Thur 27 Mar 2014 by The Guardian Newspaper

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,873

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Senate confirms new CBN, Appeal Court helmsmen From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Bridget Chiedu Onochie (Abuja) and Chijioke Nelson (Lagos) HE Senate yesterday conT firmed the appointment of Godwin Emefiele as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It also confirmed Justice Zainab Adamu Bulka-

• ’Emefiele vows to probe apex bank’s expenditure • ‘Minor’ files lost in Lagos office fire incident chuwa as Appeal Court President. Senate President, David Mark, at the end of the exercise noted that the number of hours spent on the screening

and confirmation of both Bulkachuwa and Emefiele was a clear indication of the importance the Senate attached to their offices. “The two people involved are

very distinguished Nigerians and our prayers would go with them that Justice Bulkachuwa would deliver justice on time and Emefiele would ensure that he carries out the

prescribed responsibilities of the Governor of the Central Bank without fear or favour,” Mark said. The much-awaited screening of Emefiele, considering the

controversy surrounding the suspension of CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, over missing oil funds, lasted over two hours as lawmakers posed challenging questions to the governor-designate. Meanwhile, the CBN has assured that no sensitive file was lost in the fire that enCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

IFC to invest N240b in Nigeria’s housing, power sectors • NERC issues electricity generation licence to Bauchi From Mathias Okwe, Nkechi Onyedika and Emeka Anuforo, Abuja N a major leap towards susINigeria, tainable development in the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is to invest N240 billion ($1.5 billion) in the country’s housing and power infrastructure sectors. Meanwhile, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday issued an embedded generation licence to Bauchi State government to establish its 35 megawatts project in Abuja, just as the commission charged states to invest in the power sector. The IFC aims to boost the quality of housing and power generation and distribution CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

At FRC hearing, Akingbola says ‘matter is subjudice’ – Page 4 Ethnic Nationalities best suited to negotiate terms of our unity –Pages 12 & 13

Former Chief Justice of the Federation, Muhammadu Uwais (left); Elkanemi of Borno, Mohammed Ibn Garbai; Vice President Namadi Sambo; President Goodluck Jonathan and Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, during a meeting with members of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, at the State House, Abuja… yesterday. PHOTO: PHILIP OJISU

Adamawa may secede, join Cameroun, Lamido warns From Terhemba Daka and Karls Tsokar, Abuja N what stunned many conIAdamawa, ferees, the Lamido of Dr. Muhammadu Barkindo Mustapha, one of the delegates representing the National Council of Tradi-

• Confab panel disagrees over voting pattern • Conference adjourns till Monday tional Rulers at the National Conference in Abuja, yesterday threatened to lead his people to join the Republic of Cameroun in the event of any disintegration in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the meeting between the leadership of the National Conference and the 50 delegates selected to consult and arrive at a consensus on the controversial voting

pattern to be adopted by the conferees ended in a deadlock yesterday, forcing an adjournment of the conference till Monday next week. In a related development, barely a week after Jama’atulNasril Islam criticised the selection of delegates to the

ongoing National Conference in Abuja, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), an umbrella body of Islamic organisations in the country, yesterday followed suit and met with PresiCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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Thursday, March 27, 2014

National Conference panel disagrees over voting pattern CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 dent Goodluck Jonathan behind closed-doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi (rtd), had yielded the microphone to gauge members’ contribution to a proposal on the need for members of the public to submit their opinion to the conference via memoranda. But rather than addressing the issue, Mustapha Adamawa strayed away from the subject. The traditional ruler specifically faulted the contributions and utterances of some delegates whom he described as ‘loyalists to President Goodluck Jonathan’ and the conduct of the conference proceedings which, according to him, had deviated from its mandate as clearly defined by the President during the inauguration. “The conference is contradicting what the President said. And the way we are going in the long run, if we are not careful, this conference will flop and the resultant effect can only be imagined. “If the country disintegrates, many of those loyalists will have nowhere to run to. But if that happens, I and my people (kingdom) which transcends beyond Adamawa will join our kinsmen in the Republic of Cameroun. A part of my kingdom is called Adamawa State in Cameroun and if I run there, I will easily assimilate”, he said. While alluding to the debate on the controversial issue of adoption of a voting pattern which nearly marred the session on Tuesday, the traditional ruler whose submission was greeted with protests from aggrieved members also threat-

ened to lead other delegates from Adamawa State to stage a walk out of the conference hall if the group was pushed to the wall. “I have been sitting here for three days and I have made several attempts to speak but without success. We should not borrow from the so-called civilised countries. Those countries use anything, including coercion, to force the achievement of their interests. If we are pushed to the wall, we will easily walk out of here; jingoism is not the exclusive preserve of anybody,” he added. The quick intervention of Justice Kutigi prevented yesterday’s session from

degenerating as other conferees began to boo the traditional ruler amidst shouts of protests. Consequently, Justice Kutigi who immediately adjourned the session at 11.00 a.m. to resume at 4.00 p.m., yesterday named a 50-member group tagged wise men, made up of eminent Nigerians and leaders of delegation cutting cross the six geo-political zones of the country to join the six-man conference secretariat for a special consultation that will decide on the voting system the conference will adopt. Specifically, through a motion on Tuesday, delegates suggested to Justice Kutigi to

convene a meeting with leaders of the various delegates across the country to deliberate on the knotty issue of consensus whether three-quarters majority vote or two-thirds majority will be adopted as the voting method. Announcing the adjournment yesterday, Justice Kutigi said it had become inevitable to shift the deliberation on the issues in contention because the ‘50 wise men’ selected to bring back a collective resolution for the House to adopt could not conclude before the earlier announced resumption time of 4.00 p.m. Kutigi said: “We went into a meeting and that meeting

continued until lunch time (4.00 p.m.). At the meeting, we made a lot of progress but what I want to inform you is that we may not proceed with this meeting (plenary session) now. We have to adjourn because we have to go back and finish our meeting, and when we finish, the people that we earlier called randomly here and who are holding the meeting will come back and brief you about our discussion. “As soon as we finish, maybe tomorrow - but if you are still here today (Wednesday), they will see you. If not, then till Monday. Because they have to make a comprehensive report to you of the meeting we are

Former Secretary-General, Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku (right); Prof. Wole Soyinka and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odein Ajumogobia, during the inaugural public service debate on Will Nigeria be better served by a Parliamentary System of Government organised by St. John’s forum in Lagos… yesterday. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

holding. It is all in respect of the conference and nothing else. “Because if you had watched the proceedings of the conference from the television yesterday (Tuesday), you would be embarrassed how some of us behaved and we don’t want a repeat of what happened yesterday. That is why we called some of you to join the principal officers to discuss. “In fact, the meeting with the 50 selected delegates is not permanent, and anytime the need for another meeting arises, some other delegates will be selected. We are not putting them as a permanent body; that is why we will select other people to come and assist when there is need for another meeting. “We don’t want this conference to be a failure and by the grace of God, we shall succeed. For that reason, this meeting (conference) will have to stand adjourned until Monday while we go back with the elders (the 50 delegates) we selected in the morning and continue with the meeting. This meeting stands adjourned until Monday, March 27, 2014.” The members of the National Conference Consensus Group are Chief Olu Falae, Dr. Kunle Olajide, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, Chief Mike Ahamba, Chief Peter Odili, Chief Edwin K. Clark, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Prof. Jibril Aminu, Prof. Jerry Gana, Alhaji Adamu Waziri, Malam Tanko Yakassai, Senator Ibrahim Idah, Gen. A.B. Mamman, Chief A.K. Horsfall, Chief Josephine Anenih, Issa Aremu, Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau, Hajiya Bola Shagaya, Olisa Agbakoba, Ambassador Vincent

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Senate confirms Emefiele, Bulkachuwa as CBN, Appeal Court bosses CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

gulfed its over 50-year-old office building in Lagos on Tuesday, except ‘minor ones.’ Acting Governor of CBN, Dr. Sarah Alade, who made the disclosure yesterday, said it was imperative to state clearly what was lost to forestall speculations, especially the ones that are already making the rounds. Speaking with journalists after inspecting the affected building, Alade said that the fire affected the first floor of the building, which housed the Branch Support Office and “one or two administrative rooms.” “The few files lost were minor as the bank had effective backups under its disaster recovery system,” she assured. Indications had emerged on Tuesday that the affected department underwent electrical re-installation in the last few weeks. Emefiele’s confirmation came just after the Senate President, warned senators against fraternising with

nominees sent by the President, pointing out that such practices were very injurious to the image of the Senate. Mark said: “We don’t have to follow the nominees out of the chamber. Please, we should sit where we are and if you want to see them later on, we can do so. “The way we follow to go and take pictures and all that is not the best for elder statesmen who are our senators. I want to appreciate your cooperation in that aspect.” Answering questions at the Senate, Emefiele said he would investigate the various expenditure components of

the bank to know how exactly the deficit became inevitable. He said: “I will look into the budget expenditure components in the CBN but I am aware that we have what is called the operational expenditure profile as well as administrative expenditure profile. “I think and I suspect that more of the deficit would have come from areas that are pertaining to operational expenditure and if it is about operational expenditure, it means that unfortunately, we cannot do anything about it.” He, however, assured the Senate and Nigerians at large that

if approved, his own regime as the CBN governor would not spend any money in contravention of the law. Emefiele also expressed dismay about the preference for dollar to the use of naira. He decried that the development could cripple the country if not checked. His words: “On the issue of dolarisation of naira, I think one of the core mandates of CBN is to ensure that we maintain a legal tender and respect it and ensure that whatever is done, that our naira has to be used as a legal tender. “I will take it as a primary responsibility to ensure that the

attempt to dolarise the Nigerian economy is discouraged. We should not allow it because it will create problems for the economy.” In the course of the screening, he also pledged to uphold core mandate of CBN and ensure that his administration implements monetary policy geared towards economic recovery. He said: “I am aware that the core mandate of the Central Bank of Nigeria is to achieve monetary and price stability. Another core mandate of the CBN is to ensure that we build a very strong foreign reserve. We are also expected to ensure

that we have a strong financial system in Nigeria. “At the back of this mandate, we would work very hard to ensure that we achieve macroeconomic stability in this country where inflation rate shall be seen to continue to come down and where we would as much as possible, continue to maintain a strong exchange rate for the country. “We will ensure that whatever decisions we take at the CBN in the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) would be those that would lead to improvement in the level of employment in Nigeria.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

NERC issues electricity generation licence to Bauchi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 infrastructure in the country. The investment package was the result of a closed-door meeting between Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and key officials of the IFC led by its Country Director for Nigeria, Francoise Marie-Nelly. Other key IFC officials in attendance included its Executive Vice President/CEO, Mr. Jin-Yong Cai; the Nigerian Country Manager, Mr. Solomon Adegbie-Quaynor and its Director, West and Central Africa, Saran Kebeth Koulibally. Speaking with journalists at the end of the meeting in Abuja, IFC Vice President Jin-Yong

declared that the decision of the organisation to invest more in Nigeria was as a result of the realisation that the country possesses key investment potential; hence IFC was desirous to expand its investment portfolio in the country. He said: “We are excited to announce a robust decision to invest the sum of $1.5 billion in the Nigerian housing and power infrastructure sectors. Last year, we invested about $5 billion in Nigeria and we are desirous of expanding that level because we believe there are a lot of potential in the Nigerian investment horizon. We believe there will be more opportunities ahead of us. This particular investment is in housing and power generation infrastructure and to

some extent transportation. We are ready to expand our investment so that they can make meaningful impact aimed at getting quality homes and improved power base for the country,” Jin-Yong Cai stressed. Speaking further, the IFC Country Director, AdegbieQuaynor, said the investments, which would come in form of equity financing as well as credit, are purely on commercial terms as the IFC will be partnering with the private sector. Speaking at a stakeholders’ conference on housing where she met with stakeholders in the supply side of housing delivery, Okonjo-Iweala explained that it showed the high level of confidence the

global economy had on the Nigerian economy. She added that the development would assist in addressing the huge housing deficit and the problematic employment situation created by the long absence of employment of youths. Lamenting the death of some Nigerian youths recently during the Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment exercise, she said: “The best way to honour the memory of the youths who died is for us to work harder to create more jobs. “We created 1.6 million jobs as confirmed by the National Bureau of Statistics. But these are not enough. Every year, 1.8 million new entrants come into the job market in addition to 5.3 million that have accumu-

lated over time. “So, we need to work harder and faster to create more jobs for our youths.” “We are focusing on housing because this sector can significantly increase the number of jobs in addition to growing the economy. This sector will create jobs for builders, carpenters, plumbers, managers, interior decorators and so many others. Also speaking, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, said the effective take-off of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company would broaden access to housing finance and significantly increase the rate of home ownership in Nigeria. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Thursday, March 27, 2014

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News Soyinka, Ajumogobia, others canvass parliamentary govt By Seye Olumide and Tunde Akinola IGERIA needs a system that is less costly to run, not easily manipulated and not prone to corruption, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, said as he, alongside the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Odein Ajumogobia, and others make case for a return to parliamentary system of government. That position was countered by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu. Represented by Prof. Okechukwu Oko, Ekweremadu said it is not the system that is faulty but the operators. He argued that Nigeria needed a system that would better protect the rights of the citizenry and give more accountability to the people in terms of checks and balances. They spoke in Lagos yesterday at a public service debate organised by St. Johns Forum, where a vote taken of the audience by former SecretaryGeneral of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who moderated the debate, recorded 57 in favour as against 33 against parliamentary system. Also in Lagos yesterday, at the launch of a book written by a member of the national conference, Moshood Salvador, another conference delegate, Senator Anthony Adefuye, said the South West would propose a shift from the presidential to parliamentary system. According to him, the present presidential system is too expensive and gives way to excessive spending of public

Security personnel and members of the public watching as demolition was being carried out on kidnappers’ hideout at Soka, as ordered by Oyo State governor …yesterday. PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM

Over 800 patients flee Benue hospitals on attack scare From Saxone Akhaine (Northern Bureau Chief), Kaduna, Odita Sunday (Lagos) and Joseph Wantu (Makurdi) HE festering security crisis in Benue State has assumed a more frightening dimension, as not even the victims of attacks are sure of safety within the hospitals. As at yesterday, no fewer than 800 patients had been evacuated from the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) at Apir, Makurdi, and others due to reported threats of attack by suspected Fulani gunmen. And irked by the frequent attacks by gunmen in Kaduna, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the state has condemned the killings in different parts of the country and urged the Nigerian authorities to address it. ASUU said yesterday that the brazen display of callousness and impunity in the destruc-

PDP upholds Fayose as Ekiti guber candidate From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja HE National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday upheld the victory of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, at the state’s primaries and affirmed him as the party’s candidate in the June 21 governorship election. Fayose won the party’s primary election conducted by the Peter Odili-led electoral committee last weekend. According to a statement yesterday by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, “after thorough consideration of the report, the NWC approved the result and upheld the nomination of Ayo Fayose as candidate of the PDP for the June 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.” It commended the committee for the peaceful and transparent exercise and urged all PDP members in the state, including the other aspirants, to support the party’s candidate to ensure a successful outing at the election.

• Varsity teachers condemn, seek urgent end to killings • Boko Haram cannot carry out aerial raids, says Amosu tion of lives by armed bandits along the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road and other parts of the state was disturbing, as it led to the death of their colleague, Mallam Abubakar Shehu, who was killed early this month. Chairman of the Kaduna State chapter, Dr. Sadiq Abubakar Abdu, and Secretary, Mallam Tukur Abdulkadir, urged the state government to synergize with other authorities to end the wave of killings, while the Federal Government should establish a permanent military and police presence on the Birnin Road. Also, the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Alumni Association is worried at the growing insecurity in the country and has urged government at all levels to step up efforts at arresting the situation. In a communiqué at the end of its council meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the council commended the Federal Government on the take-off of the national conference, hoping that delegates would be patriotic and committed to its

success. It condemned the disruption of academic activities in polytechnics and colleges of education across the country and urged government and the lecturers to resolve their differences without further delay. Meanwhile, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, has assured that the Boko Haram insurgency cannot carry out aerial raids as his men are in full control of Nigeria’s airspace. Amosu, who spoke to newsmen yesterday in Lagos at the seminar organized by the Nigeria Air Force Logistics Command, Ikeja, refuted the claim that Boko Haram insurgents bombed from the air. According to him, “the information is far from the truth.” The Guardian learnt that most of the patients so evacuated have now been lodged at a temporary site, where the number of patients keeps swelling while some are left outside the wards without bed spaces. A health official said on the ground of anonymity that the ru-

moured attack on the Apir settlement by Fulani herdsmen triggered panics in many patients, who then fled their wards for safety. “The area has been deserted and the place is no longer safe for even some of us, who are members of staff, so we have to close down the place,” the official said. The FMC Medical Director, Dr. Mathias Oyigeya, confirmed the situation but said the patients and even some of the hospital staff only started moving when they heard rumours of pending attack on the area. According to him, “the situation was such that you cannot control, but some of the patients in critical condition have been moved to the second centre located within town.” According to Amosu, “someone who does not know Nigeria Airforce planes may see it and think they belong to the insurgents. We are in full control of the airspace of Nigeria. In the North-East, we have to deploy additional technology to be able to see when we have strange things in the air. Don’t forget that we have air defence capabilities.

Court fines police N1m over illegal arrest, torture From Joseph Wantu Makurdi ENUE High Court of Justice sitting in Makurdi, the state capital, presided over by Justice Aondover Kakaan has or-

FEC perfects bill to boost, regulate private sector-driven economy From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja HE Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday began deliberations on two bills aimed at enhancing competitiveness and breaking government monopoly in the various sectors of the Nigerian economy. The two reform bills, which were presented to the council at the instance of President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday, were the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014 and the Nigerian Postal Commission Bill 2014. Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, which was presided by Jonathan, Information Minister, Labaran Maku, said

the bills would strengthen government’s achievements in efforts to transform the economy in the past 10 years. If passed by the National Assembly, he said the bills would prevent anti-trade and monopolistic practices in the Nigerian economy. Maku disclosed that a committee headed by Vice President Namadi Sambo, with relevant ministers, has been set up to further look at the bills before final copies are sent to the National Assembly for consideration. According to Maku, the economy had been undergoing fundamental reforms in the past 10 years, “aimed at achieving a transition from a

state-dominated economy, where all the key sectors of the economy are dominated by government parastatals, to transit into a market-driven economy that opens all sectors to private competition.” He noted: “In the course of these reforms, a number of government agencies and companies have (either) been privatized in the past 10 years or opened up for competition. The purpose of the reforms is to ensure that where government has constituted a clog in the wheel of progress, particularly in key sectors, we open them up to ensure increased private sector investments. “In the course of these re-

fund, while the parliamentary system “is less expensive; you get to vote whoever makes it to the cabinet and the parliament, either at the state or federal level. For Dr. Abdul Mustapha of Oxford University, United Kingdom, a monarchical system is preferable for being “familiar to our people and you don’t need a copious constitution.” However, Soyinka contrasted the presidential system with occurrences in the International Parliament of Writers, where members make laws and travel around the world but take no constituency allowance, wondering what constituency allowance is meant to serve. He noted that factors determine whatever system of governance a nation adopts, while flaying the composition of the National Assembly, where the likes of Senator Ahmed Yerima, who he said ran a draconian government as governor of Zamfara State but was later found to be a paedophile. “It takes great honour to make the honourable list,” he stated. “Any system adopted at all by any nation depends on the commitment of people around the corridor of power for its success.” According to him, such success includes how much the people are willing to learn from past lessons, and “one would have imagined that the country would have used the opportunity of the Nigerian civil war to re-examine the protocols that bind us together to chat a new way forward.”

forms, it has become very clear that unless we undertake serious legal framework to ensure competition in the economy, the monopoly exercised by government companies or parastatals will simply be repeated by private sector monopoly, as people who buy these companies may block further development of the sectors.” Stressing that the Nigerian economy presently does not have any specific agency that deals with abuse of trade practices, anti-trust and monopolies, Maku said that such agency must be in place in every open economy if competition would thrive to develop the economy.

dered the Benue State Police Command to pay the sum of N1 million to two applicants, Mr. Abraham Lubem Abado and Deacon Toryila Amber over their illegal arrest, detention and torture. Delivering judgment in a suit filed by the applicants through Mr. Terna Agerzua, the court also ordered the respondent to tender apology to the applicants in two national daily newspapers and to jointly and severally pay the 1st and 2nd applicants the said compensation. Justice Kakaan in his judgment noted that the respondents exhibited the highest degree of high handedness, cruelty and brute force and naked show of power in the circumstances leading to the case. According to Justice Kakaan, with the facts placed before the police even if they charged the applicants to court, it would have amounted to calling on them to prove their innocence and that again would have been unconstitutional.

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Presidency raises panel to re-conduct recruitment into Immigration From Karls Tsokar, Abuja HE Federal Government T has reconstituted a Special Presidential Committee to reconduct the ill-fated recruitment exercise into the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) with no representative from the Ministry of Interior. A statement from the office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, issued yesterday in Abuja said President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the composition of the Committee with Chairman of the Federal Civil Serv-

• Leaves out Interior Ministry ice Commission, Deaconess Joan Ayo, as the head. The committee is mandated “to assist the Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons Board to re-conduct the aborted recruitment into NIS.” The Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service, a representative of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, representative of the Commandant-General, NSCDC, representative of the Comptroller of Prison Service, representative of the Corp Marshal,

Conference adjourns till Monday CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Okobi and Ambassador (Prof.) Lawrence Ekpebu. Others are Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Dr. Joe Nwaogu, Honourable Mohammed Umara Kumalia, Prof. Auwalu Yadudu, Prof. Iyorchia Ayu, Obong Victor Attah, Senator Khairat Abdulrazaq Gwadabe, Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba, Alhaji Adamu Aliero, Mr. Atedo Peterside, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Prof. Isa B. Mohammed, Kashim Ibrahim Imam, Senator Florence ItaGiwa, H.E. Ken Nnamani, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Alhaji Sule Yahya Hamma, Dr. Abubakar Saddique Mohammed. The rest are Chief Olusola Akanmode, Justice Lawal Hassan Gummi (Emir of Gummi), Mr. Ledum Metee, Mr. Fola Adeola, Senator Mimibariya Amange, Rt. Hon. Anayo Nebe, Dr Raymond Dokpesi, Chief Benjamin Elue, Gen. Alani Akinrinade, Nduka Obaigbena and Justice Mamman Nasir. However, it was gathered that at the consensus meeting, the controversy surrounding the voting pattern that led to the deadlock stems from the fear that one interest

group has numerical advantage over another. Therefore, when it comes to the issues of regional interest, the one that has an upper hand would overwhelm the other one that is supposedly disadvantaged. The Guardian learnt that if resolutions are to be taken, the South, which seems to be in the majority, may take a single stand and out-vote the position of the North, which at a glance appeared numerically disadvantaged. For instance, the issues of resource control, local council creation and revenue sharing formula were considered as being of particular interest to some regional representatives, and would therefore form the crux of their demands that would be put to vote during the sessions, which will ultimately be part of the recommendations at the end of the conference. But this fear was dispelled as it was gathered that the northern delegates were made to understand that the composition of the conference representatives is balanced and considering that every geo-political zone represented has its agenda, it will therefore be difficult to take a simple stand on one is-

FRSC and representative of the Director-General, Department of State Services will serve as members. The Permanent Secretary, Special Duties (OSGF) would serve as the Secretary to the committee, which has been given 12 weeks to complete the assignment. The panel is, among its terms of reference, to “liaise with the Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons Board and confirm the actual number of personnel to be recruited.” Other terms of reference include: • to assist the Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons Board by re-advertising the recruitment into the NIS with a view to starting the recruitment process afresh; • to assist the Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons Board by processing the applications, shortlisting

potential candidates and conducting the necessary interviews for the purpose of the recruitment exercise; • to assist the Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons Board by following all relevant laws, public service

rules and guidelines, to determine successful applicants and announce their appointment into the NIS; • to ensure that three family members of each deceased applicant from the aborted exercise, at least one of whom

should be a female, are given immediate and automatic employment in the NIS; and • to ensure that all those injured during the aborted exercise, are given immediate and automatic employment in the NIS.

At FRC hearing, Akingbola says ‘matter is subjudice’ Reporting Coun- tion of the parties and their Evelyn Oputu, Managing DiFin cilINANCIAL of Nigeria (FRC) yesterday counsel including interna- rector, Bank of Industry ( BOI); Lagos opened its much an- tional lawyers, Mr. Akingbola ticipated two-day investigative hearing on activities of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for financial years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 with the Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank, Dr. Erastus Akingbola, not making his presentation upon invitation by the probe panel. The session which started as scheduled had set-up audio-visual mechanisms for ease of presentation by the individuals invited by the panel including Dr. Akingbola. A source said: “After introduc-

informed the panel that he was constrained due to the fact that the subject of his petition was currently before a court of competent jurisdiction and that based on the advice of his lawyers, it would be wrong for him to comment on the same issues before the investigators.” The hearing session continues today with Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Mr. Tunde Lemo, former Deputy Governor (Operations), CBN; Ms.

the CBN’S Acting Governor, Dr. Sarah Alade; Deputy Governors of the CBN, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu and Alhaji Suleiman Barau, as well as others scheduled to appear. Meanwhile, one of Akingbola’s alleged property located at 19 Embassy Court, London NW8 9SX was said to have been sold yesterday for £5.7 million pursuant to the verdict of Mr. Justice Burton of the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London ordering him to refund the sum of N165 billion to Intercontinental Bank which is now a part Access Bank Plc.

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (right); distinguished guest lecturer, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Osun State University, Prof. Gabriel Adesiyan Olawoyin, during the second UNIOSUN distinguished guest lecture at the university auditorium, Osogbo… yesterday.

New CBN chief vows to probe bank’s expenditure CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Emefiele equally promised a cordial relationship between the apex bank and the Ministry of Finance towards ensuring economic growth. “The Central Bank of Nigeria is the monetary authority whereas the Ministry of Finance is the fiscal authority. It is important that in their relationship, they must work in one direction. “They must push in one direction. If we push in opposite directions, what you will find is that we are not going to be able to achieve economic growth and development that we are talking about. “It is important that both the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank move in one direction. If the decision is that we should pursue a conventional policy, both the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance should be seen to move in one direction. Emefiele, who answered questions to the admiration of the senators, expressed optimism that having managed banks for over 27 years; he has acquired a wealth of experience to bear on the macro banking demands of the CBN office. On her part, Justice Bulkachuwa made a case for proper

funding of the Judiciary. She said: “On the funding of the Judiciary, this is a very serious issue with us. We are the biggest court in the country. We have 90 justices as of now. We have 16 divisions of the Court of Appeal. But our budget this year is N10.1 billion. “The Justices have their salaries and allowances that should be charged on the consolidated revenue fund. So, if you take that out of the N10.1billion, what are you left with? “Then we need courts and

houses for our Justices and so many houses of the Justices that are dilapidated, they are out of fashion. “Like the ones in Lagos, they are the old colonial houses that were given to our Justices since the Supreme Court days because we inherited both the houses and the courts from the Supreme Court. “We cannot renovate them because we lack the funds to do that. Some of our houses are in a sorry state. If our Justices are comfortable, I assure, you have the best set of

judges in Nigeria”. Godwin I. Emefiele, from Agbor, Delta State, served as Chief Executive Officer and Group Managing Director, Zenith Bank Plc. Mr. Emefiele served as Deputy Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc since 2001. He served as Executive Director in charge of Corporate Banking, Treasury, Financial Control and Strategic Planning of Zenith Bank Plc and had been in the management team since inception. Mr. Emefiele has over 18 years of banking experience.

Emefiele served as Director at Zenith Bank Plc and Zenith Bank (Gambia) Limited. Before commencing his banking career, he has lectured on Finance and Insurance at the University of Nigeria Nsukka and University of Port Harcourt, respectively. He also served as Director of ACCION Micro-finance Bank Limited. He is also an alumnus of Executive Education at Stanford University, Harvard University (2004) and Wharton Graduate Schools of Business (2005).

Emefiele holds a B.Sc degree in 1984 and an MBA degree in Finance in 1986, both from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Also yesterday, the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance also screened Mr. Adebayo Adelabu Adeyinka who had been nominated to occupy the position of Deputy Governor in the apex bank. But his confirmation would wait till the committee submits report to that effect to the Senate.

ded generation window at NERC. Yuguda added: “We made sure that we complied with every regulation needed by the regulator before the commencement of the power plant. On the agreement that was signed with those who are to construct the power plant, we were initially given 18 months for the delivery of up to 150mw but we believe that the first three months from the date of their clearing of site, we will deliver 35mw by the grace of God. He noted that the state had al-

ready signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC). He further said: “Once we have sufficient power, then we can sell the balance to other states and consumers.” He noted that funding for the project was included in the $1.6 billion China EXIM Bank soft loan, payable within 25 years; counterpart-funding from the Federal Government’s Electricity Intervention Fund from the Bank of Industry (BoI) and equity contributions from the state government.

NERC issues generation licence to Bauchi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 She observed that Housing and Urban Development sector is one of the key sectors for growing the national economy for sustainable national development. The generation project is to be realised through the Yankari Power Company of the state and is designed to use gas, crude oil and Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) as options. NERC Chairman, Sam Amadi, said: “Having gone through due process, the commission has gladly issued licence authorising the state govern-

ment to generate power. We feel happy about this project because it is the future of the electricity industry until we are able to increase energy. “We want embedded power put in states where we don’t have to incur transmission cost and serve customers more efficiently within those areas. So, this project is very attractive because it guarantees that Bauchi State will have power to improve its economy and the people’s lives. “So, today we are using this project as a model to other state governments to invest in

embedded generation so as to enable their citizens have access to reliable electricity.” He said NERC was satisfied with the technical, commercial, environmental issues as articulated in the application for the licence, assuring that the process went through very rigorous technical due. Bauchi State Governor, Isah Yuguda, put the cost of the project at $200 million (N33 billion), noting that it would be completed within 18 months. He called on other states to take advantage of the embed-

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Thursday, March 27, 2014

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Delegates’ security, media concerns Stories by Terhemba Daka and Karls Tsokar, Abuja NXIETY over security and A media coverage on Tuesday dominated proceedings of the National Conference sitting at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Abuja. The former could be of serious worry to many delegates due to the security problems in parts of the north. Abuja has had its share of the security breaches by insurgents operating on the wing of Boko Haram. However, the latter observation was self-serving, as a few delegates attempted to protect themselves from obvious ridicule owing to their personal lapses or indulgences at the conference. A delegate, Brig.-Gen. Mohammad Mansur Dan-Ali (Rtd), had cited what he described as an anomaly contrary to universal standards in the security arrangement at the conference. Gen. Dan-Ali, one of the delegates from Zamfara State, faulted the deployment of men of the State Security Services (SSS) tasked with the responsibility of guarding the venue. Consequently, he called for the redeployment of the gun-wielding SSS personnel, whose security arrangement he described as sketchy. In their place, he proposed the immediate deployment of soldiers to take over the security of the area. The delegate, who raised the observation during a question and answer session, queried the rationale for the deployment of operatives of the SSS to the conference venue. He argued that it was professionally wrong for the men of a secret service to take over combat duties, which are strictly within the purview of the military. He told the conference that he had observed a serious lacuna in the security set-up in the area, particularly at the entrance to the venue and expressed the need for

Odumakin a watertight arrangement in addition to the thorough screening of vehicular and human movements into the centre. “This conference is a gathering of the who-is-who in the country, and anything that happens here should be the concern of all Nigerians,” he said. “There is no reason why the leadership of the conference cannot request for soldiers to be deployed to the venue to provide security.” Gen. Dan-Ali maintained that there’s nowhere in the world

Nwanyanwu where the secret service, including the CIA, MOSSAD and the KGB whose operations are covert in nature, takes over combat duties, “only the Nigerian SSS.” “We need to take care here; the SSS is not meant for combat duties,” he stressed. Commenting on the issue, Yinka Odumakin, a delegate from the Southwest, cautioned members from delving into issues that were outside the purview of the conference. “I think security matters should

not be the discussion of this entire House; if anybody has issues about security, it should be taken up with the leadership,” he said. But in his ruling on the matter, the Chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi (Rtd) gave the assurance that the leadership would address all the observations raised by the delegate (Gen. Dan-Ali) with a view to tackling them. Meanwhile, a subtle attempt to propose restriction to the activities of newsmen covering the con-

Nnamani clarifies mandate HERE was noticeable applause T from delegates after erstwhile Senate President and delegate to the conference, Ken Nnamani, knowledgeably explained what was heading to an exchange of fisticuffs at Tuesday’s sitting. In obvious confusion as to what is expected of them, some delegates, while debate on the adoption of the draft Rules and Procedure for the confab was going on, were of the position that certain provisions be changed to enable them amend the Constitution. The contentious Order XIII — Final Report (3) reads: “Should the final report leads to the drafting of issues of law and policy, the conference shall, in consultation with six principal Officers of the conference, advise the government on the legal framework, legal procedures and options for integrating the decisions and outcomes of the National Conference into the Constitution and laws of the country.” Some of the delegates said the need to rephrase this clause was overwhelming, as the National Assembly does not represent what Nigerians want. Olaniwun Ajai said there was need

for all the recommendations of the confab to be compiled into a Referendum and forwarded to the National Assembly “to be incorporated into the Constitution of the Federal Republic.” Quite contrary to what is obtained, he said, “they (delegates) are here as representatives of Nigerians and the decisions that they take here would reflect the wider desire of the people and should be represented in a referendum, so that it is made legally binding on Nigerians.” Dr. Joe Odumakin, who represents Women Arise for Change Initiative and Campaign for Democracy, likening the issue in contention to “waiting for a picture to shed tears” said the result of the confab should be presented in a referendum for incorporation into the Constitution.” However, Nnamani, reacting after several such submissions, and counter-submissions from the delegates, dug into his wealth of experience to proffer a solution. He said: “We are arrogating too much of the powers that we do not have to ourselves. No matter how irregular our National Assembly

has been, for now, we have nothing to replace it. “We don’t have any legal backing to bring out a referendum. The President himself said he would persuade the National Assembly to fast-track amendments of the Constitution to make room for a referendum. “We (conference) don’t have the legal instrument to amend the Constitution; ours is to recommend to the President what we have found here that would better shape the country as we see it. “We are not elected by the people but rather selected and not elected by the people.” Nnamani’s observation cleared the air, as the conference Chairman, Justice Kutigi, said the mandate of the conference does end with recommendations to the authority that set up the dialogue. Other delegates that lent a voice to the issue after Nnamani’s clarification, simply referred to the fact that some of the delegates are not representatives of the people but mere friends of the government both at the national and state levels, hence such delegates got nominated to the confab.

Nnamani

ference was resisted by the members. Mahmood Aminu, a delegate representing Public Interest Lawyers League, a Civil Society group from the South-South, raised the proposal. Specifically, Aminu expressed concerns over the media publication of photographs of some of the delegates caught sleeping during the commencement of plenary session on Monday. He particularly took a swipe at the media publishing such photographs, stating that, “we know it is the responsibility of the press to publish but we also know that right must be balanced against the dignity of the individual and their rights to privacy.” “I want to use this opportunity to call on the press to report the proceedings of this conference with all sense of responsibility,” he said. However, contributing to the matter, Yinka Odumakin cautioned against subliminal attempts by the conference to gag the media. “Whilst it is important to ensure to make the media report accurately, I think there should be no attempts to gag the media,” he said. “We have not been sent here to come and sleep, and if the media observe that people are sleeping, they have a duty to publish those photographs. They are only doing their job.” Dan Nwanyanwu, a delegate on the platform of Labour Party (LP), warned against attempts to muscle the press in the course of the conference. “We are here for serious business; anybody who wants to sleep should step out and help himself,” he said. “If you decide to help yourself by sleeping, nobody should come here to gag the press. They have just said the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. “If you have any reason to take a nap to help yourself because of health challenges, please, excuse yourself but don’t gag the press.”

6 | Thursday, March 27, 2014

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NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi (left); Idris Kutigi and Conference Secretary, Valerie Azinge.

Prof. Jubril Aminu (left); Senator Anietie Okon and Prof. Anya O. Anya.

Gen. Alani Akinrinade (left); Sen. Jack Gyado and Gen. Ike Nwachukwu.

Cross Section of Persons with Disabilities in the Conference

Oba Aderemi Adeniyi Oladapo (left); Oba Michael Gbadebo and Oba Kehinde Gbadewole at the Conference.

Abdullahi Ali Kano (left); Justice Bilikisu Aliyu and Maryam Abdullahi.

Jimeta Gambo (left) and Elder Edwin K. Clark.

A cross section of traditional rulers at the Conference.

PHOTOS: LADIDI LUCY-ELUKPO

Thursday, March 27, 2014 NEWS 7

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‘Why members of other parties defect to APC in Taraba’ From Charles Akpeji, Jalingo

HE ongoing defection T from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and

General Manager, Dstv Media Sales Africa, Chery van Rensburg (left); Managing Director, Multichoice Nigeria, John Ugbe; Deputy General Manager, Dstv Media Sales Africa, Kholeka Maringa and Regional Director, Mnet Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu at the Dstv Media Sales showcase in Lagos. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Ebonyi mourns Oduoye From Nnamdi Akpa, Abakaliki BONYI State Governor, Martin Elechi has described the death of the former Military Administrator, AIG Simone Oduoye (rtd) as shocking and saddening. In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Onyekachi Eni, Elechi said: “The death of AIG Simone Oduoye was a huge loss not only to the people of Osun State where he hailed from and Ebonyi and Niger states where he was Military Administrator but the nation at large in whose Police Force he served meritoriously.” Elechi recalled that as the second Military Administrator of Ebonyi State in 1988, Oduoye greatly contributed in laying the administrative foundation of the state following its creation in 1996. His words: “In addition to his varied contributions to the development of Ebonyi State, he also conducted the first democratic election in the state which ushered in the first civilian administration. “The fact that Oduoye was later elected by his people to represent them at the Senate spoke volumes about his acceptability, diverse experience and general contributions to nation building.”

Reps summon NDE boss over alleged N44m spent on entertainment From Adamu Abuh, Abuja HE House of RepresentaT tives has summoned the Director General of National Directorate of Employment, Mallam Mohammed Abubakar, for allegedly spending about N44 million for the entertainment of guests while commissioning three projects at various locations across the country. Chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, Ethics and Values, Mr. Abiodun Faleke, who justified the summon expressed concern that monies meant to actualise the Millennium Development Goals were being spent on frivolities. He disclosed that members of his committee uncovered how the agency allegedly expended the monies under the guise of commissioning three centres during the 2013 fiscal year. Faleke wondered why such a huge sum would be frittered away in the name of organising a

mere ceremony when there are more pressing MDG projects requiring attention. “I am concerned that an agency that is supposed to be training the less privileged ones in the society is wasting such a huge money on inconsequential things. I am concerned that if we use N16 million just to organise the ceremony for commissioning an MDG project, of what use is such an expenditure? What goal is it going to achieve? What is more worrisome is that these monies are MDG fund aimed at achieving the set goals of the MDG which have 2015 as its terminal date.” Continuing, the lawmaker, who disclosed that the NDE chief had been evading his committee to respond to queries on the issue, further said: “We will like to know how he spent MDG funds to commission centres whether the monies was used to buy one meat pie or the scissors that was used to

cut the tape for the ceremony. “This is an MDG that uses N23 million to build a block of three classrooms including furniture, yet our NDE, an agency designed to alleviate poverty, has squandered N44 million on commissioning ceremonies. “We also expect him to tell us what he meant by training consumables which appeared in 13 sub-heads. Why he also used an MDG intervention fund for such spurious expenditure, we need answers to those things we queried.” The lawmaker disclosed that the NDE chief who was billed to appear before his committee on March 16 is yet to honour the invitation due to inexplicable reasons. The document made available to The Guardian claims that the agency spent N16,077,842.14 in commissioning of Araromi training centre, in Ibadan. It also expended the sum of

Lagos indigenes eulogise Macaulay, allege marginalisation By Banji-Idowu Bola OME eminent indigenes of Lagos State have extolled the virtues of the late Herbert Macaulay, one of the foremost nationalists in Nigeria during the colonial rule. Among those who described Macaulay as a dogged fighter against colonial rule during the 6th Herbert Macaulay Memorial Lecture titled “Place of Lagos State Indigenes in Africa and Nigeria” at the weekend were Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, Chief Rasheed Fanimokun and the Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU) and Prof. John Obafunwa. In his address, Obanikoro decried an alleged marginalisation of Lagos indigenes in the state, calling on them to come together for the benefit of their younger generation, irrespective of political divide. He urged the indigenes to

other political parties to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State has been attributed to the presence of internal democracy in the party (APC). Though the exact figure of PDP members who have decamped to APC was not made available to The Guardian by the state Interim Chairman, Alhaji Hassan Jikan Ardo at the time of this interview, it was noticed that due to the internal wrangling in the PDP, the number of party members currently pitching tent with APC in the state have continued to increase daily. On the reason for decamping to APC, Ardo said: “ In our party, we don’t have much problem because where you always have this internal wrangling, there will be an element of injustice.”

stand together to resist alleged conscious efforts to shrink their political and economic spaces. “Today, the indigenes of Lagos State stand at the precipe. In the last 16 years of democracy, the true numbers of Lagos indigenes that have been commissioner are about 10. Similar trend has been seen at the National Assembly. When I was a Senator, I was the only indigenous senators representing Lagos State,” Obanikoro said. The minister, who noted majority of those who have been at the helm of affairs in Lagos are from other Yoruba states, said: “They have cornered the resources of Lagos for themselves to the detriment of the indigenes.” According to him, there is nothing wrong in Lagos State government putting in place more measures to empower

the indigenes. “What we must do is to use the platform of the Association of Lagos Indigenes to protect what belong to us. All over the world, efforts are made to give indigenes their right of place irrespective of their number. The fact that we are generous should not make us a victim. We should work to ensure that our status as indigenes is restored. We cannot downplay the principle of peaceful co-existence. Lagos is the most important symbol of unity in Nigeria. Lagos deserves a befitting special status. By its special status, it can stand as a country on its own. And that is why Lagos must be well protected.” He said that the indigenes must resolve to be undivided by politics would come and go but the interest of the people would remain and so must comes first.

