Wed 04 June 2014

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,941

www.ngrguardiannews.com

N150

IG overrules Mbu on rallies for abducted girls From Muyiwa Adeyemi (Ado-Ekiti) Bertram Nwannekanma, Wale Oyebade (Lagos), Karls Tsokar and Oludare Richards (Abuja) LL is apparently now set for the ‘Bring Back our Girls’ protesters to return to their ‘battleground’ as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday upturned the ban by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu.

A

• Fresh outrage at police order The IGP specifically noted that it was a constitutional right to protest.

Widespread outrage yesterday trailed the earlier ban on the pro-Chibok girls protests as organisers of the rallies threatened that they would go to court today to challenge the police order.

The Lagos State House of Assembly, the Socio-Economic

Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Senator Babafemi Ojudu, described the police order as a violation of the freedom of expression and assembly.

At a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba said the “buck stops at the table of the IGP” and he did not give such a

directive but rather advised that if protest were to be carried out, it would be wiser to seek police guidance and protection to prevent it from being hijacked by miscreants.

“The Police High Command wishes to inform the general public that the force has not issued any order banning peaceful

assemblies/protests anywhere in Nigeria,” he said.

The IGP through the spokesman also stressed “the need for the organisers of such rallies to ensure that they seek proper advice and guidance from the police before engaging in any such exercise so as to avoid any unpleasant circumstances.”

He said the information on the position of the Police High Command on the announced ban had become imperative to forestall mis-

conceptions in some quarters that the force was tampering with the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

BRING

...DAY 51

BACK

OURGIRLS

Emefiele unveils agenda as CBN chief tomorrow – Page 3

Agony on Lagos roads as LASU students protest against increase in fees –Page 4

Akpabio seeks review of new state pensions act – Page 71

A little girl, Doyin Ajayi , remembering her late friend after school hours at the Iju Ishaga memorial arcade where the Dana Boeing Macdonnel (MD-83) crashed during the PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN second anniversary of the tragedy ... yesterday.

Reps bicker over APC’s minority leadership seats From Adamu Abuh, Abuja OVES to strip the All M Progressives Congress (APC) of some of the four key minority leadership seats and re-distribute them among other minority parties in the House of Representatives generated commotion yesterday, stalling deliberations on the floor of the House for about 30 minutes.

• Want explosives detectors installed on highways • Ask INEC to extend voters’ registration The party has Femi Gbajabiamila (formerly of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), as Minority Leader, Kawu Sumaila (formerly of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), as Deputy Minority Leader, Samson Osagie (formerly of ACN), as

Minority Whip, and Ahmed Datti (formerly of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), as Deputy Minority Whip.

Meanwhile, to ensure that eligible voters participate in the forthcoming 2015 polls, the House of Repre-

sentatives has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend by a week the registration of voters, whose names were omitted from its register.

The directive came after the adoption of a motion

sponsored by Hassan Saleh during the plenary presided by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha.

Also, the lawmakers adopted a motion sponsored by Emmanuel Jime of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the need to introduce explosives detectors/portals on the highways.

Moving the motion, Jime

argued that the current manual check mounted on the highways would not contain the nefarious activities of terrorists, particularly of the Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram.

Wondering why security operatives have continued with the archaic and cumbersome methods of tracking criminals, he remarked that the method of conCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

18

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 | 3

News Emefiele unveils agenda as CBN chief tomorrow From Emeka Anuforo and Anthony Otaru, Abuja

flamboyance that accompanied the assumption of office by the previous occupiers of HE new Governor of the that office. Security around the Central Bank of Nigeria Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Way (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, at 7.30a.m on June 3. At the he will unveil his agenda for in Central Business District, Okorafor, said that Emefiele will address a news conference brief handing over ceremony, the Central Bank and the peo- where CBN is located, was inihas formally assumed office at tomorrow, where he would the new governor thanked the ple of Nigeria. The immediate tially tight, apparently to forethe apex bank’s headquarters formally unveil his agenda unforeseen erstwhile acting governor, Dr. past Group Managing Director stall in Abuja as “the 10th indigeand approach to controlling nous governor in the history Sarah Alade, and the other of Zenith Bank Plc brings along circumstances. and administering the naHowever, that arrangement of the bank.” deputy governors. to his new role over 20 years of tion’s monetary and financial According to him, “Mr. Eme“The new governor is exbanking management experi- was relaxed shortly after he policies. came in. And apart from thankfiele, who was cleared by the pected to have a maiden ence.”

In a statement yesterday, the Senate on March 26, 20014, arWorld Press Conference on The handover ceremony yes- ing Dr. Alade and other deputy CBN Director of Corporate rived at the CBN Headquarters Thursday (tomorrow), where terday was without the usual governors who were in charge Communications, Mr. Isaac pending his assumption of office, Emefiele made no deep formal comments.

Meanwhile, stakeholders have urged him to quickly settle down to promote greater transparency and accountability in the apex bank. The Executive Director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Adetokunbo Mumuni, told The Guardian that Emefiele should promote transparency and accountability by unilaterally releasing the original copy of the Pius Okigbo Panel Report to the civil society.

He stated that the former helmsman, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, failed to do this despite several requests by civil society groups. According to him, “SERAP’s investigations show that the original copy of the report is with the CBN. “We therefore ask the new CBN governor to hand over the copy and/or provide a comprehensive statement of accounts relating to the spending of $12.4 billion (Dedicated Accounts for 1988-1994) documented by the panel to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), for New CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele (right), former Acting Governor, Dr. Sarah Alade, and Deputy Governor, Financial System Stabil- appropriate legal action.

“We have been informed that ity, Mr. Adebayo Adelabo, during Emefiele’s assumption of office in Abuja…yesterday PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY-ELUKPO the original copy of the report is not available in the National Archives, where a copy should have been kept. Our investigation has, however, revealed that the original copy of the reBy Chukwuma Muanya port is available at the Trade and Exchange Department of XCEPT for emergencies, the CBN. most out patients, includ“We are seriously concerned ing those on ante-natal and that despite the huge taxpaypost-natal, that visited the La“Our strike is indefinite. We medical consultants) were of strike, we had started a ers’ money spent on the operagos University Teaching Hoshave local issues and have seen attending to patients process and we have released tion and work of the Okigbo pital (LUTH), Idi Araba, been engaging the manage- only at the emergency unit the list of 118 new medical yesterday met the clinics ment.” He explained that they and to patients already on staff, including doctors and locked due to the three-day “are not happy with the as- admission. An anonymous nurses. warning strike by the Natronomical increase in prices lady on post-natal appoint“I can also confirm to you tional Association of Resident of minor surgeries from ment was disappointed that that the Federal Ministry of Doctors (NARD), which beabout N8,000 to over there was no doctor to atHealth is working hard to imgan on Monday. N50,000.” tend to her. prove the conditions of servThe patients were advised He said: “We have issue of “I was given appointment ice of all doctors, including From Bridget Chiedu Onochie, by the security men to call the equipment not working; to attend the clinic today,” resident doctors. I appeal to Abuja back tomorrow, when the we sometimes have to buy she lamented. “I came here them to be patient. As you can ENATE voting on the report warning strike must have reagents and pay for even as early at 8a.m but the doors see, we are attending to paof its Committee on Conended. photocopies of our work. to the clinic were locked. You tients; the nurses, consultants stitution Review would be However, The Guardian learnt Some of us have been given can see so many other people and other health workers are concluded today, the Deputy that there are two simultaneletters to exit prematurely hanging around. They told on duty.” Senate President, Ike Ekwereous industrial actions in and we are not happy that us to come back on ThursOn the premature exiting of madu, disclosed at yesterLUTH - one by NARD, which plenary. only doctors in LUTH are sub- day.” some resident doctors from day’s ends today, and the other by Ekweremadu, who chaired jected to heavy taxation. We When contacted, the Chief LUTH, Osibogun said: “Resithe LUTH chapter of Associaare working under very Medical Director of LUTH, dent doctors are here for resi- the session, informed that at tion of Resident Doctors stressful conditions. Prof. Akin Osibogun, said dency training, which is for the end of the day, the exer(ARD), which is on indefinite “We have been engaging the that management was workthree years. Some of them stay cise would have been comstrike. management for three ing very hard to meet the defor up to eight years because pleted and sent to the House of Representatives for harmoNARD said that if its demonths but nothing positive mands of the doctors, “but I they have not passed the ex- nization before the two mands were not met by June has come of it. It has been all must confess to you that ams. But they have to exit after chambers proceed on recess 30, it would begin a nationpromises with nothing on some of the demands are far three years to allow space for tomorrow. wide indefinite strike by July ground to show that they are beyond us. other doctors to come in for To that end, he urged his col1 to protest against a breach committed to meeting our “How can we employ 1,000 the programme. leagues to attend plenary toof its agreement with the Feddemands.” new doctors? There are pro“After three years, even if they day to participate in the eral Government.

At LUTH yesterday, however, cedures that must be taken don’t pass the exams, they are voting. With the resumption However, President of LUTH house officers (graduate doc- before employment. Not begiven a certificate showing of clause-by-clause consideraARD, Dr. Omojowolo Oltors and very senior doctors - cause of the strike or threat they have completed the tion of the bill, it is hoped that ubunmi, told The Guardian: the Electoral Act, which many

T

• Rights groups seek greater transparency, accountability • Flay Sanusi over non-release of Okigbo report

Resident doctors’ strike paralyses activities at LUTH

E

• Industrial action indefinite, says local chapter • We are addressing demands, says management

Panel, successive governments have failed and/or neglected to release the report, and to bring to justice suspected perpetrators of allegations of corruption and mismanagement documented in the report.”

Similarly, the former Federal Commissioner, Nigerian National Human Rights Commission and National Coordinator of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko, has called for closer monitoring of Nigerian banks.

“The new CBN helmsman has to set the ball rolling to ensure seamless, comprehensive reforms of the banking sector and to put (in place) foolproof measures and policy framework, including strong regulations to prevent any future bank collapse or distress,” he said.

“The banks must support Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and the real sector so as to promote national productivity and job (creation) for the Nigerian youth. The new CBN governor must importantly monitor banks to stop their undue sexual exploitation of young recruits, who are thrown out into the society on rampage, searching frantically for deposits at the risk of their lives and health.

“The massive downsizing of personnel as witnessed by banks without regulatory supervision by the apex bank must be checked even as money laundering for governors, as being done by many commercial banks, must be checked through in-house mechanisms.”

Onwubiko added: “CBN should ensure that mortgage financing institutions are made to do their mandatory job of lending to credible Nigerian youth to set up their houses on friendly repayment terms so as to reduce the high housing deficit afflicting Nigeria.

“Interest rates for small and medium scale entrepreneurs should be made to remain at single digit since that will create greater amount of new jobs.”

Senate concludes voting on amendments today S

senators’ bills seek its amendment, would be touched.

Among the bills, Ekweremadu had anchored one seeking to amend the Electoral Act 2010 to provide for tenure of office of secretary, power to issue duplicate voters card, determine voting procedure and for other related matters 2014, which was jointly sponsored by members of the Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution.

Also, Abu Ibrahim sponsored another seeking to provide for the holding of elections on the same day, accreditation of voters by electronic means and to confer on the Independent National Electoral Commission the power to cause a debate to be conducted for candidates contesting election for the office of the President.

4

NEWS Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Gunmen injure five in attack on Benue female hostel From Joseph Wantu (Makurdi) and Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi (Jos)

• Plateau residents alert to plot to cause mayhem

UNMEN yesterday attacked the College of Advanced and Professional Studies (CAPS) female hostel, injuring five students who were later hospitalised.

This is coming barely a week after some hoodlums invaded Benue State University (BSU) female hostel and allegedly raped some girls.

The Guardian learnt that the gunmen numbering about six came to the hostel with guns and tied the two security guards on duty and forced the main doors of the hostel opened before breaking into the various rooms where they started beating up the students.

It was further gathered that even as no death was reported, the robbers after

beating and wounding some of the students, took away their handsets, electronic gadgets and clothes and ran away when they learnt that their male counterparts were coming to intervene.

Meanwhile, villagers in Riyom and Barkin Ladi local councils of Plateau State have cried out to security agencies for help over alleged plans by armed Fulani militants to launch fresh attacks on the villages.

The concerned villagers said they have discovered a Fulani training camp of unknown gunmen behind a rocky hill in Rim near Riyom.

According to the disturbed villagers, “the alarm has become necessary so as to attract security agencies to come to our aid in pro-

G

tection. The whole of Bachit district is under serious risk of gunmen attacks if nothing is done to improve security surveillance in the areas.”

Confirming the female hostel attack to The Guardian, the Sole Administrator of CAPS, Dr. Ityotom Kerghku, said the hoodlums invaded the school at about 5:00 a.m.

Kerghku, who alleged that the perpetrators may have been from within the community, said he had already reported the matter to the police for investigation.

The sole administrator, while intimating that only two students were hospitalised and discharged on the same day, said that the school authority had demanded for deployment of policemen to the institu-

tion for protection.

But when contacted, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Daniel Ezeala, said such report has not got to his office.

A member of a vigilance group in Riyom, Dangyang Bulus, said: “We discovered their plans because one of the Fulani living with us was invited to join them in their training camp. That Fulani man deceived them by telling them he would go home and prepare to join them later but refused to go back to the camp.

“So, it is our Fulani neighbour that revealed the secret to us. We have communicated to the police and security agencies in charge of these areas but from all indications, they are afraid of going there.

Some of them even said we

are raising false alarm.

“This gunmen can strike anytime and we don’t know where and when they will strike that is why we are raising this alarm. If this planned attack is not prevented, we will hold the security agencies responsible for any loss of lives and property because past attacks by these gunmen claimed casualties as hundreds.” as many Copy of a petition sent to Plateau State Police Commissioner by members of Shonong community indicated that several of their men have been killed while working on their month. last farms The petition, signed by Shonong Youth Leader, Yohanna Ciroma, described the situation in the area as silent terrorism, saying “our communities have been under siege by men.”

Fulani armed

A member representing Riyom Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Daniel Dem, also confirmed the danger his people are facing.

Dem, while commenting on the insecurity in his constituency, said: “This is an act of terrorism against my people. They can no longer go to farms because they are consistently being attacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen. The Fulani come into our farmland and will deliberately lead their cattle to graze on crops. If you complain, you are killed instantly.

Dem, who is also the Majority Leader in the state House of Assembly, further alleged that some security operatives must be aiding some of their attackers, wondering why men of the Special Task Force deployed to the area could

ing cases of boat mishaps within communities in riverine areas across the state, especially as the rainy season intensifies.

The statement further urged inhabitants of communities in riverine settlements to avoid travelling in over-

crowded boats and ensure they adhere strictly to laid down safety measures. It also called on community leaders to enlighten their subjects on the dangers associated with disobeying safety guidelines while travelling by boat.

The governor while pledg-

ing continuous government policy in ensuring strict adherence to wearing life jackets and other safety measures, said the safety of live and property of all Nigerlites, irrespective of tribe, religious or political persuasion remains top priority of his administration.

11 die in Niger boat mishap From John Ogiji, Minna BOAT mishap has ocA curred in Garafini in Borgu Local Council of Niger State, killing 11 people while seven other passengers escaped death.

This brings to three the number of boat mishaps that have occurred in the area in the last one year killing 79 people.

The mishap occurred at about 6:00 p.m. on Monday when the boat carrying 18 passengers was returning from a village market in Garafini Kodo back to Garafini town, a journey of about one hour on boat.

An eyewitness told The Guardian on phone that the boat collided with a tree in the river and immediately divided into two, living the passengers, mostly women, to their fate.

Meanwhile, Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu, has condoled with the emirate and entire people of Borgu Local Council of the state over the tragic incident.

The governor in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Israel

A. Ebije, said the incident happened at Garafini Kodo area of Borgu.

Commiserating with the people over the incident, the governor pledged that the government would investigate the remote cause of the disaster and continue to work towards checking ris-

Agony on Lagos roads as LASU students protest against increase in fees

By Tope Templer Olaiya, Odita Sunday and Ujunwa Atueyi OR over five hours, it was Fyesterday like an apocalyptic scene on the ever-busy Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, as hundreds of protesting students of Lagos State University (LASU) brought to halt commercial activities and vehicular movements in and around Murtala Muhammed International

Airport, Ikeja and Oshodi.

Vehicles wedged bumper-tobumper in both directions along the expressway. Curses and horn blasts pierced the exhaust-choked air. Brakes screeched as vehicles inched forward and cars rocked violently back and forth, while thousands of stranded Lagosians endured the severe gridlock that nearly marred the day’s activities.

The protest is coming less than 24 hours after President of the Students’ Union Government, Nurudeen Yusuf, addressed a press briefing at the school’s main campus in Ojo, challenging the state government to a public debate on why the school fees have to be increased from N45,000 and N65,000 to between N250,000 and N350,000.

Speaking with The Guardian at the scene of the protest, Yusuf said it is in continuation of a series of other protests already lined up by the students to force the state government to reverse the school fees termed Boko Haram Policy to what it was before.

“We are not going to retreat nor are we going to surrender! It is either the N45,000 we were paying before now or nothing. The fee hike is outrageous and a Boko Haram policy. If this new fees is not an act of terrorism, I wonder what else is,” Yusuf said.

In solidarity with the students, many motorists placed green leaves on their windshields, as the students barricaded the highway, using a truck and a BRT bus. The protest became disruptive when policemen arrived at the scene to disperse the students and ease the traffic situation.

A student, who spoke with The Guardian, said the protest was peaceful until men of the Nigeria Police opened fire on them and injured three female students in the process.

“The government is not sincere. Why is it taking so long to reverse the fees hike? Why

would the university’s management ask us to go on a recess? Why are ASUU-LASU demands not being met?

Why is SSANU on strike? We are tired of the strikes. Let the government bring down LASU fees now,” she demanded, while shedding tears as a result of the teargas fired by the police at them.

The Guardian gathered that Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Umar Manko, had ordered Policemen to use minimum force to control the students who were taking laws into their hands by looting wares belonging to traders and stealing petroleum products from petrol stations.

The students had invaded petrol stations along their protest routes, forcing them to dispense petroleum products to their cars and jerry cans without payment.

When the Lagos State Police boss was hinted about the development, he ordered his men to stop what he described as a ‘criminal act’.

A police source said: “This is no longer a protest. This is pure crime. How can students go to petrol stations and dispense fuel without paying? They attack motorists and drivers who fail to join them. What kind of freedom of expression is this? We had to stop them; if not, bad elements would hijack the protest and wreck havoc on innocent citizens.”

The students urged the government to reverse the new fees to the recommended rates of N45,500 and N65,500, per student or face

continuous protests from them.

Yusuff said his colleagues were determined to make Lagos State ungovernable for Fashola.

“Except and until he listens to our cries, we will not stop; because we cannot continue to fold our arms when our only weapon of liberation, that is education, is being taken away from us and their children continue to live fat on our commonwealth, attending worldclass universities all over the globe”, he said.

While the students allegedly had a field day until they approached the Nigerian Army Shopping Arena, along Oshodi Road, where a team of Anti-Riot Police Squad engaged them in what eyewitnesses described as ‘an open display of firepower’, traders, motorists and pedestrians in the popular Oshodi Market scampered for safety.

Many of the eyewitnesses, who spoke on condition of anonymity, accused the students of being unruly in their attitude, saying they lacked civility and decorum.

It would be recalled that last week, students of polytechnics and colleges of education nationwide had embarked on similar protests with a plan to obstruct traffic movement on the busy Third Mainland Bridge but were barred by the Police officers, who shot sporadically to disperse them, with many of them arrested and others injured.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 NEWS 5

Muslims’ demand for emirate raises tension in Kaduna • Gov deplores allegation of bad governance This is the kind of mischievous demand deliberately hatched to spite and denigrate the revered Adara Chiefdom. It is an impracticable, unreasonable and unrealizable dream that can at best remain a dream. It is, however, significant to ring a bell here to all that such demand can bring nothing but chaos to a peaceful community.

Yero From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief OLLOWING the recent FKaduna community clash in State, the Adara and Ham communities in Kachia local council have kicked against demands by the Hausa Fulani population in the area for the creation of an emirate as a panacea for lasting peace.

At a joint press conference in Kaduna on Monday, the two ethnic groups under the umbrella of Ada Development Association (ADA) and Ham Community Development Association (HAMCDA) described the demands of the Hausa Fulani Muslim community as a denigration of the Adara traditional institution meant to further perpetrate tension.

Besides, the Hausa Fulani Muslim community had at a conference at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Kaduna last week, demanded for the creation of an emirate for Muslims in Kachia following the religious violence which erupted in the area on May 11, 2014 leading to lost of lives and property.

In their reaction yesterday, the President of ADA, Mr. Peter Gulbee and the President of HAMCDA, Mr. Bako Monday maintained that if the Muslim community instigated the crisis in order to

demand for the creation of an emirate, then they have failed.

Gulbee, who spoke on behalf of the two ethnic groups, also dismissed allegations by the Muslim community that only Muslim youths were arrested by security agents during the violence in Kachia, saying that it was the Muslim youths that started the trouble.

According to him, “It is a known fact that Christians in Kachia local council have never initiated any attack on any person or groups for whatever reasons. The pattern has always been for us to come under attack and then quickly defend ourselves.

“So when the crisis started, Kachia town and its environs were thrown into confusion and when the security agencies arrived, and in trying to control the situation, the Christian youths were blocked from advancing into the Muslim settlement. This gave the Muslims the opportunity of more looting, burning of shops and residential houses of Christians.”

The groups stated that the call by the Muslim community for the creation of an emirate will further cause problems in the area instead of resolving it, while urging the state government not to do anything that will be detrimental to

The groups stated that the call by the Muslim community for the creation of an emirate will further cause problems in the area instead of resolving it, while urging the state government not to do anything that will be detrimental to peace and stability.

peace and stability.

“We condemn in the strongest terms the call by the Muslim community for the creation of chiefdom out of Adara Chiefdom.

Chiefdom cannot be created from the headquarters of an existing one as demanded by the Muslim community.”

“This is the kind of mischievous demand deliberately hatched to spite and denigrate the revered Adara Chiefdom. It is an impracticable, unreasonable and unrealizable dream that can at best remain a dream. It is, however, significant to ring a bell here to all that such demand can bring nothing but chaos to a peaceful community,” the groups stated.

The groups also criticised the Muslim community for rejecting the administrative panel set up by the chairman of Kachia Local Council to look into the cause of the crisis, while alleging that the Muslims’ demand for a judicial panel was an attempt to hide the truth behind the crisis, the motive and those who started it.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, has defended his government against allegation of poor performance and lack of vision, saying his administration remains committed to completing all ongoing projects initiated by his predecessors.

Speaking on Monday in Kafanchan during the distribution of empowerment materials to women and youth by the Senator representing Kaduna South, Mrs. Esther Nenadi Usman, Governor Yero said it would amount to waste of resources for government to abandon projects initiated by past administrations.

According to him, “Our administration has not and will not dump any project initiated by regimes before us. While we continue to allocate scarce resources to tackle numerous demands, it is imperative to ensure completion of ongoing projects in order to ensure prudent spending of public funds. It will amount to wastage and retrogression if every administration dumps projects initiated by its predecessors and we shall not fall into such trap.”

The governor said the state government has made budgetary provision of N8.2 billion this year to be expended on funding ongoing roads projects in southern Kaduna.

Said he: “In Zone Three alone, there are 15 ongoing roads projects that have been earmarked for funding in the 2014 budget.

While most are at various stages of completion, our administration has successfully completed the Zonkwa-Yarbam road, TumMadakiya road and the College of Education Gidan Waya road.

“Several other roads projects have reached advance stages of completion and these include; Jere-Kurmin Jibrin and Kwoi-Kafanchan road is at 74 percent completion, Wazo-Asso-Tanda-Gegira washout is at 92 percent and the Zonal Police Headquarter-Kaduna State University Campus access road is at 96 percent completion.

“We have made a total allocation of N8.251 billion in the budget as funding for ongoing road projects in Zone 3 this year. There are also projects in other sectors including education, health, rural development and water supply that are ongoing in all parts of the state.”

Yero called on the people to continue to support his administration towards achieving its set objectives of providing dividends of democracy to all sections of the state.

“Let me therefore reassure the entire people of Kaduna State that our administration is for all the people, irrespective of tribe, religion or section. I am governor for all the people of Kaduna State and for us no citizen of Kaduna is superior or inferior to other citizens, we are all equal partners in this project.

“As government, we shall continue to work hard in ensuring that every citizen of Kaduna enjoys the right and opportunity to attain their full potentials. I reaffirm that under my watch, no section of the state shall receive more or less than its fair share of all opportunities and projects that government has to offer.”

The governor also urged the people to continue to live in peace with one another, saying that, “Without peace, we will only stagnate and fail as a people. I therefore urge all citizens of the state to join us in the campaign for peace and unity.

We should always preach peace and act peacefully; we should imbibe the golden rule of loving our neighbours as we love ourselves.”

Highlighting further on the budgetary allocation for the ongoing roads construction in Southern Kaduna Zone, Yero explained that government has provided funding for 15 projects inherited by his administration.

The projects include; construction of road from zonal police headquarter to Kafan-

IG of Police, Mohammed Abubakar

As government, we shall continue to work hard in ensuring that every citizen of Kaduna enjoys the right and opportunity to attain their full potentials. I reaffirm that under my watch, no section of the state shall receive more or less than its fair share of all opportunities and projects that government has to offer chan campus of KASU in Jema’a LGA (N355 million), Jere-Kurmin Jibrin and Kwoi-Kafanchan in Jema’a; Jaba and Kagarko LGAs (N684 million), Wazo-AssoTanda-Gegira washout Jema’a LGA (N638 million), College of Education Gidan Waya road in Jema’a LGA (N36.9 million) and Kwassam-Kushere-Gashere road in Kauru LGA (N1 billion).

Others are, Kwagiri-Kussom-Wasa in Jema’a/Sanga LGAs (N815 million), KwoiDura-Ankung-Taimen-Indofa in Jaba LGA (N669.6 million), Kagoro-ManchokMabushi in Kaura/Zangon Kataf LGAs (N2.3 billion), Zonkwa-Yarvbam in Zangon Kataf LGA (N90.5 million), Gidan Mana township in Kachia LGA (N127.5 million), Ungwan Idi-Kusheka in Kauru LGA (N170 million),

Gantang-Bahago in Kachia LGA (N176 million), TumMadakiya in Zangon Kataf/Kaura LGAs (N55.5 million), Kagoma township in Jema’a LGA (N606.7 million) and Maraba Idda-Bwari in Kagarko LGA. However, some indigenes of Southern Kaduna, under the Southern Kaduna Professionals Association, led

by Dr. John Danfulani, have threatened to withdraw their support for the governor’s ambition in 2015 for allegedly marginalizing the people in the area.

Addressing a press conference recently during a protest, Danfulani stated that the administration of Governor Yero has abandoned the projects initiated by the former governor, late Patrick Yakowa, in the southern part of the state.

6

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

ISSUE Wednesday, June 4, 2014

ISSUE

Mariam and her husband, Wani at their marriage in 2011

World outrage grows over woman condemned to hang for falling in love

By Jerome Starkey

UTRAGE was growing O around the world last night as it emerged that a woman sentenced to hang for marrying a Christian gave birth while shackled on the floor of a prison cell.

Sudan was accused of sliding back to the ‘‘dark ages” as news of the plight of Meriam Ibrahim, 27, spread. Guards at the Omdurman Women’s Prison, near Khartoum, refused to release Ms Ibrahim when she went into labour last Wednesday after two months kept chained in a cell. The child, named Maya, will remain with her until she is killed in two years’ time.

Her husband, Daniel Wani, 27, is allowed to visit for only 20 minutes, twice a week.

Wani, who suffers from muscular dystrophy and is in a wheelchair, says he does not know how he will take care of Maya – or his one-year-old son, Martin, who is also being held with his mother – after she dies.

In a case that has brought condemnation, Ibrahim was sentenced to 100 lashes for adultery and death by hanging for apostasy, the crime of renouncing Islam, on May 15.

Ibrahim, who was born to a Muslim father but lived with her Christian mother, denied both the charges. She said that she was brought up as a Christian and wished to remain one. “I am a Christian. I did not convert from Islam,” she told the Haj Yousif court, in a northern Khartoum.

• Sudan court orders 100 lashes and shackles mother as she gives birth However, the judge found that she was a Muslim because of the faith of her father and was therefore guilty of apostasy by marrying someone not of her religion.

He jailed her and annulled the marriage, which had taken place at a church in Khartoum in 2011.

Sex outside a ‘lawful relationship’ regarded as adultery under Sudan’s penal code and can be punished by stoning, lashes or banishment.

Article 126 states that anyone who renounces Islam commits the crime of Riddah, or apostasy, ‘‘Whoever commits apostasy shall be asked to repent,” the constitution states. Those who refuse ‘‘shall be punished with death.”

In a defiant message from her cell, Ibrahim said that she was overjoyed by her daughter’s birth, but wanted desperately to leave prison.

“I don’t want anything. I just want to be outside this prison. I want to be free,” she told her lawyer, al-Shareef Mohammed.

Her husband is originally from South Sudan but moved to New Hampshire in the United States. A picture of Maya, released showed her swaddled in blankets and wrapped in her father’s arms when he was finally allowed a prison visit.

His eyes show the joy of holding his child for the first time, but his face is also

tinged with fear at what the future holds. “He can greet her, he can hold her hand, but he can only see her for 20 minutes and there are always two female prison officers there,” Mohammed said of Wani’s prison visits. The judge delayed Ibrahim’s execution by two years so she could nurse her baby. Her lawyers are appealing against the conviction, but

the mother has already vowed not to recant. “If they want to execute me then they should go ahead and do it because I’m not going to change my faith,” she was reported to have told her husband on an earlier visit. After seeing Ibrahim, Maya and Martin in the prison clinic last week, their lawyer said all three were in good health.

Human Rights Watch said that the case showed “draconian intolerance” and violated the country’s constitutional rights to freedom of religion.

“What’s happening to Meriam, it’s like an accident out of the dark ages,” said Hala Al-Karib, the Sudanese director of Siha, a women’s rights group.

“Meriam should be released

immediately and the charges against her should be dropped and she should be compensated for the horrific time she has spent,” alKarib added.

Mark Simmonds, Africa minister at the Foreign Office, summoned Sudan’s charge d’affaires to call on Khartoum to respect the right to religious belief.

Justine Greening, the international development secretary, said: “Sudan must not allow the execution of Meriam Ibrahim to go

Giving birth in prison is the stuff of nightmares Christian sentenced to death in Sudan is said to be in high spirit, but the world is appalled, Jerome Starkey writes HACKLED and sentenced to Ssisted hang, Meriam Ibrahim inlast week that she was overjoyed at the birth of her daughter, but beyond the walls of her Khartoum prison cell, world leaders and human rights groups recoiled in horror at the young mother’s plight, describing it as ‘‘the stuff of nightmares.”

Ibrahim was eight months’ pregnant when she was convicted of adultery and apostasy, but the Sudan judge said that her sentence would not be carried out for two years so that she could nurse her child. Her lawyers said that her legs were chained to the prison floor when she gave birth prematurely last Wednesday.

Unless her appeal is successful and her convictions are overturned, Ibrahim will look after her daughter, Maya, inside the Omdurman

Women’s Prison, where she is also caring for her 20-monthold son, Martin.

Prison rules permit a 20minute visit, twice a week, by the children’s father, Daniel Wani, until the death sentence is carried out. The meetings will be under the gaze of two armed female prison guards.

Despite this, Ibrahim lawyer, El Shareef Ali Mohammed, who visited her, said that she as in high spirits and the children were happy.

Human rights groups said that the prison hospital where Maya was born was overcrowded, rife with disease and notorious for high rates of infant mortality, Ms Ibrahim is still being held in the small clinic attached to the prison.

Kate Allen, the director of Amnesty UK, said: “The way Meriam has been treated has

appalled the world. Millions of people across the world are outraged by her treatment.

“Condemned to death, separated from her husband and now with two infant children imprisoned with her - it’s the stuff of nightmare.”

Hillary Clinton and the actress Mia Farrow were among others who described the Sudanese government’s actions as abhorrent.

Although Sudan’s constitution enshrines the right to choose religion, the penal code makes renouncing Islam punishable by death.

Adultery can be met with stoning, lashes or banishment.

The couple were married in church in 2011, but the judge ruled that the union was unlawful because, he said, Ibrahim was Muslim on the ground that it was her father’s faith, which made her

relationship adulterous.

Ibrahim told the court that the case was brought by Ibrahim relatives as part of a wider plot to seize a shop she owned in the city.

Although Sudan is not alone when it comes to prosecuting people for renouncing Islam, activists said it was one of the few countries to have carried out an execution in recent memory.

There are 20 countries around the world where apostasy is illegal, according to the U.S.-based Pew Research Centre.

All of them, from Afghanistan to Yemen, are majority Muslim states, and most of half of them, including Iran and Saudi Arabia proscribe the death penalty, although scholars claim the Koran does not specify a punishment •Stories culled from THE TIMES OF LONDON

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 NEWS | 7

Kwara monarch allays fears over Nigeria’s break-up From Abiodun Fagbemi Ilorin FIRST class traditional A ruler in Kwara State, Emir of Tsonga, Dr. Haliru Yahaya

President Goodluck Jonathan performing the ground-breaking ceremony of Eagle Heights University, Omidano, Warri, Delta State yesterday. With him are Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (right), President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor (4th left) and his wife, Helen; Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse (2nd left) and Executive Secretary, Christian Pilgrims Board, John Kennedy (left).

Confab delegates suggest ways to tackle insurgency From: Terhemba Daka and Karls Tsokar, Abuja N apparently distraught member of the ongoing A National Conference and delegate representing the association of former speakers, Abdulsalam Taofiq Olawale has appealed to the retired military officers and delegates to come up with strategies to arrest the prevailing wanton killings perpetrated by insurgents in the north east of the country.

In an emotion-laden voice on the floor on Monday, Olawale, who expressed his concern following last weekend ambush and killing of a traditional ruler, the Emir of Gwoza, urged the association of retired military officers at the confab to as a matter of urgency liaise with their contemporaries still in service to address the insecurity bedeviling the country.

“The association of retired Generals and Police officers here and the Director of SSS can do something as far as the military angle is concerned. Our people are being killed daily. You just announced that the Emir of Askira escaped death by whiskers. People are being killed everyday the number of victims keep increasing and these are Nigerians.

Please we want the retired generals that are here to rise up and do something as far as the military concerned.

“People are accusing the military authorities that the allowances of military men are not being paid. We want their morale to be boosted so that we can fight this menace that we are talking about. The retired generals here should speak up!

Delegate Sani Zoro, representing the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) called for a holistic probe of the military authorities application of the huge resources appropriated by government to facilitate the battle against insecurity without results.

“Trillions of naira that has been sunk to address this insurgency and which from all indications has failed and the kind of mutinous information that is coming out from the various media of infor-

• Urge retired military men to advise govt • Want probe of defence spending on security mation in this country, Mr. Chairman deserves out attention.

“It is very important to go back to the recommendation of delegate Femi Falana and ask for an holistic probe of how our armed forces and the government of Nigeria is prosecuting the battle against insurgency. We should not be intimidated, we are Nigerians and there is nothing that should stop us from discussing issues about our lives and welfare.

“I do not share the point that security issues are above the national interest. It is high time we delved into this, in view of the colossal loses of lives on daily bases, destruction of properties and the helplessness of our people crossing borders into Niger and dispersing into Cameroon and so on. We as conferees under whose watch these things are happening need to intervene. We need to intervene by coming out to ask for complete and independent investigation into how this battle is being frustrated.

But another delegate and member representing the association of former Speakers, Chief Anayo Nnebe warned that setting up an independent probe at this time was akin to chasing shadows and would not yield any result.

“I want to disagree with Sani that there should be an independent probe. This is a matter of somebody whose house

is burning chasing a rat.

What type of probe can we embark on to save the lives of our people?

“This is the time for the retired generals here, those people that are still serving are their juniors. Some of them were their ADCs when they were in service; it is now that the nation looks upon them for action. They should be able to call their juniors to order and they should be able to intervene between the combatant soldiers and officers especially on the issue of welfare.

“I am sure the Chief of Army staff now was a junior to most of these generals when they were in service. So, I am pleading that all the retired officers in this conference should go into a committee, whether the retired officer is representing a state or representing a geographical zone or representing a political party or representing the association of retired officers, they should go into a committee and come up with their own report on how to solve this problem and then work with serving officers.

“When this problem started some people had the impression that the country is being made ungovernable and it will just end there. But now we are seeing that people are losing their lives and there is nobody that is insulated both Christians and Moslems, both northerners and southerners.

“Now is the time for us to move into action, and I am pleading with the generals and the retired police officers to save us from this problem.

If they fail to do that, I will recommend, Mr. Chairman sir, that after two weeks, if nothing comes from them we will put a stop to addressing any one of them as General somebody.

But a motion of appeal by delegate Bilkisu Bello Aliyu representing Zamfara State, urging the confab to bring forward the report submitted by the Committee on National Security for immediate discussion by members in view of the prevailing security concern was declined by the Justice Idris Kutigi-led leadership.

“The issue of security, which is now our national concern should be brought forward in the light of the circumstances of the nation right now I think we can bring forward the national committee report on security instead of the 18 June date slated so that we can discuss it in the prevailing circumstances,” she appealed.

But in dismissing the appeal, Justice Kutigi insisted that the issue would only be addressed by the plenary at the time allocated for it.

“We still have the committee report on security still coming. We should reserve comments on it until much more appropriate time,” he maintained.

has described Nigeria as a divine nation that could not be disintegrated by any person or group of persons.

Yahaya, who is also a medical practitioner, said yesterday in Ilorin at the 33rd Annual National Conference of Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) that all human efforts aimed at balkanizing Nigeria would be futile.

He however, canvassed communal security consciousness as a complement to the efforts of the nation’s security outfits to ward off incessant insurgent attacks on the nation and her people.

ACPN is an arm of pharmaceutical professional bodies in Nigeria saddle with the responsibilities of establishing pharmacy shops at communities and sometimes due to the proximity of such shops to the people of the communities render 24 hours services to patients within the communities.

According to the traditional ruler in his address to the ACPN members, in an apparent allusion to the theme of the conference, ‘Evolving Best Practices in Community Pharmacy’, health sector like security matters should commence from the local level if it must be effective.

Reminiscing on the health care delivery system of the late Nigerian Health Minister, Professor Olikoye RansomeKuti, Yahaya said the community health care system under the minister placed more emphases on preventive health rather than providing treatment after an illness.

He said, “You must play feasible role at all times in your environment to ensure that

Delta condoles with Vanguard publisher over mother’s death ELTA State has sent a mesD sage of condolence to the publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Sam AmukaPemu over the death of his mother.

A statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah yesterday read: “ On behalf of the media community in Delta State, we commiserate with Uncle Sam AmukaPemu, publisher of Vanguard newspapers, on the passing to eternal glory of his

mother, Mama Teshoma Amuka-Pemu, who answered God’s call at the ripe age of 109 years.

“In Uncle Sam, Mama Teshoma gave Nigeria an icon in journalism and newspaper publishing, displaying her quality as a unique mother with the passion for raising disciplined children and nation builders.

“Mama Teshoma’s life and accomplishments are testimonies to what the Nigerian society can achieve when

families are built on the virtues of hard work, love for God and country, patriotism and discipline”, the statement said.

“We thank God for blessing Nigeria and the media community with Mama Teshoma and pray that the Almighty receives her in his bosom.

We celebrate her life with Uncle Sam and all the AmukaPemu family and pray for more Mama Teshomas for our country,” the message concluded.

peace reigns. We are losing the fights against insurgence because the much-cherished moral values have disappeared. We need to henceforth make the issue of security our collective responsibilities.

“If you look at Boko Haram insurgence in Nigeria, you will see that no attack by persons or individuals could put an end to our corporate will to live together. The insurgents first attacked churches but failed. The attacked mosques but have also failed.

Our collective will to stay together is God’s design and we should see it just that way.”

The Emir, who sharply criticized frequent strike actions by some medical health practitioners in Nigeria said under no condition should medical doctors or other health workers in the country embark on strike citing the oaths they swore to during their initiation ceremonies.

Besides, he deplored the alleged relegation by the younger practitioners of the role of medical elders in upholding ethics of medicine, just as he urged Nigerian doctors “to always exhaust the option of dialogue” before embarking on strike as an option for a redress.

In his message to the members, President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Olumide Akintayo said pharmacy practice had since moved from its traditional role of medicine dispensing to that of a more inclusive focus on patient care.

Akintayo said, “the role of the pharmacists has evolved from that of a compounder and supplier of pharmaceutical products towards that of a provider of services and information and ultimately that of a provider of patient care.

8 | Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

PHOTONEWS

Chairman of the occasion, Chief Arvind Mahamuni (left); Chief Speaker, Kenneth Okomoko, Zonal Chairman, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Lagos Zone, Folorunso Oginni, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resourses, Lagos, Reginal Obasa, during the 4th Triennial Delegate Conference of PENGASSAN, Lagos chapter.

Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, CP Okoye Ikemefuna (left); receiving a gift of the Holy Quran with other Islamic materials from Head Amir, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Nigeria, Dr. Mashuud Fasola, during a courtesy visit of the Jamaat leadership in Nigeria to state commissioner at the Police Headquarters in Abeokuta as part of activities of the Jamaat community relations.

Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina (left); German Consul-General, Michael Derus, Managing Director, Food Processing and Packaging Machinery of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), Richard Clemens, during the Food Processing and Packaging Machinery of the German Engineering Federation exhibition in Lagos.

Chief Enterprise Solution Officer, MTN, Babatunde Osho (left); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Lagos State, Risikat Akiyode, Human Recourses Executive, MTN, Amina Oyagbola, and Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board, Olawunmi Jasper, at the opening ceremony of MTN 21 Days of Y’ello Care “Education in the Digital World” in Lagos PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Assistant Market Director, Viju Industries Nigeria Limited, Andy Liao (left); Zonal Operation/Technical Manager, NTS-STar TV Network Limited, Aminu Onaolapo, Brand Strategist, Ayokunle Idowu, and Brand/Marketing Manager, Somoye Habeeb, during the first monthly draw of the ongoing StarTimes PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU ExtraTime promo in Lagos.

Executive Director, Investment One Financial Services Limited, Mrs Abimbola Afolabi-Ajayi (left); First Place einner of the 3rd edition of Investment One “ Virtual Investment Simulator” game, Oyelade Oke; and Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2013, Miss Anna Banner, during the Young Investors Forum held at UNILAG, Lagos

Brand Manager, Goldberg Lager Beer, Bassey Mfon, winners of the Fuji T’o Bam Contest, Twinzobia Twin Taiwo and Kehinde Ali, at the presentation of cheque during the grand finale of the Goldberg Fuji T’o Bam in Ibadan

Deacon Abiodun Enayon with the children of Victory Baptist Church, Epe, Lagos joins the Bring back Our Girls Campaign, during the Children Day celebration.

Wednesday, May 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

9

WorldReport Leone Ebola Monarchy vote flouts constitution, Sierra death toll hits five says Spanish premier OREIGN mining company PAIN’S Prime Minister, Franco, who had ruled for four Fpersonnel have left the country while others are unMariano Rajoy warned yes- decades.

Sterday “I think the monarchy has the dergoing body temperature that a referendum on

United States President, Barack Obama (right); Polish President, Bronislaw Komorowski (centre) with President Andris Berzins of Latvia after Obama arrives with Central and European leaders for meetings at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

the future of the monarchy, demanded by anti-royalists after King Juan Carlos announced his abdication, would require a change to the constitution.

Hours after 76-year-old Juan Carlos said Monday he was handing over the crown to his more popular son, Crown Prince Felipe, thousands of protesters filled Madrid’s central Puerta del Sol square calling for a vote on the monarchy itself.

Republican sentiment remains widespread in Spain, which only restored the monarchy in 1975 after the death of General Francisco

Obama reassures Eastern Europe allies over Ukraine RESIDENT Barack Obama P assured Poland and its eastern European neighbors yesterday that the United States commitment to their security was sacrosanct at the start of a four-day trip meant to show U.S. resolve after the Russian intervention in Ukraine.

The White House unveiled plans for a $1 billion initiative to send more of its military to Europe on a temporary basis but stopped short of promising to beef up its permanent presence as some of Washington’s allies are seeking.

It said the United States would review its force presence on the continent.

Speaking in an aircraft hangar at Warsaw airport where he met U.S. airmen taking part in a joint program with the Polish air force, Obama said U.S. commitments to Poland and the region were a cornerstone of the United States’ own security.

“As friends and allies we stand united together,” said Obama, whose two-day stay in Warsaw will include meetings with Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko and other central and eastern European leaders.

Obama is under pressure from critics at home, who say he is not showing enough firm leadership on the world stage, and from some NATO allies in eastern Europe who

fear they may be the next targets for Russian expansion and want more U.S. protection.

But Western powers must also strike a delicate balance, because a big increase in NATO forces on Russia’s borders could prompt reciprocal steps from the Kremlin and spiral into an arms race.

NATO defense ministers meet in Brussels to look at long term measures to strengthen alliance defenses in eastern Europe and consider how to combat the tactics used by Russia in Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, also in Warsaw, said how to respond to the crisis in Ukraine would be a focus of Obama’s meetings in Poland.

“We are here today because this remains a new moment of challenge for all of us,” Kerry told reporters.

“Events in Ukraine have unfortunately unleashed forces that we had all hoped had been put away ... were behind us. So it requires new vigilance and it requires clear commitment.”

The military assistance proposed by the White House, called the European Reassurance Initiative, is to include greater U.S. participation in training and exercises, deploying U.S. military planners, and more persistent naval deployments in the Black Sea and Baltic Sea, on Russia’s doorstep.

The White House said in a statement it would build the capacity of Ukraine and two

Kenya probes ‘White Widow’ sighting ENYA is investigating reK ports that British terror suspect Samantha Lewthwaite - known as the “White Widow” has been sighted in the country.

Reports say an unknown woman, possibly Lewthwaite, was given a police escort to visit a Kenyan army base in Somalia before disappearing.

She is accused of links to Somali Islamist group, alShabab, which has attacked Kenya several times.

Lewthwaite’s husband died in a 2005 suicide attack.

Her husband, Germaine Lindsay was one of the four

bombers who carried out the July 7 bombings in London that year in which 52 people were killed and hundreds more injured.

Kenyan police officers in the coastal town of Lamu provided an armed escort to an unknown white woman who disappeared after her attempts to enter Somalia were blocked by immigration officials.

She had said she was working for a United Nations agency and wanted to visit a camp belonging to the Kenya Defence Forces in Somalia, police say.

Japan PM may visit North Korea over kidnap AYS after announcing a D deal to re-open the probe into Japanese citizens kidnapped by spies in the Cold War years, Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe may make a rare visit to North Korea, his foreign minister said yesterday.

Any such visit would be controversial, especially in Seoul and Washington, which have led the charge to further isolate Pyongyang over its ballistic

missile and nuclear programmes.

Only Junichiro Koizumi has ever visited the secretive state as a Japanese prime minister, in 2002 and 2004, in a futile effort to normalise bilateral ties.

Tokyo and Pyongyang have no formal diplomatic ties, partially because of what Japan says is the North’s unwillingness to come clean over the abductions in the 1970s and 1980s.

But in a breakthrough last week, they said an investigation into the fate of missing Japanese would be reopened. In exchange, Japan would ease some of the unilateral sanctions it has imposed on the isolated state.

“We must think constantly what would be the most effective response and method in order to bring results,” Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told a parliamentary committee.

other Western-leaning countries on Russia’s borders, Georgia and Moldova.

Obama would be seeking the support of the U.S. Congress for the plan, it said.

“In addition to this initiative, we are reviewing our force presence in Europe in the light of the new security challenges on the continent,” it said.

support of the great majority in Spain,” Rajoy said when asked about calls for a referendum on the monarchy during a conference in Madrid.

“Propose a constitutional reform if you don’t like this constitution. You have the perfect right to do so. But what you cannot do in a democracy is bypass the law,” Rajoy said.

Spain’s 1978 constitution which established the monarchy was supported by a great majority of Spaniards in a referendum at the time, the prime minister said.

Juan Carlos was widely respected for smoothing Spain’s transition to democracy after the death of General Francisco Franco in 1975, most famously facing down an attempted military coup in February 1981.

But many Spaniards were outraged when they discovered the king took a luxury elephant-hunting trip to Botswana in 2012 as they struggled to find jobs in a recession.

Resentment over the monarchy grew when the king’s younger daughter Cristina was named a suspect in relation to her husband Inaki Urdangarin’s allegedly corrupt business practices.

screening at work sites, company officials said yesterday as the death toll from an Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone rose to at least five victims.

The new cases come after the deadly virus that causes severe bleeding was blamed for about 200 deaths in neighboring Guinea and Liberia.

The Ebola disease has had a 70 percent fatality rate during the first crisis of its kind in West Africa.

Deputy Information Minister, Theo Nicol said the government was doing all it could to contain the “scourge” of Ebola. None of the 15 confirmed cases in Sierra Leone has been in the capital of Freetown.

London Mining Company spokesman, Osman Lahai said that eight of their non-essential staff had left Sierra Leone over the weekend as a result of the deadly viral outbreak. London Mining has advised all its non-essential staff who are on holiday abroad not to return to Sierra Leone, he said.

No cases have been reported near the company’s Marampa iron ore mine, and production has not been affected by the health scare.

10

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday June 4, 2014

Politics The National Conference Debate

‘Hausa-Fulani, Igbo, Yoruba cause of Nigeria’s problems’ Dan Nwanyanwu, National Chairman of Labour Party (LP) and a delegate at the National Conference, spoke to Terhemba Dakaand Karls Tsokar in Abuja on the gains of civil rule, the hiccups and what needs to be done.

OW would you assess democracy in Nigeria One of the advantages of President H 15 years down the line?

Jonathan’s administration is that we We have had our ups and downs of 15 years of democracy. Though some people say that we have not had political killings. No top are in a civilian rule, we are not yet practising politician had been killed or hounded. democracy.

However, one thing is clear: Whether we are in No journalist had been murdered. a democracy or just in a civilian rule, we have Nobody had been brought down from our individual freedoms now guaranteed. And their car and killed, allegedly sponthat freedom is very germane to human existence. sored by the state. The villains of Freedom of association, speech and all of the democracy are in the system; they other rights could not be exercised during the (government) know them and the days of military rule. But today, Nigerians can organise demonstrations and march to security operatives know them and Government Houses, the National Assembly they must have the courage to arrest and even march to the Presidential Villa or anywhere without molestation. and prosecute them. The uniqueness Except in few cases where we have overzealous of intelligence is for you to know and officers taking some actions that are not palatfind what an ordinary man would not able, generally, the freedom is there. You can see how Nigerians have been able to use the be able to because you have the tools, freedom of speech to say all kinds of things on the capacity and the training. So, it is the person of Mr. President.

You dare not do that during the military era. left for the security operatives to find Even during the time of President Obasanjo, them; they are in the system in this who is a product of the Military, there were cercountry. Look at what is happening in tainly many things you could not say. But it’s different now. These are some of the gains (of Jos, a place that used to be peaceful; democracy). today, they have turned it into another In terms of real development, we are not where we ought to be, but we are making Afghanistan. progress. Nigerians are strong people; they are resilient; God puts it in place for a purpose.

The insecurity we are having in the country today is man-made. Nigerians, who felt lost out in the political equation, made it. Some of them had earlier been mentioned but the political will to prosecute them is lacking; so, nothing was done.

This man-know-man attitude is the reason most of them cannot be brought to book, and things have continued to degenerate. When someone commits an offence, no matter where he is coming from, no matter who the father is, no matter whom he knows; he should be made to face the full course of the law.

In the developed world, it is like that. If you commit an offence and you are charged to court, your parents would sit by and just watch as the trial goes on; they will not be allowed to interfere in the process. The best they can do is to cry as you are taken away to prison.

That is why crime is not as manifest there as it is in Nigeria. These are some of the areas we need to touch in our democracy.

Who is your hero of democracy since the coming of the Fourth Republic?

That would be over-flattering the institution and the people in government. Like I said, we have not gotten to where we ought to be.

One thing I would tell you is that we have not been given the opportunity to assess, to know the full capacity of President Jonathan because there is no president in the history of Nigeria that had been so traumatised, criticised and abused like him.

they don’t have skeletons in your cupboard, why not leave it open?

Does it mean that all was going well with Nigeria’s democracy until President Jonathan assumed office?

No. During Obasanjo’s time, we had what I call democracy by brut force. One of the advantages of President Jonathan’s administration is that we have not had political killings. No top politician had been killed or hounded. No journalist had been murdered.

Nobody had been brought down from their car and killed, allegedly sponsored by the Nwanyanwu state.

I have said that when President Shehu Shagari OU spoke so well of the dividend of democracy, The villains of democracy are in the system; was there, he had a peaceful tenure until he but there seems to be no connection between they (government) know them and the securiwas overthrown; when Obasanjo came, he did the Legislature and the Executive at the national ty operatives know them and they must have eight years peacefully; when Yar’Adua came, the courage to arrest and prosecute them. level. What are your thoughts on this silent fricthere was peace.

The uniqueness of intelligence is for you to tion?

