Mon 09 June 2014

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Vol. 30, No. 12,946

Monday, June 9, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com

N150

Corporate philanthropy tackles cancer • Pays tribute to Alex Ibru, Olowookere • Inducts Maiden Ibru, others as ‘special philanthropes’

By Chukwuma Muanya and Wole Oyebade O save about 100,000 T Nigerians yearly, the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) Nigeria yesterday declared war against cancer epidemic in the country.

At the Banquet of Stars Against Cancer in Nigeria (BOSAC) held in Lagos, CECP rallied Nigerians, especially the private sector, to donate to the cause of acquiring 37 CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

BRING

...DAY 56

Chairman, Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (Nigeria) (CECP), Chief Michael Omolayode (left); Publisher, The Guardian Newspaper/Special Philantrope and Lead Advocate – Media (CECP), Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru; Chief Operating Director, Steam and Globe Broadcasting and Communications Ltd, Evita Moussalli, Convener (CECP) Nigeria, Mrs. Margaret Adetutu Adeleke and Lead Advocate of the Big War against Cancer in Nigeria, Tuface Idibia at the Banquet of Stars Against Cancer in Nigeria at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos… yesterday PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Protest as Sanusi, CBN ex-gov, emerges new emir of Kano

By Isaac Taiwo (Lagos), Abba Anwar and Murtala Muhammed (Kano) NEW emir of Kano was anA nounced yesterday. He is a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

In a speech of not more than two minutes, the Secretary to the Kano State Government Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi disclosed that after exhaustive deliberation by the kingmakers in the last two days they submitted their deci-

Sanusi

sion to the state government which considered and endorsed it.

The announcement was made in the presence of the kingmakers: Madakin Kano, Sarkin Ban Kano, Sarkin Dawaki Mai Tuta and the Makama of Kano. The announcement reversed a rumour spreading in the state since yesterday that the eldest son of the emir would be appointed as the new emir.

It was learnt that before a final decision was taken by the state government, the governor summoned some elders

in the state to consult with them.

Sanusi, 53, succeeded the late Ado Bayero as the 14th Sullubawa Fulani Emir of Kano.

The Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero died at 83 last Friday after spending 50 years on the throne.

The four wise men (kingmakers), the Sarkin Bai, Madaki Kano, Sarkin Dawakin Mai Tuta and Makama on Saturday evening submitted three names to the state government for selecCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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OURGIRLS Concerns over outcome of confab, by Okunrounmu, Olunloyo - Page 6 Israeli, Palestinian presidents in unprecedented Vatican prayers - Page 10

‘Oke-Ogun on a journey of discovery’ - Page 87

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Monday, June 9, 2014

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Corporate philanthropy inducts Maiden Ibru, others as ‘special philanthrope’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Mobile Cancer Centres (MCCs) for each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

At the event, attended by some eminent Nigerians and captains of industry, the late The Guardian Publisher, Alex Ibru and Deaconess Omolara-eni Olowookere were honoured as two of fallen heroes in the battle against cancer.

And for her commitment to ‘The War Against Cancer’, The Guardian Publisher, Lady Maiden Ibru was inducted as ‘Special Philanthrope and Lead Advocate – Media’ in the Big War against cancer in Nigeria. Also inducted as ‘Special Philanthrope’ are the Chief Operating Director, Steam and Globe Broadcasting and Communications Ltd, Evita Moussalli and music icon, Innocent Idibia (Tuface).

Presenting The Guardian’s Publisher for formal decoration, Convener of CECP, Mrs. Margaret Rose Adetutu Adeleke, said Maiden Ibru became the first person in the Nigerian media entertainment to be so inducted for her most supportive role in the Big War against cancer.

Adeleke while decorating Maiden Ibru as one of the three Special Philanthropes of the Federal Republic of Nigeria said: “As a sign of commitment to winning the war against cancer and to the glory of God, we inaugurate you as the Lead Advocate Media of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Adeleke also commended

Tuface for accepting to join the fight against cancer and perform in the Cancer Charity without collecting any fee.

“All the other musicians we approached wanted to be paid but when we approached Tuface, he agreed to join the fight and perform at our charities without any pay,” she said.

Adeleke who is currently the Managing Director of Peter Zion Limited and first female President Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM) and Nigeria/British Chamber of Commerce, said: “To defeat cancer we all need a full-scale war. We must act now. We must act today. We will act and we need to act together because it can afflict anyone, anytime. We must save the lives of over 100,000 Nigerians annually. Yes we can. Together we can work and eradicate cancer in this nation.”

In her acceptance speech, Ibru pledged to do everything within her powers to tackle “this scourge ravaging humanity”, adding : “I am humbled. I will try everything within my capacity to help fight the scourge that is claiming lives every minute.”

She also paid tribute to the late Prof. Dora Akunyili, who lost her battle against cancer on Saturday morning, June 7, 2014 at the age of 59.

Maiden Ibru expressed shock at the loss, as she saluted the courage of drivers of the CECP- Big War against cancer initiative. Tuface, who was overwhelmed by the honour promised to do his best in the Big War against cancer.

“My dad was diagnosed recently with prostate cancer and that really shook me and I will do my best to keep on the fight,” he said.

Eminent Nigerians present at the event included: Former Managing Director of Unilever, Sir Michael Omolayole; Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank, Festus Omotoso; former Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof.

Wale Omole and Ambassador Ogunnaike and his wife.

Others from The Guardian stable included the Chief Operating Officer(COO) Dr. Alexander Thomopulos; Executive Consultant, Mr. Yaya Awosanya; Managing Director, Emeka Izeze; Editor-inChief, Debo Adesina; and Editor, Martins Oloja.

The cancer banquet that is BOSAC all stars philanthropy event, was a followup on February kick-off of the Big War initiative, and climaxes the weeklong national cancer week.

CECP-Nigeria is local adaption of the CECP, which was first established in the United States (U.S.). CECP-Nigeria is a private sector-led initiative aimed at seeking and implementing high-impact solutions to societal problems through the establishment of tripartite

(private-social-public) partnerships with special emphasis on promoting the practice of synergistic and catalytic philanthropy.

Co-promoted by the core bodies of the organized private sector, CECP aimed at uniting the private sector to take the lead in community development, this time, the quest to take cancer prevention to the grassroots, using the Mobile Cancer Centres (MCCs).

The MCC, which cost N95 million, is a customised cancer detection and treatment mobile facility. It is an effective substitute where comprehensive cancer care centres are not available.

Executive Secretary of CECPNigeria, Dr. Abia Nzelu, explained that the MCC is not the same as a mobile mammogram, but a cancer clinic on wheels, in which screening, follow-up and some treatment can take place as the vehicle moves from one doorstep to another in communities.

Nzelu observed that Nigeria has one of the worst cancer statistics in the world, with only one out of every five Nigerian cancer patients surviving.

While there are 100,000 new cases recorded yearly, about

80,000 die every year, or about 10 cancer deaths every hour! Findings revealed that much more are unrecorded.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said one-third of cancer cases are actually preventable, one-third treatable, given early diagnosis and care services and the remaining one-third can still have better outcome if treated promptly.

Nzelu said: “That is why we keep saying cancer ought not to be an epidemic among us and we must wage this war together. Health education is important, but without appropriate intervention, awareness is defeated, which is why we need the MCCs, one in each of our

states.”

She added that ideally, Comprehensive Cancer Care Centres, at least one in every geo-political zone of the country, are imperative for effective cancer care on the long run.

“And Nigeria should have the comprehensive cancer care centres, including the Cancer Research Institute. But the challenge is that each will cost several billions of naira and will take time. We cannot also tell dying Nigerians to hold on, while we get the comprehensive centre ready.

In the alternative and to save Nigerians from preventable deaths, we are asking for MCCs for Nigeria. Each mobile clinic has a lifespan of 20 years,” she said.

Alison-Madueke, others for Vienna award IGERIA’S Minister of PeN troleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, is among the seven energy chiefs to be honoured at the second Petroleum Industry Award and distinguished lecture series, coming up on June 11 and 12 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Vienna, Austria.

The award, organised in partnership with the French

Vice-President/Chief Executive Officer of International Finance Corporation (IFC), Jin-Yong Cai (left); Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke and Group Executive Director, Gas & Power, NNPC, Dr. David Ige at a recent workshop in London by the World Bank/IFC on gas supply and Infrastructure financing.

Association for the Development of Energy in Africa (ADEA), has six other recipients from different parts of the world, who emerged after a rigorous process. They include the Angola Minister of Petroleum, José Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos, and Venezuela’s former Minister of Petroleum, Dr. Alirio Para.

Others are Minister of Energy & Mines, Equatorial Guinea, Gabriel Obiang Lima, Mozambique’s Minister of Energy, Salvador Namburete, Head of Energy Sector, CEE, Siemens AG Österreich, Dr. Eveline Steinberger, and Senior Advisor, Functional Excellence OMV Exploration & Production, Ms. Gabrielle Costigan.

According to the organisers, the awardees have been carefully selected to reflect excellence and innovation in the industry, and have made immense contribution to the growth and development of the oil and gas industry.

The first edition last year, also in Vienna, honoured Dr. Rilwanu Lukman with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his meritorious activities in the Nigerian Petroleum Ministry and also as a former Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Youths protest, decry govt’s choice of Sanusi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 tion.

The former CBN governor finally emerged as the new emir after a keenly contested race between the eldest son of the immediate past emir, who is the current district head of Gwale, and the Wambe Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi.

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was born on July 31, 1961. He was born into a prominent family, his father was a permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the 1960’s and he was the grandson of the Emir of Kano and Islamic scholar, Alhaji Mohammadu Sanusi.

Security men took over the ancient palace of the emir and across the strategic quarters in the metropolis to check the breakdown of law and order.

Despite these security measures, angry youths

took over major streets in Kano metropolis yesterday shortly after the announcement.

The protesters were said to have destroyed property worth millions of naira. Reports say several houses and vehicles were damaged in the protest.

A reliable source hinted that the protesters believed to be loyalists of Alhaji Lamido Ado Bayero, the eldest son of the late emir were showing their displeasure over the choice of the former governor of the CBN. As at the time of filing this report, normalcy had returned to the city as security men had since taken over the situation.

Lamido Sanusi was born in Kano, Northern Nigeria, on July 31, 1961. He obtained degrees in Economics and Islamic Law from the Ahmadu Bello University,

Zaria and the International University of Africa, Khartoum. After teaching economics for two years at the Ahmadu Bello University, he started a banking career in 1985 with Icon Limited (Merchant Bankers) and later worked with the United Bank for Africa Plc and First Bank of Nigeria Plc. His banking career spanned various fields including issuing house activity, financial advisory services and credit marketing. However, it was in the field of risk management that he earned his professional reputation, having distinguished himself as the Chief Risk Officer in the two largest banks in the country, UBA Plc and FBN Plc. He rose to the position of group managing director/chief executive officer of First Bank Plc, the largest bank in the country

in January 2009 and was appointed the 10th governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in June, 2009.

Sanusi was appointed governor in the middle of a global financial crisis with the banking system on the verge of collapse due to a large exposure to the stock market in the form of bubble capital and excessive margin lending by some banks, as well as concentration of lending to other areas like petroleum marketing.

Under his leadership, the Central Bank of Nigeria moved swiftly and boldly to implement far-reaching reforms in the banking industry aimed at addressing the root causes of the crises in poor corporate governance and risk management practices, management fraud, insider abuses and weak regulation supervision and enforcement.

Monday, June 9, 2014 | 5

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TRIBUTES FOR ADO BAYERO AND DORA AKUNYILI

South East governors mourn Ado Bayero From Gordi Udeajah Umuahia; Charles Coffie Gyamfi, Abeokuta and Najeem Raheem, Ibadan MINENT Nigerians have E continued to commiserate with Kano State government, family and people of the state over the death of Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, who reportedly died last Friday at the age of 93.

The South East Governors’ Forum has sent its message of condolence to the state government, saying it received the news with shock and disbelief.

Chairman of the governors’ forum and Abia State Governor, Dr. Theodore Orji in a statement made available to The Guardian yesterday, also sympathized with the imme-

Bayero

Akunyili

Obasanjo, Senate, others pay tributes to Akunyili From Kodilinye Obiagwu Enugu; Lawrence Njoku Enugu; Chukwuma Muanya, Lagos; Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Abuja; Emeka Anuforo, Abuja; Anietie Akpan, Calabar; Charles Coffie Gyamfi, Abeokuta; Wole Oyebade Lagos ORE tributes continue to M pour in for former Federal Minister of Information and Director General, National Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Professor Dora Akunyili, who died of cancer at an Indian hospital on Saturday.

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday described late Akunyili, “As one of the jewels of my administration.”

Obasanjo, who spoke in a telephone interview, said it was regrettable that death had so soon snatched a once active and vibrant personality like Akunyili.

The former President described the former anti-fake drug crusader as woman of high integrity, industry and patriotism, saying it was sad that she passed on at a time the country needed her most.

His words: “It is a great loss for this country, especially at this time when Nigeria needs men and women of Dora Akunyili’s high integrity, industry, patriotism and honesty.”

He maintained that the late Prof. Dora Akunyili made great positive change in the country’s health sector when she was at the helm of affairs at the National Food, Drug, Administration and Control (NAFDAC) “With her successful crusade against fake drug.

In Obasanjo’s view, to fill the vacuum created by the demise of Akunyili, “There are two things involved. One is to search for the person, men and women of such standing where they abound. Secondly, after the search, we have to motivate them and ensure that they are well directed.

“Akunyili was a workaholic member of my administration. I sincerely appreciated her service. Her life made a great change in one specific area; the fake drug, she was everywhere to fight the fake drug war, which could have

She was a jewel of my administration, says former president been fatal if she had not taken the bull by the horn.”

Obasanjo commiserated with Nigerians, particularly the people of Anambra State, “For the loss of this great icon of this country, who threw everything she had into the service of her fatherland.”

Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, Senator Liyel Imoke described as shocking, painful and saddening, the death of Professor Akunyili, lamenting that Nigeria has once again lost one of her gems.

Imoke, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Ita, said: “I received with a heavy heart, news of the death of our dear Dora Akunyili, one of the few Amazons of our time.”

Describing the late Akunyili as dogged, fearless and upright, Imoke said, “as a patriot, Dora did not only put national interest above other personal and narrow considerations, she also put her life on the line to sanitise the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).”

He noted “as beacon of rectitude, Dora exemplified uprightness and honesty of purpose as a member of the Federal Executive Council when it was highly unthinkable to do so.”

Her death, according to Imoke, is therefore “not only a great loss to her state, Anambra, but to the entire nation as her wealth of experience and service will be sorely missed, especially at this time.

But we are consoled by the fact that she lived a worthy life.”

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, lamented her death, saying he was devastated.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode said Fayemi maintained that Akunyili’s death has robbed Nigeria of a committed patriot and a selfless servant of the people.

Governor Fayemi expressed deep regret that another precious jewel of the nation has been lost to the scourge of cancer.

Fayemi prayed God to grant

the family of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss.

The Senate yesterday also joined other Nigerians in mourning late Akunyili.

A statement by Senate’s spokesman, Enyinnaya Abaribe, described Akunyili’s death as one that has robbed Nigeria of a quintessential persona, who was patriotically avowed in defending the country’s integrity in the international arena.

The Senate, according to Abaribe, recalled Prof Akunyili’s stoic defence of Nigeria as the nation’s chief image-maker, when she brought Nigeria to the global reckoning with her campaign of ‘Great Nigeria, Great people’.

“Hers was a firebrand and consummate effort to position the country as an investment haven immediately after leading an unprecedented campaign to clean the country of fake drugs during her time as DG of NAFDAC. “To us in the Senate, such effort is the essence of good public relation for our dear fatherland. The Senate will miss her,” Abaribe said.

Chairman Senate Committee on Works, Ayogu Eze said her death as one of the saddest developments in the country’s history, adding her death “ranks as possibly one of the saddest pieces of news I have heard since the death of my mother last year.”

He described Akunyili as a core professional and one who can easily be ranked as a top Nigerian patriot, saying she shone on the Nigerian scene like a meteor, leaving her inimitable footprints on the psyche of Nigerians.

Senator Chris Anyanwu also described her as a brilliant woman, full of life and vigour and ever ready to go. “She appeared as a thunderbolt in the Nigerian public service scene in 2001 when she was appointed the Director General of NAFDAC, which hitherto was grossly ineffective and almost moribund but Akunyili changed all that. She brought life into the Agency. As a woman of purpose, character and great courage, which she turned out to be, she redi-

rected NAFDAC positively and positioned it properly to perform its statutory role of regulating and sanitizing the drugs and food sector, which had been massively compromised.”

Anyanwu added that the late Professor drove her convictions and professionalism with such a passion that within a short while, Nigerians became very conscious of quality of drugs and foods offered to them.

“Fake manufacturers also came to the hard reality that it was no longer business as usual, as she made the climate very hot for them to operate in. No wonder there was attempts to snuff life out of her but she wouldn’t be deterred.

As a Minister under late President Musa Yar’adua and current President Goodluck Jonathan, Akunyili showed class as a woman of vision, uncommon courage and unparalleled patriotism.

“When she decided to run for political office in 2011, I personally looked forward to having her in the Senate and more recently, when she appeared as member of the National Conference, I felt reassured that with persons like her, the confab would be a very fruitful exercise.

“But death came calling too soon. Her demise is a colossal loss to our nation. She died at a time when the nation still needs much of her.

Thankfully, she has left a very strong mark in the Nigerian polity.

On behalf of my family and the good people of Imo East, who I represent at the Senate, I pray that God will grant especially the family, and all who cherish her, the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” Anyanwu said.

Minister of Health Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu said he is ‘devastated’ by the death of the former chief executive officer of an agency under his ministry, describing her as a ‘game changer’ who contributed immensely to the sanitation of the pharmaceutical industry. He expressed a deep sense of loss and pain over her untimely death.

Chukwu said, “Prof. Akunyili

was an internationallyrenowned pharmacist, pharmacologist, erudite scholar, administrator, accomplished defender and protector of public safety.

“During her tenure as Director General of NAFDAC, 2001-2008, the production, importation and circulation of fake, substandard and counterfeit or adulterated drugs, medicaments and foods dropped significantly from over 60 % to about 16% thus contributing in no small way in the saving of an unquantifiable number of lives in Nigeria. This was simply revolutionary. She set the stage for the new mantra of zero tolerance to fake, substandard, counterfeit or adulterated foods and drugs in the country.”

Akunyili, he noted, was one of the iconic figures in the 100 years of Nigeria.

Aka Ikenga, the pan Igbo organisation, described her death “as a big loss to this country. Aka Ikenga mourns this lady of substance for among other things, she was a titanic amazon.”

In a statement signed by President of Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike and the Mr. U.P.E Nnaji, the Secretary General of Aka Ikenga, the groups noted, “in her life time, Akunyili fought many titanic battles, chief of which was against the prevalence of fake drugs in the country. She so excelled in this fight that the fear of Akunyili was the beginning of wisdom. Indeed NAFDAC was synonymous with Akunyili. She was an energetic minister, a loving wife and mother and even many more to us all. We will miss her decisiveness, her confidence, her determination and indeed her whole personality. This nation has indeed lost a titanic amazon.”

President of Nzuko Imeobi Idemili North and South, Sir Edwin Ekwuno yesterday stated, “We in Anambra Central Senatorial zone have lost a trail blazer, a legacy definer, a life saver, a woman who have left landmarks that will take generations to match. She served the nation, putting her life on the line like a warrior and in the process redefined the concept of public service. There will none to match her in our life time.”

diate family of the deceased and described the late Emir of Kano as a revered traditional ruler who built bridges of love, peace and unity in the country during his lifetime.

According to the statement, the great leadership qualities of the late Emir of Kano would be greatly missed especially now that the nation is facing a lot of daunting challenges.

“We received with shock and disbelief the news of the death of Emir Ado Bayero of Kano. He was one traditional ruler who distinguished himself through his great leadership qualities, which enabled him to rule for over five decades. He believed in the indivisibility of one Nigeria. And during his live time he built bridges of friendship, love, peace and unity. We shall greatly miss him,” the statement said.

Also, former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel described the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero as an “uncommon blueblood and a symbol of unity and peace.”

Daniel, who expressed his deep shock on the transition of the revered traditional ruler stated that the country has lost one of the greatest personalities in recent times, added that the deceased’s legacies will forever be remembered.

A statement by Daniel’s Media Officer, Mr. Ayo Giwa in Abeokuta yesterday said, “late Ado Bayero lived an exemplary life, built on honesty, selfless service and Godliness. As a former diplomat and highly revered Muslim leader, the late Emir was indeed a gift to the country and a bridgebuilder across all religions, ethnic groups and the generality of the people.”

According to Daniel the deceased’s “Leadership qualities played a prominent role in the survival of the country since independence and his death has left a deep gulf in the quest for peace in the Northern region.”

The former governor further said that it is saddening that such an advocate of peace and unity died when his God-given attributes are needed most in the country and prayed that insurgents in the northern part of the country would ceasefire as a mark of honour to the traditional ruler and religious leader.

Similarly, the Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, and Chairman, Yoruba Obas Conflicts Resolution Committee, expressed shock over the death of the late Kano monarch.

In a statement issued by the committee, the monarch condoled with the government and people of Kano State over the transition of the paramount ruler.

Oba Akinruntan described the late Emir as a man of peace who ruled with the fear of God and noted that during his reign the city of Kano witnessed tremendous development.

Oba Akinruntan expressed his heartfelt sympathy to the Emir’s bosom friend, Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade and urged the royal father to take heart. He prayed that God would grant the Bayero Dynasty, government and people of Kano state the fortitude to bear the loss and grant the late Emir Aljannah Fidaus.

6 NEWS Monday, June 9, 2014

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Concerns over outcome of confab, by Okunrounmu, Olunloyo

By Seye Olumide HAIRMAN of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the National Conference, Senator Femi Okunrounmu and former governor of old Oyo State, Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo have expressed concerns over decisions delegates may reach at the ongoing National Conference.

Okunrounmu, who was guest lecturer at the 2014 Annual luncheon of Government College, Ibadan Old Boys Association Lagos branch lamented that the core north delegates have nearly frustrated all the agendas, which he believes would have transformed the country by other zones.

In his lecture titled: “After the conference, whither the Nation?” Okunrounmu maintained negative stance over the possibility of the success of the conference.

He said the issue of resource control, regionalism, devolution of power and other laudable, which the South East, South West and the SouthSouth delegates supports have suffered frustration at the committee level “what we are banking on now is the plenary level,” adding that the core north determination is to ensure the present status quo remain.

According to Okunrounmu, “Delegates from the core north does not want the outcome of the conference to be taken for a referendum but to the National Assembly. They were banking on their numerical strength in the National Assembly.”

“If the attitude of the core-

C

North delegates could be translated into an agenda, that agenda will have the following components, namely: frustrate regionalism, frustrate the reduction of presidential powers, resist the call for a referendum, frustrate the emergence of a new constitution, ensure minimal, if any departures from the 1999 Constitution and ensure that all the outcomes of the conference go to the National Assembly where the North, of course, has the numbers to frustrate those it considers antagonistic to its in-

terests.

“Given the above scenario, how is the conference likely to turn out? So far, all indications are that the progressives may not have the kind of far-reaching changes that they had hoped for.

Former governor of old Oyo State, Dr. Olunloyo also said the ongoing National Conference is not likely to succeed.

Speaking at the luncheon, Olunloyo averred that two conspicuous reasons would make the exercise not to succeed.

According to him, “the first

reason the confab would fail is based on the fact that the government did not do what the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the National Conference, Senator Femi Okunrounmu asked them to do.”

The former governor lamented that Okunrounmu asked government to elect and appoint the delegates “unfortunately that was not what they did.”

He also doubt the possibilities of the confab success, saying: “From all indications, the peo-

ple we have in authority are still going to use the same old road to run the country down, they will still use the same heartless people to run the nation down.”

Lamenting the present state of the nation, Olunloyo said the situation in Nigeria has deteriorated to such an extent one could only get anything in Nigeria only when you are in position of authority or you know anyone there.

To the former governor, however, all hope of getting a new and viable Nigeria is not lost.

Displaced Benue farmers seek govt aid to rebuild homes From Joseph Wantu, Makurdi ESPITE the directive by D Benue State government that farmers who were dis-

South-East govs condemn pro-Biafra attempt From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu OVERNORS of South-East G geo-political zone rose from their meeting in Enugu yesterday condemning the June 5 attempt by pro-Biafran movement, Biafran Zionist Federation (BZF), to declare Biafra in the area.

Expressing disgust at the attempt, which it said was the second after an earlier failed bid to hoist Biafran flag at the Enugu Government House, the governors said they would stop at nothing in ensuring the protection of lives and property.

They condemned the invasion of the Enugu State Broadcasting Corporation (ESBS) by the group, stating that it would not allow the Benjamin Onwuka-led group to continue to undermine security in the zone, but would rather collaborate with other zones across the country to provide security.

Meanwhile, they regretted the passage of the former Minister of Information, Prof.

Dora Akunyili, commiserating with the family. They resolved to fully participate in the burial ceremonies of former Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, just as they commiserated with the people of Kano State on the death of the Emir of Kano, Alh Ado Bayero.

The governors also resolved to continue supporting the zone’s delegates at the ongoing national conference following the extension of the exercise.

At the meeting were Theordore Orji (Abia), Sullivan Chime (Enugu) and Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), as well as Deputy governors Eze Madumere (Imo) and Nkem Okeke (Anambra).

He said, “My only consolation is the fact that Nigeria will recover.”

According to him, “It is unfortunate there are many useless people in position of authority, they occupy posts, which they do not consummate.”

He added that if people in authority fail to change, event would change them.”

In his view, Chairman of the Lagos branch of the Old Boys association, Mr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), also attributed the problems of Nigeria to that of the intelligentsia.

Guest Speaker, Senator Femi Okurounmu (left); Ronke Olunloyo and her husband/father of the day, former Governor, Old Oyo State, Victor Omololu Olunloyo; Chairman, Government College, Ibadan Old Boys Association (GCIOBA), Lagos Branch, Wale Babalakin (SAN); his wife, Gbola and National President, GCIOBA, Biodun Jolaoso, during the 2014 Yearly Luncheon, Lecture and Merit Awards ceremony in Lagos... yesterday.

PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN

N’Assembly mulls local content bill for aviation sector

By Ibe Uwaleke HE National Assembly is T considering a revolutionary local content regulation bill for Nigeria’s aviation industry.

When passed into law, it would make it mandatory for both domestic and foreign airlines operating in the country to set aside a certain percentage of indigenous pilots and engineers that they would employ.

The proposed bill, according to the President of the Senate, David Mark, is part of efforts to deepen local participation in the aviation sector where there is influx of expatriates as pilots, aircraft engineers and other aviation professionals.

Senator Mark spoke in Lagos at the weekend during the unveiling of 127 pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers trained by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, which oversees the Presidential Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta.

The pilots and aircraft engineers were trained at the Afrika Union Aviation Academy, Mafikeng, and Flight Training Services, Midrand, both in South Africa, Lufthansa Flight Training Network, Germany, Fujairah Aviation Academy, United Arab Emirates, Jetstream Aviation Academy, Greece, and Royal Jordanian Air Academy, Amman, Jordan.

Senate President, who was

• Govt trains 127 pilots, aircraft engineers represented at the event by the Senate Deputy Leader, Abdul Ningi, said the National Assembly would continue to support the Presidential Amnesty Programme for the training of youths in the country in order to close the gaps in manpower needs in the aviation industry.

He said the proposed bill had become imperative as a way to create an avenue for Nigerian aviation professionals to get jobs in the aviation sector, which is currently dominated by expatriates.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, also said it will give speedy passage to the bill to create jobs for indigenous professionals in the strategic aviation sector.

Tambuwal spoke through the Chairman of the House Committee on Niger Delta, Warman Ogoriba.

Also speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation, Captain Shehu Usman Iyal, said the relevant agencies of government were collaborating to ensure that pilots and aircraft engineers type-rated after their training from the amnesty programme were absorbed in the aviation sector.

In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, urged airline owners and play-

ers in the aviation and allied sector to employ the young pilots and aircraft engineers, who have the requisite competence and licenses having been trained in some of the foremost institutions across the globe.

Iyal described the type-rating of 66 pilots and 61 aircraft engineers as historic in the aviation sector, affirming that their engagement would help to fill the gap of ageing indigenous professionals in the aviation sector.

He said the move by the National Assembly to create legislation for local content is key, because in some countries of the world, such laws have been created as an avenue to give jobs to their qualified aviation professionals.

“We will liaise with the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and indeed the Amnesty Office to provide jobs for these trainees.

The office has its list and their qualifications. Some are pilots of helicopters; some are for fixed wings while some have more training to do. We will start with the database and from there we know where we will place them.

“This is good for the development of the Nigerian aviation industry. The Amnesty Office has done very well. I have seen a bigger number sent for training. Kano sent 100 trainee pi-

lots to Jordan for training.

“But, what is striking and unique about this is that besides the military, no civil organisation has been able to graduate this large number of pilots. It didn’t even happen during the days of the defunct Nigeria Airways. To have 66 pilots, 61 engineers graduating at the same time; I think this is phenomenal. It is something that has to be celebrated. This is something we as Nigerians should be proud of, and we should be proud of these young Nigerians. This is going to bridge the manpower gap for the successive generation.

Some of us as pilots have aged and these are the young professionals that will take over from us,” he said.

Iyal aligned his thoughts with the proposed local content legislation in the aviation industry, describing it as one of the best things to happen to the aviation sector.

He said: “That (the legislation) will be excellent. In fact, in places like Malaysia, Indonesia they have specific rules and regulations whereby any operator that comes in must employ an indigene of that country as a co-pilot or trainee engineer to understudy the expatriate pilot or engineer. So, it is an excellent idea and I can assure you that Nigerian pilots, engineers and technicians have what it takes to fly or work on any machine in any part of the world.

placed from their communities by Fulani invaders should go back to their farms, the farmers have cried out that they have nothing to return to.

They appealed to the government to assist them rebuild their homes and farmlands, which have been completely destroyed by the invaders.

Chairman of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the NKST Primary School, Ichwa camp, Joseph Ukpa raised the alarm at the weekend during the flag-off of distribution of relief materials to the victims by Christian Aid Nigeria in collaboration with Anglican Diocesan Development Society (ADDS) and Jireh Doo Foundation (JDF).

Ukpa, who maintained that as soon as the state government announced the need for the victims to return home, they did so but had to return back to camp because their houses and farmlands were in complete ruins with no assistance to resettle them.

“We tried to return back to our various communities, but on getting there, we discovered that our homes and farmlands were completely destroyed by the Fulanis. We don’t have any money with which we can commence rebuilding our homes, neither do we have anything to restart farming. That is why we had to return to camp.”

Ukpa stated that the farmers only returned to the settlement to take part in the voters registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after which they returned to camp.

Ukpa, however expressed the willingness of the farmers to go back if government can assist to resettle them by providing basic necessities such as shelter, food and security, stating that without this, it would be difficult for them to return home.

Earlier, Country Director of Christian Aid Nigeria, Charles Ememazor, said the donation was to identify with the victims in their moment of trial.

While thanking ADDS and JDF for their support, Ememazor also called on well-meaning Nigerians, corporate organisations and individuals to come to the aid of the farmers to enable them return to their homes soon.

Monday, June 9, 2014 NEWS 7

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Camerounian forces kill two Boko Haram militants From Abiodun Fagbemi (Ilorin) and Njadvara Musa (Maiduguri) N their counter-terrorism drive, Camerounian local seIcurity forces at the weekend killed two suspected Boko Haram militants from Nigeria, which attacked a town in its territory, the country’s government has said.

Camerounian government’s spokesperson, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, said a raid was carried out early Saturday morning by 50 well-armed gunmen believed to be members of Boko Haram.

“Our defence and security forces fought back immediately. (They) killed two of the assailants, seized one of their vehicles and a Kalashnikov war weapon, forcing them to run back crossing the border into the Nigerian territory,” he said.

In another development, barely 48-hours after the Government House, Gombe bomb blasts, a woman-suicide bomber yesterday morning by 11:00 a.m. hit the Gombe Military Barracks quarter guard on Biu Road, killing a soldier and injuring two others.

The explosions, according to an eyewitness, Salihu Yunusa, followed soldiers’ firing of gunshots into the air to prevent residents and other hood-

• Female suicide bomber kills soldier in Gombe • APC condemns alleged FG’s war on the media • Says President is fighting a battle he can’t win lums from entering the barracks for 10 minutes, before an ambulance carried away the injured soldiers to an undisclosed hospital.

He said: “The woman dressed in hijab (veil) alighted from a commercial motorcycle, and walked straight to the quarter guards of the barrack near the main entrance, and demanded to see one of the senior officers.

As the soldiers continue to ask questions on her mission to the officer, the woman embraced one of the soldiers, and detonated the strapped bomb around her back and waist with deafening sounds for five seconds.”

He said both the woman suicide bomber and embraced soldier died on the spot before the injured ones were hurriedly taken to an undisclosed hospital in a military ambulance.

The Gombe State Police Command also confirmed the incident yesterday, stating that a team of police anti-bomb squad was deployed to the scene 30 minutes after the bar-

rack blast.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the unreasonable siege on newspapers across the country by security agencies.

The party said that the Jonathan Administration, by tampering with press freedom, has taken on a battle it cannot win.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the President failed to learn the lessons of history that the Nigerian media can neither be intimidated nor suppressed by anyone, and that all those who tried to do so in the past lived to regret their actions.

It, therefore, wondered why a government that is being asked to diligently prosecute the war on terror is instead vehemently waging a war on the media and using the security agencies to interfere with the country’s democracy.

However, two Ilorin-based

Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), Olusola Bayeshea and Abeny Mohammed, have condemned the Nigerian military for their recent clampdown on some newspaper houses.

In separate interviews yesterday with The Guardian in Ilorin, Bayeshea and Mohammed said the development was antithetical to the growth of democracy and a bad omen to freedom of speech as guaranteed under the Universal Fundamental Human Rights.

The APC, also in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by Mohammed, said President Jonathan’s attempt to blame APC governors for the insurgency amounts to an unfortunate politicisation and trivialisation of a serious national problem and explains why the President has been exhibiting sheer cluelessness and total incompetence in tackling the crisis.

The APC said: ‘’Had the government pursued the insurgents who are killing and maiming Nigerians with the same vigour with which it had descended

on the media, the war against terror would have been long over.”

The party described as disingenuous and ridiculous the explanation that an intelligence alert was responsible for the shameful and unacceptable clampdown on the media, and the platitude that the Jonathan Administration holds the media in high esteem.

It urged President Jonathan to stop embarrassing himself and the nation by making indiscreet comments that do not accentuate his position as the leader of Africa’s most populous nation.

In another development, former Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Prof. Agboola Gambari, has said that solution to the problems of insurgency in the North-East of the country requires a national emergency with collective national response.

Gambari, who spoke at the weekend during the second convocation ceremony of the Kwara State University (KWASU) in Malete, Moro Local Council of the state, said that though the state of emergency declared in the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa in the zone is necessary but not sufficient to restore peace and security in the area.

Seven die as Tiv, suspected Fulani herdsmen clash in Benue

From Joseph Wantu, Makurdi.

HE Police in Benue State T have arrested a nine-man armed robbery gang that has been terrorising members of the public in the state.

The Guardian learnt that the robbers, with a young lady as a member, were arrested in Gboko Local Council of the state following a tip-off.

Parading the suspects, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police (SP) Daniel Ezeala who spoke on behalf of the Commissioner of Police (CP), Adams Audu, said that luck ran out on the robbers after they waylaid and robbed two persons of large sums of money, valuables and a car in Gboko.

Items recovered from them, according to the police, include the sum of N260,000, a Honda car, a Ford Mondeo car, a Toyota Corolla car as well as three motorcycles, one AK-47 rifle with 58 rounds of live ammunition, one pump action gun, among others.

Ezeala, who further revealed that the command also recovered assorted rifles and guns with various ammunition from various criminal hideouts where the suspected criminals escaped on sighting the police, disclosed further that the arrested robbers would be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed.

Speakers pledge support against terrorism

From Charles Akpeji, Jalingo O fewer than seven persons N have reportedly been killed in the ongoing communal crisis that broke out between the Tiv and suspected Fulani herdsmen in Ananum Village of Donga Local Council of Taraba State.

Unlike other previous attacks that often led to massive destruction of property, which had forced a lot of people to relocate from the area to the neighbouring Benue and some to Jalingo, the state capital, as gathered by The Guardian, this one only concentrated on killing of people as houses were not torched.

Following the recent killings of policemen and scores of others in Bali Local Council by the herdsmen, efforts to escape reprisal attack by the police was said to have made the herdsmen to move en-masse from Bali to Donga.

The crisis, which occurred yesterday, was said to have inflicted various degree of injuries on both parties as the two sides, according to an eyewitness, “suffered great loss”, stating that “even children and women were badly injured.”

For the swift intervention of the monarch of the council, Stephen Danjuma Bayonga, the crisis as gathered by The Guardian, would have led to massive destructions of live and property.

According to The Guardian source, “the traditional ruler has ordered the security men in the area to arrest any person caught in the crisis”, adding that “he has directed the security men to make sure that those arrested face the law.”

Confirming the report to The Guardian, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Joseph Kwaji, said the crisis was a reprisal attack on the Tiv by the Fulani whom he said earlier on lost three of their men to the Tiv. According to him, “the information at our disposal showed that it was a reprisal attack by the Fulani on the Tiv.”

Police arrest nine robbers in Makurdi

From Karls Tsokar, Abuja HE Conference of Speakers T of the state Houses of Assembly has pledged sup-

Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko (left) and Bishop of Ondo Diocese (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. Latunji Lasebikan, during the thanksgiving service to commemorate the burial of the late mother of Ondo First Lady, Madam Felicia Adeniyi at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Ondo… at the weekend.

NUJ opposes new policy on live political programmes From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu HE Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has kicked against the new directive on live broadcast by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the electronics media regulatory body, which stipulates 48 hours notice before any radio or television organisation could host any political live programme.

National President of NUJ, Malam Mohammed Garba, who addressed a press conference in Enugu during a oneday working visit at the weekend, said that requesting broadcast houses to give NBC 48 hours notice before airing live political programmes would amount to unbridled censorship and gagging of the media.

He said that it was also targeted at opposition political parties, a development he said, was dangerous to the nation’s nascent democracy.

Garba said: “This is an issue that is going to affect the

T

broadcast media in Nigeria. I consider this issue to be a calculated attempt to muscle and gag the media. We want to see how we can bring the attention of the government because NUJ is not going to accept it.

“NUJ wants to express dismay and our concern about the circular that was dated May 30, 2014 emanating from the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for live broadcast in the media in Nigeria.

“We received this circular tagged ‘Additional regulation for live and political coverage’, and part of the contents of the circular, especially item number one, is that henceforth broadcasting stations must notify the NBC in writing for at least 48 hours before transmitting a political programme live and the arguments on this is that most of the live programmes that are being broadcast in the media are impromptu and they are not scheduled.

“The NUJ after reading the circular felt that it is completely retrogressive, it’s unjustified as far as we are concerned and we also consider it to be part of the attempt to muscle and gag the media.

We also felt that this circular as far as this democracy is concerned is not based on public interest because we strongly believe that the public interest rational clearly states that the broadcast stations should ascertain the needs of the people and provide programme services to foster public understanding of those issues. How this is done is clearly at the discretion of the various broadcast stations, not the NBC. “While the NUJ agrees that every broadcast station must conform to the provisions of the codes, we cannot however accept the recent provision of the NBC which we clearly consider as an attempt at censorship of the broadcast media in Nigeria.

We thought that this is a dem-

ocratic dispensation we are not in the military era and I am sure the NBC is also supporting this democracy and we also felt that celebrating 15 years of uninterrupted democracy, for the NBC to have brought this circular is an indication that we are afraid it is suspicious, it is undemocratic, and we feel that this circular is a calculated attempt to temper and undermine the press freedom and the freedom of individual Nigerians to freely express themselves and to meaningfully contribute to the debate that will further enhance Nigeria democratic culture.”

The NUJ president called on the NBC to rescind the decision, vowing that “this circular is not acceptable to us NUJ as members of the media and the NUJ will be at the forefront to mobilise all the stakeholders to ensure that this obnoxious circular and regulation is seriously fought against and ensure that this new regulation did not succeed.”

port for the Federal Government in the fight against terrorism, kidnapping and other criminal activities. It commended the security operatives for the efforts in securing the release of the kidnapped children of one of them.

This was made in a press statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the Chairman of the Conference and Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Sam Ikon, “soliciting the support and co-operation of the good people of our great nation for Mr. President to fight the Boko Haram insurgency and the kidnapping menace bedeviling the nation.”

The statement, signed by one of his assistants, Busari Sarafadeen, said the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria “pledges his support and indeed the support of the state lawmakers in the country to Mr. President in his fight against this menace.”

Ikon also expressed happiness that the children of the Kogi State House of Assembly Speaker, Alhaji MomohJimoh Lawal, kidnapped for more than a month ago by unknown gunmen, have regained their freedom.

He also commended the professionalism of the security agencies for working round the clock to ensure the safe release of the children.

However, reports said that the two children, Ogirima aged seven and Hafiz three years miraculously appeared from the blues at the family house in Okene on Friday evening back from the kidnappers’ den unhurt.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

8 NEWS Monday, June 9, 2014

Wada warns kidnappers to stay off Kogi

‘Why N’Assembly won’t probe military funds’ From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja ONSIDERING the grave security implications of any immediate attempt to investigate alleged abuse of funds appropriated for the military to fight insurgency, the National Assembly may not delve into the matter, at least for now.

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), among others, had asked the National Assembly to immediately investigate alleged misapplication of funds approved for equipment and weapons to fight insurgency.

In an interview with newsmen in Abuja at the weekend, however, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Down Stream), Magnus Abe, said: “The call to investigate funds appropriated to the military to fight insurgency is a twoedged sword. First of all, the military right now is involved in a sensitive operation to stabilise the country and provide adequate security.

“If we start any form of public probe, the military will think we are only interested in the money and not the efforts at combating insurgency; that may become counter-productive.

The troops would not feel supported.

“However, there are issues dealing with the ways our security funds are being expended. We have more money than Boko Haram, we have more personnel than them, so if we spend our money properly, it should show in the field.

“I think it is rather between the Commander-in-Chief and the military authorities to go back to the drawing board, find out what happened to

C

I think it is rather between the Commanderin-Chief and the military authorities to go back to the drawing board, find out what happened to the money being released for security operations and how well the money is being spent; the target areas and who is ensuring that the money actually gets to those it should get to and is achieving the purpose for which it is released the money being released for security operations and how well the money is being spent; the target areas and who is ensuring that the money actually gets to those it should get to and is achieving the purpose for which it is released.”

He added: “At this point, I will not advocate the National Assembly to investigate, but I will insist on a thorough, internal review of the financial dealings as regards the security votes, war on terror and the expenditure of the Federal Government on security.

“It is a very critical point and nobody should overlook it.

Our troop should be well motivated with money, training and necessary equipment to prosecute the war against insurgency.”

However, on the performance of the 7th Senate so far, Abe said the National Assembly needed to move beyond speeches on the non-implementation of budgets and get the Executive to realise that the budget is a law and is sacrosanct, so “you punish those who don’t obey the

From John Akubo, Lokoja AVING in mind the H trauma that kidnappers visit on their victims and

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, flanked by Demola Seriki (right), and Prince Tajudeen Olusi during a parley in Lagos to mark her three years as representative of Lagos Central District in the Senate, in Yaba...yesterday

Don’t leave governance to mediocrities, Obi tells Nigerians

By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku F the country must be rightly focused and run productively, enlightened Nigerians must get involved in politics and rid the country of mediocrities in governance, the former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has said.

Speaking in Lagos at the weekend after the Lagos Business School Alumni Association (LBSAA) President’s Dinner, where he won the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award for his astounding achievements while in office, Obi called on fellow members to get involved in politics.

He noted that it is only in Nigeria that custodians of the law become the chief violators of same law, just as he described excessive greed by government officials as the main factor against the overall progress and development of the country, because people in office want to own everything in the world.

Explaining how he avoided borrowing, provided record democracy dividends in the state and still left behind N75 billion in the state’s coffers, Obi revealed that he cut down the cost of governor’s travel by up to 80 percent in just one year.

According to him, he usually attended meetings in Abuja

I

All of you here can do it. There is enough money in this country but irresponsibility, waste and greed is too high. This is the only country where people in office want to own everything in the world - you don’t need to.

You can serve your people, reduce your greed and produce good governance and other places alone, which saved for the state the huge expense that would have been incurred from the unnecessary entourage. More so, he shut 12 governor’s guesthouses, which existed before he assumed office, leasing the one in Lagos out for 25 years.

And instead of building a presidential lodge for the then visiting President Olusegun Obasanjo, he vacated his Governor’s Lodge for him and lodged in a hotel in Awka, where he and his wife spent N120,000 for a week, while saving N1 billion for the state.

In view of these and many others, Obi called on wellmeaning Nigerians to get involved in politics, reduce greed and serve their people well, stating that the people they left it for can never do it well.

“People always ask me how we did it? We shut down the cost of everything, and I also tell people that banks are here,” he said. “Anambra State today has at least $50 million in Access Bank, $56 million in Fidelity Bank and at least $50

million in Diamond Bank because we save our money.

“All of you here can do it.

There is enough money in this country but irresponsibility, waste and greed is too high. This is the only country where people in office want to own everything in the world - you don’t need to. You can serve your people, reduce your greed and produce good governance.

“So, if you want to stay here and think that oh, they will change it, lies; they will not change it. When I went to Anambra State, it was a case of where lunatics were in charge of the asylum. I needed to put them back to the asylum and build a better future for the society, and you can do it.”

For that reason, when you go back to your various homes, look at your children and when you do this, you make up your mind. We must stop this abuse on our country, otherwise the society we abuse today will take revenge on our children tomorrow.

Let us build a better place for them.”

PDP may ratify Muazu’s chairmanship, says Orji From Gordi Udeajah (Umuahia) and Charles Akpeji (Jalingo) HERE are strong indications that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will

T

Goodluck Jonathan and the National Chairman, Muazu.

Though not against Kona’s vote of confidence on the duo, his failure to liaise with Acting Governor Garba Umar, who members describe as the leader of the party in the state, pitched him against the group.

According to Orji, the imperative of ratifying Muazu’s position borders on his proven ability to achieve peace and reconciliation, support and cooperation with all and sundry in the PDP within the short period he has been on the saddle.

“I am sure that ratifying him as our substantive chairman will strengthen the party and bring more confidence to members,” he said.

“Since he came on board, there has been absolute peace and harmony in the

Abia alleges sabotage in petroleum products distribution From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia HE scarcity of petroleum T products in Abia State, following the inability of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot to pump to Osisioma, has been blamed on the Port Harcourt Electric Distribution Company (PHEDC) and Indorama Eleme PetroChemical Ltd. Explaining the scenario at the weekend in Umuahia, the Petroleum Resources and Solid Minerals Commissioner, Don Ubani, alleged that outages from both firm’s was affecting the pumping of products to the depot for distribution to dealers.

“It is a shame that the efforts of both the state and Federal Governments to make the products available is being thwarted by both companies based in Port Harcourt,” he

Boundary Commission denies ceding C’River villages From Joke Falaju, Abuja GAINST the backdrop of a A report in the media, the National Boundary

• Group wants Taraba chapter chief to resign ratify the position of Adamu Muazu as its National Chairman at the party’s mini convention coming up in Abuja on June 14.

Abia State Governor and member of the PDP Caucus, Theodore Orji, gave the hint in Umuahia on his return from the party’s meeting in Abuja, noting that Muazu has so far shown capacity to take the PDP to an enviable height, where it would remain the party to beat in the coming elections.

However, the wrangling in the Taraba State chapter of the party is getting worse, a group has asked the state chairman, Victor Bala Kona, to resign immediately or be impeached.

Kona was said to have drawn the ire of the group, Taraba Group of Concerned Citizens, for giving a clean bill to both President

their families, Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State has warned them to steer clear of the state because his government would not relent in the fight against crime and criminally.

Wada, who spoke yesterday through his Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, who was on solidarity visit to the Speaker of Kogi House of Assembly, Momoh Jimoh Lawal, on the return of his two children after 61 days in captivity, said their rescue confirmed his government’s support to security agencies.