Obanikoro further saluted the courage of those who keep the voices up and alive despite the reference to Lagos as a “no man’s land.” He, however, challenged the indigenes, particularly those who have the means to build people of strong minds to expand their political space. He also paid glowing tribute to the late Macaulay, describing him as a foremost nationalist and champion of the voices of the masses. In his speech, Fanimokun, who was the chairman of the event, harped on the need to be prepared to tackle the status of Lagos as a mega city. “Lagos has transformed into a megacity and since 1999, there have been efforts to make it work. By 2015, Lagos will become a Mega City, with over 20 million people and there is need to meet the challenge.”

N16,077,842.14 to commission the Onipanu training centre located in Ibadan, Oyo State. The Bwari training centre was also said to have been commissioned with over N12 million, bringing the total amount spent by the agency in commissioning three centres to N44 million. The committee also queried the cost of replenishing consumables at NDE/MDGs skills centres put at N2 million each which appeared in 13 sub-heads, totaling N26 million.

Stressing that the party is working tirelessly round the clock to carry all members along, Ado, who was optimistic that APC would emerge victorious in the forthcoming general elections at the state and national levels, said “When you are out for justice, you will not have such internal wrangling in the party.” Unlike other parts of the country that now witness movement of APC members to other political parties, The Guardian noted that the reversed is the case in Taraba State, as members from other political parties, according to Ardo, have continued to signify interest to join APC. “There are certain things we don’t disclose because they are our weapons. You may not know exactly how many people are now willing to come back to APC. Majority of the people elsewhere that have not even declared their intension, sometimes around 2 a.m. in the night, they will call and beg us to register them as members of APC.” Ardo told The Guardian that popular members of PDP are gradually tracing their roots to APC. “I don’t want to disclose the numbers of big parties stalwarts that have registered with us but they don’t want to make it public now, but the time would soon come that they would be disclosed. “In the APC”, according to the interim chairman, “We only receive, we don’t discharge and we have been receiving and I am assuring you that we would continue to receive people decamping from other parties until when there is nothing to receive again, because by then, all of them must have come back to APC.”

8 | Thursday, March 27, 2014

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PHOTONEWS

The Chief Financial Officer, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Olusola Olayinka (left); representative of the Director-General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Olumide Oshineye; Chief Operating Officer, Olusola Olayinka; Chief Executive Officer, Adebisi Awoniyi; Christopher Penninck, and others during the inauguration of the new multi-million naira cargo screening machine procured by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services, operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2). PHOTO: SOLA OJEDOKUN

Commissioner for Finance, National Pension Commission, Adesoji Olaoba-Efuntayo (left); Acting Director General, PENCOM, Chinelo Anohu-Amazu and Head, Benefits and Pensions Department, PENCOM, Olulana Loyinmi, during the 2014 Retirees’ Forum in Lagos. PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

Chief Medical Director, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Dr. Mohammed Alkali (left); Bauchi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sani Malami; Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu and Chairman, Board of Management, ATBUTH, Major General Suleiman Barau, during the inauguration of ATBUTH Administrative Block phase 2 in Bauchi. PHOTO: NAN

Gersh Henshaw; First Vice President, James Omeru; President, Emeka Eleh; Linda Patuola-Ajayi and Akwa Ibom State branch Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Soni Udom during the press conference for the 44th Annual General Conference of the Institution in Uyo.

Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Nicholas Vervelde (left); Country Managing Director, Accenture Nigeria, Niyi Yusuf and Chief Executive Officer, Comnavig ICT Advisers, Olufemi Adeagbo, during the just concluded 20th Nigeria Economic Summit on Transforming Education, in Abuja.

Deputy Manager, Regulation and Monitoring LOTTO, Michael Okogbue (left); winners of the second Johnnie Walker Step Up to the VIP Lifestyle promo, Mr. and Mrs. Chimezie Ekwebelem and Brand Manager, Johnnie Walker, Amaechi Okobi, during the presentation of the BMW car won by the couple at Enugu.

Camp Commandant, Captain Joshua Yandua (left); Executive Director, Marketing, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Benson Evbuomwan; National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Lagos State Director, Adenike Adeyemi and Channels Development Manager, Honeywell Flour Mills, Dayo Adeniyi, during the Honeywell wheat meal cooking competition at NYSC camp in Lagos. PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN

Executive Director, Client Coverage, Standard Chartered Bank, Dr. Remi Oni; Commercial Consul of the Consulate General, Peoples Republic of China in Lagos, Zhang Xiong; Director of Administrative Office, the Consulate General, Peoples Republic of China in Lagos, Xu Yuansheng and Head, Transaction Banking, Standard Chartered Bank, Chuks Ugha, at the Standard Chartered Chinese New Year Party in Lagos.

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Thursday, March 27, 2014 | 9

WorldReport Washington mudslide death toll hits 16 UTHORITIES say they have A recovered the bodies of two more people killed in a massive mudslide in the United States’ State of Washington, bringing the total to 16. According to British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the officials said they thought they had located eight more bodies under the mud but were unable to retrieve them. As many as 176 people remain unaccounted for. A 177ft (54m) wall of mud buried the town of Oso, north of Seattle, on Saturday. Officials said the search would resume at first light. “We haven’t lost hope that there’s a possibility that we could find somebody alive,” local fire chief Travis Hots told reporters on Tuesday night. “We are coming to the realisation that that may not be a possibility - but we are going full

steam ahead. “We are going at this hard to get everybody that’s out there that’s missing” The sudden, catastrophic mudslide on Saturday destroyed about 30 houses, temporarily damming a river and leaving a square-mile field of muck and debris in its wake. Survivors were last pulled alive from the mud on Saturday. But as many as 200 searchand-rescue workers at a time aided by dogs, helicopters, laser imaging and excavation equipment - have not let up since, pausing only when darkness made the work too dangerous, officials said. The search-and-rescue operation was further complicated on Tuesday by heavy rain, Hots said, as the workers were forced to contend with slippery mud, upturned nails, wreckage, and deep pits of water.

Families skeptical of Malaysia plane probe HE PowerPoint presentaT tion wasn’t enough. The analysis by British investigators that Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was lost at sea wasn’t enough. The relatives of Chinese passengers gathered in a hotel banquet hall yesterday were still skeptical — and hostile. “It’s all lies. Not a shred of truth!” said a man who identified himself as Mr. Zhang from the Chinese city of Harbin. He said afterward that he had wanted to pummel everyone giving the presentation — a delegation of Malaysian government and airline officials. The officials came to Beijing a day after China demanded more details on how the missing plane was pronounced lost, and after Chinese authorities allowed the relatives to

vent frustrations in a rare public march Tuesday to Malaysia’s embassy in Beijing to denounce that country’s handling of the disappearance. Before an audience of several hundred relatives and their supporters, the Malaysian delegation read a report by investigators from Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch concluding the plane went down in the southern Indian Ocean based on faint signals — or pings — from the plane to a British satellite. During a nearly two-hour question-and-answer session, audience members asked how investigators could have reached conclusions about the direction and speed of the plane, and delegation members said they didn’t have the

technical expertise to answer. One woman retorted, “I thought this was a high-level team!” to applause from the crowd. Meanwhile, in Malaysia’s main city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Defense Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein urged calm and understanding on both sides. “Time will heal emotions that are running high. We fully understand,” Hishammuddin told a news conference. “For the Chinese families, they must also understand that we in Malaysia also lost our loved ones. There are so many other nations that have lost their loved ones.” Though many observers criticized Malaysia’s initial response to the crisis, the Chinese relatives of passen-

gers — two-thirds of whom were Chinese — have been especially distrustful. They have accused Malaysia of being slow to track the plane the day of its disappearance on March 8, withholding information until it was too late to be of use in the search, and not telling the world all they knew about what might have happened aboard the plane. Zhang Lifan, a Beijing-based independent commentator, said such mistrust is part of life in China. “Chinese citizens live in an environment where information is not transparent and they naturally assume that the authorities, whether Chinese or otherwise, are misinforming them,” Zhang said, adding that people have “the default position of feeling cheated.”

Thursday, March 27, 2014 www.ngrguardiannews.com

Our current total installed capacity is 210 millions gallons per day. Present water demand by virtue of this population is 540 million gallons per day. There is a short fall of 330 million gallons per day.

Artisans working on an open-surface water pipeline

Challenges of providing potable water to Lagosians – LWC boss The United Nations’ (UN) World Water Day that is usually celebrated on March 22 each year took place last Saturday. All around the world events were organised on that day to increase people’s awareness of water’s importance in environment, agriculture, health and trade. According to the 2014 world water development report, which was released prior to the day by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and UN Water, places where people do not have adequate access to water largely coincide with those where people have no electric power. The UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, on her part, estimated that 1,400 children under five die every day from diarrhea and other water borne diseases due to lack of safe water. The children’s rights organization further estimated, along with the UN World Health Organization (WHO) that 10 countries accommodate almost two-thirds of the global population without access to improved drinking water sources. These include China (108 million), India (99 million), Nigeria (63 million), Ethiopia (43 million), Indonesia (39 million), Democratic republic of the Congo (37 million), Bangladesh (26 million), United Republic of Tanzania (22 million), Kenya (16 million) and Pakistan (16 million). Following these revelations, The Guardian went to the Lagos Water Corporation’s (LWC) managing director, Mr. Shayo Holloway to speak on the state of potable water provision in Lagos and what is being done to improve on it. Mr. Holloway in company of Mr. Deji Johnson, LWC’s Executive Director, Operations, spoke to Godfrey Okpugie, Deputy Lagos City Editor. Excerpts:

29 million, which will make us the third largest mega city in the world. We have embarked on the implementation of the master plan with the construction of Adiyan phase 11. As I speak to you at this interview, construction work is going on at Adiyan phase 11, which is going to provide more than 70 million gallons per day into the existing network. We are discussing with foreign technical partners for the development of a large water scheme in Badagry, which is going to be a 50 million gallons per day in the water scheme. We have been having discussions on this and have reached basic design stage for the water works that is being done in partnership with the private sector. Similarly, Odomola in Epe, another proposed large water scheme, is going to be an ultimate 210 million gallons per day water scheme in partnership with private sector. The reason we are doing this with private sector is that given the projected population growth the demand for water is going to be 745 million gallons per day, which will cost about $5.3 billion dollars. The state government cannot solely fund that. No state government can do that because of other competing sectors of the economy like education, security, health etc. Lagos state cannot afford to put all its revenue into water sector alone, it can only assist and it has been doing that. For example, the Adiyan phase 11 water schemes and the various IPPs that are supporting all the water works are being funded by the state government. So we are partnering the private sector to ensure we are able to deliver more water. The challenge of population is real. On the average, a thousand people migrate to Lagos everyday. When the ongoing rehabilitation works, which we started in 2010, are completed by the end of this month (March 2014), we will see improved service delivery. We intend to develop about eight large water schemes because the large water schemes are more cost effective, less problematic, more dependable and can reach more people. The Odomola, which is planned to cover from Epe to all the way to Itire and others planned to be in Badagry to supply water to Badagry and Mile 2 areas, works are ongoing. A lot is being done. When the ongoing rehabilitation works are completed, the Iju and Adiyan water works will be operating at a minimum of 85 percent capacity. You can imagine the difference when about 110 million gallons of water is being pumped into the metropolis.

Apart from these two major water works at Iju N the perennial water shortage in Lagos and Adiyan, the state government also through and the resort to boreholes or wells by its proactive IPP trust has established various Lagosians for water IPPs in different parts of Lagos. For instance, the Lagos Island IPP now supplies power to two of It is not totally correct that practically everyour mini water works – Dolphin and Onikan. body in Lagos is using borehole or well. That is not correct because a lot has been done and The IPP in Ikeja, which serves Alausa and environs also provides power for the mini water a lot is being done to ensure that we are able to provide water to a reasonable extent to the works in Alausa. But because of the population of Lagos, the people. However, there are challenges and we have mini water works cannot meet demand. In fact, our present total installed capacity is 210 million to face those challenges squarely. If we don’t gallons per day. Current water demand by recognize that there are challenges then we virtue of population is 540 million gallons per are not really serious about the problems. day. There is a short fall of 330 million gallons Number one: Lagos today, has a population, per day. which is more than most African countries. AS water corporation we know that the coverWith an estimated population of between 20 age that we have within the metropolis is about and 21 million, Lagos population today is 45 percent, that is, the coverage of the reach that equivalent to that of Ghana. Currently, our we have within our system. Lagos has expanded operational scope is equivalent to that of exponentially. There are areas that were once Ghana’s water corporation. We have 48 mini water works, these are small plants that have suburbs but which have today become so develcapacity for between 1 million gallons per day oped that they are now urban areas. So, there is to 3 million gallons per day that abstract raw the extra challenge of ensuring that we provide You have spoken so much about your efforts water to these places as well. water from the ground, treat and pump out. at enhancing water supply to Lagosians but To meet demand and also be able to provide We have 48 of them all over the state. In addinowhere in the city these are being noticed. No water to every home by year 2020, we developed new pipes are being connected to people’s tion to these are three major water works of a water master plan, which we have been follow- homes or to new areas by your corporation. Adiyan with a capacity of 70 million gallons ing. The water master plan is the road map to per day, Iju with a capacity of 45 million galAgain, people complain about the impurity lons per day and Isasi with a capacity of 4 mil- take us from the present 210 million gallons per noticed in water pumped from Iju water works lion gallons per day. And right now the fourth day to 745 million gallons per day by year 2020 CONTINUED ON PAGE 11 major water works, Ota-Ikosi 4 million gallons when the population of Lagos is expected to hit per day capacity is being test run. It will supply water to eleven rural communities in Epe area and Ikorodu town. A major problem that has been hindering the efficient operation of these water treatment plants has been power. We all know the present situation of power in Nigeria. Everybody practically relies on diesel. That affects us because we need power to be able to treat and pump water out. So, it is in light of this that the Lagos state government, the first of its kind, constructed and dedicated a 12.15 megawatts IPP to providing power to Adiyan and Iju so that Lagosians can get water. Adiyan and Iju water works are currently under rehabilitation. The rehabilitation will be completed by the end of this month (March, 2014) at which time we will be able to be pumping out 70 million gallons per day from Adiyan, 45 million gallons per day from Iju through the support of the 12.15 megawatt Managing Director, Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), Shayo Holloway (right) and Executive Director, Operations, Deji Johnson IPP provided by the state government.

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Water demand far outstrips supply CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 into people’s homes. What is your corporation doing about this? That is not correct. I will give an example. After this interview, you can go and verify yourself. Go to Oworosoki, we are currently delivery water to Oworosoki. We are laying pipes from our Adiyan trunk in Bariga to serve the entire Oworosoki community. For a long time, especially in the last quarter of last year, Lagos Water Corporation was very busy working in Gbagada laying new mains, connecting pipes to Gbagada phase 11 and Gbagada phase1. Today, service delivery to Gbagada Phase 1 and 11 is quite substantial. The same service we extended to Anthony. So, people in that corridor are enjoying very good water supply now. You know that Lagos is small but so congested that because of so much activities going on, it is not possible to see all that are being done. In Lagos and its environs shortage of water makes people to resort to sinking boreholes and digging of wells to get water. Experts have warned that too many boreholes may induce earthquakes in future, what are you doing to check this practice in Lagos? The effort we have made and are still making and will continue to make is the pursuit of our master plan – develop more water schemes so that everybody gets water. Most people sink boreholes because of the demand gap. Demand has outstripped supply. If we are able to meet demand, people will have no cause to resort to boreholes. However, We also through public advocacy try to educate the public that where there are water mains with good pressure we advise people to migrate to the pipe borne water because of the adverse environmental impact and the attendant health hazards associated with boreholes and wells. Most boreholes, unfortunately, are not tapping water from clean aquifer. To get clean water from aquifer you need to go as deep as 100 and 150 metres or 200 metres. All our mini water works where we treat borehole water we go that deep. Most domestic boreholes are shallow and water from such is not pure.

Thursday, March 27, 2014 By Felix Kuye TAKEHOLDERS yesterday began review of the Lagos State governmentís laws on cooperatives, sales by auction, and moneylenders with a view to restoring vibrancy in the business practices that will boost economic activities, take some jobless citizens off the labour market and reduce poverty level. The two-day event tagged ìStakeholders Forum on Reform of Selected Business Laws of Lagos Stateî is being organized by the Lagos State Law Reform Commission and the Justice For All of the Department for International Development (DFID), in collaboration with the Human Development Initiatives (HDI). It holds at the Etal Hall, Oregun, Lagos. Among those participating in the brainstorming session are the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, Chairman of the commission, Mr. Supo Shasore (SAN), represented by a commissioner, Mr. Hakeem Bello, Executive Secretary of the commission, Mrs. Ade Adeyemo, Executive Director of HDI, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, and Dr. Dayo Ayoade of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos as well as representatives of the Lagos State Cooperatives Federation, auctioneers and moneylenders. In his goodwill message, Ipaye stressed the need to modernize the selected laws so they can make more meaningful contribution to the growth of the society. According to him, the state government could just solely make amendments and get the House of Assembly to

Lagos reviews laws on moneylenders, sale by auction, cooperatives pass them, but it will be to the benefit of all if other stakeholders are involved, because many of them make practical use of the laws always and can make laudable inputs, based on their experiences, that will make the laws deliver the expectations. The commissioner noted that the sales by auction business used to be vibrant, but there has been serious decline. He also noted that the cooperatives used to be the bedrock and backbone of

many thriving businesses, but today, the story has change, leaving many sound business ideas dying as modern borrowing is taking away too much from the lenders by way of high interest rate. ìTherefore, there is need to review the cooperative laws to make them play the role of backbone to businesses. The moneylenders and sale by auction laws are also to be reviewed so that business can grow, more people can participate in the activities and unemployment is

thereby reduced.î Ipaye charged the forum to do a good work on the laws, produce a model packages suitable for the entire country, bearing in mind that other states might want to adopt them. Owasanoye, who moderates the discussions, said there is strong relationship between laws and economic development, stating that the three laws have potential for improving activities that will reduce poverty.

Executive Director of Human Development Initiatives, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye (left), Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye and Mr. Akeem Bello, who represented the Chairman of the Lagos State Law Reform Commission, Mr. Supo Shasore, at the event…yesterday

LAGOS ASSEMBLY DIARY

Elegushi Celebrates 2014 Elegba Ejiwa Festival

Ikorodu 620-house demolition: House pleads for leniency

By Gbenga Akinfenwa

By Wole Oyebade

• Adjourn sitting for two weeks

ORRIED by the fate that awaits occupants of the area, the Lagos State House of Assembly has appealed to the State Executive to be lenient in its plan to demolish about 620 houses in Parafa area of Ikorodu, Lagos. The House made the call after it established that several houses, already marked for demolition in the area, had encroached on the Lagos State government’s property under global acquisition law. After the consensus been reached on the matter and sundry other issues last Thursday, the House adjourned for two weeks, resuming April 7, 2014. House Committee on lands that had investigated the matter found that several of the occupants were State government’s employees, especially lecturers of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu. Off-campus hostels occupied by several students of the polytechnic will also be demolished should the State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development make good its’ threat. The committee report, presented by Sanai Agunbiade, representing Ikorodu I

Constituency, recommended that the Land Use technical committee currently looking at the request of further excision by two of the affected families should expedite action in respect of the said applications. While the House urged the technical committee to be magnanimous to the plea of affected residents, it also urged the Ministry of Physical Planning to stay action pending the outcome of the excision requests from the technical committee. Agunbiade noted that the committee viewed with great concern the demolition of properties of over 300 houses within a contiguous community, around this time, would be too much a burden. As such, it urged the Ministry of Physical Planning to tarry, while the Assembly consorts with the State governor over the matter “with a view to finding a safer and softer way out.” While adopting the recommendations as resolution of the House, Deputy Speaker of the House, Taiwo Kolawole, who presided over the sitting, stressed that it

would no longer be acceptable for people to encroach on government lands, and latter run to Assembly for safety. He said: “In this matter, our concern is just the people that have bought the land innocently, especially the employees of the state government and we are doing this on compassionate grounds,” Kolawole said. Majority Leader of the House, Ajibayo Adeyeye, added that officials of the state government and relevant ministries should also monitor government lands wherever they are. While he condemned deliberate encroachment of government properties, he noted that nature harbours no vacuum and houses are not built overnight, but gradually and could be prevented by adequate monitoring of government estates. In closing, the House warned members of the public on the consequence of deliberate encroachment on government properties, adding that the Assembly would not condone any such affront on existing laws in the state. It enjoined prospective buyers of family lands in the state to seek clarifications on the land they intend buying before committing their hard-earns into it.

KATE land in Eti-Osa Local GovIcame ernment Area of Lagos State alive on Monday, as the monarch, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla III, his chiefs, Olofin descendants and members of the community, kick-start activities marking the annual Elegba Ejiwa festival. It was a rare display of the rich culture and tradition of the community, and the state at large, as deities were appeased through prayers to foster love, peace and protection from unseen forces. The elders and participants, clad in white robes with bare chest, sang in unison as animals were slaughtered as part of propitiation to the supreme being and the deities, with prayers offered at intervals. The Aro of Ikateland, Chief Olanrewaju Elegushi, who doubles as Chairman of Eti Osa council area, disclosed that the significance of the festival, which brought all the descendants of Olofin together, was to show love and unity for the progress of the community. He added that aside Olofin descendants; other people also joined in the celebration, warn-

ing that politics should be distinguished from tradition so as to encourage people to contribute meaningfully to the growth of their tradition and culture. “Most of our political office holders are hiding because politics is not being separated from tradition. They don’t want to come out to embrace their culture. There is a big difference between cultism, tradition and religion. I am a Muslim, but when it comes to tradition, I display my culture. They are really different things entirely,” he said. Elegushi urged the state government to sell the festival to the whole world, as part of its contribution to publicise the rich culture of the state. Also speaking, one of the Baales of the area, Chief Mogaji Oriola, who revealed how respected and revered the festival was in the olden days, said its essence is to offer prayers for the area, the state and the nation. He added that part of the usual activities is the appearance of priests, who represent different deities to offer prayers for the peaceful co-existence of the people. The event is expected to be

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Thursday, March 27, 2014

Politics THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Ethnic Nationalities best suited to By Ben Nwabueze HERE are four sets of stakeholders in the T Nigerian state project, viz: the ethnic nations, the interest groups, some 47 of whom are mentioned in the Government Modalities for the National Conference, the individual Nigerians and the governments, federal and state. In our view, the ethnic nations are the best suited to negotiate or rather re-negotiate the terms of our unity as well as to serve as necessary pillars for building a nation — certainly not the organised private sector (NECA, MAN, NACCIMA and NESG), not the professional bodies (NSE, CIB, NMA, NIM, NIA, ICAN, ANAN, NIPR, AAPN and NIESV), not the Youth Organisations (NANS and others), nor the individual Nigerians. The reasons for the view that the ethnic nationalities are the best suited to negotiate the terms of our unity as well as to serve as necessary pillars for building a nation are cogent, if not incontestable: (i) The ethnic nationalities are the territorial and cultural foundation of the Nigerian State Nigeria has no territory other than, or different from, the traditional territories inhabited by its constituent ethnic nationalities from time immemorial — Yorubaland, Igboland, Hausaland, Tivland, Kanuriland, Edoland, Itsekiriland, Ijawland, Ibibioland, etc., with their various cultures. It is thus the ethnic nationalities and their traditional territories, not so much the autonomous individual Nigerians that constitute the Nigerian state, and give it life and existence. (ii) The ethnic nationalities are the original and primary stakeholders in the Nigerian state project It is the ethnic nationalities that ceded or granted the sovereignty or the sovereign powers of government over their territories to Britain, and on which British jurisdiction in Nigeria rested, which therefore makes them (i.e. the ethnic nationalities) the original and primary stakeholders in the Nigerian state. (iii) The Nigerian state is, in reality, a union of these ethnic nationalities This fact needs to be expressly affirmed in the Constitution. There is, happily, precedent in Africa for such an explicit constitutional affirmation. The Constitution of Ethiopia 1995, which is the product of bloody, armed ethnic conflicts, bestows in explicit terms such recognition and status, as well as a distinctive role on the ethnic nations. It enshrines ethnicity as the basis for holding the country together as one, given the age-long violent conflicts between the constituent ethnic nations. Those, like me, Christopher Clapham and other commentators, inclined to criticise the unusual part played by the ethnic nationalities in the making of the Constitution of Ethiopia 1995 and the equally unusual role given to them in it, must make allowance for the fact that the unusual role was dictated by the danger of imminent disintegration arising from bloody ethnic conflicts, and that, had the unusual role not been given, the country might well have splintered into its diverse pieces. It was the part played by the ethnic nationalities in the making of the Constitution and the role given to them in it that saved the country from the brink of imminent disintegration. I, as constitutional adviser to the Provisional Government, was present at some of the acrimonious discussions among the ethnic nations, and witnessed the intransigent mood that characterised the discussions. Critics must therefore bear in mind that federalism in Ethiopia is the product of bloody ethnic conflicts. In more precise terms, it was the creation of the ethnic nationalities, each of which intransigently insisted on recognition of, and respect for, the individuality of its group, and in consequence of which therefore ethnicity has to be explicitly written into the Constitution. The enshrinement of ethnicity in the Constitution finds expression in the provisions (i) recognising the ethnic nationalities as the legal entities constituting the Ethiopian state; (ii) defining “the territorial jurisdiction of Ethiopia as comprising the territories” inhabited by the ethnic nationalities (art. 2); (iii) requiring the States of the Federation to be “delimited on the basis of the settlement patterns, language, iden-

Jonathan tity and consent of the people concerned” (art. 46(2)); (iv) bestowing on them the designation, “the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia,” which runs through the entire Constitution; (v) setting out the constitutive attributes characterising each of them as a nation, i.e. a group that has “traditionally and for a long time inhabited” separate, identifiable area of the territory known as Ethiopia, and marked apart from other groups by “a large measure of common culture or similar customs, mutual intelligibility of language, belief in common or related identities and a common psychological make-up” (art. 39(5)). The Constitution further acknowledges the ethnic or racial nations as the creators of federalism in the country by the recital in the preamble: “We, the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia, have therefore adopted, on 8 December 1994 this Constitution through representatives we have duly elected for this purpose.” It is they, “the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples,” whose distinctive attributes are defined in art. 39(5), who, at meetings during the bloody crisis in 1991-94 when the country was at the brink of disintegration, agreed to bury their antagonistic divisions and, in the words of the preamble to the Constitution, “to continue to live together in equality and unity as one community,” and to federate together under the name, “The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia” (art. 1). It is they, “the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples,” who adopted the Constitution, fired by a conviction of the need to hold the country together as “one political and economic community in order to create sustainable and mutually supportive conditions for ensuring respect for our rights and freedoms and for the collective protection of our interests,” in particular for “advancing our economic and social development.” Federalism in Ethiopia is thus not the creation of pre-existing state authority or authorities or individuals, as in most other federal systems in the world. Reflecting the unique place of the ethnic nationalities as the creators of the federal system, article 8(1), (2) & (3) of the Constitution affirms that “all sovereign power resides in the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples,” and that “this Constitution is an expression of their sovereignty.” Their unique place is further reflected in the provision in article 39(1) that “every Nation, Nationality and People in Ethiopia has an unconditional right to self-determination, including the right to secession,” as well as “the right to a full measure of self-government, which includes the right to establish institutions of government in the territory that it inhabits and to equitable representation in state and Federal governments,” and the right “to express, to develop and to promote its cul-

Nwabueze ture and to preserve its history.” Language being an important aspect of each group’s culture, all the languages are put more or less at par and accorded “equal state recognition” (art. 5(1)), none being subordinate to the other, as by the privileged status previously accorded to Amharic as the official language throughout the state. Its position is now reduced to just that of “the working language of the Federal Government” (art. 5(2)), whilst “members of the Federation may by law determine their respective working languages” (art. 5(3)). The equality of the languages reinforces the provision in article 47(4) that “member states of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia shall have equal rights and powers.” Significantly, too, the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples are made the constituent units or “members” of the Federation, with the designation “States”, and are entitled to have their own flags and emblems (art. 3(3)); each of them, either singly or together with others, as with “the State of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples,” constitutes a “State” under the Constitution (art. 47(1)). The Constitution recognises in every “nation, nationality or people” included in an existing State, “the right to establish, at any time, its own State” (art 47(2)). The Constitution not only defines the distinctive attributes of the ethnic groups coming within the designation “the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia” (art 39(5)), but specifically identifies by name the ethnic groups covered by the designation, namely, the Amharas, Tigreans, Oromos, Afars, Somalis, the Banshangul/Gumuz Peoples, the Gambela People and the Harari People; the eight specifically named are supplemented by the addition of “the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples” (art. 47(1)). HE recognition of ethnicity as the basis of the T federal arrangement under the Constitution is again reflected in the provision in article 49(5) to the effect that “the special interest of the State of Oromia in Addis Ababa, regarding the provision of social services or the utilisation of natural resources and other similar matters, as well as joint administrative matters arising from the location of Addis Ababa within the State of Oromia, shall be respected. Particulars shall be determined by law.” Apart from the recognition of, and respect for, the special interest of the Oromos in Addis Ababa, Government, both Federal and State, is enjoined to “respect the identity of Nations, Nationalities and Peoples” (arts 85(2) and 88(2)). This is supplemented by the directive in article 87(1) that, “the composition of the national armed forces shall reflect the equitable representation of the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia.” The ethic nationalities are given other significant roles in the Constitution, which it is not necessary or appropriate to go into here.

Nigeria should not wait until bloody, armed conflict erupts and engulfs it before taking a cue from Ethiopia. We should nip such a development in the bud. (iv) The ethnic nationalities are a sociological reality Ethnic nations and tribes in African society are a sociological reality even in the urban centres newly emerged as accompaniment of the new state system created by colonialism. The ethnic nation or tribe is integral to, it is an organic part of what constitutes the traditional society in Africa. The basic unit of the society for social and, to some extent, economic life, is not the atomic family of a man, his wife (wives) and children, but the extended family embracing several related families, which together make up a clan. Several related clans make up a tribe. The traditional African society consists of a collection of such tribes; it does not, and cannot, therefore, exist apart from its constituent tribes. Abolish the tribes, and the traditional African society also disappears from existence. Tribes in traditional Africa should not therefore be thought of as inimica1 to society; they are the heart and the soul of African society. It is possible that they may, as we march towards greater and greater urbanisation, cease to have significance in the non-urban areas, too. But until that time comes, it is as well to recognise the tribes as a sociological reality and as necessary pillars for building a nation. As every African indigene is born into a family and becomes a member of the extended family structures, which make up the clans, tribes and ethnic nations, the tribe is not external to us as individuals. We all, as such individuals, however educated and “detribalised,” belong to, and form part and parcel of the tribes. So, when the ethnic nationalities negotiate or act, all of us are part of it, or are at least represented. The ethnic nations can no more be wished away or banished than we can disregard our own individuality, notwithstanding their proneness or their susceptibility to be exploited to cause inter-tribal violent conflicts. “For most of us,” writes Professor Claude Ake, “these social formations and group identities are not externalities but the core of our being; it is by these identities that most of us define our individuality.” For most Africans, Alan Merriam also says, “the reality… is not the centralised state, but rather a mixing of the political with the social structure in a formulation which rests upon villages, tribes and, at the most, regions.” Professor Sir Arthur Lewis is no less emphatic and insistent upon this. “Any idea,” he says, “that one can make different peoples into a nation by suppressing or turning a blind eye to the religious or tribal or regional or other affiliations to which they themselves attach the highest political significance is simply a non-starter. National loyalty cannot immediately supplant tribal loyalty; it has to be built on top of tribal loyalty by creating a system in which all the tribes feel that there is room for self-expression.” “Rather than consider ethnicity and nationalism as contradictory and opposed,” Professor Ade Ajayi has suggested, “it is better to think of a gradation of loyalties from family to community, to linguistic group or state, and to the nation.” A national unity in which the ethnic nations have no part can only be, in Robin Luckham’s apt expression, a “seamless” one, and therefore liable, sooner or later, to break apart into its several component parts. It follows from the character of the ethnic nations in Nigeria, as in the rest of Africa, that a National Conference in which they (the ethnic nations) do not constitute the pivot or focal point will not be able to address effectively and decisively the problem of unity and the creation of a new and better Nigeria. Constituting the conference with ethnic nationalities, as the main unit or basis of representation, was rejected as unrealistic for various reasons, viz: the uncertainty about the exact number and identity of ethnic nationalities in the country (the 389 identified and recorded in a research conducted by Prof. Otite, formerly of the University of Ibadan, is disputed); the difficulty of devising an equitable and acceptable method of representation for the ethnic nationalities (equality of representation regardless of

Thursday, March 27, 2014 13

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THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE

negotiate terms of our unity population is considered inequitable); the large number of delegates that may be thrown up by representation based on the ethnic nationalities, a number that may be so unwieldy as to be almost unmanageable; the rancorous rivalry between the ethnic nationalities, especially between the big and small ones. Yet, intractable as the problem may seem, it is not un-amenable to rational solution (no problem is), if comprehensive and serious enough effort is made to solve it. The long and short of what has been said is that the existence of the ethnic nationalities in Nigeria and the haunting problem it poses to its unity and to nation-building is a reality. As earlier stated, a haunting problem is not solved by pretending that it does not exist, which is like running away from reality. What we are doing is simply running away from reality; reality will not go away by running away from it but will remain to haunt us. The recognition of the ethnic nations must be extended to their organisations, although the latter did not exist in pre-colonial times; they emerged in response to the altered social and economic conditions of life under colonialism. They serve many useful purposes in providing welfare support and assistance to members of their tribes and in enabling the tribes to serve other useful social and economic purposes in the harsh, competitive environment that came in the wake of colonialism. They are therefore a social necessity. To deny them recognition is to deprive the tribes of much meaning and effectiveness as organic institutions of society. The Federal Military Government of Nigeria was therefore grievously mistaken to have dissolved and proscribed, by a Decree of 1966, 26 named tribal or cultural organisations, including the Igbo State Union, the Yoruba State Union, the Egbe Omo Oduduwa, Egbe Omo Yoruba, Ibibio State Union, Idoma Tribal Union, Igbirra Tribal Union, Ijaw Progressive Union and Bornu State Union. Without specifically mentioning particular tribal or cultural unions by name, as did the 1966 Decree, another Decree of 1984 dissolves “all movements and organisations (howsoever known or designated)... meant to promote ethnic differences or likely to destroy or disrupt the unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” The method of the 1984 Decree is rather insidious. Whereas the 1966 Decree left no doubt as to the identity of the associations affected, under the 1984 Decree dissolution hangs over practically every tribal or cultural association of which it could be said by anyone, however ill-motivated, that it is “meant to promote ethnic differences or likely to destroy or disrupt the unity of the Federal Republic Nigeria.” With the risk of imprisonment for not less than five years, a tribal or cultural association can continue to function only at the risk of imprisonment for its executive committee members and managers. T is wrong to regard ethnic organisaInational tions as constituting a danger to unity. They may have exerted pressures on government on behalf of their respective groups, but such pressures would be there and have indeed continued without the tribal unions. It seems rather ironical that the military rulers, who proscribed tribal unions for their role in sponsoring and promoting ethnic interests and

Justice Idris Kutigi conflicts in the political days should, without the prompting of the tribal unions, have fallen easy victims to the pressures of the very same ethnic interests. Ethnic interests are not the creation of ethnic organisations; they are there and will always be there without the ethnic organisations. It is unfortunate that tribes and their organisations are associated in public perception with tribalism. Tribalism is undeniably evil, but it came with colonialism. As Nkrumah aptly said: “There were tribes in Africa before imperialist penetration, but no ‘tribalism’ in the modem sense. Tribalism arose from colonialism, which exploited feudal and tribal survivals to combat the growth of national liberation movements. In the era of neocolonialism, tribalism is exploited by the bourgeois ruling classes as an instrument of power politics and as a useful outlet for the discontent of the masses. “Many of the so-called tribal conflicts in modem Africa are in reality class forces brought into conflict by the transition from colonialism to neocolonialism… In the majority of ‘tribal’ conflicts, the source is the exploiting bourgeois or feudal minority in co-operation with imperialists and neocolonialists seeking to promote their joint class interests… The process assumes the appearance of tribal confrontation, but in reality is part of the class struggle.” — Kwame Nkrumah, Class Struggle in Africa (1970), pp. 59-60. But being a pernicious evil, tribalism, he said, “should be fought and destroyed.” — ibid, p. 60 No less mistaken is the view that the survival of chieftaincy and other traditional institutions has, by “crystallising primordial identities,” been “real obstacles to nation-building.” There is a contradiction in saying, in one breath, that the survival of traditional institutions is a real obstacle to nation-building and, in another breath, that “the replacement of primordial ties and identifications by civil ones is ‘sheer impossibility,’” and that some mutual “adjustment” is what is called for, “so that the processes of government can proceed fully without threatening the cultural framework of personal identity.” One cannot maintain both the impossibility of replacing the traditional social groupings (tribes, ethnic groups, etc.) and at the same time

that chieftaincy and other traditional institutions should be done away with, because they are a real obstacle to nation building. A traditional social grouping without its traditional head and other traditional institutions is another manifest contradiction in ideas; the former implies, and cannot exist without, the latter. Fostering mutual understanding, cooperation and solidarity between the ethnic nationalities and their organisations through integrative associations and conferences. THE traditional territory of each ethnic nationality, large and small, is the homeland and “safe haven” of its members. From that safe haven, they need to extend the hand of fellowship to members of other ethnic nationalities, with the object of fostering mutual understanding, cooperation and solidarity between all groups through integrative associations and conferences, which are among the things necessary to redeem the illegitimacy stamped on the Nigerian state by the colonial circumstances of its origin. For, quite aptly has it been described as “the bastard child of imperialism” — see Karl Maier, This House has Fallen: Midnight in Nigeria (2000), p. 7. In addition to integrative conferences and other things, the means of legitimation should include the development of country-wide associations and institutions that aim at integrating members of different ethnic nationalities together for joint action in the pursuit of common economic, social and political purposes and interests. The Ethnic Nationalities Conference is one such means aimed at mobilising and integrating the various ethnic nationalities for National Reconciliation. It is the hope and expectation of the conference that “when all Ethnic Nationalities participate in it and understand the issues involved, they would be in a position to formulate an acceptable dream of the type of society that we want our children and grand children to inherit in order to leave behind for all posterity, a better Nigeria.” The conference was convened as a prelude to the proposed National Conference, which was envisaged as a Conference of Ethnic Nationalities, as a platform to bring together the ethnic nationalities, as the primary stakeholders in the Nigerian State Project, to negotiate the terms and conditions on which they can live together in peace, security, progress, prosperity and unity as one country under a common central government. It is a matter of grave distress that a National Conference of the type envisaged has been aborted by the government and replaced by a government-appointed conference in which, out of a total of 492 delegates, the Federal Government nominated 89 delegates, and the State Governments and FCT 109 delegates and the interest groups 204, while the ethnic nationalities “alongside socio-political and cultural groups will produce a total of 90 delegates.” As earlier stated, the method of selection of delegates has resulted in the ethnic nationalities qua ethnic nationalities not having any real representation at the conference. None of the members are really there as representing the ethnic nationalities, who are thus effectively sidelined. Government has a role and a responsibility in finding a solution to the problem. It should itself commission a study on the phenomenon of ethnic

nationalities, their numbers and identity, the distinctive attributes that characterise them, the relations existing between them, the causes of ethnic conflicts, and how mutual understanding, co-operation and solidarity can be fostered between them to enable them serve as instruments for nation-building. The research by Prof. Otite and others must be supplemented by government commissioned study. Furthermore, government should assume responsibility for organising, mobilising support for, publicising and for the funding of the Ethnic Nationalities Conference. It is not something to be left to private initiative alone in a territorially extensive country where the ethnic nationalities are dispersed throughout its entire length and breadth. They must be effectively mobilised for future conferences to be held, say, every other year or so. President Jonathan’s speech at the inauguration of the National Conference is remarkable for not addressing the issue as to how unity can be achieved or by what concrete means apart from exhortations PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s speech, while inaugurating the National Conference on Monday 17 March, 2014, was passion-packed, a perplexed passion. His passion came through right from the beginning when he described the inauguration, quite rightly, as “a landmark event” and “a historic gathering,” and, rather optimistically but perhaps not so rightly, as “the dawn of a new era.” He spoke passionately of Nigeria throughout as a nation from the date of its birth through the 1914 Amalgamation, the amalgamation of two colonial entities into one big colonial entity aptly described as “a mere geographical expression” by the great sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in his book, Path to Nigerian Freedom (1947). The passionate optimism may be excused as an expression of hope that Nigeria will at some future date become a nation, a hope which all of us as Nigerians share. But all this optimism and expression of hope tells us little about how the National Conference, as convoked and constituted by him (the President), can help achieve the much-desired national unity. From this standpoint, it is remarkable that the President did not in his long speech consider and address the question why national unity or nationbuilding is such a predominating and haunting issue in Nigeria, but not in places like England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and even the United States of America, and whether it would have been such had Nigeria been a country composed of one people or group alone, like the Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Ijaw, Efik, Ibibio, to mention only a few. It is this factor of the large diversity of ethnic nations, not just ethnic groups (ethnic group differs in nature and character from ethnic nation, group being a general and indeterminate term), comprised in Nigeria that makes national unity such a predominating and haunting issue in the country. The desired unity cannot be attained by studiously avoiding any mention of the existence of the ethnic nations, as the President did in his speech, except for some references to ethnic groups or ethnic rivalry, or by exhorting people to “turn our diversity and plurality into unique national resources for strength and greatness,” or to “stop seeing Nigeria as a country of many groups or regions.”

