Wed 21 May 2014

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,928

www.ngrguardiannews.com

N150

‘How intrigues, shooting, protest impede anti-terror fight’ Madu Onuorah, Abuja Bureau Chief ETAILS have emerged on the incidents that led to last week’s protest by soldiers in the Military Reception Station (MRS) at the Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri, Borno State. The cantonment also hosts the headquarters of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army.

The incident, which is causing consternation within the armed forces, is a dent on the Nigerian Army, which prides itself as a professional and disciplined outfit.

This is because the offence of mutiny for which the soldiers are being investigated attracts capital punishment (death sentence). They are also accused of turning their weapons on fellow soldiers.

All the 500 members of the unit, from the commanding officer to the least, private are being quizzed.

It was learnt that the unit involved in the shooting incident, the 101 Battalion of the Nigerian Army was

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The scene of the bomb blast in Jos, Plateau State … yesterday. (Inset) Soldiers on Post Office road in Maiduguri, Borno State

PHOTO: NAN

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Terrorists bomb Jos, kill 46 From Mohammed Abubakar, Adamu Abuh, Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Kanayo Umeh (Abuja), Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi (Jos), Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna), Eno-Abasi Sunday and Chris Irekamba (Lagos) (with agency report)

• Two arrested over Kano explosion • Govt asks UN body to blacklist B’Haram • Wike blames Shettima, Sani writes Sultan • Senate okays extension of emergency rule

TWIN bomb blast yesterA day occurred on Murtala Muhammed Way close to

sault on human freedom as cruel and evil.

Meanwhile, two men have been arrested in connection with a suicide car bombing in Kano that killed four, police said yesterday.

In a related development, Nigeria has formally asked the United Nations (UN) Security Council al-Qaeda sanctions committee to blacklist Boko Haram after the kidnapping of hundreds of school girls, UN diplo-

the old site of University Teaching Hospital in Jos, Plateau State, killing about 46 persons and injuring many others.

President Goodluck Jonathan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, have condemned the Jos blasts, describing the perpetrators of the tragic as-

mats said yesterday.

In the same vein, the Diocese of Lagos West (Anglican Communion) has ended its third session of the fifth Synod with the theme: “We will serve the Lord” held at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja, Lagos, condemning terrorism and the abduction of Chibok girls.

While sympathising with the nation, parents and relations of the kidnapped girls,

the Church said it was solemnly behind the “Bring Back Our Girls, Now and Alive global campaign.

Also, the leader of the Civil Society Coalition in the North, Malam Shehu Sani, has urged the Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA), Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, to lead a delegation of other Islamic heads to dialogue with Boko Haram

for the release of the abducted Chibok girls and also put an end to their violent activities.

Also, the Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, yesterday said that the abduction of Chibok schoolgirls would have been avoided had the Borno State government heeded his written advice not to conduct the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) in areas facing security threats in the state.

The Senate yesterday endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan’s request to extend emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

The decision was reached during a four-hour closed session after which the Sen-

ate President, David Mark, announced at the plenary that lawmakers have reached an agreement to back the extension.

The first blast, which occurred around 3.00 p.m., was in a Peugeot J5 van with the Registration number XG 148 BLD, while the second explosion took place about 26 minutes later in a Toyota van said to have been packed in the area since yesterday’s morning.

Immediately after the explosion, thick smoke enveloped the area and was noticed far away in the city.

Fire fighters, men of the Special Task Force and ambulances were mobilised to the scene and took control CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

‘Responsibility to end the insurgency ravaging the North is not vested on President Goodluck Jonathan alone, but the Islamic leaders whose region is under siege by Boko Haram. As long as the Chibok girls continue to remain in captivity, it’s not only the credibility of the Federal Government that is at stake but the moral perception of the nation and the relevance of your institution and influence is under question and so also the image of all Muslims in Nigeria irrespective of their verbal stance on the issue.’ - Leader of the Civil Society Coalition in the North, Mallam Shehu Sani, in a letter to Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA), Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar Igbo leaders seek six-region federal structure – Page 2

Civil groups protest against planned introduction of GM foods – Page 3

CBN retains benchmark interest rate at 12 percent – Page 3

APC’s national convention begins June 13 – Page 3

DAY 37 Geo-political zones should be discarded, say Lagos BringBackOurGirls BringBackOurGirls

confab delegates –Page 60

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

2 | NEWS Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Igbo leaders seek six-region federal structure From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu HIRTEEN Igbo organisaT tions yesterday rose from their meeting in Enugu State, insisting that anything short of true federalism built on six regions affirmed at a referendum to throw up a new constitution would mean a failure of the ongoing national conference.

The groups, which reminded Igbo delegates at the national conference that about 50 million Igbo people are monitoring their move, stressed that they must speak out in matters that must reposition the geo-political zone in the affairs of the country at the

conference.

In a statement issued after the meeting, they noted that the ongoing bloody campaign by Boko Haram has really redefined Nigeria’s image internationally and jolted Nigerians into a new consciousness, explaining that it has the capacity to either make Nigeria stronger or create fears and distrust.

They agreed, however, that either way, Nigeria would never be the same, when she must have pulled out of her security challenges and called for joint efforts.

Those who signed the statement at the meeting held at the Igbo Youths Movement (IYM) secretariat were repre-

sentatives of Igbo Leaders of Thought, South-East Elders’ Forum, Igbo Youth Movement, Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Ohanaeze Overseas Forum, Ohanaeze Youth Alliance, Igbo Traders’ Congress, Igbo Women Assembly, Igbo Students Congress, South-East SouthProfessionals, East/South-South Alliance, Civil and Human Right Forum and World Igbo Diaspora Congress.

The group commended the military and other security agencies for their sacrifices and commitment to the defence and protection of the country, stressing however,

that until moles and Fifth Columnists are identified and dealt with, the battle remains far from being over.

The statement continued: “We note an improved security situation in the South-East but maintain that unemployment remains a time bomb that must be defused before the demons at work in the North-East infect others elsewhere, especially as those who let the dogs out in the North-East have since lost control of the demons they created.

“We condemn, in no uncertain terms, the ugly politics of painting one’s country black in the foreign media, all in the hope of rubbishing our leaders.

“This unkind blackmail is capable of unleashing a hard-toeradicate bitterness in our body polity. Truth is: this government did not create this Islamist insurgency. “The government has suffered attacks from protectors and sympathisers of Boko Haram, who at one time threatened to drag the head of the Army to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague.

“The deliberate attempt to brand the government as weak and inept while pretending to conveniently forget that some people inspired this madness by forcefully attempting to introduce a religious code 14 years ago, is wicked and devilish.

“The Boko Haram boys who

were probably teenagers 14 years ago when Sharia Code was launched, are now only trying to help former Governor Sani Yerima of Zamfara State complete what he started in year 2000”.

The group warned desperate politicians, who would rather set the country ablaze in their quest for power, that the sophistication of the younger generation of Nigeria makes it impossible for self-centred manipulators to escape the judgment of history, and the judgment of the masses.

They also condemned the “mindless pillorying of the President and the First Lady” and urged support for his silent revolution to create a new Nigeria for all.

10.00 p.m. on Sunday.

If there is no objection by the 15-member UN council committee, which operates by consensus, Boko Haram will be sanctioned at 3.00 p.m. tomorrow, the council diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity, said.

The document submitted

by Nigeria to support its blacklisting request references a bomb attack on the UN’s Nigeria headquarters on August 26, 2011 that killed 24 people, diplomats said.

It also describes a “campaign of violence against Nigerian schools and students” by the group and references other attacks on schools last year, according to diplomats.

Earlier this month, the UN Security Council threatened to take action against the insurgents and the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, urged the body to work quickly to designate Boko Haram as a terrorist group.

Sani, in the letter to the Sultan of Sokoto yesterday, sought his personal intervention and those of other Islamic leaders, pointing out that the responsibility to end the insurgency ravaging the North was not vested on Jonathan alone, but the Islamic leaders

whose region is under siege by Boko Haram.

Special Assistant (Media) to the minister, Simeon Nwakaudu, in a statement yesterday said Wike accused the Borno State Government while addressing delegates at the First Conference of Certified Librarians in Abuja.

Wike said that the Federal Government was working alongside other stakeholders to ensure that the abducted girls were rescued and reunited with their families.

According to the media aide, the minister had to open up to Nigerians and the international community on the true position of things because Governor Kashim Shettima has deliberately misinformed the international community through interviews with foreign media organisations.

He noted that rather than play politics with the unfortunate situation, should be courageous enough to admit that he erred by rejecting the written advice of the Federal Ministry of Education.

“The Senate in a closeddoor session deliberated on the motion before us on the extension of state of emer

46 feared killed in fresh Jos bomb explosion CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 thereby preventing the fire from spreading to other areas.

According to a source, “some residents in the area had informed the police about the parked van but nobody did any thing about the vehicle until it exploded some hours later. Many people were injured and have been were rushed to JUTH and Plateau Hospital.”

A survivor, who identified himself as Chong, told The

Guardian: “I was at the market when I heard a very loud sound.”

When The Guardian visited the scene of the blast, chunk of human flesh littered the area while about many corpses were taken away in wheel-barrows to hospitals.

Meanwhile, the state government has condemned the blasts.

The Commissioner for Information, Olivia Dazyem who addressed journalists in Jos, appealed to all hospitals in the state to treat those injured, saying “full investigation is ongoing in order to unravel those behind the attacks.”

The President, in statement by his Special Adviser, Media, Reuben Abati, assured all Nigerians that government remains fully committed to winning the war against terror, and this administration will not be cowed by the atrocities of enemies of human progress and civilisation.

Jonathan has also expressed Nigeria’s deepest

appreciation to the international community on the success of the recent Summit in Paris on the security situation in Nigeria hosted by the President of France, Francois Hollande.

The statement re-affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the implementation of the resolutions reached by the Summit, in addition to existing measures already being taken by the administration to combat terrorism and ensure the safety of lives.

President Jonathan states that the Federal Government is prepared to strengthen existing mechanisms to ensure the immediate implementation of the resolutions of the Summit, among which is: That every necessary measure should be taken to find the school girls abducted by Boko Haram terrorists from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, on April 14, 2014.

On the safety of schools, Abati said the President had also reiterated Nigeria’s determination to ensure the safety and security of schools in Borno and other parts of the country and also provide counselling services to affected students to enable them return to school and continue with their academic work.

“Furthermore, the Federal Government will rebuild the Chibok School and fortify security in schools. In collaboration with the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Education, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the private sector, the government will launch the “Safe Schools Initiative” which will address security issues, re-build the destroyed schools and provide equipment and materials.”

“Two suspects are now in custody in connection with Sunday’s bombing in Sabon-Gari,” Kano police spokesman, Musa Magaji Majia, told Agence France Presse (AFP).

Majia said the suspects were arrested by the people at a bus station in the city that was previously attacked by Boko Haram militants after they overheard them talking about the bombing.

“They were apprehended and the police station there alerted, which led to their arrest and transfer to the police headquarters,” he added.

The authorities have not said who was responsible for the blast, which ripped through the Middle Road area of a predominantly Christian district at about

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

FG moves to implement Orosanye panel’s recommendations From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja HE Federal Government T yesterday restated its commitment to implementing the recommendations of the white paper on the Stephen Orosanye panel reports on the rationalization of the Federal Government agencies and parastatals.

Vice President Namadi Sambo, while inaugurating the implementing committee of the White Paper on Re-

structuring and Rationalisation of the Federal Government Agencies, Parastatals and Commissions, said the government believed in the restructuring.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim is Chairman of the panel; Attorney- General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) is vice chairman while Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Goni Bukar, Ministers

OUR ERROR N the Monday, May 19, 2014 edition, an article, “A mix of drama, novelty, status quo ante in constitution making” on pages 12 and 13, mistakenly stated that the South-South, North Central, North East and North West zones have six states each, except the South West that has seven states.

The correct position is that the the South-South, North Central, North East and South West have six states each, while the North West has seven states. The error is regretted.

—Editor

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of Education ; Aviation; Finance; Health; Industry, Trade and Investment; Communication Technology; Science and Technology; and Tourism, Culture and National Orientation are members.

Other members of the committee include the Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission while the Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms would serve as the secretary.

According to the Terms of Reference, the implementation committee is to: • Exercise overall responsibility for the implementation of the White Paper on the Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Agencies, Parastatals and Commissions; • design guidelines, ensure effective coordination and

monitoring of the implementation process; • consider and decide on the recommendations of the four (4) Sub-Committees on the implementation of the White Paper; and • advise government on any other matter(s) that would further facilitate the achievement of the key objectives for the restructuring and rationalization of Federal Government Agencies, Parastatals and Agencies.

According to Sambo, “Apart from reducing the cost of governance, government’s ultimate objective is to ensure that parastatals, commissions and agencies are performing optimally and delivering effective and efficient services to Nigerians, in line with Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda.”

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, May 21, 2014 | 3

News Court declines to hear Sanusi’s suit against suspension

APC’s national convention begins June 13

By Bertram Nwannekanma Federal High Court, Abuja A yesterday declined jurisdiction on a suit filed by the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi against his suspension by President Goodluck Jonathan on February 20, 2014.

Trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, in a ruling that spanned over two hours, upheld the submissions of the counsel to the president, Dr. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) and that of the counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN).

In his preliminary objection filed in opposition to the plaintiff’s originating summons, Ajogwu had argued that the Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit between Sanusi and the President since it bothers on Labour matters. He subsequently urged the court to decline jurisdiction on it.

In the same vein, the counsel to the 2nd defendant, Ozekhome, had in the hearing of the matter urged the court to wash its hands off the case, arguing that it lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

But the plaintiff had through his counsel urged the court to dismiss the separate objections filed by the defendants.

In his ruling, however, the judge referred the matter to the National Industrial Court for adjudication.

The court also faulted the submissions of counsel to Sanusi, Mr. Kola Awodein (SAN) and Mr. AB Mahmoud (SAN) who in their pleadings had said that Sanusi was not an employee of the Federal Government but that of the CBN which he incidentally headed.

Upholding the arguments of the counsel to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Umoh (SAN), the court also struck out the name of the IGP sued as 3rd defendant holding that there was no cause of action against the IG.

Uduaghan inaugurates peace panel on gas city ELTA State Governor EmD manuel Uduaghan on Tuesday inaugurated a 21-man peace committee that would interface between the host community, Ugborodo, and the Federal Government on the $16 billion Delta Gas City project located at Ogidigben.

Uduaghan, while inaugurating the committee in Asaba explained that he laid the foundation for the truce between the parties that culminated in the peace committee.

According to him, he later handed over the peace process to the offices of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) to maintain his neutrality and give credibility to the process and its outcome.

According to a statement, Governor Uduaghan disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan, as part of his transformation agenda, is committed to the successful completion and takeoff of the Ugborodo Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and would kick it off soon.

From Adamu Abuh, Abuja HE All Progressives ConT gress (APC) says its national convention will

Interim National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Bisi Akande (right); former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari (middle), and party chieftain, Ogbonnaya Onu, during the National Executive Council meeting of APC at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja … yesterday.

PHOTO: LUCY ELUKPO

Civil groups in Lagos protest against planned introduction of GM foods

By Wole Oyebade ORRIED about the adW verse effect of Genetically Modified (GM) foods on health of Nigerians, civil society groups yesterday petitioned the Federal Government against introducing GM seeds into the agricultural sector of the country.

In the petition, which was submitted to the office of Lagos State governor, the groups called for a ban on GM seeds which some foreign biotechnology corporations are planning to introduce in the country through the Ministry of Agriculture. The petitioners also cautioned the Senate against passing the Bio-Safety Bill.

The petitioners, led by Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR) and Nigerians Against GMO (NAG), held a protest march from Allen Avenue in Ikeja to the office of the governor in Alausa, to sensitise the public against GMO and present the petition to the government.

Besides their chants on the health hazards of the GM

products, the protesters, numbering about 200, displayed placards with inscriptions, including”Our land is blessed, leave it alone”, “We don’t want evil science”, “It is loan we need not poison seed”, “CDHR says no to GMO”, “They want to control our food! Why?” Others are: “Give us food, not GMO cancer”, “Bring back the 250, 000 dead farmers first”, “God said it is good. Who are you?”, “Nigerian science says no to GMO because of impact to health.”

Among the protesters were members of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Concern Human Rights Nigeria (CHRN), Veteran Group Operation Clean Crusade, Congress of Progressive Youth (COPY), Oodua Liberation Movement (OLM), Movement for Emancipation and Rights of the People (MERP) and Centre for African Renaissance (CAR).

Others were Organisation for Community Rights Action (OCRA), Moshood Abiola Vanguard for Democracy (MAVD), Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), Centre for Dignity (CD) and

Child’s Rights Campaign Network.

The petitioners alleged that the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina was trying to introduce GM seed (hybrid seeds) to Nigerian agriculture, despite the negative impact of GM foods on health, the negative impact it has on the soil as well as the dependency it creates on big corporations to be able to plant food.

According to them: “Nigeria is blessed with fertile land. In today’s world where GMO seeds and produce are being banned in France, Japan, Russia and most of the European Union countries due to the adverse effects scientific research has shown it has on humans and animals as well as the soil. The introduction of this in Nigeria is unacceptable.

“Nigeria lacks the proper structures to monitor and investigate the negative impact this will have on our country.”

Leader of Nigerians Against GMO, Gbadebo RhodesVivour, explained that the hybrid seeds were those that had been genetically manipu-

lated for enhanced growth through biotechnology, to produce higher yields and stronger properties.

The problem, according to him, is that anything manipulated is no longer perfect like natural foods created for human consumption.

His words: “These things (GMO) have been linked to cancer by independent researchers. It has been linked to organ failure, sterility and these are diseases we are starting to see among our people.

With the way research is done in the world, big companies are only interested in profits and not doing research to know what happens to human body and effects these products do have.”

“Independent researchers have to do the work and find out what is going on. They have linked GMO to cancer and tumour growths in live rats in laboratories,” he added.

Rhodes-Vivour said further that there is also the socio-economic effect on dependency and Nigeria losing its food sovereignty, because the corporations claim intellectual rights over hybrid seeds.

hold from June 13 to 14, 2014 in Abuja , the federal capital.

This was one of the highlights of a communique read yesterday by the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at the end of the 10th meeting of its Interim National Committee.

The party also maintained that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had not done enough to ensure the release of the 230 Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram.

Urging the PDP-led administration to stop politicising the issue of insecurity in the polity, it noted: “We make bold to say that the Federal Government has been very insincere in its persistent call for national unity to combat the despicable Boko Haram sect.

“Up to this moment, the Federal Government has yet to reach out to the APC, the main opposition party, on how to forge a common front against this despicable terror group, despite our incessant efforts to reach out to the government.

“The Federal Government that has been calling on the international community for assistance must know that charity begins at home, and that for all hands to be on deck, the APC cannot be ignored.

“Our party remains committed to a non-partisan approach to end the scourge of Boko Haram, despite the Federal Government’s partisanship.”

In attendance at the parley which lasted for several hours were chieftains of the party including Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State, and Alhaji Tanko AlMakura.

CBN retains benchmark interest rate at 12 per cent From Chijoke Nelson and Anthony Otaru, Abuja HE Monetary Policy ComT mittee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has retained the benchmark interest rate at 12 percent.

The development, which was more of express retention of all the fundamentals, saw the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) for public sector deposit also retained at 75 percent while that of the private sector at 50 percent and the basis point at plus 200.

Addressing the media yesterday shortly after MPC meeting in Abuja, the Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN), Dr. Sarah Alade said the decision was reached as the committee observed increase in the level of liquidity in the economy, arising from AMCON bonds operation and reduced Open Market Operation (OMO) of the CBN. The committee also noted the marginal increase in inflation rate from 7.8 percent in April go 7.9 percent in March 2014.

At the inter-bank foreign exchange market, the selling rate opened at N164.65 to US$ and closed at N162.33/ US $, representing appreciation of q.41 percent or N2.32K in the same period.

At the Bureau De Change segment of the Foreign Exchange market, the Naira which sold at N172.00/US$ in March 26 closed at N167.00 /US$ on May 16,, indicating an appreciation of 2.91 percent.

The recently rebased Gross Domestic Product figure released by the National Bureau of Sta-

tistics (NBS) indicated real GDP grow by 7.41 percent in 2013 compared with the 5.09 and 6.66 percent in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

“From the re based GDP, the new major sectors of the economy in 2013, in terms of the GDP were: Services (36.08%), Industry (21.73%), Agriculture (21.50%) and Trade (17.06%)” The committee noted that figures for the first quarter of 2014 based on the rebased GDP are yet to be released by NBS. “The non-oil sector remained the main source of overall growth

performance (7.77%), driven largely by Agriculture (0.43%), Industry (1.28%), of which manufacturing was 1.26 percent and Construction, 0.62 percent, Trade 1.54 percent and Services e.89 percent.”

Assessing the performance of the economy in the past three months, Sarah Alade said the committee was satisfied. According to her, the foreign exchange rate had been stable together with the interest rate in tandem with the policy direction.

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NEWS Wednesday, May 21, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Soldiers’ protest, consequences CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 but has been “a problem unit full of disobedient and undisciplined soldiers.”

The leadership of the military described the incident as the first in Nigeria where soldiers use their guns as instruments of protest and pointing same at their commander; the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen Ahmed Mohammed. It shows the sorry state of the Nigerian military and the need for genuine reappraisal of the recruitment indices and the state of weapons used by the Nigerian armed forces.

For the soldiers of the 101 Battalion, their immediate grievance was that they were ambushed at Dalwa area on their way back from Chibok, the town where the schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents on April 14. And because it was late at night the soldiers decided to stay in a village and return the next day.

The GOC heard this plan and ordered them to return to Maiduguri immediately.

There was the fear that they could be attacked by Boko Haram insurgents as the villagers already know that they were staying for the night and since they were few in number, they could be ambushed.

The soldiers obeyed the GOC’s order and left that night. On their way, they were ambushed by the insurgents and some of them were killed. The surviving soldiers brought the injured to the MRS inside the Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri. The GOC decided to visit the injured. On sighting him, the soldiers started a protest, and said, “we told you we wanted to put up for the night until tomorrow morning but you insisted we must return the same night, see what has happened now. Oya

come chop the dead bodi now.”

The atmosphere became tense and some of the soldiers started throwing stones in anger over their dead mates. This was followed by several rounds of shots in the air. Sensing danger, aides of the GOC immediately formed a wall of defence to shield him. Then they immediately whisked him away in the pilot vehicle in his convoy. In an attempt to shoot the GOC, they missed and shot his orderly, who is still in hospital.

A source familiar with the team (Board of Inquiry and Military Police) investigating the circumstances leading to the shooting told The Guardian that, “the issue is very serious. It was concocted like a protest on welfare and lack of weapons. Yes, these two are there. But it is more of cowardice than lack of equipment or weapons because the same unit has lost its weapons to Boko Haram insurgents in the just one month it was formed in Maiduguri and deployed to base. They are a new unit and have not spent one month.

But they gave the former General Officer Commanding, Maj. Gen Ahmed Mohammed tough times.

“They give conditions for deployment to missions against Boko Haram. About two weeks before the protest, they were deployed to a particular location and they withdrew on their own without clearance from their GOC. The protesting soldiers believe Nigerians will accept the lines they are selling that they were shooting in protest over non-payment of allowance. How can they talk of allowance when they have not stayed up to one month?”

This is the second incident of soldiers protest in Nigeria.

In July 2008, some soldiers of the 312 Artillery Regiment, Akure, which was the 15th

Chief of Army Staff,Lt. Gen. K. Minimah Battalion of the Nigerian Army that served in United Nations Mission in Liberia, took over the streets of Akure, Ondo State, demonstrating over their unpaid international peace keeping allowances.

A board of inquiry was constituted. Later, a General Court Martial (GCM) was convened. The army personnel were arraigned for mutiny. 27 soldiers were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

In August 2009, Nigerian Army Headquarters confirmed the sentences of the GCM, but commuted the life imprisonment to seven years. The Army Council later confirmed the sentences passed on officers who were convicted by the GCM. The four affected officers were compulsorily retired on ad-

ministrative grounds.

Though the affected officers were not sentenced for stealing the money that ought to have been paid the sentenced soldiers, they were convicted because they “misapplied” the funds in that they paid to soldiers of 72 Battalion Makurdi, the money meant for 312 Artillery Regiment, Akure. But in December 2010, the Nigerian Army authorities pardoned the 27 soldiers imprisoned.

The soldiers may likely be charged for mutiny. Section 52, sub-section 3 of the Armed Forces Act states as follows: (3) In this section and other sections of this Act, “mutiny” means a combination between two or more persons subject to service law under this Act or between persons, two at least of whom are subject to service law under this Act: (a) to overthrow or resist lawful authority in the Federation or in any arm or service of the Armed Forces or in any force co-operating with the Armed Forces or in any part of those forces; (b) to disobey the authority as is mentioned in paragraph (a) of this sub-section in such circumstances as to make the disobedience subversive of discipline, or with the object of avoiding any duty or service against, or in connection with operations against the enemy; (c) to impede the performance of any duty or service in the Federation or in any arm or service of the Armed Forces or in any force co-operating with the Armed Forces or in any part of those forces.”

Those who escape under the charge of mutiny, those who were not directly involved, would likely be tried under Section 54, which deals with insubordinate behaviour.

Section 54 of the Armed Forces Act states: (1) A person subject to service law under this Act who: (a) strikes or otherwise uses violence to, or offers violence

to, his superior officer; or (b) uses threatening or insubordinate language to his superior officer, is guilty of an offence under this section and liable, on conviction by a court-martial, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any less punishment provided by this Act. (2) A person convicted under sub-section (1) of this section shall only be liable to be imprisoned for not more than two years if the offence was committed on active service or involved the striking or other use of violence, to the superior officer exercising authority as such.

(3) In sub-sections (1) and (2) of this section, “superior officer” in relation to a person, means an officer, a warrant officer or its equivalent rank, non-commissioned officer subject to service law under this Act of superior rank, and includes an officer, a warrant officer or its equivalent rank, or non-commissioned officer so subject of equal rank but greater seniority while exercising authority as that person’s superior.

According to a source, “yes, what happened in Maiduguri is unprecedented. It is an embarrassment to the image of the Nigerian military and an affront to its professionalism and integrity.

Look, mutiny is not a word you use lightly. But when soldiers turn their guns on fellow soldiers and their GOC; when they were pushing their GOC around; when they were firing; not just firing but also firing at their GOC, then this has gone beyond an emotional issue. It is mutiny and the offence is capital.

Mutiny during war is death sentence. And if the investigations conclude it is mutiny and they are charged and sentenced, their belief is that the human rights community will make noise on their behalf. This is capital offence and they will pay.

“What happened in Maimalari Cantonment,

Maiduguri is the endemic indiscipline that has crept into the system in the way these soldiers were recruited, which is questionable. The members of the elite class interfered with our normal recruitment process and brought in their wards to join the military. They thought the military is just routine recruitment. No, it is a calling. The soldiers of the 101 Battalion are eager to relocate with all manner of reasons because it is a battlefront. They don’t want to fight. They think this is the usual employment. They are being investigated to find the ring leaders. Yes, they are still under arms. They have to be handled quietly. They were still thinking like students and behaving as if they are union members. If the shooting soldiers get away with this offence, it will go viral.”

But beneath the military posturing that all is well in its war against Boko Haram, they are deeply worried about the posture of the political elite to the war. They are taken aback that there is no national consensus on fighting the insurgents. The armed forces see this as the reason for lack of mobilisation of resources to get the weapons and equipment to fight the insurgents. The political class is accused of treating the on-going offensive with levity. Many in the military believe this war on terror cannot be won with routine budgetary provisions.

In the North East mission area, unresolved welfare issues daily crop up. Despite the public show of bravado by the military command, they are fighting the war against Boko Haram without special provision from the Nigerian government.

Sources said that the soldiers on the frontlines are not getting the needed equipment. According to him, “the truth is that the right things are not being done. And you don’t expect the military high command to complain. But where is the budget for the fight against Boko Haram? It is routine budget that is being used to prosecute a full-scale war.

How can this work.”

In reality, the normal soldiers’ rations are almost nonexistent. A soldier on the frontline is entitled to three litres of water per day. But they rarely get any water ration. For food, the best they get per day is a can of sardine and bread or a pack of noodles. For the long time the soldiers wear their booths, they are supposed to be supplied with powder to ease sore feet. This is not there for any soldier on the frontline.

The military high command intends to provide these amenities, but none of them is reflected in the budget.

Said a source, “this is the main issue no military personnel wants to get involved in as it could be termed insubordination, a serious offence. Yet soldiers are on duty every day. The military

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NEWS Wednesday, May 21, 2014 5

and the danger signal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 high command would want to procure all that is needed but the funds are not appropriated. Every year, the nation is regaled with the fact that the military has the highest budget estimate. But what percentage of it is for procurement of equipment and other necessary kitting.”

The military is equally worried about media campaign that it is being well funded.

Each year, enormous budget is announced for the military. For the 2013 budget, Ministry of Defence got a total recurrent (personnel and overhead costs) of N20,044,809,028 and total capital budget of N2,902,547,929.

Defence Headquarters (DHQ) got a total recurrent of N845,859,208 and total capital of N1,322,060,000. For the Nigerian Army (NA), it got a total recurrent of N121,246,789,959 and total capital budget of N8,763,468,000. The Nigerian Navy (NN) had N58,312,400,621 for total recurrent and N15,035,919,070 for total capital. For the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), it had N63,921,863,341 for recurrent expenditure and

N14,235,430,050 for capital budget.

This means that out of a total budget of N364,415,146,885 for 2013, N300,402,146,886 was for recurrent while N64,013,000,000 was for capital projects. A study of the 2013 figure show that the fighting forces of Defence Headquarters, Army, Navy and Air Force headquarters, they got a total capital budget of N39,356,877,120 representing Defence Headquarters – N1,322,060,000, Nigerian Army N8,763,468,000, Nigerian Navy - N15,035,919,070 and Nigerian Air Force N14,235,430,050.

For the 2014 budget, Main Ministry has a total recurrent of N21,161,886,014 and total capital of N2,077,048,224. The following were provisions for recurrent and capital respectively: DHQ - 937,921,452 and 887,371,997; NA 127,885,396,725 and 4,824,913,470; NN 62,125,329,779 and 7,998,894,731; NAF – N65,628,615,606 and N7,612,974,815.

For the Office of National Security Adviser (NSA), which comprises the Department of State Security Services, Na-

tional Intelligence Agency (NIA), Presidential Air Fleet and State House, the total budget allocation for 2013 was N82.255 billion. This includes a total recurrent of N66.458B (personnel N53.155B and overheads N15.796 billion and a total of N50 billion for capital. For the 2014 budget proposal, the total was N110.725 billion.

Out of this, N66.625 billion represented a total of N53.155 billion for personnel cost and N13.469 billion for overheads. The capital vote was N44.100 billion.

Even the money appropriated for capital projects are not left for the end-users, the military to determine its implementation. Immediately the budget is signed, Presidency officials, National Assembly members (under the guise of oversight functions) and other top Nigerian officials besiege the military in order to decide who executes the contracts. Sometimes, these officials recommend vendors/middlemen instead of procuring the equipment directly from the manufacturers.

And they also face the bureaucracy. Most times, the greed of the politicians and

the accompanying believe by civil servants that the funds budgeted for are to be shared. All these frustrate the execution of projects.

This clear lack of initiatives to re-equip the military may explain why Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, told journalists at the Presidential Villa last February that Boko Haram is better armed than Nigerian troops. To an extent, Shettima was right on the calibre of weapons (RPGs, anti-aircraft guns and major assault weapons) used by the terrorists vis-à-vis the conventional weapons used by the military.

The Guardian leant that Al Qaeda in Maghreb (AQIM) has been supporting the Boko Haram insurgents with weapons – Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and other anti-aircraft guns. In addition, weapons including RPGs, sub-machine guns and other major rifles are frequently smuggled from Al Qaeda linked Libyan armed gangs to Boko Haram. Such weapons get to the insurgents through Central African Republic, which shares common borders with Cameroon and has had unstable central govern-

ment for some time now.

The RPGs are used freely by all strata of the terror group in destroying villages and other targets. But for the Nigerian troops, RPGs are used only sparingly in internal security operations because of its devastating effects on lives and property.

And in a war where the enemy is not clear-cut, the military believes that the use of such weapons by its troops may earn it condemnations from the public and the international community.

Also, Boko Haram is allegedly getting help from its Al Qaeda affiliates through supply of fighters. Sources said the current set of Boko Haram insurgents who are “more battle-tested and blood-thirsty” are believed to have been recruited from Libya and Mali, where lawless armed gangs still hold sway. They have joined through mainly the Cameroonian borders and are now directing the attacks with support of the local insurgents.

Whatever is the cause of the protest, the military authorities are determined to ensure that any soldier who is recruited, trained and did

take an oath of attestation pledging to obey the Commander- in-Chief and the officers appointed over him, lives up to his or her pledge.

As a source stated, “the soldier shares the bond to defend the country against aggressors, even when it means making the supreme sacrifice. This is displayed in an unwavering commitment to doing his best and not quitting until assigned missions have been accomplished.

“On joining the Army, soldiers accept an open-ended commitment to serve whenever and wherever they are needed, whatever the difficulties or dangers may be.

They agree to subordinate their own interests to their units, the Army and the nation.

“It imposes a degree of limitations on individual freedom. This may involve long periods of separation from family and friends, disruption caused by short notice to relocate and the carrying out of regimental guards and duties. Indeed, this is the essence of Nigerian armed forces, which must be upheld no matter the circumstances or grievances.”

Soldiers on parade

Fresh terror in Jos, govt asks UN body to blacklist Boko Haram CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 gency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states and agreed that we will approve it in the plenary”, Mark said.

He noted that it was agreed during the closed-door session that certain issues be resolved as quickly as possible and that the problem of insurgency was a national one and should not be viewed differently.

He said: “I want to thank

you all for this painstaking discussion that took place and the subsequent approval.

“Let me also say emphatically here that we have requested that certain issues be resolved as quickly as possible. We stand shoulder to shoulder and strongly behind our colleagues from all the states affected.

“We take this in the same vein that we are equally af-

fected and that this is a national issue and not an exceptional issue in any form.”

The Senate had on Thursday last week held an executive session with security chiefs on the success of the first phase of emergency rule and the likely reasons for extension.

The motion on the extension of state of emergency in three northeastern states

was moved by the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba.

He recalled that the Senate had earlier on November 7, 2013, considered and approved the extension of the period of the state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

Addressing journalists after adjourning the plenary, which lasted only about 10 minutes, Senate’s

spokesman, Enyinnaya Abaribe, said seven conditions were given for the approval of the extension.

Speaking when he granted audience to the Botswana High Commissioner in Nigeria, Lt.-Gen. Louis M. Fisher, at the National Assembly yesterday, Tambuwal explained that the request was approved because there was the need to

provide a legal framework to wage war against terrorism.

He further explained that the need to consolidate on the successes recorded in recent past informed the main reasons why the House of Representatives extended, for another six months, the emergency rule in the aforementioned states.

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NEWS Wednesday, May 21, 2014

EKITI 2014

Jonathan

Buhari

Tinubu

IG, M.D. Abubakar

Police deploy anti-bomb experts as Jonathan, Buhari, Tinubu visit Stories by Muyiwa Adeyemi (Head South West Bureau Ado Ekiti) HE Ekiti State Police Command has deployed antibomb experts to comb campaign venues and strategic locations in Ado Ekiti in preparation for today’s rally of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the state tomorrow (Thursday) for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally.

State Police Commissioner, Mr. Felix Uyanna, yesterday assured that he has deployed his men to all strategic locations in Ado Ekiti and the suburbs to prevent breakdown of law and order.

Uyanna was commenting on the preparation of the command for tomorrow’s visit of President Jonathan’s to Ekiti to flag off the campaign of the PDP governorship candidate,

T

Mr. Ayodele Fayose and today’s visit of the national leaders of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, among others to campaign for the re-election of Governor Kayode Fayemi.

The two rallies are to hold at the popular Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

Uyanna, who spoke through the command’s Public relations Officer, Mr. Victor Babayemi added that his men have also commenced a stop-

and-search operation on all vehicles to prevent any explosive devices from being brought to the state to disrupt the visit of the dignitaries.

The Police Commissioner stated that the command is quite aware of the importance of the President’s visit and the calibre of people that would visit the state, assuring that the two rallies will be devoid of rancour and breakdown of law and order.

He said, “The command has enough manpower to ensure

that the rallies are held under a peaceful atmosphere. Once the protection of lives and property is our utmost duty, we are going to do all within our powers to curb any crisis that could lead to loss of lives.

“We have activated all the police units to be able to deal with any situation because we are not unaware of the personalities that will visit the State within the next two days. Our men from the explosive and ordinance department had already commenced operation at the

venue of the two rallies. They are combing everywhere as we speak.

“We are not going to limit our operations to this, we are also going to give adequate protection to all the hotels where some of these personalities will be staying. So, we are on top of the situation and we are monitoring situations very carefully,” Uyanna stated.

The Police boss added that the command has also put machinery in motion for effective traffic control during

the rallies for free flow of vehicular and human movements.

Uyanna warned those planning to foment trouble to desist, saying the Command will deal decisively with those apprehended for such unruly behaviour.

“We want to warn trouble makers to beware because we are several miles ahead of them. Our men are well mobilized and positioned to take them on because the security of lives and property is very dear to us”, he said.

adopt Fayemi as their candidate.

He says: “We are desirous of staying with you. We know that Kayode Fayemi will never say what he will not do. We know he will not reverse the various policies he has put in place the appointments of Administrative Secretaries, cancellation of the of bar for officers on level 16 to progress to level 17; readmission of sacked workers and over seas training opportunities are some of the things we have under Fayemi. We benefitted are convinced these will continue when he is re-elected.

