Mon 31 March 2014 by The Guardian Newspaper

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Monday, March 31, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,877

N150

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Jonathan, Villa not under threat, says Presidency From Mohammed Abubakar, Karls Tsokar (Abuja) and Hendrix Oliomogbe (Asaba) (with agency report) OLLOWING the early Ftempt morning jail-break atby inmates at the head-

quarters of the State Security Service (SSS) in Abuja yesterday, the Presidency has denied that President Goodluck Jonathan and the Presidential Villa were under threat from terrorists as reported in some online publications.

• 21 feared dead in foiled jailbreak in Abuja Meanwhile, 21 suspects were yesterday feared killed while two SSS were seriously injured in the foiled jailbreak at the SSS headquarters in Abuja.

In a related development, the Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF) yesterday urged President Jonathan to relocate the seat of power to the SouthSouth region, especially

Bayelsa State, on security grounds. A statement by the group’s spokesman, Captain Mark Anthony after an emergency meeting, explained that the call became necessary due to the security situation in some

parts of the North, including Abuja. A statement by the DSS Deputy Director, Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar, said that the attempt occurred at about 7.15 a.m. and the casuCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

UNECA, AUC confab chart roadmap to Africa’s growth • Charge central banks on innovation From Mathias Okwe, Assistant Business Editor, Abuja HE joint United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and African Union Commission (AUC) Ministers of Finance and Economic and National Planning Conference yesterday recommended wide-ranging CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

Legal icon, GOK Ajayi, passes on at 83 –Page 5

French govt clears Etete of conviction –Page 6

CBCIU board will stop Oyinlola, says Soyinka –Page 6 Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo (left) and Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, during her visit to him in Umuahia… yesterday.

‘Search for Malaysia jet may take years’–Page 12

Security agencies seek public support against terrorists From Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt) and Tunde Akinola (Lagos) REMENDOUS achieveT ments and improvements have been recorded in the war against terrorists and other criminal elements, se-

• ‘Insurgents not better armed than military’ • UN, AU urged to probe B’Haram, JTF actions curity agencies said at the weekend. They also called for better un-

derstanding of the populace in the ongoing efforts to protect lives and property in the

country, The call was made at the end of the monthly meeting of Fo-

rum of Spokespersons in Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA) in Lagos, where it also had an interactive session with senior journalists on situation. FOSSRA, under the auspices of Office of National Security

Adviser, co-ordinates public information activities of armed forces, security and response agencies in Nigeria. The Director, Defence Information, who is also the Chairman of the forum, Maj.-Gen. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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‘Insurgents not better armed than military’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Chris Olukolade, said: “There have been a greater improvement in inter-agencies as well as civil-military relationships which have contributed immensely in various operations to protect lives and property. We encourage communities to provide prompt and actionable intelligence to security forces that could lead to the capture of violent extremists and their weapons. “In the last one month, the Nigerian troops have penetrated most of the hide-outs of terrorists in the north eastern part of the country, especially some locations they had childishlessly carved out for themselves as new republic. The insurgents have been on the run and we will continue to pursue them.” While commending the improved working relationship with the media, the forum urged journalists to be wary of individuals and groups who may inadvertently use freedom of expression to engage in inflammatory statements and reckless remarks that could undermine the integrity of security agencies and jeopardise military operations. And as the military offensive is being sustained to flush out terrorists from their hide-outs in Nigeria, the forum commended the government’s initiative of soft approach to counter-terrorism as a preventive measure to dissuade youths from taking to bad habits that could aggravate insecurity. The forum also observed the fair reportage on the activities of its agencies, especially the Police, State Security Service (SSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in apprehending

criminal elements. They also reviewed media coverage of operations of response bodies, especially Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Fire Services in their efforts in addressing the plights of victims of disasters. During the interactive session, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) President and Managing Director of The Sun, Mr. Femi Adeshina, commended the establishment of the forum and urged them to be prompt in responding to media enquiries on security issues. Meanwhile, Defence Headquarters has disproved comments made by Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, that the Boko Haram insurgents were better armed and motivated than the country’s troops, saying civilians could be carried away by the impression of what terrorists wanted people to believe about their invincibility, “but is not true.” It also discountenanced the notion that there were fifth columnists within the military, stating that every effort that can boost the approach to curtailing the insurgency is being explored and military intelligence is definitely doing its best. Speaking in an interview with security newspaper, The Eagle Eye, Olukolade said the intelligence element of the nation’s security are doing their best. To him, Intelligence is not just one source; it is dependent on the entire community, particularly the element of human intelligence. Although Olukolade said he would not like to engage Shettima and many others who spoke in that same spirit on the issue, he still has to make it clear, as it has been reemphasised by others who responded that there is evidently an element of frustration. “This is one thing I understand from that angle. In that circumstance, judgment may not be the best and I think in this instance, the situation has not been well accessed. Maybe what he meant by motivation is what drives, what propels the war on both sides. “The extent to which I would agree with him is the fact that

the motivation of terrorists is based on martyrdom – the intention to die and have no fear for death. Whereas, those combating them are normal human beings who are just doing their work – a patriotic work to keep others safe from insane people. “Maybe that was what he meant by different motivations, but it is also good to consider which of these is normal motivation and which one is abnormal. I think people misunderstood or perhaps that is also what it means that motivation means money and all that. “But one must also realise that the troops are combating this menace are patriots first and foremost. Their motivation is the defence and restoration of peace in the country. This is different from people who are mercenaries. They are not fighting primarily for money, but they are fighting their belief as well as a matter of profession. “As for arms, it is obvious there is no way they would be better armed than a standing army; a standing force that are combined in this operation. If that happens, then there is no more state. In fact, the nation would have been over-run much earlier than now, but that is very unlikely: they could not have been better armed that the state forces. They may have made impressions,” he said. Olukolade condemned the activities of the terrorist sect, saying it is bad enough in the sense that apart from the fact that terrorism itself is an evil act to any society, that they have endorsed it as a means of operation is another thing that qualifies them as bad organisation. He said they have brought that image to rub off on Nigerians, which has been noted worldwide as hardworking people who are concerned about the peace of their neighbours and countries far and wide under the auspices

of United Nations and African Union. “With that reputation of commitment to peace and security globally, for a group now to spring up from the same country and constitute this level of havoc that they have visited on the country is one terrible stain on the image of Nigeria. Apart from the barbaric acts that transcended the usual things known about terrorism, they have taken it to the extent that they have become literally implacable. Government has done everything to placate them, but from all indications, they have no clear ideology that can make them to be placated. So, they have continued to be a nuisance to the country and the country has no option than to engage them frontally and carry out missions that can stamp out this menace and return law and order in all parts of the nation,” he said. He stated that all hands are

on deck to ensure that intelligence contributes so much into nipping this problem in the bud. “I think people in charge of intelligence are doing their best. Only people that do not know how much they are putting in to foil some of the evil plots of this group. If that had been known, then the contribution of intelligence element would be best appreciated. “Further to that, most of the successes you may observe of all the elements of combating this evil have had very great input of intelligence. It is just the abnormal nature of the problem that makes people feel others are not working,” Olukolade said. On its part, Amnesty International (AI) has tasked the African Commission and the United Nations (UN) to assist Nigeria in investigating acts that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both Boko Haram and the

Nigerian security forces in north eastern part of the country. Amnesty International said an increase in attacks by Boko Haram and uncontrolled reprisals by Nigeria’s security forces has seen the death toll in North-East Nigeria rise to at least 1,500 people, more than half of whom are civilians, in the first three months of 2014. It stated that more than half of the killings have been carried out by members of the Islamist armed group, including scores of school children who have been the victims of deliberate attacks. The group’s Research and Advocacy Director for Africa, Netsanet Belay, in a statement observed that escalation of violence in north eastern Nigeria in 2014 has developed into a situation of non-international armed conflict in which both the Boko Haram sect and the military are violating international humanitarian law.

Honorary Consul-General of Greece, Tolis Loizos (left); Chairman/Publisher of The Guardian, Maiden Alex-Ibru; and Ambassador of Greece to Nigeria, Andreas Alekos Ikonomopoulos, during the National Day of Greece …last week. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

21 feared dead in foiled jailbreak in Abuja CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

alties included suspects and officials of the Service. The Presidential Spokesman, Reuben Abati, while fielding questions on a radio programme yesterday, confirmed the jail-break attempt at the SSS headquarters, but however said the relevant security agencies have been able to restore order as a result of the inter-security collaboration. Early reports by some online publications indicated that the SSS and the Presidential Villa, where the President and Vice President Namadi Sambo live, have come under attack by unknown gunmen. Both the SSS headquarters and the Villa share almost the same vicinity at the Aso Drive in the Asokoro District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). But Abati said neither the Villa nor the President were under attack as the Service, in collaboration with the military, had been able to bring the incident under a close check. The presidential spokesman believed that information about the Villa being under attack was to

create unnecessary panic in the minds of Nigerians, noting that such thing never happened. He assured that President Jonathan did not come under harm as he confirmed that he went about his normal schedules for the day.” He went to the church and worshipped without any fear.” Abati, however, expressed the gratitude of the Presidency to Nigerians for the show of love and concern for the Presidency, noting that the development was an indication of how majority of Nigerians love the President and they want him to continue to serve them. He restated the commitment of the President to continue to serve the people of the country and urged Nigerians to continue to support the President and his administration. Ogar said that it was one of the inmates that attacked one of the operatives that went to feed them, but another agent shot in the air to scare away other inmates that might attempt to escape. She added: “At 7.15 a.m., the Service suspect handler went to the detention facility with-

in the headquarters to feed the suspects. One of the suspects attempted to disarm him by hitting him at the back of his head with his handcuff. “His attempt to escape drew the attention of other guards at the facility who fired some shots to warn and deter others. “The gunshots attracted the attention of the military with whom we have an understanding of mutual assistance in the event of any threat. The Army immediately deployed a team to reinforce our perimeter guards to forestall any external collaborators. The situation has since been brought under control”, it reads. But people within the Aso Drive area said the gunshots were sporadic and rather too prolonged for an internal affair. Abubakar, a security man within the neighbourhood, said it was more than an exchange of fire, “it was a gun battle. The back fence of the security facility was attacked, the exchange was coming from there, and until 15 minutes after the soldiers arrived that the shooting stopped.”

The Guardian learnt that the attack was by members of the insurgent, Boko Haram, who in the course of attempting to free their members detained and undergoing interrogation at the SSS headquarters, met the resistance at the heavily-guarded facility. Meanwhile, security around the area has been beefed up as fighter jets and choppers were seen hovering over the Asokoro, Aso Rock and central area. On September 7, 2010, about 50 gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram attacked Bauchi Prison and freed 721 prisoners, including 150 members of the Islamist group. Over 30 prisoners returned to the prison to serve out their short sentences. Additionally, thirty-five prisoners have been re-arrested. Parts of the jail were set on fire and five people were killed. In February 2012, armed men invaded a prison in KotonKarifi in Central Kogi State using bombs and heavy gunfire, freeing 119 inmates. The Boko Haram sect later said it carried out the attack, freeing seven of its members.

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News BPE pays N370b to PHCN’s ex-workers

Confab urged to focus on Nigeria’s unity

By Roseline Okere

By Isaac Taiwo EMBERS of the national M conference have been urged to focus on identifying

HE Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has remitted to the Office of the Account General of the Federation a total of N370 billion for payment of the former employees of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). The Federal Government had earlier released over N6 billion to the union’s leadership as check-off dues from the staff entitlements. Director General of BPE, Benjamin Dikki, who made the disclosure in Abuja, stated that the verification committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, has verified to date 45,136 workers for payment out of the 47,913. He noted that after the Bureau’s nationwide field verification of the possible 4,194 PHCN retirees, 2,931 or their next of kins have been verified, leaving 1,163 yet to be screened.

Legal icon, GOK Ajayi, passes on at 83 NE of Nigeria’s frontline O lawyers, Godwin Olusegun Kolawole Ajayi (SAN), has passed on at the age of 83. The legal luminary, popularly known by his initials, GOK, was said to have died during a prolonged illness that sidelined him from active legal practice in the last few years. Once one of Nigeria’s most sought after lawyers, he represented the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12 1993 presidential election, during the legal battle by Abiola over the election. Over the last decade, Ajayi made a few public appearances due to his poor health, a family source said. Members of Ajayi’s family and friends around the world are discussing a plan for a befitting funeral. Apart from representing MKO Abiola, one of Ajayi’s most high profile cases was representation of Abdurraham Shugaba Darma, a prominent member of the Great Nigeria People’s Party (GNPP), a majority leader of the Borno State House of Assembly, who, in 1980, was dramatically deported to a village in Chad Republic.

Ajayi

Sub-committee Chair, Senator Christopher Coons (left); Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony O. Elumelu, and Sub-Committee Ranking Member, Senator Jeff Flake following Mr. Elumelu’s testimony before the United States Senate Foreign Relations Sub-committee in Washington, D.C. on Thursday

those factors that have hindered the country from being a nation, lamenting that Nigeria of today is still a country made up of tribes and different groups. Addressing the media yesterday at the maiden edition of Pastors’ Appreciation Day, which took place at Olivet Bible Church, FESTAC Town, Lagos, the guest preacher and Director General, Institute for National Transformation, Prof. Vincent Anigbogu, said the national conference has provided an opportunity to save Nigeria from ominous troubles and move the country from its present state to that of a nation. “We are still not a nation. We are a country made up of tribes and different groups. A nation is a people that have harmonised, who share common vision, common value and common direction. A nation cannot move forward if the vision for the future is not clear and everybody in the nation keys into the vision.

NLC opposes planned sale of refineries, NTA, others From Collins Olayinka (Abuja), Yetunde Ebosele and Roseline Okere (Lagos) ROM the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has come opposition to the reported plans by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to privatise the nation’s refineries and commercialise the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and the Nigeria Films Corporation, describing the move as unwarranted. Other entities listed to be affected by the NLC include the Skypower Catering and Hotels Services, the Commodities and Exchange Commission, as well as the Bank of Agriculture and the Bank of Industries slated for partial privatisation and the National Parks proposed for commercialisation.

• IPMAN, NUPENG feud may worsen fuel scarcity • ‘DPR officials not arrested over fuel theft’ Meanwhile, there are indications that fuel supply may be disrupted this week as the Independent Petroleum Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) plans to shut down 10,000 stations to protest alleged intrusion of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) into the operations of NIPCO Plc. The development came as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) debunked media report that some staff of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) were arrested for crude oil theft and adulteration of petroleum products. According to the NLC, the alleged haste with which the

government “seemed determined to sell off public property to members of the ruling class and their cronies under the guise of making them more efficient is alarming”. The union, in a statement issued by its President, Abdulwahed Omar, emphasised the need for caution, adding that the property belong to the Nigerian people as “a collective wealth and the people have never been consulted and their interests considered before the sales”. Besides, NLC argued that it is “scandalous that the same government who had always promised to use the gains from petroleum price increases, which it has received over the years, to reactivate ex-

isting refineries and build additional ones, can turn around to announce the privatisation of the refineries”. The statement said: “This is clearly unacceptable and members of the public have strongly opposed this attempt several times in the past, even on the floor of the National Assembly”. NLC explained that there is no evidence that previous privatisation exercises have succeeded, pointing out that “the major privatisation exercise that was implemented against public interest recently is electricity and ever since that exercise, electricity supply has worsened, while consumers pay higher even as the lights have gone off under excuses that question the competence of the new electricity companies”. The union advised the gov-

ernment not to abdicate its social responsibilities by selling off everything that delivers services to the people. Part of the statement titled: “Stop Selling Public Properties”, read: “This is unwarranted, especially in a country where poverty and unemployment have become endemic coupled with the collapse of industries. “What we need in Nigeria is not a blind adoption of neoliberal policies that mortgage the interests and future of our people. Our national economy depends largely on the oil industry and if we allow the industry to be handed over to private individuals, it would then mean the entire economy would become private property run by private individuals, mostly cronies of those in government, against our collective interests.

Camps of suspected Tiv communities attackers discovered in Nasarawa From Abiodun Fanoro (Lagos) and Msugh Ityokura (Lafia) HERE were indications yesterday that insurgents carrying out attacks on Tiv communities in both Nasarawa and Benue states are being camped in Shinge and Kwandere areas in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital. It was also gathered that the attackers, who arrived the volatile state in their hundreds in the name of international hunters, are also being camped in Doma Local Council of the state where they allegedly cross over to the neighbouring Benue to wreck havoc. The Commissioner of Police, Idris Ibrahim, while briefing newsmen in his office prior to the conduct of the just con-

• Falana blames FG for killings cluded local government elections, acknowledged the presence of strange visitors to the state but quickly said they were hunters on routine activities. With the heightening tension between both states, especially with allegations that Governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko AlMakura, is harbouring the purported attackers, the presence of the “hunters” has made the state rife with rumour of the governor being in connivance with those behind the agenda to annihilate the Tiv people for political reasons. The ancestral Tiv of Nasarawa State who are now taking refuge along Lafia-Makurdi federal highway in very poor living conditions alleged that

the insurgents had sent signals to them, warning that if they were not afraid of the guns, they will feel death in different ways, hence their deserting their places of abode. Meanwhile, human rights campaigner and former President West African Bar Association, Femi Falana (SAN), has blamed the incessant killings by Fulani herdsmen on government’s negligence and its failure to implement past recommendations by competent panels of enquiry it set up. Falana, in a statement issued in Lagos, made specific reference to the 2011 Sheik Ahmed Lemu Presidential Panel On Post Election Violence and Civil Disturbance in some parts of Northern Nigeria, whose rec-

ommendations also covered the increasing clashes between Fulani herdsmen and some indigenous hosting communities. His words: “In total abdication of their constitutional duty of protecting lives and properties, the authorities have failed to halt such killings due to inexplicable negligence. In particular, the Federal Government has refused or failed to implement the official policy which would have halted the incessant mayhem unleashed on innocent people by the Fulani cattle rearers. “It would be recalled that the Sheikh Ahmed Lemu Presidential Panel set up by the Federal Government to probe the 2011 Post Election Violence and Civil Disturbances in some Northern States studied the

regular clashes between the Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the various parts of the country. At the end of the investigation, the Panel found as follows: One of the main causes of conflict between the Fulani herdsmen and other ethnic groups has to do with the damage to cultivated crops caused by their cattle. There used to be well-defined and recognized cattle grazing routes throughout the country, which have been obliterated by increasing urbanization and road construction.” Falana also quoted the relevant part of the Panel’s recommendation which stated that, “Government should ensure that each state defines its own cattle grazing routes which will then be harmonized with those of adjacent states.”

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N’Assembly members walk out of Enugu PDP meeting

S’East govs set for Jonathan’s visit By Kodilinye Obiagwu, Enugu HE South East Governors’ Forum seems to have started making arrangements for the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the zone. The Forum, which met at the Government House, Enugu yesterday, avoided the customary briefing of journalists by its Chairman and Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji. But sources close to the meeting said that the Forum met to discuss the visit of the President to Enugu scheduled for April 11. The visit, according to the source, is part of the President’s visit to the zones. “After visiting Bauchi in the North East on March 29, it will be the turn of the South East in Enugu,” the source said. The meeting, which was described as the “most quiet in recent times,” also discussed the ongoing national conference and the performance of the delegates from the zone. The governors had met last Tuesday to discuss a joint security option and also the national conference. At the meeting were the Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State, Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano. Others are the Enugu State chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the retired Army Colonel and National Vice Chairman, South East zone of the PDP, Austine Akobundu.

From Lawrence Njoku Enugu

Ajimobi, security chiefs to meet over horror forest From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan OVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has convened a security council meeting to deliberate on the discovery of a kidnappers’ den at the Soka area of the state capital. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, the governor is convening the meeting to review the security situation in the state following the tragic discovery of the evil forest in Soka area of Ibadan. The meeting, according to the statement will take place tomorrow and will review the incidents that have happened in the state since the unfortunate tragedy as well as assess the security preparedness of the security agencies in the state to curtail its aftermath. The statement said that the state government was bothered about the incidences of summary apprehending of mentally challenged persons in the state capital and the resort to jungle justice on them from some people. In the wake of the discovery of a kidnappers’ den at the Soka area of the state capital, mentally challenged persons roaming the streets have been at the mercies of a lynch mob which accused them of being facades of ritual killings. Indeed, the state capital is said to have been bereft of lunatics who, in the wave of mob attacks, have taken cover for fear of being lynched.

CRISIS may have A erupted at the top echelon of Enugu State

Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (right), addressing the people of Etikan community, in Ilaje local council during the Labour Party campaign for the Ilaje-Ese-Odo Federal Constituency bye-election at the weekend.

French govt clears Etete HE French government T has cleared a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Dan Etete, of the conviction slammed on him by a French court. The court had in 2007 sentenced Etete, who served as Petroleum Minister under the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha from 1995 to 1998, to three years in prison in absentia and a fine of 300,000 euros ($440,000) for money laundering. The Paris criminal court had also issued a warrant for his arrest. He was convicted of using 15 million euros in funds ob-

tained fraudulently to purchase properties in 1999 and 2000, including a chateau in northwest France, a Paris apartment and a luxury villa in the chic Paris suburb of Neuilly. The court ordered the former minister to pay 150,000 euros to Nigeria in compensation for moral prejudice and 20,000 euros in fees. But in a Bulletin No. 3 dated March 7 and issued by the Ministry of Justice, Criminal, Cases and Pardon Division, the French government said Etete had been pardoned and cleared of the conviction. The bulletin, which was

signed by the magistrate in charge of the national criminal record, Xavier Pavageau, said the former minister was freed. The Bulletin No. 3 from the French Justice Ministry, read: “Statement of convictions to be recorded on Bulletin No. 3 in compliance with Art.777 of the code criminal procedure. In the absence of convictions to be recorded on Bulletin No. 3, the said bulletin will bear only a transversal bar (Article R.84 of the Code of criminal procedure).” Consequent upon the state pardon, Etete’s solicitors, Pierre Benoliel, have written a letter to the French

Ambassador in Nigeria, to accord the former minister recognition and deal with him as free man with no constraints. The letter dated March 17, read: “As you know, Mr. Dan Etete, eminent personality in Nigeria, is a great friend of France and has been so for many years. “In spite of the judicial vicissitudes that he has unfortunately known in the beginning of years 2000, he is now free of any constraint and he complies with the fiscal and legal French administrations.”

CBCIU board will stop Oyinlola, says Soyinka By Kabir Alabi Garba VER 19 months after the O appointment, by the Osun State Government, of Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka as Chairman, Board of Trustees, Centre for Black Culture and International (CBCIU) in Osogbo, former governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has continued to represent the culture outlet, especially at international events in the same capacity. Oyinlola just returned from 34th Ordinary Session of the Executive Board of the World Federation of UNESO Clubs, Centre and Associations (WFUCA) held at United Nations Headquarters, New York, United States. But Prof. Soyinka told The Guardian at the weekend that the former governor was impersonating and that the CBCIU Board “will definitely stop him”. According to the literary giant, the board is aware that Oyinlola still parades himself as “Chairman Emeritus” of CBCIU, holding meetings

in Abuja and attending functions especially in overseas on behalf of the centre. “Whatever action the Board has formally taken so far is to sever the lines to whatever sources are still being exploited by the former chairman for all sorts of travels, meetings and projects, including a declared intent to organize some kind of event in Brazil in the name of CBCIU. We are concerned that some resources which belong properly to CBCIU are being exploited by Oyinlola and his cohorts,” Soyinka said. He recalled an encounter with the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova and the issue was mentioned in a conversation. “The Director General and I met at a conference in Kazhakstan. I mentioned in conversation that I learnt that Prince Oyinlola had been to UNESCO still parading himself as Chairman Emeritus of CBCIU. I informed her that such a position did not exist in CBCIU. So she summoned her aide to join in the conversa-

tion. He (the aide) revealed that Oyinlola had indeed written their office to protest his removal as Chairman of the Board. He was sent a response that CBCIU was established subject to the laws of Osun State, and that there was nothing UNESCO could do for him. The aide went on to add that the worthy Prince had followed up in his own royal person, with a delegation. He was then informed that there was nothing to add to the position already outlined in UNESCO’s letter.” In fact, two parallel boards now lay claim to the centre inaugurated on January 7, 2009 as Category 11 facility under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). But curiously, Oyinlola team focuses mainly on international events as reflected in the New York outing where he was reportedly bagged 2014 Builder of the Universe Grand Prize Award. Programme of activities used at the WFUCA meeting

highlighted Oyinlola as one of the recipients of ‘Special Award’ for his services as “Chairman Emeritus, Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding.” Responding to clarification from The Guardian on which capacity the former governor participated in the New York conference, Femi Adelegan, who claims to be Secretary, CBCIU Board of Trustees said, “Prince Oyinlola attended the event in his capacity as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of CBCIU as recognised by the Corporate Affairs Commission and UNESCO,” insisting that there is only one CBCIU, “and it is being led by Oyinlola as Chairman. CAC regulation does not recognise the existence of two organisations known as CBCIU.” Adelegan went further to say that the forthcoming colloquium on Faith and Secularism billed for April 14 – 16, 2014 in Osogbo being planned by the Soyinka-led CBCIU has no approval of the “authentic Board of Trustees of CBCIU.”

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a state caucus meeting convened by Governor Sullivan Chime at the governor’s lodge on Saturday night ended abruptly with National Assembly members reportedly walking out of the meeting. This was said to have ended the meeting. The Guardian gathered that the reported walkout by the lawmakers was to protest some uncomplimentary remarks against them by the governor during the meeting. Trouble was said to have started when Chime, who walked in with former Senate President Ken Nnamani, left the agenda of the meeting to resort to threatening the lawmakers with sanctions should any of them indicate interest to vie for 2015 elections. The source said that the meeting was convened to review the situation of the party in accordance with the timetable released by the party in the state towards preparing it for 2015. The governor was said to have pointedly told them to thread the path of honour and quit the scene by next year to pave way for others, stressing that Enugu was not as rich as other states in resources. This was said to have infuriated the lawmakers who walked out of the meeting on the ground that the meeting was no longer for them. “He descended heavily on National Assembly members, threatening that he would no longer beg us. This is the height of political intolerance as no one person has authority over others unless conferred on him by the people. We don’t know what we did to him that at each meeting he would leave important issues to begin to attack us. He is a chief executive who should protect his subjects and chart the path of peace in the polity. We cannot continue this way and no amount of threat will deter us,” one of the lawmakers said. It was reported that all National Assembly members except Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Senator Gilbert Nnaji were present at the meeting. Others were the State Working Committee of the party led by Vita Abba, Speaker of State Assembly, Eugene Odo, his Deputy and Chief Whip as well as former House of Reps member, USA Igweshi. Some of the lawmakers who left Enugu immediately for Abuja threatened not to attend any meeting called again in the state.

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Monday, March 31, 2014

8 NEWS Monday, March 31, 2014

U.S. aviation team arrives, to re-certify NCAA, CAT 1 By Ibe Uwaleke TEAM from the United States (U.S.) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) arrived the country at the weekend to begin the process of re-certifying the Nigerian aviation industry, which it started in 2010. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other aviation agencies said yesterday that they were ready for the audit. According to a release by the acting NCAA Director General, Benedict Adeyileka, the four-man team will assess NCAA’s compliance with applicable sections of ICAO standards contained in Annexes 1, 6 and 8. Adeyileka said the team would use the current International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) checklist and ICAO guideline for the exercise. The eight critical elements are primary aviation legislation, specific operating regulations, state civil aviation system and safety oversight functions and technical personnel qualification and training. Others are technical guidance and tools, licensing and certification obligations, surveillance obligations and resolution of safety concerns. FAA awarded Nigeria Category One safety status in 2010 after the country met the IASA standards and four years later, the body decided to re-audit Nigeria in response to critical reports about the aviation industry, according to its letter to NCAA to announce the recertification.

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Govt wants lower phone prices to boost internet penetration By Adeyemi Adepetun S it seeks to shore up Internet penetration in the country, the Federal Government has promised to strengthen the drive for more cost-efficient Internetenabled mobile phones. The Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, gave this hint in Lagos at the weekend during a forum on “Accelerating Nationwide Broadband Access in Nigeria,” organised by OpenMedia Group, in conjunction with Atlantic Telecoms and Media. Johnson said that government was passionate about increasing Internet penetration in the country, which was put at about 62.4 million at the end of last year, out of

the World Bank’s 170 million estimated population. She further disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan was backing the ministry’s move to degazette a law by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to impose a two per cent tax on mobile devices in case they are used to infringe on copyright laws in the future. However, she urged the private sector to come up with plans on how to manufacture low-cost devices that would give more Nigerians access to the Internet, stressing that “reduction in taxes on devices will not increase Internet penetration.” “Penetration goes up when there is relevant content and people see the need to get on

the Internet, and so people will buy a N2000 phone if it will get them on to the Internet,” Johnson explained. She promised not to advocate for the imposition of taxes on devices while pushing for affordable broadband Internet access for Nigerians, stressing that the Federal Government was poised to tackle the challenges of broadband access in the country. She noted that those challenges are the surmountable issues of policy and cost in broadband access, stating that the four-fold broadband plan for the country is achievable “if all stakeholders work together as a team.” According to Johnson, policy issues are not a challenge

to broadband because the industry has a reliable regulator in the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which is concerned about the growth of the industry. Nevertheless, she observed that the size of the country and getting state governments to implement federal policies on broadband are challenges, as it is “difficult to implement a policy when we have to work with different state governors from different political parties and with different agenda, as well as different players in the 36 states of the country.” On the issue of cost, the minister noted that the National Economic Council (NEC), which membership includes state governors, has

agreed to reduce the cost for the Right of Way (ROW) but that there was no commitment from the states in terms of implementation. However, Johnson disclosed that all states have agreed to crash the cost of ROW and in exchange get access for schools in their domain. Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of OpenMedia Group and NCC’s former Executive Vice Chairman, Ernest Ndukwe, said that telecoms infrastructure are key to improving human life and economic development. To that end, Ndukwe said it is important that broadband becomes a cheap, universal service to the people because of its impact on education

Jonathan’s wife seeks removal of hurdles to women’s progress From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja HE First Lady, Mrs. Patience T Jonathan, has called for the removal of impediments that obstruct the progress and development of women and the girl-child. In her remarks yesterday during the service at the Aso Villa Chapel in Abuja to mark this year’s Mothering Sunday, Mrs. Jonathan commended Nigerian women for contributing immensely to the improvement of family values and cohesion. She encouraged them to continue to use their positions as peacemakers and bridgebuilders to work for the nation’s peaceful co-existence, even as she praised those she noted have stood for Nigeria’s rebirth and transformation. Women are home-builders and peacemakers. A mother does not discriminate, she shares and endures; a mother forgives, loves naturally and unconditionally. Real mothers unite the nation and render selfless service to humanity,” she said. Quoting from Proverbs 22:6, she urged women to train their children in the fear of God, while also reminding all of the sanctity of motherhood, deserving of the highest regard. “As we celebrate our mothers today, I encourage all of us to serve the best interest of mothers everywhere,” she added. “Honour them, respect them, show respect to their roles and give them the value they deserve.”

Kenya High Commissioner in Nigeria, Ambassador Tom Amolo (left); Managing Director, Clinix Healthcare Ltd, Peter Ebere Nwosu; Chairman, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo and Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris at the official commissioning of Clinix Healthcare Ultra-Modern Diagnostic Centre in Lagos at the weekend. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

UNECA, AUC task African central banks on innovation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 action on how the African continent can actualise the objective of industrialisation for inclusive and transformative development which has been the focus of the weeklong discussion in Abuja. Top on the list is the need for the continent to build credible institutions to boost industrialisation and for African central banks to be more innovative by not limiting their mandates to price and monetary stability. This is contained in resolutions adopted as the conference came to an end last night in Abuja. Some of the highpoints of the recommendations include the building, enhancing technology of dynamic industrial policy frame-works organically, ensuring high level coordination and political support, letting the public and private sectors dialogue and granting autonomy to bureaucracies. They also include the need

for transcending organisational imperfections starting with pockets of efficiency, building coalitions, planning coherently for development, enhancing technology transfer innovation and competitiveness, creating pockets of infrastructure, responding to climate change, focusing on growth poles, capitalising on trade and financing industrialisation. “The exact design of national industrial policy will vary depending on the needs of the private sector, resource endowment and national development priorities among others, the key is to institutionalise industrial policy to become part of the regular decision-making mechanism of governments and becomes no different from more broadly accepted responsibilities such as monetary and fiscal policies. Doing this, African countries have to ensure that the economic benefits are not captured by special interest

groups but spread inclusively among the whole population,” the conference further admonished. Meanwhile, the caucus of the African Central Banks which met at the sideline of the joint conference has decried current intervention efforts by various countries to boost industrialisation as being ineffective and also directed its members to extend the lines of their mandates to include initiatives to fast-track industrialisation in the continent and inclusive growth. This is contained in a communique the bankers issued yesterday as part of their resolutions to attain the objective of this year’s joint conference theme. The central bankers also expressed concern that despite the increasing growth in Diaspora remittances to Africa and the accompanying capital flows, “these have not been fully harnessed to finance industrialisation, especially Small and Medium

Enterprises (SMES).” However, they agreed that how well they manage price and financial stability will promote inclusive industrialisation and growth for the continent. They also endorsed the position of the Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Sarah Alade, that the mandate of African central banks should be extended to include critical development roles to support fiscal authorities “within a macro-economic policy frame-work.” Other recommendations made by the apex bankers was that central banks must not lose sight of their core mandate in the pursuit of developmental objectives and that given the extent of poverty and unemployment on the continent, central banks should use their monetary policies (credit and exchange rates) to support growth and industrialisation as done in India, China and

Cambodia. It was also agreed that the disconnection between the financial system and the real sector of the economy would have to be addressed if meaningful industrialisation is to occur in Africa. In addition, they submitted that “appropriate mechanisms should be established to tap into various sources of capital such as: Diaspora remittances, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and excess foreign reserves, to finance SMES and industrialisation.” It was suggested that the Nigerian Diaspora bond initiative could be replicated across the continent. The bankers resolved to support inclusive and transformative growth policies and dynamic initiatives designed to actualise Africa’s industrialisation and also pledged their commitment to the structural transformation of their various economies to identify and support efforts for inclusive growth.

Monday, March 31, 2014 NEWS

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Marwa returns to PDP

Rights groups seek information on maintenance of refineries

From Emmanuel Ande, Yola HE crisis in Adamawa State T chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC)

IVIL society groups, C through the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), has requested from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources details of Turn-Around-Maintenance (TAM) of the nation’s refineries. The request, made under the right of access to information guaranteed to all Nigerians by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), was for the period of 10 years. The document, signed by Attorney and Lead Director of CSJ, Eze Onyekpere, specifically requested the amount spent on the turn-aroundmaintenance of Nigeria’s four refineries in the 10 years; name, address and contacts of the contractors who carried out the exercise. Also, copies of the contract evidencing the procurement of the turn-around-maintenance services were requested.

Ondo group lauds Jonathan’s effort to redress imbalance By Abiodun Fanoro OMMENDATIONS are still C pouring in for President Goodluck Jonathan over his appointment of Brig.-Gen. Oladeinde Arogbofa as his new Chief of Staff. The latest appreciation came from industrialists and technocrats under the aegis of the Ondo State Eminent Persons Group (OSEG), who lauded Jonathan for proving wrong critics who had accused him of marginalising the Yoruba people. According to the group, with the appointment of Arogbofa, Musiliu Obanikoro, as well as Jelili Adesiyan as ministers, the President has made a very loud statement that the Yoruba would not be marginalised when appointing qualified and competent Nigerians into position of authority. The group gave the commendation at the end of an emergency Executive Council meeting in Akure, the state capital, where it deliberated on Arogbofa’s appointment.

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola (middle); National President, the Apostolic Church Nigeria/Territorial Chairman, Pastor Gabriel Olutola (second left), Pastor James Soude (left); Osogbo Area Superintendent, Pastor Paul Usman (second right) and Oke Igboji Area Superintendent Ilesa, Pastor Ogundele Isaac (right), during a courtesy visit to the Government House, Osogbo…at the weekend

farewell memorial rites of its former President-General, Ambassador Raph Uwechue, who died on Thursday, March 13, 2014. The committee has Chief Ejiofor Onyia, vice presentgeneral of the apex Igbo sociocultural organisation (Delta) as chairman, while Ogbuefi Ifeoha Azikiwe, former Special Assistant (Media) to Uwechue will serve as secretary. Members of the committee are drawn from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Delta, Imo, and Rivers states. It includes the representatives of the seven state governors, as well as representatives of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, Aka Ikenga and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos and Abuja branches. Representing the Uwechue family in the committee are

deepened yesterday when former Lagos State military administrator General Mohammed Buba Marwa and thousands of other APC members joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over what they described as impunity and lawlessness of the party’s leadership. While addressing the defected APC members at the Lelewa Hotel in Yola, Marwa said his action was based on the injustice and impunity in the party spearheaded by the national leadership of APC. Marwa, who accused Governor Murtala Nyako of running APC as an extension of his Sebore Farm, pointed out that the party has no prospect to win any election in the state under Nyako’s leadership. He maintained that the national leadership refused to dialogue with the stakeholders of APC in the state to find a lasting solution to crisis, but that the leadership supported Nyako to the disadvantage of the founding members of the party in the state.

NIIA tasks China on trade, technology By Olalekan Okusan HE need to deepen ties T came to the fore at the Nigeria-China Dialogue hosted by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) at the weekend in Lagos where the Director General of NIIA, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, said the Chinese government must be ready to strengthen trade relationship with Nigeria. Specifically, Akinterinwa challenged the Chinese delegation to be willing to assist Nigeria in areas like business and capacity building, as well as knowledge-based society with emphasis on technology. He described the forum as the first dialogue between the two institutes, which was meant to exchange ideas on issues involving the two nations. Particularly, he said just like Nigeria supported China in its quest to become permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China must

also back Nigeria in its ambition to secure permanent seat in the UN. The Chinese team was led by the Director of The Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University (IASZNU), Professor Liu Hongwu, who admitted that Nigeria remains a regional emerging power in Africa and world, as well as the continent’s most important nation with a long history and rich culture. He added that Nigeria and China are very important countries in the globe. He explained that the potentials possessed by the two nations could help them to collaborate in promoting the development of Africa. “With a population of 168 million in 2011 to become Africa’s most populous nation, with over 719 million barrels of crude oil exports in 2013, Africa’s first big oil producers and one of the fastest growing economies in the world,

Nigeria is very important to China. “In 2013, Africa’s first big economies with foreign direct investment (FDI) of $7.03 billion in 2012, accounting for 14 per cent of the total FDI in Africa and the first in Africa, while the trade volume between China and Nigeria in 2010 was $7.7 billion, and in 2013, it has improved to $13.5 billion,” he said. He added: “In 2009, China’s investment in Nigeria totaled $7.24 billion and this investment involves infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, agriculture and mining and other fields. Chinese investments in Nigeria have already created at least 30,000 jobs, while Chinese government provide more than 200 training opportunities to Nigeria every year.” In his submission, areas that the two nations can deepen their relationships include infrastructure, agriculture,

Ohanaeze raises Uwechue burial committee

THIRTY-MAN committee A has been set up by Ohanaeze Ndigbo to organise

• Funeral rites for ex-diplomat begin May 5

Chief George Uwechue (SAN), Okechukwu (son of Ambassador Uwechue) and Paul Uwechue. Also in the team are Sir Emma Okafor, president-general of OgwashiUku Development Union, retired Permanent Secretary and former director of the Delta State Liaison Office, Abuja. Other members include Professor Sylvester Monye, Special Assistant to the President on Project Monitoring and Evaluation; Dr. Paddy Njoku, Chairman, NECO, Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo, Secretary SURE-P, Chief Gerry Ossai, Elder Ifeanyichukwu Onwukamike, Emeka Mbagha, Ogbueshi Val Ogosi, and Sir Tony Ibekwe, Chief Tonnie Oganah, Chiedu Ashibuogwu, Samuel Obanya, Chuks Iloegbunam, Daniel Egwudobi, Onwu Arua, Abraham Nmalagwu and

Tonnie Eluemunor, among others. Uwechue’s farewell journey will begin on May 5, 2014, with various activities, including a memorial mass, public lecture and social wake in Abuja. On May 8, the corpse leaves for Enugu where it will lie in state at the headquarters of the panIgbo organisation. The body departs Enugu on the same day to Asaba for onward journey to his residence, Africa House, Ogwshi-Uku. An all-night vigil will hold in his honour while his body lies in state at the Africa House, his final resting place, before interment. The Bishop of Issele-Uku Diocese, His Lordship Michael Odogwu Elue, will conduct the memorial mass before Uwechue will be buried on Friday, May 9, 2014. Meanwhile, a former member

of the House of Representatives, Pascal Adigwe, has said that “Uwechue’s exit is a big loss to Delta-North as he was an avid protagonist and defender of the Anioma cause, a diplomat per excellence, an unbeatable leader with eminence and industry, our alter ego, an advisor and mentor.” In a statement, he added: “We have lost a gem. We shall take solace in the fact that life is a race. Where you stop, others will continue but this shoe is too big to imagine. Let’s take heart my beloved Ogwashi Uku and Anioma people.....for yes, our Great Ogwuluzeme is gone; we shall all mourn and miss him for a long time but God will grant us the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss and the strength to celebrate and sustain his legacy. His dreams live on....”

transportation, education, science and technology. With its potentials in oil, he said Nigeria is not only the most important oil production and export region in Africa, but also a major energy partner for China in the future. Despite the huge potentials

possessed by the two countries, Hongwu said there was need to establish strategic mutual trust, respect and winwin cooperation to ensure mutual benefit. Among speakers at the oneday roundtable discussion was Prof. Alaba Ogunsanwo of Lead City University, Ibadan.