“We,” he passionately exhorted, “have been divinely brought together under one roof. We must begin to see ourselves as one community” — an expression of a mere wish. A haunting problem is not solved by mere wishful thinking or by pretending that it does not exist (a case of self-deceit), which is like running away from reality. The question that stares us in the face, and which the National Conference must address squarely, is: How can the over 350 ethnic nations in Nigeria be made to coalesce into one nation? The question requires that the ethnic nationalities must be brought together as the best suited to find an answer to it. It cannot be solved by avoiding or sidelining them. The call on conference delegates “to put the best interest of Nigeria before all other sectional or group interest” does not help much either, unless the large diversity of ethnic nations, with competing and conflicting interests, is openly recognised as Nigeria’s predominating and haunting problem, and that solution to the problem demands reconciliation and harmonisation of the divergent interests of the ethnic nations, who must first be brought together. So also the appeal that “there should be room only for the national interest” seems to beg the question. It is a matter of some difficulty distilling or determining the national interest in a country composed of over 350 ethnic nations as yet to be coalesced into one nation. Happily, the President’s speech is not all exhortations that do not, by themselves, solve our intractable problem of unity and nation-building. It sets for the National Conference a concrete task geared to the pursuit of the objective of a better and united Nigeria. “It is our expectation,” he affirmed, “that participants in the conference will patriotically articulate and synthesise our people’s thoughts, views and recommendations for a stronger, more united, peaceful and politically stable Nigeria, forge the broadest possible national consensus in support of those recommendations, and strive to ensure that they are given the legal and constitutional backing to shape the present and the future of our beloved fatherland… The National Conference is a very important avenue for the voices of our people to be heard. Our people have yearnings and desires that need to be discussed.” It would be a significant step forward if this is imbibed by the conference as the principle guiding its work; in which case, something good may come out of it in the way of a positive contribution to our search for a new, better and united Nigeria. But even this can only supplement the bringing together and mobilisation of the ethnic nations in an effort to coalesce them into one nation sharing a unifying sense of a common destiny and fired by the cohesive sense of patriotism. Concluding remarks on this issue The ethnic nationalities are not only the original and primary stakeholders in the Nigerian State Project, they are also the primary targets of, and sufferers from, the oppressions, injustices and marginalisations that abound in this country. They wear the shoe, and know where it pinches. They are, therefore, the best suited of all the stakeholders to negotiate, or rather re-negotiate, the terms of our unity, which is an objective shared by nearly all of us Nigerians. • Professor Nwabueze, elder statesman and constitutional legal luminary, is leader of The Patriots.

TheGuardian

14 | Thursday, March 27, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience Nurtured by Truth

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

Editorial On poor access to power supply HE recent disclosure that about 30 million Nigerian households have no T access to electricity is a mere statement of the obvious given the deplorable state of power supply in the country. The 30 million in question may be mostly rural dwellers but people living in the urban areas have no better deal. Last Tuesday, for instance, proceedings at the Lagos High Court, Igbosere were disrupted due to power failure within the court premises. Lawyers who had hoped to make progress in their cases left in utter disappointment. And, as the power situation worsens, the Federal Government was bold to absolve the new operators of the power sector from blame. Indeed, the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, was quick to explain why there is gross shortfall in power supply. Non-availability of gas, infrastructure vandalisation, sabotage and low water level to power the hydro power plants are some of his reasons. These of course are flimsy excuses that have been peddled over the years and Nigerians are now much more interested in solutions. It is unknown how the figure of 30 million households was arrived at in a country that has no reliable database. The number of those suffering should be much higher because the entire country is in darkness. Nigeria is struggling to provide minimal power and is yet to achieve acceptable level of power supply, which is badly needed for economic development. Nebo has also been on the need to sensitise investors, fund managers, policy makers and other stakeholders to the need for the development of renewable energy. He is also attempting to mobilise stakeholders to initiate equity fund through private sector participation to promote sustainable energy and deliver electricity to Nigerians. Noting that there is still a wide gap in power supply, Nebo said that is the reason the Federal Government is focusing on renewable energy, especially, off-grid and hydro systems that would not depend on the national grid. He explained that the financing process of the 3050 megawatts Mambilla Hydro Dam would soon be completed. As for the other 264 hydro dams that have not been fully utilised, he said government is fixing turbines in 12 of them to increase their generation capacity. It is regrettable that despite the much-flaunted reforms in the electricity sector, 14 years after, little has changed. Rather than improving, indeed the situation is getting worse. Between 1999 and 2007, the Olusegun Obasanjo administration embarked on a power reform programme that focused mainly on independent power projects (IPP). Despite the $16 billion reportedly pumped into the power sector over the period and the many promises of increased generation, no part of the country has constant and uninterrupted power supply. The report of the committee that indicted several people would also seem to have been swept under the carpet. Thereafter, the Jonathan administration, on August 26, 2010 launched a bold “Power Sector Roadmap”, which many saw as a potent framework to redeem the comatose electricity sub-sector. The framework contained policies and institutional reforms that promised, among other things, a super transmission network, generation of additional 5,000 megawatts by the international oil companies, active exploitation of hydro, nuclear and coal power, privatization of the power sector and addition of 4,775 megawatts from the Independent Power Plants (IPPs) by December 2013. The medium term expectation was that by the end of 2013, the country would have attained 14,000 megawatts power generation capacity. Two years on, there is no appreciable change as the administration embarked on a review of its plan after the then Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji, resigned at the height of controversy over the sale of the power plants to private investors. Nnaji’s exit halted what appeared to be a slight improvement in power supply. Working under the power sector reform agenda, the unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), was sold and last November, handed over to new private investors. The expectation was that there would be significant improvement in power supply. But rather than see improvement, power supply has dropped even more to the unbearable discomfort of Nigerians. Turning to renewable energy to achieve a suitable energy mix is a sure alternative. Nigeria is blessed with abundant sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal energy. These are natural energy sources that should be exploited and put to beneficial use. Now that government has declared its intention to achieve 10 per cent target on renewable energy by 2025, what plans are on ground to meet this target? As a developing nation, renewable energy should account for no less than 20 per cent total power needs. No doubt, renewable energy is cheap and environmentally friendly. A wellarticulated and carefully implemented energy mix would go a long way to bridge the gap in electricity supply, particularly in the rural areas. This alternative should, therefore, be diligently explored.

LETTER

Extortionist policy in NIS job hunt IR: The Socialist Party of at all levels irrespective of politi- ment to address the unemploySfamilies Nigeria (SPN) condoles with cal parties are culpable of failure ment crisis facing Nigeria, to of the applicants who to provide decent job opportuni- spearhead pro-working class died or injured at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment exercise on May 15 across the country. We demand payment of adequate compensation to all the victims and the refund of N1,000 extorted from each of the applicants. The huge number of applicants drawn by NIS recruitment exercise underscores the monumental crisis of unemployment in Nigeria. Even the current official statistics put the unemployment figure at 40 million! It is estimated that about two million enter the labour market every year with extremely limited opportunities for job. This explains why well over 500,000 applied for about 4,000 job spaces. We hold that this is a product of an unmitigated failure of the successive capitalist governments that have been celebrating the so-called impressive economic growth, said to be among the fastest in the world, for well over a decade. We welcome the mini protest held on March 17 by the textile labour union against the death of NIS applicants and support the planned protest by Joint Action Front (JAF) on March 27. We, however, call on both the NLC and TUC to mobilise for national day of protest in the memory of these young Nigerians that died prematurely through the visionless policies of the capitalist ruling elite. We hold that the governments

ties for youths and working people. Besides, government at all levels will rather loot public resources at their disposal than to commit them to job creation, social service provision and infrastructure development. We, therefore, call on both NLC and TUC leaders, instead of promoting or having illusion in the capacity of capitalist govern-

socio-economic policies that will ensure that Nigeria’s abundant human and natural resources are owned and run through elected and democratic committees of workers, poor farmers, market women, youth and the communities. •Chinedu Bosah, National Secretary, Socialist Party of Nigeria.

The ticking time bomb! IR: The recent embarrassing clime, those involved either SNigeria employment scam in the directly and remotely would Immigration Service (NIS), which resulted in the death of at least 16 Nigerian youths was, to say the least, a disaster of no mean proportion. No right thinking person can keep quiet in the face of such scandalous official scam, which bothers on greed, selfishness and outright betrayal of trust. Indeed, the unfortunate incident had turned our beloved country into an object of scorn, ridicule and derision. The national shame perpetrated at the NIS had unwittingly brought to fore graphic detail of the unemployment time bomb waiting to explode if prompt actions are not taken by patriotic Nigerians. Worse still, the critical condition in which Nigeria finds itself today calls for sober reflection by all Nigerians. It is rather sad to note if such disaster had occurred in a saner

have since own up to their responsibility for gross failure and tender resignation letters. But here we are in Nigeria where anything goes! If Nigeria is to survive, the short and long term solution to unemployment crises bedevilling the nation must be found one way or the other. For example Nigeria is today grossly underpoliced. So, out of the millions of youth vying for the non-existing job in the Immigration Service, why not absorb at least one or two million graduates into the police force to bolster the security of life and property in the country. Of course, the above suggestion may be too simplistic a panacea to the lingering unemployment crisis in the country, but it goes without saying that if applied can be very effective, and beneficial in the short term in addressing unemployment in Nigeria.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Opinion The Gandhi in Jonathan By Chuks Akamadu “It was in South Africa that this diffident youth, in experienced and unaided, came into clash with forces that obliged him to tap his hidden reserves of moral strength and turn humiliation and disaster into a creative spiritual experience.”– Krishna Kripalani N a biographical work titled “Gandhi: A Iperspective Life”, Krishna Kripalani had sought to put in the abrupt metamorphosis of Gandhi into a phenomenon that shaped his generation in ways that no mortal of Indian descent before him had done. Rarest Gandhi! Born on October 2, 1869, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (simply known as Mahatma Gandhi) had been compelled by the prevalent socio-economic conditions of his time to sail to Southampton on September 4, 1888 in search of both the Golden Fleece and greener pastures – with the latter enjoying primacy. He had returned to India on the completion of his studies in England. After a brief and dreary law practice at home, he had found himself on the Indian Ocean, once more, but this time sailing to Durban, South Africa. The introductory quote above refers, please. Until his turning-point experience in South Africa, “there was nothing in his physical appearance or mental equipment as a child or young lad to suggest the volcanic potential that lay dormant in him”, wrote Kripalani in the introduction to his book. Suffice it to say therefore that for Gandhi, it was in South Africa that destiny beckoned! For Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, it does appear that destiny ambushed him with the controversial and theatrical impeachment of his principal, Governor DSP Alamieyeseigha (as he then was) on December 9, 2005. Like Gandhi whose moral strength was hidden from the world before his sojourn in South Africa, Jonathan’s leadership traits were not known until he took Oath of Office first as governor of Bayelsa State; then, as Vice President and finally as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Apart from being “Captives of Destiny”, both

leaders are every inch lamb-like; possessing no attributes of men of valour and battle. Their strengths cannot be found in the arena of coercion or unrestrained exercise of raw power, but in the purity of their hearts and the eloquent lives they live. Both are seemingly weak on account of quasi-infinite patience, extreme caution and over-flowing compassion on fellow man. Part of their “weakness” also is their pronounced aversion for primitive accumulation of wealth. Ironically, in this same “weakness” resides their strength; for, it takes a true man of strength to refrain from show of strength in the face of provocation. It is also a mark of strength for humans to put their appetite for greed under effective control. Whilst Gandhi became the beacon of hope for the oppressed proletariat Indian community in South Africa after his capture, Jonathan ascended the political ladder at a pace unknown to Nigerian history after his gubernatorial ascendancy. Gandhi was to later give India a lasting spiritual foundation that did not only fast-track her independence on August 15, 1947, but also birthed a profound political philosophy that has remained the cornerstone and fortress of the Republic. Jonathan is at present shattering all the myths of power that have in the past made our leaders rulers – instead of servants. His ordinariness, matchless humility, meekness and amazing charm have blurred the line that hitherto separated our leaders from us. His methodology in terms of policy formulation and implementation is raising the bar of leadership on the African continent and has become a fascinating subject of academic inquiry. To be sure, Jonathan has yet to demonstrate the legendary spiritual capacity that defined Gandhi (and it is doubtful he will ever do) just as Gandhi never exhibited the political sagacity that Jonathan quietly embodies. Whereas Gandhi is a Mission Accomplished that can be evaluated in absolute terms, Jonathan is a Story Well Scripted…Being Told! Please note these patent points of departure. Both however walk

same path of moral rectitude, although Gandhi is understandably several steps ahead of Jonathan. Little wonder Gandhi ceded political leadership of independent India to Jawaharlal Nehru ostensibly to stay away from the tainted political fray. There is no disputing the fact that for any objective comparative analysis to be done with respect to these two great men, such must be situated within the context of their personal attributes. A close examination of their lives would reveal that their individual legacies and strings of successes derive essentially from those attributes of theirs. Take for instance a Gandhi who right from his infancy held the caste system in contempt to the point of violating it publicly, even before his departure to United Kingdom. Upon his return from England, his elder brother who was a devotee of the loathsome system desired him to go for purification in a certain river set aside for that purpose in India. Very conscious of the many troubles his elder brother took including borrowing money to send him to England for studies, Gandhi had obliged him at the expense of his own personal belief. He of course had the option of sticking to his conviction, but elected to show sufficient measure of sensitivity as required by the circumstances of the time at the cost of great personal discomfort. Juxtapose this with the Boko Haram assault foretold by Jonathan’s adversaries and his refusal to overrun their enclaves with savage military might. For Jonathan, he is under a sacred obligation to protect the lives of all Nigerians – including the insurgents. He would rather win them over to the side of sanity than wage a full-scale war on a people he considers as victims of strange doctrine and vile political manipulation. To have consistently asked the insurgents to come to a discussion table, Jonathan demonstrates the humanity in him and his desire to win by the sheer logic of love – not might. This is the Gandhi-like strength – not weakness. It is a decent illustration of a con-

scientious father who has no predilection for self-conquest. It is this same virtue that restrains Jonathan from rolling out the tanks on his detractors whose pastime lately is to throw regular tantrums at him and say things that denigrate the Office of the President. Given same circumstances, this no doubt is the road Gandhi would have taken. More than anything else, Jonathan’s disposition towards the recently inaugurated National Conference captures the critical components of the Gandhi philosophy. For, here is a president who discards his enormous presidential discretionary powers and vests absolute power in the delegates to determine both the outcome and the ultimate destination of such outcome. Also, he has gone further to insulate the conference from any form of administrative control by granting it both operational and financial autonomy. The regular African leader would have designed the confab in a manner such that it would be tied to the apron strings of the government for control. But Jonathan thought differently. With this, Jonathan has practically told the world that he in deed believes that sovereignty belongs to the people. Like Gandhi, Jonathan does not hug vainglory. Like Gandhi, Jonathan is hardly ever on egotrips. Like Gandhi, Jonathan does not suffer from disguised inferiority complex that usually finds expression in combative arrogance amongst some world leaders. Like Gandhi, Jonathan appreciates tolerance to be a way of life. Like Gandhi, Jonathan sees moderation as a creed. Like Gandhi, Jonathan forgives unconditionally. And like Gandhi, Jonathan would rather be found in the gathering of brethren than on the floor of Owambe parties. If Jonathan stays on this path for the entire duration of his Presidency, fate might be kind enough to convincingly tell us why it chose him to lead independent Nigeria to her year of golden jubilee and why it still had to be same Jonathan that cut our centenary cake. Reader, keep your fingers crossed! • Akamadu is the Managing Director, Afrocultour Limited.

Death as employment strategy By Adesina Afolayan IGERIA is a wonderful country, no doubt. And I am not conN cerned about its abundant mineral resources or climatic condition. Of course, in that regard, we are spared the horrors of rampaging anthropomorphised disasters: Hurricane Katrina, Cyclone Andrew, Whirlwind Marino, Tornado Alley, Blizzard Brutus, Snowstorm Anaconda, and so on. Quaint, isn’t it? If these disasters were to have Nigerian counterparts, the result would be, well, hilarious in spite of the consequences: Cyclone Umoru, Hurricane Titi, Blizzard Akindele, Tornado Sule, Windstorm Boko, Sunstroke Asaroyoma! I told you it’s hilarious. I am not interested in natural disaster. Nigeria is a wonderful country for another reason: We are a country with a unique national problem-solving dynamics. The problems that other nations break their back and strain their brains to crack are easily resolved here. Consider this: The Nigerian ruling elite expunged History from the curriculum of its secondary schools. Wait for it! Of course, your normal and most immediate reaction would be outrage and vituperation. But then, think: History is a wicked reminder of obnoxious pasts, and who wants that? Why should we as a people be burdened by terrible and dusty tomes of terrible and dusty events gone bad and by? Even the students intuitively understand this needlessness, and so refused to take history in school! Of course, there are better subjects – the colonialists, out of the goodness of their hearts, left the global English language. Then there is Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and the almighty Mathematics. Even the Chinese language is about to make an appearance, as the counterpart of French, in a manner that further buries the primitive vernaculars (Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Fulfude and those others). Aren’t the Chinese constructing our roads now? Don’t we owe them the curtsey of learning their language as a mark of gratitude? So: no serious nation on earth gives attention to history. To achieve progress in development terms, we face forward not backward. Even Prof. Ernest Renan counsels that we can actually become a nation when we collectively immolate ourselves in forgetfulness. Nigerians certainly should not be reminded about the horrors of the ugly Civil War, the primitive antics of ‘heroes’ and ‘sheroes’ (apologies to Pius Adesanmi), and count-

less other irrelevant mistakes that are best forgotten. Master strokes! The Nigerian ruling elite know their onions! The same brilliant foresight has been applied to the employment logjam. Nigeria’s unemployment predicament is accelerating at a geometrical proportion. And hence, we need solid reflection and strategic action plan that makes Nigeria an employment haven in a global world breaking at the seams with countless youths flooding the unemployment market. Have you not seen Obama’s grey hairs? The guy has been trying to increase the employment profile of the United States since the global economic meltdown (do you still remember that term that burst on us some years back?) Well, Obama will do well to learn from Nigerians. We are the masters of shortcuts, quick fixes, intuitive foresights and strokes of genius! This genius is actually simplistic…oh, I mean simple, in its brilliance: Use death as a strategy for employment! What better method to replenish life and stoke the fire of patriotism in Nigerians? At the recently concluded employment exercise conducted by the Nigerian Immigration Services, several people – numbering around 520,000 – ‘lost their lives’ in the crush of the throngs jostling to fill less than 5000 vacancies. Well, we sympathise with those who lost their lives. But then, government is just trying to fulfil its promise to close up the employment gap that has continued to grow yawningly. And what better way to do this than to throw the opportunity open to eager Nigerians to avail themselves of a wonderful, orderly and logistically fine-tuned exercise that would have made history but for the forces of darkness and of the opposition bent on pulling down the Federal Government. Government is the employer of choice in Nigeria. When Government employs you, then you get a life time chance to realise your potential! I have heard of a staff member – just one among countless unknown and smart others – in the NIS who comes to work for a week and take a month off to attend to other significant business outside of work. This self-actualisation strategy is honed to perfection in the various local governments scattered all over the country where government staff utilise government time and monies to develop themselves. Governments usually don’t have much to do; so the public office is a government-approved space to display your smart ini-

tiatives. This was the thinking behind the NIS employment exercise: Give as many unemployed Nigerians as possible the opportunity to stand in the hot sun to fill the vacancies released from the goodness of the heart of government. And you are paying a token of a thousand naira for a lifetime – well, almost a life time – of engaged bliss. That’s a small sacrifice to pay, don’t you think? And when the forces of darkness and of the opposition came with their spoiler job, government was ready with foresighted alacrity: for those who died, there will be three slots of instant employment each. Do a quick mathematics: Assume 30 people died, multiplied by three. That gives 90 people. Not good enough. But assume the mori implicare principle (meaning ‘death as employment’) is applied to the over 4000 people murdered by Boko Haram, what do we have? 12,000 employed! Pure genius! What other way to honour the memory of those gone than by bringing those still suffering on board the employment train? Moro has trumped Diezani as the star protagonist in Jonathan’s administration. But we aren’t dying enough. There is actually a sacrificial component in the principle that makes it a divine one. A family can sacrifice one of theirs to redeem three others who are currently unemployed. The NIS ought to organise more employment exercises that would be deliberately illogical and logistically challenged. This will ensure that many more will throng the various venues. And we should hope that many more than 30 will give their lives for others to get employment. That cannot be a tragedy. It is like saying the death of Jesus Christ is a tragedy. Moro is a hero! But he needs to do more. For instance, as a reward, he should be made to supervise the as-yet-unrewarded deaths caused by the Boko Haram insurgents. Centres should be set up all over the North for those who have lost people to come forward. And Boko Haram should also be contacted to extend its tentacle into a national spread for the sake of the Federal Character. The target we should set in employment profile is 1.5 million people employed. And that translates into just 500,000 deaths. A modest achievement, if you ask me. Thanks to Comrade Moro and his brilliant strategy. Arise O Compatriots…Nigeria’s call obey!

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Opinion Baby steps can go a long way By ChiChi Hills HE sight of an embassy or a consulate in a T foreign land should instill feelings of pride, patriotism and warmth in its citizens, but such feelings can prove elusive when visiting Nigerian Consulates abroad. On my recent visit to the Consulate of Nigeria in Atlanta, USA, I grappled with a sinking feeling of despair as I inched closer to the building. This was because my visit to another Consulate in London in the UK had left a nasty taste in my mouth. Consulates, which are office branches of embassies, play an indispensable role in the lives of citizens living abroad. They offer various governmental and administrative services such as passport renewals, issuance of visas and other important documents. Most importantly, they safeguard the interests of their nationals and provide assistance to nationals in desperate need.

A consulate should be a sanctuary – a home away from home. Sadly, my experiences have been a far cry from these ideals. My mission to renew my passport at the Consulate of Nigeria in Atlanta was successful, but I left the diplomatic office with my dignity in tatters. Right from the reception room, it was an unsavoury experience. The Asian woman who attended to me on arrival – after I had been lingering around an empty cubicle for sometime – would not return my good-natured greeting, but doled out instructions with a frosty demeanour. While waiting to be called in for my biometrics, I watched consulate staff strut around haughtily, and take liberties to shout at people for making marginal errors. I was particularly aghast at the treatment of a young girl who failed to spot a misspelling of her name by a member of staff. She was shouted at, questioned like a kindergarten kid, and sent out of the office.

When I was called into the office and asked to take a seat, I found myself fidgeting like a school kid in danger of receiving strokes of the cane. It wasn’t long before the ‘gentleman’ attending to me spotted an error and started barking at me. I refused to grovel and beg, so it quickly descended into a rude questioning/defiant answers match. Thankfully, other staff members cut in and sorted the error. My application was approved, but at the expense of my dignity. I felt harassed. I felt helpless that I would have to go through this ordeal every five years. I really wished things could be different. In all honesty, I don’t think any of us would expect the Nigerian Consulate and government – if the need arises – to airlift Nigerians out of areas of conflict and sites of natural disasters, or wrest nationals from the clutches of hostages as countries such as the United Kingdom, United States and France would do. Our

expectations are much simpler: we want to be respected and treated with dignity when we step onto ‘home soil’ in a foreign land. We want Consulate staff to be courteous and treat us with importance whether or not we fall under the category of ‘madam, oga, mummy, daddy.’ We want to be talked to, and not talked at. We want staff to go the extra mile without complaining and railing at us as if we are miscreant two-year-olds. We want the Consulate phones to be functional, and not just displayed on the web for aesthetic purposes. We want to enjoy our visits to the Nigerian consulates and feel grateful to be Nigerians. We are not asking the Nigerian consulates to make giant steps; we are asking them to take baby steps by ensuring members of staff receive the customer training that they so desperately need. • Hills lives in Louisiana, United States of America.

In the last lap of MDGs race By John Ajiboye

HE Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight international development goals that were established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration. All 189 United Nations member states at the time (there are 193 currently) and at least 23 international organizations committed to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. The goals are to: eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empowering women, reduce child mortality rates, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability and, to develop a global partnership for development. Although in Nigeria, we have seen some level of commitment starting from the Obasanjo administration to the MDGs, particularly in the area of Universal Basic Education, which has commenced in some states of the federation, a critical look at the implementation of the MDGs shows that much need to be done especially now that 2015 is fast approaching. A look at the eight goals enumerated above will give rise to eight questions to assess implementation successes: Is poverty and hunger dropping? Do we have more children in school? Are women empowered and gender equality achievable? Is maternal mortality declining? Has maternal Health improved? Are we making progress on the campaign against HIV/AIDS? Is there any major improvement on environmental sustainability? Lastly, how far has Nigeria fared in global partnership for sustainable development? These questions are very fundamental because they provide the platform on which progress can be assessed in each area of the MDGs. The performance appraisal of Nigeria’s 14th year in achieving the set Millennium Development Goals is mixed. Progress towards five MDGs has been below average, but progress has been less satisfactory towards the three other MDGs. Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger: No progress. About 69% of the populace still live in abject poverty while the gap between the poor and rich keeps widening. Eight out of every 10 Nigerians still live in poverty. The growth in the economy has not generated adequate employment, majority of Nigerian youth are either unemployed or underemployed. However, Nigeria is ranked the 17th least developed country of the world by the United Nations Human Development report of 2007. According to the international indicator for extreme poverty, 70.2% of Nigerians live on less than one dollar or N124 per day – and the proportion is still increasing. More so, it is estimated that over 20 million Nigerians do not have access to 20 litres of safe drinking water. Most often, up to 1.5 hours a day on average is spent by rural household to collect water and fuel wood, with household members walking an average of one kilometre each day to have access to these basic necessities of life. The current urban unemployment rate of 10.8% has greatly affected the annual productivity of the country and has further driven it away from reducing poverty by 2015. However, nutrition has improved significantly, maybe in the upper class while the rural dwellers which contain the larger population experience malnutrition. Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education. Little progress: In the area of Universal Basic Education, progress has been slow even though government at the federal level has shown strong determination to implement the programme. Only few states in Nigeria today have partially implemented the Universal Basic Education, while others are yet to follow suit. This goal amongst others could be the reason for the criticism of

the goals lacking in analysis and justification behind chosen objectives, the difficulty or lack of measurement for some of the goals and uneven progress towards achieving some of the goals. Six out of 10 eligible children are now in school from the universal primary education programme interventions and enrollment in private schools. However, disadvantaged groups are still excluded and the quality of education remains very poor. Massive actions still need to be done in teacher education and the development of infrastructure. Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women. Average progress: Improvement has been made in gender parity in Nigeria, one will say that the government has tried in bringing women to form an integral part of the administration and they have proven to be more responsible, accountable, and efficient than some of their male counterparts. The proportion of seats held by women in the National Assembly has increased from three per cent in 2001 to 71% in 2007 – and the figure is still on the increase, bearing in mind the reform policies of the past and present administrations. Domestication of the UN convention on the Eliminating of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), have played a great role in ensuring that the rights of women are protected. Also, as one of the most vulnerable groups in the society, government recognises the need to empower women educationally through value re-orientation of parent in order to ensure equal opportunity for the girl child. In fact for every 10 boys in school, there are nine girls, latest statistics have shown that about 84.0% of girls now enjoy equal chance of education as their male counterpart – an indicator that gender disparity in primary and secondary schools can be eliminated in the near future. Goal 4: Reduce child mortality. Average progress: There has been a minute decrease in under-five mortality, from 301 deaths per 1000 live births in 2003 to 201 death per 1000 live births in 2008. In fant mortality also shows a significant reduction from 100 per 1000 live births in 2003 to 85 deaths per 1000 live birth in 2008. The proportion of children immunized against measles by 12 months of age marginally increased from 31.4% in 2003 to 41.1% in 2008. Goal 5: Improve maternal health. Slow progress: Success in this goal has been slow and poses greater challenge to women existence. However, maternal mortality fell from 800 deaths per 100,000 births in 2003 to 545 deaths per 100,000 births in 2008. Reproductive health through the use of contraceptive is at the rate of four per cent. The slow pace is as a result of poor medical facilities and half-baked doctors and nurses. Maternal mortality as far as Nigeria is concerned is yet to receive any boost. Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases. Average progress: The prevalence of HIV/AIDS dropped to four per cent in 2008. HIV prevalence in pregnant women aged 15-24 years also dropped to 4.2% in 2008. The proportion of the population accessing antiretroviral drugs increased to 34.4% though still very costly, basically for the elite. The percentage of children sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito net rose from 2.2% in 2003 to 5.5% in 2008. Malaria infection rate remains steady, and has account for average of 300,000 deaths each year. There is considerable progress against polio credit to some international organisation, like Rotary International. However, if we must reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases the fight has to be intensified and those living with the disease must be helped, and all form of discrimination against them must be stopped. Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability. No progress: Ac-

cess to safe water and sanitation has not improved significantly and other environmental challenges, such as erosion, coastal flooding and climatic change are growing; a good example is the incident of last year’s devastating flood that gulped almost the entire country. The national ecological fund for such purposes is constantly misappropriated by those at the helm of affair. Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development. No progress: The eighth goal specifies avenues through which the first seven goals can be achieved by way of joint partnership with international development agencies. The recent debt cancellation by the Paris Club was seen as a landmark achievement but it has not been matched by an increase in aid; trade and access to markets remain unequal. Debt-relief gains would have helped immensely in Nigeria’s modest progress towards achieving the MDGs if the few saddled with the responsibility are not busy helping themselves with public funds. As much as the funds that come into the country for accomplishing these targeted objectives go into individual pocket the country will continue to lag behind and lose the confidence of international communities. However, Nigeria has proved to the world her strategic importance in Africa, and as a source of peace and stability in West Africa. It leads in international peace-keeping role in the sub-region. In terms of international and regional integration, Nigeria is a founding member of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), African Union, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The number of fixed lines and mobile phone subscribers has increased from 22% in 1990 to 79.1% in 2004 an unprecedented increase which fosters communication and creates more partnership with international development agencies. Essentially, Nigeria and other nations have to wake up to this amazing opportunity to not only upgrade the standard of living of their citizens but also stand firm in terms of economic growth and development and be counted among developed countries of the world. In spite of the poor performance Nigeria recorded in some of the goals and the near-impossibility of the country in achieving the MDGs by 2015 or beyond, there are a lot of opportunities and potential that can help the country to improve the lot of its citizens. For instance, Nigeria produces two million barrels of oil per day and is ranked the sixth largest producer in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The country’s proven reserves of oil amounts to about 37 billion barrels, enough to last for 37 years at the current rate of production. It is estimated that natural gas reserves amount to 174 trillion cubic feet, the equivalent of 30 billion barrels of crude oil. If fully utilised, our gas will last another 110 years. At 924,768 square kilometres, Nigeria is larger than Sweden, Norway and Denmark put together. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, cocoa and rubber accounts for 60% of our non-oil merchandise export. Of the 98 million hectares of land, 74 million is arable and can be of good productivity if properly managed, therefore eradicating extreme poverty and hunger by 2015 in Nigeria alone should not be our primary focus as a country but we must look for the possible way to liberate other African countries from the bondage of poverty bearing in mind our rich human and natural potential. With proper management, the country can still be Africa’s largest economy, and also play a significant role in the global economy. But the principle of accountability, transparency and respect for the rule of law should be upheld and most importantly enforced.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, March 27, 2014 | 17

Focus After false starts, Second Niger Bridge begins odyssey

President Goodluck Jonathan (holding the microphone) performing the ground breaking of the Second Niger Bridge, recently. By Kodilinye Obiagwu, South East Bureau Chief N 1999, during the political campaigns in the South East, forIStadium mer President Olusegun Obasanjo, at the Owerri Township in Imo State, promised among other things to build a second bridge across the River Niger. The promise lingered for eight years. In a display of wry humour, Obasanjo, on May 24, 2007, five days to the end of his second term, “commissioned the construction of the N58.6 billion,” 1,760 metre, six-lane Second Niger Bridge bridge, with a toll plaza. It was his reconstruction of an idea to keep his promise. His own bridge would be built in three and a half years under public-private partnership; the Federal Government would have provided 20 per cent of the fund, Anambra and Delta states would provide 10 per cent each, while a construction company named Gitto Group would build the bridge. Those who watched Obasanjo “commission” the project at Okpoko in Ogbaru Council of Anambra, were former Delta governor, Chief James Ibori, one time deputy governor and governor of Anambra, Dame Virgy Etiaba, Dr. Andy Uba, the incumbent governor of Delta Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Achebe, Senator Joy Emordi, among others. Obasanjo told them that this was “a promise fulfilled.” He explained that the delay in flagging off the project was due to the huge cost, which called for private partnership involvement. He noted also the need to formulate a policy backed by law and that the Federal Government later sent a bill to the National Assembly to that effect. Obasanjo knew the importance of a Second Bridge over the Niger. He admitted that “the volume of traffic on the old bridge clearly justified the need for a second bridge. If anything happens to the old bridge, God forbid, half of the country will be cut off. This bridge becomes one of the most important significant lines of communication between the Eastern part of the country and the Western part.” But the Minister of Works, Housing and Urban Development in the late President Umaru Yar’Adua regime, Dr. Hassan Lawal, had said that there was no plan by the Government to build the Bridge. According to him, there wasn’t even a legal contract for the project. Obasanjo’s unfulfilled promise wasn’t peculiar. He was following the footsteps of his predecessors like Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and the late Gen. Sani Abacha, who, for various reasons had kept the project on the drawing board. On August 30, 2012 in a town hall meeting, during a one-day visit to Anambra, President Goodluck Jonathan made his own promise on the bridge. Perhaps, in a display of rare integrity to distance him his predecessors, he vowed that he would go on exile if he fails to build the bridge by 2015. On March 10, the President kept the first part of the bargain, when at the Krisoral ground, Atani in Ogbaru Council of Anambra, he performed the “ground-breaking” ceremony for the bridge. Jonathan would fancy a bit of history here: He reportedly said in 2012 that “when the first Niger Bridge was built, it was during the presidency of Nnamdi Azikiwe; the second Niger Bridge will be built under the presidency of Azikiwe

Jonathan….If I fail to build the bridge in 2015, I will go into exile.” Jonathan, like Obasanjo knows the importance of the bridge. His words: “This bridge, when completed, would alleviate the movement difficulties and improve commerce and trade of our people, especially congestion witnessed during festive seasons. It will not only serve the people of these areas, but all Nigerians and the West African sub-region. The bridge would be key to the economic development of the South-East and South-South zones.’’ He also emphasised the point of how the construction of the Bridge was critical to his administration’s resolve to improve the economic fortunes of the country. The Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, told the president: “for this and other things you have done for the South-East, we have to pay you back. This bridge would boost economic activities and solve the gridlocks problem and consequent loss of productive hours on the existing bridge.” Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who had said that “the project ought to have been completed before now,” noted that when completed, “the bridge would boost economic activities and transportation in the South-East zone and environs.” Politics of Second Niger Bridge The importance of the Second Niger Bridge goes beyond politics. It carries the burden of the economic survival of a people. It also gives the South East a proprietary sense of identity. Obi made the point that, “Mr. President have made us proud as Ndigbo.” But with the promises on the second bridge, made at auspicious times, it was always looking like a bait; a taunt for the Igbo man just to get his votes. What was the reason in delaying relieving the burden of traffic on a bridge built in 1965, 49 years ago? Who stood to gain from denying the East, particularly of the benefits and security a second bridge would offer? Obviously, the bridge would have been the best gift to the South East from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in return for the South East votes, which, in any case, had been taken since 1999. Yet, the bridge was delayed until yet another election year. Is Jonathan targeting Igbo votes by opting to commission the ground breaking ceremony in 2014? What is the real political value of a ground breaking ceremony, knowing that Obasanjo did something similar in 2007, thereby fulfilling an eight-yearold promise? In a zone frozen out of significant Federal Government projects, the less than two-kilometre bridge, if completed, would certainly rank as the highest achievement of the PDP government in the zone since 1999, perhaps higher than the remodeling of the Akanu Ibiam Airport to an International standard in Enugu. The bridge, if completed, will also aid the smooth movement of the Igbo and other Nigerians to and from Igboland and beyond. Senator Uche Chukwumerije (Abia North) said Jonathan’s initiative “hopefully marks the end of a pattern of loud hollow

tokenism, which the Obasanjo regime reserved for the South East in the guise of even-handed economic development of all parts of the federation.” Describing the attitude of past regimes to the project as illustrative of the Federal Government’s hypocritical attention to economic development of the South East, which he saw as a pattern of tokenism, Chukwumerije noted that “if strategic national importance is the criterion for direct federal funding, second Niger Bridge merits as much attention as other projects. It is a major link to the whole length of eastern half of Nigeria, from Onitsha through Benue to North East.” He also wondered how the two host states, which can barely source enough funds for their internal development, were nearly sentenced to the burden of PPP contributions. The Igbo had begged for this project. No zone had so craved for a similar project. Multiple delegations had gone to Aso Rock groveling and bargaining for it. The Obi of Onitsha, who was among those present when Obasanjo commissioned the Second Bridge, had joined Obi and others to visit Jonathan over the bridge. It was said that it was during this visit that the promise was finally extracted from Jonathan. There have been questions. Why does the South East celebrate? Could this 1,590m long bridge be completed sooner than the scheduled four years? Is there any chance that the bridge will suffer the same fate it did in 2007? Why did Jonathan wait till the twilight of his first term to flag off the bridge? Suppose he doesn’t return to Aso Rock, then what? Although, the “leaders” of the zone have adopted him as their candidate, others will still ask if the bridge is still part of the bargain. Need for the 2nd Niger Bridge The second bridge would compliment the existing 1.4-kilometre old bridge. There had always been fears that the old bridge might collapse, especially with the growing burden of vehicular traffic, certainly not envisaged by its designers. The bridge had also suffered damage during the Civil War. The bridge is the major artery to the South East from the South. Its collapse would mean severing the South East from the South West. With the Public-Private-Partnership arrangement for a concession on the bridge, there are concerns that the financiers would tax every person using the bridge to recover the N117 billion to be spent, for 25 years. On the queue will be traders hustling between Onitsha and Asaba, commercial buses and motorcyclists. However, the old bridge would become the non-tolled alternative route for local traffic between Asaba and Onitsha. Details Jonathan had since December 2011, commenced the process towards the ground breaking. The Ministry of Works hired a transaction advisor and a concessionaire in December 2011, seven months after Jonathan’s inauguration as president on May 29, 2011. The Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolemenen said the bridge would be built by Julius Berger Construction Company. Onolemenen said that second the bridge would cost N117,860,700,741.82 (VAT inclusive) and certified by Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), while government was executing the project under the PPP arrangement for a concession period of 25 years. The Federal Government would contribute about 25 per cent funding or N30 billion as its equity participation in the project. The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu said that the bridge was a development that would impact on business transactions in the sub region of West Africa of people from Cotonu, Ghana, Cameroun and others who come to Onitsha to do business. The Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, said that the project, if completed as scheduled, would have portrayed Jonathan as a “man of character who will always live by his words.” He said that the issue of bridge had become the “simplest tool politicians use to deceive the Igbo at every given election. “If Jonathan delivers on this bridge, then he would have made a mark that will not be erased easily in the minds of our people. My only worry is that they are talking about a four-year completion period. Let it be known that healing the wounds in the South East includes this bridge and many others and the leaders of our country should for once be honest and perform this noble task. “Going through a list of investments by the government in various parts of the country, it is easy to discover that the South East was the least in federal investments. We cannot continue to be saying one Nigeria when certain parts of the country are benefiting more than others. We cannot continue to pretend that it is well when some people are in pains and others are celebrating.” The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in the South East, Osita Okechukwu said that it was worrisome that the project was not being directly funded by the Federal Government, but by debt over-hang. His words: “Is it not a paradox that the Lagos State government awarded 1.3km Epe-Lekki bridge of similar status to Julius Berger Plc and completed it with N29 billion; while the same company without competitive bid got 1.8 kilometer Second Niger Bridge at N117 billion, a difference of N88 billion?