Any other candidate who has come here to talk to us may end up deceiving us.

“Mr. Governor I don’t want you to see it as a slight that I did not refer to you as governor, but as our candidate. We

have adopted you. When you came on board, you did some reforms. At first, it was painful but right now, it is paying off.

People have said a lot of things you have done for us and we want the good works to continue.”

Mrs. Folake Adebayo, the Head of Community Development Department in Ijero Local Government attested that the reform made by Fayemi benefitted her as she had been stagnated on level 14 for 8 years until Fayemi removed the bar that eventually culminated into her promotion as a level 16 officers.

In his remarks, the State President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Mr. Bunmi Ajimoko, said the interface with Fayemi is a stocktaking event to enable the council workers

Council workers endorse Fayemi he re-election bid of Ekiti T State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, received a boost yesterday as the state local government workers endorsed his candidacy for the June 21

governorship election in the state.

The council workers’ adoption of the Governor came exactly one week after teachers in the State also pitched their tents with Fayemi whom they described as “the true friend of teachers.”

The council workers who spoke through their representatives during an interactive forum held at the NULGE Secretariat in Ado Ekiti, stated that they knew Fayemi as a promise keeper, who had remained true to all the promises he made to them during the 2007 electioneering and in the various meetings the workers have had with him since his assuming office in 2010.

Speaking at the forum, Mr. Itadare Leke said the council workers are desirous of con-

tinuous partnership with the Governor beyond 2014 because Fayemi cannot reverse many of the good welfare packages he has provided for the workers when he is reelected.

While explaining that the reforms made by Fayemi in the local government system were painful at the initial stage, Itadare said the reforms have now paid off with the Fayemiled government lifting many bars that have hindered the council workers from having career progression.

He stressed that the council workers have weighed candidates from other political parties and discovered that they are merely making empty promises to cajole them into supporting them.

He stated that the council workers have resolved to

Bamidele pledges mechanized farming for rural dwellers EMBEr, House of representatives and governorM ship candidate of Labour Party, (LP) Michael Opeyemi Bamidele has promised to improve the lives of rural farmers across Ekiti state by way of introducing mechanized agriculture.

Bamidele said this at Ajebandele-Alagbede, Aba Ilupeju and Aba Ede farm settlements under Ekiti South West Local Government of the state during his campaign rally with the farmers.

He told them that since agriculture is the mainstay of Ekiti economy, he is prepared to introduce massive mechanised farming in their domain.

He promised adequate supply of fertilizer, tractors, pest control items and other farming tools as a way of improving quality of their lives.

He also stressed the urgent need for revival of micro finance and co-operative systems in Ekiti to salvage current plight of rural farmers.

He said, “Gone are the days when people were engaging in farming, using cutlasses and hoes. The trend now around the world is that people use machines and improved farming implements.

This is what we want to do for all rural farmers in Ekiti when we get to office.”

“I promise to make life easier for you as a sector that is critical by feeding our teeming population. We will give farming profession its pride of place through mechanization.

You will regain your pride as farmers. This is our promise to you and God will help us.”

Concerning other basic amenities, Bamidele pledged to construct the only link road between the settlement and other towns.

According to him, “I understand your plight concerning basic amenities. We have received your request about the need to construct the only road here. I stand before you today and promised that I will

construct the Ipole-Iloro-Ogotun-Ajebandele-Alagbede road as soon as we get to office.”

While blaming the neglect of the road on Governor Kayode Fayemi administration, he added that “even though the government of Segun Oni tried to do that road but failed due to lack of funds, the current administration of APC led

by Fayemi which is receiving enough money has however abandoned it.”

“We shall also make it our priority to construct motorised boreholes instead of fetching from the stream; public toilets, police posts and health centres will be added for you”

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

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8 | Wednesday, May 21, 2014

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PHOTONEWS

Bishop of Oji River and Archbishop of Enugu Province, His Grace, the Most Reverend Amos Amankechinelo Madu; speaking at the first session of the sixth Synod of the diocese.

PHOTO: KODILINYE OBIAGWU

National Emergency Management Agency officers distributing relief assistance in Chibok, Borno State.

President, Nigeria Tree Planters Association, Giwa Bisi-Rodipe; guest speaker, Prof. Moses Adedire, and Ogun State Commissioner for Forestry, Adebayo Fari, at the 30th BisiRodipe’s Plantation Forest show in Ijari, Ijebu-ode.

Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun (2nd right); Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Jonathan Richardson (2nd left); Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, and the Public Affairs Officer, Australian High Commission in Nigeria, Mr. Okokon Odiongenyi, during the high commissioner’s visit to the governor in his office, OkeMosan, Abeokuta.

Consultant, Pediatrician, Lagos State Teaching Hospital, Prof. Chinyere Ezeake (left); Professor of Pharmacy, Nnamdi Azikwe University, Prof. Charles Esimue, Executive Board Member, Nestle Nutrition Institute Africa, Prof. James Renner, at a training workshop for Central and West Africa Advance Nutrition Progarmmer in Anglophone countries organised by Nestle Nutrition in Ibadan… recently.

PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM

Chairman, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Dr. Frederick Fasehun (right); UPN National Secretary, Abubakar Sokoto, and UPN National Publicity Secretary, Bari Adedeji Salau, at the party’s press conference held in Agura Hotel, Abuja.

Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Peter Igoh (left); Commissioner, NCC, Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar; Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, NCC, Okechukwu Itanyi; Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Iheanacho Chime, and Mr. Mohammed Mustapha Bintube, commissioner, NCC, when management members of the NCC visited the governor in Enugu.

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (left); Head of Government, Abu-Dhabi, Mohammad Ahmed, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Nike Animashaun, after an executive briefing for the governor and his team on ICT Governance in Abu Dhabi.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

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9

WorldReport China warns U.S. cyber charges may damage ties

Jose Mario Vaz wins Guinea-Bissau poll HE front-runner in GuineaT Bissau’s presidential race, Jose Mario Vaz, won the decisive run-off yesterday, according to preliminary results released by election officials.

The candidate of the west African nation’s largest party won an overwhelming 62 percent of the vote against independent rival Nuno Gomes Nabiam, the election commission said.

If confirmed, the former finance minister will be named the country’s first elected leader since a military coup in 2012 upended an already fragile country in the grip of powerful cocaine cartels and plagued by intermittent political violence.

Vaz, 57, of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, won the first round on April 13 but failed to get an outright majority, pitting him against Nabiam in a head-to-head second round on Sunday.

Already mired in poverty, the fragile nation of 1.6 million has been stagnating for two years under the rule of an

army-backed transitional government, with the economy anaemic and endemic corruption fuelled by rampant drug trafficking.

The election was seen as a key test of its progress after the 2012 coup. But turnout in the run-off, at 78 percent of an electorate of 800,000 people, was some way short of the 89 percent participation rate in the first round.

The two candidates have 48 hours to make representations to the supreme court before it confirms the result.

HINA has warned the C United States was jeopardizing military ties by charging

Jose Mario Vaz

Thai army declares martial lawThaksin premier, HAILAND’S army declared mer Tmartial law nationwide Shinawatra said it was still yesterday to restore order af- running the country. ter six months of street protests that have left the country without a proper functioning government, but insisted the surprise intervention was not a military coup.

While troops patrolled parts of Bangkok and army spokesmen took to the airwaves, the caretaker government led by supporters of self-exiled for-

Army chief General, Prayuth Chan-ocha said the military had stepped in to restore order and build investor confidence, and warned that troops would take action against anyone who used weapons and harmed civilians.

“We ask all sides to come and talk to find a way out for the country,” Prayuth told re-

porters after meeting directors of government agencies and other high-ranking officials.

Military officials said they were not interfering with the caretaker government, but ministers were not informed of the army’s plan before an announcement on television at 3 a.m. (2000 GMT on Monday) and Prayuth said martial law would be maintained until peace and order had been restored.

Malawi votes in close election under cloud of scandal ALAWIANS voted yesterM day in closely fought elections but polling was delayed by several hours in parts of the tiny and impoverished southern African nation, sparking anger among voters.

Around 2,000 people queued in chilly morning temperatures at the old town hall in Blantyre, the commercial capital, where voting had not begun more than two hours after schedule.

Impatient voters sang and shouted, with around 50 angry youths staging an impromptu mini-protest carrying branches and chanting anti-government songs.

“This is a disorganised government. Maybe they are trying to rig the election,” said, Paul Wind, 38.

“If they think they will frustrate us from voting, they are wrong. We will be here until we vote,” he said.

“I suspect they want to steal this vote,” said Evans Mukiwa, 24, who arrived at the poling station at 4:30 am, 90 minutes before the official opening time.

Some 7.5 million voters are to choose a president, lawmakers and local government councillors in the fifth democratic elections since the end of decades of one-party rule in 1994.

Twelve candidates are in the race for the presidency but pollsters say the victor will be one of four frontrunners.

President Joyce Banda, the former vice president who took over on the death in office of her predecessor, Bingu wa Mutharika two years ago, faces the first test of her per-

• Uganda tells opposition to ‘wait until 2056’ sonal popularity.

Her bid to be elected president in her own right is overshadowed by the so-called “Cashgate” scandal involving the disappearance of $30 million from the treasury last year.

Her closest rival is Mutharika’s sibling, 74-yearold Peter, an ex-law professor and former minister who had been heir-apparent to his brother.

Mutharika, who leads the Democratic Progressive Party, claims that under Banda the government is “dysfunctional”.

He is on trial for treason, along with 10 other former ministers and officials, accused of trying to prevent Banda from assuming power after the death of his brother.

Meanwhile, the government of Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni, already one of

Africa’s longest-serving leaders, yesterday told the country’s opposition that it would have to wait until 2056 before it stood any chance of winning an election.

Government spokesman, Ofwono Opondo said the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) “is in for a long journey with Ugandans” under 69-year-old Museveni, who has led the impoverished east African nation since 1986.

“However much the opposition tries, they will not win any elections because they do not have a proper programme for Uganda.

Probably they will have to wait up to 2056, when they are mature enough,” he said.

“It is under the capable leadership of President Museveni that Uganda for the first time is stable,” he added.

The spokesman was replying

to a question over a post on Twitter after an opinion poll showed Museveni as a clear favourite for elections in 2016 and in which he said the opposition would have to wait another 40 years.

The comments were greeted with anger by Ken Lukyamuzi, a leader of the opposition Conservative Party.

“The statement by the government is what we expected.

Museveni is not ready for democracy but for hereditary rule,” he said.

“We long suspected he has a family agenda of transitioning from him to his son”, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, he added.

Kainerugaba, 39, is an army general who heads a special forces unit notably tasked with presidential security.

He has previously dismissed speculation that he was seeking to succeed his father, saying in June last year that “Uganda is not a monarchy.”

UN targets Africa’s oil levy to fight disease HE United Nations has beT gun talks with African leaders over a levy on oil that could rake in huge sums to fight disease in developing countries, a top official said.

“This year I will be working with African leaders for a tax on natural resource extraction, a very important development,” said Philippe Douste-Blazy, chairman of UNITAID, the UN’s drug purchase facility.

“The idea is to levy a microscopic solidarity contribution

on the country’s side, 10 cents per barrel. It’s totally painless,” he told reporters.

He explained that the money would be tapped from national revenues, rather than directly from the often foreign companies that help African nations drill for and trade in oil.

The former French health and foreign minister said a levy would help African countries help each other.

“This idea of South-South solidarity is really interesting in

Africa,” he said.

“You have a scissor effect. You have the needs increasing with extreme poverty, and you have official development aid, which is decreasing. So we have to create new funding,” he added.

Douste-Blazy said the programme would also cover gas and mining and that discussions were ongoing with “three or four” African leaders, but declined to elaborate.

Africa’s oil giants are Nigeria, Algeria and Angola.

five Chinese officers with cyberspying and tried to turn the tables on Washington by calling it “the biggest attacker of China’s cyberspace.”

China announced it was suspending cooperation with the United States in a joint cybersecurity task force over Monday’s charges that officers stole trade secrets from major American companies.

The Foreign Ministry demanded Washington withdraw the indictment.

The testy exchange marked an escalation in tensions over U.S. complaints that China’s military uses its cyber warfare skills to steal foreign trade secrets to help the country’s vast state-owned industrial sector.

A U.S. security firm, Mandiant, said last year it traced attacks on American and other companies to a military unit in Shanghai.

The charges are the biggest challenge to relations since a meeting last summer between President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Sunnylands, California.

Ties already were under strain due to conflicts over what Washington says are provocative Chinese moves to assert claims over disputed areas of the East and South China Seas. Beijing complains the Obama administration’s effort to shift foreign

policy emphasis toward Asia and expand its military presence in the region is emboldening Japan and other neighbors and fueling tension.

Beijing has denied conducting commercial spying and said it is a victim of computer hacking, but has given little indication it investigates foreign complaints.

“The Chinese government and Chinese military as well as relevant personnel have never engaged and never participated in so-called cyber theft of trade secrets,” said a foreign ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, at a news briefing.

“What the United States should do no is withdraw its indictment.”

The Ministry of Defense warned that the U.S. accusations would chill gradually warming relations between the two militaries.

“The United States, by this action, betrays its commitment to building healthy, stable, reliable military-to-military relations and causes serious damage to mutual trust,” it said.

Despite the pointed language, damage to U.S.Chinese relations is likely to be limited, with little change in trade or military links, because Beijing realizes the indictment of the five officers is symbolic, said Shen Dingli, a director of the Center for American Studies at Shanghai’s Fudan University.

He has close ties to China’s foreign policy establishment.

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Wednesday May 21, 2014

Politics National Conference Debate

‘Why Nigerians should insist on implementation of recommendations’ Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Mr. Eugene Odo, says the inability to implement past pacts has fuelled challenges being faced by the country, urging Nigerians to ensure that the resolutions of ongoing National Conference in Abuja are implemented, reports Lawrence Njoku from Enugu.

HAT do can you make of the National W Conference that’s trailed by divergent views?

Before now, some Nigerians had clamoured for another constitution in the guise that what we had was orchestrated by the military. Many people believed that Nigeria had not worked the way it should because of obvious gaps in the constitution and therefore, the people craved for a new constitution.

The president has also responded to this by constituting this National Conference for us to talk and agree on the way forward. I think the conference has started and so far, I am very impressed by the composition and how they have gone about their various duties.

The members have demonstrated from the committee stage that they have something to offer and now that they are back to the plenary, I think we should allow them get through all that they have discussed. They have actually laid bare some of the thorny issues and I believe this should form the background of our nationhood.

I want to continue to appeal to them to do what they can to help this country and strengthen this democracy. Let us pursue the interest of the country and avoid narrow interests for a stronger and virile country.

Questions are being asked on how the confab resolutions could be handled, considering past agreements not implemented…

If at the end of the day, a resolution is reached, what I will advise is that Nigerians should rise up to ensure that it is not confined to the dustbin like previous exercises.

I share in the school of thought that holds that the present problems faced by the country are as a result of unimplemented pacts and agreements.

We have played politics, using the future and wellbeing of individuals of this country and now that it has dawned on us that we have wasted these years, we should begin to retrace the steps and for once do something good and acceptable for our people.

Nigerians have also tried to allow government to have its way all the time, thereby contributing to the problem. That is why I will continue to say having tried these methods without success, let us raise the consciousness so as to see if the country can be better by saying no to anything that will make the conference resolutions not come to full force.

Beyond this, however, we will have to continue to pray that fruitful deliberations will emanate from the conference and that the National and State Houses of Assembly will give them the needed passage to enable them come in force for the good of the country.

As a member of the Conference of Speakers of Nigeria, what did you demand of your representatives at the conference?

We have six former Speakers representing each geo-political zone in the conference. There is no particular demand from the Speakers Conference except that we want the country to move forward in unity.

Beyond that, we have equally tried to see how some amendments could be made on issues that are not properly situated in the constitution.

For instance, if you look under the present constitution, there are allowances and pensions for the President, the Vice President, the Governors and Deputy Governors but there is none for the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly. So, we believe that such a thing should be looked into.

When the governor leaves office, he is entitled to pension; the same thing goes to the Chief Judge (state) and Chief Justice of the Federation.

We believe that the legislature should benefit from pension because we are among the three

Odo arms of government.

Then, of course, the issue of autonomy of the State Houses of Assembly! We believe the issue should be passed this time around, than what happened previously so that this arm of government could be strengthened.

If the component arms of government are not strengthened to be interdependent, it will not impact positively on democracy and this could also serve as a barrier to the workings of government.

What really stalled the passage of the autonomy issue in the previous exercise?

It is a common knowledge that during the past constitutional amendment, the State Houses of Assembly proposed autonomy but during ratification, they could not get the desired two-thirds of members of the State Houses of Assembly to pass it.

However, we are mobilising our members to ensure they pass it so that the State Legislature can be placed on the first line charge like the Judiciary and the Executive and other statutory arms.

The National Assembly is enjoying autonomy but the State Legislature has not been able to come to terms with that and this includes financial autonomy.

People have misunderstood the term, financial autonomy. It does not actually mean for the legislature to go to the purse and collect money whether there is money or not. What it simply means is that amounts appropriated to the State Houses of Assembly or Legislature should be released to them pro-rata what is available.

Most state governments do not realise their

budgets.

So, what we are looking at is a situation where government realise pro-rata what is available alongside with what was appropriated. It must be anchored on what is available.

There are fears that autonomy coming into force could trigger crisis in the states between the legislature and the executive…

The constitution properly spells out the functions for all the arms of government. It is the responsibility of the executive to implement laws made by the legislature for the good governance of the society, among others.

All that the legislature is asking, especially at state levels, is that going to apply for every dime on the executive may compromise the workings of the legislature. It has nothing to do with taking over of functions of the executive. It will reduce the burden on the executive and enable that arm of government concentrate in other responsibilities.

THERE are fears that the 2015 elections might be hampered by insecurity; do your agree?

The insecurity in Nigeria is not just happening in this country alone, it is happening in Africa and the entire world. What we should be looking at is a way of curbing it.

Most countries that have passed through a similar situation have been holding their general elections and I want to add here that insecurity is man-made and will be tackled by man.

Those states in the North that are bedeviled by insecurity, anytime they want to conduct their election, they do it peacefully. So, if they can conduct state elections, what it means is that

The security system should be seen as a global issue. What is happening in Nigeria is not worse than what happened when they bombed the World Trade Centre in USA. After the incident, the American government tried to reorganise her security and even with that, it has not stopped insurgency. Nigeria needs to look at their (American) local circumstance, look within and unravel the remote causes of this Boko Haram and find ways to address them. It is beyond arresting and prosecuting; it must be tackled from its roots so as to identify those behind it. The ammunition and vehicles used in the act are not something the ordinary people can afford and this is where the intelligence gathering should start.

elections can as well hold in other parts of the country.

We need to rise above the security challenges and we hope that the abduction of these Chibok girls will bring to a terminal end the level of insurgency and insecurity in the country, and by the grace of God nothing will stop the elections of 2015.

Does this level of insecurity not give credence to the fact that we have not been faithful in the implementation of our security budgets?

The government is trying its best but I think the people are having a misconception about what governance is all about. It is the responsibility of government to provide security for all manner of persons in a country and property.

Yet, the citizens have a great role to play and that is why every citizen should be law-abiding.

The government cannot provide one-on-one security for all, but as citizens, we should be of good behaviour and report criminals, among others.

Without the support of the citizenry, no amount of implementation of security budget by government can yield effective result.

Government is doing its best to equip the security agencies but what have we done to assist these agencies with the right information to make them work effectively?

What I could garner from what is happening is that it has exposed the fact that we have inadequate manpower in our police, military and civil defence, and it is the duty of the government to recruit more personnel.

What we know as the NYSC all over the world is supposed to be compulsory military training through which anybody, who is a graduate, ought to have some security experience in order to guard the nation. But ours has not been like that and that is part of the problem.

Certain Nigerians feel that we are compromising the nation’s security by allowing the intervention of foreign security to search for the abducted Chibok girls. Do you agree?

The security system should be seen as a global issue. What is happening is not even worse than what happened when they bombed the World Trade Centre in USA. After the incident, the American government tried to reorganise her security and even with that, it has not stopped insurgency.

Nigeria needs to look at their (American) local circumstance, look within and unravel the remote causes of this Boko Haram and find ways to address them. It is beyond arresting and prosecuting; it must be tackled from its roots so as to identify those behind it.

The ammunition and vehicles used in the act are not something the ordinary people can afford and this is where the intelligence gathering should start.

Let me add that the issue of security should not be politicised by trying to condemn the government with respect to what is happening.

This call is for those in the opposition and the ruling party. Let us work together, to ensure a free and safe society, by playing our various roles to assist the government.

For seven years, you have led the Enugu State House of Assembly without crisis. What’s the secret?

I see myself as a member of the House of Assembly. The position of Speaker is, first among equals, and not a bossy position.

It is a collegiate arrangement whereby equals are elected to execute an assignment and they, in turn, appoint someone to lead them. I have related with my colleagues very well.

Besides, we have been able to work with a governor who encourages our oversight functions.

In the past, some governors saw it (House) as an antagonist but here, it is not like that and this has helped us preside over the State Assembly effectively.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014 POLITICS 11

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

2015: Zoning and ethnic balancing in Akwa Ibom From Inemesit Akpan-Nsoh, Uyo HE uncontrollable controversy T that seems to engulf Akwa Ibom due to the governorship of the state in 2015 appears misplaced. This is so as most of the arguments put forward for either power shift to the Eket or Uyo senatorial district might be out of tune with the position of Governor Godswill Akpabio or the political mathematics of the state efficiently prosecuted from 1999 till date.

However, the cacophony of accusations and counter-accusations may stem from the belief that in politics, in most cases, what is known as a gentleman’s agreement does not endure in the face of disloyalty and betrayal, thereby bringing about mutual distrust and fear.

It is worthy of mention that politics in Akwa Ibom sits on a tripod of ethnic groups — Ibibio, Annang and Oron. Of interest, too, is that these ethnic groupings make up the respective senatorial districts: Uyo for Ibibio, Annang for Ikot Ekpene and Oron for Eket senatorial district.

The state was created in 1987 and the current democratic dispensation came into effect in 1999. By political calculation, the Ibibio have produced Obong Victor Attah from the Uyo senatorial district as governor between 1999 and 2007.

The Annang have produced the incumbent governor, Chief Akpabio from 2007 till date, while the Oron of Eket senatorial district have been left out in the scheme of the governorship of the state.

What seems to be attracting discordant tunes among the politicians in Akwa Ibom is the decision of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with the active backing and support of Governor Akpabio that come 2015, the governor should come from Eket senatorial district, undoubtedly to ensure that the position rotates completely among the political tripod of the state.

“We must remember that what is morally wrong cannot be politically right,” Governor Akpabio had said in on one of his Town Hall meetings recently. “We must play politics of inclusion instead of politics of exclusion.”

The governor, throughout the Town Hall meetings last March in the 10 federal constituencies of the state, heard from many of the constituents that Eket senatorial district should produce his successor.

Therefore, by political calculation and intuition, the Oron nation within the district should be given the free hand to produce his successor.

“This would be a clear demonstration of justice, equity and fairness,” said a respondent to The Guardian’s query last week in Uyo. However, this proposal has not sat well with most political stakeholders in the Uyo senatorial district where the Ibibio are in the majority.

To them, power must return to the district after just eight years (between 2007 and 2015) in the limbo.

According to them, such arrangement of taking power from the district for 16 years (2007-2023) would mean keeping the majority Ibibio out of political relevance for too long.

In such meetings organised by a group, the Akwa Ibom Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Elders/Stakeholders, the people from the three senatorial districts brainstormed.

One issue that stood out was that in 2015, Uyo and Eket senatorial districts should slug it out in an open contest, so that whosoever wins becomes the flagbearer of the party for the 2015 elections.

The said meeting, chaired by a former Minister of Environment, Dr. Ime Okpoido, had in attendance

Akpabio

Esuene prominent politicians from the three senatorial districts. They include: Senators Effiong Bob, Ita Enang and Alloysius Etok; Otuekong Sunny Jackson; and former House of Representative members, Bernard Udoh and Emmanuel Obot.

Others are: former Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Obong Umanah Okon Umanah; onetime Commissioner for Justice, Chief Victor Iyanam; former First Lady of the first civilian governor of the State, Mrs. Imo Isemin; former Speaker of Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Nelson Effiong; and former members of the House of Assembly, Uwem Udoma, Chief Ukata Akpan and Obong Okon Uwah.

The stance of the Elders/Stakeholders of the PDP must have influenced the position of the party in its recent State Executive Committee meeting, which resolved that: “Pursuant to section 7(3) of the Party Constitution 2012 (as amended) stipulating adherence to the ‘policy of the rotation and zoning of Party and public elective offices in pursuance of the principle of equality, justice and fairness, the meeting zones the Governorship position to Eket Senatorial District.

Politics in Akwa Ibom sits on a tripod of ethnic groups — Ibibio, Annang and Oron. Of interest, too, is that these ethnic groupings make up the respective senatorial districts: Uyo for Ibibio, Annang for Ikot Ekpene and Oron for Eket senatorial district. The state was created in 1987 and the current democratic dispensation came into effect in 1999. By political calculation, the Ibibio have produced Obong Victor Attah from the Uyo senatorial district as governor between 1999 and 2007. The Annang have produced the incumbent governor, Chief Akpabio from 2007 till date, while the Oron of Eket senatorial district have been left out in the scheme of the governorship of the state. What seems to be attracting discordant tunes among the politicians in Akwa Ibom is the decision of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with the active backing and support of Governor Akpabio that come 2015, the governor should come from Eket senatorial district, undoubtedly to ensure that the position rotates, full cycle, among the political tripod of the state.

“This is without prejudice to the right of any other person from other Senatorial District to contest the Governorship seat in 2015.”

ANOTHER issue that seems to be heating the polity in Akwa Ibom State is the insistence by members of the Akwa ESOP ImaIsong Ibibio, an umbrella body of the Ibibio, that their endorsement for the second term bid of Governor Akpabio was based on the agreement that he would return power to the Ibibio of Uyo senatorial district in 2015.

They are urging the governor not renege in this solemn commitment he made to them.

But to watchers of the polity, one thing is sacrosanct in politics, and that is that promises, such as mentioned above, are rarely kept.

The late Chief MKO Abiola, winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, once quit politics because, according to him then, President Alhaji Shehu Shagari (as he then was), refused to honour the agreement reached that he would run for only a term (1999-1983) and allow him (Abiola) run for the post

Umanah

Ekpo in 1983.

This lack of keeping to a gentleman’s agreement must have given credence to the popular saying that in politics, “there is no permanent friend, but interest.”

Interestingly, in previous primaries of the PDP in Akwa Ibom State, aspirants from the agreed senatorial district usually contested with aspirants from the area(s) the position was not “officially zoned” to. This was the setting in the 2007 and 2011 elections.

Indeed, Governor Akpabio, during the Town Hall meeting in Etinan, reminded the people that in 2007, 58 people contested the primaries with him.

The governor, however, promised the people that, at the appointed time, stakeholders of the party from the three senatorial districts, in conjunction with the leadership of the party in the state, would meet and decide on how the game would be played.

Going through memory lane, one of the Elders, who spoke to The Guardian, noted that there is a case, pending at the Supreme Court, filed

by Mr. Frank Okon against the governor.

Recall that Mr. Okon, posited as being from the Eket senatorial dis-

In the midst of this hullaballoo in the PDP in Akwa Ibom State towards 2015, Governor Godswill Akpabio has not openly anointed any candidate. Nonetheless, he is strongly in support of his successor coming from the Eket senatorial district, which is made up of five council areas of Oron and seven of Ibibio, making up 12 council areas in all. Aspirants on the party podium that have openly or secretly indicated their interest in the governorship from the Eket senatorial district are: Effiong Abia (Oron), Ekpenyong Ntekim (Oron), Bishop Sam Akpan (Onna), Udom Emmanuel (Onna), Prof. Richard King (Eket), Senator Helen Esuene (Eket), and Nsima Ekere (Ikot Abasi). From the Uyo senatorial district is former Secretary to the State Government, Obong Umanah Okon Umanah, who has outrightly declared his interest. Others like the former Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan, may soon publically join the race, according to sources.

trict, reportedly contested the 2011 primaries with the incumbent governor.

It thus follows that if Mr. Okon from the Eket senatorial district had won in that 2011 primaries, he would have been the governor despite that the position was zoned to the Ikot Ekpene senatorial district. The situation may not be different in 215.

Meaning that if people from the Uyo senatorial district were allowed a level playing ground during the primaries and an aspirant from the district won, he or she would be accepted by the PDP, irrespective of the fact that the party zoned the governorship to the Eket senatorial district.

In any case, Governor Akpabio has always said that the Ibibio, who are the majority in the state, and are found across the three senatorial districts, should be given the opportunity to vie for the governorship in the Eket senatorial district.

But the question agitating the minds of the Uyo senatorial district politicians is what would be their stake in such circumstance. Because, if an Ibibio son becomes governor from the Eket senatorial district, it may be politically wrong for an Ibibio son in the Uyo senatorial district to be his deputy, as the protagonists of Eket for governor had canvassed.

However, some political analysts are resurrecting the 1993 presidential scenario in the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) to test the waters in Akwa Ibom 2015 on the platform of the PDP. They reasoned that in the 1993 presidential election, the SPD produced a Muslim-Muslim ticket in Chief Abiola and Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, and the party won the election.

In like sum, the analysts argue there’s nothing wrong if the PDP produces in Akwa Ibom State in 2015 a governorship ticket comprising two Ibibio — the candidate from Eket and the running mate from Uyo. If this happened, a good history and lesson could be made from this part of the country!

For now, the PDP is calling for calm, and for reason to prevail. The party chairman in the state, Obong Paul Ekpo, has repeatedly appealed for peace.

According to him, the groups calling for the dissolution of the state executive of the party or trying to heat up the polity due to the controversy trailing the governorship in 2015, may not be faithful PDP members.

He denied claims that the party has cracked because of the zoning arrangement, stressing that in the end, all fractions would come together for the betterment of the party.

In the midst of this hullaballoo in the PDP in Akwa Ibom State towards 2015, Governor Godswill Akpabio has not openly anointed any candidate.

Nonetheless, he is strongly in support of his successor coming from the Eket senatorial district, which is made up of five council areas of Oron and seven of Ibibio, making up 12 council areas in all.

Aspirants on the party podium that have openly or secretly indicated interest in the governorship from the Eket senatorial district are: Effiong Abia (Oron), Ekpenyong Ntekim (Oron), Bishop Sam Akpan (Onna), Udom Emmanuel (Onna), Prof. Richard King (Eket), Senator Helen Esuene (Eket), and Nsima Ekere (Ikot Abasi).

From the Uyo senatorial district is former Secretary to the State Government, Obong Umanah Okon Umanah, who has outrightly declared his interest.

Others like the former Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan, may soon publically join the race, according to sources.

TheGuardian

12 | Wednesday, May 21, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience Nurtured by Truth

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

Editorial Zero tolerance for corruption HEN Ehud Olmert, one-time W Israeli Prime Minister was convicted and sentenced to six years imprisonment the other day for taking bribes while he was the mayor of Jerusalem, all Nigerians must have found in that case what zero tolerance for corruption truly means. And, for them, the time has come to insist that the phrase, ‘zero tolerance’, now a mere catch-all slogan in the mouths of the same public officers who daily steal Nigeria blind, finds true expression in prevention, detection and repercussions.

Not only was Olmert sentenced to a term of imprisonment, a fine of one million shekels, equivalent of $289,000 was imposed on him. This is a demonstration of Israel’s total disapproval of and strong aversion to corruption and official misconduct, generally. The severity of the punishment and its impartial application is an indication of collective indignation for the offence and government’s unwavering commitment to its laws.

To those who live in Nigeria, this is certainly an unusual feat, a tall order difficult to come by in their own part of the world. Which is why there is no disincentive for impunity in public offices other than self-restraint or moral inhibition on the part of the individuals occupying such offices.

Sad enough, Nigeria is yet to have leaders with such attributes as was the case in Tanzania under Julius Nyerere, the “Nwalimu”, for example.

That the law speaks different languages to different persons in Nigeria is a serious aberration that reduces it to a respecter of persons. Olmert’s conviction, therefore, offers a lot of lessons, coming at a time when

Nigeria, as indeed many African countries, is groaning under the suffocating grip of ravaging corruption which has festered because culprits are hardly apprehended or punished. First is the overwhelming need to entrench the culture of the rule of law and the willingness of all, regardless of status or standing in the society, to submit totally to it for the good of all. The trial and conviction of Olmert in spite of his position in the society and international community were possible because of the resolute commitment of Israel to the rule of law.

The tragedy of Nigeria is that its leaders and members of the political class generally are yet to imbibe the essential attributes of the rule of law. For them, law is no more than a modern tool of fulfilling their political dreams and aspirations. Once the levers of government are in the kitty, the concept of supremacy of law ceases to hold sway. It gives way to an obnoxious philosophy, negative as it were, that makes the occupier of public office perpetually unquestionable and beyond reproach. This pernicious concept inures for all time and purposes with the result that a leader and his cronies invariably get away with atrocities committed while in office. The result on the society is a pandemic of corruption.

The second significance of Olmert’s conviction, which is instructive for political office holders, is the timelessness of punishment for corruption, meaning that though the criminal justice system in place or the government in place at any particular time may be favourable to corruption by providing refuge for culprits, that does not eliminate the prospect of

LETTER

Intra-party rivalries healthy for democracy All the leading political foray into politics is essen- In view of all these, political ScallyIR:parties in Nigeria periodi- tially to offer service. parties must embrace reforms They opine that political engage in one form of internal squabble or the other. Indeed, no party has been spared this situation.

These rivalries are a product of the advancement of the democratic culture in this country. .

Observations reveal that political players of the old are always bent on ensuring that things should continue as they were in the past. They believe in the old order, arguing that they understand the terrain very well and can always count on the support of the people.

However, there are young, educated and enterprising Nigerians who joined politics for the purpose of offering quality service to move the nation forward. Some of them are fulfilled, having made a huge success of their chosen careers.

Their

acceptance and advancement must be based on individual capability and a clear road map to uplift the standard of living of the people. These people are found all over the country and across the political divide.

We must realise that these ‘young’ politicians are becoming highly interested in the affairs of their country and are already shaping public opinion.

Also, the average voter is getting wiser with a clearer idea of how to use his vote. The era of bandwagon effect based on regional or ethnic consideration is fast becoming a thing of the past. .

Therefore, for any politician to survive, he must work very hard to earn the trust and confidence of the people. .

that will ensure genuine internal democracy leading to the selection of only those found suitable for elective and appointive positions. The era of anointing candidates without consideration for the ability to deliver should be put behind us. It is on record that many of those who were so chosen in the past failed to perform to acceptable levels.

The current rivalries within the parties will assist to reform the parties and ensure that only those that have what it takes are put forward for positions of responsibility . and trust.

The situation within the parties now is essential for the survival of our democracy.

The earlier we reform politically, the better. .

• Bola Adeyemi, Oyero, Ogun State

prosecution someday. No matter how long, as it happened in the case of Olmert, the law would ultimately certainly catch up with the guilty. This is the risk every corrupt leader runs considering that a government or leader with zero tolerance for the malaise may spring forth to seek vengeance on behalf of the people for the despoliation of the land.

Nigerian citizens also have a role to play if corruption must be eliminated from the land. A leader can only succeed if his policies and actions reflect the values, ethos and cherished principles of his followers. A leader who is averse to corruption will only succeed if his people share the same conviction with him and are willing to rally round him in words and in actions.

He, after all, runs the risk of alienation and the consequences thereof should his principles be completely at variance with the cherished principles of the led.

What is now clear in words and in deed is that Nigerians are more at home with corruption and are willing to condone it. This is evident in the way the society at large, including religious institutions, accommodate corrupt leaders and provide safe havens for them. Almost every laurel in the land is reserved for the corrupt. Even in the face of clear-cut evidence of corruption, kinsmen would build a strong fortress around the corrupt to insulate him from punishment and vilify all those who insist on just desserts.

This is how much the citizenry has helped corruption and abuse of office to soar, forgetting that in the final analysis, it translates to lack, want,

decay and underdevelopment for them.

A society that openly identifies with corrupt leaders as obtains in Nigeria and celebrates them as its best because of primordial considerations is basically doomed and consigned to the hell of political and economic failure. The tragedy of such a country is that it is a place where only the corrupt thrives and integrity suffers.

To make matters worse, all the institutions of state emplaced to put corruption in check can only capitulate to its roaring and towering influence.

Whereas what is desirable are institutions that are bigger and stronger than individuals, what obtains in reality is the existence of a totally compromised, overwhelmed and emasculated institutions, weakened by the corrupt ethos and tendencies of the people they are meant to interrogate and/or serve to the point that they only exist in name.

Rather than being respected, they go out of their ways to respect those for whose sake or against whom they were set up in the first place. And on few occasions when they summon courage to live up to their names, they are faced with the wrath or indignation of the society. Nothing illustrates this more than the way courts are besieged by hordes of sympathizers who come around to drum support for or show solidarity with the few ex-governors and political office holders standing trial for corruption and other heinous crimes.