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10 NEWS Monday, March 31, 2014

Jonathan urges host communities to handsRivers offto getvarsities medical school

From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has urged uniP versity host communities to

respect the sanctity and federal character of institutions located in their areas. In his speech at the 43rd convocation ceremony of the University of Nigeria, held on Saturday, the President, represented by the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, expressed happiness that peace had returned to the University of Nigeria after it was engulfed in protest following the removal of the institution’s erstwhile ProChancellor, Dr. Emeka Enejere. Enejere, an alumnus and former lecturer, hails from Nsukka. “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, my address would not be complete if I do not make reference to the recent disturbing developments in this university. While I am pleased that peace and normalcy had returned to the university, let me seize this occasion to reiterate that the federal institutions should not be seen as the property of the communities or states in which they are situated,” the President warned. President Jonathan said the Federal Government had kept its promise of providing additional funding for facility development in universities through TETFund

and other high impact interventions, but insisted that the government alone cannot provide all the funds needed to cater for the development of the education sector. He added that inadequate funding was not the only problem of university education, maintaining that, “to run a 21st century educa-

tional system, we also need to address the challenges of poor work ethics and prolonged industrial actions.” Further, he said that his administration was committed to strengthening all tiers of the education sector by expanding access to education and upgrading the quality of teaching and personnel across all levels.

Earlier in his address, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Professor Barth Okolo, announced that the institution awarded a total of 7,989 degrees comprising first degrees, higher degrees and diploma certificates at the 43rd convocation ceremony. The high point of the ceremony was the conferment of a posthumous honorary doctorate degree on late General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu

Ojukwu and the honouring of outstanding entrepreneur in the oil and gas industry, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, Chief Innocent Chukwuma of Innoson Auto Manufacturing Company and others. Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has said that government will approve a medical school for the Rivers State University of Science and Technology.

ART of the reasons for the P elaborate celebration of Nigeria’s centenary anniversary even while a section of compatriots describe it as unnecessary is the need to prepare the grounds for the eventual transfer of political leadership from the old brigade to the youths of the country. Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who spoke when the ship of the Centenary Quiz Competition, an integral part of the celebration, berthed in Akure, Ondo State capital at the weekend to pick winners

need for the various ethnic groups in the state and country at large to bury their differences towards making Nigeria a great and prosperous nation. Governor Uduaghan who spoke at the funeral service for late Pa Nawe Eric Akporiaye in Warri promised to see his agenda to transform Warri city through before leaving office. Uduaghan observed that the late Akporiaye, who was father of the Chief Medical Director of the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, Dr. Leslie Akporiaye, represented a generation of Warri indigenes that stood for unity and harmony among the ethnic groups that dwell in the city.

From Joseph Wantu, Makurdi SSOCIATION of Local A Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Benue State chapter

Folake Adama (left); Assist. Pastor, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Province 4, Brigitte Okirie and wife of Pastor-In-Charge of Lagos Province 4, Mrs. Siju Iluyomade, during Arise Women’s Mobile Health Clinic organised by RCCG Lagos Province 4 at the weekend. PHOTO: GABRIEL IKHAHON

of the intellectual contest from the South West geo-political zone, said it is now time for Nigerian youths to take over the mantle of leadership. Anyim, whose office organised the celebrations that climaxed last month with a gala night and awards to persons that have played prominent roles in the emergence and administration of the country since 1914, recalled how Nigerian youths played active roles in the early days. Represented by the Managing Director, Centenary City Plc, Dr. Ikechukwu Odenigwe, Anyim said prominent leaders like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Alhaji Tafawa

Balewa and Chief Ladoke Akintola were in their thirties at the time they took over the leadership of the country, adding that only Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was 42 years old. He equally recalled that the first set of military leaders like Generals Yakubu Gowon, Odumegwu Ojukwu, Murtala Muhammed, Yakubu Danjuma, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Olusegun Obasanjo who fought the war to unite Nigeria, were all in their thirties at the time the burden of statehood was thrust upon them. The SFG, who gave statistics to back his claims that the youths are in the majority in the country’s demographic

structure, therefore challenged them to show enough commitments to the growth of the country “since you have more stakes than the present leaders.” While stressing that the centenary quiz competition was organized to foster unity among Nigerians of diverse backgrounds, he said that the leadership of the nation was looking upon the youths to move the country forward and ensure that it becomes one of the greatest nations in the world soon. Speaking on the on-going National Conference, which his office is also coordinating, Anyim said that the unity of the country in not negotiable

and charged the youths “to protect this nation as one indivisible political and economic entity under one God.” The Coordinator of the Centenary Quiz Competition, Mrs. Angela Nmoh, said the competition had succeeded in educating Nigerians about the history of the country towards instilling the spirit of patriotism and fostering unity among Nigerians. According to her, “Testimonies of the previous contestants and participants is that the Centenary Quiz contest has reconnected Nigerians with the nation’s interest. Most of our contestants and guests have gone back to our history books.”

ECOWAS scores Nigeria, five others high on economic growth From Itunu Ajayi, Abuja wide-ranging report presented to the 44th ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Governments at the weekend has shown that six of the 15 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member states, one of which is Nigeria achieved growth rates above the 6.3 per cent average in 2013. Sierra Leone tops the chart at 14.6 per cent while the five others above the regional average were Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria. According to the 2013 annual report presented by the

ELTA State Governor, Dr. D Emmanuel Uduaghan, at the weekend stressed the

ALGON wants joint task force against attack in Benue

Why centenary celebration is elaborate, by Anyim From Niyi Bello, Akure

Uduaghan tasks ethnic groups on unity

Ghanaian president emerges new chairman President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Kadré Desire Ouédraogo, to the summit of regional leaders in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, the ECOWAS chief said the growth in the regional economy was driven by strong demand for minerals, hydrocarbons, resilience of agricultural production and services as well as the macroeconomic and sectoral reforms implemented by some member states. The regional leaders also elected President John Dramani Mahama as the new ECOWAS chairman. The

Ghanaian president replaces President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire after his twoyear tenure. Details of the report showed that the Commission has also signed a €56 million financing agreement with the European Union under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) as part of the operationalization of the Regional Food Security Reserve, launched along with a Regional Agriculture Agency in September 2013 as part of the region’s effort to improve food availability. The Commission’s achieve-

ment of full commitment of a €600 million envelope for the Regional Indicative Programme under the 10th EDF of the EU encouraged the EU to double the envelope for the programme to €1.2 billion under the 11th EDF. On infrastructure development, President Ouédraogo said three border posts were completed at Nope, Malanville and Cinkanse while that of Seme Krake Plage between Benin and Nigeria was still under construction along with those on the River Gambia Bridge and Mfum between Nigeria and Cameron. These and four other joint border posts programmes

are aimed at facilitating the implementation of the regional flagship protocol on free movement of citizens, right of residence and establishment, as well as ensure unfettered circulation of goods and services to boost regional integration, trade and economic development. The annual report also covered the activities of other Community institutions including the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), which approved a total of 182.1 million U.S. dollars for the financing of 17 projects, and also signed 11 infrastructurefinancing agreements.

has called on the state and Federal Government to initiate a joint military-civilian task force to protect rural communities in the state from herdsmen attacks. The state ALGON boss and chairman of Logo local council, Hon. Kester Kyenge, who made the appeal while briefing journalists at the NUJ House in Makurdi yesterday, maintained that emphasis on local policing and neighbourhood security would help matters. “Instead of relying more on conventional style of government security apparatus, the down-up, people-based approach from ward, local, state and federal level should be emphasized,” he stated. kyenge said the JTF must be designed in the context of the joint Fulani/Hausa, Tiv/Idoma ethno-religious summit to enhance dialogue to resolve the on-going crises.

UN body commends Jonathan, Senate on PWD bill By Tunde Akinola HE Psychology Coalition at the United Nations (PCUN) has commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the Senate over the passage of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities Bill, saying it will address the marginalisation of the vulnerable group of people. In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by United Nations Peace Ambassador and PCUN Official Team member, Grace Eke-Charrier, the UN body lauded the passage of the bill, describing it as a “major step in the right direction.” PCUN said: “This is indeed a laudable achievement and a major step in the right direction in ensuring that people living with disabilities (PWD) are not alienated but given equity, dignity and equal opportunities in all spheres which they rightly deserve, as stated in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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Co-coordinators of Next Generation Nigeria Summit; Barrister Austin Mbamah (left); Haruna Sambo, and Chairperson, Commonwealth Youth Council, Ahmed Adamu, with the Principal of FCT School for the Blind, Mrs. Regina Dung during the presentation of special recognition award to the school principal.

Director General, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhi (left); Managing Director, Shonny Investment and Properties, Mrs. Taiwo Taiwo; Group Managing Director/Founder, Emzor Pharmaceuticals Limited, Dr. Stella Okoli and author of the book, Dr. Patrick Lukulay, during the formal launch of the book: “The Executive in You” in Lagos. PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), Sunday Adeyemi (left); Chairman of the Council, Victor Famuyibo and Vice President, Anthony Arabome during the 45th Annual General Meeting of the Institute in Lagos.

Managing Director, UACN Property Development Company (UPDC), Hakeem Ogunniran (left); Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi; Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Monsurat Summonu and Finance Director, UPDC, Shade Ogunde, at the groundbreaking ceremony for UPDC’s Olive Court at Agodi, Ibadan.

Monday, March 31, 2014 PHOTONEWS | 11

Minister of Works; Arc. Mike Onolememen(left), receiving Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State when the later paid him a courtesy visit in his Office in Abuja.

Human Resources Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Victor Famuyibo (left); Sales Director, Hubert Eze; Brewery Manager, Ethel Emma-Uche and Corporate Affairs Adviser, Kufre Ekanem during the launch of Legend Extra Stout’s Stanoil and metalized labels in Lagos.

Head, Brand Management, Keystone Bank Plc, Omobolanle Osotule (left); Divisional Head, Lagos Island 2, Helen Eriyo; Executive Director, Lagos and West, Yvonne Isichei and Acting Head, Products and Market Support, Obiageli Ibennah, during the bank’s 2014 Annual Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Forum.

Technical Services Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited (CCNL), Lawrence Alau (left); Head, Public Affairs and Communications, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited, Yanju Olomola; General Manager, Special Duties, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Abimbola Jijoho-Ogun and Manager Recycling, LAWMA, Tolulope Adeyo, at the NBC sponsored LAWMA Recycling Club Quiz Competition and Exhibition in Lagos. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

12 Monday, March 31, 2014

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WorldReport Hollande braces for losses amid low turnout in French mayoral vote ARLY turnout was low in E France’s mayoral elections yesterday with President

People celebrate the transition to Moscow time near a city clock tower at a railway station in Simferopol…yesterday. As the rest of Europe was set to move their clocks one hour forward for summer, in Crimea, residents braced for a two-hour jump into the timezone of their new masters in Moscow. PHOTO: AFP

‘Search for Malaysia jet may take years’ Families demand answers HE search for missing T Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 could take years, a United States Naval Officer suggested yesterday, as search and rescue officials raced to locate the plane’s black box recorder days before its batteries are set to die. Ten ships and as many aircraft are searching a massive area in the Indian Ocean west of Perth, trying to find some trace of the aircraft, which went missing more than three weeks ago and is presumed to have crashed. The chief of the China Maritime Search and Rescue Center, He Jianzhong, told the Xinhua state news agency that the international effort

had not found any objects linked to the plane on Sunday, and that Chinese vessels would expand their search area. Numerous objects have been spotted in the two days since Australian authorities moved the search 1,100 km (685 miles) after new analysis of radar and satellite data concluded the Boeing 777 travelled faster and for a shorter distance after vanishing from civilian radar screens on March 8. None has been confirmed as coming from Flight MH370. U.S. Navy Captain, Mark Matthews, who is in charge of the U.S. Towed Pinger Locator (TPL), told journalists at Stirling Naval Base near

Perth that the lack of information about where the plane went down seriously hampers the ability to find it. “Right now the search area is basically the size of the Indian Ocean, which would take an untenable amount of time to search,” he said. “If you compare this to Air France flight 447, we had much better positional information of where that aircraft

Kerry, Lavrov meet over Ukraine NITED States Secretary of U State, John Kerry met with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov yesterday for suddenly arranged talks in Paris as diplomatic efforts to resolve Cold War-style tensions over Ukraine’s crisis gained momentum. The diplomatic push comes

Japan, N’Korea in first formal talks since 2012 APAN and North Korea yesJgovernment-level terday held the first formal talks in more than a year following a shift in Pyongyang’s handling of past abductions of Japanese citizens. The two-day meeting in Beijing came after diplomats held informal talks on the sidelines of a humanitarian conference in the Chinese city of Shenyang between Red Cross officials from the two countries earlier this month. “We would like to have serious and frank discussions over a broad range of outstanding issues for both sides,” Junichi Ihara, head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, told Japan’s NHK public broadcaster. “We would like to make efforts so as to make progress towards solving those issues.” Song Il-Ho, North Korea’s

ambassador for talks to normalise relations with Japan, replied: “I completely feel the same way,” Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported. At the North Korean embassy, the venue of the first day of the meeting, Song expressed hope that relations between the two countries will start moving “in a positive direction,” Kyodo said. Song also compared the resumption of governmental dialogue to the arrival of spring, “when icy rivers melt and water begins to flow,” Kyodo reported. The meeting comes amid recent mixed signals from Pyongyang over its willingness to re-engage in diplomacy with Tokyo. Talks were suspended in late 2012 when Tokyo reiterated its demand that Pyongyang come clean on the abduction issue, which has long hampered efforts to improve ties in the absence of formal

went into the water,” he said, referring to a plane that crashed in 2009 near Brazil and which took more than two years to find. The Malaysian government has come under strong criticism from China, home to more than 150 of the passengers, where relatives of the missing have accused the government of “delays and deception”.

diplomatic relations. The talks were officially called off in December 2012 when Pyongyang launched a long-range missile, drawing international condemnation.

amid alarm over Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s borders, fanning fears it plans to seize more territory following its lightning annexation of Crimea. In a first effort to temper the worst East-West impasse in decades, Russian leader, Vladimir Putin phoned U.S. President, Barack Obama on Friday to discuss either sides’ proposals in what has become a tug-of-war over Ukraine’s future. Lavrov later sought to ease diplomatic tensions by vowing his country had no intention of sending in what Kiev estimates are 100,000 troops gathered on Ukraine’s borders.

Francois Hollande’s Socialists bracing for losses in hundreds of towns and the far-right National Front poised to win a handful of cities for the first time since 1995. The runoff round of voting comes at the end of a week that saw French unemployment surge to a new record, making a reverse of firstround losses by the Socialists unlikely and a cabinet reshuffle by Hollande possible as soon as today. Some 80 per cent of the French want him to dismiss Prime Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, according to a Harris Interactive poll this week, and ambitious and tough-talking Interior Minister, Manuel Valls is their favorite to replace him. “I can’t see how (Ayrault) could stay, unless we save about 30 towns, something nobody really believes,” a Socialist Party source said. The Interior Ministry said only 19.83 per cent of eligible voters had gone to the polls by midday, almost four points

lower than by the same time in the last municipal elections in 2008. “It’s not a good number, the lowest score since 1983,” YvesMarie Cann of the CSA polling institute told BFM-TV, although the move to summer time, with clocks going forward an hour, meant the rate should be treated with caution. Final turnout last Sunday was 63.5 percent - considered low in a country with a strong attachment to its mayors, who wield considerable local power. Most polling stations closed at 6 p.m. although some in big cities will remain open two hours longer. Dissatisfaction with Hollande’s tenure and a string of legal intrigues involving opposition conservatives were expected to dampen turnout. Next presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled for 2017. The streets of Paris were quiet yesterday near the old stock exchange building in the centre, without the queues at polling stations typically seen on an election day.

Chadian soldiers kill ‘eight Bangui residents’ HADIAN soldiers sent to C repatriate their compatriots from the Central African Republic (CAR) killed at least eight civilians when they opened fire on crowds in Bangui, the African peacekeeping force MISCA said yesterday. “We don’t know at present what led to the firing on the residents... but we are trying to gather information to find out what exactly happened” in the incident on Saturday, an officer with the MISCA force told AFP, requesting anonymity. He said the incident occurred in a mainly Christian district in the north of Bangui and that the casualty toll could rise. A new surge of bloodshed has claimed some 40 lives in the past week in the Central African capital, where violence regularly pits mainly Christian militias against minority

Muslim fighters from a former rebel group, the Seleka, that seized power in March 2013. Chadian forces, who are accused of siding with the Seleka because they are also Muslim, have also clashed with the militias known as anti-balaka. Anti-balaka means “antimachete” in the local Sango language and refers to the weapon of choice wielded by the Seleka — but also taken up by the vigilantes. Several residents of the mainly Christian neighbourhoods told AFP by telephone that the Chadian soldiers “were firing in all directions”, causing panic as people tried to flee. The chronically unstable Central African Republic sank into chaos after the Seleka who had helped topple president Francois Bozize refused to lay down their arms and went rogue.

UN body warns of imminent dangers of climate change scientists and offiLmateEADING cials completed a fresh clireport yesterday expected to lay bare the grim impact of climate change, with warnings that global food shortages could spark violence in vulnerable areas. Part of a massive overview by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) set for release today, the report is likely to shape international policy on climate for years to come, and will announce that the impact of global warming is already being felt. Some 500 scientists and gov-

ernment officials have been gathered since Tuesday in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, to hammer out its wording. It will serve as the second of three volumes into climate change’s causes, consequences and possible solutions by the expert panel. The work comes six months after the first volume in the long-awaited Fifth Assessment Report declared scientists were more certain than ever that humans caused global warming. A leaked draft seen by AFP warned that rising greenhouse gas emissions will “sig-

nificantly” boost the risk of floods while droughts will suck away sustainable water supplies. A “large fraction” of land and freshwater species may risk extinction, and a warming climate is projected to reduce wheat, rice and corn yields, even as food demand rises sharply as the world’s population grows. Meanwhile hundreds of millions of coastal dwellers around the world will be displaced by the year 2100, the draft said, while the competition for dwindling resources could even spark violent conflicts.

However, the world can avoid many of the worst-case scenarios with swift and decisive policy steps to cut emissions now, the scientists urged. The delegates were originally expected to finish drafting the official summary text late Saturday evening, but needed extra time to update definitions and digest new approaches. “I felt the meeting was very constructive, and governments appreciated why the authors did things the way they did them,” said Maarten van Aalst, director of Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre.

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Monday, March 31, 2014 | 13

Focus Between diabetes and tuberculosis Doctors are alarmed over the rising cases of diabetes, which they say, could complicate the management of patients infected with tuberculosis. CHUKWUMA MUANYA, EMEKA ANUFORO and AYOYINKA JEGEDE report on the concerns raised by experts on the World Tuberculosis Day, observed on March 24.

UBERCUlOSIS is a common and in many T cases fatal, infectious disease, caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Fact Sheet, the disease typically attacks the lungs, but could also affect other parts of the body. It spreads through the air when people who have an active TB infection cough, sneeze, or transmit respiratory fluids through the air. Most infections do not have symptoms. About one in 10 latent infections eventually progresses which, if left untreated, kills more than 50 per cent of those so infected. The classic symptoms of an active TB infection, according to the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Prof. Innocent Ujah, are a chronic cough with blood-tinged sputum, fever, night sweats and weight loss, giving rise to the formerly common term “consumption.” According to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Nigeria ranks 11th among the 22 highburden countries that account for 80 per cent of the global tuberculosis burden. About 540,000 Nigerians are believed to be living with the disease. Minister of State for Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, told newsmen in Abuja that the disease is made worse by the negative effects of interactions between it and HIV. “TB is the most common life-threatening disease,” he said, “and the number one killer among People living with HIV (PlHIV). It is worthy to note that children also bear the brunt of this disease. TB is a major threat to the right of the child, adolescents and their families. Its potential negative impact on the survival, growth and development of our children, is without question, extremely grave. In spite of this, childhood tuberculosis is most seriously neglected, under-diagnosed and poorly managed. “Tuberculosis today remains an epidemic in most parts of the world, causing the deaths of nearly one-an-a-half million people each year, mostly in developing countries. Nigeria ranks 11th among the 22 high burden countries that account for 80 per cent of the global TB burden.” Chief Medical Director of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Prof. Ettete Peters, said the TB burden in Nigeria is further compounded by the high HIV/AIDS prevalence of 4.6 per cent. He explained: “the Federal Government has developed a strategy to maximise collaboration between HIV and TB programmes in Nigeria and has instituted a policy that all TB suspects and patients should be screened for HIV, while all HIV positive patients should also be screened for TB. “As a result of this policy, about 58, 942 TB

patients, that is 65.2 per cent of the registered TB patients in 2008 were screened for HIV last year, out of which 14,698, that is 24.94 per cent, were found to be HIV positive. About one-third of the world’s population has latent TB, which means, people have been infected by the TB bacteria but are not yet ill and cannot transmit the disease. Ten percent of people infected with TB have a lifetime risk of falling ill. However, persons with compromised immune system, such as people living with HIV, malnutrition or diabetes, or people who use tobacco, have a much higher risk of falling ill.” Peters who is also the president of the Nigerian Thoracic Society explained that poor communities and vulnerable groups are mostly affected. Drug resistant cases A professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Texas Houston School of Public Health, United States, Susan Fisher-Hoch, said the rise in diabetic cases was worrisome, because the drug-resistant varieties pose an alarming threat since the required treatment “is so lengthy and often toxic.” According to her, the biggest risk for tuberculosis today “is not HIV/ AIDS, which led to a surge in cases in the late 1980s, but diabetes. Diabetes impairs the immune system and leaves a person who has been exposed to TB much more likely to develop active disease.” The epidemiologist told CNN: “This is precisely what we saw when we started to investigate TB in communities on the border with Mexico. The alarm has spread to California and the Pacific Northwest, where 20 per cent to 30 per cent of TB cases can be traced to diabetes. TB experts in Florida are also concerned about this phenomenon. Is this on the radar of health providers treating diabetic patients in the United States? Unfortunately, few are aware of the risk of TB or are looking for it. They are also unaware that the course of TB is frequently more severe in patients with diabetes, who do not tolerate TB drugs well. Diabetic patients often have difficulty completing treatment, take longer to be cured and are more likely to relapse, even die, and develop drug-resistant TB. “TB physicians in Texas are acutely aware of the problem. One told me about a woman with severe diabetes in her 30s. When exposed to TB, she quickly developed active disease. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff, she was not able to absorb the TB medication due to nausea and vomiting. As a result, her TB became drug-resistant, and she had to undergo a rigorous, two-year ordeal of treatment. Five of her children also became infected, and two had to be treated for active disease. She was cured and survived, but this is not always the case. The dimensions of the problem are truly staggering. Diabetes is an exploding global epidemic, much larger than HIV/AIDS. In India, diabetes has nearly doubled the number of cases of TB.

Chukwu

Chan

“Today, 26 million of the 382 million people with diabetes live in the United States. By 2035, nearly 600 million people in the world will have diabetes, and by 2050 so will a third of all Americans, according to the International Diabetes Federation and the CDC. Ignoring this new threat could result in a reversal of the decline in TB experienced over recent years.” As the world marked tuberculosis day on March 24, under the theme: “Reach the 3 Million,” global efforts are being intensified to provide drugs for over three million people that are not diagnosed, treated or documented in the fight against the disease every year. According to the WHO, progress recorded for reductions in TB cases and deaths in recent years has been impressive. TB’s mortality has fallen by over 45 per cent worldwide since 1990, and incidence is also declining. New TB tools, such as rapid diagnostics are helping to transform response to the disease and new life-saving drugs are being introduced. But the global burden remains huge and significant challenges persist. According to the WHO, in 2012, there were an estimated 8.6 million new cases of TB and 1.3 million people died from TB; over 95 per cent of TB deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries; poor communities and vulnerable groups are most affected, but this airborne disease is a risk to all; TB is among the top three causes of death for women aged 15 to 44; and there were an estimated 500 000 cases and 74 000 deaths among children in 2012. Challenges The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria said, in a statement, that three of the nine million people that get sick with TB do not get the care they need. According to the world body, there is slow progress in tackling MDR-TB: three out of four MDR-TB cases still remain without a diagnosis, and around 16 000 MDR-TB cases reported to WHO in 2012 were not put on treatment. “Provision of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for TB patients known to be living with HIV needs to increase to meet WHO’s recommendation that all TB patients living with HIV promptly receive ART. Many countries around the world are now strengthening their TB strategic plans and setting new targets to drive down the numbers of deaths and cases of TB, while identifying priorities, best use of domestic resources, and funding gaps for controlling TB,” the statement added. Meanwhile, 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. Progress in diagnosing MDR-TB Nigeria and 26 others are making progress in diagnosing MDR-TB with innovative international project championed by the WHO. In many countries before now, it is hard for people to access diagnostic services – particularly for MDRTB. But the WHO, in a statement, said the project known as EXPAND-TB (Expanding Access to New Diagnostics for TB), financed by UNITAID, helped to triple the number of MDR-TB cases diagnosed in participating countries. UNITAID is a global health initiative, financed

majorly by a levy on airline tickets. Established in 2006 by the governments of Brazil, Chile, France, Norway and the United Kingdom, it provides sustainable funding to tackle inefficiencies in markets for medicines, diagnostics and prevention for Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Malaria and Tuberculosis in developing countries. According to the WHO, the project has delivered impressive results. Over 30 per cent of the MDR-TB cases detected globally in 2012 were from EXPAND-TB countries. Ninety per cent of India’s detected MDR-TB cases were through EXPAND-TB’s supported services. Use of these tests requires strengthened laboratory services. By the end of 2013, 92 laboratories were fully operational. From 2009 to 2013, the number of MDR-TB cases diagnosed in the 27 countries tripled, with 36 000 diagnosed in 2013 alone. The project has enabled more patients to be treated with quality-assured second-line TB medicines. Through that demand, the project has helped to reduce the price of individual medicines and MDR-TB treatment regimens by one third. Prices have also dropped for diagnostic commodities. Solutions Ujah said diagnosis of active TB relies on radiology (commonly chest X-rays), as well as microscopic examination and microbiological culture of body fluids. “Diagnosis of latent TB relies on the tuberculin skin test (TST) and/or blood tests.” The NIMR DG said treatment is difficult and requires administration of multiple antibiotics over a long period of time. “Social contacts are also screened and treated if necessary. Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem in MDR-TB infections,” he said. He, however, said the disease could be prevented by screening and vaccination with the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine. Alhassan noted that most TB cases in the country were still not being detected, “thereby enlarging the pool of infectious individuals.” He also advised that whoever coughs for two or more weeks should contact health officials for diagnosis for TB. He concluded with the assurance that “diagnosis and TB drugs are available free” in all centers treating the disease. Director-General of WHO, Dr Margaret Chan, in a statement to mark the World TB Day said: “Early and fast diagnosis of all forms of TB is vital. It improves the chances of people getting the right treatment and cured, and it helps stop spread of drug-resistant disease.” Fisher-Hoch said: “We must educate health care providers, patients and communities. All TB patients should be screened for diabetes. Diabetes caregivers and their patients need to be aware of the risk of TB, and patients born in or traveling to neighborhoods or countries where TB is common should be screened. If TB is found, these patients need treatment, along with the support they need to get through the many months of daily medication. “We also need strong investment in research and development of TB vaccines, rapid and inexpensive diagnostic methods for both TB and diabetes, and fast-acting, easy-to-take TB medication.”

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Monday, March 31, 2014

Politics The National Conference Debate

It’s the economy, stupid...! By Ola Balogun S the latest version of the same kind of A meaningless talk shop that has periodically been convened by various Nigerian Governments over the past three or four decades kicks off, all the talk is currently about alleged marginalisation of some ethnic groups, squabbles about religious differences, complaints about the adequacy or inadequacy of feeding allowances, fights over seating arrangements and many other assorted red herrings... However, amidst all the noisemaking by the usual assembly of empty barrels, it is easy to predict that the one important topic that Nigerians need to sit down and discuss seriously will be OFF the table! Indeed, there are no prizes to be won by correctly anticipating that very few of those who have currently gathered in Abuja, to play to the gallery and flaunt their highly inflated sense of self-value, will be minded to raise the issue of the fundamental economic choices that have led our beloved nation into such a dire situation that dozens of impoverished youths died recently vying desperately for low-level civil service positions that were apparently advertised as part of a massive scam organised at the very highest level of the Nigerian government... The usual excuse for not discussing the economy is that economic issues are boring: What is supposed to count is the all too Nigerian game of political stuntmanship! So, no prizes for correctly concluding that the following issues are those that will be of immediate concern to the verbal gladiators who are currently gathered in Abuja: - Which are the latest political party alliances that can be formed in the course of secret and not-so-secret nightly meetings among Confab attendees? (N.B. For ‘political party’, read: ‘gang of devious manipulators’!). — To which non-African religion does this or that future governor/legislator/presidential candidate claim to be affiliated? — How far have the various ethno-regional conspiratorial groups succeeded in entangling and confusing the Nigerian populace through their nefarious voter-sucker creation schemes? — How can the latest talk shop empty sloganeering gathering succeed in adding useful new refinements to the horrible self-perpetuating power-grabbing game that has enabled the various branches of the Nigerian elite class to lord it over the hapless majority of Nigerians in place of the British overlords whom they ostensibly replaced a half century ago? BVIOUSLY, no one will want to talk about O Nigeria’s economic choices and strategies, since the kind of primitive savage capitalism that the elite class and their foreign puppet masters have succeeded in imposing on our people all these years will always be presented as the ‘best international practice,’ associated

Balogun with the highest ideals of Western derived political party democracy.... Strangely enough, however, even though fundamental economic issues will be off the table during the latest talk show extravaganza that has just been declared open in Abuja by Nigeria’s current would-be Pastor/President, it is not altogether coincidental that a certain group of dolled-up supposed economic specialists, who habitually parade under the title of Nigerian Economic Summit, has simultaneously surfaced in Abuja to hold their usual annual conference. To all intents and purposes, the purpose of this gathering on the side must be to create the impression that SOME attention is being paid to economic issues by the powers that be, even though the main national talk shop itself will strenuously avoid all such boring and inelegant subjects! Not surprisingly, the distinguished members of the aptly named Nigerian Economic Summit (summit of idleness and folly?) have distinguished themselves year after year by gathering solemnly in Abuja to declare, with straight faces, that the Nigerian economy has never fared better, and that Nigeria is well on the path to becoming a world economic power! To accuse the members of this peculiar fraternity of being avid practitioners of voodoo economics will be to indulge in a massive form of understatement: The total disconnect between

There are no prizes to be won by correctly anticipating that very few of those who have currently gathered in Abuja, to play to the gallery and ﬂaunt their highly inﬂated sense of self-value, will be minded to raise the issue of the fundamental economic choices that have led our beloved nation into such a dire situation that dozens of impoverished youths died recently vying desperately for low-level civil service positions that were apparently advertised as part of a massive scam organised at the very highest level of the Nigerian government... The usual excuse for not discussing the economy is that economic issues are boring: What is supposed to count is the all too Nigerian game of political stuntmanship! Obviously, no one will want to talk about Nigeria’s economic choices and strategies, since the kind of primitive savage capitalism that the elite class and their foreign puppet masters have succeeded in imposing on our people all these years will always be presented as the ‘best international practice.’

Akinyemi

Strangely, even though fundamental economic issues will be oﬀ the table during the latest talk show extravaganza that has just been declared open in Abuja by Nigeria’s current would-be Pastor/President, it is not altogether coincidental that a certain group of dolled-up supposed economic specialists, who habitually parade under the title of Nigerian Economic Summit, has simultaneously surfaced in Abuja to hold their usual annual conference... To all intents and purposes, the purpose of this gathering on the side must be to create the impression that SOME attention is being paid to economic issues by the powers that be, even though the main national talk shop itself will strenuously avoid all such boring and inelegant subjects! Not surprisingly, the distinguished members of the aptly named Nigerian Economic Summit (summit of idleness and folly?) have year after year declare, with straight faces, that the Nigerian economy has never fared better, and that Nigeria is well on the path to becoming a world economic power! the amazing economic predictions of the Nigerian Economic Summit group members and the realities of Nigerian existence is such that these illustrious folks may be said to most closely resemble actors in the early silent comic movies, jerking around the screen at oddly accelerated speeds while everything around them collapses in utter confusion... However, it is whispered in some circles that their yeoman yearly labour in Abuja may not go entirely unrewarded, since a number of bountiful contracts are said to flow each year from the denizens of Aso Rock once they have finished imbibing the potent misleading beverages that are expertly concocted on each occasion by the Summit attendees... ND so, since no one will condescend to disA cuss economic issues and strategies in Abuja now or in the near future, it will be left to the neglected and mercilessly exploited majority of the Nigerian populace to ponder the following questions in the midst of their ever-growing hunger and pain: — How come there are so many banks in present-day Nigeria and so few industries? — Who are the REAL owners of these ubiquitous banks? — On what basis have Nigeria’s oil wells and the fabulous wealth derived from them been allocated to a few lucky individuals? — Is it really true that a lady in our midst grad-

uated to the status of ‘richest woman in Africa’ simply by virtue of being a fashion designer supplying clothes to the wife of a former military dictator, who, in gratitude, prevailed on her husband to allocate one of our oil wells to the lucky new member of the Forbes group of the world’s most fabulously wealthy individuals? — How much oil is actually pumped and sold each day by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, how much is paid for this oil, and what fraction of this money actually finds its way back into the nation’s coffers? — How much tax do the foreign oil companies pay to the Nigerian Government each year, and how is their tax rate assessed? — How long do the supposed leaders of Nigeria have to remain on bended knees with bowed heads to listen, in awe and worshipful respect, each time they are summoned to receive orders from their foreign puppet masters, delivered through the so-called World Bank and IMF local representatives? The list of questions could go on an on, but since they are not amusing, we will have to set them aside and content ourselves with watching the free cinema shows that have been set up in Abuja for our benefit for the next three months... WHO SAYS THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO ENJOY IN OUR IMPOVERISHED NATION? • Dr. Balogun, a filmmaker and musician, cur-

Monday, March 31, 2014 POLITICS 15

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The National Conference Debate

Maina tasks delegates on women, girls issues • Kwara Muslims want Sharia in all states From Abiodun Fagbemi (Ilorin) and Omotola Oloruntobi (Abuja) INISTER of Women Affairs and Social DeM velopment, Hajiya Zainab Maina, has called on the delegates to support initiatives on issues relating to women and girls. Maina said the country could not become great without the input of women, hence the need to consider their roles in national development. She stated this in Abuja at a press briefing ahead of the interactive meeting with leadership and female delegates to the national conference. Meanwhile, Muslim faithful in Kwara State have urged the national conference to make Sharia law applicable in all states of the federation. They, however, stated that the legal code, which, they described as divine and must be obeyed by all Muslims, should be applicable only to the Muslims in any of the states. The Muslims stated this at a press conference in Ilorin, where they also called for the adoption of parliamentary system of government and a five-year single term for the president and governors. The Women Affairs Minister urged the leadership and delegates to the conference to support initiatives that would mainstream issues of women and girls for improved national development. “I would particularly like them to align with the National Gender Policy and its outcomes as strategy for addressing some of the challenges that affect women and girls in Nigeria,” Maina said. “The national conference, we hope, will provide the enabling framework for the mainstreaming of gender into all sectors of the economy, as well as create the opportunity to engage with Nigerian men on issues of women and other vulnerable groups.” The minister commended the federal and states governments for ensuring at least 30 per cent representation of women at the conference. She urged other groups, which have not given women 30 per cent representation, to do so in line with the National Gender Policy. She stated that the ministry and other women organisations have sponsored amendment to the 1999 Constitution, which, if adopted, would improve the capacity of women to enjoy their fundamental human rights. Maina said that the development and empowerment of women would be enhanced if the Equal Opportunity Bill currently before the National Assembly were passed. She called on women to use their numerical strength to ensure active participation in the electoral process and the general elections in 2015. In the interim, the former Grand Khadi of Kwara State, Abdulkadir Orire, who spoke on behalf of the Muslims, said they were agitating for the full inclusion of Sharia in the nation’s constitution “as part of the fundamental rights of the Nigerian Muslims.” Orire, who noted that the agitation had been made at various times in the past with the law being accepted with restrictions in some forms, said that unlike the caveat included in it in the 1999 Constitution, the law should be made applicable in any state. “While the issue (Sharia) was included in 1999

Meanwhile, Muslim faithful in Kwara State have urged the national conference to make Sharia law applicable in all states of the federation. They, however, stated that the legal code, which, they described as divine and must be obeyed by all Muslims, should be applicable only to the Muslims in any of the states. The Muslims stated this at a press conference in Ilorin, where they also called for the adoption of parliamentary system of government and a five-year single term for the president and governors.

Sultan Sa’ad

Maina Constitution, the practice and applicability was allowed in any state, which desired it,” he said. “This should not be so. Sharia should be made applicable in any state of the federation for Muslims only, as in the case of High Court.” The Kwara Muslims’ spokesman, who noted that parliamentary system of government was practised in the country in the First Republic, said the system was not as wasteful as the presidential system the country currently practices. He said that a single term of office promotes good governance, reduces cost and prevents desperation and do-or-die politics. He said the type of tenure of office allows the incumbents to remain focused in their primary assignment of governance more than the two-term of office, which, he argued, “encourages abandonment or delay of implementation of government’s programmes.” Orire, similar to what a national body of Muslims in the country had done, alleged marginalisation of Muslims in the representation of delegates at the national conference. He said while Muslims constitute 60 percent of population of the country, they made up of only 38 per cent of the total delegates, as against the Christians, who constitute 62 per cent. He, however, supported the call for inclusion of religion in the future population census of the country made by the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) in its response to the claim by the Muslims that Christians only constitute 40 per cent of people in the country.

