope for a speedy and transparent dispensation of justice for anyone found to have violated the laws of the land.” He added: “We are committed to operating transparently, which is why we have invited the National Coalition on Gas Flaring and Oil Spill in the Niger Delta (NACGOND) to join the investigating team as

independent observers. We will continue to run our operations as safely as is possible and in accordance with both industry regulations and Nigerian laws.” Meanwhile, an Italian oil services group, Saipem has won a $3 billion contract to develop an underwater field around 100 kilometers off the coast south of Port Harcourt in Nigeria. Saipem, under mounting pressure after issuing a second profit warning in less than five months last week, said the contract covered engineering, procurement, fabrication and installation of 52 kilometers of pipelines and other mooring and loading systems. The work is due to take place in 2016, continuing into the second quarter of 2017, the group said in a statement.

FXTM launches ‘over-the-weekend’ NY experienced trader A knows that one of the downsides of executing a medium-to long term FOREX trading strategy is the necessity of leaving positions open overnight – this is when trades incur rollover charges, also known as FOREX swap rates. In response to this, international FOREX broker ForexTime Ltd (FXTM), has just announced that they were launching an “Over-theweekend (OTW)” account, where traders could enjoy swap-free trading from Monday to Friday. Running from June 1 to August 31, 2013, the “OTW” account means that ForexTime clients can benefit from trading swap-free during the week on any trading instrument and they will only be charged a small weekend fee every Friday at market close. Olga Rybalkina, CEO of ForexTime, said: “At ForexTime our priority is always to ensure that our clients get the maximum value from the time they spend trading. In response to their growing needs. We have launched the OTW account for the summer period, to give even more to the trading experience.” A forex rollover or swap is the interest added or deducted for holding a position open overnight. The ForexTime OTW account allows clients to trade swapfree and for positions to be held for any length of time from Monday to Friday without incurring any additional fees or charges. If clients choose to leave any positions open over the weekend they will be charged a small weekend fee on Friday at market close. The OTW account is one of several initiatives by ForexTime, which puts traders and the trading experience at the heart of the international broker’s operations. Committed to ensuring client satisfaction and helping traders get more out of their trading experience, ForexTime has also recently launched the FXTM margin calculator and VPS hosting services.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

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MoneyWatch How impunity slows Nigeria’s development

Yelwa By Chijioke Nelson

THE famous French sculptor, Auguste Rodin, once said: “Nobody does good to men with impunity”. Perhaps, out of experience, observation or philosophy, the man generally considered as the progenitor of modern sculpture, has been so convinced that impunity will end up enslaving, impoverishing, killing and ultimately raise more controversy in any given polity. But mostly, he may not have had Nigeria in mind as he philosophized. True, Nigeria is in the period of endemic impunity, entrenched by long years of practice and the economy and poor masses are bearing the brunt. But what is impunity? In the International Law of Human Rights, it refers to the failure to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice and, as such, itself constitutes a denial of the victims’ right to justice and redress, according to Wikipedia. The Freebase/Wiktionary said it is the “exemption from punishment or loss or escape from fines.” But in general parlance, the word impunity designates the behaviour of some actor or set of actors, such as an official, a government agency, or a legislature in an area of activity such as the public finance management, electoral process, rule of law and patriotism, civic and ethical responsibility that does not attract punishment. Impunity also may be viewed as whatever government chooses to do or not to do. Such definition may be adequate for ordinary daily discourse. Impunity is especially common in countries that lack a tradition of the rule of law, suffer from corruption or that have entrenched system of patronage, or where the judiciary is weak or members of the security forces are protected by special jurisdictions or immunities, though they may claim the existence of rule of law. From government agencies, civil society organizations to professional groups came the shocking revelations of how high level impunity being perpetrated in the country has been dealing a deadly blow on the nation’s economic development drive. Impunity, which was described as the elixir of corruption in the country, leaves the culprit with a great air of arrogance and assurance of exemption from punishment and loss. The revelations of impunity were dripping at a multi-stakeholder workshop on Public Finance Management, which was organized in Abuja by civil society organisations, under the aegis of Stop Impunity in Nigeria campaign and the National Orientation Agency. Delivering a paper titled: “Contextualising Impunity in Public Finance ManagementAn Agenda for Change,” the Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Eze Onyekpere, noted that Nigeria’s level of fiscal indiscipline and impunity over the

Eze

management of public finance rose to the pitiable state because of the “capacity deficit in the legislative oversight mechanism- weak checks and balances,” which are manifest in the “poor understanding and application of the powers of the legislature.” According to him, there seems to be a “collaborative violation of laws by the three arms of government, coupled with weak link between violations and the sanctions mechanism,” which sustains the impunity. “There is abuse of judicial discretion (case study of Justice Talba), refusal of the Attorney-General to perform his duties directly or indirectly, weak demand by CSOs to take alternative recourse actions and a seeming uniformed behavior of ‘I don’t care attitude.’” But the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mike Omeri, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Publications, Remi Omowon, said “the culture of impunity has eaten deep into the moral fabrics of our nation, as people care less on the consequence of their lawless actions, as long as they can buy or bully their way out. “From the high and the mighty to the lowliest citizens in the society, be it politicians, landlords, business owners, lecturers, students, among others, impunity has become the order of the day and it must be stopped if our nation must achieve its full potentials. “NOA is therefore, re-orientating Nigerians and promoting good ethical values that will establish positive behavioural change. This campaign, which is aiming at stopping the imounity is a thoughtful one and in tandem with our project of ‘do the right thing, transform Nigeria.’” The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, in its Legislative Digest, said that impunity has clearly become Nigeria’s biggest problem, as it provides cover for most of the ills that plague the country and renders interventions by government, civil society group and other stakeholders ineffective. “Nigeria’s trajectory is on the downward slope, while corrupt reputation becomes the main defining feature of the country and its people. “Nigeria has consistently performed poorly by every development indicator with the vast majority of its people living in abject poverty in the midst of abundance and the citizens are subjected to indignities and embarrassments internationally.” The group rued the country’s position on

Onyekpere

the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index’s ranking in 2012, saying that impunity was also the driving force of the current violence and fear across the country. But the Coordinator of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria, Abdul A. Mamman, explained that the relationship, as well as the importance of public procurement is derived from its role as the fulcrum by which over 60 per cent of the budget implementation is managed and which can be as high as 80 per cent in the case of Nigeria. He lamented that procurement process and procedures have been identified strongly as an area very vulnerable to corruption t, hence in many organizations, the process of procurement or purchase of goods and services, is the process that offers the most potential for ethical abuses and violations. “The culture of impunity has assumed a very dangerous dimension to the extent that hardly do Nigerians understand the importance of governance anymore. “Some of the causative factors are not farfetched, due to the brazen disregard to laid down rules and procedures, coupled with fiscal indiscipline, un-implementable policies, policy reversals, lack of competence and strong desire for oversight by the parliament, wrong attitude towards budget preparation and implementation. “Other challenges include wrong attitude of the judiciary towards the fight against corruption, absence of reward for good deeds, lack of adequate sanction mechanism, ineffective and weak position of some civil society organizations,” Mamman said. According to him, impunities have been sustained by the non-inauguration of the National Council on Public Procurement by the Federal Government; deliberate efforts by the BPP to shut the doors against certified procurement professionals in Nigeria; lack of competence and professional skills by those charged with the procurement functions in MDAs; Others, he said, were engagement of nonprocurement professionals to conduct audit in Nigeria; favoritism in the posting of procurement officers in MDAs; Non composition of relevant procurement committees in most MDAs as required by law; and involvement of the Federal Executive Council in procurement decisions in Nigeria. The forum however, suggested that the way forward was for each religion to put in

Nigeria has consistently performed poorly by every development indicator with the vast majority of its people living in abject poverty in the midst of abundance and the citizens are subjected to indignities and embarrassments internationally.

place a mechanism that will prescribe caution errant members and exhibit a serious non-tolerance against culprits. The Administrative Head of National Assembly Budget and Research Office, E.B. Jarumi, while delivering his paper at the workshop, said that at the root of the executive/legislature tension is, among other things, the legislative oversight powers, which is aimed at building strong public institution, minimize waste, inefficiency and promotes accountability in government. According to him, the efforts of NABRO have culminated in the revelations of impunity exemplified in petroleum subsidy saga, the privatisation process, pension investigations and most recently, the mandatory remittances of internally generated revenue of Independent Revenue Generating Agencies. “We are also about to present a comprehensive report on IGR performance of about 60 public corporations/agencies of the Federal Government, which has revealed a lot of disturbing impunities in the collection and non-remittance of internally-generated revenue. “The ability of parliament through its oversight functions to effectively stop this trend is contingent on four sets of variables- whether parliament is legally empowered to intervene, endowed with the required technical capacities, possesses the required political will and conducive governance environment,” he said. The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Emeka Eze, who was represented by the Head, Database Department, Ishaq Yahaya, said that presently, impunity is challenging its operations and manifest in the areas of bidding, evaluation, award and execution stages. Eze said that an assessment of public procurement practice between 1999 and 2000 revealed that 60 kobo was lost to underhand practices out of every N1 spent by government, but noted that the Public Procurement Act, 2007, was designed after the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, to check some of these challenges. According to him, these challenges are facilitated by political pressures, ignorance on the part of contractors, collusion among contractors, observers and government agencies, low reported cases of prosecution and convictions, prolonged investigation periods, advent of plea bargain in the judicial system, improper record keeping of procurements, among others. The BPP boss, who quoted the words of Auguste Rodin- “Nobody does good to men with impunity”, said that procurement processes have been marred by several irregularities and gone unpunished. According to him, these include pre-quali-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

22 MONEYWATCH

Corruption, impunity holding development to ransom CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 fication of incompetent bidders; unclear selection criteria; introduction of new criteria midway; MDAs’ non-invitation of observers as required by law; and request for bid securities above two per cent as required by law. Others include not allowing counter-signing of bids by all bidders present to prevent substitution of documents; delay in processing Memo to Federal Executive Council; delays in executing agreements and payment of contractors for interim certificates, among others. For the Director-General of Budget Office, Dr. Bright Okogu, the country’s budget has been under the influence of corruption, which were sustained by impunity, with huge consequence on the planning, implementation and the realization of the essence of budgeting. Okogu, who was represented by his Technical Assistant, Anslem Aghware, noted that the avenues by which these impunities are presently thriving are nonremittance or outright diversion of internally generated revenues and taxes collected on behalf of government; and high level oil theft. Others, he said, included the introduction of new projects numbering in thousands by government agencies, when the ongoing ones are yet to be completed; deliberate wrong project prioritization; introduction of poorly planned projects, with attendant waste prospects; poor/late procurement planning; no clear Key Performance Indicators on projects; and poor project implementation. According to him, the effects of these impunities have manifested in the limited fiscal space for budget preparation; longer budget preparation time; delayed and series of amendments of budget implementation; and ultimately, poor project implementation. He explained that every line of expenditure in an appropriation has a purpose, amount and expense time, which may not have been strictly followed, thereby creating more avenues for impunity.

We are also about to present a comprehensive report on IGR performance of about 60 public corporations/agencies of the Federal Government, which has revealed a lot of disturbing impunities in the collection and non-remittance of internally-generated revenue. “Several measures, including laws introduced to improve transparency and accountability seem to be weakly pursued and sometimes, compromised. The battle against impunity cannot be won overnight, but we must keep on in our good works,” he said. Also, the Director of Communications, Nigeria Extractive Industry and Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya orji, said the extractive sector of the economy has contributed a fair share of the impunity ravaging the country’s development. He said that beside the current revelations of embezzlement and scam in the sector, impunity has been long entrenched in the neglect of the development of local capacity, which has given the International Oil Companies an unfair advantage over the country. Orji said: “Now they have built a system around themselves where we will have to depend on them perpetually. Perhaps, the people who should have given them conditions at the initial stage ignored it for the self interest, knowing that they cannot be called to account. “Presently, nobody can say exactly the quantity of crude oil being produced in the country. Even the data we present are what they and government give us, yet we find conflicting figures in them. So, who is right? “We have recommended metering technology, but the excuse is that it is costly, which is not tenable. Norway, Saudi Arabia and United States are oil producing countries and they have the machine. Perhaps, somebody, somewhere is benefitting from the anomaly, but nobody has been held accountable. “Even in tax assessment of the IOCs and other stakeholders in the sector, it is our

people that will give them leeway to shortchange the country, but nobody has been held responsible. Impunity is indeed a problem.” The Chairman of Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Dr. Aliyu Jibril Yelwa, in his presentation titled: “Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) and Impunity,” said that for the past couple of years or there about, the word “impunity” has become a mantra among the socio-political activities, civil society originations, religious bodies and mass media in their fight against what they perceived as bad governance in Nigeria. The FRC boss, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Policy and Standards, Gilbert Ugbebor, said that the challenges of implementing the FRA and how these have led to impunity in fiscal governance and recommendations on the way forward were worth emphasising. “Indicators of Impunity in the area of public finance management include the contravention of the provisions of the FRA, 2007, without punishment. In particular, official actors and agencies refuse to fix consolidated debt limits for the Federal, state and local governments, while they collect revenue, retain it in the agency’s bank accounts and refuse to pay such revenue into the Government Consolidated Revenue Fund for selfish interest. “They also pay fuel subsidy far in excess of the amount authorized in the Appropriation Act, embezzle and steal pension funds, over invoice public procurement and refuse to follow the fiscal rules and procedures laid down in the FRA with impunity. “Nepotism, ethnicity, appointment of incompetent, unqualified persons and cronies into public office and flagrant disregard of the laid down rules, particularly

the Federal Character Commission Act are indicators of impunity which do not attract punishment. “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, granted impunity to prosecution to certain public officials while in office. In effect, no matter what crime these public officers commit while serving, they cannot be prosecuted, not to talk of punishment,” Yelwa said. According to him, the only remedy for impunity is impeachment, recall and prosecution by foreign countries and nationals in their courts of jurisdiction, but these remedies are so politicized, too few and far in between that they are better regarded as unavailable. Yelwa also noted that closely related to the constitutional impunity is the conventional practice which exempts the security vote from auditing, while public office holders exceed the security vote contained in the Appropriation Act or Law without carrying out reasonable security jobs and amounts to lack of accountability and fiscal transparency, which in reality constitutes impunity per excellence. “The effects of impunity fall disproportionately on the poor and a major restraint on their ability to escape from poverty. This is perhaps the most compelling reason for emphasizing the elimination of impunity as part of antipoverty strategy from the earliest stages of development. “It is worth noting that so far, no political leader in the executive, legislature and bureaucracy has been motivated to put impunity on the policy agenda,” he added. But the Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice, Eze Onyekpere therefore, recommended the use of power of oversight and other legislative instruments to ensure the constitution of the proposed National Council on Public Procurement; implementation of the capital budget, with set minimum target for the executive; and devise a budget calendar to ensure early passage of the budget. Others were to speed up the passage of the Audit Reform Bill; whistle blowers Act and Witness Protection Regime; and ultimately lead by examples as the representatives of the people.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

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Diezani’s Playthings With the sacking of Augustine Olorunsola, the minister has seen out three Directors of DPR and three Group Managing Directors of NNPC in her three years on the job. By Toyin Akinosho O one in the room, at the Lagoon Restaurant N last Wednesday, had the inkling that George Abiodun Osahon had been offered the top job at the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR),

the industry regulator. He had given the vote of thanks at the monthly technical meeting of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), the influential, 7000 member grouping of earth scientists, of which he is President. He had arrived unusually late to the ritual and there were whispers in the room about a certain note of gaiety in his voice, even some bounce in his gait, but it was hardly anything you couldn’t ascribe to just having a good day. Across the street from the Lagoon restaurant stands the grey, 10 storey building housing the headquarter offices of the DPR. Here, on Thursday, Augustine Olorunsola rounded up

his work with a short address to the staff of the department. He had been the third man to do the job in the space of 40 months. His had been, like his last three predecessors, a brief stint. Days later, he was gracious enough to respond to a question from Africa Oil+Gas Report. “I thank God for the opportunity to serve for 19 months and finishing unblemished”, he remarked. “He that orders my steps will lead me aright”. It had been quite a rough 19 months for Olorunsola, who had left a high profile job at Shell, the Anglo Dutch major, at terribly short notice, to take up the position of DPR director. He was Vice President Gas and Power for

the corporation’s Subsaharan African operations. It is important to background this: Shell is, as I write, a net producer of gas. The company, in late 2012, started to produce more gas than oil around the world. Subsaharan Africa has provided some of the major projects (the 1Bcf/d Gbaran Ubie project for one) in that transition, so anyone who was at Olorunsola’s position, in 2011, was a key point person in Shell worldwide. When we met in late December 2011, at a send forth party for him, on the lawns of the Ikoyi residence of Mutiu Sunmonu, chair of the corporation’s Nigerian subsidiaries, Olorunsola was ecstatic about the challenges ahead. At a personal level, he saw it as something to give him a rounded industry experience. “I have tackled commercial issues, I have been part of policy making, now I have the chance to help regulate”, he said. “Regulatory issues are what Nigeria desperately needs to get a handle on”. He was aware of the political minefield, having been strategic adviser to Odein Ajumogobia, Umaru Yar’adua’s minister of state for petroleum, between 2008 and 2009. CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

ThE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

24 AFRICAN OIL&GAS REPORT

Diezani’s Playthings

KICKSTARTER

Editor

Diezani’s Whip, A New Director And The Imminent Bid Round hE hot news out of the Ministry of Petroleum is the T sacking of Osten Olorunsola and the instalment of George Osahon as the new helmsman at the Department Of Petroleum Resources, the regulatory agency for the nation’s oil industry. Both men responded to our calls with statements bearing fatalistic undertones. “I thank God for the opportunity to serve for 19 months and finishing unblemished”, Olorunsola, a former Vice President for Shell E&P Africa, said of his short lived tenure. “he that orders my steps will lead me aright”. It didn’t sound like he had a choice in the matter; either of his appointment, or of its ending. he wasn’t asked to resign. Just relieved. Osahon, a former Group General Manager at NAPIMS, (NNPC’s most influential subsidiary), and a leading subsurface earth science consultant in Subsaharan Africa, is known to be a born again Christian. he didn’t include God in his own response, but the short statement spoke volumes. We told him we didn’t expect him to take the job, that he didn’t need it. “how do I refuse and still be able to operate in the industry”?, he fired back. “Scrambling for a job and being called to serve are two different things. At least so I was advised”. These are two big men with significant pedigree by world standards. Why does this have to happen to them? Osahon is as expendable as Olorunsola. he knows this. The job he is going to do is not an independent job, like the Governor of Central Bank. he is likely to be fired before May 29, 2015. So why congratulate him? he is, as we see it, a plaything of Diezani AllisonMadueke, Goodluck Jonathan’s minister of Petroleum Resources and the best looking minister we ever had. Our challenge in this magazine is that the sacking of Olorunsola and the instalment of Osahon are both meaningless. Olorunsola’s sin is that the committee he chaired, which drafted the first Goodluck Jonathan era version of the Petroleum Industry Bill(PIB) did not bow to the whims of the Minister, which was to produce a bill that granted the minister all the powers in the world. The much that we know of this, as well as the quality of the DPR Director’s job under this particular minister, will be trashed out in Diezani’s Playthings, the kickstarter article. This edition of our fortnightly pull out is carrying another special, our second excerpt from The Accidental Public Servant(TAPS) , Nasir El-Rufai’s 627 page Memoir of his tenures as Director General of the BPE and Minister for the Abuja Capital Territory. It is titled A $20Million Dollar hole. It’s a must read. There is, thirdly, an overview of what to expect in the imminent bid round. The Africa Oil+Gas Report is the primer of the hydrocarbon industry on the continent. It is the market leader in local contextualizing of global developments and policy issues and is the go-to medium for decision makers, whether they be international corporations or local entrepreneurs, technical enterprises or financing institutions, for useful analyses of Africa’s oil and gas industry. Published by the Festac News Press Limited since November 2001, AOGR is a monthly, 40 page hardcopy publication delivered to subscribers around the world. Its website remains www.africaoilgasreport.com and the contact email address is info@africaoilgasreport.com. Contact telephone numbers in our West African regional headquarters in Lagos are 2348130733523, 2347062420127, 2348034449079, 234803652979, 2348023902519. Please enjoy what this edition of the Pullout has to offer. -Toyin Akinosho, Publisher

Osahon: I didn’t beg for the job. PHOTO BY TOYIN AKINOSHO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

“When I left my job at Shell it was clear to me what I would do at DPR, even if all I spend is one year”, he disclosed, over vintage white wine and grilled chicken. And what a ‘year’ it was! At the time he took the DPR job, Olorunsola was superintending a committee that overhauled the version of the Petroleum Industry Bill that was drafted in the Yar’adua era. he was considered as part of a close circle of select heads to who the minister- Diezani AllisonMadueke turned when she needed to solve a policy problem. By having him named head of DPR, some argued, she was only formalizing that relationship. he was considered an advocate of the formation of a Petroleum Inspectorate in the ministry, an independent agency which should, apart from being a regulatory clearing house, also serve as an intellectual resource centre for the minister. But that was exactly where the problem started. When Olorunsola’s committee turned in its draft of the PIB, the minister was aghast. The provision to transform the DPR into an independent Petroleum Inspectorate Commission, whose Director would be as independent from the Petroleum Ministry as the Central Bank Governor is from the Finance Ministry, was not in the minister’s interest. The minister also wanted the key agencies of government in the industry, including NAPALM and the Downstream companies to be largely under the ministry’s control. The Olorunsola committee didn’t oblige. Mrs Allison-Madueke handed over the draft to another committee which then came up with a draft that has largely been interpreted, owing to the sweeping powers it granted to the minister, as “Madam Diezani’s PIB”. The minister began distancing herself from Olorunsola and he was no longer, for her, the go-to- guy for policy explanations. he stopped being an intellectual sounding board. he wasn’t one of those that wrote her speeches any more. It was clear, by April 2012, that Olorunsola would be fired. So why didn’t he simply turn in his letter of retirement? Why didn’t such a big man, steeped in industry lore, experienced in global oil industry affairs, just travel to London and start consulting? You have to worry about all of us, the 500,000 Nigerians who earn more than 400,000Naira a month. There’s so much anxiety about our present and our future. We haven’t succeeded in collectively building a country that has space for all of our aspirations, so when we get to our late 50s, we just cling on to anything, any insult. Perhaps I am wrong. There’s time for Mr. Olorunsola to tell his own side of the story in the future. Perhaps he’d give us the opportunity to publish it. Perhaps there are more insidious things we don’t know. how wrong was he himself? What’s clear is that he was not relieved of his post for corruption charges or ethical lapse. But that is a digression. Impeccable sources at the Ministry in Abuja say that now that the Minister has finally made up her mind to launch await-