He assured of all necessary logistics support to enable security agencies carry out their responsibilities of protecting lives and property for the people to sleep with their two eyes closed, adding that the administration would not relent in making deliberate effort to sustain peace in the state.

party, he has been carrying everyone along, such that the confidence of party members has returned and the party is becoming stronger daily.”

Briefing newsmen yesterday in Jalingo, the group’s spokesman, Silas Jafta, flanked by members drawn from the three senatorial zones, felt sad that such “important” decision was taken without seeking the views of relevant stakeholders, adding: “It is uncalled for and premature.”

Though Kona could not be reached, a top party official, speaking to The Guardian on condition of anonymity, urged party loyalist to disregard the threat “because they are only playing the scripts of the acting governor, who sees our able chairman as a great threat to his political ambition.”

Commission (NBC) has denied the allegation that it ceded some communities and villages in Cross River State to Cameroun.

It was widely reported that some communities in Biajua and Danare in Boki local council of Cross River State have been ceded to Cameroun in the ongoing pillar reconstruction along the boundary.

However, a statement yesterday by the NBC Head, Media and Publicity, Toyin Baker, said that neither the current nor the previous exercises undertaken by the CamerounNigeria Mixed Commission ceded any Nigerian community or territory to Cameroun.

Baker explained that the current exercise is to “clearly demarcate the legally known and accepted boundary between Nigeria and Cameroun in Cross River, Benue and Taraba states.”

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Monday, June 9, 2014

9

PHOTONEWS

Director, Distance Learning Centre, University of Ibadan, Prof. Bayo Okunade (left); Director, Open and Distance Education, National Universities Commission, Dr. Suleiman Ramon - Yusuf, Deputy Vice Chancellor, (Academic), University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, and Registar, University of Ibadan, Olujimi Olukoya, at the lecture tittled: ‘Re- Positioning Distance Learning Centres in the Nigerian University System for Efficiency and Equitable Access to Quality Education,’ organised by Distance Learning Centre, University of Ibadan in Ibadan.

PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM

Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe during his pull out of service

Dean, Lagos Business School (LBS), Enase Okonedo (left); presents Distinguished Alumni award to former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, President, Lagos Business School Alumni Association (LBSAA), Demola Aladekomo, and Director, Alumni Relation, LBS, Henry Onukwuba, at the LBSAA 20th yearly president’s dinner in Lagos.

Chairman, Curo Ten Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ademola Ademuson (left); Managing Director, Toyota Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo, founder La Roche Leadership Foundation, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and Liaison Officer for the Flag Project, Mr. M. M. Kassim at the commissioning of the second phase of the Flag Project, at Kuramo Primary School, Victoria Island

Media and Legal Officer, Edo State Broadcasting Service (EBS), Samuel Mac-Ebi (left); Vibes FM presenter, Monica OKhihie Aigbe (a.k.a Monique), and ace Music and Television producer, Edo State Broadcasting Service, Andy Bello, leading thousands of youths into venue of the MTN Project Fame West Africa Season 7 audition in Benin, Edo State

Director, Consumer Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Oluwole Rawa (lefrt); winner of Etisalat sponsored Nigerian Idol Season 4, Zibili Evelyn (Evelle), and Director, Brands & Communications, Etisalat Nigeria, Enitan Denloye, at the Etisalat sponsored Nigerian Idol 4 grand finale, held at Dream Studio, Omole, Lagos PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina (left); Chairman of 151 Products Ltd, Mazi Sam Ohuanbunwa, and Chairman, Venus Processing and Packaging Ltd, Christopher Tugbobo, at Sympli Products stand at the 3rd AgrikExpo, held at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos

Principal, Babcock University Schools, Ogba, Gabriel Fashanu (left); his counterpart from Babcock High School, Ilishan, Timothy Adetayo, and Pastor, Fountain of Mercy Chapel of Babcock University Schools, Ogba, Pastor, Stanley Chikezie, at the first year anniversary/thanksgiving of the school in Ogba, Lagos PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Monday, June 9, 2014

WorldReport New Egypt President, El-Sissi sworn in, calls for stability GYPT’S former army chief E Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi was sworn in yesterday as president for a four-year term, assuming the highest office of a deeply polarized nation roiled by deadly unrest and an economic crisis since its Arab Spring uprising in 2011.

El-Sissi’s inauguration came less than a year after he ousted the country’s first freely elected president, Islamist Mohammed Morsi, following days of mass protests demanding he step down.

While praised by many in a wave of nationalist fervor following the July 3 overthrow, el-Sissi’s rise to power coincided with the detention of thousands and the killing of hundreds of Morsi supporters.

Now, the retired field marshal faces the daunting tasks of reviving Egypt’s stagnant economy, fighting Islamic extremists and cementing his rule after years of turmoil in the Arab world’s most populous country.

“The presidency of Egypt is a great honor and a huge responsibility,” el-Sissi told local and foreign dignitaries gathered at an opulent Cairo palace hours after his swearing-in ceremony.

Under his rule, he said, Egypt will work for regional security and stability. He also called on Egyptians to build a more stable future after three turbulent years, asking them to work hard so that their rights and freedoms could grow.

“It is time for us to build a future that is more stable and pen a new reality for the future of this nation,” he said. Hard work, something that he has repeatedly called for in recent weeks, will allow Egyptians to “pay attention to rights and freedoms (to) deepen and develop them,” he said.

“Let us differ for the sake of our nation and not over it; let us do that as part of a unifying national march in which every party listens to the

other objectively and without ulterior motives,” he said.

El-Sissi, 59, earlier took the oath of office before the Supreme Constitutional Court at the tribunal’s Nileside headquarters in a suburb south of Cairo, the same venue where Morsi, now on trial for charges that carry the death penalty, was sworn in two years ago.

The building, designed to look like an ancient Egyptian temple, is a short distance away from a military hospital where longtime ruler, Hosni Mubarak, toppled by the 2011 uprising, is being held.

Forced out of office after 29 years in power, Mubarak was convicted last month on graft charges and sentenced to three years in prison. He is also being retried over the killing of protesters during the 18-day revolt.

Yesterday was declared a national holiday for el-Sissi’s inauguration and police and troops deployed throughout Cairo. The entire Cabinet, as well as el-Sissi’s wife and children, attended the swearingin ceremony.

Egyptian president and former army chief, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (left) with outgoing interim president, Adly Mansour after signing the handing over of power document in Cairo…yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

Spain’s king attends last parade before abdication Ukraine’s Poroshenko plans new team to King Juan Carlos has StaryPAIN’S presided over his last miliparade before abdicating in favour of his son.

Prince Felipe accompanied the king at yesterday’s annual Armed Forces day ceremony that honors those who died in the service of the nation.

Also yesterday, a new poll showed most citizens want a referendum to decide whether Spain should remain

a monarchy.

Pollster Metroscopia found that 62 percent of respondents said they wanted a referendum on the monarchy “at some point.” A majority also said they favored the king’s abdication.

The poll was published in El Mundo newspaper.

The prince is due to be proclaimed King Felipe VI on June 19.

meet Putin, build ties with West KRAINE’S newly-installed U President, Petro Poroshenko is set to remake a governing team which will handle the crisis with Russia, with talks on gas prices today providing an early test of his new relationship with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

Thai security forces remain in barracks as protests dwindle HAILAND’S junta kept T many of the thousands of troops and police it readied to deal with protests in Bangkok yesterday off the streets as the number of people making a public show of dissent to the May 22 coup dwindled.

The military has cracked down hard on pro-democracy dissidents and supporters since it ousted Prime

Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra last month, seeking to mute criticism and nip protests in the bud.

A heavy security force presence at potential flashpoints in Thailand’s largest cities has limited protesters to small gatherings, which are often coordinated through social media and mostly located around shopping malls.

Yesterday, few protests took

place and the security presence was lighter. Half a dozen women outside a mall gave the three-fingered salute that has become a symbol of defiance to the coup.

Protesters posted photographs on social media of small groups at Bangkok’s main international airport making the same salute, which was inspired by the film “The Hunger Games.”

Poroshenko’s swearing-in as president at a pomp-filled, but relaxed, ceremony on Saturday conveyed the feeling that a line had been drawn under six months of unprecedented and bloody upheaval which toppled his predecessor, Viktor Yanukovich.

But behind the euphoria that Ukraine might now, at last, start to “Live in a new way”, as Poroshenko’s campaign slogan has promised, lies the reality of seething separatism in the east in which Ukraine sees Moscow’s hand, and Russia’s opposition to his plans to lead Ukraine into mainstream Europe.

Poroshenko’s blunt refusal to accept the loss of Crimea in a combative inaugural speech puts him further at odds with Putin.

An indication of whether Putin is ready to give the 48year-old businessman-politician some early breaks or test him in his first days in office may come in trilateral talks in Brussels today aimed at solving a dispute over the price of Russian gas.

Russia has threatened to cut off supplies to its neighbor, a major gas transit route to the European Union, if it fails to pay its debts to Gazprom (GAZP.MM) by tomorrow.

In early steps to install key allies, Poroshenko is expected in the coming days to name new foreign and defense ministers.

The rebellions, in which proRussian separatists have declared “people’s republics”, have claimed scores of lives in clashes between government forces and armed militias.

Israeli, Palestinian presidents in unprecedented Vatican prayers SRAELI and Palestinian Iunprecedented presidents meet in an prayer meeting with Pope Francis yesterday, a gesture he hopes will “re-create a desire, a possibility” of relaunching the Middle East’s stalled peace process.

The Vatican has played down any expectations that the Sunday evening meeting between Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas - billed as a “pause from politics” - will lead to any immediate breakthroughs in the region’s tortuous problems and says it is not meddling in regional

issues.

“No one is presumptuous enough to think peace will break out on Monday,” said Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, a Church official in charge of Catholic sites in the Holy Land and a key organiser of the encounter.

“The intention of this initiative is to re-open a road that has been closed for some time, to re-create a desire, a possibility, to make people dream,” he said, adding that the pope does not want to get involved in details of issues such as borders or settlements.

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the key Israeli decision-maker, is not attending and he refuses to deal with the Palestinian unity government, backed

by Hamas Islamists, that Abbas swore in last Monday.

Peres will leave office next month.

Netanyahu has made no direct comment on the meeting but in remarks at a paramilitary police base in Jerusalem he suggested that prayer is no substitute for security.

“For thousands of years, the people of Israel have been

praying for peace daily. But until peace comes, we will continue to strengthen you so that you can continue to defend the State of Israel.

Ultimately, that is what will guarantee our future and will also bring peace,” he told the troops.

But the fact that Francis’ bold move has managed to bring the two presidents together shows his desire to engage political leaders, offering inter-religious dialogue as a building block.

The meeting is taking place more than a month after United States-led peace talks

collapsed amid bitter mutual recrimination. The pope, in his weekly address in St. Peter’s Square, said he hoped faithful of all religions “will unite themselves spiritually to our plea”.

The pope made his surprise invitation to the two heads of state while he was in the Holy Land last month.

The minutely orchestrated event on a small lawn in the Vatican gardens - a space the Vatican has called “neutral” because it is bereft of religious symbols - will be the presidents’ first public meeting in more than a year.

Bergdahl family gets death threats NITED States authorities U are investigating emailed death threats to the father of Bowe Bergdahl, the soldier released by the Afghan Taliban last week after five years in captivity.

Four threatening emails were being investigated, police told Reuters.

Meanwhile he is reported to have said that his captors locked him in a cage in total darkness for weeks at a time.

U.S. opinion is divided as to whether he is a hero or a soldier who endangered his comrades by deserting his post.

On Thursday a welcoming party in the hometown of Sgt Bergdahl was cancelled.

The first of the four death threats was sent to Bob Bergdahl, Sgt Bergdahl’s father, at his home near Hailey, Idaho, the town’s police chief Jeff Gunter told Reuters.

He said that Bergdahl received the first threat on Wednesday, the same day as a rally in Hailey celebrating Sgt Bergdahl’s release was cancelled amid controversy over the circumstances of his release.

Gunter said that the threatening emails were now being investigated by the FBI. The authorities are reported to be providing security to Bob Bergdahl and his wife, Jani.

The details of Sgt Bergdahl’s capture in 2009 remain unclear.

Some of the soldier’s former comrades say that he fell into Taliban hands after deserting his post in Paktika Province.

Critics of the deal, in which five Taliban prisoners in Guantanamo Bay were released in exchange - have alleged that six US soldiers were killed in the initial efforts to locate the missing man.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Monday, June 9, 2014 | 11

Focus Kwara tackles youth unemployment

By Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi INCE May 27, 1967 when the Gen Yakubu Sdown Gowon-led military administration broke the country’s four regions existing at that time and created Kwara state, the fledging entity’s spacious and fertile land had offered its indigenes immense opportunities to engage in different aspects of agriculture.

This did not change when, in 1976, the Idah/Dekina part of the state was excised to form what is today known as Benue state.

Again, in 1991, courtesy of the General Ibrahim Babangida regime, six local councils were further carved out of Kwara, five of which formed part of the new Kogi state, while the sixth was merged with Niger state.

Now with 16 local councils, Kwara has been lucky, having been largely insulated from serious security issues some of its neighbours have been faced with. And relatively, business has been booming. The Dangote Flour Mills, established back in 2003, is located along Asa Dam road, with installed capacity of 27 trailer-load of finished products everyday and 450 workers. It produces flour with spaghetti and macaroni, according to sources.

Jebba, a small town in the state’s northern part is also home to a paper mill with some 2000 employees. Olam Nigeria limited, a subsidiary of a Singapore based company dealing in agricultural products and food ingredients, is also firmly rooted in the state.

However, like every other state in the country, Kwara is also suffering from an acute shortage of jobs for its teeming youths, who constitute more than 65 per cent of the state’s estimated three million citizens. For any sensible governor, this is unacceptable and Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the state’s 19th youthful helmsman, who assumed office on May 29, 2011, has taken some pragmatic steps.

Recently, he launched the Quickwin Empowerment and Employment Scheme in Ilorin, the state capital, engaging 5200 unemployed youths in the process. The scheme, according to the governor, has so far employed 10,200 youths with plans to absorb an additional 3000 youths before the end of the year.

At the flag off ceremony where the ecstatic new beneficiaries could hardly believe their luck, the governor admitted that while the lucky ones now have a job, there were still thousands of others still hanging out there, “not because they are unwilling or incapable of work, but because the opportunities are limited.”

Besides, the state government has provided about N640 million revolving credit for 41,000 Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) and structured Skill Acquisition Centres, targeted specifically at the youths.

“QuickWin is perhaps the only empowerment scheme of its type in this country that is open to all residents, regardless of their skill sets, levels of education or state of origin,” Ahmed noted. “To underline this scheme’s importance and ensure its sustenance, government has set aside N2.4 billion to fund the scheme for the next one year, while N164 million has been expended on the newly-created Environmental Corps and an enhanced Kwara State Road Traffic Management Agency (KWARTMA).

“To further stimulate economic activities and enhance public works, QuickWin also includes low-hanging projects, such as classroom rehabilitation, transformer installation, and borehole construction across the state.

“With the launching of QuickWin, my assurance becomes even stronger that entrepreneurship and vocational skill acquisition remain the most viable pathways for sustainable empowerment. I have no doubt that it will act as an important catalyst in improving the livelihoods of youths and create valuable skills to fill existing gaps in the economy, making crime and criminality less attractive options for survival.

“My administration therefore remains committed to creating a new crop of youth entrepreneurs through training, advocacy, re-orientation and access to affordable credit. Indeed, the most significant component of QuickWin

Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed (right) presenting a certificate to one of the lucky beneficiaries of the Quickwin Empowerment and Employment Scheme, launched recently in Ilorin. is entrepreneurship under which eligible youths will undergo paid training for up to 12 months.”

On why the state government decided to tackle the unemployment problem, Ahmed said: “The issue of unemployment has been with us in this country for a long time even though at different levels of impact. However, if you recall, in the late 90s to early 2000, it became a critical issue. Unfortunately it is part of what we are witnessing today in the society, which is insecurity.

“In Kwara state, when we came in 2003, I was then the Commissioner for Finance under the last governor, Bukola Saraki, there were deliberate efforts aimed at empowering the youths.

Several programmes that were youth-oriented were brought forth and there were some that were carried out under the Telecoms, where youths were empowered with telecoms sets to enable them set up call centers. Youths were also supported in conjunction with the Peak Milk Company, whereby, we established a system where a kitting tool was put in place for youths to enable them sell Peak Milk products “And of course, there was the vehicle support scheme for transporters, including motorcycles. But we saw it (unemployment) as something very critical when we came in 2011 and the first thing we did was to do a statistical study.

“Nationally, we have been talking about youth unemployment but there has never been any clear statistics of the levels of youth unemployment. So, when we came in, we set up a database for unemployed youths.

“Within the first few months, we found out that we had over 40,000 to 50,000 (unemployed youths) that registered across the 16 local governments and it became clear that we must carry this into a planning process. In other words, it must be encapsulated in our policy strategy for governance in the next four years and we decided to come up with the Kwara Bridge Empowerment Scheme, which is primarily to engage 2,000 youths immediately.

And immediately the programme started, we engaged 2,000 youths with the hope that these 2000 youths would transit to proper employment within a year or a year and half.

“I am happy to tell you that that was exactly what happened. We now moved new people from the database onto this bridge and the bridge has since then been servicing the youths, moving them from unemployment to

empowerment and ultimately, some would end up in employment or entrepreneurship as the case may be.

“We also decided to follow up with this by looking at the levels of youth engagement in the country. We gave it a clear analysis and realized that we have fundamental problems with our educational system, to the extent that we have not been able to create a proper match between human capital needs and human capital training as it is today.

“If you look at the educational system in Nigeria, it has suffered policy summersaults.

Not that the policies were wrong, but they were not allowed to mature before they were changed. And in the process, they were not matched with the desired human capital needs and input. So, you begin to see disparity in human capital developmental scheme.

“For example, our students would move from primary school and enter junior secondary school, where they are supposed to learn things like Introductory Technology and which would decide whether they would ultimately complete (their studies) at the regular secondary school or veer into entrepreneurial skills. The provision that was put in place on paper makes sense, but in practice, we found out that only those who ended up in regular secondary schools had the option of going through to SS1, SS2 and SS3. Those who could not cope and became early school leavers, did not get the prerequisite training for the Introductory Technology type of entrepreneurship scheme that they were supposed to support. In the process, we ended up churning out unemployable, unskilled school leavers and that created the current problem we are faced with in the country.

“Having seen this, we tried to do a reversal.

The first thing is, how do we ensure that those who dropped out of school, early school leavers are properly engaged? That led us to set up one of the first international vocational centres in Ajasse, which hopefully, would be commissioned in the next two months.

“Now, why this type of school? We have looked around. How many of such schools do we have, where our youths can go and learn hands-on entrepreneurship training for services in the system, such as electrical, mechanical, civil engineering; marine, welding, refrigeration and air conditioning training? How many of these skills acquisition centres do we have in

the country today, that brings out the standard that would make the graduates of this place to be compatible with global best practices?

“There is none! The evidence is in the fact that, when we need these (technical) services, we usually bring in outsiders to do it.

Ghanaians, Togolese and others come in to do these jobs. So, it tells you that those skills are not available here and we must start addressing the problem by building institutions that would put these skills on the table. That was what prompted our setting up of the Ajasse Vocational International School.

“Now, you would recollect that we used to have City & Guilds (C&G) in the country. But a new body has since replaced that, to examine and conduct technical related courses. But then, this has not keyed into the much-desired growth that we want to see in entrepreneurship training scheme.

“In our own wisdom, we looked at what is obtainable in other parts of the world and we found out that those who have acquired those skills are able to key into the global market because they have internationally recognized certificates. That was why we decided that our scheme here in Kwara would be structured in line with the provisions of the federal government, in driving entrepreneurship.

“But at the same time, we would provide the wherewithal to enable the schools train students to be able to write the C&G examinations internally. We train them such that they can write the examinations as external students, acquire the certificates and become useful even beyond the shores of this country. We want to see an institution where we could create a huge capacity of hands-on entrepreneurs, that are useable beyond the shores of this country.

“If you recall, in the 60s, late 70s and early 80s, part of India’s foreign exchange earnings came from human capital deployment in several parts of the world, especially in Nigeria, where we benefitted. What stops us from benefiting from that, if we have a huge number of unemployed youths that we can train and make useful? The same skills that enabled us to set up the Technical Aid Corps, that enabled us to send lawyers, doctors and other professionals to different parts of the world. We can do that for skilled labour that we would train with certification that is comparable to what is obtained globally.”

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Monday, June 9, 2014

Politics Musa, Osoba, Uranta, others fault military

By Madu Onuorah (Abuja), Seye Olumide (Lagos), Abiodun Fagbemi (Ilorin), Anietie Akpan (Calabar), Inemesit Akpan-Nsoh (Uyo) ONDEMNATION continues to trail the miliC tary clampdown on distribution vans of major media houses and harassment of vendors across the country.

Yesterday, eminent Nigerians described the development as anti-democratic, anti-people and a gradual process of returning to the military era.

However, there was word of caution for the media not to do or abet anything that could further jeopardise the security of the nation at these trying times.

Still, the respondents warned that such military action, if not checked, condemned and stopped now could portend a greater danger, not just for the present civil rule, but more importantly, the 2015 elections, the ongoing National Conference and other issues in the polity.

They also urged President Goodluck Jonathan and the military authorities to check history whether any government, all over the world, had ever fought and won a media war.

To them, President Jonathan should, in the best interest of his administration, Nigerians and the image of the country, order the military to stop the action.

The respondents’ reactions are presented below.

Alhaji Balarabe Musa HE former governor of old Kaduna State said the military action was despicable.

According to him: “It shows that this government is more military than civilian. If there is the need for what the military is doing to the media, it should have been done by the police.

“We are gradually returning to the military era of the former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.”

Musa also said that the action showed desperation and lack of focus on the part of the Federal Government.

“I think the National Security Adviser (NSA) and other necessary security agents should have summoned a stakeholders’ meeting that would have involved publishers of media houses, members of the Guild of Editors and representatives of other political parties to address the matter,” he said.

“The clampdown is a mere strategy to ensure that the 2015 elections are rigged. We have noticed the recalcitrant and inability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct credible elections in 2015 and one of the best ways to achieve that is by gagging the media.”

“Nobody should deceive himself that we are going to have a free, fair and credible elections in 2015 with this type of development.”

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Chief Segun Osoba HE former Ogun State governor said the report of the military clampdown on newspaper vans was shocking and unbelievable.

Wondering whether “we are building or trying to destroy the democracy Nigerians suffered and struggle to obtain,” the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) said,

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Musa

Osoba

“I cannot believe this. It is strange under a democratic government.”

He said even under the military government, it was never as bad as this, “for a democratic government to launch attacks on the media, using the military.”

“This is not an attack on the media, but an attack on the fundamental human rights to freedom of information of the people,” her said.

“If we allow this to pass through, then they would do something worse.”

On whether the media had erred on their part by disseminating wrong and misleading information, which is capable of worsening the security situation in the country, Osoba said he has no cause to doubt the integrity of the Nigerian media.

“They (media) have been so patriotic and I have not seen any unpatriotic reporting by any of our media,” he said. “What the military did was shocking and we must not allow it to go.”

path of media ethics, Adebanjo insisted that that shouldn’t have warranted what the military did to attack the media, adding, “that wouldn’t be to anybody’s interest.”

Chief Ayo Adebanjo HE delegate to the National Conference condemned the military action, described it as “very bad,” even as he asked: “Are we returning to Abacha era?”

Adebanjo, one of the leaders of pan-Yoruba organisation, Afenifere, noted that the fact the media could be treated in this manner shows a dangerous signal.

While admitting that some of the media houses have deteriorated and veered off the

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Former Ogun State governor, Chief Segun Osoba said the report of the military clampdown on newspaper vans was shocking and unbelievable. Wondering whether ‘we are building or trying to destroy the democracy Nigerians suffered and struggle to obtain,’ the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) said, ‘I cannot believe this. It is strange under a democratic government. He said even under the military government, it was never as bad as this, ‘for a democratic government to launch attacks on the media, using the military. This is not an attack on the media, but an attack on the fundamental human rights to freedom of information of the people,’ he said. ‘If we allow this to pass through, then they would do something worse.’ He vouched for the credibility of the media, say, ‘they (media) have been so patriotic and I have not seen any unpatriotic reporting by any of our media. What the military did was shocking and we must not allow it to go.’

Professor Ralph Akinfeleye HE Head of the Department of Mass Communications, University of Lagos, first wondered what the Media Adviser to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, was doing “before such action was carried out.”

He described the government media war as “political miscalculation and logical inconsistency on government part,” positing that, “this is not the time for this administration to start a media war.”

“President Jonathan should be careful in dealing with the Fourth Estate of the Realm; otherwise, they would turn it into a Fourth Estate of wreck,” he said.

The acclaimed Professor of Mass Communications urged the government to understand the fact that freedom of information is recognised by the United Nations and the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.

“Our government needs to be told that they cannot padlock the air and it is in their own interest not to attempt doing such,” said.

“Any attempt to do that is tantamount to fighting the people of Nigeria.”

Akinfeleye said instead of confronting the media, “the government should rather partner with the press to fight terrorism, ensure the success of the ongoing National Conference and other challenges the Jonathan administration is facing.”

He said President Jonathan must know that what the military did was a great error, urging him “to apologise to the media over this unfortunate development.”

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Mr. Tony Uranta HE rights activist said that it was unfortunate that Nigeria was getting all kinds of mixed signals from the security agents and the media.

“While I don’t support media censorship by the military, the truth is the media also have the responsibility to censor their reports and conduct proper investigation before dishing out information,” he said.

“For instance, the report that some generals in the army were court-marshaled was not true, but at the same time, it is not the job of the military to censor the media.”

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Adebanjo Mr. Yinka Odumakin HE spokesman of the Afenifere and a member of the National Conference said the security outfits should be careful not to give impression that they were fighting the media, stressing, “there must be a balance of relationship between the two outfits.”

He said there should have been a professional way of going about the issue instead of what the military authority did.

According to him: “The defence authority must hold meetings with publishers and the Guild of Editors, to ascertain the media house(s) that erred and not to clamp down on all media.”

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Olusola Bayeshea & Abeny Mohammed WO Ilorin-based Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), Olusola Bayeshea and Abeny Mohammed, have carpeted the Nigerian military for the clampdown on some newspaper distribution vans and harassment of vendors across the country.

In separate interviews with The Guardian in Ilorin, Bayeshea and Mohammed said the development was antithetical to the growth of democracy and a bad omen to Freedom of Speech, as guaranteed under the Universal Fundamental Human Rights.

According to Bayeseha: “I think the Federal Government acted too far by confiscating the newspapers through the agents of the military.

“We need to tread softly on this because the military, as an institution, does not understand democracy.

“The press laid down its life for this democracy and if after 15 years of democracy we still remember the military as a repressive group of persons, then we should start querying the efficacy of the democracy and those at the helms of affairs.”

Mohammed, who described the clampdown as “barbaric,” urged the concerned publishers of the media houses to seek legal redress over the colossal sum of money lost in the process of the denial to discharge their duties and meet up with the required profit margin.

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Mr. Etim Inyang HE prominent Calabar-based legal practitioner condemned the military seizure or harassment of newspapers distribution vans and vendors in the country in the name of searching for arms.

Inyang told The Guardian on phone yesterday that, “as far as he was concerned, “the law is very

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Monday, June 9, 2014 13

clampdown on newspapers, urge caution clear: If they think what those people are doing poses any security threat, it is a matter of going to court to get an order of the court.”

“But when we resort to self-help, to me, it is very embarrassing in a democracy to have all those things,” he said.

He said the reason given by them (military) was not justifiable, noting, “this is democracy and not a military government; you don’t do that. It is very embarrassing.”

“Everything must be done within the law and we must obey the rule of law. If they have anything against these media houses, let them go to court and get an order and not just wake up and take the laws into your hands.

“What excuse are they giving? They are saying that they are suspecting some of the (media) vans contain certain security materials and they are going to vendor distributing points to stop the distribution of papers. Does it not contradict their own allegation?”

Inyang continued: “As far as I am concerned, it is wrong; this is democracy and not a military rule. We must follow the law and anything outside the law is rubbish.

“If there is any security threat, they know what to do. You cannot come under a security threat and begin to harass and trample on the rights of the people.

“This is the kind of thing you see in a military government. You must respect the rights of those newspaper houses. The Constitution provides freedom of information; so, they (military) must obey it.

Emphasising that he law does not promote self-help, Inyang said, the action was a threat to democracy.

His words: “Seriously, I see this as a threat to our democracy. It is very shameful that after 15 years of democracy, we are having this rubbish.

“If this kind of act could not work under a military government and you are civilians, it cannot work.

“If they are trying to stop the press, then the country is gone. It is very embarrassing to us as a nation and they should be called to order.”

tional role of educating, informing and entertaining Nigerians.

“Sovereignty belongs to Nigerians and the media have consistently played the role of the watchdog and conscience of the society.”

Onwubiko said these attacks against the media were calculated attempts to foist a regime of fascism and tyranny, “and this throw back to the old days of dictatorship must be resisted vigorously by all and sundry.”

He queried: “Why attack the media now that Nigerians are demanding probity and transparency in the execution of defence procurement?

“Does military hierarchy have skeletons in their cupboard that they seek to muzzle the press to keep these corrupt practices under the carpet?”

Uranta

Akinfeleye

Onwubiko

Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko HE National Coordinator of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria and former Federal Commissioner at the National Human Rights Commission described the restrictions on newspapers’ circulation in the country as outrageous and primitive.

He urged President Jonathan to call the soldiers to order.

Onwubiko told The Guardian in Abuja: “The systematic and well-coordinated attacks by armed military operatives targeted against the press is despicable, reprehensible, primitive, unconstitutional and illegal.

“It is undemocratic and highly outrageous.

We urge President Jonathan to call the hierarchy of the armed forces to order.

“Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria hereby appeals to the United Nations Human Rights Council and the developed Western Utomi societies like the US and UK to demand that Odumakin Nigeria should and must respect media free- Prominent Calabar-based legal practitioner, Etim Inyang, condemned the milidom and stop forthwith the ongoing massive massacre of fundamental civil rights of media tary seizure or harassment of newspapers distribution vans and vendors in the owners and the constitutionally guaranteed country in the name of searching for arms. He told The Guardian on phone yesfundamental human right to free speech and press freedom as contained in Section 22 and terday that, as far as he was concerned, ‘the law is very clear: If they think what Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal those people are doing poses any security threat, it is a matter of going to court Republic of Nigeria of 1999 (as amended).”

Onwubiko said that in the case that these to get an order of the court. But when we resort to self-help, to me, it is very range of massive attacks against the press con- embarrassing in a democracy to have all those things.’ He said the reason given tinued, “we call on the UN to impose sanctions on the Nigerian government and for massive by them (military) was not justifiable, noting, ‘this is democracy and not a milinationwide civil protests to commence even as tary government; you don’t do that. It is very embarrassing. Everything must be the Labour and press unions should down done within the law and we must obey the rule of law. If they have anything tools from all government-run media.”

“And if after three days, the repression contin- against these media houses, let them go to court and get an order and not just ues, let leaders of credible civil society groups organise Nigerians to wage nonviolent civil wake up and take the laws into your hands.’

He went on: “If the military feels strongly that Newspapers don’t wage war but the armed unrest such as civil disobedience and total any print media has breached any extant law, terrorists do so. strike,” he said.

“The focus of the military is how to contain “What the military has done and continues to what they ought to do is to seek legal redress and possibly defeat these murderous terrordo by destroying newspapers that are being in the competent courts of law.

“President Jonathan must act decisively to ists and not misdirect their indignation on airlifted for distribution amounts to jungle save our democracy from being destroyed. the media for only performing their constitujustice and self-help measures.”

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Clifford Thomas, Uwemedimo Nwoko & David Ekanem S the new wave of military adventurism seems to rear its ugly head in the area of stifling of the media, human rights organisations, lawyers and politicians alike in Akwa Ibom State have joined other Nigerians to condemned this development in its entity.

Fielding questions from The Guardian, the state Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Mr. Clifford Thomas; a Human Rights lawyer, Mr. Uwemedimo Nwoko and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade David Ekanem, said such act of the military was a clear signal to the destruction of the nation’s 15 years uninterrupted democracy.

This development, they observed, was undemocratic, advising journalists, however, to “report those things that are good for public consumption without undermining national interest.”

According to Mr. Thomas, the military action “is the worst thing to have happened to the Nigeria’s democracy,” accusing the political class of wanting to use the military to drag the country back to the dictatorial era.

“It will be that having been the beneficiary of the struggle for 15 years of uninterrupted democracy, the political class wants to destroy that democracy and Nigerians must rise up to resist it,” he said.

“Today is the day of people’s power, not the days of military might. Clamping down on the media is clamping down on democracy.”

According to Mr. Nwoko: “If they (military) found that the papers publish things that are not in the best interest of government or the security operatives, they should have taken a more decent approach of dealing with the publishers of the newspapers.

“What it amounts to is that the military has employed ‘self-help,’ which is not permitted in law. Self-help is against the principle of the rule of law.”

Nwoko said the military should have approached the Attorney General of the country, “who knows what to do in such circumstances.”

“I really condemn any act that tends to subvert the free operation of the press in the country; I think we have gone beyond that level now,” he said.

On his part, Comrade Ekanem of the APC said the primary responsibility of the military in this dispensation “is that of protecting the territorial boundary of the country,” wondering why the same military for months could not rescue the Chibok girls that were kidnapped by Boko Haram.

Ekanem called on Nigerians to “resist this attempt by the military to come back from the back door,” adding, however, that it was the government in power “that is dragging the country into what is happening.”

A

Prof. Pat Utomi HE former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP faulted the development, describing it as a recipe for confusion.

He warned the government not to give the military any room “to truncate democracy in the country.”

T

TheGuardian

14 | Monday, June 9, 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 Doctors in a health-crisis system T

HE decision by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), to embark on a three-day warning strike the other day, once again, set the stage for another paralysis of the nation’s health care delivery system. Nigeria, of course, cannot afford another disruption of a system already in a very bad shape and has earned the description of a health-crisis system.

Although the warning strike has ended and the doctors are back to their duty post, government should do everything to stop the main strike planned from July 1, 2014.

As usual, the warning strike brought untold hardship and agony to thousands of patients across the country. Although doctors’ industrial actions have always spelt doom for the sick and dying in hospitals, the latest came at a time it was thought government had settled all lingering issues that could cause any dispute and more pains.

Going by reports, the strike paralysed healthcare services nationwide, many hospital departments were deserted, even though they were open and the consultants were on ground with the nurses, pharmacists and other support staff to manage the situation. While skeletal services were offered to patients on admission, the Out-Patient Departments were virtually empty as no new patients were admitted. Emergency Departments suffered the same fate, leading to avoidable death of more than a few patients.

At the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, for instance, the strike coincided with an on-going indefinite strike by doctors of the hospital over a cocktail of demands including the astronomical increase in hospital charges, which they said is affecting their training as resident doctors. The situation was the same at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba and University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), among others.

Consequently, families had to take their members in need of medical attention to private hospitals while those who could not afford the exorbitant charges in such hospitals resorted to unorthodox treatment.

What is worrisome is why the strikes have always been over the same issues and why these cannot be settled once and for all to save the nation unnecessary trauma!

The NARD embarked on the strike to press home its demands over non-implementation of agreements it reached with the Federal Government. According to the doctors, the issues in contention include parity in salary between doctors and other health workers; skipping grade level 12; failure to produce a blueprint on residency training in conjunction with the association and other stakeholders, among others.

According to the association, its members have become wary of going back and forth with government over its responsibility to meet the demands of NARD. On its own, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) said government should be blamed for the incessant strikes in public hospitals in Nigeria.

As MDCAN said, the strike was unwarranted if only the government kept to its promises. Also involved in the strike are members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), over non-payment of promotion arrears.

So many strike actions by the doctors over the same issues, perpetually remaining unresolved leading to untold adverse consequences on the health sector are an embarrassment to Nigeria. This is the second strike by doctors within six months. The last strike was a five-day warning strike from December 18, 2013.

Why are the issues not resolved once and for all? Why must Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of strikes caused by mis-governance? When would the government learn to honour agreements it wholeheartedly reached with different labour unions?

There is no doubt that Nigerians are traumatised by the spate of industrial actions ravaging the economy.

After each strike, government also has a habit of hurriedly putting up another agreement it knows it would not fulfill. That then sets the stage for another round of strike, a vicious cycle without an end. One simple explanation is that the government of Nigeria cares very little about the people for it is the people who suffer and die whenever there is any crisis in healthcare delivery. To make matters worse, it is reasonable to conclude that government officials are incapable of caring since they can afford to rush abroad for medical treatment having helped themselves sumptuously to state resources. That is why the hospitals are left in a deplorable state.

The appalling state of healthcare in Nigeria, certainly, is an embarrassment to the citizenry. The number of available doctors is grossly inadequate. The recommended doctor to patient ratio is 1:600. But according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, the ratio in Nigeria is 1:10,000. Available statistics show that there are merely 259,719 registered doctors in Nigeria catering for over 160 million people.

Furthermore, there are just 78,727 specialists and 63,780 general practitioners in the country. This is grossly inadequate and nothing is being done to improve on the situation as the poor state of the hospitals has forced thousands of Nigerian doctors to seek better working conditions in other countries.

According to reports, there are over 4,000 Nigerian doctors practising in the United Kingdom alone. The number is astronomically high when those in the United States, Europe, Middle East and elsewhere are added. It is common knowledge that some of the best specialist doctors in Europe and America are Nigerians. Indeed, according to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), two-thirds of Nigerian doctors are practising abroad!

Grim as this situation in Nigeria is, there is no plan to train and encourage doctors, which is part of the complaints of the National Association of Resident Doctors.

Whatever it takes must be put in place to address all issues plaguing the nation’s health sector, including meeting the demands of the NARD, as well as those of other medical unions, to save Nigerians from further suffering and the nation from further embarrassment.

LETTER

Remembering the decent old days IR: Today, not one person Snapped is exempt from being kidin Nigeria: from babies to nonagenarians and up to centenarians. The recent case of an 80-year old Hajia Hawawu Bello abducted in Nagazi Uvete in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State as well as Madam Ogboro Dark, the 90-year old mother -in-law of the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly as reported is fear-provoking.

How did the state of affairs get this bad in Nigeria? I reminisce luminously about my boyhood days when I ran errands for strangers and for friends of my forebears and it was forbidden to collect a reward for these efforts. I was told to self-sacrifice when I ran errands for the aged.

Respect for the aged was never negotiated; it was an entitlement.

I recall when as a nonMuslim I went on best-wishes social calls with my Muslim friends on Sallah days and we called such visits, ‘Yawon Sallah.’ And they also went with me for ‘Yawon Christmas.’ Those were the days when we didn’t pay attention to the part of the country you came from, which religion you recognised and where the love for philistinism didn’t make us discriminate against each other.

I reflect on my visits to my

aristocratic Hausa friends and I could sleep in my friend’s house when it was too late to come home without sending a panic message to the family.

I remember going on boyhood hunting expeditions during school breaks without a water jar and when thirsty I asked the men in the rural villages to offer me water and they instructed their wives in ‘Kule’ to prepare a meal of ‘Fura da nono,’ for me. They intuited how hungry I might also have been. I also recall running into many Fulani herdsmen in the plains; they were normal, meek and unassertive and they never revealed the vicious streak I read about daily in the papers nowadays.

I remember when thieves were caught, they were undressed but not in their birthday suits, and paraded around in the city with songs of vilification, before they were handed to the police.

Such stigmas lasted forever and discouraged them from re-engaging in such acts again. They were never beaten, never had foreign objects poked into their genitals like the publicised case of brutality by mobsters of the women caught stealing pepper in a market in Lagos. They were never rounded up and reprehensibly scorched like the four innocent undergraduates of the University of Port Harcourt in Port Harcourt in

2012.

Oh! How quickly times have changed in Nigeria today.

Children are interned at home now and can’t talk to strangers or run errands like I did. The environment is so unfriendly and our children are exposed to more risks, previously undreamed-of. I am left to wonder if they will ever enjoy this country. How can we come out of this retrograde bigoted quagmire of hate, criminality and discrimination? How can we come out of this retrograde bigoted quagmire of hate, criminality and discrimination.

Collectively, it is essential that we begin to install the principles of chastity, goodness, endurance, uprightness, selfrestraint, tolerance and duty to man and God. We must understand that service to man is service to God, and cease from the false supplications and sacrifices we make to God while, ironically, we leave our doors closed to humankind.

Maybe Nigeria needs to look for humanity rather than nationalism, religiosity, tribalism and regionalism. Acts of kindness displays of integrity to make a difference, to be practised by all – especially those in government and religious institutions – are the answer to Nigeria’s numerous problems.

• Simon Abah, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Monday, June 9, 2014 15

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Opinion Impending danger of Nigerian oil theft

By Patrick Dele Cole HEN the G8 leaders met in Northern IreW land on June 17-18, 2013 to discuss tax, trade and transparency, we believed it was necessary for them to consider how these issues can serve as the platforms to address the problem of oil theft in the Niger Delta, on which in 2008, the G8 leaders meeting in Japan had promised to help President Yar’Adua. Only a global partnership between the International community, the Nigerian Government and Local communities can end oil theft.

To this end they must: • investigate the global trade in stolen Nigerian crude oil, from the ships used to transport it to the money used to pay for it; • engage international experts from different sectors to discuss the development and implementation of technological and other solutions that can be employed in combating oil theft; • support the efforts of the Nigerian Government to secure its territorial waters and so prevent the unhindered movement of the vessels used to transport stolen crude; and • engage the local community to fight this evil.

Stolen Nigerian crude oil is transported on internationally registered vessels, sold to international buyers, processed by international oil refineries and paid for using international bank accounts. The environmental impact of the trade and associated illegal oil refineries that process it in the creeks of the Niger Delta is devastating. A region already regarded as an environmental tragedy is being further degraded and efforts to rehabilitate the region cannot proceed until this illicit trade is contained.

Global Financial Initiative (GFI) in its study claimed that it aimed to “unpack the opaque”.

Oil theft was reaching unprecedented levels by 2013. It was undermining the economy of Nigeria and jeopardising the integrity of the

state. This situation demanded the most serious attention of Government and the global community committed to Nigeria’s well being.

The most recent study claims that the average artisanal refinery operator consumes 10,000 barrels per day of stolen crude. The stolen crude taken by vessels to off shore tankers amount to 336,000 barrels. Digital Globe, a satellite imaging company, found that there were over 500 refinery sites in Nigeria with a throughput of 19,000 – 24,000 barrels per day.

GFI synthesizing all these sources estimates that in 2013, total artesian oil was between 179,255 and 214,887 barrels per day.

Attitudes to oil theft are hardening among the oil producing communities. The GFI also looked into the question of who owns the oil and attitudes of Niger Deltans to oil ownership.

The local communities, that is people who live in the Niger Delta, or live near an oil well – believe, perhaps erroneously or falsely, that, the oil belongs to them and that it is being stolen by outsiders right under their noses. They believe that they are the “owners” and are oppressed and deprived by “outsiders” because of oil and furthermore that so long as the present situation persists “the owners” i.e. themselves and their communities, will never be developed, they will never rest or be left alone and “Salvation” will only come after the oil has been exhausted, their farms and fishing villages despoiled beyond redemption They also regard the International Oil Companies as Criminals : “How can a criminal company do something right”? They have come to see oil as a curse, not a blessing; their people are suffering; they have no roads, hospitals, electricity.

Their plan is to stop further exploitation but meanwhile, if only temporarily, must steal as much of their own oil as they could.

“We shall rise up and destroy their facilities.”

They cry because the companies and the Government are deceivers, corrupt and not fair. The companies assist the Government to destroy their community through a policy of divide and rule.

The local communities, that is people who live in the Niger Delta, or live near an oil well – believe, perhaps erroneously or falsely, that, the oil belongs to them and that it is being stolen by outsiders right under their noses. They believe that they are the “owners” and are oppressed and deprived by “outsiders” because of oil and furthermore that so long as the present situation persists “the owners” i.e. themselves and their communities, will never be developed, they will never rest or be left alone and “Salvation” will only come after the oil has been exhausted, their farms and fishing villages despoiled beyond redemption They also regard the International Oil Companies as Criminals : “How can a criminal company do something right”? They have come to see oil as a curse, not a blessing; their people are suffering; they have no roads, hospitals, electricity.

Nigeria has overtaken all oil producing countries in oil theft activity – Nigeria loses more than US$10 billion annually to increasingly rapacious oil thieves from an increasingly reluctant administration to stop the theft. There is no end to calls for this trade to stop; Government has taken the matter to the United Nations, to the G8, to the EU – African partnership – but no one seems willing to do anything about it, because, some claim, they detect an apparent lack of political will on the part of the Government. It is true that committees have been set up; US$1 billion has been set aside to fight it. As it is, nothing or little seems to be happening.

Recent studies have produced alarmingly frightening statistics. The growth of capacity of oil vessels not in the primary oil sea routes – their numbers are amazingly large.

There are huge discrepancies between what Nigeria says it sells to U.S. and India and what U.S. and India say they import from Nigeria. In 2012 both reported more imports than Nigerian records indicate. In the U.S., the discrepancy is 191,000 barrels. India – it is 22,400 barrels – indicating that exports were all either under reported due to deliverance of unregistered tanker or topping up at loading stations.

The availability of satellite imagery of arti-

sanal oil refineries in Nigeria and their spatial distribution; the values attached to this and maps of the clusters of illegal refineries in Niger Delta taken from satellites are all part of the latest study on oil theft.

Together, these studies paint a dismal picture that ought to scare Nigeria from slumber to action. There is available now in Nigerian waters, according to satellite imagery, enough vessel capacity to take every drop of oil Nigeria produces daily. What does this say about our security? 2013 was the worst year – US$10 billion; 2014 is predicted to be even worse.

Finally the Niger Delta remains the most polluted geographical area in the world – more oil spills – several times worse than EXXON Valdes and BP’s Gulf spill. Sadly due to a number of factors – including Government ineptitude, indifference and impotence, also due to unaccountability of the oil operators and outright chicanery of some individuals in the oil producing communities – oil theft and consequential pollution, no clean up will take place, theft will increase and Government will prove to be helpless. Those who hope that Niger Delta will continue to be the golden goose to feed an irresponsible and unresponsive Nigeria are in for a rude shock.

• Ambassador (Dr.) Patrick Dele Cole (OFR) is a

The 2014 budget in disarray again!

By Henry Boyo N keeping with our regrettable tradition of late enactment of IbyAppropriation Bills, the 2014 budget was belatedly approved the legislature, in April; i.e. well over three months into the fiscal year. In this event, this year’s budget, just like previous ones, will only be partially implemented, despite the adverse social impact of partial implementation. However, late passage is not our only challenge with annual budgets.

Nigerians must be disappointed that the Honourable Finance Minister and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is obviously unable to fulfill her promise to steadily tilt government’s expenditure in favour of capital development. Indeed, with the relatively paltry value of the 2014 infrastructure budget of N1.12 trillion, government’s expressed intentions to improve social welfare and create jobs may now appear to be mere propaganda to our countrymen, especially when the total expenditure budget was also reduced despite the urgent need to stimulate demand and create more employment opportunities, with increased government spending.

Indeed, the primary objectives and policy thrust of government can usually be discerned from the size of sectoral allocations in each year’s budget. For example, in view of the critical significance of human capacity building to economic growth, the recommendation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is that, about 26 per cent of a nation’s total budget must be devoted to the education sector. Regrettably, however, the consolidated sums of N373 billion and N51billion allocated for recurrent and capital expenditures respectively, for the education sector, is still below 50 per cent of UNESCO’s recommendation.

Similarly, the meagre vote of N106 billion for works is probably a clear indication that the East-West road and the Second Niger Bridge may not see completion anytime soon.

Furthermore, the 2014 increased budget allocation of N712 billion for servicing our debts is disturbingly high at 70 per cent of the total allocation for capital expenditure. Worse still, actual debt service charges may exceed this monstrous value, if the cost of servicing CBN’s expensive borrowings to remove systemic “surplus cash” from the economy is also captured. Indeed, despite the oppressive debt service charges, the recently rebased higher Gross Domestic Output figure of $510 billion

may induce complacency that we are still under-borrowed, and such a flattering perception may unfortunately instigate increasing debt accumulation that will further crowd out the real sector from funds and also impoverish our people.