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16 | Monday, March 31, 2014

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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 That intervention fund for women

HE Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina’s suggestion that 35 per cent of intervention fund voted by the Central Bank of Nigeria, as well as the Nigerian incentive-based Risk Sharing for Agriculture Lending (NIRSAL) be allocated to women, is certainly one sensible way to mainstream women into national development. No one will deny this for, in Nigeria, so male-dominated, both genderbased discrimination against women and gender-blind public policies are common. And for these, society pays high tangible and intangible costs such as the underutilisation of a large female human resource, and the attendant economic and other losses. So, gender equity, meaning impartiality in the allocation of opportunities and resources, and gender equality, meaning the accordance of equal value to the natural similarities and differences between men and women are absolutely worthy and worthwhile causes. To empower the nearly half of Nigeria’s population who are women in as diverse positive ways as are possible – education, political participation, financial support, knowledge and skill acquisition – will raise their individual productivity and collective contributions to the nation and also improve the quality of societal wellbeing. Indeed, this is the motive of the 2006 National Gender Policy (NGP) which was instituted with the expressed goal of ‘building a just society devoid of discrimination, harness the full potential of all social groups regardless of sex, or circumstance, promote the enjoyment of fundamental human rights and protect the health, social, economic, and political wellbeing of all citizens in order to achieve equitable rapid economic growth, evolve an evidence-based planning and governance system, where human, social, financial, and technological resources are efficiently and effectively deployed for sustainable development’. This is a faultless justification to promote both gender equity and gender quality in all areas of national life – home, workplace, and elsewhere. As rightly noted in the NGP, gender equality as a human right is not only an intrinsic good, it is a prerequisite for the achievement of sustainable development. Maina’s idea is, really, part of a continuing and strident demand that men should allow women greater participation in all spheres of national life. But this viewpoint addresses only one side to the issue. The other side is that respect is better earned. Even as women should, rightfully, aspire to the leadership positions, they must justly and justifiably earn their place at the top. And, to prove they are a better alternative to men, they need to do things not just differently but evidently better. Furthermore, leadership roles demand only the best hands. It would be unwise – and unsafe – to grant opportunities to people only in order to fill a quota. This country has done this so far and its sorry state is evidence of a wrong-heeded approach. Of course women deserve equal access with men to opportunities but only the best women are good enough for Nigeria. It must be conceded that many women have proven their worth and honourably too, in positions of trust. However, it is also true that given the behaviour – proven or alleged – of some entrusted with high office in recent times, not a few women in this clime give reason to doubt that, in the exercise of authority and power and the attendant temptations, the women are yet a better option than the men. Indeed, the brazenness of some women in pursuit of undeserved reward can be frightening. Women should have fair opportunity and should, where earned, receive equal treatment with men. But they need to close ranks too. For instance, they must act with a unity of purpose where and when their own seek leadership positions. The incident in 2007 in which a woman candidate for president recorded only one vote (assumedly her own) is an embarrassing comment on the women solidarity. The point needs to be made that official and non-official measures and steps to ‘mainstream women’ should not lead to a reverse discrimination against men. It is in cognisance of this that the UN Economic and Social Council has explicitly defined gender mainstreaming as “the process of assessing the implications for women and men, of any planned action including legislations, policies and programmes, in all areas and at all levels. It is a strategy for making women’s, as well as men’s concerns and experiences an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic, and societal spheres so that women and men can benefit equally and inequality is not perpetuated.” Besides, the National Policy for Women has been renamed the National Gender Policy by the Federal Government The ministry that Hajia Maina heads is pre-eminently positioned to implement the gender mainstreaming strategies so thoroughly articulated in the National Gender Policy. If this is earnestly done, surely, noticeable achievements will be recorded in respect of the millennium development goals and many gender-related international protocols to which Nigeria is a signatory.

LETTERS

In Nigeria, citizens pay to get jobs IR: In 2010, the Federal S(FRSC) Road Safety Commission advertised vacant posts. It directed interested job applicants to purchase application forms from various FRSC State Commands at a fee of N1, 000 after the submission of some required documents. The same year, the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) requested job applicants to purchase “access codes” from 21 participating banks at a fee of N1,500 in order to log in to their e-recruitment portal. A year after this in April, the Nigerian Navy conducted an aptitude test at the Navy Secondary School, Ojo. The applicants who came from various states across the federation to write this test had previously paid an online application fee of N3,000. Last year, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) made public its recruitment exercise and asked applicants to pay N1,000 application fee. I have intentionally left out the conducts of these tests because that is another set of sorry tales thus, when the NIS charged interested job applicants N1,000, it did not appear to the candidates as an anomaly. Even when members of the public complained, officials of the NIS not only claimed that the service charge was ‘cheap’ as com-

pared to other government agencies, the Minister of Interior justified the fees as a fee for the IT consultant and not the agency or ministry. With the advancements in Information Communication Technology (ICT, government agencies now employ the use of Internet technology to whittle down bureaucracies in the recruitment of personnel. Similarly, in order to create a level playing field where applicants are not exposed to the subjectivity of nepotism, Internet job applications create a platform to screen candidates based on their submitted credentials. Nonetheless, this has not really solved the problem; it has instead created opportunities for scam artists to fashion out ways of fleecing unemployed graduates. Our government agencies have set the template where job applicants pay fees to process recruitment processes – unfortunately, it is now a norm. Since government charges its own citizens for jobs, fraudsters have/had cashed in on this to either clone existing government websites or create phony websites claiming to be recruiting for various government agencies. In fact, the Nigeria Customs Service and NSCDC have had to come out in the recent past to issue a disclaimer that they were not conducting any recruitment exercises. This action by government agencies of committing job applicants

towards financing their job processes has not only aided corruption, it has also made it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate recruitment exercises. Governments all around the world have a basic duty to create employment opportunities for its citizenry as well as catering for their welfare. However, the psyche of the average Nigerian has been so bastardized by the so-called ‘Naija factor’ that wrong normally juxtaposes with right. Never is it the duty for a potential employee (whose chances of eventually getting a job are uncertain) to fund the recruitment process. In fact, some employers go the long way of funding the associated expenses candidates bear in the recruitment process because of the inconvenience caused by their actions. The present government talks so much about creation of jobs – it is expected that the least fundamental action Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) take is to include the cost of recruitment exercises in the budget. It is a great disservice to subject citizens to a ‘job tax’ or breed an environment of nepotism where jobs belong to the highest bidders and/or highly connected individuals. Obviously, it is time for our representatives in the legislature to stop turning the blind eye to these unfair job taxes. •Mustafa Yusuf-Adebola, Lagos.

Monday, March 31, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Opinion National Conference and sundry matters By Uche Jack-Osimiri HE National Conference has begun in T earnest. It has the mandate to consider debate and make proposals for the constitutional issues such as fiscal federalism, resource control, regional autonomy and many other things. However, there are sundry issues that ought not to be neglected. Firstly, the educational curriculum in the nation’s primary and secondary schools should incorporate the study of comparative religion – of the four major religions in Nigeria such as Christianity, Islam, African Traditional Religion and Eckankar – as a joint academic field to enhance religious tolerance. This would cater for the spiritual nature of man and inter-relationship between individuals and Supreme God. If our youths are taught that Abraham is Ibrahim, David is Dauda, Solomon is Suleiman, Jesus is Isah, etc even though they played different roles at different times in the Holy Bible and Holy Koran, there would be tolerance, which would eventually lead to harmonious co-existence of all mankind. If the youths are taught that the Moslems say their prayers directly to Allah, the Christian pass theirs through Jesus Christ and the African traditional worshippers go through their own departed ancestors in their supplication to the Supreme God whether “HE” is called Allah, Jehovah, “Chi-ukwu” or “Olodumare”, they would appreciate their sacred similarities capable of eradicating the religions strife and violence. Secondly, the issue of the Christian and Islamic pilgrimage should be revisited by the Conference delegates. What was started by some states’ governors to encourage some impecunious Moslem faithful to fulfill their religious obligations to God had suddenly degenerated into virus to the rest of Nigeria whereby state governors now set up the equivalent Christian Pilgrimage Board to sponsor pilgrimage to the holy land of Jerusalem and Mecca. These are personal private religious obligations of individual worshippers that should not be funded or subsidised by the Nigerian Government. The conference should consider not only the abolition but prohibition of any Nigerian government participation in any way.

The government which is yet to sponsor traditional religionists, Eckists and others should not be involved in these wasteful expenditures of public funds. It is not part of the duty of the government to fulfill individual private religious obligations. If sponsorship of the religious pilgrimage is abolished, it would enable us save sufficient money to facilitate more jobs in the public service for our teeming unemployed youths. The third situation is to consider the possibility of abrogating the Land Use Act 1978 in its entirety. In as much as it limits the payment of compensation to unexhausted improvements on land only to the exclusion of site value and other utilities associated with the use of the land, its expropriation tendency is to acquire the land of the poor people and pay them pittance as compensation. In many other cases, they delay payments for many years and sometimes they refuse to pay. Britain, our colonial masters who studied the cultural diversities in the Southern Nigeria with limited land mass and disproportionately large population imposed the Public Lands Acquisition Ordinance 1876 as consolidated in 1917 Cap 167 Law of Southern Nigeria and Lagos. The colonial administrators also imposed Lands and Native Rights Ordinance 1916 in the Northern Nigeria which metamorphosed into Land Tenure Law 1962. They foresaw this dichotomy and imposed different property Laws to govern different parts of the country. Public Lands Acquisition Act which has humane criteria for the assessment of compensation should be reformed and reintroduced in the Eastern and Western States of Nigeria. Since Land Tenure Law has endured in the Northern states for over 100 years now, it should continue to apply there because of their large land mass. It is a great mistake by the military power brokers to impose Land Tenure Law 1962 on the whole country under the guise of the Land Use Act (emphasis). The Northern and Southern states can co-exist under different laws like Tanzania where the mainland part (Tanganyika) operates Land Ordinance 1923, now Land Act 1999 (which is in

pari-materia to the Nigerian Land Use Act 1978) while the Riverine Tanzania (Zanzibar and Pemba) operated the Public Land Acquisition Act 1909. Even in the United Kingdom, different laws govern England/Wales on one hand while the Scotland and Northern Ireland have different and separate laws. The Land Use Act 1978 (Nigeria), the Land Act 1999 (Tanzania) Land Act 1999 (Uganda) Land Act 2012 (Kenya) have been identified by the Oxfam World Agency as instruments of “LANDS GRABB” thereby making many people landless especially the rural and urban peasant farmers who depend on land for their livelihood. Oxfam warned this could be contributing to hunger and poverty (emphasis). A critical examination of the Land Use Act 1978 shows it is expropriation, a piece of legislation whose main mode of operation is to aid the lands grabbing of the poor peasants without their consent and divide it amongst the wellto-do. This is in violation of the provisions of international law as stipulated by Article 14 United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People 2007. Worse still, instead of utilising S. 30 (i) (a) 1960 Constitution, S.30 (i) (a) 1963 Constitution which guaranteed payment of adequate compensation for compulsory Land Acquisition, the authors of S. 40 (i) (a) 1979 Constitution and S. 40 (i) (a) 1999 Nigerian Constitution inserted the prompt payment of compensation which derogates the meaning and concepts of adequate compensation. S. 8 Botswana Constitution, Article 18 Zambia Constitution, S. 20 Ghanaian Constitution and S. 75 Kenya Constitution, Article 14 African Charter on Human and Peoples Right (Ratification and Enforcement) Act 1983 – all made provisions for adequate compensation in contemplation of the compulsory land acquisition or in violation of the fundamental human right to property. In the case of Commissioner of Lands v. Jiwaji & Public Trustee (1978) Kenya Law Report 192 at 194, the Kenyan Court of Appeal held that full compensation must be paid to expropriated landowner and since compulsory acquisition is not a voluntary transfer or conveyance of land, no deduction of income tax within S. 6 (i)

(a) Income Tax Act was to be allowed because it derogates the concept of adequate compensations which translates to full monetary recompense. The Court of Appeal awarded full compensation in addition to 15 per cent of the capital value of the property. Similarly, in the case of SELENGOR STATE V. TASI (2005) 6 MLJ 289 at 292-3, the Malaysian Court of Appeal disregarded the constraints in the Land Acquisition Act and relied on the fundamental human right to property and awarded full compensation as the equivalent of adequacy for compulsory land Acquisition. The Land Use Act vests the ownership of all lands on the Governor and his cabinet members in a socialist manner. How can we operate a socialist legislation in a capitalist economy like Nigeria? How can the government take people’s land and pay them pittance as compensation? In many cases they take land worth N10 million and pay N300,000 as peanuts. In many other cases, the agents of government claim that there are no unexhausted improvements on the land when the landowner can farm on the land to feed his family? If they take the land without unexhausted improvements, without compensation to the landowner, how can he feed his family with very high unemployment rate? The Nigeria landowner must be paid full compensation which must account for all the losses and injuries he/she sustained for compulsory sacrifice of surrendering his/her land for public purposes which oftentimes turn out to be spurious. Section 51 of the Public Lands Acquisition Act remains a good law applicable to Southern States of Nigeria and what is required is the amendment of it so that Judges can be given robust powers to award compensation beyond the mere market value – which would be adequate from the standpoint of the expropriated landowners, after evaluating expert evidence of estate surveyors, valuers, realtors, architects, lands surveyors, quantity surveyors and others involved in real property industry. Section 51 should be reformed so that the courts should be given powers to award compensation which would be adequate to economically rehabilitate the expropriated landowners. • Prof. Jack-Osimiri is of the Faculty of Law, Rivers State University of Science & Technology.

Revisiting the state of our press (1) By Pius Isiekwene HEN Ambassador Patrick Dele Cole writes on the state of W the Press, it is borne out of passion, experience and a deep concern for the future of the Fourth Estate of the realm. As a former managing director of Daily Times and pioneer director of The Guardian Newspapers, the one-time ambassador to Brazil, has seen the best of the Nigerian press and would rather not see the worst. But what should be done to save the once authoritative and credible agenda-setting institution? In his article in The Guardian of March 24, 2014, Cole traced the history of the vibrant Nigerian press to the immediate pre-1960 era and its role in securing independence from the colonial masters. The press maintained its vocal role in the post-independence period amidst ethnic and religious distractions. It also tended to reflect, in the words of Cole, the tripartite power base of the nation up to 1985. Since then, however, the ownership of the print media seems to have changed hands with the minorities in the lead. Cole’s disenchantment with the contemporary press – its lack of courage, inconsistency, naivety and failure to set agenda – is evident all through the article. He argues, and rightly too, that the press despite its privileged access to the centres of power, falls short of adequate coverage of governance. He also accuses the press, indeed the entire media, of “an almost criminal apathy” occasioned by laziness and possible corruption of the watchdog itself. Recounting personal encounters with brownenvelope-seeking journalists, he wondered why the press should not have “a higher moral standard than the society it reports on?” But Cole’s greatest grouse with journalists seems to arise from their under-reportage of major issues, over-reliance on handouts, inherent lack of bite in reports and inadequate follow-up. He cited examples of shoddily handled reports to include the privatization processes, the Otedola-Farouk saga, capital market intrigues, the banking sector, the implications of the CBNNNPC tango over missing billions of dollars. Other matters deserving of better treatment by the press which caught his attention included the controversial purchase of two cars for a minister for one million pounds, the parastatal-minister rela-

tionship and the financial dealings of the members of the National and State Assemblies. His verdict: “Our (journalists’) duty is to examine, report, reevaluate and report again. We must (endeavour) to seek that journalistic holy grail: facts. This we do endlessly, ceaselessly and unfailingly.” There is implied hope in Cole’s discourse. Having himself been involved in the public policy process, he appreciates the indispensability of a credible, vibrant and courageous press in fostering good governance and better society. Such a press would generate qualitative feedback for policy formulators, makers and implementers at all levels. It would ensure transparency and accountability. The prevalent national culture of impunity cannot survive an inquisitive press with eyes on policy outcomes. No fair-minded judge can acquit the press of Cole’s charges even as some practising journalists may score a pass on a fair scale. But how did the rot set in and what can be done to restore the integrity of the press that was once dreaded by colonialists, respected by politicians and feared by military dictators? To be sure, the rot has not just begun, as rightly argued by Cole. It began with the shift from a nationalistic and professional catalyst during the independence struggle to a sectional and compromised watchdog that served the parochial interests of its owners more than the general good of the people and the profession. The trend has only worsened with the rapid quantitative growth in the industry, the entry of merchant proprietors, high professional labour turnover, inadequate training, weak internal regulation and supremacy of beat associations, among other factors. First, the quantitative growth. Apart from the electronic media organs owned and operated by governments at the federal and regional levels, individuals were free to establish newspapers and magazines. Over time, the number of publicly-owned and privately-owned media organs increased as newly created states and proprietors established their own outfits to cater to their perceived primary constituencies. While largely political considerations informed the establishment of the states-owned organs, private sector investments may have been spurred by anticipated commercial gains. The expected financial returns never materialized in many cases, thus leaving a trail of high

mortality of newspapers and magazines with correspondingly ruined careers. The licensing of private radio and television operators, desirable and beneficial as it has been, added to the unplanned explosion. The first casualty of the explosion in media ownership and operation was professional manpower. New media owners poached the few professionals in the older organs without any well-thought-out plan of renewal by the relevant professional bodies or the media promoters. The banking boom of the early 80s worsened the situation as the banks, armed with mouthwatering pay pockets, stormed the media houses for recruitment of public affairs handlers of various designations. Unable to compete with the banks, the media houses threw their doors open to all manner of job seekers for replacements and fresh recruitments. All an applicant needed were a high level of desperation and a flair for writing. No insistence on professional qualifications. A flair for writing is desirable for a would-be career journalist. But journalism goes beyond writing well. A journalist is expected to make a sound judgment about what is the most important issue and the probable consequences of rapidly occurring events. Many of the new entrants lacked this expertise and even cared less about integrity. Their foremost goals were money and fame and as soon as they got enough, they shipped out. Journalism also suffered and still suffers from inadequate training and re-training of practitioners. Unlike accounting, law, medicine, estate management and other highly developed professions, there is no mandatory tutelage for would-be journalists. Even those employed with journalism qualifications are rarely re-trained. Some media organisations have experimented with in-house orientation and refresher courses but found them unsustainable with the exit of competent practitioners entrusted with such programmes through job changes or retirement on the grounds of age. The tight daily newsroom schedules and high labour turnover in the editorial sections of media organisations are disincentives to managers even when skill gaps are apparent. • To be continued • Isiekwene is a Lagos-based communications consultant and trainer.

18 | Monday, March 31, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Opinion To prevent anti-balakanism in Nigeria By Richard Maduku OR a while, a highly disturbing drama has FNigeria. been enacted somewhere not too far from The cast is not the regular actors you and I used to know. Neither is the stage, because everything is real! As there is no army, no police and no government worth the name, Christians and Muslims in the Central African Republic (CAR) are at each other’s jugular. The Muslim minority made up of mostly great grand children of settlers from Chad and the Cameroons are being hunted down and slaughtered like mad dogs by a militia of the Christian majority in that former French colony. Most of the lucky Muslims that were taken to safety in the Cameroons and Chad don’t know where their great grandparents came from and so they end up in refugee camps in both countries. A good number of the Muslim population yet to be slaughtered inside the CAR are herded into UN protected camps and some priests are risking their lives to protect those that ran into their churches. This is because all the places the Muslims have been assembled in CAR are surrounded by the enemy they are fleeing from. They pounce on any of the Muslims that strayed as they are being taken to refugee camps in other countries. Few of the killers known as Christian Anti-balaka have automatic rifles. They use mostly spears and machetes to hack down their victims in broad day light with mass media cameramen recording the scenes. French and other international peace keepers who are too few to stop the carnage also watch helplessly. Some of the Christian Anti-balaka militiamen were so wild they actually, in front of TV cameras, ate the flesh of the Muslims they have chopped off! This, one of them boasted, was to avenge the death of his family members that were murdered early last year (2013) by a Muslim militia known as Seleka. During their brief reign of terror in CAR, the Muslim Seleka militia did not commit crimes as horrendous as those committed so far by Boko Haram in Nigeria. But the backlash the Seleka has created in the form of Anti-balaka has become a far more murderous monster that is not only after the Seleka members but the entire Muslim population in the CAR. What, some people are asking, has the Muslim population in CAR done that has worked up the Christians into such a barbaric rage and, though not clearly a religious war Boko Haram is waging,

what can Nigeria do to prevent being plunged into a similar situation by the sect’s mass killing? Some people believe the sect is being secretly sponsored by some highly placed persons in one political party that is top heavy with Muslims. This view is linked to the pronouncements of many highly-placed Muslims especially those in that political party. For instance, when the state of emergency was first declared last year in the three states (Borno, Yobe and Adamawa) where the sect’s bloodletting was most pronounced, some prominent Muslim leaders mostly from the accused party openly spoke against it. They cried out that the North was being turned into a war zone. Though none of them has spoken up loudly against the Boko Haram sect for their atrocities, a clique of northern elders has vowed to drag the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague. This, as they claimed, was due to the death of some inhabitants of Bama town that were probably caught between the cross fire of the army and the sect members. This resolve of the elders has made some observers to wonder if, to them, the few unverified deaths at Bama were more precious than the thousands Boko Haram has killed. Another reason many observers believe some Muslim leaders in Nigeria were sponsoring the Boko Haram sect is their silence where they were expected to speak out. For instance, they never openly renounce the name of the sect which means western education is evil. Many also never openly proclaim that Islam is not spread through the use of brute force as the sect has vowed to do in northern Nigeria if not the whole country. As if the use of brute force to spread the religion is in order, most Muslims also never openly condemn the sect members when they started the gruesome killing of unarmed Christians in their homes, at relaxation places and as they worship in churches. Instead of openly condemning and showing their revulsion at these and other heinous acts of the sect, what most Muslims leaders do is to boo the Federal Government each time the insurgents struck. If they are not taunting the Federal Government as incapable, then they are cooking up excuses for Boko Haram’s lust for blood! One of the excuses some Muslim leaders give to justify the mass killing of innocent persons by members of the Boko Haram is poverty. Though the North where the Boko Haram operates is a vast arable land that would make a white Zim-

babwean farmer green with envy, the state governors and elite from the area including some from the Southwest have been openly asking the Federal Government to empower members of the evil sect. By this, they mean that the Federal Government should give leaders of the sect lump sums of money as well as pay them monthly salaries after granting them amnesty as it was done to some Niger Delta militants! This is despite the fact that the sect leader has boasted that they need no amnesty from anybody and it is they that the Federal Government should actually beg for amnesty! Another excuse some elite give to justify the wanton killing of innocent persons including school children by the Boko Haram was the death of the founder of the sect in police custody. They assert that since their leader was killed by the police without trial in a law court, any atrocity committed by his followers to avenge his death was justifiable. They deliberately forget that few people would be alive in Nigeria today if every group whose member has died in police hands was to resort to barbarism as the Boko Haram members have been doing for over four years now. Alhaji MKO Abiola who was believed by many to have won the 1993 Presidential election that was later annulled by the military, died in detention. The Islamic faith he professed never unleashed a reign of terror on the country as the Boko Haram sect has been doing since 2009 or so. Many commercial bus drivers, students and commercial motor cycle operators (okada) have been killed by trigger happy policemen but the respective unions they belonged to had never taken to mass murder and destruction as members of the Boko Haram sect members gleefully do today. Also deliberately forgotten by those who insist the death of Yusuf in police custody was a justification for the followers’ dastardly acts is that the man was not a law-abiding citizen. He and his followers were already terrorising people in Borno State before he was handed over to the Police by the military that captured him. Though we are not justifying the police action here, some of the policemen in that station must have lost close colleagues at the hands of the man or his followers before he was arrested. Being humans, some of the policemen must have probably been unable to restrain themselves on seeing in their custody, the notorious terrorist who had probably killed or badly in-

jured their colleagues. Even if such action was wrong, this does not mean it cannot happen. Though most non-Muslims in Nigeria are too humane to be turned en masse into fiends by the atrocities of the Boko Haram sect against them, pockets of those who lost dear ones or property as a result of the sect’s genocide could behave, in places they were the majority, like the Anti-balaka. Some of my friends have told me that many northerners doing business here in the South now wear mostly jeans trousers and T-shirts instead of their usual loose robes. I saw nothing very strange in this until some members of my family that are fluent in the Hausa language told me what they have been observing lately. These members of my family used to get special concessions or discount from petty traders and artisans from the North once they spoke the language to them. But of late, they have discovered that these northerners pretend not to understand the Hausa language if members of my family speak to them. Instead of happily haggling in Hausa as they used to do before, many northerners now speak only Pidgin English and even appear hostile to anyone speaking the language to them! According to of one my friends, this new behaviour of some northerners here in the South is a defensive measure probably due to aspersion being cast at them as Boko Haram sect members. To ensure the Boko Haram carnage does not create a backlash against anybody, all Nigerians especially Muslims from the North should join hands with the Federal Government to end the madness of the sect. A situation where non-Muslims are made to believe the insurgency is thriving because the hearts and minds of the natives are with the insurgents is fraught with danger. It could propel some individuals in other areas into rash actions. All Nigerians especially politicians from the North and the Southwest should start speaking up loudly against the evil sect. Those clandestinely supporting them should stop it immediately for the interest of our unity and for the sake of civilisation. The monster must be caged today to prevent individuals or small groups from embarking on retaliatory religious or ethnic cleansing (Anti-balakanism) anywhere in the country tomorrow! • Maduku, a retired Nigerian Army (Infantry) Captain and novelist, lives in Effurun-Otor, Delta State.

Dealing with own socio-economic isolationism By Edwin Ndukwe ITHOUT consulting any particular school of thought or inW stitutionalised framework of opinion, an observation this writer has made over the years on the socio-economic disequilibrium rampant in most developing countries of Africa is a reason which has informed this piece. The subject of isolationism as extracted from most contemporary library of linguistics refers to a policy often institutionalised by a leader or leaders who believe in distancing one’s country from meddling in the affairs of another. Those who adopt this model argue that it protects local labour force that would otherwise go to non-locals or what may be considered as expatriates. They also defend their leadership modus operandi by stating that it fosters peace within borders. Yet still, those in disfavour fiercely charges isolationist nations as being protectionist and often dictatorial. Nigeria is by far not a protectionist nation and therefore not isolationist. The Republic of North Korea and Cuba are two distinct examples of our current day isolationist nations. Stretching further the interpretation of isolationism includes what this writer calls “socio-economic isolationism”. To better understand the term, it is pertinent to closely look at the apparent socio-economic divide between the wealthy and the poor in our society today. Nigeria, by all globally acceptable yardstick for measuring a country’s wealth, ranks about 30th in the world with regards to GDP, although it ranks second amongst other competing developing nations both within the African continent and elsewhere. Economists have placed Nigeria as the next economic frontier, a strong emerging market with significant expansion in finance, telecommunications and most recently agro economy. Impressive, one would say!

In spite of the somewhat economic thesis above and the vast hydrocarbon deposit in the Delta region which is now gradually being depleted, only one per cent of the oil revenue actually trickles down to the populace while 80 per cent goes to the government (and by default into the hands of a few cabals or cliques), with 16 per cent going towards cost for operations and four per cent to investors. To make matters worse, oil exports to America has fallen sharply in the last few years due to the discovery of vast shale deposits. Beyond the oil sector, Nigeria’s economy is fractured and frankly inefficient. But the perceived growth and buoyancy in our emerging economy is held under lock and key, and kept in the hands of a few ghost-like cabals. These few bad men control the swing of the economic swivel and therefore, have co-opted bold machinery to extract gains from the 80 per cent oil revenue highlighted above. This trend is however, strengthened by a corrupt environment dominated by corrupt leadership. With such money and the inherent access to power, key sector policies like energy and economics are framed around the whims and caprices of this cabal. The implication of this is that they have prime access to the “first fruits” associated with any policy modification. It is nothing short of “insider trading”! More often than not, the exclusive group covets the position and guard it jealously. Interactions, both social and otherwise, are kept within these exclusive members. It is an on-going conspiracy that a few business elite colludes with the political den to recycle wealth within the isolated group. They further instigate division in the polity, wielding ethno-centric and religious rhetoric. In such a mood, the weak and the poor are disillusioned and lose faith with its leaders, thus creating disconnect between the few wealth hoarders and the rest of the masses. Encapsulated in this economic and social bubble, they are out

of touch with the realities of the poor and hence unwilling to share ideas or render support to the less privileged. That is what socio-economic isolationism is about. Those outside the exclusive group grapple with the biting economic challenges of the environment while the few within amass more and more wealth and splash it with disdain at others. The outcome from the above is a leadership that fails to connect with the ruled, a leadership that has grown insensitive to their true obligations to the state and numbed to the woes of the polity. Socio-economic isolationism exists, not just at the top but also at the bottom. You can find it at every level in our society including the community level and even among clans. It exists such that it has become part and parcel of our evolving democratic process and a cankerworm that seems not to wish to go away anytime soon. How then do we resolve this hydra-headed monster that has placed us on the threshold of under-development? There is no solution in sight other than to re-orientate the mass of the people to enable them wake up to the realities that confront them. When the masses are armed with much orientation, they could, therefore, be enlightened to take swift action against the domineering status quo led by the cabal. The swift action here is not a call for revolution as that automatically nullifies whatever changes the masses intend to make or achieve. If the mass of the people wish to live in a society that is near-utopia, now is the time to deal with the socio-economic isolationism of a few elements within the society. Simply because their number is quite infinitesimal, it is not hard to effect a transformation that will not only change the course of our faulty structure but place a smile on the faces of our yet unborn children. • Dr. Ndukwe wrote via edwin.ndukwe@gmail.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Monday, March 31, 2014

TheMetroSection Return of kidnappers in Imo • How ISOPADEC boss’ father was abducted

Imo State Police Commissioner, Abdulwajid Ali From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri EFORE now, the 27 local councils of Imo State had remained calm, at least, for a few months. The calmness, according to sources, had been the security and seemingly combatant dexterity of the immediate past Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muhammad Musa Katsina, who was dreaded by criminals in the state. But all that seem to be eroding, leading to the return of criminality in the state after the exit of Katsina. Kidnapping cases were barely heard of, as police officers usually combed forests and all nooks and crannies of the state regularly.

Penultimate Sunday, in the sleeping village of Umuorji/ Ekeugba, an oil-rich community, along Imo Palm Plantation Road, Ohaji/ Egbema Local Council of the state, Pa (Elder) Sunday Ogwazuo, the 82year-old father of the Chairman of the Imo State Oil Producing Area Developing Commission (ISOPADEC), Alex Ogawzuo, an engineer, was mercilessly dragged out of his home and abducted to an unknown destination, in the direction of Rivers State corridor. Alex had been a Commissioner for Culture during the regime of the immediate past government of Chief Ikedi Ohakim. Apparently, he

must have been seen as a wealthy young man from the community. Police in the state, had already confirmed the kidnap, but still looking for the victim. According to a source who gave graphic account of the saga, the gunmen, numbering about four, gained entry into the compound, from the newly opened road in the village, when the ISOPADEC chairman was away, drove to the compound, then to the home of the old man, shooting into the air to scare people around and to tell them they meant business. As they were operating, according to the source, their new taxi Passat

Wagon Rivers State –colour vehicle was waiting for the victim. As soon as they dragged the man into the vehicle, they hopped in, in a commando-like style and zoomed off. The source further stated that they made their exit through Etekwuru/ Assa/ Umuapu Road into Egbeada, Rivers State. “The youths traced them towards the Etekwuru/ Assa/ Umuapu Road, from where they joined Egebeada in Rivers State. It is likely that an insider must have connived with them. All efforts to trace them were in vain,” he said. The Guardian gathered that an attempt made by a member of the family to save the victim, feeling that it was a police team on arrest mission, was punctured as he saw gunshots unleashed into the air. The abductors did not also mind the youths who were playing football opposite the compound when they stormed. As at time of this report, the abductors were yet to establish contact, according to a family link. The source also fingered political detractors of the ISOPADEC boss of allegedly masterminding the heinous act, apparently, he said, to put him on a suffering mood. Following the manner crime has resurfaced in the state, some residents of Imo State have appealed to the new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abdulmajid Ali, to step up efforts, as his predecessor, Katsina, applied to track down criminality in the state. Residents have begun to sleep with one eye opened. But recently, Ali paraded some suspected kidnappers and criminals in the state Police Command headquarters in Owerri. The state government is yet to issue a statement on extra modalities to track the resurgence of crime in the state, but the state governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, had purchased and donated security equipment to the police, Army, Civil Defence and other para- military outfits.

Hoodlums inflict mayhem on Ikorodu community • As police intervene By Odita Sunday persons including a FandIVE high chief were injured property worth millions of naira destroyed when over 200 thugs popularly called Area Boys invaded Ojuagemo Oke-Ado community of Ikorodu, Lagos at the weekend. Dozens of people have started fleeing the community even as patients at the Igbalu Health Centre in the area were reportedly sacked. As at the time of this publication, schools, markets, churches and other worship centres had been shut down while commercial activities are totally grounded. An eyewitness, Wasiu Akande said trouble started in the community when a land speculator stormed the area claiming that part of the community belonged

Manko to his forefathers and that he would henceforth take control of the area. Akande said the other two families who were in control of the area before now

resisted the land speculator who took them to the law court. He said trouble started when the court delivered judgment in favour of the

two families who originally were in control of the area. He said since the judgment was not in favour of the land speculator, he allegedly stormed the area at the weekend with over 200 thugs who were armed with guns, machetes, broken bottles, charms and other dangerous weapons, inflicting injuries on innocent citizens in the area. A victim, one Ike Okorie, said he was receiving medical attention at the health centre when he saw over 50armed hoodlums invading the place. “As the hoodlums were armed and were inflicting injuries on patients and other people, including staff of the Health Centre, I ran for my life and escaped by jumping through the fences. As I am speaking with you, my family has been sacked, I received a call from my wife that she and my children have ran to her sister’s place at Ikosi

Ketu and I am on my way to locate them.” “Why I am not waiting further is that the hoodlums were announcing that residents, especially non-indigenes, should leave the community or risk being killed. All my neighbours have left the house,” he said. He appealed to the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola and the Commissioner Of Police, Alhaji Umar Manko to save the community from the hands of the “invaders.” “I beg in the Name of God that you should rescue us from the thugs as our children are out of school and all commercial activities disrupted. We can’t be refugees in our country.” A police source said the injured ones, including a village chief, have been taken to a hospital in Ikorodu while the Police were said to have chased away the hoodlums and taken control of the area.

Briefs NB ﬂags oﬀ 2014 Golden Pen Awards IGERIAN Breweries (NB) N Plc. has flagged off its Golden Pen Award for 2014. The company made the announcement today at a press briefing at its Lagos Brewery bar, Abebe Village Road, Iganmu, Lagos. This year’s award would be focused on Education and Youth Empowerment and each individual/reporter has an opportunity to send in a total of three reports on these topics published between January and December 2013. According to the Corporate Affairs Adviser, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, “this is to encourage the media to focus on critical sectors of the Nigerian economy. He said collection of entries would close on Friday, April 25, 2014. All entries are to be sent to Mediacraft Associates via Goldenpen2014@mediacraft.ng. Ekanem said the Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Reporter of the Year would get (special statuette + N1, 000, 000.00); first runner up (special statuette + N300, 000.00) and second runner up (Special statuette + N200, 000.00) among others.

All-Africa Literary Festival holds in Ghana HE All Africa Literary Festival, T an educative and exciting literary event, will hold in May at the British Council auditorium Accra, Ghana. Programme Coordinator of All Africa Media Network, the organizer of the festival, Mr. C. Iwuoha said that the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) would be part of the literary festival scheduled to hold from May 29 to May 31. Dr. Denja Abdullahi, Vice President of the ANA, in an email conversation Iwuoha confirmed that ANA will be part of the literary festival. Those expected include: Prof Remi Raji, Dr.Denja Abdullahi, Richard Ali and Mrs Obi Obasi among others. The festival will feature a threeday creative art /literary workshop and tour of the ancient Gold Coast for young adults.

Honeybox launches recruitment website O ease the problem of reT cruitment, Honeybox Limited has launched a career and online recruitment website to assist Nigeria’s employers and government agencies. The Director at Honeybox, Seyi Olotu emphasised the need to harness the opportunities in science and information technology to meet the demands of everyday life, including filling job positions with best candidates. Olotu said employers could login to www.highestjobs.com to create recruiter account within two minutes and post their vacancies. “ “Employers can also chat directly with jobseekers, ask further questions on submitted applications from the website, which the applicant receives via email within seconds. Jobs can be posted and all applications will go directly to the recruiter’s email. This stops the need to access the site and download submitted CVs,” Olotu said.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

20 Monday, March 31, 2014

Borno donates N2.5m relief materials to families of slain policemen From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri HE Borno State governT ment has donated the sum of N2.5 million and other relief materials to families of five police officers killed in last week Tuesday’s Maiduguri twin suicide car bombings that claimed the lives of three others. Government also reassured the writing off medical bills of 61 injured people who are receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) and State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri. Presenting the cash donation and materials last week at the Borno Police Command Headquarters, Maiduguri, the Chairman of the

State Emergency Relief and Rapid Respond Committee (SERRC), Dr Bulama Mali Gubio, sympathised with the Police Commissioner, Tanko Lawal, over the slain five policemen in last week Tuesday twin suicide car bombings. His words: “The Borno State government will do everything possible to ensure that the families of the deceased are properly assisted economically, so that it cushions the devastating effects of lost bread winners,” adding that the relief and other food material being donated include bags of rice, semovita and kegs of cooking oil.

Briefs Imo communities protest presentation of Staff of Office to 103 monarchs by Okorocha

Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima He said the gesturesof government was to serve as a palliative measures aimed at reducing the economic hardships of surviving family members of the police-

men. “More assistance from the state government is underway whenever Governor Kashim Shettima returns from his United States (U.S)

official engagement,” said Dr Gubio. He also commended the efforts of the police and other security agencies in fighting Boko Haram insurgency and prayed God to grant the bereaved families the fortitude to bear the loss and wishing the deceased of eternal rest. Responding, the Police Commissioner, Lawal expressed his gratitude to the state government for the gesture and assured that the items will be distributed immediately to the affected families equitably. At the UMTH, the committee members were received and briefed by the Chief Medical Director, (CMD), Dr. Abdularahman Mohammed

Tahir. Dr. Tahir told the committee that doctors and nurses have been attending to all victims without hesitation, adding that some of the victims have been treated and already discharged. The committee also paid a similar visit to the State Specialists Hospital, Maiduguri where they were briefed by the acting CMD, Dr. Watila, who called for more funds to purchase drugs for the treatment of victims. He said he Drugs Revolving Fund (DRRF) has run down because of the increasing number of Boko Haram victims being “admitted and treated” at the hospital on a daily basis since the January 14, multiple blasts at the Post Office Area of Maiduguri.

Over 40 stalls burnt in Abuja market fire

From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri CORES of individuals in Imo communities have protested Sarchs over the alleged planned imposition of persons as monin their respective communities by the governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, as their monarchs. Okorocha, in a statement at the weekend in Owerri, signed by the Secretary to the Government of Imo state (SGI), Prof. Anthony Anwukah, had mentioned 103 monarchs in Imo to be presented with Certificate of Recognition and Staff of office on Monday, March 31, at Ahiajoku Convention Centre, Owerri. Specifically, communities in Njaba, Nkwerre and Ngor Opkala, have registered their protests in the media and road walk demonstrations over the weekend when the announcements were made repeatedly on the state-owned electronic outfit, Orient’s Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) and Television. Some of them have stayed several years waiting to be presented with the recognition papers and staff of office. By the Law, only the governor of the state has the statutory powers to approve and perform such functions. A government source told The Guardian that the governor would go ahead to perform the duty amid the protests. Among those to be presented staff of office is a former academic and a former member of the Imo State House of Assembly, Prof. Ezeadi O. Ezeadi.

Special programmes at Praise Tabernacle HE Redeemed Christian Church of God, Praise TabernaT cles, LP 23, Area 3, will from today to Sunday hold a special prayer conference with the theme: the Rooted and Grounded at the church auditorium, Nos. 9, 10 and 12, Ebun Street at 6.00p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Tuesday and Thursday’s event at 6.30p.m. It will be rounded off on Sunday with a thanksgiving service at 7.45a.m. and 10.00a.m. respectively. Pastor Amos Emovon will minister. Meanwhile, the church is also organising a special anointing and deliverance service for students/youths with the theme: ‘ I shall not fail’. Those expectec at the event are students who are preparing for the West African Examination Council, National Examination Council, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB). It will hold on Wednesday, April 2, at the church auditorium from 9.00a.m. 11.00am.