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

18 Thursday, March 27, 2014

TheMetroSection NDLEA arrests electronics merchant with Diazepam injections By Odita Sunday

Drug trafficking is bad. The consequences are condemnable. It affects individuals and the society at large. Members of the public should shun drug trafficking. The money offered by drug barons cannot wipe away the shame of being an ex-convict FFICIALS of the National Drug O Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos have apprehended an electronics merchant for allegedly attempting to smuggle 8 kilogrammes of Diazepam injections on-board an Arik flight to Liberia. The drug was detected at the luggage-screening desk of the departure hall of the airport and narcotics officers are investigating the suspect. The 39-year-old suspect disguised the Diazepam as packs of Alabukun powder, which is not a controlled drug. NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, said that the suspect would be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction soon. “Our officers discovered eight kilogrammes of Diazepam injections in a luggage brought by one Udoji Chike. The luggage was meant for export to Liberia. He has accepted ownership of the drug and he will be charged to court soon after investigation,” Hamza stated. According to the suspect, he agreed

Briefs Foundation for Passion for launch April 2 REPARATIONS for the P launch and presentation of the Foundation for Passion and Genuine Hope have been concluded. According to a statement by the Founder and National Coordinator, Mrs. Vivian Atuanya, the event hold at the Ladi Kwali Hall of Abuja Sheraton on Wednesday, April 2, 2014. The organization, which intends to provide succour to widows and fatherless children in the society, “also plans to train them in vocational skills so that they can be self-reliant,” says Atuanya. “We will also sensitize the public against cultural heritage, which encourages illtreatment of widows and the fatherless children in Nigeria,” she added.

Justina Ikpe-Abasi dies at 80 HE death has occurred of T Madam Justina Peter IkpeAbasi at the age of 80.

The drugs to send to the bag so as to give the wife some money for her upkeep. His words: “I am a graduate of Business Administration from the University of Monrovia. I sell electricals/electronics in Liberia where I have lived with my family since 1997. I came to spend the Christmas period last December with my family in Ihiala, Anambra

The suspected courier public to always shun drug traffickState. Unfortunately, my father ing in the interest of the society. died on January 8, 2014. Since then, “Drug trafficking is bad. The conseI could not go back to Liberia and I quences are condemnable. It affects am worried how my wife and child individuals and the society at large. are coping financially. I agreed to Members of the public should shun send the drug so that the money drug trafficking. The money offered they will pay me can be given to by drug barons cannot wipe away my wife in Liberia,” Udoji told inthe shame of being an ex-convict. vestigators. Let us therefore support the antiChairman of the NDLEA, Alhaji Ahdrug campaign,” Giade urged. madu Giade urged members of the

A Christian wake holds on Friday, April 4, at the family compound, 9A, Efa Road, Nkana-Iman, Etinan Local Council of Akwa Ibom State. She will be buried on Saturday, April 5, after a funeral service at St. Peter’s African Church, Nkana Parish, Etinan, at 10.00a.m. She is survived by children among whom is Mr. Nsikan Ikpe, a Lagos-based journalist.

Statisticians caution against acquiring new buses in FCT From Chuka Odittah, Abuja

INISTER of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Bala Mohammed, has been advised to shelve new plans to procure additional mass transit buses as a means of tackling public transportation difficulties currently being experienced in the nation’s capital. The President of Nigerian Statistical Association of Nigeria, Dr. Musa Mohammed Tumala, gave the advice during an exclusive chat with The Guardian in Abuja. ‘The resort to procure new buses for the FCT as a means of solving the current transportation challenges should be re-visited. This is because while we are thinking of resolving an obvious transportation problem now, we should also consider the longterm effects of such temporary measures to population movement .Population grows, the needs of the

people also change, so we need to be pro-active. As a statistician, the plan to procure more buses immediately suggests that there is going to be a jump in the number of vehicles on the roads,” he said Tumala explained that the introduction of new buses would only produce temporary relief while ultimately worsening the gridlocks across the FCT and its environs. He added that rather than embark on procurement of new set of buses, the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory should first conduct a comprehensive household survey to determine the true population of people living in the FCT, in addition to understudying the peculiar transportation difficulties faced by commuters and at what times, in the day. The Nigerian Statistical Association president pointed out that this should be followed by cre-

ation of infrastructure, such as roads expansion and creation of proper stop stations for embarkation and disembarkation of commuters all across the city. Tumala said that rather than acquiring new buses altogether, efforts should be made to maximize the large number of mass transit buses currently abandoned in various locations in the Capital territory. On the long- term solution to the issue of population movement in Abuja, Tumala urged government to enforce outright prohibition of conversion of residential areas to commercial centres, saying that such violations put pressure on traffic direction. He added that rather than pump funds into procurement of new buses, government should pursue construction of city tramps, which he said were cheap and effective methods of population movement in urban city centres.

Police arrest certificate forgery syndicate, two pipeline vandals From Karls Tsokar, Abuja HE International Police Organisation (Interpol) section of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) have arrested seven members of a certificate forgery syndicate, even as two half-burnt oil pipeline vandals were paraded for the media. Parading five of the suspected expert forgers yesterday in Abuja, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Frank Mba said the syndicate has its operational base at the UTC Shopping Complex, Area 10 Garki Abuja, and “specialises in forging documents such as WAEC certificates, University Degrees, NYSC dis-

charge certificates, assorted land documents and certificates of incorporation. “It also engages in the falsification of travel documents and drivers licenses amongst others for a fee ranging from N5, 000 to N30, 000, depending on the socio-economic status of their clients or the urgency of the transaction”, he said. The paraded suspects, Abdulazeez Sadiq, 27, who was a fuel clerk with the Abuja Municipal Area Council Mass Transit is said to be the brain behind the printing of bus tickets for the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company, through Emeka Chukwu who is a graphics specialist that

has so far printed “2000 copies, but has given out 500 copies successfully at the cost of N100 per copy.” Also, Chibueze Ugorji who is also a graphic specialist said he has only forged “one degree certificate and one NYSC discharge certificate at the cost of N2000”, because he needed the money to pay for rent and other exigencies. Mba said the Interpol had gone undercover pretending to be prospective clients before they were arrested, adding that the suspects have already made useful statements and would soon be charged to court. According to the police, exhibits recovered from the sus-

pects included forged copies of Corporate Affairs Commission documents, land documents of AMAC, University of Abuja degree and official stamp and electronic equipment that they use. Meanwhile, the paraded vandals who were caught on March 20 with various degrees of burns as a result of the explosion that occurred after a fire sparked off from the busted pipeline, were scooping fuel for resale. According to Mba: “Soji Omono, 40, and Rotana Ifeanyi with others went to Imagbon waters near Ilara in Ogun State and vandalised NNPC pipelines, but luck ran out of them as the product

went into flames, they escaped with serious injuries and went to a hide-out where they were being treated secretly.” “The Anti-Pipeline Vandalisation Squad traced them and with cooperation of the people of the community, caught them. They are still being treated in our custody and are getting better, after which they will be charged to court”, Mba said. One of the suspects, Soji, though badly burnt confessed that he was “a puller”, but this is “only my second time of doing this, but with this fire, I swear, I will never go there again. We are many but I don’t know their names.”

Ikpe-Abasi

Comfort Alli for burial rites for Chief FAlli,UNERAL (Mrs.) Comfort Ijaduola who died recently at the age of 92, begin today with a Christian wake at No.2/490, Odooye Adeoyo Road, Ibadan, Oyo State at 5.00p.m. She will be buried tomorrow after a funeral service at Oritamefa Baptist Church, Queen Elizabeth Road, Total Garden, Ibadan at 10.00a.m. Guests will be entertained at the University of Ibadan Conference Centre. She is survived by Mrs. Bunmi Oguntuase Adekunle Alli and others.

Alli

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Business Cocoa, charcoal, others dominate Nigeria’s non-oil exports By Moses Ebosele GRICULTURAL commodiA ties such as cocoa, charcoal, sesame seed and cotton dominated Nigeria’s non-oil export in 2013. Also, export of finished goods mainly foodstuffs increased by over 80 per cent, indicating growth in local manufacturing. In its 2014 first quarter report made available yesterday, Maersk Nigeria Limited explained that most non-oil agricultural exports out of Nigeria were loaded to Europe, followed closely by exports to the far East. According to the report, containerised market in Nigeria continues to be strongly dominated by imports, adding that for the last six years, the import/export ratio has remained at around 92 percent import versus eight percent export.

However, the report pointed out that Nigeria has witnessed a good trend of Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) with multinational companies “increasing their presence, and building capacity to cater to domestic demand”. The report quoted Managing Director of Maersk Nigeria Limited and Head of the company’s Central West Africa Cluster, Jan Thorhauge as saying the production from the industries find their way as exports to other neighbouring African countries thereby increasing regional trade. Thorhauge added: “The government’s drive to privatise the power sector, will encourage domestic production and industry will grow to create more jobs whilst boosting exports”. The report explained that provisional data revealed that Nigeria’s export volumes

“remained small and volatile, depending on agricultural seasonality”’. It explained that volumes declined from 11,000 FFE in second quarter 2013 to 5,600FFE in third quarter 2013, pointing out that in the last quarter of the year, the export market experienced a 68 per cent leap as compared to previous quarter ending the year at 35,000FFE which is a nine increase when compared with the full year 2012. The report said: ”High oil prices have boosted national revenues in recent years and this has contributed to some of the trade growth and also helped shore up the foreign reserves of the country in the recent past”. According to Thorhauge, “The government has done well to keep the naira valuation in check and this is very important to provide the needed stability for trade to

flourish.” Titled “Positive trade growth in 2013 inspires optimism in 2014”, the report said:”Despite the challenges facing the Nigerian economy, the containerized import market to Nigeria for 2013 was strong and is estimated to have ended at approximately 422,000 Forty Foot Equivalent units (FFE) compared with 2012, where volume shipped was approximately 383,000 FFE. “This represents a year on year growth of around 10 per cent and shows healthy increase in Nigerian imports when compared to 2012, which only witnessed a four per cent growth in volume. “This strong growth in times when we see global demand increases at only around five per–cent year on year, lends support as to why economist include the country amongst the MINT economies with

Managing Director,NIPCO Plc, Venkataraman Venkatapathy (left); Chairman, Chief Bestman P. Anekwe ; Company Secretary, Paul C. Obi;and Executive Director (Corporate Services), Alhaji Abdulkadir Aminu, at the 10th yearly general meeting of the company in Abuja, yesterday.

promise of continued sustained growth in the future. “Products coming into the country continue to be dominated by electronics, building materials, chemicals, used cars and industrial supplies. The trend of import commodities have remained the same for the past years and China continues to be Nigeria’s largest import trading partner, with the United States of America (USA),

Netherlands, India, Germany and Turkey following”. It observed that the change in import policy on some goods has had adverse effects on the volume of rice and frozen fish into Nigeria.”Rice imports, for instance experienced a complete stop due to the increase in tariff by 110 per cent, whilst the government also imposed import quotas on fish to boost local produc-

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KPMG projects bright propects for consumer goods By Adeyemi Adepetun HE assessed rising profile of T the middle class in Nigeria and other African coutries has been projected as the elixir that would drive prospects of consumer goods in the regional market. This projection was made by KPMG in its latest research on consumer goods market in Africa. The report explained that with countries in Africa, especially Nigeria, projected to have the world’s fastest growing population and expected to account for 40 per cent of the global population by 2030, coupled with improved GDP growth; rising national income, and subsequently household incomes and purchasing power, there are bright prospects of super demand-supply that would create immense opportunities on the continent for investors. According to KPMG, , Africa holds the key to global economy. Head of Consumer and Industrial Line of Business for KPMG in Nigeria, Wole Obayomi stressed that “Africa is fast becoming a consumer continent and very attractive to investors. While specific markets for entry should still be defined by their diversity, the continent is densely populated with a rising middle class of urban dwellers. “In fact, an average 40 per

cent of the one billion population, which consists of the working class or entrepreneurs and members of households – have an average disposable income of between $2 and $20 a day.” Already, research has shown that youth will be the driving factor for growth in Africa’s consumer markets. Obayomi explained: “If we look at Nigeria, for instance, about 45 per cent of the country’s current population of 170 million is said to be under the age of 15, and it is projected that 70 per cent of the population will be under the age of 35 by 2030. These demographic attributes will not be materially different amongst other African countries and as there is power in numbers, the youth will likely also play a role defining consumption patterns of consumer goods and based on this, accelerate certain changes within retail industries, specifically.” Going forward, he noted that for key investment or business consideration, “a promising youthful and trendy consumer segment, for instance, defines their needs as: affordable and decent housing in good neighbourhoods, financial services, access to consumer credit and mortgages, as well as technology and telecommunications for voice and Internet data access. “Additionally, in the case of fast moving consumer goods

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Stakeholders seek trade facilitation measures at ports By Femi Adekoya O facilitate trade in the T country, stakeholders in the real sector have advocated increased efforts in addressing infrastructure deficit as well as adherence to compliance rules as stated by regulators. Specifically, the stakeholders raised issues of duplication of responsibilities by government agencies operating at the nation’s ports, adding that operations and regulation of the terminal operators is also an issue. Indeed, the stakeholders while charting the roadmap on trade facilitation through effective port operation in Nigeria, yesterday emphasized the need for government to fill the infrastructure gap that exists in the mar-

itime sector, considering the projected yearly growth expected in terms of bilateral trade through the ports. According to them, the effective movement of goods and services is key in boosting trade growth, as existing infrastructure are inadequate in meeting projected growth capacities. Also, the organized private sector raised concerns on the ease of doing business in the country, especially for import dependent firms, in the area of cargo clearance delays and evacuation. Specifically, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) lamented the plight of manufacturers and businesses in the country concerning the delays in the clearing process of goods at the

ports, describing such delays as holding up their raw materials and potentially leading to shortfalls in their first-quarter bottom-lines as their production processes have been slowed down or brought to a halt altogether. Indeed, the stakeholders attributed the slowdown of the goods clearing process at the ports to fallout of the introduction of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). The PAAR regime is the initiative of the Nigeria Customs Service introduced into the port system in order to facilitate the process of goods clearing. It is a document centenary information on imported goods, which by design should arrived from the point of loading and generated by

the customs before the arrival of the goods. It replaced the Risk Assessment Report regime that was used by service providers, which handed over their operation to the Nigeria Customs Service recently after the expiration of their contract with the Federal Government. President of LCCI, Alhaji Remi Bello urged government to address issues of duplication of responsibilities by the government agencies operating at the nation’s ports. He noted that there are reports of high and unregulated charges by terminal operators and complaints about PAAR. “There are concerns about weak regulatory framework to protect port users. There are reports of high charges by

shipping companies. There are reports of under-hand activities by officials within our ports. In all of these, the importers and private sector get to bear one burden or the other. “Again, real economic activities and the overall development of the country are constrained. For an import dependent economy like Nigeria, getting our ports (which is a major gateway to the country) to work efficiently and eliminate all the bottlenecks is a germane to a successful and prosperous economy” he said. On his part, Head, Post Clearance Audit, Zone A, Nigerian Customs Service, Comptroller Basir Abubakar, said the trading community in most cases do not like comments and sharing their

issues with the customs adding that, the customs have a transparent management today. “The Nigerian Customs Service are going ten years ahead of the trading community, trading community in most cases do not like comments or sharing their issues with the customs. We have a transparent management today, you can walk up to any customs office, particularly, the area Comptroller which deals directly with the public” he said. According to him, the introduction of Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) is very good to the business community and that initially, there were bottlenecks, but for some days now there has been tremendous improvement on it.

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Chinese investors eye power equipment production business in Nigeria From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja ITH experience in power development, a team of investors from China are eyeing the production of power equipment in Nigeria. Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission on Tuesday hosted the investors from the far East Asiann country, who came to present their interest in the sector. The delegation comprised of technicians, who specialize in large scale design, manufacturing and installation of electrical equipments. Leader of the delegation, Yurin Qrian Jing of Jamet

Cooperation, expressed the group’s desire to share their experience with China’s power development. He stated that power is the foundation of economic development, noting that this is the moment to participate in power development in Nigeria. According to him, they are prepared to us their experience and advanced technology to support the development of Nigeria’s power industry. “We have come to seek cooperation and offer our experience”, he said. Another member of the team and Vice General Manager, China Shipping

Industry Corporation, Liu Wen Lin, revealed that the corporation was into large scale manufacturing of electrical equipments for the power sector, with partners that are experts in nuclear power generation. The group made a presentation of a prepaid meter that they said meets Nigeria’s specification and declared their readiness to collaborate in both the manufacturing and installation of meters, adding that the Commission has been most proactive in providing guidelines for metering codes and their specifications. Chairman of the

Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, in his response to the delegation, reiterated the fact that there is substantial space for expansion in the Nigerian power market and welcomed their commitment to join in. He urged them to apply for a meter license through the Commission’s website so that they could certified as manufacturers, vendors and if they meet the required criteria developed by the Commission, they can be assured of space in the reformed sector. His words: “The regulator is here to make rules for the electricity market, while making the market hos-

pitable for business”.

Agric commodities dominate Nigeria’s non-oil exports

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 tion. “For the past three years, Tiles and Ceramics which are mainly imported from China have seen significant growth owing to the increase in construction across the country. “The import of building material is expected to continue to be buoyant in 2014, along with electronics another segment which will see good growth due to the increasing middle class in Nigeria.

“Pre-election spending is also expected to generate volume if we go by previous trends. To this effect, items such as paper, stationery, printing material as well as electronic display units would likely see a sharp increase in import volume. “Logistics in the automobile industry will experience change in 2014, pending increased duties on fully built up units. “The enactment of new import policies will see increased containerisation of

vehicles in knocked down condition shipped to new assembly plants in the country. All of these indications suggest positive volume growth in containerised imports in 2014,” Thorhauge added. Maersk Line, according to the report continues to offer a combination of direct services from the Far East, as well as relay products from other parts of the world via “our Western Mediterranean hub ports”. Meanwhile, the company explained that the introduc-

tion of its new Far East deployment to Nigeria will allow “us to offer clients in Nigeria three direct services from the Far East to Nigeria. All services will have direct calls from main Chinese ports and shall cover South East Asia countries over our hub port in Malaysia. These enhancements along with improvement in our service from Western Mediterranean hub ports shall result in 11 weekly calls into the largest ports in Nigeria”.

Nigeria, others hold propects for consumer goods CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 (FMCG) – including: food, clothing, goods, personal care products and entertainment consumers look for quality, but inexpensive products.” Related to consumption patterns of the urban dwellers, Obayomi said that the term ‘sophisticated African consumer’ continues to emerge more frequently - particularly with a preference for sophisticated shopping, which is “described as cosmopolitan and either Diaspora repatriate or home-based individual with international exposure, the new sophisticated African consumer has become

wealthier, mobile and more educated. “The Afropolitan consumer is enthusiastic to stay on top of market leading trends, where they are fashionable and brand-conscious. However, they also want value for money, or may be price-sensitive and, will look for the best deals. These consumers are therefore keenly interested in convenience shopping, either online or in malls rather than the traditional open markets, as these commerce models increase accessibility for them to make an informed choice or purchase.” Obayomi explained that rising consumer markets will

have multiplier effects in continuing to spur growth of African economies and – through demand-supply principles – accelerate the organic growth of the consumer goods industries. According to the KPMG chief, by 2030, he expects the largest growth in the consumer goods industries will be in food, apparel, personal care products, furniture and furnishing, electronics, entertainment, automobiles, computers, telecommunications and mobile technology. “Manufacturers and exporters of affordable good quality consumer products should be looking to Africa as

part of their business expansion strategies. For those who have been exporting to Africa and their products have broad acceptability, the time has come for them to consider setting up manufacturing or packaging facilities, where products and/or packaging can be adapted to suit each country’s consumer population,” Obayomi stated. New market entrants, however, he said should look to export products to Africa and distribute their products through local distributors first, to enable them to build their brands in the short-term before setting up manufacturing plants in the long-term. “Investors should look to enter the market with affordable branded, low to mid-market products and target the mass market in the major commercial cities first, to entrench their business in the short-term. Once there is a show of traction and returns on investment, investors should then look to introduce higher end products that can compete favourably on price and quality with the same or equivalent products that high end consumers would normally travel to Dubai, Europe and the USA to purchase. “Further to this, manufacturers and exporters should look to design the implementation of an e-commerce strategy, whether through their own online trading platforms or by forming an alliance with virtual e-commerce platforms for online retailing”, he stated. According to him, it is crucial for any business to understand the dynamics and potential complexities of each market for entry - by studying the culture, taste, lifestyle and consumption patterns of the consumers, stressing that the fact that a particular product moves well in one country should not be viewed as a benchmark or indicator that it will move in another.

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Investors, at RMB’s forum, seek more dialogue on economy By Emmanuel Badejo O engage in more profitable T ventures within the Nigerian economic space, investors, including manufacturers, importers, exporters and other business groups have called on all stakeholders within the financial sector to hold continuous intensive economic forum.

Such forum, they said, was necessary to guide informed decisions that would translate to their company’s, citizens and the country’s well being. They spoke recently in Lagos at the Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), Nigeria’ economic research breakfast forum, that featured prominent economic experts, including Chief Executive Officer, Financial

Derivatives Company Limited, Bismark Rewane, Africa Analyst, Rand Merchant Bank, Nema Ramkhelawan-Bhana and member of Faculty, Lagos Business School, Dr. Doyin Salami. Chief Executive Officer, Rand Merchant Bank, Nigeria, Michael Larbie said though it is part of his company client services, he added such forum

would aid their numerous clients to know the direction the economy is tended and consequently assist them and other investors to take informed decision when planning. “We felt it is necessary that these issues that affect our economy should be discussed on regular basis, and this is part of our client services, so

Chevron earmarks $1.7m to health initiative in Bayelsa By Sulaimon Salau HEVRON Corporation will C commit additional $1.7 million in its funding support for the community-based Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) project known as the PROMOT project, in Bayelsa State. This additional commitment, according to a statement signed by the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Deji Haastrup raises Chevron’s five-year investment for the PROMOT project to $5.3 million. The PROMOT project is sponsored by Chevron and implemented by Pact Nigeria, in partnership with community based organisations, to

NIBSS, banks up advocacy on use of e-payment platforms By Adeniyi Idowu Adunola HE Nigeria Interbank Settlement Scheme (NIBSS) and deposit money banks have urged Nigerians to embrace e-payment platforms as the best option for payments of business transactions. The appeal, which is part of the renewed awareness campaign aimed at enlightening the public on the benefits of epayment, may have become necessary as the nationwide rollout of the cash-less project by July 1, 2014, is fast approaching. The e-payment platforms like Point of Sale (POS) and Instant Payment, among others, have been promoted for assessed convenience, safety and receipt of instant value, facilitating payments for transactions through ATM cards, mobile phones, laptops, desktops, notebooks and I-Pads. Already, banks in conjunction with NIBSS have commenced a communication awareness campaign to enlighten Nigerians on the benefits of these e-payment platforms, encouraging their usage and adoption. According to a statement from the Head, Corporate Communications, NIBSS, Lilian Phido, the need to embrace the e-payment platforms was due to its safety, reliability and efficiency offerings, coupled with the attendant security issues associated with cash transactions. “There is also need to embrace the e-payment platforms because they have become globally acceptable means for financial transactions. “The e-payment platforms enhance greater penetration and accessibility to financial services by the unbanked and under-banked populace and can be enhanced with improved infrastructure,” Phido said.

achieve the primary goal of educating and mobilising the population in targeted communities to reduce mother to child transmission of HIV in Bayelsa State. The project, which began in September 2012 with a funding of $3.6 million over three years, had in the first year, reached more than 6,500 individuals in Sagbama and Yenagoa local council areas with critical HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention informa-

tion, tested more than 7,000 women during prenatal care, and arranged for HIV counseling for nearly 700 people. In addition, 147 community health workers were trained to carry out community PMTCT activities. “The additional support will facilitate the expansion of the reach of the PROMOT project to all local council areas in the state with a target of reaching at least 120,000 men and women of reproductive age.

“Also, the PROMOT project will train an additional 300 community health workers on community PMTCT approaches to enable them continue in creating demand for PMTCT services in existing health facilities across the state, he stated.” According to the 2010 National HIV zero-prevalence sentinel survey, HIV prevalence in Bayelsa is the third highest in Nigeria at 9.1 per cent.

that clients can make informed decisions on investment matters. Investors should take along-term view and be pragmatic about, as well as make decisions on long -term basis,” he said. Reacting to the forum, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), PZ Plc, Christos Giannopoulos said economic forum of this nature was needed, as it has exposed, and will guide them to take lasting and profitable decisions. “The forum was excellent. We got a very wide view of Nigerian economy today, which has one of the biggest economic gains.” General Manager, Corporate Finance, Dangote Industries Limited, Mr. Tony Esene said the forum was quite useful. He said, “it is good to gather together experts and knowledgeable people on the nation’s economy to discuss and share with us what they think on the direction of the economy and from there, we are able to get some useful information. This will help us as business opera-

tors in our planning activities. When you plan, you normally base your planning on some assumptions and it is good to be well informed, and there is nothing greater than talking to those, who should know.” In her paper on “Nigeria – in pursuit of number one but challenges lay ahead,” RMB Africa analyst, Mrs. Nema Ramkhelawan Bhana said there are prospects in Nigeria markets, though there are many challenges, which regulators must check in order to ensure Nigerian’s economy moves at the pace it is envisioned by the operators and business community. According to the CEO, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismark Rewane, some significant structural rigidity could impair Nigeria’s economic growth, warning that security and political risks, particularly, as 2015 general elections approach, could affect the nation’s economy if not carefully handled.

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FAAN denies bribery allegation in airline’s route allocation By Ibe Uwaleke HE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has denied the allegation that the United Arab Emiratesbased airline, Emirates, has not been operating from Abuja because some key people in government have not been gratified. FAAN spokesman and Coordinator of Aviation Parastatals, Yakubu Dati, stated this in Lagos while, responding to a statement

credited to the former Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Tony Iredia, that he (Iredia) was informed by an official source that the airline could not fly from Abuja to Dubai until Nigerian officials are properly settled to grant approval. Dati said since Iredia was relying on an unofficial source, the veracity of the information “is doubtful as it cannot be confirmed.”

“One can say categorically that the issue of ‘seeing’ aviation officials, in which bribes are supposedly collected in exchange for routes, is totally absurd,” he said. He explained that international routes are subject to bilateral agreements signed at ministerial level, adding that routes operated by commercial airlines are usually determined by economic factors rather than political considerations or sentiments.

Sterling Bank’s profit rises to N9.3b, declares N25k dividend Bank Plc has postSlionTERLING ed a net profit of N9.3 bilin its operations last year, against the N7.5 billion profit declared in the corresponding period of 2012. Audited report and accounts of Sterling Bank for the year ended December 31, 2013 released at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday, showed improved growths in incomes and profitability as well as improvements in assets quality and returns. And subject to the approval of its shareholders at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM), the bank is rewarding shareholders with a dividend of 25 kobo per share. This translates to some 25 per cent increase over the 20 kobo declared in the previous year. Gross earnings rode on the back of a 24 per cent and 31 per cent growth in non-interest income and interest income respectively to N91.6 billion. Non-interest income, which rose to N21.7 billion as against N15.3 billion in 2012 was largely due to a 139 per cent increase in trading income in addition to a 46 per cent increase in fees and commission; while Interest income rose to N70.0billion compared with N53.5 billion in 2012, driven by a 39 per cent increase in gross loans and advances to N328.7 billion. Customers’ deposits rose by 23 per cent to N570.5 billion as against N466.8 billion. This, according to the bank, also reflects progress in the execution of its retail strategy Sterling Bank’s total assets including contingent liabilities increased by 28 per cent to N909.4 billion compared with N708.2 billion in 2012, while shareholders’ funds grew by 36.1 per cent to N63.5 billion as against N46.6billion due to profit accretion and net proceeds of N12.1 billion from the Rights Issue. In the same breadth, asset quality improved significantly with non-performing loan ratio down to 2.1per cent from 3.8per cent in 2012 notwithstanding a 40per cent growth in loans and advances. Speaking on the results, Managing Director/CEO, Sterling Bank, Yemi Adeola, said: “Our performance for the 2013 financial year highlights our underlying institutional strength, with top-line revenues increasing by 33 per cent to N91.6 billion, despite the pressure on earnings arising from regulatory policy changes during the year. Operating income increased 41 per cent resulting in an Improvement in cost-toincome ratio to 69 per cent from 81 per cent in 2012. “Overall, our bottom line remained strong with 24 per

cent growth in profit before tax to N9.3 billion. In spite of the challenging operating environment, we grew our loan portfolio to N321.7 billion (2012: N229.4 billion), resulting in a 22 per cent increase in total assets. “Asset quality improved significantly with non-perform-

ing loan ratio down to 2.1 per cent from 3.8 per cent in 2012 notwithstanding a 40 per cent growth in loans and advances. We also gained traction in our retail drive with an active customer base exceeding one million resulting in 23 per cent growth in deposits.”

“If the Abuja to Addis Ababa route, for instance, is not profitable for the airline, it would not do it. It certainly has nothing to do with greasing the palm of anybody,” he noted. Dati stated that the aviation reform initiated by the immediate past minister of aviation, Princess Stella Oduah “is a plus to the fact that the idea of transforming the aviation sector has made a significant impact on the Nigerian society.” “There is confirmation that there was/is still a need to transform Nigerian aviation in order to move it forward and compete favourably with other countries,” he said. Dati recalled that in the past three years the ministry of aviation did a lot to open new international routes for Nigerian aviation pointing out that in 2013, the ministry successfully negotiated and signed bilateral

air service agreement with the State of Israel thereby ending several decades of lack of direct flights between Nigeria and Israel. He also said the federal government had granted approval to the Jordanian Airlines to fly direct between Lagos and the Jordanian capital, Amman. “Nigeria aviation authorities also recorded the first direct international flight from the south-east when President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned an expanded and remodelled Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. On that occasion, an Ethiopian Airlines commercial aircraft undertook direct flight from Enugu to Addis Abba. “So the transformation of the Nigeria aviation is multifaceted and it indeed addresses all the areas. It is on record that the aviation ministry has been at loggerheads with a few indi-

viduals with fraudulent concession agreements and contracts, through which the country was being milked by these private businessmen. “The cancellations of these concessions and the consequent return of those duties to the aviation agencies have resulted in a phenomenal jump in government revenue from aviation sector by more than a thousand per cent,” he added. In addition, he said plans have been concluded to build five new state-of-the art international terminals at five airports including those in Lagos and Abuja. “Presumably, these airports would be able to rival those at Dubai. But more importantly, these would satisfy the needs of Nigerians especially for cargo facilities that can handle perishable goods meant for export.”

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Appointments Science academy laments absence of minister in cabinet From Emeka Anuforo OVERNMENT’S seeming G slow decision to appoint a substantive Minister of Science and Technology more than six months after the former minister was sacked is a great source concern to the

• Urges adoption of technology to curb unemployment Nigerian cademy of Science (NAS). The Academy is also worried about the rate of unemployment in the country and called on government to pay

more than lip service to the utilisation of science and technology as a tool for employment generation. NAS President, Prof Oyewole Tomori, in a statement, also

reviewed the tragic incidences that led to the death of some applicants during the Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment exercise across the country, stressing that the

President, Women In Technology In Nigeria, Martha Alade (left); President of Radio Televisione Italiana (RAI), Anna Maria Tarantola and an attendee on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of Italian radio and 60th Anniversary of TV by RAI in Italy.

‘How to excel as a career woman’ By Florence Utor NTIL a woman strikes balance between her home and career engagement, she may not be described as a successful woman. This was the submission of women folks, at a recent seminar organised by Accenture Nigeria, as they harped that gender is no barrier to any achievement in life. The seminar, tagged: “Knowing and growing your career capital”, drew women from all walks of life to discuss how women at top level can remain visible, while they mentor and help other young ones to manage their career and balance personal commitments at home to ensure successful career. Finance and Strategic Director, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Oyeyimika Adeboye, the guest speaker said, “our gender, as women, should not limit our abilities to do things.” Adeboye, however, did not hide the fact that there were certain expectations the society expect from women, adding “we have to balance that with our careers.” She stressed that the important thing is to always remember that the balance is something we can manage as well. Her advised therefore was that as women, “first of all, I don’t think we should place ourselves out as because I am a woman, you have to make exceptions for me. I

think it is important that we don’t do that because I see it as a way of saying, ‘I have a slight disadvantage, help me.’ I think as women, we should still be able to deliver and perform professionally. It is really up to us to balance our lives with the work environment. However, in doing our jobs, we can plan ourselves better.” “I work in a company where while my work is also very important, my company understands that there are things I need to do as a woman, so long as my work is being performed and it is not suffering, no body will tell me not to do those things. We also need to, as women, arrange our lifestyle in such a way that we can cater for those things as mothers, wives and as employees of a company. You just have to find that balance. “So I wouldn’t say the company should structure itself around the exception that you are a woman. I think we have to plan and manage our time better, so that we can balance the two. And if we are doing our job very well, I believe that our company will also understand where we have to make those exceptions and do what we need to do as women,”Adeboye said further. Speaking on the significance of the event, the Managing Director, Resource (Energy, Utilities and Natural Resources)

Accenture Nigeria, Abayomi Olarinmoye said, “every woman in a workplace, who is interested in having a career, from the day she starts to work begins to build her career capital, just like you build your business capital. So the things you do, personally and professionally, all adds up to build your career capital, the kind of network you cultivate, the kind of skills you build, not those skills that are directly relevant to the current role you are playing but skills that would help you in your career; you take a long term view and beginning to consciously build up that career, depositing things in it – skills, capability, networks, values and so on and that is what we encouraged with meetings like this.” The event had young participants from all walks of life, basically dwelt on women developing skills that would help them grow their careers amidst challenges. One of the participants, Damilola Jons said the discussions were eye-opener for her. She confessed that, “as women in the workplace, we often limit ourselves in terms of our goals, duties while we place our works before our families’ concerns but I have learnt that as career women, as we make conscious efforts to step forward, our family is important and should not be ignored,” she said.

situation was avoidable. He said; “The Nigerian Academy of Science considers the avoidable and tragic loss of lives during the recent recruitment exercise by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), with a sense of deep sorrow and regret. The Academy prays that the bereaved families may be consoled and comforted. “According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the rate of unemployment has increased steadily from 5.8 per centin 2008, to 23.9 per cent in 2012. According to the Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC), this is estimated to rise by 2 per cent in 2014. This is the deplorable situation that led to about 700,000 Nigerians applying for only 5000 job positions, i.e. an average of 140 applicants scrambling for one job position. It is indicative of the grim and dreadful state of unemployment in Nigeria. The employable population in Nigeria constitutes about 53.2 per cent of the nation’s total population. With an unemployment rate of 24 per cent and a high dependency ratio, a large section of the population is dependent on the few Nigerians, who are employed. “Unemployment is not the only challenge we face in Nigeria. Insecurity, corruption, unstable and unreli-

able power supply constitute some of the other challenges. As far back as the early 1960s, Nehru, the former and late prime minster of India was reported to have said: ‘It is science alone that can solve the problem of illiteracy, of superstition and deadening custom and tradition, of vast resources running over waste of a rich country inhabited by starving people. I do not see any way out of our vicious cycle of poverty except by utilising the new sources of power which science has put at our disposal... He went on, “the rapid scientific and economic advancement of countries such as China, Brazil, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan clearly illustrate this. These countries, which once were counted -along with Nigeria, as some of the world’s poorest and undeveloped countries, have succeeded in achieving significant economic growth through investments in science and technology. “China is a strong evidence for the importance of investing in science for economic growth. The Chinese economy is widely regarded as the fastest growing economy in the world, and is currently second to that of the United States of America. Through reforms in its scientific sector

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APPOINTMENTS Thursday, March 27, 2014

Ministry trains 100 in phone assembling From Abosede Musari, Abuja HE Ministry of Niger Delta T Affair has said that about 100 unemployed youths of the region are being trained to assemble phones and other Information Communication Technology gadgets. On a sad note, however, the supervising Minister, Darius Dickson Ishaku has declared that the December 2014 date for the completion of the all important East-West road was unrealistic. Ishaku, said in Abuja, that the youths are being trained in Calabar and that the next batch of trainees will number 500. He, however, gave a ray of hope on the East-West road as he said that the ministry was accessing some funding which may see the delivery of the project by end of first quarter 2015.

According to the minister, there are funds coming from Africa Development Bank to the tune of $300 million, half of which was accessed in the 2013 fiscal year. The remaining half will be accessed in 2014. He, however, expressed hope that the funds will come in in good time before the rains so that some work can be done this year; if not, then it means that contractors will not be able to work for nine months because of the long rainy season in the Niger Delta. Still on funding, Ishaku revealed that N93.9 billion was made available by SURE-P programme spanning a period of three years from 2012 to 2014. The ministry has already accessed the funds in the last two years remaining the one for 2014. The ministry also expects to approach Infrastructural

Development Bank for funds. Meanwhile, about N247 billion of the N350 billion budgeted by government has already been spent. Speaking on the achievements of the ministry so far, the minister, who said it would begin the commissioning of projects in the next two months, noted that the exercise will begin with the skill acquisition centre in Otuoke. According to him, some sections of the East West road are completed but overall completion stands at 70 per cent. The construction of housing units for displaced persons in the nine states of the Niger Delta stands at 70.8 per cent. Overall completion of skill acquisition centres in the nine states stands at 58 per cent. The one at Otuoke is at 82 per cent completion and it will be the first to be commissioned. The

skill acquisition centre project at Edo State was revoked two years ago and the minister said the ministry was in the process of getting final approval for reaward. That project is still at zero per -cent completion despite 15 per cent mobilisation, said to have been paid to the contractor. “The process of re-award takes a lot of time. Now we are waiting for final approval and then we go to Federal Executive Council so we can get another contractor. Then we can use the legal option to get a refund of the 15 per cent mobilisation that had been paid,” he said.

By Femi Adekoya HE Federal Government has T assured stakeholders in the procurement industry of government’s resolve to inaugurate the National Council of Public Procurement (NCPP) within the shortest possible time. The move is coming on the heels of the lingering concern raised by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN) on the need to enhance procurement practice in the country through the inauguration of the council to check procurement activities in the country.

Besides the Federal Government called for increased collaboration between the public and private sector as part of measures to aid professionalism in the industry. Speaking at the institute’s yearly conference and award event tagged: “Mainstreaming the procurement practice in Nigeria”, in Lagos recently, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who was represented by the DirectorGeneral Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Emeka Ezeh, noted that government was ready to work with the private sector in enhancing good

governance through good procurement practices. President of CIPSMN, Mohammed Jimoh Aliyu further emphasised the need to embrace professional practices in the industry adding that, with procurement accounting for at least 80 per cent of yearly budgetary allocations as stated by the body, there is a need to address leakages in the system through unethical and dysfunctional procurement practice. He added that the institute hopes to showcase the essence of procurement and supply chain management in the implementation of budgets in the country through the event.

years of the ministry taking over the project has, however, not yielded the desired result. The fate of the road and that of the economic empowerment of the region remain hanging as the former minister kept promising completion year after year without actually achieving it. The East-West road, which is the biggest of the 17 road projects of the ministry in the Niger Delta, has continually become a source of concern to the people of the Niger Delta, who eagerly await its completion and the economic advantages that it holds.