Unfortunately, unlike the tangible impact and the easy optical presence of the infrastructural interventions from the erstwhile Petroleum Trust Fund, one may need to strenuously look out to identify the benefits of the high vote of over N268.3 billion for SURE-P programme in 2014. Curiously, the SURE-P allocation is not technically appropriated in the budget figure, and the disbursement remains solely the prerogative of the Finance Ministry. Indeed, if the SURE-P vote is also captured as expenditure, the value of the projected 2014 deficit will rise and also increase government borrowings at atrocious rates of interest. Furthermore, besides the frequent allegations of lack of transparency and equity in the management of SURE-P funds, some observers have recommended that the huge sum of N268.3 billion would have been better applied for funding local manufacture of domestic gas stove and cylinders, which would be steadily distributed free of charge, to all households in Nigeria. Not only would the masses enjoy cleaner domestic fuel for cooking, Nigeria would also save hundreds of billions annually from the abolition of the very wasteful current kerosene subsidy!

Nonetheless, in spite of the above observations, the legislature also discountenanced the cogent reservations of the Minority Leader, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, that the House should not rubber-stamp a budget that seeks to borrow more money at ridiculously high rates that will further impoverish the country.

It is regrettable that the House outright rebuffed the Minority Leader’s passionate plea that “We cannot, in good conscience, support a budget that comes with a benchmark that siphons away 30 per cent of the country’s revenue into an illegal excess crude account, in violation of the provisions of Section 162 of the Constitution, which we individually swore to defend, with the resultant effect of short-changing the state, we also all individually swore to defend.”

Nonetheless, the most significant predicators of failure in the 2014 budget are the adopted monetary benchmarks; for example, the projected inflation rate of 9.5 per cent is already about two per cent higher than the 2013 disenabling rate of 7.5 per cent, a level which was already clearly antagonistic to sustenance of social welfare, as static incomes, particularly those of pensioners,

for example, would lose almost 40 per cent of purchasing value every five years, alongside deepening poverty nationwide .

Furthermore, if the naira exchange rate continues to depreciate below the budget benchmark of N160/$1, fuel prices will invariably also rise and further increase current subsidy payments of trillions of naira by at least five per cent; ultimately, wasteful subsidy payments may exceed 50 per cent of the consolidated 2014 expenditure budget of N4.6 trillion.

Surprisingly, however, the 2014 budget does not also seem to recognize the critical impediment of high cost of funds to the growth of the real sector, job creation and improved social welfare; in reality, interest rates will remain above the oppressive and destabilising rate of over 20 per cent, so long as banks have to borrow from CBN at the high monetary policy rate of 12 per cent. Consequently, the real sector will continue to struggle, while unemployment will remain distressingly high, so long as CBN’s evidently failed Monetary Policy strategy continues to engender an unusually wide disparity between savings/deposit rates of five per cent against much higher commercial lending rates above 20 per cent. Besides, the curious contradiction of alleged systemic surplus cash, which is inexplicably taboo for funding real sector growth, also appears inconsequential to the legislators.

Furthermore, the lawmakers disturbingly seem to be inappropriately comfortable with the ugly practice in which government keeps its money at zero per cent with the banks, only to return to borrow back the money at over 12 per cent for the sake of reducing perceived surplus cash from the system; it is unlikely that the lawmakers would so eagerly adopt such a careless strategy for their own individual or corporate investments, and nothing suggests that this is best practice management to grow an impoverished economy.

Nonetheless, as an act of “patriotism”, according to the House Committee Chairman, Honourable Zakari Mohammed, the House agreed to pass the budget, in spite of protestations by some members that the Appropriation Bill be rejected “until parliament received details of the spending proposals of government ministries, departments and agencies, in line with Section 21 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act”. When, we may ask, does it become patriotic to violate our laws? The answer must be blowing in the wind!

• Boyo is a commentator on public finance.

16 | Monday, June 9, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Opinion Who’s afraid of Boko Haram?

By Adekeye Adebajo HO’s afraid of Boko Haram?” It would appear that the Nigerian government “W of Goodluck Jonathan is. It has demonstrated such rank incompetence and callous indifference to the recent kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls by the militant group. Boko Haram has already killed nearly 5,000 civilians since 2009. This situation raises fundamental questions about the ability of Nigeria’s political elite to protect its own corporate interests. The state is becoming a crippled Leviathan unable to exert a monopoly of the use of force over its own territory: perhaps the greatest indictment of a leadership that has often confused kleptocratic avarice with democratic governance.

The government has failed woefully even to develop an effective communication strategy to deal with this crisis. Its crude attempt to focus global attention on the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Nigeria’s new status as Africa’s largest economy, backfired spectacularly. The WEF was entirely overshadowed by the sad case of the missing girls which instead received saturation coverage.

This situation shone a harsh light on the Nigerian government, exposing the poverty of thought and action in Abuja. With the eyes of the world glued on Nigeria, Jonathan’s administration did not cover itself in glory.

“Boko Haram” translates as “Western education is a sin”. The Salafist militants are living embodiments of the grievances of an impoverished Northern Nigeria, where

poverty rates are 15 per cent higher than in the South. They have ties with jihadists in Somalia and Mali, and seek to implement sharia law throughout Nigeria. Their actions are been reminiscent of Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) – which wants to implement the biblical Ten Commandments – in their atavism, and similar to the nihilism of the Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO).

Jonathan’s accepting United States (U.S.) surveillance and intelligence assistance could turn out to be politically dangerous for him.

It is a humiliating sign of the weakness of his own army which has struggled with equipment, logistical, and other capabilities not just in battling Boko Haram in Nigeria’s volatile North-East, but in conducting United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions in Liberia and Sudan’s Darfur region. The $6 billion annual security budget is clearly not reaching the army.

The military has ruled Nigeria for 39 of its 54 years of independent statehood. Its often talented officers have traditionally claimed to be the guardians of national unity, intervening in politics to save the country from the decadence of corrupt politicians (though venal military regimes between 1985 and 1998 saw grotesque levels of corruption). The army will surely be seething at Jonathan’s decision to bring in Western experts.

One of Jonathan’s predecessors, General Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007), recently criticised him for turning to foreign assistance.

One should, however, remember that Obasanjo’s army chief, the respected, General Victor Malu, had, in 2001, criticised the president’s own decision to bring in Americans to

train the Nigerian army, noting that this action compromised national security. Malu later raised eyebrows by expressing regret at not having staged a coup against Obasanjo. A period of silence from Obasanjo – who has criticised all his successors and suffers from messianic delusions – would be welcome from the loquacious and ubiquitous general.

It is also important to note that Obasanjo’s own presidency failed to professionalise and re-equip the Nigerian army. The dangers of intimacy which Malu raised in 2001 still exist today. No one should be under any illusions that American drones flying over Nigeria will only collect information about missing schoolgirls.

The fact that Jonathan chose to attend a summit on Boko Haram in Paris, rather than organising one in West Africa, is another sign of a failure of leadership. If Nigeria really were a regional superpower, why would it need the president of France to bring it together with Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon? This is the same France that had sought to dismember Nigeria during the country’s civil war of 1967-1970, and has more recently sent troops to Côte d’Ivoire and Mali, both members of the Nigeria-created Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). France recently announced that it would send an additional 3,000 troops mostly to West Africa, meaning that nearly 10,000 French troops could soon be deployed on the continent. Nigeria’s response has been to embrace this self-interested interventionist wolf in Gallic sheep-skin. When policymakers in Abuja awake from their deep slumber, they will find themselves en-

circled by foreign interests that will surely constrain Nigeria’s projection of power in its own region. The lack of strategic thinking in Abuja is not only alarming, but reverses four decades of foreign and security policy.

Jonathan must be hoping that a good showing by Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the forthcoming football World Cup in Brazil will be a welcome distraction from the Boko Haram debacle. He has, however, scored one of the most spectacular own goals in his inept and disastrous handling of this crisis.

• Dr. Adebajo is Executive Director of the Centre for Conflict Resolution, Cape Town, South Africa.

One of Jonathan’s predecessors, General Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007), recently criticised him for turning to foreign assistance. One should, however, remember that Obasanjo’s army chief, the respected, General Victor Malu, had, in 2001, criticised the president’s own decision to bring in Americans to train the Nigerian army, noting that this action compromised national security. Malu later raised eyebrows by expressing regret at not having staged a coup against Obasanjo. A period of silence from Obasanjo – who has criticised all his successors and suffers from messianic delusions – would be welcome from the loquacious and ubiquitous general. It is also important to note that Obasanjo’s own presidency failed to professionalise and reequip the Nigerian army. The dangers of intimacy which Malu raised in 2001 still exist today. No one should be under any illusions that American drones flying over Nigeria will only collect information about missing schoolgirls.

Yes, stealing is corruption

By Evaristus Bassey FEW years ago, I was chatting with a top wig of NNPC and A our conversation steered towards bunkering. In my ignorance I remarked about the bunkering that was going on in the Niger Delta and how it appeared nothing much was being done to stop it. Of course, I equated bunkering with stealing. All I was saying was that much of our oil was being stolen and nothing much was being done about it. I remember the smile on his face, and then his remark that oil bunkering could not be stopped because it was something necessary, what needed to be combated was illegal bunkering and illegal extraction and sale of crude oil. I soon got to learn that ‘bunker’ is the fuel used by ships and bunkering is the act of supplying ships with their fuels which range from marine gas oil (MGO), marine diesel oil (MDO), intermediate fuel oil (IFO), marine fuel oil (MFO) and heavy fuel oil (HFO).

Of course ships run on fuel, and when they berth in a port, they have to be refueled, and there are people and enterprises that should be doing this as a business; recently government liberalized oil bunkering. Now bunkering is different from oil or fuel that is carried as cargo by a ship.

‘Bunker’ has come all the way from when ships used coal as fuel, and the compartment where the coal was put was called a bunker. In the popular Nigerian mentality however, ‘bunkering’ apart from referring to the illegal way a ship may acquire its fuel most often refers to that oil cargo that is stolen every day without appearing in the books as revenue to any tier of government.

For many Nigerians, the remark by President Goodluck Jonathan that what takes place most often in Nigeria is stealing and not corruption came as a surprise. Similarly, a news daily made an issue out of what the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) chairman said about there being a difference between stealing or theft and corruption. Truly, those who have done any course on political corruption, even if not lawyers as the ICPC chairman is, would know there is a difference between stealing and corruption; but this difference in our Nigerian context, may only be lexical, for what happens in our public institutions is brazen and naked ‘stealing’ of public funds.

Distinguishing stealing from corruption the way the President did, wasn’t exactly as distinguishing between bunkering and illegal bunkering. While a ship may berth and unauthorised persons or the black market supplies its fuel, there is nothing like normal or legal stealing. Of course we are told in our corruption studies that theft and or stealing is when one engages in such law breaking behavior as taking what belongs to another without permission and without any intention to return it, and when one does this armed, we call it armed robbery, and this mostly refers to

private citizens; while corruption is about rule breaking behavior especially in the exercise of discretionary power by those in public service. The stealing that is done by public officials and the primitive accumulation that results from manipulating the gaps in the official processes is principally corruption; so as a matter of fact, what takes place more often in Nigeria in the official space is the reverse of the President’s claim, it is corruption. Assuming it were even true that most of what happens in Nigeria is stealing, and stealing is a law breaking behavior, excepting our common citizens, how many of our public servants have been convicted for stealing ?

Our problem is not the stealing done by private citizens.

The police can contend with that. Every citizen too tries to be careful about safeguarding his/her property; our problem is the sophisticated stealing that is part of corruption. Corruption manifests in many ways especially in the discarding or manipulating of process. But what runs our nation dry is the stealing that is part of corruption. The ordinary citizen seems to have accepted corruption as the way, and does not even think of fighting it even if s/he could. I have not hidden my shock when dependents asked for assistance so they could settle an official as a way of securing a job, and when I ask for the name of the official so we could deal with him/her the normal reaction would be to back off, because they didn’t want to put the official in trouble. In our own society, corruption thrives because we refuse to fight it, we make a home for it.

Government may set up structures that could treat isolated cases when they surface, or structures that try to fight state corruption, etc. But what about the corruption of the ordinary Nigerian? What about the patron-client relationship that exists as part of our modus operandi and the rent seeking behavior that exists in our society? Our democracy is not hinged on equality of citizenship but on a sort of master-servant relationship. As soon as one steps into office, others begin to see him/her not as a public servant but as a lord or a tap from which the waters of sustenance would flow; and of course the pressure mounted on the office holder necessitates numerous off-budget expenditures which have to be used to oil the various coalitions of subjects and or dependents or godfathers whom he pays rent to. What shall we say also to the pastor or parish priest or imam who has begun a new church or mosque project and wants it completed within a year and opens his hands to receive donations from every source? Years ago I served in a newly built church in Wales; they got a loan from a bank and built up the entire church, to pay back in 30 years! Which bank in Nigeria would give a church such a loan to pay back in 30 years? And at what interest rate? Donald Duke once remarked in an interview that our banks don’t do investments, they do trading!

Societies that appear less corrupt have a strong balance of power between strong economic institutions and political institutions; the more businesses thrive in a well managed citizen friendly fiscal policy environment, the less attractive political power becomes, as more people make money and become independent, and each sector becomes a check on the other; the economic class becomes interested in protecting property rights from being subjected to political arbitrariness. But in Nigeria, corruption thrives partly because the cost of money is double digit and yield is low compared to the high yield in politics in the very short term; in fact politics has circulated a short term mentality among Nigerians that in almost every endeavour the expectation is high-yield in the short term even for enterprises that should take a while to break even; the artisan sees it as a waste of time spending two years to learn a trade properly, he goes off seeking clients with the rudimentary knowledge he has gathered after only a few months, or he simply abandons it in search of something that would yield big money right away.

How do we really effectively encourage and monitor the establishment and growth of small and medium scale enterprises? How do we ensure that agencies established by government to grow the economy do not themselves become moribund? Look at what happened with NERFUND, the billions of naira corruptly misallocated in the name of loans given to people from a few selected states! How do we improve the monitoring and evaluation capacity of government institutions such that citizens by law become part of this process and institutions self-regulate to meet their vision?

Curbing corruption, it would help if we began individually by making a pledge to be straightforward and following the due process even if we failed; reducing our expectations on others especially those who hold any kind of public office might also help. I know that the absence of social safety nets makes this extremely difficult, especially for the very poor. This means government at all levels must invest in social safety nets for poor citizens, beginning with seeing food security as a right. What is a worse driver of our corruption is the greed and dependency of the rich. Former Governor Peter Obi once said what fuels corruption is greed, the greed of the elite. Could we begin by making sure we don’t ask anyone to give us what we could afford ourselves? The reaction of a 13-year old American boy who accompanied my colleague and I to the Planetarium in Washington DC when we wanted to pay his gate fee revolves always in my head: ‘No thanks. I have money, I can pay.’ Could we train ourselves to ask for help only when we really need it, so that we don’t become a pile onto the already burden-some weight of others, giving them an excuse to do what they shouldn’t do in the first place.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Monday, June 9, 2014

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18 Monday, June 9, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

TheMetroSection ‘I was not born blind...’

• A creative visually-impaired graduate needs N1.3 million to produce musical album From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri AMPSON Nwabueze Nneji, a visually-impaired person from Umuezeowo, Umunomo, Ehime Mbano Local Council of

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Imo State, was born on September 23, 1988.

He was not born blind. He became physical-challenged at the age of eight, when he was playing a friendly football match with

Nneji

a neighbouring community.

Then, he was a good goalkeeper. Probably, he would have ascended to national prominence by now, if the accident had not occurred.

According to him, a big shot from his opponent came straight to one of his eyes, causing instant severe injury that led to partial blindness. Three years later, precisely in 1996, both eyes were affected.

That began his journey as a blind man. He lost his father at a tender age. His surviving mother is not doing well.

He consoled himself with the following words: “The downfall of a man is not the end of his life. That somebody is blind does not mean he has nothing creative to give to society. If you are blind, it is a challenge you have to face. I will not beg because I am blind. I got this problem in1996. I later lost my two eyes. It was when I was playing football, one of my opponents kicked the ball with speed and the ball hit one of my eyes in a friendly match, with a neighbouring community.

It was on one of my eyes. That one was lost.

It also affected the other after two or three years later. ” But determined to succeed, he took a decision not to beg on the streets. He is today a Bachelor of Arts degree holder from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), waiting to proceed for his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). According to him, he is determined to read up to Masters and Doctorate degree levels, if he secures a job.

Nneji, through the help of his then Local Council chairperson, Mrs. Amaka May Abiogwu and others, was sponsored to attend Apkodim Rehabilitation Centre, Mbaise, Imo State; Central School of the Blind, Afara, Umuahia, Abia State and later, offered admission to the Department of Philosophy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he obtained his B.A Philosophy.

He told The Guardian in Owerri recently that he has two songs to his credit, but they are yet to be produced in both VCD and mass production.

This, according to him, could only be ac-

tualized with the help of philanthropists, government and other well-meaning Nigerians. He is projecting about N1.3 million for the recording and mass production of the two into VCD. According to him: “By the special grace of God, I will say I am talented. God gave me the voice to sing to His glory. I have been able to release about two albums in Igbo language, entitled: “Jehovah a no kwamgi na aka (God, I am in your hands) and “Nani nwaoge nta” (just a little time). Since I am talented in singing, I had to look for a means to develop it by composing some songs. Sometimes, I would sing in the dream. Songs could come to me by any means. From there, I would develop them.

That does not mean I will abandon education. No! Just to show people that despite your condition, God can still use me to minister to people. Who says a blind man does not have anything creative to offer to the society? As somebody who has a vision, despite my condition, I cannot allow my vision to die.”

Nneji regretted that some physically- challenged persons beg on the streets today because of their inability to go school or acquire skills.

“There are some people going about begging. They may do that probably they don’t have somebody to train them. There are some who have developed interest in begging, instead of going to school. But for me, God forbid! Because I have seen the importance of education, I am appealing to Nigerians to help me to produce and sell my music,” he said.

And as a graduate, I also need employment. I am appealing to philanthropists, governments, to help me so that I can succeed in life, to do what I’m destined to do.

To produce a VCD, from what people who have experience told me, is not less than N400,000, then mass production, N250,000. For the two is N1.3 million.”

For people who are willing to assist him financially, Nneji gave his bank details as Nneji Sampson, First Bank Plc, 3022147786.

His GSM number is 08037501709.

Oshiomhole’s aide launches health foundation for deceased mother From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City HE Senior Special Assistant to Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on Media, John Mayaki, has launched a health foundation in honour of his late mother, Mrs. Bosede Akpeji in Igarra, Akoko Edo Local Council during a reception to climax the week- long burial rites.

The event had in attendance the State Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Anselm Ojesua, representative of Senator Domingo Obende, Pendo Apologun, representative of the Secretary to the State Government, Stephen Idehenre, Dr. Tony Akande from United States of America, Peter Akpatason, Commissioner for Art and Culture, Aanena Jemitola, among others.

To be known as Mrs. Bosede Akpeji Foundation for Health, Mayaki said the Foundation would focus on issues of High Blood Pressure and Hypertension, which he said, con-

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tributed to his mother’s death.

“It is about reaching out to fellow Nigerians on a matter that transcends political, ethnic, religious and other differences.

It is about creating awareness about this silent killer: High Blood Pressure or Hypertension and instituting a foundation to engage in public awareness campaigns, evidencebased data for action, prevention of this ailment, as well as screening, counselling, care and providing further treatment.

“The loss of our beloved mother at a very tender age, as a result of this ailment naturally aroused and sparked my interest and the idea to launch a foundation to institutionalize a robust response to this loss becomes quite obvious and needful.

“This foundation is not an accident of history but a very well thought-out action plan to immortalize my mother and

to ensure that as it lies within my ability and with the support of my friends and associates, we will create the awareness and do all we can to eliminate this disease.

“I am convinced that we can change our society by every little show of kindness and mercy to those who need our love, care and support. It is the elevation and institutionalization of this passion of “care” that has resulted in the establishment of The Late Mrs. Bosede Akpeji Health Foundation, to expand the frontiers of providing genuine support to those who are in need.”

He said the foundation would also be used to train professionals and undertake research on High Blood Pressure/Hypertension.

“We will also seek ways to collaborate with like-minded organizations and individuals to help in the advocacy, treatment and alternative medical approach to put a permanent end to this scourge that is ravaging humanity.”

Alade Market fire disaster shop owners get financial support

By Wole Oyebade EMBER of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Lola Akande, has appealed to market men and women in the state to take security of lives and property in their domain seriously.

By so doing, shop owners would ensure all preventive measures are put in place to forestall accidents, especially fire outbreaks, in Lagos’ markets.

Akande made this call while giving financial sup-

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port to some shop owners and victims of last year’s fire outbreak in Alade Market, Ikeja, Lagos.

In a related development, Akande’s colleague in the House, Omowunmi Olatunji-Edet, has pledged to assist victims of fire incident that occurred at a Retail Market in Jakande Estate, Isolo, some days ago.

Akande, Deputy Majority Leader of the House, said the shop owners have a duty to ensure a secured environment and promptly alert the government

should anything go awry.

She said the government would do everything for its people, but the people must also be responsive.

Dolling out the cash she had promised in the wake of the incident, Akande assured her Ikeja II Constituency members of all assistance within her might.

She said: “When I heard the fire disaster, I was very sad. I immediately paid a visit to the place to empathise with the affected people and

thereafter, I promised to give them the little I could afford.”

Akande thanked her beneficiaries for their steadfastness, perseverance and endurance during the hard times, adding: “I don’t make promises that I won’t fulfill”.

Leader of the Market, Adijatu Apena, commended Akande for coming to their aid.

One of the beneficiaries, Abosede Oke thanked the lawmaker for the gesture, promising that they would

use the money judiciously.

Meanwhile, Olatunji-Edet, representing Oshodi/Isolo II Constituency made the promise when she visited the market in company of the head of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, and his team.

She had asked the market leader, Stella Adebiyi, to get details of the victims and estimate of the damage over to her office for the support of the government.

No fewer than 20 shops, dealing in various goods were razed.

Olatunji-Edet said: “The most important thing is for us to come together to see how we can rebuild the market.”

Though observed that the cause of the fire incident was still unknown, she promised the state government’s assistance, adding they would not “leave the victims comfortless” but do whatever necessary to get them back on their feet.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

LBS holds programme for talented youths OME of the nation’s brightest youths will hone their research skills and gain first-hand exposure to academic life at the forthcoming (Lagos Business School) LBS Young Talents’ Programme scheduled for August 1, 2014.

The programme is aimed at building a relationship with budding talents in or out of the university. It will also offer successful candidates research scholarship opportunities and build a network of future LBS faculty.

The LBS Young Talents Programme is open to second-year undergraduates and above, including M.Sc holders and corps members (not older than 30) with a first-class or second-class-upper honours degree.

“The programme will bring talented people in contact with a world-class institution where they will learn what it takes to begin an academic career,” explained Dr Uchenna Uzo, faculty lead on this programme.

“It is also an institutionalised way of getting good talent who can become faculty or administrative staffers now and in the future.”

As with other LBS activities, the relationship with participants will be maintained after the event so the benefits they derive will be sustained.

“We’ll invite them to programmes from time to time. They’ll be part of LBS…in the sense that they have come here and interacted with the academic community. It will be an annual programme going forward,” Uzo added.

According to Dr. Franca Ovadje, member of the faculty team, Africa is on the brink of profound change and the LBS Young Talents Programme could not have come at a better time.

“LBS strives to be a world-class business school with a significant impact on the African environment. The Young Talents Programme (YTP) aims to develop strong academics who will transform society through their knowledge and research,” she said.

“YTP will prepare participants for an academic career in business management.”

At the highly interactive programme, the LBS culture, history and inspiration will be discussed. Participants will be exposed to LBS career channels in management research and teaching, including the day-to-day activities of faculty, researchers and administrative staff.

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Monday, June 9, 2014 19

Wada warns kidnappers to steer clear of Kogi State From John Akubo, Lokoja OGI State Governor, Idris K Wada, has warned kidnappers in the state to desist from such dastardly act and run away from the state because his government is ready to fight crime and criminals.

Wada made the remark when he visited the Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Momoh Jimoh Lawal, after his two children that were kidnapped 61 days ago were released and reunited with the family.

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, said the safe recovery of the children was a confirmation of the support his government gave to security agencies to aid their work.

The governor said he would give all necessary logistic support that would enable security agencies carry out their responsibilities of protecting lives and property for

Wada the people to sleep with their two eyes closed.

Wada said with the successes the administration has recorded in its transformation agenda, he would not relent in making deliberate efforts for peace to be sustained in the state.

He expressed satisfaction

with the security agencies for their efforts in making the state habitable, especially in ensuring the Speaker’s children regained their freedom.

The governor also rejoiced with the Speaker and his family for the reunion even as he assured the people of the state that government would continue to make the protection of lives and property a priority.

In a related development, the governor’s wife, Hajia Halima Ladi Wada, has also paid a solidarity visit to the family of the Speaker over the release of his two abducted children.

Wada’s wife, who was among the early callers, was visibly elated at the release of the children.

She expressed her gratitude to God for bringing the boys back home hale and heart, adding that she could only imagine what the mother of the children had gone

through while her children were in the kidnappers’ den.

She prayed to God to intervene and put a stop to kidnapping in Kogi State that has always been known for peace, by bringing the perpetrators to book.

“This development is alien to our culture and tradition, we pray that it will not see the light of the day,” she said.

She enjoined parents to be security- conscious and watch over their children, especially the young ones “even though God is the only one that can deliver us from the evildoers.”

The mother of the two boys, Hajia Sefiya Momoh jimoh Lawal, said it was her happiest moment, stating that the experience was not palatable.

She expressed her gratitude to the governor’s wife for the visit and prayed that God would continue to bless her in all her endeavours.

RCCG women donate borehole to market in Lagos

PAC embarks on nation-wide seminar on security OLICE Assistance Committee (PAC) and its affiliate, AssociaP tion of Tradesmen/women and Artisans (ATA), have begun a nation-wide seminar/workshop on security to generate awareness among the public on how to gather information/intelligence for on-ward transmission to security agencies to prevent and combat crime in the country.

The seminar/workshop, which will hold in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abuja, and will have in attendance representatives of security agencies, executive members of PAC/ATA comprising chairman, Secretaries and P.R.Os of trade associations/artisans, Market men/women, Student bodies and all other stakeholders including members of the public.

A statement by the Director-General of PAC/ATA, Prof. Martins Oni said the seminar/workshop, with the topic “Information/Intelligence gathering to Assist Security Agencies in the country,” is designed to generate awareness amongst the general public on how to intensify efforts in gathering information/intelligence for dissemination to our security agencies in view of the escalation of security challenges prevalent in the country.

The PAC Director-General explained that one of the major efforts being put up by the organization is the circulation of its security awareness on information/intelligence certificate which contains contact phone members / e-mail of most security outfits through which security agencies can be reached soonest possible time by members of the public in the event of any security breach or when information is to be passed on to them.

Dr. Oni stated that the PAC is partnering with the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, and office of the National Security Adviser as well as other major security outfit in organizing the seminar/workshop, while urging state governments to lend their support in the area of logistics when the seminar is holding in their states. He urged members of the public, tradesmen/women and Artisans to obtain the PAC Security awareness on information/intelligence certificate now being circulated, which contain telephone contacts and e-mail of security agencies in the country.

Stanford varsity alumni mark Beyond-the Farm-Day of Community Service

Market Leader (Baba ‘Loja), Alhaji Olaiya Nosiru (right), Pastor-in- charge, RCCG ‘Jesus House” His Abiding Place, Goziem Ufodike, his wife, Ngozi, Assistant Pastor, LP 23 (CSR), Victor Agunbiade, Helen Oyitso and others at the commissioning of the water project

TANFORF Alumni Club of Nigeria recently joined other Stanford alumni, worldwide, to mark the Beyond-the-FarmDay of Community Service. This activity derives from the University’s founding principle of “a desire to render the greatest possible service to mankind.” The Stanford Alumni Club of Nigeria adopted, as its project this year, the WAVE (West Africa Vocational Education) Academy for unemployed youths situated in Yaba, Lagos. The Academy, which was initiated by Ms Misan Rewane, a Stanford alumnus (2007), trains unemployed youths (17-30) in employability skills and places them in paid apprenticeships with employers in the service industries. Since its inception in August 2013 the Academy has trained 66 youths and placed 50 of them in gainful employment.

The Stanford Alumni Club ran a workshop at the Academy’s, which some current students and some employed graduates of the programme attended. The theme of the workshop was “Why you don’t have your dream job: 10 Myths Busted”. After a general session participants were divided into smaller discussion groups led by Stanford alumni and some of their guests present.

According to a leading female writer and an alumnae, Mrs. Mobolaji Adenubi: “As a 1971 graduate of Stanford University who did my research with a mainframe computer, and worked and retired as civil servant, I found this workshop not only absorbing but enlightening. I soon discovered that today’s workplace is almost unrecognizable from the one I operated in over two decades ago. Some topics discussed at the workshop included cover letters, networking on social media and personal branding, which hardly featured in my workplace.

By Isaac Taiwo OMEN’S Fellowship of the Redeemed Christian Church (RCCG) “Jesus House” His Abiding Place Area 63, LP 23 have donated a borehole to Ashogbon Market, Ilaje in Bariga, Lagos.

Speaking during the commissioning of the water project, the wife of the Pastor-in-charge of Province 23, Helen Oyitso, who represented her husband, Pastor Brown Oyitso at the occasion, commended the women in the Province who, according to her, have keyed into the vision of the General Overseer, Pastor Adejare Adeboye that the Church in addition to giving the message of salvation, should also give back to the community through practical demonstration of the love of Jesus Christ.

“We all know the importance of water and a lot of

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PHOTO: ISAAC TAIWO

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Nigerians who do not have access to potable water go for water anyhow. When people do not have access to good water, they are likely to contact disease. That we can give water, I think is good.”

“As a church, we have affected a lot of people in this community. The women have renovated schools, police station and we have rehabilitated roads also. We have done a lot within the resources we have. I feel glad that our women can emulate good women in the bible who followed Jesus and ministered to His needs,” she said.

Speaking at the occasion the women leader of Jesus House Parish, Deaconess Ngozi Ufodike, attributed the donation of the borehole by the women in the parish to emulating good women in the Bible as well as following the good foot-

steps of the Lord Jesus Christ who went about doing good.

“We are partnering with the government in providing water for our sisters and brothers in this market through sinking of this borehole.

The Market Leader, (Iya ‘Loja) Mrs. Omotayo Bamidele, wondered at the kind gesture of the Church, moreso that the people in the market did not ask for the precious gift even though they were in dire need of water which they have been buying. She prayed that the Church would continue to move from strength to strength among others.

Also commenting, the Men market leader (Baba ‘Loja), Alhaji Olaiya Nosiru said water is needed by everybody in the market including the butchers.

“Knowing the amount it

costs to sink a borehole, we give thanks to God and to the Church and the people that provided this for us and I want to say that this is the first time a Church would provide a thing of this nature for us. We are indeed grateful,” he said.

The Pastor of Jesus House Parish, Goziem Ufodike, said it beats his imagination that women in the church, without anybody talking to them could embark on a project of that nature that costs more than a quarter of a million naira.

“It is not that the women have enough to give, for among them are petty traders, full house wives and jobless wives who have deemed it fit to be Christlike, an indication that they are imbibing the teachings we are impacting on them.”

“What they have done is in line with the vision of our father in the Lord, Pastor Adejare Adeboye,” he said.

20 Monday, June 9, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

PROPERTYGUIDE 39

BUSINESS INTERVIEW 70

Nigeria, Shelter Afrique seal deal for 10,000-unit housing scheme

How to grow Nigeria’s investment profile,

by Deloitte’s chief, Almond

MONDAY, June 9, 2014

NSE records N32.9 billion turnover in one week Dangote Flour Mills divests 99% stake in agrosack firm

By Helen Oji TURNOVER of 1.876 billion A shares worth N32.902 billion was exchanged in 28,408

Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, First City Monument Bank Limited, Ladi Balogun (left); Chairman FCMB Group, Dr. Jonathan A. Long; Company Secretary, Mrs. Funmi Adedibu; Founder, Otunba Micheal Subomi Balogun and Managing Director, FCMB Group, Peter Obaseki, at the first yearly general meeting of FCMB Group, in Lagos, at the weekend.

PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

Nigeria earns N2tr from LNG business

By Roseline Okere and Sulaimon Salau

PIB, financial challenges delay train seven project

HE Nigerian Liquefied T Natural Gas (NLNG) has so far realised over N2 trillion in

NNPC to explore European market over US disposition

dividends from the sale of liquefied natural gas, which has also reduced substantially gas flaring in the country.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has started looking for new export market for the country’s gas resources to fill the gap created by the exit of the United States as the highest importer of the country’s natural resources.

The Managing Director, NLNG, Babs Omotowa, stated during the launching of the NLNG “Facts and Figures”, in Lagos at the weekend, that the company has made tremendous impact in the socio-economic growth of the nation, and also bracing up to hold 10 per cent of the global market soon.

According to Omotowa, the Federal Government’s take in NLNG’s revenue is now about 70 per cent, comprising the 49 per cent dividend, 30 per cent CIT and other taxes.

He said: “On diversifying the country’s revenue base and monetising gas resources, Nigeria now owns $14 billion (N2.2 trillion) of assets on Bonny Island; the country has earned earned $13 billion (N2 trillion) in div-

idends, another $11 billion (N1.7 trillion) earned in feed gas sales revenue, over $10 billion expenditure in local economy on goods, services and salaries of thousands of staff employed.

“Corporate income tax of over N200 billion is paid yearly. Rivers State government earns over N6 billion yearly from personal income taxes; Bonny local council earned over N88 million yearly as tenement rate, among others. Truly, the decision of NLNG’s founding fathers has indeed created wealth from a previously wasted resources,” he said.

Omotowa said the company, which has supplied over 3,000 cargoes of LNG to the world, has drastically reduced gas flaring since inception.

“Over four trillion cubic feet (tcf) of associated gas, which would have been flared, has been captured, thus helping to reduce gas flaring by upstream companies from over 60 per cent to 11 per cent.” he said.

On the train seven project, he explained that the company is fully committed to the project, as it was carrying out some pre- FID (final investment decision) works, which is expected to materialise

soon.

He said the delay in passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is one of the major

hindrance to the progress of the project, as the gas suppliers considers the legislative framework, coupled with the financial challenges before making commitments.

NNPC said in a media state-

0CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

deals by investors on the floor of the Exchange in contrast to a total of 1.901 billion shares valued at N34.643 billion that changed hands in 20,452 transactions during the preceding week.

Specifically, the financial services industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.381 billion shares valued at N15.550 billion traded in 14,386 deals; thus contributing 73.63 and 47.26 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The conglomerates industry followed with a turnover of 162.501 million shares worth N1.536 billion in 1,979 deals.

The third place was occupied by the Industrial Goods Industry with 100.029 million shares worth N2.114 billion in 2,007 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely- Access Bank Plc, Zenith International Bank Plc and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 567.628 million

shares worth N7.835 billion in 4,068 deals, contributing 30.25 and 23.81oper cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Also traded during the week were a total of 260,422 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N5,505,971.00 executed in 19 deals compared with a total of 31,355 units valued at N700,587.60 transacted last week in 13 deals Similarly, 2,800 units of FGN bonds valued at N3, 375,304.94 were traded this week in 3 deals compared with a total of 100 units valued at N111, 626.54 transacted last week in 1 deal.

The NSE All-share index and market capitalisation appreciated by 0.13per cent to close on Friday at 41,529.11 and N13.713 trillion respectively.

All the NSE indices appreciated during the week with the exception of the NSE Banking Index (1.14per cent) and NSE Insurance Index (1.51per cent).

Meanwhile, NSE ASeM index closed flat.

42 equities appreciated in prices during the week lower than 55 equities of the preceding week. 42 equities depreci-

0CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

22 Monday, June 9, 2014

FINANCIALGUARDIAN

SeaDrill seals $1.1b deal with Total on Egina oil field

By Sulaimon Salau ORWEGIAN oilfield servN ice firm, SeaDrill Limited, has signed a fiveyear contract with international oil and gas major, Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, for deployment of the newbuild ultra-deepwater drillship West Jupiter, in support of the Egina ultradeep offshore project in Nigeria.

The contract, according to SeaDrill with five-year period has a total revenue potential for the primary contract term of approx. $1.1 billion (about N167 billion) inclusive of mobilization.

The oil service firm added that it’s “total consolidated backlog stands at approximately $20 billion with the execution of the contract.”

The West Jupiter is one of eight sixth generation drillships currently under construction for Seadrill and is expected to be delivered from the Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard in Geoje, South Korea in August 2014. The rig will be outfitted to work in up to 10,000 feet (ft) of water and is capable of water depths up to 12,000 ft and drilling depths up to 37,500 ft.

Seadrill Chief Execuve Officer, Per Wullf said the contract has given the company an opportunity to strategically increase its presence in the Nigerian market.

“We are very pleased to have been chosen by Total and its partners for this important project. This contract provides an

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opportunity to deepen our relationship with a key customer and strategically increase our rig fleet in Nigeria, adding the West Jupiter alongside the West Capella which has been operating in the Usan field Offshore Nigeria since 2008. Seadrill takes pride in continuing to build its presence in the Nigerian oil and gas industry”, he said.

The Egina project takes technology and skill transfers to a new level, giving Nigeria the full benefit of Total’s deep offshore experience and expertise.

Total’s operated the Egina field located in deepwater Oil Mining Lease (OML) 130, is one of the sectors strategic project to future growth. The project currently under development

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will have a production capacity of 200,000 barrels per day (b/d).

Total had projected that the field would be brought on stream by the end of 2017, as the start-up of the Egina development is expected to reinforce to Nigeria’s deepwater production potential.

“The development of this oil field, located 130 km from shore in a water depth

of 1,750 m, will benefit from Total’s extensive deep offshore experience in the Gulf of Guinea. The field infrastructure consists of a subsea production system tied in to a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel with a processing capacity of 200,000 b/d and a storage capacity of 2,3 million barrels,” Total stated on its

website.

It added: “All the basic engineering work was done locally, a first in Nigeria.

Total successfully met this “sustainability target” by ensuring teamwork between international companies and local contractors to accelerate the pace of technology transfer and the training of the local workforce.”

NNPC to explore European market over US disposition CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 ment yesterday, that it would explore European continent in order to generate maximum economic benefit from the nation’s enormous gas resources.

The development is sequel

Bid 1.3641 1.6800 102.45 0.89350 1.0929 0.93320

Ask 1.3644 1.6805 102.52 0.89390 1.0935 0.93340

to the exploitation of shale oil resources in the United States, which has made the country to halt crude oil import from Nigeria.

Though, the country had tried the Asian countries for crude oil exports, it is beginning to consider the European continent to fill the gap created by the United States’ exit as Nigeria’s biggest importer.

The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Andrew Yakubu, made this revelation while playing host to a Belgian business delegation under the auspices of the Flanders Investment & Trade Mission in his office at the NNPC Towers, Abuja, over the weekend.

“Europe is a good market for gas. Incidentally, Belgium has important terminals such as the Port of Antwerp through which Nigeria hopes to get its gas to the rest of Europe. We are working on independently marketing our abundant gas resources to Europe,” Yakubu stated.

Yakubu, who was represented by the Coordinator, Corporate Policy & Strategy, Dr. Tim Okon, said NNPC would strategically position itself to attract investments to boost the nation’s economy, adding that “gas is a strong mechanism for not only power generation and job creation, but also for

growth and development.”

He also reiterated the need for collaboration between foreign investors and Nigerian businesses in order to domesticate the gas industry in the country.

Earlier in his address, the leader of the delegation and the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Dirk Verleyen, said that no fewer than 60 Belgian companies had indicated interest to invest in Nigeria.

He said that Belgian companies wishing to invest in Nigeria cut across various sectors including energy, telecommunications, construction, transport, postal service, entertainment, engineering and agriculture.

Also speaking, the President of the Port of Antwerp and the Deputy Mayor of Antwerp, Mark van Peel, said the trade volume between Belgium and Nigeria was higher than most people know.

“Our country is the third largest European exporter to Nigeria with a total export figure of almost two billion euros a year,” van Peel disclosed.

The business delegation particularly showed interest in building the capacity of staff of the nation’s refineries and other oil and gas installations in the area of safety of equipment.

Dangote Flour Mills divests 99% stake in agrosack’s business CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 ated in prices higher than 21 equities of the preceding week, while 116 equities remained unchanged, lower than 124 recorded in the preceding week.

Meanwhile, the Board of Dangote Flour Mills Plc (DFM) announced that following a strategic review of its portfolio of businesses, aimed at aligning its core business

areas with that of its core shareholder, Tiger Brand Limited, its has executed a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement (SSPA) with Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) in respect of the sale of the company’s 84,150,000 ordinary shares of N1.00 each in Dangote Agrosacks Limited (DASL). This represents 99.0 per cent of the total issued ordinary share capital of DASL.

! !"#$%&'($)"(&!"%*+,-&./0102&34%$5+2&6-7"8& "#$%&'($)"(&!"%*+,-&./0102&34%$5+2&6-7"8& DO DOW W S&PP 500 S& 500 NASDAQ NASDAQ NDEX USS IINDEX TR U & FTSE 00 FTSE 1100 DAX DAX CAC CAC 40 40 TR EUROPE EUROPE & NIKKEI NIKKEI HANG ENG HANG SSENG SENSEX SEN SEX &

16,924.28 16,924.28 1, 1,949.44 949.44 4, 321.40 4,321.40 177.

44 177.44

+88.17 +88.17 +8.98 +8.98 +25.17 +25.17 +0.87 +0.87

+0.52% +0.52% +0.46% +0.46% +0.59% +0.59% +0.49% +0.49%

6,858.21 6,858.21 9,987.19 9,987.19 4,581.12 4,581.12 183.72 183.72

+44.72 +44.72 +39.36 +39.36 +32.39 +32.39 +1.34 +1.34

+0.66% +0.66% +0.40% +0.40% +0.71% +0.71% +0.74% +0.74%

15,077.24 15,077.24 22,951.00 22,951.00 25, 25,396.46 396.46

-2.13 -2.13 -158.66 -158.66 +376. +376.95 95

-0.01% -0.01% -0.69% -0.69% +1.51% +1.

51%

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FINANCIALGUARDIAN Shareholders of FCMB laud performance in retail segment • approve N5.94b dividend

By Helen Oji hareholderS of FCMB Sbank’s Group Plc have lauded the performance in the retail banking segment, urging the board to articulate a well defined roadmap that would boost the operations of the group and enhance profitability.

The shareholders, who spoke at the 2013 yearly general meeting of the bank, held in lagos at the weekend, also approved a dividend of N5.94billion, translating to 30kobo per share due to every investor of the bank.

Specifically, an independent shareholder, Patrick ajudo, explained that the bank’s exposure in the retail business, noting that it has contributed to the growth of Small and Medium enterprises in Nigeria. he however, urged the management to reduce its exposure in the power sector, adding that the sector has failed to generate the expected revenue due to gas problem.

“We commend your focus on retail banking, the exposure has encouraged the SMes. We ask that you do more on that area and reduce your exposure in power sector because some banks that invested in that sector cannot pay their loan because of gas problem.”

The President, Independent shareholders association of Nigeria, Sir Sunny Nwosu urged the bank to be proactive and strategies on how to improve the performance of the group.

Nwosu, who lauded the bank for growing its balance sheet to the tune of N1 trillion, also urged the bank to expressed dismay at the rate of fees paid to asset Management Company (aMCoN). “recently, we had an aGM of bank that paid N16billion to aMCoN and pay N4 billion to shareholders. amcon takes over our investment and we are using our money to finance aMCoN. It is now time for shareholders to stand up and fight this because it has to stop.”

The National Coordinator, Progressive Shareholders association of Nigeria, Boniface okezie commended the bank for the dividend payout and donations made to the tertiary institutions amid harsh economic environment, while urging them to reduce their auditors fees in the next financial year to improve the bottom-line.

The Group Managing director, FCMB limited, ladi Balogun assured shareholders that the bank would achieve a return on equity of over 20 per cent and cost income ratio below 55 per cent by 2016.

“Firstly, we will continue to focus on our retail drive and increase our customer base from its current 2.4 million to four million by 2016.

Similarly, we will continue to drive our growth in retail loans with a projected target of 300,000 new loans in2014.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Interswitch Limited, Mitchell Elegbe (left); President, Information Security Society of Africa Nigeria, and General Manager, Union Bank Plc, David Isiavwe; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, EDP Audit and Security Associates, Chris Ekeigwe; Director, Banking Supervision, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Digital Encode Limited, Wale Obadare; and Chairman, Committee of Chief Internal Auditors of Banks in Nigeria, Joseph Esenwa, at the banking industry roundtable for Chief Internal Auditors and Chief Information Officers, in Lagos.

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EQUITY MARKET SUMMARY

MARKET REPORT AS AT 06=06=2014

PRIMERA AFRICA www.primera-africa.com

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MARKET INDICATORS

MARKET REPORT AS AT 06=06=2014

PRIMERA AFRICA

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FINANCIALGUARDIAN

The African Enterprise

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MARKET INTELLIGENCE

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INSIDE TAX

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FINANCIALGUARDIAN

Access Bank harps on SMEs development, woos operators

By Chijioke Nelson CCESS Bank Plc has reiteratA ed the importance of grooming Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), saying they are crucial to the development of the economy, having great potential for employment generation, improvement of local technology, output diversification and boosting of indigenous entrepreneurship.

The bank’s Executive Director, Business Banking, Titi Osuntoki, made the observation at the financial institution’s “Power Breakfast” forum for its customers, in Lagos, at the weekend.

According to her, “Access Bank recognizes the importance of SMEs to the growth of the Nigerian economy, even as it sustains efforts to support traders through the provision of innovative products that seeks to meet the traders at the point of their needs.”

Osuntoki pointed out that the bank’s competitive edge lies in its efficient electronic channels; trained and highly skilled workforce; competitive products and pricing; accessibility of loans and advances; SMEs support services; financial and business development advisory services; and improved customer service experience.

She assured that the recapitalization of the banking sector enabled the growth of the sector, with more banks offering credit facilities to eligible businesses for economic development.

But the Head of SMEs Support, Access Bank, Oyediji Atoyebi, said that the bank, in its quest to support small businesses, has evolved several strategies and products.

These include business current account; Short/Medium Term facilities- overdraft, time/term loans, Usance, invoice discounting facility; AccessPay, Primus corporate solution;distributors/dealers finance schemes; and local/international trade services, among others.

Atoyebi, who also acknowledged the crucial place of SMEs to the development of any economy, however lamented that due to the organizational structures of majority of them and other challenges, many banks find it difficult to accurately profile small businesses and analyze their financial standing.

According to her, besides poor funding, the issues of low managerial expertise, poor project feasibility study/business case, lack of proper bookkeeping and absence of corporate governance, have bedeviled their operations, among others.

She assured that Access Bank is now more ready to help them explore opportunities inherent in the large available market, increased awareness of the SMEs’ role in the economy, government finance intervention, access to overdraft line, trade finance, assets finance and other related facilities, including availability of investment account products that help manage surplus cash flows, providing acceptable yields for customers.

For the bank’s Zonal Head, Business Banking, Abuja, David Aluko, there remains significant untapped growth potential, strong export, employment contributions for Gross Domestic Product’s growth in the sector.

According to him, it is also major factor in promoting private sector development and partnerships, most viable vehicle for self-sustaining industrial development for any economy, and crime reduction strategy.

To him, the situation is accentuated with poor incentives and support facilities by government leading to low investment commitments, uneven competition arising from import tariffs, which at times favour imported finished products, and weak entrepreneurial skills as well as deficiencies in accounting and business planning.

Sterling Bank rewards winners of maths competition HE Sterling Bank Plc’s T Mathematics competition in collaboration with Caleb International Schools has come to a climax with the presentation of various cash prizes totalling N3.65 million to the top 51 pupils.

The keenly contested competition, which initially produced ties for the first position, prompting a tiebreaker test, saw seven pupils achieving the same score.

At the award ceremony, three pupils- Ogunsanwo Temilade Ayomikun, Ojo Opemiposi Esther and Ebiabkpo Abeokuta, who came first, second and third respectively went home with cash prizes of N500,000, N300,000 and N200,000 respectively, with various branded gift items from Sterling Bank Plc. Also, Master Udo- Ozoagba Prosper, Aromolaran Toluwase Daniel, Awodola Winnie Eniola and Onyejekwe Chima Henryfourth to seventh position respectively, went home with the sum of N150,000, N125,000, N100,000 and N75,000, while 44 others got consolation prizes of N50,000 each.