Igbo honour Tukur, wife in Lagos By Ijeoma Opara

HE Igbo-speaking community in Lagos last weekend hoT noured Chief Bamanga Tukur and his wife with chieftaincy titles. The former chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, (PDP), was given the title Ezienyindigbo (a good friend of the Igbos), while his wife, was honoured with Ugoenyidigbo (eagle friend of the Igbos). Speaking at the event, which held at the National Stadium Lagos, Tukur said: ‘Your kind gesture towards my wife and I shows unity of our nation, Nigeria. I believe all these honours from all parts of the country are because I’m a detribalized Nigerian. I am encouraged to double my effort with this recognition, in service to humanity, the less- privileged and to rededicate the greater part of my life to upholding the unity of Nigeria. I pray that the younger ones will do better than what I have done. “The President’s transformation agenda is geared towards making life more meaningful for all Nigerians, I therefore, ask you to continue your unflinching support for the President,” Tukur said. The President of the Igbo speaking communities in Lagos, Ebere Ubani said the gathering was a unique platform for Igbo-speaking communities in Lagos to articulate and deliberate on issues that concern the people. According to Ubani, this year’s event was special as the people chose to honour one of the illustrious sons of the country who had distinguished himself in his service to the nation and humanity.

A section of Garki Model Market, Abuja, gutted by fire...on Saturday exactly 6.02 am this mornO fewer than 40 stalls ing that there was fire outwere burnt in a fire outbreak in one of the shops break at the Garki Model with a big refrigerator and Market in Abuja on Saturday gas cylinders.” morning before it was put “We used fire extinguishers out. as an interim measure to Mr Ibrahim Yahaya-Joe, the Manager, Abuja Market Man- curb the outbreak before the arrival of the fire service peragement Limited (AMML), sonnel.” told the News Agency of The fire fighters came from Nigeria (NAN), that the fire the State House, the Federal started at about 6.02 a.m. Fire Service and the FCT Fire Yahaya-Joe said he received Service,” he said. a phone call and was inHe said there were also formed that the fire started other cold rooms and cylinfrom a cold-room store beders around the area, which fore spreading to other aggravated the fire. parts. Yahaya-Joe commended the “I received a distress call at

PHOTO: INAN

men of the fire services for their prompt response to stop the fire. He added that the market management would quantify the losses and guard against future occurrence as he advised traders to discard combustible materials, gas cylinders and other inflammable materials in their shops to avoid fire outbreak. Yahaya-Jo suggested that traders should keep fire extinguishers in their shops to help future fire fighting operations. He explained that traders were prevented from enter-

ing the market while the fire raged in a bid to prevent hoodlums from carting away valuables. Mr Ime Eyo, Operational Commander, Federal Fire Service, Abuja, said that the fire fighters arrived at the scene at 6.13a.m to put out the fire. Eyo said the fire was caused by a power surge, adding that about three blocks of shops were affected in the incident. He said although there were no casualties, property worth millions of naira were lost to the fire.

Edo to implement Environmental Sanitation Laws From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City

HE Edo State government T on Saturday insisted it must implement its Environmental Sanitation Laws to make the state habitable, the people healthy and live long. And as part of efforts to encourage compliance and sanction offenders of the monthly environmental sanction exercise, not less than 130 offenders were also convicted for breaking the law with 14 days imprisonment or option of fine of N5, 000. Special Adviser to Governor

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole aged with the turnout of the Adams Oshiomhole on Envipeople for the exercise, said: ronment, Onikolease Irabor “We are encouraged by the told journalists shortly after turnout today and the goverthe exercise that the state nor is committed to making government, though encourthe state clean and healthy

for all of us, but in every 12, there must be a Judas, so these ones are the Judases and they would be tried and if found guilty, convicted accordingly.” “ We have the legal team from the Ministry of Justice that would do that,” he said. On her part, the acting General Manager, Edo State Waste Management Agency, Gilean Ocheme, said she was impressed by the level of compliance just as she assured that the agency would ensure removal of wastes and debris removed culverts and drainages.

BUSINESS INTERVIEW /54,55

Cape Town wins global earth hour capital award

‘Why collective investment scheme is falling in Nigeria’

THE ENVIRONMENT /48

MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2014

Nigeria’s oil export may slide to 1.59mbpd By Sulaimon Salau

Concerns mount over reserve base

IGERIAN exports in May N are set to fall to a record low of around 1.59 million bar-

Forcados grades. No exports of the Okwori grade are expected in May due to maintenance while the Ebok grade will also load no

rels per day (bpd) due partly to a force majeure on the

cargoes. But traders said the reduced volume was likely to provide only temporary support. A trader and term buyer of

Nigerian crude, said that buyers were “hiding” and said that differentials would probably have to fall to encourage sales. However, demand for Angolan grades in May has been stronger and more than

Chief Executive Officer, Digital Jewels Limited, Adedoyin Odunfa (left); British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Peter Carter; Head, Payment Systems Policy and Oversight Division, Central Bank of Nigeria, Musa Jimoh; Chief Executive Officer, Wolfpack Information Risk Limited, Craig Rosewarne; and Information Director, Information Systems Audit and Control Association, Lagos Chapter, Uzo Odunukwe, at the launch of “2014: The Nigerian Cyber Threat Barometer”, in Lagos, at the weekend. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Cross-border securities’ holdings exceed $40tr mark By Chijioke Nelson HE International Monetary T Fund (IMF) said the global cross-border holdings in securities reached a new mark of $40.2 trillion by the market value, as at June 2013. The above result represents an increase of 0.5 per cent, from $40 trillion at endDecember 2012, which was adjusted to exclude the 22 economies that did not report semiannual data. The report was contained in IMF’s Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey (CPIS), which was released as part of ongoing efforts to address data gaps highlighted by the global financial crisis. CPIS is the only global survey of portfolio investment holdings, which collects information on cross-border holdings of equities and long- and short-term debt securities classified by the economy of residence of the issuer. However, the submission of data by individual countries, which may have appeared as voluntary, had 56 economies that submitted as at end of June 2013, compared to 78 that reported as at December 2012. According to the survey, as at

end of June 2013, 74 per cent of the total portfolio investment asset holdings- $29.8 trillion, were concentrated in 10 economies, with the United States of America, United Kingdom, Japan, Luxembourg and Germany ranked in the top five. Before now, the CPIS covered only the end of December holdings, but the increased frequency to semiannual is one of a number of enhancements adopted in the end of June 2013 survey round. Additionally, to ensure more timely collection and release of the data, “the enhanced CPIS collects a broader range of data on an encouraged basis, including the institutional sector (such as central bank, other depository institutions, other financial institutions, and non-financial institutions) of the non-resident issuer of securities, and the institutional sector of the resident holder cross-classified by the institutional sector of selected non-resident issuers. “The concepts and principles underlying the CPIS are aligned with the IMF’s Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, sixth edi-

tion,” IMF said. However, the coverage of the CPIS is augmented with information from two other IMF surveys- Securities Held as Foreign Exchange Reserves (SEFER) and Securities Held by International Organizations

(SSIO). “These data sets are disseminated at an aggregate level only, as the data are collected on a confidential basis. From June 2013, SEFER is also conducted semiannually,” IMF added.

half of the 54 cargoes have been sold. Meanwhile, the recent revelation by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on the dwindling reserve to 35 billion barrels has elicited concerns from the stakeholders, who believed that the intrigue of oil industry reform was a major setback. The long delay in the passage of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), currently with the National Assembly, has nearly brought the industry to a halt in recent times, as no major projects are being implemented. The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, recently said that “Nigeria’s quest to grow its reserves will be promoted in the proposed PIB through a robust acreage management system to be superintended by the Upstream Petroleum Inspectorate, involving the release of acreages that have Major Major Global Global DOW S& S&P P5 500 00 NASDAQ NASDAQ TR US US TR INDEX INDEX ! FTSE FTSE 100 100 DAX DAX CAC CAC 40 TR TR EUROPE EUROPE ! N NIKKEI IKKEI HANG HA NG SEN SENG G SENSEX SEN SEX !

been held without activity. “Contrary to some widely held views that fiscal regime is the cause of low exploration activity, rather it is the lack of open acreage and limited funding in the existing Joint Ventures that is limiting exploration activity,’ he said. Yakubu said the proposed new acreage management system would release new acreages for exploration, increase the level of activity in the petroleum sector and also strengthen marginal fields and bring new independent investors. There were indications that the reserve may continue on a downward trend for some years, as the oil multinationals decided to adopt a wait and see strategy to protest some unfavourable fiscal terms in the PIB. An industry expert, Emi Membere-Otaji lamented that the nation is not getting new investments, which is crucial to replenishing the reserve the base.

Markets Europe, Asia) Asia) Markets (U.S., (U.S., Europe, +5 8.83 +0.36% +0.36% 16,323.06 +58.83 1,857.62 +8 +8.58 .58 +0.46% +0.46% 4,155.76 +4 +4.53 .53 +0.11% +0.11% 169.58

+0.78 +0 .78

+0.46% +0.46%

6,615.58 9,587.19 4,411.26 178.35

+27.26 +2 7.26 +1 35.98 +135.98 +32.20 +3 2.20 +1.48 +1 .48

+0.41% +0.41% +1.44% +1.44% +0.74% +0.74% +0.84% +0.84%

14,696.03

+7 +73.14 3.14

+0.50% +0.50%

22,065.53

+231.08 +2 31.08

+1.06% +1.06%

22,339.97

+125.60 +1 25.60

+0.57% +0.57%

Exchange Rates as at Friday, March 28 Currency US DOLLAR POUNDS STERLING EURO YEN CFA WAUA YUAN/RENMINBI RIYAL SDR !

Buying (NGN) 154.74 257.2707 212.5354 1.5114 0.3056 238.3273 24.9061 41.2585 239.0888

Central (NGN) 155.24 258.102 213.2221 1.5163 0.3156 239.0974 24.9871 41.3918 239.8613

Selling(NGN) 155.74 258.9333 213.9089 1.5212 0.3256 239.8675 25.068 41.5251 240.6339

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22 Monday, March 31, 2014

FINANCIALGUARDIAN

CBN releases guidelines on e-Reference operations, NIBSS hosts portal By Chijioke Nelson HE nation’s reforms in T the electronic payment (e-payment) system have moved further with the release of guidelines on the operations of the electronic Reference (e-Reference) for the banking industry. The development, which takes immediate effect, is a web-based automated document management system, designed to process customer account references among banks. According to the Director of Banking and Payments System Supervision, CBN,

‘Dipo Fatokun, the eReference portal, hosted by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), require the receiving banks to respond to inward references’ request within three working days. The measure, according to CBN, was to eliminate inefficiencies, which characterized the manual reference processing system, ensure faster inter-bank references and traceability by both the presenting and receiving banks and ultimately enhance compliance with the Know Your Customer policy.

Besides high illiteracy level and low confidence in the financial system, a major reason for this relatively small number of account holders is the interbank reference bottleneck, which oftentimes make the prospective bank customers to get frustrated and eventually abandon the process of opening a bank account It will also ensure accountability of reference documents; provide a common secure web-based platform for the exchange of documents within the financial services industry; and reduce the cost of printing of manual references for

the whole industry. “The financial services sector in Nigeria has passed through many phases of development within the last decade, as a result of CBN’s active development and supervisory initiatives to evolve a stronger and more dynamic banking sys-

tem. “Besides high illiteracy level and low confidence in the financial system, a major reason for this relatively small number of account holders is the inter-bank reference bottleneck, which oftentimes make the prospective bank customers to get frustrated and eventually abandon the process of opening a bank account. “The NIBSS, in fulfilment of its shared-service mandate, in conjunction with the Committee of Heads of Bank Operations (CHBO) has agreed to develop an

Financial stocks buoy NSE’s turnover by N26.8 billion By Helen Oji EAVY transactions in the H shares of some banks and insurance companies, last week, lifted the volume of shares traded as a turnover of 1.870 billion shares worth N26.811 billion was exchanged in 21,632 deals by investors on the floor of the Exchange, higher than a total of 1.391 billion shares valued at N19.414 billion that changed hands in 22,527 deals during the preceding week. Specifically, the financial services industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.510 billion

shares valued at N10.709 billion traded in 12,306 deals; thus contributing 80.77per cent and 39.94per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The services industry followed with a turnover of 122.728 million shares worth N99.818 million in 468 deals. The third place was occupied by the consumer goods industry with 84.494 million shares worth N13.618 billion in 3,593 deals. Trading in the top three equities namely- Royal Exchange Plc, Sterling Bank Plc and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (measured by volume)

accounted for 620.522 million shares worth N2.567 billion in 883 deals, contributing 33.19per cent and 9.57per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. Similarly, 100 units of FGN bonds valued at N109,155.39 were traded this week in one deal compared to a total of 3,350 units of FGN bonds valued at N3.751 million transacted last week in seven deals. The NSE All-share index and market capitalization appreciated by 1.43per cent to close on Friday at 38,331.78 and N12.313 trillion respectively. All the NSE indices appreciated during the week with

the exception of the NSE Banking Index, while the NSE ASeM closed flat. 39 equities appreciated in prices during the week higher than 19 equities of the pre-

Currency Table Currency Last EUR/USD 1.3752 GBP/USD 1.6636 USD/JPY 102.80 USD/CHF 0.88680 USD/CAD 1.1058 AUD/USD 0.92470 !

ceding week. 36 equities depreciated in prices lower than 56 equities of the preceding week, while 123 equities remained unchanged.

Day High -1.6636 102.80 0.88680 ---

Day Low -1.6636 102.80 0.88680 ---

electronic reference (eReference) portal, such that account opening processes of Nigerian banks can be fast-tracked with regards to inter- bank referencing,” CBN said. The acclaimed secure webbased platform will not require direct interconnection among banks, but as eReference portal receives approved outward items from presenting banks and instantly transmits to the receiving banks, the presenting bank will immediately receive acknowledgement of delivery. However, “the usage of the e-Reference Portal, among other financial industry portals being offered by NIBSS shall subsist on the payment of yearly subscription fee of N1 million for access to all NIBSS Portals.” Also, there will be the payment of e-Reference processing fee of N50 by reference presenting bank.

% Change -+0.00% +0.00% +0.00% ---

Bid 1.3752 1.6636 102.80 0.88680 1.1058 0.92470

Ask 1.3754 1.6637 102.82 0.88720 1.1064 0.92500

MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2014 23

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FINANCIAL GUARDIAN

BPE pays N370 billion to defunct PHCN employees By Roseline Okere HE Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has remitted to the Office of the Account General of the Federation (OAGF) a total of N370 billion for payment to the former employees of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). The Federal Government had earlier released over N6 billion to the union leadership as check-off dues from the staff entitlements. The Director-General of BPE, Benjamin Dikki, who made the disclosure in Abuja stated that the verification committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, has verified to date, 45,136 staffers for payment out of the 47,913 workers. He noted that after the bureau’s nationwide field verification of the possible 4,194

PHCN retirees, 2,931 or their next of kin have been verified leaving 1,163 yet to be verified. He said the verification committee and the bureau were making extra efforts to ensure that the outstanding pensioners were verified and paid their entitlements expeditiously. The BPE boss advised the

pensioners or their next of kin who had not been verified to do so before Wednesday 2nd April 2014. He said that out of the earlier 47,913 staff list obtained from PHCN, 45,136 verified staff entitlements have been cashbacked to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation for payment.

Dikki explained that 338 on the retirees list were exited staff, while 21 were cases of duplication. He stated that 262 cases were currently being processed and 551 had already been recommended for validation by the Verification Committee on Payment of PHCN Severance Payment following

a nationwide verification exercise. The Director-General said that President Goodluck Jonathan made it a priority and demonstrated great commitment in resolving labor issues in the power sector. He noted that apart from committing the entire proceeds realized from the sale of power assets for the

payment of the workers’ terminal benefits, government had at the initial stage of the transaction, released N57bn to take care of the workers’ pension. This was coming after the Government had increased the workers’ salary by 50 percent and regularized all casual staff of the defunct PHCN.

Fidelity SME forum prescribes passion for business’ survival By Chijioke Nelson HE founder of Sweet Sensation, Lady Kehinde Kamson, said that passion was a critical success factor for aspiring entrepreneurs. She made the observation while sharing her success secret in a highly competitive industry on the Fidelity

SME Forum, a weekly radio programme organised by Fidelity Bank Plc as a deliberate attempt to resuscitate the Small and Medium – scale Enterprises (SMEs) and create a new generation of entrepreneurs. Kamson said that she had always had the passion for cooking, baking and food

service generally. “I like to try out recipes and I had a mother who taught me same and she was a good example. So, the business had to be food because that was what I had passion for and that’s another point I would like to share with aspiring business people. It’s good to look out for

money, but it’s also good to satisfy your passion.” On why it took long to open an outlet of Sweet Sensation, she said that every good thing had to start with some degree of experience, stressing that one must necessarily struggle, otherwise one could not understand the business effectively and suc-

cess might be short lived. “There is a learning process that you cannot compromise and it comes with every territory and if you then patiently struggle through the process, then you will come out victorious,” she said.

24 Monday, March 31, 2014

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FINANCIALGUARDIAN

EQUITY MARKET SUMMARY

MARKET REPORT AS AT 28=03=2014

PRIMERA AFRICA www.primera-africa.com

Monday, March 31, 2014 MARKETREPORT | 25

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MARKET INDICATORS

AS AT 28=03=2014

PRIMERA AFRICA

26 Monday, March 31, 2014

FINANCIALGUARDIAN

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MARKET INTELLIGENCE

Monday, March 31, 2014 27

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INSIDE TAX

Marginal fields: Roadmap to Growing the Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Reserves

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28 MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2014

FINANCIAL GUARDIAN MTN XaaS enhances microfinance institutions’ operations By Adeyemi Adepetun INCE the launch of MTN XaaS (Micro-Banking Software as a Service), a cloudbased platform that enables micro-banking operations and financial intermediary collaboration, more and more microfinance institutions are adopting the service. The latest to join the rank of customers in the use of the micro-banking software is Ibolo Microfinance Bank Limited, Offa, Kwara State. Speaking at a conference of the National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB), Ilorin Chapter, the Managing Director of Ibolo Microfinance Bank Limited, Alhaji Mustapha Adebayo described MTN XaaS as being very fast, adding that the solution provides remote access and authorization to carry out transactions. Narrating his experience, the

microfinance boss said when he travelled to Saudi Arabia in 2013; he was able to approve a transaction seamlessly by logging in remotely to the platform. “I really felt good knowing that I could log in from Saudi Arabia and query transactions being done in Nigeria; it gave me a sense of control and authority,” he stated. According to the Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer of MTN Nigeria, Babatunde Osho “this means that microfinance banks (MFBs) can save costs and become more profitable by being able to deliver efficient and better customer experience. “With our cloud-based microfinance software solution, MFBs do not have to expend large sums of money on computing costs, such as licenses, servers, server room, and so on, typically associated with procuring banking software.”

Access Bank’s card gets award CCESS Bank emerged overA all winner in the ‘Credit Card Product of the Year’ category at the yearly Card and ePayment Africa Awards ceremony held at Sandton Johannesburg, South Africa. The card was adjudged to offer the most value to customers in relation to that of FBMA Bank, Tanzania, ABSA Bank, South Africa, and Banco De Fomemto, Angola, which were nominated in the awards category. It emerged winner of the

prestigious award through an online voting by members of the public after its nomination by a penal of judges comprising individuals with knowledge of the cards and payment services drawn across Africa. The Group Head, Channel Services, Access Bank, Segun Ogbonnewo, said, “the award is recognition for the Bank’s investment in its card products and channel services, creativity, innovation and value to its customers.”

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Monday, March 31, 2014

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Govt must create enabling environment for housing sector, says Mbagwu Page 43

Pretoria Atlantic in Lagos’ Discovery Court estate project Page 33

Enjoy snow, rain in Heart of Europe development in Dubai

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MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2014

FCT, 12 states buy into FG’s NMRC pilot scheme Mortgage Finance From Mathias Okwe and Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja FTER the launch of the A ambitious Nigerian Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC), the Federal authorities have entered into partnership with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 13 state governments toward creating an enabling environment for mortgage origination in key areas of property registration, enforcement of mortgage property and access to serviced land. Under the new initiative, FCT and Abia, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Ekiti, Gombe, Kano, Kwara, Kaduna, Lagos, Edo, Enugu, Nasarawa, Ondo, Rivers and Ogun States, will kick-start the Pilot States’ Scheme in efforts to address the problem of housing deficit and ensure affordable housing in the country. The developments was revealed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at the inaugural Housing S t a k e h o l d e r s ’ Implementation Summit organized by the Federal Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, last week. While stressing the need to find a lasting solution to the bottlenecks associated with land acquisition and the delay in securing statutory

Eyakenyi

Okonjo-Iweala

The Federal authorities are holding talks with the Federal Capital Territory and 13 state governments towards harnessing the opportunities in the housing sector, especially using NMRC to address key barrier of finance to developing accessible and affordable housing in Nigeria by bridging the cost of funds for residential mortgages Certificates of Ownership in the country, Okonjo-Iweala noted that providing access to certificates of ownership easily and quickly is absolutely important for the housing market. She observed that people

invest in their homes only if they can be assured of security of tenure and that their investments, can used as savings later by themselves and their loved ones. She added that the Federal Government has com-

menced working in partnership with private developers on a rent-to-own scheme, which will enable Nigerians to ultimately own the houses they live in after a number of years of paying rents. Okonjo Iweala said, “Rentto-own, also known as rental-purchase, is a type of legally documented transaction under which, a house is leased in exchange for an annual rent, with the option to purchase the house at some point during the agreement. Some of the developers here present will

be able to speak more about this scheme and to other innovative means to home ownership for the average Nigerian”. She noted that well-functioning housing markets enable savings; wealth creation and entrepreneurial development adding that housing therefore can address two interrelated policy priorities of poverty reduction and economic growth through enterprise development. The minister who stated that the NMRC would address the key barrier of

finance to developing accessible and affordable housing in Nigeria by bridging the cost of funds for residential mortgages, added that the company is a mortgage refinancing liquidity facility designed to enhance the availability and affordability of housing for Nigerians, through growing liquidity and increasing tenor in the mortgage market. She said, “Over the next few years it will serve to ramp up the low contribution of mortgage finance to Nigeria’s GDP currently at approx. 1.00per cent of GDP, compared to 77per cent in the U.S., 80per cent in the UK, 32.4per cent in Malaysia and 50per cent in Hong Kong.The company is ready to refinance mortgages come the end of the second quarter of 2014. Already NMRC has recorded some significant successes in the first few weeks of its exist e n c e ” Okonjo-Iweala said the initial equity raising exercise of the NMRC was oversubscribed from the original N5 billion to N6.75 Billion deposit for equity from 19 institutional investors, with outstanding firm equity commitments from other institutional investors to subscribe of up to N2 Billion in additional capital. “It has also met tough World Bank Effectiveness conditions enabling it to begin drawdown of the US$250 million IDA credit

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Govt tasks NIESV on nation building as Omeru becomes its president Professional Practice By Emmanuel Badejo and Olayinka Jegede or rapid and sustainable Ffessionals national development, proand practitioners within the housing and urban development sectors and maritime sub-sector must evolve a synergy towards increasing the wealth of the nation, President Goodluck Jonathan has said. The president made the call last week in Akwa Ibom State during the 44th annual conference of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV). Meanwhile, the event led to a change of baton of headship of

The coming together of players in both sectors was necessary as identified common grounds, if properly harnessed could lead to improved wealth of the nation and her citizenry. the estate surveyors in the country, as Mr. Emeka Eleh’s tenure expired last Saturday. In his place, Mr. James Omeru, who until two days ago was the first vice president, now has the responsibility to pilot the affairs of NIESVs for the next two years. Speaking on the theme of the conference, ‘Maritime Coastal and Inland Waters Investment and Management in National Development’, Jonathan said the topic was quite pertinent, as it emphasizes the critical importance, and huge poten-

tial, of sustained investment in the maritime industry as a means to greater national development. Represented by the Supervising Minister for Lands and Urban Development, Mrs. Akom Eyakenyi, the president said since the maritime sub-sector, and the housing and urban development sectors were mutually complementary core components of national strategic infrastructure, his administration’s vision was that both, and all sectors of

our national economy should be effectively mobilized, integrated and energized for rapid and sustainable national development. The conference, according to the president, offered ample opportunities for professionals and practitioners in these two inter-related sectors to synergize for common and pioneering solutions to current and future challenges in both sectors, as the reinvigoration of the maritime sub-sector would impact the housing and urban development sector positively. As increased economic opportunities broaden the base of the productive capacity of the national economy, there will also be increased demand for housing units, basic urban

infrastructure and services. Indeed, the urban economy and governance systems will need to be invigorated to address the challenges of urban security, youth unemployment and restiveness.’’ On the housing challenge, the president said: “the unprecedented rate of urbanization in Nigeria, and in Africa, and the related 17 million annual national housing deficit, should be a source of concern to us all. We must now work collaboratively to resolve the endemic challenges in the housing and urban development sector and other critical sectors of our national economy’’, calling for NIESV’s understanding, cooperation and full involvement of all professional groups in the country

towards the realization of all round development. Jonathan, however said much progress would not be made if professionals failed to imbibe virtues of ethics and professionalism in their engagements, calling on estate surveyors to do more towards advancing the cause of nationbuilding by upholding professional excellence in all their undertakings, and maintaining integrity and ethical standards in property delivery and transactions. ‘’As estate surveyors and valuers, the work that you do should impact our quality of life, and our entire built environment. Now you have the opportunity to capitalize on

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PROPERTY GUIDE

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

FCT minister pledges to protect Abuja master plan Physical Planning From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja OLLOWING criticisms that FAbuja have trailed handling of master plan, the authorities have reiterated its commitment to monitoring structural development in the Federal Capital Territory (FTC), to ensure it conforms to the required planning laws of the territory. FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed made the declaration while receiving the Chairman and members of the Police Service Commission who paid a working visit to his office last week in Abuja, expressed worry over what he described as “misconceptions on the concept of FCT). His words: “What we do is to make sure that those who come without understanding the concept of Abuja as driven by a master plan, Geographic Information System (GIS), as well as urban and engineering designs are made to comply with the rules. “People are building anyhow, definitely we cannot abuse and bastardize the process of buildings in the Federal Capital Territory being one of the best capital city in Africa,” he added. The Minister noted that the

FCT Administration has been collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force for enforcement of rules regarding illegal structures as well as unapproved transport modes like commercial motorcycles (Okada) within the 250 square kilometers within the city and restriction of the movement of tricycles in the Abuja metropolis to designated estates. Senator Mohammed seized the opportunity to commend the security organizations working in the territory for their untiring efforts in keeping Abuja safe, adding that the Nigeria Police Force has been in the forefront of achieving safety, peace, tranquility and harmonious coexistence across the FCT. He enjoined the security agencies to continue to identify with Abuja to guarantee the safety of lives and property of all the residents, noting that the increased influx of people into the Federal Capital comes with additional security challenges. The Minister promised to allocate a plot of land for the Commission’s Cooperative Society to build staff housing for its members. Earlier, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Mike Okiro expressed satisfaction at the Minister’s support to the Nigeria Police

The completed Cathedral Circle Rock Apartment for senior citizens that consists of five Bungalows and four self contained apartments, a multi-purpose hall, a chapel, Staff quarters, perimeter wall and gate house, water borehole and treatment plant, among others in Ikorodu, Lagos commissioned recently. PHOTO: CHARLES OKOLO Force, which he said, has made the job of the Police easier. Okiro also commended the

Minister for his developmental projects scattered across the Federal Capital Territory, saying that such stride is

unprecedented. “I want to state unequivocally that you have performed very well as the FCT

Minister particularly in the areas of road infrastructure as well as opening up of new districts,” he stressed.

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PRIME ESTATES

PROPERTY GUIDE

Pretoria Atlantic in Lagos’ Discovery Court estate project Projects By Tunde Alao IGERIAN housing stocks N would soon receive a boost as more private property developers have continued to unveiled choice homes. Now, Pretoria Atlantic Properties Limited alongside its marketing partners, Pekuliar Properties Limited, has unfolded plans to inject more housing units into the country coming under what its calls ‘Discovery Court’. The upscale housing estate has already berthed at the Isheri-North along the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway to add variety to the growing number of estates within that axis of the Isheri community. The estate is a gated community that hosts 5-bedroom apartments, designed to accommodate two living rooms, (including ante room), 4-bed rooms plus one servant quarter. Facilities available include parking space that accommodates three cars, 24 hours security with permit access. There are also plans for a shopping mall, estate community centre, well laid out street directory, efficient drainage system and central water provision. Other facilities include waste management system, green area for open-air recreational activities, and on-site estate facility man-

Discovery Court in Lagos

agers. Acting as mortgage provider is the First Bank, while Pekuliar Properties Limited is the sales and mar-

keting consultant. Agiles P3 is the project consultant. Information available to The Guardian indicated that payment structure includes

an offer price of N32 million that is subject to availability, with deposit of N1million and balance spread over 24 months.

According to the Managing Director of Pekuliar Properties, Mr. Dapo Wahab, “20 years of mortgage opportunity is available with First Bank

Plc., with 20 percent minimum initial payment. There are also interesting discounts for those who want outright purchase”, said Wahab.

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PROPERTY GUIDE

Ogun homeowners’ charter beneficiaries get land titles Housing From Charles Coffie Gyamfi, Abeokuta HE first set of beneficiaries T of the Ogun State government’s discount on title documents received their Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in Abeokuta last week. About 10 beneficiaries received their documents form the government. With the new development, the State could boast of having data on the specific number of buildings in different areas of the state, insisting that such would help in the budgetary planning of the government in terms of facilities provision. The State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun who made the symbolic presentations explained that before the introduction of the Homeowners Charter scheme recently which he said reviewed downward the cost

of obtaining title documents in the state, it was difficult for government to project on what facilities to be provided in some areas because many buildings were constructed without obtaining title documents as required by the law. Speaking on the benefits abound in the issuance of C of O to the successful applicants, Amosun noted that it would enhance Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) among other spiral benefits. He stated that the beneficiaries could approach financial institutions for funds to improve on their businesses by using the C of O as collateral. Amosun told the recipients that they have just become real homeowners, saying “in the face of law, you are now homeowners, but before you were not.” Presenting the C of O to the

beneficiaries, the Governor declared that after the expiration of the extension on Monday, March 31, 2014, the discount extended to those who had built without obtaining title documents would cease and those who had not obtained the Homeowners charter scheme form would pay for all necessary documents without discount. He, however, disclosed that he inherited a backlog of 17,000 unsigned C of Os from the immediate past administration, which he had signed in order to convince the people that the Homeowners charter scheme was not a ruse. Earlier in his address at the ceremony, the Director General, Bureau of Land and Survey, Mr. Adewale Oshinowo told the Governor that the presentation of the C of O to the applicants would prove wrong those who were skeptical about the scheme when it was flagged off on December 16, 2013. He stated that some people alleged that the Governor was only scheming to woo more people to his side ahead of 2015 elections. “To the doubting Thomases, I want to assure you that this programme is not a political gimmick nor designed to hoodwink the populace to get their money,” Oshinowo said.

Eleh urges mega firms’ formation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 our efforts in maritime and other sectors and team up with us for the improvement of the welfare and well-being of our country.’’ In his farewell speech, immediate past president, Emeka Eleh, who rendered account for his service, reiterated the need for holistic reform of the nation’s land tenure system, which he said holds immense potentials for our profession and for the economic development of the country. For the sake of widening its operational base, Eleh said the institution must see to the approval of practising with pseudo names. “We are awaiting the approval of our Supervising Ministry, the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development for the use of Pseudo names to practice having earlier obtained ESVARBON’s approval in this regard. I believe that the use of Pseudo names will go a long way in fostering the creation of bigger partnerships, which will further deepen the Profession.” Drawing from series of interactions with his members, Eleh lamented the continuous depletion of NIESV’s scope of service, but said hope was not lost if I members could take steps to develop their practices, adding that this would entail not just developing new business approaches but also “investing in our practices to build capacity, as well as upgrade our office and services infrastructure, which will put us in the right stead to compete in this emerging and changing market.”

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PROPERTY GUIDE

Dangote’s new 42.5 cement grade lifts building materials’ market Building Materials By Chinedum Uwaegbulam MAJOR shift in the standard of cement grade was recorded last week by Dangote Cement, with the launch of the 42.5 higher grade of cement into the Nigerian building materials’ m a r k e t . The Guardian gathered the market was buoyed by the introduction of the product, which got Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) formal endorsement at the pre-media launch held in Lagos. Senior official of the company disclosed that the Dangote 3X Cement would be manufactured in all its plants in Nigeria. The new brand name from Dangote stable comes with “Xtra strength; ‘Xtra life and Xtra yield.” The SON Director General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, who was represented by an enforcement official of the agency, Mr. Adeoye Onipede, the company is abiding with SON rules in displaying the grade of cement on its bags, including the agency’s logo. He disclosed that indigenous cement manufacturers had been given full certification by the standards agency to produce the high quality c e m e n t . The Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, who presented samples of the new product at the event said the launch by Dangote was to show the company’s commitment to the safety of human lives rather than maximising profits alone in the country. He stated that building collapses in the nation were as a result of various factors including poor quality cement. “We have come with superior product. it does not mean old products are bad,” he said. Edwin noted that the lifetime investment by Dangote was to further demonstrate the company’s effort to guard against unfortunate incidents of failure of buildings and the attendant loss of lives and propert y . He said to contribute its quota towards checking the spate of building collapse in the country, “Dangote has stopped the production of the 32.5 lower cement grade,” saying as a corporate organisation, it values human lives rather than just making money. According to him, “This is why we are focusing heavily on 42.5 cement grade, because we believe as a responsible organisation, human life is more precious than making profits. The introduction of Dangote 42.5, 3X cement, is not to dominate the cement industry but to follow the acceptable global trend, which has also been adopted by West African countries like Ghana, where the focus is shifting towards the 42.5 cement grade as the preferred quality of cement for building and construction activities.” Edwin admitted that there had been some rebag of its product, adding some factories have been sealed off. The Group Chief Marketing Officer, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Oare Ojeikere, stated that the 42.5 cement grade is 30 per cent stronger than the 32.5 cement grade, adding

Newly introduced Dangote 3X Portland cement that the 3X is specifically designed according to the block maker’s specification. According to him, a higher grade of cement is vital in putting an end to building collapse in the country. Ojeikere said that it is about time Nigeria joined other countries in the sub-region to move away from 32.5 cement grade to 42.5 cement grade. He stressed that because of 3X’s higher strength characteristics, 42.5 grade cement gives higher yield than 32.5 to users in situations where strength is not a crucial factor. Special Adviser to the President, Dangote Group, Mr. Joseph Makoju, said in 2002 local production of cement in the country was less than 2 million tonnes, noting that with the efforts of Dangote cement and other cement producers in the country, the cement industry

has

come to stay. Public Relations Officer, Association of Housing Corporation of Nigeria( AHCN), Mr. Toye Eniola, said commended the company for introducing the product. He promised to recommed it to members of the association. He said that with the introduction of 3X, the association will collaborate with Dangote to ensure that the product gets the necessary support and patronage it deserves to put an end to the spate of building collapse in the country An elated president, Brick Moulders Association, Mr. Abel Kayode, said:” We have been looking for a product like 3X and we believe this cement will help us carry out activities in the most efficient and affordable manner.”

Monday, March 31, 2014

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PROJECTS

PROPERTY GUIDE UPDC enters Oyo, begins Olive Court housing project Projects By Emmanuel Badejo OR the first time in its existence, a leading real estate firm in Nigeria, UACN Property Development Company (UPDC), has made inroad into Oyo State, as it commences last week the construction of choice housing estate project, named as Olive Court. The estate, standing on 2.0355 hectares of prime land area of Agodi Government Reserved Area (GRA), Oyo State capital, Ibadan, will provide tastefully designed and masterpiece choice accommodation to 50 families housing when completed. Coming under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the Oyo State Government and UPDC, the estate was designed to provide housing types of five, four and three bedrooms detached and terraces. While detached houses would be nine units of five bedroom, the semidetached would entail 22 units of four bedroom and the three bedroom would have 10 units of terraces. Proposed for delivery in the next 15months, recreational and other facilities that would make living a worthwhile for off-takers and dwellers have been designed to come with the estate. For recreational facilities, there would be swimming pool, gymnasium and children’s play ground, while sewage treatment plant, borehole and water treatment plant PHCN and standby generator, fire alarm system, burglar alarm system are some of the ancillary and accompanying facilities. The estate also promises ample parking space for both residents and visitors. At the sod-turning ceremo-

ny last week, an elated Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, said the decision of UPDC to invest in Oyo with this project was a welcome idea and that was why his administration did not hesitate to partner with the estate’s development firm over the housing estate project. “I am happy to play an active role in the first of its kind and best of its class housing project in the Oyo State”, Ajimobi declared, though lamented how some self-serving individuals in the state had in the past connived with their friends and family members to cheat on the state by selling most of the government quarters to themselves. While commending UPDC for the stride in Oyo, Ibadan to be precise, Ajimobi said Olive Court was a fruit of partnership between his government and UPDC, and commended the development firm for its professionalism, quality and expertise in project delivery. Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Survey, Oyo State, Mr. Ajiboye Omodewu, who commended the initiative and the developer, urged UPDC to ensure extensive management of the housing estate upon completion, adding most projects fail due to poor maintenance culture. In his reaction, UPDC’s Managing Director, Mr. Hakeem Ogunniran, who appreciated the Governor for the opportunity, pledged that Olive Court would provide residents with comfort, security, and high standard facilities. According to him, housing estate, which design is in conformity with sustainability, improve on the landscape and ensure corporate social responsibility, will have its first phase commissioned October this

Lagos wants developers to obtain layout approval Mortgage Finance By Tunde Alao HE Lagos State government has re-stated its decision to ensure that before developing a site that is in excess of one Hectare (10,000 sq. meters), it has becomes mandatory to obtain layout approval. Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in Lagos State, Toyin Ayinde, who stated this last week, said the policy is with immediate effect. Ayinde, while advising developers, corporate organizations, groups and land-owning families to ensure that they apply and obtain layout approval for their properties, said the decision is to remove bottlenecks associated with land documentation. This, he said, becomes imperative because it will ease the process of obtaining development permit, increase land value and

enables land owners to approach financial Institutions to fund their projects. According to him, layout Plans are instruments meant to guide and correct haphazard developments thereby eradicating the growth of slums and promoting environmental conservation and regeneration. He warned that government has put in place sanctions that included refusal of building plan approval, site sealing and demolition of any illegal development on such land. Ayinde said: “It is imperative for everyone to join hands with the State government in achieving an orderly, safe, aesthetic and sustainable environment in the continuous bid to make Lagos a prosperous Mega City that will be a cynosure of all Cities in Africa”, he stated, urging the developers and land owners to consult his Ministry for more information and advice.

