Mon 25 Mar 2013 The Guardian Nigeria

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Monday, March 25, 2013

Vol. 29, No. 12,506

N150

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Achebe family set to announce burial plan From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka ROF. Chinua Achebe’s burP ial plan may be announced this week by his family in Ogi-

Assistant Parish Priest, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Gwagwalada, Rev. Fr. Dominic Uduak (right) blessing the palm fronts during the Palm Sunday celebration to mark Jesus Christ’s Triumphant entry into Jerusalem in Abuja… yesterday.

Fresh worry over PDP’s unity as peace tour ends From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh (Abuja) and Abiodun Fagbemi (IIorin) NLIKE a fresh sense of U hope that the reconciliatory tour of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was expected to engender, it rather raised the fear of a persistent crack in the party yesterday.

This fear was born out of the absence of the leaders of the party from the reconciliatory tour grand finale, which took place in Abuja yesterday. The event recorded poor turn-out by public officers elected on the platform of the party.

The event, which was also

• Jonathan, Anenih, govs, others absent • Tukur rules out candidates’ imposition • ‘Opposition governors to defect to PDP’ used to celebrate the one year anniversary of the Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, was done without the physical presence of President Goodluck Jonathan who is the leader of the party.

The Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, was equally absent.

Akwa Ibom State Governor and Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Godswill Akpabio and Idris Wada of Kogi

State were the only governors in attendance.

Senate President David Mark and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, are currently in Ecuador to attend the 2013 meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).

Only four deputy governors from Gombe, Niger, Kwara and Rivers State were in attendance too.

Vice President Namadi Sambo, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan, commended the party leadership for embarking on the reconciliation, saying that the strength of PDP had continued to be the unity of its members.

He noted that with unity and peace, the party would be strong enough to tackle the opposition.

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Nigeria, others seek input to draft statute on monetary fund

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di, Idemili North, Anambra State.

And as at yesterday, The Guardian observed that the gate to the family home of the literary icon at Ikenga Ogidi remained locked.

Despite several knocks at the huge entrance of the family residence located along the Ogidi-Abatete-Ezi Owelle highway, there was no response.

But Rev. Emmanuel Obianagha, a cousin to the Achebe who spoke with The Guardian disclosed that the late novelist’s family was preparing for the announcement of his death officially in line with the Ogidi tradition.

According to him, though the news is everywhere, Ogidi elders and the kinsmen have to tell the public in their traditional way before other ceremonies could follow.

Obianagha who lives very close to Achebe’s country home at Ogidi, also appealed to the Federal Government to give the literary icon a state burial for his role in bringing Nigeria to the international scene.

“The red cap chiefs, our re-

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This is our first state pardon, says Diya • ‘Clemency different from state pardon’

By Seye Olumide FRESH dimension has been A added to the controversy over the state pardon granted

by President Goodluck Jonathan on March 12, 2013 to the former Chief of General Staff (CGS), Gen. Oladipo Diya

MORE ON PAGE 10 (rtd). Diya also served as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in 1993.

Contrary to insinuations that Diya and others who were implicated in the phantom coup of 1997 during the regime of Gen. Sani Abacha were grant-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

NEWS 3

CHINUA ACHEBE (1930 - 2013) Literary society, Akunyili mourn

Groups mourn, task govt on reward system

From Leo Sobechi, Abakaliki

From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City WO groups, the Coalition to Save Nigeria (CSN) and the Benin National Congress (BNC), yesterday described Prof. Chinua Achebe as a model for self-integrity just as they urged President Goodluck Jonathan to build a reward system that would encourage Nigerians to be patriotic citizens.

In a statement, the National President and National Secretary of CSN, Philip Ugbodaga and Matthew Edaghese, said: “His death came at a time that our country is passing through unprecedented leadership challenges in the 52 years of its chequered history. He spent the better part of his life clamouring for a focused and responsible leadership in Nigeria. Indeed, in his book: In The “Trouble with Nigeria,” he eloquently and bluntly stated that the Nigerian problem was squarely the failure of leadership and the unwillingness and inability of our leaders to rise up to the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership. That was more than 30 years ago. Very sadly, his clinical diagnosis of the problems of Nigeria remain true today.

“He turned down several national ‘honours’ by successive administrations in Nigeria in protest against the misadministration and despotism of its leaders. In respect for the life and times of Prof. Achebe, we call on President Jonathan to rescind his controversial pardon recently granted to some Nigerians, especially those whose acts in the past greatly undermined the huge potential of our country and contributed to the sorry state Nigeria now finds itself where the majority live in penury and abject poverty while its few leaders live in opulence.”

ROMINENT members of the P Abakaliki Literary Society, (ALS), including Senator

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Nnamani Centre canvasses holiday for intellectual giant

By Andrew Iro Okungbowa HE Ken Nnamani Centre For Leadership and Development has called on the Federal Government to declare a public holiday in honour and appreciation of the late Prof. Chinua Achebe and what he represented during his glorious lifetime.

According to the Executive Director of the centre, Prof.

Ebere Onwudiwe, in his eulogy, the day should be called Chinua Achebe Day. ‘‘There should be a public holiday in honour of Achebe whose integrity and courage in the service of our fathers land was nonpareil.

Onwudiwe said only a few people could be said to have done what the late foremost African novelist had done. ‘‘Few have done more for our international image than Achebe, a great lover of this potentially great and loveable country of ours. The nation must show its gratitude to him. Achebe used his Godgiven talent to fight the good fight. He courageously defended the dignity of Africans against the assaults of some western writers and most importantly against Nigeria’s political leadership that he blamed for most of our national problems.’’

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ACN, ANPP, NBM pay tributes From Adamu Abu, Abuja ROM the Action Congress of Fglowing Nigeria (ACN) has come a tributes to the renowned Nigerian writer and nationalist, Chinua Achebe, describing him as a global icon for all time and an outstanding Nigerian brand.

Also, the National Chairman of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, extolled Achebe’s virtues, describing him as a patriot of uncommon vision.

The world Head of the NeoBlack Movement (NBM) of Africa, Mr. Bemigho Eyeoyibo, also described Achebe as a global intellectual titan.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party described Achebe’s death as a monumental loss not only to Nigeria but to the entire world, judging by the tributes that have been pouring in from around the world since his demise last week.

ACN said that apart from his rarefied achievements in the literary field and his scholarly excellence, Prof. Achebe was a nationalist, not minding the controversy generated by his last book, ‘’There was a country,’’ hence the prominence given to the news of his death by newspapers and other media organisations

across the country. ‘’Prof. Achebe’s nationalist and democratic credentials were unassailable. He loved Nigeria with a passion and used the platform offered by his global exposure to call attention, time and again, to the years of misrule in his homeland, which must have left a gaping hole in his heart till he breathed his last. ‘’In one of his most poignant acts, he twice turned down the national honours bestowed on him by the Federal Government to show his disapproval for the brigandage and anti-democratic antics of the government of the day, especially as it concerns his home state of Anambra, where a sitting governor was abducted in the full glare of the police by scoundrels who also pillaged and plundered state institutions. ‘’By that singular act, he gave hope and voice to Nigerians, who have been tormented endlessly by those who hold power but lack the responsibility attached to it, those who substituted national interests with their personal, parochial interests, and those who have turned Nigeria into a laughing stock in the comity of nations with their endless looting of the national treasury,’’ ACN said.

The party said with his outstanding works of literature, especially his all-time great

novel, Things Fall Apart, Achebe was – and remains even in death - undoubtedly one of Nigeria’s best brands that needed no government patronage to market all over the world.

In a statement issued on his behalf by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emma Eneukwu, Onu said: “It is with pain and shock that I received the news of the transition to eternal glory of one of Nigeria’s intellectual stars, Prof. Chinua Achebe.

“He was a patriot of uncommon vision, an intellectual pillar of universal appeal and with a distinct literary prowess. He was also an administrator of profound convictions and above all, an illuminating pathfinder, whose

works placed him on the mountain top. He remained tireless in his resolve of showing the way for others to follow.

“In his writings, he showed extraordinary skill and ability. He was able to bring African Literature to the attention of the world at a time that neither African Literature nor African authors received any serious attention. As the widely acclaimed father of African Literature, his contributions to knowledge will continue to influence the thoughts of many generations yet unborn.”

“I join several others who mourn to salute this great son of Nigeria and Africa and a distinguished citizen of the world.

Surely, his timeless legacies will live after him.”

Imbibe his teachings, NLC urges FG From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief ICE President of the Nigeria V Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu, has urged the Federal Government to imbibe the teachings and literary struggle of the late Chinua Achebe for the transformation of the nation’s economy and polity.

In a statement by the Labour leader yesterday in Kaduna, he said: “We join the rest of the world to mourn the exit of a global icon, literary giant and

great patriot, Prof. Chinua Achebe, who reportedly died on Thursday March 21, 2013 in Boston, U.S.A during an illness.

“We bear witness that the late Achebe had long been an upbeat patriot and a pan-African optimist at a time it was risky and unpopular to do so. It is true that founding fathers like Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Raji Abdallah, Mokgukwe Okoye and Mallam Aminu Kano truly politically decolonised Nigeria, Chinua Achebe almost single-

Ex-minister, Umeh, others extol literary icon’s virtues From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu IRST Republic Minister of FAmechi, Aviation, Chief Mbazulike said yesterday the late Prof. Chinua Achebe would be remembered as a detribalised Nigerian who believed in fairness for every section of the country.

He told The Guardian that “Achebe’s death is a very big blow on Igbo patriotic group and intellectual world”.

Achebe, according to him, was an outspoken Nigerian patriot who believed so much in Nigeria.

“In his last book, There Was a Country, he chronicled the perceived injustices done to Biafra and some sections of the country started attacking him for saying the truth. That attack and debate that arose from the

book were his greatest credit.

He was vocal in condemning corruption, stealing and abuses in this country, a voice indeed is lost”, Amechi said, adding that Achebe would be accorded the full burial rites of a Christian and Igbo titled holder.

Former national chairman of Justice Party, Chief Ralph Obioha, in his reaction, said, “it is a great loss to Igbo nation.

This is one indefatigable voice that has stood firm in defence of his people. He was a giant that the Igbo will not forget in a long time to come. This event happened at the most unfortunate time when the Igbo are at the threshold to lead Nigeria. It is really painful.”

The embattled former chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor

Anthony Agbo and Mr. Onwe John Onu, have joined other Nigerians to mourn Chinua Achebe. They described him as the greatest brand ever produced in Nigeria.

Also, former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, said: “As we say in Igboland when an extraordinary person dies, the Iroko has fallen. I feel a sense of personal loss because Prof. Chinua Achebe was not only from my state, Anambra, but was also one of my heroes and role models right from my days at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), where he taught until the road accident that made him to relocate to the U.S.A, where there are better facilities to enable him to continue to work.”

Agbo, who is the immediate past vice chairman of the Senate Panel on Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), stated that with the death of the foremost writer, “a great epic story has come to a solemn end”, adding that Achebe “belongs to a class of minds and characters that do not appear in multiples in a century”.

While urging the Igbo, Nigeria and Africa to honour the foremost author “in a manner that should befit an extra-ordinary global icon”, Agbo, who is a poet and author, noted that Achebe remains “the greatest brand Nigeria has ever produced”.

In a statement, Onwe, who is former Special Adviser to Governor Elechi on Political Matters, declared that Achebe is not dead since, according to him, with Things Fall Apart having been translated to over 60 world languages, read and studied by millions all over the world, Achebe merely transited to paradise of fecund muses”.

Umeh, said: “Africa, Nigeria, Igbo nation have lost one of the greatest people God ever gave them. He was a great literary mind, consummate Nigerian and complete Igbo man. His fight against corruption and bad leadership in Nigeria is second to none. From his books, The Trouble with Nigeria and There Was a Country, he captured his vision and account of what made Nigeria underdeveloped in the midst of abundant resources.

“No doubt, in his death, Nigeria and Africa have lost an eloquent voice against injustice, corruption, oppression and bad leadership. The vacuum created by his death will be very difficult to fill in Nigeria.”

According to Umeh, “Prof.

Wole Soyinka and a few others

should continue the struggle from where Achebe bowed out. Our condolence goes to Ndigbo and Nigeria for the loss of a courageous and gallant crusader for social justice and good leadership. Our consolation lies in the fact that he did his best for Nigeria before departing but regrettably, could not see a Nigeria of his dream before death.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) South East Zone, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, condoled with Nigerians and the immediate family of Achebe over the demise of the great writer.

“Achebe, for us, was one of the greatest literary and moral voices of our time, world renowned novelist and cultural ambassador.

handedly culturally liberated Africa”.

While extolling some of the works of Achebe, Aremu argued that “Things Fall Apart written in 1958 is the first original conscious African narrative that brought to the fore the pre-colonial African values of hard work, enterprise, dignity of labour, worship, family, community, successes and tragedies, contrary to the colonial received wisdom that Africa had no history”.

According to him, “it is misleading to assess Achebe posthumously based on his last controversial work and a civil war memoir, entitled, There Was A Country”, stressing that “the late great chronicler had himself modestly accepted as much that there is some connection between the particular distress of war, the particular tension of war, and the kind of literacy response it inspires”.

Aremu further stated that “the life and times of Achebe celebrate dignity of labour. He did not live on graft and stolen goods but his mental labour. He was really a global working man. To honour Chinua Achebe, Things must just Fall in place for Nigeria”.

The labour chief urged the Federal Government to ensure that all that Achebe worked and fought for through his literary works are never in vain, adding that the government must braze up to the challenge of moving the nation to greater heights.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

4 NEWS

Tukur rules out candidates’ imposition CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “The decision to embark on the reconciliatory tour is to properly position the party to face future challenges,” he said.

PDP National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, said that his leadership of the party had continued to ensure that party manifesto was fully translated into reality.

According to him, the drive to ensure greater performance

by PDP government was part of what informed the reconciliation.

He pledged that the PDP would be made to adhere to the dreams and vision of its founding fathers. Tukur ruled out imposition of candidates for the next general elections.

Akpabio dismissed allegations of a silent crisis within the party that could cause the defection of some of its gover-

nors to other political parties soon.

“I must say that the peace in the party now is remarkable.

The PDP governors are totally and fully behind our party’s national chairman and the NWC. Also, PDP governors are solidly behind President Goodluck Jonathan and the party.

“The peace in the PDP is sending jitters to the opposition and that is why they are busy spreading falsehood in newspapers that eight governors are planning to defect from PDP to other parties. I have personally spoken with 22 PDP governors and they have all denied the story. To the contrary, the opposition parties will be shocked when some governors elected on their platforms will defect to PDP,” he said.

He said the formation of the PDP Governors’ Forum had

clearly created political problems for opposition parties, pointing out that that was why the forum was receiving media attacks from the opposition.

The party began its reconciliatory tour to the six geo-political zones on March 15, 2013. It was meant to facilitate the unity of the party. It began from the South-West in Ibadan.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, had said: “The reconciliatory tour is meant to reconcile all interests, groups and contending issues in the party that posed threat to party’s unity and cohesion.”

Metuh, however, declared that there was no condition attached to the reconciliatory programme, adding that it would be strictly restricted to the party’s constitution.

On whether the exercise

Achebe family may announce burial plan this week CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 gent, the president-general, Ogidi Town Union and other prominent indigenes of the town are rallying round to plan for the burial arrangement. Between now and Easter, I am sure there will be an announcement on the burial arrangement”, he said.

Paying Achebe tributes, he said the late writer was a man of the people who inspired the indigenes to go to school.

He said Achebe was former president-general, Ogidi Town Union and that he was also a titled chief “Ugo bee n orji” (the eagle that perches on an iroko tree), and that the community witnessed ample peace and felt the impact of

his leadership.

The cleric who lamented that his death had left Ogidi community devastated, added: “We have lost a precious gift from God. You cannot discuss Nigeria without mentioning Achebe. He left a very big vacuum that will take a lot to be filled.”

A close neighbour to the Achebe family at Ogidi, Julius Obidike, said the death had thrown the town into deep mourning.

“A great iroko has fallen, Ogidi community has lost a great son and the loss is irreparable.

We cannot have another Chinua, even though there are many other members of the Achebe family”, Obidike

noted.

He recalled that Achebe was involved in a motor accident in the 1980s while travelling in a chartered Peugeot 504 wagon, which left him crippled.

The Head of Department, Economics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka in Anambra State, Dr. Uche Nwaogwugwu, in his tribute said his death was a great loss to the Igbo nation.

“Achebe laid the foundation for Igbo anthropology, culture and history, so we should move on to the next level. The job is now left to the Igbo to continue from where he stopped”, Nwaogwugwu, said.

According to the Chairman, Igbo World Assembly (IWA), Nwachukwu Anakwenze, Achebe was to be honoured this weekend at the CISA/IWA retreat at Staunton Virginia.

Anakwenze described Achebe as a great man and academic star who was fearless to tell the truth as he saw it.

would address the issue of alleged refusal of some state chapters of the party to re-admit some former members, the party’s spokesman said there was no plan to discriminate against anybody intending to be re-admitted.

Meanwhile, the reconciliatory tour was the PDP leadership’s response to a plethora of crises that were ravaging the party in almost all the states of the federation.

Among the knotty issues had been the question of authentic party executive in Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s home-state, Adamawa, the controversial removal of former scribe, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who was allegedly foisted on the National Working Committee (NWC), and the perceived ambition of some

governors who may threaten President Jonathan’s interest in 2015, as a result of which there now exists a PDP Governors’ Forum.

The party had been factionalised in states like Ogun, Lagos and Abia, among others, where it has worked to woo back the aggrieved members ahead of 2015 general elections.

The crises had at one time so taken up political discourse that the Political Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, admitted: “Yes, there are challenges in the party, but Mr. President is trying his best to resolve them in the interest of the party and the nation.

“I can assure you that Mr. President will not allow the

crisis in his party to affect national interest and well-being of Nigerians. The President is on top of the situation and is already achieving results. I want to tell you that soon, this party’s problem will be a thing of the past.”

Meanwhile, Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has denied a report published in a national newspaper (not The Guardian) that he planned to leave the PDP alongside seven other governors ahead of the 2015 elections.

Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, Ahmed said there was no iota of truth in the report and dismissed the publication as the handiwork of mischief-makers bent on causing disaffection in PDP.

Rivers flays refinery’s reaction to fire outbreak From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt HE Rivers State has described as insensitive the failure of the Port Harcourt refinery fire service department to respond to a fire outbreak at Ogoloma community in Okrika.

The Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari told The Guardian that the state government would formally express its disenchantment to the management of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

But a source at the refinery that pleaded anonymity disclosed to The Guardian that

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the management never gave such directives.

Community sources disclosed to The Guardianthat the fire started at about 5 a.m. at a private resident at Ogoloma causing serious pandemonium. This spurred the council to contact the refinery, but officials of the fire department said they have been directed not to respond to external fire incident.

Following the failure to secure the assistance of the refinery fire team, the community people rallied together and extinguished the fire and prevented it from

spreading to other buildings.

At the end, over 23 persons were injured and have been hospitalised.

Outraged by this, the Commissioner for Information condemned the attitude of the refinery officials.

“There was a fire outbreak in Ogoloma community in Okrika, the NNPC refinery fire truck refused to send when requested to assist despite the fact that it was their host community. The community had to battle until the Rivers State Fire Service arrived to put out the fire. The NNPC reaction is most unfortunate and unacceptable,” she said.

‘Clemency different from state pardon’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ed pardon by the Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar-led administration, the former CDS said he was only given clemency.

During a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, Diya said: “Some people mix up the meaning of clemency and

state pardon. What Gen. Abubakar granted us was clemency, which was different from the state pardon President Jonathan granted to others and me on Tuesday, March 12, 2013.”

According to him, “the clemency was the authority vested in the Head of State to release us from our various places of detention. I was released from the Potiskum Prison. If there were no clemency, the sentence would still have been on, which was execution. Our ranks were not restored, nor our entitlements. If what Abubakar granted us was pardon, immediately we were released from prisons, all payments due to us would have followed but that was not done. Even my personal security, the one for my family and my house would have

Diya

been returned through pardon and not clemency.”

Several newspapers as well as some human right activists and legal practitioners reacted to the pardon, describing it as a “double pardon.”

Diya, however, cleared the issue, saying: “As a former CDS and that, by interpretation, is the highest you can attain professionally in the armed forces. Up till now, policemen are still guarding me and not soldiers. Even the security meant for my house and my family, as a former CDS, has not been restored but now that a pardon has been granted, I would not be surprised if a formal letter is written to me as a former CDS and everything will take proper and official shape from the very date the letter stipulates.”

The former CDS said the President did not err by granting them pardon as “what we were granted before was clemency.”

NEWS 5

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

Kaduna CAN commends Yero

Nigeria, others seek input to draft statute on monetary fund

From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief

From Bola Olajuwon, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

OR his style of leadership PLAN to railroad the ongoFstrides and the development that he has made in Aing sixth Joint Yearly Meetings of United Nations

just 100 days in office, Kaduna State Governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, has earned the praises of the state’s chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

CAN made the observation at a prayer session at the Wesley Methodist Cathedral, Kaduna, where the governor was represented by his deputy, Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga.

In his sermon, the Methodist Archbishop of the North, Revd. Oche Job, extolled Yero’s leadership quality, saying that “he is as obedient as the late (Patrick) Yakowa and as such, it is as if the deceased governor is still in power.”

According to him, before Yero became governor, he had personal interaction with him and discovered that he (Yero) was never a religious bigot, adding that he had shared thoughts on religious differences between Muslims and Christians with the governor, and both agreed that “only uneducated persons hide under religion to cause crisis.”

Meanwhile, the Kaduna CAN Chairman, Bishop George Jonathan Dodo, remarked: “We have reached a stage to ask ourselves whether we are really ready to work for common good in view of the insecurity in the country.

“However, we assure Yero of our prayers. Kaduna Council of CAN stands by him, but we are urging him to live up to expectation in curbing the security challenge.”

Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and African Union (AU) with African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, to approve the draft statute on African Monetary Fund (AMF) at the weekend was halted by key members of the continental “Big Five.”

Three members of the five Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt - which were supported by a majority of memberstates at the meeting of experts, based their opposition on lack of inputs into the draft statute, non-availability of copies of the document as well as lack of formal notice of its adoption on order paper of the day.

Also, stakeholders in planning and development have

• Stakeholders chart path to effective planning, launch online platform canvassed the need for African countries to stop abandoning national development plans midstream and rather adopt effective strategies for resultoriented development on the continent.

And realising the need for proper co-ordination of development planning as well as the need to exploit the advantages of knowledge-based electronic platform for development, the AU and UNECA yesterday launched an online project called African Development Planners Network.

Now operational and ready for use with the most recommended features in place, invitation would be sent to potential stakeholders to participate on the network and for member-states to nominate focal persons to co-ordinate individual states’ participation on the platform.

UNECA and AU top officials

had made serious efforts to get the document okayed during the presentation of a report on establishment of a Pan-African Stock Exchange, discussions on African Investment Bank and implementation of the African Charter on Statistics and Strategy for Harmonisation of Statistics, among others.

However, representatives of member-states of South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Chad and Tanzania opposed the move one after another.

One of Nigeria’s representatives at the meeting, Mr. Ikpe Audu Obaike, requested that the organisers “should allow consultation among stakeholders in Nigeria for proper inputs to be made into the draft statute and then it can be presented to the meeting of ministers for recommenda-

tions and deliberation by the Summit of AU Heads of States.”

Obaike, who intimated the meeting of his Minister of Finance’s query on what benefits Nigeria stands to gain in contributing huge sum of money as indicated in the draft statute, said he has no power to commit Nigeria to monetary contributions without clarification from the Nigerian government and the minister.

South Africa also took similar position, complaining about the feasibility of the actual capital achieving results since the AMF was designed to take over the responsibilities of International Monetary Fund (IMF), which had relegated Africa to the background in the past.

The AU Director of Department of Economic Affairs, Mr. Rene Kouassi, had observed

From Anietie Akpan, Calabar HE People’s Democratic T Party (PDP) National Youth Leader, Mr. Denis Alonge-Niyi, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (second right) with members of the Lagos State Government Nollywood Upgrade Project: Actor/Director, Kunle Afolayan (left); Deputy Chief of Staff, Moji Rhodes; film-maker, Tunde Kelani (right) and Managing Director, Indian National Film Development Corporation (INFDC), Nina Lath Gupta (middle), during a meeting with the Indian National Film Development Corporation in Mumbai, India.

Security worries as bureau de change operators return to Lagos Airport

By Wole Shadare ARELY two weeks after they B were evicted, illegal bureau de change operators have found their way back to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Though they are yet to display their wares of huge different currencies at the car park, they hang around in large number soliciting for customers, who need to sell or buy foreign exchange.

Their modus operandi is not

different from what it used to be - they mill around the car park, where all manner of social vices are committed, mostly under the cover of darkness.

When The Guardian visited the area yesterday, many of them were seen beckoning on travellers and other airport users, trying to outdo one another to sell their wares.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had, after the death of two policemen by robbers, barred them from

the area, but this seems not enough to deter them.

The operations of bureau de change had always attracted robbers to the airport and environs. The recent robbery two weeks ago, precisely at about 9.00 p.m., left two police officers dead, alongside one of the bandits.

FAAN Spokesman, Yakubu Dati, had taken reporters to the area after the incident, where he announced that the authority had barred the operators from the area. Dati

Fayemi, Falana fault $100m Centenary City plan

By Wole Oyebade EDERAL Government’s FCentenary plan to build a $100 million City in commemo-

PDP youth leader, others urge support for govt

has charged the party’s youth wing to fully support the Federal Government’s “transformation” programme in order to realise their leadership potentials.

Niyi, who spoke yesterday at the inauguration of SouthSouth zonal executive committee and state co-ordinators of the PDP’s Rural Empowerment Advocacy Project (REAP) in Calabar, remarked that “it is normal to refer to the youths as leaders of tomorrow, but now we want to be the leaders today.”

He described REAP as another uncommon laudable programme fully supported by the PDP national secretariat.

Meanwhile, the REAP Zonal Co-ordinator, South-South, Mr. Tony Gbeleso, described the inauguration as a dream come true.

“REAP aims to reach out to the people in the rural areas,” he said. “We want to empower the rural people, especially the youths” who would be empowered through various schemes in order to give them sense of belonging.

Meanwhile, the Cross River State co-ordinator of REAP, Dr. Otu Achibong, has described as unfortunate the absence of the PDP state executive at their inauguration despite the invitation extended to them.

However, he stressed that their absence would not deter the group from functioning optimally, as REAP has already been established in all the council areas in the state.

that the issues raised were not new and had been discussed severally, adding that discussions were held with IMF officials on the AMF statute and the institution okayed the document.

He called for an extra-ordinary meeting of committee of experts for today (Monday) before the beginning of ministerial meeting since there was no fund to organise another conference on the issue.

Nevertheless, following the insistence that copies of the document be taken to their respective governments for consideration and comments, the chairman ruled that feedbacks on the matter should be returned to AU secretariat in three weeks to facilitate its consideration at the AU summit.

had hinged the incessant robbery attacks at the airport to the activities of the operators.

Not a few believe that the car park is a den of robbers as all shades of nefarious activities take place there. The area lacks security.

There are also insinuations that the newly-installed Close Circuit Television (CCTV) may not be working and if they work, they can hardly capture images because of the darkness that pervades most parts of the airport.

ration of Nigeria’s 100 years anniversary was at the weekend described by Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and Chief Femi Falana (SAN) as another effort to squander resources.

Fayemi, who was a guest lecturer at the second Verdant Zeal ‘Innovention’ lecture series in Lagos, said the project, though beautiful in design, would amount to nothing for the country.

Stating that the project was a mis-placed priority at this critical moment in the life of the nation, Fayemi said it would have been most appropriate to use the year 2014 centenary celebration as sober reflection and a time to collectively determine what it means to be a Nigerian.

“It should have been a period to reflect on the brand, ‘Nigeria’, and the Nigerian Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) as a grand design to begin the rebuilding process of the country that we all would love to see,” he said.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, some days ago disclosed that plans were at advanced stages for the Centenary City project, coupled with its planned listing on the Nigerian and London Stock Exchange.

On his part, however, constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Falana, described the project as another ploy to “find food for the boys and not about Nigerians,” adding that “if you are planning to celebrate 100 years of colonialism or when Nigeria was amalgamated, it should not be by pouring money down the drain.

Hope rises for new anti-tobacco bill, campaign

By Wole Oyebade MARTING from the disapSTobacco pointment of the National Control Bill (NTCB),

which failed to get President Goodluck Jonathan’s assent, a new vista of hope is on the horizons for proponents of the new anti-tobacco bill currently before the House of Representatives.

The bill, sponsored by the lawmaker representing Kosofe Constituency of Lagos State, Dayo Bush-Alebiosu, scaled the second reading at the weekend and has been passed to the House Committees on Health and Justice for verification.

In an interview with The

Guardian yesterday, BushAlebiosu said the overwhelming support the bill received on the floor of the House raised new hope for tobacco regulation and control in the country.

According to Bush-Alebiosu, it is gratifying that none of his colleagues raised any objection against the bill.

He said: “And the level of support that a bill gets at the floor will determine whether it will be passed or not. In this, we have no doubt that it will be passed by the House.

“The arguments against tobacco, the most addictive drug in the world, are so compelling and no one raised objection but simply rallied

behind it. We want to ensure that its provisions do not offend any existing law, so it has been sent to the House Committees on Health and Justice and they will report back to the House soon.”

The new bill, when passed, will replace the NTCB to which President Goodluck Jonathan refused assent, though he did not explain why, as mandated by the constitution should any bill be denied assent. The absence of a tobacco control law hinders the domestication of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), which Nigeria signed eight years ago.

Meanwhile, one of the major campaigners against tobacco in the country, the Coalition Against Tobacco (CAT), said the lawmakers’ support was a good omen for the anti-tobacco struggle in Nigeria. CAT coordinator, Toyosi Onaolapo, said her group was in support of Alebiosu’s bill to ensure the domestication of the FCTC through the National Tobacco Bill.

She noted: “We believe that the bill will save lives lost to tobacco use and also prevent young people from smoke addiction.”

Alebiosu, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Treaty and Agreement, said the new bill provides stiffer

control measures for the control of sales and use of ‘most addictive drug in the world.’

“Someone has to look after our 70 per cent population of illiterates that need to be protected from the hazard of smoking and second-hand smoking. We have to protect our kids that are often the target of the tobacco industry and are now smoking from tender age of 12,” he said.

“Also, we have to ask, how do we protect our passive smokers that though have right to life but are often the victim of tobacco-related deaths? They have the right to speak up against tobacco smoking. You have the right to smoke if you choose to, but not around me in the workplace or public places.”

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

6 NEWS

Tension in Plateau over killings by gunmen From Isa Abdulsalami, Jos and Ann Godwin, Port Harcourt ESIDENTS of several parts of Plateau State are living in fear, while some are weighing reprisal options over consistent attacks and killings by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen or Tarok stock.

There is therefore tension in Southern zone of the state over the killing of 10 residents of Yelwan Shendam who were on a business trip, on Thursday to Dampar in Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State.

The murdered entrepreneurs, made up of seven Muslims and three Christian women, were allegedly waylaid and ambushed by some suspected Tarok youths about four kilometres after a village called Walu in Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Six of those killed, whose corpses have been recovered and buried according to Islamic rites in Yelwa on Thursday, were identified as Alhaji Sabo Yusif, Malam Adamu Abdullahi, Alhaji Lawal Maikifi, Malam Sale Tori Papa, Alhaji Habibu Adam and Malam Bala Muhammad a.k.a Lady Guy. The full identities of the three other victims, two Igbo ladies and an Ngas woman were still to be identified, even as intensive search was mounted since Friday to recover the body of a tenth victim of the attack, identified as Abdullahi Baduku Haliru, who was driving one of the two Peugeot 504 cars in which the business people were travelling.

Also, Christian worshipers in Wase, Yelwa and Langtang South LGA of Plateau State stayed away from church services yesterday because of fear of being attacked.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, said that most of the churches in Mavo village in Wase were deserted as only few worshippers were seen at the church premises during the services.

However, speaking against the backdrop of terrorist attack in the northern part of the country, former Minister

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Ex-minister urges Northern leaders to help end Boko Haram menace of Aviation, Alabo Graham Douglas has called on the Northern elders to support President Goodluck Jonathan to end the menace of Boko Haram in the country.

The ex-minister, who is a paramount ruler in Abonnema Kingdom in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, said the elders and leaders of the Niger Delta region played major role to end the militarisation of the region.

Douglas in a media chat with journalists in Port Harcourt at the weekend expressed worry that the terrorism in the North was destroying the economy and development apart from several lives lost in the menace.

According to an eyewitness, who narrowly escaped from the attackers who killed the Yelwan Shendam 10, Tarok youths who were armed with AK 47 riffles, machetes and other deadly weapons killed his co-travellers at about 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday, while on their way to sell their wares on Thursday, which is the weekly market day in Dampar.

The rampaging youths, he said, shot and killed some of the travellers, while the others were brutally murdered with the machetes after they attempted to escape.

A day after the incident, a detachment of policemen from the Divisional Police Office in Mabudi, the headquarters of Langtang South Local Government Area mobilised to the scene and recovered five of the corpses, which they deposited at the mortuary of the Langtang General Hospital in Langtang North council.

There was palpable tension in Yelwa town on Thursday after the corpses of the deceased were taken to the town for burial.

On Friday, however, a powerful delegation of traditional rulers from Langtang South Local Government Area, accompanied by the Area Commander of Police in charge of Plateau South, as well as the divisional police officers for both Langtang South and Shendam local gov-

ernment areas, visited Yelwa to commiserate with families of those murdered, and also to pacify residents of the town.

Last Wednesday’s killing of the 10 travellers was preceded by the rustling of at least 400 cows belonging to some Fulani herdsmen by suspected Tarok youths, in the week before last, in Yamini, also in Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

That incident resulted in mass exodus of Yamini and Lakushi towns all in the area, for fear of possible attack on the villages by the aggrieved Fulani pastoralists.

Earlier in the same week, a simmering dispute between some Tarok and Fulani communities in Mavo village of Wase Local Government Area of the state, led to the killing of at least 10 persons, mostly Fulani herdsmen.

It will also be recalled that similar circumstances led to the violent disturbances that culminated in the massacre of at least 600 residents of Yelwa Shendam in May 2004, thereby resulting in the imposition of a State of Emergency in Plateau State, and the suspension of the then governor, Chief Joshua Dariye.

Wase is about 250 km from Jos, the Plateau State capital and the clash between the two tribes had led to the imposition of state of emergency on Plateau State in May 2004.

The source further said some residents of Mavo Community in Wase LGA have started relocating out of the community in droves. He said some of the displaced persons have started relocating to the Langtang North, while some are relocating to other neighbouring states.

Similarly, the Special Task Force STF deployed to restore law and order in the crisis ridden city of Jos has been called upon to collaborate with security agencies in Taraba and

Nasarawa State to avert cross border infiltration of terrorists following the fresh violence that led to the killings of innocent persons in Wase.

This was contained in a com-

munique signed by the Director of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed, Chairman, Jukun Development Association Wase Council, Musa Umar Mavo and the

Commissioner of Information and Communication, Yiljap Abraham after a crucial meeting of Government, Special Task Force and Community leaders in Wase LGA and issued to journalists in Jos at the weekend.

Former Minister for Health, Prince Julius Adelusi Adeluyi (left); President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Olumide Akintayo, Chairman of the occasion, Foluso Phillips and Director-General, NAFDAC, Dr Paul Orhii, during the inauguration of Akintayo as president of the society, and investiture of the new fellows at MUSON Centre Onikan, Lagos …yesPHOTO: OSENI YUSUF terday.

ACN elders commend Aregbesola for good governance FTER a critical x-ray of all nance bequeathed to him by the achievements of A issues, the Elders’ Council the immediate past adminis- Aregbesola has made them (Igbimo Agba) of the Action tration, which ruled for seven- proud and lifted the popularity Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has lauded the giant development strides being made by Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

At a meeting held in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government on March 22, 2013, the Council (Igbimo Agba) took a critical look at all the programmes initiated and being executed by Aregbesola and resolved to publicly commend him for doing a good job in spite of daunting challenges of gover-

and-half-years in the state.