Yet, more than any other country, Nigeria needs the Olmert therapy for there to be a new lease of life and for corruption to be curbed. Only a strong leadership can ensure that, by giving the rule of law a chance and sentencing impunity to oblivion.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014 13

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Opinion Shekau is a poor student of history

By Ojaje Idoko HE title of this article is wrong. Shekau, T whether the name is a title, an office or a human being, leads a murderous gang who live on the ideology that “Western Education is Evil” (Boko Haram). That is why I said the title of the article is on the wrong premise. He cannot be a student of history. But even if it is Arabian history, he should have learnt or even heard by oral tradition since he would not subject himself to the formal Western form of education, stories of people like him who had taken up arms against humanity. As a seminarian, I went through the study of Islamic religion and studied the Koran and little bit of Arabic language. I would expect that the one who occupies the office of a Shekau, if it is an office, or the person of Shekau’s caliber should acquaint himself with the knowledge of the religion he hates so much, Christianity. If he has no knowledge of Christianity and the Holy Bible, then he hates Christianity out of ignorance.

However, the point I am trying to make is that, if he has any knowledge of the stories in the Bible, he should have heard about lunatics before him in the Holy Bible, ancient and modern history. In the Book of Exodus, we read about the Pharaohs who oppressed the Jews. When Moses asked him to let the people of Israel go, he replied; “Who is Yahweh for me to obey what He says and let Israel go? I know nothing of Yahweh and I will not let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2). When the Yahweh whom Pharaoh defied started showing His powers, it was Pharaoh himself who sent for Moses and Aaron in the night.

“It was still dark when Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, ‘Up, leave my subjects, you and the Israelites! Go and worship Yahweh as you have asked! And take your flocks and herds as you have asked, and go!

And bless me too!’” (Exodus 12:31-32). Imagine Pharaoh asking for blessing from the Yahweh he had derided and challenged. A second story from the Holy Bible is that of King Nebuchadnezzar and the three young men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The King had set up his own golden statue and wanted everyone to abandon his or her religion to worship it. But these three young men refused to obey him. Instead they continued to worship the living God of the Jewish people. Then the Bible recounts, “At that the king flew into a rage and ordered the three men to be brought before him. He said to them, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, is it true that you refuse to worship my god and to bow

down to the gold statue I have set up? Now then, as soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, oboes, lyres, zithers, harps, and all the other instruments, bow down and worship the statue. If you do not, you will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace. Do you think there is any god who can save you’ from my hands?” (Daniel 3: 1ff). The account went that the young men refused to worship as directed by the king and they were thrown into the pit of burning fire but they were protected by an Angel sent by God to them in the fire. Eventually King Nebuchadnezzar himself declared “Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego… now I command that if anyone of any nation, race, or language speaks disrespectfully of the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, he is to be torn limb from limb and his house is to be made a pile of ruins. There is no other god who can rescue like this… listen to my account of the wonders and miracles which the Supreme God has shown me. How great are the wonders God shows us! How powerful are the miracles he performs! God is king for ever; he will rule for all time” (Daniel 3 & 4). I would not burden you with further stories from the scriptures but let us look at history, not too distant history.

Adolf Hitler took on the world. He hated other colours especially the Blacks and the Jews. He was reputed to have gassed to death over six million Jews and the war he waged killed many thousands if not millions of other persons. Because of his Second World War, Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed in 1945. Up to today, children born in these two places still have effects of the gaseous event that happened about 70 years ago. He had declared in the peak of his seeming success and delusion “I believe today that my conduct is in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator”. Today, the whole world knows that he was wrong.

God Almighty could not have asked him to kill and burn human beings without a cause. We hear Shekau saying he and his cohort are holding the girls in bondage and bombing places of worship of Christians and normal regular Muslims who sympathize with Christians, they are to kill all Christians and attack government facilities with bombs and grenades. He said they are doing all these in accordance with instructions of Allah and the Holy Prophet Mohammed.

I remember Lawrence Anini, “the Law” who held the Nigerian security outfit in the old Midwest by the jugular veins. He robbed with impunity. He was invincible

and invisible and many thought he had power to appear and disappear until Ibrahim Babangida, the then President asked the Inspector General of Police, “Where is Anini?” His talisman, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), George Iyamu was decoded. I was a student then and I watched Anini wearing a rosary bead, sitting on a wheel chair saying he had repented and would assist the police to arrest other armed robbers like him. It is always the story. The rest is now history.

There have been many people before him who have hated other religions, beliefs, colours and nations but today are only remembered in infamy. Two cases in point are that of the African Americans in the United States of America. They were held in bondage and dehumanized for centuries by the instrumentality of slavery and subsequent racism that followed it. The slave trade ended in the market but thrived in the heart and actions of White Separatist movements. The Ku Kluz Klan (KKK) torched, burnt houses and establishments of and killed the Black people of United States for a long time. Martin Luther King Jnr stood up for equality and he was killed but today, the truth holds sway. A black African of Kenyan patriarchal lineage is today the president of the United States of America. For a long time Black South Africans and the coloured people were not regarded as human beings in their own soil. They could not vote and move freely without a pass in the only country they could call their own. All decent public places, shops, parks, buses, trains, waiting lounges and halls and even places of worship were marked “Blacks Not Allowed”. These are now history since 1990 when Nelson Mandela was released from prison and non-racial and non-discriminatory elections were held in 1994.

All these go to show that evil may seem to succeed but truth and brotherhood always triumph. Human beings cannot play God for too long.

Boko Haram seems to be a murderous behemoth at the moment, but it has expiration date. I have watched twice the documentary on the Killing of Osama Bin Laden. I watched how the Americans took time to plan painstakingly and patiently.

I watched Osama Bin Laden promise America in 2001 when they first hit a target in Afghanistan, trying to catch him that America will never know peace again.

For 10 years they looked for him and his co merchants of death. On May 1st, 2011, the

day that Pope John Paul 11 was being beatified in Rome, the evil man Osama Bin Laden went down. The American President said that he was happy that the last thing Osama Bin Laden saw on earth was the nozzle of an American gun held by an American Seal.

What a way to go! When Saddam Hussein was smoked out of a rat hole 6-8 feet deep in the bush, 9 miles to his own village of Tikrit on 13th December 2003 during the American Army operation code named “Operation Red Dawn”, having troubled the world for so long, he simply chickened out. The soldier who sighted him first, gave a salute and said, I bring you the compliments of the American president. He did not resist arrest even though he had everything to fight back.

Some items were recovered from him, a pistol, an AK-47 rifle and about 750,000 U.S. Dollars.

I am praying for that day to arrive in Nigeria for Abubakar Shekau, and it will not take long again, to invite our Moses and Aaron and beg, “Take your girls and go. Worship your God, bless me also”. Shekau will kneel down if he has the opportunity, if the last thing he will see on earth will not be the arrow point of a Civilian JTF in Borno. He will beg and proclaim that he should be given a chance to right his wrongs. He will beg like Saddam Hussein that he will cooperate. And I want a Nigerian Soldier or Civilian JTF to bring to him the compliments of our Commander-in-Chief and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I strongly believe that this is simply a sad phase in the Nigerian political history. Quote me, Shekau and his cotravelers will soon become good studies in our nation’s history. As I am writing this article, I am also watching on the CNN live, the opening of the September 11 (9/11) Museum in New York City. Surely, a day will come when we shall open a museum like that in the Sambisa forest of Borno State. The time will soon come when Government Secondary School Chibok will be turned into a University of Peace and Conflict Resolution. A day will come when we shall go to Damaturu to understudy how to survive under terror. The Boko Haram days will pass like those of Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Pontius Pilate, Adolf Hitler, Lawrence Anini, Saddam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden, Racists, White Separatists and other haters of God and common humanity of man. This I am sure of.

• Rev. Fr. Ojaje Idoko is the Director of Pastoral Affairs Department, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria

Boko Haram and insecurity in Nigeria

By Anthony Cardinal Okogie HE recent happenings in Nigeria, especially in the T Northeastern part of the country, leave nothing to be desired. The menace of Boko Haram terrorist group has caused international outrage and focuses the attention of the whole world on Nigeria and her political leaders.

This is particularly climaxed in the abduction of over 200 girls from their School in Chibok. Hence, we have today the popular slogan “Bring back our Girls”.

The attention that Nigeria receives now because of the negative effect of the action of the Boko Haram sect is as a result of the Government not paying heed to our cry to beef up security of the country. It is common knowledge to hear that we have so much money budgeted for security of the country, but paradoxically, this is not yielding any positive effect. The results are rather the increase of insecurity and the people live in fear and unable to realise their God-given potentials.

This sect, which parades itself in the garb of religion, Islam, has been denounced even by Muslims and they do not consider their actions as representing the Is-

lamic tenets. Therefore, who are they representing?

Who and what do they stand for since the foundation on which they base their claims and actions does not accept them? If their actions do not represent Islam tenets, how then (can we) reconcile these quotations from the Quran with their actions?

Quran 9:29 “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day…nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued”. In Quran (2:191-193) “And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they turned you out. And Al-Fitnah (disbelief) is worse than killing…but if they desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful. And fight them until there is no more fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah) and worship is for Allah alone”. Quran 5:1 says; “O you who believe! Do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends…surely, Allah does not guide the unjust people”. Continuing this line of religion, the abducted girls are purportedly reported to have converted to Islam, do you make converts by forcing an un-

willing person? Is this the way converts are made in Islam?

It is, therefore, important at this point in the history of our nation and in the life of this administration to realise that we no longer have to pay lips service to the issue of security in this country. Government and those who know these people and their benefactors should be courageous and bold to stand for the truth and speak the truth in order that peace may reign in the country.

A nation founded on truth is unshakable, only a loss of truth can make us tremble. We should remember that history will judge each of us based on our activities and inactivity.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these abducted children. We ask the parents of these children to be prayerful asking for the intervention of God while the Government continues their duty of bringing back our girls and ensuring the security of the entire citizenry.

God bless Nigeria.

• Anthony Cardinal Okogie is Archbishop Emeritus Of Lagos.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

14 Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Opinion What shall we tell the President?

By Bunmi Oluyomi RESIDENT Goodluck Ebere Jonathan is no P doubt a listening President. Many curious observers and the legion of objective and rabid critics of his administration would readily score him high on his listening skills, especially when compared with some occupants of the exalted position of President and Commander-in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces in recent times.

Whether President Jonathan’s ability to listen could match his ability to deliver on promises is, however, open to debate.

Many times, the President has demonstrated his ability to listen as well as his openness to discussion and consultations to the consternation of many. Some critics even argue that his penchant for wide consultations on knotty national issues account majorly for his seeming and sometimes apparent inaction when it matters most. This, they point out, is responsible for his slow pace of delivery – a development which has made many Nigerians become impatient with the President.

The President, I fear, may likely be treated to this avalanche of criticism when he arrives in Ekiti State this week. Whereas the President would be coming to Ado-Ekiti, the state capital to flag off the campaign of his party – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ekiti people surely have a dozen questions for the President which they would demand answers for. Already the planned visit of the President, and the concomitant promises and deliverables have dominated major group discussions at vendors stands, drinking joints, market place and even on campuses, where both the well informed and barely informed citizens take time to review what the “GEJ years” portend for Ekiti and Ekitis and what questions to ask or cause others to ask the President.

President Jonathan’s Thursday visit will be his

second to Ekiti State since he was inaugurated President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on May 29, 2011. The state has yet to witness a state (working) visit by the President. His first visit in October 2013 was a private one – to witness activities marking the first convocation ceremony of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti. Even though there were plans for him to visit the Federal Polytechnics, Ado-Ekiti, which is a walking distance from ABUAD, the President departed Ekiti shortly after the ABUAD event.

As short as the ABUAD visit was, it was remarkable for Ekiti and Ekitis because it afforded the citizens the opportunity to raise some posers for the President. This they did through the speech delivered by the State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi at the event. The speech which was greeted by a thunderous applause by those present at the event which was broadcast live on NTA, bordered on the apparent neglect of Ekiti State by the Federal Government.

Governor Fayemi, catching in on the President’s presence in the state capital, had carefully pointed out instances of glaring neglect and short change of the state by the Federal Government for the President’s consideration.

The Governor’s speech which many saw as an abridged score card of the Jonathan’s administration on Ekiti matter was re-echoed in different fora by well-meaning Ekiti elders, youth, artisans, workers as well as its cream of professionals and academic.

Some important take away from Governor Fayemi’s list to the President include the need for the President’s urgent intervention in fixing some federal roads in the state and the need to reimburse the state government the billions naira it has expended on rehabilitation and reconstruction of some federal roads.

The Governor pointed out that of the N14.752

billion expended so far on fixing of federal roads in the state, only N2 billion paid to the immediate past administration in the state had been received as reimbursement, thereby complicating the state’s financial situation.

The ecological challenge in some parts of the state was another major point raised by the state government, which had spent over N3 billion to tackle ecological challenges in Ado-Ekiti, Moba, Ikere, Ekiti West and Ijero local government areas and require about N5 billion more to effectively tackle the menace.

The failure of the Federal Government to build a federal secretariat in the state, thereby making Ekiti State the only state in the federation without a federal secretariat was also a major poser by the Governor, just as the inability of the planned Ekiti airport to take off because the Federal Government has yet to make available the budgeted N400 million to match the state’s N300 million counterpart funding for the establishment of the airport project for which a budgetary provision has been made since 2011.

Whereas some have argued that airport is not a priority of the people of Ekiti, yet no one needs the power of clairvoyance to know that the children and “children’s children” of these sceptics would one day land on the Ekiti Airport. Suffice it to say, however, that if other states have airports built for them by the Federal Government or through collaborative efforts between the states and the federal authorities, Ekiti should not be an exemption.

And the President remains the only one that can give the Ekiti people a convincing answer on when the airport would become a reality.

As reported in the media, however, the President had in his response to Governor Fayemi’s posers at the ABUAD event, directed relevant authorities involved in the various areas of neglect to provide answers (I had thought cor-

responding action) to the posers raised by the governor, while promising to look into the matter. Prior to the President’s comments, however, the then Minister of Police Affairs and PDP chieftain from Ekiti, Navy Capt Caleb Olubolade (rtd) had grabbed the microphone and announced that the Presidency was already attending to most of the posers raised by the Governor.

But seven months down the line, there has not been a single corresponding action from the federal authorities or so it appears, judging by what is on ground. And while efforts by the state to get some reprieve from the ecological fund had met with deliberate stone-walling, the Presidency, had during the same period, doled out whopping N2 billion each to some “friendly” state governments to fix real and imagined ecological challenges, while Ekiti and a few others are left to continue to writhe in the pains of profound ecological challenges.

These and a few new posers are some of the issues the President would contend with when he arrives Ekiti this week. The people surely have a lot to tell and ask from the President and would require that he takes some time off the partisan podium of his party to address these pertinent issues so that correspondent actions could be taken and urgently too to redress the situation and redeem his image.

Ekiti people by nature are irrepressible. They would talk and would continue to agitate for a better deal from the Presidency and the coming of the President is yet another opportunity for such an engagement which would go a long way in building confidence or distrust. But would the President answer the people and match his words with corresponding action this time….or would that be deferred till the President pays an official (working) visit to Ekiti State… Only the President can say.

• Oluyomi, a journalist and public affairs commentator, writes from Ayegbaju Ekiti.

Many sides of Tony Momoh at 75

By Victor Oshisada EN are equally born, but are not equally talented”. So, it “M is with this Prince, born on April 27, 1939, into the Auchi Royal family, Edo State. Writing a tribute about Prince Anthony Sulaiman Macnonoh Momoh is a Herculean task; a man of impressive profile. He is a literary giant, an icon in three noble professions and two callings – teaching, journalism and legal practice. He made his career in The Daily Times of Nigeria Plc. He holds B.A (Hons.), University of Lagos (1967). A worthy boss is never forgotten by an appreciative staff.

Before anything else, it ought to be remembered and stressed that Tony is alive today through the Grace of God. Like Macduff in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Tony always acts with good sense in any situation that he finds himself. He is brave and noble. He has the blood of humanity in his vein. On three different occasions, he was confronted by dare-devil armed-robbers, and he disarmed them. The third time, his bed-room was the theatre of the battle for survival. Members of his close and distant family residing under his roof scampered and scurried for the safety of their lives. Again, he disarmed the hoodlums without hurting them, though he suffered knee injury, whilst their gun (AK47) was handed over to the Police; only a man of courage and humaneness could so behave.

These sterling qualities reflect in his administrations. Indeed, Tony is frank with those who err. There were instances of his candour. In my presence, he scolded one female NYSC member who was deployed to the Editorial Department. Tony commented: “I read your article. Is that the type of topic you can write about? Don’t you realise that what you write is a reflection of the type of books that you read?” Outside the Daily Times, before me, in the premises of his law chambers, Tony castigated a young graduate seeking for employment: “My friend, you claim to be a university graduate. And you wrote that poor English!” In his days, he was a listening General Manager. This writer and another editorial staff member prevailed on him not to relocate the Adverts Cash Office from the Editorial Block to the In-gate, because doing so could facilitate the escape of armed robbers, with the day’s sales. That was the peak era of robbery incidents in Lagos. Armed robbers could attack anytime by merely releasing a volley of shots into the air to scare workers. Tony listened to two of us. And the Cash Office remained far away in the Editorial Block until the company’s eclipse.

During his tenure, the day began by peregrinating from sections to sections. As the General Manager of the Times Publications Division (TPD), he recognised every staff member and his or her section. The secret was this. Every morning, shortly after settling down in his office, he would go round every section,

beginning from the In-and Out-gates, through the Personnel/Admin Block to the Works (up and down stairs) to appraise himself of the fitness or otherwise of the printing machine. He would proceed to the Transport/Mechanics sections to find out the conditions of the vehicles for the day’s distributions of the newspapers to all parts of the country. He would not stop at that. The quantity of petrol in the under-ground tank would not escape his inquiry, to avoid distribution delay of the newspapers at the readers’ breakfast tables. Is the News Editor on his seat to monitor the news? Any late news? These and other issues would engage his curiosity.

Tony was not a sacker. I did not know him to be one. If he did sack any worker, it was in an extreme circumstance, and with the greatest reluctance. Because he detested it. Nonetheless, he was a stickler for discipline. His benevolence (humaneness) would not becloud indiscipline. He was not harbour animosity against anybody, but disliked laziness. By malingering or shirking responsibilities, one could incur his displeasure. Strange to relate, in my section, there was the habit of leaving the key in its hole, outside the corridor, on top on the Times Press. One day, during his usual morning peregrination round the offices, he cautioned against it, because any mischievous person could lock us inside and take the key away.

At another time, the fluorescent strip light was menacingly blinking. His unfailing compassion impelled him to remind us of its danger to our eyes sight. And he instantly ordered that a requisition was made for its replacement. This human consideration was rare among highly placed officers. Petty as they were, they still remain indelible in this writer’s mind, to appraise the quality of an administrator’s character. The qualities of a teacher – Grade Two, 1961 and lawyer- L.L.B (Hons.), UNILAG, 1974, often combined to manifest in his decisions and actions as a newspaper administrator. He was meticulous. In those days, in Daily Times, it was customary for some superior officers to play pranks with the files of subordinates. I remember the instance of a subordinate whose file was filled with queries without notifying or copying him to afford him the opportunity of answering the queries! What an example of man’s inhumanity to man? That was part of newsroom dirty “Politics” of pulling ranks over colleagues. Tampering with files had damaged workers’ credibility. Tony Momoh, the GM, would detect such pranks and rectify the situation. So much for his unique style of management.

As the former National Chairman, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), now a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), his success as a newspaper manager is a manifestation of a competent politician and man of the masses. His attainment forms the ground-work for his two noble callings as a politician and ecclesiastic. Call it clairvoyance and telepathy. His belief in the indivisible unity of Nigeria is unshakeable; a 32-page

pamphlet (To save Nigeria let’s talk, proposed to the National Conference) is evidence, recently distributed to the members.

He is gifted with prophetic tongue. This gift must be explained.

Whenever he reflects on a situation, Tony predicts the outcome revealed to him intuitively. He has intuitive sense. Before he married on April 24, 1969, some seers predicted that his marriage with his spouse, Janet Rabi Zibiri, would not endure for long before crashing. Besides, it was pronounced that the union would not be fruitful. Tony in his characteristic deftness discountenanced the ill-omens. Being a man of positive thinking, he concluded strongly that the union with Janet would endure for life and be blessed with four children.

His words: “Both of us are to remain as husband and wife for life. Not only that, the marriage shall be blessed with four children”.

Today, the couple are celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary with their four children! Reminded that as there are fake seers, so are spurious reverend pastors and phony Islamic priests, he responded that if spiritual messages descend from the celestial plane, nothing human could impede or impair its fulfillment. He, however, confessed that the marriage was threatened, but sustained. He assured: “There are spiritual and physical worlds of existence. It is only when human physical agent tries to impede the down-flow of a message that it is not fulfilled. In my own situation, I positively countered the evil predictions. So, the negatives failed to occur”. These arguments reveal in him his belief in religion.

On my part, I maintained that both the White and Black races are endowed with spiritual powers. Spiritual power is not the exclusive preserve of the Whites. Excited by our conversation, I delved further into the realm of Black’s cultural heritage and succeeded in persuading him that we Blacks also possess what to contribute to world civilisation. He remembered an incident in the Daily Times at Kakawa when a cock was slaughtered for a machine in the presence of Mr. Cecil King, and the equipment was re-activated to the White-man’s amazement. I also reminded him of his position as a former Minister of Information and Culture. He accepted my point of view, except that I was too much inclined to the competence of the Babalawo (that is, traditionalists). With subtle rodomontade, he concluded that he was always at his best arguing over religious faiths.

A visitor to Tony becomes a mobile librarian, with several copies of his books and pamphlets. An hour’s stay with him in his law chambers convinced me that he is a strong optimist in the oneness of Nigeria – an enigma brimming over with brilliant ideas, without the ambition for elective post; he is satisfied as a king-maker and not a king. “Nigeria is indivisible. My dream for its unity is real”, Tony assured. This country requires selfless politicians like him.

• Oshisada, a veteran journalist, lives in Ikorodu, Lagos.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, May 21, 2014 15

TheMetroSection ‘She lived and died for friends’ • Mother of last Saturday’s boat mishap victim relates how her daughter died

By Cleopatra Eki HE was the toast of everybody that she had an encounter with and always wanting to please her friends.

Sadly, many people will miss the friendly smile and amiable gestures of Claire Belle Udodirun Edozie, a University of Benin Industrial Chemistry graduate (2009/2010), whose life was cut short in last Saturday’s boat mishap in Lagos, where she was the only casualty.

In what has become one boat capsize too many on Lagos waterways, the 25year-old good-looking Claire, who had just completed her NYSC with the November 2013 batch, was returning from a party in a ferry with her friends when their boat capsized under the bridge by Bonny Camp on Victoria Island.

Claire had just finished her French Course from Centre Internationale du Research at the Etudu La Language CIREL Village, Benin Republic on May 11 2012, having taught in a Primary School in Olusosun Estate Oregun, Lagos during her NYSC. On the fateful Saturday, May 17, 2014, she came back home from her new workplace, a job she just started barely three weeks ago, rushed into her room to dress up for a friend’s (Abimbola’s) birthday party in Lekki on Lagos Island.

According to her, she was running late for the party, which had started since 10:00 a.m. However, Claire invited one of her closest friends and coworker, Ifeoma, who also resides in Oregun, to join her for the party.

Her mother, Mrs. Sylvia Edozie, a teacher at Corona School, Gbagada, observed that she was in a hurry that day and even refused to eat before heading to the party.

“Sadly, she was not a party freak, but once in a while she would like to hang out with her close friends. She enjoyed doing things at home and relaxing, being a too-indoor person. Even when I tried to stop her or her siblings from partying sometimes, they complained that I am too strict and don’t allow them to socialize,” she recalled.

Claire went with her friends to the party and after a while, her mother kept on calling her GSM line later in the evening to no response.

S

The late Claire Mrs. Edozie had already become worried and nervous, only to receive a strange call from the General Hospital Emergency Department on Lagos Island that they were coming to visit her at home, that she should not bother to come to the hospital.

“They told me that my daughter Claire had an accident around 6: 00p.m. and was rushed to the hospital at 8: 00p.m.

I got the call by 10: 00p.m. and when I got to the hospital, I saw the eight remaining people who were at the party and were involved in the boat accident, only my beloved daughter was dead and had been transferred to the mortuary,” she lamented.

Meanwhile, the victims all had different explanations as to the mystery of Claire’s death. Some said they were trying to save her while she jumped out of the speed-boat, due to the speed from the two boats they hired competing for speed supremacy over the other.

Others said the boat capsized and Claire didn’t wear her life jacket properly. Another eyewitness said that, “she and the celebrant found themselves down under the bridge just by Victoria Island/ Onikan Jetty near the American Embassy, and the others tried to rescue her when they saw that she had severe cuts on her neck and fore-head.”

Another friend told The Guardian that

The capsized boat she was brought to land and they left her at the shore unattended to, in order to save the other people who were drowning.

Sadly, they saw some policemen sailing, they called for assistance (SOS), but the alleged policemen left them to their fate as all their pleadings fell on deaf ears. By the time they returned to carry her to the hospital, Claire had become lifeless.

Another version of the story said, their boat ran out of fuel and they were stranded on the high sea. The second boat had to drop the people and hurriedly came back to rescue the others.

It is, indeed, a sad period for the family of Mr. John Edozie and his wife, who have been thrown into mourning over the untimely death of their daughter.

Claire is the latest casualty in the series of boat mishaps, which have been happening in Lagos in recent times from FESTAC Town to Ikorodu, Lekki and now Onikan.

Meanwhile, testimonies and accolades have been flowing as people recount the good deeds of Claire, who is being mourned by friends, families, acquaintances and well-wishers.

“She was an inspiration to me, a well behaved girl. Although short-lived, she has left a legacy,” said one of her

friends and church member.

Her grieving mother described her as “ a perfect, well-mannered daughter and even apologized when she wronged anybody. She was the love and apple of my eyes. Why should she die now?” lamented the bereaved mother.

Claire is survived by two elder brothers- Chukwuma, a telecommunications staff and Chike, a show-biz executive. They both lamented that she was not a party freak but an in-door person. Why must she die now?

The sad fact of the birthday party was that the party had ended on Victoria Island, but they all got excited and decided to go for a boat-cruise. Apart from her two friends Abimbola and Ifeoma, other friends in the boat cruise came from overseas on a short holiday.

They said Claire was initially afraid to enter the boat but was persuaded by a friend to join them.

Her family is already making arrangements for her burial, as at the time of filing this report.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State had recently campaigned for the use of life jackets when he donated about 2,000 pieces from the state to private ferry owners, yet, another boat mishap has occurred.

Police parade NURTW leader over alleged illegal possession of arms, fake soldiers

By Odita Sunday HE Lagos State Police Command yesterday paraded former leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ibadan, Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi for allegedly stockpiling arms and ammunition ahead of 2015 elections.

The Command also paraded 10 suspects who specialize in using military uniforms and apparels to maim innocent citizens and commit all forms of atrocities in the metropolis.

Mukaila was arrested with one AK 47 rifle, one 9mm pistol, five Automatic Pomp Action rifles and assorted ammunition, which he acquired from his supplier, one Abdulazeez Amao.

The NURTW leader told newsmen that he acquired the guns illegally to protect himself against assassins who were after his life.”

“I actually bought these

T

guns. I bought the AK 47 for N350, 000, the pistol was also bought for N350,000. I bought them to protect myself because there was a time armed assassins were after me. I don’t rob with it. ” One of the fake soldiers who used to operate around FESTAC Town, Lagos with his syndicates, told newsmen that he stole his uniform from a commercial bus.

The suspect, John Musa, said: “ I escort vehicles that carry goods and commercial vehicles to avoid being harassed by policemen and members of the NURTW. I am paid N3, 500 per day for the job. I never knew I would be caught. It was one soldier at Ojo Barracks who exposed me and handed us over to the military police, who in turn handed me over to the Police Area Commander, Area E Command.”

It was alleged that some of the suspects in military uni-

The suspects form are sometimes used by politicians in Amuwo Odofin Local Council to maim unsuspecting residents of the area.

Lagos State Police boss, Alhaji Umar Manko, who paraded the suspects, warned criminals to leave Lagos State or face the full wrath of the law.

“Sequel to the arrest of the

pistol from him.

“Consequently, I directed the officer in charge of the Special Anti -Robbery Squad (SARS), Abba Kyari to go after Alhaji Mukaila, hence two SARS Lagos ‘Decoy’ teams were briefed and deployed to Oyo State with extensive GSM data obtained from Mukaila’s phone number.

After three days of diligent follow-up, Mukaila was intercepted and arrested around Olodo area of Ibadan on May 10, 2014 at about 2.30a.m. while driving in his PHOTO: SUNDAY ODITA ash colour Nissan Quest space bus. notorious illegal arms “He confessed to have given dealer, Abdulazeez Amao, his AK 47 rifle to one Tisirimwho smuggles AK47 rifles from Mali and Burkina Faso iyu Olowoposi in Ibadan. Efto Nigeria on March 10, 2014 forts to arrest the said and the recovery of 10 AK-47 Tisirimiyu proved abortive, as he was already aware of rifles, Amao confessed that Mukaila’s arrest. Kyari and one Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi, his men are working hard the immediate past chairman of the Oyo State chapter with his men with a view to arresting him soonest,” he of the NURTW bought one said.

AK47 rifle and one English

Briefs Esther Ugbuwe, 82, for burial Saturday HE Onwah family of OgharaT Iyede in Isoko North Local Council and Uwughoro of Uwherun in Ughelli North, all in Delta State, have announced the death of Mama Esther Onomekpobore Imo Ugbuwe (nee Onwah). She died on the April 30, 2014, at the age of 82.

She was a trader in wrappers and foodstuff, traversing Isoko and Urhoboland with her wares to places like Owhe, Ozoro, Oleh, Ivrogbo, OwheLogbo, Olomoro, Kwale, Igbide, Oyede, Ughelli, Patani, Onitsha and of course, her own Iyede market.

She was a devout Christian of the Anglican Communion. She was a member of the Women’s Guild, Anglican Adam Preaching Society (AAPS) and was an usher for years in the St. Andrews Anglican Church, Oghara-Iyede.

She will buried on Saturday, May 24, 2014, at her residence in Oghara-Iyede after funeral service at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Oghara-Iyede at 10.00 a.m. Entertainment takes place at Atebo Primary School field at 1.00 p.m.

She is survived by children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and relatives among whom are Rose Ugbuwe, Peter Ugbuwe (children), Pa Ezekiel Onwah, Joseph Onwah, an engineer, and Venerable Dennis Binitie.

Ugbuwe

Egbe gets new Elegbe From John Akubo, Lokoja HE Kogi State government, T has appointed Oba Ayodele Irukera of Isaba clan, Odo Egbe as the new Elegbe of Egbe.

A letter signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Yunusa Sule Ilani dated May 7, 2014, confirmed the elevation of Oba Irukera to the Elegbe stool.

The last Elegbe, Oba (Major) Kayode Owa (rtd.) died on Oct 27, 2013, at the age of 71.

The new Elegbe, who was Deputy Registrar (Establishment Division), University of Ilorin , until his elevation, was the Baale of Egbe.

The letter also stated that Oba Irukera would enjoy the status of a first-class paramount traditional ruler.

The newly appointed Elegbe of Egbe has since assumed office as Chairman, Yagba West Traditional Council.

Irukera

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

16 Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Nigerian Society for the Blind holds May Ball, as it clocks 59 S part of activities to celebrate her 59th anniversary and further A create awareness for her activities in helping the cause of visually handicapped persons in the society, The Nigeria Society for the Blind (NSB), a non-governmental and not for profit organization has announced plans for its annual May Ball event.

Scheduled to hold on Saturday, May 24, 2014 at the Shell Hall of the MUSON Centre Onikan, Lagos, the yearly May Ball event of the NSB is focused at bringing together families, friends and guests of the organization to wine and dine and raise funds for the administration and running of the NSB’s Vocational Training Centre (VTC).

The Chairman, Executive Council of the Society , Mrs. Abiola Agbaje disclosed that this year’s event will also unveil its new logo and share success stories of the NSB which was established in 1955 under the charge of renowned Nigerians such as Dr G.A. Ademola, S.L.Edu and I.S. Adewale. This year’s event will begin the countdown to the Society’s Diamond anniversary next year.

“Today, we are proud to say that NSB has served its purpose in its years of existence. Despite the challenges faced in the quest of raising funds for the improvement and management of the Vocational Training Centre for visually handicapped adolescents and adults in the society, the NSB has gone ahead of all these odds to truly impact and contribute so much in the lives of visually handicapped in the Nigerian society”, she stated.

Further enumerating the organisation’s achievements, Agbaje disclosed: “Upon our realization that improvement must be a continuous exercise, NSB in 2009, started the construction of a bigger workshop which will accommodate more vocational activities for the training of our visually impaired students.” The ambitious project was estimated to cost at least N50 million.

With construction completed and equipping going on, Agbaje noted that the progress so far achieved by the organization is due to the support of well-meaning Nigerians, media organisations who constantly support us by publishing materials about the NSB, Corporate organizations like Standard Chartered Bank, Kakawa DIscount House, FSDH Merchant Bank, Lagos State Government through the Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) and others .

LaCasera rewards loyal distributors O celebrate its esteemed distributors for their support and loyT alty, The LaCasera Company, over the weekend, rewarded its distributors for performing exceptionally well in the year 2013, at The LaCasera Partners’ Conference, a yearly event, which was held in Lagos.

It witnessed a huge turnout of distributors from across the country. One of the highlights of the colorful and well- attended event was the presentation of awards to distributors who distinguished themselves in enhancing sales for the company in the year 2013.

In addition to the awards, distributors also went home with fantastic QPS prizes, ranging from Ford Ranger vans to cash prizes of amounting to N60 million.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Operating Officer of the company, Mr. Dileeban Ponniah, said: “I am highly honored to be here to celebrate, recognize and reward our esteemed distributors who have consistently shown great loyalty to our company with their unflinching support to our growth and aspirations.

Ponniah, continued: “Your immense efforts have contributed to the phenomenal growth of the company, and we are indeed proud and thankful to be associated with you”.

One of the distributors, Divine Plaza, from Abuja expressed his appreciation to LaCasera for the kind gesture, noting that the quality of the brand ensured that sales grew effortlessly.

“With occasions like this to encourage us, the only outcome is a stronger long lasting relationship between the company and its trade partners,” he said.

“We look forward to a fruitful and trustworthy relationship in the years to come.

The General Manager, Mr. Peter Candlish also highlighted in his address that our distributors have created a strong distribution network, which can support launch of new products and flavours thereby, helping the company grow faster The Chief Operating Officer also implored distributors not to relent as the company’s vision of maintaining its leading status is still on course, adding that the company is more than ready to constantly look for ways to make the relationship with her distributors mutually beneficial.

Group tasks govt on release of kidnapped pupils

By Toyin Olasinde GROUP, Great Africa Network for Women, Berlin, Germany, has A appealed to the Federal Government to intensify efforts to secure the release of over 200 schoolgirls who were abducted from their school in Chibok, Borno State over a month ago.

Speaking at a protest held in Lagos, the leader of the group, Kate Ivara Imasuen described the act as heartless and heinous, adding that these girls have experienced so much violation and trauma, and still continue to suffer pain the longer they remain in captivity.

She said “If these girls were daugthers, sisters, friends, wives or relatives of Boko Haram or their sponsors, would they have enjoyed the emotional pain and anxiety caused by the wicked act.

“This further retrogresses the girl-child education, encourages child marriage, human trafficking and diminishes the success or progress already attained to empower women especially in Northern Nigeria.

“As a mother, I can personally imagine the agony experienced by mothers and guardians of these girls and pray fervently that it should cease. This act is evil, girls and women should never be used as easy targets or pawns to score cheap political points or attain religious interests and objectives.

“We are saddened by this current situation and we join the civilsed world to call on Boko Haram to immediately release the innocent girls and cease from further abduction of Nigerian citizens in any part of the country,” she added.

The protesters

113,200 vehicles impounded by LASTMA, VIO over traffic violations

By Tope Templer Olaiya

FFICIALS of the Lagos O State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) have impounded 113,200 vehicles across Lagos State for breaking traffic laws and non-possession of complete vehicle documents in the last one year.

Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, gave the figure at a ministerial press briefing, but noted that the rate of arrest or seizure has gone down drastically as motorists now comply with the road traffic law.

He said the vehicles were impounded between January 2013 and February 2014.

While LASTMA impounded 25,600 vehicles for traffic violation, the VIO impounded 87,600 vehicles over nonpossession of complete vehicle documents.

Speaking on the unified drivers’ license, Opeifa disclosed that 104,383 applicants were still awaiting photo-capture while as at June 2012 to date, 417,653 applicants have had their drivers’ license processed.

The commissioner added that the government had released 303,872 drivers license to their owners, while 9,398 processed drivers’ licenses were still awaiting collection.

On the proposed Lagos State Taxi Policy Reform, Opeifa said no individual or

VIO officials on duty

corporate entity would be allowed to operate a taxi cab service in Lagos without a valid taxi cab service operator’s license obtained from the state.

“All Lagos Taxi Cab operators must obtain an operator’s license, which shall be the authority to operate a taxi cab service. The operator’s license must be affixed to the vehicle at all times. The taxi cab license shall be a traceable instrument at the Taxi Exchange to be organized by the state, license owners and investors.”

He said taxi cab must be operated by only drivers with

PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN

Safety Insurance presented valid drivers’ license and Lagos State Drivers Institute to cover death, injury and permanent disability,” he Certification, as they must explained. have a Driver’s Badge duly The taxi cab would be subaffixed to the vehicle driven jected to periodic inspecby the driver at all times of tion in addition to the operation. regular roadworthy certifi“The taxi cab must not be cation prescribed by the more than five years old Road Traffic Law 2012. from the date of manufac“Adverts to be placed on ture as at the time of first usage for cab service opera- taxi cabs are subject to the tion and must possess road- approval of the Ministry of worthiness certificate twice Transportation and Lagos State Signage and Advertisin a year in which one will be for the renewal of the taxi ing Agency (LASAA). Taxi stands for the exclusive use operator’s license. of the taxi cabs and the pas“Operators must have at least a Third Party Insurance sengers shall be created,” he explained. in addition to a Passenger

GBN, indigenes, celebrities call for release of abducted girls • Lions Club supports global rescue efforts

By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku and grieving families of the kidnapped children. It was also Inemesit Akpansoh (Uyo) an occasion to pray for necesS the kidnap of over 200 sary steps to be taken by the authorities to secure the reschoolgirls in Chibok, lease of the girls.