Diezani Allison Madueke ed bid round of hydrocarbon properties, she doesn’t want Olorunsola to superintend the sale. She finally did what she had decided as far back as a year ago; move to relieve him of the job. Should Mr. Osahon have taken over Olorunsola’s job? his first response to Africa Oil+Gas Report is that he was called to serve and this was different from “scrambling for the job”. To which he then added that he had “no choice but to listen to the voice of reason and the concern of the people”. The interpretation of this is that he had consulted widely, when he was offered the job. Perhaps those he had consulted told him he had the opportunity to make a difference. Most of the congratulatory messages speak to an overall confidence in the ability of Mr. Osahon to deliver. “Our country will benefit from his very deep technical experience and in particular his thorough understanding of the oil and gas industry”, says Afe Mayowa, a former president of NAPE. “This does not come to us as a surprise because of his visible track record in the industry”, echoes Kareem Folorunso, manager of Swamp Assets at the Nigerian Petroleum

Development Company (NPDC), a subsidiary of the NNPC. Concurs Adeola James, who is NAPE’s assistant secretary and an earth scientist at NPDC: “he is a very sound technocrat, seasoned administrator and a very humble man to work with it. With him at the helm of affairs in DPR, it is a new era for NPDC, the leading national E&P in Nigeria”. Mr Adeola’s comments are contestable. how can the Director of DPR, the way the organization is presently constructed, affect the fortunes of an E&P company like NPDC, which is government owned? Who determines the destiny of NPDC? There’s convergence in the congratulatory messages: Mr. Osahon, 60, has been around the industry. he has been Group General Manager of NAPIMS, the quasi regulatory and commercial subsidiary of the NNPC, through which the state hydrocarbon company interfaces with the major oil companies who produce over 85% of the country’s oil and gas. he had been Managing Director of the NPDC, which has been promoted by Allison-Madueke as the now and future cash cow of the NNPC. he had been General Manager for the National Content Division (NCD) of the NNPC. he has been part of most

Augustine Olorunsola, (middle), on the site of the Uquo Field.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

CompuLife Outcry over illegal airtime deductions from subscribers By Godfrey Okpugie, Deputy Lagos City Editor and Adeyemi Adepetun LAGOS-based Mr. Isaac Odun gave his teenage son N2, 500 to A buy recharge cards to load into his dual-SIM cell phone – containing two networks. He was surprised that the amount his son just loaded into the phone was short by N150 from one of the networks and another N100 from the other, moments after the credits were loaded into the phone. He accused his son of using the phone to make some calls without his permission and deleted the numbers thereafter. Not even the son’s denial could convince him. He subsequently dragged him before the elders in the Church the following Sunday, accusing him of telling lies and thus committing a sin against God. It was the elders’ intervention that revealed that the boy was innocent and that the credit was actually deducted by cell phone caller tunes providers. Caller tune, also called ring back tune, is the music you hear when you call someone before the person answers your call. But the father, who was surprised at the discovery, said he never subscribed and was not even aware that his phone had new caller tunes. Odun is not alone in this new wave of fleecing of phone owners in Nigeria through credit deductions by mobile phone service providers. Mobile phone service providers include caller tune suppliers, information tips providers among others. Chidebere Umejuru, who sells laptops at Computer Village, Ikeja, said a lot of money is realised from such deductions from many peoples’ phones. “For example,” he said, “N50 removed from 200,000 people’s phones amounts to N10 million.” According to him, the business of deducting credit illegally from people’s phones for subscription to ring back tunes is increasingly becoming a booming venture in the country. Available data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) revealed that the total number of GSM subscribers as at March 2013 was 117 million. If only 10 per cent of this falls victim to the caller tune illegal deduction at only N50 each per phone owner that will amount to N5.8 billion in a month. According to Umejuru, all you need to do is use another person’s phone to call your own phone and listen to the ring back tune. “You may be surprised to hear more than one caller tunes that you never subscribed to and which you never even knew was in your phone.” He said the way to find out if you have more than one caller tunes is to dial your line, let the ring back tune you hear rings to the end, do not cut it. Let it run its course and end by itself. Thereafter, redial the phone again and listen to see if there is a second ring back tune. A worker of one of the network providers revealed to The Guardian that the huge amount these fraudsters get from the practice is responsible for the increasing number of people going into the business these days and the reason phone owners are bombarded with different kinds of SMS and voice calls by the providers, who normally request people to send ‘yes’ or press a certain key on their phone to subscribe to a caller tune or to a regular supply of some health tips, jokes or information. According to him, some people advertise online for trainees to be trained on how to be a mobile phone service provider. One of such adverts which The Guardian saw online states: “How to make money with caller tunes in Nigeria.” “Do you need an easy but very profitable business? “Are you unemployed or employed but not satisfied with your low income or you need to add to your existing business? Then gain more knowledge on how your life can be totally changed

GSM operators positively for better and start making millions or thousands of naira monthly on caller tunez services.” Agboola Wale, a Lagos-based pastor, said he was surprised when some members of his Church told him that whenever they call him, his ring back tune was a kind of worldly music, which he did not know about. He said he was surprised to get an SMS that his caller tone has successfully been renewed for another 30 days at N100. “I have tried in vain to unsubscribe to the service but they refused to stop.” He lamented. Joseph Olubi, a Lagos-based journalist, said he was surprised that whenever he dials his aged aunt’s phone, the ring-back tune was a kind of music that his aunt would never, under normal circumstances, subscribed to. He said the most annoying part of the new trend mobile phone scamming, is that, even if you send a ‘stop’ or ‘del’ SMS to the providers, they would not stop and they would continue to deduct the subscription. Ogie Uduehi, a self-employed computer engineer, said he was once a victim. “They sent me an SMS and requested that I should reply ‘yes’ if I wanted to be receiving regular information from them and if I do not, I should send ‘stop’ to them to discontinue. When I sent the ‘stop,’ N50 was removed from my credit. At first, I didn’t believe it. So, I resent the ‘stop.’ Behold, another N50 was deducted from the credit balance in my phone. Can you imagine that?” Uduehi asked. An online report on the lucrative nature of caller tunes says that N50 a month isn’t a big deal for a mobile telephone user to get his favourite song as a caller tune. Yet, this has earned a huge amount to the caller tune service providers. An Indian-based mobile network provider – Idea Cellular – was said to have started the service of providing caller tunes in 2004. The company made a lot of money from it. The second company that also made a fortune from the service, according to report, is Bharti Airtel, the overseas parent body of Airtel Nigeria. Caller tune is said to be the second biggest revenue earner for telecoms companies worldwide among other value added services after SMS. Apart from swindling phone owners with caller tunes, another set of mobile phone service providers are those who use SMS to send jokes, health tips and other information to phone owners.

Some of these providers have also devised cunny methods to illegally enroll phone owners to their services. In most cases, they would send you an SMS saying you have deservedly been selected to benefit from their services and to claim the benefit, you should send ‘yes’ to a certain number. Your reply would automatically put you on their subscription of N50 or N100 monthly. Mr. Patrick Jedi, a cell phone seller, Computer Village, Ikeja, said in other countries, cell phone users have a public complaint centre to direct illegal deductions to, in Nigeria, nobody knows where to lodge complaints especially in rural areas. Speaking to The Guardian, the President, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers of Nigeria (NATCOMS), Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo confirmed the deductions, saying lots of subscribers have been complaining about the issue. He however, said the number porting initiative seems to have brought sanity to the issue. Ogunbanjo narrated that one of the network subscriber, who is also suffering same fate had to threaten to port to another network before the deductions was stopped. The NATCOMS boss urged NCC to direct operators to have documented complaints procedure on their websites, “when this is there, a subscriber will have something to present at the court of law if need arises.” Ogunbanjo said the mobile operators should be held responsible and not the Value Added Service (VAS) provider, “because the platform is run on the networks.” Attempts by The Guardian to get the NCC’s reaction to the issue did not yield result, as email sent to the commission was not replied to. In a swift reaction from the NCC, the Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Tony Ojobo said there is no way a network operator can impose a particular service on the consumer, stressing that this is a contractual agreement. Simply put, “This is Buyer beware. It is an invitation to treat”, Ojobo stated. According to him, it is only in Nigeria that every consumer wants the regulator to handle all complaints. Ojobo said on several occasion, the commission had advertised, educate consumers on how they can handle their grievances. He asked aggrieved subscriber to write to the service provider officially, go to their service centres, “if they couldn’t get a redress, they can now come to NCC, but there must have been an evidence that they have lodge their complaints. They can call our toll free line—080 -Call-NCC, which the commission has revealed to the public before now. The operators too, have their toll-free lines, which they can also call. MTN Nigeria’s Public Relations and Protocol Officer, Funsho Aina said MTN has the platform while VAS providers upload the caller Tunez on it. On deductions, Aina said customers are charged N50 monthly subscription fees and each caller tunez costs N50, which is also monthly unless customers unsubscribe from the service. According to him. If any customer is having any challenge, he or she can send HELP to 4100 and the challenge will be resolved. On supposed illegal deductions after opting out of the particular service, Aina said: “Atimes there could be hitches at the backend, where when you send STOP to the short code, you may not get response, and still discover that your money is still been deducted, the best thing will be for the subscribers to visit any of the service centre and the matter will be resolved amicably.”

Accelerating economic growth through broadband strategy INTERNET and broadband have been globally acknowledged as the foundation for transformation to a knowledge-based economy. It is also widely acknowledged that broadband infrastructure is an enabler for economic and social growth in the digital economy. ADEYEMI ADEPETUN, in this report, examines plan by the Federal Government to wire the economy with ubiquitous broadband access. Excerpts... HE economic impact of broadband peneT tration has been found to be quite impressive. World Bank studies show, quite conclusively, that in low and middle –income countries, every 10 per cent point increase in broadband penetration accelerates economic growth by 1.38 percentage points. This impact is greater than in high income countries and equally greater than the impact of any other telecommunication service. Besides, a report conducted jointly by Ericsson, Arthur D. Little and Chalmers University of Technology, noted that doubling the broadband speed for any economy increases its GDP by 0.3 per cent. Indeed, the above percentage points may ap-

pear small but if you apply them to the Nigerian GDP at N40 trillion, it is possible to obtain an increase of more than half a trillion naira in the first instance and N120 billion in the second. In view of this economic index, and recognizing the importance of broadband to a nation’s growth, the Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated a strategic move to wire the country with broadband facilities. At the ICT stakeholders Forum with the theme: “Connected For Growth-Moving from Planning to Execution” Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, while presenting Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan 2013-2018 to stakeholders in the sector, said the Federal Government is now very serious about

Johnson

Ndukwe

ensuring that broadband access reaches 80 per cent of Nigerians by 2018. Johnson, who said government, is targeting the next five years to achieve this, noted, “the message is clear that we need to assist the private sector in driving pervasive access to broadband. But then, the private sector must also

deliver not just on basic reach and penetration, but also on quality of service for Nigerians. It is only in doing this that Nigerians will truly feel the positive impact and benefit of broadband,” the minister said.

Continued on Page 35

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

26 COMPULIFE

Ministry canvasses engineers’ support for e-govt initiatives NCC lists benefits, implications of convergence By Adeyemi Adepetun ECOGNISING the huge role engineers play in an economy, the Ministry of Communications Technology has solicited their support in its drive towards sustaining the various e-government initiatives in the country. Speaking in Lagos at the Academy Technology Dinner of The Nigerian Academy of Engineering, the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson said that there was a huge role for engineers to play in the country’s drive towards e-government implementation. Johnson, represented by the Director of e-government in the ministry, Tope Fashedemi said that moving the country forward required the contribution of intellects from all sectors of the economy, stressing that the task of fixing the economy should not be left to the government alone. The minister said automating key citizen and business facing government processes and increasing the rate of adoption of ICTs by civil service would help to drive efficient and effective governance. According to her, shared government infra-

structure continues to expand and deliver economies of scale benefits, “government launched its service portal in April 2013 the first e-government call centre will be launched in Abuja in 2013. “The federal government’s Open Data initiative is also making more non-sensitive datasets available to the public,” she stated. Speaking on “Future of Telecommunication services and the distruptive influence of convergence” the guest speaker at the dinner, the Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah noted that the rapid developments of Information and Communications Technology and the advent of new services over telecommunication networks had given rise to convergence in how services were delivered to customers. Juwah said that as convergence grew rapidly in the telecommunications industry, it raised regulatory challenges given the merging of firms and facilities, because traditional regulatory frameworks were designed for an era when clear functional differences existed between services and infrastructure were not designed for this new environment of con-

LTE subscriptions may reach 500 million by 2018 HE LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) T subscriptions will take an important role in the mobile subscriber market, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 295 per cent between 2013 and

2018 to reach 500 million, which will represent 34 per cent of the overall 1.47 billion LTE-related subscriptions. Meanwhile, total LTE subscriptions for 1Q-2013 increased by 37.5 per cent

quarter-on-quarter, reaching 108 million. North America will be the most aggressive LTE-A market, followed by Asia-Pacific and Western Europe. ABI Research predicts North

Juwah verged networks and services where functional differences no longer exist. According to him, some benefits of convergence included the creation of possibilities for companies to develop and deliver services across technology platforms, promoted expansion of competition, which allowed the introduction of intermodal competition where networks and technologies competed with each other with no technological or regAmerica will commercially launch LTE-A by the end of 2013 and mobile subscriptions will approach 220 million by 2018, contributing 44 per cent of the global LTE-A market. “All the major U.S. mobile operators in the United States have shown their com-

ulatory restrictions. Others were helping to reduce costs of telecommunications services, fostered the development of more efficient technologies and services and opened door for new ways for people to obtain Internet access. Juwah, however, noted: “Convergence regardless of the associated benefits has given rise to uncertainties in regulatory framework, which is particularly impactful in such critical areas as interconnection between networks, quality of service as well as competition and pricing.” In competition, the NCC EVC said that network convergence was an important driver of change in the telecommunications industry with a single integrated IP network delivering a combination of data voice and video. “This makes it possible for different platforms deployed by different operators in hitherto different industry segments (fixed and mobile) to offer equivalent services with a potential positive effect on competition.” According to him, there is need for a mechanism to ensure flexibility in the regulations through continuous engagement with other regulators, as well as stakeholders in the telecommunications industry to ensure that any framework that results supports full competition, and ensures transparency and accountability.

mitment to LTE-Advanced, and LTE-Advanced upgrades are underway,” stated Jake Saunders, VP and practice director of core forecasting. In Asia-Pacific, the LTE-A subscriptions will notch up 159 million by 2018, while in Western Europe, it should reach 55 million.

Confronted with an explosion in mobile data traffic and a need for greater bandwidth, Carrier Aggregation, an essential feature of LTE-A, can help operators to build greater transmission capacity, relieving stress on legacy spectrum assets.

COMPULIFE

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Minister seeks security for Internet users From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja INISTER of Communications Technology, M Mrs. Omobola Johnson, has stressed the need to ensure that the 48 million Internet users in the country and an additional nine million each year are empowered, integrated, and secured in their use of the Internet. The minister, who spoke at the Nigerian Internet Governance Forum with the theme, “Internet Governance for Empowerment, National Integration Security through Multistakeholders’ Engagement” decried the perverted use of the Internet in perpetuating heinous crimes and distributing falsehoods and thereby constituting a fora such as this provides a good platform to have a candid discussion of how Nigeria can find a balance between security on the one hand, and privacy on the other; and to develop a framework that can help us move forward on this issue. “Now, on the threshold of an accelerated deployment of broadband infrastructure, is the time to pool our collective resource of techni-

cal experts, policy analysts, advocates, media practitioners, and public sector officials, to develop and implement a sustainable (multifaceted) solution that will build trust, confidence and assurance of Nigeria’s presence on the Internet”, she stated. The ComTech minister explained that Internet users in Nigeria have risen from 45 million in December 2011, to 48 million by June 2012, adding that figures from the four major operators (MTN, GLO, Airtel and Etisalat) tell the same story, “as at June 2012 total mobile Internet subscription stood at about 25 million, by March 2013 an additional nine million new subscribers had been added bringing the total to 34 million.” According to her, “the reality of the development of the Internet in Nigeria within the context of global perceptions about the country to most people, yearly addition of nine million Internet users is a tremendous opportunity. Unfortunately, the dominant global opinion (no matter how uninformed) is that these are nine million new threats.

ASUS enhances expectations for computing LOBAL laptop maker, ASUS has said that its G new line of products will transform consumer’s expectations of technology. According to the Chairman, Jonney Shih, while introducing the transformer book trio and other revolutionary products, said the products would transform Computex 2013. “We seek to perfect the balance between engineering and humanity, where every intricate detail penASUS way of Design Thinking, where every idea starts with people and we turn our imagination into myriad revolutionary innovations” The ASUS Transformer Book Trio is an innovative combination of notebook, tablet and desktop PC for unparalleled flexibility in work, play, and social activity, while the new Transformer Pad Infinity is the world’s first NVIDIA Tegra 4

tablet with a stunning 2560 x 1600 resolution display. ASUS also announced two new handheld devices, the 6-inch Fonepad Note FHD 6 tablet with 3G-voice calling and the 7-inch MeMO Pad HD 7 value tablet. The ultra-compact VivoPC desktop, the VivoMouse wireless mouse with built-in multi-touch touchpad and the world’s first AC1900 router, the RT-AC68U, were also unveiled. The ASUS Transformer Book Trio is the world’s firstthree-in-onemobiledevice.Withan11.6-inch detachable display and dual operating systems, Transformer Book Trio transforms mobile flexibility by switching effortlessly between a Windows 8 notebook, Android tablet and Windows 8 desktop PC. Transformer Book Trio switches easily between operating systems to give users access to over 700,000 apps in the Google Play Store and over 50,000 apps in the

Director, Hand Held Products, Samsung Electronics West Africa (SEWA), Emmanouil Revmatas (right); Head of Sales (SEWA) Olumide Ojo and Product Manager, Digital Imaging, Taiwo Adediran at the press briefing on Samsung’s PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI new range of Digital Imaging Devices in Lagos.

Indigenous online store, RyteDeals, challenges others for market share By Faith Oparuogo HE online retail space in Nigeria has become a gold mine as the electronic retailers are now jostling for market supremacy. The online stores that are competing for market share are RyteDeals, Jumia, Konga and Dealday etc with RyteDeals fiercely challenging the established ones for market domination. A wholly own indigenous firm, RyteDeals, is the latest addition to Nigeria’s flourishing online retail space. To win the war of market dominance, a subtle price war has begun among online retailers and they are jostling for the attention of Nigeria’s online teeming shoppers. Already, RyteDeals offers up to 75 per cent discount on products and services purchased at www.rytedeals.com. The company has developed its strategy in alignment with the strong positive sentiment towards online shopping in Nigeria among the over 40 million Internet population, many of

who live in the urban centres. Aside pricing strategy, RyteDeals and others offer flexible delivery regime, cash-on-delivery and discount in order to grab market share. According to a statement from RyteDeals and signed by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Victor Alaofin, 57 per cent of the 40 million Internet population in Nigeria will continue to make purchasesonline,aslongas“itoffersthebestvaluealways”. Among products on offer at RyteDeals are cars, property, gadgets, health and fitness. Others are food, electronics, clothings, medical services, trainings, events, tours, and accessories. He said that there are opportunities in the country’s ecommerce space and more Nigerians are willing to shop locally owing to the fact that shopping online is “faster, convenient and cheaper”. An initiative of Ryte Internet Technology, a proudly Nigerian IT company with a focus on using the internet to benefit its teeming customers, RyteDealscommencedoperationonJune10,2013.

28 COMPULIFE

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

How CTO will facilitate Nigeria’s broadband plan execution, by NCC By Adeyemi Adepetun HE Nigerian Communications Commission has said that the plan to hold the next edition of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation forum in Nigeria would help in adding the required impetus to the implementation of the new-

ly approved broadband plan in the country. The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, disclosed this during a breakfast meeting with top CTO officials at the weekend. With the theme “Beyond Broadband”, the forum, scheduled to hold in Abuja between October 7 and 11, 2013, in collaboration with

the Ministry of Communication Technology, will provide an avenue for Nigeria to extensively discuss its Broadband Plan 2013-2018 and woo investors to help in facilitating its achievement. Juwah said that the programme would play host to about 20 foreign ministers of communications technology from around Africa, as well as other key industry experts both within and outside the country. The NCC EVC noted that though Nigeria was still contending quality of service issue, most especially with regard to data services through broadband infrastructure rollout, “Subscribers are going to benefit immensely from the event as the forum is focused on broadband.” Juwah maintained that he made broadband deployment one of his cardinal programmes when he assumed office over two years ago, stressing that effective deployment of broadband in Nigeria would unleash a new phase of competition in the telecom sector. “Effective broadband deployment will put new economic powers in the hands of the Nigerian people wherever they may reside. The Broadband Plan has the objective of promoting pervasive broadband deployment, increase broadband adoption and usage. Speaking, the Secretary-General of CTO, Prof. Tim Unwin, who recognised the various policy initiatives from NCC, which has galvanisedthecurrentimpressivegrowthinindustry,particularlylauded the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2013-2018. Unwin described the broadband policy, which aims to reach 80 per cent of the population with broadband within five years, was an ambitious initiative. He also acknowledged that the event would bring together regulators, governments, operators, vendors and Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) and would highlight solutions to broadband infrastructure, revenue management and security challenges.

NiRA holds workshop today IGERIA Internet Registration Association (NIRA), managers of N Nigeria’s country code Top Level Domain, .ng will hold a threeday Workshop on Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) in collaboration with Internet Corporation for Assigned names and Numbers (ICANN). The event which is tagged DNSSEC Roadshow begins today and ends on Friday, June 28th, at the Digital Bridge Institute, Cappa, Oshodi, Lagos (formerly NITEL Training School). As revealed in a document released, the President of NIRA, Mrs. Mary Uduma, noted that the workshop was an initiative of the ICANN, the organisation that coordinates the unique identifiers (IP addresses and the Domain Name System - DNS) across the world, without which there would not be one global Internet. She further emphasised that the DNSSEC Roadshow was one of the African-ICANN Strategy unveiled at the Toronto ICANN 45th International Public Meeting by the New ICANN President/CEO Mr. Fadi Chehade, as well as the fulfillment of his promise to the minister of Communications Technology during the WSIS +10 in Geneva held in May 2013.

COMPULIFE

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer of MTN Nigeria, Babatunde Osho (left); Corporate Services Executive, Akinwale Goodluck and Chief Executive Officer, Brett Goschen, at the MTN Business Executive Engagement Session in Lagos

Govt inducts Techlaunchpad first batch By Bankole Orimisan HE Minister of Communication T Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, has inducted the first batch finalist of the Techlaunchpad, an initiative designed to build and support a software community capable of producing world-class software solutions for all industries in the country. The initiative, which is a partnership between the ministry, Accenture and some private companies of the economy, was inaugurated in December 2012. The programme aims to provide mentoringship and finance to incubates, creating 10 successful software businesses in the first year that will provide industry solutions for Banks and Oil and Gas by 2014. Ultimately, by 2015 subsequent editions will cover other sectors and 30 businesses that are capable of creating jobs and wealth. Key partners of this initiative are First Bank of Nigeria, Access Bank, ExxonMobil, Digital

Jewels, FATE Foundation, Total, First Bank, Access Bank, ExxonMobil and Accenture and Chevron. Of note are the significant contributions and support of the initiative provided by Digital Jewells and Fate Foundation. The incubation of this enterprise, which starts in July 1, 2013 at the iDEA Centre, is another initiative of the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology, the first batch of finalist of the Techlaunchpad initiative will start their incubation and mentoringship programme. Presenting the first batch to industry players at the week-end, the minister said that it government is convinced that collaborating with forward thinking partners in the Techlaunchpad initiative will bring to “Nigerian software enterprises class solutions for our industries and ultimately Africa and the world. “The (potential disruptions) our developers can bring to bear with their software solutions and applications are truly exciting.”