In a communiqué signed by the chairman of the Council, Mr. Sola Akinwumi, the Igbimo, which also commended the National Chairman of the ACN, Chief Adebisi Akande for his matured leadership, also commended the Osun governor for his administration’s laudable strides in urban renewal, development of roads and other infrastructure, education and empowerment.

According to the politicians,

of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) among the people of the state, who they noted, are marveling at the sheer size and depth of the projects going on all over the state.

The Council particularly stated “that Ogbeni has made the Igbimo Agba proud by his various developmental activities, especially in the areas of road infrastructure, urban renewal, O’School, O’Uniform and others too numerous to mention”.

Lagos allays fear over gas flaring in Badagry

By Tunde Alao PPARENTLY in reaction to public outcry, the Lagos State Government has allayed the fear of its citizens over gas flaring in communities on the bank of the Atlantic Ocean, near Badagry.

The villagers, comprising Ajido, Imeke, Araromi and Agemuwo, raised alarm on the health implications from the flaring by West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCO), which has also drawn the irk of civil society groups.

Speaking on the development, the General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, Mr. Adebola Shabi, who confirmed the development, said his office had visited the area to assess the situation.

According to him, LASEPA and the affected company, WAPCO has already assessed the situation and succeeded in putting in place some measures that has drastically reduced the intensity of gas being released into the air.

Shabi said that when the information got to his office at the initial stage, the agency had already concluded plans to sanction the company for not informing LASEPA before embarking on gas flaring in the state.

He said: “We have been to

A

the site two times to carry out assessment and the company told us their challenges. The company did not inform us before embarking on gas flaring. If they had informed us, we would have been able to sensitise the community on what they are about to face.”

The company’s challenge, according to Shabi, was the blockage of the gas pipelines that were vandalised by unknown persons. The pipelines are through which WAPCO is supplying gas to its customers in the West African countries that include: Cotonou, Togo, Ivory Coast and others.

“It was as a result of the firm’s inability to transport its products that necessitated the need to release the excess into the air to protect the storage from bursting. A situation that may be more dangerous than what we are witnessing now”, said Shabi, but assuring the efforts are ongoing to ensure that normalcy is brought into the environment.

He regretted that what is happening in Badagry is sad and unfortunate because gas-flaring has the tendency of polluting the immediate and the wider environment and has serious consequences on the health of the

people.

It was said that about 170 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (MMscfd) was then being flared in Ajido, Imeke, Araromi and Agemuwo areas of Badagry, but that “the quantity has reduced drastically”, said the LASEPA boss.

As the controversy over the gas flaring gets heightened, Human Right Activists, Environmental Rights Groups and others have been expressing their concerns over the issue.

One of them, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), lamented the situation and said that the organisation had led a group of women to protest against the gas flaring, which had affected their communities.

“ERA/FoEN as an organisation raised the alarm on the dangers of the flares in Badagry, which the community people say usually lit in the night to deflect attention.

Comparing what is happening in Badagry to the Niger Delta where there are over 200 gas flare locations, the organisation noted that the situation has contributed to the decrease in life expectancy in the affected communi-

ties, (the Niger Delta), adding that the same challenges, which Niger Delta communities face, are now being felt in Badagry.

At the wake of this environmental degradation, the Chairman, Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr. Abudu Amida, said the pollution had caused untold hardship to the people in the council area.

Lamenting the peoples’ predicament, Amida said the gas company is located at Ajido, yet the flaring of gas still affects the people who stay at Olorunda area.

“In the night we cannot sleep because of the noise that the gas flaring generates. The whole environment is hot to the extent that it affects the fan and air conditioners in our homes”, Amida bemoaned, adding that the whole situation is not safe for the health of the people living around that area, hoping that solution would be found as soon as possible before things get out of hand.

The Council Chairman said he had written to the government of Lagos State and also sent a bill to the councillors of the local government in order to prevent further harm to the community.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

NEWS

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NMA, UNAIDS charge govt, others on TB, HIV From Chukwuma Muanya (Lagos) Emeka Anuforo (Abuja) and Joseph Wantu (Makurdi) ERTURBED by the rising P cases of Tuberculosis (TB) in the country, the Nigerian

Secretary to Oyo State Government, Waheed Akin Olajide (second right); Mr. Sola Giwa of Harrison George contracting firm (left); Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ibadan branch Controller, Adebayo Bashiru (right); Chief of Staff to Oyo State Governor, Adeolu Akande (second left) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Kayode Adepoju (third right), at the presentation of library documents and lecture theatre to the Technical University, Ibadan PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

‘Why Nwoye won’t be sworn in’ From Terhemba Daka, Abuja

Court orders Julius Berger, others to pay lawyer N25m for assault

By Yetunde Ayobami-Ojo

OR unlawful physical assault S the 72-hour ultimatum Fon a lawyer in the premises, A handed down to House of an Imo State High Court sitting Representatives to sack the

lawmaker representing Anambra East-West Federal Constituency, Chriscato Ameke, and replace him with former president of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Tony Nwoye, expires, the House has insisted that the request cannot be granted unless the Appeal and Supreme Courts discharge the cases before them.

The parliament said it would not succumb to blackmail and be stampeded to swear in Nwoye because the matter was still being decided by the court “and the House was determined to obey the rule of law and allow the judiciary run its full course on the cont r o v e r s y . ” There has been a protracted controversy over who is the bona fide representative of the Anambra East-West Federal Constituency of Anambra S t a t e .

Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed, who gave the clarification at the weekend, said the matter between Ameke and Nwoye was a pre-election case and the Electoral Act was very clear on pre-election, hence the Speaker, being a law-abiding public official, would not violate the law.

Ahmed signs N96.4b budget bill WARA State Governor K Abdulfatah Ahmed has signed the 2013 Appropriation Bill of N96.4 billion into law, with a pledge that it would be implemented to the letter and ensure speedy service delivery.

Meanwhile, House of Assembly Speaker, Rasak Atunwa, has commended the state government for its full implementation of the 2012 budget.

Dr. Ahmed described the quick passage of the Appropriation Bill by the Legislature and his signing it in to law as major strides towards service delivery to the people.

Speaking during the signing at Government House at the weekend, he emphasised that his administration would continue to review the implementation of the budget to determine when and if there would be the need for a supplementary bill on it.

Medical Association (NMA) has called on the Federal Government to immediately commence mass vaccination of the citizenry as a step towards the eventual eradication of the disease.

Also, the Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) and health leaders from Africa and other international organisations have launched a new push to accelerate progress against TB and Human Immuno-deficiency

in Owerri, presided over by Justice Nonye Okoronkwo, has awarded the sum of N25 million against Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and others for the gross violation of the fundamental right of a Lagos-based lawyer, Emeka Ozoani.

In a copy of the judgment made available to The Guardian, Justice Okoronkwo held that: “The arrest or attempted arrest of the applicant within the court premises in Owerri after adjourning his case, in full glare of his clients present and others and subjecting him to such indignities that attracted the attention of lawyers in the premises including the Chief Judge of the state, is the most un-becoming of the police respondents and shows again, the flight of decency and decorum in some of our public institutions.

“I have no doubt that the police respondents have no hiding place, no subterfuge in Section 35 (1) (c) as that saving clause in the constitution does not avail them; “I am not in any doubt and I

find and hold that the respondents are in disgraceful violation of the fundamental rights of the applicant particularly under Sections 35, 34 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; • “I agree that in the circumstance of this case, the applicant is entitled to exemplary damage, which I assess at N25 million against the respondents jointly and severally; • “As indicated above, the respondents shall jointly and severally pay the applicant the sum of N25 million for gross violation of the applicant’s fundamental right to personal liberty,” Justice Okoronkwo held.

Other respondents alongside Julius Berger to pay the N25 million jointly and severally are the Inspector General of Police, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 9 Umuahia, Mr. P.S. Njoku (prosecutor) and Peter B. Ogunyanwo, DCP Zone 9, Umuahia.

Also, the judge declared the arrest and physical assault on the applicant inside the Owerri High Court premises on January 24, 2012, by armed police officers as a gross violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights to personal liber-

ty, dignity of his person not to be subjected to torture, inhuman and degrading treatment as provided under Section 34(1)(A) and Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution.

He also restrained the defendants from continuing or attempting to arrest the applicant for any reason connected with the suits delineated No. HOW/581/2007 and Appeal No. CA/OW/146/2010 while proceedings are pending.

Further, Justice Okoronkwo declared that the respondents owe Ozoani a formal apology and N200,000.

Ozoani’s application filed before the court brought pursuant to Order 11 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure, Rules 2009 on October 3, 2012, for the enforcement of his fundamental rights asked for the sum of N50, 000, 000, 000 (fifty billion naira) as special, general and specific damages.

His application was supported with a 59-paragraph affidavit with 14 documentary exhibits bound in volume 209 pages while Julius Berger Nigeria Plc filed a 61-point, 16page affidavit and annexure of comparable prolix.

The police respondents also

Stakeholders blame slow growth on graft From Niyi Bello, Akure HE 2013 session of the annuT al Iju Public Affairs Forum (IPAF), an initiative of the Ladipo Adamolekun Public Library, which provides a platform for promotion of knowledge through healthy and incisive discourse on issues of national development, has identified corruption as the major bane of Nigeria ’s growth.

The forum, which was set up by its convener, Ladipo Adamolekun, septuagenarian professor of Public Administration in 2006, and which has become a yearly ritual for academics to brainstorm, therefore, recommended an all-out war against graft for public institutions to deliver on their mandates.

Lead Speaker and National Programme Manager, State Partnership for Accountability, Responsiveness and Capability (SPARC), Dr. Joe Abah, set the tone for the discussions in a lecture he delivered, titled: “Pockets of Effectiveness In Nigerian Public Service and Lessons For Accelerating National Development”.

In the lecture delivered to a modest but rich gathering of

intellectuals, public administrators and politicians at Iju, Akure-North Local Council of Ondo State, Abah, whose SPARC is being funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), selected some institutions in Nigeria as having the capacity to be described as Pockets of Effectiveness (POEs) in a general atmosphere of rot.

He listed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), as institutions of government that exhibited efficiency in their operations as revealed by a study that compared their performances with organisations that have similar mandate.

While identifying factors such as leadership, management, technical capacity and public support as traits that contributed to the success of the agencies, Abah stated however that there are also binding constraints “that no matter what is done, unless they are addressed, valiant efforts will come to naught.

“One such constraint is corruption which lies at the heart of

the underperformance of public sector organisation in many developing countries.”

He therefore urged stakeholders in the Nigerian project, if efficiency in government businesses is desired, to muster enough political will to curb the menace of corruption.

According to him, “there is a clear and urgent need to tackle the menace of corruption, a binding constraint to organizational effectiveness.

“Alas, despite all EFCC’s efforts, corruption is still with us and some would argue that, in Nigerian parlance, it has even moved to the next level in the last five years since Ribadu was forced out. Transparency International ratings, based on perceptions, will certainly appear to back this up.”

Participants at this year’s session include Dr. Bunmi Famosanya, Ekiti State Head of Service who was the discussant, Professor Tunde Adeniran, former Minister of Education, Akin Adaramola, former Ondo HOS and Commissioner for Economic Planning, Dr. Laoye Adegoke, retired Ondo Permanent Secretary, Senator Nimbe Farukanmi and renowned poet, Odia Ofeimum among many others.

Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Meanwhile, Benue State residents have been advised to present themselves for early TB diagnosis and treatment to avoid complication.

The NMA further called on the Federal Government to make the fight against TB one of its centenary anniversary projects by massively investing in TB research activities towards the discovery of the much-needed anti-TB vaccine.

Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, at the weekend listed Nigeria among 22 high burden countries that contributed 80 per cent of the estimated 8.7 million new TB cases globally in 2012.

NMA said in a statement to mark the World TB Day yesterday that TB, an infectious disease caused by the acid and alcohol fast bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, was still ravaging the country largely due to poor funding from Nigerian government for intervention programme.

Of the interventions against the disease in Nigeria, only 28 per cent funding comes from the country, the association of doctors lamented.

Calling attention to what he described as evolving donor apathy, NMA President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, said: “TB control activities is another area of poor performance with only 71 per cent budget implementation; only 28 per cent came from domestic sources and 48 per cent from the Global Fund, an international funding partner of the United States government, an

observation considered as ominous.

The initiative, according to a statement from UNAIDS, was formally launched yesterday in Mbabane, Swaziland.

The initiative includes a package of new investments worth more than N19.8 billion (US $120 million), which will be used to expedite progress against TB and HIV in the next 1,000 days. The global body will work with South African Development Community (SADC) countries to achieve the international targets of cutting deaths from TB and HIV-associated TB by half by 2015.

Important commitments outlined in the statement include the full integration of TB and HIV services, new partnerships with non-traditional partners, a reinforcement of programmes and services and new and innovative methods of financing the response to the two diseases.

UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé, said: “A thousand people living with HIV die every day of TB on the African continent, this is unacceptable. “This initiative brings momentum, commitment and renewed energy, which will produce results and improve the lives of millions of people across the region.”

Commander, Nigerian Air Force Hospital (NAFH), Air Commodore B.B. Okunola, made the call at the weekend at the 45 NAF Base Hospitals, Makurdi, during a seminar as part of activities organised to mark this year’s World Tuberculosis Day.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

8 NEWS

Govt seeks uniform mining system with Sudan, others From Lillian Chukwu, Abuja O check resource flight, the Federal Government has stressed the need to develop a unified mining system with Sudan and Africa in general to boost the minerals and mines sector.

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Musa Sada, said there was need to raise a common mining regime in ensuring value addition to the mineral resources exploited. He added that the proposal was to forestall the problem of flight of mineral resources from Africa, which was militating against the growth of the minerals and metals sector.

The minister stated this at

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the weekend in Abuja during a courtesy visit to his office by the Ambassador, Republic of Sudan to Nigeria, Dr. Tagelsir Ali. In a statement signed by the Assistant Director, Press, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Stephen Kilebi, the minister said that “one of the best ways to move forward is to cooperate, join forces among ourselves to add value to the minerals and be shielded from being shortchanged to ensure common exploration regime.”

Ali expressed delight on the existing cordial relationship between the two countries with about eight million Nigerians resident in Sudan.

The ambassador listed copper, uranium and gold as mineral resources with huge mining potential in Sudan and that about 20 mining companies exploiting gold had a trade volume of 3.6 billion dollars in 2012.

Sada listed various reforms ranging from legal and institutional frameworks positioned to develop Nigeria’s minerals and metals sector.

He noted that the reforms prompted the establishment of the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences in Jos, Plateau State, which offers courses in mining project development, mining engineering and minerals’ exploration.

APGA NWC dumps Umeh, disowns appeal From Leo Sobechi (Abakaliki) and Chuks Collins (Awka) OLLOWING indications FEnugu that the Court of Appeal, Division, would today begin hearing in the appeal filed by the embattled former chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Victor Umeh, against the judgment of Enugu High Court, which removed him from office as national chairman, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) may have distanced themselves from him.

In what appeared to be compounding Umeh’s woes, 18 out of the 27 members of the party’s NWC members at an emergency meeting in Awka, Anambra State, passed a vote of no confidence on the sacked national chairman based on what they termed worrisome development trailing the February 8, 2013, Enugu High Court judgment.

The position was contained in a statement issued by the

former NWC members after their emergency meeting in Awka on March 3, 2013.

While indicating that “all of us who endorsed this statement are direct victims of the Enugu High Court judgment, which dissolved the NWC organ of the party”, Mr. Ejike Uche and Mallam Sadique Masalla, deputy national chairman, South and North, who read the statement at the weekend, added that Umeh never carried them along in taking decisions that bothered on the survival of the party.

“For instance, the judgment of the Enugu High Court of February 8, 2013, which nullified the APGA Convention of 2011, affected us individually and collectively.

Unfortunately, as members of the NWC, Umeh never consulted us on his decision to appeal the judgment,” they alleged.

Part of the statement read: “We have resolved to abide by the judgment of the

Enugu High Court in the interest of the party. We have weighed all the options available for the advancement of the political fortunes of our party, APGA, and come to the conclusion that pursuing the judgment of the Enugu High Court is merely self-serving, unprogressive and a show of vendetta capable of stifling the growth of our party.

“We will, however, pursue the other option of conducting a fresh national convention as directed by the court since such approach still affords us the opportunity to

Chief of Staff, Government House, Minna, Joshua Bawa (left); the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Mahmud Enagi; the Deputy Governor, Ahmed Musa Ibeto; DSP Timothy Jamberlang; his bride, Maryann Zara Omameh and her father, Mr. Emmanuel Omameh, at the traditional wedding between Jamberlang and Omameh in Abuja…at the weekend

Commissioner cautions against politicising In what appeared to be compounding Umeh’s woes, 18 siting of schools out of the 27 APGA NWC members at an emergency From John Akubo, Dutse meeting in Awka, Anambra State, passed a vote of no HE Jigawa Sate for confidence on the sacked national chairman based on TCommissioner Education, Prof. Haruna what they termed worrisome development trailing the Wakili, has cautioned against the needless tussle for emirate February 8, 2013, Enugu High Court judgment. supremacy in the distribution re-contest our positions and still remain NEC members of the party. That Umeh, who unilaterally appealed the judgment without consulting all of us, is on his own and no longer enjoys our confidence”.

The NWC members further said they would plead to be joined in the appeal suit filed

by Umeh since according to them, “we shall also be directly affected by any outcome of the court judgment.”

Transporters want govt to tackle insecurity From Hendrix Oliomogbe (Asaba) Lawrence Njoku (Enugu) and Taiwo Hassan (Lagos) ORRIED by the increasing insecurity in the country, especially the recent bomb blasts in Kano, transporters and logistics experts have condemned the

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• Igbo group urges talks over Kano killings dastardly act, urging the Federal Government to urgently check the ugly trend, especially in the North.

Meanwhile, a group, Makaodinma Ndigbo, yesterday asked the leadership of Igbo apex socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to immediately convoke an Imeobi (highest decision organ) to discuss the recent Kano blasts.

In a statement, the Delta State Council of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) said that those who were engaged in the dastardly act should desist from their actions.

The NURTW Chairman, Ifeanyi Obi, explained that the bomb blasts affected people from all walks of life as there was no religious, age, or professional distinction at motor parks.

Also, a transport and logistics expert, Obiora Madu, told The Guardian yesterday that the bombing had rubbished the success the Federal Government claimed it recorded in its efforts at reducing terror attacks in the country.

Madu, who said the bombing may make logistics companies convoying goods to the northern part of the country to reconsider their activities, added that such firms were wary of the act.

He said the bombing would have adverse effects in terms of human cost because some of the transporters may boycott those routes considered to be high security risk unless government improved security of lives and property.

According to him, the bombing would have economic implication on trans-

portation because truck-owners may also hike charges on such risky routes due to insecurity.

Also speaking on the issue, Deputy Managing Director of ABC Transport Plc, Jude Nneji, said the bombing of luxury buses in Kano had brought to the fore the need for better security in the transport sector.

He added that such security measures should include screening of passengers and goods at motor parks before buses or other vehicles takeoff.

He, however, added that the Kano bombing would make transporters abandon some of the northern routes, but rather they would have to upgrade their security measures.

In a statement issued in Enugu by its national president, Nze Orji Nwankwo and secretary, Ugonna Onah, the group insisted that time had come for the Igbo to take a definite stand on the orgy of killings in the country, especially as it affected Ndigbo.

Makodinma Igbo said the latest attack was an indication that those behind it were on a mission to annihilate the Igbo, wondering how long lives of people from the South-East would be wasted in the power struggle of the country.

“We have not held political power in Nigeria. We are still begging and asking that Nigerians see reason why the economic and political marginalisation of the Igbo should be halted. However, while we reel and mourn our situation, it has been compounded by reckless killings and massive destruction of property belonging to the Igbo”, they said.

of state institutions.

Meanwhile, the Maternal and Newborn Child Health (MNCH) Partnership has commended the state government for the 100 per cent budgetary increase for MNCH in 2012.

The commendation was made yesterday in statement by MNCH Programme Manager, Mustapha Umar Babura and made available to The Guardian in Dutse.

Wakili stated this against the backdrop that the Emir of Gumel, Ahmed Muhammad Sani, was alleged to have raised an eyebrow over the siting of the state university in Kafin Hausa rather than Gumel.

Wakili, who made the call in his office, said the establishment of the new state university in Kafin-Hausa was to ensure even distribution of tertiary institutions across the state.

Union, hospital chief differ on SSS invitation From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City HERE is a fresh crisis at the Psychiatric Hospital, Uselu, Benin City, as the Senior Staff Association (SSA) of the hospital yesterday accused its Managing Director, Dr. Sunday Olotu, of refusing to give a written approval to some officials of the union to honour an invitation by the State Security Services (SSS).

But Olotu’s spokesman, Efe Stewart, denied the allegation yesterday when contacted on phone, adding that the management of the hospital had not received any formal letter from the officials for permission or had it received any correspondence from the SSS inviting its staff.

A statement yesterday by the union’s legal adviser, Kelvin Okafor, which was made available to journalists, alleged that Olotu refused to grant a written permission for the chairman and secretary of the SSA, Kennedy Oriakhi and Theophilus Osifo, to honour the SSS invitation with a view to punishing them for leaving the office without permission and to also create the impression before the SSS that they have refused to honour its invitation.

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

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WorldReport Rebels seize presidential palace in CAR, Bozize flees rebels in the Central SsaidELEKA African Republic yesterday they have seized the presidential palace in Bangui after President Francois Bozize fled the capital.

Reports suggested the president had gone to a neighbouring state. France’s foreign minister confirmed his exit.

The rebels, involved in an onoff rebellion since December, say Mr. Bozize failed to honour a peace deal.

One of the rebel leaders on the ground, Colonel Djouma Narkoyo, was quoted by AFP as saying: “We have taken the presidential palace. Bozize was not there.”

He said the rebels were planning to move on to the national radio station in Bangui where rebel leader Michel Djotodia planned to make a speech.

Intense gunfire was reported as rebels advanced through Bangui.

“The rebels control the town,” said a spokesman for the presidency, Gaston Mackouzangba. “I hope there will not be any reprisals.”

A Paris-based rebel spokesman said the rebel

leadership was telling its fighters to restrain from “looting or score-settling”.

But Amy Martin of the UN’s humanitarian agency, OCHA, told the BBC World Service that residents in the capital had begun looting.

“The situation in town is chaotic in the sense than com-

munities are looting properties, private properties, even a paediatric hospital we understand has been looted,” she said.

“Our main concern right now is at the community level, with the looting and the possible tensions between various ethnic groups.”

South African peacekeepers who suffered some casualties have retreated to their barracks and are seeking safe passage to the airport, Ms Martin said.

She added that Bangui has been without power since Saturday, and that this meant water had also been cut.

Bozize

ending four years of selfimposed exile and defying death threats.

A protection detail of heavily armed commandos met him after his plane from Dubai touched down in Karachi airport. A mass rally in the city was cancelled.

General Musharraf plans to lead his party in the May general election.

Meanwhile, 17 soldiers were

killed by a suicide bomber in the north-west of Pakistan overnight.

They were attacked at a security checkpoint in the tribal region of North Waziristan, close to the Afghan border and a known stronghold of the Taliban and al-Qaedalinked militants.

A recent Taliban video threatened Musharraf with snipers and suicide bombers.

Musharraf moved through the aisles of the plane greeting supporters, shaking hands

and having his photo taken to the bemusement of regular passengers.

There were chaotic scenes with journalists scrambling over seats as the journey became a mini campaign rally.

Musharraf told the BBC he felt emotional about returning to Pakistan, but he said he had mixed feelings because of the risk to himself and his supporters.

When the plane landed, his supporters on board cheered

Jinping arrives in Tanzania, focuses on trade ties FRICAN dancers and a 21-gun A salute welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping in Dar es Salaam yesterday at the start of an African tour that underlines the continent’s strategic importance for China both for its resources and as a marketplace.

Visiting, Tanzania, South Africa and Republic of Congo on his first trip abroad as president, Xi will aim to build on expanding economic relations that many Africans see as a healthy counterbalance to the influence of the West.

He might also address concerns in Africa that the continent is exporting raw materials while spending heavily to import finished consumer goods from the Asian economic powerhouse.

“He will be looking to tone down the feeling that China is just here to exploit resources. I think that is going to be his main job,” James Shikwati, director of the Nairobi-based Inter Regional Economic Network think tank, told Reuters.

Xi was due to hold trade talks with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete before a state banquet yesterday. Today Xi will deliver his first policy

speech on Africa.

He will then head to South Africa for a summit of leaders of the world’s major emerging economies, known as the BRICS, tomorrow and Wednesday, and could endorse plans to create a joint foreign exchange reserves pool and an infrastructure.

The proposal underscores frustrations among emerging markets at having to rely on the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, which are seen

as reflecting the interests of the United States and other industrialized nations.

The east African seaboard is hot property after huge gas discoveries in Tanzania and neighboring Mozambique. Chinese oil company CNPC this month acquired a 20 percent stake in the Eni Mozambique offshore project worth $4.21 billion, linking one of the planet’s biggest untapped gas resources with the fastest growing gas consuming country.

SRAEL said it fired into Syria Imachinegun yesterday and destroyed a position in the Golan Heights, from where shots had been fired at Israeli soldiers in a further spillover of the Syrian civil war along a tense front.

It was not immediately clear whether Israel held Syrian troops or rebels responsible for what a spokesman for Prime Minister Binjamin Netanyahu said had been a deliberate attack on Israeli patrols in the occupied territory.

Israeli forces “destroyed a Syrian machine gun nest that fired twice in the last 24 hours on Israeli patrols operating to safeguard the border,” the spokesman, Ofir Gendelman, said on his Twitter page.

Shells have fallen several times inside Israeli-controlled territory during Syria’s civil war. Some of the incidents have drawn Israeli return fire.

Syria’s southern provinces bordering Jordan and Israel have become an increasingly significant battleground as the capital Damascus - in Syria’s south - comes into play and President Bashar alAssad’s forces fight hard to

prevent rebel advances.

The Israeli military said one of its vehicles was hit late on Saturday by shooting from across the Israeli-Syrian ceasefire line on the Golan Heights, but no one was hurt.

Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner, said, “Our understanding is that it wasn’t stray fire.”

After a second incident on Sunday, Israeli soldiers “responded with accurate fire toward the Syrian post from which they were fired on”, the military said.

Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said in a statement that Israel viewed shooting from Syria “with severity” and would not allow “the Syrian army or any other element to violate Israeli sovereignty by firing at our territory”.

Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed the strategic plateau in 1981 in a move that has not won international recognition.

“Any ... fire from the Syrian side will be answered immediately by silencing the sources of fire when we identify them,” Yaalon said.

Syrian opposition leader Khatib resigns

Musharraf returns to Pakistan despite threats ORMER Pakistani President, Fyesterday General Pervez Musharraf arrived in Pakistan,

Israel fires into Syria after attack on troops

and shouted “Long live Pervez Musharraf”.

He faces a string of charges including conspiracy to murder, but on Friday the Pakistani authorities granted him protective bail in several outstanding cases, freeing him from immediate arrest once he sets foot in Pakistan.

One of the charges is that he failed to provide adequate security for opposition leader Benazir Bhutto after she returned from exile in 2007.

Two deadly explosions, in which nearly 140 people died, greeted her arrival in Karachi on 19 October. She was killed that December at a rally in Rawalpindi.

A few hundred supporters gathered near the airport, to celebrate his arrival according to the BBC’s Orla Guerin.

Earlier, the former leader, 69, tweeted a photo of himself aboard the plane, writing: “Settled in my seat on the plane to begin my journey home. Pakistan First!”

In Dubai, the smiling general told a reporter the event felt like a wedding party.

HE leader of the opposiT tion Syrian National Coalition (SNC), Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, has resigned.

In a statement on his Facebook page yesterday, Mr. Khatib said he was leaving the job as he wanted to work with more freedom than an official institution allowed.

He had promised the Syrian people he would resign if what he called certain red lines were reached, he said.

He appeared to criticise the world community for not doing enough to stop two years of bloodshed in Syria.

His resignation comes a day after European Union foreign ministers failed to resolve their differences over whether to exempt Syrian rebels from an arms embargo.

Mr Khatib, who was elected head of the SNC in November 2012, is seen as a respected and unifying figure in Syria.

But he caused controversy by offering talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, on condition that 160,000 prisoners were freed.

The opposition had previ-

ously insisted President Assad step down before any talks begin.

Mr Khatib’s resignation comes days after Ghassan Hitto was chosen as prime minister in rebel-held areas, an appointment that he is thought to have objected to.

But he said he would continue to work with colleagues who were seeking the freedom of the Syrian people.

“I announce my resignation from the National Coalition, so that I can work with a freedom that cannot possibly be had in an official institution,” he said in the statement.

“For the past two years, we have been slaughtered by an unprecedentedly vicious regime, while the world has looked on,” Mr Khatib added.

“All the destruction of Syria’s infrastructure, the detention of tens of thousands of people, the forced flight of hundreds of thousands and other forms of suffering have been insufficient for the international community to take a decision to allow the people to defend themselves.”

‘No evidence of third-party involvement’ in Berezovsky’s death

U.S. Senate passes first budget in four years

HERE is no evidence so far T that a “third party” was involved in the death of Boris

HE United States Senate T early Saturday voted to pass its first annual budget

Berezovsky, police say.

Earlier, the Russian tycoon’s house in Berkshire was given the all-clear after it was searched by police for chemical, biological and nuclear material.

Thames Police said Mr Berezovsky, 67, was found by an employee dead on his bathroom floor on Saturday afternoon. The door was locked from the inside.

A Home Office post-mortem examination is to be carried

out.

Mr Berezovsky emigrated to the UK in 2000 after falling out with Russia’s president, and was granted asylum in 2003.

Police are currently treating the death as unexplained, while scenes-of-crime officers are currently inside the property carrying out a full forensic examination of the scene.

“It would be wrong to speculate on the cause of death until the post-mortem has been carried out. We do not have any evidence at this stage to suggest third party involvement,” Detective Chief Inspector Kevin

Brown of Thames Valley Police said.

“The investigation team are building a picture of the last days of Mr Berezovsky’s life, speaking to close friends and family to gain a better understanding of his state of mind.

“We are acutely aware of the level of interest into his death and are focused on conducting a thorough investigation as we would with any unexplained death.”

Mr Berezovsky’s body was reportedly found by an employee, who called an ambulance at 15:18 GMT on Saturday.

for the federal government in four years, but the symbolic bill has slim chance to pass the Republican-led House of Representatives.

By a vote of 50 to 49, the upper chamber of the U.S. Congress passed the federal government’s 2014 fiscal year budget plan starting on October 1. The Senate failed to pass an annual budget for the federal government since 2009, evidence of the fierce fiscal

wrangling between Democrats and Republicans.

The bill called for $975b in more tax revenue and another $975b in government spending cuts in the coming decade.

The House on Thursday also approved its 2014 fiscal year budget blueprint for the federal government. The budget plan failed to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate, as it called for significantly reducing income tax rates and repealing the Obama healthcare law.

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

Politics There’s difference between clemency and state pardon, says Diya Former Chief of General Staff (CGS), Gen. Oladipo Diya (Rtd), who was implicated in a phantom coup attempt in 1997, was pardoned recently, along with others, by President Jonathan, whom, he says he owes a lot of appreciation, and to millions of Nigerians, and the Almighty God, who stood by him and his colleagues during their trial. The former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) spoke to reporters, including SEYE OLUMIDE, on Thursday in Lagos.

• Urges Jonathan to implement Oputa Panel report

ID former Head of State, Gen. D Abdulsalami Abubakar grant you pardon?

Some people mix up the meaning of clemency and state pardon. What Gen. Abubakar granted us was clemency, which was different from the state pardon President Jonathan granted to the others and me on Tuesday, March 2013.

The clemency was the authority vested in the Head of State to release us from our various places of detentions. I was released from the Potiskum Prison. If there were no clemency, the sentence would still have been on, which was execution.

Our ranks was not restored neither our entitlements. If what Abubakar granted us was pardon, immediately we were released from prisons, all payments due to us would have followed but that was not done. Even my personal security, the one for my family and my house would have been returned through pardon and not clemency.

I would like to appreciate the role of the Inspector General of Police, who has been providing me with police security wherever I go. It is not his duty to do that but he exercised that power through the permission of the President.

Do not forget that I am a former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and that, by interpretation, is the highest you can attain professionally in the armed forces. If you become CDS,

Diya

you are like the commander of the armed forces exercising your powers through the president.

Up till now, policemen are still guarding me and not soldiers; even the security meant for my house and my family, as a former CDS, had not been restored but now that a pardon has been granted, I would not be surprised if a former letter is written to me as a former CDS and everything will take proper and official shape from the very date the letter stipulates.

Why did you choose to serve under such a tyrannical government headed by Gen. Sani Abacha?

Permit me to use the word of my friend, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, who said that he would have regretted if he did not serve in that government. I am also saying that the administration of Gen. Sani Abacha assembled one of the best cabinets that had ever been assembled by any government in this country.

Name any gentle and credible char-

acter that did not participate in the government? Are the likes of former governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Dr. Alex Ibru, Chief Olu Onagoruwa, and respected and prominent people from the northern part of the country and other credible characters?

I can never see anybody that will say it was an error for him to serve in that cabinet. I do not see anything that was wicked and tyrannical in that government but we are all human beings.

It got to a point that we looked at the situation in the country and we had to make some suggestions but unfortunately, our suggestions did not go well with some people and that was why, during my trial, I made that statement: “Where is so and so? Oh! This is a conspiracy and I am the target.” I said it openly and I knew what I went through that night after the speech.

Anyway, that experience is now history but I am now referring to the

Oputa Panel Report. Of course, the government did not publish the report but it was on the Internet and everybody read it.

I want President Jonathan to implement the recommendations made in the report. I am saying this for the benefits of a lot of civilians, who went through torture during the period.

The panel listened to everybody that was involved and made recommendations. I am pleading that the president should unveil and implement it.

If I may draw a parallel between the Oputa Panel and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up in South Africa to look into several issues relating to what we went through, the South African government implemented the recommendations of the commission and this really did a lot to strengthen the relationships among the peoples of the country and made them to be peaceful.

The South African government, on its own, did a lot to appease the people and this went a long way in stabilising the country and putting them on the path of development.

It is unfortunate that many civilians were framed into the 1997 phantom coup just because of me. Honestly, I had never met many of them until we got to prison. I never knew many of the junior officers; they may have known me being a senior officer but I never knew them.

For instance, I never met with the late Col. Akiode, who died in prison and yet, he was tried along with me for alleged coup. All theses issues were dealt with in the Oputa Panel report. It was a panel set up with public funds and it sat for almost three months in Abuja, Lagos and several other places. Why should the report be kept unattended to?

Do you hold any grudge against the people that implicated you in the phantom coup?

As a Christian, I don’t. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us in the scriptures to forgive those who offended us so that our Father in heaven can also forgive us.

I thank God that I am still alive and my families, too, are alive. Honestly, I don’t hold anything against anybody because if I do, I will not have the free conscience to continue to thank God for saving my life.

As a matter of fact, one of the victims

of the phantom coup told me during our travails that one thing he was sure of was that I would not die. The person told me while we were in the detention that he was sure that I wasn’t going to be executed.

I really want to appreciate President Jonathan and all those who stood by us during the period. I want to say thank you to all the people of Nigeria and those in the international community for the kind of support they gave during the period.

I am even told that one of those, who stood face to face with me during the ordeal, is now paralysed and any time I kneel to pray, I always remember him and beg God to forgive him. I never pray for anybody to be in that situation.

Now that you have been granted pardon, are you nursing any political ambition?

Of course, no! I do not have any political ambition now. I wouldn’t say I am not into politics because all Nigerians, who make observations about the situation of development in the country, are in a way or the other involved in politics.

If I say I am not in politics, then I wouldn’t have the right to make comments on any issue, but I do not intend to go into partisan politics at least for now.

As a former Chief of Defence Staff, what do you think about the security situation in the country?

I am not in the position to assist in the security situation in the nation.

During my time in the army, there was nothing like Boko Haram; there was no serious internal threat to our security then.