Proposed units at the Olive Court, Ibadan, Oyo State

Appeal Court resolves ownership feud over land in Imo State Litigation By Emmanuel Badejo FTER considering the A legal voyage as a waste of time, a Court of Appeal, Owerri Judicial Division, has resolved the ownership dispute between Chief Maduwuba Orodoegbulam and Nze Donatus Orodoegbulam over a landed property located at No. 62/63 Royce Road, Owerri, Imo State. The respondent, Nze Donatus Orodoegbulam, had filed at the High Court of Imo State, Owerri, claiming exclusively ownership of the property known as and called No. 62/63 Royce Road, Owerri. He also claimed accounts for rents and an order of injunction and therefore prayed that the court should declare him as the rightful owner of the disputed property. In the instant appeal, the appellant, Chief Maduwuba Orodoegbulam was the defendant, while the respondent was the plaintiff. At the end of the hearing and after considering the submission of both counsel, the trial court found and held that the land in dispute was jointly owned by both the appellant and the respondent. That judgment still subsists, as there is no evidence that any of the parties had appealed against the said decision. Based on the judgment, the respondent, in conjunction with family members made several efforts to partition the land since the appellant and the respondent efforts to jointly manage the property without acrimony and rancor proved abortive. Following the repeated brawl between them, the

It is an appeal against the judgment of the High Court, which was based on the consideration of the pleadings of the parties and the judgment of the High Court in a previous suit between the parties. The Court of Appeal, in a unanimous decision, dismissed the appeal. respondent in 2007 then approached the High Court for an order partitioning the said property between them. Upon receipt of the statement of claim, the appellant, as defendant, filed his statement of defense and counter claim and included facts in a bid to re-litigate the facts in and issues already determined by the lower court in the earlier suit. At the hearing, the trial Judge told the parties and their counsel that the matter was straight forward and that since there was no appeal against the findings and decision of the High Court in the earlier case that ownership of the property resided on both the feuding parties, he would discontinue and discountenance oral evidence already led and determine the matter on the pleadings of the parties. He then ordered both counsel to put in their written addresses. But while counsel for the respondent complied with that direction, counsel for the appellant failed and/or neglected to file advance any written address. In a considered judgment, the trial Judge, who did not find any controversy over the status and ownership of the landed property, ordered that it should be partitioned. Dissatisfied with the judgment of the lower court, delivered on 3rd December

2008, the appellant filed a notice of appeal, containing three grounds of appeal. Largely, the appellant wanted the Appeal Court to determine whether the hearing that led to the judgment on partitioning was fair or not? According to the Court of Appeal, the case was to determine whether the lower court was right in the procedure adopted to arrive at its judgment and whether based on the pleadings, judgment was rightly entered for the respondent in the instant case. They added that although parties were required to lead evidence to prove averments in their pleadings, where however, facts averred by the plaintiff are admitted in the defendant’s statement of defence, such admitted facts require no further proof and the court is entitled to enter judgment on those facts admitted. “The appellant had complained that the trial Judge decided suo moto to give judgment on the pleadings without any input from counsel. With due respect, this is not correct. The trial Judge ordered both counsel to file written addresses but only the counsel for the respondent filed address. Counsel for the appellant who was in court on the date the order was made failed and/or neglected to file the said address. It is therefore inappropriate for counsel to argue that the trial Judge acted suo moto to determine the

case on the pleadings, he had asked counsel to file written addresses on the issue. That was an opportunity for counsel to object the procedure if he wished. To keep quiet, only to raise it in this court, is inappropriate.” Justice John Okoro, said the trial court was right not to allow the appellant to re-litigate issues already settled and have ordered partitioning of the property based on the decision of the subsisting and binding judgment, adding that to hold otherwise would be to open the flood gate of litigation for parties, who wish to abandon a duly entered judgment and re-litigate issues merely because they do not agree with the earlier judgment. “This would be against public policy. There must be an end to litigation. No court will stand by and watch its decision trampled upon only to be asked to make fresh pronouncement on the same issues already decided. The order of the lower court that the property adjured jointly owned by the parties herein be partitioned cannot be faulted in any material particular. The fact that the court below jettisoned evidence already taken before adopting to give judgment on the pleadings is commendable. Although the appellant cried that he was not given fair hearing, it is of no moment as the judgment in HOW/104/94 used by the trial court could have been tendered from the bar and being the judgment of that court, the court was bound to take judicial notice of same.” From the foregoing, Justice Okoro held that the appeal lacked merit and consequently dismissed.

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PROPERTY GUIDE

FG partners states to address bottlenecks in land acquisitions CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 negotiated by the Federal Government to kick-start the liquidity facility, to be disbursed to NMRC as Tier 2 Capital, based on performance indicators. This was inclusive of the total US$300 million financing from the World Bank to the Federal Government on very concessionary terms, with US$25 million earmarked for the establishment of a Mortgage Guarantee Facility for lower income borrowers; and another US$25 million to support the development and piloting of Housing Finance Microfinance Products. According to her, the Uniform Underwriting Standards for eligible Mortgages that NMRC will refinance are being prepared in conjunction with the CBN and the Mortgage Banks and would be finalized by May 2014. Okonjo-Iweala pointed out that in bid to ensure that all Nigerians own or have access to decent, safe and sanitary housing in healthy environments with infrastructural services at affordable cost with secure tenure, the Federal Government is also looking to ways and means of more strategic partnership with the private sector to develop mass housing adding this scheme seeks to

improve the living standards of Nigerians while unlocking benefits to the economy in wealth creation and employment. The minister observed that opportunities presented by the housing market in Nigeria can be harnessed successfully only if all government agencies (Federal and State) as well as the Private Sector (Financial Institutions, Architects, Engineers, Real Estate Developers, Construction Companies, Cement companies, Plumbers, Bricklayers, Masons, Furniture makers, Interior designers, etc.) commit themselves to make it work. Okonko-Iweala stressed the need to move from recommendations to concrete solutions measurable in terms of percentage increase in square footage of serviced land accessed for housing purposes; nos. of C of O s generated and percentage of turnaround reduced in for doing same; how many mortgages refinanced; how many affordable houses delivered to X nos. of beneficiaries. The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi said that the effective take-off of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company would broaden access to housing finance and significantly increase the rate of home ownership

in Nigeria. She observed that housing and Urban Development sector is one of the key sectors for growing the national economy for sustainable national development The minister who noted that government would not relent in her efforts to improve housing standards, expressed government’s commitment to improving the quality of manpower in the housing and urban development sector by addressing the problem of dearth of sills and competencies of artisans and craftsmen . She said that government would soon flag-off Trainthe-Trainers programme for about 1000 artisans and craftsmen in partnership with the National Home Builders Association and the Home builders Institute of the United States of America in order to reverse the trend whereby foreigners constitute the critical mass of skilled artisans and craftsmen in the country. She assured that the ministry would continue to work collaboratively with a l l stakeholders to provide enabling policies, strategies and plans for the realization of government’s objective to reduce housing deficit and promoting sustainable u r b a n i s a t i o n .

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INTERVIEW

PROPERTY GUIDE

‘Govt must create enabling environment for housing sector’ Kelechukwu Mbagwu, Managing-Director, CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Company Limited, is a long-time property developer with an “interesting” pedigree. For 12 years now, he has been involved in the planning, construction and administration of numerous properties around the country, thus earning a reputation as a “hands-on” operator. Fielding questions from The Guardian’s Assistant Housing & Environment Editor, Chinedum Uwaegbulam, last week, Mbagwu explained some issues in the real estate sector and reasons behind the CMB project. Excerpts: Property Interview OR those who haven’t heard of your compaFInvestment ny, what is CMB Building Maintenance And Company Limited all about? It started about 12 years ago. I realised that having spent all my entire life in real estate, firstly as an agent, it became clear to me that as an agent, you don’t create anything; you’re just a middleman. What the landlord says is what you pass on to the client, and if the client is ready to pay, the deal is sealed and you collect a fee. Realtors ran a lot of major estate firms that existed at that time. We found that these firms could not in anyway influence the real estate sector. I used to tell my colleagues then that the only way we could become players was if we started doing the construction aspects and development by ourselves. So, I always wanted to be in the real estate development. It was very tough getting into development as a very capital-intensive venture, and off course, we didn’t have the capital. CMB actually came from the surname of the initial founding partners Coker, Mbagwu and Bakare. Our initial efforts were an eye opener, but we got lucky when we were presented with a large portion of undeveloped land, and got approval as developers. We didn’t have the funds to start. We got together a group of like-minded people to purchase into the land and pay for the development such as infrastructure. The model was extremely tedious for us and some of the subscribers refused to pay for the infrastructure. Getting them to pay required some legal maneuvering and hard work. But it was a successful pilot project. It was difficult, very complicated, but it gave us the initial lessons and our business exploded. So, what have you done that has been very effective in helping to grow the real estate business? I have to believe that it’s my innate knowledge from the beginning in real estate. This must be my 25 years in the business, and everything, I learnt, I didn’t forget. Every experience I had, I filed away for use at a later date. My business instinct has always been very sound. One thing I knew that would be paramount is the ability to grow capacity. Capacity in the sense that we have a nascent industry because the vast majority or 90 per cent of the populace have been left out when you’re talking about the real estate sector. They are tenants, renting houses from a few landlords. CMB, and my goal is to bring in those who are outside like the middle class. The lower class is being struggled with because it is always impossible for them to have the purchasing power. For the middle class, there are loads of products that will attract them, but the banks and a lot of developers are not interested in them. Everybody wants to cater for the three per cent in the high income populace CMB caters exclusively to the 50-60 per cent in the middle class. We believe that if we make 50 per cent profit from these people, it’s better than making 300 per cent from those on the high rung of the ladder, the economy becomes better. However, we have to work much harder, as those in the middle class are particular on how they spend their money. But it’s a key part of what has been our business growth and target market, because if you have a product that is good and affordable, and no body buys that product, you are bound to sale. We don’t have a single standing property that is not sold. Quite often, people pay before we cast the foundation. Demands out weigh supply in our industry. I also looked at the format for growing the company. As we grew more capable, experienced and richer, we have adopted the theory of one stop shop. That is having all the professionals inhouse. For us, doing everything internally, gives us the edge. It is the way to grow the sector in future. We have over 15 projects on the ground in three states and more are coming. We will soon be in Niger State, and Port Harcourt in Rivers State. Is there anything you wish you had done differently? Probably, everything. In the beginning, we were raw. We hadn’t done anything like it before. We had to use our ingenuity, and ability to fight our

way through. There are no books that teach you these things. It is experience that tells you what to do. One of the key things I should not have done is getting people to pay for land and pay for infrastructure later. It made life very difficult for us. We have not done that again. That is because we know better now. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned starting up the real estate development business? The major lesson learnt is that statistic is very sketchy on housing needs in Nigeria. We know that we are nowhere near demand for housing. The government does not help; they must create the enabling environment. We need to move the industry forward. In every other country, housing is a top income earner. Mortgages in other climes occupy about 50 per cent of banks’ transactions yearly, but in Nigeria, it’s about two to three per cent. The banks don’t have any product for the middle classes; the few products developed by real estate developers, such as CMB, are not given priority. The biggest lesson is the unlimited potentials in the real estate sector. If harnessed properly, stop lip-service to the industry, give real priority to the Nigeria Mortgage Refinancing Company, the industry is enough to boost the economy. What have been the benefits of public private sector partnership developments in the building industry? Theoretically, public private sector partnership is the ideal situation for the developers because the government has the might such as the land, and means to create the enabling environment. But in practice, we went through a nightmare when we partnered the government. It was terrible, highly politicized and made developments impossible. The land element should come free and perfection of titles should be sped up in such a way that off takers will be comfortable with the projects. Developers should have stronger assurances from governments, which should make sure, and certain that safety measures are put in place. That is actually the key progress path for the future, to reduce the housing deficit in the country. Experts believe that the mortgage sector is key to homeownership, is it true? Absolutely. Homeownership is the biggest and most potent force in homeownership. If mortgages were made simple, cheaper and thrown open to the larger part of the populace, purchase of houses will be possible. Housing or shelter is a major aspect of any man’s desire and every family’s dream. Government can create the enabling environment that if you don’t pay your mortgage for about four months, the developer or bank can repurchase the houses and sell off to interested party. That will make it desirable for the banks to enter into mortgage transaction, as there will be less risk of losing money and court cases. More people will come in to build the houses and it will surely become a buyers’ market. Quality of houses will improve and there will proper, and cheaper mortgage. Mortgage remains the key element to the growth of the housing industry. With the coming of the mortgage refinancing company, can this be realized? Government providing 20,000 houses in the next one year under the NMRC is a tall order. We don’t have the capacity to build such amount of houses. It is not even the money, but the capacity of the developers. NMRC is a good start; it’s a laudable concept. We have to make sure they are sincere about it, and does what it is supposed to do. If it doesn’t, it won’t take off. It would be another monumental waste of financial resources. NMRC has already said that construction finance would not be among its initial funding. That, in itself, is a bit of a setback, because the cost of existing houses is high for the very target populace. We are only taking baby steps right now. If successful, if would be great for the industry and materialize into accelerated growth, as well as rekindle efforts of the developers. Developers have some bad reputation. Sometimes, promises are made without any

Mbagwu, Managing Director, CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Company Limited

Mbagwu chance of delivery at all, culminating in fraud. If this kind of off take is empowered, then, a lot of them will have money to do what they are supposed to do. What are the biggest challenges in affordable housing, as we move further into the millennium? Is there anything like affordable housing? Yes! Houses can be made very affordable at even good profit to the developers. The biggest challenge is lack of funds. A duplex costing you between N12-N20 million is affordable housing for the middle class. Now, it is affordable, if you’re allowed to make your payments over a period of time. It is very difficult for someone earning a salary to put down N2 million, which is a deposit. The funding coming from the banks is the problem. It doesn’t come. If it does, more people can get into it. The provision of funds for the off takers is the biggest challenge for affordable housing. For

low-income housing, there is no such thing. Even if a house goes for N1 million, a low-income earner cannot afford it. Mass production is the key. What concessions does your sector want from government to grow the industry? Our government must create an enabling environment. I believe it’s something that is easy for them to do. The land element should be available, and made more affordable. Secondly, government’s bureaucracy and cost of perfections, such as approvals, should be reduced. I know a lot of states are making quite huge chunks of internally-generated revenue from land and its perfections. But a greater amount can be made if the government reduces its perfection costs such as consent charges. For instance, in Lagos alone, about 80 per cent of property owners don’t have titles. Why? Because it’s tedious, expensive and difficult. If it is half the price, many more will go for it.

Monday, March 31, 2014

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PROPERTY GUIDE

Group battles C’River over land revocation Land Matters From Anietie Akpan, Calabar OLLOWING the takeover Fproperty and demolition of the allegedly belonging to the Sole Spiritual Head of the Brotherhood of Cross and Star, (BCS), Leader Olumba Olumba Obu, Cross River State Government and the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS) are now on collision course. Both the leadership and members of the BCS’ fold have expressed surprise and grief that the State Government under Governor Liyel Imoke could just wake up to invade and demolish a legally-acquired property of a corporate citizen without recourse to a pending suit in the High Court of Calabar. The Cross River State Leader’s Representative, Pastor Mike Ntuk who spoke with Journalists after undertaking an “on the spot assessment” of the demolition described the action of the Cross River State government and its agents as a “show of high-handedness and desperation to unconstitutionally acquire land”. He said: “We are grieved by this attitude of absurdity by the government of Cross River State because that action is causing tension. I feel that for government to wake up and use its might to go into a land or property that was legally acquired by a law-abiding citizen whether private or corporate, demolish and then, seize it, is a reckless demonstration of abuse of power. “I think that if it were entirely a matter of might for somebody or the Cross River State Government to feel that because it has the wherewithal to seize somebody’s property and destroy it. So, it is not an issue of might; it is an issue of managing the people and resources and keeping the temperature of the polity in such a way that it does not bring avoidable disaffection or ill-will. So, I think the action of the Cross River State government and the governor is absolutely unacceptable”. According to him, prior to the invasion and attendant demolition of the said structure situated along Old Ikang Road, Calabar, the Trustees of the BCS had filed a suit: HC/97/2014 against the Cross River State government and its Attorney-General including an application for interlocutory injunction restraining the government and its Attorney-General from occupation of the said plot of land pending the determination of the suit in the High Court. According to him, the Cross River State government on Saturday March 22, 2014, ignored the court’s process served on the AttorneyGeneral, Attah Ochinke, Governor Liyel Imoke and the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Ralph Uche, under the supervision of armedpolicemen, went into the said plot of land and bulldozed the property. “In view of the apprehension felt by the registered trustees

Imoke

The membership of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS) are raising dust over what they called ‘invasion’ and demolition of their property by the Cross River government agents. But the government says, it was enforcing a court order that earlier revoked the ownership of the property of BCS and Leader Olumba Olumba Obu over the Cross River State government’s desperation to unconstitutionally acquire the land, they caused their solicitor to address a letter to the Attorney-General which was copied to His Excellency, the Governor and the Commissioner for Lands on the need to obey the rule of law. This letter had the process filed in court attached to it. Both this letter and the court process were duly served on the AttorneyGeneral who defend government in such matters on Friday March 21, 2014. “But on Saturday March 22, 2014, the government of Cross River State sent its agents who were accompanied by armed policemen to

invade the land and the building under construction was demolished” said Ntuk.. But reacting to the incident, the Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Christian Ita explained that the Cross River State government was simply enforcing a court order which had earlier revoked the ownership of the said property by Leader Olumba Olumba Obu. According to Ita, the state government was conscious of its actions and was aware of its enormous responsibilities to her citizens and would be careful to involve due process in its dealings with its citizens and law-abiding persons. He advised them to go for an appeal if they are not satisfied with the situation.

Monday, March 10, 2014

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REAL ESTATE

PROPERTY GUIDE

Illustration of the proposed The Mont Royal Family Hotel in the Heart of Europe, Dubai

Enjoy snow, rain in Heart of Europe development in Dubai Projects By Chinedum Uwaegbulam UBAI is known for its several firsts, D ranging from the tallest building to the largest airport in world. Now, the emirate has gone a step further by bringing in the climate from other parts of the world in an ambitious new property development known as The Heart of Europe project. The project developed by the Kleindienst Group, a leading UAE-based real estate agent and developer with over 30 years’ experience in the property market, comprises a cluster of six islands forming part of The World, the Emirate’s iconic manmade island development. Messrs Nakheel Properties is promoting The World and originally conceived by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. Construction of the 300 islands began in 2003, and stopped briefly in 2008 due to global financial crisis. About 60 per cent of the islands had been sold to private contractors and development on most of these islands failed to start as planned. In 2013, only two of the islands had been developed. The entire project spans approximately 9 kilometres in width, 7 kilometres in length, and is 4.5kilometres from the Dubai mainland coast. The World’s 300 islands and 27km breakwater were completed in 2008. The development adds an additional 232 kilometres of beach-front to Dubai’s natural 67kilometre coastline. The development was created by placing 320 million cubic metres of sand and 34 million tonnes of large rocks. With over 112

The entire $850 million scheme planned by a leading UAE-based real estate agent and developer will be complete by the end of 2016. Its unique features include an outdoor climate control system that will regulate wind speed, humidity and temperatures on the islands. million square feet of island area for development, The World is visible from s p a c e Essentially, The Heart of Europe project includes islands for mainland Europe, inspired by Austrian, Italian, Spanish, German and French architecture; Monaco; Sweden; Switzerland; St Petersburg and Germany. The six islands will include villas, hotels and marketplaces, which will have snow and rainlashed streets, landscaped gardens, climate controlled plazas, among other things. Work is has now started with the dispatching of 600 tons of materials and equipment from the main land to the islands. Vibro-compaction of all six islands is the first step in the construction process, preparing them for buildings to be erected. The construction process is anticipated to last until the end of 2016. Chief Executive Officer of Kleindienst Group, Josef Kleindienst said: “I am delighted to announce that compaction has now started on The Heart of Europe project. “This will be a truly unique vacation destination providing an authentic experience of some of Europe’s most charming and timeless features. The six stunning islands will offer leading hotels for families and wedding parties, landscaped gardens, climate controlled

plazas, street performers, snow and rainlined streets and much, much more.” He added: “Dubai is well-known for its innovation, ambition, excitement and intrigue. It is not afraid of dreaming big and this development is a perfect fit for the emirate.” Two contractors have already been appointed to carry out work on The Heart of Europe project, with a third tender set to be awarded within days. Developer Kleindienst Group announced earlier this week that it will soon begin building work on the cluster of six islands on The World development off Dubai’s coast. Construction work for all six islands will be carried out simultaneously. The entire $850 million scheme is due to complete by the end of 2016, although Kleindienst expects that some of the phases will be operational earlier than this. “We have awarded two contracts already, with a third to be awarded within two to three days,” he said. “One of the two contractors already awarded a contract is in the tender process for the third, so until this third contract is awarded, we can’t reveal any names,” he said. “We have not yet issued tenders for the construction of the buildings on the islands. We don’t yet know how many

companies will be involved but we will be issuing at least six tenders, including the three we have already issued,” he added. Kleindienst said that Dubai-based Mubarak Marine has already been appointed to ship equipment out to the islands, and that mobilisation for vibrocompaction of the reclaimed islands has already begun. This work needs to complete before any construction activity can start on site. Once complete, the project will contain six hotels, F&B units and retail themed around different European countries including Austria, Germany, Spain and France. There will also be an outdoor climate control system that will regulate wind speed, humidity and temperatures on the islands. Dubai-based shipping firm Mubarak Marine has been appointed to begin shipping some of the 600 tonnes of equipment that will be required to build the project. Meanwhile, the company is planning a road show in Nigeria starting today in Lagos, PortHarcourt and Abuja. A team from the Kleindienst Group led by its Managing Director, Mr. Nigel Burnside arrived at weekend to hold talks with prospective investors in The Heart of Europe project. On the skepticism being expressed about Dubai property market, Burnside said such fears were legitimate but that investors need not fret, because of the credibility of the project’s managers. “Josef and I have been in the real estate business for many years and one thing we want to make sure is that our clients are extremely comfortable to invest with us,” he added.

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THE ENVIRONMENT

PROPERTY GUIDE

Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town wins global earth hour capital award Blazes trail for urban action Climate Change APE Town has won the C Global Earth Hour Capital 2014 award for outstanding sustainability efforts. The Earth Hour City Challenge is organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature. The city has long provided inspiring examples of climate actions and ambitions needed to drive forward global climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. Spearheading climate action locally and beyond, Cape Town is drastically transforming itself into a lowemission, livable city. Since 2009, it has led innovative projects such as retrofitting over 43,000 streetlights, replacing 1328 traffic intersections with light emitting diodes (LEDs), installing solar water heaters in all 23 nature reserve buildings and 44 clinics, and holding strict standards on smart meters and sustainable procurement and financing.

Cape Town reported 27 mitigation and adaptation actions and six major climate and energy commitments including a 10 per cent GHG emissions reduction target by 2014 compared to 2009 levels for both community and governments emissions. In addition to being a member of the C40 Climate Leadership Group of the world’s megacities and ICLEI, Cape Town is among the pioneer cities that have been measuring, reporting and verifying climate actions through the carbonn Cities Climate Registry (cCCR), the largest database of local climate action. The Earth Hour City Challenge uses the cCCR platform to ensure the transparency and accountability of its cities. According to the cCCR data, Cape Town reported 27 mitigation and adaptation actions and six major climate and energy commitments including a 10 per cent GHG emissions reduction target by 2014 com-

pared to 2009 levels for both community and governments emissions. The city also registered a GHG inventory covering 20 MtCO2e (million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) of community emissions including ~ 200,000 tCO2e of government emissions as of 2007. Additionally, the city has reported 10 per cent reduction in electricity consumption of Council operations by 2012; 10 per cent city-wide electricity consumption by 2012 and ensuring that 10 per cent of Cape Town’s total electricity supply is met by renewable or cleaner energy by 2020. Both the municipal energy efficiency and citywide consumption reduction targets have been

achieved and exceeded. Cape Town is currently 20 per cent below business-as-usual electricity consumption levels with consumption now even below 2007 levels. UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Christiana Figueres was on the international jury of experts that chose the winner. In a joint statement, Gino Van Begin, SecretaryGeneral of the global cities network ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, UN Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change Michael R. Bloomberg and Christiana Figueres said:“Cape Town is a worthy winner of the Earth Hour Capital 2014 prize and is especially notable for being the first city from the south to receive this prestigious award. This achievement clearly demonstrates the important contribution emerging economies can make in the fight against climate change. 2014 is a critical year for climate action, as nations work towards reach-

ing a new global climate agreement at the UN Climate Change Conference in 2015 The leadership of cities like Cape Town will play a pivotal role in helping us reach a meaningful agreement by encouraging national governments to create more ambitious plans for reducing emissions. The city and its leaders deserve congratulation for their great work.” In a joint statement, Gino Van Begin, Secretary-General of the global cities network ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change Michael R. Bloomberg and Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said:“Cape Town is a worthy winner of the Earth Hour Capital 2014 prize and is especially notable for being the first city from the south to receive this prestigious award. This achievement clearly demonstrates the

World Bank to spend N1.9billion on Imo erosion sites From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri

The Environment N a renewed effort to tackle IEastern gully erosion ravaging the part of the country, World Bank will be spending a whopping N1.9 billion on three affected sites in Imo state. Coming under the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), the three sites

that scaled through engineering design are in Ideator South, Umuezeala Obizi, Ezinihitte Local Council and Umuizu Iheoma, Orlu, Council. The project is expected to last for eight years. Statistics released indicated that out of the amount, the bank will release a facility amounting to $658.59 million, as grant from International Development Agency (IDA), while Special Climate Change $4.63 million

and Global Environment Fund Grant of $2.96 million were involved and a $150 million contribution from participating /recipient state will be required. At a one- day sensitization for the Local Councils and communities affected in the water shed project, the Imo State Project coordinator, Victor Anuenyiagu, an engineer, regretted that the commencement of the project will likely to be affected by the

alleged inability of the Imo state Government to pay a counterpart fund of about N400 million commitment fees. The Coordinator said though the state government has made contribution of office block, he added that “we have not had the required counterpart funding of N400 million, but we have had kind contribution like offices. We are still working. Everybody should put

hands on deck.” Other gully erosion sites yet to be approved included Umuturu, Ideato North and Umuaru Ibeafo inEhime Mbano Local Councils. According to him, about 10 sites would be identified in the state at the entire exercise, adding that a- 18 -month work plan had been set aside for the project. The World Bank had approved a total of seven States for the project.

important contribution emerging economies can make in the fight against climate change. 2014 is a critical year for climate action, as nations work towards reaching a new global climate agreement at the UN Climate Change Conference in 2015. The leadership of cities like Cape Town will play a pivotal role in helping us reach a meaningful agreement by encouraging national governments to create more ambitious plans for reducing emissions. The city and its leaders deserve congratulation for their great work.” UN climate chief Christiana Figueres and ICLEI head Gino Van Begin served as panel members on the jury that selected Cape Town as the winner. Former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg is coordinating global efforts of the world’s cities to combat climate change at the request of UN Secretary-General Ban K i - m o o n . Cities, along with governments and business will play a major role at the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Summit in New York in September. In June, nations will gather at the UNFCCC Secretariat under the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP). A central theme of the negotiating group, supported by expert meetings, will be to look at how smart policies in the areas of urbanization and land use can further their collective ambition in the run up to 2020 when the new agreement is set to commence.

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THE ENVIRONMENT

PROPERTY GUIDE

‘We’ll have a global climate treaty in 2015’ Climate Change OU’RE working to create an international climate change Y agreement. Where do the negotiations stand? We’re on a straight path toward an agreement in Paris in December 2015. In May 2015 the draft agreement needs to go out to every government. This is not a small contract. This really is the basis for a global transformation the likes of which the world has never seen. But at the same time we have to keep our focus on 2014 as the year when most of the work needs to be done, and when we build people’s confidence that we can move to a low-carbon economy. What has changed since the U.N. climate change summit in Copenhagen in 2009? I think the fundamental problem we had in Copenhagen was a lack of confidence in one another’s ability to do anything. That has changed. Now more than 60 countries have climate legislation. We have a total of 500 climate laws that cover about 90 percent of emissions. There is a sense of “yes, we want to do this,” and perhaps more importantly, “yes, we can do this.” The private sector is doing the same. Investments are beginning to shift. We have $1 trillion in renewable energy. It’s not enough, but it’s moving in the right direction. The 2015 deal will include national pledges to cut emissions by 2020. Will that be enough to keep warming below the limit of 2 degrees Celsius? No. That’s why it’s important that the global treaty sets out how we get to carbon neutrality by the second half of the century. In a perfect world global emissions would have peaked already. In a semi-perfect world we will peak on Dec. 31, 2020. The fact is, that’s going to be difficult. We know that it’s going to get more and more expensive the longer we delay. We will have to invest more, and in more expensive technologies. It’s very much about balance between time and ultimate cost. What technologies should we prioritize? We have most of the technologies that we need. But the price needs to come down. The fact that solar has gone down 80 percent since 2008 is astonishing. Wind is perhaps not coming down as quickly. Lack of storage—batteries—is a bottleneck. That makes it very difficult to put large amounts of renewable energy on the grid. The U.S. military is investing in new storage technology because most of the weight that soldiers carry on their backs is batteries. Once that gets developed for the military, it will be expanded to civilians. The technology that still has a big question mark is carbon capture and storage. It is only with marketable CCS that we will be able to use the fossil fuels that we need. Storage and CCS would be my top two choices for technology investment. The military, politicians, businesses, climate scientists—everyone agrees something needs to be done. You say there is movement but ... Why isn’t it happening fast enough? Obviously, that’s my frustration. But there’s a difference between this global transformation and many others: When we went from the horse and buggy to the internal combustion engine, there was no alarm clock. This transformation is larger than anything we’ve ever done, and an alarm clock is ticking in our faces. Your job is one of the most intractable on the planet. Where do you even begin? Well, first, you can’t get overwhelmed by it. It’s a matter of setting the stage for conversations to occur, building confidence, recognizing progress and continually setting the next milestone. It’s not much different than having children. You can rear them in an antagonistic environment or in a facilitative one with a good combination of love and discipline. It’s about supporting them, and recognizing achievements and contributions, but also saying, “that’s fantastic but it’s not enough, here’s the next thing.” Honestly, what was my best training for this job? Being a mother. Can we really get to carbon neutrality by the second half of the century?

Figueres, executive secretary of the UNFCCC.

Christiana Figueres is the Executive Secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). She has to persuade 194 countries to sign a deal in 2015 that will stop global warming. In this interview with Catherine Brahic in the New Scientist, UNFCCC boss more than 60 countries have climate legislation and climate laws that cover about 90 percent of emissions. Yes. Right now, we’re still pushing the ball uphill. We have to get to the point where each individual, each corporation, each community chooses low carbon, because it makes fundamental sense. It should become a no-brainer. No architect should design buildings that import a huge amount of energy. Each building should produce as least as much energy as it’s going to need, and have more to put on the grid. They should be using all of the natural light and natural heat. We shouldn’t have stupid cars that use liquid fossil fuels. Come on, how outmoded is that? We have to get to the point where this is no longer a part of our experience. You will live to see that. I hope I will also. How old are you? I’m 36. I’m 57. By the time you’re my age, carbon neutrality is going to be so standardized that you will look at anything that is not carbon neutral and go, “where the hell did that monster come from?” It’s exciting. What is your experience of the fossil fuel companies? It’s understandable that they’re having existential panic attacks. It’s not just the exploration platforms they have, it’s the rights they paid for future exploration. At the same time, they understand that we are at this moment in history, and that they’d better get on board because they don’t have an option. I see fossil

PHOTO: WOOHAE CHO/AFP/Getty Images fuel companies that are investing some of their profits into renewable energy R&D and efficiency. Many people see that as greenwashing. It’s not greenwashing. It’s a new business for them. They’re not touting it, they’re doing it very, very discreetly, because they need to understand what that business is first. These companies can really make a huge difference to the scale, speed, and timing with which we engage in this transformation. Honestly, it is very much in their hands. I am very hopeful that French oil company Total is going to come out with a leadership position this year. You have pointed out that other businesses are already voluntarily making green choices. Apple is a fantastic example. Their CEO Tim Cook was criticized for investing too much in renewables when that is not Apple’s main business. He retorted with something like: “If you’re a shareholder and you don’t like this policy, get out of my shares.” That’s a tipping point. It’s a completely new discussion. Ordinary people seem to be disengaging from the problem, do you worry about that? The fact is, when you talk to people, they know that something weird is going on, particularly people who are connected to the land or the water. They can see it. What perhaps is not so evident to them, unfortunately, is what the solution is. But whether they call it climate change or not, it doesn’t matter. The point is, they can see there’s something fundamentally weird going on here. Some say tackling climate change is utopian. It’s not. Would you have said “utopian speech” to Martin Luther King? When you have a vision of where you need to go, it sounds utopian. But when you get to the tipping point, your understanding switches. We’re going to get to the point where we ask how the hell we put up with high carbon for so many years. You thank your lucky stars, because you are seeing this transformation in your lifetime. You are going to tell your children and your grandchildren you saw this whole thing in front of your

Climate change is putting world at risk of irreversible changes, scientists warn Climate Change HE world is at growing risk T of “abrupt, unpredictable and potentially irreversible changes” because of a warming climate, America’s premier scientific society warned on recently. In a rare intervention into a policy debate, the American Association for the Advancement of Science urged Americans to act swiftly to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – and lower the risks of leaving a climate catastrophe for future generations. “As scientists, it is not our role to tell people what they should do,” the AAAS said in a

new report, What we know. “But we consider it our responsibility as professionals to ensure, to the best of our ability, that people understand what we know: human-caused climate change is happening, we face risks of abrupt, unpredictable and potentially irreversible changes, and responding now will lower the risks and costs of taking action.” AAAS film on climate risks: ‘We manage risks every day. We take precautions — like wearing our seat belts and bike helmets — with hardly a thought. Here’s a way to better understand the risks that climate change might present.’

AAAS makes rare policy intervention urging US to act swiftly to reduce carbon emissions and lower risks of climate catastrophe as climate is warming at almost unprecedented pace The United Nations’ climate science panel, the IPCC, will gather in Yokohama, Japan next week to release the second in a series of blockbuster reports, this time outlining how a changing climate is affecting rainfall and heat waves, sea level and the oceans, fisheries and food security. But the AAAS scientists said they were releasing their own assessment ahead of time because they were concerned that Americans still failed to appreciate the gravity of cli-

mate change. Despite “overwhelming evidence”, the AAAS said Americans had failed to appreciate the seriousness of the risks posed by climate change, and had yet to mobilise at a pace and scale needed to avoid a climate catastrophe. The scientists said they were hoping to persuade Americans to look at climate change as an issue of risk management. The society said it plans to send out scientists on speaking tours to

try to begin a debate on managing those risks. The report noted the climate is warming at almost unprecedented pace. “The rate of climate change now may be as fast as any extended warming period over the past 65 million years, and it is projected to accelerate in the coming decades,” An 8F rise – among the most likely scenarios could make once rare extreme weather events – 100-year floods, droughts and heat waves – almost annual occurrences, the scientists said. Other sudden systemic changes could lie ahead – such as large scale collapse of the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, collapse of part of

the Gulf Stream, loss of the Amazon rain forest, die-off of coral reefs, and mass extinctions. “There is a risk of abrupt, unpredictable and potentially irreversible changes in the earth’s climate system with massively disruptive impacts,” the report said. The risks of such catastrophes would only grow over time – unless there was action to cut emissions, the scientists said. “The sooner we make a concerted effort to curtail the burning of fossil fuels as our primary energy source and releasing the C02 to the air, the lower our risk and cost will be.”

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50 | Monday, March 31, 2014

THE ENVIRONMENT

PROPERTY GUIDE

Disaster looms as erosion threatens Atimbor road, others

Gully erosion on Atimbor Road, Calabar, recently

The Environment From Aniette Akpan, Calabar HERE is concern among the T residents that Atimbo road, the major highway linking Calabar-Bakassi and Akpabuyo Local Government Areas and Cameroon may give way to a yawning Edim Otop erosion threat, which have displaced displaced people and houses in the area. The Edim Otop erosion all started as a gutter but later widened and sand dealers started excavating sharp sand making brisk business. Not too long the place opened up and we have a big yawning erosion site three times the size of a football field. The erosion is currently washing away the culvert linking the highway dangerously. Similar apprehension was also expressed by the University of Calabar (UNICAL) community that if urgent steps are not taken to halt the rapid increase in erosion, the threat may worsen. The Dean, Faculty of Science, Prof. Ani Nkang who gave the warning, attributed the erosion threat on federal and state governments’ indiscriminate allocation of land originally reserved for recreational areas for the construction of buildings. Unfortunately, he said the sad development is responsible for the increase in erosion gullies, adding that already over 7, 000 square kilometres of land have been lost cumulatively in the country. The dean said this last week in Calabar after receiving conferment of award as a fellow of the Nigerian Environmental

With the erosion ravaging Atimbor Road, the World Bank plans to wade into the situation, through the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP). In UNICAL, a university don blames erosion threat on federal and state governments’ indiscriminate allocation of land originally reserved for recreational areas. Society from the executive members of the Cross River State chapter of the organisation. According to Nkang, it is wrong for governments at the state and federal levels to continue to allocate reserved land for building of property and unfortunately the development has claimed a huge chunk of 7, 000 square kilometres, which is equal to a local government area. There are many erosion sites in Calabar but the University don identified five major gully erosion sites, noting that the World Bank was collaborating with Federal Ministry of Environment to stabilise threatened sites in different parts of the country. He said: “Apart from the loss of lives and properties, over 7, 000 square kilometres of land have been lost to gully erosions. This is more than a whole local government area. Places that were reserved for certain environmental purposes are being allocated for property development; this ought not to be. “Somewhere in Umuahia, Abia State, there was massive gully erosion caused by activities of illegal miners. There were no controls. But I was among the team that went to stabilise the erosion and that was a collaborative effort

between the Federal Ministry of Environment and the World Bank.” The state Chairman of NES, Dr. Udeme Udofia, noted that the society would continue to get itself involved in the training and building of capacities for operators in order to meet up with the growing environmental challenges. He said NES was creating awareness on the various environmental challenges through increased researches, while deliberately collaborating with regulatory agencies to enforce laws and regulations in the state. Udofia said the award on Nkang was in recognition of his contribution to tackling environmental issues in Nigeria, saying the national body conferred it on him in Lagos, recently. The former Vice Chairman of Calabar Municipal, Mr. David Nsenmo said, “we have advised people not to build there but they are still building new houses and excavating the soil from there. If they adhere to government advise, the erosion thing would have been minimized. Now when the water comes there is no control. “I don’t know how they came in there and I don’t know who gave them the land. The struc-

tures are all illegal structures because they are on the water way. You cannot build houses on the water way. By the time government comes in we will know what to do. Certainly we will have to evacuate the people because the government is coming to intervene. You can even see the Atimbo road linking Calabar and Akpabuyo and Bakassi councils is threatened”. Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke has promised to intervene on the Atimbo road and cure the three fingers of the Edim Otop gully erosion that resulted in a landslide that killed a family of seven. Imoke who was represented by the Commissioner for Works, Mr Legor Idagbor, said the loss of lives and properties in the area are avoidable if people had listen to the various sensitization by the various government agencies to move away from the disaster prone areas. He assured that government will commence immediate intervention to ensure that those leaving around the environment are protected from future disaster while assuring the family of deceased that government will support them. Legor said the problem of erosion that is eating deep into the main road leading to Akpabuyo in Atimbo Area, immediate intervention will commence. “Those other areas were as a result of improper channel of the water from the drain, we will work closely with the commissioner of environment to channel the water properly and solve the problem permanently”.

Oyo writes FG over charcoal export, sets up Forests Guard Corps Conservation By Ijeoma Opara O stem the tide and check the activities of illegal loggers, Oyo State Government has written to the Federal Ministry of Environment urging it to delist charcoal from the list of exportable agricultural produce. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Natural Resources, Kunle Adeduntan who disclosed this recently, reasoned that the allure of foreign exchange is a major motivation behind the activities of illegal loggers. He also revealed that the state has set up Forest Guards Corps to protect its vast forests especially in the Oke Ogun area of the state. “The task of protecting our forests and the natural resources is not one that can be left for the government alone. It requires joint efforts of both governments and the private sector. I also wish to observe that adequate personnel and logistics are very essential tools for forest protection and the attainment of sustainable management. Thus, the donation of the two motorcycles by BATIA to the ministry for the use of our forest guards around Iseyin and Ogboro area would improve the intensity of our patrol activities around existing forest estate which of course include BATIA plantations in these areas.”