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

30 COMPULIFE

Firms introduce Interactive e-whiteboard for schools By Bankole Orimisan HE global leader in interactive teaching technology that offers a better ways to learn, Mimio Interactive Teaching Technologies and SchoolStroreng limited, who is the local Mimio representative based in Nigeria, has partnered to introduce Interactive e-Whiteboard into the Nigerian education system. According to the company, Mimio has been an educational technology for the past 18 years, providing affordable, easy to use and effective solutions. the technology which empowered both educators and students in all forms of learning, to enable real understanding whether it’s whole- group or small group instruction, informative assessment, collaborative learning, or student- centered adaptive instruction, Mimio solutions help teachers put these strategies into action, easily and affordable. According to the General Manager, SchoolStoreng, Zainab Ashorobi, said that every Mimio product is designed to put students at the centre of the educational environment, so they are more engaged, more collaborative, and more motivated. Teachers can quickly and easily create multi-

media lessons and then display those lessons, graphics and images on a dry-erase board or any other flat surface. An accompanying pen or stylus allows users to manipulate MimioStudio software’s projected images. Dual-pen operations allow two students to simultaneously interact with the same projected image, increasing teachers’ capacity for including collaborative learning and smallgroup instruction in their classrooms. Schools or districts with budget constraints can begin with a high-quality, entry-level version of the MimioProjector device and expand its functionality over time through in-field upgrades. That means that a basic, non-interactive model can be upgraded to a single or dual-pen interactive solution, right in the classroom. The MimioProjector device supports all common video formats, including VGA, HDMI, SVideo and Composite. Its high image resolution produces true-to-life images and color for enhanced display of charts, graphs, artwork and simulations. The stereo sound of its audio playback system boosts users’ auditory experience. The projector also allows for the display of 3-D content.

Buyright Africa opens Enugu office UYRIGHT Africa Dotcom, marketer of ICT prodB ucts and home appliances, is spreading digital excitement in Enugu, as it establishes a branch in the coal city. The arrival of Buyright Africa Dotcom in Enugu opens up new opportunities in education, commerce and good living for the residents of Enugu and its environs. Managing Director, Buyright Africa, Mr. Emomine Mukoro, said that Buyright Africa has perfected a number of innovative marketing schemes which will enable the exciting coal city to shed its provincial personality and transform to a 21st Century metropolis – the Nigerian Employees Digital Welfare Scheme (NEDWS), the Students’ Ownership Scheme (ZSCOP), and other schemes targeting offices, families and homes. Mukoro noted that Enugu has a rich history as

a regional and state capital with huge mineral deposits and has the population, education and religious institutions to reap huge benefits from the presence of Buyright Africa, a digital ICT Companyspecialisinginstructureddigitalequipment ownership schemes, equipment leasing, projectsandallICTrelatedLPOfinancinginAfrica. According to him, NEDWS has the tools to digitalise the people and processes of this city often referred to as a ‘civil service town’. Launched in 2012, NEDWS allows Nigerian Employees in both the public and private sectors to buy ICT equipment like computers, smart phones, printers, scanners, projectors , UPS and home appliances like TVs, refrigerators, deep freezers, microwave, electricity generating sets of any brand of their choice from Buyright Africa with the convenience of paying over a period of six months.

Samsung announces arrival of all-in-one PC AMSUNG Electronics West SSamsung Africa, a subsidiary of Electronics Company Ltd, a global giant in digital media and convergence technologies, has announced the availability of the all-new All-In-One PC Series 7 in the Nigerian market. The new All in One (AIO) PC builds on the premium aspects of the Samsung Series 9 Notebook with advanced engineering, craftsmanship and stylish design. Beyond high performance, the new AIO PC Series 7 has been crafted to deliver an entirely new AIO PC experience. Driven by a 3rd generation Intel Core™ i5-3470T Processor, 6GB RAM, dedicated AMD Radeon HD graphics and a Full HD display with resolution of 1920 x 1080, the new AIO PC Series 7 embodies innovative sense recognition features such as 10-finger multitouch screen control and hand gesture commands. According to Head, IT Solutions, Samsung

Electronics West Africa, Folashade Oyelayo, “The new All-in-One PC packages the best of Samsung’s precision engineering and premium design with top class performance and functionality. With its unique craftsmanship and boasting of the latest hardware and software, we predict that this new product will be accepted by discerning consumers. It offers a maximized home entertainment experience and is a perfect device for a family PC or desktop replacement. We feel that the All-inOne PC market carries enormous growth potential by taking convergence technolo-

A PC

gies to the next level.” With the upcoming new Windows 8 platform, demand in All-In-One PC is expected to increase further as AIOs will have stronger as well as more convenient features, which is expected to replace the existing desktop PC in the market. To provide such true ‘user benefits’, Samsung has perfected not only the hardware but also the software aspects to offer never seen before experiences. For an unlimited premium user experience, Samsung AIO PC Series 7 has been equipped with a 10-finger multi-touch screen - a technological leap in interactivity, surpassing traditional twofinger multi-touch by providing full touch control using all ten fingers on an AIO PC. Its enhanced sensitivity enables users to enjoy the full capabilities of the latest entertainment applications or perform complicated content editing.

VDT gets quality certification, assures enhanced services By Clarkson Eberu EADING broadband communication service provider, VDT Communications Limited, has bagged ISO 9001: 2008 Quality Management System (QMS) certification for its conformity with international best practices in its operations within the nation’s information and communications technology (I CT) industry. The Lagos-based company, with branches over 26 states of the federation, was unveiled as a certified entity at the weekend in Lagos at a customer forum/presentation ceremony by an internationally-accredited conformity assessment and certification body, BSCIC Certification Pvt. Limited, ably represented by Moses Omuetha. He commended the IT firm for bagging the endorsement in record time, advising that the exercise was not a fait accompli as the award could be withdrawn in the face of non-conformity with the provisions of the certification.

The Managing Director of VDT, Biodun Omoniyi, had earlier informed the audience of the concerted efforts of members of staff to the achievement of the feat by the company, which began business in 2003. While thanking all stakeholders for their invaluable contributions, he assured that the firm would keep bettering its services in line with its mission and vision. The Chairman, Tunji Gafar, situated the place of customers and human resource in the overall success of any business enterprise, stressing that both were key to the existence and well-being of an organisation. To this end, some members of staff, including Mrs. Omolola Theresa Abolarin and Olufemi Ayodele Agboola and a host of others were singled out for recognition. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) MainOne, Funke Opeke, who also spoke at the event, enthused that the company would grow from strength to strength in service delivery

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

COMPULIFE

Glo targets corporate clients with managed data facility Tourism minister hails firm’s concert By Adeyemi Adepetun LOBACOM has set up a world-class Internet Data Centre in Lagos to provide colocation services, disaster recovery and dedicated hosting facilities to corporate clients in Nigeria and across West Africa. The company has also announced plans to expand its existing data management platform by building another data centre that will be Nigeria’s Largest Iconic Data Centre, providing Tier 3 and Tier 4 enterprise data services from Abuja. Meanwhile, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Edem Duke, has described Globacom as the only Nigerian company that had identified with the aspiration of the ministry in the area of youth engagement and empowerment. The new data centre will provide network-based services, applications, equipment and Cloud Services in a highly safe and secure environment with backed ups. Globacom’s Corporate Chief Information Officer, Mr. Cesar Camara, who conducted ICT Editors round the new Lagos Internet Data Centre recently, said that most of the websites and servers of various Nigerian organisations were hosted elsewhere across the world in countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States of America due to unreliable power supply, insecurity and other challenges. “This is why Globacom has stepped in to become one of the topplayersinthemanagedservices industry across Nigeria and West Africa. We are leveraging on our existing telecoms infrastructure, Glo1 submarine

cable, reliable power supply network, experienced manpower and experience in building state-of-the-art technologies for our existing voice and data telephony services,” he said. DataCentres,especiallytheTier 3 and Tier 4 categories, which provide the highest level of failure proof, redundant, secure and safe environment, fault tolerance, compartmentalisation and continuous cooling, are highly valued by most organisations because all missioncritical/real-time applications today depend on server uptimes. “This makes our high capacity Data Centres highly sought after by all categories of businesses including Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), Financial Institutions, Oil and Gas, Educationists, Hospitals and Telecoms Service Providers,” Camara said. He explained that Glo’s Data Centre has achieved 99.99 per cent uptime for all its servers and systems because they are housed in a safe, fireproof and secure environment built to international standards with 24-hour power supply, Internet connectivity, data backup capacity and redundancy for all equipment. Duke, at the weekend in Abuja at the Glo Slide & Bounce Concert said that the giant telecommunications outfit had contributed significantly to the promotion of arts and culture in the nation. The minister who commended Globacom for its efforts at empowering the Nigerian youths, particularly the support the telecommunication outfit has given to the nation’s

entertainment industry through the endorsement of artistes in the country, urged other corporate organizations to emulate Globacom. “I am particularly happy to be here tonight and I must commend Globacom for organising this show for the entertainmentofAbujaresidents.Byand large, Globacom has demonstrated that it is a truly indigenous company.

Blue Gate wins award LTERNATIVE power solutions equipment servAice provider, Blue Gate Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) and Stabilisers promoted by Tripplesea Limited a subsidiary of Tripplesea Group have won the best UPS and Stabiliser of the year 2012 award. This, according to the organizers, was as result of the company’s products reliability, ruggedness, energy efficiency and after -sales support they provide in electronic appliances. The award was presented recently at the 2012 African Top Dealers Award organised by African Brands Review. While presenting the award, the Director, Investigation and Enforcement of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control,(NAFDAC)Mrs.T.AArileseretoldthecapac-

ity audience that Blue Gate products which have continued to serve as an alternative power solutions in the Nigerian mass market and the rest of the African sub-region have the state-of-art technology equipment to support the country’s power surge problems. As a leader in power surge arrest and alternative power solutions, she said that Blue Gate had set the standard in the ICT industry for quality, innovation and support, adding that the products had really come to become a market leader in the Nigerian UPS and Stabiliser markets. “Blue Gate products are specially designed to support African hardware market. I am not surprised that they won the award for the best UPS and Stabiliser of 2012.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Economic growth through broadband penetration Continued from Page 25 Industry statistics on broadband penetration reveals that Nigeria’s broadband penetration is between four per cent and six per cent. This, according to industry stakeholders, underscores the need for Nigeria to give strategic importance to the development of broadband infrastructures. To the minister, for Nigeria to become one of the world’s leading economies by 2020, high-speed broadband networks that would provide every Nigerian with fast, reliable and affordable Internet access is a fundamental requirement. Current status of broadband in Nigeria Nigeria’s International connectivity landscape has come a long way from a single international submarine cable system with 340 GB total capacity installed in 2001 (SAT3) to a total of four cable systems with international bandwidth capacity of over nine Tbit/s by 2012. This development was welcomed with a lot of optimism for the impact it promises to have on international bandwidth costs. The country has Main One’s 14,000 km capacity cable; Glo1’s 640 Gbit/s and WACS $650 million submarine cables. Indeed wholesale bandwidth prices witnessed substantial reduction. However all these cable landings have only one entry point into the country through Lagos State and due to inadequate distribution infrastructure and channels to areas of need inland, the cables currently have less than five per cent capacity utilisation. According to the Presidential Committee on Broadband, chaired by former Nigerian Communications Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, additional landing points to other coastal states will improve access and reduce the risk associated with Lagos as a single point of entry and communications failure. Adoption and Utilisation The Presidential Committee on Broadband identified that broadband access is gradually gaining acceptance in Nigeria but its wide adoption and utilisation remain unevenly distrib-

MITSUMI wins BoICT awards ITSUMI Distribution, one of Africa’s largest IT & CE distribM utors has won the ICT Distribution Company of the year award at the fourth Beacon of ICT Awards 2013. A constellation of leading players in ICT and financial space were gathered for this year’s Beacon of ICT Awards. MITSUMI was recognised for its contributions towards ICT service delivery in Nigeria. The Beacon of ICT Awards is the yearly industry wide celebration of deserving talents, contributions and commitments to the growth of the ICT industry. Over 55,000 Nigerians have voted in unionism for MITSUMI in this year’s edition of Beacon of ICT Awards.

uted, lagging considerably among low income groups, the elderly and people living in rural communities. According to them, the difference in adoption distribution is largely attributed to three key drivers of broadband adoption, notably: literacy, Age and Income. For instance, the committee, co-Chaired by Visafone Communications Limited founder, Jim Ovia, said many subscribers with business and professional interest are using mobile internet dongles on their personal computers to access broadband services from their homes and offices. The committee added that educated and working class adults are beginning to have broadband experience in their workplaces, while young students in secondary and tertiary institutions are very active online and are generally fascinated with accessing broadband services on mobile devices such as smart phones, netbooks, laptops. Going forward, government promised to undertake threepronged efforts to stimulate broadband adoption and utilisation, focusing on issues of awareness, affordability, and attractiveness of broadband services. To overcome barriers associated with these three categories, government said it should embark on initiatives that target populations, which are lagging behind, and are less likely to embrace the use of broadband services without some form of training or facilitation. Possible cost of implementation and government’s role Going by the estimates put forward by the Presidential Committee on Broadband, Nigeria might need about $795 million (N126 billion) to ring the country’s states capitals and provide fibre cables across the country to deploy the facilities. According to them, the cost of building fibre within cities is estimated at $60,000 per kilometre while the cost of building fibre around states is estimated at $20,000 per kilometer, stressing that this difference can be attributed to the higher number of civil works, road crossings and restoration that will be required for Metro Fibre networks. With six geo-political zones identified in the country, the respective states were broken down by land mass into large, medium and small, which to the committee requires an approximated fibre network of 750km, 500km and 250km respectively. Specifically, the zones were broken down into large states (750km): Bauchi, Borno, Taraba, Adamawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Niger, Kaduna. The medium states (500km) includes Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Plateau, Oyo, Edo, Ogun, Cross River, Kano, Delta, Nassarawa, Gombe and small states of 250km has Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa. Furthermore, calculations based on state categories showed that the eight states considered to be large would require 750km of fibre at $20,000, which equals $120 million. The Medium states, which are 16, require 500km of fibre at $20,000, which equals $160 million, while the 12 states adjudged to be small require 250km of fibre at $20,000, which equals $60 million, bringing the total value ringing of states at

$340 million. The Presidential Broadband Committee, which said the average cost of laying fibre (including electronics but excluding right of way charges) in Nigeria is estimated at $60,000.00 per kilometer, noted that an average state capital (excluding Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt) shall require 250 kilometres of fibre for a metro ringed design. By this estimate, the committee, which also has the Country Manager of Google, Juliet Ehimuan-Chinazor as a member, put the cost estimation for 33 state capitals with 250km fibre at $60,000, which equals $495 million. By and large, the committee put the amount required for metro fibre in the 33 state capitals at $495 million, while the total estimates for all state rings will be at $340 million, it is estimated that the total cost for expanding broadband deployment in the country will be at $795 million. “The $795 million excludes the addition of ROW fees and other project administration costs, which can lead to an equivalent amount resulting in a doubling of costs”, the committee stated. Investigations on other climes revealed that Malaysia spent $16.2 billion on its broadband deployment; Portugal spent $1.9 billion; Poland spent $1.4 billion. Australia has ear marked $50 billion for its 12-year national broadband network programme among others. According to them, governments at various levels have critical roles to play in the drive to have pervasive broadband infrastructure across Nigeria. Challenges hindering broadband deployment Operators in the ICT sector have identified the challenges common to them as: high costs of right of way and resulting in the high cost of lease and transmission; long delays in obtaining permits; backhaul capacity constraints; multiple and illegal regulation and taxation at Federal, State, and Local Government levels. Other limitations include; damage to fibre infrastructure during road works; lack of reliable, clean public electricity supply and lack of major green energy initiatives and support. Indeed, the Ndukwe-led committee said the key objectives of the Nigerian National Broadband plan are to promote pervasive broadband deployment, increase broadband adoption and usage, and ensure availability of broadband services at affordable prices, but noted that this plans can only be reaslised until the identified challenges are mitigated or completely resolved. Expert view While appreciating government’s role towards having ubiquitous broadband, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo said government must indeed moved to remove bottlenecks hindering its deployment in the country. According to Adebayo, an engineer, issues of multiple taxations; fibre cuts; RoW challenges among others must be adequately addressed.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

MaritimeWatch NCMDLCA backs appointment of service providers as inspection agents By Moses Ebosele HE extension of T Destination Inspection from June 1, 2013 to November 30, 2013 by the federal government and the appointment of three service providers as inspection agents have been commended by National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA). According to the President of NCMDLCA, Lucky Amiwero, the extension would give relevant stakeholders enough time to study various processes installed by the service providers. He said that 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 Port 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. While appealing to all stakeholders to embrace the recent extension of Destination Inspection, he said that Nigeria might pay more to re-engage the technical partners after their exit. Following the recent extension of Destination Inspection to November 30,

2013, the federal government appointed Global Scansystems Limited, Cotecna Destination Inspection Limited and Societe Generale De Surveillance (SGS), as Inspection Agents within the period. Under the arrangement, the entry points for imports to Nigeria have been grouped into three lots while all authorised dealer banks and the general public have been directed to comply accordingly. The three service providers were engaged in 2005 for a seven-year contract that commenced January 2006 to supply cargo scanning machines on a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis as well as train Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officers on risk management, valuation and classification. However, the contract, which was scheduled to elapse on December 31, 2012, was extended by six months with effect from January 1, 2013. Based on the fresh extension, Global Scansystems Limited has been appointed Inspection Agents for Apapa Sea Port, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Seme Land Border, Idiroko Land Border and Warri Sea Port. In a similar vein, Cotecna Destination Inspection Limited is to assume duties as the Inspection Agent for

Jonathan Tincan Island Sea Port, Grimaldi Port, Abuja International Airport, Kano International Airport, Lagos Free Trade Zone, Jibiya Border Post and Banki Border Post. Meanwhile, Societe Generale De Surveillance is the Inspection Agent for Port Harcourt Main Sea Port, Onne Sea Port, Port Harcourt Free Trade Zone, Onne Free Trade Zone, Calabar Sea Port and Ilorin International Airport. Conducting members of the committee on

Okonjo Iweala Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS), including its Chairman, Batare Musa, round the Global Scansystems scanner at Seme Border recently, Managing Director of Global Scansystems Limited, Fred Udechukwu, explained that the bio-diversity scanner is capable of separating organic and inorganic materials and can scan about 20 trucks per hour. The mobile scanner, which has been operating at Seme

border since 2006, according to the company now acts as “a stand-by.’’ The fixed scanner at Seme border brings to eight the number of scanners currently operated by the company under the federal government’s Destination Inspection contract. Udechukwu explained that the eight scanners were manufactured, supplied and installed by Smiths Detection of France between 2006 and 2012, adding that it is jointly

Group celebrates seafarers, laud contributions to maritime growth UNE 25, 2013 marks the third sheer diversity and scale of operate on the ‘front line’ of them a voice and share their need to safeguard their wellJfarers, international day of the sea- products used in everyday life the shipping industry, and story on a global stage, via being and working condian official United Nations observance day. This year, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is celebrating the occasion with a social media campaign calling on all supply chain partners, including those beyond the maritime sector, to help highlight the

that travel by sea, and to recognize the importance of the people that deliver them; more than 1.5 million seafarers. In his annual Day of the Seafarer message, IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu said, “Seafarers

this year’s campaign theme, Faces of the Sea, aims to highlight the individuals that are often unseen, but who work to deliver more than 90 per cent of the world’s goods. We will ask the seafarers themselves to show us snapshots of their daily life at sea, to give

social media”. Sekimizu noted that 2013 is a landmark year for the seafaring community, as the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) enters into force in August. “This marks significant progress in the recognition of seafarers’ roles and the

tions,” he said. UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon also highlighted the Day of the Seafarer, with a special message urging everyone to remember the contribution of seafarers to world trade and development. “On the Day of the Seafarer, I

maintained with Smiths Detection of France. According to Udechukwu, Global Scansystems currently operates the eight scanners at the Seme border post, and Ports and Terminal Multi-Services Limited at the Tin-Can Island Port, Lagos State. He also pointed out that the scanners have been installed and operating at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport as well as Warri and Calabar ports.

urge everyone to spare a thought for those courageous seafarers, men and women from all corners of the world, who face danger and tough working conditions to operate today’s complex, highly technical ships, every hour of every day of the year – and on CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

NIMASA inspects 5,274 vessels in 2012, says minister By Moses Ebosele OT less than 5,274 vessels were inspected by Nigeria’s apex maritime regulatory organ, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in 2012. Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, explained recently during the 2013 Ministerial briefing to highlight the midterm achievements of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan that NIMASA also carried out port state inspections on 595 vessels and conditional survey of 507 vessels.

According to Umar, the Agency carried also carried out 168 search and rescue intervention and arrested 53 vessels for oil theft and piracy. He said NIMASA has remained steadfast in enhancing maritime safety and security on the nation’s territorial waters. Umar said: “In order to effectively curtail piracy, armed robbery and other maritime crimes atsea,the Agencyengagedaservice provider, Messrs. Global West Vessels Specialist to provide platform which includes patrol and enforcement boats and electronic software to enforce its

mandate. This is in line with the provisions of Section 23(3) and (4) of NIMASA Act. “Under the agreement, the service provider is expected to provide a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 20 boats. 13 armoured boats and 12 conventional boats have been procured, bringing the current total fleet to 25 boats. Three additional armored boats are expected in the next few months,” said Umar. The minister said there is an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NIMASA and the

Nigerian Navy (NN) to ensure safety and security of lives and propertyonthewaterways,with NIMASA expected to provide the platform and logistics, while the Navy is to provide armed personnel in line with its constitutional mandate to patrol the waterways. 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 estab-

lished 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 Uma. He said the Federal Government is currently making efforts to develop Deep Sea Ports in partnership with the private sector at Lekki and Badagry in Lagos, Ibaka in Akwa Ibom, Ogidigbe in Delta, Olokola in Ogun and Ondo as well as Agge in Bayelsa State.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

MARITMEWATCH

Crude oil tanker

‘Bad weather caused ship’s collapse’ By Odita Sunday S operative from the A Marine police are investigating the accident of May 26, involving Jascon 4, an offshore oil servicing tugboat owned and operated by West African Venture Limited (WAV), it has been confirmed that 11 out of the 12 crew members on board died. The ship said to be working for Chevron Nigeria Limited capsized with 12 crew members on board while undertaking tanker operations for the company and only one survivor was rescued 63

hours after the tragic accident. Police investigator had told The Guardian that the only survivor Harrison Okene, had told the police that the accident occurred about 5.00a.m and that the vessel was one of the three assisting a tanker to its crude oil loading point when the accident happened. Okene told the police that the sea was very rough and the massive wave was beating against the vessel’s hull and super structure whilst the wind was very strong which usually was the case during the rainy season.