Sterling Bank’s Executive

Director and Chief Finance Officer, Abubakar Suleiman, who addressed the pupils and their parents/guardians commended them for putting up what he described as a superlative performance, adding that the keen competition among participants was an evidence that all was not lost in the country’s education sector.

Sulaeiman assured that the bank will be willing to partner with any institution with credible initiatives to promote education in the country and commended the Management of Caleb Schools for supporting the discovery of talents, especially in the area of mathematics, often considered a major challenge to students and pupils.

The Executive Director, Caleb International Schools, Dr. Dolapo Ogunbanwo, expressed gratitude to Sterling Bank for the initiative, adding that the Bank had demonstrated clearly that it was socially responsible and committed to the upliftment of education in the country.

In his closing remarks, the Bank’s Group Head, Strategy and Communications, Shina Atilola, said: “We are in the digital age now and mathe-

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FINANCIALGUARDIAN

NSIA, GuarantCo to explore credit enhancement opportunities for infrastructure financing

By Chijioke Nelson HE nation’s deficit T financing of its infrastructure projects may

soon get a facelift as the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and GuarantCo, entered into a partnership to explore opportunities in the creation of the first credit enhancement facility in the country.

The move, which would facilitate the establishment of a body known as the Nigerian Credit E n h a n c e m e n t Facility (NCEF), is supported by GuarantCo, a development finance fund, which key objective is encouraging private sector involvement in the domestic financing of infrastructure projects and promoting local capital market development in low income countries.

NCEF initiative is being scripted with the specific objective of attracting the investment interest of a pool of capital for which safety is paramount like the pension funds, insurance companies and Sovereign Wealth Funds.

According to a statement from NSIA, a key barrier preventing these forms of capital from investing in infrastructure projects is the absence of an appropri-

Orji ate credit enhancement mechanism that helps bring infrastructure projects up to a credit quality that represents appropriate investments for their stakeholders.

“To address this gap, GuarantCo is partnering with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority to

explore the potential for establishing a Nigerian Credit Enhancement Facility that would provide credit enhancement for critical infrastructure projects by improving their credit ratings to investment grade. Such a vehicle could also potentially attract international capital.

“NSIA and GuarantCo see this partnership as a potential catalyst for unlocking long-term patient capital, typically required by infrastructure projects to be commercially successful. It is expected to have positive effects on the Nigerian economy given the strong correlation between critical infrastructure and accelerated economic growth,” the statement said.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NSIA, Uche Orji, said: “One of the statutory mandates of the NSIA is the enhancement of Nigeria’s infrastructure and in fulfilling this mandate, we are desirous of establishing the necessary institutional frameworks and sustain-

NSIA and GuarantCo see this partnership as a potential catalyst for unlocking long-term patient capital, typically required by infrastructure projects to be commercially successful.

able enablers that will attract long term capital necessary for this purpose.

“We are excited about the potential role this partnership can play in revolutionising the extant model of infrastructure development in Nigeria; now and

into the future.”

The Head of GuarantCo at Frontier Markets Fund Managers, Chris Vermont, however added: “GuarantC o shares NSIA’s vision for mobilising new sources of finance for infrastructure through creating NCEF. We

are proud to be partnering NSIA as they map out a prudent but ambitious pathway for Nigeria. We hope our experience of best practice across many markets can be combined with NSIA’s local expertise in the service of the country”.

Operators optimistic on Caverton’s stock, list potentials

By Helen Oji ApITAL market operaC tors have expressed optimism on the future

prospects and expanded business opportunities of the newly listed Caverton Offshore Support Group (COSG) plc, urging investors to leverage the relatively stock low price and increase their portfolio.

The company, which recently listed its 3.35billion ordinary shares of 50kobo each by way of introduction on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, according to operators has witnessing a lot of activities and patronage from investors.

Specifically, the Managing Director of Dependable Securities Limited, Chinenyem Anyanwu explained that the additional capital from the company has impacted on the volume and value of shares traded on the NSE. He said: “The company

has carved a nitch in the industry. They service the oil sector and seem to have long standing claims. Caverton is a very strong company and there are a number of projects to be done.

“The oil&gas industry and presently, they run long term contracts to the year 2020 and the shortest would finish in 2017. They have quite a good number of annouceables in the pipeline in the couple of months. So long as the oil sector booms, they would continue to perform well,” he said.

The Managing Director, Crane Securities Limited, Mike Ezeh, explained that the stock is currently witnessing a lot of patronage from investors.

“The price of the stock is reasonable and a lot of activities is going on in the stock, as people are buying and selling. There are expectations and with the low price, investors are optimistic and they want to maximize their

portfolio. They want to cue in early enough to take position.

“It has a lot of potentials and a lot of activities is going on in the stock and that is why it is moving up and down. There are few listings after the crash and investors have been looking for new listings.

“They want opportunities to invest in new listings. A good company is one that has stability of capital, good history and good capital gain and all these are firmly embedded on the stock,” he said.

A stockbroker with Delloit Securities Limited, Tunde Oyediran has good prospects and business opportunities that would drive the performance of the stock price in the market.

He also expressed optimism that the company would leverage on the local content law and create a business that would add value to shareholders and enhance its profitability.

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Mainstreet Bank gets payment standard certification

By Chijioke Nelson AINSTREET Bank Limited M has been awarded the Payment Card Industry Data

Executive Director, Caleb International Schools, Dr. Dolapo Ogunbamwo (left); Executive Director, Finance and Strategy, Sterling Bank plc, Abubakar Suleiman, Winner of “Start from ten” Sterling Bank Schools Mathematics Competition, Kemilade, her mother, Adebola and father, Wale Ogunsanwo at the Award presentation for the best and winner of the “Start from ten” Sterling Bank Schools Mathematical Competition, in Lagos.

Security Standard certification (PCIDSS).

PCIDSS is a set of requirements designed to ensure that companies that process, store or transmit credit/debit card information, maintain a secure environment to manage the fast evolving Payment Card Industry (PCI) security standards.

It is administered and managed by the PCI Security Standards Council, an independent body that was created by the major payment card brands- Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and JCB. By this recognition, Mainstreet Bank has earned the level 1 PCI certification, which is the highest rank available from the major credit card providers and joined other banks, switches and processors to become PCIDSS compliant ahead of the

November 30, 2014, deadline by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The level 1 PCI certification is only given to third-party providers who meet the Council’s stringent and audited - credit/debit card transaction security protocols to protect customers’ personal transaction data.

It requires an external audit for approval, which is more rigorous than lower level compliance. The process further attests to the security of the bank’s network, applications, hardware and business processes.

The audit was performed by the Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) from Phillips Consulting, the first indigenous QSA in Nigeria.

Speaking on the certification, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of the bank, Faith Tuedor-

Matthews, noted that ‘’attaining the highest level in PCIDSS is a significant milestone for the bank being a key regulatory requirement for major electronic payment providers.

PCIDSS will further boost our customers’ confidence in the safety and protection of theirelectronic data and e- payment services. Having invested enormous time and resources in technology and manpower, Mainstreet Bank is now ready to roll out several e-payment solutions to serve its customers within and outside Nigeria who desire reliable payment solutions to ease their financial needs.”

Mainstreet Bank has by this certification joined other commercial banks, switches and processors who have become PCIDSS compliant ahead of the November 30 2014 given by The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Western Union launches new website

By Adeyemi Adepetun LOBAL payment services G firm- Western Union, has announced the launch of a new website in Nigeria.

The Nigeria launch, WesternUnion.ng, represents the first receive-enabled Western Union website globally.

The firm, at the weekend, said that in Nigeria, consumers can receive funds from over 200 countries and territories at nearly 5,000 Western Union retail agent locations in the country, or use www.WesternUnion.ng to direct the funds into a bank account with any of the following banks - Guaranty Trust Bank, Skye Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Wema Bank.

It explained that the new website in Nigeria allows the consumer to go online, log onto the website and direct funds they are about to receive to their personal account with any of the specified banks.

Speaking for Western Union, Regional Vice-President for Africa, Aida Diarra, said: “We are happy to announce that

Western Union services in Nigeria are continuing to evolve in keeping with the changing needs of consumers.

“Additionally, by pioneering a new digital channel through our website, Western Union is supporting the Central Bank of Nigeria’s objective of providing modern and efficient payment systems for consumers in Nigeria”.

He explained that Western Union service offerings deliver complementary digital and retail capabilities, and address evolving consumer preferences for international money transfers.

For example, Western Union money transfer services allow the consumer to send funds to more than 500,000 retail agent locations, into a mobile wallet, or opt to direct the transfer into a recipient’s bank account.

According to Senior VicePresident and General Manager, Western Union Digital, Khalid Fellahi, Western Union is growing its network and increasing consumer access to its services worldwide.

Skye Bank unveils revenue collection solution, partners Lagos councils

By Chijioke Nelson Bank Plc has launched SlocalaKyEnew solution to help government councils in the country improve their internally generated revenue in the face of the dwindling allocations that accrue to them.

Unveiling the solution at the Ojokoro Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, where the solution has already been adopted for revenue collection, the Group Head, Revenue Collection and Franchise, Skye Bank, Mrs. Bola Allison, said the product would check leakages and corruption in the collection processes.

The product, known as Point of Payment (PoP) solution, ensures that the citizens pay their taxes, levies and other statutory payments through customized Point of Sales terminals, which are administered by the council staff.

Allison said the solution would make payment con-

venient, as eligible tax and levy payers would not have to leave their shops or go to the banks to effect payment.

She said the taxpayer would be protected as the PoP system generates receipts as evidence of payment.

The bank, she said, was partnering with Citiserve and GEMS3 to ensure the success of the new solution.

Citiserve has the patent of the solution, while GEMs is a non-governmental organization that promotes tax payment by the citizens.

The Executive Chairman of Ojokoro Local Council Area, Benjamin Olabinjo, urged the people of the area to embrace the new initiative as it would check revenue diversion and ensures the council would have more money to undertake more developmental programmes.

Olabinjo advised the people not to pay cash to anybody, but to use the new payment solution to avoid being shortchanged.

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FBN Capital gets multiple recognitions at EMEA Finance awards HE investment and asset T management firm- FBN Capital Limited, has again been recognised by EMEA Finance Magazine for its remarkable efforts in the successful financing of projects in the oil and gas and telecommunications industries.

At an award ceremony, which took place at The Law Society’s Common Room London, FBN Capital Limited received awards for Best Project Finance Deal in Africa, Best Restructuring in Africa and Best Telecoms Deal in Africa for their projects with Etisalat.

It also won other award as Best Energy Infrastructure Deal in Africa for the financing of East Horizon Gas Company’s pipeline construction.

The company’s Director and Head, Debt Solutions, Patrick Mgbenwelu, also received the award of the Dealmaker of the Year, making him the first person to win the inaugural award.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mgbenwelu said: “We are very pleased to have received this award. It serves as further testament to our commitment not only to creating value for our clients, but also setting the industry standards with regards to and structured financings in Nigeria.”

FBN Capital was the Joint Financial Adviser, along with Citibank, for Etisalat’s $1.2 billion loan facility to fund the

company’s network rollout.

The deal was noteworthy in that it also received the Africa Investor Infrastructure Investment award in May this year, an evidence of its outstanding nature among industry watchers.

East Horizon Gas Company Limited secured a debt financing of N10 billion through FBN Capital, with the intention of constructing and operating an 18-inch, 128 km gas pipeline that connects with the ObigboAlscon pipeline at Ukanafun,

to supply gas to an industrial off taker located in Mfamosing, Cross River State, and to meet the needs of other industrial users in the Calabar region.

The Managing Director of FBN Capital, Kayode Akinkugbe, expressed satis-

faction on the awards, saying: “At FBN Capital we are dedicated to raising the bar when it comes to excellence in delivery, and these awards are a clear demonstration of our unrivalled capability and the dependable pedigree in our business.

“We believe in attracting and nurturing the best talent that the industry has to offer and these awards reflect not only the results but the people behind our successes, which says a lot about our standards and our capacity to consistently deliver”.

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U.S. regulator wants BNP Executive fired amid probe EW York’s top banking N regulator, Benjamin Lawsky, is pressing BNP Paribas SA (BNP) to dismiss one of its top executives as part of settlement negotiations with the U.S. over alleged sanctions violations, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Lawsky wants the bank to remove Chief Operating Officer Georges Chodron de Courcel, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private.

Lawsky is also seeking the departure of another senior executive and about 12 other bank employees, the person added. Chodron de Courcel and the others haven’t been accused of wrongdoing.

Morgan Stanley cuts London fixed-income trading ORGAN Stanley eliminatM ed trading jobs in fixed income, currencies and commodities in London this week because of tough market conditions, three people with knowledge of the plan said.

The dismissals included traders in foreign exchange and liquid flow rates, the people said, asking not to be identified as the details are private. The cuts were made starting June 3, two of the people said. Hugh Fraser, a spokesman for Morgan Stanley in London, declined to comment.

Like other firms, Morgan Stanley has been cutting headcount as regulators demand larger capital buffers and dwindling volatility curbs revenue from fixedincome trading in Europe.

Morgan Stanley had 55,883 employees in the quarter ended March 31, down from 62,494 three years previously, according to its filings.

Morgan Stanley, which generates more revenue from equities trading than fixed income, was alone among major U.S. banks in registering a trading increase during the first three months of 2014, though Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat said in April that she saw weakness ahead.

“The volumes that we talked a lot about during the first quarter — lower activity — we’re continuing to see that really does persist into the second quarter,” Porat said at the time.

Investment-banking revenue at five of the top securities firms may drop seven per cent on average in the second quarter as clients cut back on fixed-income trading and margins narrow, JPMorgan Cazenove analysts said in a note to clients on May 29.

Average sales from fixedincome, currencies and commodities trading may fall about 10 percent, while revenue from advising on deals and underwriting securities will probably rise about 1 percent, the analysts wrote.

“If the bank acknowledges a fault, someone should take responsibility and leave,” said Francois Chaulet, who helps manage 400 million euros ($546 million) at Montsegur Finance in Paris, including BNP shares.

U.S. authorities are said to be seeking as much as $10 billion — a record criminal penalty — over BNP’s dealings in sanctioned countries including Sudan and Iran.

Lawsky has said that individuals, not just companies, must be held accountable to deter future wrongdoing.

He also wants to suspend BNP’s dollar-clearing operations in New York, which has become a sticking point in the negotiations, a person familiar with the matter has said.

Bertrand Cizeau, a spokesman for BNP, declined to comment or make Chodron de Courcel available for comment.

Caitlin Ferrell, a spokes-

woman for Lawsky, also declined to comment.

A COO departure would be a “strong symbolic signal, while in practice the bank might still pay a tolerable fine and could keep functioning with access to the American market,” said Anis Bouayad, founder of Strategie Alliance, a consulting firm in Paris.

Chodron de Courcel, 64, is one of three COOs at the bank and has overseen corporate and investment banking for more than a decade.

He is also the chairman of BNP’s Geneva-based unit, which has been a focus of the investigation, people familiar with the matter have said. His term as COO expires in the spring of 2016 at the latest, according to BNP’s statute. The board of directors can remove a COO at any time, according to the statute.

Chodron de Courcel, a relative of former first lady

Bernadette Chirac, started his career at Banque Nationale de Paris SA in the 1970s. He has been a senior executive at the bank since before the 2000 merger with Paribas SA. BNP rose 1.1 per cent to 52.02 euros by 4:43 p.m. in Paris trading, valuing the bank at 64.7 billion euros. The stock is down 8.3 per cent this year, compared with a 6.2 per cent gain in the Bloomberg Europe Banks and Financial Services Index.

Authorities in the U.S. first heard about possible wrongdoing by BNP around 2007, when an informant contacted the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, according

to two people with knowledge of the probe who asked not to be identified because the matter is private.

BNP’s Swiss unit, based in Geneva, is home to a significant part of the bank’s commodity finance operations.

That business, one source of the alleged transaction violations, has fired, allowed to resign or relocated 30 people since 2012, people familiar with the matter have said.

A $10 billion fine could more than wipe out this year’s earnings for BNP, estimated at 5.64 billion euros by analysts. It would also represent more than three times the combined fines

If the bank acknowledges a fault, someone should take responsibility and leave....

Authorities in the U.S. first heard about possible wrongdoing by BNP around 2007, when an informant contacted the Manhattan District Attorney’s office

paid by HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA), Standard Chartered Plc (STAN) and ING Groep NV in 2012 for sanctions violations.

Prosecutors argue that a more severe penalty against BNP is justified because the misconduct was more egregious and the bank didn’t fully cooperate with the investigation, a person with knowledge of the matter has said. The French bank has said it’s cooperating and it has taken steps to change its practices.

Concern over the size of the fines under discussion for BNP and its potential impact on the French economy and financial system led President Francois Hollande to raise the issue with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama at a dinner in Paris last night.

Obama had told reporters earlier in the day in Brussels that “the tradition of the United States is that the president does not meddle in prosecutions.”

38 Monday, June 9, 2014

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Agency, BCPG in fresh pact to enhance building control process

RIVTAF prefab tech excites investors as PH’s Golf Estate enters Phase III Page 41

WaterAid hails African ministers’ Dakar Declaration on sanitation Page 56

Page 46

MONDAY, June 9, 2014

Illustration of the proposed Jabi Lake Resort project in the Federal Capital Territory, recently

Nigeria, Shelter Afrique seal deal for 10,000-unit housing scheme Housing

By Chinedum Uwaegbulam building blocks were FingRESH again laid unto the houssector last week, when the Pan African Housing Finance Institution, Shelter Afrique made a pledge and commitment to the Federal Government to support 10,000 unit housing programme under the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC).

In the sideline of the 33rd Annual General Meeting of Shelter Afrique in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, accompanied by the President, the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Chief Emmanuel Olabode held discussion with senior officials of the bank, where the outgoing Managing Director of Shelter Afrique, Mr. Alassane

Under fresh efforts to increase the housing stock, one of the shareholders of NMRC will in the next few weeks enter an agreement with Nigerian government to provide expertise and financial support to make the new initiative one of the best in terms of implementation and quality of service for the targeted population mainly for the middle class and lower middle class.

Ba confirmed the institution’s commitment to the programme.

The parties agreed to the principles of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed within the next two weeks setting out the terms of

the partnership, which will include advisory services and financing for the scheme.

The new development is coming on the heels of Nigerian commitment towards urbanization and housing delivery a major

stride in the Housing Industry and Nigeria is currently the largest Shareholder in the Shelter Afrique Company L i m i t e d .

Recently, during the launch of the NMRC, Ba said: “We will be one of the shareholders of

NMRC and we will provide our expertise and experience to make this initiative one of the best in terms of imple mentation

and quality of service for the targeted population mainly for the middle class and lower middle class.

We will increase our financing and share with other African countries the good news coming out of Nigeria.

This is one of the roles of Shelter Afrique; making sure African countries are sharing

CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

FCTA begins N334 billion Jabi Lake Resort project Projects From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja Na move to boost tourism in Ithethe Federal Capital Territory, FCT Administration yesterday disclosed that it has commenced the development of the Ultra-Modern Jabi Lake Resort in the Phase II of the Federal Capital City, where over N334 billion (about 2 billion US Dollars) would be expended.

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed made this disclosure yesterday while receiving the

Executive members of the Nigeria Young Professionals Forum, who paid him a courtesy call in his office at Area 11, Garki I District, Abuja.

The Minister, who noted that the development project would be executed in a partnership deal with private investors’ reiterated that when the Resort is completed, it would take Abuja to a higher level in promoting tourism, stressing that it would also add to the generation of the required revenue to augment the administration’s budgetary allocation from the Federal

Government.

Senator Mohammed remarked that the Federal Government has made a lot of investment in the Federal Capital Territory by providing some tourist and recreation sites, adding that money now is the time for the FCT Administration to create institutions, structures in terms of legal framework to leverage on private funding by way of competition to take Abuja to the next level.

While urging the Forum to use its contacts across the globe to woo investors to come and invest in Abuja; the

minister disclosed that the FCT Administration has received marching order from President Goodluck Jonathan to build human and capital institution as well as partnerships in accordance with the global best practice for the development of the Federal Capital Territory.

“We are conscious of the need to promote tourism within the FCT and the administration has given priority to the on-going construction of the Abuja Millennium Towers at the Central Business District where work at the site has reached an appreciable stage of completion.

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40 | Monday, June 9, 2014

PROPERTY GUIDE

PROJECTS

Anambra sets up panel on building collapse, plans materials testing lab Housing From Chuks Collins, Awka ORRIED by the increasW ing spate of building collapse and the consequent loss of lives in the state, the Anambra state governor, Chief Willie Obianor has announced plans by the state government to set up a quality control laboratory in two weeks time.

The visibly shaken chief executive who spoke amidst suppressed tears at the site of the latest building collapsed in Onitsha stated that, “I am very sad that we lost lives, we will investigative it. The public will know that. A quality lab will be commissioned in two weeks’ time in the state.

Any builder will be compelled to go to this lab before embarking on any building construction.

He reiterated that the laboratory would work like National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC and would be the best in the South East geopolitical zone of the country. Adding, “that it will work like the drug market. They will go to the markets and know the quality of rods and

what have you”.

This, according to him, was to ensure that the calamity would not repeat again. The governor therefore called “on the builders to ensure they don’t cut corners and use quality materials in the construction of houses. “We will find out from the builders what happened”, he said Obiano who personally visited the scene along with his Deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke and the Commander of 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, Col A.J Fagge, for an on-thespot assessment was received on arrival by the Anglican Bishop on the Niger, Rev Owens Nwokolo.

He announced that a panel of enquiry would be set up immediately to look into the immediate and remote causes of the calamity. The new panel brings to two such panels to be set up on the matter.

The Bishop Nwokolo had earlier announced that the diocese would set up a panel to unravel the cause of the building collapse.

Investigations show that a church group undertook the construction of the fourstorey building as a donation to the church.

Minister of Construction, Housing, Sanitation and Town Planning, Cote D’Iviore,Mr. Mamadou Sanogo(left), Prime Minister, Cote D’Iviore , Mr Daniel Kablan Duncan, Minister of Urbanization, Habitat and Survey, Republic of Chad, Mr. Gata Ngoulou, Nigeria’s Minister, Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi and Minister of Environments, Forestry and Physical Development, Sudan Mr. Mukhtar Adam, during the 33rd annual general meeting of Shelter Afrique in Abidjan, recently

Imo to renovate Concorde Hotel Projects From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri OLLOWING the closure of Fin one the prominent legacy the state, Imo authorities explained that the shut down of Concorde Hotel would enable it embark on massive renovation work on the edifice.

Senior officials discounte-

nanced the wide rumour that it was closed in order to sack workers after paying them three months salaries.

The hotel was built more than 30 years ago during the late Sam Mbakwe administration. In the recent past it has suffered dilapidation.

In a statement signed and issued to journalists in Owerri by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Rochas Okorocha on Media, Mr. Sam

Onwuemedo, said the state government regretted that opponents of the Imo state Government had been castigating it, alleging that Okorocha administration was insensitive, throwing people en mass to job market already saturated.

The statement titled: “Why Concorde Hotel was closed” stated: “The truth of the matter is that the government temporary closed down the

hotel for intensive renovation to take place to meet the standard the government had envisaged abinitio”.

It added that the initial work undertaken at the inception of the present administration did not meet the required standard. On the allegation that the members of staff were owed several months beyond three months paid them, the statement faulted it.

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Monday, June 9, 2014 | 41

PROPERTY GUIDE

PRIME ESTATES

RIVTAF prefab tech excites investors as PH’s Golf Estate enters Phase III Projects

By Chinedum Uwaegbulam PROPERTY development A firm is proving to be the last hope in search for a promising alternative to conventional building technique in the country through its mixed development residential scheme, which is providing prefabricated fully-fitted steelhomes in an ambitious N12.1 billion estate development in the heart of Port Harcourt, the state capital. The construction cost soared to N20 billion recently.

Coming under a joint venture between Government of River state and Taf Nigeria Homes, the project christened Golf Estate is located on 38 hectares of land provided by the government of Rivers State and situated at Peter Odili Road, Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, will at least house a total number of 720 families.

The developer signed a joint agreement with the Rivers State Government in December 2012. Works started on site in March 2013 and will be completed in three phases.

The 1st phase will be completed in June 2014, the 2nd phase in December 2014 and the 3rd phase, comprising luxury villas by the end of 2015.

Steel frame construction offers many advantages over traditional reinforced concrete with lower costs, sustainability and flexibility being amongst the many ben-

On-going housing development at the Golf Estate, Odili Road, Trans Amadi in Port Harcourt, Rivers State efits of choosing steel framed buildings over the alternatives.Steel construction utilising a prefabricated structural steel frame can reduce overall building costs by two - three per cent when compared to reinforced concrete.

When completed the estate will comprise of 200 two bed-

room apartments, 408 three bedroom apartment, 30 three bedroom town/ Terrace House, 32 four Bedroom Town/ Terrace House, 10 four Bedroom Villa/Duplex, 21 five Bedroom Villa/ Duplex, retail and shopping mall, recreational facilities, and nine hole Golf course with 128 four and five bedroom luxury villas.

Backed by mortgage facility from First Bank, Aso Savings and Loans and Zenith Bank, amenities include shopping centres, sports centre, recreation centre, central water sewage and power supply.

The estate will also have 24hour electricity and water supply, round the clock security (gated community),

Garbage collection and maintenance of streets and public areas.

Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Mr. Mustapha Njie also explained that the joint venture agreement gives government a stake in the project, adding that the decision to venture into the Nigeria mar-

ket was motivated by the huge housing gap in the country.

Speaking during an Open Day last week in Port Harcourt, he said: “What we have done is to instill confidence on the investors.

Periodically or every end of the month, we invite our clients to come and see the level of construction. This started when we cleared the site. Not only do we hope to give everybody finished product, they were there to see the foundations being done, concrete mixed, and columns erected. They are quite confident on the quality of work we are delivering to them.

“We have sold out the first phase, which are the town houses, villas and 200 apartments. We only have 48 apartments left, out of the 608 apartments. We thank our clients because they built a lot of confidence on us. Today, we are seeing 25 per cent to 30 per cent capital appreciation in the prices in about one year.

We started our two bedroom apartments being sold at about N12 million, today, its N15.5 million. The three bedroom was sold at N19 million, now it’s N25.5million. Town houses was sold at N35 million, the market price is now N58 million. Villas are being resold at N85 million, from N65 million.”

The Gambian expressed confidence on the pedigree of indigenous contractors who are assisting him to achieve CONTINUED ON PAGE 43

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42 Monday, June 9, 2014

PROPERTY GUIDE

Govt, Shelter Afrique plan 10,000 houses CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39 best practices in housing.” “ Shelter Afrique will continue to support primary mortgage institutions; Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and Federal Housing Authority (FHA) in order to improve its capacity to do more mortgage financing and provide affordable housing.

“Our action will be deepened and extended to the promotion of Public Private Partnership (PPP) for affordable housing. We will engage the Executive Governors in states to promote this type of vehicles in order to produce more affordable houses to support civil servants, nurses, policemen and others.”

A major highlight of the 33rd General Assembly was the elec-

tion of Eyakenyi as the 2nd Vice President. The election to the Assembly was adopted by 44 member countries of the African Union with a one-year duration. The Minister of Construction, Housing, Sanitation and Town Planning, Cote D’Iviore, Mr. Mamadou Sanogo, the host emerged as the President while the Minister of Water Resources Works and Housing of Ghana, Sampson Ahi became the 1st Vice President.

Nigeria was also voted to host the 35th General Assembly of Shelter Afrique in 2016. In a her acceptance speech, Nigeria minister expressed gratitude and conveyed a goodwill message from the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and recognized the dedicated leadership of the Board, Management and Staff of Shelter Afrique in nurturing and sustaining the company as a veritable platform for advancing and financing housing and related urban infrastructures in Africa.

She emphasized that the choice of Nigeria for the location of Shelter Afrique’s first Regional office coupled with additional financial support and investment in the newly established Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), a finance liquidity company recently established by the Federal Government of Nigeria in January 2014 for leveraging access to funds for low and medium income housing development is not only commendable but most welcome.

Mrs. Eyakenyi added that the efforts would surely bridge the housing gaps and boost the number of mortgages to 200,000 within the next few years from its current 20,000 especially with respect to affordable housing through Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.

She concluded by reiterating the great potentials for investment in Nigeria in the Housing and Urban Development sector recognizing that numerous urban centers that exist. This requires a constant demand for houses and complimentary infrastructures for the steadily growing population

of Nigeria.

The Minister emphasized Nigeria’s continued support to Shelter Afrique in the fulfillment of its mandate of sustainable housing delivery and urban development in Africa and also Nigeria’s willingness to collaborate with the company in show casing its activities to private and public sector institutions in order to encourage their buy-in and enable optimal benefits from the company’s expertise, experience and investment opportunities.

Meanwhile, while addressing on the theme of the Symposium “Alternate Building Technologies and Construction Methods – Potential for Accelerating the Supply of New Housing in Africa” the Minister emphasized that the last decade has seen an introduction of various forms of alternative Building Technologies (ABT’s) in the market with the aim of improving speed of construction and eventually reducing the overall cost of construction. She added that these technologies ranges from dry construction, use of indigenous materials, use of green or recycled materials and use of composite structural materials among others.

Despite economic and environmental benefits of these new technologies, many Africans have remained bias towards the conventional “brick and mortar” building technique and resisted the innovations flooding into the market.

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Monday, June 9, 2014 | 43

PROPERTY GUIDE

HOUSING

Stakeholders canvass more public-private partnership in housing delivery Real Estate

By Tunde Alao LL over the globe, governA ment alone does not take on the responsibility of providing houses for her people.

The practice is public-private partnership and that is the surest and fastest way to reducing the nation’s housing defecit, contributors at the 4th annual stakeholders meeting of Lashone Group of Companies, a real estate firm, have said.

They all said that one of the primary focuses of any government is to provide affordable housing for low-income groups, being the traditional market for affordable housing, however, government alone cannot take on the

While advocating for the need to resolve what he described as the appalling accommodation situation where over 50 per cent of Nigerians live in sub-standard houses, it was suggested that with the private sector, he said it is possible to build more decent, affordable homes for every Nigerian. duanting challenge.

The low-income segment, according to them, may include low income “key workers”, low income couples, elderly people, and the disabled, unemployed or sole parents.

But while the place of private investors could not be undermined, they charged the government to provide an enabling environment for high income earners and business persons who may wish to invest in high profile properties and for long term invest-

ment.

Speaking at the meeting, the Former Interim Nigeria Head of State, Chief Earnest Shonekan, said the government could not achieve so much all by itself, thereby requiring the coordinated input and partnership of private entities like Lashone Links Group Of Companies, are capable of achieving a sustainable housing delivery.

His words: “Land is a finite resource. Population in urban areas are growing at increasing rates and require more

new or recycled land for suitable urban housing. The tension between the supply and demand sides of this equation is an issue that needs to be addressed.

“As it is today, the market economy dictate that an increasing demand for a scarce resource will increase prices. Those unable to afford price increase will be unable to meet the basic human need for safe, secure and stable housing. Consequences of this are social unrest, poverty and division in society between rich and poor. In this context, it is the right and duty of those who have the capacity like Lashone Links Limited to intervene in the market”, said Shonekan.

He suggested the need to resolve what he described as

Rivers’ Golf estate gets 2015 completion date CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41 his desired technology and system. “I have eight of them, we decided to eliminate all the loopholes. We give them advance payments. Now, I have about 25 local contractors, all Nigerians on the site.

None of them have ever taken away my one Kobo. Today, what we have paid cumulatively is N5 billion to the contractors on the first phase. We have not had any issue at all.

“We on the stage that Africa will be taking the lead in the

construction sector. Our type of construction is home grown. When I called them in, I took 40 contractors to Gambia and schooled them on the right technology for the project. They came back very confident. We have been able to change their attitude, developed their technical, managerial capacity and in terms of equipment and materials. We bought them mixers, which them paid up in four months. It is very key in a project like this.

“It’s very rough staying in Nigeria. It is about leaving a

legacy, which we have done now. We have raised the bar for anybody doing real estate here. I pray that when we exit, the contractors will continue with the technology in Nigeria.”

He called on other state governments to emulate the model of public - private partnership nurtured between both parties. “We have only the Bureau for Public Procurement as our channel of communication. No government official interferes with what we are doing.”

Njie advised the Federal

Government to adopt the prefab steel technology in its proposed 10,000 houses as it will easy accommodation problems in the country. “ It is the way forward for housing development in Africa.”

He explained that the variation in the cost of construction was as a result of the market realities and inflation in the building materials market, especially custom duty on imported materials. “We expected a concession from the Federal government, we were not given any concession.”

the appalling accommodation situation where over 50 per cent of Nigerians live in sub-standard houses, deprived inner city dwellings, uncompleted houses, containers, kiosks, pavements and other unsuitable structures and the majority of tenants face the payment of huge advance rents especially in our cities.

With the private sector, he said it is possible to build more decent, affordable homes for every Nigerian, he declared, adding that Lashone Links Group of Companies has a team, “a dynamic and competent team”, to implement plans designed to transform the lives of our people and develop Nigeria.

The former head of state noted that the firms’ broad vision proffers solution to challenges in housing deficiency, which is the real estate, unemployment and human capital development.

He also extols the firm’s approach to environment and personal sanitation, qualified security service and also a state of the art media department which stands as a medium to communicate the value of these subsidiaries to the general public thereby equipping them with adequate information to make the right decisions for a better life.

“This is why I am here today to encourage all the stakeholders and prospects to take advantage of the opportunity that Lashone Links is providing you today. I encourage

you to buy now and build, because with land and housing investment you can’t go wrong. And with Lashone Links limited, you are not only secured, your investment stands a better chance of appreciating faster as the case has been in the last three years. I also encourage joining their corporative and availing you the opportunities to build without stress”, he said.

Professor Olugbenga Nubi, from the department of environmental science (University of Lagos), who spoke on the relevance of housing in our country Nigeria, explained that some of the challenges in housing could be traced to lack of adequate knowledge of Nigerian citizens in real estate practise.

He looked at some of the factors that affect housing delivery, including lack of effective mortgage facilities, ineffective government policies and incosisitency in some of the policies put in place.

He also believed that priivate participation in housing delivery would go along way, only if government provides enabling environment.

He praised Lashone for taking the initiative of creating a platform to educate people, therefore increasing the level of awareness and proper participation in that sector. “I commended Lashone Housing cooperative for their effectiveness in solving housing problems and asked everyone to join the co operative in other to enjoy the new trends in housing development with less stress”.

44 Monday, June 9, 2014

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PROJECTS

PROPERTY GUIDE

Controversy trails Kwara hospital contracts’ variation Infrastructure Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin.

HE Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has come under severe criticism over an alleged contract inflation regarding the recently upgraded hospitals in the state.

The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), last week took a swipe at the Governor over his claims that the initial N1.4b cost of the projects now attracted a sum of N2.7b. The contract sum is for remodeling and equipment of five general hospitals in Kaiama, Ilorin, Offa, Omu-Aran and Shaare Township.

However, the Governor refuted the allegation. Speaking

T

While some alleged that the government has deceived the public over the value of the projects, the government said the scope of the contracts has been expanded and nothing has been done illegally. through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, described the allegation as” bogus and false”, stressing that any variations were meticulously captured in the 2013 and 2014 budgets appropriation.

According to Akorede, the initial figure of N1.4b, which the government announced, was for the rehabilitation of physical structures at the hospitals and did not include the ‘state-

of-the-art equipment’, stressing that the PDP was being anti-development in its stance.

According to the Local Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Rex Olawoye, the Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed had in his budget speech delivered on the floor of the Kwara State House of Assembly on Monday, December 19th, 2011 declared that the contract for the remodeling, renovation and equipment of the five general hospitals would cost the

state the sum of N1.3billion.

“By way of further corroboration, the government had on the 5th February, 2012, through its Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Chief Tunde Adeoti and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Investment Policy and Strategies, Mr. Yomi Ogunsola, claimed that the remodeling, renovation and equipment of the five hospitals would cost the state N1.3billion.

“Both Chief Adeoti and Ogunsola gave this explanation at a press briefing, which was held at the Government House, Ilorin, as parts of the government’s desperate efforts to justify the acquisition of the N10billion loan from the Guarantee Trust

Bank (GTB)”, saying Kwara residents are alarmed that instead of sticking to the widely publicized and budgeted N1.3billion price tag, the Governor, at the commissioning of one of the hospitals in Offa Local Government Area, last week, gave an impossible sum of N3.7billion as the ‘actual’ cost of the said renovation.

In mathematical terms, this is almost 200percent price variation between the original figure and the new figure being brandished by the governor!

“This then begs the questions: What has so drastically changed in the economy of Nigeria between February 2012 and May, 2014 that could have warranted such an unacceptable contract cost variation?

“Assuming, without slightly

Engineers charge institutions on inventions Professional Practice

By Tunde Alao F Nigeria would witness rapid development, all research institutes must have in place and deploy strategies that would boost innovative inventions in the country, engineers at the auspices of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE), have said.

They spoke in Lagos last week amidst worry over lack of appropriate recognition given to engineering fields in the country. It was at the NAE’s Fellows’ Forum”, held at the Chemical Engineering

I

Nigeria cannot continue to depend on imported goods simply because engineering inventions are not encouraged by the country’s research institutes. If Nigerians continue to use foreign products, there will be nothing for the country to develop for the use of her people Complex, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State. NAE is the highest body of engineering profession in the country, which membership comprises various engineering fields.

At the forum, members of the Academy unanimously agreed that a lot of inventions

by engineers across the country have not been properly recognised by governments at all tiers.

The argument of the engineers was predicated on the fact that research and development centres in Nigeria that are expected to give expo-

sure to such inventions are not living up to their billings.

In his presentation, Professor Oritsegbemi Ola Omatete, a fellow of the Academy, who spoke on the topic: “Serendipity to Production: Developing a National Knowledge Base”, noted that a nation’s storehouse of knowledge consists more than just the patents and inventions developed in that nation, but that it is when these discoveries and patents have been converted to the production of goods and services that they actually become part of the national knowledge base.

According to Omatete, a lec-

turer at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Covenant University, Otta, Ogun State, research materials are highly intellectually stimulating and can be extremely rewarding in terms of not only patents obtained, but also, if lucky, financially, saying that: “Nigeria cannot continue to depend on imported goods because engineering inventions are not encouraged by the country’s research institutes. If we continue to use foreign products in Nigeria, there will be nothing for us to develop for our own use in the country”, said Omatete.

conceding that the government and its contractors were constrained to vary the contract sums for any reason whatsoever, why did the APCled government fail to capture this much in either the subsequent 2013 budget or a supplementary budget?

Does this inflationary abracadabra explain why the government did not subject the award of the contract to open tenders and competitive bidding as required by laws?”, he queried.

The group also alleged that the development was violation of all lawful contracting procedures, as it demanded an immediate explanation for what ther opposition described as “clear rape of the state meager resources by a government that only mouths anti-corruption but does not match it in action”.

In also added that the scope of work at some of the five general hospitals, especially Ilorin General Hospital, was expanded, resulting in an increase of the published contract figure. However, the final cost of remodeling and rehabilitating all the hospitals as well the modern equipment were budgeted for.

“In the 2013 budget, N1.3b was budgeted for the renovation and equipping of all five general hospitals while N2, 020, 000, 000 was budgeted in the revised estimate of the same year. As the equipping of the hospital is on going, the government is still spending budgeted funds on the

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BUILDING CONTROL

Lagos agency, BCPG in fresh pact to enhance building control process Building Control ESOLUTE to attain safety of R lives and property during and after the execution of any

When the parties met last week at the Lagos State Building Control Agency’s office situated within the Government Reserved Area, Oba Akinjobi, in Ikeja, the parley ended with pledges of stronger tie towards minimizing problem of collapsed building in the state

building project, a group of real estate professionals, Building Collapsed Prevention Guide (BCGP) and Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) last week struck a fresh pact against incidences of failed buildings in the state.

Under the new relationship,

the members of BCGP will now be working directly with the state agency on building control functions throughout the state.

Although, the pact is not in written form, LASBCA’s General Manager, Mrs. Anumashaun-Odunayo,

By Emmanuel Badejo

Kafilat Abimbola and the agency’s Director on Inspectorate and Quality Control, Mr. Shodeinde, Ayotunde, repeatedly spoke assuredly on the government’s readiness to work with the group to attain safer construction industry in

Lagos.

Convinced that a lot still needed to be done to stop cases of collapsed building in the state, BCPG had sought an audience with the agency.

And after listening to the members of the Guide, who one, after the other, the duo agreed that there was greater need for synergy between them. Immediately, it directed all its zonal officers to interact with the group members at their zonal levels.

Their visit coincided with a monthly in-house training of

Ekiti picks contractors for N16.1b Ado Ekiti-Akure road, others Contracts From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti KITI State government has E announced the award of contracts for Ado-Ekiti-Akure, Ondo State road and other inter township road contracts at a total cost of N16.1billion.

While giving a breakdown, State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo told newsmen after the monthly State Executive Council meeting that government had awarded Ado-EkitiIkere-Akure road at a cost of N9.3billion.

He said that the contract, which was awarded to Messer China Railway Engineering Company Nigeria Limited would be largely self financing and was expected to be completed within 24 months.

He explained that the State Government would however pay 15 per cent of the contract

sum to the contractor as advance payment while the remaining 85 per cent would be funded by the contractor who had already mobilized to site Ekundayo noted that when completed the road would enhance vehicular movement and ease congestion along the busy Ado-Ikere Akure Road while hoping that Ondo State would do its portion of the road without delay.

He disclosed that the State Executive Council also approved the award of the contract for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the 30.2 km Agbado-Ode-IsinbodeOmuo road to Messrs Prodeals Nigeria Limited at a cost of N2.9 billion while the contract for the reconstruction of the 14.8 kilometer AwoEyio Esure-Ifaki road was also awarded to the same contractor at a cost of N1.7 billion.

According to him, the meeting also approved the reaward of the contract for the construction of Oye-Are road to Mac Engineering Construction Limited at a cost of N 840 million, adding that the project is expected to be completed within nine months.

The government spokesperson also said that the State Executive Council approved the contract for additional construction works on the internal roads within the State Housing Estate, Oke Ila, Ado Ekiti to Messrs Dromo International Limited at a cost of N 210million.

The construction work, he said is expected to be completed within 10 months.

Ekundayo explained that when completed, all the roads would ease vehicular movement and boost the social economic development of the state.

He stated that the State Exco also approved the memoranda for the earth dredging of some stream channels and some allied construction works within Ado Ekiti metropolis at a cost of N130m.

The stream channels to be dredged are Ofin River (8,200 meters) Dallimore-Afao Road (10,950 meters) Awajin/Segudu (2,200 meters) and Odo-Ayo- Bawa Estate (4000 meters) He said upon completion, the projects would stem the tide of incessant flooding in some parts of Ado Ekiti and make the capital safe for resident during the rains.

Ekundayo also disclosed that the State Esco approved the contract for the construction and installation of Fajuyi Roundabout to Police Headquarters (Iyin Road) Street Light Project in Ado-Ekiti to an indigenous contactor, Messrs BJEG Ventures Nigeria

staffers of the agency, who were undertaking lecture from a Nigerian born, American architect, Mr. Benson Omisore.

In his address, President of the voluntary professional group, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, said its mandate was to see a more harmonious relationship with LASBCA in its official responsibility, adding that his group was not out to smear or compete with the agency.

“We are trying to work out a structure that can assist LASBCA in its official responsibility. Lagos is so big in landmass, and coupled with rapid physical development, I wonder the agency alone can cope with the enormous challenge. There is need for professionals and artisans within the industry to synergize with you for effectiveness.

While we are helping the government in its official responsibility, we are also working to safeguard our profession.”

According to Awobodu, a builder, said government does not have enough human capacity to tackle the challenge within the industry, hence, the need for the seven construction industry professionals to offer themselves for the service of humanity.

Lagos State Coordinator of BCPG, Mrs. Kehinde George, said every case of collapsed building is avoidable, but regretted that the Lagos State some years ago did not implement the recommendations a committee on collapsed building it inaugurated made.

George, the first female town planner in Nigeria, however, expressed satisfaction over the new rapprochement, adding it was welcome development.

Mr. David Adio-Moses, an architect said, while the law on building control is available, the problem has been with enforcement.

“Enforcement has been the issue. The National Building Code empowers each state to have enforcement officers but for the past few years, Lagos has not trained anybody in that respect. BCPG is a voluntary group, hence there is need to have an enabling in place. LASBCA can empower professionals to be its Code Enforcement Officers (CEO), as provided in the National Building Code.”

Another architect, Mr. Femi Majekodunmi urged the agency to review Form C and that its officials should always demand to see professionals on site whenever they go for inspection.

For Omisore, he said apart from willing to be member of the Guide, there was need for a link between the enforcement agency and the Guide, adding the group should be licensed to operate in any locality within the state without any harassment.

Mrs. AnumashaunOdunayo, who said though the agency was working and will still put in more efforts in discharging its responsibility, hinted that it still has some challenges like inadequate funding, shortage of personnel among others.

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HOUSING

PROPERTY GUIDE

Firm plans Abuja housing show, awards Exhibition HE 8th edition of Abuja T Housing Show will take place at the Musa Yar’adua

Non-Executive Director, Propertygate Development and Investment Plc, Mr. Jonathan Oluwole Ogungbola(left); Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Adetokunbo Ajayi and Company Secretary, Mrs. Olutosin Aarinola, during the company’s 5th Annual General meeting in Lagos last week

Propertygate tasks regulators on mortgage institutions, declares profit Mortgage Finance

By Emmanuel Badejo HEAD of the physical take off of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinancing Corporation (NMRC), players in the real estate industry have begun call for the regulatory agencies to ensure that mortgage institutions transact business according to laid down rules.

NMRC was launched January this year and stakeholders have been wondering why the body is yet to commence actual operation.

But at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) last week in Lagos, a property development and investment company, Propertygate, has said for the nation to witness impressive achievement in its real estate industry, mortgage institutions must keep to their rules of practice.

While interacting with journalists shortly after the AGM was declared closed, Chief Executive Officer, Propertygate Development

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All regulatory agencies must ensure that mortgage institutions stick to the rule of engagement, otherwise several initiatives by the government would end up not making appreciable impact on the property market and the nation’s strive for development at large and Investment Company, Mr. Adetokunbo Ajayi, said although the NMRC was a right step in right direction, effects on the real estate industry would still be negligible. He said the government should with all sense of seriousness ensure that it gets the mortgage institutions obey all laid down rules, otherwise, its efforts towards impacting positively on the industry would be undermined.

“Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Corporation will still aid property market, though minimally because the corporation can only operate within the quantum of money available in its coffer. It is also important for the regulatory bodies to

ensure that mortgage institutions are also playing according to the rule. If you give the money to the institutions to lend to the public and that money does not get to the intended public, the whole efforts towards reducing the housing deficit margin would be a sham. But, if the operatives use the money in right direction, it would also help the developer, which would be able to create mortgage window for the market. It is a good development and we should see to strengthening that arrangement. It is a positive step in right direction.”

Ajayi, who admitted that the sector had several challenges ranging from land

administration to lack of complementary infrastructures, said these issues, among others made it difficult for the company to achieve viability in development schemes. “One of the obstacles in this regard is the complexity of balancing rising land value with resistance to upward movement in prices of real estate products.

Institutional challenges such as infrastructure deficit, bottlenecks in land and urban administration, weak enforcement of physical and environmental regulations among others dogged the period under review.”

He added that there are times when a developer contributes to the state’s coffer to ensuring provision of infrastructures, saying it was painful that even after the counter-contribution into a state scheme, the government fails to fails to make those infrastructures available, which invariably, he said affects the developer’s product negatively.

UNICEM warns against hike in cement prices, pledges quality products Building Materials From Tina Todo, Calabar S controversy rages on over the cement standard, especially grade of cement to be used in the country, manufacturers of UNICEM brands cement have raised fears that consumers may pay more, if 52.5 grades is adopted by producers.

The Managing Director of Unicem, Mr. Olivier Lenoir disclosed that producing at that quality would be expensive and would be waste of resources when construction companies could use 42.5 percent for their mix.

Lenoir who stated this during the launching of Unicem’s maiden Health and Safety month programme held at the Company’s factory in

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Mfamose, said that its plant can produce any type of cement and much better quality.

According to him, their competitors were just using cement grade as a business strategy to get more customers to patronize their products, adding that it does not have any significance to the construction companies.