Then came President Jonathan and the know and find what an ordinary man would This lack of cooperation started when the APC bombs started coming in because certain peo- (All Progressives Congress) started a process of not be able to because you have the tools, the ple in this country don’t want him to be the capacity and the training. destroying the democratic process. During president. And you saw the controversy that So, it is left for the security operatives to find Obasanjo, there was nothing like this; there was generated when he was to act as president would be disagreements in the House (National them; they are in the system in this country. when Yar’Adua was incapacitated.

Look at what is happening in Jos, a place that Assembly) but it would be resolved. It’s the same So, I cannot answer that question in the affir- thing during Yar’Adua’s time. used to be peaceful; today, they have turned it mative, as we cannot properly assess him. It is into another Afghanistan.

But today, because of greedy, overzealous and just some greedy politicians struggling to Without fear of contradiction, who would you over ambitious politicians, who are in the APC, destroy Nigeria; they don’t care how many peo- they are willing and ready to pull the roof down. say have been the spoilers of our democracy? ple that would die in the process; all they are But what they seem not to know is that Nigerians The elite. In a (National Conference) commitinterested in is to make sure that Goodluck don’t trust them; there maybe dissatisfactions in tee sitting, where we were talking of minority Jonathan doesn’t run for election in 2015. If he the PDP here and there, but they are not trusted. rights and minority protection, I said the says he is not running in that election, you will It is just a few days ago that the (2014) Budget problems of Nigeria are caused by the three not hear the sound of a knockout in Nigeria. was signed; the masses are the ones that have suf- major tribes in this country: the Hausa-Fulani, the Igbo and Yoruba, because they believe fered it. They (NASS members) are elected to that any other person doesn’t matter in make laws for the country, and a budget was preWe have not been given the opportunity to assess, to know the full capacity of Nigeria. sented, and they over-padded it to cover up for My thesis at the Institute for Policy and President Jonathan because there is no president in the history of Nigeria that had their expenses; their selfish expenses.

Strategic Studies in 1992 was on Minority When the president said we did not have the been so traumatised, criticised and abused like him. I have said that when Rights and Minority Protection. In my concluresources to take care of all that, they created a President Shehu Shagari was there, he had a peaceful tenure until he was sion then, I said these three major tribes stalemate. should be banned from holding office of the We have National Assembly members that do overthrown; when Obasanjo came, he did eight years peacefully; when Yar’Adua president for 10 years. But I come from one of not have the courage to declare how much they came, there was peace. Then came President Jonathan and the bombs started are earning, and how much they collect on quar- these tribes. coming in because certain people in this country don’t want him to be the terly basis as constituency allowance. But the very You will see that when we come to minority rights, the position of the three major tribes I appeared in this conference and was asked president. And you saw the controversy that was generated when he was to act as day would be on the same side. They believe (about our allowances) on national television, I president when Yar’Adua was incapacitated. So, I cannot say who is my hero of Nigeria belongs to them. Once they are given declared it. appointments, there is peace; they don’t care We are paid from the taxpayers’ money and the democracy since the Fourth Republic, as we cannot properly assess him. It is just about the minority tribes. taxpayers deserve to know how much of their some greedy politicians struggling to destroy Nigeria. All they are interested in is to money that we are given.

But we are here (National Conference) to dismake sure that Goodluck Jonathan doesn’t run for election in 2015. If he says he is So, why is it that the allowances of the National cuss how all the tribes, the people and the varinterests in Nigeria can be represented, not running in that election, you will not hear the sound of a knockout in Nigeria. Assembly members are shrouded in secrecy? If ious but they (Hausa-Fulani, the Igbo and Yoruba) would not agree.

Y

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 POLITICS 11

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

‘Jonathan’s government has done well’ (2) Prof. Sylvester Monye, Special Adviser to the President on Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME), and a key member of his Economic Management Team (EMT), spoke to Mohammed Abubakarin Abuja on President Goodluck Jonathan’s achievement in three years. the middle-level sized economy in Africa to the largest.

South Africa is unarguably a richer country by per capita. What this simply means is that if you divide our GDP (Gross Domestic Products) by our population, the per capita is small because of the size of our country, but our GDP has moved from about 1,600 to 2,600 (US dollars).

So, we have increased, and the prosperity index has changed.

Whereas, because of the size of South Africa’s economy and, indeed, their population, their per capita income is over $6,000, they appear more prosperous because it is a smaller country.

CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY ESPITE the claims of governD ment’ achievements, especially in the economic sector, there is one critical aspect, which seemingly lacks solution, and that is the unemployment. What is the government doing in this regard?

First of all, you started with a premise that I don’t agree with because you said, despite the claim of performance. To me, that presupposes that you don’t believe what we are saying. But the truth is that everything we have said is verifiable; so, you can always verify.

But the most important thing that I have to say is this issue of employment. One of the challenges we have had in this country is brandishing figures, throwing figures up and down as to what is really the state of unemployment or underemployment.

For the first tine in the history of this country, we have established a credible National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that gives us data that are impregnable. If they give us data today, nobody queries the data.

Today, we are very proud to quote the data from NBS. Remember that a few years back, the only figures that mattered were figures from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). So, if you want to discuss Nigeria, you quote the World Bank or IMF figures.

However, today, I don’t hear anybody quote those external figures any more; people say figures from the National Bureau of Statistics.

That means we have moved from the point of credibility challenge to the point that we are now, so credible that we are comfortable with our own figures.

Secondly, on the back of that, the NBS has been able to develop effective technical methodology for us to measure on monthly basis our job creation efforts by both the public and private sectors.

So, I’m pleased to tell you that for the first time, our government can tell how many jobs have been created. Our government can tell you how many people have joined the unemployment market and the figures are very simple. In 2013, this administration created 1.6 million jobs. At the same time, the number of people who joined the pool of unemployed graduates was about 1.8 million.

Clearly, as we were creating 1.6 million jobs, another 1.8 million people were coming in, wiping out the gains with excess of about 200,000. With that, it looked as if we are not doing much but, in fact, we are doing a lot.

The problem is not the residual 200,000 people who have not been engaged, but where the problem lies is the 5.3 million we inherited from previous administrations.

Therefore, regardless of how quickly jobs were being created; the pool that this administration inherited was so overwhelming that whatever you were doing, people saw it as if you were not doing anything.

If other administrations had done as much as the present one, probably we would not have the large pool of unemployed people that we have.

Be that as it may, we have a duty to create jobs. In fact, it is really not the duty of government to create jobs per se, but it is the duty of government to create the enabling environment for the private sector operators to thrive, make profits and in the process, create jobs.

That is really what this administration is doing. Of course, in doing that, we are creating all sorts of opportunities and possibilities for, this is the first time we are putting a lot of emphasis on manufacturing to the extent that we have recently launched, for the first time, an industrial revolution master plan that will take into account the

N the face of the picture you have Ihave painted, why is it that the impacts not been felt out there

Monye whole value chain of manufacturing, from processing to finished goods.

It’s the same thing we are doing with agriculture. Jobs are being created left, right and centre in agriculture because, the holistic approach that the Minister of Agriculture has taken for the development of agriculture in this country is such that it will create jobs in marketing, in processing; it creates jobs in even planting and harvesting. The whole range of the value chain is being developed at the same time.

We are doing a lot; we are thinking out of the box; we are pushing the private sector; we are creating an enabling environment that will allow people to do what they are supposed to do best and that is creating jobs.

So, the situation is not as bad as it may look, but certainly, we inherited a lot of unemployed people that we have to find the ways of getting them fixed.

It is like you complain a lot about inherited problems; are there no good things you inherited from the past that you are also taking credit for?

We don’t make song and dance of the challenges we inherited. The reason is that you campaigned to the Nigerian people that you were going to fix specific problems. So, it is not an issue. But where we fix it, accept that we fixed it; that is what we are saying.

But the general impression out there is that this government of Jonathan created these problems but we are saying no; we inherited

the problems and we are fixing them. That is the issue we are making.

We are not complaining that we inherited the problems. We campaigned to say we could fix the problems better and we are fixing them. But you must recognise that we are fixing them; don’t assume that we created the problems. That is the problem we have today.

People are assuming that Jonathan created this mess — unemployment, which is not true.

O what extent can the recently TYour rebased economy intervene? question is a bit funny in the sense that rebasing. Let me use a very basic analogy to explain rebasing so that your readers will be able to contextualize the mega term, rebasing.

Let us say some 24 years ago, you were a younger person; 24 years ago, you were not a graduate; 24 years ago, you were not married; 24 years ago, your situation financially was different; 24 years ago, you were probably in a village.

Yet, each time I’m talking to you today, I’m talking to you with the eyes of 24 years ago; I’m calling you small boy: this guy, who has not gone to the university; this guy who is not married; that is the way I’m looking at you with the eye of 24 years ago.

What the government has done is to say, ‘look, let us stop looking at this guy with the eyes of 24 years ago; let us assess him for what he is today.

What is Mohammed Abubakar

today? He is a graduate; he owns a car; he works for a big organisation; he is married with children; he is more prosperous than he was 24 years. By doing this assessment, I’m now looking at you as a Mohammed Abubakar of 2014, not that of 1990.

What you find is that by changing my assessment of you, I have not added one dime in your pocket because you are who you are today.

By making a different assessment of you doesn’t add a kobo to you.

So, when you say how does rebasing redress the issue of unemployment, you can see that it doesn’t really gel, as they say.

But during the Democracy Day Church Service, Mr. President said that the rebasing would attract big players in the economy, thereby leading to employment generation.

So, what is the difference here?

Yes, Mr. President is right and I will explain. If you are Mohammed of 2014, with a degree, with a good job, with a car, a wife and children, your consumer profile is different from your profile as a consumer in 1990.

Therefore, if nobody was coming to sell a car to you then, those car manufacturers will target you now because you are a different human being. It simply means that the way investors looked at us 24 years ago is different from the way investors are looking at us today. Hence, the President is absolutely correct.

If, for instance, you are looking at the prosperity of the country in 1990 and looking at the prosperity of the country today, we have moved massively from being one of

One of the challenges we have had in this country is brandishing figures, throwing figures up and down as to what is really the state of unemployment or under-employment. For the first tine in the history of this country, we have established a credible National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that gives us data that are impregnable. If they give us data today, nobody queries the data. Today, we are very proud to quote the data from NBS. Remember that a few years back, the only figures that mattered were figures from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). So, if you want to discuss Nigeria, you quote the World Bank or IMF figures. However, today, I don’t hear anybody quote those external figures any more; people say figures from the National Bureau of Statistics.

That means we have moved from the point of credibility challenge to the point that we are now, so credible that we are comfortable with our own figures.

because it would seem the government is not doing anything. Where is the missing link?

As I said, we have done very well and we have facts to back up whatever the claims we make. You will recall that when the President celebrated the mid-term review of his administration last year, there was a copious document that articulated the achievements of the administration sector-by-sector. It is out there.

But when you are performing a lot and performing well, it is not attractive news for the Nigerian media. Unfortunately, what is news is bad news. So, sometimes, you have the bad news drowning the good news — it doesn’t matter how large the good news is.

However, that is not a justification for us not to do more. I believe we should do more; I believe we owe it a duty to Nigerians to do more; I believe Nigerians deserve to know what the government is doing.

So, we have to go the extra miles to communicate the accomplishments of the government to Nigerian people. We just have to continue.

What is your message to Nigerians, as the government marked its third anniversary?

My message for Nigerians is very simple: they should assess the government of President Jonathan on the basis of what it has accomplished; juxtapose that with our economy. This idea of hammering of government on the basis of agenda set by the opposition should not be so because it is not premised on justice and fairness.

You see, if people keep saying you are incompetent, and it is being repeated several times over, people would begin to think that maybe you are really incompetent. So, we need to put our record on the table to say, ‘hang on, we are creating 1.6 million jobs every year; if the past administrations were creating that number of jobs every year, we wouldn’t be in this mess today.’

But those of the past are behaving as if they were so good that everything was perfect; that everything scattered only when Jonathan came in. That is really the problem.

Now, the rails are working. Where were they (opposition) when the rails were not working?

Aviation: For the first time in the history of Nigeria — and I don’t know any country in the world where a country is building five international terminals at the same time.

Do you know of any country that is building as many roads successfully not budgeted, as this administration? Do you know of any country that is pushing for economic diversification as much as this administration?

This is the first time in the history of Nigeria that we have a blue print for economic revolution. This is the first time, after a lot of struggle, that we privatised power with ease and nobody has complained about corruption.

CONCLUDED

TheGuardian

12 | Wednesday, June 4, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience Nurtured by Truth

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

Editorial A republic of greed F there was ever any doubt that Ireason greed rules in Nigeria, that the only many seek high offices is the material gain therein, the gluttony and insensitivity in high places have cleared such. Besides blatant corruption, a perfect illustration of this culture is the sumptuous benefits to which political office holders treat themselves at the citizens’ expense.

Now it has gone to such ridiculous levels that it has to be perpetuated for life even when the rest of the people wallow in abject poverty. This is an unbelievable shame.

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has just upped the game by passing into law a self-serving bill sent to it by the Governor of the state, Godswill Akpabio to the effect that he should be entitled inter alia, to N100 million every year as his medical bill.

The sum which is to be a part of his pension’s package will be enjoyed by elected former governors and deputy governors.

There are other outrageous provisions in the law which practically subject the people of the state to eternal servitude and make its ex-governors totally dependent on the resources of the state for life. It provides that the person upon ceasing to hold the said office, shall be entitled to “pension for life at a rate equivalent to the salary of the incumbent governor or deputy governor respectively, a new official car and an utility vehicle once in every four years, one personal aide and the provision of adequate security for his person during his lifetime” at the expense of government. Not done, it further makes provision for funds to enable the governor employ a cook, chauffeurs and security guards at a sum of N5 million (or the equivalent of $50,000) per month.

And as if the resources of the state are limitless, the governor shall also be entitled to “a befitting house not below a five-bedroom maisonette in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja or Akwa Ibom State;” furniture allowance of 300 per cent of annual

basic salary once in every four years; provision of yearly maintenance and fuelling of vehicle allowance of 300 per cent of annual basic salary; yearly utility allowance of 100 per cent of annual basic salary.” When this is added to the remuneration and perks of the incumbent governor and other elected officers and political appointees, the cost of governance will certainly weigh heavily on the resources of the state to the detriment of social services, development and rehabilitation of infrastructure.

Nothing underscores more the culture of insensitivity and impunity that has crept into the public service of Nigeria than this self-serving law.

While the standard of living of an average Nigerian deteriorates daily and majority of its citizens have helplessly become hostage to poverty, disease, hunger and insecurity, its public servants and political office holders make outlandish provisions for themselves.

The irony of this repugnant legislation is that it is coming at a time Nigerians are complaining bitterly about the atrocious perks enjoyed by serving political office holders.

And contrary to all expectations, Nigeria is now a victim of her corrupt, inept, clueless and lawless leadership.

Her citizens on the other hand have become largely a band of docile and complacent people, who concur in the despoliation of their land by their passive indifference and cold complicity in the face of reckless, arbitrary and ungodly dissipation of their commonwealth.

The audacity of Akpabio’s law is rooted in the docility of his people who know this is wrong and unjust, but will do no more than musing and bemoaning in the closet of their rooms, whereas democracy expects them to do more. They have the right of peaceful protest against the unconscionable law. They have the right to recall all the self-serving stooges masquerading as legislators who participated in the insensitive legislation and above all, they have the right to

LETTER

The conspiracy against justice IR: Two camps are to be (OBJ) a Christian ruled Sspate blamed for the current Nigeria for eight years with“terrorism”, even of insecurity: the out President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) camp and the Boko Haram camp. GEJ and his cohorts took undue advantage of the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and using incumbency power to perfect their unholy hold on Nigeria.

When Boko Haram started its own reaction, then the world became piqued. Is it not true that “likes beget likes” and that magic works through the physical law of resonance?

General Olusegun Obasanjo

though he tactically nipped in the bud Sharia agitation crisis, and he fully supported truncation of rotational presidency, as part of leadership deficit in Africa. Yet, what really helped OBJ to succeed was that Nigeria, including most northerners, saw no political injustice and had hope in rotational presidency as a stabiliser.

The emergence of terrorism is testimony to the wisdom and sincerity of those who proposed rotational presidency; there was no ter-

rorism, properly so-called, from May 1999 till May 2011 when GEJ emerged as Nigeria’s elected President. Why should America and the rest of the international community ignore those historical facts and be chorusing Boko Haram’s song that its own targets are Islamization of Nigeria and eradication of Western education, neither of which is reasonable nor realisable?

Is there, perhaps, an international conspiracy against justice?

Pius Abioje, University of Ilorin, Kwara State

sentence them into political oblivion by refusing to vote for them or anyone associated with them henceforth.

With this kind of obnoxious legislation in place, the competition for the gubernatorial office will be intensely unhealthier than it had ever been.

Candidates will now be ready more than ever to kill and to destroy to get to that office, for the everlasting enjoyment and opulence it offers devoid of sweat and stress.

What should worry Akpabio, in all of this is that he could wittingly or unwittingly be willing for himself a hundred million naira ailment, whose treatment could be worth the sum he got the legislature to allocate to him through the law.

Sadly, Akpabio is not alone in this scandalous and selfish application of scarce resources by state governors.

The governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, former governors Shekarau of Kano State and Bukola Saraki of Kwara State did something similar.

Even in Lagos State, Gombe and others, insensitive welfare packages for former governors and deputies are in place. But there is something that makes Akpabio’s case unique and different from all others. The other cases, apart from Rivers State’s, appear to be a one-off payment and mere administrative act of a governor desperate to show appreciation to a benefactor who planted him in office.

There is no legislation that gives it perpetuity as it is in Akwa Ibom’s case.

Even if this is contestable, none is as elaborate and far-reaching in content

and provision as Akpabio’s. He may have set a template, a very rich one that qualifies as a study in selfishness which others may find useful and willing to emulate.

This latest development does not, however, inspire confidence that tomorrow would be better than today even with the youth at the helm of affairs. It seems indeed, with Akpabio and his like, it may be worse. The leaders of yesteryear did not vote so much money for life after office. And yet, they did not steal or were not likely to have stolen as callously, ferociously, brazenly and irresponsibly as the present crop of politicians do.

The ongoing National Conference should determine or review the perks of the past and current state officials since the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission, being the constitutional organ charged with that responsibility appears to have fallen into slumber. The preponderance of opinion is that there should be no further remuneration for any past political office holders; none at all for the kleptomaniacs Nigeria is saddled with who are known to have made enough by graft, for their unborn generations of children.

In the case of Akwa Ibom State, Akpabio must retrace his steps, to shed an already earned reputation as the poster boy for the republic of greed.

• This editorial was written just before Governor Akpabio announced yesterday that he was returning the new law to the State House of Assembly to revert to the

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 13

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Opinion Of lawyers and old Lagos

By JP Clark F lawyers, as defenders of a citizen’s claims, O right or wrong, and of Lagos, as the place to find them in plenty, I came to know, quite early in life; and that was by family lore, I mean tradition. But to find one to call on, you had to have money, lots of it. That, my great grandfather Ambakederemo, or Bekederemo or even Bagadermo, as the British spelt it on his many flags and his own ship, plying between Warri and Ebute Ero, had in pots and pots, either under his bed or buried in the ground. So to Lagos came the man they knew as “the largest trader and middle man for the Niger Company in the Western Niger”. He came seeking British justice at the hand of Sir Frederick John Lugard, who had just then amalgamated the two Protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria with the Colony of Lagos.

Recommended by either Mr. Paul or Mr. Bucknor, the great grandfather of our Senator Kofo Bucknor, both barristers-at-law and solicitors practicing in Warri, Sir Egerton Shyngle was counsel to the Chief. He later became Leader of the Nigerian Bar and First Elected Member, Legislative Council of Nigeria, 1923-26. Generations after, I saw his portrait up in the gallery of Glover Memorial Hall, Marina, Lagos. Is it still there, among other men who are the true founders of this country? To note how the city has changed around us, his great granddaughter, my friend Mrs. Olugbolahon Alo, tells me that the old man’s pew has been in dispute at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos. It is even said he was not a Nigerian, and therefore not a Lagosian! So who is, if not such singular figures, down the West coast of Africa, from Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, to the old Gold Coast and, of course, Brazil and the West Indies ? It was their galaxy that first lit up Lagos and the hinterland that became Nigeria.

My grandfather Fuludu, in his time, also went to lawyers over ownership of land and power to rule his clan under the British. In one of his many cases, the lawyers appearing were Sir Louis Mbanefo, later of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Chief M. E. R. Okorodudu, once Agent-General for Western Nigeria in London.

At one point of the proceedings, the argument grew so hot that the judge called for a break for matters to cool down. But once outside the court, my grandfather found both gentlemen laughing, chatting and slapping each other on the back. There and then, he ruled that his first grandson, Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, must go and study law to become a member of this special society of men the British had just brought to our land.

Clark, my own father, had need too for counsel. Given an English name by his grandfather in the flush of the old trade in palm produce, that was the economy of a country yet to be put together by the British, he started his own line, with his own personal name, like Fagbamila of Ilesha, the father of someone we all know here.

He embraced the whole new system of education, cutting down on wives to a mere six, from

sixty odd in the old compound, that the British saw as big as that of the Oba of Benin.

My own encounter with lawyers was at Government College, Ughelli, that school of excellence for scholarship and sports. It was by proxy, as did many of us ancient ones here seated. How many now remember the lady Portia for her “quality of mercy” lines in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, as she pleads for her suitor, about to lose a pound of flesh? Incidentally, how many of the young here know her, since literature, history, and geography are no longer compulsory subjects in our schools today? I met her again on appeal, so to speak, reading English at the University College, Ibadan, famously known for having no department of law.

But, there, ironically, I met my first lawyer, still to be called to the Bar, in the flesh. His name? Alao Aka-Bashorun from Isale Eko, Lagos. Then a student in London, he had come home to observe some ideology-driven international students conference, sponsored by the West from Stockholm or Oslo during the Cold War. “He is a Communist!” we were all duly warned. If on return home to Lagos years after, he rose to become President of the Nigerian Bar Association, which knows best his distinguished record; if he came to be the open conscience of society in his time; if he became the great advocate of democracy against military rule; and if he was the town-crier, calling for a sovereign national conference for our country, then let us all go red. Truly, he brought honour and fame to gown and wig.

But where lies, if I may ask, his landed properties in Lagos? Such was this man of integrity and service to society.

Then much later, in our story of lawyers and Lagos, I met this other Lagos man, a real lighthouse of a fellow, not at Tarkwa Bay, but at Akoka, although he says it was earlier at Ibadan or Ife. He remains large, solid and luminous, while taking on functions of the latest GPS. Aburo mi, I now call him; while another man of law I know, Chief Akin Disu, Bobagunwa of Lagos, calls him lawyer of lawyers. Now, am I advertising? I hear lawyers must not do so. But before I am told that ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law, let me say the late Chief Justice of Nigeria, Sir Darnley Alexander, told me himself that my friend was the only double Senior Advocate of Nigeria, coming as he did from academia and court to wear silk.

My friend Chief Richard Akinjide, himself a SAN, would not have such an accommodation of disciplines. Many years ago, at a university occasion in Akoka, the Vice Chancellor, Professor S. O. Biobaku, to my surprise, drafted me to give the toast of honour of the guests assembled. I didn’t know I was committing an offence, calling all there present “my learned friends”. Thereupon, up jumped my Ibadan Chief and neighbour at Idishin, I think he was then Federal Minister of Education, objecting to my use of the term “learned friends”. Only my wife knows it took the gentle hold of my hand and quiet assurance by Professor Oyin

Elebute, sitting with her husband Professor Ade Elebute by our side, to cool down the pepper that is my name. However, their Provost at the College of Medicine, Professor Dosekun, did a quick rebuttal. Being all members there in a seat of learning, of which the Faculty of Law only occupied one chamber in the Ivory Tower, I was most correct to address all assembled there as learned friends, of which he was proud to count himself one. All this went on, if my memory serves me well, under the watchful eye of the great Jurist JIC Taylor, our Chairman of Council.

Taking cover from that place, where men and women also go, under the pretext or the pretense of doing research to extend borders of knowledge, let me make my closing submission. True, we take our legal system from the British who took it from the Romans. But why must every system we copy from abroad be total? Why trial by representation, the profession proudly terms adversarial? I almost said gladiatorial, two institutions from the same source.

I know we have kept the customary as a parallel line in certain areas of our lives, like land and family. Why can’t both be matched to yield a new culture?

For our legislative and executive arms of government, we have also made the same choice.

As ancient communities seeking to build modern societies, we prefer unnecessarily complex systems to often more humane and efficient models at home. Party politics, whether parliamentary or presidential, does not allow for the freedom of the individual to participate in open debate at a free assembly of people who do not buy votes in elections, never conducted fairly. The old tradition starts from the family, through the village and the clan to the tribe or the ethnic group we now call ourselves. This is the town hall type of meeting, which may begin, say, at Isale Eko, leading all the way from Lagos, as city and state, to Abuja, the Capital after Lagos, always going by consensus and the will of the people, with no thought of pay. This, to me, is the true democracy we do not find even in the United States and Greece of old, for it allows all to participate, creating no divisions for society by way of political parties, one of which assumes power, often taken over by one person. I believe our old structure of communal consultation and administration of affairs would produce luminaries, like our celebrant here and his late friend and mine, Tola Ejiwunmi, Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, both “area boys” of Wakeman Street, Yaba. At the risk of being charged for dropping names, I recall here lived also late Chief Sobo Sowemimo and Alhaji Femi Okunnu, now at V/I, old swamp, reach-able only by a wooden footbridge, leading to Bar Beach. Both SANs, again we became friends.

I will conclude by citing just two legal precedents from the past, specifically from the annals of my own Izon people. The first case, at the turn of the last century, comes from Bikoroa, now in Delta State. There, a man killed his brother in a dispute over a boat they jointly

owned. He was immediately arrested, and, by the third day, the clan met in open trial. Argument was by direct presentation of evidence by the primary parties to the case, that is, by the accused himself and by all who witnessed the act, all on oath and under strict cross-examination. A panel of citizens, selected by age and achievement, heard the case. Then it retired to reach judgment, only to come back with a decision, split down the middle. So the sister of the two brothers was summoned to break the tie. She cast her vote for the law to take its course, as it would have done with any other citizen, committing the same crime. Ambakederemo was there in the chair; and it was all pro bono, as my friend generally does for me.

The other case concerned two sisters, some two hundred years earlier. Both left Kiagbodo in present day Delta State to marry at Amabulou and Azagbene, now in Bayelsa State. One night, the older one, at Amabulou, refused to sleep with her husband; and a mighty row arose, the man leaving her in fury. At break of day, he was found dead, hanging by his neck, at her doorstep. Again, trial was swift and just, by direct presentation of the facts in open court; but not at the scene of incident. For the sake of justice and the avoidance of war between Amabulou and Kiagbodo, the case was remitted to the neutral town and clan of Tuomo, also now in Delta State. All through the trial and trauma, the younger sister left her husband at home in Azagbene, to be by her sister, accused of murdering her man. After full arbitration, judgment was given the wife. Although it is said today that the Chief Judge was influenced by the younger sister who, by the way, started my mother’s line, all agree justice was duly served.

These two cases, which I have documented as exhibits on the stage, to wit, The Bikoroa Plays and The Two Sisters, will each take years today to try in our present judiciary system, with its maze of legalistic twists and turns at interpretation of the law, a constructive creative process, my old friend and lawyer John Alele once told me. It should appeal to the poet I am, with all my muse and imagination, he laughed.

But to return to our submission, consider all the expense of the system we have adopted. In the end, justice, so long delayed, and fought for at so much expense of funds and stress to mind and body, may be denied, or remain beyond the reach of the poor. Here I rest my case, standing where we once had public pools and gardens, all well-kept as was Ikoyi Park, now neither park nor view. Even Abulenla, at EB, was a lovely place.

M Now, let us toast the man, Alfred Bandele Kasunmu at 80, unarguably head of the largest family of lawyers in Lagos, if not the Federation.

Indeed, my wife and I believe he should be in The Guinness Book of World Records.

With The Holy Bible promising renewed strength after 70, may you, in the loving arms of our Funmi, reach 120 in a self-reforming Nigeria, one nation bound in freedom, peace and

Rebasing Nigeria’s gross domestic product

By F.A.O. Oseni WAS greatly amused when I heard that Nigeria’s economy Irameters had become the largest in Africa simply because new pahave been established for computing the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), especially as this assertion was made only about a week after the Nation was rated as one of the poorest countries, not just in Africa but in the entire world.

However, my amusement turned to sadness within a few moments when I recalled what was considered as an important aspect of democracy when I was a teenager in the 1940’s and 1950’s. We used to say that “you can fool some of the people some of the time but you can not fool all the people all the time”. Now that I am over 80 years old, I now realise from the form of democracy we are practicing and the statements being made by many of our political office holders that in Nigeria today, “you can fool all the people all the time even

with impunity”.

Next I wondered for how long the euphoria about Nigeria having the largest economy in Africa will last if some other independent countries in Africa such as Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Zimbabawe, etc, as a way of asserting their independence, decide to rebase their GDP’s to the extent that they exceed Nigeria’s GDP? After all it was reported in The Guardian of Monday 21st April 2014, that the Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr. Yemi Kale, in an interview with the paper said that “Different countries use different measuring lines to ascertain poverty level. Some use 1,000; 1,500; still others use 2,500 calories . When I came into office, I discovered that they use 3,000, so if I decided to reduce or raise it, we may have a radical result, which may send us the wrong signal and not be necessarily correct”.

It appears that we do not take seriously the level of the quality of life of our individual citizens in terms of their basic necessities, such as security, food, health and housing and the provision of good education and employment op-

portunities to enable them acquire these basic needs. Otherwise the pursuit of nebulous indices of the state of our economy will not be our priority; rather we should devote our God given intellect and resources to all round development of our country as was the case when we used to have National Development Plans of known duration and well articulated and publicised content. Returning to such plans which we abandoned after the Fourth Plan which ended in 1985 in favour of the conditionalities of the International Monetary Fund and procedures of the World Bank for only economic development to the neglect of other aspects of development, will enable us to become one of the leading nations in the entire world within a generation instead of merely aiming to be the 20th appendage to the technologically developed countries by the year 2020, which is definitely a second class status. We should stop begging other nations for foreign direct investment and instead adopt selfreliance as our development strategy.

• Oseni, an Engineer, wrote from Lagos.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

14 Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Opinion For Mama Ayinke Odulana at 90

By Fred Ohwahwa ODAY is June 4. Actually, it is just like any T other day. The sun has risen; the sun will set. Depending on which part of the universe you are, you may also get to see some rainfall. Truly all days are ordinary, normal days. But again, all days are special. It all depends on what you invest in a particular day.

For those of us who are linked to Mrs. Ayinke Ibidunni Shefinat Odulana (hereinafter called Mama), today is a special day for us. Why? Mama is 90 years old today! It is a big deal and we are rolling out the drums.

The day is also special because her first child, Mr. Adebayo Pitan (popularly known as Bros) is 72 today. My daughter, Okiemute — a law student at Queen Mary, University of London — who is Mama’s grandchild, is 17 today. Joshua, her great grandchild, who lives with his parents in Pennsylvania in the United States, is seven today. So it is four generations of June 4 people.

It is very easy for people to roll out drums to celebrate contractors, politicians, football stars and the like. But the truth is that those media friendly people, our television and Nollywood stars and others are the outgrowth of ordinary people. Ordinary mothers and fathers who took time to properly raise their children; who made enormous sacrifices to send their children to school; who imbibed the virtues of cleanliness in their children; who taught their children the imperative of being their neighbours’ keepers; who built the character of their children by imbuing in them acceptable values, and above all ingrained in them the fear of God. It was Mrs. Hillary Clinton who once said that it takes a village to raise a child. Let me modestly add that a child raised by a village of good mothers and fathers can only be-

come an asset; not only to that village, but to the larger society and indeed the whole world. Good parents are the building blocks of all societies.

Mama belongs to this category of good parents. Good parents will not breed thieves, hooligans, terrorists and mad men and women. If you are well brought up, you will not become a hooligan, anarchist and a plain idiot.

Well, Mama is the mother of my wife. And so she is my mother (in law). She has been so for close to 23 years now. We celebrate her today not only because she is our mother, but also because of the impact she has had on our lives.

In her younger days, Mama was easily seen by her children as harsh. Even some of her grandchildren were not eager to spend holiday with her. The truth was a little far from their perception. Mama was strict and had no patience for fools. Straight as an arrow, she never hesitated to tell you her mind.

And she had a very strong and domineering character. As a result, most of her children – even when they were already married and had their own families – were still afraid of Mama! They couldn’t understand why Brother Folarin and my wife –who are the last two children – almost always prevailed on Mama on family matters.

Her capacity to dominate her environment also explains why she resisted for many years, leaving her home at Agege Motor Road in Mushin, Lagos. As the landlady, all tenants were at her beck and call. Woe betide you if you crossed Mama’s path. She was well into her 80s before ageing and its attendant frailties made her to succumb to pressure to live with her eldest daughter.

While I was still in Lagos, I made it a habit to see her as often as possible. Sometimes, she even came to live with us. After relocating to Abuja, whenever I was in Lagos — which was

quite often — I usually endeavoured to go and see Mama in Mushin. (Many of her grandchildren call her Mama Mushin).

The interesting thing about those visits was that while I mangled the little Yoruba I know trying to communicate with Mama, she would be speaking English to me. It was a complete reversal of how it was in the early days. When I was still courting Tinu, (her daughter and my wife) she refused to speak English to me. She told me quite clearly that I cannot be thinking of marrying her daughter and I cannot speak Yoruba. What kind of in-law do you want to be!?

We gingerly navigated the language barrier and became the best of friends. We are still best of friends. I will come from Abuja or Port Harcourt or wherever my travelling salesman life is bringing me from and go to Mushin and just sit and talk with her. She likes politics, so we discussed politics. She enjoyed discussing sports, especially if the national football team had just played a match. Or I simply filled her in on the progress of her grandchildren.

Mama likes Coke, so she will be drinking her Coke while I will be drinking malt. Since I didn’t want to leave a less than salutary impression, I didn’t go beyond malt in her presence. (My friends know my favourite drink). I understand that in the past year or so, she has switched to Fanta. She is 90 and still drinks Fanta! Let all the doctors go and re-examine all their theories about sugar, for goodness sake!!

Naturally, growing old has its own downsides. Your strength fails you; your mind plays tricks on you, making you think you can still do certain things that are now clearly beyond you. While she was still at Mushin, Mama felt she could live all by herself. As far as she was concerned, those of us worrying about her welfare were simply worrying for nothing! It was no surprise

that the turnover rate of her house helps was pretty large.

Ageing does mellow people. Mama, the Margaret Thatcher of the Odulana family, no longer scream at people. Interestingly, those at the receiving end do miss her chastisements. Now she is everybody’s friend. Almost always surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, she is having a great time at the departure lounge of life.

Some of her loved ones have since departed; some of them very painful death. I remember the death of Mrs. Christiana Pitan (Mama Funmi), her daughter in-law. It was a terrible blow to all of us in the family. I had just arrived Brussels in the cold of December 2011 when I got a message from my wife that Mama Funmi is dead. I thought there was a mistake. I called her and the sad news was confirmed. If there was ever a virtuous woman, Mama Funmi was one. Her burial a few weeks later was a testimony to her goodness. The Ikate Baptist Church in Surulere, Lagos, was filled to be brim during her funeral service. An ordinary woman who had done great things for man and God. Another death that touched Mama like no other was that of her immediate elder sister, Mrs. Muniat Pereira (Mama Demola). She died at 88 when Mama was 86. She was disconsolate, which was no surprise because they were very close. You could see Mama contemplating the mortality of man. A few days after her sister’s transition, I sat with Mama, comforting her. I assured her that she will live longer than her sister and that when she turns 90, we are going to have a ball.

This is why on Sunday June 8, we are going to do precisely that in Ikeja, Lagos: eat rice, pop champagne and dance to the latest music in town. Mama’s longetivity is a blessing to us all.

• Ohwahwa wrote from Abuja

Contribution to the national question (3)

By Onoho’Omhen Ebhohimhen T is also important to stress that the broad spectrum of Icede Nigerians of the plural minorities would not readily acto the imposition of other indigenous languages on them. In fact, every attempt to develop national lingua franca around the wazobia underpinnings has not been successful. The fate of wazobia should be understandable against the backdrop that it is considered internal colonialism and state-assisted oppression.

Ancillary to this logic is the state of immiseration of the people of Nigeria. There cannot be a common culture in Nigeria that is riven by class divisions between state-assisted buccaneers and the vast working people. The Nigerian nation is bereft of common culture between the tiny elite with access to power and wealth, who socialize their offspring, recreate and care for themselves in external shores on the one hand, and the mass of the working and pauperized people, eking out subsistence living at home, on the other. This is at the conjuncture of one class in Nigeria in contempt and does not understand the other. In this context, the slogan of “common destiny” is increasingly scorned as the opulent and ostentatious destiny of the tiny Nigerian elite is clearly at variance with the unmitigated impoverishment of the vast majority of the people.

In proposing solutions, we have argued that the agitations for cultural, national, etc. expressions are not new in history.

In fact, the clamour is less strident in Nigeria because of the state of her economic underdevelopment and relative weak political sophistication. In our country, cultural majorityminority slogans are deployed by pretenders to power and influence as means to the gravy train and not about promoting substantive freedom for all cultures to develop. We have also argued that the fundamental solution in history is regional autonomy for crystallized cultural units. This does recognize the fiction of abstract nations without corresponding territoriality. Every definite, cultural population inhabits specific territories. Consequently, regional autonomy cannot create or divide people into new nations. This is not about separateness or erecting deaf walls between peoples in order to demarcate national and cultural borders but instead, to break down barriers and unite people.

Finally, we need to emphasize that regional autonomy is about employing the natural resources of the region to develop its productive forces without being held down by topdown decisions of an overbearing centre. This proposition requires some clarifications to address the fears of opponents of resolution of the national question by means of regional autonomy. The infrastructure of hydropower generation in the large bodies of water is situated in specific locale but the product is distributed nationwide. So also is the product of the thermal power stations emptied into the national grid. To sustain the sources of energy requires the development of the people, structures and resources of the host areas. Without continued peace and development of the people and environment, we cannot count on electricity to power our industries and homes.

The essential element in the solution proposed is that in the mode of constituting autonomous regions is important.

However, the regions in Nigeria are not compact, homogeneous nations. Each region comprise of several cultures. This is because of long history of social and economic migrations to the extent that every region in Nigeria is interspersed with national and cultural minorities. The fears of opponents of regional autonomy are expressed in mooted tones or that cultural minorities will be oppressed by the indigenous majorities or ethnic consciousness are unfounded. This fear is actually conditioned on the sustenance of the old order of feudal rivalry and cultural impositions, which are sadly, still prevalent in our country. Thus, our argument for complete democratization of the polity means that Nigerians would have no grounds for fear of oppression of minorities by majorities.

There is an outstanding example in this regards that is often decontextualised and easily forgotten or misquoted.

Mallam Altine became Mayor of Enugu albeit, member of minuscule minority group as the electoral success of Mallam Altine was conditioned by the democratic contests between the bourgeois sections of the Wawa indigenes pitted against the modernizing sociopolitical forces in the Enugu capital territory. The serious contestation against the preservation of an atavistic feudal disunity ranged against the modernizing assault of democracy in turn, threw up the Fulani cattle trader as the candidate elected to the mayor-

ship. Similar democratic experiences were wrought in Lagos, Benin and Jos, where non-cultural majorities were afforded by the indigenes the mettle to fly political party flags and were successful in the polls against indigenous candidates of the cultural majorities on other political platforms. Our country did not implode then. That was not for lack of cultural and ethnic irredentist sentiments. Rather, our country held together and waxed stronger because the struggle for justice and equality assumed its regular and proper character of energizing democratic freedom. In every society, what the cultural and national minorities desire is not artificial equality, but substantive rights in the localities they inhabit. This is only feasible in full democratization.

In the National Conference, we noticed arguments along cleavages that there is no logical interconnection between organizational federalism and cultural-national autonomy. The proponents of the arguments ignore that the formal structures of the Nigerian state are thus, restrictive of fundamental freedoms. If we continue to count the clamour for freedom security challenge or attempts geared at national rupture in Nigeria, we will always miss the point.

National autonomy and organizational federalism go hand in hand and therefore, territorial organization according to nationalities is as democratic as it is progressive. The dissonance that the Nigerian people are not easily divisible into compact parts makes the point that the correct path applicable in all federal states is that more than one ethnic nationality could inhabit given territorial areas.

Indeed, freedoms are inseparable for every citizen and the denial of them will result in discontent anywhere in the world and in anybody however sophisticated. Thus, the formal resolution of the national question in Nigeria requires legal enactments, which are based on full democratization of our country. This would entail the end of privilege, disability or restriction on the rights and freedoms of cultural majorities and minorities.

We hope the national conference will rise to the occasion and chart the path for future peace and democratic order in our country.

• Concluded

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 | 15

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Focus States understudy Osun’s school-feeding, health programme Osun state is attracting local and international attention for implementing an initiative that has not only increased enrollment in its primary schools, but has also provided employment opportunities for farmers, majority of whom are women N September 26, 2005, Nigeria, in collaboO ration with the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other international development partners, launched the Home Grown School Feeding and Health Programme (HGSFHP) to achieve several lofty objectives.

The primary aim was to support the federal government in delivering a cost effective school-feeding programme and to also improve children’s health and nutrition at the public primary school level.

The secondary aim was to promote local agriculture for the benefit of local farmers, majority of whom are women, through regular patronage that would in turn, guarantee regular income for them.

The 12 states of Bauchi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kano, Kogi, Nasssarawa, Niger, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ogun, Yobe and Osun were initially chosen for the pilot phase, which was launched with fanfare at that time, with the promise of raising Nigeria’s literacy level.

Unfortunately, the dream could not be achieved as originally planned. But Osun state has, so far, been the only exception. The state began its own programme on April 30, 2012, providing a meal per day for 155, 318 pupils in classes one to three. By June 30, barely two months after, the number of pupils had increased to 194, 253.

Encouraged by the increase in enrollment, the state government expanded the programme to include Primary 4 pupils. Today, Osun state has over 300,000 pupils in its public primary schools.

At a technical meeting hosted by the state government, in collaboration with the Partnership for Child Development (PCD), at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Oshogbo recently, Osun received generous commendations. With a view to understudying Osun’s model for their possible adoption, participants from 13 states, including the FCT attended the meeting, which was also intended to strengthen the coordination between the states and the federal government towards reviving the HGSF progamme in the country.

Explaining the background of the programme, rebranded O’Meal and its implementation strategy, the Deputy Governor who doubles as the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori explained that Governor Rauf Aregbesola was persuaded to embark on the programme, when he noticed the stunted growth occasioned by severe malnutrition among school children in the state’s public schools. Although, pupils were being fed at that time, she said the result was not satisfactory.

She said: “The cost of feeding 155,318 pupils was N7.7 million per day, N38.5 million per week, and about N169.4 million per month.

The data presented by the Nigeria National Bureau of Statistics in December 2013 showed that the State of Osun has the highest enrolment figure of public primary school pupils in the country. There has been a drastic reduction in pupil’s absenteeism. In addition, the teachers reported that pupils are healthier, happier, more attentive, agile, and eager to learn.”

Besides, the Deputy Governor observed that over 3,000 women were appointed as foodvendors to supply pupils in the public schools with standardized food menus across the state. The government kitted the women, who were hitherto jobless, trained and empowered them to be professional caterers in their own rights Comparing what Osun spends with the federal government’s, she said: “The federal government expends N9, 262 on each primary school child, while Osun spends N84, 000 on each elementary school pupil in the state. In addition, the federal government spends N28, 170 on each secondary school student; Osun spends N30, 000 on each secondary school student. Yet, we are number 34 on the federal

Osun state primary school pupils with their meals at the ready

Aregbesola

government allocation list. Education is expensive, but to us, it is a priority.”

With all materials for the programme sourced locally, she said as at December 2013, the programme feeds the pupils with 35 herds of cattle, 8,700 crates of eggs, several tonnes of fish and 15,000 whole chickens on a weekly basis.

Representative of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Mrs. Doyin Orugun lamented that although the programme was a federal government initiative, it did not survive because it was not participatory. According to her, while the programme was envisaged as a community-driven activity, part of the conceptual problems arose because the states were not happy about the intervention.

Concerning the states’ involvement, she said: “much is still desired in their political will and commitment towards forging effective collaborations with federal agencies for quality basic education delivery.”

On poor funding and collaborative partnership, she affirmed that the programme entailed feeding an estimated 25 million pupils per term, over 173 school days with a meal costing an average of N20, which would in turn cost N85 billion.

“This is far in excess of the entire annual two per cent Universal Basic Education (UBE) Intervention Fund, which has never gone beyond N40 billion in a year. Going by the present formula, which allocates 5 per cent to HGSP & HP, it would be difficult for the government to efficiently fund the implementation of the HGSF and health programme,” she added.

Calling for collective efforts to resuscitate the programme, she charged other states across the country to understudy Osun state.

Orugun further stated that there should be synergy between the various agencies such as education, health, agriculture, environment, women affairs and others through the assignment of specific roles and responsibilities, to avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts.

Executive Director of the PCD, Dr Lesley Drake advised government officials and other stakeholders to take the school feeding and health programme out of politics.

Citing Mali where the programme has survived despite being ravaged by war, she insisted that a clear and good institutional practice, good leadership and political would constitute the necessary foundation success. She stressed that good fundamental practice and political will were responsible for the programme’s ongoing progress in Osun.

other states looking to benefit from the HGSF progamme.

So far, the Osun has benefited from the technical advice and support provided by Imperial College, London. The PCD, in partnership with the World Bank and WFP, has also been providing support for the design and management of school feeding programmes linked to agricultural production. The meeting also brought together technical experts from 13 states to discuss how they could learn from Osun’s experiment.

Mr. Emmanuel Onyeka who represented Mr. Patrick Ayogu, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Enugu State, said although, the school-feeding programme was implemented at inception in all local government councils of the state in 2005, it was stopped due to the political situation.

But with the level of success Osun, he expressed confidence that resuscitating the programme in Enugu state would help overcome some of the challenges in its education sector.

He said: “There is poverty everywhere including Enugu state. People are now sending their children out for petty trading rather than to school. The homegrown school feeding and health programme is a people-oriented programme and a sure way to get the children into the classroom and empower the community as well. I saw pupils who were happy being in school because they were being well fed.”

From Imo state, Mrs. Lois Onyike, a Nutrition Officer, said: “The State of Osun is doing a very big work. People would think the impact is not measurable, but it is a long-term development plan that would yield huge dividends. For every child given this opportunity, the sky is the limit. It is the springboard for lifting education in Nigeria.”

Also, Mrs. Charity Usifor from Edo state said: “What we saw in Osun was very interesting. We have not been doing it but seeing the reaction of the children to the feeding programme brought tears to my eyes. They were very happy and that alone is very good incentive to learning.”

From Ekiti State, Mrs. Eunice Ada who represented the Chairman, Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board SUBEB, Prof Modupe Adelabu said: “The policy and guideline framework is on ground. All it takes is a willing government. This programme would increase retention in pupils, the rate of school completion would increase, nutrition level would be high and it would further give employment and empowerment to the farmers and the community.”

Meanwhile, the World Bank’s Lead Specialist for Health, Nutrition and Population in Africa, Prof Don Bundy, who in a 2009 study, suggested a framework of five guiding principles on Rethinking School Feeding, insisted that there must be legal and policy frameworks; adequate institutional capacity and coordination; stable funding; sound design and implementation; and community participation, for the programme to really work.

According to him, helping children to stay in school “is a worthwhile investment, especially for poor families.” The concept of feeding the children in school “is the best incentive for parents to send their children to school.”

Aregbesola said: “A well-fed and healthy child has the first requirement for life and is in the best position to acquire the education needed to face the future. The converse is grim for a sick and malnourished child. This is the foundation upon which any meaning education programme can be built. We realized this before our inauguration, that given the widespread poverty of our people, we cannot educate any child on an empty stomach. Indeed, prior to our coming, pupils in public schools were malnourished, gaunt and in tatters.

Going to school every morning, they are a pitiful sight. I then made a solemn promise that not under my watch will this cruelty to children continue.”

Aregbesola observed that the country was facing security challenges, big enough to engage global attention because education had been neglected in the past.

“We are reaping the fruits now,” he said.

“Well-educated children will have the confidence to face the future and remake their world in their own image. Uneducated or badly educated children, on the other hand, are not only easy recruits for violent gangs, they are also incapable of conceiving beauty and all that is good about man, the environment and the good life.”

The governor added that the school-feeding programme “is a revolutionary development in education and indeed governance because it integrates at least four areas of governance with education: agriculture, health, job creation and local empowerment.”

Described as a win-win situation for children and other critical stakeholders, the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, with support from the Vitol Foundation, recently invited stakeholders from the Ministries of Agriculture and Health, the governors from Osun and Kano states, the PCD, World Bank, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to discuss how best to support

16 Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

TheMetroSection ‘The wound is still fresh...’

• Lagos govt, family members, friends remember Dana Air victims, two years on

Director General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mrs. Dominga Odebunmi (left), General Manager, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Osanyintolu, Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed laying the wreath on behalf of the James Okafor, elder brother of a victim, Augustine Okafor (left), Sunday Abu Iyere, son of a Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola and Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Dr. Aderemi Desalu victim, Maria Abu Iyere and an affected resident, Pastor Fredrick Akhigbe at the site during the laying of wreaths at the event PHOTOS: ISAAC TAIWO

By Isaac Taiwo Surprisingly, Dana Air has resumed their loved ones and if there was a gen- Sunday Abu Iyere lost his mother, its normal business but there has eral complaint that drew sympathy, it AGOS State Government and famly was the non-challant attitude of Dana Maria Abu Iyere, aged 61, to the crash. been no information from the Airmembers yesterday remembered Airline that had since resumed opera- “I have not heard anything from line.” victims of the Dana Boeing Mac Don- tion but yet to compensate the victims Dana Air since my mother died in the The sister, Sarah said it remained crash.

I do not live in this country nel (MD-83), which crashed on June 3, and those residents whose houses and and I cannot go back. As I am talking unbelievable that she had lost her 2012, at Iju Ishaga, killing all 157 on father. churches were destroyed in the course to you now, my father has suffered board.

“Personally, no amount of money of the crash. stroke because of the incident and I At the crash site was the Governor of James Okafor lost his junior brother, can compensate for the kind of facannot leave him,” he said.

Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji ther I had. I just pray that such Augustine Nwabuwa Okafor.

Obinna Levi Ajuonuma, Jr. and the Fashola (SAN), who was represented would not happen again,” she said.

Speaking to The Guardian, James said sister, Sarah Ajuonuma were at the by the Commissioner for Special Du- he was at the cenotaph to mourn his Pastor Fredrick Akhigbe, the Gensite to remember their father, Dr. ties, Dr. Wale Ahmed to lay wreaths eral Overseer, Mispem Bible junior brother.

Levi Ajuonuma. to mark the second year rememChurch, whose house and church “Augustine was 25 years old when he According to Obinna: “God has brance of the victims of the ill-fated met his sudden death. His wife has were affected, also said Dana was given us the strength to move on plane at the memorial arcade. also died and they had two children, after our father’s sudden departure. yet to pay him any compensation In the entourage were the Director Chima Okafor and Chiemere Okafor, despite the fact that their officers General, Lagos State Safety Commis- who live with my mother and we have It is, of course, still very fresh in our and agents came to assess the dammemory. sion, Mrs. Dominga Odebunmi, Gen- to send monthly upkeep for their ages done with the promise to re“On the issue of compensation, eral Manager, Lagos State Emergency care.” though I cannot speak for the family, pair our houses and churches.

Management Authority (LASEMA), Dr. “My father died of high blood presAnother resident, Kehinde however, to the best of my knowlFemi Osanyintolu and Permanent sure because of the death of my junior edge, nobody has been compensated. Adekunle, who lost his car to the Secretary, Special Duties, Dr. Aderemi brother. The wound remains fresh, as I do not know why there is deadline, crash and had his house damaged, Desalu among others.

Dana is yet to give a dime to the family which is today but I think every fam- also said Dana Air was yet to come Some of the relatives of the victims in terms of compensation,” he to his aid. ily should be compensated. were at the cenotaph to remember lamented.

L

Briefs Ajibua, 70, for burial HE families of Ajibua and OsT anyintolu have announced the death of Pastor Joseph Afolabi Ajibua. He died on May 7, at the age of 70.

A statement by Femi Ajibua on behalf of the family says: “A service of song holds tomorrow at 5.00p.m. at Bethel House, Nova Road, Basiri, Ado Ekiti.”

There will be a Christian wake on Friday, June 6, at 5.00p.m. at No. 30, Aomu Imila Street, Ido Ekiti. He will be buried on Saturday, June 7, after a funeral burial service at 10.00a.m. at the Gospel Faith Mission, behind AUD School, Ido Ekiti.

Ajibua

Missing person WENTY-YEAR-OLD Samuel T Obinna of No. 29, Olu Shuaibu Street, Aberanje Road, Ikotun, Lagos has been reported missing.

A sworn affidavit by his biological father, Mr. Edwin Umahi, says “ Samuel is a100- level student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, studying Computer Science.

“That he finished his examinations on May 10, 2014, and has since not been seen either at home or in school.

Anybody with information on his whereabouts should report to the nearest police station or the above address.

‘Why we killed former Anambra Deputy Governor’

By Odita Sunday AGOS State Police ComLsuspects, mand has arrested three who allegedly killed former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chudi Nwike.