If you ask any infantry soldier today, he will tell you the basic military tactics to deal with an enemy is fire and movement. you fire the enemy and move ahead. But now, when you fire and the person that you fire is coming towards you and he will not run or bulge, that requires another tactics entirely.

The type of enemy we are talking about is even ready to die; he has already wired himself with explosives and doesn’t care if he explodes and perishes with you.

I believe President Jonathan is putting his best together to address the situation and if he discovers there is need to change whatever tactics he is currently using to address the security situation, he will definitely do that.

The president is in the best position to decide on what to do.

‘Lagos PDP must integrate non-indigenes to win in 2015’ Chairman of the South-South Forum of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Sunday Ekanem, told SEYE OLUMIDE that non-indigenes should be accorded some representation in the party state executive.

Hy is the South-South Forum of the Lagos PDP W having a separate executive in the state?

It is for the purpose of mobilisation of the SouthSouth people in Lagos ahead of the 2015 elections.

We inaugurated the executives of each of the six South-South states in Lagos, believing that it will help to mobilise our people here.

For instance, an executive representing Akwa Ibom would be in a better position to talk to people from the state, and likewise others. We are actu-

ally trying to mobilise all the South-South indigenes to join the Lagos PDP. Are you planning to run a parallel executive with the state PDP? We are not doing anything parallel; we are mere pressure groups complementing the efforts of the executive. We are members of the party, but most of our people in Lagos voted for the PDP during the 2011 presidential election because of President Goodluck Jonathan. But when it came to the governorship, we all saw what happened.

We are trying to mobilise our people so that their focus will be entirely on PDP in all elective positions.

Why are the South-South people not represented in the Lagos PDP executive?

We are trying to address that issue. The SouthSouth people constitute 30 per cent of the 70 per cent of non-indigenes in the Lagos PDP and yet,

we are not represented in the state executive. This is totally unacceptable to us and that is why we continue to say internal democracy must reign.

In the ACN, an Igbo man is the publicity secretary; so, why must the PDP continue to push non-indigenes around? If the Lagos PDP wants us to get to our people, then, we must be represented in the executive.

Has the issue surrounding the election of the Lagos PDP executive been resolved?

The Musiliu Obanikoro-led committee was set up to look into the issues, but it is unfortunate that he promoted his own interest above the party’s interest. He was supposed to resolve a problem but he ended up creating more problems. People should throw away their personal ambition for the interest of the party.

The national secretariat is setting up another committee to look into the problems and resolve

them, following a letter from the South-South people informing it that there is no peace yet in the party. They are looking into it.

What are the major challenges of PDP in Lagos, being the only state in the Southwest it has never won since 1999?

There are moles within the Lagos PDP. They appear as PDP in the day and ACN in the night.

Until we fish them out, we will continue to have problems. I do not know who they are, but we need to fish them out.

Another thing is that as long as PDP continues to push non-indigene members around, it will continue to have challenges. There is the need to start to project the interest of non-indigenes in the Lagos PDP because they are in the majority.

PDP has a better chance to take Lagos from the ACN in 2015 if the party can work on non-indigenes.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

TheMetroSection How we rescued Major General in Ughelli, by police

By Odita Sunday

When policemen got to the hideout, the kidnappers sighted them and opened fire on them, but the hoodlums could not match the superior fire power of the police operatives, who killed one of them and arrested two others HE Delta State Police command has T rescued Major-General Peter Unode (retired) who was abducted by suspected kidnappers last Wednesday at Ekiugbo Town, along Ughelli/Warri Express road in Ughelli.

A combined team of detectives and anti-terrorism squad of the command rescued him at the weekend.

Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, explained that the moment the kidnappers of the 67year-old retired senior officer called one of his sons to demand a ransom of N50million, “we started monitoring the call with the aid of the service providers and other intelligence reports gathered from the scene and we were able to trace their location to a building in Akiwe village, Ozoro in Isoko North Local Government Area, where the retired General was bound, chained to a chair and blindfolded by his captors.”

“The abductors later reduced the sum to N450, 000 and described a place in Ekiugbo, where the ransom would be brought to them. I told the General’s son to play along and he gave them the impression that he was bringing the money on Saturday morning. They were waiting for the money when my

The victim, Peter Unode

officers, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ozoro, stormed the building,” Aduba said.

The police boss added that the kidnappers opened fire on sighting the police.

According to him: “When policemen got to the hideout, the kidnappers sighted them and opened fire on them but the hoodlums could not match the superior fire power of the police operatives who killed one of them and arrested two others. The suspects are currently being interrogated and they have made useful statements. Police has also declared a manhunt for the suspects who escaped.”

Aduba said detectives are currently combing surrounding bushes in the area in search of the suspects who escaped with bullet wounds.

He has also advised hospitals in the area to report to the police if anybody with bullet wounds is brought in for treatment or risk prosecution, adding that the command is determined to rid the state of kidnappers and other criminals.

He noted that the building, which has been fingered as kidnappers den, would be demolished.

Narrating his ordeal, Unode said: “I went with one S.O Oyino who deals on bamboo sticks, along the Ughelli/PortHarcout expressway to see his stock.

On getting there, we saw one Toyota Sienna, parked close to the caravan, where the bamboos were kept.

“Then we saw the owner of the Sienna space bus defecating close to the caravan and we expressed concern. We asked him why he was doing that there, because we were in company of

another man who wanted to buy 200 pieces of bamboo from Oyibo, he was discussing with us. After a while, we saw Oyibo discussing with the man and as I moved closer, they stopped the conversation and the man zoomed off in his Sienna.”

He continued: “After few minutes, the Sienna resurfaced and two boys emerged from it with pump action guns and they were saying; na you say make our oga pack shit? They were three in the car, but only two came out and that was how I was bundled away through Amekpa.”

“After a while, I was blindfolded and whisked away. As we were going, they said I should give them N50 million, otherwise they would waste me. And I told them I do not have that kind of money and that I am a retired Army General.”

“They took me to their hideout; a living environment. People in the area were speaking Isoko; the boys guiding me were also conversing in Isoko. I was hearing the sound of vehicles and motorcycles; the place was close to a busy road. And from that Wednesday that they took me until the police rescued me, I refused to eat food. I lived on water all through,” he said.

He added: “ They later reduced the ransom to N20 million, later came down to N15, N10 and N5 million and the boys felt insulted when my son called them negotiating N450, 000.

They were angry and seriously tortured me. The mosquitoes were not helping matters too as they were biting me seriously. The mosquitoes took advantage of me because I was properly chained to a chair and helpless.

“I was chained on my ankle; my knees were tied; my hands were tied; my mouth was tied and I was still under blindfold. I was subjected to all forms of inhuman treatment.”

Osun governor commends peace between Ife, Modakeke people From Tunji Omofoye, Osogbo SUN State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola has commended indigenes of Ife and Modake for putting their differences aside and allowing peace and harmony to prevail in the area.

He said the disposition of the people in the area to peaceful co-existence has sign-posted meaningful development, saying they are kinsmen who cannot be separated by human factor.

O

Aregbesola who spoke weekend at a book presentation entitled: “At the City Gatere” held at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU), Osogbo noted the historical factor which brought the two communities together stressing that the course of unity, peace and love must be sustained at all times.

Represented by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Sunday Akere, he said the two communities

have over decades become one and cannot be outdone by any kind of crisis.

According to the governor, describing Ife and Modakeke as two communities is to belabour their differences, whereas, in truth, the two towns can hardly be separated.

He noted that the rested crisis that ravaged the area was a tragedy, which should never be allowed to rear its ugly head again.

He described the author,

whose root straddles both communities, as a living example of the unbreakable bonds between Ife and Modakeke saying this bond lives on in her being and mind as well as many others who share similar root with her.

The book chronicles the historical link between the communities and the misunderstanding, which later snowballed into a full blown communal war in which many lives and valu-

able property were lost.

Aregbesola added that the book would help bring about understanding on issues that created the problem as well as project how the problem was managed. He commended the author, Abiola Oluyemi for the timing of the book, which, according to him, would help enlighten the people on the effort of his administration at promoting peace, harmony and good neighbourliness among the people.

Fashola celebrates children living with Down Syndrome

By Wole Oyebade N a rare expression of love for special children, wife of the Lagos State governor, Emmanuella Fashola at State House, Marina, hosted the Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria (DSFN).

The event, held at the weekend, was in commemoration of this year’s World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) celebration in Lagos.

About 200 children living with the developmental condition, their parents and relations were in attendance. Others are officials of the foundation, representatives of NGOs caring for Down syndrome and members of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO).

Fashola, who is also the COWLSO Chairperson, in her address said the gesture was to stay closer to those that really need her.

According to her, “I felt it would be appropriate to have them around today, feel them and know what is happening to them in commemoration of this special day. It gives me a sense of living to be in the midst of those that need me,” Fashola said.

She noted that the children, though have disabili-

I

ties, but also possess incredible spirit and show of love that everyone could emulate.

Fashola added that loving the special ones and meeting their needs are duty that humanity has bestows on all.

Speaking on the theme of WDSD 2013, “I want to work”, Fashola urged all Nigerians to extend hands of love to children with disabilities to enhance their integration into the society.

In her words, “They are gifted by God and I have seen that they can do a lot because they have been trained. We need to welcome them into the society.

“Even if we cannot employ them, we can patronise their products. I have bought their baked products severally and they are really good.”

Fashola thanked parents that did not in hopelessness and fear of discrimination kept their disable children behind closed doors, but gave them the opportunity to develop like any child.

President of the foundation, Rose Mordi had earlier thanked Fashola and well-meaning Lagosians for the support they had given to the foundation in the last 12 years.

Mordi noted that though she is not a Lagosian, but what began as an attempt to raise her last child, born with the disability 25 years ago, had been enlarged

by Lagosians to bless many children and brought the foundation international recognitions.

The state government has been sponsoring some of the children to India for corrective surgery among other support.

The foundation, according to Mordi, has three programmes of early corrective medical intervention, early education and vocational training and process of social integration.

Down syndrome is the most common chromosome abnormality in humans. It is typically associated with a delay in cognitive ability and physical growth, and a particular set of facial characteristics.

WDSD was made official in 2011 by the United Nations, to raise awareness for the condition and support for people living with Down syndrome.

The commemoration in Lagos also witnessed plaque presentation to Fashola, entertainment by the children, dining and wining, plus amazing dance steps by the Down syndrome group.

Briefs Workshop on Advertising Media holds Wednesday WORKSHOP on “ManagA ing Advertising Media Complexity - the Winning Ways” holds on Wednesday, March 27 at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos.

It is organised by ServeWell Ltd., a consulting firm on all aspects of marketing communications.

According to the Principal Consultant, Mr. Ayo Owoborode, the event is a wake-up call to media houses and organisations, which deploy advertising as a tool.

Participants expected at the workshop include marketing managers of media houses, advertising agency brand managers, brand marketing managers, as well as regulatory organisations concerned with marketing communications.

Speakers at the event include Mr. Tolu Ogunkoya, an advertising media expert and Owoborode.

Up Ughievwen Elite Club meets Sunday HE monthly meeting of Up T Ughievwen Elite Club holds on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013 at 2.00p.m. at Mr. Henry Kojo’s residence, 1, Henry Kojo Street, Adeba, Ibeju Lekki.

A statement by the GeneralSecretary, Dr. Isaac Makilolo, advised all members to attend as vital resolutions would be made.

RCCG, Province 23, Area 3 holds special programme HE Redeemed Christian T Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 23, Area 3, will hold its Let’s Go a fishing Programme on Friday, March 29, at Bello-Adeniyi Junction. Mechanic /Car Wash Open Space, Bello Street, Lagos at 9.00a.m.

With the theme: The stone is rolled away, Pastor Amos Emovon and other anointed men of God will minister.

There will be free food and medical check-up.

Banjo, 75, passes on RENOWNED educationist A and wife of a traditional ruler in Sagamu, Ogun State, Olori Victoria Wuraola Olayinka Banjo (nee Ogunade) has died at the age of 75.

Her remains will be taken to Sagamu for interment on Friday, April 12, 2013, Ogun State after a funeral mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Ebute Metta Lagos. Her husband is the Olori’tun of Itun-nla, Oke, Offin Sagamu, Ogun State.

She is survived by children among whom is the South West Zonal director of Legal Aid Council, Mr Samuel Ayodele Banjo and grandchildren.

Banjo

METRO 13

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

Photonews

Founder, Ile-Adura Mose Orimolade Tunolase Cherubim & Seraphim Church, Baba Aladura Samuel Ademola Ajakaiye, (middle) Superintendent Apostle Prophet Boye Ajakaiye (right), Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Council, Special Apostle Ayodele Adewale during the church procession to mark this year’s Palm Sunday celebration at FESTAC Town, Lagos… yesterday

A cross-section of Cherubim and Seraphim Church kids, Oke-Olu Street, Iponri Street, Lagos celebrating Palm Sunday...yesterday PHOTO: TOYOSI AJAYI

Foundation tasks govt on creation of ministry for the elderly

By Adunola Adeniyi and Tolulope Okunlola N organization of senior A citizens of Nigeria, Lieber Unity Friendship Foundation (LUF) has called on the Federal Government to create a ministry for the elderly. This call was made by Founder and General Secretary of the foundation, Kelvin Lawrence, at its first quarterly meeting and health check, which took place in Surulere, Lagos on Saturday.

While addressing the elderly at the event, Lawrence lamented the plight of senior citizens in the country, asking how it could be resolved.

He further said that the LUF foundation had entered the year 2013 with greater determination to find a lasting solution to the social and

economic problems of retired Nigerian workers, including the aged and the elderly in the society.

“We are more concerned with the critical situation, where the cost of living is becoming unbearable,” he said.

Lawrence resolved that something drastic must be done this year to provide effective relief to the retired workers.

According to him: “The rate at which the elderly are dying in the society, as a result of inadequate healthcare and poverty, is quite alarming and embarrassing to the country.”

He lamented the poor attitude of political office- holders towards the elderly, while further calling on the Federal Government to establish a ministry for the elderly to en-

sure better attention for them.

Lawrence explained that LUF was set up to improve the health and economic conditions of the elderly, create a forum for interaction among them, create a forum for the advancement of the care of the elderly, assist them to engage in simple business activities to mitigate the ravaging poverty as well as mobilize to stop the incessant delays in payment of the benefits and other entitlements and advocates for the right of the elderly.

“Bear in mind that no matter how strong you may be today, one day, you will surely grow old. Also bear in mind that no matter how long you may wish to work in your offices, one day you will retire or be retired,” he asserted.

Students of Agidingbi Senior Secondary School, Lagos celebrating World Water Day. With them are: Communications Manager, Nigerian Bottling Company, Yomi Onakoya (left), Vice Principal, Agidingbi Senior Secondary School, Mrs. Gladys Nsaka, Ikeja Plant Manager, Dayo Omotosho and Public Affairs Manager (Lagos and West), Ifeoma Okoye, both of Nigerian Bottling Company at the celebration of the United Nations World Water Day in Lagos ...at the weekend PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

WHARC, T. Y. Danjuma Foundation renovate health centre in Edo S part of efforts towards reducing maternal A mortality among rural women in Edo state, Women’s Health and Action Research Centre, (WHARC) with support from the T.Y Danjuma Foundation has renovated a healthcare centre in the state. The healthcare centre, the OligieOttah Primary Health Centre (PHC) located in Orhionmwon L.G.A of Edo state, also serves the four communities of Oligie, Ottah, Idumodim and Wire-Ake. Lady Winifred Onyeonwu, Chairman Board of Trustees, WHARC, who officiated at the commissioning of the renovated OligieOttah PHC, disclosed that the commitment to renovate the health centre is part of efforts to compliment the state government in the health sector and to bring free maternal health services of the state nearer to the people at the grassroots.

According to her, the Oligie-Ottah PHC which before now was in a state of disrepair with leaking roofs, shaky foundation, broken locks and easily accessed by goats and rodents, now have doors with locks, a beautiful roof, delivery beds, baby cots and has been freshly painted.

“It is no wonder that this has greatly increased patronage of the facility as women who had hitherto refused to patronise the facility because of fear of it collapsing on them can now come to the health centre to receive medical services”, she said.

The Project Officer of WHARC, Ms. Osasu Aigbogun, also explained that upon renovation of the PHC in February this year, “data collected from the health centre revealed that there has been a drastic increase in the number of deliveries as only two deliveries were each recorded in the previous months while nine deliveries were recorded in the month of February, after the renovation.”

Edo Officer for T.Y Danjuma Foundation, Oluwatomi Ajayi, assured members of the community that more attention would be given in terms of efficient rural healthcare delivery through provision of well-equipped Primary Health Centres across the state aimed at reducing maternal/child mortality in support with the Women’s Health and Action Research Centre, (WHARC).

Moderator/former Managing Director, Samsung West Africa, Mr. Idorenyen Enang (left); Chief Host and Group Managing Director, Verdant Zeal Ltd, Mr. Tunji Olugbodi; Guest Lecturer and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Chairman of the Event, Mr. Bola Akingbade; and Keynote Speaker, Mr. Udeme Ufot, during the Verdant Zeal Lecture Series, tagged “Beyond Branding: Building Lasting Values for Nigeria’s Growth" in Lagos… on Friday.

PHOTO:SUNDAY AKINLOLU

Photonews

Manager, Tantalizers, Doyin Eqwakide (right) celebrates with one of the 25th customer promotions winners, Mr. Ken Obi at the Satellite Town outlet, Lagos...

Partner, Tax Advisory and Regulatory Services, Deloitte, Mr. Oluseye Arowolo (left); Partner, Bloomfield Advocate & Solicitors, Mr. Kunle Obebe; and Managing Partner, Hybrid Solicitors & Consult, Mr. Bimbo Atilola, during the Movexpat Expatriate Management Summit in Lagos...

TheGuardian

14 THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

FOUNDER: ALEX U. IBRU (1945 – 2011)

Conscience is an open wound; only truth can heal it. Uthman dan Fodio 1754-1816

Editorial The Kano bomb blast SS bombing of five passenger luxury buses a week ago in Kano is a clear escalation of the insecurity in the northern part of the country. It is also to date, the most dastardly action of the insurgents against peace-loving citizens.

No fewer than 70 persons were killed in the blasts, while several others suffered various degrees of injury. It is despicable, inhuman, reprehensible and highly condemnable. For its huge human casualty, and its threat to the continuing existence of the country, the suicide bombing is not one that government should treat with the usual promise of bringing the perpetrators to book, while in fact, little is done in furtherance of that promise. There must now be a concerted effort by government to secure Nigerians, seek viable ways of ending the orgy of mindless killings, and the spreading instability in the country.

Reports said a vehicle laden with bombs rammed into the fully-loaded buses at their point of exit from the public park, causing a huge explosion. The buses were heading to Port Harcourt and Lagos. Incidentally, the bombing came in the wake of recent optimism by security agencies that the Boko Haram menace was being brought under control. During an official visit to Yobe and Borno States, President Jonathan turned down the call for amnesty for the militants, stressing that amnesty could not be granted to ‘ghosts’. It was clearly in furtherance of the renewed confidence in the fight against the group. About the same time, the Army Chief, Lt. General Ihejirika declared that the decline in the spate of bombing by the militants was as a result of the killing of the principal bomb expert in the service of the insurgents. Yet, the Kano mass killing occurred just as the security agencies in the country were reveling in such self-assessed success. Since then, it has been all quiet from the security agencies and the government as a whole, even as the incident has rightly provoked national outrage. It has also, raised tension in the country, especially in the south-east from where most of the victims hailed.

As condemnation from the government, ethnic nationality organisations and well-meaning Nigerians trailed the bombing, there is palpable apprehension that the violence could lead to a wider conflict which would task the unity of the country, if serious steps are not taken urgently to end it. This prospect is too grim to contemplate in a country that went through a fratricidal civil war in the past, and whose scars remain even today. The possible ramification should, therefore, be a cause for serious concern to all Nigerians. It raises fresh questions as to the motivation of the Islamic militants. Is it the creation of a Sharia state in a multi-ethnic and secular Nigeria? Is the country enmeshed in a clash of civilizations? Is it political and, therefore, sheer power struggle? Politically, the Nigerian state has been accommodative enough. The country is a member of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) and its constitution provides for Sharia jurisprudence for individuals so desirous of it. And if it is about power struggle, this is better done through the instrumentality of democracy, and its procedures are well-laid out in the basic laws of the country. The point is that there is an urgent need for a proper articulation of this particular challenge facing the country, and how to resolve it.

It has become clear that the change of the National Security Adviser has not yielded any shift towards resolving the crisis. Indeed, the insurgents seemed to be undaunted by the security forces, despite big votes for security by the government, an amount far above the combined budget for education and health.

There is now an urgent need for a new institutional measure to handle the worsening security situation in the country similar to the homeland security initiative in the United States after the September 11, 2001 bombing. Allied to this is the need to isolate the core states of the militants for special security operation. The Nigerian army has the capacity to tackle this, but it should be done not with a mindset that sees the solution to the problem as solely military. The government’s strategy should be underpinned by the principle of an all-option strategy which permits other engagements with the militants, and whoever can wield influence over them. Dialogue outside public scrutiny readily recommends itself. It is to be preferred to the current poor political communication in which divergent opinions are put on the public domain by several government functionaries in ways that are overly contradictory. Since it is obvious that there is a religious dimension to the crisis, people with deep and better knowledge of the faith should be enlisted in the dialogue.

Amnesty as being canvassed by some people is equally important, but it is different from dialogue, and it may come after the latter. The Defence structure of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) should be enlisted in the fight against the insurgents, more so as there seems to be both active and sleeping cells across the sub-region. The involvement of the structure will prove invaluable to the fight against the insurgents. Besides, the government should come out with a considered statement on the recent escalation of violence. After all, the security of citizens is what government is all about.

T

LETTERS

Yes Nigerian movies should inspire IR: I read with a lot of Stenexcitement the article writby Nzeamaka Richard in The Guardian of February 28, 2013 and I will say kudos to the man for such a timely article. As he rightly submitted (and I am also in congruence with him), the Nigerian movie industry could do better than they are doing in terms of quality, content and output. My finding as a scientist with lots of analytical slant is that the movies lack moral content. Nigerian movies, all seem to start with fun, enjoyment, and largess and end same way. How do you explain the case of a 45 year-old lady living alone, wielding lots of influence, driving expensive cars and peddling arms and drugs? I am most certain that these acts are what we see in other climes far from ours.

One thing these films are supposed to do is to impact positively on our youths who are the future of the society, but they rarely do so. In my interactions lately with friends, they see Nigerian movies as lacking in moral content, which is seriously needed now in the character formation of our youths. Our children, especially the girls who watch these movies need parental guidance to discern their positive and negative aspects.

The factors that can influence a child are varied — cur-

rent opinions, movies/films, ideologies and diverse interpretations of history.

Without the required mental stability, all these can lead to confusion. That is why children should have clear and deep-rooted ideas to keep them on the right tracks towards the supreme good.

The movies/films are veritable instruments for moulding currents of opinion and good criteria in young people as an objectively bad

action cannot become good because one has the right intentions.

An error will always be an error even if the one committing it has good intentions.

The truth is that, the movie industry albeit growing economically and providing the much-needed jobs for young people could inspire more on moral grounds than it is doing at the moment.

• Emmanuel Afunwa, Trans Ekulu, Enugu.

Pope Francis, servant of truth IR: With deep joy I offer aimed at defending and proSBergoglio Cardinal Jorge Mario moting the Catholic faith and my warm congrat- its morals against modern ulations and most fervent good wishes on his election to the papacy. Jorge Mario Bergoglio is a man rich in spiritual passion, humility, self-denial and love for the cause of God and of man. As Pope Francis, he brings to the papacy a brilliant philosophical, and, in particular, theological mind that has embraced a vision of broad spiritual and ecclesiastical horizons: personal holiness, missionary outreach combined with constant concern for unity, and the necessary integration of spirituality and institutional ministry.

His episcopal motto “Miserando atque eligendo” has strengthened and guided him in his tireless and uncompromising efforts

errors in an age in which the Catholic Church has suffered unprecedented persecution and martyrdom.

The new pope has also worked to encourage studies aimed at increasing knowledge of the faith so that the new problems arising from the progress of science and civilisation can be answered in the light of the word of God. The aim for which he has always strived has been to serve the truth, seek to know it ever more thoroughly and make it ever more widely known.

May the Lord lavish his choicest heavenly reward upon our new Vicar of Christ Francis 1.

• Paul Kokoski, Ontario, Canada.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, , March 25, 2013

BUSINESS 15

Business Business Interview P54 Careful budget planning critical to socio-economic development

NLNG secures $360m loan from S’Korea

By Roseline Okere IGERIA’s external debt stock profile may have inched up, as the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) has secured the nod of South Korean ExportImport Bank, for a $360 million (N56.8 billion) facility, with a maturity of nine and half years.

The loan agreement will however, be signed tomorrow, according to hints from NLNG. NLNG spokesperson, Gloria Ikpene, who confirmed the development to The Guardian yesterday, said “the loan is yet to be signed.

It is expected to be signed on March 26 (tomorrow) and we have to wait till that date before much can be said about it.”

A statement from the Korean Export-Import Bank stated that the transaction comes under the stateowned South Korean bank’s programme of providing export credit and guarantee to support Korean exporters.

Specifically, the loan was scripted to part-fund purchase of six vessels worth $1.3 billion by NLNG. “Nigeria LNG, gas exporter of the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), signed a contract with two South Korean shipyards – Samsung Heavy Industries Co. and

N

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. – for six LNG vessels worth $1.3 billion.”

According to the bank, NLNG appointed Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and France’s BNP Paribas in February, to raise $1.6 billion for the six LNG carrier ships. A banking source said the fund raising scheme is expected to close by the end of this month.

South Korea’s EXIM bank also said Korea’s state-run trade insurance firm-- K-Sure and Korea Finance Corp will provide an additional $360 million loan for the two beneficiaries of the NLNG contract.

In an official statement, the EXIM bank stated the loans would help Korean exporters win more deals in Africa.

NLNG stated in its 2013 facts and figures that it currently manages 16 long term LNG Sales Purchase Agreements (SPAs) executed with 11 buyers on a Delivered Ex-Ship (DES) basis.

It added that these buyers include Enel, Repsol Gas Natural LNG (Stream), Botas, GDF Suez, GALP GN, BG LNG, Endesa, ENI, Iberdrola, Shell Western LNG BV and Total Gas and Power Limited.

“The long term LNG buyers take delivery of their volumes in receiving facilities spread across the Atlantic Basin in countries such as Spain, France, Portugal and

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Bank Limited, Mallam Ahmed Kuru (Middle), with two of the bank’s Executive Directors, Niyi Adebayo (left) and Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, at a business meeting of the bank in Lagos at the weekend.

Italy in Europe, Turkey, Mexico and the United States of America.

“In recent times, NLNG cargoes have been delivering to the Far East, Middle East, South America, and the United Kingdom through its existing customers, and via its spot Master FOB agreements with several companies. Volumes have gone as far as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, India, Kuwait, Brazil and Wales.

This has positioned the company as a global player in the gas industry”, the statement added.

First Bank emerges best retail bank in Nigeria the second year runFPlcOR ning, First Bank of Nigeria has emerged the Best Retail Bank in Nigeria for 2012.

At an award ceremony, which was organised in conjunction with Asia’s most prestigious retail banking event, the Excellence in Retail Financial Services 2013 Awards at Westin Chosun, Seoul in South Korea on Thursday, FirstBank beat other contenders in a threemonth evaluation process, which was based on a balanced and transparent scorecard that was used to determine the ranking of various retail banks in Nigeria.

According to Chris Kapfer, Director of Research of the Asian Banker, the organisers of the event, First Bank was picked based on its performance as market leader in deposits and retail loans with a huge lead compared

to its competitor.

It is the first financial institution in Nigeria to cross the five million mark in issued payment cards, the only bank to issue an ATM card in 15 minutes, its wide reach and good financial performance as well as its strong focus on customer service.

“FirstBank has a large customer base of six million people and a large market share in retail loans and deposits. The bank grew its retail loans by over 44 per cent in 2012, besides its revenue and operating profit.

With its wide reach and good financial performance, First Bank of Nigeria stood strong on our balance scorecard”, he said.

FirstBank’s spokesperson and Head of Marketing and Corporate Communication, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney said the Bank is relentlessly deepening its retail domi-

nance with the launch of innovative products and services, tailored to suit the changing times and ever growing customer base.

“Emerging the ‘Best Retail Bank in Nigeria’ for 2012 after a stringent three-month evaluation process is a clear indication of the effectiveness of our strategy with regards to sustaining business services and retail financial products which, obviously, has positioned our customers as first at all times”, she said The award ceremony was witnessed by about 150 senior bankers from 29 countries across the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. The award programme is administered by The Asian Banker and referred by prominent global bankers, consultants and academics. It is regarded as the most prestigious of its kind in the region.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

16 BUSINESS

IHS to build, leaseback 1000 towers in Nigeria, Ghana, others

By Adeyemi Adepetun N its medium to long-term agenda for its next fiscal year, Itelecommunications infrastructure provider, IHS Plc has

disclosed that it is in talks with a couple of African operators, to build and leaseback 1,000 towers.

IHS said with the incidences of outsourced networks now

on the rise and as telecommunications companies focus more on their core competences with substantial tower-roll outs, it will be there to provide the infrastructure needed for them to make their services available to this large and growing market.

With Nigeria already getting covered in its tower roll outs for operators, the independent tower infrastructure company informed that Ghana and Sudan are coming on stream.

Speaking at the fourth yearly general meeting at the weekend in Lagos, the Vice Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of IHS, Issam Darwish said one of the roles of the company is to provide an environment in which operators can achieve their objectives in a cost-efficient manner, stressing that as the company expands into other African

countries, best practices are being deployed to ensure it retain synergy, similarity of operations and quality of service, irrespective of the environment or country.

Darwish, who said medium to short-term goals of the company lie in the area of its use of renewable energy, noted that to maintain its position as leader in the Nigerian market, IHS will continue its expansion drive through the managing, building and acquiring of additional towers, while nurturing tactical partnerships within and outside the country.

“Electricity from National grids have been backed up by battery systems and diesel generators, however, with costs of maintaining these systems on the rise and the overall fall in the prices of solar and wind assisted power systems, we can expect to see increasing numbers of towers and sites converted to run renewable energy systems”, Darwish stated.

Darwish said finding a cleaner alternative and a less cost prohibitive source of power has remained a priority for the company, “with significant in-roafs made thus far and with our laiddown policy on the reduction of carbon emissions, the use of renewable energy is now a workable course of

action and a reality.

“Within the year under review, IHS has test-run a hybrid solution with encouraging results and it is expected that coupled with other modifications, savings can be made for both IHS and its clients, while improving on the impact of operations on the environment.”

The Group CEO projected that as data services become the next frontier of growth in the telecoms sector, the company expects to a correlating rise in the use of newer technologies such as 3G and 4G networks, which will translate to more users and new segments for which infrastructure will be required.

To the Chairman, Mallam Bashir Ahmad El-Rufai, with the telecommunications industry continuing with its growth and contributions to the GDP rapidly at about 32.83 per cent in 2012, the expansion opportunities are still available in the market, declining ARPU, shrinking capital expenditure budget and intensive regulatory push for improved service quality have made infrastructure sharing and collocation in particular, the most viable cost management initiative for network operators.

To capitalize on the opportunities, Ahmad El-Rufai said IHS raised N19.62 billion dur-

ing the last financial year through the issuance of 7.6 billion preference shares and more than doubled tower assets, partly attributable to the acquisition of over 400 sites from Visafone.

“The share issue brought to IHS some of the most prestigious institutional investors in Africa, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Emerging Capital Partners (ECP), Investec and FMO”, he stated.

While the revenue grew by only 2.3 per cent, the Chairman explained that the composition of revenues changed significantly and has set the company for solid growth, stressing that the company recorded a turnover of N15.2 billion, with Earnings before interest, tax depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose by 5.3 per cent to N1.5 billion due largely to growth in collocation, which was the highest margin product line.

Ahmad El-Rufai disclosed that mainly as a result of recent preference shares issued, shareholders’ funds have risen to N252 billion from N8.5 billion in the preceding year. “In affirmation of the special focus on collocation, the company increased purchase of fixed assets to N18.1 billion, an increase of 236 per cent over the preceding year”, he added.

Financial sector sustains bullish profile on the Exchange

By Bukky Olajide TURNOVER of 1.561 billion A shares worth N16.636 billion in 25,255 deals were transacted last week on the floor of The Exchange in contrast to 2.550 billion shares valued at N21.694 billion that exchanged hands in the previous week in 29,335 deals.

The financial services sector accounted for 1.211 billion shares valued at N11.312 billion exchanged hands investors in 15,414 deals.

Specifically, the banking sub-sector was the most

active during the week (measured by turnover volume) with 921.900 million shares worth N9.471 billion exchanged by investors in 10,723 deals.

Volume in the banking subsector’s transactions was largely driven by activities in the shares of Access Bank Plc, UBA Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. Trading in the shares of the three banks accounted for 453.380 million shares, representing 49.18 percent of the turnover volume recorded by the subsector for the week.

Also traded during the week were 192 units of NewGold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) valued at N476.541 million executed in 4 deals compared with a total of 577 units valued at N1.405 million transacted last week in seven deals.

Besides, 1,700 units of FGN bonds valued at N1.992 million were traded during the week in 18 deals in contrast to 2,020 units valued at N2.422 million transacted last week in 20 deals

On index movement, the NSE All-Share Index appreciated by 556.80 points or 1.69 percent to close on Friday at 33.506.88 while the market capitalization of the listed equities on the mainboard increased to N10.722 trillion.

Also, the Bloomberg NSE 30 Index appreciated by 18.88 points or 1.20 percent to close at 1,597.35.

For NSE Lotus II, it appreciated by 77.58 points or 3.68 percent to close at 2,184.34,while the Bloomberg NSE consumer goods, Bloomberg NSE banking, Bloomberg NSE Insurance, and Bloomberg NSE Oil/Gas depreciated by 0.94 per cent 1.32 per cent 0.86 per cent and 1.36 per cent respectively.

Summary of transactions showed that 22 equities appreciated in price during the week lower than 41 equities of the preceding week.

45 equities depreciated in price higher than 37 equities of the preceding week. 130 equities remained constant during the week in contrast to 119 equities of the preced-

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

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18 BUSINESS

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

Multi-Trex partners CRIN on cocoa output, standardisation

By Femi Adekoya S part of efforts to enable the nation to meet the 2020 deadline of countries within the European Union on the quality and certification of cocoa exports from Nigeria, Multi-Trex Integrated Foods Plc and the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) have signed a pact to achieve the objective.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations, would see the firms developing cocoa seed gardens for hybrid cocoa, in order to aid productivity and effective standardisation of the crop.

Speaking at the signing of the MOU and distribution of farm equipment to farmers through its Cocoa Development Initiative, Managing Director of MultiTrex Integrated Foods Plc, Dimeji Owofemi, explained that the move became necessary in order to ensure that Nigeria’s yields on cocoa improved and met international standards.

According to him, if the quality of cocoa yields was not improved, Nigeria’s cocoa industry might lose its attractiveness among its buyers, as only certified cocoa would be accepted for purchase globally from 2012.

Already, it is believed that many of the farms are maintaining old tired trees on smallholder plantations, thus necessitating the need to consolidate and help farmers get access to better techniques and improved finance.

Owofemi said: “As early as 1999, we established a sizeable cocoa plantation, which today serves as a crucial source of high quality seedling for supply to farmers to boost production. MultiTrex also developed key initiatives geared towards further boosting production of high quality cocoa beans in Nigeria. These initiatives are being implemented in collaboration with relevant government agencies and international organisations such as World Cocoa Foundation, USAID-MARKETS, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, among others.

“Over the years seedlings were being distributed to farmers with little or no effect.

We decided to undergo the seed garden process, which would see the realisation of a new gestation period of 18 months for cocoa compared to the four years where farmers have to wait for yields.

“This programme is believed would aid sustainable farming and bridge unemployment gaps as some of the seed gardens acquired in Afonja, Oyo State and Ogun State, would be ceded to farmers in the long term.”

Executive Director, CRIN, Prof. Malachy Akoroda commended the firm for the initiative noting that the MOU would deepen the firm’s relationship with CRIN and aided the development of seed gardens, quality cocoa products and increased productivity.