He said there are lots of false information in the media about the good quality of cement and “it does not mean whether it is 42 or 32.5 percent grade. “It does depend on what you want to do. This plant is very modern. We have two mills. We can produce a new quality; we can offer any type of cement much better than the three general ones depending on the request of

the customer.

“We are producing 90 percent of 42.5 percent grade because our customers need 42.5 percent and when it is necessary we produce 42.5 percent which we are delivering in bulk.

“We don’t put it in bags. We sell in bulk. That is because the target market is the construction companies that need them. 32.5 is very good cement. We have a 32.5R, which means it is rapid. That is what the block makers need because they can move their blocks quickly.

“Our competitors have different strategies. That is fine but it does not mean that our product is not good product.

It is not only in Nigeria. Most other countries use 32.5 and it depends on what you do with the concrete. You can have very good cement but if

properly mix you will have a good concrete”.

He said if 52.5 percent grade is sustained, the consumers will bear the brunt and this will not be good for the general public.

Regarding the maiden safety month, Olivier, said the management has decided to increase the one week programme to a month because of lots of activities which could not be covered within a week adding that the objectives still remained the same.

“We want to have a healthy work force and also opportunity for the people to have more activities. Two years ago we scored below 40 percent and last year we have shifted close to 74 percent and a very good average score is 85 percent reaching 85 percent is our objective.

Centre from the June 23 to 25 2014 in Abuja and bestow awards on individuals who have contributed to the development of housing sector in the country.

The Coordinator of the 8th Abuja Housing Show 2014 and Executive Producer of Housing Programme on AIT, Mr. Festus Adebayo, disclosed that the Housing Show/Award is an annual programme for honouring, recognizing and encouraging those who have made their mark in the development of housing sector in Nigeria.

Amongst those to be honoured are GovernorTheodore Orji of Abia State and his Counterparts in Niger state, Governor Babangida Aliyu, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State and Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State . They will receive Housing Governor Award respectively for numerous contributions to Housing Development in their respective states.

According to Adebayo, “the Governors were said to have developed not less than 5,000 housing units for civil servants in their states through their Public-Private Partnership Scheme.

The housing event with the theme “Accelerating Housing/Infrastructural Development through Public-Private Partnership for Job Creation and Economic Fortification” will feature many notable experts in affordable housing, housing finance and urban development, such as Prof. Pedro B. Ortiz Castano, Senior Urban Consultant, World Bank, Mr Sonnie Ayere, the interim Managing Director of Mortgage Refinance, Sidney Yankson, CEO of Ghana Capitals, NyaEtok E.A. while Mrs Akon Etim Eyakenyi, Hon. Minster of Lands, Housing and Urban Development will deliver the Keynote address.

This year Abuja Housing Show will also feature 105 exhibitors in the housing sector and not less than 1000 attendees from all over Nigeria including all the Commissioners for Lands, Housing and Urban D e v e l o p m e n t .

He added that the programme is organized with the support of the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Abuja Property Writers Association of Nigeria, Housing Development Programme on AIT & Housing News Newspaper, Centre for Human Settlement, FUT, Minna and UN Habitat, Nigeria.

Landmark Corporate Realty unveils Queens Homes Projects AGOS-based property LLandmark development firm, Messrs Corporate Realty Limited has unveiled its housing projects located on the Lagos - Ibadan corridor, in Simawa, behind Redemption Camp, which the promoters plans to use in making people landlords and house owners.

The Managing Director, Landmark Corporate Realty Limited, Mr. Harrison Agboifoh in a statement said that Queens Homes “is a royal abode and very much at your convenience. With its proximity to the commercial nerve centre, its royal uniqueness is what we are delivering at an affordable rate.”

Among the types of homes is Elizabeth Court - a three-bedroom apartment detached

bungalow whose features includes; rooms ensuite with wardrobes, pop wall finishing, interlocking compounds with car port amongst other features.

The Diana Court comes as a three-bedroom semi detached bungalow whose features includes; rooms’ ensuite with wardrobes, pop wall finishing, interlocking compounds with car port amongst other features.

Kate Court is a two bedroom detached whose features includes; rooms’ ensuite with wardrobes, pop wall finishing, interlocking compounds with carport amongst other features.

T he houses range from N7.5million to N9.5million at zero per cent interest rate for three years with 30 per cent down payment, spread remaining 70per cent within 36 months while an outright payment attracts discount.

NIQS holds seminar in Gombe HE Nigerian Institute of T Quantity Surveyors shall be organising a two-day National Seminar titled Procurement of Construction Works and ServicesAdapting to Contemporary Challenges for Enhanced National Development.

The event, which according to Secretary, Marketing and Corporate Affairs of NIQS, Mr. Jide Oke will hold in Gombe, Gombe State from Wednesday to Thursday, this week.

The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban

Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi will be as guest of honour at the seminar. Subthemes include Underlying Principles, Policies and Procedures of Procurement Management, The Challenges of Power and Politics in Public procurement in Nigeria and Thinking Security in Procurement Management.

Oke said, the seminar is one of the Continuous Professional Development programmes of the Institute, which attracts 18 credit units.

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PROPERTY GUIDE

FACILITY MANAGEMENT

Facility managers urge maintenance culture among youths Ultimately, the nation would be much better if the government can encourage students, particularly in the secondary schools can imbibe the maintenance culture

Facility Management

By Emmanuel Badejo XPERTS in the facility E management field in Nigeria have canvassed the need for all levels of government to encourage maintenance culture among younger generations through the introduction of a course into the students’ curriculum.

They said this became necessary as the nations all over the world are getting more conscious on issues that have bother on facility management, lamenting the usual bureaucracy within the public sector that often makes maintenance a big challenge.

At the instance of International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Nigeria chapter, stakeholders within the industry had gathered in Lagos on 2014 World Facility Management Day to encourage students in secondary schools within the state to create more awareness on facility management.

President of IFMA, Ms. Iyabo Aboaba, while chatting with newsmen had said the association decided to invite the schools with a view to enthroning culture of maintenance into our younger ones, because it believes that study on maintenance culture should start much early with the young ones.

According to her, the association was also working towards getting facility management into the school’s, as it would be out of place to be telling a man of 20 years old on how to

develop this value as a way of life, adding selected pupils from five schools in the state were at the event to learn about maintenance culture.

And due to its conviction, Aboaba said the association was still working behind the scene to pursue the process that would make the matter of maintenance culture constitution. “We are still lobbying to have the bill become law and it would soon take its first reading at the National Assembly. The change of Minister of Housing and Urban Development might have also affected the progress of the bill.”

Giving her opening remarks, the General Manager, Lagos State Government Office of Facility Management and Maintenance, Miss Adenike Adekanbi said having infrastructures was desirable but stakeholders, particularly the public sector must began to take greater interest in the way those facilities are managed and maintained.

Noting that the step by the Lagos State Government to attend to this area, was commendable, Adekanbi, revealed notwithstanding that there are some challenges against effective running of her office, which included lack of commitment from some of the public officers on maintenance culture and budget issue, saying however that Lagos’ step was in good direction and hopeful that things would improve.

In her paper, “What is Facility Management? Aims, Objectives and Progress of

Manager, Lagos State government office of Facility Management and Maintenance, Adenike Adekanbi (left); President, IFMA NIgeria, Miss Iyabo Aboaba; Vice President, Tunji Okesola and Mra Abimbola Olusegun Adamolekun at the event marking Facility Management Day in Lagos, last week PHOTO: CHARLES OKOLO FM in Nigeria. Valuable Contributions sound FM has made and is making worldwide in productive, safe, healthy and secure environments”, Mrs. Abimbola OlusegunAdamolekun said facility management (or facilities management or FM) is an interdisciplinary field devoted to the coordination of space, infrastructure, people and organization, often associated with the administration of office blocks, arena, schools, convention centres, shopping complexes, hospitals, hotels, among others.

However, OlusegunAdamolekun said that FM facilitates on a much wider

range of activities than just business services and these are referred to as non-core function, adding the field has become highly competitive, subject to continuous innovation and development, under pressure to reduce costs and to add value to the core business of the client organization where possible. According to her, facility management is an interdisciplinary field primarily devoted to the maintenance and care of commercial or institutional buildings.

She said the aim of FM is to support the institution’s aim to embed sustainability principles within all future developments and provide a complete service for all our

clients, including property and building maintenance, garden, equipment to meet business and social objectives, which has been tested to save time and cost on the long run, maintains orderliness among others.

Mr. Silas Ofoegbu, who spoke to the students on “Role of the Facility Management Appeal to Nigerian Students and how FM Practices can be Inculcated by All”, said the FM sector acts as an umbrella, horizontally oriented market and it currently represents about 5% of global GDP, adding its relationship to the human resources, real estate and information technology functions of an enterprise has increased.

Ofoegbu, an engineer said the discipline of facility management and the role of facility managers in particular are evolving to the extent that many managers have to operate at two levels: strategic-tactical and operational.

“In the former case, clients, customers and end-users need to be informed about the potential impact of their decisions on the provision of space, services, cost and business risk. In the latter, it is the role of a facility manager to ensure corporate and regulatory plus the proper operation of all aspects of a building to create an optimal, safe and cost effective environment for the occupants to function.”

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PROPERTY GUIDE

THE ENVIRONMENT

WaterAid hails African ministers’ Dakar Declaration on tackling sanitaWater Resources

By Chinedum Uwaegbulam

Senegalese Minister becomes AMCOW President

N the heels of the handO ing over the mantle leadership of the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) to the Republic of Senegal, international development organization, WaterAid has welcomed the African Ministers Council on Water’s (AMCOW) ‘Dakar Declaration’ and commended their leadership on tackling Africa’s sanitation crisis.

The Dakar declaration, comes ahead of the launch of the Africa’s Common Position on the post-2015 due to be released on Tuesday 3 June at the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is culmination of the 5th Africa Water Week, hosted jointly

by AMCOW and the African Union Commission and attended by about 1000 delegates from across the continent.

In calling for a dedicated goal on Water Security and Sanitation, the conference declaration aligns closely with the draft focus areas of the UN Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals. This UN member state body is due to release their report in August, which will set out proposals for what should follow the Millennium Development Goals after the end of the target deadlines in 2015.

WaterAid Nigeria Country Representative, Dr Michael Ojo said: “The Dakar Declaration is a significant accomplishment coming out of this 5th Africa Water Week and represents a clear message and realisation from African Ministers that we can only bring an end to Africa’s sanitation crisis through the establishment of a dedicated goal on water and sanitation. Given that seven in ten Africans lack access to basic sanitation, placing sanitation alongside water in the sustainable development goals is vital to achieving a vision of an economically productive, healthier, and happier continent and puts us on the right track to achieving universal access to water and sanitation.”

Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Reng Ochekpe has handed over the leadership of AMCOW to the Republic of Senegal following the successful com-

Safe water and sanitation are vital for public health and for human rights. Yet in Nigeria, despite the country's wealth, an estimated 335,000 children die due to poor sanitation

Water and Sanitation feature prominently in the current draft focus areas and the Dakar declaration aligns closely with an emerging global consensus that the sustainable development goals should include a dedicated goal on Water and Sanitation pletion of her tenure as interim President from August 2013 to 31st May 2014.

In her valedictory statement during the 9th General Assembly Meeting of AMCOW recently in Dakar – Senegal, the Minister of Water Resources, who is the outgoing President of the body said that AMCOW had provided the needed political leadership, policy direction and advocacy in the provision and management of water resources for sustainable economic development as well as enhanced cooperation, social security and economic development and poverty

eradication among the member countries.

“I am delighted to say that today through sheer resolve, determination and dedication of our member states and active support of our partners, AMCOW had continued to bring added value to regional cooperation in trans-boundary water management,” he said.

While speaking on challenges, the Minister noted that despite the various achievements recorded so far, AMCOW still faces challenges on how to deploy water supply infrastructure

services in such a way as to meet the growing demand for safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.

She further called on the Government of Senegal to support the new AMCOW President, informing Pape Diouf that as the baton of AMCOW leadership has turned to Senegal, his interest in the meeting would surely be supported by the Government of Senegal towards lifting AMCOW to greater heights in the next two years.

In his remarks, the new AMCOW President, Pape Diouf, who is the Minister of Water and Sanitation of Senegal thanked the Minister of Water Resources of Nigeria for the commitment and determination which led to the implementation of the AMCOW work plan. He

assured the member countries that his leadership would improve the attainment of the MDGs and postMDG development agenda on water and sanitation.

Speaking earlier, the AMCOW Secretary – General, Bai Mass Taal thanked the out-going President for her support and determination towards sustaining AMCOW as a critical platform for championing the advocacy for regional cooperation on efficient management of the continent’s water resources.

“We must therefore focus serious attention not only on the provision of safe drinking water and improving sanitation; but also efficient and effective management of our water resources to ensure food and energy security, the management of waste water and recycling

under quality conditions, in order to improve on the availability of more water for domestic, industrial and agriculture uses,” he informed.

Also in her statement, the Commissioner in the Department for Rural Agriculture of the African Union Commission (AUC), Tumusiime Rhoda Peace pledged her commitment to work with African Ministers on water and sanitation. She added that the Commission of the African Union and specifically the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture has been committed to working closely with AMCOW on issues of water and sanitation across the continent. She noted that the Commission is looking forward to continued support and guidance.

Presidency urges new strategies for environmental protection, sustainability The Environment From John Okeke, Abuja HE Federal Government T has urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of protecting the environment for its sustainability.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on the Millennium Development Goals, (SSAP-MDGs), Dr Precious Kalamba Gbeneol, who made this remark on the occasion of World Environment Day, also stated that with concerted efforts, the society can be better for habitation as well as help the country in attaining the goal 7 (Achieving Environmental

As the planet is degrading at an alarming rate because of non-sustainable urbanization, industrialization and agriculture, the Senior Special Assistant to the President wants step up efforts to protect and preserve the eco system through usage of biodegradable and eco-friendly products as well as recycling of plastic products Sustainability) of the MDGs framework.

In a statement signed by the Head, Information and Communication, Dr Christopher Otabor, the Presidential Adviser noted that with increasing global threats of climate change, drastic decline of biodiversity and the extreme vulnerability, Nigerians must challenge themselves to step up efforts to protect and preserve the eco system

through usage of biodegradable and eco-friendly products as well as recycling of plastic products.

The Presidential aide also called for concerted efforts towards addressing issues relating to the acceleration of biodiversity loss caused by climate change for the benefits of the society.

She also advised against open defecation, which she said could lead to contamination of food and water,

which is also a primary cause of diarrhoea, disease like cholera known to be a major source of infant mortality. According to the Presidential adviser, the bid by the government to stop this habit has prompted the construction of the numerous VIP toilets across the country by her office.

Gbeneol noted in the statement that Nigeria’s natural resources and some of its most valuable national assets are still seriously threatened. “For example, between 2000 and 2010 Nigeria forest area shrank by a third, from 14.4 per cent to 9.9 per cent of the land area. Government, as a result, is implementing the

integrated National Environmental Action Plans that address climate change.

The Federal government is encouraging a shift in the use of firewood for cooking to natural gas.”

“OSSAP- MDGs has also since 2007 supported the Federal Ministry of Environment in the establishment of Solid Waste Management Programme in some communities of in Ogun, Borno, Bayelsa, Gombe and Kwara States”, adding that “OSSAPMDGs has since 2006 initiated a series of interventions aimed at expanding access to portable water for all Nigerians.

Efforts in this direction have been channelled through

the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, the Conditional Grants Scheme to States, the Quick-Wins programme and the MDGs Special Projects programme.”

The interventions in provision of clean water include has facilitated the construction of over 28 small earth dams, small water dams, 545 dykes in all the Senatorial Districts, 16 run-off water structures, 1,625 solar powered boreholes, 1,820 motorized boreholes and 10,062 hand pump boreholes.

In the area of sanitation, OSSAP-MDGs said to had supported the construction of 7,297 VIP toilets and 120 flush toilets.

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PROPERTY GUIDE

THE ENVIRONMENT

WED: ‘Raise your voice, not sea level’ While being most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, Small Island developing states have contributed little to climate change. Their combined annual output of greenhouse gases is less than one percent of total global emissions but their position on the frontline has projected many to the fore in negotiations for a universal new legal climate agreement in 2015 Climate Change

By Tunde Alao HE United Nations seized World Environment Day T (WED) last week to demand action on climate change to protect small island states threatened by rising seas, drought and floods.

In his message marking the 2014 WED, held at the at the UNIC office, Kingsway Road, Ikoyi, and another event by the Lagos State government at Blue Roof, LTV 8 Complex, Agidingbi, the United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, represented by the Senior Public Information Officer, United Nation Information Centre (UNIC), Ms. Envera Selimovic, urged total support and cooperation to fight climate change.

While urging individuals not to underestimating what he/she can do to ensure the safety of the environment, she advocated for reconnecting ideas, joining voices on how to be environmentally friendly in the daily activities.

She echoed the theme of the events in Lagos, titled “Raise the voice and not the sea level”.

Specifically on Small Island developing states, the UN observed that SIDS have contributed little to climate change. ”Their combined annual output of greenhouse gases is less than one percent of total global emissions but their position on the frontline has projected many to the fore in negotiations for a universal new legal climate agreement in 2015”, it said, noting that others are leaders in disaster preparedness and prevention, or are working to achieve climate neutrality through the use of renewable energy and other approaches.

Selimovoic specifically singled out Lagos as one of SIDS state that has been consistently championing the course for sustainable envi-

ronment and climate change adaptations through many of its programmes and policies.

As the world was marking the WED, attention has been shifted to Small Island Developing States (SIDS), worldwide, noting that the world’s small island nations, which are collectively home to more than 63 million people, are renowned as “prized destinations: places of outstanding natural beauty, vibrant culture and potential business destination”, are appreciated around the globe. Although, they are small in total, their land size does not reflect their importance as stewards of nature’s wealth on land and sea.

Among their importance is that they protect oceans and many biodiversity hotspots, containing some of the richest reservoirs of plants and animals on the planet.

However, despite these assets, small island developing states (SIDS), among which is Lagos State, face numerous challenges, especially rising in sea level. As observed by the stakeholders at the 2014 World Environment Day (WED), in many for a last week, many of SIDS is increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, especially from devastating storms to the threat of sea level.

Governor Babatunde Fashola in his speech, noted that the focus of 2014 World Environmental day is to assess the vulnerability of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to environmental challenges especially climate change and in achieving this goal, special emphasis is to be dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of climate change on SIDS and the entire world.

While expressing regret that environmental challenges have for long been trivialized until the world began to witness unprecedented ecocatastrophes, he said the manifes-

Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed, Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello and Managing Director, LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya at the 2014 World Environment Day celebration in Lagos, last week PHOTO: GABRIEL IKHAHON tations of these across the globe could be seen through dissertations, cyclones, Tsunamis, global warming, flooding, diseases and other natural disasters.

He noted that his administration is continuously made the environment relevant in Lagos through rigorous application of both adaptive and mitigation measures such as tree planting, climate change advocacy, drainage construction and dredging and zero tolerance for environmental nuisances.

“Oftentimes, when we talk about the environment and climate, it seems abstract to the majority of people.

However, when we consider it in broken down terms, in terms like land, water, air – the things that we see and make use of everyday – the concept is brought home to people.

“Due to the actions and inactions of human beings, which have led to environmental degradation in form of water pollution, land pollution and erosion and depletion of the ozone over decades, it has become imperative in recent times that we not only create awareness about these issues, but we also find collec-

tive solutions to these problems.

In Lagos State, we set aside this day to demonstrate our administration’s commitment to continually safeguard our environment by consistently being part of the global effort to sustain and preserve our environment.

He observed that this year’s focus on category of states that are more vulnerable to natural and environmental disasters, climate change and sea-level rise because of their small size and littoral nature, the theme is very important to Lagos because as a coastal State, Lagos shares remarkable similarities with some of the renounced Small Island Developing States such as Trinidad & Tobago, Tonga, Samoa and Suriname.

Because of their littoral nature, these regions are generally more vulnerable to natural and environmental disasters, climate change and sea level rise. Unsustainable consumption, degradation of natural resources, extreme natural disasters in the midst of overpopulation and continuing industrialization are the problems that confront us all. Overcoming these environmental challenges requires effective management of our environment

through the concerted effect of all in ensuring responsible use of natural resources.

“The reality before us is that no nation, however large or small, developed, or underdeveloped, wealthy or poor, can escape the impact of climate change. Rising sea levels threaten every coastline.

More powerful storms and floods threaten every continent. Drought and crop failures deepen hunger and conflict in places where hunger and conflict already thrive.

This in turn affects productivity of the population and thus economic recession”.

The Commissioner for the Environment in Lagos MR. Tunji Bello, in his address, noted that Indeed, the example in Lagos state is a clear case of resilience and innovation in tackling the challenges confronting our development as a coastal megacity. “Over the past decade, in addressing climate change, we have institutionalized the tree planting campaign and have planted over five million trees so far. We have also accelerated landscaping and beautification of open spaces, held international summits on climate change and established climate change clubs in Lagos schools.

“In addition, we have meticulously achieved improved waste management, adopted measures on energy efficiency and renewable energy, sped up drainage construction and dredging to de-flood Lagos. The effects of these steps taken are evident in the Lagos we have today. Where torrential rainfall used to lead to massive flooding of the state and destruction of lives and property, our environmental renewal measures have averted such disasters in the past few years”.

Professor Ayo Omotayo, from Lagos State University (LASU), who spoke on the subject: ”Riase Your Voice Not the Sea Level”, stressed that rapid urban development and the abandonment of traditional settlement patterns has resulted in movement from less vulnerable to more vulnerable locations on the island.

“Likewise, geophysical studies of Victoria Island show that engineering works during the colonial period and rapid development and population growth since independence, has led to the inappropriate shoreline and swampland areas, leaving communities in the heightened conditions vulnerable”.

New report finds successful efforts to reduce deforestation in Africa, others Conservation ROGRAMMES and policies P to reduce tropical deforestation, and the global warming emissions resulting from deforestation, are seeing broad success in 17 countries across four continents, according to a new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).

The report, “Deforestation Success Stories: Tropical Nations Where Forest Protection and Reforestation Policies Have Worked,” highlights successes in reducing deforestation and restoring

forests while supporting economic development in 17 cases across Africa, Latin America and South and Southeast Asia. While some countries highlighted in the report, including Brazil, are known for their forest efforts, other countries, including Mexico, El Salvador and the six countries of Central Africa, emerge as surprising innovators.

In the 1990s, deforestation consumed 16 million hectares of forest a year and accounted for about 17 percent of all climate emissions.

Efforts reduce climate change emissions without obstructing commodities boom. The report recommends expanding the implementation of REDD+, particularly in less developed nations.

Policymakers should also increase funding for payments for ecosystem services and practice strong enforcement.

By the early 2000s, deforestation was down 19 percent to 13 million hectares.

Currently, deforestation is responsible for about 10 percent of climate emissions globally.

“Successfully reducing

deforestation is essential as forests are home to a wide range of plants and animals, and vital to the livelihoods of indigenous communities.

When forests are cleared –for palm oil plantations, agriculture or livestock – we lose

vital resources, put animals at risk of extinction, and release massive quantities of carbon dioxide stored in the trees and soils,” said report author Doug Boucher, director of UCS’s Tropical Forest and Climate Initiative.

“What’s surprising about today’s report is the number of countries that are effectively protecting their tropical forests and the wide variety of policies and programs that are working. There’s no one right way to stop deforestation, but rather a smorgasbord of options.”

The successful reductions

result from a variety of policy options, including policies and programmes directly targeted at deforestation, policies not implemented as planned but that still worked, policy reforms that relieved pressure on forests and changes in larger socioeconomic context.

Brazil is home to the world’s largest tropical forest, the Amazon. As early as 2002, the Brazilian government reduced deforestation by establishing forest protected areas, and later companies agreed to moratoriums on buying soy or beef raised on deforested land.

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THE ENVIRONMENT

PROPERTY GUIDE

NEMA opens new operations offices, reshuffles directors From Joke Falaju, Abuja N a move to strengthen disaster management in the country, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has opened two additional operations offices in Sokoto and Ado Ekiti as well as re-deployed three directors of the agency across various departments.

The new Sokoto Operation office was created from the North West Zone Kaduna and would cover Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States while the Ado Ekiti Operation Office was created from the South West Zone Lagos to cover Ekiti, Ondo and Osun States. This brings to a total of five operation offices including those located in Abuja, Gombe and Minna and six zonal offices which are in Kaduna, Maiduguri, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Jos and Enugu respectively.

A statement by the agency spokes person, Mr. Manzo Ezekiel also stated that the management of NEMA has approved the redeployment of the Director of Administration and Supplies Dr Zanna Muhammad to head the Department of Planning Research and Forecasting. It has also approved the appointment of Mallam Muhammad

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A carbon factory, recently

Carbon cuts not enough, study warns at UN climate summit Climate Change ERMAN study results G released last week warned that the world is “still tracking” toward warming of 3 to 4.6 degrees Celsius by 2100 — a scenario many scientists said would be disastrous — as United Nations members launched a new round of climate talks in Bonn.

Europe announced its own carbon cuts at the meeting, days after the United States and China pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their respective efforts to combat the effects of climate change.

As negotiations began, German scientists warned that U.S. President Barack Obama’s plan to cut carbon emissions at power plants by up to 30 percent will leave America far short of its cur-

rent pledges at U.N. climate talks.

The U.S. had promised in 2010 to reduce greenhouse gases by 17 percent by 2020 based on 2005 levels. It also said it would further curb emissions by 83 percent by 2050 compared with 2005.

But the German specialists said in an analysis that Obama’s plan would reduce 2030 U.S. national emissions by only about 10 percent below 2005 levels. The review, called the Climate Action Tracker, is updated regularly to measure whether national pledges at the sluggish U.N. talks are closing in on the goal of limiting warming to below 2 degrees Celsius.

The latest round of U.N. climate negotiations began Wednesday, with the European Union announcing it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 24 per-

cent by 2020 based on 1990 levels — more than its targeted cut of 20 percent — said EU Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard.

The “overachievement” amounts to a saving of some 5.5 billion tons of carbon overall, Hedegaard said.

On Tuesday, China followed the U.S. with its own carbon cut pledge. It said it would set an absolute cap on its carbon emissions, but did not specify an exact number. The figure will likely be announced in 2016, when China unveils its next five-year plan.

The 12-day session in Bonn under the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change is aimed at developing a post-2020 global pact on dangerous man-made carbon e m i s s i o n s .

The meeting — to be attend-

ed by several dozen ministers on Thursday and Friday — is also supposed to ramp up pledges ahead of a meeting in Paris in 2015 to establish a U.N. global climate treaty with final pledges for tackling emissions before 2020.

In March, the U.N.’s top scientific panel warned that action in the next few years may dictate whether the target of limiting warming to 2 degrees Celsius will be met. If not, scientists said, the world risks unpredictable climate disruption — meaning more droughts, flooding, other extreme weather events, conflicts, mass displacement and sea level rise.

Scientists have warned that the world will have to deliver bigger cuts when the global deal is signed in Paris next year in order to meet that target and avoid risks of abrupt climate consequences.

Positive signs for Paris as UN talks urges US to do more Bonn Climate Summit OLITICIANS at the UN cliP mate negotiations in Bonn have today sent positive signals in relation to releasing early next year their climate action contributions towards the global agreement due to be signed in Paris in 2015.

The US said heads of state should reaffirm at the UN Secretary General’s Climate Summit in September that they “commit to submit” their contributions by March 31, 2015 - a deadline which the Chinese Government confirmed in Bonn that they would meet.

Mohamed Adow, from Christian Aid, said up for

negotiation tomorrow is the kinds of information those contributions should contain based on suggestions from the co-chairs of the session.

“Countries need to realize that forming the Paris agreement was like building a house for the people of the world in which the co-chairs are the foremen, they are the builders and the contributions are the bricks,” he said.

“Like a good house the Paris agreement needs to protect us and not fall down.”

Alix Mazounie of RAC France said the contributions needed to include funds to support those in need to form their own climate action plan.

“Developing countries desperately need reassurance

that public finance will be part of the 2015 agreement or there might be no deal,” she said.

But Greenpeace’s Martin Kaiser said politicians had missed an opportunity to make new climate action commitments for the period until the Paris agreement comes into affect in 2020.

“By not picking the low hanging fruit now, governments are making their job that much harder and more expensive later,” he said.

“Governments need to reject the influence of the fossil fuel lobby and act in the interests of their people.”

Meanwhile, the United States won praise at U.N. talks on climate change last week for its

plan to cut carbon emissions, but a group of scientists said it too little to put the world on track to limit global warming.

The European Union, which often says it is doing more than the United States to lead a fight against global warming, told the June 4-15 meeting of 170 nations that it would over-achieve its targets for cutting greenhouse gases by 2020.

The United States outlined plans on Monday for the U.S. power sector to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent by 2030 from 2005 levels as part of regulations that will be the centrepiece of President Barack Obama’s climate change strategy.

Shuaibu Tukur as the Acting Director of Administration and Supplies and Mallam Alhassan Nuhu as the Acting Director of Disaster Risk Reduction.

Similarly, other staff movement include the redeployment of the South South Zonal Coordinator Mr. Emenike Umesi from Port Harcourt to the head office Abuja as the Deputy Director, Planning Research and Forecasting while the South East Zonal Coordinator Dr. Onimode Bandele moves from Enugu to the South South Zone. The new Zonal Coordinator for the South East is Mr. James Major Eze and head of the Ado Ekiti Operation Office is Mr Akiode Saheed Olakunle. The Sokoto Operation Office is headed by Mallam Sa’ad Bello.

NEMA Director General, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi said the staff redeployment is with immediate effect and aimed at repositioning the Agency for greater service delivery. He also said that the creation of the additional operations office would help in stepping down disaster management by bringing NEMA closer to the States and Local Governments as well as the other stakeholders at the grassroots.

Groups urge sustainable financing for waste management Sanitation From Lillian Chukwu, Abuja OWARDS ensuring global best practices, two nongovernmental organizations have urged the Federal government to initiate an integrated policy framework that will promote private sector intervention in sustainable financing of waste management in the country.

The groups - the Wastes Management Society of Nigeria (WAMASON) and International Solid Waste Association expressed concern that the free service policy in waste management in Nigeria has burdened the economy and frustrated private investment in the sect o r .

Speaking to journalists in Abuja ahead of the July, 2014 centenary waste summit, National President of WAMASON, Mr. Reuben Ossai stressed on “emerging international opportunities in funding waste management infrastructures.”

Ossai, an architect, noted that “the economy of the developing countries may remain highly connected to their waste management problems and as they address development, waste management infrastructure shall be on the table continually.

“However, the complexity of the nature of waste management infrastructure and services as public goods, and the inherent capital intensity tend to limit investments in both private and public,” he added.

First Vice President of WAMASON, Oladele Osibanjo identified objectives of the

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summit on ‘Financing waste management in developing economies’ to include the change in most developing economies from domestic sanitation to urban sanitation, increasing urban growth and the need for economy of scale in the waste s e c t o r .

Other aim of the meeting will be on the high poverty rate and lack of employment and transparency in public expenditure and indications of inability to meet Millennium Development Goals and their failure to meet Rio Earth Summit Declaration on Waste Management.

The summit according to Osibanjo, will emphasize on need to exploit the economic benefits and entrepreneurship opportunities or recognizing waste as a resource in the terms of high poverty rate and lack of employment.

He also said that the conference will insist on developing sustainable financing solutions in waste management within the context of inadequate funding, lack of predictable adequate funding for waste management and transparency issues in public expenditures.

The meeting will feature faculties with great exposure in economic development and waste management challenges, policy framework for sustainable financing of waste management, commercialisation of waste management services and private sector participation, emerging international opportunities in funding waste management infrastructure and case studies and best practices in waste management

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FINANCIALGUARDIAN

Ex-Deutsche Bank trader faces $17m fine RITAIN’S markets regulator B is seeking to fine former Deutsche Bank AG (DBK) trader Christian Bittar about 10 million pounds ($17 million) for trying to rig benchmark interest rates, its largest ever penalty against an individual, said a person with knowledge of the situation.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FAC) notified Bittar in recent weeks that it intends to penalize him for attempting to manipulate the euro interbank offered rate, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the notice is confidential.

The penalty would dwarf the $9.6 million imposed on Rameshkumar Goenka, a Dubai-based investor, for manipulating stocks in London, the regulator’s biggest to date.

The FCA has said it’s preparing to fine at least seven other traders it didn’t identify for their roles in trying to rig the London interbank offered rate or similar benchmarks.

At least two may be fined more than one million pounds

each, according to people with knowledge of the talks.

The proposed punishment “speaks volumes about the regulator’s focus on robust deterrence,” said Simon Hart, a lawyer at London-based RPC LLP who isn’t involved in the case. The FCA has had “a longstanding desire to target more senior individuals within regulated firms.”

Bittar is able to appeal the planned penalty to the Regulatory Decisions Committee, an internal FCA advisory panel made up of industry figures including

lawyers and accountants, and could turn to the courts if he loses in that bid.

The appeal process can take years to conclude, as seen in the case of Ian Hannam, once a top JPMorgan Chase & Co. banker. Last month, he lost a bid to overturn a 2012 fine by the regulator, though the court agreed to review the size of his 450,000-pound penalty.

Bittar, who is based in Singapore and works for hedge fund Bluecrest Capital Management LLP, declined to comment on the penalty.

Deutsche Bank “is cooperat-

ing in the various regulatory investigations” in relation to Libor, Kathryn Hanes, a spokeswoman for the bank in London, said. She declined to comment on the fine.

Chris Hamilton, an FCA spokesman, and a representative for Bluecrest in London declined to comment.

Deutsche Bank was one of six to be fined in December by the European Commission for rigging Euribor, the benchmark money-market rate for the euro, and yen Libor, which reflects how much banks charge each other for loans in

the Japanese currency.

German markets regulator Bafin said last month that it expects to conclude its report into Libor manipulation in the middle of the year.

Bittar, 42, was one of the bank’s best-paid traders before he was dismissed in December 2011 after the Frankfurt-based lender claimed he had colluded with a counterpart at Barclays Plc to manipulate rates to boost the value of his trades, people with knowledge of the matter said last year.

He lost about 40 million

euros in bonuses after he was fired, the people said.

At least nine financial firms including Deutsche Bank and Barclays have been fined more than $6 billion in the last two years for manipulating Euribor or similar benchmarks.

Libor, Euribor and other interbank offered rates gauge banks’ estimated cost of borrowing over different periods of time.

Libor is the benchmark interest rate for more than $360 trillion of securities ranging from mortgages to student loans.

IMF’s programme in Zambia sends bond yields to record low AMBIA and the Z International Monetary Fund said they will discuss a new aid programme that may lead to financial support, sending yields on the southern African nation’s benchmark dollar bonds to a record low.

An IMF team will return to Africa’s second-biggest copper producer in September for

more talks, the Washingtonbased lender’s mission chief for Zambia, Byung Kyoon Jang, told reporters in Lusaka today.

Zambia’s budget deficit swelled to 6.8 per cent of gross domestic product last year compared with a 4.3 per cent forecast as corn and fuel subsidies and civil-servant wage increases boosted spending.

The deficit has weighed on the currency, spurring inflation in a country that imports items from oil to fertilizers to the highest since November 2011. The main focus of any program will be to help Zambia rein in the shortfall, Jang said.

“The IMF is working closely with the Zambian authorities

to develop a plan that will anchor macroeconomic stability,” he said. “Steps in this direction would go a long way towards restoring confidence in the foreign-exchange market.”

Yields on dollar debt due April 2024 dropped 53 basis points to 6.92 per cent by 5:36 p.m. in Lusaka. The kwacha

traded 2.4 per cent stronger at 6.455 per dollar, paring its loss this year to 14 per cent.

Zambia has “started the process of formally engaging with the fund on a new program,” Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba said.

It’s not yet clear whether that will include funding, the IMF’s Jang said.

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BusinessInterview How to grow Nigeria’s investment profile, by Deloitte’s chief, Almond Steve Almond is the Global Chairman of Deloitte- the world renowned accounting and consultancy services organisation. He was in Lagos last week, to interface with the outfit’s clients and other stakeholders. Before he left the country, he spoke with Business Editor, ADE OGIDAN, on germane issues in consultancy and investments, among others. Excerpts.

Why are you in Nigeria this time around?

Deloitte is very interested in African market as a whole, and within that, we are very interested in Nigeria. Deloitte is a global organisation with 200,000 people operating over 100 countries over the world. Our global revenue is in the region of $35 billion.. And we need to be able to serve our clients wherever they choose to operate.

And the simple fact is many of our international companies are choosing to operate in Africa and particularly in Nigeria.

And so, we need to make sure we have the capability on the ground here in Nigeria to satisfy our international clients and indeed the growing number of major Nigerian companies that are looking to expand outside of Nigeria. We did not need Nigeria to rebase its economy to tell us that it is rapidly diversifying from being an oil dependent economy. Your rebasing of GDP told the world that there is a lot more going on in Nigeria than the oil and gas. We knew that already because we see our clients, particularly those in the financial services, technology media, telecommunications, consumer business,among others,who are very interested in Nigeria. The obvious reason for that is that Nigeria has the largest Africa population and largest economy in the continent. And the country is also a burgeoning middle class consumer society, so it is not surprising that consumer driven businesses and financial services are coming to Nigeria.

We are very proud of our heritage in Nigeria, particularly on the other side with Akintola Williams. We have a strong audit and tax business here. Out of the $35 billion revenue we generate worldwide, we do generate much business in consulting and other advisory services as we do in tax. We are very proud of our heritage here in Nigeria as audit and tax firm, we see our clients that want to growth here in Nigeria and we need to grow our range of services, so we are investing heavily in Nigeria particularly in risk advisory, corporate finance, services our clients need and expect from us along the audit and tax business we already have provide for many years.

How much are you planning to invest in Nigeria in the next four, five years?

I can’t give you a precise figure for now. We spent a lot of time talking about strategy for Nigeria. We are yet to conclude yet the pace we want to build the business. The key thing is that we want to build a stable and high quality business rather than just growing for growing stake. So, we will invest as much quickly as we can to attract the right quality of resources and train these resources to meet our expectations and those of our clients. It is going to be in multiple millions of dollars. And it will be steady investment for the next four to five years.

Almond

What’s the advisory strategy you are prescribing for Nigeria?

It will be driven by what our clients demand and the Deloitte brand is a very strong brand that is known for range of professional services. So, we will be both competency and industry driven. The oil and gas is a major sector here. But the growth area as your rebased GDP has demonstrated is in the services. So, from industry point of view, we are going to invest in building industry capabilities in industry services, consumer businesses. From competency point of view, it will be all the things we know. So, it will be in strategy, operations, technology, risk is huge area of opportunity for us, so risk advisory services of all types, and also, mergers and acquisitions and all other areas we are well known for.

What about the power sector?

We see that as an area of opportunities like others. We will have an instant driven approach to the market. We definitely see opportunities in the power sector particularly discos and it’s one of the many opportuni-

ties.

In your own assessment,which forces will really drive investment in Nigeria?

That is a big of challenge for Nigeria and many other African nations. What business community likes anywhere in the world is stability, consistency and transparency.

And you can apply that to critical situation, the rule of law, corporate governance, tax system and flow of talent. Nigeria has some challenges, if you look at the some of the well-known indices like the global competitiveness index and ease of doing business index produced by the World Bank and IMF, Nigeria is in lower end of the those indices. So, I think Nigeria needs to look at what levers it needs to push or pull to improve its competitiveness and improve the ease of doing business and to improve different talents. Nigeria has a huge asset in its population but it is an under invested asset. From my interactions with business people and clients, what the business community needs is a flow of talent to respond to the market

Education will be a strong way of closing that inequality gap by creating the jobs we need. Also corruption needs to be tackled because indications have shown that it is a huge drain on ease of doing business index and GDP

opportunities here with the right skills. Just having a lots of people is an asset but unless you equip them to meet the demands of the business community, then you can continue to have a challenge of youth unemployment.

Job creation is a huge challenge in Africa. It is particularly a challenge if you have a huge population as have in Nigeria. So, I think, investing in education shouldl be a very big priority for Nigeria to experience both for economic and social advancement. Another challenge for Nigeria and most of African countries is social inequality. Social index, which is an alternative measure to GDP, measures the advancement of the country across the whole range of environment and social measures component to GDP. Nigeria is one of the countries that does less well in the social progress index, relative to its GDP per capita. So, its less on social index compared to GDP per capita. That is common with other oil-rich countries like Russia and Saudi Arabia. All these do less well on social progress index than on GPD per capita, which suggests that the benefits of those oil and gas assets are not flowing through the masses. Rather, they are flowing to a few.

So, education will be a strong way of closing that inequality gap by creating the jobs we need. Also corruption needs to be tackled because indications have shown that it is a huge drain on ease of doing business index and GDP.

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‘Despite security challenges, Nigeria remains an investment haven’ Dr. Nimota Nihinlola Akanbi is Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands. Prior to her present position, she was Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. She is also the Dean of the African Ambassadors accredited to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and as the Dean of the African Diplomatic Group. She has been involved in facilitating the African Diaspora to organise themselves within the African Union Sixth Region Process.

Recently, she hosted a team of students and officials sponsored by Shell Petroleum Development Company-Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Joint Venture, who were in Netherlands for the 2014 Eco-Marathon. She spoke to EMEKA ANUFORO. Excerpts.

Akanbi HAT is the state of the NigeriaW Netherlands business relations?

Nigeria and The Netherlands came together over 100 years ago with Unilever. KLM was trying to struggle with them that they came before them. But Shell came in well before independence. We still have other very important Dutch companies like Heineken, the big consolidated breweries. When I was in the nursery school, I started hearing of Peak Milk. It was produced by a Dutch company. That company is still in Nigeria.

Apart from these, we have so many others, including dredging companies that came from Netherlands to Nigerian invest. Also here in Netherlands, we have Nigerians in so many organizations. Apart from Shell where

we have about 400 families, we have Nigerians in Common Fund for Commodities. Our people are also working in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) We have Nigerians representing us at the International Court of Justice and other 5 courts.

At the OPCW, the highest legal adviser there is a Nigeria. We have judges at ICC from Nigeria

and in other international organizations.

Generally, in the country, we have 28,000 Nigerians. We have some that are private people, doing their own businesses legally and living legally in The Netherlands.

Do you have issues of Nigerians living illegally in the country?

It is obvious really. When I came on board it was bad. But we thank God that it has

No other country can afford to give the time of incentives we offer.

These include five-year tax holiday, carrying your own profit or 100 per cent investment back to your own country. It doesn’t happen like that in other countries.

reduced drastically. We used to include guidance and counseling in our job during which we let them know they could go back to Nigeria if they were not making it. They can make it anywhere in Nigeria. Nigeria is a good place to be for people to make genuine living. It is a place to be and it is a country of highly responsible people. They should go home instead of wasting away here.

We help those who have genuine reasons to be here to help their stay legal. Those that are not legal, we insist that the authorities should not throw them into the plane and push them back to Nigeria just like that. That was the practice before I came on board. They should allow them to go with their luggage and even give them some stipends to settle down back in Nigeria, so that we don’t create more armed robbers and related crimes into Nigeria.

As a representative of the Nigerian government, how does the security concerns affect your efforts to market the country to investors?

We organize prayers here too. What we have been praying for is that they should release these girls legally and that God should bring peace back to Nigeria. We have been praying for the unity and peace of the country, because it is a good country and we know that we are going to be the bride of other countries of the world very soon.

Our President was here in March, and in fact, he came and changed the minds of so many people here. After his speech at the town hall meeting, everybody here agreed that he is a man to reckon with really, in spite of what we read in the dailies. Over 15 Dutch investors went to Nigeria to participate in the recently concluded World Economic Forum. So many others have been rushing here for visa to Nigeria to look for partners and sign Memorandum of Understanding, I have told them that that they cannot go to Nigeria and change the country to a dumping ground. There is a one-stop-shop at the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) where they can register their companies and get genuine partners. The goodies we have for investors in Nigeria are unlike any in the world.

No other country can afford to give the time of incentives we offer. These include five-year tax holiday, carrying your own profit or 100 per cent investment back to your own country. It doesn’t happen like that in other countries.

Borrowing from your experience in Schengen country, what would you say about recent call in some quarters for visa free regime among African countries?

When you look at Schengen countries, yes they are peaceful and everywhere is okay securitywise. That is why they are doing that. But when you look back 100 years ago, they were not like this. They have passed through the challenges we are having in Nigeria and other African countries. Now, they have come out of those and their great great grand children are now enjoying it. What is happening in Nigeria is one of the teething problems for countries that are developing. It is not easy for Africa to ask everybody to be moving round freely, just like is being done in Europe. It is very good. But we will get to that stage. It remains a bit Have you had people come here to express sympathy and find out how they can help Nigeria in the current security challenge?

The relation between Nigeria and The Netherlands is waxing stronger and stronger.

Everybody is ready and all hands are on deck to help us out.

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Monday, June 9, 2014

INSURANCE

FINANCIALGUARDIAN

Rising insurance awareness jerks up claims profile

By Joshua Nse HE rising level of insurance awareness on the benefits of insurance and their rights may be some of the reasons that are responsible for the increase in claims liability profile in the industry.

Insurance managers The Guardian that the rise in claims payment over the past few years was an indication that the insuring public are showing more understanding on the importance of insurance as hedge against risks, hence policyholders now put up claims application on the least misfortune, which in the past

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Pays N63.21 billion claims in 2012 they would have ignored.

For instance, the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) – the market umbrella for the risk underwriters – in a presentation on facts and figures on claims payment by the industry released last week, indicated that the industry in 2010, paid total claims of N43.578 billion, it went up to N70.71 billion in 2011, representing an increase of 162 per cent, it however, dropped to N63.21 billion in 2012, representing a decrease of 89.4 per cent.

According to the NIA, life

assurance portfolio took the lion share of claims payment during the period. In 2010 life assurance claims amounted to N15.956 billion, it went up to N35.355 billion in 2011, and in 2012 recorded N26.305 billion.

On the strength of this, the risk managers predicted that although the volume of business written by the market would continue to grow, however, the portfolio of life assurance claims would also record a significant increase as a result of rising insecurity of life and property in the

country which has heightened demand for life assurance policy as hedge against sudden death.

A breakdown of claims profile in 2012, indicated that life assurance claims recorded N26.31 billion, motor business took the second position with claims settlement of N12.97 billion; general accident took N9.69 billion, oil and gas portfolio claims amounted to N5.53 billion; marine and aviation N4.26 billion; miscellaneous services recorded N3.27 billion payment; fire risk took N1.0 billion claims, while workmen compensation recorded N172.83 million claims.

The volume of business written by the industry in 2012 was estimated at about N240 billion as against the 2011 financial figure of N217.7 billion, an increase of about 10.24 per cent.

The Director-General of the Association, Sunday Thomas, in a statement said in spite of this modest growth and a robust future outlook, the insurance companies have an obligation to restore our clients to good standing after a loss.

He said “The Nigerian Insurers Association encourages member companies to pay all genuine claims expeditiously and the compliance level has been tremendous.”

According to him, “the Association in recognition of possible disputes established a Customer Complaints Bureau (CCB) headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court. The Bureau is completely independent of the association.

The principal objectives of the Bureau is to ensure that all parties to insurance transactions are fairly treated while their rights are preserved.”

According to the NIA boss, “The Bureau is an alternative despite resolution mechanism which is unbiased, transparent and result-oriented. The aim is to promote sound professional ethics and best practices.”

The Managing Director/CEO, Staco Insurance Plc, Sakiru Oyefeso, in his remarks said, it is part of company’s policy to attend to prompt processing and settlement of genuine claims that are reported to the company.

He noted that in order to align our strategy with objectives of being the first choice provided of superior financial services to all stakeholders, the company is at all times seeking to add value proposition to its customers’ needs, particularly in the area of service delivery and meeting its obligations to clients.

He said, “It is part of our strategy to constantly ensure that customers are restored to their exact position they were before the occurrence of any loss after the submission of claims supporting documents and the execution of the discharge voucher”.

It is noteworthy, he said, that over the years the company has developed a strategy which has reflected in its revenue growth and profitability.

Similarly, trhe Managing Director/CEO, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Wale Onaolappo, advised Nigerians to embrace the culture of insurance, adding that insurance companies pay all genuine claims promptly.

He said “Nigerians are yet to fully tap into the benefits of inculcating an insurance culture into their everyday life.

Nigeria is blessed with so much natural and human resources, which has translated to a lot of wealth creation in the form of busineses and commercial activities that we see around us in the country today, but the question is how many of these businesses have that continuity and longevity elements that insurance provides”.