The suspects, who confessed to the dastardly act, were paraded by the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Umar Manko before newsmen yesterday at the Command’s Headquarters, GRA in Ikeja.

The suspects were also responsible in the kidnap of the wife and daughter of Supreme Court judge, Justice Rhodes Vivour.

One of the suspects, Godspower Ovwigho, 31, gave a graphic account of how his gang killed the deputy governor.

According to him: “When we succeeded in kidnapping the deputy governor, we demanded for N30 million ransom but we were shocked when we received N5 million. Our leader, Rufus got angry that they family brought N5 million instead of N30 million, he

The suspects then drove the victim and members of the family who came to deliver the ransom away and in a few minutes, we heard a gunshot.”

“When Rufus came back, he called the wife of the deputy governor on telephone and urged her to use the N25 million balance to bury her husband. Rufus also told the wife that two persons who came to de-

liver the ransom had been killed.”

“When our leader Kelvin came back he got angry and blamed Rufus for killing the victims. He also reminded Rufus that he was fond of bringing ill luck to the gang because he was the reason why Prison Warders were killed in Delta State. It was Rufus we were trying to rescue which eventually led to

the death of the prison officials.”

The suspect said they were shocked when Rufus narrated how and why the deputy governor and his two rescuers were killed.

“Although after blaming Rufus, Kelvin still collected the money from him and shared to us. I got N100, 000 only from the loot.

They didn’t give us good money from the loot. It is Kelvin and other key members of the gang that enjoys the major monies.”

“We still kidnapped the wife of the Supreme Court Judge and demanded for N20 million ransom and we got exactly the amount we demanded. My own share in that one was N1.3million.

Kelvin and Rufus took the lion share. The Judge’s wife was the last assignment we did before Kelvin and Rufus were killed by security agents,” he further revealed.

Manko, who narrated how the police had the breakthrough, noted that his officers, Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Aisha Haruna, a Superintendent of Police

and an officer-in-charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), who usually prosecute his anti-crime plans with diligence, achieved the result for the Command.

His words: “Sequel to the tracking and arrest of one Monday Odieto from Benin, Edo State by the DPO, Ikoyi Division, SP Haruna, for his involvement in kidnapping of the wife of a sitting Supreme Court Judge Justice Rhodes Vivour and his subsequent confession during interrogation to be a member of a 30-man gang of deadly kidnappers who operate in South-South and South East axis of the country, I gave a marching order to the officer in charge of SARS, SP Abba Kyari to go after them for possible apprehension and recovery of their operational weapons.”

“After a long manhunt, one Godspower was tracked and arrested at Ikorodu on April 23, 2014 by Kyari and his men. He was identified by Monday Odieto to be a top ranking member of the gang.”

Obinna

Church begins convention REVAILING Dynamic AssemP bly Inc. (Palace of Deliverance) holds its yearly convention and special awards ceremony under the chairmanship of Dr. Emmanuel D. Emmanuel, with the theme: Covenant Keeper at 32, Oluirolu Street, off Aadesina or OkeOloruntedo, off Odolowu Street, Ijesha, Lagos from today till Sunday, June 8, 2014. Hosts are Prof. & Mrs. Samuel U. Umba.

Apply Praise’s convention PPLY Praise Ministry A Int’l, a fast –rising Pentecostal Church holds its yearly family convention from Sunday, June 8-Monday, June 16, at NEPA Bus Stop, Jakande Estate, Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos at 8.00a.m. daily.

According to the host, Pastor Segun Olatunde, the theme is: Spirit-controlled family.

Pastor Kolawole Tunde, Rev. Tayo Sosanya, Peace Akingunsoye, Olu Ezekiel, Rotimi Oluseye and Mrs. Mabel Peter-Charles, will minister.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Briefs Bestman Games celebrates Children’s Day at Caro Favoured School, Ajegunle O mark this year’s Children’s Day, Bestman Games Limited in T collaboration with Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) and First Bank of Nigeria Plc. officially launched a Personal Finance Club at Caro Favoured College, Ajegunle, Lagos, on Monday, May 26, 2014.

This was also a follow- up visit to the school that won the second City of Lagos Edition Inter-School Monopoly Tournament in December, 2013.

Head of Brand Communications, First Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Victoria Onwubiko, gave an enlightening presentation on the basic principles of personal finance. Topics covered included: fun facts about money, budgeting, savings, and investing.

Children were also taught about the difference between needs and wants, the financial regulators and how to prepare for a secure financial future.

The event was supported by First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN), and Sweet Sensation, which provided refreshments at the occasion.

The purpose of this yearly event along with other financial literacy interventions by Bestman Games was to celebrate the Nigerian child and to empower our youths by equipping them with the basic skills in personal financial management, which will be very important throughout their lives.

Special guests included Mr Okoh, Mrs. Victoria Onwubiko, Mrs Nimi Akinkugbe and Efe Adefulu among others.

The City of Lagos Edition and the Nigerian Centenary Edition of this world-acclaimed board game, are brought to Nigeria by Bestman Games, the African distributor of customized editions of the Monopoly board game from Hasbro.

RCA School of Business launches partnership with Regent University on Saturday

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 17

70-year -old traditional ruler, 18 others held over alleged murder in Kogi From John Akubo, Lokoja LOKOJA Chief Magistrate’s A Court has remanded a traditional ruler and 18 other suspects in prison custody for allegedly killing Chief Isa Edimeh and one Muhammed Wada, all of Ojikpadala Egume village in Dekina Local Council of Kogi State.

The suspects, Alhaji Etila Ajeka (70), the Royal father of Egume, Muhammed Abdul, Ibrahim Salifu, Hassan Ocheni, Ocheni Salifu, Samson Achem among others, all of Egume were alleged to have conspired and killed Chief Isa Edimeh and Muhammed Bawa on May 27, 2014 at Ojikpadala Egume village in Dekina Local Council.

Chief Isa Edime, a veteran broadcast journalist, who retired from the FRCN as Executive Director was killed by gunmen on May 27, at his Ojikpadala Egume village.

Chief Magistrate Levi Animoku ordered the remand of the accused persons after they were arraigned by the police.

The accused persons were charged with criminal conspiracy, trespass and culpable homicide, contrary to Sections 97(1), 348 and 221 of the Penal Code Law respectively.

The prosecutor, Samuel Ikutanwa told the court that on May 27, Mrs. Mary Edime of Ojikpadala Egume village reported at the Divisional Police office in Egume and Department of Criminal Investigation, Lokoja that at about 8.10 p.m. on the fateful date, the accused persons and others at large stormed the room with dangerous weapons while she and her husband were watching television in their sitting room.

“Mrs. Edimeh said the accused persons armed themselves with Ak 47 rifle, cutlasses and axes loaded themselves inside Toyota Si-

enna bus and invaded their compound, forced their way into the sitting room and pointed guns at her husband and dragged him into the bus and drove him to an unknown destination,” the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor further said while Mrs. Edimeh was going to the police to lodge a complaint, she got information that his corpse was lying at Abadigba village along Egume Anyingba Road.

According to the prosecutor, investigation led to the arrest of the suspects while two cell phones and 31 expended empty shells of AK 47 riffle were recovered from them, adding that the accused persons also killed one Muhammed Bawa.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to charges while the prosecutor urged the court not to grant them bail considering the nature of the offence, which carry death penalty and that they would

commit further offence, if granted bail.

Counsel to the accused persons led by Alfred Shehu Akpala urged the court to grant the accused persons bail because an accused is presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

He argued that 19 persons could not have killed the deceased at the same time and that the police merely prepared the FIR to punish the suspects.

In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Levi Animoku, said under Section 341 (1) Criminal Procedure Code, a court is precluded from granting bail to an accused person of a punishable with death.

He, however, ordered that the accused person be remanded at the federal prison, Dekina and transferred the case to Chief Magistrate’s Court, Dekina for mention.

The Presiding Chief Magistrate adjourned the case to June 9, for further mention.

EGENT University, a leading global Christian university in VirR ginia United States of America, has partnered with the ReFERMA, NSE seek reorientation and observance of road signs vival Christian Academy (RCA) School of Business, a Christ-based human capital development academy that focuses on business courses for managers, entrepreneurs and leaders, to provide world-class certification, through online live streaming contact model, the first of its kind, in Nigeria.

The event holds on Saturday, June 7, 2014 at the Revival Assembly Church headquarters, cocoa road Ogba; Ikeja Lagos in a conference tagged: “Impact your world”, an emerging business leaders transformation conference.

The event would be witness by the Assistant Vice President of Professional and Continuous Education, Regent University- Dr Julianne Cenac, the Programme Manager Powered by Regent, Global African Market- Regent UniversityGladys Dark and the President, RCA School of Business, Founder and General Overseer, Revival Assembly Ministry Apostle Anselm Madubuko, among other prominent guests.

Regent University, noted for professional and continuous education, would cater for the needs corporate individual with busy lifestyle and emerging business leaders, entrepreneur, and also for personal and career development. Some of its unique certification are: Entrepreneurship and business Launch, World Class consulting, Digital Media and Web Design among others.

Speaking on the partnership, Apostle Anselm Mabubuko, the President of the RCA school of Business and founder and general overseer of Revival Assembly said: The RCA School of business and Regent University certification will offer unprecedented opportunity for individual to climb the corporate ladder or improve in the quality of service.

Madubuko

Church marks anniversary

CTIVITIES to mark the third anniversary /thanksgiving service A of New Beginning True Bible Church will hold at NBTC auditorium Sherry- Ville, opposite First Bank, Berger Bus Stop, Ojodu/Omole-Ikeja, Lagos with theme: “Set Time For God’s Visitation,” on Friday, June 13-Saturday, June 14 with praise night at 6.00p.m. It will end on Sunday, June, 15, 2 with a thanksgiving service at 9.00am. Chief host is Pastor G.O. Onyeyili.

By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku HE Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has called for a reorientation and adherence to the various road signs by road users stating that it is part of the way accidents can be reduced on the roads.

This statement was made during the marking of Zebra Crossings in collaboration with the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) at Ijora Cause Way, Ijora Olopa leading to Eko Bridge Lagos State.

Speaking to The Guardian at the event, the Road Maintenance Engineer, FERMA, South-West II, Engr. Afolabi Kehinde Peter said that Nigerians should cultivate a new mentality by ridding themselves of what has become a norm in the nation to make the country better.

He said that road signs are meant to be observed, but Nigerians have imbibed the attitude of flouting road signs even when most of them are aware of what it entails and observe them when they see themselves outside the country.

He said: “It is not that we cannot observe it, it is just that people have immersed themselves in corruption. Some people flout the rules because they believe it is part and parcel of the system but by the time you make them to realize that this is what is called

T

corruption and that you are even cheating yourself the more, they might have a change of character and attitude.”

“We need more road signs; we need to create more awareness. Everyday, people must see it, listen to it on the air and read it on various social media. We must start from somewhere and send those signals and make sure that people in every part of this country start to adhere to it.”

Meanwhile, the branch chairman of Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Apapa branch, Engr. Ibrahim Aledu who revealed that the collaboration was borne out of their zeal to impact on the community and help reduce accident on the busy Ijora Olopa Road, said that the society will not stop in the provision of the sign only but will also engage in campaigns for people to abide by it.

His words: “This is just a continuation of our community engineering activity. We decided to mark that very busy bus stop, Ijora Olopa, because if you noticed, you will see that it is an artery between the Mainland and the Island, which is Eko. It is always busy because people coming from Ijora and heading towards Eko and people coming from Iddo towards Ijora Olopa makes use of that road and

Members of Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Apapa branch marking Zebra sign at Ijora Cause Way, Ijora Olopa, Lagos State...recently

we noticed that because of the absence of this zebra crossing sign there, vehicles don’t normally come to a halt while approaching there, thereby causing a lot of casualties. That was why we ap-

proached FERMA during one of our industrial visits to them to help us provide materials in marking the road, which is like a donation we are giving to our host community.”

18

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 19 77

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Business How Benin profits from Nigeria’s agric trade policy

By Femi Adekoya with agency report HE prevailing bilateral ties T between Benin Republic and Nigeria might have unveiled the challenges faced in implementing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Common External Tariff (CET) and the need for broader policy harmonisation, if the economic incentive for largescale informal trade, which impacts directly on formal sector investment decisions, is to be removed.

According to a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) review of the agricultural situation in Benin, “Benin serves as a delivery corridor for West Africa, reaching

more than 100 million people in the landlocked countries of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad and the Northern states of Nigeria.”

USDA observed that “Benin’s relatively efficient port services and liberal trade policies mean it is an important cog in the regional trade flows to nearby countries.”

The report noted that improvements in the country’s port operations as well as some small improvements in the ease of doing business over the past three years aided the flow of imports in the country.

“Benin applies the WAEMU (often known by its francophone name UEMOA) common external tariff (CET) with its four tariff bands (zero, 5%, 10%

Benin serves as a delivery corridor for West Africa, reaching more than 100 million people in the landlocked countries of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad and the Northern states of Nigeria...Informal trade between Nigeria and Benin is substantial. The main products involved in this informal trade include rice, poultry products, refined sugar and a range of other food and agricultural products. More than 85 percent of these types of products that are shipped to Benin are meant for onward sales into Nigeria through informal cross-border trading activities. and 20%) with no quantitative restrictions applied.

“Informal trade between Nigeria and Benin is substantial.” The main products involved in this informal trade include rice, poultry products, refined sugar and a range of other food and agricultural products”, the report added.

According to industry stakeholders, trade dynamic along the Benin–Nigeria border needs to be seen against the background of the scheduled introduction from 1 January 2015 of the ECOWAS CET, a move intended to end the reexportation trade.

The Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce

Director-General, Nigerian Association of Chambers of commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr. John Isemede (left); National VicePresident, NACCIMA, Mallam Ahmad Rabiu; and Managing Director, Intrass Limited, Femi Awogbade, during the National Dialogue on “Unlocking Shipping Gridlock at The Ports”, organised by NACCIMA in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO; SUNDAY AKINLOLU

Credit guarantee for farmers hits N16.3b

By Chijioke Nelson HE loan guarantee initiaT tive for farmers scripted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), popularly known as the Credit Risk Guarantee, has hit an alltime peak of N16.28 billion.

CRG, which is being advanced to support farmers’ financing needs in the country, under CBN’s Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), has so far covered 46 groups, after adding one more in the month of May. NIRSAL is a mechanism designed to provide farmers with affordable financial products and reduce the risk of exposure of financial institutions that lend to the sector. It will also build the capacities of banks to lend to agriculture as well as provide incentives for those that are financing the sector.

According to CBN, N6.12 million Interest Drawback Programme (IDP) has also been claimed, with a cumulative value of payments from inception standing at N146.118 million for 74 projects.

The apex bank, while releasing the report of activities for the month of may, also said nine guarantees valued N1.655billion were approved under the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) in May 2014.

This however, brings the cumulative amount of Growth Enhancement Scheme, under the CRG scheme to N21.555 billion in respect of 122 projects.

The sum of N7.188 million was advanced to three projects through Unity bank Plc and Enterprise Bank during the month, bringing the cumulative GES-IDP issued to N188.844 million to 70 projects.

CBN said it held a stakeholders meeting with Deposit Money Banks in Lagos, to brief the counterparties on the increase in the guarantee level of the initiative from 12.5 per cent to 75 per cent.

It also held meeting with Sokoto State Ministry of Agriculture, farmers co-operatives and other key stakeholders of the Rice and Tomato Value Chain in May to discuss issues of off-taker agreement, supply chain management, among others, with respect to the N1.5 billion loan facility approved for the Rice and Tomato farmers in the State.

The apex bank also noted that NIRSAL team met with the Agricultural Department of the Federal Capital Development Authority last month, to discuss mode of partnership in the development of beef and dairy value chains in the nation’s capi-

tal.

It however, pointed out that the challenges to the scheme has been on the validity of information provided by counter parties for Credit Risk Guarantee; review of the existing CRG guidelines to reflect the 12.5 per cent first loss; and principle in place of the face value currently being issued.

Others include low public awareness; poor perception of NIRSAL; and logistic limitations in respect of movement to NIRSAL head office.

It also noted that NIRSAL will now provide guarantee on first loss basis; guarantee to be extended only to projects focused on fixing the value chain; NIRSAL exit from CBN is in progress; to chart a way forward for ensuring sustainable financing operations of rice and tomato production; and improving the efficiency of finished products of perishable farm produce.

and Industry, Muda Yusuf, had highlighted how the introduction of the CET will need to include scrapping of the import and export prohibition lists, “abrogation of import duty waivers, abrogation of import levies and loss of sovereign authority over tariff policy”.

The report further highlighted trade sources’ estimates that “more than 85 percent of these types of products that are shipped to Benin are meant for onward sales into Nigeria through informal cross-border trading activities”, noting that this trade poses particular problems in the poultry and rice sectors in Nigeria.

Specifically, Benin has only a small poultry meat sector (13,000 tonnes), with production at present largely focused on egg production.

However, Benin is a major importer of poultry meat within the region, with imports totalling 160,000 tonnes (about 6,500 40-foot containers), valued at $450 million (although some traders suggest this could be as high as 300,000 tonnes).

The informal trade to

Nigerian markets brings major benefits to traders from Benin, with many fish importers shifting the use of their cold-store facilities to the import of poultry meat and even expanding their overall cold-store capacity with poultry imports in mind.

This trade is seen as being driven by the government of Nigeria’s “ban on legal frozen poultry imports”, a measure aimed at protecting local Nigerian poultry producers.

The report added that Benin’s poultry producers for their part would like to see the Nigerian government “remove its import ban on poultry meat in order for them to gain free access into Nigeria’s massive market”.

It is thought that this would then encourage investment in poultry production for both export and domestic markets.

In the rice sector, according to the USDA review, traders from Benin can sell a 50-kg bag of rice in Nigeria at prices 75 per cent higher than they can obtain on the Benin side of the border.

According to USDA, in order to avoid the high Nigerian levies, Nigerian traders have been directing their rice consignments to ports in neighbouring countries where they are cleared and moved into the Nigerian market through informal trading activities.

Already the Nigeria Customs Service has “identified the low tariff on rice in neighbouring countries as one of the major factors contributing to smuggling of rice into the country”.

20

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Customs begins implementation of ECOWAS protocol to check smuggling HE Nigeria Customs T Service (NCS) has begun the implementation of the

Head of Supply Chain, Mouka Limited, Femi Fapohunda (right); Chief Executive Officer, Bravo Group, Greg Boulle; and Managing Director, Mouka Limited, Peju Adebajo, at the birth of Belimi Limited and grand launch of Sealy Posturepedic mattress and Sleep Gallery, held in Lagos.

Ecobank acquires Banco ProCredit, commences business in Mozambique COBANK Transnational E Incorporated and ProCredit Holding (PCH) have concluded negotiations for the acquisition of the 96 per cent stake in Banco ProCredit Mozambique previously held by ProCredit Holding and the DOEN Foundation.

The transaction has received the approval of the regulatory authorities in Mozambique and the bank has started trading as Ecobank Mozambique, effective from May 20th 2014.

Speaking on behalf of PCH, Helen Alexander confirmed that the negotiations were held in a frank

and transparent manner and that the transaction has been concluded to the satisfaction of both parties.

She asserted: “We are pleased to have concluded this transaction and are confident that we are leaving the bank in the hands of a very capable partner.

Ecobank is well positioned to implement a growth strategy that will offer excellent prospects for our clients, our staff and for the Mozambique market as a whole.”

Ecobank’s Group Chief Operating Officer, Evelyne Tall, re-affirmed that Ecobank would build rapidly on the excellent founda-

tion laid by ProCredit Holding to transform the Bank into a major player in the local financial services market.

“Our entry into Mozambique brings the number of African countries in which Ecobank has a presence to 36,” she commented. “Having completed the acquisition, we are now beginning the integration of systems, people and clients into the Ecobank network. This will ensure that ProCredit Mozambique’s customers have access to the entire suite of products that Ecobank has to offer.”

Ecobank’s Group Chief

Executives Officer, Albert Essien, reiterated the importance of Mozambique to Ecobank’s strategy in the Southern African Development Community (‘SADC’).

“Mozambique holds a key strategic position within the SADC, providing port access for all the landlocked member countries.

“Our overall objective is to advance financial inclusion for the people of Mozambique, providing them with accessible, convenient and reliable banking services, as well as leveraging regional trade corridors to facilitate cross-border transactions,” he said.

Nasarawa offsets N38b loan, embarks on airport project From Msugh Ityokura, Lafia HE Nasarawa State governT ment has off set an inherited debt of N38 billion, even as it has completed 400 kilometers of roads in the past three years.

Also, the proposed Nasarawa airport project located in Lafia, the state capital, conceived by the present administration is still on course.

The State’s Commissioner for Works, Mohammed Wada told The Guardian in Lafia yesterday that the delay in the commencement of construction work at the earmarked site of the airport was just to ensure that the state is bequeathed with an airport that can stand the test of time and can accommodate any type of plane.

The airport construction, according to Wada, requires a great study analysis, considering the safety requirements and other hazards associated with such facility, and planes that would use it.

“Any derail in these elements can lead to a very hazardous situation. It is not just con-

structing an airport that matters, but it is constructing a desirable and reliable airport that can stand the taste of time.

"First and foremost I want you to know that constructing an airport is not like constructing a car park or ordinary road. It requires a great study and analysis considering the safety requirements and other hazards associated with airports and planes that tend to use the airport.

“So, there are some regulatory bodies that regulate the construction of airport ranging from Ministry of Environment that will assess the changes that will affect the environment in the process of constructing an airport. There is Federal Airport Authority, which is also another body that regulates the credibility or other wise of constructing an airport in a given area. These are the most difficult things in carrying out an airport project,” he said.

The environmental impact assessments, which he noted, are things that are not acces-

sible in a moment, have been carried out by undertaking a study of the soil during the dry season and another one during the raining season.

“So, we have to pass through these processes to have an authentic and reliable information that will qualify the approval of the regulatory

agencies. So far we are almost through with the environmental impact assessment. We are also through with the soil test which will determine the capability of the soil to carry the weight of any kind of plane that will land on the said soil" Wada added.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ``Protocol on Transit’’ to check the smuggling of vehicles.

The Public Relations Officer of NCS, Seme Command, Ernest Olottah, made the fact known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, yesterday.

Olottah said that the ECOWAS protocol was to ensure mutual assistance in customs matters for better control over normal trade and more efficient control against smuggling by member countries.

He said that the protocol would also enable customs authorities of member countries to ensure safe delivery of goods on road transit to the authority of the receiving country. ``It allows the transportation of goods by road from one customs office in a member state to another customs office in another member state through one or more member states free of duties, taxes and restrictions while in transit.

“Such goods shall be accompanied with a set of customs documents and

great importance to tax collection.

He said that revenue generation would enable the government to finance its expenditure and provide more dividends of democracy to people of the state.

He explained that the government was targeting N1billion as monthly IGR before the end of the year.

The commissioner urged people of the state to continue to pay their taxes as at when due to enable the government to provide services to

Dikko

Chamber tasks CBN on monetary policy rate HE Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ABUCCIMA) has advised the new governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to reduce the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR).

The Director General, ABUCCIMA, Mr Joe Wenegieme, who made call in an interview with NAN in Abuja, said lowering the MPR will reduce the cost of lending by commercial banks to manufacturers and small scale enterprises and thus boost the economy.

He identified poor access to finance and high cost of credit from conventional lending houses as some of the setbacks for the real sector and the economy as a

T

Katsina generates N800m as IGR monthly HE Katsina State to the development of any people.

In his remarks, the T Government, on Tuesday, nation, said the government said its Internally Generated would continue to attach Managing Partner, Alhaji Revenue (IGR) has increased from N200 million to N800 million monthly.

The Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Lawal Jari, made the disclosure in Katsina at the commissioning of the permanent office of the Salih Barau Tax Consultants.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the company was engaged by the state government to take charge of its revenue generation.

Jari, who stressed the importance of revenue generation

shall not be off-loaded or transferred while in transit,” he said.

According to Olottah, the implementation of the protocol will go on with the successful implementation of the 35 per cent duty on imported vehicles by the service.

He said the service had completely suppressed smuggling at the borders, adding that the Comptroller-General of NCS, Dikko Abdullahi, had directed all controllers to implement the protocol effectively. ``This now allows the vehicles that could have ordinarily been smuggled to be delivered directly to customs. ``The implementation of the protocol will discourage smuggling, enhance revenue collection and security in trans-border operations,” Olottah said.

Salih Barau, said that about 80 per cent of the revenue generated monthly comes from Board of Internal Revenue.

Barau urged the ministry of lands and survey and agencies to intensify efforts toward improving revenue generation because they had a lot of opportunities to change their current revenue profile.

He assured that the state would reach the target of N1 billion and above with the continued support of tax payers and revenue generation bodies in the state.

whole.

NAN reports that the MPR, which is the rate at which the CBN lends money to banks, currently stands at 12 per cent.

The monetary policy rate is a key determinant of the lending rates charged by commercial banks and development finance institutions.

NAN also reports that banks currently charge between 20 and 35 per cent on loans to customers, thus making the cost of funds in Nigeria one of the highest globally.

Wenegieme, a former branch manager at First Bank, said that the high lending rates were making it difficult for SMEs and indeed the real sector to access even government intervention funds for expansion.

The ABUCCIMA official also identified the strict borrowing requirements of banks as another obstacle for SMEs willing to access funds for expansion. ``Most of the SMEs cannot provide the collateral demanded by commercial banks and agencies that disburse government’s intervention funds. ``I am not saying banks should embark on clean lending; we all agree that lending should be backed by security in the event of miscarriage. ``But they should make their requirements a bit flexible for SMEs to be able to access funds for expansion in the overall interest of the nation’s economy,” he said.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 BUSINESS

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

21

‘Retail marketing in Nigeria witnessing vast transformation’ RESIDENT, DMS Retail P West Africa, Mr. Joseph Ebata, has disclosed that Nigeria’s retail marketing has witnessed vast transformation in a short space of time.

Ebata, in his welcome address at the 2014 Retail Leaders Conference held in Lagos, said: “In less than 10 years, a lot of change has occurred with the entrance of multi-national food chains and mega malls and supermarkets. Not many would have thought that concepts like online shopping would be a success in Nigeria.”

He explained that supply chains in Africa are more challenging than many other markets in the world.

“The key to success is understanding these challenges in order to offset the risks versus the opportunity, which the continent offers. This knowledge will allow retailers to service markets with a supply chain that is agile enough to respond quickly to sudden or unexpected changes, flexible enough to customize products and efficient enough to protect margins.”

While delivering his keynote address, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, said Nigeria’s retail sector holds huge potential for growth.

The UBA boss, who was represented by the bank’s Director of Consumer Banking, Mr. Ilesanmi

Bharti Airtel set to seal $3b African towers’ deal NDIA’S Bharti Airtel is said Iwould to be close to a deal that see its sell its African tower assets for as much as USD3 billion.

The funds are expected to be used to help bring the company’s debt down to more manageable levels.

“Up to $2 billion of the sale proceeds will be used to retire debt, helping improve the company’s margins and result in higher profit before tax,” an unnamed source told the Economic Times.

The rest would be used for network upgrades.

Paying down the debt could boost pre-tax profits by aroundUSD100 million.

Bharti Airtel would still be left with debts of around $8.4 billion though.

Four companies, Helios Towers Africa, IHS, American Tower and Eaton Towers are said to have been shortlisted for the deal, which would include the tower assets in most of the 17 African countries that Airtel operates in.

It owns around 15,000 towers in the continent.

Any deal could be game changing for the buyer, giving them a continent wide footprint in a fast growing market. It is therefore expected that bidding could be intense when the tender is formally issued.

Another option is a fragmented sale, with different buyers picking up towers in selected countries.

Owoeye, listed several factors driving the growth of Nigeria’s retail industry.

These factors, according to him, include the ongoing reforms in key sectors of the Nigerian economy aimed at bridging infrastructural gap, reducing unemployment levels, improving literacy level and improving access to funding by SMEs, which will significantly impact the level of disposable income and effective demand in the near future, affording the

sector unprecedented growth opportunity.

He also identified increasing technology penetration in Nigeria as another factor driving the growth of the retail sector as this is giving

retailers access to valuable market information about purchasing trends as well as segment preferences, making it increasingly easy to adapt sales and marketing approaches and improve

The supply chains in Africa are more challenging than many other markets in the world. “The key to success is understanding these challenges in order to offset the risks versus the opportunity, which the continent offers.

c o n s u m e r experiences. Another factor is the increasing penetration of the informal sector by retailers.

“Without doubt, the continuous rise in mobile technology will be pivotal to the next stage of the retail market development, fuelling its integration with the global retail trade economy and significantly increasing its ease of doing business. This prospect is already becoming evident in the rising trend of online

retailers are increasingly gaining traction and matching the emerging sophistication of Nigerian consumers’ changing demand and payment patterns.” Oduoza said.

He called on banks to adopt on more collaborative financing mechanisms to enable retailers develop their capacities, expand operations and adopt innovative practice production standards to reduce operating cost and optimize value.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce, USA, Mathew H. Murray,(left); Chief Executives Officer, Strides Energy & Maritime Ltd, Moritz Abazie; and Vice President, Ellicot Dredges LLC USA, Paul P. Quinn, during the contract signing ceremony for the purchase of an Ellicot 670 Dragon cutter suction dredger by Strides Energy in Lagos.

Strides Energy & Maritime acquires dredging facility line with Federal ItentNGovernment’s local conpolicy, Strides Energy and Maritime Limited has signed a contract with Ellicot Dredges LLC Maryland, USA, for the acquisition of an Ellicot 670 Dragon cutter suction dredger.

The US secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker among other top government and company officials witnessed the signing cere-

mony, which took place recently in Lagos.

Speaking at the purchase contract signing ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of Strides Energy and Maritime, Moritz Abazie, said the acquisition of the new dredger was informed by the promising enabling business environment the present administration has provided to encourage full participation of indigenous players in the service sub-

sector of the nation’s oil and gas industry.

He commended the Federal Government for the local content policy meant to support indigenous companies to grow into worldclass organizations while creating jobs at home.

The Business Development Officer of Strides Energy and Maritime, Izeze-Ifeanyi Bundo also said the company’s vision is to be the leading offshore oil and gas

exploration and production services company in Africa.

In line with this strategic vision, “Strides Energy and Maritime owns and operates some of the best maritime assets in Nigeria, for dredging and marine infrastructural construction, thereby providing competitive returns to our investors, thus making Strides a contractor of choice for offshore oil and gas development and production.”

Strides Energy and Maritime Limited is a Nigerian offshore oil and gas construction firm that provides dredging, shallow offshore pipeline and other facilities construction and installation services and operates from its headquarters in Port Harcourt.

This latest acquisition increases the company’s dredging fleet to three units in addition to other support vessels.

Stanbic IBTC Bank partners Nigerian firm on Apple products’ finance deal ORE Group Nigeria, C Apple’s Value Added Distributor for Nigeria, announced yesterday that they have partnered with Stanbic IBTC Bank to extend iDeals, a zero percentage interest finance offer for iPad, Mac and iPod, to include iPhone as well. iDeals already gives Nigerians the option to pay for iPad, Mac or iPod over 12 months interest free, but with the recent official launch of iPhone in Nigeria, the offer has been extended to include iPhone as well. iDeals for iPhone starts at just 9500 a month and is available from all

Stanbic IBTC branches nationwide.

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Stanbic and offer this firstof-a-kind iPhone finance deal.

We originally launched iDeals for iPad, Mac and iPod and with the recent official launch of iPhone in Nigeria, it made sense to gives customers the opportunity to purchase iPhone through iDeals as well,” said Mr. Rutger-Jan van Spaandonk, Director of Core Group Nigeria.

“Offering finance deals on Apple products is consistent with our dedication to continually seek ways of

delighting our customers by ensuring that we support their aspirations with convenient and affordable products and service at all our touch points,” said Obinnia Abajue, Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, for Stanbic IBTC Bank.

In addition to having access to the iDeals finance offer for iPhone, customers can also rest assured that they are buying product that is supported by the official Apple warranty.

Any iPhone that is purchased through iDeals, comes with the one year official Apple warranty that is supported locally in

Nigeria, which the purchaser of grey or parallel imported products is not entitled to. If any repair issues arise during the warranty term, iDeals customers can claim for free local warranty support.

Furthermore, corporate customers are reminded that iDeals is a great solution for financing employee Apple products. iDeals is flexible and can be implemented in corporate organisations through various models. Whether a corporate requires an employee to pay 100 per cent of the instalments, offers a co-funding scheme to contribute towards the

payments or wants to offer iPhone as part of a reward scheme, iDeals can be tailored to suit the needs of the organisation.

“We are committed to making official Apple product more affordable locally. iDeals gives Nigerians the opportunity to purchase iPhones at an affordable monthly rate, with the convenience of applying at your Stanbic branch, all while having the peace of mind that you will have local warranty support. We encourage customers to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity and apply”, concluded Van Spaandonk.

22 Wednesday, June 4, 2014 BUSINESS

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Lafarge combines Nigeria, S’African businesses under regional consolidation scheme Stories by Femi Adekoya O further strengthen its T position in Africa, Lafarge Group has announced plans to consolidate its holdings in the continent by combining its businesses in Nigeria and South Africa, to create a new entity, Lafarge Africa.

By this action, Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc will be renamed Lafarge Africa Plc (Lafarge Africa) as part of efforts to improve its market position to benefit from growth and development opportunities in Nigeria and Southern Africa.

Under the proposed terms, Lafarge group will transfer its direct and indirect shareholdings in Lafarge South Africa Holdings (Pty) Limited (100 per cent - representing 72.4 per cent of underlying companies in South Africa), United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited (35 per cent), Ashakacem Plc (58.61 per cent) and Atlas Cement Company Limited (100 per cent) to Lafarge WAPCO. The transaction is expected to be concluded through a cash consideration of $200m and the issuance of 1,402,575,984 Lafarge Africa shares to Lafarge Group.

According to a statement made available to The Guardian, the new entity will have nationwide coverage in both Nigeria and South Africa, with cement capacity of about 12 million tonnes, as well as operations in aggregates, ready-mix and fly ash.

The statement read in part: “The strong operational track record and management skills within the combined businesses as well as continued support and expertise from Lafarge Group will position Lafarge Africa to offer a full range of value added solutions to meet customers’ needs. Lafarge Africa, owned 73 per cent by Lafarge Group, will remain listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange”.

Commenting on the transaction, Chairman of Lafarge WAPCO, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, said: “I am proud to be part of the creation of this leading African building materials platform. It will provide access to growth in two of the largest economies on the continent. It will mean that our shareholders are invested in a larger and more geographically diverse business; and it will contribute significantly to the economic growth of both our nations. “ Furthermore, Lafarge Group

EVP Operations/Country Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria, Guillaume Roux said: “Today’s announcement marks a key milestone. It adds momentum to our push for differentiation in order to deliver innovation that increases and improves our product portfolio. Our objective is to bring more housing and ever better solutions to contribute to building better cities that are more beautiful, more compact, more connected and more durable.”

The statement further stated that the transaction is subject to Lafarge WAPCO sharehold-

Under the proposed terms, Lafarge group will transfer its direct and indirect shareholdings in Lafarge South Africa Holdings (Pty) Limited (100 per cent - representing 72.4 per cent of underlying companies in South Africa), United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited (35 per cent), Ashakacem Plc (58.61 per cent) and Atlas Cement Company Limited (100 per cent) to Lafarge WAPCO. er approvals and obtaining required regulatory and other customary authorizations. The Group anticipates completion during the second half of 2014.

It could be recalled that the cement manufacturer had condemned the procedures adopted by the Standards

Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in initiating a new cement regulation in the country.

General Manager, Industrial Performance, Lafarge Nigeria, Lanre Opakunle specifically noted that the build-up discussion by stakeholders prior to the announcement of the new standards by SON were

actually inconclusive.

“SON did not follow due process in revising cement standards Lafarge part of the deliberations on issues concerning the review of cement standards and the discussions were inconclusive. We discovered that the labelling is not adequate today and we made some proposals but those proposals have not been taken on-board but we will keep making efforts to see that they are taken onboard,” he said.

He stressed that the company had no need of carrying out equipment upgrade as they

already had the required equipment for producing both 42.5 and 32.5 grades of cement.

He announced that the company was making progress and was starting two new plants: one in Ashaka and another one in Calabar.

He said that Lafarge also has plans to increase knowledge capacity for artisans with efforts geared towards meeting its 2014 target to train about 20,000 block moulders, noting that so far, about 6,000 have already been trained since January.

A section Lafarge WAPCO Cement plant at Ewekoro, Ogun State.

Fair exhibitors to exploit opportunities in rebased economy, says LCCI HE Lagos Chamber of T Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has disclosed that the recent rebasing of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which makes Nigeria the largest economy in Africa, has generated increased interest in the upcoming Lagos International Trade Fair.

The LCCI yearly trade fair is scheduled to hold at the Tafawa Balewa Square from Friday 7th to Sunday 16th November with the theme: ‘Promoting the Nigerian Economy as a Preferred Investment Destination’.

In a statement, Vice President of the Chamber and Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, organisers of the Fair, Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole said LCCI had been receiving requests for participation from both regular and new foreign exhibitors since the rebasing outcome was made public.

According to him, the rebasing had put the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at $510bn, the highest on the continent.

Olawale-Cole stated that the exhibitors expressed the desire to take advantage of

the benefits offered by Africa’s biggest economy, adding that they were eager to enter into business relationship with prospective local partners.

“This becomes particularly germane with the reinforcement of the new status of Nigeria by her classification

by Ernst and Young as one of the top three economies in Africa to invest in,” he affirmed.

He disclosed that everything was being put in place to ensure not only a successful outing but also the best Fair ever. It was in further-

ance of this that he led a delegation of the Trade Promotion Board officials to China recently.

“The team held discussions with a world-renowned trade exhibition company, CMEC International Exhibition Company as well as officials of marquee tent manufacturers, Liri Tent in Zhuhai,” the LCCI boss explained.

Olawale-Cole stated that the LCCI decided to purchase its own marquee tents from China as part of efforts to scale up the quality of facili-

ties at the Fair.

He also gave assurance of adequate security arrangements for exhibitors and visitors at the Fair.

The Fair, which is, staged with the support and cooperation of the Federal and State Governments covers all aspects of business and economic activities in Nigeria. It offers a unique exposition for manufacturers, suppliers, buyers and users of a wide range of goods and services as well as opportunities for investment and trade promotion.

Firm unveils technology to reduce world food losses by 20 per cent German food processing A and packaging machinery association, Verband Deutscher Maschinen-und Anlagenbau (VDMA) has introduced a technology aimed at reducing the world's current food losses by 20 percent.

The Managing Director of the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association, Richard Clemens explained that according to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the different regions of the world

food losses which currently stands at 60 percent, arise due to lack of logistics, technology, cooling facilities and infrastructures which would be needed in order to feed the growing world population.

Clemens while addressing a press conference in Lagos, on Monday, stated that the world community is facing huge challenges with spoiled, unhealthy and unclean water maintaining that, the German manufacturers of food processing and

packaging machinery, as well as water and wastewater technology, can make a major contribution to salvage the situation.

"Eating and drinking are basic human needs that must be addressed every single day. Without intelligent technology, it will not be possible to supply the rapidly increasing population with food and drink. The proper handling of food and beverages requires great technological skill and experience," Clemens said.

According to him, in the

past 10 years, German exports of food processing and packaging machinery to Africa have almost tripled and Nigeria in particular has pioneered the trend.

"For us this is an indication of a steady and strong economic development. If the leading market research companies are to be relied on, this trend will further accelerate over the next couple of years," he added.

He pointed out that Africa is witnessing demographic patterns, which would affect

the changing consumption patterns saying that despite globalisation, the needs of the people in the various regions differ greatly.

"During the next few days., the German manufacturers of food processing and packaging machinery would present their expertise and experience in the sector which will help to better understand the local markets and their potential, the investment climate, the current demand for technology as well as the requirements for

training and qualification," he said.

He said VDMA, is the trade association of the German capital goods industry with more than 3100 members and represents almost all major manufacturers of machinery, plant and apparatus in Germany.

He also said the food processing and packaging machinery association is one of the 38 industry-specific associations within VDMA and comprises more than 300 companies at present.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY 23

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Italy warns against ‘sterile’ austerity debate UROPE risks being E trapped in a “sterile” debate over austerity unless it takes a broader view that balances the need for sound public finances with reform, Italian Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said yesterday.

Italy, which assumes the rotating presidency of the European Union in July, has long sought to shift the policy debate in Europe away from budget rigor and towards measures to boost economic growth and create jobs.

Speaking to foreign journalists in Rome, Padoan, a former chief economist at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, offered little detail on what Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s government will propose when Italy takes the EU chair.

But he said the government

would push for an approach which addressed structural reform and sound finances together, using the scope for flexibility offered by existing EU rules and pushing for measures that would free up private investment.

“It’s not irrelevant whether a country achieves budget consolidation with good reforms or bad reforms, it’s not irrelevant whether it comes through flat, acrossthe-board cuts or an intelligent overhaul of public spending,” he said.

“We can’t continue to ignore the qualitative aspect of reforms - they are a fundamental part of a country’s economic policy - and get stuck on a zero point,” he said.

“Otherwise we fall back into

a sterile debate about ‘austerity yes’ or ‘austerity no’.”

The comments by Padoan, who meets his German counterpart Wolfgang Schaeuble in Berlin on Thursday, point to a possible confrontation with traditional defenders of budget orthodoxy in the euro zone such as Germany or Finland.

After dipping in and out of recession since 2008 and posting a 0.1 percent fall in gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of this year, Italy, the euro zone’s third largest economy, still has youth unemployment of more than 43 percent, the highest since at least 1977.

Boosted by a record victory in last month’s European parliamentary election, Renzi has promised to

reform tax and labor market rules to encourage job creation and to overhaul Italy’s complex web of bureaucracy and sluggish justice system.

However the poor record of past Italian governments in implementing reform promises and Italy’s huge public debt means that he will face some scepticism from EU partners.

Italy’s expected 2014 budget deficit of 2.6 percent of GDP is within the EU’s 3 percent ceiling but Renzi has put back by a year a target of a balanced budget in structural terms, which exclude the effects of the business cycle and oneoff factors.

On Monday, the European Commission asked Rome to reinforce budget tightening measures for this year to

help bring down the debt, expected to reach more than 133 percent of GDP this year after growing by 29 percentage points since 2007.

It said the government’s recent budget plans were “slightly optimistic” and it was unlikely to meet a target of reducing the structural budget deficit to 0.2 percent of GDP this year.

But after years of restrictive budget policy, with 182 billion euros ($248 billion) of tax hikes and spending cuts over the past three years, Italy has become increasingly impatient with calls for further budget tightening.

Padoan noted that along with Germany, Italy has the highest primary surplus, net of interest payments, of any country in the EU at more

than 2 percent of GDP but because of its weak growth, had been unable to make much impact on its debt.

“With a debt as big as Italy’s, there needs to be sufficient growth to go along with the efforts on fiscal consolidation which the country has been undertaking for years,” Padoan said.

A combination of moderate debt servicing costs, through current low interest rates, rigorous public finance policy and structural reform would enable the debt to fall.

“This aspect of economic policy, which has been well known for a long time, should enter the conversation about economic policy in Europe in a more precise and non-ideological way than it has so far.”

‘Fed should allow asset runoff prior to rate rise’ EDERAL Reserve Bank of FEsther Kansas City President George said the Fed should allow its balance sheet to shrink before raising the main interest rate, differing from an approach backed by New York Fed President William C. Dudley.

“Allowing the balance sheet to decline due to ‘passive runoff,’ which stops reinvesting the maturing securities, prior to the first rate hike is appropriate,” George said today in a speech in Breckenridge, Colorado. She doesn’t vote on monetary policy this year.

The Federal Open Market Committee will need to decide in the “relatively near future” on how to withdraw accommodation that has pumped up the Fed’s balance sheet to $4.32 trillion, George said.

Her preference for allowing “passive runoff” in the balance sheet aligns with the FOMC’s exit plan formulated in 2011, she said. Dudley, who holds a permanent FOMC vote as the panel’s vice chairman, said on May 20 such an approach could imply the Fed will raise the benchmark rate earlier than it intends.

Ending reinvestment of maturing securities prior to an increase in the benchmark-lending rate “may not be the best strategy,” Dudley said.

“First, such a decision might complicate our communications regarding the process of normalization,” Dudley said in a speech before the New York Association for Business Economics in New York.

“Ending reinvestments as an initial step risks inadvertently bringing forward any tightening of financial conditions as this might foreshadow the impending liftoff date for rates in a manner inconsistent with the committee’s intention,” Dudley said. He said the Fed has tools to raise the benchmark-lending rate even with a large balance sheet.

George voiced an opposing view, calling on the Fed not to reinvest the proceeds from maturing securities.

An assembly line in Cessna’s manufaturing plant in Wichita, Kansas, USA.

Pakistan cuts power subsidies, overhauls tax rules AKISTAN will reduce P power subsidies, remove tax breaks and penalize those not declaring income as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif tries to narrow the budget deficit to meet the terms of an International Monetary Fund loan.

The shortfall is forecast to shrink to a seven-year low of 4.9 percent in the fiscal year starting July 1, smaller than an estimated 5.8 percent this year, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said in his budget speech to parliament in Islamabad today. The government aims to narrow the gap to 4 percent by 2017.

“We have had to fix a broken economy,” Dar said in the televised address. “We have tackled tough challenges.

The country is on a path of growth.”

Sharif’s year-old government has to boost tax revenues and revive investment to be eligible for further payouts under a $6.6 billion IMF facility approved in September. While the loan staved off a balance-of-pay-

ments crisis, South Asia’s second-largest economy faces power shortages, a Taliban insurgency and one of the region’s highest inflation rates.

“The budget seems to be in line with IMF expectations, but implementation of the measures will decide if it really is that or not,” said Khurram Schehzad, chief investment officer at Lakson Investments Ltd. in Karachi.

The IMF board will review a report on Pakistan’s progress later this month, following which it may release a $550 million loan installment. The board was “encouraged” by progress, the Washington-based lender said in May. A partially disbursed $11.3 billion facility expired in September 2011 after Pakistan failed to meet conditions.

The budget will lower corporate taxes to spur industry and increase the capital gains tax at 12.5 percent, less than a jump to 17.5 percent that had been planned earlier. The rate is still higher

than the current 10 per cent.

Citizens who hadn’t been been declaring income will now have to pay higher advance taxes on income and dividends, cash withdrawals, car registrations and on purchases including property and business class flight tickets. Tax loopholes such as those on bonus shares will be removed and foreign institutional investors will be required to pay withholding tax, the budget documents show.

The benchmark KSE-100 (KSE100) stock index fell 1 percent before the announcement today, following reports a Pakistani politician had been arrested in London, and the Pakistani rupee weakened 0.1 percent.

The currency has risen 6.8 percent this year, the best performance among 12 Asian currencies tracked by Bloomberg.

“The stock market’s reaction may be mixed” as the smaller increase in capital gains tax will be countered by the removal of other loopholes,

said Lakson’s Schehzad.

Total outlays for the coming fiscal year will be increased by 7.9 percent from the current year to 4.3 trillion rupees ($43.6 billion).

Spending on power subsidies will reduced by 37 percent to 203 billion rupees, while defense expenditure will rise 11 percent to 700.1 billion rupees as troops fight homegrown Taliban militants on the border with Afghanistan to end a decade of insurgency that has claimed about 50,000 lives.

Pakistan aims to boost growth to an eight-year high of 5.1 per cent in the coming fiscal year from an estimated 4.1 per cent in the current period, as Sharif battles electricity shortages that curbed expansion by as much as 1.75 percentage points. Growth if forecast to rise to 7.1 per cent in 2016-17.

Economic expansion in the 12 months ending June 30 was led by industrial growth of 5.84 percent, Dar said at a news conference yesterday while releasing the govern-

ment’s yearly Economic Survey. Farm growth was 2.12 percent compared with 2.88 percent a year ago because of lower output of cotton, pulses and oilseed.

Sharif’s government plans to invest 205 billion rupees in the energy sector in the coming fiscal year. It plans to add as much as 16,564 megawatts of electricity to the grid during its five-year term, according to the economic survey.

The government also aims to cut debt by selling state assets, and will boost foreign-exchange reserves to a two-year high of $15 billion

by July, earlier than a earlier September deadline.

It will sell stakes in Habib Bank Ltd., United Bank Ltd. and Allied Bank Ltd., Dar said today. This is in addition to plans unveiled in February, when Mohammad Zubair, the nation’s privatization chief, said the government will sell shares in Oil& Gas Development Co. and Pakistan Petroleum Ltd.

24 Energy Extra Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

U.S. sets 2030 emissions target for power plants HE Obama administraT tion on Monday will unveil a plan to cut Earth-warming pollution from power plants by 30 per cent by 2030, setting in motion one of the most significant actions to address global warming in U.S. history.

The rule, which is expected to be final next year, will set the first-ever national limits on carbon dioxide, the chief gas linked to global warming from U.S. power plants.

They are the largest source of greenhouse gases in the U.S., accounting for about a third of the annual emis-

sions, and make the U.S. the second largest contributor to global warming on the planet.

The regulation is a centrepiece of President Barack Obama’s plans to reduce the pollution linked to global warming, a step that the administration hopes will get other countries to act when negotiations on a new international treaty resume next year.

Environmental Protection Agency data shows that U.S. power plants have reduced carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 13 per cent since 2005,

or about halfway to their goal. But with coal-fired power plants already beleaguered by booming natural gas supplies and other environmental regulations, experts on Sunday said getting there won’t be easy. The EPA is expected to offer a range of options to states based on where they get their electricity from and how much carbon dioxide they emit in the process.

Obama has already tackled the emissions from the nation’s cars and trucks, announcing rules to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by doubling fuel economy. That

standard will reduce carbon dioxide by more than 1.8 billion tonnes. The power plant proposal will prevent about 390 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from reaching the atmosphere, based on the 30 per cent figure.

The EPA refused to confirm the details of the proposal Sunday. People familiar with the proposal shared the details on condition of anonymity, since they have not been officially released.

As Obama prepares to announce the tougher new air quality standards, lawmakers in several states already are trying to blunt the im-

pact on aging coal-fired power plants that feed electricity to millions of consumers.

The push against Obama’s new carbon emission standards has been strongest in some states that have large coal-mining industries or rely heavily on coal to fuel their electricity. State officials say the new federal regulations could jeopardize the jobs of thousands of workers and drive up the monthly electric bills of residents and businesses.

Environmental Protection Agency data shows that U.S. power plants have reduced carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 13 per cent since 2005, or about halfway to their goal.

It remains to be seen whether new measures passed by the states will amount to mere political symbolism or actually temper what’s expected to be an aggressive federal effort to reduce the country’s reliance on coal. But either

way, states likely will play a pivotal role, because federal clean air laws leave it up to each state to come up with its own plan for complying with the emission guidelines.

The proposed EPA rules could be the first to apply to carbon dioxide emissions at existing power plants. Coal is the most common fuel source for the nation’s electricity and, when it’s burned, is a leading source of the greenhouse gasses that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to climate change.

Without waiting to see what Obama proposes, governors in Kansas, Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia have signed laws directing their environmental agencies to develop their own carbon emission plans that consider the costs of compliance at individual power plants. Similar measures recently passed in Missouri and are pending in the Louisiana and Ohio legisla-

EU seeks energy security solutions to Russian gas challenge HE European Commission (EU) released its comprehensive energy security strategy. Although the immediate goal is to avert another winter energy crisis such as those Europe experienced in 2006 and 2009, the long-term objective is to reduce European Union reliance on vulnerable foreign energy supplies, especially from Russia.

The European Council, comprised of the member states’ heads of state or government, will discuss the proposed plan at its June 2627 session.

Europe’s core challenge is that its energy demand will rise by an estimated 27 percent by 2030, while EU domestic energy production is falling. EU countries already rely on external suppliers for more than half their energy needs at a cost of over one billion euros each day. EU members rely on external sources for 88 percent of their crude oil and 66 percent of their natural gas consumption.

T

‘Shortfall in Middle East oil investment could push up prices’ POTENTIAL shortfall in inA vestment in production in the Middle East could create a $15 spike in the oil price by 2025, the energy arm of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said.

The world will need to invest $40 trillion in energy supply and $8 trillion on energy efficiency by 2035 to meet growing demand and falling output from mature sources of energy, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a report.

A large proportion of this will need to come from the Middle East, as a rise in nonOPEC production such as U.S. shale oil starts to lose steam in the mid 2020s.

But the IEA was wary on prospects for a large enough increase in investment from the region.

“The prospects for a timely increase in oil investment in the Middle East are uncertain: there are competing government priorities for spending, as well as political, security and logistical hurdles that could constrain production,” the report said.

If production does not increase as needed, it will raise oil prices, the report said.

“If investment fails to pick up in time, the resulting shortfall in supply would create tighter and more volatile oil markets, with prices that are $15 per barrel higher on average in 2025.”

Brent crude oil is trading at around $109 per barrel, and has been in a relatively tight

range since November. It reached as high as $117 per barrel in 2013 and $128 per barrel in 2012.

The IEA said investment in energy production was over $1.6 trillion in 2013, more than double in real terms than 2000, and that $130 billion was spent to improve energy efficiency.

Investment in renewable sources of energy rose to a peak of $300 billion in 2011 from $60 billion in 2000, but has since fallen to $250 billion for 2013.