He, however, urged the farmers present, to use the equipment donated by the firm to add value to their cocoa produce.

Group Head, Cocoa Development Initiative, MultiTrex, Dipo Sofowora explained that the initiative focused on efforts to ensure that farmers got adequate

A

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

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BUSINESS

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

Fidelity Bank wins African oil, gas deal of the year award HE Project Finance T Magazine, a publication of the Euromoney Plc, UK has

Chief Executive Officer, Best Man Games Limited, Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe (left), General Manager, Institutional Investment and Corporate Finance, Kakawa Discount House, Mrs. Abimbola Wright; Country Representative, Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), Ms. Sarata Kone; and Executive Director, Junior Achievement Nigeria, Mrs. Kunbi Wuraola, during Junior Achievement Nigeria’s 2013 Financial Literacy Day Dialogue, entitled ‘More than Money’, held in Lagos.

adjudged Fidelity Bank Plc the winner of The African Oil & Gas Deal of the Year 2012.

The award recognises achievement and excellence in getting projects built, bought or refinanced. Fidelity alongside GTBank, Diamond Bank, Zenith Bank and other international banks and legal firms won the award with the $1.5 billion syndicated financing for the 2012 Drilling Programme of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation/ExxonMobil Joint Venture through their Special Purpose Vehicle RDP Funding Limited.

This, the organisers said, was the most interesting financing to emerge not only from Nigeria but also from the African upstream sector. “The $1.5billion deal builds on the JVs earlier receivables-based deals, including the $600 million satellite field financing, which closed in 2005 and backed the development of live specified fields, and the $1.42NGLII refinancing which closed in January 2011.”

Whereas the satellite and NGLII financings related to discrete assets and will be ring fenced from the latest deal, the 2012 drilling programme financing is designed to back a more general programme of drilling at all the four oil mining leases that it owns. “All of these deals demonstrated that there was healthy bank appetite for uncovered commitments to the joint venture given the operational history,” Project Finance said.

Receiving the award, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Reginald Ihejiahi, said that the award further demonstrated the bank’s commitment to the development of the Nigerian economy. Ihejiahi, who was represented by the General Manager, Operations, Sam Obijiaku, specifically noted that Fidelity Bank had enhanced market competitiveness through improved infrastructure, quality service delivery system and increased nationwide spread.

He explained that Fidelity Bank had garnered a great deal of experience from its past involvements in oil and gas contract finance and promised to deploy this wealth of experience in the development of the local economy.

The Project Finance Awards, started 14 years ago, are for innovation, deal repeatability, best practice, problem solving, risk mitigation, value for money and speed of delivery in the financing of large and small infrastructure projects. The organisers identify the deals that serve as benchmark in their respective markets, in their terms, pricing or in introducing lenders to new asset types.

Other winners from other countries included Development Bank of South Africa for the funding of the R4 billion 50MW concentrating solar power plant located in Northern Cape province, South Africa, Standard Chartered Bank for financing the $2 billion Deep mining expansion to Zambian copper mine and Lloyds which won the European IPP Deal of the Year 2012 Award for the $1 billion 884.6MW gas-fired project located near Manchester, UK.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

BUSINESS

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S’Africa to boost trade ties with Nigeria, as Multichoice invests in content development

By Helen Oji HE South Africa’s ConsulT General, Ambassador Mokgethi Monaisa has pledged South Africa’s commitment towards enhancing cooperation between the business communities of the two countries, to achieve increased trade and investment.

Speaking at the Nigerian South-African Chamber of Commerce Breakfast programme in Lagos recently, Monaisa described Nigerian environment as a vibrant one that gives opportunities to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into the country.

He said that there had been an increase in the number of South African multinationals operating in the Nigeria market, with over 100 South African companies now doing business in Nigeria.

He urged Nigeria to explore opportunities created by the volume of trade and invest-

ment that kept rising between Nigeria and South Africa.

Monaisa noted that the trade relations between South Africa and Nigeria endorsed the evident need for both countries to foster closer economic co-operation and to that effect, a need for improved trade relations.

He added that Nigeria represents a significant export market for South African goods in West Africa.

“Nigeria is a vibrant society that graps opportunities to do business. It is rated the most popular and largest market with an advantage over some other African countries. There exists opportunities which could be of benefit to both Nigeria and South Africa that remain under-exploited and there is need for it to be explored, specially in the areas of trade and investment, as well as in the area of exchange of technical expertise,” he said.

The Managing Director of

Multichoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, at the occasion announced that as part of the company’s commitment to enhance Nigerian industrial sector growth, it had invested over $94 million in Nigerian Content Development in the past seven years.

The company, which is celebrating its 20 years of investing in Nigeria, according to Ugbe also invested over $30 million in mobile technology.

Ugbe said that the company was committed to partner with local entrepreneurs, governments and broadcasters in Africa to bolster the economy while maintaining the highest levels of service and product, even as it continued to tailor its operations to suit local needs.

He, however, identified the parlous state of infrastructure as major challenges facing Nigerian entrepreneurs, noting that if government would put measures in place to tackle the problem, it would facilitate rapid economic growth.

He described Nigerian business environment as a tough but dynamic one, noting that with current trend in innovations, Nigerian, as an emerging market “is a place to be.”

“Nigeria business environment is a dynamic market, tough and challenging but an exciting market. It is a market that drives innovation, if you don’t have innovative skills; you are out of the way. We want to continue to invest here but if we have infrastructure, it would facilitate business growth,” he said.

“We have invested over $12 million (N2 billion) in acquiring new Abuja office, with carriage of five local TV stations at no cost to the operators.

Provided CSI, launch MRCs in 234 schools at cost of $ 2 million (N320 million) and audio-visual learning for over 50,000 students in 24 states,” he said.

“We have over 700 staff members employed. Operates out of eleven offices nationwide.

Also we provide services

through 54 dealers operating via 110 offices nationwide and provide employment to over 5000 Nigerians (staff, dealers,

retailers, production cast & crew) both direct & indirect,” he added.

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

BUSINESS

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

InvestmentWatch Free On-Line Securities Trading Platform INTRODUCTION NVESTMENTfund basically refers to a pool of funds, but our focus in this edition of INVESTMENT ONE education series is to highlight the features, types and benefits of some investment funds and how investors can use the available platform to invest in the Nigerian capital market.

Investment Funds Investment funds are investment vehicles created for the principal objective of collecting assets and resources from investors and channeling those resources and assets into a portfolio of financial instruments such as stocks, bonds and other market securities. An investment fund is a vehicle that allows a number of separate and unrelated investors, a group of individuals or companies, to make investments together.

Investment funds are often set up to offer small retail investors the chance to have their investments managedbyprofessionalsviaadiversifiedbasketofinvestment vehicles and instrument at an affordable cost.

It also offers wealthy individuals who may for several reasons which will be discussed later; choose to deploy their investment into a fund to be managed.

By pooling their capital, investors can share costs and benefit from the advantages of investing larger amounts, including the possibility of achieving a broader diversification among a number of different assets and thus spreading their risks. There are many possible arrangements in the way an investment fund can be set up and operated, generally depending on the needs of the fund’s investors.

Features of Investment Funds • Diversification In order to reduce the risk, fund’s assets are allocated to different investment types. Fund’s assets may be distributed in investments in various securities, economic sectors, countries, regions and by other criteria, in this way reducing the influence and protecting investors from the collapse of any single class of investment or company.

• Professional management Funds have skilled and competent full-time professional managers who research and spot suitable investment opportunities. The time, effort and expertise they devote to investments far exceed those affordable to a single investor and this ensures that the portfolio is managed efficiently.

• Taxes in accordance with the Personal Income Tax Law, the yield of private individuals from transactions in investment fund certificates are not subject to the individual income tax; and investment funds are not legal entities, which means that no income tax is applied on them • Cost efficiency Since funds manage a large number of investments, the trading and research costs are spread among investments.

• High liquidity Investments in investment funds (open-end funds) can be made every day, and the invested assets can be obtained within just few days, depending on the fund.

• Access to investment platform These funds offer investment platforms without requiring a lot of money to enjoy profits from dynamics of securities markets. A small investor has access to practically any securities market worldwide through making an investment in a respective fund.

TYPES OF INVESTMENT FUNDS • Mutual Funds A mutual fund is a type of professionally managed

I

Virtual Investment Simulator fund consisting of stocks and/ or bond. It is also known as a collective investment scheme. Money is pooled from many investors to purchase securities. Under the scheme, the assets of the fund are held in trust by a trustee on behalf of the investors. The assets are managed by a fund manager. Investors have a right to share in the assets of the scheme proportionate to the number of units they hold in the scheme. Mutual funds are regulated by law and available to the public.

Types of Mutual Funds - Open-end funds Open-end funds are the most common type of mutual fund and they are readily available through several investment firms in Nigeria. Most open-end funds also sell units to the public every business day on the secondary market on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); these units are also priced at net asset value. A professional investment manager oversees the portfolio, buying and selling securities as appropriate.

- Closed-end Funds Closed-end funds have been declining in popularity because investors who no longer wish to invest in the fund cannot sell their units back to the fund (as with an open- end fund). They must find another investor in the market willing to buy their units from them. The funds generally issue units to the public only once through initial public offering and they are managed by professional investment managers.

• Index Funds An index fund is made up of a collective investment scheme (usually a mutual fund, or exchange-traded fund)thataimstoreplicatethemovementsofanindex of a specific financial market (i.e. Nigerian Stock Exchange’s ASI, New York Stock Exchange’s S&P 500), or a set of rules of ownership that are held constant, regardless of market conditions.

An index tracker is designed to beat market returns by holding all of the securities in the index, in the same proportions as the index. Other methods include statistically sampling the market and holding "representative" securities.

Among its prominent features, index fund is said to provide broad market exposure as it covers a comprehensive segment of the market, is simple and easier for investors to follow and understand, low operating expenses due to less transaction cost and cost of sales.

• Balanced Funds A balanced fund combines a stock component, a bond component and sometimes, a money market component in a single portfolio. The objective of these funds is to provide a balanced mixture of safety, income and capital appreciation. The strategy of balanced funds is to invest in a combination of fixed income and equities. A typical balanced fund might have a weighting of 60% equity and 40% fixed income. The weighting might also be restricted to a specified maximum or minimum for each asset class. Several investment companies are currently offering this type of funds in Nigeria.

The fund is suitable for investors who desire to enjoy a balanced exposure of their investment to both long term growth and income producing assets, with minimal exposure to capital erosion. It is very liquid, readily available and can be purchased and sold on all busi-

ness days on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

• Bond Funds Bond funds describe a type of investment that invests primarily in bonds or other types of debt securities.

Depending on its investment objectives and policies, a bond fund may concentrate its investments in a particular type of bond or debt security such as government bonds, treasury bills, corporate bonds, Eurobonds, bankers acceptance, commercial papers or a mixture of types. The securities that bond funds hold will vary in terms of risk, return, duration, volatility and other features.

All bonds are subject to two market risks: the risk of individual default on a bond, and interest rate risk.

Bond funds have no identifiable maturity date and tend to be extremely liquid. This means that a market to purchase the fund back from the investor almost always exists. Investors can purchase bond funds through banks, brokers, fund managers, or even pension and retirement plans and pay annual management fees. Bond fund are currently being offered by a few investment fund managers in the Nigerian market.

• Unit Investment Trusts Funds Unit investment trusts or UITs issue shares to the public only once, when they are created. Investors can redeem shares directly with the fund (as with an open-end fund) or they may also be able to sell their shares in the market.

Unit investment trusts do not have a professional investment manager. Their portfolio of securities is established at the creation of the UIT and does not change. UITs generally have a limited life span, established at creation.

• Exchange-Traded Funds A relatively recent innovation, ETFs combine characteristics of both closed-end funds and open-end funds.

Like closed-end funds, ETFs are traded throughout the day on a stock exchange at a price determined by the market. To keep the market price close to net asset value, ETFs issue and redeem large blocks of their shares with institutional investors. The exchange traded fund is often structured as an open-end investment company. ETFs have been gaining popularity around the world and the Nigerian Stock Exchange recently launched a gold denominated ETF product in partnership with New Gold Issuer Ltd, a special purpose company registered in South Africa.

• Money Market Funds The money market consists of short-term debt instruments, mostly Treasury bills. This is a safer place to invest. The returns are low compared to other investment funds such as equity funds, but there is less risk of losing principal invested. A typical return is twice the amount you would earn in a regular checking/savings account and a little less than the average certificate of deposit (CD).

• Hedge Funds A hedge fund is an investment fund that aggressively manages portfolio of investments using advanced investment strategies such as including selling short, leverage,programtrading,swaps,arbitrage,andderivatives in both domestic and international markets with the goal of generating high returns.

Hedge funds are usually used by wealthy individuals and institutions (they are not sold to the public or retail investors). Hedge funds use aggressive strategies that may be unavailable to mutual funds. Hedge funds are

exempt from many of the rules and regulations governing other mutual funds, which allows them to accomplish aggressive investing goals. They are typically open-ended, meaning that investors can invest and withdraw money at regular, specified intervals.

Someoffshorefundmanagersprovideaccesstohedge funds.

• Equity Funds An equity fund is an open or closed-end fund that invests primarily in stocks, allowing investors to buy into the fund and thus buy a basket of stocks more easily than they could purchase on their own.

Generally, the investment objective of this class of funds is long-term capital growth with some income.

There are literally thousands of equity funds out there and each has unique characteristics.

One of the greatest advantages of equity funds is instant diversification. Also, it is usually easier and less expensive to invest in equity funds than to buy each and every stock in a fund's portfolio. Equity funds are also cheaper; they are a way to avoid the often higher transaction costs and lower liquidity associated with trading individual stocks.

Criteria for Accessing Investment Funds Managers Before entrusting your money to an investment fund manager or buying units of the funds, investors must critically analyze the following indices: - Investment objective Aninvestormustsetparametersdefiningwhatinvestment objective is being sought, such as; is the fund for a specific project or event? Is it for short or long term? Is it income - or safety of fund drive. By clearly defining these questions, an investor will be better guided in selecting investment funds.

- Risk appetite In view of the fact that an investor risk appetite is often dependent on age, position in life and other variablesthatarenotcommontoallindividuals, there is a need to consider in one’s risk profile when choosing investment funds. Some funds are deliberately aggressive, investing more for equities, in the hope of higher returns, but by that fact, more risky than, say, a bond funds.

- The Fund Manager Profile A thorough research on the profile of the investment fund manager is a prerequisite for any investor who desires to deal with only approved fund and licensed fund managers, and this can easily be obtained from theSecuritiesandExchangeCommission(SEC).Aback up to SEC listing is to search out fund managing companies with integrity and competence backed by good corporate governance and due process history.

- The Fund's track record It is important to benchmark the performance of a fund with other funds in the market as well review thefinancialstatement,literatureandbrochure materials to have an insight on the fund’s overall performance.

- Fee Structure Because some investment funds charge more than one cost line, it is important for an investor to have all the cost lines spelt out, read and understood before committing to invest in a fund.

- Operating Modalities Investors must ask to know the details of how an investment operates so as to avert unnecessary difficulties that may arise in future.

The above list of investment funds is not exhaustive, but has been highlighted based on their availability in the Nigerian capital market. The choice therefore remains that of the investor and his ability to sift out the essential information requisite for making well informed investments decisions.

Employees of INVESTMENT ONE and its subsidiaries, or any sponsor(s) of the contest, their respective advertising and promotion agencies, their parent, subsidiary and affiliated companies, as well as members of their immediate families and households (including children, spouses and siblings and/or persons living in the same households as such persons, whether related or not) are not eligible for participation.

Join us next week Monday to learn more on how you can invest in capital market instruments to help you achieve your investment goals.

Kindly let us know if you have found this article useful. Please contact us at: enquiries@investment-one.com.

You can download related articles on INVESTMENT ONE education series at www.investment-one.com.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

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Insurance NAICOM tasks stakeholders on rising industry management expenses

By Joshua Nse HE alarming increase in management expenses reported in the financial reports of insurance companies may be giving the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) serious concern, as the regulators are taking measures to correct the anomalies in the industry.

To check this trend, the commission enjoined shareholders to scrutinise financial reports closely at the yearly general meeting and demand explanations from the boards in the interest of investors.

In a one-day workshop organised by the commission for Executives of Shareholders’ Association

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and Independent Directors of Insurance Companies held in Lagos, the forum identified that 80 per cent of the premium generated in the industry are expended on management expenses, the highest in the continent.

The workshop with the theme: “Improving investment attractiveness of the Nigerian insurance industry”, speakers charged shareholders to insist on accountability and transparency in the management of insurance entities.

Besides, shareholders elected into the audit committee should be men and women of integrity and knowledgeable in financial issues to be able to detect some of the anomalies in the system.

The fora identified that that was one of the major factors that tend to weaken the financial stability of the insurance companies, adding in most other countries, management cost range between 25 to 30 per cent, but in Nigeria it costs about 80 per cent of the yearly premium volume to generate businesses.

Management expenses in the industry The Guardian learnt included – commissions, overriding commissions, wages, business procurement expenses, as well as gifts to staff in the offices of both the insured and some broking firms, along with other hidden commissions converted in the process by insurers own

staff.

The Director, Supervision (NAICOM), Mr. Nicholas Opara, in his paper “Corporate Governance and Financial Reporting Issues” said that in the insurance industry, we have case where certain extraneous income that were not supposed to be included in the accounts were reported in the accounts.

He said: “There are cases we have, showing certain extraneous figures that are brought into the accounts that should not be there.

Why is it that insurance companies are not striving to increase production in a very large market with untapped opportunities, rather they use rate under-

cutting to undo themselves.

For instance, in 2009 government projected about N26 billion, for insurance, premium for group life, at the end of the day, due to rate cutting and infighting among themselves, insurance companies did not get up to one-third of the projected amount. You discover that while production is shrinking, our underwriting expenses are growing. It is a fact that if you price insurance products very well, your premium is supposed to take care of claims expenses, underwriting expenses and still leave good profit for you.”

However, Deputy Commissioner for Insurance (Technical), Mallam Ibrahim Hassan, in his remarks said that the commission had also facilitated through the adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), improvements in financial reporting practices in the insurance industry in line with inter-

national best practices. This should be able to attract foreign investment to the insurance sector.

According to him, we also directed that all infractions should be well reported in the annual accounts of companies. This was for you to raise questions during annual general meetings, because it is what should come to you as dividend that is being used to pay fines for avoidable offences.

He said: “We would also want you to be mindful of reported operating expenses in the books of the companies. A situation where huge proportion of premium income ends up as operating expenses is not very healthy.

“Our business here, therefore, is to apprise you on the various initiatives the commission has taken to make the industry attractive to investors both local and foreign in order to enlist our involvement in our efforts to transform the insurance industry.”

Mutual Benefits targets 22,000 new jobs in industry O flag-off the retail insurT ance distribution as growth strategy in the insur-

Chairman, Technical Committee, Mutual Benefits Assurance plc, Dr. Moses Ajaja; Group Managing Director of the company Mr Akin Ogunbiyi, vice chairman, Mr. Akin Opeodu, and Chief Yemi Soladoye, Manathrging Director, Risk-Guard Africa Limited and consultant to the company, during a meeting with journests held in Lagos recenty

Pensions regulators to capture informal sectors in CPS

By Joshua Nse ETERMINED to bring the benefits of the new Pension Reform Act 2004 to the informal sectors, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and Pension Operators of Nigeria (PenOp) are closely working together to bring the informal sectors of the economy to join the contributory pension scheme (CPS).

Industry sources disclosed that the commission was currently working on the review of guidelines that would govern the inclusion of this sector of the economy into the scheme.

He said that although the pension system as we have it was still largely geared

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towards ensuring peaceful retirement for people in the formal sector of the economy, but the regulators realised that the informal sectors was by far larger than the formal sector, hence the need to bring the retirement savings account to the sector.

According to him, the new pension system was built on accountability and transparency, quite unlike the old defined benefit scheme where you hear of disappearing pension funds, long queues of elderly people waiting for pension payments, but under the CPS, the clients had access to their retirement savings accounts (RSA) and they could also monitor the contributions

and growth of their pensions over the period of their active years of service.

The chief executive officer of Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Dr. Demola Sogunle, one of the leading pension fund administrators, speaking recently on the uniqueness of the new CPS said: “We are transparent in every aspect of our business with transaction notifications on all contributions, quarterly statements and with our quarterly pension notes and newsletters, we make it easy for our customers to understand everything that affects their accounts with us as we position ourselves to be the nation’s foremost pension

solution providers of the widest customer accessibility with over 210 branches nationwide, our uniqueness is also reflected in the safety of funds under our management, a high degree of liquidity in our assets, reasonable investment return over medium, long term and a robust risk management framework.”

He said: “For the past eight years, the industry under the Pension Reform Act of 2004, has flourished and grown remarkably. Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers as a company, promptly and consistently pays over 25,000 retirees on a monthly basis and this number keeps growing steadily.

ance industry, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc is to crate 22,000 new jobs in line with the manpower need for the insurance industry by 2015.

Coming under the Market Development and Restructuring Initiatives (MDRI), the company has also set aside N1 billion as project seed fund for products, product distribution and customer service.

Group Managing Director of the company, Akin Ogunbiyi, speaking at an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, explained that the MDRI was a business model and road map in consonance with the Mutual Benefits business objectives, as the company believed in the beauty of possibilities.

According to him, insurance anywhere in the world especially in developed countries of the world were actually tools for wealth creation, and there was really no growth or development that could actually come unless the insurance industry was strong, reliable and was able to play the role as major mover of the economy.

Besides, he said that the Nigerian economy was a rent economy where everything depended on the federal government, everything depended on the national budget, but if the national economy had to witness the growth and development it desired, the private sector had to be well mobilised through enabling environment, through policies and

programs that would actually allow direct foreign investment to be channeled to the right sector of the economy.

In that case, a board committee headed by Dr. Moses Ajaja was set two years ago to study the entire MDRI document, which identified that access to insurance was a major problem, thus Mutual targets 200 new offices slated for opening between 2012 to 2015, 32 opened in 2012, the number to reach 70 by December, 2013 to bring existing and new offices of Mutual Benefits nationwide to 96 by December 2013.

Besides, 22,000 new jobs in line with the manpower need for the industry by 2015 under the MDRI to be created collaborating with the various states, federal government agencies and also business membership organisations.

He said that 50 new products developed along social, demographic, trade groups and risks peculiar to each segment in Nigeria, no more off he shelf product for everybody. The first batch to be rolled out in April 2013.

Also, distribution channels encompassing the traditional, micro-insurance, takaful concerts involving the use of partner agents aggregators bancassurance, mall outlets, faith organisations, business organisations, insurance brokers, franchise managers, are on the scale, adding: “We are determined to create something absolutely exceptional and remarkably different using connecting minds to create a new future for the Nigeria insurance industry.”

INSURANCE

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

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China to be most dynamic insurance market HINA will be the country with the biggest increase in primary insurance premiums worldwide until 2020, a study published by the world’s largest reinsurance company said.

Followed China on the Munich Re list was the United States and Japan.

Premium income for the insurance industry in the Asia-Pacific region will double by 2020, according to the study.

Five of the top 10 expected global primary-insurance growth markets will be in the Asia-Pacific region, both in property and casu-

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alty insurance and in life insurance.

Rising consumer savings are fueling demand for life and health insurance, the Munich Re study showed.

According to a report by Swiss Re, health insurance was the fastest-growing sector in China’s life insurance sector last year, and the trend will continue this year.

Anna Zhao, manager with Healthcare & Life Sciences China under the UK trade and investment section of the British embassy, said that now is the best time for foreign institutions to invest in China’s health-

care industry, including health insurance.

A summit focusing on international healthcare and health insurance will be held during the Beijing Fair, which is scheduled to open on May 28. A number of foreign insurance companies have confirmed their attendance.

On the marketing chan-

nel side, bancassurance still dominated the market, especially for middlesized insurers, according to a report by Deloitte.

Shin Kong-HNA Life insurance, for instance, saw 78 percent of its premium income coming from bancassurance, the biggest driver for its 373.4 percent premium growth last year.

The biggest advantage of the bancassurance, industry insiders said, is the comparatively low cost when expanding rapidly.

In emerging Asia, P/C primary insurance premiums currently grow an average of 11 percent annually. This is twice as high as the second-placed region, Eastern

Europe.

“China, India and Indonesia will be the top three growth countries in P/C, with an average growth of above 12 percent over the forecast period (2012-2020) in China and India, and almost 10 percent in Indonesia,” Munich Re Chief Economist Michael Menhart said.

Sovereign Trust drives penetration in local dialects SOVEREIGN Trust Insurance Plc has taken another giant stride by ensuring that some of its personal line products get into the nook and cranny of Nigeria with the adoption of a nationwide radio campaign in local dialects.

The campaign is designed in two modes made up of programme sponsorship and airing of commercial jingles in Yoruba, Hausa and Pidgin in some selected radio stations across the major commercial cities in the country. The cities include Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Port-Harcourt, Enugu, Sokoto, Kano and a host of others.

One of the major products on offer is the company’s flagship product with the acronym SWIS-F, (Sovereign Wellbeing Insurance Scheme for the Family). The product is a general personal accident, GPA policy with varied features and benefits designed to cater for the family in any eventuality.

The premium for this package is N1,500 per annum.

The benefits range from out-of-work benefit resulting from any form of accident; covers medical expenses of the insured arising from accident, payment of wellbeing lumpsum and gives free cover for the fourth child under the age of 17. Features include 10 per cent no-claim bonus, affordable and flexible premium payment, covers strike and civil commotion and has no geographical limitation.

With the current campaign, the underwriting firm is set to promote products under the Market Development & Restructuring Initiative, MDRI. These products are basically designed to cater for Third Party liabilities whenever the need arises.

They consist of the Third Party Motor Insurance, Occupiers’ Liability, Builders Liability and the Professional Healthcare Indemnity Insurance. For personal line products, prospective customers

Managing Director, Royal Exchange Healthcare Limited, Dr. Pius Ofulie, Managing Director, Royal Exchange General Insurance, Mr. Olutayo Borokini, Group Executive Director, Marketing & Sales Alhaji Auwalu Muktari and Managing Director, Royal Exchange Prudential Life Assurance, Mr. Wale Banmore, during the interactive forum with journalists held in Lagos…recently. across the country can buy t h e Householders’/Houseowner s’ policy, Fire & Burglary and All Risks Insurance for every of their private belongings in any of Sovereign Trust Insurance offices across the nation.

UK exempts small firms from national insurance P to 450,000 small U businesses will no longer pay national insurance contributions from next year, Britian’s Chancellor of Exchequer claimed on Wednesday in what he described as “the largest tax cut in the budget”.

But even as George Osborne set out measures intended to boost cashstrapped small businesses, he faced criticism for not holding off on planned increase in business rates.

He introduced an employment allowance, which removes the first £2,000 off the employers’ national insurance contributions, which he said was taking a “tax off jobs”.

The allowance will cost almost £6bn over five years, and means that a third of all employers in the country are paying “no jobs tax at all,” said the chancellor.

“For the persons who set up their own business and thinking about taking on their first employee – a huge barrier will be removed. They can hire someone on £22,000, or four people on the minimum wage, and pay no jobs tax,” he said.

But the tax change is not expected to come into

effect until next year, and the cut to corporation tax for big business to 20 per cent by 2015 brings the rate into line with the one small business are charged for the first time since 1973.

Roy Maugham, tax partner, at accountants UHY Hacker Young, warned that the unification of the corporation tax rate could have implications for small businesses. “The concern is that small businesses will be tripped up by what is not explicit in the budget. Currently, companies on the main rate will pay corporation tax in quarterly installments, while smaller companies will pay once a year. Unifying the rates implies that small companies will now be expected to pay corporation tax every quarter,” Maugham said.

While the Forum of Private Business welcomed the change, the lobby group’s head of policy Alex Jackman said: “Our only disappointment with this is that it’s 12 months away, and that’s a mighty long way off.”

Jackman had hoped for a reduction in business rates – which will have risen 13% in three years

after April’s planned 2.6% rise. Retailers reckon this could cost £175m a year.

“Ask any small businesses what they wanted to see from this budget and many will have said: ‘action on business rates’,” added Jackman.

The British Retail Consortium, which represents high-street stores, had also hoped for action on business rates: “Pressing on with a thirdsuccessive substantial business rates rise is very disappointing. Freezing rates would have made a real difference to our troubled high streets and the communities that rely on them.”

With lending to small businesses down 25 per cent in real terms since its peak in 2009, and almost 10 per cent lower than in 2006, small businesses were also eager for information about the business bank that has been advocated by the business secretary, Vince Cable.

More details are due to be unveiled on Thursday when it is expected that the government will concede that the state-backed bank will not become a fully-functioning entity until autumn 2014 while it waits for state aid approval from Europe.

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

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Stockwatch In association with Lead Capital

Stock Market Report for the week Friday, 15th March to Thursday 21st March, 2013 N this week, the total ANNOUNCEMENT AJOR equity markets around the I30.10% volume appreciated by globe moved downwards as their M uring the period under review, twenty (20) and value traded various indexes lost marginal points. In stocks recorded price appreciation comD appreciated by 19.47%. A our universe of sample equity markets; pared to forty four (44) that depreciated in the the NASDAQ, S & P 500 and Dow Jones gained points by 0.28%, 0.27% and 0.39% respectively at the end of last week. In Europe, The FTSE 100 and France CAC 40 lost points by 0.75% and 0.17% respectively, while the German Dax index gained points by 0.39%. In the Asia/Pacific region, Nikkei 225 gained points by 2.06%, while the Hangseng and BSE Sensex lost points by 1.74% and 3.97% respectively. In Brazil, the Bovespa lost point by 2.36% while Russia’s RTS INDEX lost points by 2.73%. On the local setting, NSE ASI closed at 33,361.96 recording 0.47% appreciation at the end of the week’s trading.

turnover of 1.69 billion units of shares valued at N18.17 billion was recorded, in contrast to a turnover of 2.55 billion units of shares worth N22.40 billion that was recorded in the previous week.

Volume this week was driven by activities in the shares of ACCESS, ETI, UBA, GUARANTY, TRANSCORP, UNITYBNK, ZENITHBANK, FBNH, FIDELITYBK and SKYEBANK.

previous week, WEMABANK was first on the top gainers chart to close with 10.74%, followed by FIDSON with 9.80%, OKOMUOIL with 7.27%, PRESCO with 6.38%, WAPCO with 5.56% and NNFM with 4.99%. Other gainers in the top ten categories were DANGCEM with 4.90%, BOCGAS with 4.89%, OANDO with 3.83% and NESTLE with 3.33%.

On the flip side, forty eight (48) stocks depreciated in price last week compared to twenty nine (29) that depreciated a week ago. JAPAULOIL led on the price losers’ table with 17.95%, followed

by IPWA by 12.37%, ABCTRANS by 11.94%, UBCAP by 11.92%, WAPIC by 10.07%, JOHNHOLT by 9.30%, LIVESTOCK by 9.05%, AIRSERVICE by 7.80%, ACCESS by 7.60% and NIGERINS by 5.56%.

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Lead Capital Stock Valuation

COMPANY’S RESULT

CONTINUE ON PAGE 51

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Homes & Property AMCON takes over Buena Vista estate over First Bank’s N5.7b loan deal Cameron Green, where luxury blends with nature Page 33

AMCON has acquired Buena Vista estate, a choice residential scheme on the corridors of Lekki-Epe Expressway from First Bank Nigeria Plc. More than N5 billion was invested by the bank for the development of 750 apartments, which has ExxonMobil Cooperative Society as a major stakeholder in the project.

Mortgage Finance

By Chinedum Uwaegbulam, Assistant Housing & Environment Japanese Editor architect, Toyo NEW realities are rising with the dawn of the reform in the counIto wins 2013 financial try, with Federal agencies the ‘big stick’ in surPritzker Prize wielding prise moves to rescue some

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Stakeholders endorse estate agents’ registration, query levies Page 39

commercial banks enmeshed in real estate transactions in the course of providing mortgage for prospective homeowners and financing projects.

Senior officials of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) have been striking relentlessly, taking over assets - buildings and estates in attempt to free up valuable resources; enabling banks focus on their core activities and providing an opportunity for banks to sell off non-performing Loans (NPLs), in what the authorities have termed ‘a fresh resolve to mop up funds trapped in real estate developments.’

One of the projects in the eye of the storm is the Buena Vista estate, occupying a land area of about 100 hectares.

Artist impression of the Buena Vista estate, Lekki, Lagos Promoted by Messrs Cityscape International Plc, the ambitious housing estate was expected to gulp a whooping N7 billion on completion at Alpha Beach along the LekkiEpe expressway.

Though developed in phases with financial backing of First Bank of Nigeria Plc to the tune of N5.7 billion, over 300 units of houses out of the total 755 housing units, was subscribed to by members of ExxonMobil Cooperative Multi-Purpose Society Limited. Checks reveal that the entire project would have been completed within 18 months and the first phase of 100 units was supposed to be delivered in 12 months, that’s 2007. But the project

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Investors unveil Eko Atlantic City’s Pearl Towers in Lagos Projects

By Tunde Alao REAM to create a liveable ambience on the Lagos Lagoon under Eko Atlantic City Project, is gradually becoming a reality as investors have unveiled a 24-storey “Eko Pearl Tower”, which sod turning may be done soon.

The multi-storey residential tower is located on the ‘Harbour Front” within the Lagos brand new city, promoted by Eko Pearl Nigeria Limited in association with ESLA International.

The design indicated that it has a pool and terrace level floor, a technical, ground and

D

Pilling work has commenced at the Pearl Towers in Eko Atlantic City, which was designed to provide space and infrastructure to house 250,000 people and become the workplace for a further 150,000 in Lagos. The 24-storey structure, comprises apartments and pent houses basement floors, both dedicated to 345 parking places and 48 storage rooms.

Three types of apartments are provided, known as “Typical apartments”, duplex apartments and pent house floor.

Typical apartments are located starting from the first to the 18th floor, with typical apartment floor occupying a total of 394 square metres.

Each floor consists of one entrance hall, two sitting rooms, a dining room, one living room, one kitchen, fourmaster bedrooms, one guest bathroom, one laundry and three balconies, among others.

Besides, duplex apartments are located on the 19th-22nd floors. It also has similar fea-

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Illustration of the Eko Pearl Towers in Eko Atlantic City, Lagos

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32 HOMES & PROPERTY

Why Abuja land Swap is a panacea for infrastructural deficit Land Matters buja is 37 years old and A by all intent and purposes, the city is today a reality.

The initial intention of the founding fathers of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was to build a brand new unity city for all Nigerians devoid of encumbrances as all original inhabitants found within the precinct of the 8,000 square kilometers were to be resettled outside the designated Territory.

The FCT has a comprehensive master plan covering the entire 8,000 square kilometers; adequately taking care of the Federal Capital City (FCC), which is 250 square kilometers defining by the phases of the city’s development as well as the Area Councils and the Satellite Towns expected to be feeding the city centre.

The entire master plan of the FCT, which includes the FCC, Area Councils/Satellite Towns are projected to cater for 3.1 million people in a land of about 8,000 square kilometers when it is fully developed by the target year 2000. But unfortunately today, the population of FCT and in particular the Abuja metropolis, which can conservatively put at five or six million people; while the actual physical development is still within

In this treatise, MUHAMMAD HAZAT SULE, an Assistant Director and Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister argued that Abuja Land Swap initiative is capable of changing the face of FCT, opening up land, house ownership to ordinary Nigerians and ensuring reduction of house rent across the city.

Phases I and II respectively.

Meanwhile, the physical development of the Federal Capital City is structured into four phases with about 74 districts including the Three Arms Zone, Central Business District and Kukwuaba National Park taking care of the Green Areas, transportation corridors, as well as other services needed for any modern city.

The Federal Capital Territory, hitherto planned to be completed within 24 years with the Phase I of the Federal Capital City expected to accommodate 230,000 people while the Phases II, III and IV were expected to provide for about 585,000; 640,000 and 1.7 million people respectively. But sadly, it is only about 25 percent of the city’s development that has been completed to date. The reasons advanced by various FCT Administrations are paucity of funds.