“This condition caused the tension rope to snap without warning which immediately unbalanced the vessel causing it to capsize and sink very quickly to the bottom of the sea.’ A police source said, while the investigation of the incident was ongoing and the exact sequence of events was still being compiled. “It was now clear that during tanker loading operations the heavy weather caused the loading tanker to break free from the single point mooring bouy and subsequently started to

drift without control. Oil loading operations had earlier been suspended before the tanker broke free but it was still connected to the oil loading lines connected to the bouy. “At this point, it still remains unclear what instructions were given to the Jascon 4 by the tanker master but at about 4.30am on the morning of 26th May, the Jascon 4 was pulled over when the mooring wire connecting it to the tanker now under extreme tension went over the side of the Jacson 4 and caused the vessel to capsize.’

The source said. The subsequent diving operation resulted in the rescue of Mr. Harrison Okene, (the ship’s cook) only while the remains of the crewmembers were subsequently recovered under very difficult and dangerous conditions. When contacted, Operations Manager, WAV Captain Lawrence Ofoegbu, told The Guardian that the lost souls have been handed over to their respective families and the company was helping them to cope with the grievous loss of their beloved

fathers who now left behind wives and children who deserve our prayers. It is true; only one person survived the accident. “Following this very tragic incident, the entire management and staff of WAV have been involved in extending support and condolence to the families of their lost colleagues and the company has shown absolute commitment to the welfare and future sustenance of the families of the deceased and humanitarian assistance accordingly,” he said.

Group celebrates seafarers, laud contributions to maritime growth CONTINUED FROM PAGE 336 whom we all depend,” he said. According to IMO, faces of the Sea is an innovative campaign that harnesses the power of social media to raise awareness of seafarers and their unique role. Meanwhile, the IMO Symposium on the Future of Ship Safety, held on 10 and 11 June, at IMO Headquarters in London, has recommended that IMO carries out a full review of the existing regulatory regime, in order to meet future needs and expectations. Following two days of intense discussions on a wide range of issues impacting the future of ship safety, the Statement of the Participants of the Symposium recommends that IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) should: • consider how to improve

data collection and increase its availability in order to support monitoring and development of safety regulations, • consider how to better integrate risk-based methodologies and the latest analysis techniques into the safety regulatory framework to provide a sound scientific and practicable basis for the development of future safety regulations, • consider ways of encouraging a safety culture beyond mere compliance with regulatory requirements, • take into account the burden any new or changing regulation(s) place on the seafarers and consider how this burden can be minimized, and • consider undertaking a longterm comprehensive review of the existing safety regulatory framework with a view to ensuring that it will meet the future challenges associated with the application of new

technologies, the human element, the needs of the maritime industry and the expectations of society, taking into account the ever-increasing pace of change and technological advancements made since the 1974 SOLAS and the International Load Lines

Conventions were adopted. Speaking at the close of the Symposium, Sekimizu explained that the fascinating, stimulating and insightful Symposium had considered wide-ranging issues, relating to a more goal-based, risk-based approach.

“With regard to data collection: there is no doubt that more and better data, and the use of the latest methods to analyse them, are central to the development of future regulations based on risk,” Sekimizu said.

NPA tasks maritime stakeholders on HIV/AIDS campaign By Taiwo Hassan HE Nigeria Ports Authority T (NPA) has tasked maritime stakeholders on the need to synergise and work together to combat the HIV/AIDS scourge in the country. In a press statement made available to The Guardian, the authority said there was need for more collaboration, especially public campaign on the

HIV/AIDS scourge in the sector. Chairperson, NPA HIV/AIDS Standing Committee, Mrs. Comfort Datong, made the appealed at a workshop on HIV/AIDS scourge in Apapa. According to her, the synergy between NPA and Abidjan Lagos Corridor (ALCO) was basically geared towards combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the region.

Sekimizu

“Second, there is no doubt in my mind that a safety culture that goes beyond mere compliance is essential in the future. Ships will become more complex and, as they do, we must move away from safety being simply a series of boxticking exercises. That approach is not good enough now, and the administrative burden must be reduced,” he said. “Third–and this is perhaps the most far reaching – you have considered whether the current safety regulatory framework is appropriate for responding to the future challenges and innovation and new technology associated with the ever-increasing sizes of ships and the need for compliance with environmental regulations; and, if we should change the safety system, how should we do that?” asked Sekimizu .

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

IndustryWatch Trade liberalisation and free trade zones: An overview The global economy has witnessed significant reduction in traditional trade barriers (For instance, tariffs and quotas) in the past years. This trend has been mainly a result of unilateral, regional, and multilateral trade liberalization reforms. Industry experts believe however that, technical barriers to trade and other types of trade barriers still exist and have proliferated, while hampering the free flow of goods and services as well as investments across borders. Some examples of trade bottlenecks include trade processes and procedures, trade-related infrastructures, regulations, and institutions. In this regard, trade facilitation has become one of the important trade policy measures that are being pursued by countries around the world. Nigeria and South Africa seem to have a growing relationship but the concerns about the growing imbalance in trade poses a threat to this relationship. FEMI ADEKOYA writes. RADE facilitation is seen as a vital trade poliT cy that can enhance international trade between countries. Economies in the Asia and Pacific region have embarked on trade policy measures, including trade facilitation, and other initiatives that promote greater economic integration and openness to trade and investments. The ability of many African countries to replicate this success within key regions of the continent however remains a source of concern for stakeholders. For instance, industry watchers believe that if a Free Trade Area (FTA) were to be negotiated between Africa’s two largest economies, South Africa and Nigeria, it would have a powerful effect on trade across the sub-continent and would challenge other countries to respond. Already, the two countries have entered into an informal agreement of cooperation. In May, South African Trade and Industry Minister, Rob Davies announced during a visit to South Africa by President Goodluck Jonathan that the country would help Nigeria make the automotive sector the West African nation’s flagship industrial sector. However, there are concerns that an FTA would give one-sided benefits to the South Africans, who have a developed manufacturing sector, at the expense of an emerging real sector in Nigeria. Already, indications show that many South African companies operate in Nigeria through non-South Africa entities, thus exploiting opportunities in the market devoid of trade agreements. Recent figures from the South African Revenue Service reported that in the first three months of 2012 Nigerian exports to South Africa were worth $750 million, with $740 million made up of mineral products, mainly oil. In the same three months, South African exports to Nigeria were worth $150 million. Industry watchers however believe that except Nigeria embraces an effective protectionist policy for its industrialization plan and renews the political will to drive such policy, the nation’s ailing manufacturing sector may soon have its life support removed, courtesy of unbridled domination of the real sector, as well as the retail segments of the market with foreign products. Indeed, the invasion of service providers, especially in telecommunications, hospitality, PayTv and merchandise, especially for self service outlet business has become a veritable threat to indigenous entrepreneurship, even as competitiveness of their respective service deliveries have become a source of unsavoury exploitation to their customers in the country. Ironically, the desecration of Nigeria’s industrial and commercial landscape came on the

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, CAP Plc, Omolara Elemide (left) Chairman, Larry Ettah and Company Secretary, Godwin Abimbola Samuel at the company’s yearly general meeting of the company in Lagos on Monday. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI back of government sponsored frenetic quest for producers is that they have the capacity to pro- both parties,” he said. foreign investors, as an option for promoting the duce locally, the goods being imported. “However, there must be a strong spirit of winFor instance, Nigeria’s food and beverage sector win, as the track record and perception makes it fortunes of the nation’s economy. The latent impact of this strategic move by the is one of the best-performing segments of the all look one-sided in South Africa’s favour.” government, in concert with some local entrepre- nation’s manufacturing industry. Operating He said that any agreement between both counneurs has been a provocative orchestration of capacity is generally at a higher level than within tries had to be on real technology transfer and of dancing steps on the graveyard of the much hith- the manufacturing sector as a whole. Despite value to Nigeria. He added that if an FTA were erto cherished but famished industrial estates in competition, companies in the sector have negotiated, “South Africans (could) not come to shown good returns on the floor of the Nigerian the table with a ‘smarter by half’ attitude.” the country. The concomitant collateral damage to the econ- Stock Exchange. However, the fact that most He insisted that there would need to be a focus omy include phenomenal decimation of employ- processed foods are imported is a cause for seri- on bringing value to Nigeria and not on making ment opportunities and whittling down of capac- ous concern. Nigeria a dumping ground for South African South Africa's invasion of Nigeria, which began goods if the nation’s borders were to be thrown ity utilization of the country’s human resources. While many foreign firms and interests are as a trickle after the end of apartheid in 1994, has open to South African exports. beginning to increase their stakes in the nation’s turned into a flood over the past decade. Trade “Nigeria cannot continue to fund imports paid industrial and marketing sector, Nigerians are between the two nations has jumped from $11 for by oil – so if the value proposition from South busy establishing religious centres in some of million in 1994 to more than $30 billion in 2012, Africa is predicated on local input but joint ownthese foreign countries, even as many industrial while the number of South African firms doing ership, then we are on to a winner.” business in Nigeria has increased from just four For the sub-Saharan African region, the Nigerian cities have turned to worship centres. For instance, the Palms shopping center in Lagos in 1999 to hundreds today. Export Promotion Council (NEPC), has concludis the largest mall in sub-Saharan Africa. It is man- However, the trade relationship is in favour of ed plans to hold a solo exhibition for Nigerians in aged by a South African company, Broll, and most South Africa which presently has a more diversi- Lome as part of efforts to drive bilateral trade of its stores - Game, Shoprite, NuMetro, Nandos - fied economy and according to South African between Nigeria and countries within the are South African brands. Similarly, the largest High Commissioner to Nigeria, Kingsley Economic Community of West African States mobile-phone company in Nigeria is South Mamabolo, trade volumes would rise consider- (ECOWAS), especially, the Republic of Togo. African: MTN, which has captured nearly 50 per ably in coming years, particularly as his country According to the council, the exhibition is expectcent of the market, while the Cable broadcasting is taking a resolution to look to Nigeria for oil and ed to further drive market penetration of madesector is primarily dominated by South-Africa, crude oil needs. in Nigeria products, while also increasing the Attributed to the lopsided nature of the bilater- nation’s socio-economic advantage through DSTV/Multichoice. In the hospitality sector, South Africa has domi- al trade is the fact that former South African trade. nated the scene, with Protea Hotel among others leader Thabo Mbeki, whom former Nigerian Speaking ahead of the exhibition scheduled to President Olusegun Obasanjo had befriended hold in Lome from July 27 to August 10, 2013, the establishing in choicest areas in the country. Indeed, in Nigeria these days South African busi- during the struggle against apartheid, won con- Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the nesses are everywhere. Entech, a South African cessions from the Nigerian government to facili- NEPC, David Adulugba, explained that the move engineering firm, is leading a $3 billion redevel- tate trade. Among them were agreements to pro- would help Nigeria drive its export market withopment of Lagos's Bar Beach and Victoria Island tect South African firms against future national- in the region. waterfront. Another South African firm, Group izations and to eradicate double taxation; mean- Adulugba, who was represented by the Director, Five, is building a power station in the Niger River ing South African firms that pay taxes in Nigeria Trade Information Department, Aliyu Lawal, statare exempted from paying taxes on profits repa- ed that despite the trade agreement between delta. Also, the largest tourism project in the country, triated to South Africa. countries within the ECOWAS region, Nigeria has in Tinapa, is a joint venture between Standard On the contrary, except for First Bank of Nigeria not been able to effectively penetrate the FrancoBank, Broll, and Southern Sun - all South African Plc that has a representative office in South Africa phone parts, thus limiting its trade growth. firms. Even in the banking sector, the merger and Dangote Cement, which acquired a control- He said: “Statistical records of Nigerian export between Standard Bank and Nigeria's IBTC bank, ling stake in Sephaku Cement (Pty) Limited, a destination reveal that ECOWAS market represaw the emergence of Stanbic IBTC bank, with the trade balance is yet to be achieved between the sents 11 per cent in order of export to other contiSouth African company maintaining dominance. countries. nents. Despite the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation it is no news that many businesses and indus- Chairman, Phillips Consulting, Foluso Phillips, Scheme and the principle of free trade and movetries are suffering due to exposure to competition said: “There is much that South Africa can offer ment of persons among member states, the level from foreign goods and inadequate protectionist Nigeria, but there has been a problem of attitude of trade among member states within the region government policy. The grouse of the country’s and lack of trust as well as divergent objectives by is insignificant. “The decision to stage the exhibition became Except Nigeria embraces an effective protectionist policy for its industrializa- more imperative considering the strategic locaof Togo. Nigeria has in the past stamped its tion plan and renews the political will to drive such policy, the nation’s ailing tion presence in most West African states but has not able to effectively penetrate the Francomanufacturing sector may soon have its life support removed, courtesy of been phone parts that mostly import from France unbridled domination of the real sector, as well as the retail segments of the despite the liberalization of trade within the subregion.” market with foreign products.

INDUSTRYWATCH 39

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Inadequate access to water responsible for food insecurity, says FAO Stories by Femi Adekoya HE Food and Agriculture Organisation T (FAO) has attributed the growing statistics on food insecurity and malnutrition, especially in Africa, to unreliable access to water for food production particularly in rural dryland areas. According to the FAO, efforts are underway to tackle critical development challenges in such areas. In a report obtained from FAO’s website, the agency noted that there are 870 million chronically hungry people with almost 200 million children suffering from stunting due to acute malnutrition – a significant impact on future generations. “Water insecurity is a related and pressing global challenge. This crisis has been building for decades due to growing populations, intensification of agriculture through an unsustainable use of groundwater, and diversion of ever-more fresh water resources for farming uses. “Today there are 34 countries with per capita fresh water levels below the so called “water poverty-line”, which is considered to be 1000 cubic meters per year. To tackle

Sarafoam introduces new products O drive its market peneT tration and aid its competitiveness, Sara Products Limited, has introduced new products into the market. According to the flexible foam manufacturer, the move was taken to deepen its market penetration activities, and increase its product offerings to different segments of the market. Speaking at the product launch in Lagos, recently, the Managing Director of the company, Mohammed Rana, explained that the products were developed to cater for certain consumer needs as well as close the identified gaps in the market. Rana said: “It is a fact that the Nigerian market is flooded with pitiable quality of mattress which is more or less considered suitable for the average man while the expensive ones are considered for the upper class. “In view of this, Sarafoam has done something different such that all classes of individuals have a unique product suitable for them, a product that still offer unrivalled comfort yet within the customer’s budget. He identified some of the key products to include the Fire retardant and Antimosquito mattresses. According to him, the mattresses were designed to address certain environmental and health needs in the society. “The Fire retardant mattress was designed to maintain public safety by enhancing safety in the advent of fire disaster while the Anti-mosquito mattress is an initiative to further promote a malaria-free environment. This is in addition to government’s efforts to combat malaria”, he added. He further noted that the company hopes to increase its product offerings in the market as it continues to embark on research and innovation.

these critical development challenges, nearly 200 policy makers, development partners, NARS, NGOs, donors and representatives of the private sector from 30 countries would at the “International Conference on Policies for Water and Food Security in Dry Areas”, deliberate on innovative ways to improve water management on a sustainable and equitable basis while ensuring food security for smallholder farmers from the world’s dry areas. “The meeting promotes a unique approach for two reasons. On the one hand, it encourages the exchange of expertise between a number of dryland countries on enabling policies, practices and recent innovations on enhancing food and water security. “On the other hand, through the contribution of senior policy makers and water and agriculture experts, it aims at deliberating on how to more effectively get research innovation into use through the development of more farmercentered policies. To think out of the box, this is what the conference encourages the participants to do in order to bring new and effective solutions to improve water and food security in low income countries”, the report added. The agency then tasked nations to invest more in science and technology, technology transfer,

water infrastructure, such as irrigation and drainage systems and their sustained maintenance in a way that is not totally dependent on public funds. “It is imperative for food security to reduce water overuse and inequality by expanding

supply to areas that are not reached today. This is a wise and strategic investment for countries to give more priority to for significant economic and social pay-offs – a clear message to be conveyed during the conference’s deliberations”, FAO stressed.

CAP Plc declares bonus, pays shareholders N1.1bn dividend a turnover of FafterOLLOWING N5.23 billion and a profit tax of N1.1 billion, CAP Plc, a subsidiary of UAC of Nigeria Plc (UAC), has renewed commitment to drive its product penetration, as it pays shareholders N1.1 billion dividend for the 2012 financial year. Precisely, the company’s shareholders approved a final dividend of N392 million, representing 70 kobo for every 50

kobo ordinary share to the shareholders as proposed by the company’s board. This is in addition to the Interim Dividend of 125 kobo per share paid on November 12, 2012, bringing the total dividend for 2012 financial year to N1.092 billion, representing 195 kobo per share. Furthermore, the shareholders approved the proposed bonus issue of one ordinary share of 50k for every four

ordinary shares of 50k each to every shareholder on the register of members. Speaking at the company’s yearly general meeting in Lagos, on Monday, the Chairman of the company, Larry Ettah, explained that the company was able to boost its operations and record a remarkable profit despite the harsh business environment in which the company is operating.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

AFRICAN OIL&GAS REPORT 41

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

PETROLEUM RIGHTS By Darlington Ankromah HERE is increased chatter, around the oil T industry, about the long awaited bid round. Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke announced it for the umpteenth time during the Nigerian Economic Summit last December. She announced it again at a recent conference in London. The last bid round for hydrocarbon property happened in March 2007, over six years ago.

Bid Round: The Talk Is Loud Again The timing of the auction gave critics ammunition to declare that the lease sale was all about generating funds for the ruling party’s election machine. That round has been declared as failure, less as a result of its transparency than its inability to attract weighty investors with sound financial wherewithal. None of the companies who won on the basis of “strategic downstream projects” has commenced activi-

Marginal Fields Candidates - Update

ties on those projects. Since his inauguration as “Acting President”, the Goodluck Jonathan administration has been under pressure to proceed on auction of oil and gas acreages in the country’s several basins. The pressure is as much from politicians, seeing a bid round as avenue for patronage as it is from technical professionals and business types, who assume they could do well by running marginal fields. These disparate groups all think that the Ministry Of Petroleum has been rather slow. Their motives are not always altruistic. Since April 2010, however, Mrs AllisonMadueke has announced an imminent bid round, every once in a while. Each time she announces such “forthcoming” bid round, she declines to give details, and then lapses into a long period of silence, after which she excites everyone again, by announcing a bid round. Still, there seems to be a scramble to understand what’s going on, now than ever before. The renewed anxiety is tied to the appointment of a new Director of DPR, George Abiodun Osahon. There’s widespread assumption that he was appointed to the job, to go ahead, first, with the bid round. Of the two lists of assets on the Nigerian petroleum minister’s table in Abuja, one has over 40 Marginal Fields(undeveloped discoveries, located in acreages currently being operated by majors). The other list contains about 20 “open” blocks; acreages that are not currently assigned to any company. The pressure is more on Abuja for a marginal field bid round, and it looks, from the Minister’s statements, that the marginal field round will come before block bidding. Some of the fields that are being speculated as being on the list include Chevron’s Olure, Bime and Omofejo in OML 49, Shango, Meta, Azama, Obiora, Ruta, Kudo and Oloye in OML 95. It’s unlikely that Chevron would throw out all these fields into the basket in one go. But we have been surprised before. The OML 83 and 85 that the company is currently in the process of selling, were not acreages we thought they’d sell. TOTAL is supposed to have released Akamba-Mfoniso and Asawa W in

Watch out for the bidding. OML 102. ExxonMobil is said to be willing to part with Usoro in OML 100 and Okuk in OML 104. Shell, on is own part, is allegedly contributing Elepa in OML 33 and Kugbe in OML 72. Many commentators have talked about the necessity of having the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) passed into law, because of the clarity it would provide about the fiscal terms, before a bid round should happen. But discussions on the PIB has dragged. The government, in any case, has awarded petroleum rights to companies outside the process of bidding. The Otakikpo Field was awarded to Green Energy while the Ubima Creek field was awarded to All Grace. Otakikpo and Ubima are located in Shell operated Oil Mining Leases(OMLs) 11 and 17 respectively. The awards appear to have been effected through a patronage network. It’s instructive that the same company: The Beny Steinmetz Group (BSG) is technical partner for both companies.