CIIN confab explores insurance contributions to national economy Regional Executive. South East, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Peter Aliogo (left), Managing Director, Premium Pension Limited, Wilson Ideva, during the retirees’ rorum organized by Premium Pension Limited in Owerri, Imo state.

Mansard settles MTN Y’ello cover ANSARD Insurance plc M has again made good its promise of prompt settlement of claims by settling the accident claim of an electrical engineer, Mr. Ameh Thaddeus Adiga who lost a finger in an industrial accident.

According to Mr. Adiga, he was on duty at a food processing company in Kano where the accident happened, ‘’after repairing a granulating machine, it started up by itself and my right hand was on the machine and it cut off my finger. My right hand finger is cut off ie, the third finger.’’

Mr. Adiga was rushed to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano where he was treated for injuries sustained. It was in the course of the treatment that he notified Mansard Insurance and later sent in details of the accident as well as the medical and police reports.

The necessary processing was done and an elated Mr.

Adiga has this to say upon receiving his claims settlement, ‘’in fact, it is such a mystery for Nigerians to have such opportunity. I am so excited and joyful having this claim a reality because as I am speaking now, I am financially uplifted and revived, thanks to MTN and Mansard insurance’’.

Adiga had subscribed to the MTN Y’ello Cover in October 2013. He had the accident in January 2014 and sent in claims substan-

tiating documents in March, he received compensation payment just 4 days afterwards.

Earlier in the year, Mrs. Ogunyemi in Lagos made a claim on the same MTN Y’ello Cover insurance plan and said she was impressed with Mansard’s quick response to the disbursement of her claim.

MTN Y’ello Cover offered in collaboration with Mansard Insurance is a simple and

convenient way everyone on the MTN network can access an affordable life protection plan directly from their mobile phones. For just N15/ day or N100/ week, subscribers can enjoy up to N350,000 life insurance cover,cover for medical expenses incurred in case of accidents and also enjoy benefits in the case of accidents resulting in permanent disability or demise.

NHIS unveils scheme in Kogi State HE National Health T Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has launched a health insurance programme for members of the Emoriko Mutual Health Association, a rural community in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi state.

A student of the community was awarded a scholarship by the Executive Secretary of NHIS, Dr. ‘Femi Thomas, dur-

ing the launch.

The lucky beneficiary, Augustine Sunday, a sixteenyear old SS 2 student of Emoriko Secondary School, was described by natives as a brilliant child of great hope.

The scholarship was flag off to the insurance scheme, as officials of NHIS led by Dr. Femi Thomas was touched by the poverty in the community.

According to him, “I grew up in similar circumstances of poverty but today with determination God have lifted him up, “This is why it was easy for me today to see and feel what the people of this community are experiencing. So I resolved in my heart that today I will also contribute my quota.

LL seem to be set for the A 2014 International Education Conference of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN).

Described as the flagship of the CIIN educational programmes, the yearly confab is the gathering of the top echelon practitioners and key operatives who hold the reins in their respective organizations.

The 2014 edition, slated for 17th to 19th June, 2014 at the External Ballroom, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos will focus on the theme: “Re-dimensioning the Insurance Industry Contributions to the National Economy”.

The CIIN President, Fatai Lawal, who spoke at a press briefing said that the conference theme could not be more apt, stating that the conference seeks to provoke the thoughts of participants who are key practitioners in the insurance sector to the buoying effects of the rebasing of the economy which would, among others, show the real contribution of the insurance sector to the nation’s GDP that currently stands at about one per cent.

This low contribution to national productivity has always been in tandem with the low insurance penetra-

tion index in the country which operators now have ample opportunities of reversing.

Chief Executive Officer, Economics Associates Nigeria, Dr. Ayo Teriba. Prof.

Sola Fajana will lead other eminent speakers at the Conference. CIIN’S DirectorGeneral, Mr. Kola Ahmed also said that the Conference will provide other opportunities by virtue of its subtheme titled: “Paradigm Shifts in Insurance Education for Greater Relevance” which will be addressed by Prof.

Sola Fajana, Vice Chancellor, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State. The papers will thereafter be discussed by a panel of eminent Speakers in a Roundtable Session which will be moderated by Sir Ogala Osoka, Chairman, Enterprise Bank Ltd. Meanwhile, the Annual General Meeting and Council Elections will hold during the same period at the same venue and climax with the Investiture of Bola Temowo as the 46th President of the Institute on Thursday 19th June, 2014, commencing at 2.00pm, signaling a busy schedule during the period for the 55 year old Professional body.

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73

INSURANCE

FINANCIALGUARDIAN

Operators seek amendment on insurance taxation laws HE Deputy Commissioner T for Insurance, National Insurance Commission, George Onekhena, has said that statutory laws guiding insurance taxation can be amended through appropriate legislative process to help the underwriting business.

He said this during the insurance and pension’s committee programme at the Business Law section of the Nigerian Bar Association yearly conference in Lagos.

“What the insurance companies should do is to submit their complaints to Federal Inland Revenue service and ministry of finance for consideration,” he said.

He observed that the Companies Income Tax 2007 placed a heavy tax burden on

insurance business with the result that insurance reserves are taxed and claims, capped Partner, Pac Solicitors, Mr. Dominic Ichaba, who was also the chairman of the committee on pension and insurance at conference, said that the avenue was provided for credible resource personalities to tackle cogent subjects of discussion at the conference.

The Managing Director, Avon Health Maintenance Organisation, Mrs. Olasimbo Ukiri, while speaking on the challenges and opportunities in the National Health Insurance Scheme, observed that there were actually some developments.

She said that there were proposed amendments to the National Health Insurance

AIO appoints Sovereign Trust into Africa’s oil, energy pool FRICAN Insurance the company’s overwhelming Organization (AIO), has capacity in this very critical A appointed Sovereign Trust sector of the country’s econoInsurance Plc into the ninemember committee to steer the affairs of the Oil & Energy Pool in Africa.

This was announced at the 51st Management Board and 27th yearly general assembly of African underwriters in Oil & Energy Insurance at the conference held in Kigali, Rwanda. With this development, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc alongside two other insurance companies in the country and some African insurance companies, namely, Misr Insurance Company from Egypt, Chanas Assurances S.A, Cameroun, Compagnie Centrale De Reassurance, Algeria, Zeb Re, Kenya, Tunis Re, Tunisia and Cica Re, Togo will administer the Oil and Energy Pool from 2014-2016.

The Managing Director/CEO, Wale Onaolapo, said that this appointment is in recognition of the company’s expertise over the years in underwriting of Oil & Gas risks which further reaffirms

my and the African continent at large. He further said that the underwriting firm will not relent in providing worldclass insurance services in the Oil and Energy sector and other allied areas to further consolidate its leadership position in that regard.

In the same vein, the General Manager and Head, Technical Division,, Olaotan Soyinka, stated that the company over the years has created an enviable niche for the company in the Oil & Energy sector and the Insurance market as a whole by continuously building capacity and expertise on a continuous basis in that sector. His words, “it is a familiar terrain to us and we are set to maximize our potentials and assert our leadership position”.

“Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc considers the Energy sector very crucial to the economic development of our dear country and will continue to exploit the market to maximise every opportunity embedded therein”, he said.

Alake tasks professionals on retreats ROFESSIONALS in all P fields of endeavours have been urged to create time regularly to retreat in order to enhance their efficiency and promote their work life balance.

The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo gave the advice at the 2014 Chief Executive Officers’ retreat of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Oba Gbadebo noted that professionals needed to always create ample time to rest and reflect, in order to effectively evaluate decisions and actions taken by them with a view to projecting more positively into the future.

Specifically addressing insurance professionals, the paramount ruler advised them to create a thinking environment for initiation of creative products that will meet the changing insurance consumers’ needs.

The Alake observed that insurance brokers were the connecting link between the insurance providers and the

customers, stressing that the anticipated success of the insurance industry depended greatly on them and that they must live up to the challenge.

The royal father commended the NCRIB for holding the retreat in Ogun State and implored members of the public to always utilize the services of insurance brokers in order to maximize their insurances.

Earlier, the President of the Council, Mr. Ayodapo Shoderu said the NCRIB Retreat was a yearly forum for interaction amongst insurance broking top notchers in order to enhance their productivity and bolster the value of insurance broking in the insurance value chain.

Shoderu disclosed that the Council has continued to extend the frontiers of its international relationship with insurance professional bodies all over the world, noting that the initiative has recently earned the Council an affiliate status of the British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA).

Scheme Act on mandatory health insurance for employers.

While explaining the presidential will to do so, she said a 12-member technical working committee was inaugurated to draft a detailed road

map towards achieving universal health coverage for Nigeria in a sustainable manner at the presidential summit on universal health coverage.

She said that a major desire for the universal health cov-

erage was to ensure that all people have needed access to healthcare services.

By this, she said that it ensures prevention of healthcare challenges while promoting good treatment without facing financial ruin

because of the need to pay for them.

While explaining further, she said that health insurance ensures the pool of funds and that critical mass of contribution in the pool is needed for its success.

Law Union partners IFM on accident cover for children Union & Rock LshipAW Insurance Plc in partnerwith Inspiration FM said they are creating a bonding session for children to avail them with accident insurance covers.

In a statement on Friday, the firm said that it interacted with the children during an event organised to celebrate children’ day in Lagos recently.

According to the firm, it will use the opportunity to create more brand awareness for insurance and sell its personal accident for children between the age of two and 25 years.

Law Union said that it has innovative products for diverse people in the society including children.

To motive the children, the firm also gave out gifts for

outright purchases of insurance. “TPA is a personal accident insurance with a premium of N500 per annum and covers medical expenses up to N25,000 and bodily injury up to N250,000,” it stated.

Law Union said that the product is affordable and different from HMOs where you are limited based on your HMO medical plan.

Law Union provides profes-

sional services in all classes of insurance business namely: general insurance and risk management solutions.

The company has in place corporate governance structure that to achieve sustainable shareholder value enhancement, and also deliver efficient and effective services to customers and other stakeholders generally.

Director-General, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Kola Ahmed (left); past PILA President, Mrs Seyi ifaturoti; PILA President, Mrs Yetunde Adenuga-Alatise, past president, Mrs Shade Onanuga, Vice President, Mrs Joycelyn Ogbokiri. Education Secretary, Mrs Norwem Emeghalu, at a press conference seeking the release of Chibok school girls

Canadian Q3 reports curtailing costs to boost profitability HE recently published involved, and from Canada’s rightly well-regarded, there already at a fairly high level T results of the leading play- generous social security sys- are constraints on the players by international standards.

Further, and in contrast to ers, in both of the main seg- tem, growth in premiums is in Canada’s world class insurments, highlight the key trends that are likely to continue through the forecast period. In Canada’s non-life segment, the largest companies are extremely disciplined in terms of the risks that they underwrite and enjoy pricing power in most lines. In challenging market places, such as the auto insurance sub-sector in Ontario, they are curtailing costs in order to boost profitability.

However, it is not obvious that there is a catalyst for a rise in non-life penetration (premiums per capita).

For most of the non-life companies, growth in premiums will be pedestrian most of the time: the process of consolidation will continue. In the life segment, the leading companies are growing income and profits from organised savings, if not actually from the provision of traditional insurance products.

They are also looking at the very substantial opportunities in the United States, (South) East Asia and elsewhere in the world. Thanks in part to competition from wealth management products (e.g. mutual funds) which the leading insurers are themselves heavily

also likely to be slow. In both segments, the leading players benefit from economies of scale and have access to the capital that they need.

For all the advantages, and a regulatory regime that is

ance sector.

Notwithstanding that we expect that prices and rates in the non-life segment will remain firm, we do not see a catalyst for growth in nonlife penetration, which is

the United States, there is no obvious reason why the insurers should benefit from the general growth in healthcare spending through the forecast period.

Japan’s Dai-ichi Life agrees to buy Protective Life for $5.7 billion (Reuters) - Japan’s Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co has agreed to buy U.S. peer Protective Life for $5.7 billion, the largest acquisition by a Japanese insurer, displaying its determination to grow overseas to counter weak prospects at home.

Dai-ichi Life, Japan’s secondlargest private-sector life insurer, said it will issue up to 250 billion yen ($2.4 billion) in new shares to help finance the widely expected purchase of Protective Life.

The Japanese insurer will retain existing management at the Birmingham, Alabama-based target, which booked premiums and policy fees of $2.98 billion and net income of $393 million in 2013.

Faced with weak growth prospects at home amid Japan’s ageing population, Dai-ichi Life and other Japanese insurers have been

buying assets in more dynamic markets from the United States to Southeast Asia. While the U.S. insurance market is the world’s biggest, demand for insurance policies in Southeast Asia is expected to rise among the region’s emerging middle class.

Under terms of the deal, Daiichi Life will pay $70 per share to buy 100 percent of Protective Life, a 35 percent premium to Protective’s average share price in the past month. The Japanese company said it expects the deal to close sometime between December 2014 and January 2015, pending approval by the target’s shareholders and regulators.

Ranked 36th among U.S. insurers by premium income, Protective Life will provide Dai-ichi Life with a growth platform in North America, the Japanese com-

pany said in a statement.

Dai-ichi Life has a precedent for deals in overseas markets boosting its performance. It bought out Tower Australia Group Ltd for $1.2 billion in 2010, and thanks to strong growth at the Australian unit, Dai-ichi Life was the only major life insurer to book an increase in premium revenues for the year ended in March 2014.

In a deal more typical of the investments made by Japanese insurers in Southeast Asia, last month Japan’s largest private-sector life insurer, Nippon Life Insurance Co [NPNLI.UL], agreed to buy 20 percent of Indonesia’s Sequis Life for 4.87 trillion rupiah ($413 million).

Dai-ichi Life said it will issue new shares to raise up to 250 billion yen to help finance the acquisition, but has enough funds on hand to cover the rest. sw

74 Monday, June 9, 2014

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Monday, June 9, 2014 75

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OIL&GAS WEEKLY

FINANCIALGUARDIAN

Remi Aiyela, Editor-in-Chief

editor@NOGintelligence.com www.NOGintelligence.com

UPSTREAM NEWS

31st December 2013 will be presented at the AGM. Highlights of the accounts show that the company’s revenue rose 41 per cent from N96,973 million in 2012 to N136,611 million in 2013. Profit before tax rose 56 per cent from N45,906 million in 2012 to N71,008 million in 2013.

Items on the ordinary business agenda for the AGM include the re-appoint auditors, authorization of directors to fix remuneration of the auditors, re-election of directors of the company eligible for retirement by rotation. Matters to be discussed as part of the special business agenda includes authorization of the board to fix the remuneration of directors. The company is also planning to confirm interim dividend paid for 2013 as the full and final dividend to that year.

The register of members will close on Monday 23rd June 2014 so anyone wishing to attend the AGM has only three weeks to purchase their shares and get on the Members’ Register. The 2013 Annual Report and Accounts as well as proxy forms can be found on the company website, www.seplatpetroleum.com.

Obijackson Group Awaits Delivery of Floating Dry Dock HE Obijackson Group, parent company T of successful services company Nestoil, has announced that it is awaiting the deliv-

Caverton Logistics Contract With Total Extended ECENTLYlisted Caverton Offshore Group has won a 2-year extension of its 3-year R support services contract with Total Exploration and Production. The company, which listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in May as the first oil services company to do so, said the contract which it won in 2011 is for the operation of 4 helicopters in Total’s offshore fields.

News of the contract extension, which comes just a week after the company’s listing, demonstrates the positive effects of listing, which tends to boost confidence in a Olabode capabilities. company’s Makanjuola, Caverton’s Chief Executive Officer, said “We are pleased to continue rendering offshore and onshore oil field logistics to TOTAL. This contract extension demonstrates Caverton’s service reliability and our commitment to provide safe and efficient services to our clientele. We are confident that this will positively impact our revenue over the next few years”.

Even as the news of the contract extension broke, Caverton’s planned expansion, following its market listing, had already begun. The company announced that it is to take delivery of a brand new AW139 helicopter, the 7th in its fleet of Agusta Westland helicopters, which will be detailed to a Shell contract won in 2010 when it commences operations before the end of the year. With this addition to its fleet, Caverton will have the largest fleet in sub-Saharan Africa.

The good news keeps coming for Caverton.

The company’s full year 2013 results reveal that revenue increased by 16% to N18.7 billion from N16.1 billion in the previous year.

EarningsA went up by 32% to N5.9 billion from N4.5 billion in Dec 2012 while the company’s net income rose by 40% to N1.9 billion from N1.4billion the previous year.

A leading provider of marine, aviation and logistics services company, Caverton listed on the NSE on the 20th of May with a market capitalisation of just under $32 billion (about N196 million) after an initial offering 3.35 billion shares of 50 kobo each.

Seplat AGM Postponed announced the postponement of its Annual General Meeting (AGM), the SfirstEPLAThas after its listing simultaneous listing on the London and Nigerian stock exchanges.

The AGM, which had been scheduled to take place on the 22nd of May, will now hold on the 30th of June at 11am. The venue is the Civic Centre in Lagos. The AGM was postponed to enable the company comply with London Stock Exchange rules for the notice period to be given to shareholders.

The company’s accounts for the year ended

ery of a floating dry dock facility. The indigenous company says it decided to order the facility, which will be the first in Nigeria, to stem capital flight due to the necessity to take vessels out of Nigeria whenever a dry dock is needed. Most Nigerian-waters operated vessels requiring dry docking will usually go to Angola, Ghana and Abidjan.

A dry dock is a floating structure that can be partially submerged to enable vessels to be raised for repair particularly when access to the areas of the vessels below the water line is required. Floating dry docks will usually have a platform or ramp supported by pontoons, and cranes and other equipment for raising and repairing vessels. Hull repair is a very important part of the services of a dry dock facility.

Group Managing Director, Dr. Ernest Azudialu, said: “We want to bring such a facility here where all kinds and classes of vessels can be handled here in Nigeria. You know the water in Nigeria is salty and so every two years you raise the vessel to clean her bottom and try to coat it with epoxy and all that.”

The dry dock is expected to be in operation in Nigeria by the end of 2013.

Afren’s Q1 Output Lower than Target Stock Exchange listed Afren Plc LQ1ONDON has provided an operational update for of 2014. Although the company says that its Q1 production output of 35,465 barrels per day (bpd) was inline with expectations, it is nevertheless well below its target of achieving 40,000 bpd this year.

The company said in the statement that installation of the Central Fault Block (CFB) extension platform has started on Ebok and is expected to be completed by the end of Q2 2014, with development drilling planned for Q3 2014 targeting additional reservoirs in the CFB. Batch drilling has started on the North Fault Block (NFB) from the West Fault Block (WFB) platform with production to the existing MOPU. The Okoro field continued to perform well with gross production at the field averaging 15,648 bopd in the period, incorporating planned downtime. The Field Development Plans (FDP) for the Okoro Further Field Development and Okwok were have been approved by the regulatory agencies. The Okwok wellhead jacket has been fabricated and is currently in transit to the Okwok field area, with platform installation to be completed in Q2 2014 prior to development drilling planned for Q3 2014. On OML 26 we expect the rig to arrive in June with a view to drilling three wells in 2H 2014 (two producers and one water injector).

Following the play-opening Ogo discovery, offshore Lagos, Afren completed the fast track 2,716 km2 marine 3D seismic programme across OPL 310 and OML 113 to

establish the full extent of the syn-rift play and further dip-closed structures to the north and east of the Ogo discovery.

Processing of the data is expected to commence shortly.

At Ebok, preparations are ongoing for a step-out exploration well, Ebok Deep, planned for Q4 2014. In Côte d'Ivoire, having negotiated additional acreage in two new blocks in 2013, CI-523 and CI-525, Afren is planning an extensive 3D seismic programme in 2014.

The financial picture for the period was a mixed bag. The company’s revenue from continuing operations fell to $269 million from $386 million a year earlier. Profit however, rose to $73 million compared with $28 million in the same period last year. A finalisation of the tax situation on Ebok boosted the company’s profit after it won a 5-year tax exemption.

The company nevertheless expects to gross oil production to rise to 62,000bpd in 2014 with the additional output from the three fields and from onshore Oil Mining Lease (OML) 26, which Afren and its joint-venture partners bought from Shell in 2012. A drilling rig will arrive at OML 26 in June to drill three wells in the second half of this year.

Commenting, Osman Shahenshah, Chief Executive of Afren plc, said: “Afren continues to deliver operationally on all fronts with revenues in Q1 2014 of US$269 million and operating cash flow of US$169 million. We are moving forward with the play opening Ogo discovery and elsewhere development drilling is on track. Our focus remains on allocating our capital to the highest return projects, which we expect to provide significant production and cash flow growth, while we continue to de-risk our unprecedented exploration opportunity set.”

In another development, the company said it was now an Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (“EITI”) supporting company. The EITI is a global coalition of governments, companies and civil society working together to improve openness and accountable management of revenues from natural resources. It provides a robust methodology for monitoring and reconciling company payments and government revenues at the country level.

NEITI is the Nigerian agency that executes the initiatives of EITI in Nigeria.

Afren said it decided to become a supporting company as it operates in a number of countries around the world that appear in in the lower half of Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index.

DOWNSTREAM NEWS

OPEC Daily Basket Price Stood at $106.45 a Barrel Thursday, 29 May 2014 HEprice of OPEC basket of twelve crudes T is maintaining its high as it stood at $106.45 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $106.35 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. It reached $107.00 on 22 May. Meanwhile OPEC's oil output rose to a three-month high in May according to a Reuters, following increased supplies from Angola and Iraq and in spite of the unrest in Libya. OPEC output averaged 30.02 million barrels per day (bpd), up from 29.68

in association with

million bpd in April the survey revealed.

Nigerian output remained unchanged in spite of the lifting of the force majeure on Forcados grade.

OPEC oil ministers meeting on 11 June will have to decide whether to leave output at 30 million per day or increase supply following the International Energy Agency forecast of growing world demand for oil.

The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

REGULATORY

Preliminary Reports of Senate Investigation Find “Missing” $49.8 Billion Accounted For LEAKED preliminary report of the A Senate investigation into the allegations by former Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had failed to remit $49.8 billion to the Federation Account over a 19-month period has found that the missing funds have been accounted for. Also alleged by Sanusi to be missing was an amount of $20 billion or more.

The preliminary report of the Senate Committee of Finance found that the Central Bank of Nigeria, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NNPC had reconciled the accounts and that the funds alleged to be missing were accounted for.

Two former governors, Ahmed Makarfi (former governor of Kaduna State) and Bukola Saraki (former governor of Kwara State) are distancing themselves from the reports of the findings after saying that saying that this may not be the final report.

Saraki is adamant that the report did not clear NNPC as has been widely reported in the media. He urged the public to await the release of the official report.

For Makarfi, the emphasis should be to find out where the allegedly missing sums are.

The question of whether $20 billion is missing or not, he said, is not the issue. Even if found not to be missing the question is whether it is in the proper account that it should be in. However, he declined to comment further, in view of the ongoing forensic audit of the NNPC’s accounts.

The preliminary report of the committee has instructed that some sums of money in NNPC accounts, which are the subject of disputes with other parties, should be remitted to the Revenue Account. Among these sums are N6.8 billion for liftings by NNPC on behalf of its exploration and production arm, the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), $26.2 million worth of expenses which NNPC says it incurred for strategic reserves and pipelines maintenance, $4.43 billion in subsidy for kerosene imports.

In its report the committee was critical of the various government agencies for not keeping proper records and lack of a coordinated approach towards record keeping and reconciliation of accounts.

76

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Monday, June 9, 2014

REALESTATE WATCH

PROPERTY GUIDE

In association with

THE INSTITUTE FOR REAL ESTATE EXCELLENCE (IREE)

The benefits of having water front real estate development remain a profitable investments due to its relative scarcity which makes it more sought after, and as a result, more valuable than property that’s not by water.

Finding or developing quality riverfront, stream or lakefront property poses a daunting challenge due to a litany of unforeseen man-made and natural factors to maintain the quality of the property. Even more challenging is the task of projecting the future of a body of water The IREE was inaugurated in 2012: with the ever changing climate situations.

Vision: To raise the standards in the A wise investor needs the best informaNigerian real estate industry through profes- tion to predict costs and values of propersional training and coaching to meet inter- ty well into the future. national standards.

Some of the features that increase the desirability of waterfront properties are as Cutting Edge Real Estate below;

THE IREE

News. Trends . Advice

he Intelligent Real Estate Series is a bi-weekly column aimed at educating readers on matters relating to the real estate industry. We will be discussing the various factors that affect the industry, current trends and future projections in practicing real estate in the 21st century as the industry is continuously evolving and business is no longer business as usual.

Enjoy!!!

T

ATERFRONT properties are properW ties directly in front, on the edge, or surrounded by a body of water, or water source. They are a novelty and include beach houses, condominiums, which can be used as a vacation or second home.

There is nothing that can compare to the peace, tranquillity and sense of well-being that accompanies ownership of a piece of waterfront property. For many people, buying waterfront property is the ultimate real estate experience as it is much about a lifestyle as it is a real estate investment. With the development of the Eko Atlantic and a couple of premium waterfront properties in Lagos, the desire to own a waterfront property is clearly on the increase. Waterfront property offers perhaps more potential than any type of real estate for emotional satisfaction and a uniquely soothing experience.

There are a myriad of motives why investors buy waterfront properties, but the main one is that they expect it to increase in value. Although there are market fluctuations, waterfront properties

• Great weather and amazing views: Waterfront locations are famous for having a superb climate and great scenery all year round. Coastal breezes will prevent the area from becoming too hot during the day providing a pleasant relief.

• Fun and Relaxing Activities: Most waterfront locations offer countless recreational activities. If you love fun and relaxing activities on the water, living by a waterfront affords you the opportunity to participate in water-based activities. All these entertaining opportunities make your property even more appealing from a rental or purchase standpoint.

• Economic benefits: Water front properties can be used as permanent homes, vacation homes or even short-let homes.

This proves to be economic as rental income can easily be made at any point in time when the house is not in use by the owners.

• Alternative access: The availability of alternative access routes asides from road

Intelligent Real Estate

waterfront properties. A professional real estate consultant that is well versed in waterfront development will be able to handle all matters arising in the transaction ensuring that you get the right property.

2. Security and privacy are essential factors to note when getting a waterfront property. Careful consideration should be taken to ensure that the property is fully secured with adequate security measures in place.

3. Consider the structure of the property and not just the views that it provides.

Make sure the structure can withstand the weather. Waterfront homes receive more abuse from the elements than the average home, so extra measures should be taken to protect them. Ensure the availability of a capable facility/technical manager with the obligation and ability to maintain the waterfront property to make certain that the property and surrounding environment are in top-notch condition.

4. Talk to neighbors. Get insider information from neighbors by asking if they enjoy living in the community, if they have any issues with the property you’re thinking about purchasing, or if there are any waterfront-related problems.

• Premium Price: Having a waterfront 5. If you are interested in getting a mortdevelopment comes with a premium price. gage or insurance, it will be advisable to Most waterfront homes are valued higher start early in the transaction process. than average homes located on hinterlands. transportation makes having a waterfront house desirable especially when trying to avoid congested road traffic.

• Design: Purchasing a luxury waterfront development is usually a status symbol hence the designs are tastefully built and suited to the owner’s lifestyle preference with the use of high quality, water-resistant materials.

TOP TIPS WHEN BUYING A WATERFRONT PROPERTY

REAL ESTATE QUOTES

Look at market fluctuations as your friend rather than your enemy; profit from folly rather than participate in it."

1. Purchasing and owning waterfront is meant to improve one’s quality of life, and usually it does. However, there will always be the unfortunate few that end up purchasing unexpected dispute. Without question, the best means of avoiding unexpected difficulties is to associate with profes- Please send your questions or comments to sionals with experience and interest in iree@fineandcountryng.com

- Warren Buffett

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FINANCIALGUARDIAN

Monday, June 9, 2014

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Monday, June 9, 2014

Media How military intelligence checks create tension in the media • Nigerians condemn it

Issue

By Gbenga Salau outrage that has attended the miliFtheOLLOWING tary’s purported harassment of the media over weekend, The Guardian visited Muritala Muhammed Airport, where vendors had various accounts of what happened when military men came calling. What was, however, common was that some military officers visited their place of business determined to intercept the distribution of newspapers.

It was reliably informed that the military officers came visiting on Friday morning at about 8am when papers were already displayed. According to him, the officers scanned through newspapers without harassing any vendor only to return the next day, Saturday very early in the morning at around 5am. It was gathered that the military officers did not allow the distribution of Leadership and The Nation newspapers until about 9am although it allowed the distribution of others newspapers. According to our source, while the copies of these two national newspapers were withheld, the head of the team was constantly on the phone apparently consulting with his superiors.

Meanwhile, the military has advanced security reasons for its action. According to the spokesman for the military, Major General Chris Olukolade, said intelligence indicated that materials with grave security implications were being moved across the country through newsprint related consignments. He further said that the military would not deliberately infringe on the freedom of the press without cause. Eh also indicated that the exercise had nothing to do with the content or operation of the media organisations. He went on to say that the military appreciated and respected the role of the media as an indispensable partner in the on-going counter-insurgency operation.

But some questions remain unresolved from the operation. For instance, when the military gets intelligence that has security implication, its duty is to act using covert tactics as against the open manner this operation was carried out. Resorting to crude format like this one negates exercise of its power in a democracy, as it is reminiscent of the days of military rule.

During the military era, agents of government often mopped up newspapers in various circulating centres to ensure that a publication it does not want on the newsstands was prevented from reaching the public. But with the emergence of civil rule, and not minding security threats posed

by Boko Haram, it would have been expected that the military would become more tactical in its operations, especially in engaging with the media.

It ought to know that any attempt to forcefully prevent the media from disseminating information would be seen in bad light and an attempt to cage the media, a fight it cannot win in a democracy.

In reacting, media groups yesterday condemned in strong terms the renewed attempt to cage the

Jonathan

Badeh, Chief of Defence Staff

media, maintaining that the action was an unacceptable one. While the International Press Centre (IPC) stated that the sudden and forceful stoppage of the circulation of some national newspapers across the country was unprecedented in terms of scope and implication, especially since the advent of the current civil dispensation, Media Right Agenda (MRA) said that it was shocking that rather than address the real and pressing security challenges facing the country, which has resulted in most citizens living in perpetual fear, the Federal Government had chosen to chase shadows by unleashing its military and security agencies on the media.

In a statement, Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, stated that the excuse offered by the military authority could not negate the fact that the massive operation constitutes a violation of the right of free expression and press freedom; a violation of the right of media workers and a violation of the right of the public know.

This is because, according to him, the concerned newspapers were intimidated; the vendors and circulation drivers molested and the citizens who would have read the newspapers denied the opportunity.

“Against the above background, the International Press Centre (IPC) condemned the incident of last Friday as there was no justification for it. Such should not be allowed to happen again”, he stated.

Executive Director, MRA, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, argued

that it was not at all persuaded by the Federal Government’s excuse that the action of its security forces in obstructing the operations of media workers all over the country and harassing them for no legitimate reason was a routine security exercise. He said, “There can be nothing routine in such widespread and systematic violation of the rights of media workers and the flagrant breach of Nigeria’s international obligation to respect and uphold the rights of its citizens, including the media”.

According to him, “It is ironic that the Federal Government, which is already facing severe and virtually unanimous public criticism for its incompetent response to the dire security situation in the country, has chosen to further alienate the media and the general population by using the excuse of fighting terrorism to harass innocent citizens and violate their rights under the Constitution and under international Law”.

He advised the Federal Government to be mindful of the fact that no amount of media harassment and repression can make Nigerian blind to the fact that their government has been completely unable to protect them.

He also noted, “It was quite sad that the Jonathan administration has learnt nothing from the history of the media in Nigeria, particularly the lesson that the Nigerian press cannot be suppressed as the most repressive military governments that ever ruled this country failed woefully and totally

in their efforts to suppress the media”.

MRA urged the Federal Government to call its security forces and law enforcement agencies to order, warning that their actions would only reinforce already widely held view by both the international community and Nigerian citizens that this is a lawless government, which acts with impunity and muzzles the media.

Also, Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola, said that his organization was miffed by this exhibition of crass impunity, arguing that the action was a threat to democracy.

“The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) sees dark and dangerous days ahead as we approach the 2015 general elections. The press is the voice of the voiceless and the numero uno in the defence line of the citizenry. This latest attack is an attempt to stop the press from playing that role. It is a blatant rape on democracy”.

He further stated that by attacking media outfits, seizing and destroying copies of newspapers, the military has employed brute force to infringe on the freedom of the press.

He noted, “The soldiers have also manifested gross disrespect for the rule of law. The attack also exposes the hollowness of assurances about the military’s respect for democracy and its readiness to bow to civilian authority. This operation has shown that the military institution is still neckdeep in disgust for civilized behaviour and denial of civil liberties”.

Pay TV rewards customers for loyalty ANy customers of StarTimes M recently smiled home with gifts at the end of the first batch of the on-going ExtraTime promo draw, which was recently held in Lagos meant to reward and add value to its customers for being loyal. While the star winner for the day, Mr. David Abayomi, from Lokoja, went home with a brand new Toyota yaris car, 50 other customers got compensated with new LED digital televisions.

Abayomi was lucky that the initial person picked as the winner of the star prize, one Mr. Rusam Janam from yola, was too impatient to reply the call when he was informed on phone that he was the star prizewinner for the month of May in the ExtraTime promo. Janam also compounded his case when he further said that he does not use StarTimes pay TV platform. This compelled the organization to go for another round of lucky dip that eventually produced Abayomi.

The promo will end in August and more customers are expected

to smile home with cars, LED digital televisions and Viju milk at the end of every month.

Public Relations Manager of NTAStar Network, Irete Anetor, said purchasing StarTimes recharge card would automatically qualify subscribers for the monthly draws. He said, “We would give an extra viewing day on our soccer card and the Extra Time promo card, sell our soccer card, specially designed to cheer the Super Eagles for the FIFA World Cup season and give out instant prizes through our Extra Time promo card. Customers can scratch and win instant prizes on its purchase. Customers would automatically qualify for the Extra Time monthly promo draws on the purchase of our recharge cards – be it the usual cards, the soccer card or the Extra Time promo cards”.

According to Anetor, prizes would also be given out in the Predict & Win on Facebook Fan Page, which is aimed garnering support for Super Eagles, with an official soccer with the theme StarTimes recharge card – the Soccer Card.”

To qualify for the promo, new subscribers need to purchase StarTimes decoder, which comes with a month’s free subscription while existing subscribers have to recharge with a StarTimes Soccer

Card or the usual StarTimes’ recharge card during the promo period.

There are also instant gifts like the 32-inch LED Digital TV sets or units of Viju Milk to be won. Instant

prizes are to be redeemed at designated StarTimes’ prize redemption centres. The monthly draws, he stated, would hold every last Friday of the month at StarTimes’ Lagos head office.

Iconic brands partner to deepen market share As parts of efforts aimed at adding better value to its numerous customers and prospective ones and thereby deepening its market share, Airtel Nigeria last week entered into agreement with Apple to officially unveil the iPhone 5s in Nigeria. This makes it the first telecommunications services providaer in Nigeria to officially seal a partnership with Apple.

Speaking at the launch in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of Airtel, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, noted that with the collaboration between the two companies, history was not just being made, but history was also being told besides being a demonstration of Apple’s trust in Airtel and Nigeria.

“We have an history of bringing brands and products to Nigeria. Today, we bring the real iPhone brand to Nigeria, the official iPhone 5s and 5c series. We are revolutionlising the brand technology with the largest 3.5G network,” he said.

Ogunsanya, who was represented by his Director, Products and Innovations, Nitin Anand, said his com-

pany believes that the future of mobile telephony is mobile Internet and so repositioning to revolutionize the landscape with innovative value offerings and strategic partnerships.

“Our partnership with Apple is a glowing testimony to our desire to lead with Internet. Our enviable track record also provides us a leverage to empower more Nigerians to enjoy super-fast Internet services on their devices and mobile phones on the Airtel network,” he said.

With the partnership, telecoms consumers across the country can purchase the iPhones in Airtel showrooms nationwide or outlets of its channel/retail partners.

Also at the event, the Airtel/iPhone experience centre was unveiled.

Commenting on the partnership, CEO of SLOT, Mr. Namdi Ezogboh, observed that the collaboration would promote better value for Nigeria market, as customers can now buy iPhones in Nigeria and still enjoy one-year warranty.

Monday, June 9, 2014 MEDIA 79

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Agencies, APCON partner INEC on voter education, others

By Gbenga Salau S the 2015 general election gradA ually draws near,and in order to get the best from the process, the various stakeholders must play its role well. In this regard, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has partnered with the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) and the Advertising Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria (APCON) to hold an international seminar on political advertising, perception building, and voter education as part of the buildup to the 2015 nationwide elections.

Aimed at setting the standards for the coming electioneering period in terms of advertising as well as equipping voters with the needed information, the seminar is slated for Friday, July 11, 2014, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja. It’s expected to have in attendance key stakeholders in the electoral process, all registered political parties, regulatory agencies, marketing communication industry players, security agencies, the judiciary, CSOs/NGOs concerned with election monitoring as well as the media.

The seminar, which will be chaired

by INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, will feature a keynote address to set the tone, which will then be followed by brief commentaries by all registered political parties present. This will dovetail into a panel discussion on the keynote address as well as the issues raised by the political parties.

The keynote speaker for the seminar is Mr. Craig Smith, a former Campaign Adviser to President Bill

Jega, INEC Chairman

Bunmi Oke, AAAN President

Clinton’s 1992 election, later appointed White House Political Director, who played a prominent role in Clinton’s 1996 re-election.

Currently, he is busy with ‘I’m Ready for Hillary’, a pro-Senator Hillary Clinton-for-President grassroots mobilization group. He sure has stories to tell on running a successful election campaign.

The panel of discussants is being drawn from government regulators in election and communication as well as bodies involved in election-

eering process in Nigeria. They are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) and Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) as well as a representative of civil society groups.

Speaking on the upcoming event, President, AAAN, Mrs. Bunmi Oke said, “Political parties are the primary participants of this discourse focus-

NTA backs National Unity Awards and Pageant HE Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) has given its corporate backing to the hosting of the maiden edition of National Unity Awards and Pageant in Abuja in September. The foremost television network regarded as Africa’s largest, is collaborating with Nigerian Unity Museum and Trade -Tourism Village (NUMATVILLE), initiators of the project, towards the actualization of the lofty programmes aimed at fostering peace and unity in the country.

The management of the station conveyed the decision to partner with initiators of the project in a letter signed by Assistant Director, Marketing for the Lagos Network Centre on behalf of the Executive Director, Marketing, Mrs. Betsy Iheabunike.

The letter stated, “The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), which shares the same objectives of promoting Africa’s cultural heritage and values, as well as uniting the various ethnic groups, expresses interest and support to partner with your organisation in realising this project”. The letter said it was also expressing the readiness of the organisation to commit its human capital, facilities and airtime to the realization of the objective of the NAMTAVILLE Project, which is fostering

T

national cohesion.

According to the initiator of the NUMATVILLE Project and Chairman of Zion Services Limited, Dr. Akin Olowookere, “We are happy to partner with NTA on this project and hope to build virile relationships that will make our country a safe haven for all Nigerians as well as promote business growth. We strongly believe this will help to strengthen the cord that connects us as Nigerians and help us to recognize the benefits and beauty inherent in our diversities”.

Olowookere described the core objective of the awards and pageant as the promotion of the nation’s cultural heritage, values and ethics so as to build a stronger connection across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.

According to him, the award will recognize and celebrate heroes who have contributed to the development of the country in a variety of categories, also promoting their ideals to the world while the pageant is a traditional unification event aimed at building a new regime of moral brand ambassadors, for public enlightenment and the promotion of national ideals. The pageant will run through the six geo-political zones and culminate in a grand finale scheduled for September in Abuja.

ing on electioneering process towards 2015. For us at the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, we are desirous of promoting voter education and political advertising and this informed our involvement in putting together this international seminar.

“In the face of present realities, it is our firm belief that that all hands must be on deck to help our nation achieve an enviable election that Nigerians will be proud of. To this end, it is our responsibility to edu-

cate the citizenry as well as redefine parameters for electioneering advertising. The only way to attain this level of professionalism and memorable campaign concept is to involve registered AAAN practitioners/members in the planning, development and execution of advertising for election”.

While inviting political parties and other delegates to the seminar, Registrar/CEO, APCON, Alhaji Bello Kakanrofi said, “Ours is an effort at voters’ education and a knowledgebased electioneering that ought to translate to informed voting which will benefit the political parties greatly in their quest to deliver the right messages about their manifestoes to the electorates. Therefore, as a regulator we advocate decent advertising which can be guaranteed by vetting of all political campaign materials by APCON. Hopefully, we look forward to a situation where the political parties will commit to this pledge at the end of the seminar,” he concluded.

It is a possibility that the apathy displayed by many Nigerians in past elections was due to inadequate information and education about electioneering in Nigeria, which has undermined the political participation of a vast majority of people in the past. Although, there is a clamour for more political participation among the people in governance, it cannot happen in a vacuum, as most people need to be well informed about the political processes before taking action. It is undeniably a step in the right direction even as Nigerians seek to elect credible leaders into offices and forge a new path to greatness.

Driving brand positioning O position its brand as the preferred for T new babies and their mothers, Unilever has revived its once rested Pears Baby of the Year contest, with Miss Somekene Chukwuka-Eze, emerging the winner of the 2014 Pears Baby of the year.

She and her mother smiled home with a million naira and the crown of Pears Baby of the year at the final held in Lagos. The contest which started in December 2013 and ended last week had Miss ChukwukaEze as the winner of the competition with Master David Kelechukwu Ezeocha as the first runner up and Miss Alice Esosa Aghedo as the second runner up.

While the winner went away with a million naira cash prize, the first runner up got five hundred thousand naira cash prize, while the second runner up was rewarded with two hundred and fifty thousand naira cash prize. All the three babies will also get pears baby range of products.

The competition was carried out via the Pears Nigeria Facebook page, mobile site and postal entries, which had over one thousand entries. The entries were pruned down to the fifteen that compet-

ed in the grand finale held at the Unilever head office in Lagos.

The final fifteen were judged based on the following criteria; soft and smooth skin, spotless skin, winning smile, attractive outfit and an outstanding innate personality.

Speaking at the grand finale ceremony, the Brand Building Director, Home and Personal Care, Unilever Nigeria, Mr David Okeme, revealed that Pears was launched over forty years ago and was formulated to soothe the baby’s skin. He further stated that he was excited at the positive disposition of consumers especially mothers towards the brand.

Commenting on the essence of the contest, Category Manager, Skin Care, Unilever Nigeria, James Inglesby, stated that the Pears brand has a great heritage in Nigeria, and the essence was to rejuvenate the brand in the minds of new mothers.

The mothers of the top three winners commended Unilever Nigeria for giving their children such great opportunity at a tender age.

Using promo to boost brand visibility HE first winner of Hyundai T i10 Car in the on-going Konga-Infinix promo designed to appreciate and reward customers for their loyalty, Miss Uzoamaka Anyanwu has been presented with her car.

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, who commended Konga and Infinix for keeping to their promise and always providing efficient services, presented the car to Anyanwu on behalf of the company and in the presence of members of management of the firm.

She was picked from a pool of customers who bought an Infinix 8s tablet online using the Konga platform. Anyanwu, who was highly elated, said she initially doubted, which was further re-enforced when she told her roommate about the news. According to her, her roommate screamed, ‘scammers, run!’

She said when a staff of Konga called her the next day, she informed her father who visited Konga’s office to verify the information and confirmed it was not fake. She said it was the first and only time she had shopped on the Konga platform.

CEO of Konga.com, Sim Shagaya, said they were excited about the promo, as they were happy as a great company giving out a great car trying to do things as best as they could. According to him, apart appreciating their customers, “It is to say thank you for what Nigeria has done for the organization. It is truly an honour to be in a position to bring such great value to our customers.

This promo is one of the many rewards we have in store for Nigerians who choose to shop online and we are happy to present this brand new car to

Uzoamaka. We hope to have another edition of the promo and I will like to thank Infinix for coming together to make this happen”.

Shagaya disclosed that two more cars would be given out, adding that the next car would be given when the company hit the mark of the sale of the next five hundred Infinix Joypad 8s.

Also speaking on behalf of Infinix, Head, Online Market, Infinix Mobility, Adebayo Shobanjo, said his organisation partnered with Konga for the promo because it believes in Nigeria aside wanting to create awareness for its product.

Shobanjo revealed that Konga was the preferred choice for the promo because it is the best online platform in Nigeria.

Dr. Martin Oluba (left); guest speaker, Prof. Charles Okigbo, and Barrister Obi Nnaji, during the 2nd Quarterly Africa Analytics Roundtable Theme: “The Role of Strategic Analytics in Shaping the Future of the Nigerian Media Industry.”

PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN

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GlobalStocks ‘High-speed trading rules coming from SEC’ .S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Mary Jo White U unveiled the regulator’s most sweeping plan yet for reining in high-frequency trading and monitoring dark pools and other secretive trading practices in the world’s largest equity market.

Proprietary traders who use computers to buy and sell stocks in milliseconds would have to register with the SEC under recommendations made public yesterday by White in New York.

Operators of dark pools, broker-owned venues that compete with exchanges and don’t publish bids and offers, would have to provide the regulator with their rules for matching buyers and sellers, White said.

The SEC is aiming to bring more transparency to markets and address claims of unfair advantages held by traders who account for about half of U.S. stock executions and have been blamed for everything from the flash crash of May 2010 to market volatility during the European debt crisis. The agenda outlined yesterday could affect stock exchanges, brokerages and a class of proprietary traders who have so far escaped oversight.

“The SEC should not roll back the technology clock or prohibit algorithmic trading, but we are assessing the extent to which specific elements of the computer-driven trading environment may be working against investors rather than for them,” White told the Sandler O’Neill & Partners Global Exchange and Brokerage Conference.

The SEC joins the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which has previously said it was considering registration for high-speed traders of futures.

Senator Carl Levin, chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, asked regulators to provide information on risks posed by high-speed traders in advance of a hearing this month, according to three people with knowledge of the matter.

Levin, a Michigan Democrat, sought responses from the SEC and CFTC to 13 questions on the effects, trends, concerns and regulatory reaction related to high-frequency trading, according to a copy of the letter obtained by Bloomberg News and confirmed by one of the people.

“We have remained concerned with those issues as public interest in high frequency trading in the U.S. capital markets, and apparent trading abuses in connection with high-frequency trading, have increased,” according to the April 11 letter signed by Levin and Senator John McCain of Arizona, the panel’s top Republican. They requested responses by May 1.

High-frequency trading has also drawn scrutiny from law enforcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is examining whether traders abuse information to act ahead of orders by institutional investors. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is investigating whether U.S. stock exchanges and alternative venues give high-frequency traders improper advantages and has called on regulators to tighten oversight.

Schneiderman, in a posting on his Twitter account, said he was “pleased to see” White’s comments “calling for market reforms to curb unfair advantages for HFT.” Automated trading has achieved wider renown since the publication of Michael Lewis’s book “Flash Boys” and an announcement by one of the biggest firms, Virtu Financial Inc., to go public. Virtu’s offering has since been postponed.

High-frequency trading accounts for about 48 percent of all U.S. share volume, according to research firm Tabb Group. Such firms include Chopper Trading LLC, Jump Trading LLC and Tower Research Capital LLC, all of whom have been subpoenaed as part of Schneiderman’s probe, a person familiar with the matter said in April.

The new registration requirements would apply to a subset of trading firms that aren’t registered as broker-dealers with the SEC. Rick Ketchum, chief executive officer of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, said last month that such unregulated firms are often responsible for manipulative or disruptive trading seen by regulators.

“There still are a lot of smaller players and by forcing these firms to register there is going to be increased oversight on what she terms destabilizing HFT,” said Sal Arnuk, co-founder of brokerage Themis Trading.

The SEC is preparing a new rule that would require more oversight by traders of their algorithms, formulas that automate the buying and selling of shares, White said. While White said she was wary of setting speed limits on traders, the SEC will consider options for minimizing the speed advantage that some proprietary traders have.

Brokers at the New York Stock Exchange, on Friday.

“These could include frequent batch auctions or other mechanisms designed to minimize speed advantages,” she said. “They could also include affirmative or negative trading obligations for high-frequency trading firms that employ the fastest, most sophisticated trading tools.”