This lack of funds coupled with ever influx of Nigerians from all walks of life into the Federal Capital Territory has made metropolitan management near

impossible with shanties springing up in all existing villages across the Federal Capital City.

The Federal Government has been able to provide infrastructure in almost all the seven districts of the Phase I of the Federal Capital City namely; Maitama, Asokoro, Garki I, Garki II, Wuse I and Wuse II. Others that recorded appreciable percentage of infrastructural presence are the Central Business District Utako, Jabi, Gudu; while the provision of infrastructure in districts such as Mabushi, Katampe, Katampe extension, Jahi, Wuye, Guzape and a host of others in the Phases II & III have infrastructure partially provided.

According to experts, over N30 billion is required to provide a world class infrastructure in a single district and the resources is not forth coming as about N46 billion is only being provided in the 2013 appropriation for all services in the Federal Capital Territory including the much needed basic infrastructure. These appropriations in the past

were hardly released fully.

The question is; should the FCT Administration wait for the ever-diminishing Federal allocation to provide infrastructure in the districts? Will it be wise for the FCT Administration to fold its arms to wait for manna to fall from heaven?

From all ramifications, we have a problem in our hands; we either confront it headlong or fold our hands to allow the problem multiply.

The option is either enact an obnoxious law to prevent Nigerians from migrating into the FCT or look outside the box to fast track the physical development of Abuja considering the huge demographic changes. The former, no doubt cannot be an acceptable option in Nigeria.

It is believed that history will forgive a person for taking a wrong decision but will definitely not forgive anybody who refuses to take a decision at all.

Anything can be deduced from this action of the FCT Administration to fast track the development of the Federal Capital Territory

FCT Minister

but history will surely be kind to Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed for taking this proactive decision at this point of our chronicle by deeply looking for credible alternative source of financing infrastructural development in Abuja. This was why the Abuja Land Swap Model Initiative was conceptualized to take Abuja to greater height.

The Land Swap simply means, provision of infrastructure in exchange for land by the investors that have the financial muscle and technical expertise. The investor is expected to recoup investment from the sales of plots of land at a premium price.

Meanwhile, the primary infrastructure which the investor is expected to provide in the earmarked areas include detailed district design and the bill of engineering; agreed kilometers of roads of varying specified sizes within the districts; storm water drains; sewer lines, water distribution lines, street lightening; electrical power distribution stations; telecommunication ducts as well as mini sewage treatment plants.

A situation where such projects may be abandoned midway has been ruled out because the developers have delivered their business plan that shows their technical capacity, financial capability and managerial competence to the FCT Administration before commencement of the project.

It may be recalled that the investors from on set paid the FCT Administration the sum of N350 million on presentation of business plan to fund physical plan, preliminary design, detailed engineering design, survey plan, feasibility studies and preparation of legal agreement which is a pointer to the fact that these 10 districts under the Abuja Land Swap Model have been conceived to see the light of the day.

During the signing cere-

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Prime Estates Cameron Green, where luxury blends with nature Real Estate

By Emmanuel Badejo EEKING an apartment in a choice estate that has a fusion of form, function, nature and combination of beauty and serenity, Cameron Green is the place to be, especially for the high-income earners.

Located at the heart of residential quarters in Ikoyi, Lagos, access to the multibillion’ naira estate built by UAC Property Development Company Plc (UPDC), is multi-directional.

Either through Obalende, Osborne Road, Second Avenue, Falomo and adjourning streets within the neighborhood.

Cameron Green, which is sitting on a parcel of land measuring 11,000square metres in the highbrow Ikoyi area of Lagos, indeed blends luxury with nature.

The estate, according to the site engineer, Mr. Mumeen Abdulkareem, C commands investors’ confidence and interest, as three out of the four detached houses, which comprises the Phase 1 of the entire project, had already been sold out as at last weekend.

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One of the completed detached duplex in Cameron Green estate

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Japanese architect, Toyo Ito wins 2013 Pritzker Prize Ito’s buildings have been praised for their fluid beauty and balance between the physical and virtual world. Throughout his career, he has tried to establish a connection between inside and the outside conditions, an effort evident in his lightweight structures that use materials like mesh, perforated aluminum and permeable fabrics.

Architecture JAPANESE architect who A broke from modernism and designed a library that survived his country’s catastrophic 2011 earthquake, Toyo Ito, was awarded his profession’s top honour, the Pritzker Architecture Prize, recently.

Ito, who also created London’s Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in 2002, was recognised for the libraries, houses, offices and other buildings he has designed in Japan and around the world.

Judges commended the 71year-old for improving the “quality of both public and private spaces”. He will receive $100,000 (£62,000) at an awards ceremony in Boston in May. Past winners of the annual award, dubbed as architecture’s Nobel prize, include Frank Gehry, IM Pei, Tadao Ando, and Renzo Piano.

Accepting the honour, Ito said whenever he completes a design he becomes “painfully aware of my own inadequacy, and it turns into energy to challenge the next project”.

“Therefore, I will never fix my architectural style and never be satisfied with my works,” he said in a statement.

US Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, who served on the jury, said Ito had “inspired many architects, critics and members of the general public alike”.

“Along with all others involved with the Pritzker Prize, I am very pleased that he has received the award,” he said.

Ito’s buildings have been praised for their fluid beauty and balance between the physical and virtual world.

Among his notable designs include the curvaceous Municipal Funeral Hall in Gifu, Japan; the transparent Sendai Mediatheque library in Miyagi, Japan; and the spiral White O residence in Marbella, Chile.

“His buildings are complex, yet his high degree of synthesis means that his works attain a level of calmness, which ultimately allows the inhabitants to freely develop their life and activities in them,’’ said Chilean architect and jury member Alejandro Aravena.

Ito began his career at Kiyonori Kikutake and Associates after he graduated from Tokyo University in 1965, going on to found his own architecture firm in 1971.

His works have been exhibited in museums in the US, England, Denmark, Italy, Chile and numerous cities in Japan. Chinese architect Wang Shu won the prize last year - the first Chinese citizen to do so.

Nicolai Ouroussoff, then the architecture critic of The New York Times, remarked in 2009 that Mr. Ito had repeatedly been passed over for the Pritzker “in favor of

designers with much thinner résumés.”

Looking back over his career Mr. Ito said he is particularly proud of the Sendai Mediatheque, his library completed in Sendai, Japan, in 2001. The building’s design is dominated by structural tubes that support the floor plates and provide circulation, pathways that the Pritzker jury said “permitted new interior spatial qualities.”

But Mr. Ito is also proud of the building’s significance as a project that was meant to withstand an earthquake. (It won a Golden Lion Award at the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale.) A video of the inside of the building taken by someone under a table during the earthquake in 2011 went viral. “ The building shook and swayed violently; everything cascaded from shelves and desks onto the floor,” the architecture critic Ada Louise Huxtable wrote in The Wall Street Journal. “Ceiling panels appeared to swing drunkenly overhead. But the Mediatheque did not collapse. It stood firm against the massive seismic forces that were tearing other buildings apart; the basic structure did not fail.”

Mr. Ito has been active in the recovery effort. He recruited three young architects to help him develop the concept of Home-for-All, communal space for survivors. In his book “Toyo Ito: Forces of Nature,” edited by Jesse Turnbull and published last year by Princeton Architectural Press, Mr. Ito writes, “An architect is someone who can make such places for meager meals show a little more humanity, make them a little more beautiful, a little more comfortable.”

The citation said Mr. Ito consistently couples his personal creative agenda with a sense of public responsibility. “It is far more complex and riskier to innovate while working on buildings where the public is concerned,” the jury said, “but this has not deterred him.”

Though perhaps not as well known as architects like Rem Koolhaas or Frank Gehry, Mr. Ito rose to prominence with the completion of his stadium in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, built for the World Games in 2009.

And he has received his share of awards, including, in 2010, the Praemium Imperiale, which recognizes lifetime achievement in areas of the arts not covered by the Nobel Prizes.

But Mr. Ito said he doesn’t worry about status or architecture competitions. “We cannot predict what we will win or we won’t win,” he said.

He said he just needs to be able to do the work he wants to do. These days that includes flatware, called Mu, introduced in Paris by the Italian company Alessi. Mu

One of his architectural designs...Museum of Architecture, Imabari, Japan means hexagon in Japanese and refers to the six-sided shape of the handles, which resemble chopsticks. The pattern complements Ku, the porcelain service Mr. Ito created for Alessi in 2006.

He has also been drawn to practical retail projects like a building for Tod’s, the Italian shoe and handbag company, and the facade of the Mikimoto Ginza 2 flagship store — both in Tokyo. And he continues to design ambitious public projects like the Taichung opera house, whose porous exterior has been likened to a gigantic sponge, and the Tama Art University Library, an irregular grid of concrete arches.

Born to Japanese parents in Keijo — now Seoul — in 1941, Mr. Ito moved to Tokyo in junior high school and then attended the University of Tokyo, where architecture became his main interest. He went on to graduate in 1965 and began working at the firm of Kiyonori Kikutake & Associates. In 1971 he left to start his own studio, calling it Urban Robot (Urbot), which in 1979 became Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects.

Many of his early works were residences — including one in a Tokyo suburb called “Aluminum House,” which consisted of a wooden frame completely covered in aluminum, and a home for his sister called “White U,” which generated considerable interest in his work.

Throughout his career, Mr. Ito said, he has tried to establish a connection between inside and the outside conditions, an effort evident in his lightweight structures that use materials like mesh, perforated aluminum and permeable fabrics.

That fluidity pervades projects like his World Games stadium, critics said, which do not conform to conventional definitions of modern architecture.

“It reflects his longstanding belief that architecture, to be human, must somehow embrace seemingly contradictory values,” Mr. Ouroussoff wrote in his review of the building.

“Instead of a self-contained utopia, he offers us multiple worlds, drifting in and out of focus like a dream.”

Toyo Ito Tama library

Toyo Ito

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Stakeholders endorse estate agents’ registration, query levies Real Estate

By Tunde Alao OISED to rid the fold of P sharp and fraudulent practices, stakeholders in the estate agency have thrown their weight behind a new policy directing fresh registration of estate agents based in Lagos with the newly established Lagos State Real Estate Transaction Department (LASRETRAD), a unit in the state’s Ministry of Housing.

At a forum last week, the stakeholders, however, seek role in the implementation of the new policy in the state.

Series of complaints of fraudulent activities by some estate agents had necessitated the formation of the new department, which event’s attracted the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), developers, government officials, officials of the different groups of estate agents’ practitioners, during which problems within estate agency practice were examined.

Speaking on the importance of the meeting, the Guest Speaker, Mr. Ade Ipaye, said LASRETRAD, was put in place by the government to facilitate good governance and best regulatory system that is required in a civilized community.

Ipaye, who is the Lagos State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General said, there was need to ensure protection of all stakeholders that include the landlord, tenants, developers, including estate agents, whose activities informed the establishment of the new regulatory agency, the LASRETRAD. The Commissioner said by the time all the recognized agents are on the register of LASRETRAD, it would be difficult for the fraudsters to continue their evil acts without being apprehended and stopped.

In his comment, Managing Director, UPDC, Mr. Hakeem Ogunniran, endorsed the need to regularize the activities of estate agents, adding that, such registration would put developers in a position to identify qualified agents that they can transact business with.

“Registration of estate agents with government agency is a step in right direction. We have been dealing with agents from time to time. But this meeting and decisions we are taking here today will attract more members to us and we will all support Lagos State in its efforts to save innocent residents from becoming victims of fraudulent practices”.

The 2nd Vice President, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuer, Dr. Bolarinde Patunola Ajayi, noted that there should be sanity in estate agency business.

He was of the view that considering a lot of woes that many residents have gone through in the hand of estate agents, it is high time that sanity must is brought to bear on the activities of the agents. “With compulsory registration of all the agencies with this depart-

With the proposed registration of all estate agents in Lagos , the newly created department, says that it would no longer be business as usual and an all comers affair. Experts argue that the new policy will also give the professionals the desired respect and confidence ment, it would no longer be business as usual. It wouldn’t be all comers’ game.

Besides, the new policy will give the profession the desired respect and confidence by the public”.

From the representative of the Rent and Commission Agents of Nigeria (RCAN), came the allegation that government is transacting business with some faceless agents, especially, in all its housing estates.

Besides, the group also expressed concern over the levies that would now be

collected by LASRETRAD, asking whether it would end numerous levies and taxes being collected by the local governments and other government agencies.

Answering, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mr. Jimoh Ajao, said the new agency would review the situation.

From the Association of Property Leasing of Nigeria came the question if this new regulatory agency would not phase out real estate association in Lagos, since it appears that it wants

to perform the functions of the various associations that made up of real estate agents.

The group also warned that in an effort to enforce the new laws, they were oppose to making use of the security agents, especially, the police, arguing that leadership of the various associations are in position to assist the government and bring any erring member to book.

“We know our people. We know how to get them. All we want is for government

Governor Babatunde Fashola to trust us. Also we want government to bring down the registration cost”, noting that high cost of regis-

tration is capable of aiding or influencing sharp practices.

Earlier, Governor Babatunde Fashola, represented by the Head of Service, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe, said the purpose of the new department is to ensure that those who have the necessary qualification, the integrity and of professional competence are in the business of estate agents.

“We will not fold our arms and allow fraudulent few to continue to fleece our people in the name of doing business. Many people borrow money, some doing contributions and at the end of the day, some people will continue to dupe them”.

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AMCON takes over Cityscape’s Buena Vista estate CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 dragged till 2011, leaving so much debt for the financiers.

Specifically, two foreign construction companies - Messrs Demar Engineering and Construction company Limited, Texas, USA handled the provision of infrastructure while China National Decoration Group Limited was saddled with the actual construction of the houses.

The estate has two house types - the Buena Vista Executive, which comes with a separate swimming pool. The other house type is known as the Classic. To buy into Buena Vista estate, all the prospective buyers deposited 10 per cent of the value of the apartments and another 10 per cent was due on completion.

Cityscape International promised to arrange 80 per cent mortgage for a period of 10 years. The prices of the houses range from N18 million for the 3-bedroom terrace house to N55 million for the 5-bedroom detached houses.

Amongst first class facilities and infrastructure promised the subscribers include roads with interlocking paving stones, covered underground line drains, walkways, external perimeter fence, gate house, low internal soft elemental fences between house units (900mm high)) and recreational facilities. Others are street lighting, electricity to be supplied to each plot by underground cables, landscape and horticulture. The estate also has provision for educational and recreational facilities.

Signs that the project was swimming in troubled waters

emerged when subscribers could not be allocated their houses, after fulfilling their own part of the bargain, prompting the developer to allay fears through a forum.

The company’s Managing Director, Mr. Akinwale Akinmusire assured them of Cityscape’s resolve to overcome some of the challenges in the estates. However, the challenges could not tackled before the take over by AMCON. Senior officials of First Bank confirmed to The Guardian that the facility was sold to AMCON in line with the directive of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). “The facility for the construction of Phase 1 of the project was granted to Cityscape (the developer) in January 2006 and the construction was expected to be completed with 12 months. However, the project ran into major operational hitches and was not completed until June 2011. The delay translated to significant variation n the cost of infrastructure and buildings.

“As a result of the said delay in completion faced significant challenges and could not deliver completed houses to ExxonMobil Staff (EMS) within agreed time lines, even though EMS had made partial payments for the house. It is key to mention that allocation of houses is subject to full payment of the contracted sale prices by the subscribers, which to the best of our knowledge is yet to be effected.

“Based on the challenges recorded on the project, Cityscape was unable to service the facility granted by First Bank despite all accommoda-

tions and forbearances granted by the bank to work out the exposure. Therefore, the account became non-performing, and in line with the provisions of AMCON Act and as directed by CBN, the loan was sold to AMCON being an eligible asset.

“We wish to state that interest of all subscribers who had either made partial or full payments for the houses were

advised to AMCON and noted accordingly. Our recommendation is that the ExxonMobil staff should engage the developer for the allocation of their houses upon full payments.”

The development has also unearthed accusation and counter accusations among members of the ExxonMobil Cooperative Multi-Purpose Society Limited. For instance,

one of the subscribers, Mr. James Benjamin Walley alleged that his money was embezzled by the society and petitioned Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

In a letter titled “ Embezzled N4.5million Against ExxonMobil Staff Cooperative Multipurpose Society Limited” and addressed to the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim

Lamorde, the subscriber alleges that he applied to buy two detached four bedroom duplexes with servant quarters off-plan in 2005 at N20 million each, with understanding that all costs associated, and the readiness of the properties within two years from the payment of 10 per cent deposit plus administration cost.

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Developer launches Eko Atlantic City’s Pearl CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 tures like the previous apartment, except that it has a lounge, one kitchen and pantry and two balconies. The upper level is designed as one living family room, four master bedroom and two balconies.

There are also five underground parking space and two storage rooms for the duplex apartments, while there is provision for four underground parking spaces, and one storage room for the typical apartments.

Two penthouse apartments, located on the 23rd and 24th floors measured 627 square metres per floor. It features one entrance hall, three sitting rooms, one dining room, a lounge, one living room, one kitchen, four master bedrooms, a guest bathroom, one maid room, a laundry and four balconies, with 52 parking spaces are dedicated for the leisure of the residents’ guests.

A document made available to The Guardian, revealed that Eko Pearl Towers are designed according to British standards, with the exterior walls of all

main facades built of two layers, solid block in exterior and hollow blocks in the interior side.

The buildings are of roof terrace, basement walls, water tank, made of vandex, or similar, while elevations are asphalt coating paint under exterior stone cladding.

Windows and doors are of aluminum material, including the rolling shutter in bedrooms.

Painted wooden doors are fitted to the storage and maid room, a typical door at the floors are wooden door

veneered with “walnut”, including the service entrance.

The doors and staircase, technical rooms and lobby are installed with fire rated steel materials, while stainless steel balustrade with glass cladding for balconies.

The floor finishing is of Epoxi coat, or similar for basement, and Mass dyed ceramic used for the storage and driver rooms in the basement. The lobbies and stairs at basement are of marble and stone.

A senior official with the Lagos State Government, who commented on the project, noted

that a vision of many years ago is gradually turning into reality. “Almost seven years ago when the former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, conceived the idea of Eko Atlantic City, it looked like a mission impossible. Indeed, to some, it was a mere fantasy.

But today, apart from sand-filling of 50 percent of the total land mass allotted for the project, pilling exercise on some plots by subscribers in preparation to the emergence of physical structure is equally ongoing, thus, put paid to the speculation of whether the

3Invest plans real estate investors’ network Mortgage Finance MARTING from previous Soperatives, engagements of the sector one of Nigeria’s emerging real estate investment service companies has launched an innovative concept that enables investors to fund real estate deals and in return gain equity interest.

Known as Real Estate Investor Network (REIN), the platform is established on the fundamentals of Crowdfunding, which is essentially a collective effort of individuals who network and pool their money, usually via the Internet, to support efforts initiated by other people or organizations. This concept has been in practice for a number of years and has been effective in many interesting ways both for non-profit cause models such as Kiva and for profitable models such as KickStarter.

Promoted by 3Invest Limited, the network is expected to ensure that Nigeria’s Real Estate create more wealth, increases employment and meets the real estate requirements of millions of private and corporate citizens. It will also contribute significantly to the execution of additional projects by coordinating investors’ funds in the network in order to develop and operate income-producing Real Estate assets for the benefit of all members In a statement, the company said: “REIN takes the strength of this concept and applies it to simplify how we invest in real estate today enabling 3Invest and its partners play an evolutionary role in pioneering this in Nigeria. We enable investors to fund real estate deals and in return they can gain an equity interest in that investment. Our platform is open to registered

3INVEST member clients to build their network but can also be subscribed to through our 3INVESTORS Loyalty programme, according to 3Invest Managing Director, Ms Ruth Obih.

The network will be launched next month at the Property Buyers’ Forum (PBF) organised by 3Invest at the Porsche Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. “We also intend to showcase REIN internationally during the summer when we take our campaign to Europe and America through our International Property Tour (IPT). We will begin with three cities of the United States in May and visit major cities in Europe before the end of the year”.

PBF is a Real Estate Market place designed to help developers sell investment portfolios through exposure, to high net worth individuals, Medium – high income investors, A-list Nigerian

celebrities and Individual or organization ” who have expressed an interest in investing in viable real estate transactions.

Obih stated: “Our platform will not only provide a superior networking enterprise, but will allow qualified investors to collectively fill funding gaps in quality real estate transactions. REIN will continue to assess additional ways to expand and broaden sources for funding within our model.

“Having operated in the sector over the years and through our intelligence gathering, it is clear that Nigeria’s Real Estate can contribute far beyond its current three per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Besides other challenges such as land titling, skewed policy frame work, and a fluctuating investment environment; one major challenge that impacts develop-

ment in the industry is the unavailability of reasonable investment funds.”

She said: “Real Estate has proven over the decades to be one investment window with competitive advantage over others because of its proclivity to great returns in the face of value depreciation, economic crunches and diminishing rates of return on investment in other sectors.

“We understand the problems developers face to get funds, we understand the paucity of funds in the system, and we also understand the fears of investors to put money into Nigeria’s notvery-friendly investment environment. With REIN, it is our commitment to mitigate these challenges. The sponsor will know the investors and vice versa and both parties can work together as members of the same network, and the risk, where it cannot be mitigated; is shared.”

project is a mirage or a reality”, said the official who pleaded not to be mentioned.

Also last week, during the visit by the President of Lebanon, General Michel Suleiman to Lagos and his brief visit to the Eko Atlantic City site, it was revealed that the first phase of the sand filled portion has been subscribed to, with a sizeable portion of the second phase, also being bought by developers.

Speaking on the project, the Managing Director of Eko Atlantic City, Mr. David Frame, noted that the project is receiving acceptance from subscribers, both individually and corporately.

Frame informed that the development is in six phases.

“Five phases are for physical development to be sold out to the developers, while the sixth phase would be developed for the infrastructure, facilities and equipments needed for the city.

He hinted that the first phase has been fully exhausted, with only seven plots remaining, while a considerable portion of the second phase has also being subscribed to.

“So far we have succeeded in the sand filling of almost 50 percent of the entire site marked for development. And hopefully, in the next 20 months, most of the subscribers would have commenced real development”, he said, adding that by 2017, 10 million square metres would be fully developed.

Price varies for the scheme.

While “land locked” location attracts $1,250 per square metres, locations such as “Ocean View’ or “Water Front” goes for $2,500 per square metres.

46

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

HOMES&PROPERTY

The Guardian’s building materials’ price review (February 2013) Block 9 x 9 per one 6 x 9 per one

February 13 N 150 120

January 13 N 160 150

P.H (%) 1 1

Block Work Cement per tonne (50kg) per bag Cement per tonne (50kg) 20 bags

1800 35,000

1900 36,000

0.5 2

Earthwork Gravel per tipper load Unwashed gravel per tipper Granite per tipper load Sharp sand per tipper load Soft sand per tipper load

23,000 16,000 27,000 15,000 16,000

27,000 19,000 32,000 18,000 17,000

6 2 2 1.5 1

Timber Hardwood 2 x 6 x 12 2 x 4 x 12 1 x 1 x 12

1100 600 700

1000 500 750

1 0.5

Softwood 2 x 2 x 12 2 x 3 x 12

200 250

250 350

1

Plywood (White) 3x4x8 1x2x8 1x4x8

3,500 2,300 2,300

2,400 2,000 1,600

1 1

Panel Doors Flush door (plain) Flush door (laminated)

4,000 15,000

3,800 15,000

-

Roofing Corrugated iron sheet per bundle

10,000

9,500

-

Super Asbestos 4X8 (per piece)) 4X6 (per piece))

1600 1500

1300 1700

1 1

Nails 1 inch per bag 3 inch per bag 4 inch per bag

6,000 5,500 5,000

6,500 5,000 5,000

-

Glass Work 2 x 4mm (plain) 2 x 4mm (obscure) 2 1/2 x 4mm (plain) 2 1/2 x 4mm (obscure) 3 x 4mm (plain) 3 x 4mm (obscure) 3 x 5mm (plain) 3 x5 mm (obscure)

75 75 90 90 115 115

60 60 75 75 90 90 115 115

-

Aluminium Lourve Blade Unic 8 blades per piece Unic 6 blades per piece Unic 4 blades per piece

440 420 280

440 420 280

-

Paints Colour Emulsion (high) Colour Emulsion (low) White Emulsion (high) White Emulsion (low) Colour Gloss (high) Colour Gloss (low) White Texture (high) White Texture (low) Wood Coating (high) Wood Coating (low)

2,700 2,700 2,800 2,800 2,700 2,700 4,700 4,700 2,800 2,400

2,700 2,700 2,800 2,800 2,700 2,700 4,700 4,700 2,800 2,400

-

14,500

5,500 15,500

5

Sanitary Fitting Vitrous Suite with tap Twyford (W/C) with big wash hand basin Hindstan (W/C) with big wash hand basin Shower Curtain and rail 80 x 80 shower tray Stainless towel rail Ariston Water heater (80 litres) Thermacool water heater (50 litres) Ariston water heater (50 litres)

-

-

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32 mony of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Land Swap investors, recently FCT Minister remarked that basic terms of relationship between the government and the investors include detailed design and provision of infrastructure in the districts within a maximum period of 48 months; strict compliance with the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) specifications and standard for district infrastructure works.

He also warned that no developer should commence real property development or sale of any plot of land in the district until 35 percent of functional infrastructure works has been achieved. All these are no doubt a win, win situation to all stakeholders in the ‘Abuja Project’.

In order to safeguard the interest of the government and people of Nigeria by not allowing the investors to short change them, Senator Mohammed revealed that 15 per cent of the Rights of Occupancy shall be released to the developer on evidence of transfer of 15 percent of the infrastructure cost to the Project Account; 80 percent of the Rights of Occupancy shall be released on the basis of interim measured certificates, the minimum value of which shall not be less than 20 percent of the infrastructure works.

While insisting that five per cent will be retained till after the retention period of 12 months, the Minister announced that the Rights of Occupancy would be deposited in a bank mutually agreed by the parties.

He emphasized that the

1000 3000 350 25,000 19,000 18,500

2 5

Wall Tiles Ceramic (white) 6 x 6 x 88 pieces China 20 x 20 x 16 China 25 x 40

1,200 1,200 1450

1,200 1,100 1,400

-

Floor Ceramic Tiles 14 x 14 (Brazil) 13 x 13 (Spain) 45 x 45 (Spain)

1,700 1,550 2,000

1,450 1,350 2,200

0.5 -

Vitrified 30 x 60 Pack 50 x 50 Pack 60 x 60 Pack

3,500 1,600 2,000

3,100 2,000 2,500 -

4 4

Marra Italy 40 X 40 glazed 40 X 40 mall 30 X 30 Aristea

3,500 3,200 1,700

3,500 3,200 1,700

-

Reinforcement 12mm (93 pieces) per ton 16mm (93 pieces) per ton 8mm (153 pieces) per ton 10mm (153 pieces) per ton 20mm (53 pieces) per ton

160,000 176,000 125,000 135,000 123,000

1 0.5 -

structure of the total project cost shall consist construction cost, financing cost, professional fees, resident supervision cost, 12 months operating cost, resettlement and compensation cost as well as Return investment.

The Minister at the ceremony reiterated that the FCDA will appoint a consultant to ensure that the execution of the works is done in accordance with its specifications with the consultancy fee being factored in the total project cost to be made available by the investor.

Under the agreement, FCDA is to retain at least 40 percent of buildable plots in the district to be allocated to Nigerians through the Land Use and Allocation Committee.

The Abuja Land Swap Initiative will definitely solve myriads of problems previously associated with provision of basic infrastructure especially inadequate funding, springing up of shanties in the heart of the city, deliberate abuse of the Abuja master plan, daily migration of people into Abuja from the 36 states of the federation, which has of course, led to overstretching of the existing facilities and services.

No wonder, some FCT traditional rulers such as Gomo of Kuje, Alhaji Haruna Tanko Jibrin and SaPeyi of Garki, Alhaji Usman Nga-Kupi recently jointly endorsed the Land Swap Initiative because according to them, “the package is juicy and we are waiting for it to materialize”.

The Gomo of Kuje specifically said, “We shall continue to pray for you (Minister), cooperate and support your administra-

tion to achieve this lofty initiative”.

Alhaji Jibrin added, “This is the first time we are seeing this kind of a thing happening in the Federal Capital Territory; we have never been called upon to talk about own areas.”

The Gomo stressed, “I want to assure you that we will continue to support your administration to ensure that genuine legacy is left behind”.

The lesson to be learnt from their endorsement is that, if, the original inhabitants can easily key into the initiative with all these accolades, then Nigerians irrespective of tribal, religious or political inclinations have surely gotten a fair deal.

If the FCT Administration is able to deliver these 10 new districts as envisaged, deliver the Abuja Rail transportation system, complete the World Trade Centre, the Millennium Towers as well as fast track the provision of infrastructure to the Satellite Towns since President Goodluck Jonathan has rejuvenated the Satellite Towns Development Agency (STDA) for that purpose, then the history of Abuja will indeed change for the better and become envy of the foes.

Abuja Land Swap Model Initiative is capable of changing the face of Abuja because the decision has the potentials of opening up land ownership and house ownership to ordinary Nigerians with total reduction of house rent across the territory for those who cannot afford to build one, the buck stop on your table to take responsibility for that decision to change your entire life.

Cameron Green, a fusion of luxury, nature -

1000 3000 350 27,000 19,000 18,000

145,000 160,000 110,000 145,000 145,000

Benefits of Abuja land Swap scheme

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 When media personnel visited few days ago, all the detached houses, are begging for occupation, having been completed. The Phase II, comprising of two block of 28 flats made of 10 units of four-bedroom flats, 10 units of three-bedroom flats and eight units of one-bedroom flats, according to Abdulkareem, would be delivered between June and July 2013.

Tastefully designed, the new estate came with picturesque landscape filled with ample trees and lush vegetation in line with UPDC’s goal of sustainability. The estate has 4 – 5 bedroom detached houses with Boys Quarter. Each house, built on 1,000 square metre land, has its own swimming pool.

In the visibly impressive block of flats are recreational facilities for residents’ comfort.

They include Swimming Pool,

Gymnasium, Lawn Tennis court and Children’s Playground.

Others include: Easy Drive way, ample parking lots for residents and visitors, boreholes and water treatment plant as well as sewage treatment plant, PHCN electricity and stand by generator.

Designed by the architectural firm of Popham Walter odusote and Company, Cameron Green was built by Brunneli Construction Company Limited.

“To ensure its uniqueness, the estate was designed to retain some of the existing nature trees to preserve the original ecosystem, it is well-spaced buildings to allow free flow of air and prevent congestion, low flow shower and faucet fixtures to minimize water shortage and large tall windows for good illumination and natural cross ventilation”, Abdulkareem said.

He added that water was

taken from a very deep aquifer, which requires lesser energy treatment to meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard, drains are buried to avoid erosion effect of open drainage, 30 percent built area for maximization of soft and hard landscaping.

Justifying the ‘Green’ in the name of the luxury estate, the Managing Director of UPDC, Mr. Hakeem Ogunniran, during the ground breaking of the estate had said that the ‘green’ in the name of the estate captures his company’s environmental sustainability campaign.

“Our campaign in the past two years in design, concept and execution has taken particular note of the issue of environmental friendliness and sustainability such that everything we have done so far are in line with our new philosophy in that respect,” he said.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

HOMES&PROPERTY

47

Agency seeks development plan for Abuja satellite towns Urban Development From Terhemba Daka, Abuja MID increasing population in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the authorities have pledged to streamline the provision of critical infrastructure in the physical development of satellite towns in compliance with the Abuja Master Plan.

FCT authorities made the undertaking at a three-day retreat organized for the staff of the Satellite Towns Development Agency (STDA) in Minna, Niger State. The participants were drawn from workers on Grade level 13-17. They were tasked to develop a strategic plan that would help to improve the standard of living and environment through the provision of infrastructure and affordable housing.

The retreat, according to the organizers was fashioned to enable the mem-

A

Ogun gets housing monitoring committee Housing HE Ogun State Ministry T of Housing has set up a three-man committee

to monitor all housing projects by the governm e n t .

A statement by the Information Officer of the ministry, Mrs Adeyinka Richard, said the committee is saddled with the responsibilities of ensuring that all contractors provide quality houses in government’s schemes.

The committee will also ensure contractors deliver within record time. The members are Director, Quantity Surveying, Mr. Gabriel Aluko, Director A r c h i t e c t u r a l Services, Mr. Sulaimon Oladipo and the Director, Administration and Supplies, Mr. Deji S o w u n m i .

Meanwhile, the State Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Daniel Adejobi has assured that workers in both the State and Federal Government Civil Services would benefit from the State’s housing programme.

Adejobi who gave this assurance in Abeokuta while fielding questions f r o m journalists revealed that the State Government was already making frantic effort to control population density in major towns through development of new towns across the State.

Describing sustainable housing programme as a gradual, continual and replicable process of meeting the housing needs of the populace, the Commissioner called on private investors to join hands with governments i n the provision of affordable housing for the masses He said the call became necessary to complement efforts of both the State and Federal Governments towards reducing housing deficit in the country.

bers have a clear direction and understanding of the federal government’s agenda for the residents of the Satellite towns in the FCT. Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Olajumoke Akinjide explained that the retreat was specifically designed to develop a strategic plan for the STDA, set out role for effective urban planning, develop a strategic plan for the first five years and beyond. It will also help to tackle issues and challenges of repositioning it in the areas of governance, communication, finance, employment generation, community driven programme, access to alternative fundings, security and enhance a good relationship between STDA and FCTA secretariats, departments and agencies.”

The former co-coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Agency under the El’ Rufai FCT administration, Mrs. Jummai Kwanashie said that no meaningful development could be achieved in the satellite towns and indeed the nation’s capital

without the political will of those in authority.

“During the El’Rufai administration there was the political will to ensure that the satellite towns are developed. But you are aware that after El’Rufai, STDA was scrapped. So, there has to be the political backing for those in authority. And you know that with political backing there has to be a corresponding availability of funding to develop.

“There has to be the right type of professionals put on place and further trained and provided with the necessary funding to carry out the task of providing the engineering infrastructure and to provide functional, efficient and cost effective services in the satellite towns of the FCT.” “The plan is already on the ground. What is left is funding. The roads you need to develop immediately, the towns and settlements and the various social facilities to be provided for the people. All that is required is to budget enough money to make progress,” she said.

Acting Director, STDA Mr. Tukur Ibrahim Bakori posited that the Federal Capital City has been developing faster than the satellite towns; hence the STDA was reviewing the original

FCT Master Plan so as to achieve the sectoral development of the satellite towns.

The Director of Finance, STDA James Agubalu explained that the retreat

was therefore designed to look at the challenges of the STDA and fashion out the way out and play the role the agency is expected play in the development of the satellite towns.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

48

The Environment

Recent data shows that about 1.6 billion people face water shortage globally.

Global ‘water crisis’ looming, Worldwatch warns The Environment 1.2 billion peopleSliveOME almost a fifth of the worldin areas of physical water scarcity, while another 1.6 billion face what can be called economic water shortage. The situation is only expected to worsen as population growth, climate change, investment and management shortfalls, and inefficient use of existing resources restrict the amount of water available to people, according to Worldwatch Institute’s Vital Signs Online service Vital Signs Online provides business leaders, policymakers, and engaged citizens with the latest data and analysis they need to understand critical global trends.

It is an interactive, subscription-based tool that provides hard data and researchbased insights on the sustainability trends that are shaping our future. It is estimated that by 2025, 1.8 bil-

With the predicted growth of world’s population from 7 billion to 9.1 billion by 2050, Worldwatch says that the development is putting a strain on water resources to meet increased food, energy, and industrial demands. But there are many other pressures, including increased urbanization and overconsumption, lack of proper management, and the looming threat of climate change. lion people will live in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, with almost half of the world living in conditions of water stress.

Water scarcity has several definitions. Physical scarcity occurs when there is not enough water to meet demand; its symptoms include severe environmental degradation, declining groundwater, and unequal water distribution.

Economic water scarcity occurs when there is a lack of investment and proper management to meet the demand of people who do not have the financial means to use existing water sources; the symptoms in this case normally include poor infra-

structure. Large parts of Africa suffer from economic water scarcity.