Borno State by the Islamic militants, Boko Haram enters “As you can see, these are inits 35th day and continues to digenes of Chibok and this is reverberate across the world, GBN church. The best we can do as a church is to pray and coupled with no breakthrough yet in the bid to res- that is what we have been cue the girls, more Nigerians doing. We pray that government would take the neceshave lent their voices and joined in the campaign call- sary steps to secure their release.” ing for government’s expeMeanwhile, representatives dite and swift action in of Chibok citizens resident in bringing the girls back.

Lagos at the walk were seen This time, the campaign with gloomy faces. The Nacame from the God Bless tional President, Kibaku Nigeria (GBN) Church durYouth Association of Nigeria, ing an organized street Moses Zakwa, called on the protest in Lagos with the theme ‘Freedom Walk’. Lead- government to intensify efing the protest were Chibok forts towards rescuing the indigenes living in Lagos and girls, stating that their whole community back home have notable celebrities, among been devastated by the whole which are Joke Silva, Ayo Makun popularly called A.Y, incident.

Bimbo Akintola, and Ufuoma “As you can see our faces, we are not happy; our parents are McDermott. not happy. It’s over a month The walk took them from now that over 234 of our girls GBN church at Iponri through Funsho Williams Av- were abducted and are still in the forest, in the hands of enue to the National Stamen who have no value and dium, Surulere, where prayers were offered for the sympathy for human life. We release of the girls. The par- are not happy but at this time, ticipants held placards with there is nothing we can do “Bring Back Our Girls” boldly than to do what we are doing written on it amidst chants now. We believe that God in of “bring back our girls now heaven will record what we are doing today and hear our and alive”. prayers and our cry. We also Speaking at the walk, the call on the government to inSenior Pastor, GBN church, tensify effort towards finding Pastor Tony Rapu, said the those girls and bring respite church is a melting pot for to my people back home,” the poor and underprivileged in society. “The walk is Zakwa said.

Also, the Lagos State chaira show of solidarity for the man of the association, Za-

A

kariya Ali Ndrisah, who disclosed that his uncle’s daughter is among the abducted girls, described as “disheartening”, the feelings of the whole Kibaku land owing to the abduction incident.

He, however, condemned the conversion of the girls to Islam and called on the purported leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, to have a rethink and bring the girls back to their parents, stating that the girls are innocent girls who should not be used as bait for evil.

He said: “Shekau should understand that these girls are innocent girls. You cannot carry them and forcefully convert them to Islam, which is very wrong. You have to leave them and let them get back to their parents. You cannot exchange innocent people for criminals who are in detention.

We need a peaceful Nigeria.”

Renowned Nollywood actress, Joke Silva, was optimistic that the work, which she described as “a prophetic walk” will aid in the immediate release of the girls.

In another development, Lions Club International has thrown its support behind the involvement of international communities on the abducted Chibok girls, noting that with such involvement, the girls would be found.

This stance was expressed by the Multiple District Council Chairperson, Lions Prof.

Ayoade Adesokan while speaking in Uyo on Sunday, to mark the club's 50th anniversary in Nigeria.

The gathering, which brought the Who-is-Who in Lions Club to Akwa Ibom, however, urged Nigerian leaders to generate employment and tackle mass illiteracy, saying that the two issues were responsible for the insecurity of the country.

"We emphasize on youth employment and education of our youths as solution to the insecurity in the country.

"As parents , we are very much concerned about what is happening around us. With international communities coming to our aid, we hope the missing school girls will be found. This is the most challenging time in our nation's history," he said.

Adesokan asserted that, the country spends much money on administrative cost instead on developing infrastructure that would create room for employment.

"Much money is spent on administration in this country.

We are supporting the delegates of the Constitutional Conference suggestion to scrap the Senate and have modified parliamentary system.

"I don't know why we migrated from parliamentary to a very expensive presidential system of government. Look at the money that is involved.

There is a lot of lobbying; sometimes house members will not pass the bills. The president has to lobby them to do so.

"We waste resources which could have been channeled positively. I do hope corruption will be totally eradicated soon."

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Business OPEC crude production increases by 138bpd

By Roseline Okere RUDE oil production C from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) increased by 130,800 barrels a day in April to 29.59 million per day.

This significant improvement, according to the oil cartel is monthly report for May, was driven by a recovery in Iraqi supplies. Crude oil output increased mainly from Iraq, while production fell in other member

...Nigeria’s output drops by 8.5bpd countries.

Specifically, Nigeria’s crude oil production dropped by 8.5 barrels per day in the month under review.

OPEC crude production, not including Iraq, stood at 26.29 mbpd in April, an increase of 29 tbpd over the previous month.

Iraq’s production climbed

by 102,100 barrels a day to 3.3 million. Saudi Arabia, the group’s biggest member and de facto leader, boosted supplies by 22,500 barrels a day in April to 9.58 million.

Supplies from Libya remained little changed last month at 238,000 barrels a day.

Total output is about 400,000 barrels a day

below the group’s formal target of 30 million. The organization will meet to review this figure at its next meeting in Vienna on June 11. OPEC’s members are Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

The call-on-OPEC is esti-

mated at 30.7 million barrels a day in the third quarter, when summer demand for driving fuels is at its highest, requiring the group to raise output by about 1.1 million barrels a day from current levels, the report indicated.

OPEC kept its forecast for global oil demand in 2014 unchanged. World consumption will advance by 1.1 million barrels a day, or 1.3 percent, to average 91.15 million a day, according to the report.

Meanwhile, the OPEC may struggle to catch up with rising oil demand, an energy watchdog said Thursday as it upgraded consumption forecasts.

In its monthly oil market report, the International Energy Agency which advises industrialized nations on energy matters said that “while OPEC has more than enough capacity to deliver, it remains to be seen whether it will manage to overcome the above ground hurdles that have plagued some of its

member countries lately.”

Outages in countries like Libya and Nigeria and sanctions on Iran have kept the output of the OPEC below its target of 30 million barrels a day in recent months.

After hitting five-month lows in March, OPEC crude oil production rebounded by 405,000 barrels a day to 29.90 million barrels a day in April due to higher Iraqi and Saudi production, the agency said. But that is still much lower than its estimated demand for the group’s oil, which was raised by 140,000 barrels a day to 30.7 million barrels a day for the second half of this year. The OPEC demand forecast also includes changes in stocks.

The IEA also upgraded its forecast of global oil demand for 2014 by 65,000 barrels a day due to stronger consumption in the U.S. and upward revisions in Japan, Germany and the U.K. The agency now expects global oil demand to average 92.8 million barrels a day this year.

Group launches e-governance on MDAs From Itunu Ajayi, Abuja no longer be busiIandTnessmayasstates’ usual for federal ministries,

Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Rotimi Omotosho (right); Chairman, Institute of Directors (IoD), Ms Bennedikter Molokwu; Mrs Opra Benson; and Emmanuel Ijewere, at the IoD Centre for Corporate Governance workshop in Lagos.

Govt reiterarates plan to reduce poverty, others From Nkechi Onyedika, Minna ITH an estimated Gross W Domestic Product (GDP) of about $510 billion, which makes it the leading economy in Africa, the Federal Government has unfolded plans to make the GDP all-inclusive in order to enable it have impact on the lives of Nigerians.

The Supervising Minister of the National Planning, Bashir Yuguda, who stated this on Monday in Minna at the 2014 Conference of Directors of Planning Research and Statistics in the public service, said now that the country has details of the sectors of the economy based on the rebased GDP, government would come up with programmes, policies and projects that would create more jobs in the country.

He said: “It is a different thing to have a robust GDP and another thing for peo-

ple to feel the impact of the growth in the economy. We need to create more jobs and wealth, we need to look at those sector that have high of job creation and make them inclusive”.

Yuguda observed that as part of efforts tilowards ensuring inclusive growth, government is addressing the issues of poverty, high unemployment and the low contribution of manufacturing sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He explained that government is also putting in place policies to foster competitive and diversified export base, boost production and productivity intensive sectors and stimulate sustainable and broad-based growth.

The minister noted that Strategic Planning has over the years been recognised as a critical reform-based management tool for governance as it serves as a verita-

ble framework for coordinating economic and social activities.

According to him, countries that embraced the principle of strategic planning records significant level of achievements in growth and development.

He observed that experience worldwide has shown that several countries which attained robust GDP growth rates have not succeeded in translating such growth into improvement in job creation, poverty reduction and also reduction in income inequality.

Yuguda stressed the need to ensure effective implementation of the various sector specific states and national strategic plans in the country and also shift emphasis from quantitative to qualitative GDP growth.

Also speaking, Niger State Governor, Dr Babangida Aliyu said the GDP would be used to measure the per-

formance of government and find out areas of progress and decline adding that the rebasing of the nation’s GDP has enabled the country capture so many areas that were neglected over the years.

The Governor said: “When Niger state kept coming first in the declined for poverty in the country, agriculture played a significant role and that is why we need to mechanise agriculture, despite the fact that over 60 per cent of the Nigerian population are involved in agriculture, we still import food. We need to take hard decisions that might not be popular but are right things to be done to lay a strong foundation for development”.

Aliyu observed that the devastation of three states in the North Eastern part of the country must have taken much out of the GDP.

departments and agencies in their respective operations, as a group on Monday in Abuja, launched the governance index report and governance index assessment report.

The project, an initiative of Legal Phobia Group, committed to documenting verifiable developmental projects across the 36 states of the federation including the FCT is geared towards holding political office holders accountable in the areas of provision of infrastructure and the general well-being of the electorates.

The Chief Operating Officer of the organization, Ibrahim Yeku told journalists that the maiden report is a compilation of all people-based projects, programmes and policies of all the states across the country aimed at providing a basis for an objective assessment and intervention of public office holders.

His words; “We are publishing and documenting impactful initiatives in education, health, infrastructural development as well as other forms of economic empowerment that significantly result in poverty reduction or eradication among the Nigerian people.

“We are aware that the Nigerian state is marching towards a greater measurement of its developmental agendas and there are many interest groups within and

outside the country that want an objective and nonpartisan media outlet which documents and highlights policies and programmes of government that impact positively on the nation”.

Yeku said gone are the days when Nigerians are aloof and in state of complacency as regards issues of governance. He said people are increasingly demanding to know what government is doing or not doing and beginning to demand for their rights in the scheme of things.

He added that public office holders would no longer be able to leverage on ignorance of the people and engage in self appraisal but the people will now do all the assessment because the project would promote an all inclusive governance and participation.

He said the project would also evaluate how policies of government has affected the people and encourage continuity in governance as the platform would serve as an unbiased and objective medium for a public assessment of government’s many programmes, projects and policies.

He added that the core objective of the project is to showcase and document transformational initiatives of state governors with a view to challenging them to be more committed to their electoral promises and be accountable to the people who voted them into power.

“Our database collection of CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

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Group launches e-governance on MDAs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

Representative of the Custodian, Stanbic IBTC BankPLC, Biodun Adebimpe (left); Managing Director, Skye Trustees Limited, Funmi Ekundayo, Managing Director, Skye Financial Services Limited, Yemi Gbenro, Managing Director of the Fund Manager, SFS Capital Limited, Patrick Ilodianya and the Representative of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Morenike Esuk, at the completion Board Meeting of the SFS Fixed Income Fund.

Fashola seeks FG’s collaboration to resolve power crisis OVERNOR of Lagos State, G Babatunde Raji Fashola has called on the Federal

Government to collaborate with state governments to bring permanent solution to epileptic power supply crisis currently rocking the economy.

Fashola spoke at one of the 2014 Breakfast Forum with the theme Power Sector Reform: Overcoming Institutional and Regulatory Challenges in an Era of Liberalization” which took place at Ikeja, Lagos recently.

The Governor who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Resources, Mrs. Iyabo Obasa, said the main important thing was to ensure regular power supply in the country irrespective of which tier of government that proffers the solution.

Fashola said that the Lagos State Government has been doing a lot which has been quite evident in solving the problem of electricity in the State but certainly need the co-operation of the Federal Government especially in the area of Gas. “Lagos State Government needs the co-operation of Lagos State Government in the area of Gas which is very crucial to generating electricity and since this falls within the power of the Federal Government, there is little the state government can do without the full co-operation of the Federal Government” he said.

The Guest Speaker, The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali who was represented at the occasion by the Director, Federal Ministry of

Power, Sanusi Garuba lamented the state of electricity in the nation as he went down the memory lane of various challenges that had confronted the sector.

“There was a time we were running the sector with just 1,000 megawatts which even at critical period dropped to 750 megawatts and the sector became insolvent.

“We realized later that there was need for strong political will, regulatory laws as well as rule of law to put things in proper perspective.

“That was why the Federal Government went all out in effecting changes by calling in private partnership and it will interest Nigerians to know that for the new investors to move on without a hitch, the Federal Government instituted Nigeria Electricity Liability

Company to inherit all the liabilities of PHCN. “This with a lot of other things were done to effect new changes in the sector” he said.

Special Adviser on Research and Strategy, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission who represented the agency’s chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi said the Government has been doing a lot to bring respite to the sector, putting in a lot of reforms.

He asked Nigerians to be patient that in no time, power sector would be like the GSM which when it started, the tariff was high but now, there is competition among many investors.

He added that the new

investors are facing some challenges which with time will definitely fizzle out.

The Honorary Counsel, Denmark High Commission, Jakob Berjer said it was unfortunate that since he came to Nigeria 13 years ago, there had been no improvement in the Sector.

He lamented that with the huge amount being spent on diesel, it will be very difficult for investors to thrive.

He attributed the problem in the sector to nothing but corruption.

The stakeholders at the event urged the Federal Government to bring solution to the problem of energy in the country and that Nigerians are tired of rhetoric’s without action.

the programmes and development initiatives of state governments also serves as the first non-governmental compilation of such in the country and we believe that it can be a significant source of public performance appraisal. We are also developing this governance index database as a means of ensuring sustainable development and continuity. In line with our code of conducts as regards this project, we do not make conclusions or tailor our reports and publications to eulogies any particular government or party. The decision as to how a government has faired is left entirely to the public and other development impact assessors from other nations”.

In his submission on how the e-portal works, the system architect, Odewunmi Babarinde Ayodeji explained that it is pertinent for every Nigerians to know that they are stakeholders in governance and it is imperative that the right information is made available to the people to forestall assumption as prevalent in the society these days.

He said the e-governance portal enables every Nigerians and foreigners alike access to the programmes, projects and policies of each state and the citizens are able to track projects in order to eradicate duplication or a situation where public officers would claim to have awarded contracts that has been executed in the past.

He said the platform shows a clear representation of all states project index and other information citizens may want to know about such state.

The group said profiling the achievements and interventions of state governors would contribute to raising the level of public awareness and discourse about governance performance in Nigeria.

AMfB disburses N7.3b loans, profit up by 38.5%

By Faith Oparaugo CCION Microfinance Bank Limited has disbursed over N7.3billion loans to over 32,000 smallscale entrepreneurs and low-income earners last year.

Speaking at its eighth company’s yearly general meeting of the company at the weekend in Lagos, Chairman of the, AMfB, Patrick Akinwutan said gross loan portfolio of the bank grew from N3.02billion to N1.87billion in 2012.

Profit for the year after tax amounted to N389.5million up by 38.5 per cent from N281.1million in 2012.

Within that year period, the bank’s savings deposits grew by 93 per cent to close at N1.05billion, compared to N543million in 2012.

According to him, “Accion MFB’s values of integrity, customer service, leadership, innovation

A

and teamwork continue to guide our work as we implement our strategy.”

He added that “Our focus in the coming years is the continued achievement of our vision and mission to exceed our customers’ expectations and continue to grow our bank in all aspects including customers, branches, staff, investments, deposits, our operating income, in addition to our leveraging of eservice channels to reach the unbanked.”

He assured that every economically active man and woman is afforded the opportunity to access loans to grow businesses and ultimately grow a population of empowered Nigerians.

He added that they are on the pilot phase to provide POS offline to collection officers the opportunity to capture transactions on the field with direct con-

nectivity, thereby improving the success rate of data being generated and posted into the customer’s accounts.

Akinwutan added that a major focus for this year is to increase the usage and uptake for the ATM cards by providing customers with instant cards.

Also speaking the Mananging Director/Chief Executive Officer, Bummi Lawson, AMfb pointed out that despite the several economic and socio-political challenges experienced in the country, the bank has been able to provide easy and safe access to financial services within the Nigerian banking industry.

“We are committed to an attitude and culture of positively influencing the environment around us both as an organisation and individually through our people”, she added.

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GUARDIANENERGY

Why Nigeria must review gas-pricing regime, by legislator - Page 27

Oilserve deploys new pipeline protection mechanism to Nigeria - Page 27

Western Sahara to build transmission tower facility - Page 26

OIL

GAS

POWER

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com; www.theguardianmobile.com

Financial strains hit indigenous oil firms’ projects

Stories by Sulaimon Salau OTWITHSTANDING the growing participation of Nigerian firms in the oil and gas industry, the indigenous operators are still groaning under poor financial sourcing from Nigerian banks.

The situation, which has constrained the capacity of the firms, may also lead to abandonment of some key projects in the upstream sector of the petroleum industry.

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Some operators who spoke on the challenges, recently linked it to the delay of developing about 14 oil blocks allocated to indigenous firms some years back.

About 24 oil blocks were allocated to indigenous firms, but only about 10 of such acreages have been developed.

The Managing Director, First Hydrocarbon Limited, Femi Bajomo, lamented the financial challenges, has hindered the

performance of the indigenous firms operating in the upstream sector of the industry.

Banjoko, who confirmed that the indigenous firms have benefited immensely from the divestment of assets by the International Oil Companies (IOCs), said it was a good omen for the nation.

He therefore urged all the companies that have benefited from the divestment programme to brace up, so that

they can stand-tall in terms of production in the next few years.

Chairman, Afren Plc, Egbert Imomoh, who corroborated Banjoko on the financial challenges, was also worried that fresh investment is constrained by the intrigues over the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), alerting that the reserve base is fast depleting.

Imomoh, however stressed the need to concentrate on attracting fresh investment into the sector.

The Managing Director, Energia Limited, Amieyeofori Felix, said growing the Nigerian Exploration and Production (E&P) companies and service providers in the next decade re-

quires strong strategies and government support.

Although, he acknowledged the fast growing of the local firms, he said the nation is yet to meet the set target, noting that the marginal field aspiration is to contribute to increasing production from 2.4 to 4 million barrels per day (bpd), but we are still at 2 million pbd.

“We are also expected to support the aspiration to increasing reserve to 40 billion barrels, but the reserve is now dropping, so we need to take urgent actions to address this teething problems,” he said.

Felix added that out of 26 assets owned by local firms, about 16 of them are not yet producing, due to various chal-

lenges of financing, security, expertise and low reserve among others.

He therefore noted that about N2 billion would be required to bring the assets to production.

“So, how do we get N2 billion when some of the indigenous players are lacking financial capacity,” he queried.

He therefore posed a challenge to Nigerian banks to ease the pressure on the oil firms in terms of financial support, and urged the firms to be well positioned to access such support.

Felix also enjoined the government to create a conducive environment and efficient regulation to enhance local par-

Shell targets 29 wells from Bonga North HE Shell Petroleum De- is now considering a “pos- age”. Shell is now adopting T velopment Company sible concept “ for a second a life preservation strategy (SPDC) has concluded Floating Production Stor- and developing new wells plans to further explore the Bonga North oil field, as indications emerged that about 29 wells would be drilled from the field located Offshore Nigeria.

The General Manager for Deepwater Nigeria, SPDC, Jerry Jackson, who made this disclosure recently, said the Bonga North, located on Oil Mining Lease (OML118) is estimated to hold about 525 million barrels of oil.

According to Jackson, Shell

age and Offloading (FPSO) vessel for the oil field development.

He however, noted that there are plans underway to take the Final Investment Decision (FID) before the end of this year, as the company is putting the project on a fast-track schedule.

The original Bonga field has been producing since2005 with the field now approaching “middle

around the oil rich province.

It had recently disclosed the plans to build the world largest FPSO for the new Bonga South West Aparo with processing capacity of 225,000 barrels per day (bpd) and oil storage for 2.5mbpd.

The Bonga North FPSO facility would sit 1,100m (3,608 feet) of water, with the aim of producing the field via about 29 wells.

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ENERGY Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Western Sahara to build transmission tower facility to boost power supply

By Roseline Okere YMBION Power, one of the leading private sector partners in President Barack Obama’s Power Africa initiative, in collaboration with Jyoti Americas, a global leader in the execution of turnkey power projects, and Iroko

S

Capital partners, a Nigerian alternative asset manager and financial advisory firm, have announced the establishment of Nigeria’s first full service transmission solutions company- Western Sahara Transmission Company Limited.

The newly lunched firm is

expected to build Nigeria’s first state of the art transmission tower manufacturing facility with the capacity to produce 50,000 tonnes of galvanised steel lattice transmission towers per year.

This capacity, according to the company, would displace the nation’s current reliance

on expensive imports from other countries.

A statement from Western Sahara stated that the company would be engaged in the entire power delivery value chain and would be fully equipped to handle transmission and distribution projects of any scale.

Vice President, IT Business, West Africa, Schneider Electric, Ayo Adegboye,(left); Vice President, IT Business, Middle East & Africa, Schneider Electric, Thierry Chamayou; the Chief Executive Officer, Power Systems Limited, Emmanuel Nwaoshai, and Marketing Manager, Power Systems Limited, Sunny Agu, during the presentation of the award certificate to Power System Limited.

NERC expresses concern over data reporting by electricity firms

By Roseline Okere HE Nigerian Electricity T Regulatory Commission (NERC) has expressed reservations on the compliance level of distribution companies in the reporting and submission of data that would allow for proper network data assessment by the commission.

The reporting obligation as contained in part 10, section 94 (2) of the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act (2005) states that any person who fails or refuses to furnish a return or to supply information in the manner and time prescribed, or gives false or incomplete information commits an offence and is liable on conviction.

This is the first time the commission is assessing

the utilities on their key performance indicators since they took over barely six months ago.

With just three out of the eleven distribution companies meeting up with the directive, the commission considered it a total disregard of its directives and warned that it will soon enforce the relevant section of the EPSR Act (2005) on reporting obligation.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi said that the CEOs had been told at their April meeting to comply with the Commission’s request on submission of baseline statistics on distribution assets they took over.

According to Amadi, there is a need for network data

assessment, amongst which is to establish a data bank of all existing distribution assets, to monitor, track and report performance of the distribution companies with respect to strengthening of distribution systems and capacity expansion as well as facilitate expansion and development of the distribution networks.

He urged the distribution companies to improve on

their performances and make necessary adjustments.

He said a similar exercise with the Transmission and Generation Companies will soon be carried out.

“Discos are to note their performances and make necessary adjustments to ensure timely and accurate reporting. Similar exercises would be conducted for Transmission and Generation Companies”, Amadi said.

Speaking in Lagos recently, Symbion Deputy Chief Executive Officer, William Olukoya stated: “Western Sahara is an indigenous company backed by experienced international players and will be primarily managed and staffed by Nigerians. Given the tremendous demand for power and the rapidly growing economy of Nigeria, it is essential that the country creates the local capacity to produce these towers and stay competitive in a demanding marketplace.”

With a shared vision to provide for the huge power needs in Nigeria, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga expressed his delight stating: “This Western Sahara initiative further demonstrates the confidence of global industry leaders and investors in Nigeria, especially coming after the recently concluded World Economic Forum on Africa (WEFA). In addition, it promotes import substitution as well as local industry and manufacturing capacity in the Nigerian power sector.”

Chief Executive Officer, Jyoti Americas, Dr. Deepak Lakhapati said: “This will be Jyoti’s sixth tower manufacturing and power transmission solutions facility and we are proud that it will be in Nigeria. As business grows the company will eventually employ thousands of Nigerians.

Western Sahara will rely on Jyoti’s tower manufacturing and end-to-end transmission

solutions know-how, and we will apply our joint expertize to the EPC part.

“We want Western Sahara to rapidly become Nigeria’s leading transmission solutions company. We believe our strategy will allow us to be competitive against international companies bidding for work in Nigeria.”

Olukoya added: “We will be hiring Nigerians with the requisite background who will be trained by Symbion and Jyoti to American and international standards. Both of our companies have been motivated to make this investment by the US Government’s Power Africa initiative. When President Obama announced Power Africa during his visit to Tanzania last year, he said one goal would be to bring electricity to 20 million homes and businesses. Our new company will make a significant contribution to achieving this target by producing the towers and the lines that will literally light up millions of new consumers. Nigeria is a country of 170 million people and the largest economy on the continent, yet most people don’t have access to electricity. We hope to change that.”

Managing Partner of Iroko Capital Partners, Ken Ofulue described the development as “an exceptionally important step forward for Nigeria’s electrification program and testimony to the fact that Nigeria is a great investment destination.”

Schneider buoys partnership for power solutions CHNEIDER Electric has Snerpresented the elite partcertificate to a renowned distribution of power solutions, Power Systems Technology Limited, for its commitment to power project partnership between the companies.

Presenting the certificate to the company recently, Vice President, Thierry Chamayou, IT Business, Middle East & Africa for Schneider Electric, France, extolled the business ethics of Power Systems Limited

and thanked the company for being a worthy representative of Schneider Electric in Nigeria.

According to Chamayou, “The Elite Partners Award is a recognition of Power Systems Technology’s capability to install and maintain large and small data centers, and provide other enterprise solutions to our high-end customers in the Nigerian market,” Schneider Electric SA is a France-based multi-national corporation that specializes in electricity distribution, automation management and produces installation components for energy management.

Receiving the elite partner award certificate, Nwaoshai thanked Schneider Electric team for the recognition.

He noted that “Power Systems Technology team achieved this through the dint of hard work and dedication of his technical and administrative team.

Nwaoshai said that he is happy that Chamayou personally visited the Nigerian market to see the huge opportunities as well as appreciate the challenges they are facing and seek a better way to support them.

He noted that Power Systems Technology has invested so much in time, energy, and training to ensure that Schneider Electric’s products are the leaders in the market.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

ENERGY Wednesday, May 21, 2014 27

Oilserve deploys new pipeline protection mechanism to Nigeria

By Sulaimon Salau N indigenous oil service A firm, Oilserve has deployed various pipeline protection mechanism that are now installed in its fresh projects to fully protect pipelines from the menace of vandalism.

Already, the company has commenced construction of about 11 new projects involving pipeline laying and associated projects, which are expected to be fully protected and installed at international standards.

The projects are estimated at about $550 million.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Oilserve Limited, Emeka Okwuosa, who disclosed this to journalists at the sideline of the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), Houston Texas, applauded the local content agenda of the Federal Government, noting that the indigenous firms are now fully positioned to explore the oil and gas industry.

He said pipeline vandalism is a major issue in Nigeria and the company is always putting this into consideration by adopting various hi-tech systems that protects pipelines.

“There is a pioneering

...Restates commitment to $550m project pipeline vandalism technology called fiber optic system we are installing on our new projects now, (such as the 51 kilometer Umusadebe pipeline). That system is so sensitive that it can differentiate between somebody that is coming to dig the pipe; somebody walking on top of it; and somebody driving across. So, you can determine what is happening along that right of way and determine whether it’s a threat to the pipeline and you have a control system that will enable you to take action immediately.

“Such are technologies we have been deploying among other authentic technologies. we have to consciously do that and there has to be a massive investment for the pipelines to be able to stand protected,” he said.

Oilserve is one of the contractors handling the OB3 pipeline from Rivers to Edo State. The pipeline is described one of the longest in the country.

Okwuosa said, the project is at construction stage, while the initial challenges have been overcome.

“We have finished the engineering aspect, and we have procured the entire pipes.

Group laments over gas flaring’s pangs on host communities From Ann Godwin (Port Harcourt) HE National Coalition on T Gas Flaring and Oil Spills in Niger Delta (NACGOND), has called for a robust environmental performance and monitoring system to address the lingering environmental degradation the region.

While lamenting the intense environmental damage that illegal oil bunkering has done in the region, the group warned that until the Federal Government is able to arrest and prosecute the ‘big time’ illegal oil operators, the goal to eradicate oil theft and have a cleaner environment would not be achieved.

At a briefing by the 25 member groups which seeks to address the ugly situation in the region, it flayed government and security agents’ inability to control the six exit

points which according to them remains a big challenge in fighting the menace.

According to the Project Officer NACGOND, Mrs. Tracy Adole, “the inability of police and other security agents to control the exit point where the oil thieves operates from is what I see as a coalition plan and until that is addressed, there won’t be any meaningful result” “Also, to achieve a robust environmental monitoring system, there is need to encourage relationship between oil companies and communities in the region, formulated through an inclusive process involving all stakeholders.

Adole reasoned that the process would assist in the reduction of oil spills and as well, strengthen environmental performance, which is one of the cardinal reasons of conflict in Ogoniland.

However, the initial constrain of right-of-way has been resolved by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. We are now commencing the construction aspect and we expect to have completed it within the

next 20 months.

“Beyond OB3, we are executing 10 other projects, indicating that we are executing 11 projects at the same time (which are estimated at over $50 million). What it shows you is that we have the capac-

ity and competency to handle various projects and strategically deal with the host communities, which are carried along with the projects.

He stressed the need for gas to power utilization in the country, through a well structured infrastructure facility.

“In cases of remote power

plants, you can also look for other alternative sources of getting gas to the plants either as Compressed Natural Gas or Liquefied Natural Gas. These are the areas that we are working to put together to be able to meet the immediate challenges of gas-to-power requirement in Nigeria,” he said.

President, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Mrs. Adedoja Ojelabi, (left); General Manager, Operations Technical Geoscience (OTG), Mobil Producing Nigeria, Andrew O. Ejayeriese, and the Geophysics Coordinator, ExxonMobil Production Company (EMPC), David Johnson, during a recent one-day short course in Lagos for 70 geosciences lecturers from Nigerian universities.

Eko Disco earmarks N6.9b for prepaid meters

By Sulaimon Salau HE Eko Electricity DistriT bution Company (EKDC) has unveiled plans to invest about N6.9 billion on metering of electricity consumers in the network.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EKEDC, Oladele Amoda, who disclosed this during the official visit of Senate Committee on Power on Monday said the company had secured a loan of $150million to spend on its capital project.

He said that N6.9billion of the loan would be used to provide meters for its 360,000 consumers.

“Presently our main focus

will be to replace more than 5,000 Maximum Demand (MD) consumers that are generating 70 per cent of our revenue.

“We want to know how much they are consuming. After this all other consumers within the zone will be meters. We will change all obsolete meter and replace all faulty ones with new ones,” he said.

He said the company was determined to stabilised power supply in its area of operation and maintenance of safety standard.

Amoda said that that EKEDC had started implementing the investment plan on rehabilitation of the company

equipment, adding that it would strive to exceed the needs and expectation of its numerous customers.

The Chairman Senate Committee on Power, Gbenga Obadare, said that the committee was sad because power supply had become worsen by the day.

Obadara said that that former minister of power Mr Barth Nnaji left over 5,000 megawatts behind but now it was not up to 3,500mw now.

He said that they were going round to know different challenges the Distribution Companies were having and how to solve the problems.

“We implore you to continue to improve on your work so

that power supply will improve.

“We know that the generation is weak, we will work with you and make sure that things work well.

“If we are able to get it right at least 60 to 70 per cent, we are on a good pedestrian,” he said.

Olowolafe, a director in West Gas and Power commended both the house of Representative and Senate on their cooperation with the investors.

Olowolafe said that the challenge was an opportunity for them, adding that the country had what it takes to improve power supply in the country.

Why Nigeria must review gas-pricing regime, by legislator

By Sulaimon Salau HE need for Nigeria to review its gas pricing policy has been tied to the necessary investment required to turn around the national economy.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas Resources, Mrs Nkechi Nwaogu, told The Guardian in an exclusive interview that the abundant nature of Nigeria’s gas resources is capable of making a great nation, if the necessary framework were put in place.

According to her, the current gas pricing regime does not attract investment, as it makes many projects economic unviable for the initiators, hence urgent action must be taken to review the prices, so as the encourage

T

fresh investors into the economic and boost domestic gas supply.

Nwaogu stressed that the two committees on gas at the National Assembly are working assiduously to ensure that they pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which contains the new thinking of government and the National Assembly with regards to gas development.

“With the implementation, we are always looking forward to see concessions that will be mapped out for investment in domestic gas development, because it would give Nigeria a preference over other countries of the world.

“What I think we should do is to give investors concessions to attract more investments.

The International Oil Companies (IOCs) are selling the gas produced in-country at $1, it started from 80 cents to 60 cents and then back to $1, but even at that rate, you know it is not attractive, because they can sell the same gas for about $15 at the international market, so we need to do something to entice investors. I keep saying this. For me, it is the only option available for us to woo investors and make them boost domestic gas supply.

“You know we need gas to produce power in Nigeria, and you know if we get the power sector right, we will be on the road to industrialisation, so we need to go back to the drawing table. We need to exchange gas for oil so that people can go into gas development.

“We also need to come up with some other marketing mix that will make investors to choose Nigeria in the areas of gas development. There are no two ways, otherwise people will not come to develop our domestic gas for us. Why will they want to do that, if they invest same money in oil exploration, they will get more returns. Therefore, I am hoping that the government will put on their thinking cap and make policies that will create a more conducive business environment to aid domestic gas development projects, she said.

On the intrigues of the PIB and the accused hidden agenda, she said, “absolutely nothing is hidden, there are about 16 prices of legislation

compounded into one law (PIB) and that as posed a lot of technical problems.

At the national assembly, we are not experts in the petro-

leum sector, that is why we are working with consultants and we are also trying t ensure that the law that we will pass will be a law that will make doing

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Money Gaining access to finance with KYC scheme The Know-Your-Customer (KYC) initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria was scripted to improve banking industry relationship and now strategic in the drive for financial inclusion. CHIJIOKE NELSON overviews the scheme.

T the onset of the tiered Know-YourA Customer regime, which was scripted to facilitate relationships between banks and potential customers, there was no limit to expectations of how it would also improved access to finance. Of course, access to finance is imperative if underdeveloped and developing economies are to succeed. But how could it be seamlessly facilitated with banking relationship? How would banks grant facilities without to “total strangers?” How would the economy grow without savings, with larger percentage of the population outside the formal banking system? What happens to the monetary policy implementation and effectiveness in this instance? Mostly, how would the economy grow if lack of access to finance hinders development of small businesses?

In developed economies, a database technically known as Know Your Customer (KYC), which is frequently updated and also accessible to all financial markets players, is at the core of their robust credit administration system. It provides insight about the customer’s credit history driving mass market engagement for technology products, financial services and fast moving consumer goods. Basically, KYC refers to detailed and authenticated information required by financial institutions and other regulated companies before conducting business with a customer.

Indeed, most developing countries are characterized by low-income distribution, which also affects access to finance and as a result, many of them have always depended on self or informal sources of finance, which is not cheaper.

More so, some have argued that financial inclusion seems to be geographically limited, saying that there is huge concentration of banks in some parts of the country.

Available statistics indicate that about 64.1 per cent of adult Nigerians (56.3 million) do not have access to financial services. Various factors account for the high level of financial exclusion.

These include irregular income, distance and low level of bank branches and cumbersome account opening requirements/procedures.

Indeed, the enforcement of full account opening procedures often excludes some segments of the population from financial services. This keeps them out of the formal economy and indirectly promotes the informal sector. This is particularly so among the lower income earners, poor and socially disadvantaged segments of the population, majority of who live in the rural areas.

It is trite to state that in Nigeria, many people lack formal means of identification. Even when they want to obtain such, the procedures to acquire them are too cumbersome and expensive, effectively out of their financial means.

This inadvertently makes financial services go beyond the poor. However, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), reckoning that to maintain same level of Know-Your-Customer (KYC) requirements for all segments of the population, as hitherto required, is a way of encouraging prevalence of informal financial systems, which in turn undermines its Anti-Money Laundering/Combating Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) objectives.

Consequently, to further its objective of enhancing financial inclusion and access to

finance, the CBN developed the tiered KYC requirements for compliance by banks and other financial institutions under its regulatory supervision. The ‘tiered’ KYC requirements regime ensures application of flexible account opening requirement for low-value and medium value accounts and these are subjects to caps and restrictions as the amount of transactions increases. This means that account opening requirements will increase progressively with less restrictions on operations. However, the main objective of the proposed approach is to promote and deepen financial inclusion.

In a paper presented a Deputy Director at CBN, Obot Udofia, he listed the direct benefits of financial inclusion, which would be facilitated by the KYC to include: discouraging money laundering and the use of cash for transactions; making financial resources transparently available for efficient intermediation and allocation for uses that have the highest returns. Funds moved from the informal sector into the formal sector; strengthens the confidence in the financial industry and leads to financial development which would in-turn accelerate economic growth; the financial institutions benefit, as the cost of financial services substantially reduces due to less volume of documentations, increased number of

customers and through the deployment of innovative technology; the customers can benefit from having access to a variety of financial products and services provided by regulated and supervised institutions. It curtails social vices as more hands are engaged; and the regulators and law enforcement agents benefit from the audit trail as transactions are conducted transparently in supervised environment and transactions hitherto undertaken in the informal un-regulated sector are gradually carried out in the formal sector, among others.