Adeduntan stated. It was gathered that BATIA has been sensitizing the locals in the areas on the importance of preserving the natural forest as well as encouraging them to take to tree planting. The campaign, we found out has been meeting with some success going by what our correspondent discovered during a trip to Iseyin and Ogboro communities. Due to the campaign, many of the residents of the towns have been planting trees, desist from felling trees besides having vigilance group to ward off activities of loggers in the area. Speaking during the presentation of the motorcycles, Head of Leaf Operations, BATIA, Tony Omofoye stated that BATIA is passionate about preserving the natural environment and frowns at activities that deplete the environment and further expose people to the effects of global warming. He added that BATIA recognizes the economic, social and environmental benefits of planting trees. “We are pleased to support the efforts of the Oyo State Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development. It is aimed at protecting and preserving natural lands and forests in the state. This underscores what we have always stated that our practice is predicated on an end-to-end chain basis.

Online ivory in Japan threatens African elephants, activists Conservation NLINE selling and weak O controls on domestic ivory sales in Japan are spurring illegal international trade in elephant tusks and contributing to a steep rise in poaching, activists said on Tuesday. A lack of rules regulating the registration of raw ivory and the licensing of importers, wholesalers, manufacturers and retailers has allowed illicit stocks into Japan’s domestic market, according to the report by the independent London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA). Under current rules, only whole elephant tusks must be registered with Japan’s Environmental Agency. “Japan’s ivory controls are flawed and there is evidence that large amounts of illegal ivory ... have been laundered into the domestic market,” said the report, which was coauthored by animal welfare group Humane Society International. “The current African elephant poaching crisis requires an urgent and swift response before populations are wiped out. The flourishing domestic ivory markets of Japan and China are now the key driving force behind Africa’s poaching epidemic and global illegal ivory trade.” According to a 2013 study by

the University of Washington, the annual number of African elephants being slaughtered to supply the illegal ivory trade is estimated to be as high as 50,000, or roughly one sixth of the continent’s remaining elephant population. International trade in ivory is illegal under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), but its growth is being fuelled by legal domestic markets in countries such as Japan and China, where trade is being supported by the advance of e-commerce. U.S. President Barack Obama in February announced new restrictions on the commercial import of African elephant ivory, as well as on what sport hunters can bring back to the country. Much of the ivory imported into Japan goes into making traditional name stamps, called hankos, that are used in lieu of signatures on documents. The EIA said between 2005 and 2010, illegal ivory accounted for up to 87 percent of ivory hankos produced in Japan. It named Japanese website Rakuten Ichiba as the world’s top marketplace for elephant ivory, citing more than 28,000 advertisements for products. Rakuten Ichiba is Japan’s biggest online shopping site with more

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Monday, March 31, 2014 51

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54 Monday, March 31, 2014

BUSINESS INTERVIEW

FINANCIALGUARDIAN

Why collective investment scheme is GTI Securities Limited is Nigeria’s first private trading floor in Nigeria and in sub-Saharan Africa, which has been described by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) as the herald of the next phase of capital market development. Its Managing Director, Babatunde Oyekunle has acquired spectrum of practical and theoretical experiences of over 13 years in financial statement analysis, equities and business valuation, capital market operations, investment management as well as corporate finance. In this interview with BUKKY OLAJIDE, he explained how a private trading floor would deepen the market and bring in more financial possibilities. Excerpts.

Oyekunle HAT is the whole essence of promoting W the Nigeria’s first private trading company, and how will it impact on the market generally? For GTI, our decision to embark on this project is a very futuristic and patriotic one. We took the decision by looking at the direction of the market and the contributions that all stakeholders need to make to market growth and national development. The GTI Securities’ private trading floor, being the first in Nigeria and ultimately the first in sub-Saharan Africa is a vehicle for capital formation because at GTI, we believe in financial possibilities and that drove our intention to embark on this project. We are happy with the reception that all stakeholders have given to this idea. The Director-General of Securities and Exchange Commission, Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Stock Exchange,

President and Council of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), the NASD, the Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria and so many other stakeholders have been here to see what we are doing and they were surprised at the trail-blazing effort. It’s our modest contribution to the new phase of Nigeria’s economic growth. What impact will private trading floor have on the capital market? We have created a unique trading facility to remarkably enhance trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). It is an avenue whereby more people will be able to utilise all the various opportunities that has been provided by the introduction of XGen trading platform by the management of the NSE. We believe private trading floor will deepen the market and provide greater access for both local and foreign investors to the NSE. And also, we are looking at creating

multiple trading accesses, that is, a platform for trading, in multiple assets, in listed stock through NSE or listed stock through the National Association of Securities Dealers and also the trade of bonds through the FMDQ. We also have the capability to link brokers from our floor to other global stocks exchanges such as New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and London Stock Exchange. And for the investing public, they will benefit from enhanced price discovery, research and opportunity to have direct service that is tailored to the peculiarities of each investor. On the part of the regulators, we believe there will be increased surveillance and ease of risk management. We have embedded in our system robust risk management framework that allows us and other relevant parties to detect emerging risks and forestall such. Lastly, we have different products geared towards stockbrokers and quoted companies. We have partnerships with some investments and asset managers, both foreign and local that will enable us to provide liquidity to market operators and as well lead fund raising for needy companies. So generally, we are going to provide liquidity to participants. How do you see the ongoing efforts at integrating the West African capital markets? The West African Capital Market Integration (WACMI) programme is a laudable project that will spur the development of the West African region as a whole. The world is already becoming a global village and the introduction of the WACMI will really enhanced trading in Nigeria and elsewhere. WACMI is like other regional Exchanges around the world. You have several examples in Europe, Asia and even the modest efforts by the Francophone West Africa, known as the Bourse Regionale des Valuers Mobilieres (BRVM), which include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. So bringing in the region’s biggest markets-Nigeria and Ghana to consolidate this integration under the WACMI will undoubtedly serve as catalyst for the region. It will surely enhance the competitiveness of the regional market in the global market space. We have seen how this work in other jurisdictions. In Europe, you have the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID), which harmonised regulation for investment services across the 31 member states of the European Economic Area and has successfully eliminated national exchange monopolies. This has helped to enhance competition in the equity markets, with attendant reduction in transaction costs. Also, you can cite the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s ASEAN Trading Link, which resulted in a virtual market of over 2, 200 listed companies with a market capitalisation of $ 1.4 trillion. Besides serving as gateway for brokers to connect securities markets of the ASEAN Exchanges, it has made it possible for investors in member countries of ASEAN to trade in other ASEAN capital markets just like their own domestic market. And that is the whole essence of WACMI, for Nigerians to trade in Ghana as if they were in Ghana

and for Ghanaians to have same opportunities as Nigerian investors in the domestic market, ditto for all other countries. So, WACMI is a wonderful development. The council has done a lot of work and I believe it’s going to really affect our market significantly. As for us at GTI, a lot of advantages are being lined up and we believe the GTI Securities’ private trading floor will play major roles in the integration. We have started arrangements to create access for other stockbroking firms that are located within the West African region through the sponsored access phase of the WACMI programme. It will really open up our market to other operators within the West African region and this will increase opportunity for risk diversification. At the long run, we believe it will lead to lower transaction cost, create wider jobs for Nigerian investors, as they will be able to get other products in other West African countries. There will also be more and effective price discovery and participation in WACMI. Harmonising the trading, listing and regulatory requirements in the long run will be a very good atmosphere for GTI to be able to achieve its objective of creating better access to the market because all the infractions, all the difficulties would be removed by harmonising trading, delisting and the regulation. Generally, more financial products will be provided to the investing public while companies will have larger pool of capital to tap into. Looking at the ratio of local investors to foreign investors in the market, which is almost 50/50, are we not at risk of external shock because of this? Specifically, the ratio has improved because there was a time we were having over 60 per cent of foreign participation in our capital market, but as at the last count, it was around 50/51 per cent or thereabout as at the end of last year. So, the rate of foreign participation is reducing, but we still have a lot to do, because as you have said, it is likely to expose us to shocks from the developed market. For instance, the announcement by the U.S. Federal Reserve in December about their tapering immediately affected our markets. That accounted for the sluggish performance of our market in January. Another instance is the Eurozone crisis. Though they have been implementing a lot of policies to address this crisis and it is improving gradually, it nonetheless usually affects our market whenever there is any ugly development. So, the more foreign participation we have, the more we are likely to be affected by decision made in the developed markets. The downtrend we have experienced so far this year cannot be isolated from the externally induced shocks. For our market to develop, we need to encourage domestic and retail participation from within so that we will be able to support and increase our rate of participation in order to avoid this shock. If that is not checked, we are likely to be experiencing several shocks based on happenings in the developed markets. What is the outlook for the market in 2014? The market performance certainly cannot be removed from the performance of the

Monday, March 31, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

BUSINESS INTERVIEW

FINANCIALGUARDIAN

falling in Nigeria, by Oyekunle economy. GDP is the primary barometer of the economy. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the GDP grew by almost seven per cent last year. All things being equal, we should be able to achieve that or surpass it in 2014. So I hope the economy will perform better this year. But this depends on a lot of variables and the willingness of the government to see through its various reforms. Take for instance, the power sector reforms should ordinarily lead to reduction in cost of operation to a lot of companies in the real sector some of them are listed, some are not. So for listed companies, I believe the lower cost of operation will generate greater turnover, productivity and returns in terms of dividend payouts, their bonus payouts and all these. These will impact the market positively. The same applies to several policies in the agriculture sector, financial sector among others. So, once all these things are there, we will have better results from the quoted companies. I believe investors will be able to reap greater returns from the market and certainly the market will really improve. The market recorded about 47.3 per cent growth last year and it was a significant improvement from what we had in 2012. So in 2014, I am optimistic that the Nigerian capital market will close on the upside. I believe the introduction of many innovative products and services by the Exchange, the products that are being produced by various stockbroking firms including our own GTI Securitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; private trading floor, will likely create greater access to the market. However, the fact that we are preparing for the 2015 elections is a political risk that we need to look into and there will be some macro economic factors that are likely to impose economic risk to investing public. So my advice to investors is to increase their risk consciousness and to manage the risks from both the economy and capital market perspectives. Do you see the capital market playing a vital role in supporting the power sector reform? Just as we all know that the capital market is there for raising long term capital. The power sector reform is something that we have been waiting for and it has kicked finally. As market operators, that is, both the regulators and market operators and the investing public they are committed to the successful implementation and result of the power sector reform. So, the capital market can generate the capital that is needed by the companies that invested in the power sector reform. So, the market is positioned. All we need is good products and transparency because we want to know what they will be able to achieve. If they can give a very detailed projection to their financials to their offers I believe strongly that the capital market and investing public would really support and provide those capital. Nigerians like good investment, government disclosure policy. They want to see good returns. They want to see how the money will be spent. With all these I believe these capital are achievable. What do you think is responsible for the dormancy in the primary market and what can be done to actually activate that particular sub-sector? The reason for the dormancy in the primary market is not far-fetched. I believe the downturn of the 2008/2009 really contributed a lot to that dormancy. We saw situations whereby investors bought stocks through initial public offerings (IPOs) and one year after, the value comes back to par value. You can imagine someone buying an IPO for N5 and the price of that stock is currently 50 kobo. Certainly, that is likely to discourage the investors. So, I believe that is one of the core reasons why the patronage to the primary market has been slow over the years. So, to really increase and

bring back this vibrancy of the primary market as we have in the past, there is a need to for more investors confidence, more transparency and the economy needs to be more vibrant to really support performance of companies. Investors want to know where they put their money into, they want to be sure that they will not lose their money or what happened in 2008/2009 will not be repeated. What is your opinion about what should constitute the minimum capital base for operators? The minimum market capitalization of N300 million subjectively seems too high. In my own opinion, the securities dealing business is primarily an agency - brokerage business. Though itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a business of trust and integrity. Brokers primarily buy and sell on behalf of investors, make their reports known to them while their stocks are secured through Central Securities (CSCS) and you can provide this evidence of purchase to the investors as at when due or anytime they request for this statement. So, you buy for them, you earn your commission and show evidence of the purchase. So, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just like any other agency business. So, it seems to me that the N300 million seems high. However, the regulators actions could be justified by some other reasons, which I believe they must have put into consideration. Maybe there are instances of some firms selling stocks without making payment to the investors. I want to believe the regulators are doing this to prevent several complaints that we receive from some investors. However, this needs to be well harnessed so that you will not kill the hen that lays the golden egg. In a bid to deal with the few stockbroking firms that have been involved in market infractions, or maybe they have defrauded investors, we need to be careful. Also, products from GTI trading floor is another opportunity for some operators to really participate. And this will really help to lower the huge impact of this huge capitalisation on market operators. And at the end, we are going to have a more vibrant market which will increase investors confidence both local and foreign participation. It seems the Nigerian retail investors prefer to come to the market directly, rather than through the collective investment scheme, what can be responsible for this? Collective investment scheme (CIS) is well patronised in developed market. In this U.S capital market, the London capital market and other European capital. It is well patronised. The emphasis on Nigerian participation in collective investment scheme is really increasing. Investors are being advised to patronise collective investment scheme. However, the problem in Nigeria is that an average investor wants to see the evidence of their stock directly. Some of them will say my interest is to purchase a particular stock and they want to see the stocks being purchased and to hold evidence in form of either share certificates then and CSCS statement now. So, that really reduced the patronage to collective investment scheme. CIS has a lot of advantages which include a better professional management of investment, easier collection of returns like dividend, because of collective investment and a whole lot of the management risk is with it because you have professional monitoring those investment day by day. So, the more investment education, the more access to retail market bringing local traders of unskilled workers to really know about the Nigerian capital market and the benefit of CIS. The participation will increase over time and the market will be better for it.

Investors are being advised to patronise collective investment scheme. However, the problem in Nigeria is that an average investor wants to see the evidence of their stock directly

And for the investing public, they will benefit from enhanced price discovery, research and opportunity to have direct service that is tailored to the peculiarities of each investor. On the part of the regulators, we believe there will be increased surveillance and ease of risk management

So, the rate of foreign participation is reducing, but we still have a lot to do, because as you have said, it is likely to expose us to shocks from the developed market. For instance, the announcement by the U.S. Federal Reserve in December about their tapering immediately affected our markets. That accounted for the sluggish performance of our market in January. Another instance is the Eurozone crisis

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56 Monday, March 31, 2014

INSURANCE

FINANCIALGUARDIAN

PenCom seeks support for contributory pensions scheme By Joshua Nse HE National Pension T Commission (PenCom) has appealed for the support of all stakeholders to sustain the successes of the pension reform. The Acting Director-General of the Commission, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, speaking at the retirees’ forum for existing retirees in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in Lagos, said that contributors had continued to retire seamlessly such that as at the end of February 2014, 84,097 retirees are receiving their monthly pensions by programmed withdrawal through their various Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs). Similarly, she said, the Commission collaborated with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to issue the regulation on annuity in 2010, thus allowing RSA holders to retire by annuity through the purchase of annuity contracts from life insurance companies. Presently, there are 8,479 retirees, who are receiving their monthly pensions

through annuity. Mrs. Anohu-Amazu said, “I am indeed delighted to welcome you to this auspicious forum organised for retirees under the (CPS) by the Commission. We consider retirees as a very important stakeholder group, which symbolises the success of the CPS on the payout sphere. On behalf of the management and staff of the Commission, I wish to convey our profound gratitude to you all, our esteemed retirees, for honoring our invitation to this forum.” According to her, you would recall that one of the salient objectives of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2004 is that every person, who worked in either the public or private sectors of the federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory receives his/her retirement benefits as and when due. Section 15 of the PRA 2004 empowers the Commission to regulate, supervise and ensure effective administration of pension matters in Nigeria. In line with its mandate, the Commission has sought to establish uniform set of rules,

regulations and standards for the administration and payments of retirement benefits to retirees. She said, “you would, without doubt, agree that the Contributory Pension Scheme has eliminated one of the major challenges associated with the old Defined Benefit, Pay-As-You-Go scheme, in the area of irregular payment of monthly pension benefits. It is indeed gratifying that as opposed to

uncertainties encountered in receiving monthly pensions, today these benefits are remitted seamlessly on due dates to individual retirees’ bank accounts without any unnecessary hassles. “Notwithstanding, the Commission remains committed to institute further measures aimed at improving the retirement benefit administration processes to enhance the comfort of our senior citizens, who have

given much to the collective progress of our dear nation. We are therefore, looking forward to fruitful deliberations at this forum. We would be glad to share in your experiences on retirement benefit payments processes.” She explained that in line with its consultative supervisory approach, the Commission engages relevant stakeholders for input into its regulations and

guidelines. It is our hope that your feedback and suggestions would guide us in identifying areas of possible changes and improvements to our regulations. We also expect you to utilise the opportunity provided by this forum to seek clarifications on any grey areas directly from the Commission. In addition, the forum will afford various retirees in the zone a common platform on retirement benefit issues.

GNI records N903m profit REAT Nigeria Insurance G Plc has announced a profit after tax of N903 million for the year ended 31 December, 2012, representing 119 per cent increase compared to the N399 million recorded in 2011. As a measure of the growth of the organisation, GNI Plc’s gross premium as at 31st 2012 stood at N2,881,139 billion as against the turnover of N2,403,889 billion of 2011, this shows a 16.5 per cent comparative increase. Similarly, the total assets experienced a marginal growth of 13.8 per cent at N8.432 billion as against the 2011 figure of N7.265 billion. While, N833,122 million was paid out as claims to its various customers. In the same vein, the retail products of the Company which are sold under its ebusiness platform has also started growing; one of which is Fireproof to cover against possible loss of properties through fire, another is Great Savers Delight; which is a savings investment scheme, Motorflex is an improved version of third party motor insurance policy and GNI Personal Accident Insurance product is for injuries sustained in accidents. Meanwhile, the company has unveiled the new board members of the company following the conclusion of the divestment process. At the company’s 48th yearly general meeting held in Lagos, the new Chairman, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, in his maiden address assured the shareholders of the ‘board commitment to bringing to bear, their various wealth of experience to ensure optimum performance by the organisation.’ While thanking the previous board for the ‘good job done’, he emphasised that

the Corporate Governance policy will be strictly pursued. Talabi, who is a business mogul formally introduced the other board members at the occasion. They are, Mr. James Naiyeju, Mr. Bade Aluko, Arch Bishop Felix Alaba Job, Mrs. Foluso Onabowale, Mr. Dapo Otunla, and Mrs. Cecilia Osipitan the Managing Director/CEO. Also introduced are Mr. Rotimi Olukorede and Mrs. Roselyne Ulaeto both as executive directors. Commenting further on the Company at the occasion, Mrs. Osipitan, who has been at the helms of the company since December, 2009 assured that ‘with the conclusion of the divestment process, GNI Plc is now fully focused on the matter of growing its bottomline, implementing the re-engineering initiatives and customer service improvement programme’. It will be recalled that following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Directive for banks with subsidiaries to either sell off their subsidiaries or adopt a holding structure, Wema Bank Plc, the majority shareholder of the 54 year old Insurance firm decided to sell her stake in the company. The successful bidding process which started in 2011 led to the new ownership of Great Nigeria Insurance Plc that was now unveiled at the impressive ceremony. Great Nigeria Insurance Plc according to report and as part of its effort to improve on its turnaround time has only recently purchased a new software that will enable GNI Plc achieve this objective and it is in the process of going live with the new software.

Director of Great Nigeria Insurance Plc, Mrs Foluso Onabowale (left), Chairman, Tokunbo Talabi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Cecilia Osipitan, Alhaji Badmus Niyi, and Bade Aluko at the 48th yearly general meeting of the company held in Lagos.

Firm educates customers on benefits N line with the company’s Icollaboration policy of operating in close with its customers, Premium Pension Limited – a leading Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) in the country recently held its retiree/customer meetings in some states in the South-South region of the country. The fora which were held in Calabar, Port Harcourt, Asaba and Benin were aimed at feeling the pulse of customers regarding the contributory pension scheme and sensitizing them on the company’s renewed resolve towards unassailable service delivery and custom care. In his remark in Asaba, the company’s managing director, Mr. Wilson Ideva reiterated the importance of keeping in constant touch with customers especially in an industry that is still unfolding. “There is need to interact with our customers to among other things identify how to serve them even better” said Mr. Ideva. “While the company has recorded tremendous achievements, it is important that these giant strides are communicated to the customers to bolster their confidence in us and the industry and also identify where there are chal-

lenges and seek improvement.” He revealed that Premium Pension Limited currently has 12,288 retirees across the country and is unequivocally committed to timely payment of all their entitlements to avoid unnecessary hardship during retirement. This position was corroborated by Mr. Sunday Okoh, the permanent secretary, Delta State Local Government Bureau who said , “we are overwhelmed by the services of Premium Pension Limited which is marked by trans-

parency, cutting edge technology, timely and regular payment of pension benefits and prompt delivery of quarterly statement and SMS alerts.” He described the occasion as unique and first of its kind where the chief executive of a PFA was physically present and not by proxy. He noted that they are highly encouraged by CEOs who empathise with retirees in the state as exemplified by Premium Pension Limited. In his contribution, Mr. Adamu Mele, the executive director, business develop-

ment and investment noted that it was the patronage and support of customers that lifted Premium Pension Limited from zero balance at inception to more than N325 billion as funds currently under management. He said that the company will continue to reciprocate by continuously seeking avenues to serve them better. He told the retirees that the company now offers advisory services and is currently working in tandem with some banks and other relevant financial institutions on how to support retirees with viable business ventures and ideas.

Continental Alarm introduces device to check fire outbreaks, others HE incidence of fire outT break, vandalism and crime may be reduced as Continental Alarm Limited launched electronic detector device to help fight this menace in the country. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Okwy Okeke, speaking at the presentation of the products in Lagos, said the company is the provider, distributor and supplier of security, heat, fire, pressure and smoke alarm

advanced warning system for curbing losses due to fire and allied claims. The launching, which was attended by government officials, chief executives of banks and insurance companies, said ”we maintain and provide round the clock surveillance via video recording and retrieval systems to organisations and homes, provide online viewing services for mounted security cameras, off-site video record-

ing services and facilitate emergency response. Besides, he said, “we have our systems deployed indoors and outdoors, in remote and urban areas using either our wired and wireless solutions across different sectors.” He said, “we have been installing our smoke detectors in Nigeria for over three years now, however, we have focused more on large industrial and commercial corporate clients.

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Firm records 44 % growth in income From John Okeke, Abuja HE Chairman Board of T Directors, Sigma Pensions Limited, Rasaki Oladejo has announced that his company recorded 43.85 per cent growth in income during the financial year 2013. He told shareholders during the nineth yearly general meeting of the company held in Abuja at the weekend. He said “ the effective management of your investment remained our topmost priority during the 2013. In this regard, we will continue to increase our growth momentum as we have done over the year. I am therefore pleased to inform you that in spite of increased competition and a fragile

global financial economy, your company was able to grow its gross income from N2.23 billion in 2012 to N3.21 billion in 2013. This represents a year-on -year growth rate of 43.85per cent . “ He said, “In the same vein, our profit before tax grew by 88 per cent from N800 million to N1.5 billion, while our profit after tax grew by 96 per centfrom N504 million to circa N986 million during the same year.” According to him, data from the National Pension Commission shows that the Nigeria pension industry remained resilient during the year, with pension assets under management growing to N3.82 trillion at the end of October 2013.

Also the Managing Director, Sigma Pensions Limited, Umar Moddibo, commenting on the increase in their company’ gross income said” our success in 2013 was due to in large part to the focused execution of our growth strategy which is about driving sustainable growth and profitable growth through the provision of efficient fund administration services.” He added, “ we therefore will continue to to work hard to deliver on the promises we make particularly to our customers and shareholders , with our focus being on how we execute our 2014 priorities , including delivering on greater operational efficiencies and

Managing Director/CEO, Staco Insurance Plc, Shakiru Oyefeso, (right), Managing Director, Glanvill Enthoven Insurance Brokers Limited, Francis Akinola, and Executive Director, Staco Insurance Plc, Bayo Fakorede during a courtesy visit to Glanvill Enthoven.

Auto-tracking vendors urge action against illegal operators PERATORS of the O GPS/FPRS auto tracking systems have appealed to

the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to check the unlicensed operators in the system as it poses security threat in the country. The Managing Director,

International Systems Network Limited, Mr. Gbemi Oyeneyin said having obtained auto-tracking licence, it is unfortunate that some insurance companies are still patronising the unlicensed vendors. A press release made available to The Guardian, said, “in 2012, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) made it

mandatory for companies operating the GPS/FPRS Auto-Tracking Systems in Nigeria to obtain NCC Licence. It therefore became illegal for all existing Autotracking Companies to continue to operate without obtaining such NCC Licence. “Consequently, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) rolled out ditectives in that

regard, banning insurance companies from patronising such unlicensed and unaccredited auto-tracking vendors.” He said, “having obtained the Auto-Tracking Licence by our company, it was later discovered that, some other insurance companies still patronise the unlicensed vendors for the auto tracking of their Vehicles

Comprehensive Policy Clients across the country, which now constitute a serious security breach, especially at this time of our country’s situation to quacks, who is ready to compromise or divulge vehicular movement of their clients to terrorists.” According to him, part of the verification exercise is undertaken by the Nigerian

State Security Service (SSS) at their Headquarters’ in Abuja where directors of every Auto Tracking Company applying for the licence will undergo serious background checks, bio-metric analysis, and crime records, among others. He appealed to NCC, NAICOM and chief executives of all licensed auto-tracking companies to be on the alert

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Media How media, electoral umpire can stimulate credible election in 2015 Discourse In Abuja, last week, March 26 precisely, the National Stakeholders’ Roundtable on Setting Media and Public Agenda for 2015 witnessed the presentation of the findings of a survey carried out by the International Press Centre (IPC) on setting agenda for media reporting ahead 2015 elections. But the one-day meeting was enriched by the presentation of Managing Director, The Sun Newspapers and President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Femi Adesina. Entitled: The Media, INEC and Public Expectation for Credible Election in 2015, the paper was hailed by participants as critical document that should assist journalists in discharging their civic duty of covering the electoral process professionally and responsibly. Below is an excerpt of the presentation: Y this time next year, God willing, the 2015 B general elections would have been concluded. There would be new administrations in place at both the state and federal levels, and Nigeria would be on a steady march in her democratic journey – all things being equal. Why do I say all things being equal? Because we all know the potentials of Nigeria for eruption, for cataclysm, violence, sorrow and bloodshed after general elections. It happened in 1965, in what was then known as the Wild, Wild, West, in which we witnessed Operation Wetie. This sparked off series of crises that eventually culminated in military takeover of government. In 1979, we know the controversies that trailed the elections that ushered in civilian rule, and how things came to a head in 1983. There was blood and gore in many parts of the country, leading again to the return of the military. Fiasco is an understatement to describe the 12 June 1993 election voided by the military, which landed the country eventually in five years of draconian rule by Gen Sani Abacha. The annulment of the 1993 election cost Nigeria dear in human lives, as well as in socio-economic losses. We returned to democratic ways in 1999, not with perfect elections, but Nigerians were willing to overlook the imperfections and let democracy be. Sadly, however, subsequent elections, rather than improve, degenerated in terms of standard and conduct. In 2007, the world was unanimous in condemning what apparently was a travesty of best practices and global standards in electioneering. Even President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua that emerged confessed that the process that brought him into office was flawed. Can Nigeria forget the flare of arson and bloodshed that attended the 2011 presidential election? It was unprecedented in the life of the country. Scores of lives were lost, including those of youths, members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who had been engaged in the conduct of elections. It was a most dismal, dolorous epoch in the annals of electioneering in Nigeria. Now, we are on the march again. General elections are billed to hold in Nigeria once again in February 2015. Will things be radically different from experiences of the past? Will Nigeria move forward, and keep pace with the rest of the world in decent conduct of election, or will we prove that we have learnt nothing and forgotten nothing? A lot will depend on institutions like the media, the electoral umpire known as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the electorate itself, the

President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Femi Adesina security agencies, and many others. In this presentation, we will focus on the Media, INEC, and how they can both rise up to the expectations of the electorate in 2015. In a publication titled The ACE Encyclopaedia: Media and Elections, it was posited thus: “The media are essential to democracy, and a democratic election is impossible without media. A free and fair election is not only about the freedom to vote and the knowledge of how to cast a vote, but also about a participatory process where voters engage in public debate and have adequate information about parties, policies, candidates and the election process itself in order to make informed choices. Furthermore, media acts as a crucial watchdog to democratic elections, safeguarding the transparency of the process. Indeed, a democratic election with no media freedom, or stifled media freedom, would be a contradiction in terms.” What this simply means is that if Nigeria would have credible elections, the media would be at the very centre of it all, interfacing with both INEC and the electorate. The media must be a watchdog of the process. It must be a campaign platform, public educator, and forum for impartial, unbiased debate. Journalists must have unfettered freedom to cover election processes, before, during and after. They must play according to the rules, and work with the electoral commission to meet the expectation of the people. How should the media be comporting itself then, as we count down to 2015? In playing its watchdog role, the media should be keenly involved in beaming the searchlight on political parties, aspirants, candidates, the electoral umpire, the process, and ensuring that the game is played according to the rules. In doing all these, the media must maintain critical balance, impartiality, and non-partisanship. Duties of the media will include, but not limited to: Education of the electorate on their democratic rights; Reporting on campaign and programmes of different parties and candidates; Providing platform for ALL to communicate their message to the electorate; Receiving feedback from the electorate; Providing platform

for parties and candidates to debate and ventilate their views decently; Evaluating the electoral process; Reporting and monitoring vote counting, and disseminating same as duly released by INEC; Avoiding incendiary views and reports that may lead to flare of violence and loss of lives. In carrying out these duties, the media is not really expected to re-invent the wheel. The roles and responsibilities are to be carried out within the broad framework of responsible and ethical journalism. It is not as if new rules and regulations are to be designed for electoral duties and responsibilities, rather, they are already encapsulated in ethical journalism. What should the media bear in mind then, if it would effectively play its role in engendering credible election in 2015? As stated earlier, the media is not being asked to re-invent the wheel. Being faithful to the canons of journalism as espoused and adopted by the American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1923 gets the job done. The media must hold the following dear for credible elections in 2015: Responsibility: The journalist must know that the public’s welfare is paramount at all times. His discharge of his duties must never erode or corrode public welfare, irrespective of the ownership of the medium he reports for, public or private. Freedom without extremes: Freedom of the press must be demanded and upheld at all times. But freedom must have boundaries. Nothing must be pushed to the extreme. Independence: The media must never become an appendage of politicians, or other interest groups. Sadly, this is a vanishing value in the country today. Accuracy and truthfulness: These are building blocks of ethical journalism. Public accountability must be the watchword at all times. Impartiality: Everyone must be given a voice including the other side. Fair play: Integrity is in question when there is no fair play. In fact, it then becomes foul play. Opposing views should not be silenced, but accommodated. Neither should views be twisted to achieve pre-determined

goals.Decency: The media must not pander to base or vicious instincts. Don’t instigate or inflame passions, as elections are emotive things. All the above are expected of both the traditional media and New Media. Part of the watchdog role of the media is to safeguard the transparency of the democratic process. And that is where it must necessarily be in synergy with INEC, without necessarily being in cahoots with the electoral umpire. How then can the media work with INEC towards realising the expectation of the public for credible polls in 2015? The public has a right to information before, during and after elections. The onus is, therefore, on those charged with manning the communication apparatus of INEC to ensure that the communication channel between them and the media is kept open. Can there be communication without access? If those who interface between INEC and the media are not accessible at all times, then communication will be stifled. Responses must be promptly provided to enquiries, grey areas promptly clarified, unintended misrepresentations clarified timeously, and updates given on different electoral stages. Cultic or arcane things are often shrouded in secrecy. But not issues about election. Transparency is the name of the game, and this reflects in adequate communication. INEC is responsible to the electorate, and the media is the vehicle through which the responsibility is communicated. An effective media relation strategy must, therefore, be in place. Again, there should be continuous engagement and capacity building. The media has a lot to learn about the processes of elections – rules guiding campaigns, party primaries and election of candidates, conventions, accreditation of journalists, election reporting, publication of results, impartiality, reporting on exit polls, how to avoid inflaming passions, reporting findings by international observers etc. INEC is the repository of most of these information, and it is important that there is continuous engagement between the two bodies. Capacity building is really a continuous exercise. The media is trained to ferret out information. Therefore, the electoral umpire must never have dark secrets, or skeletons in its cupboards. While the media and INEC should not be adversaries, they are also not expected to be criminally chummy to the point of aiding and abetting any form of opacity. Transparency must be upheld at all times. Electoral umpires are often the butt of criticism and cynicism in Nigeria, no matter how well or hard they have tried to acquit themselves. From Michael Ani, to Ovie-Whiskey, Eme Awa, Humphrey Nwosu, Sumner Dagogo-Jack, Abel Guobadia, Omorose Akpata, Maurice Iwu and Attahiru Jega, the public simply wants to believe the worst of them, irrespective of their pedigree, and the record of integrity they have brought to the job. Indeed, the position of INEC boss is a cemetery of integrity. The least an occupant of the position can do then, is to do his best and leave the rest for posterity to judge. Let me borrow the words of Veronica Oakeshott of IWPR programme in Nigeria: “Our mission is to hasten the day when politicians no longer feel they can promise the world and deliver a pittance. When they know their every move is being watched by skilled reporters, they will raise their game, and with it the fortunes of ordinary Nigerians.” That is what can be achieved with synergy between the media and INEC. The typical politician will no longer be able to pull the wool over the eyes of the electorate. And the country will get the kind of election it has long panted for, and hankered after. We will surely get there. The ravening clouds will not continue to be victorious. The hope of credible elections, long deferred, will then become reality.

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Stakeholders strategise for effective use of FoI law Conference By Kabir Alabi Garba he enactment of the Freedom of T Information law almost three years ago in Nigeria notwithstanding, there exist some challenges militating against its effective usage. This is the verdict of the two-day Africa Regional Conference on Freedom of Information Implementation held recently in Abuja. however, the challenges are not peculiar to Nigeria. Similar scenario is obtainable virtually in all African countries where freedom of information regime has been established. Participants at the conference listed these challenges to include lack of critical understanding of the access to information laws by public officials and citizens; poor documentation, record-keeping and archival processes; as well as inadequate funding of oversight mechanisms and freedom of information units in public institutions. They decried that most public institutions are not in compliance with access to infor- Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade (left); Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, mation law obligations and the non-com- Ekiti State, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda; and Executive Director, Media Right Agenda (MRA), Edetean Ojo… at the conference in pliance is largely on the issue of proactive Abuja disclosure and timely reporting about the take the lead in their promotional mandate and where adequate budgetary allocations extent to which they have implemented the to run outreach, education and awareness are not made, parliaments and parliamenlaws. They noted absence of dedicated over- programmes clearly targeting different sec- tary bodies must seek to ensure such allocasight mechanisms and where there are put tions of society to raise awareness and under- tions are made to ensure effective implemenin place, “procedures of appeal are not well standing of the law. Some of the illustrative tation of access to information laws. spelt out.” tools that could be employed include train Also canvassed is the adoption of proactive Over 100 state and non-state actors from the trainer programmes, stakeholders/key disclosure mechanism as this will, particiCote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, operators-analysis, town hall meetings, town pants believe, reduce the burden on public Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda and criers, road shows, serialised dramas and institutions to process numerous individual Zimbabwe were in attendance. The confer- plays in various languages, social media, requests for information from members of ence also drew participants from Freedom visual aids, and experience sharing. the public under the access to information of Information oversight bodies, public The media and a broad section of civil socie- law. Public institutions are encouraged to institutions, the military, anti-corruption ty, they urged, should embrace access to take advantage of this important mechanism agencies, civil society organizations, profes- information laws as a necessary tool in in national laws to make information availsional bodies, academic institutions, the advancing their work. It is suggested that the able to the public as this will also enhance citmedia and other interest groups. provisions of the laws should be simplified izens’ trust in them. Facilitated by Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and/or translated into local languages to Public institutions are admonished to use in Nigeria, the conference had the support make them accessible to broader sections of electronic records management systems to of the United Nations Development the population. enhance the implementation of national Programme (UNDP) Democratic And to change the bureaucratic inertia and access to information laws. In particular, Governance for Development (DGD) II proj- resistance, the conference recommended they should take advantage of the Internet, ect. It is a joint project funded with contri- deliberate efforts made to sensitize public ICT and social media tools in receiving, probutions from the european Union, the UK institutions and officials at all levels of gov- cessing and responding to requests for inforDepartment for International Development ernment about the rights of the public to mation as well as in fulfilling their proactive (DFID), the Canadian International access information held by public institu- disclosure obligations, including using infoDevelopment Agency (CIDA), the Korea tions. graphics to present and explain complex International Cooperation Agency and the Sensitization, participants argued, should data. Governments should however put in UNDP. not be limited to freedom of information place facilities and infrastructures to ensure But some emerging positive trends were officials alone but should include all staff so the availability and effectiveness of such also identified. The key emerging trends that they are able to direct members of the tools. include a growing recognition on the conti- public on how to locate the Freedom of Accordingly, citizens, civil society organizanent that citizens have a right of access to Information Desk within their institutions. tions and the media are urged to systematiinformation; the adoption of a Model Under record keeping and information cally monitor compliance by public instituAccess to Information Law by the African management, public institutions are asked tions with their proactive disclosure obligaCommission on human and Peoples Rights; to document their proceedings and formally tions under national access to information a burgeoning access to information com- keep records about all their activities, opera- laws. Whenever non-compliance is revealed munity of practice that is willing to offer tions and businesses in order to ensure that by such monitoring, efforts should be made assistance both in-country and across the the access to information law is not deliber- to apply remedies available in the law as well region; and an encouraging speed in pas- ately undermined through the non-creation as lodging reports to the oversight body or sage of progressive access to information of records. mechanism and parliaments or parliamenlaws. In addition, public institutions must tary bodies given responsibility to oversee or The conference reiterated the need for strengthen existing internal information supervise the implementation of the law. countries without comprehensive access to and record management structures to Monitoring the implementation of access to information laws to speedily pass such ensure they are digitised for ease of archival information laws, the conference resolved, laws. It also pointed out the need for and retrieval processes. should be regular and systematic with the amending and/or repealing laws and poli- Aware of the centrality of adequate funding aim of generating reliable data on all aspects cies that continue to hamper access to to a successful implementation programme, of the implementation of the law. information regimes. public institutions are urged to develop and however, enforcement of access to informaessentially, the conference deliberated and make specific budgetary requests to help in tion laws, it is said, should not be confined to proposed certain strategies as necessary proper discharge of their obligations under already over-burdened courts alone, or to legminimums for effective implementation of the freedom of information laws. islative bodies. “There should be a system or access to information laws, chief of which is Besides, African governments should as a mechanism for internal review and parties public enlightenment and awareness. They matter of priority allocate resources in should have the option to appeal to an canvassed the need for oversight bodies national budgets to fund Freedom of administrative body for review of decisions. and mechanisms in the various countries to Information units in each public institution; Where necessary, access to courts should be

NB to reward journalists for professionalism By Gbenga Salau and Toyin Olasinde O continually promote professionalism and reward excellence, the Nigerian Breweries Plc has announced plans to hold the 6th edition of Golden Pen Award with submission of entries closing on Friday, April 25, 2014. Unlike previous editions where the award was centred on Nigerian Breweries reports, journalists and media houses are to send in entries based on a theme. For this year, which is the 6th edition, the theme is education and Youth empowerment. each reporter has

an opportunity to send in a total of 3 reports published between January and December 2013. Corporate Affairs Adviser, Mr. Kufre ekanem, briefing the media, stated that the award was expanded to encourage the media to focus on critical sectors of the Nigerian economy. he said the winners would be announced and awarded prizes at a ceremony slated for a day in June 2014. According to him, while all entries are to be sent to the independent coordinating agency, Mediacraft Associates via Goldenpen2014@mediacraft.ng,

Mediacraft Associates will collate all entries submitted for assessment by a jury. The jury, he said, will analyse the reports and photographs for their originality, news value, use of resources, credibility, and factuality among others. Giving a breakdown, the Corporate Affairs Adviser said the categories and prizes include: The Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Reporter of the Year (Special statuette + N1, 000, 000.00); first runner up for the Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Reporter of the Year (Special statuette + N300, 000.00)

and second runner up for the Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Reporter of the Year (Special statuette + N200, 000.00). Others are: The Nigerian Breweries Report of the Year (Special statuette + N500, 000.00); The Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Photojournalist of the Year (Special statuette + N300, 000.00); first runner up for the Nigerian Breweries Photojournalist of the Year (Special statuette + N250, 000.00) and second runner up for the Nigerian Breweries Photojournalist of the Year (Special statuette + N200, 000.00).

simple, fast and cost-effective. “Functions of the designated oversight bodies and mechanisms should include monitoring and regulating public institutions and private entities covered by the law; receiving annual reports from such institutions on their compliance with and implementation of the Law; to hear appeals against denial of access to information; to undertake audits to assess the level of compliance; impose fines and/or other sanctions for non-compliance; carry out search and seizures in appropriate cases; produce reports on implementation; promote awareness of the Law and provide advice to strengthen the Law and its implementation. National access to information frameworks should progressively move towards empowering oversight bodies and mechanisms to perform all of these functions. “Oversight bodies should be adequately funded, staffed and equipped to ensure that they provide effective oversight in the implementation of the law and should not be subject to partisan political control. “Oversight bodies and agencies should be properly trained to ensure that they understand their functions and powers under the Law and to enhance their ability to perform their functions effectively. In this regard, oversight bodies and agencies in Africa should create a platform for networking, and knowledge and experience sharing. “Civil society organization should systematically monitor oversight bodies and their operations to assess their level of independence and effective functioning and where public institutions are not in compliance, CSOs must develop and support public interest litigation to enable information requesters’ access information and justice,” the conference reiterated.