KICKSTARTER/PETROLEUM PEOPLE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24 of the committees around policy overhaul, policy drafting, and policy implementation in the industry. In spite of his skills, Osahon has a self-effacing attitude and some believe that the Minister, in appointing him to take over from Olorunsola(who is surprisingly equally low key), would get him to do more of her bidding, than she was able to make Olorunsola do. “He’s going to surprise her”, says Sam Ojibua, an energy analyst in Lagos. “He’s not confrontational, but he simply may just not do things her way.” Is this as important as his being able to sit and face the job of regulation without having to be at the minister’s beck and call? Some are genuinely worried about how

Ladan Takes Over From Barkindo

Diezani’s Playthings Osahon could keep on being appointed to these positions, in spite of his many private interests: (in marginal field operatorship, in consulting for a wide range of companies), “but I guess, at the point we are in this country, there are no pretences about any ethics anymore”, argues a key player in the Power sector. That’s quite an important point, but Osahon may argue that he has resigned, or taken a back seat from all the jobs/interest/deals he has been involved in, so he can be an unbiased regulator. But the point is, the director of DPR, in

Minister Diezani Allison Madueke’s book, is not a regulator, he is a staff of her office. How does anyone make a difference in this job? Half the time, you’d be in Abuja, (The DPR is the only arm of the ministry whose headquarters are located in Lagos) just hanging around to see the Minister; another quarter of the time, you are suddenly called upon to clarify some issues in person. When Austin Oniwon was fired from the job of Group Managing Director of the NNPC, in early July 2012, he had lasted only 25 months on the job. He was entitled to have retired in August 2011, but was asked to stay on, by the

Oniwon Takes Over From Ladan

minister. His dismissal, along with all but two members of his eight man board of directors, was meant, “to further strengthen the ongoing reforms and transformation of Nigeria’s Petroleum sector”, according to a statement from the Nigerian Presidency, “and in furtherance of efforts to achieve greater transparency and accountability in government”. Oniwon’s ouster came in the midst of a raucous national conversation over corruption allegations regarding the probe set up by the country’s lower house of legislature, to investigate the massive fraud, running into $4Billion, over subsidy on petroleum products. But the size of the fraud did not come anywhere close to this figure until the minister came to the office. Still, subsidy probe or not, the ouster fits the pattern of dismissals of a succession of Group Managing Directors of the NNPC, in a manner that suggests little respect for the occupant of the seat. When Oniwon himself took over from Shehu Ladan, in June 2010, he became the sixth man to occupy the position in the space of 11 years. Mr Ladan’s own predecessor, Mohammed Barkindo, ran the corporation for only 13 months. These three rapid successions happened under Minister Allison Madueke’s watch. In Obasanjo’s entire eight years in power, there were only two GMDs of NNPC; Jackson Giaus Obaseki and Funso Kupolokun. Each served for the four years of each of the former President’s two terms. “With the sacking of Osten Olorunsola and the appointment of George Osahon”, notes one hardboiled cynic, “Diezani Allison Madueke, Goodluck Jonathan’s minister of petroleum, has achieved what she wants: two Personal Assistants masquerading as Chief Executives of her ministry’s key parastatals”. That’s quite a harsh statement, but with the data in hand, it is closer to the truth than any of the rousing congratulatory messages cluttering the email inbox of George Abiodun Osahon.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

42 AFRICAN OIL&GAS REPORT

BACK PAGE By Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai ONTHS later, we re-advertised M African Petroleum for sale. We again received an expression of interest from Sadiq Petroleum, as well as from Consolidated Oil, which is owned by Mike Adenuga. We went through the pre-qualification process and Sadiq Petroleum submitted a much higher bid price than Consolidated Oil, so Sadiq ended up buying the 40% stake afterall. But this time, with the fore-knowledge of suspicions about Sadiq’s ownership, we decided to conduct more extensive investigations into the company to accompany the memo to the council. We found that Sadiq Petroleum was incorporated in late 1980s or thereabouts and that the original subscribers were Peter Okocha and his family members, including his son, Sadiq Okocha, among other names. BPE’s lawyers obtained the original incorporation documents and looked at all the changes filed in directorships and ownership of the company’s shares over the decade of the company’s existence. Atiku Abubakar did not feature even once, at any time in the history of the company as a shareholder or director. In fact, we found out where the Sadiq name came from - the son of Peter Okocha. It may well be that the son was named in honour of Atiku’s deceased father, a practice common in our culture between friends, but found nothing more to establish a factual nexus between Atiku and the company. Our memo to the council concluded accordingly and noted that the fact that the chairman or owner of the company happened to be a friend of the vice-president’s should not disqualify him from bidding for privatisation assets. The guidelines for the privatisation had been published and did not exclude friends of council members from buying shares or privatisation assets. Under the rules and regulations (and our self-imposed ethics), only the vicepresident, council members and BPE staff were disqualified from bidding on or buying any assets. Any other person, Nigerian or foreign, had a legal right to bid if technically qualified. In fact, technically, even the president could purchase any privatisation asset since he was not a member of the Privatisation Council or within the decision loop of the divestiture process. I made a very passionate case for approving the transaction and it was approved

A Twenty Million Dollar Hole

without much comment. After we approved the transaction and announced it, Obasanjo called and asked me to see him. “I hear that you have given AP to Sadiq Petroleum. I got the papers,” he said. “I have seen all your arguments, you’ve done a very good job, but you know, are you sure that there is nothing and no-one behind this company?” “I can’t be sure of anything that is behind the company, sir,” I said. “I can only deal with facts, logic and what I can see. Only God knows everything. I can’t know what is not documented; neither can we rely on beer-parlour rumours. Those that allege should come out and provide proof. Based on every document that we came across, what I presented

was what we saw. I do not see how Peter Okocha would be so foresighted that he would incorporate a company in the 1980s for the sole purpose of waiting some 16 years later to buy a company when his friend would be vice-president. If he had that kind of foresight, then we really should concede and give the company to him in spite of our unproven suspicions.” Obasanjo seemed satisfied with this. “But you know what, Mr President?” I continued. “I have not mentioned this in the memorandum because I am yet to have the documentary evidence, and could not therefore put it on the record anywhere. But that company is suspected of having a $20 million hole. So if they bought it - the VP and this man - they might

be in for a surprise. Only a person with deep pockets and commitment can clean up that company. It has some valuable assets that could be sold to cover the financial gap; it is an old company, the first company to sell gasoline in Nigeria. It is British Petroleum, remember, so they have assets, particularly real estate assets, all over the place, petrol stations, two lube blending plants, and so on. With good management and financial reengineering, they may be able to get out of it, but there is a big hole there.” “Really? How? What happened?” I proceeded to relate to him the story the BP South Africa representative told me. Obasanjo looked visibly more relieved. Prior to the second round of bid, I had quietly and privately counselled Peter Okocha that I have heard rumours of a financial hole. This information neither surprised nor alarmed him. He seemed to be vaguely aware of it, and was nevertheless determined to go ahead with the bid. As soon as Sadiq took control of AP, we hired an accounting firm to undertake a governance audit into the affairs of AP. The findings were sobering to say the least. It was found that the company’s NNPC-appointed management had made unauthorised borrowings of 11.75 billion naira through the issuance of Commercial Papers and Bankers Acceptances and obtained other bank loans without following due process. It had also purchased and sold assets without providing adequate details of sale proceeds and the identity of the buyers. In addition, it not only failed to reconcile huge debts owed to NNPC (estimated at between four and ten billion naira) but was also alleged to have been involved in insider trading, diverting revenues from bunkering and marine activities, and other general abuses. Sadiq Petroleum, the core investors, claimed that not only were these issues not disclosed, they were actively concealed from them during their pre-sale due diligence on the company. In order to establish the legitimacy of these claims, BPE held meetings with the core investors, Mr Umar Abba Gana (the former Managing Director of AP), the issuing house which supervised the due diligence exercise and Ernst & Young, the statutory auditors of the company, to resolve the conflicting records. For months, none of the parties could agree on the money owed to NNPC, the banks and other creditors and this remained unresolved throughout my tenure. Sadiq Petroleum was not an innocent victim in this whole imbroglio either. The company was found to have colluded with the issuing house (NAL Merchant Bank) and the registrars (IMB Securities Ltd.) to corner the 20 per cent shares sold to the public on the open market; withheld refunds to unsuccessful applicants and went as far as forging NIPOST despatch records to facilitate these dubious transactions. We reported the capital market operators to the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Attorney-General for further action. In the end, neither the management of Sadiq Petroleum nor the findings of the governance audit fully established the size o the accounting hole until a couple of years later, after I had moved onto administer Abuja. Of course, this discovery was compounded by other issues which led to Sadiq demanding an immediate refund from the government. They found the hole largely because the NNPC, a government-owned company, supplied products to African

Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai Petroleum on credit, had better records and insisted — full payment of all outstanding accounts. AP’s successive managements simply sold the products on to dealers and distributors, but apparently failed to remit the proceeds into AP’s accounts, but allegedly diverted the proceeds to various private pockets — those running African Petroleum since 1978 were all seconded NNPC staff. They simply collected products from their parent company on credit, sold, and did not pay NNPC back and literally stealing the money, and many of them had retired and were living happily ever after, in affluence. Sadiq first approached BPE for a refund of purchase price, but we referred Peter Okocha and his directors to the disclaimers in the contract that BPE sold the company “as is, where is” and my warnings to him about the existence of the accounting hole. Sadiq Petroleum even engaged political operator and PDP chieftain Abba Dabo as consultant to facilitate the cancellation of the sale but he too was rebuffed. In the end, a couple of years after I left BPE, the company was re-nationalised and the government directed the BPE to refund Sadiq Petroleum the original proceeds of the sale. AP was then re-privatised a few years after that, this time sold to Jimoh Ibrahim, someone alleged to be close to Obasanjo, and similar speculations began, except that this time, it was Obasanjo rather than Atiku that became the suspected ‘owner’. It was all very amusing to me. Subsequently, AP was acquired without any involvement of the BPE by Femi Otedola, another close friend of successive presidents, who has renamed it Forte Oil. The rumours of Atiku’s interest in the AP deal continued to make the rounds until we left office In any event, Atiku was a sitting vice-president at the time, there was nothing anyone could do because he had constitutional immunity from prosecution even if pursued. At any rate, even if true, I am not sure any crime was committed. A breach of administrative rules and NCP’s code of conduct, yes! Unethical behaviour, perhaps, but not a violation of any law that I know of since any public servant can be a shareholder in any business, but is prohibited from being a director while in office, except it is an agricultural enterprise. By the time Atiku left office, the whole thing became a moot point and Nuhu Ribadu, who would have had the courage to pursue the matter further, got kicked out of his job anyway. Nobody was going to take on somebody like Atiku Abubakar except the US Senate,32 which has now published a report showing that his wife, a US citizen, laundered some $40 million through her personal bank accounts in the United States, including a $2. million wire transfer acknowledged by Siemens AG of Germany. Atiku and his wife, Jennifer, left the US in good time before the FBI got to ask them some questions. He is back in political contention in Nigeria as a leading member of the ruling party and a presidential hopeful for 2015. Excerpted from The Accidental Public Servant, By Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, published 2013 by Safari Books Ltd, Ibadan.

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THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Energy Confusion trails power generation capacity Two govt agencies issue contradictory reports By Roseline Okere, Sulaimon Salau (Lagos) and Kanayo Umeh (Abuja) S power situation worsens, the A actual generation capacity cannot be presently ascertained. The reason is that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Presidential Taskforce on Power (PTFP) have been giving contradictory reports concerning the current state of power generation in the country.

Specifically, PTFP in its c urrent report and fact sheet, put the country’s power generation at 3,655.10 mega watts as at Monday June 23, 2013 contradicting TCN’s report, which put generation at 2,290mw as at 2.00 pm on Sunday June 22, 2013. According to the PTFP, energy generation stands at 67,371.20 megawatts hour (mwh), energy sent out at 65,463.25mwh and the highest peak generated at 4,517.6mw, which the

country only achieved in December 2012. TCN said the massive load-shedding being experienced nationwide, was caused by vandalism of two major gas pipelines supplying gas to eight power generation stations in the country, namely Egbin/AES Thermal Stations, Olorunsogo, Omotoso, Geregu NIPP, Afam IV and VI Thermal Power Stations as well as River State Independent Power Station, result-

ing in drastic reduction of power supply by 1,598 megawatts. In a statement signed by the company’s General Manager (Public Affairs), Dave Ifabiyi, TCN said that one of the vandalised gas pipelines takes supply from the Okoloma gas plant while the other takes from Escravos. With the disruption of gas supply through the lines, the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) is unable to move gas to Afam IV, Afam VI as well as the Independent Power Plant in Rivers State, resulting in generation loss of 593MW. Also, the second vandalised gas pipeline from Escravos to Warri,

External Communication Lead for SPE Nigeria Council, Francis Nwaochei (left); Chairman, SPE Nigeria Council, Osayande Igiehon; and Vice-Chairman/Chairman, Elect SPE Nigeria Council, Bernard Oboarekpe at the Press conference preparatory to Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Annual International Conference & Exhibition (NAICE 2013) in Lagos.

High tariff, bad policies threaten LPG utilisation By Sulaimon Salau HE Federal Government’s gas utilisation agenda, particularly in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) sub-sector may have been threatened by a number of unfavourable factors. Already, the problem has taken toll on some of the operators, who have closed business, while one of the only two manufacturers of cylinder in-country has also closed shop. The operators, under the aegis of Nigerian Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA) told The Guardian recently, that if urgent action is not taken to create suitable operating environ-

ment, the gas utilisation agenda might hit the brick wall, as the business becomes less viable by the day. The newly elected President of the association, Dayo Adesina, in company of other executives, highlighted the critical challenges to high tariff structure, unfavourable government policies and outright exclusion from the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) among others. According to them, high tariff is a major barrier because it discourages importation of cylinders and other equipment, which are critical to gas utilisation in the country. “The tariff on cylinder is about 25 per cent, which is too high, it makes cost of

cylinder unaffordable to the masses. Now, we are having limited cylinders in circulation and people are likely to go back to kerosene, charcoal and firewood, which are damaging to the environment. About 16 states in the North are now suffering from desertification,” he stated. Adesina therefore appealed to the Federal Government to take a holistic approach to solving the problems militating against the growth of the sector. “We will like to have at least 10 manufacturers of cylinders in the country, but today, the business is a herculean task. Government should act fast, the

cost of production is too high, and therefore the companies could not compete favourably. People are willing to invest in the sector, but the existing investors are losing money,” he lamented. It could be recalled that Lagos State recently declared LPG as cooking source for the state, hence, it had subsidized only the “Eko Gas” cylinders to encourage usage. On the PIB, the gas marketers felt neglected, lamenting that several attempts to get the LPG terms inculcated in the document were unsuccessful. They, therefore, urged the legislators to endeavour to incorporate LPG in the PIB.

caused a cutback of 1,005MW in power generation from Egbin/AES power generating station, Olorunsogo, Omotosho and Geregu NIPP power generating plants. According to the statement, “with the total generation loss of 1,598MW, the total power generation as at 2pm today is 2,290MW. With this low level generation, the company said the operation and control of the system is a major challenge”. Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, assured that power supply will soon be restored to places affected by the drop in generation arising from the vandalisation of two major gas pipelines supplying gas to eight power generation stations in the country. A statement released by the Special Assistant to the minister on Media and Communication, Kande Daniel, said all necessary expertise has been mobilised to restore supply to affected parts of the country. It said the Nigerian Gas Company has begun the process of restoring gas pressure to the pipelines affected by the vandals, namely eastern pipeline affecting Okoloma Gas Plant, and the 56 kilometre Escravosto-Warri pipeline. The minister condemned the unpatriotic acts of the vandals, and assured Nigerians that the Ministry of Power was already collaborating with security agents to provide more protection for power infrastructure across the country. He appealed for the understanding of people whose homes and businesses are affected by the current shortage in supply. Meanwhile, the Implementation Committee for the Settlement of Entitlements of workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria PHCN validated and cleared more than 43,400 workers in readiness for payment of their benefits. The committee disclosed that it was still working on the records of the remaining workers to clarify various issues arising from their records. It further stated that personnel whose records have passed the biometrics test have also been issued Benefit Statements showing their expected terminal benefits. They are to make necessary corrections and return the statements to the committee within one week. The committee, which is headed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Godknows Igali, have been on a sensitisation tour in the different geographical zones in order to enable the workers have a proper understanding of the computation process.

Africa’s oil, gas reserves hit 132.4 trillion barrels By Roseline Okere FRICA’s oil reserves has hit 132.4 trillion barrels of oil and represents eight per cent of world supply, PriceWaterHouseCoopers, said in its latest survey on the continent’s oil and gas sector. The survey, which was released recently and titled: “Africa Oil and Gas Review”, puts the continent’s gas reserves at seven per cent. It disclosed that Africa currently supplies about 12 per cent of the world’s oil, boasting significant untapped reserves estimated at eight per cent of the world’s proven reserves. The report said the continent has natural gas re-

serves of 513 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) with 91 per cent of the yearly gas production of 7.1Tcf coming from Nigeria, Libya, Algeria and Egypt. According to the review, the oil and gas industry is grappling with the severe stresses of a challenging economic and political environment on the African continent fuelled by poor physical infrastructure, corruption, an uncertain regulatory framework, and a lack of skills. The survey draws upon the valuable experience and views of industry players in Africa‚

including international oil companies operating on the continent‚ national oil companies‚ service companies‚ independent oil organisations and industry commentators‚ to provide insight into the latest developments affecting the industry. It stated: “Africa supplies about 12 per cent of the world’s oil‚ boasting significant untapped reserves estimated at eight per cent of the world’s proven reserves. The continent has natural gas reserves of 513-trillion cubic feet with 91 per cent of the annual gas production of 7.1-trillion cubic feet coming from Nigeria‚ Libya‚ Algeria and Egypt”. Poor infrastructure and an uncertain regulatory

framework were the two top challenges identified by the new emerging players/markets‚ particularly in Uganda‚ Ghana‚ Tanzania‚ Nigeria and Kenya. PwC Africa Oil & Gas Industry Leader and Deputy Country Senior Partner, Nigeria, Uyi Akpata, said: “The challenges facing oil and gas companies operating in Africa are diverse and numerous. Political interference, uncertainty and delays in passing laws, energy policies and regulations are stifling growth, development and investment in a number of countries around Africa.”

44 eNeRGY

THe GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Mimiko urged to disband oil area development committee By Abiodun Fanoro OMe Ondo traditional Stherulers have kicked against Coastal Communities Development Committee (CCDC) recently set up by the state government to serve as a platform between oil companies and host communities. The traditional rulers, Oba A.K Ikuesan of Obe Nla Kingdom and Oba elias Ikuomola of Odo Nla Kingdom in the Ilaje oil producing area, in a petition by their counsel, ebun Adegboruwa, dated to the Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, expressed dismay that their communities were excluded from the CCDC even when they were oil producing communities recognised by the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADeC). In the view of the obas, the exclusion has created the wrong impression that their communities were not oil producing areas despite the fact that they were OSOPADeC members. The exclusion, according to them, was a flagrant violation of their rights and that of their communities. They urged the governor to disband the committee immediately and constitute a new one that would include them and also take care of the interest of their communities. “We are solicitors to the His Royal Highness, Oba A.K. Ikuesan, the Olubo of Obe Nla Kingdom and His Royal Highness, Oba elias Ikuomola, the Alagho of Odo Nla Kingdom (hereafter referred to on whose behalf we write this

letter (petition). They have passed to us a publication, stating that His excellency had constituted a committee described as “Ilaje (Ugbo) Coastal Communities Development Committee”, which is to serve “as a platform to enhance a robust relationship between oil prospecting companies, which are operating in Ugboland, and their host communities”. We had waited patiently for the Ondo State government to refute the publication and having observed that no clarification or denial seems apparent, we have decided to make our grievance known to His excellency”. The obas stated that the area (Ugboland) covered by the CCDC is confederation of autonomous communities with their autonomous leaders, which their communities were part and parcel of. The obas lamented that despite the fact that they were the traditional rulers of their communities they were neither informed nor consulted before the committee was put in place. “We therefore humbly request that the committee be disbanded, to pave the way for a new committee that will consist of true representatives of all Ugbo communities. The unfortunate impression created with the present composition of the committee is that our communities are not oil producing communities and are not entitled to be part of any initiative or committee set up to represent oil communities. This has very grave consequences for us and our communities”.

Forum charts path for steady power supply ORMeR Special Adviser to the President on Power, and currently the honourary Adviser to the President on electric Power, Joseph Makoju, and a Senior Partner to the law firm of Banwo & Ighodalo, Asue Ighodalo, are expected to chart path on steady power supply at 2013 post yearly general meeting (AGM) of the International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria (ICCN) scheduled for tomorrow June 27, 2013 at the Metropolitan Club, 15, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos at 11.00 am. According to the statement signed by the Secretary General, ICC Nigeria, Olubunmi Osuntuyi, the speakers would dwell on the topical issue of “power” and way forward for business and the event expected to provide an excellent opportunity for members to network and gain more insights into the programmes. Other high points of the yearly event sponsored by the Zenith International Bank Plc would be the introduction ceremony for new members. The new members include Joe Kyari-Gadzama & Partners LLP, Olaniwun Ajayi LP, PaulAkhere Chambers, Olisa Ag-

bakoba & Associates, Okibe Law House, Prima Garnet Group, Godify Towers Nigeria Ltd, Sterling Law Alliance, Saffron Professional Services, Dipo Okpeseyi, S.A.N & Co, Deloitte Corporate Services Limited, KPMG Professional Services, First City Monument Bank Plc, ernst & Young, Charles Mekwunye & Co, New Age Law, 3T Impex Consulting Limited, Acquire Management Resources Ltd and SIAO Partners. Other highlights of the AGM are the appraisal of the major activities and achievements of the chamber in the year ended as well as latest developments around the world as regards trade and commerce. International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is the largest, most representative business organisation in the world. Its global network comprises over six million companies, chambers of commerce and business associations in more than 130 countries. More than 2,000 experts drawn from ICC’s member companies feed their knowledge and experience into crafting the ICC stance on specific business issues.

Special Advisor to the President/Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Group; Joseph Makoju (left); Project Director, Siemens Industrial Turbo machinery, Sweden, Robert Verhey; Global Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Industrial Power, Dr. Markus Tacke; President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Limited, Nigeria, Michael Lakota; Head, Oil & Gas Siemens Limited Nigeria, Nasir Giwa, and Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Cement Plc, Devakumar V.G. Edwin, when top management executives from Siemens paid a courtesy visit to the Dangote Group, in Lagos.

Addax boosts CSR profile with volunteer club By Roseline Okere DDAX Petroleum’s CorpoA rate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme - Volunteer Club, has been identified as an initiative that would complement government’s effort in re-directing the attention of youths from vices and crimes. The Imo State Commissioner of education Prof. Adaobi Obasi, while speaking at Addax Petroleum Volunteers Club motivational lectures for Imo State student recently in Owerri, said that efforts like this were necessary to curb the menace of kidnapping, prostitution, thuggery and anti social indulgences to academic and subsequently career paths. Adaobi stated: “I feel delighted to be part of the launch of the Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Capacity Development Volunteers Club in our State and I will begin by first congratulating the management of Addax for this worthy corporate social responsibility initiative. “The briefing I received indicates that the Club we are launching today comprises of Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Limited em-

ployees who chose to use their experiences and skills in developing the capacities of our secondary school students through career counseling, coaching and mentoring. The program will undoubtedly boost the efforts the State government and our Ministry in promoting youth development programs while enhancing academic and social development activities of the children. “Furthermore the Addax Volunteer Club initiative will complement government’s

effort in re-directing the attention of our youth from vices and crimes like, kidnapping, prostitution, thuggery and other anti social indulgences to academic and subsequently career paths that will lead to their emergence as highly responsible and productive citizens”. She noted that the initiative clearly aligns with the mission path of the Imo State Ministry of education and the wider vision of the human capacity development program of this current administra-

tion. She therefore urged students to embrace the scheme and make judicious use of the time Addax staff will be devoting to them. “Let me remind them that not every Imo student have the opportunity of interacting with these professionals from the oil company, therefore those of them that have been selected to participate at this time should endeavor to make the best use of the opportunity”.

SPe holds international oil, gas conference He Society of Petroleum engineers (SPe) has conT cluded plans to hold its 2013 international conference tagged “Nigeria Annual International Conference and exhibition (NAICe)’’. The conference scheduled for July 30 and Aug. 1, is expected to host participants from all over the world to deliberate on issues in the oil and gas sector. Council Chairman of SPe, Osayande Igiehon said that the conference would pro-

vide a robust platform for governments, industry and the academia to take a position that would be crucial to efforts to stimulate Africa’s economic growth and meet the world’s growing energy needs. He said that the theme of the conference – “To Grow Africa’s Oil and Gas Production: Required Policy, Funding, Technology, Techniques and Capabilities” — was carefully chosen in view of the depleting oil reserves in the

region. Igiehon added: “As exploration of crude oil never ceases, there is need for further discoveries of more reserves to replenish those already extracted from oil wells. “From inception of oil discovery in Nigeria, you would have observed that after much exploration from a well, it is usually abandoned. Attention is given to other oil wells whenever one well becomes less economical to operate”.

Schneider electric pledges smarter energy in Africa By Roseline Okere CHNeIDeR electric, a global fortune 500 company and one of the market leader in energy management, has pledged smarter energy in Africa at the just concluded Africa energy Forum 2013 in Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB), Spain. The Africa’s energy forum is the yearly meeting place where global players from the industry meet with African governments, utilities and regulators to engage in dialogue aimed at collectively driving forward the development of Africa’s power

sector. According to a recent United Nation’s report, African urban population will grow to one billion in 2040, and to 1.23 billion in 2050, by then 60 per cent of all Africans will be living in cities. It noted that as African growth will be driven mainly by existing and new cities, electricity will be a key factor to sustain urbanisation and growth on the continent. President Africa, Schneider electric, Mohammed Saad, noted that the challenge was not only to produce more electricity but to produce intelligent energy for smart growth in Africa.