More than four times this, $1.1 trillion per year was spent on the extraction and transport of fossil fuels, oil refining and the construction of fossil fuel-fired power stations, the report said.

Of the $40 trillion that will need to be spent by 2035, less than half will be spent on meeting growth in demand.

“The larger share is required to offset declining production from existing oil and gas fields and to replace power plants and other assets that reach the end of their productive life,” the report said.

Of the total investment in upstream oil and gas spending of more than $850 billion per year by 2035, gas will account for most of the increase. Over $700 billion is expected to be invested in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector alone during this period.

The IEA warned that more gas might not lead to much lower prices.

“The expectation that a surge in new LNG supplies will totally transform gas markets needs to be tempered by recognition of the high capital cost of LNG infrastructure, with transportation typically accounting for at least half of the cost of gas delivered over long distances,” the report said.

For Europe’s power markets, the IEA warned that a shortfall of investment could threaten reliability of electricity supplies.

“The investment required to maintain the reliability of Europe’s electricity sys-

tem is unlikely to materialise with the current design of power markets,” the report said, adding that wholesale prices were around 20 percent too low to make investment attractive.

“Europe requires more than $2 trillion in power sector investment to 2035... If this situation persists, the reliability of European electricity supply will be put at risk,” the IEA said.

Spending on renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency will not be enough to meet targets on climate change stabilisation goals, the report said.

Meanwhile, Russia’ Gazprom has given Ukraine more time to settle its gas bill after receiving a part payment of $786 million.

The company had previously threatened to halt shipments of gas unless Ukraine paid its bill in full and agreed in future to pay in advance.

Gazprom says Ukraine still owes it almost $2.5 billion.

Negotiations between the two sides will resume now that a part payment has been made.

Ukraine announced recently that it had made a payment, but has refused to settle the full amount in protest against Gazprom’s recent 80 per cent price increase.

Russia said the money received on Monday covered gas shipped in February and March.

“We welcome Ukraine starting to pay back its debt and postpone the pre-payment regime until 9 June,” said Alexei Miller, Gazprom’s chief executive.

Conoil unveils new product

By Roseline Okere ONOIL has unveiled plans to C launch five-litre packs of its lubricant brands of Quatro and Golden Super Motor Oil (GSMO) as part of its strategy to live up to its promise of delivering convenience at every stop and enriching its lubricant range.

The company said in a media statement yesterday, that the new lubricant packs would be pocket-friendly to motorists and are tailored to suit the engine oil needs of vehicles with bigger engine capacity thereby reducing, substantially, the cost borne by motorists anytime they service their cars.

It noted that like most lubricant brands in Nigeria, Conoil’s lubricants currently come in one litre and 4-litre packs. “But with this new initiative,

car owners can buy just one pack of lubricant instead of two to service their cars and this would invariably save them money”.

It explained that it decided to introduce the five-litre packs to live up to its bill of being a convenience retailer, always on the look-out for ways to make life more comfortable for its customers and keep them satisfied.

“With the current automobiles that come with bigger engines, this will definitely reduce the cost of maintenance on motorists”.

The statement further stated: “The economic situation in the country is tough on most Nigerians so we strive to bring into the market, pocketfriendly products, without compromising quality, that most Nigerians can afford”.

In Conoil, lubricants hold a unique

position. The company’s award-winning lubricant brands, Quatro and GSMO, are formulated to meet world set standards for automobile and industrial machines’ engines.

The Quatro brand, which has won awards back to back for its world-class quality, contains special additives that ensure minimal fuel consumption, retain oil thickness and protect car engine from rust. Its detergent and dispersant properties clean car engines, keep it sludge-free thereby enabling it to run at its best.

On the other hand, Conoil’s other brand of lubricant, GSMO, offers adequate engine protection in older, gasoline fuelled cars. Its performance features include comprehensive additive package, good detergency, good oxidation stability and good anti-wear properties.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

FinancialReporting

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 25

26 Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

28 Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN, www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN, www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 29

30 Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN, www.ngrguardiannews.com

Govt reaffirms sup- NNPC patners on port for Nigeria’s oil, capacity development gas FTZ

Kaztec advances with integrated oil, gas project in Lagos pg 28

pg 30

pg32

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014

Reactions trail govt’s new electricity tariff regime

By Roseline Okere HE plans by the Nigerian T Electricity Regulatory Agency (NERC) to review electricity tariff has attracted reactions from different quarters in the industry.

The reactions may have been elicited by poor power supply in the country, which has been linked to lack of finance, inadequate gas supply and vandalisation of gas pipeline across the country.

Already, report from the Federal Ministry of power re-

vealed that electricity supply has dropped to 3,375.11 megawatts hour/hour (mwh/h) from the peak of 4,105MW recorded last month, while generation stands at 3,449.56 megawatts hour/hour (mwh/h).

The highest peak generated energy was 4,517.6 MW, which was on December 23, 2012.

This drop has been linked to the breakdown of five power transmission lines located in Port Harcourt, Benin and Lagos, thereby worsening the electricity supply situation in

the country.

The new tariff released by NERC, noted a slight increase in the retail price of electricity supplied to R2 customers in Abuja distribution network by N1.45k from the previous N13.25k to N14.70k while the same customer class in Ikeja will have no increase in their retail price for electricity.

It explained that the tariff difference in both distribution networks was occasioned by the total costs incurred in distributing

power allocated to each of them.

But the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) among others, have expressed their displeasure over what NERC described as minor changes in the tariff regime.

MAN expressed its displeasure in Awka at its 26th yearly general meeting attended by Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states.

In his Address, the chairman of MAN in the three states, Chief Azubuike Okafor, said that Nigerians had yet to benefit from the Federal Government promises.

According to him, power cost accounts for 30 per cent of manufacturers total cost of production and urged the Federal Government to look at the power sector reform with a view to improving the situa-

tion.

Also, TUC a statement, jointly signed by its National President and Secretary-General, Malam Bobboi Kaigama and Musa Lawal, respectively on Wednesday in Abuja, described the new tariff regimes uncalled for and another deliberate attempt by some cabal to further exploit the already impoverished masses of the country.

The statement said that the power supply and distribution situation in the country had remained comatose even after the privatisation of the sector, contrary to the promise to tackle the inherent challenges.

It said the union found it indefensible that the government had apparently concluded plans to increase the tariff instead of prevailing on private sector electricity providers to increase power supply and distribution in the country.

It said that lack of steady elec-

tricity supply had led to the demise of many industries within the last few years while multitude of companies had gone under or fled the country.

“Shall we tender statistics of the millions of Nigerians who are jobless and many of whom have taken to vices that create insecurity in our land.

“The commission recently announced that electricity cost will increase by N1 per kilowatt for customers in R2 category from next month, and that the electricity Fixed Charge (FC) which was to rise to N1,500 from June 1 in the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) for 2014 would remain at N750 for some customers.

“We were further told that some positive variables triggered the significant changes in the proposed tariff regime.

“For instance, whilst MYTO in 2012 had projected a 13 per cent inflation rate, it was at 7.8 per cent by March 30, a difference of 5.2 percent.

“Also, exchange rate of $1 to CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

32

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

ENERGY Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Nigeria may lose China crude oil export to shale boom

By Roseline Okere AJOR African crude oil exporters, including M Nigeria, Angola and Republic of Congo could lose big customers such as China due to new shale oil sources are discovered in the Asian country.

Already, the United States has reduced its crude oil import from Nigeria as it enjoys the shale boom.

Specifically, developing countries have lost around $1.5 billion in gas export revenue due to US shale gas production and are set to lose more when China increases its production, according to a new report by the UK-based Overseas Development Institute (ODI).

Experts had expressed concerns about the possibility of losing market share to the US and perhaps China if shale oil production continues.

Nigeria’s crude oil reserves stand at 35 billion barrels per day and Africa’s oil supply is forecasted to average 2.38 million barrels per day in 2013.

The ODI report found that US oil and gas imports fell by as much as 50 per cent in 2013, while Chinese imports are projected to fall by 30-40

per cent as soon as 2020.

According to the report, a massive increase in shale gas production in China is projected to mean the superpower will import 40 per cent less gas – with a big impact on some of the world’s poorest countries.

It added: “Angola and the Republic of the Congo are predicted to suffer a 13 per cent hit to their national earnings because of increased energy production by China. Equatorial Guinea and Sudan could lose five per cent, Yemen four per cent”.

The report looked at the ripple effect of a Chinese government forecast that they will produce between 60 and 100 billion cubic metres of shale gas in 2020, up from 6.5 billion in 2015.

It stated: “The huge increase in production will make China more economically independent. But the country’s ability to hit the target is dependent upon harnessing technology, which requires huge amounts of water. ”ODI estimates that, if successful, China’s imports of gas could be up to 40 per cent lower in the future”.

But this increase in home production could hit the economies of poorer countries who currently export

gas. zhenbo Hou, a researcher into the growing BRICS nations at the ODI, said: “China has run a very successful shale gas pilot scheme. Starting from a low base they now seem on course to increase their production tenfold to between 60 and 100 billion cubic metres by 2020. This will make them less reliant on countries

like Russia for energy in the future – so it is a very important geopolitical moment.

“Combined with the increase shale gas production in the USA it will hit the economy of small exporters in the developing world.”

This increased production could lead to smaller markets and lower incomes for poorer countries that export gas –

like Yemen, Mozambique, Ghana, Republic of the Congo, Mauritania and Nigeria.

It is also not without risks within China itself, as it could divert water from agriculture and human consumption.

The supply of water is likely to be more constrained in China than in the USA, which

is also becoming energy selfsufficient thanks to fracking.

America is set to overtake Saudi Arabia as the world’s biggest oil producer.

This increased production by the world’s two economic superpowers – China and US - will lead to smaller markets and lower incomes to poorer countries that export gas, according to ODI.

Reactions trail govt’s new electricity tariff regime CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 N178 from CBN data was 11.6 per cent less than the projected, at N157.30 per $1 as at 30 March.”

The congress said since Nov. 1, 2013 when the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was ceded to 18 successor firms, electricity generation in the country had revolved around 3,000 megwatts.

It advised the commission not to contemplate any increment in electricity tariff until there was appreciable stability in the sector across the country.

“We demand that the commission jettisons the idea or risk incurring the wrath of workers and other Nigerians.

“The income of the average Nigerian cannot accommodate the extra cost of living, that any increase in price of power would provoke; neither can the social fabric withstand the negative fall-outs of such ill-advised action.”

NLC has also has vowed to reject any increase in electricity tariff, no matter how little, because of the unstable supply of power in the country.

The union believed that any increase in electricity tariff should only be contemplated when there is stable power supply across the country.

Meanwhile, Determined to lift the Rural Electrification Agency’s activities to an enviable height, the Federal Government is set to harness more resources in providing the rural populace with electricity.

To this end, the Minister of State for Power, Hon. Mohammed Wakil while receiving a delegation from Super Solar Nigeria Limited, led by Professor Jerry Gana, Ex-Minister of Information, said that it is not palatable to know that 70 per cent of Nigerians live in

rural areas where-as access to electricity is very low.

Wakil said Government is bent on using renewable energy – especially solar to complement gas – fired plant as it could be deployed immediately, if we have access to the appropriate technology.

To further demonstrate commitments of Government, Hon. Wakil said the Ministry is putting finishing touches to the Presidential Initiative on Renewable, which he said would be the fore-runner to the National Policy on Renewable also at the threshold of being promulgated.

He assured new entrants in the renewable energy sub-sector of attractive incentives that will enable them recoup their profit sooner than expected, adding that Government will soon give tax incentives and waivers to them.

Nigeria is prepared to key-into the global interest in renewable energy because of its clean nature, adding that the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model is assured of Government support, as it will help the country fasttrack power generation aimed at meeting the existing gap.

Leader of the Super Solar Group, Professor Jerry Gana, said the delegation’s plan is to complement the passion to deliver on power by President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

He said the Super-Solar Group is ready to deploy a new technology across Nigeria, adding that up to 3,000MW can be generated with the support of Government in no distant future.

He assured the Minister that the goal of Government in achieving uninterrupted power supply would soon be actualized, as the project will give the required breathing

Consultant, Chrome Group, Njideka Kelley (left); and Head Communications and Business Development, Chrome Group, Edwin Ndukwe, at Kaztec Engineering pavilion at the Offshore Technology Conference.

Kaztec advances with integrated oil, gas projectin Lagos

By Sulaimon Salau AzTEC Engineering, a subsidiary of Chrome Group, has completed phase one of its integrated oil and gas project on Snake Island in Lagos, while plans are at advanced stage to commence work on the construction of phase two by next month.

The multi-billion dollars project, located on 524 hectares of land would host a fabrication yard; oil and gas training centre; pipe mill; pipe coating; and a dry-dock base; as well as a power plant; to aid productivity and boost the national output in the energy sector.

Chrome Group’s Head Communications and Business Development, Edwin Ndukwe, who disclosdd this recently, noted that the project would grow local capacity and create job opportunities for about 20,000 Nigerians at completion.

Ndukwe said: “We are a 100 per cent indigenous engineering, procurement, construction, installation, commission and management (EPCICM) company, servicing all onshore, offshore oil and gas services in the country and cross sub-Sahara Africa. We have three contracts ongoing. The snake Island project is being done with Addax Petroleum, We are doing another with Shell.

We have extensive experience in the oil gas industry and with the Nigeria Content Law, which is critical to the development of indigenous capacity and capability; we are positioned to create value

K

for Nigerians and the economy.

“We have a lot of young people from Nigeria working in the field. Currently we have 75 engineers, 500 skilled labour on Snake Island project in Lagos and we are looking at 20,000 jobs by 2016.

The project is massive, located on 524 hectares of land and we have developed 68 hectares currently, laid foundation for training institute, fabrication yard, pipe mill, pipe coating, a drydock base.

We are working toward equipping Nigerians, bringing people back into the workforce, developing and keeping the economy moving forward. We have just completed phase one of the entire process and about to begin phase two. Phase two will involve setting up the facility for pipe mill and pipe

coating.”

According to him, the company is developing skill sets within the Nigerian content through the equipment of welders, riggers, scaffolders, painters and people who work in electrical and electronics segments. “We bring this team of people especially those that don’t have the skill sets, equip and employ them, a development that is critical in the dynamics of Nigerian economy today,” he said.

Speaking in the same vein, the Consultant to Chrome Group, Njideka Kelley, said: “Kaztec and the Chrome Group under the leadership of our Chairman, Sir Emeka Offor, have exhibited ingenuity in the oil and gas industry.

As a 100 per cent indigenous company with the local content, what we are doing is to ensure that we meet hun-

dred per cent of what that law entails and Kaztec has been able to do that with what we are showcasing at the Snake Island and all the branches within the Group.

“With ingenuity, creativity and innovation that is going on within the Group, we will continue to enhance that capability and ensure that Nigerians are first clicks in the job market. With what we have, we have been able to harness and bring in more Nigerians from the Diaspora coming home to tap into what is going in Nigeria.”

She said that the Local Content Act stipulates a time line for expatriates to transfer technology and expertise to Nigerians and we are meeting that. By the regulation of the Act, the expatriates working with us will hand over to Nigerians within stipulated

ENERGY Wednesday, June 4, 2014 33

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

CNG: Nigeria can save 4.7 billion litres of petrol yearly

By Sulaimon Salau

PTIMAL utilisation of O the Compresed Natural Gas (CNG) as vehicular fuels may save Nigeria the foreign exchange required in buying about 4.7 billion liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) yearly.

Nigeria, a major oil exporting country has been

importing about 90 percent of its national consumption for over 20 years, but the Managing Director, Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO), Mr Venkataraman Venkatapathy, said utilisation of CNG is an important step towards eradicating reliance on fuel imports.

According to him, “With

60 per cent vehicles on natural gas, the Federal Government of Nigeria will save foreign exchange required in purchasing 4.7 billion litres of PMS annually, resulting in saving of about 42 per cent of the foreign exchange.”

Venkatapathy said globally, natural gas industry is increasing its focus and ef-

fort to support natural gas transportation, urging the Federal Government to develop policies and regulatory framework that would support the vehicular gas scheme in the country.

According to him, success of natural gas utilization as an alternative vehicular fuel relies much on strong government support

Corporate Affairs Manager, Total Nigeria Plc, Albert Mabuyaku, presents Isar Jafar, one of the company’s Skills Acquisition Program Graduants with his Starter Packs for Capentary Vocation.

Divcon partners U.S. firm to aid technology transfer on refinery

By Sulaimon Salau

HE creativity and ingenuity of some refinery experts has led to the emergence of a product of breakthrough in refining capacity and yields in the face of declining margins across the globe.

This innovative propriety patents on refinery and petrochemical processes has the invaluable potentials of increasing the reliability of the operations by optimizing the operational conditions to increase the yield and improve the product quality as well as reduce the energy consumption in the plants.

The group however disclosed that it has set up an integrated global network, with cross cooperation between Nigeria, Europe and the United States on the technology.

Speaking on the technology driven propriety patents from America which are products of research by members of the Milora Group, Johan Vanderborght, said his group which is currently in Nigeria through a strategic alliance with Divcon Engineering Group, is willing to transfer this technology to refinery and petrochemical plants in Africa, which are interested in optimizing their yields in a cost effective manner.

Giving an example on refinery process in terms of the quality and color of the HVGO (heavy vacuum gas oil) before and after opti-

T

mization on the vacuum distillation column, Vanderborght explained that, “with this proprietary technology, you will increase the throughput, improve the HVGO yield and improve the HVGO quality.

Co-founder of the Milora group, Mieke Dams, said: “We have set-up an integrated global network, with cross cooperation between Nigeria, Europe and the US. This team is composed of highly experienced global specialists, with a proven track record of several decennia in re-

finery and petrochemical industry.”

According the founders of the Milora Group, this team is supported by a network of major European suppliers, such as CMI, CG Global, Geldof – for industrial boilers, transformers, high pressure vessels with the aim of transferring technology and business know how to Nigerians in a practical and efficient manner driven by competent and experience operators in this strategic industry.

Other areas of strategic technical cooperation with

Divcon Engineering Group include; Proprietary patents to improve refinery and petrochemical processes; best practical and technology practices used by major industry leaders.

The group is also committed to instilling best US and EU business and operational practices with ISO standards; lean management and six sigma as used by major industry leaders; Improvement of effectiveness and efficiency; Practical and hands-on approach; Training and certification of Nigerians.

through the provision of needed infrastructure which would further boost customer confidence in the project He identified the support needed to accelerate Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV), programme to include; special gas pricing (lower than power sector); subsidy to vehicle owners for this purpose; waiver of custom duty on importation of NGVs; ensure that 50 per cent of vehicle imported are equipped with CNG among others.

Venkatapathy stated that to achieve this initiative which would aid utilization of the nation’s abundant gas resources as auto fuel, there is need for formation of a special high level committee .

According to him, the committee shall be made to formulate policies with clear strategic plan on domestic supply of Nigerian fuel mix and ensure that the use of natural gas as a vehicular fuel is Include in the auto policy of the Federal Government.

“In 2007 the federal government granted license to NIPCO Plc to implement pilot project in Benin City, Edo State. NIPCO in partnership with NGC, which

led to the formation of a JV company, “Green Gas Ltd” successfuly implemented the pilot project in Benin City, with seven operational CNG stations catering to over 4000 NGVs. The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Dezani Alison Madueke has earlier said that the nation is beginning to see a change in the direction of gas utilization with the novel initiative of using compressed natural vehicular fuel.

The minister who applauded the pilot initiative between NNPC and NIPCO through a JV scheme – Green Gas Limited, said the scheme has resulted in significant infrastructure development within and around Benin City where the project took off with other ancillary benefits for the purpose.

She confirmed that Green Gas supplies of over 4000 taxis and cars with natural gas in the city, with significant growth in conversion on a daily basis’ According to her, the use of gas instead of petrol has translated into significant savings for the taxi drivers in Benin City and its environs aside from huge environmental benefit for the citizenry.

NERC reiterates commitment to steady power supply HE Nigerian Electricity T Regulatory Commission has reiterated its stance to work with electricity operators to ensure a successful and sustained industry in spite of the hiccups facing the newly privatised electricity market.

The Chairman/CEO of the Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, represented by the Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Muhammed Lawal Bello, made the declaration when the Commission received a delegation of the Senate Committee on Privatisation, led by the Chairman of the committee, Senator

Olugbenga Obadara recently in Abuja.

The NERC Vice-Chairman commended the members of the Senate Committee on Privatisation for giving them the necessary support to complete the huge transactions that ushered in the privatized electricity market, stating that, “...there was no reference point before this. The issue now is to pursue the reform to make sure it succeeds”.

Obadara said that the committee was well aware of the enormity of the job before the Commission, pointing out that NERC is the bridge between the operators and the people.

He however said that the Commissions needs to wheel the big stick to make sure rules are followed.

He asserted that the committee believes wholeheartedly in the privatisation exercise and want to ensure that it doesn’t go the way of other reforms in the past. He suggested that it will be helpful to “think out of the box” for solutions to some of the problems facing the sector.

The Vice-Chairman of the Commission reassured the members of the committee that NERC is doing everything in its power to find solutions. He also informed them on the open and transparent discussions that the Commission holds monthly with the Chief Executive Officers of the Generation and Distribution companies in order to proactively deal with any issues that arise that could detrimentally affect the electricity sector reform.

34

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

ENERGY Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Govt reaffirms support for Nigeria’s oil, gas FTZs

By Roseline Okere HE Federal government T has emphasized its continued supports for Free Zones operations in the country with a view to maximise job creation potentials of such enterprises, facilitate trade and attract foreign direct investments (FDI).

Besides, Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL) investment into Greenfield development in Nigeria has reached $500 million (N80 billion).

Minister of Industries Trade and Investments, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, during a facility tour of the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL) base in Apapa at the weekend, stressed that it was in the overall interest of the nation’s economy to support, promote and nurture such enterprises, however pointed out that the operators were so far satisfied with the level of patronage offered by government, but that what the Free Zones promoters were clamoring for was for government to prudently stick to the implementation of the laws guiding their operations” he said.

According to Aganga, “The NEPZA Act setting them up has already guaranteed them all the necessary governments’ encouragements to make them operate optimally. The whole idea is to be able to attract investors to these one-stop-shops and create jobs.

“So what we need to do as government is to make sure that all those things in paper are fully implemented and not that we as government are not doing enough to sup-

LADOL investment in deep offshore logistic base hits N80b port” he added.

Managing Director of LADOL, Dr. Amy Jadesimi, in her address, lauded the continued encouragement and supports being offered by government in sustaining the free zones.

According to her, government’s positive steps in promoting enterprises such as LADOL have been made manifest through Industrial Revival Plans embarked upon by government.

“We thank the Honourable Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, for the enabling environment he has created so far and the encouragement provided for indigenous Nigerians through the Industrial Revival Plan.

“We at LADOL have pledged to continue to do our part to help make that plan a reality, through our continued investment in building critical and strategically important infrastructure” she said.

According to her, the infrastructure development at LADOL had resulted in “job multiplier of 10x to 15x, through the development of related industries such as steel manufacturing and engineering”.

Expressing her belief in human capital development as a way of creating wealth, Jadesimi said such ventures “must go hand in hand with physical capital development – which is why we are pushing ahead to build our training school in LADOL, with the overall aim of filling the skills gap in high value industries, allowing prod-

ucts currently not manufactured in Africa to be built in Nigeria for the first time, by Nigerians in a Nigerian facility”.

The LADOL boss had also drawn the attention of her guest to the need for government to create a level playing field that allows for free and fair access to the market to all investors and operators, particular indigenous investors, whom she said, had

been excluded in the past.

According to her, government should actively encourage the use of indigenous investors’ developed facilities, enforce the local content act to its fullest, and encourage collaboration amongst private infrastructure developers.

Responding, the Minister pointed out that government’s encouragement to the sector was already yield-

ing dividends with the level of jobs being created at LADOL and similar facilities, by localizing skill acquisition and stemming capital flight.

According to him, “some of the things that would have been taken away to South Korea and other countries are now being done in here in Nigeria, thanks to the Nigerian Content Act. “The Nigerian content Act has further strengthened the supports, and we are keying into that to ensure that local investors get their fair share.

We even go beyond that and in some cases; we had to go abroad with them to help solve some investment problems.

“Some of the investors have taken us to several countries to help talk to groups of foreign investors they are putting to gather. We talk to them about the benefits of investing in these free zones and essentially why they should be in Nigeria. So, we are even acting as marketers for them” he said.

Managing Director of Ladol, Dr. Amy Jadesimi (left); Minister of Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Olusegun Aganga; and Managing Director of Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority(NEPZA), Gbenga Kuye, when the Minister visited Ladol base in Lagos, Saturday.

Oil prices dip on OPEC supply IL prices have finished lower on mixed ecoO nomic data and signs of higher crude output from members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for July delivery declined US24c to $US102.47 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

European benchmark Brent oil for delivery in July shed US58c to $US108.83 in London on the Intercontinental Exchange.

Weak data from the eurozone weighed on sentiment.

A composite index of manufacturing activity for the eurozone fell to a six-month low of 52.2, according to Markit Economics.

The disappointing eurozone report showed “no particular sign of broader economic acceleration that would signal stronger than expected petroleum demand,” said a note from Citi Futures analyst Tim Evans.

But the poor eurozone report was offset somewhat by evidence of solid activity in China, the world’s secondbiggest oil consumer after the US. China’s official purchasing managers index (PMI) of manufacturing activity reached 50.8 in May, a fivemonth high, up from 50.4 in March.

“It looks like the Chinese economy is hanging in

there,” said John Kilduff at hedge fund Again Capital.

Kilduff said estimates of May OPEC output released late last week showed production higher than expected, near or above the 30 million barrel a day level, despite output disruptions in Libya and Nigeria.

At that level it could keep a damper on prices, he said.

Futures slipped as much as 0.5 percent in London. Euroregion reports today showed inflation slowed more than analysts estimated in May, while unemployment remained near a record. U.S. crude inventories probably dropped by 1 million barrels last week, according to a Bloomberg News survey before an Energy Information Administration report tomorrow. Libya’s Hariga export terminal may reopen within two days after protests prevented loadings, National Oil Corp. said yesterday.

“The physical oil market is weaker and futures are following,” Amrita Sen, chief oil market strategist at Energy Aspects Ltd. in London, said by e-mail. “European refineries are cutting runs on dire margins.”

Brent for July settlement declined as much as 51 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $108.32 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange, trading for $108.45 at 1:14 p.m. local time. The grade closed at $108.83 a bar-

rel yesterday, the lowest settlement since May 12. The European benchmark crude traded at a $6.05 premium to WTI on ICE. The spread closed at $6.36 yesterday, the narrowest in four days.

WTI for July delivery was at $102.41 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, down 6 cents. The contract slid 24 cents to $102.47 yesterday, the lowest close since May 20. The volume of all futures traded was 33 percent below the 100-day average for the time of day. Prices have increased 4 percent this year.

Euro-area inflation fell to 0.5 percent from 0.7 percent in April, the European Union’s statistics office in Luxembourg said today. The median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey of 38 economists was for a decline to 0.6 percent. The rate has been less than half the ECB’s target for eight months.

In Libya, newly-elected Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteg held his first government meeting in Tripoli yesterday, pledging to fight terrorism and restore security, according to LANA, the

official news agency. The nation has become the smallest producer in the 12-member Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries in the past year as unrest disrupted output and shipments.

The country’s Hariga and Zueitina ports are at risk of closure, Ali Al-Hasy, spokesman for the Self-declared Executive Office for the Barqa Region, said today by phone.

WTI advanced 3 percent in May, the first monthly gain since February, as crude inventories shrank at the de-

livery point for New York contracts. Supplies at Cushing fell to 21.7 million barrels through May 23, according to the EIA, the Energy Department’s statistical arm.

That’s the lowest level since November 2008.

Crude stockpiles nationwide probably decreased to about 392 million barrels in the seven days ended May 30, according to the Bloomberg survey of seven analysts. Supplies were at 399.4 million through April 25, the most since the EIA began publishing weekly data in 1982.

Energy Wednesday, June 4, 2014 35

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

NNPC partners on capacity development S part of efforts to boost A indigenous capacity in the Oil and Gas Sector, the

Chairman of the occasion, Debo Olateju (right); Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE),. Benjamin Ezra Dikki and Tam Brisibe at the public lecture: “The Nigerian Reforms & Privatization Policy, Processes, Gains, Challenges and Prospects in Abuja.

Energy supply requires $40 trillion investment to 2035, says IEA EETING the world’s enM ergy supply needs by 2035 will require $40 trillion of investment, as demand grows and production and processing facilities have to be replaced, the International Energy Agency said.

More than half of that amount will be needed to compensate for declining output at mature oil and gas fields, and the remainder on finding new supplies to meet rising demand, the Paris-based agency said in a report today. The world will increasingly rely on countries that restrict foreign companies’ access to their oil reserves, as North American shale output tails off from the middle of next decade, it predicted.

“Declines and retirements set a major reinvestment challenge for policy makers and the industry,” said the IEA, which advises 29 of the most industrialized nations on energy policy. “In the case of oil, the focus for meeting incremental demand shifts towards the main conventional resource-holders in the Middle East as the rise in non-OPEC supply starts to run out of steam in the 2020s.”

While a boom in shale oil is pushing U.S. production to its highest level in almost 30 years, diminishing the biggest crude consumer’s reliance on imports, this output surge is forecast to fade, restoring the importance of supplies from the Middle East and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Spending on extracting oil and gas worldwide will climb by 25 percent to $850 billion a year by 2035, with most of this concentrated in natural gas, according to the report. Global markets will tighten if investments in the resource-rich Middle East are too slow, pushing oil prices $15 a barrel higher on average in 2025, it warned. Brent futures averaged $108.70 a barrel last year.

“The prospects for a timely increase in oil investment in the Middle East are uncertain,” according to the agency, which estimates that more than 70 percent of global oil and gas reserves are under the ownership of state-controlled entities.

OPEC, whose largest producer is Saudi Arabia, currently accounts for 40 percent of global oil supplies.

“Decisions to commit capital to the energy sector are increasingly shaped by government policy measures and incentives, rather than by signals coming from competitive markets,” according to the IEA. About half of the $40 trillion spent on energy through to 2035 will be on extraction, refining and transporting fossil fuels, the report indicated. Two-thirds of the total will be spent in emerging economies, ac-

cording to the agency. Investment needed in renewable energy will total $6 trillion, with another $1 trillion in nuclear power.

Annual spending on satisfying global energy requirements will increase to $2 trillion by 2035, up from $1.6 trillion last year, the agency projected.

Spending on energy efficiency through 2035 pushes the total required investment to $48 trillion, according to the IEA.

Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has commenced a seven-week intensive training for 34 technical officers in the ministry.

Delivering his keynote address during the opening ceremony of the second batch of Foundation Skills Training Programme (FSTP) organized by the NNPC for the Technical Officers in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Danladi Kifasi, noted that the programme would equip the trainees technically for the task ahead.

Represented by a Deputy Director in the Ministry, Isang Iwara, he said the capacity development programme was in line with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration to take the Oil and Gas Industry to the next level.

He commended the NNPC for facilitating the training programme, stressing that the partnership is geared towards improving the competence and policy direction of the present administration.

The Group Executive Director, Corporate Services, Dr. Dan Efebo, observed that the programme was aimed at developing young professionals for the entire Oil and Gas value chain considering the critical role it plays across the entire spectrum of the Nigerian economy.

“To date, a total of 30 officers

were trained in the first batch. At the end of this programme, 64 officers from various disciplines of Geosciences, Petroleum Engineering, Well Engineering and Field Engineering would have been trained,” the GED said.

Represented by the Group General Manager, Group Human Resources, Ishaya Timothy, the GED implored the trainees to remain focused and work hard in order to justify the enormous resources committed to organizing the programme.

In his welcome address, the GGM, GHR of NNPC, represented by Mariam Sani, assured the trainees that the training provider was capable of delivering the training as majority of their resource persons were experienced players in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry.

He commended the Group Learning Department for working tirelessly to ensure the successful takeoff and smooth running of the programme and urged them to remain focused on ensuring the successful completion of the programme.

Other speakers at the event included former Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Funsho Kukpolukun, and former Group Executive Director, Refining and Petrochemicals of the Corporation, Chris Ogiewonyi, who called on the Ministry and the NNPC to sustain the culture of training and retraining their work force in order to ensure excellence in the Petroleum Sector.

S’Africa to release gas utilization master plan this month HE South African government’s draft Gas UtilisaT tion Master Plan (Gump) could be released for public comment in June, should the document receive signoff during one of the early meetings of the new Cabinet, which was named by President Jacob Zuma on May 25.

The document will provide a framework for investment in gas-supporting infrastructure and outline the role that gas could conceivably play in the electricity, transport, domestic, commercial and industrial sectors.

Mulling northern Mozambique gas ‘monetisation’ prospects Department of En-

ergy (DoE) deputy directorgeneral Ompi Aphane says government sees “massive upside potential” for gas, stressing that this potential is not confined to electricity generation.

However, there will be “line of sight” between the Gump and the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity, which is currently being updated. The draft update, for instance, includes a “Big Gas” scenario that envisages 67 GW of installed gas generation by 2050.

The Gump itself considers various supply options, including the importation of liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as piped gas from Namibia and Mozambique.

It also explores the potential for domestic production of natural and shale gas, as well as coalbed methane.

In the electricity sector the plan delves into the potential of converting the dieselfuelled open-cycle gas turbines that are either operational or under development in Saldanha Bay, Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth (Coega), Durban and Richards Bay to closed-cycle gas turbines, fuelled using gas.

In addition, there are scenarios that explore the importation of additional gas through pipelines from the massive discoveries in the Rovuma basin, which spans northern Mozambique and

parts of Tanzania. Consideration is also given to importing electricity generated from gas in Mozambique and Namibia through transmission lines connected to South Africa’s power grid.

The plan assesses the possible supply-demand dynamics between now and 2050 and has been drafted with specialist support from companies such as Mott MacDonald and Wood Mackenzie.

It will also be aligned with the Integrated Energy Plan, which is yet to be finalised, the IRP and a Liquid Fuels Master Plan, which is still at an early stage of drafting.

The Gump will offer a sig-

nal of how government views the gas market evolving and offer a framework to facilitate future investment. “We want to paint a picture of where we would like investments to go, which would feed into the licensing and regulatory frameworks,” Aphane explains.

In a paper outlining some of the key priorities for new Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson, University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business professor, Anton Eberhard, argued that the Gump should be completed as a matter of urgency.

He also argued that priority gas-linked projects, such as

LNG import infrastructure and linked power plants, should be contracted at either, or both, Saldanha and Coega, with connecting pipelines to Mossgas and Eskom’s Ankerlig and Gourika power plants.

The Gump would also help guide any programme for the procurement of 2 652 MW of baseload or midmerit natural gas capacity from independent power producers, as outlined in determinations published in 2012. However, Aphane says that any contracts with private producers now also hinge on Cabinet sanctioning further guarantees for Eskom, which remains the single buyer of such power.

36 Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

37

Money The long walk to the attainment of effective tax system for the country has been the fulcrum of several fora. The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) again gathered experts- local and international, to deepen strategies on the issue. CHIJIOKE NELSON was there.

Nigeria’s tax system and issues of trust, policies, administration

Akpabio HE mention of the word “tax” immediateT ly conveys a message to the hearer. At least, the imagination of the taxman or tax authorities urging one to pay or exerting the tax obligation by force will quickly flash.

What amount to pay will be there as well, and then, where and how to do the payment.

But in extreme situations for some, the mention of tax is the beginning of devising of strategies to avoid and evade the obligation on the one hand, while it may also be the beginning of agitation and taking stock of the benefits for the ones already paid over the years on the other hand. Whichever, these sum the myriads of challenges shrouding the nation’s tax system.

Taxation has been the major revenue source of many economies, even developed ones. It has been a topical issue and as well, raised other controversial ones. In Nigeria, it has generated questions of leadership qualities, crisis of confidence on the revenues’ remittances to the right coffers, its application for public good, what amounts are equitable and the hydra-headed multiple taxation. The electronic payment system, which is scripted to nip in the bud the perennial diversion of tax revenues, has been evolved. Yet the controversies continue.

But the President of CITN, Chief Mark Anthony Dike, pointed out that provision of amenities by government is however, made easy when there is availability of resources to fund programmes and projects outlined, along with the imperatives of providing accountable and transparent leadership.

Indeed, taxation has therefore become a veritable tool for revenue generation, even more germane as challenges facing government finances have become manifest, which has been further accentuated by the now rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“Taxes in particular have been the continued bane of government’s finances and is projected to remain so overtime. With a GDP size of $510billion (N80.3 trillion) and Tax to GDP ratio of 12 per cent (including four per cent non-oil contribution) in comparison with other economies, this leaves no one in

Yuguda doubt that there is a huge gap between collections and the quantum amount left uncollected year after year in taxes and if the nation hopes to address the huge infrastructural gap she is currently faced with.

“Perhaps, as the Federal Inland Revenue Service trudges on with its Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS) project, much in this same way that some states in the federation have already done, with Lagos State taking the lead, this would assist the tax system in closing the gap of untaxed and undertaxed in the economy,” he said.

But at the centre of tax knowledge and certification of professionals for its administration in Nigeria is the CITN, which convened its yearly conference that attracted expertslocal and international, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and deliberated the challenges of tax administration in the country, proffering way forward.

Presenting the keynote address, Dike, said that the conference marked the 16th edition and long years of the body’s struggle to support government’s efforts aimed at positioning the country’s tax system to ensure effectiveness and efficiency, in line with international best practices.

He said that CITN’s yearly conference has been a veritable platform for the discussion of issues of concern in the Nigeria’s tax system in particular, and the economy in general and remained the single largest gathering of tax professionals locally and internationally with over 2000 delegates in attendance yearly.

“Worthy of note is the opportunity this conference affords delegates to share ideas, forge partnerships, brainstorm on emerging and topical issues as they relate to the profession and the environment where they operate, share experiences and also socialise for their individual and collective benefits,” he said.

Explaining the rationale for the theme of this year’s conference which is “Achieving Optimum Tax Compliance: Challenges and Sustainability,” he said it was chosen with a clear intent of discussing and appraising fundamental challenges in the nation’s tax sys-

Dike tem, which facilitates the recurring problem of low tax compliance.

The conference, which looked at the desirability and possibility of achieving optimum tax compliance in a society like Nigeria, also attempted to articulate the challenges in achieving same, appraising its sustainability for economic growth and development.

Dike pointed out that the PwC’s “Paying Taxes 2014” report, a comparison of tax systems in 189 countries worldwide, rated the country’s tax administration among the least-friendly and this situation has been fuelled by the citizen’s loss of confidence in the ability of government to provide public goods and services and also account for revenues collected in a transparent manner.

“This state of affairs is not in consonance with the spirit of the key elements of the Study Group recommendation on National Tax Policy as contained in paragraph 2.2 (1), which says ‘Tax shall be regarded as a citizen’s obligation to the Nigerian state for which he expects in return, good governance, the provision of security, clean water, schools, healthcare and other amenities’.

Government is therefore called upon to deliver on its promises of effective utilisation of tax as complementary tax compliance enhancer.

“The issue of multiplicity of taxes is another daunting issue facing compliance in the system. A case in point is the situation where technology companies pay one per cent of their profits before tax as National Information Technology Development Act (NITDA) levy and another one to two per cent band copyright levy, on the total of cost, insurance and freight for imported materials or ex-factory cost for locally produced materials, on storage device media. This calls for sombre reflection. This is more so as these are narrow tax bases once again negating the spirit of key elements of the recommendations of the National Tax Policy document in paragraph 2.2(21) which says that ‘The taxes in the Nigerian tax system shall be small in number, broad-based, and high revenue yielding’. This is no doubt another chal-

lenge for optimum tax compliance effort. It is also no wonder that Nigeria’s 956 hours spent on concluding payment of its taxes would continue to subsist unabated if concrete steps are not taken to address same.”

The twin issues of lack of confidence in the management of the nation’s tax revenue and unstructured nature of the informal sector operations, identified as a challenge to raising the nation’s tax revenue, formed part of the fulcrum of discussion at the weeklong event of CITN and emerged as bane of Nigeria’s tax system.

A professor of Law and Taxation at the River State University of Science and Technology, Uche Jack-Osimini, while delivering his paper, said that a new survey showed a rising apathy to payment of taxes, due to lack of confidence that the tax revenue will be used judiciously for general interest of the public by the authorities.

According to him, many are of the view that the revenues are not properly accounted for and at best, used to fund the private luxury of the privileged few, hence they become highly apathetic to tax matters, even as some devise strategies to either avoid tax payment or evade it in its entirety.

“Informal sector reacts to the perceived gap between governance and taxation and already people have shown lack of faith in government expenditure. They are asking about what government will do with the taxes collected and how certain it is that the funds will not become unaccounted for or diverted for private use. We have suggested that at least, 40 per cent of tax collected in a particular area should be used there. When a taxpayer sees the amenities in the area, the confidence will be bolstered. There is sense in prudence management of tax revenue. If it is prudently used, no doubt the taxpayer will see it, but presently there is general apathy and persistent call for payment of tax will not allay the fear and suspicions that are already existing,” he said.

But the President of the Chartered Institute

CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

38

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Experts list economic potentials of Nigeria, others, path to growth

By Chijioke Nelson HE opportunities for Africa to be the next T phase of global development and Nigeria’s potential to lead in achieving this global forecast have one again been reiterated at the “African Lions Arising: Driving Private Sector Growth Through Enhanced Intra-Africa Trade” conference.

The conference, organized by the African Business Club of the Lagos Business School, also re-choed concerns on the fragmented African markets, the long announced decayed and parlous infrastructure, while also expressing worry on the proposed nuclear technology, given our poor maintenance culture.

But participants, who lamented that Africa’s potential is fast becoming a slogan, urged for pragmatic approach to realizing it and challenged the regional governments to initiate developmental programmes with its available resources rather than always borrowing for projects, which proper prioritization can help to achieve.

Rod Gravelet-Blondin of the South African Futures Exchange and Director at EAX, said the potential of the continent to leapfrog other regional economies of the world is great and can readily be seen in its active population.

According to him, a right mix of its multiple and huge resources with the population would pare the drive for exports to Europe and America, because satisfying the population is enough to launch the continent into global reckoning.

However, he pointed out that the challenges of intra-Africa trade is decimating the potentials as few countries of the continent have the majority of the population.

To him, intra trade in the continent would facilitate the effective and efficient use of the inherent resources that is capable of launching it to the global stage, as the small economies would be merged into one.

He also pointed out the wide gap in the har-

Dore monization of private sector operations by government, which is not enabling effective collaborative efforts and conducive environment for private initiatives to thrive in the continent.

But the Country Director Nigeria, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Ousmane Dore, affirmed that promoting intra-African trade has been a major policy focus of African

leaders since post political independence, which AfDB has supported and promoted since inception.

Dore noted that other global and continental institutions, which AfDB is associated with, like the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, World Trade Organisation, African Union and Export Credit Agency, among others, have also supported the drive.

He however, admitted that the progress recorded has been slow, while acknowledging that there is a symbiotic relationship between intra-African trade and private sector growth.

These challenges include structural, political, social and infrastructural and manifest each economy’s structure; policy inconsistencies and duplication; weak legislative and legal institutions and mechanisms to enforce intra-regional trade-promoting measures; lack of political will and commitment by most African leaders in implementing traderelated agreements; ineffective multilateralism; conflict and instability; preference for foreign-made goods; lack of adequate hard infrastructure, particularly transport, connectivity and energy; weak ‘soft’ infrastructure; and business environments that are relatively harsh in many sub-Saharan African countries.

Reeling out indices on the global intraregional trade, he said that intra–European trade is 72 per cent; Asia, 52 per cent; North America, 48 per cent; South and Central America, 26 per cent; Africa, 10 to 12 per cent; and African trade with the rest of the world, three per cent.

Also listing the benefits of intra-African trade, he pointed out that it ensures remedy for economic fragmentation; attain economies of scale for international competitiveness ; develop a greater potential for driving inclusive growth; overcome geographical challenges; reduce exposure to exogenous

shocks; bypass the failure of global institution to promote fair global trading system; and satisfy the strong consuming appetite of the growing middle-class.

The AfDB chief therefore, recommended that governments and private sector operators give serious thought to adopting product fragmentation or vertical specialization in the production process, leveraging existing country-specific resources and endowments; prioritize infrastructure development with a view to closing the existing gap, thus reducing production costs and promoting international competitiveness; and deepen economic and structural reforms to improve business environment.

He also said they should concentrate on relaxing the supply-side constraints; create space for product complementarity; promote competitiveness through trade and economic diversification; more efforts should be directed at rationalizing and streamlining arrangements in renewable energy; promote the use of new technology; operate efficient border post with straightforward procedures; evolve stronger legal system that supports implementation of intra-regional trade initiatives; and focus on reducing trade facilitation-related constraints.

He added that Africa needs to focus on achieving economic liberation through intraAfrican trade and regional integration as the case for promoting intra-African trade and private sector growth is not new but needs increased impetus.

According to him, Africa needs to build internal resilience, by unlocking its one billion dollar market and creating conditions for joining the global higher value chains, investing its half a trillion dollar savings abroad from its newly discovered wealth, oil, gas among others, while under current market conditions that pays it limited returns. This could be invested internally in commercially bankable projects that would promote intraAfrican trade and private sector growth.

The challenges of trust, policies, administration in Nigeria’s tax system CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37 of Taxation of Ghana and West African Union of Tax Institutes (WAUTI), Mike Kofi Aflu, while discussing the issues of taxation on the informal sector, said the challenges arose as most of the workers and business owners are less educated, with unstructured models.

According to him, many informal sector operators do not have particular office, as some operate “mobile offices,” deliver services on demand, even through the Internet, which at the moment cannot easily be tracked by tax authorities.

“There are 65 per cent of all adult taxpayers in the informal sector. It is also the sector that is most difficult to tax, because people there are not well educated and do not even understand and appreciate the need to pay tax. They see government as the ‘godfather’ and therefore, government should do everything. But we are now saying that widening tax rate is not about increasing the rate, but making it easier for people to comply. This will be educating people through tax publications and advocacy, letting them know that tax revenues are used for those facilities they expect from government. But mostly, the provision of visible features of application of the revenues will boost the morale of the citizens to comply. It is a determinant of cost benefit of paying and every citizen has right to demand a proof of what is been done with the tax, otherwise they will refuse to pay,” he added.

Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, at the conference, averred that the success of the search for optimum tax compliance by federal, state and local governments is dependent on the promotion of trust and confidence by the authorities.

Yuguda, who delivered a lecture on the theme: “Achieving Optimum Tax Compliance: Challenges and Sustainability,” sued for a drastic reduction in wasteful and discretionary spending by government, but investing tax revenue on developmental projects.

According to him, there is also need for transparency, equity and fairness in tax administration, as this would elicit positive influence on the extant behaviour of taxpayers, point-

ing out the need for intensed advocacy to improve the understanding of the taxpayer, while the laws should as well, be clear, straightforward and understandable by average Nigerian.

“Revenue authorities need to automate the process of tax administration to improve efficiency and provide more convenience to taxpayers. This will also reduce compliance cost. There is need also to reform tax authorities to make them taxpayer-oriented more responsive and ensure tax friendly atmosphere that will definitely encourage compliance. There should be understanding of taxpayers operating environment, as this can bring to the fore, their difficulties in preparing information required by the authorities,” he said.

However, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio has said that enthroning good governance is not a rocket science and exclusive preserve of the developed countries as long as there is a political will.

Akpabio, who was represented by his Deputy, Valerie Ebie, while declaring the conference open, said there is a two-way bond between the government and citizens, which can only be fulfilled by the will to do what is right.

To him, transparency, good governance and visible features of development are elixir to boosting the morale of citizens to obey tax law, even others, voluntarily.

He however, noted that obedience to tax law is not just an obligation, but civic responsibility that beckons on all, adding that taxation has become a major source of revenue globally used in planning and development policies, noting that attention should be given to the challenges of corrupt practices, registration processes and low tax education bedeviling its potentials.

However, the CITN boss noted that in keeping with the institute’s mandate, a seminar was organized on the 2014 National Budget where our guest speakers and discussants subjected the budget to critical analysis

Aflu and review, in relation to its tax contents.

Among the number of key resolutions at the seminar, made to stimulate the tax system and revenue for development projects were that if companies are being held accountable for their tax payments, the government should also be made accountable for how taxpayer’s monies are utilised; that there is urgent need for government to put measures in place to prevent, identify and punish misuse of Free Trade Zones in the country. This also applies to the waivers and concessions granted to some pioneer companies, as huge government revenue is lost due to failure to follow due process in granting such waivers and concessions.

Also, there was urgent need to address Gini coefficient related issues in Nigeria’s development effort. This means that the widening income disparities must be addressed to

reflect true wealth per capita as against generalized state of well-being as portrayed by our current per capita measurement of Gross Domestic Product, which is often far from the realities on ground.

The tax net should be widened to give room for the untaxed to be brought into the tax net while those faithfully paying their taxes should not be brought under the pressure of multiplicity of taxes, while every budget must contain minimum tax contents on receipt and estimates and proposed tax policy direction for ease of planning by relevant stakeholders.

Economic focus of Government should be placed on priority areas of the economy, which should be identified from time to time for significant impact on service delivery, for instance, the education sector for a better output from our educational institutions.

On the issue of multiplicity of taxes, government must ensure a climate that is conducive for businesses to thrive, while amendments to tax laws should be accorded priority by government through presentation of a finance bill, which should be passed alongside the appropriation bill as basis for implementing the tax contents of the yearly budgets.

Dike added: “The tax system is continually evolving, even as its generic relevance remained the same. This is why we must push forward with reforms and initiatives to bring about an efficient tax system that is fair to all and without prejudice to none.

The task of ensuring optimum tax compliance is not an easy one due to some critical factors, which have been the bane of our tax system, nay, our national economy.

“These factors, among others, include weak governance structures; corruption; lack of political will to change the status quo; multiple taxation; low tax awareness; and apathy among citizens. However, I strongly believe that these factors that affect tax compliance are surmountable, if only there is commitment by governments, across all the tiers, to build institutions, processes and human capital in the tax system.”

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Ecobank, FG, Akwa Ibom partner on MDGs, CCT’s fund disbursements E Stories by Chijioke Nelson

COBANk has unfolded a a new partnership with the Federal Government and Akwa Ibom State on the disbursement of Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) and Family Life Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) schemes.

The Managing Director of Ecobank, Jibril Aku, in his goodwill message at the disbursement of N375 million to 2275 benefiting households in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, last weekend, said the bank is poised to consolidate its existing partnership with the federal and state governments in all parts of the country.

He pointed out that the resolve was with a view to ensuring that all beneficiaries of the MDGs/CCT schemes have equal opportunity to financial services such as micro-savings and micro-loans.

Aku, who was represented by the Executive Director, South-South/South-East, kingsley Umadia, further stated that “the partnership is clearly in line with our mission to provide customers with financial products and services that are convenient, reliable and accessible.”

According to him, the bank is running the programme on the Ecobank MobileMoney platform, noting that wallets have been created for the beneficiaries and disbursement of funds into their wallets monthly on instructions from the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs. Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Valerie Ebie, said the participation of the state in the MDGs and CCT schemes were targeted at eradicating poverty in the state.

She restated the state government’s commitment and determination to improving maternal health and reducing child mortality in the nooks and crannies of the state.

But the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, Dr. Precious Gbeneol, explained that the scheme is a component of the social safety net of the Federal Government aimed at improving the lives of the extreme poor in the country.

According to her, “it is a community driven development approach designed to reduce

poverty and vulnerability. It entails providing a monthly stipends of N5000 to the extreme poor households on the condition that children of basic school age in those households attend school, while pregnant women in the households attend hospital for full antenatal care.”

She emphasised that the objectives of the scheme in Akwa Ibom State are in tandem

with the vision of the Family Life Enhancement Initiative of the wife of the Governor.

Gbeneol explained that five local government areas with the highest poverty index in the state were selected for the scheme, while five wards in each of the local governments were also selected for the benefiting households.

Skye Bank partners Emirates on hospitality scheme Bank Plc and Emirates Holiday have SSkyekyE launched a new package known as the Emirates Holiday package, in a move aimed at creating a unique travel experience for holidaymakers and others.

The package allows holders of Skye Bank’s Select Account to deposit only 20 per cent of the total travel cost, while the bank provides the 80 per cent balance in form of loan.

Travellers, who take advantage of the package will be able to travel to all Emirates Airline’s destinations across the globe.

Unveiling the new package in Lagos on Monday, the bank’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer designate, Timothy Oguntayo, described the product as one that has an overriding theme of luxury and class deliberately built around it.

“Skye Bank is partnering with Emirates Holidays to treat our customers to exclusive summer and Christmas vacation experiences. Our customers can now book their vacation in style through the bank, with only a 20 per cent upfront deposit of the total holiday cost.

Skye Bank will complete the 80 per cent payment and enable our customers enjoy the best advance booking rates for all Emirates destinations across the world. In addition to this, our customers can enjoy two free lounge visits during the summer travel period from May to September”, he said.

He further explained that the bank’s strategic partnership with Priority Pass International, guarantees its premier and priority banking customers access to over 600 airport VIP lounges in over 275 cities of the world irrespective of class of travel.

It also covers huge discounts at most international hotel chains, access to over 350 spas and wellness centers across the world, discounts on select international brands of car hire companies and a special luggage retrieval programme.