DAMe takes journalists to the classroom he Diamond Awards for Media excellence T is organising a one-day media workshop on Tuesday at the Lagos Sheraton, Ikeja, as part of efforts to enhance journalists’ professional capacity. It is a follow up to the promise made at the 22nd DAMe Presentation on November 23, 2013 to address discernible weakness in some reporting categories. In a statement from the DAMe Secretariat announcing the workshop, DAMe submits: “We have noticed that journalists generally struggle to get a hang of deep, penetrating reporting. There is a discernible weakness in the quality of entries for some reporting categories especially in the last three years that even as the awards are available, winners are lacking. This is a painful realization of the dearth of appropriate professional skills that should earn these prizes. “It is also a sobering reminder that these sectors will continuously be underreported if urgent redress is not found. Above all, it reminds that if the goals of impacting positively on the Nigerian media development landscape are to be realized, urgent help should be provided to the media to correct these shortcomings. That help will come from strengthening media capacity through retraining for well processed reporting that can deliver the reporting the public can trust and use”. The April 1st workshop, titled “Widening the pools of excellence”, will address three core areas: Journalism values, News judgment, and Researching and writing skills. Samples of journalistic writings and entries that failed to win awards will be evaluated to show their weaknesses and unfulfilled potential. DAMe hopes from the experience the media excellence net cast yearly to fish for outstanding talents will grow wider to accommodate more talents in the DAMe hall of FAMe, and by extension the pools of excellence will coalesce into a river of excellence. It promises the workshop would provide an excellent learning opportunity for participants from their resource persons, “who rank among the leading names in the industry, a platform for the exchange of ideas among a rich interdisciplinary group of journalists and sensitize the media to the call for entries for the 23rd DAMe”.

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ISSUE

The ‘Tiv/Fulani’ crisis By Emmanuel Jime “FORGETFULNESS, and I would even say historical error, are essential in the creation of a nation” – Ernest Renan begin this intervention on the raging ImyWILL tragedy involving the Tiv and the Fulani in home state of Benue with Renan’s theory of anthropological “forgetfulness.” Not forgetfulness in the nihilist sense of altering moral values, religion, tradition and ethnics differences, but the kind of forgetfulness that rises above conflict and the reasons therein. I am a Benue indigene, but a part of my formative years were happily spent in Keffi, the then Plateau State, and now Nasarawa State. I shared my eventful childhood with the Fulani and several other ethnic groups; a veritable meltingpot situation that we took for granted. As Renan’s disquisition on the subject of forging differences into nations found, some of the greatest countries in the world today are peopled by citizens who do not share lineages. For the purpose of this opinion, I would like to say there are two kinds of forgetfulness: the one that makes nations and the other that destroys unions long forged by trade, politics and other means. The latter kind of forgetfulness is the reason for the senseless and unabated killings in Benue State at the moment. It is shocking that in less than three decades of a carnage wrought by the Maitatsine in parts of the North East and Kano State, a second round of Maitatsine is with us and leadership appears to be lacking to quell it. The persistence of this unprecedented crisis feeds on the acute lack of leadership, competence and decisiveness. Like the Maitatsine in the 80s, and unlike earlier land disputes between the Fulani and Tiv, these latest killings appear to be done by mercenaries from the neighbouring countries of Cameroun, Chad and some studies suggest from Mali, sponsored by highly placed individuals in the country. This time, the situation threatens to consume not just my beloved state, but there is a frightening possibility that this would soon spread to the neighbouring South-South State of Cross River and even the South-East through Enugu, which is just a few miles from the southern part of Benue. Taraba State, another Benue neighbour, is already revving to take the cue. Already, pockets of skirmishes have been recorded between the Tiv, Fulani and Jukun in the area, with the possibility that Jukunoid ethnic groups like the Etulo and the Nyifon in Buruku and Katsina-Ala local governments would soon join the fray. The tragedy is taking no prisoners. Not even the Benue people of the Guma-Makurdi-Gwer axis who have had long association with the Fulani dating back to 1943, through Mallam Audu Afoda are spared. In only three months, more than a thousand deaths have been recorded, with properties and crops worth billions of naira destroyed by the rampaging herdsmen and foreign mercenaries hired to torment, kill, torture, destroy our civilization and reduce our economy which began to pick up last year to rubbles. These sponsored marauders and cahoots with Fulani herdsmen, have gone as far as even attempting to take the life of our Governor Rt. Hon. Gabriel Torwua Suswam while he was on his way to one of the affected communities. The mercenaries and their internal collaborators have also taken their merchandise of blood to the Agatu, the first part of Benue State to embrace Islam and the Hausa-Fulani, long before 1928, when some parts of Idoma was excised from the South-East and joined to Benue. The vestiges of our long association with the Fulani are there; for example the Yelwata area in Makurdi is named by the Fulani, same for Wadata and several others. But the politics

underlying the willful forgetfulness of our political leadership would not allow sleeping dogs lie. These bandits and terror merchants working with powerful people in the country and outside it are threatening to break the legendary will power, courage and resilience of the Tiv in particular, and the Benue people in general. They are bent on demonizing Islam and rubbishing the basis for a long association of peoples of the Benue valley and their neighbours. The economy of Benue State continues to slide, as death toll rises even with the recent intervention of the Federal Government. My own village in Guma Local Government has been sacked, same for the village of our paramount chief, Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula. Makurdi, the state capital has become a huge refugee camp. As a member of the House of Representatives representing Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency since 2007, I have worked with other lawmakers to end the crisis in the state, but in the course of this patriotic and very necessary duty, I and my dutiful team have found that there are underlying reasons for this conflict beyond the reasons of grazing routes. Some of these reasons are disunity among the Tiv and Agatu communities affected, lack of planning and the sheer vulnerability for such attacks, because of lack of adequate security measures by the state and federal governments. This now reinforces the All Progressives Congress (APC) call for state policing, and of course community policing, in line with the true spirit of federalism. The Government of Benue State has worked hard to contain this crisis, but it requires the continued assistance of other leaders of the state and the Federal Government in the interim. This tier collaboration must not be half-hearted and must be sustained. The National Assembly must also enact a law on cattle grazing and vest the powers of enforcement of the law on veterinary officers and district authorities in all parts of the country, in line with the Uganda model. The East African country is one of the earliest in the world to enact a far-reaching legislation on cattle grazing. The Cattle Grazing Act of Uganda was enacted on October 31, 1945. The law prescribes punitive measures against indiscriminate grazing of cattle on unauthorised lands. Section 2(1) of the Act states inter alia: “No person shall cause or permit any cattle belonging to him or her or under his or her control to graze on any land in respect of which there is in force an order made by a veterinary officer prohibiting grazing or in respect of which there is in force any order or rule made by a district administration prohibiting grazing.” Another subsection goes further to prescribe for the impoundment of offending cattle by a veterinary officer or district authority. In the case of Benue in particular, or Nigeria in general, it could be a second class traditional head. In the case of the United States, we have the Bureau of Land Management established in 1946 to work with the United States Forest Service to oversee public lands grazing in 16 States of the United States and issue sanctions for offences of indiscriminate grazing. We can also take these examples and produce tough sanctions against unauthorised grazing by herdsmen and also amend our immigration laws to raise tougher sanctions against border offences and improve on border surveillance. But I will also suggest that the Tiv leadership must, as a matter of urgency, convoke a Tiv Ethnic Conference to wager a resurgence of our positive values, create a new and more progressive value pool, discuss ways of avoiding future attacks and displacements and chart the way forward for the Tiv people, to avoid a possible (God forbid) extinction of the Tiv race before the middle of this century. • Hon. Jime represents Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency of Benue State in the House of Representatives.

The Government of Benue State has worked hard to contain this crisis, but it requires the continued assistance of other leaders of the state and the Federal Government in the interim. This tier collaboration must not be half-hearted and must be sustained. The National Assembly must also enact a law on cattle grazing and vest the powers of enforcement of the law on veterinary officers and district authorities in all parts of the country, in line with the Uganda model.

68 Monday, March 31, 2014

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70 Monday, March 31, 2014

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OIL&GAS WEEKLY

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UPSTREAM NEWS

repair work. Shell has refused to confirm or deny the allegations. MEND is a militant organisation that brought the oil and gas industry to its knees in the early 90’s with unwavering attacks on facilities and oil industry personnel working in the Niger Delta. The Federal Government reached an amnesty with them in 2009 and some of their group were given security contracts as well. Since then, some disgruntled factions of the group who say they have not benefitted from the amnesty, continue to threaten oil installations with more attacks. Africa’s largest producer, Nigeria, is struggling to cope with the scale of oil theft, which it is estimated is losing the country $6 billion in revenue. The Federal Government this week announced that it would commit $1 billion to the fight against crude oil theft.

MIDSTREAM

Meanwhile New York's main contract West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in May rose $1.02 from Wednesday to $101.28 a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for May also gained, adding 80 cents to stand at $107.83 a barrel in London trade.

FINANCIAL

Afren Posts Record Revenue and Dip in Profit for 2013 ONDON FTSE 250-listed Afren has posted Lcontinued record revenues for the year 2013, following exploration success. However, prof-

Oando Secures Another Month’s Grace for Completion of ConocoPhillips Acquisition

BPE Reveals Plans for Privatisation of Refineries

HE Bureau of Public Enterprises has waded into ANDO Energy Resources has secured another Tthe refinery privatisation controversy with the O month’s grace for the completion of its long- announcement that privatisation of the four running acquisition of ConocoPhillips assets in Nigeria in one huge sale. The company, which has struggled to raise the funds for the completion of the $1.79 billion deal, finally announced a month ago that it had succeeded in raising all the funds it needed to close the deal. They pointed out that Ministerial consent, which is required to make the transaction effective was the only outstanding item. The company, which is dually listed in Johannesburg and Toronto was due to close the acquisition at the end of last year and since then has been getting monthly extensions, leading some to comment that the deal is now too big to fail. Now, it has won another month’s extension to enable it to obtain Ministerial consent to the transaction. Under Nigerian law, the transfer of interests in any oil exploration or production licence requires the consent of the Ministerial of Petroleum Resources. However, Ministerial Consent can take a long time and some deals have reportedly waited up to 9 months for Ministerial Consent. Oando says it had to agree to pay an additional deposit of $25 million on the 17th of April if Ministerial Consent is not received on or before the 11th of April. "As we approach the final stage of creating Africa's leading indigenous independent oil and gas company, we have committed to increasing our deposit as a goodwill gesture to ConocoPhillips, whilst we continue to work together to fulfil all conditions precedent for closure of this transaction," commented OER Chairman, Wale Tinubu. With all the investigations going on into the affairs of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) right now, Oando will have to keep their fingers crossed very tightly for the Minister to find time to deal with their transaction before the current deadline.

SPDC Declares Force Majeure on Forcados Blend Petroleum Development Corporation SingHELL (SPDC) on Tuesday declared force majeure on liftof the Forcados blend of crude oil after discovering an export line had been sabotaged. They had to make the declaration after discovering a leak on the 48-inch crude export line at Forcados Terminal in the Western Niger Delta. The subsea line was shut immediately and this has lead to the suspension of SPDC joint venture and third party crude oil exports through the terminal. Up to 400,000 barrels of oil per day, more than a fifth of Nigeria’s production, could be deferred as a result. "Force majeure" is a legal term releasing a party to a legal contract from its contractual obligations if the breach of contract is due to circumstances beyond its control. Shell said that helicopter overflights showed a slight sheen around the export line, indicating a leak. They have launched a joint investigation, which is being conducted by representatives of communities, SPDC, regulators and security agencies. They found that a crude theft point had been installed on the line in water depth of about eight metres. Shell said it is working to repair and reopen the line as soon as possible and it has mobilised equipment and materials to the site to begin the work. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has now claimed responsibility for the damage that caused the leak. They say they initially sabotaged the pipeline and then sent divers down to cause further damage to the ongoing

refineries, located in Port Harcourt Warri and Kaduna is still on the cards. The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Benjamin Dikki made the revelation in a statement disclosing the corporations that are due to be privatised. Last year, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke revealed in a television interview that the four refineries were to be privatised after admitting that the government had not been good at running the refineries. Following strong opposition from the industry’s labour organisations, the Federal Government hurriedly issued a statement denying that it had any such plans. Now it seems that whilst the government maintains that public stance, behind the scenes, plans appear to be continuing unabated for the privatisation of the refineries. No timescales for the privatization were mentioned in the statement.

MIDSTREAM

BPE Reveals Plans for Privatisation of Refineries HE Bureau of Public Enterprises has waded into T the refinery privatisation controversy with the announcement that privatisation of the four refineries, located in Port Harcourt Warri and Kaduna is still on the cards. The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Benjamin Dikki made the revelation in a statement disclosing the corporations that are due to be privatised. Last year, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke revealed in a television interview that the four refineries were to be privatised after admitting that the government had not been good at running the refineries. Following strong opposition from the industry’s labour organisations, the Federal Government hurriedly issued a statement denying that it had any such plans. Now it seems that whilst the government maintains that public stance, behind the scenes, plans appear to be continuing unabated for the privatisation of the refineries. No timescales for the privatization were mentioned in the statement.

DOWNSTREAM NEWS

OPEC daily basket price stood at $103.79 a barrel Thursday, 27 March 2014 HE price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood T at $103.79 dollars a barrel on Thursday, compared with $103.62 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. OPEC prices have surged since Monday amid worries about curtailed supplies following Shell’s force majeure declaration on Forcados blend.

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its declined sharply due to “impairment costs,” the company said. Revenue rose from $1.571 billion in 2012 to $1.644 billion in 2013, representing a 5 per cent rise, after production rose to 47,112 barrels of oil per day. The company said that it is targeting double-digit net production growth over the next five years. Profits before tax for continuing operations dropped 44 per cent to $318 million, from $569 million the previous year. Afren had a particularly strong year in 2013 with exceptional exploration and appraisal success. The highlight for the year was the basin-opening discovery at the Ogo-1 well, located on the OPL 310 license offshore Nigeria. The well encountered light oil and condensate rich gas with estimated P50 to P10 gross recoverable resources significantly ahead of pre-drill expectations at 774 to 1,180 mmboe respectively. The discovery at Ogo was the third largest discovery globally in 2013 and the largest in Nigeria for a decade. 3D seismic work is in progress ahead of planned appraisal drilling. Afren’s Nigerian success continued at Okwok with a successful appraisal campaign and recent FDP submission, which has resulted in net 2P reserves additions of 26.4 mmbbls. On the financial side, increased production gave the company excellent cash flows, with $390 million cash in the bank at the end of the year. During the year the Group successfully extended the maturity of its liabilities and lowered the cost of its debt following the refinancing of the Ebok Reserves Based Lending (RBL) facility and tender offer and refinancing of their Senior Secured notes. The company has also benefitted after winning a tax exemption for the period from mid2011 to mid-2016 for its Ebok operations. The company says the tax break was given to it “in recognition of the positive contribution that independents such as Afren have had in working successfully with local indigenous operators to bring marginal offshore fields into production.” Osman Shahenshah, Chief Executive, said: “2013 has been another excellent year for Afren, with a combination of record revenues and cash flows, production ahead of guidance and industry leading exploration success.” “Looking ahead, we will maintain our strategy of allocating capital to the highest cash return opportunities that will provide the necessary funding to continue to de-risk our material resource base,” he added. The company’s share price rose 1.69% or 2.55p to 153.35p in early London trading following the announcement.

SEPLAT Sets Indicative Price Range For IPO Development Company has SitsEPLATPetroleum set the indicative price range for its shares in initial public offer (IPO) in what will be a first for any Nigerian company according to Reuters. It will be listed dually on the main market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and also on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). The indicative price range for its initial public offer has been set at 195 pence to 255 pence per ordinary share for shares to be traded on the LSE's main market and NGN 535 to NGN 700 per ordinary share for shares to be listed on the official trading list of the NSE. The offer comprises a base offering and an overallotment option. The base offer will seek to raise gross proceeds of around $500 million, equivalent to 300.9 million pounds and NGN 82.5 billion. The over-allotment option will represent 15 per cent of the final amount allocated to the international offering in the base offer. Based on the mid-point of the price range, SEPLAT's implied market capitalisation at

admission would be about £1.201 billion. Seplat had said that it intends to use the funds to support its long-term aim to become a leading exploration and production company in Africa. Among the uses it has for the funds are: a) increasing production, reserves and cash flow from its OMLs 4, 38 and 41. It says it will bring at least one new field into production each year in order to replace and add reserves year-on-year; b) pursue a focused acquisition and farm-in strategy; c) commercialise its gas production (up till now the company has used gas produced solely for satisfying its domestic gas obligations but there are now plans to commercialise and market the gas and two off take agreements have already been signed with Azura Power and Southfield Petroleum, at a minimum unit price of US$3.00/Mscf); and d) a dividend policy under which a core ordinary dividend, paid annually, can be increased progressively under conservative long-term oil price assumptions and through the economic cycle.

REGULATORY

House Issues Final Invitation to Diezani Over Oil Swap Deal HE Joint Committee of the House of T Representatives that are investigations the allegations of collusion between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Swiss oil traders has issued a final invitation to appear to the Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke. The Joint Committee is made up of three committees of the House and they are the Petroleum Upstream, Petroleum Donwstream and Justice Commitees. They have been carrying out an investigation into the allegations made by Swiss based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Bernes Declaration (BD), which accused NNPC of colluding with Swiss oil traders to deprive Nigeria of billions of dollars in revenue in shady crude oil swap deals. The crude oil swap deals have been widely criticized. In the deals, Nigeria sells crude oil to the traders who in exchange deliver petroleum products back. However, as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Zainab Ahmed, pointed out, whilst giving evidence to the House, the deals are not economical for the country. In her evidence to the House Committee, Mrs Ahmed said that there is no cost efficiency in the arrangements that NNPC has with these offshore processing organisations. She said that the total cost of offshore processing compared with the reported price of PMS, DPK, AGO, and other oil products paid to NNPC was not economically efficient. This arrangement, she said, results in the under delivery of petroleum products to the tune of $866 million by companies involved in the swap. NNPC has already appeared before the House. The Joint Committees say that they have not yet heard from the Minister following their invitation to her. A notice to appear, they say, will be sent and they say this will be the final notice. The chair of the Joint Committee, Hon. Muraina Ajibola said: "I have not heard anything from her. We will give her a date to appear before us and that will be the last."

Two Brits Arrested Over Oil Theft Plot WO British nationals have been arrested along T with 12 Nigerians after the Joint Task Force (JTF) said they had uncovered a plot to steal oil from a pipeline. The JTF alleges that the Britons had tried to bribe a senior commander to turn a blind eye on their theft operations. JTF commander General Emmanuel Atewe said the two Britons were arrested in connection with some Nigerians that they had hired to tap into a Shell Pipeline. He said the Nigerians were technicians that were hired to assist the Britons with their task of siphoning crude oil onto waiting barges. The Britons, he said, brought along $120,000, which was to be used in bribing officers and soldiers along the Chanomi Creek. A spokesman for the British High Commission confirmed that two British nationals had been arrested.

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INTERVIEW

Unemployment crisis: Nigeria can learn from Canadian solutions, says Brennan While citizens in Nigeria are losing their lives in job stampedes, Canada has just about zero unemployment rate. Paul Brennan is the Vice President in charge of International Partnerships of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC). He was in Nigeria lately as special guest at the Nigerian Economic Summit (NES). In this interview with Foreign Affairs Editor OGHOGHO OBAYUWANA, he laid bare an employment model of synergies that is already gaining ground among some countries and says something has to be done quickly about a Nigerian system that has been producing unemployable citizens for yesterday’s jobs. But through partnerships and then local adaptation, the good news about tailoring education to needs is that apart from Canada, China, India, Brazil, it is already transforming some African countries like Senegal and Tanzania. Yet during the NES, participants were shocked about the Nigerian story of “Jobs without people and people without jobs.” A Nigerian corporation shockingly disclosed that in the receded year, it had 8,000 jobs to fill with new recruits and could only find 250 people with the requisite skills and knowledge. What is really wrong? What are the probable solutions? Excerpts. Canada is blazing the trail on the practical ways of tackling unemployment. What is Ottawa doing right that Abuja is not? HE most important thing is that our system requires all institutes and indeed every programme to work closely with employers and employees of the sector to help them develop and constantly adjust the content of the programmes. Our deans and faculty must meet with an advisory committee of employers twice a year to discuss emerging needs for jobs in the Canadian and global marketplace and what improvements to the curriculum need to be made so that it better prepares our learners to find jobs and keep them. Over 90% of our graduates find jobs within six months and others go on to university or other studies, and 94% of their employers are satisfied with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that they possess. Employers and community groups must also sit on our Boards and ensure that the institution is serving the new needs of the communities that surround them. In return for seeing that the institution serves their needs, the communities and business groups will then support the institution with internships, equipment and jobs for the graduates. You create a mutually beneficial partnership that benefits learners and the community. Otherwise the weight of academic tradition and bad habits will ensure that you end up preparing learners for jobs that no longer exist instead of the jobs of tomorrow. How can we really educate people for today’s jobs instead of yesterday’s? In addition to what I just mentioned, institutions, employer associations and ministries must be constantly scanning the economy and society for the new trends, the new investments coming to Nigeria that will generate jobs, and the impact of competition from the likes of China on existing jobs which may disappear and force a country to adjust. But do not wait for the Ministry of Statistics as it will be too late. Have your sectoral employer groups, such as the construction association to take one example, do rapid and regular surveys of their members to find out what kinds of skills and employment they will need in the coming two years. Get that information to both learners and faculty so that programmes can be adjusted, created and sometimes cancelled. And listen to employers, including the Nigerian ones who spoke this week at the Summit, that the essential employability skills of reading, writing, computing, analysing information, presentation, entrepreneurship, working in teams and knowing how to learn continuously and innovate, are some of the most important skills of the present and future. In Canada we have done some very promising experiences in how to better integrate those skills into the technical or business courses. What role can the private sector and relevant institutes play in this regard? As mentioned previously true partnership with the private sector and with public and non-government employers as well are essential if you want to educate youth for the future. Once the private sector sees that you are really listening to them and supporting them with job-ready graduates, they will start to support you back. They usually start by providing internships for your students and older equipment, then newer equipment and even access to their worksites for training, payment for the institution to upgrade their existing workforce and even support in improving the infrastructure. The relationship becomes a virtuous one instead of a vicious circle one with each criticising the other. And let us not forget that a large number of our graduates and your graduates will have to create their own jobs by setting up small businesses and services working with larger corporations or even meeting international needs from their home.

Brennan You can create digital animation for Disney or Pixar from your own basement, as many of our students do! But institutions and larger businesses need to support these new entrepreneurs with the right skills in marketing and accounting for example, with the critical seed financing to get them going or allow them to expand and connect them to networks of businesses from whom they can learn and do sub-contracts with. If your goal is not graduation but employment then you have to support your graduates even after they leave your institution! It has been said that vocational and technical training is what is needed in Nigeria instead of the heavily theorised model. How can Canada assist Nigeria in this regard? Canada is recognised as one of the two best countries in this area, along with Germany, so we can certainly share our experiences so that Nigerians do not have to reinvent the wheel. We also currently support 27 different countries in their similar transformations. But you also have to develop your own solutions adapted to your specific realities. Experience has shown us that if you can establish partnerships between a Canadian institute of technology or college with a similar one here and set out a plan of transformation, this has a better chance of succeeding. The two institutions exchange faculty, administrators and students even. And allowing Nigerians to come and see for themselves how an industry-responsive, entrepreneurial and student-focused institute in Canada works also helps. Otherwise you sometimes get discouraged and cannot see that there are other ways of functioning that are working, not only Canada, but in Sénégal, in China, in Brazil. The ACCC does a lot of work internationally to support countries, with the support of our own government or on direct contract with ministries

We want more Nigerian and Russian students because they have proven to be committed, serious and successful students in our institutes and polytechnics. We want to diversify away from an over reliance on Chinese, Indian and South Korean students. Not enough Nigerians know that Canadian colleges and institutes offer the range of regular diplomas in technology and business, but also regular degrees and post-graduate certificates even. These all include a supervised internship in the workplace and lead more easily to employment in their home country or even in Canada. If you come to Canada for two years of study for example, you can then work for one year.

like those in China (leadership development) or Brazil (teacher training). So we can also connect you to the best practices and inspiring people in other countries where we work. ACCC chairs the growing World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics, which aims to connect all institutions working on transformation of their systems. The next World Congress is in Beijing in October of this year. Nigerians should be present there to learn and contribute! Institutions from over 50 countries have now joined. If Nigeria gets its educational priorities right, what would be your projection for its economic growth in 10 years? As a few of the speakers said at the Summit, your growth will slow down if you do not rapidly prepare your own population for all the new jobs. Or you may carry on for some time using expatriates to fill the gaps, but your population will not be happy as they remain unemployed. Conversely, if you can make the transformation to a new Education for Employment and Citizenship, increase employment and new business creation then Nigeria will become the emerging power of Africa. You have a dynamic, energetic and creative population, with lots of resources. You can succeed, but some bad habits from the past twenty years need to be put aside rapidly, as many summit participants mentioned. You said a while ago that Canada want more students from Nigeria and Russia today why? We want more Nigerian and Russian students because they have proven to be committed, serious and successful students in our institutes and polytechnics. We want to diversify away from an over reliance on Chinese, Indian and South Korean students. Not enough Nigerians know that Canadian colleges and institutes offer the range of regular diplomas in technology and business, but also regular degrees and post-graduate certificates even. These all include a supervised internship in the workplace and lead more easily to employment in their home country or even in Canada. If you come to Canada for two years of study for example, you can then work for one year. And you can even apply for landed immigrancy from Canada, as we need over 250,000 new immigrants per year to maintain our own economic growth. And I assure you that the quality is just as good or better than in the UK or the USA, the traditional destinations for Nigerians. But don’t believe me, ask the Nigerians students who are now in Canada...! I would suggest that you need to reward the new type of behaviours of model teachers, administrators and civil servants. Hold public events to honour the best teachers and administrators, reward institutions whose graduates are getting more jobs or creating new businesses with more funding. A change in values in the system, which everyone was calling for at the Summit does not happen without public and financial rewards and celebration. You need to raise the status of the lowly teacher in Nigeria.

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For The Record Affluent society: Can Africa 66th Inaugural Lecture delivered by Prof. Sheriffdeen Adewale Tella on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State Continued from Thursday, March 27, 2014 ITHIN the context of finalizing this section, I decided to anW chor the discussion on two reports viz (i) a fairly comprehensive measure of global living conditions developed by a United States agency – Fund for Peace- the Failed State Index and (2) a concluding remark in the Global Competitive Index produced by the World Bank to depict countries’ competitiveness within the global realm. (i) Failed State Index A United States’ think-tank, Fund for Peace in conjunction with the magazine “Foreign Policy” has, since 2005, been engaged in the publishing of the Failed States Index for all countries under the membership of the United Nations. As shown in Table 24, the index’s ranks are based on twelve indicators of state vulnerability to collapse or conflicts. The indicators2, as shown on the Table, can be categorized into economics (2), social (4) and political (6). The rating for each indicator is based on a score of 0 to 10 with 0 being the best or most stable situation and 10 the most unstable situation. The score thus sums up to a total of 120 marks such that the nearer the score to 120 for a country the more precarious the country’s situation. Table24: Failed States Ranking Source: Fund for Peace, 2013. Over the years, African countries have always dominated the top spots of the failed States index. For example, in the last five years, more African countries are found within the first 20 countries than any other region in the world. In 2009, the number of African countries in the group was 11 with five of them occupying numbers 1 to 5, namely Somalia, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Chad and Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2010, there were 12 countries including Nigeria for the fourth time since the index started in 2005, and 13 in 2011. Fifteen African countries made the first twenty in 2012 with Nigeria in no 14. As can be gleaned in Table 24 for 2013, African countries retained 15 out of 20 countries with Nigeria’s rank improving marginally from 14th to 16th position. Nigeria’s position should not surprise anyone given the discussion on Nigeria in Section 5. (ii) Global Competitiveness On competitiveness in the international context, which is normally presented in the Global Competitive Index (GCI), the World Bank Annual Competitiveness Report (2013) indicates that 14 out of 20 lowest-ranked economies are from Africa. The Report stated inter alia: They (African countries) underperformed by a wide margin on human development indicators, and armed conflict and recurrent food crises continue to make headline news. Indeed, for many African economies, sources of growth are insufficiently diversified. Mineral exports make up over half of the region’s total export, rendering them vulnerable to commodity shocks. The share of gross domestic product (GDP) held by the manufacturing sector has remained largely unchanged since the 1970s, and more than two-thirds of the labour force is employed in the agricultural sector, implying limited structural transformation. There are both internal and external constraints to the competitiveness of the African economies. Major factors, particularly on the external front include trade barriers, concentration of trade on one commodity, substandard tradeable goods and absence of domestic and region-wide policies on cross-border investments (Tella, 2008). These reports are sufficient to support the glaring disparity in the conditions of the African people vis-à-vis people in other regions of the world. However, amidst these damning reports have emerged some encouraging reports that some Sub-Saharan African countries are on the path to breaking the yoke of poverty. For instance, the Regional Economic Outlook (2013) published by the International Monetary Fund posits that the rate of progress among Sub-Saharan African countries at achieving the MDGs has been increasing steadily since 2010. The Report claimed that by the middle of 2010, six countries made significant progress in five of the seven MDGs and the number had increased to ten in 2012. On general economic progress, the Report posits that best performers are the low income, non-resource based countries and the number increased from four (Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, The Gambia and Uganda) to eight (include Benin, Malawi,

Prof. Tella Mali and Ruwanda) within a space of 18 months. The progress recorded was associated with better quality of policies and institutions as well as increased expenditure allocations to social sectors, particularly education and health. However, rate of progress in middle income and larger countries like Egypt, Algeria, Angola and Nigeria had slowed down considerably, due in some cases to civil unrests, policy inconsistency and weakened institutions. Nigeria is reputed to have highest performance in education, particularly in the enrolment rate, though she also has high dropout rate. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) also credits Nigeria as having achieved food self-sufficiency by 2013, ahead of 2015 target. Also, the Africa Progress Panel Report (2011) explained that in the five years before the recent financial crisis of 2007/2008, Africa’s economic growth, at five per cent or more, was faster than other regions of the world. The growth was buoyed by strong external demand for products, ample liquidity, extended concessional financing and higher commodity prices. Also some structural changes involving, ipso facto, growing middle class, rapid urbanization, lower public debt, higher investment, economic deregulation and increasing remittances since 2010 were taking place in some of the economies. In addition, the Africa Renewal (2012) published by the United Nations Department of Public Information, Ernst & Young, a USbased business consulting outfit reported that “There is a new story emerging out of Africa: a story of growth, progress potential and profitability.” According to Developing Trends (2013), published by Development Prospects Group, trade data (imports and exports) from sub-Saharan Africa, though lagged behind those of other developing countries, have shown strong rebound since January, 2013. So also is the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) which has increased substantially, though skewed towards few countries like South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt.

It is these cheering reports that are pointers to the fact that African countries can make it if the appropriate environment exists; that there is bright light at the end of the dark tunnel for Africa as a continent and its people as part of the world’s homo sapiens. What are the steps to take or the transformation required to strengthen the gains already made towards affluence or to reverse the slide into further penury? This is the subject matter of the next and final section of this lecture. Vl.

Africa: The Path to the Affluent Society

The Vice- Chancellor Sir, it is imperative at this juncture to propose some recommendations towards transforming the African societies from aid dependent and poverty encumbered into affluent societies. In this connection, I propose the following: i. Education Policy and Direction: Nelson Mandela said “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. Education was the tool used by the leadership of Japan, a country without mineral resources, to take her people out of poverty into opulence and dominate the world economically. It was also education that made the most populous country in the world - China – to transform from a third world country into the second largest economy in the world within a spate of less than twenty years. It is this education that also makes this poor boy from Mushin to attract all of you, both the affluent and the not-so-affluent, including my teachers, mentors and bosses to this great hall for this lecture. It is noteworthy that none of the countries described as having affluent society has literacy level below 90 per cent and no African country has literacy level above 65 per cent! Understanding the theories of economic growth and economic development; the proposition that inclusive growth and financial inclusion are the best channels to transform less developed economies of Africa into industrial states requires

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make it? (4) some quality education. Such quality education will promote creative thinking, strategic thinking, entrepreneurship, innovation and inventions. Such education is not meant for the leaders alone but particularly for the followers who are the foot soldiers that will implement policies. In this connection, there is the need to carry out a review of education programmes across Africa and come up, on a broad basis, with a medium term ten-year African Blueprint on Education (2015-2025) which should be produced under the auspices of the African Union and must include massive free and compulsory education for all children of school age (6 years) up to first degree in the university or Higher National Diploma (HND) for polytechnics. The Blueprint needs to be imposed on each African country by the African Union under its charter as approved by Heads of government. Education at the tertiary level must emphasize science and technology, and, research and development must be integrated into our policy formulation. Child labour is rampant in Africa because there is the need for the family to feed and clothe itself when governments fail to provide welfare scheme as exists in developed economies. So incentives should be introduced for the poor. A social welfare programme will assist poor families to keep their children in school during school hours while the children can assist at home thereafter. Any child below the age of 15years found wandering about during school hours should be arrested and handed over to the parent on payment of one day welfare assistance. The education programme must cover primary, secondary, teacher training and technical schools, colleges of education, polytechnics and university education up to first degree. Up till today, China still provides scholarship for her citizens to study abroad and acquire needed technological advancement. During the decade, monitoring of the programmes should be carried out and evaluated with a view to reviewing the programme for the next decade when some of the measures can be relaxed for higher education. ii. Maximising the Population Advantage: The results of high fertility and population growth in the presentation above should not be surprising given the fact that most African countries have large proportion of their population living in rural and semi-urban settings. What else can we expect in situations where electricity that can keep the family late outside or watching movie and television instead of retiring to their beds very early in the night is absent? Also, the prevalent practice of polygamy forms part of the incentives to procreate. But I consider the situation of high fertility rate and population growth a positive development or an advantage over and above other continents. In essence, I disagree with population control through the use of any artificial means. In fact, procreation is where Africa has comparative advantage, not in the production of agricultural products or extractive industry as being suggested. The theory of comparative advantage has an implicit assumption that the country that has such comparative advantage in production of a good does not depend much on other countries for significant inputs into the production of the commodity in question. What do we produce in Africa with minimal material and physical inputs from abroad beside children? Most developed and emerging countries also have the natural resources that African countries possess and have the comparative advantage in production, in that, they have the machinery and technology to efficiently tap these resources while African countries have to depend on them to assist in tapping their available resources. Where then is the so-called comparative advantage in production? Notwithstanding the one-child policy, the case of China has shown that high population could be an asset if education is given its right place in policy. Most of the affluent societies have higher fertility rate at the time they were entering the third stage of development according to Rostow’s ladder but over time the rate declined. What is therefore important is the quality of the population. As society becomes more educated and standard of living of the individual improves, population growth rate tends to decline. The fact that Nigeria accounts for more than one-third of the total population of Africa, implies that population of most African countries are rather too small to constitute a viable market. The population of China as a country is more than that of Africa as a continent, yet China has recently taken over from Japan as the second largest economy in the world while India, with the second largest population is also moving up. What is wrong in Africa supplying the much needed labour to the aging communities in America, Canada, Europe and Australia after taking care of her labour needs? Fortunately, remittances from such labour supply now constitute a large chunk of inflow of capital and a balancing item on the balance of payment. What is important therefore is that Africa must give quality education to its citizens for the required transformation of the economies into industrial states and thereafter, export her excess skilled human resources as a veritable source of income for its economies.