“Schneider electric’s solutions are aimed to increase the available electricity in Africa with limited investments. “Through its solution, ‘Smart Cities,’ Schneider electric brings together the technology to improve the efficiency of the urban systems, delivering “urban efficiency”. “By modernising the existing grid, developing renewable energy, exploiting the huge solar potential Africa receives every day, and helping companies, industries and public authorities to be more energy efficient, ‘Smart Cities’ approach delivers the short-term, visible, measura-

ble, low-investment results that cities need,” Saad added. ‘Smart Cities’ solution allows up to 30 per cent energy saving, 15 per cent reduction of water losses, 20 per cent reduction of travel time and traffic delays, as well as tremendous social and economic benefits. “As a market leader in energy management and renewable energies, Schneider electric is the only company being able to provide a comprehensive solution to produce intelligent energy for smart growth in Africa”, said Jean-Marc Darboux, president, Schneider electric International.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

IFRSWatch

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

NigeriaCapitalMarket NSE Daily Summary (Equities) PRICE LIST OF SYMBOLS TRADED FOR 25/6/2013

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

50 CAPITAL MARKET

NSE Daily Summary (Equities) as at 25/6/2013

PRICE GAINERS

LOSERS

NSE market capitalisation slides by N226 billion Stories by Helen Oji EAvy price losses sufH fered by virtually all the blue-chip companies yesterday pulled market capitalization by N226 billion. Specifically, market capitalization of the Nigerian Stock Exchange fell by N226 billion or 1.96 per cent from N11.521 trillion recorded Tuesday to N11.295 trillion while the All Share Index decreased by 712.95 points to 35751.40 from 36464.35 recorded on the previous day Also investors yesterday exchanged 461.277 million shares worth N5.396 billion in 7382 deals. This is against 414.033 million shares valued at N4.078 billion traded by investors the previous day in 7187 deals. On the price movement chart, Total Nigeria Plc topped losers chart, depreciating by N8.07 kobo to close at N157.00 while Cadbury followed with a loss of N5.00 to close at N50.00. Nigeria Breweries lost

N4.99 kobo to close at N150.01 kobo. Other stocks that recorded price depreciation were PZ Cussons and UACN which loss by N4.50 kobo and 4.25 kobo respectively to N40.50 kobo and N53.00.

Nestle Nigeria Plc led the gainers table, appreciating by N2.00 to close at N993.00, Northern Nigeria Flour Mills gained N0.59 kobo to close at N26.50 kobo while Champion Breweries, Dangote Sugar and Ecobank

Transnational appreciated by N0.53 kobo, N0.52 kobo and N0.49 kobo respectively to close at N5.85 kobo, N10.35 kobo and N14.99 kobo. Further analysis of yesterday’s transactions showed

that Access Bank traded the highest volume of activity, exchanging 70.104 million shares worth N722.806 million, Zenith Bank Plc followed with 41.970 million shares valued at N993.487 million while Transnational

Corporation of Nigeria Transcorp traded 28.933 million shares valued at N31.878 million. United Bank for Africa Plc also featured with a total of 28.114 million shares worth N226.967 million.

FCMB Group targets 35 per cent profit growth Group Plc has F35 CMB announced a projection of per cent increase in profit after tax a year from year 2012 to 2015. It also targets 25 per cent growth in loan portfolio in 2013. The Managing director of the Holding company, Mr Peter Obaseki, while explaining the ‘Facts Behind the Figures’ in Lagos on Monday, said it has put appropriate measures in place to ensure a robust and sustainable rebound after the successful acquisition of Fin bank and transition to the new Holding Company structure.

He explained that the company has strategized to improve its net interest margin to accelerated retail lending, current and savings account growth that would facilitate a retail non-interest income growth of 50 per cent, in spite of Cost on Transaction reduction. He added that it would ensure a sanitized risk asset portfolio with declining loan loss expenses, as well as a strong rebound in corporate banking with increased contributions from investment banking. Obaseki pointed out that the rationale for Holdco is to

leverage FCMB Group Plc to create shareholders’ value, enhance enterprise wide risk management and governance and create more focus in each of the distinct competencies. “With the Holdco structure, we are committed to meet up with the risk management requirement of the regulatory authorities as well as protect the interest of shareholders who own the capital. We would also ensure that we engage investors and other stakeholders and ensure that the new governance add value to shareholders. The Group Managing Director of the bank, Ladi

Balogun, while fielding questions to stockbrokers on the benefits of the merger and the new structure said, “the impact and benefit has far outweighed the losses we incurred in the merger. Today, we are the leading retail lenders in terms of loans granted on monthly basis. The distribution network has helped the ability to gather deposit and any profit in 2013 is available for cash distribution and 2013 will make a healthy distribution and the dividend on the stock will be the best in the industry.” He added that the framework for the new structure is quite

unique, adding that with the benefits inherent with the acquisition, the bank has taken a leadership position in retail lending in loans. FCMB had recorded a profit after tax of N15.3billion in its 2012 operations, an increase by 256 per cent over the loss of about N9.24billion in 2011. Total deposits rose from N411billion in 2011 to N646billion in 2012, an increase by 57per cent. This is an indication of an increasing market share for the bank. In the same vein, FCMB’s loans and advances grew by 11per cent to N357billion in 2012 compared to N323billion in 2011.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Opinion The judiciary stands accused By Folabi Atobatele BVIOUSLY, the last has not been heard about O the can of worms opened by retired Justice of the Federal High Court, Okechukwu Okeke on the judiciary. The revelation by the judge that he had 35,000 cases pending at his court at the time he retired is perhaps the least of the emerging controversy. That fact, if true, is grossly damaging to the image of the judiciary and the courts, both representing an institution touted to be the last hope of all citizens. If such pressure applies to one judge, it most probably extends to other judges, thus compounding problems of injustice and fairness. The more intriguing aspect of Justice Okeke’s revelation related to his lamentation that he was ‘a victim of injustice in the Nigerian judiciary’, by virtue of the ‘warning letter’ he received from the National Judicial council (NJC). The Council, the apex body for the country’s judiciary is a creation of the 1999 Constitution as amended, and is vested with powers to exercise disciplinary control over judges and other judicial officers nationwide. Justice Okeke had accused the council of issuing him a warning unjustly over a petition against him and apparently without giving due consideration to his response. His observation pitted him directly against the NJC, which had considered it necessary to publicly issue a statement it titled ‘setting the records straight’, and in which the council counter accused the retired judge of allegedly misleading members of the public. An offshoot of this episode has equally become messy for the judiciary’s image. And that is Okeke’s charge, while speaking at a valedictory held in his honour last month, that a serving justice of the Supreme Court allegedly tried to influence a case involving a convicted Managing Director of a bank. According to him, the Supreme Court Justice sent his daughter to him (Justice Okeke) with a directive that he should vacate the order granting Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) the takeover of a property of the bank, one of which the daughter and son-in-law to the Supreme Court Justice lived in. Justice Okeke claimed that the daughter again visited him in his chambers on March 8, 2012 with the same instructions from the judge.

The retired judge, overall, accused the Supreme Court Justice of being behind his travails with the NJC. If anything is clear from this trading of blame, it is that all is not well within the judiciary. And that the head of that institution, Justice Mukhtar, still has a lot to do, in fulfillment of her promise to stamp out corruption. Said Justice Mukhtar to the Senate Committee that screened her appointment at the time: “Corruption is in every system of our society and I can’t pretend that it is not in the judiciary. What I intend to do to curb this is to lead by example and hope that others will follow. As chairman of NJC, I will encourage internal cleansing based on petitions…” The justice Okeke’s can of worms is a veritable excuse for the CJN not just to abide by her promise to lead by example, but to also go beyond hoping for others to follow. She needs to put in place strict measures to ensure that others follow. The first of this of course is to fully investigate and make public findings in all petitions made against judges. It is true that the country’s current democracy is permissible of many expressions, including petty and frivolous ones aimed, often, at scoring cheap political points. Yes, the CJN must sift these, but she must not throw away the substance with the flimsy. In its advertorial, the council admitted that newspapers’ publication of Justice Okeke’s speech (How I became a victim of judiciary’s injustice) “cast aspersions’ on the council in particular and the judiciary at large”. But according to it, the NJC received five petitions written against Justice Okeke while he was serving as a judge. After obtaining his responses to the allegations contained in the first three petitions, the NJC considered them at its meeting of April 24 and 25, 2013. “In the course of deliberation, Council noted that Hon. Justice Okechukwu Okeke would be retiring from service on May 19, 2013. At the end of deliberation, Council noted the three petitions and the reactions by Hon. Justice O. Okeke and decided to warn him to desist from such acts that are prejudicial to the integrity of the judiciary and administration of justice. It is to be stressed that Hon. Justice

Okeke’s responses to the remaining 4th and 5th separate petitions did not form part of the decision of the Council at its meeting which was held on April 24-25, 2013.” The NJC went on to observe that the 5th petition against Justice Okeke relates to the AMCON case where the judge gave an exparte order in favour of AMCON. “By the provision of Rule 2(2) of the Code of Conduct for judicial officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, ‘a judicial officer must avoid the abuse of the power of issuing interim injunctions, ex-parte. A meticulous examination of the 5th petition and the response by Hon. Justice Okeke has shown that the exparte order granted by His Lordship in favour of AMCON established a case of misconduct contrary to Code of conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. However, the said petition and reaction were not considered by Council because of time constraint. Council is therefore constrained to state that Hon. Justice Okechukwu Okeke misled members of the Nigerian public into believing that the National Judicial Council issued him a warning letter based on the exparte order he gave in the AMCON’s case: the fifth petition.” The council concluded that from the totality of the facts as stated, Justice Okeke’s speech was not correct, and it was “nothing but a figment of his imagination, as the warning letter issued to him by Council was not as a result of the exparte order he granted in respect of the AMCON’s case.” There is a vacuum begging for filling in the NJC’s action to set the records straight. Majorly, why and how did it arrive at the conclusion that the AMCON’s case established a case of misconduct, contrary to the code of Conduct, against Justice Okeke; when it declared, in just the next breadth that “the said petition and reaction by Hon. Justice Okeke were not considered by council because of time constraint.” By announcing a verdict before consideration, the NJC has been unfair to Justice Okeke. The only avenue where a prima facie case can be said to be established against an accused person is in court; and then after the court has duly considered a relevant application and response against it by the parties. The NJC not being a court (never mind that its head is actually the Chief Justice), cannot in good conscience give a publicized ‘ruling’ as it did in its advertorial. Nevertheless, Jus-

tice Okeke will be free to counter the NJC, except that by their professional culture, judges, whether in or out of service, do not normally join issues publicly. That principle perhaps account for the seeming silence of the Supreme Court justice to whom Justice Okeke pointed an accusing finger for allegedly attempting to influence a case. However, sources from the grapevine indicated that the Supreme Court Justice has stated that his daughter was not the cause of Justice Okeke’s travail. He reiterated the NJC’s finding that Justice Okeke was not just economical with the truth; he also ‘misled’ the world by his representations. In particular, the Supreme court Justice said he did not ask his daughter to see Justice Okeke; and that his daughter acted on her own volition by seeing him; and even then, in the company of other residents, their lawyer and also the lawyer to one of the parties. A judge’s character should not be smeared on mere suspicion or on allegations that are less then substantial. But the brickbats being thrown raise public curiosity, and call for a thorough inquiry. As it is, the NJC has been drawn into the arena, not as an umpire, but an interested party. Tongues definitely will wag, and the CJN is tasked as to how to handle it. She cannot be seen to be protecting the personal interest of her fellow judge at the apex bench; nor can she afford to conduct a secret investigation that will further raise more eyebrows. She needs tact, courage and wisdom to handle this can, and she cannot pretend that all is well and therefore keep quiet, hoping that Nigerians will soon forget. The entire episode is an unhealthy development for the judiciary, which has been in the limelight for the wrong reasons of corruption, slow pace of justice delivery, a dearth of basic infrastructure and tools; and a need for a cleansing. Critically, the development portends some effects on the court system, and ultimately, the judiciary institution suffers, along with the country’s credibility to the outside world. This is one case that should not be allowed to adorn the toga of the justices Salami – Katsina-Alu crisis. Again, the ball is in the court of Chief Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar. • Atobatele, a consultant in legal affairs, wrote from Abuja.

Still on aviation concessioning crisis By Olufemi Oyedele READ Wole Shadare’s piece titled “Raging concessioning criIJune sis in aviation sector: An overview” in The Guardian of Friday, 21, 2013. Yes, “there are basic critical components of any successful Public Private Partnership (PPP)”, but saying “there is not yet a set formula or an absolute foolproof technique in crafting a successful PPP” is not correct. There are set rules, models, ‘formula’ and ‘techniques’ which if used, will ensure successful PPP. It is also not correct to say “there is no doubt that some of the concessions in the aviation industry have performed creditably well”. None and I mean none has performed its objectives. The objectives of any Public Private Partnership include provision of public infrastructure by private company – that is, provision of goods or services, efficiently, effectively and economically by private organisation on behalf of public sector. It is the sharing of technical, development and legal risks in the delivery of an infrastructure. PPP is a collaboration of the public and private sectors in the provision of infrastructure for the benefit of all. Value for money (Vfm) is the watchword of any PPP. The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) Act provides for the participation of private sector in financing the construction, development, operation or maintenance of infrastructure or development of aviation infrastructure through concession or contractual agreements. It is the responsibility of a responsible government to provide infrastructure that will positively impact the standard of living of the people. Shying away from this responsibility is wickedness and anti-governance. Though it is a known fact that the resources available to governments cannot adequately finance the ‘insatiable’ demand of people for infrastructure, this does not give governments the chance to ‘enslave’ the people in a bias contractual agreement that reflects selfish undertone of the officers representing government at the time of drafting the agreement. We all know that there are basically three parameters to any

infrastructure delivery. These are the cost of the project, the time it will take and the quality. These are the three constraints that determine how a concession contract is modelled. Concessioning is a French way of managing public infrastructures through private sector. It is a way of leasing public asset to private organisations for management. It is a Public Finance Initiative (FI). In a highly corrupt country like Nigeria, where some public officers do not see themselves as part of the public but as another group distinct from public and private and where concessioning negotiators are tempted to include their own interests, concessioning may not be successful. The quality of the infrastructure may be compromised or the duration of lease (period for collection of revenue by development partners) may be fraudulently extended by the public representatives. The amount to be paid to government may also be reduced for the development partners for compensation. The general public whose interest should be protected by the public officers is not fully aware of the working of PPP. Openness is the watchword of PPP and this means that the cost, lease period and quality of delivering services must be known by the public and not only by those representing them. Where a serving officer has entered a fraudulent contract, which does not protect the interest of the public, it lies on the succeeding officer after he has left to expose him to the anti-graft agencies for prosecution. PPP is not a traditional method of doing business and is not left for negotiation power of the parties. It works on established formula of cost, time and quality. That is cost, plus acceptable profit by the public, divided by income to be generated will determine tenure. Maevis Limited was engaged to block massive leakages in revenue collection of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in 2000. Can we say it has effectively, efficiently and economically block these leakages? The way to know this is to contact a reputable professional company in Nigeria and allow it, as a control, to collect revenue for three months and divide the amount collected by three, the result is monthly collection. It is absolutely true that “with automation, coupled with partnership of these investors with reputable finance houses, it was very difficult not

to know how much the revenue generated and how much was remitted”. But I am afraid of the remittances whether they are adequate or not. The system is not working well and so the need for substitution. If the system is working so well, there would not be any need to change it. But the system is not in the interest of all Nigerians. It should be reviewed and determined just like the LagosIbadan expressway. A court cannot adequately adjudicate in this case without consulting ‘expert opinions’. Though development partners are businessmen, they have no right to throw ‘killer blows’ at the public, especially when it is glaring that somebody has tied the ‘hands’ of the public. He who comes to equity must come with a clean hand. Concessioning and PPP in general is not an easy way to perpetrate fraud as people may wish because of review. It is a way of blocking fraud in procurement. The legal framework is done in such a way that it will be impossible for any party to defraud as everything concerning PPP must be laid on the table, including methodology. A party may enter into PPP agreement with a private organisation today, which is not in the interest of the public. It is the duty of a new party and/or the public to rise and fight for the termination of an agreement on their behalf that does not protect their interest. A PPP is not bondage and can be reviewed during the course of the contract. Heavy investment by the development partners cannot serve as alibi. It is true that “Nigeria should invest massively in the aviation sector so as to bridge the infrastructure gap created over the years”, to borrow the words of Captain Dele Ore, the President, Aviation Round Table (ART), but it should be noted that PPP alone cannot do it. The government cannot shy away from its responsibility and leave everything to PPP. Where it has to concession, there must be competition so as to get the best deal for the public. The problem of PPP is its cost and that is why it is being discarded the world over as a means of public goods procurement. Countries like Scotland, which used it in its school infrastructure rehabilitation has vowed never to use it again. • Oyedele is an International Project Manager and PPP Consultant.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Opinion The next governor of Akwa Ibom By Etim Etim th

T the 50 birthday celebration of Governor A Godswill Akpabio last December, his wife, Unoma, mounted the rostrum to give a vote of thanks. In what appeared as an off-script remark, she said: “Our governor, you took over two years to prepare to be the governor. You worked hard to get elected, and you have served your people very well. It is now time for you to start preparing to leave office. You must leave office as smoothly as you came. You must have a very good succession plan in place...” The audience was understandably startled. Political spouses do not address their husbands in such an audacious manner publicly. I turned to look at the governor who also appeared miffed at such profound statements from his wife. Surprised as we were, the subtext of madam’s speech was not lost on the crowd. In 2006, her husband went through one of the most fiercely competitive primaries in the history of our democracy. It involved 58 aspirants, lasted five days and took place in two venues. Even after Akpabio emerged winner at the primary, the departing governor, Obong Victor Attah, opposed his ticket, preferring to hand over to his son-in-law. The intrigues, manipulations, deceptions and chicanery that characterized Attah’s last days would make a good movie. It should form a major section of the governor’s memoirs in due course. In making her emotional admonitions last Christmas, the First lady was essentially reminding her husband not to repeat the mistakes of his predecessor whose post-service aura has been a little sullied. Chief Akpabio has recorded impressive achievements, his ap-

proval rating is quite high and his profile as an emerging national leader is obvious, the more reason his wife’s passionate appeal resoundingly resonated with Akwa Ibomites who are equally anxious for a smooth succession in 2015. A rancorous transition is costly, divisive, destructive and energy-sapping. Akwa Ibomites have learnt that to sustain a momentum of unimpeded growth and cumulative development, the successor must share the vision of the departing leader. Having seen such a dramatic change in their land and lives in the last six years, our people now realise that a leader can make the difference. We now understand that the governor’s values and character, experience and passion, education and exposure, training and learning are the differentiating factors between a success and failure. Akwa Ibom people also realise that a governor ought not to come from a particular clan before the people of that area feel the positive impact of government. A good leader will always treat the whole state as his village and every citizen as his kindred. Another lesson of the Akpabio era is that a suitable candidate can get elected irrespective of his ethnic origin or economic class. The idea of zoning is therefore not a popular concept among the people. If the governor himself did not emerge through zoning, he will likely not use it in his own succession plan. Sensing the thoughts and mood of the people, Akpabio himself has dropped a few hints: he will not support zoning because he did not come in through zoning, but he will back any candidate who is competent and shares his vision. What then do Akwa Ibom people want for their state and what are their expectations of the next leader? What should be the agenda of the next governor? The broad consensus among the people is that the state must continue in the pro-

growth trajectory in terms of infrastructure and amenities, but must additionally record tremendous industrial investments and output. If Akpabio is reputed as a governor who has developed infrastructure in the state, his successor will be the one to industrialise it. Right from day one, he will have to pursue a bold, wellplanned and comprehensive industrial agenda. The new administration will have to grow a healthy industrial base that creates over 4,000 high quality jobs in a year. In terms of infrastructure, the government will have to hire a renowned town-planning firm to work with domestic experts and develop a master plan for the whole state. The state will then be planned into different areas: commercial, residential, school, hospitals, places of worship, etc. All development of infrastructure, amenities, agriculture and industry will also follow this design religiously for the next 30 years. In terms of the soft issues, Akwa Ibomites have high expectations for their next governor. He will be a man of enormous erudition, knowledge and intellect who will not be scared of surrounding himself with people of similar or better endowments. In discussions, interviews and speeches, he will display knowledge and intellect with a good command of facts and figures about Akwa Ibom, Nigeria and global affairs. He will display a deep passion for Akwa Ibom State, its people, cultures and traditions and show a good understanding of the politics of the 0state, geography, economics and history. Above all, he must have genuine concern for the welfare of the state and its people. Akpabio’s successor must be a man of equity and fairness. No ethnic group would be favoured at the expense of others. Nobody would be passed over for any benefit due them based on his her ethnic background. The governor will

therefore build his reputation as a detribalised leader who will not allow his ethnicity to be a factor in his decisions as a governor. He will therefore not promote or associate with groups or associations whose agenda do not accentuate our sociological homogeneity. Rather, he will consistently deliver an image of modesty through his daily interactions with every part of society in Akwa Ibom, from the lowest economic classes all the way to societal elites. The governor will portray himself as peaceful and peace-loving, God-fearing and humane leader who will not employ violence to achieve political or any other objectives. Every leader creates its own brand. The brand accentuates the personality, improves his goodwill, influences people’s perception and enhances his acceptance among the people. Leaders come from different backgrounds and possess varying skills, training and experience. With their own strengths and weaknesses, leaders have different success stories. Chief Akpabio’s next test case is how he will manage the transition to the new administration. If the new leader continues in his path, the state will be better for it. Otherwise, we will reverse to the starting point. One of the reasons Lagos State is doing so well is because Fashola shares Tinubu’s vision. The Lagos model in which the governor must build on the foundation of his predecessor is far more productive than what happens in some states like Imo State in which Okorocha is literally at war with his predecessor. Everything Ohakim did in Imo has been reversed! We want continuity in Akwa Ibom and that is why the people have so much high expectations for the next governor. He must be a visionary and planner; broad minded and fair to all. • Etim is a banker and journalist.