The structure of the tiered KYC ensures that the accounts remain attractive to customers of different socio-economic levels, while close watch is kept on the risk-involved.

Specifically, CBN, on January 18, 2013, issued the Tiered Know-Your-Customer (KYC) Requirements for adoption by financial institutions. The tiered KYC approach is intended to implement flexible account opening requirements for low-value and medium-value accounts (level 1). They are subject to caps and restrictions as the amounts of transactions increase. The main objective of the approach is to promote and deepen financial inclusion. The CBN financial inclusion programme majorly consists of: The Simplified Savings Accounts (CBN Three Tiered KYC requirements); Banking Agents (CBN Guidelines for the Regulation of Agent Banking Relationship in Nigeria); and Mobile Banking Arrangements (CBN Regulatory Framework for Mobile Payments Services in Nigeria).

For the Medium-value accounts (Level 2), these accounts can be opened at any branch of a bank by agents on behalf of enterprises for mass payroll purposes or by the account holder; it can be contracted by phone or at the banking institution website; account opening can be conducted face-to-face (directly) at bank branches and by banking agents; no amount is required for opening of the accounts; and basic customer information required are passport photograph, name, place and date of birth, gender, address, among others. These may be uploaded offsite or submitted on-site in banks’ branches or agents’ offices, while the customer information obtained (name, place and date of birth, gender, address) are to be verified against similar information contained in the official data-bases like National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Voters Register, and Federal Road Safety Commission (FSRC)]. It is subject to further identity verification and monitoring by

CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

Building Nigeria’s economy through capacity enhancement

By Chijioke Nelson NOWLEDGE stands as the bedrock of a sucK cessful economy and no doubt, developed countries have amassed wealth with the, while developing ones are towing their example. However, ensuring a knowledge-based economy has been assessed as a partnership project- in some places it is public-private initiative and in others, professional associations, multinational corporations and corporate organisations take their stand.

For the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), it is a way of contributing to the development of the nation’s economy, just as its President, Alhaji Sakirudeen Tunji Labode, announced at the 32nd yearly general meeting of the association, in Abuja, that the governing council has approved the proposal to build Accounting Research Centres at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

Labode, who said that work would soon commence in this regard, pointed out that a number of universities across the country had been identified to benefit from the donation of Research Centres.

According to him, in 2013, the association donated various professional textbooks and Accounting Laboratories to some universities and polytechnics, while the body had channeled a lot of resources to technical capacity building of members under his leadership.

“We realized that one of the greatest legacy

we could bequeath to our members is to empower them technically, so that they can be useful, not only to themselves, but to the association and the nation at large. ``Trainings were organized at different locations in the country on International Standards, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act, among others,” he stated.

The ANAN President said that in one year he came into office, he had kept faith with his pledge, adding that an appreciable number of the commitments, were, as of now, 100 per cent achieved, while the rest of the commitments were at various developmental levels and were vigorously being pursued.

He explained that as part of the association’s contributions to national discourse, it had embarked on a rigorous campaign against corruption in the polity.

“Immediately we came on board, we championed Whistle Blowing Campaign. The process of ANAN’s full membership of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) is in full swing. The application will be considered later in the year,’’ he said.

Already, ANAN’s quest for full membership of IFAC had received attestation of support of application by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland (CPA Ireland).

Labode noted that ANAN had never failed in

fulfilling its obligations in terms of dues and participation in activities of IFAC, Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA), Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Association of Accounting Bodies of West Africa (ABWA) and the International Association of Accounting Education and Research (IAAER).

Also, to keep in tune with the global trend, the association had also been fulfilling its obligations to Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL), Edinburg Group (EG), Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) and Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) and currently reached an understanding with the CPA Ireland for Electronic MCPD for its members, which aids continuous education/capacity building of its members.

“Yearly, any registered member shall have access to about 60 courses. These courses can compare favourably with what obtains in other jurisdictions,’’ Labode said.

He pointed out that a bold step had been taken to upgrade and expand the training capacity of the Nigerian College of Accountancy (NCA) in Jos, by introducing French Language and the Centre for Financial and Accounting Research (CEFAR), which was set up in 2013, at the former temporary site of the NCA at Bauchi Ring Road, Jos. “The centre is now responsible for the coordination of activities of various centres and affiliated to ANAN. ``CEFAR is now playing a

major role in capacity building programme of our members and some government accounting personnel, particularly in the areas of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS),’’ Labode said.

He added that the ICT University, Baton Ronge, USA, had donated E-Learning platform equipment to the association, which had been installed at the NCA, in Jos, while the body, in its drive for sustainable development of the NCA, erected a befitting Administrative Block and Cafeteria for staff and students, already commissioned at the College within the year under review.

The Accountant explained that as an advocate of good corporate governance and international best practices, the association organized retreats in 2013, to sharpen its leadership skills and expose them to modern day leadership techniques, while staffers of the association were sponsored for various workshops, seminars and training within and outside the country in the year under review.

“Similarly, Biometric Machines were installed to record class attendance of students at NCA to confirm attainment of minimum attendance requirements.

“We are making plans to acquire land on a more accessible part of Abuja for the construction of a befitting structure for the association. This is one of the ways the association will register a strong presence in the capital city,” the ANAN President said.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

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Money ‘Skills enhancement in SMEs imperative for development’

By Chijioke Nelson HE need to build capacity in the daily operT ations of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) should be utmost in every support con-

nesses. They are seen to be characterized by dynamism, witty innovations and efficiency; as their small size allows for faster decision making process. Small businesses are believed to be the engine room for the development of any economy because they form the bulk of business activities in a growing economy like that of Nigeria,” he added.

siderations by financial institutions, as a way of ensuring their survival and development, while mitigating failures.

Sterling Bank Plc, which recently organized a capacity building training seminar for the sector operators in the country, said the move was aimed at enhancing their managerial and entrepreneurial qualities, with a view to building sustainable business, in view of the critical CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30 roles they play in the development of an econfinancial institutions. Where the account is omy.

The Bank’s Executive Director, Abubakar linked to a mobile phone, the maximum transSuleiman, said: “It is our view that for us to be action limit is N10,000 ,while the daily limit is able to support SMEs, the standard for report- N100,000. Such products are subject to the ing and the day-to-day management of the CBN Regulatory Framework for Mobile organization needs to improve. We are hoping Payment Services in Nigeria. Also, they are that this seminar would achieve this objective. used for funds transfers within Nigeria only “We are focused on people we have done busi- and the accounts are strictly savings, with ness with for a while and we want to assist amount/threshold limitation, such as a maxithem to take their businesses to another level. mum single deposit is N50, 000, while the maxThe process for transforming SMEs to become imum cumulative balance of N400, 000 is bigger players and part of national growth allowed at any time. Where crosschecking of does not start and end with finance. A huge client’s identity information is not completed at the point of account opening, withdrawal part of it starts with education.”

According to him, the type of education pro- should be denied.

On high-value accounts (Level 3), banks are vided for SMEs at present, needs to be improved on, as “Nigeria still has a lot to do required to obtain, verify and maintain copies and a long way to go when it comes to our of the required documents (National Id Card, legal environment, the process of securing INEC Voters Card, Drivers’ Licences, International Passport) for opening of approvals and setting up businesses.”

He assured that Sterling Bank will continue accounts. Therefore, customers are required to to invest in capacity building in the sector comply with the KYC requirements contained because the national economic development in CBN AML/CFT Regulation, 2009 (as amendprospects of any country is hinged on the ed). The account is to be opened at the bank entrepreneurial energy of vibrant SMEs as branches by physical presence of the prospecmost big business concerns grew from small tive customer; these accounts could be both savings and current; no amount is required for scale players to become big icons.

“National economic development prospects opening of accounts; no limit is placed on in any country is hinged on the entrepreneur- cumulative balance; fully mobile-banking servial energy of vibrant SMEs as most big busi- ices are allowed, with maximum transaction ness concerns grew from small scale to limit is N100,000 and a daily limit of N1, 000,000. These are subject to the CBN become big icons.

“Many economies, developed and developing Regulatory Framework for Mobile Payment have come to realize the value of small busi- Services in Nigeria.

Suleiman however, pointed out that the expected growth of SMEs in the country would not be achieved unless there is an improvement in the quality of infrastructure in the country.

A participant and Chief Executive Officer, Africa Star Limited, Bawor Benjamin, commended the bank for coming up with the training programmes, adding that this will

go a long way in encouraging owners of small businesses and give them an idea of how to grow their businesses, establish proper structures, so that they can access funds for business growth.

“With this seminar, I think most of the people attending can gain new ideas to develop their businesses”, he said.

Similarly, the Managing Director of Carlisle

KYC: Gaining access to finance, promoting financial inclusion However, operations of account in the three tiers are subject to suspicious transaction reports being rendered to the Nigeria Financial Intelligent Unit; AML/CFT solution in place must be effective and easily calibrated to scout for infractions; and the AML/CFT officers have to be passionate and committed to the success of the project.

Already, part of the measures to run the KYC and facilitate easy access to finance include the release of guidelines on the operations of the electronic Reference (e-Reference) for the banking industry, which 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 e-Reference 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, 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.

“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 system. 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 often-

times 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 electronic reference (e-Reference) portal, such that account opening processes of Nigerian banks can be fast-tracked with regards to inter- bank referencing,” Fatokun said.

Also, CBN and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) may have perfected plans to begin the pilot project of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) this month, an initiative that was scripted to tow the mode of the pilot run of cash-less policy, as it would start in Lagos, with no fewer than 1000 of the 1401 branch network of the nation’s deposit money banks.

The Acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Isaac Okoroafor, said BVN project, through the biometric capturing, was anchored on the need to reduce to barest minimum, incidences of fraud, identity theft, enhance credit risk management and financial inclusion, as individual banks will have a database of its customers, shared across its branch network, while NIBSS will host the industrywide database, made up of all the lenders’ customer identities.

This would mean that new account openings from all the banks would be cleared first from NIBSS database, as a foil to identity theft, fraud and multiple identities, assuring that the process would be foolproof to plausible degree, since facial and 10-finger prints capturing would be the hallmark of the exercise.

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Focus Nigerian varsities: Impressive first global outing Students from the Universities of Lagos and Benin made the nation proud at this year’s edition of the Shell Eco-Marathon, held last week in the Netherlands. EMEKA ANUFORO, who witnessed it all, reports.

GAINST all odds, Nigerian university stuA dents have convinced the outside world that they, too, could achieve outstanding feats, given the right atmosphere.

Engineering students from the Universities of Lagos (UNILAG) and Benin (UNIBEN) gave an impressive account of their abilities at the just concluded Shell Eco-Marathon, held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, when the two cars they built from the scratch, Tuke Tuke (by UNIBEN students) and AUTONOV II (by UNILAG students), scaled critical tests and competed with other cars also built by university students from around the world.

What particularly impressed many who witnessed the competition, was that while the two cars built by the students, who were competing for the first time, passed the critical tests and made it to the competition proper, some cars built by students from more technologically advanced countries failed the same tests and were disqualified.

Excitement filled the air at the assessment centre called the Paddock as the international team of assessors cleared Tuke-Tuke and AUTONOV II to join the race.

Although, countries that had attended severally in the past eventually won the competition, the students regarded Nigeria’s feat of passing the very rigorous technical and safety evaluations very encouraging The competition challenges university students worldwide to design, build and test ultra energy efficient cars. It also inspires them to think about what few thought was possible: to drive over thousands of kilometers using just one litre of fuel.

The team with the car that travels the farthest, using the least amount of energy, eventually wins the race.

But before taking to the tracks, all participating cars were expected to pass a strict technical inspection, to determine their fitness and safety. Despite all odds, Tuke-Tuke and AUTONOV II were cleared to join the race with cars from 25 other countries, comprising over 200 teams.

Nigeria’s participation marks the first time a Sub Saharan African country would join the race. The UNIBEN students, according to officials, built their car within seven months, on their campus. The team participated in the Urban Concept category, and used petrol as its energy type.

The UNILAG team participated in the prototype category. The AUTONOV II was in the category of solar battery-electric.

Apart from making history as the first two teams from Sub Saharan Africa to participate at the marathon, both teams also joined an elitist group of 10 out of the 200 teams at the event, that participated at an opening ceremony.

Chief Executive Officer of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Ben Van Beurden, who visited the two Nigeria teams during the competition, was particularly thrilled that the Eco-Marathon sparked the needed passion for engineering in the Nigerian team.

Praising the Nigerians for their resilience, he said: “We have been doing this for over 30 years. It started in France and has gone round the world. It is fantastic to see the scale that we have now. The energy, enthusiasm and innovation that have taken place and the fact that we have a Nigerian team here, is an incredible milestone.

“In my mind, Africa is the continent of the future. It has so much potential, so much dynamism, so much growth today that I think this actually is going to be a very important milestone going forward.”

For Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Mrs. Nimota Nihinlola Akanbi, that the students could pass all the technical stages to compete with other teams from around the world was a clear testimony that Nigeria’s path to technological advancement was on course.

She said: “We may not claim to have reached the destination, but we are on the right track of history. One day, we will reach there.”

“We also used steel, because getting aluminum was a bit challenging. We sourced for other materials locally also. Our brake pads, for instance, were produced with palm kernel. Our interior fabric was also produced with our local fabric, adire.”

Another participant, a 400 level Mechanical Engineering student at UNILAG, Segun Adebayo, said when the opportunity first came, it sounded like an impossible task.

He said: “Before now, we used to see these kinds of innovation on Google and YouTube and we used to be amazed with how far students from developed countries had gone in technology. We never knew we would soon build cars like them. Now, it is not anything spectacular any more. By our modest calculation, we have done well. While we were assembling the car and preparing for technical inspection during the week, we saw students from great teams across the world stop over to exchange pleasantries with us, and they were fascinated by the design of our car. That alone University of Benin students celebrate their technical and safety certification at the 2014 Eco- Marathon held gave us hope that we were on track. Other teams have come here to say our car looks spein the Netherlands last week cial and different, so I don’t feel intimidated.”

The UNILAG Team manager and 500 Level Electrical/ Electronics Engineering student, Abraham Imohiosen, said: “To produce the vehicle, we had to first of all identify what we needed to do. We had to work with students in mechanical, electrical, material engineering and related disciplines. We also had to do a bit of publicity and source for sponsorship. We interviewed students of the faculties of engineering and sciences that would help with the task, and we found a few that were highly distinguished in their classes. It has been a very engaging experience for me.

Shade Agbaje, a 400 Level Mechanical Engineering student from UNILAG, is the main driver for AUTONOV 11 and also a member of the Mechanical Sub Team.

She told The Guardian: “We entered for the prototype category, using electric battery as our source of fuel. As an engineering student, innovation is my basic driver. My passion for joining this team was because I have always loved anything automobile, right from when I was small. That was my main drive for applying AUTONOV II, built by University of Lagos Engineering students, waiting to join the race at the 2014 Eco to study engineering in the first place. I found Marathon, held in the Netherlands engineering as a good discipline to build my Addressing the students at a reception she ing would be greater. passion and dream. I want to encourage more “Our students are wonderful. They are great. ladies to go into the engineering profession.” hosted, she said: “Your pioneering participation in this competition is not a coincidence, Shell gave them this opportunity and they The UNILAG Team supervisor and Professor but an outcome of hard work and the desire to were able to utilize it. They were motivated, of Engineering, Ike Mowete, said: “The significommitted and they discovered that they cance of this is that, we have moved from the excel as implanted in us.”

Mrs. Kolapo Jolayem of the National could do the things they never thought that usual pattern of staying on the drawing board, Petroleum Investment Management Services they could. This has inspired other students stimulating, without getting to the physical (NAPIMS), an arm of the Nigerian National and we are looking forward to a greater tech- hardware.

Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which co- nological future for Nigeria.”

“For most of these students, this is the first One of the participants, a 500 Level time they are converting their designs into sponsored the students, said: “This is the first time that Nigeria is coming for the competi- Production Engineering student at UNIBEN, proper hardware. We had to put together a tion, and we passed the technical evaluation at Adekoya Adeyemi said: “Even when we thought great team from the disciplines of creative art, one trial. I feel great and proud to be a all hope was lost, we kept on checking and architecture, electrical engineering, material reworking the car, based on the observations engineering, mechanical engineering, physics Nigerian.”

The UNIBEN team’s supervisor, Prof Akii of the assessors, who drilled us for one week and so on. We had very brilliant students. This Ibhadode, expressed surprise that the stu- before the competition. I remember the day we is the first time that they are moving from comdents’ car pulled through, against all the passed the weight test. We saw it as a miracle. puter prototypes to the actual things.

When we came for the breaks, we were told we odds.

“These are learning points for the nation. We He said: “It is wonderful. It is great. This is failed and we had to go and rework certain should not stop here. We will ensure elements the first time we are coming for this competi- aspects. Within a short time, we were able to of continuity from our end. We have already tion and we were able to pass the technical sort out all the identified technical problems. started recruiting students from the lower levinspection. Many teams do come. But this is God has been wonderful. We were also chal- els to make this part of their final year project, the first time that we are participating and we lenged by the high technology deplored by stu- so that they can start early.” didn’t know that we could come this far with dents from many advanced countries. We President of the Nigerian National thank God that we eventually scaled through. Association in the Netherlands, Oliver the 10 technical tests.

He continued: “The whole journey started Nwankwor, said: “The best thing that is hap“We are hoping to do better than this time in the 2015 competition. It took the students last year when we came for a see-it-yourself pening to Nigeria is the participation of our only seven months to produce the car. We had tour here in the Netherlands. We came to see youths in an innovative competition and their intended that this one that we did would be other competitors and study the competition. success at the event. Most of the causes of inseour first version. We were initially preparing We marvelled at what students like us were curity as cited by some of our Nigerian leaders for Qatar in November 2014. But somehow, we doing. We were challenged. are illiteracy, poverty and unemployment, to “Two of us came and we went back and did the extent that it may seem to someone who is were fast tracked to come and compete in Europe 2014. We had very little time to do the the team selection. We are 15 on the team that not from Nigeria, that there are no Nigerian second version of the car, so we had to settle built the cars. The key thing in the marathon is youths engaged in innovative activities. But for this first version. It gave us so many prob- the environment, apart from innovation. We Nigeria’s achievements at this year’s Ecolems. But thank God we were able to overcome are to use eco friendly materials. The weight is Marathon is showing the whole world that our the problems, especially concerning weight. also a key issue in the competition. We used youths can innovate, given the right enableWe hope to do much better in 2015. The finish- fibre material in building the body. ment.”

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Stakeholders fault NCC on InfraCo model - Page 36

Stakeholders fault Experts link ‘Big Data’ NCC on InfraCo era to digital technology model - Page 36 - Page 36

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

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Content, capacity critical to broadband revolution Marking this year’s World Telecommunications and Information Society Day (WTISD) in Nigeria, with focus on broadband for sustainable development, experts both in Lagos and Abuja identified content creation, capacity building as critical to Nigeria experiencing a revolution in broadband. This is even as the Federal Government promised to explore all frontiers in deepening penetration. ADEYEMI ADEPETUN reports eCHnOLOGyadoption is a catalyst not only for T growth among the country’s enterprises, but for the growth of the nigerian economy as a whole.

Many stakeholders, including the government, technology companies and enterprise leaders, recognise that roadblocks relating to infrastructure, technology and skilled labour must be eliminated to sustain the growth of the economy and create employment.

Today, across the globe, attention has greatly tilted towards technology, especially broadband in the quest for improved economy, job creation, and better health service delivery among others.

Indeed, a World Bank study revealed that in low and middle –income countries, every 10 per cent percentage point increase in broadband penetration accelerate economic growth by 1.38 percentage points.

Besides, a Mckinze Global Institute study had projected that nigeria and other african countries tend to gain about $300 billion by 2025 if it embraces Internet as it did mobile phones.

Though, the report noted that infrastructural gap, poverty and untapped population potential has held africa back from competiting favourably on the global space, but it stressed that digital content through the Internet can take the continent out of the doldrums. as such, majority of the experts, who gathered at the Lagos forum on WTIsd, put together by ajomedia and eWorld with the theme: “Broadband for sustainable development” submitted that nigeria’s quest for broadband revolution must be accelerated through content creation and capacity building. according to them, including the association of Telecommunications Companies of nigeria (aTCOn); nigeria Internet Group (nIG); nigeria Internet Registration agency (niRa); Paradigm Initiative of nigeria (PIn) among others, broadband infrastructure deployment is a critical element in ensuring that ICTs are used innovatively as delivery telecommunications vehicles for health, education, government, agriculture, trade and commerce in order to achieve sustainable socioeconomic growth thereby ensuring a better future for all.

In a statement to mark the day, the secretary General of the International Telecommunications

Union (ITU), dr. Hamadoun Toure said the right to communication is central to the information society; it is a key principle for equitable and universal access to information and knowledge that in turn empowers people to meet their aspirations and achieve their development goals.

Toure said ITU is committed to achieving universal access to broadband connectivity and to foster the political will needed to achieve this objective. according to the President of aTCOn, Lanre ajayi, the challenge posed by deploying broadband is not insomountable, stressing that there have been several road maps guiding the country towards this goal.

However, he said to move forward, nigeria must build capacity and create content, like other economies if it must achieve much in the drive.

While calling for the release of more spectrums and on time, the aTCOn president said, “the key thing is to intensify demand for Internet access, which should be content development. This creation lies much on the government. They should bring so many services online. More e-Government services are needed online.”

Like ajayi, President of niRa, Mrs. Mary Uduma said ICT, including broadband is highway to creating a knowledge city, fostering prosperity, stressing that content creation, capacity building are critical in accelerating Internet growth in the country. according to her, there is a highway (broadband), but where is the content? Uduma posited that there was need to develop content, which will boost our economy.

“Broadband will boost online pursuit in nigeria. The domain space (.ng) is yet to be scratched.

There is a link between content creation and online development”, she stated.

The niRa boss listed spectrum availability and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses as critical to broadband growth in the country. “If cost of spectrum can be brought down, it will aid growth, creates end-to-end services need for IPV6. We must create conetent and build capacities if our broadband target must be met.”

Indeed, it is now a known fact that digital development is a transformative tool to fast track sustainable development. To realize its full potential, it is essential to roll-out high speed broadband networks, making it affordable as well as universally accessible.

Making broadband, which is has about six per cent penetration in nigeria and Internet accessible, nIG president, Bayo Banjo urged government and the nCC to have a rethink, stressing that they must not create monopoly with their policies. according to him, while policies are formulated, there should be content and capacity to drive demand.

Banjo, who said right people are required to manage ICT facilities in the country, noted government should subsidize bandwidth by supporting operators for about five years,

encouraging the reduction of cost which would allow more entrepreneurs and more job creations.

He stressed that government and its agencies should not come out with policies and regulations that will tantamount to hindering the progress recorded in the sector.

To the Chief executive Officer, ajomedia, aaron Ukodie, while content and capacity development are critical to driving broadband, it is also important to increase the campaign around it. according to him, the Broadband Council and the nCC are currently involved in campaign and enactment of policies and strategies to drive the process of broadband development.

Ministry and nCC perspectives The Federal Government has said it would continue to work through the Ministry of Communication Technology and the nCC, towards focusing on measures to accelerate broadband coverage by formulating policies aimed at bridging the extant infrastructural deficit and driving increased broadband frontiers in the country. according to the minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, at the abuja forum of WTIsd, having identified infrastructural deficit in the ongoing implementation of the national Broadband Plan, the government had come to terms with the imperatives of having a strategic policy to improve broadband. according to her, this year’s theme of WITsd: ‘Broadband for sustainable development’ was apt in that it was in line with the current revolution being driven in nigeria, saying that broadband is the next frontier in the ICT industry which will help in transforming the economy drastically. she stated further that the broadband vision for nigeria was one of a society of connected communities with high speed Internet and broadband access that facilitate faster socio-economic advancement of the nation and its people.

Interestingly, the minister said the policy goal of the Federal Government of nigeria recognised the immense socio-economic importance of broadband services to national development and therefore seeks to ensure that the infrastructure necessary to provide ubiquitous broadband services is available and accessible to all citizens at affordable rates.

“The transformative benefits of having broadband available to all are clear and include improved learning, increased job creation, better community and civic engagement, improved trade and commerce, and a positive impact on

Gross domestic Product (GdP). according to her, “nigeria has an estimated population of over 167 million people and a land mass of 923,768 square kilometres. The telephone subscriber figure for nigeria as at the end of February 2013 was 116,601,637 active lines. The four active GsM operators have about 96 per cent market share while the three active CdMa operators have the rest. “also, the 2G mobile coverage is at 98 per cent but 3G coverage which is mostly concentrated in urban areas is very limited at less than 35 per cent.

Internet penetration is quoted at 33 per cent and Broadband penetration is at 6 per cent. Though the Internet was first introduced in nigeria in 1996, no appreciable uptake was recorded until the further opening of the market in 2001.” she, however, lamented that the slow uptake of Internet has been largely attributed to network infrastructure deficiency among other factors. “nigeria currently boasts of primary fibre optic backbone infrastructure presence in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with most fibre infrastructure concentrated in state capitals and a few urban centres. Of the 774 existing local government headquarters, very few that happen to be on the route of the primary fibre backbone are connected.”

The executive Vice Chairman of the nCC, dr. eugene Juwah, who was represented in Lagos by an assistant director, special Project in the commission, dr. Henry nkemadu, assured nigeria and foreign investors on the continuous determination of the commission to make nigeria a favourable investment destination for broadband, saying that the economic impact of broadband penetration has been found to be quite impressive. “notwithstanding the benefits that have been associated with broadband, in developing countries it has to be understood that broadband for all is a medium to long term strategy and the main beneficiaries, in the short term, of the broadband revolution will be businesses.

“Because broadband networks need to generate traffic to lower their costs and increase their profitability, and in light of the fact that broadband is an ecosystem in which users play a central role, stimulating demand is also critical by having the required type of contents and services online.”

Juwah, therefore, argued that the commission would ensure the adoption of a multi-dimensional approach to ensure that an all-encompassing framework is achieved towards the realisation of increased broadband penetration and accrue the benefits to the country that will arise as a result.

However, he said that with the development of the telecommunication industry in nigeria, few vertically integrated players now dominate the sector and have created infrastructures which are being leveraged on to compete in the provision of broadband services.

“These infrastructures are usually only available to new players in the broadband market at a premium as replication of the infrastructure is both capital intensive and has a long lead time for delivery. “This has led to unfavourable pricing of services in the market place which in-turn inhibits an increase in broadband penetration considering the per capita income of developing countries.”

INSIDE

Stakeholders fault NCC on InfraCo model - Page 36

‘Rebased GDP needs innovation to grow’ - Page 39

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Stakeholders fault NCC on InfraCo model

By Adeyemi Adepetun OME stakeholders in the Nigerian Shavetelecommunications industry expressed some discontentments about the model through which the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) planned to license infrastructure companies (InfraCos), which are expected to deepen broadband penetration in the country.

All things being equal, the NCC is expected to license seven companies that will be situated across the geo-political zones of the country and Lagos by December.

According to NCC, these seven companies will provide support in the deployment of critical Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructures in the six geopolitical zones of the country targeted at giving the country’s broadband drive a base.

Besides, the commission announced in February at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, plans to incentivize any willing investors, including InfraCos for broadband deployment.

NCC said the InfraCos would be licensed to provide metropolitan fibre and wholesale transmission services on a non-discriminatory and open access basis.

However, at the 2014 eWorld organised broadband forum with the title: “Broadband for Sustainable Development”, stakeholders including the Presidents of the Association Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and Nigeria Internet Group, Lanre Ajayi and Bayo Banjo respectively fumed at the rationale behind such a model alleged to have a mapolistic outlook.

According to Ajayi, instead of creating one InfraCo in a region, “there is nothing stopping the country from having two to three InfraCos in a geographical area. By doing this we

shall be eliminating any monopolistic tendencies.”

The ATCON president noted that the challenge of broadband penetration is not surmountable; stressing that Nigeria should follow road maps that could guarantee the future.

Ajayi, who advised on the judicious use of the available spectrum in the country, stressed that the key thing is to intensify demand for Internet access by creating the needed content, saying that the country should try as much as possible avoid things that can take it back to the era of Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), which is currently in the state of comatose.

Towing Ajayi’s line, Banjo said NCC’s InfraCo model would definitely create monopoly, which could drag the country back.

Banjo said with such model, the commission got it wrong. According

to him, all that government needed was to subsidize bandwidth by supporting operators for about five years, encouraging the reduction of cost which would allow more entrepreneurs and more job creations.

He stressed that government and its agencies should not come out with policies and regulations that will tantamount to hindering the progress recorded in the sector.

Banjo, who said despite the huge bandwidth facilities in the country, cost of Internet is still very much high, stressed that there should regional spectrum allocation.

According to him, the current spectrums allocation does not only discourage competition, but also reduces the pace of growth of Internet services in rural areas.

Moving forward, he said Nigeria needs the right people to manage

Dr. Eugene Juwah, EVC, NCC ICT facilities in the country.

A CEO of a leading Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the country, who

spoke to The Guardian on the condition of anonymity, also queried the InfraCo model, saying that such would definitely engender monopoly.

Though, he said he is not against InfraCos, but that present model, leaves much to be desired, stressing that such may not really yield the expected result.

“So, what happens to the likes of MTN, Airtel, Globacom and other Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who have invested millions of dollars in fibre build.

“My investors are already reviewing some of our future fibre rollout plans due to the uncertainties inherent in this InfraCo model. How can the whole of Lagos for instance have just one InfraCo? “That’s a monopoly, and you know the evils that come with it”, he stated.

ECOWAS Commission plans regional masterplan for postal sector From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja HE ECOWAS Commission is in the process of T conducting comprehensive studies to develop a regional master plan for the postal sector that would define sustainable programmes and projects and also develop a short and medium term financing plan including electronic Postal Services.

President of ECOWAS Commission, Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo who disclosed this at the West African Postal Conference (WAPCO) at the weekend in Abuja said the aim of ECOWAS is to promote cooperation and integration in order to raise the living standards of the people and maintain economic stability adding that no sector can contribute to this objective more than IT of which the postal sector is a key part.

Ouédraogo stated that the objectives of regional integration couldn’t be achieved without the region making tremendous progress in IT applications to modernise our economies in this digital

age. Deepening regional integration in Africa.

The President who was represented by the Director of IT, David Kamara, noted that postal services in West Africa are facing great challenges in terms of physical, financial and electronic infrastructure adding that the exchange of mails between the member countries is poor due to inadequate connections leading to late delivery and low volume of mails.

He pointed out that ECOWAS cannot modernise her economies in this digital age without the a judicious application and use of IT in postal services adding that most ECOWAS citizens in the rural areas lack access to sustainable postal and financial services. Made two vehicles available to WAPCO for accelerating the pace of their programmes but one of the vehicles was seized by one of the member states along Lagos- Abidjan corridor and called for the intervention of the member states to ensure that the vehicle is released and the driver freed.

Also speaking, Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson said by repositioning the Post for better performance and utilising postal outlets as avenues for social, financial and digital inclusion, governments in West Africa stand a better chance of achieving a more inclusive form of development.

She observed that the Nigerian Postal Administration has remained the sole financier and promoter of the West African Land Mail Route since it was launched in 2007. According to her, the route extends Westward from Lagos to Abidjan and northwards from Katsina to Marabi adding that the eastward link from Banki towards Cameroon is temporarily closed due to the state of insecurity in the region.

The minister stressed that the mail route needs to be extended beyond its current reach to connect other countries so as to guarantee a seamless postal logistics infrastructure.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014 i-Tech & Telecoms 37

Experts link ‘big Data’ era to digital technology

By Bankole Orimisan UIlDING business and consumer insights in a pervasive world of internal and external data was the central focus of the lecture delivered by olu akanmu , Senior Vice president/Divisional Head of Retail banking , FCMb at the Nigerian Marketing Research association (NiMRa) breakfast meeting held in lagos, recently. akanmu, while speaking on the theme “Finding business & Consumer Insights in a New Pervasive World of Internal & External Data” noted that we are living in a world where data has become far more pervasive than it had been previously and said the existence of such data makes the potential of the modern day marketing manager to succeed very high as well as possibility for him to be confused where data is all over the marketing function. at research agency level and the client, he said there’s need to make sense out of this pervasiveness of data to get consumer insight and not to be overwhelmed. according to him, if the marketing manager fails to organize his data effectively he might make blind decisions that have no bearing in understanding his business whereas the research agency must understand the client’s business and be ready to interpret data for actionable consumer insight that is linked to driving real business revenue. In organizing internal and external data for

b

insight, he advised that data must be interrogated to know whether such data adds value to the business. akanmu said in the past, traditional marketing research largely served the manufacturing sector where the consumer was largely external to the organization but with the recent rebasing of the GDP which now places the contribution of service sector such as telecommunication, consumer banking , media and entertainment , to the economy more than that of the manufacturing sector where the traditional marketing research had been situated, it behooves to also have to look at where you are coming from and consider if the tools at hand are good enough to

serve the emerging industries .

In his welcome address, lanre Fasakin, president, Nigerian Marketing Research association said it‘s insight generation that will make a difference in the way things are looked at in the research industry even as he emphatically said that the days of guess work are over.

“What we have is a situation where research the agency is indeed a trusted partner to the brand. We believe with this role, there has to be a platform where the brand and this vital tool will come together; which will help the industry appreciate some of the concerns that the brands have and help for better packaging.

Firms hold data centre seminar May 26 lobal InfoSwift, an indigeG nous Information & Communications Technology (ICT) firm, and TechXact Group of USa will on May 26 hold a Data Centre Seminar in lagos.

The seminar will have Mehdi Paryavi, president, DCa, TechXact Group, as guest of honour; Chidi Umeano, Deputy Director, Central bank of Nigeria, as guest speaker; brian Mcleary, commercial counsellor, US Embassy, as keynote speaker, while Solomon Edun, managing director, Global InfoSwift, is the chief host.

The training session starts from May 27 and ends May 30. according to Paryavi, the seminar is targeted at anyone financing, designing, planning,

managing, investing, making decision or involved in any way with data centres. “This event is aimed to help the stakeholders understand the complexities, create awareness of the best practices, the international norms, past, present and future of data centre and data management systems, latest trends, methodologies, technologies and approach”, he said.

He said the main challenge in data centres today is that issues are not being handled by the right people. “Unfortunately, the challenges today are mostly being addressed by vendors which are not the ideal pursuit for the Information Technology (IT) indus-

38 i-Tech & Telecoms Wednesday, May 21, 2014

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Experts hinge economic growth on Internet access

By Faith Oparaugo ITH ubiquitous Internet W access in the country, experts have said that the Nigerian economy will experience a rapid transformation.

Speaking at the 2014 Cyber Nigeria Forum tagged “The cyberspace Enterprise/Innovation, Security and opportunity” at the weekend, in Lagos.

The President and chief executive officer (CEO), Tribe Media Company, Dr. Bayero Agabi, said the Internet’s impact on global growth is rising rapidly and is a haven of economic activity, ranging from millions of daily online transactions to advertising,

communications and smartphone downloads.

He noted that the impact of Internet related businesses and innovations on Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and growth, drawing inference from global statistics, while also considering the most relevant tools governments and businesses could deploy to get the most benefit from the digital transformation.

The General Manager, Sales at Computer Warehouse Group, Dayo Abegunde said that the Internet creates a brand for the youth and the economy which help the

business interact not just locally but also internationally.

According to him, it is a bedrock step for an economy to access the opportunity the Internet platform offers because Nigeria is of the next value and the ecosystem.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Precise Financial Systems (PFS), Yele Okeremi added that the Internet technology platform makes a lot of things level up.

He urged that Nigeria needs to leverage all the possibility and opportunity the Internet offers.

According to him “our future is how to connect the youth generation on how to

Glo subscribers to be special guests at Wole Soyinka Prize presentation UBSCRIBERS of the national Swhotelecom carrier, Globacom, increase their airtime usage by 50 per cent between now and June 23, stand a chance to be honoured as special guests at the forthcoming presentation of Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature.

The award, being sponsored

by Globacom, is a biennial event staged to recognise the best literary work produced by an African. It was established by the Lumina Foundation in 2005 to promote literary excellence in Africa and has since become the African equivalent of the Nobel Prize.

Already, 10 African authors have been selected for the 2014 edition, which coincides with the 80th birthday of the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka. Presentation of

the prize is slated for July 5, in Lagos Speaking on preparations for the occasion, Globacom’s Group Chief Operating Officer, Mohamed Jameel said in a statement in Lagos that, “Professor Wole Soyinka is a symbol of professional excellence, and we are always happy to be part of this momentous event which celebrates literary excellence. To add spice to the occasion, any Glo subscriber who increases airtime usage by 50 percent by 23 June stands a chance to be invited as a Special Guest of Honour on that special night.”

Apart from this honour, he said such lucky subscribers will also be entitled to other special perks.

Already, the organisers of the award have released the names of the authors who

made the longlist from where a shortlist and the eventual winner will be announced.

They include Othuke Ominiaboha, Akin Bello, Soji Cole, Comfort Adesuwa Ero, Toyin Abiodun, Isaac Attah Ogezi, Moshood Oba, Mayowa Saja, Wumi Raji and Akin Adejumo.

The long list was made from a total of 163 entries submitted from 17 African countries in the genre of Drama, which is the focus of the 2014 edition.

The organisers announced that two entries each came in from authors in Algeria, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, South Africa, Tanzania and Rwanda. Three entries each came in from Angola and Namibia. One entry each came in from Cameroon, Liberia, Togo and Zambia, four from Kenya, five from Uganda, and 128 from Nigeria.

get job and be creative through technology.”

He noted that we are crippling the capability and opportunity if we don’t use the Internet platform.