Onwenu tasks women on entrepreneurial development From Omotola Oloruntobi, Abuja

Govt to inaugurate council for BPP

It would be recalled that the East-West road, which has remained under construction since 2006 is the prime project of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. It was first handled by, the Ministry of Works until 2009 when it was handed over to the ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. Though former Minister, Godsday Orubebe continually explained that at the time of handing over by the ministry of works in 2009, no proper ground work had been done; and the young ministry had to begin from scratch with the design of the road; the past four

N order to meet modern challenges and foster future developments, the DirectorGeneral, National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Onyeka Onwenu has called on women to acquire entrepreneurial skills. She stressed that white-collar jobs were no longer available, hence the need for women to make conscious effort in skills development. Speaking in Abuja at the graduation ceremony of 2014 Batch A Skills Acquisition Programme, Onwenu said the centre is working to ensure that women have choices in many aspects of skills development She said, “it is no longer news that white collar jobs are not readily available, our

country, Nigeria, has for many years depended on the wealth generated from its oil reserves, and increasingly, there has been a growing awareness that alternative sources of income activities have to be sought and identified. “The programmes of the NCWD, therefore, provides such alternatives, as we pursue this alternatives, we are gradually moving into nontraditional areas for women to ensure that women take their rightly place in the nations’ polity. “It is a fact that when women are empowered economically to access the necessities of life, their contributions increase, usually leading to higher productivity, which helps engender stability for the country, furthermore their quality of

life and their offspring is enhanced.” She added that the centre would soon roll out programmes on plumbing, tilling, masonry, electrical repairs among others, saying that skill diversification was necessary for development. Besides, she stressed the need for women to strive towards moving gender agenda forward, saying that efforts should not be spared at realising gender equality and women empowerment. She, however, called for more support for the centre, to return it to its pride of place. The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, who was represented by Mrs Iran Ajufo, commended the centre on its giant strides at women empowerment.

Thursday, March 27, 2014 APPOINTMENT 29

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Dana Air begins training for IOSA process By Ibe Uwaleke N its determination to meet Isafety the highest global aviation standards, Dana Air has commenced an Implementation Training Initiative, as part of the preliminary process to prepare the airline for the IATA Operational Safety Audit ( I O S A ) . Dana Air is one of ten airlines benefiting from the IOSA implementation training initiative that is 100 per cent funded by International Airline Training Fund (IATF), a non-profit foundation whose purpose is to bridge the training gaps for airlines in regions of the world where it is most needed, with a particular focus on improving safety. The first stage of the implementation training is a gap

analysis workshop, the first of three sessions over the next year, that will give Dana Air a greater understanding of their shortcomings in relation to the IOSA standards and recommended practices (ISARPs) and to provide guidance and tools to establish action plans towards ISARPs implementation. Last year the Abuja Declaration by the states of the African Union mandated that all African airlines should achieve IOSA status by 2015. The total accident rate for IOSA carriers in 2012 was 77 per cent lower than the rate for non-IOSA operators. Speaking on Dana Air’s commitment towards achieving a listing on the IOSA directory in line with the African Union mandate, the Chief Operating Officer, Yvan Drewinsky noted that Dana Air is resolute in

adhering to globally recognized safety standards and its commencing preliminary training for the IOSA process confirms the premium the airline places on safety. “The IOSA Implementation Training Initiative is coming at an auspicious time when Dana Airline is looking at reinforcing services, as well as, seeking the possibility of forming alliances with global airlines as it aims to operate in line with the highest global standards,” said Mr. Drewinsky.

TIENS’ ‘Beyond Plan’ to boost employment, general welfare By Tolulope Okunlola HE Tiens Group has unveiled a special reward programme called ‘Beyond Plan’ to help combat unemployment in Nigeria. In a chat with journalists in Lagos, Chairman of the Group, Li Jinyuan described ‘Beyond Plan’ as a special reward plan under the firm’s compensation plan specifically for countries of the African Region. According to him, the project is aimed at assisting distributors to quickly build

their network while retailing the products through three connotations and six elements. Jinyuan said, “the first connotation is that the firm helps people become rich and this in turn should help the others to get rich. “The second connotation is that the group helps people to get rich so that their family and society will live in peace and harmony. The harmony of the family means to improve the quality of the living and also change the quality of their daily life, while the

third connotation is learning to love, help, respect each other thereby improving the society as a whole.” The firm’s chairman said, “in the course of the philosophy the group can ensure the employment, health, safety and development of a country” even as he noted that “Tiens can integrate the resources from different regions, countries and it is also a combination of different country’s culture, the multi-languages and most especially, laws.”

Academy seeks adoption of technology to curb unemployment CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 and massive government investment in science -spending 1.98 per cent of GDP on science research and development, China is poised to overtake the US in a few years from now. Another country worth emulating is Brazil; the upward trajectory of her economy is due to massive investments in science and technology. This has resulted in increases in the number of graduate scientists, published scientific papers, registered patents, and upsurge in the rate of technology transfer. All of these countries created an enabling and conducive environment for sci-

ence and technology to blossom. “In Nigeria, science and technology is yet to take its rightful place as a tool for national development. Poor science policy implementation, inadequate funding, lack of supporting infrastructure, and irrelevant research pursuit have rendered science ineffective and technology ineffectual. “ Policy-makers have repeatedly stated that by 2020, Nigeria will become one of the top 20 largest global economies. However, if we continue with the current neglect of science, technology, and education, the year 2020 will pass before we know it has arrived!.

Managing Director, Trustfund Pensions Plc, Mrs. Helen Da-Souza (Second left); Chairman, Board of Directors, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Olejeme, flanked by other directors at the commissioning of the fleet of busses acquired by Trustfund under its mobile offices scheme.

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ScienceGuardian ASTRONOMY With J.K. Obatala

Stars, planets clusters herald dry season (10) UPERNOVAE, Stein avers, Swhat get the job done. But exactly is a “superno-

By quickly getting medical data from the field to doctors or centralized laboratories, it may help slow or limit the spread of pandemics, the authors note. Credit: Image courtesy of University of Cambridge

Smart-phone, wireless pacemakers, turned into portable medical devices By Chukwuma Muanya with agency reports CIENTISTS have made fresh Stronic in roads in the use of elecgadgets to improve health care services with a new application that turns any smart-phone into portable medical diagnostic device, small wireless pacemaker that is save and effective in early testing, and electronic medication alerts designed with provider in mind that reduces prescribing errors. A pacemaker is a small device that’s placed in the chest or abdomen to help control abnormal heart rhythms. Indeed, a recently developed mobile phone application could make monitoring conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, and urinary tract infections much clearer and easier for both patients and doctors, and could eventually be used to slow or limit the spread of pandemics in the developing world. The app, developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge, accurately measures colour-based, or colorimetric, tests for use in home, clinical or remote settings, and enables the transmission of medical data from patients directly to health professionals. Also, according to a small study in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, a new small, wireless self-contained pacemaker appears safe and feasible for use in patients. Lead author of the study and director of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Service at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, United States, said Dr. Vivek Y. Reddy, said: Although traditional pacemakers pose minimal risk, patients are still vulnerable to some short- or long-term

complications.” Those complications can stem from the pulse generator implanted under the skin of the chest, where infections or skin breakdown can occur, and particularly from the leads, or wires, that run from the generator through a vein to the heart. Leads can break, dislodge or contribute to a vein blockage. However, the new pacemaker has no leads- its pulse generator lies within the unit in the heart – and is placed without the need for surgery. At six millimeters in diameter and about 42 millimeters long, the wireless device is smaller than a triple-A battery. It is faster and easier to implant than traditional pacemakers, Reddy said, and it’s programmed and monitored similarly. According to a study published online in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, changing how medication alerts are presented in electronic medical records resulted in safer prescribing, increased efficiency and

reduced workload for health care providers who placed drug orders. A human factors engineer, Dr. Alissa L. Russ, who led the study said: “The VA electronic medical record system is one of the most widely used and respected EMR systems in the country. This EMR is used by providers at over 150 VA hospitals. We are looking at ways to improve the alert system for these providers and for patient care.” Russ is a Richard Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center research scientist, a Regenstrief Institute investigator and an adjunct assistant professor with the Purdue College of Pharmacy. In this simulation study, investigators used knowledge from other industries and applications, such as the design of road signs and medication warning labels, to redesign medication alerts, such as drug allergy and drug-drug interaction warnings. Several changes were incorporated, including the use of concise language and a table-like format to

help providers scan for information quickly. Indeed, the decentralization of healthcare through lowcost and highly portable point-of-care diagnostics has the potential to revolutionize current limitations in patient screening. However, diagnosis can be hindered by inadequate infrastructure and shortages in skilled healthcare workers, particularly in the developing world. Overcoming such challenges by developing accessible diagnostics could reduce the burden of disease on health care workers. Due to their portability, compact size and ease of use, colorimetric tests are widely used for medical monitoring, drug testing and environmental analysis in a range of different settings throughout the world. The tests, typically in the form of small strips, work by producing color change in a solution: the intensity of the colour, which is produced determines the concentration of that solution.

New perspective for soil clean up substances PAH-contaminated soil OU must use a microscope to sic PAH is benzo (a) pyrene, because bioavailability is a cruY spot the new helpers that can which was one of the first subcial prerequisite for the assist in biological soil clean-up stances shown to be able to (bioremediation). They are small, mobile microorganisms, such as the unicellular slippershaped ciliates that can be found in stale water in a flower vase, where they feed on bacteria. New results from Aarhus University indicate that such mobile microorganisms can play a surprising key role in bioremediation of soil, which is contaminated with so-called PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons). PAH are toxic tar substances formed during incomplete combustion in, for example, car engines and cigarettes. The clas-

cause cancer. Until now PAHs were considered minimally mobile in soil because they bind to soil particles and only small amounts of PAH can be dissolved in water. However, the new study reveals that motile microorganisms can increase the mobility of PAHs significantly. The experiments show that ciliates can enhance the transport of PAHs and potentially other hydrophobic chemicals up to 100-fold. This can be of great importance for the mobility and bioavailability of such substances and opens up new perspectives for cleaning

biodegradation of PAHs. First time ever PhD student Dorothea Gilbert has been responsible for the tests with the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis. Together with Professor Philipp Mayer, who is presently employed at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), she has developed a new test setup that allows exposing the ciliates to a concentration gradient while concurrently enabling their observation through a microscope in real time and measuring the transport of PAH by means of chromatographic methods.

va”? This is not the place to elaborate. The serial is already quite long, and we still have more stars, asterisms and clusters, as well as a naked-eye nebula, to visit. Suffice it, for the time being, to recall that stars manufacture chemical elements by fusing light nuclei into heavier ones, up to iron—the most tightly bound atomic nucleus on the periodic table. The fusion of iron actually consumes, rather than releases, energy. This has no meaning for a low mass star, like our Sun, which cannot fuse elements heavier than helium anyway—and, accordingly, remains well within the Chandrasekhar limit, from birth to death. But for a massive supergiant, such as Betelgeuse, the implications are ominous. Now is the time to retrieve, from your memory card, notes on the feud between gravity and heat: The hatred that fuels nuclear fusion. As long as fusion is occurring in the core, heat can stand its ground: Resulting in the hydrostatic equilibrium that sustains the structure of the star. But a big star like Betelgeuse will keep burning elements, until all that’s left is a useless cache of iron (and nickel) ash. So fusion stops; and heat beats a hasty retreat, cooling the core, so that gravity is no longer meeting effective resistance. “A nickel-iron core builds up,” notes Wikipedia, “that cannot produce further outward pressure on the scale needed to support…the structure”. As a result, all matter in the star rushes inward (implodes) at up to 70,000 km per second—then rebounds outward at onetenth the speed of light. Write Choppin and Rydberg, “In the supernova explosion large masses of materials are ejected into interstellar space. This contributes to the existence of heavy elements in space”. The interstellar medium is the area in between existing stars, where new stars, and their planets, are formed. In astronomy, the term “heavy elements” refers to all atomic nuclei except hydrogen and helium. Compounds composed of these materials, include not only the silica and alumina in rocky planets like Earth but also the calcium

and phosphorus from which our bones and teeth are formed! This, observes Stein, adds a new dimension to the Chandrasekhar limit: “A star surpassing this threshold no longer hoards its precious cargo of heavy elements. Instead, it delivers them to the universe at large in a supernova that marks its own death but makes it possible for living beings to exist.” Betelgeuse is the 10th brightest star in the sky. But when it goes supernova, astronomers estimate that it’ll become brighter than the moon—bright enough for you to read by at night and clearly visible during the day. You need not start planning any observational outing though, because Betelgeuse probably won’t blow soon, on the human time scale. It could be a hundred, a thousand or a million years before the overlying layers of this supergiant are blasted out into the interstellar medium. Assuming Earth is still inhabited then, astronomers will have a new cosmic toy to play with. Exploding stars the size of Betelgeuse, with 12 to 15 times the sun’s mass (there are higher and lower estimates), usually leave behind a core remnant that compacts into either a black hole or a neutron star. Now, let’s move quickly to Bellatrix, a bluish white giant, in the right hand corner of the central hourglass configuration of Orion constellation— opposite Betelgeuse. Astronomers of old called this the “Amazon Star,” because “Bellatrix” means “warrior” in Latin (or, reportedly “conqueror” in Arabic). Although it is smaller and less massive than the supergiants (8.4 solar masses), Bellatrix makes up for its deficiency by being hot and bright. If you are a pilot or a surveyor, I don’t have to tell you that Bellatrix is one of four navigational stars in Orion, along with Alnilam (the central Belt Star), Rigel and Betelgeuse. That’s because its highly radiant surface, which has a temperature of 22,000 K, compared with about 3, 000 or so for Betelgeuse and just under 6, 000 for the Sun. “This high temperature,” Wikipedia notes, “ is what “give this star the blue-white hue…” • To be continued.

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32 | Thursday, March 27, 2014 SCIENCE&HEALTH

Stress delays pregnancy, doubles infertility risk AVING difficulty getting H pregnant can be an incredibly stressful experience for any couple. Now, for the first time, researchers have data that suggests preconception stress might play a role in infertility. Extending and corroborating their earlier study conducted in the United Kingdom (UK) that demonstrated an association between high levels of stress and a reduced probability of pregnancy, this work adds new insight by suggesting that stress is associated with an increased risk of infertility. The study findings appear online in the journal Human Reproduction. Courtney Denning-Johnson Lynch, director of reproductive epidemiology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre, and colleagues found that women with high levels of alpha-amylase – a biological

indicator of stress measured in saliva – are 29 per cent less likely to get pregnant each month and are more than twice as likely to meet the clinical definition of infertility (remaining not pregnant despite 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse), compared to women with low levels of this protein enzyme. Researchers tracked 501 American women ages 18 to 40 years who were free from known fertility problems and had just started trying to conceive, and followed them for 12 months or until they became pregnant as part of the Longitudinal Investigation of Fertility and the Environment (LIFE) Study. Saliva samples were collected from participants the morning following enrollment and again the morning following the first day of their first studyobserved menstrual cycle. Specimens were available

for 373 women and were measured for the presence of salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol, two biomarkers of stress. “This is now the second study in which we have demonstrated that women with high levels of the stress biomarker salivary alphaamylase have a lower probability of becoming pregnant, compared to women with low levels of this biomarker. For the first time, we’ve shown that this effect is potentially clinically meaningful, as it’s associated with a greater than twofold increased risk of infertility among these women,” said Lynch, the principal investigator of the LIFE Study’s psychological stress protocol. Lynch said that results of this research should encourage women who were experiencing difficulty getting pregnant to consider managing their stress

using stress reduction techniques such as yoga, meditation and mindfulness. However, she said that couples should not blame themselves if they were experiencing fertility problems, as stress was not the only or most important factor involved in a woman’s ability to get pregnant. Germaine Buck Louis, director of the Division of Intramural Population Health Research of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the LIFE Study’s principal investigator, said: “Eliminating stressors before trying to become pregnant might shorten the time couples need to become pregnant in comparison to ignoring stress. The good news is that women most likely will know which stress reduction strategy works best for them, since a one-size-fits-all solu-

Deletion of FAT10 gene reduces body fat, slows down ageing in mice single gene appears to play A a crucial role in coordinating the immune system and metabolism, and deleting the gene in mice reduces body fat and extends lifespan, according to new research by scientists at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center (USDA HNRCA) on Aging at Tufts University and Yale University School of Medicine. Their results are reported online today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Based on gene expression studies of fat tissue conducted at the USDA HNRCA, the Tufts University researchers initiated studies of the role of FAT10 in adipose tissue and metabolism. “No one really knew what the FAT10 gene did, other than it was ‘turned on’ by inflammation and that it seemed to be increased in gynecological and gastrointestinal cancers.” said coauthor Martin S. Obin, Ph.D., an adjunct scientist in the

‘Not less than 40% Nigerians live with glaucoma’ From Anthony Otaru, Abuja HE Social Welfare Network Initiative, (SWIN), a NonGovernmental Organisation has revealed that no fewer than 40 per cent Nigerians are presently living with the dreaded glaucoma disease which is now wrecking a lot of health havoc on the citizenry and by extension, the nation’s economic growth. SWNI blamed the increasing cases of the disease on the Federal, States and Local government’s inadequate attention to revive the health sector especially, for failing to provide necessary, adequate and well equipped health care centres for the people. Glaucoma is an eye disease that results in the damage to the nerve inside the eye. It can be present in one or both eyes. It has led many to partial or complete eye blindness. Speaking to newsmen recently in Abuja on the 2014 World Glaucoma Week, the National Coordinator of the Social Welfare Network Initiative- SWNI, Emmanuel Osemeka, said that no fewer than 40 per cent Nigerians were living with the disease, a situation he said was unacceptable. Osemeka said: “In Nigeria, it is the leading cause of irreversible blindness, affecting

Head of Pediatric, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-Araba, Prof. A. O Akinsulie (left), Director of Administration, LUTH, Ayo Olagunju, Chairman of Pediatric Advisory Board, LUTH, Dr. Dorothy Esangbedo, Medical and Regulatory Director, SANOFI North East Africa, Dr. Fifen Inoussa and Head of Nursing, LUTH, Mrs. Bastos Mary Iyabo at the launch of Sanofi Fun Centre in LUTH, Lagos…recently

Functional Genomics Core Unit at the USDA HNRCA at Tufts University. “Turning off the FAT10 gene produces a variety of beneficial effects in the mice, including reduced body fat, which slows down aging and extends lifespan by 20 percent.” Typically, mice gain fat as they age. The authors observed that activation of the FAT10 gene in normal mice increases in fat tissue with age. Mice lacking FAT10 consume more food, but burn fat at an accelerated rate. As a result, they have less than half of the fat tissue found in normal, aged mice. At the same time their skeletal muscle ramps up production of an immune molecule that increases their response to insulin, resulting in reduced circulating insulin levels, protection against type 2 diabetes and longer lifespan. The authors note that eliminating FAT10 will not fully address the dilemma of aging and weight gain.

an estimated 17 to 40 per cent of the population 41 years and above.” According to him, glaucoma is the major public health concern in Nigeria because according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is estimated that about 105 million people have or are suspicious of having glaucoma worldwide. He said that the most vulnerable groups in this matrix are the rural dwellers, the elderly, women, infants and the poor, which constitute over 80 per cent of the population. “Very worrisome is the fact that non of the three tiers of government is giving adequate attention to provide the basic health care services, and centres for the people, every rural area you go in this country, you only see lack of provision of good water to the people, poor sanitation, ill-equipped health centres if any and you beginning to wonder if we have any government all,” he noted. He said that one of the objectives of his NGO included the protection of vision and sight through regular checks and other preventable measures, awareness campaign on glaucoma and cataract plus treatment and surgeries for victims among others.

1.9m people gained access to safe water in rural Nigeria, says UNICEF By Chukwuma Muanya LMOST four years after the world met the global target set in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for safe drinking water, and after the United Nation (UN) General Assembly declared that water was a human right, over three-quarters of a billion people globally, most of them poor, still do not have this basic necessity. The United Nation Children Education Fund (UNICEF) in a statement to mark the World Water Day estimates that globally 1,400 children fewer than five die every day from diarrhoeal diseases linked to lack of safe water and adequate sanitation and hygiene. According to the MultiIndicator Cluster Survey

• 1,400 children under-five die daily from causes linked to lack of access, sanitation, hygiene published in 2013 by the National Bureau of Statistics, nearly 70 million Nigerians did not have access to safe water in 2011 making Nigeria the third ranked country globally in terms of the number of people without access to safe water. They are also often the ones without access to electricity. However, with funding provided by European Union (EU) and United Kingdom aid programme (UKAid), UNICEF and partners gave access to safe water to over 1.9 million people in rural areas. UNICEF ‘WASH in Schools’ programme has brought

safe water, sanitation and hygiene facilities to thousands of school children in Nigeria. WASH is Water Sanitation and Hygiene programme. Estimates from UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) published in 2013 are that a staggering 768 million people do not have access to safe drinking water, causing hundreds of thousands of children to sicken and die each year. Most of the people without access are poor and live in remote rural areas or urban slums. According to the Communications Officer UNICEF Nigeria, Geoffrey

Njoku, as part of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN)-UNICEF WASH programme UNICEF is strengthening capacities on appropriate choice of technology for water supply. By promoting Village Level Operation & Maintenance (VLOM) and community-based water safety planning, UNICEF is bringing safe water to families living in some of the most under-served areas in over 20 states. UNICEF Representative, Jean Gough, said: “It is possible by the choice of appropriate technologies that do not rely on electricity, water facilities that are easy to operate & maintain a

greater number of disadvantaged people can be provided with safe water. Every child in Nigeria deserves access to safe water and thereby a chance to survive and thrive.” UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. The UNICEF Tap Project is a nationwide campaign that

provides children from impoverished nations with access to safe, and clean water. The campaign culminates during World Water Week, March 20–26, 2011, celebrating the United Nations’ World Water Day, March 22. This campaign involves restaurants, dining patrons, students, and volunteers along with corporate, community, celebrity, and government supporters. During World Water Week restaurants across the United States encourage patrons to donate $1 or more for the tap water they usually enjoy for free. In tandem, UNICEF Tap Project volunteers support their efforts by conducting local fundraising events and

Thursday, March 27, 2014

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NaturalHealth Heavy, regular alcohol intake raises death risk More reasons have emerged why Nigerians should quit heavy and regular consumption of alcohol. Recent studies have linked the unhealthy habit to stroke, kidney damage, liver disease, diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, heart disease, depression, anaemia, cancer, dementia, seizures, nerve damage, gout, pancreatitis, fatal accidents, and infectious diseases such as Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV). CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes. O you want to live a long D and healthy life? If the answer is yes, medical experts say you must quit heavy and regular drinking of alcohol immediately. Earlier studies had shown that moderate drinking is good for the health especially the heart. But how much is moderate and how many people can adhere to moderation and occasional drinking? The answer is ‘nobody.’ Researchers have linked alcohol consumption to more than 60 diseases. The most recent study published March 8 in Acta Neurologica Scandinavica concluded: “Drinking alcohol more than twice a week, in any amount, spikes risk of stroke threefold for men.” According to the study from Finland, men, who drink alcohol more than twice a week saw a threefold increase of their risk of dying of a stroke, compared to men, who do not consume alcohol at all. The researchers at the University of Eastern Finland discovered that the elevated risk exists no matter how much- or little- alcohol is consumed per sitting. The studies lead researcher, Dr. Sanna Rantakömi from the Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, said that this was the most surprising information they gathered from the study. “You do not have to drink often, but over two times per week can greatly increase your risk to die from a stroke.” The study found that men, who drink more than twice a week are three times more likely to die of a stroke than abstainers, which would take moderation off the table. The relationship between drinking alcohol and ischaemic stroke shows a sharp “J curve” pattern, said the authors of the study. This means the more a man drinks, the more likely he is to die of a stroke. “Even if somebody was to say ‘do not drink at all,’ people will never follow that advice,” said Rantakömi. “But people should think about how much they are drinking and how often.” Over 2,500 middle-aged men took part in the study, which was conducted over a 20-year period. The information about alcohol consumption was gathered through a survey charting how many times they drank per week, and how much. Researchers from the Department of Neurology (M.H., H.N.), Oulu University Central Hospital, and the Department of Neurosurgery (S.J.), Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland in a study titled: “Recent Heavy Drinking of Alcohol and Embolic Stroke” concluded: “In conclusion, the present study suggests that recent heavy drinking, including

episodic and binge drinking, may trigger cardiogenic brain embolism. This is a new item on the list of hazards caused by heavy drinking of alcohol. Light drinking does not trigger cardiogenic brain embolism, and former heavy drinking is not a risk factor for cardioembolic stroke.” Researchers have also found that high blood pressure combined with binge drinking can lead to deadly consequences. Researchers found an increased risk for lethal heart attacks and strokes. A new study suggests that combining the two may add up to double the trouble- and much more, in some cases. Compared with teetotalers with normal blood pressure, men with high blood pressure (hypertension), who even occasionally down more than six drinks in one sitting have nearly double the risk of dying from a stroke or heart attack, according to the study, which followed 6,100 South Koreans age 55 and up for two decades. If men with high blood pressure have 12 drinks or more at one time, their risk is nearly five times higher, the study found. Men with severe high blood pressure are at even greater risk, according to the study. If those men have six drinks in one sitting, their risk of a deadly stroke or heart attack quadruples compared with that of a nondrinker with normal blood pressure. If they consume 12 drinks in a sitting, their risk increases 12fold. Normal blood pressure is defined as 120/80 mmHG or below, while high blood pressure (or hypertension) starts at 140/90. In this study, which appears in the AHA journal Stroke, severe hypertension was considered to be 168/110 or higher. On their own, both binge drinking and hypertension up the risk of fatal stroke or heart attack. Regardless of whether they drank alcohol, the men in the study were twice as likely to die from a cardiovascular problem if they had hypertension- as were the heavy binge drinkers, regardless of their blood pressure. Experts are not certain why binge drinking might increase cardiovascular risk. Hypertension is known to damage blood vessels, and drinking alcohol may contribute to the hardening of arteries. It may also make the arterial plaques that cause strokes and heart attacks more unstable. Scientists have also found that alcohol consumption raises risk of kidney damage. The study published in Medicine Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation Volume is titled: “Alcohol consumption and five-year onset of chronic kidney disease; the AusDiab study.”

The researchers said excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor for hypertension and stroke; however, evidence for an association with chronic kidney disease is conflicting. They concluded: “Moderate–heavy alcohol consumption may be an important modifiable risk factor for albuminuria in the general population. The natural history of alcoholinduced kidney damage and how this relates to markers of kidney function in the general population warrant further research.” Researchers from the Brunel University, London, United Kingdom in a study published in Medical Sociology wrote: “The consequences of harmful alcohol use cannot be denied in the present world. It has social, health, economic, psychological and many other con-

sequences. In Ghana, consumption of the locally made gin has been linked to an increase in violence in local communities and this is almost a daily occurrence in most Nigerian higher institutions. “In many schools, in Nigeria, cult clashes have been on the increase and youths cruelly maim their rivals with dangerous weapons. This has been linked to the fact that alcohol is hazardously used among Nigerian youths, including undergraduates, as drinking joints are strategically located in and around schools. There is also increasing violence in many communities linked to alcohol misuse and many incidences of wife battery and familiar violence.” The study is titled: “Changing Patterns of Alcohol Consumption in

Nigeria.” The researchers noted that although moderate alcohol consumption may enhance the control of coronary heart disease, misuse has been linked to heart disease especially as the user grows older. They wrote: “It also causes liver disease for which there are as yet no effective ‘treatment advances’ in Nigeria. There is the option of transplantation, but only a few can afford the cost in Nigeria. There is also a serious problem of how to determine moderate consumption in a country where there is no definition of a standard drink, no inclusion of alcohol by volume on labels and where alcoholic beverages are served in different sizes of bottles, cans, glasses and calabashes. “Harmful alcohol use by pregnant women affects the unborn child leading to

foetal alcohol syndrome. It leads to malformation of the brain in the unborn resulting in birth defects. In Nigeria, there are no effective means of deterring this because there is no warning against drinking during pregnancy. The ‘drink responsibly’ message does not recommend zero consumption even among pregnant women. The fact that women are beginning to drink even more than men now in Nigeria means that the country may continue to witness birth defects. Among the Ubulu people of Delta State, drinking of palm wine is highly recommended for pregnant women and nursing mothers as a means of enhancing breast milk. Though palm wine is low in alcohol by volume, continuous consumption of this

CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Regular physical activity reduces breast cancer risk irrespective of age RACTISING sport for more P than an hour day reduces the risk of contracting breast cancer, and this applies to women of any age and any weight, and also unaffected by geographical location, according to research presented to the 9th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-9). Compared with the least active women, those with the highest level of physical activity reduced their risk of breast cancer by 12 per cent, researchers say. Prof. Mathieu Boniol, research director at the

International Prevention Research Institute, Lyon, France, recently reported the results of a meta-analysis of 37 studies published between 1987 and 2013, representing over four million women. “These are all the studies looking at the relationship between physical exercise and breast cancer risk that have been published to date, so we are confident that the results of our analysis are robust,” he said. Although the results varied according to tumour type, the overall message was encour-

aging, the researchers say. However, in women taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the protective effect of exercise seemed to be cancelled out. But increased awareness of the side effects of HRT means that its use is decreasing in a number of countries, and this means that the beneficial effects of activity will most likely grow in the years to come. “Whether or not this will be the case is an interesting question and deserves to be followed up at a later date,” Boniol said.

Physical activity is known to have a protective role in other cancers, as well as, in disorders such as cardiovascular disease. Although the mechanisms for its effect are unclear, the results are largely independent of body mass index (BMI), so the effect must be due to more than weight control. And the age at which sporting activity starts also appears to be immaterial; the researchers found no indication that breast cancer risk would decrease only when physical activity started at a young age.

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34 | NATURAL HEALTH Thursday, March 27, 2014

Chronic alcohol consumption reduces life expectancy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 sweet soluble may contribute to birth defects. “Another major consequence of the changing patterns of alcohol consumption is road traffic accidents due to drunk-driving. This has continued to claim lives yearly in Nigeria and may continue because drivers are advised to drink responsibly by the brewers rather than to abstain. “Nigeria presently ranks third out of the 10 countries with the highest number of deaths related to road accidents and the problem may continue due to lack of policy to check alcohol availability, use and misuse. The sale of ogogoro is not regulated and the brewers are increasingly campaigning for moderate consumption among drivers, while at the same time supplying their beverages to commercial motor parks.” Here are 12 conditions linked to chronic heavy drinking as published by WebMed. Anaemia Heavy drinking can cause the number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells to be abnormally low. This condition, known as anemia, can trigger a host of symptoms, including fatigue, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. Cancer Scientists believe the increased risk comes when the body converts alcohol into acetaldehyde, a potent carcinogen. Cancer sites linked to alcohol use include the mouth, pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), esopha-

gus, liver, breast, and colorectal region. Cancer risk rises even higher in heavy drinkers who also use tobacco. Cardiovascular disease Heavy drinking, especially binging, makes platelets more likely to clump together into blood clots, which can lead to heart attack or stroke. In a landmark study published in 2005, Harvard researchers found that binge drinking doubled the risk of death among people, who initially survived a heart attack. Heavy drinking can also cause cardiomyopathy, a potentially deadly condition in which the heart muscle weakens and eventually fails, as well as heart rhythm abnormalities such as atrial and ventricular fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation, in which the heart’s upper chambers (atria) twitch chaotically rather than constrict rhythmically, can cause blood clots that can trigger a stroke. Ventricular fibrillation causes chaotic twitching in the heart’s main pumping chambers (ventricles). It causes rapid loss of consciousness and, in the absence of immediate treatment, sudden death. Cirrhosis Alcohol is toxic to liver cells, and many heavy drinkers develop cirrhosis, a sometimes-lethal condition in which the liver is so heavily scarred that it is unable to function. But it’s hard to predict which drinkers will develop cirrhosis. For some unknown reason, women seem to be especially vulnerable. Dementia

As people age, their brains shrink, on average, at a rate of about 1.9 per cent per decade. That’s considered normal. But heavy drinking speeds the shrinkage of certain key regions in the brain, resulting in memory loss and other symptoms of dementia. Heavy drinking can also lead to subtle but potentially debilitating deficits in the ability to plan, make judgments, solve problems, and perform other aspects of “executive function,” which are “the higher-order abilities that allow us to maximise our function as human beings.” In addition to the “nonspecific” dementia that stems from brain atrophy, heavy drinking can cause nutritional deficiencies so severe that they trigger other forms of dementia.

Depression It is long been known that heavy drinking often goes hand in hand with depression, but there has been debate about which came first- the drinking or the depression. One theory is that depressed people turned to alcohol in an attempt to “self-medicate” to ease their emotional pain. But a large study from New Zealand showed that it was probably the other way around- that is, heavy drinking led to depression. Seizures Heavy drinking can cause epilepsy and can trigger seizures even in people, who don’t have epilepsy. It can also interfere with the action of the medications used to treat convulsions. Gout A painful condition, gout is caused by the formation of

uric acid crystals in the joints. Although some cases are largely hereditary, alcohol and other dietary factors seem to play a role. Alcohol also seems to aggravate existing cases of gout. High blood pressure Alcohol can disrupt the sympathetic nervous system, which, among other things, controls the constriction and dilation of blood vessels in response to stress, temperature, exertion, etc. Heavy drinking- and bingeing, in particular- can cause blood pressure to rise. Over time, this effect can become chronic. High blood pressure can lead to many other health problems, including kidney disease, heart disease, and stroke. Infectious disease Heavy drinking suppresses the immune system, providing a toehold for infec-

tions, including tuberculosis, pneumonia, Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and other sexually transmitted diseases including some that cause infertility. People who drink heavily also are more likely to engage in risky sex. Nerve damage Heavy drinking can cause a form of nerve damage known as alcoholic neuropathy, which can produce a painful pins-and-needles feeling or numbness in the extremities as well as muscle weakness, incontinence, constipation, erectile dysfunction, and other problems. Alcoholic neuropathy may arise because alcohol is toxic to nerve cells, or because nutritional deficiencies attributable to heavy drinking compromise nerve func-

Mushroom kills cervical cancer virus, slows tumour growth VERYONE knows that But American research immunotherapy, which is a per cent of vulvar cancers and E mushrooms are a nutri- found the extract active hex- treatment that uses a body’s 35 per cent of penile cancers. tious and low-calorie addi- ose correlated compound own immune system to help Smith said, “AHCC is a comtion to a meal but now new research suggests they could also combat cancer. An extract from a Japanese mushroom kills the sexually transmitted virus HPV that can cause cervical cancer. Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a common, and highly contagious, infection that affects skin and the moist membrane linings of the body, for example, in the cervix, mouth and throat. More than three quarters of all women acquire the virus during their lives and some strains can cause cervical cancer.

(AHCC)- which is found in shiitake mushrooms- may play a role in preventing HPV-related cancers. In a study using mice, AHCC led to the eradication of HPV within 90 days. It also decreased the rate of cervical tumour growth. Associate professor, Dr. Judith Smith, of the University of Texas Health Science Center Medical School, said, “the results of this study were very encouraging. This study, initiated in 2008, shows that by itself AHCC has the potential to treat the HPV infection.” AHCC works as an

fight disease. Human and lab studies have shown that AHCC increases the number and activity of Natural Killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells, and cytokines, which enable the body to effectively respond to infections and block the proliferation of tumours. HPV DNA has been detected in 99.7 per cent of cervical cancer biopsies, yielding the largest causative relationship of any cancer. Several other types of cancer are also HPV related, including 95 per cent of anal cancers, 60 per cent of throat cancers, 65 per cent of vaginal cancers, 50

mon, well tolerated nutritional supplement that has been used for decades in Japan. I am very excited to be pursuing a nutritional approach to trying to find a treatment for HPV infections. “We had previously demonstrated an antiretroviral regimen that successfully eradicated the HPV infection but wanted to develop a more benign protocol, since these medications have a number of side effects.” The findings were presented at the Society of Gynecological Oncology 45th Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer in Tampa, Florida.

‘Breast milk remains best for babies’ By Paul Adunwoke the increase in Ftry,OLLOWING child mortality in the counhealth professionals have said that breast milk remains the best way to ensure child’s healthy life and reduce child mortalities. According to them, exclusive breast milk during the first six months of a child’s life and for as long as possible in combination with nourishing complementary foods. When breast mike is not possible, infant formula is a healthier alternative to choices such as cows’ milk or rice water. They also said that infantile colic is a self-limited condition that deserves treatment because it could represent an early traumatic insult for the intestine and could be the early expression of atopic disease, gastrointestinal disorder and psychological problems later in child’s life. They informed infantile colic is characterised by inconsolable crying in an otherwise healthy infant, accompanied by painful expression, flushing, distended abdomen and flatulence. Colic usually starts in the first few weeks of life and generally affects babies until four months. They said these during Nestle Nutrition Nigeria Plc Symposium held in Ikeja, Lagos on Tuesday. In her remark, National keynote speaker and Pediatrician from Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr. Adeniyi Oluwafunmilayo said rule out common causes of child’s crying is the first step in treating an infant with persistent

crying. “Behavioral management, supportive counseling and parental reassurance are the mainstays of treatment. Formulate an effective individualised management plan. Consistent follow up and a sympathetic physician are the cornerstones of management. Resolving family conflicts and improving family functioning may help to relieve the colic in some babies. Knowledge of the clinical features of colic correlated with the level of education. Herbal medicines are the most frequently used medicines of seeds, which are used as a local food seasoning amongst the Yoruba tribe. When dissolved in water and taken, it relieves indigestion by causing excessive flatulence. Its use in the treatment of infantile colic was based on the hypothesis that it removes the excess intraluminal gas in the infant by causing flatulence.” She continued, “with colic, period of crying most commonly happens in the evenings. Colics can begin as early as two weeks of age and it often disappears when the baby is three to four months old, but it can last up to one year, if not properly managed. Less than five percent of infants with excess crying have an underlying organic disease,” she said. Oluwafunmilayo noted that Nigerian mothers still have some gap in their knowledge of cause infantile colic. “Self-medication is the most frequently used home-based interventions for infantile

colic and was predominated by traditional herbal medicines. Nigerian mothers would need to be educated about colic through health education, at pediatric and vaccination clinics, public health campaign and interdisciplinary team approach. Efficacy and toxicity of the traditional herbal medicines need to be established scientifically for their safe use for Children”. “Government, should strengthen the policy on sales and use of prescribed medicines in children without prescription so as to promote rational use of medicine in infants with colic,” she said. The Category Business Manager, Nutrition Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Dr. Mazhar Qureshi Said children, who start life with unbalanced diets face an increased risk of chronic diseases and stunted growth and development. “Our stay healthy stage-based nutrition system begins with clear support for six months exclusive breastfeeding, whenever possible, and then offers solutions designed to foster healthy growth and development along with good eating habits in children aged six months or older. We support parents in making the right food choices for their children by providing research-based nutrition products, including maternal and infant health supplements, and by offering appropriate, consistent advice to help them understand that even small changes to a child’s diet can have a big impact on its health today and throughout its life,” he said.

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NPHCDA gets ministerial marching order on polio eradication By Chukwuma Muanya INISTER of State for M Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan has directed the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and its partners to ensure that Nigeria exits from polio endemic countries in line with the presidential deadline on the programme. The minister gave the directive Tuesday while receiving the Executive Director of the Agency, Dr. Ado Muhammad, who was in his office to brief the Minister on the mandate, progress and challenges facing it on its prorammes implementation. Khaliru recalled the highest political commitment made by President Goodluck Jonathan and Governors in the country to ensure that Nigeria became polio-free before the end of the present Administration. He charged the Agency, its partners and other stakeholders not to leave any stone un-turned at ensuring the realization of the Presidential commitment towards a polio-free Nigeria soonest. The Minister expressed his determination and commitment to work closely with the Agency in ensuring effective Primary Health Care (PHC) for all in the country. Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr. Ado Muhammad, in a statement signed by the Agency’s Assistant Director and Head, Public Relations Unit (PRU), Sa’adu Salahu, highlighted the agency’s mandate, achievements and challenges especially in the past two years. The achievements, Ado disclosed, included 84 per cent coverage in routine immunisation, 59 per cent reduction in polio cases in 2013, and no single transmission of Type 3 of polio virus in the one and half years and only one case of Type 1 of polio virus since the beginning of 2014. Other achievements according to Ado, included provision of over 10, 000 health workers through the Midwives Service Scheme and SURE-P on maternal and child health, comprising midwives, nurses and community health workers. He also disclosed that a routine immunisation strategy for protection of Nigerian children against child killer diseases was launched last year while over 23 million

• Reiterates commitment to providing effective primary health care

Minister of State, Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan (left), Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Muhammad, presenting some materials to the Minister during Ado’s first official briefing of the Minister at the Federal Ministry of Health Secretariat in Abuja Monday Nigerian children have been inspection of one of the 500 dren. vaccinated against measles renovated health centres He advised members of the and meningitis in the past under the Subsidy Ward Development two years. Reinvestment Programme Committees in all the beneAdo reiterated the commit(SURE-P) on Maternal and fiting communities to parment of the NPHCDA’s leadChild Health (MNCH) at ticipate actively in mobilizership towards ensuring a Gasuwo Primary Health Care ing women and children in resounding success of the Centre in Toro Local their areas for maximum presidential transformation Government area of Bauchi utilization of the health facilagenda in the Primary State. ities. Health Care Sub-sector and Ado disclosed that in addiIn a short remark, the offiappealed for the minister’s tion to renovation of health cer in charge of the centre, support especially in consolicentres nationwide, vaccines Janet Sanda acknowledged dating the gains already for all antigens, essential the availability of vaccines recorded. drugs, commodities, boreand medical equipment at Ado had earlier urged holes for regular supply of the health centre. Nigerians to take full advandrinkable water and much While commending the tage of the on-going federal needed health workers such Federal Government for its government’s huge investas midwives, nurses and interventions on the health ments in the renovation of community health workers needs of the community, over five hundred Primary were parts of integrated members of the Ward Health Care (PHC) facilities package provided under the Development Committees spread throughout the counSURE-P on Maternal and (WDC) in the areas decried try. Child Health for the benefit non-availability of electricity Ado made the call during of Nigerian women and chilat the health centre.