Achebe: Seer, writer and patriot extraordinaire (3) By A. B. C. Nwosu HEN, there was Achebe’s home-coming in 2009 for the AhiaT joku Lecture at Owerri. Fifty years anniversary of the publication of “Things Fall Apart” had just been celebrated only months earlier and Achebe’s country men were hungry to see their son. The arrangements for the visit were impeccable. Governor Ikedi Ohakim, the government and people of Imo State spared no expense and no efforts to honour Ugo be n’oji, Eagle on Iroko. The Ohakim administration had journeyed to New York to persuade Achebe to come and address the people. A giant tent to accommodate a multitude was set up in Owerri. The arena was full, in and outside the giant tent. The crowd inside the tent was intimidating. Achebe’s friends from the University of Ibadan and University of Nigeria such as Professor M. J. C. Echeruo and late Professor Adiele Afigbo, among others, were there. The compere, Dr. Chris Asoluka, President-General of Aka-Ikenga was brilliant. Governor Ikedi Ohakim spoke in superlatives. The atmosphere was truly electrifying. Chinweizu was there. George Obiozor was there; et cetera. I was there. I was involved. All of us were. When it was time for Achebe to speak, the Iroko sounded. For a while Achebe was silent and his eyes became misty. He was rendered speechless by the love and adulation of the tumultuous crowd. When he began to speak, he did not read a prepared speech; he thanked all those that gathered, “the community” for being the Iroko that made his work possible because “Things Fall Apart” was the peoples’ story, our story, the society, to demand for transparency and accountability in government and to take leadership roles in preserving the tenets of our burgeoning democracy. It was vintage Achebe at what would turn out to be his last visit to his beloved country. It is clear from reading Achebe’s works or in interactions with him privately or publicly at the Achebe Colloquium series at Providence that he remained a patriot, a Pan-Africanist and a humanist until the very end. Of particular relevance are his views on power and responsibility, corruption and good governance. He believed that the ultimate reason for failures of successive national governments in Nigeria and much of Africa; apart from unbridled corruption, is the failure of those in power to relate to the very people who legitimise their authority: the failure of the rulers to establish vital links with the poor and dispossessed of the country, “whose bruised heart throbs painfully at the core of the nations being” (Anthills p. 141). “Anthills” further makes the painful point that those who make plans for us “makes plans only for themselves and their families”. I need to end this write up now by referring to his epic work: “There Was a Country” which to me is thoroughly researched work that took decades to write. It is a serious effort by Achebe to let Nigerians grasp the true and full meaning of tragedy. How

many of the critics of “There Was A Country” have bothered to reflect on his sad poem on page 168 of the book titled “Refugee Mother and Child”. Ditto his poignant poem “Air Raid” on page 175. Who of Achebe’s critics had similar experiences of the Nigeria-Biafra war? Is their grouse the fact that Achebe (like many of us), having experienced all these, did not forever keep his peace over those tragic facts and events? The Nigerian crises of 1966 were a tragedy of epic proportions, which so many well-known non-Nigerian writers have written on. Achebe’s “There Was A Country” is the first researched account by a Nigerian writer on the 1966 crises, and the Nigeria-Biafra war of 1967 - 1970. It is a courageous and painstaking effort that represents an “insider” account on the side of Biafra. So far it is the only authentic and well researched book (53 pages of reference materials) that will be available to future generations on that most unfortunate and tragic period in our nation’s history. It would therefore be helpful, and society and history would benefit from “insider” accounts from the side of Nigeria (Non-Biafran) writers on the 1966 crises and the Nigeria - Biafra war. It will be important for the critics to examine Part 4 of There Was A Country on Nigeria’s Painful Transitions; Corruption and Indiscipline; State Failure; State Resuscitation and the postscript on the example of Nelson Mandela. I rest this matter, for now. I do not to conclude this discourse on Achebe, the writer, without referring to his 1986 Nigerian national merit Award Winners’ lecture titled “What Has literature Got To Do With It” where he very eloquently dissected the major reasons for Nigeria’s (and Africa’s) underdevelopment and reduced the problems of arrogance of power and apathy of the society to two very simply stories. Please permit me to repeat those two stories. The first story goes like this: “One day a snake was riding the horse coiled up as was his fashion, in the saddle. As he came down the road he met the toad walking by the roadside. “Excuse me sir” said the toad, “but that’s not the way to ride a horse” “really? Can you show me the right way then?” “With pleasure; if you will be good enough to step down.” The snake slid down the side of the horse, and the toad jumped with alacrity into the saddle, sat bolt upright and galloped most elegantly down the road. “That’s how to ride a horse” he said. “Very good said the snake,” very good indeed; you may now come down” The toad jumped down and the snake slid up the side of the horse back into the saddle and coiled up as before. Then he said to the toad, “knowing is good but having is better. What good does fine horsemanship do to a fellow without a horse”. This is arrogance of power par excellence a la Achebe! The second story is about apathy and “it is not my business” attitude of society that permits impunity and abuse of power to thrive. It goes: “Once upon a time, all the animals were summoned to a meeting. As they converged on the public square early in the morn-

ing one of them, the fowl was spotted by his neighbours going in the opposite direction. They said to him. “How is it that you are going away from the public square? Did you not hear the towncrier’s summons last night? “I did not hear it” said the fowl, and I should certainly have gone for the meeting if a certain personal matter had not cropped up which I must attend to. I am truly sorry, but I hope you will make my sincere apologies to the meeting. Tell them that though absent in body, I will be there with you in spirit in all your deliberations. Needless to say that whatever you decide will receive my whole hearted support”. The question before the assembled animals was what to do in face of a new threat posed by man’s frequent slaughtering of animals to placate his gods. After a stormy but surprisingly brief debate, it was decided to present to man one of their number as his regular sacrificial animal if he would leave the rest in peace. And it was agreed without a division that the fowl should be offered to man to mediate between him and his gods. And it has been so ever since”. The fowl paid the price of indifference. Again does Achebe the seer need to say more? I have gone round many of Achebe’s writings simply to emphasise that Achebe, the patriot, believes that power, whether political or religious (ARROW OF GOD) derives from the people and that those in power must be completely accountable to the people. The depth of Achebe’s vision is stupendous considering that much of what he wrote of several decades ago, are still happening today. So what manner of man really was Chinua Achebe? The late Dr. Pius Okigbo again comes to our rescue as he says: “There is this soft-spoken, quiet son of catechist, behind whose soft exterior lies an iron soul and an iron will. A man of strong convictions, tenaciously held because they are arrived at only after careful thought”. This to me summarises Nnanyi Achebe. As for me, I shall always see him in his works, I do hope that persons in leadership positions shall see the need to discuss with his family and his publishers so as to produce the Complete Works Of Chinua Achebe for the benefit of future generations. I agree with Achebe, and share his hope that “a generation will come” (as he wrote in What is Nigeria to Me? The Guardian October 2008), “if we do our work patiently and well – and given luck – a generation that will call Nigeria father or mother”. We wait. For now, I go back to his short story “Civil Peace” (Girls At War and Other Short Stories – 1972) and take solace in the resilient spirit of Jonathan Iwegbu and his family. “Nothing puzzles God”. Onwero ife gbalu Chukwu ghali. Adieu great man. Jee nke oma. It is well. • Concluded. • Prof. Nwosu is former Minister of Health.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

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Midweek Arts No concession yet, but we should ‘reinvent’ National Theatre, says Duke By Gregory Austin Nwakunor and Hassan Momoh HE Federal Government has debunked the allegation that the National Arts Theatre and its landmass have been concessioned or sold to private interest. Rather, government says that it is just at the stage of identifying private sector investors who would be expected to reinvent and redevelop the 37-year old iconic edifice so that it can be a pride to all Nigerians. Culture, Tourism and National Orientation Minister, Chief Edem Duke made the clarification last weekend while speaking on an African Independent Television (AIT) live television programme ‘90 minutes’. And last Monday, the Senate Committee on Culture, Tourism and National Orientation promised to increase budgetary allocation in order to fast track on-going rehabilitation of the culture edifice. The Senate Committee came around to undertake facility tour of the theatre complex and its surrounding. According to Senator Ahmed Hassan Barata, chairman of the committee, “we have seen for ourselves the building, and we are convinced the place needs assistance.” He continued, “we discovered that the meager amount allocated to the place have been used judiciously. We will make sure that adequate money is budgeted for the facility in 2014.” Reacting to a question asked on the fate of the National Theatre, especially against the backdrop of opposition mounted by some culture workers who are vehemently opposed to the decision to concession the edifice, Culture Minister during the TV show, declared that the Federal Government had entered no concession agreement with any firm on the National Theatre. He however maintained that the decision to reinvent the National Theatre was in line with the original master plan of the edifice, also He also stated that no piece of land has been sold and no MOU has been signed with any firm. The minister had said: “I want to say with the greatest respect to all Nigerians that the National Theatre is perhaps the most prominent iconic public building that belongs to this country. So, absolutely nothing is going to happen to the National Theatre as it stands other than to try and reinvent it.” The minister explained that it has become imperative to develop the vast landmass around the National Theatre as the unkempt state of the National Theatre environment “is an embarrassment to the nation’’. He said: “We have over 100 hectres of land around the National Theatre which has in the last three decades been used for depositing human refuse. It has been used for all sorts of things that have degraded the environment and for 36 years nothing has been done to try to re-establish the original master plan of the National Theatre. Today if you go there you will find people rearing swine in a section of the National Theatre. You will see where criminals

Senate Committee seeks better funding

Senators Babafemi Ojudu (left); Ahmed Hassan Barata; and Abubakar Tutaza of Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism; and General Manager, National Theatre, Alhaji Kabiru Yusuf during the tour of the theatre edifice on Monday

Culture Minister, Duke are hibernating. In fact, almost on a weekly basis, criminals kill people and deposit them around the National Theatre and we are saying this is not reflective of who we are as Nigerians and over the years a section of the public and the media have been making a mockery of government that government lacks the courage and the ability to re-invent the National Theatre.’’ Duke further explained that government was interested in turning the huge landmass into a big entertainment city with facilities that will complement the National Theatre, and noted: “When we talk of the National Theatre, we are not only talking about the building that is standing on it. That building belongs to Nigeria and there is absolutely nothing that will happen to the building. But what we are saying is that having looked around the rest of the world and in view of the original master plan made out for the National Theatre, which is supposed to be a big entertainment leisure and shopping city, there will be a need to reinvent the place. And with government having identified PPP, it now felt that there is a need to engage the private sector to re-invent the place because government does not have the resources to do that. So, we now said can we begin the journey of identifying private sector investors and we are just at that stage. No concession has been made. No land has been sold.’’ Duke, who handed the host of the programme Imoni Amarere a folder containing documents, which he said are the ‘outline

business plan’ of the things that will be done at the National Theatre, reiterated that there was absolutely nothing that has been done to give out the National Theatre. However, the minister noted that ultimately the National Theatre would be redeveloped on a ‘buildoperate-and-transfer platform’ with private finance and it will be a pride to Nigerians. He also said: “I say unequivocally that there is absolutely nothing that has been done to give out the National Theatre. Whatever that will be done at the National Theatre today or tomorrow will be done on a build-operate and transfer platform and so it belongs to Nigeria ultimately.’’ On the issue of encroachment of the National Theatre land, the chairman of the committee said those identified would be invited to the Senate to defend themselves. The team, which also compromised Senator Babafemi Ojudu and Senator Abubakar Tutaza for almost two hours, toured all the facilities and heard a presentation from the BGL Equity Group, which has been hired as transaction adviser for the concession project. The House Committee had also visited the arts facility as part of efforts to restore the asset to its initial glory and also help its revenue generation capacity. Though Senator Berata declined comment on concession issue because details are still sketchy, he, however, promised that his committee would invite BGL for interaction after full reports must have been read.

Unlike outright privatisation, which represents an arrangement of transferring the ownership of public assets from the government to private companies or outright sale, concession is an arrangement where a private company enters into an agreement with the government to have the right to operate, maintain and carry out investment in a public asset within an agreed period of time. In case of the National Theatre, the Federal Government identified the necessity to implement the National Theatre Masterplan, which requires full utilisation of the landed area earmarked for the tourism and entertainment industry. Under the concessionary arrangement, government has a recourse for asset ownership at the end of concession period; it will also earn regulatory royalty income during concession period it also reserves the right to sanction or revoke licence for breach of concession terms, above all, has access to private sector funds for upgrade, maintenance and operations. According to BGL Equity Group, till date, all stakeholders have been identified and engaged formally and informally by the project office on a consistent basis. Stakeholders identified include Lagos State government, Federal Ministry of Works, Land and Housing, Environment, Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation, PPP office and ICRC. Detailed legal due diligence has been carried out and it covers review of documentary evidences, title, litigations, agreements, statement of claim and signatories.

Legend Real Deal promo… third draw, three female winners HE third raffle draw for the Legend T Extra Stout National Consumer Promotion has produced three female winners of the grand prize for the 2013 edition. The three lucky female consumers will go to Dubai, where they will get to shop for gift items worth N1 million. Luck shone on the three ladies as their numbers were picked at the third raffle draw, held at the Eldorado Hills, AmuwoOdofin, Lagos, on Friday, June 21, 2013. The lucky female consumers are: Tokunbo Bolanle Balogun, a trader; Oluchi Umunakwe and Roselyn

Monday, both students of tertiary institutions. It would be recalled that the first raffle draw did not produce any female winner, while a lone female consumer emerged for the big prize during the second raffle draw. Tokunbo Bolanle Balogun could not hide her joy at her emergence. She said she was overjoyed at the news. The second lady, twenty-five year old Oluchi Umunakwe, a 400 level parttime student of the Lagos State University, stated that she looked forward to the Legend Unique Shopping

Experience, as it would afford her the opportunity of obtaining an international passport as well as flying a plane for the first time. While Oluchi remains unsure of the items she would pick for herself during the one minute shopping experience, she said she’ll target an ipad for her elder brother whom she currently resides with. While both Tokunbo and Oluchi emerged via the electronic raffle draw, Roselyn Monday was picked at the Eldorado Hills venue of the raffle draw.

Special Celebrity Guest, Desmond Elliot (right); one of the winners of the Legend Dubai shopping experience, Roselyn Monday (middle); Marketing Manager, Gulder, Legend & Life, Emmanuel Agu at the third Legend Real Deal promo raffle draw at M18 Nite Club, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos… last Friday

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

ARTS | 55

A new season of Project WS underway By Anote Ajeluorou S the 79th birthday celebration for Africa’s A first black Nobel laureate draws near (July 13), organizers of Open Door Series Project WS, a platform for International Cultural Exchange, is set to flag off a series of cultural activities to mark it. An initiative of Zmirage boss, Teju Wase Kareem, the programme has evolved over the past three years to include an international Essay competition for senior secondary school students, advocacy lectures, tours, drama and cultural presentations. The Project WS brand, which was inspired by the essence and ideals of the Nobel laureate in Literature, Prof. Wole Soyinka, seeks to create a better understanding for global cultural concerns. According to Kareem, “These ideals, summed up in the artist’s humanism as reflected in his globally-acclaimed roles as a cultural, civil rights and political activism, are the pedestal on which we have built the programme of the Open Door Series. “Soyinka’s birthday anniversary on July 13 was deliberately chosen as the presentation date of the event annually. Project WS started with WS76 with the play Preemptive and Seven in 2010, and it featured a troupe of American actors and theatre scholars on a tour to the Caribbean and over five states in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory. Project WS77 in 2011 was with the theme ‘I Love My Country’; and it hosted 77

senior secondary school students from all over the federation and the Diaspora, who competed in the essay competition and also took part in the cultural exchange programme. They were also opportuned to share moments with the Nobel laureate in a mentoring session at his home in Abeokuta, Ogun State. “Project WS78 was another celebration of the essence of the artist in the society using Wole Soyinka as a reference point. In a bid to instill a sense of patriotism in the hearts of young ones, especially the multitude participating in the project, it was tagged ‘The Mind of a Patriot’. And, as in previous editions, the young ones had opportunity to share moments with the global citizen and cultural icon, Soyinka. According to Kareem, “The 2013 edition is premised on the theme: ‘Memoirs for our Future’; and it would hold on the traditional July 13 —- being the 79th birthday anniversary of Prof. Soyinka. “This year, we’ll be having the Senior Secondary schools essay competition, play productions, cultural presentations — all designed to herald the 2014 edition that would mark the 80th birthday anniversary celebration of Soyinka’s birthday. A grand programme designed with novel artistic and educational items has also been planned for the 2014 edition”. He stated that the main goal in the Open Door Series was to combat fear, violence and its contingent reactions through the use of education, arts and culture.

To herald this year’s project, Kareem also noted, “WS79 is a precursor to WS80, which is a highly significant year for us all. Prof. Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka who is the symbol and anchor of the WS Project will be 80 years old next year and the project seeks to mark that very significant date in significant ways. “It is important to note that we are not marking the day because it’s a birthday but we intend to mark the day because it symbolizes for us all a continuation of the life of an inspirational man who has fought and is still fighting for the dignity of man, the rights of the individual and the unity and security of his country, our country”. He said a lot was being planned for WS80 including the essay competition, children’s cultural presentation/advocacy summit, tours, flag off WS80 essay competition, and presentation of Memoirs for our Future, a book that will be unveiled by Soyinka in London. It’s a compilation of the winning essays from WS76 to WS78 as well as other selected essays from submissions for all the years, with Soyinka himself writing the foreword to the book. He will also flag off the WS80 essay competition to the Diaspora students at the summit that will hold during the event. Prof. Soyinka

Gbogbo Eko dance contest begins in Lagos Students of National College, Gbagada, Lagos during the school’s maiden cultural day held recently

By Wole Oyebade O raise public interest in T the fight against malaria and maternal deaths, the

Book club hosts Julius Agwu on Friday HAT do you know about Julius Agwu? W The famous comedian, actor and musician has just written an autobiography to give the public insight into his life. Rainbow Book Club (RBC), through its Book-of-theMonth series, is highlighting the new book: Jokes Apart – How Did I Get Here? for the month of June. The public event will hold at Le Meridien, Ogeyi Place, on Friday, June 28, 2013. Time is 11am. Having made his living in the entertainment circuit for well over a decade, hosting comedy shows, acting, and making comedy albums, Julius Agwu celebrated his 40th birthday on April 7, 2013 with a launch of Jokes Apart, which documents his life as a child, his coming of age, and the realization of a major gift he has: the ability to make people laugh. The book, edited by award-winning poet and writer, Toni Kan, is jam-packed with funny segments in tandem with sobering parts. Readers thus have a chance to look behind the scenes to better acquaint themselves with the acclaimed funnyman. The University of Port Harcourt Theatre Arts graduate is married with a daughter. Each month, the Rainbow Book Club brings noteworthy books to the public’s attention through its book of the month programme.

Last month’s featured author was Titi Horsfall, writer of From an Orphan to a Queen – Esther. Through the programme, booklovers meet to discuss a pre-selected book.

Agwu

Gbogbo Eko Dance and Drama contest has begun in Lagos. Organised by TLC Media in collaboration with Partnership for Transforming Health Systems Phase Two (PATHS2) and Blacknights Entertainment, United Kingdom (UK), the contest features Alaboyun Traditional Dance and Drama competition for groups and Mosquito Dance Style competition for individuals. Entries are open to all till December 1, 2013. Behaviour Change Communication Officer, PATHS2 Lagos, Ijeoma Inen, said at the launch that the competition was in line with her group’s cardinal objective of stimulating behavioural change for good health in the focal communities. She said: “The key thing is passing the relevant messages to the community in an interesting way. As we all know, maternal mortality is still as high as 85:100,000 live births in Lagos. “With improved understanding of health issues,

greater awareness of rights, entitlements and responsibilities, all communicated in socially acceptable and entertaining way, we can achieve significant reduction in maternal and infant mortality especially at the grassroots.” PATHS2 is a six-year health strengthening initiative in five States: Enugu, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and Lagos. UKaid, through UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) funds it. Alaboyun is a song produced by TLC Media for PATHS2 and Lagos State government on maternal danger signs. Drama Consultant and TLC Director, Jide Ojo, said Alaboyun traditional dance and drama category is open to groups with maximum of five and minimum of two participants and application is free. According to him, all participants need to do is download Alaboyun song, perform a unique dance and drama to it, record in a video and upload on YouTube, with link sent to a designated e-mail address or a CD copy sent to PATHS2 office in Opebi.

Submission starts July 1 and ends December 1. Winners will get as much as N400, 000. For the mosquito dance style category, all participants need to download Mosquito song produced by Rhythm for TLC Media, create a new dance that is promotable worldwide to the song and record it in a video. Sponsored UK trip – with Ojoro and Danny Young on the Robocop/ Mosquito UK tour from January to May 2014 – awaits the winner. Twenty competitors under each category will be selected/screened in for a second level audition. Five competitors from each category will be finally selected for the final round at Lekki. Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, PATHS2 Lagos, Lanre Alabi, added, “we know it is easier to remember information convene through songs and drama.” “So, we are so catching in on this to have behavioural change especially for safe child delivery. That is the essence of the contest,” he said.

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Sports Fabregas, Soldado doubtful for semi-finals

Mba, Oboabona, lead Keshi’s 24-man CHAN team RAZIL 2013 Confederations B Cup stars, Sunday Mba, Godfrey Oboabona and Azubuike Egwuekwe, are among the 24 players listed by Coach Stephen Keshi for camping ahead of the Confederation of African Football Championship (CHAN) qualifier against Cote d’Ivoire billed for next week. The CHAN is a competition for players based in their home countries and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says it is doing everything possible to ensure that the country participated in the next edition after missing the two previous editions. Alongside Mba, Egwuekwe and Oboabona are six other Confederations Cup stars, including home-based Eagles Captain, Chigozie Agbim, defenders, Solomon Kwambe and Benjamin Francis, midfielder, Emeka Eze and forward, Muhammad Gambo. Keshi added 14 more players from Nigeria’s top flight and two from the lower division. Returning to the team are goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, defender Kunle Odunlami and striker, Obinna Nwachukwu and Gomo Onduku, who were part of the team’s training camp in Germany ahead of the international friendly with Mexico in Texas, USA. Also invited for the camping are Chibuzor Okonkwo, Umar Zango and Ezekiel Bassey, Ayo Saka and Anthony Okputu. Nigeria Professional Football League top scorer, Dele Olorundare of Sunshine Stars, is joined by former junior international midfielder, Olufemi Oladapo in the list. The new faces in the team are Mohammed Ajia of Bayelsa United, Enyimba FC’s Ifeanyi Edeh, Pius Samson of Ranch Bees, Festus Ajah of Union Bank FC and Warri Wolves’ Etebo Oghene. The players are expected to report at the Bolton White Apartments, Abuja on Sunday. The NFF says the match will be played at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium,

Kaduna on Saturday, July 6. “We are happy for the favourable response from the Kaduna State Government, and we have also approached the National Sports Commission (NSC) for permission to use the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, for the encounter. “The grass is excellent and the entire facility is so wellmaintained. The Super Eagles will find the place comfortable,” NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu, who was in Kaduna on Monday, said. Meanwhile, The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Malian official, Mahamadou Keita, as centre referee for the qualifier between Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire. Keita, 30, became an international referee in 2009. He will be assisted by compatriots Moriba Diakite, 33 (Assistant Referee 1), Nouhoum Bamba, 35 (Assistant Referee 2) and Ousmane Sidibe, 39 (Reserve Referee). The Match Commissioner is Idrissa Sarr, a renowned former FIFA-graded referee from Mauritania.