World population is predicted to grow from 7 billion to 9.1 billion by 2050, putting a strain on water resources to meet increased food, energy, and industrial demands. But there are many other pressures, including increased urbanization and overconsumption, lack of proper management, and the looming threat of climate change.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and UN Water, global water use has been growing at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century.

At the global level, 70 percent of water withdrawals are for the agricultural sector, 11 percent are to meet municipal demands, and 19 percent are for industrial needs. These numbers, however, are distorted by the few countries that have very high water withdrawals, such as China, India, and the United States.

Agricultural water withdrawal accounts for 44 percent of total water withdrawal among members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), but this rises to more than 60 percent within the eight OECD countries that rely heavily on irrigated agricul-

ture. In the four transitional economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, agriculture accounts for 74 percent of water withdrawals, but this ranges from 20 percent in Russia to 87 percent in India.

Policymakers must introduce a variety of measures to address global water scarcity. One important initiative is to support small-scale farmers. Much of the public investment in agricultural water management has focused on large-scale irrigation systems. Farmers can also use water more efficiently by taking a number of steps, including growing a diverse array of crops suited to local conditions and adopting irrigation systems like “drip” lines that deliver water directly to plants’ roots.

Climate change will affect global water resources at varying levels. Reductions in river runoff and aquifer recharge are expected in the Mediterranean basin and in

‘Earth Hour’ evolves into springboard for wider action The Environment Sydney Harbour FandROM Bridge, Buckingham Palace the Brandenburg Gate to the Burj Khalifa tower, the Empire State Building, the Taj Mahal and Table Mountain, some of the world’s greatest landmarks were briefly darken last Saturday night for Earth Hour, a campaign now becoming a broader vehicle for green activism.

Earth Hour originated in Sydney in 2007 with an appeal to people and businesses to turn off their lights for an hour to heighten awareness about climate change, driven by carbon-emitting fossil fuels.

Promoted through social media, Earth Hour has also mutated in some countries into a potent tool to lobby on local issues unconnected with global warming The annual switch-off is now being followed in locations in three-quarters of the world’s nations and has the potential to touch hundreds of millions of lives, say its organisers.

Promoted through social media, Earth Hour has also mutated in some countries into a potent tool to lobby on local issues unconnected with global warming, they add.

In Nigeria, the team launched its Climate Change Bill petition Campaign, calling for the passage of the bill by the

National Assembly.

Globally, switch-off events was planned in more than 150 countries, including for the first time the Palestinian territories, Tunisia, Galapagos, Suriname, French Guiana, St. Helena and Rwanda.

Newcomers to the campaign include Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid, the Statue of David in Florence and Cape Town’s Table Mountain, which in 2011 joined a list of the “New Seven Wonders of Nature”.

“Last year, Earth Hour was fol-

lowed in 7,000 communities, an increase of about 30 percent over 2011,” said Andy Ridley, cofounder of the project launched by WWF. “The biggest area of growth has been the Asia-Pacific, the economic engine of the planet, where wherever you go now, people are living with the problems of environmental damage,” Ridley said in a phone interview from Singapore.

“If you’re in a big city in China, you may well be going to work wearing a face mask (against

air pollution), or if you are in the Philippines, you and your family may well have been affected by a super-typhoon,” according to AFP. Ridley added: “What we are finding is that environment issues may be perceived differently in the big cities of Asia compared with how they are perceived in Europe or the States. They may not be perceived as exclusively green issues. They are seen as issues that are damaging your lifestyle and potentially threatening your family.”

In Japan, where floodlights will be turned off on Saturday at the capital’s signature

CONTINUED ON PAGE 49

the semiarid areas of the Americas, Australia, and southern Africa, affecting water availability in regions that are already waterstressed. In Asia, the large areas of irrigated land that rely on snowmelt and high mountain glaciers for water will be affected by changes in runoff patterns, while highly populated deltas are at risk from a combination of reduced inflows, increased salinity, and rising sea levels. And rising temperatures will translate into increased crop water demand everywhere.

To combat the effects of climate change, efforts must be made to follow an integrated water resource management approach on a global scale. This involves water management that recognizes the holistic nature of the water cycle and the importance of managing trade-offs within it, that emphasizes the importance of effective institutions, and that is inherently adaptive.

The report highlights that a region is said to face water scarcity when supplies fall below 1,000 cubic meters per person, and absolute water scarcity is when supplies drop below 500 cubic meters a year.

About 66 percent of Africa is arid or semiarid, and more than 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa currently live on less than 1,000 cubic meters of water resources per person. According to UN Water, each person in North America and Europe (excluding former Soviet Union countries) consumes at least 3 cubic meters per day of virtual water in imported food, compared with 1.4 cubic meters per day in Asia and 1.1 cubic meters per day in Africa.

THE ENVIRONMENT

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

Our ordeal, triumph in ERA’s environmental struggle, by Bassey

Study hinges poverty alleviation on tougher environmental goals The Environment OVERNMENTS must G impose radical limits on everything from water use to greenhouse gases if they want to have any chance of ending global poverty, a group of scientists said.

States needed to tighten clean air laws, at least halve the amount of water drawn from river basins and start cutting some environmentally damaging pollution, all by 2030, they suggested.

“The stable functioning of Earth systems - including the atmosphere, oceans, forests, waterways, biodiversity and biogeochemical cycles - is a prerequisite for a thriving global society,” the Australian-led team wrote in Thursday’s edition of the journal Nature.

The report was meant to feed into discussions at the United Nations this week on drawing up new targets to take over from the global body’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which are due to expire in 2015.

It suggested setting a new aim of ending global poverty by 2030 - but said that would only be possible if states put more effort into preserving the plan-

Nnimmo Bassey during the COP 15 protest in Copenhagen

The Environment

By Chinedum Uwaegbulam RONTLINE environmental FRights group, Environmental Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has said that it’s triumph in environmental struggle was due to the people’s resolve to stand with imparted communities against all pushers of harmful practices such as deforestation, land grabs, oil spills, gas flares and pollutions.

ERA also says that reviewing of environmental laws in the country will “stop those who reap profits from environmental damage laws governing those activities and make it possible for criminal charges with long jail terms to be pressed against individual criminals and those who hide behind corporate shields.”

Erstwhile Executive Director, ERA/FoEN, Nnimmo Bassey who made the declaration at event to mark the 20th Anniversary of the organisation in Abuja, last week noted that over these years, members suffered persecution, faced afflictions and enjoyed triumphs. ERA is also the host

Civil actions as a measure of resistance are not sufficient to stem environmental crimes. Ecocide would be an appropriate umbrella law to confront the massive lawlessness that run rampant across Nigeria and many nations of the world. of Oil watch International – the global South’s resistance network to reckless exploitation of fossil fuels.

For two decades, ERA powered by key principles, which include; that every African has a right to a safe and satisfactory environment favourable to his/her development as captured in Article 24 of the African Charter of Peoples and Human Rights. That human rights are also well defended when ecosystems are respected. That the promotion of environmentally responsible governmental, commercial, community and individual practices is best attained through the empowerment of local people. That local people have the right and knowledge to control local resources prow-environment policy changes are best worked for though non-violent resistance.

Bassey said: “We have stayed the course because we

view every scene of environmental harm inflicted by the agency of man as a crime scene. Although we sometimes resort to civil actions as a measure of resistance, we note that these are not sufficient to stem environmental crimes.

Ecocide would be an appropriate umbrella law to confront the massive lawlessness that run rampant across Nigeria and many nations of the world.”

The activist recalled how the founders of the group braced all odds to engage in 20 years of momentous changes to defence of environmental rights. “ I am happy that the four persons (Oronto Douglas, Nick Ashton Jones, Godwin Ojo and I) who brought this group to be are still engaged in the defence of Mother Earth in one way or the way. I remember our days of challenging harmful big dams in Northern Nigeria, massive logging in

forests in many of our Southern States. I remember our struggles against oil spills and gas flares. I remember our battles against wholesale destruction of communities by government to pave the way for corporate claws to sink deeper into our lands.

“We have fought steadily against the wasting of our environment and livelihoods by the petroleum sector. The world’s addiction to carbonhigh life has elevated dirty oil companies to the level of the gods. Easy oil has now given way to tough oil. The scraping of the bottom of the barrel has thrown up dangerous extractive methods and spewing ever more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and sentencing the world to climate catastrophe.

“And while global leaders would not commit to provide funds for adaptation and resilience building, multiples of what is needed is being expended on wars fought for profit at the expense disposable lives – sometimes in the name of exporting democracy.

In the era of peak oil it appears we have passed over peak democracy without attaining democracy in the first place.”

CCDI, UNDP to generate energy from waste The Environment innovators have LectOCAL kick-started a pilot projthat is capable of using a small-scale fabricated biodigester system to convert organic waste into electricity and fertiliser.

The project is being supported by the African Adaptation Programme, which is under the Department of Climate Change of the Federal Ministry of Environment and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and managed by Community Conservation and Development Initiatives (CCDI).

Christened ‘Energy Generation from Waste – A Locally Based Livelihood,

Resource Protection and Adaptation Project,’ the scheme has been completed in a local community in Lekki Local Council Development Area in Lagos State and aimed at establishing a locally based integrated waste management strategy to reduce waste, generate energy and improve livelihoods.

The project is presently in its second stage, which is the operation, training and testing for optimisation activities period. The technical partners, Midori Solutions, will use fish guts, water hyacinth and other organic waste in the community, to convert to biogas. The biogas will fuel a 10KVA generator, which can be used for a range of differ-

ent options from providing street lighting to powering an energy kiosk for batteries.

CCDI Director, Programmes, Kofo Adeleke said: “a fundamental aspect of sustainable development in developing countries is the establishment of affordable and effective waste management practices, where significant benefits for adaptation, mitigation and improved livelihoods can be gained. In addition to providing greenhouse gas reductions, these practices also offer public health and environmental benefits; effective waste management strategies can improve the quality of life, promote public health, prevent air, water and soil con-

tamination.

“CCDI has been raising awareness and building capacity for local climate change action with Lekki LCDA, which is located in the south eastern part of Lagos and is a rural area made up of low-income communities around the Lagos lagoon and Atlantic coast, mainly engaged in farming and fishing,” she said. Other benefits of this project include skills acquisition for locals who will be trained to operate the bio digester; provision of income generating opportunities; awareness of the sustainable use of natural resources in waste management practices and enhanced adaptive capacity to cope with a changing climate.

49

et while they drove for economic growth.

Global warming brought an increased risk of floods, droughts and heatwaves which in turn threatened food production and economic development.

The scientists said the existing U.N. guidelines for sustainable development, or economic growth that does not harm the environment, needed more stress on environmental protection because of damage from a rising global population.

“The protection of Earth’s life support system and poverty reduction must be the twin priorities,” the authors wrote.

They called for total greenhouse gas emissions to peak by 2020, followed by cuts of 3 to 5 percent a year by 2030. That would mark a radical break with current trends since world emissions are rising by about 3 percent a year with no sign of a slowdown.

“If you look back 100 years you could bring down poverty in Europe by exploiting natural resources like coal. The world seemed infinite,” David Griggs, a professor at Monash University in Australia and lead author of the study, told Reuters.

UN Secretary-General urges greater protection for world’s forests Conservation OVERNMENTS, businesses G and civil society must commit to protect forests by reducing deforestation, preventing environmental degradation, and providing sustainable livelihoods for all of those who depend on this precious ecosystem, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.

“Forests are vital for our wellbeing. They cover nearly a third of the globe and provide an invaluable variety of social, economic and environmental benefits,” Mr. Ban said in a message marking the first International Day of Forests.

Forests are the most biologically diverse ecosystems on land, home to more than half of the terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects.

Around 1.6 billion people including more than 2,000 indigenous cultures - depend on forests for their livelihood.

Mr. Ban highlighted the many functions that forests have in the environment and their benefits to humans. For example, they are the source of three-fourths of freshwater, stabilize slopes and prevent landslides, and protect coastal communities against tsunamis and storms. In addi-

tion, more than three million people use forest wood for fuel.

Forests also help combat climate change as they store more carbon than is in the atmosphere.

However, Mr. Ban noted that there are several threats to this ecosystem as urbanization and large-scale agriculture can exacerbate the rate of forest and biodiversity loss.

Some 13 million hectares of forest are destroyed annually, and deforestation accounts for 12 to 20 per cent of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.

“As weather patterns change due to climate change, many forested areas are increasingly vulnerable. This underlines the urgency of a global, inclusive, legally binding climate change agreement that will address greenhouse gas emissions and encourage the protection and sustainable management of forests,” Mr. Ban said.

“We need now to intensify efforts to protect forests, including by incorporating them into the post-2015 development agenda and the sustainable development goals,” he added.

‘Earth Hour’ spurs wider action for green activism CONTINUED FROM PAGE 48 Tokyo Tower, campaigners are intertwining Earth Hour with remembrance of the March 2011 mega-quake and tsunami, which unleashed a nuclear disaster at Fukushima.

In Russia, activists last year harnessed the success of Earth Hour to secure 100,000 signatures for a petition for a law to protect sea areas around oil exploration sites, says WWF. Uganda created the first “Earth Hour forest” of 2,700 hectares (10.4 square miles) of

cleared land, which greens plan to fill with half a million trees.

Campaigners in Argentina are hoping that this year’s event will provide traction to protect a 3.4-millionhectare (13,100-square mile) marine zone.

As it grows in visibility, Earth Hour is also becoming a target, with critics saying it is little more than token, encourages smugness about combating climate change and ignores the needs of development”

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Weekly Lead Equity Ratings

COMPANY’S RESULT

CONTINUE FROM PAGE 30

STOCKWATCH 51

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52 STOCKWATCH

What is margin trading?

INTRODUCTION MAGINE this: you're sitting at the blackjack table and the dealer throws you an ace.

You'd love to increase your bet, but you're a little short on cash. Luckily, your friend offers to spot you N50 and says you can pay him back later. Tempting, isn't it? If the cards are dealt right, you can win big and pay your friend back his N50 with profits to spare. But what if you lose? Not only will you be down your original bet, but you'll still owe your friend N50. Borrowing money at the casino is like gambling on steroids: the stakes are high and your potential for profit is dramatically increased. Conversely, your risk is also increased.

Investing on margin isn't necessarily gambling. But you can draw some parallels between margin trading and the casino.

Margin is a high-risk strategy that can yield a huge profit if executed correctly. The dark side of margin is that you can lose your shirt and any other assets you're wearing. One of the only things riskier than investing on margin is investing on margin without understanding what you're doing. This article will teach an investor what he needs to know.

THE BASICS Buying on margin is borrowing money from a broker to purchase stock. You can think of it as a loan from your brokerage. Margin trading allows you to buy more stock than you'd be able to normally. To trade on margin, you need a margin account. This is different from a regular cash account, in which you trade using the money in the account. By law, your broker is required to obtain your signature to open a margin account. The margin account may be part of your standard account opening agreement or may be a completely separate agreement.

An initial investment is required for a margin account, though it varies from broker to broker. This deposit is known as the minimum margin. Once the account is opened and operational, you can borrow up to 50% of the purchase price of a stock. This portion of the purchase price that you deposit is known as the initial margin. It's essential to know that you don't have to margin all the way up to 50%. You can borrow less, say 10% or 25%. Be aware that some brokerages require you to deposit more than 50% of the purchase price.

You can keep your loan as long as you want, provided you fulfill your obligations. First, when you sell the stock in a margin account, the proceeds go to your broker against the repayment of the loan until it is fully paid. Second, there is also a restriction called the maintenance margin, which is the minimum account balance you must maintain before your broker will force you to deposit more funds or sell stock to pay down your loan. When this happens, it's known as a margin call. We'll talk about this in detail in the next section.

Borrowing money isn't without its costs. Regrettably, marginable securities in the account are collateral. You'll also have to pay the interest on your loan. The interest charges are applied to your account unless you decide to make payments. Over time, your debt level increases as interest charges accrue against you. As debt increases, the interest charges increase, and so on.

Therefore, buying on margin is mainly used for shortterm investments. The longer you hold an investment, the greater the return that is needed to break even. If you hold an investment on margin for a long period of time, the odds that you will make a profit are stacked against you.

Not all stocks qualify to be bought on margin. As a rule of thumb, brokers will not allow customers to purchase penny stocks, over-the-counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB) securities or initial public offerings (IPOs) on margin because of the day-to-day risks involved with these types of stocks. Individual brokerages can also decide not to margin certain stocks, so check with them to see what restrictions exist on your margin account.

A BUYING POWER EXAMPLE Let's say that you deposit N10,000 in your margin account.

Because you put up 50% of the purchase price, this means you have N20, 000 worth of buying power. Then, if you buy N5,000 worth of stock, you still have N15,000 in buying power remaining. You have enough cash to cover this transaction and haven't tapped into your margin. You start borrowing the money only when you buy securities worth more than N10,000. This brings us to an important point: the buying power of a margin account changes daily depending on the price movement of the marginable securities in the account. Later in the tutorial, we'll go over what happens when securities rise or fall.

THE DREADED MARGIN CALL

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In the previous section, we discussed the two restrictions imposed on the amount you can borrow. First, the initial margin, which is the initial amount you can borrow.

Second, the maintenance margin, which is the amount you need to maintain after you trade. These amounts are set by the Federal Reserve Board, as well as your brokerage.

Individual brokerages can have stricter limits, but the Federal Reserve Board sets a minimum initial margin of 50% and a maintenance margin of at least 25%.

Our focus in this section is the maintenance margin. In volatile markets, prices can fall very quickly. If the equity (value of securities minus what you owe the brokerage) in your account falls below the maintenance margin, the brokerage will issue a "margin call". A margin call forces the investor to either liquidate his/her position in the stock or add more cash to the account.

Here's how it works. Let's say you purchase N20,000 worth of securities by borrowing N10,000 from your brokerage and paying N10,000 yourself. If the market value of the securities drops to N15,000, the equity in your account falls to N5,000 (N15,000 - N10,000 = N5,000). Assuming a maintenance requirement of 25%, you must have N3,750 in equity in your account (25% of N15,000 = N3,750). Thus, you're fine in this situation as the N5,000 worth of equity in your account is greater than the maintenance margin of N3,750. But let's assume the maintenance requirement of your brokerage is 40% instead of 25%. In this case, your equity of N5,000 is less than the maintenance margin of N6,000 (40% of N15,000 = N6,000). As a result, the brokerage may issue you a margin call.

If for any reason you do not meet a margin call, the brokerage has the right to sell your securities to increase your account equity until you are above the maintenance margin. Even scarier is the fact that your broker may not be required to consult you before selling! Under most margin agreements, a firm can sell your securities without waiting for you to meet the margin call. You can't even control which stock is sold to cover the margin call.

Because of this, it is imperative that you read your brokerage's margin agreement very carefully before investing.

This agreement explains the terms and conditions of the margin account, including: how interest is calculated, your responsibilities for repaying the loan and how the securities you purchase serve as collateral for the loan.

THE ADVANTAGES Why use margin? It's all about leverage. Just as companies borrow money to invest in projects, investors can borrow money and leverage the cash they invest. Leverage amplifies every point that a stock goes up. If you pick the right investment, margin can dramatically increase your profit.

A 50% initial margin allows you to buy up to twice as much stock as you could with just the cash in your account. It's easy to see how you could make significantly more money by using a margin account than by trading from a pure cash position. What really matters is whether your stock rises or not. The investing world will always debate whether it's possible to consistently pick winning stocks.

We won't weigh in on that debate here, but simply say that margin does offer the opportunity to amplify your returns.

The best way to demonstrate the power of leverage is with an example. Let's imagine a situation that we'd all love to

be in - one that results in hugely exaggerated profits: We'll keep with the numbers of N20,000 worth of securities bought using N10,000 of margin and N10,000 of cash. Cory's Tequila Co. is trading at N100 and you feel that it will rise dramatically. Normally, you'd only be able to buy 100 shares (100 x N100 = N10,000).

Since you're investing on margin, you have the ability to buy 200 shares (200 x N100 = N20,000).

Cory's Tequila Co. then locks in Jennifer Lopez as a spokeswoman and the price of shares skyrockets 25%. Your investment is now worth N25,000 (200 shares x N125) and you decide to cash out. After paying back your broker the N10,000 you originally borrowed, you get N15,000, N5,000 of which is profit. That's a 50% return even though the stock only went up 25%. Keep in mind that to simplify this transaction, we didn't take into account commissions and interest. Otherwise, these costs would be deducted from you profit.

THE RISKS It should be clear by now that margin accounts are risky and not for all investors.

Leverage is a double-edged sword, amplifying losses and gains to the same degree. In fact, one of the definitions of risk is the degree that an asset swings in price. Because leverage amplifies these swings then, by definition, it increases the risk of your portfolio.

Returning to our example of exaggerated profits, say that instead of rocketing up 25%, our shares fell 25%. Now your investment would be worth N15,000 (200 shares x N75).

You sell the stock, pay back your broker the N10,000, and end up with N5,000. That's a 50% loss, plus commissions and interest, which otherwise would have been a loss of only 25%.

Think a 50% loss is bad? It can get much worse. Buying on margin is the only stock-based investment where you stand to lose more money than you invested. A dive of 50% or more will cause you to lose more than 100%, with interest and commissions on top of that.

In a cash account, there is always a chance that the stock will rebound. If the fundamentals of a company don't change, you may want to hold on for the recovery. And, if it's any consolation, your losses are paper losses until you sell. But as you'll recall, in a margin account your broker can sell off your securities if the stock price dives. This means that your losses are locked in and you won't be able to participate in any future rebounds that may take place.

If you are new to investing, we strongly recommend that you stay away from margin. Even if you feel ready for margin trading, remember that you don't have to borrow the whole 50%. Whatever you do, only invest in margin with your risk capital - that is, money you can afford to lose.

CONCLUSION Here's the bottom line on margin trading: You are more likely to lose lots of money (or make lots of money) when you invest on margin.

Now let's recap other key points Buying on margin is borrowing money from a broker to purchase stock.

• Margin increases your buying power.

• An initial investment is required (minimum margin).

• You can borrow up to 50% of the purchase price of a stock (initial margin).

• You are required to keep a minimum amount of equity in your margin account that can range from 25% - 40% (maintenance margin).

• Marginable securities act as collateral for the loan.

• Like any loan, you have to pay interest on the amount you borrow.

• Not all stocks qualify to be bought on margin.

• You must read the margin agreement and understand its implications.

• If the equity in your account falls below the maintenance margin, the brokerage will issue a margin call.

• Margin calls can result in you having to liquidate stocks or add more cash to the account.

• Brokers may be able to sell your securities without consulting you.

• Margin means leverage.

• The advantage of margin is that if you pick right, you win big.

• The downside of margin is that you can lose more money than you originally invested.

• Buying on margin is definitely not for everybody.

• Margin trading is extremely risky.

We must emphasize that this article provides a basic foundation for understanding margin. It is meant to serve as an educational guide, not as advice to trade on margin.

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BusinessInterview Careful budget planning critical to

Muoyo

Mrs. Oluwande Muoyo, a chartered accountant, is the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Ogun State. In this interview with Business Editor, ADE OGIDAN, she links well scripted budget planning and execution to the achievement of desired economic growth and development, among others. Excerpts.

The problem of recurrent expenditure overshadowing capital spending plan has been a developmental issue over the years. What’s the situation in Ogun State?

Really, this is still something we are contending with in Ogun State. In the 2013 Budget we have attempted to lay more emphasis on project-based budgeting rather than line budgeting particularly in pursuit of our vision to rebuild Ogun State. We realize that in order to accomplish the enormous task of rebuilding the State, the Budget must lean more in favour of capital expenditure than recurrent. This is why in the 2012 Budget (the first full Budget of this Administration), the Capital Expenditure allocation increased by about 127 per cent over the 2011 capital allocation, giving a 55:45 split in favour of Capital expenditure. Also in the 2013 budget, the capital expenditure has been put at 55 per cent of the total budget size of N211.79 billion. The critical factor necessary for achieving greater capital budget split is our ability and the commitment of all stakeholders to grow the revenue base of the State.

How would you assess the budget performance last year, against the background of identified legacy challenges?

As I said earlier, the 2012 budget was the first Appropriation Law to be fully conceived and implemented by the current

Administration. Based on our management accounts (unaudited), our 2012 overall budget performance was 63 per cent. We consider this to be great progress considering that the 2012 Budget size was 61 percent higher than the 2011 Budget. Through several initiatives embarked upon by this Administration, the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) hit an unprecedented level of N3 billion in December 2012 from the average of N700 million recorded in the past. Even though sales of land accounted for about one third of this figure, the IGR from recurrent sources like taxes and levies, among others, had stabilized at over N2 billion monthly in 2012.

Indeed, total IGR for the year was N21.08 billion, which was lower than our projection, due to some factors that were mainly extraneous. In 2013 we are vigorously

pursuing all revenue sources.

Which factors constrained the state’s efforts to raise further the profile of IGR? After the passage of the 2012 budget, the Federal Government increased the personal allowances available to tax payers, thereby significantly reducing our tax revenue for the year. For instance, the IGR dropped from N2.3 billion achieved in April 2012 to just over N1 billion in June, due to the amendment in the Personal Income Tax Act. Losing such a significant percentage of monthly revenue had a huge negative impact. Also, the revenue of N70.80 billion expected from the Federation Account was not fully realised. The actual receipt from Abuja for the year was just N45.79 billion.

Again, the Bureau of Lands and Survey, which normally accounts for a sizeable part of our IGR, fell short of its revenue

Initiatives are also being undertaken to seek new revenue sources so that ultimately, there will be less reliance on funds from the Federation Account and other external sources. In this line, it is envisaged that with the implementation of the recommendations from the White Paper on the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Land Allocation and Acquisition, as well as the completion of our Land Information System and Geographical Information System project, the state’s IGR will receive a remarkable boost

targets, as the reform in that sector took longer than planned. It will be recalled that a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Land Allocation and Acquisition, covering the period from 2003 to 2011 went into operation and for the greater part of that year, limited transactions in lands were undertaken.

How are you addressing the challenges being faced in further raising the IGR profile?

As you know, ability to spend is a function of funds generated. Efforts to significantly improve our IGR are continuous.

Since the need to meet our expenditure plan from local resources are germane to faithful budget implementation, several strategies are being worked upon, some of which include an expansion of the tax net and mobilisation of efforts to achieve its actualization. Essentially, all efforts are geared towards looking inwards through aggressive collection of all revenues due to the State.

Initiatives are also being undertaken to seek new revenue sources so that ultimately, there will be less reliance on funds from the Federation Account and other external sources. In this line, it is envisaged that with the implementation of the recommendations from the White Paper on the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Land Allocation and

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socio-economic development, says Muoyo The budget size determines the number of developmental projects that can be undertaken for the period under consideration.

However, if the components of the budget do not reflect the needs and priorities of stakeholders, the size may not impact directly on the people.

Acquisition, as well as the completion of our Land Information System and Geographical Information System project, the state’s IGR will receive a remarkable boost.

What are the major plans of the state’s 2013 budget?

As contained in the Governor’s 2013 Budget speech, the long-term objective of the Budget is to rebuild Ogun State, through budgetary provisions that are based on sustainable growth. Essentially, under the administration’s five cardinal programmes, the budget focuses on the provision of affordable quality education; efficient health care delivery; agriculture production/ industrialisation; affordable housing and urban renewal and infrastructural development/ employment generation.

For the Education sector, a budget of N44.28 billion has been slated to complete the construction of the 15 model schools that we started constructing in 2012and the construction of 13 others; renovation of 200 Secondary Schools/Technical Colleges across the state; provision of equipment for seven Government Science, Technical Colleges and some Secondary Schools; rehabilitation of 224 primary schools and 764 junior secondary schools; provision of textbooks for students and teachers; and scholarship/ bursary awards to students in tertiary institutions.

For rural and infrastructural development/ employment generation, N40.42 billion has been slated for continued construction of major road projects State-wide; maintenance of existing intra-city road network; construction of rural roads; provision of heavy duty equipment; construction of fire stations; establishment of asphalt plant and material testing laboratory.

On our affordable housing and urban renewal programmes, N3.34 billion will be spent on environmental and ecological issues, N553 million on community development; N890 million for electrification, N8.75 billion on housing development/ urban renewal. N1.05 billion on land administration, N7.78 billion on water supply and sanitation; while N5.8 billion will be expended on special projects.

What about in the areas of health care, agriculture and industrialisation?

Yes, in the current budget, N14.75 billion has been allocated for various projects geared towards the achievement of efficient health care delivery. The projects include construction of new model medium-sized hospitals in each of the federal constituencies; building of three specialist hospitals in the three Senatorial districts, refurbishment of 100 Primary Health Care Centres, upgrading of the Central Medical Store, procurement of new equipment for hospitals, upgrading of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, health insurance scheme, construction of new nursing schools and construction of additional ambulance points.

In respect of our agricultural production, N8.55 billion has been budgeted for development of model farm estates in each of the three Senatorial districts, development of plantations; cultivation of about 1, 000 hectares of agricultural

land for crop production under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, reintroduction of an effective farm programme in secondary schools, creation of poultry multiplication centres/ enhancement of livestock projects, pursuit of aggressive afforestation programme, rehabilitation of government-owned timber company and purchase of processing machines to upgrade existing small processing plants.

On the Commerce and Industry front, N2.14 billion has been set aside for construction of new industrial parks and completion of existing ones, production of mineral maps in the state; renovation of markets, establishment of raw material display centre and provision of agricultural/non-agricultural loans.

What implementation strategy have you scripted for the 2013 Budget?

First of all, a system of role sharing has been evolved to ensure effective contributions of all stakeholders in the budget implementation process. This initiative has gone beyond the officials in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to include relevant private sector operators.

A robust Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement is now in place to actualise effective pooling together of all resources needed to achieve meaningful implementation of the budget. The issue of Implementation inertia has been effectively addressed and we have put in place, a prudent economic framework to achieve improved expenditure management.

Essentially, we have adopted a system that would actualise the stimulation of broad-based growth, based on an agenda that focuses on the strengthening of our public institutions, while creating linkages with relevant partners.

In addition, the administration has evolved a reach-out programme to ensure regular payment of taxes, which fortunately has assumed a more voluntary disposition on the part of tax payers, through their positive assessment of projects that our Administration is executing across the state. The administration has put in place a reliable information management system for planning and protection of lives and property and with the effective monitoring of ongoing and existing projects, we have secured the co-operation of the people in ensuring the protection of public infrastructure. Most importantly, the regime of greater transparency and accountability now enthroned in the state has further secured the confidence of the people in the government.

On a national level, to what extent do you think the budget sizes have impacted on the level of development in state?

The budget size determines the number of developmental projects that can be undertaken for the period under consideration. However, if the components of the budget do not reflect the needs and priorities of stakeholders, the size may not impact directly on the people.

Therefore, the budget size will only impact on the level of development to the extent that it reflects the need and priorities of the people at all levels. In preparing the Budget, we always ensure that we consult with the general populace and reflect their inputs in the final Budget proposals.

The administration has evolved a reach-out programme to ensure regular payment of taxes, which fortunately has assumed a more voluntary disposition on the part of tax payers, through their positive assessment of projects that our Administration is executing across the state.

A robust Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement is now in place to actualise effective pooling together of all resources needed to achieve meaningful implementation of the budget.

The budget size will only impact on the level of development to the extent that it reflects the need and priorities of the people at all levels.

A system of role sharing has been evolved to ensure effective contributions of all stakeholders in the budget implementation process.

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TaxWatch IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Conscience Nurtured by Truth

TheGuardian

The International Tax System is in Need of an Overhaul

‘

By Taiwo Oyedele

…….. for most of human history, the world has run on a goods economy. Tax systems evolved to administer the exchange of physical products, be they bales of wheat, candy bars or cars. …. Today, the global economy is driven by such things as brand, intellectual property, technology and the exchange of information.

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ONCERN that global corporations are avoiding paying their “fair share” of taxes has recently gained considerable attention from governments, multinational organisations and the press. Some of the tax avoidance discussion is based on misunderstanding and misconception in many cases no thanks to the complexities of the tax laws. But the real issue at hand is that the international tax system is out of date and in urgent need of overhaul.

To better understand why I say this, it is helpful to understand that for most of human history, the world has run on a goods economy. Tax systems evolved to administer the exchange of physical products, be they bales of

C

wheat, candy bars or cars.

Value creation was tied to geographic location: products were generally designed, manufactured in and shipped from one place – cars, for example, largely came from Detroit, Germany, or Japan. Differences in tax regimes were relatively few, easy to understand and generally were comprised of choices about legal structure and location of the business.

Today, the global economy is driven by such things as brand, intellectual property and the exchange of information.

Businesses operate by product line, often on at least a regional basis and more often globally. Tax codes force decisions to be made about where to record something inherently global and largely intangible: I can download an app in London that was developed in New Delhi and distributed by a company from the Silicon Valley. Where is the value created, and how should it be recorded?

As tax codes have evolved over the years, governments have acted with the best of intention, but have made things more complicated. They have formulated their tax codes to achieve objectives they set,

‘

As tax codes have evolved over the years, governments have acted with the best of intention, but have made things more complicated.

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factoring in various national priorities, such as competing to attract investment and create jobs.

Corporate tax laws are an important tool in this process. Because taxes are a cost of doing business, governments have enacted laws intended to attract investment and jobs by minimising the tax cost. And corporations have availed themselves of the incentives governments have provided. To obtain the behaviours they are targeting, governments should also provide certainty about both the protection they afford if companies comply and the consequences if they do not. As was found in PwC's most recent CEO Survey, the lack of certainty -- whether regarding taxes or otherwise -- is something that hurts business confidence and impedes economic activity.

‘

national and international law, properly disclosed and supported by actual facts and circumstances. As a result, professional firms routinely and regularly advise against certain kinds of tax planning arrangements.

Nevertheless, the best of intentions may not have mixed well with, outdated national tax systems. An overhaul is necessary, but where do we start?

As a matter of fact a viable answer cannot be found in systems that date from the mid-20th century: the spine of how the US taxes international transactions was created in 1962, during the Kennedy Administration. In the UK, key elements date from 1965. This situation is also the same in Nigeria and many African countries. The core of the OECD's model for international taxation dates

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These are not simple matters, but we do not live in simple times and doing nothing is no longer an option.

’

..... we must move the discussion from a critique of individual corporate decisions and consider whether our tax systems stand ready to reflect our modern needs and priorities.

I also believe that the vast majority of companies have been genuine in their efforts to comply with existing laws. Professional firms also play a role: most global networks operate under sets of professional standards and network codes of conduct that govern what the various firms do and for whom they act.

Advice is thus grounded in

from the 1970's. If tax codes are to adequately reflect national priorities and values, they also need to reflect modern reality.

There is no easy way to resolve the issues now faced by governments. It is not reasonable to believe that any one country can deal with this issue on a single country basis: the issues are simply too complicated and one off actions will simply risk multiple claims to taxation of single streams of income and general impediments to global investment and trade flows. Governmental cooperation and coordination are essential to get to a sensible result that does not discourage growth and cross border trade and investment.

About PwC PwC firms help organisations and individuals create the value they're looking for. We're a network of firms in 158 countries with close to 169,000 people who are committed to delivering quality in assurance, tax and advisory services. Tell us what matters to you and find out more by visiting us at www.pwc.com/ng

Recent meetings of the G20 and comments regarding the upcoming G8 meeting have focused on the need to address the taxation of international commerce.

The OECD has recently issued a paper on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS), as a follow on to a request by the G20. This BEPS report does not propose a particular answer to the issues at hand. It does present a framework for consideration of changes and, importantly, it proposes to include in the discussion not only traditional OECD member

countries, but a far wider group of interested countries, including those in the development stage.

A comprehensive set of changes in laws and tax treaties is needed to create a balanced and modernised tax system that has the capability of working for the next few decades. It will take some time to get it right, including inputs from business. Weighing the costs of delay against the long term benefits, it is clear that with concerted and deliberate focus by governments, working together, a durable result is possible in the near term.

These are not simple matters, but we do not live in simple times and doing nothing is no longer an option. As the current economic climate forces a discussion about what we want our future to be, and as governments and citizens alike begin to consider their priorities for the next years and decades, we must move the discussion from a critique of individual corporate decisions and consider whether our tax systems stand ready to reflect our modern needs and priorities. And we need to get started – now.