Under the plan White outlined yesterday, stock exchanges also will come in for more scrutiny. The SEC will review the exchanges’ dozens of order types, which have been criticized for adding complexity with little public benefit by Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE) Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Sprecher, whose Atlanta-based company owns the New York Stock Exchange.

The majority of order types are designed to deal with the exchanges’ maker-taker pricing, a system of fees and rebates intended to attract orders from brokers. The maker-taker system can “create conflicts of interest and raise serious questions about whether such conflicts can be effectively managed,” White said.

Sprecher, who has said NYSE will reduce its order types by more than one dozen, said White’s speech shows the SEC is “engaged.”

“Obviously, the Flash Boys book has galvanized more people into looking at the way these markets work,” Sprecher told the conference in a separate appearance. “The markets can be much simpler and much easier to understand and doing so will bring more confidence to the way they operate.”

The SEC also will work with stock exchanges to address claims of unfairness in how order and price data reach the public. Traders buying direct feeds from exchanges get orders and prices faster than investors relying on the public ticker, a gap highlighted in Lewis’s book and criticized by New York-based trading-platform provider IEX Group Inc. CEO Brad Katsuyama.

“The commission has been aware of many of these issues for some time,” said Annette L. Nazareth, a partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and a former SEC commissioner. “Over the course of time, there comes to be more consensus around the fact that something needs to be done about these issues.”

Operators of dark pools will also have to provide more information about their clients and how they process buy and sell orders, White

said.

KCG Holdings Inc. (KCG), based in Jersey City, New Jersey, and New York-based Liquidnet Holdings Inc., which both operate dark pools, have already said they will publicize their dark-pool rule filings.

KCG Holdings was formed last year by the merger of two dominant high-frequency traders, Getco LLC and Knight Capital Group Inc. “Transparency has long been a hallmark of the U.S. securities markets, and I am concerned by the lack of it in these dark venues,” White said.

The regulator also will wade into the debate over how brokers fill the orders of their institutional clients. The agency will develop a requirement that brokers tell investors where their stock trades go to be executed, White said. The initiative responds to complaints that routing decisions are sometimes made against a customer’s best interests.

The measures outlined yesterday include proposals that have been embraced by some large brokers and investors and can be advanced in the near term. White cited, for instance, a proposed rule known as Regulation SCI that will require exchanges and some dark pools to guard against technology outages and failures. The SEC staff is preparing a recommendation for a final version of the rule, White said.

The SEC still envisions examining whether its own rules, including the package known as Regulation NMS, have driven excessive fragmentation and complexity, White said. The agency will create a new advisory committee of investors and others to help inform its initiatives and rule changes, she said.

SEC Commissioners Luis A. Aguilar and Michael Piwowar both said yesterday that the agency must consider how much its prior rulemaking, including its National Market System rules, have driven unhealthy changes in market behavior.

“We need to consider the extent to which the current regulatory regime, including Regulation NMS, has contributed to some of the problems we have seen and whether it should be revised and modified,” Aguilar said.

Jobs report takes Dow, S&P to fresh record highs .S. stocks rose on Friday, with the U Dow and the S&P 500 closing at records, after the May payrolls report provided the latest confirmation of improving economic conditions.

The CBOE Volatility index, Wall Street’s so-called fear gauge, ended down 8.1 percent at 10.73, its lowest level since February 2007.

The VIX, which tends to rise when volatility increases or the market drops, has been on the decline for months and is well below its historical average of 20, which some see as a sign that investors are ignoring

concerns that could derail the rally.

The day’s gains were broad and led by cyclical sectors, which outperform in times of economic expansion. Industrial shares jumped one per cent while energy shares rose 0.8 per cent. The only S&P 500 sector that fell was healthcare, a defensive group, down 0.1 percent.

About 217,000 jobs were added in May, slightly fewer than expected, while the unemployment rate held steady at 6.3 per cent. This was the first time job growth has topped 200,000 for four consecutive months since January 2000.

While the report did not point to spectacular growth, “the main thing is that the world’s biggest economy is moving in the right direction and slowly gathering momentum,” said Marcus Bullus, trading director of MB Capital.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 88.17 points or 0.52 per cent, to 16,924.28, the S&P 500 gained 8.98 points or 0.46 per cent, to 1,949.44 and the Nasdaq Composite added 25.17 points or 0.59 percent, to 4,321.40.

With the day’s gains, the S&P 500 marked its sixth record close in the

past seven sessions.

For the week, the Dow rose 1.2 percent, the S&P 500 rose 1.3 per cent and the Nasdaq rose 1.9 per cent.

Mining equipment maker Joy Global Inc jumped 3.9 percent to $64.11, building on its 6.7 percent rally on Thursday on the back on strong results, for its biggest weekly gain since August 2012.

Peabody Energy Corp was the biggest percentage decliner on the S&P 500, dropping 1.4 per cent at $16.34 after Goldman Sachs downgraded the stock to “neutral.”

Hertz Global Holdings Inc tum-

bled 9.1 percent to $27.73. The car rental company said it would restate financial results for the past three years to correct accounting errors.

Novavax Inc was the Nasdaq’s most active stock, down 7.9 per cent to $4.17 in heavy volume a day after a public offering of 25 million common shares was priced at a discount to its Thursday close.

Trading volume was around 5.27 billion shares on U.S. exchanges, below last month’s average of 5.75 billion, according to data from BATS Global Markets.

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OSUN/EKITI GUBER POLLS

One feared dead, eight injured as police disperse APC rally From Muyiwa Adeyemi (Head South West Bureau Ado Ekiti) TTEMPTS to hold a counter-rally by the All Progressives Congress (APC) after the one by the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ado Ekiti yesterday was resisted by the police.

During the crisis, a man identified as an APC member was shot dead and eight other people are receiving treatment for injuries.

The State Police Commissioner, Felix Uyanna, blamed APC for not obtaining permission for the rally.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday led the national leadership of the PDP to Ado Ekiti to support the party candidate, former governor Ayo Fayose.

Vice President, Namadi Sambo, was still in Ado Ekiti yesterday holding meeting with some top members of the party at the Pathfinder Hotel in the state capital when the procession started.

APC alleged that the state Commander of the Mobile Police Unit, Gabriel Selekere lead the assault, he was also alleged to have shot at the governor’s convoy.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Fayemi, Mr. Yinka Oyebode said, “the police under the supervision of Selekere also held Fayemi hostage for about 45 minutes at the Ejigbo junction, fired canisters of tear gas on the governor’s car, disarmed and arrested one of the governor’s security aides.”

The APC members who had started their rally aimed at “sweeping the state capital” at Okeyinmi were ambushed by some PDP thugs and armed policemen along the popular Matthew junction in Ado Ekiti at about 8:42am.

The statement said the police led by Selekere first shot tear gas at the APC members who were scampering to safety to avoid the smoke before men from the mobile unit started shooting sporadically, leading to the death of a young man identified as a member of the APC. The mobile policemen approached the governor’s convoy when he arrived, dis-

A

armed three of his security aides and injured one of them. Selekere was alleged to also threaten to arrest the governor.

“Who? What governor?

Who is governor when the VP is in town? I don’t know any governor. I have order from above,” he yelled, while ordering his men to dislodge the governor’s convoy.

Fayemi, who later addressed his party supporters said the dastardly act is a rehearsal of what the PDP and the police intend to do during the June 21 governorship election.

Senator Babafemi Ojudu (Ekiti Central), Hon. Oyetunde Ojo of the House of Representatives and the APC state chairman, Chief Jide Awe were attacked in the melee, while the whereabouts of the Commissioner for Integration, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye is still unknown.

Ojudu said: “We were holding a peaceful rally and before we knew what was happening, policemen started throwing tear-gas. They attacked us and destroyed our vehicles. Four of our buses were damaged. They even killed one of our members. We will not take this; we are going to resist it. How can you, for God sake, tear-gas our governor and you say you are protecting us?”

However, eight persons were arrested by the police and are now being interrogated over their involvement in the crisis.

Awe called for immediate transfer of the Police Commissioner, Mr. Felix Uyanna and the Mopol Commander.

He urged President Jonathan to deploy his energy to free the Chibok school girls held by Boko Haram rather than declaring war on Ekiti people.

Also briefing his supporters at the government house, Governor Fayemi said, “the PDP is jittery and that is why they are killing the people.

But I am ready to protect my people no matter what they do. We are ready to face their rigging machine and I am assuring you that the PDP’s plan to rig this election won’t be successful in Ekiti.”

Bamidele

Fayose

Court orders Fayose served petition through newspapers over perjury From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti HIGH court sitting in Ado Ekiti has ordered that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the June 21 governorship election, Mr. Ayo Fayose, be served a petition through the newspapers.

A socio-economic group, e11 had taken Fayose to court that he was not competent to contest election in the state following his impeachment in 2006 as the governor of the state.

The claimants had contended that Fayose had failed to disclose to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through form CFO1 vital information regarding the grounds of his impeachment from office in 2006 as state governor.

The pressure group noted that the substance of the impeachment had since not been overruled by any court of relevant jurisdiction and

A

• Reps majority leader urges support for him that same still subsisted, adding that for Fayose to claim that he has never been indicted by any panel is tantamount to perjury.

The e-11, through its counsel, Rafiu Balogun, of Crystal Chambers, had brought three applications, praying the court for allowance to compel the first defendant, Fayose, to receive the petition through ‘substituted service’, specifically a newspaper publication, having been unable to deliver same to him physically at his known addresses.

According to Balogun, efforts by the court to serve him the petition since May 23 had been fruitless, noting that both the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission, the second and third defendants in the case, had been served since that date.

The lawyer equally prayed

the court to grant the suit accelerated hearing as the first defendant in the case, Fayose, was a party candidate for the June 21 election, saying the essence of the matter would be defeated if same was heard after the election.

Balogun said: “PDP and INEC were served on May 13, the 14 days which they have to respond to the petition had lapsed.”

The counsel maintained that although the law had granted allowance of either 7 or 14 days for the respondents to cause a reply to the petition, the court should peg the response time of the first respondent (Fayose) to only seven, given the urgency demanded of the case, noting both the PDP and INEC had failed to offer any response as their own time lapsed on Friday.

Granting all the reliefs,

their party’s emblem on the victim after the dastardly act. This is their stock in trade as they did same during the 2009 elections rerun at Oye Ekiti when Saheed, a member of the PDP was killed by thugs of the defunct ACN and the killers rushed to the press claiming he belonged to their party not until the family came out to debunk their claim.

“The latest victim’s offence was that he and others at a popular roundabout in Ado Ekiti booed the governor’s convoy as it drove past them.

It is instructive that eye wit-

ness accounts alleged that out-going Governor Kayode Fayemi could not stop yet another gruesome murder of this Ekiti indigene, who, as the chief security officer of the state, he swore to protect upon assuming office over three years ago.

Needless to say that Fayemi’s government has failed Ekiti people and should therefore bow its head in shame.

As the people of Ekiti mourn yet another youth cut down in his prime, we commiserate with the family of this young man and pray for the repose of his soul.”

LP condemns killings by alleged APC thugs HE Labour Party (LP) in T Ekiti State has condemned another case of extra-judicial killing allegedly committed by thugs loyal to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APC) in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

This is coming four days after a Labour Party supporter, Foluso Ogundare, who was murdered last year November was buried at Emure Ekiti in the Ekiti East local council.

A statement by the party’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Bolanle OlatundeBruce reads, “This is one

death too many and we wish to appeal to the Inspector General of Police to take adequate measures towards securing lives and property especially as we draw close to the governorship elections. We also wish to state unequivocally that Ekiti people appreciate the efforts of the state police command and are solidly behind them it in its quest to rid the state of unwanted criminals and serial killers.

We enjoin the State Police Commissioner and his men not to be distracted by the antics of the masters of rig

and roast but remain focused on making the forthcoming gubernatorial election peaceful, hitch-free and credible.

“We also condemn the attack on our party vehicle

by APC thugs at the Ijigbo roundabout earlier this morning and wish to remind Nigerians that this morning’s killing by suspected thugs of the APC is the ninth extra-judicial killing that has taken place in the Kayode Fayemi’s beleaguered administration. We are not surprised that the APC thugs dropped

Justice I. O. Ogunyemi noted that Fayose must file a written address within seven days and another three days for the claimants to reply to their written addresses if they so desired.

Justice Ogunyemi consequently adjourned next hearing to June 16 to accommodate both the written response of the defendants and the possible reply by the claimants.

Meanwhile, House Majority Leader at the Federal House of Representatives, Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, at the weekend asked women in Ekiti State to do everything within their power to ensure victory for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the June 21 poll, Mr. Ayo Fayose.

Akande-Adeola, who was in the state to hold a meeting with PDP South West Forum, which she founded some years ago, also charged women in Osun State to follow suit.

According to her, the only states where women were still playing back seat roles were those not controlled by the PDP, saying women in the affected states should take their destiny in their hands by ensuring that PDP returns to power.

The House leader said she set up the PDP South West women Forum to champion the cause of women as well as fight for their welfare and well-being.

Akande asked all women willing to contest one elective position or the other in the country to make their intentions known to her forum without further delay, so as to be able to get the required assistance.

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84 | POLITICSEXTRA Monday, June 9, 2014

My roadmap for Ekiti’s development, CONTINUED FROM FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2014 THE PRESENT STATE OF THE HEALTH SECTOR IN EKITI- STATE EALTH System at Primary Healthcare (PHC) level has been systematically relegated to the background by investing heavily on health mission with each episode costing about N90, 000,000 and neglecting simple and sustainable interventions such as, employment of more staff for improved service delivery, provision of ambulances at the PHC and General Hospitals which will improve hospital referral systems and reduce avoidable mortality due to complications arising from acute and chronic conditions.

Part of the bane of health care delivery in the State is informed by failure of leadership and a misplacement of priorities. In adducing failure of leadership and misplacement of priorities, the following were taken into considerationthe deceptive misinformation of the Ekiti public that the Adunni Olayinka centre has been stockpiled with hospital equipment only for our people to be disappointed when it was discovered that the screening equipment showcased to the world had been removed to an unknown destination; inadequate staffing of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) and other State Government hospitals.

Regarding the National Health Insurance scheme (NHIS), Ekiti State Government has not paid her own counterpart funding while the Federal Government funds released in fulfilment of its obligation on the Scheme now forms the only seed money for the project. Ekiti State Government has been insensitive to labour unrest in the health sector especially as it affects the PHCs on immunization programme which resulted in Ekiti being ranked 35th in the committee of States in Nigeria.

Poor staffing, excessive billing of in-patients, lack of functional equipment and congestion, to mention but a few, are the norm in Ekiti State Government Hospitals.

As a result of the problems enunciated above, arising from poor leadership values and for reasons of overriding public interests, there is need to provide “Health for All” from the cradle to the aged.

To achieve this, there will be vested interest in: I) Development of Primary Health Care centres where health care facilities are made available, accessible and affordable to the grass root populace; ii) Improvement of maternal and child health care services so as to reduce maternal and child mortality rates. iii) Investment in the provision of Community Health Care Services by specially trained Community Nurses. These categories of Nurses will take referrals from hospitalised patients who require further care post discharge at home.

They will also cater for the aged and handicapped in their respective homes. This will reduce frequent hospital visits by patients and lengthy hospital stay. iv) The people with long term disease conditions such as cancer, stroke, coronary heart disease (CHD) diabetes, HIV patients etc., are maintained at home by the specialised Community Nurses v) Proper development of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti where medical personnel are properly trained to be able to compete with their colleagues in other States of Nigeria and outside the shores of Nigeria. vi) Acquisition of proper diagnostic facilities or equipment the Teaching Hospital for diagnostic procedures which will inform the right treatment required.

WALK-IN CARE CENTRE For several years now, health care services have taken the manner of care delivery system, which is the range of treatments given to both in and out-patients with various health challenges ranging from minor to major diseases.

This usually takes place in either private or Government owned hospitals and almost always with so much congestion. This leads to increase in the waiting period for patients in hospitals causing more stress and anxiety for patients, thus worsening their illness.

There is, therefore, the need to reduce hospital congestion and hospital cost for the Government by effecting a positive change in the health care delivery system in a manner that will be beneficial to the patients. This new initiative is what is being referred to as the WALK –IN CARE INITIATIVE. It is also referred to as the Convenient Care Clinic. This initiative is a Nurse-led clinic that offers a range of health services and provides treatment for uncomplicated minor illnesses and preventative health care services. This will enhance the improvement in the general health of the community

H

Opeyemi thus preventing unnecessary hospital admission. These services include health promotion through information, healthy living advice, assessment, investigation (if necessary), diagnosis and treatment of minor illnesses and injuries and signposting where required. It provides seven days a week services, with no appointment necessary. It is, as the name implies, a walk- in- centre.

TARGET BENEFICIARIES Everyone, adult or child, who needs urgent or immediate medical attention, or has been referred from the hospital for completion of their treatment e.g. stitches removal, post-operative wound care, injuries or illnesses requiring immediate care, but not serious enough to require an Emergency Room (ER) visit.

BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAMME The benefits of this service are not only for the populace, they are also for the Government alike.

For the Populace: 1) It offers immediate care for people to prevent any complication,anxiety and removal of the inconvenience of hospital congestion for a minor injury or illness; 2) Urgent attention to people reduces time wastage and allows workers go back to their duty post for optimal productivity; 3) Health advice and information are better given to people in Walk in Care centre thereby encouraging interaction leading to improved healthful living and increase in life span; and 4) It offers people prompt referral or signposting to the appropriate health department/agencies for care.

For the Government: a) Cost effectiveness on the part of the Government is maintained as repeated visits to hospitals for minor illnesses is reduced or avoided; b) Patients staying longer in hospitals for follow up interventions like injections, dressings, etc will be referred to walk-in-centers for continuation of care, thus giving room for hospital beds occupation to more critical cases; and c) This promotes collaboration between all Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs) in all healthcare professional sections for effective and prompt healthcare delivery system to the citizenry.

The policy thrust of our Government in the area of healthcare delivery will be targeted at: - Improving Government’s stewardship over policy formulation, health legislation, regula-

tion, resource mobilization, coordination, monitoring and evaluation; • Provision of requisite personnel and institutions that will assist in ensuring good health care delivery for every Ekiti citizen; • Reduction of citizens’ burden attributable to priority diseases and health problems such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health-related illnesses; • Improving the physical and financial access to quality health care services; • Increasing citizens’ awareness of health related concerns, rights and obligations; and • Fostering effective collaboration and partnership with local and international health actors to improve health care service delivery in Ekiti State.

Our Government shall be committed to accessible, timely, affordable and efficient health care service delivery targeted at increasing life expectancy through reduction in the incidences of infectious or communicable diseases and safe clinical/medical treatments for all citizens of Ekiti without prejudice to individual preference or choice.

To meet the goal of primary/basic healthcare delivery in Ekiti State, our Government will upgrade a number of Primary Health Care Centres to the status of General Hospitals across the State while Health Centres shall be built in each of the wards to enhance effective and efficient health care delivery at the grassroots level. In addition to these, health care delivery systems in rural communities will be aided through Mobile Clinics to be manned by Health Rangers made up of medical personnel and volunteers.

In the urban enclaves and cities across Ekiti State, affordable healthcare delivery will be enhanced through the provision of subsidized medications in Government hospitals. Our Government will be committed to free medical treatment for a number of ailments and for specific categories of citizens.

Arising from our special concern for aged people, citizens of 60 years of age and above are to enjoy free medical treatments. Training of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel will be intensified so as to ensure that their capacity for effective delivery is improved. Doctors and Nurses shall also be encouraged to undertake specialization programmes and refresher courses that will put them on the same standing with their colleagues around the globe.

Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) will be strategically positioned and financially empowered to deliver more effectively in the medical fields of research and consultancy, to the extent that international exchange programmes will be encouraged for post-doctoral research where research fellows would be expected to make sterling discoveries on diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Cancer, Paediatrics, etc.

In addition, primary healthcare services shall be rendered free with respect to the following categories: • Immunization for children of 0-5 years against six killer diseases of childhood; • Immunization for women of child-bearing age against deadly diseases; • Supply of macronutrient supplements to children of 0-5 years and pregnant women; • Mass immunization and free treatments of deadly epidemics; and • Provision of health information, education and materials for effective, preventive control and management of communicable diseases. ii. EDUCATION Education is a process designed to help society develop its natural potentials and make people become engines of growth. It equips the individual mentally, economically, politically and morally to tackle his environmental problems as they come by. It is a means for acquiring skills, relevant knowledge and habits for surviving in the changing world. It is an indispensable edifice upon which a rapid, progressive and sound development in all its ramifications can be achieved. A nation or component State, which ignores the vital issue of an equitable basis for functional education would have inbuilt instability which may severely hinder its social responsibility, technological growth and political economy. However, education is not just about literacy and numeracy; it is about valueorientation and regeneration.

Thus, education defines the roles of the various stakeholders including the individual, society and the State in order to facilitate, nurture and develop them with the requisite institutions, materials and facilities necessary for growth. It is not enough for State actors to merely affirm commitment to educational provisioning and development, nor is it enough to merely draw up annual budgets, allocate and spend money for education. These have to be accompanied by principled conduct, careful planning and an adequate conceptualization of, and commitment to, the public good.

We also believe that education is indispensable for the development of an enlightened citizenry which will be easy to govern but difficult to enslave. Without a well educated population, development efforts will look like pouring water into a basket.

Given the alarming rate of decline in the standard of education in Nigeria, various stakeholders in the education sector had continued to allude to the fact that Government at all levels, essentially has a fundamental role to play in revamping the sector and restoring its glory.

Notwithstanding the critical roles of the private sector in partnering with Government to put education in proper shape, the burden of educational development in this part of the globe still rests heavily on the State.

To this extent, it is pertinent to emphasize that the character and standard of education in any of our States in Nigeria is dependent on the policy content of the Government in this area of importance as well as the level of discipline espoused during the implementation and evaluation of such policy.

Ekiti State has prided herself for decades as the fountain of knowledge in Nigeria and this is indisputable by every standard. However, recent observations are pointing to the unfortunate fact that decline is already setting-in in the standard of education in Ekiti State, owing primarily to political instability, underfunding, lack of motivation of teachers and endemic policy somersaults in the education sector of the State over the years.

OVERVIEW OF THE EDUCATION SECTOR IN EKITI STATE Although the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is the policy making body on education, it has failed to make appreciable input and search into the scientific and technological enterprise in the State.

Areas for review and improvement in the education sector: I) A review of the outgoing Government’s policy of down-grading teachers; with the aim of restructuring the process of promotion and discipline, taking into cognisance years of service, additional training and other relevant indices; ii) Motivation of teachers by way of enhanced

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85

by Opeyemi welfare and promotion as at when due to ensure their commitment on the job; iii) Proper equipment and upgrade of laboratories and vocational workshops in schools; iv) Provision of free textbooks in some basic subjects by our Government considering that many students are unable to purchase textbooks, so as to encourage the indigent to acquire basic education, this will go a long way in upholding our place in the country as the Fountain of Knowledge; v) Tackling the problem of overcrowding of students in schools with this concern and coming up with sustainable and lasting solutions to the issue of crowding; vi) Review the issue of cancellation of neighbourhood inspectors as this seems to have contributed to the reduced standard and quality of education in our schools; viii) The Schools Enterprise Project (SEP) is a total failure in Ekiti State. Government will ensure that: (a) At least one enterprise project is established and sustained in each secondary school in the state (b) Schools are encouraged to raise sufficient funds to run the programme; ix) To stem the rate of drop outs in our schools which is attributable to various reasons, our Government will encourage schools to; • Adhere to the policy of two (2) teachers per class for better monitoring and adequate attention to individual students; • Ensure that no class exceeds thirty (30) students as part of efforts towards tackling overcrowding of classrooms; • Allow willing public schools to run boarding facilities; • Include in their curriculum debate and quiz competitions to enhance students’ use of the English language and engage their creative, competitive and imaginative minds, thereby ensuring they remain in school.

FREE AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION Education will be made free from primary to Junior Secondary School (JSS) three for all students schooling in Ekiti irrespective of their State of origin while our administration will undertake a comprehensive review of the fees being presently paid by students of our higher institutions to make high education more affordable and functional for youths.

In addition to this, our Government will provide a conducive study environment for students by improving on learning facilities available like desk and chairs, laboratory equipment, etc. ii) Pay the WAEC and NECO fees for all students of Ekiti State origin schooling in Ekiti.

Ekiti Charter of Prosperity has also noted the wide disparities that exist in the educational standards of our people and the learning achievements, to the extent that our educational system, as obtainable generally across the nation, emphasizes theoretical knowledge at the expense of technical, vocational, and entrepreneurial education. As a vital transformational tool and a formidable instrument for socio-economic empowerment, the education sector has the responsibility for producing and supplying the personnel required to propel and sustain our empowerment plan for the people of Ekiti State. Invariably, our goals of wealth creation, employment generation, poverty reduction, and value re-orientation can be effectively pursued, attained, and sustained only through an efficient, relevant and functional education system. The main policy thrust of our sustainable educational development agenda will be aimed at: -Providing unhindered access to compulsory Universal Basic Education (UBE) to all citizens of Ekiti State as a bridge to the socio-economic transformation of Ekiti State; -Establishing and maintaining enhanced quality and standards through relevant, competency-based curricula and effective quality controls at all levels; -Enhancing the efficiency, resourcefulness, and competence of teachers and other educational personnel through regular training, capacity building, and adequate motivation; -Strengthening the technological and scientific base of Ekiti State by revamping technical, vocational and entrepreneurial education and making optimal use of information and communication technologies to meet the Ekiti stable economy manpower needs; -Providing an enabling environment and stimulating the active participation of the private sector, civil society organizations, communities, and development partners in the State’s educational development; and The construction of World-standard Millennium Primary and Model Secondary Schools spread

across the State without prejudice to the National Policy on Education.

Because education remains the only leveller between the rich and the poor in our society, access to qualitative and affordable education ensures that balance and this will be the major thrust of our education policy. In order to facilitate equal access to education among our young people in the State, tuition shall be free at the universal basic primary school and secondary school levels while it shall be considerably subsidized at the tertiary level.

However, education shall be free at all levels for the physically challenged. Government will embark on massive revitalization and resuscitation through better funding and prudent management of resources to conform to the UNESCO recommendations and to attain acceptable standards in the modern world. We shall ensure that the glory and pride of Ekiti as the nation’s fountain of knowledge and wisdom is restored through prompt and adequate equipment of our public educational institutions with modern facilities to meet the needs of thousands of children whose right to good education must not in any way be compromised. Government will also intensify collaboration with non-State actors with a view to developing the education sector through private sector driven endowments and scholarship.

Public educational institutions are to be rapidly transformed through the provision of infrastructure and educational facilities; human resources development; improved remunerations as well as provision of special incentives for teaching and non-teaching staff. Teachers are to be encouraged and motivated through regular professional training and promotion even as we frown at any policy that tends to disrespect and dehumanize our teachers.

Within the first two years of inception, our Government will establish one Vocational Training Centre (VTC) in each of the 16 Local Government Areas where none already exists, to expand the frontiers of technical knowledge and to develop the potentials of our graduates and young school leavers who are critically challenged by the realities of emerging global market and the attendant competitiveness of employment opportunities in the corporate sector. To prepare Ekiti youths for the challenges ahead, compulsory vocational trainings and learning of additional foreign language apart from English will be introduced in public primary and secondary schools all over the State.

Higher educational institutions will be adequately funded to meet the primary responsibilities of teaching and human capital development. Additionally, funding will be adequately provided for practical and research activities. Government will encourage teachers and students through special grants and subventions dedicated to researches, foreign academic exchange programmes and journal publication.

Our Government will urgently see to the need to review the high cost of tuition in our tertiary institutions even as we also promise to improve water/infrastructural provision, accommodation and other essential social services on campuses in order to make our tertiary institutions conducive and congenial for learning and research by both students and staff.

As at today, in Nigeria, Ekiti State has the highest number of Professors of various disciplines, teaching in the country’s higher institutions.

The Ekiti State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is saddled with the responsibility of initiating and implementing educational policies of Government.

The Educational sector of Ekiti State has been bedevilled with immeasurable problems which have invariably contributed negatively to the progress and success of our Education in the State. Some of the problems and the steps our administration will take towards prompt solutions are listed below; ii. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY In modern economy, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry has emerged as the primary enabler of the knowledge economy, a major engine for growth and job creation, and also as an agent of social change. Basic ICT training will be made compulsory in the education curriculum of both primary and secondary schools, with the aim of making them computer literate even before they move to the tertiary institutions. This will enable students who cannot continue with education due to some certain limitations to still have the skills to

work with a computer and get a job.

Specifically, our Government will be committed to: - Periodic review of education curriculum to meet the technological needs of Ekiti people; - Provision of computers and laptops to students and teachers, with at least two desktop computers in each classroom; - Encouragement of women and youths to be part of the ICT process; - Construction of a world-class EKITI ICT AND RESOURCE BUILDING to promote greater local entrepreneurship and international business linkages through ICT; - Exploring ICT opportunities in the following key areas to enhance governance and public services: (a) E-Government to promote transparency in public administration and democratic processes, improving efficiency and strengthening relationship with citizens; (b) E-Business to encourage and promote the benefits of international trade to stimulate private sector investment, foster new applications, content development and public/private sector partnerships; © E-Learning to achieve universal education State-wide, through delivery of education and training of students and teachers, and offering improved conditions for lifelong learning, encompassing people that are outside the formal education system, and improving professional skills. (d) E-Health to improve and extend health care and health information systems to remote and underserved areas and vulnerable populations, recognizing women’s roles as health providers in their families and communities; and (e) E-Employment to facilitate best practices in organizing work and business with the aim of raising productivity, growth and well-being through investment in ICT and human resources.

CHAPTER6 SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Development connotes a progression, a growth, a gradual advancing from one form to another for the betterment of an organisation, an institution, a community or a society.

Social Development, therefore, is the positive advancement of a community in all aspects of its existence, including but not limited to education, health, living standards, economic growth, cultural advancement and the development of human resources. Social Development is not an institutional structure but is predicated on the development of the human resources of a community or an organization as it is the people who populate a community that make or break it.

For social development to succeed, it must take into account all the elements of an environment including human and material. In a community, this involves a segregation of the different groups that make a community-the youth, women, children, men, the physically challenged, the list goes on. A social development blue print which takes the need of all the possible human classification into consideration and seeks to address those needs and the positive advancement of each group is one

which is sustainable. A progressive advancement of society which is owned, not by the originator, but by the class of people it seeks to represent; development which enjoys collective ownership and responsibility. Creating a new Ekiti through social development can thus be achieved by intervening and investing in Youth development including improvement in sports and job creation, sustainable social welfare programmes which take into consideration power generation, low income housing schemes, strengthening of the educational and health institutions, rehabilitation of convicted offenders, care of the aged and mentally incompetent persons, rural development and agro-development.

We will ensure that development is explored holistically by harnessing human, natural and economic resources giving birth to sustainable communities in Ekiti State. A clear developmental framework will be developed that will put into consideration, the natural resources Ekiti is endowed with, our present human capital and material resource base and the nature of industrial areas to be initiated. In creating a new Ekiti, our workforce must be taken into account, more so our young adult. Industrial development in all sectors and segment of the society must first and foremost add value to our existence, provide jobs for our unemployed and create a viable society. Industrial development will be anchored on sustainability of the environment, terrain, people and their culture as well as their needs. Sustainable development, a global phenomenon, will be pursued as the vision for a new Ekiti State is a society for all and sundry.

Bearing in mind that the greatest challenge of the nation and indeed each individual State and community at large, is not the absence of attainable ideas but the failure to create systems to sustain the existence of those ideas long after the inventors are gone, the development we crave, the development we envision, is not one that starts and ends with an administration, it is development that will grow to have a life of its own, owned by the community, a sustainable development. Our Government shall be committed to improving the quality of life of the generality of the citizenry. Government will provide support for sustainable livelihood initiatives targeted at rural populations and the urban poor with a view to proffering enduring solution to acute poverty in the society. Welfare programmes will be designed to meet peculiar needs of five categories of citizens, namely: teenagers, women, youth, old people, and the physically challenged.

TO BE CONTINUED

86 Monday, June 9, 2014

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OSUN/EKITI GUBER POLLS

Omisore

Akinbade

Aregbesola

LP candidate decries Rauf Aregbesola’s advice to voters From Tunji Omofoye, Osogbo

HE Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in the August 9, 2014, election in Osun State, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, has decried the alleged call by the state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, urging his supporters to bring charms to polling stations. He said the call is an open invitation to violence.

It was also alleged that Aregbesola had at a recent campaign held in Ikire, Headquarters of Irewole Local Council Area, told the gathering during the political rally, to arm themselves with charms when coming out to vote in coming election. He said such would not contravene the laws of the land.

But the LP guber candidate said Aregbesola’s advice calls for concern in view of the fact that a member of House of Representatives, Rotimi Makinde of the All Progressive Congress (APC), had equally allegedly made a similar call in Ile-Ife when Aregbesola flagged off his campaign about a month ago.

Akinbade, in a statement by his Director of Media, Mr. Kayode Oladeji, condemned the call, insisting it was capable of causing mayhem during elections.

“Towards this end, the former Secretary to the State Government, while urging security agencies to be at alert, advised the Federal Government to fortify the state with enough security, so as to forestall possible outbreak of violence as

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being demanded subtly by the governor”.

Akinbade, who said it was unbecoming of the governor and his members to be unguarded in their utterances, noted that the alleged call for the use of charms by Aregbesola and his party man should not be treated with kid gloves.

According to him: “He knows what he is saying. He means it. Aregbesola knows he has already lost. He is only being clever by half. Imagine somebody who claims to be a peaceful person and chief

security officer of the state, urging his supporters to be armed with charms to the polling booths, to do what?

Or does he want to turn polling units to juju shrine?”

The governorship hopeful averred that Aregbesola’s position on the use of charms was aimed at creating tension geared towards scaring genuine voters away from the coming polls.

He said: “Yoruba leaders should prevail on Aregbesola to stop denigrating the race through such shenanigans because we are a decent race

noted for civility and as such, we should not be fanning the ember of discord under whatever guise”.

Akinbade maintained that politics should not be a door-die affair, saying “the people should be allowed to choose whoever they want without being scared or coerced”.

Noting that God’s power would always defeat the antics of men, he urged the people to be prayerful for violence-free elections come August 9, this year.

Bamidele’s ambition is selfish, say kinsmen OME eminent politicians Sdescribed from Iyin-Ekiti have the ambition of the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Opeyemi Bamidele as “selfish.”

Bamidele’s kinsmen who addressed a press conference at the weekend said he did not consult them before declaring his ambition, the reason he accused the monarch of the town for not supporting him.

Their spokesman and Chairman, Ekiti State House of Assembly Service Commission, Chief George Ojo, also described as reckless and unfortunate, the statement credited to Bamidele where he allegedly called former governor Niyi Adebayo a failure in the town.

Bamidele’s critics are Governor Kayode Fayemi’s political appointees from Iyin Ekiti in

Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Council of the state.

Ojo said Bamidele has not impacted positively on the lives of his constituents in Ado/Irepodun Ifelodun Federal Constituency since he became a member of the House of Representatives in 2011.

Ojo pointed out that Adebayo, who hails from Iyin Ekiti like Bamidele, ruled the state between 1999 and 2003 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) during which he employed about 300 graduates of the town into the state public service, saying “Adebayo has never been a political liability to Iyin Ekiti as claimed by Bamidele.”

The APC chieftain said, “the advice given by Adebayo to Bamidele to drop his governorship ambition for a place in the senate in the principle of fairness, did not in any

way betray the collective interest of Iyin Ekiti people.”

Ojo said, “Six months after Fayemi was sworn in as governor, Bamidele met Adebayo that he wanted to contest as governor and Adebayo advised him against it that he should go for Senate, that was Adebayo’s offence that caused Bamidele to insult him.”

The LP governorship aspirant, who dispelled the tirade against him by his kinsmen, said he has been a consistent partaker in the development of the town for over two decades.

Bamidele, who spoke through his media aide, Ahmed Salami, said, “Nobody is more qualified than me among all the contestants. I quite understand the fears of these people, they are only trying to protect their jobs.

Omisore pledges reforms in education sector From Tunji Omofoye, Osogbo HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the Osun State governorship election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has said that he would transform the dwindling educational sector of the state if elected as governor in the August 9 polls.

He said the current administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Governor Rauf Aregbesola had brought confusion into the education sector through the introduction of obnoxious policies, saying the merger of schools had brought untold hardship to students who have to travel long distance before they reach their school and parents who have to spend more money before their children get to school.

Omisore, in a release by his Director of Media and Strategy, Prince Diran Odeyemi, lamented that the incumbent governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola has bastardised the educational structure through school reclassification.

The PDP flag bearer also lamented the indefinite strike embarked upon by the four tertiary institutions owned by the state, adding that the protracted strike was capable of luring the students to antisocial activities.

He also identified other problems confronting the education system, including alleged abnormal merging of secondary schools, same uniform for primary and secondary school pupils, cancelation of primary and secondary education programme of 6-33-4, abnormal taxation on higher institution staffers, denial of tertiary institution workers legitimate retirement age of 65 years and proposed merger of tertiary insti-

T

tutions in the state.

According to Omisore, “it is only an illiterate governor that would demolish school buildings like Fakunle Comprehensive High School that had been in existence for decades for a Shoprite project for a former governor of Lagos State.”

Omisore also lamented the poor result of secondary school students in the National Examination Council (NECO) and West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) since about three years ago, saying “this could be attributed to killing the zeal of secondary school in the state which has made Osun profile in educational rank of Nigeria number 24 out of the 36 states, while we were ranked number 13 in 2010.”

He also condemned the “non-functionability” of Opon-Imo tablet, allegedly produced by a son of the governor. Omisore lamented the inclusion of Ifa divinity studies on the curricula of the Opon-Imo, while positing that this had also introduced the secondary school students to series of anti-social vices like pornography and others.

He queried why computer tablets should be made to replace textbooks in secondary schools, adding that teachers and instructors of the students were not properly trained on usage of OponImo computer.

Omisore therefore called on the striking lecturers in colleges of education Ilesa and Ila-Orangun, Osun State Poytechnic, Iree and the College of Technology, EsaOke to remain resolute and focused in their aspirations while he promised to look into their plights if elected governor of the state.

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NEWS SPOT

‘Oke-Ogun on a journey of discovery’

By Seye Olumide of Oke-Ogun area LtheinEADERS Oyo State have called on people to eschew political parties’ affiliations and embrace unity, if they must achieve the aim and objectives of producing the next governor of the state in the 2015 elections.

The leaders, which include the body of traditional rulers, elite and other notable personalities, posited that the determination to achieve the long-time aim of Oke-Ogun State, and political relevance for the area in Oyo State could be best achieved under the current democratic dispensation “if all the indigenes of Oke-Ogun can unite and speak with one voice.”

In 2009, the people of OkeOgun formally presented their demand for Oke-Ogun State before the National Assembly.

Recently at the Oke-Ogun Democracy Celebration 2014, at Ago Are Town Hall, Ago Are, various speakers including the Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Newspapers, Mr. Debo Adesina; Mr. Aderohunmu Bimpe, Chief Medical Director, Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara State; Dr. R.O Shittu, chairman of the event, Dr. Lawrence Ogunjimi and others, noted that putting the economic, political and social potentials of Oke-Ogun into consideration, with the population of over two million people, “Oke-Ogun has grown beyond playing a second fiddle to other regions in Oyo.” They insisted that Oke-Ogun is big, viable and populated enough to produce the next governor of Oyo State, “instead of playing a second fiddle every time.”

But the speakers unanimously agreed that such objective would be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve, unless the people operate in unity without playing politics of bitterness or allowing people from other zones to infiltrate their ranks.

According to Mr. Bimpe, “Unity remains the only and the best instrument of bargaining we have to achieving whatever we hope to achieve under the current democratic dispensation.”

Positing that it is not an overstatement to demand that Oke-Ogun should produce the next governor of Oyo in 2015, he said Oke-Ogun is tired of playing a second fid-

• Calls for unity among indigenes dle.

To Adesina, Oke-Ogun is a child crying for attention.

He said Oke-Ogun people are not beggars, “We must be bargainers, and for us to bargain effectively, we must go to the bargaining table in unity.”

Adesina also said at the event: “As a people, Oke-Ogun indigenes must transcend the places that hold them down.”

He added: “I have used the word ‘places’ and not just things deliberately. Other parts of Oyo State would appear to have held Oke-Ogun down and in contempt but the most vicious of the places imprisoning the region is the mind of the Oke-Ogun people.

“It is time to break loose from the shackles of inferiority complex, self-defeatism, selfishness, disunity and a certain poverty of the mind.”

Since the creation of Oyo State, after the abolition of Regional Governments, frantic efforts were made to make known the effect and physical presence of the federal and state governments at the state capital, Ibadan.

But this was to be achieved by further citing of institutions of higher learning and other federal and state governments infrastructure and establishments in the capital, to complement the already existing ones as from Independence.

The branches and satellite campuses of some of these institutions of higher learning and infrastructure were logically situated in various other towns, with the primary objective of making them becoming independent and full-fledged institutions.

In the interest of growth and development throughout the state, especially to aid the so much emphasised rural developments, succeeding administrations in Oyo State conceded the location of notable institutions to various geo-political zones.

For instance, Ogbomoso Zone, which has five local councils, could boast of Ladoke Akintola University.

The head office of Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, which was in Oyo, has been moved to Ogbomoso.

Also, the Oyo Zone, which is made up of four local coun-

A new state would halt the marginalisation of Oke-Ogun and bring governance closer to the people. Oke-Ogun is constitutionally qualified for a new state, as all the requirements could be met.

Oke-Ogun, which has 10 local council areas, with a population of 1.6 million people, couldn’t continue to be marginalised. The human resources of Oke-Ogun people also ranked among the best in Nigeria. Oyo State, with 33 local council areas, cannot cater for all the communities adequately.

There would always be inequality in the allocation of resources. Most of the wards and constituencies in Oke-Ogun should be delineated to bring governance closer to the people.

cils, has been the recipient of two notable Colleges of Education, the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education and the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo. These are both state and federal higher institutions respectively.

There are other world-class universities, such as the Ajayi Crowder University.

The Ibarapa Zone, which has three local council areas, can as well boast of two higher institutions, the campuses of which are affiliated to notable institutions in the state.

Thus, the presence of the Polytechnic, Ibadan and the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, are well felt in the area.

Ibadan, which is the capital city of Oyo State, has been receiving a major boost in terms of infrastructural development, including state and federal institutions, before Nigeria obtained Independence.

Some of the institutions located in Ibadan include the Premier University, University of Ibadan (UI); The Polytechnic; Oyo State School of Hygiene; Nigerian Blood Transmission Service (NBTS); University College Hospital (UCH); Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA); Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); Oyo

State Agricultural Development Programme (OYSADEP); Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS); Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Oyo State Airport, among others.

However, it is regrettable that Oke-Ogun Zone, which has 10 local council areas namely: Iseyin, Kajola, Okeho, Iwajowa (Iwere-Ile), Itesiwaju (Otu) and Atisbo (Tede), Shaki-East (Ago-Amodu), Shaki-West (Shaki), Oorelope (Igboho), Irepol (Kishi), Olorunsogo (Igbeti), could boast of little or nothing, for its being part of Oyo State.

The question average indigenes of Oke-Ogun continue to ask is, “what have we in Oke-Ogun to show for being part of Oyo State?

To them, “There is neither federal nor state presence here in terms of appointments and government’s projects.”

The two things that the councils could boast of are the sites of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp in Iseyin and the Satellite Campus of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, in Saki.

It should be noted that there is no singular college or any other university. The absence of federal and state infrastructure and institutions has constituted a major setback to the general development in the area.

A participant at the pro-

gramme said the backwardness of Oke-Ogun area, which is equivalent or even more than some states in Nigeria, “could be traced mainly to lack of higher institutions of learning, poor economic growth and development and unavailability of agricultural empowerments.

Insisting that the present Oyo is too big and unable to discharge its duties to the numerous communities, the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdulganiyu Oloogunebi Ajinese, who spoke on behalf of other traditional rulers recently, said: “A new state would halt the marginalisation of Oke-Ogun and bring government closer to the people.”

The monarch said Oke-Ogun is constitutionally qualified for a new state, as all the requirements could be met.

According to him, “OkeOgun, which has 10 local council areas, with a population of 1.6 million people, couldn’t continue to be marginalised.”

Oba Ajinese said the human resources of Oke-Ogun people also ranked among the best in Nigeria.

The monarch pointed out that Oyo State, with 33 local council areas, cannot cater for all the communities adequately, adding that “there would always be inequality in the allocation of resources.”

He said most of the wards and constituencies in OkeOgun should be delineated to bring governance closer to the people.

“Four local councils: Iseyin,

Itesiwaju, Kajola, Iwajowa, are producing a member of the House of Representatives, he said, adding, “Two or three representatives would have been ideal if people are to be properly represented.”

Located in the Guinea Savannah of the northern part of Oyo State, Oke-Ogun is fondly referred to as the “food basket” of the South-West.

The area, with annual rainfall of between 700-1,100 millimetres, shares borders with Ogun, Osun, Kwara, Niger and the Republic of Benin.

Because of sustainable annual rainfall, the major economic activities are farming, hunting, fishing and food processing.

The area produces virtually all farm produce such as yam, cassava, cocoyam and plantain, palm fruits, among others.

Oke-Ogun has natural resources to jump-start its economy when it is created.

This is apart from the agricultural resourcefulness of the area, which confers on it the slogan, “Oke-Ogun, the food basket of Oyo State”.

This agricultural resourcefulness of the area has blossomed to the point that other parts of the country are now accessing Oke-Ogun for food supply.

Other dignities at the event include Oniro of Otu, Abiodun Ogunjimi; Prof. Adebayo Lasebikan, Oba Sunday Adepoju, Onigboho of Igboho, Oba John Oyetola Bolarinwa; Chief Ola Adigun Taiwo, Chief Jacob Adetoro and Mrs. Adekunle Agboola.

Oniro of Otu, Abiodun Ogunjimi (left); Prof. Adebayo Lasebikan, Oba Sunday Adepoju and Onigboho of Igboho, Oba John Oyetola Bolarinwa

Chief Ola Adigun Taiwo (left), Chief Jacob Adetoro (third left) and Mrs. Adekunle Agboola

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Sports Countdown To Brazil 2014 World cup

Oboabona worried by Eagles’ lack of communication • Ambassador tips team for success UPER Eagles’ defender, Sappointed Godfrey Oboabona, is disby the two goals conceded by the team in their 1-2 loss to the USA and blames it on lack of communication.

Jozy Altidore was left unmarked to tap in from close-range for the first, then held off the challenge of Yobo to whip in a second.

“I think it was a lack of communication that led to the two goals,” the defender told KickOffNigeria.com. “Because these are the kind of goals that for the last two years I have not seen us concede those kinds of goals.

“I am not the kind of player that criticizes another player because everybody makes mistakes and nobody is perfect but I think we will have to work and communicate well,” he said.

The loss snapped an eightgame unbeaten streak for the Super Eagles, and Oboabona was naturally disappointed, but says the lessons have to be learnt.

“I’m a bit disappointed but not too disappointed because the major purpose of being here is to identify our weaknesses.

“It is better we lose today than get to the World Cup and lose. I think everybody has to learn from this.

“Individually, we have to fight, we have to work hard.

When we lose the ball, we have to come back. We are not putting as much seriousness or commitment as we used to do before.

“But I believe from this game, from the next training, we will have to talk to ourselves so we know what we have to do.”

The team returned to training yesterday n Jacksonville.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Prof. Ade Adefuye, who paid a courtesy call on the Eagles on Saturday afternoon, alongside the Consul General of the Nigeria Consulate in Atlanta, Ambassador Geoffrey Tenelaibe and top embassy staffers, has predicted that the Eagles would do geat thinsg at the Mundial.

Addressing the players, Prof.

Adefuye, who identified most of the players by their names, said he has been a keen follower of the Nigerian national teams at all levels and it was time for the jinx at the senior level to be broken come Brazil 2014.

“We have won the U17 World Cup more than twice, we have played in the final of the U20 World Cup, why can’t we take that excellence and recreate it at the senior level. I believe that this year will be the year the Super Eagles will shock the world and these are the players who will do it,” he said.

He praised the NFF leadership for providing the enabling environment for the team to thrive, noting that in the past it was difficult to witness the peaceful atmosphere that has pervaded the national team.

NFF reiterates stance on World Cup rights’ infringement HEAD of the 2014 FIFA Eagles giving the impression A World Cup in Brazil, the that it was an official sponsor of Nigeria Football Federation the team”.