Kwara moves closer to universal health coverage From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin F there is any area the govIAhmed ernment of Abdulfatah of Kwara State has excelled since its advent some two and a half years ago, is in the area of providing quality health care for the people of the state at affordable prices. Already, his government has renovated all the six General Hospitals in the state and ensured a complete overhauling of the former University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) to henceforth serve as a state owned model hospital. But in spite of the development, the insatiable appetite of Ahmed for affordable and quality health has led his government to a tripartite arrangement with two Dutch bodies: the PharmAccess Group and Hygeia Community Health Care (HCHC). Both groups are non-profitable organisations. According to Ms Aaltje de Roos who represented Taco Oosterhuls the first secretary of the Royal Netherlands Embassy, during Wednesday opening of Share General Hospital in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state, the Rural Health Insurance Scheme of the government supported by the two Dutch bodies would make quality health affordable to all Kwarans irrespective of their economic status. Roos said, “for the people of Kwara, the programme means you no longer have to sell a cow or a goat when going to the doctor. Good quality health centres are now accessible nearby and affordable to all.” Under the scheme, each of the beneficiaries is expected to register with a token fee of N500.00 in order to have ‘free’ access to health care services, including major ailments and minor surgeries. Besides, while the state government provides the hospital and personnel the Dutch groups implement the Community Health Insurance Scheme and supply the drugs and other needs of the patients. The PharmAccess Group monitors the funding while the Hygeia Community Health Care does the implementation. Statistically, the two groups contribute 60 per cent of the yearly health care needs of each of the patients while the state government provides the balance of 40 per cent. The PharmAccess Group

mobilises public and private resources for the benefit of patients and doctors through clinical quality standards, loans for clinics, health insurance and impact research. Besides, it leverages donor contributions to increase trust in the health system, reduces risks and lowers transaction costs, thus paving the way for private investments. In Nigeria, PharmAccess has been active since the year 2001. Health Insurance Fund was founded in 2006 to build viable healthcare systems and the infrastructure to increase access to affordable quality basic healthcare for currently uninsured population s in Africa. In October 2006, the Health Insurance Fund signed a contract with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide affordable access to quality healthcare among lowincome populations in subSaharan Africa through the introduction of innovative financing mechanisms (including health insurance) and the improvement of healthcare quality. First scheme was introduced in Kwara State in 2007. Since then similar health plans have been introduced in Tanzanian and Kenya. The health Insurance Fund is part of the PharmAccess Group. To date, about 80, 000 people in major designated centres across the three senatorial districts in the state have enrolled in the programme, majority of who are women and children, categorised under the societal vulnerable group. Already, 15 public and private health facilities at present in the programme have been renovated and upgraded to acceptable standards. Besides, a recent study published in the American Medical Journal, proved the positive impact of the scheme on the population’s health. In the same vein, the new World Bank Data, believes that Kwara has climbed to be the second performing state in Nigeria with respect to maternal and child care. Commenting on the development, the Nigerian Health Minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu said, “the Kwara programme has our full support. It is scalingup to 600, 000 low-income people in the rural communities of Kwara by 2018, with premium subsidies largely paid by the Kwara State government.

Oral health brand takes campaign to schools By Wole Oyebade S the world commemoA rates World Oral Health Day (WOHD) 2014, no fewer than five Lagos schools were beneficiaries of the campaign against teeth decay. The WOHD commemorated in 70 countries, including Nigeria, had school pupils taught simple techniques on effective tooth brushing. Modern medical research has shown that brushing teeth properly can prevent cavities, and periodontal, or gum disease, which causes at least one-third of adult tooth loss. If teeth are not brushed cor-

• As Unilever MD becomes ambassador rectly and frequently, it could lead to the calcification of saliva minerals, forming tartar. Poor dental health has been associated with heart disease and shortened life expectancy. At one of Brush Day & Night School Programmes, recently held at Central Primary School and GRA Primary School, both in Ikeja, pupils were taught to brush the right way – up and down repeatedly and twice a-day. The school pupils are part of the 10 million Nigerian children the oral health brand,

Close Up, has targeted to reach with the oral health message before 2020. In a related event held in Abuja, Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria, Yaw Nsarkoh has been appointed as Nigeria’s Corporate Oral Health Ambassador, in the Oral Health Development Partner Category. Confirming the appointment, Senate President, David Mark charged Nsarkoh and Unilever Nigeria to lead the advocacy, and be the image-maker for oral health promotion

through the industry. Unilever and Nsarkoh are also to facilitate, mobilise resources and support the full integration of oral health into general health. Senior Vice President Oral Care Close Up, Marie-Anne Aymerich, who led the team at the Lagos event, said that the exercise was important to promote healthy-living among the children and “set them on the right foot towards adulthood.” Aymerich said: “We know if kids are taught to brush the right way, they will have no

cavities. Cavities is the most prominent disease in the world. It is really a disease and not something genetic. “Brushing the teeth with Close Up will reduce the risk of having cavities. This why we are here today and would continue with other schools,” she said. Continuing, she explained: “We do this for kids with two reasons, we know if you brush your teeth well at the age of 12, you will brush your teeth forever. That is one of the reasons we go to schools. “We also know that despite what parents say, they don’t brush their teeth regularly

as they should. We know that the children are the best agents of change. We are now asking them to take the habit of brushing regularly back to their parents. So, we are touching the children and the parents at the same time.” Experts stressed that the important ingredient to look out for in toothpaste is fluoride, which prevents cavity and bad breathe. Regional Brand Director, Close Up, Kosala Hewamadduma, noted that nighttime brush before sleep was more important to oral health than the morning ritual.

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SCIENCE HEALTH Thursday, March 27, 2014

Insecurity threatens health delivery in Kano

LUTH, Sanofi partner on ‘Healthy Children’ Initiative

While insecurity has caused several development programmes to be abandoned mid-way in the northern part of the country, Ukaid funded Partnership for Transforming Health Systems II (PATHS2) has forged ahead in achieving its objectives. State Team Leader, PATHS2 Kano, Dr. Abubakar Izge, spoke with WOLE OYEBADE on the task of coping with security fears in the northern state. Excerpts.

By Daniel Anazia

What is your experience working in the north amid security issues? MUST say that it is really difficult working in the middle of security challenges and uncertainties. One way or the other we all have our personal experience with the problem. I was in my office when the bomb went off at the police headquarters the other time. It was as if it happened right inside my office. It was a very terrible experience anyone can have. But we thank God we are able to pick up and performing the best we can do. One of the things that we are happy about is that PATHS2, of all the development partners in Kano, is still operational even at the peak of the crisis. This is because we are working with government and community members. The main problem is that there were apprehension, people were scared and offices often closed. In other words, it also affected us. It once slowed things down but then picked up again. How? If you look around our office, we are 100 per cent nationals and most of us are from this part of the country. People have to stay back and do their work. We also work with local people that are facilitators, cluster facilitation officers and are all community-based people that their capacity has been developed to work in their environment. So the work is still ongoing in those parameters. Another thing we did was to move down to Local Governments levels to carry on implementing our programmes, because most of the security challenges are in the centre city. In the process, we network with community and religious leaders on information sharing – sometimes tell us where or where not to go at a particular time. That has really helped for us. But insecurity also comes with its own effects on healthcare delivery. The main ingredient for any development programme to be successful is the enabling environment, which has particularly been good with this administration. But besides that and despite government’s commitment, the main challenge that we have is availability of health workers. Despite innovations that we have deployed in this programme, we still don’t have enough health workers. The government has also opened recruitment slots for health workers but people don’t come. Government placed adverts, did interviews, gave appointments and people promised to report to duty, but they never showed up. Some would just collect the appointment letters but would never report. Are they indigenes of the state? Most of them are not really indigenes. Again, there are lots of rumours and speculations about Kano. You just need to call a relative of yours and tell them you are in Kano and see how they will react. Some of them will start crying. There are lots of rumours. Even if they come and accept the appointment, either by family pressure or anything else, they would just come back. Insecurity is really a challenge, but as a project, it has not really stopped us from doing our work. Notwithstanding, people

Izge generally still have apprehension about the security situation, despite the fact that there are lots of improvements especially in Kano. The economy has started picking up and people going about their normal business but there is fear especially when you here that it just happened in that state like Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. They send signals to our people. Since 2008, state budget for health has been increasing, though a slight decrease in 2012, due to security challenges. That was why our budget came down to about N8billion. But if you compare that to other sectors, health is number four on the hierarchy. So, health is still a priority. PATHS2 interventions in terms of service delivery to Kano communities. You should understand that PATHS2 project, which started in 2008, is focusing on health as a whole, the reform side, service delivery and the demand side. It initially started as a governor’s project looking at capability of policy makers, responsiveness to community issues and accountability. What we did at the national level before coming to focal states is to develop the Strategic Health Development Plan (SHDP), which was a creation of the community, religious leaders and policy makers, defining what health system should be. It is that document, also adopted by Kano, which has assisted us in delivering the pro-poor health issues, identifying that the community have a significant role to play in all that we do. Health workers availability is very important to health delivery system. When we came in, we did an assessment of human resource available and discovered that we had 4.8 doctors per 100, 000 population and 18 nurses per 100, 000 population. We came up with a policy document to guide how we can respond to that gap. There are three areas of intervention: immediate, medium and long-term measures. Of the immediate measures, we found that majority of the health workers are concentrated in the city. In collaboration with the health ministry, we facilitated a redistribution of

the health workers in terms of having them move in remote PHCs. The other area is collaborating with the teaching hospital. We have almost 40 per cent of the health workers in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. We went into a collaborative arrangement with them, like having consultant medical doctors visit those facilities on a pertime basis to render quality services and at the same time, provide mentoring services to personnel available in those facilities. The other area is collaborating with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the national level. This year alone, we have been able to deploy five medical doctors to PHCs in dare need of them. At the service delivery end, PATHS2 is assisting the state with Drug Revolving Fund (DRF), through which drugs and equipment worth of N1.258b are being supplied to facilities. At this level, we have capitalised 603 facilities through DRF mechanism, meaning there are quality drugs available in these facilities out of the 1307 in the state. That was possible through our collaboration with the state government and the Central Medical Store. We are sure of the quality of the drugs, which the poor now access. The same with medical equipment to these health facilities, as support towards quality service delivery. We have been able to train over 500 health workers on Advanced Life Saving Skills/ Focus Antenatal Care (ANC) and others. Water is also an issue and we have been able to sink five borehole in different facilities based on need. We supply about 34 power-generating sets to them. To supplement inconsistencies of power, we got them inverters to be able to provide power. We also establish referral linkages for cases that cannot be managed. There is a usual apathy to health facilities in rural communities. Has anything changed in Kano? That is the community part of our programme. We realise as much as you do that government can build hospitals and buy equipment, provide health workers but people still

don’t come there. There are lots of reasons for this. One of them is illiteracy and lack of awareness. Some people still seem to believe that diseases are cursed by evil spirit, so they don’t go to facilities. Some still believe that their first delivery should be done by themselves alone, to demonstrate that they are strong and fit to deliver. These are part of the misconceptions going on. What we have been able to do is to work with community members and set up voluntary schemes of women, young people and market women to come together and discuss health issues to draw attendance to the hospitals. Some of those things they say is that if you are having severe headache, bleeding, feeling feverish go to the hospital. And that has created good awareness in communities. We found, based on our assessment, that there is increase in service up take of about 30 to 40 per cent increase. There is significant progress now, such that men even accompany their wives to labour rooms because they are better informed and also see the number of women dying due to pregnancy related complications. As PATHS2 programme winds down in a couple of months, are these interventions really sustainable? I would be specific on those initiatives that are already sustainable 100 per cent. One is the Mid-tern Sector Strategy (MTSS), it has been able to develop the capacity of the ministry and the agencies and the local government to ensure that they can now develop the MTSS and the operational plan. The other is the DRF system. The Central Medical Store started in 2007 with a turnover of N20 million. Today, the turnover is over N600 million. They have been able to go through framework procurement progress. They have been able to advertise, get bids, have them analysed and award contracts. PATHS2 is just giving technical support. Another is the Local Health Committee (LHC). The state government has taken it up and there is a private sector programme of Dangote and Bill Gate, adopting the LHCs as a Local Governance Structure. That is sustainable, and the State Primary Healthcare Board has also adopted the structure and is going to replicate it. For the trainings, we have adopted state-based trainers that are also government workers. Now, we don’t even invite consultants to facilitate training. Overall, I would say almost 60 per cent of the programme would be sustained beyond this project. As I said ab initio, PATHS2 is meant to facilitate this process to ensure that they develop the capacity of people managing the programmes and at the end make them sustainable. The challenge we see about this programme is government actually taking ownership. We believe there is still a lot that needs to be done especially at the LG level. It is very encouraging at the State level, but the local government, traditional and religious leaders across board need to take up the ownership by contributing more to it.

OMMITTED to ensuring C effective childhood health and care, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in partnership with health institutions and professionals, including Sanofi, a global integrated healthcare firm with focus on patients’ needs, especially in the area of research, development, manufacturing and marketing of innovative therapeutic solutions, recently commissioned a Paediatric Fun Centre at the Paediatric Ward in LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos, tagged Healthy Children, Happy Children. Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Akin Osibogun, represented by Director of Administration, Ayo Olagunju commended Sanofi for putting a smile on the faces of the children and those yet unborn with the initiative. He, however, stressed the importance of social health and noted that the environment where a child is kept also contributes to the health of such child. “As a company, you have written your name in gold as it concerns children’s health, and we promise to ensure that the fun centre is maintained at all times,” he stated. While also commending the company for the project, the Head of Paediatrics, LUTH, Prof. Adebola Akinsulie, also stressed the importance of environment to children’s health. “It is absolutely wonderful to have this fun centre for the children patients,” he said. Presenting the group’s pur-

pose for the Sanofi Paediatric Initiative in Africa, the Medical and Regulatory Director, Sanofi North East Africa, Dr. Fifen Inoussa noted that paediatrics was the at the heart of Africa’s challenge and its overall development. According to him, the fun centre was part of the company’s determination to diversify and adapt healthcare offer to children in African, where it maintained large presence. “Paediatrics is a priority for Africa. With population close 400 million children, one in four children worldwide is African. 42 per cent of the total population of Africans less than 15 years old, and 50 per cent of worldwide childhood mortality occurs on the continent. Therefore, pediatrics should be key priority,” he said. According to Inoussa, four million children die in Africa annually, and Sanofi’s paediatric initiative has been designed into three pillars to tackle the problems. The first concern is the development of medicines and vaccines offer, which the company will broaden its offer to new therapeutic areas, develop formulations and dosages adjusted to the needs of African patients, and improve access to medicine. He said: “The Healthy Children, Happy Children campaign, is a dedicated healthcare initiative to improve the health of African children. It is an initiative that has been developed by Sanofi and implemented throughout the Africa continent in consultation with healthcare providers, relevant health organisations and families.”

UBA organises free prostrate cancer screening in Lagos By Paul Adunwoke NITED Bank for Africa, U (UBA) has organised free medical prostrate cancer screening in Lagos, the screen is in line with the UBA’s efforts in pursuit of its corporate social responsibility obligations with the views healthcare as a crucial social service that needed support. UBA, therefore, implemented health intervention programmes in the broad areas of prostrate cancer screening for men within the age of 45 and 50, cancer awareness and exercise for their staff and members of the public in Lagos State and across Nigeria. The screening programme and exercise held at National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos and it featured different types men within the bank and outsiders. The prostrate is a small part of male reproductive organ, as size of walnut and it stays under the blander and in front of rectum. Rectum is the final straight portion of the large intestine in some mammals, when it is affected by cancer, it affect man reproductive system. A doctor in charge of the screening Olalekan Osineye, from Marina Medical Service (HMO), Limited, said that prostrate cancer did not have signs and symptoms at the earlier until it is at the peak of cancer and it is only affect men. “This is a great gathering because if other companies can engage in this exercise, things will be better in the country, prostrate cancer is a second cancer related to death in men alone all over the world.

After lung cancer prostrate follows, it is very important that you pick it up early because that is only when some tangible treatment can be done. Signs and symptoms are not obvious until it affect beyond the prostrate and we do not want that to happen, because beyond this point the disease is unstoppable, it is better to pick it up early. Doctor wears hand glove and lubricated finger goes into the rectum feel the size, gesture and shape of the prostrate and this is the part of the screening.” Dr. Osineye noted that a person who was affected prostrate cancer had blood in the urine and semen. “One of the signs of prostrate cancer is trouble to start and stop of urine, it affect the passage of urine. This obstructive urinary symptoms, at this the affected person would have blood in the urine and semen, it can also affect the backbone and pelvis bone, the person can be projected to bone pains. The person would have psychological factor, because the disease is advanced and it spread to the parts of the bones. “Animal fats are risk food that can lead to prostrate cancer. At the age of 45 to 50 the rate of having prostrate cancer is more than average men. The risk of having prostrate cancer is more in black men everywhere in the world, it is very common in Nigeria. “It is important that we look at prostrate cancer as a community of people, screening is important because you do not need to wait for the symptoms

Thursday, March 27, 2014 SCIENCE & HEALTH

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Mark, Chukwu, Oral - B canvass better dental checks From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja ENATE President, David Sintroduction Mark has advocated for the of dental clinics in primary schools all over the country. This, he said, is to provide an opportunity for pupils to undergo frequent oral checks to enable them grow with sound oral health. Mark, who was represented by Senator Gyang Pwajok gave the advise at the a conference on oral health, which was organised by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with Oral B, in Abuja. The conference, which was part of activities to commemorate the World Oral Health Day, was with theme: ‘Celebrating healthy smiles’. “Incidentally, I went to a primary school that had a dental clinic and I think it should be a policy that should be consciously pursued where even schools can have this arrangement. This will bring about the right attitude,” he stressed. He explained that oral health is a state whereby one is free from mouth, tooth and facial pain, oral and throat cancers, oral sores, tooth decay, tooth loss, as well as, other oral related illnesses. Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu emphasised the importance of oral health to the over all health of an individual. “Oral health is extremely

important to our overall health and well being and that is why the Federal Ministry of Health has joined forces with Oral B in their campaign against poor dental hygiene. “Through their Sharing Smiles Campaign, Oral B has been able to reach thousands of Nigerians in the rural and urban areas, promoting oral health and hygiene with their Mobile Dental Clinics, which have been strategically placed across the country.” P&G’s Director Government Relations, Nigeria, (makers of Oral B), Temitope Iluyemi said that apart from other initiatives, “Oral B has gone a long way to create awareness for the importance of dental hygiene in Nigeria and will continue to do so through the help of the Federal Ministry of Health, healthcare professionals and all concerned Nigerians.” In his lecture, Prof. Eyitope Ogundede of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-Ife, expressed shock that “our laws does not have provision for the employment of oral care experts at the local government levels.” He, however, call for the employment of oral health care experts at the local government level. This, according to him, would enable rural dwellers have access to oral health care.

Chief Operating Officers, Reddington Hospital, Mr. Emmanuel Mathews (left); Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Yemi Onabowale, General Manager, Mr. Andy Cunliffe, Chief Financial Officer, Mrs. Grace Oforiokuma, during Nigeria Healthcare Excellence Award, which Reddington Hospital, Lagos won private providers of the year 2014 award organised by Global Health, Project and Resources, and Anadach Group, USA, held at Eko PHOTO: PAUL ADUNWOKE Hotel Lagos.

Rivers, Reddington, others win Healthcare Excellence Awards By Paul Adunwoke EDDINGTON Hospital Lagos, Rivers State government and Fidson Healthcare Plc top the list of winners at the Nigeria Healthcare Excellence Award (NHEA) held last weekend at Eko Hotel and Suites Lagos. The NHEA was organised by Global Health Project and Resources (GHPR), in collaboration with Medi Pharma, and Anadach Group, United States. Reddington hospital won the private healthcare provider of the year, beating Cedarcrest Hospital Abuja, Lagoon Hospitals Lagos, Lilly Hospital Warri. Rivers State government won the outstanding government healthcare programme of the year. Other nominees in the category were Lagos, Kano and Ondo. Other winners at the event include: Lifetime achievements award by Prof. Emmanuel Adeyemo Elebute; Nursing and midwifery excellence award, Mrs. Bolanle Rasheedah Bello; Healthcare media excellence award – print, Kemi Ajumobi (Businessday); Healthcare media excellence award – electronic, Health matters with Dr. Julz (Nigerian Info 99.3FM); Public healthcare provider of the year, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH); Health maintenance organisation of the year, Hygeia HMO. JNC international won the Innovative healthcare service provider of the year. Others are: Private laboratory service provider of the year, PathCare; Public laboratory service provider of the year, 445 NAF Airforce Ref. Hosp. Lab; Radiology service provider of the year, Crestview radiology

Agency poised to reach R over three million untreated TB patients • Air Force chief lauds 45 NAF Hospital over fight against scourge From Emeka Anuforo (Abuja), Joseph Wantu (Makurdi) and Murtala Muhammed (Kano) S the world marked tuberA culosis (TB) day yesterday, global efforts are intensifying to provide drugs every year to over three million undiagnosed, untreated or undocumented people in the fight against the disease. A body, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, said in a statement that three million among the nine million people that get sick with TB do not get the needed care. Many countries around the world are now strengthening their TB strategic plans and setting new targets to drive down the number of deaths and cases of TB, while identifying priorities, best use of domestic resources and funding gaps for its control. The Global Fund has a new funding model that seeks to support countries in filling those gaps by focusing on the needs of the most vulnerable people in settings with high rates of TB. Inclusive country dialogue and investing for impact are fundamental to the new funding model, and to finding the missed three million people. Executive Director of the Fund, Mark Dybul stressed during a visit to South Africa as part of the World Tuberculosis Day how the body and its partners were to harmonise the region’s response to tuberculosis infection among the mining community. Dybul noted that the part-

nership had a focus on reducing the burden of TB among a population that accounts for about 30 per cent of all infections in Southern Africa. Meanwhile, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu has lauded the 45 NAF Hospital in Makurdi, Benue State, for its fight against the deadly TB scourge. Amosu gave the commendation yesterday in Makurdi at a seminar organised by the hospital to commemorate tuberculosis day, stating that the theme of this year’s celebration, “Stop TB in My Lifetime,” was apt. Represented at the event by the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Tactical Air Command (TAC), Air Vice Marshal Umar Omeiza, Amosu noted, “if we can prevent TB from easily infecting us, we cannot die of HIV infection.” In his welcome remarks, the Commander, 45 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Air Commodore B.B. Okunola, regretted that the world was winning the war against TB until its dramatic resurgence with the advent of HIV. He stressed that today, TB is the second leading infectious cause of death after HIV, and that though its treatment is available, the world was experiencing another ugly trend with the emergence of multiple-drug-resistance TB, which does not accept common anti-tuberculosis drugs. Also, the Kano State Ministry of Health disclosed that government specialised centres treated 6,000 carriers free of charge in 2013 alone.

Limited; Biomedical engineering service company of the year, Biostadt; Pharmaceutical company of the year, Fidson Healthcare PLC; and Pharmaceutical retail outlet of the year, HealthPlus. Project Director Medipharma Africa, Dr. Adewale Alabi said the award aimed at providing a virile platform for proper recognition and to celebrate success, innovation, growth and excellence in Nigeria’s health sector, and was organised in order to ensure healthcare operators in Nigeria are celebrated. Alabi said that 43 individuals and organisations nominated for the various corporate and individual categories have been recognised and honoured for the excellence performance to the citizens of the country. “We aimed at recognising the rapid growth in the health care sector and the capacity of individuals and corporate organisa-

tions to influence and set new performance standards in Nigeria and beyond.” Alabi said that healthcare in Nigeria is on the upswing and a lot changes and innovations are beginning to take place. In order to support and sustain these moves in the positive direction, Global Health project and Resources (GHPR) decided to organise the 3rd edition of Medi Pharma Africa International Conference and exhibition in Lagos. “Medi Pharma Africa is positioned to be a pan Africa Health platform that will contribute to the development of the sector by promoting the business and creating opportunities in healthcare in Africa. This year award offers participants and visitors a stimulating line up of activities and high points. We are privileged to have speakers lined up to addressed the conference this year and there is no doubt that delegates have

benefited tremendously from the vast knowledge and experience they have sheared.” He continued, “Medi Pharma exhibition has presented an excellence opportunity to keep you abreast of the latest developments in media technology and innovation.” General Manager of Reddington Hospital, Lagos, Mr. Andy Cunliffe, who received the award on behalf of the Hospital, said that the he was very proud to be the general manager of Reddington Hospital. Cunliffe said, “we are honored and respected for our active service in healthcare delivery and by his grace we will do more. I want federal and states governments to set the standard of healthcare in Nigeria, it will help develop healthcare more in the country. Government has to deal with infrastructure, transport and power. All these are challenges to healthcare services in Nigeria and it is affecting

Obiano restates plan on health sector, donates generator to hospital By Kodilinye Obiagwu, South East Bureau Chief HE Governor of Anambra T State, Willie Obiano, at the weekend restated the prime position of primary health care in the state when he visited some students of Community Secondary School Umuokpu Awka, who survived a automobile accident and were receiving treatment at the state Teaching Hospital, Nnewi. At the Nnamdi Azikiwe Hospital, Nnewi, Obiano said, “primary healthcare occupies a priority position in the plan of my administration to reposition Anambra as a leader in all indices of development in the country.”

Obiano, who rushed to Nnewi to see the survivors on learning of the accident and about the plight of the survivors, told them, “don’t despair, you are in good hands. We shall take care of you. We shall pay your hospital bills and make sure that nothing wrong happens to you.” As he stood by bedside of the victims, and watched patients sweating in the sweltering heat in the hospital wards, Obiano promised to “provide you a 500KVA generator to ensure that there is a steady supply of electricity in this hospital.” Thanking the governor for the gesture, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Nnamdi

Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Prof. A. O Igwegbe commended the governor for showing great “character, compassion and pragmatism.” According to him, the challenge facing the 25-year old institution was paucity of funds to carry out its set goals and objectives. He said, “presently, we are dependent on generators as a source of power for the running of the hospital, which further depletes our resources.” The CMD pointed out that the hospital was still operating on a temporary site and all efforts were geared towards moving to its permanent site in the nexus between Nnewi, Ozubulu and Oraifite towns.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

SCIENCE HEALTH Thursday, March 27, 2014

Book exposes causes of infertility By Wole Oyebade OU are not barren: It is acid” is the title of a new book and expository insight into the subject of infertility, as written by Paul Joseph Nanna. In the six-chapter, 132-page simple write-up, Nanna revisits food-related causes of infertility; with emphasis on dangers associated with acidic-content that wrong foods deposit in the body. The author is a pastor and also a scientist – two ends of a divide that often don’t mix. But his research on the subject – food and infertility – may have created one of the finest blend between faith and fact. Nanna, a retired Orthodox Medical Practitioner and currently practicing Alternative Medicine, observed that the effect of the combination of low alkalinity or even acidity of the semen and a very acid vagina is what in vitro fertilisation (IVF) attempts to correct. This is one of the commonest reasons why IVF is carried out in women today, he said. This technique, he argues, prevents interaction between the sperm cells and the acid in the vagina, which kills them. With the high cost of IVF in the million-naira range, correcting the acid/alkaline imbalance in the vagina will ensure that the barren becomes pregnant. This is what Nanna has set out to explain in this book, “borne out of revelation, research

“Y

and testimonies.” You are what you eat, the author reiterates from the commonsense cum scientific end of his pen. Eating the wrong food that are made worst by overcooking, processing and refining, renders the body’s fluid acidic, thereby derailing the metabolic processes that go on in the body. Researchers have, indeed, found that such acidity is very harmful to the microscopic gametes (sperm cells and eggs) that form the foetus. Also in such acidic environment, the quality of the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle and maintain pregnancy is deficient. Correcting this acidity and establishing an alkaline environment within the body can change the fertility status of a lot of individuals, Nanna said, citing some people already similar testimonies. Besides eating the wrong things, lack of adequate water intake often help toxins, free radicals and acidic wastes

accumulate in and around the cells of the tissues of the body. The author explains t h a t because you have perpetually eaten “dead” food, production a n d release of these acids in your body have been at the highest level all t h e s e years. Regional dehydration may have affected the organs in your pelvic region more, to the extent that more damage may have occurred in those organs that secrete the sex hormones. These hormones, being substandard, no longer perform their role optimally and so menstration, ovulation and pregnancy are affected in one way or the other. Modern lifestyle is also a suspect. The lifestyle that you are likely to have lived all these years – devoid of physical activities - encourages stagnation of all fluids in the tissues, the circulation is made sluggish and slow and

the lymphatic system is almost brought to a standstill. But the joy is Dr. Nanna also has three chapters devoted to time-tested corrective measures for better health and fertility. Besides the long list of dietary no-nos, Nanna stressed the need for individuals to start drinking more water as part of detoxification programme, which ensures faster blood circulation, as well as, faster dislodging and elimination of wastes. Alkaline water should be the water of choice and an average of two litres is recommended. The fruits and vegetables, which should make up the bulk of our diet, are full of fibre, vitamins and minerals. Fibres speed up the passage of faecal matter through the intestines and cleanses the colon preventing constipation and acid production and build up. Also, there are loads of antioxidants in the vegetables and fruits and these neutralise the free radicals. Good sources of fibre include organically grow fresh vegetables and fruits. You may want to eat things like cabbage, beets, radish, broccoli, artichoke, chlorella and spiruline. Besides, do lots of exercises. The last chapter gives a long list of foods, herbs and supplements that will boost sexual performance. ‘Glory of the Next Level Ltd’ published the book.

Experts want scale up of mental healthcare for children, adolescents By Joseph Okoghenun ENTAL health experts M have called on government to put machinery in place to increase mental healthcare for children and adolescents in Nigeria. The experts, who made the call during a workshop organised by Childhood NeuroPsychiatric Disorder Initiative in collaboration with Child

and Adolescent Centre of Federal Neuro-Psychiatric, Lagos and University Centre for Excellence in Developmental Disability, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA, to train medical practitioners in primary healthcare centres (PHC) on mental healthcare, stated that childhood mental disorders have become neglected conditions in Africa in

general and Nigeria in particular. Medical Director of Federal Neuro-Psychiatric, Lagos, Dr. Rahman Lawal said the need to prioritise childhood mental disorders could not be overemphasised as a “country that fails to take care of her children, plans to have unsuccessful future.” The training programme, which was graced by staff of Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board with support from Grand Challenges Canada, is aimed to train people in primary healthcare to recognise, treat and refer difficult mental conditions to specialists in secondary and teaching hospital. Mental Health Advisor, Nigeria, Dr. Emeka Nwefoh said though 25 per cent of a population would have mental health disorder in their lifetime, many who suffer from mental health conditions would not have access to treatment. Nwefoh added that the ugly scenario arise from the fact that Nigeria currently has paltry 150 psychiatrists, adding that only 3.3 per cent health budget goes into psychiatry. The consultant psychiatrist, however, added that there is need to train medical staff in primary healthcare centres to meet yawning gaps in mental healthcare in Nigeria. Nwefoh said, “childhood mental disorder is a neglected illness in Africa. In Nigeria though it is taking a lead but because of low human and financial resources for mental health generally, programmes for mental health in Nigeria is not where it should be. “The first thing is to train primary healthcare practitioners

because we have dearth of practitioners. We have only about 150 psychiatrists and we have few child and adolescent psychiatrists. We have recognised that the number of practitioners is too low. Even if we continue to train the level we are training them now, in 100 years we would not be able to achieve enough manpower to build mental manpower in Nigeria. Twentyfive per cent of Nigerians may experience mental health condition in their lifetime and 10 to 20 per cent have enduring mental disorders. This means that over 2 million Nigerians have mental health disorders that will require treatment. But we have about 150 million psychiatrists.” iChairman of Childhood Neuropsychiatric Disorder Initiative and Head of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Dr.Bakare Muideen said the need for training for medical staff in PHCs could not be overemphasised to scale up childhood mental healthcare. Muideen said, “many children with developmental disorder have either delay speech, delay in crawling or walking. If they are identified on time, intervention could be put in place so that they meet their milestones. The aim of the project is to screen children less than three years with the objective of early diagnosis so that early intervention can be put in place for them at community and primary health care level. “Childhood mental disorder is an area that is not well reported. It is an area that has a lot of stigma. Children, who have childhood mental disorder are often locked up without medical help.”

Cause, complications, management of diabetes mellitus (2) Syndrome X already shown ItionHAVE Syndrome X to be a collecof problems caused by the presence of consistently high levels of insulin in the blood steam. This condition is known as insulin resistance. The following are features of the adverse effects of elevated insulin level in the body; hypertension, low High Density Lipo-protein (HDL) ‘good’ cholesterol, high Low Density Lipo-protein (LDL) ‘bad’ cholesterol, high triglycerides, increased incidences of blood clots, increased rate of inflammation of the arteries and development of central obesity (weight gain mainly around the lower abdomen, giving an apple appearance. The propensity of developing heart disease is very high when all these conditions are present in an individual. Even if for this reason only, every effort must be made to reverse this condition. A patient, who has Syndrome X may continue in this condition for upwards of twenty years. However, a time will eventually come when the beta cells of the pancreas will begin to fail irreversibly as a result of exhaustion; the beta cells just wear out and are no longer able to produce enough insulin to deal with the excessive blood glucose. At this time the blood level of insulin begins to fall while that of glucose starts to rise. This condition appropriately referred to as pre-clinical diabetes mellitus will lead to full blown diabetes in less than 2 years if nothing is done to reverse it. Diabetes mellitus Diabetes mellitus, as I have already defined it, is a chronic, debilitating metabolic disorder caused by failure of insulin to pump glucose into the cells of the body. The failure can be at the level of the cells where the cells do not respond to insulin by opening the door through which glucose passes into the cells. Insulin failure can also be due to complete or partial failure of the beta cells of the pancreas, with the result that there is no insulin or not enough in circulation. According to the International Diabetic Federation (IDF), approximately 194 million people are affected by diabetes all over the world and this is expected to rise to 333 million in 25 years and this is 6.3 per cent of the world population. In Africa, Nigeria is the country with the highest number of cases of diabetes. Out of approximately 13.6

million diabetics, Nigeria accounts for about 1.218 million. The increase in the number of cases is thought to be due to factors such as lack of exercise, eating the wrong diet, obesity and improvement in awareness and methods of diagnosis whereby more cases are being diagnosed today, contrary to what it used to be. Signs and symptoms There are certain classical symptoms of diabetes mellitus, which aid in diagnosis even though a few cases may be assymptomatic. These symptoms include polyuria (urinating excessively), polydypsia (drinking of plenty of water in response to too much thirst), polyphagia (eating excessively as a result of hunger) and nocturia, which is the tendency to urinate more than once or twice at night. Other symptoms are blurred vision, high blood pressure, loss of sensation in the extremes of the limbs and loss of weight. Fungal infections and other skin disease may be a feature of diabetes mellitus. Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus In making a diagnosis of diabetes a good history must be obtained from the patient. Family history of diabetes, especially in the case of direct relations such as a mother and daughter, is a strong risk factor. The nature of the diet that the patient likes and is used to is another factor. As I said, our diet is the high carbohydrate, starchy and high fat diet with high glycaemic indices. This is usually a common finding among patients that are eventually found to be diabetics. Finding the classical symptoms in the history of a patient is usually a clincher of the diagnosis. Having done that, a good physical examination may confirm such signs as hypertension, exudates in the retina, loss of sensation at the extremities, loss of weight and/or wasting of the muscles and fungal infection and other skin diseases. Most important investigations that are usually carried out to establish a diagnosis of diabetes are fasting blood sugar, Glucose Tolerance Test and Lipid profile. These may show such findings as hyperglycaemia, otherwise known as high blood glucose level. There may also be increased triglyceride (the other fat in the body apart from cholesterol), increased LDL, (bad) cholesterol and decreased HDL (good) cholesterol, blood levels. Next week Thursday, by the grace of GOD, we shall look at complications of and management of diabetes.