He pointed out the foundation of the country is on this generation and if we don’t fix that we are going nowhere and holding back our possibility.

“It is possible to create an environment that allows the Internet to pave way for the economy and to also drive innovation in the eco-system and building a national capability”, he said.

Also speaking Chief Executive Officer, Teledom Group International, Emmanuel Ekuwem said that when the awareness is there that the Internet exist, its boost the market idea.

Weco Systems bags Cisco awards ECO Systems, a system inW tegrator in Nigeria has bagged Cisco awards for improved service delivery.

The awards, which are ‘Enterprise Partner of the Year 2014— Africa’ and ‘Enterprise Partner of the Year 2014—MEAR’, were presented to Weco at the recently held Cisco Global Partner Summit held in Las Vegas, United States.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Weco Systems Int’l Ltd, Obinna Ekwonwa, while presenting the award to newsmen, said the firm was the only Nigerian and sub-regional (West Africa) company that won awards this year at the 2014 Edition of the Cisco Global partner summit awards.

Ekwonwa said the Cisco awards are designed to recognize exemplary channel partners which demonstrate best-in-class business practices and serve as a model to the industry.

“Areas of consideration include

innovative practices, its engagement & application successes, problem-solving and sales approaches. Winners are selected by a group of Cisco Worldwide Channels and Regional executives.

“Over the past years, Weco has consistently achieved cross accreditation in all Cisco Advanced Technology Architectures and those investments have helped us to consistently deliver on our promise of being the systems integration company of choice. Our dedicated teams focus on helping our customers throughout the region to accelerate their businesses by leveraging Cisco solutions across a range of Networking, Collaboration, and Mobility and Data center technologies”, he stated.While dedicating the awards to Weco’s late CEO, Uchenna Obidike, Ekwonwa described as being a great source of inspiration to the firm, adding that the company remained committed to the delivery of improved services.

Samsung boosts printing with wireless technology AMSUNG Electronics, a Smedia global player in digital and convergence technologies, has unveiled assorted series of new smart wireless printers in Nigeria.

The Samsung wireless printers, which are designed to make smart phones work smarter has differentiating features which includes WI-FI direct printing and NFC printing capabilities making printing hassle free. The NFC technology enables user to tap and print directly to and from mobile devices (smart phones and tablets) WI-FI direct allows user to print directly from any smart device such as smart phones and tablets straight from their smart phones to the printer without a need to connect to

an access point.

The mobile options allows printing in various printing formats and different types of documents such as gallery images, office, PDF, web pages, mail, Google docs , Twitter and Facebook content. With the Samsung MobilePrint app users can scan documents directly from the multifunction models straight to their mobile phones, this free app also enable users to send pc fax from their smart devices.

Speaking at the launch, Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Brovo Kim, said “As costs in almost every sector continuously increases and managing maintenance expenses becomes more vital in emerging markets, we – as one of the leading A4 laser

printer manufacturers and an integrated solution provider – listened closely to the growing needs of users. With an overall TCO efficient solution that offers worry-free experiences from set-up to actual printing, the ML-2165W series best represents our goal of enriching the lives of our customers”.

Part of the features include the Google print option, which enables user to print directly from Google account with Google print, print emails, photos, PDF files and social media contents wirelessly from anywhere and anytime.

The entry level wireless mono laser printer ML- 2165W is suitable for cost conscious users to lower the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of printers.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, May 21, 2014 i-Tech & Telecoms 39

‘Rebased GDP needs innovation to grow’ ADEBAYO SANNI is the Managing Director, Oracle Nigeria. He has just spent about 10 months in the saddle. In this Interview with ADEYEMI ADEPETUN, he bares his mind on the need for Nigeria to sustain the current GDP status with innovation. He also gave advice on local software development. Excerpts How relevant is the Nigerian market to Oracle’s global vision?

S a matter of fact, from an Oracle perspective, we have looked at Nigeria as a key country from an emerging market perspective for several reasons. We have seen the evolution of what has happened from Nigeria over the last couple of years.

We have seen the evolution of the telecommunications sector. So from our own perspective, Nigeria is a key location for Oracle, and lots of investments that we are making now is a combination of Oracle recognising the fact that for us to truly be able to support Nigeria in its growth and sustain it recent GDP recognition, we also need to do lot from our own perspective.

We need to ensure that we as stakeholders in this project, become trusted IT adviser to government, build capacity and one of those is what we are doing with the Lagos State Government.

From the local point of view, Nigeria is an extremely important market to Oracle.

In the match towards a vibrant local software sector in Nigeria, what role is Oracle playing?

Software development is critical to any economy. From an Oracle point of view, we look at end-to-end from software perspective. If we are looking at applications, business intelligence, Oracle is there. When we are looking for software solution that addresses every segment of the market, we are there. We also recognized that we need to help local developers who are trying to grow.

What we are doing in that regards is to help and partner with Integrated Software Vendors (ISV).

What they basically look at is to leverage Oracle technology and develop their own local software and integrate it together to actually ensure they can provide the required solution that can equally becomes effective to the customer.

So from our own perspective, we are partnering with the ISVs to be able to promote local software. At the same time, there is a lot we are trying to do in terms of capacity building, where JAVA, which you know is a key part of Oracle. We are training a lot of young graduates to become specialists in it. We are also trying to promote an atmosphere that is encouraging the use of development of leveraging JAVA as a tool for the next level. So from our own perspective, this is among the lot that Oracle is doing.

What are the challenges you see bedeviling the local software sector and how can this be resolved?

Well, to the contrary, I think the local software sector is booming. The reason being that if you look at what has been going on in the country, the role that the different CSOs are playing and understanding the fact that for Nigeria to sustain the role as the biggest GDP nation, we need to ensure that we become very innovative. Innovation is critical to improving the GDP. I think the first thing to do is to adopt the use of software from the existing global organisations.

Though it probably comes with different areas in terms of what we are doing, big data analysis, it comes with cloud technology, social media. All of these are key components to the next thing we are doing.

But the key question we need to look at is that the data we have today, what are we doing with them? can we analyse them?. It is when we start building all of this together that we are going to be propelled for the next phase. So on one side, we need to work with the international players in terms of leveraging the software existing today. International players like Oracle works with a lots of partners to develop local software.

Indeed, we have had a number of amazing local software partners that we are working with. But to sustain that growth there has to be a lot of continuous collaboration with the International players. It is a journey which has already started.

But it is going to take us faster and to achieve that, it will hinge on our ability to analyse data very will and know exactly what the requirement are. This is a corroboration of so many things.

Firstly, we need to make sure that we continuously absorb the international software players, while we are looking at the social media, the big data analytics and at the same time leveraging that partnership, which we need to have.

It is going to take a bit of time to get to the promise land but steps are being taken and companies like Oracle are supporting this initiative.

What is Oracle trying to drive through it partnership with the Lagos State Government?

A

From an Oracle perspective, key focus for us is to ensure there is development. Oracle has been here for a while and we have made some major investments and with Oracle focusing on emerging countries, Nigeria is one of them. Oracle is also looking at the Mega cities. There are about 20 mega cities globally – Lagos is one, London, among others.

What this simply means is that Lagos as a mega city, Nigeria as a country with 70 per cent youth population and unemployed, Lagos government is looking at how it will enable capacity building on the number of youths and people in the state.

But the key thing is Oracle, based on its investment also realized the need to partner. There are three key stakeholders in terms of capacity building. These include; the government, the private sector and the technology partners like Oracle.

So, one of the things I came up with as soon as we came on board was on how Oracle will support Lagos State in terms of trying to achieve this capacity building initiative. And in one of such meetings with Governor Fashola, he made it clear that there was need to build capacity and as a result, we got committed into doing this.

Our focus was on three key areas. First, was to build capacity for the existing talent that we have; engage the C-level people and looking at how we can build the level in terms of understanding what they can do with data, in terms of understanding technology itself can be used to drive better governance, accountability and so one of such was having the C- level series where we trained the commissioners and permanent secretaries, Director Generals.

The second part of it was how do we look at the new talents that are coming on board. The young graduates that don’t have jobs currently, we are looking at how we can use technology to leverage that.

We have about 50 youths for training, and more will continue after these ones. We are to train them in core Oracle applications.

We also have some partners who also have volunteered to take some of them also for new trainings. We are also looking at curriculum development, where computer science studies would be made available for students, even before entering universities that is the bond that is bringing Oracle and Lagos state together, to see how we can leapfrog technology to develop the economy and build human capacity.

The partnership with Lagos State, is it a one off thing ?

There are three key stakeholders in this, government, private sector and the technology partners. Oracle belongs to the third part. As a key stakeholders, there is need to build a legacy that must last.

So the arrangement we have with Lagos State government is to ensure we continuously work with them in this capacity building exercise and this is a expected to go on. The training will also include those who do not have any single exposure to technology. So we are discussing data management, how do you capture your data?

We are discussing how to consolidate all the data with the different ministries by giving them examples of what has happened in other countries.

We are going to work with them in terms of analyzing those data to the advantage of the government and the people. For example knowing the number of vehicles that are on third mainland bridge between 3 pm and 5pm; 8 am and 9am in the morning and how to resolve some challenges posed by that.

The arrangement we have with the state with the C-level is about nine modules. And after we might have done this, we are going to sit with the government to evaluate how far we have gone on this.

It is a partnership that we need to build on. It has become a work in progress and as we see the level of progress made in terms of our C- level officials that leveraging technology is giving them ample opportunities of moving the state forward, then we move on.

Also, for the young graduate, the Lagos government has requested that the E-centre of the state under the ministry of Science and Technology actually become an Oracle Academy. For an institution to become an Oracle Academy, it means such is in partnership and becomes a certified learning centre, where there would be instructors and such becomes a continuous thing. The same thing we want to do in the Universities.

When Computer Science has been introduced into their curriculum, this becomes an expectation that is going to be on for a while.

So this is going to be a continuous thing. The fact is that we are putting in place a procedure, an agreement. It is about capacity building and not Governor Fashola. It is Lagos State capacity building. The E-centre has applied to be an Oracle Academy. We have structured it in a

way that we know that government comes and go, as it is with democracy. What we have done is to ensure that as far as we work with the state, collaboration continues. If Governor Fashola’s tenure ends and the new governor comes in, it will continue. It is a structured that we have put in place, which is not one-off, but continuous.

What we are saying here is that the state government is a key stakeholder in the project.

Capacity building in itself is a challenge in Nigeria, so there is new to understand that this is not about politics but enthroning a system that will improve the future. It is a consequential thinking, which all stakeholders in the project must adopt.

My expectation is that others will take up the initiative as well and build on what we are building currently. It is not about what we are going to get as Oracle, but that we impact positively on the citizens. If there is no capacity, there can’t be skills and if there is no skills, we can’t drive innovation, and if there is no innovation, that means we are going back to square one.

Aren’t you looking at other states like Abuja, Port Harcourt ?

There is a saying that the journey of a thousand steps start with one. Looking at where Oracle is coming from before now and what our mission is’ over the last 12 to 14 months, we have spent all of our time investing, which is the first thing anyway.

We have also been able to put in place strategic leadership. The next step is pushing ourselves to the centre to become a leading IT advisor to both private and public sector.

Also, we try to look at the partnership we should be having with government by making sure that they recognize what we are capable of doing. The next step is to see how to take success of Lagos state and extend it to other similar states and we have started work in that regards. We expect that what we have done in Lagos would surely spread to other states. It is one step at a time. Oracle has plans to be here for a while reason we are making investment in people, partnership and the government, most from the private sector point of view.

Is there any relationship between Oracle and the Ministry of Communications Technology?

Like I said earlier, we are having conversation with states and Federal levels in terms of identifying the gaps that are existing. We are in conversation with the ministry but no framework on any project yet. We have met and shares ideas with the minister.

The message is we don’t have a choice, we need to bridge the digital divide, bridge the skills gap.

All the stakeholders must be involved in this.

Oracle has been around for quite some time and is playing big in the ICT sector. How do you see the sector?

I think the ICT sector is truly moving to the next level. But we need to totally move away from IT just being a call centre to IT being the enabler.

We must understand that we are in a peculiar world and can only leapfrog into the 21st century with technology. There must be lot of companies and competitions to take the sector to the next level. So the core focus should be to drive innovation, which will be driven by technology. So what we are looking at in the evolution is a paradigm shift from IT of past when it was a call centre to a case where tech-

Sanni

nology becomes the enabler for the success of a lot of companies given them a lot of competitive advantage.

So from the Nigerian point of view and specifically, ICT has grown to a whole new level and very few companies are yet to adopt technology as a key driver for them.

But there are challenges. So once we have the opportunities where lots of people understand IT as a key driver, then we must resolve the challenge. There is need to understand what is really going to take us to the next level from the technology point of view.

Today, ICT is exploding seriously, but it must be a tool that will help us to drive innovation, which will bring the best out of our companies.

So from my perspective, I believe ICT will remain a resolution which will be based on the limit to which our skills allow us.

How do we define Big Data and leverage it for development?

The whole idea is about us ensuring we have data in everything we do.

We have had lots of data in the past years, but the fact remains that we need ability to be able to consistently take data, consolidate it, analyse from an intelligent perspective to be able to take informed decisions about the next level of things which is truly the whole idea around big data and is very key in the whole idea of ICT development and our ability to intelligently gather data and analyse it for economic decision and development.

With Oracle being an advocate of cloud solution, how is the Nigerian market embracing this technology?

The reality of this is when you look at Cloud and the role of the CFOs, CIOs and other C-level officials, giving especially in a location like Nigeria or Africa where we don’t have the issue of Legacy systems, it means that our adoption of technology can be faster and for the future where everyone is trying to take down the cost, everyone becomes a priority to the CIOs, CFOs because they want to drive references where you want to focus on innovation. And whether we like it or not, cloud has come to stay. But it also comes with its challenges such as what will happen to my data, where is your server located; how much can I trust the process. These are the questions being asked by the CIOs, CFOs. However, we have understanding that on one side we don’t have a choice in terms of cloud and on another, we don’t have a choice because there are challenges we need to over come. But the fact remains that the future is the cloud and people are moving towards it. Looking at the penetration in Africa, it is pretty high and in Nigeria, it is growing, but not the level where we should be, this is because lots of C-level people are taken conscious steps. The thing is that Cloud is the future and companies like Oracle, its partners and competitions understand this and they are taking conscious steps towards enthroning it fully and ensure that there is a level of trust.

40 i-Tech & Telecoms Wednesday, May 21, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Enugu set for NCS seminar NUGU State governor, SulE livan Chime has promised the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) an exciting stay in Enugu during her forth coming 2014 yearly conference and AGM. This promise was made when he received President of NCS, Prof David Adewumi, who led a delegation to pay a courtesy call of the governor and intimate him of plan by the society to meet from July 23 to 25, in the state.

“Enugu is a very peaceful state and we have very good facilities which will adequately take care of your over 1,000 local and international delegates coming for the conference”, said Governor Chime.

Prof. Adewumi informed the

governor that Enugu was chosen as the 2014 host because of the great strides the state is making in the use of technology to drive public service delivery.

“We are aware that Enugu State has decided to make the public service technology-driven and has embarked on the training of all civil servants in other for them to have basic computer skills. This indeed will ensure better governance and transparency.” Adewumi said.

He further made the governor know that the state activities are in line with the conference theme.

Building a KnowledgeBased Economy in Nigeria: The Role of Information Technology”.

Vodacom Business Nigeria wins awards Training Manager, Samsung Engineering Academy, Dickinson Odikayor (left); Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Brovo Kim; and one of the graduands, Ogundipe Oluwaseun Bolanle at the 2014 Samsung Engineering Academy graduation in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO; SUNDAY AKINLOLU

NIMC opens new 200 enrolment centres HE National Identity ManT agement Commission (NIMC) has established over 200 new Enrolment Centres across the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

It has also commenced enrolment exercises for the National Identification Number (NIN) in these Enrolment Centres in the last 10 weeks; the Director of Operations, Mrs. Cecilia Yahaya has disclosed.

According to the Director, the NIMC is committed to ensuring that the deployment of all enrolment infrastructures based on global best practices is done expeditiously to enable NIMC meet the Presidential directive of December 31, 2014.

Yahaya said some of the En-

rolment Centres are located in the following Local Government Areas: Alimosho, EtiOsa, Lekki, Agege, Army Barracks Ojo, Ipaja in Lagos state. Others are Akpabuyo, Odukpani, Biase, Ogoja, etc., in Cross River State; Gerei, Minchika, Song and Mayobelwa in Adamawa State; Nnewi North, Onisha North and South, Anoacha, and Ogbaru in Anambra State.

Other Centres are Kano Municipal, Madoni, Kura, Wudil, Gezawa Tarauni, in Kano State; Alkaleri, Dass, Toro, Katagun in Bauchi; Ivo, Ishilu, Izzi in Ebonyi State and others.

Yahaya added that a number of Enrolment Centres have also been opened in more Tertiary Institutions nationwide; they include University

of Ilorin, IBB University Lapai, FUTMinna Permanent and Temporary Campus, University of Benin, University of Calabar, Maritime Academy, Covenant University, Crawford University, University of Kastina, Kaduna Polytechnic, Federal Polytechnic Birnin Kebbi, Federal polytechnic Ibadan, Ladoke University of Tech, ABU Zaria.

She called on all eligible applicants to visit the NIMC website, www.nimc.gov.ng to see the full list of Enrolment Centres closest to them.

The Director of Operations further explained that the deployment of these Enrolment Centres is to facilitate, as well as fast-track the enrolment of all Nigerians wherever they may reside; “with the deployment of these new enrolment

centres, we now have close to four hundred Enrolment Centres nationwide; while about 50 others will be deployed in the next one month. These would no doubt fast-track enrolment,” she said.

“We have a target, we have expectations and we are moving at the fastest pace possible to enable us enrol as many eligible applicants as possible, subject to a very tight budgetary constraint of course,” she added.

Yahaya noted that the Commission has captured the data of close to three million Nigerians, and hinted that the newly deployed Enrolment Centres will see aggressive attempts to grow the number of enrolments from 60,000 a day, to 100,000 a day.

IDC lowers global IT spending forecasts on emerging markets, mobile device slowdown ORLDWIDE IT spending W is predicted to increase by 4.1 per cent in constant currency this year down from International Data Corporation (IDC), previous forecast of 4.6 per cent and also down from last year’s growth of 4.5 per cent.

According to IDC, IT spending has been volatile since the beginning of the year, with macroeconomic wild cards including the crisis in Ukraine and the slowdown in China adding to the general sense of uncertainty, which continues to impact business confidence and investment. Pentup demand should, however, drive a more positive capital spending

cycle in the second half of this year. In mature economies, organizations will take advantage of a more stable business climate to replace aging infrastructure including servers, storage, and network equipment. In some emerging markets, stabilization of the economy after the slowdown that began in mid-2013 could drive a period of catchup spending, especially in China where IT spending has cooled significantly over the past 12 months.

Aside from macroeconomic wild cards, the other weak spot in the IT market since the previous quarter has been slowing growth in mobile devices (smartphones and tablets), due partly to price erosion and a more mature installed base. IDC has lowered its forecast for

total IT spending growth this year from 4.6 per cent to 4.1 per cent in constant currency, primarily as a result of downward revisions to mobile device forecasts.

Based on average exchange rates from Q1 2014, this will translate into US dollar growth of just 3.4 per cent as currency volatility continues to negatively impact US-based IT vendors. In 2013, the IT market increased by 4.5 per cent in constant currency but just 2.5 per cent in US dollars. Excluding mobile phones,

growth in 2014 will accelerate slightly from 2.9 per cent to 3.1 per cent (constant currency) due to the expected pickup in infrastructure investment and the related downstream effect on IT services revenues.

“As smartphone growth continues to cool from the phenomenal expansion of the past few years, tablet shipments have performed weaker than expected over the past couple of quarters,” said Stephen Minton, Vice President in IDC’s Global Technology & Industry Research Organization (GTIRO).

ODACOM Business NigeV ria’s contribution to connecting and enabling enterprise businesses in Nigeria was recognized at the Beacon of ICT (BoICT) awards ceremony held recently in Lagos.

Vodacom emerged winners in Enterprise Solutions Provider of the Year and the Cloud Service Provider of the Year categories.

The BoICT Awards is an annual ceremony, which recognizes stakeholders, contributions and commitments to the growth of the Nigerian ICT industry. This year over 250, 307 Nigerians voted in different categories with Vodacom Business Nigeria emerging as the clear winner of the Enterprise Solutions Provider of the Year category for the second year running.

In addition Vodacom emerged as the winner of the Cloud Service Provider of the

year.

Vodacom Business’ core infrastructure connects over 580 million people across more than 40 African countries and includes over 50 satellite transponders, 24 dedicated teleports and access to multiple sub-sea cable landing ports.

Responding to the award, Managing Director of Vodacom Business Nigeria, Guy Clarke said “we are honored to receive this award, as a customer centric organization, we are passionate about our customers’ business and we will continue to support them with enterprise-class Communications solutions to help them grow their businesses.

What makes this award special to us is that we are receiving recognition not only from the Telecoms industry but from businesses that have come to realize the benefits of using our solutions.

Fake antivirus troubles mobile App Store

By Bankole Orimisan

AKE antivirus programmes Fchallenges have becoming a major on mobile app

stores more especially on window phone,. Kaspersky Lab recently noted that two such programmes imitating the company’s products in two different official app stores for mobile devices.

The first fake app was discovered in Windows Phone Store.

This was unusual because scammers tend to target users of Android – via Google Play – due to the platform’s popularity.

The app in question went by the name of Kaspersky Mobile.

The fact that there is no such programme in Kaspersky Lab’s product line suggests the fraudsters didn’t expect anyone to notice the discrepancy.

Another interesting feature of this particular app was the

fact that users had to pay for it.

This meant its creators immediately started making money without having to devise additional scams such as demanding payments to remove “malware” that had supposedly been detected on users’ computers.

The second fake app imitating the Kaspersky Lab brand was for sale on Google Play and was called Kaspersky AntiVirus 2014. Again, there is no Kaspersky Lab product for mobile devices by that name. The screenshot used on the page of the fake app was simply copied from the official Kaspersky Internet Security for Android page. Unlike the app for sale in Windows Phone Store, the creators of this fake app didn’t even bother to add a simulation of a scanner – the functionality was limited to random series of statements appearing on top of an “official” logo.

Konica Minolta introduces new digital printers in Nigeria ONICA Minolta, manufacThe C7800 has a high-speed environments, as well as ment at the launch of the maK turers of Digital printers, wide format print output of across a broad range of in- chines. has announced the introduc“We are happy to introduce tion of two new models of Digital printing machines into the Nigerian market.

They are the KIP C7800 and the Bizhub C1070.

The KIP C7800 is a wide format colour printer designed for everything from architectural, engineering and construction plans to maps, posters and signs. It has speed, accuracy, scan and copy functions, in addition to fully integrated stacking and folding capabilities.

4,200 sq. ft. per hour in Black & White, and 3,600 sq. ft. per hour in Colour. It is equipped with a unique LED printing design, with four LED imaging heads for outstanding 600 x 2,400 dpi resolution.

Its integrated KIP scanner provides pixel-perfect copy and scan with true 600 x 600 dpi optical resolution.

The Biz hub PRESS C1070, on the other hand, is a new generation colour digital printing machine that is ideal for production and commercial

dustries including healthcare, legal and education.

It comes with the Konica Minolta advanced paper handling technology for smooth, problem-free runs, and is designed to handle complex print specifications without compromising speed or quality.

Managing Director of Skysat Technologies, Izzat Debs, who are the exclusive distributors for Konica Minolta printing machines in Nigeria and West Africa, expressed excite-

yet another set of new generation Konica Minolta machines into the vibrant Nigerian market. As you know, Konica Minolta is not just the market leader in terms of market size, but also in technological innovation.

Buyers of these machines can be rest assured of the Konica Minolta seal of quality which delivers stress-free digital printing solutions through the application of cuttingedge technology.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Maritime Facilitating 48 hours cargo clearance at seaports

By Moses Ebosele NE of the challenges confronting stakeO holders in the maritime sector is the alleged slow, expensive and excruciating

process of clearing cargoes at the seaport terminals.

The scenario seems to have defied all measures put in place by the Federal Government.

Indeed, various reasons have been given for the continued pain Importers and exporters are subjected to at the terminals.

Speaking at a stakeholders forum on the possibility of clearing cargoes within 48 hours recently, representatives of various groups who met in Lagos identified lingering poor infrastructures such as rail and road networks, multiple agencies and excesses of government officials as major obstacles.

Besides, many stakeholders, especially importers, who, naturally have been following events in the industry are worried that despite repeated assurances from the Federal Government to facilitate clearance of goods within 48 hours, the challenges associated with the process has continued unabated.

In a message sent to the forum, the Minister Transport, Idris Umar said studies have shown that 24-hours time frame for the clearance of cargo is achievable and is “being achieved in many ports worldwide, including some ports in emerging economies like ours”.

Representative of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) on the board of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, John Aluya, who spoke at the event urged the Nigerian Customs Service to put measures in place to facilitate trade and generate more revenue in the process.

The General Manager, Western Ports of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Adenike Shonaike, explained that there is need to address the documentation procedures at the port as part of measures to attain 48 hours clearance of goods.

Also speaking at the event, former Chairman of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) Tony Nwabunike said Nigeria as a country needs to do more to attain 48 hours cargo clearance at ports.

He identified some of the challenges as poor road networks and problems associated with documentations.

National President, National Council of

Umar

“The efficiency of a port hinges on best practices that promote quick vessels turn around, prompt cargo discharge at the terminal, prompt delivery of goods to door-to-door service consignee; multimodal service among others “The 48 hour target for the clearance of goods in our ports was a benchmark established by government years ago to bring the nation at par with other emerging economies.

Managing Directors of License Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) Lucky Amiwero, who spoke in a similar vein also made reference to the poor state of the access roads.

But, the minister in his report to the forum reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to the 48 hours clearance target “with the objective of decongesting our ports, bringing down costs, attracting greater patronage and ultimately accelerating the facilitation of the nation’s international trade”.

Umar added: “Since the institutionalization of this laudable policy, however, there have been complaints from port users about the inability of port operatives, specifically government regulatory agencies to actualize the policy.

“This has led to the assumption that this target has become a mirage for the Nigerian economy. We however strongly believe that the 48 hours cargo clearance target is achievable in Nigerian ports”.

The Chairman of the board of NSC, Lt Gen Salihu Ibrahim while welcoming participants explained that the port is an important component of the international logistics chain, adding that its performance to a very extent, determines the competitiveness of a nation on the international market.

He said: “We all have a huge stake in whether our port become efficient or not.

For an emerging economy like Nigeria’s, the 48 hour clearance time at the port should be the minimum and not an aspiration”.

He added: “We have had the opportunity to visit some ports in Malaysia and other parts of the world and we see what obtains there.

They are emerging economies like us and we were at par in the 1960s. why then have we not been able to move forward and be at par with them in this 21st Century?

“This forum should be more about soul searching and reflection on the part of all of us stakeholders and actors in the port industry as to where we are taking this industry

and what legacy we are leaving for posterity”, Ibrahim added.

In his presentation, the Executive Secretary of NSC, Hassan Bello, said the importance of a port to a nation’s economy cannot be overemphasized.

He said, “Ports are the gateways for a nation’s exports and imports and a vital link in the global transport logistics supply chain.

“However, this important facilitator of trade can often be bugged down by red tape and physical limitations.

“The efficiency of a port hinges on best practices that promote quick vessels turn around, prompt cargo discharge at the terminal, prompt delivery of goods to door-todoor service consignee; multimodal service among others “The 48 hour target for the clearance of goods in our ports was a benchmark established by government years ago to bring the nation at par with other emerging economies.

“Today, most of these nations have surpassed this mark by instilling incredible efficiency in their port operation.

“For instance, in many ports in South East Asia and even some neighbouring ports in West Africa, goods can be cleared within six hours or even less. It is unfortunate that here in Nigeria, the 48 Hour mark appears to have become a mirage.

“Factors that militate against the attainment of the 48 hour clearance of cargo can be summarized under cumbersome documentation procedures and unnecessarily long inspection processes.

“We all know about these challenges but what concreted steps should we the stakeholders take to address them? This is the reason we are gathered here today.

“Delay in clearance of goods at our ports hinders efficient transportation of our internationally traded goods thereby depriving us of the opportunity to fully participate in the

Ibrahim

Bello

global economy.

“According to the experts, each additional day of delay in the international trade logistics procedures trade by is reduced by at least one per cent “Cargo clearance in our ports has numerous challenges which can be trade to the activities of the various stakeholders in the port industry.

“In other words, everybody’s activities impact on the inability to achieve the 48 hour clearance target in one way or the other whether we are shipping companies/ Agencies, ports/Terminal Operators, Regulatory Agencies, Freight Forwarders, other Ancillary services providers, Shippers, and even the Government through polices.

“It has been alleged over and over again that Nigerian ports rank among the costliest for doing business all over the world due to factors that are more human than any others.

“There is therefore the need for cooperation among all stakeholders for the achievement of the much desired efficiency in port operations in Nigeria. “Increased efficiency in the services rendered by service providers in our ports will go a long way in promoting our international trade and helping to develop and transform the nation’s economy.

“The desire of government to sanitize our ports and develop them into hubs for the West and Central African sub-region can only be achieved when the ports become efficient and competitive.

“Many countries in the world have developed their ports to become a money spinning sector of their economies, bringing huge revenues to their national coffers as a result of efficiency.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria appreciates the enormous potential of our port to be catalysts for the socio-economic development of the nation. Hence the series of reforms embarked upon by the President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR) to ensure the transformation of the industry to bring it to global standards.

“One of the major steps taken in this direction is the recent appointment of the Nigerian Shipper’s Council (NSC) as the Economic Regulator of Nigerian ports”, Bello added.

Umar assures participants that President Goodluck Jonathan is eagerly awaiting the report of forum as “he is determined that our ports be transformed to operate at global standards with a view to making them properly drive the nation’s economic development”.

Dikko

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Jonathan approves N2b maritime institute for Rivers From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has approved N2billion maritime training institute in Obuama community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, for the training of ex-militants and other Nigerians.

The institute, which is expected to metamorphose into a Maritime University when completed, will mark the end of training of ex-militants in maritime related studies in South Africa and the Barbados.

The presidential adviser on the Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku disclosed this recently when he visited the Obu-Ama community to assess the site of the proposed maritime training institute which will commence operation within the next one year.

P

Accompanied by the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Asari Dokubo, Kuku explained that the presidential amnesty office has already defended the project before the National Assembly during deliberations on the 2014 appropriation budget.

He explained that the presidency decided to site the project in Obu-Ama as part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda and the need to bring development to the coastal communities.

Kuku said the construction of the maritime institute, which will admit some 500 ex-militants, is going to cost about N2billion.

He said the project would include hostel facilities and staff quarters for teachers.

Jonathan Kuku expressed optimism that the institute when completed will drive business activities, employment and empowerment in the community and its environ.

He said: “The project we are going to site here is called Maritime Training Institute. This project when completed is going to accommodate 500 students at a time. We are also

going to have hostels that will accommodate 500 people and there will be staff quarters for those who are going to be lecturers there. Some of them are going to be your sons and daughters. We are going to train them to come and train the people in that school. We are going to send five of your sons outside this country to be trained as trainers in maritime studies. I foresee a situation where this institute will become a university or tertiary institution in time to come. We need to go to this native communities that are demanding development and one of such is this old community that was founded in 1882 by the late Tom Harry. Mr. president will be happy with what we are doing here today.”

Kuku explained that the

institute location in ObuAma was also in honour of Asari Dokubo who he described as one of those who brought the issue of underdevelopment and poverty in the Niger Delta to the fore of national and global discourse.

Asari Dokubo on his part commended the presidency for the institute, which he observed, will transform the community into a university town soon.

“This honour is not done to me, it is done for the community and everyone of us.

This institution will metamorphose into university.

Obu-Ama is going to be a university town very soon.

Kingsley has trained two pilots from this community. They are going to be trained in the best maritime institutes in the world,” he added

NIMASA intercepts 244 vessels in two years

By Moses Ebosele HE Nigerian Maritime T Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) intercepted not less than 244 vessels in the last two years over their alleged involvement in Piracy, illegal bunkering and other criminal activities along Nigerian waterways.

Speaking recently during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU) and NIMASA Dockyard/Shipyard facility at Gbaeramatu Kingdom, Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State, Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi said security breaches have been curtailed.

He explained that NIMASA’s collaboration with the Navy and other security agencies contributed in maintaining peace along Nigerian Waters.

According to Akpobolokemi, the collaboration with the Navy and other security agencies has reduced drastically security breaches and other criminal activities.

He said: “The last two years of our acquiring operational and enforcement capability has led to the arrest of over 244 vessels.

Their offences range from piracy and sea robbery, economic sabotage, and illicit activities to non-compliance with regulatory regimes and evasion of statutory levy payment.

Our activities in the area of Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) have got a significant boost through our improved enforcement capability.”

Akpobolokemi added: “NIMASA as a maritime administrator (MARAD) with coastal, flag and port state responsibilities is now able to physically patrol, monitor, enforce and where necessary interdict suspects and vessels that breach our maritime laws no matter where they

are located in our waters.”

The NIMASA boss pledged the commitment of the Agency to ensure that it establishes and maintains its physical presence in all remote areas of Nigeria’s maritime domain, adding that all programmes and activities of the agency are geared towards improving Nigeria’s fortune in the maritime sector.

He also expressed the desire of the agency to have a par-

tial autonomy so that it can be exempted from remitting its unspent funds into the federation account for the next five years.

According to Akpobolokemi, the demand is intended to further empower the agency financially and enable it commit all its accruable resources to the projects.

He explained that the proposal has been submitted to the President, pointing

out that the agency was awaiting his approval.

He said: “We call for our exclusion for at least five years because of the capital intensive nature of the project. After all, the projects are for Nigerians, they are Federal Government projects and when you see that some sectors go back to the presidency for incentive, bail out, and so on, then you know we are also qualified, considering what we

are doing for our people and for the government of Nigeria”.

Explaining further, he said: “Some other agencies go to the Federal Government to ask for money or even to ask for bail out, but we don’t do that, we are talking about what we are contributing within some period because cumulatively all this project may go up to a billion dollars and you can imagine how expensive it is

and that is why we are asking for it.”

The NIMASA boss who spoke on sundry issues said statutorily, part of the agency’s revenue is transferred to the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) as part of its contribution to the growth of the institution, adding that the Agency is training not less than 2,500 Nigerians abroad.

NIWA extends awareness campaign, task boats operators on safety

By Moses Ebosele NLINE with its ongoing Inationwide, awareness campaign National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) recently donated life Jackets to boat operators in Lagos State metropolis.

The management of NIWA had paid similar visit to Malale and Nupeko in Niger State, and Igbakoda in Ondo State.

Addressing the operators and other stakeholders in Lagos, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NIWA, Hajia Inna Maryam Ciroma advised passengers, operators and other stakeholders to be safety conscious by adhering to NIWA’s established rules and regulations.

Accompanied by senior management staff including Lagos Area Manager, Mu’azu

Sambo, Hajia Ciroma said: “ Our message to both operators and passengers using boats and canoes in Lagos is simple. Please always put on life jackets before boarding a boat, canoe or ferry. Boat operators should avoid carrying excess passengers. Any locally made boat above ten years must be replaced. Only trained and certified captains should operate ferries and boats”.

Hajia Ciroma warned against using the waterways after 6 pm, adding that several accidents in Lagos were recorded after 6 pm.

The NIWA boss also used the opportunity to caution stakeholders against the consumption of alcohol and over speeding, adding that all ferries, boats and canoes must be registered with NIWA Area Office in Lagos to operate legally.

In his speech, the President of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transport of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), Ganiyu Balogun, said life jackets are vital for safe water way usage.

Pledging the loyalty of members of the association, Balogun appealed to the NIWA boss to hold the awareness campaign on a regular basis.

Taiwanese group takes delivery of eco-friendly box ship AIWAN’s Evergreen Group vice by 3.6 per cent in 2014. In addition, TEU Ever Lucent, the fourth of its T chairman Raymond Lin has Clarksons expects global box trade thirty L-type vessels on order since expressed optimism about the to increase by six per cent this year. 2010 from the CSBC Corporation world economic outlook pointing out that the company has embarked on a fleet renewal programme.

Lin made the remark recently while officiating at the naming ceremony at China Shipbuilding Company’s Kaohsiung shipyard for Ever Lissome, the fifth of its Ltype vessels to be built by CSBC Corporation in Taiwan.

The official rope-cutting of the new 8,508 TEU vessel was performed by Aphinya Changariyavong, the wife of Evergreen Shipping Agency (Thailand) chairman Nivat Changariyavong.

“Global economic outlook is gradually improving,” said Mr Lin, adding, “according to IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook, the world output is expected to grow

“In view of this growth momentum, Evergreen Line has been conducting a fleet renewal programme not only to better serve the expected trade recovery, but to safeguard the marine environment with eco-friendly ships.”

Owned by Evergreen Marine (UK) Ltd, the Ever Lissome is 334.8 metres in length, 45.8 metres wide, with 948 reefer plugs. The L-class containership is fitted with alternative marine power, ballast water treatment system, electronic-controlled fuel injection engine that supports slow steaming and many more eco-friendly designs.

After her delivery on May 15, the new vessel will join Evergreen Line’s Asia-US east coast (via Suez) route, replacing an older vessel.

The company had recently held a naming ceremony for the 8,500-

to be delivered.