In a more theoretical mode, at the time of entering into mass production, a country needs its own domestic market as the primary clientele for its products before reaching out to the regional or world market. So, Africa needs more people to serve as the domestic market for its emerging products. However, it is not just rapidly growing population but also rapidly growing human capital development that invariably leads to reduction in population growth. It is here being advocated that all aids and grants towards population control should be diverted to promoting human capital development. As suggested elsewhere, development aids must not be imposed but discussed and agreed between donors and recipients (Tella, 2006). iii. Raw Materials vs Industrial Production: One of the major characteristics of the affluent society, as pointed out in Section lll, is the existence of high level of domestic production of industrial goods with modern technology. Apart from South Africa and Mauritius, which African country can be categorized as an industrial country? Africa has become a dumping ground for all sorts of intermediate and finished goods. It is a continent where citizens consume what they do not produce and produce what they do not consume. This has to change. On the basis of the theory of comparative advantage, African countries have been and are being encouraged by the advanced economies to go back to agriculture and other naturally endowed materials to produce raw materials for the industries abroad. As already alluded to, African countries produce these raw materials at some high costs. They have to depend on advanced countries for such inputs as fertilizers, tractors, extractive machines, and even technical expertise which are not for free. In purchasing these items, they keep those industries producing the inputs abroad running and generating employment. In addition to this, the same countries are busy producing alternative goods to the eventual output of the raw materials such as artificial rubber, synthetic fibers, mechanized agricultural outputs with mass output, et cetera. The implication is that by the time the natural farm outputs are coming out, the farmers have to contend with the cheap artificial counterpart products in the international market, such that the former outputs are underpriced. Therein lies the practical theory of unequal trade. It is in this context that we suggest that on no account should African countries send products abroad without adding value. Increased output from farms and other natural resources should go into raw materials for local firms and provision of food for the populace, not for exports. The continent has to begin to industrialise and do so in the simplest form that will guarantee easy knowledge acquisition and employment. The initial outputs or products might be inferior as in the case with initial output from Japan or China but, over time, these will improve. It is good to attract foreign investment but there must be continent-wide industrial policy to guide such. I am yet to see a country that depends on agriculture or primary output only among the first fifty countries in the world. A comparison of incomes among the States in the United States of America shows that most States with low income are the agriculturalbased States! Japan has no mineral resources and therefore imports all its mineral inputs that she eventually turns into finished products that are exported to the rest of the world. The costs of importing the raw materials by Japan could be enormous but the final output of mass production brings down the unit cost and make the unit price affordable. Initially, industries on the continent might have to import machinery and even human resources, but in the long run the continent develops its human resources through investments in education and thereafter reduces expenses on foreign materials and skilled manpower to produce and lower the cost for the domestic and international markets. This was how many emerging countries emerged from poverty. iv. Regional Integration: Institutions, Structure and Modus Operandi Africa’s regional integration efforts have not yielded the desired fruits because of a myriad of problems which include absence of institutional and economic policy convergence; multiple membership of regional groupings by individual country without commitment to one; low intra-regional trade among member states; prolonged conflicts between and among countries of the same sub-regional groupings; absence of dynamic private sector that is independent of government, poor or under-developed country and regional infrastructure, underdeveloped financial infrastructure, and poor leadership at country and regional levels (Tella, 2001; Tella and Adesoye, 2002; ECA, 2004). These problems are not insurmountable but the issue of leadership requires separate treatment. i. Institutions: Given the shortage of skilled manpower in most critical areas of modern management, science and technology in sub-Saharan Africa, it is imperative that the existing regional bodies like the AU, ECA and ADB should serve as the critical institutions for regulatory, economic and financial ac-

tivities respectively. In this context, they have to harness the available human resources within the continent and abroad to produce socio-economic and political blueprint for Africa’s short, medium and long term Development Plan. The document should be a long term development plan spanning up to 25 years and which every member country of the African Union must buy into, such that national development plans of each member country will be derived from the regional Plan. Of course, such documents have been produced before and these include Lagos Plan of Action (LPA), African Alternative to Structural Adjustment Programmes (AFFSAP) and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). While each of these documents has its tremendous benefits and weaknesses for economic development, they were never allowed to run their full courses before another development agenda was dropped on the continent by donor agencies and the Washington institutions who claim to know more of Africa’s problems than home grown experts and in whom African leaders have explicit confidence. In fact the AFFSAP, which was produced by ECA as alternative to World Bank/IMF sponsored structural adjustment programme (SAP) suffered most as the African leaders saw the document as a challenge to their benefactors. Eventually, the SAP implementation left the continent worse off and the Bretton Woods institutions that introduced it accepted its failure. Even NEPAD, which was assumed to have been produced by African leaders and for Africa, has a lot of contradictions between policy articulations and pronouncement (Tella and Salami, 2002). Actually, the production was quite secretive and restrictive which, according to Ayoade (2002) was “in conflict with the fundamental aspirations of Africans for genuine democracy.” Patrick Ngoyi (2002) lamented that foreigners (as organisations or individual country) believe that “Africans need to be assisted to think and make decisions on their behalf as major decisions are taken either in New York, Paris, London and even in Rome.” Notwithstanding the shortcomings of these documents, there is the need to revisit them with a view to picking relevant recommendations and adding new, 21st century ideas, with emphasis on regional integration in production, consumption, investments and even in budgeting. Regional production must emphasize industrialization using largely local raw materials and with employment generation in both the primary and secondary sectors of the economy. Production should also promote specialization rather than competitive output. In this case, exchange of goods among member countries is easily facilitated. Regional consumption must equally emphasize “Buy African Goods” (BAG). That is, intra-regional trade needs to be enhanced. Structure and modus operandi, one would suggest that ii. the present mode whereby there exists sub-regional economic communities (RECs) is the best for now and probably for the next 25 years. However, the number of recognized RECs should be reduced to five or six capturing the sub-regions of the continent viz North, South, Central, East and West Africa3. The contiguity of the countries in the RECs makes sharing of socio-economic and cultural experiences more adaptive. It should also make it possible, as required, for a growth pole i.e. a country that can provide leverage for growth for others within the REC as in the case of South Africa for the members of Currency Monetary Arrangement (CMA) or the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Also, the type of monetary arrangement to adopt, given past experiences can easily be agreed upon. Africa does not need to re-invent the will for regional integration but there is the need for review and gradual implementation as I suggested in the case of monetary integration for ECOWAS (Tella, 2002) The advantage of having a growth pole within rather than outside the REC can be observed with the positive influence of the South African economy on the members of SACU and some countries under the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The same cannot be seen from the relationship between France and its affiliated RECs namely the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) which are the oldest and highest form of economic integration in the world. But getting such growth pole in each of the existing RECs beside SADC could be daunting as most countries in these RECs have the same low growth and income, or some other development challenges. For example, under the ECOWAS arrangement, Nigeria or Cote d’Ivoire or both could have served as the growth pole but the latter is just coming out of civil war and it will take some long time to catch up to the level it was before the war. Nigeria on the other hand, is, apart from non-diversified economy, enmeshed in corruption and capital flight that are invaluably affecting its reserves and exchange rate stability. Also both countries are not industrialised nor with diversified economic base. Egypt, which could have served as the growth pole for the AMU in North Africa is, beside the current political instability, not in good standing with the other countries in the zone and

TO BE CONTINUED

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Sports CAF Confederation Cup

Warri Wolves crash out, Bayelsa cruise on By Christian Okpara WO goals from Edem Rjaibi was enough to take Tunisia’s CA Bizertin of Tunisia to the final qualifying round of the CAF Confederation Cup at the expense of 10-man Warri Wolves in Tunis yesterday. Rjaibi opened scores as early as the sixth-minute, but Kola Anubi got the Nigerians on level terms in the 26th minute. Warri Wolves’ defender, Ike Thankgod, was expelled from the game for unruly behaviour in the 42nd minute and three minutes later, Rjaibi made it 2-1 to hand the advantage to the home team. Knowing that they needed to level matters again to survive in the competition, Warri Wolves took the fight to the Tunisian hosts, but the resilient North Africans backed by a vociferous home crowd repelled all their efforts. CA Bizertin held Warri Wolves to a goalless draw in

the first leg and the loss in Tunisia means Nigeria has only one team, Bayelsa United, left in CAF competitions this year. Bayelsa United qualified for the final play-off for the Group stage of the CAF Confederation on Saturday when they beat How Mine FC of Zimbabwe 2-0. The first leg in Harare had ended 2-1 in favour of the Southern Africans and Bayelsa needed an unreplied goal to forge ahead. And that, they did in style in Sapele. Bayelsa took the lead against an ultra-defensive How Mine in the 57th minute through Jafar Buhari and then made sure of their passage in the minute through 88th Azubuike Okechukwu. Bayelsa United will know their final round opponents today when the draws are made in Cairo. But their coaches would be worried that despite the win, their team failed to create any clear chance in the game.

Lagos wins Okenla-Ojeaga National U-17 table tennis tourney AGOS State, inspired by Lweekend Nimota Aregbesola, at the emerged the overall winner of the second Toyin Okenla-Ojeaga National U-17 Table Tennis Championship held at the Molade OkoyaThomas indoor sports hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium. Lagos won the one-week competition with four gold, three silver and four bronze medals to beat Ondo to the title. Ondo – a state which has been trailing Lagos in virtually most of the events, garnered two gold and two silver medals, while Kwara settled for third with one gold and one silver medals. Ekiti State, tutored by Olabode Ajayi, had three bronze medals, while the national team also clinched one silver and two bronze medals. To lead Lagos to the top prize, Aregbesola defeated Zainab Surmer of the National Team 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9, 11-4 in girls’ singles, while Amadi Umeh of Ondo State beat his compatriot – Sunday Akomolafe 7-11, 11-8, 10-12, 12-14, 11-9, 13-11, 11-4 to win the boys’ event of the competition. Over 25 states from across the country participated in the championship. Speaking during the final at the weekend, the sponsor of the competition, Toyin Okenla-Ojeaga, said the tournament is part of her contribution to sports development especially, table tennis, a sport that brought her to

limelight. A trained nurse cum educationist, Okenla- Ojeaga was excited at the raw talents exhibited by the players, saying it is an indication that there’s hope for the future in table tennis. “This tournament may have exposed the players to the national team coaches who I expect to be searching for younger players that will take over from the older ones. They should be able to discover future champions. “I am also interested in the education of the young stars. We don’t know how they are fairing educationally, but if not for time constraints I would have initiated a pretournament seminar to enlighten them of the importance of combining educa-

Liverpool’s midfielder Philippe Coutinho (right) and Tottenham Hotspur’s defender Michael Dawson vie for a high ball during their English Premier League match at Anfield… yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Glo Nigeria Premier League

Arsenal’s Ramsey may return for FA Cup semifinal

Warriors shoot down Enyimba in Abia derby RSENAL are hopeful that LETUS Itodo returned to Bright Ejike put Heartland in increased the tally four min- Amercurial midfielder C Aba yesterday to help the driver’s seat but two goals utes later before Frederick Aaron Ramsey will be fit to debutants, Abia Warriors of Umuahia, to a 1-0 defeat of the ‘Peoples Elephants’ in the first ever Abia derby in the Glo Nigeria Premier League. Yesterday’s defeat was Enyimba’s first in Aba in three seasons, but Abia Warriors supporters see no big deal in the win, as they also beat the most successful Nigerian team 1-0 in the final of the Abia FA Cup last season. In other games played across the country, three clubs bagged their first triumphs of the season while only one drawn game was recorded in the matches played at the weekend. At the Pantami Stadium, Gombe United came from behind to defeat Heartland 21.

from the home team through Suleiman Mohammed and Mohammed Arda changed the course of the match. Heartland have played four league games this season without a win thus far. They have drawn two home matches against the two Port Harcourt clubs - Dolphins and Sharks and they have been beaten by Crown of Ogbomosho and Gombe United on the road. In Port Harcourt, Sharks humbled new boys, Crown of Ogbomosho by 3-0 at the Sharks Stadium. Goalkeeper Danladi Isah put his side in the lead from the penalty spot in the 17th minute. Ifeanyi Inyam

Obomate’s 63rd minute strike compounded the woes of the visitors. Lafia landlords, Nasarawa United beat Lobi Stars 2-0 with Seun Sogbeso scoring both goals from the penalty spot. His first effort was from an infringement in visitors’ vital area after a defender handled a goal bound shot. Lobi were then reduced to 10 men. Sogbeso, a former ABS player, converted the second spot kick after another Lobi player hacked down a Nasarawa striker in the 18-yard box. At the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, El Kanemi could not surmount the challenge posed by Akwa United, who held them to a 1-1 draw.

Liverpool thrash Tottenham, top English Premiership table T is all falling into place for IRodgers Liverpool. ‘Brendan – The Carefully Chosen One,’ read a loaded banner inside Anfield and his side moved imperiously to the Premier League summit with a defeat of Tottenham Hotspur that illustrated the belief running through the club. Six more performances like this and the once distant prospect of title 19 will be a reality for Liverpool. Daniel Levy, the Tottenham chairman, could only look on with envy as the manager who rejected his approach in

2012 – “citing instability at White Hart Lane, as the reason – orchestrated another Anfield demolition. Two seats behind sat a squirming Tim Sherwood as angry visiting supporters chanted “Where is our manager?” following an inept display from a team that started the season with the ambition that Liverpool are close to delivering. Momentum is with Rodgers’s team, who were met by an incredible roar from the Kop after the final whistle, and so is history.

The similarities between Liverpool and Bill Shankly’s first title-winning campaign of 1963-64 are uncanny. In Luis Suárez and Daniel Sturridge, Rodgers’s team possess their first two players to score 20 league goals or more in a season since Ian St John and Roger Hunt 50 years ago. Shankly’s championship breakthrough also featured 10 and 3-0 wins over Manchester United and, on this day half a century ago, Liverpool beat Tottenham at Anfield to go top of the table. First place was not relin-

quished and Liverpool claimed their first title in 17 years. They look in the mood to do likewise this spring. Liverpool’s ability to cope with the pressure of an unchartered title race was questioned following a nervous finale to Wednesday’s win over Sunderland. The luxury of an early goal, and playing against Younès Kaboul plus a Tottenham defence lacking the discipline or work-rate of Sunderland’s, rendered that an issue for another time. •Culled from www.irishtimes.com

return to action against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup, according to the Mirror. The Welshman has been out injured since the end of 2013 with a thigh injury. He was expected to come back at least three times since but keeps aggravating the injury, making Arsene Wenger’s problems over team fitness even worse. Ramsey was Arsenal’s star player in the first half of the season, scoring eight times in the Premier League. He’s still the second highest scorer at the club, behind Olivier Giroud. Wenger is also hopeful that Jack Wilshere will return against Wigan when they face the Championship side at week. next Wembley Wilshere hurt his foot in an England friendly against Denmark when Liverpool’s Daniel Agger caught him in a tackle. He was allowed to play on and felt no pain even after the match but a check-up back at his club revealed the hairline fracture in his foot – a damaging blow. There is an outside chance Laurent defender that Koscielny could feature at Wembley but that is unlikely due to his calf injury that doesn’t look like healing very soon. Mesut Ozil won’t play as he is still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

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Zenith Bank Women Basketball League

First Deepwater, First Bank take first phase lead By Adeyinka Adedipe EFENDING Champion, First Deepwater and First Bank Basketball Club have emerged the leaders in Group A and B respectively after the first phase of the Zenith Bank Women Basketball League ended on Saturday at the sports hall of the National Stadium, Abuja. Apart from winning the first phase of the league, both sides remain the only team with 100 per cent record in the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) organised league. First Bank defeated seeded Group B team, Dolphin 47-41 to take top position last Thursday in the group. It was a heartwarming victory for underfire First Bank who have failed to sparkle since it lost the title to First Deepwater four years ago. Coach Adewunmi Aderemi

told The Guardian that he was happy for the turn around in the club fortunes, but admitted that the team would continue to improve as the league progresses. “I am happy the way things turned out in Abuja. We needed a big result against Dolphin and we got it. Hopefully, we will continue from where we stopped in the second phase of the league in Ilorin,” Aderemi added. Sixteen teams began the race for the top prize and would assemble in Ilorin for the second phase, which hold from May 1 to May 11. First Deepwater proved to be real champions after winning all their games in the first phase. Though the team faced little opposition in its match to the top, the game against the IGP Queens Basketball Club, which the

champions won 64-45 provided some scary moment for the Oil and Gas (First Deepwater) in the first two quarters. Coach Lateef Erinfolami and his girls are bent on maintaining their victory run in the second phase, while also hoping to lead other teams to Lagos for the final phase. As it stands, they have successfully qualified to play in Lagos leaving other to fight for the remaining three slots going into the final phase. Despite having their beautiful moment against Dolphin, First Bank got a scare from Nigeria Customs Basketball Club on Match Day four when the border girls (Customs) fought the Adewunmi Aderemi girls to a standstill before they were overrun in the last quarter of the game, which ended 42-31.

Arik Air drags President Jonathan, 350 golfers to Otukpo From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja HE Otukpo Golf and Country Club in Benue State will come alive from May 15 to 18 when President Goodluck Jonathan leads the Senate president, David Mark; and over 350 professional and amateur golfers to the 1st Arik Air Pro/AM golf tournament. The tournament, according to its organisers, Arik Air will also feature a youth programme, which is aimed at encouraging the development of young golfers, which the Otukpo Golf and Country club initiated. Briefing the media on preparations for the tournament during the weekend in Abuja, chairman of the LOC, Otunba Olugbenga Odusanya who disclosed that the tournament is being staged in honour of President Jonathan, noted

that Arik Air is sponsoring the golf tournament to appreciate the President who treat Nigerians as equals. “This is the 1st Arik Air Pro/Am golf tournament. We have tagged it Presidents Cup because it is in honour of the President Jonathan. And the reason is that we see the President as somebody who believes that people from the other side of the divide should also be appreciated. “He believes that we are equal. That is also the spirit exhibited by the Senate President, David Mark who has built a golf course in Otukpo and has given it out to his community where everybody will come and play without paying. Earlier in his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Arik Air, Nnamdi Bolu

Calf injury a minor setback, says Yobo

noted that the sponsors decided to pick the Otukpo Golf Club to host the tournament because of its charitable nature, stressing that the club has offered opportunities to locals and villagers to play golf without paying. “Arik is a keen supporter of sporting events in Nigeria.

Union Bank’s Darlington Onyia (right) goes for the dunk during their DStv Basketball League game against Police Baton at the indoor sports hall of the National Stadium, Lagos…recently.

Taekwondoists list challenges, gains at WTF Youth Olympics qualifiers, junior championships HEY left unannounced T but when they got to Taipei City in Chinese Taipei, they wowed the whole world with their beautiful display despite their inexperience and lack of exposure. The Team Nigeria nineman contingent at the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)-organised Youth Olympics Qualifiers, as well as the World Junior Championships, returned

to the country at the weekend speaking of a lot of gains and the challenges that prevented them from fulfilling their potential at the competitions. The team tutored by Coach Jin Beom Kim, are grateful to the National Sports Commission (NSC), especially the Director General of the commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, for facilitating the trip despite the short time to prepare. At the WTF Youth Olympics Qualifiers, none of them advanced beyond the first round, but at the World Junior Championships some of them won their first round fights, which was an improvement for the team. Before the team embarked on the trip, Coach Jin Beom Kim never made any promises, but he believed that the

the club has kept, including said. the one against Manchester “Also when you are in the sitCity in his debut game, uation Norwich are, that is injury that prevented him explains why they have been fighting to move higher up from helping Norwich City solid at Carrow Road. the league from the relega“I can’t really tell you what is tion zone, probably when we break their away hoodoo, as they crashed 0-3 to Swansea the difference, other than at lose away from home we at the Liberty home you have the fans and know we have to respond at Stadium. your families behind you,” he home. Yobo has been a solid rock at the Canaries’ defence since his loan switch from Turkish side, Fenerbahce, in January and his absence was felt at the Liberty stadium on Saturday. “There is nothing to worry about. The calf injury is minor and I should be okay for the visit of West Bromwich Albion to Carrow Road this weekend, “ Yobo, the most capped Nigerian international, said. The former Everton man believes Norwich will bounce back at their fortress when Victor Anichebe and his fellow Albions visit. Norwich have had to rely on their home form in the battle for relegation and the Nigeria international, who Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (left) and immediate Past Captain of Ikeja Golf Club, Wole Sowole has been instrumental to two of the four clean sheets during the Club’s Captain’s Day celebration in Lagos …recently.

UPER Eagles captain, Sdescribed Joseph Yobo, has as minor the calf

experience and exposure would count for the team in subsequent tournaments, especially at the forthcoming African Junior Championship holding in May in Botswana. Impressed by the team’s performance when it discovered that the entire team was making their debut in an international competition, the WTF gave Nigeria a wildcard for the 2014 Youth Olympics holding in August in Nanjing, China. The taekwondoists, who spoke on arrival at the weekend, admitted that the trip has afforded them the opportunity to learn new techniques in the sport. Olushola Olowookere, who fought in the male -68kg of the World Youth Championships, said with

the knowledge he acquired at the tourney, his morale has been boosted. “Attending this competition alone was indeed a great experience for me. I gained a lot in terms of the new styles, as well as new moves. Although, I lost my fight, I was able to watch other top athletes fight so that I can use what I picked from there to help myself in subsequent competitions. I want to express our sincere gratitude to NSC, DG as well as the Korean coach for their rare opportunity given to some of us,” he said. Abdullah Adegoke, one of the athletes that won their first round fights in the male -59kg, said going to Botswana in May he has the wherewithal to clinch a medal.

NFF welcomes uninvited players to Eaglets’ screening ETERMINED to offer more D teenagers opportunity to stake their claim in the new set of Golden Eaglets, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has requested players within the age limit to try out their luck at the on-going screening holding at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project Site in Abuja. Interested players are to report from tomorrow with a caveat that they would be responsible for their personal upkeep since they were not initially invited by the coaching crew when the exercise took off last Thursday. Coach Emmanuel Amuneke said the team is still work in

progress hence the need to further extend the dragnet to other budding talents: “Everything is well on course but we are not yet satisfied with what we have seen so far. “You don’t need a whole day or week to test the capability of a player and it is important we have a look at what others can do,” reasoned the former African Footballer of the Year. Hundreds of players have already passed through the exercise but officials maintained that there is the need to have a pool of players in store in case of any eventuality.

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SPORT Monday, March 31, 2014

Naismith’s double inspires Everton to victory OALSCORER Steven G Naismith was delighted with Champions-League chasing Everton’s 3-1 victory over Barclays Premier League basement boys, Fulham at Craven Cottage. Half-time substitute Naismith played a big part in the Toffees taking the lead as he swung the ball forward for goalkeeper David Stockdale to deflect into his own net five minutes after the break. Fulham netted an equaliser when Ashkan Dejagah picked out the top-left corner with his thunderbolt beating a diving Tim Howard. Everton reclaimed the lead through Kevin Mirallas with just over 10 minutes remaining and Naismith added the gloss late on as he toe-poked the ball home after picking up Leighton Baines’ cross in

the box. Man-of-the-match Naismith told Sky Sports 1: “It was a big win especially at this stage of the season. You’d probably take results over performances, but today we were probably a bit lethargic in the first half but it shows the quality we’ve got amongst us. “We stuck in an by the end of it we were controlling the game. (The manager Roberto Martinez) wanted us to be a bit lively going forward and there was a lot of space to make things happen and that’s what I was trying to do. “Looking at the first goal, the ball came to me on the edge

of the box and I was just trying to get it on target and the last one for me was trying to seal the win and take some pressure off ay the end of the game.” As the opening goal goes down as an own goal after taking a deflection off Stockdale, Naismith made it clear the important thing was the points today. Asked if the third goal made up for not being awarded the opening one, he added: “It does, if I hadn’t scored the third everyone would be complaining about that. But overall, the main thing is the result.”

Evian shocks Monaco VIAN claimed another big E scalp at their Parc des Sport home to give their survival Fulham’s midfielder, Steve Sidwell (left) continues to play after one of his boots came loose, chased by Everton’s Scottish striker Steven Naismith during their English Premier League match at Craven Cottage in London yesterday. Everton won 3-1 PHOTO: AFP

Mourinho concedes title to rivals Branislav HELSEA manager, Jose defenders C Mourinho has conceded Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, Terry defeat in the Barclays and Cesar Azpilicueta - of Premier League title race following the 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace. A John Terry own goal earned the Eagles a lifeline in their battle against relegation. Chelsea’s concerns are at the top of the table and they have played more games than rivals Manchester City and Liverpool. A second successive away loss saw Mourinho admit his hopes of a third Premier League title are over with six matches to go. Mourinho said: “We depend too much on other results. When you depend a little it’s possible, when you depend a lot, I don’t think it’s possible. “We depend now too much. I don’t think now we can win the league.” Mourinho absolved his

blame for the loss to Palace, but was not shy at pointing fingers at others. Mourinho said: “My four defenders, phenomenal performance, as always. The others I’d prefer not to analyse individually.” Asked what quality is required for his side, Mourinho said: “I cannot say in front of the cameras. I can write it on paper.” Offered a notepad after the media conference, the Portuguese wrote “balls”. He had made his discontent clear. “We missed some qualities,” he said. “Mentality and a little bit of quality. Mentality because the opponents beat us clearly on that. Strong mentality, aggressive, committed. “Every one of them played, I think, at the top of their

Hoffenheim ends Bayern’s winning streak OFFENHEIM ended H Bayern Munich’s 19-game winning streak in the Bundesliga as the newlycrowned champions suffered a title-winning hangover at the Allianz Arena. Anthony Modeste gave Hoffenheim the lead midway through the first half, but two goals from Claudio Pizarro and a Xherdan Shaqiri strike appeared to have given Pep Guardiola’s men a commanding lead. Hoffenheim had other ideas though and Sejad Salihovic pulled a goal back before the break before Roberto Firmino earned the visitors a point in the second half, making them only the third side to take anything off Bayern in the Bundesliga all season with a 3-3 draw. Much-changed Bayern fell behind midway through the

first half when Modeste raced from within his own half to latch onto Kevin Volland’s searching ball. Modeste’s first shot was saved by Tom Starke, in goal against his former club to give Manuel Neuer a rest, but he followed through to ensure the loose ball went in. Two minutes later, Bayern suffered another blow when Thiago had to be replaced by Philipp Lahm due to injury. The champions regrouped and levelled in the 31st minute when Shaqiri’s cross was headed in by the league’s most prolific foreign marksman in history, Pizarro netting from close range. Just three minutes later, the two combined in reverse order with Pizarro knocking the ball down for Shaqiri to net into the bottom left-hand corner.

potential and that, in football, is important. “Clearly we have some players, because of their profile, who find it difficult to perform in some profile of matches. “You have Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill and Azpilicueta and they perform in the sun, in the rain, small pitches, big pitches, aggressive teams, non-aggressive teams, possession teams, not possession teams and they perform every game from day one to the last day. “And you have other players who are fantastic in some matches and disappear in other matches.” For Mourinho, the disappearing acts have happened in four of Chelsea’s five losses this season, all of which have come away from home. The exception was the defeat at Aston Villa when the Blues boss was unhappy with referee Chris Foy’s performance.

Mourinho

bid a major boost with a 1-0 win over Monaco. Former Monaco defender Cedric Mongongu’s 82ndminute penalty proved the difference after Ricardo Carvalho was penalised for handball. Evian had already beaten champions-in-waiting Paris St Germain and Lyon in Annecy this season and their latest giant-killing lifted them five points above the relegation zone. Monaco had their chances to go ahead, most notably when a red-faced James Rodriguez provided a candidate for miss of the season shortly after half-time. The Colombia international somehow conspired to stand on the ball when he needed only to tap in Valere Germain’s low cross from three yards and with no one to beat. Defeat leaves Monaco 13 points adrift of leaders PSG, and their only task now would appear to be holding onto their Champions League place. Claudio Ranieri’s side threatened first when Lucas Ocampos fired a shot just over.

Valdes

Martino: Derby win for Valdes ARCELONA coach, Gerardo B Martino dedicated Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Espanyol to injured goalkeeper Victor Valdes. The hosts fiercely contested the award of a 76th-minute penalty for a handball against defender Javi Lopez, but Lionel Messi calmly despatched the spot-kick past goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, who was then sent off for handling another shot from the Argentina forward outside his area. The win saw Barca temporarily take over top spot in the Primera Division standings, although Atletico Madrid’s 2-1 triumph at Athletic Bilbao later took Los Rojiblancos back to the summit. Martino was delighted to see his side come away from a match, which had “a lot of friction and many interruptions” with all three points. “We were expecting a game like this,” he said at his postmatch press conference. “Espanyol’s pressure improved (after the first 15 minutes) and we had to resort to longer passes. Espanyol are very well prepared to take control of follow-up plays.” A hugely positive week for Barca, including a 4-3 Clasico success at Real Madrid and a 30 win over Celta Vigo, was somewhat overshadowed by

the news Valdes, who is leaving the Nou Camp in the summer, has played his last game for the club after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament against Celta. “We want to dedicate this victory to him,” Martino said. Looking ahead to his team’s remaining fixtures, the Argentinian continued: “I see one good thing and one bad thing. The good thing is that derbies are always derbies and they have to be won. It was a risky away game. “On the other hand, we still have very difficult (games) that are very important. We have seven finals left and we haven’t forgotten about our away game to Valladolid - we don’t want to commit the same errors. “I think it’s important for the players to remember where we were six days ago and where we are now.” Much of the post-match talk centred around the controversial spot-kick award – something, which clearly irked Martino. “From 10,000km away it seems as though football is what’s talked about after matches,” he said. “I think it’s lamentable that we don’t talk more about football and I’m certain that today we won’t talk about football either.”

Monday, March 31, 2014 SPORT | 79

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Players have let Monk down, says Williams WANSEA City captain, Splayers Ashley Williams says the have let head coach, Garry Monk down in recent matches. The Swans moved seven points clear of the Premier League relegation zone with a 3-0 win against Norwich on Saturday. But it was only their second win in 11 matches since Monk took charge and Williams believes the side have not performed for the new boss. “We know the game plan but don’t always execute it so I was pleased for him,” he said. The Wales skipper played at the heart of the Swans defence with Monk as the club rose up the leagues to claim a place in the top flight. Last season, they lifted the League Cup together, as the Swans won their first major domestic trophy. Given the pair’s close relationship Williams says he has felt bad that the side have been unable to win since Monk’s first game in charge against Cardiff in February. “It’s only natural for me being so close to him that I feel like we were letting him down,” said Williams. “But I think we were a bit because people are looking at it thinking ‘we’re conceding goals and he’s a defender, what’s going on?’. “I can tell you that the work we do is brilliant. If you ask any of the lads we are enjoying training. You can see how hard Monks works. It’s 24/7 for him. He’s got the two twins and he probably never sees them. “So I’m pleased for him and maybe people can stop judging every little thing. From my point of view we are enjoying working with him and we know that the best thing we can do for him is to get results and performances.” Williams played an important role in Swansea’s win against Norwich. Just after half-time he cleared Robert Snodgrass’ shot off the line to keep Swansea’s two goal lead intact. “I just tried to get back and cover my goalie and get inside the post,” said Williams. “As soon as he [Snodgrass] shot I knew it was going to end up coming to me. “Luckily it stayed out. It feels like in previous weeks that would have come off my knee and gone in the net. So I don’t know if our luck’s changed a little bit?”

Cycling: Germany’s Degenkolb wins in Belgium erman rider, John G Degenkolb beat Arnaud Demare and defending champion Peter Sagan in a bunch sprint finish to claim the GentWevelgem classic in Belgium. Cannondale’s Sagan launched himself within sight of the line but was beaten into third by Giant rider Degenkolb, 25, and FDJ’s Demare, 22. Team Sky rider, Geraint Thomas crashed near the end of the 233km route. Fellow Briton, Ian Stannard also crashed during a race that twice climbed the Kemmelberg, an iconic cobbled incline. Welshman Thomas, 27, came in four minutes 28 seconds behind Degenkolb to finish 112th, two days after taking third at the E3 Harelbeke. Team-mate Stannard, 26, did not finish the race, and was taken to hospital for medical assessment.

Serena Williams of the United States celebrates winning Li Na of China in final match of the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Centre on Saturday in Key Biscayne, Florida. PHOTO: AFP

Sony Open

Serena thanks fans for victory ERENA Williams defeated Li Na in straight sets to win the Sony Open and secure a seventh Miami title and thanked the fans for their support. The 32-year-old world number one recovered from going two breaks down in the first set, and raced through the second for a 7-5 6-1 success. In doing so, the American retained the crown she won last year and won her second title of the season. China’s Li, the world number two, has not beaten Williams in six years and has lost 11 out of 12 matches overall.

“It was a really important victory, especially against Li Na,” said Williams. “She started so well and if it hadn’t have been for the fans I don’t think I could have pulled through. “At 5-2 down in the first set, I felt I had nothing to lose. I started to relax and, when I relax, I play my best tennis.” Williams, who first played in the Miami event as a 16-yearold, was strangely subdued early in the match, being broken in the first game before dropping serve again for a 5-2 deficit after fighting off three break points. But she won the next five

games to take the lead, saving set point on the way and decisively breaking her fellow 32year-old in a 12th game that went through six deuces. With her serve improving and the power of her returning increasing, Williams galloped through the second set. A fierce backhand took her to 5-1 and victory was secured on the first match point. Williams, who lives in nearby Key Biscayne, had previously shared the record for Miami titles with Andre Agassi. But her seventh success was also a 59th career WTA triumph and extended her win-

ning streak against top-10 ranked opponents to 15 matches. “I was actually super excited at the end, because I remember sitting here last year trying to get to six,” said Williams. “Obviously I wanted seven but I don’t want to put the pressure on myself to get to seven. I wanted to have the most titles here. “I guess that I’ve grown up coming to this tournament as a kid, watching so many players, and to be one of those players now is really, really awesome for me.”

Ronaldo booing does not make sense, says Ancelotti OACH Carlo Ancelotti canC not understand why some Real Madrid fans boo Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo opened the scoring in a 5-0 win over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday with his 28th goal in La Liga this season, and 44th in all competitions. But at one stage, whistles could be heard from the Bernabeu crowd when the 29year-old was in possession. “We need the help of every-

one. Whistling Cristiano isn’t comprehensible,” said Ancelotti. “I have always said that sometimes I understand whistles because they can be deserved. Right now? No, the players are putting in a lot of effort.” Real’s victory on Saturday came after successive league defeats by Barcelona and Sevilla, which saw them drop to third in the table. Leaders Atletico Madrid and second-placed Barcelona

beat Athletic Bilbao and Espanyol respectively on Saturday to maintain their advantage over Real. Atletico are top with 76 points, with Barcelona a point behind and Real a further two back. Winning all of their remaining games may not be enough for Ancelotti’s men to win the title, but they are still in the Champions League and Copa del Rey. “Naturally this win is important,” added Ancelotti. “We

could be better given we lost twice, but physically we’re good. “If we win all the games that we have left, at least we win the Champions League and the Copa del Rey. We just have to believe in ourselves and be positive.” German side Borussia Dortmund are Real’s opponents in the Champions League quarter-finals, with the first leg at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, two weeks before they meet Barcelona

Hamilton wins in Malaysia EWIS Hamilton took a LMalaysian dominant win in the GP to lead Mercedes team-mate, Nico Rosberg to a one-two finish. The Briton was in control from the start, converting his pole position into a lead at the first corner and controlling the race. Rosberg was unable to keep up, and concentrated on ensuring he stayed ahead of Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso took fourth after Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo hit trouble. Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg was fifth. Hamilton dedicated the win to the families of the passengers lost in the disappearance of flight MH370. “Incredible,” he said. “After such a difficult weekend and a long winter, I just feel so grateful. I’d really like to dedicate it to the families, after such a tragedy three weeks ago. “The team were spot on with all the pit stops and calling and timing, the info was spot on. What a great car, what a great job from everyone.” Team-mate Rosberg added: “I got a great start and that allowed me to get into second place. In Turn Three I got a bit sideways, plenty of action there - but it worked out well. Then it was just a question of trying to keep up with Lewis, but he was a bit too quick today.”

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Monday, March 31, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By George Olalekan Jimoh FTER the Nigerian Independence of October 1, 1960, the country has found itself enmeshed in clashes like the Biafran war. During this national hostility of our time which occurred between 1967 and 1970, the country nearly split into two. If that had happened it would have marked a new beginning for the eastern part of the country. It would have created a new chapter in their lives –“independence” to become a nation of their own, supported then by western countries which believed in their cause. The Biafran war created a colossal loss of lives and properties from which the nation has not fully recovered. That war claimed about one million civilians who died from famine, hunger and starvation. Women and children were the hardest hit. At present, Nigerians are entangled in all manner of violence such as armed robbery, kidnapping, militancy and assassinations. The most vicious is the campaign by the dreadful sect “Boko Haram’. This group is unleashing terror and mayhem in the North especially in the northeastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. We are regaled with tales of mounting violence and insecurity on a daily basis splashed across newspaper headlines and on television as well as radio stations, depicting a society under siege. The frequency and scale of this violence is growing at an alarming rate and urgent attention should be given to this national devastation to find lasting solution to it before the violent attacks degenerate into war and become permanent fixtures of our lives. Boko Haram started as a movement to enforce the Islamic law known as Sharia in the northern part of the country. It metamorphosed afterwards into this dreadful terrorist group with its own professed mission to overthrow the Nigerian State and replace it with an Islamic State. In furtherance of this, it is unleashing mayhem all over the North with the battle cry to kill all Christians and liberal Muslims who are dismissed as unbelievers and traitors. No classes of people are spared in their campaign– children, women, men, soldiers, police, distinguished personalities and all. They destroy properties, burn markets and create shadows of towns and villages in their trail. Boko Haram in Hausa language means “Western Education is sinful”. This was not their original name as of the time they started out; they referred to themselves in Arabic as –“Jama-atu Ahis Sunna Lidda-awati Wal jihad” which means – “the Sunni organisation for the Prophet’s teaching and jihad.” Boko Haram insurgents are opposed to Western education and are ready to attack the very core of its foundation in the North. Already schools are known to have been burnt and school children killed gruesomely in their sleep. The rate of bombings, rape, kidnapping, assassination and other violent crimes has made Boko Haram sect Nigeria’s present and real danger that may be part of our everyday life if moves are not made to combat it firmly and expeditiously. We have come under severe scrutiny globally and our image internationally has been greatly dented, with doubts about the continued corporate existence of the country, come 2015, being openly expressed, especially as it is widely believed that the sect has strong links with the global terrorist movements like Al-Qaeda. Some believe that the government has created panic and escalated issues by giving the sect more power and recognition than they deserve. Yet others say Boko Haram is the child of a group of disgruntled northern politicians who wanted more than the present administration could offer them. Upon failure to get what they wanted they decided to create tension and conflict in their zones in fulfillment of the vow of their leading lights to “make Nigeria ungovernable” should Dr. Jonathan become President. However, along the line, matters took a new shape and Boko Haram reared its ugly head and evil was born. The police and security agents are not left out in the allegation that they pin crimes not committed by the sect on them, even despite substantial evidence to the contrary. They have been accused by apologists of the terrorists of wielding their own power over the masses, thereby bringing undue pain

The Nigerian people desire a safe, secure and peaceful environment. The present democracy needs to move in to strengthen and sustain this expectation as Nigeria cannot be left in the hands of this “sect”

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Violence and Nigerian society

and suffering in the guise of performing their duties. Boko Haram terrorists claimed responsibility for the attack on the UN headquarters in Abuja, on August 26, 2011 and have been orchestrating series of violent and isolated attacks in the northeastern states especially Borno. Most recently, they killed about 59 students in Yobe and subsequently launched an attack on Michika among several other attacks which have claimed the lives of many in Adamawa State. These frequent and coordinated attacks, especially on unsuspecting members of the public, and on peaceful and law abiding citizens of the north, show sophistication and intelligence at work. The losses have simply filled many of our compa-

triots with utter disgust. The number of casualties in these attacks continues climbing. The Nigerian people desire a safe, secure and peaceful environment. The present democracy needs to move in to strengthen and sustain this expectation as Nigeria cannot be left in the hands of this “sect”. The question that then arises is ‘Can these violent attacks be stopped, how do you find a common ground in resolving the issues to roll back the violence and stop the mayhem? While some of these clashes are borne out of religious and cultural differences, others are borne out of political power struggle. Some arose over the control of natural resources. According to a poll conducted by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in 2012 sam-

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pling opinions and reactions on whether a common ground can be found to resolve the issues, in Nigeria, 51 per cent said YES the matters could be resolved while 37 per cent believed that war was inevitable arguing that the issues were too fundamental to be resolved. Yet the average Nigerians are not ready for war, neither are they equipped for it. Nevertheless the reality remains that the break-up of the amalgamation is staring us in the face An attempt to go into the issues by activist Mallam Shehu Sanni was made in 2011 but the talks broke down because it was claimed that the Federal Government declined to give in or even consider some of the requests of the Sect. I do believe it is time for the government both at the federal and state levels to give it another trial because time is of the essence. They should reach out to their contacts again and invite them to a round table to resolve issues. It should have been realised by now that the use of force alone does not always address all issues. The joint task force (JTF) created by the Federal Government, has been accused of causing about half the deaths attributed to atrocities of the Boko Haram since 2009. The force has also been accused of unwarranted arrest and detention of innocent people and their subsequent torture, and even death in prison. These should be seen as the collateral accompaniment of war containment and we should be wary of embellishments. The Federal Government should move to strengthen, restructure and carry out reforms that may be necessary in all security agencies so they can work at their optimum capacity. It should also invite and partner with the international community to gather intelligence and for collaborative manpower utilisation. The Nigerian Customs Service should, as a matter of urgency, work round the clock to ensure that our porous borders are protected to effectively eliminate any coordination between this sect and international terrorist organisations and to prevent influx of arms and ammunition into the country. Politicians should be enjoined to desist from creating private militias for elections and dumping them afterwards, after training them to handle guns and ammunition. They can easily be recruited by miscreants and terrorist groups that would take laws into their hands in rebellion when they fall out with their principals, the politicians who may have promised them heaven and earth but renege on the promises as soon as the elections are over. The citizens must co-operate with the security agencies and supply useful information on likely hide-outs of miscreants, hoodlums and suspicious persons. They should also give adequate information on security breaches and suspicious movements; these will help facilitate fishing out the miscreants. Peace is achievable by anyone and everyone, all that is needed is the resolve for peace. Our leaders should take concrete steps to ensure peace and stability by recognising all ethnic groups, religions and whatever faiths people may profess as equals. • Jimoh is executive director, Passion for Peace Initiative, Ilorin, Kwara State.