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Education In Oko, all is not well between town, gown By Eno-Abasi Sunday and Chuks Collins, Awka HIS is certainly not the best of times for the erosion-ravaged Oko community, in Orumba North Council Area of Anambra State. Unfortunately the community is not waging a war against the Federal Government or any of its agencies with a view to attracting attention to the natural disaster. Rather, a section of it is up in arms against the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Prof. Godwin Onu. The crisis rocking the community and indeed the school appears to be multifaceted now, with parties pitching tent along different interest lines, which best serve their interests. Before penultimate week’s protest by women from Oko Community, a lot of burning issues had been going on behind the scene, with many saying the seed of discord was planted back in 2012. This was in the wake of a violent demonstration by students of the institution, which led to the destruction of property worth millions of Naira belonging to both the school and locals. Indeed, penultimate week’s massive protest by women, who called for the immediate removal of Prof Onu and his re-appointment for a second term in office by President Goodluck Jonathan, has ensured that the situation gets murkier and continually uncertain. Curiously, the youths of the community, some of whom were initially up in arms against Onu appear to be firmly in support of his re-appointment by Jonathan having fallen out with their elders led by the monarch of Oko community, Prof. Laz Ekweme. During the protest, leader of the women, Mrs. Maureen Izuegbunem, had accused Onu of dehumanising the women whom he hired to ensure that the school premises remained spick-and-span, only to allegedly deny them their salaries for more than 12 months. According to her, “He (Onu) has morbid hatred for this community. He has vehemently refused to pay us compensation for the destruction of property in the ‘2012 students crisis,’ which he instigated and it was a committee that he set up that made the recommendations that he pays the compensation.” President of the Oko People’s Union (OPU), Mr. Cyprain Nwanmuo, who later spoke to the women at Oko Civic Center, commended them for remaining peaceful throughout the protest. He reiterated the community’s position as contained in a petition to the supervising Minister for Education that the community was opposed to any consideration of Professor Onu for another four- year term as the rector of the school. In an earlier press statement by OPU, the community had wondered why the rector was allegedly so desperate in his bid to the reappointed, after his woeful performance in the first tenure in which he pitted the community against the polytechnic and retarded progress already made at the institution by his predecessors. “Some of the reason for the community’s opposition included, as in this case, the rector’s penchant for creating crises from nothing and his failure to operate harmoniously with others in his workplace and environment,” he said. It would be recalled that the Joint Action Group of NASU, ASUP, and SSANIP had earlier petitioned the government against the renewal of Onu’s tenure citing the crises that has enveloped the polytechnic community since his assumption of office. In addition to the various petitions already drawn up by the community, their national

legal adviser, Chief Uchenna Okonkwo-Okom, on March 21, at Ekweme’s palace read out a 6-page statement, which was signed by the President General, Cyprian Ike Nwammuo and Ekwueme, where they again reiterated their stand and reasons for calling for Onu’s ouster. According to them, “Prof Godwin Onu has failed woefully to manage himself peacefully and operate smoothly and harmoniously within his work environment and is at daggers drawn with virtually everybody in his work place. He goes to war with his host community for every flimsy reason. “Within the polytechnic community itself, he is at war with all the staff unions. In fact we are aware that NASU, ASUP and SSANIP of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, have all petitioned federal authorities against the renewal of his tenure, citing numerous instances of leadership failure, abrasive and crises-prone style of administration of the rector.” The community also disclosed reason to believe that “Onu came to Oko with enormous hatred and animosity against them, notwithstanding the immense support he enjoyed from them during his efforts to secure appointment into the office. Claiming that his first four-year term which expired on March 4, 2014 was characterised by administrative lapses, disregard for constituted authority in the town, the community accused him of subterranean plans and moves to relocate the polytechnic to his nearby Ezira community, in Orumba South council area. The rector was also accused of instigating the student riot of 2012; and subtly encouraging what they described as ‘a nebulous student body known as West African Students Union, which after paying him a courtesy call made a call to the Federal Government to move the polytechnic to a more friendly town.” Okonkwo-Okom, in reaction to the call by the governing council of the institution for them to sheath their swords and embrace dialogue, amongst other issues, urged the council to avoid dabbling into issues that pre-dated its existence, more so when the council went public first before meeting and or speaking with the community over the issues. On the issue of compensation for the damages of 2012 students-masquerades demonstration, the community said the Rector only paid 50 per cent of the costs. That he had pleaded to be allowed to pay in two installments, for him to clear the other half after three months. But has ignored every attempt to get him pay the balance ever since.” But despite the furore generated by the face-off between the elders of the community and Onu, youths of the community are drumming support for the embattled rector and insisting they were not party to the calls for his removal by some members of the community. Addressing the media in front of Ekwueme’s palace, they accused the monarch of executing his personal plan and not that of the community. The Acting President of the Youth Wing of the OPU, Evang. Tochukwu Ezeokafor, said the purported press conference at the palace was selective and not the decision of the entire town. The youth leader said that some disgruntled elements in the community who do not want youths in the community to see the light of the day, always embark on missions that would only be beneficial to them. According to him, “Unlike the previous rectors we have had, Prof. Onu is someone who believes in human and infrastructural development. You

Prof Godwin Onu has failed woefully to manage himself peacefully and operate smoothly and harmoniously within his work environment and is at daggers drawn with virtually everybody in his work place. He goes to war with his host community for every flimsy reason

can look around and see what he has put on ground. We are so surprised that some people in the community do not support him. But we thank God that his tenure has been renewed for another four years.” “I am speaking on behalf of the entire youths and well meaning people of Oko that we are solidly behind his second tenure. Anybody who does not like that should find another place and stay for the next four years,” he stated. On why they decided to protest and address the media in front of the monarch’s palace, he said, “It is because what they (elders) are doing is unfair. In fact, we were invited to be part of a press conference this morning, but when we came in they said they don’t want us again and so we began to question why are they telling us to leave the palace. Are we not part of Oko community? “So we decided to let the world know that we are not part of neither do we support whatever they are doing. It is the wish and agenda of some disgruntled elements in the community and not that of the entire community. In fact it is the agenda of the OPU president, who has some financial issues to sort out with the community. And that is why he was taking refuge in the Igwe’s palace. Other members of OPU executive were not part of the press conference.” The school’s public relations officer, Mr. Obini Onuchukwu, has absolved his principal of all the allegations raised against him by the community, stressing that the same community gave his boss a special Distinguished Service Award last October, for his transformation of the institution. According to him, “I am therefore highly disappointed that the same people are now calling for

The traditional ruler should leave the rector to concentrate and do his work without any further distractions. We expected him to act more maturely instead of inciting the people. The traditional ruler has displayed so much rascality and has used same to infiltrate the town union. All this bad blood started when the institution turned down most of the daily selfish demands from the palace. The development plan of the school would have been derailed if we continued to attend to all their demands on daily basis the removal of the rector.” He said Onu has rejuvenated the institution and radically improved on its infrastructural facilities since coming on board. He listed some of his achievements to include the erection of about 17 new structures, eight of which are now ready for commissioning, introduction of 25 new programmes, eight of which are ready for assessment for accreditation. Onuchukwu said that Prof. Ekwueme’s call for the removal of Onu was politically motivated even as he opined that if the highly celebrated Professor of Music, who is also the younger sibling of former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme could be muscling Onu out of his community, then it wont be out of place for him to urge indigenes of Kaduna to agitate for his removal as Chairman of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). He also described those calling for Onu’s removal as a “cabal” of few insatiable men and women, adding that the cabal must have infiltrated the town union because the rector hitherto enjoyed a robust relationship with the town union. He said, “The traditional ruler should leave the rector to concentrate and do his work without any further distractions. We expected him to act more maturely instead of inciting the people. The traditional ruler has displayed so much rascality and has used same to infiltrate the town union. All this bad blood started when the

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Oko community divided over Onu’s re-appointment CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39 institution turned down most of the daily selfish demands from the palace. The development plan of the school would have been derailed if we continued to attend to all their demands on daily basis. He also noted that the issue of payment for the 2012 students’ riot damages has been settled in full, but the cabal continues to demand for it because the rector had instructed a direct payment to affected individuals. The alleged plans to set up a campus of the institution at Ezira, according to Onuchukwu, was not possible “because it is a constitutional matter.” He promised that Onu holds not just the Ekwuemes in high esteem, but also all human beings including all Oko sons and daughters. Other than the youths of the community, Onu is also gaining favour and support from some well-placed members of the society. One of them being an enterpreneur, Sir Ephraim Ofoma, who hails from the same community. According to Ofoma: “The Federal Polytechnic Oko surely is moving from strength to strength. The 35 year old institution has had a chequered history starting from its inception as a College of Arts and Science in 1979 to when it was upgraded to College of Arts, Science and Technology in 1980, to when it became Anambra State Polytechnic in 1985 and when it finally became Federal Polytechnic

Oko in 1993. “I have followed passionately developments and trends in the institution. In those days the institution was always in the news for the wrong reasons but now because of the tremendous and all-round improvement the polytechnic’s perception in the media and the society has also improved which I believe informed the clamour for its

upgrading to a university of Science and technology and has made it one of the most sought polytechnic in nigeria by prospective students. “A tour around the main campus and two other campuses of the institution located at Atani, Ogbaru Council area and Ufuma, Orumba north council area of Anambra State has convinced me on the justification for the

latest clamour for the upgrading to a university. “As the polytechnic has continued to strive for excellence, it has never had it so good in terms of quality leadership as under the present administration led by Prof. Godwin Onu in terms of both infrastructural and human capacity development. no wonder the accolades and encomiums that have greeted the rector’s re-

appointment to man the affairs of the institution for another four years.” Ofoma noted that, “In terms of infrastructure, the polytechnic has recorded a feat which other tertiary institutions around the country envy. no wonder the Senate Committee on Education described Federal Polytechnic Oko as the fastest developing tertiary institution in the

country. “I strongly believe that with the inauguration of new members of the Governing Council for the polytechnic headed by Dr. Christain Azubike Odukwe more development prospects are expected because of the composition and high quality of the council members,” the entrepreneur stated.

Total E&P hands over one-storey classroom block to Imo school From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri n its determination to contribute to the country’s eduIcational advancement, Total Exploration and Production nigeria limited (Total E&P nigeria limited), in conjunction with OMl 138 partners– Chevron, Esso and nexon, have donated a one-storey building, comprising furnished 12 classrooms, offices,

conference hall among others to the Government Secondary School, Owerri (GSSO). The structure, which was constructed within 17 months, cost the firms about n200m. The project was initiated through the instrumentality of the Old Boys Association of the 79-year-old institution headed by Eddie Okoroji, an engineer working with Total. In his address at the commis-

sioning/handover of the project, the Deputy Managing Director, Deep water District, Total Upstream Companies in nigeria, Mr. Charles ngoka, disclosed that each of the classrooms has 30 seats for 30 student, while the block also host the Principal’s office, a secretary’s office and lobby. He added that a borehole was also sunk with over head tank, water treatment plant and ground reservoir tank;

provision and installation of one 30 KVA sound-proof electricity generating plant to supply electricity to the building; correction and elevation of perimeter fence and landscaping amongst others. At the event where the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, and his Commissioner for Education (Primary and Secondary Schools), Mrs. Uche Ejiogu, were glaringly absent despite

being invited, Owerri monarch and an old boy of the institution, Eze Emmanuel njemanze, was nominated to commission the block. ngoka, also an alumni of the school said the contractor, Benmaris limited did a good job, praising the Managing Director of the firm, Mr. Emeka Onuorah, for executing the job in record time.

Ex-UnIBEn staff member alleges threat to life By Bertram Nwannekanma the terminaFJulyOllOwInG tion of his appointment in 2013, a former deputy director in the Central Record Processing Unit (CRPU) of the University of Benin, (UnIBEn), Mr. Kehinde Dokun Samuel has alleged threat to his life. In a petition to President

Goodluck Jonathan, dated March 14, 2014, and signed by his counsel, Ibomhen, Dike & Co, a copy of which was made available to The Guardian, Samuel wants a panel of inquiry set up to look into issues bordering on the alleged unlawful termination of his appointment by the university.

The university authorities had on several occasions debunked any form of victimisation in Samuel’s sack, claiming that the termination followed due process and that nobody was against him nor was after his life. They also stated that the exdeputy director had continually blackmailed the institution

in an attempt to garner public sympathy as a last resort. Samuel, however, alleged that his travails began when he petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged cases of gross financial and administrative misconduct taking place in the university. According to him, “a recent

attack on 11/03/2014, saw a gang of heavily armed men suspected to have been sponsored by some top management staff from the university, storm his residence in Benin City, shot sporadically into the air and damaged a Mercedes Benz cars parked in the compound, which belonged to a neighbour.”

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Stakeholders canvass increased budgetary allocation for education From Kanayo Umeh, Abuja in the ShaveTAkEHOLDERS nation’s education sector urged the Federal Government to tackle what they described as the dwindling educational standards in the country by allocating 26 per cent of its annual fiscal budget to the funding of education in line with the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommendation. The call was made at a Stakeholders Roundtable on 2014 Education Sector Budget organised by ActionAid, in collaboration with Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA). The stakeholders blamed the lingering crisis in the nation’s education sector on long years of neglect and poor funding, saying that it has become imperative for all the three tiers of government to begin implementation of UNESCO’s recommendation of 26 per cent budget to education. Nigeria’s 2014 budget proposal for education is N493 billion, representing 10.7 percent of the total national budget proposal of N4.6 trillion. It also amounts to a 15 percent increase over the 2013 budget. In 2013, the sector gulped 8.7 per cent of the national budget, the first time since independence that the sector would top the national budget. A breakdown of this figure on the updated website of Nigeria’s Budget Office shows

that N350, 562, 329,092 would be spent on personnel, while N22, 889, 765,945 is set aside for overhead. In the budget proposal, total recurrent got N443, 922, 095, 037, as statutory transfers is expected to take at least N70, 470,000,000 from the government, while N49, 536,035,231 has been voted for capital development by the Federal Ministry of Education. Speaking to newsmen at the event, ActionAid Governance Coordinator, Esther Agbon, called for transparency and

accountability in the implementation of the 2014 budget. Her words: “Releases should be made on time and then the MDAs should utilise the money effectively, and especially, this money should go to the under-served groups that we are talking about. It’s a budget of inclusive growth, but how inclusive is this budget? If we now see so many lopsided allocations that tend to cater for administrative issues rather than looking out for mass litera-

cy…” She lamented that allocations for celebrations are enormous and repeated throughout most MDAs, adding that funds could be saved up from here to fund agencies like the Nomadic Education Commission, whose budget is less than N1b. “Under overheads in recurrent expenditure, virtually all the MDAs in the education sector allocate huge sums for refreshments, welfare packages, honorarium/sitting

allowances as well as international training allowances,” Agbon pointed. She added that it is imperative for agencies to understand the importance of meeting the needs of the disadvantaged such as the Mass Literacy Commission and Nomadic Education Commission and vote less on celebrations. In his remarks, the Senior Legal/Advocacy Officer International Center For Development and Budget,

British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Peter Carter (left); President of AISEN, Mrs Ekuah Abudu; Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye and AISEN Conference Chairman, Mr. Graham Stothard at the AISEN 2014 conference …recently.

Government to consider an upward review of allowances of members of the National Youth Corps (NYSC) from the present N19, 800, as a way of motivating them. The governor made the request when he played host to the NYSC Governing Council led by Alhaji Tijani Adekanmbi, while on a courtesy visit to his office in Akure

recently. Mimiko said the state has been in the forefront of enhancing the scheme, particularly its efforts at promoting national integration and youth development. Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Aderotimi Adelola, Mimiko assured the council of the state’s continued commitment to the welfare and security of the Corps

members. He further pledged the readiness of the state government to liaise with relevant government parastatals to prioritise the welfare and security of the Corps members. Earlier, Chairman of the governing council, Chief Gordon Bozimo, who was represented by the leader of the delegation, Adekanmbi lauded the state government for promptly releasing the

state’s subvention to support the scheme, provision of infrastructures and utility vehicles among others, which he said have greatly assisted and motivated the body in the discharge of its duties and enhancing good welfare package for Corps members. Meanwhile, while commissioning some projects in some coastal areas of the state, Mimiko told the people

Chrisland pupils share Commonwealth ideals By Ujunwa Atueyi O continually celebrate the T values and worldwide connections of the Commonwealth family, students of Chrisland High School Victoria Garden City, Lagos, recently joined millions of students across Commonwealth nations to participate in the Commonwealth Class World’s Biggest Assembly. The programme, which is part of activities lined up to celebrate Commonwealth Day and mark the run up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games, is a special initiative from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the British

Council and the Commonwealth Secretariat. The initiative, which offers participating students free access to teaching resources, classroom activities, online debates and competitions to mark the run-up to the Glasgow 2014 Games, also featured a discussion session in which students drawn from junior and senior classes engaged in a highly informative discourse on the state of the nation. The session, as coordinated by Bankole Thelma, a teacher in the school, threw light on the standard of living in the country as well as the need for Nigerians to be united in the search for progress in education, security, healthcare and

agriculture among others. Principal of the school, Prof. Johan Viljoen, who spoke during the event disclosed that it was a privilege for the school to be part of a global event of such significance, more specific the Commonwealth Class. He said the decision of the school to participate in the event was an attempt to educate students, teachers as well as communities on the understanding of global issues from a Nigerian perspective, and to harmonise the school’s core values with those of the Commonwealth. “Commonwealth Class enables schools to take part in online debates, competitions and work on projects

Partnership for African Social and Governance Research debuts From Isa Abdulsalami, Jos HE Partnership for African T Social and Governance Research (PASGR), a pan-

Mimiko canvasses upward review of Corps members’ allowances, commissions projects NDO State Governor Dr. O Olusegun Mimiko, has urged the Federal

Mr. Armstrong Okwuoma explained that specific issues within the education sector such as out-of-school children and learning outcomes should be addressed in the budget.

with the aim of giving young people a unique and handson international learning experience of the Commonwealth family,” he added. However, the Vice Principal, Academics of the school, Mr. Olaleye Francis, noted that as a school in Nigeria and a member of the Commonwealth community, students and management of Chrisland High School were proud to be part of the world biggest assembly event- the Commonwealth Day. According to him, “Programmes like this affords us the opportunity to sell and share the values of the commonwealth among our students.

that his government would continue to improve on their wellbeing. The projects commissioned at the weekend include a school at Igbokoda in Ilaje council area, a block of six classrooms at Sabomi and a town hall at Igbotu both in Ese-Odo council area of the state. He noted that his administration would continue to deepen its interaction with the people at the grassroots with a view to fast-tracking the socio-economic development of the entire state. The governor who reiterated his commitment to the all-round development of the state, particularly the coastal areas, declared that this year, the lot of the coastal areas would be radically improved even as he promised to ensure the continuation of work on the Irele-Sabomi-Igboru road, under construction by the Niger-Delta Developmental Commission (NDDC). He appealed to community leaders and youths to cooperate with contractors handling the various projects in their area promising that his administration would continue to invest in educational development by ensuring that all children in the state receive quality education in a world-class environment.

African organisation, which seeks to enable African social science researchers to produce and communicate policy relevant research works, has debuted at the University of Jos. Addressing the audience at the inaugural gathering, Head of Department of Political Science of the university, Dr. Bonaventure Haruna, said PASGR would be helpful to researchers focused on selected social policy themes with particular attention to governance. Haruna informed that the programme would strengthen graduate education in social science research, specifically a new Master of Research and Public Policy (MRPP) programme. The HOD further stated that the initiative became imperative because of the “state of crisis” in African social science institutions, diminishing resources, declining academic standards, falling outputs and limited engagement in domestic policy formation.”

UNN to honour OdumegwuOjukwu Lawrwnce Njoku, Enugu HE late Biafran leader and T Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu would be conferred with a posthumous award of Doctor of Law at the 43rd Convocation ceremony of the University of Nigeria (UNN) Nsukka. The event takes place on Saturday. Vice Chancellor of UNN, Prof Barth Okolo, who announced this at a pre-convocation briefing, said it was in line with the institution’s continued quest for recognition of Nigerians who have excelled in their chosen areas. He stated that Odumegwu Ojukwu, even in death was a distinguished Igbo man that would always be favoured by history, following his selfless services to mankind and development of the count r y . Ojukwu, would be honoured alongside Chief Innocent Chukwuma of Innoson Nigeria limited, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija and Mr Samuel Onyishi, who would be conferred with Doctor of Business Administration of the university. Okolo, whose five-year tenure at the university ends in a few months, said that a total of 7,898 degrees and diplomas would be awarded, comprising 5121 first degrees/diplomas and 2,868 higher degrees.

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Oyewole identifies five challenges facing tertiary education ICE-CHANCELLOR of the V Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and President, Association of African Universities (AAU), Professor Olusola Oyewole, has identified five major problems facing higher education in the country. According to him, they include quality, learning methods, relevance of programmes, access and research quality. Speaking on the theme: Tertiary Education, Competiveness and Employability at the 20th Nigerian Economic Summit, held in Abuja recently, also argued that if the necessary machinery were put in place to address the five issues, remarkable progress would be recorded in the quality of academic programmes run by institutions of higher learning. He noted that having coordinated quality assurance in Africa for several years, he had discovered the urgent need for relevant stakeholders in education to address the key challenges, to attain what is desired. The AAU president charged education authorities to make learning a studentbased affair, as against the current practice, he noted, was skewed in favour of the teacher. Besides, he renewed his call for the conversion of polytechnics into technical universities as obtained in advanced nations like Germany. If this is done, he said, the disparity between the Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor’s degrees would have been addressed. Salient points discussed by participants at the Design Workshop IV, one of the parallel sessions at the summit, which was facilitated by the Managing Director, People Temp Limited, Mrs. Nike De Souza, centered on the need to, among others, review pedagogy, funding, employability of Nigerian graduates,

training and retraining of academics, and developing the institution-industry synergy through the setting up of an Industry Advisory Council. Declaring the summit open, President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by the Vice-President, Mohammed Sambo, challenged the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), to review the policy

foundation of Nigeria’s education sector developed in 1969 to meet current realities. The President said: “More than 40 years after, this policy foundation is ripe for review, to determine its relevance and fine tune its adaptability to national objectives, in this 21st Century.” Supervising Minister for Education, Nyesom Wike, stated that the Federal

Government had invested N144.7 billion in basic education between 2009 and 2013. He said the money was given as grants to states, to assist them in funding basic education. He also said that through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the sum of N268.484bn was allocated to the universities, of which N233.33billion had been accessed, while the balance

of N35.154billion was not accessed. In addition, the minister said a total of N94.129 billion was released to Federal Universities, through the National Universities Commission (NUC) for capital projects, direct teaching and laboratory cost, and teaching/research equipment. Earlier, the Director-General of NESG, Frank Nweke (Jnr),

stated that the decision to hold the summit on education was taken to redress the decline in the sector, being critical to economic development. “The Nigerian education sector is in dire straits and requires the intervention of both public and private stakeholders, if it is to fulfill its function of preparing Nigeria to compete in the global economy,” he said.

Port Harcourt World Book Capital to gulp about N400m From Ann Godwin, Port Harcourt HE Port Harcourt World Book Capital Initiative 2014, billed to commence next month is expected to gulp about N400m, so says the project director and founder of the Rainbow Book Club, Koko Kalango. Kalango while briefing journalists on the highlights of

the event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State recently, however, stated that the amount was the initial estimate for the project, adding that state is partnering with different sectors to make the programme a success, hence it would be difficult to give the exact estimate of what the project would gulp. She said, “The Port

Harcourt World Book Initiative 2014 would foster investment in education and human capital. Investing in the wealth of knowledge of young people will undoubtedly inspire changes in other sectors and help to achieve the ideals of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. It is a programme

that will make Nigeria p r o u d . ” She disclosed that the current World Book CapitalBangkok would formally hand over to Port Harcourt on April 23rd, a day set aside to mark the 2014 UN World Book and Copyright Day. This according to her would be followed by a weeklong opening ceremony, which is

eStaff of Skye Bank listening to one of the participants at the 7th American University of Nigeria (AUN) Career Fair for students and alumni, which took place at the Yar’ Adua International Centre, Abuja last week

expected to feature a reading by President Goodluck Jonathan, an international literature exhibition, celebrities reading to children, opening of the Port Harcourt World Book Centre among others. The event, which Kalango affirmed would affect the lives of people positively, is also expected to witness activities for a year, among which will be a reading tree, where primary school pupils from 50 schools would participate and would be graded on a weekly basis. She explained, “The reading tree comprises carefully selected books ranging from timeless classics to African folk tales. As children ascend the reading tree, they will be rewarded and weekly book clubs will run alongside to compliment the reading t r e e . ” Kalango also disclosed that there would be essay competitions, library support and community development programmes, reality television shows amongst others. To sustain the programme, Kalango said, trainings would take place for knowledge transfer and capacity building. It is planned that the programmes that run in the World Book Capital year will not just continue, but multiply after the project is decommissioned. In addition, documentation to run these programmes will be created for sustainability,” she noted.

Students, alumni interface with potential employers at AUN career fair From Kanayo Umeh, Abuja ECOND to final year students SAmerican as well as alumni of the University of Nigeria (AUN), last week had the opportunity to test their preparedness for the labour market as well as sound out their potential employers at the 7th AUN Annual Career Fair, which was at the behest of the institution. This edition of the fair, just as the previous ones presented a unique networking opportunity for both potential employees and employers to interface. While some graduating students also explored job opportunities, others sought internship openings/platforms, which would enable them gain requisite experience for future jobs. About 40 top-notch firms, including multinational companies and industry leaders graced the career fair, an initiative of the Adamawa-based institution, which is largely believed to be the first of its kind among all institutions of higher learning in the country. Firms that took up stands at the fair included Price WaterhouseCoopers, Airtel, Exxon Mobil, Egypt Air, British American Tobacco, Main One,

and Nadabo Energy. Others are L5lab, Nigeria Bottling Company, Education USA, General Electric International, Richfield Technologies Ltd, Voice of Nigeria, Teasy Mobile, the American University of Nigeria HR and Graduate School teams, Red Star Express, Nigerian Television Authority, Jumia, and Berger Paints. Apart from these firms, others that fielded representatives are Sci-fie Ltd, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Stallion Group, Newage Network, KISS FM, APTECH Computer, Skye Bank, Yola Electricity Distribution Company, PZ Cussons, Nestle, and Quanteq, while organisations that conducted aptitude tests at the fair included Dangote Cement, McKinsey & Company Procter & Gamble, NIPCO, KPMG, Deloitte, Intels (Nigeria) Ltd, and Leadership Newspapers. At the fair, industry big wigs, specifically human resources experts gave the attendees an overview of human resources demands/expectations, updates as well as entry requirements and career prospects. Among other objectives, the fair was arranged not only to

connect top talents with great employers, but also to provide a great opportunity for students and alumni to learn about job openings, research companies and practice their interviewing and networking skills. Participants also got a few tips from career coaching professionals as well as some tips on drafting résumés. Another distinguishing feature of this year’s fair was the inclusion of an alumni-networking reception, which brought together all participants to socialise in a more relaxed setting. This particular exercise was the brainchild of the AUN Alumni Association led by Verse Shom, class speaker of the university’s pioneer students and current Associate Director of Admissions. About 100 alumni association members attended the first day of the fair and dominated the day of tests. According to Coordinator of AUN’s Career Services, Ms. Grace Nwokoma, the annual career fair is an opportunity for AUN students to interact with potential employers, build a network with HR Executives, and learn new tips about the career world.

“The career fair is a platform for students and alumni association members to connect with companies, business leaders, government agencies, captains of industry, and diplomatic missions throughout the country to explore internship and employment opportunities,” she stated. Nwokoma who explained that some of the companies present at the fair have in the past employed AUN’s graduates, stressed that they (firms) were invited to participate based on courses the institution offers and the organisations that are related to such courses. “We organise this because we want to give companies the quality products that they want and that is what we stand for. So far, we have over three hundred students that have been able to secure various jobs through this fair. Most of the companies you see here have hired them. They are working with Skye Bank, McKinsey, General Electric among others,” she said. She revealed that career advisors in the school ensured that students successfully bridge the transition from university life to work life through equipping them with career guid-

ance, interview tactics, job search skills, marketplace readiness preparation, and a network of employment opportunities. In his remarks, AUN’s assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Mr. Reginald Braggs said that the fair provides an excellent platform for AUN students to network with industry leading employers and successfully secure internships, parttime, and full-time employment opportunities. He explained that firms that attend the fair use the opportunity to interview students, select the best out of them and offer them employment at the end of their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. His words: “This career fair is to bring national and international firms together under one roof for the benefit of our alumni and our current students so that they can they get to know each other. “It also serve as an opportunity for our students to know what it feels like to face a job interview panel, to present themselves in front of companies and also to pursue a career with them in future,” he stated.

Braggs, however, advised other universities in the country to borrow a leaf from his school in this regard even as he said the AUN was willing to give assistance to schools that would want to tow the line. Maryam Abu, a 300 level student of the institution, who also participated at the fair, described it as “an eye opener for us students and other potential employees. The university has therefore done well by organising the event and should be encouraged. Also speaking at the event, Head of Human Resources Department, Nestle Nigeria PLC, Mrs. Marie Awoniyi, noted that the organisation has given job-shadowing opportunities to students of the institution over the years. “We have on two separate occasions provided opportunities on job shadowing…For us it is an opportunity for to brand ourselves as employers; it is part of our employer branding to register ourselves in the minds of to be employees even while they are in school and we give them opportunities to ask us questions that relate to how they package themselves for the labour market.

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Educationists, others deplore child abuse in Nigerian homes, school system By Ujunwa Atuey empowerment SwithOCIAL advocate and researcher the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Mr. Taiwo Akinlami, says the constant abuse of children in the Nigerian homes and the school system remains a major and disturbing setback in child protection efforts. This was as other key stakeholders in the society deplored the different variants of abuses that children have been subjected in daily life; a development they chorused was against the dictate and spirit of the Child Rights Act. The stakeholders spoke at

the 2014 yearly conference of the Association of International School Educators of Nigeria (AISEN), which had as its theme “Child Protection: Securing our Children in a Changing World.” In his 16-page submission, which dealt extensively on “The Law and the Culture of Child Protection”, Akinlami submitted that abuses within the Nigerian school system was a major and disturbing trend in child protection efforts as the world over, children were mostly and likely abused and molested by those, who are closest to them and who also claim to protect them and not by strangers as

most people erroneously believe. The culprits in this scenario he said include primary care givers like parents and guardians as well as secondary care givers like nannies, teachers and others. “Child protection is today a global trend within and outside the school system. It is therefore our professional belief that for today’s teachers and others working directly or indirectly with children to achieve effective service delivery, understanding child protection must become a core and inevitable skill.” he, therefore concluded that in the

face of the present scenario, it will be unethical to hand over children to teachers and other school workers who lack knowledge of child protection. A recent survey conducted by the United Nations (UN) on the state of the world children sadly reveals that never in the history of our world have children been subjected to the kind of siege and abuses that they are today. The UN survey further exposed a shocking picture of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse that they have got to contend with in every corner of the world. Chief Executive Officer of Grange Education Limited,

Mr. Graham Stothard, who is also the conference chairman, regretted the weakness of child protection services in Nigeria, adding that such a critical issue requires the enforcement of relevant legislative and policy frameworks. “Nigerian government has not done well in terms of child protection, in developed countries, this is a major issue, but here in Nigeria is not so.” he therefore advised government and all stakeholders to identify areas of assistance and liaise with international agencies; learn from developed countries’ experiences and build a child-sensitive social protection system. AISEN President and Administrator, Greenwood house School, Mrs. Ekuah Abudu, stressed that the ever-increasing abuse and maltreatment in most Nigerian homes, schools and streets necessitated the association’s resolve to raise awareness and

increase knowledge on child protection. She expressed worries that Nigerian children were exposed to unnecessary hardships even as their abuse is in the hands of people who are supposed to be protecting them. her words: “In Nigeria, we have of recent witnessed all forms of atrocities, the worst being the merciless and needless massacre of innocent school children. Child labour is rife and we have millions, mostly girls as domestic maids. Then talk of child trafficking, child marriage, genital mutilation, kidnapping, sexual abuse and exploitation at the hands of family and caregivers. It is our intention to work with government to create a proper multi agency network of child protection services involving police, hospitals, schools and social welfare organisations. Nigerian children must be protected from all kinds of violence and abus-

Bauchi agency earmarks N100m for payment of newly recruited teachers From Ali Garba, Bauchi hE Executive Chairman, T Bauchi State Agency for Nomadic Education, Alhaji

Managing Director of MAD Science Nigeria, Mrs. Ify Igbokwe (left); MAD Science Nigeria Project Manager, Mr. Bakare Olufemi, JSSI students of Christ Redeemer’s College, Shagamu, Ogun State, Ayo Faseru and Ayodeji Oso, during the inspection of science exhibition projects by judges at the celebration of Redeemer’s Day Camp in Ogun State…recently

COhEADS lament poor funding of technical, vocational education From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka O fewer than 50 heads of N Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology (COhEADS) from across the country gathered at the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State Tuesday to seek ways of developing technical education. Addressing the rectors and provosts during their 127th meeting of the body at the school’s auditorium, the Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Prof. Godwin Onu, said that the 4-day conference offers them an opportunity to brainstorm and tackle the challenges facing technical and vocational education in the country as well as look into ways of funding the education sector among other things.

he also stated that the meeting of the school heads would look into and find solutions to the perennial strikes in polytechnics, just as he called on concerned authorities to work together and seek ways of curbing such occurrences in the future. Prof. Onu commended President Goodluck Jonathan, the supervising Minister of Education, Nyesome Wike and the Anambra State government for their efforts in funding technical education, especially providing infrastructures and facilities in the various institutions. In his speech, chairman of COhEADS, Dr. Kabiri Matazu who noted that technical education provides middle level manpower, skills and knowledge required for the devel-

opment of Nigeria, lamented that governments at both the state and federal levels have not done much in the area of funding technical and vocational education. Matazu regretted that the on-going strike by the ASUP had adversely affected students’ education, calling on the Federal Government to intervene in order to save the situation. Said he, “The leadership of ASUP and the Federal Government should see reasons to end the crisis. The negotiators should look at the positions and arrive at a compromise. The federal authority should also look into the barriers affecting the country’s education structure, especially the dichotomy in the tertiary education.

According to the COhEAD chairman, governments should ensure that technical and vocational education received the required attention in Nigeria, even as he urged the new administration in Anambra to intervene in the crisis to enable normal academic activities return to the polytechnics. Also speaking, Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano charged the rectors to discuss and tackle problems plaguing education with a view to proffering solutions that would help move the sector forward. “It is a major concern that endless industrial actions have adversely disrupted academic calendar in the tertiary institutions… and discouraged serious scholarship among the students.

Umaru Mustapha says the sum of N100m has been earmarked to service 465 newly recruited teachers by the agency. Briefing newsmen in his office recently, Mustapha said that the agency has also purchased and supplied furniture and sporting equipment worth N15m to 254 nomadic schools across the state. he explained that following government’s directive on the recruitment exercise, teachers were employed within their communities to solve the problem of accommodation and where none could be found, in the communities, the nearest

‘Shun cultism, save your future’ From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu EWLY admitted students N of the Federal Co-operative College, Oji River and African Thinkers College of Education all in Enugu state have been warned to shun cultism and other acts capable of ruining their future. Speaking differently during the matriculation exercises of the schools, their provosts made it clear that the institu-

At Redeemer’s Day, schools administrators urged to expose students to ICT early By Joseph Okoghenun S over 115 nursery, priA mary and secondary schools under the management of Christ Redeemer’s School Management (CRSM) marked 15th Redeemer’s Day in Ogun State, teachers and schools’ administrators of primary and secondary schools have been urged to expose school-age children to information communication technology (ICT) at early age. Computer Science Lecturer

at The Redeemer’s University, Mr. Adewale Ogunde, who gave the advice during the celebration, explained that introduction students to ICT at early age would empower school- aged children to gain the confidence and expertise needed to survive in an IT-driven world. Ogunde, who was one of the judges in the ICT competition during the day, said: “The foundation is very important. When we start from primary and secondary schools to expose

pupils and students to the use of ICT, when they get into higher institutions, they would not have any challenge keying into the larger world. Without IT, we cannot achieve anything today. For instance, the worldwide web (www)the internet- is where most students will get information; teachers cannot teach everything in the class.” The Redeemer’s Day is a day set outside by all primary and secondary schools under the

CRSM/Redeemer’s Christian Church of God to celebrate the founding of the schools. head of Organising Committee for Art and Science, Mrs.Olufunke AyinOluwa, said: “It is a day we remember our redeemer.” At this year’s celebration, several students across the federation exhibited great talents in arts, ICT, sports and science at the event that was marked with great speeches, exhibitions, sporting events, music and fun. The theme of this

villages were resorted to. Mustapha, who lamented that the nomadic system of education was facing the challenge of inadequate qualified teachers due to the fact that only those with National Certificate of Education were qualified to teach in primary schools, also informed that the agency has constructed four blocks of classroom in Kwanan Maje, Toro LGA, Wuro Bodi Tafawa Balewa, Yalwan Darazo Alkaleri and Rugam Kusada Bauchi LGA at the cost of N16m. The agency boss who noted that some of the nomadic schools were still quartered in temporary huts due to the pupils lifestyle said, “we are still facing some challenges due to lack of accessibility and migratory nature of the nomads.”

year’s celebration is “ Overflowing Wisdom.” Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, who was represented by Mrs. Ogungbe Titilayo, praised the high level of talents displayed by the students from the various schools. CRSM Chairperson, Mrs. Folu Adeboye, commended the students for their great performance. She advised them to be obedient to their parents and be hard working in their academic endeavours.

tions abhor cultism and would not only expel those that engaged in them, but hand them over to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution. Executive Director of the African Thinkers College of Education, Mr. Chinedu Ani said: “It is important for you to note that our institution has zero tolerance for cultism and other social ills that bedevil our tertiary institutions today. You must learn to hate academic malpractices of any kind because such acts ultimately lead to destruction. You will soon discover that our institution is not a place where students while away time with the hope of ‘sorting out’ examination marks at the end.” he stated that the institution founded since 2003, has produced graduates who have helped filled the yawning gap in the manpower needs of the country, urging the new students to embrace the opportunity offered them by the school to better their future.

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For The Record Affluent society: Can Africa make it? (3) 66th Inaugural Lecture delivered by Prof. Sheriffdeen Adewale Tella on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State

The story of Africa within the world cannot be complete without investigating the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs are United Nationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; facilitated development goals that were established at its Millennium Summit in 2000. The Goals, which were adopted as United Nations Millennium Declaration by 189 member countries and a number of international organisations are eight, namely:

Continued from yesterday The high population growth in the low income countries should not be surprising because these countries lack infrastructural facilities, especially in the areas of education, health and power. Lack of educational facilities and therefore low proportion of children going to school will result in early marriage and hence child bearing. The need for more labour on the farms, since most poor people depend on land and agriculture, encourage polygamy and invariably high population growth. Also, lack of health facilities which result in high death rate and the survival instinct combine to encourage procreation. Also, Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest life expectancy at birth with 53 years and 55 years respectively for males and females as compared to figures for East Asia and Pacific (71 and 75) and South Asia (64 and 66). Given the size of Africa in the low income group, its precarious life expectancy situation is reflected in the low figures for low income countries. Figures 12 and 13 are the pictorial view of the population growth situation. Sub-Saharan Africa leads all the way.

Figure 12: Population growth rate by region

Figure 13: Composition of Population below 15 Years by Region Finally, adult literacy level is lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa with average at 62 per cent of the population as against 98 per cent in Europe & Central Asia and 99 per cent in high income countries. Figure 12 shows the population growth rate by regions and figure 13 represents age composition across regions while figure 14 exhibits the adult literacy level across regions. Africa presents the lowest bar. Studies have shown that countries with poor health status and low literacy level are prone to low life expectancy and this is reflected in Figure 15 where the bars for male and females in Africa are the lowest.

Figure 14: Literacy level across region

Fig.15: Life Expectancy by Region (2011)

Eradication of extreme hunger and poverty; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality and empowering women; reducing child mortality rate; improving maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;

Prof. Tella

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Affluent society: Can Africa make it? (3) Continued from Page 49 ensuring environmental sustainability; and, developing a global partnership for development.

recorded for maternal mortality (500/10,000) which is highest, also highest is HIV prevalence and lowest access to improved sanitation facilities.

These eight goals have 21 targets and measurable indicators (economic and social) for each target (Wikipedia, 2010).

Figure 19 represents the availability of improved sanitation and it shows that while other regions are improving in this area, the sub-Saharan Africa’s condition remained precarious.

Table 21 provides an insight into the situation on ground at the specified period by region. Information on some aspects of the MDGs has been provided in the previous tables and graphs, e.g. education and life expectancy. Table 21 is more concerned about the health status which forms a large proportion of the goals. Table 21: Millennium Development Goals Achievements for Various Regions, (various years) Country Malnutrition % of children under age 5 (2011) Under 5 Mortality per 1,000 Maternal mortality 10,000 live birth HIV Prevalence % of pop. Ages 15-49 Access to improved sanitation facility (% of pop.) Height for age Weight for age 2009 2011 2010 2009 2009 2010 East Asia Pacific n.a n.a 22.19 20.93 78.29 na 89.93 90.78 Europe & Central Asia n.a n.a 14.37 13.19 20.64 0.28 87.8 88.0 LAC 11.75 3.07 21.1 19.1 80.5 0.403 93.6 94.2 MENA n.a n.a 31.6 29.5 73.7 n.a 88.7 88.9 South Asia 39.02 33.2 66.2 62.1 220 0.26* 37.09 38.2 SSA 39.56 21.41 116.3 108.6 500 5.01 30.4 30.7 High Income 3.52 1.72 6.2 5.9 13.7 0.37 99.4 99.4 Middle Income 25.2 16.02 49.7 46.3 190 n.a 89.1 89.9 Low Income 38.4 22.6 101.1 94.9 410 2.45 36.0 36.6 World 25.7 15.7 54.8 51.4 210 0.993* 62.1 62.5

Fig, 16: Under 5 Mortality per 1,000 in 2011

The foregoing scenario has demonstrated that the countries in Africa are far behind other countries in almost all variables that represent good living conditions or affluence while they are enmeshed in everything that connotes poverty. The discussion from Section 2 relating to the affluent society up to Section 5 showing the precarious conditions in Africa bring out clearly the factors that encourage and promote affluence as:

Source: World Development Indicator 2012; Note: LAC – Latin American and Caribbean; MENA – Middle East and North Africa; SSA – Sub-Saharan Africa * denotes 2008 figures. The table shows that level of malnutrition of children under age five is highest in South Asia in terms of weight for age (33.2%) but highest in SSA in terms of height for age (39.56%). This is not surprising given the social conditions in the member countries of the two regions. The regions are dominated by low income countries. The incidence of malnutrition is very negligible or non-existent in most of the high income countries. Sub-Saharan Africa is responsible for high under-five year mortality rate of 120 per 1,000 birth for the low income countries as the region has the highest mortality rate. The same worst scenario is

Figure 19: Access to improved sanitation in 2010

Figure 17: Maternal Mortality Rate per 10,000 birth in 2010 Figures 13-15 below present the pictorial view of the perilous situation of Sub-Saharan Africa among the regions of the world. Figure 13 shows how SSA beats other regions in high level of infant and maternal mortality as well as HIV prevalence among youths.

Figure 18: HIV Prevalence in 2009 (Ages 15-49)

high level of industrial production and productivity high level of consumption of products from its domestic industries due to high disposable income export of industrial goods to other countries high level of saving and financial depth, and existence of highly skilled labour and high standard of living. On the other side of the divide, factors that promote underdevelopment and poverty include highly import dependent economies even for consumer goods low level of industrialization and predominantly primary products producer low level of saving and low financial depth low literacy level with high level of unskilled labour High infant and maternal mortality rates rapid population growth with highly unhygienic living conditions.