The ceremony took place at the Kaohsiung shipyard and was officiated by chairwoman of Evergreen Marine (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Molly Mok. The official rope-cutting of the new building that is equipped with 948 reefer plugs was performed by the chairman of Evergreen Shipping Agency (Singapore) Patrick Ang’s wife Pan-Tin Lim. “According to forecasts by many economic research institutes, the global outlook is gradually improving. In view of this growth momentum, Evergreen Line has been conducting a fleet renewal programme to better serve the expected recovery in trade,” said Ms Mok in her speech at the ceremony.

The new building is due to begin service on March 11 and, in line with the majority of other new ships of this size and above, she is joining the Asia-Europe trade route.

Evergreen Line commenced its fleet renewal programme in 2010 “at a time when shipbuilding costs reached cost-effective levels,” a company statement said.

Thirty L-type vessels were ordered, plus five 8,800 TEU units and ten 13,800 TEU ships were chartered. Furthermore, “in order to meet the tonnage demand of alliance commitments,” the shipping line also signed charter agreements for ten 14,000 TEU vessels.

“The delivery of these new buildings, scheduled between now and 2017, will be balanced by the redelivery of ships currently on charter when these agreements expire,” the company added.

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Industry Transforming Nigeria-ECOWAS commercial relationship through regional trade With bilateral ties among West African states America stagnating at less than 20 per cent compared with over 60 per cent with Europe and America, there is no doubt that Nigeria’s trade with the other countries that belong to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) remains poor—as do aggregate trade flows among all the ECOWAS member states. Although the challenges to harnessing opportunities in the export market abound, a critical perspective remains the need to empower exporters on how to surmount these problems.

FEMI ADEKOYA explores issues mitigating non-oil export within the African subregion and how stakeholders seek to address them.

OR the umpteenth time, real sector stakeFtrade holders have emphasized that increased between African countries holds promise for shared growth and development in the region. However, before African countries can fully exploit the benefits associated with increased trade with each other, they must first address the barriers to the movement of goods and people within their countries.

With trade within sub-regions still landlocked, given that so much of what crosses the internal borders is either on its way to or from other continents, it has become a necessity to address poor infrastructure networks by harAwolowo nessing viable alternatives.

Aganga Top on the list of hindrances to growth of subregional bilateral ties is poor infrastructure among member states of the Economic ernment and non-governmental institutions and inadequate knowledge of requirements by Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for designing, implementing and monitoring have been identified as key barriers to region- regional trade facilitation and integration poliexporters on needs of destination markets. cies, plans and guidelines; poorly The continent’s multiple trade agreements are al trade within the region.

Stakeholders added that the prospect for developed/shallow financial markets and another hindrance. For instance, Africa has 14 different trading blocs with overlapping mem- significant trade between Nigeria and other absence of cross-border financial instruments bers. Most countries belong to at least two countries in the ECOWAS zone is constrained for trade finance among others.

Another logistics expert, Kola Awe emphablocs. Many belong to three. Yet traders find a by parallel or non-complementary producsised the need for exporters to learn the art and way around such barriers, as many informal tion structures across member countries.

According to the stakeholders, there is a intricacies of exporting rather than outsourctrades are not properly recorded. Many other goods move across borders but elude the cus- need for a coordinated and harmonised ing it to non-professionals, as well as the toms inspectors who record official trade implementation of ECOWAS protocols on the imperative of understanding the demands of free movement of goods and people across destination markets and standard procedures flows.

In West Africa, imports are shipped into Benin the region in enhancing bilateral trade in such environments.

Stakeholders chart path to deepen regional and Togo and spirited across borders to con- between Nigeria and other regions. trade Executive Director, NEPC, Olusegun sumers in neighbouring Ghana and Nigeria.

According to Awolowo, enhancing regional Such networks mean there is more trade going Awolowo explained that there is still a wide on within Africa than is acknowledged. But it is gap between exporters and relevant informa- trade would require intensified capacity buildtion, skills needed to do business in the glob- ing efforts for exporters and efficient transnot as nearly as much as it could be. portation system to affect and facilitate susThis further explains why inter-border trade in al competitive market.

West Africa remains painfully slow, inconsis- Awolowo during a one day capacity building tainable trade flow for stronger economic workshop organized by NEPC stated that the growth and profitability. tent and expensive.

He said: “NEPC has realised the need for a critAt the root of these are a slew of tariff and non- workshop is part of its continuous effort to tariff barriers (NTBs). Companies, instead, educate exporters and empowering them ical exercise on increasing the volume of trade invest in select localised West African markets with the necessary skills to make them fit to through drastic reduction of widening inforcompete in the ever growing dynamic non- mal trade. There is the need to encourage partrather than the region as a whole. ners like ECOWAS Commission and other agenThe last half a decade has been quite eventful oil export market According to him, with the latest develop- cies to consider development of infrastructure, with many economies slipping into and moving out of financial crisis. With many devel- ment on the Economic Partnership regional value chains, the effect of corruption oped economies contracting due to lingering Agreement (EPA), exporters must be ready to and the value of regional integration when global financial crisis, Africa offers new mar- adopt the EPA in order to enjoy the benefits of identifying priorities for stimulating intraAfrican trade. kets for expansion, especially with its growing the scheme.

On his part, representative of AML Global “Knowledge is power because before now, parpopulation of youthful consumers.

Industry watchers however believe this popu- Trade Limited, Aliyu Lawal, identified key ticipants do not know they can export to lation holds a great potential for the continent challenges to penetrating the export markets Ghana, they need to know the product they in serving as a powerful engine for growth, to include language barrier, weak technical have comparative advantage of and how they employment and intra-African trade, especially and managerial capacity in key regional gov- can go about doing their businesses in the at a time when other markets are contracting.

In West Africa, imports are shipped into Benin and Togo and spirited across borAchieving this feat requires sustainability and implementation of policies that transcends ders to consumers in neighbouring Ghana and Nigeria. Such networks mean there open declarations. is more trade going on within Africa than is acknowledged. But it is not as nearly Lingering constraints to non-oil export growth as much as it could be. This further explains why inter-border trade in West Africa in ECOWAS Indeed, the lack of coordination between remains painfully slow, inconsistent and expensive.At the root of these are a slew regional economic communities (RECs) and of tariff and non-tariff barriers (NTBs). Companies, instead, invest in select the lack of funding windows for regional localised West African markets rather than the region as a whole. undertakings alongside the weak political will

most transparent and profitable manner,” he said.

“Our goal in NEPC is to provide export strategy for every aspect of the economy. We must think export because this is where our foreign exchange is,” he added.

He added that Nigeria’s economy is similar to that of Mexico’s and therefore urged the managers of the nation’s economy to take a cue from Mexico maintaining that, Mexico which used to be an oil producing nation, has been able to use its manufacturing sector to contribute to about 80 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“They are now producing motor parts; they also have about 11 manufacturers of cars in Mexico. We must drive this value chain to help our Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Non-oil is the only way to drive our GDP because oil is settled and we also already know when it will dry up but for non-oil, this is just the beginning,” he stressed.

Also, the Director General, LCCI, Muda Yusuf said there are various critical factors that has to be addressed for the nation’s economy to thrive, pointing out that, the workshop was set up to build the capacity of exporters in the country in areas such as, export, logistics, packaging, documentation and the likes.

He said going forward, the partnership between operators and public sectors is significant to achieve any meaningful growth in the non-oil sector adding that there is no way exporters will be competitive in the global market without the government providing the right enabling environment.

“There is also the need to enhance the productivity of those producing locally because if they are not capable to produce to compete in term of price and quality, then I am afraid that there is nothing much to be achieved by our exporters in the global market,” he said.

Aliyu added that the revival of West African Manufacturers Association (WAMA) and strengthening of regional trade associations would aid the realization of regional trade growth.

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Report hinges Africa’s development on industrialisation Stories by Femi Adekoya F Nigeria and other African Imarket countries would address failures and build capabilities effectively, there is a need to embrace an industrial policy for the continent, the Economic Commission for Africa flagship report has stated.

Themed “Dynamic Industrial Policy in Africa,” the report outlined the importance of industrialisation if development in the region would be sustained.

According to information obtained by The Guardian on the commission’s website, Deputy Executive Secretary of the ECA, Abdalla Hamdok, reiterated Africa’s current narrative of economic progress and successful development and said, “We are witnessing a growth assertiveness on the conti-

nent that has resulted in better macroeconomic performance like never before.”

Citing the development of mobile banking in Kenya, Hamdok added that African countries are now making such great strides in technology that they are becoming exporters of technology.

Yet as cautioned by Hamdok, the continent still faces challenges on its path to industrialization.

He told the forum that African countries must now depart from the past and institute a different kind of industrial policy framework. “This is why we continue to dig further on this particular theme, because it was not enough to make the case for industrialization, we have to demonstrate how it should be done,” he said.

He highlighted several vital

findings of the report, including the fact that industrial policy goals must be driven by priorities.

“The common underlying imperative is that State support is vital to addressing market failures and institutionalizing industrial policy at the highest levels of government so that it becomes part and parcel of the regular decision-making and

monitoring mechanism, stressed Hamdok.

“It is possible for African countries to become industrialized and more so, that this is the time for it to happen as the ERA 2014 tries to demonstrate,” he added.

The Director of ECA’s Macroeconomic Policy Division, Adam Elhiraika emphasized that Africa’s growth story “is not just an

oil and mineral story as countries without these resources are growing economically similar to their counterparts.”

“In Africa, trade within the continent is more conducive to growth because it is more diversified and more industrialized,” he said Elhraika presented the report’s outcomes, stating

the requirements for a successful industrial policy framework. These include among others, the need for the framework to be dynamic and organic; to foster continuous dialogue between the country’s public and private sector and the assurance of high level coordination and political support from the country’s government.

WOWe to empower women entrepreneurs through conference O further empower T women entrepreneurs in West Africa, Women of West Africa has concluded to hold a capacity building conference to such end.

Precisely, the second edition of the entrepreneurial event 'Women of West Africa Entrepreneurship Conference / WOWe 2014' organized by Montgomery West Africa is expected to take place on 26 - 27 June 2014 in Lagos.

According to a statement made available to The Guardian, Managing Director, WOWe 2014, Tori Abiola said: “As women continue to play a significant role in economic development they need their own economic independence and the skills to grow their businesses to be sustainable and result in growth opportunities”.

She noted that the success of 2013 has been positive, fulfilling and encouraging, and the reach of the conference has made it clear that women entrepreneurs are still facing challenges that need to be addressed with the right information, proactive development and through networks of determined business leaders and mentors.

Director Investment Management Group, Mrs. Ononuju Irukwu, added: ‘Chapel Hill Denham, through its Women’s Investment Fund, is proud to be a sponsor of and participant in the Women of West Africa

Entrepreneurship Conference (WOWe). We believe WoWe is a great platform for young women entrepreneurs to meet and share experiences while receiving first-hand knowledge from Nigeria’s most successful female entrepreneurs’, says WOWe 2014 Conference provides a high level-networking platform that connects the most influential women entrepreneurs to exchange ideas and dialogue on issues related to entrepreneurship and leadership.

Pominent personalities in their fields like Ms Genevieve Nnaji (actress, model, singer, designer), Mrs Onari Duke (Country Director EMPRETEC Nigeria Foundation), Mrs Folake Akindele (Managing Director, Tiffany Amber) and Mrs Bukky George (CEO HealthPlus Pharmacy), to mention a few will be speakers at the conference.

According to the organisers, participants stand to benefit from the event through insight from speakers on their entrepreneurial journey of success, create powerful networks to drive results, position their business as a competitive powerhouse, access new tends accelerating women across industries, exchange critical solutions raising capital debt vs capital, gain insights on capacity building initiatives, skills development and mentorship among others.

President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), Prince Yemi Adefulu (middle); Vice President, Mrs Theresa Ananyi (right); and Senior Manager, Public Relations of the NBCC, Goddy Amadi at the briefing on 2014 trade mission to United Kingdom in Lagos.

PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Olaoluwa takes over as BoI’s chief executive HE newly appointed T Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Industry, Rasheed Adejare Olaoluwa has resumed duties at BoI’s head office in Lagos.

The former Acting Managing Director and CEO of the financial institution, Waheed Olagunju, who handed over to the new CEO received him alongside other members of the bank’s Executive Management Committee.

Speaking at the brief ceremony, Olaoluwa in a statement, said all hands must be on deck towards ensuring that BOI strengthens its operations for global competitiveness and be at par with some of the world’s leading development finance institutions.

He stated that the task of

increasing the contribution of the manufacturing sector to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product cannot be undertaken by BOI alone.

According to the new CEO, for the bank to effectively deliver on its mandate, the institution would have to work closely with other relevant stakeholders towards addressing the non-financial issues facing the manufacturing sector and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises.

Olaoluwa added that ‘’urgent steps would have to be taken to improve on BOI’s service delivery to enable it meet the unemployment challenges facing the country especially in the areas of wealth and job creation.

Before his appointment,

Olaoluwa was the Group Chief Executive Officer of UBA Capital Plc, a panAfrican asset management and investment banking group, from January 2013 to May 2014, and prior to that, he was an Executive Director at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) between March 2008 and December 2012.

This was coupled with his role as Chief Executive Officer of UBA Africa, where he played a key role in the expansion of UBA’s operations into 18 countries in sub-Saharan Africa within three years, recording exponential growth in the bank’s deposit base and profitability during his tenure.

Before joining UBA in 2006, Olaoluwa’s career path had taken him across

Arthur Andersen where he started his career in the financial services industry, and he has held various senior roles in marketing and relationship management, treasury management, currency trading and investment banking, crowning in his appointment as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the erstwhile Universal Trust Bank Plc. An Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, the new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer holds a first class honours degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Ife, and an executive MBA degree from International Graduate School of Management (IESE), Spain.

How SMEs can harness opportunities in oil, gas sector DEQUATE preparation A and knowledge of business environment have been identified as key points needed by small and medium scale enterprises (SMES) wishing to play in the nation’s oil and gas sector.

Author and co-founder, Falcon Petroleum Limited, Audrey Joe-Ezigbo, gave the advice on Fidelity SME Forum, a weekly radio programme by Fidelity Bank Plc recently.

Speaking on opportunities in the oil and gas sector and

what it takes to build a successful partnership with a spouse, Ezigbo said the oil and gas industry is such a robust industry that most people just miss it, pointing out that in the gas business for instance, there is opportunity for producing, distributing or retailing either LNP, LPG or natural gas.

According to her, “there is opportunity in logistics and so many other aspects. The industry is not waiting for you; rather you are the one that is trying to carve a

niche, so you owe it to yourself to do the research even beyond that specific field to understand the global industry.

“There are lots of opportunities because it’s a very robust industry. There's so much going on now with the gas revolution, gas to power development etc. It’s just incredible.”

Disclosing that Falcon Petroleum would have been in business for 20 years in June this year, she said though it was slow at the

beginning, however, they were focused on delivering quality service all round.

She stated that the oil and gas is the sector that calls for very high standards in safety, quality and service delivery.

“You just have to up your game. So if you are expecting that being indigenous is enough for the majors to hand over the critical assignments, it just doesn't work that way.

“What matters is being able to look at bigger com-

panies and benchmark and having that bigger view and just deciding that you are going to make a difference.

You'll find over time your customers will begin to come to you and you'll know that you've made a difference when people see you out rather than running aimlessly.”

She lamented the political and bureaucratic interferences in the nation’s crude refining, which according to her does not make sense.

She maintained that Nigeria

as a nation ought to have realised by now that her destiny lies in handing over quite a few things to the private sector.

“It is a touchy subject. I believe that at some point, our government just has to hands off. We have too many people in the private sector who are willing to take over the current refineries.

People who are willing to do investments in new ones and it makes sense that we go that way”, she added.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

MarketReport EQUITY MARKET SUMMARY

AS AT 20-05-2014

PRIMERA AFRICA www.primera-africa.com

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MARKET INDICATORS

AS AT 20-05-2014

PRIMERA AFRICA

Exchange admits Caverton’s 3.35 b shares

By Helen Oji HE daily official list of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) swelled yesterday, with the listing by introduction of 3.35billion ordinary shares of 50kobo in the name of Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc. The listing, according to the company, would enable existing shareholders of the company to trade on the shares while creating opportunity for new investors to participate in the company.

The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Olabode Makanjuola, while explaining the ‘Facts Behind the listing’ of the company on the Exchange yesterday, said the company was poised to become the leading support and logistics provider in sub-saharan Africa by offering a fleet of modern aircraft and offshore support vessels.

He added that the company would leverage the Nigerian local content and cabotage laws to consolidate its leadership position Makanjuola, who noted that the company may approach the market to raise fresh capital for business expansion in a near future, explained that the company has quite a good number of announceables in the next few months, which requires a significant amount of capital to execute.

“Caverton is a very strong company and there are a number of projects to be done. The oil&gas industry is getting exciting and we are ready to take up up the challenge. Presently, we run long term contracts to the year 2020 and the shortest would finish in 2017. We have quite a good number of annouceables in the pipeline in the couple of months and this would require a significant amount of capital for execution.”

The Chairman of the company, Aderemi Makanjuola, said: “Caverton has got to that stage where it needs to access more capital because more contracts are coming

T

The listing, according to the company, would enable existing shareholders of the company to trade on the shares while creating opportunity for new investors to participate in the company in. We also need to train more people and ensure that Nigerian engineers and pilots derive greater benefits from the evolving opportunities and that instead of hiring people from abroad and taking out the money, we can help Nigerians to acquire the necessary capacities and hire them.”

He pointed out that the company’s decision to list in the stock market was to create a business that would add value to shareholders and enhance its profitability.

He explained that the company was incorporated in June 2008, in response to the Local Content Policy of the Federal Government, which is aimed at increasing indigenous participation in the oil and gas sector.

The group, which, according to him, is made up of Caverton Marine Limited, Helicopters Caverton Limited and other subsidiaries, is an indigenous conglomerate and one of the leading providers of marine, aviation and logistics support services to the oil and gas sector.

“Caverton Helicopters and Caverton Marine have provided services to clients working within the oil and gas industry for 15 years and have a global workforce of more than 600 employees.

Caverton Helicopters, which started operations with an intra-city helicopter shuttle services in Lagos in 2004, has grown steadily to become a dominant player in the oil and gas and aviation sub-sector within and outside the country.” He

All Share index up by 0.4 per cent

By Bukky Olajide HE equities market closed yesterday on a positive note, as Nigerian Stock Exchange [NSE] All Share Index [ASI] appreciated by +0.4 to close at 39,162.49 basis points, compared with the depreciation of -0.03 per cent recorded previously.

Its Year-to-Date (YTD) returns currently stands at 5.24 per cent.

Market breadth closed positive as Ikejahotel leads 30 gainers against 27 losers topped by Livestock at the end of today’s sessionan improved performance when compared with previous outlook.

Market turnover closes positive as volume traded appreciated by +44.28 per cent against -53.37per cent

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declines recorded in previous session. Zenith bank, and FCMB were the most active to boost market turnover. Zenithbank and NB top market value list.

For sectoral indices, oil stocks record 1.49 per cent to emerge the most supportive sectoral performance among others while NSE Insurance is the most hit with -0.40 per cent loss recorded today.

For corporate Earnings, Nascon, in its Q4’13 earnings report, records negative growth of -19.21 per centin its Revenue with negative growth of -2.42 per cent in its bottom-line.

Avoncrown leads the list of active stocks that record impressive volume spike at the end of today’s session.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Midweek Arts Ignore History, lose your guiding compass, warns Ade Ajayi The 85th birthday anniversary of eminent historian and former ViceChancellor, University of Lagos, (UNILAG), Prof. Jacob Festus Ade Ajayi will commence today at the Conference Centre, University of Ibadan with a roundtable on the Development of Africa/Nigeria Historiography and the Role of Prof. J.F. Ade Ajayi. The Organisation for Historical Research in Nigeria is putting today’s outing together in honour of the Emeritus Professor of History who clocks 85 on Monday, May 26. Prof. Funke Adeboye, Head, Department of History, University of Lagos is the coordinator of the body. She is also winner of the Gerti Hesseling Prize of European Union Conference on African Studies for 2013 for the Best Contribution to European Studies Journal.

Another Emeritus Professor of History, Michael Omolewa is the guest speaker at the roundtable. And on Monday, May 26, the actual anniversary date, the compendium, J.F. Ade Ajayi: Life and Career authored by scholars and intellectuals will be presented together with a birthday lecture to be delivered

by Prof. Olatunji Dare from the United States of America. At a special interview with The Guardian’s trio of KABIR ALABI GARBA, IYABO LAWAL and NAJEEM RAHEEM at his Bodija, Ibadan home last week, the erudite scholar spoke on diverse issues of national importance including why History should continue to be taught especially at secondary school level as well as the Boko Haram menace that is confronting Nigeria presently. Excerpts: HAT is the secret behind your longevity, W does it run in the family?

Well, I don’t know about secrets but the grace of the Almighty God, I believe, is the main reason why I am still alive and well today. It has pleased the Creator to bless me with a long and productive life. It is also His doing that I am blessed with loving and supportive wife and children who spare no effort to make me comfortable. Incidentally, my late father, Chief Ezekiel Ajayi, also enjoyed a long and productive life, so perhaps longevity runs in our family.

How do you spend your typical walking moments, how does a day look like for the revered historian?

You should know that someone of my age does not rush around the way you young people do. Much of the time, I wake up rather late. I take time to reflect on life and existence. At mealtimes, I listen to the conversations of family and friends, deal with business matters and read the newspapers and periodicals. On Mondays, the afternoons are devoted to a long standing group Bible fellowship which we host and which involves several old friends of our family.

What is the legacy history will remember you for as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos?

I have always preferred to let others speak or write of whatever legacies I may have left at the University of Lagos. With God’s help, I ensured that I did my best for the institution. You should also remember that I enjoyed the support of the academic and the administrative staff and was blessed with a good relationship with the students throughout my tenure in the university.

What were the circumstances that led to your forced resignation as UNILAG VC? Reports had it then that you were required to resign by the government.

The government in power then probably conceived my role as that of an enforcer but that wasn’t the way I interpreted my role as Vice Chancellor. I have never conceived my role as being that of giving advice and taking initiatives that would only please the government. Academic freedom is a cornerstone of university culture. Take it away and the institution is no longer a university worthy of that label. That is not to say that violent excesses by students should be condoned.

In your Valedictory Lecture at the University of Ibadan on November 24, 1989 titled

‘History and the Nation,’ you espoused on the interaction between the practice of history and the concept of nation and nationalism, would you say Nigeria has been shaped by our knowledge of history positively or negatively?

There ought to be a continuing dialogue between society’s collective memory and the present. This interaction ought to be dialectic. But where collective memory is deficient or defective, contemporary society runs the risk of losing its guiding compass. There has been a disturbing tendency for the Nigerian society to downgrade or even to ignore its past. We need to look through the rearview mirror of history in order to learn the right lessons and chart a meaningful way forward as a nation.

One of your submissions in the Valedictory Lecture was that the Federal Ministry of Education has too much on its plate to oversee elementary, secondary, tertiary education and teacher training colleges. You proffered that the Ministry of Science and Technology should oversee universities alongside institutions of research and development. Do you still hold the view today?

My observation then is even more valid today. There is need for a new ministry which can perhaps be styled Ministry of Higher Education to oversee tertiary educational institutions. We can all see that the educational system is in deep crisis and there is need for radically new thinking which can form the basis for a rescue mission.

How would you liked to be judge by history?

None of us has any control over the verdict of history. All you can do is make positive contributions to society and hope for the best in the light of history.

It has been 100 years since the northern and southern protectorates were amalgamated; yet the country still seems enmeshed in various challenges of nationhood, especially ethno-religious crisis. How well has the nation fared in its journey towards nationhood?

Nigeria’s problems are deep and complex. I am not inclined to blame the British for our woes. Whatever mistakes they committed should have been rectified by us long ago.

But do we have a modernizing elite, a visionary elite? What about the persistent inclination of Nigerians themselves to lionize and play the sycophant to those who we appoint to leadership? What about the persistent

Ade Ajayi .. during the interview session last week in Ibadan denigration of our history and traditional culture?

Consequence of some of these challenges, some have described the amalgamation as a ‘‘mistake.” Can you share your view on this perception?

What people tend to forget is that the Nigerian peoples had been interacting peacefully for centuries before the Europeans arrived in the 15th Century on the Atlantic coast. Why do people speak as if we were total strangers to each other before Sir George Taubman Goldie and Lord Lugard came here? I find it strange. One of the projects I scripted and presented with the NTA which is yet to see the light of day – Nigeria: Portrait of a Culture – saw me travel with a film crew to all the nooks and corners of Nigeria and interview many of our traditional rulers, showcase the culture and lifestyle of the various ethnic groups in an attempt to demonstrate that the people of Nigeria have much more in common than we give ourselves credit for.

In specific terms, what exactly is the nation not doing right?

We may have to begin at the beginning. The nationalities should dialogue. What does each one want? Do they desire to continue staying together and on what terms? It makes no sense to sweep grave problems under the carpet and pretend that all is well.

In the spirit of centenary celebration, would you kindly share your experience growing up in Nigeria? What are those values that define your personality that are missing presently in the society?

Integrity and morality are two core values of the Yoruba nationality which have virtually disappeared from our society. When I was growing up, the farmer would leave his produce unattended and come back to meet payment for goods bought, without

any fear of thieves. Each community had its own inherent sanctions and people seemed more God fearing than they do today despite the proliferation of churches and mosques that abound today. We have replaced our ancient traditional values with the new gods of materialism and Western liberalism. My question is, can these new foreign gods take us far?

The north is in a state of violent crisis never witnessed before. The situation has been variously described as state of war. Will you describe the situation in similar way?

It is unfortunate that the global scourge of terrorism has a particularly virulent and heartless expression in the Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria. There needs to be a more concerted effort to address security issues in Northern Nigeria.

Many reasons had been adduced as leading to the situation e.g. long neglect, bad governance by successive governments and religious extremism. To you, what is the most important seed that led to the forest of violence going on?

It is difficult, if not futile, to attempt to find the fundamental cause of the bloodshed in the far North. The obvious task at hand is to end it.

However, is the national leadership sufficiently aware of the seriousness of the situation?

Hopefully, we don’t have any Emperor Nero in our midst.

Government and various individuals had attempted to resolve the crisis, have they done enough? What’s left to be done to bring succor to the region?

My sober view is that government played with the problem for far too long, until it seems to have become monstrous and unmanageable.

Against the backdrop of violent reaction that trailed the announcement of results of the 2011 election in some parts of the north, do you have any fear regarding next year’s general election?

This country needs prayers to survive the general elections next year.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014 ARTS 53

From Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Abuja ORRIED by the dwindling fortune of performing arts in Nigeria, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), last week, gathered stakeholders in Benin, Edo State capital, to fashion a way forward. In attendance were the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Edo State, Honourable Aanena Elizabeth Jemitola, Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Deaconess (Mrs.) Florence Ebomoyi-Idundun as well as Director, Edo State Arts Council, Mr. Moses Obakpolo.

Also present were practitioners under various umbrella bodies within and outside the state, including Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union (RATTAWU), Actors Guild of Nigeria, Independent Producers Association of Nigeria, Artistes Association of Nigeria, Directors Guild of Nigeria as well as Congress of Female Artists, Edo State Chapter.

The forum was designed to unlock opportunities and innovative ideas with a view to resuscitating vibrant theatre life in Nigeria.

They include the possible impacts of theatre and other performing arts on the society and how these impacts could be measured and demonstrated.

Others are: “What resources are available to the professionals towards achieving these impacts, which are the best methods for mobilizing these resources and deploying them for maximum effects and are there factors impeding this maximum effects, which are they and how can they be removed, overcome or circumvented?

The organizers also sought to know the reason private sector shows so much apathy towards sponsorship of arts events, why an average Nigerian investor was not likely to consider the performing arts as a possible line of investment and why the percentage of professionals engaged in actual practice was relatively low.

It was meant to be an interactive session but when the floor opened for discussion, it turned a blame game between members of the town and the gown on one hand and the practitioners and government on the other hand.

Professionals from the academia and independent producers have flayed trained practitioners for lack of professionalism, carriage as well as business ideas in their practice, which tended to dissuade potential investors.

The private sector has not shown any interest in sponsoring arts events because profession-

In his contribution, Dr. Osakwe Omoera of the department of Theatre and Media Arts, Ambrose Ali University, Edo State, basically blamed practitioners for internal bickering and lack of creative ideas.

He noted that even among practitioners, there was no zeal to do what was necessary and in the interest of the industry.

He therefore urged the Edo State Art Council and others Art Councils across the country to emulate Bayelsa State, which is busy throughout the year.

According to him, Bayelsa Art Council engages in activities that do not only keep them busy but also help them generate revenue and endear them to their governor.

“Bayelsa State Art Council does not rely on the government entirely for subventions but engages in creative endeavours to remain vibrant. There is no chief executive that would not be impressed with such art council”, he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Mr. M.M. Maidugu, said the forum was designed for fertilization of ideas between stakeholders in the performing arts industry.

With a theme, Administering the Performing Arts for Social and Economic Empowerment, Maidugu, who was represented by the Director, Performing Art Department, NCAC, Mr. Oludotun Osunsanya, said the two-day workshop was muted towards the fulfillment of the Council’s mission at deploying cultural resources to promote peace, unity and economic development.

He said: “Towards this end, the workshop is designed to empower performing artistes through skill development and job creation.

“To identify and bring to the fore, the work of the talented artistes to the public sector where they can gain recognition and opportunity to develop themselves economically.

“To create more opportunities for the private sector to fund the arts, thereby bringing in more support for arts and culture.

“We are very optimistic that with the collaboration of all, we shall collectively reposition performing arts to become an effective platform towards contributing significantly to the socio-economic growth of the practitioners in particular and the nation at large”.

Maidugu hoped that at the end of the programme, the Council would have succeeded in adding value to the administration of performing arts with regards to its ability to contribute to the economy of practitioners.

He also commended Edo State government for its support for the activities of the Council in recent times. The State last year hosted the art community comprising of Art Councils from 36 States of the federation and FCT at the 2013 Annual National Culture Quiz.

Also at the forum was the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Edo State, Honourable Aanena Elizabeth Jemitola.

Welcoming guests to the State’s Cultural Centre, venue of the workshop, she said it was a milestone towards a verile and profitable arts and entertainment industry.

“I wish to assure you that this workshop will go a long way in reinforcing the efforts of the practitioners and ultimately improve their performance”.

Looking at the challenges facing the industry, especially with regards to funding, the Commissioner admitted that in other parts of the world, grants are provided for artistes unlike Nigeria where practitioners, particularly those outside government circle have to fend for themselves.

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Participants at the forum als do not take themselves serious enough. To attract investment, they need to spread their horizon and collapse different associations into one formidable team.

“By the time they come together strongly and show their proposal, spelling how the potential investors can recoup their money, they will be interested. We need to think more business of the show than the show itself, said Ogie Ogedemgbe, a representatives of Independent Producers Association of Nigeria (IPAN) The standpoint of professionals that most artists are blind to the business side of performing art, especially theatre production further divided the house.

Professor Muyiwa Awodiya of the department of Theatre Arts and Mass Communication, University of Benin, had accused artists of being engrossed in the entertainment aspect of theatre with little or no commitment to making wealth out of it.

He said: “As a result of this, most of the actors are not professional in script writing and stage management. They don’t go extra mile in acquiring necessary skills.

Assistant Director, Monitoring and Enforcement, National Broadcasting Commission, Okoduwa Matthew (left); Marketing Manager, DStv, Chioma Afe; Regional Operations Manager (Lagos), MultiChoice Nigeria, Fuad Kadiku and Public Relations Manager, MultiChoice, Caroline Oghuma at the DStv Customer Forum in Ikorodu

“A half-baked theatre artists cannot deliver.

Practitioners should endeavour to train themselves further like the late Amaka Igwe, Richard Mofe-Damijo and others.

“In the Nollywood industry, most of their scripts are not professional. It is only through additional training that people professionalize, package themselves well and get sponsors. When you develop yourself, people will take you serious”.

He added, “It is not all about good acting.

Most practitioners knew next to thing in the business of performing art. I believe that they have done enough show and it is time to focus on the business aspect of the profession. Because over time, most actors were so engrossed with acting that they could not prepare a strong proposal to win the attention of the private sector”.

He however urged his colleagues from the town to divorce government from the entertainment industry and focus on the private sector for likely support.

Awodiya’s position was however countered by various bodies of artists and stage actors.

They have rather blamed the ugly situation on institutional deficiency. Speakers recalled how on several occasions, their proposals taken to the government for endorsement or sponsorship were confiscated and later adopted and marketed as government initiatives.

Others identified independent producers as a major obstacle to their path to attaining financial relevance in their carrier. They could not understand why an actor could earn as low as N5,000 from a producer for acting in a movie no matter how little the role is. This, they said was demeaning and needed to be addressed.

For stage actors, Nigerian society is one, which reads and understands the direction and interest of government. And since government at all levels has remained indifference to the plight of the arts and the practitioners, investors have also beamed their searchlight in the direction of government’s interest.

Together, they charged Edo State government to rise up to the challenges of promoting art and entertainment in the state.

Multi-choice… Serving consumers better through feedback

By Gbenga Salau S part of efforts aimed at serving its teeming customers in Ikorodu area of Lagos better through feedback, Multi-choice Nigeria at the weekend held an interactive session with its dealers and customers. At the forum, the Public Relation Manager, Caroline Oghuma, who welcomed guests, stated that the interaction became important for her organisation because it would give it the opportunity not only to meet the customers but to also find out what the company was doing well and

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what it wasn’t doing right.

Representative of National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC) Mr. Matthew Okoduwa, commended Multi-choice for organising the customer forum as it showed that the firm is not assuming that it is satisfying its customers without verification.

There were different complaints from customers among which are disruption of signals when it is raining, slow booting, repetition of movies, none availability of pay per view and high subscription rate.

On hand to provide explanation

and defend the company on each of the complaints were the Regional Operations Manager, Lagos, Mr. Fuad Sadiku, Public Relations Manager, Caroline Oghuma and Marketing Manager, Chioma Afe. Afe argued that some of the issues are beyond the control of her organisation though it would not relent on finding ways to better serve its customers so that they would have value for every kobo spent. She stated that the billing system the pay TV operates now does give room for pay-as-you-view but they were discussing with part-

ners on the possibility of the introduction of a pay-as-you-view billing system.

On failing signals when it is raining, Afe, who said that the company was aware of the complaint and was working on it, as top priority.

She, however, noted that it was a challenge, which is not restricted to the Nigerian market.

On her part, Oghuma observed that it was more expensive in the long run for the consumers if payas-you-view billing is deployed especially if it is looked at from the perspective of the infrastructural

challenges the country is grappling with.

One of the customers felt that it is unjust for customers to be paying for calls to make complaints. He called for the introduction of tollfree lines for customers to make enquiry. Afe, however, suggested that customers who did not feel comfortable with the charges should send a text or send complaint through e-mails. Some of the customers applauded the pay TV station for organising the interaction, suggesting that such meetings should be organised regular-

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58 | NEWSEXTRA Wednesday, May 21, 2014

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SON explains restriction on low-grade cement HE Standard Organisation T of Nigeria (SON) has explained why it is restricting the use of low grade cementthe 32.5MPA- and urging manufacturers to commence the production of the high-grade 42.5MPA. Speaking at the just concluded public hearing, DirectorGeneral of SON, Joseph Ikem Odumodu said the restriction placed on the use of low-grade

cement was important to mitigate the problem of building collapse in the country.

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the composition and pigmentation of cement in the country led by its Chairman, Yakubu Dogara, conducted a public hearing last week aimed at addressing the phenomenon of collapse building.

The DG said Nigeria can not

afford to be a pariah state on the issue of cement quality, adding that world’s progressive countries have since stopped using the low quality 32.5MPA. He said his organisation had restricted the use of 32.5MPA low grade and will enforced compliance. He said those that have decided to continue to produce 32.5MPA low grade do so for profiteering.

He said if the phenomenon of building collapse must be addressed, Nigeria must minimise the use of the low-grade cement.

The Dangote Cement Plc is the only company producing the high quality grade of 42.5R, while other manufacturers are producing the 32.5 grade.

It is estimated that from 1974 to 2010, collapse building had

claimed 297 lives.

The SON had issued a directive that 52.5R be used for bridges, 42.5R for casting of columns, beams, slabs and for moulding blocks, while the low grade 32.5 can only be used for plastering.

Contributing, President of the Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigerian (CMAN), Joseph Makoju said

the 42.5 grade is superior cement over 32.5 and that Nigeria used to produce and import 42.5 before the coming of 32.5MPA. Speaking earlier, Group Managing Director of the Dangote Cement Plc, DVG Edwin told lawmakers that in spite of the superior grade of the Dangote Cement, it has not increased its price.

Ondo’s agric projects get boost, shut firm reopened 0N30,000 monthly pay for 280 young farmers determination to annex ItheNitsitsOndo potential in agriculture, State government has extended its Aqua-culture project to accommodate more farmers even as its Paddy Rice and Oil Palm Project have received a big boost.

Information Commissioner, Kayode Akinmade said in Akure that the government desire to further extend the Aqua-culture project led to the invitation of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to deepen the business and make it more modern.

Akinmade said government only recently signed an understanding with IITA, Ibadan, on how to modernise the state’s Agric village in Ore and in other places adding that “our youth farmers are there now working with IITA to make sure they raise the standard of the settlement.”

According to the commissioner, farmers involved in the project will also be trained in the area of processing being one of the areas of competence of the IITA. The processing, he said, will make each farmer specialise in either raring of birds or fish to enable each of the farmers have knowledge of how to process adding that the farmers are also being trained on how to sell their products in a way that will make them almost imperishable.

The commissioner informed that the government has its own fish farms, mentioning that “what we do is to encourage our farmers and teach them the best method of fish

farming and that is exactly what the government is

doing” Informing that the farmers in the state are in for a good time, Akinmade said government is also concentrating on its oil palm revolution project adding that “government has spent 1 million oil seeds of revolution in Ore and its working with some Malaysian companies.