Oguntayo, who was represented by the bank’s Executive Director, South-South, Mrs. Ibiye Ekong, described the package as heralding a new dawn for the esteemed customers as they enjoy a unique package of benefits and savings.

Group Head, Retail Banking, Nkolika Okoli, said the product was designed to bring value to the customers by positively affecting their lifestyle and travel experience.

According to her, travellers need not be millionaires to enjoy all the benefits of the package, which include Emirates Airline ticket, accommodation, tour, meet and greet guided tours, airport transfer and meals.

Others are free airport lounge usage during summer period and 20 per cent deposit of chosen package.

Director of Finance, Emirates Holiday, Roger Vakayil, however described the partnership with Skye Bank as one that will bring immeasurable benefits to the people.

39

Fidelity Bank gets family-friendly’ rating IDELITy Bank has been adjudged the bank Fpolicies with the most outstanding family-friendly in Nigeria.

In a survey conducted amongst corporate organizations in Nigeria by the Institute for Work and Family Integration (IWFI), in collaboration with the Lagos Business School and the Great Place to Work Institute, the bank emerged tops in all the measuring indices.

Specifically, the IWFI, which has consistently promoted work-family balance and good work ethics, through policy research, said that they were impressed with Fidelity Bank’s efforts at improving the welfare of its workers.

IWFI has also promoted work-family balance and good work ethics, through seminars, conferences, and training; working with major organizations and institutions in the last eight years with its principal objective of building better family, better business and better society.

Receiving the award during the Work and Family Conference 2014, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo, thanked the organizers of the award for recognizing the efforts of the bank towards improving the wellbeing of its staffers.

Okonkwo, who was represented by the Chief Human Resources Officer of the bank, Napoleon Esemudje, said that the financial institution is proud to be honoured, especially because of its strong initiative and focus not only on workers’ welfare, but also on the wellbeing of their families.

Esemudje who spoke on the topic: “Which Family Responsible Policies work in NigeriaThe Fidelity Bank Experience?”, alluded to the great work the bank had done in making Fidelity Bank a great workplace.

Citing the Great Place to Work Institute (GPTW) studies, conducted in more than 44 countries and 4,500 organisations, which had seen corporations like Google, Goldman Sachs and Microsoft emerge as winners, Esemudje said Fidelity Bank is proud to belongs to this league.

40 Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

41

42 Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

NITDA targets more investment in ICT sector through GITEX ..P.44

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

‘Nigeria’s broadband drive needs political will to succeed’

43

Policy inconsistency, bane of local software industry

..P.45

..P.46

Forum tasks Nigerians on Internet opportunities The Internet is huge. Most people can agree on that at this point. But most people don’t realize how big it is in relation to the global economy. This was the subject of discussion at the recently held Cyber Nigeria Forum, where experts urged Nigerians to leverage on the opportunities the Internet provides for economic growth. ADEYEMI ADEPETUN reports.

HEInternet is changing the way we work, socialize, create and T share information, and organize the flow of people, ideas, and things around the globe. Yet the magnitude of this transformation is still underappreciated.

The Internet accounted for 21 per cent of the GDP growth in mature economies over the past few years. At that time, the globe went from a few thousand students accessing Facebook to over a billion users around the world, including many leading firms, which regularly update their pages and share contents. While large enterprises and national economies have reaped major benefits from this technological revolution, individual consumers and small, startup entrepreneurs have been some of the greatest beneficiaries from the Internet’s empowering influence.

Analysts posited that if Internet were a sector, it would have a greater weight in GDP than agriculture or utilities.

And yet the globe is still in the early stages of the transformations the Internet will unleash and the opportunities it will foster.

Many more technological innovations and enabling capabilities such as other payments platforms are likely to emerge, while the ability to connect many more people and things and engage them more deeply will continue to expand exponentially.

Indeed, this was the general consensus of the facilitators and participants at 2014 Cyber Nigeria Forum and African Innovation Award organized by Tribe Media Company, producers of AIT Infotech Network in Lagos.

The event witnessed the participation of industry stakeholders both from public and private sectors of the economy with the likes of Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC); National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Galaxy Backbone, while organizations likes Computer Warehouse Group, Visafone, Vodacom among others represented the private sector.

The theme for this year’s forum “Cyberspace Enterprise/Innovation Security and Opportunities” was segmented with the programme of event into two sessions, including award presentations to deserving firms and personalities’.

Discussions at the forum was meant to constructively critique the directions which the ICT sector in Nigeria is heading and proffer solutions that will remove all hindrances to the full deployment of ICT to the rapid growth and sustainability of the Economy.

Setting the tone for the intellectual discuss was the convener of the forum Dr. Bayero Agabi who said the event is “meant to provides platforms to articulate the opportunities provided by ICT to grow businesses, innovation and creative powers of African Youths, businesses and government institutions”.

The unanimous resolutions of facilitators and participants at the forum was that the imperative of ICT as a catalyst for the rapid growth of Nigeria and Africa economy can’t be over emphasize because with require skills, contents and service with a click to the cyberspace there are unlimited opportunities abounding for individuals, businesses and nations in enterprise/iInnovation and security.

Already, a Mckinze Global Institute study had projected that Nigeria and other African countries tend to gain about $300 billion by 2025 if it embraces Internet as it did mobile phones. The report noted infrastructural gap, poverty and untapped population potential has held Africa back from competiting favourably on the global space.

Today, Africa has over 700 million mobile phone subscribers, which even outnumbered those in the U.S. and Europe.

In Nigeria alone, while there about 130 million active mobile phone users, the number of telephone lines being used to access Internet service on GSM networks is 63.4 million, according to statistics from the NCC.

Report also ranked Nigeria number one in Internet usage in Africa with over 60 million subscribers, ahead of Egypt (29.8 million), Morrocco (16.5 million), Kenya (12 million), and South Africa (8.5 million).

As such, at the forum, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Precise Financial System, Yele Okeremi said that ICT has leveled the business sphere and helped to provide parallel leverage for innovators, businesses and institutions across the globe, and using his organization as an example which has clients all over the world despite being a local software brand.

Furthermore, CEO of Teledom Group, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwuem said that “for full access to the Internet in its ubiquities, the problems of affordability, availability and poor quality of service must be address by the operators and regulators”.

While the CEO of InfoGraphics, Chinenye Mba called for sound education system “that will produce global citizens not a 19th century education system in 21st century through the use of information communication technology”. This will help produce innovation eco-system for the nation that will unlock the brighter tomorrow for all.

The second session of the forum before the awards and Gala night saw discussants deliberated on opportunities and Cyber Security as it affects businesses and individuals. Among the high point of the deliberation was CEO of HIIT, Kayode Shobajo, who asked for a strong political will at national level to inculcate technology into the mind of the youths and advice the young technopreneurs “to be passionate, purposeful and persevere to attain success”.

And the CEO of Ibaka TV, Blessed Idornijie said “the provisions

of parent ISP or National Backbone will reduce cost and for proper monitoring of the Nigeria cyber space”.

The expertises’ advice of CTO, Microsoft Nigeria, Olayinka Oni was in same line of thought with Shobajo that “it requires the will to get it done (cyber security), the technology exist today for cyber and all other forms of security. But it is more of how we harness the technology to provide security for individuals, businesses and the Nation a whole.”

The event saw the “Icon of Africa Information Awards” given to the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah for his roles and contributions to African development using ICT a catalyst, according to the organisers.

Other categories of winners includes, Best Government Website (MDA CATEGORY), NCC, Financial Software Provider of the year

by Precise Financial Systems, Enterprise Solution Providers of the year Vodacom, Best Pan African OEM go to RLG, Outstanding recognition for the Promotion of ICT4D National Information Technology Development Agency, Best Youth Innovation Awards

by GENII and (Jobsnigeria.com) Games and many others.

Going forward, governments, policy makers, and businesses must recognize and embrace the enormous opportunities the Internet can create, even as they work to address the risks to security and privacy the Internet brings.

As the Internet’s evolution over the past two decades has demonstrated, such work must include helping to nurture the development of a healthy Internet ecosystem, one that boosts infrastructure and access, builds a competitive environment that benefits users and lets innovators and entrepreneurs thrive, and nurtures human capital.

Apple claims sale of 800m devices, unveils new mobile health solution The American firm will work in tandem with Nike Inc, a major player in fitness tracking, and the Mayo Clinic on the new new features outlined for its computing feature, which will be included with the and mobile software, at its yearly develop- latest versions of Apple’s mobile softers’ conference on Monday in the United ware.

However, Apple, which will discuss new States of America. software features with the thousands of This is even as the firm claimed to have developers gathered in San Francisco this sold over 800 million iPhone devices week, did not elaborate on Healthkit’s globally. features and capabilities.

The mobile health solution called “Healthkit,” has been designed to pull to- The news follows arch-rival Samsung Electronics Co Ltd’s announcement last gether data such as blood pressure and week of a mobile health-data store called weight, collected by a growing plethora of healthcare apps on the iPhone or iPad. SAMI (Samsung Architecture Multimodal Interactions).

PPLE Inc took the wraps off a mobile A application that can collect and analyze users’ health data, part of a suite of

Monday’s event in downtown San Francisco, a yearly pilgrimage of sorts for the large and growing Apple developer community, was short of major surprises.

Every year, the iPhone maker and rival Google Inc, whose Android mobile devices comprise an estimated four-fifths of all smartphones sold globally, show the latest software enhancements to thousands of prospective developers.

Chief Executive, Tim Cook, at the opening of the conference said the iPhone maker has sold more than 800 million mobile devices. Some 130 million customers bought their first Apple mobile device in the past 12 months, he added.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

44 i-Tech & Telecoms Wednesday, June 4, 2014

NITDA targets more investments in ICT sector through GITEX

By Adeyemi Adepetun ITH the inauguration of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the yearly technology show in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, GITEX, the National Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA) said it will use the opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s investment potential to investors.

Nigeria is the official country partner for GITEX 2014. The forum is the premier technology event in the Middle East Africa and South Asia (MEASA). The technology trade show occupies over 78,000 sqm of space, and records over 145,530 trade visitors from 144 countries in 2013. Also, more than 35,000 visitors came from Africa in the 2013 edition of GITEX. According to Nigeria’s planning committee, this year, the country is revving up its last year’s presence as official country partner to become the centre of thematic activities for the five day technology expo and conference in Dubai.

The LOC is tasked with ensuring Nigeria’s successful participation through pre-show work-plans.

While inaugurating the LOC in Abuja last week, the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the NITDA, Peter Jack, said the agency has a new vision and the agency would genuinely pursue IT development aggressively to position Nigeria in the global society.

Jack said Nigeria’s presence at Gitex would offer the opportunity to explore international opportunities for collabora-

W

tions and investments that would further advance Nigeria’s burgeoning IT sector.

He cited examples of countries like South Korea and India where IT alone contributes over $200 billion to the economy.

“The NITDA is determined to position Nigeria in that light, and would work through multilateral stakeholders approach to get everyone involved and achieve our core goals at NITDA. He implored the committee to do all they can to make Nigeria’s presence at Gitex 2014 a success and assured of government’s support for IT development at all levels, while stressing the need for inter agencies collaboration and synergy.

“It is in the spirit of partnership that NITDA has invited other agencies to be part of this preparation and we believe that this is imperative to achieve best results,” said Jack to the committee members.

The LOC members were drawn from different private and public sectors organizations including Nigeria Investment Pro-

motion Council (NIPC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Computer Professional Registration Council (CPN), Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), National Association of Computers Science Students (NACOSS), Nigeria Satellite Communications Limited (NigComSat), and Information Technology Industries Association of Nigeria (ITAN). Others are Pinnacle Consult LLC and Knowhow Media International – both marketing and media consultants on Nigeria’s participation at Gitex 2014.

Chairman of the LOC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji said it was important for all stakeholders to come together to drive Nigeria’s participation as the official country partner for Gitex 2014. He said there was a need for all stakeholders to strongly get everybody who has something innovating to showcase at Gitex to use it as a global platform to show the world what Nigerians are doing.

NCC launches service charter From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja HE Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC) has launched service charter, which when implemented, would ensure effective and efficient delivery of the commission’s mandates and programmes.

Speaking at the event last week in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah said the launch of the Charter has become imperative as the commission is driven by the desire to ensure that service delivery is optimized and people’s expectations met on a timely basis.

He explained that the service charter is in compliance with the directives of the federal government, adding that the charter is a public document that informs customers about their rights, specifies standards of service delivery, among others.

Juwah observed that the various service improvement initiatives like the Telecom Consumer Parliament, establishment of contact centres where consumers can seek redress when service fails among others would be reviewed regularly to enable their users implement improvement plans that are based on citizens priorities.

He stated that the commission has trained over 40 staff and established servicom units in its offices across the country.

T

President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. David O. Adewumi (right); Director General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Chris Onyemenam and NCS Chairman, Publicity and Events, Jide Awe, during the society’s visit to NIMC, in Abuja.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 i-Tech & Telecoms 45

‘Nigeria’s broadband drive needs political will to succeed’ Priority Communications Limited is an indigenous telecommunications firm, which has been around for over seven years. The Chief Executive Officer, Olumide Samuel, in this interview with The Guardian believes that local firms have the capacities to transform the country’s ICT sector if given the needed support. Besides, he said that government’s sincerity is critical to penetrating broadband in Nigeria. ADEYEMI ADEPETUN reports. Excerpts How would you assess your operations in Nigeria?

ASICALLY I would say that Priority communications has actually gone very far because now, we have invested heavily in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry. We have permanent staff, above 60 with more than 80 per cent of them graduates.

We have branches spread in Lagos and other part of Nigeria, even in Kano, Gombe and, Maiduguri. We have installations all over these places and offices with stationed engineers.

Besides, Priority Communications is fully licensed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to provide telecommunications services. It will interest you to know that we have offices outside of Nigeria too. We currently operate in Ghana where we service some of our customers that are based there. We have also been licensed in Zambia and Kenya and we are hoping that operations will start in these new places soonest in the next few quarters. We have our foot prints across all sectors of the economy in Nigeria.

So many firms of your size, which started same period with you have gone under, what has kept Priority Communications going?

God has been our basic sustenance first and foremost. I’m sure you would have noticed that our setting is also well organized. We have ensured that we build an institution that will surpass the owners, which makes customers and quality service delivery centre of priority. What has kept us going is that we try to surpass the expectations of our customers, while maintaining standards. I will not say that we have not had a lot of challenges, but one of the major things that have kept us in business is the fact that we have a lot of people who are really committed and highly motivated and you know that without people, machines cannot do anything.

As an organization, we also try to motivate our staff and encourage them by providing the needed facilities that will make the job easier.

Every job we do, we try to surpass the expectation of our customer. One of the things that has kept us in business is the fact that we have people who are really committed and you know that without people an organization cannot do well. I have worked several years in this sector but by and large, its only motivated people that can give you results. We were able to better manage the expectations of our clients but most of these have been a function of what our staff does because its

B

Samuel

only people that can give you result.

It will interest you to note also that indigenous firms now have capacities to develop the emerging ecosystem. What is critical in this is getting government’s support.

Nigeria is looking at transforming the economy through the deployment of broadband. What is your take on this?

Well, I think that currently we are not there yet. In fact we have a very long way to go. The ultimate aim of broadband is not the service itself but in the value added. We are talking about video over Internet; telemedicine; digitisation, information; education, all sort of values that you can get through broadband services.

Currently, it’s like running a pipe without content. We are still trying to run a pipe; we have not discussed the content.

Nigeria is still miles at the back. But I think that NCC is trying to do a lot. They are sensitizing the citizenry on its benefits to us an individual and the economy as a whole.

But right now, even in the urban area, we cannot boast of 40 per cent fast Internet service. Some couple of years ago, you will see people having cyber cafes; today we have Internet facilities on the go through our mobiles, but these are not the capacities that will transform the economy. We cannot use the service yet to do an extensive research because the contents are not yet there. But we believe strongly that more dedicated efforts from government would open the frontiers in broadband service delivery in Nigeria. There is need for political will from the authorities to drive the growth envisaged.

If the will is there, soonest we shall be a force to reckon with because we have got the market and the skill resides here.

Government is targeting five-fold increase in broadband penetration by 2017. How realistic is this?

It is achievable. Like I said earlier, everything still boils down to the political will. I think the minister knows what she’s driving at, so also the NCC. I think as a country, we would need to attack this target in all frontiers. I can even say it will be possible in another two years, looking at the successes that emanated from the GSM revolution. It showed the capacity of what we are capable of doing within a limited space of time.

I think if we confront the challenges we can do this. First thing that is also critical here is power. We must solve the power crises to have a stable and a producing economy. I believe that the new policy on power by government should start producing results in another one year. If that is achieved the economy will be better for it. It will create demand for so many productive courses. Today, it has become obvious that no business can run without a computer. Even if you are not using it in the office, if you get to the bank, they will tell you to go and use the ATM or other electronic payment platforms. All these run on efficient broadband Internet services. The demand would come when the economic sustainability is there, especially power.

What are the major challenges confronting Nigeria’s telecommunications sector?

The major thing government needs to look at is to identify challenges services providers are facing. Like we said, getting the power reforms right would to a larger extent boosts the country’s productivity.

Also, government must come to the sector’s aid. The issue of multiple taxation and regulation is killing the telecommunications sector. The challenges we face as an economy currently are unpredictable. Just imaging, the security challenges…Boko Haram. We can’t quantify the number of damages done to the facilities of the likes of MTN in Nigeria.

Even, we that are local firms, we face the same. Like I mentioned earlier, I said we have facilities in Kano, Gombe and Maiduguri, it has become extremely difficult for us to carry out our routine checks in those areas because of the insecurity ravaging those areas and yet, we must deliver services to the people there. Some of our workers have been robbed, attacked and kidnapped.

It is our hope that government solves all these problems, and bring everything back to normal. But we shall try as a company and as a sector not to compromise standards.

What segment of the market do you take as priority?

We offer services to virtually every body, as long as you need to use telecommunications facilities such as the computer.

Today, it has become so easy that you can even set up a business in your room with the aid of computer facilities. At Priority, while we focus on the big firms, we equally take the Small

CONTINUED ON PAGE 47

46 i-Tech & Telecoms Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

MainOne promotes metro fibre connectivity HE reliability of metro fibre in business development has T been demonstrated by MainOne Cables at a breakfast session in Lagos recently.

A Cisco telepresence centre

‘Policy inconsistency, bane of local software industry’

By Faith Oparaugo HE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Precise Financial Systems (PFS), a software company, Yele Okeremi has tasked the Federal Government to step up efforts specifically in the area of policy formulation and implementation in order to give the much-needed push to the local software industry.

Basically, he pointed out that the Ministry of Communications Technology recently declared that Information Communications Technology (ICT) contributed 8.3 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the second quarter (Q2) of 2013.

In 2012, however, he said ICT-related economic activity contributed six per cent of GDP, up from 5.6 per cent in 2011.

Speaking on the sideline at the Digital Africa Conference and Exhibition held in Lagos, Okeremi said that as Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and earnestly seeking to diversify its economy from oil, the local software market could have transformative impact on the economy.

According to him, government does have a big role to play in terms of creating the enabling environment for the local software industry to thrive.

“When you look at government expenditure on IT, its huge. We

T

do not always have to plunder our resources. We do not always have to use our resources to stimulate other economies.

“The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) said Nigeria losses about $1 billion yearly to software importation, whereas Nigeria software industry is potentially a $6 billion industry and could surpass revenue from the oil industry, according to analysts”, he stated.

Okeremi added that locally developed software solutions are not been adopted because of “limited success story. “ Many of the industry’s success stories are not been told. Because this not happening, the market is not responding by buying local software.

“If this is not happening, new entrants cannot be encouraged to come into the market”, the PFS boss pointed out, adding “the greatest challenge for the local software industry is acceptability.

Many people simply couldn’t come to terms with the possibilities with what we are presenting.

“Up till now, people still find it difficult to believe that our software could have been made in Nigeria. The quality of manpower remains a challenge for knowledge based companies in the country, he added.

According to him, support is crucial for the sector.

Mi-Fone launches innovative range of mobile devices in Nigeria

By Daniel Anazia

I-FONE, the first African mobile devices brand launched its M new range of innovative smartphones into the Nigeria market in Lagos. The mobile phone company which was established in 2008, has smartphones that operate on the Android system and come pre-embedded with localised apps such as Nigerian taxi app, EasyTaxi, music blog app Singuu, innovative music upload service app called PureSolo and the famous 360Nobs Nigerian social media app.

The phones also feature the company’s owned OJU Africa app.

The app first garnered international attention with the launch of the first ethnically diverse emoticons. In fact, in the past three weeks the Afro Emoticons from Oju Africa have had the world abuzz, with over 22,000 downloads of the free app from Google Play in just four days, of which the majority of those downloads have originated from the United States.

Powered by Mi-Fone, Oju which literally meaning faces in Yoruba language is an innovation borne out of the motherland.

It is designed to be used across all Android platforms, and will

be released shortly on IOS and other platforms. Yet the digital space is not the only area they are intended to live.

According to the CEO Oju Africa and Group CEO of Mi-Group International Ltd, Alpesh Patel, “Oju is an African innovation and character that we have no doubt will become iconic across the globe. Africa does not have its own Mickey Mouse or Hello Kitty until now with Oju. Oju is a licensed African character, which will be licensed out via Emoticons in the digital space, and via a traditional character in industries such as FMCG, Entertainment and Fashion.”

He added, “The Lagos launch will be followed by Oju Africa’s attendance of the prestigious Licensing Expo 2014, which holds in Las Vegas, USA from June 17-19, making us one of the few African manufacturers to be present at the Expo.”

Patel explained that for a continent synonymous with smiling faces, the unique emoticons are bound to make those wide smiles become wider, as a portion of all licensing fees generated will be donated to the Mi-Oju Children’s Foundation, which was officially launched in April .

VDT evaluates gains of premium quality services

By Bankole Orimisan

DT Communication Limited, a broadband service provider. has counted the gains of providing top notch quality services to its clients The Marketing Communications Manager, David Ese, said VDT operates advanced broadband communications networks has gained tremendously by providing to its customers top notch quality service back up with a strong Customer Relationship Management strategy which arguably one of the best in the country.

According to him, VDT operates points of presence at over 50 [POP’s] in 28 major cities across Nigeria,that offers an average of over 98 per cent service uptime. It’s Network operating centre that provides 24x7x365 support on a continuous basis to all its clients. VDT also provides the quickest resolution of all the issues occurring on the network to the appreciation of its customers.

Ese noted, thatIt is not surprising that VDT is capable of this unparalleled level of quality service provision. The firm which is also ISO 9001:2008 certified and has almost concluded the training programs for its personnel among other processes for ISO 20000 certification. VDT as a knowledge driven brand believes that the quality of its service offerings to its clients varies directly with the quality of its personnel, and so the train and re-trains its personnel every year it is a key aspect to the management .At least each staff must go for

V

training twice a year. It engages leading consultants to conduct research in all areas of its operations.

In his words,” VDT, the winner of several awards including Wireless Backhaul Provider 2009 and 2010 and Bulk Internet Service Provider 2011 and 2012, provides Digital Leased Circuit (DLC), IP-VPN and Internet Bandwidth, using mainly terrestrial technology platforms. The company operates one of the most advanced telecommunications networks in the country.”

With the theme: “Powering business with Reliable connectivity: The MainOne Advantage”, the firm said the technology has the potential to help boost productivity and improved business profitability.

Speaking at the forum, the Head, Enterprise Sales, Kelechukwu Nsofor, stated “it is necessary to have premium broadband internet available to business concerns and this requires the capacity that MainOne brings to Nigeria, and West African enterprises”.

He added that the breakfast session is in line with MainOne’s commitment to assisting businesses in their stride for growth and profitability, expediting broadband penetration across Nigeria.

Speaking further, Nsofor stated that by connecting to MainOne’s new expanded metro fiber network, customers have access to improved business networking, efficiency, reliability and scalability across various business locations.

He also noted that MainOne will continuously expand its reach and bring innovative services to more customers, especially with the completion of its Tier 3 Data Centre, the largest commercial data center in West Africa, with 600-rack capacity expected to be commissioned in third quarter, 2014. The Data Centre sod-turning ceremony was done in October 2013.

Nsofor hinted that MainOne offers unmatched connectivity, managed, media and data center services, connecting Nigeria and West Africa with the rest of the world, stressing that it remained unrelenting in its effort to provide fast and efficient broadband connectivity to its customers across all sectors.

CPN holds ‘Professionals Assembly’ HE Computer Professionals (Registration Council of NigeT ria) (CPN) is set to host its yearly Information Technology professionals’ assembly.

CPN, which was established by Act No. 49, under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education, put this year’s theme as “Harnessing the Potentials of IT Professionals for National Development.” The conference is scheduled for June 18 and 19 in Abuja.

The Council informed that the event will involve presentations and discussions of papers on contemporary issues affecting IT, especially as they affect a developing country like Nigeria, adding that the idea therefore is to raise the stake in this field of endeavor with the objective of ensuring that Nigeria joins the rest of the world in the information and knowledge society and bridge the digital divide.

A statement from CPN informed that the keynote address will be delivered by Professor Liz Bacon, a Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Greenwich with a University wide remit leading the development of Technology Enhanced Learning.

Bacon is the president of the BCS, a past Chair of the BCS Academy of Computing, and CPHC (Council of Professors and Heads of Computing) national committee.

CPN is charged with responsibility for the control and supervision of the computing profession and IT practice in Nigeria; quality assurance in computer education; as well as developing local IT capacity in tune with national requirements.

WiniGroup wins SafeNet’s award INIGROUP, a foremost Nigerian IT solution company, W has bagged the 2014 edition of Safenet’s Best New Partner of the year award. The award, which is a yearly event for the Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region was held at Vienna, Austria recently.

At the event, Keyon a Swiss reseller also walked away with the “The Best Partner of the year” while Benelux Distribution received the “Best Distributor of the Year”.

Safenet said that WiniGroup because of its committed to the development of best solutions with aggressive strategy on the e- banking sector has resulted in significant commercial success and healthy pipeline for the current year.

According to the general manager of WiniGroup and the recipient of the award, Sam Adeyemi, “The award was a clear demonstration of SafeNet ’s confidence in WiniGroup’s inhouse capacity to deploy all their solutions and are currently a top leader to reckon with in the entire EMEA region”.

WiniGroup, a young and vision driven company is highly committed in offering a wide range of IT business solutions including enterprise process planning to help organizations increase operational efficiencies and maximise growth and profits. Its risk management solutions enable customers to identify exposure to potential and prospective network threats and vulnerabilities through a proactive risk management approach.

Globacom introduces leisure product ATIONAL Telecommunications Operator, Globacom, has N introduced a leisure product called: ‘Total Entertainment’.

The company claimed that the new service is the first of its kind in Nigeria, and offers subscribers unlimited fun with more than 10,000 music videos, movie trailers, mobile games, comedy, fashion, red carpet, short movies and television serials.

Globacom’s Head of Value Added Services, Nagasai Viswanath, who said Glo Total Entertainment, is an App-based solution, stressed “It allows users to watch music videos, Hollywood and Nollywood trailers and full movies, red-carpet events, stand-up comedy, sports, lifestyle content, television serials, and fashion as well as get all the juicy information

about their favourite celebrities on their mobile phones while on the go.”

Viswanath explained that the video, audio and image library was updated on a daily basis, thus giving the users something new to watch or experience each time they logged on to the service.

“The rapid adopti on of mobile phones in Nigeria has created a demand for new services beyond voice and a basis for differentiation. The Glo Total Entertainment offers all the fun that subscribers would want to experience.

“The product shows that Globacom is forever innovating. We are offering subscribers the opportunity to watch new and exciting entertainment content on their mobile phones,” Viswanath stated.

i-Tech & Telecoms Wednesday, June 4, 2014 47

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Experts hinge data centre management on skills, technology

By Adeyemi Adepetun

ITH several billions of dollar investments going into data centre projects daily in Nigeria and other part of the world, skills, education and technical know how are said to be imperative for its functionality.

Speaking at a data centre seminar held in Lagos, at the weekend, organised by the United States (US) based company, in partnership with GlobalInfoSwift, an indigenous Information and Communications Technology company in Nigeria, President of TechXact, Mehdi Paryavi, who stressed the need for data centre owners to build competent human capacity to manage their high cost infrastructure, said that country needs to rev up its skills, expertise and techical knowhow especially in the area of assessment to effectively manage these infrastructure.

While acknowledging the various investments that have gone into data centre, Paryavi described it as a lucrative business, capable of creating wealth and employment opportunities for the nation.

Paryavi said Paryavi pointed out that data centres had a very important role to play in Nigeria’s quest to become a leading economy by the year 2020.

“Education and assessment are critical to managing data centres. You need to assess the entire infrastructure. You also need to education to make sense of the reports and information gathered. With education and assessment, you reduce those risks and vulnerabilities on the site”, he further added.

The Ministry of Communication Technology

W

Managing Director, Nokia West and Central Africa, Nick Imudia (left); Marketing Campaign Manager, Nokia West and Central Africa, Yetunde Ogeroju; Director, Consumer Channels Group, Microsoft Nigeria, Mark Ihimoyan and Retail Customer Marketing Manager, Nokia West and Central Africa, Olajide Adeyemi during the launch of the first Windows Dual SIM smartphone, Nokia Lumia 630, in Lagos.

PHOTO; SUNDAY AKINLOLU

MTN sponsors subscribers to Jerusalem

By Faith Oparaugo ELECOMMUNICATIONS Company, MTN, has sponsored about 20 christian subscribers to Jerusalem, Isreal for this year’s pilgrimage .

General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Kola Oyeyemi, explained that the strategic focus for this initiative was to show support to MTN Christian subscribers.

According to him, “we are committed to the total wellbeing of our customers as we drive to make their lives brighter through our propositions, products and valueadded services. This is one of such initiatives aimed at uplifting and encouraging our subscribers to get closer to God. “Through our bold new digital Value Added Services like the daily devotionals, Bible quotes, sermons, songs,

T

prayers and hymns, callertunez and other spiritually uplifting and faith enriching contents, we keep them connected to their Maker on a daily basis”, he said.

Also speaking, Segment Manager Mass Market MTN, Tosin Agbelusi said that the firm brought people all over Nigeria with the aim of supporting their faith.

He added that “we want to make sure that we are not only functional but emotionally tied to people”.

One of the lucky subscribers, Tunde Akinnoye, a Sunday School teacher at the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry, Mokola, Ibadan, commended MTN for using its platform to enrich its subscribers especially in their christian life.

He said: “I am very grateful to MTN for this rare and wonderful opportunity. This jour-

Cyberoam gets award LOBAL network security appliances provider, Cyberoam,has G again bagged the ‘Security Solution of the Year Award’, at the 2014 Beacon of ICT Award held in Lagos.

Cyberoam also conducted its yearly Partner Day for the year 2013-14 at a grand event, where it rewarded its partners in Nigeria for their contribution. The event marked the conclusion of its Partner Advantage Program 2013-14.

The partner community in the region has proven its commitment towards achieving higher growth in the network security market and in the process has bolstered the networks of many established and emerging enterprises in Nigeria. Cyberoam took this as an opportunity to acknowledge its partners’ efforts with an award function.The day-long event ended with an exciting racing activity at the Get Arena.

Commenting on the successful conclusion of the event,the Country Manager, Cyberoam Nigeria, Mr. Jimi Falaiye,said “Our partner community in the region has again exceeded our expectations, and from the enthusiasm they have exhibited in the past year, it is very likely that we would be doing even better this year. “

Indigenous IT firms need govt supCONTINUED FROM PAGE 45 and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) critical. We have affordable tailor made services for them. The SMEs are critical to any growing economy, so they must be encouraged.

Here, we don’t undervalue anybody. We have come to recognize that everybody is critical to our success. Our uniqueness lies in delivering the best of service, at affordable price and anywhere. We have delivered services at dangerous terrain and at odd hours, just to satisfy our customers. We also provide consultancy services to our clients.

In delivering services across the country, how has the Right of Way (RoW) challenges impacted on your business?

RoW is a major challenge. Apart from government forces, which have made RoW a huge source of revenue, unfortunately for us too, we have places where people are claiming possession and which are illegal. We face community issues and youths disturbances. When you want to engage in a major installation, you have to talk to different groups of people so that you can gain access to your own facilities.

What we have tried to do when we face these challenges is that we try to work with them. What we have discovered was that some of these guys what they actually needed is understanding that they also have needs to meet. So we try to cooperate with them, because cost of not cooperating with them is higher. These are part of the teething problems we face. But we have believing God that over time, with government support; we shall overcome all these challenges.

ney to Jerusalem will uplift my spiritual life and move me closer to God.” Another lucky subscriber, Faith Onyekachukwu Eselojor, a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Abule Ijesha, Lagos, said: “MTN has added spiritual value in the aspect of sending inspirational messages, and quotes

has estimated that approximately 300 data centres will be required in the coming years, to support the rollout of efficient internet services and software applications.

“If Nigeria intends to become the information hub in Africa, it will need to invest more in data centre infrastructure. It brings safety and security to critical online data. It elevates the standard of living in the economy. It creates a lot of job opportunities”, Paryavi explained.

The TechXact boss noted that data centres gives impetus to the online business community by providing them with innovative services cost-effectively.

He advised prospective data centre owners not to fall into the trap of purchasing expensive equipments for the deployment of data centres.

Paryavi however, stressed the need for data centres to be audited. “It involves an extensive and rigorous process to access compliance to the requirements of the standards.” Taking a look into the future, the TechXact boss said next generation data centres will address industry specific needs, adding that it will also be cloud based.

Speaking in the same vein, Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director at GlobalInfoSwift, Solomon Edun said, “we are advocating that you should know your needs and design your data centre accordingly. Data centre owners should begin to criticise vendors who look for every avenue to meet their sales target. Nigerians should look out for cost effective equipments that meet their business needs”, he noted.

48

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Maritime ‘Govt committed to 48 hours cargo clearance at ports’

By Moses Ebosele HE Federal Government is committed to the 48 hours cargo clearance at Nigerian ports, Minister of Transport, Idris Umar has said.

Speaking at a forum in Lagos recently, Umar said President Goodluck Jonathan is “eagerly awaiting the report of this discourse as he is determined that our ports be transformed to operate at global standards with a view to making them properly drive the nation’s economic development”.

He described Shipping as a global business, adding that it very important for a nation like Nigeria with considerable import and export trade.

In a paper Umar sent to the forum, he explained that in order to maximise the benefits of the business, “Government had embarked on considerable development of Ports and associated Maritime Services along with radical reform in the Maritime Sector in line with global standards and benchmarks”.

According to the minister, the issue of delays in cargo clearance at the ports is on the front burner of the Agenda at most international organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the World Customs Union (WCU), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Bank and the United Nations’ Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Explaining further, he said:

T

“Similarly, issues of losses/damage to cargo and port costs are of major concern to sub-regional, continental and International organizations as well.

“Studies have shown that the 24-hour time frame for clearance of cargo is achievable and is being achieved in many ports worldwide, including some ports in emerging economies like ours.

“Speedy clearance of cargo at the port impacts positively on a nation’s cost of doing business, global competitiveness and economic growth as it affects the cost and timeliness of delivery of goods and services.

“The President, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, understands, appreciates and firstly support the important role the maritime sector plays in the national economy.

“This is why he has instituted several reforms in the sector, especially pertaining to the ports, with a view to tapping the huge potentials of the industry for the socio economic development of our nation.

“As part of the port reforms, the Federal Government has adopted and remains committed to the 48 hours clearance target with the objective of decongesting our ports, bringing down costs, attracting greater patronage and ultimately accelerating the facilitation of the nation’s international trade.

“Since the institutionaliza-

Umar

Jonathan tion of this laudable policy, however, there have been complaints from port users about the inability of port operatives, specifically government regulatory agencies to actualize the policy.

“This has led to the assumption that this target has become a mirage for the

Nigerian economy. We however strongly believe that the 48 hour cargo clearance target is achievable in Nigerian ports.

“In order to demonstrate the resolve of Government to bring sanity into the operations in our ports, the President has appointed the

Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) as an interim Economic Regulator of the nation’s ports.

“Let me state categorically here that the Council has the mandate and full support of Mr. President to do whatever is necessary to ensure that Nigerian ports become com-

petitive, cost effective and attractive to port users.

“This assignment will undoubtedly require the cooperation of all actors in the industry since we all have a stake in the successful execution of this onerous task by the Council”.

Seafarers get ultimatum on training standard HE European Union (EU) T has given the Philippines until next month (July) to prove that its maritime training and monitoring are up to international standards, reports London’s Tanker Operator.

The EU said the Philippines must demonstrate audit are being carried out and that it has all the necessary technical and qualified human resources to monitor training institutions.

Deficiencies in audit and monitoring of maritime schools in the Philippines have yet to be fully addressed said the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).

But the EMSA acknowledged progress made in raising the training standard of Filipino seafarers.

The EU demands Manila “provide by end of July 2014 the necessary evidence to demonstrate that all outstanding deficiencies have been resolved and that they have fully implemented the requirements Failure to live up to the United Nations International Convention

on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) may result in the loss of EU recognition, said the EMSA. The warning comes after the European agency having found deficiencies in the way Filipino seafarers are trained. There are 100,000 Filipinos on EU-flagged ships.

The European Commission’s Directorate General for Mobility and Transport presented to EU member states’ its overall assessment of the Philippine maritime education, training and certification system in April.

“Philippine authorities have made efforts to bring their system in line with the requirements of the STCW,” the EU said. “The efforts were supported by several EU member states, which provided technical assistance to Philippine authorities.”

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Ship owners Association (HKSA) is warning of an “environmental catastrophe” if crippled ships are left at sea and forbidden to land,

thus increasing the risk of break-up and spilling its cargo and fuel into the ocean.

The HKSA calls on ships in such incidents to urgently remove any remaining cargo and bunkers and to repair the damage, ideally, in a sheltered place, or place of refuge.

This issue has gained prominence in Asia due to the chemical tanker, the Maritime Maisie that was damaged in a fire and collision and is being towed at sea without a place of refuge two and a half months after the incident.

Governments, especially those in Asia, are urged to consider adopting the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Place of Refuge Guidelines and MAS Guidelines, as a matter of urgency, and similar measures to those prescribed in the EU VTM Directive.

IMO Assembly Resolution A.950(23) “Guidelines on Places of Refuge for Ships in Need of Assistance” provides the master, owner and coastal state with a framework to enable them to

respond effectively in the 20, 2013, and has been ratified by 56 ILO member event of an incident.

In Europe, the existing meas- States representing over 80 ures are contained in the per cent of world shipping European Community tonnage.

The Director-General of Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Information System ILO, Guy Ryder, explained (Directive 2009/59/EC as recently that the convenamended by Directive tion is a milestone in maritime history.

2009/17/EC).

“The product of tripartite In a related development, a subcommittee of the Joint dialogue and international Maritime Commission (JMC) cooperation, it enables of the International Labour decent working and living Organization (ILO) recently conditions for seafarers to approved a resolution rais- be advanced, along with fair ing the minimum monthly competition for ship ownbasic wage figure for able ers in this, the most globseafarers from $585 to $592 alised of industries.

“I call on all countries with with effect from January 1, 2015 and $614 the follow- a maritime interest to ratify – if they have not yet done so ing year ( January 1, 2016).

ILO explained that the – and urge governments and mechanism for setting the ship owners to work effecminimum monthly wage for tively to implement this able seafarers is the only one Convention,” Ryder added.

According to ILO, the for setting the basic wage for Convention has the full supany industry.

The minimum monthly port of the International Workers’ basic wage figure for able Transport (ITF), which repseafarers was recently Federation inclu ded in the ILO’s Maritime resents seafarers, and the Labour Convention, 2006 International Ship owners Federation (ISF), both of (MLC, 2006).

The Convention, known as which played a key role durthe “seafarers’ bill of rights”, ing the five years of its develentered into force on August opment and in the adoption

of the Convention at a special ILO International Labour Conference in 2006.

The MLC, 2006 also has the strong support of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which oversees the global shipping sector, that moves some 90 per cent of world trade. The European Union has adopted Directives to give effect to the Convention, while the Paris MOU and the Tokyo MOU, which are port State control regional organizations have adopted MLC, 2006 compliant guidelines to strengthen port State control inspections.

“The coming into force of the MLC, 2006 is a unique event in the history of international maritme labour law,” said Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, ILO Director of the International Labour Standards Department.

Meanwhile, guidance on training and certification requirements for ship security officers and seafarers with designated security duties has been agreed by the International

CONTINUED ON PAGE 49

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 MARITIME 49

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

World ports association lauds IMO adoption of UN convention HE International T Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) has commended the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for its adoption of changes to United Nations (UN) convention on mandatory weighing of containers.

The group in a statement explained that the amended rule would require shippers to submit verified gross weight of containers before loading, without which they would not be loaded. If accepted by member states it would take effect July 1, 2016.

IAPH also welcomes adoption of the recommended change to the convention, adding that it would enhance safety of maritime container transport.

IAPH president Grant Gilfillan and Sydney Ports Corporation chief executive officer and director, said: “Mis-declared or incorrectly declared container weights are one of the major causes of maritime container accidents in ship navigation, road transport and terminal operations.”

Gilfillan added: “IAPH believes that weight verification should be completed before a container enters the

port precinct. It is expected that different approaches per global jurisdiction will be taken to ensure weight verification.

“Not to do so will continue to allow a significant risk to road users within the port and to terminal operators if they have to handle a container with unverified weight,” Gilfillan said.

The statement explained that IAPH will be encouraging regulators within governments or port jurisdictions to seek solutions which verify container weights as closer to the point of packing.

IAPH is a non-profit global alliance of roughly 200 ports and 150 maritime companies and institutes representing about 90 countries.

The Assian Shippers’ Council and European Shippers Council had recently described the proposal as flawed.

The Asia Shippers Meeting is made up of the Hong Kong Shippers Council, the Indonesian Shippers Council, the Macau Shippers Association and the Thai National Shippers Association with the Korean International Trade Association having observer

Sekimizu status.

These shipper groups suggest instead that timely declarations of container weights and an amendment on stowage plans to allow for a solution that “should include proper stowage and lashing of containers” would be better than costly and

cumbersome container weigh-ins.

The compromise proposal approved by IMO sub-committee on dangerous goods, solid cargoes and containers, offers shippers two methods to verify the weight of a container - either by weighing the packed container, or by

weighing all packages and cargo items and then adding the weight of an empty container, pallets and tonnage.

These proposals have approval from the ship owner group, World Shipping Council, and the IMO-friendly Global Shippers Forum, ahead of the IMO’s maritime safety committee.

The International Transport Workers Federation supports the proposal for the weighing of all loaded containers.

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) gave what it identified as ‘qualified support’ to recent decision to approve a compromise proposal for verifying the weight of containers before they are loaded on board ships.

IMO sub-committee approved draft guidelines giving shippers two methods to verify the weight of a container - either by weighing the packed container, or by weighing all packages and cargo items and then adding the tare mass of an empty container.

The compromise proposal was most probably the best possible outcome and BIFA will now work with its members to work out how they

comply with the requirements of the new rules when they come into force, without adding significant costs or causing supply chain delays,” said BIFA DirectorGeneral, Peter Quantrill in the association’s newsletter.

He added: “BIFA notes that the proposal still has to navigate several stages through the IMO’s legislative process and, if successful, will most likely not come into force before May 2017.

“We understand that the draft guidelines will now be forwarded to the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) for approval in May 2014, and assuming that approval is forthcoming at that meeting, be formally adopted at a further meeting of the MSC in May 2015. It is usual for there to be a 24 month waiting period before SOLAS amendments take effect.

Clearly the implementation of the new rules is a lengthy process that should give the industry time to adapt and allow our members time to make sure that they continue to comply with their responsibilities to make accurate cargo declarations, he added.

Seafarers get ultimatum on training standard CONTINUED FROM PAGE 48 Maritime Organization (IMO) to address practical difficulties seafarers have reportedly experienced in obtaining the necessary security certification under the 2010 Manila amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) and STCW Code.

The guidance recommends that, until 1 July 2015, relevant training under section 13 (Training, drills and exercises on ship security) of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code should be accepted as being equivalent to that required under the STCW Convention and Code. he guidance was agreed by the Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW), meeting for its first session from 17 to 21 February 2014, which expressed its concern that large numbers of seafarers were reportedly unable to have access to approved training courses or were unable to be issued certification of security-related training in accordance with the STCW regulations.

GMA CGM Ship

CMA CGM declares 5.8% increase in TEU, explains African operations the first quarter, CMAFthirdOR CGM group, the world’s largest container shipping company reported 5.8 per cent increase in Twenty foot Equivalent Units (TEU).

According to the firm, revenues also increased by 2.7 per cent to attain $3.9Million “thanks to cost control which counter-balances lower freight rates”.

Within the period, the company said: “volumes have increased by 5.8% to 2.8 mil-

lion TEUs. This relates to predominantly volumes on Asia- Europe lines, from and to the United States, as well as intra- Asia lines, which have been particularly sustained.

CMA CGM explained that it succeeded in limiting the decrease in average revenue per TEU to 2.9 per cent compared to the first quarter 2013, “a smaller decrease than that of the average of SCFI Compound (Shanghai

Containerized Freight Index) of minus 8.6 per cent as a result of the commercial strategy of the group.

The group said it has further developed its network as part of its effort to better respond to the needs of its customers with: A reorganized and improved coverage of Africa The reorganization of its lines between Asia and the Indian Sub-Continent The upgrade of its services

between North Europe and the Mediterranean The opening of fully owned agencies in Somalia, Mauritania, Botswana and Colombia A press statement issued by the firm said: “In terms of logistics, CMA CGM Logistics continues to roll out its services in Thailand, Brazil and India. While increasing its carried volumes, CMA CGM has leveraged its operational efficiency and further

reduced its unit costs by 3.0 per cent.

“The operating margin has thereby reached 4.7 per cent of the revenue, level again significantly above the average of the group’s peers.

“During the first quarter of 2014, CMA CGM has continued the implementation of its financial strategy aiming at reinforcing its flexibility.

“As a result, the amount of net debt has been reduced by

4.6 per cent, and now represents less than 75 per cent of the group equity. The consolidated available cash has been maintained at a strong level.

“On May 12th, S&P upgraded the group’s rating, which now stands at B+ with a stable outlook.

With respect to the market outlook, CMA CGM said that it continues to record a sustained increase of its volumes.”

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

50 Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Industry ‘Implementation of effective industrial policies crucial to improved market access’ Stories by Femi Adekoya ITH effective industrial W policies, Africa’s growth can be translated into enhanced structural transformation and social development, with market failures effectively addressed.

This was the view of the Economic Commission for Africa in its recent report, where it emphasized that industrialization and diversification is crucial to Africa’s continued development.

Themed “Dynamic Industrial Policy in Africa,” the Report outlines several key messages, including the fact that “industrial policy in Africa is essential if stakeholders are to address market failures and build capabilities within the continent.”

According to the ECA, African countries were for too long, told to focus solely on natural resources, but now countries are re-examining the potential of industrialization to yield inclusive and sustainable growth.

In a statement obtained from the ECA, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in South Africa, Agostinho Zacarias, noted that, “having previously been viewed as a continent rife with uncertainty, the current dominant view is that Africa remains the last of the greatest untapped global markets ripe for rapid growth and development”.

“African countries are growing rapidly, but their growth has been largely non-inclusive; an industry-driven diversification strategy is key to ensuring that future growth is inclusive and not merely commoditybased,” he said.

Zacarias outlined a number of imperatives for Africa to embark on its industrialization agenda, including toplevel coordination of industrial policy frameworks, platforms for public-private dialogue, addressing skills deficiencies, and recognizing the

importance of innovation policies and linking-in with global value chains.

Implementation of the key findings of ERA 2014 is the vital next step, and he affirmed, “UNDP and the UN system in general stand ready to work with ECA, the African Union Commission and African countries”.

In presenting the findings of ERA 2014, Director of ECA’s Macroeconomic Policy Division, Adam ElHiraika, emphasized that “with effective industrial policies, Africa’s growth can be translated into enhanced structural transformation and social development”. Contrary to the common narrative, Africa’s growth is not commodity-dependent, and is rather the outcome broadbased growth in a variety of sectors.

Elhiraika however said, “industrial policy has not been sufficiently effective in Africa because governments rely on a set of incentives that are rigid, not flexible and not attractive enough.”

Furthermore, it was noted that inequality is a large and growing problem across the continent, and that governments must seriously address these issues while pursuing an industrialization agenda.

Presenting the report’s outcomes, Elhiraika listed the requirements for a successful industrial policy framework to include among others, the need for the framework to be dynamic and organic, to foster continuous dialogue between the country’s public and private sector, and the assurance of high level coordination and political support from the country’s government.

In response to the report, Mr. Garth Strachan of the Industrial Development Division at the Department of Trade and Industry concurred that Africa as the new global growth frontier “has become

a new buzzword in academia and other circles, as has the notion that industrial policy has come back into vogue”.

Strachan stressed the need to have a better analysis and understanding of the impact of the “blueprint approach” towards industrial policy, and the impact of liberalization

agendas have had on aspirations for industrialization.

In addressing the Continent’s potential, Mr. Strachan noted that an industrial policy, which ignores Africa’s resource endowment is not complete.

“Early industrializers used their resource endowment –

whether it was the United States, Europe or others – for a host of industrial policy efforts”, he said.

Strachan further stressed that policy coherence is a central issue for Africa’s success in industrial policy. He highlighted successful capacity building programmes, such

as support the Department of Trade and Industry is providing to the Nigerian automobile sector.

Executive Director of Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies, Ximena GonzalezNunez, honed in on the issue of regional integration.

Chief Operating Officer, Nigerian-German Business Association, Jennifer Anoyika (left); German Consul-General, Michael Derus; Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Ayo Adesina; Managing Director Food Processing and Packaging Machinery of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), Richard Clemens during an exhibition in Lagos, on Monday.

Aganga rallies support for NIRP, development plans HE Minister of Industry, T Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, has sought the support of stakeholders in Lagos States for development plans being initiated by the Federal Government.

According to him, the implementation of transformational policies by the Federal Government has a huge potential in impacting positively on the wellbeing of Nigerians.

He noted that such policies have gone a long way in improving Nigeria’s micro-economic environment, adding

that it had led to increased investors’ confidence the Nigerian economy.

Aganga stated this during a reception held in honour of Federal Government appointees from Lagos State, in Lagos at the weekend.

Citing the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP); the new Automotive Industry Development Plan and the Sugar Master Plan as examples of well-thought out economic policies of the administration, Aganga stressed Nigeria would be the better for it when the

NIRP and other sectoral economic policies are fully implemented.

Speaking during the event, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Leader, South-West, Chief Olabode George, said President Jonathan had the best interest of Lagos, and the South West at heart.

He noted that the president had addressed the agitation for more political appointments for the people of the region by appointing competent indigenes into key positions in his government.

He therefore called on

Lagosians and the people of the South West region to support the transformation agenda of the president, adding that it was in the overall best interest of the country.

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, said President Jonathan had given the people of Lagos a sense of belonging in his government by giving them key political appointments in addition to critical infrastructural projects such as the on-going reconstruction and rehabilitation of LagosIbadan Expressway.

NACCIMA, port stakeholders task govt on capacity expansion, operations HE Federal Government T may need to explore new alternatives to the Lagos ports if it desires to increase revenues generated from international trade.

Indeed, with about 80 million metric tonnes of goods arriving at the Lagos ports, stakeholders have raised concern on the capacity utilization of the ports, noting that the facilities were inadequate to cater for the influx of goods into the country.

Besides, the stakeholders, while addressing challenges mitigating the growth of trade at the ports, cited inadequate capacity, demurrage by shipping companies, unnecessary delay in Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), issuance/wrong computation and the perennial traffic congestion experienced at the

ports as major barriers to trade in the country.

They noted that the federal government has a responsibility in ensuring that key conventions guiding port operations are adopted and implemented, adding that the business environment is not conducive for business operations, thereby making the nation lose its competitiveness to neighbouring countries.

Speaking at a national dialogue session organized by the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), tagged “Unlocking shipping gridlock at the ports: Stakeholders’ initiative” in Lagos, yesterday, the National President of the chamber, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru

Abubakar, said the dialogue session became necessary to address the barriers to trade in the country.

Abubakar, who was represented by the chamber’s Director-General, Dr. John Isemede explained that ports users have been faced with numerous challenges over the years, thereby affecting their overall performance as well as economic indices.

In furtherance of its advocacy role, the NACCIMA boss said, “the Association is keen on the need to finding a lasting solution to these issues as experienced at the ports by exporters and importers in particular and the public in general”.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hassan Bello, identified

the need for the country to take immediate actions to unlock the gridlocks at the port through proper and effective automation of the cargo release process, drastic reduction in the number of containers channelled to physical examination, relocation of tank farms away from the port access routes and provision of sound roadworthy trucks for cargo evacuation.

Furthermore, he added that efforts should be geared towards implementing a 24 hours port and cargo clearance operations, provision of adequate security for the logistics chain, provision of adequate empty container holding bays by shipping companies as well as provision of adequate inland and logistics system, particularly the rail system.

Harping on the need for implementation of recommendations made over the years, Bello said: “Various solutions have been proffered and specific recommendations proposed over the years for addressing the perennial shipping gridlock in our ports. We sincerely believe that it is time for drastic actions to be taken unlock the potential of our ports to indeed be a catalyst towards the nation’s growth and development.

“There is a need for the integration and harmonization of the Customs platform to interface with other relevant stakeholders’ in the maritime sector, customs reorientation as trade facilitators in addition to revenue generation, sincerity in the interpretation of government circulars, ship-

pers’ education on the use of ICT and useful web-based trade tools, as well as increased government support by way of friendly transparent and consistent policies”.