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MarketReport EQUITY MARKET SUMMARY

AS AT 26=03=2014

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MARKET INDICATORS

AS AT 26=03=2014

PRIMERA AFRICA

NSE to rank among top 20 global bourses, says SEC By Helen Oji HE Securities and T Exchange Commission (SEC) has expressed its resolve to build a world-class market that would rank among the top 20 markets of the world in the next 10 years. Addressing capital market community at the first quarter Post-Centenary CMC media briefing in Lagos yesterday, the Director-General of the SEC, Ms Arunma Oteh explained that the commission is already strengthening its regulatory framework, especially in the areas of overlap to hit the target. Aside regulation, she explained that the commission would also review transaction costs and benchmark it with other Exchanges of the world. She added that the Commission has employed the services of professionals to look at transaction costs in other jurisdictions Oteh, at a recent forum in Lagos, disclosed that SEC is working with the etock Exchange along with the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) to sponsor the transaction cost analysis. “This is because the issue around cost of transaction in Nigeria is an issue that we have heard about and I think it is important that we have the exact data”, she said. According to her when the volumes of transactions go up, the brokers and other participants would be more inclined to reducing cost. In the last six years, the SEC has reduced cost of transactions twice. Oteh, said the transaction

cost analysis would be concluded very soon and there would be more flexibility. What we say to the market is that if the costs are down, the volume will go up. So, I think it is an evolutionary process and sometimes I think liquidity is what really reflects in our market. With the introduction of market making, we have a 20 per cent increase in terms of daily trading volume, but it is nothing compared to where it should be. “On the area of efficiency, we are looking at our market being efficient. We have to look at our market to see that dual listing can be done any where in the world, you can list a company today and also list in other countries. We are also looking at creating other products because we can not achieve our target without creating new products that would deepen the market and enhance diversification of portfolio.” Oteh, however, identified its major challenge as shallow understanding of the market by policy makers in terms of value of the capital market. “The market must reflect the economy and the companies must understand the importance of capital market. We believe that Nigerians want us to participate in the wealth of these telecom, power companies and it is only the stock market that can enable us to do that. “ We would keep upgrading our skills to be the best. We have been able to weather the storm of the global financial crises and the best is yet to happen for our market and Nigeria.”

Dangote Cement records N190.8b gross profit, pays N7 dividend ANGOTE Cement Plc D posted a profit before tax of N190.8 billion in its operations last year,representing 40.6 per cent rise over its achievement in the previous year. The audited results of the company announced in Lagos yesterday, consolidated revenue also grew to 386.2billion, representing an increase of 29.4 per cent over the 2012 figure.. Dangote Cement attributed the increased sales volume to its direct-to-customer deliveries strategy and described it as proving highly successful, accounting for more than 50 per cent of sales, with its Obajana plant sales volumes up by 37.2 per cent,while that of Ibese plant rose by 40.4 per cent. Consequently, the company recommended a dividend increase of N7.0 per ordinary share as against N3 paid out in 2012, an increase of 133 per cent. Dangote Cement Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Devakumar Edwin expressed satisfaction at the performance of the company, saying the impressive run was as a result strategies deployed against the prevailing economic situation. He said: “Dangote Cement

made excellent progress in 2013. As the Nigerian cement market grew by a strong 15.6 per cent, we managed even better growth of 28.2 per cent, with our revenues increasing by 29.4 per cent to 386.2billion. Our directdelivery strategy is proving very popular with customers and I am pleased to report that direct-to-customer deliveries now account for more than half of our sales. “We increased our margins despite continuing disruption to our gas supply and believe that the gas distribution infrastructure will be more robust in 2014, enabling us to improve our margins even further. At the same time we are looking at ways to diversify our fuel supplies to mitigate the impact of any future disruption and reduce the cost of using alternative fuels to gas. “Our financial strength has allowed us to increase our dividend by 133 per cent to 7.0 per share and the coming year will see our new factories opening across Africa as we begin to deliver on our promise to become Africa’s leading cement producer, generating strong and sustainable returns for our shareholders.”

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Thursday, March 27, 2014 NEWS EXTRA

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Oyebola warns against fuel price increase ENOWNED author, pubR lisher and founder of the Movement for Nigeria’s Transformation Total (MNTT), Chief Areoye Oyebola, has described as “callous and insensitive” the N97 Nigerians’ pay for a litre of petrol, which he said, is from twice to 10 times the prices paid by nationals of seven other member-countries of the Organisation of Petroleum Countries Exporting (OPEC). In a statement yesterday, Oyebola warned leaders that any increase in the price of a litre of petrol would provoke the anger of every Nigerian. Giving details as obtained on-line of the price of petrol in Nigeria vis-à-vis other OPEC countries, Oyebola noted that in Venezuela, it is N8.21k; Libya N24.62k; Saudi Arabia N31.8k; Kuwait N34.54k; Qatar N34.54k; United Arab Emirates N54.40k; Iran N57.44k pay Nigerians while N97.00k. The statement continued: “To confirm the absurdity and the gross unfairness to Nigerians of any increase in the price of a litre of petrol, the minimum wage in the following OPED countries are as follows: United Arab Emirates N217.36; Kuwait N161.461; Saudi Arabia N99.237; Venezuela NN95.839; and Iran NN86.585”, which are four to 12 times the N18.000 minimum wage in

Govt trains personnel for nuclear power project From Emeka Anuforo Abuja S part of the capacity A building process towards Nigeria’s generation of power from nuclear sources, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) yesterday commenced the training of another batch of experts at the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) in areas of nuclear safety. Nigeria’s first nuclear power generation unit is expected to be around 1200 megawatts and originally scheduled to come on stream in 2020. Nuclear technology is also projected to contribute at least 4,000MW to the total national electricity supply by 2030. The training, according to Nuclear safety specialist at IAEA and team leader of the trainers at the programme, Abida Khatoon, NNRA was running a project with the IAEA to provide basic professional training, especially in the area of nuclear power programme. She said: “It will be used by the staff to work progressively in other areas. So, we provide this basic professional training to a number of countries, which are embarking on nuclear power programme.”

INTERPOL arrest forgery syndicate, pipeline vandals From Karls Tsokar Abuja HE International Police T Organisation (INTERPOL), section of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), has arrested seven members of a certificate forgery syndicate, even as two severely burnt oil pipeline vandals were paraded before the media. Parading five of the suspected expert forgers yesterday in Abuja, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba, said the syndicate has its operational base at the UTC Shopping Complex, Area 10, Garki Abuja, and “specialises in forging documents such as WAEC certificates, university degrees, NYSC discharge

certificates, assorted land documents, certificates of incorporation.” “It also engages in the falsification of travel documents and drivers’ licences, among others, for a fee ranging from N5,000 to N30,000, depending on the socio-economic status of their clients or the urgency of the transaction”, he said. The paraded suspects, Abdulazeez Sadiq, 27 years old, who was a fuel clerk with the Abuja Municipal Area Council Mass Transit, is said to be the brain behind the printing of bus tickets for the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company, through Emeka Chukwu, who is a graphics specialist that has so far printed “2,

000 copies, but has given out 500 copies successfully at the cost of N100 per copy.” Also, Chibueze Ugorji, who is also a graphic specialist, said he has only forged “one degree certificate and one NYSC discharge certificate at the cost of N2,000 each,” because he needed the money to pay for rent and other things. Mba said the INTERPOL had gone undercover pretending to be prospective clients before they were arrested, adding that the suspects have already made useful statements and would soon be charged to court. According to the police, exhibits recovered from the suspects included

forged copies of Corporate Affairs Commission documents, land documents of AMAC, University of Abuja degree and official stamp and electronic equipment they used. Meanwhile, the paraded vandals who were caught on March 20 with various degree of burns as a result of the explosion that occurred after a fire sparked off from the burst pipelines, were scooping fuel for resale. According to Mba, Soji Omono, 40 and Rotana Ifeanyi, with others, went to Imagbon Waters near Ilara in Ogun State and vandalised the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines, but luck ran out

of them as the product went into flames. They escaped with serious injuries and went to a hideout where they were being treated secretly. “The Anti-Pipeline Vandalisation Squad traced them and with the co-operation of the people of the community, caught them. They are still being treated in our custody and are getting better, after which they will be charged to court”, Mba said. One of the suspects, badly burnt, confessed that he is a “puller”, but this is “only my second time of doing this. But with this fire, I swear, I will never go there again. We are many, but I don’t know their names.”

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SPECIAL REPORT ON OUTSTANDING ROLE MODELS IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR Education is a bedrock to the top in the society HE role of education in the social, economic and poT litical development of any nation cannot be over-emphasised. Education is therefore regarded as the best and most enduring legacy that can be bequeathed to a child is a common saying which underscores the importance of education in human capital development and societal growth. There is no country that can develop without well educated and highly skilled people who are primed to innovate, add value and create wealth. The last 100 years of Nigerian nationhood has witnessed an unprecedented increase in the number of schools. Public education system in the country has suffered serious neglect under different government in the last few decades. With unemployment, poverty and questionable leadership, there is a growing tendency that only increased private sector participation could save education from continuous decline. However, there has been an increase in the number of notable Nigerians who responded to the call for private

Mathematics is a key role in the development of a child –Says Osewa R. Samson Yomi Osewa is a pharmacist and a seaM soned marriage counselor. He is the CEO/Principal Trainer and Consultant of the Ambassadors Pharmaceutical Consultants Ltd., which provides cGMP training and consultancy to a fast growing clientele, including pharmaceutical companies in and outside Nigeria, government health departments and regulatory bodies in and outside Nigeria. Since 1998, he has served as the Founder and Chairman of The Ambassadors Schools, a co-educational nursery, primary and secondary school, with special focus on making a total child out of every pupil and students in Ota, Ogun State and even Nigeria. In an exclusive interview with Osewa, he revealed how the dream of The Ambassadors schools came to reality; “From the onset, God gave our family a vision to start a training institution for young people and we were able to start The Ambassadors Nursery & Primary School in 1998 and The Ambassadors College in 2003. We believed everything God has hands in is the ultimate way to go. At the beginning, we faced financial challenges and I had to use my salary to pay the teachers while working at the Pharmaceutical Industry. When the school started in September, 1998, we had 17 students, but by the end of the year, the number increased to about 110 and by the end of the second year, we had about 240. Then, the challenges came; we thought we could use the place we rented for years, but after two years, it was filled up and we had to move to another place. The issue became how to get where to move to, so I spoke to one of my friends, who introduced us to a bank to borrow money. The first money we borrowed was small from a financial institution in Aromire area of Ikeja, Lagos. We later increased our borrowing to substantial amount and it was with it that we built the primary school before we approached the commercial banks for more money. To the glory of God, we have paid all the money we borrowed as at when due and this is our testimony for which we thank the Almighty God”. I worked as a production pharmacist and rose to the position of Deputy Managing Director of Nigerian-German Chemicals before retiring in 2008. God has been helping us since then to contribute our quota to the education sector. As a pharmacist, God just said we would be teachers of men, so at the beginning, we thought it was the marriage counseling we were doing that God was talking about, but God said we should train both young and old people. We had to go through some sort of learning. The first was to engage experienced people- teachers. We were holding meetings every two weeks on what parents, children and teachers want in a good school. We wanted to know what children want in a good school and which kind of teachers could run a good school? We visited many of the schools we knew that were running well and that fit into our vision of making a total child. My wife attended a Montessori course and other similar courses before and after the school started. By the virtue of my position in the company, I had learnt a lot about running a business and it was the same experience that we found useful in running the schools. In our schools, what makes us unique is the fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom, and we learn from our

initiatives in the running of the nation’s education system. With the efforts of these outstanding role models in the education sector, private schools have absorbed a large chunk of young Nigerians whose parents have lost faith in the public education system who ordinarily would have sought for solutions to their education needs outside the shores of Nigeria. Today, private schools enjoy a respectable market share of students in the education sector. There is no doubt that the intervention of the private sector in the education system has provided a window of expanded access to many Nigerians who want to receive quality education. As the country marches towards being one of the world’s 20 leading economies by 2020, government should give priority to the sector so that the country can compete in the globalised world of the 21st century. The arrays of high profile personalities featured in this part who are role models in the sector cannot be exhausted in one series. And so we take off in this part with Mr. Samson Yomi Osewa.

Mr. Yomi Osewa Chairman, The Ambassadors Schools, Ota

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Mathematics is a key role in the development of a child –Says Osewa mistakes at the beginning. Of course, we didn’t know all, but we had an idea of where we were going. So, every year, we reviewed what happened and tried to learn. We know one of the things that help school today is the result of the products that come out of the school. That is where we work on the standards and morals. If you read our motto, we make a total child by looking at what makes a total child, in terms of character, Godliness and Academics. In Academics, all our excellent results achieved so far are quite authentic as we do not encourage examination malpractices. We do what lots of people would not normally do; we try to make scholarship activities to be very important in this school. We also run a lot of extra-curricular activities and participate in competitions, like Cowbell Mathematics competition in which our students won twice in Ogun State and came 3rd and 5th nationally among other results. We look at our results and challenge the students and today, we have a very good result. In the last two years, we have had 100 per cent good result. Last year alone, out of 71 students that sat for Mathematics, we had 65 distinctions and only six credits, and out of 65 distinctions, 40 were A1s and everybody had credit and above in English. We also ensure that our students have what it takes to enter and do well in the universities. Each year, over 90 per cent of our graduates gain admissions into the universities. We took care of their JAMB, coordinate post-JAMB and follow them to where they write the examinations because we are very concerned about the progress of our students after secondary school education.

We are therefore not surprised that our students are well respected in any university they find themselves. Also as an organization, we believe in giving back to the society hence we introduced and organize an annual mathematics competition for primary 5 and 6 pupils in Lagos and Ogun State which was flagged off in 2013 with a total participation of 116 schools and 360 pupils. The number of participation rose to 201 schools and 600 pupils in 2014. The competition tagged “The Ultimate Mathematics Ambassador” (TUMA) is aimed at eliminating mathematics phobia amongst pupils. During each year’s prize giving ceremony, we dole out lots of cash prizes and other gift items to the winners. Advising the Nigerian government and youths, regarding education, Government needs to play a fatherly role. The private schools are not even encouraged; no grants, lots of tax duplications, everybody wants to milk from whatever they think is being made from the private schools. Everything should be put in place to encourage banks to give soft loans to the people running schools, like they did for the music industries among others. There are lots of people who cannot register their schools, because of funds. Not everybody can get funds from the commercial banks because the interest rates are too high and the required collaterals are not in place. Many of the students now are unable to secure admission into the university, despite the rising number of tertiary institutions we have at the moment. Some private universities don’t have funds to develop their institutions. Only few of them developed it well, while the others are glorified secondary schools. So, what type of graduates will they produce? In term of human management, govern-

ment should be like the think-tank regarding training of personnel and school owners. Teachers today have to be re-trained. Government needs to do more of that in the public schools. Some of them are not even computer literate and the government is including ICT as a subject for even schools that cannot boast of a computer. How will they comply with the Nigeria vision 2020, a year where everything is supposed to become better. It is high time for the Nigerian youths to be focused on God. Today, we have a situation where nobody is catering for youths and except the youth moves closer to God, the future will not be certain.

God is the only answer to all problems, and they need lot of hardwork. To succeed in life, the bible says “The kingdom of God suffereth violence and violent taketh it by force” Matt 11:12 Among the challenges facing our school today are: Inadequate funds! We want to have a better school environment, we need land, we need to develop and put Olympic type of sports facilities. Good teachers are not readily available, so we have to train and re-train. Frequent inconsistent government policy is also a major challenge. It is our plan to consolidate what we have at present, to probably duplicate what we have here in some other places”.

From the left: Mr. IyanuOluwa Osewa, Director The Ambassadors Schools, Ota, Master Madumere Samuel, the Overall Winner of TUMA 2014, Mr. S.Y. Osewa, Chairman, The Ambassadors Schools, Ota, Mrs. V.O. Osewa, Proprietor, The Ambassadors Schools, Ota

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Sports Tottenham may get Onazi ahead of Liverpool NGLISH club, Tottenham E Hotspurs, are hopeful of beating Liverpool to the signing of exciting Lazio midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, at the end of the season, reports Metro.co.uk. The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the most exciting young players in Serie A, with a host of impressive performances, and Liverpool have been following his progress closely. Reports in Italy claim Brendan Rodgers has already made it clear to Lazio that he will make a bid for the Nigeria international in the summer, but Tottenham have now joined the race. Just days after Onazi confirmed his desire to play in England, it is thought that Spurs’ director of football, Franco Baldini, has made contact to discuss a move. A small, agile but hard-working player, Onazi is a true boxto-box midfielder with an eye for a goal, and Baldini is confident Tottenham could get him for about £8 million. Lazio are already resigned to losing their man – and will now hope for a bidding war to break out between Liverpool and Tottenham. In January, another English Premiership side, Everton,

was reported to have tendered a bid for Onazi. This Italian news outlet, La Gazzetta dello Sport, then said it remained uncertain how much the Toffees have tabled down for the Africa Cup of Nations title-winning player. Lazio president Claudio Lotito had earlier revealed that Onazi will not be leaving for a fee of less than €9m. Onazi has played 18 times for Nigeria scoring one goal. He is one of the main players expected to shine for the Super Eagles in Brazil this summer. In an interview early tis year, he said he was not bothered by the speculations linking him to clubs, adding that his priority was to do well for his club and help Nigeria to win the World Cup. At the World Cup, the African champions are pooled in the same group alongside Argentina, Iran and BosniaHerzegovina, and Onazi revealed via his twitter that “the very best performance is what I’d offer my country at the World Cup.” The former My People FC player refused to yield when asked if the Eagles could stop Argentina’s winning streak in Brazil. “Time will tell,” he said.

Onazi

Federation Cup: NFF hands FAs March 30 deadline for registration From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday disclosed that the preliminary matches of the 2014 edition of the Federation Cup will begin across the 36 states and the FCT on April 5, just as it has urged the state football associations to ensure that all the participating clubs

forwarded the licenses of their players and officials to the federation on or before March 30. According to the NFF competitions department, a fine of N300, 000 awaits any club that failed to complete its registration before the expiration of the March 30 deadline, noting that the draws for the national finals would be conducted

in Abuja on May 29. Also the NFF noted that the national round of 64 matches will begin at the various centers on July 2. The timetable released by the federation, which was signed by Ruth David of the NFF competitions department, shows that the quarterfinals would hold on July 23, with the semifinals coming up on July 30,

while the third place match and the final of this year’s competition has been scheduled for Sunday, August 3. Enyimba FC of Aba are the defending champions, having won the 2013 edition by defeating Delta State champions, Warri Wolves, in the national final at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Nigerian Sports Award holds Nov. 13 HE organizers of the T Nigerian Sports Award, Unmissable Incentives Limited, has announced that the third edition of the prestigious award will hold on Thursday, November 13, 2014 at the Muson Centre, Onikan Lagos. According to the General Manager, Unmissable Incentives Limited, Kayode Idowu, the 2014 edition of the award promises to be better than the two previous editions. Idowu noted that the 2014 award would be unprecedentedly and exceptionally exciting due to the fact that the year is a very busy sport-

ing year with the Nigerian teams participating in several sporting competitions, including Commonwealth Games, FIFA U-17 Women Football Championship and the Brazil 2014 World Cup taking place during the course of the year. “This year’s edition of the award is expected to be very interesting not only because it is the year of the World Cup, but also because of other competitions like the Commonwealth Games, the FIFA U-17 Women Football Championship and of course the performance of the Nigerian athletes in their respective clubs,” he said.

Zenith Basketball League: First Bank meets Dolphins By Adeyinka Adedipe HE best of basketball will be T on display today as former champions, First Bank takes on Group B top seed, Dolphins Basketball club in the Zenith Bank Women Basketball league at the sports hall of the National Stadium, Abuja. It is a grudge match considering that Dolphins shocked First Bank in last season’s semifinal and the Elephant girls (First Bank) would be hoping for a victory in the game. Both teams have five games apiece and a win for any of the teams, will put it in good position to emerge the group champions at the end of the

first leg. First Bank coach, Adewunmi Aderemi, yesterday described the match as a must win for his team if it hopes to reclaim the title it lost four season’s ago. Despite his team’s poor performance in the victory over Customs, Aderemi is sure his team will secure the two points in today’s game. “I have noticed some lapses in the team, but I have corrected it and with the form of the team, we can wrestle back the title by first getting the two points today and hoping for better results in our other games.”

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Ahead Niger 2015 CAF U-17 Championship

Golden Eaglets assemble in Abuja for final screening EW Under-17 national N football team (Golden Eaglets) coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, will today begin the final phase of the screening of new players that would defend the FIFA U-17 World Cup title won by the class of 2013 in the United Arab Emirates. According to the Golden Eaglets’ Media Officer, Morakinyo Abudunrin, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has finalized arrangement for the smooth take off of the usual grueling exercise at the practice pitch of the FIFA Goal Project Site. He said the team adminis-

trator, Tayo Egbaiyelo, has disclosed that the players would be called up in batches in order to create an enabling environment for the coaching crew to pick the best of the budding talents. According to Abudunrin, Coach Amuneke has combed the nooks and crannies of the country in the last one month to fish out some raw talents, adding that the first batch of 35 players were due in camp yesterday ahead the beginning of the screening today. “More than 4000 players

took part in similar exercise before the 2013 World Cupwinning team was assembled by coach Manu Garba, who was incidentally assisted by Amuneke,” he said. The NFF recently promoted Garba and Nduka Ugbade to the Under-20 team, while leaving behind the duo of Amuneke and Emeka Amadi (goalkeepers’ trainer) to tinker with the Under-17s. The 2015 CAF Under-17 Championship will be held in Niger. Golden Eaglets are already drawn bye into the second round of the Cadet Championship by CAF and would meet the winner of the first round tie between Burundi and Congo DR with the first leg scheduled to hold between July 18 and 20, while the reverse fixture will be held between August 1 and 3.

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc’s Deputy Managing Director Kennedy Uzoka (first left); Company Secretary, UBA Plc, Bili Odum (third left) and other professional and non-professional cyclists, including UBA staff, during the 20-kilometer ‘Cycling for Prostate Cancer’ organized by UBA Foundation to raise awareness on Prostate Cancer in Lagos… at the weekend.

Germany 2014 ITTF World Tour

Toriola, Quadri, Ajetunmobi in good start IGERIA’S Segun Toriola, N Aruna Quadri and Seun Ajetunmobi began their campaigns at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour, tagged, German Open, on a good note yesterday winning their first matches at the five-day championship. With over 290 players from 41 countries taking part in the championship holding in Magdeburg, Germany, Ajetunmobi inspired his compatriots early on when he

overcame homeboy – Germany’s Phillip Floritz in an explosive encounter that attracted the fans to table two. From the start of the match, the German was confident that he would have a good run against the Nigerian and he nearly succeeded as he won the first two matches at 11-8, 11-5. But Ajetunmobi fought back to level up at 11-9, 11-9. The German again restored the lead with 1-5 win, but the

Oyo educates clubs ahead 2014 Federation Cup Former Golden Eaglets’ star, Kelechi Iheanacho gets the better of a Mexican opponent during the final game of the UAE 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup. Screening of new players for the next national under-17 team begins… today.

South Africa, US pick Ultimate Commander for Mandela show HE United States Embassy August 9 and 16, while the T and the South Africa High Canada leg on August 23 will Commission have teamed up round off the programme. with heavyweight wrestler, Osita Offor, also known as De Ultimate Commander, in a championship aimed at sustaining the legend of the late African statesman, Nelson Mandela. Tagged the ‘Nelson Mandela Commonwealth Nations and America Unifying Championship, the event, which will hold in four countries, Nigeria, South Africa, the United States, Canada and Britain, will draw wrestlers from across the world. According to the organisers, the event will begin in the South African cities of Johannesburg and Durban on July 18 and 20 respectively, hold in Lagos (July 25), Abia (July 27) and two cities in Britain on August 1 and 3, 2014. On August 9 and 16, the championship will hold in the United States’ cities of Dallas and North Carolina on

The competition, a collaboration involving the British Wrestling Federation (BWF), Universal Promotional Wrestling Federation (UPWF), the Ultimate Wrestling and Charity Organisation (TUWCO) and Satellite television broadcaster, SuperSport (World of Champions), has as members of the local organizing committee such notable Nigerians as former inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro and a former Minister of Sports, Alex Akinyele, as well as Bishop Piet Mako of South Africa. According to a release made available to the media, the championship is aimed, among others, at immortalising former South African President, Nelson Mandela, a “man described by more than 90 world leaders as the greatest leader of all time, a man of peace and epitome of unity, born and raised in the African soil.

• 3SC, Crown join in round Of 16 O forestall the protests and T conflicts that always slowed down the state’s FA Cup, Oyo State Football Association has added a seminar to its annual Federation Cup to educate managers of participating clubs on the rules of the game and ways to a hitch-free competition. The seminar was held as part of the state’s FA Cup draws on Tuesday at the the Lekan Salami Stadium’ office of the Oyo FA, where Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan and Crown FC of Ogbomoso were seeded to join other 28 teams in the

round of 16 of the competition. Speaking after the draw, Oyo FA acting chairman, James Odeniran, said this year’s edition would witness a lot of new innovations geared towards adding more value and glamour to the annual soccer tourney. Odeniran added that all efforts made to get corporate sponsors to support this year’s edition is yet to yield fruit, but assured the teeming soccer fans of a befitting campaign courtesy of the state’s Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Umar Farouk Alao. .

resilient Ajetunmobi recovered to win the sixth game at 11-8. The Nigerian took the final game beyond his German opponent, who conceded defeat on 11-5. The second Nigerian in action on the day, Aruna was on easy lane as he whitewashed Italy’s Marco Rech Daldosso 13-11, 11-8, 11-3, 116, while like Ajetunmobi, Toriola did not have it easy against Russia’s Taras Merzlikin in a game he won by 15-13, 8-11, 9-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7. To be certain of playing in the main draw, Ajetunmobi will play his

last group match against Russia’s Alexey Liventsou, while Quadri will confront Japan’s Yuto Muramatsu today. Toriola will also battle Czech Republic’s Pavel Sirucek. In the women’s singles pairing, Olaide Atinuke has been drawn in Group 22 alongside Slovakia’s Barbora Balazova and Hungary’s Dora Madarasz, while Ganiat Olatunde-Aruna will tackle Spain’s Galia Dvorak and Russia’s Elena Troshneva. First runner up at the 2010 edition in Berlin, China’s Wang Hao, is the top seed in the men’s singles event at the tournament.

BOA Lawyers League Probitas/B. Ayorinde, Lagos Judiciary take top spots, as teams gear up for Week Four games HE combined might of T Probitas Partners and B. Ayorinde has proved too hot for teams in Group A to handle at the on-going Bankole Olumide Aluko Football Tournament, also known as Lawyers League, which enters its week four this weekend. Also proving a tough nut for its opponents to crack is the Lagos State Ministry of Justice in Group B, which like

Super Eagles’ former goalkeeper, Peter Rufai; Corporate Affairs Manager, Standard Chartered Bank, Dayo Aderugbo; Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Wahid Enitan Oshodi; Head, Corporate Affairs, Standard Chartered Bank, Diran Olojo; and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank, Bola Adesola; during the Standard Chartered Trophy - Road to Anfield 2014 competition at Astroturf 2000.

Probitas/B. Ayorinde in Group A has won two games out of three. At the Week Three matches decided at the Astroturf 2000 at the weekend, Probitas/B. Ayorinde was held to a 1-1 draw by the law firm of Olisa Agbakoba and Associates, while Group B leaders, Lagos state Ministry of Justice mauled Tayo Oyetibo by 5-1. Other results recorded at the weekend include the 3-3 recorded by the resurgent Babalakin & Co and Falana and Falana, while Tokunbo Orimobi beat the Law Crest by 2-0, just as Aelex defeated Aluko and Oyebode by a lone goal. This weekend at the lawyers’ Theatre of Dreams, Olisa Agbakoba will met with Babalakin, Tokunbo Orimobi will tackle Aelex, while Probitas/B. Ayorinde will entertain Banwo & Banwo. Also billed for this weekend are the games involving Aluko & Oyebode against Tayo Oyetibo; Falana & Falana versus Pinheiro and the encounter between The Law Crest and Lagos State Ministry of Justice.

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Flamingoes, now the real test * As team battles Spain for semifinal ticket By Gowon Akpodonor Nigeria U-17 Women FrealOR team, the Flamingoes, the campaign to rule the World for the first time in the history of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, has just started. Though, the team was able to top Group D after winning all three matches against China PR, Colombia and Mexico, the battle against Spain in the early hours of tomorrow is a task Coach Bala Nikyu and his girls must accomplish for them to enter history book. Nigeria has appeared in all past editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup without progressing beyond the quarterfinal stages. At the inaugural edition in New Zealand 2008, the Flamingoes, led by late Coach Felix Ibe-Ukwu could not make it beyond the group stage, despite winning their first match 2-1 against Korea Republic. The team with players likes Desire Okparanozie, Helen Ukaonu, Gloria Ofoegbu, Soo Adekwagh and Ebere Orji went down 0-1 to England and played 2-2 with Brazil to finish third in the group. At Trinidad and Tobago 2010, Nigeria was able to make it to the quarterfinal.

With Coach Peter Dedevbo in charge, the Flamingoes parading players like Francisca Ordega, Ngozi Okobi and Oluchi Ofoegbu won all three group matches, posting 3-2 victory against Korea DPR, 2-1 against the host country and 5-0 against Chile. But when it mattered most in the knockout stage, the Flamingoes were beating by Korea Republic in an 11goal thriller, which ended 6-5 on penalties after extra time. Dedevbo took charge again at the last edition in Azerbaijan 2012, and it was the same story as France eliminated Nigeria in the quarterfinal. Just like the current situation in Costa Rica, the Flamingoes parading players like Aminat Yakubu, Chidima Edeji, Ebere Okoye and Jiroro Idike topped Group A, after posting fantastic results, including 11-0 against the host country and 3-0 over Colombia. They drew their first game 1-1 with Canada. France sent them packing on 5-3 penalties on a day the Nigerians dominated play, but could not make good use of the numerous scoring chances that came their way. France could not make it to Costa Rica to defend their title, but Spain is boasting

The Flamingoes celebrate their 3-0 victory over Mexico. They will face Spain in a make or mar tie in the city of Liberia, Costa Rica in the early Photo: FIFA .com hours of tomorrow. that they have what it takes to take the cup back to Europe. Nigerians back home will have to wake up as early as 3.00 am tomorrow to watch Flamingoes battle against Spain in the city of Liberia in Costa Rica. The Flamingoes picked the World Cup ticket on a platter of gold following the withdrawal of their opponents, South Sudan. In absence of the qualifying series, the Bala Nikyu-piloted side started with a friendly in Abuja against the nation’s U20 side, the Falconets, which ended 1-1 draw while they also engaged local sides in friendlies.

The Flamingoes defeated Nasarawa Amazons 2-0 after their 1-2 earlier loss to the team in Lafia, while they also lost 1-3 to Rivers Angels in Port Harcourt and drew 1-1 with Delta Queens in Oleh to complete a four-match friendly. The Flamingoes later played international friendlies, spanking fellow World cup campaigners, the Black Maidens of Ghana 3-0 in Abuja and also won 2-1 in Accra in a reverse fixture before embarking on a 19day training tour of Portugal to fine-tune their strategies for the Mundial. During their training tour

in Faro, Portugal, the Flamingoes won all their build up games except a barren draw with Belgium Women’s U-17 team in Brussels. They had earlier defeated Portuguese U-14 side, CDR Quarteirense 3-1, Women’s club of Benfica 5-1 as well as Sporting Heuvla U17 women’s team. But all that victories in their build up matches and Group games in Costa Rica will count for nothing if they fail to conquer Spain in this quarterfinal match. Coach Bala said yesterday that he is setting his sights on breaking the quarterfinal jinx that has always dogged

the footsteps of the Flamingoes since the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup began. Interestingly, Aminat Yakubu, who scored the third goal against Mexico, was part of the team at the 2012 edition. The European team (Spain) was second in their group behind free scoring Japan. But to break the quarterfinal jinx looks like a big task for the girls, as Spain was ruthless in their last group game against Paraguay, winning 71. Ghana made it to the semifinal in 2012 and will be against another European side, Italy, in the quarterfinal

TheGuardian www.ngrguardiannews.com Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Stephen Kola Balogun NE of the most disturbing aspects of the O ongoing National Conference is the very manner in which it is constituted. The selection and composition of delegates to the conference makes one wonder whether there is some truth in the commonly expressed theory that Nigeria is afflicted with a national malaise so serious Please send reactions and feedback for YOUTH SPEAK to: that no amount of wise leadership can bring editorial@risenetworks.org and 07067976667- SMS ONLY the nation to its senses. I have never really found this argument convincing but even if it were true, I cannot accept that the only remedy on offer is to limit the democratic process and hand over our future and that of ours youths to un-elected delegates, many of whom have had their own fair crack of the whip. Democracy by essence means that the electorate can choose and remove their representatives. It does not mean that political leaders can take over power from the electorate either because they are disappointed or they lack condum. How much we miss the late legal lumifidence in the manner in which the electorate nary, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN). If he were may exercise responsibility for their own affairs. to be alive, he would surely have taken on the Power and responsibility must necessarily go Federal Government by taking them to court. together and it is my argument that if people According to foremost constitutional lawyer, are supposed to lack responsibility, it is because Prof. Ben Nwabueze (SAN) in his book: “The they have had too little power in the first place. Presidential Constitution of Nigeria”, a Perhaps the remedy lies in decentralising powConstitution is an act of the people if it is er by moving it down from those who wield it at made by them either directly in a referendum the top instead of shifting more of it to the top. or through a convention or constituent This, in many respects, has become the basic assembly popularly elected for this purpose, case for democracy in Nigeria today and it subject or not to formal ratification by the needs to be re-stated in our generation beginpeople in a referendum. ning during this period of the National This definition highlights yet another flaw in Conference. the National Conference. Apart from the fact The clamour for a National Conference stems that the delegates were not popularly elected, from the realisation that it is about time that how can the deliberations of the conference the people of this country took control of their ever be actualised or brought into effect? If own destiny and used the power of democracy for instance the delegates at the conference to resolve the many pressing problems that recommend that our system of government afflict their daily lives. The usurpation or denial should change from Presidential to of people’s rights in Nigeria has gone on for too Parliamentary or perhaps suggest that we long. The Independence Constitution was the begin to operate on a regional basis, can such product of the departing colonial authorities. fundamental changes ever be brought about The 1963 Republic Constitution was decided by a constitutional amendment? Surely our upon entirely by the Prime Minister and Constitution will have to be jettisoned if such Regional Premiers of the day who merely fundamental changes were to be brought amended the 1960 Constitution to make it conabout. form to Republican status. The 1966 coup It is for these reasons that the above issues usurped democracy by replacing it with miliare viewed by many as forbidden areas of tary rule. The 1979 Constitution was a missed debate at the National Conference. The opportunity for the people to adopt a National Assembly may be continually Constitution for themselves, when the empowered to amend the Constitution, but Obasanjo-led Military Administration amended does it possess the power to dispense with it? several aspects of the elected Constituent National Conference Chairman, In any case, would the National Assembly Assembly’s deliberations. Of course our existing Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi even agree to subject the ongoing delibera1999 Constitution came into existence as a result of a Decree enacted by the General least 2/3 of the Houses of Assemblies of the 36 tions to a referendum at the end of the nationAbdulsalam Abubakar-led Military states of the Federation. That being the case, al conference when it is quite obvious that if Administration. From all indications, this the electorate should have been given the they do so their own position as legislators National Conference will most likely turn out to right of direct consultation to convene a would be threatened? In any case subjecting be yet another missed opportunity for the National Conference and prepare a new the deliberations of the National Conference Nigerian people to prepare their own Constitution. A referendum in my view is the to a referendum at the end of the exercise would be like asking the electorate to choose Constitution. only democratic instrument that can give the between the devil and the deep blue sea. After This is because when a frame of government National Assembly or the President the manhas been established, and a group of rulers date to convene a National Conference to all, what would happen if the electorate is diselected to govern under it, the right to change change our existing order or Constitution. It is satisfied with the outcome of the conference the system under a new order or Constitution a mystery that no one has yet sued the Federal in much the same way as they may be disilluremains always with the people, just like the Government for initiating the National sioned with the 1999 Constitution and our right to choose the rulers. It is a usurpation of Conference without first having a referen- present structure/arrangement? It would mean that the electorate would be left with powers for any government to assume to exercise that right, without a specific mandate from The YOUTHSPEAK Column which is published daily is an initiative of THE GUARDIAN, and the people. My argument therefore is that since powered by RISE NETWORKS, Nigeria’s Leading Youth Development Centre, as a substantial we already have a system of government in advocacy platform available for ALL Nigerian Youth to engage Leadership at all levels, engage place, it would be unconstitutional for a Society and contribute to National Discourse on diverse issues especially those that are pecuNational Conference to attempt to usurp the liar to Nigeria. Regarding submission of articles, we welcome writers‘ contributions by way of Constitution without first receiving a clear well crafted, analytical and thought provoking opinion pieces that are concise, topical and mandate from the electorate the source and non-defamatory! All articles (which are not expected to be more than 2000 words) should be donor of all political power. If the government sent to editorial@risenetworks.org To read the online Version of this same article plus past and its organs are created by the 1999 publications and to find out more about Youth Speak, please visit Constitution, then it is logical that they can only www.risenetworks.org/youthspeak and join the ongoing National Conversations’’. have the power that is granted to them by the instrument from which they derive their exisAlso join our on-line conversation 21676F3E @risenetworks RISE GROUP tence. The National Assembly or the President has no Published by Guardian Newspapers Limited, Rutam House, Isolo, Lagos specific or inherent power to convene a Tel: 4489600, 2798269, 2798270, 07098147948, 07098147951 Fax: 4489712; Advert Hotlines: National Conference in order to change or preLagos 7736351, Abuja 07098513445; Circulation Hotline: 01 4489656 pare a new Constitution for the electorate neiAll correspondence to Guardian Newspapers Limited, P.M.B. 1217, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria. ther can they alter the Constitution without E-mail letters@ngrguardiannews.com; www.ngrguardiannews.com ABC (ISSN NO 0189-5125) first obtaining the support by resolution of at Editor: MARTINS OLOJA .

We need referendum first, not national conference

Thursday, March 27, 2014 no choice at all. This is why we ought to have conducted a referendum on this important issue at the beginning. A referendum at the onset would have determined what “We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” really want. A referendum would have served as a barometer indicative of what various sections of the country, particularly the youth, want. So far, only perceived leaders of thought (not necessarily representative of the people and the various ethnic groups) have given their views on this issue. Nigeria we know is made up of more than 250 ethnic groups on the average. If we take about 50 of them to deliberate upon issues at a National Conference would this be fair? If you Google the official statistics on the composition of Nigeria you will find that those Nigerians aged between 1–14 make up roughly 43.9 per cent of the population. Those between 15–24 make up 19.3 per cent while those between 25-54 make up a total of roughly 30 per cent. In total Nigerians between the ages of 1-54 make up about 83 per cent of the population yet how many of these Nigerians in the above age brackets will be participating at the National Conference also bearing in mind that the parents of the Nigerian child aged between 1-14 which makes up 43.9 per cent of the population are likely to fall within the Nigerian youth age bracket. Power must be given back to these people by enabling them to exercise responsibility for their own affairs. A simple question asking whether or not we want to re-write our Constitution and/or restructure our polity would easily have sufficed. Thereafter, if the yes votes carry the day, the National Assembly would have been mandated to pass a bill to constitute a National Conference or organise elections into a Constituent Assembly for this purpose as the case may be. Most importantly a referendum would have done away with the Government’s claim to sovereignty if the electorate had voted yes. Perhaps herein lies the difference between a National Conference and a Sovereign National Conference. Once the people express their opinion by a referendum, any conference that follows can only be a Sovereign National Conference. Referendums as democratic instruments are readily available all over the world and are a common model in most democratic countries. They serve as a form of direct democracy. Countries in the European Union for example are making effective use of these instruments to ratify the E.U. Constitution. Likewise, Britain, our former colonial ruler will be conducting a referendum later this year to ascertain whether or not Scotland wants to continue to remain part of the United Kingdom and fairly recently, a referendum was conducted in Ukraine to determine whether or not Crimea wants to remain part of the Ukraine or join Russia. There are several other countries in Latin America making appropriate use of referendums. There is no particular reason why Nigeria should be any different in its own endeavors. Bearing in mind that we have a national general election next year February, would it not have been far more practical and convenient for us as a nation to place the referendum question next to the Presidential ballot box so that we can vote for both the presidential election and the referendum at the same time? Would it not be a good form of debate leading up to the Presidential election in the country in 2015? The only conclusion that can be drawn from the ongoing National Conference is that real power to shape our own destiny has once again eluded us and it is now so important that we take up the struggle for democracy once again with renewed faith and vigour. Leaders, however wise, can never change Nigeria unless we the people as a whole bring ourselves to realise that we alone have the capacity to shape our own destiny. Until we do so, nothing real can be achieved. But when that realisation spreads among the people and we resolve to build a different future, no power on earth can stop us. • Kola-Balogun is the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Special Needs, State of Osun.