(NFF) has reiterated its earlier warning to corporate organisations against any form of infringement around the Super Eagles.

The NFF added that the fresh directive became necessary given the fact that Nigerian Breweries(NBL) Plc has been queried over what it called ‘deliberate infringement on the rights of its sponsors to the Nigeria Super Eagles, Guinness Nigeria Plc. It added that on Monday it wrote to the leading brewer through its General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu, decrying the fact that NBL “had launched communication materials across Nigeria featuring ex-players of the Super

The NFF’s letter to the NBL further read “we have equally noticed other outdoor materials with un-named faces in green and white jerseys all in an attempt to associate with the Super Eagles’ participation at the forthcoming FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil, and gain undue advantage.

“We declare that this is nothing but blatant market ambushing and this is not only uncalled – for, but highly unprofessional.”

The NFF added that it gave the NBL seven days within which to remove the said materials on billboards and other outdoor creatives, “failing which the Federation and Guinness will take legal action against and seek appropriate damages.”

Oboabona (left) dribbles past USA’s Jozy Altidore during their international friendly match… at the weekend.

PHOTO: AFP

Keshi explains decision to drop Echiejile, clears Omeruo for opening game ONACO defender, training four days ago. time to play with so we have players originally dropped M Elderson Echiejile, was Omeruo’s clearance is com- to replace him,” Keshi said. from the 30-man provisional dropped from the Super Already Enugu Rangers World Cup list drawn up by Eagles team to the Brazil 2014 World Cup because three weeks was a long time to wait for the former Braga star’s injury to heal, Coach Stephen Keshi has explained.

He also talked on Kenneth Omeruo, who has been carrying a knock for a while.

Speaking on the state of the team at the weekend, Keshi said he had to drop Echiejile for Ejike Uzoenyi because he needed as quick fix ahead of the World Cup, which begins on Thursday.

On Omeruo, Keshi said the Chelsea defender would be fit and ready for Nigeria’s opening game against Iran following the injury he copped in

ing after he went for a scan on his ankle on Saturday morning.

“Doctors have said Echiejile will need up to three weeks to recover from the muscle tear but we don’t have that type of

winger, Ejike Uzoenyi, have been told to get ready to travel to Brazil to link up with his teammates for the Mundial as Echejile’s replacement.

Uzoenyi was one of the seven

Keshi and his crew.

The NFF leadership and world soccer governing body, FIFA, have already been informed of the change and are expected to effect it immediately.

Imoke meets with stakeholders, unveils Centenary Games’ patrons ROSS River State C Governor, Liyel Imoke, will this morning in Lagos meet the Centenary Games stakeholders to discuss ways to make the forthcoming National Sports Festival the most successful in the history of the games.

At the event, former African sprints star, Mary Onyali-

Omagbemi, who is championing the call for more corporate support for sports development in Nigeria, will deliver a keynote address harping on its necessity.

The 19th National Sports Festival is schedule to hold later this year in Calabar.

Speaking on the event,

Cross River State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Patrick Ugbe, said Onyali, an Olympic medalist and holder of the African record in the 200m, will deliver a special address on sports development and the role corporate Nigeria needs to play.

Nigeria Wrestling Federation picks 30 for Commonwealth Games HE Nigeria Wrestling T Federation (NWF) has revealed its determination to make the 2014 Commonwealth Games holding in Glasgow in July and August the best for Nigeria. To that extent, the NWF yesterday announced that it has picked 30 wrestlers for the competition.

A release by the federation says that the wrestlers were picked at the weekend in Warri, Delta State, during the second Chief E. K. Clark National Wrestling Championship, which ended on Saturday.

NWF President, Daniel Igali said the wrestlers are ready to

shake the world with an unprecedented medal haul in Glasgow, adding that most of the wrestlers are African champions.

Nigeria won 10 medals in wrestling at the last Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India but Igali disclosed that the country would double the medals’ haul in Glasgow.

He picked Blessing Oburududu, Soso Tamara, Adekuoroye Odunayo and few others as gold medal hopeful, insisting that Glasgow will be Nigeria’s best outing at the Commonwealth Games.

Though the Commonwealth Games organizers have yanked off Greco-Roman style

from the Games, Nigeria is happy with the caliber of wrestlers going for the Free Style bouts in both male and female, he added.

From the list, 16 male wrestlers and 14 female scaled the hurdle and they have been directed by the National Sports Commission to report in Abuja today for the commencement of preparations for the games.

In the team are Nweke Rosemary and Samuel Bose in the 48kg female and Adekuoroye Odunayo and Mercy Genesis in the 53kg.

Others are Nwoye Ifeoma and Makanjuola Bisola (55kg); Adeniyi Aminat and Opuene

Patience (58kg); Blessing Oborududu and Dawodu Balikasu (63kg); Rueben Annah and Iheanacho Ifeoma (69kg) and Blessing Asiah and Helen Okus (75kg) In the male category are Ebikewenimo and Hudson in 57kg, while Amas Daniel and John Emmanuel will wrestle for gold in 61kg. Samson Clarkson and Romeo Joseph (65kg) ; Isaac Boaz and Arasafa Ziwareten will fight in 70kg.

In the 74 and 86 kg categories are Melvin Biobo and Job Jordan, Dick Adibo and Adewu Asanaka respectively. Others include: Soso Tamara and Kurah Goerge in 97 kg, Sinivie Boitic and Ikpom Paul (120kg).

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Glo Nigeria Premier League

Nasarawa United leads, as Enyimba, Giwa draw ASARAWA United are the N new leaders of the Nigeria league after they defeated Abia Warriors 3-1 and Sharks fell 2-1 at home to Akwa United yesterday.

Nasarawa United, who last season battled against relegation, now have 31 points from 19 matches.

Sharks remain on 28 points after their third loss on the t r o t .

Abia warriors coach Ladan Bosso had boasted before the match at Nasarawa United that he will win it because “I have their passw o r d ” .

And he seemed to be living up to the boast when Ifeanyi Onyeali gave the visitors the lead after 40 minutes.

However, Nasarawa turned on the style thereafter.

USA’s midfielder Jermaine Jones jumps over Super Eagles’ Juwon Oshaniwa during their international friendly match in Florida…at the weekend.

PHOTO: AFP.

Eagles meet NFF, demand World Cup appearance fee LAYERS of the Super Eagles, P led by skipper Joseph Yobo and Mikel Obi, have met with the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to demand an appearance fee for the World Cup, reports Africafootball.com.

This is outside the match bonus, which starts at $10,000-a-man for a first round match win,

announced for the players for Brazil 2014.

“The players led by Yobo and Mikel met with NFF president Aminu Maigari and some of his officials to demand for their own share of the cash FIFA will pay the country for at least featuring in the first round of the World Cup,” a top source informed AfricanFootball.com

Nigeria will already earn more than $9 million for qualification and participation in the first round of the 2014 World Cup and they will get more if they reach the knockout stages of the comp e t i t i o n .

For the World Cup warm-ups against Scotland, Greece and USA, each player received an appearance fee of $3,000.

APCON’s directives threatens NBL’s multi-million World Cup campaign NDICATIONS emerged at IBreweries the weekend that Nigeria (NB) Plc may have incurred the wrath of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) over what industry watchers called ‘infringement of advertising codes’.

An industry source revealed that the regulatory body, APCON may sanction NB Plc over the violation of its guidelines and standards.

Under chapter Three (special provisions) in the APCON alcoholic beverages regulations, Article 32 (b) 33(b) 34(b) 35(b) clearly states that “ c h i l d r e n , sportsmen/women and pregnant women shall not be used as models” in advertising alcoholic beverages.”

NB Plc is said to have violated the above rule by using its popular brand, Star, to endorse former Super Eagles internationals as its sport brand ambassadors, thereby showcasing advertising communications with these models.

This advertisement is said to have been carried out without any agreement with the Nigeria Football Federation

(NFF), which is the property owner of the Super Eagles legends by virtue of their status as former internationals.

Earlier a letter to a letter to NB Plc, the NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu, decried the fact that NB Plc had “launched com-

munication materials across Nigeria featuring former players of the Super Eagles, giving the impression that you are an official sponsor of the team.” The NFF added that it was only Guinness Nigeria Plc that has such right since it was its official sponsors.

Participants at a recent Women Cricket League in Lagos.

Fellow World Cup finalists Ghana are on an appearance fee of $75,000-a-man for the 23 players who made the final cut to Brazil 2014.

It would be recalled that a row over such a fee derailed the Super Eagles at the 1998 World Cup in France as players and officials were locked in lengthy meetings to resolve the impasse.

Most recently, another pay row almost caused the country to miss out on the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, before the Presidency intervened to avoid an international embarrassment.

This has led to the introduction of a code of conduct for the Eagles.

The squad are due in Sao Paolo, Brazil, tomorrow.

Esosa Iginoba drew the home team level just before the interval for his fifth goal of the campaign.

Seun Sogbeso made it 2-1 from the penalty spot, before Ishaya Adamu wrapped up a big win for the Lafia club with a 77th minute s t r i k e .

Title-chasing Enyimba were surprisingly held to a goalless draw at home by Giwa FC, who were led by former Enyimba coach, Kadiri I k h a n a .

Crown FC and Bayelsa United drew 2-2 in Ibadan in a game Bayelsa threw away several begging chances.

Kaduna United eased their relegation worries with a hard-fought 1-0 win at home against Warri Wolves.

Nembe played out a 2-2 draw with Sunshine, while there were home wins for Heartland and Gombe United.

Heartland defeated Lobi stars 1-0 in Owerri, while Gombe United piped Taraba United by the same margin.

The games involving Kano Pillars and Dolphins as well as the E LKanemei versus Rangers match was postponed by the League Management Company (LMC) in tribute to the late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, who passed on Friday.

This was as a mark of honour for the Kano state paramount ruler, Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero who died on Friday morning and has been buried according to Islamic r i t e .

Pillars requested for the postponement and it was approved by LMC, Pillars media officer, Idris Malikawa said.

“LMC has agreed to our request to postpone our match against Dolphins which was to be played on Saturday due to the death of our Emir, Ado Bayero. The match will now be played on Saturday June 14,” Malikawa told AfricanFootball.com El Kanemi boss Mohammed Zana also disclosed that their game with Rangers has been p o s t p o n e d .

“We have been informed that our game against Rangers scheduled for Saturday has been postponed till Saturday, June 14, as a mark of honour for the late Emir of Kano,” Zana disclosed.

Era of discrimination in sports over, says Danagogo HE National Sports T Commission (NSC) may reconsider the exclusion of some sports from the National Sports Festival, the Sports Minister/Chairman, National Sports Commission, Dr. Tammy Danagogo has said.

The move, he said, is to ensure that all sports registered under the NSC are given opportunity to develop, adding that he does not believe that some sports should be classified as lesser sports.

Dr. Danagogo, while making the promise when he graced the first National U-15 Cricket

Championship, which held at the cricket pitch of the Package B of the Abuja National Stadium last Saturday, assured the President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Engr.

Emeka Onyema, who pleaded that cricket be reconsidered as one of the sports for the National Sports Festival, that the National Council on Sports may be reconvened to discuss the issue.

“I do not believe that any sport should be excluded from the sports festival. I believe the festival should be used to develop all sports. Cricket is one of the serious federations that doesn’t run to me for funds.

“If cricket can rank 34th in the world without support from the government, if government and the private sector come in to support them, then they will do better than they are doing now,” he said, stressing “government should do everything possible to garner laurels from all sports.”

While reaffirming that he will implement the Federal Government’s roadmap to developing sports in the country, the minister stressed that “the era of discrimination of some sports will be over with me on the saddle as sports minister. Since the National Council on Sports is the policy making body where decisions are taken on matters of the sports festival, I will see if its meeting can be reconvened to re-evaluate the decision to exclude some sports.”

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DStv PBL: Final Eight qualifiers emerge

By Adeyinka Adedipe ITH one game remainw ing in the regular season of the DStv Premier Basketball League, Atlantic Conference teams, Islanders of Lagos, Dodan warriors Basketball Club, Union Bank Basketball Club and Oluyole warriors, have confirmed their places in the Final Eight that will hold in Lagos.

Also, defending champions, Kano Pillars, Mark Mentors of Abuja, Gombe Bulls and Plateau Peaks have also made it to the Final Eight from the Savannah Conference.

In some of the games decided at the weekend, Islanders defeated Union Bank 67-61 to return to the top of the Atlantic Conference table, Dodan warriors beat Police Baton 83-64 to maintain second spot, Oluyole warriors dumbed Nigeria Customs 95-

73, while Royal Hoopers defeated Kwara Falcons 10067.

In the Savannah Conference, Pillars beat Kada Stars in Kaduna to record their 12 win of the season, Mentors had the better of Bauchi Nets as the game ended 89-63, Niger Potters defeated Gombe Bulls 42-37 in a low scoring game, while Plateau Peaks defeated Immigration 73-49.

In the Atlantic Conference, the battle for the drop is between Police Baton and Hoopers and both teams would do their aspiration a lot of good with a win in their final game this week.

Kada Stars with two wins from 13 games, currently occupy the last spot in the Savannah Conference.

Secretary of Dodan warriors, Joe Apu told The Guardian yesterday that the team would review its regu-

lar season performance with a view of doing better in the Final Eight. while not dismissing the Atlantic Conference teams, Apu noted that the biggest threat would come from the teams from the Savannah Conference. “we will plan well for the Final Eight, but having played and known our opponents in the Atlantic Conference, I am sure that the greatest threat will come from the Savannah Conference teams that will be led by defending Champions, Kano Pillars.

“As a team, we give our best at all times and our fans should expect nothing less than 100 per cent at the Final Eight. It is not going to be easy, but as warriors we are ready for the battle,” Apu added.

Nigeria’s Jimkan Bulus and Ola Fagbemi won the men’s doubles at the just concluded Lagos International Badminton Classics.

Lagos International Badminton Classics

Nigeria dominates doubles, as Israel, Italy claim singles titles ESPITE its inability to take D part in more competitions like their foreign counterparts, Nigerian players made it to the podium at the Lagos International Badminton Classics by dominating the doubles events.

However, the foreigners took charge in the singles

events with Israel and Italy clinching the titles.

Nigeria’s duo of Jinkam Bulus and Ola Fagbemi settled for second place in the men’s double after losing to the current African champion, South Africa’s pair of Andries Malan and willem Viljoen 21-10, 22-20.

Countdown to Warri Relay/CAA Super Grand Prix

Lagos Islanders’ Chinwendu Nwaigbo (right) tries to outwit Union Bank’s Solomon Ajeagbeyi during their 2014 Nigeria DStv Premier Basketball League game held at the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium, Lagos…at the weekend.

Dairy Farm, Ikotun High School win GTBank Principals Cup AIRy FARM School, Agege, D has emerged the champions in this year’s Season Five GTBank Principals Cup in Lagos, by beating Oriwu Senior Model College by 2-0 in a nail biting finals at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

For the victory, Dairy Farm clinched the N1 million prize in the GTBank sponsored tournament, which is an annual football competition geared towards the development of grassroots football.

In the entertaining encounter witnessed by the Managing Director of GTBank, Segun Agbaje and the Lagos State Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Enitan wahid Oshodi, amongst other top personalities, Dairy Farm School, which won the third edition of the competition, got its goals through Sunday Adeoye, who scored in each half.

In the girls’ category, Ikotun Senior High with yetunde Fajobi also netting a brace for in its 2-1 defeat of Government Senior College, Agege.

Speaking after the final game, Sunday Adeoye, who was the tournament’s Most Valuable Player in the male

category, attributed his team’s success to the availability of quality training facilities in the school.

He added that the football pitch donated to Dairy Farm School by GTBank when they emerged champions of the third edition of the competition, assisted them in training rigorously for the competition.

Aside the N1 million cash prize for the winner in both categories, the second placed teams got N750 000, bronze medalists got N500,000 and N250,000 respectively.

In his remarks, GTBank’s General Manager, Communications and External Affairs, Lola Odedina, expressed satisfaction with the level of talent displayed in the competition, adding that she was confident that the competition would impact positively on the lives of the students.

She also urged players and coaches of other schools in the tournament to see their defeat as a call to prepare well for the next edition of the competition. She also challenged them to see it as a learning curve and a springboard to build on for better performances.

Montsho leads world-class athletes to Delta ORMER world Champion, Fleads Botswana Amantle Montsho, other world-class athletes to Delta State on Friday for the warri Relay/CAA Super Grand Prix.

Montsho, who was crowned world champion at the IAAF world Championships in Athletics in Daegu with a personal best time of 49.56 is a twotime African Championships gold medallist and has also won titles in the event at the 2007 AllAfrica Games, the 2010 IAAF Continental Cup and the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Her Commonwealth Games win made her Botswana’s first ever gold medallist at the games.

Also expected in warri from Botswana are Boipelo Vike, Oarabile Babolai, Larona Koshimile, Isaac Makwala, Pako Seribe, Sakaria Kamberuka, Leaname Maotoanong, Lydia

Mashila and other members of the country’s relay teams.

Neighbor, Benin Republic, is sending its four relay teams, while Gambia and Ghana have also confirmed their relay teams for the event.

Long distance runners, Sisay Korme and Mojo Male are coming from Ethiopia.

Guyana sprinter, Adam Harris, Mohammed Ashour Khouaja from Libya and Aziz Ouhadi from Morocco are other foreign athletes that will also compete at the one-day meet.

Dominique Duncan, Nicole Denby, Nwaneka Okwuologu, Endurance Abinuwa, Abiola Onakoya, Tameka Jameson, Ngonna Ndu, Francesca Okwara, Christy Udoh, Tosin Oke, Antwon Hicks, Asumnu Gloria, Stephen Mozia, Olu Olamigoke and the nation’s quarter-mile sensation, Regina George will fly Nigeria’s flag at the meet.

In the mixed doubles, Nigeria’s pair of Enejoh Abah and Tosin Atolagbe claimed the coveted title for the host after beating South Africa’s Andries Malan and Jennnifer Fry 26-24, 22-20 in the final.

It was a Nigerian affair in the women’s doubles final, as Dorcas Adesokan and Maria Buraimoh combined well to beat Tosin Atolagbe and Fatima Azeez 21-19, 22-20.

In the men’s singles, the tournament number one seed, Israel’s Misha Zilberman lived up to expectation by overcoming Austria’s Luka wraber 21-15, 21-12 to clinch the prize money of $1,830, while Italy’s Jeanie Cicognini eased to victory after she defeated Slovakia’s Martina Pepiska 21-

19, 21-9 in the women’s single.

An elated Zilberman lauded the organisers of the tournament, while looking forward to coming back to defend his title.

“I always want to give my best, but I won the tournament because I was taking it one step at a time. wraber did everything good but I was faster, while he was slower. we have met twice and we both won once.” said Zilberman.

The Israeli also applauded the standard of the competition and quality of organisation, saying, “The organisation was good. The volunteers were of great help and they assisted me each time I needed help. I enjoyed my stay here and I am happy to have won.

Ogbemudia lauds Danagogo on Omorodion’s appointment • Minister praises Alhaji Olowu wO time governor of Edo T State, Brig. Gen. Samuel Ogbemudia (Rtd.) has commended Sports Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, for appointing Mr. Patrick Omorodion as his Special Assistant (Media).

In a congratulatory letter dated May 20, 2014 addressed to Mr. Omorodion and signed

by Dr. Ogbemudia, the former Director General of the

Executive Director, Greensprings School, Mrs. Lai Koiki (second left) with scholarship awardees, Elvis Onyenze (left), Toheeb Murtala, Haruna Hadi and Musa Alli. The four students from public schools in Lagos were awarded scholarships by the management of Greensprings School to further their education in the school. Onyenze and Alli were members Nigeria’s U-15 football team that won the football event at the African Youth Games in Gaborone, Botswana.

National Sports Commission (NSC), said Omorodion’s appointment as the Special Assistant on Media was coming at a time when there was the need to formulate “a national sports policy that will clearly draw the line on whether our sports should be for recreation only or for national mobilization, economic growth and international diplomacy.”

He therefore urged the Special Assistant to use his appointment to advocate his lofty ideas to his principals that would ensure the formulation and implementation of people-oriented policies that would change the fortunes of sports in Nigeria.

The letter further noted that Mr. Omorodion’s antecedent in sports journalism has demonstrated an intense concern for sports development in Nigeria, a situation he described as very “patriotic.”

Meanwhile, Sports Minister/Chairman, National Sports Commission, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, has congratulated Nigeria’s longest living Olympian, Alhaji Karim Olowu, popularly called KAB, who turned 90 years on Friday, June 7, 2014.

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World Cup Wilmots calm over Lukaku’s injury

Gerrard unhappy with draw against Honduras NGLAND captain Steven E Gerrard was far from happy with Honduras’ approach to their 0-0 friendly draw in Miami.

Wild storms off the pitch appeared on it too as a number of Honduras’ players left their mark on England’s players.

None of Roy Hodgson’s men were injured, but the tactics, combined with a 45-minute storm delay, left Gerrard unhappy.

“I think if you look at the chances we had the better, but we’re quite frustrated,” he told ITV 1.

“I’m quite frustrated. I thought the ref was poor, the game was interrupted, there was a big one in the first half and they were doing stupid fouls. There was no rhythm, we’re frustrated but relieved at no injuries.

“I thought there were some horrific tackles for a friendly.

I got caught with a bad one.”

Referencing when Daniel Sturridge, lying on the floor, had a ball slammed into his chest, Gerrard added: “I don’t understand refs seeing balls slammed into players’ chests... It’s a clear red card.

“But we came through with no injuries. We’re frustrated, but we got a clean sheet and

no injuries.”

Honduras was eventually reduced to 10 men when Brayan Beckeles was sent off, but England could not break them down.

“I thought we were just about to slice through them and it was a great relief for them when the rain came,” goalkeeper Joe Hart said.

“We had to do it (the break), but we came out and got on with it.”

Hodgson tried to be more diplomatic and did not talk as openly about the Hondurans’ approach.

“They were quite physical,” he said.

“It was a real stop-start game, one of the most frustrating I’ve been involved in for a long time. We had a long stoppage, I thought we dealt with it and in the second half it was attack v defence.

“They got their men behind the ball and we didn’t take our chances. We attempted to make them but this is a game I will soon forget.

“I will take the draw and that we got away without injuries and that we have experience against Central American opposition.”

Hodgson also offered positive news about the fitness of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Romelu Lukaku SdaysTRIKER will need to rest for several after injuring his ankle in Saturday’s warm-up against Tunisia but will be fit for the World Cup, according to Belgium coach, Marc Wilmots.

The 21-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Everton from Chelsea, came on after 61 minutes of Belgium’s 1-0 victory in Brussels but limped off shortly before the end of the match.

“He’s in pain but the doctors don’t think it’s too serious, at least at first glance,” said Wilmots.

“He will be checked over more closely on Sunday but it’s probably a bad sprain.

Hopefully he just needs three or four days to recover.”

The news of Lukaku’s injury was a worrying development for Belgium, who lost Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke

to a ruptured Achilles tendon in April.

Teenage Lille player, Divock Origi, who started on Saturday before being replaced by Lukaku, is the only other specialist striker in the squad, although Wilmots can call on an enviable cast of attacking talent including Premier League stars Adnan Januzaj, Eden Hazard and Kevin Mirallas.

Wilmots criticised Tunisia for what he perceived as overly physical approach in a friendly game so close to the start of the World Cup. “I had hoped there wouldn’t be any injuries but in the changing rooms all I saw were bruises and ice-packs,” he said.

Belgium is in Group B in Brazil, kicking off their campaign against Algeria on June 17 before taking on Russia and South Korea.

Gerrard A knee injury suffered against Ecuador on Wednesday looked to have ended the Arsenal man’s World Cup hopes, but Hodgson said: “It’s time for

the real thing now.

“Everyone is fit. OxladeChamberlain is making good progress. I think he’ll make the tournament without a shadow of a doubt.”

Brazilian president welcomes Nigerians to World Cup, calls for global peace President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, has called on Nigerians and all visitors to the Mundial to look for ways of fostering peaceful coexistence among the different peoples of the world. She believes the World Cup, which kicks off on Thursday, would be a great tool for peace and the fight against all forms of discrimination, the Cup for tolerance, for dialogue, for understanding and for sustainability. Published below is the full text of President Rouseff’s message made available to The Guardian by the Brazilian Embassy: TARTING this Thursday, the Sworld eyes and hearts of the will all be turned to Brazil. Thirty-two national teams representing the best in football in the world will all be vying for the World Cup, the event that, every four years, makes us all football fans.

This is the time for football’s largest international festival, but it is also time for us to celebrate, thanks to football, the values of fair play and peaceful coexistence among all peoples. It is an opportunity to reinvigorate the humanistic values of Pierre de Coubertin: the values of peace, harmony and tolerance.

The “Cup of Cups,” as we affectionately call it, will also be the Cup for peace and against racism, the Cup for inclusion and against all forms of discrimination, the Cup for tolerance, for dialogue, for understanding and for sustainability.

Organizing the World Cup is a source of pride for Brazilians. On and off the field, we are united and dedicated to providing a great spectacle. For one month, visitors coming to our country will discover that Brazil has become a mature, thriving democracy.

Over the last twelve years, we have advanced one of the

most successful projects to raise income distribution, employment levels and social inclusion in the history of the world. We have reduced inequality at stunning levels, bringing 42 million Brazilians into the middle class and lifting 36 million Brazilians out from extreme poverty in one decade.

We are also now a vibrant democracy, despite living under a dictatorship a few decades ago. We enjoy the most absolute freedom and coexist harmoniously with popular demonstrations and demands, which help us improve and perfect our democratic institutions ever more.

In all 12 host cities of the World Cup, visitors can get an up-close view of the diversity of our culture and our geography. We are a country of music, of natural beauty, of cultural diversity, of ethnic and religious harmony, of respect for the environment.

It is true that football was indeed born in England, but we like to think that it was in Brazil that it made its home. It is here where Pelé, Garrincha, Didi and many other football masters who have dazzled millions around the world were born.

So when the World Cup comes back to Brazil after 64

years, it feels like football has returned home.

We are the Land of Football because of our glorious history of five world championships and for the passion that every Brazilian dedicates to their team, to their heroes and to the Seleção, our National Team.

The love of our people for football has become part of

Oxlade-Chamberlain

our national identity. For us, football is a celebration of life.

On behalf of 201 million Brazilians, I would like to extend our warm welcome to all fans from Nigeria and to all visitors who have come to Brazil to share the “Cup of Cups” with us.

• Dilma Rousseff, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil

PHOTO:AFP

Lukaku

Hodgson waits for Oxlade-Chamberlain recovery NGLAND manager Roy E Hodgson will give Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain until 24 hours before their World Cup opener with Italy to prove his fitness.

The Arsenal winger suffered a medial knee ligament injury in England’s warm-up game with Ecuador on 5 June.

Everton’s John Stones or Liverpool’s John Flanagan would take his place.

“We won’t make a decision before we get to Brazil. It will be at the very last moment, which is 24 hours before we play our first game,” Hodgson said.

“I won’t be dashing out to replace him just because I might have to accept he can’t play in the first game or something like that.

“We’re entitled to think we may go on outside of the group. We may have a longer tournament and we may want him around.”

England could name a replacement up until June 13, and Hodgson says that either Stones, 20, or Flanagan, 21, both defenders, would replace Oxlade-Chamberlain

rather than another attacking player.

“I’m not certain that anyone we choose to replace him will give us a similar addition,” he said.

“John Stones and Jon Flanagan will both leave the squad, but I will alert them that there is a good chance that if the worst happened and we had to bring someone else back in I would probably turn to one of those two.”

Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling was sent off in England’s friendly against Ecuador and will be suspended for the final warm-up encounter with Honduras.

But Hodgson says the red card for the 19-year-old has not jeopardised his chances of starting England’s opening match against Italy in Manaus on 14 June.

“I am disappointed for him that he got sent off but it does not affect his chances of playing,” Hodgson added.

“I don’t need a performance from him tomorrow to tell me if he is good enough to play against Italy.”

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World Cup

Neymar has improved since Barca move, says Pele HE three-time World Cup T winner thinks the 22-yearold is ready to carry the team

Neymar

Lawmakers angry over Spain’s €720,000 win bonus of the squad’s premium in players will each get ment.

S000PAIN a World Cup bonus of €720 “Are we twice as rich as parliament and lambasted football for being “another ($980 000) each if they Germany?” his tweet said. win the tournament in Brazil, sparking anger among lawmakers.

Captain Iker Casillas and vice-captain Xavi Hernandez signed the deal with Spain’s football federation on June 3 on behalf of the 23 players.

It was an increase from the €600,000 euros each player received when Spain won the 2010 tournament.

Lawmakers, Pablo Martin Pere and Susana Ros of the opposition Socialist party, criticised the premium as “disproportionate” and “an insult to citizens” given the recent economic crisis.

Lawmaker Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida tweeted that Spain would pay “more than twice” the bonus Germany would if it wins the tourna-

Germany’s team will receive €300,000 euros if they win, having kept the same agreement they struck when they participated in Euro 2012.

Spain’s economy began to crumble in 2008 with the collapse of its bloated realestate sector, and unemployment soared to 26.1 per cent at the close of 2013.

Like other countries that have the euro as their currency - such as Ireland, Portugal or Greece - Spain suffered as the government imposed harsh austerity measures in order to get its public finances into shape.

Despite stinging cutbacks, unemployment will remain above 20 per cent until 2017.

Lawmaker Laia Ortiz said she would raise the matter

world” where “there is no crisis.”

Each member will receive a payment of €360,000 if the squad reaches the final, and €180,000 if it makes the semi-finals.

Spain attacking midfielder, Juan Mata, said such payments were “sometimes used against us,” but that he would be playing “with the same enthusiasm I had as a child, in a bid to try and win another World Cup, without thinking about all the rest.”

The 2014 World Cup winner will be awarded $35 million

by FIFA, football’s governing body, but many say the money should go toward programmes that promote the game at all levels.

Johnson believes Three Lions have improved LEN Johnson believes the G pace and attacking ability at Roy Hodgson’s disposal makes this England side unlike any other Italy will have faced before.

The countries meet for the 25th occasion this weekend in their Group D opener at the Arena Amazonia in Manaus, having first met in 1933.

Italy was the opponents in England’s last match at a major international tournament, when they bowed out on penalties after a 0-0 draw at Euro 2012.

Johnson is one of the six that started in Kiev available this weekend and warned the Azzurri their new attacking capabilities makes them a completely different proposition to two years ago.

“I think we had a good team when we played Italy last time, but now we have more players who can hurt them attacking-wise,” the Liverpool right-back said.

“We have a bit more pace in the squad as well so hopefully we will get further on.

“I don’t think Italy will have met an England team like this before. The team we had before was a good side but maybe it was slightly defensive.

“If we can defend well now and use some of the pace and

ability we have going forward we can cause problems.”

Johnson and his team-mates arrived in Brazil on Sunday morning, having travelled overnight following their 0-0 draw with Honduras in Miami.

on his shoulders and feels there is a great blend of youth and experience in the Brazil team Brazil icon Pele says he thinks Neymar has improved a great deal since he joined Barcelona and hailed the attacker as a “genius”.

The 22-year-old joined the Spanish giants from Santos last summer and picked up 13 goals and 11 assists in La Liga and the Champions League.

The youngster is expected to be Brazil’s main source of creativity and goals at this summer’s World Cup as the South Americans look to take the title for the sixth time.

And Pele, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970, feels the forward has developed over the course of the season and feels he can carry the team this summer.

“In 1958, I was only 17 and I played club football in only my country,” he told Times of India. “Neymar is 22 and he has the experience of playing in Spain for one year.

“Times have changed now. It helps a player to adapt to different styles of football. I feel Neymar will be a better player following his stint with Barcelona. He has amazing talent.

“And he has the ability to carry the team on his shoulders like he did during the Confederations Cup. The boy is a genius.”

The 73-year-old discussed Luiz Felipe Scolari’s 23-man squad for the summer showpiece.

“There is a perfect blend of youth and experience. The goalkeeper and defenders are experienced while the attackers and midfielders are on the younger side.

“It helps, since you need more experienced players in defence, while in attack, the youthfulness of the players can make a difference.

“They are not afraid to do something unorthodox and that pays in football. Scolari has been there, done that. He has a towering presence over his players. We certainly can win the hexa at the Maracana.”

Pele added he feels there are several teams who can challenge for the world crown this year, listing Argentina, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Uruguay as contenders. “Germany can do it this time,” he added.

“They have been waiting for too many years for their fourth crown. They have a strong side and their footballers have come back from injuries at the right moment, just before the cup.

“Argentina can win it if they play well defensively. The trio of (Lionel) Messi, (Sergio) Aguero and (Gonzalo) Higuain should score lots of goals.

“Uruguay in South America are always a threat and they proved it by winning the Copa America in 2011.

“Italy always play well in the World Cup. Spain can defend their crown while Cristiano Ronaldo is in the form of his life. I am so happy for him.”

The incredible amounts of money Brazil have spent in preparing for the World Cup against the backdrop of great poverty and social inequality has provoked a lot of anger in the country and protests have been ongoing throughout the country.

And Pele feels football and politics shouldn’t be mixed.

“It might, but we all pray that such things should not happen. I have my sympathies with the common people of Brazil who are the sufferers.

“But World Cup football and these problems are two different things. They should not mix them. People are protesting against the government and its policies, which led to delays in getting the venues ready. Football and footballers are not going to be affected by public sentiment.

Cameroun’s coach says players bonus issue is settled Cameroon beat Moldova 1-0 AMEROUN coach, Volker Cup. C Finke, has rubbished “The agreement is there and in their final warm-up game reports his side were going to there’s no point making such on Saturday. After facing pull out of the World Cup in a row over bonus payments by saying they will be in Brazil in time to face Mexico on Friday.

A report in France’s L’Equipe yesterday claimed that the Cameroun players had refused to board the plane that was due to take them to Brazil since no agreement had been reached with the Camerounian Football Association over the level of bonuses in Brazil.

Finke says that an agreement has now been struck and the team will be flying out to Brazil on Sunday.

“It’s just one of those things that these agreements can take longer in Africa,” Finke, a former coach of Bundesliga side Freiburg, told Germany’s Sport1 television.

“That agreement was struck this morning and now we can fly to Brazil today “Our fans will be pleased Cameroon will of course be participating in the World

a big fuss out of the whole thing. It’s really not as big as it has been made out to be in recent days.”

Mexico, they will also come up against Croatia and Brazil in the group stage of the competition.

Eto

Ronaldo returns to training ORTUGAL has been handP ed a boost ahead of the World Cup as Cristiano

Johnson

Ronaldo resumed training following injury.

The 29-year-old, who is his country’s record goalscorer, has been struggling with tendinosis in his left knee, as well as a thigh injury, which caused him to miss his Portugal’s warm-up fixtures against Greece and Mexico.

With the Real Madrid for-

ward not having trained with his team-mates since joining up with the squad last week, there had been concerns that he would miss his country’s opening Group G game against Germany.

However, the Portuguese Football Association provided an encouraging update on both Ronaldo and midfielder Raul Meireles, who had also been struggling with injury.

An FPF statement read: “Cristiano Ronaldo and Raul Meireles integrated with the remaining group of players.”

Former Liverpool player Meireles, who now plays for Fenerbahce in Turkey, had been struggling with a muscular problem.

In addition, central defender Pepe worked away from the main group of players as he continued his own recovery from a leg injury.

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Murray appoints Amelie Mauresmo as coach RITISH number, one Andy B Murray has appointed former women’s world number one, Amelie Mauresmo as his new coach.

Mauresmo, 34, is currently France’s Fed Cup captain and will initially work with Murray for the grass court season.

Murray, 27, will start the defence of his Queen’s Club title next week before defending his Wimbledon crown.

“I’m excited by the possibilities of the new partnership and Amelie is someone I have always looked up to and admired,” the Scot said.

“She’s faced adversity plenty of times in her career, but was an amazing player and won major titles, including Wimbledon. I have a very strong coaching team already in place, but I think Amelie brings with her experience and tactical expertise and will push us all to improve.

“Everyone I know talks very highly of Amelie, as a person and coach, and I’m convinced that her joining the team will help us push on - I want to win more Grand Slams.

“I’ve always had a strong female influence in my career. With my mum especially she listened extremely well and that’s something I needed right now.”

Mauresmo said that Murray had first contacted her “a few weeks ago” and it was “a bit of surprise”.

The Frenchwoman added: “I guess it is a big story and a step forward for female coaches, but that is not my big concern right now.

“I’m happy about the new challenge. I want to help Andy, it is the only thing I have in mind right now.”

Mauresmo has committed to being Murray’s coach for a “significant amount of weeks” although she later added: “We are going to do the grass court season and then we’ll talk after that.”

Murray has been without a coach since the departure of Ivan Lendl in March, with the pair having worked together for two years in which the Scot won Olympic gold, the 2012 US Open and last year’s Wimbledon.

Mauresmo’s appointment comes after the French Open in which she watched Murray’s first-round win over Andrey Golubev.

Murray, who was coached by his mother Judy earlier in his career, went on to reach the semi-finals where his challenge was emphatically ended by Rafael Nadal.

Mauresmo is a former Wimbledon and Australian Open champion.

Rafael Nadal with the French Open trophy… yesterday

Otu, Adebisi win Ekiti Governor’s Cup OHN Otu and Sarah Adebisi Jmen yesterday emerged the and women singles champions respectively of the 1st Ekiti Governor All Nigeria Open Tennis Championship.

Playing before a large crowd, which included Engr.

Segun Oni, the former Governor of Ekiti State, Otu defeated Edward Christopher 7-6 (2), 6-2, while Adebisi confirmed her new status as Nigeria’s topranked female player with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Nosa Esorae.

It was the first major domestic title for the 17-year-old who was a finalist at the 2013 CBN Open and also a semifinalist in the same tourna-

ment in Lagos last month.

“I did not play well because I lost some points, which I shouldn’t have, but I’m very happy to become a champion for the first time in the open category,” Adebisi, a former number one player in Africa for Girls 14 stated.

Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) Vice President, Yemi Owoseni restated Ekiti State government commitment to the development of the tennis, promising to make the tournament bigger in subsequent editions.

Otu and Adebisi pocketed N100, 000 and N75, 000, while they also each amassed 18 points in the NTF rankings.

Nadal wins ninth French Open title AFAEL Nadal saw off the R threat of Novak Djokovic for another year to win his ninth French Open title and a record fifth in succession.

The Spaniard, 28, coped better in hot conditions as he won 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 in three hours and 31 minutes.

Nadal is the first man ever to win a major title nine times, taking his Grand Slam total to 14.

The victory also means he will remain world number one ahead of Djokovic.

It is the third year in a row that Nadal has ended Djokovic’s hopes of winning the one Grand Slam title he

lacks, with the Serb in particular struggling on a stifling Parisian afternoon and ending with a double fault on match point.

Nadal extended his incredible run at Roland Garros to 66 wins and just one defeat in the last 10 years.

That record looked under threat when he dropped the first set as his usually fearsome forehand let him down, five errors handing Djokovic the initiative.

Both men were having to work hard in temperatures of around 27C, and Djokovic was the first to ask for iced towels to wrap around his neck at the changeovers.

Nadal finally made his move when he broke for 4-2, only to lose his advantage straight away as the nervous errors returned in the following

game.

Djokovic had won their last four matches but taking on Nadal in a five-set contest on Court Philippe Chatrier is a very different kind of test.

The 27-year-old Serb faltered badly with a tie-break in sight, offering up a double fault and a forehand error before Nadal smacked a forehand winner to level the score.

It was a huge blow to Djokovic’s hopes and he faded further in the third set.

After dumping a straightforward volley in the net to lose serve in game two, the second seed took some tablets at a changeover in an attempt to improve his condition.

Nadal scented victory once again, breaking twice on his way to the set and leaving

Djokovic to stare in disbelief at coach Boris Becker in the stands after one error.

Another poor volley and a wild backhand into the tramlines saw Djokovic fall 4-2 down in the fourth, but Nadal was now having his own issues, bending over apparently in some discomfort and badly mistiming a smash to give the break straight back.

With cloud cover giving Djokovic some respite from the sun, he was showing signs of launching a renewed assault only to falter with his opponent under pressure.

A terrific backhand pass helped Nadal to match point and Djokovic, disrupted by a call from the crowd, fired his second serve long to leave the Spaniard on his knees in his familiar celebratory pose.

Don’t judge Eagles with friendly games, TAN coordinator urges fans ESPITE the not-tooD impressive performance of the Super Eagles in their

Super Eagles’ forward, Shola Ameobi contest the ball with USA defender, Matt Besler during the PHOTOS: AFP international friendly match at EverBank Field on Saturday in Jacksonville, Florida.

tune-up game ahead Brazil 2014 World Cup, T r a n s f o r m a t i o n Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) has urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the team.

The Eagles were beaten by USA 2-1 in the early hours of yesterday, played a 2-2 draw against Scotland and another 0-0 draw against Greece.

Coordinator of the group, Orji Okoronkwo stated yesterday that friendly games were to prepare the team for the Mundial and expressed optimism that the team would blend into a solid one before its first game on

Saturday.

Orji stated that Nigerians should rally round the team instead of condemning Coach Stephen Keshi and his players. “While we agree at TAN that friendly matches are played to test the team’s ability, but the players should also be careful, as so many players have been ruled out of the World Cup due to injury sustained in the build up to the competition.

“What we need to do at this point is to rally round the Eagles and give them our total support, which will be crucial to their success in Brazil, Okoronkwo added.

He also lamented the loss of

Elderson Echiejile to injury and called on other players to give their best at the competition. “It is sad that we have lost one of our top players, but I am sure that Keshi will find a suitable replacement before they play their first game against Iran.”

Okoronkwo noted that Eagles victory at the African Nations Cup IN 2014, shows that they the Nigerian team has what it takes to do well at the World Cup. He stated the TAN ‘Fly Me To Brazil Promo, which produced 12 winners, was a way of leaning support to the Eagles and assured that the winners would leave for Brazil on Thursday.

TheGuardian www.ngrguardiannews.com

Monday, June 9, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Adewale Kupoluyi HE upsurge in criminal activities in the counT try may also be attributed to the not-so-publicised but the significant role of entities like unregistered and illegal non-governmental organisations (NGOs) littering every nooks and crannies of the nation. No doubt, these illegal Please send reactions and feedback for YOUTH SPEAK to: NGOs seem to be making fast incursions into editorial@risenetworks.org and 07067976667- SMS ONLY the socio-economic life of the nation because of the failure of the appropriate authorities to put a tab on their activities.

The proliferation of NGOs has been linked to the end of the Cold War of the 1990s and the attempt to expand both the liberal democratic approach and a neo-liberal economic order to governance. NGOs are then seen as the key engines in the drive towards positive change. In Nigeria, the increase in the activities of NGOs actually began in the late 1980s during the military era that promoted the policy on the World Bank/International Monetary Fund-aided Structural Adjustment Programmes while donor support for NGOs was connected to a wider interest and faith-based civil societies as crucial institutional mechanism toward democratisation and development.

Proliferation of the NGOs in our country may still not be divorced from the prevailing economic climate that has made employment a big issue as many able-bodied men and women daily roam about the streets looking desperately for what to do to survive. As no jobs are forthcoming, they would ordinarily want to try their hands on anything and many things at the same time, due to restiveness and a bid to survive. Of course, one of such options could be experimenting on floating an NGO with like minds.

Manifesting the ugly side of this proliferation, just a few days ago, the Lagos State Police Command arrested six members of a gang that allegedly specialised in using children suffering from various ailments to solicit funds from unsuspecting members of the public, as the operatives rescued a two-year-old girl suffering from cancer of the eyes from them. The kingpin of the gang was said to have abandoned his cartpushing business for the ‘lucrative, alms-begging business’. As he had allegedly confessed: “I was making small amount of money from cart- Inspector General of police, Mohammed Abubakar pushing until I met my master, who told me that we could make a lot of money by using children suffering from ailments such as cancer further by convincing the parents of these director also bought a motorcycle for our vicand epilepsy, to solicit for alms from members victim-children by making fake promises tim’s father and sends him monthly stipend”, of the public … We don’t use blind kids because and pledge to give them medical aid. But at the gang leader had confessed.

What should be the utmost concern of everypeople don’t respond to blind persons. We go to the end, what happens? They merely bring remote villages to search for children with seri- the children to the cities, use them to beg body is the stark reality that not only is the for money on the streets, enrich themselves future of these innocent children being mortous diseases that can move people”.

On their modus operandi, he disclosed that “we and dump them without rendering the gaged by these mischievous people; it is saddening that their parents and guardians also convince the parents that we were working for a promised and so-called medical assistance.

No doubt, this is really a big time business. get enmeshed in the criminality even without non-governmental organisation, which cares for the sick and the girl’s father allowed the Hear this: “We were making an average of knowing. For instance, an indigent woman child and mother to go with us. We lodged in N30,000 everyday and we were paying the was said to have been raped by members of an hotels. We made so much money before people money into our director’s account. There is officially non-existing NGO, which promised could start suspecting us”. What it means is that a lot of money in the business because we to help treat her two-and-half year-old daughthose engaging in this ‘trade’ are well-organised were paying N6,000 daily as hotel accom- ter of cancer. The woman said members of the in that they could have the structure, tactics, modation and we were giving the child’s fake NGO approached her and assured her offices, operational tools and ‘staff’ that go mother N1,000 everyday for feeding. Our that they could raise money with which to carry out a surgery on her baby in Lagos. Out about luring vulnerable members of the public into their illegal activities. They even go a step 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 We were making an average of Society and contribute to National Discourse on diverse issues especially those that are pecuN30,000 everyday and we were pay- liar 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 ing the money into our director’s 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 account. There is a lot of money in and to find out more about Youth Speak, please visit the business because we were pay- publications www.risenetworks.org/youthspeak and join the ongoing National Conversations’’.

Making fortune out of other peoples’ misfortune

ing N6,000 daily as hotel accommodation and we were giving the child’s mother N1,000 everyday for feeding.

Our director also bought a motorcycle for our victim’s father and sends him monthly stipend

Also join our on-line conversation

RISE GROUP

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Editor: MARTINS

OLOJA

.

I was making small amount of money from cart-pushing until I met my master, who told me that we could make a lot of money by using children suffering from ailments such as cancer and epilepsy, to solicit for alms from members of the public …

We don’t use blind kids because people don’t respond to blind persons. We go to remote villages to search for children with serious diseases that can move people of excitement, the poor woman was said to have followed them with the consent of her husband - supposedly without knowing the real motive behind the Greek gift. However, the true intention of the men became clearer as they reportedly started soliciting alms on the streets with the child while they were going about with the gullible woman.

“They would ask me to stand on the road with my child. People were usually moved with pity on seeing my baby with a swollen face. On several occasions, I have asked them to give me the money realised in order to carry out surgical operation on my baby - who has eye and mouth cancer - but they kept assuring me that they would do that at the right time”, she lamented. In the course of the illicit business, the woman claimed that one of the men forcefully had carnal knowledge of her and in the process got pregnant. Prior to that time, she had said several attempts to convince her husband to allow her go back home failed as her husband always encouraged her to stay on but unknown to her, members of the syndicate had bought her husband a motorbike and remitted an average of N15,000 into his account every month with the blood money!

Perhaps, this couple and several others in similar circumstances could have been saved from being defrauded if the husband and wife had been open to each other in their dealings. Most problems plaguing the society are borne out of the inability of the family, a social institution, to be alive to its sacred responsibility in this turbulent world.

As a way out, the police and other law enforcement agencies should scrutinise the activities of the NGOs by paying routine and surprise visits to their offices and hideouts. Those found guilty should be prosecuted alongside their backers. That is why the latest effort of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission - to begin the prosecution of government officials involved in running unregistered NGOs - is commendable. However, the fight should not be left to the ICPC alone. The Corporate Affairs Commission should come in and be more thorough in the process of registering new NGOs by ensuring that interested registrants with doubtful objectives are denied registration while those that had already scaled the hurdle are periodically monitored, as required of the Commission by virtue of Section 7 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

Finally, while many NGOs in Nigeria are really credible and doing great in their chosen areas of specialisation, it should nonetheless be placed on record that the continued operations of these illegal NGOs will certainly discourage genuine donors from rendering needed assistance to the credible ones. Not only that, they pose a big threat to national security, give negative image to the country and constitute social nuisance to the people. They should, therefore, be curbed without further delay.

• Kupoluyi wrote from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

ABC (ISSN NO 0189-5125)

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