Similarly, National President, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Lucky Amiwero harped on the implementation of extant laws that would aid import clearance procedure, terminal and shipping company operations.

On the other hand, Executive Director, Intrass Limited, Femi Awogbade urged government to revisit PAAR by ensuring that inspectors are made liable for wrong contents, while time accountability in port operations should be encouraged if resources would not be wasted.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 INDUSTRY 51

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Nigeria, Belgium move to foster bilateral ties Stories by Femi Adekoya O further harness investment opportunities in Nigeria’s agricultural and manufacturing industry, Nigeria has initiated a bilateral relationship with Belgium in a bid to achieve the set objective.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to

T

Belgium, Felix Awanbor said the trade mission was coming at a better time when the nation was ranked the largest economy in Africa maintaining that, the mission would explore more areas of businesses and investment creating huge employment opportunities for Nigeria’s teeming unem-

Euro Global unveils new product pack

By Emeka Nwachukwu URO Global Foods and E Distilleries Limited, maker of Sabrina Gin, Seaking Schnapps and Czar Ice has expanded the Amphora wine family with the introduction of a new 25cl small pack of Amphora Tempranillo wine into market.

Originally available in 75cl and 35cl bottles, the new product will allow the firm the opportunity to reach masses that desire to consume wine.

Speaking on the new product, Sales Director, Euro Global Foods and Distilleries Limited, Felix Aighobahi said, “AmphoraTempranillo wine is a beautiful wine that pairs well with all kind of foods. It is produced to emphasize the vintage lifestyle. The new 25cl packaging makes it lightweight, easy-to-use wine that also travels easily and doesn't require a corkscrew. It will definitely make a hit with party-goers and picnickers who want to avoid the hassles of using a corkscrew.

The Amphora range comes in red and white wine. Red wines variants are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Tempranillo while the white wine is Chardonnay from France. Merlot, Shiraz and Tempranillo is from Spain while Cabernet Sauvignon is from Italy. The Chardonnay is a blend of indigenous grape varieties and has an intense aroma that is dominated by tropical and citrus fruits, which contribute to its uniqueness.

Aighobahi said that Euro Global is always looking to broaden its horizons and lead the way for distillers in

Nigeria and that the company is among the few in country that actually bottle its wine locally.

He noted that the bottling of Amphora wine in the country is a positive development especially since the company has now commenced product export to other West African countries.

ployed youths.

The Ambassador made this assertion during a trade mission of Belgian delegates to Nigeria.

“The Nigerian government is willing to give support to economic trade missions coming into the country that would spring up new businesses and investments. Belgium has ascertained a lot of successes in terms of technology and agriculture in food processing and packaging and production and we believe Nigeria has a lot to learn from Belgium in terms of agriculture, animal husbandry, mechanised farming and the likes,” he said.

According to him, the trade mission will open more room for more businesses in Nigeria thereby creating

employment, backward and forward integration through expansion in financial activities.

Also speaking at the event, the Ambassador, Embassy of Belgium in Nigeria, Dirk Verheyen said the trade mission with about 60 delegates from Belgium is aimed at promoting investment and trade between both countries.

“Belgium through the Antwerp port, is one of the major European exporters to Nigeria and we export more than 2 billion Euro yearly and this trade mission will be a win-win situation. It is vital for Nigerian companies to discover the possibilities of Antwerp as an import hub for the nation,” he said.

He said Nigeria is the fifth

trading partner to Belgium but stressed that Belgium is planning to make Nigeria the first with the mission stressing that the visit to Nigeria would create a lot of investment opportunities for both countries.

The Executive Committee Member, Advisor Financing Division, PSLO World Bank, Alexander Herring said the mission is a multi-sectoral mission with about seven sectors represented in areas of dredging, manufacturing, power, agro allied and agriculture, infrastructures to mention a few.

“We are a multi-sectoral economic mission from Belgium and our members are looking for new possibilities of making business in Nigeria and new partner-

ships and investments in Nigeria. We are looking for long term relationships and businesses because most of our members are looking for partnerships to explore other possibilities in Nigeria and to see what they can import to Belgium out of Nigeria,” he stressed.

He noted that so far, doing business in Nigeria has experienced some level of improvement due to Belgian businesses thriving in the country but stressed that Belgian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) willing to do business in Nigeria are faced with the challenge of lack of budget as well as the administrative procedure to follow up the paper work required to do business in Nigeria.

Nigerian Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ambassador Abiodun Oyede (left); High Commissioner of Pakistan to Nigeria, Muhammad Saleem; Director-General, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr. John Isemede; and Managing Director, PharmaPlus Nig Ltd, Ahmed Yakassi during the Ambassador's visit to NACCIMA Secretariat in Lagos, recently.

‘Nigeria’s industrial, retail markets offer best return on investment’ Ajay Singh is the Vice-President of Somotex Nigeria Limited, a company involved in the marketing and distribution of electronics and machineries to industries and other customers. It is also the sole distributor of Midea Commercial Air-conditioning system in Nigeria. In this chat with The Guardian, he explained how investors could harness opportunities in Nigeria’s growing industrial and retail markets.

Recently, you made emphasis on the potential and opportunities in the Nigerian market, could you be explicit on this?

Based on our recent research findings, we held trade partners conferences in three locations namely Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt.

These were aimed at providing platforms to share the findings with our partners in the conference tagged: “Innovation for creating new possibilities”. The crux of it was that Nigeria has enormous potential due to its size and population, which is in excess of 160 million people, mostly youth.

Nigeria no doubt will per-

form better in near future, as the country is set to witness an immense growth in civil constructions and infrastructural development.

These facilities’ requirement for Air conditioning will grow exponentially. Hence we want our key dealers of Midea and users of commercial air conditioning (CAC) systems to be positioned for the opportunities, which will begin to unfold very soon.

What gives you this optimism considering that some businesses are relocating out of the country?

Nigeria is one of the few most sorted after countries by businesses and investors looking for growth in fron-

tier markets across the world. It therefore baffles me why businesses relocate out of Nigeria. We find no reason why companies should relocate outside Nigeria because the country has the highest business potential compared to any of the other African countries. Growth in infrastructure will fuel the economy. In the same token, businesses will experience good growth. That is the assurance we seek to pass across to our trade partners across the country so that they could be better positioned for the benefits.

As an investor in the country with diversified business interests, what are the business challenges?

Every market or country has its own peculiarities.

Challenges are meant to be explored. As a business you devise means of working around challenges.

Challenges to business in the country are basically access to funds, paucity of infrastructures and project delays, which eventually

reduces the profit margins and delay in payments.

Despite these challenges, which now include the recent insurgence in parts of the North, it is interesting to note that the return on investment (ROI) in the country is one of the best in the world. This directly infers that as conditions improve and normalcy returns to the troubled spots, local and foreign investors; and the citizenry in general

Ajay Singh

will be the better for it.

What relationship exists between Somotex and Midea?

Somotex and Midea commenced an alliance in 2007 to distribute the Midea brand of Air-conditioners in the country. As a strategy, we operate the HVAC business as a Special Business Unit (SBU) because it requires constant follow up and touching base with sub-dealers, consultants and clients. We devote time and enormous resources to delight this set of customers by giving complete solution right from design stage to execution and after sales services.

Somotex Nigeria Ltd was incorporated in 1997 in Nigeria as an arm of the Mohinani group that was established in 1966. The company is into the marketing and distribution of electronics and machineries to industries and other customers.

For instance, it is the sole distributor of Midea Commercial Air-conditioning system in Nigeria,

beyond this the company is also into packaging business and other diverse range of businesses across different industries taking care of the needs of customers in different countries in Africa while creating jobs for thousands and impacting the local economies in positive ways.

Midea is a market leader with large scales projects spread across the world to its credit.

Such include the Brazil 2014 world Cup stadium in Mato Grosso. Midea is reputed to have brought technological innovation to commercial air-conditioning on a global scale. We have an added advantage over other HVAC players whose presence is limited to Lagos and Abuja.

As socially responsible firm, Somotex operates the Devibhai Mohinani Memorial Trust funds which is involved in major CSR activities like – sponsoring indigent students to colleges, establishment of Clinics and Old Age Homes, Children Homes and Cataract Operation Camps.

52 Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

53

54 Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 55

56 Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 | 57

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

GlobalStocks Global shares slip, as euro gains ahead ECB meeting

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, yesterday.

LOBAL equity markets slid on Tuesday from G record or multi-year highs, while euro zone inflation data gave the euro some respite on relief that price growth in the single currency zone had not slowed even further.

Stocks on Wall Street were lower, following declines across Europe, but emerging market stocks rose, lifted in part by rising Brazilian and Mexican shares.

MSCI’s all-country world index of equity performance in 45 countries, fell 0.03 percent, while the pan-European FTSE Eurofirst 300 index of regional shares fell 0.4 percent to 1,374.98.

“Valuations are elevated, and therefore anything that looks soft gives the market pause,” said Mark Luschini, chief investment strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott in Philadelphia.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 31.03 points, or 0.19 percent, to 16,712.6. The S&P 500 lost 2.21 points, or 0.11 percent, to 1,922.76 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.315 points, or 0.03 percent, to 4,235.884.

Both the S&P 500 and Dow industrials closed at record highs on Monday, while MSCI’s gauge of global equities closed at more than a six-year high, about 1.4 percent away from all-time highs set in late 2007.

U.S. Treasuries yields rose to their highest in three weeks as investors reset bets that yields are likely to rise, after they fell to 11-month lows last week.

The euro advanced 0.3 percent to $1.3632 as of 12:36 p.m., appreciating against 15 of its 16

most-traded counterparts. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index dropped 0.5 percent and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index retreated 0.1 percent. The yield on 10-year Treasury notes increased three basis points to 2.56 percent.

Copper fell 1.1 percent. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index added 0.5 percent, climbing for a second day.

Euro-area inflation slowed more than economists forecast in May, raising pressure on the European Central Bank to deploy measures as soon as this week to kindle prices and drive growth. U.S. stocks pared losses after betterthan-estimated data on factory orders.

Reports later this week will probably show the American unemployment rate last month remained near its lowest level since September 2008.

“Traders are sitting on their hands, waiting for the response from the ECB before setting their bets up,” Chad Morganlander, a fund manager at Stifel Nicolaus & Co., which oversees $160 billion, said by phone from Florham Park, New Jersey. “There’s an overall anticipation that the ECB will be aggressive and that the jobs numbers on Friday will be better than expected.”

With ECB President Mario Draghi warning about the risk of a negative price spiral, the Governing Council is considering measures from negative interest rates to conditional liquidity for banks. The central bank has prepared investors for the prospect of stimulus when it announces its rate decisions on June 5.

“We are ready to act,” ECB Vice President Vitor Constancio said on May 30.

Anemic growth in the euro zone has added to the case for ECB stimulus, as policy makers continue to struggle with the legacy of the debt crisis. The inflation rate fell to 0.5 percent from 0.7 percent in April, the European Union’s statistics office said.

“All eyes are on the ECB meeting on Thursday,” Ion-Marc Valahu, a co-founder and fund manager at Clairinvest in Geneva, wrote in an e-mail. “Equities are mostly down as investors do not think that the ECB will do enough.”

The Stoxx 600 slipped after closing at its highest level since January 2008 yesterday. All 19 industries in the stocks gauge fell, led by rawmaterial producers and media companies.

In the U.S., Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. dropped 14 percent after cutting its earnings forecast because of mounting costs and slow first-quarter sales. Quiksilver Inc. slumped 40 percent after the surfwear retailer posted a wider loss than analysts had predicted.

Hillshire Brands Co. (HSH) jumped 9 percent after confirming that Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. has increased its bid for the food producer.

A Commerce Department report showed factory orders climbed 0.7 percent in April.

Economists estimated a rise of 0.5 percent. A release tomorrow may show companies added fewer workers in May. Investors in Treasuries have increased bets the prices of securities would drop in value to

the most since May 2006, according to a survey by JPMorgan Chase & Co. The proportion of net shorts or bets the price of the securities will decrease, was 29 percentage points in the week ending yesterday, up from 18 percentage points the previous week, according to JPMorgan.

Germany’s bund yield increased three basis points to 1.40 percent and the rate on similarmaturity U.K. gilts jumped three basis points to 2.64 percent.

Qatar stocks dropped as concern deepened that the nation may lose the right to stage the 2022 soccer World Cup. The benchmark QE Index (DSM) tumbled as much as 3.3 percent, the most since August. A panel looking into the awarding of the tournament said yesterday it will issue a report in July into the possibility of corruption in the process.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI) of mainland companies in Hong Kong added 1.2 percent as trading resumed after a holiday. The HSBC and Markit Economics PMI was at a four-month high of 49.4 in May, up from 48.1 in April. At the same time, the number was below the 49.7 median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey of analysts.

Thailand’s SET Index (SET) rose 0.9 percent, heading for the highest close since Oct. 29, and the baht rose for the first time in seven days.

The junta pledged this week to step up investment to help spur economic growth and said it will relax a curfew in some tourist areas that was imposed following the May 22 coup.

Asian stocks climb to seven-month high on China manufacturing SIAN stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index advancing to a seven-month A high, as concern eased about a slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy.

China Resources Power Holdings Co. (1199) increased 4.9 percent to lead gains on Hong Kong’s benchmark index. KCC Corp. jumped 11 percent in Seoul after Samsung Everland Inc., in which it owns a stake, announced plans for an initial public offering. Daio Paper Corp. slumped 7.1 percent in Tokyo as the maker of packaging materials said it will raise as much as 22.4 billion yen ($219 million) in a share sale.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index gained 0.4 percent to 143.07 as of 7 p.m. in Hong Kong, reaching its highest level since Oct. 30. Eight

of its 10 industry groups climbed. The gauge posted its largest advance in nine months in May as the Japanese yen weakened and speculation mounted that Chinese authorities will step in to boost economic growth.

“We are seeing a bottoming in terms of growth in China,” Sean Fenton, who helps manage about $1 billion in Sydney at Tribeca Investment Partners Ltd., said by phone.

“The manufacturing sector is starting to bottom out and there’s some talks of mini stimulus.”

The final reading of a China factory measure for May from HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics came in at 49.4, missing economist forecasts for 49.7. That comes two days after a government gauge signaled the fastest growth in five months. Levels below

50 signal contraction in the sector. China’s official Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 50.8 in May, the highest level since December and topping the median economist estimate in a Bloomberg survey, a June 1 report showed.

China’s non-manufacturing purchasing managers’ index rose to 55.5 in May from 54.8 in April, according to data released today by the Beijing-based National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 0.9 percent and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index of mainland shares listed in the city jumped 1.2 percent. China Resources climbed 4.9 percent to HK$21.35.

The Shanghai Composite was little changed

and Singapore’s Straits Times Index lost 0.2 percent. South Korea’s Kospi index increased 0.3 percent, with KCC advancing 11 percent to 660,000 won.

Japan’s Topix index rose 0.7 percent and Taiwan’s Taiex index climbed 0.5 percent.

Thailand’s SET Index gained 0.9 percent.

India’s BSE S&P Sensex Index added 0.7 percent after the nation’s central bank left interest rates unchanged for a second straight meeting, while signaling it would ease monetary policy if inflation slows faster than anticipated.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index slipped 0.7 percent, maintaining declines after the Reserve Bank kept its benchmark interest rate at a record low. New Zealand’s NZX 50 Index fell 0.3 percent.

58

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

MarketReport EQUITY MARKET SUMMARY

AS AT 3-06-2014

PRIMERA AFRICA www.primera-africa.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 MARKET REPORT 59

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

MARKET INDICATORS

AS AT 3-06-2014

PRIMERA AFRICA

Bullish trading pushes stocks to record rally

By Bukky Olajide QUITIES trading in the month of May rose by 7.75 per cent to seal the quarter- to – date return of 7.04 per cent.

Last week, the equities market assumed a bullish profile as the benchmark index returned 4.12 per cent, the highest weekly gain so far this year.

Besides, the year-to-date gain turned positive to close at 0.35 per cent. Positive sentiment following the inclusion of Ecobank Transnational Incorporation and Forte Oil in the MSCI Emerging Market Index, stable monetary environment, mixed corporate earnings, impressive dividends and yields were key drivers of equities in May amidst heightened security concerns.

On sectoral basis, the oil and gas, banking, and the consumer goods sectors were instrumental to the gains recorded in May. The oil and gas sector advanced 21.6 per cent (lifted by gains in Forte Oil Plc, Banking 13.1 per cent and the consumer goods sector 8.2 per cent. Industrial and the insurance sectors gained 4.8 per cent and 3.8 per cent respectively.

According to Elixir Research analysts, the equities market will see some level of mild profit taking this week as they opined that the market is still dominated by short position traders. Notwithstanding, the analysts believe there is still value.

Meanwhile, equities yesterday took a breathier as profit taking pressure weighed-in.

This outplay is much in line with the analysts’outlook, maintaining that the market is still dominated with short position traders and as such expect some level of profit taking.

The benchmark index ended at 41,397.68 points, slipping by

E

0.25 per cent. The index was further depressed by the loss in Dangote Cement (-0.65 per cent; N228), First Bank (-4.82 per cent; N15.21k) and Zenithbank (1.84 per cent; N24.55k).

Oando topped the gainers’ chart just as FO sustained position on the top five advancers.

Mrs and Vitafoam were the top losers. Overall activity level was relatively weaker as volume and value traded slipped 20.09 per cent and 51.24 per cent in that order.

Market sentiment was negatively impacted by the profit taking frenzy as the MBI stood negative at 0.25. The analysts suspect that the profit taking frenzy might extend to some other stocks that have showed resilience over the past weeks.

As expectation mounts over the possible policy action(s) of the new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria who just assumed office, the naira continued to weaken. The local currency slipped 14kobo to close at N162.51 kobo against the dollar.

Searching for stocks to buy, Skyebank presents the most attractive potential to buy at 53.8 per cent, according to Elixir Research analysts.

This is because the Nigerian basket of equities, despite seeing a modest climb in valuation as price-to-earnings ratio has risen to 13.436 per cent as at May 30 from 12.451 per cent April 30, though still appears relatively cheap and attractive compared to peers within the Sub Saharan African basket priced at 25.09 per cent So, analysts’ basket of recommended stocks capture this potential Elixir Researchers basket of. 46.2 per cent of the stocks within the basket commands a “buy” rating while 53.8 per cent is ranked “hold”.

Elixir Research analysts noted that the basket is slightly skewed to “hold” ratings given the recent price rally in the market.

Learn Africa assures shareholders of improved performance, profitability

By Helen Oji EARN Africa Plc has assured shareholders of improved performance and enhanced profitability in the next financial year.

Speaking at the company’s pre-yearly general meeting in Lagos Yesterday, the Managing Director of the company, Olusegun Oladipo, explained that the company has restructured the entire business activities in such a way that it would consistently add value to shareholders’ investment and enhance its growth.

He pointed out that the divestment of its majority shareholders and the insurgence in the Northern region impacted negatively in the company’s bottom-line, but however added that the its restructuring and expansion exercise is already generating higher sales and profit for the company.

“Majority shareholders divested its 51 per cent shareholding in Longman Plc in a mutually acceptable task.

Longman UK took all their books and these books are key to Learn Africa, as it constitutes 34 per cent to total turnover in open and bulk market. 34 per cent of the sales were lost because of the

L

separation. The insurgent in the North is another setback because 75 per cent of our sales are from the North”.

He added that the company has completely restructured the contents and aesthetics of the books in order to make them the preferred choice in the industry.

“But there is light at the end of the tunnel. We successfully introduced new titles as replacement of Pearson titles and we have carried out thorough revision of our titles to align it to the new curriculum to enhance market acceptance. Our inventory has also improved to service bulk orders.”

He explained that the company has increased its sales team from 61 to 137 before Pearson divestment, adding that the marketing team has been restructured to achieve optimal performance.

“We would continue to raise our bar in book publishing while generating optimal returns to shareholders.

Within one year, we established our titles and have promoted it vigorously and many schools and educational bodies have adopted the concept. W e will achieve higher sales and profitability this year.” He assured.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

60 Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Midweek Arts Culture enthusiasts canvass global peace on World Culture Day From Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Abuja UlTURE, the totality of a people’s ways of life, was celebrated in Abuja last week as Nigerian art community joined their counterparts in other parts of the world to commemorate this year’s World Culture Day. Culture enthusiasts including artists, arts scholars, the religious as well as school children, converged at the venue of the celebration to promote the nation’s rich culture.

Aside paper presentations by the Head, Department, Theatre and Cultural Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Professor Emmanuel Dandaura and Rev. Father Stanley Ekwugha of Christ The King Catholic Church, Kubwa, there were other activities such as fashion show, art and craft exhibition, dance drama and poetry rendition lined up to celebrate the day.

There was also a cultural group from Kwara State led by the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed.

In his welcome address, Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, noted that there is so much human beings can share in a culturally diverse world if only they can “put away instincts which precipitate conflicts and wars among races and civilizations”.

For Nigerians, the minister said there was no better time to promote the principle of cultural diversity as a tool for cooperation and understanding among the nation’s diverse ethnic groups than now, adding, “I therefore want to appeal to all segments of our society to use the import of the global event to forgive one another and create a peaceful environment for all our citizenry”.

In her goodwill message, DirectorGeneral, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Ms Irina Bokova, urged member states to include culture and cultural diversity in the post 2015 sustainable development agenda. According to her, investment in culture has the ability to transform societies.

Bokova argued that it was the responsibility of member states to develop education and intercultural skills in young people in order to sustain the diversity of world’s culture, noting, “I call on member states of UNESCO to carry this message

C

to the highest level, to include culture and cultural diversity in the post-2015 sustainable development agenda. Our cultural diversity is a stimulator of creativity and investing in this creativity can transform societies”.

Represented by the Country Director, Professor Hassana Aidou, Bokova added: “It is our responsibility to develop education and intercultural skills in young people to sustain the diversity of our world and to learn to live together in the diversity of our languages, cultures and religions to bring about change.

“In the final push to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, UNESCO is continuing to strengthen its advocacy and action in favour of the link between culture and sustainable development.

“The resolution adopted in December 2013 by the United Nations General Assembly, recognizing the role of culture as a driver and enabler of sustainable development, is an invitation to further mobilize the potentials of cultural diversity.

“Our cultural diversity is the common heritage of humanity. It is a source of renewal of ideas and societies through which we open up to others and craft new ways of thinking. This diversity provides opportunities for peace and sustainable development”.

Professor Dandaura’s paper titled ‘Cultural Entrepreneurship Development in Nigeria’, explored signposts to the development of entrepreneurial activities within the Nigerian cultural sector from pre-colonial era to modern times.

He stated that Nigerian cultural products are globally accepted and command foreign patronage and sales from colonial period.

He, however, informed, “With modern technology advancements, the producers and service producers in the cultural industries need to up their skills and deploy modern technology to improve the finishing of their products to remain competitive against foreign substitutes”.

Some of his recommendations include mapping out of the culture sector to provide empirical knowledge and statistics on the net contributions and potentials of the cultural industries, adding, “This will galvanize more private sector interest and confidence to invest in the sector as against the current situation where

Duke such investment are regarded as high risk”.

Dandaura also expressed the need for government to reduce cost of doing business in Nigeria by streamlining and fast-tracking the process of registering businesses as well as provision of basic infrastructure like power and good roads.

In his presentation titled, ‘Implementation of the Universal Declaration of Cultural Diversity in Nigeria’, Father Ekwugha applauded UNESCO’s position on cultural diversity as the best guarantee of peace.

He, however, faulted the body on the rejection of the idea that conflicts between cultures and civilizations are inevitable.

He said: “Here, I digress from UNESCO’s thought trend. This is because where two or three people have gathered, there is bound to be conflict and cultures and civilizations are never exceptions.

“Conflict is an essential element for growth and development. Conflict is crisis and crisis is a sit-

Amaechi turns 49, donates library to disadvantaged youths S part of activities to mark his A 49th birthday, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi commissioned a seed library donated to the Association Badamia by the Port Harcourt World Book Capital on May 28, 2014. While lamenting the plight of abandoned children, Governor Amaechi attributed the high number of abandoned children to the level of poverty in Nigeria.

According to the governor, “If the parents of these children are gainfully employed in agriculture for instance, they will not be on the streets struggling for survival.

Agriculture remains a viable tool for scaling down the level of unemployment in the state. It is only a man who provides for his family that has the guts to ask his wife where she is coming from”.

Founder of Rainbow Book Club, Mrs. Koko Kalango, thanked the governor for making time out of his busy schedule to commission the facility. In her address, she explained that “the Give-a-Teen-aBook donation drive was initiated by the Rainbow Book Club to help put books in the hands of disadvantaged children. The initiative involves getting books from wellmeaning Port Harcourt residents and donating them to children who

Governor Amaechi (right); Founder, Association Badamia, Mrs. Madeleine Poirier and Rainbow Book Club Director, Mrs. Koko Kalango at the presentation… in Port Harcourt would otherwise not have access to books”.

To achieve this, the club established drop-off points across the city where books were received from willing donors.

In her remarks, the Founder of Association Badamia, Mrs. Madeleine Poirier, expressed satisfaction over the

development. “We at Badamia Association are happy and grateful to the Port Harcourt World Book Capital 2014 and the state governor for this giant stride towards empowering youths. This library will be fully put to use.”

In appreciation of the donation, the boys at the home sang ‘Happy

Birthday’ to the governor and presented him with a gift made by one of them.

Governor Amaechi who turned 49 the previous day had visited the New Church State School in Degema where he read to children as part of the Rivers State Read campaign.

uation of real or apparent clash of two or more seemingly contradictory ideas, waves or trends and it spurs us into thinking. When it is creatively managed, it leads to growth and development. If it is poorly managed, it leads to violence.

“Here therefore comes the need for intercultural dialogue. We should not totally avoid conflict. We have to creatively embrace it and change our vision of it”.

The priest added that if the definition of culture as totality of a people’s way of life is generally accepted, then, culture is a living and dynamic reality and never static.

While expressing delight that Nigerian children united in the celebration of the day, displaying the beauty in diversity, he frowned that the annual occasion does not transcend exposition of cultural attires and performances, thereby reducing the culture only to fashion show.

“On a cultural day, we see our children gorgeously dressed in their native attires. In them we see the beauty of our pluralistic society. But a risk is involved in the sense that the cultures our children are showcasing end up in their attires.

“Culture therefore becomes reduced to the clothes they put on and remove. Apart from this day, the children never put on traditional attires again until another cultural day the next year.

“One then rightly asks if they are conscious of their cultural attires in their day to day life. The answer is a deep no. Compare what they wear on a cultural day with their attires in a social gathering such as promenade. One rightly sees a big contrast.

“Therefore, wearing traditional attires on a cultural day is not enough. Culture is not something outside of us. It must permeate our hearts and kidneys”, he said.

In his recommendations, Father Ekwugha canvassed a situation where children should be made aware of the nation’s diverse cultures and be taught to respect them, bearing in mind that no culture is superior to the other.

“The literatures approved by the syllabus should also reflect this cultural diversity. Are our libraries properly equipped with materials on cultural diversity?” Adding, he said, “How many students are aware of the existence of the document on UNESCO’s Universal Declaration of Cultural Diversity? A student should also be taught other religions apart from his or her own.

“In the universities, researches in the areas of sociology and cultural anthropology should be funded by the government. All these help us to understand ourselves better and make better judgment of other people. Judging people out of ignorance is a sign of emptiness and arrogance”.

Nollywood actor, Francis Duru was a motivational speaker at the event. He spoke on the impact of Nollywood industry in the nation’s economy. While admonishing patents to encourage children who show passion for the arts, he also urged the young ones to shun vices that are capable of destroying their future.

He noted, “Skill without character is useless but humility is the key to thrive in life”.

For the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Makanjuola Suleiman Ajadi, the occasion should serve as a platform for parents, community and the entire society to do soul-searching and see if parents were still carrying out their traditional responsibilities of inculcating in their children sound cultural values.

Senator Ajadi spoke when he served as Chairman at the 2014 World Culture Day organised by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) North-Central Zone, Ilorin, in collaboration with Kwara State Ministry of Social Development, Culture and Tourism.

He stated that the theme for the event, which revolved around the role of culture in entrepreneurship development was timely as the youths have become victims of unholy acts as mercenaries in the hands of wicked persons.

Represented by Alhaji Abdulrahaman Oladimeji Oyinloye, Ajadi attributed some of

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 ARTS 61

THe GUARdIAn www.ngrguardiannews.com

With Petals of Steel, Abii celebrates womanhood From Bridget Chiedu, Abuja Ike female literary artists, their counterparts in the visual art are not relenting in their efforts to rewrite women’s history from inferior and gullible gender to a highly creative and intelligent people. They have engaged their creative space in recent times, not only to tell the story of women but also to honour their own for their crucial roles in society.

In a one-week exhibition titled, Petals of Steel, Mrs. nkechi Abii, explored the beauty, pains and even the challenges of women, all in an effort to celebrating womanhood.

About 46 pieces of artworks were proudly displayed at the foyer of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, each telling a unique story about the contemporary nigerian woman. Her perfect use of colours in harmony with diverse media left no one in doubt of her sentiments for the feminine gender.

Some of the titles include ‘Faces of the nigerian Woman (Igbo Woman)’, ‘Temptation’, ‘destiny’, ‘Ancient and Modern’ as well as ‘Faces of the nigerian Woman (edo Woman)’.

While the ‘Faces of the nigerian Woman’ showcases women’s dress culture from different ethnic groups in nigeria, ‘Ancient and Modern’ captures a transition in ladies’ dress sense from skirt and waist bead to bum short.

Interestingly’ however, both the old and the modern dress cultures reveal the seductive figures of an average African woman. ‘destiny’ is philosophical and reflects on the belief that one’s future is inscribed on the palm of his or her hand. Unfortunately for this figure, her palm bears red spots, indicating danger or perhaps a bleak future or destiny.

L

The artist said her desire to honour womanhood with her exhibition drew from her conviction that women, though silent and relegated, remain the backbone of any society.

She said, “The essence of this exhibition is channelled towards celebrating woman and we are celebrating women because I strongly believe that women are actually silent backbone of any given society. A woman is natural by heart and I think women need to come out of their shell. Although women are gentle, they are also very strong. Thus, I am using this exhibition to celebrate them today”.

Abii said the exhibition, among other objectives, was a tribute to women, the unsung gender, to appreciate and uphold the relevance of women in society, to encourage retention of family values as well as to celebrate traditional and authentic femininity.

A graduate of Fine and Applied Art, University of nigeria, nsuka, Abii specialized in Graphic Arts. “But before then, I used to paint. I knew I have passion for the art”, she said.

The Transcorp exhibition was the artist’s second solo outing, though she had participated in various joint exhibitions before.

“I had a solo exhibition titled ‘Art Alive’. That was my first solo exhibition held at the State’s Library, owerri, Imo State in 1984, ‘Back to Land’, held in 1985 was my joint exhibition of graphics, textile and paintings which took place in Akure, ondo State.

“In 1986, we had ‘Creative Sorority’, another joint exhibition, which took place also in owerri, Imo and Anambra States respectively.

Then, there was ‘efe’ in 1987, an exhibition of indigenous materials made into wearing apparels used to adorn the body with traditional motifs.

“They included Agbada, George, Brocade,

Lukulay’s book advocates education for entrepreneurial skills

By Ijeoma Opara R. PATRICk Lukulay is the d author of The Executive in You, written from a personal experience of the writer, describing his humble beginning and journey from an African village to corporate America. While discovering the executive within himself, Lukulay also seeks to bring out the best in others.

Writing a book about his humble background was borne out of the need to inspire and challenge younger people to be successful. According to him, “I decided to write this book about a year ago. I looked back at my life; I travel a lot overseeing the U.S. peace activities in about 35 countries and so most times I am in the airplane, up there, you pray to God and just relax. So, I am able to look back at my life and reflect where I come from, where I have been and the kind of impact I have brought to the world in the platform that I have used my education and my work to bring out.

“It was clear to me that my life has been a contrast; my mother never went to school. My father had 25 children including me; he had eight wives and so it was not obvious way back then that I would even go to school and now knowing what I could do now, the c o n trast is j u s t great and I am saying that young ones

should not lose hope. In a city like Lagos things may look very encouraging; they may think they have no future. But they have innate capabilities, which God has bestowed in them and it’s just a matter of someone holding their hands and giving them a platform and they can become the biggest contributors in the society. So, don’t doubt the power and creativity of a human being”.

The Sierra Leonean-born medical practitioner is grateful to nigerian people for the excellent history shared, noting, “we have had an excellent bi-lateral relationship and this book is a test to that friendship”.

As to why he came to nigeria to launch the book, he noted, “In the whole of the African continent, nigeria holds a very special position. It is the most popular country with about 170 million people. If you have a message for young people, you have to touch nigeria.

“By the year 2015, about 50 percent of Africans will be below 25 years; this is a very dramatic statistics, and clearly majority of Africans are nigerians. For the message in this book to go far and wide, we have to come to nigeria which is first and foremost in my mind in delivering this message”. on the importance of the book in training youths to becoming entrepreneurs, Lukulay said, “I think for too long the West African countries which I am more familiar with because of colonialism and the fact that we adopted the British education system has been a very rigid part because whether you are a lawyer or a doctor, there is very little entrepreneurial skill that is being taught in our schools. We believe that if you don’t have the A’ levels

Lukulay

to go to the university you are a failure for life. In the United States, by contrast, even dropouts are successful people.

Bill Gates dropped out of school and he is the richest man today; I think we should view education as a pairing up success. “everything you become will not be learnt in the university. education prepares your mind to tackle problems, to be creative and ingenious, find solutions to problems in life. So, just because you studied mathematics does not mean you have to lecture at the University of Lagos; mathematics should strengthen your mind to solve problems.

“There is a saying that there is a lot of money around; it is a matter of being creative to locate it.

How you can use your environment to be successful in life and so you have to have attitudinal change enough to recognize that we are here to solve problems; we are not going to see all the solutions in the university. you should now be the one to recommend solutions to people but for so long we have been very rigid.

“The mentality of saying that one cannot be successful if he/she is not in a particular field should stop because that is not how a society advances. A society goes forward by people creating solutions to problems and coming up with ingenious ways of helping other people”.

Among other things, Lukulay’s work is in regulating medicine, “I also work to promote regulation of medicines; you know we have several counterfeit drugs in our markets and so we strengthen regulatory authorities such as national Food and drug Administration and Control (nAFdAC) to make sure that the medicines out there are not substandard. And so we train them on how to identify counterfeit medicine and take them off the market. We have been sending our experts from the U.S. to train the pharmaceutical companies here and work with nAFdAC. But at the end of this year, we should have our office in Lagos”.

Akwete, Oja and Adire. My first son is an artist and we did the exhibition together. It was titled ‘Genes Apart -Two Generations’, in Lagos State.

The exhibition was declared open by Senator Chris Anyanwu, who has her face in one of the paintings. The artist said the piece is dedicated in her honour because of her resilience and ability to project the multi-dexterous attributes of women.

Represented by Senator Margery okadigbo, the lawmaker, who was conducted round the

exhibition ground, commended the artist’s creative ingenuity as well as her passion for women. She also expressed the need for women to emerge from the rear and explore their hidden talents.

The event also served to launch a book Uka Wu Ilu, a compendium of Igbo idioms and proverbs authored by nkech’s mother, Mrs. Florence Chinyere duru. The book, which is written in Igbo, is influenced by the effort to save Igbo language from going into extinction, duru said.

Jeanette Rhodes and Prof. Wole Soyinka inspecting late Elder Rhodes’ memorabilla after the exhibition opened last week... in Lagos

Winners emerge in Legend’s Dubai Shopping trip

By Gbenga Salau y the time the curtains were drawn on the B second raffle draw held at the Bush House Arena, enugu State, several consumers who had not stepped outside the shores of nigeria emerged the grand prize-winners of the 2014 edition of Legend Extra Stout’s Real Deal Promo. not only will they own international passports for the very first time, they will be flown to dubai on an all-expenses paid trip. While in the United Arab emirates, they will shop for goods worth n1 million in value.

Some of the unique dubai Shopping experience winners that emerged on the evening of Thursday, May 29, 2014 are: Anuchuku John and Stephen Ajayi, both drivers, Romanus nnamani and Anthony okoh, both students, Chinonyerem eleleme, a teacher and Segun Agunbiade, a carpenter.

Anthony, a Laboratory Science Technology student, was idling away at home for several months as a result of the on-going strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP).

The 21 year old was jubilant when his name was called.

Asked if he expected to win he remarked: “Honestly I’m actually surprised when I heard my name called. Although I came hopeful that I would win something, I didn’t really imagine it would be the star prize”. Both Anuchuku and Anthony emerged winners from the crowd of consumers through a transparently conducted manual raffle draw.

Messrs Ajayi, nnamani, eleleme, Agunbiade, okorie and ogunje emerged via electronic raffle draws conducted by De Don, on of nigeria’s frontline comedians. All the winners looked forward to travelling outside nigeria for the first time in their lives, while they confessed that their joy knew no bounds. ogunje revealed that he was sceptical about the promo, given past experiences of fraudulent phone calls he had received from scrupulous individuals.

He said: “To be frank, I thought it was one of those fraudulent people calling me. I am based in Asaba, but when I entered for the promo while on a visit to Lagos. I have had calls like this before and they turn out to be fraudulent people.”

Also speaking during the event, obabiyi Fagade, Brand Manager, Star Lager Beer, nigerian Breweries Plc said since football has emerged not only as a popular sport but as one of the biggest forms of entertainment in nigeria today, it was only natural for Star, to use the platform to connect with its followers.

“Star, as a brand has always been known for

looking for ways to reach out to its consumers.

As a forward thinking brand, we realize the tremendous entertainment value that Football, especially a prestigious tournament like the Global Mundial, has for millions of nigerians. That is why we are working with Supersports to keep our viewers entertained during the tournament.

A one-day colloquium on Ipadeola’s The Sahara Testament to hold on Friday one-dAy colloquium on tagged ‘Voyages A around The Sahara Testament’, as part of a series of activities to initiate a sustained critical engagement with Tade Ipadeola’s The Sahara Testament, which won The nigeria Prize for Literature 2013, will be held in Ibadan this Friday, June 6, 2014 at drapers Hall, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan. Time is 10am prompt.

The event will be chaired by Professor emeritus Ayo Banjo and host is Prof. dele Layiwola, with the Cice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole, as chief host. Special guests will be Profs. Molara ogundipe and Ben elugbe and odia ofeimun. The keynote paper, ‘The Sahara Testament: Poetry as Centre and Circumference’, will be delivered by renowned literary scholar and critic, Prof. dan Izevbaye.

A diverse range of scholars and creative practitioners will give presentations on The Sahara Testament and other relevant aspects of contemporary literature.

After the colloquium, an ‘evening of Poetry and Performances’ is slated for the Senior Staff Club, University of Ibadan at 7pm. Awoko, Cornerstone and the Afro-pop group, Adaoto and the Afrogenius Band are some of the musical acts billed to perform on the night.

Ipadeola

62 ARTS Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Revisiting the sociology of business advantage in favour of Nigeria’s minorities

By Anote Ajeluorou IGERIA’S minorities, especially those in the Niger Delta, have always cried foul over the marginalization they suffer for being denied full enjoyment of the oil mineral resources from their soil. This is just as their land and waterways are polluted from oil exploration. While their marginalization also spreads to include their exclusion from government’s plum jobs, some of them have cornered certain business niche categories where they play a dominant role almost to the exclusion of even their majority counterparts.

But while the North, East and SouthWest majorities are busy fighting against each other in their bid to acquire political power by constantly bickering, the minorities have sneaked up on them to acquire certain tools that the majorities will need in their fight-to-the-finish for power. So, while President Goodluck Jonathan’s ascendancy to the seat of power is a bonus, his minority compatriots may have wielded a different kind of power, the real lever that keeps the political barometer in check.

Media and bank ownership and comedy business are areas where minorities of the Niger Delta or South-South are enjoying dominant, almost unchallenged advantages. So sums up Jimanze Ego-Alowes, who has done painstaking study of the subject just published in an expository book, Minorities as Competitive Overlords. His theory is seemingly faultless, as it sheds light on certain assumptions taken for granted and without questioning.

A catalogue of businesses in the media, banking and comedy businesses shows clearly how entrepreneurs from the minority South-South have outpaced their counterparts from the majority areas in the successes achieved. For Ego-Alowes, the success so achieved by the minority players in these fields is largely attributable to the accident of history, particularly the Nigeria Civil War (1967-1970) that

N

exposed the tribal cleavages rampant in the polity.

For Ego-Alowes, the sociology of business since the end of the civil war favours minority people of the SouthSouth, as they stand as a bridge between the big three majority.

Knowing that they do not have the might and means to contend for political power, which their big brothers have cornered for themselves, they are content to play complementary roles that bring all parties together in one roof for the continuation of dialogue that should preserve the health of the union.

In appropriating the power of the media and how the minorities have come to harness it for the benefit of all stakeholders in Nigeria’s commonwealth, the author argues, “The media are also power measuring meters. They are projectiles of power and a state’s defence and repair mechanism. This is obvious in free and open societies as it is in closed and communist dictatorships…

“So, at any time (in Nigeria), there is a race; an arms race for power. It therefore follows that there is also a race for the instruments of protecting, preserving and perpetuating that power. And one of the most serviceable and proficient instruments outside the business of actually shedding blood, is the media… In open societies, in peace and democracy, the media are a theatre of war to contending powers”.

In a section titled ‘The Nigerian Sociology of Media History’, Ego-Alowes traces the history of Nigeria media with its ownerships being first in government hand and political heavy-weights.

But after independence, things began to shift, as the tribal factor quickly crept into the political menu. This situation bred mutual suspicion among the majority tribes of North, South-West and South-East. It’s this festering tribal antagonism that the South-South media moguls saw and effectively filled with the titles – The Guardian, ThisDay, Vanguard, BusinessDay, ChannelsTV, AIT & RayPower, Silverbird radio and TV. According to Ego-Alowes, “The media

are the boots on the grounds; the frontier soldiers. While the majority-persons’ media are in pitched and fixed positions, the minority-persons’ media position is to bring antagonists to the round table, which is not a selfsacrificial adventure of the minority media, but in their very best interest, to get the talking going on. The minority acquires its greatest power by mediating two or more superpowers”.

It’s this mediating role that media owned by South South minority people plays that endears them to all the contending, majority power blocks, Ego-Alowes argues convincingly in his book. For not being able to contend with the North, the South-East and the South-West, the South-South have contented themselves with the pursuit of justice as the one commanding denominator that would most appeal to the other power-hungry members of the Nigerian commonwealth albeit grudgingly.

According to Ego-Alowes, “The critical position of the South-South is that they do not have any irrational viewpoints or obsessions… It’s just that they do not have the resources to and cost to author and finish the huge project of overwhelming the majorities, jointly or severally…being powerless, the South-South’s best bet incidentally is in justice for all and in openness…

“The incapacity of the South-South to project power, ironically, is a source of power or what we might call the power of the impotent… So, while the big three are the legs of the tripod, the South-South are the ring that connect or brace together.

Clearly, connecting and connections are all the media do. Indeed, there may be no greater connection and bracing tissue in the world than the media. The power of connection, of the brace, actually resides in the hands of the nonbelligerents that are independent. So, the South-South wins!”

In other words, the author believes that the majority players on Nigeria’s political turf distrust each other and find a ready ally in the media owned by the minority SouthSouth, which ensues that they bring all shades of the argument to the table. So it will be easier, for instance, for them to fight their political wars in neutral papers and TV or radio stations owned by the minorities than in ones owned by contending regional power players.

The author applies the same sociology of business advantage to banking, something the author terms the ‘Golden Deltans’. It will be safer for a Northern or South-Eastern politician, say, to deal with a bank in the hands of South-South minorities than go to one owned by a South-Westerner. They are in safer hands with a neutral banker than with a partisan one from another majority political block.

He argues, “…The three compounded geographical zones – aka HausaFulani, the Igbo and the Yoruba – each has a locked in preference and trust for the Big Deltans or South-South minor-

ity bankers, alongside or even before their own indigenous players… It is simply sociology of the Nigerian existence (and thus markets) that plays in their financial favours.

“The truth that drives this (thinking) is sometimes not spoken but is there. It is that these three hegemons or geopolitics, aka Hausa-Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba, are jostling for power, influence and dominance… Thus, if you deny your opponent or competitor his finances or financial strength, it will weaken his imperial reach, and strategic flanks.

“It is thus in the geopolitical (sociology) interest of the contending powers of the East, the West and the North to as subtly as they can, take money out of the reach of fellow contenders, or seize it themselves (which could lead to open declaration of war), or better still, put it in political neutrals. The state of existential and or political neutrality is what the Big Deltans or minority clan bankers have if not achieved, successfully projected. Thus Delta is our financial Switzerland!”

The author applies the same rule to comedy business, arguing that while the South-Southern comedians can jibe at all the others without loosing sleep or incurring their wrath, the same cannot be said of comedians from the big, majority blocks; their jokes might cause unease and be regarded as politically incorrect.

Indeed, Ego-Alowes’ book navigates a path often not taken, forgotten or neglected, but which has deep sociological implications to the ordering of society.

Jonathan and the South-South may have emerged top gainers from Nigeria’s current political power games, they still hold sway in the sectors that matter, in sectors that have binding powers.

Ironically, they are sectors that their peculiar position, as the dispossessed will continue to occupy. This is so long the majority, contending powers continue to treat them as a conquered people even as they produce the wealth that sustain their inordinate ambi-

Two books celebrate exploits of Obi of Onitsha and his kingBy Sylvanus Cookey IS Majesty, Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, H Agbogidi, in one of his addresses, reproduced in the book that bears his name, recalled that as his coronation procession wended its way down Wilkinson Road from Udo, an elderly woman halted it with a dance and a declaration: “Onitsha chi efogo”, that is, “Onitsha, it is a new dawn”.

We have here, within over 600 pages, an unfolding manifestation of promises fulfilled, born of a singular commitment to serve a community.

Within a decade on the throne the monarch of Onitsha is demonstrably re-writing the responsibilities of a modern traditional ruler. As a consequence, his kingdom is witnessing a renaissance unprecedented in living memory. The overwhelming popularity of his choice as the 21st Obi of Onitsha is being justified.

The synopsis of the volume named after His Majesty states that it is “A collection of writings, lectures and presentations featuring Obi Achebe’s ruling philosophy of Peace, Reconciliation, Truth and Transparency as Foundations for Development”. This is a good abbreviation. On my part, I see the volume more importantly as a Report Card on the monarch, by the monarch, and for the public, covering a decade of intense activity, physical as well as mental.

As a start, the volume contains the Obi’s statement of intent, his vision and mission, as well as the facts against which his decade-long rule has to be assessed. His point of departure is the following question that every aspiring leader should pose to himself (but few do) and answer with sincerity: Why am I aspiring to lead my people? “For me”, Nnaemeka Achebe, responds, “it is a call to sacrifice oneself for the community, to serve selflessly and to give something back to the community that has given me origin and distinction”. That is a solemn and unique declaration which sets this monarch apart in the Nigerian political firmament.

The book is also an answer to those who question the relevance and possible role of traditional rulers in governance. Some years ago, I had embarked on this subject with four other scholars under the sponsorship of the Dutch Government. We had the privilege of visiting the

six geo-political zones of the country and interviewing the leading monarchs in each zone, including the Sultan of Sokoto, the Tor Tiv, the Ooni of Ife, the Oba of Lagos, the Obong of Calabar, the Amanyanabo of Kalabari and, of course, the Obi of Onitsha. We also conducted Opinion Polls within the zones to ascertain the perception of ordinary people about their traditional rulers vis-à-vis democratically elected leaders. Our conclusion, justified by our findings, was that most traditional rulers occupied a crucial niche in our body-politic because they play a natural role in the preservation and development of culture and tradition; perform the judicial role of resolving disputes among individuals, families, kindred, etc; exert moderating influence in periods of instability; promote peaceful co-existence among people of different religious, ethnic and social backgrounds; elicit trust and respect from their people more than other political actors; and are more readily accessible to ordinary people than government officials and elected politicians.

In the concluding part of the book, a revealing dimension is added to the role of the traditional ruler when the contribution of his consort is factored into the governance of the community. As women constitute a formidable force in the society the wife of the monarch is seen to be a catalyst in ensuring that female energy is channeled towards re-enforcing whatever agenda will contribute to the good of the community as a whole.

The editor of the volume deserves commendation for adding this segment as well as providing organizational framework for the addresses, lectures and writings of His Majesty.

A different aspect of His Majesty’s vision has been one that seeks a long term, knowledge-based, development of Onitsha. In an address that he

delivered on his 64th birthday and the third anniversary of his reign, he had put forward two proposals one of which is of particular relevance here. In his own words, “The first is the creation of a resource centre for the repository of published and unpublished manuscripts and materials on Onitsha. This centre will ultimately transform into a Centre for Onitsha Studies …”

The foregoing was apparently the idea that Uwechia Nzegwu has creatively exploited to produce both the volume on the monarch that we have already discussed and the second, titled Onitsha at the Millennium, to which we now direct our attention.

The Dedication page of this volume states that it is “dedicated to all those who in various ways have conducted research on or about Onitsha, and subsequently published books, book chapters, articles, pamphlets, and journals on any aspect of their research”. This is further expounded in the Editor’s prolegomena where she has attempted to pull all the writings together and to propose that they form the basis of an academic field of study perhaps titled “Onitsha Culture Studies”.

The volume is divided into seven parts each suitably titled in Onitsha dialect with an English translation. The major strength of the volume is the assembly of studies bearing on Onitsha since the midnineteenth century, that is, the beginning of Onitsha contact with the Europeans who arrived as traders, missionaries and colonizers in addition to the complex reaction of the indigenes to these

developments. The subjects are critically examined by several authors in Parts Three, Four, Five and Six which evidently form the core of the volume.

Part Six titled “Zik of Africa: The Holy Agitator” deserves special interest and is rightly accorded considerable space. The articles included provide an engaging analysis of the early years of this wellknown pan-Africanist who became a foremost Nigerian nationalist and then the Owelle of Onitsha. The contribution of Nnamdi Azikiwe himself to this section titled “Essentials for Nigerian survival” bears careful reading especially by the ladies and gentlemen currently assembled in Abuja under the banner of a National Conference.

Another major strength of the volume is the focus on indigenous Onitsha culture as depicted in Parts One and Two of the book. The essay by Richard N. Henderson and Helen Kendev Henderson titled “Traditional Onitsha Child Socialization” is particularly engaging and a far cry from their sensational and misleading book on Onitsha with the title “The King in Every man”.

Happily, the latter is not reproduced.

As a historian, I must lament that an impression has been given in the volume, I believe unwittingly, that the Onitsha story prior to the mid-nineteenth either does not exist or is not important.

However, I am consoled by two provisions. First, is the exhaustive bibliography that the editor has provided. The second is the enchanting and exciting constellation of Artistic creations as well as analyses with which this volume and its counterpart on the monarch has been endowed. This display of Onitsha creativity, led by Ben Enwonwu, arguably the doyen of modern Nigerian artistic expression, is a soothing balm on the soul. And be it noted that the majority of the artworks are domiciled in the gallery of His Majesty who, like the true renaissance man that he is, is revealed to be a lover of the arts as well as an avid collector.

We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Uwechia Nzegwu for bringing the monumental project embodied in these two volumes into fruition and join her in thanking Diamond Bank for its financial support of a worthy endeavour.

The publishers deserve congratulations for their meticulous care in producing a work of this magnitude.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 NEWSEXTRA

63

Ekiti 2014

Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe

INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega

Adeyeye

INEC begins distribution of non-sensitive materials Stories by Muyiwa Adeyemi (Head South West Bureau Ado Ekiti) O ensure adequate security T of lives and property during the June 21, this year governorship election, Ekiti monarchs yesterday met with security operatives including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ascertain their level of pre-

• Ekiti monarchs meet poll stakeholders paredness for the poll.

The meeting, which was attended by over 50 monarchs, also had in attendance Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Alhaji Halilu Pai, Commissioner of Police, Felix Uyanna and the Director of State Security Service, Samuel Tamino.

At the meeting, the security

operatives assured that they are ready to ensure free, fair and credible election in the state.

Speaking on INEC preparedness for the poll, Pai allayed the fears over logistics for the election, revealing that the commission had started distribution of non-sensitive materials to all the 16 council

Bamidele accepts Fayemi’s challenge on debate Party (LP) governorLStateABOUR ship candidate in Ekiti Opeyemi Bamidele has accepted the invitation by the state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi extended to opposition parties for a debate on good governance.

Fayemi had during his media chat criticized the members of opposition parties for turning down all invitations for a public debate, saying if they are sure of their programmes they had nothing to fear by facing the public to articulate their agenda.

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday by his media aide, Ahmed Salami, Bamidele advised Fayemi against engaging in intellectual arrogance and urged him to come down from his selfimposed Olympian height.

He said, “I can’t be intimidated by Fayemi in any form. I think I am vast in terms of education, brilliance, eloquence and general knowledge of the economic situation of the state to confront Governor Fayemi in any debate.

“My participation in Ekiti governorship contest is not by accident or spontaneity. I have prepared for it over years and I have what it takes

to govern a highly educated state like Ekiti. So, if any contestant is afraid of debate, count me out of that.