Taiwo Oyedele is a Partner and Head of Tax and Corporate Advisory at PwC Nigeria. He is a regular writer and public speaker on accounting and tax matters.

Blog with Taiwo for indepth analyses, unique insight and superlative perspective on tax matters: www.pwc.com/nigeriataxblog. Subscription is free!

The GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

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Oil & GasWeekly Remi Aiyela, Editor-in-Chief

editor@NOGintelligence.com www.NOGintelligence.com

UPSTREAM NEWS

Indigenous Participation in Upstream Sector On Track T the recent2013 Annual Oloibiri Lecture Series and energy Forum organised by the Society of Petroleum engineers (SPe) in Lagos, stakeholders had the rare opportunity of appraising the level of participation by indigenous companies in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry. The discussion session had representatives of the indigenous companies and the government in attendance, speaking on the topic: Indigenous Participation in Nigeria Petroleum Industry: Are We On Track?

After reeling out accounts of how far the local content initiative has gone particularly in the upstream sector of the industry, the general submission by the speakers was that although indigenous participation was growing, there were still obstacles militating against full growth of the initiative.

TheManagingDirector/ChiefexecutiveOfficer,Weltek Nigeria Limited, Pedro egbe, said he is proud to say with a sense of conviction that the local content initiative is working particularly in the upstream sector of the industry although amidst some real challenges. he said: “I believe the local content initiative or indigenization policy is working in the petroleum industry because indigenous companies have been doing welldespitethechallengesfaced.Throughourumbrella body, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PeTAN), which was created in 1990, much progress has been made by these companies in meeting the challenging demand requirements of the industry. PeTAN has been in the forefront of fighting for its members for local content implementation.”

“One of the indigenous players, Walter Smith I know has been doing well playing on the big stage just as other indigenous companies are equally trying to do same to catch up with the big players,” he said.

But despite these notches by indigenous companies, egbe says the road to the destination point is still long for indigenous participation as there are many issues begging for attention.One of them, he said is the issue of technology which is a major source of concern for indigenous participation.

“Though a lot of people talk about technology, but it is known that going to school of technology or engineering to get knowledge is one thing, the application of the acquired knowledge is another. Before anything we must try to ask ourselves the questions: Who wants the technology and how has the technology been felt in the industry. The industry and companies need the technology. State governments also require this technology to grow their economies,” he said. he said the huge gap in the system therefore requires prompt action to be taken by developing our technology.

Acknowledging the contributions of the IOCs, egbe said they have been making real effortsto comply with the provisions of Nigerian Content Development Act but noted that right now the system has not shown that every strata of government is adequately supported by technology.he added that it is surprising that currently there is no industrial policy by the government.he called on the NNPC and IOCs to come together to design a business model to help deal with this situation. egbe said community development is another area that ought to be looked at if indigenous participation is to improve as it is possible oil communities frequently engage in illegal oil activities because of lack of infrastructure in their domains.

“We need to consider the level of infrastructural development in our oil communities. One of the reasons for illegal activities especially unconventional refining in these areas could be that there is no infrastructure. So, infrastructure must be improved so that the crude oil theft economy can be made unattractive,” he said. he concluded that PeTAN as a body is prepared to contribute its quota in growing indigenous participa-

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tion with the setting up of the Niger Delta energy Corridor (NDeC) through which it is looking at how raw materials required in the industry can be manufactured and processed locally.

Dr Layi Fatona, Managing Director/CeO, Niger Delta exploration and Production said he is of the opinion that indigenous participation has been growing because between 1987-2007 about 53 indigenous companies were awarded licenses to carry out exploration and exploitation activities in the Niger Delta and Anambra basins.Right now, he said Nigerian Petroleum Development Companies (NPDC) and other indigenous companies can boast of about 287, 000 barrels of combined oil production per day, which is a relatively significant production achievement when compared to the situation before now. he added that indigenous participation can also be said to be on track as integrated values are being created by indigenous companies.

“Most indigenous companies are making their marks in the development of gas resources. NDeP is monetizing gas and Frontier energy just commissioned facilities for this purpose too. This is just a way by which we are integrating values in the oil and gas industry,” he said. however, he said because the terrain is changing, indigenous players are not finding things easy.For instance, he said out of the 28 marginal fields licensed in 2003, only eight are yet in production, an indication that the environment is becoming harsher by the day.Apart from this, he said the issue of delay in project approval is a big concern.

“It takes between 3 months to 6 years for approving deals and projects whereas it should have been 6 months from start to finish. This is a major disincentive as investors may be forced to look for greener pastures elsewhere due to this bureaucratic process,” he said.

Community issues, duplication of taxes by both state and local governments according to him are other areas of concern citing the case of Rivers state where his company is faced with multiple taxes from the government. he identified other issues to include the fiscal regime, funding, personnel and human capacity development and technology and the unattractiveness of the marginal assets. he noted that these and other issues have made it impossible for indigenous companies to contribute immensely to growing Nigeria’s reserves, as their contribution to the daily oil production is a dismal 10 per cent. he made the following recommendation as a way forward: that the challenges be assessed and analysed for remedial actions to be taken, that performing indigenous players be encouraged by giving them additionalassetsorfieldsandthatinadditiontoawarding marginal fields, small to medium fields be awarded to indigenous players to boost their capabilities.

With these, he concluded that by 2018, the totality of indigenous participation should be able to do half of

MIDSTREAM NEWS

Waltersmith Plans 5,000 barrels per day Refinery ALTeRSMIThPetroman Oil Ltd, a wholly indigeW nous operator of the Ibigwe marginal field is planning 5,000 barrels per day capacity mini-refinery around the oil field located in the eastern Niger Delta.

The company recently celebrated a successful completion of the first phase of the oil field development, located in the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 16, which was awarded to it in 2003, with a farm-in agreement with the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) signed in April 2004.

The field currently produces 4,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) and expects to inch higher to 7,000 bpd after the ongoing production optimisation phase is concluded.

The company said in a statement that the proposed refinery would provide alternative source of income.

“The refinery will provide an alternative income stream especially in the wake of very frequent disruption in export schedules caused by the vandalisation of pipelines in the Niger Delta”, said the statement.

According to the statement, the mini-refinery will produce diesel, jet fuel, kerosene and naptha.

Waltersmith’s Chairman and Chief executive Officer, Mr.Abdurazaq Isa, said his company had spent over $200,000.00 on the feasibility studies for the minirefinery.

The feasibility was conducted byChemex LLC, the Bakersfield, California, United States-based company, which has already built a mini refinery at Ogbele field in Rivers State for another marginal field operator.

“The reports they submitted indicate that the economics are favourable but we are doing our own due diligence,” Isa added.

First oil from the Ibigwe field was attained in March 2008, after the company had initially put in place an early production facility, which included a 20,000barrel capacity crude storage tank.

In 2009, the company embarked on the first phase of its drilling campaign with the objective of appraising and developing the shallow reservoirs. Following the approval by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the company commenced the second phase of the drilling campaign and the development of the field with the planned work-over of Ibigwe wells 1 and 2 and the drilling of three additional wells.

DOWNSTREAM NEWS OPEC Basket Price Stood At $105.85 On Wednesday he OPeC basket of twelve crudes stood at $105.85 T dollars a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $106.52 the previous day, emulating the previous week’s pattern.

Introduced on 16 June 2005, the new OPeC Reference Basket is currently made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (ecuador), Iranheavy(IslamicRepublicofIran),BasraLight(Iraq), Kuwait export (Kuwait), es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAe) and Merey (Venezuela).

in association with

Anti-Piracy Workshop which will be held in London in May 2013. The workshop is being launched in association with Dryad Maritime, the UK’s largest maritime intelligence provider.

The Gulf of Guinea Anti-Piracy Workshop will focus on providing an in-depth overview of the complex operating environment that vessel owners and operators face when trading in the region and guidance on what can be implemented to mitigate the risk of being targeted.

This announcement comes just a few weeks after the company’s release of Gulf of Guinea: Beyond Intelligence, a specialist report on security and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. The workshop will provide an even deeper insight into the security situation in the Gulf of Guinea and enable attendees to hear from industry experts firsthand.

The Gulf of Guinea Anti-Piracy Workshop is being held onboard the former Royal Navy Battle Cruiser hMS Belfast in London with expected attendance by CSO’s, DPA’s, hSeQ Managers having responsibility for the security and safety of their vessels operating in West Africa as well as likely attendance by leading maritime law firms and marine underwriters.

For more information, email: jbellamy@oxberryrisk.com

REGULATORY AGENCY NEWS

President Jonathan Confirms Plans For Subsidy Withdrawal

T has become clear that the Federal Government is Iafter finalising plans to withdraw the subsidy on petrol reiterating twice within 24 hours that there was

no going back on the new policy.President Jonathan at a recent Nigerian Summit organised in Lagos by The economist said that the Federal Government was planning to fully deregulate the downstream sector.he, however, noted that his administration would hold consultations with relevant stakeholders on how to go about the implementation of the policy.

“We cannot continue to waste resources meant for a greater number of Nigerians to subsidise the affluent middle class, who are the main beneficiaries,” said President Jonathan. he however said the government would first discuss the proposal with Nigerians before carrying out the exercise to prevent a repeat of what happened last year’s mass protests during which the nation ground to a halt for one week.

Barely 24 hours after President Jonathan gave this hint, the Minister of Information, Mr.LabaranMaku, stated that despite the criticism of the policy by some Nigerians, the overwhelming majority were now satisfied that its implementation was crucial to the scaling up of the oil and gas sector so as to curtail corruption and develop the nation.This was alsothe day after a Federal high Court in Abuja declared deregulation illegal.

Maku said the Federal Government was currently losing a lot of money to the payment of subsidy, while Nigerians continue to suffer from lack of infrastructure and paying extra to avail themselves of services from the oil and gas sector.

Maku,who briefed State house correspondents at the end of the Federal executive Council (FeC) meeting presided over by President Jonathan, said the president had to suspend the policy in 2012 because of the many calls that were made on him not to implement the policy.

“Without deregulation there will be no deregulated downstream sector. Currently the government is losing, the people are losing, because we cannot generate jobs. The potential that the oil and gas sector could have unleashed on the country is completely truncated. But the effort is continuous, as the government will not relent on its effort to convince Nigerians so as to reverse the trend of Nigerians suffering as a result of the subsidy on fuel.”

According to the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency’s pricing template, the landing cost of a litre of petrol is currently N131.10, with total distribution margins of N15.49, thus bringing the total cost to N146.59. The government is subsidising the difference between the pump price and the actual costs of petroleum marketers.

The Federal Government had on January 1 2012 deregulated the price of petrol, a decision that hiked the price of petrol from N65 per litre to N140 per litre.

But the organized labour and other civil society coalitions mobilized Nigerians to the street to protest against the policy.The civil action paralysed social and economic activities, shutting down the country’s economy for one week.

The resistance by the generality of the public forced the government to reverse the policy but raised the fuel price from the then prevailing N65 per litre to N97.

HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT NEWS NSCDC Destroys Illegal Refinery In Ondo Oxberry Announces First Gulf of Guinea Anti-Piracy Workshop xBeRRy Risk Strategies, a maritime security comO pany based in London known for innovation and development of advanced maritime security solutions, publications and products, have announced the launch of the first Gulf of Guinea

NEITI Set To Battle Oil Theft, Pipeline Vandalism he Nigeria extractive Industries Transparency T Initiative (NeITI) has stated that it will shift focus to oil theft, oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, in view of the huge revenue lost by the country through these activities in the sector.

The Chairman of the National Stakeholders’ Working Group (NSWG) of NeITI, Mr.LedumMittee unveiled this plan at a recent meeting of the agency with the political and economic counsellors of member countries of the european Union (eU) to review the activities of the agency.

NeITI said in a statement signed by the Director of Communications of NeITI, Mr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji that the absence of reliable baseline information and data on the actual quantity of crude either lost through theft, illegal bunkering or pipeline vandalism had been responsible for the poor response and speculation over facts and figures required to deal with these complex problems.

Mittee was also quoted as saying that full disclosure and public understanding of the quantity of crude oil either lost through vandalisation, bunkering or outright stealing as well as the enormous cost to the economy in financial terms would help draw national and international attention to the urgent need for solutions. he noted that NeITI plans to include in its audit template for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector these variables as a way forward.

“NeITI hopes to include as part of its independent audit a template to capture the quantity of crude stolen, quantity lost through bunkering and others through vandalisation and conspiracy.

“By such an exercise, it will be easier to quantify the loss and provide information publicly to raise the public consciousness,” Mittee said. he also disclosed that NeITI’s target was to transit its activities from merely focusing on transparency through accountability to ensuring measurable impact arising from its operations. This is being done with a view to ensuring that oil and gas revenues translate to good roads, electricity, water, employment opportunities and poverty reduction. head of the Political Section of the eU, Mrs Belen Calvo-Uyarra, said the reason for the decision for NeITI to address the political and economic counsellors’ meeting was for member countries of the eU to seek ways of supporting the efforts of NeITI in enthroning transparency and accountability in the nation’s extractive sector.

New JTF Raid On Oil Communities

heoperatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) have raidT ed communities along the creeks and waterways oftheNigerDelta,arresting33personsincludingthree Ghanaians and a Togolese in an onslaught against illegal bunkering operations in the region.

The soldiers also arrested three vessels christened King I, MV Gift and MV Tiger Fish with the 33 members ofcrew during the multiple raid operations carried out between March 1 and 19, 2013.

In the operation, which took the communities by surprise, the soldiers seized three vessels and destroyed over 143 bunkering camps used by operators to cook stolen crude oil. The men also seized 8 heavy-duty trucks laded with stolen crude, 70 boats and 214 storage tanks filled with stolen crude oil.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

67

Opinion Achebe: The uncrowned Nobel Laureate

By Tola Adeniyi HE motto of Obafemi Awolowo University is ‘For Learning and Culture’. No one academic in Nigeria reflects and personifies that maxim more than Professor Chinua Achebe.

The grandfather of modern English literature in Africa was both a colossus in learning as he was a thorough bred and highly cultivated individual in manners and character.

Chinua Achebe’s transition last week took the world by storm and he was genuinely mourned by all those who appreciated both his writings and character.

His passing on into eternity was a personal loss to this writer.

It was in July 1965 that Uncle Segun Olusola took me to Chinua Achebe somewhere on Broad Street, Lagos to seek his permission for me to adapt his most celebrated classic Things Fall Apart, published in 1958 into a play. I had seen the dramatic elements in the novel and decided to make a drama out of it. Achebe asked me a few questions and satisfied with my answers, approved my proposal to adapt the novel for both stage and television. Ambali Sanni’s Muslim College, Ijebu Ode provided the funds while the students made up the cast. The production was taken round the whole Western region, including Lagos (minus the colony) and was given loud applause by the likes of Derek Bullock and Dapo Adelugba.

That was the beginning of the romance with this giant of letters, who, seven years later hosted me and my wife on our honeymoon to his official residence at the University of Nigeria Nsukka in 1972.

Achebe gave pride to African writing and to

T

Africans. For the first time, he provided a lens into Africa and presented Africa from the African perspective. His writings were African based, but with monumental universal appeal. Hence his maiden novel Things Fall Apart got translated into well over 50 languages and sold over 12 million copies.

Apart from being the greatest writer of prose to emerge from African continent, Achebe wrote for the masses. Achebe spoke so that he could be understood. The beauty of his writings was that he was a most excellent communicator, believing that the over all purpose of any work of art is communication. Your work, be it dance, song, speech, drama, gesture, painting must convey a message, and that message must be comprehended by your listener, your viewer or your audience. Anything short of that is intellectual garbage.

In fact, Achebe could easily pass for a playwright of immense stature. There is so much drama in all of his novels. And this was the reason I started work on The Theatre in Achebe’s Novels. All the characters in his writings are alive and touchable. The trees, the mountains, the rivers and valleys in his novels speak.

Chinua Achebe gave dignity and personality to art. For him, you do not need to grow a bush on your head, or grow rodents in your hair to impress on the world that you are an artist or a writer.

Achebe was a man of character. He taught for many years at Nsukka, and no one ever heard that he drove his female students nuts, nor was he ever accused of befriending or marrying his students.

Achebe taught us what a great mind should be. Achebe never went round state governors with beggar’s bowl soliciting for money or

Achebe gave pride to African writing and to Africans. For the first time, he provided a lens into Africa and presented Africa from the African perspective. His writings were African based, but with monumental universal appeal. Hence his maiden novel Things Fall Apart got translated into well over 50 languages and sold over 12 million copies. gratification nor was he ever accused of sleeping with his friends’ widows.

Twice Achebe was offered national honours.

Twice he rejected them, arguing that he was not one that would pose as holy in the day time and be in cosy alliance in the night with people he accuses in the day time.

The millions who have continued to mourn Achebe since his transition, do so in deep sorrow and in sincerity, having discovered in the literary colossus a most genuine and sincere human being.

Achebe identified with his Igbo nation. He shared the pains and sufferings of his people.

And never for once did he treat them with condescension that he was in any way superior to his clan.

Achebe was mature. He showed maturity in all his dealings. He did not exhibit childishness. He was never petty or small-minded. All those who had anything to do with him ended up respecting him, because he commanded respect. Even when he was in his 30s he displayed unusual maturity and mastery of human relations. As far as Achebe was concerned, a writer or any artist for that matter was first and foremost a human person with deep human feelings and ethos.

Chinua Achebe eminently qualified for a Nobel Prize before that hitherto prestigious prize

got politicised and became not a reward for distinction but a reward for those who had mastered the art and science of boardroom politics or global arm-twisting.

Although Achebe mentioned lizard in almost all his works, the honourable man of letters never learnt the art of lizarding.

Prose writer Chinua Achebe shared the distinction of being the best in their arts with John Pepper Clark and Christopher Okigbo who up till today are the best writers of poetry, with Professor Ola Rotimi, the best in playwriting and play production, with Ene Henshaw, Wale Ogunyemi and Professor Femi Osofisan as playwrights with greatest relevance and profundity. This explains why to me, Achebe remains the uncrowned Nobel Prize winner with most authentic claim to that crown.

The Federal Government of Nigeria must immediately commence the process of creating a national monument to immortalise this rare genius of both learning and character.

Chinua Achebe was not just a writer; he was a distinguished writer with the best and noblest of human virtues. A non-hypocrite. A non-bully. Achebe was both a great ambassador of Africa, and a true and respectable specimen of the finest humanity.

• Adeniyi wrote from Lagos.

FOIA as a catalyst for good governance (1)

By Olusola Akinbode REEDOM of information is a fundamental human right esFmunity tablished under international law to make the global comhave more access to information held by government officials and institutions. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights (UDHR) guarantees freedom of expression.

And this encompasses the right to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.

Within the human society, either between private parties or between government and the governed; nothing magnifies the loyalty effect like the trust engendered by open, honest and direct exchange of information and ideas. According to the Declaration of principles on freedom of expression in Africa “Public bodies hold information not for themselves but as custodian of the public good and everyone has a right to access this information, subject only to clearly defined rules established by law” (Article Iv(1) of the Declaration of principles of freedom of Expression in Africa).

The right to information also takes into cognizance the fact that some information still need to be kept secret and therefore imposes some limitations. These types of information are: information about the private lives of people, sensitive commercial information, and national security information etc.

The use of law to enhance the realization of human rights in modern times has been of paramount significance. Legislation is more precise and detailed in definition, content and scope of the issues to be addressed, than what an open textured constitutional norm could do. Moreover, courts tend to be more receptive to the enforcement of concrete legislative rights and duties than broadly framed constitutional or international (human rights) law norm.

The over a decade struggle to get the Freedom of Information Act became a reality when it was signed into law on May 28, 2011, by President Goodluck Jonathan. It also came into force on that day. In the preamble, the objectives and purpose of the Act is stated as follows: • To provide for public access to public records and information.

• To provide public records and information to the extent con-

The result of the first detailed assessment of FOIA laws around the world came out in 2011. It was conducted by Access info Europe (Spain) and Centre for Law and Democracy (Canada). At the time, 89 national FOIL laws were in existence. The two international organisations developed an assessment based on legislation rating.

sistent with the public interest and the protection of personal privacy.

• To protect serving public officers from adverse consequences for disclosing certain kinds of official information without authorization.

• To establish procedures for the achievements of these purposes and for other related matters.

The Freedom of Information Act set out procedures for making request, coupled with how institutions should deal with request for information. It gives access to information to every person. Section 1 (1) states that “Notwithstanding anything contained in any other Act, law or regulation, the right of any person to access or request for information, whether or not contained in any written form, which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution howsoever described, is established”. The following sub section made another important provision, which is that a requester or an applicant under the Act needs not demonstrate any specific interest in the information being applied for. Freedom of Information Act contains other information, like obligations of public institutions to maintain records and what constitute a public institution. Information and materials excluded from the scope of application of the Act and modes of accessing information under the Act. Across the world, freedom of information laws places an obligation on public institutions, to carry out auto- publication of different types of information that are of public importance. This practice is known as proactive disclosure. The proactive publication is also subject to be reviewed and updated periodically (Section2 (3),(4)&(5).

The FOIA in section 2(7) defines public institutions, and also gave a second definition under the interpretation section (31) of the Act. It states that “Public Institution” means any legislative, executive, judicial, administrative or advocacy body of the Government including boards, bureau committees or commissions of the state, and any subsidiary body of those bodies, including but not limited to committees and sub-committees, which are supported in whole or in part by public funds or which expend public funds and private bodies providing public services, performing public functions or utilizing public funds.

The Act further made provision for types of information covered by the Act, and information exempted from General access under the Act. Although the Act is founded on the principle of maximum disclosure, it however exempts some categories of information from the General right of access, which the law grants to the public. For example, Section 16 states “that information that is subject to the following privileges: Legal practitioner – client privilege; Health workers – client privilege; Journalism confidentiality privileges; and Any other professional privileges conferred by an Act.” This exemption does not contain any public interest override.

It is however important to note that the exemptions are not absolute. Where an overriding public interest is involved or can be established, even exempted information may be disclosed.

Information, which may be injurious to the conduct of international affairs or the defence of Nigeria is exempted and information, which may jeopardize law enforcement activities or investigations of the right to a fair trial.

Other section of the law deals with: Timeframe for responses to request of information, fees and cost of access judicial review, offences and sanctions and the role of the Attorney-General of the Federation, who has broad oversight responsibility over all public institutions under the Act. The result of the first detailed assessment of FOIA laws around the world came out in 2011. It was conducted by Access info Europe (Spain) and Centre for Law and Democracy (Canada). At the time, 89 national FOIL laws were in existence. The two international organisations developed an assessment based on legislation rating.

The tool seeks to assess how well each country’s legal framework gives effect to the right of access. The methodology are as follows: (1) Right to Access-6, (2) Scope – 30, (3) Requesting procedure – 30, (4) Exceptions and refusal – 30, (5) Appeals 30, (6) sanctions and protection 8, (7) promotional measures – 16. The Nigerian law was rated No.35 out of the 89 FOI laws around the world that were assessed. In Africa, the Liberia’s FOI Act with 126 points was rated No. 5 in the world. Ethiopia’s law with 114 points was rated No. 10, while South Africa’s law with 112 point was rated No. 12.

Government is the agency or machinery through which the will of people in a defined territory is formulated, expressed and realized. The responsible use of that power is good governance.

But there is a general deterioration in the quality of services available to poor people in a developing country like ours. As often said, information is the source of development, and when information in the form of public records are more freely available, the citizenry can then put government on their toes for more accountable governance. It also ensures that members of the public have the information they need to participate in policy and decision making.

In Nigeria, the greatest threat to service delivery, which can lead to good governance, is corruption. This is the subversion of public interests and the common good for the personal interests of politicians. This is a violation of ethical values, where ethics is perceived as a system or set of moral principles and rules of conduct recognized with respect to a particular class of human actions or governing a particular group or culture to which a given people in a society belong (Matsheza and kunaka, 2002, p.22).

• To be continued.

• Akinbode is Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Empowerment, Lagos.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

68

Opinion Passion drama and Good Friday liturgy

By Joseph Archibong BEGIN with this quotation: “that sound traImain dition may be retained, and yet the way reopen to legitimate progress, careful investigation is always to be made into each part of the liturgy, which is to be revised. This investigation should be theological, historical, and pastoral. Also the general laws governing the structure and meaning of the liturgy must be studied in conjunction with the experience derived from recent liturgical reforms and from the indults conceded to various places. Finally, there must be no innovations unless the good of the Church genuinely and certainly requires them; and care must be taken that any new forms adopted should in some way grow organically from forms already existing. (The Documents of the Second Vatican Council on the Sacred Liturgy Sacronsanctum Concilium, General Norms section III subsection 23).

With this in mind I now launch my reflection on the place of the Passion Drama in our Holy Week Liturgies, especially the Good Friday liturgy. Two days ago I walked into the Orpheus Music Shop in the Ikeja Shopping Mall in Lagos. After buying a few classical music CDs, I was handed a few flyers to be distributed in my parish in Kirikiri where I am temporarily serving. These flyers advertised the Passiontide Concert, featuring the MUSON Choir conducted by Emeka Nwokedi, to be held on March 24, which is Palm Sunday in the Church’s Liturgical Calendar. I have attended many similar events like the Nativity story and Christmas concerts. These events have some things in common: first, they convey a work of art be it music or drama; second, they convey a religious message, a meta-narrative that appeals to and guides all who are in attendance; finally, they are not held within a formal obligatory Christian liturgy as if they were sacred in themselves. Formal Christian liturgies such as the Catholic rite of the Eucharist are structures that have been developed and concretized over the centuries such that an inclusion or an exclusion will certainly deform it and render it redundant and in no way sacred.

During the Mass of Holy Thursday, we Catholics celebrate the events of the Last Supper and the institution of the Holy Eucharist.

On Good Friday we commemorate the death

of our Lord Jesus Christ. I was rather distracted and concerned when, a few years ago, I returned from the missions to attend the Holy Week ceremonies in a parish in my native Calabar. The Passion Drama, that is a staged play of our Lord’s passion and death, was acted during both the Holy Thursday and Good Friday ceremonies. Hence, a dramatized version of the last supper was presented after the Gospel on Holy Thursday; whilst the death of our Lord was dramatized during the Stations of the Cross or Way of the Cross on Friday before the ceremony of our Lord’s passion. I must commend the actors and actresses that day. They acted professionally, and like any good drama, it both entertained and touched our hearts. However, my question is this: ought we include these dramas, no matter how good they are, in the sacred liturgy?

Arguing from historical experience, growing up in the 80s and 90s I don’t recall any such dramas during the ceremonies of Holy Thursday and Good Friday. I recall very solemn and dignified ceremonies devoid of any major distractions. Even the readings and homilies were focused on the passion of our Lord. I do recall the Stations of the Cross on Good Fridays. We were always admonished at each of the 14 stations to ‘think of our Lord and how he...’ experienced this or that. The Stations of the Cross were thereby reflective and prayerful. I was invited to reach into the inner spaces of my heart to contemplate the experiences of my Lord.

There is power in personal original contemplation perhaps with the aid of a sculpture at each station or a picture on my prayer book. The Stations of the Cross were a personal encounter with Christ Himself as long as I disposed myself well enough in the calmness of the liturgy as well as my movements in posture from standing to kneeling at certain stages. The scourging sun of 3.pm did also help to mortify my flesh as I tried to connect with the Suffering Christ who was glad I was there for Him. But in comes the staged dramas. These dramas come with a whole cast of actors and actresses, fancy Judeo –Roman costumes, cameras, lighting, exaggerated voices and worst of all the bloody and brutal Mel Gibsonesque glamourizing of the torture of Christ. Indeed our Lord was tortured and killed in the most inhumane way; nevertheless when you give young boys the unfettered freedom to represent that torture, they get into a frenzy and tend to distract rather than

invite to prayer. With the availability of cameras in affordable mobile phones, you will find more mobile phones held aloft rather than prayer books during this liturgy.

Watching the same ceremonies held in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the central seat of Catholic liturgy, I do not see any staged dramas during the liturgy. According to Sacrosanctum Concilium Section 124, we are told of the care that Bishops or Ordinaries have to take in accepting art into the Church. “Ordinaries, by the encouragement and favour they show to art, which is truly sacred, should strive after noble beauty rather than mere sumptuous display.”

Even though, the document is referring to physical works of art such as portraits, paintings and sculptors, this principle can be used on drama.

Indeed, parish priests have to watch some of these dramas and depictions before they are used. As for me, to be on the safe side, I would stick to the old ways and include nothing in the sacred liturgy, leaving it intact for the next generation.

Section 127 of the same document invites bishops to train and imbue artists with the spirit of sacred art and the spirit of liturgy. It goes further to state “all artists who, prompted by their talents, desire to serve God’s glory in holy Church, should ever bear in mind that they are engaged in a kind of sacred imitation of God the Creator, and are concerned with works destined to be used in Catholic worship, to edify the faithful, and to foster their piety and their religious formation.” This is a grave undertaking and one wonders if young people who meet for two weeks of drama rehearsal can observe all these.

Cardinal Josef Ratzinger (before ascending the Papacy) wrote in the third chapter of his classic The Spirit of the Liturgy that “Art turns into experimenting with self-created worlds, empty “creativity”, which no longer perceives the Creator Spiritus, the Creator Spirit. It attempts to take his place, and yet, in so doing, it manages to produce only what is arbitrary and vacuous, bringing home to man the absurdity of his role as creator.” Again, Cardinal Ratzinger is referring here to physical art and I am relating it with creative drama as art. What baffles me is that each year, the youths attempt to put in something new into the drama for many reasons like trying to outsmart the youths of nearby parish or sell their passion DVDs. In the process of including new and creative things, one could distort and distract.

Cardinal Ratzinger goes on to write that “the sacredness of the image consists precisely in the fact that it comes from an interior vision and thus leads us to such an interior vision. It must be a fruit of contemplation, of an encounter in faith with the new reality of the risen Christ, and so it leads us in turn into an interior gazing, an encounter in prayer with the Lord. The image is at the service of the liturgy. The prayer and contemplation in which the images are formed must, therefore, be a praying and seeing undertaken in communion with the seeing faith of the Church. The ecclesial dimension is essential to sacred art and thus has an essential connection with the history of the faith, with Scripture and Tradition.” Again if one wishes to relate this to drama as art, one would have to ask the obvious questions, how many of our young passion actors first of all prepare for the drama by praying and contemplating on the narrative? Who is the person acting Jesus, Mary, John the beloved disciple etc? Without sounding too judgemental, do their own lives and attitude aid the onlookers to pray or do they distract people?

I return to the Passiontide Concert at the Muson Centre. I am happy that this religious and artistic event is being organised and held in a venue and setting outside sacred liturgy. There is a famous staging of the passion drama held in a village in Germany every 10 years. It is the most famous staging of the passion drama but it is held outside the holy week and outside the liturgy. We don’t want the Philipino type of passion drama where somebody is actually crucified causing a spectre and attention/immense sympathy to the volunteer rather than devotion to our Lord. The Book of Hebrews tells us that Christ has died once and for all for our sins. Why do we re-enact the torture rather than spend the energy and goodwill in loving the unloved in our corrupt society?

I should be accused of not encouraging the talents of our youths. So may I recommend that all Passion Dramas be held on a Tuesday or a Wednesday of Holy Week merely as a religious artistic event and not during the liturgy. People who really wish to watch and remember the actual brutal passion of Christ will attend this separate screening. It is not fair that one sits through the drama whether they like it or not because it has been forcefully inserted into a sacred liturgy on a holy day of obligation.

• Fr. Archibong is of St Patrick’s Missionary Society, St. Joseph’s Kirikiri Parish, Lagos.

Judge Bola Ajibola at 79

By Idris Katib NE of the few names that reverberate at the international stage of our legal profession is His Excellency, Judge Bola AjiO bola (SAN). The only surviving Nigerian who served as former world court judge in The Hague, Judge Ajibola has made ‘his impressive footprints on the sand of time having written his name boldly, in gold, on the wall of history and has been a good model for those who seek to be inspired by his exemplary life’.

Apart from being the longest-serving Attorney-General and Minister of Justice at a stretch, Judge Bola Ajibola remains the only Nigerian who selflessly served his fatherland for over six years – between 1985 and 1991 – as a minister without taking home any salary. What he did remarkably was to pay back to the Federal Government 35 per cent of his regular monthly salary, 25 per cent to the Nigerian Bar Association and 40 per cent to charitable/humanitarian organisations all over Nigeria, which included the Association of the Blind, Red Cross, Red Crescent, Muslim Aid Group, disabled societies in Lagos and Benin and so forth. During this period, he engaged the services of two legal practitioners that he was paying on his own at the Ministry of Justice for the publication of the Nigerian Weekly Law Report, which was updated during his tenure. As a man of integrity, Judge Ajibola remained, and still is, an incorruptible jurist as a leader of the bar and the bench.

In his days as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, people looking for favours of his office would send in expensive wrist watches, clothes, jewellery, wall clocks and other valuables. On quarterly basis, all these items would be sold at trade fair while the proceeds would be returned into the Federal Government coffers on his directive. Once a job seeker into the Ministry of Justice brought a new car into his compound, as a ‘gift’. On his knowledge, Judge Ajibola ordered that the man should be told to either take his car away from his (Ajibola’s) compound or risk a jail term. He queried why a job seeker could be so desperate and counselled that people of that character would milk gov-

ernment’s treasury when eventually employed.

After the government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari was toppled by the military in 1983, the former president himself was not spared the critical examining by the succeeding regime. Judge Ajibola, being the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the federation, was charged with responsibility of fishing out perpetrators of corruption and embezzlement of public funds. Having studied the mount-hill of documents before him, day and night for one week, Judge Ajibola found out that the former president was not in any way close to any corrupt practice.

Pronto, Alhaji Shehu Shagari was vindicated and this till date has endeared Judge Ajibola to him as an unbiased umpire.

Unlike many Nigerian public office holders who amassed billions of naira and concealed them in foreign accounts, Prince (Judge) Ajibola, after retiring from the World Court at The Hague, decided to sell all his assets both in Nigeria (starting from Bola Ajibola Street in Ikeja, Lagos) and abroad in fulfilment of his pact with God to found a university – Crescent University, Abeokuta – as a visionary initiative that would cater for the next generation. Whereas his colleagues at the World Court retired to bliss, he chose to retire to contentment and enduring impact on humanity through education. He could have named the university after himself just like other compatriots in the country but since his is for humanity, basically to breed people of moral and academic character in our society, he declined to do that even against the pressure from friends and associates. He could also have kept his hard-earned assets intact without further stress or hassles; and he could have been junketing around the world after retirement from the World Court!

In his national and international legal as well as arbitration assignments too numerous to reflect here, Judge Bola Ajibola is synonymous with integrity, industry, credibility and discipline, the demonstration of which had been evident since his days as president of the Nigerian Bar Association.

At the time he served at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to the time he led the Nigerian delegation to the Cameroon-

Nigerian Mixed Commission, he successfully prevented the anticipated war between Nigeria and Cameroon with his foresight as some powerful nations of the world were ready to support Cameroon in case the whole matter resulted in war. By and large, Nigeria generally gained more in the area of maritime delineation, (which enabled the country to gain virtually all its claim on the offshore and the onshore, otherwise, we would have been deprived of trillions of our oil acquisition that is still ours till now) and charge written against Nigeria by Cameroon on state responsibility, which the court denied Cameroon, although Judge Teslim Elias had written a legal opinion of Pacta Sunt Servanda that Bakassi was a peninsular belonging to Cameroon. Despite his dissenting opinions when he served in that court, Judge Ajibola made tremendous efforts to prove that Bakkasi belonged to Nigeria.

As an elder statesman, Judge Ajibola was appointed to chair the delegation of not only his home state (Ogun State) but the south western states and later the entire south of Nigeria to Conference of Political Reforms in 2005 where divergent views of various groups were discussed. The delegation successfully secured the N10 billion Lagos allocation from the Federal Government.

In his testimonial letter, Professor Kehinde Okeleye who is the vice chancellor of his Islamic Mission for African Crescent University described Judge Ajibola’s doggedness and ability to carry along his lieutenants in achieving target goals as astonishing, especially for a man close to being an octogenarian.