“They have planted all the oil palm trees and within the next few years they are going to grow and that is going to create a new initiative. It is not just going to be planting of Palm trees, but to ensure also that we go through the processing of the seeds into oil products.”

Akinmade said the government just started a rice project at Ogbese called Paddy Rice, which is intended to improve the produce of farmers by more than 500 per cent.

Meanwhile, Governor Olusegun Mimiko has approved the reopening of the state’s Afforestation Project

(OSAP),15 months after it was ordered shut.

Located at Lisagbede Ore, in Okitipupa Local Council, the project was closed down in March 2013 by the government because of what it described as the huge illegality perpetrated at the concern overtime.

A statement by Akinmade in Akure said Mimiko approved of the reopening of the project with a view to sustaining its economic viability and attainment of the set objectives of its creation for continuous forest regeneration and exploitation.

Meanwhile, following the reopening, Natural Resources Commissioner, Tunde Atere and the officials in the ministry have swung into action on the step by step techniques to fashion out effective modalities to make the project viable.

The commissioner and principal officers of the ministry embarked on a follow up working visit inspected and monitored ongoing feeder roads grading work of the project.

Speaking during the inspection of the about 302 square kilometers road to the project, Atere said about 10 months ago the road was in a state of disrepair adding that it usually take about three hours to ply the 25 kilometer feeder road into OSAP. He submitted however that it has now become less than an hour to ply the road, even as he said efforts are already being made to put back to shape the Afforestation’s equipment, which have been grounded.

Also, each of the 280 graduates in training under the Ondo State’s Pro-farmers and Agro-preneurs Sustainable Scheme (PASS), which commenced in Akure on Monday will receive a monthly pay of

N30,000.

Mimiko has equally charged them to show commitment and absolute dedication, warning that anyone found wanting would be shown the way out.

Mimiko, while speaking during the inauguration/opening ceremony of the scheme and one week training programme for the graduates held in Akure, the state capital yesterday noted that agriculture provides the best avenue for employment generation and wealth generation aside oil and gas, stressing that youth empowerment through agriculture was part of his administration’s policies to engage youth in productive venture.

He said four agro business cities with state of the art facilities comprising hostel accommodation for more than 1000 youth, dams, fish ponds and poultry houses among others have been established in the three senatorial districts of the state.

Mimiko restated his determination to key into Federal Government’s programmes such as Growth Enhancement Scheme and Cassava Value Chain Programme that support his administration’s vision in agriculture with a view to providing gainful employment for teeming youth.

He explained that the state government was embarking on the clearing of 1000 hectares of land at Ore for the use of the pro-farmers out of which 500 hectares would be used to commence rice project in collaboration with its Malaysian partners.

He added that about 1 million oil palm seedlings were being transplanted from the nursery to plantation in Ore under his administration’s oil palm revolution, noting that the revitalisation of the state’s cocoa plantation in Oda is to boost the establishment of its chocolate academy.

His words, “youth empowerment through agriculture is propelled towards a common goal of aligning with the vision of this administration’s policy thrust. This can only become a reality if youths of Ondo State are gainfully employed in a productive venture under an articulated integrated and well-coordinated youth empowerment programme.”

The Chairperson of the state wealth creation agency, Mrs Bola Olafunmiloye disclosed that each of the graduates would receive N30,000 monthly, noting that they have all been registered under the SURE-P Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS).

She expressed optimism in the success of the programme as the state government has collaborated with reputable organisations such as IITA, UnHabitat, USAID and Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014 NEWSEXTRA | 59

IGP orders security audit of all secondary schools • WHO, others list consequences of insurgency on vaccination programmes • Chukwu calls for global support for victims From Emeka Anuforo and Karls Tsokar, Abuja O forestall security breach T and kidnap of students, the Inspector General of Police

Vice President, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administration of Nigeria (ICSAN), Nat Ofo (left); President/Chairman of Council Abdu Suleyman Ndanusa; Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Dele Togunde, during the yearly general meeting of administrators of Nigeria (ISCAN) in Lagos yesterday.

PHOTO: GABRIEL IKHAHON

(IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered the immediate appraisal of the safety measures and other defence apparatus as well as related concerns in all the secondary schools in the country.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Abubakar directed all Commissioners of Police to immediately commence se-

UN, others plan sustainable, improved judiciary in Nigeria

By Bertram Nwannekanma HE United Nations (UN) is T planning a sustainable approach to improved justice

that the state is one of the nine pilot states encouraging a strategic and sustainable approach towards the justice system as a necessary means of enhancing good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law.

He said Lagos was chosen because it has consistently blazed the trail in implementing judicial reforms. According to him, the review and update of this action plan is timely in linking up with the efforts of the Lagos State Government, particularly in the protection of the rights of

the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.

To this end, Omofade said the participation of experienced stakeholders across various judicial institutions, with their influence and input, were absolutely essential to achieving this reform.

Declaring the workshop open, the Lagos Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, said the state was mindful, as a pilot state, of the need to get it right so that others could benefit from the models established. He assured stake-

holders of the state’s willingness to abide by the recommendations of the workshop.

He noted: “Aside from our traditional strongholds of civil and criminal procedure reforms, improved case management facilitation, criminal justice sector coordination, provision of free mediation services to the public and others, the state is planning to establish a database of sex offenders, among others projects, to enhance the efficiency of the justice sector.”

delivery, especially in the Nigeria’s criminal justice sector, through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the Federal Government.

To achieve this, UNODC is reviewing an action plan in 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja to support effective coordination and cooperation among institutions in the justice sector with enhanced legal and policy framework.

It also seeks to enhance operational structures and capabilities of officials in the sector and increased access to justice, respect for human rights and the rule of law, especially for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.

UNODC Project Coordinator, Justice Sector Reform, Mr. Ade Omofade, disclosed yesterday in Lagos at the opening section of a three-day workshop for the review of the justice sector reform in Lagos State

Philip Nwadiunor not jailed for kidnapping, says counsel

Akinterinwa to deliver WBF’s yearly lecture today

Forced labour generates illicit N2tr annually, says ILO

IRECTOR-GENERAL of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, will today deliver the seventh yearly lecture of Wilson Badejo Foundation (WBF).

President of the foundation, Rev. Wilson Badejo said the theme, “Nigeria, Limited Education Access for the Underprivileged and the Escalation of Incidence of Mass Poverty: An Initiative for Positive Change,” was chosen based on the global perception that effective economic and social development requires advancement in application of knowledge.

The event, to be chaired by Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, will be held at the Main Lecture Theatre of NIIA at noon. According to Badejo, it aims at speaking for the less-privileged in the society, giving hope to the needy, creating wider access to education, creating empowerment programme for youths and ensuring functional educational system, which is panacea to alleviating poverty.

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NE of the six persons O originally charged with abducting the wife of Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr. Philip Nwadiunor, was discharged and acquitted by the Iwo High Court before the conviction and sentencing of the remaining five persons, his counsel, Mr. Francis Nwoye, told The Guardian.

His clarification followed the newspaper’s mention of

From Collins Olayinka, Abuja HE International Labour T Organization (ILO) has raised alarm on the soaring illicit wealth being generated through forced labour, which has hit an all-time high of $150 billion or N2.3 trillion per annum.

According to a new report made available to The Guardian yesterday by the global labour watch body, the huge figure is generated into private economies in illegal profits per year, about three times more than previously estimated.

According to the ILO report tagged, “Profits and Poverty: The Economics of Forced Labour,” two third of the estimated total of $150 billion came from commercial sexual exploitation, while another $51 billion resulted from forced economic exploitation, including domestic work, agriculture and other economic activities.

Reacting to the revelation, the ILO Director General, Guy Ryder, said: “This new report takes our understanding of trafficking, forced labour and modern slavery to a new level.

Nwadiunor among the five sentenced to prison for the offence in its edition of October 22, 2013.

According to the lawyer, “the facts are that our client (Philip Nwadiunor), the 6th accused/defendant in the aforesaid charge, was detained since August 2012 despite his innocence and charged along with five others in the charge sheet referred to as evidence.

Forced labour is bad for business and development, especially for its victims. Our new report adds new urgency to our efforts to eradicate this fundamentally evil but hugely profitable practice as soon as possible.”

The new figure is based on the ILO data published in 2012, which estimated the number of people in forced labour, trafficking and modern slavery at 21 million.

Significantly, the new estimate indicates that over half of the people in forced labour are women and girls, primarily in commercial sexual exploitation and domestic work, while men and boys were primarily in forced economic exploitation in agriculture, construction and mining.

The breakdown of profits generated by forced economic exploitation is as follows: $34 billion in construction, manufacturing, mining and utilities, $9 billion in agriculture, including forestry and fishing, $8 billion saved by private households by not paying or underpaying domestic workers held in forced labour.

“On the 28th of June, 2013, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Osun State, moved the state to withdraw (the charge) against Nwadiunor on the ground that evidence so far does not establish a prima facie case against him.

“The court, accordingly, discharged and acquitted him and since then, we ceased to be a party to the matter.”

ILO Head, Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labour, Beate Andrees, asked all stakeholders to now focus on the socio-economic factors that make people vulnerable to forced labour in the private sector.

The report highlights income shocks and poverty as the main economic factors that push individuals into forced labour. Other factors contributing to risk and vulnerability include illiteracy, gender and migration.

Andrees called for a series of measures aimed at reducing vulnerability to forced labour, including bolstering social protection floors to prevent poor households from abusive lending or indenture in the event of sudden income shocks.

Others are investing in education and skills training to fortify job opportunities for vulnerable workers, promoting a rights-based approach to migration to prevent irregular employment and abuse of migrant workers, and supporting the organization of workers, including in sectors and industries vulnerable to forced labour.

curity audit and threat analysis of all boarding schools nationwide.

According to him, “the outcome of this exercise will greatly assist the police authorities and other security agencies in designing security strategies that will help in promoting safety and security in the schools.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, has called for global assistance for victims of terrorism in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya and others. He noted: “In many parts of the world today, health challenges posed by conflicts and terrorism have become more obvious and there is need for WHO to assist countries to develop and reinforce strategies for the management of victims and their relatives.”

Meanwhile, the activities of insurgents are taking negative toll on efforts to immunize children and reduce preventable deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.

Speaking at the opening of the 67th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland, WHO Director General, Dr Margaret Chan, said that works on the eradication of polio were being hampered by the activities of militants and insurgents in countries like Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria.

Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Frank Mba, said it was expected that the result of the consultations, threat analysis and the attendant security awareness campaigns would help reduce the vulnerability of schools and strengthen an otherwise soft terror target, as there would also be security awareness campaigns around the schools.

He said the Commissioners of Police were expected to work with other security agencies, state Ministry of Education, management and staff of the schools, the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), host communities and other stakeholders so as to obtain the most reliable intelligence and ensure a workable synergy.

The latest strategy followed the abduction of over 200 Chibok schoolgirls as well as the recent threat letter to attack two boarding secondary schools in Makurdi, Benue State, purportedly written by the Boko Haram terrorist group.

Chan stressed that terrorism and insurgencies had continued this year during the lowtransmission season of polio.

On May 5, I declared the international spread of wild poliovirus since the start of this year a public health emergency of international concern,” she said.

PDP, Kwara govt bicker over debt profile From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin WARA State chapter of the K Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to disclose the current debt profile of the state before taking another bond.

The Finance Commissioner, Demola Banu, said the N17 billion initial bond would be repaid on or before August this year, adding that “modalities for the repayment of the N23 billion have also been perfected.”

Banu added: “Like the governor used to say, it is healthy to borrow if you have the capacity to repay. We are not borrowing for the sake of borrowing but for the development of our state.”

The state PDP Chairman, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo, threw the challenge yesterday in Ilorin at a press briefing ahead of the planned secure of N23 billion lifeline by the state government from capital market “for infrastructural development.”

According to the chairman, the PDP’s position on the proposed N23 billion bond was that the state government should first tell the people of Kwara how much debt the state was owing.

“They should let us know how much the state is owing before they can take another loan”, Oyedepo said, alleging that since 2009, all bonds taken by the government were not judiciously and prudently spent.

Oyedepo, who alleged that the state government has not accounted for the N17 billion and N10 billion bonds taken in 2009 and 2010, said: “Governor Ahmed should not take

a loan of N23 billion without accounting for all he has taken since 2011”.

According to him, all that the state government claimed it used the N17 billion for has no direct effect on the wellbeing of the people, adding that the agriculture modernisation the government said it embarked on was a ruse.

Reacting to the allegations, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr. Femi Akorede, said the PDP was desperate for relevance in the political space of Kwara State, which explains why it would ask the state government to provide answers that are in the public domain and are, therefore, accessible to all.

“As a government focused on transparency, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed’s administration has variously explained the utilisation of N17b and the N10b loan.

“Every Kwaran is proud of Kwara State University, the International Aviation College, the Kwara Advanced Medical Diagnostic Centre, the Ilorin Urban Road and Electrification Projects and other key projects funded through the N17b.

“Similarly, the five general hospitals at Ilorin, Offa, Share, Kaiama and Omu-Aran that have been remodelled and modernised, the statewide rural roads constructed, the acclaimed International Vocational Centre, Ajasse Ipo, the capitalisation of Harmony Holdings Limited and the completion of Ilorin Cargo Terminal’s Apron also testify to the optimal utilisation of the N10b loan. For the record, the new Ilorin General Hospital is perhaps one of the best in the North-Central today”, he

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

60 NEWSXTRA Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Geo-political zones should be discarded, say Lagos national confab delegates From Terhemba Daka and Karls Tsokar, Abuja AGOS State delegation to the ongoing National Conference has expressed the need for the parley to jettison the existing geo-political zones as an administrative system in the country.

The state delegates including Olasupo Sarore (SAN), Prof.

Tunde Samuel and Olufunmilayo Osinowo-Bashorun, in a memorandum to the National Conference, also demanded that, while Nigeria remains as one indivisible political entity, constitutional federalism should remain as the nation’s system of government.

In the document made available to The Guardian late Tuesday after the South West position was unveiled Monday, they also demanded for a special status, in addition to the extraction of local government from the constitution.

“On regionalism and geo-political zones, the governing Regions in the late colonial and post-colonial constitutions (1960 and 1963) represent the height of our national development, where devolved powers, regional constitutions and revenue derivation ensured competition and self-determination. This era has long ended with the creation of states.

“We do not support, nor do we think it feasible - to return to creation of regions as governing sub-national units in Nigeria. We also do not recommend the creation of new states at this time or in the foreseeable future, viability and cost are two of the immediate reasons that militate against the creation of states.

“There are said to be six Geo– political zones in the country – this nomenclature is unknown to the Constitution and yet it continues to feature in national discourse.

“We do not recommend that the said zones as a feasible structure for government for Nigeria. It is folly to believe that the coincidence of geography dictates anything but convenience; we recommend that Nigeria should adhere to constitutional federalism which to date only prescribes states and desist from the use of zones for planning or execution of constitutional authority.

“Local Government: Constitu-

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tionally, there ought to be only two orders of government, the Federal Government and the State Governments. Local government administrative divisions should be left as the exclusive preserve of the states.

“All references to local government should be expunged from the Constitution. Local government creation, structure, tenure, boundary adjustments, functions and funding should remain a residual function of the states.”

The state also demanded that equity should return to the revenue allocation formula prescribed for Nigeria.

“Its constituent states are the raison d’être for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Without the component states, the corporate entity “Nigeria” would cease to exist. This should be reflected in a new prioritisation in the revenue accruals to the nation – a prioritisation in favour of the states.

“There shall be two express Legislative Lists in the Constitution: The Exclusive Legislative List and the Concurrent Legislative List for both the Federal Government and the State Governments.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all matters or powers not contained in the Exclusive Legislative List are residual, and only the House of Assembly of a state shall have power to make laws in respect of such residual matters in terms of Section 4(7) (a) of the 1999 Constitution.

While demanding for special status, Lagos State said it was for the purposes of allocation of revenue and other resources. The equity of this demand is located in the national uniqueness and socio-economic significance of the state to the entire nation.

“Lagos has historically been and has continued to be the economic and commercial capital of Nigeria. With this has come an increasing rise in the population of the state.

With a current population of over 18 million, Lagos is one of the 10 megacities of the world.

The uniqueness of Lagos is now publicly and indeed internationally acknowledged.

“The economic significance of Lagos is a constant attraction to a growing number of “newcomers” not only from around the country but also from other countries in the WestAfrican sub-region.

“The infrastructure in the state therefore seems never to be in a position to meet the demands of the residents of the state. The enormity of the pressure on the infrastructure and other critical factors of governance including education, health and security are now a major threat to the sustainability of the state.

“Federal Government in order to sustain its infrastructure.

It is on this basis that a case is hereby made for Lagos – Nigeria’s only former capital to be assigned a “Special Status”.

This Special Status should essentially reflect in a special budgetary allocation of the resources (including revenue) required to meet the uncommon demands for the proper governance of the state”.

The state also proposed that the justice sector and judicial restructuring should reflect on the appointment procedure for judges of the High Courts of the states.

The state’s position was that justice and judiciary matters should be the exclusive preserve of the respective states.

“The Federal Government through the National Judicial Council should no longer participate in the appointment procedure.

“Also, “Prisons” as a legislative item should be moved from the Exclusive Legislative list to the Concurrent Legislative List.

“This will allow states to run their prisons. States should also be allowed to maintain their own police”.

15,300 get NEMA relief in Borno, Yobe ORE than 15,700 persons M displaced by insurgents in five communities in Borno and Yobe states at the weekend benefitted from relief assistance distributed by the National Emergency Management Agency

(NEMA).

The affected communities include Chibok where school girls were recently abducted from their hostels with 5,300 beneficiaries and Gamboru that was raided by the insurgents resulting also in the loss of lives and destruction of many homes. The others are Jakana and Mainok in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State which are located along Damaturu-Maiduguri road and have come under repeated attacks where the relief items were distributed to about 4,400 displaced persons.

The agency also distributed relief items to about 6,000 persons displaced by the insurgency in Goniri community and its environs in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Director General, NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi, who was represented by the North East Zonal Coordinator of the agency, Alhaji Mohammed Kanar said the relief distribution was approved for the affected communities to provide them succour while the government was doing everything possible to address the security challenges in the areas.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

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Sports Countdown To Brazil 2014 World Cup

DAWN Games 2014 Ekiti wins table tennis boys, girls’ doubles Basketball, swimming finals hold today

NFF gets funds for Eagles’ first round games

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‘Funds’ release by installment is for accountability’ From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja HE Federal Government has approved the release of an undisclosed amount of money to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to prepare the Super Eagles for their group matches at the Brazil 2014 World Cup. Nigeria will begin its campaign at the World Cup with a Group F match against Iran in Curitiba on June 16.

While announcing the release to the NFF yesterday during the send-forth for the Team Nigeria contingent to the 2014 African Youth Games holding in Botswana, Minister of Sports/Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Tammy Danagogo, revealed that the government’s decision to release the fund by installment was to ensure accountability.

Danagogo, who assured that the Federal Government would support the Super Eagles up to any level they

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could attain at the tournament, expressed satisfaction with the NFF programme for the tournament, adding that he compelled the Federation to submit to his office a step by step analysis of its preparations for the world cup.

He urged the Team Nigeria contingent for the African Youth Games in Botswana, who departed yesterday for Botawana, to be good ambassadors of the country, stressing that the Federal Government through the NSC has ensured that everything was put in place for the team to do well in the AYG. “I have been having series of meetings with the football federation, including the interaction we had last week Thursday. We tried to compare notes and I even demanded that they state their level of preparedness in writing and I can assure you that I was impressed with their answers.

Super Eagles’ midfielder, John Obi Mikel.

Ahead African Youth Championship Qualifier

British outfit warns fans over Argentine gangs OOTBALL fans travelling to the World Cup have been warned to avoid protests and beware the threat of gangs of Argentine hooligans, which are thought to be targeting the tournament.

The UK Football Policing Unit has identified several areas of concern, including the possible presence of gangs of Argentine fans at the tournament.

The Brazilian authorities also view the gangs as a threat and British officers will try to ensure there is no overlap between them and England fans.

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Holt, of South Yorkshire

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Police, said: “The Brazilians are quite worried about groups and gangs coming across from Argentina, and that some of those engaged in disorder who follow Argentine football might come across.

“We’ll be mindful of any crossover between troublesome Argentine supporters (and England fans) because the last thing we want is any confrontation ... given our shared history.

“It might be an area for some issues.”

When British police first started attending overseas tournaments it was to help combat hooligans.

By Samuel Ifetoye EAM Ekiti yesterday took both the boys and girls table tennis gold medals at the on-going Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Games for secondary schools in the SouthWest, holding in Lagos.

In the boys’ category, the team beat Lagos by three sets to one (3-1) in a highly entertaining match. The Team Lagos girls were also not spared by the firepower of the Ekiti girls, who walloped them in three straight sets 30.

Elsewhere, in some of the matches played in the basketball event at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba, Team Lagos boys dismissed Osun by 39 to 18, while Team Ogun girls succumbed to Ekiti by 17 to 19.

In the Tennis, Oyinlomo Quadre and Mariam Balogun, both of Lagos, beat Oyo State’s Adegboyega Kaosamah and Deborah Abiodun 4-0, 4-1 in the girls’ doubles. In the boys’ doubles, the pair of Martins Abamu and Michael Osewa from Lagos defeated Ogun State’s Opeyemi Odeyemi and Saheed Oyekan 6-1, 6-4.

For the girls’ singles, Oyinlomo Quadri of Team Lagos beat Kaosamah Adegboyega of Oyo 6-0, 6-0.

At the Rowe Park, venue of the Gymnastics events, Team Lagos won 17 medals to climb to the medal table of the game. The rundown of medals won in Gymnastic indicates that the Ortega Akintola inspired Team Lagos won eight gold, six silver and three bronze.

Team Ekiti came second with two gold, three silver and two bronze medals, Ogun was third with one gold, five bronze, while Team Oyo could only win three silver and two bronze to take the fourth position.

In the football event, which enters its semi-final stage today, Team Lagos will take on Team Oyo at the Agege Stadium, while the second semi final will be between Team Ogun and Osun.

Improvements in the atmosphere around the England team means the focus is now on ensuring fans come home safely.

The tasks facing the sixstrong team of British officers will be to ensure England fans avoid trouble and are policed “on their current behaviour, rather than on their reputation of 20 years ago”.

Crime, the significant Brazilian protest movement and the threat of road traffic accidents are among the areas police say fans should be aware of.

Four officers in uniform will act as “spotters” at England games, helping interpret the behaviour of fans for the Brazilian authorities.

Kaduna safe for Flying Eagles, Tanzania clash, NFF assures

By Alex Monye HE Nigeria Football T Federation (NFF) has assured Nigerians that maximum security has been put in place at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, where the national Under-20 team, Flying Eagles, will host their Tanzanian counterparts in the second leg of their African Youth Championship (AYC) qualifier this weekend.

Nigeria won the first leg of the tie in Dar-es-Salaam 2-0.

The northern part of Nigeria has been embroiled in security issues following the activities of Islamic terrorist

group, Boko Haram.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, NFF Chief Media Officer, Ademola Olajire, disclosed that the Kaduna State government has beefed up security in the state to enable the teams persecute matches with out fear.

He declared that full maximum security would be provided for the players and spectators during and after the game.

“The NFF would not relent in their duty to protect the team and the Kaduna State government has given the federation the full backing in terms of security to host the AYC qualifier,’’ he said

Oyo monarch laments state of boxing, backs four-state championship HE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Among the members of the team for the first Best Four hold from June 13 to 15 with T Lamidi Adeyemi III, who is States Amateur Boxing boxers from Delta, Edo, organising committee at the a boxing enthusiast, is not Tournament, tagged ‘the Ondo and Oyo states at Alaafin’s Place were the

Oyo monarch, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, the Alaafin of Oyo (left), demonstrating his boxing skills when organisers of the Four-State Boxing Championship paid him a visit in his palace…at the weekend.

happy with the level of rot in Nigerian boxing.

The monarch, who could still recall the glory boxing has brought to Nigeria, believes the nation has failed the sport that first gave it global prominence in the 60s.

Speaking in his palace at the weekend when he received members of the organising

Return of the Champion,” Oba Adeyemi urged “Nigerian sports administrators not to adore football too much at the expense of other sports, especially boxing, the sports that first put the name of our nation on the global map.”

He pledged his support for the Inter-State Boxing Championship slated to

Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Ibadan.

“I believe this tournament will checkmate the declining position of boxing, especially in our state and would also help towards picking best athletes for the forthcoming National Sports

Festival, slated for Cross River State,” the Alaafin noted.

Chairman of Oyo State Amateur Boxing Association (OSABA), Chief Baron Akintunde Opaleye and former National/West Africa and Africa middle weight Champion, Prince Bamidele Disu of Bamay 1 Sports Entertainment.

They were in the Alaafin’s Palace to seek his endorsement of the tourney.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Wednesday, May 21, 2014 Sports | 63

AFN discovers another ‘antelope’ at DAWN Games

By Gowon Akpodonor WO years ago, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), made a major discovery during preparations for the African Youth Games (AYAC), which Nigeria hosted in Warri, Delta State.

Speed star, Divine Oduduru, was one of those who emerged from that tournament and the young lad has made a remarkable stride sine then. He has just been listed in Nigeria’s team currently preparing for the World Pen Relays in Bahamas.

Another star may be on his way to stardom, if the performance by little Chinweokwu Chianu, an SS3 student of Redeemers college, Sagamu, Ogun State, on the opening day of athletics event at the on-going DAWN

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Games (South-West Secondary School Sports Festival), is anything to go by.

The DAWN Games, an acronym for Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, had commenced three days ago at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. But the commencement of athletics event yesterday drew a sizeable crowd to the arena with top athletics coaches, including Amelia Edets and Yusuf Ali, scouting for talents.

The main attraction of the day was 16 year-old Chianu, who ran a fanatics in the 200m event, returning at 22.90 seconds. Apart from posting the fastest time of the day, the spectators were thrilled by the way Chianu negotiated the curve and his stride to the finish line.

“Oh, this is a fantastic race

Benin girl, Asosa Ehimwenma, featured in the female Under-16 category at the Midwestern Oil and Gas Junior Tennis Championship.

Midwestern Oil, Gas Junior Tennis Championship

Participants pause for Chibok girls, as Pam, Edwards thrill fans HE inaugural T Midwestern Oil & Gas Junior Tennis Championship ended in Lagos at the weekend with a song for the Chibok girls by Ghanaian gospel artist Jemimah Amua.

About 300 school children abducted by terrorist group, Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State, more than a month ago, are still being held by the captors.

At the closing ceremony of the junior tennis championship on Sunday, 1000 school children and a large tennis crowd were on hand to listen to the powerful rendition of “Hold On” from Amua’s CD released a week ago and to watch the future of Nigerian tennis on display.

The highlight of the grand finale of a championship that attracted 20 first-timers and 158 players was an exhibition match between London-based Elizabeth Pam, 16, runner-up at the CBN Senior Championship

and Sarah Adegoke, now 16, a semifinalist this year and runner-up in 2012.

Adegoke lost to Pam in three sets at the CBN Senior championship, but got some measure of revenge by winning the only set 6-3.

However, given the fascinating tennis they played, no one was left in doubt that a new generation of tennis players was ready to take over the mantle.

Their performance was matched by the Boys U-10 finalists, who took to the court right after and surprised the spectators with their skill level. Sadiq Kushima from Abeokuta prevailed in the end, beating Samuel Adeleye from Ekiti 98.

Christopher Itodo, 15, from Kaduna won the Boys U-16 coming from 2-5 behind to beat Olumide Ayoola of Lagos 9-5, while Usman Kushima made it a family double by overwhelming Elvis Osibor from Benin 9-1 in the Boys 12.

and this boy must be a good athlete for the future,” an official of the DAWN Games in-charge of Home Affairs, Oluseye Oyeleye, said as the athletes crossed the finish line. Both coach Amelia Edet and Yusuf Ali were seen nodding their heads.

Speaking with The Guardian shortly after the race, Chianu who is competing for Ogun State said: “I have been looking for this kind of opportunity to showcase my talents. I have never ran on a tartan track before. I have only competed in inter house sports for my school, but it has been my dream to run in a bigger events. By the grace of God, I hope to make a living from athletics.”

The DAWN Games will be concluded on Friday and according to Oyeleye, the primary aim of staging the competition has been realized.

“Our aim of organizing the DAWN Games to create a forum for youths of the region to harness their natural sporting talents and also encourage mass participation in sports at the grassroots level. As you can see, the dream has been realized and I am grateful to God.” A total of 12 sports; athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, football, gymnastics, scrabble, swimming, table tennis, tennis, taekwondo and volleyball are being

Super Eagles’ Coach, Stephen Keshi (left), receiving his Nigeria Pitch Awards’ Best Coach of The Year 2013 trophy from Vanguard’s Sports Editor, Tony Ubani (middle) and Managing Director, Matchmakers Consult, Shina Phillips, in Lagos on Monday. The presentation was put together by Matchmakers Consult, organisers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, for Keshi and three other recipients, who were not present when the 2013 edition of the awards was held in Calabar… in November.

12 Apostles, others storm Lagos for Channels Kids’ Cup

By Gowon Akpodonor XCITING moments are here again for primary school children, as the sixth of the Channels National Kids Cup competition begins tomorrow in Lagos.

The tournament, according to the organisers, is aimed at discovering young talents and promoting the game of football at the grassroots level.

Sixteen schools, including four from Lagos State, will begin the contest for the trophy tomorrow. They include 12 Apostles primary school from Ebonyi state, First Baptist primary school, Osun State, St. Anthony primary

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school, Akure and Research Model primary school from Ondo State. The four schools that will represent Lagos are Ebute-Metta primary school, Ago-Egbe African Church primary school, Dr. Teslim Elias Memorial primary school and Toyibat primary school in Gbagada.

The teams are drawn from Ogun, Kaduna, Jigawa, Gombe, Kwara, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Ebonyi, Abia, Delta and Rivers state.

However, the defending champions, Ogedegbe primary school of Warri will not be competing in this year’s championship. Instead, it is Nana primary school, also of

Warri that will fly Delta state’s flag in the tournament.

Speaking at the unveiling of jerseys and ball for the competition yesterday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, the chairman of Channels Television, Mr. John Momoh said that their mission is to provide practical “steps by step” assistance, particularly in grassroots sports.

Meanwhile, the organisers have warned that schools that field mercenaries would face out right disqualification. The draws for the tournament, which is being supported by Golden Penny Food, will hold today.

TheGuardian

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Adewale Kupoluyi OR a long time to come, Nigerians will not Fexperience forget so easily, the aftermath of the sad of a large number of young males and females that participated in the recruitment exercise into the Nigeria Immigration Service. At the end, scores of innocent applicants met their untimely death, while several others were reported to have sustained varying degrees of injuries. Albeit, what is certainly clear to everyone from the whole saga is that the nation is inundated with an acute problem of gross unemployment.

The country’s high rate of youth unemployment gives one serious concern as thousands of graduates continue to leave tertiary institutions with no prospects of getting jobs, yearin-year out. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had raised concerns over rising unemployment and poverty levels in Nigeria. The UNDP had observed that for over a decade now, the country has been recording consistently, high economic growth rate without producing commensurate employment opportunities, drastic reduction in poverty and sustainable development.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s unemployment rate averaged 14.60 per cent from 2006 until 2011, as it declared that “each year, about 1.8 million young Nigerians entre into our labour market and we need to ensure that the economy provides jobs for them.”

Our children have perpetually been turned into street hawkers and teenage female roving traders, who are constantly faced with the threats of kidnapping and sexual molestation by depraved adults. Many university undergraduates - due to lack of any means of livelihood - engage in drug trafficking, armed robbery, high class prostitution, political thuggery, and advance fee fraud, just to survive. University graduates were recently reported to be scrambling in their hundreds to fill vacancies for truck drivers. These 13,000 Nigerians with PhDs, Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in various disciplines were allegedly said to have applied to be drivers in the Dangote Group! Getting any type of job is almost a mirage in Nigeria; the advertisers themselves and the influential in the society at the detriment of the common man usually fill most vacant positions. This speaks volume and confirms the woeful state of the economy.

If care is not taken, civil disorder could be the obvious consequence of high youth unemployment because these jobless fellows are restive and constitute not only social liability unto themselves; they are also a big burden on the other few people that are working, as if they too are not working because of the ever increasing demand from others. Not too long

Our children have perpetually been turned into street hawkers and teenage female roving traders, who are constantly faced with the threats of kidnapping and sexual molestation by depraved adults.

Many university undergraduates due to lack of any means of livelihood - engage in drug trafficking, armed robbery, high class prostitution, political thuggery, and advance fee fraud, just to survive. University graduates were recently reported to be scrambling in their hundreds to fill vacancies for truck drivers.

Please send reactions and feedback for YOUTH SPEAK to:

editorial@risenetworks.org and 07067976667- SMS ONLY

Worsening unemployment

ago, former President Olusegun Obasanjo warned the Federal Government of the possibility of having the “Arab spring” experience in Nigeria, if the rate of “unemployment”, is not checked without delay.

Going down the memory lane, Nigeria has operated a mixed economy with prospects for economic growth, which has been brightened with the discovery of oil by contributing more than 66 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. Agricultural activities, such as farming, livestock production, forestry and fishery have contributed far less from what it was before the advent of oil. By the 1960s, the country was already a leader and a force to be reckoned with as the world’s largest exporter of groundnuts and palm produce and the third largest producer and exporter of cocoa. The diversity of natural resources then gave each region a mark of

identity. For instance, cocoa was grown in the Western region and groundnut was largely grown in the Northern region, resulting in massive employment for the people. That legacy could not be sustained due to overdependence on oil, which has provoked the question of whether it’s a blessing or curse?

Perhaps, the Federal Government, not unmindful of the spectre of unemployment and increasing insecurity in the land, has formulated many policies in a bid to curb this growing monster. For example, the government recently introduced the National Job Creation Scheme with a seed take-off allocation of N50 billion. It also made a provision for the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (You Win) Programme, which was expected to create about 100,000 jobs and the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), which was newly intro-

The YOUTHSPEAK Column which is published daily is an initiative of THE GUARDIAN, and powered by RISE NETWORKS, Nigeria’s Leading Youth Development Centre, as a substantial advocacy platform available for ALL Nigerian Youth to engage Leadership at all levels, engage Society and contribute to National Discourse on diverse issues especially those that are peculiar to Nigeria. Regarding submission of articles, we welcome writers‘ contributions by way of well crafted, analytical and thought provoking opinion pieces that are concise, topical and non-defamatory! All articles (which are not expected to be more than 2000 words) should be sent to editorial@risenetworks.org To read the online Version of this same article plus past publications and to find out more about Youth Speak, please visit www.risenetworks.org/youthspeak and join the ongoing National Conversations’’.

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ABC (ISSN NO 0189-5125)

duced by the Jonathan administration.

The 2012-2015 Medium-Term Fiscal Framework was equally designed to create jobs with agriculture as the pivotal sector for employment opportunities. This is because the sector has potential for growth as well as the capacity to absorb a large percentage of the unemployed. Despite these attempts, the rate of unemployment seems to be astronomically tending towards a crisis point, chiefly because the programmes do not reach their targets. Therefore, the nation should review its strategy and adopt a combination of a feasible and less restrictive macro-economic policy in terms of expansion of infrastructure investment and the stimulation of other ‘real’ jobs, involving public and private partnerships.

Entrepreneurial development, with emphasis on the retraining of small investors is a good strategy to solving or reducing unemployment because there is the ever need for a mechanism to develop the skills of unemployed graduates. Additionally, there should be massive investment in infrastructural projects such as railways, power, roads, refineries, petrochemicals, mining, agriculture, water supply, irrigation, health and rural development. As is done in other progressive climes, the government should embrace the private sector specifically, to help revive our comatose industries in the areas of food processing, textiles, hides and skins, furniture, burnt bricks, leather and footwear, pharmaceutical industries and solid minerals, through virile reform that would bring about cheap access to capital, tax and tariff regime, export-stimulation, credit management, strict enforcement of standards, import regulations, antismuggling laws and genuine waivers.

Basically, serious attention must be paid to agriculture and allied industries by all tiers of governments as the vehicle for employment generation. It is counter-productive for the nation to be mobilising and sharing revenue from a mere monolithic economy. There is an urgent need for governments – federal, state and local - to cut spending on governance and bureaucracy and rather devise ingenious avenues for expanding their revenue base by venturing into diverse areas of commerce. It is high time government began subsidising credits to sectors that are likely to be able to generate employment while tax incentives could be deployed to attract investment in labour-intensive areas.

There is also the need to urgently provide solutions to the mismatch between education outcomes and skills demand, to ensure that the country’s educational system provides the necessary skills required by ensuring that there is not much emphasis on paper qualifications at the expense of entrepreneurial skills. As of now, most of the curricula of institutions of higher learning are completely out of tune with modern day realities. It should be realised that the supply of labour for development is dependent on increasing the skills of the youth to improve their productivity and market value. If this re-orientation had been put in place, the mammoth crowd that trooped out for the poorly coordinated recruitment exercise into the Nigeria Immigration Service would not have been witnessed.

While it is appreciated that the government alone cannot address the disturbing unemployment situation in the country, we should realise that the private sector too has its role to play but there should be the enabling environment. This is a mission that must be accomplished. It is a constitutional obligation for the government to be awake to its core responsibility of providing gainful employment and enabling other employment generating avenues. This should be transparently and vigorously pursued.

Kupoluyi wrote from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, vide,adewalekupoluyi@yahoo.co.uk, Twitter, @AdewaleKupoluyi