“I have been commissioner in various ministries in Lagos State. I had partaken in many debates and I am still expecting such to happen before the June 21 election. Just like Fayemi stated that he is chal-

lenging his opponents to a debate, I also state that I am ready to face him in any forum to discuss issue affecting our people”.

Bamidele, however, insisted that an average Ekiti man did not require any debate to conclude that the populace had not fared better under Fayemi-led government.

areas, adding that the sensitive materials would arrive the councils two days to the election.

Pai explained that the commission had registered additional 76,000 prospective voters through the continuous voter registration in addition to the 657,000 already captured during the 2011 voter registration.

The REC, who noted the improvement in the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), however, appealed to those yet to collect their PVC to do so saying nobody without the card would be allowed to vote.

He said even though the commission is not expecting 100 percent of collection of the PVC, only 61 percent of the cards had so far been collected.

The electoral officer dismissed rumour making the rounds that some politicians are plan-

ning to clone the PVCs with the aim of committing electoral fraud, adding that it would be difficult to clone the cards considering the security features embedded on the PVCs and the ballot papers.

He appealed to the traditional rulers to prevail on their subjects to ensure peaceful election pledging that INEC would ensure that all votes count.

State Police Commissioner, Mr. Felix Uyanna, said the security operatives had mapped out strategies to ensure that the every all the 2,195 polling booths are secured. He said no fewer than 12,000 policemen would be deployed in the state to provide security during the election, adding “Each polling booth will be manned by three policemen headed by an officer not below a superintendent of police and will be supplemented with other officers from sister security agencies.

Besides, there will be 200

counter terrorist officers, 2 DGs, AIGs, there will also be sniffer dogs, horses and two aircraft that will be hovering in the sky to monitor.”

Uyanna however, maintained that expected high presence of law enforcement agents, including the military is not to create fear or intimidate the voters but to ensure security.

“Our job is to ensure security and to provide a level playing ground and this we are doing.”

Tamino, in his remarks, said the SSS has been providing intelligence reports to both INEC and the police to ensure credible election.

Earlier, the Chairman of the council, Oba Adamo Babalola said the reason for the meeting was to know the level of preparedness of the security operatives and the INEC ahead the election.

Ekiti women begin house-to-house campaign KITI State women wing of E the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday began house-to-house campaign for the re-election of Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

Led by the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, urged them to educate the electorates on the need to cast their votes for her husband to guarantee continuity of all the lofty programmes and policies of the administration.

Speaking at Efon Alaaye, Ijero-Ekiti and Ekiti West Local Government towns, the governor’s wife urged women to be steadfast in their campaign for the governor through to the election day, no matter the obstacles

set before them by the opposition parties.

The campaign train also stopped at Oke-Imesi and Ipoti-Ekiti where the governor’s wife bought commodities above the selling prices as part of her market outreach and women empowerment.

Fayemi said, “If they bring soldiers on the day of the election, please don’t allow that to intimidate you. Arrive at the polling unit early and don’t go their wearing any cloth having the symbol of APC or the picture of Governor Kayode Fayemi, because it violates the electoral law.

“Don’t foment trouble. After casting your votes for Governor Kayode Fayemi,

please wait behind and ensure that the votes are counted in your presence.

Follow the result to the collation centre. We are all stakeholders here. Nobody can intimidate you.

“If anybody import thugs to the state to frighten us, they will meet their waterloo by the grace of God, because in God trust. The governor has performed very well and his achievements are enough to guarantee his victory at this election convincingly.

“As you move from house to house, if anybody tells you he or she wants to vote for any opposition party, please try and explain to them that they can only do that if they want social security for the

elderly to stop, if they want violence to replace the pervading peace in the state and if they want all the good things my husband is doing to stop.

Addressing the rally at EfonAlaye, Commissioner for Culture, Arts and Tourism, Chief Ronke Okusanya, said at the rally that the masterminds of the attack on her last Monday thought it would stop her from further mobilizing the women of EfonAlaye for Fayemi’s re-election, maintaining that she did not do anything to warrant the physical assault on her, which she said was premeditated.

The septuagenarian vowed not to be cowed by the antics

of the opposition, asking the youth not to allow themselves to be used for thuggery.

Okusanya said, “They thought by attacking me APC women will be frightened from campaigning for Dr. Kayode Fayemi. They have failed.

Don’t be afraid, don’t be deterred, we are marching on with our support for the governor until we get to the Promised Land.

“The governor and his wife have life-changing agenda for women and indeed every citizen of the state. They have more empowerment and quality healthcare for us.

Efon-Alaaye, just like every other towns, have tangible projects to pinpoint as dividend of democracy under Governor Fayemi.”

APC, PDP bicker over alleged plan to implicate Fayose over murder EOPLES Democratic Party P (PDP) and the All • Adeyeye drums support for party candidate Progressive Congress (APC) yesterday traded allegation over plas to implicate former governor Ayo Fayose in a murder case.

While the PDP alleged that the APC had concluded plans to murder somebody and placed his body at Afao road and indict Fayose for the murder, APC replied that the allegation was not only “wild, but an attempt to shift the campaign from the realm of ideas to the ring of violence, killings and

murder.”

Addressing a press conference in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Director General of the Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation, Chief Dipo Anisulowo alleged that the PDP has got wind of an underhand plan by APC to kill an innocent citizen and frame up Fayose as the killer of the victim.

Anisulowo said the alleged plan would involve killing the

victim and dumping the corpse at either Afao or Ise Ekiti road after soaking a vest carrying the portrait of Fayose and the PDP in the victim’s blood to create the impression that the PDP is responsible.

He said, “AFCO through its security network discovered that the leaders of the APC held a meeting in Osogbo, Osun Sate capital last Monday, where they concluded

arrangements to poison the political atmosphere in Ekiti State by killing an innocent man and dumping the corpse at Afao or Ise road or any part of the State.

However, Director of Media, Kayode Fayemi Campaign organization, Dimeji Daniels, who refuted the allegation, described the accusation as a foul cry aimed at diverting attention and shifting the blame for his planned chaos

and other heinous crimes he plans to assign.

“Mr. Fayose plans to shift the campaign from the realm of ideas to the ring of violence, killings and murder,” Daniels said.

Meanwhile, former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Prince Dayo Adeyeye has described the June 21 governorship election as “a must win for the PDP”, promising not to waiver in his support for the party’s candidate, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.

In a release by him yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, Adeyeye said there was nothing to benefit in failure, adding that he remained steadfast and committed to Fayose’s governorship ambition and that all his supporters have been mandated to return to their various wards to mobilise support for the PDP. “I am happy at the commitment of the Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM) family to this election and I want to urge them to double their efforts so as to ensure

64 Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 65

66 | NEWSEXTRA Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Jonathan orders EFCC to probe alleged graft in NSPMC From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja HERE appears no end to the T allegation of financial sleaze that rocked the Nigerian Security Printing and Mint Company (NSPMC) Plc, as President Goodluck Jonathan has reportedly directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure that all persons involved are identified and prosecuted accordingly.

The President’s directive is coming due to the latest information from the commission on how the photographs and documents of some junior workers of the firm were used to open frivolous accounts.

A source in the Presidency said yesterday that the President was unhappy with the development and reportedly directed that everything should be done to ensure that those involved in the scandalous bribery allegations were punished.

An EFCC memo obtained exclusively yesterday indicat-

• Firm’s ex-boss accused of siphoning funds through wife, junior workers ed that the immediate past Managing Director/Chief Executive of the company, Mr. Ehidiamhem Okoyomon, had questions to answer on the allegations of money laundering and forgery.

Signed by the Director of Operations, Olaolu Adegbeti, the commission revealed that the former NSPMC boss had engaged in forgery and identity theft while serving as chief executive of the organisation, which he used to launder bribery monies running into millions of naira as well as engage in other criminal acts The memo titled: “Ongoing investigation of Messrs Paul Macauley and Victor Aisagbonhi”, CR:3000/EFCC/DOPS/VOL.21/32 5 and dated March 20, 2014, accused the former Mint boss of fraudulently using the names of his driver and clerk respectively without their knowledge to open different bank accounts in which he

diverted several alleged bribery funds into.

It was gathered that following the alleged involvement of former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Charles Soludo and 15 other Nigerians in a contract bribery scam for the printing of N20 polymer notes between 2006 and 2008, the EFCC closed in on Okoyomon, who was the helmsman in the organisation as a prime suspect in the investigation.

The EFCC said Okoyomon, who allegedly used the passport photograph of one Mr. Paul Macauley, his official driver at the company for the transaction, also forged a driver’s licence with the same photograph of Mr. Macauley but with a different name on it bearing Mr. John Peter Ebhodaghe, his official clerk to open the account.

It has been revealed by the EFCC that precisely on July 13,

2007, Mr. Okoyomon allegedly opened a bank account with the Guaranty Trust Bank Plc with forged documents.

About N750 million is said to have exchanged hands between officials of the CBN, the NSPM and Securency International Pty of Australia.

The money was allegedly passed to the Nigerian officials through two British businessmen, Benoy Berry and Michael Harvey.

Investigations into Okoyomon’s involvement in the N750 million bribery scam jointly by the Special Fraud Unit of the United Kingdom (UK) and Interpol provided a link to forgery and the laundered funds.

The two foreign agencies were recently in Nigeria and spent about two weeks during which they provided incriminating evidence against the former NSPMC boss, leading to uncovering of the forgery deals perpetrated by him.

Both International Police Organisation (InterPol) and the United Kingdom Special Fraud Unit, it was learnt, had earlier traced part of the polymer printing alleged bribery monies to the accounts of the former NSPMC boss’ wife, Mrs. Adejoke Ehi Okoyomon in Canada, which has also been frozen.

About N368 million proceeds of laundered bribery funds have been traced to this particular account which Okoyomon is the sole beneficiary. “The fraudulent account was used to launder proceeds of bribery by Mr. Emmanuel Ehidiamhmen Okoyomon, who was the main beneficiary of the funds, EFCC noted.

Four other bank accounts operated at the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) have also been traced by the anti graft agency to the former managing director. In the memo by the EFCC, Adegbeti said four other different accounts were opened at FCMB by Okoyomon in the name of his clerk, Mr. John Peter Ebhodaghe, but with a different passport photograph of one Mr. Victor Aisagbonhi.

Investigations revealed that Okoyomon opened the accounts at the FCMB in four different currencies of naira, euro, British pounds and dollars. About N106 million have allegedly been laundered in the naira account while the second account has about €156,000. The third account, according to the EFCC, has about £246,220 deposit with the fourth having about $431,600.

“Four accounts for naira, euro, dollar and British pounds at FCMB Plc in the name of John Peter Ebhodaghe were found to have the photograph of Victor Aisagbonhi. Okoyomon was found to be the major beneficiary of the accounts,” the memo added.

The EFCC said it has, however, not established any evidence of criminal culpability on the part of Mr. Macauley who appears to be a victim of the fraudulent acts of Okoyomon.

The anti graft agency also said it is presently subjecting documentary evidence in the four accounts at FCMB to forensic analysis to determine if Aisagbonhi operated with Okoyomon at any time.

“We have not established any evidence of criminal culpability on the part of Macauley, who appears to be a victim of the fraudulent acts of Okoyomon,” EFCC said.

As at the time of filling in this report, Okoyomon’s driver and clerk had been suspended by the management of the organisation and are still undergoing internal investigation as a result of the forgeries. The former chief executive of the organisation has, however, been granted an administrative bail by the EFCC. Sources at the EFCC confirmed that all travelling documents, including several international passports of various countries belonging to the former NSPMC chief executive have also been seized by the agency to prevent him from escaping arrest and prosecution.

Ahmed commissions N600m hospitals WARA State Governor, Dr. K Abdulfatah Ahmed has commissioned two general

50th and Golden Jubilee President of the Institute of Chattered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Chidi Onyeukwu Ajaegbu (left); outgoing President of ICAN, Alhaji Kabir Alkali Mohammed and former President, of the institute, Doyin Owolabi after the investiture of Chidi Ajaegbu as the new PHOTO: CHARLES OKOLO President at the council chamber Secretariat at Idowu Taylor Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

hospitals in Offa and OmuAran in Offa and Irepodun local government areas of the state, rehabilitated at a cost of N600 million as part of activities to mark his three years in office.

Governor Ahmed who assured the people of the state that implementation of projects in all sectors will not be influenced by political parti-

Oshiomhole tasks new APC leader on unity From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City DO State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday charged the new leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Anselm Ojezua, to build on party’s cohesion, internal democracy and ensure that the soon-to-be held primaries were not commercialised.

Oshiomhole stated this when Ojezua paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House where he pledged to ensure that the party remained strong.

But contrary to claims by a former South-South Vice Chairman of the ACN, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who recently defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that he formed the party in the state, a chieftain of the APC and Special Adviser

E

• Ize-Iyamu did not form party, aide insists to Oshiomhole on Politics, Charles Idahosa, yesterday denied such claims. Idahosa said as at May 29, 2007, IzeIyamu was Secretary to the State Government (SSG) when the former governor, Lucky Igbinedion, handed over to his successor, Prof.

Oserheimen Osunbor, also of the PDP. Addressing journalists yesterday, Idahosa said: “It is very embarrassing when people talk about forming a party when they know nothing about what happens there.

The current APC started from MRDD, ACD, AC, ACN and today, APC. For those of you who are familiar with the politics of Edo State, you will know that we were very central in the formation of the

MRDD, myself and Senator Roland Owie, who is in PDP right now.

“In 2004, I was a commissioner in this state under Lucky Igbinedion but I left in December and that was how it started with some other people. Somebody like IzeIyamu then was in government. So, the question I keep asking when I see such writeups is, how can a man who was at the Ogbe Stadium on May 29, 2007, with Lucky Igbinedion to hand over to Osunbor say he formed the party?

“At what point did he form the party? Was he forming a party he was serving as SSG? Was it after Oshiomhole was rigged out of the election that he formed the party? I was the

first person during the formation of ACD to be called to Abuja to work at the national level by Chief Tom Ikimi.

When Ikimi requested for any other person, I called Frank Erewele, who also served at the national planning committee. I didn’t see any other person.”

Oshiomhole, at the meeting with the new leadership of his party, accused the PDP leadership of intellectual laziness. “I have read some comments in the newspapers, which reveal the quality of leadership of the opposition. For example, when we took the N25 billion bond in 2010, I explained and I repeated it at several fora that we were servicing a bond. We spend about N520 million every month to service the bond. How has such servicing become an issue? Only an illiterate will wonder that we took

a bond and we are servicing it”, he said.

Oshiomhole added: “Somebody who is illiterate and so uninformed will see the issue of servicing a bond as something that is newsworthy. That is something that you don’t need to deny. You only need to explain to the public that you took a facility and that facility is not even enough to meet our obligation in Edo-South, which is the Benin City Water Storm master-plan project, a N30 billion project. The benefits of that project are already being felt in many parts of the city.

“I think what will make news is if we become so insolvent that we are not capable of servicing the bond. It is somebody who is so illiterate, who is so uninformed, that will see the issue of debt servicing as news.”

sanship but equity and fairness, said the rehabilitation is part of his administration’s effort to provide a health system that is modern, affordable and accessible.

“My administration’s strides in the health sector testify to our recognition of quality healthcare as a precondition for sustained human capital development.

“We have demonstrated this commitment through the remodelling of Offa, Ilorin, Omu-Aran, Share and Kaiama General Hospitals as well as the distribution of drugs and equipment to 13 general hospitals and 43 primary healthcare centres”, he said.

The governor called for greater synergy between the state government and the communities in order to have a state built firmly “on the foundations of equity, justice and inclusive governance that guarantees all citizens a chance to achieve their highest aspirations subject only to the limits of their capacities”.

The state Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Kayode Abdulissa in his address said the rehabilitated general hospitals have locational value of serving as referral centres for the surrounding primary healthcare centres.

This, according to him, will aid the attainment of the target of Millennium Development Goals, including the reduction of maternal mortality infectious diseases and child death.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 NEWSEXTRA | 67

Landlords to pay taxes in Abuja • Senate endorses FCT revenue board • Confirms appointment of monetary committee mem bers From Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Abuja ITH the passage of Federal W Capital Territory (FCT) Internal Revenue Board by the Senate yesterday, property owners in the FCT may begin payment of taxes soon.

This is because the new law empowers FCT government to assess, impose levy and collect taxes on real property within the capital territory.

Sponsored by Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi-West), Section 8 of the Bill states that the office shall have the power to “adopt measures to identify, trace, freeze, confiscate or seize the proceeds of tax fraud or evasion.

“The Board shall establish and maintain a fund to be applied towards the discharge of its functions, which shall consist of and to which shall credit-(1) an amount not more than 10 per cent of all revenues by the service in the preceding year as administrative charge or cost of collection”.

A new clause was introduced on imposition and administration of tax on real property.

They are property tax, which is payable on all real property situated in designated areas within the FCT. Section 24, Sub-Section 2, however, lists those exempted from property tax in the FCT. “They include property owned by religious bodies; cemetery, especially where it is non-profit making; parks or public squares; the diplomatic community since they enjoy diplomatic immunity within the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act; public libraries; palaces of recognised traditional rulers; non-governmental organisations offering social welfare service, buildings used for learning and education and also, those used solely for community games or sports”.

Section 24 (3) (1) of the bill stipulates that the board is empowered to “cause all taxable, real property in the FCT to be appraised at least once in every five years and that all taxable property must be appraised at its market value as of January 1 in the year of appraisal.

“The rate of assessment indicates that taxable real property in the FCT would attract the following rates: (a) Residential- 0.1 per cent; (b) Commercial- 0.2 per cent; (c) Recreational- 0.1 per cent; (d) Government and governmental agencies-0.1 per cent and (e) Others- 0.3 per cent.

“The tax payable in respect of real property, the bill noted, is from and after January 1 and up to and including December 31 of each calendar year”.

To cut wastage, the two FCT committees held a joint public hearing since the House Committee on FCT is handling a similar bill in the House of Representatives.

It was established at the public hearing that if the bill is passed and the agency set up, the FCT Administration would have a well-articulated and strategic developmental plan, which if properly maintained, could lead to ranking the federal capital among world-class capital cities free from bureaucracy in government and also,

have the resources and capacity to actualise the dream of its founding fathers.

Meanwhile, the Senate has also confirmed the appointment of four members of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Their confirmation was found necessary after screening by the Senator Bassey Otu-led Committee on Banking, Insurance and other financial matters submitted its report.

The candidates include Dr. Adedoyin Salami, Macro-economic Policy; Prof. Chibuike Ugochukwu Uche, Banking and Finance; Dr. Shehu Yahaya, Development Economics and Abdul-Ganiyu Garba, Monetary and Fiscal Policy.

Buttressing the need for a revenue board, Senator Adeyemi argued that the huge infrastructural responsibility on FCT makes it necessary for Abuja to have a separate board where it can raise money to fund its numerous projects.

He argued further that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) should recognise that FCT has the status of a state and according to him, Federal Government cannot continue to provide all funds needed for the development of Abuja.

“It is my view that Abuja should have a revenue board of its own.

Federal Government cannot continue to spoon-feed Abuja after 30 years. Abuja should be able to generate funds to sustain itself.

“This is one of the assignments we owe the FCT as their own House of Assembly pursuant to the Constitutional provision of the National Assembly acting as the Assembly of the FCT that we have passed this Bill”, he said.

“This is one of the first bills that the Senate is passing for the FCT. The bill empowers the FCT to have a revenue board.

Don’t forget that since the creation of the capital city, we have never had a revenue board in place and that explains why the FCT Administration has all along been focusing on the national budget to meet the needs challenges of the capital territory.

“With the coming of the board in place, FCT would be able to generate revenue internally and that will help to augment what is coming from the Federation Account.

“In this year’s national budget, FCT has just about N30 billion, although we have statutory allocation, which is about 250 billion. But from this board, when it is established and fully operational and spreads its tentacles for internally-generated revenue, we expect that additional sum of not less than N100 billion would be generated from FCT”, he said.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the passage of the bill, congratulated his colleagues for laying foundation for increase in the revenue of the FCT. He said: “I believe that every government, state, local and even the Federal, must do every thing possible to have alternative revenue sources.

Head Marketing, Winlot Lottery, Ayodele Soyombo (left); Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Lottery, Lanre Gbajabiamila and Chief Executive PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI Officer, Winlot Lottery, Ninmish Bhatnagar at the Winlot Lottery Mobile APP Launch in Lagos … yesterday.

C’River commissioner dispels rumours of losing territory to Cameroun From Anietie Akpan, Calabar HE Cross River State T Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Atta Ochinke, has dispelled the rumours of Nigeria or Cameroun losing any territory.

This is coming as the Nigeria/Cameroun Mixed Commission under the auspices of the United Nations resumed the demarcation of the boundary between Nigeria and Cameroun in Danare and Biajua communities.

The commission is also searching for the missing Pillar 113A in Danare and Biajua communities in the border area.

Yesterday, members of Danare and Biajua communities in Boki, led by a community leader, Mr. Cletus Obun, raised an alarm that “troops of Nigerian soldiers are now, since 9:00 a.m. forcing protesting youths in the border communities of Biajua and Danare to accept the ceding of parts of local councils to Cameroun via the use of wrong map and voided treaty of the League of

Nations.”

The tension was mounting in the communities as “this is coming after a resistance by Biajua and Danare youths in Boki Local Council not to allow the wrong demarcation of Nigeria/Cameroun boundary some months ago until Pillar 113A is found. We call for urgent intervention as Cross River State is not represented in the team.”

Ochinke said: “The demarcation that is going on there is to re-establish the Anglo German boundary line which the World Court adopted as the boundary between Nigeria and Cameroun. It is not a new line and it is not cutting any territory of Nigeria into Cameroun.

The action now is not demarcating any new territory but reestablishing a boundary line that has existed for over a hundred years.

“The communities there are expressing anxiety because these are communities that are virtually right on the boundary line. The communities both on the Nigerian and Camerounian side are actually one communi-

ty one people and they have very little respect to the boundary line in the way they live their life.

But of course, the boundary line is something they have always known and since the boundary line is so close to the communities, which they know both on Nigeria and Cameroun side none of those communities are ignorant of where the boundary line is.”

He further said: “What is causing their present anxiety is that there is one boundary pillar that they are looking for that has not been found. So, the present exercise by the commission is for them to establish the location of this pillar, which is Pillar 113A. It has nothing to do with demarcating Nigerian territory to Cameroun or Camerounian territory to Nigeria. That is not the essence.

But when boundary demarcation activities are taking place in communities that are virtually living on the boundary, you will know that every inch that you turn is bound to raise anxiety.

“If you are searching for a pillar and you don’t know where it is, you are bound to search in one direction into Cameroun and in one direction into Nigeria.

So, when the people carry out their search in one direction into Cameroun, of course, the Camerounian villagers will begin to express anxiety. When they carry out their search into Nigeria, the Nigerian community will begin to express anxiety. What will settle all of these are if they can actually establish the location of the pillar 113A and then everybody will say okay this is the pillar.

“Now, the anxiety in the communities is that the existence of Pillar 113A is something they are not aware of and it is strange to them. We are all looking to establish where Pillar 113A is. It is not that anybody wants to cede territory to Cameroun. Nigeria has not lost any new area to Cameroun. The boundary line which was established over a hundred years ago has not changed.”

Absence of AIB’s report stalls verdict on Dana plane crash inquest

By Bertram Nwannekanma HE Lagos government’s T inquest into the ill-fated Dana Aircraft crash, which killed about 153 passengers and crewmembers on June 3, 2012, in Iju area of the state, could not give a specific verdict on the cause of the crash because of the inconclusiveness of the probe conducted by the Accident Investigations Bureau (AIB).

The Presiding Coroner, Oyetade Komolafe, a magistrate, who disclosed this yesterday while delivering judgment on the incident, however, recommended steps the authorities could take to avert future occurrence, as well as improve rescue operations whenever such incident occurs.

In a judgment, which lasted for about an hour, Komolafe, who narrated the circumstances leading to the inquest, the number of people and government agencies that testified before him, blamed the inability of the inquest to give

a verdict on failure of the AIB, the body responsible for investigating air crashes, to present a formal report of its investigations.

About 17 witnesses, including security agencies, emergency agencies, state chief pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa, representatives of the airline and other governmental agencies, testified during the inquest.

According to him, though the composition of the coroner court by the Chief Coroner, Justice Lateefat Okunnu, was in tandem with the Coroner Law of Lagos State, he could only achieve a little due to unavailability of the report of the investigation of the AIB. But Komolafe, at the end of the sitting, made nine-point recommendations to the authorities to respond to such future emergency case.

These include the “establishment of national body for logistics and supply for the body handlers and retrievals and that they should be meeting at intervals”; urgent need

for the forensic science laboratory in each geopolitical zone and any state that can have such.

He also called for an enactment of a national Coroner system; and the provision of fire services in each local council of the federation.

Other recommendations by the Coroner include provision of equipment for all emergency agencies; and establishment of radio unit service in all emergency units that will be linked to one another.

Apart from these, he suggested the establishment of national and state corps and inter-agency cooperation among all emergency agencies.

The Chambers of Falana and Falana had filed a petition asking the State Chief Coroner to compose a Coroner for an inquest to, among other things, find out the cause(s) of the air crash, which claimed the lives of 153 people on board the aircraft, as well as about 10 victims on the ground.

The principal partner at the law firm and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), in the request, alleged that the aircraft was granted permission to fly in spite of being defective.

He stated that investigations into the incident revealed that events leading to the crash were poorly managed, hence the ghastly crash and subsequent loss of lives.

“The distress call made by the pilot of the ill-fated aircraft several minutes before the crash was ignored by the airport authorities. The management of the disaster was crude, as members of the public had to use bare hands in the rescue operations,” he said.

Falana said the request was pursuant to Section 15 of the Lagos State Coroner’s Law 2007, which stipulates that an inquest should be held whenever a Coroner is informed that the death of a person within his district was “in a violent, unnatural or suspicious situation.”

68 | Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

PHOTOEXTRA

Bishop of Calabar, Rt. Rev. Tunde Adeleye (left); Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu, Bishop of Isiala-Ngwa South, Rt. Rev. Isaac Nwaobia, and the wife, Mrs. Hope Mwaobia, at the conclusion of second session of the second Synod of the Diocese of Isiala-Ngwa South with the theme: “Kingdom Investment,” which took place at St. Mary’s Church, Mbutu Ukwu, Abia State.

Executive Director, Infrastructure Bank Plc, Hakeem Olopade (left); member, Sure-P Committee, Col. Abdulmumini Aminu (rtd), Managing Director, Infrastructure Bank Plc, Adekunle Oyinloye, Deputy Chairman, Sure-P, Mrs. Tanwa Olusi, at the presentation of Mass Transit Buses to beneficiaries by Sure-P and Infrastructure Bank Plc in Lagos

Senior Business Manger, Resourcery, Bisike Uba (left); Vice President, I.T. Business Africa, Ayo Adegboye, and Field Marketing Manager, Shreider Electric English West Africa, Anne Ezeh, during the Date Centre Event Pre-Press Briefing organised by Resourcery and Schreider Electic in Lagos yesterday.

Commissioner for Lands and Regional Planning, Osun State, Muyiwa Ige (left); Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Federal Matters, Idiat Babalola, member, All Progressive Congress, Dr. Demola Adeleke, and Managing Director, Osun State Investment Company Limited, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, during the send forth ceremony of 31 indigent graduates to Germany for Mechatronics training in Oshogbo on Monday.

Senator Ajayi Boroffice (left); presenting a bus to APC Chairman in Ondo State, Barrister Kekemeke for the party use at the weekend.

Director General, Nation Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Paul Orhii, former Chairman, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Mazi Sam Ohuanbunwar, and Director, Registration and Regulatory Affairs (NAFDAC), Monica Emujieze, Director, Investigation and Enforcement, Mic Donald Garba, during the Agrik Expo 3rd Pan West Africa Int. Lagos Agric Exhibition and Conferences at Eko Hotel in Lagos PHOTO: GABRIEL IKHAHON

Mr. Rotimi Oyedele (left); Mosun Omole, Adeola Oyedele, the graduand, Precious Adio-Disu, the graduand’s mother, Lola Agbabiaka-Disu, and Deacon and Deaconess S. Odulana, during Precious’s graduation at Babcock University, Ilisan, Ogun State

Movie producer, Tunde Kelani (left); Managing Director/Chief Chef, Labule Restaurant, Mrs. Binta Adisa, and Managing Director, Noah’s Ark Communications Limited, Lanre Adisa, during the opening of Labule Restaurant in Ogudu, Lagos… recently.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 NEWSXTRA 69

From Chuks Collins, Awka

Fani-Kayode’s revelation on APC has vindicated us, says PDP

O revive the Ogbunike T cave, the Anambra State Government has awarded

From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja

Anambra to spend N2b on Ogbunike cave, roads

contracts worth about N2 billion on roads and other services in Ogbunike community in Oyi council.

Governor Willie Obiano who disclosed this at a Thanksgiving Mass organized by Ogbunike Catholic c ommunity in his honour and his wife, Chief Ebelechukwu Obiano at Saint Vincent’s Catholic Church Ogbunike.

He further hinted that the feasibility studies on the proposal to turn the Cave into a world class tourist centre was already underway.

According to him, “the contractor for the road project has been mobilized up to 30 percent of the contract sum while the project would be flagged off within the next two weeks. I believe that the roads when completed will open up the Ogbunike community and create both business and income generation opportunities for the youths in the area.”

He urged the community to be part of the state government’s agricultural programme geared towards achieving food sufficiency and food security for Ndi Anambra. He explained that land provided for farming by any community would be properly utilized to engage youths in agriculture, while encouraging farmers to pull together in cooperative societies so as to receive free tractor service and farm inputs.

President-General of Ogbunike Town Union, Alex Okoye said the governor had demonstrated commitment to transform the state and attract investment from within and outside the country.

Vice Chairman of the Parish Council, Joseph Ndu requested the governor to among others, assist in the completion of the abandoned General Hospital project in the area, development of its rural water project, establishment of a comprehensive technical school and construction of link roads in the community.

HE People’s Democratic T Party (PDP) has described the decision by the

Bishop, Shalom International Christian Church, Bishop James Wale Adekoya (left); Missioner, Most Talented Gospel Artiste in Nigeria (MTGAN) Pastor Bennie Ogbonna; Managing partner, JASEK Consulting Ltd., Joseph Okonmah and President, Shepriesthood International Ministry, Bishop Emilia Samuel at the Conference on Most Talented Gospel Artiste in Nigeria Competition in Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Shetima hails OIC’s branding of B’Haram members as hoodlums From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri OVERNOR Kashim ShetG tima of Borno State yesterday commended the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), for condemning the Boko Haram terrorists’ activities in Nigeria, and its support to the state government to “assist and rehabilitate” victims of insurgency in the state.

The government made the commendations at the Government House, Maiduguri, when the Secretary General of OIC, Mr. Iyad Bin Amin Madani paid an official courtesy visit to the state yesterday.

His words: “Your coming is a great moment in the annals of Borno which has history of over 1,000 years of Islamic civilisation. OIC is the collective voice of the Muslim world; we share in the positive ideals of the organisation which emphasises upholding Islamic social and economic values, cohesion and solidarity among member states; increasing cooperation in social, economic, cultural and scientific affairs, international peace and security, and most critically the advancement of education

particularly in the area of science and technology.

“It is clear that these great ideals, aims and objectives of the OIC are in direct contrast with the weird ideologies of the extremist terror group, Boko Haram that preaches violence and destruction by masquerading under the guise of Islam.”

Shettima said the Borno State government; has done a lot in addressing the root cause of the Boko Haram insurgency through well documented policies and programmes that could reduce abject poverty, social exclusivity, ignorance, underdevelopment, adding that these social and economic indices breed “extremism and terrorism” in Nigeria.

“With cooperation, support, partnership and collaboration with the OIC, we would conceive an organic and strategic partnership to bring development to our state to positively transform the lives of our people and to usher lasting peace, security and harmony in our society.

“The presence of the Secretary-General is a resounding testimony that the OIC is also ready and willing to partner with us in this tortuous journey. The OIC and the Borno

State government have already commenced processes of partnership through the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in the areas of education and human capital development, health, agriculture, urban and rural renewal projects,” he said.

In remarks, Mr. Madani said that he found it pertinent to be in Maiduguri to commiserate with people, stating that fighting terror groups like the Boko Haram requires

Labour Party peace truce fails in Ogun From Charles Coffie-Gyamfi, Abeokuta HE former Governor T Gbenga Daniel’s faction and that of Chief Bode Simeon in the Labour Party yesterday failed to reach an agreement.

Simeon’s faction accused Daniel of making desperate efforts to hijack the party from its original founders.

The Simeon faction, who made other allegations against Daniel’s group, insisted that they would resist all efforts by anybody or group to take over the party structure from them.

Simeon stated: “We invited

Nigeria LNG exempted from NDDC levy OLLOWING recent news Fbyreports of demonstration the youth purportedly affiliated to the Niger Delta Youth Stakeholders Forum, the LNG Limited has explained its alleged refusal to pay a three per cent Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) levy.

In a statement, the NLNG said it was granted exemption from such levy by the NLNG Act 2004, and that a Supreme Court ruling in 2011 backed that position.

The ruling, it said, followed an initial suit it filed, in which the Federal High Court, on July 11, 2007, ruled that the NLNG was not liable to pay the NDDC levy. However, the NDDC had chal-

lenged the ruling at the Court of Appeal, which also ruled likewise.

In October 2011, the NDDC then appealed to the Supreme Court, which subsequently dismissed the appeal, ruling that NLNG is legally exempted from the NDDC levy in accordance with the provisions of the NLNG Act. The statement noted: “When the representatives of the demonstrators were invited to a meeting with the NLNG management and presented with this fact, they claimed to be unaware of it. They then immediately undertook to go back and inform the crowd of demonstrators numbering about

40. The protesters dispersed shortly afterwards.”

The company stressed that it has continued “to conduct all its businesses in full compliance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and existing tax regulations,” and “consistent with its role as a responsible corporate citizen, helping to build a better Nigeria.”

It noted that, “as has been the case since inception, NLNG continues to champion compliance and meet all its applicable tax obligations, including Education Tax, Value Added Tax, Personal Income Tax, Withholding Tax and Tenement Rates, among others, as accruable to federal, state and local

multi dimensional approach among the comity of nations.

OIC, according to him; is ready and available to prove this solidarity beyond words and emotions.

He said: “We have officially described the Boko Haram as a terrorist group and we believe that conflict of this nature needs to have a wide range of solutions, including solutions. We must find out what keeps them going and what attract youths to them.”

councils.”

Also, its “approach to corporate social responsibility is anchored on the key elements of partnership and sustainability and its programmes fall into two broad categories - human capital and business - as well as infrastructure development.”

It added that “through economic empowerment, entrepreneurship development programmes, support for Nigerian Content, capacity building for local industries and sustainable community development, NLNG continues to use Nigeria’s gas resources to help diversify the economy and deliver bene. fits to the country.”

them (Daniel’s group) to join us and now they want to use money to take over the party. Our party is not for sale, nobody can highjack our party’s structure.”

But the Publicity Secretary of Daniel faction, Mr. Deji Kalejaiye, vehemently denied the allegations, describing Simeon’s faction an agent of destabilisation.

Simeon also alleged that Daniel attempted to bribe him and his executive members with N16 million. But Kalejaiye has described the allegation as baseless and unfounded.

Simeon quoted Daniel as saying in an interview on Africa Independent Television (AIT) that the Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, on his visit to Abeokuta a couple of weeks ago declared him (Daniel) as the leader of the party in the state, a statement he said was totally false.

Again, he said that contrary to Daniel’s statement, it was not true that the party’s National Chairman and Secretary had inaugurated and sworn in the Osoba-led executive. “It is also not true for Daniel to say that arrangement has been concluded to settle the three plaintiffs out of the party so that capable hands can midwife the party to electoral success in the 2015 elections.”

Kalejaiye, in a reaction, debunked all the allegations, describing them as baseless and illogical to the ideals of our party.” .

former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, to dump the APC as a proof of its stance on the party.

The former aviation minister in a tweet on his Facebook page, had among other things stated: “My reasons for leaving the party are because I consider nation-building as being far more important than party politics, party affiliation or party formations. I am a devout and committed Christian and I cannot remain in a party where a handful of people that have sympathies for Boko Haram and that have a clear Islamic agenda are playing a leading role. This is made all the more untenable when some of those people are working hard silently and behind the scene to impose a Muslim/Muslim ticket on the party for the presidential election next year.”

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday, said: “The revelation by the former minister that the APC has sympathies for insurgents further confirms PDP’s earlier position linking APC’s utterances to the spate of insurgency and sectarian violence in the country.

“We have now been vindicated. The truth may be hidden for some time but it has a way of expressing itself.

The world can now see that we do not speak for nothing when we describe them in their true nature; a cult, a hypocritical lot, wolves in sheep skin, devils who, through their utterances, stoke the fires of violence by night only to wear messianic robes in the morning to shed crocodile tears for their victims.

“Nigerians are no longer at loss regarding who their real enemies are. They can now see why the APC feels no pain but seeks always to gain political capital out of the bombings and killings in our country.

“Having realised that they have been rejected by the people, they resorted to using dastardly means, including promoting violence and falsehood, to further their plot to destabilise the polity, balkanise the nation and truncate the democratic process, a scheme which has already failed”, the statement said.

The party noted that a lot of reasonable and respectable Nigerians still in the APC would soon join the PDP as they have now discovered that the agenda of the APC is to promote violence and the personal agenda of a few unpatriotic individuals.

Stating that it remains committed to the national interest, the PDP said its doors are wide open to all well-meaning Nigerians irrespective of religious, tribal, ethnic or regional af-

70 | NEWSEXTRA Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Police discover arms in Zamfara lawmaker’s residence From Isah Ibrahim, Gusau EN of Zamfara Police M Special Security operatives from the Force Headquarters at the weekend stormed the residence of a lawmaker representing Tsafe Constituency in the state House of Assembly (names withheld) in Gusau, the state capital and discovered sophisticated arms and ammunition in large quantities.

The Guardian learnt that the security operatives arrived in Gusau following information on the presence of dangerous weapons within the lawmaker’s residence. The lawmaker is also said to be chairman of one of the House Standing Committees in the Assembly.

It was also learnt that several AK-47 rifles, two boxes of live ammunition and several tins of tear-gas were discovered in

the lawmaker’s house in Gusau, while a grenade was discovered in his Tsafe residence.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, noted that he was not surprised with the recent discovery of arms at the lawmaker’s residence because he was a religious fanatic, adding that he should be thoroughly investigated.

However, when contacted yesterday, the embattled lawmaker maintained that he was invited by the police and he had made a written statement but declined to make further comments on the issue.

Also speaking on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Lawal Abdullahi, said the operation was carried out by a special team from Abuja but declined to make further comments.

Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Adebiyi Mabadeje (2nd left); Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Hakeem Bello (2nd right), General Manager, Lagos State Residents’ Registration Agency (LASRRA), Mrs. Yinka Fashola (left); legendary Nigerian artiste, King Sunny Ade (middle), and Mr. Abubakar Yakubu (right), during the special registration exercise for actors and artistes in Lagos

APC holds congress in Calabar despite protest From Tina Todo, Calabar HE inconclusive state congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was on Monday held in Calabar, Cross River State capital, despite protest by its members. Some members of the party, who had earlier contested for positions in the May 8, 2014, cancelled congress, refused their disqualification from the race.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of APC had ordered a fresh congress following rancour, which trailed the inconclusive congress.

Governor Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers State was reportedly directed to handle the party’s congress in the state.

APC aspirants, who were said to be unhappy with the decision to abandon them at the rescheduled congress, immediately filed a process in court to stop the congress, which however, held despite the protest.

A member of the party, James Eyam, in told newsmen that candidates who took part in the previous election should not have been disqualified.

Eyam, who contested as the state secretary of the party, said since the earlier elections were inconclusive, the contestants should not have been excluded in the rescheduled elections.

Mr. Osim, a Calabar-based legal practitioner, disclosed that the disqualification of the candidates who were duly screened and cleared, contravened provisions of the 3rd schedule of the party’s constitution.

Former state acting party chairman, Mr. Hilliard Etta, said the candidates were persuaded to drop their ambitions in the interest of peace.

According to him, “the party is greater than any individual and the decision was unanimously accepted by all the contestants in the interest of the party”.

The former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship aspirant, Mr. Usani Usani, who was also voted for as the state chairman, said he willingly accepted the post despite his earlier governorship inten-

T

tion.

He blamed the state PDP for the crisis, which led to the cancellation of the last state congress, saying it sponsored some members who disrupted the previous election by carting away some of the ballot papers.

Obun, who was also the APC state chairman of the publicity committee, said the success of the congress was necessary because of the cancellation of the one that took place on May 5.

At the congress, Mr. Usani Usani emerged chairman; Mr. John Ochala, deputy chairman and Mr. Victor Ebong, state secretary.

Co-convener, Say No Campaign, Samson Itodo (left) and Director, Centre for Democracy and Development, Idayat Hassan at a news conference on Nigerian Immigration Service Recruitment stampede in Abuja … yesterday.

PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY-

Group criticises monarchs’ visit to Oshiomhole over defection From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City COALITION of civil society groups, Edo State Civil A Societies Organisation (EDSCSOs), has condemned last week’s visit of some traditional rulers in Edo South to the governor, Adams Oshiomhole, over defection of some members of All Progressives Congress (APC) to People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The group, through one of its affiliates, Face-to-Face Community Empowerment

• Accuses NDDC of corruption Initiative, has also called on the anti-graft agencies to probe the activities of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), especially its projects in Edo State.

Addressing the press yesterday in Benin City, the Co-ordinator of the groups, Matthew Edaghese, a lawyer, said he had already communicated to the commission taking advantage of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act to furnish him with documents

relating to the award and construction of Erediauwa link Road which connects Sapele and Sokponba roads in the Edo State capital, a project he said, had made the road worse before the commencement of the project.

He said the situation of the road could lead to environmental hazard for the people in the area.

On the monarchs’ visit to the governor, Edaghase, flanked by other leaders of the

Coalition, said: • “The royal fathers should know that democracy entails the freedom of choice and that those who leave one political party for another have every right to do so.

Hence the effort of the fathers to challenge the exercise of these rights amount to tyranny and autocracy, which democracy forbids.

• “The royal fathers should not mistake indulgence in partisan politics which they are forbidden to do by nature of their offices for support of

government policies and programmes which is normal.

• “The royal fathers owe the society a duty to protect and preserve the sanctity of our traditions which we highly cherish and must remain from the dangerous adventure.”

The coalition further added: “We view the visit by the royal highness as an act of unnecessary distraction, since decamping by politicians does not amount to bereavement that warrants condolence visit to the governor.

Delegates differ on removal of fuel subsidy From Terhemba Daka and Karls Tsokar, Abuja DELEGATE representing Ondo State in the ongoing National Conference, Prof.

Femi Mimiko yesterday backed the call for the removal of oil subsidy, describing it “a huge infrastructure of corruption in the country.”

But the leader of women lawyers in Nigeria under the platform of International Federation of Women Lawyers, Mrs. Hauwa Shekarau, kicked against the call, saying “no to oil subsidy removal.”

Mimiko who is the Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-

A

Akoko made the call during his contribution to debate on the recommendations of the conference Committee on Public Finance.

“I support removal of fuel subsidy. I find it difficult to understand the argument of those who want subsidy to be sustained. It is evident that fuel subsidy in this country is a huge infrastructure of corruption.”, he added.

Mimiko said: “I then wonder why those who in one breadth decry corruption would at another, defend or argue for the retention of a clear infrastructure of corruption. As things are now, it is evident that the fuel sub-

sidy regime has failed. It does not favour the poor; constraints development of our oil refining capacity; and promotes corruption.

“It should be removed and the savings put on the proposed social security regime that one of the Committees has recommended. Such can also be deployed to support free education at both primary and secondary levels; and a scholarship fund for students of tertiary educational institutions who cannot afford to pay their way through school,” he said.

He contended that while the argument for the creation of Sovereign Wealth Fund was well made, it behoves on the

panel to address the concern of the states, especially in relation to their right to assent to how much goes into the Fund because, according to him, “in the final analysis, these are monies belonging to the entire federation rather than the Federal Government. I even thought the issue was taken to the courts a while ago.”

He also urged the authorities to shun the temptation to embark on external borrowing, just as he suggested that ownership and development of sea ports should be put on the Concurrent List to enable both the Federal Government and the States

develop and own seaports.

Shekarau also supported the recommendation for budget mix of 60 per cent for capital expenses and 40 per cent for recurrent expenses.

“This will help to address the huge infrastructural gap that we are experiencing in the country”, she stated.

According to her, the Fiscal Responsibility Act should be enshrined in the constitution, adding, there was need “to put in place and strictly enforce the legal framework that compels action and budget preparation and approval to be made and concluded before a fixed date and before the ending of the year.”

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 NEWSEXTRA | 71

‘No Nigerian Army General under court martial’ R

EPORTS making the rounds in the media that 10 Generals were under court martial are false, Defence Spokesman, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade said in a statement yesterday.

According to him, “Defence Headquarters wishes to state once again categorically that there is no truth whatsoever in the report making rounds

in a section of the media claiming that a Nigerian Army court martial has tried and found 15 senior officers, including 10 Generals, guilty for aiding terrorists.

“The story, as published in some dailies and zealously propagated by many online media, is very unfortunate and meant to do maximum damage to the image of

Nigerian Army and its personnel. This falsehood had previously been refuted when it first reared its head, but those concocting it appear hell bent on misleading Nigerians and the international community to give credence to the negative impression they are so keen to propagate about the Nigerian military.

It has become inevitable to

reassure the general public that any ongoing disciplinary process or trial will be made public when necessary. After all, Court Martial issues in the Nigerian Army are not known to be secret undertakings as it is on record that previous proceedings and outcome have been made public in the past.

Those, who have decided to make a past time of sensation-

alising and fabricating sensitive security issues are again cautioned to desist from this practice, especially in this period of the nation’s history. It is bad enough for any army to try and convict a single General for such a grievous offence as alleged in the reports talk less 10 Generals.

“The Nigerian Army remains a serious professional and responsible institution that cannot be associated with such incredulous report. The

general public is therefore implored to discountenance the report as the handiwork of those, who do not mean well for the country and her Armed Forces.

Disciplinary processes being undertaken in any formation of the Nigerian Army are at best routine and definitely not at the level that has been so willfully exaggerated for clearly sinister motives. For emphasis, there is no General of the Nigerian Army under any form of trial.”

Cameroun secures border against Boko Haram insurgents HE incursion of Boko T Haram insurgents into Cameroun, from their

Hajiya Maryam Uwais, reading a copy of letter submitting to the court, with her are; Bashiru Yusuf Ibrahim and Hadiza Bala Usman, and other members “Bring Back of Girls at FCT High Court in Abuja yesterday.

PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO

Akpabio seeks review of new state pensions act OVERNOR Godswill G Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has asked the House of Assembly to expunge from the Governors and Deputy Governors’ Pension Law, parts of the new amendment, that placed a N100 million and N50 million ceiling on the amount that could be spent on medical treatment, by the respective beneficiaries of the law.

In its place, Akpabio is proposing a medical insurance scheme that would properly manage any medical treatment needs of former governors and deputy governors and their spouses, to prevent any form of abuse.

A national outrage has trailed last week’s passage of the Akwa Ibom State Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Law 2014 by the House of Assembly.

Several verbal attacks have since been unleashed on both the legislators and the governor by several individuals, who described the law as reckless and self-serving.

Apparently peeved by what he described as a “tidal wave of propaganda, misinformation, falsehood, cynicism and mischief,” Akpabio regretted that the good intentions of the state legislators in protecting the said law from abuse had been turned into “the most unkind political gimmickry” by “agents of falsehood.”

The governor, in a statement yesterday, explained that the latest amendment had only sought to block a

loophole in the existing pension law, in order to prevent possible abuses by its beneficiaries.

Insisting that the law was not new, Akpabio averred that it was first enacted in 1998 as a Special Grant (former Chief Executives) Edict, amended twice in 1999 and 2002, was replaced by another law in 2006, before it was eventually assented to by former Governor Victor Attah on April 26, 2007.

“However, in the course of its implementation,” he stated, “we noticed a lacuna in the 2007 law, particularly on account of its open-endedness in the provisions relating to the medical expenses and provisions of funds for the employment of domestic staff for the former governors and deputy governors.

“Working with the House of Assembly, we sought to protect the law from abuse by putting a ceiling on the medical expenses for the treatment of thee senior citizens of Akwa Ibom State.

“The ceiling, which was pegged at N100 million per annum for former governors and N50 million per annum for former deputy governors, was never meant to be given either in part or in whole to anybody at anytime for any reason. It was meant to be paid to health institutions involved in the treatment of the former governors or former deputy governors and their spouses.

“It was, therefore, deliberate falsehood and organised mis-

information to claim that the said money will be paid to former governors and deputy governors every year. This has never been the practice and the amendment has added nothing to give credence to this obviously politicised orchestration.

“Former governors and deputy governors and their spouses who were not sick were not to receive a dime from the fund. These sums, which were for the governors and deputy governor’s medical treatment, suffered the most bashing from a mischievous vocal minority, who sought to reap political capital out of it. In their frenzied desperation, they even claimed that the law was made for my personal benefit.

They lost sight of the fact that I am not among the beneficiaries as I am not on pension.”

Akpabio also described the allegation that some categories of eligible former deputy governors and governors were excluded as false.

He said, “since the Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Law 2006, a new eligibility provision beyond just being a former governor or deputy governor was introduced by the last administration, whereby certain persons, who served in these offices and who otherwise would have benefitted from the pension, were excluded on account of resignation otherwise than on health grounds, impeachment or holding office for a period less than three years.”

He continued, “Section 3 of the 2006 version of the law attests to this, and this provision, retained in Section 3 of the 2014 version of the law has attracted unsavory comments as though it was a new provision just inserted.

“It is distressing to all patriots in our state that this well reasoned and thought-out solution to an open-ended law, which common sense indicates can be subject to abuse, has been cast rather as a problem by fifth columnists in our state. I share the sense of revulsion of all decent Akwa Ibom people in the State House of Assembly in particular and the entire state in general at these politics of blackmail.

“I have decided that we should lift this evil siege by proposing to the House of Assembly, that parts of the amendment putting a N100 million ceiling and a N50 million ceiling on the medical treatment of former governors and former deputy governors respectively be expunged from the amendment. Let it revert to the open-ended situation inherent in the law before the amendment. I will further advise, in observance of the articles of faith guiding the discharge of the Office of Governor that, through extant circulars, a medical insurance scheme be put in place for the authentic and proper management of the medical treatment of former governors and deputy governors and their spouses, in order to ensure that the open-ended nature of the law is not abused.”

stronghold over the border in Nigeria, has led to regular vehicle searches and identity checks by the Camerounian army.

With his helmet tightly strapped on and wearing a bulletproof vest, a soldier systematically stops traffic on the road between Maroua, the regional capital, and Kousseri, to the north, a machine-gun mounted on a pick-up truck nearby.

“We are looking for weapons, ammunition, drugs,” the soldier told Agence France Presse (AFP), asking not to be named.

In the past few days, Camerounian authorities say they have deployed an impressive military force to the far North region in the wake of bloody raids and a series of kidnappings of foreigners.

Boko Haram, which means “Western education is forbidden,” has killed thousands of people since 2009 in its fight to establish an Islamic state in northern Nigeria.

As well as causing an international outcry by kidnapping more than 200 schoolgirls, it has burnt down whole villages and carried out deadly bomb attacks, while taking its fight over the porous border into Cameroon.

Camerounian authorities plan to deploy almost 3,000 troops and paramilitary police in the coming weeks.

Already, small units of soldiers riding armoured cars patrol the main roads and smaller secondary routes, while fighter planes and combat helicopters keep watch from the skies.

The mobilisation comes two weeks after a summit in Paris that brought together the heads of state of several countries bordering Nigeria, including Cameroon’s Paul Biya, who described Boko Haram as a “serious threat” to the whole region.

Leaders at the meeting agreed to cooperate on a joint “war plan”, at a time when Cameroun was still considered a weak link.

The country’s northern border region is thought to be a centre for smuggling weapons to the armed extremists, with Yaounde accused by others of failing to act against the Islamists even on its own soil.

“Until now, Cameroun has

avoided a head-on confrontation with Boko Haram,” said a local police officer, who also asked not to be named.

“Now the soldiers have the right to open fire on suspects who ignore warnings. We can expect that there will be victims in this war,” he added.

The crackdown comes after the armed fundamentalists appeared to have stepped up their cross-border attacks.

On May 17, a Camerounian soldier was killed and 10 Chinese construction workers kidnapped from a building site during a violent assault blamed on Boko Haram. The attack, in the middle of the night, caused panic in the once-popular tourist town of Waza.

Earlier in May, dozens of fighters from the Islamist movement rode armoured vehicles into the Nigerian border town of Gamboru Ngala, opening fire on residents.

Some civilians fled across the border into Cameroon but 300 people died, according to local sources. The town was razed.

In response, scores of soldiers from Cameroun’s elite Rapid Intervention Battalion, which has counter-terrorist training, have been deployed in border towns held to be particularly at risk, such as Fotokol, Dabanga and Amchide.

“The idea is to set up fixed bases with strong numbers ready to respond in the event of an attack,” said a paramilitary police official involved in operations on the ground near Lake Chad.

The aim is to “close the road to the terrorists and secure the border so that Boko Haram fighters cornered (by the army) in Nigeria can’t seek shelter here,” the official said.