IDFIELDER Cesc Fabregas M and striker, Roberto Soldado are both doubts for

United States player, Serena Williams returns on her way to beating Luxembourg’s Mandy Minella during their women’s first round match on day two of the 2013 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament at the All England Club in Wimbledon, southwest London…yesterday. Williams won 6-1, 6-3. PHOTO: AFP/GLYN KIRK

Williams makes on-court statement, defeats Minella ERENA Williams was able to American did with Rolling with Minella, which saw the Scourt turn her attention to on- Stone magazine. 16-time grand slam champion battles as she won the Having felt Williams’ nega- extend her winning streak to first match of her Wimbledon title defence with consummate ease against Mandy Minella. A five-time champion at the All England Club, the American dominated from the outset and romped to a 61 6-3 victory in 57 minutes. Williams may have wished she could have spent a little longer on Centre Court, if only to delay a post-match press conference in which it would be hard to avoid talk around her public spat with Maria Sharapova. The feud dominated the build-up to the Championships and stems from an interview the

Globacom’s Coordinator (Marketing), Niyi Olukoya (middle), speaking on the new Glo Premier League logo before its unveiling in Lagos yesterday. With him are Chairman, League Management Company (LMC), Nduka Irabor (left), and LMC member, Kunle Elebute.

tive comments about a fellow high-ranked player were about her, Sharapova returned fire by taking a swipe at the top seed’s love life. Williams, in turn, said she believed clear-the-air talks between the pair at a party in London on Thursday had seen Sharapova accept her apology. More questions about their fractious relationship seemed certain to follow her clash

matches. Despite having not played on the grass leading into Wimbledon, Williams looked at home from the start and broke her opponent in just the fourth game of the match. Fresh from winning the French Open just a few weeks back, she did not drop a single point on her serve in a first set she wrapped up in a mere 19 minutes. Williams looked set to continue the rout when play

resumed, only for world number 92 Minella to make a brief comeback. Playing just her seventh match on grass in a career spanning nearly 12 years, the Luxembourg player took the first game of the second set before then breaking her esteemed opponent. Williams quickly rallied, though, and won the next four games. Minella briefly responded by winning her fourth service game of the set but Williams went on to win with ease, setting up a second-round clash

LMC unveils new Glo Premier League logo HE Nigeria Professional T Football League (NPFL) officially became the GLO Premier League following the unveiling of the league’s logo in Lagos yesterday by Globacom and the League Management Company (LMC). Speaking at the occasion held at Mike Adenuga Towers, Lagos, the co-ordinator, Marketing, Globacom, Niyi Olukoya said the event further demonstrated the company’s commitment to developing football at all levels in Nigeria. He recalled that the company recently signed a threeyear sponsorship deal worth

N1.9 billion with the LMC, adding that Globacom looked forward to a seamless working relationship with the LMC to make the Glo Premier League the number one in Africa. “The unveiling of the Glo Premier League logo today signals a new era of progress and total commitment to the development of football in Nigeria,” Olukoya said, while recalling that Glo had sponsored the league continuously from 2003 to 2009/2010 seasons and “we are proud to be back.” Earlier in his speech, LMC Chairman, Nduka Irabor thanked Globacom for com-

ing back to sponsor the League, adding that Globacom and LMC would work together to grow Nigerian football. Irabor posited that the logo unveiling represented the formalisation of the re-union between Globacom and the Nigerian League. “The eagle bird as captured on the new logo is a unique icon which symbolises excellence and top notch performance and we are grateful that our national teams have been living up to this reputation through scintillating performances in recent times,” Irabor concluded.

Spain’s Confederations Cup semi-final against Italy due to muscle injuries, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) revealed. Fabregas was substituted in the 54th minute of Spain’s 3-0 win over Nigeria in Fortaleza on Sunday, while Soldado went off six minutes later. “Cesc and Soldado were last night submitted for MRI scans to evaluate the muscular pains that they finished the Spain-Nigeria game with yesterday,” the RFEF said in a statement. “In view of the test results, neither player’s presence has been ruled out for the semifinals, although their participation will depend on the evolution of the said pains.” Speaking after the Nigeria game, Spain Coach, Vicente del Bosque had expressed optimism over Fabregas’ fitness. “I guess something happened, he felt a slight pain, and he withdrew to be on the safe side,” Del Bosque said. “Now it’s up to the doctors to assess what it is. It doesn’t seem to be anything serious, but we’re just being cautious.” Spain and Italy will lock horns at Fortaleza’s Estadio Castelao tomorrow afternoon in a repeat of the UEFA Euro 2012 final, which Spain won 4-0.

Hewitt happy with flying start F Lleyton Hewitt has startItain, ed at a pace he can mainthe Australian’s 15th Wimbledon could prove to be one of the most memorable for the former champion. A straight-sets win over 11th seed Stanislas Wawrinka on the opening day was more than many expected 32-yearold Hewitt was capable of after years of hip trouble threatened his career. He appears to have saved his best form of the year for the short grasscourt stretch having reached the semifinals at Queen’s two weeks ago and now sending home a player who was runner-up in the ‘s-Hertogenbosch final on Saturday. Not that Hewitt is allowing himself to be carried away by any growing expectations, even if his quarter of the draw has become much more navigable with the exit of Rafael Nadal. “I’ll take it one match at a time,” Hewitt said adding, “the moment that you knock off a decent player, then let your guard down, that’s when you’re going to go out of the tournament. I still have to stay composed, be confident. I know that I’m hitting the ball well. I’ve still got to go out there and do the job, though.”

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

62 | SPORTS

THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Cross River will host the best ever National Sports Festival, Ugbe promises By Gowon Akpodonor ROSS River State government says it will host the best ever National Sports Festival next year. The state’s Sports Commissioner, Patrick Ugbe, told The Guardian at the end of the 67th CRS/AFN National Athletics Trials in Calabar that the state had commenced preparations for the games, just as he revealed that work would soon commence on the construction of the indoor sports hall at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, which was delayed as a result of rain. According to Ugbe, the tartan track at the U.J Esuene Stadium will be replaced

soon in readiness for the festival. He said, “this national athletics trials is the last major event that will hold on this tartan track because we are replacing it with a brand new one very soon. We will host a National Sports Festival other states will find difficult to match. “ We won’t kill ourselves in trying to host and win at all cost as is the case with some other states. We will try as much as possible to put up a good team for the festival to brighten our chances of winning the games. But as I said, we won’t host to win at all cost.” The government of Cross River displayed its rich traditional culture to the foreign

and local athletes during the opening ceremony of the All Nigeria Open Championship, which Ugbe described as a rehearsal of their preparedness for the 2014 festival. He described 67th CRS/AFN National Athletics Trials as one of the best in recent time, saying, “I must say that this year’s trials is one of the best and you could see the performances put up by the different cultural groups at the opening and closing ceremony, which is a tip of the iceberg.” Ugbe stated that the state’s athletes currently preparing for the 2014 sports festival were all in action during the trials. Isah Mohammed Adam (left) fights with an opponent at the 2012 London Olympics.

Korea takes four Nigerian taekwondists to World Youth Camp By Olalekan Okusan S part of its efforts to support sports development in Nigeria, Embassy of Republic of Korea has agreed to sponsor four Nigerians to the Fifth World Youth Taekwondo Camp holding in Seoul next month. The camp, which is organised by the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation (TPF) in partnership with the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), is aimed at providing the world youths with high-level taekwondo training and education. The athletes - Olusola Sunday Olowookere, Ifeanyi Chukwu Obiora, Ganiyat Oluwatobi

Idrees and David Imohabasi Daniel Ndem - were nominated by the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) to be part of the exercise holding in Seoul and Muju. According to NTF President, George Ashiru, the camp would help to expose the athletes to world-class training under the guidance of top practitioners. “We are glad that this is coming at this time when we are also preparing for the World Youth Olympics holding in China next year. This camp will indeed help our athletes and prepare them for future tournaments and aid them in their quest to make the country proud. With this kind of exposure, it will also increase our

chance of doing well in major competitions. I wish the athletes well and we are also grateful to the Korea government for this gesture,” Ashiru said. NTF Vice President, Margret Binga believes the camp would help to improve the knowledge of the athletes, just as she expressed appreciation to the Republic of Korea embassy for supporting the federation in its efforts to develop the sport in the country. Like Binga, NTF board member, Mohammed Garba described this development as a sign of good things to come, adding, “the new board knows its onions and we are hopeful that things will take shape in few years to come.

“We are glad that this is coming now and the athletes are chosen based on merit and we hope that this kind of gesture would continue for us to give all our athletes opportunity to sharpen their skills in the sport.” Among the objectives of the camp is to educate the athletes on Olympic values and ideals, as well as, provide them with a chance for exchanges in sport and culture and understanding diverse cultures among the participants. Besides the training, the athletes, who will be drawn from across the globe, will visit Kukkiwon and also tour Jeonju Hanok Village and other places to experience Korean tradition-

Organisers approve venue for E. K. Clark Wrestling Championship HE BrownHill Event T Centre, Warri, which is scheduled to host the inau-

Long distance sensation, Aminat Olowora

Olukoya donates three-storey camp to MFM FC N appreciation of IMiracles Mountain of Fire and Ministries (MFM) Football Club’s sterling performance in the ongoing Nigeria National Division One League, the General Overseer, Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya has provided a three-storey building, located in the Somolu area of Lagos State, for the team. This gesture is coming on the heels of MFM’s 2-1 defeat of City of David (COD) United at the Onikan Stadium last weekend. MFM FC had earlier in the season won the first leg 2-0 at the Agege Stadium. According to a reliable source within MFM FC, the G. O was fulfilling a promise he made to the team. “The G.O is a sports loving person and keeps his promises always. You will recall that since taking over the slot of the defunct Bolowotan Football Club about four months ago, MFM

FC has held its own in the National League, beating traditional power houses like Abia Warriors, Bendel Insurance of Benin City, Prime FC of Osogbo, Gabros of Nnewi, COD etc.” “The boys are very happy and have promised not to let the G.O down as they chase promotion to the Nigeria Premier League,” an official, who pleaded anonymity, said. Two weeks ago, the Nigeria National League Chairman, Emeka Inyamah, commended MFM FC for taking the league by storm after less than four months in the top f l i g h t . Speaking shortly after watching his side, Abia Warriors lose 0-2 at the Agege Stadium to MFM FC, the NFF board member saluted MFM General Overseer, Dr. Olukoya, for his support for the youths and urged him not to relent in his efforts, as MFM has become a model to other churches in the area of

gural edition of the E. K. Clark National Wrestling Championship from July 25 to 29, 2013, has been certified fit for the Fiesta. Speaking on the competition, Chairman of the Delta State Wrestling Association, Victor Ochei, who was in Warri on Monday alongside his board members to inspect the venue, expressed

satisfaction with the quality of facilities at the venue. About 500 wrestlers drawn from the nooks and crannies of the country, will feature in the wrestling championship, which would serve as the qualifier for the Commonwealth Games. According to Ochei, who is the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, the Wrestling Championship, apart from its national sporting outlook, “is aimed at hon-

ouring E. K. Clark, who by all estimation and equation is a living legend, an icon and a true elder Statesman who has contributed immensely to the Nigerian project.” He remarked that the championship would also afford Warri an opportunity to stage a global event, which the city was denied a few years ago. On the inspection tour was the president of the National Wrestling Federation, Dr.

Victor Igali, who also opined that the wrestling championship would lift the game in the country. The championship is a realisation of the promise made by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to Team Delta at the University of Lagos wrestling arena during the last National Sports Festival. At the occasion, he promised to host a befitting wrestling championship for the athletes.

Fans stage sports fashion show July 6 HE third edition of Rep T Your Club show will hold on July 6 at the Ember Creek

MFM General Overseer, Dr. Olukoya, presents the winners’ trophy to captain of MFM Ikeja, Tunde Osoko, during the MFM Cup final in Lagos…recently.

Lounge, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi. According to the organisers, this year’s show will combine sports entertainment and fashion with the aim of bringing together the youths in an interactive and fun atmosphere. It has been designed to provide avenue for peer networking and socialising in a safe and fun environment. Co-ordinator of the event, Tony Dafe Ighofose, says “Rep Your Club’ is patterned after the UEFA Champions League with an intention of having youths represent their clubs in their various club colours in a play station soccer game and table games. While the competition is on, various celebrities would be entertaining the fans.”

THE GUARdiAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

SPORTS | 63

Confederations Cup 2013

Balotelli out, as Italy seeks revenge against Spain ARiO Balotelli will be m forced to miss the remainder of the Confederations Cup with a strained quad muscle. it was already announced that the striker would be unavailable for the semi-final vs. Spain, but after a day of having the injury monitored, Balotelli is being sent home to recover. if italy is to exact revenge on Spain for its 4-0 defeat in the Euro 2012 final and reach the title game, he would not be available. The milan striker, who leads italy with two goals in the tournament, suffered the injury in Saturday’s 4-2 loss to Brazil. According to team doctor Enrico Castellacci, it was serious enough to cut his tournament short. “Balotelli can not even get to the final,” Castellacci told reporters. “milan will now take care of him.” The news comes as a big blow to the italians, who were using Balotelli as their lone striker throughout the group stage. Bologna’s Alberto

Gilardino is the only other pure striker on the team, while wingers Stephan El Shaarawy and Sebastian Giovinco are also on the roster. Coach Cesare Prandelli laments the loss, but knows italy has to move forward and remain focused if it hopes to take out the defending World Cup and European champions. “We are very sorry for the loss of Balotelli, but there was no time for his recovery,” Prandelli told reporters. “There was no pressure from the Rossoneri (to keep him out and prevent further injury).” Without Balotelli, italy will likely turn to Alberto Gilardino up top. Gilardino is plenty capable of playing as a lone striker, but he is nowhere near the physical specimen that Balotelli is. He won’t be able to win as many balls as Balotelli, which isn’t just important to bring the midfielders into the play, but also provides a valuable

Neymar is proving to be a Barca player, says Benaiges EYmAR has demonstrated among iniesta and Neymar as N through his performanc- best player of the es at the Confederations Cup Confederations Cup,” that he is Barcelona quality, according to former Barcelona Academy director, Albert Benaiges. Benaiges insists the $75 million signing from Santos has been every bit as good as Andres iniesta at the tournament and that the Brazilian has a bright future at Camp Nou. “it will be hard to choose

Benaiges told La Xarxa. “Neymar is proving to be a Barca player.” The Samba star has lit up the competition with a stunning goal against Japan before following up with goals against mexico and italy to put him in contention for the Golden Boot while sealing a semifinal spot in the competition for Brazil.

Brazil may lose 2014 World Cup host to USA over protest, says report mid the panic and uncerA tainty of the street riots that engulfed Brazil last week,

Balotelli

Eyes on Suarez, Neymar, as Brazil battles Uruguay and Spain promise an besting Japan and mexico ing strikes in the team’s 8-0 iit’sTALY intriguing matchup, but with clean sheets and italy by win over Tahiti in the group hard to envision a better a final tally of 4-2. Likewise, stage, and he’ll look to carry match than the game today between Brazil and Uruguay. Two-thirds of the South American powerhouse trio of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, the two World Cup champions are set to face off in the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup with a lot at stake. Fortunately, both teams are playing tremendous football right now. The hosts have cruised through the tournament without much resistance,

Uruguay advanced to the semi-finals without much trouble, their lone loss coming at the hands of Spain in a 2-1 duel. Both sides are capable of netting plenty of goals, and this match could prove to be a tremendous shootout featuring some incredible talent. Some of the players to watch out for in today’s game include Luis Suarez. The striker became Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer with two scor-

that over into Uruguay’s match with Brazil today. With Brazil’s tremendous firepower, Uruguay has to be aggressive and co-ordinated on their attack. Suarez will play a big role in doing that. david Luiz will find himself matched up with the star striker, and there may not be a more intriguing individual battle to watch in this contest. Luiz loves to play physical— albeit sometimes dirty— defense, while Suarez is no stranger to giving it right back.

there was one associated development that was entirely predictable. With the clean-up and fall-out barely getting started and an uneasy peace lingering over the nation that loves soccer like no other, the United States became part of this sad tale that sees sports and social unrest painfully intertwined. According to reports in O Globo – Brazil’s leading daily newspaper – a contingency plan has been considered that would see next summer’s World Cup moved to the U.S. if the situation in Brazil worsens to an extent that the safety of international visitors cannot be guaranteed. Cue some excitement from American fans, who would love to see the game’s greatest showpiece on these shores for the first time since 1994.

TheGuardian

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Gbadebo Olusegun Odularu

HE Comprehensive Africa Agriculture T Development Programme – Knowledge, Information and Skills (CAADP-KIS) is a panAfrican vehicle that translates the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA)’s vision into a workable framework to guide agriculture-led development. CAADP’s overall goal is to improve livelihoods, food security and environmental resilience in Africa’s largely agrarian economies. After its 10-year planning phase which laid greater emphasis on the regional strategies, the current implementation era, which is referred to as the Knowledge, Information and Skills (KIS) phase, focuses on the country level, and seeks to strengthen African countries’ capacities to be proactive and forward-thinking in maximising opportunities as well as minimising threats for positive agricultural transformation. The KIS phase of CAADP is, therefore, expected to give a stronger attention to the youth as actors in agricultural development in Africa. Recent studies have focused on the impact of age structure on population as well as economic growth. For instance, what is the impact of a youthful population on economic growth? What are the opportunities and what risks do demographic dividend offer for Africa; how can Africa help its youth get involved and stay involved in the CAADP process? How can Africa draw more youth into the CAADP processes and benefit from their talents? In fact, more than 40 per cent of the higher growth in the East Asian ‘tigers’ versus that in Latin America during 1965 – 1990 was due to the former’s working-age population, combined with their better policies on trade and human capital development (Bloom and Canning, 2004). In the case of Africa, the continent possesses the largest share of children and youth, and it is expected to experience a ‘demographic dividend’ where the youthful population will peak, bringing a unique opportunity for rapid human capital development and economic growth. Africa boasts of the fastest-growing and most youthful population in the world (AfDB, 2012). Over 40 per cent are under the age of 15 years, and 20 per cent (about 200 million) are between the ages of 15 and 24 (the United Nations definition of age bracket for youth). Seventy per cent of African youth resides in rural areas and account for 65 per cent of labour in agriculture. Young people make up 36 per cent of the working population, and account for 60 per cent of the total unemployed (AfDB, 2012). Though these statistics portend both huge opportunities and challenges, the large youth population in Africa should be viewed as a formidable asset for advancing the CAADP-KIS agenda. Regarding the challenges, it is important to note that the ongoing economic buoyancy of about six per cent annual growth rate in the past half decade has often been non-inclusive, non-participatory and non-encompassing. In other words, this phenomenal economic growth as well as increased annual allocation of 10 per cent to agriculture has created insufficient opportunities for young people, thereby making the current demographic trend in Africa more of a threat than an opportunity. Against this background, the communiqué developed during the 2012 Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) second annual dialogue of Ministers of Agriculture, Science and Technology emphasizes the inclusion of youth in the mechanisms of integrating research, extension and education in the CAADP country process for increased agricultural productivity in Africa. Further, the eighth Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) partnership platform meeting, which was held in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 3-4, 2012, recognised that mobilising the potentials of young Africans remains the dominant driver for achieving the CAADP objectives. It must be stated that, though giant strides have been recorded in actualising the CAADP agenda, Africa still remains a net food importer and more than 40 per cent of Africans do not even have the ability to obtain sufficient food on a day-to-day basis, they therefore go to bed hungry (UN Millennium Project Factsheets, 2006). In fact, the World Development Report 2007 notes that developing countries should best invest in their youth and capitalise on the ‘demographic dividend’ in order to spur

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How to engage youth in agriculture

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture

growth and achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Invariably, Africa is yet to recognise the treasures embedded in its youth and strategise on how to tap into this resource. One of the biggest challenges being faced by African policymakers, development partners and practitioners is how to effectively harness the potentials of young people – male and female – by equipping them with the requisite skills and knowledge in order to be fully engaged in the entire CAADP-KIS process at all levels, as well as the innovative approaches for making research, extension and education an integral part of the Agriculture and Food Security Investment Plans (AFSIPs) that African countries are currently developing. Further, national

CAADP-KIS implementation process and the AFSIPs present ample opportunities to practically and concretely integrate evidence based mechanisms and programme to address youth issues in a gender-sensitive manner. Inadequate mechanisms for engaging youth (farmers) in CAADP decision-making processes appeared as one of the major hindrances to improved agricultural productivity. In fact, lack of integration appeared intentional, since youth contributions are sometimes regarded as ‘obstacles to innovation’ that should be superseded. Thus, despite references to social inclusion, youth are perceived as passive agents in policy design and implementation. In other words, youth are seen as being unable to

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create the bonds with outsiders who are required to access resources and influence policies to support innovations based on traditional knowledge – innovations that potentially could be used, for instance, as an asset for sustainable agricultural development. If improved agricultural productivity, within the CAADP agenda, is to be youth-driven, innovative strategies are to be called on to play a vital role in the new paradigm of agricultural competitiveness; this will require the recognition of social norms and practices in the agricultural supply and demand value chain. A paradigm shift in agricultural productivity must work with, rather than against, youth involvement and participation. This further requires the role of the state is strategically steering the direction of choices and opportunities according to the CAADP Framework. Youth being an effective lever with a huge transformative power for achieving CAADP goals, its success will not be achieved solely through the application of pre-designed mechanisms aimed at achieving sustainability by leapfrogging traditional modes of production. There could not have been a better time than when youth unemployment is rising significantly and the 8th CAADP PP has brought new insights and perspective to youth issues under CAADP. The youth need to be brought into the mainstream of CAADP policy processes and thinking in order to ensure a bright future for them and for the country. Some of the reasons why Africa needs to focus on youth and her role in CAADP include: Creating livelihood opportunities for young people helps break the cycle of intergenerational poverty; with human capital as the trading currency, there are long-term socioeconomic benefits to be reaped from improving the health, education and social capacities of young people; all the four CAADP pillars speak directly to improving the situation of young people; CAADP-KIS represents the means to a productive life for about 70 per cent of Africans living on agriculture; and failure to invest in young people can lead to their involvement in crime, violence and conflict. In order to take advantage of this demographic dividend for driving CAADP-KIS framework, sound policies, institutional structures and youth involvement/development are needed to boost youth capacity. To this end, there is a need for an initiative to study, understand, and shape the effectiveness of the youth component of CAADP-KIS. This should engender the establishment of a Youth in CAADP Initiative (YICI) which will be geared towards assisting those who were negatively affected by previous unfavourable policies to remain in the agricultural pipeline in order to foster an effective national system of innovation and Agricultural Research for Development (ARD). The initiative will bring together experts from the policy, programme and research environments as well as young people in a series of dialogues to interrogate the key issues of adopting multi-sectoral approaches to embracing youth in the CAADP-KIS processes. YICI’s should aims at: (1) making high-quality youth related research available to CAADP stakeholders; (2) facilitating debates on the most efficient ways of addressing challenges of young people vis-à-vis achievement of CAADP-KIS objectives; (3) contributing to coordination among the CAADP-KIS priority issues that are of relevance to youth; (4) promoting integration of youth among CAADPKIS officials and stakeholders; (5) screening potentials AFSIPs for implementing activities under the inclusiveness of youth and decent employment in the CAADP-KIS process. This will help to further shape policies that influence opportunities which are of interests to youth and African development. Some of these opportunities include: Strengthening capacities of youth (and their institutions) on enterprise development particularly in value added activities such as food processing, packaging and trade; improving young people access to technology, knowledge and information; and provision of well-targeted innovative micro-finance packages. Thus, the proposed YICI will ensure that Africa is prepared to make the most of its youth bulge within the CAADP-KIS framework. • Dr. Odularu is the regional policy analyst at the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Accra, Ghana. He is also the Africa-regional coordinator of Young Professionals’ Platform for Agricultural Research for Development (YPARD).