“He is never to be caught in the web of indecision as he possesses a remarkable zeal for unknotting knotty problems with thought-provoking humour and proverbs”, Prof. Okeleye noted.

He has won dozens of awards and honours both within and outside the country. He also emerged the winner of the prestigious Sardauna Leadership Award in 2010. Judge Ajibola has put smiles on many faces as he donates secretly to refugee camps, motherless babies’ homes and hospitals. At 79, he has greatly invested in the service of God and that of humanity.

• Katib is Public Relations Officer, Crescent University, Abeokuta.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

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Media Ahead of 2015, broadcasters strategise for better performance Issue

All too frequently, the publicly-owned broadcaster operates largely as the mouthpiece of government rather than representing the whole society. And the private stations are no better; they too operate as the mouthpiece of the rich and powerful; both sides abandon the common man.

By Chuks Nwanne S political parties and gladiators gradualA ly gear up for the forthcoming national elections in the country, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has begun a sensitisation process that will ensure fair reportage of elections without undue advantage for any particular political group. In line with this objective, the Commission recently organised a one-day meeting with broadcast licensees at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, under the theme, Political Broadcasts: Doing It Right.

In his keynote address at the forum that brought together stakeholders in the country’s broadcast industry and representatives of broadcast organisations, the DirectorGeneral of NBC, Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa informed that the meeting was conceived as a platform to tackle important issues that have started staring both the regulators and broadcast organisations in the face.

“The fish that can see that its water is getting shallower can never be stranded. Ladies and gentlemen, we should not wait until our water gets too shallow for our own good. We need to urgently put up strategies to avoid being stranded. And that is the basic motivation for this family meeting. We need to sort them out in a timely manner as a family.”

While observing that broadcasting is a business close to the hearts of the people, Bolarinwa noted that broadcasting is by far the most important source of information, as well as of entertainment, for most people in Nigeria.

“High level of illiteracy along with the difficulty of distributing newspapers (logistics) means broadcasting is the most suitable choice for news and information for the masses, not to mention the fact that the other may be prohibitively expensive. Most importantly, it is easy to relax watch or listen to news, especially in today’s digital world where you can watch and listen anywhere any time,” he said.

As a result of its centrality as a source of information and news, and its growing profitability, the DG observed that governments and dominant commercial interest have historically sought to control broadcasting.

“All too frequently, the publicly-owned broadcaster operates largely as the mouthpiece of government rather than representing the whole society. And the private stations are no better; they too operate as the mouthpiece of the rich and powerful; both sides abandon the common man.”

According to Bolarinwa, these trends in the broadcasting sector are very worrying.

“We are worried because our history is dotted with instances when broadcasters have been used to the detriment of the nation: From the experiences of the regional broadcasters of the 60s to the rancorous activities of the second and third republics, and up to this Fourth Republic, politicians have managed to sneak in on us and use us to achieve their selfish objectives and, in the process, make complete nonsense of our integrity.

Politicians are very good students of power; they go to every length to control the mind in order to control the votes.”

Though the 2015 elections are still far away, the environment is already approaching boiling point. The DG noted that some stations are increasingly coming under pressure to polarise along the lines of opposing political divides.

“We need to be very mindful of this power so that it does not swallow us. We need to note that the same politicians, who goad us into doing the wrong things do not hesitate to report us to the Commission when they do not have their way, whether they have a case or not. It is therefore disturbing that we seem not to have learned any lessons from

A cross-section of participants including Chairman, DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi (third left) … at the meeting

APCON Registrar/CEO, Alhaji Garba Bello Kankaronfi (left); DG of NBC, Bolarinwa; and President of DBN, Osa Sunny Adun all this because, on some stations in this coun- are expected to use their expertise and knowltry, certain political parties can never do edge to promote generally accepted social valwrong while others that are classified as oppo- ues and norms, especially civic and social sition are often vilified and lampooned.” responsibilities. Since we as broadcasters use To the NBC boss, evidence suggesting that the airwaves to exercise freedom of expression station managers are compelled by their pro- in trust for all Nigerians, they have a right to prietors to slant the news in total breach of demand in return that we worship at some professional ethics is cause for alarm for the higher alter than that of professional expertCommission. ise.”

“Even more alarming is the fact that many The DG frowned at the unfortunate trend managers actually comply, ostensibly, in where reporters and producers, and often lessorder to save their jobs. While it is crucial for er-level employees, appear to enjoy free reign broadcasters to be allowed to do their job, we to put on air anything they like without due also remind ourselves that it is necessary to be regard to professional imperatives, and most totally professional in our duties. But even often enticed by pecuniary or other personal more dangerous for our profession and ulti- loyalties. mately our country, is the near-total absence “We seem to have abdicated our responsibilof proper gate keeping by station owners, sta- ity to ensure proper supervision, and have tion managers and editors.” allowed outsiders to dictate the agenda. This He described gate keeping as a crucial man- failure to rise above society ethically and agement function that uses the parameters of morally is recipe for anarchy, as contemplated news worthiness and news value to set the by Dan Brown, the author of Angels and agenda for public debate, and thus fuel Demons, when he wrote that the media is the democracy and foster the well being and coop- right arm of anarchy.” eration of the various segments of society.

On the issues of staff members, who commit “Through proper gate keeping, broadcasters serious offences against the Code, which puts

the station in trouble, Bolarinwa noted that, “while the station is left to face the consequences, the staff member walks free and crosses over to the next station to cause more trouble. This has happened over and over, and recalcitrant staff members are getting away with murder. While the Commission is considering an appropriate response to this disturbing development, it may be appropriate for broadcast stations to begin to network among themselves to redflag such dangerous staff and refuse to accept them in the next station. If we had an active Nigerian Society of Broadcasters, it would be in the best position to ensure discipline among individual broadcast practitioners. This is, therefore a clarion call on all broadcasters to come together and resuscitate this important society, for the promotion of our profession,” he urged.

Organised under the chairmanship of the President of DBN, Mr. Osa Sunny Adun, the meeting also featured a paper presentation on political adverts and decency by the Registrar, APCON, Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi.

At the end of the meeting, participants, with resolve to take the discussion down to their various stations, issued a communiqué. They took an exception to what they termed near-total absence of proper supervision and gate-keeping by station owners, station managers and editors.

The meeting also upheld the fact that gate keeping is crucial and through it, broadcasters are expected to use their expertise and knowledge to promote generally accepted social values and norms, especially civil and social responsibilities. However, there were observations that some broadcasters commit serious breaches against the provisions of the Code, which attract severe sanctions.

The perceived inability of managers of the government-owned stations to say no to their governors/proprietors is roundly condemned. Also noted was the challenge of disproportionate financial capacity of contending candidates and political parties.

In its recommendation, the meting called for an active Nigerian Society of Broadcasters to ensure the progress of their profession and discipline among members. It also urged stations to ensure balance and give access to all shades of opinions with due respect to professionalism, the Code and the NBC Act. The need to reconstitute a political broadcast forum at state levels to take into consideration the peculiarities of each state was also recommended. While the Commission was urged to invite state governors for free discussions concerning ethical broadcasting, need for broadcast stations to network among themselves to red-flag unruly staff, was also canvassed by participants.

In attendance was a former Minister of State for Information and Communication, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande, eight state Commissioners of Information and two Permanent Secretaries.

Similarly, there were 115 proprietors/representatives of proprietors of broadcast stations of the federal and state governments, public and private stations across the country.

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Sports Ahead Brazil 2014 World Cup

‘Nigeria, Kenya draw, a reality check’ Stories from Christian Okpara, Calabar HE axiom a team is as good T as its last result was aptly demonstrated at the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar, where Kenya almost ran away with a 1-0 victory over African champions, Nigeria.

It was a Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier between the top team in Group F of the African series and the bottom side, which after two games had only a point to its name.

Before Saturday’s encounter, every pundit had predicted a whitewash of the Harambee Stars owing mostly to the pedigree of the Super Eagles and the head to head statistics between both nations.

In 13 previous meetings Nigeria had 11 wins and two draws. In fact, the last two meetings had ended in home and away victories for Nigeria en route the South Africa 2010 World Cup. Again, the Super Eagles had beaten Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, among other strong African countries to win the 2013 Nations Cup, so nobody reckoned with ‘minnows,’ Kenya, which had not been to the Nations Cup in more than a decade. So, the Eagles continued celebrating their Nations Cup victory even when it was just a few days to the game against the Harambee Stars.

All these while, the Kenyans were busy plotting their strategies against Nigeria with the belief that they would get something out of the game if things went their way. They nearly succeeded in shocking the African champions.

Such was the relief stand-in Captain, Vincent Enyeama felt at the end of the game that he had to kneel down on the pitch to thank God for saving Nigeria’s blushes.

Enyeama said, “I am happy

we drew this match. Had we lost, it would have been a disaster.” “We did not play like champions, we gave them so much room that they felt at home, doing anything they wanted with the ball. But this is the end of part one, when we meet in Nairobi we will settle scores.’’

Lamenting the complacency that nearly cost Nigeria dearly in Calabar, Super Eagles former defender, Bethel Orji, said the draw was a wake up call to the players and their coaches.

Orji, who came from Aba to watch the game, said he knew the Kenyans would not be easy prey going by the way they went about preparations for the match. ‘‘This game is a wake up call for Nigeria because it has shown that we cannot take any team for granted no matter how lowly rated it is. ‘‘Every country wants to go to the World Cup, so they will do anything to achieve that feat. Playing against Nigeria is an added incentive because as African champions there is no better team to measure their standard in the game. ‘‘I am sure that Keshi and his boys have learnt a good lesson from the game, which would be useful when they meet again in June. We will beat Kenya in Nairobi, but the boys must be ready to impose themselves in matches against such countries as Kenya.’’

Abia Warriors Team Manager, Ofor Abiaye believes the Super Eagles were ignorant of the caliber of players in the Harambee Stars hence they were shocked by what they met on the pitch.

According to Offor, Nigeria’s last game against Kenya in Nairobi during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers should have served as a warning that

Nigeria’s midfielder John Mikel Obi (left) and Kenya’s midfielder Mulinge Ndeto during their FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifying match on Saturday in PHOTO: AFP Calabar. The match ended in a 1 - 1 draw.

According to the Portugal we have to step up our game wasted them. the East Africans should not based star, ‘‘what happened if we desire to qualify for be ignored.

“It shows the Eagles are He said, ‘‘here was a team today shows that we cannot Brazil 2014.’’ human and like true champithat completely outplayed underrate any team. But it To Super Eagles spokesman, ons they will bounce back to Nigeria in the Nairobi game also brought the character of Ben Alaiya, the result is a big reclaim the lost points. We the Eagles. Not many teams dent on Nigeria’s journey to have to go to Kenya and beat even when it lost the match. ‘‘We should not have taken will battle to secure a draw Brazil, but one the team them, show them why we are for granted a team that has with just a few minutes of a would correct in subsequent African champions. I agree such tested stars as David game left, but if we want to games. that it was not a great perOliech, Victor Wanyama and remain at the top we must “It is now back to reality, formance from us, but we will Nyambura Francis. It also not leave ourselves in such what you witnessed in the get it right anywhere they wants to qualify for the World situations as we did on game was a wake-up call. The take us to in Kenya.”

Cup that was why it hired Saturday. players now know they have With Saturday’s result, “We started soft in a game to re-dedicate themselves and Nigeria still leads Group F Adel Amrouche to leads its against the physical Kenyans face reality. I must say that it with five points, same as charge in the qualifiers. ‘‘Keshi knows now that the and we allowed them to boss would have been difficult had Malawi, which beat Namibia task at hand has become the game. It shouldn’t hap- we lost the game. Thank God 1-0 away from home, while tougher and so he should pen again. We need to realise we got a point from it, but we Kenya has two. Malawi is work on the players physical- that we are now the target of were very unlucky. We had so below Nigeria because it has ly and psychologically to get every African team so we many scoring chances and we scored fewer goals than the at tune with current realities. should buckle up for tough I think they have had enough battles in every game.”

Ogu believes the coaches of the celebrations.’’

John Ogu, who made his would work on all the departSuper Eagles debut as a sec- ments to ensure better perond half substitute in the formance in subsequent game, agrees with Orji, games, adding, ‘‘the good UPER Eagles savior in the Speaking after the game, adding, ‘‘we still have oppor- thing about our team is that Brazil 2014 World Cup qual- Oduamadi, who made his secwe have quality players, but ifier against Kenya, Nnamdi ond appearance for the sentunities to make amends.

Oduamadi, says he knew he ior national team in the would score in the game even game, said he has studied the before he joined the fray from Kenyans and knew what to do the reserve bench. to hurt them.

Oduamadi, a second half The Italy-based midfielder own coin in Nairobi,’’ he it roll into five minutes and substitute, got Nigeria’s said, “I saw their weak points that was when the equaliser equaliser in the 1-1 draw way while I was on the bench so I said.

Also threatening of retali- came,” blasted Wanyama. into the added to throw the wanted desperately to join According to Wanyana, hitherto subdued Calabar the action. If I had entered the ating for the alleged ill-treatment by Nigeria, Kenya’s who is the among the hottest football fans into celebration. game earlier, I would have Team Manager, Ali Reham properties in European footscored more goals,’’ said the said the Botswana referee ball, “we deserved a win and midfielder, who replaced did not allow the Harambee so we are so disappointed we Sunday Mba in the 74th Stars expose the Super did not take all three points. minute.

“But I am very confident Eagles. “We are not happy at Oduamadi sees Kenya as the treatment since our that when they come to well-drilled side, who played arrival in Nigeria. We hope Nairobi, we are going to take for a compact game with to upturn the table in three points.” everybody fighting for the While others were furious Nairobi. team.

Celtic star, Victor Wanyama that Kenya drew the game, “Kenya surprised me. They was even more forthcoming, Skipper Dennis Oliech says made life difficult for us, but I saying Kenya was robbed of even the draw is a ‘miracle.’ am very happy that I scored a famous victory. “We were He added, ‘‘we came here to the goal for my country.’’ robbed. I am disappointed prove a point and that we The Varese of Italy player is with the officiating. Added have done. It was a very diffihopeful of helping the team cult game for us knowing time was to be three minto the Serie A at the end of the utes, but the referee allowed that we were playing African Oduamadi season. champions, who paraded great stars from Europe.’’

You have murdered sleep, Kenyans tell Eagles ENYA’S Leader of delegaK tion to the Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria in Calabar on Saturday, Hussain Terry, who said the Super Eagles were beneficiaries of the referee’s poor judgment in the game, says the Harambee Stars would pay Nigeria back in its own coin in Nairobi.

Terry accused the referee of adding more time to the game to see that Nigeria equalised, adding that the Harambee Stars were denied ‘clear penalties,’ and were also intimidated to favour the Super Eagles. ‘‘What reason has the referee got to send our coach

out of the game. He acted out a well-written plot all to save Nigeria. That is why African football is not growing, but we will get our pound of flesh,’’ he said.

Lamenting the treatment his team received since arriving in the country, Terry said Nigeria has ‘‘murdered sleep and will no longer sleep.’’

According to him, ‘‘since we arrived here, we have been treated badly by the Nigerian federation and today, the referee completed the job for Nigeria. ‘‘I am African and there is a saying that a child who refuses to allow his mother to sleep with not sleep also. We will pay Nigeria back in its

I knew I will score against Kenya, says Oduamadi S

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

76 SPORTS

Strategy doesn’t always win games, says Enyeama

By Olalekan Okusan UPEr Eagles captain, vincent Enyeama has said that most strategies don’t win matches in football, describing the freekick scored by Kenya’s Francis Nyambura in the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers 1-1 draw against Kenya as the best he has ever conceded in his career.

The Eagles’ goal stopper told journalists after the game that the Kenyans were lucky not to have conceded more goals in the encounter.

“In football, there is no strategy that you can employ that will work against 11players. So, to me, strategy most times, dont work. AC Milan went to Barcelona with their strategy but we all saw what happened in the match. What this means is that luck sometimes play a crucial role in a game.

There were loopholes that the Kenyans capitalised on to score in the first half,” he said.

The Lille of France star admitted that the freekick that earned the Kenyan the goal was the best he had conceded in his entire career. He said: “I think the goal the Kenya

S

Sure of Eagles World Cup qualification scored was from a good free kick. I never expected that a Kenyan could play such a beautiful free kick.”

He continued: “As African champion, we don’t underrate team because it was the same thing that happened to us in our first two matches at AFCON. Also as professionals, coming from a cold weather in Europe and playing under such a hot was tough for us.”

On the Kenyans, he said: “We all knew the game was going to go the way it went because the Kenyans did not come to play at all. They had all their men behind ball everytime we attacked. If they came here to play, I know they would have conceded more goals in the match. We hope to plan for our next matches especially the on in June against the Kenyans in Nairobi.”

For Enyeama, the goal scored by Nnamdi Oduamadi in the 94th was vital for Eagles. “When we were trailing the Kenyans, I was just praying every

minute not to lose the match because I have never lost any match at home with the national team,” the former Enyimba of Aba goaltender said.

He, however, expressed confident that Eagles would qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, saying, “By the grace of God we will make it to Brazil because we have a good team and good coach as we want to rewrite history just like we did in South Africa.

“When we won the AFCON trophy, we saw that Nigerians were happy and the media wrote about it so what we need the media to do for us is to support and pray for team to make it good. The media should stay with us so that we can remain focus and make the country proud,” he said.

He further disclosed that he would return to his French club, Lille at the end of his loan deal in Israel. “I am going back to France because I still have two years remaining in my deal. I will want to see off my contract,” he revealed.

Eagles’ debut excites Obu

By Olalekan Okusan E came in toward the end H of the match and Portugal-based John Obu, who made an impact in the game, believes playing for the African Champion was indeed a rare opportunity, which he will take advantage of.

Obu made his debut for Eagles in the weekend’s 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Kenya’s Harambee Stars and the lanky player also reiterat-

ed his willingness to keep a place in the team.

“Super Eagles is a good team and playing for the team is a rare opportunity. So, when you are in the team you have to give 120 per cent to ensure your stay in squad is long. I am happy to be given the chance by the coach and I hope to utilise it very well,” he said.

Obu described the 1-1 draw against the visitors at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar as a good result for the team

having waited till the final minutes to score the equaliser after the Kenyans took the lead in the first half.

“I don’t think we underated the Kenya because football is a game of luck and I believe the Eagles will qualify for the World Cup with hard work and the grace of God. The Kenyan team is not a bad side and there are no longer minnows in the game. In football, you don’t underrate your opponent because it is a game of luck,” he said.

Vincent Enyeama at the Africa Nations Cup in South Africa

Finally, Eagles get AFCON final bonus HE Super Eagles were yesterday morning paid a bonus of $25,000-a-man for beating Burkina Faso to win the AFCON in South Africa.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) could not come up with the cash to pay the team after they won the continental tournament on February 10 in Johannesburg courtesy of a Sunday Mba goal.

A source close to the Eagles confirmed to

T

MTNFoootball.com that the team has now been paid.

It was also gathered that this payment could well have been possible after the NFF received the payment of the cash prize of $1.5 million for winning the competition.

In the meantime, the Akwa Ibom State Government feted the African champions yesterday in Uyo Akwa Government rewarded the team with Keshi pocketing N2million, while his

assistants received half that sum.

The 23 players on the final AFCON squad got a N1million, while the 17 backroom staff were 500,000 Naira richer.

The team presented Governor Godswill Akpabio with the national team No.9 shirt as well as the AFCON trophy.

The Eagles have thus far received over $9 million in cash gifts for winning a third AFCON title.

Ejide hopeful of Eagles’ goalkeeping role

By Olalekan Okusan AvING sat out during the H last African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa, Super Eagles assistant goalkeeper, Austin Ejide believes his leading role in goal in still attainable.

Ejide told journalists at the weekend in Calabar that he was ready to wait for his time.

“I am sure I can still make the number one role in the team

but I am ready to wait for my time because my time will still come. What matters most for me is the success of the team,” he said.

The Israel-based star however, described the 1-1 draw against the Kenya’s Harambee Stars as a wake up call for the team.

He added: “I want to say it was not a bad result but for us, it is a wake up call and we just need to continue to work hard to ensure that we make it to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.”

Like Ejide, defender Kenneth Omeruo emphasised the need for the team to redouble its efforts during the second leg against the Kenyan in June, saying that the visitors are not pushover.

“We just need to plan well for the second leg and I am hopeful that we are going to make it to the World Cup. We need to continue to work hard and with the support of the technical crew coupled with prayers from Nigerians, we can still make them happy,” Omeruo said.

Igesund impressed by Manyisa AFANA Bafana coach, B Gordon Igesund says he was very happy with

Kenya’s midfielder David Onino (left) vies with Nigeria’s striker Victor Moses during their FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifying match on Saturday in Calabar.

The match ended 1 - 1 draw.

PHOTO: AFP

Orlando Pirates midfielder Oupa Manyisa when he came onto the field in the 2-0 win against Central African Republic.

The Bucs midfielder nicknamed ‘Ace’ put his foot on the ball and slowed the game down, which saw the home side create several chances inside the last 25 minutes of the game. They should really have scored something like five or six goals in the end.

“I was happy tonight with Oupa Manyisa when he came on, he put the foot on the ball, he kept it nicely.”

“I’m still learning a lot

about my players and they are learning a lot about each other as well so this was a very very important game and the nice thing about tonight’s game is that I know what we have to do when we go and play them (CAR) there.

“I’m confident that we can go there and get the points as well because we are better than this team in a lot of departments and we won’t get carried away, we will keep working hard and let’s hope.

“I think right now as we speak we are on top of the group, which is very nice, let’s see what happens tomorrow between Ethiopia and Botswana.”

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

SPORTS 77

How TomTom MVP, Oduamadi, saved Eagles’ blushes in Calabar

By Olalekan Okusan T was obvious that Nigeria’s Super Eagles were far better tactically than the visiting Kenya’s Harambee Stars during the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers played at the weekend at U. J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, but nobody expected the match to go the way it went.

From the beginning of the match, the star-studded Eagles dominated the game with Chelsea’s star, Victor Moses making several incursions into their opponent vital area.

But the Kenyans, who were defensive for most part of the game, thwarted all his efforts.

The atmosphere at the stadium was fully charged with expectant fans hoping for a wide-margin victory. But their expectations were dashed when Kenya’s Francis Nyambura converted one of the best free kicks that beat Eagles’ skipper, Vincent Enyeama for the visitors to take the lead in the 35th minutes.

The goal brought silence to the stadium with the fans urging the Eagles to equalise. The Eagles responded by making several attempts at goal, which was thwarted by the Kenyans.

As the game wore on, Obafemi Martins was replaced with Ahmed Musa, a change, which produced no result.

Nations Cup hero, Sunday Mba, who failed to re-enact his AFCON Cup, was substituted

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Write us off at your peril, Cazorla warns France T is too early to start talking ISpain, about the end of an era with midfielder, Santi Cazorla said yesterday ahead of the champions’ trip to play Group I leaders France in a World Cup qualifier.

Consecutive home draws against tomorrow’s hosts and surprisingly against basement team Finland last Friday have left Spain second in the standings, two points behind Didier Deschamps side with four games to play.

Anything less than a victory in Paris would leave Spain contemplating the play-offs for a backdoor route to the finals in Brazil.

After exhilarating victories at Euro 2008, at the World Cup in 2010 and again at Euro 2012, questions have been asked if their cycle of success is coming to an end.

“It makes no sense to doubt this team,” Arsenal’s Cazorla told a news conference at their training base just outside the Spanish capital.

“Today in football any team can make life difficult for you.

We still have the same hunger and, of course, you cannot talk about the end of an era.”

Spain have lacked a cutting edge and struggled to turn their dominance into goals in their last two outings, as their possession game has looked slow and predictable at times.

On top of that, they have conceded late equalisers after some uncharacteristically sloppy defending.

“In the last game we lacked some things,” Cazorla added.

“We need more variations, the team need to convert possession into chances. France will be different. I don’t know if they are going to ‘park a bus in front of the goal’ (as Finland did).

“Recently they have proven they have the tools to be able to play in a different way.”

for Italy-based Nnamdi Oduamadi in the 74th minutes.

Oduamadi, who was making a return to the team after his last outing under former Eagles’ Coach, Samson Siasia, was all over the place trying to propel the attack.

As the game got to the 90th minute, some fans started leaving the stadium convinced that the Eagles would find it difficult to get a goal.

But Oduamadi had other ideas to score the equaliser in the 94th minutes, as the stadium burst out in wild jubilation. The goal also preserved that the Eagles 100 per cent record in the qualifier.

The Eagles saviour got $5,000 reward as the prize money for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award from the official candy of the team, TomTom. An excited Oduamadi told

journalists that he was happy getting back to the team and that he would continue to work hard for the success of the Eagles.

“I am very happy scoring the vital goal for the team and I would say I was the happiest person for salvaging a point for the team in the encounter.

I will always give my best to the team and I just need Nigerians to continue praying for the team,” the Varese of Italy star said.

He added, “the game was looking difficult and getting the goal at such crucial time was very important. What I will say is that I will not let the team down because I expect the Kenyans to play the same way they played us in this first leg.”

Aside the TomTom MVP award, as well as, the $5,000, Oduamadi also got the $2,000 Guinness goal scorer award.

Brand Manager, TomTom, Ugochukwu Nwankwo (left); winner of TomTom MVP, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Governor Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke and Vice President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mike Umeh, at the 2014 World Cup qualifiers held at the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar at the weekend.

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 25, 2013

SPORTS 79

Eagles get N37.5m reward from Akwa Ibom govt From Inemesit Akpan-Nsoh, Uyo KWA Ibom State government has doled out N37.5 million to Super Eagles for winning this year’s African Cup of Nation (AFCON).

A breakdown shows that each of the 23 players got N1 million, Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi collected N2 million, four assistant coaches received N1 million each while 17 officials got N.5 million each.

Announcing this yesterday, Governor Godswill Akpabio also donated one three-bedroom flat to Akwa Ibom-born Super Eagles Captain, Vincent Enyeama for doing the state and the nation proud at the AFCON. Akpabio congratulated the Super Eagles coaches and players for winning the cup, saying, “we celebrate you. To you

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the players, you are the icons.

For the coaches, we were praying collectively for you. You are the future of this country.”

He, however, condemned people, who criticise his administration for making donations to individuals, organisations and the less privileged when such are captured as grants in the yearly budgets approved by the state House of Assembly, stating, ‘’at this point of our existence, what should be important to Nigerians is development, unity and security challenges and not frivolous things.’’

The governor, who commended Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), chief coach and other officials for visiting Akwa Ibom, applauded the Eagles for doing the country proud, remarking, ‘’we hardly see anything to celebrate

about. That’s why when you did the miracle you did in South Africa, you brought back the Nigerian spirit. You gave even a three-year old Nigerian child something to celebrate by winning the cup.’’

Akpabio enjoined the Eagles to learn from and emulate other players, who have made names by shunning drug addiction and drunkenness in order to be relevant in the scheme of things in the future.

He added, ‘’now that God has given you a coach, you have to respect him and be disciplined. Without discipline, you cannot be successful.’’

Vincent Enyeama had thanked the governor for the show of love and generosity on them and asked him to continue as an uncommon transformer.

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (left); with Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi and Captain, Vincent Enyeama with the AFCON trophy during the reception organised for the team in Uyo yesterday.

Minister, Iorfa lift Jossy Lad From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan

INISTER of Sports and Chairman National Sports Commission (NCS), Hon. Bolaji Abudllahi, yesterday donated N.5 million to ailing former Falcons Coach, Joseph Oladipo (Jossy Lad), who has been receiving treatment since last week at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan.

Apparently concerned

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about the condition the former Shooting Stars’ player and coach, the minister made the cash donation to the children of Jossy Lad towards his treatment.

He, however, reassured the family of government’s continuous support to ensure he gets back on his feet, saying, “the government is conscious of its responsibilities to all its sports heroes, either active or retired.”

Zenith Bank Basketball League

First Bank, First Deepwater win

By Adeyinka Adedipe IRST Deepwater Basketball Club started the defence of its Zenith Bank Basketball league title with an unconvincing 63-44 points victory over Nigeria Customs in Abuja yesterday.

The champions’ performance was lethargic and the team had to bank on experience to win the game.

However, their rivals, First Bank humiliated Nigeria Immigration 84-17 to record the highest margin so far in the competition.

In some other games, AHIP defeated Taraba Hurricane 33-13 while Plateau Rocks defeated Benue Queens 6249.

Coach of First Deepwater, Lateef Erinfolami told The Guardian that his girls played below expectation, which he attributed to the two hours

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delay before the game kicked off.

He said his players were probably tired after going to the game without eating. “It was good we got the victory but the players were not at their best. They didn’t play to expectation but getting the opening game victory was very important.

“The also made fundamental mistakes unexpected of players of their caliber and one can only thank God that we won the game,” he added.

Erinfolami stated that the next game against FCT Angels would be a different ball game as he expects his players to come out in full force against the Abuja team.

“Our next game against FCT will be different as I have told the players to dominate the game and come out with a convincing victory.

“Our prayer is to see Jossy Lad standing back on his feet because he has greatly contributed to the development of the game in Nigeria. We would always be supportive to any of our heroes especially in their trying times.”

Also, former Super Eagles striker, Dominic Iorfa, who led Lobi Stars FC to Ibadan to play 3SC in week three match of the Nigeria Premier League, was at the bedside of Jossy Lad and gave N100, 000 to the first son of the sick coach, Wale to support his treatment.

The minister was in Ibadan to flag off the Splash FM, a private radio station marathon race. Over 600 athletes, all Nigerians, took part in the race. A new entrant, Deborah Pam became the female champion of the 5th annual 42km Splash FM/ICPC Integrity Marathon Race, while Haris Ismail from Plateau State emerged the new male champion.

The minister, while addressing reporters, commended the courage of Chief Adebayo Akande, the chairman of Splash FM, who has been funding the athletics event for the past five years.

He, however, pledged government’ support in elevating the marathon race to an international standard where foreign distance runners would be proud to participate.

TheGuardian

Monday, March 25, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Chima Mmeje RECENTLY saw the movie adaptation of Alice Walker’s book ‘The Color Purple’ directed by Spike Lee and Starring Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover among others. In the movie Whoopi Goldberg’s character Celie Harris has been a victim of abuse all of her life. By the time she was 14 she already had two children by her father and they were taken away from her at birth. She is forced against her will to marry a rich local widower Albert who beats her when he thinks she falters, turns her into a maid for his house and a nanny for his overpampered children.

In the long run Celie becomes submissive, silent and accepting her fate at the hands of Mr. Albert. On the other hand Sophia who marries Albert’s son Harpo is a spitfire who refuses to take violence from the men in her lives. When Harpo asks Celie what he should do to make Sofia more submissive and respectful of him she tells Harpo, ‘Beat her’.

Sofia finds out that Celie gave Harpo this wrong advice and has this to say to Celie: “All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my uncles. I had to fight my brothers. A girl child isn’t safe in a family of men, but I have never thought I had to fight in my own house! I love Harpo, God knows I do. But I’ll kill him dead ’fore I let him beat me. Now, you want a dead son-inlaw, Miss Celie? You keep on advising him like you doing.”

Celie represents the higher populace of Nigerian women who see domestic violence as a part of life, the type of norm that I preach against, while Sofia represents the strong, independent, self-evolving black woman who refuses to take abuse and stands up against her partner to protect herself, Sofia is the type of woman that I hold up in this piece.

Nneoma and Aloy are a young married couple of six months. Nneoma’s family wanted her to marry a young man who had a promising future and would be willing to support with the upkeep of Nneoma’s family. Two months after they got married, Alloy slapped Nneoma over a minor argument; she let it pass with the thoughts of it being a onetime action. A month later, Aloy beat her up so badly, her injuries could not be covered up. The fifth month into their marriage, Aloy beat Nneoma again, only this time she had to be rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of a nearby hospital.

Her brothers beat Aloy, got the police to arrest and lock him up for two nights. When Nneoma got better, she went home with her parents to recuperate but only after a week her father told her she would have to return to her husband’s home. She begged her father to let her stay because she was afraid of Aloy and what he could do to her. Her father replied by telling her that no one forced her into marriage so anything she had to face in her marriage was entirely her cross. With fear, trepidation and resigned to her faith of misery until death, Nneoma returned to her husband.

Keere is a 300 level student in a Nigerian university in the middle-belt region of Nigeria. She has been dating her boyfriend Lawrence for seven months. No one knew Lawrence had a mean streak of violence in him until Keere moved in with him; and the violence began. Lawrence would come home from lectures to an already prepared meal of Semo and Egusi soup with large a chunk of meat, he would stare at the food in anger, throw it all away, lock the doors and beat Keere up for reasons that are still unknown to me.

I remember one time when I heard Keere screaming; Lawrence had locked the doors and was hitting her with everything he could find in sight. Her friends were crying outside the door begging Lawrence to let Keere go. When Keere emerged, she looked bloodied, scared worse than a chicken at Christmas and emotionally stripped of her dignity. I found a way to speak to Keere the next day and I pleaded with her to leave

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According to a research carried out by Think Africa Press two-thirds of Nigerian women are victims of domestic violence in their homes. This type of abuse can be physical, sexual or psychological. Although men too can be victims of domestic violence women suffer disproportionately

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Woman, you are not a victim

Lawrence, she told me “Chima, he will change, he is just acting out in the spirit of his youth”. Three months later, when Lawrence graduated, he took Keere home to his family and introduced her as the girl he wanted to marry.

Ifunaya works with one of the branches of First Bank in Lagos. She was a victim of domestic violence for more than 10 years, and nobody knew what was happening because she always covered her bruises well. She stayed in an abusive relationship for so long in the hope that her husband would get out of his violent character and become the man she had married. When she realised that was never going to happen, she wrote a letter to her husband, dropped it on the coffee table took her children and left. She got a new flat, changed her children’s school and got sole custody of her kids. Her husband can only see the kids several times a month and the visits must

be supervised because Ifunaya insists that a man who hit her for 10 years in front of their children will not be left alone to interact with them until he gets counseling for his problems.

My mother told me about a friend of hers, Chizoba who got married at the age of 22 to a young man who was extremely jealous and incredulously possessive. He would lock her up in the house when he was going to work and would only open the doors for her to step out when he came home. He beat her up if his meals were late and apologised with six yards of hollandaise wrapper. Chizoba ran away two years later from a marriage that had become a prison. She had no university degree, no job, no vocation, no money, but she had her life.

The Nigerian constitution is a huge joke and a shameful fallacy. That much is a fact.

The 1999 Constitution guarantees equality for all persons in its fundamental human

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Ifunaya works with one of the branches of First Bank in Lagos. She was a victim of domestic violence for more than 10 years, and nobody knew what was happening because she always covered her bruises well. She stayed in an abusive relationship for so long in the hope that her husband would get out of his violent character and become the man she had married.

When she realised that was never going to happen, she wrote a letter to her husband, dropped it on the coffee table took her children and left

rights provision in Chapter IV. I cannot overemphasise how little lives are valued in Nigeria. There is nonchalant attitude of the government to critical matters and the blind eye of the public to problems that stare us in the face— a key social problem that occurs every day in Nigeria but seems to be without government attention or public empathy.

The law says one thing but another practice exists in reality. Women rights are not regarded as important and are infringed upon all the time. The problem is further compounded by a patriarchal legal system that governs the country and a Sharia system in the North that places women as subordinates whose rights are not properly defined in regulations. My focus here is on domestic violence suffered by Nigerian women in the hands of those who are supposed to love and cherish them and the betrayal from the people who should protect them.

According to a research carried out by Think Africa Press two-thirds of Nigerian women are victims of domestic violence in their homes. This type of abuse can be physical, sexual or psychological. Although men too can be victims of domestic violence women suffer disproportionately.

Questions seeking answers for include: Why is domestic violence on the increase in Nigeria? How effective are the police in attending to cases of domestic violence?

What framework has the government put in place to criminalise domestic violence? Why do a large mass of the Nigerian public turn a blind eye to this issue? How can women seek justice as victims of domestic violence? What do women who have been abused need to do to move on from the tag ‘victim’?

To be continued • Mmeje Chima, an unemployed graduate, lives in Abuja