In a sign that Cameroun is determined to take action, last Thursday, about 30 Nigerians suspected of belonging to Boko Haram were picked up and handed over to Nigerian authorities.

And just last weekend, Camerounian troops freed two Italian priests and a Canadian nun, kidnapped on April 4 in the small parish of Tchere, near Maroua.

Nobody claimed responsibility for abducting the three – priests Giampaolo Marta and Gianantonio Allegri and nun Gilberte Bussier – but Camerounian security forces swiftly blamed Boko Haram.

72

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 | 73

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sports World Cup

The chosen ones….

ERE are the gladiators H ordained by Coach Stephen Keshi as the warriors to defend Nigeria’s honours at the Brazil 2014 World Cup. In the early hours of yesterday, Coach Keshi

released the names of the 23 men, whose duties in Brazil include ensuring that Nigeria records its best outing at the Mundial Coupe.

The team has two weeks to get ready for the task in

Brazil.

Among the players are three home-based stars, including goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim, defenders, Azubuike Egwuekwe and Kunle Odunlami.

Other players picked are

Yobo

Enyeama

Mikel

Moses

Ejide

Omeruo

Emenike

Musa

Oshaniwa

Gabriel

Onazi

Agbim

Nwofor

Uchebo

Michael

Ameobi

Azubuike

Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Joseph Yobo, Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Godfrey Oboabona, Kenneth Omeruo and Efe Ambrose.

Also in the team are John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Michael Uchebo and Reuben Gabriel.

Osaze Odemwingie, Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Emmanuel Emenike, Babatunde Michael, Victor Moses and Uche Nwofor complete the squad.

Odemwingie

Echiejile

Azeez

Odunlami

Efe

Oboabona

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

74 | Sports Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Countdown To Brazil 2014 World Cup

Dropping Uzoenyi, Mba, others was a difficult decision, Keshi confesses • Mba wishes Eagles well

By Christian Okpara UPER Eagles’ Coach, Srevealed Stephen Keshi, has that he had sleepless nights deciding on the players to drop from his provisional squad, especially some of the players that had been with his team since he took over the team.

Speaking specifically on Ejike Uzoenyi and Sunday Mba, who were part of his squad to the successful campaign at the South Africa 2013 Nations Cup, Keshi said he would have taken the players if the rules permitted, adding, however, that there was little room for sentiments.

On Uzoenyi, Keshi said: “The battle was between Ejike and Osaze Odemwingie and at the end of the day we had to settle for Osaze because he can play many roles, is more aggressive and better tactically.

“Remember, the team was going for a fresh challenge and I had to look for players that would give me a new victory.

“We cannot dwell on 2013…there was no sentiment in picking the players.

We could have taken my boys, Fegor Ogude and Brown Ideye, but we had to be professional.”

Many Nigerians were surprised at the choice of Babatunde Michael, who could be described as a latecomer in the national team.

But Keshi has his reasons for picking the Russia-based player. He says: “He is a good player whom we have been monitoring since he came into the last Nations Cup camp. Once he gets confidence and do what he is supposed to do, you would enjoy his game.”

Meanwhile, dropped midfielder, Sunday Mba, has expressed disappointment at being omitted from the squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The 25-year old admitted that he was looking forward to being part of the final 23man team and had hoped “to fight and sweat” at the Mundial for his country as he did at the last AFCON where he was the hero for Nigeria. “(I am) gutted to not make the 23-man team to the World Cup. I really wanted to fight and sweat for the glory of the team and my beloved country,” Mba stated via his Twitter account yesterday.

The former Warri Wolves and Enugu Rangers man then stated later that he has accepted his fate following his exclusion from the Nigerian squad.

He, however, hopes that the team will go ahead and post an impressive outing at the World Cup. Mba is one of seven players who did not make the Nigeria roster for the World Cup, which kicks off on June 12.

The others include Daniel Akpeyi, Ejike Uzoenyi, Obinna Nsofor, Nosa Igiebor, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Joel Obi.

Kenneth Omeruo (left), Coach Keshi and Victor Moses going for a training session. The Eagles are currently in the US preparing for the Brazil 2014 World Cup. PHOTO: AFP.

South Africa expects Keshi to dump Eagles for Bafana Bafana

By Christian Okpara OUTH Africans are already looking forward to having Super Eagles’ Coach, Stephen Keshi, as their national team gaffer after the Brazil 2014 World Cup. Although the South African Football Association (SAFA) have not announced Keshi’s decision to dump the Super Eagles for the Bafana Bafana, the news is all over the country that the ‘Big Boss’ has finally decided to pitch his tenth in Mandela’s country.

The incumbent Bafana Bafana coach, Gordon Igesund, has been told that his contract will not be renewed when it expires on August 31, a move reportedly arrived at after the SAFA bosses met with Keshi.

Keshi, who is in the United States (US) preparing the Eagles for the World Cup, recently reiterated his commitment to Nigeria, but SAFA officials, The Guardian learnt, have already started clearing the way for the arrival of the

S

coach.

“Keshi is head and shoulder above any other coach for the Bafana Bafana job,’’ an excited

board member of SAFA said yesterday.

He added that the federation would not make the recruit-

ment of Keshi public because he has a running contract with Nigeria until after the World Cup.

Some players have no business at the World Cup, says Laloko

By Samuel Ifetoye ORMER Technical Director FFederation of the Nigeria Football (NFF) and currently the Director of Pepsi Football Academy, Kashimawo Laloko has expressed his displeasure over the list of players that will represent the country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Laloko said he was not pleased with the inclusion of both Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim as the reserve goalkeepers. In his words: “Keshi is the boss and he has selected the boys that he wants. But as far as I am concerned, we only have one goalkeeper going to the World Cup. “The other two are either his kinsmen or brothers. They are

too heavy to make any appreciable impact even if Vincent Enyeama gets injured. We have to pray very hard that Enyeama doesn’t get injured.

Against Scotland, Ejide was jumping from one place to another without any sense of direction. His decisions were very poor.

“As for Agbim, we saw him at CHAN in South Africa. He was an embarrassment to the team. That is what I think, I may be wrong. In defence, I still fault the inclusion of Joseph Yobo because he had a poor game against Scotland.”

Laloko, however, stated that defence would be Super Eagles undoing with the inclusion of Yobo who, he stated, has no business going to the World Cup. “The main problem we are

going to face in Brazil is in the defence because it’s suspect.

And when you are playing against big teams and you have a very poor defence, then it will be easy to capitalise on its lapses. So, Keshi has to work very hard to organise his defenders.

While wishing the Super Eagles well in Brazil, Laloko urged Keshi to always pick players with the right attitude.

Also, former Super Eagles assistant coach, Joe Erico expressed satisfaction with the list. He said Keshi was in the best position to know why he dropped certain players. “All the decision starts and ends with the coach. I know everybody will be complaining about the exclusion of certain players, but Keshi knew what informed his choices.”

We will adhere to roadmap for national development, says Danagogo

By Christian Okpara

Danagogo

Sports Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, has pledged to follow the existing roadmap to sports development in his bid to lead the country back to the comity of great nations.

Speaking in Lagos during a chat with a group of journalists, Danagogo, whose tenure has already started on good note with Nigeria’s excellent outing at the Botswana 2014 African Youth Games, said he would work to strengthen the sports federations, which, according to him, hold the key to recovering Nigeria’s lost glory in sports.

“Some of the federations are actually doing well, but we

have to help them develop their capacity for self sustenance,” he said.

He added: “We are also leaning towards the grassroots, especially through schools sports because therein lies our root to greatness in sports. It is also what I found in the roadmap.’’

Pledging to help create the environment for the federations to raise funds from the private sector, Danagogo said “sports is business and we are looking at ways of tapping the numerous avenues available for the sustainable development of the sector.’

The minister disclosed that the Federal Government was interested in using sports as a

tool for national renaissance, saying the National Summit on Sports held in 2012 was aimed at reviving Nigerian sports.

But he lamented the sorry state of the National Stadium, Lagos, saying it was unfortunate that the edifice was left to rot away over the years. He added, however, that plans were on the way to restore the arena to its position as the pride of the nation.

“I believe that the reactivation of the stadium was one of the reasons for the National Sports Summit. I have read the documents; the PPP involvement and other things that would help us reclaim our position in sports and

putting the stadium back to effective use will help us in the quest for greatness.

“We are looking at how to raise funds outside the budgetary allocation to invest in intangible things like training of athletes and camping for competitions.

“I have been in government for close to 10 years and have come to realize that people do not invest in what they cannot see the immediate result. They hardly spend money to train athletes, yet they expect good results.

“The sports budget is terribly insignificant, but I hope the new thought pattern among those in government will help us revitalize our sports.”

The GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sports Wednesday, June 4, 2014 | 75

Bakare quits NBBF, calls for unity among stakeholders

By Adeyinka Adedipe eChNICAL Director of the T Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Ayo Bakare, has resigned from the position citing personal reasons.

Bakare, who led the D’Tigers to its first World Championship in 1998 and Olympic Games in 2012, said the “decision was not a sudden one, but was done after a lot of consideration, discussion and consultation between the federation and myself.” he also said that the decision to vacate the role was mutually and amicably made, which was not done as a consequence of, or reaction to any events or incidents, real or imagined.

The Comet proprietor stated that he had the highest personal and professional regard for the NBBF President, Tijani Umar; and his administration, vowing to fully endorse and continue to support their programmes.

While noting that he would use the period for stock-taking after serving basketball for 25 years in different capacities, Bakare said he “remained irrevocably com-

mitted to the progress of Nigerian basketball and would serve Nigerian basketball as sincerely as I have done these past twenty-five or more years.

“I remain equally committed to the success of this current NBBF administration. I urge us all to continue to support the NBBF for the uplifting of Nigeria basketball.” he called on stakeholders to come together, lamenting that personal interests were hindering the growth of the game in the country. “I must call on all the stakeholders to come together and uplift basketball in the country.

Personal and selfish interests have torn the game apart, as those who lose during election, see those who win as adversaries.

“We have knowledgeable people in basketball, but it has been a curse rather than blessing, as the past 16 years have witnessed a lot of bickering, which has slowed down the progress of the game in the country.”

Bakare said the last 25 years have been challenging for him, with the greatest challenge being the non-availability of funds to prosecute programmes both at club and

national team levels. he said: “Whatever I have achieved has been due to the people I have worked with. I did not singlehandedly achieve those things and credit must go to everyone who had contributed to my success.

“We have moved from a country who have struggled at major tournaments to become favourites due to the success the national team has recorded over the years. The country currently ranks number 18 in the world. however, we are not able to attract more sponsors and investors due to the acrimonious relationship among the stakeholders, which brings bad publicity for the game.” he commended the current sponsor, DStv and Zenith Bank for backing with the NBBF despite the problem bedevilling the game.

Akeem Suleiman of Oluyole Warriors (right) trying to dribble past Godwin Ikonshul of Union Bank during their 2014 Nigeria DStv Premier Basketball League held at the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium, Lagos…at the weekend.

AFN Golden League moved to Warri, as All Nigeria Athletics Championships meet

By Gowon Akpodonor he Technical Committee T of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has moved the finals of the AFN Golden League, earlier slated for Benin City on June 7, to Warri, Delta State. It will now hold on June 14, two days after the kick off of the Brazil 2014

World Cup. Meanwhile, members of the Main Organizing Committee of the 2014 AFN/CRS All Nigeria Athletics Championships will meet in Abuja tomorrow to work towards a successful Championship. This year’s edition of the championships serves as trials for the

Israel, South Africa are top seeds, as Lagos International Badminton Classics serves off OP players from 14 counT tries within and outside Africa, including host,

Nigeria’s Jimkan Bulus and Ola Fagbemi in action against Thailand at the just concluded 2014 Li-Ning BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals held in India. Both players are in the Lagos Classics,

Access Bank/Barbedos targets fifth UNICEF Charity Shield Polo title CCeSS BANK/Barbedos A squad will this morning begin their quest for the fifth title at the on-going Access Bank UNICeF Charity Shield Polo tournament holding in Kaduna.

Other teams jostling for their first ever Charity Shield title include Keffi Ponys, Fifth Chukker and the highly ambitious Max Air side that is poised to upstage regulars in this winner-takes-all Access Bank charity polo extravaganza.

The record setting Access Bank team partnering Barbedos polo club this year, won their fourth title in a grand style last year, dethroning defending champions, Linetrale Delany, in a tense final and pundits are already tipping them to raise the stake with a fifth Charity Shield title.

Parading their skipper, Adamu Atta, Kashim Bukar,

Santiago Solari and Manuel Crespo, the defending champions stormed the Kangimi Resort venue of the polo fiesta yesterday with trucks load of supporters, ahead of today’s opener. “each and every team in the Charity Shield contest is difficult, there are no easy games,” Atta, who plays crucial role in all four Access Bank team victories, said.

“When you play in a highgoal game like this where every team has two foreign professionals, you have to win, score more goals and you have to fight very hard for a victory.”

The opening game of the Charity Shield race is guaranteed to be explosive as Keffi Ponys take on Max Air, while the defending champions, Access Bank/Barbedos are scheduled to gallop off their title defense against arch rivals, Fifth Chukker tomorrow.

Nigeria, will today begin hostilities at the Lagos International Badminton Classics, which serves off at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park in Lagos.

From the list of players taking part in the four-day championship, Israel’s Siberman Mishan and South Africa’s elme De Villieres have been seeded number one in the men and women singles events respectively, while two Nigerians, Dorcas Adesokan and Fatima Azeri, are also seeded third and fourth respectively in the women division.

With the venue wearing a new look and all the participants having arrived for the

competition, the race for the $15,000 prize money takes off with players competing in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles events.

Also seeded in the top five of the men’s event are United States’ howard Shu, Czech Republic’s Jan Frohliah, India’s Subhankan Deyi and Italy’s Giovanni Greco.

Despite not being rated among the top five of the championship, Nigeria’s Abah enejoh believes the rating would not prevent them from facing any of the top ranked player. enejoh, who is the highest rated Nigerian player in the world, is hopeful that with the good atmosphere put together for the tournament, nothing is impossible for them to achieve.

Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and Africa Athletics Championships in Marrakech Morocco.

A member of AFN technical committee, who is also the Golden League meet director, Yusuf Alli, said yesterday that the decision to move the event to Warri was taken to give the home-based athletes the opportunity to be in top form to compete in the money spinning Warri Relay/CAA Super Grand and the AFN/CRS All Nigeria Athletics Championships.

“June is a very busy month for track and field in Nigeria.

Our home-based athletes have been competing since February and it will be good for them to be fresh for the

Grand Prix and our trials.

“Competing in Benin and moving straight within a week to Warri and Calabar a few days later may lead to some of them either sustaining injuries or burning out.

After consultations with all the stakeholders and leaders of the athletes, clubs and states, we decided to do the final of the Golden League during the Grand Prix in Warri,” Alli said.

AFN vice president, Tunde Abdulkareem, who is the Chairman of the MOC for the Calabar championship, has urged members to attend tomorrow’s meeting as important issues that will ensure a successful championship will be discussed.

LMC explains benefits of terrestrial broadcast partnership with AIT he League Management T Company (LMC) has explained the benefits of the recent terrestrial broadcast deal it entered into with DAAR Communications, operators of African Independent Television (AIT), on Monday.

The partnership assigned to AIT the rights for free to air

LMC Director, Shehu Dikko (right), AIT Managing Director Tony Akiotu and Legal Consultant to LMC, Samson Ebomhe, during the signing of the Terrestrial Broadcast right contract in Abuja.

broadcast of live games of the Glo Premier League games but with feeds from SuperSport, the principal broadcast partner to the LMC. According to LMC board member, Shehu Dikko, who represented the company’s Chairman, Nduka Irabor, at the ceremonies to mark the formal signing of the two-year partnership, the deal is unique and consistent with the vision of the LMC to increase the penetration of the league to inner cities of the country.

“SuperSport is our principal broadcast partner but the LMC-AIT deal marks a major milestone in the NPFL reform process and brings the best of the domestic league to a broader spectrum of Nigerians who otherwise may not have access to cable television”, Dikko explained.

It is a deal with no immediate financial returns, but Dikko described it as one of the innovative services the LMC is offering as part of the development process to enrich the league and increase the value to stakeholders.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

76 SPORTS Wednesday, June 4, 2014

World Cup

Ever Banega excluded from Argentina squad VER Banega was the most E high-profile player excluded as Argentina confirmed their final 23-man World Cup squad.

The Newell’s Old Boys midfielder was cut from the provisional 26 along with Jose Sosa of Atletico Madrid and Atletico Mineiro’s Nicolas Otamendi.

Coach Alejandro Sabella had previous dropped Werder Bremen striker, Franco Di Santo from the original 30.

Lisandro Lopez of Getafe, River Plate’s Gabriel Mercado and Fabian Rinaudo Catania were also cut at that stage.

The big names absent from Sabella’s initial squad were Tottenham’s Erik Lamela and Juventus striker, Carlos Tevez.

Forward Lamela, 22, joined Spurs for a club-record fee of £26m from Roma last summer, but has suffered a series of injuries and made just 10 starts this season.

Sabella did not consider Tevez, despite his 19 goals in Serie A this season. There is also no place for Paris St-Germain midfielder Javier Pastore.

Manchester City defender, Martin Demichelis is included after winning the Premier League title in his first season at the Etihad Stadium.

The centre-back, who played in the 2010 World Cup, has not

featured for his country since a 1-1 draw at home with Bolivia in a qualifier in November 2011.

Sabella has also selected injured midfielders Fernando Gago, Augusto Fernandez and Angel Di Maria, who hope to be fit in time for the finals, which start on June 12.

Argentina face Iran, BosniaHercegovina and Nigeria in Group F. Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Sampdoria), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Agustin Orion (Boca Juniors).

Defenders: Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Federico Fernandez (Napoli), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon), Hugo Campagnaro (Inter Milan), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City), Jose Basanta (Monterrey).

Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Ricardo Alvarez (Inter Milan), Augusto Fernandez (Celta Vigo), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid), Maxi Rodriguez (Newell’s Old Boys), Enzo Perez (Benfica).

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Rodrigo Palacio (Inter Milan), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris St-Germain).

Arnold Peralta out of Honduras team ANGERS midfielder, Arnold R Peralta has been ruled out of Honduras’s World Cup squad because of a thigh injury. He is replaced by Real Espana’s Edder Delgado.

There are five British-based players in the 23-man squad, which will also face England in a friendly on Saturday.

Hull defender Maynor Figueroa, Stoke midfielder Wilson Palacios, Wigan duoRoger Espinoza and Juan Carlos Garcia and Celtic’s Emilio Izaguirre are all selected.

Luis Fernando Suarez kept faith with with most of the regulars who saw the team through the Concacaf qualifiers.

In Brazil, Honduras will play France, Ecuador and Switzerland in Group E. Goalkeepers: Noel Valladares,

Donis Escober (both Olimpia), Luis Lopez (Real Espana).

Defenders: Brayan Beckeles (Olimpia), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic), Juan Carlos Garcia (Wigan), Maynor Figueroa (Hull), Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes), Osman Chavez (Qingdao Janoon), Juan Pablo Montes (Motagua).

Midfielders: Edder Delgado (Real Espana), Luis Garrido (Olimpia), Roger Espinoza (Wigan), Jorge Claros (Motagua), Wilson Palacios (Stoke), Oscar Garcia (Houston Dynamo), Andy Najar (Anderlecht), Mario Martinez (Real Espana), Marvin Chavez (Chivas USA).

Strikers: Jerry Bengtson (New England Revolution), Jerry Palacios (Alajuelense), Carlo Costly (Real Espana), Rony Martinez (Real Sociedad).

Banega

Valencia

Australia drops Celtic’s Tom Rogic USTRALIA have dropped A Celtic midfielder Tom Rogic from their World Cup squad.

The 21-year-old, on loan at Melbourne Victory, was one of four players cut from a provisional 27-man selection.

Newcastle Jets goalkeeper Mark Birighitti, Dinamo Moscow defender Luke Wilkshire and Nagoya Grampus 8 striker Josh Kennedy were the other players to miss out on going to Brazil.

League One players, Bailey Wright and Massimo Luongo are in the squad. Preston defender Wright is uncapped and Swindon midfielder Luongo, also 21, made his international debut this year.

New York Red Bulls forward Tim Cahill, 34, is included in the squad, but Lucas Neill, 36, was overlooked from the provisional 30-man squad.

The Watford defender, who has won 96 caps, spent the end of the season on loan at Doncaster in an attempt to secure a place.

Australia are in Group B with defending champions Spain, 2010 runners-up Netherlands and Chile.

Curtis Good, Josh Brillante (Newcastle Jets) and Adam Sarota (Utrecht) were dropped from the initial squad.

Newcastle United defender, Good has not played since suffering a hip injury in March, while midfielder Sarota has been making a comeback following knee surgery.

Midfielder Brillante has been deemed surplus to requirements.

Goalkeepers: Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United), Mitchell Langerak (Borussia Dortmund), Mat Ryan (Club Brugge).

Defenders: Jason Davidson (Heracles Almelo), Ivan Franjic (Brisbane Roar), Ryan McGowan (Shandong Luneng Taishan), Matthew Spiranovic (Western Sydney Wanderers), Alex Wilkinson (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Bailey Wright (Preston North End).

Midfielders: Oliver Bozanic (Luzern), Mark Bresciano (Al Gharafa), James Holland (Austria Vienna), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace), Massimo Luongo (Swindon Town), Matthew McKay (Brisbane Roar), Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory), Tommy Oar (Utrecht), James Troisi

Falcao out of Colombia squad OLOMBIA striker, Radamel Falcao will C miss the World Cup after he was left out of his country’s final 23-man squad.

The 28-year-old Monaco player has not played since sustaining anterior cruciate ligament damage in January. He had been included in Jose Pekerman’s provisional 30-man party.

But Falcao - who scored nine goals during Colombia’s qualifying campaign - has lost his race to be fit in time for the finals in Brazil.

Also missing out are defenders Aquivaldo Mosquera of Club America and Luis Amaranto Perea of Cruz Azul, midfielders Macnelly Torres of Al Shabab, Elkin Soto of Mainz, and Edwin Valencia of Fluminense, as well as Udinese forward Luis Fernando Muriel.

Colombia are drawn in Group C with Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan.

Pekerman’s side play their first match against Greece on 14 June in Belo Horizonte, before meeting Ivory Coast on 19 June and Japan on June 24. efender Pablo Armero, who spent the second half of the season on loan at West Ham, is the only player that featured in

the Premier League this season in a squad that also contains Monaco’s £38.5m midfielder James Rodriguez.

Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Nice), Faryd Mondragon (Deportivo Cali), Camilo Vargas (Independiente Santa Fe).

Defenders: Mario Yepes (AC Milan), Cristian Zapata (AC Milan), Pablo Armero (West Ham, on loan from Napoli), Camilo Zuniga (Napoli), Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven), Eder Alvarez Balanta (River Plate), Carlos Valdes (San Lorenzo).

Midfielders: Fredy Guarin (Inter Milan), Juan Cuadrado (Fiorentina), James Rodriguez (Monaco), Abel Aguilar (Toulouse), Juan Fernando Quintero (Porto), Carlos Sanchez (Elche), Aldo Leao Ramirez (Morelia), Alexander Mejia (Atletico Nacional), Forwards: Victor Ibarbo (Cagliari), Jackson Martinez (Porto), Carlos Bacca (Sevilla), Adrian Ramos (Hertha Berlin), Teofilo Gutierrez (River Plate).

(Melbourne Victory), Dario Vidosic (Sion).

Forwards: Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls), Ben Halloran

(Fortuna Dusseldorf), Matthew Leckie (FSV Frankfurt 1899), Adam Taggart (Newcastle Jets).

Ecuador names Antonio Valencia ANCHESTER United mid- The South American counM fielder, Antonio Valencia try are in Group E with has been named in Ecuador’s Switzerland, France and World Cup squad.

Valencia, 28, played 44 times for United as they finished a disappointing seventh in the Premier League.

Stuttgart midfielder, Carlos Gruezo, 19, who won his first two caps last month, is also in Reinaldo Rueda’s squad.

Midfielder Segundo Castillo also made the cut from the provisional squad despite suffering a knee injury during Saturday’s friendly against Mexico.

There were three uncapped domestic-based strikers in the 30-man squad - Cristian Penilla, Angel Mena and Armando Wila - but they have all been dropped.

Emelec defender Jhon Narvaez, 19-year-old Fortuna Dusseldorf defender Cristian Ramirez, Emelec midfielder, Pedro Quinonez and Chivas USA midfielder, Oswaldo Minda are the others to miss out.

Honduras.

Goalkeepers: Maximo Banguera (Barcelona SC), Alexander Dominguez (LDU Quito), Adrian Bone (El Nacional).

Defenders: Frickson Erazo (Flamengo), Jorge Guagua, Oscar Bagui, Gabriel Achilier (all Emelec), Walter Ayovi (Pachuca), Juan Carlos Paredes (Barcelona SC).

Midfielders: Segundo Castillo (Al-Hilal), Carlos Gruezo (Stuttgart), Renato Ibarra (Vitesse Arnhem), Cristian Noboa (Dynamo Moscow), Luis Saritama (Barcelona SC), Antonio Valencia (Manchester United), Edison Mendez (Independiente Santa Fe), Fidel Martinez (Tijuana), Michael Arroyo (Atlante).

Forwards: Felipe Caicedo (AlJazira), Jefferson Montero (Morelia), Joao Rojas (Cruz Azul), Jaime Ayovi (Tijuana), Enner Valencia (Pachuca).

Stephane Ruffier in France party RANCE have confirmed St FRuffier Etienne keeper Stephane in their World Cup

Falcao

squad after an injury to Steve Mandanda.

Mandanda, 29, cracked a vertebra in his neck while playing for Marseille on the final day of the French season.

France’s second-choice keeper, who has 16 caps, was struck in the face by the knee of Guingamp’s Mustapha Yatabare.

Ruffier, 27, who has been linked to Arsenal, won his second cap in the 4-0 friendly win over Norway on 27 May. France are in Group E of the World Cup, which begins on June 12.

They will play Honduras in their opening game on June 15, before also facing Ecuador and Switzerland.

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur),

Stephane Ruffier (St Etienne), Mickael Landreau (Bastia).

Defenders: Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle), Lucas Digne (Paris St-Germain) Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna (both Arsenal), Eliaquim Mangala (Porto), Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid).

Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye, Blaise Matuidi (both Paris StGermain), Clement Grenier (Lyon), Rio Mavuba (Lille), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille).

Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad), Loic Remy (Newastle, on loan from QPR), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich).

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 SPORTS 77

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

World Cup Qatar 2022: Australia World Cup bid team deny wrongdoing HE Australian Football Australian Football T Federation has denied any Federation (FFA) during the wrongdoing in its failed 2022 World Cup bid, insisting its dealings were transparent.

A bid member says a $4m grant to the Oceania governing body needs examining.

Bonita Mersiades spoke after claims ex-FIFA official Mohamed bin Hammam made payments to assist Qatar’s winning bid.

“Was a vote attached [to the $4m]? If yes, it’s hard to argue the activity is much different from what Bin Hammam is alleged to have been doing,” she said.

Bin Hammam is under investigation for allegedly making payments totalling $5m (£3m) to football officials in return for their support for the Qatar bid.

Mersiades, who was head of corporate affairs for the

bid process, added: “Some of the evidence published in relation to Qatar was that some of the money was given to development projects - we gave money for development projects.”

But the FFA insist payments to the Oceania Football Federation “met FIFA guidelines” and were conducted “with due diligence”.

The organisation donated £275,000 in 2010 as financial support towards a feasibility study for a CONCACAF Centre of Excellence project in the Caribbean but the funds were later “misappropriated”.

FIFA investigator and New York Lawyer Michael Garcia who has led an inquiry into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid process - was made aware of the lost sum.

Ashkan Dejagah makes Iran squad midfielder, Ashkan Alireza Haghighi (Sporting Fin ULHAM Dejagah has been included Covilha, on loan from Rubin Iran boss Carlos Queiroz’s Kazan), Rahman Ahmadi

Foster

Ben Foster has no regrets over England exile NGLAND goalkeeper Ben E Foster has no regrets about his self-imposed international exile and insists: “It’s something I’d do again.”

West Brom’s Foster quit the national team for two years in 2011 when Fabio Capello was in charge.

However, he made himself available when Roy Hodgson, who had been his manager at The Hawthorns, was appointed.

Foster will win his seventh cap when England play Ecuador on Wednesday as Hodgson rests first choice Joe Hart.

The 31-year-old received heavy criticism in some quarters for the decision, but says: “People are entitled to give that criticism because most would give their right hand to be at a World Cup. Even now I stick by the decision it’s something I’d do again.”

Foster added: “It was a very big decision. We had a newborn baby and another child under a year old. Family is a very important thing for me and I felt that I was missing them growing up.

“I was always going to come back to the team if the manager was happy to have me and thankfully the manager was. It’s fantastic now to be in a World Cup.” Foster also pointed out his decision to withdraw from selection was not a reaction to the prospect of becoming Hart’s permanent long-term deputy - with no prospect of being promoted to the lead role.

“That genuinely wasn’t the reason,” said Foster. “It was the fact I had a newborn baby and another child under a year. They’re like sponges at that age, taking everything in and it was all

too much to deal with.

“All I was thinking about was back home with my family and it was affecting my football. I spoke to my wife, my family, my mum and dad. We all talked about it going away from them and all you think about is your family. It’s like homesickness.

“The family reaction was a mix. A few thought I was barmy and a few could understand it.

“My brothers Adrian and Brett, who are Sunday league players, thought I was barmy. They were like ‘what are you doing? What are you thinking?’ I could completely understand it. It’s their opinion. That’s fine. I knew what I wanted to do. My mum and dad were supportive, my sister too.”

The former Stoke, Manchester United and

Birmingham man has won six caps since making his debut against Spain in February 2007.

He last played for England in the 1-1 draw with Republic of Ireland last May, coming on as a half-time substitute for Joe Hart.

Foster was speaking after England had their first training session after flying to Miami on Sunday as they step up their preparations ahead of their World Cup opener against Italy in Manaus on 14 June.

England were forced to train indoors after torrential storms swept through Miami. Similar stormy conditions are forecast for the rest of the week.

Hodgson’s team play two friendlies in the United States this week, facing Ecuador on Wednesday before meeting Honduras on

Bobby Charlton defends Rooney’s record IR Bobby Charlton has Sfollowing defended Wayne Rooney recent criticism of the England striker.

Rooney’s ex-Manchester United team-mate Paul Scholes has suggested the 28year-old may be past his best as doubts have been raised over his starting place.

“Wayne Rooney is the only one that comes to mind when you think of where our class players are coming from,” said 1966 World Cup winner Charlton.

“Wayne Rooney will have to play. He’s just got that something extra.”

Rooney underwent a special training programme at England’s camp in Portugal following the end of the Premier League season as he aimed to return to full fitness

following a groin injury.

However, he struggled to make an impact in the 3-0 win over Peru at Wembley last Friday in his first game in just over a month.

The forward has 38 goals in 90 England games but questions have been raised over his place in manager Roy Hodgson’s side, especially considering his previous record at major tournaments.

Rooney flourished at Euro 2004 when he was just 18 but failed to find the net in eight matches at the 2006 and 2010 World Cup finals.

He had only just recovered from a broken bone in his foot in 2006 and had his build-up to the 2010 tournament disrupted by an ankle injury in late March.

At the 2012 European

Championships, he missed the first two games because of suspension.

But Charlton, a Manchester United director, added: “In every position there seems to be a little bit of doubt in my mind, apart from Wayne Rooney and even he would want to play in certain positions, but it’s up to the manager.”

Steven Gerrard had earlier made a passionate defence of Rooney after former Manchester United teammate Paul Scholes suggested the striker may be past his peak.

Scholes also questioned whether England’s management team would have the courage to ever drop Rooney.

But Gerrard, 33, said: “I think Paul Scholes was wrong.

Wayne has been Manchester United’s best player throughout the season, both at home and in Europe.”

Manager Roy Hodgson, who leads England into next month’s World Cup in Brazil, agreed, insisting the 28-yearold Rooney was not “past his best”.

The former Liverpool and West Brom boss said: “I believe in Wayne Rooney.

He’s still a young man. I’ve selected Wayne in a 23-man squad that I am very proud of. “ He added: “If I’m going to have to comment and defend people or challenge opinions every time someone airs one, I’m going to be a very busy man at this World Cup. “Maybe the next one is Franz Beckenbauer or Pele. Who

23-man World Cup squad.

Dejagah played 21 league games for the Cottagers this season, scoring five goals in a difficult campaign as they were relegated.

Charlton’s Reza Ghoochannejhad also survived the cut from the 28man squad.

Rubin Kazan’s 19-year-old forward, Sardar Azmoun was the only European-based player to be dropped from the provisional selection.

The other players to miss out are keeper Sousha Makani, defender Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh and forwards Mohammad Reza Khalatbari and Mehdi Sharifi.

Forward Ali Karimi, who won 127 caps, was not even included in their initial training squad. Iran play Argentina, Bosnia and Nigeria in Group F. Goalkeepers: Daniel Davari (Eintracht Braunschweig),

(Sepahan).

Defenders: Hossein Mahini (Persepolis), Steven Beitashour (Vancouver Whitecaps), Pejman Montazeri (Umm Salal), Jalal Hosseini (Persepolis), AmirHossein Sadeghi (Esteghlal), Ahmad Alenemeh (Naft), Hashem Beikzadeh (Esteghlal), Mehrdad Pouladi (Persepolis).

Midfielders: Javad Nekounam (Kuwait SC), Andranik Teymourian (Esteghlal), Reza Haghighi (Persepolis), Ghasem Haddadifar (Zob Ahan), Bakhtiar Rahmani (Foolad), Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan).

Forwards: Ashkan Dejagah (Fulham), Masoud Shojaei (Las Palmas), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (NEC Nijmegen), Reza Ghoochannejhad (Charlton), Karim Ansarifard (Tractor Saz, on loan from Persepolis), Khosro Heydari (Esteghlal).

Costa Rica loses warm-up match ANCHESTER United’s M Shinji Kagawa scored as Japan beat England’s World Cup opponents Costa Rica 3-1 in a warm-up game in Tampa Bay. Costa Rica’s Bryan Ruiz, on loan at Dutch side PSV Eindhoven from Fulham, put his side ahead in the 31st minute.

Yasuhito Endo equalised on the hour-mark before Kagawa made it 2-1 to Japan with 10 minutes to go and

Rooney

Yoichiro Kakitani added a late third.

England face Costa Rica in their last Group D match on 24 June.

Los Ticos play their final warm-up game against the Republic of Ireland in Pennsylvania on Saturday before their opening World Cup clash against Uruguay on 14 June.

Japan are in Group C with Colombia, Greece and Ivory Coast.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

78 | Wednesday, June 4, 2014 Sports

European Transfer

Liverpool wants Moreno, says Sevilla president EVILLA president Jose SLiverpool’s Castro has confirmed interest in fullback Alberto Moreno and he has told any player wanting to leave the club they can do so for the right price.

Moreno is being strongly linked with a move away from the club this summer, along with midfield star Ivan Rakitic.

It has long been suggested that Liverpool are in pole position to land 21-year-old Moreno - who has just missed out on a place in Spain’s World Cup squad.

Castro has now admitted that Liverpool are indeed interested in taking Moreno.

“It’s true that there’s interest from Liverpool and we’re waiting to see if that turns into a reality, which right now, it isn’t,” Castro told the club’s television channel.

Castro insists that the club will not be forced to sell Moreno or Rakitic cheaply, and has denied ongoing reports that the club needs to sell in order to bolster their finances.

He said: “What I’m clear about is that we’ll not force anyone to stay at Sevilla.

“Whoever wants to leave can

do so, but we’ll be the ones setting the prices.

“This club is experiencing a time of economic stability and we don’t need to sell.

“We’re going to be firm about this and we’ll only consider selling outside the market, which gives us the opportunity to make our team competitive.”

On Rakitic, he confirmed talks were ongoing over a new deal - despite the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and champions Atletico Madrid all reportedly readying offers for the Croatian.

But Castro did admit to being ‘frustrated’ with Rakitic over the fact he is yet to sign his deal.

“The contract renewal offer to Rakitic is really important to us, as a part of our budget for the next season. We want Rakitic to stay so that the team remains powerful, we really want him to stay,” he continued.

“Rakitic still has a year left on his contract and we’ll have to analyse what comes. The truth of the matter is that many months have gone by, since we reached an agreement with him and he’s still not signed. We’re frustrated about that and I am particularly.”

Moreno

‘Spurs was close to getting me’ van Gaal has revealed LingOUIS he came “very close” to takthe Tottenham job before agreeing to replace David Moyes at Manchester United.

The 62-year-old will stand down from his current role as Holland boss after the World Cup to take over at Old Trafford.

But he was linked with Spurs when Andre Villas-Boas was sacked last December, and more recently when the position of now-departed Tim Sherwood had begun to look uncertain.

Speaking at Holland’s World Cup training base in Santpoort, the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss admitted the White Hart Lane post had been a tempting proposition.

Asked how near he was to taking the job, Van Gaal said: “Very close, very close.

“As a little boy I was a fan of

Tottenham Hotspur with the team of Jimmy Greaves when he was the champion. Jimmy Greaves was my idol, so I was very close.”

Holland take on Wales in Amsterdam today in a final friendly before they leave for Brazil but Van Gaal is disappointed that his players will not be facing Champions League winner Gareth Bale.

The Real Madrid star withdrew from Chris Coleman’s squad citing a leg injury, while Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has been rested.

“I am a little bit disappointed but I can understand it because Bale has a difficult, but also impressive, season under his belt,” Van Gaal said.

“It is better that we have the best team of Wales because we need resistance. I think Wales without these players are weak-

er.

“But I have seen Wales play, against Iceland and Finland, and I like the way that they play - they want the ball.

“So it’s not a bad team - but with Bale it is always better, with Ramsey also.”

van Gaal

Balotelli’s future depends on new boss, says Berlusconi C Milan president Silvio A Berlusconi says no decision on the future of Mario

Beckham

Beckham considers return to football AVID Beckham has hintD ed he might come out of retirement and start playing football again.

The former England captain, who retired last year after a short stint playing in France for Paris Saint Germain, admitted he had “a tough time” after calling a halt to his career.

Appearing on the new BBC documentary David Beckham: Into The Unknown, he said he had gone through “a stage of enjoying the rest” but was now tempted to go back.

He said: “Now I go to watch a

basketball game and, when you are watching athletes play at the top of their game, for me it gives me that itch again and I want to be back in the game then and I start thinking to myself ‘Could I play again?

Could I go back? Could I come out of retirement and start playing again?”‘ Beckham is currently trying to launch his own Major League Soccer team in Miami and hinted he might turn out for them.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder said: “There’s never been a player-owner but maybe?”

Balotelli will be made until they have a new coach in place.

Balotelli has been strongly linked with a return to the Premier League, with Arsenal and Chelsea both reported to be showing an interest in the former Manchester City star.

Berlusconi refused to rule out the prospect of selling the 23year-old - who is currently with the Italy World Cup squad ahead of the finals in Brazil.

“Will Balotelli stay? We have not decided about the market yet, neither for signings or for sales,” Berlusconi told the Italian media.

“We are evaluating, anyway, new players, but to take decisions we must wait for the new coach”, he added.

Milan is widely expected to announce former striker

Pippo Inzaghi as their new coach.

On a new managerial appointment, Berlusconi added: “We have convened the board of directors of AC Milan and there we will decide who will be our new coach.”

Current coach Clarence Seedorf has stated that he has

Balotelli

not been told that he is leaving.

“I read things like you,” Seedorf told Sky Sport Italia.

“But I haven’t information from the club and so I have nothing to say. I feel good and I’m trying to live these days with the family and friends, and I reaffirm to have not had indications from the club.”

Larsson signs three years contract extension UNDERLAND midfielder Ssigned Sebastian Larsson has a three-year contract extension.

The 28-year-old Sweden international, whose existing deal was due to expire at the end of this month, has committed his future to the Black Cats until the summer of 2017.

Larsson said: “I’m delighted to have signed a new deal with the club. I’ve had talks with (manager) Gus (Poyet) and (sporting director) Lee Congerton and I feel that this is a club moving in the right direction and I want to be part of it.”

Larsson was one of three out-of-contract players Poyet hoped to retain after the club’s remarkable surge to Barclays Premier League safety last season, but the first to give him the answer he was looking for.

Full-back Phil Bardsley decided instead to join Stoke, while midfielder Jack Colback, who is interesting a series of suitors including West Ham and Newcastle, is yet to make a decision.

Larsson revealed he too had options, but decided to stay where he was having made 41 appearances last season.

He said: “I had a few options, but I want to be at Sunderland and I’m looking forward to the new season.”

The Swede’s decision will come as a boost to Poyet as he attempts to avoid a relegation fight next season.

He has wasted little time in making their moves with West Brom full-back Billy Jones and Wigan midfielder Jordi Gomez having already been drafted in as free signings to replace the departed Bardsley and Craig Gardner.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 SPORTS

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

79

My World Cup story…Keshi

Keshi supervising Super Eagles in training

‘

We chose our team without sentiment

By Mitchell Obi hen he went deep into his cultural well and W exclaimed ‘’ke nako,” many inside the Calabash Stadium in Johannesburg felt a tinge of accomplishment and joy for a man, who saw the struggle to free his people as his life and fervently knew “it’s about time.”

Nelson Mandela was different and as one who believed in the power of sports to change the world, he knew when to attack and defend and when the game is up.

Fairplay was one of the enduring lessons with his staunch identification with sports and little wonder that when was let free from

‘

Robben Island prison, he had to drop the bitterness and anger at the doorsteps of his jailors to be completely f r e e .

Stephen Okechukwu Keshi counts Mandela as one of his cherished icons and will always have a special place for the late South African leader and the country in his heart and life’s chronicle.

It was in South Africa that Keshi not only struggled with his coaching endeavor, but also found the courage to believe in his turn-around capacity and venture.

South Africa brought a mélange of early disappointment, betrayal, treachery, mischief, distrust, but above all, a heavy flow of confi-

Uzoenyi’s omission was a difficult decision and we spent considerable time on it. It was painful to drop him, but it was a choice between him and Osaze (Odemwingie). Not happy to let him go, but Osaze has more power and commitment and plays any position upfront. He plays from the right, midfield and that’s the little disadvantage Ejike had.

’

’

Babatunde is a good player whom we have been monitoring since he came into the last Nations Cup camp. Once he gets confidence and do what he is supposed to do, you would enjoy his game. dence, commitment, collaboration and conviviality.

At the end of a hectic campaign, he became a new Nigerian and found sweetness there. With a Nations Cup gold and a Nations Championship bronze all in Mandela’s territory, Keshi today can look back and also scream “ke nako “ No doubt it is about time to focus on Keshi’s team for the World Cup after last night’s game against Greece.

The Super Eagles’ gaffer knows that in the few days leading to his opening Mundial clash with Iran on June 16, his selection of 23 will come under severe scrutiny.

“We have done our best and picked the players, who can make Nigerians proud,” Keshi opened up in response to the non-selection, particularly of two players, who gave

him joy and victories to wit Sunday Mba and Ejike Uzoenyi.

“It does not work that way. If you give me a trophy you should be ready to give me another. That’s how it works.

We need to be professional at all times. It’s not about being emotional.

“You have to give me what I want or you go. It can’t work

‘

for me. If I go with emotion, I would have gone for some of my boys like Fegor Ogude, Brown Ideye. We need a higher level of commitment and there must be consistency.”

Why did the ‘Big Boss’ not settle for Uzoenyi, who demonstrated commitment throughout the African Nations Championship and was voted the Most Valuable Player of the tournament?

“His was a difficult decision and we spent considerable time on it. It was painful to drop him, but it was a choice between him and Osaze (Odemwingie). Not happy to let him go. But Osaze has more power and commit-

We have done our best and picked the players, who can make Nigerians proud. If you gave me a trophy you should be ready to give me another. That’s how it works. We need to be professional at all times. It’s not about being emotional. You have to give me what I want or you go. It can’t work for me. If I go with emotion, I would have gone for some of my boys like Fegor Ogude and Brown Ideye.

’

ment and plays any position upfront.

“He plays from the right, midfield and that’s the little disadvantage Ejike had,” Keshi explained, whilst hoping that one of the unlikely choices for many, Michael Babatunde, will fulfill his potentials.

“He is a good player whom we have been monitoring since he came into the last Nations Cup camp. Once he gets confidence and do what he is supposed to do, you would enjoy his game.”

Obviously the World Cup stage will not panic Babatunde, who was easily one of the best foreign players in the Russian League.

Will the new love from Russia last? Keshi sounding relaxed after the hurdle of picking his team has this message: “I don’t want to talk about the past, but move forward. I got talents in my team right now, but we just have to bring them into unity and togetherness, oneness and make them believe we can.” Can someone join him and say “Ke nako.”

• A Mastersports Presentation Copyright 2014.

TheGuardian

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Polycarp Onwubiko ERCEPTIVE and keen observers of the deliberations of the various committees of the national conference would be wondering about the curious agenda and mindset of an ethno-religious phalanx pertaining to the prospects of realistic socio-economic growth and development of this seemingly accursed country, Nigeria. I believe that the national conference which was divinely berthed in spite of its tortuous journey and buffetings has exposed the devious design of the Northern establishment, that is, the leaders in that region, the core North, to hold the progressive minded ethnic groups in the southern part of the country to ransom.

It has become apparent that there will never be a point of convergence in the realistic position of delegates of the southern geo-political zones with the quixotic posturing of their northern counterpart in the imperative restructuring of governance and public service in Nigeria. It is unfortunate that the Northern leaders have sealed the fate of the progressive mind of the ethno-religious groups in the middle belt of the country whose elite have not sufficiently demonstrated a resolve to free their people from the age-long mental strangle hold and internal colonialism of the northern Establishment masquerading to be protecting their interests in the platforms of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF). The northern leaders have foreclosed the exercise of independent mind of people of Plateau, Benue, Kwara, Kogi and Nassarawa states from articulating what will be beneficial to them and their posterity in the national conference.

The core north leaders have as usual brainwashed these people before the commencement of the national conference that the “North would present one agenda” in the national conference. Of course the supposed one agenda has been their pristine well entrenched positions and preferences of which have been to sustain the lopsided structures and pseudo federalism which have hobbled the wheel of realistic technological and scientific advancement cum sustainable growth and development of ethnic groups in the southern part of the country. They have adroitly succeeded in brain washing some of the malleable elite who are slaves of the northern caliphate from the middle belt especially one of them who took it upon himself to disparage the internationally acclaimed legal luminary – Prof. Ben Nwabueze, who had expressed the view to reinvent the tenets of federal system of government as obtainable the world over and during the First Republic in Nigeria. The naïve posturing of the person in question and his cotravellers glossed over the killing of Christians, systemic ethnic cleansing in the middle belt, the obvious socio-economic and political marginalisation and manipulations of the security agencies to shield the religious fundamentalist and Fulani herdsmen. For instance, the many communities and vast agricultural land of Benue State are now being occupied by the aggressive Fulani cattle herdsmen who carry sophisticated lethal weapons without being arrested by the police while the indigenes of the communities have been languishing in refugee camps as their houses have been destroyed, even when the country is not at war with a neighbouring country or inter ethnic conflagration. It bears no sermonizing that true federalism is practicable as was done in the First Republic which will liberate the people of middle belt from the ethno-religious strangle-hold and intimidation of their captors since the abhorrent 1914 amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates.

The core North leaders have deftly deployed the deliberately created lopsided creation of the states and local governments by their kits and kins in the military regimes wherein the supposed ‘north’ would always have its way in the national institutions like the National Assembly, appeal courts, supreme courts in addition to other adhoc establishments like the national conference in determining critical

P

Please send reactions and feedback for YOUTH SPEAK to:

editorial@risenetworks.org and 07067976667- SMS ONLY

True federalism and alleged doubtful practicability in Nigeria

Cross section of delegates at the national conference policies and directions in governance.

Consequently, the fall-outs from the committees of the national conference on the agitation to restructure the largely flawed governance and institutions and rectifying other crucial matters have been in the primordial repulsive and ultra conservative stance of the Northern Establishment to live the country as it has been in terms of retrogression and awry interpretation of federal system of government. In other words, the naïve perception and insistence of the conservation forces from the north is that Nigeria should maintain the awry definition of federalism and violate the federal principles in the name of home-grown version of federal system of government. This perception is untenable. This long tolerated retrogression must be resisted by the delegates, from the south so as to liberate their suppressed initiatives of their people in world view and all round development. The reports in the newspapers that “the north” disagrees with the south in some of the committees of

the national conference on federal principles and some other matters must not be tolerated.

It is either true federalism or nothing; the die is cast in the eventual meeting of the enlarged forum of the national conference.

Imperative of decentralising the security in infrastructure The editorial of a national newspaper Thursday, May 1, 2014 captioned NHRC Report on police stations with the timely admonition that “Security comes at a price; and that the police must be made comfortable”, is very illuminating and expository. The National Human Rights Commission in cooperation with Atlas Global Alliance undertook a study of 369 police stations across the six geo-political zones in the country and came out with a sorry and deplorable account of lamentable dilapidation of police stations never recorded in the history of any country in the world. The indicators in the research findings were community orientation, physical conditions, equal treatment of members of the public, transparency and

The YOUTHSPEAK Column which is published daily is an initiative of THE GUARDIAN, and powered by RISE NETWORKS, Nigeria’s Leading Youth Development Centre, as a substantial advocacy platform available for ALL Nigerian Youth to engage Leadership at all levels, engage Society and contribute to National Discourse on diverse issues especially those that are peculiar to Nigeria. Regarding submission of articles, we welcome writers‘ contributions by way of well crafted, analytical and thought provoking opinion pieces that are concise, topical and non-defamatory! All articles (which are not expected to be more than 2000 words) should be sent to editorial@risenetworks.org To read the online Version of this same article plus past publications and to find out more about Youth Speak, please visit www.risenetworks.org/youthspeak and join the ongoing National Conversations’’.

Also join our on-line conversation

RISE GROUP

@risenetworks

21676F3E

Published by Guardian Newspapers Limited, Rutam House, Isolo, Lagos Tel: 4489600, 2798269, 2798270, 07098147948, 07098147951 Fax: 4489712; Advert Hotlines: Lagos 7736351, Abuja 07098513445; Circulation Hotline: 01 4489656 All correspondence to Guardian Newspapers Limited, P.M.B. 1217, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria.

E-mail letters@ngrguardiannews.com; www.ngrguardiannews.com

Editor: MARTINS

OLOJA

.

ABC (ISSN NO 0189-5125)

accountability and detention conditions. It was appalling that police stations all over the country are in such gross deplorable condition.

Corroborating the sorry situation, the wives of police rank and file had some years ago publicly lamented the ugly situation of police barracks which were devoid of good environment, aesthetic beauty, basic infrastructural facilities like pipe borne water, electricity, toilet facilities in addition to the danger of living with reptiles and living little above animals; all in the name of centralised police force which the northern caliphate insists on the status quo so as to be controlling the whole country.

Nigerians can no longer afford to be living in fool’s paradise all in the name of striving for the ever elusive unity in diversity. It is naïve to expect that police welfare will in terms of living conditions and paraphernalia of office in this objectionable centralised police will improve. It is a well nigh impossibility and has been proved beyond reasonable doubt that the federal government could not cater for the centralised police. It is illegal to continue to compel state governments to be injecting billions of their people’s money in meeting the basic needs of the police in the silly notion that security is the responsibility of all the tiers of governments. The state government public funds ought to be channeled to the provision of the basic infrastructures and welfare of the people of these states and not funding federal institutions. It is never done anywhere in the world. For instance, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom built modern prison and handed it to the Federal Government which has been incapable of refurbishing the dilapidated prisons all over the county, how much less building new ones to reflect civilised standards.

I do not know the ultimate end of the decisions of the committees of the national conference but I believe that whatever their respective decisions on issues assigned to them, the southern delegates must see it as a bounden duty which is not negotiable to effect the actualisation of the principles of federalism namely: decentralised security system (state police/prisons and criminal justice system), fiscal federalism/resource control, confederation or regional structure based on the existing six geo-political zones or more regions since the states are too constricted to constitute the actual federating units, making local government council as state/regional matter, abolishing of concurrent legislative list which has been a euphemism for centralised/unitary system like education policy which gave rise to JAMB. Concurrent legislative list is a ruse as state governments are cowed and threatened if they ignore federal policies on issues.

There is nowhere in the world where a body controls admissions in secondary schools (the so called unity schools) and institutions of higher learning where dafts who score 5 per cent out of 200 per cent and 100 per cent out of 400 (JAMB) respectively are given admissions to the denial of brilliant candidates. Ethnic groups’ aspirations in education are not the same and therefore the Federal Ministry of Education has to be abolished. Let states which want to admit candidates who score 5 per cent make policy on that while states which value competitive spirit and excellence move at their respective pace in education, scientific technological advancement so as to join civilised countries of the world. When this sane process is done, there will no longer be the strikes by lecturers nationwide.

Above all, the federating units with the six geo-political zones is the ideal, (to be called Regional Governments) will have their respective constitution, public service rules and labour matters. The Federal Government should control only three ministries which are foreign affairs, defence and immigration as done in countries that operate a federal system of government. Nigeria must key into the global realities or remain stunted in growth and development in real terms.

• Onwubiko, a public affairs analyst and author, wrote from Awka, Anambra State.